Modeling the bicarbonate uptake in Arthrospira maxima as a function of pH: batch and continuous experiments.

openMicroalgae industrial cultivation is still currently limited by high costs related to biomass production and harvesting. Among the others, the supply of CO2 by bubbling is one of the major costs related to CO2 insufflation in photobioreactors, due to the low solubility of CO2 and the slow uptake by microalgae, causing a consistent loss of the gas in the atmosphere. Hence, research efforts have been focused on the investigation of suitable alternative inorganic carbon sources. Some microalgae and cyanobacteria, called alkali halophilic species, are able to exploit bicarbonate ions for carbon fixation with efficiency comparable to that of CO2. Spirulina, one of the most cultivated microalgal species for industrial purposes, is able to use bicarbonate, and it was chosen as a model organism to describe the effect of bicarbonate on growth, accounting for the effect of pH on carbonate speciation. In this master thesis, Arthrospira maxima has been cultivated in continuous photobioreactors under different bicarbonate concentration, pH and under enriched CO2 bubbling. Experimental data were subsequently applied to implement a kinetic model for a numerical description of such a phenomenon.Microalgae industrial cultivation is still currently limited by high costs related to biomass production and harvesting. Among the others, the supply of CO2 by bubbling is one of the major costs related to CO2 insufflation in photobioreactors, due to the low solubility of CO2 and the slow uptake by microalgae, causing a consistent loss of the gas in the atmosphere. Hence, research efforts have been focused on the investigation of suitable alternative inorganic carbon sources. Some microalgae and cyanobacteria, called alkali halophilic species, are able to exploit bicarbonate ions for carbon fixation with efficiency comparable to that of CO2. Spirulina, one of the most cultivated microalgal species for industrial purposes, is able to use bicarbonate, and it was chosen as a model organism to describe the effect of bicarbonate on growth, accounting for the effect of pH on carbonate speciation. In this master thesis, Arthrospira maxima has been cultivated in continuous photobioreactors under different bicarbonate concentration, pH and under enriched CO2 bubbling. Experimental data were subsequently applied to implement a kinetic model for a numerical description of such a phenomenon

The Comprehension of (Eventive) Verbal Passives by Italian Preschool Age Children

This study investigates the comprehension of passive sentences by Italian-speaking typically-developing young children, in order to determine how different variables (use of actional vs. non-actional verbs, presence vs. absence of the by-phrase, use of the auxiliary essere vs. auxiliary venire) can account for the use of this structure in early language acquisition. The analysis of the data shows an asymmetry between actional and non-actional passives, namely the former are easier to comprehend than the latter. Long passives are not significantly different from short passives. The most interesting results concern the role of the variable ‘auxiliary’ in the comprehension of passive sentences. In fact, actional passive sentences with auxiliary venire are largely comprehended by Italian-speaking children (mean percentage of accuracy 86%). The correct comprehension of sentences built with this auxiliary demonstrates that Italian children do master verbal passive sentences

The Comprehension of (Eventive) Verbal Passives by Italian Preschool Age Children

This study investigates the comprehension of passive sentences by Italian-speaking typically-developing young children, in order to determine how different variables (use of actional vs. non-actional verbs, presence vs. absence of the by-phrase, use of the auxiliary essere vs. auxiliary venire) can account for the use of this structure in early language acquisition. The analysis of the data shows an asymmetry between actional and non-actional passives, namely the former are easier to comprehend than the latter. Long passives are not significantly different from short passives. The most interesting results concern the role of the variable ‘auxiliary’ in the comprehension of passive sentences. In fact, actional passive sentences with auxiliary venire are largely comprehended by Italian-speaking children (mean percentage of accuracy 86%). The correct comprehension of sentences built with this auxiliary demonstrates that Italian children do master verbal passive sentences

Compositional Data Analysis of 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing Results from Hospital Airborne Microbiome Samples

