Human, Animal and Automata Attributions: an Investigation of the Multidimensionality of the Ontologization Process

The ontologization process involves the use of social representation relating to the human–animal binary to classify ingroup and outgroup members. To date, no study has investigated the multidimensional nature (i.e. human, animal and automata) of the ontologizing process via structural equation modelling (SEM). Four hundred and twenty-one Italian participants were asked to attribute 24 positive/negative, human/animal/automata associates to each of three target groups: typical Roma/Chinese/Italian. Results showed that the proposed six-factor model (i.e. positive/negative, human/animal/automata essence) was statistically robust for each of the three groups. The Roma group was animalized by attributing more animal negative associates than any other target group, whereas the Chinese group was mainly given a robot positive essence

Volontariato e impegno comunitario in Italia

Il capitolo presenta i risultati di una ricerca condotta su un campione della popolazione italiana. La ricerca intende fornire una misurazione di atteggiamenti, comportamenti e relazioni connesse con i concetti di capitale sociale e cultura civile e democratica per valutare eventuali differenze tra i cittadini che fanno o hanno fatto esperienza di volontariato e coloro che invece non hanno esperienza nelle azioni di promozione della comunit\ue0 locale

Why donate and for what? The pseudoinefficacy bias in donating behavior

Charitable donations represent a possible indirect way to face the social challenge of poverty with people donating a certain amount of money independently of their social status and social roles. As such, scholarly authors devoted to the study of charity and donating behavior have proposed several models following different perspectives to explain the motivational factors and the individual conditions affecting donating behavior. In the present study, we aim at contributing to the selfish altruism model by suggesting the effect of pseudoinefficacy as possible cognitive bias which may be detrimental for deciding to donate. On the one hand, the selfish altruism model has gained notable attention as a possible explanation of the decision-making process underlying donating behavior. This model suggests that people offer aid to receive something in return or to gain a personal advantage. Such a personal benefit can be seen as the individual sense of being morally satisfied, namely, warm-glow. That is, those who donate may feel higher levels of social esteem, gratitude and respect from others which are aspects feeding their warm-glow. Individual would decide to donate by the possibility to gain moral satisfaction rather than acting for the common good. On the other hand, according to cognitive psychology, pseudoinefficacy may affect donating behaviors as an illusion of inefficacy that arises when individuals can only help some people but not others who yet are equally in need. In this sense, the phenomenon of pseudoinefficacy contributes to the selfish altruism model as an explanation of the individuals’ emotions that may reduce donors’ warm-glow. Ultimately, we propose a critical and interdisciplinary review of donating behaviors model and propose a research agenda for further investigations. Given the widespread of poverty as linked to the worldwide changes (i.e., novel pandemic of Sars-Cov-2), theoretical indications and reflections on donating behavior represent a pragmatic and moral concern whose relevance rests in the potential applied implications

The structure of ZrO2 phases and devetrification processes in a Ca-Zr-Si-O-based glass ceramic: a combined a-XRD and XAS study

The structure of Zr atomic environment in a CaO-ZrO2-SiO2 glass-ceramic has beenstudied combining x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) andanomalous-XRD (a-XRD) techniques as a function of thermal treatments. The analysisof XRD patterns demonstrates that the devitrification process, as a function ofthermal treatment, proceeds through the partial segregation of Zr-depleted phases(Wollastonite-like) and Zr-rich phases (Zr-oxides). The XAS and a-XRD measurementsat the Zr K edge have been exploited to get a closer insight on the atomicstructure around Zr ions. In the as quenched glass the Zr is 6-fold coordinated to Oxygenatoms in an amorphous environment rich of Ca and Si. Thermal treatment firstly(T=1000 - 1050 oC) determines the partial segregation of Zr in form of oxide whichcrystalline structure is that of tetragonal Zirconia (t-ZrO2). Raising the temperature(T=1100 oC) provokes the formation of ZrO2 crystallites in the monoclinic crystallographicphase (Baddeleyite: m-ZrO2). The analysis of XAS data demonstrates that aconsiderable amount of Zr still remains in an amorphous Calcium-Silicate phase

High-Mobility Group Box-1 Protein and β-Amyloid oligomers promote neuronal differentiation of adult hippocampal neural progenitors via Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts/Nuclear Factor-kB axis: Relevance for Alzheimer’s disease.

