LA TERMINOLOGIA FRANCESE DELLA SMART CITY: SVILUPPO NEOLOGICO E DINAMICHE PLURILINGUI

Questo lavoro presenta uno studio comparativo dei principali caratteri della terminologia specialistica della Smart City in lingua francese, italiana e inglese, e si propone di approfondire la conoscenza dell’ambito disciplinare in analisi. Viene adottato un modello descrittivo ampio, fondato su diversi approcci metodologici. Lo studio è articolato in tre parti, precedute da una premessa dedicata all’analisi diacronica del termine urbanisme. La prima sezione ha lo scopo di delineare e definire il concetto di Smart City, con particolare riguardo alle motivazioni dell’emergere di tale modello urbano all’inizio del XXI secolo, ai principali soggetti coinvolti nella sua realizzazione e al contenuto semantico-retorico che nel tempo ha acquisito l’aggettivo smart, epiteto tutt’altro che neutro o alla moda. Successivamente vengono esaminate la neologia specialistica e le politiche linguistiche romanze: dopo i riferimenti teorici, si procede alla verifica delle potenzialità neologiche delle lingue francese e italiana in relazione alle neoformazioni inglesi nel settore specifico della Smart City. Infine, la terza parte è dedicata alla costruzione di una risorsa terminologica – un glossario plurilingue, allegato al lavoro – intesa come contributo alla definizione e alla divulgazione del concetto di Smart City. In conclusione, si ripercorrono i risultati salienti della ricerca e si delineano ulteriori prospettive di indagine.This work presents a comparative study of the main features of Smart City terminology in French, Italian and English, and it aims at deepening the knowledge of the disciplinary field analysed. A broad descriptive model is adopted, based on several methodological approaches. The study is divided into three parts, preceded by a preface with the diachronic analysis of the French term urbanisme. The first section aims at outlining and defining the Smart City concept, with particular emphasis on the causes of the emergence of this urban model at the beginning of the 21st century, its main stakeholders, and the semantic-rhetoric content of the adjective smart, which is far from being a neutral or fashionable label. Then, terminological neology and normalization in the Romance languages are investigated: the theoretical framework is followed by the study of the neological potential of French and Italian compared to the new English terms appearing in the Smart City domain. Finally, the third part focuses on realizing a terminological resource – a multilingual glossary, in annex – which is designed as a contribution to the definition and dissemination of the Smart City concept. The conclusion includes the main research outcomes and further perspectives of study

Potential role of interleukin-1 at the peri-ovulation stage in a species of placental viviparous reptile, the three-toed skink, Chalcides chalcides (squamata: scincidae)

We recently showed that interleukin-1 (IL-1) is secreted by the placenta of a species of squamate reptile, the three-toed skink, Chalcides chalcides. In this study, we used immunohistochemical techniques to investigate the expression of IL-1 (in the two isoforms, IL-1α and IL-1β) and its specific membrane receptor IL-1 RtI in uterine oviduct during the peri-implantation period. We found that both IL-1 and its receptor were expressed in uterine tissues before and after ovulation (in the pre-ovulatory stage, even before the yolk had formed in the ovary). However, while IL-1α was mostly localized in the uterine mesenchyme tissue, IL-1β and IL-1RtI were present in the uterine epithelium. Our data provide a further comparison between the reproduction of mammals and squamate reptiles

A new device for measuring resting energy expenditure (REE) in healthy subjects.

Lifestyle change targeted towards increasing daily resting energy expenditure (REE) is one of the cornerstones of obesity treatment. Measurements of energy expenditure and substrate utilization are essential to understanding the metabolic basis of obesity, and the physiological responses to perturbations in habitual food intake. REE is the largest part of human energy expenditure (60-70%) and an increase or decrease in REE would have a large impact on total energy. Accurate and easy-to-use methods for measuring REE are needed, to be applied by clinicians in daily clinical settings to assess the validity of a new instrument to estimate REE in normal weight, healthy adults. METHODS: Ninety-nine subjects (52 females and 47 males) (mean+/-SD, age 38+/-14 years; body mass index (BMI) 23+/-3 kg/m(2)) were tested. REE was assessed using a Sensor Medics Vmax metabolic cart with a ventilated canopy and with the SenseWear armband. Body composition, percentage fat mass (%FM) and percentage fat free mass (%FFM) were assessed by skinfold thickness measurements (SF), bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) and air displacement plethysmography (BOD-POD). RESULTS: No significant difference was found among measurements of FFM using the three different techniques. Both SenseWear and Sensor Medics Vmax showed a high correlation, r=0.42 and r=0.40 (p<0.0001) respectively, with BMI. No significant difference was found in mean REE between SenseWear (1540+/-280 kcal/day) and Sensor Medics Vmax (1700+/-330 kcal/day) (p=ns) and the correlation between REE measured by SenseWear and Sensor Medics Vmax was high (r=0.86, p<0.0001). Bland-Altman plot showed no difference in REE determination between SenseWear and Sensor Medics Vmax. %FFM determined by BOD-POD correlated with SenseWear (r=0.42, p<0.0001) as well as Sensor Medics Vmax (r=0.38, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: SF, BIA and BOD-POD provide valid and reliable measurements of FFM. Our results suggest that the SenseWear armband is an acceptable device to accurately measure REE in healthy subjects. Its characteristics have the potential to reduce measurement times and make the SenseWear armband useful for epidemiological studies

