Tibial tubercle osteotomy: effect of different osteotomy planes on contact surface area and tubercle anteriorization

2022

In 1983, Fulkerson introduced a technique of tibial tubercle osteotomy performed according to an inclined plane with respect to frontal plane. Due to obliquity of the osteotomy plane, this procedure allows both anterior and medial transfer of the tibial tubercle. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of the different degrees of the oblique plane of osteotomy on anterior displacement and the contact surface area of tibial tubercle. Synthetic bones were used for the study. An osteotomy of the tibial tubercle (TT) was performed in each specimen. Specifically, 3 different degrees of osteotomy planes relative to the reference frontal plane were examined: 20°, 30° and 40°. On …

Finns and the Indigenous People in the Great Lakes Region: Playing with Settler Myths in Late 20th- and Early 21st-Century Finnish American Fiction

2022

This chapter explores the Finnish settler migration mythology through a selection of Finnish–American literature produced in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The idea is to shed light on the ways in which these texts create, spread, and perpetuate the settler myths. A close reading of literary texts can offer the opportunity to refocus, reframe, and reconceptualize Finnish experiences in North America. The chapter demonstrates that these texts can be approached as reinforcing the Finnish–Indigenous myth. They feature perennial images and themes as well as familiar one dimensional and/or glamorizing and sugarcoating stereotypes, such as shared lore and mysticism, sauna–sweat lodge sim…

2022 Reviewer Acknowledgment

2022

Peer reviews are the foundation of high-quality academic publishing. Aging Pathobiology and Therapeutics was able to maintain its high standards for the quality of its published papers thanks to the tireless work of our reviewers. In 2022, we are thankful for the contributions of our reviewers. The editorial office would like to thank and recognize the following reviewers for their valuable time and devotion, regardless of whether the papers they reviewed were ultimately published:

Crystallographic and geometrical dependence of water oxidation activity in Co-based layered hydroxides

2022

Cobalt-based layered hydroxides (LHs) stand out as one of the best families of electroactive materials for the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, fundamental aspects such as the influence of the crystalline structure and its connection with the geometry of the catalytic sites remains poorly understood. Thus, to address this we have conducted a thorough experimental and in silico study on the most essential Co-LHs (i.e.: ɑ-LH, β-LH and LDH) which allows us to understand the role of the layered structure and coordination environment of Co atoms on the OER performance. The ɑ-LH, containing both octahedral and tetrahedral sites, behaves as the best OER catalyst in comparison to …

Effect of biobased plasticizers, used as dispersing aids, on mechanical, rheological and thermal properties of micro fibrillated cellulose (MFC)/poly…

2022

Micro Fibrillated Cellulose (MFC) has gained interest both in academia and industry, but some critical issues must be overcome to exploit the industrial MFC/biocomposites uses. In particular, the first drawback is related to the MFC agglomeration during the primary processing. Encouraging results have been obtained using plasticizers, as dispersing aids, during the extrusion that optimizes the process parameters based on the variation of the melt viscosity. However, even if the plasticizer addition counterbalances the excessive biocomposite stiffness, caused by the addition of the MFC, its eventual migration from the finished product needs to be evaluated to avoid toughness reductions as we…

Raising Awareness on the Clinical and Social Relevance of Adequate Chronic Pain Care.

2022

Appropriate pain care should be regarded as a right and effectively guaranteed to people with chronic pain (CP). Law 38, enacted in Italy in 2010, establishes the citizen’s right not to suffer. Twelve years later, such right appears still disregarded in Italy and the current access to adequate pain care reveals significant shortcomings. In addition, a mismatch between CP-associated burden and the available healthcare resources in the framework of our national health system has been observed. This article gathers the perspectives of a Board of Italian anesthesiologists on the state of the art of CP management in Italy and aims at strengthening the scientific rationale and clinical relevance …

Literary Competence and Creativity in Secondary Students

2022

Literary competence (LC) is the ability or capacity to produce and interpret literary texts. It has usually been assumed to have a close relationship with creativity, that is, the ability to find original and appropriate ideas in a specific context, although this relationship has rarely been analyzed empirically. This study tries to fill this gap by investigating the relationship between literary competence and creativity in adolescence and exploring which components of LC are especially relevant to the different criteria for creativity. A total of 193 first-year Obligatory Secondary Education (ESO) students and eight teachers of this educational level participated in the study. The student…

CD3+ and CD8+ T-Cell-Based Immune Cell Score and PD-(L)1 Expression in Pulmonary Metastases of Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer

2022

Simple Summary The lung is the second most common site of metastases in colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of CD3+ and CD8+ T-cell density based immune cell score (ICS) and PD-1/PD-L1 expression in resected pulmonary metastases of microsatellite stable CRC. The T-cell infiltration was higher in the first pulmonary metastases compared to primary tumour. Pulmonary metastases with high ICS had improved survival compared to low ICS after adjusting for confounders. High tumour cell PD-L1 expression was associated with favourable prognosis. Our results might have clinical feasibility in planning future therapies. Abstract The objective of this study…

Congenital syphilis in a preterm newborn with gastrointestinal disorders and postnatal growth restriction.

