My Lockdown Escape: Sparking Self-Empathy in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic

During the Covid-19 pandemic, research communities focused on collecting and understanding people's behaviours and feelings to study and tackle the pandemic indirect effects. Despite its consequences are slowly starting to fade away, such an interest is still alive. In this article, we propose a hybrid, gamified, story-driven data collection approach to spark self-empathy, hence resurfacing people's past feelings. The game is designed to include a physical board, decks of cards, and a digital application. As the player plays through the game, they customize and escape from their lockdown room by completing statements and answering a series of questions that define their story. The decoration of the lockdown room and the storytelling-driven approach are targeted at sparking people's emotions and self-empathy towards their past selves. Ultimately, the proposed approach was proven effective in sparking and collecting feelings, while a few improvements are still necessary

Developing a large scale FrameNet for Italian - The IFrameNet experience

In this thesis we present the development and the current status of the IFrameNet project, aimed at the construction of a large-scale lexical semantic resource for the Italian language based on Frame Semantics theories. We will begin by contextualizing our work in the wider context of Frame Semantics and of the FrameNet project, which, since 1997, has attempted to apply these theories to lexicography. We will then analyse and discuss the applicability of the structure of the American resource to Italian and more specifically we will focus on the domain of fear, worry, and anxiety. We will finally propose some modifications aimed at improving this domain of the resource in relation to its coherence, its ability to accurately represent the linguistic reality and in particular in order to make it possible to apply it to Italian

Testing perturbation theory on the nf=0 static quark potential

The perturbative expansion of static force and potential is reanalyzed concerning its practical applicability. A well behaved perturbative prediction is given by the integration of the renormalization group equation for the coupling $\alpha_{qq}(\mu=1/r)=(C_f)^{-1} r^2 F(r)$. Since the Lambda-parameter of the \nf=0 theory is known from previous work, the perturbative prediction contains no free parameter. It is confronted with recent non-perturbative results. For $\alpha < 0.3$ where the truncation error of the perturbative expression is naively estimated to be moderate, it is really quite accurate and large ``non-perturbative terms'' are excluded.Comment: Added comment on known alpha^4 log(alpha) term (page 8), References and acknowledgemen

