62 research outputs found
eCatalogue on demand Cataloghi in formato ePub prodotti da WordPress
No full textIl seguente elaborato è una descrizione dettagliata del progetto di tesi dal titolo: eCatalogue on demand, Cataloghi in formato e-Pub prodotti da WordPress.
Il progetto consiste in un sito Web per la creazione di cataloghi in formato e-Pub.
Il sito si rivolge ai musei medio/piccoli, alle gallerie d’arte e offre loro gli strumenti necessari per poter realizzare cataloghi delle mostre permanenti, delle mostre temporanee o di qualsiasi collezione di oggetti d’arte. È stato pensato e progettato per poter essere utilizzato da utenti non necessariamente esperti, il sito infatti, si presenta come una vera e propria guida che passo dopo passo, a partire dalla scelta della copertina, consentirà all'utente di realizzare un nuovo catalogo. All'utente spetteranno diverse decisioni nel corso della progettazione prima tra tutte stabilire il modello del catalogo attraverso la scelta di alcune opzioni e successivamente scegliere quante e quali opere inserire
"Not Just a Type". Una rivista sull’inclusività nel mondo letterario e cinematografico.
No full textDalla nascita della narrativa fino a quella del piccolo schermo, le persone hanno sempre avvertito la necessità di immedesimarsi e riconoscersi nei personaggi descritti dagli autori. Tuttavia, chi scrive non sempre riesce a rappresentare in modo adeguato tutte le sfaccettature di una persona, siano esse caratteriali, mentali o fisiche. Il lavoro di tesi nasce con l'idea di aiutare nelle realizzazioni future gli autori, in modo che chiunque si veda rappresentato nel modo più veritiero e vicino alla realtà tramite la progettazione e realizzazione di una rivista cartacea che considera come caso applicativo inziale la disabilità e la neurodivergenza. Il progetto comprende una fase preliminare in cui vi è un'analisi dell'evoluzione dei media e del caso scelto, per poi focalizzarsi sullo stato dell'arte riguardanti i personaggi con tali condizioni e sullo strumento editoriale scelto. Infine, è stato descritto il processo di progettazione della rivista, valutando le singole parti che la compongono in fase sia di mockup sia finale, descrivendo ogni singola sezione realizzata
Duodenal lipid-induced symptom generation in gastroesophageal reflux disease: Role of apolipoprotein A-IV and cholecystokinin
No full textBackground Duodenal lipid intensifies the perception of esophageal acid perfusion. Recently, we showed that genes implicated in lipid absorption were upregulated in the duodenum of fasting gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients. This suggests that chylomicron production and secretion may be enhanced and, consequently, the release of apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV), a chylomicron-derived signaling protein. ApoA-IV may stimulate release of cholecystokinin (CCK), an activator of vagal afferents. This study evaluated putative involvement of abnormal apoA-IV and CCK responses to lipid in GERD.Methods Ten GERD patients and 10 healthy volunteers (HV) underwent duodenal perfusion with Intralipid 20%, 2 kcal min(-1) , for 60 min. Symptoms were scored, blood samples collected every 15 min during lipid perfusion and 15 min after discontinuation when duodenal biopsies were taken. Plasma and mucosal concentrations of apoA-IV and CCK and transcript levels of 21 genes implicated in lipid absorption, differentially expressed under fasting conditions, were quantified.Key results Heartburn (P = 0.003), abdominal discomfort (P = 0.037) and nausea (P = 0.008) only increased significantly during lipid infusion in GERD patients. Following lipid infusion mean mucosal apoA-IV concentration was lower in GERD patients compared with HV (P = 0.023), whereas plasma concentration tended to be elevated (P = 0.068). Mean mucosal CCK concentration was also lower in GERD patients (P = 0.009). Two genes, HIBADH and JTB, were upregulated in GERD patients (P = 0.008 and P = 0.038, respectively).Conclusions & inferences Our results suggest excessive duodenal lipid-induced release of apoA-IV and CCK in GERD. We postulate that the resulting heightened activation of duodenal vagal afferents may underlie central sensitization, thereby increasing the perception of reflux events.O. S. Van Boxel, J. J. M. Ter Linde, J. Oors, B. Otto, C. Feinle-Bisset, A. J. P. M. Smout & P. D. Siersem
Functional dyspepsia patients have lower mucosal cholecystokinin concentrations in response to duodenal lipid
