I servizi ecosistemici nella pianificazione spaziale come strumenti interpretativi per la definizione di tassonomie territoriali innovative

The general objective of the dissertation is to analyze the carbon sequestration ecosystem service and to assess its relationship with spatial analysis. Implications in terms of planning policy are identified and explored as well. Carbon sequestration can be defined as a natural phenomenon -photosynthesis - by which terrestrial ecosystems such as forests, grasslands and peat swamps, remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere by storing it in the biomass and in the soil. Therefore, green spaces and soil are key players in the global carbon cycle by providing the carbon sequestration ecosystem service. This is the reason why, even small variations in soil carbon concentration could have a relevant impact on atmospheric CO2 concentration and contribute to increase the global temperature. In this framework, spatial planning plays an important role in achieving climate objectives. Many studies combine the remote sensing satellite and carbon data for mapping the carbon pools distribution. Protected areas play an important role in the conservation and maintenance of the natural ecosystems and their services. The negative impact on carbon sequestration is increased by the dynamics of land take. As a consequence, environmental protection measures aimed at reducing urban expansion opportunities are the main road which may eventually drive to a steady long-run conservation of carbon sequestration capacity. A further relevant implication of the results of the dissertation is that regulations concerning environmental protection defined by municipal masterplans are rather flexible, and, in case of land take limitation or prohibition, they can be very specific, and, in so doing, not so much restrictive in terms of land uses, except when dealing with artificialization of land. Finally, the spatial taxonomy of normalized difference vegetation index shows that parcels where carbon sequestration does occur are located not only in non-artificial areas, but also within the consolidated urban fabric. Important policy implications can be derived from these questions. First, the zoning codes of municipal, province and regional spatial plans should either define new areas where land take is either limited or forbidden, or enlarge the existing ones, in order to conserve and possibly enhance carbon sequestration capacity. Secondly, it is of paramount importance that experts in physical and natural science be part of the technical bodies who define and implement planning policies. A third important implication is related to the strategic environmental assessment procedures, which are mandatory with reference to the definition of local plans, according to the Italian General Law on Environmental Protection. Such procedures entail the integration of environmental protection and sustainability-oriented objectives into spatial plans. In the fourth place, since the establishment of new areas, or the enlargement of existing ones, where land take is forbidden or limited, are planning measures effective in addressing the question of carbon sequestration, a detailed spatial taxonomy of land take is needed, especially with reference to the spatial distribution of artificial and non-artificial land parcels and to its evolution through time, in order to define these measures in a proper way. Finally, measures which limit or prevent land take may possibly hinder traditional activities such as rural settlements, farming and grazing activities, and, in so doing, they are likely to generate conflicts which may possibly involve the local communities and municipalities. The questions of participation, information delivery and public agreement on planning decisions should be carefully considered when defining and implementing policies to preserve or improve carbon sequestration capacity and inclusive processes should be projected to support decision-making and plan approval procedures

Demonstration of fluorescence enhancement: via Bloch surface waves in all-polymer multilayer structures

An all-polymer photonic structure constituted by a distributed Bragg reflector topped with an ultrathin fluorescent polymer film has been studied. A Bloch surface wave resonance has been exploited to improve pumping efficiency. A strongly polarization and angle dependent fluorescence signal is found with respect to the light pumping beam and the emitted wavelength. Matching the most favorable condition for the pump coupling and the collection geometry, the signal obtained from the structure appears to be two orders of magnitude larger than the one of the bare emitting film

