Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - Università dell'Insubria
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Biofilm formation on polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics in freshwater: Influence of environmental factors
Get PDFTo overcome the environmental challenges posed by conventional plastics, new alternative plastic materials are being developed and increasingly used. However, their fate in the natural environment is still poorly understood. This study compared biofilm formation on polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics (MPs) under different conditions i.e. water regimes (static and moving conditions), nutrient levels (excess of nitrogen and phosphorus), light exposure (light and dark), and pollution levels (presence and absence of wastewater). Although PE and PLA differ in their composition and physico-chemical properties, the processes of aging and biofilm formation on both materials exhibited many similarities. Light availability had the strongest influence, as the formation of biofilm on both PE and PLA was suppressed in the dark, as shown by reduced biomass, chlorophyll a content, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The availability of nutrients influenced the composition of the biofilm. High N:P ratios favoured photosynthetic microorganisms with increased chlorophyll a and EPS content, while phosphorus enrichment reduced their presence. Pollution, simulated by adding sterilized municipal wastewater, slightly reduced total biofilm mass but supported the growth of photosynthetic microorganisms. Static condition led to the formation of elongated microbial structures. Biofilm growth altered the density of MPs (increasing for PE, decreasing for PLA), reaching similar to 1.1 g/cm(3) for both, suggesting biofilminduced sedimentation. Crystallinity of both PE and PLA decreased by 9-30 % due to the presence of biofilm, which has amorphous structure. The multivariate analysis confirmed environmental factors as primary drivers of biofilm development over polymer type
Supernova pointing capabilities of DUNE
No full textThe determination of the direction of a stellar core collapse via its neutrino emission is crucial for the identification of the progenitor for a multimessenger follow-up. A highly effective method of reconstructing supernova directions within the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is introduced. The supernova neutrino pointing resolution is studied by simulating and reconstructing electron-neutrino charged-current absorption on (Formula presented) and elastic scattering of neutrinos on electrons. Procedures to reconstruct individual interactions, including a newly developed technique called “brems flipping,” as well as the burst direction from an ensemble of interactions are described. Performance of the burst direction reconstruction is evaluated for supernovae happening at a distance of 10 kpc for a specific supernova burst flux model. The pointing resolution is found to be 3.4 degrees at 68% coverage for a perfect interaction-channel classification and a fiducial mass of 40 kton, and 6.6 degrees for a 10 kton fiducial mass respectively. Assuming a 4% rate of charged-current interactions being misidentified as elastic scattering, DUNE’s burst pointing resolution is found to be 4.3 degrees (8.7 degrees) at 68% coverage
Ethical tensions and professional attitudes toward circulatory death organ donation in the ICU: a systematic review
No full textPurpose: Donation after circulatory death (DCD) represents a valuable opportunity to expand the organ donor pool. However, its implementation in intensive care units (ICUs) remains ethically and emotionally complex. ICU healthcare professionals (HCPs) play a pivotal role in this process, yet their attitudes, knowledge, and perceived challenges are not fully understood. This systematic review aimed to explore ICU HCPs’ attitudes (as defined by Rosenberg and Hovland) toward controlled DCD (cDCD). Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies published until March 2025 in four databases. Eligible studies included original research reporting ICU-specific data on HCPs’ attitudes toward DCD. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A structured narrative synthesis was performed. Results: Twenty-five studies involving 3,878 HCPs were included. Overall, support for DCD was evident though it remained lower than for donation after brain death. Ethical concerns focused on potential conflicts of interest between the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment and the pursuit of organ donation, the timing of withdrawal, the urgency of organ retrieval, and the challenge of balancing compassionate end-of-life care with procedural imperatives. Common barriers included the lack of standardized protocols, insufficient training, and uncertainty surrounding death determination. Conclusions: While ICU HCPs generally support DCD, significant ethical tensions and systemic barriers persist. Institutional efforts should focus on implementing clear protocols, promoting interprofessional education, and providing emotional support to ensure ethical integrity and staff well-being. Future research should explore differences in attitudes between uDCD and cDCD and work toward the development of validated tools to assess professional attitudes
L’Università degli Studi dell’Insubria e l’arte contemporanea: un bilancio dei primi 25 anni di studio e valorizzazione delle collezioni
No full textBetween 1998, the year the University of Insubria was founded, and 1999 two exhibitions were organized which created an enduring relationship between contemporary art and the new University. Since 2018, the academic center has undertaken a series of initiatives to study, enhanced, set up and increase a first nucleus of art works which have become part of its heritage, musealized in the monumental rooms of the Rectorate, formerly a women's college with an adjoining church which will be converted into a multipurpose cultural space and university museum.
The recognition of an art collection is today part of the broader Governance project, responding to scientific, educational and popular purposes, which satisfy the commitment envisaged by the policies of the Third Mission and Public Engagement, aimed at building a long lasting relationship with the cultural and social context of Varese
One function, many faces: functional convergence in the gut microbiomes of european marine and freshwater fish unveiled by Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis.
Get PDFIntestinal microbiota populations are constantly shaped by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including diet, environment, and host genetics. As a result, understanding how to assess, monitor, and exploit microbiome–host interplay remains an active area of investigation, especially in aquaculture. In this study, we analyzed the taxonomic structure and functional potential of the intestinal microbiota of European sea bass and rainbow trout, incorporating gilthead sea bream as a final reference. The results showed that the identified core microbiota (40 taxa for sea bass and 20 for trout) held a central role in community organization, despite taxonomic variability, and exhibited a predominant number of positive connections (>60% for both species) with the rest of the microbial community in a Bayesian network. From a functional perspective, core-associated bacterial clusters (75% for sea bass and 81% for sea bream) accounted for the majority of predicted metabolic pathways (core contribution: >75% in sea bass and >87% in trout), particularly those involved in carbohydrate, amino acid, and vitamin metabolism. Comparative analysis across ecological phenotypes highlighted distinct microbial biomarkers, with genera such as Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas, and Paracoccus enriched in saltwater species (Dicentrarchus labrax and Sparus aurata) and Mycoplasma and Clostridium in freshwater (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Overall, this study underscores the value of integrating taxonomic, functional, and network-based approaches as practical tools to monitor intestinal health status, assess welfare, and guide the development of more sustainable production strategies in aquaculture
