Mass Transport and Stress Field in Polymer-Solute Systems: Analysis and Solutions of Coupled Problems

This work focuses on the analysis of transport phenomena in solid polymer-solute systems and it specifically addresses problems in which a mutual influence exists between mass transport and stress development in polymers. The first problem refers to the design of an apparatus which allows to measure in-plane stresses that arises and relaxes in polymer coating of commercial polystyrene, around room conditions, below the glass transition temperature (Tg) as result of vapor sorption/desorption processes. The in-plane stress is measured using bending beam cantilever technique for which an apparatus was specifically designed and set up in this work. In-plane stress in PS coating was measured according to prescribed laws. From the stress state, knowing the material proprieties, the estimation was finally attempted of change in the system volume during the sorption/desorption process and results have been compared with data registered under the same conditions for mass uptake in the system from gravimetric measurements. The second problem selected refers to the analysis of the effect of elastic mechanical characteristics on separation performances for dense polymeric membrane for organic solvent nanofiltration. In this view, two different commercial PDMS-based membranes were characterized and based on the experimental results a model was developed to provide a thermodynamic and mechanical frame for the representation of flux and rejection for the case of different solutes and solvent mixtures. Permeation rates and solute rejection were thus investigated in details for two different PDMS-based membranes, through an extensive experimental campaign. Because of the relevance of this problem, emphasis is given in this work to the elaboration of equation-of-state in the field of lattice fluid or tangent-hard-spheres-chain theories which could be implemented with terms suitable for the representation of the effect of mechanical constraint to the system as well as of the constitutive properties for stress-strain relationships

Loss of GATA-1 full length as a cause of Diamond-Blackfan anemia phenotype

Mutations in the hematopoietic transcription factor GATA-1 alter the proliferation/differentiation of hemopoietic progenitors. Mutations in exon 2 interfere with the synthesis of the full-length isoform of GATA-1 and lead to the production of a shortened isoform, GATA-1s. These mutations have been found in patients with Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), a congenital erythroid aplasia typically caused by mutations in genes encoding ribosomal proteins. We sequenced GATA-1 in 23 patients that were negative for mutations in the most frequently mutated DBA genes. One patient showed a c.2T > C mutation in the initiation codon leading to the loss of the full-length GATA-1 isoform

Freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease patients treated with bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation: A long-term overview

Bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) is an effective treatment in advanced Parkinson’s Disease (PD). However, the effects of STN-DBS on freezing of gait (FOG) are still debated, particularly in the long-term follow-up (>/=5-years). The main aim of the current study is to evaluate the long-term effects of STN-DBS on FOG. Twenty STN-DBS treated PD patients were included. Each patient was assessed before surgery through a detailed neurological evaluation, including FOG score, and reevaluated in the long-term (median follow-up: 5-years) in different stimulation and drug conditions. In the long term follow-up, FOG score significantly worsened in the off-stimulation/off-medication condition compared with the preoperative off-medication assessment (z = -1.930; p = 0.05) but not in the on-stimulation/off-medication (z = -0.357; p = 0.721). There was also a significant improvement of FOG at long-term assessment by comparing on-stimulation/off-medication and off-stimulation/off-medication conditions (z = -2.944; p = 0.003). These results highlight the possible beneficial long-term effects of STN-DBS on FOG

Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease Patients Treated with Bilateral Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation: A Long-Term Overview

Bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) is an effective treatment in advanced Parkinson's Disease (PD). However, the effects of STN-DBS on freezing of gait (FOG) are still debated, particularly in the long-term follow-up (≥5-years). The main aim of the current study is to evaluate the long-term effects of STN-DBS on FOG. Twenty STN-DBS treated PD patients were included. Each patient was assessed before surgery through a detailed neurological evaluation, including FOG score, and revaluated in the long-term (median follow-up: 5-years) in different stimulation and drug conditions. In the long term follow-up, FOG score significantly worsened in the off-stimulation/off-medication condition compared with the pre-operative off-medication assessment (z = -1.930; p = 0.05) but not in the on-stimulation/off-medication (z = -0.357; p = 0.721). There was also a significant improvement of FOG at long-term assessment by comparing on-stimulation/off-medication and off-stimulation/off-medication conditions (z = -2.944; p = 0.003). These results highlight the possible beneficial long-term effects of STN-DBS on FOG

Secondary SOLID Tumors after Allogeneic STEM CELL Transplantation: A CROSS-Sectional Evaluation in 260 Adults at 1-Year Follow-up

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Dissecting the transcriptional phenotype of ribosomal protein deficiency: implications for Diamond-Blackfan Anemia

