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Using principal component analysis to distinguish sources of radioactivity and nitrates contamination in Southern Tunisian groundwater samples
No full textThe manuscript discusses using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to distinguish the sources of radioactive and
nitrate contamination in 33 groundwater samples from southern Tunisia. The study focuses on the Gafsa basin,
an area known for its phosphate mining activities and significant agricultural use, both of which contribute to the
contamination of groundwater resources. The radioactivity in the water is primarily attributed to phosphate
mining and deep groundwater sources from the North Western Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS). Additionally,
the nitrate contamination is largely due to agricultural runoff, though secondary sources related to phosphate
mining are also considered.
Through the application of PCA, the study was able to classify the groundwater samples into different groups
based on their contamination sources: phosphate mining, combined agricultural and mining activities, fossil
geothermal waters, and low-agricultural areas. The PCA revealed that samples most affected by anthropogenic
activities exhibited high levels of radium and nitrate, with contamination patterns correlating with specific
environmental and chemical factors.
This analysis underscores the complexity of groundwater contamination in the region and highlights the need
for targeted mitigation strategies to address radioactive and nitrate pollution in southern Tunisia. The study
provides critical insights for managing water quality in areas with similar environmental challenges
The translation inhibitors kasugamycin, edeine and GE81112 target distinct steps during 30S initiation complex formation
Get PDFDuring bacterial translation initiation, the 30S ribosomal subunit, initiation factors, and initiator tRNA define the reading frame of the mRNA. This process is inhibited by kasugamycin, edeine and GE81112, however, their mechanisms of action have not been fully elucidated. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of 30S initiation intermediate complexes formed in the presence of kasugamycin, edeine and GE81112 at resolutions of 2.0-2.9 & Aring;. The structures reveal that all three antibiotics bind within the E-site of the 30S and preclude 30S initiation complex formation. While kasugamycin and edeine affect early steps of 30S pre-initiation complex formation, GE81112 stalls pre-initiation complex formation at a further step by allowing start codon recognition, but impeding IF3 departure. Collectively, our work highlights how chemically distinct compounds binding at a conserved site on the 30S can interfere with translation initiation in a unique manner
New Cu(II), Cu(I) and Ag(I) Complexes of Phenoxy-Ketimine Schiff Base Ligands: Synthesis, Structures and Antibacterial Activity
No full textTwo phenoxy-ketimines ligands, 2-(1-(benzylimino)ethyl)phenol (HLBSMe) and 2-((benzylimino)(phenyl)methyl)phenol (HLBSPh), were synthesized and used as supporting ligands of new copper(II), copper(I), and silver(I) complexes. In order to confer different solubility properties to the metal complexes and to stabilize Cu and Ag in their +1 oxidation state, the lipophilic triphenylphosphine (PPh3) and the hydrophilic 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) were selected as co-ligands in the syntheses of the Cu(I) and Ag(I) complexes. All compounds were characterized by CHN analysis, NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS); the molecular structure of the copper(II) complex [Cu(LBSPh)2] was also determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Finally, the antibacterial activity of the metal complexes, the Schiff base ligands and phosphane co-ligands, were assessed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus)
Il sindacato della Corte costituzionale sulle leggi a contenuto "tecnico"
No full textIl saggio indaga il sindacato della Corte costituzionale sulle leggi a contenuto tecnico, vale a dire condizionate al rispetto di principi e regole tecniche o scientifiche, con particolare riferimento agli sviluppi più recent
"Verso l'Economia Circolare: esempi, esperienze, buone prassi nelle imprese italiane. Ridurre, Riusare, Riciclare", Ciclo di tre incontri promossi dal Cluster Made in Italy in collaborazione con ICESP, organizzati e curati dal tavolo tematico su Economia Circolare del Cluster, 13 maggio, 17 giugno, 15 luglio 2025, online.
