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High-Resolution Satellite-Driven Estimation of Photosynthetic Carbon Sequestration in the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Bangladesh
No full textMangrove forests provide essential climate regulation and coastal protection, yet fine-scale quantification of carbon dynamics remains limited in the Sundarbans due to spatial heterogeneity and tidal influences. This study estimated canopy structural and photosynthetic dynamics from 2019 to 2023 by integrating 10 m spatial high-resolution remote sensing with a light use efficiency (LUE) modeling framework. Leaf Area Index (LAI) was retrieved at 10 m resolution using the PROSAIL radiative transfer model applied to Sentinel-2 data to characterize the canopy structure of the mangrove forest. LUE-based Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) was estimated using Sentinel-2 vegetation and water indices and MODIS fPAR with station observatory temperature data. Annual carbon uptake showed clear interannual variation, ranging from 1881 to 2862 g C m−2 yr−1 between 2019 and 2023. GPP estimates were strongly correlated with MODIS-GPP (R2 = 0.86, p < 0.001), demonstrating the method’s reliability for monitoring mangrove carbon sequestration. LUE-based Solar-induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) was derived at 10 m resolution and compared with TROPOMI-SIF observations to assess correspondence (R2 = 0.88, p < 0.001) with photosynthetic activity. LAI, GPP and SIF exhibited pronounced seasonal and interannual variability on photosynthetic activity, with higher values during the monsoon growing season and lower values during dry periods. Mean NDVI declined from 2019 to 2023 and modeled annual carbon uptake ranged from approximately 43 to 65 Mt CO2 eq, with lower sequestration in 2022–2023 associated with climatic stress. Strong correlations among LAI, NDVI, GPP, and SIF indicated consistent coupling between photosynthetic activity and carbon uptake in the mangrove ecosystem. These results provide a fine-scale assessment of mangrove carbon dynamics relevant to conservation and climate-mitigation planning in tropical regions
Differential cadmium responses in two Salvia species: impli-cations for tolerance and ecotoxicity
No full textHeavy metal contamination poses critical challenges for the cultivation of medicinal plants. This study explores cadmium (Cd)-induced morpho-physiological and meta-bolic responses in Salvia officinalis (So) and the rare endemic Salvia ceratophylloides (Sc). Plants were exposed to cadmium contamination corresponding to 5 and 10 mg kg−1 Cd (100% and 200% of the Italian regulatory limit) and assessed through gas exchange, leaf anatomy, mineral profiling, polyphenol composition, antioxidant activity, and a preliminary ecotoxicological evaluation using the Artemia salina lethality assay.
Cd predominantly accumulated in roots, reflecting a partial exclusion strategy, and caused alterations in leaf traits, water relations, and nutrient balance. While total pol-yphenols generally declined, species-specific responses emerged: S. ceratophylloides in-creased caffeic acid derivatives, whereas S. officinalis accumulated caffeic acid, litho-spermic acid A, quercetin 3-O-glucuronide, and apigenin-O-pentoside at the highest Cd exposure. Polyphenol shifts were strongly associated with antioxidant capacity.
Despite higher growth sensitivity, S. ceratophylloides extracts exhibited no toxicity in the A. salina assay, indicating effective metal sequestration and low bioavailability, whereas S. officinalis extracts induced moderate to high toxicity. These findings reveal contrasting Cd tolerance and detoxification strategies, highlighting the potential of in-tegrating plant stress physiology with ecotoxicological assessment and phytostabiliza-tion approaches to safely cultivate medicinal species on contaminated soils
Spectral wave-induced loads and fatigue life of ship structures for different sea states
No full textEnsuring the fatigue reliability of large container ships is critical for preventing catastrophic structural failures. Wave–structure interaction plays a critical role in the long-term structural integrity of marine vessels operating under stochastic seas. This study analyzes the fatigue behaviour of container-ship structures exposed to wave-induced vertical bending moments by combining a spectral representation of irregular waves with material-specific fatigue models. Wave loads are described using the Pierson–Moskowitz spectrum for a range of representative sea states, and the corresponding structural responses are evaluated through spectral fatigue analysis. Fatigue damage is quantified using S–N curves and the Palmgren–Miner rule for four common marine steels (AH32, AH36, AISI 1020, AISI 316 L). Results show that AH36 and AISI 1020 provide robust resistance to cyclic wave loads, while AH32 and AISI 316 L exhibit significantly shorter fatigue lives under extreme sea states. The comparison with classification-society design formulations shows discrepancies of up to 23 % relative to direct calculations, highlighting the inherent limitations of rule-based design methods. The study also outlines inspection intervals and monitoring strategies intended to mitigate early crack initiation and propagation in structurally sensitive midship regions. Collectively, these findings contribute to improving structural safety, operational reliability, and the long-term durability of ocean-going vessels. The findings enable the possible development of a tool that can be installed on ships to provide real-time insights. By utilizing the transfer function provided by the ship's designers and real-time sea conditions, the tool could calculate instantaneous maximum stress values experienced by critical structural components. This allows for immediate prediction of the remaining fatigue life if the material's fatigue limit is exceeded. The findings support the development of real-time fatigue monitoring tools, enabling ship operators to anticipate critical conditions and implement preventive maintenance before failure occurs
Internal Controls and the Company’s Board: The Role of AI
No full textIn 1950, Alan Turing—widely regarded as a pioneer of computer
science—posed the now-iconic question: “Can machines think?.”
Since then, the application of computer science and algorithms to
collect and analyze data, identify patterns, make predictions, and solve
problems has advanced significantly.
Today’s AI has become much better at mimicking aspects of human
intelligence, such as “understanding” language, “perceiving” images, or
“generating” new, albeit derivative, content (generative AI). AI is also
advancing in its ability to self-improve its own performance (machine
learning).
As a transformative technology, AI has the capacity to disrupt entire
industries, creating new business opportunities and presenting new risks for
companies. Companies also play a key role in AI-related research and
development (R&D) and deployment, with the potential for considerable
societal impact
Myocarditis and Pericarditis in Focus: A Critical Appraisal of the 2025 ESC vs ACC Position Statements from the Italian Society of Cardiology Working Group on Cardiomyopathies and Pericardial Diseases
No full text: The 2025 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines and the 2024-2025 American College of Cardiology (ACC) consensus documents redefine the management of myocarditis and pericarditis, with notable convergence, yet key differences. Both emphasize early, accurate diagnosis, particularly through cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), which now often supersedes immediate biopsy in stable, uncomplicated cases of acute myocarditis. The ESC introduces a unified "inflammatory myopericardial syndrome" (IMPS) framework encompassing myocarditis, pericarditis, and overlap syndromes, while the ACC provides separate pathways, including a novel four-stage clinical classification of myocarditis. Therapeutically, both endorse non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and colchicine for pericarditis and myopericarditis, and heart failure-directed therapy for myocarditis, while reserving immunosuppression for select cases. Importantly, interleukin-1 (IL-1) blockade has emerged as a pivotal therapy in recurrent pericarditis, receiving a Class I recommendation in ESC guidelines and strong endorsement in ACC guidance. Prognostic assessment focuses on identifying high-risk features and structured follow-up with imaging and biomarkers. Divergences in terminology, staging, and diagnostic thresholds underscore opportunities for further harmonization. The ESC and ACC documents align in a patient-tailored, evidence-informed approach to management
Quale parità? L'uguaglianza salariale tra uomini e donne dal dettato costituzionale alla legge n. 903 del 1977
No full textIn questo saggio ci si propone di mettere in evidenza alcuni snodi normativi
che, dalla fine del secondo conflitto mondiale fino agli anni Settanta
del secolo scorso, hanno contribuito a configurare la relazione tra le donne
e il lavoro. Si entrerà, in particolare, nel dibattito costituzionale relativo all'articolo 37, dedicato proprio al ruolo delle donne nel mondo del lavoro, fino ad arrivare agli anni '70 del secolo scorso che hanno visto l'entrata in vigore della riforma del diritto di famiglia e di nuove strategie volte a realizzare il più possibile una parità tra donne e uomini dal punto di vista della retribuzione lavorativa
Non-linear heat-transport equation beyond the Fourier law: The influence of non-linear effects in steady states
No full textIn the framework of Extended Irreversible Thermodynamics and in agreement with the second law of thermodynamics, in this paper we derive a heat-transport equation which generalizes the classical Fourier law and contains non-local and non-linear contributions related to the heat flux. In order to delve mainly into the possible influence of the non-linear effects on the heat transfer at nanoscale, only meant as the direct consequence of the non-linear terms appearing in the heat-transport equation, we focus on the longitudinal propagation of heat flux in a thin layer in steady states. The analysis is performed by also employing enhanced boundary conditions which allow to account for the phonon-boundary scattering. A comparison with the results arising from another non-local and non-linear proposal of heat-transport equation is performed as well