Introducing Life Cycle Assessment in costs and benefits analysis of vegetation management in drainage canals of lowland agricultural landscapes

Nitrogen overload could provoke several effects on water quality in freshwater and coastal environment, in terms of eutrophication and groundwater nitrate contamination. Those effects can have a severe impact on ecosystem function and human health. In order to reduce nitrogen excess, constructed wetlands are usually recognized as a solution, but in recent years interest has been raised on the role of ditches and canals network in efficient nitrogen abatement. In this study, we investigated the environmental and economical sustainability of natural nitrogen removal capacity of both canals vegetation and microbial communities in the Burana-Volano-Navigabile (BVN) basin, located in the Po valley, the largest Italian hydrographic system. Based on life cycle assessment (LCA) approach and cost-benefits analysis, the effectiveness of two different vegetation management scenarios, which differ for the mowing management, on N abatement in the canal network of the case-study area has been compared. The results highlighted that postponing the mowing of aquatic vegetation to the end of vegetative season would contribute to buffer about 90% of the N load conveyed by the canal network during the irrigation period and would reduce of an order of magnitude the potential costs due to environmental damages

Modelli di danno e plasticità per l'analisi di elementi strutturali in muratura

2008/2009L’obiettivo dello studio è stata la valutazione del comportamento di elementi strutturali in muratura sottoposti a sollecitazioni di taglio e compressione, sia attraverso prove sperimentali, che mediante analisi numerica: in particolare, nell’ambito della modellazione agli elementi finiti è stato valutato l’utilizzo di legami costitutivi di danno e plasticità per descrivere il comportamento non lineare della muratura. L’approccio utilizzato nelle analisi numeriche proposte è la macromodellazione, dove il materiale è rappresentato da un continuo omogeneo, le cui proprietà meccaniche globali sono dedotte dai risultati di prove su elementi rappresentativi della muratura. A partire dai risultati sperimentali su pannelli sollecitati a taglio e compressione ottenuti negli anni ’80 allo Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Ganz e Thürlimann) e da quelli su fascia di piano nel biennio 2007-2008 presso l’Università degli Studi di Trieste, è stata inizialmente verificata la possibilità di impiego di un modello di danno e plasticità isotropo (Lubliner et. al 1989, Lee & Fenves 1998) per determinare la risposta di elementi strutturali sottoposti a carico monotono e ciclico. Quindi sono state valutate le ragioni della differenza tra i risultati delle prove sperimentali e quelli delle analisi numeriche, evidenziando sia le difficoltà costruttive, sia quelle derivanti dalla descrizione matematica del comportamento del materiale. E’ stato inoltre proposto lo sviluppo di alcune parti del modello isotropo verso una formulazione ortotropa, sulla base di un legame costitutivo anisotropo (Voyiadjis et al. 2007), prestando particolare attenzione ai parametri non lineari di modello, nello specifico l’angolo di dilatanza.XXII Ciclo198

Influence of envelope design in the optimization of the energy performance of a multi-family building

In Europe, the recast of the Directive on the Energy Performance of Building and the consequent Zero Energy Buildings objective that has to be reached for all new buildings by 2020, lead designers to re-think building design as a complex optimization problem aimed at identifying the most effective strategies to improve building performance.These strategies can help reducing not only the climate change effect, but also the risk of energy poverty for low-income households. This work is intended to apply a simulation-based optimization methodology for optimizingthe energy performance of a multi-family building for social housing. The method combines the use of TRNSYS® withGenOpt®. A typical floor of a real case study was modeled and the impacts of the variation of several design parameters on the heating and cooling demand wereassessed.The optimization lead to reduce the primary energy demand of a floor by 36%. The resulted differences in performance and energy rating between flats were analyzed

Influence of envelope design in the optimization of the operational energy costs of a multi-family building

The international efforts for improving energy efficiency in buildings and reducing their environmental impact also constitute a challenge for working against the risk of energy poverty. The work aims to test a methodology for optimizing the operational costs of the different flats of a multi-family building for social housing. The method combines the use of TRNSYS building energy simulation program with GenOpt Generic Optimization program in a so-called simulation-based optimization method. A typical floor of a real case study building was modeled and the energy costs for heating and cooling due to the variation of design variables related to the building envelope was studied. The optimization led to reduce the total operational costs of the flats by the range 17%-23%. The different share of heating, cooling, ventilation and DHW in the total operational costs was studied and resulted differences in energy rating and costs between flats were analyzed

