237 research outputs found
The Interplay Between Fiction and Testimony: The Representation of Republican Exile in Britain in Esteban Salazar Chapela’s Perico en Londres
No full textEsteban Salazar Chapela, an author exiled in Britain after the Spanish Civil War, wrote Perico en Londres as testimony for Republican exile in Britain. This article analyses Perico en Londres as an early example of autofiction, arguing that Salazar drew upon autobiography and fiction to create a space of co-existence that embraces the contradictions and ambiguity of exile. Blurring the line between fiction and autobiography allowed Salazar to express his feelings towards exile without complete exposure and promote the testimonial value of the narrative by giving a detailed yet fictionalized account of the intrahistoria of Republican exile in Britain
Sirtuin3 Dysfunction Is the Key Determinant of Skeletal Muscle Insulin Resistance by Angiotensin II.
No full textAngiotensin II promotes insulin resistance. The mechanism underlying this abnormality, however, is still poorly defined. In a different setting, skeletal muscle metabolism and insulin signaling are regulated by Sirtuin3.Here, we investigate whether angiotensin II-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle is associated with Sirtuin3 dysregulation and whether pharmacological manipulation of Sirtuin3 confers protection.Parental and GLUT4-myc L6 rat skeletal muscle cells exposed to angiotensin II are used as in vitro models of insulin resistance. GLUT4 translocation, glucose uptake, intracellular molecular signals such as mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, Sirtuin3 protein expression and activity, along with its downstream targets and upstream regulators, are analyzed both in the absence and presence of acetyl-L-carnitine. The role of Sirtuin3 in GLUT4 translocation and intracellular molecular signaling is also studied in Sirtuin3-silenced as well as over-expressing cells.Angiotensin II promotes insulin resistance in skeletal muscle cells via mitochondrial oxidative stress, resulting in a two-fold increase in superoxide generation. In this context, reactive oxygen species open the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and significantly lower Sirtuin3 levels and activity impairing the cell antioxidant defense. Angiotensin II-induced Sirtuin3 dysfunction leads to the impairment of AMP-activated protein kinase/nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase signaling. Acetyl-L-carnitine, by lowering angiotensin II-induced mitochondrial superoxide formation, prevents Sirtuin3 dysfunction. This phenomenon implies the restoration of manganese superoxide dismutase antioxidant activity and AMP-activated protein kinase activation. Acetyl-L-carnitine protection is abrogated by specific Sirtuin3 siRNA.Our data demonstrate that angiotensin II-induced insulin resistance fosters mitochondrial superoxide generation, in turn leading to Sirtuin3 dysfunction. The present results also highlight Sirtuin3 as a therapeutic target for the insulin-sensitizing effects of acetyl-L-carnitine
Redistribution of garbage codes to underlying causes of death: a systematic analysis on Italy and a comparison with most populous Western European countries based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (Jan, 10.1093/eurpub/ckab194, 2022)
No full textIn the originally published version of this manuscript, an author was erroneously omitted from the list of authors. The list should read:
“Lorenzo Monasta, Gianfranco Alicandro, Maja Pasovic, Matthew Cunningham, Benedetta Armocida, Christopher J L Murray, Luca
Ronfani, Mohsen Naghavi, GBD 2019 Italy Causes of Death Collaborators” instead of “Lorenzo Monasta, Gianfranco Alicandro, Maja
Pasovic, Matthew Cunningham, Benedetta Armocida, Luca Ronfani, Mohsen Naghavi, GBD 2019 Italy Causes of Death Collaborators”. This
error has been corrected online
A preliminary study on continuous authentication methods for photoplethysmographic biometrics
No full textRecent studies in biometrics focus on one dimensional physiological signals commonly acquired in medical applications, like electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalograms (EEG), phonocardiogram (PCG), and photoplethysmogram (PPG). In this context, an important application is in continuous authentication scenarios since physiological signals are frequently captured for long time periods in order to monitor the health status of the patients
Angiotensin II Contributes to Diabetic Renal Dysfunction in Rodents and Humans via Notch1/Snail Pathway
No full textIn nondiabetic rat models of renal disease, angiotensin II (Ang II) perpetuates podocyte injury and promotes progression to end-stage kidney disease. Herein, we wanted to explore the role of Ang II in diabetic nephropathy by a translational approach spanning from in vitro to in vivo rat and human studies, and to dissect the intracellular pathways involved. In isolated perfused rat kidneys and in cultured human podocytes, Ang II down-regulated nephrin expression via Notch1 activation and nuclear translocation of Snail. Hairy enhancer of split-1 was a Notch1-downstream gene effector that activated Snail in cultured podocytes. In vitro changes of the Snail/nephrin axis were similar to those in renal biopsy specimens of Zucker diabetic fatty rats and patients with advanced diabetic nephropathy, and were normalized by pharmacological inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system. Collectively, the present studies provide evidence that Ang II plays a relevant role in perpetuating glomerular injury in experimental and human diabetic nephropathy via persistent activation of Notch1 and Snail signaling in podocytes, eventually resulting in down-regulation of nephrin expression, the integrity of which is crucial for the glomerular filtration barrier
Campanula bergomensis (Campanulaceae), a new species from Bergamo Prealps (Northern Italy)
