Per poter dare qualità alla ragione: una fntasia di colori ed una sinfonia di suoni.

Dare qualità alla ragione è una risposta laica alla ansia ed alle angosce della modernità che ha rinunciato a vane promesse religiose (riprese talvolta desacralizzandole, con nuovi, ma sempre vuoti, vestiti ideologici) e maggiormente della post-modernità che non crede più neppure ad indefiniti ed inesistenti fini teleologici. Lo strutturalismo (mutuato da ricerche antropologiche) si presenta come un linguaggio aspro, ma sincero, per rappresentare la complessità della realtà, nella parzialità di ogni rappresentazione. Pressoché in parallelo, si presenta il contributo sociologico e politico, della Scuola di Francoforte neomarxista, a partire dalla critica marxiana al fallace marxismo ortodosso sovietico ed alla vacua società dei consumi occidentale. Sempre in parallelo, il falsificazionismo rappresenta un punto di arrivo di una ricerca filosofica che, dalla filosofia della scienza, si estende alla critica delle dottrine politiche, per sostenere idee di libertà e giustizia. Allora dare qualità alla ragione non è un problema banale, di fronte ai moltissimi fallimenti della storia, passata e recente. Per questo, è necessario concepire, mettere in atto e sostenere, sempre in modo critico e molto responsabile, soluzioni parziali, per tempi limitati e spazi ristretti, sapendo che solo lo incontro, il dialogo e la accoglienza, con altre soluzioni parziali, permetteranno di costruire una rete mirabile di piccole intese, per quanto precarie, fragili e provvisorie. La identità soft tra vero, bene e bello, dove i primi due sono di incerta natura e definizione, mentre il terzo si rifà semplicemente alla educazione civica ed un galateo minimo, senza richiamare falsi assoluti, porta a ricercare la ricchezza e la gioia di una fantasia di colori ed una sinfonia di suoni. Pertanto clemenza, verso gli altri, e temperanza, con se stessi, sono le piccole doti richieste

Integrated Analysis and Tools for Land Subsidence Surveying and Monitoring: a Semi-Quantitative Approach

This paper presents an integrated approach for land subsidence monitoring using measures coming from different sensors. Eni S.p.A., the main Italian oil and gas company, constantly surveys the land with all the state of the art and innovative techniques, and a method able to integrate the results is an important and actual topic. Nowadays the world is a multi-sensor platform, and measure integration is strictly necessary. Combining the different data sources should be done in a clever way, taking advantages from the best performances of each technique. An integrated analysis allows the interpretation of simultaneous temporal series of data, coming from different sources, and try to separate subsidence contributions. With this purpose Exelis VIS in collaboration with Eni S.p.A. customize PISAV (Permanent Interferometric Scatterometer Analysis and Visualization), an ENVI extension able to capitalize on and combine all the different data collected in the surveys. In this article are presented some significant examples to show the potential of this tool in oil and gas activity: a hydrocarbon storage field where the comparison between SAR and production volumes emphasise a correlation between the two measures in few steps; and a hydrocarbon production field with the Satellite Survey Unit (S.S.U.), where SAR, CGPS, piezometers and assestimeters measure in the same area at the same time, giving the opportunity to analyse data contextually. In the integrated analysis performed with PISAV not always a mathematical rigorous study is possible, and a semi-quantitative approach is the only method for results interpretation. As a result, in the first test case strong correlation between injected hydrocarbon volume and vertical displacement were highlighted; in the second one the integrated analysis has different advantages in monitoring the land subsidence: permits a first qualitative "differentiation" of the natural and anthropic component of subsidence, and also gives more reliability and coverage to each measurement, taking advantages from the strong points of each technique

