Showing papers by "University of Perugia published in 2004"
TL;DR: Hallin and Mancini as discussed by the authors proposed a framework for comparative analysis of the relation between the media and the political system, based on a survey of media institutions in eighteen West European and North American democracies.
Abstract: This book proposes a framework for comparative analysis of the relation between the media and the political system Building on a survey of media institutions in eighteen West European and North American democracies, Hallin and Mancini identify the principal dimensions of variation in media systems and the political variables that have shaped their evolution They go on to identify three major models of media system development, the Polarized Pluralist, Democratic Corporatist, and Liberal models; to explain why the media have played a different role in politics in each of these systems; and to explore the force of change that are currently transforming them It provides a key theoretical statement about the relation between media and political systems, a key statement about the methodology of comparative analysis in political communication, and a clear overview of the variety of media institutions that have developed in the West, understood within their political and historical context
4,541 citations
TL;DR: Research in this field is entering an exciting period of transition from studying the molecular and cellular bases of fungal virulence to determining the cellular and molecular mechanisms that maintain immune homeostasis with fungi.
Abstract: Fungal diseases represent an important paradigm in immunology, as they can result from either a lack of recognition by the immune system or overactivation of the inflammatory response. Research in this field is entering an exciting period of transition from studying the molecular and cellular bases of fungal virulence to determining the cellular and molecular mechanisms that maintain immune homeostasis with fungi. The fine line between these two research areas is central to our understanding of tissue homeostasis and its possible breakdown in fungal infections and diseases. Recent insights into immune responses to fungi suggest that functionally distinct mechanisms have evolved to achieve optimal host-fungus interactions in mammals.
1,528 citations
TL;DR: Adapt nonlinear model predictive control is promising for the control of glucose concentration during fasting conditions in subjects with type 1 diabetes.
Abstract: A nonlinear model predictive controller has been developed to maintain normoglycemia in subjects with type 1 diabetes during fasting conditions such as during overnight fast. The controller employs a compartment model, which represents the glucoregulatory system and includes submodels representing absorption of subcutaneously administered short-acting insulin Lispro and gut absorption. The controller uses Bayesian parameter estimation to determine time-varying model parameters. Moving target trajectory facilitates slow, controlled normalization of elevated glucose levels and faster normalization of low glucose values. The predictive capabilities of the model have been evaluated using data from 15 clinical experiments in subjects with type 1 diabetes. The experiments employed intravenous glucose sampling (every 15 min) and subcutaneous infusion of insulin Lispro by insulin pump (modified also every 15 min). The model gave glucose predictions with a mean square error proportionally related to the prediction horizon with the value of 0.2 mmol L(-1) per 15 min. The assessment of clinical utility of model-based glucose predictions using Clarke error grid analysis gave 95% of values in zone A and the remaining 5% of values in zone B for glucose predictions up to 60 min (n = 1674). In conclusion, adaptive nonlinear model predictive control is promising for the control of glucose concentration during fasting conditions in subjects with type 1 diabetes.
1,164 citations
01 Oct 2004
TL;DR: The nature and function of the immune response to fungi is an exciting challenge that might set the stage for new approaches to the treatment of fungal diseases, from immunotherapy to vaccines.
Abstract: Fungal diseases represent an important paradigm in immunology, as they can result from either a lack of recognition by the immune system or overactivation of the inflammatory response. Research in this field is entering an exciting period of transition from studying the molecular and cellular bases of fungal virulence to determining the cellular and molecular mechanisms that maintain immune homeostasis with fungi. The fine line between these two research areas is central to our understanding of tissue homeostasis and its possible breakdown in fungal infections and diseases. Recent insights into immune responses to fungi suggest that functionally distinct mechanisms have evolved to achieve optimal host-fungus interactions in mammals.
992 citations
TL;DR: It is proposed that aftershocks of large earthquakes in such geologic environments may be driven by the coseismic release of trapped, high-pressure fluids propagating through damaged zones created by the mainshock, which may provide a link between earthquakes, aftershock, crust/mantle degassing and earthquake-triggered large-scale fluid flow.
