Analisi spettroscopiche non invasive delle lapidi

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Nuove tecnologie virtuali per la valorizzazione della sua storia

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Coupling of electron and vibrational spectroscopy with false colour imaging for the investigation of natural dyes in historical fabrics (15th-18th centuries)

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CHARACTERIZATION OF SILK-COTTON AND WOOL-COTTON BLENDS PATTERN BOOKS BY FIBER OPTICS REFLECTANCE SPECTROSCOPY. THE BOOMING MARKET OF FIRST SYNTHETIC TEXTILE DYES IN EARLY 20th CENTURY

A remarkable number of early 20th century azo synthetic textile dyes was characterized by Fiber Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS). Items are part of silk-cotton and wool-cotton blends pattern books of Leopold Cassella & Co., a leading firm at that time. Focusing on early dyes from this privileged point of view, meant for us providing our own scientific contribution to restore luster to a historical period that represented the keystone from upmarket natural dyes to synthetic ones on a large scale. A selection of spectra on silk-cotton blend with the same dye concentration was compared color by color. In the case of wool-cotton blend textiles, two concentrations were available for each dye. Therefore, spectra comparisons between the same dyes used in silk-cotton and wool-cotton blends were carried out, as well as between the same dyes in different concentration in the case of wool-cotton textiles, simulating possible fading conditions. In addition, almost each analyzed dye was linked to its molecular structure. Finally, the obtained set of data has been statistically treated. The complete dataset was subjected to an exploratory analysis using PCA that exhibited an organization of the samples based on brightness and colors. The generation and validation of a PLS-DA model confirmed the recognizability of the samples based on color and pointed out the excellent conservation conditions implemented. The method provides a non-invasive, fast and low-cost approach for the recognition of azo dyes, based on the combined application of FORS, colorimetric parameters and chemometrics and lays the foundation for a reference database

In vitro placental model optimization for nanoparticle transport studies

Advances in biomedical nanotechnology raise hopes in patient populations but may also raise questions regarding biodistribution and biocompatibility, especially during pregnancy. Special consideration must be given to the placenta as a biological barrier because a pregnant woman's exposure to nanoparticles could have significant effects on the fetus developing in the womb. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to optimize an in vitro model for characterizing the transport of nanoparticles across human placental trophoblast cells. The growth of BeWo (clone b30) human placental choriocarcinoma cells for nanoparticle transport studies was characterized in terms of optimized Transwell® insert type and pore size, the investigation of barrier properties by transmission electron microscopy, tight junction staining, transepithelial electrical resistance, and fluorescein sodium transport. Following the determination of nontoxic concentrations of fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticles, the cellular uptake and transport of 50 nm and 100 nm diameter particles was measured using the in vitro BeWo cell model. Particle size measurements, fluorescence readings, and confocal microscopy indicated both cellular uptake of the fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticles and the transcellular transport of these particles from the apical (maternal) to the basolateral (fetal) compartment. Over the course of 24 hours, the apparent permeability across BeWo cells grown on polycarbonate membranes (3.0 µm pore size) was four times higher for the 50 nm particles compared with the 100 nm particles. The BeWo cell line has been optimized and shown to be a valid in vitro model for studying the transplacental transport of nanoparticles. Fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticle transport was size-dependent, as smaller particles reached the basal (fetal) compartment at a higher rate

Polyphenolic profile of Cichorium intybus L. endemic varieties from the Veneto region of Italy

The present study was aimed at the investigation, through HPLCDAD-ESI-MS/MS, of polyphenols in seven autochthonous C. intybus varieties, already known from literature to contain various substances with antioxidant properties, from the Veneto region of Italy, namely 'Castelfranco', 'Chioggia', 'Rosa di Gorizia', 'Rosa di Verona', 'Treviso Precoce', 'Treviso Tardivo' and 'Verdon da Cortèl'. Thirteen polyphenols, belonging to hydroxycinnamic acid, flavone, flavonol and anthocyanin classes, were detected in most samples. The developed analytical method was validated in agreement with ICH guidelines. The total amount of polyphenols ranged from 52 to 386 (mean: 254) mg/100g fresh weight (F.W.). The results were further confirmed by Principal Composition Analysis (PCA), which highlighted peculiar features and similarities among analysed samples for each variety (except for 'Chioggia' samples). The developed method is suitable for routine analyses, as well as geographical characterization, selection of different C. intybus varieties and for the determination of related polyphenols dietary recommended intakes

First Documented Uses of Caves along the Coast of Albania by Mediterranean Monk Seals (Monachus monachus, Hermann 1779): Ecological and Conservation Inferences