New water-soluble porphyrins for oxygen sensing in protein-based materials

Oxygen is a vital molecule for life and its precise quantification is pivotal to ensure correct functioning of cells. Instruments able to quantify accurately the oxygen levels are extremely important to understand cells behaviour especially in a three-dimension (3D) environment, where uneven distribution of oxygen can occur leading to zones of low cell viability. Optical oxygen sensing is a relatively recent method to monitor oxygen concentration. This approach exploits the emissive behaviour of a broad family of molecules (organic species and organometallic complexes), for which the luminescence emission is proportional to the quantity of oxygen present in the environment. Unlike methods based on the use of electrodes, optical oxygen sensing allows monitoring of oxygen levels without causing oxygen depletion in the observed sample and can be more easily applied in miniaturised devices. Metalloporphyrins are widely employed as optical oxygen sensors thanks to their favourable physico-chemical properties. The aim of this project was to synthesise a library of oxygen-sensing porphyrins to monitor variation of oxygen in 3D cell cultures. For this specific application, the chromophore needed to (1) be a platinum or palladium complex to ensure oxygen response, (2) present a suitable functional group to allow conjugation to a support (e.g., a biomacromolecule supporting the 3D cell construct) to avoid leaching and cell uptake, and (3) water-solubility to allow conjugation in aqueous solutions. We first focused our attention on the synthesis of tetra meso-substituted porphyrins bearing a carboxylic group as the conjugatable function on one of the beta-positions of the macrocycle. This approach was overall successful in terms of yield and reaction conditions, but the side-chain proved insufficiently stable to allow further manipulation of the species. Attention was then directed to the synthesis of asymmetric porphyrin A3B, bearing the conjugable group on one of the meso-substituted aryl ring. Novel positively and negatively charged water-soluble conjugatable porphyrins were developed during this work, obtained from a single high-value intermediate. The new species presented overall good yields employing relatively mild reaction conditions, via a synthetic procedure with gram-scale applicability. In addition, in this work the synthesis of two known water-soluble conjugatable porphyrin was improved and scaled-up. Platinum (II) and palladium (II) insertion in the water-soluble macrocycles was achieved employing a microwave-assisted reaction, which ensured reaction completion in short times. Finally, a high potential purification approach based on ion exchange was developed for cationic and anionic water-soluble derivatives. This method allows obtaining highly pure compounds employing cheap reagents and without the use of expensive purification instruments. The conjugation of the species to the proteins chosen as matrices for hydrogels (silk fibroin and collagen) was performed via N-hydroxysuccinimide chemistry. Oxygen response of the complexes synthesised was tested both in aqueous solution and supported on protein-based hydrogels. Most species showed oxygen-dependent fluorescence and linear Stern-Volmer plot supported on solid support, indicating their suitability to monitor the oxygen levels in a heterogeneous system such as a hydrogel. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first example of optical oxygen measurements in silk fibroin hydrogels

A mechanistic investigation of the ruthenium porphyrin catalysed aziridination of olefins by aryl azides

A combination of DFT and kinetic studies suggests a mechanism for olefin aziridination by organic azides catalysed by ruthenium porphyrins

Transport pathways of peroxyacetyl nitrate in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere from different monsoon systems during the summer monsoon season

