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The underwater sound distribution generated by natural sources, shipping and trawling activities has been computed by the Quonops© modelling webservice for the Northern Adriatic Sea (NAS) during 2020, a year characterized by the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Modelling has been calibrated by using a year-long time series of field measurements covering the domain of interest. Sound levels (50th percentile) ranged between 75 and 90 dB re 1μPa for all the considered frequencies (63 Hz, 125 Hz, 250 Hz third octave bands). Noisier NAS areas match with the shipping lanes and the distribution of trawling activity. Pressure sound indices based on masking effect were computed for two Ecologically/Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSA) located in the NAS. Results indicated a significant contribution of vessel and fishery-generated noise to the local soundscape and provide a basis for addressing NAS underwater noise pollution, with special reference to the Marine Spatial Planning approach., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Anthropogenic underwater noise is an emergent pollutant. Despite several worldwide monitoring programs, only few data are available for the Mediterranean Sea, one of the global biodiversity hotspots. The results of the first continuous acoustic programme run at a transnational basin scale in the Mediterranean Sea are here presented. Recordings were done from March 2020 to June 2021, including the COVID-19 lockdown, at nine stations in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Spatial-temporal variations of the underwater sound are described, having one third octave band sound pressure levels (SPLs) from 10 Hz to 20 kHz as metrics. Higher and more variable SPLs, mainly related to vessel traffic, were found close to harbours, whereas Natura 2000 stations experienced lower SPLs. Lower values were recorded during the lockdown in five stations. Median yearly SPLs ranged between 64 and 95 as well as 70 and 100 dB re 1 µPa for 63 and 125 Hz bands, respectively. These values are comparable with those previously found in busy shallow EU basins but higher levels are expected during a business-as-usual period. This is a baseline assessment for a highly impacted and environmental valuable area, that needs to be managed in a new sustainable blue growth strategy., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to evaluate smoking cessation (SC) motivation and the acceptability of a lung cancer screening (LCS) program with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) among people who attend SC programs. A multicenter survey was conducted in the period January-December 2021 involving 197 people who attended group or individual SC courses in Reggio Emilia and Tuscany. Questionnaires, information sheets, and decision aids about the potential benefits and harms of LCS with LDCT were distributed at different time points during the course. The wish to protect own health (66%) was the most frequent reason given for quitting smoking, followed by cigarette dependence (40.6%) and current health problems (30.5%). Half of the participants (56%) considered periodic health checks including LDCT, as an advantageous activity. The great majority of participants were in favor of LCS (92%), with only 8% being indifferent, and no one was against these programs. Interestingly, those with sufficiently high smoking-related LC risk to be eligible for LCS and those attending the individual course were less in favor of LCS but also less concerned about the possible harms associated with LCS. The type of counseling was a significant predictor for both LCS acceptability and perceived harm of LCS. The favorable perception of LCS in people attending SC courses, despite the considerable preoccupation with potential harms, is an important finding of this study. Introducing a discussion on the benefits and harms of LCS in SC programs may prepare persons who smoke to make informed decisions on utilizing LCS., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

The protection of marine habitats from human-generated underwater noise is an emerging challenge. Baseline information on sound levels, however, is poorly available, especially in the Mediterranean Sea. To bridge this knowledge gap, the SOUNDSCAPE project ran a basin-scale, cross-national, long-term underwater monitoring in the Northern Adriatic Sea. A network of nine monitoring stations, characterized by different natural conditions and anthropogenic pressures, ensured acoustic data collection from March 2020 to June 2021, including the full lockdown period related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Calibrated stationary recorders featured with an omnidirectional Neptune Sonar D60 Hydrophone recorded continuously 24 h a day (48 kHz sampling rate, 16 bit resolution). Data were analysed to Sound Pressure Levels (SPLs) with a specially developed and validated processing app. Here, we release the dataset composed of 20 and 60 seconds averaged SPLs (one-third octave, base 10) output files and a Python script to postprocess them. This dataset represents a benchmark for scientists and policymakers addressing the risk of noise impacts on marine fauna in the Mediterranean Sea and worldwide., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Research on the efficacy of innovative, ecofriendly biostimulants in sport turf management is scarce, with less information available from open-field experiments, and even less pertaining to thatch control-related problems. The objective was to investigate the open-field effectiveness of a commercial product, EM-1, and two newly developed products, ExpA and ExpB, in improving both rhizosphere and turfgrass, Agrostis stoloniferous L., characteristics on a golf green. ExpA and ExpB, identical in microbial composition, were equally effective in significantly increasing chlorophyll synthesis and visual turf quality, as well as in resistance to tearing out, compared to the untreated control 56 days after treatment (DAT). EM-1 showed intermediate trends between the control and novel biostimulants. The inclusion of humic acids and mycorrhizal fungi to the microbial composition in ExpB significantly improved some rhizosphere properties 56 DAT relative to the control. Results on ExpB evidenced a significant decrease in the thatch layer thickness and fresh leaf weight, associated with a significant increase in the humus thickness, organic matter decomposition and evapotranspiration efficiency. An increased dry leaf biomass was also shown. ExpA and EM-1 showed either marginal or intermediate improvements relative to the control. ExpB represents a promising alternative to alleviate negative environmental impacts associated with turf maintenance-related activities.

