Where has the protest gone? Populist attitudes and electoral flows in Italian political turmoil

What happens when anti-establishment political actors gain strength, enter institutions, and even become the new establishment? To what extent are their electoral profiles and the demands behind them normalised by the system? This article uses ITANES surveys to investigate voters’ reactions to the different paths taken by the three main protagonists of the 2016-2020 Italian populist wave: the M5S, the Lega, and FDI. In particular, it uses panel data to study the evolution of populist attitudes and protest drivers, as well as their connection with electoral flows and parties’ strategic choices. The most striking change concerns the redefinition of the political outlook of 5-star voters, who have significantly reduced their populist stances. However, the transformation of the M5S into a government party produced significant outflows of voters who already in 2016 expressed greater resentment towards political elites. These dynamics have largely favoured parties of the populist right – the Lega and then especially FDI – which have preserved or even reinforced their (electoral) profile as anti-establishment parties.

Epistasis shapes the fitness landscape of an allosteric specificity switch

Epistasis is a major determinant in the emergence of novel protein function. In allosteric proteins, direct interactions between inducer-binding mutations propagate through the allosteric network, manifesting as epistasis at the level of biological function. Elucidating this relationship between local interactions and their global effects is essential to understanding evolution of allosteric proteins. We integrate computational design, structural and biophysical analysis to characterize the emergence of novel inducer specificity in an allosteric transcription factor. Adaptive landscapes of different inducers of the designed mutant show that a few strong epistatic interactions constrain the number of viable sequence pathways, revealing ridges in the fitness landscape leading to new specificity. The structure of the designed mutant shows that a striking change in inducer orientation still retains allosteric function. Comparing biophysical and functional properties suggests a nonlinear relationship between inducer binding affinity and allostery. Our results highlight the functional and evolutionary complexity of allosteric proteins.

Mapping Potential Determinants of Peroxidative Activity in an Evolved Fungal Peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerita

Fungal unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) are hybrid biocatalysts with peroxygenative activity that insert oxygen into non-activated compounds, while also possessing convergent peroxidative activity for one electron oxidation reactions. In several ligninolytic peroxidases, the site of peroxidative activity is associated with an oxidizable aromatic residue at the protein surface that connects to the buried heme domain through a long-range electron transfer (LRET) pathway. However, the peroxidative activity of these enzymes may also be initiated at the heme access channel. In this study, we examined the origin of the peroxidative activity of UPOs using an evolved secretion variant (PaDa-I mutant) from Agrocybe aegerita as our point of departure. After analyzing potential radical-forming aromatic residues at the PaDa-I surface by QM/MM, independent saturation mutagenesis libraries of Trp24, Tyr47, Tyr79, Tyr151, Tyr265, Tyr281, Tyr293 and Tyr325 were constructed and screened with both peroxidative and peroxygenative substrates. These mutant libraries were mostly inactive, with only a few functional clones detected, none of these showing marked differences in the peroxygenative and peroxidative activities. By contrast, when the flexible Gly314-Gly318 loop that is found at the outer entrance to the heme channel was subjected to combinatorial saturation mutagenesis and computational analysis, mutants with improved kinetics and a shift in the pH activity profile for peroxidative substrates were found, while they retained their kinetic values for peroxygenative substrates. This striking change was accompanied by a 4.5°C enhancement in kinetic thermostability despite the variants carried up to four consecutive mutations. Taken together, our study proves that the origin of the peroxidative activity in UPOs, unlike other ligninolytic peroxidases described to date, is not dependent on a LRET route from oxidizable residues at the protein surface, but rather it seems to be exclusively located at the heme access channel.

Comparison of various regimens of itraconazole in treatment of acute vulvovaginal candidiasis

One of the most striking change in the current scenario is the increasing occurrence of non-albicans vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), which is considered as the major cause of recurrence, relapse and chronic VVC in India. In the present study we evaluated the effectiveness of three different regimens of itraconazole in the treatment of acute VVC.The present randomised, three arm comparative clinical study involved 123 women aged 18 years or above with symptomatic acute VVC. These patients were randomised (41 patients in each group) to receive either itraconazole 200 mg twice daily for 1 day (group I), 200 mg twice daily for 2 days (group II) or 100 mg twice daily for 3 days (group III). Effectiveness was evaluated on the basis of clinical cure (total symptom score), mycological cure (negative KOH test). All the groups were effective in relieving signs and symptoms (p<0.05), but on comparison between all groups, there was statistical difference between Group II and Group I & III (p<0.05) and Group III & I (p<0.05). Complete cure i.e. disappearance of signs and symptoms and negative KOH test was maximum in group II (44%) as compared to groups I (12%) and III (17% of the patients). Relapse was least in seen in 11 patients (27%) in Group I, 3 patients (7%) in Group II and 7 patients (17%) in Group III. All the 3 regimens were well tolerated.In the present study, 2 day high dose itraconazole therapy was found to have better effectiveness compared to conventional regimens. Longer duration of therapy might be required to attain even better cure rates, especially when the incidence of Non Albicans vulvovaginal candidiasis is rising in all parts of the country.

Dynamic Function and Composition Shift in Circulating Innate Immune Cells in Hibernating Garden Dormice

Hibernation is characterized by successive torpor bouts during which metabolic rate is down-regulated to 2–4% of euthermic levels along with core body temperatures (Tb) ranging between 0 and 10°C. One characteristic of the torpid state, which is periodically interrupted by a few hours of euthermic phases or arousals during hibernation, resides in an overall impairment of the immune system. The most striking change during torpor is the reduction of circulating white blood cells up to 90%, while their numbers rise to near summer euthermic level upon rewarming. However, potential changes in responsiveness and function of neutrophil granulocytes, accounting for the primary cellular innate immune defense, are unknown. Here we present the first data on shifts in oxidative burst capacity, i.e., the ability to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), of neutrophils during hibernation. Using a chemiluminescence assay, we measured real-time ROS production in whole blood of hibernating garden dormice (Eliomys quercinus) in early or late torpor, and upon arousals. Accounting for changes in neutrophil numbers along the torpor-arousal cycle, we found significant differences, between torpid and euthermic states, in the neutrophil oxidative burst capacity (NOC), with shallow cell responses during torpor and a highly significant increase by up to 30-fold during arousals. Further, we observed a significant reduction of NOC from aroused animals with euthermic Tb of 36.95 ± 0.37°C, when tested at 6°C, whereas no change occurred in NOC from torpid individuals reaching constant Tb of 4.67 ± 0.42°C, when measured at 35°C. This dynamic indicates that the reduction in NOC during torpor may be temperature-compensated. These results linked to the understanding of immune function during the torpor-arousal cycle might have clinical relevance in the context of therapeutic hypothermia and reperfusion injury.

Coastal lows climatology along the Chilean coast using ERA5 reanalysis

<p>Coastal lows are prevalent along the coast of Chile. They are thermal lows that propagate poleward. The leading edge of the coastal low is associated with easterly winds, warm surface temperatures and clear skies. They are forced by the reversal of the typical meridional pressure gradient by the passage of synoptic scale high pressure systems embedded in the extratropical storm track. Coastal lows are an important feature of Southwestern South America, as they are involved in some of the major air pollution episodes in Central Chile, as well as are a factor in summertime bushfire events. Similar coastally trapped disturbances occur in Southeastern Australia, South Africa and the west coast of North America.</p><p>In this work, we characterize the climatology of coastal lows in Chile using surface pressure, wind and geopotential height at 500 hPa from the ERA5 reanalysis (1979 to 2018). These high resolution fields allow, for the first time, to characterize the behavior of coastal lows in the mesoscale, which were only coarsely represented in previous reanalyses. We identify the events using a method based on the drop of surface pressure and winds from the associated coastal low level jet. We found an average of 39 events per year, developing mostly during winter and spring. We found that the coastal low demise occurs typically at around 19:00 Local Time. We also characterize the propagation speed of the low along the coast finding a very striking change from about 40 m/s north of 30ºS to about 17 m/s south of 30ºS. We will discuss our findings in the light of dynamical theories proposed for the propagation of these disturbances.</p>

The “technological turn” in translation studies

For over two decades, Translation Studies (TS) scholars have argued that the discipline is going through a ‘technological turn’. This paper critically questions whether TS has already completed this “paradigmatic” or “disciplinary turn,” “a clearly visible and striking” change of direction that can “perhaps even [amount] to a redefinition of the subject concerned” (Snell-Hornby 2010, 366). After a revision of the notion of ‘turn’ in TS, it will be argued that the ‘technological’ one has been completed and it can, in fact, be assessed “after it is already complete” (ibid). It will be shown how the emergence and consolidation of this turn were “driven not by theoretical developments in cognate areas of inquiry,” but are an “emergent property from new forms of translation practice” (Cronin 2010, 1). As a consequence, it has permeated TS across its different subdisciplines, both in their theoretical apparatus and/or in their research methodologies. In this examination, the picture that emerges is that translation, across TS, has in fact been redefined in one way or another as an instance of “human-computer interaction,” even in contexts such as literary translation.

