Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca- Università del Piemonte Orientale
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Toward Resilient Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Care: A Qualitative Study Involving Afghan Refugee Women in Pakistan
Get PDFOn the traceability of truffles by means of the lanthanides distribution
No full textTruffles are among the most requested and expensive foods. In particular, the Tuber magnatum Pico from Piemonte (Italy) is considered to be among the five most prised food in the world. Therefore, it is important to have at disposal analytical methods to verify the geographic provenance of truffles sold on the market. In this work we studied the passage of microelements from soil to truffle, aiming at finding chemical markers useful for the traceability of truffles. We found that the distribution of lanthanides, determined by means of ICP-MS analysis, is apparently a fingerprint of the soil in which the truffles are collected. A parameter called L-value has been introduced to evaluate how the distributions of lanthanides are maintained between samples. Therefore, if each truffle has the original fingerprint of the pertinent soil, this can be used for the purpose of authentication. It is demonstrated that the features of the soil are more relevant than the species of truffle in the permanence of the fingerprint, even if truffles are compared with fungi collected in the same soil. Of course, there is a possibility that, for pedological reasons, similar soils, located in areas far from each other, have the same fingerprint: in that case it will not be possible to distinguish the truffles collected in those soils. The similarity between soil and truffle, expressed through the distribution of the lanthanides, is therefore a condition necessary but not sufficient. It can, however, help in the authentication of a truffle provided the pertaining soil is available. In fact, it must be remembered that truffles grow on specific soils: this is particularly true for the Tuber magnatum Pico, the only species impossible to cultivate
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as environmental drivers of antimicrobial resistance: insights from genome sequences of Klebsiella grimontii and Citrobacter braakii isolated from contaminated soil
No full textPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals widely used for industrial applications
since the 1940s. PFAS are extremely persistent in the environment, to the extent that they have earned the
reputation of ‘forever chemicals’. There is growing evidence that PFAS have a significant impact on the
biodiversity, composition, and activity of microbial communities. In this study, we hypothesized that
these compounds may increase the abundance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To investigate this
hypothesis, we employed Winogradsky columns to study the microbial community's response to PFAScontaminated
soil from the Alb ̈ack fire drill site (Trelleborg, Sweden). Column amendment with a high
amount of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) led to selective growth, in the aqueous phase of the columns,
of Klebsiella grimontii and Citrobacter braakii, two emerging opportunistic facultative anaerobic
pathogens. Whole-genome sequencing of K. grimontii Tre-B and C. braakii Tre-T isolates revealed
numerous antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with a notable prevalence of resistance to
fluoroquinolones. Among these genes are those encoding multidrug efflux systems that confer
resistance to a wide range of toxic compounds such as antibiotics, surfactants, dyes, detergents, and
disinfectants. Both strains contain a large set of features involved in the degradation of aromatic and
halogenated compounds, and other recalcitrant chemicals. K. grimontii Tre-B is characterized by the
presence of an IncR-group plasmid (named pKGTreB) containing many genes involved in resistance to
arsenic, copper, mercury, and silver. This strain also contains a choline utilization (cut) bacterial
microcompartment (BMC) locus, which has been implicated in various human diseases as a source of
trimethylamine (TMA). Understanding the genomes of these two bacterial strains provides insights into
the molecular mechanisms responsible for their pathogenicity, antibiotic resistance, resistance to
biocides, and heavy metal tolerance. In this study we also show that when the two bacteria were grown
with PFOA, their resistance to certain aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones and macrolides increased, and
we found that transcript levels of the kpnF, kpnG, adeF, and oqxA antibiotic-resistance genes of K.