A neurocomputational analysis of visual bias on bimanual tactile spatial perception during a crossmodal exposure

Vision and touch both support spatial information processing. These sensory systems also exhibit highly specific interactions in spatial perception, which may reflect multisensory representations that are learned through visuotactile (VT) experiences. Recently, Wani and colleagues reported that taskirrelevant visual cues bias tactile perception, in a brightness-dependent manner, on a task requiring participants to detect unimanual and bimanual cues. Importantly, tactile performance remained spatially biased after VT exposure, even when no visual cues were presented. These effects on bimanual touch conceivably reflect cross-modal learning, but the neural substrates that are changed by VT experience are unclear. We previously described a neural network capable of simulating VT spatial interactions. Here, we exploited this model to test different hypotheses regarding potential network-level changes that may underlie the VT learning effects. Simulation results indicated that VT learning effects are inconsistent with plasticity restricted to unisensory visual and tactile hand representations. Similarly, VT learning effects were also inconsistent with changes restricted to the strength of inter-hemispheric inhibitory interactions. Instead, we found that both the hand representations and the inter-hemispheric inhibitory interactions need to be plastic to fully recapitulate VT learning effects. Our results imply that crossmodal learning of bimanual spatial perception involves multiple changes distributed over a VT processing cortical network

Glycosidase-catalyzed synthesis of glycosylated nutraceutical ingredients

Hydroxyphenyl propenoic acids (hydroxycinnamic acids) and their alcohol derivatives are common components of the human diet which often occur in plants in the form of various glycosides. As the diets rich in polyphenols have repeatedly been related to low incidence of cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and oncological diseases, various food supplements containing these compounds are becoming increasingly popular among the general population. In quest of a biocatalytic route to structurally complex phenolic glycosides, we built a sustainable and convenient, one-pot two-enzyme method for the glucosylation of arylalkyl alcohols based on the synthetic exploitation of a fungal rutinosidase from A. niger and rhamnosidase from A. terreus. Both these enzymes were available to us as heterologous proteins produced by a recombinant strain of P. pastoris. As an example, the -glucoside salidroside, a compound endowed with various pharmacological effects and commercialized in Rhodiola rosea nutraceutical formulations, was obtained in high isolated yield and purity from tyrosol thanks to our one-pot enzymatic process. Furthermore, during the course of our investigation, we found that the rutinosidase from A. niger not only efficiently converted hydroxylated aromatic acids (e.g. coumaric and ferulic acids) into the respective phenolic rutinosides, but surprisingly could also catalyze the formation of the respective glycosyl esters. Here the results of our systematic study about the glycosidase-based biocatalytic preparation of lycosylated nutraceutical ingredients, which lead us to the discovery of a unique enzymatic entry to naturally occurring glycosyl esters, are reported

Detection and Characterization of CD8+ Autoreactive Memory Stem T Cells in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

Stem memory T cells (Tscm) constitute the earliest developmental stage of memory T cells, displaying stem cell–like properties, such as self-renewal capacity. Their superior immune reconstitution potential has sparked interest in cancer immune therapy, vaccine development, and immune reconstitution, whereas their role in autoimmunity is largely unexplored. Here we show that autoreactive CD8+ Tscm specific for β-cell antigens GAD65, insulin, and IGRP are present in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). In vitro, the generation of autoreactive Tscm from naive precursors required the presence of the homeostatic cytokine interleukin-7 (IL-7). IL-7 promotes glucose uptake via overexpression of GLUT1 and upregulation of the glycolytic enzyme hexokinase 2. Even though metabolism depends on glucose uptake, the subsequent oxidation of pyruvate in the mitochondria was necessary for Tscm generation from naive precursors. In patients with T1D, high expression of GLUT1 was a hallmark of circulating Tscm, and targeting glucose uptake via GLUT1 using the selective inhibitor WZB117 resulted in inhibition of Tscm generation and expansion. Our results suggest that autoreactive Tscm are present in patients with T1D and can be selectively targeted by inhibition of glucose metabolism

