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Abstract Pyruvate metabolism defects lead to severe neuropathies such as the Leigh syndrome (LS) but the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal cell death remain poorly understood. Here, we unravel a connection between pyruvate metabolism and the regulation of the epitranscriptome that plays an essential role during brain development. Using genetically engineered mouse model and primary neuronal cells, we identify the transcription factor E4F1 as a key coordinator of AcetylCoenzyme A (AcCoA) production by the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) and its utilization as an essential co-factor by the Elongator complex to acetylate tRNAs at the wobble position uridine 34 (U34). E4F1-mediated direct transcriptional regulation of Dlat and Elp3, two genes encoding key subunits of the PDC and of the Elongator complex, respectively, ensures proper translation fidelity and cell survival in the central nervous system (CNS) during mouse embryonic development. Furthermore, analysis of PDH-deficient cells highlight a crosstalk linking the PDC to ELP3 expression that is perturbed in LS patients.

Italian olive oil companies play a significant role in this nation's economy, which is among the top in the world for its geomorphological and meteorological characteristics. This research analyzed the performance of three profitability ratios (return on equity (R.O.E.), return on investment (R.O.I.), and return on sales (R.O.S.)) of 3184 companies from 2013 to 2022. Average ratios for each year and critical descriptive statistics were calculated. Broken lines and interpolating curves, obtained from sixth-degree polynomial equations maximizing R2, represent the trends. One-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer methods facilitated statistical comparisons between macro-regions. Despite the regular consumption of olive oil, the profitability of businesses has been erratic and fluctuating, probably due to the varying productivity of raw material crops. The pandemic seems to have had no impact. There are no statistically significant differences between macro-areas. The results are helpful to Italian and foreign entrepreneurs who can relate their situation to the average situation in context, highlighting possible gaps that, if negative, must be bridged with a timely management review. National and supranational political authorities can also use this study to orient the frequent support policies in the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors. So too can the bodies in charge of food education, especially for young people, can encourage the use of olive oil where it is lacking. The main limitation of this study was its focus on a small set of profitability ratios. In the future, the study should consider other profitability and asset ratios and investigate investments in sustainability, keeping in mind that all enterprises should contribute to developing eco-friendly production systems.

The paper presents a report that discusses the experience of participation of the authors in the EduHack, an online course designed to train university teachers in the use of digital techniques and learning strategies. This study highlights two issues of great interest in pandemic times. The first one is the structure and the organization of the EduHack course with some suggestions related to its improvement; the second one is Drag&Fly, the project idea of an e-learning web platform developed by the authors during the collaborative part of the course. The experience of participation to EduHack course has been analyzed by authors using concepts and categories of analysis widespread in the pragmatic theoretical tradition, enhancing the possibility of changing the teachers' approach to the design and the implementation of a higher education e-learning course.

Social media has significantly transformed how political discussions and deliberations occur, mainly by providing a digital realm for the public sphere. This study aims to analyse the extent of polarised opinions across Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom regarding COVID-19 during 2020 within social media. To do this, we examined YouTube comments (n=111,808) using automatic analysis and machine-learning techniques based on algorithms. This methodological strategy denoted an innovative and unique quantitative approach for this field of study. In line with previous research, the hypothesis was that the degree of polarization does not crystallize in the same manner in different countries' digital spheres. Therefore, it could be said that higher levels of polarization occur amongst Southern European countries like Spain and Italy (both countries adhering to a polarised pluralism model), compared to other countries ascribing to the liberal model (the United Kingdom in our study), which provides evidence supporting previous research studies. The results confirmed the hypothesis that the polarization of digital deliberation between Spain and Italy is higher than in the United Kingdom. But, also, the findings based on more disaggregated analysis suggest that the most polarized attitudes are even rewarded by other users in Mediterranean countries.

This paper examines some unpublished braziers, currently stored at the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto. Three of them are inscribed with the same anthroponym in the genitive case (Ἑκαταίου), while the remaining eight are anepigraphic. Braziers, which were used both in daily life and as domestic furnishings, were widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean during the Hellenistic period. These new findings further confirm the involvement of Taranto, along with some other Italian cities, in the trade and circulation of these objects throughout the Mediterranean area. This paper aims to provide an overview of this phenomenon, with a particular focus on the identity of Hekataios and the characteristics of his production.

