41 research outputs found
A multicentric study of annual economic cost and social impact of rheumatoid arthritis in Italy
No full text
Development of antimicrobial and hydrophobic hot‐melt BioCoatings for cellulosic and biobased plastic substrates
No full textThis study addresses the growing need for sustainable, functional protection packaging by developing bio-based hot-melt coatings (HMCs) enriched with active biomolecules such as chitin, chitosan, and cutin. Current coatings are petroleum-based and not multi-functional and therefore, there is a necessity to discover more eco-friendly, high-performance alternatives. For this aim, a novel liquid-assisted extrusion process for efficient loading of bioactive compounds into a low-melting poly(butylene sebacate) (PBSe) matrix was explored. Optimized dispersing aids were used to form stable emulsions for homogeneous distribution of the biomolecules and prevention of agglomeration. Thermal and rheological measurements were carried out, and the resultant coatings were applied on both plastic and cellulosic substrates. The most significant findings include an extremely high rise in water repellency (hydrophobic behavior), mechanical behavior, and antimicrobial activity over bare substrates. Such improvement signifies the multifunctional ability of the coatings. The process adopted is easily scalable for industrial applications and represents a sustainable alternative to conventional coatings. Future studies will focus on the optimization of active loadings for specific end-use applications and evaluation of long-term environmental performance. Highlights: Developing bio-based hot-melt coatings with chitin, chitosan, and cutin. Using liquid-assisted extrusion for uniform biomolecule dispersion. Enhancing water repellence and antimicrobial properties. Improving mechanical strength on cellulosic and plastic substrates. Enabling scalable and sustainable industrial applications
Biradicaloid and Polyenic Character of Quinoidal Oligothiophenes Revealed by the Presence of a Low-Lying Double-Exciton State
No full textABSTRACT: Evidence of the biradicaloid and polyenic character of quinoidal oligothiophenes is reported by proving at the CASSCF//CASPT2 computational level the presence of a low-lying double exciton state responsible for the weak features observed in the NIR absorption region of the longest members of this class of molecules. The energy lowering of this state, accompanying the length increase in the oligomers, causes a displacement of the ground-state equilibrium geometry toward more biradicaloid structures because of the more efficient S0-S1 state mixing. Furthermore, it is shown that the doubly excited state is strongly coupled to the ground electronic state, and the coupling is mediated by a collective mode dominated by the out-of-phase stretching of adjacent CC bonds, recently shown to govern the Raman activity. All together, this evidence offers a unified view of the low-lying electronic states for quinoidal oligothiophenes and polyenes
Platelet-rich plasma and ovarian quiescence: a bovine in vitro model for regeneration of the ovary
No full textContext: Ovarian quiescence can be due to hormonal deficiency usually caused by apoptosis of granulosa cells responsible for oestrogen synthesis. Aim: This study evaluated the regenerative effect of platelet rich plasma (PRP) on bovine in vitro models to understand its effect on granulosa cells. Methods: Quiescent and healthy ovarian sections were cultured in the presence/absence of PRP for 72h and, at different times (0, 24, 48 and 72h), hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical detection of Ki-67 were performed. Additionally, granulosa cells collected from healthy bovine ovaries were stressed with 100ng/mL of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in presence/absence of PRP and evaluated at 0, 4, 8 and 24h for apoptosis by acridine orange and propidium iodide staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests were performed to evaluate oestrogen (E2) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations on cultures of ovarian slices and granulosa cells. Key results: In slides of quiescent ovaries treated with PRP, a marked and widespread positivity to Ki-67 was expressed by 40-60% of the follicular wall cells at 48h of culture. Levels of E2 and AMH were significantly higher compared to untreated quiescent samples reaching the levels of healthy control samples. PRP counteracted the LPS effect and apoptosis (at 24h, there were 93.44±3.51% live cells with LPS+PRP compared to 37±1.32% with LPS) and significantly increased concentrations of E2 and AMH. Conclusions: PRP can stimulate granulosa cell proliferation and counteract inflammatory processes in vitro. Implications: This treatment could improve the reproductive ability of quiescent females
The Effects of Bone Density Testing at Health Fairs on Awareness and Treatment of Osteoporosis
No full textObjective. To describe the experiences of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when admitted to hospital. Methods. A selected sample of 9 women with RA of at least 3 years duration, who had experienced at least 5 days of inpatient care within the previous 2 years, underwent unstructured interviews in this qualitative, phenomenological study. Information from the interviews was analyzed using Colaizzi's 6 procedural steps. Results. Five major themes emerged from the study: uncertainty during the first admission to hospital; the process of becoming an experienced patient on subsequent admissions; the evident experience and knowledge of staff; the effect, both positive and negative, of other patients; and the loss of privacy. Conclusion. These findings throw important new light on the experience of patients with RA receiving inpatient rheumatologic care and have the potential to significantly advance nursing practice within rheumatology
Il caso Cuba : centro del Mediterraneo caraibico americano nella contraddittorietà dei processi di integrazione mondiale. Ipotesi per una azione congiunta delle risorse contro la frammentazione delle relazioni produttive e la ricerca di una originale prospettiva di transizione per gli assetti insediativi : il mercato alternativo fra cattolicesimo, ipercapitalismo e rivoluzione socialista. L'Avana : le legazioni dei Paesi di bacino e la fiera campionaria
No full textLAUREA MAGISTRALEL'interesse scientifico di una tesi di laurea sul Centroamerica, su Cuba e L 'Avana risiede nella possibilità e necessità di prefigurare e sperimentare una fase di sviluppo che non necessariamente ripercorrerà i modelli economici, insediativi, e anche architettonici, del mondo occidentale, ma neppure taluni di quelli invalsi per inculturazione in molti paesi della Latinoamerica.
