High-levels of toxic elements and radioactivity in an abandoned sulphur mine: Insights on the origin and associated environmental concerns

Natural fibrous epsomite crystals containing high amounts of toxic and radioactive elements have recently been discovered in the abandoned sulphur mine of Perticara (Italy). In the present study, all the different matrices that characterize the Perticara mine (air, water, host-rock, minerals, and bitumen) were sampled and investigated employing a multi-analytical approach to define the distribution and origin of these hazardous elements. Water samples showed high Al, Fe, Pb, Mg, and Mn content but not radioactive elements. The bitumen sample showed a higher amount of 210Po and 210Pb (0.12 Bq/g and 0.11 Bq/g, respectively), compared to the host-rock and fibrous sericolite samples, but lower than fibrous epsomite crystals (210Po 5.59 Bq/g; 210Pb 5.93 Bq/g). A high 222Rn concentration was also detected in the tunnels and it is likely the source of both 210Po and 210Pb, which are in radioactive equilibrium, especially in epsomite. This latter mineral, being capable of capturing 210Po and 210Pb, can be used as a helpful mineral indicator for the presence of radioactive elements in similar environmental conditions. Moreover, our results also highlight a slight anomaly in the 40K and 226Ra content of the host-rock, probably derived from the evaporitic sediments of the rock succession. The current risk for humans linked to the mine environment is minor since the activity of the mine ended several decades ago. However, the results of this study must be taken into serious consideration for any future development of this area (e.g., industrial archaeology, farming, educational, scientific and touristic purposes), and represent the basis for the calculation of radiotoxicity and dose assessment, which is fundamental for the correct and safe management of the mining environment and neighbouring areas

Developing and testing an Arduino-based microcurrent stimulator to mimic marine electric pollution on benthos

The lack of economic funds commonly represents a limiting factor in scientific research and prevents scientists from developing brilliant ideas. Indeed, a new project may involve using appropriate scientific instruments and concurrently dealing with the costs before pursuing new research fields. The innovative concept of investigating the effects of electric fields, as a simulation of marine electrical pollution, on benthic organisms such as foraminifera (marine protozoa) has been recently explored by our research group. This pioneering research has resulted in the development of a cost-effective instrument capable of generating customized electric stimulation patterns with accuracy and reliability. Here, we describe the construction of a low-intensity electrical stimulator based on an Arduino programmable board and a few electronic components. The instrument results very stable and precise regarding the stimulation times and the regulation of the current intensity applied to the biological preparation. Moreover, the setup can stimulate the preparation in constant or pulsed direct current. This homemade stimulation apparatus can be improved or modified according to the researchers’ needs, as possibilities and fields of application can be innumerable

Beyond the physical exhibit: Enhancing, showcasing and safeguarding fashion heritage with VR technologies

The collective body of significant clothes, accessories, and textiles that holds cultural, artistic, and historical value constitutes, today, an important part of museum collections and a Heritage, whose value progressively increases due to the more and more pervasiveness of fashion in our daily life. However, exhibiting this Heritage poses significant challenges due to its fragility and the difficult nature of showcasing garment that cannot simply be presented in a static manner from a singular perspective, as with paintings. Instead, clothes must be experienced in motion, when worn, facilitating the observation of their details as a complete entity, within the cultural and environmental context in which they were originally conceived. Among the different technologies that are being introduced in the field, this paper explores the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) as a solution to address the challenges in exhibiting aged and historical clothes. The adoption of VR brings about novel approaches in studying Fashion Heritage to help researchers, historians, and fashion enthusiasts to gain insights into the dynamic identities and preferences of past generations, thus contributing to a profound understanding of Heritage and its relevance to the contemporary fashion trends. Five different possible solutions are presented to solve common issues in showcasing garments: among these, a case study focused on the Museo della Moda e del Costume at Palazzo Pitti in Florence is detailed and elaborated, in collaboration with Le Gallerie degli Uffizi

From farm to fork: Spread of a multidrug resistant Salmonella Infantis clone encoding blaCTX-M-1 on pESI-like plasmids in Central Italy

