Primary objective: The present study explored the behavioural and eye-movement measures in spatial unilateral neglect in response to a bisection task.
Research design: Four right neglect patients ...were considered and compared with 11 control subjects during an online task (segment bisection).
Methods and procedures: Eye-movements (fixation count and duration) and behavioural responses were monitored during an online bisection task, consisting of unfilled segments (two ending points) to be bisected by subjects. Segment length (six levels) and spatial dislocation (five levels) were modulated to explore a possible 'gradient effect'" (left-to-right) in neglect bias.
Main outcomes and results: Consistent spatial biases were found for both bisection position and eye fixations as a function of segment length (from shorter to longer) and segment spatial dislocation (from right to left). However, only the more eccentric left-positions induced a greater rightward bias in patients, with increasing more right-side bisection and visual right-directed fixations. Also segment length produced significant differences between-groups for behavioural responses, with more right-side bisection for longer segment in patients, and eye movement behaviour, with increased fixation count and duration rightward oriented in response to longer segments.
Conclusions: Although a left-to-right and longer-to-shorter 'continuous-gradient effect' was not supported by the results, an 'extreme left-gradient effect' was suggested and discussed.
Il presente lavoro di tesi intende approfondire lo studio di fenomeni comunicativi complessi
all’interno del paradigma neuropragmatico. Attraverso l’integrazione di misure psicometriche, ...comportamentali, neuropsicologiche e psicofisiologiche, sono indagati i processi cognitivi ed emotivi alla base della comprensione della comunicazione ironica. Tre studi ERPs sono stati condotti focalizzando di volta in volta sulla dimensione linguistica (studio 1) e sullo script del fenomeno ironico, con particolare riferimento alla dimensione mimica e prosodica (studio 2) e alle modalità comunicative, visiva e uditiva (studio 3). I processi emotivi implicati nell'elaborazione di enunciati ironici sono ulteriormente esplorati in due studi comportamentali miranti ad esplorare le reazioni emotive in situazioni ironiche (studio 4) e la comprensione dell’ironia in un campione clinico (alcolisti cronici), con particolare riferimento ai deficit di teoria della mente ed empatia (studio 5).
The present dissertation aims to investigate complex communicative phenomena within the frame of neuropragmatics. Through the integration of psychometric, behavioural, neuropsychological and psychophysiological measures, cognitive and emotional processes underlying irony comprehension are examined. In three ERPs studies, ironic decoding has been investigated with particular reference to its linguistic dimension (Experiment 1), to ironic scripts, focusing specifically on mimic and prosodic components (Experiment 2), and to communicative modalities (visual vs. auditory) (Experiment 3). Emotional processes involved in ironic sentences comprehension have been further explored in two behavioural studies, which focused specifically on emotional reactions to verbal irony (Experiment 4) and irony comprehension in a clinical sample (chronic alcoholics), with particular reference to theory of mind and empathy deficits (Experiment 5).
Utilizzando le due metafore cordate da Reddy 1, denominate conduit metaphor e toolmakers paradigm, possiamo introdurre alcune distinzioni circa la natura della comunicazione e delle proprietà ...pragmatiche che la caratterizzano. Secondo la prima metafora, le espressioni linguistiche utilizzate dai parlanti in interazione sono veicoli all’interno dei quali idee e significati possono essere versati ed estratti, rimanendo immutati nel passaggio; quello che accadrebbe nella comunicazione altro non sarebbe quindi che uno scambio di informazioni tra due persone. Il paradigma della “progettualità”, al contrario, inscena una situazione molto più complessa: gli interlocutori sono individui che vivono in mondi separati; nessuno di loro conosce le caratteristiche del mondo degli altri e ignora se queste siano uguali o dissimili dal proprio. Costoro non hanno una lingua comune, ma — essendo tutti agricoltori — si scambiano progetti su strumenti che possono facilitare la coltivazione dei propri terreni. Ognuno è fiero degli strumenti che inventa e dei progetti che stende in modo da rendere possibile agli altri la realizzazione di tali strumenti. Ciononostante, coloro che progettano si sentono spesso delusi, irritati e spiacevolmente stupiti, dal fatto che i loro progetti sono spesso fraintesi. Al contrario, motivo di gioia sono le poche volte nelle quali i progetti sono accettati senza alcuna modifica, cosi come sono stati pensati.
Two metaphors coined by Reddy 1, the conduit metaphor and the toolmaker’s paradigm, can be used to introduce several observations on the nature of communication and its pragmatic properties. The ...conduit metaphor depicts linguistic expression as channels carrying ideas and meanings: mental representations are poured into the conduit and are extracted from it, without undergoing modifications. Seen in this light, communication is nothing more than the exchange of information among individuals. The toolmaker’s paradigm, by contrast, explains communication through a more complex scenario, in which speakers live in distant worlds; no one knows anything about their language, culture, and characteristics, and the only means of communication is through the exchange of blueprints of tools. Inhabitants of these worlds are proud of their projects and are disappointed when they are misunderstood. In fact, it is reason enough to rejoice when, on occasion, the blueprints are received correctly, without further specifications.
The microbiota composition of the offspring of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a common pregnancy complication, is still little known. We investigated whether the GDM offspring gut ...microbiota composition is associated with the maternal nutritional habits, metabolic variables or pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, we compared the GDM offspring microbiota to the microbiota of normoglycemic-mother offspring. Fecal samples of 29 GDM infants were collected during the first week of life and assessed by 16S amplicon-based sequencing. The offspring's microbiota showed significantly lower α-diversity than the corresponding mothers. Earlier maternal nutritional habits were more strongly associated with the offspring microbiota (maternal oligosaccharide positively with infant Ruminococcus, maternal saturated fat intake inversely with infant Rikenellaceae and Ruminococcus) than last-trimester maternal habits. Principal coordinate analysis showed a separation of the infant microbiota according to the type of feeding (breastfeeding vs formula-feeding), displaying in breast-fed infants a higher abundance of Bifidobacterium. A few Bacteroides and Blautia oligotypes were shared by the GDM mothers and their offspring, suggesting a maternal microbial imprinting. Finally, GDM infants showed higher relative abundance of pro-inflammatory taxa than infants from healthy women. In conclusion, many maternal conditions impact on the microbiota composition of GDM offspring whose microbiota showed increased abundance of pro-inflammatory taxa.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Anthocyanins are natural pigments that give a red, purple, and blue color to many plant, flower, fruit, and vegetable species. Their presence within the genus
was first reported in 1916, and it is ...well-known that the red color of the flesh and rind of blood (red or pigmented) oranges (
L. Osbeck) is due to the presence of anthocyanins. They are also present in the young shoots, flowers, and peel of lemon (
(L.) Burm. f.), citron (
L.), and other citrus species. Since then, the scientific community has expressed increasing interest in studying their profile and distribution, with many published studies focused on the quali-quantitative pattern in the different vegetative tissues belonging to the genus
. Moreover, with the discovery of their relevant antioxidant activity, owing to their ability to capture free radicals, much research has been performed in the last two decades on their radical scavenging power, in vitro and in vivo biological properties, and anticarcinogenic capacity, also focusing attention on their bioavailability for humans. The present work is intended as a comprehensive review of the advances in scientific research on anthocyanin pigments naturally occurring within the genus
, including their natural distribution, antioxidant capacity, bioavailability, and biological value and properties. The scientific evidence herein reported can be used to further increase the knowledge of this class of compounds and represents a valuable and comprehensive contribution to promoting anthocyanin-rich citrus fruit consumption as a healthy dietary habit.
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•Physicochemical parameters and ascorbic acid remained unchanged in all varieties.•Putrescine showed correlation with off-flavour in 'Moro' and 'T. TDV'.•A correlation between ...anthocyanin pigmentation and putrescine was observed.
