How the stomach and the brain work together at rest

Low-frequency electrical waves in the stomach seem to be synchronised with the activity of a newly discovered resting-state network in the human brain

The principle of equality between resources, welfare and opportunities: theoretical projects and political demands

El presente escrito pretende ofrecer una definición de igualdad política. A tal fin, se intentará responder a tres preguntas fundamentales, distintas pero fuertemente interconectadas: la primera es la relativa a la diferencia entre igualdad política e igualdad matemática. Responder a dicha cuestión significa constatar el carácter flexible y cambiante del concepto de igualdad. La segunda se refiere a la relación entre igualdad y desigualdad, y por tanto implica la cuestión de la extensión del status de “iguales”. La tercera está referida, en fin, a la relación entre la igualdad y su objeto, es decir lo que “debe” ser considerado en concreto igual mediante la acción política. El objetivo del escrito es el de demostrar que las más importantes soluciones avanzadas por la elaboración filosófica contemporánea son a lo más parciales y reductivas; y que sólo modelo teóricos atentos a las exigencias prácticas, principalmente económicas, pueden pensar en influir sobre la actividad político-institucional.This paper aims to provide a definition of political equality. To this end, we will try to answer three fundamental questions, strongly interconnected: the first one is related to the difference between mathematical equality and political equality. The second concerns the relationship between equality and inequality, and therefore raises the question of the extension of the status of “equal”. The third refers, finally, to the relationship between equality and its object, ie. What “should” be made equal through the political action. The aim of the article is to show that the most important solutions proposed by contemporary political philosophy are at most partial and reductive; and that just a theoretical model, carefull to the practical demands, mainly economic, could influence the thinking and the action of political and institutional structure

Some meta-theorical questions about observation of legal phenomenon: a brief comparison between methodological legal positivism and neoconstitutionalism

El constitucionalismo que se ha difundido en Europa tras la Segunda Guerra Mundial, desde su comienzo, ha representado una explícita negación del anterior sistema jurídico , así como de su más consistente apoyo teórico, el positivismo jurídico, habiendo renovado, más o menos explícitamente, alguna de las más importantes dimensiones de un cierto iusnaturalismo, laico y racionalista. Ha venido a menos, principalmente, la idea por la cual el universo jurídico constituiría un ente cerrado y autorreferencial, en el que las normas se justifican y se legitiman de acuerdo con parámetros pertenecientes al mismo sistema jurídico. La teoría neoconstitucionalista, de modo particular en la interpretación que de ella ofrece Ronald Dworkin, se ha erigido en intérprete de estas exigencias, desarrollando un nuevo concepto de derecho capaz de dar cuenta también del componente moral incluido en los sistemas jurídicos constitucionalizados. En el presente artículo se ensaya una contraste entre dos diferentes modelos, limitando no obstante el análisis exclusivamente al ámbito del método, es decir a algunas cuestiones metateóricas relativas al punto de observación del fenómeno jurídico.Constitutionalism, that spreaded through out Europe after the Second World War, has meant, since its beginning, a explicit denial of the former legal System and its more sound theoretical basis, legal positivism, renewing –more or less explicitly– some of the most important dimensions of a certain kind of secular and rationalist iusnaturalism. The idea that legal universe is a closed and selfreferential entity where rules are justified and get their legitimacy in accordance with parameters belonging to the legal system itself. The neoconstitutionalist theory, specially the interpretation that Ronald Dworking offers of it, has turned into interpreter of these requirements, developing a new concept of law able to explain the moral component included in the constitutionalized legal systems. In this article, a contrast between these two different models is essayed, though limited to the methodological field, that is to say, to some meta-theorical questions about the point of observation of legal phenomenon

Left threatened by Right: political intergroup bias in the contemporary Italian context.

