117,650 research outputs found
Appendice documentaria. Testimonianze di arte, cultura e politica a Ferrara negli anni del fascismo
No full textSelezione di testimonianze utili a inquadrare la committenza ad Achille Funi degli affreschi della Sala della Consulta, in Palazzo Comunale, nella Ferrara degli anni del fascismo
Le lezioni-testimonianza. Analisi del contenuto
No full textNel contributo gli autori presentano i risultati dell'analisi del contenuto effettuata sul corpus testuale accumulato con i testi delle trascrizioni delle le lezioni-testimonianza e delle interviste. Il lavoro è stato condotto in una prima fase da coppie di ricercatori che hanno analizzato ciascuna un'area di contenuto (i tre quesiti alla base della ricerca): a) come apprendono i bambini; b) verso quali saperi sono orientati; c) con quali scelte didattiche. Laura Cerrocchi, Jovanka Rivi e Giusi Casasanta hanno scritto il par. 1 Come apprendono i bambini, pp.101-126, Antonio Gariboldi ha scritto il par. 2 I saperi verso cui gli insegnanti orientano i bambini, pp.126-143, Luciano Cecconi, dopo essersi confrontato con Paola Cagliari in merito all’analisi delle testimonianze sul tema “Le scelte didattiche degli operatori”, ha scritto il par. 3 "Le scelte didattiche degli operatori: contenuti e motivazioni", pp.144-184. Per quanto riguarda il par.1, nello specifico Laura Cerrocchi ha scritto il par. 1.3 per le voci: e, f, g, h, i, l, m e il par. 1.4. Jovanka Rivi ha scritto i parr.1 e 1.1 e il par. 1.2 per le voci a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h e i. Giusi Casasanta ha scritto il par. 1.2 per le voci l, m, n, o, p, q, r e il par. 1.3 per le voci a, b, c e d
Lymnaea stagnalis come modello per la ricerca traslazionale nell'ambito delle Neuroscienze: dallo stagno al bancone di laboratorio
No full textGli alti costi in termini di gestione, tempo e lavoro legati all'uso dei mammiferi nella ricerca biomedica hanno reso sempre più urgente la necessità di individuare modelli alternativi più economici e semplici ma altrettanto efficaci. Lo scopo della mia tesi è stata la caratterizzazione della chiocciola di stagno Lymnaea stagnalis come modello per le Neuroscienze Traslazionali. Gli studi bioinformatici, molecolari e comportamentali condotti hanno dimostrato la validità e la versatilità di questo modello e hanno permesso di esaminare fenomeni finora osservati solo nei mammiferi. In particolare, è emerso che:
(1) L. stagnalis consente di approfondire il dialogo tra il sistema nervoso e immunitario, inclusi gli effetti dell’infiammazione sulle funzioni cognitive. Il trattamento con uno stimolo infiammatorio (lipopolisaccaride - LPS) è stato in grado di modulare l’espressione degli enzimi della pathway delle chinurenine nel sistema nervoso centrale di L. stagnalis. Questa pathway è altamente conservata tra vertebrati e invertebrati e metabolizza il triptofano in diversi cataboliti neuroattivi, i quali possono essere sia neurotossici che neuroprotettivi. Lo stesso stimolo è stato in grado di alterare il comportamento e le performance cognitive delle chiocciole, come osservato in organismi più complessi, uomo incluso. Questi effetti possono essere eliminati trattando preventivamente gli animali con un composto antinfiammatorio come l’aspirina.
(2) L. stagnalis è in grado di formare il Garcia effect, una forma di apprendimento complesso che consiste in un’avversione condizionata a un sapore nuovo a seguito della sua associazione a uno stimolo avverso che induce un malessere viscerale, incontrato fino a 48h ore dopo. Come precedentemente dimostrato nel modello di roditore e nell’uomo, è stata sufficiente una singola presentazione dei due stimoli per generare una duratura e specifica avversione per questo sapore. L. stagnalis rappresenta quindi un modello semplificato per lo studio dei meccanismi alla base del Garcia effect negli organismi più complessi.
