170,797 research outputs found
Moving images across borders: visual and digital resonances of human (im)mobilities
No full textThe monographic issue aims to question the link of human (im)mobilities and the circulation of images in transnational spaces, attempting to reframe and broaden the concept of mobility in at least two ways. First, mobility is conceived as a fundamental dimension of human experience, which as an analytic category embraces different phenomena such as migrations, diasporas, and settler colonialisms. The monographic issue attempts to think together these different forms of human mobility through the common ground of their visual dimension: images move with people, and people make images move. Like the anthropology of media and social media has shown in last decades, human mobility and cultural flows have been more and more interlinked thanks to the circulation of images in the global space. Moreover, digital technology and the access to internet and social media have played a crucial role in the production, circulation and reception of images in the global sphere. Anthropological research has shown how the human appropriation of new media re-produces social and cultural diversity, multiplying their uses rather than homogenizing their effects. At the same time ethnographic studies have shown the different ways images get embedded in local contexts and particular historical trajectories, while also bringing transformative power to social practices and collective imaginaries.
Starting from these premises, the monographic issue also attempts to undermine a simplified idea of mobility linked to global flows, increased human mobility and widespread access to digital media; its aim is rather to analyse the circulation of people and images without neglecting the power asymmetries that inform people’s experiences of (im)mobility. In this sense the publication project overtly addresses the question of state border crossing and (post)colonial relations, and the shaking of social, cultural and moral boundaries that human (im)mobilities can involve. From this perspective critical analysis compels us to delve deeper into the processes of human differentiation and hierarchization, which take place in unbalanced transnational spaces and are importantly influenced by the global economy of (racial) capitalism. Furthermore, the monographic issue questions visuality, (im)mobility and inequality from a temporal perspective that seek to connect past to future: if images are, in many ways, incontrovertible outputs of history, they are also a powerful ground for political imagination and rising ideas of future.
The monographic proposal includes nine articles and a photo-essay, and offers a wide range of ethnographic research that combines visual anthropological analysis with methodological richness (fieldwork, archival research, digital ethnography, collaborative anthropology...). and theoretical accuracy. The first part of the issue addresses the matter of the visual and digital tools used in the government of migrations under the current European border regime (D’Onofrio, Santanera). From the control of external state borders readers are then invited to take into account the issue of internal borders in the contemporary Italian society, and the ways they are appropriated and contested through social media and photography by the young generations of “new Italians” with a migratory background (Bachis, Cingolani). The link of Black diaspora and Italian collective memory is developed in an original way through the presentation of archival research of Eritrean diasporic filmmaking in Italy in the 70s (Jedlowski). A further thematic thread concerns the relationship between indigenous people and visual production in postcolonial contexts, which questions both ethnographic research on “exotic” postcards travelling from Latin America to European metropoles in colonial times (Scardozzi), and on contemporary indigenous filmmaking of India’s “De-Notified” Tribes following their enduring marginalization (Tilche and Khanna). In the last part of the issue, the anthropological analysis of the videos of the Iranian-American YouTuber Nasim Aghdam questions the idea of subjectivity linked to the aesthetic politics of audio-visual technology in capitalist conditions (Manoukian); the relationship of subjectivity, political violence and visual production is also taken into account from the perspective of “audiences” related to the circulation of images during Israel’s war on Gaza (Pilotto). The monographic issue includes a photo-essay, which is a co-written comment of the combination and juxtaposition of some of Mohamed Keita’s pictures taken in Italy, Mali and Kenya. It attempts to retrace connections among images and places that are also part of the photographer’s intimate experience and explore the possible dialogue between anthropology and photography through a collaborative approach (Keita and Pilotto)
For a political anthropology of revelations
No full textSilence permeates and encompasses ethnography-based knowledge, as it crosses interactions in the field and their written account. Exploring the different ways anthropological studies understood silence as the absence of speech, as a feature of womanhood and as a "culture" of the oppressed or subaltern groups, this article delves deeper into the politics of silence. Through an analysis of the heuristic potentiality of the concept of "public secrecy", the article proposes to consider silence as a practice that intertwines knowledge and power, and thus, truth. In particular, the investigation scrutinizes two interlocked effects which are implied by the act of silencing: normalization and subjectivation, which are here thought through an ethnography-based perspective. The article takes silence into account through a threefold analysis that, while acknowledging its pervasiveness, obviousness, and inaudibility, questions its characterizations, its functions, and the modes and effects of its disclosure in social life. Anthropology is ethically and epistemologically compelled to self-reflect upon the ways it participates in such processes of silencing and revelation. Hence, discussing the powers of silence in the ethnographic work, and the ways the recently developed hegemony of transparency and its prescriptive regulations are affecting our discipline, the article outlines the idea of an anthropology engaged in the critical understanding of the "revelations of truth"
Gerontechnology: Definitions and Classification
No full textTechnology is now part of our lives and the current perception by patients and their caregivers, healthcare professionals, managers and policy makers is that a modern view of medicine includes the technologies as essential instruments both in clinical practice, i.e. assessment, management and follow-up of patients and more in general in many healthcare processes as diagnosis, prognosis, treatments, rehabilitation and prevention both at individual and at general population level.
