Altered inorganic composition of enamel and dentin in mice teeth chronically exposed to an enriched mineral environment at Furnas, São Miguel (Azores)

Active volcanic environments pose a multifactorial stress challenge to local organisms, including the domestic mouse Mus musculus. Energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis was used to determine the elemental composition of lower incisor enamel and dentin from Mus musculus inhabiting the hydrothermal field at Furnas volcano in the Azores (Portugal). Elemental concentration for Ca, P, Na and Cl was found to be significantly different in mice from the volcanic site when compared to an unexposed group. Enamel surface was differently coloured; animals from the volcanic site showed a prominent yellow/red coloration when compared to the unexposed group, probably due to mineral deposition in the former group. These results are discussed in relation to the environment in which specimens were caught

Magma water content of Pico Volcano (Azores Islands, Portugal): a clinopyroxene perspective

AbstractClinopyroxenes from the Pico Volcano (Pico Island, Azores Archipelago) have been used as a proxy to define the water content of primitive magmas and the volcanological history of the erupted rocks. This very young volcano (53 ± 5 ka) is at a primordial stage of its evolution in comparison with the other volcanoes of the Azores. Clinopyroxenes from Pico Volcano underwent important dehydration processes and after annealing experiments under H2gas flux, a pre-eruptive H2O content between 93 and 182 ppm was recovered. A moderately high cooling rate for the cpx-host lavas expressed by the clinopyroxene closure temperature (Tc = 755–928 °C ± 20 °C) correlates with the dehydration, suggesting that this process may have occurred during magma ponding at the Moho Transition Zone (17.3–17.7 km) and/or after the eruption. By applying anIVAl-dependent partition coefficient to the measured H amount in clinopyroxene, the pre-eruptive water content of the parental magma was calculated to vary between 0.71 and 1.20 (average of 1.0) wt%. Clinopyroxene geobarometry performed by combining X-ray diffraction with mineral chemistry points to a general crystallisation from the mantle lithosphere (~ 8–9 kbar) to the oceanic mantle/crust boundary (~ 4–5 kbar). The similar major and trace chemistry, water content and Fe3+/Fetotratio of clinopyroxene, suggest similar conditions of oxygen fugacity, water content and fractional crystallisation of the magma from which clinopyroxene cores crystallised during the Pico Volcano central eruptions from 40 ka to historical times

Lo stereotipo di genere nel servizio sociale. Esiti di una survey nazionale sugli assistenti sociali

L’assistente sociale è un professionista noto per le sue capacità di lavorare con le differenze, le ha studiate a lungo nei corsi di laurea, ha appreso non solo come accettarle e rispettarle, ma anche come valorizzarle e farne una risorsa. Ma sarà in grado di adottare la stessa sensibilità quando l’oggetto di indagine non è una persona che accede ai servizi, una famiglia, un servizio, un progetto, ma proprio se stesso? Il presente contributo si propone di indagare la percezione causata dalla differenza di genere tra gli assistenti sociali (e aspiranti tali), in termini di capacità, caratteristiche e prospettive e come tale differenza rilevi nei vari contesti di lavoro

Narrare la differenza di genere nella pratica professionale. Resoconti e storie di assistenti sociali

La sezione conclusiva della survey sugli stereotipi nel servizio sociale offriva la possibilità di raccontare episodi o situazioni nelle quali il genere dell’assistente sociale poteva aver avuto un impatto ritenuto significativo nella gestione di un “caso”, o in generale di lasciare commenti al questionario. Le domande erano libere, con campi non obbligatori, nei quali si è chiesto agli assistenti sociali di raccontarsi senza alcun vincolo. Lo scopo era quello di lasciare spazio alle memorie di ciascuno e fare emergere sprazzi di pratiche professionali, impresse nella storia lavorativa, che le domande del questionario potevano aver rievocato. Ne è nata una miscellanea di storie che rilevano, da una parte, un bisogno di raccontare e di trasmettere l’esperienza vissuta nel lavoro, dall’altra, le criticità che si incontrano nella pratica e che attivano la riflessività del professionista. Ciò sembra aver dato spazio al desiderio degli assistenti sociali di riflettere in modo critico sul proprio lavoro, senza timore di esporre le difficoltà e le fragilità del lavoro quotidiano in ambiti complessi e incerti, riuscendo a evidenziare un sapere costruito nel tempo, informale e tacito, ma significativamente operativo

Unravelling the magma feeding system of a young basaltic oceanic volcano

A multidisciplinary approach combining petrological, geochemical, and fluid-inclusion studies with seismic monitoring data was used to build a model of the magma feeding system of Pico volcano (Azores islands, North Atlantic Ocean). We explore how magma has ascended to the surface in the last 10 ka and how this ascent is associated with the selective activation of the three tectonic systems intersecting the volcano. The deepest and most important ponding level for all ascending magmas is located at 17.3–17.7 km and corresponds to the Moho Transition Zone (MTZ), which marks the transition from mantle rocks to ultramafic cumulates. At shallower depth ascending magmas carry >30 vol% of clinopyroxene and olivine. Each magma ascent followed a distinct path and ponded often for a limited period. Ponding levels common to all feeding systems are present at 16.3–16.7 km, 12.1–14.5 km, 9.4–9.8 km, and 7.7–8.1 km. These depths mark important discontinuities where magmas formed stacked sills and evolved through fractional crystallisation. Dense and un-decrepitated fluid inclusions show rapid ascent from the MTZ along the Lomba do Fogo-São João fault (N150° system) and along the N120° regional transtensive system, despite multiple intrusions. Magma ponding at 5.6–6.8 km occurs where the N150° and N60° tectonic systems intersect each other. Here magma evolves towards plagioclase-rich and is only erupted at the summit crater and subterminal vents. This region is the source of the frequent microseismicity recorded at 4 to 7 km beneath the southern flank of Pico volcano, which might be associated with the early stages of formation of a more complex magma reservoir. The local and regional tectonics are of paramount importance in the activation of the different magma feeding systems over time. This new information is fundamental to improve the knowledge on the future eruptive behaviour of Pico volcano and can have significant implications on the mitigation of volcanic risk. This multidisciplinary approach can be applied not only to other volcanoes of the Azores but also to poorly monitored oceanic volcanoes, where magma ascent strongly depends on the activation of tectonic systems

INTERMUSCULAR TWO-INCISION TECHNIQUE FOR S-ICD IMPLANTATION

Background The traditional technique for subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) implantation, which involves three incisions and a subcutaneous pocket, is associated with possible complications, including inappropriate interventions. The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an alternative intermuscular two-incision technique for S-ICD implantation. Methods The study population included 36 consecutive patients (75% male, mean age 44 ± 12 years [range 20–69]) who underwent S-ICD implantation using the intermuscular two-incision technique. This technique avoids the superior parasternal incision for the lead placement and consists of creating an intermuscular pocket between the anterior surface of the serratus anterior and the posterior surface of the latissimus dorsi muscles instead of a subcutaneous pocket. Results All patients were successfully implanted in the absence of any procedure-related complications with a successful 65-J standard polarity defibrillation threshold testing, except in one, who received a second successful shock after pocket revision. During a mean follow-up of 10 months (range 3–30), no complications requiring surgical revision were observed. At device interrogation, stable sensing without interferences was observed in all patients. Two patients (5.5%) experienced appropriate and successful shock on ventricular fibrillation and in four patients (11%), a total of seven nonsustained self-terminated ventricular tachycardias were correctly detected. No inappropriate interventions were observed. Conclusions Our experience suggests that the two-incision intermuscular technique is a safe and efficacious alternative to the current technique for S-ICD implantation that may help reducing complications including inappropriate interventions and offer a better cosmetic outcome, especially in thin individuals

Cytokine storm and histopathological findings in 60 cases of COVID-19-related death: from viral load research to immunohistochemical quantification of major players IL-1\u3b2, IL-6, IL-15 and TNF-\u3b1

This study involves the histological analysis of samples taken during autopsies in cases of COVID-19 related death to evaluate the inflammatory cytokine response and the tissue localization of the virus in various organs. In all the selected cases, SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR on swabs collected from the upper (nasopharynx and oropharynx) and/or the lower respiratory (trachea and primary bronchi) tracts were positive. Tissue localization of SARS-CoV-2 was detected using antibodies against the nucleoprotein and the spike protein. Overall, we tested the hypothesis that the overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines plays an important role in the development of COVID-19-associated pneumonia by estimating the expression of multiple cytokines (IL-1\u3b2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15, TNF-\u3b1, and MCP-1), inflammatory cells (CD4, CD8, CD20, and CD45), and fibrinogen. Immunohistochemical staining showed that endothelial cells expressed IL-1\u3b2 in lung samples obtained from the COVID-19 group (p\u2009<\u20090.001). Similarly, alveolar capillary endothelial cells showed strong and diffuse immunoreactivity for IL-6 and IL-15 in the COVID-19 group (p\u2009<\u20090.001). TNF-\u3b1 showed a higher immunoreactivity in the COVID-19 group than in the control group (p\u2009<\u20090.001). CD8\u2009+\u2009T cells where more numerous in the lung samples obtained from the COVID-19 group (p\u2009<\u20090.001). Current evidence suggests that a cytokine storm is the major cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ failure and is consistently linked with fatal outcomes