WP 6: MODELLING STAKEHOLDER INTERPLAY AND POLICY SCENARIOS FOR BIOREFINERY AND BIODIESEL PRODUCTION. D 6.6: Detailed specification of the questionnaire to be delivered to various stakeholders

In this deliverable we first present a technical note on how to identify the key agro-energy stakeholders involved (or potentially involved) in the production of biodiesel in the province of Foggia (Capitanata). Subsequently, we present the questionnaire which will be distributed to these stakeholders.

Evaluating the effect of a prebiotic B-GOS in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)

Autism is a neurodevelopment disorder characterised by problems in communication and social interaction skills. In addition to psychological comorbidities, autistic individuals might suffer of GI problems that have been previously associated with gut bacteria, altered dietary intake and barrier function problems. In order to improve these aspects, exclusion diets, such as gluten and casein free diets (GFCF), and/or use of food supplements have been suggested in ASD, but little is known about their impact on gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity, especially for prebiotics. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of a prebiotic B-GOS on different aspects of autism, in in vitro and in in vivo. B-GOS (65%GOS content) was tested in dose response batch culture experiments inoculated with faecal samples from healthy donors, compared to the commercial B-GOS (50%GOS content). It showed an increase in bifidobacteria and modulation of SCFAs production. 65% B-GOS was then tested on faecal samples from autistic and non-autistic children using a three-stage continuous fermentation system that mimicked various anatomical regions of the colon. Results showed that B-GOS administration significantly increased bifidobacterial populations in the models inoculated with both autistic and non-autistic samples and influences changes in other bacterial groups, such as Clostridium, Roseburia, Bacteroides, Atopobium, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Sutterella spp. and Veillonellaceae. In addition, B-GOS modulated SCFA production in both groups, and increased ethanol and lactate inocula from autistic children. Next, a parallel, double blind, randomised study was designed in order to confirm these results in in vivo. Baseline samples from 30 autistic children aged 4-11 years old, were analysed to understand the effect of the exclusion diets on the gut microbiota and metabolome. In addition, parents were asked to fill in GI symptoms and food diaries. Results showed ASD children following GFCF diet had significant reduction in abdominal pain and bowel movement, compared to the un-restricted dietary group, and reduced abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. and Veillonellaceae family, with increased F. prausnitzii and Bacteroides spp. In both groups, no significant differences were found in urine metabolome, but significant correlations were found between bacterial populations and amino acids in faeces. After 6 weeks B-GOS intervention, no effect was reported on GI issues, but there were improvements in sleep habits and antisocial behaviour. B-GOS significantly modulated bifidobacteria and Lachnospiraceae family, as well as the metabolome in children whose diet was not restricted. Butyrate and valerate were the main SFCAs produced and reduced amino acid excretion was detected in faecal samples of the intervention group. Urine samples were dominated by citrate, creatine, creatinine, DMA (dimethylamine), DMG (dimethylglycine), malonate, carnitine, TMAO (trimethylamine-N-oxide), and α-hydroxybutyrate, comparing to the control group, where PAG (phenylacetiyglycine), phenylalanine and β-hydroxybutyrate were detected. Overall, the results presented in this study demonstrated, for the first time, that a prebiotic B-GOS is able to modulate different aspects of autism and be considered as potential dietary therapeutic approach for ASD individuals

Competition between intrinsic and extrinsic effects in the quenching of the superconducting state in FeSeTe thin films

We report the first experimental observation of the quenching of the superconducting state in current-voltage characteristics of an iron-based superconductor, namely, in FeSeTe thin films. Based on available theoretical models, our analysis suggests the presence of an intrinsic flux-flow electronic instability along with non-negligible extrinsic thermal effects. The coexistence and competition of these two mechanisms classify the observed instability as halfway between those of low-temperature and of high-temperature superconductors, where thermal effects are respectively largely negligible or predominant.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, fixed typo

Comprendere rotte migratorie fuori dall’accademia: metodi, linguaggi, potenzialità, limiti, posta in gioco.

