1,359 research outputs found
First person – Simona Amodeo
No full textABSTRACT
First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Journal of Cell Science, helping early-career researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Simona Amodeo is the first author on ‘Characterization of the novel mitochondrial genome replication factor MiRF172 in Trypanosoma brucei’, published in Journal of Cell Science. Simona is a PhD student in the lab of Torsten Ochsenreiter at the Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Switzerland, investigating mitochondrial genome anchoring, replication and inheritance in Trypanosoma brucei.</jats:p
Environmental and genetic contribution to hypertension prevalence: data from an epidemiological survey on Sardinian genetic isolates.
No full textBackground and objectivesHypertension represents a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide but its prevalence has been shown to vary in different countries. The reasons for such differences are still matter of debate, the relative contributions given by environmental and genetic factors being still poorly defined. We estimated the current prevalence, distribution and determinants of hypertension in isolated Sardinian populations and also investigated the environmental and genetic contribution to hypertension prevalence taking advantage of the characteristics of such populations.Methods and resultsAn epidemiological survey with cross-sectional design was carried out measuring blood pressure in 9845 inhabitants of 10 villages of Ogliastra region between 2002 and 2008. Regression analysis for assessing blood pressure determinants and variance component models for estimating heritability were performed. Overall 38.8% of this population had hypertension, its prevalence varying significantly by age, sex and among villages taking into account age and sex structure of their population. About 50% of hypertensives had prior cardiovascular disease. High blood pressure was independently associated with age, obesity related factors, heart rate, total cholesterol, alcohol consumption, low education and smoking status, all these factors contributing more in women than in men. Heritability was 27% for diastolic and 36% for systolic blood pressure, its contribution being significantly higher in men (57%) than in women (46%). Finally, the genetic correlation between systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 0.74, indicating incomplete pleiotropy.ConclusionGenetic factors involved in the expression of blood pressure traits account for about 30% of the phenotypic variance, but seem to play a larger role in men; comorbidities and environmental factors remain of predominant importance, but seem to contribute much more in women
A population-based study of an Italian genetic isolate reveals that mean platelet volume is not a risk factor for thrombosis.
No full textINTRODUCTION: Several studies revealed that mean platelet volume (MPV) was larger in the acute phase of arterial and venous thrombosis and predicted a poor clinical outcome. It has been suggested that MPV is a risk factor for thrombosis. However, it is unclear whether increased platelet size is a cause or a consequence of thrombosis. It was the objective of this study to verify whether MPV is a risk factor for arterial and venous thrombosis.
METHODS: We search for associations between platelet parameters and thrombosis by a population-based study in 11,084 inhabitants of an Italian genetic isolate characterized by wide variability of platelet parameters. To validate this methodology of investigation, we also evaluated whether it was able to identify several well known thrombotic risk factors in the study population.
RESULTS: Statistical analysis confirmed that male gender, ageing, hypertension, high total cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and smoking were risk factors for arterial thrombosis, while alcohol consumption had a protective effect. Female gender, ageing, pregnancy, estroprogestinic treatment, obesity, varicose veins were associated with venous thrombosis. At variance, MPV and platelet count were unrelated to previous thrombotic events. However, MPV was negatively correlated with the time since the last thrombotic event.
CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that an epidemiologic study of a population isolate is appropriate for the identification of thrombotic risk factors, but it failed to identify such a role for MPV. Thus, we suggest that the increased MPV previously described in subjects with acute thrombosis was a consequence instead of a cause of thrombosis
Materiali e discussioni per l'analisi dei testi classici. Indici 1-60
No full textIl volume raccoglie e riassume tutti gli articoli apparsi nei volumi 1-60 della rivista «Materiali e discussioni per l’analisi dei testi classici» («MD»), nel periodo compreso tra il 1978 e il 2008. Esso è diviso in tre parti. Nella prima sono riportati in successione i singoli numeri della rivista, con il relativo sommario. Nella seconda compaiono gli articoli riuniti in sequenza cronologica, sotto il nome dell’Autore e ognuno con un proprio numero d’ordine: di ogni articolo è fornito il sunto, con i concetti, le argomentazioni salienti, i principali luoghi discussi. Nella terza parte sono elencati gli Autori antichi e i Nomi e parole notevoli, con il rinvio al numero d’ordine dell’articolo. Le schedature dei numeri 1-30 sono curate da Andrea Cucchiarelli, quelle dei numeri 31-60 da Simona Fortini.The volume collects and summarizes all the articles published in Volumes 1-60 of the journal "Materiali e discussioni per l’analisi dei testi classici” ("MD"), in the period between 1978 and 2008. It is divided into three parts. In the first part the individual issues of the journal are summarized with the table of contents. In the second part the articles appear in chronological order, under the name of the author and each with its own serial number: each item is provided with a summary including the main points of argumentation and the loci discussed. The third part contains the indexes of the ancient authors, of the names and of the most relevant things and words, with reference to the number of the item. The profiling of the numbers 1-30 is cared for by Andrea Cucchiarelli, those of the numbers 31-60 by Simona Fortini
Boccaccio nel Seicento: censure e recuperi della "compassione"
No full textSIMONA MORANDO, Boccaccio in the sixteenth century: censorship and recovery ofthe «compassion»
In the introduction of this paper, the literature of the seventeenth century is defined as a writing of compassion but not of consolation (quotations from Giovanni Cisano, Torquato Accetto, Emanuele Tesauro, G. B. Marino). The distance between the
writers studied here and Boccaccio is due to the censored editions of the Decameron in sixteenth century, to the censorship of Boccaccio as a «maestro d’amore», to his unrefined language, to his interpretation by many critics as a light and burlesque author. But, as reported in a writing by Boccalini, Boccaccio’s Latin works are very much appreciated in seventeenth century literature. This is especially the case of De casibus virorum illustrium, a gloomy and pessimistic book about misfortunes of famous men and about compassion, which nevertheless believes in the ability of letters to give back fame to ruined men. As shown in the conclusion
through some writings by Tassoni, many other seventeenth century authors do not have this kind of hope
Le chiavi del Paradiso. Primato petrino e devozione mariana di Sisto IV tra Cappella Sistina e S. Maria della Pace
No full textIl volume è strutturato in due parti distinte con una postfazione, un indice dei nomi e n. 55 Tavole a colori fuori testo, valide per entrambe le parti del volume. I. PARTE (di Lorenzo Cappelletti) A partire dalla esplicita indicazione che l’ignoto architetto, collocato sul fianco destro dell’affresco sistino della Consegna delle chiavi di Perugino, fa dell’edificio a pianta centrale che campeggia sullo sfondo, viene operata una completa rilettura iconografica e iconologica dell’intero affresco. Tenendo conto di tutta la migliore bibliografia sul tema e grazie anche alla considerazione di fonti inedite o mai considerate in relazione a tale affresco –– vengono riletti in particolare i due episodi evangelici sullo sfondo, la teoria dei dodici apostoli e dei personaggi dell’attualità di fine Quattrocento e soprattutto il gesto della consegna delle chiavi a Simon Pietro da parte di Gesù.
La rilettura si allarga necessariamente anche alla Punizione di Core, Datan e Abiram, l’affresco di Botticelli posto in chiave tipologica dirimpetto alla Consegna delle chiavi, e alla serie dei 30/32 papi affrescati nel cleristorio.
Lo studio non manca di offrire inoltre spunti per una comprensione più adeguata anche degli altri affreschi quattrocenteschi della sistina. II PARTE (di Simona Benedetti) Nell’ambito della revisione di lettura iconologica e iconografica dell’affresco della Consegna delle chiavi di Perugino nella Cappella Sistina, svolta da Lorenzo Cappelletti, si torna a riflettere anche sul significato dell’architettura dell’edificio rappresentato al centro dell’affresco. In questo senso nel contributo di Simona Benedetti, in primo luogo, si ripercorrono i riferimenti alla trattatistica quattrocentesca in materia di edifici sacri, che possono aver influito nella determinazione dell’edificio ottagonale.
