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\"In the present-day world order, political disintegration, the faltering of economic systems, the controversial and yet dramatic consequences of global warming and pollution, and the spread of poverty and social disruption in Western countries have rendered 'collapse' one of the hottest topics in the humanities and social sciences. In the frenetic run for identifying the global causes and large-scale consequences of collapse, however, instances of crisis taking place at the micro-scale are not always explored by scholars addressing these issues in present and past societies, while the 'voices' of the marginal/non-elite subjects that might be the main victims of collapse are often silenced in ancient history and archaeology. Within this framework 'Collapse or Survival' explores localised phenomena of crisis, unrest and survival in the ancient Mediterranean, with a focus on the first millennium BC. In a time span characterised by unprecedented high levels of dynamism, mobility and social change throughout that region, the area selected for analysis represents a unique convergence point where states rise and fall, long-distance trade networks develop and disintegrate, and patterns of human mobility catalyse cultural change at different rates. The central Mediterranean also comprises a wealth of recently excavated and highly contextualised material evidence, casting new light on the agency of individuals and groups who endeavoured to cope with crisis situations in different geographical and temporal settings\"-- Provided by publisher.

Background Skeletal muscle mass wasting almost invariably accompanies bone loss in elderly, and the coexistence of these two conditions depends on the tight endocrine crosstalk existing between the two organs, other than the biomechanical coupling. Since the current diagnostics limitation in this field, and given the progressive population aging, more effective tools are needed. The aim of this study was to identify circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential biomarkers for muscle mass wasting in post‐menopausal osteoporotic women. Methods One hundred seventy‐nine miRNAs were assayed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction in plasma samples from 28 otherwise healthy post‐menopausal osteoporotic women (73.4 ± 6.6 years old). The cohort was divided in tertiles based on appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMMI) to better highlight the differences on skeletal muscle mass (first tertile: n = 9, ASMMI = 4.88 ± 0.40 kg·m−2; second tertile: n = 10, ASMMI = 5.73 ± 0.23 kg·m−2; third tertile: n = 9, ASMMI = 6.40 ± 0.22 kg·m−2). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated to estimate the diagnostic potential of miRNAs. miRNAs displaying a statistically significant fold change ≥ ±1.5 and area under the curve (AUC) > 0.800 (P < 0.05) between the first and third tertiles were considered. A linear regression model was applied to estimate the association between miRNA expression and ASMMI in the whole population, adjusting for body mass index, age, total fat (measured by total‐body dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry [DXA]) and bone mineral density (measured by femur DXA). Circulating levels of adipo‐myokines were evaluated by bead‐based immunofluorescent assays and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Results Five miRNAs (hsa‐miR‐221‐3p, hsa‐miR‐374b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐126‐5p and hsa‐miR‐425‐5p) resulted down‐regulated and two miRNAs (hsa‐miR‐145‐5p and hsa‐miR‐25‐3p) were up‐regulated in the first tertile (relative‐low ASMMI) compared with the third tertile (relative‐high ASMMI) (fold change ≥ ±1.5; P‐value < 0.05). All the corresponding ROC curves had AUC > 0.8 (P < 0.05). Two signatures hsa‐miR‐126‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p and hsa‐miR‐425‐5p; and hsa‐miR‐126‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐145‐5p and hsa‐miR‐25‐3p showed the highest AUC, 0.914 (sensitivity = 77.78%; specificity = 100.00%) and 0.901 (sensitivity = 88.89%; specificity = 100.00%), respectively. Conclusions In this study, we identified, for the first time, two miRNA signatures, hsa‐miR‐126‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p and hsa‐miR‐425‐5p; and hsa‐miR‐126‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐145‐5p and hsa‐miR‐25‐3p, specifically associated with muscle mass wasting in post‐menopausal osteoporotic women.