Diceva Franz Fanon alcuni decenni orsono: "Il Terzo Mondo non deve accontentarsi di definirsi riguardo a valori che lo hanno preceduto. I paesi sottosviluppati devono invece sforzarsi di mettere in luce valori che sian loro propri, dei metodi e uno stile che sian loro specifici".
Una volta caduto l’embargo, Cuba dovrà trovare una propria strada di sviluppo che da un lato le permetta di uscire da una crisi drammatica prodottasi al venir meno dei tradizionali rapporti economici con i paesi dell’ex est europeo, e dall’altro di avviare un processo di controllo dell’impetuoso sviluppo turistico degli ultimi anni, fonte di introiti di moneta pregiata irrinunciabili, ma al tempo stesso causa di laceranti contraddizioni sul piano sociale non meno che su quello insediativo e architettonico.
Se ormai si è fatta corrente l’opinione che l’intero Sud America debba puntare come risorsa soprattutto sul proprio patrimonio storico culturale, confortando tale aspettativa attraverso una serie di investimenti-interventi mirati alla rivalorizzazione del paesaggio naturale e dei monumenti, assai più complessa e intricata risulta la situazione nell’isola cubana, dove la previsione di un allentamento dell’embargo statunitense potrebbe produrre effetti speculativi sull’economia locale e sull’equilibrio insediativo e territoriale.
L'intenzione della tesi è stata quella di indagare quali occasioni, in un ambito di siffatte dimensioni, sarà possibile sfruttare per organizzare interventi progettuali alle diverse scale, territoriale, urbana, e anche architettonica, per proporre possibili soluzioni agli squilibri e alle contraddizioni che inevitabilmente saranno generati, in un nuovo regime economico, all’interno delle città cubane e in particolar modo nella capitale.
La necessità di una perlustrazione che sappia considerare la città dell’Avana come corpo vivente, strutturata secondo una ricca eredità storica e tradizionalmente aperta agli incentivi prodotti dalle relazioni a scala internazionale, incline al suo connaturato respiro territoriale, ha permesso alla tesi di proporre possibili sperimentazioni progettuali che eludono alcune presunzioni modellistiche e standardizzate della disciplina urbanistica, mettendo in luce "caso per caso” valori e specificità localmente insediate
Extracellular vesicles from seminal plasma to improve fertilizing capacity of bulls
No full textSeminal plasma contains extracellular vesicles (EVs) that vehicle RNA, proteins, and other molecules able to influence the biological function of sperm. The aim of this study was to improve the fertilizing capacity of male gametes of low-fertility bulls using EVs isolated by ultracentrifugation from the seminal plasma of a bull of proven fertility. After dose-response curve, 10×106 sperm of low-fertility bulls were co-incubated for an hour with 400×106 EVs/ml. In addition, it has been verified that the incorporation of EVs, which takes place in the sperm midpiece, is maintained for 5 hours and even after cryopreservation. Subsequently, the spermatozoa of low-fertility bulls, with EVs incorporated, were used for the in vitro production of embryos. The rate of blastocyst at seventh day yield in vitro, with the use of sperm with EVs incorporated, increased by about twice the yield obtained with the same sperm in the absence of EVs: bulls having an average embryonic yield of 6.41±1.48%, 10.32±4.34% and 10.92±0.95% improved their yield to 21.21±1.99%, 22.17±6.09% and 19.99±5.78%, respectively (P<0.05). These encouraging results suggest that it might be possible to keep breeding bulls with poor fertility. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the in vivo fertility of sperm treated with EVs and understand how the content of EVs is involve in the sperm-vesicle interaction and in the improved sperm performance
Città Lombardia. Nuovi ruoli per Milano sulla direttrice nordovest : Expo 2015
No full textLAUREA MAGISTRAL
Endometrial and oviduct extra-cellular vescicles for in vitro equine sperm hyperactivation and oocyte fertilization
No full textUnlike humans and many other mammalian species, conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) in equine species is not successful. To mimic in vitro equine spermatozoon-oviduct interaction as close as possible to that which occurs in vivo, extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by the female genital tract were used. Three female genital tracts were collected at slaughterhouse from mares in late estrus. Ipsilateral proximal and apical horn endometrial explants were digested with collagenase and trypsin and cells obtained were cultured on insert system to allow their polarization. Ipsilateral oviducts were squeezed out to obtain spheroids. To produce EVs, proximal and apical horn endometrial cells and oviductal spheroids were cultured for three days in serum free medium. To trace interaction between spermatozoa and EVs by fluorescence microscopy, EVs were differently labeled. Pooled samples of ejaculated spermatozoa from three stallions were incubated in capacitating medium (CM) for 6 h and to induce hyperactivation for other 6 h in CM supplemented with different kind of EVs alone or in combination. A control was performed in absence of EVs. Sperm were assessed for motility by CASA system, EV incorporation by confocal microscopy and acrosomal reaction (AR) by staining with FITC-PNA/PI. In vitro fertilization was performed, and presumed zygotes were subjected to chromatin configuration. The results show that incorporation of EVs of the proximal horn does not take place, while apical horn EVs are incorporated in the head of the spermatozoon in 4 h. The EVs of oviductal spheroids are incorporated in the middle tract in 1 h. The rate of AR with EVs of the apical horn and oviductal spheroids were respectively 50.25% and 57.14%. When these EVs were added in combination, the rate of AR was 71.42%. In the control, the rate of AR was of 15%. After in vitro fertilization, 44% of oocytes showed male and female pronuclei, whereas no fertilization is obtained in the control. In conclusion, EVs from apical horn and oviduct could be involved in cell trafficking during equine semen hyperactivation, and their possible use in vitro could facilitate the development of equine reproductive biotechnologies
