Aree di studio, siti e strategie di campionamento, difficolt? complessive e sintesi dei principali risultati. Parte B: Laghi

After the preliminary actions for the selection of sites, a successive step was reached: the definition of the lakes under investigation within the project INHABIT. In this deliverable we report a brief description of each morphological and morphometric, geological and geomorphological features, with the description of the origin of the lakes, of land use, particularly important to understand and define the insistent pressure of the lake and imposed from the basin, of hydrology, an integral part of the characteristics and the ecological quality of a lake, and of the pressures due to sewage, industry, agriculture and livestock. In some lakes, we also reported the current trophic status and its evolution over time and the actions planned to improve water quality on the basis of the European Directive 2000/60/EC, the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Furthermore, for all studied lakes we also reported the regional maps for showing the watershed and its hydrography, and an aerial photo to help to identify the morphological characteristics of the lake cuvette. On each lake under study, the project involves the collection of biological samples for the four parameters of quality, as indicated by the WFD, and hydro-morphological characteristics, according to the sampling protocols defined at the national level and presently subject of international harmonization. Chapter 1 provides a description of sampling methods and procedures for the four biological parameters investigated: macroinvertebrates, phytoplankton, macrophytes and fish. Each sampling protocol identifies the sampling period, different for each parameter. For example, for the macrobenthos were identified two annual periods (one spring and one fall), for macrophytes the sampling period is during the maximum vegetative growth of plants. Phytoplankton, on the contrary, is sampled periodically several times during the year and, finally, fishes are sampled from spring to autumn. In the description of the protocols and procedures, sampling sites are also identified. The point of investigation vary from element to element. For example, macrophytes and macrobenthos are sampled along transects, i.e. "lines" distributed in a different way to cover the entire lake. On the contrary, phytoplankton is sampled at the deepest point of the lake, and fishes are collected in different areas arranged in different areas of the lake. In this chapter are also included photos of the equipment used for sampling, and of the sampling procedure when relevant. During the collection of macroinvertebrates and phytoplankton samples, water samples for chemical analysis are also collected. Chemical data are used to support and complete the description and the ecological characterization of the lakes. Furthermore, during macroinvertebrates samples, we also collected sediment samples for particle size and chemical analysis, to define the correct placement of transects on the basis of sediment characteristics and to collect basic information needed for the interpretation of data. In addition to the biological parameters, hydro-morphological characteristics of the studied lakes were also investigated, using the Lake Habitat Survey (LHS), a method developed for the English lakes and the being presently standardized at the European level. In this project, LHS will be validated for the Italian lakes. The lakes selected for investigation are 12, including natural and heavily modified waterbodies, and located in two regions: Piedmont and Sardinia. Seven sites are in Piedmont and 5 in Sardinia. The project originally planned 6 sites for each region, including the only natural lake in Sardinia: Lake Baratz. During the first sampling campaign in Sardinia, when macrobenthos was collected, he became aware of the presence of unexploded ordnance on the lake bottom. Working on, and in proximity of the bottom of the lake was excessively dangerous, and it was decided to transfer the activities on the four biological parameters in another lake, Lake Piccolo di Avigliana, a natural lake in Piedmont, lying in a natural park and of particular ecological interest . However, it was decided to keep the sampling of Lake Baratz for the biological parameters which can be sampled without danger, i.e. phytoplankton and macrophytes. In effect, being this lake the only natural lake in Sardinia, it