(3) L. stagnalis può essere utilizzata per studiare gli effetti del riscaldamento globale sulla resilienza, i comportamenti adattativi e le funzioni cognitive degli organismi. L'esposizione giornaliera a uno shock termico ha aumentato la sensibilità alle temperature delle chiocciole di laboratorio (mantenute a temperature costanti per generazioni), ma non è stato un fattore di stress per le chiocciole appena raccolte nei loro habitat naturali (dove sono state esposte a considerevoli escursioni termiche), né per la loro progenie nata e allevata in laboratorio. Questi risultati hanno suggerito un duplice ruolo della genetica e della plasticità fisiologica nella termo-tolleranza.
(4) L. stagnalis permette di studiare gli effetti di composti naturali bioattivi su apprendimento e memoria. L'esposizione acuta al flavonoide quercetina si è dimostrata in grado di migliorare la formazione della memoria a lungo termine, mentre a livello molecolare ha indotto un’up-regolazione della via serotoninergica e di CREB1 (cAMP response element-binding protein 1), i quali svolgono un ruolo chiave e altamente conservato nei processi di plasticità sinaptica.
Anche se i modelli animali non potranno mai riassumere l'intero fenotipo dei cervelli umani, i risultati presentati nella mia tesi hanno illustrato che, se spostata dallo stagno al banco di laboratorio, L. stagnalis rappresenta un modello valido per aprire nuove frontiere nelle Neuroscienze Traslazionali. L'obiettivo finale di questo progetto è quello di fornire un ulteriore strumento per promuovere lo spostamento della ricerca dal banco di laboratorio al letto dei pazienti, 'traducendo' i dati ottenuti nelle chiocciole ai mammiferi.The high costs in time and efforts associated with the use of mammals in biomedical research are creating a pressing demand for alternative models that are cheaper and simpler, but still effective. The aim of my thesis was the characterization of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis as a model for Translational Neuroscience. Different bioinformatics, molecular, and behavioural studies have been performed to show the validity and versatility of this model to study phenomena so far demonstrated only in mammals.
In particular, it has been shown that (1) L. stagnalis can be used to elucidate the conserved dialogue between the immune and nervous systems and to study the effects of inflammation on cognitive functions. An immune challenge (i.e., injection of lipopolysaccharide – LPS) affected the transcriptional levels of the enzymes of the kynurenine pathway in L. stagnalis’ central nervous ganglia. This conserved pathway in vertebrates and invertebrates catabolizes the aminoacid tryptophan into several neuroactive metabolites which can exert both neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects. The same immune challenge was able to alter snails’ adaptive behaviours and to obstruct their ability to form or show long-term memory (LTM), as observed for more complex organisms. These behavioural effects were prevented by exposing L. stagnalis to an anti-inflammatory compound, like aspirin, before the LPS injection, suggesting the involvement of immune-related molecules in mediating LPS-induced sequelae. The results of these studies gave important translational contributions for elucidating the effects of inflammation on the central nervous system.
(2) L. stagnalis is capable of the Garcia effect, a higher form of learning, consisting of a conditioned aversion to an appetitive food stimulus consumed hours before the exposure to an aversive, nausea-inducing stimulus. As previously demonstrated in rodents and humans, a single paired presentation of these stimuli was sufficient to create a long-lasting and taste-specific gustatory aversion. This study allowed to elucidate the causal underpinnings of the Garcia effect in higher animals.
(3) L. stagnalis can be used to predict the effects of the current global warming on animal resilience, adaptive behaviours, and cognitive functions. Daily exposure to a thermal shock increased the thermal sensitivity of laboratory-reared snails, which have been maintained under constant laboratory temperatures for generations. However, this ‘habitat-related challenge’ did not appear to be a stressor in freshly collected snails, that had experienced severe thermal fluctuations in their natural environment, nor in their progeny born and raised in lab conditions. These results allowed a better understanding of the role of genetic changes and physiological plasticity on thermotolerance.
(4) L. stagnalis is a versatile model to examine the effects of bioactive natural compounds on learning and memory. Exposure to the flavonoid quercetin upregulated the serotoninergic pathway and CREB1 (cAMP response element-binding protein 1), a key regulator of synaptic plasticity in several in vivo models, in L. stagnalis’ central ganglia. This molecular effect was accompanied by an enhancement of LTM acquisition, consolidation, recall, and reconsolidation.