From the perspective of circular economy, it is extremely useful to recycle waste products for human health applications. Among the health-beneficial properties of bioactive phyto-compounds, grape pomace represents a precious source of bioactive molecules with potential antitumor properties. Here, we describe the effects of a Sicilian grape pomace hydroalcoholic extract (HE) in colon and breast cancer cells. The characterization of HE composition revealed the predominance of anthoxanthins and phenolic acids. HE treatment was more effective in reducing the viability of colon cancer cells, while breast cancer cells appeared more resistant. Indeed, while colon cancer cells underwent apoptosis, as shown by DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation, and PARP1 degradation, breast cancer cells seemed to not undergo apoptosis. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated. Interestingly, ROS increased in both cell lines but, while in colon cancer, cells’ ROS rapidly increased and progressively diminished over time, in breast cancer, cells’ ROS increase was persistent up to 24 h. This effect was correlated with the induction of pro-survival autophagy, demonstrated by autophagosomes formation, autophagic markers increase, and protection by the antioxidant NAC. The autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin A1 significantly increased the HE effects in breast cancer cells but not in colon cancer cells. Overall, our data provide evidence that HE efficacy in tumor cells depends on a balance between ROS-mediated autophagy and apoptosis. Therefore, inhibiting pro-survival autophagy may be a tool to target those cells that appear more resistant to the effect of HE.

Detailed studies of the equiprobable auditory Go/NoGo task have allowed for the development of a sequential-processing model of the perceptual and cognitive processes involved. These processes are reflected in various components differentiating the Go and NoGo event-related potentials (ERPs). It has long been established that electroencephalography (EEG) changes through normal lifespan development. It is also known that ERPs and behaviour in the equiprobable auditory Go/NoGo task change from children to young adults, and again in older adults. Here, we provide a novel examination of links between in-task prestimulus EEG, poststimulus ERPs, and behaviour in three gender-matched groups: children (8–12 years), young adults (18–24 years), and older adults (59–74 years). We used a frequency Principal Component Analysis (f-PCA) to estimate prestimulus EEG components and a temporal Principal Component Analysis (t-PCA) to separately estimate poststimulus ERP Go and NoGo components in each age group to avoid misallocation of variance. The links between EEG components, ERP components, and behavioural measures differed markedly between the groups. The young adults performed best and accomplished this with the simplest EEG–ERP–behaviour brain dynamics pattern. The children performed worst, and this was reflected in the most complex brain dynamics pattern. The older adults showed some reduction in performance, reflected in an EEG–ERP–behaviour pattern with intermediate complexity between those of the children and young adults. These novel brain dynamics patterns hold promise for future developmental research.

Abstract Although the P300 event-related potential (ERP) is the most likely central measure of Sokolov’s Orienting Reflex (OR), there are few systematic comparisons with the skin conductance response (SCR), the “gold standard” electrodermal OR measure. We examine habituation, stimulus significance, and inter-stimulus interval (ISI) effects in SCRs and components of the P300 from single-trial ERPs in an auditory dishabituation paradigm. Single trial ERP components were separated by temporal principal components analysis, and five components of the P300 were examined as potential phasic OR measures: P3a, P3b, Novelty P3, and two Slow Waves (SW1, SW2). Across the factors of ISI and significance, SCRs showed decrement over trials, recovery at a deviant, and dishabituation at the subsequent standard. This general pattern was not present in any of the components of the P300. SCRs were also larger to significant stimuli and at the long ISI; effects differed between P300 components. The electrodermal SCR showed the complete profile over trials expected of the phasic OR, and was enhanced by stimulus significance, confirming it as the model measure of Sokolov’s phasic OR. Components of the P300 failed to match this profile, but instead appear to reflect different aspects of the stimulus processing involved in OR elicitation.

Background: Olfaction provides information on very important dimensions of the environment; however the olfactory abilities of children and young people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) remain largely unknown. This within-subjects study explores olfactory detection abilities in children with PIMD. Method: Twenty-two children and young people with PIMD (7-18 years) were presented with 18 medium intensity odours and an odourless control stimulus. Odorants were presented one by one in a randomised order. The neutral stimulus was presented prior to each odorant. Participants' responses were measured using 21 behavioural indicators. Results: Results show that participants make a clear distinction between odorous and neutral conditions, between food and non-food, and between pleasant and unpleasant odours. The detection abilities are manifested by several behaviours, in particular by the duration of the head alignment on the odorant. Conclusions: This study shows that participants detect the stimuli and act differently depending on the category.