Skyrmion States In Chiral Liquid Crystals

Within the framework of Oseen-Frank theory, we analyse the static configurations for chiral liquid crystals. In particular, we find numerical solutions for localised axisymmetric states in confined chiral liquid crystals with weak homeotropic anchoring at the boundaries. These solutions describe the distortions of two-dimensional skyrmions, known as either \textit{spherulites} or \textit{cholesteric bubbles}, which have been observed experimentally in these systems. Relations with nonlinear integrable equations have been outlined and are used to study asymptotic behaviors of the solutions. By using analytical methods, we build approximated solutions of the equilibrium equations and we analyse the generation and stabilization of these states in relation to the material parameters, the external fields and the anchoring boundary conditions.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figures, Conference: PMNP 2017: 50 years of IST, Gallipoli (LE)- Italy June 17-24, 201

Democrazia come teoria. Impianto e questioni del pensiero democratico di Hans Kelsen

1Il testo analizza il pensiero democratico di Hans Kelsen nell’intero arco della sua produzione e lungo i suoi molteplici versanti: dai presupposti soggiacenti, agli sviluppi nella teoria del diritto pubblico, dal relativismo di fondo, alla questione del rapporto tra epistemologia e democrazia. Ne vengono enucleati gli snodi concettuali, esaminate le strutture argomentative, discussi i problemi emergenti. A tal fine è posta attenzione sia alla decodificazione dei termini-chiave, sia alla tematizzazione dello sfondo filosofico. L’analisi delle premesse della democrazia mostra la mutazione semantica dalla libertà dell’individuo a quella del cittadino. Per Kelsen, la democrazia, intesa come autodeterminazione politica, è indissolubile dal proceduralismo, dal parlamentarismo e dallo Stato dei partiti. In essa, il popolo e il parlamento sono tali in virtù dell’ordinamento, e la democrazia stessa costituisce un metodo di produzione dell’ordinamento. Nella visuale kelseniana, l’opzione relativistica è decisiva tanto per la concezione della democrazia quanto per l’adesione ad essa. This book analyzes Hans Kelsen’s democratic thought thorough the whole lifespan of his production and from numerous perspectives: from its premises to the theory of public law; from relativism to the enquiry on the relationship between epistemology and democracy. The key concepts, the structure of its argument, the emerging issues carefully addressed. To conduct the analysis a particular attention is devoted to the de-codification of the key terms as well as to the investigation of the philosophical environment from which Kelsen’s theories stem. The study of the premises of Kelsen’s thought shows a semantic evolution of the concept of liberty, which progressively moves from the individual to the citizen. Indeed, Kelsen maintains that democracy – conceived as political auto-determination – is inextricably linked with proceduralism, parliamentarism and the State of parties. Within democracy, the people and the parliament are so by virtue of the legal system, and democracy itself constitutes a method by means of which the legal system is created. In the end, in Kelsen’s view the choice for relativism is crucial not only in order to conceive but also to adhere to democracy.openopenGiovanni TURCOTurco, Giovann

Acute appendicitis in infants

Acute appendicitis is very uncommon in the first year of life and often its presentation is atypical with high risk of complications. Hereby, we present 4 clinical cases of infants, who were diag- nosed with acute appendicitis in our hospital over the last year. The reported clinical cases high- light the several drawbacks clinicians face when managing infants with symptoms suggestive for acute appendicitis. After specific diagnostic work-up, even if not conclusive, patients were intra- operatively diagnosed with acute appendicitis and underwent appendicectomy. Maintaining a high index of suspicion for acute appendicitis in infants presenting with intra-abdominal sepsis of unclear etiology is, in our opinion, the most crucial factor to avoid complications and longer hospitalization

Miglioramento e Nota correttiva Proposta di soluzione congettura di Andrica

Nota correttiva agli articoli precedenti sullo stesso argoment

Block Notes of Math - Goldbach, Twin Primes and Polignac - equivalent RH

In this work the authors will explain and prove three equivalent RH, which are obtained linking G(N)/N with Li and g(N)/N with Li. Moreover the authors will show a new step function for G(N)/N and, through the GRH, a generalization for Polignac

