Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna
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Cold-subduction biogeodynamics boosts deep energy delivery to the forearc
Get PDFMetamorphic fluids in subduction zones carry C-H-N-O-P-S species, which are crucial for sustaining subsurface microbial life at shallower crustal depths in the forearc region. Upwards migration of deeply released fluids to shallower levels, where temperatures permit the persistence of microbial life, is recorded by metasomatic rocks formed along the plate interface. Variations in the redox state and component speciation of metamorphic fluids - from local to secular, and highly dependent on thermal gradients and redox state of subduction inputs - may strongly control microbial pathways or even the possibility for metamorphic fluids to sustain microbial communities in the subsurface biosphere at convergent plate margins. We show that metamorphic fluids containing reduced energy sources for microbial life - e.g., CH4, H-2 - are common in Phanerozoic, high-pressure/low-temperature plate-interface metasomatic rocks such as jadeitites and albitites worldwide. Based on the stability fields of minerals hosting CH4, H-2 and graphite inclusions, we pinpoint the protracted, probably episodic migration of energy sources in the mantle wedge via fluid circulation being mediated by jadeitites from > ca. 35 km depth, and by their retrogressed counterparts forming from between 35-15 km depth. These fluids can cross the so-called biotic fringe - whose limit is the depth corresponding to ca. 122-135 degrees C (as deep as ca. 13 km depth depending on geothermal gradients) - as suggested by previous documentation of slab-derived fluids reaching subsurface microbial communities. Thermodynamic modeling indicates that cool thermal gradients, possibly combined with increased inputs of organic matter-rich sediments into subduction, favor the abundance of reduced energy sources relative to more oxidized species (e.g., CO2), thus promoting the proliferation of subsurface microbial life at convergent margins
Advancing Pediatric Surgery: The Use of HoloLens 2 for 3D Anatomical Reconstructions in Preoperative Planning
Get PDFAbstract: Background: In pediatric surgery, a comprehensive knowledge of the child’s
anatomy is crucial to optimize surgical outcomes and minimize complications. Recent
advancements in medical imaging and technology have introduced innovative tools that
enhance surgical planning and decision-making. Methods: This study explores the integration
of mixed reality technology, specifically the HoloLens 2 headset, for visualization
and interaction with three-dimensional (3D) anatomical reconstructions obtained from
computed tomography (CT) scans. Our prospective observational study, conducted at
IRCCS (Scientific Hospitalization and Care Institute) Sant’Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital
in Bologna, engaged ten pediatric surgeons, who assessed three types of anatomical
malformations (splenic cysts, pulmonary cystic adenomatoid malformations, and pyeloureteral
junction stenosis) and planned surgeries using both traditional 2D CT scans and
3D visualizations via HoloLens 2, followed by completing a questionnaire to evaluate the
utility of each of these imaging techniques in surgical planning. Results: The statistical
analysis revealed that the 3D visualizations significantly outperformed the 2D CT scans in
clarity and utility (p < 0.05). The results indicated significant improvements in anatomy
understanding and surgical precision. The immersive experience provided by HoloLens
2 enabled surgeons to better identify critical landmarks, understand spatial relationships,
and prevent surgical challenges. Furthermore, this technology facilitated collaborative
decision-making and streamlined surgical workflows. Conclusions: Despite some challenges
in ease of use, HoloLens 2 showed promising results in reducing the learning curve
for complex procedures. This study underscores the transformative potential of mixed
reality technology in pediatric surgery, advocating for further research and development to
integrate these advancements into routine clinical practice
Greening Obligations, Avoidance behavior, and Farms' Environmental and Economic Performance: Insights from FADN
No full textStarting in 2014, a new European Union-wide environmental regulation aimed at curbing soil degradation and promoting biodiversity has required farmers to diversify the type of crops cultivated on their land. A significant part of Direct Payments to farmers were made conditional on compliance with Greening requirements. In this article, we estimate the causal impact of the crop diversification Greening requirement among farms. Leveraging data from the FADN survey, we examine the effects on avoidance behavior, as well as the environmental and economic performance of farms that were not previously compliant with regulatory
requirements. We show that the crop diversification measure is effective in increasing the average number of crops cultivated on arable land held by holdings above 10 ha, but also induced avoidance behavior among a portion of farms under the scope of the policy. Additionally, we identify increases in pollutant inputs per