Abstract: In northern Italy in 1997, two earthquakes of magnitudes 5.7 and 6 (separated by nine hours) marked the beginning of a sequence that lasted more than 30 days, with thousands of aftershocks including four additional events with magnitudes between 5 and 6. This normal-faulting sequence is not well explained with models of elastic stress transfer, particularly the persistence of hanging-wall seismicity that included two events with magnitudes greater than 5. Here we show that this sequence may have been driven by a fluid pressure pulse generated from the coseismic release of a known deep source of trapped high-pressure carbon dioxide (CO2). We find a strong correlation between the high-pressure front and the aftershock hypocentres over a two-week period, using precise hypocentre locations and a simple model of nonlinear diffusion. The triggering amplitude (10-20 MPa) of the pressure pulse overwhelms the typical (0.1-0.2 MPa) range from stress changes in the usual stress triggering models. We propose that aftershocks of large earthquakes in such geologic environments may be driven by the coseismic release of trapped, high-pressure fluids propagating through damaged zones created by the mainshock. This may provide a link between earthquakes, aftershocks, crust/mantle degassing and earthquake-triggered large-scale fluid flow.
757 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2004TL;DR: In this paper, the authors propose a framework for comparing media systems in Western Europe and North America, with particular emphasis on the strong or weak development of a mass circulation press, political parallelism, the degree and nature of the links between the media and political parties or, more broadly, the extent to which the media system reflects the major political divisions in society.
Abstract: In this chapter we propose a framework for comparing media systems. We propose, specifically, four major dimensions according to which media systems in Western Europe and North America can usefully be compared: (1) the development of media markets, with particular emphasis on the strong or weak development of a mass circulation press; (2) political parallelism; that is, the degree and nature of the links between the media and political parties or, more broadly, the extent to which the media system reflects the major political divisions in society; (3) the development of journalistic professionalism; and (4) the degree and nature of state intervention in the media system. Note that each of these can be seen in some sense as a single, quantitative dimension. That is, we can speak about high or low levels of press circulation, political parallelism, journalistic professionalism, or state intervention. But we shall also see that each of these dimensions is complex and that many more subtle qualitative distinctions become important as we begin to analyze concrete media systems. In many cases we will also introduce related, minor dimensions along which media systems may vary. Ours is not, of course, the first attempt to set forth a framework of this sort. We have tried to build on previous work, refining it based on our attempt to make sense of the patterns of difference and similarity we have found among the countries covered here, and to link these patterns to the social and political context in which they evolved.
651 citations
TL;DR: The sensory and healthy proprieties of VOO hydrophilic phenols as well as the agronomic and technological parameters that affect their concentration in the oil are discussed in this paper.
533 citations
TL;DR: In treated hypertensive subjects, occurrence of new diabetes portends a risk for subsequent cardiovascular disease that is not dissimilar from that of previously known diabetes.
Abstract: Diabetes may develop in nondiabetic hypertensive subjects during treatment, but the long-term cardiovascular implications of this phenomenon are not clear. We determined the prognostic value of new diabetes in hypertensive subjects. In a long-term cohort study, 795 initially untreated hypertensive subjects, 6.5% of whom with type 2 diabetes, underwent diagnostic procedures including 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring and electrocardiography (ECG). Procedures were repeated after a median of 3.1 years in the absence of cardiovascular events. Follow-up duration was 1 to 16 years (median 6.0). New diabetes occurred in 5.8% of subjects initially without diabetes. Antihypertensive treatment included a diuretic in 53.5% of these subjects, versus 30.4% of those in whom diabetes did not develop ( P =0.002). Plasma glucose at entry ( P =0.0001) and diuretic treatment on follow-up ( P =0.004) were independent predictors of new diabetes. Subsequent to the follow-up visit, a first cardiovascular event occurred in 63 subjects. Event rate in nondiabetic subjects at both visits, new diabetes, and diabetes at entry were 0.97, 3.90, and 4.70×100 person-years, respectively ( P =0.0001). After adjustment for several confounders, including 24-hour ambulatory BP, the relative risk of events was 2.92 (95% CI: 1.33 to 6.41; P =0.007) in the group with new diabetes and 3.57 (95% CI: 1.65 to 7.73; P =0.001) in the group with previous diabetes, when compared with the group persistently free of diabetes. In treated hypertensive subjects, occurrence of new diabetes portends a risk for subsequent cardiovascular disease that is not dissimilar from that of previously known diabetes.
