Cognitive network structure: an experimental study

In this paper we present first experimental results about a small group of people exchanging private and public messages in a virtual community. Our goal is the study of the cognitive network that emerges during a chat seance. We used the Derrida coefficient and the triangle structure under the working assumption that moods and perceived mutual affinity can produce results complementary to a full semantic analysis. The most outstanding outcome is the difference between the network obtained considering publicly exchanged messages and the one considering only privately exchanged messages: in the former case, the network is very homogeneous, in the sense that each individual interacts in the same way with all the participants, whilst in the latter the interactions among different agents are very heterogeneous, and are based on "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" strategy. Finally a recent characterization of the triangular cliques has been considered in order to describe the intimate structure of the network. Experimental results confirm recent theoretical studies indicating that certain 3-vertex structures can be used as indicators for the network aging and some relevant dynamical features.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, 3 table

Daniele Lauro: Meanings and Functions of Rituals in the Politics of the Tokugawa Shogunate: a Study of the 1843 Shogunal Pilgrimage to Nikkō (Nikkō shasan).

This project explores the political use and significance of rituals performed by the Tokugawa shoguns, the military chieftains that ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867. I argue that, far from being empty performances detached from the real business of governing, rituals were potent political tools used by those in power to establish and maintain authority, as well as to preserve social harmony. Specifically, I consider the case of the shogun’s pilgrimage in 1843 to the tomb of the regime’s founder in Nikkō, a majestic event that mobilized military and financial resources nationwide and involved all strata of society. Drawing on a diverse array of sources including written documents, visual materials, and artifacts, this dissertation reconstructs the various stages of the shogun’s pilgrimage and examines the numerous ways in which this ritual allowed the Tokugawa regime to wield authority over its subjects. By showing that rituals were an essential component of Tokugawa politics, this study - the first of its kind outside of Japan - provides a fresh and more nuanced understanding of the early modern Japanese state, illuminating the mechanisms that regulated it and revealing the reasons for its resilience and longevity.Doctor of Philosoph

Displaying Authority: Guns, Political Legitimacy, and Martial Pageantry in Tokugawa Japan, 1600-1868

From the end of the sixteenth century on, firearms in Japan are increasingly found in contexts other than the battlefield. A perusal of the Records of the Tokugawa Family (Tokugawa Jikki) - the military clan that ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868 - reveals, for instance, that guns were often involved in ritual practices performed by the warrior elite, such as weddings, funerals, hunting parades, and celebrations of the New Year. Moreover, it was common for both the shogun and the domainal lords (daimyô) to display firearms and other weapons during public audiences and military parades. By considering different ritual practices that involved the display of military power such as daimyo processions to Edo, shogunal pilgrimages to Nikko, military reviews, large-scale hunts and other pageants, this paper argues that during the Tokugawa period guns were often used by the warrior elite as tools to shore up authority, legitimize the political order, and reinforce ideals of warrior identity.Master of Art

Advancement in the clinical management of intestinal pseudo-obstruction

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction is more commonly known in its chronic form (CIPO), a cluster of rare diseases characterized by gastrointestinal muscle and nerve impairment, so severe to result in a markedly compromised peristalsis mimicking an intestinal occlusion. The management of CIPO requires the cooperation of a group of specialists: the disease has to be confirmed by a number of tests to avoid mistakes in the differential diagnosis. The treatment should be aimed at relieving symptoms arising from gut dysmotility (ideally using prokinetic agents), controlling abdominal pain (possibly with non-opioid antinociceptive drugs) and optimizing nutritional support. Furthermore, a thorough diagnostic work-up is mandatory to avoid unnecessary (potentially harmful) surgery and to select patients with clear indication to intestinal or multivisceral transplantation

Drug interactions of direct oral anticoagulants in elderly patients with cardiometabolic diseases

In the present review we summarized current knowledge about significant interactions (DIs) of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) with other medications frequently prescribed to elderly patients with cardiometabolic diseases. Literature search was performed using PubMed from 1990 to October 2020. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs), subgroup analyses from RCTs, longitudinal studies, case series and case reports were included. Only studies in humans were considered. Elderly was defined as ≥75 years. Assessment of DIs with DOACs is often tricky because of the lack of validated tools to routinely assess magnitude of their anti-coagulation effect. Most of reports in the cardiometabolic area regarded the classes of anti-antiarrhythmic, lipid-lowering and platelet-inhibitors drugs, namely drugs that are widely used to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with common metabolic diseases. Reports about elderly are limited in general, and it is not known whether certain types of DIs occur more frequently in elderly subjects. DIs were more frequently reported in association with dabigatran, which however has been available for a longer period of time compared with other DOACs. In most cases, no complete information about dosages of medications was available. DIs of DOACs leading to adverse events (both ischemic and bleeding ones) were generally facilitated by older age, polymedication and impaired renal function. Further studies should be carried out to properly investigate DIs of DOACs with cardiometabolic drugs in elderly patients, with particular focus on differences between DOACs and the influence of different dosages