Cold storage may cause changes in the volatile and non-volatile components of orange fruit, in association with the decrement of the characteristic fruit flavour and sensory acceptability. The aim of this work was to evaluate the changes of some non-volatile taste-altering components (total and individual sugars, acids, anthocyanins, putrescine and limonin) that may affect the organoleptic perception of cold-stored orange fruit. Three blood orange varieties ('Tarocco TDV', 'Tarocco Gallo', and 'Moro') and a common variety ('Washington navel') were stored at 6 ± 1 °C and 90–95% Relative Humidity (RH) for 60 d. Chemical and sensory assessments were performed during fruit storage at 15 d intervals. During storage, no dramatic change of the physicochemical parameters was recorded and the ascorbic acid content remained almost unchanged in all varieties. As expected, total anthocyanins significantly increased during storage. Limonin significantly decreased in all varieties. A consistent and significant increase in putrescine occurred during storage in the fruit of the pigmented varieties, not recorded in the common orange variety. Putrescine behaviour showed direct correlation with the accumulation of off-flavour in cold-stored 'Moro' and 'T. TDV' fruit, showing a clear influence of its relative concentration on the sensory perception of fruit. Finally, principal component analysis showed that the complete quality profile of the four investigated varieties represented clear differentiation without overlapping clusters. Our results suggest that the arise of a negative sensory perception in cold stored blood orange fruit might be linked to their accumulation of putrescine.
► The physicochemical quality of 24 sweet cherry cultivars grown in Italy was evaluated. ► For the first time, the levels of antioxidants of Italian sweet cherries were evaluated. ► The results ...indicate a large variability in antioxidant activity levels among the cultivars. ► Sweet cherries might be sources of human health-bioactive compounds. ► Selection of cherry cultivars with high antioxidant activity could be useful in future breeding programs.
The fruit quality characteristics, phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities of 24 sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars grown on the mountainsides of the Etna volcano (Sicily, Italy) were evaluated. High-performance liquid chromatographic methods were used to identify and quantify sugars, organic acids and phenolics. A total of seven phenolic compounds were characterised as hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (neochlorogenic acid, p-coumaroylquinic acid and chlorogenic acid) and anthocyanins (cyanidin 3-glucoside, cyanidin 3-rutinoside, pelargonidin 3-rutinoside and peonidin 3-rutinoside). The total anthocyanin content ranged from 6.21 to 94.20mg cyanidin 3-glucoside equivalents/100g fresh weight (FW), while the total phenol content ranged from 84.96 to 162.21mg gallic acid equivalents/100g FW. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay indicated that fruit of all genotypes possessed considerable antioxidant activity. The high level of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of some sweet cherry fruits implied that they might be sources of bioactive compounds that are relevant to human health.
Citrus fruits are a rich source of high-value bioactive compounds and their consumption has been associated with beneficial effects on human health. Red (blood) oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) ...are particularly rich in anthocyanins (95% of which are represented by cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-6″-malonyl-glucoside), flavanones (hesperidin, narirutin, and didymin), and hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic acid, coumaric acid, sinapic, and ferulic acid). Lemon fruit (Citrus limon) is also rich in flavanones (eriocitrin, hesperidin, and diosmin) and other polyphenols. All of these compounds are believed to play a very important role as dietary antioxidants due to their ability to scavenge free radicals. A standardized powder extract, red orange and lemon extract (RLE), was obtained by properly mixing anthocyanins and other polyphenols recovered from red orange processing waste with eriocitrin and other flavanones recovered from lemon peel by a patented extraction process. RLE was used for in vivo assays aimed at testing a potential beneficial effect on glucose and lipid metabolism. In vivo experiments performed on male CD1 mice fed with a high-fat diet showed that an 8-week treatment with RLE was able to induce a significant reduction in glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the blood, with positive effects on regulation of hyperglycemia and lipid metabolism, thus suggesting a potential use of this new phytoextract for nutraceutical purposes.
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