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Regole processuali e tutela dei diritti umani nell’esperienza della Corte Suprema statunitense
No full textIl contributo affronta il tema del rapporto tra alcune regole processuali (certiorari, third-party standing, shadow docket, amici curiae) e la ricadute sulla tutela dei diritti umani nell’esperienza della Corte Suprema degli Stati Uniti
Ensuring reliable cave temperature data for climate change research
No full textCaves are unique natural laboratories for studying climate change and its ecological impacts. However, analyzing air temperature in these environments is challenging due to stable microclimatic conditions and high humidity. Collecting reliable data requires dedicated devices and protocols. We developed a standardized quality control procedure—Cave Air Temperature Quality Control (CAT-QC)—to assess the reliability of temperature data collected inside caves. The protocol consists of four main steps: (i) assessing data completeness; (ii) identifying physically implausible values; (iii) detecting statistical outliers using three progressively sensitive methods; and (iv) conducting a final manual check. We tested CAT-QC on a dataset from 19 caves in the Piedmont region (Northwest Italy), recorded with iButton devices. The protocol effectively identified gaps, absurd values, and abrupt temperature changes, many of which were due to human interference or sensor issues. Data flagged through CAT-QC can be further reviewed to address biases and rerun through the process if needed. Designed for broad applicability, CAT-QC is dynamic and can be tailored to local series characteristics, making it suitable for diverse subterranean environments. This tool provides a robust framework for ensuring data quality and comparability in cave climate studies, supporting research and conservation efforts in the context of climate change
Contemporary Hunters in an Archaic Context (Grisons, Switzerland): A Meta‐Modern Attempt at Reconciliation
No full textLooking back to the ongoing and fluid process of identity formation of the contemporary hunter in Europe (the ‘becoming’ of hunters), this study explores self‐chosen identities, motives and hunter–nature relations in a singularly archaic hunting context: the canton of Grisons, Switzerland. As a qualitative case study, this article investigates the becoming of hunters and their self‐perception within a context where social attitudes towards hunting and the appreciation of the natural world remain deeply rooted in tradition, while being pulled into modernity. Based on 10 semi‐structured interviews and ethnographic observation, the study examines how individuals make sense of hunting in relation to such broader cultural foundations as well as shifts. Our findings reveal a complex interaction between enduring modern and archaic hunting traditions, the influence of postmodern developments, and point to the emergence of what we call ‘metamodern’ oscillation of self‐realisation for the hunters. This metamodern perspective, particularly given its archaic context, offers a conceptually original angle, positioning hunting as a practice where self‐limitation, negotiation of identity and a reconsidered power structure between humans and nature play a key role. We submit that our case study of Grisons, where strong, even anachronistic traditions, coexist with contemporary trends including public scrutiny and shifting ethical standards, provides a particularly propitious context for the study of hunting subculture and hope that it will incite further exploration of metamodernism in similar or other contexts
Organic management, reduced tillage, and increased vegetation cover promote ant abundance and diversity in Mediterranean Vineyards
No full textBackground Vineyards are regarded as one of the most intensively managed crops worldwide. Organic management is
increasingly promoted as an ecologically friendly alternative to conventional farming and organic vineyards are expected to
promote the abundance and diversity of arthropods and the associated ecosystem services. However, the effects of organic
vineyards on arthropods show great variability depending on the local climate, landscape composition, and the considered
taxon. Among arthropods, ants are one of the most dominant terrestrial organisms worldwide, with a multifaceted role in
agriculture. Ant responses to organic management in vineyards have rarely been studied.
Methods We conducted this study in Italy, across 16 pairs of organic and conventional vineyards belonging to very dif-
ferent ecological and biogeographical settings, from Sicily to the southern Alps. We explored how ant communities were
affected by organic management, inter-row vegetation cover, pesticide use, tillage intensity, mean annual temperature, and
semi-natural habitats surrounding the vineyard. Moreover, we investigated whether ant communities showed geographic
differentiation across Italy.
Results Our results highlight a significant positive effect of organic farming on both ant abundance and species richness.
