Paleobiology, Palaeopathology and Necrophobic Practices in Early Iron Age Burials (IX–VII Century BC) in Capo Colonna, Trani, Apulia, Southern Italy – The State of Health of a Small Sample from Iron Age

In this palaeobiological and palaeopathological study of skeletal remains, we attempt to define the physical characteristics, living conditions and the state of health of a small sample from two early Iron Age (IX–VIII century BC) graves at Capo Colonna, Trani (Bari, Apulia, southern Italy). In the thoraco-lumbar segment (T11-L1) of the vertebral column of an adult male 35 years old, we found wedge-shaped deformation of the anterior part of T12 with kyphosis of the affected tract. Digital radiography and volumetric reconstruction by 3D CT indicated that the alteration did not result from an infectious process (Pott’s disease). Instead, it was a traumatic lesion probably caused by falling from a height. The archaeological investigation revealed extraordinary arrangements of the bodies in the graves: they were buried with a boulder placed on the coffin. This practice has been seen in similar graves in the Balkan area, particularly in Greece, from the Neolithic to the Early Middle Ages. The most likely explanation is a funeral ritual characterized by necrophobia, the purpose of which was to prevent the deceased from returning to terrorize the living

Table-top combined scanning X-ray small angle scattering and transmission microscopies of lipid vesicles dispersed in free-standing gel

A mm thick free-standing gel containing lipid vesicles made of 2-oleoyl-1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine (POPC) was studied by scanning Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and X-ray Transmission (XT) microscopies. Raster scanning relatively large volumes, besides reducing the risk of radiation damage, allows signal integration, improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), as well as high statistical significance of the dataset. The persistence of lipid vesicles in gel was demonstrated, while mapping their spatial distribution and concentration gradients. Information about lipid aggregation and packing, as well as about gel density gradients, was obtained. A posteriori confirmation of lipid presence in well-defined sample areas was obtained by studying the dried sample, featuring clear Bragg peaks from stacked bilayers. The comparison between wet and dry samples allowed it to be proved that lipids do not significantly migrate within the gel even upon drying, whereas bilayer curvature is lost by removing water, resulting in lipids packed in ordered lamellae. Suitable algorithms were successfully employed for enhancing transmission microscopy sensitivity to low absorbing objects, and allowing full SAXS intensity normalization as a general approach. In particular, data reduction includes normalization of the SAXS intensity against the local sample thickness derived from absorption contrast maps. The proposed study was demonstrated by a room-sized instrumentation, although equipped with a high brilliance X-ray micro-source, and is expected to be applicable to a wide variety of organic, inorganic, and multicomponent systems, including biomaterials. The employed routines for data reduction and microscopy, including Gaussian filter for contrast enhancement of low absorbing objects and a region growing segmentation algorithm to exclude no-sample regions, have been implemented and made freely available through the updated in-house developed software SUNBIM

Lifestyle in Obese Individuals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Stay-at-home orders in response to the Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic have forced abrupt changes to daily routines. The aim of this study is to describe the behavior of lifestyles of individuals with obesity on the waiting list for bariatric surgery in the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of University of Foggia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: From June 2020 to December 2020 an online survey format was administered to all the patients (n = 52) enrolled for bariatric surgery subjects with obesity, to obtain information about the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on patients with obesity starting 9 March 2020 until 18 May 2020. Results: Our data showed that 58% of patients stated that the pandemic negatively affected their mood, 60% of patients confirmed that they changed their dietary behaviors during the stay-at-home period, as they consumed more unhealthy foods or spent less time cooking home cooked meals. In addition, 71% of patients stated that the closure of the gyms worsened their obesity condition and their mental well-being with an increase of a feeling of anxiety. Conclusions: Results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on health behaviors, including quality of life, mental health physical activity, weight maintenance, and consumption of sweets in obese patients