hectare. Furthermore, we observe positive shifts in total farm output consistent with some ex-ante simulations
High-resolution whole-genome DNA methylation revealed unique signatures of painful diabetic neuropathy
Get PDF: The aim of this work was to describe the DNA methylation signature and to identify genes associated with neuropathic pain in type 2 diabetes mellitus. We analyzed two independent diabetic neuropathy cohorts: PROPGER consisting of 72 painful and 67 painless patients recruited at the German Diabetes Center in Düsseldorf (DE), and PROPENG comprising 27 painful and 65 painless diabetic neuropathy patients recruited at the University of Manchester (UK). Genome-wide methylation data was generated using Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC v1.0 BeadChip. We used four different selection criteria to identify promising pain-related genes. Our findings revealed significant differences in methylation patterns between painful and painless diabetic neuropathy and identified a set of individual CpG sites of unique candidate genes associated with the painful phenotype. Several of these genes, including GCH1, MYT1L and MED16, have been previously linked to pain-related phenotypes or diabetes. Through pathway enrichment analysis, we demonstrated that specific epigenetic signatures could contribute to the complex phenotype of diabetic neuropathy and cluster analyses highlighted significant epigenetic dissimilarities between painful and painless phenotypes. Our results uncovered epigenetic differences between painful and painless diabetic neuropathy patients and identified targeted genes linked to neuropathic pain through DNA methylation mechanisms. This approach holds promise for investigating other chronic pain conditions, such as secondary chronic pain from cancer treatment, thoracic surgery, and various transplant settings
Exploring Metal Interactions with Released Polysaccharides from Cyanothece sp. CE4: A Chemical and Spectroscopic Study on Biosorption Mechanism
Get PDFThis study investigates the potential of released polysaccharides (RPS) from the halophilic cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. CE4 as biosorbents for heavy metals, specifically copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn). By combining ICP-OES, SEM-EDX, FT-IR spectroscopy, and XAS techniques, this work provides a comprehensive chemical and spectroscopic analysis of the biosorption mechanisms driving metal removal. The results revealed a strong binding affinity for Cu, followed by Ni and Zn, with RPS functional groups playing a key role in metal coordination. The RPS efficiently removed metals from both monometallic and multimetallic solutions, emphasizing their adaptability in competitive environments. XAS analysis highlighted unique metal-specific coordination patterns. Ni preferentially binds to oxygen donors and Zn to chlorine, and Cu exhibits non-selective binding. Remarkably, the extracted RPS achieved a maximum Cu removal capacity of 67 mg per gram of RPS dry weight, surpassing previously reported biosorption capacities. This study not only advances the understanding of biosorption mechanisms by cyanobacterial RPS but also emphasizes their dual role in environmental remediation and circular resource management. The insights provided here establish a foundation for the development of sustainable, cyanobacteria-based solutions for heavy-metal recovery and environmental sustainability
Behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica during beef dry-aging up to 60 days
Get PDFThe Commission delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1141 states that beef dry aging can be performed in a dedicated cabinet, at a surface temperature of -0.5 to 3 °C, maximum relative humidity of 85 %, air speed of 0.2-0.5 m/s and for a maximum of 35 days. Food business operators can apply different process parameters, even longer aging times, as long as they demonstrate to the competent authority that the aged meat is microbiologically safe. To support food business operators in the implementation of longer dry aging processes, in this study we investigated the behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica during beef dry aging in a patented cabinet up to 60 days. Beef loins were experimentally spiked with a mean load of 4.4 and 3.9 Log10 CFU/g of Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica respectively and stored at 1 °C, relative humidity 78 % and ventilation 2.0 m/s for 60 days. L. monocytogenes counts did not significantly change during the dry aging process, while Y. enterocolitica significantly increased up to 3 Log10 CFU/g during the aging process and then tended to decrease at 60 days. The results of this study showed that beef dry aging at 1 ± 2 °C, relative humidity 78 ± 7 %, ventilation 2.0 m/s for 60 days does not support the growth of L. monocytogenes. On the contrary, the same process supported the growth of Y. enterocolitica up to 40 days in two of the three tested batches, showing that the impact of dry aging on the behaviour of this pathogen deserves further studies