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and aging: epidemiology to management

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common in the elderly, in whom it carries a more substantial burden of hepatic (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) and extra-hepatic manifestations and complications (cardiovascular disease, extrahepatic neoplasms) than in younger age groups. Therefore, proper identification and management of this condition is a major task for clinical geriatricians and geriatric hepatologists. In this paper, the epidemiology and pathophysiology of this condition are reviewed, and a full discussion of the link between NAFLD and the aspects that are peculiar to elderly individuals is provided; these aspects include frailty, multimorbidity, polypharmacy and dementia. The proper treatment strategy will have to consider the peculiarities of geriatric patients, so a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory. Non-pharmacological treatment (diet and physical exercise) has to be tailored individually considering the physical limitations of most elderly people and the need for an adequate caloric supply. Similarly, the choice of drug treatment must carefully balance the benefits and risks in terms of adverse events and pharmacological interactions in the common context of both multiple health conditions and polypharmacy. In conclusion, further epidemiological and pathophysiological insight is warranted. More accurate understanding of the molecular mechanisms of geriatric NAFLD will help in identifying the most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approach for individual elderly patients

The predictive value of fruit juice in the esophagus-pleural fistula.

Esophageal-pleural fistula is a rare and challenging condition to diagnose and requires strong clinical suspicion in order to be recognized promptly. Chest computed tomography (CT) with contrast medium for explain abbreviation (OS) is the gold standard for diagnosis. The definitive therapy is purely surgical, except for a few selected cases that benefit from endoscopic therapy. Our case involves a 45-year-old woman who came to the Emergency Department with dyspnea and thoracalgia. Chest X-ray and high-resolution CT showed empyema and pleural effusion to the left hemithorax. The lack of improvement despite the therapy and a subsequent clinical finding gave rise to the suspicion of esophageal-pleural fistula, confirmed with CT with contrast medium for OS. In this case, we opted for endoscopy correction of the esophageal defects. The diagnostic delay and the pre-existing comorbidities (previous kidney transplant for chronic kidney disease from lupus nephritis, high blood pressure, familiarity with Ischemic cardiomyopathy) could justify the inauspicious course of our case

Aurea diagnosis of pneumomediastinum. A case report

Pericarditis and spontaneous pneumomediastinum are among the pathologies that are in differential diagnoses when a patient describes dorsal irradiated chest pain: if the patient is young, male, and long-limbed, it is necessary to exclude an acute aortic syndrome firstly. We present the case of a young man who arrived at the Emergency Department for chest pain: an echocardiogram performed an immediate diagnosis of pericarditis. However, if the patient had performed a chest X-ray, this would have enabled the observation of pneumomediastinum, allowing a correct diagnosis of pneumomediastinum and treatment. The purpose of this report is to highlight the importance of the diagnostic process

A case of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a potentially fatal complication of pulmonary embolism (PE). Organized thrombus in the pulmonary artery causes a chronic obstruction, leading to a vascular system remodeling, an increase of pulmonary vascular resistance and a chronic pulmonary hypertension. Epidemiology is mostly unknown due to the difficult diagnostic process that often leads to a late diagnosis: findings of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PH), despite correct treatment of PE, lead to the diagnostic suspect. The first choice treatment is pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) associated with lifelong anticoagulant therapy with vitamin K antagonist. We present the case of a 53-year-old male affected by dyspnea for months, admitted to a sub-intensive care unit for intermediate low-risk PE; echocardiography showed signs of PH persisting after anticoagulant therapy; after 2 months of specific treatment the diagnosis of CTEPH was confirmed and the patient was successfully treated with PEA