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Mummified cave cheetahs inform rewilding actions in Saudi Arabia
No full textCheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) have experienced a steep population decline globally, extirpated from
91% of their historical range, including Saudi Arabia. Information about cheetahs’ historic range
remains scarce throughout much of its former habitat. A serendipitous discovery of seven naturally
mummified cheetahs in several caves along with skeletal remains of 54 cheetahs, and their putative
prey, in Saudi Arabia provided a valuable opportunity to elucidate the evolutionary history of cheetahs
in their former range. We applied paleochronological dating to establish temporal context, genomic
sequencing to infer subspecies present during different time periods, and radiographic analysis to
determine age classes. The mummified cheetahs showed 14C calibrated ages dated 4223 ± 40 years
BP to 127 ± 40 years BP. Full genome sequences of the mummified cheetahs showed that only the
youngest individual clustered with A. j. venaticus while the older samples clustered with the West-
African cheetah (A. j. hecki). We conclude that rewilding of cheetahs in Arabia can be sourced from the
closest subspecies of the discovered cheetahs. Our results highlight the important role cavesmay play as repositories of ancient biodiversity informing, in the absence of benchmarks rewilding efforts
Tuning anodizing conditions in tartaric acid containing bath for strengthening fiber metal laminates with peek/carbon in composite for aerospace applications
No full textThe article investigates the enhancement of Fiber Metal Laminates (FMLs) in aerospace applications by exploring the effects of Tartaric-Sulfuric Acid (TSA) anodizing and its modifications on 2024-T3 and 7075-T6 aluminium alloys. The research aims to optimize the anodized aluminium's surface morphology to improve both corrosion resistance and mechanical properties, in the context of adhesive bonding with carbon-reinforced Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) composites. To understand how treatment parameters like tartaric acid concentration, temperature, and anodizing time affect oxide layer formation on aluminium, these variables were systematically varied. The results show that the modification on TSA anodizing processes parameters, effectively enhances the mechanical performance and corrosion resistance of FMLs by tailoring the morphology of the oxide layer. The anodized FML samples demonstrated superior mechanical properties and corrosion resistance compared to mechanically treated samples, making these anodizing techniques particularly promising for aerospace applications requiring durable and lightweight materials
Nota dei curatori in: Arte Contemporanea nelle Università. Storie, pratiche collezionistiche, digitalizzazione e valorizzazione, atti del Convegno Internazionale di Studi
No full textThese are some introductory notes from the three editors of the volume of proceeding
Prioritizing dumpsite risks and interventions: an overview and framework for action with a focus on LMICs
No full textDumpsites represent a major environmental and public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite increasing global waste generation, many regions still struggle to implement safe and sustainable waste management practices, resulting in significant pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and health risks due to uncontrolled waste disposal. Dumpsites lack containment measures, allowing pollutants to migrate through environmental matrices and reach different targets (e.g., human receptors). The primary objective of this review was to evaluate existing risk assessment procedures and propose a research direction for a standardized human health risk assessment (HHRA) methodology to prioritize interventions, starting with the most dangerous dumpsites in a given territory. The paper begins by presenting an overview of dumpsites, followed by a discussion on the pathways through which pollutants may migrate from dumpsites to human receptors and the associated health risks. Citing case studies, we explore the available environmental and health risk assessment methodologies, identifying and discussing key characteristics appropriate for dumpsites with a focus on LMICs where such sites are widespread and appropriate approaches are necessary. We identify and further discuss the relative HHRA as the most practical and reliable approach. We conclude with recommendations on research and policy
Resistance grade of different Triticum species toward Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
