Biagio Bartalini’s Herbarium: an insight into the flora of Siena and its surroundings (Italy) during the eighteenth century

Studying historical herbaria is invaluable for botanical research. This work analysed Biagio Bartalini's Herbarium, a late eighteenth-century multi-taxon collection from Siena and its surroundings (central Italy). We revised taxonomic identifications, updated nomenclature, digitised associated information, created a high-resolution photographic database, and uploaded the dataset on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) portal. The Herbarium includes 676 specimens of 588 species and infraspecific taxa: 567 vascular plants (474 taxa), 77 bryophytes (70 taxa), 29 lichens (27 taxa), one alga, and one fungus. Most of Bartalini's identifications were confirmed. Originally following Tournefort's nomenclature, Linnean names were also included in a catalogue. The past flora features many species of conservation concern, such as freshwater, segetal, and red-listed taxa, with few non-native species compared to current floras. Specimens were largely collected in urban and agricultural areas, within the city walls or in their surroundings. The analysis of the collection sites suggests significant environmental changes in the study area across the centuries, particularly habitat loss due to urbanisation. The Herbarium is among the earliest collections documenting regional biodiversity rather than focusing on medicinal plants. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of Bartalini's Herbarium, making it accessible to modern researchers, with the data now available online and freely accessible through the GBIF portal, and laying the groundwork for future multitemporal floristic studies

Von Neumann–Morgenstern Hypergraphs

A simple hypergraph H with vertex set X and edge set (Formula presented.) is representable by Von Neumann–Morgenstern (VNM)-stable sets—or VNM—if there exists an irreflexive simple digraph D with vertex set X such that each edge of H is a VNM-stable set of D. It is shown that a simple hypergraph H is VNM if and only if each edge of H is a maximal clique of the conjugation graph of H. A related algorithm that identifies finite VNM hypergraphs is also provided

Vo2peak, Ve/VCO2, and Cardiac Remodeling Correlate with Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcome in Heart Failure Patients

Accurate prognostic stratification in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains a significant clinical challenge. Many different parameters, including left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters, are available in the literature. LV ejection fraction (LVEF) is the most used parameter in clinical practice. This study aimed to analyze CPET and echocardiographic data in patients under evaluation for heart transplantation (HTx) to identify the parameter that best correlates with cardiac events. Methods and Results. Echocardiography and CPET were performed in patients with HFrEF under evaluation for HTx. The population comprised 170 patients (mean age: 55 +/- 9 years; 88% male; non-ischemic etiology: 63%). LVEF was 30.4 +/- 7.6%, peak oxygen uptake (Vo(2peak)) was 17.08 +/- 4.6 mL/Kg/min; minute ventilation (VE)/carbon dioxide production (Vco(2)) slope was 34.8 +/- 8.7. During a follow-up of 4 +/- 1 years, 37 hospitalizations, 4 deaths, 14 HTx, and 5 LV assist device implantation occurred. Patients who experienced major events had a lower Vo(2peak) (p < 0.005), higher VE/Vco(2) slope (p < 0.005), greater LV end-systolic diameter (p < 0.005), and RV end-diastolic diameter (p < 0.005) than patients without events. Conversely, LVEF did not differ between these two groups. VE/Vco(2) slope and RV dimensions significantly correlated with hard cardiac events (p = 0.019 and p = 0.008, respectively). Conclusions. In patients with HFrEF, parameters quantifying the system reserve (i.e., Vo(2peak) and VE/Vco(2) slope) and those demonstrating advanced biventricular remodeling may help stratify the risk of cardiac events. Conversely, LVEF showed a limited prognostic value in this setting

Novel Structures of Gallenene Intercalated in Epitaxial Graphene

The creation of atomically thin layers of non-exfoliable materials remains a crucial challenge, requiring the development of innovative techniques. Here, confinement epitaxy is exploited to realize 2D gallium (gallenene) via intercalation in epitaxial graphene grown on silicon carbide. Both fabrication and characterization are conducted under ultra-high vacuum conditions, unlike previous works on intercalated gallenene, to avoid gallium oxidation. Gallium is deposited on the graphene substrate via molecular beam epitaxy, and the intercalation is achieved by thermal treatments, leading to a homogeneous intercalation on almost the entire surface of the samples. Novel superstructures, including a striped and a hexagonal moiré pattern, are discovered and investigated via STM and LEED measurements. These structures arise from the interaction of gallenene with graphene and the silicon carbide substrate. The coexistence of different gallenene phases, including b010-gallenene and the unprecedented 2D-Ga(III) phase, is identified. This work sheds new light on the formation of 2D gallium and identifies a new tailored procedure for fabricating different phases of confined Ga, offering a platform for investigating the exotic electronic and optical properties of gallenene

IFT20 regulates TFEB-dependent lytic granule biogenesis in cytotoxic T lymphocytes by orchestrating the MPR-dependent transport of granzyme B

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) exploit specialized secretory lysosomes, the lytic granules (LG) to kill target cells. The LGs carry a battery of apoptosis-inducing molecules enriched in granzymes (GZM), perforin and FasL, which are released at the immune synapse formed by CTLs with their cognate targets. Recent studies have revealed an unexpected diversity among LGs, suggesting the existence of multiple vesicular trafficking pathways in their biogenesis and exocytosis. We have previously implicated the ciliary protein IFT20 in the retrograde trafficking of the cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor (MPR), which is required for the lysosomal targeting of the acid hydrolases. Here we investigate the role of IFT20 in LG biogenesis in CTLs, showing that IFT20 is essential for MPR recycling to the trans-Golgi network and ensures proper granzyme B (GZMB) localization to LGs. As a result, IFT20 deficiency impairs the killing capability of CTLs. In turn, to rescue the lysosome and LG defects, IFT20-deficient CTLs expresses higher levels of lysosomal genes and of components of the cytotoxic machinery of LGs. Interestingly, an in silico analysis suggests a transcriptional co-regulation of lysosome and LG genes by the master regulator of lysosome biogenesis TFEB. Accordingly, modulation of TFEB results in alterations in the expression of LG-related genes and CTL-mediated cytotoxicity. Collectively, our results identify IFT20 as a new player in the trafficking pathways that regulate LG biogenesis and highlight the existence in CTLs of an extended gene expression program regulated by TFEB, downstream of IFT20. (Figure presented.

Assessment of Quality and Environmental Impact of Artisanal Fresh Pasta Fortified with Agri-Food By-Products

Fresh pasta was enriched with olive pomace (OP) and artichoke by-products (AB), respectively, at three concentrations: 13.5%, 14.5%, and 15% for OP, and 15%, 17%, and 19% for AB. Both control and fortified samples were assessed for technological properties, nutritional content and sensory quality. A Life Cycle Assessment was also performed to estimate the carbon footprint associated with pasta production. Results demonstrated a worsening of pasta quality, above all the resistance to break for row pasta and sandiness and taste for cooked samples, even though the pasta remained in an acceptable range. Fibers, polyphenol content, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were found to be better in fortified samples than in the control pasta. With AB as new ingredient, the antioxidant activity increased substantially. The environmental impact revealed two different scenarios: compared to the control (1.08 kgCO2eq), lower carbon footprint values were found for pasta fortified with OP (from 0.96 to 0.98 kgCO2eq) and higher values for pasta fortified with AB (from 1.53 to 1.62 kgCO2eq), due to the energy consumption associated with by-product processing (dehydration at 50 degrees C and grinding). Thus, combining sensory quality, nutritional improvements and environmental impact, a Global Quality Index (GQI) was also calculated for each sample. The GQI values, according to the weighting scheme of this index, revealed that the benefits of AB superimposed the drawbacks and suggested that 15% AB fortification is the best solution to balance pros and cons of by-product recycling

The insulin-releasing agent quercetin-3-oleate stimulates CaV1.2 channels similarly to quercetin, though with a reduced vasorelaxant activity

The synthetic derivative quercetin-3-oleate (AV2), a partial agonist of the G-protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40), and its parent compound quercetin, a stimulator of CaV1.2 channels, promote insulin secretion from INS-1 pancreatic β cells. An in vitro and in silico approach was pursued to assess whether the incorporation of oleic acid at the C3 position maintains quercetin stimulation of CaV1.2 channels (key to triggering insulin release) while reducing its vasorelaxant properties. In rat tail main artery myocytes, AV2, like quercetin, stimulated Ba2+ currents via CaV1.2 channels (IBa1.2), demonstrating favourable interaction in molecular docking analyses and molecular dynamics simulations. Although AV2 also stimulated K+ currents via KCa1.1 channels (IKCa1.1), its vasorelaxant effect in vascular rings was significantly lower than that of quercetin. AV2 exhibited a positive inotropic effect and increased the frequency of Langendorff-perfused isolated rat hearts, albeit at concentrations one order of magnitude higher than those required for significant IBa1.2 stimulation. In in vitro settings, AV2 maintained a significant H2O2-induced radical scavenging activity. In conclusion, the conjugation of oleic acid with the dietary flavonoid quercetin in AV2 attenuated its spasmolytic effects on vascular smooth muscle, without affecting its IBa1.2 stimulatory activity. This, along with its GPR40 activation, highlights AV2 as a bifunctional agent with the potential to improve selective insulin secretion with minimal vascular effect

The palaeoenvironmental context of MIS 3 and the use of plants by Neanderthal groups in southern Italy: results from the Riparo l'Oscurusciuto site

Neanderthal populations occupied caves and rockshelters across the Mediterranean, leaving behind evidence of their daily activities, including plant remains. By studying these remains, we can gain a better understanding of how these populations used plant resources and adapted to their environment. A critical period for studying Neanderthal behaviour is Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3) which was characterized in Europe by millennial-scale climatic instability involving fluctuations between warming and cooling events. These changes may have impacted the dispersal and dynamics of Neanderthal populations, prompting new behavioural, subsistence and settlement adaptations. A key site for studying Neanderthal groups in southern Italy during MIS 3 is Riparo l'Oscurusciuto in the Ginosa Ravine. The site's long stratigraphic sequence and well-preserved faunal and material culture remains, including hearths, span the period from ∼55 ka to ∼42.8 ka BP. This makes the site central to our understanding of Neanderthal life and how they adapted to the environment until their disappearance from the region. Here, we present the results of a high-resolution study of plant microremains (phytoliths and pollen) and aquatic siliceous microremains (diatoms and chrysophyte cysts), alongside the mineralogical characterisation of their sedimentary contexts using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The ∼12,200-year long reconstruction of the palaeoenvironment reveals a changing landscape starting with semi-open woodlands and forests at ∼55 ka and changing to more open woodland steppe environments starting sometime before ∼52 ka. The woody vegetation was composed of evergreen and deciduous oak woodlands with a continued presence of other mesophytes and Mediterranean woody taxa, including gymnosperms. The grasses (mostly C3 Pooid), are associated with a wide range of herbaceous species, probably reflecting the opening up of the landscape. Neanderthals responded to these changes by adapting their activities to the surrounding vegetation, by for example using grasses for the hearths, the ashes of which were later spread around the site

Pollenkitt From Narcissus tazetta: Evaluation of Its UV‐Protective Potential as a Plant‐Based Biomaterial Source

: Pollenkitt, the lipid-rich coating of pollen grains, is a promising natural ultraviolet (UV)-protective source rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. This study assessed the UV protection capacity of pollenkitt extracted from Narcissus tazetta using six solvents (dH2O, acetone, diethyl ether, ethanol, chloroform, and methanol). Methanol extracts showed the highest UV absorbance and sun protection factor (SPF) (17.8), despite 35% lower phenolics than ethanol, suggesting specific compounds like rutin and ferulic acid may drive UV protection. Surprisingly, although the dH2O extracts yielded less pollenkitt, they exhibited strong UV absorption SPF (19.1) and antioxidant activity from water-soluble compounds such as gentisic acid. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analysis predicted favorable bioavailability and low toxicity for most phenolics, with rosmarinic acid being predicted to possess properties associated with anticarcinogenic potential. However, rutin and naringenin were predicted to exhibit a skin sensitization risk. These findings underscore the potential of pollenkitt, specifically methanol and ethanol extracts, as a safe, natural UV shield for cosmetic, packaging, and coating applications