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Oxygen (O2) supply is constantly maintained by the vascular network for a proper tissue oxygenation. Hypoxia is the result of an increased O2 demand and/or decreased supply and is common in both physiological conditions and human diseases. Angiogenesis is one of the adaptive responses to hypoxia and is mainly regulated by the hypoxia-inducible factors, HIFs. These heterodimeric transcription factors are composed of one of three O2-dependent a subunits (HIF-1, HIF-2, and HIF-3) and a constitutively expressed O2-insensitive subunit (HIF-1ß). Among them HIF-1a is the most characterized and its activity is tightly controlled. Under hypoxia, its intracellular accumulation triggers the transcription of several genes, involved in cell survival/proliferation, autophagy, apoptosis, cell metabolism, and angiogenesis. HIF pathway is also modulated by specific microRNAs (miRNAs), thus resulting in the variation of several cellular responses, including alteration of the angiogenic process. The pro-angiogenic activity of HIF-1a is not restricted to endothelial cells, as it also affects the behavior of other cell types, including tumor and inflammatory/immune cells. In this context, exosomes play a crucial role in cell-cell communication by transferring bio-active cargos such as mRNAs, miRNAs, and proteins (e.g., VEGFA mRNA, miR210, HIF-1a). This minireview will provide a synopsis of the multiple factors able to modulate hypoxia-induced angiogenesis especially in the tumor microenvironment context. Targeting hypoxia signaling pathways by upto-date approaches may be relevant in the design of therapeutic strategies in those pathologies where angiogenesis is dysregulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from the theoretical contributions of Shoshana Zuboff (2019) and Benjamin Bratton (2016), this article discusses the emergence of platform sovereignty in the context of deplatforming and deplatformization practices. Content moderation measures can be implemented by dominant subjects under exceptional circumstances, such as the Ukraine War, or in the aftermath of a coup d'etat, such as the Capitol Hill assault in 2021, and they underline the sovereign role of platforms vis à vis that of national states in the context of information and disinformation governance. This article analyzes deplatforming and deplatformization practices to highlight the leading principles of platform sovereignty: the radical indifference to social media communications and the defense of the data stack, which enable dominant platforms to maintain their superiority in the social media ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial introduction contextualizes seven articles examining developments in media communications against emerging and other Web-based technologies. The analysis combines to account for the role played by platforms and the tensions as well as innovations resulting from adaptations in user behaviors. From hologram-based haptics to online gaming, these technologies extend beyond many of the current considerations being given to artificial intelligence (AI) and the impact from machine learning technologies. Multiple technological developments contribute to the ongoing disruption that is redefining and repurposing global media ecology. Together, the seven articles chart the rise of emerging user behaviors and corollaries like the negotiating of platform logics and governance. Providing timely insight to developments in contemporary online culture, the Special Section prompts reevaluation of some time-honored media histories and epistemologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 health emergency increased disinformation's role and fostered a growing fragmentation between conflicting opinions on COVID-19 causes, vaccination policies, and government measures to deal with the pandemic. Studies have found that disinformation sources included private citizens, independent organizations, mainstream online newspapers and even public figures such as politicians, commentators, bloggers etc. In Italy, the Twitter debate ignited a conflict between mainstream positions in favour of restrictions, and more libertarian opinions extremely critical of government measures. Our research investigates, through a computational approach based on digital methods and social network analysis (SNA), opinion leaders' roles in the Italian green pass debate on Twitter that surfaced in the second half of 2021. Drawing on the classic two-step model of communication, our essay identifies the Italian opinion leaders on Twitter and their content dissemination strategies. Our analysis reveals a limited number of dominant voices interacting in segregated networks of users. These networks can be considered echo chambers given the verbose and self-referential tweeting activity of their opinion leaders. Moreover, such activity involves spreading disinformation and conspiracy theories through a dissemination strategy aimed at diverting the audience from Twitter, towards 'below-the-radar' environments (e.g. Rumble), where political views are more radical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of social media highlights controversial changes in the public sphere: new opportunities of access and expression in fact go alongside aberrant phenomena of extremist propaganda. In recent years, civil society institutions and bodies have responded to the wave of hatred and violence on social media through online awareness-raising campaigns aimed at combating ideological propaganda and offering alternative narratives to vulnerable individuals. The essay develops a critical reflection on some of these initiatives in view of social media affordances and the communication strategies adopted by promoters. What is the role of social media campaigns in consideration of the public sphere at risk? What are the limits and criticalities for issuers? What are the potential effects on audiences?. Starting with a number of case histories, the contribution highlights that issuers often find themselves facing the conservative dilemma between the possibility of using social media strategically and the risk of legitimising extremist organisations that use the same media channels. The study also reveals that awareness-raising messages, developed in the form of a counternarrative or alternative narrative, can trigger counterproductive actions such as the backfire effect which reinforce, rather than mitigate, the polarisation between individuals, particularly online, and which thereby invalidate the arguments and critical intentions of the campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]