CHARACTERIZATION OF SERPOTTAS’ STUCCOS BY MEANS OF SIMULTANEOUS THERMAL ANALYSIS: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

In this paper the Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA), i.e. thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, was used as a diagnostic tool to better understand the matter composition of some very valuable artworks the Serpottas’ stuccoes in Palermo. Particularly the STA was used in order to exclude the presence of an unusual calcium-bearing magnesium carbonate, and the thermal data were also used to quantify the magnesite to calcite ratio. The latter was investigated in order to evaluate the amount of magnesium in the lime used as binder as during 17th and 18th century in Sicily magnesium rich lime was indicated as the most valuable binder probably because this kind of lime has a higher plasticity. The data obtained in this work are not conclusive but indicate a way to contribute to the comprehension of this unique work of art composition

A spatially distributed, physically-based modeling approach for estimating agricultural nitrate leaching to groundwater

Nitrogen-nitrate, while being fundamental for crop production, is of particular concern in the agricultural sector, as it can easily leach to the water table, worsening groundwater quality. Numerical models and Geographic Information System may support the estimation of nitrate leaching rates in space and time, to support sustainable agricultural management practices. In this paper, we present a module for the simulation of the processes involved in the nitrogen cycle in the unsaturated zone, including nitrate leaching. This module was developed taking steps from the ANIMO and EPIC model frameworks and coupled to the hydrological models integrated within the FREEWAT platform. As such, the nitrogen cycle module was then included in the FREEWAT platform. The developed module and the coupling approach were tested using a simple synthetic application, where we simulated nitrate leaching through the unsaturated zone for a sunflower crop irrigated district during a dry year. The results of the simulation allow the estimation of daily nitrate concentration values at the water table. These spatially distributed values may then be further used as input concentration in models for simulating solute transport in aquifers

Field inoculation of bread wheat with Rhizophagus irregularis under organic farming: variability in growth response and nutritional uptake of eleven old genotypes and a modern variety.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) promote crop growth and yield by increasing N and P uptake and disease resistance, but the role of field AMF inoculation on the uptake of micronutrients, such as Fe and Zn, and accumulation in plant edible portions is still not clarified. Therefore, we studied the eect of field inoculation with Rhizophagus irregularis in an organic system on 11 old genotypes and a modern variety of bread wheat. Inoculation increased root colonization, root biomass and shoot Zn concentration at early stage and grain Fe concentration at harvest, while it did not modify yield. Genotypes widely varied for shoot Zn concentration at early stage, and for plant height, grain yield, Zn and protein concentration at harvest. Inoculation dierentially modified root AMF community of the genotypes Autonomia B, Frassineto and Bologna. A higher abundance of Rhizophagus sp., putatively corresponding to the inoculated isolate, was only proved in Frassineto. The increase of plant growth and grain Zn content in Frassineto is likely linked to the higher R. irregularis abundance. The AMF role in increasing micronutrient uptake in grain was proved. This supports the introduction of inoculation in cereal farming, if the variable response of wheat genotypes to inoculation is considered

Locating the alien chromatin segment in common wheat-Aegilops longissima mildew resistant transfers

By use of the Chinese Spring ph 1b mutant, recombination was induced between the 3S1 short arm telosome of Ae. longissima and its group-3 wheat homoeologues. Transfer was thus obtained of chromosomal segments bearing the alien Pm 13 mildew resistance gene into several common wheat lines. To identify the wheat chromosome involved in each transfer, these were subjected to monosomic and C-banding analyses. Probably due to preferential 3B-3S1 pairing, irrespective of the group-3 wheat chromosome present as monosome in the critical steps of the transfer work, in 2/3 of the cases 3B turned out to be the recipient chromosome, whereas 3D was the one involved in the remaining ones. Assessment of the residual pairing ability of the recombinant chromosomes in F1's between four 3B and three 3D transfer lines and their corresponding wheat ditelosomic as well as 3S1 substitution lines, indicated about coincident values (about 40 % pairing with DT3BS) in three of the 3B recombinants, a significantly different pattern in the fourth one (10 %) and a more continuous variation among the 3D ones. An overall prevailing terminal location of the wheat-alien chromatin exchange points is tentatively hypothesized

Occurrence and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonising off‐season and in‐season weeds and their relationship with maize yield under conservation agriculture