The Asian summer monsoon involves complex transport patterns with large-scale redistribution of trace gases in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS). We employ the global chemistry–climate model ECHAM5–HAMMOZ in order to evaluate the transport pathways and the contributions of nitrogen oxide species peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), NO$_{χ}$ and HNO$_{3}$ from various monsoon regions, to the UTLS over southern Asia and vice versa. Simulated long-term seasonal mean mixing ratios are compared with trace gas retrievals from the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding aboard ENVISAT(MIPAS-E) and aircraft campaigns during the monsoon season (June–September) in order to evaluate the model’s ability to reproduce these transport patterns. The model simulations show that there are three regions which contribute substantial pollution to the South Asian UTLS: the Asian summer monsoon (ASM), the North American monsoon (NAM) and the West African monsoon (WAM). However, penetration due to ASM convection reaches deeper into the UTLS compared to NAM and WAM outflow. The circulation in all three monsoon regions distributes PAN into the tropical latitude belt in the upper troposphere (UT). Remote transport also occurs in the extratropical UT where westerly winds drive North American and European pollutants eastward where they can become part of the ASM convection and lifted into the lower stratosphere. In the lower stratosphere the injected pollutants are transported westward by easterly winds. Sensitivity experiments with ECHAM5–HAMMOZ for simultaneous NO$_{χ}$ and nonmethane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) emission change (-10 %) over ASM, NAM and WAM confirm similar transport. Our analysis shows that a 10% change in Asian emissions transports ~5–30 ppt of PAN in the UTLS over Asia, ~1–10 ppt of PAN in the UTLS of northern subtropics and mid-latitudes, ~7–10 ppt of HNO$_{3}$ and ~1–2 ppb of ozone in UT over Asia. Comparison of emission change over Asia, North America and Africa shows that the highest transport of HNO$_{3}$ and ozone occurs in the UT over Asia and least over Africa. The intense convective activity in the monsoon regions is associated with lightning and thereby the formation of additional NO$_{χ}$ . This also affects the distribution of PAN in the UTLS. Simulations with and without lightning show an increase in the concentrations of PAN (~40 %), HNO$_{3}$ (75%), NO$_{χ}$ (70 %) and ozone (30 %) over the regions of convective transport. Lightning-induced production of these species is higher over equatorial Africa and America compared to the ASM region. This indicates that the contribution of anthropogenic emissions to PAN in the UTLS over the ASM is higher than that of lightning

The Relationship between Socioeconomic Status and Narrative Abilities in a Group of Italian Normally Developing Children

OBJECTIVE: Only limited and conflicting information is available regarding the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and narrative abilities. Besides, the role fathers' SES plays in the development of their children's narrative abilities has never been investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between fathers' and mothers' SES and narrative abilities of their children assessed with the Italian version of the Bus Story Test (I-BST). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 505 normally developing Italian children were enrolled in the study. Information regarding parents' educational level and employment was collected for each child. Narrative abilities were evaluated using the I-BST. The relationships between parents' employment, educational level, and I-BST scores were analyzed by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, both fathers' and mothers' education and employment were associated with most I-BST subscale scores, especially when higher educational and employment levels were contrasted with the lowest educational and employment levels. In multiple regression analysis, significant associations were found only between the fathers' working status and educational level and I-BST subscale scores. CONCLUSIONS: Parental education and employment might impact narrative abilities of children. When both fathers' and mothers' SES variables are considered together, only fathers' education and working status seemed to be associated with I-BST scores

Clinical characteristics and long-term response to mood stabilizers in patients with bipolar disorder and different age at onset

INTRODUCTION : bipolar disorder (BD) is a prevalent, comorbid, and impairing condition. Potential predictors of response to pharmacological treatment are object of continuous investigation in patients with BD. The present naturalistic study was aimed to assess clinical features and long-term response to mood stabilizers in a sample of bipolar subjects with different ages at onset METHODS : the study sample included 108 euthymic patients, diagnosed as affected by BD, either type I or II, according to the DSM-IV-TR, who were started on mood stabilizer treatment. Patients were followed-up for 24 months and the occurrence of any mood episode collected. At the end of the follow-up, patients were divided in 3 subgroups according to the age at onset (early-onset 30-45 years, respectively) and the long-term response to mood stabilizers was compared between them along with other clinical features RESULTS : the three subgroups showed significant differences in terms of clinical and demographic features and, with respect to long-term response to mood stabilizers, the early-onset subgroup showed a better outcome in terms of reduction of major depressive episodes during the 24-month follow-up compared to the other subgroups (one way ANOVA, F = 3.57, p = 0.032) CONCLUSIONS : even though further controlled studies are needed to clarify the relationship between age at onset and outcome in BD, the present follow-up study suggests clinical peculiarities and different patterns of response to mood stabilizers across distinct subgroups of patients with BD and different ages at onset

In vitro characterization of physico-chemical properties, cytotoxicity, bioactivity of urea-crosslinked hyaluronic acid and sodium ascorbyl phosphate nasal powder formulation

