Self-Healing and reprocessable oleic acid-based elastomer with dynamic S-S bonds as solvent-free reusable adhesive on copper surface

In the last decade, the application of dynamic covalent chemistry in the field of polymeric materials has become the subject of an increasing number of studies, gaining applicative relevance. This is due to the fact that polymers containing dynamic functions possess a structure that affords reprocessability, recyclability and peculiar self-healing properties inconceivable for “classic” polymer networks. Consequently, the synthesis of a dynamic covalent chemistry-based polymer and its chemical, thermal, and mechanical characterizations are reported in the present research. In particular, oleic acid has been used as starting material to follow the founding principles of the circular economy system and, thanks to the aromatic disulfide component, which is the foundation of the material dynamic characteristics, the obtained polymer resulted as being reprocessable and self-healable. Moreover, the polymer can strongly interact with copper surfaces through the formation of stable Cu-S bonds. Then, the application of the polymer as a solvent-free reusable adhesive for copper was investigated by lap joint shear tests and comparisons with the properties of an analogous material, devoid of the disulfide bonds, were conducted

Where are we now with European forest multi-taxon biodiversity and where can we head to?

The European biodiversity and forest strategies rely on forest sustainable management (SFM) to conserve forest biodiversity. However, current sustainability assessments hardly account for direct biodiversity indicators. We focused on forest multi-taxon biodiversity to: i) gather and map the existing information; ii) identify knowledge and research gaps; iii) discuss its research potential. We established a research network to fit data on species, standing trees, lying deadwood and sampling unit description from 34 local datasets across 3591 sampling units. A total of 8724 species were represented, with the share of common and rare species varying across taxonomic classes: some included many species with several rare ones (e.g., Insecta); others (e.g., Bryopsida) were represented by few common species. Tree-related structural attributes were sampled in a subset of sampling units (2889; 2356; 2309 and 1388 respectively for diameter, height, deadwood and microhabitats). Overall, multitaxon studies are biased towards mature forests and may underrepresent the species related to other developmental phases. European forest compositional categories were all represented, but beech forests were overrepresented as compared to thermophilous and boreal forests. Most sampling units (94%) were referred to a habitat type of conservation concern. Existing information may support European conservation and SFM strategies in: (i) methodological harmonization and coordinated monitoring; (ii) definition and testing of SFM indicators and thresholds; (iii) data-driven assessment of the effects of environmental and management drivers on multi-taxon forest biological and functional diversity, (iv) multi-scale forest monitoring integrating in-situ and remotely sensed information. Forest biodiversity Multi-taxon Sustainable management Biodiversity conservation Forest stand structurepublishedVersio

Shedding light on typical species : implications for habitat monitoring

Habitat monitoring in Europe is regulated by Article 17 of the Habitats Directive, which suggests the use of typical species to assess habitat conservation status. Yet, the Directive uses the term “typical” species but does not provide a definition, either for its use in reporting or for its use in impact assessments. To address the issue, an online workshop was organized by the Italian Society for Vegetation Science (SISV) to shed light on the diversity of perspectives regarding the different concepts of typical species, and to discuss the possible implications for habitat monitoring. To this aim, we inquired 73 people with a very different degree of expertise in the field of vegetation science by means of a tailored survey composed of six questions. We analysed the data using Pearson's Chi-squared test to verify that the answers diverged from a random distribution and checked the effect of the degree of experience of the surveyees on the results. We found that most of the surveyees agreed on the use of the phytosociological method for habitat monitoring and of the diagnostic and characteristic species to evaluate the structural and functional conservation status of habitats. With this contribution, we shed light on the meaning of “typical” species in the context of habitat monitoring

A machine-learning based bio-psycho-social model for the prediction of non-obstructive and obstructive coronary artery disease

Background: Mechanisms of myocardial ischemia in obstructive and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), and the interplay between clinical, functional, biological and psycho-social features, are still far to be fully elucidated. Objectives: To develop a machine-learning (ML) model for the supervised prediction of obstructive versus non-obstructive CAD. Methods: From the EVA study, we analysed adults hospitalized for IHD undergoing conventional coronary angiography (CCA). Non-obstructive CAD was defined by a stenosis < 50% in one or more vessels. Baseline clinical and psycho-socio-cultural characteristics were used for computing a Rockwood and Mitnitski frailty index, and a gender score according to GENESIS-PRAXY methodology. Serum concentration of inflammatory cytokines was measured with a multiplex flow cytometry assay. Through an XGBoost classifier combined with an explainable artificial intelligence tool (SHAP), we identified the most influential features in discriminating obstructive versus non-obstructive CAD. Results: Among the overall EVA cohort (n = 509), 311 individuals (mean age 67 ± 11 years, 38% females; 67% obstructive CAD) with complete data were analysed. The ML-based model (83% accuracy and 87% precision) showed that while obstructive CAD was associated with higher frailty index, older age and a cytokine signature characterized by IL-1β, IL-12p70 and IL-33, non-obstructive CAD was associated with a higher gender score (i.e., social characteristics traditionally ascribed to women) and with a cytokine signature characterized by IL-18, IL-8, IL-23. Conclusions: Integrating clinical, biological, and psycho-social features, we have optimized a sex- and gender-unbiased model that discriminates obstructive and non-obstructive CAD. Further mechanistic studies will shed light on the biological plausibility of these associations. Clinical trial registration: NCT02737982