O "CLARO" É "CERTO"? OS MARCADORES DISCURSIVOS "CLARO" (PT) E "CERTO" (ITA): ESTUDO CONTRASTIVO

O claro é certo? Discourse markers claro (PT) and certo (ITA): a contrastive study. The present study aims to compare the dialogical uses of two discourse markers (DM), namely the European Portuguese claro and the Italian certo, by analysing the data extracted from two corpora of spoken language (the Corpus de Referência do Português Contemporâneo and the KIParla corpus). Both claro and certo are part of the group of conversational markers of epistemic modality, which includes a vast set of linguistic expressions revolving around the semantics of "right", "clear", and "obvious". This study shows that in European Portuguese, claro is the most frequent and polysemic DM (the “pivot form”), playing different functions in the construction of interpersonal cooperation and negotiation of meaning: in dialogical contexts, claro can mark cooperative attention, emphatic response, or agreement. To mark such functions, claro can occur within different syntactic and functional patterns, such as repetitions and co-occurrence with other DMs. In the comparison with Italian, data show that certo functions similarly in a great extent of communicative situations, thus concluding that semantic and functional parallelism can be drawn between the two DMs. However, a noteworthy difference in use relies on the speakers’ choice of DM during their communicative exchanges: in European Portuguese, speakers seem to utter different epistemic DMs in a sequence of dialogical turns to signal the same functions, while it does not appear as natural in Italian. On the contrary, Italian speakers appear to use one epistemic DM at a time. This difference, although subtle, may constitute a critical area for translation. REZUMAT. O claro é certo? Marcatorii discursivi claro (PT) și certo (ITA): un studiu contrastiv. Studiul de față își propune să compare utilizările dialogale a doi marcatori discursivi (MD), claro (portugheză europeană) și certo (italiană), analizând datele extrase din două corpusuri de limbă vorbită (Corpus de Referência do Português Contemporâneo și KIParla). Atât claro, cât și certo fac parte din grupul de marcatori conversaționali ai modalității epistemice, care include un set vast de expresii lingvistice ce gravitează în jurul sensurilor "corect", "clar" și "evident". Acest studiu arată că în portugheza europeană claro este cel mai frecvent și polisemic MD (forma "pivot"), îndeplinind diferite funcții în construirea cooperării interpersonale și în negocierea sensului: în contexte dialogice, claro poate marca atenția cooperantă, răspunsul emfatic sau acordul. Pentru a marca astfel de funcții, claro poate apărea în cadrul unor modele sintactice și funcționale diferite, cum ar fi repetițiile și co-ocurența cu alți MD. În comparația cu limba italiană, datele arată că certo funcționează în mod similar în majoritatea situațiilor de comunicare, concluzionând astfel că se poate stabili un paralelism semantic și funcțional între cei doi MD. Cu toate acestea, o diferență notabilă în utilizare se bazează pe alegerea de către vorbitori a MD în timpul schimburilor comunicative: în portugheza europeană, vorbitorii par să pronunțe diferiți MD epistemici într-o secvență de schimburi dialogice pentru a semnala aceleași funcții, în timp ce în italiană acest lucru nu pare la fel de natural. Dimpotrivă, vorbitorii italieni par să folosească un singur MD epistemic la un moment dat. Deși subtilă, această diferență, poate constitui o zonă critică pentru traducere. Cuvinte-cheie: marcatori discursivi, marcatori discursivi epistemici, dialog, certo, claro. Article history: Received 20 September 2023; Revised 16 October 2023; Accepted 30 October 2023; Available online 20 December 2023; Available print 31 December 2023.

Caprine αs1-Casein Polymorphism: Characterisation of A, B, E and F Variants by Means of Various Biochemical and Molecular Techniques

Considering a wide interest for the characterisation of caprine αs1-casein variants and a large number of differently equipped laboratories, the objective of this study was to analyse and compare characteristics of caprine αs1-casein variants by means of various biochemical and molecular techniques. The most frequent caprine αs1-casein variants (A, B, E and F) were characterized by employing electrophoretic protein separation analyses (capillary electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, and sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), chromatographic analysis (reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography) as well as DNA analyses (ASA and real-time polymerase chain reaction approach). Further, we stressed weak and strong points for each method applied and provided information for the optimal and complementary use of those methods with respect to time, resolution and costs

Human platelet lysate stimulates neurotrophic properties of human adipose-derived stem cells better than Schwann cell-like cells

Background: Trauma-associated peripheral nerve injury is a widespread clinical problem causing sensory and motor disabilities. Schwann cells (SCs) contribute to nerve regeneration, mainly by secreting nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. In the last years, adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) differentiated into SCs (SC-ASCs) were considered as promising cell therapy. However, the cell trans-differentiation process has not been effectively showed and presents several drawbacks, thus an alternative approach for increasing ASCs neurotrophic properties is highly demanded. In the context of human cell-based therapies, Good Manufacturing Practice directions indicate that FBS should be substituted with a xenogeneic-free supplement, such as Human Platelet Lysate (HPL). Previously, we demonstrated that neurotrophic properties of HPL-cultured ASCs were superior compared to undifferentiated FBS-cultured ASCs. Therefore, as following step, here we compared the neurotrophic properties of differentiated SC-like ASCs and HPL-cultured ASCs.Methods: Both cell groups were investigated for gene expression level of neurotrophic factors, their receptors and neuronal markers. Moreover, the expression of nestin was quantitatively evaluated by flow cytometry. The commitment toward the SC phenotype was assessed with immunofluorescence pictures. Proteomics analysis was performed on both cells and their conditioned media to compare the differential protein profile. Finally, neurotrophic abilities of both groups were evaluated with a functional co-culture assay, assessing dorsal root ganglia survival and neurite outgrowth.Results: HPL-cultured ASCs demonstrated higher gene expression of NGF and lower expression of S100B. Moreover, nestin was present in almost all HPL-cultured ASCs and only in one quarter of SC-ASCs. Immunofluorescence confirmed that S100B was not present in HPL-cultured ASCs. Proteomics analysis validated the higher expression of nestin and the increase in cytoskeletal and ECM proteins involved in neural regeneration processes. The co-culture assay highlighted that neurite outgrowth was higher in the presence of HPL-ASCs or their conditioned medium compared to SC-ASCs.Conclusions: All together, our results show that HPL-ASCs were more neurotrophic than SC-ASCs. We highlighted that the HPL triggers an immature neuro-induction state of ASCs, while keeping their stem properties, paving the way for innovative therapies for nerve regeneration. Graphical Abstrac