grimontii Tre-B increased as a function of PFOA concentration, whereas acrA was upregulated only at
low PFOA concentrations. These results indicate that PFOA, in addition to selecting specific groups of
bacteria, may increase antibiotic resistance through upregulation of specific antibiotic resistance genes
and suggest that these genes may also be involved in bacterial resistance to PFAS. Through the
exploration of these mechanisms, we can gain valuable insights into how environmental pollutants, such
as PFAS and other contaminants, may contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance
The capital-on-capital cost in solvency II risk margin
Get PDFThis work contributes to the literature on time consistent valuation of insurance liabilities and to the ongoing discussion on revisions of risk margin (RM) calculation, by formally defining the concept of capital-on-capital cost. We describe the capital-on-capital as the amount required to cover unexpected variations in future regulatory capitals from the current time to liabilities maturity. That is, the capital-on-capital cost is the RM component dedicated to cover the risk of future RMs and not to cover variations of the best estimate of liabilities cash-flows. We mathematically formalize the capital-on-capital cost as the difference between two alternative time consistent liabilities valuation formula. The first is obtained through backward iteration of the one-period market-consistent valuation operator, by iterating the solvency capital requirement (SCR) risk measure. We propose a second alternative valuation formula for liabilities, based on a new time consistent dynamic formulation of the SCR risk measure, called additive-SCR (ASCR). The ASCR represents the expected total capital requirement from current time to liabilities maturity. We prove that the second valuation formula, based on ASCR, is time consistent, unless it is not based on iteration of the one-period SCR risk measure. Finally, we apply the proposed approach to a portfolio of long term equity linked life-insurance contracts. In particular, we estimate the capital-on-capital cost by calculating the difference between the two valuation formulas. Numerical results show that for liabilities with long maturities the capital-on-capital cost is a non negligible component of the RM
INdAM Workshop: "Fast Methods for Isogeometric Analysis"
No full textIn this talk, we present a comparative analysis of reliable quadrature techniques for approximating fractional operators, emphasizing error estimates and their effectiveness in preconditioning the Riesz operator. Such operator, essential in fractional models like anomalous diffusion, depends on a parameter which lies between 1 and 2. When the parameter is close to 2, several robust preconditioning methods with linear computational cost exist. However, as the parameter approaches 1, achieving efficient preconditioners with linear complexity becomes more challenging. Previous work approximated the Riesz operator as a fractional power of a discretized Laplacian using the Gauss-Jacobi rule. Recent studies have enhanced this by using advanced quadrature rules, such as Gauss-Laguerre and sinc quadratures, which provide faster convergence. By appropriately selecting the number of quadrature points, both methods generate preconditioners based on sums of a few shifted Laplacian inverses, ensuring high efficiency and accuracy. Numerical tests show that the sinc-based preconditioner is more versatile than Gauss-Laguerre and both outperform the Gauss-Jacobi approach
Green methodologies for the synthesis and use of isocyanides and their application in medicinal chemistry
No full textThe isocyanide stands out as an intriguing entity, owing to its chameleonic reactivity that has made it a widely utilized reactant in organic synthesis, especially in multicomponent reactions (MCRs). Despite its pivotal role in the biological activity of natural compounds, isocyanides have historically been overlooked by medicinal chemists due to misconceptions about their toxicity, reactivity, and metabolic instability. Additionally, the structural complexity and limited availability of natural isocyanides have contributed to this neglect. However, our recent investigations have revealed that, under specific molecular contexts, the isocyanide group can resist human metabolism and show promise as a pharmacophoric group in medicinal chemistry. Therefore, the aim of this PhD was to systematically utilize the isocyanide as a pharmacophoric group, integrating it into chemically straightforward and expeditiously synthesized structures, with the goal of deploy them in medicinal chemistry screening campaigns, particularly within the domains of antimicrobial and oncological research. Another goal was to develop environmental friendly synthetic procedures for the synthesis and use of isocyanides
SPRAY-DRIED MICROPARTICLES CONTAINING VITAMIN D3: THE IMPORTANCE OF FORMULATION AND PROCESS DEVELOPMENT
No full textEffect of anti-IL-17 and anti-IL-23 monoclonal antibodies on gut microbiota in patients with psoriasis: a single centre observational study
No full textIntroduction
The gut-skin axis (GSA) is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, which is characterized by specific dysbiotic signatures of both the gut and skin microbiota. Gut dysbiosis may alter skin homeostasis through the GSA and immune signalling networks, involving IL-23 and IL-17 cytokines. Targeting these pro-inflammatory pathways could be one of the therapeutic alternatives for psoriasis, and anti-IL-23 or anti-IL-17 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are indeed effective systemic treatments for moderate to severe psoriasis.This study aims to i) evaluate the gut microbiota and its variation in psoriasis patients before, during, and after systemic anti-IL-23 or anti-IL-17 therapy; ii) assess clinical outcomes such as Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and Investigators Global Assessment (IGA) at the baseline and during the follow-up visits.