Dysregulated hippocampal neurogenesis has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), in which it may potentially represent an auto-reparatory mechanism that could counteract neuronal loss and cognitive impairment. We evaluated hippocampal neurogenesis in TgCRND8 mice and reported that, at 32 weeks of age, corresponding to an advanced AD-like neuropathology stage, increased numbers of proliferating cells, doublecortin-expressing progenitors/neuroblasts, and early postmitotic calretinin-expressing neurons were present compared with wild-type (WT) littermates. When hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) were isolated from TgCRND8 mice, we demonstrated that (1) their neurogenic potential was higher compared with WT NPCs; (2) medium conditioned by TgCRND8 NPC promoted neuronal differentiation of WT NPCs; and (3) the proneurogenic effect of TgCRND8-conditioned medium was counteracted by blockade of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)/nuclear factor-\u3baB (NF-\u3baB) axis. Furthermore, we showed that \u3b2-amyloid 1-42 (A\u3b21-42) oligomers, but not monomers and fibrils, and the alarmin high-mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB-1) could promote neuronal differentiation of NPCs via activation of the RAGE/NF-\u3baB axis. Altogether, these data suggest that, in AD brain, an endogenous proneurogenic response could be potentially triggered and involve signals (A\u3b21-42 oligomers and HMGB-1) and pathways (RAGE/NF-\u3baB activation) that also contribute to neuroinflammation/neurotoxicity. A more detailed analysis confirmed no significant increase of new mature neurons in hippocampi of TgCRND8 compared with WT mice, suggesting reduced survival and/or integration of newborn neurons. Therapeutic strategies in AD should ideally combine the ability of sustaining hippocampal neurogenesis as well as of counteracting an hostile brain microenvironment so to promote survival of vulnerable cell populations, including adult generated neurons

Experimental study on the humidity in aerial lime mortar

A significant part of the historical heritage around the world consists of masonry structures, with joints filled with mortar. In these structural systems, mortar usually represents a small/moderate portion of the total volume of the structure. However, the mortar is recognized as the main source of deformations/displacement in the structure, this fact justifies the necessity of an appropriated knowledge of its behavior. In ancient mortars, aerial lime is one of the earliest and recurring binders around the world. In these mortars, the hardening of the material is gradual from the surface, in correspondence with the carbonation and drying processes. For these mortars, these two cited processes affect various properties of the material. For aerial lime mortars, the study of carbonation is widespread in the literature, diverse authors already study the topic. However, for the moisture diffusion processes, the number of studies is still quite reduced. During the mortar preparation, some of the water applied during the mixing is evaporated by the exothermic reaction of hydration. However, an elevated moisture content remains In this work, studies are carried out to investigate the internal humidity fluxes in aerial lime mortars. The experimental program begins with the characterization of the materials, as well as the definition of the mortar composition. Experimental work was carried out on specimens stored in a controlled environment, with geometries simulating uniaxial and axisymmetric flows. The monitoring of internal moisture of specimens at various depths was carried out. The results indicated an accelerated diffusion, with a rapid decrease of humidity when compared with usual values observed in cement-based materialsA significant part of the historical heritage around the world consists of masonry structures, with joints filled with mortar. In these structural systems, mortar usually represents a small/moderate portion of the total volume of the structure. However, the mortar is recognized as the main source of deformations/displacement in the structure, this fact justifies the necessity of an appropriated knowledge of its behavior. In ancient mortars, aerial lime is one of the earliest and recurring binders around the world. In these mortars, the hardening of the material is gradual from the surface, in correspondence with the carbonation and drying processes. For these mortars, these two cited processes affect various properties of the material. For aerial lime mortars, the study of carbonation is widespread in the literature, diverse authors already study the topic. However, for the moisture diffusion processes, the number of studies is still quite reduced. During the mortar preparation, some of the water applied during the mixing is evaporated by the exothermic reaction of hydration. However, an elevated moisture content remains. In this work, studies are carried out to investigate the internal humidity fluxes in aerial lime mortars. The experimental program begins with the characterization of the materials, as well as the definition of the mortar composition. Experimental work was carried out on specimens stored in a controlled environment, with geometries simulating uniaxial and axisymmetric flows. The monitoring of internal moisture of specimens at various depths was carried out. The results indicated an accelerated diffusion, with a rapid decrease of humidity when compared with usual values observed in cement-based materialsEste trabalho foi financiado pela FCT (Fundação Portuguesa para a Ciência e Tecnologia) e pelo CNPq através da bolsa de doutoramento concedida ao primeiro autor

Work engagement and psychological capital in the Italian public administration: A new resource-based intervention programme

Orientation: Organisations need energetic and dedicated employees to enhance the quality of their services and products continuously. According to the Conservation of Resources Theory, it is possible to increase work engagement of employees by improving their personal resources. Research purpose: The main aim of this study was to examine the extent to which an improvement in psychological capital, as a personal resource, might enhance work engagement of employees in the public sector. Motivation for the study: This study was developed to investigate how and to what extent interventions aiming at fostering higher work engagement through the enhancement of psychological capital were certainly effective. Research design, approach and method: To improve psychological capital, a new resource-based intervention programme (FAMILY intervention) was developed and applied, in which six dimensions \u2013 namely framing, attitudes, meaningfulness, identity, leading self and yoked together \u2013 were improved. A semi-experimental research design (pre-test and post-test) was used to conduct this study. Participants were 54 employees working in an Italian public health administration. In the pre-test and post-test stages, data were collected by using the psychological capital and work engagement scales. Main findings: Results showed that there is a positive relationship between psychological capital and work engagement in the pre-test and post-test stages, considered separately. In addition, comparing pre-test and post-test results revealed that the intervention programme significantly improved both psychological capital and work engagement. This shows that an improvement in psychological capital is consistent with an increase in work engagement. Conclusion: Together, these findings prove that psychological capital can be considered as a set of personal resources which lead to increased work engagement. Contribution/value-add: This study bridged the gap found in the literature between the role of psychological capital in fostering higher work engagement and the extent to which interventions are effective among employees working in public administration

Influence of the circadian timing system on Tacrolimus pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics after kidney transplantation

Introduction: Tacrolimus is the backbone immunosuppressant after solid organ transplantation. Tacrolimus has a narrow therapeutic window with large intra- and inter-patient pharmacokinetic variability leading to frequent over- and under-immunosuppression. While routine therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) remains the standard of care, tacrolimus pharmacokinetic variability may be influenced by circadian rhythms. Our aim was to analyze tacrolimus pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profiles on circadian rhythms comparing morning and night doses of a twice-daily tacrolimus formulation. Methods: This is a post-hoc analysis from a clinical trial to study the area under curve (AUC) and the area under effect (AUE) profiles of calcineurin inhibition after tacrolimus administration in twenty-five renal transplant patients. Over a period of 24 h, an intensive sampling (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 12.5, 13, 13.5, 14, 15, 20, and 24 h) was carried out. Whole blood and intracellular tacrolimus concentrations and calcineurin activity were measured by UHPLC-MS/MS. Results: Whole blood and intracellular AUC12-24 h and Cmax achieved after tacrolimus night dose was significantly lower than after morning dose administration (AUC0-12 h) (p < 0.001 for both compartments). AUE0-12 h and AUE12-24 h were not statistically different after morning and night doses. Total tacrolimus daily exposure (AUC0-24 h), in whole blood and intracellular compartments, was over-estimated when assessed by doubling the morning AUC0-12 h data. Conclusion: The lower whole blood and intracellular tacrolimus concentrations after night dose might be influenced by a distinct circadian clock. This significantly lower tacrolimus exposure after night dose was not translated into a significant reduction of the pharmacodynamic effect. Our study may provide conceptual bases for better understanding the TDM of twice-daily tacrolimus formulation