Information balance between newspapers and social networks

[EN] Competing newspapers, tend to publish the same information in a given time frame. However, each editor tends to aggregate and present the news according to certain criteria such as editorial policies, filtering strategies, readers base, etc. Thus, the proper choice and filtering of information makes one newspaper different from the other and, the proper management of such criteria, may deem the success or failure of a newspaper. From the editor’s perspective, the news selection process is a trade-off between informativeness and attractiveness, as determined by the readership. Moreover, is it possible that cultural and political inputs from social media may impact the news selection process? Political news on social networks represent nowadays a valuable informative asset that gives the possibility to correlate newspaper information with public request expressed on social networks. We believe that it is possible to develop a theory to mitigate the newspaper’s cultural identity with the public information needs collected on social media. In our work, we show how to measure the society's request for information through the analysis of public reaction to certain articles on social networks, in particular we present how studying the hashtags and articles shared can be conveyed to understand social dynamics in nowadays discussion.Mazzeo Rinaldi, F.; Russo, A.; Giuffrida, G. (2020). Information balance between newspapers and social networks. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/CARMA2020.2020.11635OCS23123

Determination and quantification of carotenoids in sea sponges Raspaciona aculeata and Dictyonella marsilii present in the Ganzirri Lake (Messina), Italy

Considering the crucial role of carotenoids exploitable both as nutraceuticals and also as dyes in food industry, there are many efforts in seeking for new sources of these pigments, especially in the marine world. In this study, for the first time, we extracted carotenoids from sea sponges Raspaciona aculeata and Dictyonella marsilii taken from Ganzirri Lake Messina (Italy). The determination and quantification of carotenoids was made by UPLC-PDA-MS. Remarkable results concern renieratene content in R. aculeate found to be over 2570 ppm

Identification of Equine Lactadherin-derived Peptides That Inhibit Rotavirus Infection via Integrin Receptor Competition

Human rotavirus is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and children under the age of 5 years in both developed and developing countries. Human lactadherin, a milk fat globule membrane glycoprotein, inhibits human rotavirus infection in vitro, whereas bovine lactadherin is not active. Moreover, it protects breastfed infants against symptomatic rotavirus infections. To explore the potential antiviral activity of lactadherin sourced by equines, we undertook a proteomic analysis of milk fat globule membrane proteins from donkey milk and elucidated its amino acid sequence. Alignment of the human, bovine, and donkey lactadherin sequences revealed the presence of an Asp-Gly-Glu (DGE) α(2)β(1) integrin-binding motif in the N-terminal domain of donkey sequence only. Because integrin α(2)β(1) plays a critical role during early steps of rotavirus host cell adhesion, we tested a minilibrary of donkey lactadherin-derived peptides containing DGE sequence for anti-rotavirus activity. A 20-amino acid peptide containing both DGE and RGD motifs (named pDGE-RGD) showed the greatest activity, and its mechanism of antiviral action was characterized; pDGE-RGD binds to integrin α(2)β(1) by means of the DGE motif and inhibits rotavirus attachment to the cell surface. These findings suggest the potential anti-rotavirus activity of equine lactadherin and support the feasibility of developing an anti-rotavirus peptide that acts by hindering virus-receptor binding

Exploring farmland price determinants in Northern Italy using a spatial regression analysis

Using spatial regression models, we detect determinants of farmland’s prices in a rural area located in the upper Treviso plain (Veneto region, Italy). Econometric analysis is based on a Spatial linear regression model able to account for spatial lags in the data. Estimates show which intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics have the greatest influence on price, and how buyers and sellers’ profiles also matter on the price determination. Our application fosters spatial regression models in rural real estate market analysis and appraisal, and highlights that in the area under study the farmland’s prices are significantly affected by factors that are rarely considered in the literature, such as sellers and buyers’ profiles, the land use in the context where the sold plot is located matters, the hydraulic risk of the area and the presence of large infrastructures

Properties of a new food supplement containing actinia equina extract

Marine species represent a great source of biologically active substances; Actinia equina (AE), an Anthozoa Cnidaria belonging to the Actinidiae family, have been proposed as original food and have already been included in several cooking recipes in local Mediterranean shores, and endowed with excellent nutraceutical potential. The aim of this study was to investigate some unexplored features of AE, through analytical screening and an in-vitro and in-vivo model. An in-vitro study, made on RAW 264.7 stimulated with H2O2, showed that the pre-treatment with AE exerted an antioxidant action, reducing lipid peroxidation and up-regulating antioxidant enzymes. On the other hand, the in-vivo study over murine model demonstrated that the administration of AE extracts is able to reduce the carrageenan (CAR)-induced paw edema. Furthermore, the histological damage due to the neutrophil infiltration is prevented, and this highlights precious anti-inflammatory features of the interesting food-stu. Moreover, it was assessed that AE extract modulated nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) and The nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf-2) pathways. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that thanks to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, AE extract could be used as a new food supplement for inflammatory pathology prevention

Exercise-induced endocannabinoid signaling is modulated by intensity

Abstract Endocannabinoids (eCB) are endogenous ligands for cannabinoid receptors that are densely expressed in brain networks responsible for reward. Recent work shows that exercise activates the eCB system in humans and other mammals, suggesting eCBs are partly responsible for the reported improvements in mood and affect following aerobic exercise in humans. However, exercise-induced psychological changes reported by runners are known to be dependent on exercise intensity, suggesting that any underlying molecular mechanism should also change with varying levels of exercise intensity. Here, we examine circulating levels of eCBs following aerobic exercise (treadmill running) in recreationally fit human runners at four different intensities. We show that eCB signaling is indeed intensity dependent, with significant changes in circulating eCBs observed following moderate intensities only (very high and very low intensity exercises do not significantly alter circulating eCB levels). Our results are consistent with intensity-dependent psychological state changes with exercise and therefore support the hypothesis that eCB activity is related to neurobiological effects of exercise. Thus, future studies examining the role of exercise-induced eCB signaling on neurobiology or physiology must take exercise intensity into account

Role of the satiety factor oleoylethanolamide in alcoholism

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is a satiety factor that controls motivational responses to dietary fat. Here we show that alcohol administration causes the release of OEA in rodents, which in turn reduces alcohol consumption by engaging peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α). This effect appears to rely on peripheral signaling mechanisms as alcohol self-administration is unaltered by intracerebral PPAR-α agonist administration, and the lesion of sensory afferent fibers (by capsaicin) abrogates the effect of systemically administered OEA on alcohol intake. Additionally, OEA is shown to block cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior (an animal model of relapse) and reduce the severity of somatic withdrawal symptoms in alcohol-dependent animals. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a homeostatic role for OEA signaling in the behavioral effects of alcohol exposure and highlight OEA as a novel therapeutic target for alcohol use disorders and alcoholism