Long-term glucocorticoid treatment and high relapse rate remain unresolved issues in the real-life management of polymyalgia rheumatica: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, according to the PRISMA methodology, to summarize current evidence on the prevalence and predictors of long-term glucocorticoid (GC) treatment and disease relapses in the real-life management of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).Out of 5442 retrieved studies, 21 were eligible for meta-analysis and 24 for qualitative analysis. The pooled proportions of patients still taking GCs at 1, 2, and 5 years were respectively 77% (95%CI 71-83%), 51% (95%CI 41-61%), and 25% (95CI% 15-36%). No significant difference was recorded by distinguishing study cohorts recruited before and after the issue of the international recommendations in 2010. The pooled proportion of patients experiencing at least one relapse at 1 year from treatment initiation was 43% (95%CI 29-56%). Female gender, acute-phase reactants levels, peripheral arthritis, starting GCs dosage, and tapering speed were the most frequently investigated potential predictors of prolonged GC treatment and relapse, but with inconsistent results. Only a few studies and with conflicting results evaluated the potential role of early treatment with methotrexate in reducing the GC exposure and the risk of relapse in PMR.This study showed that a high rate of prolonged GC treatment is still recorded in the management of PMR. The relapse rate, even remarkable, can only partially explain the long-term GC treatment, suggesting that other and not yet identified factors may be involved. Additional research is needed to profile patients with a higher risk of long-term GC treatment and relapse and identify more effective steroid-sparing strategies. Key Points: • High rate of long-term glucocorticoid (GC) treatment is recorded in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), being 77%, 51%, and 25% of patients still on GCs after respectively 1, 2, and 5 years. • A pooled relapse rate of 43% at 1 year, even remarkable, can only partially explain the long-term GC treatment in PMR. • Several studies have attempted to identify potential predictors of prolonged treatment with GCs and relapse, but with inconsistent results. • Additional research is needed to profile patients with a higher risk of long-term GC treatment and relapse and identify more effective steroid-sparing strategies

Assessment Of Circulating Endothelial Cells And Their Progenitors As Potential Biomarkers Of Disease Activity And Damage Accrual In Behçet's Syndrome

PURPOSE: To explore the potential role of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and their progenitors (EPCs) as biomarkers of disease activity and damage accrual in patients with Behçet's syndrome (BS), by using a standardised and reliable flow cytometry protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CECs and EPCs were assessed in 32 BS patients and 11 gender/age/smoking habits matched healthy controls (HC). They were identified by flow cytometry as alive/nucleated/CD45-negative/CD34-bright/CD146-positive and alive/nucleated/CD45-negative/CD34-bright/CD309-positive events, respectively. In BS patients, demographic and clinical features, including disease activity (assessed by Behçet's disease current disease activity form, BDCAF) and irreversible damage accrual (by the vasculitis damage index, VDI) were recorded. Uni- and multivariate analysis were performed to compare the CECs and EPCs concentrations in BS vs HC and to identify potential associations with demographic or clinical features. RESULTS: The CECs concentration was significantly higher in the BS patients than HCs [median (IQR) 15.0 (7.5-23.0) vs 6.0 (2.0-13.0) CECs/mL, p=0.024]. In BS patients, no significant associations were found between CECs and demographic features, present and past clinical manifestations, BDCAF score and ongoing treatment. A significant association was observed between CECs and organ damage, as assessed by the VDI (rho 0.356, p=0.045). Higher levels of CECs were especially associated with vascular damage [median (IQR) 23.0 (14.0-47.0) vs 13.0 (6.0-19.0) CECs/mL, p=0.011], including arterial aneurysm and stenosis, complicated venous thrombosis, cerebrovascular accident. The concentration of EPCs did not significantly differ between the BS and HC [median 26.5 (13.0-46.0) vs 19.0 (4.0-42.0) EPCs/mL, p=0.316] and no significant associations were observed between their levels and any clinical characteristic. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the CECs concentration is significantly higher in BS than healthy subjects, and it mainly correlates with vascular damage. A longitudinal extension of the present study on a wider cohort would be useful to validate the potential role of CECs as a marker or, hopefully, predictor of vascular damage in BS

Valutazione ambientale strategica, piani urbanistici comunali e piani dei parchi. Un quadro operativo per l’integrazione della Strategia regionale per lo sviluppo sostenibile della Sardegna

