From meaning-less to meaning-nest using literary texts to improve writing skills at B1 level

Can we implement our English courses with literary excerpts? Can we use literary texts in a communicative approach? What is the added value literature in the L2 classroom? High school students in Italy start studying English Literature in the third year of high school, at the age of 16, while their whole past experience in the learning of English has been merely based on the spoken language. Most course books show sample of “real” conversations for the sole purpose of practicing functions and grammar, improving pronunciation and developing vocabulary. However, through literature students may have the opportunity to investigate language at a deeper level including style, register, tone, a more creative use of vocabulary and idioms, metaphors, and a wide use of imagery that they can see in the excerpt which serve as a model, in order to develop their own writing skills. Besides, literature conveys meaning, and through quality literature we can address important issues of today’s world and allow students to develop critical thinking, raise awareness on multiculturalism and enhance their personal growth.¿Podemos mejorar y desarrollar nuestras clases de inglés a través de la literatura y utilizar los textos literarios de forma comunicativa? ¿Cuál es el valor adicional de utilizar la literatura en las clases de idiomas? Los estudiantes de escuela superior en Italia comienzan a estudiar literatura inglesa en “terza liceo” a la edad de 16 años, sin ninguna experiencia anterior ya que el aprendizaje de inglés se basa principalmente en el estudio de la lengua hablada. La mayoría de los libros muestran ejemplos de conversación “real” para practicar gramática, mejorar pronunciación y desarrollar vocabulario. Sin embargo, por medio de la literatura lo estudiantes pueden tener la oportunidad de analizar la lengua de manera más profunda incluyendo el estilo, el registro, el tono, el uso más creativo del vocabulario, los modos de decir, las metáforas y utilizando la imaginación, tal y como como aparecen en el texto literario que sirve de modelo para desarrollar su capacidad de escritura. Además, la literatura tiene significado por sí misma, ya que a través de ella es posible hablar del mundo actual y permitir a los alumnos desarrollar el pensamiento crítico, desarrollar la conciencia sobre el multiculturalismo y desarrollarse ellos mismos

(Mis-)perceptions, information, and political polarization

Voters hold widespread misperceptions about society, which have been documented in numerous studies. Likewise, voters demonstrate increasing political polarization over policy preferences. Against this backdrop, it is intuitively appealing to think that information provision can help correct misperceptions and create common ground by enhancing the political conversation and bridging political divisiveness. We show, using a general population survey in the United States, that beliefs in the power of information to reduce polarization are indeed widespread. Additionally, we review the extensive literature on misperceptions. To investigate the empirical relationships between misperceptions, information, and political polarization, we exploit the fact that many studies investigate heterogeneities in misperceptions and/or in the reaction to information treatments. Our review shows that existing misperceptions often, but not always, appear to be associated with an increased sense of divisiveness in society; however, information provision is more likely to increase polarization than decrease it. The reason is that different societal groups exhibit differing reactions to truthful and accurate information, in ways that often strengthens, rather than mitigates, existing preference schisms. Thus, the intuitively appealing suggestion that information provision can serve as a powerful tool to reduce polarization is often proven false

An Efficient Stochastic Linearisation Procedure for the Seismic Optimal Design of Passive Control Devices

The seismic response of structures is often enhanced by introducing passive control devices that can operate through the dissipation of the input energy or by modifying the dynamic characteristics of the main structure. The inherent non-linearities in the constitutive laws of some of them lead to computation difficulties and have limited the large-scale use and design of these devices. In this study, a procedure for the optimal design of multi passive control devices is proposed. The general case of linear Multi-Degree-Of-Freedom (MDOF) not-classically-damped structural systems controlled by Fluid Viscous Dampers (FVD) are investigated in a stochastic framework. The procedure consists of evaluation of the device optimal pattern by minimizing an objective function related to the dampers cost and subjected to a constraint on the structural behavior. For each configuration, the complete probabilistic characterization of the response is achieved by employing random vibration theory, Stochastic Linearisation (SL) techniques and a novel analytic model which provides closed-form PSD functions of earthquakes accelerations coherent to response spectra suggested by seismic codes. Exploiting this model, a procedure to speed up the Stochastic Linearisation technique by avoiding any numerical integration is proposed. Applications on MDOF building structures have been carried out to validate the proposed approach in terms of accuracy and reduction of the computational effort and to obtain optimal pattern of the passive control device coherently with the provisions of seismic building codes

