Memory for symmetry and perceptual binding in patients with schizophrenia

The present study investigated the use of perceptual binding processes in schizophrenic (SC) patients and matched healthy controls, by examining their performance on the recall of symmetrical (vertical, horizontal and diagonal) and asymmetrical patterns varying in length between 2 and 9 items. The results showed that, although SC patients were less accurate than controls in all conditions, both groups recalled symmetrical patterns better than asymmetrical ones. The impairment of SC patients was magnified with supra-span symmetrical arrays, and they were more likely to reproduce symmetrical patterns as asymmetrical, particularly at medium and high length levels. Hierarchical regression analyses further indicated that the between-group differences in the recall of supra-span vertical and horizontal arrays, which require a greater involvement of visual pattern processes, remained significant after removing the variance associated with performance on asymmetrical patterns, which primarily reflects intrafigural spatial processes. It is proposed that schizophrenia may be associated with a specific deficit in the formation and retrieval of the global visual images of studied patterns and in the use of the on-line information about the type of symmetry being tested to guide retrieval processes. © 2013 Elsevier B.V

Resveratrol role in<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>-induced corneal inflammation

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Molybdenum oxides coatings for high demanding accelerator components

Large electric gradients are required for a variety of new applications, notably including the extreme high brightness electron sources for X-ray free electron lasers (FELs), radio-frequency (RF) photo-injectors, industrial and medical accelerators, and linear accelerators for particle physics colliders. In the framework of the INFN-LNF, SLAC (USA), KEK (Japan), UCLA (Los Angeles) collaboration, the Frascati National Laboratories (LNF) are involved in the modelling, development, and testing of RF structures devoted to particles acceleration by high gradient electric fields of particles through metal devices. In order to improve the maximum sustainable gradients in normal-conducting RF-accelerating structures, both the RF breakdown and dark current should be minimized. To this purpose, studying new materials as well as manufacturing techniques are mandatory to identify better solutions to such extremely requested applications. In this contribution, we discuss the possibility of using a dedicated coating on a solid copper sample (and other metals) with a relatively thick film to improve and optimize breakdown performances and to minimize the dark current. We present here the first characterization of MoO3 films deposited on copper by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD)

QUALITA’ GLOBALE E COMFORT PERCEPITO NELL’AMBIENTE COSTRUITO: UNO STUDIO PILOTA IN AULE UNIVERSITARIE

Lo studio dell’Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) e Comfort (IEC) nell’ambiente costruito è di grande rilievo, soprattutto quando indagato in ambienti adibiti ad attività cognitive e di comunicazione sfidanti, come le aule didattiche. Questo lavoro propone una metodologia di monitoraggio longitudinale di IEQ e IEC in aule universitarie allo scopo di permettere produttività e benessere, oltre che adeguatezza dal punto di vista fisico-ambientale in fase di esercizio e a piena occupazione delle aule stesse

Preliminary Findings of the Role of FAPi in Prostate Cancer Theranostics

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among men. Progress in molecular imaging has magnified its clinical management; however, an unmet clinical need involves the identification of new imaging biomarkers that complement the gold standard of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) in cases of clinically significant PCa that do not express PSMA. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a type II transmembrane serine overexpressed in many solid cancers that can be imaged through quinoline-based PET tracers derived from an FAP inhibitor (FAPi). Preliminary results of FAPi application in PCa (in PSMA-negative lesions, and in comparison with fluorodeoxyglucose-FDG) are now available in the literature. FAP-targeting ligands for PCa are not limited to detection, but could also include therapeutic applications. In this preliminary review, we provide an overview of the clinical applications of FAPi ligands in PCa, summarising the main results and highlighting contemporary strengths and limitations

L' impatto del COVID-19 sull'economia. 10 proposte per la ripartenza. Un'analisi fondata sullo studio della provincia di Pisa.

