Gpr investigation at the archaeological site of le cesine, lecce, italy

In this contribution, we present some results achieved in the archaeological site of Le Cesine, close to Lecce, in southern Italy. The investigations have been performed in a site close to the Adriatic Sea, only slightly explored up to now, and where the presence of an ancient Roman harbour is alleged on the basis of remains visible above all under the current sea level. This measurement campaign has been performed in the framework of a short-term scientific mission (STSM) performed in the framework of the European Cost Action 17131 (acronym SAGA), and has been aimed to identify possible points where future localized excavation might and hopefully will be performed in the next few years. Both a traditional elaboration and an innovative data processing based on a linear inverse scattering model have been performed on the data

Psychobiotics Regulate the Anxiety Symptoms in Carriers of Allele A of IL-1β Gene: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background. Probiotic oral intake, via modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, can impact brain activity, mood, and behavior; therefore, it may be beneficial against psychological distress and anxiety disorders. Inflammatory cytokines can influence the onset and progression of several neurodegenerative mood disorders, and the IL-1β rs16944 SNP is related to high cytokine levels and potentially affects mood disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the combined effect of IL-1β polymorphism and probiotic administration in mood disorder phenotypes in the Italian population. Methods. 150 subjects were randomized into two different groups, probiotic oral suspension group (POSG) and placebo control group (PCG), and received the relative treatment for 12 weeks. Psychological profile assessment by Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Body Uneasiness Test (BUT), and Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL90R) was administered to all volunteers. Genotyping was performed on DNA extracted from salivary samples. Results. After 12 weeks of intervention, a significant reduction of HAM-A total score was detected in the POSG (p < 0.01), compared to the PCG. Furthermore, IL-1β carriers have moderate risk to develop anxiety (OR = 5.90), and in POSG IL-1β carriers, we observed a reduction of HAM-A score (p = 0.02). Conclusions. Consumption of probiotics mitigates anxiety symptoms, especially in healthy adults with the minor A allele of rs16944 as a risk factor. Our results encourage the use of probiotics in anxiety disorders and suggest genetic association studies for psychobiotic-personalized therapy

Antioxidant Effects of a Hydroxytyrosol-Based Pharmaceutical Formulation on Body Composition, Metabolic State, and Gene Expression: A Randomized Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial

Hydroxytyrosol (HT) plays a significant role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) protection, and its metabolites are able to protect from the endothelial dysfunction commonly present in atherosclerosis. This randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial determined the effect in healthy volunteers of two gastroresistant capsules containing 15 mg/day of HT, for a 3-week period (HTT). Evaluation of nutritional status, serum metabolites, oxidative stress biomarkers, and gene expression of 9 genes related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and CVDs was performed. Oxidation biomarkers like thiol group (p = 0.001), total antioxidant status (TAS) (p = 0.001), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) (2−ΔΔCt = 3.7), and plasma concentration of HT (2.83 μg·mL−1) were significantly increased,while nitrite (p = 0.001), nitrate (p = 0.001), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p = 0.02), were drastically reduced after HTT. A significant reduction of body fat mass percentage (p = 0.01), suprailiac skinfold (p = 0.01), and weight (p = 0.04; Δ% = −0.46%) was observed after HTT. This study shows that regular intake of 15 mg/day of HT changed body composition parameters and modulated the antioxidant profile and the expression of inflammation and oxidative stress-related genes. However, it is advisable to personalize HT doses in order to exert its health benefits in CVD prevention and protection of LDL-C particles from oxidative damage. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01890070

WebGIS implementation for dynamic mapping and visualization of coastal geospatial data: A case study of BESS project

Within an E.U.-funded project, BESS (Pocket Beach Management and Remote Surveillance System), the notion of a geographic information system is an indispensable tool for managing the dynamics of georeferenced data and information for any form of territorial planning. This notion was further explored with the creation of a WebGIS portal that will allow local and regional stake-holders/authorities obtain an easy remote access tool to monitor the status of pocket beaches (PB) in the Maltese Archipelago and Sicily. In this paper, we provide a methodological approach for the implementation of a WebGIS necessary for very detailed dynamic mapping and visualization of geospatial coastal data; the description of the dataset necessary for the monitoring of coastal areas, especially the PBs; and a demonstration of a case study for the PBs of Sicily and Malta by using the methodology and the dataset used during the BESS project. Detailed steps involved in the creation of the WebGIS are presented. These include data preparation, data storage, and data publication and transformation into geo-services. With the help of different Open Geospatial Consortium pro-tocols, the WebGIS displays different layers of information for 134 PBs including orthophotos, sed-imentological/geomorphological beach characteristics, shoreline evolution, geometric and morphological parameters, shallow water bathymetry, and photographs of pocket beaches. The WebGIS allows not only for identifying, evaluating, and directing potential solutions to present and arising issues, but also enables public access and involvement. It reflects a platform for future local and regional coastal zone monitoring and management, by promoting public/private involvement in addressing coastal issues and providing local public administrations with an improved technology to monitor coastal changes and help better plan suitable interventions