An Update on Applications of Cattle Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Attention on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) research has increased in the last decade mainly due to the promising results about their plasticity, self-renewal, differentiation potential, immune modulatory and anti-inflammatory properties that have made stem cell therapy more clinically attractive. Furthermore, MSCs can be easily isolated and expanded to be used for autologous or allogenic therapy following the administration of either freshly isolated or previously cryopreserved cells. The scientific literature on the use of stromal cells in the treatment of several animal health conditions is currently available. Although MSCs are not as widely used for clinical treatments in cows as for companion and sport animals, they have the potential to be employed to improve productivity in the cattle industry. This review provides an update on state-of-the-art applications of bovine MSCs to clinical treatments and reproductive biotechnologies

Cyclic fatigue resistance of Nickel-Titanium reciprocating instruments tested with an innovative kinematics

Aim: To evaluate cyclic fatigue resistance of different Nickel-Titanium instruments tested with an innovative reciprocating kinematics. Methodology: Eighty Nickel-Titanium reciprocating instruments were tested in cyclic fatigue resistance: WaveOne Primary (n = 20), WaveOne Gold Primary (n = 20), Reciproc R25 (n = 20) and Reciproc Blue R25 (n = 20). The cyclic fatigue of each brand was measured with two different motors and kinematics settings: (1) X-Smart Plus (Denstply Maillefer) used in \u2018\u2018WaveOne All\u2019\u2019 or \u2018\u2018Reciproc All\u2019\u2019 setting, according to manufacturer\u2019s instruction; (2) a 4:1 contra-angle (Cefla, Imola, Italy) with an experimental kinematics (Goldspeed EVOE4 \u2014 Cefla, Italy) (EVO) with different rotation angles and based on a sinusoidal acceleration. The time to fracture in an artificial stainless-steel canal (908 angle and a 5-mm radius of curvature) was digitally recorded. Mean life, beta (failure rate) and eta (characteristic life i.e. the number of seconds at which 63.2% of the product has failed) were calculated for each group and compared with Weibull analysis. Results: InstrumentstestedwiththekinematicsEVOpresentedhighervaluesofetainallgroups. Reciproc Blue showed the highest eta value (233.05) and Wave One Gold the lower failure probability (46.98%). Wave One instruments showed similar fatigue resistance when tested with EVO or X-Smart. Conclusion: Tested kinematics with different angles and based on sinusoidal reciprocating acceleration had a positive impact on fatigue lifetime of reciprocating instruments. Present findings suggest the possibility of future improvements in the clinical use of reciprocating files

Proposta de implantação de escritório de projetos na prefeitura de Ubiratã

Com as ações municipais voltadas para a implantação dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável e o real desenvolvimento do Município de Ubiratã, crescem as iniciativas diante o Plano de Diretor revisado onde constam 429 ações nesse sentido. No presente estudo foram apresentadas as etapas necessárias para alcançar uma organização capaz de executar, monitorar e chegar aos resultados positivos e de impacto para o desenvolvimento municipal tendo como base as metas e objetivos constantes dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável – ODS e o que prega a ONU (Organização das Nações Unidas) para a Agenda 2030. Assim, se tem como objetivo a proposta de implantação de um Escritório de Projetos ao Gestor Público, sendo esta a melhor alternativa para a execução das ações públicas. Para tanto utilizou-se de pesquisa informal com servidores através de questões relacionadas à execução de projetos dentro de cada setor, estudos de casos e diagnóstico da situação atual. Demonstrou-se no presente que não haverá custos com contratação de novos servidores sendo então capacitados e realocados os já existentes no quadro de funcionários do Município. Servidores e munícipes foram sensibilizados através de palestra e o Gestor Municipal firmou convênio com Instituição parceira para realizar as capacitações que ainda virão a acontecer em 2019 para que após esta etapa possa estruturar o Escritório proposto. 

