Highly Efficient in Vitro Reparative Behaviour of Dental Pulp Stem Cells Cultured with Standardised Platelet Lysate Supplementation

Dental pulp is an accessible source of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). The perspective role of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in regenerative medicine demands an in vitro expansion and in vivo delivery which must deal with the safety issues about animal serum, usually required in cell culture practice. Human platelet lysate (PL) contains autologous growth factors and has been considered as valuable alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) in cell cultures. The optimum concentration to be added of such supplement is highly dependent on its preparation whose variability limits comparability of results. By in vitro experiments, we aimed to evaluate a standardised formulation of pooled PL. A low selected concentration of PL (1%) was able to support the growth and maintain the viability of the DPSCs. The use of PL in cell cultures did not impair cell surface signature typically expressed by MSCs and even upregulated the transcription of Sox2. Interestingly, DPSCs cultured in presence of PL exhibited a higher healing rate after injury and are less susceptible to toxicity mediated by exogenous H2O2 than those cultured with FBS. Moreover, PL addition was shown as a suitable option for protocols promoting osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of DPSCs. Taken together, our results indicated that PL is a valid substitute of FBS to culture and differentiate DPSCs for clinical-grade use

Sensory and Biochemical Characterization of Novel Drinks Based on Tomato Juice

In these last years, consumers’ choices are being directed towards healthier food and beverages with an increasing demand for functional products. In this study, we investigated the sensory and biochemical properties of novel drinks based on tomato juice. To this purpose, different blends were formulated mixing fresh tomato juice with other fruit juices and nectars in different proportions and then assayed to investigate their sensory (panel test), compositional and biochemical characteristics. Our results indicated that it is possible to formulate tasty drinks based on tomato juice with improved nutritional properties. The combinations of red fruits/tomato (60/40 v/v) and red fruits/orange/tomato (40/30/30 v/v/v) showed a sugar content lower than those of different soft drinks on the market including energy drinks, and suitable lycopene levels as well. Interestingly, the blended red fruits/orange/tomato had a greater number of polyphenols and vitamin C, a softer tomato flavour and high sensory appreciation. High pasteurization (90ºC,7 min), performed to increase storability, did not significantly affect sensory and biochemical properties of drinks. These achievements may be useful to modulate tomato flavour release and consumer acceptability of novel drinks based on tomato juice

Seroprevalence Survey of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in a Population of Emilia-Romagna Region, Northern Italy

taly was the first Western European country to be severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Variations in seroprevalence rates were reported according to geographical and temporal differences of previous surveys, as well as depending on demographic and occupational factors. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a population of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy after the first wave in the period from 26 September 2020–26 March 2021. We included 5128 subjects who voluntarily underwent serological tests to determine anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity, including both self-referred individuals (24.2%) and workers adhering to company screening programs (76.8%). Overall, seroprevalence was 11.3%, higher in self-referred (13.8%) than employed-referred (10.5%) individuals. A slightly higher seroprevalence emerged in women compared to men (12.3% and 10.7%), as well as in the extreme age categories (18.6% for 60–69 years, 18.0% for ≥70 years, and 17.1% for <20 years compared to 7.6% for 20–39 years). Healthcare professionals showed the highest prevalence of seropositivity (22.9%), followed by workers in direct contact with customers, such as the communication, finance, and tourism sectors (15.7%). Overall subgroups seroprevalence increased compared to the first wave data but the trends agreed between the first and subsequent waves, except for an increase in the younger age group and in the sector in direct contact with customers. Among the occupational categories, our study confirms that healthcare workers and workers in the sports sector were at high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2

Long term drivers of change in Polylepis woodland distribution in the central Andes

Question: Is the modern patchy distribution of highly biodiverse Polylepis woodlands a consequence of human activity or, natural fluctuations in environmental conditions? What are the consequences of changing climate for the tree genus Polylepis? Location: High central tropical Andes. Methods: We characterise the ecological baseline conditions for Polylepis woodlands over the last ca. 370,000 years through: i) examination of fossil pollen records (Salar de Uyuni and Lake Titicaca) and, ii) a review of autecological information concerning Polylepis. Results: Fossil pollen data reveal fluctuations in the abundance (c. 0-34%) of Polylepis pollen prior to the arrival of humans in South America (>12,000 years ago). Indicating that Polylepis did not form permanent continuous woodland prior to the arrival of humans and that climatic factors can drive rapid vegetation change. Autecological assessment of Polylepis reveals: i) negative moisture balance, ii) fire, iii) waterlogging, and iv) cloud cover to be critical to determining the niche space available for Polylepis. Conclusions: Polylepis niche space in the central Andes was at a maximum during warm and wet conditions in the past, but might be at a minimum during the warmer and drier-than-modern conditions predicted for later this century. The sensitivity to past global climate change emphasises the need for conservation planners to consider model predictions of a warmer central Andes in the coming decades when developing planting schemes. Natural fluctuations in woodland abundance suggest the most effective way for conservation efforts to 'mimic' the natural baseline would be to develop a reproductively connected patchwork of communities

GROUNDWATER PLANNING AND PROTECTION: ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL INDEXES IN COMPLEX AQUIFER SYSTEMS. THE SOLOFRANA RIVER VALLEY CASE STUDY (SOUTH ITALY)