No full textBACKGROUND: Dyspeptic symptoms are frequently induced, or exacerbated, by fatty food ingestion. Excessive release of, and/or hypersensitivity to, cholecystokinin (CCK) may explain the exaggerated response to lipid in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). Thus far, plasma CCK response has been evaluated. However, stimulation of CCK1 receptors on duodenal vagal afferents occurs in a paracrine manner, suggesting that mucosal CCK concentrations are relevant to quantify. Apolipoprotein A-IV stimulates mucosal CCK release. AIM: To investigate the hypothesis that fat-induced release of CCK and apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) is enhanced in the duodenum of FD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen symptomatic FD patients and 10 healthy volunteers (HV) underwent duodenal perfusion with intralipid 20%, 2 kcal/min, for 60 min. Symptoms were scored and blood samples were collected every 15 min during lipid perfusion and 15 min after discontinuation when duodenal biopsies were taken. Plasma and mucosal concentrations of CCK and apoA-IV were quantified. RESULTS: Abdominal discomfort (P=0.001), nausea (P=0.05), and fullness (P=0.005) in response to duodenal lipid increased significantly only in FD patients. Following lipid infusion, the mean mucosal CCK concentration was lower in FD patients compared with HV (P<0.0001). Fasting concentrations and plasma response of CCK were comparable in FD patients and HV. Plasma apoA-IV response appeared to differ between patients and HV, whereas mucosal apoA-IV concentrations were similar. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest excessive local release of CCK in response to duodenal lipid in FD. This likely causes exaggerated stimulation of duodenal vagal afferents, explaining dyspeptic symptom generation. The mechanisms underlying elevated mucosal CCK release warrant further investigation.Ofke S. van Boxel, Jose, J.M. ter Linde, Jac Oors, Bärbel Ottoc, Bas L.A.M. Weusten, Christine Feinle-Bisset, André J.P.M. Smout and Peter D. Siersem
Structure and functional analysis of the IGF-II/IGF2R interaction
No full textEmbryonic development and normal growth require exquisite control of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). In mammals the extracellular region of the cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor has gained an IGF-II-binding function and is termed type II IGF receptor (IGF2R). IGF2R sequesters IGF-II; imbalances occur in cancers and IGF2R is implicated in tumour suppression. We report crystal structures of IGF2R domains 11–12, 11–12–13–14 and domains 11–12–13/IGF-II complex. A distinctive juxtaposition of these domains provides the IGF-II-binding unit, with domain 11 directly interacting with IGF-II and domain 13 modulating binding site flexibility. Our complex shows that Phe19 and Leu53 of IGF-II lock into a hydrophobic pocket unique to domain 11 of mammalian IGF2Rs. Mutagenesis analyses confirm this IGF-II 'binding-hotspot', revealing that IGF-binding proteins and IGF2R have converged on the same high-affinity site.James Brown, Carlie Delaine, Oliver J Zaccheo, Christian Siebold, Robert J Gilbert, Gijs van Boxel, Adam Denley, John C Wallace, A Bassim Hassan, Briony E Forbes and E Yvonne Jone
Tidal inlet function: field evidence and numerical simulation in the INDIA Project
No full textIn recognition of the environmentally sensitive nature of inlets and of a requirement to improve present knowledge of their function, the INDIA project has studied a small natural tidal inlet located in the Ría Formosa, Algarve, Portugal. The project has used state-of-the-art field equipment to study present day processes, and a range of numerical models to extend the spatial and temporal range of the measurements. Underpinned by knowledge of inlet evolution over several years, and by knowledge of other inlet systems, a conceptual model describing the medium- to long-term evolution of the inlet is presented. Key elements of the model are then examined with reference to field observations and to numerical simulations of tides, waves, sediments and morphology. Supported by historical evidence of inlet evolution in the Ría Formosa, the picture that emerges of inlet dynamics is essentially one of relative simplicity and predictability in the short- to medium-term
Changes in grain size of sand in transport over a foredune
No full textSuspended sand is sampled at several heights and positions on a beach and foredune, providing detailed insight into the vertical and horizontal variation in sand content in the air during landward transport. Grain-size analysis is used to study the changes in grain-size distribution during landward transport. Mean grain size and sorting decrease during transport. Changes in textural parameters follow a gradual and regular path when the sediment is transported into the foredune. Sediment trapped on the seaward slope at a height of 30-50 cm above the surface closely resembles the sediment trapped landward, which implies that changes in the direction of transport are related to vertical changes within the sediment transport profiles. The movement of sand over the vegetated foredunes is induced by turbulent forces created by the air flowing across the vegetation and the foredune, leading to a change from saltation on the beach to modified saltation and suspension on the foredune. Small grains are lifted higher and fall more slowly than coarse grains and therefore are transported further landward, resulting in a gradual decrease in grain size of the landward-deposited sediment
