PSM in Italy: Troubled RAI in a Troubled Country

The chapter explores public service media in Italy. In the comparative literature the Italian RAI is often taken as a paradigmatic case of a highly (party) politicized public service broadcaster. Political interference has arguably been a constant feature of RAI’s sixty-year-long history, although the forms in which this phenomenon has manifested itself have changed considerably over time. After briefly contextualising historically and comparatively the case of public service media in Italy, the chapter sets out to discuss recent developments, including the effects of recent reforms to RAI’s governance and funding regimes. It then places these developments and the current debate over the role and future of RAI against the backdrop of a changing political landscape, the country’s ongoing economic problems and major social and cultural transformations

A FABP4-PPARγ signaling axis regulates human monocyte responses to electrophilic fatty acid nitroalkenes

Nitro-fatty acids (NO2-FA) are electrophilic lipid mediators derived from unsaturated fatty acid nitration. These species are produced endogenously by metabolic and inflammatory reactions and mediate anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory responses. NO2-FA have been postulated as partial agonists of the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma (PPARγ), which is predominantly expressed in adipocytes and myeloid cells. Herein, we explored molecular and cellular events associated with PPARγ activation by NO2-FA in monocytes and macrophages. NO2-FA induced the expression of two PPARγ reporter genes, Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 (FABP4) and the scavenger receptor CD36, at early stages of monocyte differentiation into macrophages. These responses were inhibited by the specific PPARγ inhibitor GW9662. Attenuated NO2-FA effects on PPARγ signaling were observed once cells were differentiated into macrophages, with a significant but lower FABP4 upregulation, and no induction of CD36. Using in vitro and in silico approaches, we demonstrated that NO2-FA bind to FABP4. Furthermore, the inhibition of monocyte FA binding by FABP4 diminished NO2-FA-induced upregulation of reporter genes that are transcriptionally regulated by PPARγ, Keap1/Nrf2 and HSF1, indicating that FABP4 inhibition mitigates NO2-FA signaling actions. Overall, our results affirm that NO2-FA activate PPARγ in monocytes and upregulate FABP4 expression, thus promoting a positive amplification loop for the downstream signaling actions of this mediator.Fil: Lamas Bervejillo, M.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Bonanata, Julieta. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Franchini, Gisela Raquel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner"; ArgentinaFil: Richeri, A.. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; UruguayFil: Marqués, J.M.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Freeman, B.A.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Schopfer, Francisco Jose. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Coitiño, E.L.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Córsico, Betina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner"; ArgentinaFil: Rubbo, H.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Ferreira, A.M.. Universidad de la República; Urugua

A FABP4-PPARγ signaling axis regulates human monocyte responses to electrophilic fatty acid nitroalkenes

Nitro-fatty acids (NO2-FA) are electrophilic lipid mediators derived from unsaturated fatty acid nitration. These species are produced endogenously by metabolic and inflammatory reactions and mediate anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory responses. NO2-FA have been postulated as partial agonists of the Peroxisome Proliferator- Activated Receptor gamma (PPARγ), which is predominantly expressed in adipocytes and myeloid cells. Herein, we explored molecular and cellular events associated with PPARγ activation by NO2-FA in monocytes and macrophages. NO2-FA induced the expression of two PPARγ reporter genes, Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 (FABP4) and the scavenger receptor CD36, at early stages of monocyte differentiation into macrophages. These responses were inhibited by the specific PPARγ inhibitor GW9662. Attenuated NO2-FA effects on PPARγ sig- naling were observed once cells were differentiated into macrophages, with a significant but lower FABP4 up- regulation, and no induction of CD36. Using in vitro and in silico approaches, we demonstrated that NO2-FA bind to FABP4. Furthermore, the inhibition of monocyte FA binding by FABP4 diminished NO2-FA-induced upre- gulation of reporter genes that are transcriptionally regulated by PPARγ, Keap1/Nrf2 and HSF1, indicating that FABP4 inhibition mitigates NO2-FA signaling actions. Overall, our results affirm that NO2-FA activate PPARγ in monocytes and upregulate FABP4 expression, thus promoting a positive amplification loop for the downstream signaling actions of this mediator