Moreover, ant species richness and abundance increased in vineyards with reduced tillage and a high vegetation cover in
the inter-rows. The effects were consistent across different climates and landscapes, despite ant communities being highly
different across Italy and showing a strong geographic characterization.
Conclusions Our study supports the positive role of organic agriculture, reduced tillage intensity, and spontaneous vegeta-
tion cover in protecting insect biodiversity. Among the diverse species pools that we identified, several species are known to
play ecological roles and may provide services and disservices to winegrowers, encouraging further investigation to charac-
terize ant role across different management systems and geographic areas.
Implications for insect conservation Organic farming proved to have a positive role promoting both the species richness and
the abundance of ants as compared to conventional management. The preservation of spontaneous vegetation and reduction
of tillage were identified as key biodiversity-friendly practices. The ant fauna of vineyards was found to be very different
across the geographic gradient that we explored, suggesting that the characteristics of the local fauna should be taken into
consideration for management and conservation actions
Introduction to bismuth oxyhalides: How the synthetic approach affects the physico-chemical properties?
No full textBismuth oxyhalides (BiOX, where X is Cl, Br, or I) are materials that have gained significant attention from the research community. These materials possess unique features, such as high chemical stability, interesting optical properties, nontoxicity, and corrosion resistance. However, to produce materials with the proper physico-chemical features that make them highly performing in different sectors, it is crucial to tune the experimental synthetic parameters. The type and concentration of precursors, temperature, reaction time, etc., play a critical role in producing BiOX materials with desired features. This chapter provides a brief introduction to BiOX-based materials, including their main physico-chemical properties and the conventional strategies used for their preparation. The chapter also provides a critical insight into the current state of the art that can guide the design of BiOX-based materials
Carbon Nanoparticle Technology for Parathyroid Gland Preservation during Thyroid Surgery: A Narrative Review
No full textPostoperative hypoparathyroidism is a common complication of thyroid surgery, mainly due to inadvertent injury or
removal of the parathyroid glands. The small size, anatomical variability, and subtle appearance of the parathyroid glands
make their intraoperative identification and preservation challenging. In recent years, carbon nanoparticle suspensions
(CNS) have shown promise in improving the accuracy of parathyroid preservation during thyroidectomy. This narrative
review aims to summarise current evidence on the use of CNS in thyroid surgery, focusing on their mechanism of action,
clinical efficacy, safety profile, and limitations. We conducted a narrative review of the literature addressing CNS use for
parathyroid preservation in thyroid surgery. Outcomes of interest included rates of accidental parathyroidectomy, transient
and permanent hypoparathyroidism, lymph node yield, and surgical complications. Carbon nanoparticles are selectively
taken up by lymphoid and thyroid tissue but not by the parathyroid glands, creating a clear visual contrast that facilitates
rapid intraoperative identification. Clinical studies and meta-analyses have shown that CNS use is associated with lower
rates of accidental parathyroidectomy and transient hypoparathyroidism, along with increased lymph node retrieval. The
safety profile is favorable, with adverse events being rare and mild. However, uncertainties remain regarding optimal
administration protocols, long-term outcomes, and integration with other intraoperative tools. Carbon nanoparticle technology
represents a promising adjunct for improving parathyroid preservation during thyroidectomy. While current evidence
supports its clinical value, further research is needed to refine application techniques and establish standardized guidelines
for broader use
Il sistema di protezione internazionale di fronte alla persecuzione in base al sesso: le convenzioni internazionali e il diritto dell'Unione Europea
No full textPseudomonas aeruginosa DEV phage exploits the essential LptD outer membrane protein as receptor for adsorption
No full textUnlabelled: Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage (phage) DEV is a podovirus of the Schitoviridae family, related to the prototypical Escherichia coli phage N4. N4 uses the novel glycan receptor (NGR) surface glycan, presumably bound by the gp66 appendages, and the NGR transporter NfrA, recognized by the phage gp65 tail sheath, as receptors for adsorption. In contrast, DEV relies on the O-antigen moiety of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as the primary receptor recognized by the gp53 long tail fibers. However, DEV can infect deep-rough strains that lack the O-antigen moiety by using another, still unknown receptor. Here, we provide evidence that the essential LPS transporter LptD serves as the DEV secondary receptor and that DEV gp54 is its cognate receptor-binding protein. gp54 is encoded within the essential gp56-gp55-gp54 operon, which also includes gp56, the short tail fiber gene. Using cryogenic electron microscopy, AlphaFold modeling, and genetic analysis, we show that DEV gp56, gp55, and gp54 assemble into a receptor-binding fiber (RBF) positioned laterally to a previously uncharacterized tail plug protein, gp74. The DEV RBF is functionally equivalent to the N4 sheath protein gp65, which associates with the tail plug gp53. Thus, DEV and N4 both use a glycan and its surface-exposing transporter as receptors for adsorption. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a P. aeruginosa phage using an essential outer membrane protein as a receptor, with implications for phage therapy. Importance: Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage DEV uses the O-antigen of lipopolysaccharide as its primary receptor. In this study, we found that LptD, an essential and highly conserved outer membrane protein, serves as the secondary receptor for DEV. This interaction is mediated by a specialized receptor-binding fiber composed of the DEV proteins gp54, gp55, and gp56. We posit that the gp56-gp55-gp54 genes form a functional module, possibly disseminated via horizontal gene transfer among distantly related phages, involved in tail sealing and the regulated unplugging of the tail upon interaction with the bacterial receptor. Given the high conservation of receptor-binding proteins among phages in the DEV Litunavirus genus, we anticipate that other members of this genus may also use LptD as their receptor. Since Litunaviruses are actively explored for phage therapy, insights into the interaction between DEV and its receptors could help develop more effective and targeted phage-based treatments
Surrogate decision-making for people with disorders of consciousness: considering the control-preferences of informal caregivers before implementing multimodal testing
No full textBackground: Historically, individuals with disorders of consciousness (DoC) have often been subject to prognostic pessimism and therapeutic nihilism, leading to clinical decisions that became self-fulfilling prophecies. Recent advances in neurodiagnostics -particularly multimodal assessments of consciousness- offer new opportunities to reduce diagnostic ambiguity and to potentially improve rehabilitation outcomes. These developments have the potential to support more effective care planning. Given their central role in surrogate decision-making, informal caregivers are increasingly recognised as key participants in this evolving process. Yet, little is known about the distribution of their preferred roles in decision-making, especially in light of emerging, technology-informed models of diagnosis. Two research questions guided a multicenter study within the PerBrain project: (1) To what extent do informal caregivers differ in their preferences regarding control over decision-making and (2) does a majority of informal caregivers prefer a collaborative model over other forms of decision-making? Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a modified version of the Control Preferences Scale (CPS) -which measures a person's preferred level of control in medical decision-making- was conducted with informal caregivers of persons with DoC in three medical units in Italy and Germany between March 2021 and June 2023. The participating medical centers were part of the PerBrain project, which investigates multimodal consciousness assessment. Caregivers were recruited consecutively, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and t-tests to assess cross-national differences. Results: Seventy caregivers completed the survey. Preferences regarding decision-making roles varied: 34 (48.6%) favoured a passive role, 26 (37.1%) preferred a shared or collaborative role, and 10 (14.3%) expressed a preference for an active role. When ranked across all six possible positions (from active to passive options), the collaborative approach was most frequently among the top three choices: 26 (37.1%) ranked it first, 20 (28.6%) second, and 19 (27.1%) third. Statistically significant cross-country differences emerged (χ2(2) = 7.408, p = .025), with German caregivers demonstrating a stronger preference for active participation than their Italian counterparts. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals should be attentive to the diversity of decision-making preferences expressed by family caregivers of patients with DoC shortly after the transition from intensive to rehabilitation care. Although SDM is widely regarded as the normative standard in clinical practice, our findings reveal a discrepancy between this standard and the actual preferences of informal caregivers in two similar care settings in two different European countries. The findings add to the literature on uncertainty in surrogate health-care decision-making for people with DoC and raise questions of whether SDM should even be implemented, when it is not the preferred approach of (future) surrogate decision-makers. Trial registration: The study protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT04798456). The study was retrospectively registered on 15 March 2021 for the purpose of transparency. The protocol had been finalized before the start of the data collection. Further details can be accessed at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04798456