The compositional analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing datasets is applied to characterize the bacterial structure of airborne samples collected in different locations of a hospital infection disease department hosting COVID-19 patients, as well as to investigate the relationships among bacterial taxa at the genus and species level. The exploration of the centered log-ratio transformed data by the principal component analysis via the singular value decomposition has shown that the collected samples segregated with an observable separation depending on the monitoring location. More specifically, two main sample clusters were identified with regards to bacterial genera (species), consisting of samples mostly collected in rooms with and without COVID-19 patients, respectively. Human pathogenic genera (species) associated with nosocomial infections were mostly found in samples from areas hosting patients, while non-pathogenic genera (species) mainly isolated from soil were detected in the other samples. Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus pettenkoferi, Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum, and jeikeium were the main pathogenic species detected in COVID-19 patients’ rooms. Samples from these locations were on average characterized by smaller richness/evenness and diversity than the other ones, both at the genus and species level. Finally, the ρ metrics revealed that pairwise positive associations occurred either between pathogenic or non-pathogenic taxa

Urban grey spaces are associated with increased allergy in the general population

International audienceBackground: the built environment in urban areas may have side effects on children's respiratory health, whilst less is known for adulthood. Aim: to assess the association between increasing exposure to grey spaces and allergic status in an adult general population sample. Methods: 2070 subjects (age range 15–84 yrs), living in Pisa/Cascina, Italy, were investigated in 1991–93 through a questionnaire on health status and risk factors, skin prick test (SPT), serum Immunoglobulins E (IgE), and serum antibodies to benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts. Land-cover exposure within a 1000 m buffer from each subject's home address was assessed through the CORINE Land Cover program (CLC 1990) within the FP7/HEALS project (2013–2018). Participants' residential addresses were geocoded and the proportion of surrounding grey spaces was calculated. Through logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounding factors, the effect of a 10% increase in grey spaces exposure on allergic biomarkers/conditions was assessed; the relationship with serum antibodies to BPDE-DNA adducts positivity was also analyzed. Results: A 10% increase in grey spaces coverage was associated with a higher probability of having SPT positivity (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13), seasonal SPT positivity (OR 1.12, 1.05-1.19), polysensitization (OR 1.11, 1.04-1.19), allergic rhinitis (OR 1.10, 1.04-1.17), co-presence of SPT positivity and asthma/allergic rhinitis (OR 1.16, 1.08-1.25), asthma/allergic rhinitis (OR 1.06, 1.00-1.12), presence of serum antibodies to BPDE-DNA adducts positivity (OR 1.07, 1.01-1.14). Conclusions: grey spaces have adverse effects on allergic status and are related to a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure in adulthood. Thus, they may be used as a proxy of urban environmental exposure

The Italian severe/uncontrolled asthma registry (RItA): A 12-month clinical follow-up

Background: follow-up studies on registries of severe/uncontrolled asthma (SUA) patients are scanty. Objective: to analyze baseline and follow-up characteristics of SUA patients and their longitudinal patterns. Methods: 180 adult patients (age ≥15 yrs) were investigated at baseline and 12-month follow-up through the Italian SUA registry (RItA). Latent transition analysis (LTA) was performed to detect cross-sectional SUA phenotypes and longitudinal patterns. Risk factors for longitudinal patterns were assessed through logistic regression. Results: a significant/borderline improvement of asthma control outcomes in the last 2-4 weeks emerged at follow-up with respect to baseline for: daily activities limitations (Δ -16%), frequent diurnal symptoms (Δ -25%), uncontrolled asthma symptoms according to ACT (Δ -26%). Last 12-month use of oral corticosteroids was less frequent at follow-up than at baseline (Δ -25%). Health status improvement was confirmed by lung function test results. Through LTA, two longitudinal patterns were detected considering last 12-month control outcomes: "persistence/worsening" (53.9%), "under control/improvement" (46.1%). A lower likelihood of having "persistence/worsening" SUA was exhibited by patients under anti-IgE (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17-0.84) and inhaled corticosteroids-bronchodilator association treatment (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.01-1.26, borderline value), while a higher likelihood was shown by older age at first asthma diagnosis (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07). Conclusion: the implementation of a SUA registry, the availability of patient-level data and the application of an innovative longitudinal analysis allowed to observe a general improvement in asthma control, one year after baseline, and a lower risk of SUA "persistence/worsening" in patients under anti-IgE and regular ICS-bronchodilator association use

