Encouraging persons to visit cultural sites through mini-games

Gamification has been recently proposed as a technique to improve user engagement in different activities, including visits to cultural sites and cultural tourism in general. We present the design, development and initial validation of the NEPTIS Poleis system, which consists of a mobile application and a Web interface for curators, allowing the definition, and subsequent fruition by users, of different minigames suitable for open-air assets

NO scavenging through reductive nitrosylation of ferric Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Homo sapiens nitrobindins

Ferric nitrobindins (Nbs) selectively bind NO and catalyze the conversion of peroxynitrite to nitrate. In this study, we show that NO scavenging occurs through the reductive nitrosylation of ferric Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Homo sapiens nitrobindins (Mt-Nb(III) and Hs-Nb(III), respectively). The conversion of Mt-Nb(III) and Hs-Nb(III) to Mt-Nb(II)-NO and Hs-Nb(II)-NO, respectively, is a monophasic process, suggesting that over the explored NO concentration range (between 2.5 × 10-5 and 1.0 × 10-3 M), NO binding is lost in the mixing time (i.e., NOkon ≥ 1.0 × 106 M-1 s-1). The pseudo-first-order rate constant for the reductive nitrosylation of Mt-Nb(III) and Hs-Nb(III) (i.e., k) is not linearly dependent on the NO concentration but tends to level off, with a rate-limiting step (i.e., klim) whose values increase linearly with [OH-]. This indicates that the conversion of Mt-Nb(III) and Hs-Nb(III) to Mt-Nb(II)-NO and Hs-Nb(II)-NO, respectively, is limited by the OH--based catalysis. From the dependence of klim on [OH-], the values of the second-order rate constant kOH- for the reductive nitrosylation of Mt-Nb(III)-NO and Hs-Nb(III)-NO were obtained (4.9 (±0.5) × 103 M-1 s-1 and 6.9 (±0.8) × 103 M-1 s-1, respectively). This process leads to the inactivation of two NO molecules: one being converted to HNO2 and another being tightly bound to the ferrous heme-Fe(II) atom

Effects of anti-inflammatory [1, 2, 4]triazolo[4, 3-a] [1, 8]naphthyridine derivatives on human stimulated PMN and endothelial cells: an in vitro study

BACKGROUND: [1,2,4] triazolo [4, 3-a][1,8]naphthyridine derivatives (including NF161 and NF177) were tested for anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic properties and for their effects on spontaneous locomotor activity in mice and acute gastrolesivity in rats. Both NF161 and NF177 appeared to be anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents without toxic effects or acute gastrolesivity, but NF161 showed stronger anti-inflammatory activity, whereas NF177 was more active as analgesic. METHODS: An EIA kit was used to investigate the ability of NF161 and NF177 to affect prostaglandin E(2 )(PGE(2)) and prostacyclin (PGI(2)) production by human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC). The compounds' effects on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by human polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) were studied in an in vitro cell model, evaluating inhibition of superoxide anion (O(2)(-.)) production induced by N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). Their effects on PMN adhesion to HUVEC were also investigated; they were incubated with PMNs and endothelial cells (EC) and challenged by stimuli including Platelet Activating Factor (PAF), FMLP, Phorbol Myristate Acetate (PMA), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Adhesion was quantitated by computerized micro-imaging fluorescence analysis. RESULTS: Neither compounds modified PGE(2 )or PGI(2 )production induced by IL-1α. O(2)(-. )production and myeloperoxidase release from PMNs stimulated by FMLP was inhibited in a dose- but not time-dependent manner by both [1,8]naphthyridine derivatives, NF161 being statistically more active than NF177 (P < 0.01). The compounds inhibited adhesion evoked by the pro-inflammatory stimuli PAF, FMLP, TNF-α and IL-1β in a concentration-dependent manner in the 10(-6)–10(-4)M range, being more active when PAF was used as stimulus and inactive when cells were challenged by PMA. Both compounds acted both on PMN and HUVEC. CONCLUSION: Considering the interesting anti-inflammatory effects of these compounds in in vivo models and the absence of acute gastrolesivity, the study improved knowledge of anti-inflammatory properties of NF161 and NF177, also demonstrating their potential in vitro, through inhibition of O(2)(-. )production, myeloperoxidase release and PMN adhesion to HUVEC. Negative results on PG production suggest a cyclooxygenase (COX)-independent mechanism

