751 research outputs found
Compagni e gastaldi della Scuola dei remèri: hrvatski veslari u Mlecima (XV. – XVII. stoljeće)
No full textSredišnja tema rada odnosi se na djelovanje hrvatskih veslara, tj. izrađivača vesala (mletačkim dijalektom remèra) u Mlecima u razdoblju od XV. do XVII. stoljeća. Na osnovi izvorne arhivske građe iz mletačkih pismohrana (Državni arhiv u Mlecima, Arhiv bratovštine Sv. Jurja i Tripuna u Mlecima) te uvidom u Statut (Mariégola)
bratovštine veslara ukazuje se na neke od temeljnih sastavnica njihovoga društvenog i profesionalnog svakodnevlja (zavičajno podrijetlo, mjesto stanovanja, gospodarske mogućnosti, veze sa sunarodnjacima i drugo). Posebna pozornost pridaje se hrvatskim
veslarima koji su u svojoj strukovnoj udruzi tijekom XVI. stoljeća obnašali najviše dužnosti (predstojnici odnosno gastaldi bratovštine)
Mammalian aquaglyceroporin function in metabolism
No full textAbstractAquaglyceroporins are integral membrane proteins that are permeable to glycerol as well as water. The movement of glycerol from a tissue/organ to the plasma and vice versa requires the presence of different aquaglyceroporins that can regulate the entrance or the exit of glycerol across the plasma membrane. Actually, different aquaglyceroporins have been discovered in the adipose tissue, small intestine, liver, kidney, heart, skeletal muscle, endocrine pancreas and capillary endothelium, and their differential expression could be related to obesity and the type 2 diabetes.Here we describe the expression and function of different aquaglyceroporins in physiological condition and in obesity and type 2 diabetes, suggesting they are potential therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders
Hormonal control of subcutaneous adipose tissue aquaglyceroporins
No full textGlycerol metabolism in normal condition and in metabolic disorders like type-2 diabetes and obesity could depend at least in part on the transmembrane transport mechanisms of glycerol. Aquaglyceroporins (AQPs) are integral membrane protein belonging to the water channel proteins family (aquaporins) that are permeable to glycerol as well as water. Adipose tissue, the main source of plasma glycerol, expresses high levels of AQP7 but also AQP3, 9, 10. Recently, in adipose tissue was also found AQP11, whose permeability to glycerol is uncertain. However, the hormonal regulation of AQPs in the adipose tissue is not completely characterized. To this purpose we evaluated the effect of insulin, isoproterenol, thyroxin, dexamethasone in human isolated adipose tissue by real time RT-PCR. Immunocytochemistry was also performed to define the localization of the AQPs. Results showed that all the AQPs investigated are expressed in the human subcutaneous adipose tissue with a localization of AQP3,7 and 10 in both plasma membranes and in lipid droplets membranes, AQP9 mainly in the plasma membrane and AQP11 in the lipid droplets membrane. Generally, lipolytic and lipogenic stimuli differently affected the AQPs expression which depicts a complex situation involving, probably, different signaling pathway. These results and other recently described by the literature seem support the existence of different AQPs that under hormonal control and in pathological conditions can modify their expression levels and cellular localization, suggesting them as potential therapeutic targets in obesity and metabolic syndrome
Validation of a functional method for joints parameters assessment in gait analysis using subject-specific human modeling
No full textIndoor motion analysis of a subject wearing prosthesis for adaptive snowboarding
No full textThe growing popularity of adaptive snowboarding has motivated the designs of new prostheses for lower limb amputees.
In the paper the biomechanics of an amputee subject wearing an energy-storing trans-femoral prosthesis for snowboarding is investigated.
Experimental motion analysis lab tests were conducted by two expert surfers, an amputee and an able body subject, in order to compare the different behaviours. Results for the two subjects and for different working conditions are reported and analysed.
A strong dependence of the prosthesis behaviour on working conditions, especially on working frequency, can be pointed out
Multi-segments kinematic model of the human spine during gait
No full textThe complex biomechanical structure of the human spine requires a deep investigation to properly describe its physiological function and its kinematic contribution during motion. The computational approach allows the segmentation of the human spine into several rigid bodies connected by 3D joints. Despite the numerous solutions proposed by previous literature studies based on both inertial and stereophotogrammetric systems, the modelling of the human spine is characterized by some limitations such as the lack of standardization. Accordingly, the present preliminary study focused on the development of a multi-segments kinematic model of the human spine and its validation during gait trials. Three-dimensional spinal angular patterns and ranges of motion of one healthy young subject were considered as outcomes of interest. They were obtained by applying the YXZ Euler angles convention to the custom model. First, results were compared with those of the standard Plug-in-Gait full-body model, which segments the human spine into pelvis and trunk segments. Then, outcomes of the multi-segments model were compared with those obtained using the Tilt-Twist method. Overall, results stressed the importance of the spine segmentation, the major angular contributions of spinal regions during gait (Medium-Lumbar segments for lateral bending and flexion-extension, Thoracic-Medium segments for axial rotation), and the reliability of the proposed custom model (differences between Euler angles method and Tilt-Twist method lower than 0.5° in most cases). Future analysis on a larger healthy population and in the clinical context might be implemented to optimize, standardize and validate the proposed human spine model
Feasibility study of a functional method for joints parameters estimation in gait analysis
No full textEffects of botulinum neurotoxin on spatio-temporal gait parameters of patients with chronic stroke: a prospective open-label study
No full textNowadays, administration of botulinum neurotoxin type A is considered a safe, well tolerated and effective treatment for muscles tone reduction in focal spasticity care. Lack of evidence regards instead its functional role on gait parameters, as well pattern
Expression and immunolocalization of aaquaporin-7 in rat gastrointestinal tract
No full textBackground information. In the gastrointestinal tract of mammals, water can either be secreted with digestive juices or absorbed by the small and large intestine. Transcellular water movement can be mediated by the transmembrane protein family of AQPs (aquaporins), as has also been recently identified in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the localization, expression and functioning of AQPs in the gastrointestinal tract have not been completely characterized. For the present study, we investigated: (1) the expression of AQP7 in some portions of rat gastrointestinal tract by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR and by immunoblotting and (2) the cellular and subcellular localization of AQP7 by immunohistochemistry. Results. AQP7 mRNA and proteins were highly expressed in the small intestine, weakly in the caecum, colon and rectum and were absent in the stomach. Immunoblotting analysis using rat gastrointestinal tract membrane fractions showed two major bands corresponding to a molecular mass of approx. 34 and 40 kDa for the AQP7 protein. No bands were observed when the anti-AQP7 antibody was preadsorbed with the immunizing peptide. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong AQP7 labelling in the surface epithelial cells of duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum, colon and rectum, whereas weak or no labelling was observed in the crypt cells. The labelling was manifest particularly in the apical membrane but intracellular staining was also observed. Conclusions. The results indicate that AQP7 is present in the small and large intestine. The higher expression of AQP7 protein at the apical pole of the superficial epithelial cells suggests its involvement in rapid fluid movement through the villus epithelium
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