Although animal models can never summarize the full phenotype of human brains, findings presented in my thesis illustrated that, when moved from pond to bench, L. stagnalis represents a valid model to open new frontiers in Translational Neuroscience. The ultimate goal of this project is to provide an additional tool to promote and sustain the rational and move research from bench to bedside, ‘translating’ data from snails to mammals, and maybe to humans
THE MEDITERRANEAN GROUP II: ANALYSES OF VESSELS FROM ETRUSCAN CONTEXTS IN NORTHERN ITALY
No full textA large sample set of transparent and opaque glass artefacts recovered from Etruscan contexts innorthern Italy (Bologna and Spina (FE) necropoleis) and dated to a period between the 6th and 4thcentury BC are analysed in this paper. Samples of highly decorated beads, spindle whorls and vessels ofthe ‘Mediterranean Group I’ (Alabastron, Oinochoes, Amphoriskos) were selected in order to determinewhether these different glass artefacts were produced at the same manufacturing site. While the vesselsalmost certainly originate from Greece, the beads could derive from a more ancient local productionascertained at the site of Frattesina (Rovigo, Italy) and dated to the Bronze Age.The aims of this study are: (i) to characterise a set of Iron Age glass artefacts, thus providing newquantitative chemical data; and (ii) to identify possible differences between finds recovered fromdifferent localities and between glass vessels and beads, in order to establish whether different manufactureswere active contemporaneously.The chemical analyses of major and minor elements were performed with an electron microprobe. Thenature of the opacifying and colouring agents was determined by X-ray diffraction. The sample set isrelatively homogeneous and most of the samples can be classified as low magnesium glass. The yellowopaque decorations are rich in Pb and Sb, while only Sb is present in the white and light blue samples.The XRD analyses confirmed the presence of lead antimonates in the yellow decorations and of calciumantimonates in the white and light blue decorations
Rivi Pliniani, Seu Imitationes, e C. Plinii Secundi Panegyrico Deductae, & fere Ad Res Temporum Nostrorum Accommodatae,
No full textRIVI PLINIANI, SEU IMITATIONES, E C. PLINII SECUNDI PANEGYRICO DEDUCTAE, & FERE AD RES TEMPORUM NOSTRORUM ACCOMMODATAE,
Rivi Pliniani, Seu Imitationes, e C. Plinii Secundi Panegyrico Deductae, & fere Ad Res Temporum Nostrorum Accommodatae, ( - )
Cover ( - )
Titelseite ([1]r)
Dedication ([1]v)
Juventuti Eloquentiam amanti S. ([6]v)
Cap. I. - Cap. XIX. (1)
Cap. XXII. - Cap. LXVIII. (29)
Cap. L. - Cap. LII. LIII. LIV. LV. (64)
Oratio, Generaliter illa tractans argumenta, quibus uti solent Nuntii Terrestres ... (74)
Cùm Serenissimus ac Potentissimus Princeps ac Dominus, Dominus Joannes III. ... (86)
In Serenissimae Reginae Poloniae Ingressum in Urbem Gedansem Auspicatissimum ... (89)
Raduna Elegiaca ex Heroica Magni Viri Joachimi Pastorii ab Hirtenberg ... (91
Anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies improve cognitive function in patients affected by chronic migraine complicated with medication overuse-headache
No full textBackground: Migraine represents one of the most disabling neurological diseases in the world. This burden is primarily due to recurrent pain episodes, alongside cognitive function impairments that patients may experience. This paper aims to explore the effect of three anti-calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) – erenumab, fremanezumab, and galcanezumab – on the cognitive performance of a sample of patients suffering from migraine using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) questionnaire. Methods: A total of 215 patients suffering from migraine who visited the Modena Headache Center were enrolled. The MoCA questionnaire was filled in by the patients at the baseline and subsequent assessments were conducted at 6 and 12 months thereafter. Additionally, patients were requested to complete the 6-item Headache Impact Test, Migraine Disability Assessment Score, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale every three months. Results: The sample was composed of 82% of female participants and 87% of the enrolled patients were diagnosed with chronic migraine. Following one year of treatment, there was a significant enhancement observed in MoCA scores compared to baseline measurements. Moreover, higher consumption of analgesics, elevated body mass index (BMI), and prolonged chronic migraine history exhibited an inverse correlation with MoCA score improvements after 12 months. Conclusions: Erenumab, fremanezumab, and galcanezumab have proven to be effective in relieving the cognitive impairment associated with migraine after 1 year of treatment. These findings underscore the reversibility of cognitive impairment among migraine sufferers, even among those suffering from chronic migraine, as delineated by the majority of the patients under study. This study revealed that prolonged chronic migraine history, higher baseline analgesic intake, and elevated BMI were all predictive of diminished cognitive enhancements following treatment
