SocioFillmore:A Tool for Discovering Perspectives

SOCIOFILLMORE is a multilingual tool which helps to bring to the fore the focus or the perspective that a text expresses in depicting an event. Our tool, whose rationale we also support through a large collection of human judgements, is theoretically grounded on frame semantics and cognitive linguistics, and implemented using the LOME frame semantic parser. We describe SOCIOFILLMORE’s development and functionalities, show how non-NLP researchers can easily interact with the tool, and present some example case studies which are already incorporated in the system, together with the kind of analysis that can be visualised

Nancy Alonso - Storia di una buca: Traduzione di Chiara Bussolini, Martina Gemelli e Giulia Gusmaroli in collaborazione con Rosa Maria Grillo

Nancy Alonso (L’Avana 1943 – 2018), biologa e docente universitaria. Scoprì la sua vocazione letteraria scrivendo lettere dall’Etiopia, dove si trovava in missione.  I suoi racconti, spesso ambientati nell’amatissima Avana, testimoniano il contesto socio-economico della Cuba contemporanea

Multifunctional silane-based superhydrophobic/impregnation treatments for concrete producing C-S-H gel: Validation on mockup specimens from European heritage structures

Many of the concrete structures that conform our modern cultural heritage are in need of repair and protective interventions. Silane-based impregnation treatments can be used to repair onset cracks and reinforce the surface due to their ability to produce silica and C-S-H gels, and can be modified by incorporating hydrophobic precursors to create multifunctional treatments that also protect from water ingress. Since the effectiveness of impregnation treatments is dependent on substrate properties and chemical-physical changes it may have experienced over time, validation using standard materials may not always be representative of on-site application. In this work, the effectiveness of three innovative silane-based impregnation treatments developed by our group (two of them combining superhydrophobic properties) was evaluated on mockup specimens, which simulate the properties of the cementitious materials from six different heritage structures across Europe, artificially aged to simulate weathering by three methods: carbonation, chloride ingress and physical damages (freeze–thaw and thermal cycles). The characterization of the treatments showed they are compatible in terms of chemical interaction, applicability and minimal aesthetical alterations. Surface resistance and ultrasound pulse measurements have been used to assess the improvement in mechanical properties. The incorporation of hydrophobic components and fumed silica has a relatively low impact over the mechanical properties while it significantly reduces water absorption and grants water repellent properties to the surface, giving rise to a superhydrophobic performance. © 2022 The Author

Hand Rehabilitation Treatment for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease: An Open Label Pilot Study

Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy affects mainly and early the lower limbs, but hands deformities are a relevant problem, which involves the quality of life of the patients. Unfortunately, there are few studies about the evaluation of the upper limbs and very rare works about the rehabilitation. A treatment study at the moment is missing and it is important to search rehabilitation exercises to improve the dexterity and the quality of life of the patients. METHODS: We recruited 9 patients with clinical and genetic diagnosis of CMT and we proposed a rehabilitation protocol which includes muscle recruitment, stretching and proprioceptive exercises for the hand with the duration of 4 weeks (two sessions for week). We evaluated the patients before and one week after the treatment with Thumb Opposition Test, Sollerman Hand Function Scale, dynamometry (tripod pinch and hand grip). RESULTS: The rehabilitation protocol has been well tolerated and there were not dropouts. We did not observe any worsening in every scale we used. Every parameter tested showed an improvement especially in the right/dominant hand. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that this three phases treatment is well tolerated by patients, it is not detrimental for the hands status and perfectly reproducible by professionals. Moreover, this could be the basis for future randomized single blind projects

KLF4 mediates the effect of 5-ASA on the b-catenin pathway in colon cancer cells

Mesalazine (5-ASA) is an aminosalicylate anti-inflammatory drug capable of inducing m-protocadherin, a protein expressed by colorectal epithelial cells that is downregulated upon malignant transformation. Treatment with 5-ASA restores m-protocadherin expression and promotes the sequestration of b-catenin to the plasma membrane. Here, we show that 5-ASA–induced m-protocadherin expression is directly regulated by the KLF4 transcription factor. In addition, we suggest the existence of a dual mechanism whereby 5-ASA–mediated b-catenin inhibition is caused by m-protocadherin–dependent sequestration of b-catenin to the plasma membrane and by the direct binding of KLF4 to b-catenin. In addition, we found that 5-ASA treatment suppresses the expression of miR-130a and miR-135b, which target KLF4 mRNA, raising the possibility that this mechanism is involved in the increased expression of KLF4 induced by 5-ASA

An integrated approach to the evaluation of patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic hyperCKemia

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Currently, there are no straightforward guidelines for the clinical and diagnostic management of hyperCKemia, a frequent and nonspecific presentation in muscle diseases. Therefore, we aimed to describe our diagnostic workflow for evaluating patients with this condition. METHODS: We selected 83 asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic patients with persistent hyperCKemia for participation in this Italian multicenter study. Patients with facial involvement and distal or congenital myopathies were excluded, as were patients with suspected inflammatory myopathies or predominant respiratory or cardiac involvement. All patients underwent a neurological examination and nerve conduction and electromyography studies. The first step of the investigation included a screening for Pompe disease. We then evaluated the patients for myotonic dystrophy type II–related CCTG expansion and excluded patients with copy number variations in the DMD gene. Subsequently, the undiagnosed patients were investigated using a target gene panel that included 20 genes associated with isolated hyperCKemia. RESULTS: Using this approach, we established a definitive diagnosis in one third of the patients. The detection rate was higher in patients with severe hyperCKemia and abnormal electromyographic findings. DISCUSSION: We have described our diagnostic workflow for isolated hyperCKemia, which is based on electrodiagnostic data, biochemical screening, and first‐line genetic investigations, followed by successive targeted sequencing panels. Both clinical signs and electromyographic abnormalities are associated with increased diagnostic yields