Mauro Giuliani (1781 - 1829): Instrumental and Vocal Style in Le Sei Rossiniane

Mauro Giuliani (1781–1829): Instrumental and Vocal Style in Le Sei Rossiniane Abstract Instrumental music that derives from operas of the nineteenth century belongs to a rich tradition based on vocal and instrumental techniques and performing styles that also include a large element of unwritten performance practices and conventions. These include tempo rubato, phrasing, articulation and imitating orchestral instruments. The instrumental performance tradition based on vocal models has been filtered through modern performance practice, however, as modernist aesthetics have prevailed. Mauro Giuliani (1781–1829), in his Sei Rossiniane (opp. 119–124), takes his thematic material from Giaochino Rossini’s most popular and early operas. In the quest to perform these works in a historically informed way one must examine the historical practices that pertain to this repertoire. Understanding the emotional context of the arias from which composers borrow is an important link to conveying the original intention of the music. Whilst there is evidence to suggest that Rossini did not pay close attention to the literal meaning of the libretti in setting them to music, it is significant to be able to grasp the emotional context. This research sets out to investigate Mauro Giuliani’s musical upbringing, influences, performance style and ability to compose in a tasteful way so as to appeal to the mass market of amateurs that desired to have opera music dispersed in their homes. Ideas of instrumentation, voice type, vocal quality and tone colour, keys, tempi and expressive indications can be immediately identified upon perusal of the original aria scores, and provide important clues for guitarists about how to approach the Rossiniane. This research also looks at the specific vocal and guitar techniques that were widely employed at the time and suggests ways in which a modern guitarist performing on a modern classical guitar can try to emulate these techniques for audiences of today. Also included are score excerpts, audio examples and a case study of Giuliani’s arrangement of a Rossini aria in his Rossiniane, “Assisa a piè d’un salice”, from Otello. Keywords: Giuliani, Rossini, Rossiniane, nineteenth century guitar, Garcí

The EcoThermo project: key and innovative aspects

In this paper we present the most innovative aspects of the EC-FP7 EcoThermo project. The main aim of the project consists on innovating the technique of heat cost allocation in buildings with a centralized heating system, overcoming the heat cost allocator drawbacks for reliability, measurement reproducibility and traceability and contexts of applications. Given the complexity of the project, we will focus on its main aspects, such as the use of a virtual sensor to estimate the radiators heating power, the design of electronic valves fitted out with an energy harvesting system and the original wireless communication protocol

Virological and immunological features of SARS-CoV-2-infected children who develop neutralizing antibodies

As the global COVID-19 pandemic progresses, it is paramount to gain knowledge on adaptive immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in children to define immune correlates of protection upon immunization or infection. We analyzed anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and their neutralizing activity (PRNT) in 66 COVID-19-infected children at 7 (\ub12) days after symptom onset. Individuals with specific humoral responses presented faster virus clearance and lower viral load associated with a reduced in vitro infectivity. We demonstrated that the frequencies of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+CD40L+ T cells and Spike-specific B cells were associated with the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and the magnitude of neutralizing activity. The plasma proteome confirmed the association between cellular and humoral SARS-CoV-2 immunity, and PRNT+ patients show higher viral signal transduction molecules (SLAMF1, CD244, CLEC4G). This work sheds lights on cellular and humoral anti-SARS-CoV-2 responses in children, which may drive future vaccination trial endpoints and quarantine measures policies

Renal function in HIV-infected children and adolescents treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and protease inhibitors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Kidney disease is an important complication in HIV infected people, and this may be related to infection or antiretroviral therapy (ART). Our aim is to assess renal function in HIV infected paediatric patients, who may be particularly affected and are likely to take ART for longer than adults, and investigate the long term role of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) alone or co-administered with Ritonavir-boosted Protease Inhibitors (PI).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serum creatinine, phosphate and potassium levels, with estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), had been prospectively evaluated for 2 years in a cohort of HIV infected children and adolescents (age 9-18) on ART, and data analyzed according to the exposure to TDF or simultaneous TDF and PI.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Forty-nine patients were studied (57% female, mean age 14). Sixty-three percent were treated with ART containing TDF (Group A), and 37% without TDF (Group B); 47% with concomitant use of TDF and PI (Group C) and 53% without this combination (Group D). The groups didn't differ for age, gender or ethnicity. The median creatinine increased in the entire cohort and in all the groups analyzed; eGFR decreased from 143.6 mL/min/1.73 m²at baseline to 128.9 after 2 years (<it>p </it>= 0.006) in the entire cohort. Three patients presented a mild eGFR reduction, all were on TDF+PI. Phosphatemia decreased significantly in the entire cohort (<it>p </it>= 0.0003) and in TDF+PI group (<it>p </it>= 0.0128) after 2 years. Five patients (10%) developed hypophosphatemia (Division of Acquired Immune Deficiency AE grade 1 or 2), and four of them were on TDF+PI.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Renal function decrease and hypophosphatemia occur over time in HIV infected children and adolescents on ART. The association with co-administration of TDF and PI appears weak, and further studies are warranted.</p

Radiosensitivity in patients affected by ARPC1B deficiency: a new disease trait?

Actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 1B (ARPC1B) deficiency is a recently described inborn error of immunity (IEI) presenting with combined immunodeficiency and characterized by recurrent infections and thrombocytopenia. Manifestations of immune dysregulation, including colitis, vasculitis, and severe dermatitis, associated with eosinophilia, hyper-IgA, and hyper-IgE are also described in ARPC1B-deficient patients. To date, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation seems to be the only curative option for patients. ARPC1B is part of the actin-related protein 2/3 complex (Arp2/3) and cooperates with the Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton remodeling and in driving double-strand break clustering for homology-directed repair. In this study, we aimed to investigate radiosensitivity (RS) in ARPC1B-deficient patients to assess whether it can be considered an additional disease trait. First, we performed trio-based next-generation-sequencing studies to obtain the ARPC1B molecular diagnosis in our index case characterized by increased RS, and then we confirmed, using three different methods, an increment of radiosensitivity in all enrolled ARPC1B-deficient patients. In particular, higher levels of chromatid-type aberrations and γH2AX foci, with an increased number of cells arrested in the G2/M-phase of the cell cycle, were found in patients’ cells after ionizing radiation exposition and radiomimetic bleomycin treatment. Overall, our data suggest increased radiosensitivity as an additional trait in ARPC1B deficiency and support the necessity to investigate this feature in ARPC1B patients as well as in other IEI with cytoskeleton defects to address specific clinical follow-up and optimize therapeutic interventions

Indignamoci, ma non solo. Pro-memoria “infermieristico”per il 150° compleanno dell’Italia: guardato dal suo Sud

Il 150esimo anniversario dell’Unità d’Italia è l’occasione per una riflessione sulle differenze-dissociazioni che esistono tra le sue regioni, guardato dal Sud. Il collegamento con il mondo, la cultura, le pratiche specificamente sanitarie ed infermieristiche viene suggerito attraverso la presentazione di alcune proposte ed iniziative di ricerca collaborativa: dalla descrizione delle differenze, non solo per documentarle, ma soprattutto per discuterle e cercare strategie per ridurle, e come occasione per imparare gli uni dagli altri; la creazione di reti di ricerca, soprattutto come occasione di confronto, per scoprire le diversità come fattore che produce conoscenza; la promozione di un collegamento più stretto, politico, culturale ed operativo tra gli infermieri, per contrastare l’indifferenza e le diverse risposte ai diritto ed ai bisogni dei pazienti

Comparative evaluation of RAD 120 in the TORCH diagnostic

This work is a comparative clinical trial about the performance of a new automatic system RAD 120, with final fluorescent determination, and ALISEI, a referential system that works in classical ELISA.This comparison show that RAD120 has some hardware and software problems, that determinate false positive dosages, especially in IgM of Toxoplasmosis and Cytomegalovirus. This system is in evaluation too after adjournment, and only after this second test, we could be sure if RAD 120 can be became another referential system in torch diagnosis

Virological and immunological features of SARS-COV-2 infected children with distinct symptomatology

Background: Despite SARS-CoV-2 immunizations have started in most countries, children are not currently included in the vaccination programs, thus it remains crucial to define their anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune response in order to minimize the risk for other epidemic waves. This study seeks to provide a description of the virology ad anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity in children with distinct symptomatology. Methods: Between March and July 2020, we recruited 15 SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic (AS) and 51 symptomatic children (SY), stratified according to WHO clinical classification. We measured SARS-CoV-2 viral load using ddPCR and qPCR in longitudinally collected nasopharyngeal swabs samples. To define anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies we measured neutralization activity and total IgG load (Diasorin). We also evaluated antigen-specific B and CD8+T-cells, using a labelled S1+S2 protein and ICAM expression, respectively. Plasma protein profiling was performed with Olink. Results: Virological profiling showed that AS had lower viral load at diagnosis (p=0.004) and faster virus clearance (p=0.0002) compared to SY. Anti-SARS CoV-2 humoral and cellular response did not appear to be associated with the presence of symptoms. AS and SY showed similar titers of SARS-CoV-2 IgG, levels of neutralizing activity, and frequency of Ag-specific B and CD8+T-cells. Whereas pro-inflammatory plasma protein profile was associated to symptomatology. Conclusion: We demonstrated the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 humoral and cellular response with any regards to symptomatology, suggesting the ability of both SY and AS to contribute towards herd immunity. The virological profiling of AS suggested that they have lower virus load associated with faster virus clearance

Virological and immunological features of SARS-COV-2 infected children with distinct symptomatology

Despite SARS-CoV-2 immunizations have started in most countries, children are not currently included in the vaccination programs, thus it remains crucial to define their anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune response in order to minimize the risk for other epidemic waves. This study seeks to provide a description of the virology ad anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity in children with distinct symptomatology