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
A change in taste: the role of microRNAs in altering hedonic value
No full text: The mechanisms associated with neophobia and anhedonia remain largely unknown. Neuropsychological disorders such as depression and schizophrenia are associated with excessive fear and anhedonia, and have been linked to microRNA 137. We hypothesized that microRNAs (miRNAs) in the snail Lymnaea stagnalis are important for regulating feeding behaviour through either preventing neophobia or establishing hedonic value. To test these hypotheses, we used an injection of poly-l-lysine (PLL) to inhibit miRNA biogenesis and observed its effects on feeding behaviour. We repeated these experiments with pre-exposure to novel stimuli capable of eliciting neophobia to disentangle the processes predicted to regulate feeding behaviour. Next, we exposed snails to food stimuli of high hedonic value after PLL injection to reset their hedonic value for that food. Finally, we consolidated our results with previous research by examining the effect of PLL injection on a one-trial appetitive classical conditioning procedure (1TT) to induce long-term memory (LTM). We found that miRNAs are likely not required for preventing neophobia. Moreover, we discovered that snails experienced anhedonia in response to inhibition of miRNA biogenesis, resulting in diminished feeding behaviour for food stimuli with a previously high hedonic value. Snails showed diminished feeding behaviour for multiple food stimuli of high hedonic value post-1TT with PLL injection. This finding suggests that PLL causes anhedonia rather than an impairment of LTM formation following the 1TT procedure. This is the first evidence suggesting that inhibiting the biogenesis of miRNAs contributes to anhedonia in L. stagnalis
Radio weak lensing shear measurement in the visibility domain - II. Source extraction
No full textThis paper extends the method introduced in Rivi et al. (2016b) to measure galaxy ellipticities in the visibility domain for radio weak lensing surveys. In that paper, we focused on the development and testing of the method for the simple case of individual galaxies located at the phase centre, and proposed to extend it to the realistic case of many sources in the field of view by isolating visibilities of each source with a faceting technique. In this second paper, we present a detailed algorithm for source extraction in the visibility domain and show its effectiveness as a function of the source number density by running simulations of SKA1-MID observations in the band 950–1150 MHz and comparing original and measured values of galaxies’ ellipticities. Shear measurements from a realistic population of 104 galaxies randomly located in a field of view of 1
deg2
deg2
(i.e. the source density expected for the current radio weak lensing survey proposal with SKA1) are also performed. At SNR ≥ 10, the multiplicative bias is only a factor 1.5 worse than what found when analysing individual sources, and is still comparable to the bias values reported for similar measurement methods at optical wavelengths. The additive bias is unchanged from the case of individual sources, but it is significantly larger than typically found in optical surveys. This bias depends on the shape of the uv coverage and we suggest that a uv-plane weighting scheme to produce a more isotropic shape could reduce and control additive bias
Square Dancing with the Stars to Enhance Dynamic Hirschman Linkages?
No full textIn this Presidential Address, the author takes the reader on a reconnaissance of his life and time as a regional scientist. He points out scenery he found scintillating along the way, hoping that some may pick up the banner and chew on a few of the ideas for a while. He suggests a revisit to Albert O. Hirschman’s notion of key sectors and more empirical analysis related to Marcus Berliant’s and Masahisa Fujita’s notion of knowledge creation and transfer.Presidential Address, San Antonio, Texas, March 29, 2014 (53rd Meetings of the Southern Regional Science Association
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