Wheat amylase-trypsin inhibitors (ATIs) are a family of plant defense proteins with an important role in human health for their involvement in allergies, celiac disease and non-celiac wheat sensitivity. Information about the differences in ATI activities among wheat genotypes and the influence of the growing environment is scarce. Therefore, ten selected wheat accessions with different ploidy level and year of release, previously characterized for their ATI gene sequences, were grown during three consecutive crop years at two growing areas and used for in vitro ATI activities. The contributions of the genotype and the crop year were significant for both activities. The hexaploid wheat genotypes showed the highest inhibitory activities. Einkorn had a peculiar behavior showing the lowest alpha-amylase inhibitory activity, but the highest trypsin inhibitory activity. It was not possible to observe any trend in ATI activities as a function of the release year of the wheat samples. The two inhibitory activities were differently affected by the growing conditions and were negatively correlated with the protein content. This information can be important in understanding the extent of variation of ATI inhibitory properties in relation to the wheat genotype and the growing environment and the impact of ATIs, if any, on human health and nutrition.

Several Triticum species spread in cultivation in Sicily and neighboring regions over the centuries, which led to the establishment of a large genetic diversity. Many ancient varieties were widely cultivated until the beginning of the last century before being replaced by modern varieties. Recently, they have been reintroduced in cultivation in Sicily. Here, the genetic diversity of 115 and 11 accessions from Sicily and Calabria, respectively, belonging to Triticum species was evaluated using a high-density SNP array. Einkorn, emmer, and spelta wheat genotypes were used as outgroups for species and subspecies; five modern varieties of durum and bread wheat were used as references. A principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and an unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) showed four distinct groups among Triticum species and T. turgidum subspecies. The population structure analysis distinguished five gene pools, among which three appeared private to the T. aestivum, T. turgidum subsp. Turgidum, and 'Timilia' group. The principal component analysis (PCA) displayed a bio-morphological trait relationship of a subset (110) of ancient wheat varieties and their wide variability within the T. turgidum subsp. durum subgroups. A discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and phylogenetic analyses applied to the four durum wheat subgroups revealed that the improved varieties harbored a different gene pool compared to the most ancient varieties. The 'Russello' and 'Russello Ibleo' groups were distinguished; both displayed higher genetic variability compared to the 'Timilia' group accessions. This research represents a comprehensive approach to fingerprinting the old wheat Sicilian germplasm, which is useful in avoiding commercial fraud and sustaining the cultivation of landraces and ancient varieties.

The most commercialized Bt maize plants in Europe were transformed with genes which express a truncated form of the insecticidal delta-endotoxin (Cry1Ab) from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) specifically against Lepidoptera. Studies on the effect of transgenic maize on non-target arthropods have mainly converged on beneficial insects. However, considering the worldwide extensive cultivation of Bt maize, an increased availability of information on their possible impact on non-target pests is also required. In this study, the impact of Bt-maize on the non-target corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis, was examined by comparing biological traits and demographic parameters of two generations of aphids reared on transgenic maize with those on untransformed near-isogenic plants. Furthermore, free and bound phenolics content on transgenic and near-isogenic plants were measured. Here we show an increased performance of the second generation of R. maidis on Bt-maize that could be attributable to indirect effects, such as the reduction of defense against pests due to unintended changes in plant characteristics caused by the insertion of the transgene. Indeed, the comparison of Bt-maize with its corresponding near-isogenic line strongly suggests that the transformation could have induced adverse effects on the biosynthesis and accumulation of free phenolic compounds. In conclusion, even though there is adequate evidence that aphids performed better on Bt-maize than on non-Bt plants, aphid economic damage has not been reported in commercial Bt corn fields in comparison to non-Bt corn fields. Nevertheless, Bt-maize plants can be more easily exploited by R. maidis, possibly due to a lower level of secondary metabolites present in their leaves. The recognition of this mechanism increases our knowledge concerning how insect-resistant genetically modified plants impact on non-target arthropods communities, including tritrophic web interactions, and can help support a sustainable use of genetically modified crops.

