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A strong version of the Hilbert Nullstellensatz for Slice Regular Polynomials in several quaternionic variables
No full textIn this paper we prove a strong version of the Hilbert Nullstellensatz in the ring
of slice regular polynomials in several
quaternionic variables. Our proof deeply depends on a detailed
analysis of the common zeros of slice regular polynomials which belong to an ideal in
. This study motivates the introduction of
a new notion of algebraic set in the quaternionic setting, which
allows us to define a Zariski-type topology on
From work environment to roadway: A narrative review on organizational psychology’s role in road safety
No full textFollowing the impetus to implement preventive road-safety programs, understanding how work-related dimensions intersect with road safety is noteworthy. That is, every day, people use roads to commute to work or travel for work (e.g., truck drivers, food delivery). Work-related travel results in distinctive and usually higher patterns of risk. This narrative review aims to offer a vision of the intersection between road transport safety and organisational psychology, a discipline devoted to the study of individuals’ psychology in the workplace. By bridging distinct aspects of research, the paper highlights the value of an interdisciplinary perspective and presents a framework comprising four major research levels (i.e., institutional, organisational, individual, and situational), thereby advancing new strategies for research and practice to promote road safety. Even though these levels are related, handling them separately enables a thorough analysis of the suggested interdisciplinary framework. The paper proposes ideas for future research that can combine the purposes of the two research fields while also advancing road transport safety
Extra food buffers thermoregulatory costs during early development but does not reduce heatwave-induced mortality in nestlings of a cavity-nesting raptor
No full textGlobal climate change is increasing both average temperatures and the occurrence of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves. These changes pose major challenges for wildlife, especially during vulnerable life stages. In altricial bird species, nest-bound offspring are particularly susceptible to thermal stress due to limited behavioural thermoregulation, where high nest temperatures can impair development and induce elevated mortality, particularly when exceeding critical thresholds. We experimentally manipulated nest temperature and food availability in lesser kestrels ( Falco naumanni ) rearing their nestlings in nest boxes to investigate whether compensatory feeding offsets the negative effects of high nest temperatures on offspring size and pre-fledging survival. Nestlings were reared under three conditions: control (high nest temperatures), shaded (reduced temperature), and food-supplemented (high temperature with extra food). While parental provisioning rates did not differ among experimental groups, nestlings in food-supplemented boxes showed greater body size than control nestlings, despite similar thermal exposure, and matched the size of nestlings in shaded boxes. This indicates that increased food can buffer the energetic costs of thermoregulation under elevated, but non-lethal, temperatures. Mortality during development did not differ significantly among groups, as temperatures remained below critical thresholds. However, during a naturally occurring heatwave, mortality in control and food-supplemented nests was similarly high (∼40 %), whereas it was very limited in shaded nest boxes (∼4 %). These results suggest that food supplementation cannot prevent heatwave-induced mortality, likely caused by hyperthermia rather than starvation/dehydration. Nest microclimate may thus play a key role in mitigating the negative impacts of intense heatwaves in avian species
A computational optimization approach to reduce emissions and fuel costs in waste collection services
No full textEffective solid waste management is essential for environmental protection and public health. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) collection and transportation are crucial components of solid waste management, accounting for up to 80% of total resource allocation. These costs stem from labor expenses, high fuel consumption, and vehicle maintenance. Intensive vehicle usage during these stages leads to substantial energy consumption, atmospheric pollutant emissions, and urban congestion. Route planning offers a promising strategy for reducing costs and emissions associated with waste collection and transportation. Route optimization, also known as the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), provides a structured approach to route planning. This study aims to develop a computational model for optimizing waste collection and transportation routes for a small Brazilian municipality, Sapucaia. The proposed optimization problem is addressed using two tools: the Open Source Routing Machine (OSRM) and the Vehicle Routing Open-source Optimization Machine (VROOM). Furthermore, this study includes estimates of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fuel combustion during waste collection and transportation. For this purpose, a GHG emissions calculation methodology based on the Brazilian GHG Protocol is adopted. The optimization results demonstrate a significant reduction in the total distance traveled. As a consequence of these shorter distances, fuel consumption is also reduced, leading to concomitant decreases in costs and CO2e emissions
NIS 2 ed evoluzione della cybersicurezza nazionale : Guida alle norme e alle determinazioni dell’Agenzia per la Cybersicurezza Nazionale
No full textTARGETING Α-SYNUCLEIN AGGREGATION AND INFLAMMATION IN PARKINSON¿S DISEASE: THE ROLE OF POLY-Γ-GLUTAMIC ACID
No full textParkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder affecting more than 10 million people worldwide. As a synucleinopathy, PD is characterized by the pathological accumulation of misfolded and aggregated α-synuclein in both the central and peripheral nervous system. In this context, many efforts have been made to counteract α-synuclein aggregation, propagation, and associated inflammatory responses, which are key features of the disease. However, despite the tremendous effort and research investment, no disease-modifying therapies are currently available, and symptomatic approaches remain the standard cure for the treatment of PD.
