The Paradox of Italian Associational Sector: Low Participation, High Innovation

Come già ricordato, l’Italia è sempre stata caratterizzata da un livello di partecipazione associativa molto basso, soprattutto se paragonato ad altri Paesi europei. Il dato ha impressionato gli osservatori fin dalle prime ricerche (ricordiamo fra le altre quella di Gabriel Almond e Sidney Verba (1963)sulla cultura civica). In un contesto in cui l’integrazione politica era ampiamente basata su culture di partito - la cosiddetta Prima Repubblica - la maggior parte delle reti associative era collaterale ai partiti politici di massa (Biorcio, 2007: 189). Proprio per queste ragioni, per mettere a fuoco i tratti dell’associazionismo contemporaneo, dobbiamo adottare una prospettiva di medio periodo, e analizzare i cambiamenti successivi a ‘Tangentopoli’ e al crollo dei partiti di massa (...)

SU2: The Open-Source Software for Non-ideal Compressible Flows

The capabilities of the open-source SU2 software suite for the numerical simulation of viscous flows over unstructured grid are extended to non-ideal compressible-fluid dynamics (NICFD). A built-in thermodynamic library is incorporated to account for the non-ideal thermodynamic characteristics of fluid flows evolving in the close proximity of the liquid-vapour saturation curve and critical point. The numerical methods, namely the Approximate Riemann Solvers (ARS), viscous fluxes and boundary conditions are generalised to non-ideal fluid properties. Quantities of interest for turbomachinery cascades, as loss coefficients and flow angles, can be automatically determined and used for design optimization. A variety of test cases are carried out to assess the performance of the solver. At first, numerical methods are verified against analytical solution of reference NICFD test cases, including steady shock reflection and unsteady shock tube. Then, non-ideal gas effects in planar nozzles and past turbine cascades, typically encountered in Organic Rankine Cycle applications, are investigated and debated. The obtained results demonstrate that SU2 is highly suited for the analysis and the automatic design of internal flow devices operating in the non-ideal compressible-fluid regime

The mitochondrial genome of the springtail Bourletiella arvalis (Symphypleona, Collembola)

The complete mitochondrial genome of the springtail Bourletiella arvalis (Fitch, 1863) is herein described and applied to a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, inclusive of all the Collembola mitochon- drial DNAs sequenced so far. The gene content and order, as well as the nucleotide composition, con- form with the well-known features of hexapods’ mitochondrial genomes. The phylogenetic analysis supports the monophyly of Collembola, Poduromorpha, Entomobryomorpha and Symphypleona. However, no mtDNA from Neelipleona is available to date, therefore limiting the application of mito- chondrial genomes to further investigate springtail systematics

The mitogenome of the jumping bristletail Trigoniophthalmus alternatus (Insecta, Microcoryphia) and the phylogeny of insect early-divergent lineages

The complete mitochondrial genome of the machilid Trigoniophthalmus alternatus (Silvestri 1904) is herein described and applied to phylogenetic analyses, inclusive of the most early-divergent lineages of hexapods. Both gene content and order generally conform with the organization of the arthropods’ mitochondrial genome. One gene translocation involving trnA is the autapomorphic character observed in this species. Another peculiar molecular feature is the long size of the A + T-rich region, due to the occurrence of repeat units. The phylogenetic analyses support the typical placement, along the hexapods’ tree, of Ectognatha, Monocondylia and Dicondylia, with Diplura as the adelphotaxon of all true insects

The Norwegian Water Column Monitoring programme 2021: Assessing the impacts of Ekofisk and Eldfisk offshore oil and gas installations on the marine environment

Prosjektleder: Steven BrooksThe Norwegian offshore Water Column Monitoring (WCM) programme investigated the potential effects of Ekofisk and Eldfisk oil and gas installations on the marine environment. Produced water (PW) impacts were assessed in the water column by deploying monitoring stations containing mussels, passive samplers (PSDs), scallops and scientific equipment downstream of the Ekofisk and Eldfisk installations for 6 weeks at 2 depths between March and May 2021 and compared to two reference stations and a day zero group. Chemical and biological effects were measured and a clear relationship between PAH concentration in mussels and proximity to the Ekofisk installation was shown in the 20 m mussels reaching background concentrations in mussels 4000 m downstream. Only low concentrations were found in the Eldfisk mussels and 40 m mussels and scallops showing low exposure to the PW plume. Biological responses in mussels represented a weak response to low PW exposure. In addition, demersal fish were collected from within the Ekofisk safety zone and three regions of the North Sea (Ekofisk region, Egersundbank, Vikingbank). Integrated chemical and biological effects were measured, a relationship between PAH exposure (liver /metabolites) in dab and CYP1A activity (EROD and CYP1A protein), with higher levels in dab populations living in areas of oil and gas activity. Genotoxicity was also observed in cod and dab from the Ekofisk.Offshore Norway, represented by ConocoPhillipspublishedVersio

The Norwegian Water Column Monitoring programme 2021: Assessing the impacts of Ekofisk and Eldfisk offshore oil and gas installations on the marine environment

The Norwegian offshore Water Column Monitoring (WCM) programme investigated the potential effects of Ekofisk and Eldfisk oil and gas installations on the marine environment. Produced water (PW) impacts were assessed in the water column by deploying monitoring stations containing mussels, passive samplers (PSDs), scallops and scientific equipment downstream of the Ekofisk and Eldfisk installations for 6 weeks at 2 depths between March and May 2021 and compared to two reference stations and a day zero group. Chemical and biological effects were measured and a clear relationship between PAH concentration in mussels and proximity to the Ekofisk installation was shown in the 20 m mussels reaching background concentrations in mussels 4000 m downstream. Only low concentrations were found in the Eldfisk mussels and 40 m mussels and scallops showing low exposure to the PW plume. Biological responses in mussels represented a weak response to low PW exposure. In addition, demersal fish were collected from within the Ekofisk safety zone and three regions of the North Sea (Ekofisk region, Egersundbank, Vikingbank). Integrated chemical and biological effects were measured, a relationship between PAH exposure (liver /metabolites) in dab and CYP1A activity (EROD and CYP1A protein), with higher levels in dab populations living in areas of oil and gas activity. Genotoxicity was also observed in cod and dab from the Ekofisk.publishedVersio

The Norwegian Water Column Monitoring programme 2021: Assessing the impacts of Ekofisk and Eldfisk offshore oil and gas installations on the marine environment

The Norwegian offshore Water Column Monitoring (WCM) programme investigated the potential effects of Ekofisk and Eldfisk oil and gas installations on the marine environment. Produced water (PW) impacts were assessed in the water column by deploying monitoring stations containing mussels, passive samplers (PSDs), scallops and scientific equipment downstream of the Ekofisk and Eldfisk installations for 6 weeks at 2 depths between March and May 2021 and compared to two reference stations and a day zero group. Chemical and biological effects were measured and a clear relationship between PAH concentration in mussels and proximity to the Ekofisk installation was shown in the 20 m mussels reaching background concentrations in mussels 4000 m downstream. Only low concentrations were found in the Eldfisk mussels and 40 m mussels and scallops showing low exposure to the PW plume. Biological responses in mussels represented a weak response to low PW exposure. In addition, demersal fish were collected from within the Ekofisk safety zone and three regions of the North Sea (Ekofisk region, Egersundbank, Vikingbank). Integrated chemical and biological effects were measured, a relationship between PAH exposure (liver /metabolites) in dab and CYP1A activity (EROD and CYP1A protein), with higher levels in dab populations living in areas of oil and gas activity. Genotoxicity was also observed in cod and dab from the Ekofisk.publishedVersio

Effect of Volatile Organic Compounds Adsorption on 3D-Printed {PEGDA}:{PEDOT} for Long-Term Monitoring Devices

We report on the preparation and stereolithographic 3D printing of a resin based on the composite between a poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) host matrix and a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) filler, and the related cumulative volatile organic compounds' (VOCs) adsorbent properties. The control of all the steps for resin preparation and printing through morphological (SEM), structural (Raman spectroscopy) and functional (I/V measurements) characterizations allowed us to obtain conductive 3D objects of complex and reproducible geometry. These systems can interact with chemical vapors in the long term by providing a consistent and detectable variation of their structural and conductive characteristics. The materials and the manufacture protocol here reported thus propose an innovative and versatile technology for VOCs monitoring systems based on cumulative adsorption effects

Adalimumab-Based Treatment Versus Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs for Venous Thrombosis in Behçet's Syndrome: A Retrospective Study of Seventy Patients With Vascular Involvement

Objective: Since Behçet's syndrome (BS) is the prototype of inflammation-induced thrombosis, immunosuppressants are recommended in place of anticoagulants. We undertook this study to assess the clinical efficacy and the corticosteroid-sparing effect of adalimumab (ADA)–based treatment versus disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy in a large retrospective cohort of patients with BS-related venous thrombosis. Methods: We retrospectively collected data on 70 BS patients treated with DMARDs or ADA-based regimens (ADA with or without DMARDs) because of venous complications. Clinical and imaging evaluations were performed to define vascular response. We explored differences in outcomes between ADA-based regimens and DMARDs with respect to efficacy, corticosteroid-sparing role, and time on treatment. We also evaluated the role of anticoagulants as concomitant treatment. Results: After a mean ± SD follow-up period of 25.7 ± 23.2 months, ADA-based regimens induced clinical and imaging improvement of venous thrombosis more frequently (P = 0.001) and rapidly (P < 0.0001) than did DMARDs. The mean dose of corticosteroids administered at the last follow-up visit was significantly lower with ADA-based regimens than with DMARDs (P < 0.0001). The time on treatment was significantly longer with ADA plus DMARDs than with DMARDs alone (P = 0.002). No differences were found in terms of efficacy and time on treatment between DMARDs or ADA-based regimens among patients who received anticoagulants and those who did not. Conclusion: In this large retrospective study, we have shown that ADA-based regimens are more effective and rapid than DMARDs in inducing resolution of venous thrombosis in BS patients, allowing reduction of steroid exposure. Moreover, our findings suggest that anticoagulation does not modify the efficacy of either ADA-based regimens or DMARDs for venous complications

Chronic graft-versus-host-disease-related polymyositis: a 17-months-old child with a rare and late complication of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Background: Chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) occurs in 20-30% of paediatric patients receiving haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Neuromuscular disorders such as polymyositis are considered a rare and distinctive but non-diagnostic manifestation of cGVHD and, in the absence of other characteristic signs and symptoms, biopsy is highly recommended to exclude other causes. Case report: We report a case of a 17-months-old child affected by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis who underwent a matched unrelated donor haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). She developed severe cGVHD-related polymyositis that was successfully treated with high-dose steroid therapy, rituximab and sirolimus. Conclusions: This is the first case of cGVHD-related-polymyositis described in a pediatric patient which was successfully treated with rituximab