From technologies for a few to technologies for all. Analysis of inclusive technologies perception in teachers in training

The paper presents the results of a survey conducted with teachers of lower and upper secondary schools who attended, in e-Learning mode, the specialization course for support in 2020 at the University of Macerata (Italy). The purpose of the survey was to: (1) extrapolate the teachers' point of view on the inclusive use of technologies at the beginning of the laboratory, (2) highlight the presence or absence of an inclusive logic underlying the teaching approach generally chosen in the use of tools and technological applications and finally, (3) analyze teachers in training perception about the skills they think they have learned at the end of the laboratory. Referring to the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the inclusive logic underlines the importance of knowing how to design educational interventions mediated by technologies that can be used by all students (not only those with Special Educational Need) therefore the presence/absence of the design aspect in teachers in training was considered fundamental to set up the laboratory path. In addition, the creation of the laboratory on the Teams platform has allowed teachers in training to learn and experience the inclusive potential that e-Learning can have if supported by a good design framework. In the contribution, the results of the investigation and the organization of the laboratory will be presented

Involvement of sperm acetylated histones and the nuclear isoform of Glutathione peroxidase 4 in fertilization

We previously demonstrated that the nuclear form of Glutathione peroxidase 4 (nGPx4) has a peculiar distribution in sperm head, being localized to nuclear matrix and acrosome and that sperm lacking nGPx4 are more prone to decondensation in vitro. In this study we have hypothesized that sperm retained acetylated histones and nGPx4 are implicated in paternal chromatin decondensation and male pronucleus formation at fertilization. Indeed, significant higher amounts of acetylated histone H4 and acetylated histone H3 were observed by both immunofluorescence and western blotting in nGPx4-KO sperm vs WT ones. In vitro fertilization of zona pellucida- deprived oocytes by WT sperm in the presence of trichostatin (TSA) also demonstrated that paternal histone acetylation was inversely related to the timing of sperm nucleus decondensation at fertilization. In contrast, TSA had no effect on nGPx4-KO sperm, indicating they had a maximal level of histone acetylation. Moreover the paternally imprinted gene Igf2/H19 was hypomethylated in KO sperm compared to WT ones. The lack of nGPx4 negatively affected male fertility, causing a marked decrease in total pups and pregnancies with delivery, a significant reduction in pronuclei (PN) embryos in in vitro fertilization assays and an approximately 2 h delay in egg fertilization in vivo. Because the zona pellucida binding and fusion to oolemma of nGPx4-KO and WT sperm were similar, the subfertility of nGPx4 sperm reflected a decreased sperm progression through egg cumulus/zona pellucida, pinpointing a defective acrosome in line with acrosomal nGPx4 localization. We conclude that paternal acetylated histones and acrosomal nGPx4 are directly involved in fertilization

Critical Upper Limb Ischemia Due to Brachial Tourniquet in Misdiagnosed Thoracic Outlet Syndrome after Carpal Tunnel Decompression: A Case Report

We present the case of a 68-year-old woman, referred to our department for critical upper limb ischemia, which had occurred a few days after homolateral surgical ligamentotomy for carpal tunnel syndrome, diagnosed and confirmed by electromyography, and performed with a brachial tourniquet. The patient was later admitted for subsequent progressive necrosis of the first three fingers of the left hand, accompanied by signs of upper limb ischemia. An accessory cervical rib was identified, completely obliterating the subclavian artery distally at the origin of the suprascapular artery. A complete humeral artery occlusion was also found at the middle third of the humerus. The accessory rib was resected and the subclavian artery recanalized. A few days later, necrosis of the distal third of the first two fingers appeared and surgical resection was performed. Despite this chronic condition, the acute occlusion of collateral circles was probably induced by the brachial tourniquet. This represents a rare event, never previously reported in the literature: a case of critical upper limb ischemia due to a brachial tourniquet in a patient with misdiagnosed thoracic outlet syndrome. Until specific electrophysiological criteria for this syndrome can be found, attention should focus on history and clinical examination in patients with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome

Fundamental study and applications to biomass pyrolysis of the mechanically fluidized reactor

Lignin has great potential for the production of aromatics currently derived from petroleum, since it is the most abundant source of aromatics in nature. At present, Kraft lignin is used as fuel within the pulping process but, alternatively, it could be converted to high-value chemicals using thermochemical processes such as pyrolysis. Kraft lignin, however, is a very cohesive and thermally sensitive powder with foaming and agglomerating tendency under reaction conditions. Consequently, a novel reactor design, designated as Mechanically Fluidized Reactor (MFR) has been developed to successfully process Kraft lignin. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Biotechnology a Source of Knowledge in Agreement with Green Strategies for the Conservation of Cultural Assets

In this study, conservative strategies are applied in order to limit any irreversible damage and to characterize and quantify microbial colonization that may induce the deterioration of constitutive heritage materials; subsequently, suitable antimicrobial interventions are performed based on the use of biotechnology. This paper presents a summary of the basic and applied biotechnology research developed in the Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology for Cultural Heritage (LaBBCH, University of Palermo, Italy). It shows that biotechnology has an evidently important role in the preservation and restoration of cultural assets, also taking into consideration that “Prevention is better than cure”, a milestone in the field of human health that can be shifted and applied to the “cure and preservation” of cultural assets. Moreover, biotechnological tools offer great potential for application, thanks to the increasing interaction between the worlds of art and science, thus opening the way for advanced innovation in the conservation and restoration field of art works

Estrategia de biodesarrollo para el distrito de conservación de suelos Barbas Bremen, caso de estudio

El uso de la biodiversidad característica del país para el desarrollo de actividades económicas extractivistas a gran escala, ha sido un fenómeno que en los últimos tiempos ha interrumpido las dinámicas internas de los ecosistemas y las prácticas socioeconómicas de las comunidades que habitan los territorios, los cuales se ven directamente afectados por los impactos que generan este tipo de actividades en el ecosistema. La vereda Santa Cruz de Barbas comparte una interfase con el Distrito de Conservación de Suelos Barbas Bremen, ecosistema de importancia regional por los procesos de conservación y preservación de flora y fauna que tienen lugar allí y por la oferta de servicios ecosistémicos para la población aledaña, actualmente esta área se ve vulnerada por la flexibilidad de la figura de conservación que posee y por las diferentes actividades extractivistas que se llevan a cabo; desencadenando fenómenos de desplazamiento por la falta de oferta laboral y por el detrimento de las condiciones de vida de la comunidad de la vereda. Por medio de la gestión ambiental del territorio y una metodología transversalizada por la Proyectación Ambiental, en la presente investigación se propone una estrategia de biodesarrollo para los habitantes de la vereda de Santa Cruz de Barbas, como modelo de vida pretende que por medio del manejo y la conservación del ecosistema del Barbas Bremen se generen dinámicas económicas potenciales para la comunidad local haciendo del DCS un territorio sustentable

Foundations of quantum mechanics and their impact on contemporary society

Nearing a century since its inception, quantum mechanics is as lively as ever. Its signature manifestations, such as superposition, wave-particle duality, uncertainty principle, entanglement and nonlocality, were long confronted as weird predictions of an incomplete theory, paradoxes only suitable for philosophical discussions, or mere mathematical artifacts with no counterpart in the physical reality. Nevertheless, decades of progress in the experimental verification and control of quantum systems have routinely proven detractors wrong. While fundamental questions still remain wide open on the foundations and interpretations of quantum mechanics, its modern technological applications have captured the fascination of the general public and are having a transformative impact on society. This brief article acts as Introduction to a Special Issue in the Philosophical Transactions of Royal Society A, following from a dedicated Scientific Discussion Meeting where these fascinating topics were explored, giving rise to stimulating debates among speakers and audience. The present issue thus aims at conveying the spirit of those discussions.Comment: 3 pages, Introduction to Special Issue on "Foundations of quantum mechanics and their impact on contemporary society" on Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A (http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/376/2123) following from the homonym Royal Society Scientific Discussion Meeting (https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2017/12/quantum-mechanics/

Preimplantation biopsy predicts delayed graft function, glomerular filtration rate and long-term graft survival of transplanted kidneys

Background The predictive value of preimplantation biopsies for long-term graft function is often limited by conflicting results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of time-zero graft biopsy histological scores on early and late graft function, graft survival and patient survival, at different time points. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 284 preimplantation biopsies at a single center, in a cohort of recipients with grafts from live and deceased donors (standard and nonstandard), and their impact in posttransplant renal function after a mean follow-up of 7 years (range 1–16). Implantation biopsy score (IBS), a combination score derived from 4 histopathological aspects, was determined from each sample. The correlation with incidence of delayed graft function (DGF), creatinine clearance (1st, 3rd and 5th posttransplant year) and graft and patient survival at 1 and 5 years were evaluated. Results Preimplantation biopsies provided somewhat of a prognostic index of early function and outcome of the transplanted kidney in the short and long term. In the immediate posttransplantation period, the degree of arteriolosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis correlated better with the presence of DGF. IBS values between 4 and 6 were predictive of worst renal function at 1st and 3rd years posttransplant and 5-year graft survival. The most important histological finding, in effectively transplanted grafts, was the grade of interstitial fibrosis. Patient survival was not influenced by IBS. Conclusions Higher preimplantation biopsy scores predicted an increased risk of early graft losses, especially primary nonfunction. Graft survival (at 1st and 5th years after transplant) but not patient survival was predicted by IBS

Effect of a novel nutraceutical combination on serum lipoprotein functional profile and circulating PCSK9

BACKGROUND: A beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk may be obtained by improving lipid-related serum lipoprotein functions such as high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) and serum cholesterol loading capacity (CLC) and by reducing proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9), independently of lipoprotein concentrations. AIM: We aimed to evaluate the effect of an innovative nutraceutical (NUT) combination containing red yeast rice (monacolin K 3.3 mg), berberine 531.25 mg and leaf extract of Morus alba 200 mg (LopiGLIK®), on HDL-CEC, serum CLC and on circulating PCSK9 levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty three dyslipidemic subjects were treated for 4 weeks with the above NUT combination. HDL-CEC was measured using specific cell-based radioisotopic assays; serum CLC and PCSK9 concentrations were measured fluorimetrically and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. RESULTS: The NUT combination significantly reduced plasma level of the total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-9.8% and -12.6%, respectively). Despite no changes in HDL-cholesterol, the NUT combination improved total HDL-CEC in 83% of the patients, by an average of 16%, as a consequence of the increase mainly of the ATP-binding cassette A1-mediated CEC (+28.5%). The NUT combination significantly reduced serum CLC (-11.4%) while it did not change PCSK9 plasma levels (312.9±69.4 ng/mL vs 334.8±103.5 mg/L, before and after treatment, respectively). CONCLUSION: The present NUT combination improves the serum lipoprotein functional profile providing complementary beneficial effects, without any detrimental increase of PCSK9 plasma levels