Development of a duplex fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique to detect and localize Redspotted Grouper Nervous Necrosis Virus sense and antisense genomic RNA1 and its application to the tissues of aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates
Get PDFThe causative agent of viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), the nervous necrosis virus (NNV), is considered one of the most impacting agents in the Mediterranean aquaculture and it has already been described in several aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates including bivalve molluscs. In this study a novel duplex fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assay was developed for the detection of sense and antisense RGNNV genomic RNA1 fragment, coding for the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), and applied to aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates' tissues. The detection of sense and antisense RNA provides useful information not only on viral localization at cellular level, but also on viral replication, improving the understanding of the host-pathogen interactions between NNV and its hosts. The designed assay resulted in the specific detection of the RdRp of the two NNV strains most widespread in the Mediterranean basin: RGNNV and RGNNV/SJNNV. FISH was applied to the brain of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) showing the localization at cellular level of both NNV genome and cRNA produced during viral replication. The assay was also able to localize the NNV genome and its replicative intermediate form in clams (Ruditapes philippinarum). Clear positive signals were found in oocytes' cytoplasm confirming the intracellular localization of NNV in invertebrates. Altogether, these findings suggest NNV active replication status in clams' oocytes and its potential transmission through vertical route. In conclusion, the developed assay can find wide application in the deep understanding of host-pathogen interactions, contributing to pointing out the real role that invertebrates play in VER epidemiology
Clinical value of novel blood-based tau biomarkers in Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease
Get PDFBACKGROUND: The diagnostic and prognostic performance of the novel fluid biomarkers brain-derived tau (BD-tau) and phospho-tau217 (p-tau217) in Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) is not defined. METHODS: We measured cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma BD-tau, p-tau217, p-tau181, total tau (t-tau), neurofilament light (NfL), and 14-3-3 in 100 CJD patients, 100 with non-prion rapidly progressive dementia (np-RPD), 92 with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (AD-MCI), and 55 healthy controls (HC). RESULTS: Plasma BD-tau performed comparably to plasma t-tau but had lower performance than CSF t-tau (p < 0.001) and 14-3-3 (p = 0.014) in CJD versus np-RPD differential diagnosis. Plasma BD-tau diagnostic accuracy increased when ratioed to plasma p-tau217, matching CSF 14-3-3. Plasma BD-tau levels were associated with survival (p < 0.001), outperforming t-tau and NfL. DISCUSSION: Plasma BD-tau is a valuable marker for CJD prognostication. In the clinical setting, the plasma BD-tau/p-tau217 ratio provides an accurate, fast marker supporting the clinical diagnosis of CJD. Highlights: The increase of plasma BD-tau levels parallels that of CSF t-tau in CJD. CSF p-tau217 levels are significantly increased in CJD, reflecting a prion-specific secondary tauopathy. Plasma p-tau217 shows a distinct profile than CSF p-tau217 in CJD. Plasma BD-tau/p-tau217 ratio is as accurate as CSF 14-3-3 in distinguishing CJD from np-RPDs, including AD. BD-tau represents a valuable blood-based biomarker for CJD prognostication
Observation of Exotic J/ψ φ Resonant Structure in Diffractive Processes in Proton-Proton Collisions
No full textThe first study of J/ψ φ production in diffractive processes in proton-proton collisions is presented. The study is based on an LHCb dataset recorded at centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 fb^−1. The data disfavour a nonresonant J/ψ φ production but are consistent with a resonant model including several resonant states observed previously only in B+ → J/ψ φ K+ decays. The χc0(4500) state is observed with a significance over 5σ and the χc1(4274) is confirmed with a significance of more than 4σ
Antonio Urceo Codro tra università e insegnamento privato
No full textIl contributo, in una prima sezione, analizza i Sermones di Antonio Urceo Codro (1446-1500), ossia le prolusioni ai corsi di Poetica, Retorica e Greco, per individuare i tratti distintivi della sua pedagogia. In una seconda sezione, si esaminano le recollectae delle sue lezioni, redatte da anonimi studenti, e alcuni componimenti inediti di Camillo Paleotti, riportati in appendice con traduzione e commento, nati probabilmente durante l’insegnamento privato impartito da Codro