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Antibiofilm Power of Basil Essential Oil Against Fish-Originated Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella and Bacillus spp.: Targeting Biofilms on Food Contact Surfaces
No full textThe antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy of two Ocimum basilicum L., essential oils sourced from Colombia (BEOC) and Italy (BEOI), was evaluated against multidrug-resistant fish isolates of Salmonella enterica subsp. salamae, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Bacillus oceanisediminis-species for which such activity has not been previously reported. Using a fish-based model system (FBMS), we found that BEOI, rich in linalool (69.86%), exhibited stronger antimicrobial activity than camphor-dominated BEOC (24.61%). The antimicrobial effects of both EOs were strain- and concentration-dependent, with minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) 3.75-15.0 mu L/mL for BEOI and 15.0-30.0 mu L/mL for BEOC. Pure linalool showed even greater potency (MBC: 0.0125 to 0.025 mu L/mL). Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that BEOI induced severe membrane damage (27% of the cells within 1 h), ultimately leading to the death of 96% of the cells after 24 h. Biofilm formation, assessed in both FBMS and tryptone soy broth (TSB), was strain-dependent, with FBMS promoting higher biofilm production than TSB. Moreover, significant differences in biofilm morphotypes were observed, with the morphotype PDAR (pink dry and rough), characterized by only cellulose, being the most frequently exhibited by the strains (7/15), while BDAR (brown dry and rough), characterized by only curli, was the least expressed (7/15); the remaining strains presented morphotype RDAR. In addition, the strains in polystyrene surfaces accumulated more biomass than stainless steel 304. Notably, BEOI and linaool significantly reduced biofilm formation across all strains, with a reduction of 90% in S. enterica subsp. salamae strains (TJC19 and TJC21. These strains with the RDAR phenotype likely contribute to their strong biofilm-forming capacity. Our findings highlight BEOI's potential as a natural anti-biofilm agent in food processing environments, offering a promising strategy to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria biofilm-related challenges in the food industry
La politica come techne del bene comune
No full textNell’opera “Europa e Post-Europa” di Patočka viene evidenziato il fenomeno della crisi dell’Europa che si sostanzia in un mutamento di modo di pensare l’Europa stessa, come vicenda intellettuale, che cessa di essere filosofia e diviene tecnica. Per Patočka, il predominio universale e pervasivo della tecnica, la conseguente riduzione della realtà a immenso serbatoio di energie e l’instaurazione di un ciclo di produzione continua appaiono come un paradossale e inquietante ritorno ad una condizione simile a quella pre-storica, in cui il mondo intero e l’esistenza stessa sono sottomessi all’unico scopo della ricerca, produzione e consumo dei mezzi necessari alla riproduzione della vita. Nella Post-Europa tutto è tecnica e la tecnica consiste in un modo di risolvere i problemi pratici, di realizzare un fine. Il carattere essenziale del Post-Europa è che tutto diviene calcolabile ed al mondo dell’esperienza comune viene sostituito il mondo dell’esperienza tecnica, che quindi diviene il luogo per risolvere problemi pratici. La tecnica coincide con la capacità pratica di raggiungere un determinato fine e la sua natura le consente di essere universale. La tecnica può essere universalizzata, ma non possono essere universalizzati i contenuti culturali o antropologici ed è proprio da questo che ha origine la crisi europea. Nel momento in cui l’Europa cessa di essere scienza filosofica e diviene scienza, anche la politica viene investita da questo mutamento, divenendo tecnica di costruzione sociale e di ricerca del consenso. Ben diversa è la visione aristotelica dove invece la politica è un’etica descrittiva che coincide con la filosofia pratica e consiste nella ricerca del bene supremo: la felicità. A questo punto occorre chiedersi se allo stato attuale sarebbe possibile effettuare un’inversione di tendenza nella concezione dell’Europa e se il ricorso alla filosofia di Aristotele possa essere di aiuto
Toxicological assessment of 2-methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one on physiological and antioxidant parameters in Mytilus galloprovincialis