No full textA new species of Campanula (Campanulaceae), C. bergomensis sp. nov., is described from the Bergamo Prealps (Orobic Prealps, Lombardy, Northern Italy), based on both morphological and molecular evidence. The new species was considered in the past as an isolated population of C. cespitosa, which presents an eastern Alpine distribution. C. bergomensis is morphologically well distinguishable from C. cespitosa on the number of flowers in the racemose inflorescence, the corolla shape, and the whitish-yellow pollen surface with many spinulae. Genetically, the presence of an insertion of 81-bp in the trnL-F sequences is very characteristic. Further studies are needed to better define the phylogenetic relationship among the three closely related species, C. bergomensis, C. cespitosa and C. cochleariifolia. C. bergomensis inhabits dolomitic debris cones at low elevations. The species is range-restricted and is severely threatened by human activities. Therefore, it is urgent to adopt protection and conservation measures for the new species
Diseño de un modelo de gamificación. Estudio de caso Colpensiones - programa BEPS- Beneficios Económicos Periódicos
No full textEl presente trabajo final de Maestría en Ingeniería Industrial propone por el autor un modelo de gamificación basado en dos modelos existentes propuestos por Yuho Hamari y Rajat Paharia respectivamente. El modelo propuesto es aplicado en la regional centro de Colpensiones, específicamente en los funcionarios que ejecutan la labor comercial para el programa Beneficios Económicos Periódicos - BEPS. La aplicación de la metodología fue por un periodo de 3 meses, generando un efecto positivo en la productividad de los funcionarios, medida como la cantidad de vinculaciones absolutas que lograban diariamente.Abstract: The present final work of Master in Industrial Engineering proposes for the author a gamification model based on two existing models proposed by Yuho Hamari and Rajat Paharia respectively. The proposed model is applied in the regional center of Colpensiones, specifically in the employees who execute the commercial work for the Periodic Economic Benefits Program - BEPS. The application of the methodology was for a period of 3 months, generating a positive effect on the productivity of employees, measured as the number of absolute connections that they achieved daily.Maestrí
Coca cultivation in the town of San Miguel, Putumayo
No full textEl informe es el resultado de una pasantía desarrollada en el Centro de Investigación y Educación Popular Cinep, en el marco del proyecto “San Miguel mira hacia Colombia y el mundo” en el 2007. En las primeras páginas del trabajo, se hace una presentación general del proyecto, destacando sus objetivos, contenidos, desarrollos y resultados, para luego adelantar una reflexión en torno a su la experiencia de la autora en este proceso, cuidando de relievar sus vivencias y aportes como socióloga, tomando como herramienta de análisis el trabajo de campo adelantado en la región de estudio. En la segunda parte del informe se adelanta una caracterización de la zona del Bajo Putumayo, en el contexto de la política de lucha contra las drogas, impulsada por el “Plan Colombia”. En esta perspectiva se ilustra, con elementos históricos y sociológicos, los procesos asociados a la economía de la coca y se analizan las consecuencias del “Plan Colombia” para la región. El trabajo concluye con un análisis de las percepciones que tienen los pobladores y pobladoras del municipio de san Miguel sobre el impacto de la política antidrogas. / Abstract. This report is result of the internship in the proyect “San Miguel mira hacia Colombia y el mundo”, wich was developed in the “Centro de Investigación y Educación Popular” Cinep. The first pages portrays a general presentation of the proyect such as objectives, contents, improvements and results. Then the author makes a reflection about her own experiences in this process based on the fieldwork in the area, including sociologic contributions. In the second part of this report, it is presented a characterization about the Bajo Putumayo area in the context of war against drugs (or antinarcotics police), wich is stimulated by “Plan Colombia”. In this perspective, it shows the process related whit coca economy and analyzes the Plan Colombia consequences in the region. It concludes analyzing of San Miguel settler’s perception on antinarcotics politics and how it impacts in their lives and the area.Pregrad
Sirt3 deficiency shortens lifespan and impairs cardiac mitochondrial function rescued by Opa1 gene transfer
No full textAims: Sirtuins, a family of NAD+-dependent deacetylases, are recognized as non-dispensable regulators of aging processes. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is the main mitochondrial deacetylase that maintains mitochondrial bioenergetics, an essential prerequisite for healthy aging. Here using Sirt3 knock-out (Sirt3-/-) mice we sought to establish whether Sirt3 deficiency affected lifespan, an endpoint that has never been tested formally in mammals, and uncover the mechanisms involved in organ damage associated with aging. Results: Sirt3-/- mice experienced a shorter lifespan than wild-type mice and severe cardiac damage, characterized by hypertrophy and fibrosis, as they aged. No alterations were found in organs other than the heart. Sirt3 deficiency altered cardiac mitochondrial bioenergetics and caused hyperacetylation of optic atrophy 1 (OPA1), a SIRT3 target. These changes were associated with aberrant alignment of trans-mitochondrial cristae in cardiomyocytes, and cardiac dysfunction. Gene transfer of deacetylated Opa1 restored cristae alignment in Sirt3-/- mice, ameliorated cardiac reserve capacity and protected the heart against hypertrophy and fibrosis. The translational relevance of these findings is in the data showing that SIRT3 silencing in human induced pluripotent stem cellderived cardiomyocytes led to mitochondrial dysfunction and altered contractile phenotype, both rescued by Opa1 gene transfer. Innovation: Our findings indicate that future approaches to heart failure could include SIRT3 as a plausible therapeutic target. Conclusion: SIRT3 has a major role in regulating mammal lifespan. Sirt3 deficiency leads to cardiac abnormalities, due to defective trans-mitochondrial cristae alignment and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics. Correcting cardiac OPA1 hyperacetylation through gene transfer diminished heart failure in Sirt3-/- mice during aging
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