483 citations
TL;DR: The finding that the innate and adaptive immunities to C. albicans and A. fumigatus require the coordinated action of distinct members of the IL-1R/TLR superfamily acting through MyD88 makes TLR manipulation amenable to the induction of host resistance to fungi is found.
Abstract: In vitro studies have indicated the importance of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling in response to the fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. However, the functional consequences of the complex interplay between fungal morphogenesis and TLR signaling in vivo remain largely undefined. In this study we evaluate the impact of the IL-1R/TLR/myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88)-dependent signaling pathway on the innate and adaptive Th immunities to C. albicans and A. fumigatus in vivo. It was found that 1) the MyD88-dependent pathway is required for resistance to both fungi; 2) the involvement of the MyD88 adapter may occur through signaling by distinct members of the IL-1R/TLR superfamily, including IL-1R, TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9, with the proportional role of the individual receptors varying depending on fungal species, fungal morphotypes, and route of infection; 3) individual TLRs and IL-1R activate specialized antifungal effector functions on neutrophils, which correlates with susceptibility to infection; and 4) MyD88-dependent signaling on dendritic cells is crucial for priming antifungal Th1 responses. Thus, the finding that the innate and adaptive immunities to C. albicans and A. fumigatus require the coordinated action of distinct members of the IL-1R/TLR superfamily acting through MyD88 makes TLR manipulation amenable to the induction of host resistance to fungi.
483 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the existence of radially symmetric solitary waves for nonlinear Klein-Gordon equations and nonlinear Schrodinger equations coupled with Maxwell equations was studied using a variational approach and the solutions were obtained as mountain-pass critical points for the associated energy functional.
Abstract: In this paper we study the existence of radially symmetric solitary waves for nonlinear Klein–Gordon equations and nonlinear Schrodinger equations coupled with Maxwell equations. The method relies on a variational approach and the solutions are obtained as mountain-pass critical points for the associated energy functional.
454 citations
TL;DR: It is established that FXR ligands might represent a novel therapeutic option to treat liver fibrosis and that SHP binds JunD and inhibits DNA binding of adaptor protein (AP)-1 induced by thrombin.
TL;DR: It is reported that the infertility of Ptx3–/– mice is associated with severe abnormalities of the cumulus oophorus and failure of in vivo, but not in vitro, oocyte fertilization.
Abstract: PTX3 is a prototypic long pentraxin that plays a non-redundant role in innate immunity against selected pathogens and in female fertility. Here, we report that the infertility of Ptx3 –/– mice is associated with severe abnormalities of the cumulus oophorus and failure of in vivo, but not in vitro, oocyte fertilization. PTX3 is produced by mouse cumulus cells during cumulus expansion and localizes in the matrix. PTX3 is expressed in the human cumulus oophorus as well. Cumuli from Ptx3 –/– mice synthesize normal amounts of hyaluronan (HA), but are unable to organize it in a stable matrix. Exogenous PTX3 restores a normal cumulus phenotype. Incorporation in the matrix of inter-α-trypsin inhibitor is normal in Ptx3 –/– cumuli. PTX3 does not interact directly with HA, but it binds the cumulus matrix hyaladherin tumor necrosis factor α-induced protein 6 (TNFAIP6, also known as TSG6) and thereby may form multimolecular complexes that can cross-link HA chains. Thus, PTX3 is a structural constituent of the cumulus oophorus extracellular matrix essential for female fertility.