Il presente lavoro, ultimato a inizio luglio 2020, e' il frutto della collaborazione di un gruppo di docenti e ricercatori che operano nei Dipartimenti di Economia e Management, Giurisprudenza e Scienze Politiche dell’Universita' di Pisa. Nato sulla base di una richiesta della Prefettura di Pisa all’Ateneo pisano in piena emergenza sanitaria, esso si propone lo scopo di fornire un’analisi degli effetti che l’emergenza COVID-19 ha avuto sul tessuto economico e sociale della provincia di Pisa e, alla luce dei risultati ottenuti, effettuare alcune “proposte per la ripartenza” per i prossimi mesi. Il convincimento degli autori che questo contributo di analisi e proposte, ancorche' riguardante la realta' territoriale della provincia di Pisa, possa avere una qualche utilita' anche per altre realta' provinciali e regionali, nonche' per quella nazionale. La ragione di tale convinzione e' duplice. Da un lato, l’approccio utilizzato, basato sulla multidisciplinarieta' e sul coinvolgimento delle realtà socio-economiche e istituzionali del territorio, rappresenta un metodo essenziale e generale per la piena comprensione di una realta' nuova e assai complessa quale quella derivante dall’emergenza COVID-19. Gli autori, provenienti da settori scientifici diversi quali l’ambito aziendale, economico, statistico, giuridico e sociolopsicologico, sono stati i primi a rendersi conto di quanto tale metodo di “messa a sistema” delle informazioni e degli attori economici e istituzionali della provincia fosse cruciale, ancorche' inusuale rispetto al carattere tipicamente specialistico delle ricerche in ambito accademico. Dall’altro lato, le proposte contenute nel lavoro, e che sono riportate in modo sintetico val termine di questa introduzione, sono il frutto dell’analisi quantitativa e qualitativa contenuta nei primi capitoli e rappresentano un esempio di come le scienze sociali possano fornire una base informativa essenziale per processi decisionali basati sui fatti (quelli che in ambito scientifico vengono definiti “evidenze empiriche”). In altre parole, le proposte hanno valenza generale, in quanto mettono in evidenza problemi e ipotizzano soluzioni che sono comuni a tutto il territorio nazionale. Il lavoro, organizzato come segue. Il primo capitolo presenta un’analisi strutturalee dinamica dell’economia della provincia di Pisa nel periodo precedente alla crisi sanitaria. Il secondo capitolo contiene una lettura dell’impatto economico, sociale e sanitario dell’emergenza COVID-19 e delle misure di contrasto messe in campo dal governo nei mesi iniziali della crisi (marzo-giugno 2020). Il terzo capitolo contiene un approfondimento dell’analisi economico-aziendale svolta. L’impatto del COVID-19 sull’economia alcuni settori emersi come rilevanti per l’economia provinciale. Il quarto capitolo svolge riflessioni e proposte in ambito giuridico, il quinto capitolo chiude il lavoro presentando alcune proposte di policy. Gli autori desiderano ringraziare il Prefetto di Pisa, per l’attivita' di supporto istituzionale, il Rettore dell’Universita' di Pisa, e tutti gli attori istituzionali e socio-economici che hanno collaborato direttamente – mediante incontri e interviste ‒ o indirettamente – attraverso la messa a disposizione dei dati e informazioni ‒ alla stesura del lavoro

The HFE p.H63D (p.His63Asp) Polymorphism Is a Modifier of ALS Outcome in Italian and French Patients with SOD1 Mutations

Background: Data from published studies about the effect of HFE polymorphisms on ALS risk, phenotype, and survival are still inconclusive. We aimed at evaluating whether the p.H63D polymorphism is a modifier of phenotype and survival in SOD1-mutated patients. Methods: We included 183 SOD1-mutated ALS patients. Mutations were classified as severe or mild according to the median survival of the study population. Patients were screened for the HFE p.H63D polymorphism. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier modeling, and differences were measured by the log-rank test. Multivariable analysis was performed with the Cox proportional hazards model (stepwise backward). Results: SOD1 severe mutation carriers show more frequent familial history for ALS and shorter survival compared to mild mutation carriers. Carriers and non-carriers of the p.H63D polymorphism did not differ in terms of sex ratio, frequency of positive familial history, age at onset, and bulbar/spinal ratio. In univariate and in Cox multivariable analysis using sex, age at onset, site of onset, family history, country of origin, and mutation severity as covariates, p.H63D carriers had a longer survival (p = 0.034 and p = 0.004). Conclusions: We found that SOD1-mutated ALS patients carrying the p.H63D HFE polymorphism have a longer survival compared to non-carriers, independently of sex, age and site of onset, family history, nation of origin, and severity of mutations, suggesting a possible role as disease progression modifier for the p.H63D HFE polymorphism in SOD1-ALS

HADES experiment: di-lepton spectroscopy in p + p (2.2 GeV) and C+C (1 and 2 A GeV) collisions

The HADES (High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer) is a tool designed for lepton pair (e+e−) spectroscopy in pion, proton and heavy ion induced reactions in the 1–2AGeV energy range. One of the goals of the HADES experiment is to study in-medium modifications of hadron properties like effective masses, decay widths, electromagnetic form factors etc. Such effects can be probed with vector mesons ( ρ,ω,ɸ ) decaying into e+e− channel. The identification of vector mesons by means of a HADES spectrometer is based on invariant mass reconstruction of e+e− pairs. The combined information from all spectrometer sub-detectors is used to reconstruct the di-lepton signal. The recent results from 2.2GeV p + p, 1AGeV and 2AGeV C+C experiments are presented.Diaz Medina, Jose, [email protected]