In this chapter we present an overview of the different definitions and classifications of technologies potentially useful for older people including: (i) Information and communication technologies, i.e. tools aimed at informing and communicating, including digital technologies, telehealth programs and the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare; (ii) assistive technologies designed to maintain older people’s independence and increasing safety including ambient and personal sensors and domotic devices; and (iii) human-computer interaction technologies to support treatment and rehabilitation of older people with mobility and cognitive impairments such as robots (humanoid, rehabilitation, service and companion-type robots) but also exergames and virtual reality activities and their clinical and social components
Identification of Novel FBN1 Mutations in Patients with Marfan Syndrome using DHPLC Analysis.
No full textIdentification of Novel FBN1 Mutations in Patients with Marfan Syndrome using DHPLC Analysis.
M. Grasso 1, S. Ansaldi 1, A. Mori 1, A. Pisani 1, L. Lanzarini 2, A. Pilotto 1,
C. Lucchelli 1, L. Tavazzi 2, E. Arbustini 1;
1 Cardiovascular Pathology and Molecular Diagnostic Lab, Transplant
Research Area, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteont, Pavia, Italy, 2
Cardiology Division, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Marfan Syndrome (MFS, MIM#154700) is an autosomal dominant
inherited connective tissue disorder (prevalence:1/5000) caused
by mutations in the fibrillin-1 gene (FBN1, 15q21). The disorder is
characterised by highly variable phenotypic manifestations, mainly in
cardiovascular, ocular and skeletal systems. The FBN1 (230 Kb, 65
exons, 2871 amino acids) has revealed more than 500 mutations.
We describe 11 novel mutations that were identified in 12 probands
(one with sporadic and ten with familial disease). The MFS diagnosis
was evaluated following the revised diagnostic criteria of the Ghent
nosology. The FBN1 gene was analysed using DHPLC technology
(Transgenomic) and automated sequencing (ABI 3100).All family members were tested for the mutations found. These mutations were absent in 50 controls. Our results suggest that DHPLC is a reliable and cost-effective
technique for the screening of such a large gene and that FBN1 screening could be a helpful tool to confirm and possibly anticipate the clinical diagnosis in familial cases
Che genere di accoglienza? Politiche della cura e lavoro dell'accoglienza in Italia
No full textIl saggio si propone di indagare l’interconnessione fra l’accoglienza di richiedenti asilo e rifugiate e il sistema dei servizi a partire dal lavoro dell’accoglienza, dagli affetti che lo attraversano e dalle distinzioni di genere che in esso si producono. Poggiando sulla centralità dell’individuo e sull’obiettivo dell’“autonomia personale”, il “progetto di accoglienza” rivela le idiosincrasie e le tensioni che investono le politiche della cura all’interno dell’economia neoliberale del lavoro sociale. Fondata su una temporalità vincolata quanto incerta, l’accoglienza delle donne e dei nuclei familiari mostra i rapporti di continuità e discontinuità fra i percorsi di “inserimento socio-lavorativo” e la rete dei servizi territoriali. Di fronte al rischio di una razzializzazione dei servizi, il saggio mette in luce le relazioni di cura che stanno alla base delle pratiche quotidiane nell’accoglienza e del suo costitutivo legame con il welfare statale. Si delinea così il potenziale politico del lavoro dell’accoglienza come sito di riformulazione delle politiche della cura dello stato, in contrasto con le molteplici forme di abbandono istituzionale
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
High sensivity and specificity of denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) for mutation analysis of the FBN1 gene in patients with Marfan syndrome.