In seconda istanza, si considerano le principali fabbriche a pianta ottagonale costruite precedentemente all’edificio dipinto, che possono aver costituito un fondato riferimento per il Perugino nella Consegna delle chiavi.
In particolare tra le architetture, che possono avere avuto un’influenza determinante nella definizione iconografica della fabbrica ottagonale presente nell'affresco, la chiesa di S. Maria della Pace è quella su cui si concentra il presente studio. L'opera si realizzò nel cuore pulsante della Roma rinascimentale proprio contemporaneamente all’affresco in esame, con esso trova degli innegabili punti di tangenza e corrispondenze, sia storiche che figurative. A questo riguardo interessantissima risulta la connessione tra il motivo dell’edificazione della fabbrica e i fatti storici, i personaggi, gli eventi prodigiosi e le pratiche devozionali, che condizionarono lo svolgersi del cantiere del Templum Pacis negli ultimi anni del pontificato di Sisto IV. La storicità del gesto della consegna delle chiavi a Pietro - avvenimento che si protrae nel tempo ad ogni elezione pontificia nello spazio fisico della Cappella Sistina - costituisce la centralità del messaggio iconografico dell'affresco del Perugino in cui, anche l’architettura, insieme ai personaggi rappresentati, strutturano una narrazione reale, estranea alle simbologie decontestualizzate dall’epoca propriamente sistina. Segue una postfazione di Francesco Andreani dal titolo Enigma del Quattrocento, saggio nel quale si sviluppano considerazioni sulle personalità degli architetti e maestranze attive nella Roma del tardo Quattrocento e negli anni di inizio della fabbrica di S. Maria della Pace. Il volume si conclude con l'indice dei nomi (a cura di Gemma Fusciello)I (of Lorenzo Cappelletti) Starting from the unknown architect’s forefinger pointed to the central plan building found in the background of the Sistine Perugino’s fresco The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, the author offers a new interpretation of the entire fresco at both an iconographical and iconological level.
Having considered the most important studies about this fresco and taking into account a number of unpublished and unconsidered sources, the author rereads in particular the meaning of the central plan building, as well as the two Gospel episodes in the background; and he rereads also the grouping of the Twelve, along with the fifteenth century historical personages painted among them, in the foreground.
The author’s vision necessarily broodens also to comprehend Botticelli’s fresco named The Punishment of Corah, Dathan and Abiram which is placed on the opposite wall as a typological prefiguration of The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; and it broodens moreover to reconsider the series of 30/32 popes frescoed in the upper register of the Sistine Chapel.
The essay also offers hints for a more complete comprehension of the other fifteenth century frescoes of the Sistine Chapel.
II. (of Simona Benedetti) As part of the review of iconological and iconographic reading about the fresco of the “Delivery of the keys” by Perugino in the Sistine Chapel, conducted by Lorenzo Cappelletti, you go back and think about the significance of the building architecture depicted in the center of the fresco. In this sense, the contribution of Simona Benedetti, first, retraces the references to the fifteenth-century treatises concerning sacred buildings, which may have affected the determination of the octagonal building. Secondly, we consider the main factories octagonal building constructed previously painted, that may have been an established reference for the Perugino in the “Delivery of the keys”. Especially between architectures, which may have had a decisive influence in defining the iconographic factory octagonal present in the fresco, the church of St. Mary of Peace is the one on which this study focuses. The work was realized in the heart of Renaissance Rome just simultaneously fresco concerned, although it is undeniable points of contact and correspondence, both historical and figurative. In this regard are interesting connections between the reason of building the factory, the historical facts, the characters and the miraculous events and devotional, which has conditioned the unfolding of the construction site of the Templum Pacis in the last years of the pontificate of Sixtus IV. The historicity of the act of handing over the keys to Peter, that continues over time in the physical space of the Sistine Chapel, is the centrality of the iconographic message of the fresco by Perugino; so even the architecture, along with the characters represented, the real narrative structure, far from to the symbolism belonging to the Sistine period properly
