It’s time to be ashamed! Reactions to the breaking of a long-lasting self-censorship on ingroup war crimes

This study explores the reactions of Italian university students to information about colonial crimes perpetrated by the Italian Army during the invasion of Ethiopia (1935-36), events that are still self-censored in intergenerational narratives. Participants reported their emotions about the Italian colonial past and their knowledge of this historical period was examined. Then they read a parrhesic (i.e., straightforward) or, alternatively, an evasive narrative of crimes committed in Ethiopia in 1935-36 and, once again, reported related emotions. A week later, they evaluated the crimes’ seriousness, reported for the third time their emotions about Italy’s colonial past, and declared their moral shame, social shame, and guilt for colonial crimes. Finally, they expressed their support for reparative actions. As expected, the vast majority of participants knew little about past misdeeds. Participants presented with a parrhesic narrative were more able to acknowledge older generations’ responsibilities and to distance themselves morally from them. Moral and social shame, outrage, and a reduced sense of pride, rather than guilt or anger, predicted support for reparations. The limitations of the present study, and future research perspectives, are discussed

In vivo imaging and quantitative analysis of leukocyte directional migration and polarization in inflamed tissue

Directional migration of transmigrated leukocytes to the site of injury is a central event in the inflammatory response. Here, we present an in vivo chemotaxis assay enabling the visualization and quantitative analysis of subtype-specific directional motility and polarization of leukocytes in their natural 3D microenvironment. Our technique comprises the combination of i) semi-automated in situ microinjection of chemoattractants or bacteria as local chemotactic stimulus, ii) in vivo near-infrared reflected-light oblique transillumination (RLOT) microscopy for the visualization of leukocyte motility and morphology, and iii) in vivo fluorescence microscopy for the visualization of different leukocyte subpopulations or fluorescence-labeled bacteria. Leukocyte motility parameters are quantified off-line in digitized video sequences using computer-assisted single cell tracking. Here, we show that perivenular microinjection of chemoattractants [macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha/Ccl3), platelet-activating factor (PAF)] or E. coli into the murine cremaster muscle induces target-oriented intravascular adhesion and transmigration as well as polarization and directional interstitial migration of leukocytes towards the locally administered stimuli. Moreover, we describe a crucial role of Rho kinase for the regulation of directional motility and polarization of transmigrated leukocytes in vivo. Finally, combining in vivo RLOT and fluorescence microscopy in Cx3CR1(gfp/gfp) mice (mice exhibiting green fluorescent protein-labeled monocytes), we are able to demonstrate differences in the migratory behavior of monocytes and neutrophils.Taken together, we propose a novel approach for investigating the mechanisms and spatiotemporal dynamics of subtype-specific motility and polarization of leukocytes during their directional interstitial migration in vivo

Association between progesterone concentration and endometrial gene expression in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between progesterone concentration on Days 4 and 9 of the estrus cycle and endometrial transcriptome at Day 9 in lactating grazing dairy cows. Blood samples were obtained on Days 0, 4, and 9 for progesterone measurement by chemiluminescence. Cows were assigned to one of the following groups (n = 3 per group): cows with low physiological progesterone on Day 4, cows in anestrous, cows with high physiological progesterone on Day 4, and superovulated cows. Endometrial biopsy samples were obtained on Day 9 for RNA sequencing. Quality control and determination of differentially expressed genes (false discovery rate <0.05) were determined using the edgeR package for R software. We identified 3,042 differentially expressed genes among the 4 groups. Cows having high physiological progesterone and superovulated cows showed high similarities and clustered apart from those in anestrus or having low physiological progesterone. Functional analysis using Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery revealed that endometrial genes upregulated by low progesterone concentration are enriched genes involved in the immune system and inflammatory response. Conversely, cows with high physiological progesterone concentration presented an endometrial transcriptome with similarities to cows with good genetic merit for fertility, showing upregulation of genes related to uterine relaxation–contraction, focal adhesion, GnRH signaling pathway, and epidermal growth factor–like related terms, suggesting a favorable embryo environment. In conclusion, our results support the concept that there is a threshold of progesterone concentration at the beginning of the luteal phase associated with endometrial expression of critical genes involved in the preparation of the uterine environment for embryo implantation.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Detecting social signals of honesty and fear of appearing deceitful: A methodological proposal