Information on the habitat use of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) along the coast of Albania (Adriatic and Ionian Sea) has so far been limited to vague and generalised data. A survey conducted in the National Marine Park Karaburun-Sazan in the summer of 2019 identified two marine caves with morphological characteristics best suited for use by such species. The two caves were subsequently equipped with infrared camera traps in 2020. The recovery of a scat in one of the caves during the 2019 survey and the photographic material obtained confirmed the use of the cave. This research provides the first documentation of marine cave habitat use by the Mediterranean monk seal in Albania. Quantitative and qualitative assessment of specimens frequenting the area could not be performed due to the limited data obtained on seal presence along the Albanian coasts. Nevertheless, the retrieved information is relevant for Albania and for the species conservation. The collected scat was analysed for trophic and anthropogenic contamination data. Three species (gilthead sea bream, European sea bass, and garfish), as well as four anthropogenic items (including a piece of nylon net), were identified. The inferences resulting from the analyses of the data presented in this study provided additional information on the ecology of the species and its conservation priorities, which need to be contextualized at the Adriatic–Ionian regional scale.publishedVersio

Tourism as a tool for natural hazard protection and territory development: Civita di Bagnoregio (Viterbo, Italy) as a case study

The village of Civita di Bagnoregio (Viterbo, Italy) represents a surreal landscape generated by accelerated soil erosion. The active landslides and erosive phenomena which are affecting Civita contributed to the progressive reduction of its surface and to its depopulation and currently require advanced engineering solutions to mitigate their impact. Furthermore they contributed to internationally increase the village fame, resulting in an increasing number of visitors over last years. The increasing touristic pressure on the village has been evaluated by taking into account also possible rising due to the recent candidature of Civita di Bagnoregio to the UNESCO’s World Heritage List (WHL). The high touristic pressure is triggering new critical issues highlighting the absence of a proper management plan: the data analysis highlighted the need to develop appropriate tourist numbers management strategies, considering also a partial re-investment of entrance fees for activities aimed to safeguard the village. The present research highlight that effects of tourist flows attracted by Civita di Bagnoregio could substantially contribute to both the safeguard of the village and the economical development of the territory. Properly distributed in the area by planning tourism decentralization policies based on an integrated valorisation of the territory it would be also possible to expand benefits deriving from the tourism sector to the entire Teverina area, transforming a stress factor into a development vector for the whole territory and the local population

Accurate Prediction of the Response of Freshwater Fish to a Mixture of Estrogenic Chemicals

Existing environmental risk assessment procedures are limited in their ability to evaluate the combined effects of chemical mixtures. We investigated the implications of this by analyzing the combined effects of a multicomponent mixture of five estrogenic chemicals using vitellogenin induction in male fathead minnows as an end point. The mixture consisted of estradiol, ethynylestradiol, nonylphenol, octylphenol, and bisphenol A. We determined concentration–response curves for each of the chemicals individually. The chemicals were then combined at equipotent concentrations and the mixture tested using fixed-ratio design. The effects of the mixture were compared with those predicted by the model of concentration addition using biomathematical methods, which revealed that there was no deviation between the observed and predicted effects of the mixture. These findings demonstrate that estrogenic chemicals have the capacity to act together in an additive manner and that their combined effects can be accurately predicted by concentration addition. We also explored the potential for mixture effects at low concentrations by exposing the fish to each chemical at one-fifth of its median effective concentration (EC(50)). Individually, the chemicals did not induce a significant response, although their combined effects were consistent with the predictions of concentration addition. This demonstrates the potential for estrogenic chemicals to act additively at environmentally relevant concentrations. These findings highlight the potential for existing environmental risk assessment procedures to underestimate the hazard posed by mixtures of chemicals that act via a similar mode of action, thereby leading to erroneous conclusions of absence of risk

Evidence of temperature-dependent effects on the estrogenic response of fish: implications with regard to climate change

The official published version can be obtained from the link below - Copyright @ 2008 Elsevier BV.Chemical risk assessment is fraught with difficulty due to the problem of accounting for the effects of mixtures. In addition to the uncertainty arising from chemical-to-chemical interactions, it is possible that environmental variables, such as temperature, influence the biological response to chemical challenge, acting as confounding factors in the analysis of mixture effects. Here, we investigate the effects of temperature on the response of fish to a defined mixture of estrogenic chemicals. It was anticipated that the response to the mixture may be exacerbated at higher temperatures, due to an increase in the rate of physiological processing. This is a pertinent issue in view of global climate change. Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were exposed to the mixture in parallel exposure studies, which were carried out at different temperatures (20 and 30 degrees C). The estrogenic response was characterised using an established assay, involving the analysis of the egg yolk protein, vitellogenin (VTG). Patterns of VTG gene expression were also analysed using real-time QPCR. The results revealed that there was no effect of temperature on the magnitude of the VTG response after 2 weeks of chemical exposure. However, the analysis of mixture effects at two additional time points (24 h and 7 days) revealed that the response was induced more rapidly at the higher temperature. This trend was apparent from the analysis of effects both at the molecular and biochemical level. Whilst this indicates that climatic effects on water temperature are not a significant issue with regard to the long-term risk assessment of estrogenic chemicals, the relevance of short-term effects is, as yet, unclear. Furthermore, analysis of the patterns of VTG gene expression versus protein induction gives an insight into the physiological mechanisms responsible for temperature-dependent effects on the reproductive phenology of species such as roach. Hence, the data contribute to our understanding of the implications of global climate change for wild fish populations.This work was funded by a grant from the Natural Environment Research Council NE/D00389X/1). Additional support was provided by a small research grant from the Fisheries Society of the British Isles