Using different evaluation targets (i.e., politicians’ pictures, ideological words, items referring to features attributed to political ingroup/outgroup) we characterized the intergroup bias among political groups in the Italian context (Study 1-2-3) and tested a model that may account for the bias itself (Study 3). For all evaluation targets, left-wing participants -compared to right wing participants - showed a greater intergroup bias, expressing more negative emotions towards the outgroup. The process was influenced by a greater perceived threat of the outgroup. Conversely, right-wing participants expressed the bias only when presented with ideological words. Our results provide a detailed description of how intergroup bias in Italy is differently expressed by the two ideological groups depending on the targets used to represent the political counterpart. Moreover, the results show that the stronger bias expressed by left-wing participants is driven by perceived threat of the outgroup

A non-conserved amino acid variant regulates differential signalling between human and mouse CD28

CD28 superagonistic antibodies (CD28SAb) can preferentially activate and expand immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Treg) in mice. However, pre-clinical trials assessing CD28SAbs for the therapy of autoimmune diseases reveal severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome in humans, thereby implying the existence of distinct signalling abilities between human and mouse CD28. Here, we show that a single amino acid variant within the C-terminal proline-rich motif of human and mouse CD28 (P212 in human vs. A210 in mouse) regulates CD28-induced NF-κB activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression. Moreover, this Y209APP212 sequence in humans is crucial for the association of CD28 with the Nck adaptor protein for actin cytoskeleton reorganisation events necessary for CD28 autonomous signalling. This study thus unveils different outcomes between human and mouse CD28 signalling to underscore the importance of species difference when transferring results from preclinical models to the bedside

CD28 between tolerance and autoimmunity: The side effects of animal models [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

Regulation of immune responses is critical for ensuring pathogen clearance and for preventing reaction against self-antigens. Failure or breakdown of immunological tolerance results in autoimmunity. CD28 is an important co-stimulatory receptor expressed on T cells that, upon specific ligand binding, delivers signals essential for full T-cell activation and for the development and homeostasis of suppressive regulatory T cells. Many in vivo mouse models have been used for understanding the role of CD28 in the maintenance of immune homeostasis, thus leading to the development of CD28 signaling modulators that have been approved for the treatment of some autoimmune diseases. Despite all of this progress, a deeper understanding of the differences between the mouse and human receptor is required to allow a safe translation of pre-clinical studies in efficient therapies. In this review, we discuss the role of CD28 in tolerance and autoimmunity and the clinical efficacy of drugs that block or enhance CD28 signaling, by highlighting the success and failure of pre-clinical studies, when translated to humans

Measuring Impact (2017 Nebraska ACRL Scholarly Communication Roadshow, University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Excerpt from the slides and presenter\u27s notes: Helps us see the lifecycle of research - why and how We have a lot of knowledge in this space because we know the resources and systems impact is based on -- we can act as thought leaders. Scholarly communication cycle involves “evaluating research and other scholarly writings for quality” (ARL, 2013). Librarians have always been part of the “impact” conversation from the perspective of the ways in which we help people. We provide budding researchers with access to seminal ideas in the field and help established researchers keep current with new information and ideas. We’ve provided recommendations to readers and developed magazines and services in order to promote particular books in particular genres. Awareness of impact in the scholarly impact can help: Strengthen the case for promotion or tenure / Quantify return on research investment for grant renewals and progress reports / Strengthen future funding requests by showing value of research / Understand an audience and learn how to appeal to them / Identify who is using the work and confirm that it is appropriately credited Identify collaborators within or outside of the subject area / Manage reputation

Impact & Assessment

In this session, we will discuss the increasing important role of impact and assessment, and how it affects everything from funding decisions, to the kind of services we offer, to what displays and exhibits we put on. We will discuss benefits and challenges of assessment, and offer ideas for next steps to implement or refine services related to impact and assessment

Understanding Scholarly Communication: Framing the Issues

This session will discuss the four pillars and the various actors in the scholarly communication system, identify current and historical disruptions in the research cycle, and help you to begin to visualize your role(s) in the scholarly communication cycle