13 research outputs found
Coarse sediments in Northern Apennine peat bogs and lakes: New data for the record of Holocene alluvial phases in peninsular Italy
No full textThis research was conducted in the Northern Apennines, in the upper valleys of the Cedra River and Parma River, occupied by glaciers during the last glacial maximum. The stratigraphy, the dating and the interpretation of the environmental significance of alluvial deposits interbedded between lacustrine sediments are reported. The data provide an overview of the periods of enhanced alluvial activity that occurred after the glacial retreat in the Apennine chain. The alluvial phases and the periods of environmental stability varied in frequency and length during the Holocene. In particular, starting from the beginning of the Apennine Neoglacial (about 4.2 kyr BP), the events became much more frequent but shorter. The elapsed time between alluvial phases (i.e. the length of the phases of stability) was greater during the Early Holocene, probably because of the values of insolation: when the insolation in July was lower, the length of the phases of stability was greater. Despite the uncertainty in the dating of some events, it is likely that many alluvial phases, later than about 8.5 kyr BP, started during ice rafted debris events in the North Atlantic. The overall analysis of the alluvial sedimentation indicates that periods of more frequent floods are associated with times of rapid climate change and not only with cool periods. The current increase in floods, linked to the ongoing climate change, confirms the data obtained from Holocene sediments. © The Author(s) 2014
Holocene palaeoclimate in the northern Sahara margin (Jefara Plain, northwestern Libya)
No full textThe palaeoclimatic evolution of northwestern Libya has been deduced from the study of the palustrine and aeolian sediments. The Holocene environmental variations have been recognized through geological and stratigraphic surveys and by pollen analysis and malacofauna content of the sediments. Some organic-rich horizons have been dated using the radiocarbon method. The data show that in general, the presence of marshes is linked with the period of higher humidity, which began around 9.4 ka BP and ended around 5.0 ka BP. From c. 5.0 ka BP up to about 4.4 ka BP, there was a simultaneous presence of marshes and vegetation of arid climate as a consequence of rainfall in the mountains and/or a decrease in temperatures. The Holocene wet period was interrupted by two arid spells dated about 8.2 and 5.5-5.4 ka BP. The end of the wet phase must have been gradual. The climatic events that occurred in the Jefara plain seem to be well correlated with those identified in Saharan Africa even if the Mediterranean is only 100 km away. © The Author(s) 2012
Rescue of bilirubin-induced neonatal lethality in a mouse model of Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I by AAV9-mediated gene transfer.
No full textCrigler-Najjar type I (CNI) syndrome is a recessively inherited disorder characterized by severe unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia caused by uridine diphosphoglucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) deficiency. The disease is lethal due to bilirubin-induced neurological damage unless phototherapy is applied from birth. However, treatment becomes less effective during growth, and liver transplantation is required. To investigate the pathophysiology of the disease and therapeutic approaches in mice, we generated a mouse model by introducing a premature stop codon in the UGT1a1 gene, which results in an inactive enzyme. Homozygous mutant mice developed severe jaundice soon after birth and died within 11 d, showing significant cerebellar alterations. To rescue neonatal lethality, newborns were injected with a single dose of adeno-associated viral vector 9 (AAV9) expressing the human UGT1A1. Gene therapy treatment completely rescued all AAV-treated mutant mice, accompanied by lower plasma bilirubin levels and normal brain histology and motor coordination. Our mouse model of CNI reproduces genetic and phenotypic features of the human disease. We have shown, for the first time, the full recovery of the lethal effects of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. We believe that, besides gene-addition-based therapies, our mice could represent a very useful model to develop and test novel technologies based on gene correction by homologous recombination
Middle and late Pleistocene glaciations in the Campo Felice basin (Central Apennine - Italy)
No full textThe present paper refers to research conducted in the tectonic-karst depression of Campo Felice in the central Apennines (Italy), in which glacial, alluvial and lacustrine sediments have been preserved. Stratigraphic interpretations of sediments underlying the Campo Felice Plain are based on evidence obtained from nine continuous-core boreholes. The boreholes reach a depth of 120 m and provide evidence of five sedimentation cycles separated by erosion surfaces. Each cycle is interpreted as an initial response to a mainly warm stage, characterized by low-energy alluvial and colluvial deposition, pedogenesis, and limited episodes of marsh formation. In turn, a mainly cold stage follows during which a lake formed, and glaciers developed and expanded, leading to deposition of glacial and fluvioglacial deposits. The chronological framework is established by eleven accelerator mass spectrometer 14C ages and three 39Ar–40Ar ages on leucites from interbedded tephra layers. These age determinations indicate five glacial advances that respectively occurred during marine oxygen isotope stages 2, 3–4, 6, 10 and 14
The Association of Substance Use and Antisocial Behaviours with the Probability of Gambling among Adolescents
No full textIntroduction: Gambling behaviour among adolescents is a serious public health concern. Adolescents' involvement in gambling is often related with substance use and antisocial behaviours. This study aims to examine the association of substance use and antisocial behaviours with gambling among Italian early adolescents. Methods: The analytical sample of the present study included 1,822 students attending 29 secondary schools in nine NHS districts of Piedmont region and the city of Rome who participated in the baseline survey of the experimental controlled trial "GAPUnplugged."The association of lifetime cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, drunkenness, illicit drug use, violence, and stealing with the probability of any gambling and regular gambling was estimated through multilevel mixed-effect regression models. Results: The prevalence of any gambling and regular gambling in the last 30 days was 36.4% and 12.7%, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, drunkenness, violence, and stealing were significantly associated with an increased probability of both gambling outcomes. The link of gambling outcomes with alcohol drinking and drunkenness was higher for females, whereas the association with violence and stealing was higher for males. Conclusion: Due to the association of gambling with other problem behaviours during early adolescence, school-based health promotion and prevention interventions should address multiple risk behaviours simultaneously. Prevention of one risk behaviour may contribute to the prevention of other risk behaviours
Parental correlates of adolescent gambling behavior: a study on 12–14 years old students in Italy
No full textObjectiveThis study aims to elucidate the role of parental factors on adolescents' gambling in a sample of Italian students, and to identify the mediating factors of the relationship between parental gambling and adolescents' gambling.MethodsThis is a secondary study based on data collected in the baseline survey of the experimental controlled trial “GAPUnplugged”. The analytical sample included 1,848 students 12–14 years old who participated in the study in Piedmont and Lazio Regions in Italy. Multilevel mixed-effect regression models were used to estimate the associations between correlates and the probability of adolescents' gambling. Mediation analysis was conducted to test the mediating effect of personal factors on the relationship between parental and adolescents' gambling.ResultsOverall, 55.7% of students reported gambling in the last 12 months. In the multivariate regression model, gambling with parents and parental permissiveness to gamble were the strongest correlates of adolescents' gambling. Parental gambling, parental permissiveness to use licit substances and perception of friends' gambling were also significantly associated with adolescents' gambling. Performance beliefs, attitudes toward gambling, and sensation-seeking emerged as potential mediators of the relationship between parental gambling and adolescents' gambling.ConclusionsParental factors appear to be important correlates of gambling behavior among adolescents. These results provide insights into the complex dynamics influencing adolescent gambling behavior and emphasize the importance of targeted interventions and parental guidance to promote healthier decision-making and mitigate adolescent gambling problems
Effect of post-surgical flap position on soft tissue regrowth and keratinized tissue increase following fibre retention osseous resective surgery: a 6-month randomized study with multilevel analysis
No full textAbstract Background The aim of this randomized split-mouth study was to assess the influence of primary flap position on the amount of coronal soft tissue regrowth and keratinized tissue (KT) 6 months after osseous resective surgery with fiber retention technique (FibReORS). Materials and methods Two contralateral posterior sextants in 16 patients were treated with FibReORS and randomly assigned to flap positioning either 2 mm below the bone crest (apical group) or at the level of bone crest (crestal group). Clinical parameters were recorded at 1, 3 and 6 months and patient-related outcomes during the first two post-operative weeks. Results Healing period was uneventful. Patient’s discomfort was similar in both groups. The overall soft tissue rebound was higher in the apical than in the crestal group (2.0 ± 1.3 mm versus 1.3 ± 0.7 mm), but the difference was statistically significant only interproximally (2.2 ± 1.3 mm versus 1.6 ± 0.8 mm). Multilevel analyses showed higher soft tissue rebound in sites with normal compared to thin phenotype (1.5 mm, p < 0.0001) and treated with flap positioned 2 mm apically to the bone crest (0.7 mm, p < 0.001). An additional 0.5 mm KT increase was observed at interdental sites in the apical group. Conclusions Apical flap positioning increases soft tissue rebound and KT width, mainly at the interdental sites, with reduced patient discomfort. Trial registration The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT05140681, Registration date: 1/12/2021, retrospectively registered)
Pocket elimination after osseous resective surgery: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
No full textAdditional file 1 of Effect of post-surgical flap position on soft tissue regrowth and keratinized tissue increase following fibre retention osseous resective surgery: a 6-month randomized study with multilevel analysis
No full textSupplementary Material 1: Supplementary Table 1 Probing Depth (mm) over the experimental period at the surgical area (mean ± SD). Supplementary Table 2 Patients reported outcomes
Pocket resolution in regenerative treatment of intrabony defects with papilla preservation techniques: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials
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