Dissecting metabolic syndrome components: data from an epidemiologic survey in a genetic isolate
No full textThe metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a large-scale and expanding public-health and clinical threat worldwide. We investigated the determinants of MetS, assessed its prevalence and components and, estimated their genetic contribution, taking advantage of the special characteristics of Sardinian isolated populations. Inhabitants of 10 villages in Ogliastra region participated in a cross-sectional survey in 2002-2008 (n = 9,647). Blood samples, blood pressure (BP), anthropometry and, data from a standardized interview were collected. Prevalence of MetS was estimated by the direct method of standardization. Variables associated with the MetS were identified using multilevel logistic regression. Heritability was determined using variance component models. MetS Prevalence was 19.6% (95% CI 18.9-20.4%) according to NCEP-ATPIII, 24.8% (95% CI 24.0-25.6%) according to IDF and, 29% (95% CI 28.1-29.8%) according to AHA/NHLBI harmonized criteria, ranging from 9 to 26% among villages. The most prevalent combination was BP + HDL-cholesterol (HDL) + triglycerides (TRIG) (19%), followed by BP + HDL + waist circumference (WAIST) (17%) and, BP + HDL + TRIG + WAIST (13.6%). Heritability of MetS was 48% (p = 1.62 × 10(-25)), as the two most common combinations (BP + HDL + TRIG and BP + HDL + WAIST) showed heritability of 53 and 52%, respectively. The larger genetic components of the two most frequent combinations determining MetS deserve greater investigation in order to understand the underlying mechanisms. Besides, further studies are warranted to confirm these findings both in isolated and outbred populations
Playing with autism. Encountering Simona Concaro by her music. Vol. 1.1
No full textPlaying with Autism contains twenty-four original pieces for piano, recorded and carefully transcribed in current music notation by Pierluigi Politi and Hanna Shybayeva. Simona Concaro, the author, is a young woman suffering of low-functioning autism. She lives in Cascina Rossago, a farm-community, designed to meet the needs of people with autism, in Oltrepo pavese (Italy).
Since she was three, Simona Concaro has created original compositions on piano, instrument she learned by herself, refusing any kind of musical education. In everyday life, Simona does not use verbal language and has low autonomy. Her music, on the contrary, contains interesting features – melodic, rhythmic and harmonic –, even in the presence of some iterative elements, typical of the autistic spectrum
Counseling Youth Online
No full textOnline counseling is becoming more pervasive; this type of guidance method is occurring, and it will likely in-crease within youth work. Studying the phenomena can give relevant resources to the field of digital youth work. The main purpose of this thesis is to research how to provide quality online counseling for youth and to write guidelines for professionals and volunteer workers.
As a facilitator the author researches the themes related to online counseling and enhances discussion through four online group discussions organized for youth workers working in online chats. The aims of the thesis are to find out with qualitative methods how professionals deliver efficiently and effectively online counseling sessions. On a wider perspective, the thesis tries to trace guidelines for counseling young people online, providing em-powerment, direction, guidance and support.
Online counseling has been recently widely studied due to the spread of these kind of services. Due to the uniqueness of digital youth work in Finland, its context and its principles within online counseling and guidance, it is relevant to gain more knowledge about practices and professionals’ perspective
Eco-tales by Simona Kossak
No full textThis article discusses the life and work of Simona Kossak, a writer and professor of forestry. Her life work aimed at awakening in her readers and listeners sensitivity and compassion towards animals and natural surroundings. The author examines Kossak’s radio talks which she proposes to name “eco-tales”[email protected] Trusewicz, absolwentka filologii polskiej na Uniwersytecie w Białymstoku, doktorantka w Zakładzie Teorii i Antropologii Literatury w Instytucie Filologii Polskiej UwB. Interesuje się geopoetyką, ekokrytyką oraz obrazami Puszczy Białowieskiej w literaturze i kulturze. W kręgu jej zainteresowań badawczych mieszczą się również tematy związane z literaturą regionu. Współorganizatorka dwóch doktoranckich konferencji naukowych na Uniwersytecie w Białymstoku, wpisujących się w rozważania dotyczące wyobraźni przestrzennej.Wydział Filologiczny, Uniwersytet w Białymstoku95-10599510
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