Journalism Models in Western Democracies and the International Arena: The Case of the 2016 Failed Coup Attempt in Turkey

This paper explores the complex relationship between media and political systems in the context of the International News Flow, regarding the interdisciplinary research area between media study and International Relations. The focus is on International News Flow interactions and effects upon democratic political systems. The aim is to fill the gap concerning international relations in comparative media analysis literature. Despite using Hallin and Mancini's framework (2004, 2012), the present research does not only apply their typology to test its validity, but it also applies the main International Relations theoretical frameworks that deepen the relationship between media and political systems to shed light on the degree of superimposition between structure-based and content-based frameworks of media systems. The case study is the 2016 failed military coup in Turkey. In particular, in terms of coverage and analysis, the study considers how the newspapers of four countries (Italy, France, Germany and England), which represent the three democracy models of Hallini and Mancini – Mediterranean, Liberal, Corporative plus one that cuts across different models – framed the failed coup attempt in the days following the beginning of the crisis

Benzothiazole-Containing Analogues of Triclocarban with Potent Antibacterial Activity

Triclocarban (TCC) is a polychlorinated, aromatic, antimicrobial agent commercially used since the 1950s in personal care products for the prevention of spoilage and infections. Humans are frequently exposed to TCC due to its widespread use, leading to its substantial release into the aquatic environment. With the recent ban of TCC from some personal care products, implemented in 2016, many replacement antimicrobial compounds have been studied by researchers. Herein, we report the synthesis and biological activity of a series of diarylureas, analogues of TCC that bear the benzothiazole nucleus as one of the two aryl moieties. Among the studied compounds, 2bF and 2eC showed the highest antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, being also more active than TCC, with MIC values of 8 µg/mL versus 16 µg/mL of TCC. Moreover, compound 2bB was much more active than TCC against Enterococcus faecalis, a Gram-positive bacterium that is, unfortunately, strongly responsible for nosocomial infections. Finally, interesting results were found for compound 2bG that, even though less active than the others, exerts an interesting bactericidal action

Molecular determinants for the activating/blocking actions of the 2H-1,4-benzoxazine derivatives, a class of potassium channel modulators targeting the skeletal muscle KATP channels

The 2H-1,4-benzoxazine derivatives are modulators of the skeletal muscle ATP-sensitive-K+ channels (KATP), activating it in the presence of ATP but inhibiting it in the absence of nucleotide. To investigate the molecular determinants for the activating/blocking actions of these compounds, novel molecules with different alkyl or aryl-alkyl substitutes at position 2 of the 1,4-benzoxazine ring were prepared. The effects of the lengthening of the alkyl chain and of branched substitutes, as well as of the introduction of aliphatic/aromatic rings on the activity of the molecules, were investigated on the skeletal muscle KATP channels of the rat, in excised-patch experiments, in the presence or absence of internal ATP (10 -4 M). In the presence of ATP, the 2-n-hexyl analog was the most potent activator (DE50 = 1.08 × 10-10 M), whereas the 2-phenylethyl was not effective. The rank order of efficacy of the openers was 2-n-hexyl ≥2-cyclohexylmethyl >2-isopropyl = 2-n-butyl = 2-phenyl ≥ 2-benzyl = 2-isobutyl analogs. In the absence of ATP, the 2-phenyl analog was the most potent inhibitor (IC50 = 2.5 × 10-11 M); the rank order of efficacy of the blockers was 2-phenyl ≥ 2-n-hexyl > 2-n-butyl > 2-cyclohexylmethyl, whereas the 2-phenylethyl, 2-benzyl, and 2-isobutyl 1,4-benzoxazine analogs were not effective; the 2-isopropyl analog activated the KATP channel even in the absence of nucleotide. Therefore, distinct molecular determinants for the activating or blocking actions for these compounds can be found. For example, the replacement of the linear with the branched alkyl substitutes at the position 2 of the 1,4-benzoxazine nucleus determines the molecular switch from blockers to openers. These compounds were 100-fold more potent and effective as openers than other KCO against the muscle KATP channels. Copyright © 2008 The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Structural nucleotide analogs are potent activators/inhibitors of pancreatic beta-cell KATP channels: an emerging mechanism supporting their use as anti-diabetic drugs.

