Experimental study on nitrification in a submerged aerated biofilter

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the performance of a semi-pilot scale BAF in order to obtain a highly polished effluent in terms of removal of organic matter, suspended solids and ammonia and to observe the influence of temperature, pH and nitrite accumulation on the nitrification process. The ammonia removal efficiency during summer and winter and the nitrite accumulation in presence of free ammonia were observed. The biomass density was measured at different filter bed heights and the sludge production from the effluent of the backwashing water was evaluated. The results obtained were used to calibrate a mathematical model for the prediction of the ammonia removal profile in the filter bed and of biomass thickness

Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Delivery in Lipid-Based Nanoparticles: Potentiality and Perspectives for Future Applications in Cancer Chemoprevention and Therapy

Chemoprevention is a strategy aimed to not only reduce the risk but also delay the development or recurrence of cancer. An ideal chemopreventive agent is not dangerous and ought not to result in side effects or damage to human health. In this context, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is considered a suitable chemopreventive agent, but its clinical use is limited by many factors, namely, the difference in source, administration, individual metabolism, absorption, and distribution. Genetic and dietary differences greatly cause this variability, which has limited the rational use of EGCG in chemoprevention and, particularly, the definition of a safe and efficient concentration. In the present mini review, the main limitations to a complete understanding of the use of EGCG as a chemopreventive agent will be briefly illustrated. This review also indicates the introduction and trialing of lipid-based nanoparticles (NPs) as a proper strategy to deliver EGCG at a well-defined concentration for better investigation of the chemopreventive activity. Finally, some examples of cancers that might benefit from EGCG treatment in different stages of the disease are proposed

Modeling the paleogeography of north-western Palaeotethys across the Permian-Triassic boundary: constraints and possible solutions

We simulated for the first time the paleogeographicevolution of three thin depositional sequences of the shallowmarinewestern Palaeotethys, deposited in the Southern Alps (SA,Italy) during the devastating Permian-Triassic extinction. Thesimulation is calibrated by a rich set of published field data,measured in the uppermost Bellerophon Formation - lowermostWerfen Fm. Data and paleogeographic maps are located in theSA area palinspastically restored. The employed software is apreliminary version of SIMSAFADIM-CLASTIC, that simulates:a) the spatial distribution of terrigenous and clastic carbonate, b)the fossil content, c) the microbial content. The models (maps)were realized as a back-analysis, by calibration on the 3Darchitecture of the real sedimentary sequences, particularly onthe spatial distribution of terrigenous-clastic carbonate ratio. Thesimulation covers a period of about 70 kyr, whereas eachsedimentary sequence corresponds to a time span of 15-20 kyr;the low stand tract spans 5-6 kyr. The models that best match thereality was achieved by using a curve of sea level changesobtained empirically, by subsequent attempts. The maximum sealevel change is about a dozen meters, and the study areaunderwent locally short periods of emersion, with soil orintertidal carbonates, followed by shallow marine, foreshorefacies. This sea level changes curve is likely to represent theglobal reference. We interpret the model results in light of thehypothesis that the curve of sea level change presented here couldwere produced by alternating global warming and cooling of theoceans. This curve, obtained by an independent method, wouldbe utilized as an important constraint of the global atmospheric,coupled with oceanic circulation, numerical models. On thecontrary, the disappearence of Permian-type taxa (fusulinids,forams, bivalves and algae) pre-dating the P-T boundary does notmatch the field data, because the software is lacking a fewspecific functions; these biologic carbonate components seems tohave beeen substituted by, for a still unknown environmentalcause, the production of oolites and of carbonate of microbialiticorigin

Analisi delle componenti principali

La tesi descrive il metodo dell'analisi delle componenti principali, vertendo sia sull'aspetto matematico che la caratterizza sia su alcune sue applicazioni. Vengono anche definite le nozioni di algebra lineare e statistica fondamentali per la sua descrizione

Implementazione ottimizata dell'operatore di Dirac su GPGPU

Nelle applicazioni Lattice QCD l'operatore di Dirac rappresenta una delle principali operazioni, ottimizzarne l'efficienza si riflette in un incremento delle prestazioni globali dell'algoritmo. In tal senso i Tensor Core rappresentano una soluzione che incrementa le prestazioni del calcolo dell'operatore di Dirac ottimizzando in particolare la moltiplicazione tra matrici e vettori. Si è analizzata nel dettaglio l'architettura dei Tensor Core studiando il modello di esecuzione e il layout della memoria. Sono quindi state formulate e analizzate in dettaglio alcune soluzioni che sfruttano i Tensor Core per accelerare l'operatore di Dirac

Design and Implementation of a Portable Framework for Application Decomposition and Deployment in Edge-Cloud Systems