Grassland management, soil biota and ecosystem services in sandy soils
No full textRecent legislative restrictions on the use of fertilizers and irrigation, and a quest for sustainable farming systems have drawn renewed attention to the functioning of the soil and the ecosystem services it provides. Soil biota play an important role in the provision of these ecosystem services, which may be influenced by grassland management. The two objectives of this thesis were 1) to gain insight into the effect of different grassland management measures on soil biota in sandy soils; and 2) to explore the effect of grassland management on the ecosystem services provided by soil biota
Cloud and rain processes in a biosphere-atmosphere interaction context in the Amazon Region
No full textThis paper presents an overview of the results from the first major mesoscale atmospheric campaign of the Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA) Program. The campaign, collocated with a Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite validation campaigns, was conducted in southwest Rondônia in January and February 1999 during the wet season. Highlights on the interaction between clouds, rain, and the underlying landscape through biospheric processes are presented and discussed
Preclinical Cushing's syndrome in adrenal incidentalomas
No full textAdrenal tumors are usually diagnosed by clinical symptoms of hormone excess. The increasing use of ultrasound and computed tomography results in the detection of a substantial number of incidentally discovered adrenal tumors. Most of these tumors are nonfunctional adrenocortical adenomas, but a few cases of subclinical cortisol production in "incidentalomas" have been reported. We investigated prospectively the prevalence of autonomous cortisol production in 68 patients (44 females and 24 males, aged 25-90 yr) with adrenal incidentalomas at our institution. As a screening procedure all patients with incidentalomas underwent an overnight dexamethasone suppression test (1 mg). Patients who failed to suppress serum cortisol below 140 nmol/L (5 micrograms/dL) underwent more comprehensive studies (prolonged dexamethasone suppression test, determination of the diurnal rhythm of cortisol secretion in saliva, and CRH stimulation test). Eight patients (12% of all patients with incidentalomas; 5 females and 3 males, aged 25-71 yr) were finally identified as having cortisol- producing tumors, and the findings in these patients were compared with those of overt Cushing's syndrome in 8 patients (8 females, aged 26-50 yr) suffering from cortisol-producing adrenal adenomas. The tumor size of patients with cortisol-producing incidentalomas ranged from 2-5 cm. No specific signs and symptoms of hypercortisolism were present, but arterial hypertension (seven of eight subjects), diffuse obesity (four of eight subjects), and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM; two of eight subjects) were frequently observed. Baseline cortisol levels were in the normal to upper normal range, whereas baseline ACTH levels were suppressed in five of the eight patients. In none of the patients was serum cortisol suppressible by low dose or high dose dexamethasone. The ACTH and cortisol responses to CRH were normal in two, blunted in one, and suppressed in four patients. Unilateral adrenalectomy was performed in seven patients and resulted in temporary adrenal insufficiency in four of them. After surgery, improvement of arterial hypertension, a permanent weight loss in obese subjects, and a better metabolic control of NIDDM were noted in the majority of patients. The following conclusions were reached. Incidentally diagnosed adrenal tumors with pathological cortisol secretion in otherwise clinically asymptomatic patients are more frequently observed than previously assumed. Adrenocortical insufficiency is a major risk in these patients after adrenalectomy. After surgery, hypertension, obesity, and NIDDM may improve. Patients with asymptomatic adrenal incidentalomas, therefore, should be screened for cortisol production by means of an overnight dexamethasone suppression test
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