The recent COVID-19 crisis has revealed the urgent need to study the impact of an infectious disease on market economies and provide adequate policy recommendations. The present paper studies the optimal lockdown policy in a dynamic general equilibrium model where households are altruistic and they care about the share of infected individuals. The spread of the disease is modeled here using SIS dynamics, which implies that recovery does not confer immunity. To avoid non-convexity issues, we assume that the lockdown is constant in time. This strong assumption allows us to provide analytical solutions. We find that the zero lockdown is efficient when agents do not care about the share of infected, while a positive lockdown is recommended beyond a critical level of altruism. Moreover, the lockdown intensity increases in the degree of altruism. Our robust analytical results are illustrated by numerical simulations, which show, in particular, that the optimal lockdown never trespasses 60% and that eradication is not always optimal., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Although the effects of proximal smoking cues have been widely studied in smokers, little is known on the features associated with background spatial context effect, that is, "context reactivity." The aim of this study was to investigate context reactivity exhibited by smokers in virtual cue-free domestic scenarios., Methods: Sixty-nine participants divided in 2 cohorts (33 smokers and 36 non-smokers) were exposed to a virtual reality session with 4 domestic room scenarios presented in a balanced order: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room., Results: We showed that (i) it is possible to elicit smoking craving in smokers in virtual reality, and (ii) these effects are room dependent and (iii) associated with a lower sense of presence; furthermore, (iv) smokers reported higher craving scores for alcohol and food in a room-dependent fashion compared to non-smokers., Conclusion: Our study provides an experimental paradigm for assessing context reactivity in smokers and suggests a potential use for the identification of non-pharmacological interventions as a co-adjuvant of smoking cessation treatment., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are currently under active investigation for their use in several biomedical applications, especially in neurological diseases and nervous system injury due to their electrochemical properties. Nowadays, no CNT-based therapeutic products for internal use appear to be close to the market, due to the still limited knowledge on their fate after delivery to living organisms and, in particular, on their toxicological profile. The purpose of the present work was to address the distribution in the brain parenchyma of two intranasally delivered MWCNTs (MWCNTs 1 and a-MWCNTs 2), different from each other, the first being non electroconductive while the second results in being electroconductive. After intranasal delivery, the presence of CNTs was investigated in several brain areas, discriminating the specific cell types involved in the CNT uptake. We also aimed to verify the neuroprotective potential of the two types of CNTs, delivering them in rats affected by early diabetic encephalopathy and analysing the modulation of nerve growth factor metabolism and the effects of CNTs on the neuronal and glial phenotypes. Our findings showed that both CNT types, when intranasally delivered, reached numerous brain areas and, in particular, the limbic area that plays a crucial role in the development and progression of major neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, we demonstrated that electroconductive MWCNTs were able to exert neuroprotective effects through the modulation of a key neurotrophic factor and probably the improvement of neurodegeneration-related gliosis., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) have attracted considerable attention in the scientific community both from a scientific and an industrial point of view. Fullerenes, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene and carbon dots (CDs) are the most popular forms and continue to be widely studied. However, the general poor solubility of many of these materials in most common solvents and their strong tendency to aggregate remains a major obstacle in practical applications. To solve these problems, organic chemistry offers formidable help, through the exploitation of tailored approaches, especially when aiming at the integration of nanostructures in biological systems. According to our experience with carbon-based nanostructures, the introduction of amino groups is one of the best trade-offs for the preparation of functionalized nanomaterials. Indeed, amino groups are well-known for enhancing the dispersion, solubilization, and processability of materials, in particular of CNMs. Amino groups are characterized by basicity, nucleophilicity, and formation of hydrogen or halogen bonding. All these features unlock new strategies for the interaction between nanomaterials and other molecules. This integration can occur either through covalent bonds (e.g., via amide coupling) or in a supramolecular fashion. In the present Feature Article, the attention will be focused through selected examples of our approach to the synthetic pathways necessary for the introduction of amino groups in CNMs and the subsequent preparation of highly engineered ad hoc nanostructures for practical applications.

Incidence of emergency access due to retained large rectal foreign bodies is increased in the last years. Such situations are a challenge because often, due to their size and physical characteristics, the large foreign bodies of the rectum cannot be extracted manually or by endoscopy, thus requiring surgery, as reported in the literature. We report a case of a 59-old male with a retention of a large vegetable rectal foreign body (whole eggplant) successfully subjected to endoscopic removal without the need for surgery.

Background: The gastrointestinal tract establishes a barrier between the external and internal compartments. When this barrier is disrupted, an inflammatory cascade promotes intestinal inflammation and the development of several intestinal diseases. Plant-derived polyphenols are health-promoting phytochemicals with a role in the regulation of the intestinal barrier and in the prevention of intestinal inflammatory diseases. Modern wheat-breeding programs have been focused primarily on yield improvement rather than nutritional and functional proprieties. Research that aims to characterize the phytochemical profile of wheat varieties and their healthy proprieties could therefore provide new prospects for the genetic improvement of the genus Triticum. In the present work, the effects of phenolic compounds extracted from nine soft and seven durum wheat varieties were studied for their polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. Experiments were conducted to study their effects on cell proliferation and wound healing in three different cell lines: mouse fibroblasts (L929), intestinal human cells (Caco2), and human monocytes (U937)., Results: Discriminant analysis evidenced differences between soft and durum wheat phenolic compounds. Among the soft varieties, it was possible to identify clusters in which ancient wheat varieties showed different properties from modern ones, whereas no evident clusters were detected among durum varieties., Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that the selection of specific wheat grains based on their nutritional parameters will help in the design of diets with protective effects against chronic and inflammatory diseases. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background/objectives: Khorasan wheat is an ancient grain with widely acclaimed beneficial effects on human health. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of a Khorasan-based diet on the wellbeing and inflammatory profile of young athletes., Results: We conducted a randomized, single-blinded crossover trial involving 20 male young athletes. The participants were randomly assigned to consume products (pasta, bread, biscuits and crackers) made either with Khorasan (KAMUT® brand) or modern semi-whole-grain wheat for 4-weeks with a 4-week washout period before the crossover. Laboratory analyses and fitness tests were performed both at the beginning and end of each diet period. The consumption of Khorasan products was associated with a significant reduction of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1; mean reduction: -36.15 pg/mL; -25.67%) while the consumption of modern wheat was not associated with significant differences in Interleukin-8 (IL-8) or Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). The consumption of the Khorasan-based diet also resulted in a significant improvement in self-rated health status. No statistically significant differences in any athletic performance parameter were observed between the two diets., Conclusion: The present results suggest that a Khorasan-based diet could be effective in reducing the inflammatory status in young athletes. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Graphene related materials (GRMs) are currently being used in products and devices of everyday life and this strongly increases the possibility of their ultimate release into the environment as waste items. GRMs have several effects on plants, and graphene oxide (GO) in particular, can affect pollen germination and tube growth due to its acidic properties. Despite the socio-economic importance of sexual reproduction in seed plants, the effect of GRMs on this process is still largely unknown. Here, Corylus avellana L. (common Hazel) pollen was germinated in-vitro with and without 1-100 μg mL -1 few-layer graphene (FLG), GO and reduced GO (rGO) to identify GRMs effects alternative to the acidification damage caused by GO. At 100 μg mL -1 both FLG and GO decreased pollen germination, however only GO negatively affected pollen tube growth. Furthermore, GO adsorbed about 10 % of the initial Ca 2+ from germination media accounting for a further decrease in germination of 13 % at the pH created by GO. In addition, both FLG and GO altered the normal tip-focused reactive oxygen species (ROS) distribution along the pollen tube. The results provided here help to understand GRMs effect on the sexual reproduction of seed plants and to address future in-vivo studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Potential gene flow from transgenic Brassica napus to widely-distributed, cross-compatible weedy relatives has received significant attention. All previous, albeit scarce, research has shown little to no success in producing viable F1 hybrids between B. napus (n = 38) and B. nigra (n = 16). The present study tested the working premise that the propensity for interspecific hybridization is significantly higher between B. napus and wild-growing, B. nigra displaying mixoploidy (n = 32). Controlled hybridization was performed using local, wild-growing B. nigra (♀) x transgenic (Bt Cry1Ac) B. napus (♂). Spontaneous hybridization was performed using the same B. nigra (♀) population x non-transgenic B. napus (♂) under sympatric open-field and greenhouse conditions. The total hybridization frequency, determined by the functional expression of the Bt Cry1Ac endotoxin, was 1.8 % of the F1 hybrids (n = 35). Gene flow from non-transgenic B. napus to B. nigra ranged from 4 to 29 % in F1 hybrids, with combined wind- and wild-insect-mediated pollen dispersal being the most effective. Successful interspecific hybridization is significantly enhanced using mixoploid B. nigra progenitor material. Gene flow rates in F1 hybrids were equivalent to those previously reported between B. napus with B. rapa and B. juncea, respectively, which are at the forefront of risk assessment concerns., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