No full textVarietal resistance in cereals represents a promising and sustainable strategy for managing biotic stressors, including insect pests during storage. In this study, eighteen genotypes from six cereal species-Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccum, T. spelta, T. durum, T. aestivum, and Triticosecale-were evaluated for their resistance to the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L., one of the most destructive stored product pests. The objective was to assess differences in susceptibility by measuring some insect parameters, such as adult mortality, F1 progeny production and body size, along with grain traits such as kernel hardness and weight. For this scope, bioassays included both non-choice and two-way choice tests to evaluate insect performance and preference. Significant inter-and intra-specific variation in susceptibility was observed. In non-choice bioassays, Sitophilus oryzae generally showed higher adult mortality and lower adult progeny emergence feeding and ovipositing on T. durum and T. dicoccum genotypes, suggesting greater resistance of these genotypes; on the contrary T. monococcum and triticale appear more susceptible. Grain hardness was strongly and negatively correlated with adult progeny output, supporting its role as a mechanical barrier to larval development. However, kernel hardness did not influence adult body size, suggesting that individuals overcoming this barrier can still complete normal development. Kernel weight showed a positive correlation with female size, indicating a potential fitness advantage for the insects feeding on larger seeds. In two-choice assays, S. oryzae showed a preference for softer genotypes, particularly triticale Agostino and Tribeca, over harder genotypes such as durum wheat Perciasacchi and Aureo. These results provide new insights into the resistance potential of traditional and modern Triticum genotypes. The integration of resistant genotypes, especially from T. durum and T. dicoccum, into breeding programs and storage systems may contribute to reducing chemical inputs and improving long-term grain protection strategies
Accounting academics and political engagement. Professors as parliamentarians and ministers in Italy
No full textRecently, scholars have paid increasing attention to accounting academics’ lives and work. The analysis of the relationships between academics and politicians is certainly of interest, if we remove the assumptions of a clear separation between the two that are assumed to underpin research in this field.
This study aims to elucidate the role played by Italian accounting academics in national political institutions, considering those elected to Parliament and/or holding a role in the Italian Government, under the Fascist regime and the ‘First Republic’. To this end, it analyses the academic and political fields and the relationships between the two through a Bourdieusian approach, highlighting how these fields are intertwined and how forms of capital can be transferred
from one to another. Drawing on primary sources, the study employs a collective biography approach, focusing on five pivotal academics who served as parliamentarians and ministers from 1933 to 1992. Based on this evidence, it argues that accounting academics can play a crucial role by transferring their academic capital to the political field and mobilising the power of theories to
serve the objectives of intervention in the economy and society, while political capital can also be an important source of academic capital growth. Thus, this study situates the relationships between the academic and political fields in a subfield–field theoretical perspective, thereby contributing to the literature on the role of accounting academics and their impact on the economy, society, and politics
Efficacy and Safety of Pharmacological, Endoscopic, and Surgical Treatments for Obesity: A GRADE-Based Network Meta-Analysis
No full textObjective: This review compared antiobesity strategies-obesity management medications (OMM), endoscopic bariatric procedures (EBP), and metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS)-with lifestyle intervention, placebo, or no therapy (LSI/Pbo/NT). Methods: This network meta-analysis included randomized clinical trials comparing OMM, EBP, and MBS versus LSI/Pbo/NT or active comparators in adults with obesity. MEDLINE and Embase were searched up to December 1, 2024. The primary endpoint was total body weight loss percentage (TBWL%), analyzed at 26-52, 53-104, 105-156, and ≥ 156 weeks. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024623707). Results: Of 139 RCTs, 54 evaluated MBS (n = 61,961), 21 EBP (n = 2934), and 64 OMM (n = 5991). At 26-52 weeks, most treatments showed significant effects versus the reference. TBWL% exceeded 10% with most surgeries and tirzepatide. Long-term data were lacking for most OMM and all EBP. Most treatments maintained their efficacy over time, except greater curvature plication. EBP and MBS were generally associated with a higher SAE risk than OMM; BPD showed the highest long-term SAE incidence. Conclusions: MBS appears superior in the long term (particularly for higher-efficacy procedures, such as RYGB, SG, SADI, and BPD). EBP, except ESG, was less effective than newer OMM. Semaglutide and tirzepatide showed no inferior short-term results in comparison with MBS
The SIS NET ICU study: characteristics of patients with severe community acquired pneumonia admitted to Italian ICUs—a multicenter prospective observational study
