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Heatwave conditions increase the toxicity of phthalates in marine organisms
No full textClimate change- driven marine heatwaves are major risk for marine organisms already facing other anthropogenic hazards, such as chemical contamination in coastal areas. In this study we analyzed the impacts of marine heatwaves and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) pollution as single and combined stressors on development of the sea urchin Arbacia lixula. We tested whether the temperature suggested as optimal for development (24 °C) of this thermophilus species would enhance tolerance to PAEs pollution compared to that showed under ambient temperature (18 °C). Embryo-larval bioassays were conducted in exposures to two temperatures (control: 18 °C, heatwave condition: 24 °C) and ten PAEs concentrations (control: 0 mg L-1; treated: range 0.1-50 mg L-1) in all combinations. Ecotoxicological responses were investigated at three functional levels: i) exposure-response relationships, finding that heatwave exposure increased PAEs- induced toxicity and mortality rates with an EC50 lower by 76 %; ii) morphological, finding combined temperature and PAEs increased abnormality and stunted skeleton growth; iii) biochemical, showing that temperature was the main driver for the modulation of activity of stress response enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, esterase and peroxidase). We show that heatwave conditions negatively impacted sea urchin embryos facing pollution and decreased their tolerance to PAEs. Our results indicate that 24 °C is not the optimal temperature for development of A. lixula from the southwestern Mediterranean and highlight that assays based on just one biological level or single stressor can be misleading to deduce health risks to marine organisms and their thermal optimum, indicating the need for more integrative approaches
Postcolonial Gramsci? From the Southern Question to Postcolonial Studies
No full textAntonio Gramsci is doubtless one of the most widely and sutided Italian authors internationally. In this essay I will limit myself to raising what I consider some critical nodes with respect to Gtramsci's thought and the role that it has played in the intellectual history of postcolonial and subaltern studies
A proposito di accessorietà e forma della fideiussione bancaria
No full textIl saggio esamina criticamente l'orientamento giurisprudenziale che sottrae la fideiussione dal perimetro applicativo dell'art. 117 tu
Integration of nanofiltration, ion exchange, and electrodialysis with bipolar membranes for the valorisation of brines: From seawater desalination plants to on-site chemicals production facilities
No full textWater scarcity is a growing concern due to population growth, climate change, pollution, and inadequate water
management. Innovative approaches are necessary to secure a reliable water supply to address this challenge.
Seawater desalination has emerged as a promising option to supplement freshwater resources, but its by-product
(i.e., salt-concentrated brine) poses a significant environmental threat. Current disposal methods include direct
disposal, evaporation ponds, and, in specific cases, land application in irrigation for low-salinity brines, but these
practices have negative environmental consequences. As a result, alternative strategies for brine management
directed to materials circularity by process integration are being developed. Integration of membrane technologies, such as Nanofiltration, has shown promising efficiency for improving pre-concentration, while Electrodialysis with bipolar membranes (EDBM) can transform brines into chemicals. Additionally, Ion Exchange
processes could be used as a polishing stage to ensure the safe operation of EDBM by reducing the levels of
divalent cations responsible for membrane scaling. This study proposes integrating three technologies and assesses their feasibility by conducting a techno-economic analysis using previously developed simulation tools.
Results suggest that the proposed technologies integration can be a promising alternative of Minimum Liquid
Discharge system to treat desalination brines, while producing high-purity chemicals. Finally, the economic
results demonstrated a minimum total Levelized Cost of NaOH of 344 €/tonNaOH. This indicates that the system
proposed in this study is cost-effective and competitive with current market supplies
Increased TSLP and oxidative stress reflect airway epithelium injury upon cigarette smoke exposure. Is there a role for carbocysteine?
Get PDFChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory degenerative disease. Disease exacerbations accelerate lung function deterioration. Airway epithelium has a central role in COPD pathophysiology. Airway epithelium releases alarmins including the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in response to exogenous stressors. Notch-1 in the nucleus acts as inhibitor of TSLP gene expression. Here, we investigated, in human bronchial epithelial cells, the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) in TSLP production exploring the relationship with oxidative stress events and with Notch-1 signaling. In CSE exposed 16HBE, the effects of carbocysteine were assessed on: intracellular and extracellular oxidative stress; nuclear Notch-1 expression; TSLP gene expression. The TSLP levels in sera from non-smokers, smokers and exacerbated COPD patients (before and after therapy with carbocysteine) were also explored. CSE induced TSLP gene expression and oxidative stress and reduced nuclear expression of Notch-1 in 16HBE. The use of an electrochemical sensor allowed a reliable tool to assess oxidative stress. TSLP concentrations were higher in sera from smokers and exacerbated COPD than in sera from non-smokers. Carbocysteine was able to counteract the effects of CSE in oxidative stress and in TSLP gene expression in 16HBE and to reduce TSLP in exacerbated COPD. In conclusion, increased oxidative stress induced by smoke exposure in airway epithelium leads to increased TSLP production and carbocysteine in vitro and in vivo mitigates the induced TSLP production. Oxidative stress detection by electrochemical sensors can open new avenues for evaluating epithelial damage and for identifying patients eligible to alarmin targeted biologics
Disciplina legale e autonomia privata (assistita e collettiva) per la soluzione dei conflitti in agricoltura
Get PDFThe present work compares two important disciplines that, in the agricultural sector, have provided mandatory rules for the solution of conflicts between contractual parties: art. 45 of Law 203 of 1982 and Legislative Decree 198 of 2021. In both disciplines, however, there is a derogation entrusted to assisted autonomy. It is interesting to observe the improvement of the technique foreseen by the legislator in the most recent discipline also in relation to a possible revisiting of the discipline set by art. 45 of Law 203 of 1982
Effects of Light Quality Adjustment in Microalgal Cultivation: Flashing Light and Wavelength Shifts in Photobioreactor Design
Get PDFThe distribution of light within a microalgal culture and the choice of the best
wavelengths are considered the most critical aspects in the scale-up of microalgal culture.
Several studies have investigated these features, resulting in a substantial body of literature
that analyzes the effects in terms of an increase in biomass production or shift in its composition.
This work addresses two types of light quality adjustments: the application of flashing
light and shifts in light wavelength. The effects on microalgal culture are examined. Later,
the application of these light features to photobioreactor design is described. Specifically,
three kinds of photobioreactors are examined: (1) reactors designed to minimize light
gradients, (2) reactors where the geometry produces a flashing light effect on the cells and
(3) reactors that use filters to obtain a shift in the sunlight wavelength. The results showed
that both the effect of flashing lights and wavelength shift strongly depends on various
parameters such as the alga taken into consideration, the light intensity, the agitation type,
growth medium, light intensity and temperature and, regarding the flashing light also,
the frequency and the duty cycle. Despite all these specific differences, this work aims to
resume and provide specific instruments for choosing operational parameters in microalgal
cultivation and in photobioreactor design to achieve targeted outcomes, such as an increase
in biomass production or in high-value compound accumulation
Preventing early school leaving: risk factors, effective interven-tions and policies
No full textPreventing early school leaving represents a key priority in European and Italian policy. The Council Resolution 2021/C 66/01 established a target of reducing school dropout below 9% by 2030, while Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR, 2021) highlighted dropout reduction and educational poverty prevention as strategic objectives within Mission 4 and Mission 5. With Italy’s current dropout rate at 13.1%, significantly above EU targets, addressing this issue is crucial given its documented individual, social, and economic consequences (European Commission/EACEA/Eurydice/Cedefop, 2014).
The general objective of this panel aimed to focus on three areas related to the phenomenon of early school leaving: investigations of risk factors; evaluations of interventions; and analyses of international, national, and local policies
Exploring Barriers to Inclusivity: Systematic Analysis of Exclusion Criteria and Potential Bias in Clinical Cancer Trials for Psychiatric and Neurological Conditions in European Protocols
Get PDFBackground
Cancer clinical trials often employ exclusion criteria that can impact vulnerable populations, particularly individuals with psychological, psychiatric, or neurological conditions.
Aims
This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and nature of exclusion criteria in clinical trials for prostate, breast, and lung cancers.
Methods
The EU Clinical Trials Register identified 51 protocols uploaded between 2022 and 2024. Thematic content analysis categorized exclusion criteria, and the justifications provided, while frequency analysis quantified their prevalence.
Results
After excluding five protocols (two non-English and three inaccessible), the final dataset comprised 46 protocols: 13 for prostate cancer (22.8%), 24 for breast cancer (42.1%), and 9 for lung cancer (15.8%). Exclusion criteria targeting vulnerable populations were present in 78.3% of protocols, categorized into five themes: psychiatric conditions (24.6%), neurological conditions (22.8%), other psychological conditions (22.8%), legal/guardianship status (5.3%), and unspecified conditions (24.6%). Compliance concerns (39.1%) were the most common justification, followed by informed consent challenges (32.6%), safety risks (13%), drug interference (10.9%), and not in the best interest (4.3%). Notably, 29.1% of protocols lacked justification for exclusions, raising ethical and transparency concerns.
Conclusions
The exclusion of vulnerable populations may limit the inclusivity and generalizability of cancer research. Heuristic biases and systemic practices can potentially influence this. Exploring the role of these factors and considering adaptive trial designs, along with providing detailed justifications for exclusion criteria, could support more equitable and representative clinical research
Adenoid Hypertrophy and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: Implications in Middle Ear Surgery
No full textPathologic hyperplasia of the pharyngeal tonsils, known as adenoid
hypertrophy, is linked to mechanical obstruction and/or chronic
inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx. Considering that adenoids
naturally decrease in size during adolescence, adenoid diseases and
related pathological conditions most frequently affect children between
one and six years of age. Adenoid hypertrophy may result in several local
and systemic conditions, and for this reason, it should be diagnosed when
symptoms of mechanical obstruction and/or chronic inflammation in the
nasopharynx are clear. Adenoid hypertrophy can involve the
Eustachian tube, resulting in its dysfunction. Persistent dysfunction of the Eustachian tube may contribute to a range of middle ear conditions,
including conductive hearing loss, tympanic retraction, cholesteatoma,
and recurrent episodes of acute otitis media. Conservative
management (watchful waiting, topical steroids, anti-allergic treatment
etc.) is an option for patients with adenoid hyperplasia without other
signs and symptoms. When conservative management is not successful,
The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
recommends surgery. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the
implications of adenoid hypertrophy and Eustachian tube dysfunction in
middle ear surgery