No full textHigh sensivity and specificity of denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) for mutation analysis of the FBN1 gene in patients with Marfan syndrome.
A. Mori 1 , S. Ansaldi 1 , M. Grasso 1 , A. Pilotto 1 , C. Lucchelli 1 , L.
Lanzarini 2 , M. Diegoli 3 , L. Tavazzi 2 , E. Arbustini 1 ;
1 Cardiovascular Pathol. and Molec. Diagn. - Res.Transplantation
Lab. , IRCCS Policlinico S.Matteo, Pavia, Italy, 2 Cardiology Division,
IRCCS Policlinico S.Matteo, Pavia, Italy, 3 Department of Pathology
- University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder of the
connective tissue that principally involves the cardiovascular,ocular
and skeletal systems. The incidence is estimated to be 1:5000, with
25% sporadic cases. The leading cause of death is related to the
cardiovascular involvement, in particular aortic root dilatation and
rupture.
The disease is caused by alteration in FBN1 gene (65 exons, located
at 15q15-q21.1). Causal mutations are scattered throughout the gene
and are largely unique to individual families.
The FBN1 gene was analyzed in 29 unrelated patients suspected
to be affected by Marfan syndrome. To develop an efficient and
faster method capable of identify all possible mutations in this gene,
we introduced DHPLC technology in the analysis of 25 exons in
which mutations recur. We first analysed the FBN1 exons and exon-
flanking non coding regions gene coding regions with automated
sequencing of all 65 exons (ABI PE- 373 DNA Sequencer) to
identify mutations and polymorphisms. Then, DHPLC analysis
was carried out on the WaveTM DNA Fragment Analysis System
(Transgenomic, Cheshire, UK). DNA fragment elution profiles were
displayed using the Transgenomic WAVEMAKER-TM software.
Chromatograms were analysed and amplified fragments showing
alterations were re-confirmed by automated sequencing. Overall, by
direct sequencing we indentify 19 variants (14 in coding regions and
5 in intronic sequences). A corresponding number of heteroduplex
297 profiles was detected with DHPLC with 100% correspondence to the
variant-containing regions previously identified by direct sequencing.
Our results confirms that DHPLC is a highly sensitive and specific
technology for DNA sequence variant detection
“Ageism” Is Associated With Self-Reported Multidimensional Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Subjects: A Population-Based Study
No full textAgeism is a stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination against people, based on age. Ageism may impact the quality of life and the care of older people, a problem that can be greater when the older person is “frail.” However, few studies explored the role of frailty as a factor related to ageism. The aim of this study was to assess the association between perceived age discrimination (PAD), i.e., ageism, and multidimensional frailty in a cohort of community-dwelling older adults. We enrolled 1,337 community-dwelling subjects over-65 years that filled out a structured questionnaire to collect psycho-socio-economic and behavioral information. Multidimensional frailty was assessed by the SELFY-Multidimensional Prognostic Index Short-Form (SELFY-MPI-SF). PAD, over the past 5 years, was assessed based on explicit criteria. Overall, 83 out of 1,337 participants (6.2%) reported PAD. These subjects were older, more frequently women, with greater economic difficulties, lower level of cultural fruition, social network and psychological well-being, and a greater degree of frailty compared to their counterparts. After adjustment for age and gender, multidimensional frailty (SELFY-MPI-SF score) and negative affectivity were the two only “predictors” significantly associated with PAD (SELFY -MPI-SF, Odds Ratio: 1.19, 95%CI: 1.029–1.370; PANAS negative: Odds Ratio: 1.06, 95%CI: 1.033–1.099). In conclusion, self-reported frailty and negative affectivity are independently associated with PAD in community-dwelling older people. Interventions to prevent and treat frailty could be useful to reduce ageism and improve the well-being of the older people. Copyright © 2022 Zora, Cella, Poli, Veronese, Zini, Giannoni, Pandolfini, Torrigiani and Pilotto
Metabolic and molecular profiling of ovarian cancer stem cells and cancer non-stem counterpart
No full textEpithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) is a very malignant neoplasm, accounting for 5% of cancer mortality in women. Although progress has been made in EOC treatments by improved debulking surgery and platinum-taxane regimens, the 5-year survival rate of advanced-stage EOC remains below 30%. This poor prognosis relies on the one hand on the late diagnosis and on the other on the chemo-resistance occurring after only a few months from the completion of treatment.
