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Scents of Home: Phoenician Oil Bottles from Motya
Get PDFOlfactory cultures shape how societies perceive, value, and use scents in daily life, ritual, and social practice, embedding specific smells within collective identity. Mobility exposes these cultures to new environments, where scents may act as markers of heritage and belonging for migrants while also prompting diverse reactions—ranging from appreciation to disruption—within host or newly established communities. The Iron Age Mediterranean, marked by intense cultural encounters, offers key insights into how fragrances contributed to an increasingly interconnected world, with the Phoenicians playing a central role in disseminating Near Eastern aromatic practices westward. Despite the frequent association between the Phoenicians and scented substances, the contents of vessels traditionally assumed to have held unguents remain largely unknown. This study presents the first systematic, interdisciplinary analysis of the composition, technology, and contents of over fifty “Phoenician oil bottles” from the island of Motya, off the west coast of Sicily, Italy. This assemblage represents a significant sample of these plain-ware, slow-pouring juglets that circulated throughout and beyond the Mediterranean. The results suggest that aromatic unguents were likely produced and bottled in southern Phoenicia during the eighth–sixth centuries BCE and circulated to the western Mediterranean. While focused in scope, this evidence contributes to broader discussions of Phoenician involvement in the production, trade, and consumption of fragrant substances. The study also highlights the potential for such vessels to inform future research into the sensory, social, and cultural dimensions of mobility and interaction in the ancient Mediterranean
Crowdsourcing multiverse analyses to explore the impact of different data-processing and analysis decisions: A tutorial
No full textWhen processing and analyzing empirical data, researchers regularly face choices that may appear arbitrary (e.g., how to define and handle outliers). If one chooses to exclusively focus on a particular option and conduct a single analysis, its outcome might be of limited utility. That is, one remains agnostic regarding the generalizability of the results, because plausible alternative paths remain unexplored. A multiverse analysis offers a solution to this issue by exploring the various choices pertaining to data-processing and/or model building, and examining their impact on the conclusion of a study. However, even though multiverse analyses are arguably less susceptible to biases compared to the typical single-pathway approach, it is still possible to selectively add or omit pathways. To address this issue, we outline a novel, more principled approach to conducting multiverse analyses through crowdsourcing. The approach is detailed in a step-by-step tutorial to facilitate its implementation. We also provide a worked-out illustration featuring the Semantic Priming Across Many Languages project, thereby demonstrating its feasibility and its ability to increase objectivity and transparency
Modelling full stems skidding in northeast Italian Alps through engine data acquisition and analysis
Get PDFThis study investigates the feasibility of using standardized SAE J1939 data from forestry machines, to enhance the decision-making process and ensure the sustainability of forest operations. The study, specifically focusing on a clam-bunk skidder, was conducted between January and September 2023, across three sites in northeast Italy in permeant-cover forest in the Alps region. The main objectives were to identify work phases, determine their durations, calculate fuel consumption, and create models for production and fuel consumption per work cycle, considering extraction distance and terrain slope. The feasibility of the Automated Time Study (ATS) methodology was tested for the first time in a mountainous region with varying slopes and stand compositions. Results showed that over 82% of working cycles were successfully identified, with 60-70% accuracy in identifying work elements within cycles. This high identification rate allows machine operators to detect bottlenecks and improve efficiency, additionally, this methodology aims to predicting future operational impacts and costs based on statistical analysis implemented by using a big data approach. However, the ATS methodology has limitations, potentially leading to significant estimation errors, thus critical thinking and effective communication with machine operators are essential to obtain accurate data
Natural History and Clinical Outcomes of Patients With DSG2/DSC2 Variant-Related Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
No full textBACKGROUND: Genetic variants in desmosomal cadherins, desmoglein 2 (DSG2) and desmocollin 2 (DSC2), cause a distinct form of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), which remains poorly reported. In this study, we aimed to provide a comprehensive description of the phenotypic expression, natural history, and clinical outcomes of patients with this ARVC subset. METHODS: Genetic and clinical data of DSG2 and DSC2 variant carriers were collected from 5 countries in Europe and Asia. We assessed the phenotypic profile of these patients and their clinical outcomes, focusing on heart failure and ventricular arrhythmia events. RESULTS: Overall, 271 subjects, 254 with DSG2 variants, were included in this study (median age, 38 years [interquartile range, 25-52]; 62.7% male). Of these, 165 were probands, and 200 were diagnosed with definite ARVC. A total of 181 (66.8%) individuals carried missense variants, mainly distributed in the extracellular domains. Notably, we included 78 (28.8%) individuals with multiple variants. Of the 200 cases with diagnosed ARVC, 41 (20.5%) experienced premature cardiac death before the age of 65. Among the 81 individuals for whom both left ventricular ejection fraction and right ventricular fractional area change data were available at presentation, 29 (35.8%) had isolated right ventricular dysfunction, and 16 (19.8%) had biventricular dysfunction. Single-variant carriers who engaged in intense physical exercise were younger at disease onset compared with those who did not (P=0.001). Compared with single-variant carriers, those with multiple variants were more likely to be diagnosed with ARVC (96.2% versus 64.8%; P<0.001) and exhibited more severe left ventricular dysfunction (44.4% versus 22.1%; P=0.001) and right ventricular dilation (88.9% versus 55.8%, P<0.001). Multiple-variant carriers were significantly younger at ARVC diagnosis compared with single-variant carriers (33 [18-49] years versus 42 [27-54] years; P<0.001]. During follow-up, end-stage heart failure (P<0.001) and malignant ventricular arrhythmias (P=0.004) were significantly more frequent in multiple-variant compared with single-variant carriers. Compared with PKP2 patients, DSG2/DSC2 patients exhibited a significantly higher risk of end-stage heart failure (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: ARVC attributable to variants in desmosomal cadherins mostly present with right ventricular or biventricular disease. Multiple variants are common in these patients and are associated with more frequent clinical penetrance, earlier onset of disease, and adverse clinical outcomes
