68994 research outputs found
Sort by
Cultivating the Future: A Bibliometric Review of Emerging Trends in Soilless Farming
Get PDFThe agricultural sector faces significant challenges, including resource depletion, climate change, and a growing global population projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, requiring a 70% increase in food production. Innovative techniques like soilless farming are gaining attention as potential solutions to ensure sustainable food production. Although other bibliometric reviews have examined the possibilities of soilless farming technologies, focusing separately on certain fields such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics, the novelty of this analysis is to provide a comprehensive view of soilless farming in the current research landscape. Using VOSviewer software (1.6.20), the study conducts a thorough analysis of 256 articles, looking at key themes, emerging trends and influential works in the field. The results showed the relevance of soilless farming and its strong link to field such as digitalization, sustainable food production, and biofortification. A strong promising area is the connection between soilless farming and urban agriculture, investigated as a theoretical tool to implement these systems in sustainable cities. The major gap emerged in the research is the lack of studies on the economic feasibility. According to the study's findings, policymakers ought to concentrate on allocating specific funds to encourage the adoption of soilless farming, especially in urban areas
Characterizing the Ultraviolet (UV) Screening Ability of L-5-Sulfanylhistidine Derivatives on Human Dermal Fibroblasts
Get PDFUsing sunscreens is one of the most widespread measures to protect human skin from sun ultraviolet radiation (UVR) damage. However, several studies have highlighted the toxicity of certain inorganic and organic UV filters used in sunscreens for the marine environment and human health. An alternative strategy may involve the use of natural products of marine origin to counteract UVR-mediated damage. Ovothiols are sulfur-containing amino acids produced by marine invertebrates, microalgae, and bacteria, endowed with unique antioxidant and UV-absorption properties. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of synthetic L-5-sulfanyl histidine derivatives, inspired by natural ovothiols, on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) upon UVA exposure. By using a custom-made experimental set-up to assess the UV screening ability, we measured the levels of cytosolic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as cell viability and apoptosis in HDFs, in the presence of tested compounds, after UVA exposure, using flow cytometry assays with specific fluorescent probes. The results show that L-5-sulfanyl histidine derivatives display a UV screening capacity and prevent loss in cell viability, the production of cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS induced by UVA exposure in HDFs, and subsequent apoptosis. Overall, this study sheds light on the potential applications of marine-inspired sulfur-containing amino acids in developing alternative eco-safe sunscreens for UVR skin protection
Lezioni di diritto del lavoro
No full textIl volume sepone la disciplina dei rapporti di lavoro e i principi di diritto sindacale
A Novel Cognitive Frailty Index for Geriatric Mice
Get PDFLoss of cognitive function is a significant challenge in aging, and developing models to understand and target cognitive decline is crucial for the development of Geroscience-based interventions. Aged mice offer a valuable model as they share features of cognitive decline with humans. Despite numerous studies, knowledge of longitudinal age-related cognitive changes and cognitive frailty in naturally aging mice is limited, particularly in cohorts exceeding 30 months of age, where cognitive decline is more pronounced. Moreover, the impaired physical function of aged mice is known to affect latency-based strategies to measure cognitive performances. Here, we show a comprehensive longitudinal assessment using the Barnes Maze test in a large cohort of 424 aged (≥ 21 months) C57BL/6J mice. We introduced a new metric, the Cognitive Frailty Index (CoFI), which summarizes different age-associated Barnes Maze parameters into a unique function. CoFI strongly associates with advancing age and mortality, offering a reliable ability to discriminate long- and short-lived mice. We also established a CoFI cut-off and a physically adjusted CoFI, both of which can distinguish between physical and cognitive frailty. This is further supported by the enhanced predictive power when physical and cognitive frailty are combined to assess short-term mortality. Moreover, the computation method for CoFI is adaptable to various cognitive assessment tests, leveraging procedures akin to those used for calculating other frailty indices. In conclusion, through robust longitudinal tracking, CoFI has the potential to become an important ally in assessing the effectiveness of Geroscience-based interventions to counteract age-related cognitive impairment
Status of Sepsis Care in European Hospitals: Results from an International Cross-Sectional Survey
Get PDFRationale: Early detection, standardized therapy, adequate infrastructure, and strategies for quality improvement should constitute essential components of every hospital’s sepsis plan. Objectives: To investigate the extent to which recommendations from the sepsis guidelines are implemented and the availability of infrastructure for the care of patients with sepsis in acute-care hospitals. Methods: A multidisciplinary cross-sectional questionnaire was used to investigate sepsis care in hospitals. This included the use of sepsis definitions, the implementation of sepsis guideline recommendations, diagnostic and therapeutic infrastructure, antibiotic stewardship, and quality improvement initiatives (QIIs) in hospitals. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 1,023 hospitals in 69 countries were included. Most of them, 835 (81.6%), were in Europe. Sepsis screening was used in 54.2% of emergency departments (EDs), 47.9% of wards, and 61.7% of ICUs. Sepsis management was standardized in 57.3% of EDs, 45.2% of wards, and 70.7% of ICUs. The implementation of comprehensive QIIs was associated with increased screening (EDs, 133.3%; wards, 144.4%; ICUs, 123.8% absolute difference) and increased standardized sepsis management (EDs, 133.6%; wards, 140.0%; ICUs, 117.7% absolute difference) compared with hospitals without QIIs. A total of 9.8% of hospitals had implemented ongoing QIIs, and 4.6% had invested in sepsis programs. Conclusions: The findings indicate that there is considerable room for improvement in a large number of mainly European hospitals, particularly with regard to early identification and standardized management of sepsis, the availability of guidelines, diagnostic and therapeutic infrastructure, and the implementation of QIIs. Further efforts are required to implement a more comprehensive and appropriate quality of care
SARM1 activation induces reversible mitochondrial dysfunction and can be prevented in human neurons by antisense oligonucleotides
Get PDFSARM1 is a key regulator of a conserved program of axon degeneration increasingly linked to human neurodegenerative diseases. Pathological SARM1 activation causes rapid NAD consumption, disrupting cellular homeostasis and leading to axon degeneration. In this study, we develop antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting human SARM1, demonstrating robust neuroprotection against morphological, metabolic, and mitochondrial impairment in human iPSC-derived dopamine neurons induced by the lethal neurotoxin vacor, a potent SARM1 activator. Furthermore, our findings reveal that axon fragmentation can be prevented, and mitochondrial dysfunction reversed using the NAD precursor nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, even after SARM1 activation has occurred, when neurons are already unhealthy. This research identifies ASOs as a promising therapeutic strategy to block SARM1, and provides an extensive characterisation and further mechanistic insights that demonstrate the reversibility of SARM1 toxicity in human neurons. It also identifies the SARM1 activator vacor as a specific and reversible neuroablative agent in human neuron
Uniqueness of Heteroclinic Solutions in a Class of Autonomous Quasilinear ODE Problems
No full textIn this paper, we prove the existence, uniqueness and qualitative properties of heteroclinic solution for a class of autonomous quasilinear ordinary differential equations of the Allen–Cahn type given by − (φ(|ú|)ú)́ + V ́(u) = 0 in R, where V is a double-well potential with minima at t = ±α and φ : (0, +∞) → (0, +∞) is a C1 function satisfying some technical assumptions. Our results include the classic case φ(t) = tp−2, which is related to the celebrated p-Laplacian operator, presenting the explicit solution in this specific scenario. Moreover, we also study the case φ(t) = √1+1t2 , which is directly associated with the prescribed mean curvature operator
EXPLORING THE CROSSTALK BETWEEN GUT MICROBIOTA AND BONE TISSUE USING A 3D IN VITRO MODEL: INSIGHTS FOR SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES
No full textL’asse intestino-osso svolge un ruolo fondamentale nel mantenimento della salute metabolica e scheletrica, attraverso complesse interazioni fisiologiche. Seguendo i principi delle 3R (Replacement, Reduction e Refinement), è stato sviluppato un modello tridimensionale in vitro per riprodurre i microambienti intestinali e ossei, con particolare attenzione al loro crosstalk mediato dal microbiota intestinale.
Per il modello intestinale, è stata realizzata una barriera bioingegnerizzata utilizzando scaffold in gelatina elettrofilata, progettati per imitare le caratteristiche strutturali e funzionali dell’epitelio intestinale. Le cellule Caco-2 sullo scaffold formano un monostrato con caratteristiche simili all’intestino tenue, tra cui giunzioni strette, microvilli e produzione di muco. La funzionalità della barriera è stata confermata tramite attraverso il TEER e saggi di permeabilità con Lucifer Yellow, dimostrando la capacità di mimare la permeabilità selettiva dell’epitelio intestinale. Inoltre, è stato valutato l’effetto del microbiota umano sulla morfologia e funzionalità epiteliale.
Nel modello osseo, è stato analizzato l’impatto del microbiota sull’attività degli osteoblasti (linea cellulare Saos-2) e sulla formazione degli osteoclasti mediante cellule mononucleate del sangue periferico (PBMC). Per ricreare le proprietà strutturali e biochimiche del tessuto osseo, è stato sviluppato uno scaffold 3D a base di gelatina, genipina e nanoidrossiapatite, che ha supportato l’adesione, proliferazione e differenziamento delle cellule Saos-2.
Infine, è stata valutata anche la possibilità di realizzare scaffold sostenibili da sottoprodotti dell’industria alimentare, come la pectina. L’integrazione futura di questi due modelli consentirà lo sviluppo una nuova piattaforma per lo studio in vitro dell’asse microbiota-osso, aprendo la strada a strategie terapeutiche personalizzate.The gut-bone axis plays a critical role in maintaining metabolic and skeletal health through intricate, complex physiological interactions. Following the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement), a comprehensive 3D in vitro model was developed to mimic the gut and bone microenvironments, focusing on their crosstalk mediated by the gut microbiota.
For the intestinal model, a bioengineered barrier was fabricated using electrospun gelatin scaffolds designed to mimic the structural and functional characteristics of the intestinal epithelium. The Caco-2 cell line was used to form a monolayer exhibiting small intestine features, including tight junctions, microvilli, and mucus production. The functionality of the developed intestinal barrier was validated through TEER measurements and permeability assays using Lucifer Yellow, confirming its ability to mimic the selective permeability of the intestinal epithelium. Moreover, the impact of human microbiota on epithelial morphology and functionality was assessed.
For the bone model, the effect of microbiota was evaluated on osteoblast activity (Saos-2 cell line) and osteoclastogenesis using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was assessed. To get new insights into the mechanisms underlying the gut-bone crosstalk, a 3D scaffold composed of gelatin, genipin, and nanohydroxyapatite was fabricated to replicate bone tissue's structural and biochemical properties. This scaffold supported the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of osteoblasts-like cells Saos-2.
The feasibility of developing scaffolds made from food industry by-products, such as pectin, has also been evaluated to address sustainable development in biomaterial science. In perspective, integrating these two models will offer a novel platform for studying the microbiota-bone axis in vitro, paving the way for applications in personalized therapeutic strategies
Agroecological genomics and participatory science: optimizing crop mixtures for agricultural diversification
Get PDFCrops based on mixtures of species or genotypes support yield stability by providing multiple ecosystem services. However, the genetic, molecular, and evolutionary dynamics underlying co-adaptation within such mixtures must be understood to optimize beneficial plant-plant interactions. We therefore propose agroecological genomics as an integrated quantitative and population genetics approach that can be combined with cutting-edge omics methods and participatory science. This strategy embraces the heterogeneity of agroecosystems derived from interactions between biotic and physical environmental components such as climate, crop management, and socio-cultural factors by exploiting decentralized research. The integration of such results will reveal the whole-genome patterns of co-adaptation in crop mixtures, leading to greater knowledge of the key traits that drive adaptation as well as to the development of innovative tools for mixed-crop breeding
Surgical vs conservative: what is the best treatment of acute Rockwood III acromioclavicular joint dislocation? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFPurpose: No literature consensus was found about the best treatment of acute Rockwood type III acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocation. In particular, the advantages and disadvantages between conservative treatment and surgery are not sufficiently quantified in the current literature. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science and Embase in March 2024. We selected studies comparing surgical and conservative treatment in acute Rockwood III ACJ dislocations. The two treatment methods were compared in terms of Constant score; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH); American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score; Acromioclavicular Joint Instability Score (ACJIS); subjective shoulder value (SSV); radiographical findings; reported complications; and return to sports activity. The risk of bias and quality of evidence were assessed using Cochrane guidelines. Results: A total of 1844 articles were evaluated, and ten were included in the study for a total of 397 patients. The results of the meta-analysis showed no significant differences between the two groups in terms of Constant score (P = 0.31), DASH (P = 0.52), ASES (P = 0.66) and SSV (P = 0.21), while it highlighted a statistically significant difference in terms of ACJIS (P = 0.00) and acromioclavicular (P = 0.00) and coracoclavicular distance (P = 0.00). Conclusion: The results showed no significant differences in terms of patient-reported or objective functional outcomes between the two treatment groups. Nonetheless, it highlights a difference in terms of radiographical outcomes and type of complications. While surgical intervention is able to improve joint reduction, it adds the risk for surgical complications