A case of cystic fibrosis

As the expected survival improves for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), there is a growing population of adults with this disease. We describe a case of a 33-year-old woman with CF presenting with recurrent pancreatitis, malnutrition, borderline sweat test and respiratory diseases. The case report underlines the importance of diagnosis and management of CF in adults, and the important role played by the Family Physician in developing an adult care program

Translational Radiobiological Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) Studies for the Treatment of Different Pathologies: A Bench to Bedside Approach

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a binary cancer treatment modality that combines irradiation with a thermal or epithermal neutron beam with the administration of boron-10 carriers that are taken up preferentially by neoplastic cells. The high linear energy transfer alpha particles and recoiling 7 Li nuclei emitted during the boron-10 neutron-capture reaction 10B(n,α)7 Li, have a range of 5-9 µm in tissue and are known to have a high Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE). In this way, BNCT would potentially target tumor tissue selectively, largely sparing normal tissue. Clinical trials of BNCT for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme and/ or melanoma and, more recently, head and neck tumors, liver metastases, lung metastases and mesothelioma have been performed or are under way in Argentina, Europe, Japan, Taiwan, and the US. To date, the clinical results have shown a potential therapeutic advantage for this technique but undoubtedly leave room for improvement. Translational radiobiological studies in appropriate in vivo experimental models are pivotal to progress in this field. A significant part of our translational research efforts have been focused on exploring new applications of BNCT and optimizing BNCT for different pathologies, employing a bench to bedside approach that bridges the gap between research and clinical application. Although our work includes the assessment of the therapeutic potential of novel boron compounds in our experimental models, a large proportion of our studies have been devoted to optimize the delivery of boron compounds currently authorized for their use in humans such as Boron phenylalanine (BPA) and decahydrodecaborate (GB-10). In addition, we have designed and tested different BNCT treatment strategies tailored for different pathologies, for varying degrees of disease progression and for different clinical conditions of the patient. Some examples involve: 1) The combined use of BPA and GB-10 to improve tumor boron targeting homogeneity in the hamster cheek pouch oral cancer model, in a colon carcinoma liver metastases model in BDIX rats and in a diffuse lung metastases model in BDIX rats; 2) Aberrant tumor blood vessel normalization to improve boron delivery in the oral cancer model; 3) Sequential BNCT (BPA-BNCT followed by GB-10- BNCT with a 24-48 h interval) in the oral cancer model to optimize therapeutic efficacy and minimize mucositis in the dose-limiting precancerous tissue in the case of patients requiring abbreviated treatment; 4) Electroporation to improve the micro distribution of boron delivered by GB-10 in the oral cancer model; 5) Double applications of BNCT with 4-6 weeks interval to optimize therapeutic efficacy, reduce toxicity in terms of mucositis and inhibit the development of second primary tumors from precancerous tissue in the oral cancer model for the case of patients that do not require abbreviated treatment; 5) Assessment of the therapeutic efficacy and potential toxicity of BNCT in the liver metastases and diffuse lung metastases models in BDIX rats; 6) Local administration of GB10 or BPA for effective low dose Boron Neutron Capture Synovectomy (BNCS) for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis in a model of antigen-induced arthritis in rabbits; 7) BNCT-induced local and abscopal effect in an ectopic model of colon carcinoma in BDIX rats. The knowledge gained from these radiobiological studies would contribute to design safe and effective clinical BNCT protocols. In particular, the BNCT protocols used to perform our ongoing and to date successful clinical-veterinary BNCT studies at RA-6 for cats and dogs with spontaneous head and neck cancer with no therapeutic option, are partially based on the lessons learnt from these translational studies.Fil: Schwint, Amanda Elena. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Area de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. Gerencia de Radiobiología (Centro Atómico Constituyentes); Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Monti Hughes, Andrea. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Area de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. Gerencia de Radiobiología (Centro Atómico Constituyentes); Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Garabalino, Marcela Alejandra. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Area de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. Gerencia de Radiobiología (Centro Atómico Constituyentes); ArgentinaFil: Pozzi, Emiliano César Cayetano. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Area de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. Gerencia de Radiobiología (Centro Atómico Constituyentes); ArgentinaFil: Heber, Elisa Mercedes. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Area de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. Gerencia de Radiobiología (Centro Atómico Constituyentes); ArgentinaFil: Trivillin, Verónica Andrea. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Area de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. Gerencia de Radiobiología (Centro Atómico Constituyentes); Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin