Variazioni geomorfologiche nell’area centrale della Laguna di Venezia. Elaborazione di cartografia storica e foto aeree

Nel corso degli ultimi secoli l’evoluzione geomorfologica della Laguna di Venezia è stata notevolmente condizionata dai numerosi interventi antropici condotti in tutto il bacino e nelle zone limitrofe, i cui effetti si sono sommati a quelli indotti dai processi naturali costieri. L’analisi delle modificazioni avvenute nel settore centrale della laguna, particolarmente vulnerabile poiché sede della città di Venezia, del porto turistico e del polo industriale, è stata l’obiettivo di questo studio. A tal fine l’esame della cartografia storica (disponibile a partire dal 1500) ha assunto un ruolo fondamentale, fornendo informazioni uniche e precise sull’assetto passato del territorio, mentrele fotografie aeree (dal 1954) hanno reso un importante contributo al riconoscimento dei cambiamenti più recenti. L’interpretazione congiunta di dati preesistenti soprattutto di carattere geomorfologico e morfodinamico e di informazioni relative alle opere realizzate dall’uomo nei secoli ha permesso di ricostruire l’evoluzione dell’area e di conoscere i rapporti causa-effetto tra evoluzione del paesaggio e processi naturali e antropici. Lo studio è stato condotto con tecnologia GIS (Geographic Information System). Carte e immagini sono state quindi georeferenziate ed è stata creata una banca dati attraverso cui visualizzare ed elaborare diverse tipologie di informazioni geografiche all’interno di un unico progetto di analisi territoriale. Il lavoro ha permesso di mettere in evidenza: (a) i diversi tentativi di deviazione del tratto finale del Fiume Brenta per evitare che, con i suoi apparati deltizi endolagunari, potesse interrare la laguna centrale minacciando così l’integrità di Venezia, (b) gli effetti che tali diversioni hanno prodotto nella laguna stessa, (c) i processi erosivi intensificati dalla costruzione dei moli foranei alla bocca di Malamocco, (d) lo sviluppo del polo industriale di Porto Marghera, (e) lo scavo del canale Malamocco-Marghera, che ha incrementato l’energia e l’idrodinamicità dell’area, favorendo l’ulteriore erosione delle strutture morfologiche naturali e artificiali (barene e casse di colmata) adiacenti

Silver zeolite antimicrobial activity in aluminium heating, ventilation and air conditioning system ducts

Introduction. Air pollution in confined environments is a serious health problem, in that most people spend long periods indoors (in homes, offices, classrooms etc.). Some people (children, the elderly, heart disease patients, asthmatic or allergic subjects) are at greater risk because of their conditions of frailty. The growing use of air-conditioning systems in many public and private buildings aggravates this health risk, especially when these systems are not correctly installed or regularly serviced. The aim of our study was to verify the capacity of Ag + ions to stop the growth of bacteria and moulds inside the ducts of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system ducts (HVAC) systems when these ducts were lined with active Ag + ions zeolite-coated panels. Material and methods. A Y-shaped HVAC model with two branches was used; one branch was made of traditional galvanized iron, as was the whole system, while the other was lined with active Ag + zeolite-coated polyurethane panels. During the test, samples of dust present inside both ducts were collected and seeded in liquid and solid media to detect bacteria and moulds. The presence of bacteria was also sought in the air emerging from the outlets of both ducts. Results. Tests made on samples of particulate collected from the two different ducts revealed a lower total bacterial load in the samples collected from the Ag + zeolite-coated duct than in the samples from the traditional Zn galvanized duct. In addition, the values of bacterial load found in the air emerging from the Ag+ ions zeolite-lined duct were 5 times lower than those found in the air from the traditional galvanized iron duct. Conclusions. The utilization of Ag + zeolite-coated panels in air-conditioning systems could improve the quality of the emerging air in comparison with traditional installations in galvanized iron. This innovation could prove particularly advantageous in the event of accidents during the installation of air-conditioning systems or of contaminated aerosols coming from outside

CDX2 hox gene product in a rat model of esophageal cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Barrett's mucosa is the precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The molecular mechanisms behind Barrett's carcinogenesis are largely unknown. Experimental models of longstanding esophageal reflux of duodenal-gastric contents may provide important information on the biological sequence of the Barrett's oncogenesis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The expression of <it>CDX2 </it>hox-gene product was assessed in a rat model of Barrett's carcinogenesis. Seventy-four rats underwent esophago-jejunostomy with gastric preservation. Excluding perisurgical deaths, the animals were sacrificed at various times after the surgical treatment (Group A: <10 weeks; Group B: 10–30 weeks; Group C: >30 weeks).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No Cdx2 expression was detected in either squamous epithelia of the proximal esophagus or squamous cell carcinomas. <it>De novo </it>Cdx2 expression was consistently documented in the proliferative zone of the squamous epithelium close to reflux ulcers (Group A: 68%; Group B: 64%; Group C: 80%), multilayered epithelium and intestinal metaplasia (Group A: 9%; Group B: 41%; Group C: 60%), and esophageal adenocarcinomas (Group B: 36%; Group C: 35%). A trend for increasing overall Cdx2 expression was documented during the course of the experiment (<it>p </it>= 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>De novo </it>expression of Cdx2 is an early event in the spectrum of the lesions induced by experimental gastro-esophageal reflux and should be considered as a key step in the morphogenesis of esophageal adenocarcinoma.</p

Acetyl-4'-phosphopantetheine is stable in serum and prevents phenotypes induced by pantothenate kinase deficiency

CITATION: Di Meo, I., et al. 2017. Acetyl-4′-phosphopantetheine is stable in serum and prevents phenotypes induced by pantothenate kinase deficiency. Scientific Reports, 7:11260, doi:10.1038/s41598-017-11564-8.The original publication is available at https://www.nature.comCoenzyme A is an essential metabolite known for its central role in over one hundred cellular metabolic reactions. In cells, Coenzyme A is synthesized de novo in five enzymatic steps with vitamin B5 as the starting metabolite, phosphorylated by pantothenate kinase. Mutations in the pantothenate kinase 2 gene cause a severe form of neurodegeneration for which no treatment is available. One therapeutic strategy is to generate Coenzyme A precursors downstream of the defective step in the pathway. Here we describe the synthesis, characteristics and in vivo rescue potential of the acetyl-Coenzyme A precursor S-acetyl-4′-phosphopantetheine as a possible treatment for neurodegeneration associated with pantothenate kinase deficiency.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-11564-8Publisher's versio