11 research outputs found
«Legne al bosco e gocciole al mare»: la retorica dell’«Agnesa da Faenza» di G.C. Becelli
No full textThe contribution tries to show the effectiveness of combining the two levels of the language of use and of the literary language in the "Agnesa da Faenza" of Becelli. The aim is to highlight the peculiar way in which the author sets up the performance of the word, because this is mainly the characteristic feature of its comedies. its originality lies not so much in the choice of themes, nor in the way of representing them, but rather in the ability to shed new light on trite ways of saying and foreseeable dialogical or structural paradigms that are here highlighted
US Hardwood and its use in chosen EU countries
No full textAs is clear from the title of the thesis, the thesis deals with the use of American hardwood species in selected EU countries. However, the work also focuses on general trade with timber from abroad in selected countries. In particular, it focuses on the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Hungary. But what specifically does this mean? The theme of this bachelor thesis and its subsequent processing was chosen by the author for several reasons. The first reason was the impulse after the return of the author of the work from a foreign study stay in France, where she studied the field of International Timber Trade, which led her to the question: Is there any trade with foreign wood species, with regard to the US Hardwood species in the countries of Central Europe and, if so, how high is the extension level? Subsequently, the issue arises itself bachelor thesis, which operates with chosen countries. The work puts emphasis on US Hardwood species trade and their potential usage in these countries. It also monitors trends in the wood products industry, specifically focused on furniture production, the production of musical instruments, wooden accessories, and wood processing for veneer production. It deals with another question asked by the author, whether in the addressed countries it is possible to talk about the growing trend of using a sustainable wood resources. Last but not least, the thesis works with the optimization of business models and points out the shortcomings of the monitored markets. Formula clause:I wish all the attachments marked "Hidden Appendix" were hidden because of sensitive information collected from the companies in the survey
Novel applications of expected utility theory to epigenetics, signal detection and epidemiology
No full textTrade-offs occur at every level of ecological organization and are sensitive to changing environments and sudden perturbations to systems. To study trade-offs, it is necessary to characterize the costs and benefits of traits under conditions of environmental change, however this can be challenging to accomplish empirically. Economic theory has a long history of examining optimal strategies in games, gambles and investments. An economic framework that characterizes costs and benefits of a particular strategy is called expected utility theory. Within the body of this work, we propose that expected utility theory may be applied to anticipate how an individual or population will respond to changing environmental conditions. We apply this expected utility theory framework to three biological systems to explore optimal decision making in the face of trade-offs to individuals and populations in the face of changing environmental conditions. Specifically, we model expected utility of epigenetic gene regulation, expected utility of signal detection criteria in social populations, and expected utility of social isolation during a pandemic in populations with heterogeneous immunocompromise. Our first application of expected utility theory answers: under which frequencies of environmental change is epigenetic regulation of gene expression likely to emerge? To answer this question, we propose that epigenetic modulation is itself a trait with benefits such as enabling rapid acclimation to environmental conditions and costs such as establishing and controlling epigenetic machinery. We then introduce the concept of epiallelic redundancy as a means by which to increase the likelihood that an organism will express the optimal trait for the current environmental conditions. Next, we develop a model characterizing the expected utility of epigenetic modulation of phenotype. Our results show that epigenetic control is only likely to evolve in situations where the cost of control is small and environmental fluctuations are frequent, causing variations in the fitness of a phenotype across a range of environmental conditions. Our next application of expected utility theory is to answer: can heterogeneity in signal detection criteria among individuals in a population facilitate or dissolve trade-offs in group decision making? To answer this question, we first invoke the framework of signal detection theory (SDT). In this framework, individuals vary in the criteria that they set to detect and respond to environmental signals. Individuals with high criterion values for signal detection have more hits (true positive detections) and fewer correct rejections (true negative detections), whereas individuals with lower criterion values will have fewer hits and more correct rejections. This difference in detection ability leads to trade-offs in signal detection. To answer our question at the population level, we expand the classical signal detection theory framework to include populations of individuals varying in their signal detection criterion choice. Further, we determine a net utility for each individual of participating in group consensus. We show that individual payoff for participating a population-level decision-making regarding