TL;DR: Analytical methodologies for evaluating the volatile fraction and the sensory properties of virgin olive oils are elucidated and the relationships between volatile compounds and sensory attributes are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a regional map of CO2 Earth degassing from a large area (most of central and south Italy) derived from the carbon of deep provenance dissolved in the main springs of the region.
Abstract: [1] We present the first regional map of CO2 Earth degassing from a large area (most of central and south Italy) derived from the carbon of deep provenance dissolved in the main springs of the region. The investigation shows that a globally significant amount of deeply derived CO2 (10% of the estimated global CO2 emitted from subaerial volcanoes) is released by two large areas located in western Italy. The anomalous flux of CO2 suddenly disappears in the Apennine in correspondence to a narrow band where most of seismicity concentrates. Here, at depth, the gas accumulates in crustal traps generating CO2 overpressurized reservoirs which induce seismicity.
TL;DR: This paper summarizes the current situation in the cell encapsulation field and discusses the main events that have occurred along the way, including capsule manufacture, properties and performance.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the relationship between the Tr-J boundary and the Central Atlantic magmatic province's volcanism and found that the development of the province straddled the boundary and thus may have had a causal relationship with the climatic crisis and biotic turnover demarcating the boundary.
Abstract: The evolution of life on Earth is marked by catastrophic extinction events, one of which occurred ca. 200 Ma at the transition from the Triassic Period to the Jurassic Period (Tr-J boundary), apparently contemporaneous with the eruption of the world's largest known continental igneous province, the Central Atlantic magmatic province. The temporal relationship of the Tr-J boundary and the province's volcanism is clarified by new multidisciplinary (stratigraphic, palynologic, geochronologic, paleomagnetic, geochemical) data that demonstrate that development of the Central Atlantic magmatic province straddled the Tr-J boundary and thus may have had a causal relationship with the climatic crisis and biotic turnover demarcating the boundary.
TL;DR: In this article, the prognostic significance of metabolic disorders in hypertension was evaluated in 1,742 hypertensive patients without cardiovascular disease (55% men; blood pressure [BP] 154/95 mm Hg; age 50 ± 12 years).
TL;DR: An overview of the main results presented in literature on this topic, focusing the attention on the fibres properties in terms of physical and chemical structure, thermal and mechanical properties are also presented.
Abstract: Natural fibre-based composites have been intensely studied in the last years due to their specific properties and their clearly positive environmental impact. Other advantages of using vegetable fibres are related to their economical production and processing, their safe handling and working conditions. Therefore, lignocellulosic natural fibres constitute an interesting alternative to traditional synthetic fibres in composite materials. This work is intended to present an overview of the main results presented in literature on this topic, focusing the attention on the fibres properties in terms of physical and chemical structure, thermal and mechanical properties. Some aspects related to the production of vegetable fibres for composites are also presented.
TL;DR: Different ligands of B7 can signal dendritic cells to express functionally distinct effector responses, and in vivo an adjuvant activity of soluble CD28 was demonstrated as enhanced T cell-mediated immunity to tumor and self peptides and protection against microbial and tumor challenge.
Abstract: Bidirectional signaling along the B7–CTLA-4 coreceptor pathway enables reciprocal conditioning of T cells and dendritic cells. Although T cells can instruct dendritic cells to manifest tolerogenic properties after CTLA-4 engagement of B7, such a B7-mediated signaling is not known to occur in response to CD28. Here we show that mouse dendritic cells were induced by soluble CD28 to express interleukin 6 and interferon-γ. Production of interleukin 6 required B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and prevented interferon-γ-driven expression of immunosuppressive tryptophan catabolism. In vivo, an adjuvant activity of soluble CD28 was demonstrated as enhanced T cell-mediated immunity to tumor and self peptides and protection against microbial and tumor challenge. Thus, different ligands of B7 can signal dendritic cells to express functionally distinct effector responses.
