Hoes or adzes? Experimental reproduction and uses of deer antler tools from the Bronze Age Terramara of Pragatto (Italy)

This research aimed to evaluate the hypotheses related to the production and possible uses of a class of deer antler tools from the Bronze Age Terramara of Pragatto (Italy). These bevel-ended instruments are traditionally considered handled hoes, related to agricultural purposes such as tillage. The aim of this work was to provide an alternative interpretation of their function, possibly linked to the different morphology of their active areas. A first experimental protocol was developed to create a reference collection of the archaeological antler tools to provide information on the manufacturing technology adopted by the ancient craftsmen approximately 3500 years ago. The second stage of the experiment allowed us to assess the potential versatility of the replicated artefacts from a functional point of view, as some of them have also shown great effectiveness in woodworking activities. The final comparison between traces through a microscopic analysis of the surfaces was essential to support this latter functional hypothesis. This study allowed us to determine which tools and methods were required to produce these artefacts and, ultimately, to identify their possible multifunctions, offering perspectives in understanding their economic role within the Pragatto population

EVALITA Evaluation of NLP and Speech Tools for Italian - December 17th, 2020

Welcome to EVALITA 2020! EVALITA is the evaluation campaign of Natural Language Processing and Speech Tools for Italian. EVALITA is an initiative of the Italian Association for Computational Linguistics (AILC, http://www.ai-lc.it) and it is endorsed by the Italian Association for Artificial Intelligence (AIxIA, http://www.aixia.it) and the Italian Association for Speech Sciences (AISV, http://www.aisv.it)

Vascular endothelial growth factor-C secretion is increased by advanced glycation end-products: possible implication in ocular neovascularization

Purpose: Neovascularization is a common complication of many degenerative and vascular diseases of the retina. Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) have a pathologic role in the development of retinal neovascularization, mainly for their ability in upregulating vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) secretion. The aim of this study was to investigate whether AGEs are able to modulate the secretion of VEGF-C, another angiogenic factor that increases the effect of VEGF-A. Methods: A human retinal pigment epithelial cell line (ARPE-19) and human endothelial vascular cell line (HECV) cells were cultured for 24 h in presence of AGEs, and then mRNA expression of VEGF-C was analyzed with reverse transcription\u2013polymerase chain reaction (RT\u2013PCR). To verify whether AGEs-induced VEGF secretion is mediated by RAGE (Receptor for AGEs), RAGE expression was depleted using the small interfering RNA method. To investigate whether VEGF-A is involved in upregulating VEGF-C secretion, the cells were cultured for 24 h in the presence of bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against VEGF-A, alone or in combination with AGEs. VEGF-A and VEGF-C levels in the supernatants of the treated cells were evaluated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Exposure to AGEs significantly increased VEGF-C gene expression in ARPE-19 cells. AGEs-induced VEGF-C secretion was upregulated in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and endothelial cells. Downregulation of RAGE expression decreased VEGF-A secretion in cell models, and increased VEGF-C secretion in ARPE-19 cells. Adding bevacizumab to the culture medium upregulated constitutive VEGF-C secretion but did not affect AGEs-induced VEGF-C secretion. Conclusions: These findings suggest that AGEs take part in the onset of retinal neovascularization, not only by modulating VEGF-A but also by increasing VEGF-C secretion. In addition, our results suggest that VEGF-C may compensate for treatments that reduce VEGF-A

Hoes or Adzes? Experimental Reproduction and Uses of Deer Antler Tools from the Bronze Age Terramara of Pragatto (Italy)

This research aimed to evaluate the hypotheses related to the production and possible uses of a class of deer antler tools from the Bronze Age Terramara of Pragatto (Italy). These bevel-ended instruments are traditionally considered handled hoes, related to agricultural purposes such as tillage. The aim of this work was to provide an alternative interpretation of their function, possibly linked to the different morphology of their active areas. A first experimental protocol was developed to create a reference collection of the archaeological antler tools to provide information on the manufacturing technology adopted by the ancient craftsmen approximately 3500 years ago. The second stage of the experiment allowed us to assess the potential versatility of the replicated artefacts from a functional point of view, as some of them have also shown great effectiveness in woodworking activities. The final comparison between traces through a microscopic analysis of the surfaces was essential to support this latter functional hypothesis. This study allowed us to determine which tools and methods were required to produce these artefacts and, ultimately, to identify their possible multifunctions, offering perspectives in understanding their economic role within the Pragatto population

