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Protocol for 3D photogrammetry and morphological digitization of complex skulls
Get PDFHere, we present a protocol for 3D photogrammetry and morphological digitization of skulls, including complex ones with tusks, antlers, and horns, which are challenging to reconstruct digitally. We describe steps for setting up specimens for image acquisition, including camera and lighting configurations, and the subsequent image processing to generate high-quality 3D models. We also outline the extraction of morphological data for accurate geometric morphometric analyses
‘By Toutatis, I didn’t know they said that in Hibernia!’: The Representation and Localisation of Otherness in Asterix Video Games
No full textThe Asterix multimedia franchise continues to expand across media, as a wide range of new cultural artifacts appear that feature the popular characters from the comic book series created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo in 1959 and still ongoing after their respective deaths in 1977 and 2020. Only some of these products tend to receive critical attention, however. For example, Asterix video games are rarely discussed in scholarly studies, one notable exception being a contrastive analysis of the English and Italian versions of ‘Asterix at the Olympic Games’ (Étranges Libellules 2007) (Tarquini 2011). Unlike the latter, which is based on the 1968 comic book and the 2008 live-action film with the same title, more recent games, such as ‘Asterix & Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir’ (OSome Studio 2019) and ‘Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram from Hibernia’ (OSome Studio 2022), introduce entirely new characters and plotlines. Positioning the player as an indomitable Gaul who thwarts Roman expansionist ambitions in a variety of geographical contexts, these games often stage Asterix and Obelix’s encounter with characters of different ethnicities. If the comic books rely on national stereotypes for characterisation purposes, Asterix video games similarly deploy various strategies of linguacultural othering, which arguably contain the subversive power of these interactive narratives of anti-colonialism. This paper proposes to analyse the representation and localisation of otherness in the English and Italian versions of ‘XXL3’ and ‘XXXL’. Crosspollinating postcolonial game studies with game localisation research, my study will highlight important similarities and differences in terms of linguacultural othering between games and between different versions of the same gam
miR-449a/miR-340 reprogram cell identity and metabolism in fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma
Get PDFRhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common pediatric soft tissue sarcoma, arises in skeletal muscle and remains in an undifferentiated state due to transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators. Among its subtypes, fusion-negative RMS (FN-RMS) accounts for the majority of diagnoses in the pediatric population. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that modulate cell identity via post-transcriptional regulation of messenger RNAs (mRNAs). In this study, we identify miRNAs impacting FN-RMS cell identity, revealing miR-449a and miR-340 as major regulators of the cell cycle and p53 signaling. Through miR-eCLIP technology, we demonstrate that miR-449a and miR-340 directly target transcripts involved in glycolysis and mitochondrial pyruvate transport, inhibiting the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) complex. Pharmacological MPC inhibition induces a similar metabolic shift, reducing metastatic potential and leading to cell cycle exit. Overall, miR-449 and miR-340 orchestrate FN-RMS cell identity, positioning MPC inhibition as a strategy to shift FN-RMS cells toward a non-tumorigenic, quiescent state
Alcohol consumption and autoimmune diseases
Get PDFAlcohol is the second-most misused substance after tobacco. It has been identified as a causal factor in more than 200 diseases and 5.3% of all deaths and is associated with significant behavioral, social, and economic difficulties. As alcohol consumption may modulate the immune system's regulatory mechanisms to avoid attacking the body's tissues, it has been proven to play a dichotomic role in autoimmune diseases (ADs) based on the quantity of consumption. In this review, we report updated evidence on the role of alcohol in ADs, with a focus on alcohol addiction and the human biological immune system and the relationship between them, with alcohol as a risk or protective factor. Then, in this narrative review, we report the main evidence on the most studied ADs where alcohol represents a key modulator, including autoimmune thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes, allergic rhinitis, and primary biliary cholangitis. Alcohol at low-moderate dosages seems mostly to have a protective role in these diseases, while at higher dosages, the collateral risks surpass possible benefits. The specific mechanisms by which low-to-moderate alcohol intake relieves AD symptoms are not yet fully understood; however, emerging studies suggest that alcohol may have a systemic immunomodulatory effect, potentially altering the balance of anti-inflammatory innate and adaptive immune cells, as well as cytokines (via the NF-κB or NLRP3 pathways). It might influence the composition of the gut microbiome (increasing amounts of beneficial gut microbes) and the production of their fatty acid metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), as well as elevated concentrations of acetate, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and nitric oxide (NO). Unfortunately, a definite acceptable daily intake (ADI) of ethanol is complicated to establish because of the many mechanisms associated with alcohol consumption such that despite the interesting content of these findings, there is a limit to their applicability and risks should be weighed in cases of alcoholic drinking recommendations. The aim of future studies should be to modulate those beneficial pathways involved in the alcohol-protective role of ADs with various strategies to avoid the risks associated with alcohol intake
Risultati chirurgici delle Malformazioni Cavernose del tronco encefalico: l'Impatto della struttura capsulare nei cavernomi del tronco
No full textRisultati Chirurgici delle Malformazioni Cavernose del Tronco Encefalico: L'Impatto della Struttura Capsulare nei Cavernomi del Tronco
Le malformazioni cavernose cerebrali (CCMs), note anche come cavernomi, angiomi e emangiomi cavernosi, sono malformazioni vascolari angiograficamente occulte a basso flusso, con un diametro variabile da pochi millimetri a oltre 1 cm. A differenza di altre malformazioni vascolari, le CCM sono composte esclusivamente da spazi vascolari sinusoidali (caverne), le cui pareti sono costituite da un singolo strato di endotelio, senza elastina o muscolatura liscia.