In this work we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of commercially available poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) polymers, a natural, non-toxic and non-immunogenic biopolymer, in different in vitro models of PD, focusing on its properties as anti-inflammatory agent and modulator of aggregation. Indeed γ-PGA has gained significant interest in biomedicine due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects, providing evidence for its beneficial value in neurodegenerative disorders.
To investigate these biological properties, we selected complementary in vitro models that recapitulate different aspects of PD pathogenesis. Primary murine astrocytes were employed for their central role in α-synuclein clearance and neuroinflammation, given their involvement in the interplay between protein aggregation and immune responses in the central nervous system. Macrophages were selected to assess peripheral immune cell activation, which is strongly implicated in PD pathogenesis. Finally, neuronal in vitro model and cell free system assay were employed to assess the specific effect of γ-PGA in interfering with α-synuclein aggregation.
Using primary murine astrocytes exposed to α-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFFs) we demonstrated that γ-PGA restored cell viability, reduced astrocyte inflammation, and decreased α-synuclein pathology burden. These effects were associated with the reduced internalization of aggregates and the direct interference with α-synuclein aggregation, as confirmed by cell-free system assays. In addition, we examined the impact of α-synuclein aggregates on macrophage immune response, focusing on their polarization. Using an in vitro model of macrophages, we observed that PFFs induced a mixed M1/M2 phenotype without affecting cytotoxicity and ROS production, and that γ-PGA administration attenuated this polarization, suggesting a modulatory role in α-synuclein-induced immune response. Finally, in a neuronal in vitro model, γ-PGA polymers significantly reduced the burden of early-stage α-synuclein aggregates supporting its direct anti-aggregation capacity.
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Overall, this work provides in vitro proof-of-concept evidence that γ-PGA can modulate α-synuclein aggregation and aggregate-induced inflammatory response, highlighting its potential as a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for PD. Interestingly, given its additional role as a prebiotic able to modulate the gut microbiome, and the emerging evidence that dysbiosis is linked to PD, future research that explores γ-PGA effects on the gut-brain axis and focuses on inflammation and microbiota modulation in the gut, as well as α-synuclein propagation and neuronal function in PD pathogenesis, holds promise
L'esenzione dalla bancarotta (preferenziale e semplice). Vecchi problemi e nuove prospettive
No full textWater Vapor Emission at the Warm Cavity Wall of the HD 100546 Disk as Revealed by ALMA
No full textWe present spatially resolved Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the water line at 183 GHz in the disk around the Herbig star HD 100546. The water vapor emission peaks at the inner edge of the warm dust cavity, located ∼15 au from the central star. We attribute this to thermal desorption at the water snow line, shifted outward at the dust cavity wall directly heated by the intense radiation. This represents the first spatially resolved image of the water snow line using ALMA observations of the main water isotopologue in a protoplanetary disk. The water emission morphology peaking inside the first dust ring is consistent with previous ALMA detections of oxygen-bearing complex organic molecules in the disk, including thermally desorbed methanol. These findings signal that warm cavities of transition disks provide ideal targets to directly reconstruct the spatial distribution of water vapor and the snow line location with ALMA and directly connect water vapor emission to ice desorption of complex organic species
