Memorie contese, identità frammentarie. La letteratura della diaspora libanese negli Stati Uniti

La letteratura nata in seguito alla guerra civile libanese, sia essa nazionale o diasporica, va incontro al bisogno di raccontare e dunque superare il trauma subito. Il ruolo degli artisti libanesi è tanto più importante quanto più il discorso nazionale sulla guerra civile è assente. È evidente dunque la rilevanza che assume una letteratura che, a suo modo, prova a colmare un’amnesia collettiva, un vuoto di memoria storico e politico, oltre che individuale e famigliare.Con modi, approcci, attitudini diverse, Sarrafian Ward, Adnan e Alameddine utilizzano la scrittura come mezzo di riabilitazione della memoria, anzi di varie memorie negate, contese e conflittuali. Mettendo a nudo l’arbitrarietà delle catego-rie identitarie, decostruendo quindi l’unicità del soggetto e della comunità, questa letteratura dipinge un quadro caleidoscopico, certo non pacificato, della società libanese. Sviscerando il conflitto e la questione etnica essa risponde alla mancanza di una narrazione conciliata e condivisa, e propone una lettura polisemica, demi-stificatoria e antimitologica della storia del Libano. Allo stesso tempo essa guarda con lucidità e consapevolezza contrappuntuale all’esperienza dell’esilio in un pa-ese, gli Stati Uniti, non sempre all’altezza delle sue promesse

Uncertainty Quantification of Non-Dimensional Parameters for a Film Cooling Configuration in Supersonic Conditions

In transonic high-pressure turbine stages, oblique shocks originating from vane trailing edges impact the suction side of each adjacent vane. High-pressure vanes are cooled to tolerate the combustor exit-temperature levels, then it is highly probable that shock impingement will occur in proximity to a row of cooling holes. The presence of such a shock, together with the inevitable manufacturing deviations, alters the location of the shock impingement and of the performance parameters of each cooling hole. The present work provides a general description of the aero-thermal field that occurs on the rear suction side of a cooled vane. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to evaluate the deterministic response of the selected configurations in terms of adiabatic effectiveness, discharge coefficient, blowing ratio, density ratio, and momentum ratio. Turbulence is modelled by using both the Shear Stress Transport method (SST) and the Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) implemented in ANSYS® FLUENT®. The obtained results are compared with the experimental data obtained by the Institut für Thermische Strömungsmaschinen in Karlsruhe. Two uncertainty quantification methodologies based on Hermite polynomials and Padè–Legendre approximants are used to consider the probability distribution of the geometrical parameters and to evaluate the response surfaces for the system response quantities. Trailing-edge and cooling-hole diameters have been considered to be aleatory unknowns. Uncertainty quantification analysis allows for the assessment of the mutual effects on global and local parameters of the cooling device. Obtained results demonstrate that most of the parameters are independent by the variation of the aleatory unknowns while the standard deviation of the blowing ratio associated with the hole diameter uncertainty is around 12%, with no impact by the trailing-edge thickness. No relevant advantages are found using either SST model or RSM in combination with Hermite polynomials and Padè–Legendre approximants

Severe and prolonged myelosuppression during concomitant temozolomide and radiotherapy treatment in a patient with glioblastoma multiforme

Aims: We describe the case of a patient with glioblastoma (GBM) who developed severe and prolonged myelosuppression during concomitant daily temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) treatment. Analysis of polymorphisms in genes correlated with TMZ-induced myelotoxicity was also performed. Presentation of the Case: A 67–year-old man with diagnosis of GBM undergoing concomitant RT-TMZ treatment developed severe and prolonged pancytopenia that led to discontinuation of TMZ and required frequent platelet and red cells transfusions. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1 (NQO1) and glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1) was carried out. Both SNPs were found to be wild-type. Discussion: TMZ is an oral alkylating agent used for the treatment of glioblastoma. TMZ is usually considered well tolerated and safe, with nausea and mild myelosuppression being the most common side effects. However, severe haematologic adverse events have been also reported. Recently, there has been growing interest in gene polymorphisms that might be associated with an increased risk of hematologic toxicity. Conclusion: Myelosuppression is a side effect that can occur relatively early during concomitant TMZ treatment and can negatively impact on patient’s quality of life. Further studies are warranted to find out a correlation between genetic factors and the occurrence of severe hematologic toxicity

Stifle anatomic, tomographic and biomechanical features of growing dogs affected by quadriceps contracture.