The Sex-Specific Detrimental Effect of Diabetes and Gender-Related Factors on Pre-admission Medication Adherence Among Patients Hospitalized for Ischemic Heart Disease: Insights From EVA Study

Background: Sex and gender-related factors have been under-investigated as relevant determinants of health outcomes across non-communicable chronic diseases. Poor medication adherence results in adverse clinical outcomes and sex differences have been reported among patients at high cardiovascular risk, such as diabetics. The effect of diabetes and gender-related factors on medication adherence among women and men at high risk for ischemic heart disease (IHD) has not yet been fully investigated.Aim: To explore the role of sex, gender-related factors, and diabetes in pre-admission medication adherence among patients hospitalized for IHD.Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the Endocrine Vascular disease Approach (EVA) (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02737982), a prospective cohort of patients admitted for IHD. We selected patients with baseline information regarding the presence of diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors, and gender-related variables (i.e., gender identity, gender role, gender relations, institutionalized gender). Our primary outcome was the proportion of pre-admission medication adherence defined through a self-reported questionnaire. We performed a sex-stratified analysis of clinical and gender-related factors associated with pre-admission medication adherence.Results: Two-hundred eighty patients admitted for IHD (35% women, mean age 70), were included. Around one-fourth of the patients were low-adherent to therapy before hospitalization, regardless of sex. Low-adherent patients were more likely diabetic (40%) and employed (40%). Sex-stratified analysis showed that low-adherent men were more likely to be employed (58 vs. 33%) and not primary earners (73 vs. 54%), with more masculine traits of personality, as compared with medium-high adherent men. Interestingly, women reporting medication low-adherence were similar for clinical and gender-related factors to those with medium-high adherence, except for diabetes (42 vs. 20%, p = 0.004). In a multivariate adjusted model only employed status was associated with poor medication adherence (OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.31–0.97). However, in the sex-stratified analysis, diabetes was independently associated with medication adherence only in women (OR 0.36; 95%CI 0.13–0.96), whereas a higher masculine BSRI was the only factor associated with medication adherence in men (OR 0.59, 95%CI 0.35–0.99).Conclusion: Pre-admission medication adherence is common in patients hospitalized for IHD, regardless of sex. However, patient-related factors such as diabetes, employment, and personality traits are associated with adherence in a sex-specific manner

<scp>ReSurveyEurope</scp>: A database of resurveyed vegetation plots in Europe

AbstractAimsWe introduce ReSurveyEurope — a new data source of resurveyed vegetation plots in Europe, compiled by a collaborative network of vegetation scientists. We describe the scope of this initiative, provide an overview of currently available data, governance, data contribution rules, and accessibility. In addition, we outline further steps, including potential research questions.ResultsReSurveyEurope includes resurveyed vegetation plots from all habitats. Version 1.0 of ReSurveyEurope contains 283,135 observations (i.e., individual surveys of each plot) from 79,190 plots sampled in 449 independent resurvey projects. Of these, 62,139 (78%) are permanent plots, that is, marked in situ, or located with GPS, which allow for high spatial accuracy in resurvey. The remaining 17,051 (22%) plots are from studies in which plots from the initial survey could not be exactly relocated. Four data sets, which together account for 28,470 (36%) plots, provide only presence/absence information on plant species, while the remaining 50,720 (64%) plots contain abundance information (e.g., percentage cover or cover–abundance classes such as variants of the Braun‐Blanquet scale). The oldest plots were sampled in 1911 in the Swiss Alps, while most plots were sampled between 1950 and 2020.ConclusionsReSurveyEurope is a new resource to address a wide range of research questions on fine‐scale changes in European vegetation. The initiative is devoted to an inclusive and transparent governance and data usage approach, based on slightly adapted rules of the well‐established European Vegetation Archive (EVA). ReSurveyEurope data are ready for use, and proposals for analyses of the data set can be submitted at any time to the coordinators. Still, further data contributions are highly welcome.</jats:sec

Plant diversity and functions in semi-natural grasslands under different management intensities