Defects in genes encoding ribosomal proteins cause Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA), a red cell aplasia often associated with physical abnormalities. Other bone marrow failure syndromes have been attributed to defects in ribosomal components but the link between erythropoiesis and the ribosome remains to be fully defined. Several lines of evidence suggest that defects in ribosome synthesis lead to "ribosomal stress" with p53 activation and either cell cycle arrest or induction of apoptosis. Pathways independent of p53 have also been proposed to play a role in DBA pathogenesis. We took an unbiased approach to identify p53-independent pathways activated by defects in ribosome synthesis by analyzing global gene expression in various cellular models of DBA. Ranking-Principal Component Analysis (Ranking-PCA) was applied to the identified datasets to determine whether there are common sets of genes whose expression is altered in these different cellular models. We observed consistent changes in the expression of genes involved in cellular amino acid metabolic process, negative regulation of cell proliferation and cell redox homeostasis. These data indicate that cells respond to defects in ribosome synthesis by changing the level of expression of a limited subset of genes involved in critical cellular processes. Moreover, our data support a role for p53-independent pathways in the pathophysiology of DBA

La comunit\ue0 dei dialogisti cinematografici: alcune considerazioni sociologiche

Il lavoro, di carattere principalmente sociologico, si propone di descrivere alcuni aspetti rilevanti relativi ai traduttori-adattatori cinematografici per il doppiaggio. La ricerca \ue8 articolata in due parti. La prima propone un\u2019analisi statistica sulla produttivit\ue0 dei traduttori-adattatori che lavorano in Italia e la seconda illustra i risultati di una serie di interviste semi-strutturate rilasciate da traduttori-adattatori rinomati. L\u2019indagine empirica integrata da dati pubblicati in modo sparso sulle stesse tematiche ha permesso di giungere a risultati interessanti relativi all\u2019atteggiamento e alla politica lavorativa di tale comunit\ue0 professionale e alle possibili cause che stanno alla base di specifiche scelte linguistiche che si ripetono regolarmente nell\u2019italiano doppiato

Subtitles and audiovisual genres for the language learner

L\u2019efficacia del film con sottotitoli in ambito acquisizionale \ue8 ormai riconosciuta. Per sfruttare a pieno le potenzialit\ue0 di tale prodotto audiovisivo \ue8 tuttavia importante che lo spettatore-apprendente si trovi nelle condizioni di recepire e di elaborare l\u2019input in maniera ottimale. Non \ue8 dunque sufficiente la semplice esposizione a input multimediale se questo non \ue8 calibrato alle esigenze di chi ne usufruisce. Il genere filmico, per esempio, \ue8 un fattore che influisce in modo determinante sia sulla potenziale comprensione della colonna sonora originale, sia sulla possibilit\ue0 di seguire e leggere con agio i sottotitoli. Il presente lavoro vuole mettere in evidenza la relazione che esiste tra genere filmico, strategie traduttive e acquisizione di una lingua straniera attraverso alcune riflessioni sulla creazione di sottotitoli ai fini dell\u2019apprendimento dell\u2019inglese L2

Choosing between dubbing and subtitling in a changing landscape

Nowadays, audiences worldwide are increasingly accessing audiovisuals in languages different from their own, even in world areas that do not traditionally use subtitling as the mainstream audiovisual translation (AVT) mode. The trend is linked to the rise of new media and viewing platforms, where users are offered multiple and more flexible viewing options. Systematic research on viewers’ consumption of different translation modes is scant. The current study follows up on Pavesi and Ghia (2020) and reports on a questionnaire-based investigation conducted among 305 postgraduate students in several disciplines at a middle-sized university in Italy – a traditionally dubbing country. The study focuses on participants’ choice of languages and AVT modes, namely subtitling and dubbing, when watching foreign language films and TV- series. Viewers’ reasons for their choices are investigated, and different viewer profiles are outlined crossing participants’ preferences with data on their academic and L2 learning background. The emerging picture is quite diversified: while many participants show a strong orientation to subtitled media, some still opt for dubbing. Viewers’ choices are not primarily driven by (un)availability or an unfavourable evaluation of AVT modes, but mainly result from an orientation to the foreign language or from sociability and watching dynamics. Choices also associate with different viewer profiles, where students’ L2 background plays a relevant role

Profiling film translators in Italy: A preliminary analysis

This paper sets out to profile film translators in Italy in order to draw a connection between their working habits and routines and the development of linguistic regularities and shared translating behaviour that have been observed in dubbed Italian. The analysis has been carried out of quantitative data on productivity, together with qualitative interviews with highly successful translator-adaptors. This allowed us to draw interesting conclusions about the policy of commissions, the attitudes of this professional community and the reasons for their linguistic choices