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Infantis (S. Infantis) is one of the “top five Salmonella serovars” of clinical significance in the European Union (EU). Antimicrobial resistant and extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) AmpC-producing S. Infantis have been described in food production systems and human clinical samples in Italy. Recently, an increase of MDR S. Infantis carrying blaCTX-M genes involved in 3rd generation cephalo sporin resistance was noticed in the EU, including Italy, mainly due to the spread of S. Infantis harboring a pESI like plasmid. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of the S. Infantis pESI-like plasmid among antibiotic resistant S. Infantis strains isolated at different points of the food chain, and to provide a phylogenetic analysis to gain further insight on their transmission pathways from ‘farm to fork’. MDR S. Infantis strains (n. 35) isolated from 2016 to 2021 at different stages of the food chain (animals, food, food-related environments, and humans) were investigated with in depth molecular characterization using real time PCR, S1 nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (S1-PFGE) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Our study reported the occurrence of S. Infantis strains harboring pESI-like plasmids, carrying blaCTX-M-1 genes, in Central Italy, at different sampling points along the food chain. Results confirmed the presence of a plasmid with a molecular size around 224–310 kb, thus consistent with the pESI-like, in 97 % of the 35 samples inves tigated. Two variants of S. Infantis pESI-like IncFIB(K)_1_Kpn3 were detected, one associated with the European clone carrying blaCTX-M-1 (21 isolates) and the other associated with U.S. isolates carrying blaCTX-M-65 (2 isolates, pESI-like U.S. variant). The majority was resistant to 3rd generation cephalosporins but none of the strains tested positive for the carbapenemase encoding genes. A total of 118 virulence genes were identified in isolates harboring the pESI-like plasmid. cgMLST and SNP-based analysis revealed the presence of one main cluster, composed by strains isolated from the environment, animals, food and humans. The results of this investigation underline the importance of phylogenetic studies to monitor and understand pathogen and AMR spread in a One Health approach

Moral reasoning behind the veil of ignorance: An investigation into perspective-taking accessibility in the context of autonomous vehicles

Perspective-taking (PT) accessibility has been recognized as an important factor in affecting moral reasoning, also playing a non-trivial role in moral investigation towards autonomous vehicles (AVs). A new proposal to deepen this effect leverages the principles of the veil of ignorance (VOI), as a moral reasoning device aimed to control self-interested decisions by limiting the access to specific perspectives and to potentially biased information. Throughout two studies, we deepen the role of VOI reasoning in the moral perception of AVs, disclosing personal and contingent information progressively throughout the experiment. With the use of the moral trilemma paradigm, two different VOI conditions were operationalized, inspired by the Original Position theory by John Rawls and the Equiprobability Model by John Harsanyi. Evidence suggests a significant role of VOI reasoning in affecting moral reasoning, which seems not independent from the order in which information is revealed. Coherently, a detrimental effect of self-involvement on utilitarian behaviours was detected. These results highlight the importance of considering PT accessibility and self-involvement when investigating moral attitudes towards AVs, since it can help the intelligibility of general concerns and hesitations towards this new technology

Gianni Vattimo. Dal dionisiaco nietzscheano al pensiero debole e al "comunismo ermeneutico"

DAL DIONISIACO NIETZSCHEANO AL PENSIERO DEBOLE E AL “COMUNISMO ERMENEUTICO”. PROFILO DI UN FILOSOFO CHE HA SAPUTO ATTRAVERSARE CON IRRIVERENZA IL NOVECENTO E IL NUOVO MILLENNIO

Ladri di mantelli dalla commedia greca a quella latina

Pur nella consapevolezza delle profonde differenze tra le varie forme di spettacolo comico in Grecia e a Roma, nonché tra i vari copriabiti antichi, si è cercato di procedere con un’indagine che considerasse il costume di scena, analizzato quindi all’interno del solo codice teatrale, nell’accezione più ampia e generica di ἐπίβλημα, per valutare se e come nella comunicazione drammatica alla sottrazione di questo indumento potesse essere attribuito un valore simbolico dal punto di vista ‘interno’ della commedia, e/o un ruolo drammaturgico dal punto di vista ‘esterno’ della stessa

Ragazzi di Scuola. Controstoria della scuola e del Bullismo.

Esiste una soluzione al rompicapo chiamato scuola? Per provare a scorgerla è sicuramente utile dar voce a chi opera quotidianamente al suo interno: docenti e ragazzi. Il libro ha proprio questo obiettivo. Attraverso interviste e questionari somministrati in oltre cinquanta classi superiori dell’Italia centrale, l’autore indaga su questioni riguardanti l’organizzazione, il corpo docente, gli studenti, i comportamenti devianti. E tra questi ultimi il bullismo riflette indubbiamente un malessere e si pone come la cartina tornasole di una trasformazione in corso dove la scuola-azienda insegue le chimere dell’efficienza, della digitalizzazione, della nuova didattica, senza riuscire tuttavia a dare reali risposte alla dispersione scolastica, alla povertà educativa e a una generazione di studenti sempre più deresponsabilizzata e sempre meno sensibile all’autorità e al suo riconoscimento