2022

Abstract Background Congenital syphilis (CS) depends on the placental transmission of Treponema pallidum (TP) spirochetes from an infected mother to fetus during pregnancy. It shows a wide clinical variability with cutaneous and visceral manifestations, including stillbirths, neonatal death, and asymptomatic cases. Preterm infants with CS may have more severe features of disease than the term ones, due to the combined pathogenic effect of both CS and prematurity. Case presentation We report on a female preterm (32+6 weeks of gestation) newborn showing most of the typical CS manifestations, in addition to gastrointestinal disorders including feeding difficulties, colon stenosis and malabsorp…

Intestinal malrotation in a female newborn affected by Osteopathia Striata with Cranial Sclerosis due to a de novo heterozygous nonsense mutation of …

2022

Abstract Background Osteopathia Striata with Cranial Sclerosis (OS-CS), also known as Horan-Beighton Syndrome, is a rare genetic disease; about 90 cases have been reported to date. It is associated with mutations (heterozygous for female subjects and hemizygous for males) of the AMER1 gene, located at Xq11.2, and shows an X-linked pattern of transmission. Typical clinical manifestations include macrocephaly, characteristic facial features (frontal bossing, epicanthal folds, hypertelorism, depressed nasal bridge, orofacial cleft, prominent jaw), hearing loss and developmental delay. Males usually present a more severe phenotype than females and rarely survive. Diagnostic suspicion is based o…

Conservation status of the endemic vascular flora of Sicily

2022

The results of a comparative study of the quantitative data of the IUCN risk categories attributed to the endemic taxa of the Sicilian vascular flora are reported. 430 Sicilian strictly endemic taxa has been evaluated by comparing the data of the risk categories attributed by published sources. 400 taxa have received at least one assessment of their conservation status, 30 taxa have not yet been considered. 278 received an assessment of their conservation status in accordance with the IUCN criteria, while the remaining 152 have not yet been evaluated according to these criteria.

O duchowym przywództwie politycznym. Polityka duchowa jako droga dla rozwoju przyszłej Europy

2022

Duchowe przywództwo polityczne odnosi się do sztuki rządzenia państwem, która uwzględnia pełny i wszechstronny rozwój osobowy człowieka, umożliwia obywatelom samorealizację i w ten sposób zaspakaja ludzkie dążenie do osiągnięcia doskonałości moralnej i intelektualnej, osiągającej swój najwyższy stopień rozwoju w świętości jako łączności z doskonałością Boga. Jego celem jest szczęśliwe społeczeństwo, w którym każdy ma możliwość samorealizacji, a jednocześnie szanuje samorealizację innych. Wspiera harmonię społeczną, która wynika ze współdziałania między różnymi grupami w obrębie społeczeństwa oraz jest alternatywą dla dzisiejszej dysharmonii będącej pokłosiem toczącego się konfliktu politycz…

Textbooks as ‘Neoliberal artifacts’: a critical study of knowledge-making in ELT industry

2022

The present study examined the traces of neoliberal ideology in O-level English language textbooks taught in elitist private schools in Pakistan that follow the UK-based international educational system administrated by the University of Cambridge under the General Certificate of Education (GCE). Analysis in the study was informed by Fairclough's CDA writings. Moreover, Bourdieu's views on neoliberalism were also considered to shed some light on neoliberal ideology in the textbooks. Findings suggest that several neoliberal themes were evident in the textbooks under scrutiny, including marketization, consumerism, branding, celebrity culture, competition, individualism, self-responsibility an…

Karyological data of two Sicilian endemic Centaurea species

2022

Chromosome numbers are given for 2 Centaurea species endemic to Sicily. For both studied taxa, Centaurea valdemonensis and C. virescens, the somatic chromosome number, found on material from their loci classici, is diploid (2n = 18).