Evolutionary history of zoogeographical regions surrounding the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) and surrounding regions have one of the most complex biotas on Earth. However, the evolutionary history of these regions in deep time is poorly understood. Here, we quantify the temporal changes in beta dissimilarities among zoogeographical regions during the Cenozoic using 4,966 extant terrestrial vertebrates and 1,278 extinct mammal genera. We identify ten present-day zoogeographical regions and find that they underwent a striking change over time. Specifically, the fauna on the TP was close to the Oriental realm in deep time but became more similar to the Palearctic realms more recently. The present-day zoogeographical regions generally emerged during the Miocene/Pliocene boundary (ca. 5 Ma). These results indicate that geological events such as the Indo-Asian Collision, the TP uplift, and the aridification of the Asian interior underpinned the evolutionary history of the zoogeographical regions surrounding the TP over different time periods.

Economic and Financial Implications of E-Banking in India

Electronic Banking act, perhaps, the newest ways to provide comfort to the customer in regards to fiscal transactions. The significant idea is to provide a movement of organizations to the customer in the course of the web and cause the customer to feel versatile in getting out straightforward undertakings quicker rather than step over the bank unfailingly. Now, assured, for the most part, pleasing and less danger orchestrated looked by using banking parts the utilization of E-commerce. Electronic Banking is treated to significantly influence banks’ exhibition. An ever-increasing number of individuals are adjusting to this procedure, and the financial business will unquestionably expand. The development of E-Banking started with the usage of ATMs and has incorporated mobile banking, direct invoice section, E-store, and online banking. The present research shows that effective use based on Electronic Banking can empower their nearest banks to reduce working costs and give an unrivaled and snappy help of their customer. It gives a comprehension into various piece of Electronic Banking. The move from the proper banking to Electronic Banking has been a striking change in Indian financial history. In this way, Electronic Banking today ends up being a solid creative instrument in conveying refined and improved administrations to clients. This examination uncovers that the economic and financial implications associated with Electronic Banking in India.

Cephalopod mating systems as models for the study of sexual selection and alternative reproductive tactics: a review

Cephalopods are a remarkable group for studies on sexual selection, due to their complex reproductive behavior, pronounced sexual dimorphism, polygamous behavior, as well as cumulative evidence of pre- and postcopulatory male-male competition and female choice in the group. is paper provides a review of sexual selection studies on cephalopods, with an emphasis on the loliginid squid mating system. In this system, males may adopt alternative reproductive tactics (ART) and display male intrasexual dimorphism, with each morph generally exhibiting distinct behaviors and ejaculate traits. Consort males typically transfer ejaculates to the female mantle cavity, while sneaker males typically transfer ejaculates to the female buccal region, where a sperm storage organ is located. Each site provides distinct fertilization environments for the ejaculates of each morph, differing in the availability of eggs, gamete protection, and timing between mating and fertilization. Accordingly, the ejaculates of each morph show putative adaptations for each site, differing in size, morphology, sperm release duration, and sperm behavior. Although solid evidence is lacking for most loliginids, cryptic female choice may occur in this system through, for example, spermatangia removal or egg string manipulation during fertilization. In addition, recent evidence for one loliginid species indicates that adoption of male ART is ontogenetic and may represent two alternative pathways: from immature males (i) directly to consort phenotype or (ii) going through a sneaker phase, then switching to consort morph. The second pathway would, therefore, imply striking change in behavior, physiology, and ejaculates. Moreover, data on the age of this species suggests that the adoption of sneaker tactic early in life may be associated with extending the male mating period by 25%. With such a peculiar system, loliginids should prove useful not only for comprehending the evolution of female promiscuity and ART in cephalopods, but also as an emerging nonvertebrate and nonarthropod model for testing sperm competition models.