Six translated Italian poems: The many voices of Italian literature

'Leased' by Fernanda Romagnoli, 'Travellers' by Luciano Erba,'The Glory' by Maria Luisa Spaziani, 'Chatting' by Pier Luigi Bacchini,'The Atlantic Day' by Patrizia Cavalli, 'They Speak' by Valerio Magrelli

Comparative effects of six probiotic strains on immune function in vitro

There is considerable interest in the strain specificity of immune modulation by probiotics. The present study compared the immunomodulatory properties of six probiotic strains of different species and two genera in a human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) model in vitro. Live cells of lactobacilli (Lactobacillus casei Shirota, L. rhamnosus GG, L. plantarum NCIMB 8826 and L. reuteri NCIMB 11951) and bifidobacteria (Bifidobacterium longum SP 07/3 and B. bifidum MF 20/5) were individually incubated with PBMC from seven healthy subjects for 24 h. Probiotic strains increased the proportion of CD69+ on lymphocytes, T cells, T cell subsets and natural killer (NK) cells, and increased the proportion of CD25+, mainly on lymphocytes and NK cells. The effects on activation marker expression did not appear to be strain specific. NK cell activity was significantly increased by all six strains, without any significant difference between strains. Probiotic strains increased production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and macrophage inflammatory protein 1α to different extents, but had no effect on the production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 or TNF-β. The cytokines that showed strain-specific modulation included IL-10, interferon-γ, TNF-α, IL-12p70, IL-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1. The Lactobacillus strains tended to promote T helper 1 cytokines, whereas bifidobacterial strains tended to produce a more anti-inflammatory profile. The results suggest that there was limited evidence of strain-specific effects of probiotics with respect to T cell and NK cell activation or NK cell activity, whereas production of some cytokines was differentially influenced by probiotic strains.

Small time two-sided LIL behavior for Lévy processes at zero

We wish to characterize when a Lévy process X t crosses boundaries b(t), in a two-sided sense, for small times t, where b(t) satisfies very mild conditions. An integral test is furnished for computing the value of sup t→0|X t |/b(t) = c. In some cases, we also specify a function b(t) in terms of the Lévy triplet, such that sup t→0 |X t |/b(t) = 1.

Domestic cold pitched roofs in the UK: - effect of using different roof insulation materials

The type and thickness of insulation on the topside horizontal of cold pitched roofs has a significant role in controlling air movement, energy conservation and moisture transfer reduction through the ceiling to the loft (roof void) space. To investigate its importance, a numerical model using a HAM software package on a Matlab platform with a Simulink simulation tool has been developed using insitu measurements of airflows from the dwelling space through the ceiling to the loft of three houses of different configurations and loft space. Considering typical UK roof underlay (i.e. bituminous felt and a vapour permeable underlay), insitu measurements of the 3 houses were tested using a calibrated passive sampling technique. Using the measured airflows, the effect of air movement on three types of roof insulation (i.e. fibreglass, cellulose and foam) was modelled to investigate associated energy losses and moisture transport. The thickness of the insulation materials were varied but the ceiling airtightness and eaves gap size were kept constant. These instances were considered in order to visualize the effects of the changing parameters. In addition, two different roof underlays of varying resistances were considered and compared to access the influence of the underlay, if any, on energy conservation. The comparison of these insulation materials in relation to the other parameters showed that the type of insulation material and thickness, contributes significantly to energy conservation and moisture transfer reduction through the roof and hence of the building as a whole.