Materials & Methods
Stool samples were collected from a cohort of informed consent naive psoriatic patients (n = 43) at baseline (T0), after 16 (T16) and 52 (T52) weeks of treatment with anti-IL-23 or anti IL-17 mAbs. Microbial DNA was isolated (QIAmp PowerFecal Pro DNA Kit). Gut microbiota composition was analysed using 16S rDNA sequencing of the V3-V4-V6 hypervariable regions, processed with MicrobAT software and the Ribosomal Project Database (RDP) database, and assessed with MicrobiomeAnalyst for alpha- and beta-diversity. Clinical endpoints were statistically analysed as well.
Results
Preliminary data confirm an altered Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes)/Bacteroidetes [B(F)/B] ratio at T0, which indicates intestinal dysbiosis. Both the treatments not only improve the condition, but also shift the B(F)/B ratio, increasing species within the Bacteroidetes phylum and enhancing microbiota biodiversity. Besides microbiota changes, both the treatments improve PASI, IGA, and DLQI scores compared to the baseline.
Conclusion
These results demonstrate a progressive increment in gut biodiversity and a normalization of the ratio of B(F)/B in both the patient groups. This pilot study underscores the potential role of biologics in the GSA homeostasis, as the restoration of gut microbiota may support clinical outcomes in psoriasis treatment. Moreover, multicentric studies and gut microbiota analysis on a larger scale could pave the way to better comprehend the relationship between psoriasis and microbiome and lead to personalized, microbiota-targeted therapeutic strategies
Contribution of Citizen Science Data on the Evaluation of Local Biodiversity of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities
Get PDFCitizen science is increasingly utilized for environmental monitoring and educational purposes. For lotic ecosystems, this approach could be used to implement traditional methods and gain more data on local biodiversity, particularly in areas where professional monitoring is limited. This study, conducted in Italy, aimed to complement data on river macroinvertebrates collected by the Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA) with additional data gained by volunteers. Our results revealed taxonomic differences between the macroinvertebrate communities of ARPA and citizen science sites. ARPA sites host 34.4% of the total biodiversity, with 22 exclusive taxa, while citizen science sites, with 6 exclusive taxa, represent 9.4% of the total gamma diversity. Compositional differences are mainly explained by taxa turnover between sites. ARPA sites, located along the main river stretches, are richer in alpha and gamma diversity, while volunteer-monitored sites, mostly in agricultural ditches, show lower richness at the local and regional scales but host some unique taxa, increasing the total biodiversity. This study supports the implementation of volunteer programs to increase the number of monitored rivers, enhancing information on macroinvertebrate diversity and distribution and generating relevant data to support decision-making and develop strategies for river conservation and ecosystem restoration at a local scale
Measurement of ω meson production in pp collisions at = 13 TeV
No full textThe pT-differential cross section of ω meson production in pp collisions at = 13 TeV at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) was measured with the ALICE detector at the LHC, covering an unprecedented transverse-momentum range of 1.6 < pT < 50 GeV/c. The meson is reconstructed via the ω → π+π−π0 decay channel. The results are compared with various theoretical calculations: PYTHIA8.2 with the Monash 2013 tune overestimates the data by up to 50%, whereas good agreement is observed with Next-to-Leading Order (NLO) calculations incorporating ω fragmentation using a broken SU(3) model. The ω/π0 ratio is presented and compared with theoretical calculations and the available measurements at lower collision energies. The presented data triples the pT ranges of previously available measurements. A constant ratio of Cω/π0 = 0.578 ± 0.006 (stat.) ± 0.013 (syst.) is found above a transverse momentum of 4 GeV/c, which is in agreement with previous findings at lower collision energies within the systematic and statistical uncertainties