TL;DR: It is proposed that p66Shc regulates the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis by inducing mitochondrial damage after dissociation from an inhibitory protein complex and the data suggest that mitochondrial regulation of apoptotic response might also contribute to life span determination.
TL;DR: Long-term treatment (up to 5 years) with soy phytoestrogens was associated with an increased occurrence of endometrial hyperplasia, calling into question the long-term safety of phy toestrogens with regard to the endometrium.
TL;DR: A number of issues related to prophylaxis of VTE after surgery deserve further clarification, including the role of screening for asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis, the best timing for initiation of pharmacological pro phylaxis, and the optimal duration of prophYLaxis in high-risk patients.
Abstract: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication of surgical procedures. The risk for VTE in surgical patients is determined by the combination of individual predisposing factors and the specific type of surgery. Prophylaxis with mechanical and pharmacological methods has been shown to be effective and safe in most types of surgery and should be routinely implemented. For patients undergoing general, gynecologic, vascular, and major urologic surgery, low-dose unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) are the options of choice. For low-risk urologic surgery, early postoperative mobilization of patients is the only intervention warranted. For higher-risk patients, including those undergoing elective hip or knee replacement and surgery for hip fracture, vitamin K antagonists, LMWH, or fondaparinux are recommended. For patients undergoing neurosurgery, graduated elastic stockings are effective and safe and may be combined with LMWH to further reduce the risk of VTE. The role of prophylaxis is less defined in patients undergoing elective spine surgery, as well as laparoscopic and arthroscopic surgery. A number of issues related to prophylaxis of VTE after surgery deserve further clarification, including the role of screening for asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis, the best timing for initiation of pharmacological prophylaxis, and the optimal duration of prophylaxis in high-risk patients.
TL;DR: HbA1c reduction is similar after pioglitazone and metformin monotherapies, but differences in FPG, plasma lipids, and adverse effects between the two compounds may influence decision-making in individual prescribers.
Abstract: Pioglitazone increases the insulin sensitivity of peripheral tissues and may provide an alternative first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes. This study compared metabolic control in drug-naive type 2 diabetes patients given either pioglitazone or metformin. Eleven hundred and ninety-nine patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus [glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), 7.5-11%; normal, 4.3-6.1%] were randomized to receive either pioglitazone (< or =45 mg/d) or metformin (< or =850 mg, three times daily). HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin levels, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio were measured. Mean HbA1c decreased in both treatment groups from baseline to wk 52 (-1.4% and -1.5%). Significantly greater mean reductions in FPG were observed in the pioglitazone group (-45.0 mg/dl; -2.5 mmol/liter) than in the metformin (-39.6 mg/dl; -2.2 mmol/liter) group (P = 0.016). Favorable changes in triglycerides and HDL-C were more pronounced with pioglitazone. Although low density lipoprotein cholesterol and TC levels increased with pioglitazone, TC/HDL-C ratios decreased similarly with both treatments. The urinary albumin/creatinine ratio was reduced by 19% with pioglitazone treatment, but remained unchanged with metformin therapy (-1%; P = 0.002). There was an increase in body weight of 1.9 kg in the pioglitazone group and a decrease of 2.5 kg in the metformin group. The overall frequency of adverse events was similar between treatment groups, but adverse event profiles were different between treatment groups. HbA1c reduction is similar after pioglitazone and metformin monotherapies, but differences in FPG, plasma lipids, and adverse effects between the two compounds may influence decision-making in individual prescribers.
TL;DR: These mucoadhesive formulations offer many advantages in comparison to traditional treatments and can be proposed as a new therapeutic tool against dental and buccal diseases and disturbs.
TL;DR: In this paper, a precursor consisting mainly of a hydrotalcite-like Cu-Zn-Al hydroxycarbonate and a Zn-rich paratacamite was obtained by homogeneous precipitation of metal cations with a properly modified urea method.
