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Capua nelle fonti giuridiche: le dinamiche produttive
No full textEsame delle ricorrenze di Capua e del ciclo produttivo del bronzo nelle fonti giuridich
Myristicin from Athamanta sicula L.: A Potential Natural Antimicrobial Agent
No full textAthamanta L. is a small genus of the Apiaceae family, comprising only sixteen species and subspecies, which are distributed in the Canary Islands, Central Europe, and the Mediterranean basin. Background/Objectives: Since the time of Dioscurides, the species of this genus have been reported to have had several ethnopharmacological activities, and some of them are also used currently. Athamanta sicula L., growing in Italy, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, is the only species of this genus present in Sicily. To further explore the phytochemical profile and biological properties of this species, the present study focused on the essential oil (EO) extracted from the aerial parts of wild A. sicula populations collected in central Sicily. Methods: The chemical composition of the EO, obtained by hydrodistillation, was determined by GC–MS analysis. The presence of myristicin was confirmed by isolation and by 1H-NMR spectroscopic characterization. Results: The EO and its main constituents have been tested for possible antimicrobial properties against several bacterial strains, showing MIC values in the of 15–30 mg/mL range, and the mechanism of action was further investigated, revealing membrane-targeting effects consistent with outer membrane permeabilization. In addition, antibiofilm activity (with up to ~80% inhibition of biofilm formation at sub-MICs), antioxidant potential (demonstrating dose-dependent radical scavenging activity), and biocompatibility with eukaryotic cells were assessed to provide a comprehensive pharmacological profile of A. sicula EO. Specifically, the most abundant constituent was myristicin (62.2%), the principal representative of the phenylpropanoid class (64.4%). Hydrocarbon monoterpenes represented the second class of the EO (27.4%), with β-phellandrene (12.2%) as the main compound. Conclusions: Myristicin emerged as the key contributor to the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the EO. The obtained results highlight the relevance of A. sicula EO as a myristicin-rich essential oil with notable in vitro biological activity
Exhausted culture media reuse in autotrophic microalgae production: Optimization and modelling of Pseudococcomyxa simplex cultures
No full textThis study investigated strategies to reduce the water footprint in autotrophic microalgae cultivation by recycling exhausted culture medium under semi-continuous operation. Pseudococcomyxa simplex, a polyextremotolerant strain, was evaluated for medium reuse suitability. Experimental results demonstrated stable biomass productivity (∼0.2 g·L−1·day−1) over 30 days at a purge ratio of 30 % and dilution rate of 0.19 day−1, reducing water consumption from 1000 to 320 kg·kg−1biomass and lowering medium costs to 0.05 €·g−1. Full medium recycling, even with nitrogen supplementation, caused growth inhibition due to impaired photosystem II efficiency and chlorophyll synthesis. Partial recycling maintained the biochemical profiles, with stable proteins and lipids and a slight increase in carbohydrates at higher purge ratios. ASPEN PLUS® simulations provided mass and energy balances, CO2 absorption dynamics, and water loss estimates, confirming experimental trends and identifying optimal operating conditions for maximizing biomass and metabolite yields while minimizing environmental impact. Limitations in modeling nitrogen uptake suggest the need for advanced kinetic–stoichiometric models to improve scalability. This integrated experimental-modeling approach demonstrates that controlled medium recycling significantly enhances process sustainability without compromising productivity, providing critical insights into sustainable bioprocess optimization
Sargassum polycystum as natural source of antioxidant and antidiabetic compounds: a solvent-driven metabolomic profiling study
No full textThe increasing global demand for innovative natural therapeutics against oxidative stress and metabolic disorders has spotlighted marine algae as rich reservoirs of bioactive compounds. This pioneering study systematically investigates how extraction solvents and geographical origin can modulate the metabolomic landscape and bioactivity of Sargassum polycystum harvested from Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara. Employing advanced UHPLC-HRMS metabolomics combined with antioxidant and antidiabetic assays, it has been possible to delineate the distinct phytochemical fingerprints shaped by acetone, methanol, and ethanol solvents from samples collected at Saleh Bay (Dompu) and Pulau Ngali Beach (Sumbawa). Seventeen signature metabolites were identified, prominently featuring the bioactive sugar alcohol D-(−)-mannitol, which underpins significant pharmacological effects. Remarkably, acetone extracts from Saleh Bay (SAD) exhibited superior phenolic and flavonoid content, correlating with potent antioxidant activities (DPPH IC50 = 1.82 mg/mL; ABTS IC50 = 2.38 mg/mL; FRAP 0.537 mmol Fe(II)/mL). Methanol and ethanol extracts showed robust α-glucosidase inhibition (∼81 %), while SAD extracts also excelled in α-amylase inhibition, highlighting a multifaceted antidiabetic potential. Integrative network pharmacology and molecular docking pinpointed key molecular targets (PPARA, MGAM, CYP19A1) and identified metabolites (indicated as C6 and C9) with high binding affinities to DPP4, PPARG, and NtMGAM, rivaling acarbose's efficacy. Favorable ADMET profiles of compounds such as D-(−)-mannitol and DL-malic acid further underscore their therapeutic promise. This study not only elucidates how extraction solvents and geographic provenance dynamically influence the bioactivity of S. polycystum but also pioneers its repositioning as a versatile marine candidate for natural antioxidant and antidiabetic drug discovery
Pathology in motion: automation from specimen to report
No full text: Pathology laboratories are increasingly strained by rising diagnostic demand, greater case complexity, and limited staffing. Manual, analog workflows continue to dominate, yet they are time-consuming, prone to error, and contribute to inefficiency and staff burnout. Automation has been proposed as a strategy to address these challenges and improve sustainability. We reviewed current automation solutions available for key phases of the pathology workflow, including grossing, labeling, processing, embedding, microtomy, and archiving. Data were compared against estimates from traditional manual workflows to highlight potential gains in efficiency, accuracy, and traceability. Automation was shown to improve both efficiency and reliability across multiple stages. Advanced processing systems, such as microwave-assisted and ultrasound-based instruments, allowed faster turnaround with better tissue preservation. Embedding automation reduced operator time by more than 50%, sparing up to 40 working days annually. Automated microtomes cut sectioning times nearly in half, saving up to 470hours per year, though adoption remains limited by high cost and a slow return on investment. Automated archival systems decreased manual handling by approximately 550hours per year, while also ensuring controlled storage conditions and improved sample tracking. Automation offers clear benefits for standardization, efficiency, and diagnostic safety, while allowing staff to focus on higher-value activities. However, high implementation costs, infrastructural demands, and incomplete coverage of specialized needs remain barriers. Despite these limitations, automation represents a critical pathway toward resilient and future-ready pathology services
Utopia pedagogica della cura e le due forme di immaginario fantascientifico
No full textLo scopo di questo capitolo è esaminare che cosa significhi pensare alle «utopie della cura» da una prospettiva filosofico-educativa. Dopo aver introdotto la nozione di utopia quale componente essenziale del quadro metateorico della teoria dell’educazione, il capitolo si sofferma su una specifica articolazione dell’utopia come metodo—vale a dire l’idea di utopia come esperimento mentale—e discute come essa possa intrecciarsi con una concezione della cura intesa come minding. L’apparato concettuale così sviluppato culmina nella proposta di un intreccio strutturale tra queste due dimensioni: l’utopia, in quanto esperimento mentale, costituisce una forma di minding e, viceversa, il minding stesso contiene un vettore intrinsecamente utopico. La nozione che verrà impiegata per indagare tale intreccio strutturale è quella di fantascienza (science fiction, SF), intesa come «fabbricazione speculativa» (speculative fabulation). Questa nozione sarà a sua volta articolata in due sensi distinti: uno, in ultima analisi, estraneo all’orizzonte della cura e complice di una visione scientista dell’utopia; l’altro che, al contrario, si radica proprio all’interno di tale orizzonte