can provide information on natural lakewater communities in the Region, otherwise missing. Selected lakes in Piedmont are the following: Lake Piccolo di Avigliana, in a Regional Park, Lake Candia, in a Provincial Park, Lake Viverone, subject to strong touristic pressure, Lake Sirio, less impacted by tourism, and two heavily modified waterbodies: Morasco, in the basin of River Toce and Serr? in the Gran Paradiso National Park, both built for hydroelectric purposes. In Sardinia, all the 5 fully investigated lakes are heavily modified waterbodies, namely Bidighinzu, Sos Canales, Liscia, Posada and Torrei. The main use for most of these basins is providing drinking water, only for Posada is providing water for agriculture. However, waters from Liscia and Posada are also used for other purposes, irrigation for the former and industry, drinking water and hydroelectric power for the latter. During the sampling campaigns, and particularly during the application of the LHS method which requires to examine the transition between an observation point and the following along the entire lake shore, we made a number of pictures of each lake in order to document the pressures on the coast, such as beaches, docks, artworks, human activities, and to show peculiar coastal and subcoastal habitats, such as sandy areas, reed beds, rocky areas, oxbow lakes, wetlands, riparian vegetation and macrophytes. A small selection of this vast collection of pictures is used in chapters 3 and 4, to show the features of each sampled lake. Sampling activities are not yet finished for all quality parameters, both because of the late selection Lake Piccolo di Avigliana, and because of difficulties due to weather conditions. It is expected to complete all sampling and analyses by Summer 2012. Preliminary data can be found in Chapter 5 for both regions, but only for some parameters and some lakes. In effect, biological analyses require different time and commitment for the different biological elements quality, so that the results the could be obtained faster are reported in this deliverable. A further activity in preparation for the near future is the preparation of a database for the hydromorphological parameters to be used for the calibration and the development of synthetic indices of morphological alteration and habitat quality. This adjustment is necessary because, in an earlier phase of verification of the applicability of the LHS method to the hydromorphological characteristics of the Italian lakes, it emerged the necessity to change some entries in the field card. These changes must also be included in the database associated with the method and in the formulation of the index.Dopo le azioni preliminari per la scelta dei siti si ? giunti, a passi successivi, alla definizione dei laghi oggetto di indagine all\u27interno del progetto INHABIT. In questo deliverable si riporta una sintetica descrizione delle caratteristiche morfologiche e morfometriche di ciascuno, le caratteristiche geologiche e geomorfologiche, con la descrizione della formazione di alcuni laghi, l\u27uso del suolo, particolarmente importante per capire e definire le pressioni insistenti sul lago e gravanti dal bacino, l\u27idrologia, parte integrante delle caratteristiche e della qualit? ecologica di un lago, le pressioni puntuali dovute a scarichi fognari e/o industriali, agricoli e zootecnici. Di alcuni laghi, si ? anche riportato lo stato trofico attuale e la sua evoluzione nel tempo e le azioni regionali intraprese o che si intendono intraprendere per migliorarne la qualit? alla luce delle indicazione della WFD 2000/60. Inoltre, per tutti i laghi studiati si sono riportate anche la cartografia tecnica regionale per l\u27individuazione di ciascun bacino imbrifero e della rete idrografica principale che lo caratterizza, e una foto aerea per meglio identificare le caratteristiche morfologiche della cuvetta lacustre. Su ciascun lago oggetto di studio, il progetto prevede la raccolta di campioni per i quattro parametri biologici di qualit?, cos? come indicati dalla Direttiva Quadro sulle Acque, e delle caratteristiche idromorfologiche, secondo i protocolli di campionamento definiti a livello nazionale e oggetto di intercalibrazione a livello internazionale. Nel capitolo 1 sono riportate una descrizione delle metodiche e delle modalit? di campionamento per i quattro parametri biologici indagati, macroinvertebrati, fitoplancton, macrofite e pesci. Ogni protocollo di campionamento