TL;DR: In this paper, the influence of chronic inflammatory state on endothelial function in patients with RA was evaluated by measuring endothelial reactivity in young patients with low disease activity and without traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Abstract: Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Endothelial dysfunction represents the earliest stage of atherosclerosis. Objective: To evaluate the influence of chronic inflammatory state on endothelial function in patients with RA by measuring endothelial reactivity in young patients with RA with low disease activity and without traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: Brachial flow mediated vasodilatation (FMV), assessed by non-invasive ultrasound, was evaluated in 32 young to middle aged patients with RA (age ⩽59 years), with DAS28 ⩽3.2 and without overt cardiovascular disease, and in 28 age and sex matched controls. Results: Mean (SD) FMV was significantly lower in patients than in controls (3.2 (1.3)% v 5.7 (2.0)%; p r = −0.45, p r = −0.44, p r = −0.47, p r = −0.40, p Conclusions: Young to middle aged patients with RA with low disease activity, free from cardiovascular risk factors and overt cardiovascular disease, have an altered endothelial reactivity that seems to be primarily related to the disease associated chronic inflammatory condition.
TL;DR: Tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) is an efficient catalyst in the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of organic nitriles 1 with trimethylsilyl azide (TMSN(3)) in solventless conditions.
Abstract: Tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) is an efficient catalyst in the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of organic nitriles 1 with trimethylsilyl azide (TMSN(3)) in solventless conditions. The corresponding 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles 2 were obtained under mild conditions and in 80-97% yields.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the classical maximum principle due to E. Hopf, together with an extended commentary and discussion of Hopf's paper, and discuss recent generalizations of the strong maximum principle, and also the compact support principle, for the case of singular quasilinear ellip-tic dierential inequalities, under generally weak assumptions on the quasILinear operators and the nonlinearities involved.
TL;DR: The molecular genetic study of the BRAF gene showed the presence of a missense thymine to adenine transversion at nucleotide 1796, resulting in the V599E substitution, in 24 of 60 PTCs (40%), none of six follicular adenomas, and none of five follicular carcinomas or one anaplastic carcinoma.
Abstract: Activating mutations of BRAF have been identified in a variety of human cancers, most notably melanomas and papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). The aim of the present study was to disclose the role of BRAF mutations in thyroid carcinoma development. Seventy-two thyroid tumors, including 60 PTCs, six follicular adenomas, five follicular carcinomas, and one anaplastic carcinoma, were studied. BRAF mutation screening focused on exon 15 and exon 11 of the gene by single-stranded conformational polymorphism and sequence analysis. Search of RET/PTC expression was conducted with the RT-PCR technique. The molecular genetic study of the BRAF gene showed the presence of a missense thymine to adenine transversion at nucleotide 1796, resulting in the V599E substitution, in 24 of 60 PTCs (40%), none of six follicular adenomas, and none of five follicular carcinomas or one anaplastic carcinoma. Moreover, nine of 60 PTCs (15%) presented RET/PTC expression. A genetico-clinical association analysis showed a statistically...
TL;DR: Findings suggest a contribution of this cell subset in atheroma development in RA and the demonstration that tumor necrosis factor-&agr; blockade is able to reverse, at least in part, the CD28 deficiency on the CD4+ cell surface may be of interest for possible innovative therapeutic strategies in cardiovascular diseases.
Abstract: Background— Peripheral blood expansion of an unusual CD4+ T-cell subset lacking surface CD28 has been suggested to predispose rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to develop more aggressive disease. However, the potential association between CD4+CD28null T cells and early atherosclerotic changes in RA has never been investigated. Methods and Results— The number of circulating CD4+CD28null cells was evaluated in 87 RA and 33 control subjects who also underwent evaluation of carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and endothelial function via flow-mediated vasodilation (FMV). Patients had higher IMT and lower FMV compared with control subjects. The frequency of CD4+CD28null cells was significantly higher in patients than in control subjects. Twenty patients with persistent expansion of circulating CD4+CD28null cells had more marked increase of carotid artery IMT and stronger decrease of brachial artery FMV. Blockade of tumor necrosis factor-α led to a partial reappearance of the CD28 molecule on the CD4+ ...