164 research outputs found
Il nodo gordiano. Psicologia della comunicazione non violenta come arma di mediazione
ItIn che cosa consiste la violenza nella comunicazione? È soltanto una mancanza di controllo di emozioni come il disprezzo e la collera, oppure ci possono essere anche forme subdole di vessazione e aggressività ancora più pericolose, proprio perché basate non sull’impeto di un momento, ma sulla pianificazione della sopraffazione? Nel contributo teorico qui proposto viene messa il luce la psicologia dei rapporti di potere nella comunicazione e nelle relazioni interpersonali. In che modo è possibile gestire conflitto e cooperazione in maniera non violenta, intendendo con questo non la diplomazia ambigua, ma la mediazione come arma per favorire la pace nel rispetto delle diversità? Attraverso un’ottica interdisciplinare, viene offerta una riflessione sulla comunicazione violenta e non violenta attingendo, da un lato, a modelli letterari, filosofici e cinematografici (da Sofocle a Tolkien, da Aristotele a Seneca), e, dall’altro, alle scienze cognitive, linguistiche e con un cenno ai risvolti educativi di un approccio comunicativo che abbia come finalità la mediazione e l’accoglienza del diverso l’esercizio di un potere coercitivo o manipolatorio.EnWhat do we mean when we talk about communicative violence? Is it lack of emotional control in managing blame or anger, or some subtle forms of vexation and aggressiveness can be more dangerous, for grounding not on an impulse, but on a planned overthrow? This theoretical essay focuses on psychological dynamics in coping power within communication and interpersonal relationships. How can we manage both conflict and cooperation by means of a non-violent attitude,i.e., mediation as a tool to enhance peace and to respect the differences? According to an interdisciplinary perspective, a reflection on violent and non-violent communication is proposed, by involving both literature, philosophy, cinema (from Sophocles to Tolkien, from Aristotle to Seneca) and cognitive, linguistic, social sciences. At the end, the paper suggests some educational effects of a communicative approach aiming at promoting mediation and not manipulative power
Circulating immune-complexes of IgG/IgM bound to B2-glycoprotein-I associated with complement consumption and thrombocytopenia in antiphospholipid syndrome
Identification of a New Splice Variant of the Human ABCC6 Transporter
ABCC6 is a member of the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC) gene subfamily C that encodes a protein
(MRP6) involved in active transport of intracellular compounds to the extracellular environment. Mutations in ABCC6
cause pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), an autosomal recessive disorder of the connective tissue characterized by progressive
calcification of elastic structures in the skin, the eyes, and the cardiovascular system. MRP6 is codified by 31 exons and contains
1503 amino acids. In addition to a full-length transcript of ABCC6, we have identified an alternatively spliced variant of ABCC6
from a cDNA of human liver that lacks exons 19 and 24. The novel isoform was named ABCC6 Δ19Δ24. PCR analysis from
cDNA of cell cultures of primary human hepatocites and embryonic kidney confirms the presence of the ABCC6Δ19Δ24 isoform.
Western blot analysis of the embryonic kidney cells shows a band corresponding to the molecular weight of the truncated protein
Calibration and validation of a dynamic water model in agricultural scenarios
A dynamic aquatic model (DynA model) was previously developed to predict the fate of a chemical in aquatic scenarios characterized
by daily or periodic changes in several input parameters. DynA model is here calibrated with data obtained from the literature in specific
unsteady state scenarios, such as those of rice fields. The results obtained for two herbicides (cinosulfuron and pretilachlor) in rice paddy
scenarios revealed the capability of the model to accurately predict water and sediment concentrations, as shown by some statistical indicators.