Weeds are responsible for major crop losses worldwide but can provide beneficial agroecosystem services. This study aimed to elucidate how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in weeds respond to host identity and conservation agricultural practices. The study was carried out at two locations in Southern Africa during off-season and in-season maize cultivation. Off-season AMF root colonisation, diversity indices and community composition significantly differed among weed species at both locations. Glomus sp. VTX00280 explains most of the AMF community differences. In-season, implementation of conventional tillage with mulching alone (CT + M) or together with crop rotation (CT + M + R) resulted in a 20% increase in AMF colonisation of the constantly occurring weed species, Bidens pilosa (BIDPI) and Richardia scabra (RCHSC), com- pared with conventional tillage plus rotations (CT + R). The diversity of AMF was highest under no-tillage plus mulching (NT + M). Off-season and in-season AMF structures of both BIDPI and RCHSC were not related, but 39% of the taxa were shared. Structural equation modelling showed a significant effect of the cropping system on weed AMF diversity parameters and weed and maize root colonisation, but no significant influence of weed root AMF traits and maize colonisation was detected on maize yield. This may be explained by the improvement in weed competitive ability, which may have offset the AMF-mediated benefits on yield. Our findings highlight that implementing M and CR to CT and NT positively affected weed AMF colonisation and diversity. The similarity between the off-season and in-season AMF composition of weeds supports the fact that weeds functionally host AMF during the non-crop period

Unsaturated sand in the stability of the cuesta of the Temple of Hera (Agrigento)

In the Valle dei Templi in Agrigento seven Doric temples stand lengthwise the crest of a rigid calcarenite cuesta over a layer of carbonate sand which lies along a thick stratum of clays. The environment is highly prone to landslides since topplings of calcarenite blocks often occur. The rock slopes are moving back and the slope edge draw near to the foundation of the Temple of Hera Lacinia contributing to increase their perilous condition. To assess the role of unsaturated sands in the instability processes, after the compositional and textural analysis of the material, direct shear tests and oedometer tests have been carried out on sand samples initially at the natural state, with low or very low values of natural water content, and finally at full saturation. The mechanical behaviour of sands seems one of the main causes of the instability influenced by the presence of an open metastable structure, which develops through bonding mechanisms generated via suctions and/or through cementing material such as clay or salts

Maintained partial protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae despite B‐cell depletion in mice vaccinated with a pneumococcal glycoconjugate vaccine

Objectives: Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy rapidly depletes > 95% of CD20+ B cells from the circulation. B-cell depletion is an effective treatment for autoimmune disease and B-cell malignancies but also increases the risk of respiratory tract infections. This effect on adaptive immunity could be countered by vaccination. We have used mouse models to investigate the effects of B-cell depletion on pneumococcal vaccination, including protection against infection and timing of vaccination in relation to B-cell depletion. // Methods: C57BL/6 female mice were B-cell depleted using anti-CD20 antibody and immunized with two doses of Prevnar-13 vaccine either before or after anti-CD20 treatment. B-cell repertoire and Streptococcus pneumoniae–specific IgG levels were measured using whole-cell ELISA and flow cytometry antibody-binding assay. Protection induced by vaccination was assessed by challenging the mice using a S. pneumoniae pneumonia model. // Results: Antibody responses to S. pneumoniae were largely preserved in mice B-cell depleted after vaccination resulting in full protection against pneumococcal infections. In contrast, mice vaccinated with Prevnar-13 while B cells were depleted (with > 90% reduction in B-cell numbers) had decreased circulating anti–S. pneumoniae IgG and IgM levels (measured using ELISA and flow cytometry antibody binding assays). However, some antibody responses were maintained, and, although vaccine-induced protection against S. pneumoniae infection was impaired, septicaemia was still prevented in 50% of challenged mice. // Conclusions: This study showed that although vaccine efficacy during periods of profound B-cell depletion was impaired some protective efficacy was preserved, suggesting that vaccination remains beneficial