Heterogeneity of natural systems governs the pathway of pollutant in the environment, mostly in groundwater resources. A large number of hydrogeological researches aim to parameterize and model these processes. Namely, the spatial variability of the hydrogeological properties of rocks may be defined from geologic observations and local measurements. The Solofrana River Valley (South Italy) is a real natural laboratory to improve understanding of the behaviour and transfer of pollutants on large scale. The geological and structural complexity of the territory, due to the tectonic and morphological evolution of the carbonate platform domains, resulting in filling of the structural depressions by the quaternary deposits (volcanic, talus and alluvial sediments), is combined with a widespread agricultural activity and with the incidence of important industrial centres, among which stands out the Solofra’s tanning pole. A multidisciplinary approach was employed to delineate aquifer/aquitard unit and characterize scale-dependent heterogeneity by means of geological, hydrogeological and geochemical techniques. This paper describes firstly the experience carried out in an area characterized by a high anthropic impact. Besides, it reports about relevant geological and hydrogeological aspects of the Solofrana River Valley and presents some interesting aspects related to field operations and characterization of pollutants flow and transport. Existing data, combined with a specific geological survey and a monthly water level monitoring (July 2010; February 2011-October 2012), as well as a groundwater chemical-physical characterization based on a monthly EC, pH and temperature monitoring and on chemistry analyses involving 77 parameters (July 2010 - April-June 2012), provided to assess the groundwater composition indexes and the chief environmental indexes. So the improvement of the hydrostratigraphic architecture and the hydraulic continuity among aquifers, especially pushing up depths, derived from the assessment of equivalent parameters of hydrodynamic properties. With regard to the hydrogeological and impact conditions, the results of multivariate statistical analyses proved the identification of a number of homogeneous zones even in such complex aquifer systems

Assessment of Environmental Indexes in Alluvial Aquifer Systems

Heterogeneity of natural systems governs the pathway of pollutants in the environment, especially in aquifers. The relationship between a number of environmental pressures and the complex structure of groundwater flow systems generates many processes, which affect the behaviour and transport of pollutants. With regard to the wide variety of structural, volcanic and depositional processes which characterize the alluvial aquifer systems in the Campania Region (South Italy), this paper describes an integrated approach to delineate aquifer/aquitard units and recognize scale-dependent heterogeneity by means of geological, hydrogeological, geochemical and geostatistical techniques. In this analysis, a set of indicators, representative of the groundwater composition, have to be defined. Each indicator describes a specific aspect of groundwater quality and leads in combination with others to the definition of groundwater environmental index, due to natural and anthropogenic phenomena. The results of multivariate statistical analyses provide the identification of a number of homogeneous zones even in complex alluvial aquifer systems. At the same time, in wide regions this analysis enables to point out the most vulnerable sites and leads the working scale for planning technical and procedural solutions

Environmental indexes and aquifer heterogeneity

The development of reliable methodologies to characterize aquifer heterogeneities is a key issue for the management and safety of groundwater resources. The effective reconstruction of the heterogeneity pattern is important to predict solute characteristics as well as spatial spreading, mixing and residence time of pollutants. So hydrogeological models often involve a geostatistical treatment of many data to address aquifer uncertainties. However, there may be wide areas where data are unavailable or insufficient for such approaches. This study shows that in this case the variability of hydrodynamic dispersion parameters can be related to a set of groundwater compositional indicators. At the same time, this analysis provides the identification of homogeneous sectors and suggests the more effective working scale, especially when flow systems extend across different aquifer types and are characterized by high anthropic impact. With regard to complex alluvial aquifer systems of Southern Italy, cluster analysis can support the definition of homogeneous groundwater groups taking into account the influence of natural mixing phenomena and anthropogenic pressures. The present paper deals with an explanatory case study. A set of 77 parameters was processed, including the most common heavy metals. It was obtained from groundwater samples of a pyroclastic alluvial aquifer, about 53 km2 in area. This chemical-physical characterization, resulting from samples collected on July 2010 (29 wells and 1 spring) and on December 2014 ((23 wells and 2 springs), was part of a more complete hydrogeological monitoring activity including monthly measurements of groundwater level, electrical conductivity, pH and temperature in 76 wells and 4 springs for about two years. In order to identify homogeneous groundwater groups a K-means clustering technique is applied to the most significant water composition indexes. In this regard an important pre-processing step to avoid suboptimal solutions is represented by the identification of the end member for the bedrock as well as alluvial plain aquifer. Identification of the groundwater end-members and the results of cluster analysis will be discussed in detail, pointing out the potentialities of the proposed approach in the assessment of groundwater mixing and flow

MODELLAZIONE GEOLOGICA E GEOTECNICA OTTIMIZZATA NELLE ANALISI NA-TECH DEGLI INSEDIAMENTI INDUSTRIALI

La progettazione e la valutazione delle prestazioni di impianti industriali e relativi componenti e sistemi è molto complessa, specialmente nei territori in cui i rischi naturali, come ad esempio quello sismico, sono rilevanti. L’ingegneria industriale classifica come NaTech tutti gli eventi naturali che possono produrre incidenti rilevanti in un impianto, ovvero che possono causare, a seguito del rilascio di sostanze pericolose tossiche e infiammabili, seri rischi per l’ambiente circostante e la popolazione. Nel presente lavoro viene esaminato, con riferimento all’area industriale di Termoli (Molise), il supporto per la valutazione del rischio che può essere offerto ai decisori e gestori delle aree industriali da un approccio integrato tra geologia applicata, geotecnica e ingegneria strutturale. La stretta interrelazione tra le analisi dei dati geologici, idrogeologici e geotecnici e la corretta impostazione degli obiettivi da conseguire in prospettiva sismica restituisce risultati conformi alle più recenti normative e alle esigenze degli specialisti di ingegneria strutturale anche operando con risorse limitate