The 5th edition of the Roma-BZCAT. A short presentation

The 5th edition of the Roma-BZCAT Multifrequency Catalogue of Blazars is available in a printed version and online at the ASDC website (http://www.asdc.asi.it/bzcat); it is also in the NED database. It presents several relevant changes with respect to the past editions which are briefly described in this paper.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Scienc

Nazionalità e lotta di classe

L’articolo si propone di affrontare le relazioni intercorse tra il marxismo italiano e i nazionalismi periferici, attraverso la rilettura di una storia politica che affonda le sue radici nel Congresso di Colonia del Partito Comunista d’Italia e prosegue in sordina fino allo scioglimento di Democrazia Proletaria. Il Programma d’Azione approvato a Colonia nel 1931, che prevedeva la realizzazione della Federazione delle Repubbliche Socialiste e Soviettiste d’Italia, sancì l’inizio di una tormentata e ambigua relazione tra il marxismo nostrano e il diritto all’autodeterminazione dei popoli. Subito accantonate dal movimento comunista ufficiale, queste tematiche riemergeranno periodicamente nei dibattiti della sinistra rivoluzionaria. Dai rapporti di Lotta Continua e Potere operaio con gli indipendentisti baschi e irlandesi, fino al riconoscimento ufficiale delle nazionalità periferiche italiane da parte di Democrazia Proletaria, sono molti gli elementi che invitano ad un’accurata riflessione su questi temi. L’analisi delle scelte e delle lotte condotte in nome del diritto all’autodeterminazione dalla Nuova Sinistra italiana potrebbe consentire una maggiore comprensione di un rapporto, quello tra socialismo e nazionalismo, talmente complesso da essere stato troppo spesso travisato.The article aims to address the relationships between the Italian Marxism and the peripheral nationalisms, through the reading of a political history that has its roots in the Cologne Congress of the Communist Party of Italy, and that continued silently until the dissolution of “Democrazia Proletaria”. The program of action adopted in Cologne in 1931, which contemplated the creation of the federation of socialist and sovietic republics of Italy, declared the beginning of a troubled and ambiguous relationship between our national Marxism and the right of self-determination. Immediately after being set aside by the official Communist movement, this issue remerged periodically in the debates of the revolutionary left. From the relationships between “Lotta Continua” and “Potere Operaio” with the Basques and the Irish separatists, to the formal and official recognition by “Democrazia Proletaria” of the Italian peripheral nationalities, there are many elements which call for careful reflections on these issues. The analysis of the political decisions and the struggles waged in the name of self-determination by the New Italian Left could allow a greater understanding of the complex relationship between Socialism and Nationalism that has been too often misunderstood

Towards a learning-based performance modeling for accelerating Deep Neural Networks

Emerging applications such as Deep Learning are often data-driven, thus traditional approaches based on auto-tuners are not performance effective across the wide range of inputs used in practice. In the present paper, we start an investigation of predictive models based on machine learning techniques in order to optimize Convolution Neural Networks (CNNs). As a use-case, we focus on the ARM Compute Library which provides three different implementations of the convolution operator at different numeric precision. Starting from a collation of benchmarks, we build and validate models learned by Decision Tree and naive Bayesian classifier. Preliminary experiments on Midgard-based ARM Mali GPU show that our predictive model outperforms all the convolution operators manually selected by the library

The importance of glial cells in the homeostasis of the retinal microenvironment and their pivotal role in the course of diabetic retinopathy

Abstract Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a remarkable microvascular complication of diabetes and it has been considered the leading cause of legal blindness in working-age adults in the world. Several overlapping and interrelated molecular pathways are involved in the development of this disease. DR is staged into different levels of severity, from the nonproliferative to the advanced proliferative form. Over the years the progression of DR evolves through a series of changes involving distinct types of specialized cells: neural, vascular and glial. Prior to the clinically observable vascular complications, hyperglycemia and inflammation affect retinal glial cells which undergo a wide range of structural and functional alterations. In this review, we provide an overview of the status of macroglia and microglia in the course of DR, trying to briefly take into account the complex biochemical mechanisms that affect the intimate relationship among neuroretina, vessels and glial cells