No full textIsothiazolinones are biocides that play a key role in many industries, particularly as preservatives and antimicrobial agents. Among this class is 2-methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one (MIT), which has been classified as a human skin sensitizer by the European Commission Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (EC Regulation, 2008). In the current post-pandemic COVID-19 era, the increased use of these compounds has led to higher concentrations in various aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effects induced by MIT using the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) exposed to different concentrations of MIT (E1: 0.2 mg L−1 and E2: 0.4 mg L−1) for 14 days. Physiological and antioxidant responses in selected target tissues, including the haemolymph, gills, and digestive gland (DG), were evaluated. The alteration of the immune response was assessed through assays of haemocyte viability and phagocytosis capacity that showed significant alterations in the exposed groups compared to the control (CTRL) group. In addition, the cytotoxicity of DG cells was investigated by evaluating hepatocyte viability, showing a significant decrease in the E1 groups. Also, their ability to regulate cell volume when subjected to a hypotonic solution (Regulatory Volume Decrease assay, RVD). Furthermore, measurement of enzymatic markers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonylation, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in gills and DG, were performed. Data from these biochemical analyses also demonstrated significant alterations in the exposed groups with respect to the CTRL. Overall, findings showed significant alterations in physiological and antioxidant parameters in MIT-exposed groups, highlighting the potential toxicological impact of this compound. These results emphasize the need for further research to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying MIT toxicity
Insects in bioregenerative life support systems: unlocking their role in space sustainability
No full textLong-duration space missions and planetary colonization efforts will depend on Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) for sustainable food production, water recycling, and waste management. However, most BLSS research to date has focused almost exclusively on plants, with limited attention to animals and species-level ecological interactions. Here, we review 280 BLSS-focused studies and identify significant underrepresentation of insects and invertebrates, despite their multifunctional potential for nutrient recycling, protein production, and ecological resilience. Only 13 studies experimentally included insects, and these are rarely explored in interactions with other species in the system. Insects such as Acheta domesticus, Tenebrio molitor and Bombyx mori show promise but remain underexamined under space-relevant conditions. Comparisons with terrestrial circular food systems reveal parallel knowledge gaps but also highlight emerging evidence supporting invertebrates as integral components. We argue that closing these gaps will require targeted research on insect physiology and species interactions under space-like stressors such as microgravity and radiation. Drawing on insights from Earth-based circular food systems can accelerate the integration of multifunctional insect species into closed-loop space habitats. Addressing these gaps is essential to create robust, resilient bioregenerative systems that can support human life beyond Earth
Proteomic insights into broiler stress responses to LED lighting: Effects on liver proteome under neutral, cool, and warm spectra
No full textLight plays a critical role in poultry production, influencing broiler behavior, immune
function, and growth. Effective lighting management optimizes broiler health and
performance, with LED lighting emerging as an energy-efficient alternative to
traditional fluorescent lights. However, the molecular impacts of different LED
light spectra remain underexplored. This pilot study involved sixteen male broilers (four per treatment group), raised under four different lighting conditions. This
study used label-free quantitative proteomics to analyze liver protein expression
in broilers (3.30±0.20kg live weight) raised under Neutral (K=3300−3700), Cool
(K=5500−6000), and Warm (K=3000−2500) LED lighting compared to Control
neon lights (n=4 per group). On average, 1,181 proteins were identified, primarily involved in cellular functions, metabolism, regulation, localization, and stress
responses. Minimal differences were observed between Neutral and Warm LED
lighting and Control lighting, with only six and eight proteins differentially expressed.
In contrast, Cool LED lighting resulted in significant changes, with 81 proteins
differentially expressed. These differences were statistically significant based on
the following criteria: a p-value<0.05 from ANOVA, at least two matched peptides,
and a fold-change in abundance of ≥1.5. Key findings include the up-regulation of
ribosome-binding protein 1 and ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) under Control lighting,
linked to stress adaptation. Cool LED lighting triggered up-regulation of proteins
associated with aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, suggesting stress-related responses.