2D cultures are useful platforms allowing studies of the fundamental mechanisms governing neuron and synapse functions. Yet, such models are limited when exploring changes in network dynamics due to 3D-space topologies. 3D platforms fill this gap and favor investigating topologies closer to the real brain organization. Graphene, an atom-thick layer of carbon, possesses remarkable properties and since its discovery is considered a highly promising material in neuroscience developments. Here, elastomeric 3D platforms endowed with graphene cues are exploited to modulate neuronal circuits when interfaced to graphene in 3D topology. Ex vivo neuronal networks are successfully reconstructed within 3D scaffolds, with and without graphene, characterized by comparable size and morphology. By confocal microscopy and live imaging, the 3D architecture of synaptic networks is documented to sustain a high rate of bursting in 3D scaffolds, an activity further increased by graphene interfacing. Changes are reported in the excitation/inhibition ratio, potentially following 3D-graphene interfacing. A hypothesis is thus proposed, where the combination of synapse formation under 3D architecture and graphene interfaces affects the maturation of GABAergic inhibition. This will tune the balance between hyperpolarizing and depolarizing responses, potentially contributing to network synchronization in the absence of changes in GABAergic phenotype expression., (© 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Thanks to its photocatalytic property, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) is a promising candidate in various applications including nanomedicine. However, studies focusing on the suitability of g-C 3 N 4 for cancer therapy are very limited and possible underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. Here, it is demonstrated that photoexcitation of g-C 3 N 4 can be used effectively in photodynamic therapy, without using any other carrier or additional photosensitizer. Upon light exposure, g-C 3 N 4 treatment kills cancer cells, without the need of any other nanosystem or chemotherapeutic drug. The material is efficiently taken up by tumor cells in vitro. The transcriptome and proteome of g-C 3 N 4 and light treated cells show activation in pathways related to both oxidative stress, cell death, and apoptosis which strongly suggests that only when combined with light exposure, g-C 3 N 4 is able to kill cancer cells. Systemic administration of the mesoporous form results in elimination from urinary bladder without any systemic toxicity. Administration of the material significantly decreases tumor volume when combined with local light treatment. This study paves the way for the future use of not only g-C 3 N 4 but also other 2D nanomaterials in cancer therapy., (© 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds with tailored stiffness, porosity, and conductive properties are particularly important in tissue engineering for electroactive cell attachment, proliferation, and vascularization. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) have been extensively used separately as neural interfaces showing excellent results. Herein, we combine both the materials and manufacture 3D structures composed exclusively of PEDOT and CNTs using a methodology based on vapor phase polymerization of PEDOT onto a CNT/sucrose template. Such a strategy presents versatility to produce porous scaffolds, after leaching out the sucrose grains, with different ratios of polymer/CNTs, and controllable and tunable electrical and mechanical properties. The resulting 3D structures show Young's modulus typical of soft materials (20-50 kPa), as well as high electrical conductivity, which may play an important role in electroactive cell growth. The conductive PEDOT/CNT porous scaffolds present high biocompatibility after 3 and 6 days of C8-D1A astrocyte incubation.

Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, has been classified as probably carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In the present study a method based on Field-Amplified Sample Injection and Sweeping Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography (FASI sweep-MEKC) has been developed and validated for determination of glyphosate and its microbial metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in wheat flour. The method involved a preliminary solid phase extraction for cleanup of the aqueous extracts from wheat flour, based sequentially on C18 and strong anion exchange cartridges, followed by derivatization using 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate. Optimization of sample cleanup and derivatization procedure was carried out by a HPLC-UV method, whereas FASI sweep-MEKC was applied for achieving the sensitivity necessary for analysis of real samples. To this regard, optimum conditions involved the use of an extended path fused-silica capillary (80 cm total length, 50 μm, i.d.) filled with a high concentration buffer (sodium phosphate 100 mM, pH 2.2). Electrokinetic sampling was carried out at -10 kV with injection time of 700 s and the separation of the loaded analytes was performed under MEKC conditions using sodium phosphate buffer 50 mM at pH 2.2, supplemented with sodium dodecyl sulfate, 100 mM. The method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy and sensitivity, showing that using conventional UV detection (210 nm) the achieved limit of quantitation (LOQ) values for both the analytes were widely lower than those set by Authorities. In particular, LOQ for glyphosate and AMPA were found to be 5 and 2.5 ng/mL, respectively, corresponding to 0.1 and 0.05 mg/kg, in wheat flour. The method, applied to commercially available real samples (wheat flour from different manufacturers) and to an experimental sample obtained by cv. Svevo wheat, can be considered as a convenient alternative to the existing approaches in analysis of complex matrices., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Microorganisms often grow in communities called biofilms where cells are imbedded in a complex self-produced biopolymeric matrix composed mainly of polysaccharides, proteins, and DNA. This matrix, together with cell proximity, confers many advantages to these microbial communities, but also constitutes a serious concern when biofilms develop in human tissues or on implanted prostheses. Although polysaccharides are considered the main constituents of the matrices, their specific role needs to be clarified. We have investigated the chemical and morphological properties of the polysaccharide extracted from biofilms produced by the C1576 reference strain of the opportunistic pathogen Burkholderia multivorans, which causes lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. The aim of the present study is the definition of possible interactions of the polysaccharide and the three-dimensional conformation of its chain within the biofilm matrix. Surface plasmon resonance experiments confirmed the ability of the polysaccharide to bind hydrophobic molecules, due to the presence of rhamnose dimers in its primary structure. In addition, atomic force microscopy studies evidenced an extremely compact three-dimensional structure of the polysaccharide which may form aggregates, suggesting a novel view of its structural role into the biofilm matrix., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the present study carbon xerogels are used for the first time to study the fibroblast cell growth. For that, carbon xerogel microspheres are synthesized and thereafter functionalized with carbon nanofibers followed by the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides (the so called "Prato reaction") or the addition of aryl diazonium salts (the so called "Tour reaction") to improve its wettability. The presence of nanofibers produces a huge improvement of the functionalization degree (59 versus 372 μmol/g for pristine carbon spheres and carbon spheres with 30% of carbon nanofibers, respectively) in spite of the blockage of the carbon spheres porosity caused after the nanofibers growth. This improvement was explained on the base of the increase of the number of probable active sites for the addition reactions (CC bonds) and the accessibility to these active sites (accessible surface area) by the presence of nanofibers. These high functionalization degrees reflect a promising potential of these materials in biomedical applications. Toxicity results obtained using a fibroblast cell line showed that samples are biocompatible for this kind of cells and that the presence of carbon fibers on the surface of the spheres increases the cells proliferation in a high extend reaching in some case values around 150% regarding the control. This study evidences that carbon aerogels could be interesting materials in biological applications, an unexplored field for this type of materials, being biocompatible, favouring the proliferation of cells and achieving high functionalization degrees., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We aimed to assess the effectiveness of 'Paesaggi di Prevenzione', a school-based prevention program delivered by trained teachers and designed to tackle smoking, alcohol misuse, dietary risks, and physical inactivity in adolescence. We evaluated the program between 2010 and 2013 with a two-arm, parallel-group, multicentre cluster randomized controlled trial in which schools were the units of randomization. We collected data on health-compromising behaviours using self-reported measurements of behaviour frequency administered before and after program implementation. We used multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression models to estimate program effects on health-compromising behaviours. The analysis sample included 3410 middle school students and 1651 high school students. Among middle school students, mean age at baseline was 12 years (standard deviation [SD] 0.5 years), 51% were boys, and 41% had high socioeconomic status [SES] (defined as having at least one parent/guardian with university level education). In high school students, mean age at baseline was 14 years (SD 0.7 years), 56% were boys, and 31% had high SES. The program did not have effects on smoking, alcohol misuse, and physical activity. The program had iatrogenic effects in regard to some eating behaviours, resulting in (i) lower odds of fruit consumption among middle-school students (odds ratio [OR] 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-0.99) and (ii) lower odds of having breakfast every day in high-school students at the post-intervention measurement (OR 0.76; 95%CI 0.58-0.99) but not at one-year follow-up (OR 0.94; 95%CI 0.69-1.28). Due to the possibility of unintended effects, we advise against disseminating 'Paesaggi di Prevenzione' in its present form. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN00953701., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: In Roux-en-Y reconstructions, choledocholithiasis could represent a really challenging condition to treat which can be treated by a surgical-assisted ERCP. Only six cases of transjejunal laparoscopic-assisted ERCP (LAERCP) can be found in literature to date and no large series are present., Methods: A young woman who had undergone a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass 2 years earlier came complaining recurrent abdominal pain. Radiologic exams found stones in the common bile duct and no signs of internal hernia. We therefore decided to perform a transjejunal LAERCP finding a concomitant internal hernia in the Petersen's space which was repaired at the same time., Results: The post-operative course was uneventful., Conclusion: Transjejunal LAERCP is a feasible technique to deal with choledocholithiasis, and it allows at the same time to identify and treat concomitant conditions like internal hernias.