No full textBackground: The SIS-NET ICU study aimed to describe the epidemiology of severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among patients admitted to Italian intensive care units (ICUs). This study also aimed to describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics, outcomes, and treatments received by the included patients. Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational, multicenter study. We included patients consecutively admitted to the ICUs of 13 participating centers during the study period for acute respiratory failure due to CAP. The study period spanned from January to November 2025. The analyses aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics, diagnostic pathways, factors associated with ICU mortality, and type of respiratory support during the ICU stay. Results: We included a cohort of 150 patients with a mean age of 63 years and a male predominance (61%). The occurrence rate of CAP in the participating ICUs was 2.5%. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Influenza A and Respiratory Syncytial Virus were the predominant isolated microorganisms. The average APACHE II score was 17 (SD 7.9) and the median SOFA score was 7 (SD 3.9). The comorbidity burden was substantial. A high proportion of patients was managed with non-invasive respiratory supports. Rapid microbiological testing methods were early adopted in 63% of patients, with substantial impact on antimicrobial therapy decisions. Each 10-year increase in age was associated with a 54% increase in the odds of death (aOR 1.54, 95% CI 1.06-2.35; p = 0.02) and immunosuppressed status was associated with higher odds of death (aOR 3.13, 95% CI 1.04-9.63; p = 0.04). Polymicrobial infection showed a trend towards higher mortality (aOR 2.47, 95% CI 0.94-6.89; p = 0.06), although this association did not reach conventional statistical significance. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated the predominance of common pathogens as microbiological isolates in patients with severe CAP in Italy. Age, and immunosuppressed status were independently associated with a higher odds of mortality
CystSeg: A New Dataset for Automatic Cyst Segmentation
No full textAccurate segmentation of retinal cysts in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images is critical for diagnosing and monitoring diseases like Diabetic Macular Edema. However, progress in automated methods is hindered by a lack of specialized public datasets. To address this, we introduce a new, meticulously annotated OCT dataset for cyst segmentation. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first dataset to be presented with a predefined, patient-based split for training, validation, and testing, ensuring a realistic evaluation of model generalization. We establish performance benchmarks using U-Net and its variants. Our results provide a solid baseline, revealing that while larger cysts are well-detected, segmenting small-scale cysts among speckle noise remains a key challenge for current models. This dataset and its corresponding benchmarks will serve as an important resource to accelerate the development and standardized evaluation of more robust and clinically relevant segmentation algorithms
Psychopathology in myasthenia gravis: Results from a multicenter Italian study
No full textIntroduction: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by neuromuscular impairment. While its motor symptoms are well-documented, its neuropsychological impact remains underexplored. This multicenter retrospective case-control study explores the prevalence of psychopathology in MG patients compared to healthy controls (HCs), analyzing correlations between disease severity and psychiatric disorders. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 116 MG patients and 119 HCs from three Italian MG centers. Neuropsychological assessment included the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) for executive functions, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) for depression, the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) for quality of life, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) for sleep disturbances, and the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90-R) for psychological distress. Group differences were assessed using ANOVA. In MG patients, correlations between clinical and neuropsychological measures were explored through Pearson's coefficient, while multivariate logistic regression identified predictors of psychiatric involvement. Results: MG patients exhibited significantly higher SCL-90 total scores and all subdomains (p <= 0.001), more frequent sleep disturbances (p = 0.028), and higher BDI-II scores (p <= 0.001) than HCs. Increased steroid dosage correlated with anxiety (r = 0.39, p = 0.04), psychoticism (p = 0.021), and depression (p = 0.015). Regression analysis identified disease severity (OR = 2.14, 95 % CI: 1.30-3.51, p = 0.002) and corticosteroid dosage (OR = 1.78, 95 % CI: 1.12-2.83, p = 0.015) as independent predictors of psychiatric symptoms. Conclusions: MG patients show a significantly higher psychiatric burden, with disease severity and corticosteroid exposure as key contributors. These findings highlight the need for integrated neuropsychiatric monitoring in MG care