the presence of a signal can affect the criterion choice utility each individual experiences. These results suggest that v coordination in decision-making regarding a signal can be advantageous in changing environmental conditions and can maintain individual variation in signal detection criteria in populations. Our final application of expected utility theory answers: how does heterogeneous immunocompromise within a population affect the economic and epidemiological utility of social isolation? To answer this question, we develop a multi-group Susceptible Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) model to compartmentalize individuals by immunocompetence. Next, we use expected utility theory to generate utilities of social isolation. These utilities of social isolation are then evaluated for various social isolation scenarios and provide a means by which to compare both macroeconomic and epidemiological effects of the social isolation scenarios. We show that in populations with high proportions of immunocompromised individuals, there is a higher expected utility of social isolation than in populations with smaller proportions of immunocompromised individuals. In populations with higher proportions of immunocompromised individuals, we find that the form of the expected utility curve is shifted such that more stringent social isolation is more favorable to economic and epidemiological outcomes. Taken together, the three chapters of this dissertation represent successful applications of expected utility theory to ecological systems. The conceptual and computational simplicity of expected utility theory lends itself readily to application in a wide variety of biological systems and provides a reliable proxy for quantifying the trade-offs inherent to those systems.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
Hyperlipidemia in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Molec-ular Alterations and Clinical Implications
No full textSystematic Revie
Dyslipidemia in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Molecular Alterations and Clinical Implications
No full textBackground: Dyslipidemia in pregnancy presents unique clinical challenges due to its effects on maternal and fetal health. This systematic review hypothesizes that molecular alterations in lipid metabolism during pregnancy contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes and seeks to identify the clinical implications of these changes. The rationale behind this review stems from the increased risk of complications such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and acute pancreatitis associated with dyslipidemia in pregnancy. The primary objective is to examine the interplay between lipid metabolism and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: To achieve this, a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted, with a comprehensive search of the PubMed database covering articles from January 2014 to June 2024. Inclusion criteria focused on studies assessing molecular alterations and clinical outcomes of dyslipidemia in pregnancy, while case reports and relevant clinical trials were analyzed to evaluate both maternal and fetal outcomes. A total of 12 studies were included in the final analysis. Results: This study provided evidence of the need for early detection and management strategies to reduce risks. The outcomes revealed significant associations between dyslipidemia and adverse maternal outcomes such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and pancreatitis, as well as fetal outcomes like preterm birth and fetal distress. Conclusions: Early lipid monitoring and intervention are crucial in mitigating these risks and suggests that a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to improve maternal and fetal health in pregnancies complicated by dyslipidemia
Management of Littre Hernia—Case Report and Systematic Review of Case Reports
No full textLittre hernia is a rare type of hernia in which a Meckel diverticulum is found in the hernia sac. Given the rare nature of this disease, little data on demographics and surgical management exists. In this article, we provide a case report of a strangulated inguinal Littre hernia and perform a systematic review of the literature. The PubMed database was searched on 5 March 2022, and all cases of Littre hernia in adults that had English abstracts or full-text were analyzed. Our primary objective was to evaluate the surgical management and outcomes of this particular type of hernia, and our secondary objectives were to assess demographic characteristics, presentation particularities, and recurrence rates. We identified 89 articles with 98 cases, including our own. Results show a high prevalence of complications described intraoperatively, with strangulation being present in up to 38.46% of patients. The laparoscopic approach was utilized in patients with femoral, inguinal, and umbilical hernias. The most commonly performed type of resection was MD resection, followed by bowel resection, while a minority of cases (5.48%) remained unresected. Mesh repair was more frequently performed in patients with MD resection. A mortality rate of 8.7% in patients who underwent bowel resection was found. A relatively high number of reports of ectopic tissue (21.21%), ulceration (12.12%), and tumors (9.09%) were found. The average follow-up was 19.5 ± 10.29 months, with no hernia recurrence. In conclusion, most cases are admitted in an emergency setting, and intestinal obstruction is frequently associated. A minimally invasive approach can be an option even for complicated hernias. MD resection or bowel resection is usually employed, depending on the extent of ischemic lesions. Patients undergoing bowel resection may be prone to worse outcomes