Questo studio si concentra sulle malformazioni cavernose del sistema nervoso centrale localizzate a livello del tronco encefalico (Brainstem cavernous malformations (BSCMs).
Le malformazioni cavernose (CCMs) possono essere riscontrate in tutto il sistema nervoso centrale, ma la loro localizzazione nel tronco encefalico è relativamente rara. Tuttavia, a causa dell'elevata densità di strutture anatomiche vitali in questa regione, le emorragie sintomatiche sono più frequenti e causano disabilità più gravi rispetto alla controparte sovratentoriale.
L'intervento chirurgico deve essere preso in considerazione in pazienti selezionati, sulla base di fattori quali la posizione, le dimensioni della lesione, il numero di emorragie sintomatiche e lo stato neurologico complessivo.
L'escissione dei cavernomi profondi nel ponte, mesencefalo e bulbo richiede una precisa individuazione delle "zone di accesso sicuro" o “Safe Entry Zone”, per evitare danni ai fasci neuronali principali e ridurre la morbidità associata alla rimozione chirurgica di queste lesioni. In questo contesto, la comprensione del tipo di lesione e dei suoi aspetti macroscopici mediante studi di risonanza magnetica si rivela utile per i chirurghi nella pianificazione delle strategie operative.
La nostra esperienza clinica ha rivelato che alcune resezioni dei BSCM si presentano più agevoli di altre, in particolare grazie alla presenza di una solida "capsula" attorno alla lesione. Tali cavernomi possono essere rimossi con minori complicazioni per il chirurgo, evitando manovre che comportino un possibile rischio di danno al tronco encefalico. Pertanto, la possibilità di riconoscere questa caratteristica pre operatoriamente potrebbe influenzare in modo significativo l’esito finale dell’intervento.
Il presente studio raccoglie e analizza una serie di casi di 55 pazienti operati da un singolo chirurgo presso il Dipartimento di Neurochirurgia dell’ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda di Milano.
L’obiettivo è valutare se i pazienti con cavernomi “capsulati” del tronco encefalico abbiano ottenuto risultati chirurgici migliori rispetto a quelli con cavernomi “non capsulati”. Attraverso l'analisi dei dati raccolti lo studio mira a correlare le caratteristiche cliniche e radiologiche dei cavernomi capsulati con i risultati chirurgici, offrendo spunti che potrebbero perfezionare le strategie preoperatorie.
Ulteriori ricerche potrebbero ampliare questi spunti e affinare i sistemi di classificazione e gli approcci chirurgici per queste lesioni complesse
Random power and friends: hybrid Bayesian-frequentist approaches in clinical trials design
No full textExpected values may fail in representing the distributions they summarize. This thesis investigates how this issue affects the evaluation of the design of an experiment, especially in clinical trials, when a hybrid Bayesian-frequentist approach is employed. We focus on the probability of success (PoS) of a test, which is originally (but not uniquely) defined as the expected value of the random power, ie the traditional power function of a test with respect to a design prior assigned to the parameter under scrutiny.
We review and compare alternative definitions of PoS, we investigate the distributions they summarize (the random power and friends), and we provide a decision-theoretic look at the problem which leads to a unifying, uncontroversial quantification of success.
We then go beyond clinical trials and hypothesis testing, and we study the Bayes risk as a synthesis of the random risk function in the point and set estimation classes of problems.