Jakość życia pacjentów z nadciśnieniem tętniczym w wymiarze bio-psycho-społecznym zdrowia. Przegląd literatury

2022

Alnus glutinosa Riparian Woodlands of Italy and Corsica: Phytosociological Classification and Floristic Diversity

2022

A comparative analysis of the riparian vegetation dominated by Alnus glutinosa in Italy and Tyrrhenian islands, based on literature data and unpublished relevés, is presented. A total of 456 phytosociological relevés were processed. For the definition of plant communities and alliances, hierarchical clustering was performed by using Bray-Curtis coefficient and Detrended Correspondence Analysis ordination methods. Identification of diagnostic species of the vegetation units was performed by means of the phi fidelity index. Quantum GIS software version 3.6 was used for the interpolation of the bioclimatic variables and A. glutinosa communities. Overall, a total of 18 A. glutinos…

RELACIONES CAUSALES EXPLICATIVAS EN LA EDUCACION CIENTÍFICA Y SU CONTRIBUCIÓN AL PENSAMIENTO CRÍTICO

2022

El término causalidad se utiliza en diferentes disciplinas de las ciencias desde la Física hasta la Biología; donde se hace uso rutinario de estos conceptos para inferir relaciones causales. Es evidente que las ciencias son el mejor lugar al que acudir para comprender la causalidad, pero en cada una ha sido abordado de manera diferente. Por lo tanto, pretendemos reflexionar en la siguiente pregunta: ¿Qué implica utilizar este término (relaciones causales) en la educación científica? y ¿Cómo éstas contribuyen al pensamiento crítico? Para ello, se presentan enfoques epistemológicos sobre la causalidad desde la filosofía, la psicología y las ciencias naturales; posteriormente se describen sus …

Business model innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals

2022

Business model innovation can be a key driver to realizing the transformation needed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, the SDGs can support organizations as they identify and tackle opportunities for business model innovation. This study uses a constructive research method to build a managerial approach that supports business model innovation for the SDGs. The approach helps organizations assess their contribution to the SDGs, explore and prioritize SDG-oriented business opportunities and risks, and formulate business model innovation strategies accordingly. The proposed approach was developed through participatory action research conducte…

Cómo medir el impacto socioeconómico de las actividades deportivas inclusivas en personas con exclusión social: El Rugbi inclusivo en el marco de la …

2022

Existe gran consenso dentro de la academia en relación a la necesidad de tener en cuenta un gran número de variables para poder conceptualizar y medir la inclusión o, por ende, la exclusión social que viven ciertos colectivos. A través de un estudio en profundidad de la bibliografía, casos piloto y proyectos similares, se ha creado un sistema de indicadores con la finalidad de medir el impacto socioeconómico de una actividad sociodeportiva vinculada a la inclusión de personas con diversidad funcional. El sistema resultante, se aplicarán en el caso piloto VARIED, un proyecto europeo realizado en cinco países de la propia Unión Europea.

Segmentation boundaries in accelerometer data of arm motion induced by music : online computation and perceptual assessment

2022

Segmentation is a cognitive process involved in the understanding of information perceived through the senses. Likewise, the automatic segmentation of data captured by sensors may be used for the identification of patterns. This study is concerned with the segmentation of dancing motion captured by accelerometry and its possible applications, such as pattern learning and recognition, or gestural control of devices. To that effect, an automatic segmentation system was formulated and tested. Two participants were asked to ‘dance with one arm’ while their motion was measured by an accelerometer. The performances were recorded on video, and manually segmented by six annotators later. The annota…

Informal Disaster Diplomacy

2022

This paper develops a baseline and definition for informal disaster diplomacy in order to fill in an identified gap in the existing research. The process adopted is a review of the concept of informality, the application of informality to diplomacy, and the application of informality to disasters and disaster science. The two applications of informality are then combined to outline an informal disaster diplomacy as a conceptual contribution to studies where processes of conflict, peace, and disasters interact. Adding informality into disaster diplomacy provides originality and significance as it has not hitherto been fully examined in this context. This exploration results in insights into …

Type 2 Diabetes as a Factor Modifying the Course and Prognosis of Acute Pancreatitis

2022

Acute pancreatitis (AP) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are diseases with steadily increasing incidence. On the one hand, the presence of diabetes increases the risk of AP development; on the other hand, there is a question whether the presence of T2D adversely affects the course and prognosis of AP. In this study we attempted to demonstrate the adverse effect of T2D on the course and prognosis of AP. Materials and methods:The retrospective study analyzed the data of 333 patients with the diagnosis of AP in the Internal Medicine Department of the University Hospital in Opole between 2015 and 2019. The patients were divided into two groups: with T2D and without T2D. The comparative analysis includ…