Global media, business and politics: a comparative analysis of News Corporation’s strategy in Italy and the UK

This article presents a comparative analysis of News Corporation’s entry strategy and rise to dominance in the British and Italian television markets through its satellite pay-TV operations, BSkyB and Sky Italia respectively. As well documented, News Corporation’s strategy in the UK has been heavily dependent on Rupert Murdoch’s cultivation of political connections. By contrast, in Italy Murdoch has been unable to influence local politics to further his business interests, as evidenced by the several regulatory setbacks suffered by Sky Italia. Thus, in order to explain News Corporation’s success in Italy, this article argues that emphasis must be placed primarily on the managerial and financial resources that the company has been able to mobilize. The analysis aims at broadening our understanding of how News Corporation operates in different national contexts, and should also prove valuable for the broader question concerning the shifting balance of power between transnational and national actors in today’s globalizing media landscape

The New Television Ecosystem

This highly topical book deals with the new frontiers of digital television addressing the challenges it faces as a result of the upsurge of new and converging digital technologies. In a world which has developed online interactivity and new roles for its users, a new scenario of the domestic sphere is emerging where television has lost its dominance within audiovisual products to the Internet, videogames, tablets, mobile phones, and more. Contemporary digital television is thus a field where different platforms, languages and formats compete in order to become the dominant standard for the future. In this new TV ecosystem audiences are negotiating their identities and are implementing practices of use which are redesigning the entire processes for TV production and consumption

Valeriana carnosa Sm

Valeriana carnosa Sm. stands out as one of the key elements of the indigenouspharmacopoeia used in the extreme south of the American Continent. Itsrhizomes and roots have been used since ancestral times in hepatic, respiratory,circulatory, urinary, digestive and anti-inflammatory remedies. They have also beenused as painkillers, sedatives and for the treatment of cultural syndromes particularto Latin-American medicine such as the "susto" and the "evil eye". The breadth ofits reputed uses has led to its being known as "the plant that cures the sevenillnesses". The crude drug is prepared from the roots and rhizomes, principally as a decoction. Several studies indicate that the principal active ingredients are valepotriates,lignans, flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids and essential oils. Research carried outon V. carnosa reveals the presence of active ingredients similar to those of V. officinalis,a species found in many pharmacopoeias which is used as a sedative and sleepinducer. However, little conclusive evidence of efficacy can be provided for theremaining local uses. The key problem of various studies has been their emphasison very few compounds, rather than traditional preparations. Much more research isrequired to evaluate the actual efficacy of preparationsFil: Molares, Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagóica. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; ArgentinaFil: Ladio, Ana Haydee. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentin

Appassionati Dissodatori. Storia e storiografia della televisione in Italia. Studi in onore di Aldo Grasso

Questo volume nasce come un omaggio al lavoro di Aldo Grasso che, dagli anni Settanta, attraverso l\u2019attivit\ue0 di ricerca e di didattica presso l\u2019Universit\ue0 Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano, ma anche \u2013 dagli anni Novanta \u2013 con il quotidiano \u2018corpo a corpo\u2019 coi programmi \u2013 \uabi testi\ubb \u2013 della televisione italiana, e i suoi protagonisti, ha insegnato ai suoi allievi, e al pi\uf9 vasto pubblico raggiunto dalle pagine del \uabCorriere della Sera\ubb, un approccio critico e contemporaneamente appassionato al medium saldamente centrale nella cultura italiana della seconda met\ue0 del Novecento e, ancora, del nuovo secolo. Il volume si focalizza su alcune questioni rilevanti: in che modo \ue8 possibile riflettere criticamente e fare ricerca sul ruolo di un mezzo tanto immediato e popolare quanto complesso nelle sue articolazioni e rilevante dal punto di vista culturale e sociale? Quali prospettive pu\uf2 adottare lo studio storiografico della televisione, e a quali fonti deve ricorrere