Attention and the subject of depiction some remarks on Husserl’s approach to the function of attention in phantasy, image consciousness and pictorial experience

This study aims at exposing the phenomenological description of attention as presented by Husserl in his 1904-05 Göttingen-lecture Principal Parts of the Phenomenology and Theory of Knowledge, in its relevance for the study of so-called “intuitive re-presentations”, that is, phantasy and image-consciousness. Starting with the exposition of the fundamental traits of the intentional theory of attention, this study discusses the definition of attention in the terms of meaning [Meinen] and interest, which allows it to become an encompassing modification of all kinds of lived experiences that does not imply an alteration of their act-character (Husserl, 2004: 73). We refer to this character of attention as “plasticity”. In what follows, the study underlines these two definitions of attention and their importance for the understanding of phantasy and image-consciousness. Both kinds of re-presentations will be described stressing the role of attention in the “structuring” of the intentional act and in its affective basis. Finally, the study deals more specifically with the complex description of image consciousness from the viewpoint of the attentional meaning of the image subject

The Intentional Structure of Image: Attentive Meaning and Image Consciousness in Husserl’s Phenomenology = La estructura intencional de la imagen. Mentar atencional y conciencia de imagen en la fenomenología de Husserl

This article considers Edmund Husserl's description of image consciousness from the viewpoint of the role played by attentive meaning (meinen) in the intention of the image subject. We argue that the intention of the image subject has to be interpreted in the sense of the attentive meaning as presented in the second part of Husserl's 1904/5 lecture on Phenomenology and Theory of Knowledge. Attentive meaning performs 1) the segregation of a specific apprehension along with the attentive articulation of experience, and 2), as a formative and preferential function, it introduces a difference in the objective consideration. First, we explain the connection between apprehension, attentive meaning, and object; then, we clarify the relationship between apprehension and attentive meaning in image consciousness in the 1898 manuscripts and the 1904 lecture; finally, we set forth the motivation for the intending of the image subject on the basis of the image apprehension.Este artículo considera la descripción de Edmund Husserl de la conciencia de imagen desde el punto de vista del papel que desempeña el mentar atencional (meinen) en la intención del sujeto que aparece en la imagen. Argumentamos que la intención del sujeto que aparece en la imagen tiene que interpretarse en el sentido del mentar atencional tal como se presenta en la segunda parte del curso de Husserl de 1904/05 sobre Fenomenología y teoría del conocimiento. El mentar atencional realiza 1) la segregación de una aprehensión específica junto con la articulación atenta de la experiencia, y 2), como función configuradora y privilegiante, introduce una diferencia en la consideración del objeto. En primer lugar, explicamos la conexión entre aprehensión, mentar atencional y objeto; a continuación, aclaramos la relación entre aprehensión y mentar atencional en la conciencia de imagen en los manuscritos de 1898 y en el curso de 1904/05; por último, exponemos la motivación de la intencionalidad del sujeto que aparece en la imagen sobre la base de la aprehensión de la imagen

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation (in Vitro and in Vivo) of Cyclic RGD Peptidomimetic - Paclitaxel Conjugates Targeting Integrin alphaVbeta3

A small library of integrin ligand - Paclitaxel conjugates 10-13 was synthesized with the aim of using the tumor-homing cyclo[DKP-RGD] peptidomimetics for site-directed delivery of the cytotoxic drug. All the Paclitaxel-RGD constructs 10-13 inhibited biotinylated vitronectin binding to the purified alphaVbeta3 integrin receptor at low nanomolar concentration and showed in vitro cytotoxic activity against a panel of human tumor cell lines similar to that of Paclitaxel. Among the cell lines, the cisplatin-resistant IGROV-1/Pt1 cells expressed high levels of integrin alphaVbeta3, making them attractive to be tested in in vivo models. Cyclo[DKP-f3-RGD]-PTX 11 displayed sufficient stability in physiological solution and in both human and murine plasma to be a good candidate for in vivo testing. In tumor-targeting experiments against the IGROV-1/Pt1 human ovarian carcinoma xenotransplanted in nude mice, compound 11 exhibited a superior activity than Paclitaxel, despite the lower (ca. half) molar dosage used

Preferential Paths of Air-water Two-phase Flow in Porous Structures with Special Consideration of Channel Thickness Effects.

Accurate understanding and predicting the flow paths of immiscible two-phase flow in rocky porous structures are of critical importance for the evaluation of oil or gas recovery and prediction of rock slides caused by gas-liquid flow. A 2D phase field model was established for compressible air-water two-phase flow in heterogenous porous structures. The dynamic characteristics of air-water two-phase interface and preferential paths in porous structures were simulated. The factors affecting the path selection of two-phase flow in porous structures were analyzed. Transparent physical models of complex porous structures were prepared using 3D printing technology. Tracer dye was used to visually observe the flow characteristics and path selection in air-water two-phase displacement experiments. The experimental observations agree with the numerical results used to validate the accuracy of phase field model. The effects of channel thickness on the air-water two-phase flow behavior and paths in porous structures were also analyzed. The results indicate that thick channels can induce secondary air flow paths due to the increase in flow resistance; consequently, the flow distribution is different from that in narrow channels. This study provides a new reference for quantitatively analyzing multi-phase flow and predicting the preferential paths of immiscible fluids in porous structures

Presynaptic adenosine receptor-mediated regulation of diverse thalamocortical short-term plasticity in the mouse whisker pathway

Short-term synaptic plasticity (STP) sets the sensitivity of a synapse to incoming activity and determines the temporal patterns that it best transmits. In “driver” thalamocortical (TC) synaptic populations, STP is dominated by depression during stimulation from rest. However, during ongoing stimulation, lemniscal TC connections onto layer 4 neurons in mouse barrel cortex express variable STP. Each synapse responds to input trains with a distinct pattern of depression or facilitation around its mean steady-state response. As a result, in common with other synaptic populations, lemniscal TC synapses express diverse rather than uniform dynamics, allowing for a rich representation of temporally varying stimuli. Here, we show that this STP diversity is regulated presynaptically. Presynaptic adenosine receptors of the A1R type, but not kainate receptors (KARs), modulate STP behavior. Blocking the receptors does not eliminate diversity, indicating that diversity is related to heterogeneous expression of multiple mechanisms in the pathway from presynaptic calcium influx to neurotransmitter release

Tumor Microenvironment In Experimental Models Of Human Cancer: Morphological Investigational Approaches

Introduction. Tumor microenvironment (TME) is defined as the non-tumoral part of tumors. It is composed of different cell populations and structures (such as tumor-associated vasculature, immune-inflammatory cells, fibroblasts…) (Hanahan and Coussens, 2012). TME could either promote or antagonize tumor growth and has a great potential as target for novel therapeutic strategies. Along with several methods (i.e. molecular assays), morphological techniques allow to evaluate the components of TME in the setting of their action. The aim of this work was to set up and define valuable morphological approaches useful in the investigation of the TME.Materials and methods. Histological and immunohistochemical techniques, along with digital image analysis, were tested on experimental mouse models (both xenograft and genetically engineered mice) of four different human tumors (ovarian cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), colon adenocarcinoma, thyroid carcinoma).Results. Concerning the vascular compartment, CD31 immunostaining and double-immunofluorescence with CD31 and a-SMA (pericytes marker) allowed to respectively quantify vessels and evaluate their maturation degree. Immunohistochemical detection of previously administrated Pimonidazole, revealed variable extended areas of hypoxia within tumoral masses in a consistent pattern between frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples.Concerning the stromal component, anti-human MHC I and specie-specific markers for Vimentin demonstrated the host-derivation of stroma in xenotumors, while Sirius Red histochemical staining allowed the quantification of desmoplasia in models of PDAC.Concerning immune-inflammatory cells, an immunohistochemical panel with CD3 (T lymphocytes), B220 (B lymphocytes), MPO (neutrophils) and Iba-1 (macrophages), showed high reliability in characterizing the tumoral infiltrate. Moreover, the application of markers specific for different macrophage subsets confirmed the higher prevalence of M2 (Arginase I positive) on M1 (iNOS positive) macrophages. YM1 demonstrated a low performance in detecting the M2 population (Fig. 1).Discussion and conclusions. Due to the microenvironmental heterogeneity which influence tumor development and biological behavior, a sole quantification is unreliable for characterizing the TME. Considering that, morphological techniques proved to be a valuable approach, allowing the evaluation of the spatial distribution and mutual interaction between the different elements. Additional studies are needed for further investigate the biological significance of spatial distribution of the components of the TME

Identification and Preliminary Validation in Mouse Models of Circulating Biomarkers of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal oncological malignancies in humans. Not-specific symptoms and lack of early diagnostic strategies, frequently lead to late diagnosis which limited therapeutic possibilities (Korc, 2007). The present study aimed at identifying novel potential serum biomarkers for early detection of PDAC.In the first phase, two different mouse models of PDAC were characterized: genetically engineered mice (GEMs) (Hingorani et al., 2003) which developed PanIN (pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia) lesions and three PDAC patient-derived xenograft.In the second phase, the two mouse models were used to evaluate the reliability of 3 circulating molecules as early diagnostic biomarkers of PDAC. The plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) and thrombospondin-2 (THBS-2) were tested on GEMs and PDAC-PDXs bearing mice by ELISA tests, during tumor development, and at sacrifice by immunohistochemistry performed on pancreatic tissue.The three established PDAC-PDXs were found to better reproduce the tumor of origin after intra-pancreas transplantation compared to the subcutaneous ones, and to maintain molecular and morphological features over different passages.At sacrifice, histopathological analysis demonstrated different stages of PanIN lesions in GEMs and the presence of a well-developed pancreatic tumor in all the mice orthotopically inoculated with the PDAC-PDXs.Plasma levels of MMP-7, TIMP-1 and THBS-2 were progressively upregulated, over the time, in GEMs and in PDAC-PDX bearing mice.In both animal models, immunohistochemistry revealed stromal immunoreactivity for TIMP-1 and THBS-2, while MMP-7 expression was mainly localized on epithelial cells. All the markers showed progressive increase of staining intensity along with PanIN progression.In conclusion, the investigated circulating molecules represent promising biomarkers for early diagnosis of PDAC and to monitor the response to treatment in human patients. Both tumoral cells and associated stroma play a role in the production and release of such biomarkers