CHOREOGRAPHER IN CONTEMPORARY THEATRE: THE CASE OF LATVIA

2022

As the paradigm of dramatic theatre has changed and the genre of contemporary dance has evolved, a new approach to theatrical choreography has emerged. In Latvia, a new generation of contemporary dance choreographers has been active for two decades. They have significantly influenced both the aesthetics of their productions and developed the degree of the participation and co-responsibility in dramatic actors.
 By working together with contemporary dance choreographers, some actors and directors have changed their attitudes toward their body, its role, and the meaning of their movements. There is a growing awareness of how much time, effort, and precision would be required for smart an…

Mechanical Detection of the De Haas–van Alphen Effect in Graphene

2022

Funding Information: We thank V. Falko, M. Kumar, and S. Paraoanu for useful discussions. This work was supported by the Academy of Finland projects 314448 (BOLOSE) and 336813 (CoE, Quantum Technology Finland) as well as by ERC (grant no. 670743). The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Unions Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, under Grant Agreement no 824109, and the experimental work benefited from the Aalto University OtaNano/LTL infrastructure. A.L. is grateful to Osk. Huttunen foundation for a scholarship. J.M. thanks the Väisälä Foundation of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters for support. F.M. acknowledges financial support fr…

Drafting a prioritized checklist of Crop Wild Relatives and Wild Harvested Plants of Italy: problems and solutions

2022

The National checklists of Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) and Wild Harvested Plants (WHP) are the basic tools for the development of in situ and ex situ conservation strategies of plant genetic resources. Here we discuss the methodologies and the prioritization process we previously used in the preparation of the prioritized checklist of CWR and WHP for Italy. The starting point were the most up-to-date Italian checklists of native and alien flora with their updates used as a nomenclatural and distributive source of data. Sardinia and Sicily were kept separate from peninsular Italy to perform detailed analyses focused on the taxa of the two major islands. The origin, the endemic status, cultivat…

Quantum Creativity and Cognition in Humans and Robots

2022

In this research, we present a categorical framework to connect research on creativity and cognition for humans and robots, in light of the quantum paradigm. These fields and their relationships suggest a wider vision: modeling human creativity/cognition through quantum computing, and creating robots that can help us learn more about the humans themselves. We represent the human–robot comparison through functors (function generalization). Fundamental elements to understand human creativity are motivation and feedback as aesthetic pleasure. Is it possible to model it? Can the quantum paradigm help us in such an endeavor? We envisage the concept of emergence and quantum computing as decisive…

Recent Advances in Forward Brillouin Scattering: Sensor Applications

2022

In-fiber opto-mechanics based on forward Brillouin scattering has received increasing attention because it enables sensing the surrounding of the optical fiber. Optical fiber transverse acoustic resonances are sensitive to both the inner properties of the optical fiber and the external medium. A particularly efficient pump and probe technique—assisted by a fiber grating—can be exploited for the development of point sensors of only a few centimeters in length. When measuring the acoustic resonances, this technique provides the narrowest reported linewidths and a signal-to-noise ratio better than 40 dB. The longitudinal and transverse acoustic velocities—normalized with the fiber radius—can b…

Seed germination reports for five species of the genus Silene (Caryophyllaceae)

2022

In this contribution, new germination data for five Silene taxa coming from the natural habitats of Sicily and Calabria are given. The investigated taxa are: the threatened endemic S. calabra and S. crassiuscula, together with S. colorata, S. fruticosa, and S. nicaeensis from Sicilian sites. Seed germinations were tested at the Catania Germplasm Bank (BGS-CT), at constant temperatures (from 5 to 30°C), under both light (12/12h photoperiod) and total darkness conditions. The results emphasized a high germination ability and rate in all examined species.

Crystallographic Study of Solvates and Solvate Hydrates of an Antibacterial Furazidin

2022

In this study we present a detailed crystallographic analysis of multiple solvates of an antibacterial furazidin. Solvate formation of furazidin was investigated by crystallizing it from pure solvents and solvent-water mixtures. Crystal structure analysis of the obtained solvates and computational calculations were used to rationalize the main factors leading to the intermolecular interactions present in the solvate crystal structures as well as resulting in formation of the observed solvates and solvate hydrates. Furazidin forms pure solvates and solvate hydrates with solvents having large hydrogen bond acceptor propensity as well as with a hydrogen bond donor and acceptor formic acid. In …

Relationship among Body Composition, Adipocytokines, and Irisin on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in COPD: A Pilot Study

2022

Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ that interferes with the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although inflammatory markers, body composition, and nutritional status have a significant impact on pulmonary function, the real contribution of adipocytokines and myokines in COPD is still controversial. We aimed to evaluate the role played by the body composition, leptin, adiponectin, haptoglobin, and irisin on the functional exercise capacity, respiratory function, and quality of life (QoL) in COPD. In 25 COPD (20% GOLD-1; 60% GOLD-2; 20% GOLD-3) patients and 26 matched control subjects, we find that leptin, total adiponectin and haptoglobin are significantly increased…

Near-Infrared-Responsive Choline-Calix[4]arene-Gold Nanostructures for Potential Photothermal Cancer Treatment

2022

The development of novel chemical approaches for the fabrication of gold nanostructures with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) falling in the near-infrared (NIR) region is one challenging topic in nanomaterials science. Due to their optical and photothermal properties triggered by light excitation in the therapeutic window (λmax = 650-1300 nm), gold-based nanostructures are appealing candidates in anticancer nanomedicine. Here, we report a novel method to prepare water-dispersible gold nanostructures with NIR-LSPR (λmax = 600-1000 nm) properties. The gold nanostructures were achieved in a single step by an unconventional method using NADH as a reducing agent and an amphiphilic chol…

PCB-Based Planar Inductive Loops for Partial Discharges Detection in Power Cables

2022

Partial discharge (PD) diagnosis tests, including detecting, locating, and identifying, are used to trace defects or faults and assess the degree of aging in order to monitor the insulation condition of medium- and high-voltage power cables. In this context, an experimental evaluation of three different printed circuit board (PCB)-based inductive sensor topologies, with spiral, non-spiral, and meander shapes, is performed. The aim is to assess their capabilities for PD detection along a transmission power cable. First, simulation and experimental characterization are carried out to determine the equivalent electrical circuit and the quality factor of the three sensors. PD activity was studi…

Consideraciones constitucionales de la participación migrante : una mirada italo-española

2022

Las sociedades italiana y española tienen muchos puntos en común, siendo uno de ellos la problemática derivada de la integración de las personas inmigrantes en los entornos sociales. Principalmente por la presión de los flujos migratorios en algunas localizaciones de ambos países.
 La respuesta del derecho, y en concreto del derecho constitucional, para integrar y facilitar el reconocimiento de derechos a estas personas también es notoria, pero pese a ello siguen produciéndose hechos que dificultan una integración real y efectiva. Paralelamente, ambos países han desarrollado reciente normativa para implementar políticas participativas a través de las nuevas tecnologías. Por ello, la co…

Patisiran Enhances Muscle Mass after Nine Months of Treatment in ATTRv Amyloidosis: A Study with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and Handgrip Streng…

2022

Background and aims. Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv) is caused by mutations in the TTR gene, leading to misfolded monomers that aggregate generating amyloid fibrils. The clinical phenotype is heterogeneous, characterized by a multisystemic disease affecting the sensorimotor, autonomic functions along with other organs. Patisiran is a small interfering RNA acting as a TTR silencer approved for the treatment of ATTRv. Punctual and detailed instrumental biomarkers are on demand for ATTRv to measure the severity of the disease and monitor progression and response to treatment. Methods. Fifteen patients affected by ATTRv amyloidosis (66.4 ± 7.8 years, six males) …

Solidarity networks for grassroots collaboration in response to the pandemic: the case of the city of Valencia (Spain)

2022

The Covid-19 pandemic drove the emergence of grassroots solidarity initiatives designed to alleviate the impact of the subsequent health, economic and social crisis. Some of these initiatives were organised collectively in a process which can be considered as social innovation. Taking the city of Valencia (Spain) as a case study, this paper examines the grassroots solidarity initiatives which sprang up in the first wave of the pandemic, analysing their features, their relationship with previous initiatives and their roots in the territory to make an initial assessment of their potential for social transformation.

Evolution of Free Amino Acids, Histamine and Volatile Compounds in the Italian Anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) Sauce at Different Ripening Times

2022

In this study, the evolution of the safety, nutritional, and volatile profile of a traditional Italian anchovy sauce with protected designation of origin (PDO), called “colatura di alici di Cetara”, is investigated after 12, 24, and 48 months of aging in wooden barrels. Some physicochemical parameters, free amino acids, volatile compounds, and histamine contents were evaluated during the aging of the samples. Glutamate, which together with aspartate is responsible for the umami taste, was the predominant free amino acid in the tested fish sauce, with a significant increase during the 48 months of maturation. The total amino acid content of the anchovy sauce increased from 24 to …