4,836 research outputs found
The feel of inclusivity
Collaboration between diverse groups with different perspectives promotes scientific discovery. To enhance these partnerships and facilitate communication, innovative advances in universal design are essential
Compari di san Giovanni. Matrimoni e battesimi nella mafia dell\u2019agro palermitano negli anni Venti
Matrimonies and Baptisms in the Mafia of Palermo during the Twenties
Historical sources have demonstrated that, since the origins of the Mafia, it has always had strong links with religion. Often, mafiosi appear to conform to Christian values: they usually go to Mass and celebrate baptisms and marriages, or tend to use religious symbols, such as crosses or holy pictures. They favour the preservation of a traditional society, outwardly based on hierarchical values and family unity. However, their ceremonies and family ties are used to reinforce criminal alliances, often ratified by comparaggio, the strong tie that arises from baptism. This article, based mainly on police and judiciary sources from the Fascist anti-mafia campaign of Cesare Mori (1925-1932), analyzes the role of weddings, baptisms, and confraternity affiliations in the scheme of Mafia power, during the first two decades of the Twentieth Century
Frustration of the isotropic-columnar phase transition of colloidal hard platelets by a transient cubatic phase
Using simulations and theory, we show that the cubatic phase is metastable
for three model hard platelets. The locally favored structures of perpendicular
particle stacks in the fluid prevent the formation of the columnar phase
through geometric frustration resulting in vitrification. Also, we find a
direct link between structure and dynamic heterogeneities in the cooperative
rotation of particle stacks, which is crucial for the devitrification process.
Finally, we show that the life time of the glassy cubatic phase can be tuned by
surprisingly small differences in particle shape.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Dynamical Heterogeneities and Cooperative Motion in Smectic Liquid Crystals
Using simulations of hard rods in smectic-A states, we find non-gaussian
diffusion and heterogeneous dynamics due to the equilibrium periodic smectic
density profiles, which give rise to permanent barriers for layer-to-layer
diffusion. This relaxation behavior is surprisingly similar to that of
non-equilibrium supercooled liquids, although there the particles are trapped
in transient (instead of permanent) cages. Interestingly, we also find
stringlike clusters of up to 10 inter-layer rods exhibiting dynamic
cooperativity in this equilibrium state.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
Ready or Not? Protecting the Public's Health in the Age of Bioterrorism, 2004
Examines ten key indicators to evaluate state preparedness to respond to bioterrorist attacks and other public health emergencies. Evaluates the federal government's role and performance, and offers recommendations for improving readiness
Can a microscopic stochastic model explain the emergence of pain cycles in patients?
A stochastic model is here introduced to investigate the molecular mechanisms
which trigger the perception of pain. The action of analgesic drug compounds is
discussed in a dynamical context, where the competition with inactive species
is explicitly accounted for. Finite size effects inevitably perturb the
mean-field dynamics: Oscillations in the amount of bound receptors
spontaneously manifest, driven by the noise which is intrinsic to the system
under scrutiny. These effects are investigated both numerically, via stochastic
simulations and analytically, through a large-size expansion. The claim that
our findings could provide a consistent interpretative framework to explain the
emergence of cyclic behaviors in response to analgesic treatments, is
substantiated.Comment: J. Stat. Mech. (Proceedings UPON2008
Physical activity programs for balance and fall prevention in elderly: A systematic review
BACKGROUND:
Due to demographic changes the world's population is progressively ageing. The physiological decay of the elderly adult may lead to a reduction in the ability to balance and an increased risk of falls becoming an important issue among the elderly. In order to counteract the decay in the ability to balance, physical activity has been proven to be effective. The aim of this study is to systematically review the scientific literature in order to identify physical activity programs able to increase balance in the elderly.
METHODS:
This review is based on the data from Medline-NLM, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and SPORTDiscuss and includes randomized control trials that have analyzed balance and physical activity in healthy elderly over 65 years of age during the last decade. A final number of 8 manuscripts were included in the qualitative synthesis, which comprised 200 elderly with a mean age of 75.1 ± 4.4 years. The sample size of the studies varied from 9 to 61 and the intervention periods from 8 to 32 weeks.
RESULTS:
Eight articles were considered eligible and included in the quantitative synthesis. The articles investigated the effects of resistance and aerobic exercise, balance training, T-bow© and wobble board training, aerobic step and stability ball training, adapted physical activity and Wii Fit training on balance outcomes. Balance measures of the studies showed improvements between 16% and 42% compared to baseline assessments.
CONCLUSIONS:
Balance is a multifactorial quality that can be effectively increased by different exercise training means. It is fundamental to promote physical activity in the aging adult, being that a negative effect on balance performance has been seen in the no-intervention control groups
F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America, 2004
Examines national and state obesity rates and government policies. Focuses on setting a baseline of current policies and programs, and offers a comprehensive look at their range and quality
Lactoferrin's anti-cancer properties. Safety, selectivity, and wide range of action
Despite recent advances in cancer therapy, current treatments, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, although beneficial, present attendant side effects and long-term sequelae, usually more or less affecting quality of life of the patients. Indeed, except for most of the immunotherapeutic agents, the complete lack of selectivity between normal and cancer cells for radio- and chemotherapy can make them potential antagonists of the host anti-cancer self-defense over time. Recently, the use of nutraceuticals as natural compounds corroborating anti-cancer standard therapy is emerging as a promising tool for their relative abundance, bioavailability, safety, low-cost effectiveness, and immuno-compatibility with the host. In this review, we outlined the anti-cancer properties of Lactoferrin (Lf), an iron-binding glycoprotein of the innate immune defense. Lf shows high bioavailability after oral administration, high selectivity toward cancer cells, and a wide range of molecular targets controlling tumor proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, and metastasization. Of note, Lf is able to promote or inhibit cell proliferation and migration depending on whether it acts upon normal or cancerous cells, respectively. Importantly, Lf administration is highly tolerated and does not present significant adverse effects. Moreover, Lf can prevent development or inhibit cancer growth by boosting adaptive immune response. Finally, Lf was recently found to be an ideal carrier for chemotherapeutics, even for the treatment of brain tumors due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, thus globally appearing as a promising tool for cancer prevention and treatment, especially in combination therapies
Non-Gaussian Dynamics in Smectic Liquid Crystals of Parallel Hard Rods
Using computer simulations, we studied the diffusion and structural
relaxation in equilibrium smectic liquid crystal bulk phases of parallel hard
spherocylinders. These systems exhibit a non-Gaussian layer-to-layer diffusion
due to the presence of periodic barriers and transient cages, and show
remarkable similarities with the behavior of out-of-equilibrium supercooled
liquids. We detect a very slow inter-layer relaxation dynamics over the whole
density range of the stable smectic phase which spans a time interval of four
time decades. The intrinsic nature of the layered structure yields a
hopping-type diffusion which becomes more heterogeneous for higher packing
fractions. In contrast, the in-layer dynamics is typical of a dense fluid with
a relatively fast decay. Our results on the dynamic behavior agree well with
that observed in systems of freely rotating hard rods, but differ quantitavely,
as the height of the periodic barriers reduces to zero at the nematic-smectic
transition for aligned rods, while it remains finite for freely rotating rods.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure
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