No full textIl ciclo dei tre incontri ha l'obiettivo di approfondire le tematiche dell'Economia Circolare e far conoscere esempi e buone prassi di aziende italiane ce hanno adottato strumenti e azioni nella direzione della transizione verso l'EC. Ogni incontro è dedicato ad uno dei pillar della strategia dell'EC: Ridurre, Riusare, Riciclare e vede l'introduzione della tematica specifica da parte di alcuni esperti e le testimonianze di tre aziende di settori produttivi diversi
Brain-wide pleiotropy investigation of alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking behaviors
Get PDFTo investigate the pleiotropic mechanisms linking brain structure and function to alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking, we integrated genome-wide data generated by the GWAS and Sequencing Consortium of Alcohol and Nicotine use (GSCAN; up to 805,431 participants) with information related to 3935 brain imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs) available from UK Biobank (N = 33,224). We observed global genetic correlation of smoking behaviors with white matter hyperintensities, the morphology of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, and the mean thickness of pole-occipital. With respect to the latter brain IDP, we identified a local genetic correlation with age at which the individual began smoking regularly (hg38 chr2:35,895,678–36,640,246: rho = 1, p = 1.01 × 10−5). This region has been previously associated with smoking initiation, educational attainment, chronotype, and cortical thickness. Our genetically informed causal inference analysis using both latent causal variable approach and Mendelian randomization linked the activity of prefrontal and premotor cortex and that of superior and inferior precentral sulci, and cingulate sulci to the number of alcoholic drinks per week (genetic causality proportion, gcp = 0.38, p = 8.9 × 10−4, rho = −0.18 ± 0.07; inverse variance weighting, IVW beta = −0.04, 95%CI = −0.07–−0.01). This relationship could be related to the role of these brain regions in the modulation of reward-seeking motivation and the processing of social cues. Overall, our brain-wide investigation highlighted that different pleiotropic mechanisms likely contribute to the relationship of brain structure and function with alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking, suggesting decision-making activities and chemosensory processing as modulators of propensity towards alcohol and tobacco consumption
TARNAS, a TrAnslator for RNA Secondary Structure Formats
No full textRNAs are single-stranded molecules that fold into themselves, determining a complex shape to perform their biological functions. Considering the chemical bonds established, such shapes can be abstracted into secondary structures, which are tractable from a computational point of view and encode valuable biological information. The analysis of such structures, including comparison and classification, plays a fundamental role in different biological studies. Unfortunately, the available tools take secondary structures as input using different formats, making the translation among different them a necessary step in every analysi
The glycerol/water mixture is an effective deep eutectic solvent for the extraction of bioactive components from food waste matrices
No full textDeep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) are a novel class of liquid systems that are increasing their relevance in the literature for their green and environmentally friendly features, for their catalytic properties and for their structural features. In this work, the mixture glycerol/water at 1/2.55 M ratio was demonstrated to be a DES thanks to the comparison of the experimental melting points with the theoretical melting curves. This DES was used as extracting agent on different food waste matrixes: onion, tomato and apple peels, spent coffee grounds and grape pomace. The results were compared with those obtained with water and with glycerol, showing a superior capability of the DES in the extractions, as well as superior antioxidant properties of the extracts. This promotes the use of this DES at the eutectic point and promotes a novel approach about the direct use of the extracts without further purification procedures considering the food grade of the DES components
Multiplicity results for mass constrained Allen–Cahn equations on Riemannian manifolds with boundary
No full textWe present multiplicity results for mass constrained Allen–Cahn equations on a Rie-
mannian manifold with boundary, considering both Neumann and Dirichlet conditions.
These results hold under the assumptions of small mass constraint and small diffu-
sion parameter. We obtain lower bounds on the number of solutions according to
the Lusternik–Schnirelmann category of the manifold in case of Dirichlet boundary
conditions and of its boundary in the case of Neumann boundary conditions. Under
generic non-degeneracy assumptions on the solutions, we obtain stronger results based
on Morse inequalities. Our approach combines topological and variational methods
with tools from Geometric Measure Theory
Genome-wide association study reveals multiple loci for nociception and opioid consumption behaviors associated with heroin vulnerability in outbred rats
No full textThe increased prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) makes it imperative to disentangle the biological mechanisms contributing to individual differences in OUD vulnerability. OUD shows strong heritability, however genetic variants contributing to vulnerability remain poorly defined. We performed a genome-wide association study using over 850 male and female heterogeneous stock (HS) rats to identify genes underlying behaviors associated with OUD such as nociception, as well as heroin-taking, extinction and seeking behaviors. By using an animal model of OUD, we were able to identify genetic variants associated with distinct OUD behaviors while maintaining a uniform environment, an experimental design not easily achieved in humans. Furthermore, we used a novel non-linear network-based clustering approach to characterize rats based on OUD vulnerability to assess genetic variants associated with OUD susceptibility. Our findings confirm the heritability of several OUD-like behaviors, including OUD susceptibility. Additionally, several genetic variants associated with nociceptive threshold prior to heroin experience, heroin consumption, escalation of intake, and motivation to obtain heroin were identified. Tom1, a microglial component, was implicated for nociception. Several genes involved in dopaminergic signaling, neuroplasticity and substance use disorders, including Brwd1, Pcp4, Phb1l2 and Mmp15 were implicated for the heroin traits. Additionally, an OUD vulnerable phenotype was associated with genetic variants for consumption and break point, suggesting a specific genetic contribution for OUD-like traits contributing to vulnerability. Together, these findings identify novel genetic markers related to the susceptibility to OUD-relevant behaviors in HS rats