Conservation laws for strings in the Abelian Sandpile Model

The Abelian Sandpile generates complex and beautiful patterns and seems to display allometry. On the plane, beyond patches, patterns periodic in both dimensions, we remark the presence of structures periodic in one dimension, that we call strings. We classify completely their constituents in terms of their principal periodic vector k, that we call momentum. We derive a simple relation between the momentum of a string and its density of particles, E, which is reminiscent of a dispersion relation, E=k^2. Strings interact: they can merge and split and within these processes momentum is conserved. We reveal the role of the modular group SL(2,Z) behind these laws.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures in colo

Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation and Atherosclerosis

The inflammatory component of atherogenesis has been increasingly recognized over the last decade. Inflammation participates in all stages of atherosclerosis, not only during initiation and during evolution of lesions, but also with precipitation of acute thrombotic complications. The metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risk for development of both cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes in humans. Central obesity and insulin resistance are thought to represent common underlying factors of the syndrome, which features a chronic low-grade inflammatory state. Diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome occurs using defined threshold values for waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose and dyslipidemia. The metabolic syndrome appears to affect a significant proportion of the population. Therapeutic approaches that reduce the levels of proinflammatory biomarkers and address traditional risk factors are particularly important in preventing cardiovascular disease and, potentially, diabetes. The primary management of metabolic syndrome involves healthy lifestyle promotion through moderate calorie restriction, moderate increase in physical activity and change in dietary composition. Treatment of individual components aims to control atherogenic dyslipidemia using fibrates and statins, elevated blood pressure, and hyperglycemia. While no single treatment for the metabolic syndrome as a whole yet exists, emerging therapies offer potential as future therapeutic approaches

Problematiche connesse all’applicazione dell’istituto della non punibilità per particolare tenuità del fatto

[Problems about the application of the institute of non-punishability of a petty offence] The non-punishability of a petty offence is a most versatile legal institute since it ensures, as a cause of dismissal, the deflation of the load of pending cases and, as a result of the lawsuit, it excludes the punishability of criminal conducts that meet with little social reprobation in line with the principle of  the extrema ratio of criminal sanction. The present paper delivers a review of the most recent verdicts of ordinary and constitutional courts on the issue. It also offers food for thought on the main problems that emerged as a result of the first applications of art. 131 bis penal code

Problematiche connesse all’applicazione dell’istituto della non punibilità per particolare tenuità del fatto

[Problems about the application of the institute of non-punishability of a petty offence] The non-punishability of a petty offence is a most versatile legal institute since it ensures, as a cause of dismissal, the deflation of the load of pending cases and, as a result of the lawsuit, it excludes the punishability of criminal conducts that meet with little social reprobation in line with the principle of  the extrema ratio of criminal sanction. The present paper delivers a review of the most recent verdicts of ordinary and constitutional courts on the issue. It also offers food for thought on the main problems that emerged as a result of the first applications of art. 131 bis penal code

Forest-food nexus: a topical opportunity for human well-being and silviculture

As population will reach over 9 billion by 2050, interest in the forest-food nexus is rising. Forests play an important role in food production and nutrition. Forests can provide nutritionally-balanced diets, woodfuel for cooking and a broad set of ecosystem services. A large body of evidence recommends multi-functional and integrated landscape approaches to reimagine forestry and agriculture systems. Here, after a commented discussion of the literature produced in the last decade about the role for forests with respect to the food security global emergency, we summarize the state of the art in Italy as a representative country-case-study. The aim is to increase awareness about the potential of silviculture in Italy for combining ecological resilience with economic resilience, and reducing the pressure over tropical and sub-tropical forests by means of a sustainable intensification of forest management at national level. Although a quantification of the Italian non-wood forest products is difficult, the potential of this sector for the Italian bioeconomy is relatively high. Italy is among the four top European exporters of cork stoppers, is one of the three top countries for chestnut seed processing, and is among the leading exporters of wild mushroom, while it is the only European country among the top five global importers of tannins. In order to develop this sector for the food industry, more research is needed on non-wood forest products, the scale of production, emerging markets, marketing and production innovation. On the other hand, chain-supply fragmentation, landowner inertia, and lack of governance and cooperation may hamper an effective exploitation of non-wood products. A renewed joint impulse for exploitation of wood and non-wood products may come from a sustainable intensification of forest management. The strategies to guarantee an effective supply of non-wood products require appropriate business skills and the presence of a structured business services. A transparent market is also essential. Therefore, the introduction of standards (like those by forest certification schemes) is very important. They can add value to products and emphasize the importance and complexity of the forest sector. However, the implementation of sustainable forest management for an effective supply of non-wood products is affected by the availability of appropriate planning tools, and the public officers need a new mindset to stimulate and support business capacity of forest owners

Alginate membranes loaded with hyaluronic acid and silver nanoparticles to foster tissue healing and to control bacterial contamination of non-healing wounds

Chronic non-healing wounds are a clinically important problem in terms of number of patients and costs. Wound dressings such as hydrogels, hydrocolloids, polyurethane films and foams are commonly used to manage these wounds since they tend to maintain a moist environment which is shown to accelerate re-epithelialization. The use of antibacterial compounds is important in the management of wound infections. A novel wound-dressing material based on a blended matrix of the polysaccharides alginate, hyaluronic acid and Chitlac-silver nanoparticles is here proposed and its application for wound healing is examined. The manufacturing approach to obtain membranes is based on gelling, foaming and freeze-casting of alginate, hyaluronic acid and Chitlac-silver nanoparticles mixtures using calcium ions as the cross-linking agent. Comprehensive evaluations of the morphology, swelling kinetics, permeability, mechanical characteristics, cytotoxicity, capability to inhibit metalloproteinases and of antibacterial property were conducted. Biological in vitro studies demonstrated that hyaluronic acid released by the membrane is able to stimulate the wound healing meanwhile the metal silver exploits an efficient antibacterial activity against both planktonic bacteria and biofilms. Overall, the experimental data evidence that the studied material could be used as antibacterial wound dressing for wound healing promotion