individua il periodo di campionamento, diverso per ciascun parametro, ad esempio per il macrobenthos si sono individuati due periodi annuali (uno primaverile e l\u27altro autunnale), per le macrofite il periodo di campionamento ? quello del massimo sviluppo vegetativo delle piante, mentre il fitoplancton viene raccolto periodicamente diverse volte, durante l\u27anno di campionamento. Infine i pesci sono campionati da primavera ad autunno. Nella descrizione del protocollo e delle modalit? di campionamento, vengono anche individuati i siti di lavoro, ovvero i punti di indagine, che variano molto da elemento a elemento. Ad esempio, le macrofite e il macrobenthos vengono campionati lungo un transetto, quindi su diverse "linee" distribuite in modo diverso fino a coprire tutto il lago. Il fitoplancton viene campionato nel punto pi? profondo del lago, quindi risulta un campionamento "puntuale" e i pesci vengono raccolti in diverse aree disposte in diverse zone del lago, si possono quindi pensare come campioni "areali". Nel suddetto capitolo si sono riportate anche foto della strumentazione necessaria e utilizzata per il campionamento e altre relative ad alcune fasi di raccolta dei campioni. Unitamente alla raccolta della fauna a macroinvertebrati e del fitoplancton vengono anche raccolti campioni di acqua per le analisi chimiche da utilizzare a sostegno e a completamento delle indagini e della caratterizzazione ecologica del lago. Inoltre, sempre unitamente al campionamento dei macroinvertebrati vengono prelevati campioni di sedimento per l\u27analisi granulometrica e chimica, per definire il corretto posizionamento dei transetti e raccogliere informazioni complementari ma basilari, per l\u27interpretazione dei dati. Oltre ai parametri biologici si sono indagate anche le caratteristiche idromorfologiche di ciascun lago scelto, utilizzando il metodo Lake Habitat Survey (LHS), nato per i laghi inglesi e oggetto di standardizzazione a livello europeo, e in questo progetto, oggetto di validazione per i laghi italiani. I laghi su cui effettuare campionamento e indagine sono 12, tra naturali e fortemente modificati, e situati nelle due regioni Piemonte e Sardegna, suddivisi in 7 laghi in Piemonte e 5 in Sardegna. Inizialmente erano previsti 6 laghi ciascuna regione con l\u27inclusione dell\u27unico lago naturale sardo: il Lago Baratz. Dopo la prima campagna di campionamento in Sardegna, quella relativa al macrobenthos, si ? venuti a conoscenza della presenza di ordigni inesplosi sul fondo del lago. Giudicando pericoloso lavorare sui suoi sedimenti ma anche nelle vicinanze del fondo stesso, si ? deciso di continuare l\u27attivit? sui quattro parametri biologici in un altro lago, il Lago Piccolo di Avigliana, lago naturale piemontese, zona di Parco Naturale e di particolare interesse ecologico. Si ? comunque deciso di mantenere il campionamento del Lago Baratz per quei parametri giudicati non pericolosi, fitoplancton e macrofite in quanto, essendo l\u27unico lago naturale sardo riveste una particolare importanza sia per la Regione Sardegna sia per la raccolta di informazioni biologiche nella Regione, altrimenti mancanti. I laghi scelti quindi sono, in Piemonte: il Piccolo di Avigliana, il Candia e il Viverone nell\u27anfiteatro morenico di Ivrea, il primo Parco Provinciale, il secondo meta turistica e oggetto quindi di forti pressioni sia sulle rive che sull\u27intero lago; il Sirio di particolare interesse sia turistico che naturalistico e due corpi idrici fortemente modificati: il Morasco, nel bacino dell\u27Alto Toce e il Serr? all\u27interno del Parco del Gran Paradiso, entrambi creati a scopo idroelettrico. Per quanto riguarda la Sardegna i 5 laghi indagati in modo completo sono tutti corpi idrici fortemente modificati e sono: il Bidighinzu, il Sos Canales, il Liscia, il Posada e il Torrei; l\u27utilizzo prevalente per questi bacini ? quello potabile tranne che per il Posada che ? irriguo. Le acque del Liscia e del Posada sono utilizzate anche per altri scopi, irriguo e industriale il primo, potabile e idroelettrico il secondo. Durante le campagne di campionamento e soprattutto, durante l\u27applicazione del metodo idromorfologico che prevede il passaggio tra un punto di osservazione e l\u27altro, lungo tutto il perimetro sotto costa, si sono effettuate numerose fotografie di ciascun lago, per documentare sia le pressioni sulla costa, come spiagge attrezzate, banchine, artificializzazioni di varia natura, attivit? presenti, che particolari habitat litorali e sub litorali, come zone sabbiose, canneti, zone rocciose, lanche, aree umide, nonch? vegetazione spondale e riparia e macrofite. Del vasto repertorio fotografico raccolto si sono riportate solo alcune delle principali caratteristiche rilevate e sopra descritte, inserite nei capitoli 3 e 4, relativi ai singoli laghi campionati, rispettivamente in Piemonte e in Sardegna. Il lavoro di campionamento non ? ancora finito per tutti i parametri di qualit?, sia a causa della scelta tardiva del Lago Piccolo di Avigliana, sia per difficolt? di varia natura dovute alle condizioni meteorologiche. Si prevede di concludere tali attivit? entro l\u27estate del 2012. Le prime elaborazioni disponibili sono riportate nel capitolo 5 per entrambe le regioni, ma solo per alcuni parametri e per alcuni laghi. La determinazione delle specie presenti non richiede lo stesso tempo e lo stesso impegno per tutti i parametri di qualit? di conseguenza la chiusura dell\u27identificazione dei campioni raccolti sar? effettuata nelle attivit? prossime future. Un\u27altra attivit? in previsione per il prossimo futuro ? quella della taratura del database per i parametri idromorfologici per l\u27elaborazione degli indici sintetici di alterazione morfologica e di qualit? degli habitat. Tale taratura risulta necessaria in quanto, in una precedente fase di verifica dell\u27applicabilit? del metodo LHS alle caratteristiche idromorfologiche dei laghi italiani, ? stato necessario variare qualche voce nella scheda di campo. Tali variazioni dovranno essere inserite anche nel database associato al metodo

Integrated MRI–Immune–Genomic Features Enclose a Risk Stratification Model in Patients Affected by Glioblastoma

Simple Summary: Despite crucial scientific advances, Glioblastoma (GB) remains a fatal disease with limited therapeutic options and a lack of suitable biomarkers. The unveiled competence of the brain immune system together with the breakthrough advent of immunotherapy has shifted the present translational research on GB towards an immune-focused perspective. Several clinical trials targeting the immunosuppressive GB background are ongoing. So far, results are inconclusive, underpinning our partial understanding of the complex cancer-immune interplay in brain tumors. High throughput Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging has shown the potential to decipher GB heterogeneity, including pathologic and genomic clues. However, whether distinct GB immune contextures can be deciphered at an imaging scale is still elusive, leaving unattained the non-invasive achievement of prognostic and predictive biomarkers. Along these lines, we integrated genetic, immunopathologic and imaging features in a series of GB patients. Our results suggest that multiparametric approaches might offer new efficient risk stratification models, opening the possibility to intercept the critical events implicated in the dismal prognosis of GB. Abstract: Background: The aim of the present study was to dissect the clinical outcome of GB patients through the integration of molecular, immunophenotypic and MR imaging features. Methods: We enrolled 57 histologically proven and molecularly tested GB patients (5.3% IDH-1 mutant). Two- Dimensional Free ROI on the Biggest Enhancing Tumoral Diameter (TDFRBETD) acquired by MRI sequences were used to perform a manual evaluation of multiple quantitative variables, among which we selected: SD Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR), SD and mean Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC). Characterization of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment (TIME) involved the immunohistochemical analysis of PD-L1, and number and distribution of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) and CD163+ Tumor Associated Macrophages (TAMs), focusing on immune-vascular localization. Genetic, MR imaging and TIME descriptors were correlated with overall survival (OS). Results: MGMT methylation was associated with a significantly prolonged OS (median OS = 20 months), while no impact of p53 and EGFR status was apparent. GB cases with high mean ADC at MRI, indicative of low cellularity and soft consistency, exhibited increased OS (median OS = 24 months). PD-L1 and the overall number of TILs and CD163+TAMs had a marginal impact on patient outcome. Conversely, the density of vascular-associated (V) CD4+ lymphocytes emerged as the most significant prognostic factor (median OS = 23 months in V-CD4high vs. 13 months in V-CD4low, p = 0.015). High V-CD4+TILs also characterized TIME of MGMTmeth GB, while p53mut appeared to condition a desert immune background. When individual genetic (MGMTunmeth), MR imaging (mean ADClow) and TIME (V-CD4+TILslow) negative predictors were combined, median OS was 21 months (95% CI, 0–47.37) in patients displaying 0–1 risk factor and 13 months (95% CI 7.22–19.22) in the presence of 2–3 risk factors (p = 0.010, HR = 3.39, 95% CI 1.26–9.09). Conclusion: Interlacing MRI–immune–genetic features may provide highly significant risk-stratification models in GB patients

