DISTANCE LEARNING AND SPECIFIC LEARNING DISORDERS: A UNIVERSITY DIMENSION

This work aims to analyze and observe the world of Specifc Learning Disorders (SLDs) within the context of Distance Learning (DL), by introducing and including all the components, expressions and even the consequences that impact on the individual, projected into this different educational dimension. Learning disorders, to date and in the past, have achieved a great resonance in education and training, reaching the possibility of being recognized and supported adequately and appropriately. People with Specifc Learning Disorders can generally encounter, in their path of growth and evolution, diffculties in the processes of reading, writing or computing automation, and it often happens that these peculiarities are associated with each other. Frequently, these problems are linked to an experience of failure, assuming a rather relevant relational-emotional confguration and profle. In this sense, the use of distance learning should not in any way weigh on and constrain the educational path of these students, both in school and university; the basic educational goal should in all cases lead to the subject’s well-being and overall balance. Consequently, this assumption brings with it that the structuring of a poorly functional and inadequate educational condition could cause and represent an obstacle to the subject’s growth and knowledge path

BEM Simulation and Experimental Test of a FML Full Scale Aeronautic Panel Undergoing Biaxial Static Load

This paper concerns the numerical and experimental characterization ofthe static and fatigue strength of a flat stiffened panel, designed as a fiber metal laminates (FML) and made of Aluminum alloy and Fiber Glass FRP. The panel is full scale and was tested under both static and fatigue biaxial loads, applied by means of an in house designed and built multi-axial fatigue machine. The static test is simulated by the Boundary Element Method (BEM) in a two-dimensional approach (only allowance for membrane stresses). The strain gauge outcomes are compared with corresponding numerical results, getting a satisfactory correlation. After the static test, an initial notch is created in the panel and the aforementioned biaxial fatigue load is applied, causing a crack initiation and propagation; the related experimental initiation times and crack growth rates are provided

Vinorelbine-based chemotherapy in hormone refractory prostate cancer

Background: No consensus exists regarding further therapy for the management of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. In this phase II study, the combination of Vinorelbine with 5-Fluorouracil and folinic acid (FLN regimen) was evaluated in patients with progressive or resistant disease after hormone therapy. Patients and Methods: Thirty-four patients were treated with Vinorelbine at a dose of 20 mg/m 2 intravenously (i.v.) on days 1 and 3, folinic acid (FA), 100 mg/m 2 i.v. and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), 350 mg/m 2 i.v. as a short infusion on days 1 to 3. The therapy was given in an out-patient setting, every 3 weeks. Results: All of the 34 eligible patients were evaluable for toxicity and 30 for activity. A total of 127 cycles was administered (91% at full dose). Among the 15 patients with measurable disease, four had a partial response (26.6%; C.I. 95%, 28.3% to 65.7%) and four achieved stable disease. In 14 patients (47%) a clinical benefit was documented. Six out of 15 patients with bone-only involvement had stable disease (40%). The median duration of stabilization and partial response was 16 weeks (range 4-24 weeks). The most common toxicity was hematological: Grade 4 (NCI-CTC scale) in five patients at re-cycle. Other toxicities were of low incidence and easy to manage. Conclusion: The encouraging results obtained with the FLN regimen in terms of clinical benefit and its predictable and manageable toxicity support the palliative role of this chemotherapeutic strategy in hormone-refractory prostate patients

A novel small diameter nanotextile arterial graft is associated with surgical feasibility and safety and increased transmural endothelial ingrowth in pig

Globally, millions of patients are affected by myocardial infarction or lower limb gangrene/amputation due to atherosclerosis. Available surgical treatment based on vein and synthetic grafts provides sub-optimal benefits. We engineered a highly flexible and mechanically robust nanotextile-based vascular graft (NanoGraft) by interweaving nanofibrous threads of poly-L-lactic acid to address the unmet need. The NanoGrafts were rendered impervious with selective fibrin deposition in the micropores by pre-clotting. The pre-clotted NanoGrafts (4 mm diameter) and ePTFE were implanted in a porcine carotid artery replacement model. The fibrin-laden porous milieu facilitated rapid endothelization by the transmural angiogenesis in the NanoGraft. In-vivo patency of NanoGrafts was 100% at 2- and 4-weeks, with no changes over time in lumen size, flow velocities, and minimal foreign-body inflammatory reaction. However, the patency of ePTFE at 2-week was 66% and showed marked infiltration, neointimal thickening, and poor host tissue integration. The study demonstrates the in-vivo feasibility and safety of a thin-layered vascular prosthesis, viz., NanoGraft, and its potential superiority over the commercial ePTFE. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-022-01268-1