The study investigated the effect of single and chronic (10 sessions) whole-body cryotherapy (WBC; 3-min, − 110 °C) on amino acid (AA) profile, myostatin, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), and concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), irisin and adiponectin in relation to glucose homeostasis. Thirty-five, healthy men were randomly split into experimental (young: 28 ± 7 years and middle-aged: 51 ± 3 years) and control groups. Blood samples were taken before and 1 h after the first and last (10th) WBC session. Baseline myostatin correlated significantly with visceral fat area, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and irisin (all p  < 0.05). The single session of WBC induced temporary changes in AA profile, whereas chronic exposure lowered valine and asparagine concentrations ( p  < 0.01 and p  = 0.01, respectively) compared to the baseline. The chronic WBC reduced fasting glucose ( p  = 0.04), FGF21 (− 35.8%, p  = 0.06) and myostatin (-18.2%, p  = 0.06). Still, the effects were age-dependent. The decrease of myostatin was more pronounced in middle-aged participants ( p  < 0.01). Concentrations of irisin and adiponectin increased in response to chronic WBC, while BDNF level remained unchanged. By improving the adipo-myokine profile, chronic WBC may reduce effectively the risk of the metabolic syndrome associated with hyperinsulinemia, increased levels of valine and asparagine, and muscle atrophy.

Circulating miRNAs are ideal diagnostics and prognostics biomarkers in cancer since altered levels of specific miRNAs have been associated to development/progression of several cancers. Physical activity is a recognized preventive strategy against several cancers, but it may also modify the baseline levels of cancer-associated miRNAs and, hence, may act as a confounding pre-analytical variable. This study aimed at understanding whether physical activity-dependent changes in cancer-associated circulating miRNAs profile could act as a confounding variable. A panel comprising 179 miRNAs was assayed in plasma from 20 highly trained and 10 sedentary men. RT-qPCR data were analyzed with the 2−2ΔΔCT methods and normalized on hsa-miR-320d, as determined by bioinformatics analysis. miRNAs associated with the diagnosis of the most prevalent cancers were considered. Only those miRNAs, relevantly associated with cancers, found ≥2-fold up- or downregulated in highly trained subjects compared to sedentary were disclosed. The results reveal that chronic physical activity determined modifications altering the baseline level of several cancer-associated miRNAs and, hence, their diagnostic and prognostic potential. In conclusion, based on our results, a physically active status emerges as an important pre-analytical variable able to alter the basal level of circulating miRNAs, and these alterations might be considered as potentially misleading the analytical output.

Nowadays subtitling accomplishes several purposes; it is meant for diverse audiences and comes in many forms. This collection of innovative contributions explores these different manifestations, and offers a snapshot of the state of the art of a dynamic and ever-evolving field of study. This volume intentionally assembles essays that analyse subtitling in various audiovisual genres, including television series, variety programmes, operas, operettas, feature films and live conferences, and that consider various languages, such as Chinese, English, Finnish, French, Italian, Japanese and Polish. It underscores both traditional and novel viewpoints and approaches to the subject, thus broadening the horizons of such a fascinating field. The diversity of topics tackled will encourage further reflection on a well-established research area, and, as such, the volume will appeal to both novice and expert researchers and professionals.

S. epidermidis is responsible for biofilm-related nonunions. This study compares the response to S. epidermidis-infected fractures in rats systemically or locally injected with vancomycin or bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in preventing the nonunion establishment. The 50% of rats receiving BMSCs intravenously (s-rBMSCs) died after treatment. A higher cytokine trend was measured in BMSCs locally injected rats (l-rBMSCs) at day 3 and in vancomycin systemically injected rats (l-VANC) at day 7 compared to the other groups. At day 14, the highest cytokine values were measured in l-VANC and in l-rBMSCs for IL-10. µCT showed a good bony bridging in s-VANC and excellent both in l-VANC and in l-rBMSCs. The bacterial growth was lower in s-VANC and l-VANC than in l-rBMSCs. Histology demonstrated the presence of new woven bone in s-VANC and a more mature bony bridging was found in l-VANC. The l-rBMSCs showed a poor bony bridging of fibrovascular tissue. Our results could suggest the synergic use of systemic and local injection of vancomycin as an effective treatment to prevent septic nonunions. This study cannot sustain the systemic injection of BMSCs due to high risks, while a deeper insight into local BMSCs immunomodulatory effects is mandatory before developing cell therapies in clinics.