An innovative lyophilized dry powder formulation consisting of urea-crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA-CL) and sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP) – LYO HA-CL – SAP- was prepared and characterized in vitro for physico-chemical and biological properties. The aim was to understand if LYO HA-CL – SAP could be used as adjuvant treatment for nasal inflammatory diseases. LYO HA-CL – SAP was suitable for nasal delivery and showed to be not toxic on human nasal septum carcinoma-derived cells (RPMI 2650 cells) at the investigated concentrations. It displayed porous, polygonal particles with unimodal, narrow size distribution, mean geometric diameter of 328.3 ± 27.5 µm, that is appropriate for nasal deposition with no respirable fraction and 88.7% of particles with aerodynamic diameter >14.1 µm. Additionally, the formulation showed wound healing ability on RPMI 2650 cells, and reduced interleukin-8 (IL-8) level in primary nasal epithelial cells pre-induced with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Transport study across RPMI 2650 cells showed that HA-CL could act not only as carrier for SAP and active ingredient itself, but potentially also as mucoadhesive agent. In conclusion, these results suggest that HA-CL and SAP had anti-inflammatory activity and acted in combination to accelerate wound healing. Therefore, LYO HA-CL – SAP could be a potential adjuvant in nasal anti-inflammatory formulations

Exercise echocardiography and single photon emission computed tomography in patients with left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis

To compare the diagnostic value of exercise echocardiography and perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in the detection of the presence and the severity of coronary artery disease, we studied 21 patients with isolated stenosis of different degree of the left anterior descending artery. Both echocardiography and SPECT were performed in conjunction with the same symptom-limited bicycle exercise test. Positivity of the test was based on the presence of exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities and transient perfusion defects, respectively. For both tests, an 'ischemic' score was derived, as index of extent and severity of myocardial ischemia. Coronary arteriography was evaluated by caliper. The agreement between exercise echocardiography and SPECT for the presence of coronary artery disease was 90%; the discordance was due to two patients with positive echocardiography and negative SPECT. A good correlation between ischemic wall motion and perfusion score indices was found (r=0.78, p<0.0001. Moreover, the percent diameter stenosis was well correlated with both ischemic indices (r= 0.75, p<0.0001; r=67, p<0.001, respectively). In patients with a positive test, the mean value of ischemic wall motion score index was higher in patients with a diameter stenosis ≥ 70% than in patients with a diameter stenosis <70% (0.59 ± 0.19 vs 0.29 ± 0.12, p < 0.01); a similar trend was found for ischemic perfusion score index (0.51 ± 0.35 vs 0.27± 0.12, ns). The results of this study indicate that in patients with single vessel disease of left anterior descending artery exercise echocardiography and SPECT give the same information on the presence, the extent and the severity of myocardial ischemia

Impact of Thoracoscopic Pulmonary Vein Isolation on Right Ventricular Function:A Pilot Study

Objective. Thoracoscopic surgical pulmonary vein isolation (sPVI) has been added to the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), showing excellent efficacy outcomes. However, data on right ventricular (RV) function following sPVI has never been studied. Our aim was to investigate RV function following sPVI and compare it to patients who underwent endocardial cryoballoon PVI. Methods. 25 patients underwent sPVI and were pair-matched according to age, sex, and AF type with 21 patients who underwent cryoballoon PVI. RV function was measured using tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and RV strain with 2D speckle tracking. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and at median 6-month follow-up. Results. Age was 54 ± 9 years and 84% were male; AF was paroxysmal in 92%. In the sPVI group, TAPSE was reduced with 31% at follow-up echocardiography (p<0.001) and RV strain showed a 25% reduction compared to baseline (p=0.018). In the control group, TAPSE and RV strain did not change significantly (−3% and +13%, p=0.410 and p=0.148). Change in TAPSE and RV strain was significantly different between groups (p≤0.001 and p=0.005). Conclusions. This study shows that RV function is significantly decreased following sPVI. This effect was not observed in the cryoballoon PVI control group