Rapid VHE variability in blazars

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are known to show significant variability over a wide frequency range. We review observational results on the variability characteristics of blazars in the very high energy (VHE) domain, focusing on recent findings of rapid VHE variability and evidence for an underlying multiplicative driving process in PKS 2155-304. We explore a physical scenario where the variability is assumed to arise due to accretion disk fluctuations transmitted to the jet, and discuss its implications for the central powerhouse.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Accepted to the Proceedings of the 25th Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics (Heidelberg, 2010

Hilary Mantel e il romanzo storico: Wolf Hall e Bring Up the Bodies

Hilary Mantel è uno dei pochi scrittori inglesi ad aver vinto il prestigioso Booker Prize per ben due volte: nel 2009 con Wolf Hall e nel 2012 con Bring Up the Bodies. Il suo primo romanzo storico risale al 1992, A Place of Greater Safety, ma la Mantel era una giovane scrittrice alle prime armi e non sapeva ancora bene cosa stesse facendo. Soltanto quando un editore decide di pubblicarlo si rende conto di ciò che aveva scritto. Dopo aver scritto altri romanzi di genere completamente differenti, ritorna al romanzo storico. Questa volta decide di scrivere una trilogia, di cui fanno parte Wolf Hall e Bring Up the Bodies, l'ultimo capitolo uscirà nel 2015. Il protagonista della storia è Thomas Cromwell, l'uomo che da figlio di un fabbro è riuscito a diventare il braccio destro di Enrico VIII e a ricevere il titolo di Barone. La Mantel racconta gli anni difficili dell'Inghilterra, attraverso gli occhi di Cromwell, e mostrando ai lettori aspetti della sua vita finora sconosciuti

Advances in Viral Aquatic Animal Disease Knowledge: The Molecular Methods' Contribution

Viruses are pervasive components of aquatic ecosystems, and most of them are harmless to humans and animals; however, several aquatic viruses can infect animals, leading to diseases, especially when fish are confined, such as in aquaculture facilities. Traditional methods used to detect and study viruses have been widely applied to aquatic animals' viruses, leading to the successful isolation, identification and understanding of several of them. However, they have limits, which can be overcome by molecular methods, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays, sequencing and in situ hybridisation. A standard PCR, followed by the sequencing of purified amplicons, is an effective method for both identifying well-known viruses and discovering new ones. In situ hybridisation, in which a labelled probe binds to a nucleic acid sequence in tissue, is able to correlate the presence of viruses to lesions. Novel molecular isothermal methods, such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), were also developed and applied to viral aquatic animal diseases, bringing molecular diagnosis into the field. This review considers the scientific literature dealing with the molecular methods employed hitherto to study the most relevant finfish and shellfish viral pathogens, stressing their advantages and disadvantages. Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food-producing sector, with a global production of 122.6 million tonnes in 2020. Nonetheless, aquatic animal production can be hampered by the occurrence of viral diseases. Furthermore, intensive farming conditions and an increasing number of reared fish species have boosted the number of aquatic animals' pathogens that researchers have to deal with, requiring the quick development of new detection and study methods for novel unknown pathogens. In this respect, the molecular tools have significantly contributed to investigating thoroughly the structural constituents of fish viruses and providing efficient detection methods. For instance, next-generation sequencing has been crucial in reassignment to the correct taxonomic family, the sturgeon nucleo-cytoplasmic large DNA viruses, a group of viruses historically known, but mistakenly considered as iridoviruses. Further methods such as in situ hybridisation allowed objectifying the role played by the pathogen in the determinism of disease, as the cyprinid herpesvirus 2, ostreid herpesvirus 1 and betanodaviruses. Often, a combination of molecular techniques is crucial to understanding the viral role, especially when the virus is detected in a new aquatic animal species. With this paper, the authors would critically revise the scientific literature, dealing with the molecular techniques employed hitherto to study the most relevant finfish and shellfish viral pathogens

Redspotted Grouper Nervous Necrosis Virus and the Reassortant RGNNV/SJNNV In Vitro Susceptibility against a Commercial Peroxy-Acid Biocide under Different Conditions of Use

Aquaculture is a constantly growing sector. The intensification of fish production and the movement of aquatic animals could cause the spread of infectious diseases. Remarkably, the diffusion of viral agents represents the major bottleneck for finfish production, and viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER) is considered the most impacting disease for Mediterranean aquaculture. No effective therapies are available to contrast VER, and vaccination can be applied only in grow-out facilities. Hence, programs to minimize the sanitary risks in farms are paramount to implementing hygienic standards and biosecurity. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro virucidal activity of a peroxy-acid disinfectant (Virkon® S, DuPont, Sudbury, UK) towards the two NNV strains most widespread in the Mediterranean Sea. Remarkably, two protocols were applied to assess the virucidal activity under different conditions of use: the suspension test and the net test. The latter has been applied to evaluate the efficacy of the biocide on instruments, simulating the infield application. The obtained results demonstrated the suitability of the tested biocide for NNV inactivation, being effective under some of the tested conditions. However, the presence of organic matter, the concentration of the product, and the application conditions can significantly affect the result of the disinfection procedure

Sustainability Science and regulation: the case study of the European Union policy on energy saving

Entro l’approccio concettuale e metodologico transdisciplinare della Scienza della Sostenibilità, la presente tesi elabora un background teorico per concettualizzare una definizione di sostenibilità sulla cui base proporre un modello di sviluppo alternativo a quello dominante, declinato in termini di proposte concrete entro il caso-studio di regolazione europea in materia di risparmio energetico. La ricerca, attraverso un’analisi transdisciplinare, identifica una crisi strutturale del modello di sviluppo dominante basato sulla crescita economica quale (unico) indicatore di benessere e una crisi valoriale. L’attenzione si concentra quindi sull’individuazione di un paradigma idoneo a rispondere alle criticità emerse dall’analisi. A tal fine vengono esaminati i concetti di sviluppo sostenibile e di sostenibilità, arrivando a proporre un nuovo paradigma (la “sostenibilità ecosistemica”) che dia conto dell’impossibilità di una crescita infinita su un sistema caratterizzato da risorse limitate. Vengono poi presentate delle proposte per un modello di sviluppo sostenibile alternativo a quello dominante. Siffatta elaborazione teorica viene declinata in termini concreti mediante l’elaborazione di un caso-studio. A tal fine, viene innanzitutto analizzata la funzione della regolazione come strumento per garantire l’applicazione pratica del modello teorico. L’attenzione è concentrata sul caso-studio rappresentato dalla politica e regolazione dell’Unione Europea in materia di risparmio ed efficienza energetica. Dall’analisi emerge una progressiva commistione tra i due concetti di risparmio energetico ed efficienza energetica, per la quale vengono avanzate delle motivazioni e individuati dei rischi in termini di effetti rebound. Per rispondere alle incongruenze tra obiettivo proclamato dall’Unione Europea di riduzione dei consumi energetici e politica effettivamente perseguita, viene proposta una forma di “regolazione per la sostenibilità” in ambito abitativo residenziale che, promuovendo la condivisione dei servizi energetici, recuperi il significato proprio di risparmio energetico come riduzione del consumo mediante cambiamenti di comportamento, arricchendolo di una nuova connotazione come “bene relazionale” per la promozione del benessere relazionale ed individuale.Within the conceptual framework and the transdisciplinary methodological approach of Sustainability Science, the thesis develops a theoretical background for the elaboration of a new paradigm to promote a sustainable development model alternative to the mainstream one. Such a theoretical elaboration is translated into practice through a case study on the European Union regulation concerning the rationalisation of energy uses. More in detail, the analysis detects a crisis of the mainstream development model based on the increase of gross domestic product as the solely wellbeing index as well as a crisis of values. In order to identify an apt paradigm to address such crises, “sustainable development” and “sustainability” are put under scrutiny and a new paradigm accounting for the impossibility of a limitless economic growth on a finite planet is proposed: “ecosystemic sustainability”. On its basis, some proposals for a sustainable development model are presented. Such a theoretical elaboration is tested through a case study concerning the European regulation on the rationalisation of energy uses. The analysis preliminary investigates the role of regulation as an effective means for the practical promotion of ecosystemic sustainability. The focus is then shifted to the European regulation on the rationalisation of energy uses. The analysis reveals a conflating trend of energy saving with energy efficiency likely to adversely affect the development of a sustainable energy regulation. The possible related reasons and risks in terms of rebound effects are presented. In order to address the inconsistencies of such a regulatory tendency with the European goal of energy consumption reduction, a proposal for the regulation of residential energy services is developed. Such a proposal is based on the recovery of the proper meaning of energy saving as enriched with a characterisation as a “relational good” for the promotion of relational wellbeing through the sharing of energy services

Regulation for Sustainability: Promoting an Ecology-based Approach

The article argues for the need to rethink and revise the current regulatory system in order to promote a new ecology-based approach to sustainability. It first focuses on the fundamental question of the true meaning of sustainability. The historical origin of the term sustainability is traced and analysed. An essential research question is then investigated, namely what should be sustained by sustainability. This is a crucial issue, since despite widespread use of the term sustainability, it is evident that a general understanding of the object and aim of sustainability is lacking. Thirdly, the issue of how to rethink and revise regulation in order to promote a new regulatory regime based on the concept of ecological sustainability is tackled. Thus a triple change in perspective is proposed, with the aim of contributing to a shift from the current economic model, based on the mantra of infinite economic growth, to a more balanced approach, aimed at pursuing ecological integrity and promoting human development in harmony with nature

Detection of Human and Fish Viruses in Marine Gastropods

Marine gastropods represent a major food source for higher trophic levels and an important source of animal protein for humans. Like bivalve molluscs, gastropods can accumulate several types of contaminants; however, the bioaccumulation of microorganisms, particularly viruses, has been poorly investigated in these animals. This study focused on gastropods (Tritia mutabilis, Bolinus brandaris and Rapana venosa) collected during the fishing season from 2017 to 2021 in the north-western Adriatic Sea, and on clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) harvested in the same geographical area, in order to evaluate the presence of human and fish viruses in their tissues. A virological investigation was carried out on the digestive gland using molecular methods. The presence of hepatitis A virus was detected in one sample, whereas noroviruses were not present in the investigated specimens. Regarding fish viruses, it was possible to detect the presence of nervous necrosis virus (NNV) in 26.5% of the analyzed gastropods; however, the histological examination did not show any pathological changes in the nervous tissue in both NNV-positive and -negative batches. As a whole, the investigated gastropods showed the ability to bioaccumulate viruses; however, lower contamination by human viruses compared to bivalve molluscs was pointed out, posing a minor concern to human health