The comprehension and production of verbal passives by Italian preschool-age children

This paper investigates the comprehension and the production of passive sentences in Italian-speaking children (aged 3 years, 4months to 6 years, 2months) analyzing both the variables observed in previous studies on other languages (verb type and presence of the by-phrase) versus an Italian-specific variable: the use of auxiliary venire “to come.” Because Italian venire is only possible in verbal passives, this property is crucial to determine whether children have full competence of the (verbal) passive structure. The high percentage of accuracy in the comprehension of sentences containing venire suggests that the eventive passive interpretation is fully available in child language, even in 3- to 4-year-old children. Moreover, young children produce passive sentences with either auxiliary venire or essere “to be,” also adding the by-phrase, thus proving unambiguously that children control verbal passive sentences from very early on

Relationship of long-term air pollution exposure with asthma and rhinitis in Italy: an innovative multipollutant approach

Background: air pollution is a complex mixture; novel multipollutant approaches could help understanding the health effects of multiple concomitant exposures to air pollutants. Aim: to assess the relationship of long-term air pollution exposure with the prevalence of respiratory/allergic symptoms and diseases in an Italian multicenter study using single and multipollutant approaches. Methods: 14420 adults living in 6 Italian cities (Ancona, Pavia, Pisa, Sassari, Turin, Verona) were investigated in 2005-2011 within 11 different study cohorts. Questionnaire information about risk factors and health outcomes was collected. Machine learning derived mean annual concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and mean summer concentrations of O3 (μg/m3) at residential level (1-km resolution) were used for the period 2013-2015. The associations between the four pollutants and respiratory/allergic symptoms/diseases were assessed using two approaches: a) logistic regression models (single-pollutant models), b) principal component logistic regression models (multipollutant models). All the models were adjusted for age, sex, education level, smoking habits, season of interview, climatic index and included a random intercept for cohorts. Results: the three-year average (± standard deviation) pollutants concentrations at residential level were: 20.3 ± 6.8 μg/m3 for PM2.5, 29.2 ± 7.0 μg/m3 for PM10, 28.0 ± 11.2 μg/m3 for NO2, and 70.9 ± 4.3 μg/m3 for summer O3. Through the multipollutant models the following associations emerged: PM10 and PM2.5 were related to 14-25% increased odds of rhinitis, 23-34% of asthma and 30-33% of night awakening; NO2 was related to 6-9% increased odds of rhinitis, 7-8% of asthma and 12% of night awakening; O3 was associated with 37% increased odds of asthma attacks. Overall, the Odds Ratios estimated through the multipollutant models were attenuated when compared to those of the single-pollutant models. Conclusions: this study enabled to obtain new information about the health effects of air pollution on respiratory/allergic outcomes in adults, applying innovative methods for exposure assessment and multipollutant analyses

Positive Touch Deprivation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects on Anxiety, Stress, and Depression among Italian General Population

Physical distancing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic has limited the opportunities for family members, friends, and significant others to show physical affection (i.e., hugs, kisses, caresses, holding hands) during social interactions. The present study investigated the effects of positive touch and psychological distress in 991 Italian participants (Mage = 34.43, SD = 14.27). Results showed the frequency of hugs with the cohabiting partner significantly decreased the symptoms of depression (β = −1.187, p = 0.018, eβ = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.11–0.82), whereas the frequency of caresses with cohabiting relatives predicted the symptoms of anxiety (β = 0.575, p = 0.034, eβ = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.04–3.03). The frequency of hugs (β = −0.609, p = 0.049, eβ = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.30–1.00), and kisses (β = 0.663, p = 0.045, eβ = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.01–3.71) with non-cohabiting relatives predicted the symptoms of anxiety (χ2 = 1.35, df = 5, p = 0.93). These results suggest the importance of positive touch on psychological well-being in the social context