Effect of a moderately hypoenergetic Mediterranean diet and exercise program on body cell mass and cardiovascular risk factors in obese women

Objective: To assess the effects of a moderately hypoenergetic Mediterranean diet (MHMD) and exercise program on body cell mass (BCM) and cardiovascular disease risk factors in obese women. Subjects/Methods: Forty-seven obese women, 39.7 +/- 13.2 years of age, with a body mass index (BMI) 30.7 +/- 6.0 kg/m(2), completed the study. The following were measured at baseline, 2 and 4 months: BCM, BCM index (BCMI), body weight, BMI, fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) using bioelectrical impedance analysis; fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations; systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure. Results: Body weight, BMI, FM, TC and TG significantly decreased (P<0.001; P<0.002 (TG)) at 2 and 4 months. FFM, TBW, ECW, FBG and DBP significantly decreased at 2 months (P<0.05 (FFM); P<0.001). LDL-C significantly decreased (P<0.001), while HDL-C significantly increased (P<0.002) at 4 months. BCM, BCMI, ICW and SBP remained stable over time. Conclusion: BCM was preserved and cardiovascular disease risk factors improved in obese women placed on a MHMD and exercise program for 4 months

Bindarit inhibits human coronary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration and phenotypic switching

Bindarit, a selective inhibitor of monocyte chemotactic proteins (MCPs) synthesis, reduces neointimal formation in animal models of vascular injury and recently has been shown to inhibit in-stent late loss in a placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial. However, the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of bindarit in controlling neointimal formation/restenosis have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the effect of bindarit on human coronary smooth muscle cells activation, drawing attention to the phenotypic modulation process, focusing on contractile proteins expression as well as proliferation and migration. The expression of contractile proteins was evaluated by western blot analysis on cultured human coronary smooth muscle cells stimulated with TNF-α (30 ng/mL) or fetal bovine serum (5%). Bindarit (100-300 µM) reduced the embryonic form of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain while increased smooth muscle α-actin and calponin in both TNF-α- and fetal bovine serum-stimulated cells. These effects were associated with the inhibition of human coronary smooth muscle cell proliferation/migration and both MCP-1 and MCP-3 production. The effect of bindarit on smooth muscle cells phenotypic switching was confirmed in vivo in the rat balloon angioplasty model. Bindarit (200 mg/Kg/day) significantly reduced the expression of the embryonic form of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, and increased smooth muscle α-actin and calponin in the rat carodid arteries subjected to endothelial denudation. Our results demonstrate that bindarit induces the differentiated state of human coronary smooth muscle cells, suggesting a novel underlying mechanisms by which this drug inhibits neointimal formation

Metabolic Syndrome, Chronic Kidney, and Cardiovascular Diseases: Role of Adipokines

Obesity is a chronic disease, whose incidence is alarmingly growing. It is associated with metabolic abnormalities and cardiovascular complications. These complications are clustered in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) leading to high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Obesity predisposes to diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephrosclerosis, and focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis and represents an independent risk factor for the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Albuminuria is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Microalbuminuria has been described as early manifestation of MetS-associated kidney damage and diabetic nephropathy. Obesity and MetS affect renal physiology and metabolism through mechanisms which include altered levels of adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Secretory products of adipose tissue also deeply and negatively influence endothelial function. A better understanding of these interactions will help in designing more effective treatments aimed to protect both renal and cardiovascular systems

Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Cardiovascular Protection in Chronic Kidney Disease

The high mortality related to chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not only due to the disease itself; in fact, CKD also represents an important risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Among the functional foods that seems to have cardioprotective action, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) plays a pivotal health-promoting role. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible cardioprotective effects of an EVOO containing a very high content (&gt;900 ppm) of minor phenolic compounds (MPCs). The selected EVOO was analyzed by HPLC-DAD-MS to establish the MPC content. The Olea extract obtained from the selected EVOO was tested against the RAW 264.7 cell line in order to investigate its anti-inflammatory activity. We enrolled 40 CKD patients under conservative therapy for in vivo clinical testing. All CKD patients consumed 40 mL/day of raw EVOO for 9 weeks (T1). At baseline (T0) and at T1, we monitored the patients' blood and urinary parameters. The patients' body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis and the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) using ultrasound imaging. At T1, we observed a decrease in inflammatory parameters, CIMT, and oxidative stress biomarkers. We also noticed improvements in lipid and purine metabolism, atherogenic indices, and body composition. Thus, this study highlighted the cardioprotective action of EVOO in nephropathic patients