Plant diversity and functions in semi-natural grasslands under different management intensities Napoleone Francesca1, Burrascano Sabina1, Argenti Giovanni2, Blasi Carlo1 1Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy 2Department of Sciences of Agrofood Production and Environment, University of Florence, Italy Assessing the relations among biological diversity, ecosystem functions and management regimes in semi-natural grasslands is fundamental to develop effective conservation measures in the context of the EU’s environmental and agricultural policies. Within European Union’s rural development programs, semi-natural grasslands are targeted by specific measures aiming at managing them sustainably in terms of both profitability and conservation of biodiversity. Notwithstanding these efforts, up to now the effects of these programs on plants species diversity in extensively managed grasslands have not been properly explored. Here we aim at: i) identify the management regime that better combines biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, such as forage for livestock and support to insect pollinators; ii) define compositional, structural and functional traits that indicate a high value for these services. The study focuses on the 6210(*) habitat: semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (*important orchid sites). The study area includes the Central Apennines, the North-Western Alps and the Jura Mountains. The sampling design is based on the availability of management data, sampling units are randomly located in patches subjected to different grazing regimes (number and type of animals) as well as in abandoned areas. Vascular plant species composition is recorded together with several information on topography and soil. For each sampling unit, we calculate the pastoral value based on vascular plant species abundance. Plant and flower functional traits related to grazing and insect pollinators are measured for the most abundant species in order to assess the forage quality for livestock and the support to insect pollinators. In this view, we propose a novel effective method to measure flower UV-reflectance using digital photography useful for further data contribution in global plant traits database. All the ecosystem properties are associated to different management regimes whose intensity is determined by comparing the real stocking rate to the maintainable one. We expect that higher plant diversity relates to a higher pastoral value and a greater support for insect pollinators, and that these positive ecosystem properties are associated with moderate stocking rates. Understanding which management regimes allow for a better conservation status of the habitat and enhance the full range of services it provides is essential to achieve good governance models

Notula 263. Soliva sessilis Ruiz & Pav. (Asteraceae)

+ A (NAT) LAZ: Roma (Roma), Tenuta Presidenziale di Castelporziano, Santo Quercio (UTM ED50: 33T 286.4624), pozza temporanea asciutta, su sedimento sabbioso, 76 m, 3 Jun 2014, A. Tilia, F. Napoleone (FI); Roma (Roma), Tenuta Presidenziale di Castelporziano, Camilletto di sotto (UTM ED50: 33T 282.4620), margini di piscina asciutta, su sedimento sabbioso-argilloso, 9 m, 23 Jun 2014, A. Tilia, F. Napoleone (FI, RO). – Specie esotica naturalizzata nuova per il Lazio

How to measure flower UV-reflectance using digital photography

Flower ultraviolet (UV) reflectance strongly influences insect ability to detect flowers and locate pollen-nectar sources. Although included in the TRY database, the lack of a cost-effective standardized method of measurement hampers the availability of information on this key floral trait. Digital photography and image processing allow for a novel approach to flower UV-reflectance measurement that is both accessible and accurate. We used a UV-LED light and a mirrorless camera with a filter, which represents a low-cost equipment for narrow emission/reflection photography (350-380nm). Flowers were photographed with two standards of known reflection, and UV-reflectance values were obtained through an open-source image processing software. We measured UV-reflectance for 57 plant species typical of European semi-natural grasslands. Our values substantially matched the categorical classes obtained through analog photography available in TRY and showed a highly significant relationship with spectrophotometric measures. The method here proposed overcomes the one based on analog photography and subjective visual estimates, and represents an easy and low-cost alternative to spectrophotometry. It may promote the standardized measurement of flower UV-reflectance and broaden the information of this trait globally, meeting the needs of functional ecology and trait-based community assembly studies

Habitat conservation state and plant diversity respond to different drivers in semi-natural grasslands

Questions: Semi-natural habitats are threatened by shifts in management with worrying effects on multiple facets of biodiversity. We revisited sites once representing a reference for a calcareous semi-natural grassland habitat aiming to: (a) identify the drivers of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity, and habitat conservation state; (b) assess the role of characteristic and derived diversity in determining these patterns; and (c) discuss the possibility of reconciling the goals of habitat conservation and enhancement of different facets of plant diversity. Location: Seven sites along the Apennines (Italy), from Mt. Catria (43.46206° N, 12.70397° E) to Mt. Alpi (40.11768° N, 15.98341° E). Methods: For 132 revisited plots, we calculated vascular plant taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity using Hill numbers, and used boosted regression trees to investigate their response to the compositional dissimilarity from historical plots, to grazing intensity and to environmental variables. We identified characteristic and derived diversity and summarized them in an index of habitat conservation state whose drivers were investigated using the same approach. Results: Plant diversity was influenced by the site, whereas the habitat conservation state responded more markedly to vegetation type. Grazing intensity, slope and soil variables drove taxonomic and functional diversity, and the habitat conservation state, with some differences in their relative importance. Phylogenetic diversity responded only partly to grazing intensity, while it showed a major response to increasing temperatures. Conclusions: Patterns and drivers of different facets of plant diversity partially differ from those of the habitat conservation state, suggesting that the management of semi-natural habitats should be carefully tailored on specific conservation objectives. Generalized actions on grazing regimes and litter removal can promote habitat conservation, whereas the outcomes of these actions for plant diversity may differ across sites. Identifying areas particularly subjected to land-use changes and/or climate warming may drive conservation actions