The effects of two graphene-based materials (GBMs), few-layers graphene (FLG) and graphene oxide (GO), were studied in the aeroterrestrial green microalga Trebouxia gelatinosa . Algae were subjected to short- and long-term exposure to GBMs at 0.01, 1 and 50 μg mL - 1 . GBMs internalization after short-term exposures was investigated with confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and TEM. Potential negative effects of GBMs, compared to the oxidative stress induced by H 2 O 2 , were verified by analyzing chlorophyl a fluorescence (Chl a F), expression of stress-related genes and membrane integrity. Effects of up to 4-week-long exposures were assessed analyzing growth dynamics, Chl a F and photosynthetic pigments. GBMs were not observed in cells but FLG was detected at the interface between the cell wall and plasma membrane, whereas GO was observed adherent to the external wall surface. FLG caused the down-regulation of the HSP70-1 gene, with the protein levels remaining stable, whereas GO had no effect. In comparison, H 2 O 2 produced dose- and time-dependent effects on Chl a F, gene expression and HSP70 protein level. Long-term exposures to GBMs did not affect growth dynamics, Chl a F or photosynthetic pigment contents, indicating that the few observed short-term effects were not dangerous on the long-term. Results suggest that interactions between FLG and plasma membrane were harmless, activating a down-regulation of the HSP70-1 gene similar to that induced by H 2 O 2 . Our work shows that studying GBMs effects on non-model organisms is important since the results of model green microalgae are not representative of the whole taxonomic group.

The development of carbon-based membrane adsorbent materials for water treatment has become a hot topic in recent years. Among them, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising materials because of its large surface area, high aspect ratio, great chemical reactivity, and low cost. In this work, free-standing CNT adsorbents are fabricated from chemically cross-linked single-walled CNTs. We have demonstrated that by controlling the degree of cross-linking, the nanostructure, porous features, and specific surface area of the resulting materials can be tuned, in turn allowing the control of the adsorption capacities and the improvement of the adsorption performance. The cross-linked CNT adsorbents exhibit a notably selective sorption ability and good recyclability for removal of organics and oils from contaminated water.

Kombucha is usually obtained from the fermentation of black or green tea by a consortium of acetic acid bacteria and yeasts. In this study, kombucha was prepared from the same starter consortium using green and black teas as well as, for the first time, an infusion of rooibos leaves ( Aspalathus linearis ). Microbial diversity was analysed during fermentation both in the biofilm and in the corresponding kombuchas, using culture-dependent and -independent methods. Polyphenols, flavonoids, ethanol, and acids were quantified and anti-oxidant activities were monitored. All of the Kombuchas showed similarity in bacterial composition, with the dominance of Komagataeibacter spp. Beta diversity showed that the yeast community was significantly different among all tea substrates, between 7 and 14 days of fermentation and between biofilm and kombucha, indicating the influence of the substrate on the fermenting microbiota. Kombucha from rooibos has a low ethanol concentration (1.1 mg/mL), and a glucuronic acid amount that was comparable to black tea. Although antioxidant activity was higher in black and green kombucha compared to rooibos, the latter showed an important effect on the recovery of oxidative damage on fibroblast cell lines against oxidative stress. These results make rooibos leaves interesting for the preparation of a fermented beverage with health benefits.

Three-dimensional scaffolds for cellular organization need to enjoy a series of specific properties. On the one hand, the morphology, shape and porosity are critical parameters and eventually related with the mechanical properties. On the other hand, electrical conductivity is an important asset when dealing with electroactive cells, so it is a desirable property even if the conductivity values are not particularly high. Here, we construct three-dimensional (3D) porous and conductive composites, where C8-D1A astrocytic cells were incubated to study their biocompatibility. The manufactured scaffolds are composed exclusively of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a most promising material to interface with neuronal tissue, and polypyrrole (PPy), a conjugated polymer demonstrated to reduce gliosis, improve adaptability, and increase charge-transfer efficiency in brain-machine interfaces. We developed a new and easy strategy, based on the vapor phase polymerization (VPP) technique, where the monomer vapor is polymerized inside a sucrose sacrificial template containing CNT and an oxidizing agent. After removing the sucrose template, a 3D porous scaffold was obtained and its physical, chemical, and electrical properties were evaluated. The obtained scaffold showed very low density, high and homogeneous porosity, electrical conductivity, and Young's Modulus similar to the in vivo tissue. Its high biocompatibility was demonstrated even after 6 days of incubation, thus paving the way for the development of new conductive 3D scaffolds potentially useful in the field of electroactive tissues.

