1,354,148 research outputs found
The six geometries revisited
No full textForces and moments delivered by a straight wire connecting two orthodontic brackets are statically indeterminate and cannot be estimated using the classical equations of static equilibrium. To identify the mechanics of such two-bracket systems, Burstone and Koenig used the principles of linear beam theory to estimate the resulting force systems. In the original publication, however, it remains unclear how the force systems were calculated because no reference or computational details on the underlying principles have been provided. Using the moment carry-over principle and the relative angulation of the brackets, a formula was derived to calculate the relative moments of the two brackets. Because of the moment equilibrium, the vertical forces that exist as a force-couple on the two brackets can also be calculated. The accuracy of the proposed approach can be validated using previously published empirical data
Pulcinella: de los símbolos apotropaicos tradicionales a los usos terapéuticos contemporáneos
No full textEl ensayo, basado sobre la presencia resignificatión de Pulcinella enel mundo contemporáneo (que permiten que la máscara napolitana reviva y tome forma también en objetos napolitanos, prácticas anti encantamiento, representaciones terapéuticas y trabajo teatral y educativo con niños), resalta la capacidad de la máscara para renovarse y adaptarse a algunas circunstancias de la sociedad moderna. Además su presencia en el mercado de objetos decorativos (donde la máscara encuentra un éxito sin precedentes, vinculado a sus connotaciones tradicionales de naturaleza apotropaica), la novedad más inesperada es su uso en algunas prácticas terapéuticas, documentada e ilustrada por primera vez en este trabajo. El elemento de continuidad entre los usos supersticiosos tradicionales y el nuevo uso clínico se identifica con el hecho de que la "superstición", la psicología y la teatralización funcionan con instrumentos específicos sobre la misma materia psíquica, para obtener resultados similares, pero cualitativamente diferentes
La Madonna delle galline. Perché la festa?
No full textIn collaborazione tra A. M.Musilli e D. Scafoglio, con parti distint
Pharmacologically active microcarriers for endothelial progenitor cell support and survival
No full textThe regenerative potential of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC)-based therapies is limited due to poor cell viability and minimal retention following application. Neovascularization can be improved by means of scaffolds supporting EPCs. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether human early EPCs (eEPCs) could be efficiently cultured on pharmacologically active microcarriers (PAMs), made with poly(d,l-lactic-coglycolic acid) and coated with adhesion/extracellular matrix molecules. They may serve as a support for stem cells and may be used as cell carriers providing a controlled delivery of active protein such as the angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). eEPC adhesion to fibronectin-coated PAMs (FN-PAMs) was assessed by means of microscopic evaluation and by means of Alamar blue assay. Phospho ERK(1/2) and PARP-1 expression was measured by means of Western blot to assess the survival effects of FN-PAMs releasing VEGF-A (FN-VEGF-PAMs). The Alamar blue assay or a modified Boyden chamber assay was employed to assess proliferative or migratory capacity, respectively. Our data indicate that eEPCs were able to adhere to empty FN-PAMs within a few hours. FN-VEGF-PAMs increased the ability of eEPCs to adhere to them and strongly supported endothelial-like phenotype and cell survival. Moreover, the release of VEGF-A by FN-PAMs stimulated in vitro HUVEC migration and proliferation. These data strongly support the use of PAMs for supporting eEPC growth and survival and for stimulating resident mature human endothelial cells
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Project Raffaello: application and evaluation of the disease and care management approach in cardiovascular disease prevention
No full textTherapeutic effects of the Rho GTPase modulator CNF1 in a model of Parkinson's disease
No full textRecent evidence suggests an early involvement of dopaminergic (DA) processes and terminals in Parkinson's disease (PD). The arborization of neurons depends on the actin cytoskeleton, which in turn is regulated by small GTPases of the Rho family, encompassing Rho, Rac and Cdc42 subfamilies. Indeed, some reports point to a role for Rac and Cdc42 signaling in the pathophysiology of inherited parkinsonisms. We thus investigated the potential therapeutic effect of the modulation of cerebral Rho GTPases in PD. Cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1), a 114 kDa protein toxin produced by Escherichia coli, permanently activates RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42 in intact cells. We report that the modulation of Rho GTPases by CNF1 results in hypertrophy of DA cell processes of cultured substantia nigra neurons, including increase in length, branching and varicosity. In vivo, the treatment corrects long-standing motor and biochemical asymmetries and restores degenerated nigrostriatal DA tissue after 6-hydroxydopamine lesion. We conclude that the pharmacological modulation of Rho GTPases shows neurorestorative potential and represents a promising avenue in the treatment PD. The study also suggests that naturally occurring molecules acting on Rho GTPase signaling, such as some bacterial protein toxins, might play a role in the development of PD
- …