Reduced Number of Pigmented Neurons in the Substantia Nigra of Dystonia Patients? Findings from Extensive Neuropathologic, Immunohistochemistry, and Quantitative Analyses

Background: Dystonias (Dys) represent the third most common movement disorder after essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). While some pathogenetic mechanisms and genetic causes of Dys have been identified, little is known about their neuropathologic features. Previous neuropathologic studies have reported generically defined neuronal loss in various cerebral regions of Dys brains, mostly in the basal ganglia (BG), and specifically in the substantia nigra (SN). Enlarged pigmented neurons in the SN of Dys patients with and without specific genetic mutations (e.g., GAG deletions in DYT1 dystonia) have also been described. Whether or not Dys brains are associated with decreased numbers or other morphometric changes of specific neuronal types is unknown and has never been addressed with quantitative methodologies. Methods: Quantitative immunohistochemistry protocols were used to estimate neuronal counts and volumes of nigral pigmented neurons in 13 SN of Dys patients and 13 SN of age-matched control subjects (C). Results: We observed a significant reduction (∼20%) of pigmented neurons in the SN of Dys compared to C (p<0.01). Neither significant volumetric changes nor evident neurodegenerative signs were observed in the remaining pool of nigral pigmented neurons in Dys brains. These novel quantitative findings were confirmed after exclusion of possible co-occurring SN pathologies including Lewy pathology, tau-neurofibrillary tangles, β-amyloid deposits, ubiquitin (ubiq), and phosphorylated-TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (pTDP43)-positive inclusions. Discussion: A reduced number of nigral pigmented neurons in the absence of evident neurodegenerative signs in Dys brains could indicate previously unconsidered pathogenetic mechanisms of Dys such as neurodevelopmental defects in the SN

Simplified design of nonlinear energy sinks for MDOF structures excited by white noise base excitations

Passive control devices are often used to protect slender and flexible structures from dynamic actions, including earthquakes, wind and waves. The Nonlinear Energy Sink (NES) has recently received increasing attention from researchers because of its capability to passively and irreversibly absorb a significant amount of energy from the primary system over a wide range of frequencies. In this paper, the application of two NESs acting in orthogonal directions is considered to mitigate the response of a multi degree of freedom structure. Parameters for each NES are obtained by considering a single degree of freedom structure, whose mass and frequency are designed based on the fundamental mode of the original structure along the direction of action of the device, and applying the empirical expressions proposed in Oliva et al. (2017). Compared to standard Monte Carlo simulations, the use of these expressions requires a significant lower computational effort, making their implementation suitable for practical engineering purposes. A numerical application on a three-dimensional building is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The NESs performance is analysed varying the direction of the ground motion, showing the potential of this passive control system in civil engineering applications. Results are reported in terms of statistics of the structural response, determined by Monte Carlo simulation, and analysis of the energy dissipated by the control devices

Social threat exposure in juvenile mice promotes cocaine-seeking by altering blood clotting and brain vasculature

Childhood maltreatment is associated with increased severity of substance use disorder and frequent relapse to drug use following abstinence. However, the molecular and neurobiological substrates that are engaged during early traumatic events and mediate the greater risk of relapse are poorly understood and knowledge of risk factors is to date extremely limited. In this study, we modeled childhood maltreatment by exposing juvenile mice to a threatening social experience (social stressed, S-S). We showed that S-S experience influenced the propensity to reinstate cocaineseeking after periods of withdrawal in adulthood. By exploring global gene expression in blood leukocytes we found that this behavioral phenotype was associated with greater blood coagulation. In parallel, impairments in brain microvasculature were observed in S-S mice. Furthermore, treatment with an anticoagulant agent during withdrawal abolished the susceptibility to reinstate cocaine-seeking in S-S mice. These findings provide novel insights into a possible molecular mechanism by which childhood maltreatment heightens the risk for relapse in cocaine-dependent individuals