Italian and Italian American Identity: A Visual Approach

This essay is a brief exploration of the related concepts of Italian Ethnicity and Italian Ethnic Identity via a Visual Sociological study of two geographically different venues — Italian American neighbourhoods in the United States and neighbourhoods in Rome, Italy. By studying the Vernacular Landscape (Jackson, 1984) via the methods of Visual Sociology (Grady, 1996 and Harper, 1988, Rieger, 1996), and the theoretical perspectives of Urbanization of Capital (Harvey, 1989) and Spatial Semeiotics (Gottdiener, 1994) the question: “What does it mean for mean for a place of a space to ‘Look Italian’?” is addressed. For data, the discourse draws from my extensive collection of visual studies in both the United States and Italy of the “Public Realms”, or spaces accessible to all (Lofland, 1998 ). Here are featured my observations and photographic research on the “New Immigrants to Rome”

Visual sociology

The article offers an overview of the field of visual sociology. It examines the areas where visu- al sociology can provide an insightful perspective for the study of social reality and serves as an imagina- tive tool to work with a variety of research subjects. It outlines some specific methods for working with visual data and focuses on a few of the many fields where visual sociological methods can fruitfully be applied, such as the study of cities, public events and new media.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Human white-fat thermogenesis: Experimental and meta-analytic findings

© 2020 The Authors. Published by Taylor & Francis. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1080/23328940.2020.1769530White adipose tissue (WAT) thermogenic activity may play a role in whole-body energy balance and two of its main regulators are thought to be environmental temperature (Tenv) and exercise. Low Tenv may increase uncoupling protein one (UCP1; the main biomarker of thermogenic activity) in WAT to regulate body temperature. On the other hand, exercise may stimulate UCP1 in WAT, which is thought to alter body weight regulation. However, our understanding of the roles (if any) of Tenv and exercise in WAT thermogenic activity remains incomplete. Our aim was to examine the impacts of low Tenv and exercise on WAT thermogenic activity, which may alter energy homeostasis and body weight regulation. We conducted a series of four experimental studies, supported by two systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We found increased UCP1 mRNA (p = 0.03; but not protein level) in human WAT biopsy samples collected during the cold part of the year, a finding supported by a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO review protocol: CRD42019120116). Additional clinical trials (NCT04037371; NCT04037410) using Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) revealed no impact of low Tenv on human WAT thermogenic activity (p > 0.05). Furthermore, we found no effects of exercise on UCP1 mRNA or protein levels (p > 0.05) in WAT biopsy samples from a human randomized controlled trial (Clinical trial: NCT04039685), a finding supported by systematic review and meta-analytic data (PROSPERO review protocol: CRD42019120213). Taken together, the present experimental and meta-analytic findings of UCP1 and SUVmax, demonstrate that cold and exercise may play insignificant roles in human WAT thermogenic activity. Abbreviations: WAT:White adipose tissue; Tenv: Environmental temperature; UCP1: Uncoupling protein one; BAT: Brown adipose tissue; BMI:Body mass index; mRNA: Messenger ribonucleic acid; RCT: Randomized controlled trial; WHR: Waist-to-hip ratio; PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses; PET/CT: Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography; REE: Resting energy expenditure; 18F-FDG: F18 fludeoxyglucose; VO2peak:Peak oxygen consumption; 1RM: One repetition maximum; SUVmax: Maximum standardized uptake value; Std: Standardized mean difference.This work was supported by funding from the European Union 7th Framework Program FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IRSES grant no. [319010]; FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IRSES grant no. [612547] and Horizon 2020 ICI-THROUGH grant no [645710].Published versio

Predictors of the experience of a Cytosponge test: analysis of patient survey data from the BEST3 trial

Availability of data and materials: The trial protocol, statistical analysis plan, and statistical report are available via the University of Cambridge data repository (https://www.data.cam.ac.uk/repository). Datasets will be available from R Fitzgerald ([email protected]) on request.Copyright © The Author(s) 2023. Background: The Cytosponge is a cell-collection device, which, coupled with a test for trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), can be used to diagnose Barrett’s oesophagus, a precursor condition to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. BEST3, a large pragmatic, randomised, controlled trial, investigated whether offering the Cytosponge-TFF3 test would increase detection of Barrett’s. Overall, participants reported mostly positive experiences. This study reports the factors associated with the least positive experience. Methods: Patient experience was assessed using the Inventory to Assess Patient Satisfaction (IAPS), a 22-item questionnaire, completed 7–14 days after the Cytosponge test. Study cohort: All BEST3 participants who answered ≥ 15 items of the IAPS (N = 1458). Statistical analysis: A mean IAPS score between 1 and 5 (5 indicates most negative experience) was calculated for each individual. ‘Least positive’ experience was defined according to the 90th percentile. 167 (11.4%) individuals with a mean IAPS score of ≥ 2.32 were included in the ‘least positive’ category and compared with the rest of the cohort. Eleven patient characteristics and one procedure-specific factor were assessed as potential predictors of the least positive experience. Multivariable logistic regression analysis using backwards selection was conducted to identify factors independently associated with the least positive experience and with failed swallow at first attempt, one of the strongest predictors of least positive experience. Results: The majority of responders had a positive experience, with an overall median IAPS score of 1.7 (IQR 1.5–2.1). High (OR = 3.01, 95% CI 2.03–4.46, p < 0.001) or very high (OR = 4.56, 95% CI 2.71–7.66, p < 0.001) anxiety (relative to low/normal anxiety) and a failed swallow at the first attempt (OR = 3.37, 95% CI 2.14–5.30, p < 0.001) were highly significant predictors of the least positive patient experience in multivariable analyses. Additionally, sex (p = 0.036), height (p = 0.032), alcohol intake (p = 0.011) and education level (p = 0.036) were identified as statistically significant predictors. Conclusion: We have identified factors which predict patient experience. Identifying anxiety ahead of the procedure and discussing particular concerns with patients or giving them tips to help with swallowing the capsule might help improve their experience. Trial registration ISRCTN68382401.The BEST3 trial was funded by Cancer Research UK (C14478/A21047), National Institute for Health Research covering service support costs, the UK National Health Service funding excess treatment costs and Medtronic providing funding for Cytosponge devices and TFF3 antibodies. RCF is funded by a Programme Grant from the Medical Research Council (RG84369) and is CI for the BEST3 trial and the Innovate UK funded DELTA study. JO was supported by PDS’s Cancer Research UK programme Grant (C8162/A16892) and is currently supported by the Barts Charity (EMSG1K1R). RM was supported by PDS’ Cancer Research UK Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Unit funding (Grant No.: C8162/A25356). SGS is supported by a Yorkshire Cancer Research Fellowship. JW is funded by a Cancer Research UK career development fellowship (C7492/A17219). BG was funded as part of the DELTA study by Innovate UK (Grant No. 41162). FW is supported by the Cancer Research UK CanTest Grant [C8640/A23385]. RL is supported by the Intramural Research Program of the US National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute