Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. and Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. Mucilage-Based Painting Binders for Conservation of Cultural Heritage

The possibility of using materials from the waste of agricultural products for the conserva- tion of cultural and artistic heritage has led to important technological developments on mortars, plasters, colors, and other applications. In this experimental work, we investigated the binding properties of mucilage obtained from two different species of the genus Opuntia, both collected in Sicily, Italy: Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. and Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. Through chemical acid hydrolysis, and subsequent spectroscopic analysis conducted at 13C-NMR, the main monosaccharide composition of both mucilage was studied, identifying considerable compositional differences. In fact, the mucilage of O. ficus indica had similar total amounts of arabinose (23.65%), galactose (20.87%), and glucose isomers (23.89%), while that of O. stricta was characterized by significant amounts of arabinose (36.48%) and galactose (32.31%) units. The samples were obtained by dispersing pigments on the mucilage and applying the obtained tempera by a brush onto both paper and chalk supports, in order to observe if the colors changed with different substrates. Colorimetric analysis, measuring ∆E, showed how the same pigment modifies its aspect depending on the binder used. After a two-week UV ageing process, pigments that had dispersed in O. stricta changed their aspect more than those dispersed in O. ficus-indica. Overall, it is also evident how ∆E data for organic pigments are higher than those for inorganic ones

Augmented Visual Models of Scientific Zoological Collections. A User Experience at the MUSA University Museum

The present work wants to configure itself as a paradigmatic contribution proposing a methodological approach for an augmentedfruition of museums and their exhibits. Currently heritage, museums and the way of experiencing them are undergoing a paradigmshift, due to all the digitalization era, where it has to overcome this transition and take advantage of it, capitalizing on what thesenew technologies have to offer.An augmented fruition experience of a study case is proposed, where the augmented component is configured by combining state-of-the-art techniques with traditional ones. Where rapid prototyping, different survey techniques and augmented reality in fusionwith the standard ways of showcasing objects are used, in the museum center of agricultural sciences (MUSA) of the University ofNaples Federico II in Portici. The augmented fruition for all heritage of the museum is the outcome of a three-way relation madebetween the new technologies and the two key concepts: preservation and divulgation.Where the technologies offer ways to developstrategies, more efficiently, for divulgation and preservation; and the second two facilitate a field of application for pushing the limitof these technologies further and further

Un approccio GIS-BIM per il governo delle trasformazioni urbane. Il caso del comune di Aversa

Lo studio ha l’obiettivo di definire e sperimentare un metodo semiautomatizzato basato sull’integrazione GIS-BIM che rappresenti uno strumento di supporto per le pubbliche amministrazioni nel processo di rilascio dei titoli abilitativi per interventi sul patrimonio edilizio. Se l’apporto innovativo dello studio è il tentativo di integrare ambienti di conoscenza; il limite è la necessità di una forte interazione tra la lungimiranza della ricerca scientifica e la lentezza dell’apparato burocratic

Liver metastases and SBRT: A new paradigm?

BackgroundThe outstanding innovations made by early diagnosis, novel surgical techniques, effective chemotherapy regimens and conformal radiotherapy, have significantly improved patients overall survival and quality of life. Multidisciplinary approach to cancer has also led to an increased prevalence of patients with few, organ-confined metastases, who can experience long-term survival even if their disease is no longer localized. Liver is one of the most common site for metastatic disease from several cancers, and when metastatic disease is confined to liver, given the ability of this organ to regenerate almost to its optimal volume, surgical resection represents the standard of care because is associated with a better prognosis. Approximately 70–90% of liver metastases, however, are unresectable and a safe, effective alternative therapeutic option is necessary for these patients.Materials and methodsA review of the current literature was performed to analyze the role of SBRT in treating liver metastases from different cancers. A literature search using the terms “SBRT” and “liver metastases” was carried out in PUBMED.ResultsStereotactic body radiation therapy has shown to provide promising results in the treatment of liver metastases, thanks to the ability of this procedure to deliver a conformal high dose of radiation to the target lesion and a minimal dose to surrounding critical tissues.ConclusionStereotactic body radiation therapy is a non-invasive, well-tolerated and effective treatment for patients with liver metastases not suitable for surgical resection

Identification of a BAZ2A Bromodomain Hit Compound by Fragment Joining

The bromodomains of BAZ2A and BAZ2B (bromodomain adjacent to zinc finger domain proteins 2) are among the most hard to drug of the 61 human bromodomains. While little is known about the role of BAZ2B, there is strong evidence for the opportunity of targeting BAZ2A in various cancers. Here, a benzimidazole–triazole fragment that binds to the BAZ2A acetyl lysine pocket was identified by a molecular docking campaign and validated by competitive binding assays and X-ray crystallography. Another ligand was observed in close proximity by soaking experiments using the BAZ2A bromodomain preincubated with the benzimidazole–triazole fragment. The crystal structure of BAZ2A with the two ligands was employed to design a few benzimidazole–triazole derivatives with increased affinity. We also present the engineering of a BAZ2A bromodomain mutant for consistent, high-resolution crystallographic studies

An introduction to the early Holocene eolian deposits of Grotta Romanelli, Apulia, Southern Italy

Due to its geographic position and geomorphological configuration, Grotta Romanelli acted as a sediment trap since at least MIS 5. The so-called ‘terre brune’ sequence is a deposit mainly of eolian origin bearing upper Palaeolithic artefacts and fossil remains of vertebrate fauna; it was deposited during the Glacial-Interglacial transition and the Holocene. Sedimentology and mineralogy of this deposit are investigated. The stratigraphic sequence provides a promising archive within which both human and climatic impacts can be studied

Effects of sex hormones on bronchial reactivity during the menstrual cycle

Background: Many asthmatic women complain of symptom exacerbations in particular periods, i.e. during pregnancy and menstrual cycles (perimenstrual asthma: PMA)". The goal of this study was to study the effect of the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle on bronchial reactivity (BR) in a group of asthmatic women. Methods: For this purpose, 36 pre-menopausal women were enrolled and underwent testing for resting pulmonary function, measurement of the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and airway responsiveness to methacholine in the follicular and luteal phases of their menstrual cycles. We also measured plasma hormone levels and levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP; a mediator of bronchial smooth muscle contraction) and testosterone in induced sputum samples. Results: Our study showed that about 30% of the asthmatic women had decreased PC20FEV1.0 in the follicular phase of menstrual cycle with a significant correlation between PC20FEV1.0 and serum testosterone levels. Moreover, marked increases in sputum testosterone levels (mean = 2.6-fold increase) together with significant increases in sputum cAMP concentrations (mean = 3.6-fold increases) were observed during the luteal phase of asthmatic patients, suggesting that testosterone contributes to the pathophysiology of PMA. We excluded the possibility that testosterone directly inhibits phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity as incubating PDE with testosterone in vitro did not reduce PDE catalytic activity. Conclusions: In conclusion, our data show that PC20FEV1.0 was decreased in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle in about 30% of women and was associated with lower cAMP levels in sputum samples, which may contribute to bronchoconstriction. Our results also suggest a link between PMA and testosterone levels. However, whether these findings are of clinical significance in terms of the management of asthma or asthma worsening during the menstrual cycle needs further investigation

Laryngopharyngeal reflux diagnosis in obstructive sleep apnea patients using the pepsin salivary test

Background: To investigate the presence of laryngopharyngeal reflux in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) employing the salivary pepsin concentration method. To compare the results of pepsin concentration with the severity of the pathology. Methods: Seventy-five OSA patients (44 males, 31 females) were enrolled in the study. For each patient, the AHI (apnea–hypopnea index) and the BMI (body mass index) were initially evaluated. All the patients enrolled were assessed using the reflux symptom index (RSI) and the reflux finding score (RFS) in order to perform a clinical diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux. In all patients a salivary sample was taken to estimate the presence of pepsin and its concentration. Results: The incidence of LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux) in OSA patients, evaluated using the salivary pepsin concentration test (PEP-test), was found to be 32% of cases. Linear regression testing did not show any correlation between AHI and pepsin concentration in salivary samples (p = 0.1). Conclusion: A high number of patients with OSA seem to show positivity for salivary pepsin, correlated to an LPR. There does not appear to be a correlation between the severity of apnea and the grade of salivary pepsin reflux. On the other hand, direct correlation between BMI and the value of pepsin in salivary specimens was observed

Genetic diversity and signature of divergence in the genome of grapevine clones of Southern Italy varieties

Sexual reproduction has contributed to a significant degree of variability in cultivated grapevine populations. However, the additional influence of spontaneous somatic mutations has played a pivotal role in shaping the diverse landscape of grapevine agrobiodiversity. These naturally occurring selections, termed 'clones,' represent a vast reservoir of potentially valuable traits and alleles that hold promise for enhancing grape quality and bolstering plant resilience against environmental and biotic challenges. Despite their potential, many of these clones remain largely untapped.In light of this context, this study aims to delve into the population structure, genetic diversity, and distinctive genetic loci within a collection of 138 clones derived from six Campanian and Apulian grapevine varieties, known for their desirable attributes in viticulture and winemaking. Employing two reduced representation sequencing methods, we extracted Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers. Population structure analysis and fixation index (FST) calculations were conducted both between populations and at individual loci. Notably, varieties originating from the same geographical region exhibited pronounced genetic similarity.The resulting SNP dataset facilitated the identification of approximately two hundred loci featuring divergent markers (FST ≥ 0.80) within annotated exons. Several of these loci exhibited associations with essential traits like phenotypic adaptability and environmental responsiveness, offering compelling opportunities for grapevine breeding initiatives. By shedding light on the genetic variability inherent in these treasured traditional grapevines, our study contributes to the broader understanding of their potential. Importantly, it underscores the urgency of preserving and characterizing these valuable genetic resources to safeguard their intra-varietal diversity and foster future advancements in grapevine cultivation