Clinical management and oncologic outcomes of pure pleomorphic and florid lobular carcinoma in situ of the breast: Results from a large single institution experience
No full textIntroduction: Pure pleomorphic (PLCIS) and florid (FLCIS) lobular carcinoma in situ, without concurrent invasive carcinoma (IC) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), are rare. We collected the largest and most comprehensive single-institution cohort to analyze oncological outcomes and management strategies. Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with pure PLCIS and/or FLCIS and treated at our institution between 2012 and 2021 were identified. Clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics, along with recurrence risk, were analyzed. Results: A total of 303 patients were diagnosed with PLCIS and/or FLCIS on surgical specimens. Among them, 144 PLCIS and 116 FLCIS cases were associated with IC or DCIS, leaving 43 (14.2 %) pure P-/FLCIS cases (20 PLCIS, 17 FLCIS, and six mixed cases). Pure P-/FLCIS diagnosed on core-biopsy had a 31.3 % upgrade ratio on surgical specimens to IC (86.7 %) or DCIS (13.3 %). Median lesion size was 15 mm. Mastectomy was performed in four cases, while 90.7 % underwent wide local excision, with 14 % positive margin rate. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in four cases, with no positive nodes. No adjuvant treatment was administered, as per multidisciplinary decision. After a median follow-up of 53 months, local recurrence (LR) occurred in 14 % of cases. Margin involvement strongly predicted LR, which was higher in patients with final positive margins (5/6, 83.3 % vs. 0/31, 0 % in patients with clear margins, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The 31.3 % upgrade ratio from pure P-/FLCIS to IC/DCIS recommends surgical excision. Axillary surgery should be omitted. Positive margins are strongly associated with LR. Surgery with negative margins is the mainstay of treatment. Larger multicentric studies are needed
The Chelating Abilities of Tertiary Amines with N-O-Donors Towards Cu(II) Ions and the Catalytic Properties of the Resulting Complexes
Get PDFOxidative stress, driven by excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), is a key factor in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this context, copper dysregulation can also contribute to this imbalance, being responsible for enhanced ROS production, so that copper scavenging has been investigated as a possible therapeutic strategy. This study investigates the behavior of two isostructural ligands, featuring an N3O donor set, that effectively chelate Cu(II) in aqueous solution. Interestingly, their resulting mono- or dinuclear copper complexes feature a coordination environment suitable to foster antioxidant activity. By transforming copper’s oxidant potential into antioxidant action, these systems may reduce copper-induced oxidative damage. The work examines the pH-dependent metal-binding behavior of the ligands, the catalytic properties of the resulting complexes under physiological conditions, and their ability to inhibit β-amyloid peptide aggregation. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved
Cold-Sensing TRP Channels and Temperature Preference Modulate Ovarian Development in the Model Organism Drosophila melanogaster
Get PDFTemperature is perceived primarily via transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which are integral to the molecular machinery sensing environmental and cellular signals. Functional evidence of TRP channels’ involvement in regulating cold-induced developmental/reproductive responses remains scarce. Here, we show that mutations affecting cold-sensing TRP channels antagonize the reduction in ovarian development induced by low temperatures (reproductive dormancy) in Drosophila melanogaster. More specifically, mutants for brv1, trp, and trpl significantly lowered dormancy levels at 12 °C and exhibited well-developed oocytes characterized by advanced vitellogenesis. Similarly, functional knockouts for norpA, a gene encoding a phospholipase C acting downstream to Trp and Trpl, exhibited a reduced dormancy response, suggesting that Ca2+ signaling is key to relaying cold-sensing stimuli during dormancy induction and maintenance. Finally, mutants with an altered temperature preference (i.e., exhibiting impaired cold or warm avoidance) differentially responded to the cold, either lowering or increasing dormancy levels. In summary, our phenotypic analysis provides functional evidence of developmental/reproductive modulation by specific cold-sensing TRP channels in Drosophila melanogaster and indicates that temperature preference affects developmental processes
Stimuli-Responsive Nanomedicines for the Treatment of Non-cancer Related Inflammatory Diseases
Get PDFNanomedicines offer a means to overcome the limitations associated with traditional drug dosage formulations by affording drug protection, enhanced drug bioavailability, and targeted drug delivery to affected sites. Inflamed tissues possess unique microenvironmental characteristics (including excessive reactive oxygen species, low pH levels, and hypoxia) that stimuli-responsive nanoparticles can employ as triggers to support on-demand delivery, enhanced accumulation, controlled release, and activation of anti-inflammatory drugs. Stimuli-responsive nanomedicines respond to physicochemical and pathological factors associated with diseased tissues to improve the specificity of drug delivery, overcome multidrug resistance, ensure accurate diagnosis and precision therapy, and control drug release to improve efficacy and safety. Current stimuli-responsive nanoparticles react to intracellular/microenvironmental stimuli such as pH, redox, hypoxia, or specific enzymes and exogenous stimuli such as temperature, magnetic fields, light, and ultrasound via bioresponsive moieties. This review summarizes the general strategies employed to produce stimuli-responsive nanoparticles tailored for inflammatory diseases and all recent advances, reports their applications in drug delivery, and illustrates the progress made toward clinical translation