MicroRNAs are fine regulators of the whole-body adaptive response but their use as biomarkers is limited by the lack of standardized pre- and post-analytical procedures. This work aimed to compare different normalization approaches for RT-qPCR data analyses, in order to identify the most reliable and reproducible method to analyze circulating miRNA expression profiles in sedentary and highly-trained subjects. As the physically active status is known to affect miRNA expression, they could be effective biomarkers of the homeostatic response. Following RNA extraction from plasma, a panel of 179 miRNAs was assayed by RT-qPCR and quantified by applying different normalization strategies based on endogenous miRNAs and exogenous oligonucleotides. hsa-miR-320d was found as the most appropriate reference miRNA in reducing the technical variability among the experimental replicates and, hence, in highlighting the inter-cohorts differences. Our data showed an association between the physically active status and specific skeletal muscle- and bone-associated circulating miRNAs profiles, revealing that established epigenetic modifications affect the baseline physiological status of these tissues. Since different normalization strategies led to different outputs, in order to avoid misleading interpretation of data, we remark the importance of the accurate choice of the most reliable normalization method in every experimental setting.

In the present-day world order, political disintegration, the faltering of economic systems, the controversial yet dramatic consequences of global warming and pollution, and the spread of poverty and social disruption in Western countries have rendered ‘collapse’ one of the hottest topics in the humanities and social sciences. In the frenetic run for identifying the global causes and large-scale consequences of collapse, however, instances of crisis taking place at the micro-scale are not always explored by scholars addressing these issues in present and past societies, while the ‘voices’ of the marginal/non-élite subjects that might be the main victims of collapse are often silenced in ancient history and archaeology. Within this framework Collapse or Survival explores localized phenomena of crisis, unrest, and survival in the ancient Mediterranean with a focus on the first millennium BC. In a time span characterized by unprecedented high levels of dynamism, mobility, and social change throughout that region, the area selected for analysis represents a unique convergence point where states rise and fall, long-distance trade networks develop and disintegrate, and patterns of human mobility catalyze cultural change at different rates. The central Mediterranean also comprises a wealth of recently excavated and highly contextualized material evidence, casting new light on the agency of individuals and groups who endeavored to cope with crisis situations in different geographical and temporal settings. Contributors provide novel definitions of ‘collapse’ and reconsider notions of crisis and social change by taking a broader perspective that is not necessarily centred on élites. Individual chapters analyze how both high-status and non-élite social agents responded to socio-political rupture, unrest, depopulation, economic crisis, the disintegration of kinship systems, interruption in long-term trade networks, and destruction in war.

Physically active behavior has been associated with a reduced risk of developing certain types of cancer and improved psychological conditions for patients by reducing anxiety and depression, in turn improving the quality of life of cancer patients. On the other hand, the correlations between inactivity, sedentary behavior, and overweight and obesity with the risk of development and progression of various cancers are well studied, mainly in middle-aged and elderly subjects. In this article, we have revised the evidence on the effects of physical activity on the expression and release of the adipose-tissue-derived mediators of low-grade chronic inflammation, i.e., adipokines, as well as the adipokine-mediated impacts of physical activity on tumor development, growth, and metastasis. Importantly, exercise training may be effective in mitigating the side effects related to anti-cancer treatment, thereby underlining the importance of encouraging cancer patients to engage in moderate-intensity activities. However, the strong need to customize and adapt exercises to a patient’s abilities is apparent. Besides the preventive effects of physically active behavior against the adipokine-stimulated cancer risk, it remains poorly understood how physical activity, through its actions as an adipokine, can actually influence the onset and development of metastases.

Butyrate, an essential factor for colonocytes and regulator in the development of colon cancer, is partially absorbed by the gut. It influences the proliferation and differentiation of several cell types including osteoblasts. We evaluated the effects of different doses of butyrate on differentiation and functionality of osteosarcoma cells in vitro and the expression of a pro-inflammatory phenotype in a normal or inflammatory environment. SaOS-2 osteosarcoma cells were induced to differentiate and contemporarily treated for 24 h, 48 h, or 7 days with sodium butyrate 10−4, 5 × 10−4, or 10−3 M in the presence or absence of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) 1 ng/mL, a pro-inflammatory stimulus. Despite the mild effects on proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity, butyrate dose- and time-dependently induced the expression of a differentiated phenotype (RUNX2, COL1A1 gene expression, and osteopontin gene and protein expression). This was associated with a partial inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation and the induction of histone deacetylase 1 expression. The net effect was the expression of an anti-inflammatory phenotype and the increase in the osteoprotegerin-to-receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) ratio. Moreover, butyrate, especially at the highest dose, counteracted the effects of the pro-inflammatory stimulus of TNFα 1 ng/mL. Butyrate affects osteosarcoma cell metabolism by anticipating the expression of a differentiated phenotype and by inducing the expression of anti-inflammatory mediators.