Heart failure is a disease of epidemic proportion and a leading cause of mortality in the world. Because cardiac myocytes are terminally differentiated cells with minimal intrinsic ability to self-regenerate, cardiac tissue engineering has emerged as one of the most realistic therapeutic strategies for cardiac repair. We have previously proven the ability of carbon nanotube scaffolds to promote cardiomyocyte proliferation, maturation, and long-term survival. Here, we tested if three-dimensional scaffolds of carbon nanotube-based composites can also promote cardiomyocyte growth, electrophysiological maturation, and formation of functional syncytia. To this purpose, we developed an elastomeric scaffold that consists of a microporous and self-standing material made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) containing micrometric cavities, and integrated multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into the scaffold. We combined microscopy, cell biology, and calcium imaging to investigate whether neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) cultured on the 3D-PDMS+MWCNT acquire a more viable and mature phenotype compared to control. We found that when cultured in the 3D-PDMS+MWCNTs, NRVMs showed improved viability ( p < 0.005 at day 3) and more defined and mature sarcomeric phenotype compared to 3D-PDMS control. These modifications were associated with an increase of connexin-43 gene expression, gap junction areas ( p < 0.005 at day 3), and a more mature electrophysiological phenotype of syncytia and calcium transients. Finally, 3D-PDMS+MWCNT boosted NRVMs proliferation ( p < 0.005 at day 3) while hindering cardiac fibroblasts proliferation compared to control PDMS. Thus, 3D-PDMS+MWCNT has the ability to promote viability, proliferation and functional maturation of cardiac myocytes. These properties are essential in cardiac tissue engineering and offer novel perspectives in the development of innovative therapies for cardiac repair.

The putting in place of a cross-disciplinary therapeutic education programme for teenagers with obesity requires coordination between all those concerned: patients, parents and caregivers. Specially trained, the contact nurse coordinators put in place the shared educational assessment, evaluate the levers and the obstacles to providing the necessary support, and lead the care project with the teenager and his or her parents., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Carbon nanotube-based biomaterials critically contribute to the design of many prosthetic devices, with a particular impact in the development of bioelectronics components for novel neural interfaces. These nanomaterials combine excellent physical and chemical properties with peculiar nanostructured topography, thought to be crucial to their integration with neural tissue as long-term implants. The junction between carbon nanotubes and neural tissue can be particularly worthy of scientific attention and has been reported to significantly impact synapse construction in cultured neuronal networks. In this framework, the interaction of 2D carbon nanotube platforms with biological membranes is of paramount importance. Here we study carbon nanotube ability to interfere with lipid membrane structure and dynamics in cultured hippocampal neurons. While excluding that carbon nanotubes alter the homeostasis of neuronal membrane lipids, in particular cholesterol, we document in aged cultures an unprecedented functional integration between carbon nanotubes and the physiological maturation of the synaptic circuits., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Environmental impacts of genetically modified crops are mandatorily assessed during their premarket phase. One of the areas of concern is the possible impact on nontarget organisms. Crops expressing Cry toxins might affect Lepidoptera larvae living outside cultivated fields, through pollen deposition on wild plants, which constitute their food source. While pollen toxicity varies among different events, possible exposure of nontarget species depends on the agro-environmental conditions. This study was conducted in two protected areas in Italy, characterized by different climatic conditions, where many Lepidoptera species thrive in proximity to maize cultivations. To estimate the possible exposure in absence of the actual stressor (e.g., Cry1-expressing maize plants), we conducted a two-year field survey of butterflies and weeds. Indicator species were selected-Aglais (Inachis) io in the Northern site and Vanessa cardui in the Southern site-and their phenology was investigated. Pollen dispersal from maize fields was measured by collection in Petri dishes. Duration and frequency of exposure was defined by the overlap between pollen emission and presence of larvae on host plants. Different risk scenarios are expected in the two regions: highest exposure is foreseen for A. io in the Northern site, while minimal exposure is estimated for V. cardui in the Southern site. In the latter case, locally grown maize cultivars flower in mid-summer in coincidence with an aestivation period for several butterfly species due to hot and dry conditions. Moreover, host plants of V. cardui are at the end of their life cycle thus limiting food availability., (© 2018 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