Substance Related Exogenous Psychosis: a post-modern syndrome

© 2020 Cambridge University Press. This paper has been accepted for publication and will appear in a revised form, subsequent to peer-review and/or editorial input by Cambridge University Press. This manuscript is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial No-Derivatives License (CC-BY-NC-ND). For further information please see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.The past two decades have been marked by dramatic social changes, widely characterized by the term “postmodern”. These major transformations have had profound and complex implications for psychiatry, influencing mental health risk factors, dynamics in clinical encounters, styles of help-seeking behavior and clinical outcomes. Underlying themes of postmodern thought that are particularly relevant to psychiatry include: individualization and social roles; the nature of self-identity and intimacy; future orientation (Whitley r. 2008).Peer reviewe

2078 High prevalence of cardiac hypertophy without detectable signs of fibrosis in patients with untreated active acromegaly: an in-vivo study using magnetic resonance imaging and integrated backscatter analysis

Introduction Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis are considered the main pathological features of acromegalic cardiomyopathy. Cardiovascolar Magnetic Resonance (CMR) allows to detect myocardial gross fibrosis using the delayed enhancement (DE) technique. Myocardial echointensity as derived by integrated backscatter (IBS) echocardiographic analysis is considered an index of myocardial collagen content

COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pneumonia: a comparison

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the relocation of huge financial resources to departments dedicated to infected patients, at the expense of those suffering from other pathologies. Aim To compare clinical features and outcomes in COVID-19 pneumonia and non-COVID-19 pneumonia patients. Patients and methods 53 patients (35 males, mean age 61.5 years) with COVID-19 pneumonia and 50 patients (32 males, mean age 72.7 years) with non-COVID-19 pneumonia, consecutively admitted between March and May 2020 were included. Clinical, laboratory and radiological data at admission were analyzed. Duration of hospitalization and mortality rates were evaluated. Results Among the non-COVID patients, mean age, presence of comorbidities (neurological diseases, chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Charlson Comorbidity Index and risk factors (tobacco use and protracted length of stay in geriatric healthcare facilities) were higher than in COVID patients. The non-COVID-19 pneumonia group showed a higher (24% vs. 17%), although not statistically significant in-hospital mortality rate; the average duration of hospitalization was longer for COVID patients (30 vs. 9 days, p = .0001). Conclusions In the early stages of the COVID pandemic, our centre noted no statistical difference in unadjusted in-hospital mortality between COVID and non-COVID patients. Non-COVID patients had higher Charlson Comorbidity Scores, reflecting a greater disease burden in this population. Key Messages In March 2020, the COVID-19 disease was declared a pandemic, with enormous consequences for the organization of health systems and in terms of human lives; this has caused the relocation of huge financial resources to departments dedicated to infected patients, at the expense of those suffering from other pathologies. Few published reports have compared COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pneumonia. In our study, performed in a geographic area with a low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, we found few statistically significant differences in terms of clinical characteristics between the two groups analyzed. In the early stages of the COVID pandemic, our centre noted no statistical difference in unadjusted in-hospital mortality between COVID and non-COVID patients. Non-COVID patients had higher Charlson Comorbidity Scores, reflecting a greater disease burden in this populatio

Between Participatory Approaches and Politics, Promoting Social Innovation in Smart Cities: Building a Hum–Animal Smart City in Lucca

In recent decades, the interest in social innovation and nature-based solutions has spread in scientific articles, and they are increasingly deployed for cities’ strategic planning. In this scenario, participatory approaches become pivotal to engaging the population and stakeholders in the decision- making process. In this paper, we reflect on the first year’s results and the strengths and weaknesses— of the participatory activities realized in Lucca to co-design and co-deploy a smart city based on human–animal relationships in the framework of the European project Horizon 2020 (IN-HABIT). Human–animal bonds, as nature-based solutions, are scientifically and practically underestimated. Data were collected on the activities organized to implement a public–private–people partnership in co-designing infrastructural solutions (so-called Animal Lines) and soft nature-based solutions to be implemented in the city. Stakeholders actively engaged in mutual discussions with great enthusiasm, and the emergent ideas (the need to improve people’s knowledge of animals and develop a map showing pet-friendly services and places and the need for integration to create innovative pet services) were copious and different while showing many connections among the various points of view. At the same time, a deeper reflection on the relationships among the participatory activities and institutionally integrated arrangements also emerged