Bilancio di genere 2022

Il Bilancio di Genere è il risultato di un'analisi condotta, secondo gli standard della CRUI, da un Gruppo di lavoro Uniurb - coordinato dalla Prorettrice alla Sostenibilita e Valorizzazione delle Differenze – volta a delineare la distribuzione di genere nelle varie componenti della comunità universitaria e individuare politiche e strategie per ridurre eventuali gap. L'edizione 2022 include il primo monitoraggio sullo stato di attuazione delle azioni previste dal Gender Equality Plan (2022-2024).p>Il Bilancio di Genere è il risultato di un'analisi condotta, secondo gli standard della CRUI, da un Gruppo di lavoro Uniurb - coordinato dalla Prorettrice alla Sostenibilita e Valorizzazione delle Differenze – volta a delineare la distribuzione di genere nelle varie componenti della comunità universitaria e individuare politiche e strategie per ridurre eventuali gap. L'edizione 2022 include il primo monitoraggio sullo stato di attuazione delle azioni previste dal Gender Equality Plan (2022-2024)

Geohazard features of the north-western Sicily and Pantelleria

9 pages, 3 figures, supplemental material https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2024.2342931.-- Data availability statement: Department of Earth and Marine Science of the University of Palermo for institutional purposes, so their access will be available by contacting the reference people (attilio.sulliunipa.it) upon reasonable requestWe present maps of geohazard features identified across north-western Sicily and Pantelleria in the framework of the Magic project (MArine Geohazard along Italian Coasts), which involved Italian marine geological researchers in 2007-2013. These seafloor features were recognized using high-resolution bathymetry data and rely on the morphological expression of the seafloor and shallow sub-surface processes. The north-western Sicily is a complex continental margin, affected by morphodynamic, depositional, and tectonic processes. The Egadi offshore is controlled by fault escarpments and alternating retreating and progradational processes. Ustica and Pantelleria submerged edifices show the effect of volcanic activity. The Ustica seafloor is interested in volcanic, tectonic, and gravitational instability processes, while the Pantelleria offshore underwent erosive-depositional processes and the effect of bottom currents. Two levels of interpretation are represented: the physiographic domain at a scale of 1:250.000 and the morphological units and morpho-bathymetric elements at a 1:100.000 scaleThe Magic Project has been funded by the Italian Civil Protection Department. [...] With the institutional support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S)Peer reviewe

Benthic Foraminiferal Response to Sedimentary Processes in a Prodeltaic Environment: The Gulf of Patti Case Study (Southeastern Tyrrhenian Sea)

Analyses of benthic foraminiferal assemblages were carried out on sediment samples collected in the Gulf of Patti (NE Sicily, Tyrrhenian Sea), where high sedimentation rates in front of the Mazzarrà River led to the growth of a prodelta. The frequency of riverine sedimentary fluxes is testified by the widespread occurrence of erosional and depositional bedforms indicative of high-energy processes on the prodelta slope.The frequency of riverine sedimentary fluxes suggests the widespread occurrence of erosional and depositional bedforms indicative of high-energy processes on the prodelta slope. The study aimed to assess the spatial distribution of benthic foraminiferal assemblages and sediment grain size along different sectors of this prodelta to define any relationship between the foraminiferal assemblages, the environmental gradients and the sedimentary processes. In particular, we focused on the role of the highly energetic impulsive torrential inputs that dominate the depositional environment and likely affect food supply and its control on the foraminiferal density and biodiversity. The dominance of opportunistic agglutinated taxa associated with hyaline eutrophic species is a distinctive character likely related to organic matter enrichment and physical disturbance associated with inputs from torrential rivers

Living and dead foraminiferal assemblages from an active submarine canyon and surrounding sectors. The Gioia Canyon system (Tyrrhenian Sea, Southern Italy)