These results obtained in this pilot study indicate that Neutral and Warm LED lighting positively influence the liver proteome hepatic adaptation in broilers, while Cool
LEDs may induce stress-related responses in the liver
Barreiras de acessibilidade e percepção háptica - Cognição estético-criativa como uma linguagem comum entre pessoas videntes e com deficiência visual
No full textIl capitolo analizza le barriere di accessibilità nei musei e propone l’adozione della percezione aptica come linguaggio estetico comune tra persone vedenti e non vedenti. Paolini parte dal pregiudizio che associa l’arte unicamente alla vista, ribaltandolo attraverso esempi storici e contemporanei di musei tattili, come il Museo Omero, e di esperienze multimediali basate su automazione e robotica. La riflessione evidenzia come la fruizione estetica sia innanzitutto un atto immaginativo e creativo, accessibile a tutti indipendentemente dalle capacità sensoriali. Tecnologie emergenti – realtà aumentata, virtuale e interfacce aptiche – permettono di superare i limiti delle riproduzioni fisiche, offrendo percorsi museali universali, economicamente sostenibili e capaci di integrare contenuti culturali senza separare i pubblici. L’autrice conclude che l’integrazione di soluzioni tecnologiche avanzate rappresenta una via per costruire esperienze museali realmente inclusive, fondate su un’estetica condivisa e multisensoriale.The chapter explores accessibility barriers in museums and argues for the use of haptic perception as a shared aesthetic language between sighted and visually impaired individuals. Paolini challenges the prejudice that links art exclusively to vision, illustrating through historical and contemporary examples—such as the Museo Omero—and experimental projects in robotics and automation. She emphasizes that aesthetic experience is fundamentally rooted in imagination and creativity, thus universally accessible regardless of sensory abilities. Emerging technologies—augmented reality, virtual reality, and haptic interfaces—can overcome the limitations of physical reproductions, enabling universal museum pathways that are both economically sustainable and inclusive. The chapter concludes that integrating advanced technological solutions offers a path toward fully accessible museum experiences, fostering a multisensory and shared form of aesthetic cognition
Gene expression dynamics in Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis treated with Thymus vulgaris and Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum essential oils
No full textEssential oils (EOs) hold significant potential as antimicrobials in food, due to their high concentration of active phenolic compounds. These compounds can target bacterial cells through various mechanisms, such as membrane disruption, quorum sensing inhibition, and interference in virulence factors, affecting microorganisms at a genomic level. Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis are key foodborne bacteria that could be managed using these natural preservatives. The present study investigated the effects of stress induced by applying Thymus vulgaris and Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum EOs on genetic modifications in B. cereus 11 and B. subtilis 58C strains isolated from shelf-stable gnocchi, through their gene expression analysis by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Sublethal EO concentrations were tested, at increasing time intervals (6, 12, 18, 24, and 48 h). Most of the genes were downregulated at 6 h, indicating that the stressful situation prolonged the lag phase. Only spo0A for both B. cereus and B. subtilis, and pbpF and sigB for B. subtilis were upregulated after 6 h, suggesting an attempt to restore cellular communication and repair membrane damage. The pbpF gene was the most significant in the stress response of B. subtilis. Conversely, B. cereus responded through different mechanisms, primarily driven by the plcR and nheB genes, illustrating the role of virulence mechanisms in its stress response. In both strains, the genes were generally more upregulated at a higher concentration of EO (0.58 mg/mL), which was more stimulating than at 0.29 mg/mL. Moreover, the two EOs elicited variable stress responses, which implies different cellular mechanisms and genes in the same microorganism. Therefore, the outcomes of this study suggest that the action of the two EOs mainly influenced cell membrane integrity and quorum sensing mechanisms, with differences in the genes involved for the two species and the two EOs
Passaggi generazionali: ambito applicativo dell’esenzione dopo la riforma fiscale
No full textThis document comments on the Italian Revenue Agency's Ruling no. 271 of October 27, 2025, which applies for the first time the tax reform's revised provision (Art. 3, paragraph 4-ter of Legislative Decree no. 346/1990) concerning generational transfers.
The key takeaway is that the exemption from donation tax for the transfer of company shares to descendants also applies to holding companies. This ruling confirms that the requirement to continue the business activity applies only to transfers of companies or business branches, not to transfers of shares or quotas
Gender Gap in Physical Activity: The Role of Conflicts and Political Instability
No full textThis article takes as its starting point the warnings issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the perverse effects of a sedentary lifestyle on people’s
health, resulting in additional health expenditure that diverts significant resources
away from other areas of public spending. The research aims to empirically verify whether intra- and inter-state conflicts and political instability are associated with less active lifestyles among citizens, and whether sedentary lifestyles exacerbated by violent contexts have a different impact on men and women. The analysis is conducted by cross-referencing data on physical inactivity fromWHOand data about ongoing conflicts and political instability in 192 countries from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) for the period 2000–2022. Despite the limitations due to the macroeconomic nature of the data compared to the microeconomic theoretical framework and the sensitivity of the results due to the introduction of education variables that distort the sample by reducing the amount of data for the poorest countries, our analysis showed a statistically significant negative association between the presence of inter- or intra-state conflicts and/or political instability, and physical activity. Furthermore, the analysis shows that the negative effects of the presence of conflict contexts on physical activity are not distributed evenly between men and women, being more intense for the latter. To our knowledge, this is the first study that attempts to verify, at the macroeconomic level, the effect of violence and instability on physical inactivity. The shift from a microeconomic approach to macroeconomic analysis represents the main limitation of this study, but it nevertheless is a first attempt to verify how contexts pervaded by violence can generate less healthy lifestyles and how these can, albeit only in part, explain gender differences in sedentary behavior