Results, discussions and comparisons are supported by theoretical results and accompanied by biomedical examples and applications
Indigenous Peacebuilding and Environmental Restorative Justice
No full textThis chapter explores the interconnection between Indigenous peoples peacebuilding processes and environmental restorative justice. Environmental restorative justice challenges anthropological conceptualization of peacebuilding processes by considering how the environment can be considered a victim of conflicts and specific harms of colonialism, land expropriation and large-scale environmental degradation alongside human individuals and communities. The chapter will argue how Indigenous cosmovision can inform non-anthropocentric peacebuilding processes by virtue of the consideration of other-than-human notion of victimhood and an orientation towards healing and environmental restoration
Derivative-free optimization: worst-case complexity for line-search methods and a mixed penalty-barrier approach
Get PDFThis thesis investigates new advances in Derivative-Free Optimization (DFO), focusing on complexity analysis for line-search methods and proposing a novel mixed penalty-barrier approach for handling constraints in black-box optimization problems. Classical optimization approaches often rely on gradient information; however, in practical applications, derivatives may be unavailable, unreliable, or costly to compute. DFO addresses this gap by developing methods that depend solely on function evaluations, which are crucial for applications with noisy, expensive, or simulation-based objective functions.
Chapter 2 presents a theoretical analysis of line-search based DFO algorithms, concentrating on their worst-case complexity bounds in both unconstrained and bound-constrained contexts. For unconstrained problems, a worst-case complexity bound is established that matches the iteration requirements of existing direct search methods, marking a significant theoretical contribution to the field. Additionally, for the bound-constrained case, a criticality measure is introduced to evaluate solution quality, with complexity bounds developed to ensure efficient progress. An active-set identification property is also demonstrated, showing that the method can recognize and exploit bounds that are active at the solution, enhancing computational efficiency for bound-constrained problems.
Chapter 3 introduces a sequential mixed-penalty approach for solving general nonlinear constrained black-box optimization problems, where traditional derivative-based constraint-handling techniques are unsuitable. This approach combines two distinct penalty mechanisms: a logarithmic barrier for handling inequality constraints and an exterior penalty for equality constraints. This dual strategy leverages a line-search framework to enforce constraint satisfaction while accommodating variable bounds, demonstrating improved feasibility attainment in constrained black-box settings. Furthermore, a direct search variant of the algorithm is developed, incorporating the mixed penalty strategy to manage unrelaxable constraints effectively.
Together, these contributions advance the field of DFO by providing rigorous complexity bounds for line-search methods and a robust mixed penalty-barrier framework for constrained optimization. Empirical tests validate the efficacy of these algorithms across a diverse range of constrained optimization problems, underscoring their applicability in real-world black-box settings
Thermodynamic Insights on the Structure‐Property Relationships in Substituted Benzenes: Are the Pairwise Interactions in Tri‐Substituted Methyl‐Nitro‐Benzoic Acids Still Valid?
No full textA comprehensive experimental thermochemical study of nine methyl‐substituted nitrobenzoic acids was carried out, leading to the final standard molar enthalpies of formation in the gas phase. The combustion energies were measured using high‐precision combustion calorimetry, and the enthalpies of formation of the crystal phase were derived. The sublimation enthalpies were obtained from the vapor pressure‐temperature dependencies measured using the classic Knudsen effusion mass loss and the transpiration methods. The standard molar enthalpies of vaporisation were derived from the temperature dependence of the mass‐loss rates measured using the non‐isothermal thermogravimetry. The thermal behaviour, including melting temperatures and standard molar enthalpies of fusion, was investigated by DSC. The high‐level quantum chemical G* methods were used for the mutual validation of the experimental and theoretical gas phase enthalpies of formation of methyl‐substituted nitrobenzoic acids. The consistent set of experimental properties at the reference temperature T = 298 K was evaluated and recommended for thermochemical calculations. The pairwise interactions of the substituents on the benzene ring were derived from nitro‐toluenes, methyl‐benzoic acids and nitro‐benzoic acids available in the literature, and the additivity of the contributions when three substituents are placed simultaneously in the benzene ring was discussed
Particle transport and finite-size effects in Lorentz channels with finite horizons
No full textParticle transport is investigated in a finite-size realization of the classical Lorentz gas model. We consider point particles moving at constant speed in a 2D rectangular strip of finite length, filled with circular scatterers sitting at the vertices of a triangular lattice. Particles are injected at the left boundary with a prescribed rate, undergo specular reflections when colliding with the scatterers and the horizontal boundaries of the channel, and are finally absorbed at the left or the right boundary. Thanks to the equivalence with give Correlated Random Walks, in the finite horizon case, we show that the inverse probability that a particle exits through the right boundary depends linearly on the number of cells in the channel. A non-monotonic behavior of such probability as a function of the density of scatterers is also discussed and traced back analytically to the geometric features of a single trap. This way, we do not refer to asymptotic quantities and we accurately quantify the finite size effects. Our deterministic model provides a microscopic support for a variety of phenomenological laws, e.g. the Darcy's law for porous media and the Ohm's law in electronic transport