The emergence of cyber-physical systems has brought about a significant increase in complexity and heterogeneity in the infrastructure on which these systems are deployed. One particular example of this complexity is the interplay between cloud, fog, and edge computing. However, the complexity of these systems can pose challenges when it comes to implementing self-organizing mechanisms, which are often designed to work on flat networks. Therefore, it is essential to separate the application logic from the specific deployment aspects to promote reusability and flexibility in infrastructure exploitation. To address this issue, a novel approach called "pulverization" has been proposed. This approach involves breaking down the system into smaller computational units, which can then be deployed on the available infrastructure. In this thesis, the design and implementation of a portable framework that enables the "pulverization" of cyber-physical systems are presented. The main objective of the framework is to pave the way for the deployment of cyber-physical systems in the edge-cloud continuum by reducing the complexity of the infrastructure and exploit opportunistically the heterogeneous resources available on it. Different scenarios are presented to highlight the effectiveness of the framework in different heterogeneous infrastructures and devices. Current limitations and future work are examined to identify improvement areas for the framework

Analysis of Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Glycine Betaine: Contribution to the Assessment of Health Risks and Benefits of Seafood Consumption

Seafood is known for its valuable and healthy nutrients; however scientific studies demonstrated the unavoidable presence of contaminants in fish and shellfish. Authorities strongly recommend fish consumption, especially to sensible groups of population (pregnant or nursing women, infants and children), and ask the scientific community for novel and coherent data to establish clear guidelines for consumers. There is also a serious need to extend the monitoring to emerging chemical pollutants, other than methylmercury, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls, to better understand the level of seafood contamination. An innovative UHPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of glycine betaine (GB) in Tapes philippinarum was developed and validated, taking the 2002/657 European Decision as guideline; GB is an endogenous osmolyte abundant in molluscs, and represent a vital methylating agent in humans. Moreover, a previously developed and validated UHPLC-MS/MS method was used to conduct a preliminary monitoring of the presence of the two main perfluorinated contaminants, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in six fish species from Italian markets (Dicentrarchus labrax, Merluccius merluccius, Mugil cephalus, Pleuronectes platessa, Scomber scombrus and Sparus aurata). The daily contribution of seafood to PFOS and PFOA dietary intake in Italian population was calculated and data were compared to the corresponding Tolerable Daily Intakes established by EFSA in 2008. Results revealed that the risk of contamination related to fish consumption is unlikely, but suggested the need to conduct further surveys focused on certain species from different sampling site. Subsequently, a mono-specie monitoring was carried out in 140 farmed and wild subjects of Dicentrarchus labrax, from 14 different locations in the Mediterranean area. The obtained results showed that wild subjects are sensibly more contaminated than farmed ones, and that levels of fish contamination are strongly influenced by their geographical origin and the proximity to polluted areas

Microbiological surveillance of plasmid mediated colistin resistance in human Enterobacteriaceae isolates in Romagna (Northern Italy): August 2016–July 2017

Objectives: To start a surveillance program to investigate the possible diffusion of mobilized colistin resistance genes in Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated in the Unit of Microbiology of the Great Romagna Hub Laboratory. Methods: All the colistin resistant Enterobacteriaceae, isolated from August 1st 2016 to July 31st 2017, were prospectively evaluated for mcr-1 and mcr-2. Backdated survey of mcr-3, mcr-4 and mcr-5 was performed on the same group of isolates. Species identification was achieved by Vitek MS and the antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed both with Vitek-2 and Sensititre systems. Colistin resistant isolates were screened by PCR for the presence of the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance genes and amplicons were verified by sequencing. All mcr-1 positive isolates were subjected to MLST analysis. Results: Over the total of 19053 isolates belonging to Enterobacteriaceae, 90 were colistin resistant. The presence of mcr-1 was detected in 26 Escherichia coli. The overall prevalence of mcr-1 was 0.14%. The mcr-1 positive E. coli strains were assigned to 13 distinct sequence types (STs) according to MLST. Conclusions: The prospective epidemiological survey carried out in our study gave a glimpse of the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance dissemination in Romagna. Since the prevalence rate of carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in some hospital wards in our area is alarming, we underline the importance of a Surveillance Program to monitor the spread of the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance genes into MDR Gram-negative bacteria

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Delivered in Nanoparticles Increases Cytotoxicity in Three Breast Carcinoma Cell Lines

The anticancer act i v i t y of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), orally administrated, is limited by poor bioavailabi l i t y , absorption, and unpredictable distribution in human tissues. EGCG charged nanoparticles may represent an opportunity to overcome these limitations. We assayed two different kinds of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs and LNPs functionalized with folic acid) charged with EGCG on three breast carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-7TAM) and the human normal MCF10A mammary epithelial cells. Both LNPs loaded with EGCG, at low concentrations, induced a significant cytotoxicity in the three breast carcinoma cells but not in MCF10A cells. In view of a future application, both LNPs and LNPs-FA were found to be very suitable for in vitro studies and usef u l to improve EGCG administration in vivo. Since they are produced by inexpensive procedures using bioavailable, biocompatible, and biodegradable molecules, t h e y represent an applicable tool for a more rationale use of EGCG as an anti-cancer agent