Robotic treatment of colorectal endometriosis: technique, feasibility and short-term results

background: Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is a complex disease that impairs the quality of life and the fertility of women. Since a medical approach is often insufficient, a minimally invasive approach is considered the gold standard for complete disease excision. Roboticassisted surgery is a revolutionary approach, with several advantages compared with traditional laparoscopic surgery. methods: From March 2010 to May 2011, we performed 22 consecutive robotic-assisted complete laparoscopic excisions of DIE endometriosis with colorectal involvement. All clinical data were collected by our team and all patients were interviewed preoperatively and 3 and 6 months post-operatively and yearly thereafter regarding endometriosis-related symptoms. Dysmenorrhoea, dyschezia, dyspareunia and dysuria were evaluated with a 10-point analog rating scale. results: There were 12 patients, with a median larger endometriotic nodule of 35 mm, who underwent segmental resection, and 10 patients, with a median larger endometriotic nodule of 30 mm, who underwent complete nodule debulking by colorectal wall-shaving technique. No laparotomic conversions were performed, nor was any blood transfusion necessary. No intra-operative complications were observed and, in particular, there were no inadvertent rectal perforations in any of the cases treated by the shaving technique. None of the patients had ileostomy or colostomy. No major post-operative complications were observed, except one small bowel occlusion 14 days post-surgery that was resolved in 3 days with medical treatment. Post-operatively, a statistically significant improvement of patient symptoms was shown for all the investigated parameters. conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the feasibility and short-term results and complications of laparoscopic robotic-assisted treatment of DIE with colorectal involvement.We demonstrate that this approach is feasible and safe, without conversion to laparotomy

Assessment of Salvage Surgery in Persistent Cervical Cancer after Definitive Radiochemotherapy: A Systematic Review

Background and Objectives: The standard treatment approach in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) is exclusive concurrent chemoradiation therapy (RTCT). The risk of local residual disease after six months from RTCT is about 20–30%. It is directly related to relapse risk and poor survival, such as in patients with recurrent cervical cancer. This systematic review aims to describe studies investigating salvage surgery’s role in persistent/recurrent disease in LACC patients who underwent definitive RTCT. Materials and Methods: Studies were eligible for inclusion when patients had LACC with radiologically suspected or histologically confirmed residual disease after definitive RTCT, diagnosed with post-treatment radiological workup or biopsy. Information on complications after salvage surgery and survival outcomes had to be reported. The methodological quality of the articles was independently assessed by two researchers with the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Following the recommendations in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, we systematically searched the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Medline, and Medscape databases in May 2022. We applied no language or geographical restrictions but considered only English studies. We included studies containing data about postoperative complications and survival outcomes. Results: Eleven studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and all were retrospective observational studies. A total of 601 patients were analyzed concerning the salvage surgery in LACC patients for persistent/recurrent disease after RTCT treatment. Overall, 369 (61.4%) and 232 (38.6%) patients underwent a salvage hysterectomy (extrafascial or radical) and pelvic exenteration (anterior, posterior, or total), respectively. Four hundred and thirty-nine (73%) patients had histologically confirmed the residual disease in the salvage surgical specimen, and 109 patients had positive margins (overall range 0–43% of the patients). The risk of severe (grade ≥ 3) postoperative complications after salvage surgery is 29.8% (range 5–57.5%). After a median follow-up of 38 months, the overall RR was about 32% with an overall death rate of 40% after hysterectomy or pelvic exenteration with or without lymphadenectomy. Conclusions: There is heterogeneity between the studies both in their design and results, therefore the effect of salvage surgery on survival and recurrence cannot be adequately estimated. Future homogeneous studies with an appropriately selected population are needed to analyze the safety and efficacy of salvage hysterectomy or pelvic exenteration in patients with residual tumors after definitive RTCT

An ex vivo porcine spleen perfusion as a model of bacterial sepsis

An ex vivo, porcine spleen perfusion model was established to study the early events occurring in the spleen prior to the onset of bacterial sepsis, using organs retrieved from animals slaughtered for food production. Porcine spleens were harvested from adult pigs and connected to a normothermic extracorporeal perfusion circuit. Constant perfusion of heparinized blood was performed for 6 hours. After injection of Streptococcus pneumoniae to the circuit, serial samples of both blood and spleen biopsies were collected and analyzed. Functionality of the perfused organs was assessed by monitoring the blood-gas parameters, flow rate and filtering capability of the organ. Interestingly, we observed full clearance of bacteria from the blood and an increase in bacterial counts in the spleen. Classical histology and immunohistochemistry on biopsies also confirmed no major damage in the organ architecture and no changes in the immune cell distribution other than the presence of clusters of pneumococci. A time-course study confirmed that each focus of infection derived from the replication of single pneumococcal cells within splenic macrophages. The model proposed – in line with the 3Rs principles – has utility in the replacement of experimental animals in infection research. Murine models are prevalently used to study pneumococcal infections but are often not predictive for humans due to substantial differences in the immune systems of the two species. This model is designed to overcome these limitations, since porcine immunology, and splenic architecture in particular, closely resemble those of humans