Oxidoalkoxidovanadium(V) complexes: synthesis, characterization and comparison of X-ray crystal structures

The reaction of VO(acac)(2) with the ONO-chelator obtained by the condensation of salicylaldehyde with 2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazine (H2L) in a monohydric alcohol. (ROH) medium produces VO(OR)L]-type oxidoalkoxido complexes (1-7) where R = Me, Pr-n, Pr-i, Bu-n, Bu-i, Bu-t and (n)Pen. All the complexes show the metal atom to have a five-coordinate square pyramidal environment, although in some complexes there is an additional weak V center dot center dot center dot O interaction in the sixth axial position. In acetonitrile medium and in the presence of a cis-diol (ethylene glycol), H2L reacts with VO(acac)(2) to form a six-coordinate complex, [VO(OCH2CH2OH)L] (8). When the reaction is carried out in acetonitrile medium in the presence of 2-amino ethanol, a completely different type of product containing the square pyramidal complex anion [VO2L](-) associated with the cation [NH3CH2CH2OH](+) is obtained. It was noted previously that on being reacted with monodentate nitrogen donor bases B (which are stronger than pyridine), the [VO(OR)L] complexes react to form the same complex anion [VO2L](-) associated with the corresponding cation [BH](+). The coordination environment around the V(V) acceptor center of the water soluble [BH](+)[VO2L](-)satisfies one of the several requirements for an efficient antidiabetic vanadium species such as water solubility, nature of donor atoms of the ligand and their disposition around the VO2+ acceptor center.

Effect of a methyl group on the spontaneous resolution of a square-pyramidal coordination compound: crystal packing and conglomerate formation

Reaction of [Cu(pic)2]·2H2O (where pic stands for 2-picolinato) with 2-({[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amino}methyl)phenol (HL1) produces the square-pyramidal complex [CuL1(pic)] (1), which crystallizes as a conglomerate (namely a mixture of optically pure crystals) in the Sohncke space group P212121. The use of the methylated ligand at the benzylic position, i.e. (±)-2-(1-{[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amino}ethyl)phenol (HL2), yields the analogous five-coordinate complex [CuL2(pic)] (2) that crystallizes as a true racemate (namely the crystals contain both enantiomers) in the centrosymmetric space group P21/c. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the presence of the methyl group indeed leads to a distinct crystallization behaviour, not only by intramolecular steric effects, but also because its involvement in non-covalent C–H···π and hydrophobic intermolecular contacts appears to be an important factor contributing to the crystal-lattice (stabilizing) energy of 2

Homoleptic copper(II) and copper(I) complexes of 5,6-dihydro-5,6-epoxy-1,10-phenanthroline. Six-coordinate copper(I) in solution

Reaction of 5,6-dihydro-5,6-epoxy-1,10-phenanthroline (L) with Cu(ClO(4))(2)center dot 6H(2)O in methanol in 3:1 M ratio at room temperature yields light green [CuL(3)](ClO(4))(2)center dot H(2)O (1). The X-ray crystal structure of the hemi acetonitrile solvate [CuL(3)](ClO(4))(2)center dot 0.5CH(3)CN has been determined which shows Jahn-Teller distortion in the CuN(6) core present in the cation [CuL(3)](2+). Complex 1 gives an axial EPR spectrum in acetonitrile-toluene glass with g(parallel to) = 2.262 (A(parallel to) = 169 x 10 (4) cm (1)) and g(perpendicular to) = 2.069. The Cu(II/I) potential in 1 in CH(2)Cl(2) at a glassy carbon electrode is 0.32 V versus NHE. This potential does not change with the addition of extra L in the medium implicating generation of a six-coordinate copper(I) species [CuL(3)](+) in solution. B3LYP/LanL2DZ calculations show that the six Cu-N bond distances in [CuL(3)](+) are 2.33, 2.25, 2.32, 2.25, 2.28 and 2.25 angstrom while the ideal Cu(I)-N bond length in a symmetric Cu(I)N(6) moiety is estimated as 2.25 angstrom. Reaction of L with Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)ClO(4) in dehydrated methanol at room temperature even in 4:1 M proportion yields [CuL(2)]ClO(4) (2). Its (1)H NMR spectrum indicates that the metal in [CuL(2)](+) is tetrahedral. The Cu(II/I) potential in 2 is found to be 0.68 V versus NHE in CH(2)Cl(2) at a glassy carbon electrode. In presence of excess L, 2 yields the cyclic voltammogram of 1. From (1)H NMR titration, the free energy of binding of L to [CuL(2)](+) to produce [CuL(3)](+) in CD(2)Cl(2) at 298 K is estimated as -11.7 (+/-0.2) kJ mol (1).

