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Sulla deliberazione assembleare adottata esclusivamente da soggetti non legittimati: problemi di qualificazione (invalidità o inesistenza?) e diritti dei terzi
No full textUltrathin bronchoscopy-guided small airway biopsy for diagnosing sarcoidosis: A prospective study
No full textNew ultrathin bronchoscopes (UTBs) enable the inspection and biopsy of small airways, potentially offering diagnostic advantages in sarcoidosis. In this prospective study, patients with suspected sarcoidosis underwent airway inspection with a UTB. Observed airway abnormalities were categorised into six predefined patterns. UTB-directed small airway biopsies (SABs) were collected from the upper lobes following a standardised procedure. We evaluated the prevalence and patterns of SAAs, as well as the diagnostic yield of UTB-directed SAB. Among 79 participants, 65 (82.3%) were diagnosed with sarcoidosis. Small airway abnormalities were identified in 26/65 (40%) patients, predominantly in those with parenchymal involvement on CT compared to those with lymphadenopathy only (58.1% VS. 23.5%, P = 0.005). The diagnostic yield of SABs for detecting granulomas was significantly higher in patients with SAAs than in those without (65.4% VS. 23.1%, P = 0.001) and in patients with parenchymal disease on CT compared to those without (54.8% VS. 26.5%, P = 0.02). Notably, random biopsies taken under direct visualisation from small airway carinas revealed peribronchiolar parenchyma in 23% of the patients. Small airway abnormalities are prevalent in sarcoidosis patients with parenchymal involvement, and biopsying these abnormalities yields a high rate of granuloma detection
Modulation of the interactions at the biointerface: Specific buffer effects
No full textThis thesis aims to investigate specific buffer effects on the physico-chemical properties of biomolecules and consequently their interaction with other biomolecules or with surfaces generating a biointerface. In biochemical systems, the pH of the bulk solution is usually regulated by a buffer composed of a weak electrolyte and its conjugate species. The same bulk pH can be obtained with different buffer species provided that the pKa of the weak electrolyte is close to the pH (= pKa ± 1) of interest to the biochemical experiment. It is usually assumed that different buffers support the same interfacial interactions when providing the same bulk pH. However, this assumption is too simplistic and may lead to unreproducible results if different buffer species, even at the same pH, are used.
Here, to highlight the impact of buffer specificity, biomolecules and biointerfaces have been chosen as model systems having relevant interest in biotechnology and biomedical applications. Through a combination of experimental techniques, the effect of buffers on i) protein adsorption on nanoparticles, ii) the interaction between DNA and supported lipid bilayer, iii) the thermal stability of DNA and iv) the interaction of drugs with DNA are investigated in this thesis. It is found that buffers affect specifically and significantly the interactions occurring at biointerfaces even at the low buffer concentrations (10 - 50 mM) usually used in these kinds of studies. Even at fixed ionic strength, buffer specificity plays a relevant role which is not solely related to the charge of buffer ions and cannot be explained with classic electrostatic theories. Furthermore, the specific buffer effect is observed in addition to the specific ion effect coming from the dissociation of strong electrolytes, commonly used in conventional "Hofmeister series" studiesThis thesis aims to investigate specific buffer effects on the physico-chemical properties of biomolecules and consequently their interaction with other biomolecules or with surfaces generating a biointerface. In biochemical systems, the pH of the bulk solution is usually regulated by a buffer composed of a weak electrolyte and its conjugate species. The same bulk pH can be obtained with different buffer species provided that the pKa of the weak electrolyte is close to the pH (= pKa ± 1) of interest to the biochemical experiment. It is usually assumed that different buffers support the same interfacial interactions when providing the same bulk pH. However, this assumption is too simplistic and may lead to unreproducible results if different buffer species, even at the same pH, are used.
Here, to highlight the impact of buffer specificity, biomolecules and biointerfaces have been chosen as model systems having relevant interest in biotechnology and biomedical applications. Through a combination of experimental techniques, the effect of buffers on i) protein adsorption on nanoparticles, ii) the interaction between DNA and supported lipid bilayer, iii) the thermal stability of DNA and iv) the interaction of drugs with DNA are investigated in this thesis. It is found that buffers affect specifically and significantly the interactions occurring at biointerfaces even at the low buffer concentrations (10 - 50 mM) usually used in these kinds of studies. Even at fixed ionic strength, buffer specificity plays a relevant role which is not solely related to the charge of buffer ions and cannot be explained with classic electrostatic theories. Furthermore, the specific buffer effect is observed in addition to the specific ion effect coming from the dissociation of strong electrolytes, commonly used in conventional "Hofmeister series" studies
Il ruolo della metodologia organizational life cycle assessment (O-LCA) per la rendicontazione delle performance ambientali delle aziende
No full textApical periodontitis in inflammatory bowel disease: a meta-analysis at patient and tooth level
No full textApical periodontitis (AP) is the local inflammation of periapical tissues originating from the dental pulp disease. Cumulative evidence suggests a link between oral and gastro-intestinal systems in both health and disease. In this context, the relationship between AP and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) has not yet been elucidated. The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to describe the prevalence of AP in patients with IBDs and evaluate the potential association between AP and IBDs. Electronic (Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) and manual literature searches were conducted from inception to 31 October, 2023 (updated in August, 2024). Strict inclusion criteria were applied to identify observational and experimental clinical studies on AP in IBDs patients. The bias risk was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools and a biases' report selected from the Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine Catalogue of Bias. A meta-analysis was performed to determine the pooled prevalence and risk of AP at individual and tooth level and the quality of evidence was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. The search strategy identified 82 articles with 5 studies included (657 subjects, 7,142 teeth). The overall proportion of AP was 58% at patient level (95% CI = 37%–78%, I2 = 95.3%) and 7% at tooth level (95% CI = 2%–15%; I2 = 99.2%). AP was prevalent in IBDs subjects than in healthy controls, both at patient and tooth level. The pooled OR was 1.57 (95% CI = 1.04–2.35; P = 0.038; I2 = 20%) at patient level, and 1.91 (95% CI = 1.16–3.15; P = 0.011; I2 = 82%) at tooth level. A potential association between AP and IBDs is plausible, although the quality evidence was low to very low. Longitudinal and experimental studies should be conducted to better understand the relationship between these two conditions and explore any potential causative factors. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=411038, PROSPERO (CRD42023411038)
Antidiabetic potential of vanadium complexes combined with olive leaf extracts: a viable approach to reduce metal toxicity
No full textVanadium compounds are known for their antidiabetic properties due to their ability to interfere with numerous mechanisms that lead to the decrease of blood glucose levels. Although some of these compounds have reached clinical trials and have the advantage of being orally administrable, no vanadium-containing drugs are currently available on the market, primarily due to the high doses required, which can lead intestinal and renal problems in case of long-term treatments. In this study, plant extracts obtained from olive leaves (Olea europaea L.) were combined with vanadium complexes with established antidiabetic activity with the aim of reducing their metal toxicity and, at the same time, amplifying their hypoglycemic action. The extracts were characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods showing a composition rich in polyphenols and a high antioxidant activity. Formulations containing a vanadium complex (bis(maltolato)oxidovanadium(IV), BMOV, or bis(picolinato)oxidovanadium(IV), BPOV) mixed with different amount of olive leaves extract were tested in vitro to evaluate intestinal toxicity and hypoglycemic activity. The results demonstrated that the plant extracts are generally non-toxic toward human colon fibroblast in the whole range of tested concentrations and some of them are particularly effective in reducing the toxicity of the two vanadium compounds. Further in vitro tests conducted on differentiated human adipocyte cell lines revealed a significant increase in glucose uptake following treatment with the mixed formulations, compared to the effect of the individual components, indicating a synergistic effect. Immunocytochemical assays suggested that the translocation of GLUT4 transporter can be involved in the mechanism of action
Innovation in Tourism Communication. Strategic Models to Create Sustainable Value for Destination
No full textIn a context of increasing digitalization and personalization of tourism offerings, where the online channel is now considered a key axis for the sector's development, this research investigates six tourist destinations in Sardinia to study their digital communication methods relative to European benchmark standards. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies through indicators applied to official websites and social media channels, including design, content, user interaction, immersive technologies, and sustainability
Presentazione a Il Parco Lacuneddas di Villacidro. Appunti per una microstoria, con note sul paesaggio, flora e fauna del luogo
No full textIl volume si configura come il primo tentativo di ricostruire, nell’arco di poco più di tre secoli, dal Seicento ai primi anni del Duemila, l’affascinante storia di un tancato di circa tre ettari, giardino e bosco insieme, oggi sito tra via Brabezza e via Bingiomigu, a pochi passi dal centro abitato di Villacidro, conosciuto come Parco Lacuneddas. La storia di questo podere, appartenuto prima ai frati mercedari, poi all’avv. Giuseppe Fulgheri e successivamente ai suoi eredi, compresi i nonni materni dello scrittore Giuseppe Dessì, Giuseppe Pinna Curreli e Elisa Dessì Fulgheri, si intreccia con le vicende di altre famiglie cidresi (e personaggi), come quella dei Cadoni, dei Serra, dei Murgia, dei Costa, ma anche di nuclei familiari provenienti da altri comuni sardi e della penisola, come le famiglie Alagna di Cagliari e Santoni di Villa Basilica (Lucca). Alcuni di questi personaggi sono i protagonisti di Paese d’ombre di Dessì, ma anche di altri suoi romanzi, sempre ambientati a Villacidro.
Non mancano le descrizioni delle peculiarità paesaggistiche di questo polmone verde, con la sua flora e la sua fauna, la casetta Alagna in stile liberty sardo, recentemente restaurata, e il particolare quanto inedito sistema idraulico di irrigazione formato da canalette in cotto per il trasporto dell’acqua collegate a più cisterne e pozzi posti sulla stessa linea, nella parte alta del podere. Un gioiello da valorizzare e da restituire alla comunità villacidrese, dichiarato di «notevole interesse pubblico» già dal Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione, con proprio decreto del 1° aprile 1963 e, più recentemente, anche dalla Regione Autonoma Sardegna, come specificato nel Piano Paesaggistico Regionale (PPR), allegato o, alla Delibera di Giunta Regionale n. 45/2 del 25 ottobre 2013
BioTIME 2.0: Expanding and Improving a Database of Biodiversity Time Series
No full textMotivation
Here, we make available a second version of the BioTIME database, which compiles records of abundance estimates for species in sample events of ecological assemblages through time. The updated version expands version 1.0 of the database by doubling the number of studies and includes substantial additional curation to the taxonomic accuracy of the records, as well as the metadata. Moreover, we now provide an R package (BioTIMEr) to facilitate use of the database.
Main Types of Variables Included
The database is composed of one main data table containing the abundance records and 11 metadata tables. The data are organised in a hierarchy of scales where 11,989,233 records are nested in 1,603,067 sample events, from 553,253 sampling locations, which are nested in 708 studies. A study is defined as a sampling methodology applied to an assemblage for a minimum of 2 years.
Spatial Location and Grain
Sampling locations in BioTIME are distributed across the planet, including marine, terrestrial and freshwater realms. Spatial grain size and extent vary across studies depending on sampling methodology. We recommend gridding of sampling locations into areas of consistent size.
Time Period and Grain
The earliest time series in BioTIME start in 1874, and the most recent records are from 2023. Temporal grain and duration vary across studies. We recommend doing sample-level rarefaction to ensure consistent sampling effort through time before calculating any diversity metric.
Major Taxa and Level of Measurement
The database includes any eukaryotic taxa, with a combined total of 56,400 taxa.
Software Format
csv and. SQL