Modelling efficiency (EF) values of 0.86–0.99 for the water compartment and of 0.77–0.84 for sediment show the good agreement
between predicted and measured concentrations. An ‘‘external validation’’ was performed using measured data for a different herbicide
(molinate) applied in a Portuguese paddy rice scenario. A sensitivity analysis for this volatile chemical revealed the influence of some
climatic parameters (e.g. temperature) to the model outcomes, such as water and sediment concentrations. This confirmed the capability
of DynA model as an efficient tool for the pesticide risk assessment in dynamic scenario
The mitochondrial citrate carrier: A new player in inflammation
The mitochondrial CIC (citrate carrier) catalyses the efflux of citrate from the mitochondrial matrix in exchange for cytosolic malate. In the present paper we show that CIC mRNA and protein markedly increase in lipopolysaccharide-activated immune cells. Moreover, CIC gene silencing and CIC activity inhibition significantly reduce production of NO, reactive oxygen species and prostaglandins. These results demonstrate for the first time that CIC has a critical role in inflammation
Imaging the invasion of rice roots by the bakanae agent Fusarium fujikuroi using a GFP-tagged isolate
Altres ajuts: Generalitat de Catalunya/CERCA Programme, AGER Foundation (Grant 2010-2369)Fusarium fujikuroi (teleomorph Gibberella fujikuroi) is the main seed-borne pathogen of rice, the causal agent of bakanae, a disease that in the last years has become of increasing economical concern in many Italian rice growing areas. A virulent F. fujikuroi isolate was tagged with the green fluorescent protein (gfp) gene using Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation, and the virulence of the GFP isolate has been confirmed. Little is known about the early interaction of the pathogen with its host, in this work fungal development during the F. fujikuroi/root interaction was analysed by Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM), by using the GFP isolate obtained. The infection of rice roots was investigated from 48 h to 8 days post-inoculation both in resistant and susceptible cultivars. Roots of resistant genotype seem to trigger a hypersensitive response at the infection site and LSCM analysis of root sections allowed the visualization of fungal growth within host tissues. Fungal growth occurred both in the resistant and the susceptible cultivar, even if it was less abundant in the resistant one. Expression analysis of Chitinase1, a gene involved in fungal pathogenesis, was investigated by qPCR on the F. fujikuroi infected rice roots. Chitinase1 expression increased greatly upon infection in the resistant cultivar Selenio
Federica Giuzio*, Maria Grazia Bonomo, Alessia Catalano*, Vittoria Infantino, Giovanni Salzano, Magnus Monné, Athina Geronikaki, Anthi Petrou, Stefano Aquaro, Maria Stefania Sinicropi#, Carmela Saturnino#
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2
(SARS-CoV-2) is an RNA virus belonging to the coronavirus
family responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
It primarily affects the pulmonary system, which is the
target of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
for which many new compounds have been developed. In
this study, phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors are being
investigated. The inhibition of PDE4 enzyme produces antiinflammatory
and bronchodilator effects in the lung by
inducing an increase in cAMP concentrations. Piclamilast
and rolipram are known selective inhibitors of PDE4, which
are unfortunately endowed with common side effects, such
as nausea and emesis. The selective inhibition of the phosphodiesterase
4B (PDE4B) subtype may represent an intriguing
technique for combating this highly contagious disease
with fewer side effects. In this article, molecular
docking studies for the selective inhibition of the PDE4B
enzyme have been carried out on 21 in-house compounds.
The compounds were docked into the pocket of the PDE4B
catalytic site, and in most cases, they were almost completely
superimposed onto piclamilast. Then, in order to enlarge our
study, drug-likeness prediction studies were performed on
the compounds under study
Liposome-Mediated Inhibition of Inflammation by Hydroxycitrate
Hydroxycitrate (HCA), a main organic acid component of the fruit rind of Garcinia cambogia,
is a natural citrate analog that can inhibit the ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) enzyme with a consequent
reduction of inflammatory mediators (i.e., nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS),
and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)) levels. Therefore, HCA has been proposed as a novel means to prevent,
treat, and ameliorate conditions involving inflammation. However, HCA presents a low membrane
permeability, and a large quantity is required to have a biological effect. To overcome this problem,
HCA was formulated in liposomes in this work, and the enhancement of HCA cell availability along
with the reduction in the amount required to downregulate NO, ROS, and PGE2 in macrophages were
assessed. The liposomes were small in size (~60 nm), monodispersed, negatively charged (−50 mV),
and stable on storage. The in vitro results showed that the liposomal encapsulation increased by
approximately 4 times the intracellular accumulation of HCA in macrophages, and reduced by 10 times
the amount of HCA required to abolish LPS-induced NO, ROS, and PGE2 increase. This suggests that
liposomal HCA can be exploited to target the citrate pathway involved in inflammatory processes
Lipids from Microalgae for Cosmetic Applications
In recent years, there has been considerable interest in using microalgal lipids in the food,
chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Several microalgal species can accumulate
appreciable lipid quantities and therefore are characterized as oleaginous. In cosmetic formulations,
lipids and their derivatives are one of the main ingredients. Different lipid classes are great
moisturizing, emollient, and softening agents, work as surfactants and emulsifiers, give consistence
to products, are color and fragrance carriers, act as preservatives to maintain products integrity, and
can be part of the molecules delivery system. In the past, chemicals have been widely used but
today’s market and customers’ demands are oriented towards natural products. Microalgae are an
extraordinary source of lipids and other many bioactive molecules. Scientists’ attention to
microalgae cultivation for their industrial application is increasing. For the high costs associated,
commercialization of microalgae and their products is still not very widespread. The possibility to
use biomass for various industrial purposes could make microalgae more economically
competitive
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