Simulated and observed fluxes of sensible and latent heat and CO2 at the WLEF-TV tower using SiB2.5

Three years of meteorological data collected at the WLEF-TV tower were used to drive a revised version of the Simple Biosphere (SiB 2.5) Model. Physiological properties and vegetation phenology were specified from satellite imagery. Simulated fluxes of heat, moisture, and carbon were compared to eddy covariance measurements taken onsite as a means of evaluating model performance on diurnal, synoptic, seasonal, and interannual time scales. The model was very successful in simulating variations of latent heat flux when compared to observations, slightly less so in the simulation of sensible heat flux. The model overestimated peak values of sensible heat flux on both monthly and diurnal scales. There was evidence that the differences between observed and simulated fluxes might be linked to wetlands near the WLEF tower, which were not present in the SiB simulation. The model overestimated the magnitude of the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 in both summer and winter. Mid-day maximum assimilation was well represented by the model, but late afternoon simulations showed excessive carbon uptake due to misrepresentation of within-canopy shading in the model. Interannual variability was not well simulated because only a single year of satellite imagery was used to parameterize the model.

Increases in prefrontal cortex activity when regulating negative emotion predicts symptom severity trajectory over six months in depression

Context: Emotion regulation is critically disrupted in depression and use of paradigms tapping these processes may uncover essential changes in neurobiology during treatment. In addition, as neuroimaging outcome studies of depression commonly utilize solely baseline and endpoint data – which is more prone to week-to week noise in symptomatology – we sought to use all data points over the course of a six month trial. Objective: To examine changes in neurobiology resulting from successful treatment. Design: Double-blind trial examining changes in the neural circuits involved in emotion regulation resulting from one of two antidepressant treatments over a six month trial. Participants were scanned pretreatment, at 2 months and 6 months posttreatment. Setting: University functional magnetic resonance imaging facility. Participants: 21 patients with Major Depressive Disorder and without other Axis I or Axis II diagnoses and 14 healthy controls. Interventions: Venlafaxine XR (doses up to 300mg) or Fluoxetine (doses up to 80mg). Main Outcome Measure: Neural activity, as measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging during performance of an emotion regulation paradigm as well as regular assessments of symptom severity by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. To utilize all data points, slope trajectories were calculated for rate of change in depression severity as well as rate of change of neural engagement. Results: Those depressed individuals showing the steepest decrease in depression severity over the six months were those individuals showing the most rapid increases in BA10 and right DLPFC activity when regulating negative affect over the same time frame. This relationship was more robust than when using solely the baseline and endpoint data. Conclusions: Changes in PFC engagement when regulating negative affect correlate with changes in depression severity over six months. These results are buttressed by calculating these statistics which are more reliable and robust to week-to-week variation than difference scores.

Six new loci associated with body mass index highlight a neuronal influence on body weight regulation

Common variants at only two loci, FTO and MC4R, have been reproducibly associated with body mass index (BMI) in humans. To identify additional loci, we conducted meta-analysis of 15 genome-wide association studies for BMI (n > 32,000) and followed up top signals in 14 additional cohorts (n > 59,000). We strongly confirm FTO and MC4R and identify six additional loci (P < 5 x 10(-8)): TMEM18, KCTD15, GNPDA2, SH2B1, MTCH2 and NEGR1 (where a 45-kb deletion polymorphism is a candidate causal variant). Several of the likely causal genes are highly expressed or known to act in the central nervous system (CNS), emphasizing, as in rare monogenic forms of obesity, the role of the CNS in predisposition to obesity.

Six-man Oracle Survey, 1

This is a list in GBR order of existing 6-man endgame tables (EGTs) created by Nalimov (DTM, Distance to Mate) or Thompson (DTC, Distance to Conversion).