Chiral edge current in nematic cell monolayers

Collectively migrating cells in living organisms are often guided by their local environment, including physical barriers and internal interfaces. Well-controlled in vitro experiments have shown that, when confined in adhesive stripes, monolayers of moderately active spindle-shaped cells self-organize at well-defined angle to the stripes' longitudinal direction and spontaneously give rise to a simple shear flow, where the average cellular orientation smoothly varies across the system. However, the impact of physical boundaries on highly active, chaotic, multicellular systems is currently unknown, despite its potential relevance. In this work, we show that human fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080) close to an interface exhibit a spontaneous edge current with broken left-right symmetry, while in the bulk the cell flow remains chaotic. These localized edge currents result from an interplay between nematic order, microscopic chirality, and topological defects. Using a combination of in vitro experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical work, we demonstrate the presence of a self-organized layer of thorn 1/2 defects anchored at the boundary and oriented at a well-defined angle close to, but smaller than, 90 degrees with respect to the boundary direction. These self-organized defects act as local sources of chiral active stress generating the directed edge flows. Our work therefore highlights the impact of topology on the emergence of collective cell flows at boundaries. It also demonstrates the role of chirality in the emergence of edge flows. Since chirality and boundaries are common properties of multicellular systems, this work suggests a new possible mechanism for collective cellular flows.Theoretical Physic

Comparison of the within-reader and inter-vendor agreement of left ventricular circumferential strains and volume indices derived from cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging

PurposeVolume indices and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are routinely used to assess cardiac function. Ventricular strain values may provide additional diagnostic information, but their reproducibility is unclear. This study therefore compares the repeatability and reproducibility of volumes, volume fraction, and regional ventricular strains, derived from cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, across three software packages and between readers.MethodsSeven readers analysed 16 short-axis CMR stacks of a porcine heart. Endocardial contours were manually drawn using OsiriX and Simpleware ScanIP and repeated in both softwares. The images were also contoured automatically in Circle CVI42. Endocardial global, apical, mid-ventricular, and basal circumferential strains, as well as end-diastolic and end-systolic volume and LVEF were compared.ResultsBland-Altman analysis found systematic biases in contour length between software packages. Compared to OsiriX, contour lengths were shorter in both ScanIP (-1.9 cm) and CVI42 (-0.6 cm), causing statistically significant differences in end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, and apical circumferential strain (all pConclusionOsiriX and CVI42 gave consistent results for all strain and volume metrics, with no statistical differences found between OsiriX and ScanIP for mid-ventricular, global or basal strains, or left ventricular ejection fraction. However, volumes were influenced by the choice of contouring software, suggesting care should be taken when comparing volumes across different software

HCV E1E2-MF59 vaccine in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with PEG-IFNα2a and Ribavirin: a randomized controlled trial.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccines may be able to increase viral clearance in combination with antiviral therapy. We analysed viral dynamics and HCV-specific immune response during retreatment for experienced patients in a phase Ib study with E1E2MF59 vaccine. Seventy-eight genotype 1a/1b patients [relapsers (30), partial responders (16) and nonresponders (32) to interferon-(IFN)/ribavirin-(RBV)] were randomly assigned to vaccine (V:23), Peg-IFNα2a-180-ug/qw and ribavirin 1000-1200-mg/qd for 48 weeks (P/R:25), or their combination (P/R + V:30). Vaccine (100 μg/0.5 mL) was administered intramuscularly at week 0-4-8-12-24-28-32-36. Neutralizing of binding (NOB) antibodies and lymphocyte proliferation assay (LPA) for E1E2-specific-CD4 + T cells were performed at week 0-12-16-48. Viral kinetics were analysed up to week 16. The vaccine was safe, and a sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved in 4 P/R + V and 2 P/R patients. Higher SVR rates were observed in prior relapsers (P/R + V = 27.3%; P/R = 12.5%). Higher NOB titres and LPA indexes were found at week 12 and 16 in P/R + V as compared to P/R patients (P = 0.023 and 0.025, P = 0.019 and <0.001, respectively). Among the 22 patients with the strongest direct antiviral effects of IFN (ε ≥ 0.800), those treated with P/R + V (10) reached lower HCV-RNA levels (P = 0.026) at week 16. HCV E1E2MF59 vaccine in combination with Peg-IFNα2a + RBV was safe and elicited E1E2 neutralizing antibodies and specific CD4 + T cell proliferation. Upon early response to IFN, vaccinations were associated with an enhanced second phase viral load decline. These results prompt phase II trials in combination with new antiviral therapies

Unjamming overcomes kinetic and proliferation arrest in terminally differentiated cells and promotes collective motility of carcinoma

During wound repair, branching morphogenesis and carcinoma dissemination, cellular rearrangements are fostered by a solid-to-liquid transition, known as unjamming. The biomolecular machinery behind unjamming and its pathophysiological relevance remain, however, unclear. Here, we study unjamming in a variety of normal and tumorigenic epithelial two-dimensional (2D) and 3D collectives. Biologically, the increased level of the small GTPase RAB5A sparks unjamming by promoting non-clathrin-dependent internalization of epidermal growth factor receptor that leads to hyperactivation of the kinase ERK1/2 and phosphorylation of the actin nucleator WAVE2. This cascade triggers collective motility effects with striking biophysical consequences. Specifically, unjamming in tumour spheroids is accompanied by persistent and coordinated rotations that progressively remodel the extracellular matrix, while simultaneously fluidizing cells at the periphery. This concurrent action results in collective invasion, supporting the concept that the endo-ERK1/2 pathway is a physicochemical switch to initiate collective invasion and dissemination of otherwise jammed carcinoma