Kaolin protects olive fruits from Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) infestations unaffecting olive oil quality

The efficacy of the processed kaolin “Surround WP” to control olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae Gmelin, field infestations was investigated in east Calabria. The preliminary results showed that fruit infestation levels were significantly reduced on kaolin-treated trees compared with untreated trees. The promising results of these experiments points to the feasibility of using particle film technology composed of a non-toxic material, to avoid olive fly damage as an alternative to the applications of rotenone in organic orchards. Finally, kaolin treatment unaffected the nutritional and sensory quality parameters of the corresponding virgin olive oils obtained by a laboratory scale olive mill, thus satisfying the present quality requirements

In Vivo Distribution of Corneal Epithelial Dendritic Cells in Patients With Glaucoma

The purpose of this study was to evaluate dendritic cell (DC) distribution, morphology, and DC density in the entire cornea of medically controlled glaucoma patients (MCGP), using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).Fifty MCGP were enrolled, 15 patients with dry eye, and 15 healthy subjects served as controls. Patients were asked to complete the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and then underwent tear film break-up time (BUT), corneal staining, and Schirmer test (ST) I and then IVCM. In vivo confocal microscopy evaluated the limbal and central DC density, the DCs morphology and distribution. Relationships among DC density, OSDI score, and corneal staining were analyzed.Medically controlled glaucoma patients were divided into 2 groups; group 1 (29 eyes) was tested with one drug; group 2 (21 eyes) was tested with ≥2 drugs. Dendritic cells were significantly higher at limbus than at central cornea in both groups. Limbal DCs were found in the 86.7%, 89.7%, 90.4%, and 93.3% of eyes in controls, groups 1 and 2, and DED; central corneal DCs were found in the 26.6%, 75.9%, 80.9%, and 86.6% of eyes in controls, groups 1 and 2, and DED. Dendritic cell density was higher in glaucoma groups and DED than in controls (P < 0.001). Group 2 and DED presented DC density significantly higher compared with group 1 (P < 0.05). In group 1 DC density was higher in patients taking preserved drugs than in those taking preservative-free drugs (P < 0.05). Dendritic cell density was higher in DED than in group 2 (P < 0.05). Dendritic cell density significantly correlated with corneal staining and OSDI (P < 0.001).Dendritic cells increase in the entire cornea of MCGP, with a higher density at limbus. These modifications may take part in the induction of the glaucoma-related ocular surface disease

The Effect of Optimally Timed Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Length of Hospital Stay in Moderate and Late Preterm Infants: Results from a RCT

Introduction. Little research has been conducted looking at the effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) on preterm infants. Aim of the Study. This study hypothesized that osteopathic care is effective in reducing length of hospital stay and that early OMT produces the most pronounced benefit, compared to moderately early and late OMT. A secondary outcome was to estimate hospital cost savings by the use of OMT. Methods. 110 newborns ranging from 32- to 37-week gestation were randomized to receive either OMT or usual pediatric care. Early, moderately early, and late OMT were defined as <4, <9, and <14 days from birth, respectively. Result. Hospital stay was shorter in infants receiving late OMT (−2.03; 95% CI −3.15, −0.91; P<0.01) than controls. Subgroup analysis of infants receiving early and moderately early OMT resulted in shorter LOS (early OMT: −4.16; −6.05, −2.27; P<0.001; moderately early OMT: −3.12; −4.36, −1.89; P<0.001). Costs analysis showed that OMT significantly produced a net saving of €740 (−1309.54, −170.33; P=0.01) per newborn per LOS. Conclusions. This study shows evidence that the sooner OMT is provided, the shorter their hospital stay is. There is also a positive association of OMT with overall reduction in cost of care