Analysis of Maternal and Neonatal Complications in a Group of Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
No full textBackground and Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents one of the most common complications during pregnancy, being associated with numerous maternal and neonatal complications. The study aimed to analyze maternal and neonatal complications associated with GDM. The risk factors of GDM and of the maternal and neonatal complications were studied in order to prevent their occurrence. Materials and Methods: The study included 97 women in the study, who underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) between weeks 24–28 of pregnancy, consequently being divided into two groups: pregnant women with and without GDM. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 26.0 software and MATLAB fitglm, the results being considered statistically significant if p Results: We observed statistically significant differences between the group of women with and without GDM, regarding gestational hypertension (17.6% vs. 0%), preeclampsia (13.72% vs. 0%), and cesarean delivery (96.1% vs. 78,3%). Data on the newborn and neonatal complications: statistically significant differences were recorded between the two groups (GDM vs. no GDM) regarding the average weight at birth (3339.41 ± 658.12 g vs. 3122.83 ± 173.67 g), presence of large for gestational age (21.6% vs. 0%), macrosomia (13.7% vs. 0%), excessive fetal growth (35.3% vs. 0%), respiratory distress (31.4% vs. 0%), hospitalization for at least 24 h in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (9.80% vs. 0%), and APGAR score Conclusions: The screening and diagnosis of GDM is vital, and appropriate management is required for the prevention of maternal and neonatal complications associated with GDM. It is also important to know the risk factors for GDM and attempt to prevent their appearance
Transient Polyhydramnios during Pregnancy Complicated with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Case Report and Systematic Review
No full textPolyhydramnios is an obstetrical condition defined as a pathological increase in the amniotic fluid and is associated with a high risk of maternal-fetal complications. Common causes of polyhydramnios include fetal anatomical and genetic abnormalities, gestational diabetes mellitus, and fetal viral infections. We present the case of a 30-year-old Caucasian woman with transient polyhydramnios associated with gestational diabetes mellitus and obstetric complications. The diagnosis was based on the ultrasound assessment of amniotic fluid volume during a common examination at 26 weeks. Two weeks prior, the patient had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus. After 4 days, the patient was examined, and the amniotic fluid index returned to normal values. At 38 weeks, the patient presented to the emergency room due to lack of fetal active movement. Ultrasound revealed polyhydramnios, the patient was admitted for severe fetal bradycardia, and fetal extraction through emergency cesarian section was performed. Six weeks after birth, the patient underwent an oral glucose tolerance test with normal values, confirming gestational diabetes mellitus. We performed a systematic review of the literature on polyhydramnios, from January 2016 to April 2022, to analyze all recent published cases and identify the most common etiological causes and important aspects related to maternal-fetal outcomes
Gestational Diabetes and Preterm Birth: What Do We Know? Our Experience and Mini-Review of the Literature
No full textBackground: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. The incidence of GDM has been on the rise in tandem with the increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide. We focused on the study of what causes premature births and if there are methods to prevent these events that can result in long-term complications. Methods: This study was a prospective, non-interventional study that lasted for 4 years from December 2018 to December 2022. From the group of women enrolled in the study, we selected and analyzed the characteristics of women who gave birth prematurely. Additionally, we performed a systematic review examining the association between GDM and the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Results: In total, 78% underwent an emergency caesarean and had polyhydramnios. The results indicate that women who had a preterm delivery had a significantly higher maternal age compared to those who had a term delivery (p < 0.001). Conversely, there was no significant difference in preconception BMI between the two groups (p = 0.12). Conclusions: In terms of the understanding of GDM and preterm birth, several gaps in our knowledge remain. The association between GDM and preterm birth is likely multifactorial, involving various maternal factors
An Update of Medical Nutrition Therapy in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
No full textGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a serious and frequent pregnancy complication that can lead to short and long-term risks for both mother and fetus. Different health organizations proposed different algorithms for the screening, diagnosis, and management of GDM. Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), together with physical exercise and frequent self-monitoring, represents the milestone for GDM treatment in order to reduce maternal and fetal complications. The pregnant woman should benefit from her family support and make changes in their lifestyles, changes that, in the end, will be beneficial for the whole family. The aim of this manuscript is to review the literature about the Medical Nutrition Therapy in GDM and its crucial role in GDM management