Bacterial stimuli activate nitric oxide colonic mucosal production in diverticular disease. Protective effects ofL. casei DG® (Lactobacillus paracaseiCNCM I-1572)

Background: Micro-inflammation and changes in gut microbiota may play a role in the pathogenesis of diverticular disease (DD). Objective: The objective of this article is to evaluate the expression of nitric oxide (NO)-related mediators and S100B in colonic mucosa of patients with DD in an ex vivo model of bacterial infection. Methods: Intestinal biopsies obtained from patients with diverticulosis, symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) and SUDD with previous acute diverticulitis (SUDD+AD) were stimulated with the probiotic L. casei DG® (LCDG) and/or the pathogen enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC). S100B, NO release and iNOS expression were then evaluated. Results: Basal iNOS expression was significantly increased in SUDD and SUDD+AD patients. Basal NO expression was significantly increased in SUDD+AD. No differences in S100B release were found. In all groups, iNOS expression was significantly increased by EIEC and reduced by LCDG. In all groups, except for SUDD+AD, EIEC significantly increased NO release, whereas no increase was observed when LCDG was added to biopsies. EIEC did not induce significant changes in S100B release. Conclusions: Colonic mucosa of patients with DD is characterized by a different reactivity toward pathogenic stimuli. LCDG plays a role in counteracting the pro-inflammatory effects exerted by EIEC, suggesting a beneficial role of this probiotic in DD

Molecular and Clinical Links between Drug-Induced Cholestasis and Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis

Idiosyncratic Drug-Induced Liver Injury (iDILI) represents an actual health challenge, accounting for more than 40% of hepatitis cases in adults over 50 years and more than 50% of acute fulminant hepatic failure cases. In addition, approximately 30% of iDILI are cholestatic (drug-induced cholestasis (DIC)). The liver's metabolism and clearance of lipophilic drugs depend on their emission into the bile. Therefore, many medications cause cholestasis through their interaction with hepatic transporters. The main canalicular efflux transport proteins include: 1. the bile salt export pump (BSEP) protein (ABCB11); 2. the multidrug resistance protein-2 (MRP2, ABCC2) regulating the bile salts' independent flow by excretion of glutathione; 3. the multidrug resistance-1 protein (MDR1, ABCB1) that transports organic cations; 4. the multidrug resistance-3 protein (MDR3, ABCB4). Two of the most known proteins involved in bile acids' (BAs) metabolism and transport are BSEP and MDR3. BSEP inhibition by drugs leads to reduced BAs' secretion and their retention within hepatocytes, exiting in cholestasis, while mutations in the ABCB4 gene expose the biliary epithelium to the injurious detergent actions of BAs, thus increasing susceptibility to DIC. Herein, we review the leading molecular pathways behind the DIC, the links with the other clinical forms of familial intrahepatic cholestasis, and, finally, the main cholestasis-inducing drugs

Paracrine signaling from breast cancer cells causes activation of ID4 expression in tumor-associated macrophages

Background: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute a major portion of the leukocyte infiltrate found in breast cancer (BC). BC cells may reprogram TAMs in a pro-angiogenic and immunosuppressive sense. We previously showed that high expression of the ID4 protein in triple-negative BC cells leads to the induction of a proangiogenic program in TAMs also through the downregulation of miR-107. Here, we investigated the expression and function of the ID4 protein in TAMs. Methods: Human macrophages obtained from peripheral blood-derived monocytes (PBDM) and mouse RAW264.7 cells were used as macrophage experimental systems. ID4-correlated mRNAs of the TCGA and E-GEOD-18295 datasets were analyzed. Results: We observed that BC cells determine a paracrine induction of ID4 expression and activation of the ID4 promoter in neighboring macrophages. Interestingly, ID4 expression is higher in macrophages associated with invasive tumor cells compared to general TAMs, and ID4-correlated mRNAs are involved in various pathways that were previously reported as relevant for TAM functions. Selective depletion of ID4 expression in macrophages enabled validation of the ability of ID4 to control the expression of YAP1 and of its downstream targets CTGF and CYR61. Conclusion: Collectively, our results show that activation of ID4 expression in TAMs is observed as a consequence of BC cell paracrine activity and could participate in macrophage reprogramming in BC