The reasons for recurrence and cancer drug resistance remain uncertain. Recent evidence suggests that EOC, akin most tumors, contains a tiny population of cells, named cancer stem cells (CSC), probably responsible for chemotherapy resistance and tumor recurrence. Ovarian CSC are characterized by the co-expression of two surface markers: CD44 (hyaluronic acid receptor) and CD117 (stem cell factor receptor or c-kit). Recently, our research group demonstrated that ovarian CD44/CD117 co-expressing cells, which represent 1-2% of cancer cells from ascitic effusions of EOC-bearing patients, are endowed with canonical stemness properties and are able to resist in vitro and in vivo glucose starvation. We reported that this glucose deprivation resistance is mostly due to the ability of ovarian CSC to privilege oxidative phosphorylation, rather than the aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect) exploited by the non-stem tumor bulk. However, independently of CSC fraction, our experiments also highlighted that not all the analyzed EOC samples presented a similar glucose addiction.
Thus, investigating this issue and its related metabolic aspects is the first aim of the current project. Concerning this aim, we showed that tumor cells from EOC patients can be categorized, according to their in vitro viability under glucose starvation, into glucose deprivation-sensitive (glucose-addicted, GA) and glucose deprivation-resistant (glucose non-addicted, GNA). Although deregulated glucose metabolism is usually observed in cancer, whether this metabolic trait influences response to or is modulated by cytotoxic drugs is unknown; therefore, we addressed the possible correlation of these glucose addiction profiles with the patient response to platinum (PLT) regimens. In this regard, when EOC cells were cultured in the absence of glucose, all samples from PLT-sensitive patients felt into the GA group; compared to GNA samples, they disclosed higher expression of glucose metabolic enzymes, higher proliferation rates and in vitro sensitivity to PLT, as well as reduced multi-drug resistance pump expression. On the other hand, the samples derived from PLT-resistant patients felt into the GNA category. The close association between PLT sensitivity and glucose metabolic profile was confirmed in a xenograft model, where a stringent parallelism between PLT sensitivity/resistance and glucose metabolism was identified. Finally, in a cohort of naïve EOC patients categorized as GA or GNA at diagnosis, Kaplan Meier curves showed that the GA phenotype was associated with significantly better progression-free survival, compared to GNA patients. Overall, these results suggest that in vitro glucose addiction of EOC cells could be regarded as a reliable marker to predict the patient response to platinum regimens.
Investigating the molecular traits leading to the distinctive glucose metabolism of EOC samples is the second aim of this project. In this regard, microRNA (miRNA), that are small non-coding RNA molecules, represent a promising field, in view of their ability to modulate many genes and pathways. Moreover, their involvement in cancer development and progression has already been reported in ovarian cancer, and recently miRNA also emerged to regulate cell metabolism in several normal and cancer tissues. Thus, we performed a miRNA profile on EOC patient-derived samples, comparing both GA versus GNA samples and CSC versus non-CSC, in order to establish whether the miRNA signature behind the metabolic differences of EOC samples is associated with the total tumor bulk or rather with a specific cell fraction. The data did not reveal any miRNA differentially expressed in GA compared to GNA cells, but several miRNA resulted significantly deregulated in CSC versus non-CSC. We focused our attention on mir-602, which was found up-regulated in CSC; indeed, despite little information about this miRNA, its target Casein Kinase 1 Delta (CSNK1D), which displays a key role in cell proliferation and asymmetric division, seemed very interesting in view of its involvement in breast cancer progression. We demonstrated that CSNK1D is down-regulated in CSC, according to mir-602 over-expression. Moreover, the in vitro inhibition of mir-602 reduced the expression of the major stemness-associated genes in CSC, suggesting that mir-602 could regulate some cell stemness pathways. Since none of the analyzed stemness genes is directly targeted by mir-602, it is reasonable to advance that mir-602 could indirectly activate the expression of such genes through its inhibitory function on CSNK1D; thus, we propose that cell stemness signaling is inhibited by casein kinase, whose translation is in turn repressed by mir-602. Although a few further experiments are needed to validate our idea, this project highlights a possible miRNA-mediated regulatory mechanism of cell stemness features in EOC
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