Protective potential of glucagon like peptide 2 (GLP-2) against the neurodegeneration

Neurodegeneration consists in loss of neuron specific types, pattern and distribution, leading to progressive dysfunctions of the central nervous system. Neurodegenerative diseases include diverse pathological conditions, among which Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are the most prevalent ones. Alzheimer’s disease is known as a growing dementia, characterized by progressive language, memory, and cognitive loss, while Parkinson’s disease is primarily characterized as a motor disorder. Senile plaques, caused by amyloid β peptide, hyperphosphorylated tau-based neurofibrillary tangles and synapse loss, are the principal pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid β oligomer formation is associated with development of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, inflammation, calcium-dependent excitotoxicity, impairment of cellular respiration, and alteration of synaptic functions related with learning and memory. Parkinson’s disease is produced by dopaminergic neuron deterioration in the extrapyramidal tract of the midbrain. Accumulation of α-synuclein proteins (Lewy bodies) in the central, autonomic, and peripheral nervous system is the hallmark of the Parkinson’s disease. The Levy bodies break the neuronal membrane leading to neuronal death through oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, energy failure and neuroinflammation

How common is isolated nocturnal hypertension?

The growing use of methods to measure blood pressure (BP) under everyday life conditions in ‘out-of-office’ settings, through either 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) or home BP monitoring (HBPM), for defining BP status has led to identification of four specific hypertension phenotypes, characterized by variable agreement or disagreement between office BP (OBP) and out-of-office BP: true normotension (normal office and out-of-office BP), sustained hypertension (both elevated office and out-of-office BP), masked hypertension (normal office BP and out-of-office BP), and white-coat hypertension (WCH), when OBP is elevated, but out-of-office BP levels are within normal limits. The term ‘white-coat hypertension’ is probably a misnomer and a misconception, because it does not necessarily reflect, or at most partially, an alerting reaction or white-coat effect. However, the suggestion to use the term ‘isolated office hypertension’ instead of the more appealing ‘white coat hypertension’ has not gained popularity in clinical practice

Natural Compounds as Beneficial Antioxidant Agents in Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Focus on Alzheimer’s Disease

The positive role of nutrition in chronic neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) suggests that dietary interventions represent helpful tools for preventing NDs. In particular, diets enriched with natural compounds have become an increasingly attractive, non-invasive, and inexpensive option to support a healthy brain and to potentially treat NDs. Bioactive compounds found in vegetables or microalgae possess special properties able to counteract oxidative stress, which is involved as a triggering factor in neurodegeneration. Here, we briefly review the relevant experimental data on curcuminoids, silymarin, chlorogenic acid, and compounds derived from the microalga Aphanizomenon flos aquae (AFA) which have been demonstrated to possess encouraging beneficial eects on neurodegeneration, in particular on Alzheimer’s disease models

Introduction - International Order and the Reconfiguration of Power: Dynamics of Change in the Political Economy of Russia and China

How did the policies of Russia and China toward integration with the global economy reshape power in the international order? How do Russia’s and China’s policies toward integration with the global economy reshape power in their respective internal socio-political frameworks? These are the two key questions addressed by the special issue through an interdisciplinary perspective. By focusing on historical, sociological and political-economy features of the dynamics of change in Russia and China, the collection of articles focuses on hybrid processes in the political and economic sphere that have led to the emerging role of Russia and China in the international order.

Interoperability between OPC UA and oneM2M

AbstractA key requirement of realizing the connected world featured by IoT is to ensure interoperability among different connected devices. Interoperability is also at the basis of the realization of the novel vision of Industry 4.0; a lot effort is put to make interoperable the interchange of information between industrial applications, also including IoT ecosystems. For this reason, during these last years, several approaches aimed to enhance interoperability between industrial applications and IoT appeared in the literature. In this paper an interoperability proposal is presented. It is based on the idea to realize interworking between the two standards considered among the reference ones in the industrial and IoT domains. They are the OPC UA for the industrial domain and oneM2M for the IoT. Interworking is realized in such a way to allow industrial applications based on OPC UA to acquire information coming from oneM2M-based IoT devices. The proposal allows an OPC UA Server to publish each piece of information produced by oneM2M-based IoT devices, so that this information may be consumed by industrial applications playing the OPC UA Client role

Gastric emptying, small intestinal transit and fecal output in dystrophic (mdx) mice

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which results from deficiency in dystrophin, a sarcolemma protein of skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle, is characterized by progressive striated muscle degeneration, but various gastrointestinal clinical manifestations have been observed. The aim was to evaluate the possible impact of the dystrophin loss on the gastrointestinal propulsion in mdx mice (animal model for DMD). The gastric emptying of a carboxymethyl cellulose/phenol red dye non-nutrient meal was not significantly different at 20 min from gavaging between wild-type and mdx mice. The intestinal transit and the fecal output were significantly decreased in mdx versus normal animals, although the length of the intestine was similar in both animals. The present results provide evidence for motor intestinal alterations in mdx mice in in vivo conditions

L’applicazione della didattica a distanza (DAD) durante l’emergenza Covid-19 nei confronti degli alunni con disabilità certificata. Un’indagine esplorativa

In this contribution, after a brief introduction on the Covid-19 emergency scenario, that has come to be determined, starting from the first months of 2020, and after reflecting on the theoretical framework of reference and on the in-service training course addressed to the Teacher Tutor Coordinators of the School for Disability of the Inclusion Pole of Catania“ Italo Calvino”, we want to present the data of an exploratory survey, on the application of distance learning to students with certified disabilities, which involved 2993 teachers between curricula and support of the Inclusion Center of Catania and the Province. From the exploratory survey it emerges that there is still a need to strengthen the in-service training of curricular and support teachers regarding the application of integrated digital teaching, as well as the knowledge of new active and collaborative methodologies aimed at building personalized and class-based training courses in an inclusive perspective.In questo contributo, dopo una breve introduzione sullo scenario dell’emergenza Covid-19 che si è venuto a determinare a partire dai primi mesi del 2020 e dopo aver riflettuto sul quadro teorico di riferimento e sul percorso di formazione in servizio rivolto ai Docenti Tutor Coordinatori di Scuola per la disabilità del Polo di Inclusione di Catania- ICS “Italo Calvino”, si vogliono presentare i dati di una indagine esplorativa sull’applicazione della didattica a distanza nei confronti degli alunni con disabilità certificata, che ha visto coinvolti 2993 docenti tra curricolari e di sostegno del Polo di Inclusione di Catania e Provincia. Dall’indagine esplorativa emerge che ancora bisogna potenziare la formazione in servizio degli insegnanti curricolari e di sostegno circa l’applicazione della didattica digitale integrata, nonché la conoscenza di nuove metodologie attive e collaborative finalizzate a costruire percorsi formativi personalizzati e di classe in ottica inclusiva

Jardines secos. En torno a los jardines en zonas áridas

At the current bioclimatic change and shortage of water in which are located some geographical areas, it has become essential reprogram and project a lot of green areas in general and private use. For ages, these have been planned on a garden scheme not appropriate to local conditions. In general, it is discussed the concept of “grass” as a fundamental surface and unifying of the urban landscape. This implies reprogram the concept of “garden” and use of itself, even in many situations may result difficult for the user to understand, and others situations such as in California is the only solution by law. For many people, the problem does not prevail until they realized the high maintenance expenses, and in the case of public areas, these end up in a state of total abandonment as a result of the lack of maintenance. It is relevant to become more aware about the problem, as well as understand that there are solutions too. The crucial thing, as in everything, is study the problem, the economic environment, and the accessible budget to do the best project with balanced costs and benefits to all the community, not only a user.Con el actual cambio bioclimático y la escasez de agua en que se encuentran algunas zonas geográficas, se ha vuelto indispensable reprogramar y proyectar muchas áreas verdes de uso común y privadas. Por años, estas han sido concebidas bajo un esquema de jardín no adecuado a las realidades locales. En general, se habla del concepto de césped como superficie fundamental y unificadora del paisaje urbano. Esto implica reprogramar un concepto de jardín y uso del mismo, que en muchos casos puede resultar difícil de hacer entender al usuario, y, en otros casos como en California es, por ley, la única solución.  Para muchos, el problema no subsiste hasta que se dan cuenta de los elevados costos de mantenimiento, y en el caso de áreas públicas, como la falta de mantenimiento, lleva a las mismas a un estado de abandono total. Es importante concienciar sobre el problema, así como hacer entender que existen soluciones. Lo importante, como en todo, es estudiar el problema, el medio, y qué presupuesto se dispone para poder hacer el mejor proyecto, con costos y beneficios equilibrados, no solo para un usuario sino para una comunidad.&nbsp

Research tools between print and digital publishing: not opposition but integration

In the field of archival publishing, the transition phase in which the relationship between print and digital was in contrast is considered closed and it’s time to move towards a new model of integration. It would be time to start a more mature reflection, in the perspective of imagining a dialectical relationship, not of contrast but capable of overcoming indifference in view of a fruitful integration. For this purpose, this paper provides some ideas and some proposals for work, in the hope that the academic world, Anai and Directorate General Archives will start in collaboration shared work