Quadriceps contracture is a debilitating and uncommon condition, mostly affecting young dogs. Itcan be congenital or acquired ) and is reported to induce muscular hypotrophy/fibrosis, progressive degenerative joint disease, bone hypoplasia and limb hyperextension. The aim of this study was to elucidate anatomic, tomographic and biomechanical features of stifles affected by quadriceps contracture.Seven 2-month-old dead Dobermann Pinschers with unilateral quadriceps contracture were included. Before gross anatomic evaluation, all stifles underwent Computed Tomography before and after intra-articular administration of iodinated contrast medium. Images were acquired in double positioning (stifle extension and flexion) to identify articular cartilage, Ossification Centres’ (OCs) and menisci abnormalities, which were compared between affected and unaffected limbs. In all affected limbs the stifle was back-turned, the distal femur was extra-rotated and the patella was luxated proximo-medially. Severe lack of physiological stifle movements (rolling, gliding, spinning) was observed, so that affected joints could not be flexed. The articular cartilage of the femur was flattened and irregular in thickness, the femoral trochlea was hypoplasic and sloping, the menisci were misshaped. The OC of the distal femur and proximal tibia were misshaped; the tibial plateau was oriented caudodorsally-cranioventrally and significantly smaller (P<0,05). Quadriceps contracture influenced stifle development. The action of quadriceps insertion on the tibia prevented normal development of the plateau, causing wedging and abnormal orientation. Constant compression also induced external rotation of the distal femur (unable to develop distally) and patellar luxation, ending up in genu recurvatum. Static compression was likely responsible for femoral trochlea hypoplasia, articular cartilage and meniscal deformation, due to the lack of physiological stifle movements.Quadriceps contracture induces severe alterations of stifle development in affected puppies. Histology, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry may better define the nature of such bone, cartilage and meniscal alterations

Alternative splicing of NF-YA promotes prostate cancer aggressiveness and represents a new molecular marker for clinical stratification of patients

Approaches based on expression signatures of prostate cancer (PCa) have been proposed to predict patient outcomes and response to treatments. The transcription factor NF-Y participates to the progression from benign epithelium to both localized and metastatic PCa and is associated with aggressive transcriptional profile. The gene encoding for NF-YA, the DNA-binding subunit of NF-Y, produces two alternatively spliced transcripts, NF-YAs and NF-YAl. Bioinformatic analyses pointed at NF-YA splicing as a key transcriptional signature to discriminate between different tumor molecular subtypes. In this study, we aimed to determine the pathophysiological role of NF-YA splice variants in PCa and their association with aggressive subtypes

Oxidative stress and gut-derived lipopolysaccharides in children affected by paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections

BACKGROUND: Paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections syndrome (PANDAS) identifies patients with acute onset of obsessive-compulsive and tic disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate serum NOX2 levels, as well as 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of PANDAS patients. METHODS: In this study we wanted to compare serum levels of soluble NOX2-dp (sNOX-2-dp), iso-PGF2α and LPS in 60 consecutive subjects, including 30 children affected by PANDAS and 30 controls (CT) matched for age and gender. Serum zonulin was used as intestinal permeability assay. RESULTS: Compared with CT, PANDAS children had increased serum levels of sNOX-2-dp, 8-iso-PGF2α and LPS. Bivariate analysis showed that serum sNOX2-dp was significantly correlated with LPS (Rs = 0.359; p = 0.005), zonulin (Rs = 0.444; p < 0.001) and 8-iso-PGF2α (Rs = 0.704; p < 0.001). Serum LPS significantly correlated with zonulin (Rs = 0.610; p < 0.001), and 8-iso-PGF2α (Rs = 0.591; p = 0.001). Finally, a multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum 8-iso-PGF2α and zonulin were the only independent variables associated with sNOX2-dp (R2 = 68%). CONCLUSION: This study shows that children affected by PANDAS have high circulating levels of sNOX2-dp, isoprostanes and of LPS that could be involved in the process of neuroinflammation

Forecasting: theory and practice

Forecasting has always been in the forefront of decision making and planning. The uncertainty that surrounds the future is both exciting and challenging, with individuals and organisations seeking to minimise risks and maximise utilities. The lack of a free-lunch theorem implies the need for a diverse set of forecasting methods to tackle an array of applications. This unique article provides a non-systematic review of the theory and the practice of forecasting. We offer a wide range of theoretical, state-of-the-art models, methods, principles, and approaches to prepare, produce, organise, and evaluate forecasts. We then demonstrate how such theoretical concepts are applied in a variety of real-life contexts, including operations, economics, finance, energy, environment, and social good. We do not claim that this review is an exhaustive list of methods and applications. The list was compiled based on the expertise and interests of the authors. However, we wish that our encyclopedic presentation will offer a point of reference for the rich work that has been undertaken over the last decades, with some key insights for the future of the forecasting theory and practice

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Grimm, J.J.; Koehler, K.; Lust, E.M.; Saliba, I.; Schierenbeck I. Safer Field Research in the Social Sciences. A Guide to Human and Digital Security in Hostile Environments. Los Angeles, SAGE, 2020, 176 p. ISBN 9781529701043

Safer Field Research in the Social Sciences is the outcome of a collective effort involving an international network of scholars from various branches of the social sciences, working on different fields, and often collaborating with nonacademic think-tanks and organisations. The primary objective of its authors and co-authors is to provide researchers with a resource for minimising risks related to fieldwork