University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
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PREOCCUPAZIONI E RIDOTTA SODDISFAZIONE LAVORATIVA LEGATE AGLI EPISODI DI VIOLENZA SUL PERSONALE DELL’EMERGENZA-URGENZA
No full textFalsificazione del mito, falsificazione della storia
No full textIl testo propone alcuni casi emblematici di manipolazione della storia e della mitologia da parte delle ideologie totalitarie. Si analizza come la strumentalizzazione di importanti figure storiche e filosofiche abbia servito il pensiero discriminatorio e oppressivo. Spicca il caso di otto Rahn, la cui ricerca del Graal, presumibilmente originata da interessi di carattere spirituale e storico-medievale, venne sfruttata da Heinrich Himmler e dal regime nazista per alimentare fantasie di un passato ariano glorioso; ma anche la spedizione nazista in Tibet rivela la ricerca morbosa, all’interno di antiche tradizioni e mitologie orientali, finalizzata a individuare la legittimazione dell’ideologia razziale. In tal modo emergono altresì contraddizioni e deformazioni nel rapporto tra sapere e potere totalitario
Identification and Characterization of a Small-Molecule Inhibitor of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa SOS Response
No full textThe SOS response is among the most conserved pathways that promote antibiotic resistance onset in bacteria. This study aimed to identify and characterize small-molecule inhibitors of the SOS response in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A library of 318 drug-like compounds was screened for inhibition of RecA-induced LexA autoproteolysis, a key step in SOS activation. One hit compound, 3-(2-sulfanylanilino)propanoic acid, showed dose-dependent inhibition with an IC50 in the mid-micromolar. Differential scanning fluorimetry and isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that A12 binds to both RecA and LexA with a low micromolar affinity. Mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated that A12 covalently modifies RecA via condensation, while it forms a disulfide bond with Cys104 of LexA. Inhibition was diminished under reducing conditions, confirming that disulfide formation is crucial for A12 activity. A12 did not impair LexA's ability to bind SOS box DNA sequences, which is needed to keep the SOS genes repressed. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of A12 on P. aeruginosa PAO1 showed no additive effect with tested antibiotics, but it impaired P. aeruginosa colonization of A549 lung epithelial cells and survival in THP-1-derived macrophages. While A12's potency requires optimization, it represents a promising scaffold for developing anti-SOS compounds targeting P. aeruginosa
Hyperspectral remote sensing study of the structurally-controlled Zn mineralization in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia
No full textIn this study, we investigate Zn mineralization in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia, using hyperspectral data from the Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) satellite instrument to explore the spatial relationships between ore zones, hydrothermal alteration zones, and fault systems. Zinc mineralization in this area is hosted in Lower Cambrian lithologies and contains significant willemite, fraipontite, and Zn-phosphates, associated with extensive hematite- and dolomite-bearing hydrothermal alteration. Alteration mineral maps, showing relative abundance and compositional variations, were generated by applying a multiple-feature extraction methodology based on polynomial fitting and band ratios. Ground-truthing was conducted through laboratory spectroscopy and mineralogical-petrographic methods. This approach enabled the mapping of Fe oxy-hydroxides (i.e., hematite and goethite), carbonate minerals (i.e., dolomite and calcite), and dioctahedral phyllosilicates (i.e., white micas and kaolinite). It also successfully identified and mapped the ore mineral fraipontite based on its absorption feature at ~ 2260 nm. Multivariate statistical analysis and machine learning of the EnMAP imagery highlighted the co-occurrence of hematite, dolomite, and fraipontite in mineralized zones, making this assemblage a potential indicator for regional exploration of similar deposits. The study also revealed the controlling effects of fault structures on mineralization and the associated alteration haloes, with mineralized zones confined to fault-bounded rock volumes, predominantly located at intersections between interacting faults or in the proximity of lateral fault terminations. Overall, this work provides new insights into the spectral behavior of Zn-bearing minerals and demonstrates the effectiveness of hyperspectral sensing for characterizing oxidized Zn mineralization during regional prospecting programs
Comparison of the toxicity/carcinogenicity of regulated and unregulated mineral fibres using the Fibre Potential Toxicity Index (FPTI)
No full textThis work reports the results of a statistical analysis for evaluating the toxicity/carcinogenicity potential of mineral fibres using the Fibre Potential Toxicity Index (FPTI), a quantitative model designed to assess the toxicity and carcinogenicity of mineral fibres based on their physical, chemical, and morphological characteristics. The FPTI model evaluates 18 parameters of mineral fibres, such as morphometry, chemical composition, biodurability, and surface features, which contribute to adverse effects in vitro and in vivo. The model has been used to evaluate several mineral fibres, namely asbestos minerals and erionite. Recent statistical analysis of these data has led to the creation of representative classes for various fibres, allowing for the evaluation of new fibres with industrial, economic, or social significance. The analysis allowed to draw distinct classes of fibres classified as IARC Group 1 carcinogenic agents (amphibole asbestos, erionite, and chrysotile) and fibres classified as IARC Group 3 agents (sepiolite and wollastonite). The study identifies fibre size, metals' content, and dissolution rate as critical parameters of the model. The FPTI model serves as a preliminary screening tool, complementing other predictive models, to inform regulatory decisions and IARC classification processes for mineral fibres that may pose risks to public health