This paper proposes an original methodology designed to single out the speaker's social signals expressing either honesty or anxiety induced by his awareness of being suspected of deceit. 24 participants were randomly assigned to one of the three following experimental conditions (namely A, B and C), manipulated during a face-to-face interview. In condition A, participants could win an undeserved resource, but only by deceiving by dissimulation the researcher. In condition B, participants could win a resource they deserved, but only by persuading their interviewer they were not deceiving her. In condition C (control), researchers awarded a participant with a resource they deserved. All participants in condition A decided not to dissimulate. All participants in condition B debated for earning the resource they deserved. On the base of videos unobtrusively recorded during interactions of researcher-participant dyads, interviews were analyzed both by a multimodal analysis of face-to-face communication and by F.A.C.S. analysis. Social signals detected during honest communication (condition A) significantly differed from social signals shown during defensive communication (condition B). In order to contribute to the study of further behavioral signals of dissimulation, the paper discusses the importance of a finegrained detection of social signals of honesty and fear of being suspected of deceit

Decolonising Reactions to Material Traces of the European Past: The Case of an Italian Colonial Food

European capital cities are replete with material traces of colonial times, not only institutional reminders but also ephemeral objects, created to glorify colonial domination. Reactions of descendants of former colonisers to these traces suggest that colonial tropes are still present in their contemporary imaginary about the past. A comprehensive effort of decolonisation, therefore, needs to aim not only at including previously despised minorities, but also at raising majorities’ awareness about the aggressive side of leaving the permanence of material traces of colonialism unquestioned. Moreover, this awareness of implications of material traces could help to redesign European physical contexts to become more welcoming places for descendants of former colonised groups. Our research explores reactions of different generations of descendants of Italian colonisers when presented with an ephemeral trace of past violence—a candy still sold with a colonial wrapping. About 175 participants were presented with the image of the candy, either wrapped in its original colonial package or a neutral one. The image was followed either by a brief explanation of its colonial meaning or not. Reactions to such an apparently inconspicuous reminder of the Italian colonial crimes—still self-censored in the social representations of the Italian national past—proved to vary across experimental conditions and different ages of respondents. In particular, when questioning these ephemeral traces of adult participants show more intense group-based negative moral emotions. Relations between the generational renewal of former colonisers’ group and collective elaboration of intergroup violence are discussed

F2-isoprostanes and total radical-trapping antioxidant potential in preterm infants receiving parenteral lipid emulsions

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the effects of three different parenteral lipid emulsions (long-chain triacylglycerols, medium-chain/long-chain triacylglycerols, olive oil) on lipid peroxidation in preterm infants. The hypothesis to be tested was that preterm infants receiving the olive oil-based lipid emulsion would undergo less peroxidation than preterm infants receiving lipid emulsions based on long- or medium-chain triacylglycerols. The secondary aim was to evaluate whether the lipid peroxidation persists beyond the cessation of parenteral nutrition (PN). METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was designed. Thirty-six consecutive preterm infants (gestational age 28-33 wk) were enrolled in the study. Preterm infants were randomized to receive one of the three emulsions within the first 24h of life. Plasma F2-isoprostanes (F2-Ip) and total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) were determined at baseline, on day 7 of PN, and on day 7 after stopping PN. RESULTS: The F2-Ip and TRAP concentrations were not statistically different within and among the three groups at any time of the study. No significant interaction effect between the type of lipid emulsion administered and the repeated values of F2-Ip and TRAP was found. F2-Ip values showed a trend to decrease throughout the study in all the three groups. CONCLUSION: No significant difference in oxidative stress of preterm infants was detected according to the type of lipid emulsion received

F2-isoprostanes and total radical-trapping antioxidant potential in preterm infants receiving parenteral lipid emulsions.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: We assessed the effects of three different parenteral lipid emulsions (long-chain triacylglycerols, medium-chain/long-chain triacylglycerols, olive oil) on lipid peroxidation in preterm infants. The hypothesis to be tested was that preterm infants receiving the olive oil-based lipid emulsion would undergo less peroxidation than preterm infants receiving lipid emulsions based on long- or medium-chain triacylglycerols. The secondary aim was to evaluate whether the lipid peroxidation persists beyond the cessation of parenteral nutrition (PN). METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was designed. Thirty-six consecutive preterm infants (gestational age 28-33 wk) were enrolled in the study. Preterm infants were randomized to receive one of the three emulsions within the first 24h of life. Plasma F2-isoprostanes (F2-Ip) and total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) were determined at baseline, on day 7 of PN, and on day 7 after stopping PN. RESULTS: The F2-Ip and TRAP concentrations were not statistically different within and among the three groups at any time of the study. No significant interaction effect between the type of lipid emulsion administered and the repeated values of F2-Ip and TRAP was found. F2-Ip values showed a trend to decrease throughout the study in all the three groups. CONCLUSION: No significant difference in oxidative stress of preterm infants was detected according to the type of lipid emulsion received