La concezione della sostenibilità, nel governo del territorio, va oltre la tutela dell’ambiente in quanto, oltre il profilo ambientale, include quelli economici e sociali. Si evidenzia, quindi, la necessità di rendere compatibili le esigenze dello sviluppo economico con quelle della tutela delle risorse naturali, e dell’equità e del progresso sociale. In quest’ottica, la Regione Sardegna ha approvato la Strategia regionale per lo sviluppo sostenibile (SRSvS), quale declinazione della Strategia nazionale, in coerenza con l’Agenda 2030 delle Nazioni Unite. Il volume presenta e discute i risultati di una ricerca sviluppata durante lo svolgimento del Laboratorio di ricerca azione SOSLab1 del Progetto SOSLabs, condotto, presso l’Università di Cagliari, nell’ambito del bando emanato nel 2019 dalla Direzione Generale per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile, per il Danno Ambientale e per i Rapporti con l’Unione Europea dell’allora Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del territorio e del mare (oggi Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza energetica). Gli esiti si basano su un approccio metodologico che integra la SRSvS nella prassi della pianificazione territoriale e urbanistica nel contesto comunale e metropolitano, tramite un modello in cui la costruzione del piano è permeata dalla valutazione. Si assume quale riferimento scientifico e tecnico la valutazione ambientale strategica (VAS), in virtù del suo essere profondamente innervata nel processo di piano, quasi ad identificarsi con il piano stesso, sia nelle fasi preparatorie, che attuative. La metodologia di integrazione della SRSvS nel processo di pianificazione e valutazione è applicata, sperimentalmente, a due piani urbanistici: il Piano urbanistico comunale preliminare del Comune di Cagliari e il Piano del Parco naturale regionale di Tepilora

Brain-reactive autoantibodies in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus

IntroductionThe pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is widely unknown, and the role of autoantibodies is still undetermined. MethodsTo identify brain-reactive autoantibodies possibly related to NPSLE, immunofluorescence (IF) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on rat and human brains were performed. ELISA was used to reveal the presence of known circulating autoantibodies, while western blot (WB) was applied to characterize potential unknown autoantigen(s). ResultsWe enrolled 209 subjects, including patients affected by SLE (n=69), NPSLE (n=36), Multiple Sclerosis (MS, n=22), and 82 age- and gender-matched healthy donors (HD). Autoantibody reactivity by IF was observed in almost the entire rat brain (cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum) using sera from NPSLE and SLE patients and was virtually negative in MS and HD. NPSLE showed higher prevalence (OR 2.4; p = 0.047), intensity, and titer of brain-reactive autoantibodies than SLE patients. Most of the patient sera with brain-reactive autoantibodies (75%) also stained human brains. Double staining experiments on rat brains mixing patients' sera with antibodies directed against neuronal (NeuN) or glial markers showed autoantibody reactivity restricted to NeuN-containing neurons. Using TEM, the targets of brain-reactive autoantibodies were located in the nuclei and, to a lesser extent, in the cytoplasm and mitochondria. Given the high degree of colocalization between NeuN and brain-reactive autoantibodies, we assumed NeuN was a possible autoantigen. However, WB analysis with HEK293T cell lysates expressing or not expressing the gene encoding for NeuN protein (RIBFOX3) showed that patients' sera carrying brain-reactive autoantibodies did not recognize the NeuN corresponding band size. Among the panel of NPSLE-associated autoantibodies (e.g., anti-NR2, anti-P-ribosomal protein, antiphospholipid) investigated by ELISA assay, only the anti-& beta;2-glycoprotein-I (a & beta;2GPI) IgG was exclusively found in those sera containing brain-reactive autoantibodies. ConclusionIn conclusion, SLE and NPSLE patients possess brain-reactive autoantibodies but with higher frequency and titers found in NPSLE patients. Although many target antigens of brain-reactive autoantibodies are still undetermined, they likely include & beta;2GPI

Brain-reactive autoantibodies in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus

IntroductionThe pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is widely unknown, and the role of autoantibodies is still undetermined.MethodsTo identify brain-reactive autoantibodies possibly related to NPSLE, immunofluorescence (IF) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on rat and human brains were performed. ELISA was used to reveal the presence of known circulating autoantibodies, while western blot (WB) was applied to characterize potential unknown autoantigen(s).ResultsWe enrolled 209 subjects, including patients affected by SLE (n=69), NPSLE (n=36), Multiple Sclerosis (MS, n=22), and 82 age- and gender-matched healthy donors (HD). Autoantibody reactivity by IF was observed in almost the entire rat brain (cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum) using sera from NPSLE and SLE patients and was virtually negative in MS and HD. NPSLE showed higher prevalence (OR 2.4; p = 0.047), intensity, and titer of brain-reactive autoantibodies than SLE patients. Most of the patient sera with brain-reactive autoantibodies (75%) also stained human brains. Double staining experiments on rat brains mixing patients’ sera with antibodies directed against neuronal (NeuN) or glial markers showed autoantibody reactivity restricted to NeuN-containing neurons. Using TEM, the targets of brain-reactive autoantibodies were located in the nuclei and, to a lesser extent, in the cytoplasm and mitochondria. Given the high degree of colocalization between NeuN and brain-reactive autoantibodies, we assumed NeuN was a possible autoantigen. However, WB analysis with HEK293T cell lysates expressing or not expressing the gene encoding for NeuN protein (RIBFOX3) showed that patients’ sera carrying brain-reactive autoantibodies did not recognize the NeuN corresponding band size. Among the panel of NPSLE-associated autoantibodies (e.g., anti-NR2, anti-P-ribosomal protein, antiphospholipid) investigated by ELISA assay, only the anti-β2-glycoprotein-I (aβ2GPI) IgG was exclusively found in those sera containing brain-reactive autoantibodies.ConclusionIn conclusion, SLE and NPSLE patients possess brain-reactive autoantibodies but with higher frequency and titers found in NPSLE patients. Although many target antigens of brain-reactive autoantibodies are still undetermined, they likely include β2GPI

Plasmonic Structures for Sensing and Emitting Devices

We report on the study of a plasmonic nanostructure that could be adopted as platform for emitting and sensing applications. Several devices have been prepared and characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform micro-reflectance (FT- pR) techniques. In addition, a modelling via finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations have been developed in order to interpret the morphological shape and the optical response of the considered structures. Until now, remarkable performances as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based optical sensor have been founded. Moreover, we are performing preliminary trials in order to establish a coupling between photoluminescence (PL) features of suitable emitters with respect to the plasmonic resonances

Genetic instability from a single S phase after whole-genome duplication

Diploid and stable karyotypes are associated with health and fitness in animals. By contrast, whole-genome duplications—doublings of the entire complement of chromosomes—are linked to genetic instability and frequently found in human cancers(1–3). It has been established that whole-genome duplications fuel chromosome instability through abnormal mitosis(4–8); however, the immediate consequences of tetraploidy in the first interphase are not known. This is a key question because single whole-genome duplication events such as cytokinesis failure can promote tumorigenesis(9). Here we find that human cells undergo high rates of DNA damage during DNA replication in the first S phase following induction of tetraploidy. Using DNA combing and single-cell sequencing, we show that DNA replication dynamics is perturbed, generating under- and over-replicated regions. Mechanistically, we find that these defects result from a shortage of proteins during the G1/S transition, which impairs the fidelity of DNA replication. This work shows that within a single interphase, unscheduled tetraploid cells can acquire highly abnormal karyotypes. These findings provide an explanation for the genetic instability landscape that favours tumorigenesis after tetraploidization

Strumenti e strategie per la tutela integrata della fascia costiera

The coastal strip, characterized by environmental, economic and social values, has been subjected to several transformations over time due to natural and human pressures. In order to deal with these pressures and transformations, several regulatory requirements have been established, entailing problems of overlapping and fragmentation between planning tools and rules that make their implementation difficult to achieve. This study analyzes and discusses the role and the complexity of planning and integrated management of coastal areas characterized by the overlap of different regulatory instruments in relation to the case study of the Sardinia Region. In particular, we propose a methodological approach to define an integrated planning and management model, where marine and terrestrial components are conceived as a single entity. The aim is to overcome the planning and management sectorialization through the definition of a unique instrument that takes into account actions and objectives derived from the present complex regulatory framework. The proposed methodology is conceived as an innovative and experimental activity to define the development of an inclusive and incremental planning process, exportable to other different contexts