Caprine αs1-Casein Polymorphism: Characterisation of A, B, E and F Variants by Means of Various Biochemical and Molecular Techniques

Considering a wide interest for the characterisation of caprine αs1-casein variants and a large number of differently equipped laboratories, the objective of this study was to analyse and compare characteristics of caprine αs1-casein variants by means of various biochemical and molecular techniques. The most frequent caprine αs1-casein variants (A, B, E and F) were characterized by employing electrophoretic protein separation analyses (capillary electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, and sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), chromatographic analysis (reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography) as well as DNA analyses (ASA and real-time polymerase chain reaction approach). Further, we stressed weak and strong points for each method applied and provided information for the optimal and complementary use of those methods with respect to time, resolution and costs

Anxiety disorders and stressful events in Takotsubo syndrome

Background: Anxiety disorders are more common in Takotsubo syndrome (TS) than in acute coronary syndrome patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pre-existing anxiety disorders predispose to TS triggered by exclusively emotional stressful events.Methods: Triggering events were compared in 58 TS patients with and without pre-existing anxiety disorders; clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data were also collected.Results: Thirty-one (53%) patients had a previous history of anxiety disorders. The exclusively emotional stressful event-rate was higher in TS patients with pre-existing anxiety disorder (74% vs. 30%, p = 0.001), while TS caused by an undetermined trigger were significantly higher in patients without anxiety disorders (33% vs. 10%, p = 0.027). Moreover, in TS patients without a previous history of anxiety disorders, a trend of higher prevalence of physical events was found (16% vs. 37%, p = 0.07).Conclusions: In patients with pre-existing anxiety disorders, TS was predominantly triggered by exclusively emotional stressful events, thereby suggesting a possible relationship between anxiety and emotional cardiac frailty in TS patients

The effect of Process Parameters on Alignment of Tubular Electrospun Nanofibers for Tisue Regeneration Purposes

Electrospinning is known to be an effective and straightforward technique to fabricate polymer non woven matrices made of nano and microfibers. Micro patterned morphology of electrospun matrices results to be outmost advantageous in the biomedical field, since it is able to mimic extracellular matrix (ECM), and favors cell adhesion and proliferation. Controlling electrospun fibers alignment is crucial for the regenerative purposes of certain tissues, such as neuronal and vascular. In this study we investigated the impact of electrospinning process parameters on fiber alignment in tubular nanofibrous matrices made of Poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLA-PCL); a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach is here proposed in order to statistically set up the process parameters. The DoE was studied keeping constants the previously set material and environmental parameters; voltage, flow rate and mandrel rotating speed were the process parameters here investigated as variables. Orientation analysis was based on ImageJ and plugin Orientation J analysis of SEM images. The results show that voltage combined with flow rate has significant impact on electrospun fiber orientation, and the greatest orientation is achieved when all the three input parameters (voltage, flow rate and mandrel rotation speed) are at their maximum value