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Triggers Protective Pathways in Pancreatic Beta-Cells Exposed to Glycated Serum

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) might play a pathophysiological role in the development of diabetes and its complications. AGEs negatively affect pancreatic beta-cell function and the expression of transcriptional factors regulating insulin gene. Glucagonlike peptide-1 (GLP-1), an incretin hormone that regulates glucose homeostasis, might counteract the harmful effects of AGEs on the beta cells in culture. The aim of this study was to identify the intracellular mechanisms underlying GLP-1-mediated protection from AGE-induced detrimental activities in pancreatic beta cells. HIT-T15 cells were cultured for 5 days with glycated serum (GS, consisting in a pool of AGEs), in the presence or absence of 10 nmol/L GLP-1. After evaluation of oxidative stress, we determined the expression and subcellular localization of proteins involved in maintaining redox balance and insulin gene expression, such as nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2 (Nrf2), glutathione reductase, PDX-1, and MafA. Then, we investigated proinsulin production. The results showed that GS increased oxidative stress, reduced protein expression of all investigated factors through proteasome activation, and decreased proinsulin content. Furthermore, GS reduced ability of PDX-1 and MafA to bind DNA. Coincubation with GLP-1 reversed these GS-mediated detrimental effects. In conclusion, GLP-1, protecting cells against oxidants, triggers protective intercellular pathways in HIT-T15 cells exposed to GS

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Triggers Protective Pathways in Pancreatic Beta-Cells Exposed to Glycated Serum

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) might play a pathophysiological role in the development of diabetes and its complications. AGEs negatively affect pancreatic beta-cell function and the expression of transcriptional factors regulating insulin gene. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an incretin hormone that regulates glucose homeostasis, might counteract the harmful effects of AGEs on the beta cells in culture. The aim of this study was to identify the intracellular mechanisms underlying GLP-1-mediated protection from AGE-induced detrimental activities in pancreatic beta cells. HIT-T15 cells were cultured for 5 days with glycated serum (GS, consisting in a pool of AGEs), in the presence or absence of 10 nmol/L GLP-1. After evaluation of oxidative stress, we determined the expression and subcellular localization of proteins involved in maintaining redox balance and insulin gene expression, such as nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2 (Nrf2), glutathione reductase, PDX-1, and MafA. Then, we investigated proinsulin production. The results showed that GS increased oxidative stress, reduced protein expression of all investigated factors through proteasome activation, and decreased proinsulin content. Furthermore, GS reduced ability of PDX-1 and MafA to bind DNA. Coincubation with GLP-1 reversed these GS-mediated detrimental effects. In conclusion, GLP-1, protecting cells against oxidants, triggers protective intercellular pathways in HIT-T15 cells exposed to GS

Severe asthma: One disease and multiple definitions

Introduction There is, so far, no universal definition of severe asthma. This definition usually relies on: number of exacerbations, inhaled therapy, need for oral corticosteroids, and respiratory function. The use of such parameters varies in the different definitions used. Thus, according to the parameters chosen, each patient may result in having severe asthma or not. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the choice of a specific definition of severe asthma can change the allocation of patients. Methods Data collected from the Severe Asthma Network Italy (SANI) registry were analyzed. All the patients included were then reclassified according to the definitions of U-BIOPRED, NICE, WHO, ATS/ERS, GINA, ENFUMOSA, and TENOR. Results 540 patients, were extracted from the SANI database. We observed that 462 (86%) met the ATS/ERS criteria as well as the GINA criteria, 259 (48%) the U-Biopred, 222 (41%) the NICE, 125 (23%) the WHO, 313 (58%) the Enfumosa, and 251 (46%) the TENOR criteria. The mean eosinophil value were similar in the ATS/ERS, U-Biopred, and Enfumosa (528, 532 and 516 cells/mcl), higher in WHO and Tenor (567 and 570 cells/mcl) and much higher in the NICE classification (624 cells/mcl). Lung function tests resulted similarly in all groups, with WHO (67%) and ATS/ERS-GINA (73%), respectively, showing the lower and upper mean FEV1 values. Conclusions The present observations clearly evidence the heterogeneity in the distribution of patients when different definitions of severe asthma are used. However, the recent definition of severe asthma, provided by the GINA document, is similar to that indicated in 2014 by ATS/ERS, allowing mirror reclassification of the patients examined. This lack of homogeneity could complicate the access to biological therapies. The definition provided by the GINA document, which reflects what suggested by ATS/ERS, could partially overcome the problem