Considerazioni tassonomiche e fitogeografiche su Ophrys Mattinatae, specie nuova del Gargano

ItGli autori descrivono un nuovo taxon, endemico della Puglia: Ophrys mattinatae Medagli, Rossini, Quitadamo, D’Emerico, Turco sp. nov. rinvenuto nel territorio comunale di Mattinata (FG). La nuova entità, assieme ad O. oestrifera subsp. montis gargani Van der Vijver & W. Van Looken, rappresenta l’estrema propaggine occidentale del gruppo di O. oestrifera caratterizzato da un areale distributivo tipicamente orientale. Pur condividento similarità con O. oestrifera subsp. montis gargani, la nuova entità si differenzia nettamente per: forma e dimensioni delle gibbosità basali, un periodo di fioritura che non si sovrappone con la suddetta sottospecie, ma che comincia dalla seconda metà di maggio per terminare entro la prima decade di giugno e l’habitat in cui si rinviene che è caratterizzato da stadi degradativi del climax di lecceta. È possibile inoltre ipotizzare, in tempi remoti, la presenza di uno o più eventi stocastici che abbiano trasportato, attraverso il vento, i sottili e leggeri semi dalle regioni orientali verso il Gargano, favorendo l’insorgenza di processi speciativi facilitati successivamente dall’isolamento geografico. Una seconda ipotesi di dispersione potrebbe essere correlata alla "migrazione" di un cospicuo contingente di piante orientali che potrebbe essere avvenuta durante le ultime glaciazioni.EnThe authors describe a new taxon, Ophrys mattinatae Medagli, Rossini, Quitadamo, D’Emerico & Turco that was found in Mattinata (FG). O. mattinatae, also with the recently described O. oestrifera subsp. montis gargani, are the most southwestern representative species of the O. oestrifera complex which has an Eastern distribution range. O. mattinatae has morphological similarity with the sympatric O. oestrifera subsp. montis gargani, such as the color of the basal field, in the case always bright-red or orange-red, and the pilosity of the lateral horns with the hairs mainly located outside and a glabrous often yellow-coloured horn-inside, but which it differs mainly for the length of gibbae, phenology, and habitat. We also hypothesized the presence, in the past, of stochastic wind-induced events, that would have favored seed dispersal, or that Gargano’s colonization could have occurred through "physical dispersion" during the last ice ages, which made possible bridges terrestrial contact between Apulia and Eastern regions of Europe

Endometrial Cancer Risk Prediction According to Indication of Diagnostic Hysteroscopy in Post-Menopausal Women

We conducted a prospective observational study investigating the clinical relevance of endometrial thickness (ET) and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) on endometrial cancer (EC) risk in a cohort of postmenopausal patients undergoing diagnostic hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. Patients were divided into two groups according to the indication of diagnostic hysteroscopy: ET_Group (asymptomatic patients with endometrial thickness 4 mm) and AUB_Group (patients with a history of abnormal uterine bleeding). We further divided the AUB_Group into two subgroups based on endometrial thickness (AUB_Subgroup1: ET < 4 mm; AUB_Subgroup2: ET 4 mm). The primary outcome was the risk of endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia according to the indications of diagnostic hysteroscopy (AUB, ET 4 mm or both). The secondary outcome was to determine the best cut-o value of endometrial thickness to predict endometrial cancer in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. The prevalence of endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia in AUB_Group and ET_Group was 21% and 6.7% respectively. As well as for EC alone, higher prevalence of both conditions was observed in AUB_Subgroup2 (29.3%) in comparison to AUB_Subgroup1 (10.6%; p < 0.001). In asymptomatic patients the cut-o of endometrial thickness that showed the best sensitivity and specificity to diagnose endometrial cancer (100% and 80% respectively) was 11 mm (AUC of 91.4%; Exp : 1067; CI 95%). In conclusion, considering the high risk of neoplasia, diagnostic hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy should be mandatory in cases of abnormal uterine bleeding in postmenopausal patients. Moreover, we want to emphasize the need for further evidence stating the clinical relevance of endometrial thickness value in asymptomatic patients and the impact of individual risk factors on endometrial cancer development