Numerous studies support the protective role of bioactive peptides against cardiovascular diseases. Cereals represent the primary source of carbohydrates, but they also contain substantial amounts of proteins, therefore representing a potential dietary source of bioactive peptides with nutraceutical activities. The analysis of wheat extracts purified by chromatographic techniques by means of HPLC-UV/nanoLC-nanoESI-QTOF allowed the identification of a signal of about 7 kDa which, following data base searches, was ascribed to a nonspecific lipid-transfer protein (nsLTP) type 2 from Triticum aestivum (sequence coverage of 92%). For the first time nsLTP2 biological activities have been investigated. In particular, in experiments with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), nsLTP2 displayed antioxidant and cytoprotective activities, being able to significantly decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and to reduce lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, generated following oxidative (hydrogen peroxide) and inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β, and lipopolysaccharide) stimulation. The obtained promising results suggest potential protective role of nsLTP2 in vascular diseases prevention. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: nsLTP 2 peptide is resistant to proteases throughout the gastrointestinal tract and exerts antioxidant and cytoprotective activities. These characteristics could be exploited in vascular diseases prevention., (© 2018 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Due to its significant amount of antioxidants, durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) could potentially contribute to the protection against a number of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The increasing interest toward healthy food among both consumers and scientists has moved the focus toward the phytochemical content of whole wheat grains. The aim of this study was to identify the phytochemical composition of 22 cultivars belonging to old and modern durum wheat genotypes, including antioxidant capacity (DPPH and FRAP tests). In addition, five phenolic acids involved in the vanillin biosynthesis pathway and in the defence mechanism of plants were screened using UHPLC-MS/MS. Remarkable quantitative differences in the amount of the five phenolic acids analysed (p < 0.05) were detected among the wheat genotypes investigated. Results showed that among the investigated phenolic compounds, trans-ferulic acid was the most abundant, ranging from 13.28 to 324.69 μg/g; all the other identified compounds were present at lower concentrations. Moreover, significant differences on the antioxidant activity were observed. Collected data suggested possible differences between biosynthetic pathway of secondary metabolites among durum wheat genotypes., (© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Phenolic compounds have received great attention among the health promoting phytochemicals in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), mainly because of their strong antioxidant properties. In the present study a simple Capillary Zone Electrophoresis (CZE) method with UV detection was optimized and validated for the quantitation of six of the most important phenolic acids in whole grain i.e., sinapic, ferulic, syringic, p-coumaric, vanillic and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The separation was achieved in a running buffer composed of sodium phosphate solution (50 mM) in water/methanol 80:20 (v/v) at pH 6.0 and using a fused-silica capillary at the temperature of 30 °C under application of 27 kV. By means of diode array detector, and made possible by the favorable characteristic UV spectra, the quantitation of the solutes was carried out at 200, 220 and 300 nm, in the complex matrices represented by the soluble and bound fractions of wheat flours. The validation parameters of the method i.e., linearity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy and robustness were in line with those obtained by consolidated separation techniques applied for the same purposes (e.g., HPLC-UV), with a significant advantage in term of analysis time (less than 12 min). Ten varieties of soft wheat (five modern Italian and five old Italian genotypes) were analysed and the data were subjected to Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Interestingly, significant differences of the quantitative phenolic acids profile were observed between the modern and the ancient genotypes, with the latter showing higher amount of the main represented phenolic acids., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The ability of the adult heart to regenerate cardiomyocytes (CMs) lost after injury is limited, generating interest in developing efficient cell-based transplantation therapies. Rigid carbon nanotubes (CNTs) scaffolds have been used to improve CMs viability, proliferation, and maturation, but they require undesirable invasive surgeries for implantation. To overcome this limitation, we developed an injectable reverse thermal gel (RTG) functionalized with CNTs (RTG-CNT) that transitions from a solution at room temperature to a three-dimensional (3D) gel-based matrix shortly after reaching body temperature. Here we show experimental evidence that this 3D RTG-CNT system supports long-term CMs survival, promotes CMs alignment and proliferation, and improves CMs function when compared with traditional two-dimensional gelatin controls and 3D plain RTG system without CNTs. Therefore, our injectable RTG-CNT system could potentially be used as a minimally invasive tool for cardiac tissue engineering efforts.

The design and use of materials in the nanoscale size range for addressing medical and health-related issues continues to receive increasing interest. Research in nanomedicine spans a multitude of areas, including drug delivery, vaccine development, antibacterial, diagnosis and imaging tools, wearable devices, implants, high-throughput screening platforms, etc. using biological, nonbiological, biomimetic, or hybrid materials. Many of these developments are starting to be translated into viable clinical products. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in nanomedicine and highlight the current challenges and upcoming opportunities for the field and translation to the clinic.

Background: Accurate quantification of left ventricular (LV) volumes [end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV)] and ejection fraction (EF) is of critical importance. The development of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) has shown better correlation than two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements. The aim of our study was to assess the accuracy of RT3DE and 64-slice computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of LV volumes and function using MRI as the reference standard in a real-world population with various types of heart disease with different chamber geometry., Methods: The study population consisted of 66 patients referred for cardiac MRI for various pathologies. All patients underwent cardiac MRI, and RT3DE and 64 slices CT were then performed on a subsequent day. The study population was then divided into 5 clinical groups depending on the underlying heart disease., Results: RT3DE volumes correlated well with MRI values (R 2 values: 0.90 for EDV and 0.94 for ESV). RT3DE measurements of EF correlated well with MRI values (R 2  = 0.86). RT3DE measurements resulted in slightly underestimated values of both EDV and ESV, as reflected by biases of -9.18 and -4.50 mL, respectively. Comparison of RT3DE and MRI in various types of cardiomyopathies showed no statistical difference between different LV geometrical patterns., Conclusion: These results confirm that RT3DE has good accuracy in everyday clinical practice and can be of clinical utility in all types of cardiomyopathy independently of LV geometric pattern, LV diameter or wall thickness, taking into account a slight underestimation of LV volumes and EF compared to MRI.

The human EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL), obtained by infecting peripheral blood monocular cells with Epstein-Barr Virus, has been extensively used for human genetic, pharmacogenomic, and immunologic studies. Recently, the role of exosomes has also been indicated as crucial in the crosstalk between EBV and the host microenvironment. Because the role that the LCL and LCL exosomal cargo might play in maintaining persistent infection, and since little is known regarding the non-coding RNAs of LCL, the aim of our work was the comprehensive characterization of this class of RNA, cellular and viral miRNAs, and cellular lncRNAs, in LCL compared with PBMC derived from the same donors. In this study, we have demonstrated, for the first time, that all the viral miRNAs expressed by LCL are also packaged in the exosomes, and we found that two miRNAs, ebv-miR-BART3 and ebv-miR-BHRF1-1, are more abundant in the exosomes, suggesting a microvescicular viral microRNA transfer. In addition, lncRNA profiling revealed that LCLs were enriched in lncRNA H19 and H19 antisense, and released these through exosomes, suggesting a leading role in the regulation of the tumor microenvironment., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)