Living (rose Bengal stained) and dead benthic foraminiferal assemblages were studied from 23 stations located between 60 and 670 m depth along the Gioia Canyon and the adjacent continental shelf and slope (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea). The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships among sedimentary processes, hydrological patterns and benthic foraminiferal distribution, in a highly dynamic environment. High sedimentation rates on the shelf and occasional turbidity flows along the canyon, lead to unstable environmental conditions at the seafloor that reflect on the microbenthic community influencing faunal density, diversity, species composition and distribution inside the sediment. The foraminiferal distribution seems to be controlled by sedimentary processes, nutrient supply and organic matter recycling, which in turn are strongly controlled by the seasonal variability of riverine inputs and current dynamics in the Gulf of Gioia. From the inner shelf to the upper continental slope (550 m depth), the living foraminiferal assemblage is dominated by agglutinated taxa, likely favored by the high terrigenous supply. Frequent eutrophic taxa (Valvulineria bradyana and Nonionella turgida) tolerant high turbidity (Leptohalysis scottii,) and low oxygen (Bolivina spp. and Bulimina spp.) are recorded on the edge of the inner shelf, where channeling, deposition of coastal deposits and occasional sediment gravity flows occur. In the outer sector of the shelf a turnover of species is observed; L. scottii replaced by the opportunistic species Reophax scorpiurus, and taxa indicative of high energy conditions (Cassidulina spp.) become dominant in association with mesotrophic species like Globocassidulina subglobosa. Along the continental slope, lower sedimentation rates and more stable environmental conditions support richer and more diversified foraminiferal assemblage. The abundance of Bulimina marginata indicates eutrophic conditions at the shallower station (300 m depth) whereas at greater depth (550 m) typical open slope species dominate (Gyroidina spp., Uvigerina mediterranea). Within the Gioia Canyon, benthic assemblage indicates environmental conditions similar to those observed in other Mediterranean and extra-Mediterranean canyons. The assemblage is characterized by eutrophic and low oxygen taxa (Bolivina spp., Bulimina spp.) in relation to periodical fluxes of sediment and organic matter. Similar relationships arise from the analysis of dead foraminiferal assemblages. However, the comparison between living and dead faunas highlight compositional and structural changes related to taphonomic processes

Prognostic nutritional index in elderly patients hospitalized for acute heart failure

Aims: Acute heart failure (AHF) represents a frequent cause of hospitalization and is associated with significant mortality among elderly patients. Risk assessment models like the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) have been proposed to stratify the risk of death and identify patients requiring more intensive levels of care. We evaluated the predictive value of PNI for in-hospital and overall mortality in a cohort of consecutive elderly patients hospitalized for AHF. Methods and results: Prognostic nutritional index, laboratory, and clinical parameters were collected upon admission. PNI values were calculated from albumin concentration and lymphocyte count and reported on a continuous scale with lower values indicating worse prognosis. The primary outcome was overall all-cause mortality defined as death from any cause occurring during hospitalization up to 6 months after discharge. Cox proportional regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and the relative 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The study population included 344 patients (median age 84 years, range 65 to 101). During a median follow-up of 158 days (range 2 to 180 days), 75 patients (21.8%) died of whom 28 (8.1%) died during hospitalization. The median PNI was 34 (range 17 to 55). In univariable analysis, PNI was inversely associated with overall mortality (HR 0.90; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.94) and in-hospital mortality (HR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85 to 0.98). In multivariable analysis, PNI remained a significant predictor of overall mortality (HR 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89 to 0.98) after adjustment for age, anaemia, NT-proBNP values, and bedridden status. PNI values ≤34 were associated with a two-fold higher risk of overall mortality (HR 2.54; 95% CI, 1.52 to 4.24) and three-fold higher risk of in-hospital mortality (HR 3.37; 95% CI, 1.14 to 9.95). Conclusions: Low PNI values are associated with short-term and long-term mortality among elderly patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings and evaluate the use of PNI to guide therapeutic decisions

Plastics, (bio)polymers and their apparent biogeochemical cycle: An infrared spectroscopy study on foraminifera

none12siTo understand the fate of plastic in oceans and the interaction with marine organisms, we investigated the incorporation of (bio)polymers and microplastics in selected benthic foraminiferal species by applying FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) microscopy. This experimental methodology has been applied to cultured benthic foraminifera Rosalina globularis, and to in situ foraminifera collected in a plastic remain found buried into superficial sediment in the Mediterranean seafloor, Rosalina bradyi, Textularia bocki and Cibicidoides lobatulus. In vitro foraminifera were treated with bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) molecule to explore its internalization in the cytoplasm. Benthic foraminifera are marine microbial eukaryotes, sediment-dwelling, commonly short-lived and with reproductive cycles which play a central role in global biogeochemical cycles of inorganic and organic compounds. Despite the recent advances and investigations into the occurrence, distribution, and abundance of plastics, including microplastics, in marine environments, there remain relevant knowledge gaps, particularly on their effects on the benthic protists. No study, to our knowledge, has documented the molecular scale effect of plastics on foraminifera. Our analyses revealed three possible ways through which plastic-related molecules and plastic debris can enter a biogeochemical cycle and may affect the ecosystems: 1) foraminifera in situ can grow on plastic remains, namely C. lobatulus, R. bradyi and T. bocki, showing signals of oxidative stress and protein aggregation in comparison with R. globularis cultured in negative control; 2) DEHP can be incorporated in the cytoplasm of calcareous foraminifera, as observed in R. globularis; 3) microplastic debris, identified as epoxy resin, can be found in the cytoplasm and the agglutinated shell of T. bocki. We hypothesize that plastic waste and their associated additives may produce modifications related to the biomineralization process in foraminifera. This effect would be added to those induced by ocean acidification with negative consequences on the foraminiferal biogenic carbon (C) storage capacity.noneGiovanni Birarda, Carla Buosi, Francesca Caridi, Maria Antonietta Casu, Giovanni De Giudici, Letizia Di Bella, Daniela Medas, Carlo Meneghini, Martina Pierdomenico, Anna Sabbatini, Artur Surowka, Lisa Vaccari,Birarda, Giovanni; Buosi, Carla; Caridi, Francesca; Antonietta Casu, Maria; De Giudici, Giovanni; Di Bella, Letizia; Medas, Daniela; Meneghini, Carlo; Pierdomenico, Martina; Sabbatini, Anna; Surowka, Artur; Vaccari, Lis

Impact of plastic pollution on benthic foraminifera

Plastics are ubiquitous contaminants that currently affects worldwide oceans and marine biota, with about 5 billion tons of waste accumulated in the natural environment. The ubiquitous nature of microplastics means that marine biota can interact with them. While the fate of microplastics is well known, the biochemical effects of synthetic molecules especially on marine unicellular eukaryotic organisms is poorly investigated. To understand the fate of plastic in oceans and in marine organisms, we investigated the incorporation of (bio)polymers and microplastics in benthic foraminiferal species by applying FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) microscopy. Benthic foraminifera are an important component of marine communities, playing a key role in ecosystem functioning and biogeochemical cycling. Their sensibility and rapid response to environmental stress make them an efficient environmental proxy of past and present climate and environmental changes. We applied the infrared spectroscopy analysis to selected benthic foraminifera species: Rosalina globularis grew in laboratory experiments and to Cibicidoides lobatulus, Rosalina bradyi and Textularia bocki collected in a plastic remain found buried into sandy-silty sediment in the Mediterranean seabed. Foraminifera from laboratory experiments were also treated with bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) molecule that incorporates in cytoplasm. The analyses reveal that: 1) microplastic debris can be found in the cytoplasm and inside the agglutinated test of T. bocki; 2) C. lobatulus, R. bradyi and T. bocki, grown on plastic remains, show signals of oxidative stress and protein aggregation; 3) DEHP can be incorporated in the cytoplasm of the commonly calcareous foraminifera R. globularis, thus entering biogeochemical cycles. This study confirmed that foraminifera are good proxy of on-going plastic pollution and the associated molecules can be found in their text