Migration routes today are deeply questioning anthropology not only theoretically, but also, and above all, about its application. Anthropological research focused on the field of migration on one side "naturally" investigates and breaks through the political and public sphere, on the other contemplates social repercussions and forms of information and dissemination. For this reason, the analysis of migration routes often takes the form of intervention using languages, methodologies and communication channels alternative to the scientific publications, increasingly varied and straightforward. More frequently, techniques such as mapping tools, multi-site information and synchronised data platforms, visual documentation, migrant self-productions, etc. are used to document and analyse migration, involving new methods and communicative languages. Moreover, these works take place within interdisciplinary networks where the research and investigation methods are shared and overlapped with multiple communicative languages and styles. In recent decades, an analytical and communicative approach was built that, although rooted in the anthropological perspective, draws on both languages and unconventional technological tools to investigate and act on the migration routes. In this AP Forum we would like to engage with this parallel world to public anthropology, questioning us first of all about the ways in which professional skills are expressed in the field and on the reasons that led to move towards these styles and languages that re-articulate and overcome conventional forms of scientific communication. What are the methodological and positioning issues of the multiple action planning to deal anthropologically with the issue of migration routes? While on the one side it opens up to a range of research and intervention possibilities through which innovating the discipline itself, on the other conflicts and compromises are often generated by the application of an anthropological perspective. How this relationship between potentiality and limits articulate on such debated issue as migration routes? What tactics can be put in place to articulate this dialectic relationship? Finally, what is the stake that these consolidated ways of doing ethnography of migration bring into the field of questioning cultural and public anthropology? In particular, we are interested in affinities and discontinuities with respect to the conventional methods of research, asking ourselves if could be a dialogue (or not) and a possible way of collaboration between these different worlds of investigation and analysis

Defining a meta-design framework for knitting the emergent city elements

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Obstructing left sided colorectal cancer. A retrospective single center study.

Background: In recent years, with population aging, there has been an increased number of colorectal cancer cases in elderly patients with severe occlusion symptoms. About 75% of obstructions due to malignant colorectal cancer (10-30%) occur distal to splenic flexure. Methods: The authors evaluated the best surgical therapeutic strategy to be used in cases of left-sided colorectal carcinoma in patients over 65 years old, especially considering the emergency condition, age of patients and efficacy in terms of postoperative morbidity, mortality and 5 years survival rate. Results: The management of left-sided obstructing colorectal carcinoma is controversial. Hartmann’s procedure is the best therapeutic choice in elderly patients. However, resection with intraoperative colonic wash-out and primary anastomosis has favorable outcome in low risk patients. Conclusions: A review of the literature reveals that primary resection and anastomosis for left-sided obstructing CRC is the correct therapeutic strategy in low risk patients with localized, resectable carcinoma, without peritonitis; Hartmann’s procedure should be adopted in doubtful cases and in high risk patients

Stability mechanisms of high current transport in iron-chalcogenides superconducting films

The improvement in the fabrication techniques of iron-based superconductors have made these materials real competitors of high temperature superconductors and MgB$_2$. In particular, iron-chalcogenides have proved to be the most promising for the realization of high current carrying tapes. But their use on a large scale cannot be achieved without the understanding of the current stability mechanisms in these compounds. Indeed, we have recently observed the presence of flux flow instabilities features in Fe(Se,Te) thin films grown on CaF$_2$. Here we present the results of current-voltage characterizations at different temperatures and applied magnetic fields on Fe(Se,Te) microbridges grown on CaF$_2$. These results will be analyzed from the point of view of the most validated models with the aim to identify the nature of the flux flow instabilities features (i.e., thermal or electronic), in order to give a further advance to the high current carrying capability of iron-chalcogenide superconductors.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Fermentation properties and potential prebiotic activity of Bimuno® galacto-oligosaccharide (65 % galacto-oligosaccharide content) on in vitro gut microbiota parameters

Prebiotic oligosaccharides have the ability to generate important changes in the gut microbiota composition that may confer health benefits to the host. Reducing the impurities in prebiotic mixtures could expand their applications in food industries and improve their selectivity and prebiotic effect on the potential beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. This study aimed to determine the in vitro potential fermentation properties of a 65 % galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) content Bimuno® GOS (B-GOS) on gut microbiota composition and their metabolites. Fermentation of 65 % B-GOS was compared with 52 % B-GOS in pH- and volume-controlled dose–response anaerobic batch culture experiments. In total, three different doses (1, 0·5 and 0·33 g equivalent to 0·1, 0·05 and 0·033 g/l) were tested. Changes in the gut microbiota during a time course were identified by fluorescence in situ hybridisation, whereas small molecular weight metabolomics profiles and SCFA were determined by 1H-NMR analysis and GC, respectively. The 65 % B-GOS showed positive modulation of the microbiota composition during the first 8 h of fermentation with all doses. Administration of the specific doses of B-GOS induced a significant increase in acetate as the major SCFA synthesised compared with propionate and butyrate concentrations, but there were no significant differences between substrates. The 65 % B-GOS in syrup format seems to have, in all the analysis, an efficient prebiotic effect. However, the applicability of such changes remains to be shown in an in vivo trial