Deep Water Archaeology in Italy and in the Tyrrhenian Sea

The paper presents the history of the research in Deep water archaeology in Italy and the recent activities carried out by Fondazione Azionemare in collaboration with the Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici of the Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Through a preliminary presentation of some shipwrecks dated to the Roman period, discovered by the Fondazione Azionemare and investigated, thanks also the photogrammetry, with the archaeologists of the Venetian university, the article analysis the characteristics and the potentialities of these contexts which present an excellent level of conservation

Evaluation of in vitro neurotoxicity of methyl mercury, PCB153 and PCB126

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In search of normative goal alignment within organisations: the role of employee seniority and identification with the leader

Frame of the research: In today's fast-paced business environments, it is key to understand what facilitates alignment between employees and managers on organisational goals for enhanced performance. Drawing from Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) and goal alignment literature, this study aims to fill a gap in the existing literature by exploring the nuanced roles of employee seniority and identification with the leader in shaping normative goal alignment. Purpose of the paper: This study investigates the role of employee seniority and leader identification in shaping normative goal alignment, thus contributing to the existing literature and offering practical implications to enhance normative goal alignment within organisations. Methodology: Data are collected from 719 white-collar staff and 313 managers in 20 manufacturing firms. A survey is designed for measuring normative goal alignment, employee seniority, and leader identification. Hypotheses are tested through regression analysis. Findings: The study finds a negative relationship between employee seniority and normative goal alignment. However, leader identification positively moderates this relationship, suggesting that employees who identify strongly with their leaders are more likely to be aligned with managers on normative goals, regardless of seniority. Research limits: The research is limited by its focus on Northeast Italy’s manufacturing industry and its cross-sectional design. Future studies could explore normative goal alignment in different contexts and employ longitudinal research designs. Practical implications: The results highlight the importance of employee seniority and leader identification in shaping normative goal alignment. Organisations should be aware of these factors and take steps to ensure effective alignment, such as investing in leadership development programmes or implementing strategies to encourage alignment between employees of different seniority levels. Originality of the paper: This study contributes to the goal alignment literature by focusing on employee seniority and leader identification in shaping normative goal alignment between employees and managers

Astrocytes protect against diazinon- and diazoxon-induced inhibition of neurite outgrowth by regulating neuronal glutathione

Evidence demonstrating that human exposure to various organophosphorus insecticides (OPs) is associated with neurobehavioral deficits in children continues to emerge. The present study focused on diazinon (DZ) and its active oxygen metabolite, diazoxon (DZO), and explored their ability to impair neurite outgrowth in rat primary hippocampal neurons as a mechanism of developmental neurotoxicity. Both DZ and DZO (0.5-10. μM) significantly inhibited neurite outgrowth in hippocampal neurons, at concentrations devoid of any cyototoxicity. These effects appeared to be mediated by oxidative stress, as they were prevented by antioxidants (melatonin, N-t-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone, and glutathione ethyl ester). Inhibition of neurite outgrowth was observed at concentrations below those required to inhibit the catalytic activity of acetylcholinesterase. The presence of astrocytes in the culture was able to provide protection against inhibition of neurite outgrowth by DZ and DZO. Astrocytes increased neuronal glutathione (GSH) in neurons, to levels comparable to those of GSH ethyl ester. Astrocytes depleted of GSH by l-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine no longer conferred protection against DZ- and DZO-induced inhibition of neurite outgrowth. The findings indicate that DZ and DZO inhibit neurite outgrowth in hippocampal neurons by mechanisms involving oxidative stress, and that these effects can be modulated by astrocytes and astrocyte-derived GSH. Oxidative stress from other chemical exposures, as well as genetic abnormalities that result in deficiencies in GSH synthesis and regulation, may render individuals more susceptible to these developmental neurotoxic effects of OPs. © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Covered self-expandable metal stents for pancreatic duct stricture: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and study aims Placement of a covered (C)-self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) has been recently investigated as an alternative endoscopic treatment for main pancreatic duct stricture (MPDS) in chronic pancreatitis. Our aim was to carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies quantifying efficacy and safety of C-SEMSs in the management of MPDS.Methods A multiple database search was performed, including MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library, from January 2000 to September 2020, to identify studies reporting the efficacy and safety of C-SEMSs in patients with MPDS. Stricture and pain resolution were investigated. Other outcomes included technical success, stent migration, stricture recurrence and need for repeated stent placement. Pancreatitis, severe abdominal pain requiring stent removal and de-novo stricture were recorded as complications.Results Nineteen studies were identified, which included a total of 300 patients. C-SEMSs showed a pooled stricture resolution rate of 91 % [95 % confidence interval (CI), 85 %-96 %] and a pooled pain resolution rate of 92 % (95 % CI, 85 %-98 %). The pooled proportion for stricture recurrence was equal to 6 % (95 % CI, 1 %-14 %), while stent migration occurred in 33 of 300 patients, the pooled proportion being 7 % (95 % CI 1 %-15 %). The pooled mean stent duration was 133 days (95 % CI, 100-166 days). The most common complication was pancreatitis (3 %, 95 % CI 0 %-8 %), while de-novo stricture pooled proportion was 2 % (95 % CI, 0 %-5 %).Conclusions C-SEMSs are effective and safe in the treatment of MPDS. However, there is a significant need for further high-quality, well-designed studies to produce evidence-based data on short and long-term efficacy, safety, costs of C-SEMSs, and also optimal stent duration

Lung volumes of extreme breath-hold divers

Achievements in breath-hold diving depend, amongst others, on body oxygen stores at start of dive. A diver with very high lung volumes could increase dive's duration, and attain deeper depths for a given speed. Thus, we hypothesized that extreme breath-hold divers have very high lung volumes. On eight extreme breathhold divers (age 35 + 4 years, height 179 + 7 cm, body mass 76 + 6 kg) and 9 non-diving controls (age 37 + 6 years, height 177 + 4 cm, body mass 81 + 9 kg) residual volume, vital capacity and total lung capacity (TLC) were measured with a body plethysmograph. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) were measured with a spirometer. Peak expiratory flow and flow-volume loops were measured with a pneumotachograph. In divers, but not in controls, volumes and capacities were systematically and significantly (p<0.01, paired t-test) higher than predicted from their body size. Consistently, volumes and capacities were significantly higher in divers than in controls, except for residual volume. Divers' TLC was 22% higher than predicted, and 21% higher than in controls. All divers' TLC was higher than 8 L, two had it higher than 9 L. FVC and FEV1 were significantly higher in divers than in controls. The FEV1/FVC ratio was the same in both groups. We conclude that extreme breath-hold divers may constitute a niche population with physiological characteristics different from those of normal individuals, facilitating the achievement of excellent diving performance

Radical but Conservative Liver Resection for Large Centrally Located Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Mini Upper-Transversal Hepatectomy

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