Indole and 2,4-Thiazolidinedione conjugates as potential anticancer modulators

Background. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), also called glitazones, are five-membered carbon ring molecules commonly used for the management of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Recently, many prospective studies have also documented the impact of these compounds as anti-proliferative agents, though several negative side effects such as hepatotoxicity, water retention and cardiac issues have been reported. In this work, we synthesized twenty-six new TZD analogues where the thiazolidinone moiety is directly connected to an N-heterocyclic ring in order to lower their toxic effects. Methods. By adopting a widely applicable synthetic method, twenty-sixTZDderivatives were synthesized and tested for their antiproliferative activity in MTT and Wound healing assays with PC3 (prostate cancer) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cells. Results. Three compounds, out of twenty-six, significantly decreased cellular viability and migration, and these effects were even more pronounced when compared with rosiglitazone, a well-known member of the TZD class of antidiabetic agents. As revealed by Western blot analysis, part of this antiproliferative effect was supported by apoptosis studies evaluating BCL-xL and C-PARP protein expression. Conclusion. Our data highlight the promising potential of these TZD derivatives as anti-proliferative agents for the treatment of prostate and breast cancer

Differentiation of the characteristics of excreted extracellular polysaccharides reveals the heterogeneous primary succession of induced biological soil crusts

In this study, the chemical composition and the macromolecular features of the extracellular polysaccharidic (EPS) matrix of induced biological soil crusts (IBSCs) of dif- ferent age, collected in the hyper-arid plateau of Hobq desert, Inner Mongolia, China, were investigated. Any statistically significant correlation between the amount of extracellular carbohydrates (i.e., monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides) and the age of IBSCs was found. On the other hand, the relative abundance of uronic acid in the EPSs increased with the maturation of the crusts. In the EPSs of the investigated samples, glucose, mannose, galactose, and uronic acids were the sugars showing the widest variations in their relative abundance, explaining much of the variance of the data. Results also showed higher relative contents of EPSs with high MWin the oldest IBSCs. It is possible to conclude that the characteristics of the EPS of the matrix of the inves- tigated IBSCs cannot only be put in relationwith the age of the crusts and the activity of phototrophic microorganisms, but most properly, it has to be taken into account the biotic inter- actions ongoing between EPS producers and consumer

Exopolysaccharides synthesized by cyanobacteria residing in Induced Biological Sol Crusts increase stability and carbon organic content of desert sandy soils

The introduction of Biological Soil Crusts (BSCs) in degraded soils through inoculation-based techniques (IBTs) is considered a valid pathway to counteract soil-loss and to expand cultivable areas. BSCs introduce high amount of C in the soil as extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs), mostly produced by the crustal phototrophic fraction. IBTs using ex-situ cultured cyanobacterial biomass were reported to induce crust formation and represent an exploitable system to increase soil fertility. Such a technology was applied in Hobq desert, China, where different sites constituted initially by bare sandy soil were inoculated with a mixed culture of EPS-producing cyanobacteria. We investigated the effects of IBT in terms of soil C gain and phototrophic abundance. EPSs, extracted from the crusts, were analyzed for their monosaccharidic composition and molecular weight (MW) in order to investigate possible differences related with crustal development stage. Results showed that BSC induction led to a significant increase in soil total carbohydrate content and phototrophic abundance compared to control areas. EPSs showed to be constituted by moieties with different MWs and a notable complexity in terms of monosaccharidic composition, suggesting the major share of cyanobacteria in their synthesis. The outcomes of this study underline the potential of the IBT method in restoring Soil Organic Carbon content, and represent a first step in field studies regarding EPS dynamics in BSCs

Microbial secreted exopolysaccharides affect the hydrological behavior of induced biological soil crusts in desert sandy soils

The effect of the presence of microbial secreted exopolysaccharides (EPSs) on the hydraulic conductivity, water capture and moisture retaining capabilities of Induced Biological Soil Crusts (IBSCs) was investigated. In the experimental sites under study, located in Hobq Desert (China), the formation of these IBSCs was induced three to eight years before the tests by a massive inoculation in sandy soils of mixed cultures of Microcoleus vaginatus and Scytonema javanicum. In all the sites under study, the IBSCs showed to be well consolidated and differently developed in relation with their age. All the crust samples showed a significant content of EPSs, which contributed to the structure of the crusts. The hydraulic conductivity (HC) was significantly lower in the IBSCs than in the underlying bare soil and a statistically significant negative correlation between HC and the amount of high molecular weight (&gt;100&nbsp;kDa; HMW) and of low molecular weight (&lt;100&nbsp;kDa; LMW) carbohydrates in IBSCs was found. The capability of the crusts to retain moisture, coupled with the preservation of their structural integrity, was found to be positively correlated with the amount of total and of HMW carbohydrates in IBSCs. The uptake of atmospheric humidity showed a positive correlation with the amount of LMW carbohydrates in destructured IBSCs. In conclusion, this study showed the crucial role played by the EPSs of IBSCs in trapping and retaining humidity in sandy soils, thus increasing the water availability in the first layers of sandy soils and reducing water infiltration, protecting the soil from erosion