The 2H-1,4-benzoxazine derivatives are novel drugs structurally similar to nucleotides; however, their actions on the pancreatic beta-cell ATP-sensitive-K(+)(KATP) channel and on glucose disposal are unknown. Therefore, the effects of the linear/branched alkyl substituents and the aliphatic/aromatic rings at position 2 of the 2H-1,4-benzoxazine nucleus on the activity of these molecules against the pancreatic beta-cell KATP channel and the Kir6.2C36 subunit were investigated using a patch-clamp technique. The effects of these compounds on glucose disposal that followed glucose loading by i.p. GTT and on fasted glycemia were investigated in normal mice. The 2-n-hexyl analog blocked the KATP(IC50=10.1x10(-9)M) and Kir6.2C36(IC50=9.6x10(-9)M) channels which induced depolarization. In contrast, the 2-phenyl analog was a potent opener(DE50=0.04x10(-9)M), which induced hyperpolarization. The ranked order of the potency/efficacy of the analog openers was 2-phenyl>2-benzyl>2-cyclohexylmethyl. The 2-phenylethyl and 2-isopropyl analogs were not effective as blockers/openers. The 2-n-hexyl (2-10 mg kg(-1)) and 2-phenyl analogs (2-30 mg kg(-1)) reduced and enhanced the glucose AUC curves, respectively, following the glucose loading in mice. These compounds did not affect the fasted glycemia as is observed with glibenclamide. The linear alkyl chain and the aromatic ring at position 2 of the 1,4-benzoxazine nucleus are the determinants, which respectively confer the KATP channel blocking action with glucose lowering effects and the opening action with increased glucose levels. The opening/blocking actions of these compounds mimic those that were observed with ATP and ADP. The results support the use of these compounds as novel anti-diabetic drugs

Prevalence and Prognostic Role of IDH Mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Results of the GIMEMA AML1516 Protocol

IDH1/2 mutations are common in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and represent a therapeutic target. The GIMEMA AML1516 observational protocol was designed to study the prevalence of IDH1/2 mutations and associations with clinico-biological parameters in a cohort of Italian AML patients. We analyzed a cohort of 284 AML consecutive patients at diagnosis, 139 females and 145 males, of a median age of 65 years (range: 19–86). Of these, 38 (14%) harbored IDH1 and 51 (18%) IDH2 mutations. IDH1/2 mutations were significantly associated with WHO PS >2 (p < 0.001) and non-complex karyotype (p = 0.021) when compared to IDH1/2-WT. Furthermore, patients with IDH1 mutations were more frequently NPM1-mutated (p = 0.007) and had a higher platelet count (p = 0.036). At relapse, IDH1/2 mutations were detected in 6 (25%) patients. As per the outcome, 60.5% of IDH1/2-mutated patients achieved complete remission; overall survival and event-free survival at 2 years were 44.5% and 36.1%, respectively: these rates were similar to IDH1/2-WT. In IDH1/2-mutated patients, high WBC proved to be an independent prognostic factor for survival. In conclusion, the GIMEMA AML1516 confirms that IDH1/2 mutations are frequently detected at diagnosis and underlines the importance of recognizing IDH1/2-mutated cases up-front to offer the most appropriate therapeutic strategy, given the availability of IDH1/2 inhibitors

Operations of and Future Plans for the Pierre Auger Observatory

Technical reports on operations and features of the Pierre Auger Observatory, including ongoing and planned enhancements and the status of the future northern hemisphere portion of the Observatory. Contributions to the 31st International Cosmic Ray Conference, Lodz, Poland, July 2009.Comment: Contributions to the 31st ICRC, Lodz, Poland, July 200

Highlights from the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is the world's largest cosmic ray observatory. Our current exposure reaches nearly 40,000 km$^2$ str and provides us with an unprecedented quality data set. The performance and stability of the detectors and their enhancements are described. Data analyses have led to a number of major breakthroughs. Among these we discuss the energy spectrum and the searches for large-scale anisotropies. We present analyses of our X$_{max}$ data and show how it can be interpreted in terms of mass composition. We also describe some new analyses that extract mass sensitive parameters from the 100% duty cycle SD data. A coherent interpretation of all these recent results opens new directions. The consequences regarding the cosmic ray composition and the properties of UHECR sources are briefly discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figures, talk given at the 33rd International Cosmic Ray Conference, Rio de Janeiro 201

Measurement of the Depth of Maximum of Extensive Air Showers above 10^18 eV

We describe the measurement of the depth of maximum, Xmax, of the longitudinal development of air showers induced by cosmic rays. Almost four thousand events above 10^18 eV observed by the fluorescence detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory in coincidence with at least one surface detector station are selected for the analysis. The average shower maximum was found to evolve with energy at a rate of (106 +35/-21) g/cm^2/decade below 10^(18.24 +/- 0.05) eV and (24 +/- 3) g/cm^2/decade above this energy. The measured shower-to-shower fluctuations decrease from about 55 to 26 g/cm^2. The interpretation of these results in terms of the cosmic ray mass composition is briefly discussed.Comment: Accepted for publication by PR

Atmospheric effects on extensive air showers observed with the Surface Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Atmospheric parameters, such as pressure (P), temperature (T) and density, affect the development of extensive air showers initiated by energetic cosmic rays. We have studied the impact of atmospheric variations on extensive air showers by means of the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The rate of events shows a ~10% seasonal modulation and ~2% diurnal one. We find that the observed behaviour is explained by a model including the effects associated with the variations of pressure and density. The former affects the longitudinal development of air showers while the latter influences the Moliere radius and hence the lateral distribution of the shower particles. The model is validated with full simulations of extensive air showers using atmospheric profiles measured at the site of the Pierre Auger Observatory.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic