Nano- and microformulated botanicals for managing ticks and mites of medical and veterinary importance: past, present, and future

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Methods and Instruments | Transmission Electron Microscopy

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and related techniques, such as High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM), principles and applications in the field of electrochemical power sources are briefly described. Instrumentation and operation are introduced together with the basis of electron scattering phenomena that generate contrast both in the real (imaging mode) and reciprocal space (diffraction mode). Applications of TEM to the study of materials in electrochemical devices are discussed demonstrating the capability of this technique in the characterization of electrochemically active materials down to the atomic scale, also by the mean of innovative methods such as operando- and cryo-STEM

Methods and Instruments | Scanning Electronic Microscopy

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) principles are introduced and some applications to the characterization of electrochemical power sources are presented. The general features of a SEM microscope are briefly described with particular attention to: (i) generation and focusing of the electron beam over the samples; (ii) interactions between electrons and atoms in the sample producing the analytical signals; (iii) detection and recording of secondary or backscattered electrons for image reconstruction; (iv) detector of X-rays and electron probe microanalysis. Some applications of the technique in the field of electrochemical storage devices are summarized, with the aim of shedding light onto the relationships between morphology/composition and electrochemical behavior of electrodes. Finally, an outlook on recent methodologies is given, such as environmental SEM which, operating under moderate pressures, allows in situ monitoring of chemical and morphological transformations related to electrochemical power sources

Targeting Xylella fastidiosa: sustainable management of Philaenus spumarius using carlina oxide

Xylella fastidiosa Wells, a bacterial plant pathogen, represents a threat to many crops all around the word. Unfortunately, no effective treatments are available to combat the infection and, to date, the most promising strategy to fight the disease relies in controlling the meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius L. one of the main vectors of X. fastidiosa. Among insecticides and repellents, botanical insecticides represent valuable candidates. Their encapsulation into stable formulations, like nanoemulsions (NEs), can boosts the efficacy and stability. We investigated the toxicity, repellent, and antifeedant activity of carlina oxide, a polyacetylene isolated from the roots of Carlina acaulis L. (Asteraceae), and its NEs, against P. spumarius adults. In addition, we carried out electroantennographic (EAG) tests to evaluate the capability of the male and female antennae to perceive carlina oxide. EAG assays demonstrated that P. spumarius antennal olfactory system of both sexes is capable of perceiving carlina oxide over a wide range of doses and that females, at the lowest doses, have significantly greater olfactory sensitivity than males (0.01 and 0.1 μg, respectively (p < 0.001)). In toxicity experiments, the percentage of adult survival in topical and fumigant trials was high, while it resulted significantly lower in ingestion trials. In olfactory tests, P. spumarius showed a slight preference for green beans treated with 1% carlina oxide. However, no significant differences were observed between treatments when the concentration of carlina oxide was increased to 3%. On the contrary, feeding tests showed a significant repellent effect of carlina oxide against P. spumarius adults up to 24 h after the treatment and a reduction in P. spumarius presence on treated green beans ranging from 51.2 to 94.7%, if compared with control green beans. Overall, this study sheds light on the possible development of effective and environmentally friendly formulations of carlina oxide to manage P. spumarius. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of this natural compound in field conditions, and to investigate its potential side effects on non-target species

Pimpinella anisum essential oil and trans-anethole activity against key insect pests and non-target ants

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Eating and lifestyle habits and primary school health-related programs: a survey involving Italian children and teachers

Background. Childhood overweight and obesity represent serious public health concerns in several countries worldwide, including Italy, where the highest prevalence in Europe of overweight and obesity among primary school children was recorded. Among others, primary schools represent suitable social environments for health education projects. In this perspective, to optimize resources and plan successful activities, it is necessary, first of all, to analyze the context of the intervention. Study design. A pilot survey involving children and teachers was conducted in a primary school in Jesi (Le Marche Region, Italy). Methods. A questionnaire was submitted by teachers between May and June 2023 to 104 pupils (aged 6–11) from the five different primary school system classes. A qualitative questionnaire was also filled out by the same teachers (n = 5) who were present while the children were filling the eating/lifestyle questionnaire. Results. Most of the children (96.1%) had breakfast before school, with milk and cereal (51.5%) representing the preferred combination. During recess, 59.2% of pupils usually have a sandwich, 23.3% usually have sweet snacks, whereas only 2.9% have a fruit. Over 55% of the sample preferred drinking high-sugar beverages to water, and 15.5% declared going to a fast-food restaurant more than once a week. Over 17% of children did sport only once a week or less often. Over 64% of children habitually played videogames, and 77.6% normally watched TV or played with a tablet/smartphone while eating. Finally, the teachers’ interview highlighted that there were no active health-related projects addressed to the pupils, and the school did not normally organize meetings with health professionals to increase children’s and their parents’ knowledge and awareness about healthy eating habits. Conclusions. This preliminary investigation analyzed the context for a future health and nutrition education project and will assist researchers in planning successful activities and increasing the efficiency of the intervention

Cerebellar cortical degeneration in ‘Cirneco dell'Etna’ dog: First case report

A 4-month-old, intact male, Cirneco dell’Etna dog was presented with clinical signs of cerebellar ataxia, hindlimb hypometry and short steps with rapid progression. No findings were obtained from blood examinations, magnetic resonance imaging and LCR examinations and the dog was euthanased when it was not able to walk. Histological examination and immunohistochemical staining of the cerebellum showed multifocal depletion of Purkinje cells, marked increase in cellularity (astrogliosis) and a moderate reduction of the cells of the granule layer and thinning of the molecular layer. This case report describes the first case of cerebellar cortical degeneration in a purebreed Cirneco dell’Etna do

Structural investigation of Cu(I) Coordination Compounds and Gold Nanorods as Drug Delivery Systems

This study investigates the molecular and electronic structure of composite nanoparticles, designed for biomedical applications, conjugated to Cu(I) complexes of a chelating agent (L) functionalized with the antineoplastic drug lonidamine and two phosphane monodentate co-ligands, namely 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) for the complex [(PTA)2Cu(L)]PF6, or triphenylphosphine (PPh3) for the complex [(PPh3)2Cu(L)]PF6 (Fig. 1). Due to their lipophilic nature, direct biomedical applications are precluded; hence, we conjugated these complexes with gold nanorods (AuNRs), acting as a well-established drug delivery system.1 To determine the behaviour, the coordination chemistry of the complexes after conjugation with nanorods and subsequent exposure to aqueous solutions is mandatory from a biomedical point of view and relevant for material understanding. The [(PTA)2Cu(L)]PF6 and [(PPh3)2Cu(L)]PF6 complexes were characterized in their dry and pristine states using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) analysis (Fig. 2). Furthermore, the Cu-coordination in [(PTA)2Cu(L)]PF6 complex was examined in both its AuNR-functionalized dry form and in aqueous solution.2 This comprehensive investigation facilitates the determination of Cu-coordination geometry and provides deep insights into the molecular structures of the complexes, showing modifications upon interaction with AuNRs and after their dissolution in water

A simplified InSAR-based approach to assess subsidence-induced impacts: the Hamburg protected area

World Heritage (WH) properties and heritage sites in general are exposed to the impacts of natural and man-triggered catastrophic events, which threaten their integrity and may compromise their value. The loss or deterioration of these outstanding properties has severely negative impacts on local and national communities, both because of their cultural importance, and because of their socio-economic value (https://whc.unesco.org/en/disaster-risk-reduction/ ). In the framework of the H2020-ARCH project a simplified approach was implemented for assessing and monitoring the subsidence hazards and the possible induced damages and short- and long-term impacts that these might cause on the buildings and other structures composing and characterising the WH sites. The InSAR data sets relating to the WH area of the Hamburg city were processed to evaluate the deformation velocity affecting each building, in order to project the Subsidence Related Intensity parameters in the shortand long-term, and thus estimate the expected damage levels through fragility curves. The results show a relatively stable situation in the area, however damage levels of a certain consistency are detectable for a long period due to the differential settlements. Furthermore, the results obtained allow us to evaluate the socio-economic impacts on the basis of some assumptions about potential losses

Oxidation State and Halogen Influence on the NHC‐Gold‐Halide‐Catalyzed Cyclization of Propargylic Amides

The homogeneously catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction of propargylic amides was tested as benchmark reaction for two homologous series of Au(I) and Au(III) complexes with NHC ligands. This reaction is known to afford either aromatic oxazoles or dihydrooxazoles, depending on the oxidation state of the applied gold catalysts. For this purpose, symmetric and unsymmetric NHC ligands with mixed alkyl or benzyl substituents (1,3-dimethyl-imidazolyl-2yl or 1-benzyl-3-methyl-imidazolyl-2-yl) and the corresponding Au(I) and Au(III) derivatives were prepared and characterized by analytical methods, IR and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies, and by X-ray diffraction methods. Ten NHC-gold(I) and NHC-gold(III) complexes were tested on the cyclization reactions by adding gold catalysts in the presence and absence of AgPF6.Noteworthy, only the 1-benzyl-3-methyl-gold(III) trichloride was able to give selectively the aromatic oxazole without the addition of the silver salt. Interestingly, on contrary to what is reported in the literature, the use of gold(I) or gold(III) complexes does not influence the chemoselectivity of the cyclization reaction, while the halide bound to the metal does. In this regard, a mechanism purposing the dihydrooxazole as an intermediate for the formation of aromatic oxazole is proposed