Itineraries of the Working Group for Vegetation Science of the Italian Botanical Society – 1 (2022): Excursion to the Egadi Islands, Mount San Giuliano and Mount Cofano (Trapani, western Sicily, Italy)

The results of the annual excursion of the Working Group for Vegetation Science of the Italian Botanical Society, held in the Egadi Islands, Mount San Giuliano and Mount Cofano (W Sicily) on April 23–27 2022, are presented. This paper includes: (1) general information on the visited sites; (2) geology and geomorphology; (3) climatology and bioclimatology with tables of climatic data; (4) description of the following five geobotanical itineraries – accompanied by 29 original vegetation relevés and 11 synthetic relevés, proceeding from different bibliographic references: (a) Mount San Giuliano; (b) Marettimo Island: coastal and sub-coastal stretch of the southern part, between Punta Bassana and Contrada Chiappera; (c) Marettimo Island: Case Romane, Mount Pizzo Falcone and the north-western coastal stretch; (d) Island of Levanzo; (e) Mount Cofano – with catenal pictograms of the vegetation, surveys and description of the plant communities and related syntaxonomic scheme; (5) list of the surveyed plant taxa, collected specimens and herbaria in which they are deposited. A new syntaxon is also described (Catapodio pauciflori-Moraeetum sisyrinchii ass. nova), referring to an ephemeral dry grassland located along the north-western coastal stretch of Marettimo. The new association is framed in the Plantagini-Catapodion balearici, alliance of the Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi order of the class Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae (order Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi, alliance Plantagini-Catapodion balearici). An original synoptic table, regarding 17 different plant communities with high frequency of Moraea sisyrinchium, provides a comparative framework of the new association with allied vegetation units so far described throughout the Mediterranean region. Syntaxonomical and nomenclatural remarks regarding the Mediterranean vegetation occurring in this territory are also given throughout the text. Some floristic updates for the study sites are also reported, including the discovery for the first time in Sicily of Lysimachia loeflingii

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

THE SOILS OF PORTOFINO PROMONTORY (NW ITALY): DISTRIBUTION, GENESIS AND PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS.

The coverage of detailed soil maps is commonly limited in Italy, and the available regional soil inventories are obviously not adequate for local land planning strategies. The aim of this research is to map soil units using a Geographical Information System (GIS) approach in the Portofino regional park. Soil micromorphology has been selected as support to the laboratory routine analyses for studying some representative benchmark profiles in order to explain their genesis and to assess their palaeoclimatic significance. The spatial distribution and variability of the most extensive soil types were analysed using a GIS approach and are presented in a 1:10,000-scale soil map with a descriptive legend. We identified six RSGs: Cambisol, Regosol, Leptosol, Luvisol, Acrisol, and Umbrisol. This GIS database was then used to produce three derived maps: soil erodibility factor, spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil hydrological groups. Deep and highly weathered soils were identified on an ancient erosional surface. These soils are relict palaeosols, products of longer pedogenesis, and are no longer affected by active processes. Polygenetic development of these palaeosols was underlined by micromorphological studies showing relict features reflect climate conditions typical of past interglacial periods which were warmer and more humid than today