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Preface to the volume "Disaster Resilience and Human Settlements. Emerging Perspectives in the Anthropocene"

The chapter sets the context starting from the emerging perspectives on disaster resilience and human settlements in the larger context of the proposed new geological era of Anthropocene. It explores the impact of disasters on the human settlements, giving examples and illustrating the theoretical reference framework regarding the birth of the idea of the Anthropocene. The chapter focuses on the interdisci-plinary nature of the ‘disaster resilience and human settlements’ theme in relation to the various global development agendas, including the Expanded Brown Agenda, the Hyogo Framework of Action, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and the New Urban Agenda. In doing so, it dwells in particular on the theme of social vulnerability as an element capable of transforming an extreme natural event into disaster. From the various international agendas, it emerges, that the current and emerging perspectives on disaster resilience via-a-vis must be studied and addressed through a holistic and integrated approach. Such an approach ought to involve natural and social scientists, humanists, planners, policymakers, and profes-sionals in the global debate.

This paper examines mothers and mothering in the Pāli canon and commentaries and contends that a mothering path emerges when the deeply patriarchal traditional hierarchy of values is challenged and, following Karen Derris, the unthoughts related to mothers and mothering, which this hierarchy of values generates, are also challenged. The article focuses on three main female characters, Māyā, Mahāpajāpatī, and Visākhā, whose paths as mothers or as lay followers of the Buddha who “stand in the position of a mother” constitute a deliberate soteriological path in the Pali Buddhist texts. It draws on contemporary Buddhist Studies feminist scholarship (in particular, the work of Karen Derris (2014) and Liz Wilson (2013)) as well as motherhood studies (in particular, Sara Ruddick’s (1989) work based on Adrienne Rich’s (1976) foundational distinction between motherhood as a patriarchal institution that oppresses women and mothering as women’s lived experience to outline how mothering activities in the Pāli canon can be discerned as a soteriological path that follows the same trajectory as the Buddha’s Bodhisatta path that begins with making a solemn vow (patthanā) and ends with awakening (nibbāna). I conclude that adopting this approach allows us to reenvisage activities and relationships usually understood as “this-worldly” in the canonical and commentarial Pāli texts, and in contemporary feminist scholarship, as the embodiment of a soteriology based on interdependence and compassionate care for others.

The rabbit VX2 is a large animal model of cancer used for decades by interventional radiologists to demonstrate the efficacy of various locoregional treatments against liver tumors. What do we know about this tumor in the new era of targeted therapy and immune-oncology? The present paper describes the current knowledge on the clinics, biology, histopathology, and tumor microenvironment of VX2 based on a literature review of 741 publications in the liver and in other organs. It reveals the resemblance with human cancer (anatomy, vascularity, angiogenic profile, drug sensitivity, immune microenvironment), the differences (etiology, growth rate, histology), and the questions still poorly explored (serum and tissue biomarkers, genomic alterations, immune checkpoint inhibitors efficacy).

Perylene is a frequently abundant, and sometimes the only polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in aquatic sediments, but its origin has been subject of a longstanding debate in geochemical research and pollutant forensics because its historical record differs markedly from typical anthropogenic PAHs. Here we investigate whether perylene serves as a source-specific molecular marker of fungal activity in forest soils. We use a well-characterized sedimentary record (1735-1999) from the anoxic-bottom waters of the Pettaquamscutt River basin, RI to examine mass accumulation rates and isotope records of perylene, and compare them with total organic carbon and the anthropogenic PAH fluoranthene. We support our arguments with radiocarbon (

International audience; Madagascar has one of the highest poverty rates in the world and consequently the long‐term monitoring of groundwater resources is not a priority for the authorities. However, groundwater is often the only sustainable resource that has a satisfactory quality to supply the population. This is especially true in the south‐west of the country, which is a semi‐arid region and a global change hot spot (intense land use and climate changes). In response to the lack of data, the Groundwater Resource Observatory for Southwestern Madagascar (GROSoM) was established to monitor piezometry and meteorology over the longer term as part of a humanitarian response. The first site was setup in 2014 in a catchment located over a carbonate plateau; in 2018, a second site was installed in an alluvial setting within a crystalline basement catchment and a third site will be installed in 2020 to monitor groundwater dynamics in a coastal setting. The three sites, located between Toliara and Taolagnaro cities, are complementary and representative of various hydrogeological systems in Southwestern Madagascar. Each site includes a weather station and between 3 and 6 piezometric probes. The monitoring data indicate a strong inter‐annual variability in precipitation, which induces a strong variability in aquifers recharge. One of the driest years in 2016 seems to be consistent with strong El Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effects observed at the global scale, while years with higher recharge appear to be related to cyclones such as Fundi in 2015 and Eketsang in 2019. Preliminary results of cross‐disciplinary studies demonstrated a link between groundwater and health issues (i.e., admissions to basic health centres). This observatory aims to produce long‐term data and has two objectives: (i) strengthening the early warning system for humanitarian crises in Madagascar; (ii) contributing to a better understanding of the effects of climate change on groundwater resources in this semi‐arid region.

Bacteriocins are toxic polypeptides made by bacteria to kill their competitors, making them interesting as potential antibiotics. Here, we reveal unsuspected commonalities in bacteriocin uptake pathways, through molecular and cellular dissection of the import pathway for the pore-forming bacteriocin pyocin S5 (PyoS5), which targets Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition to its C-terminal pore-forming domain, PyoS5 is composed of two tandemly repeated helical domains that we also identify in other pyocins. Functional analyses demonstrate that they have distinct roles in the import process. One recognizes conserved sugars projected from the surface, while the other recognizes a specific outer membrane siderophore transporter, FptA, in the case of PyoS5. Through engineering of Escherichia coli cells, we show that pyocins can be readily repurposed to kill other species. This suggests basic ground rules for the outer membrane translocation step that likely apply to many bacteriocins targeting Gram-negative bacteria., Pyocin S5 (PyoS5) is a potent protein bacteriocin that eradicates the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa in animal infection models, but its import mechanism is poorly understood. Here, using crystallography, biophysical and biochemical analyses, and live-cell imaging, we define the entry process of PyoS5 and reveal links to the transport mechanisms of other bacteriocins. In addition to its C-terminal pore-forming domain, elongated PyoS5 comprises two novel tandemly repeated kinked 3-helix bundle domains that structure-based alignments identify as key import domains in other pyocins. The central domain binds the lipid-bound common polysaccharide antigen, allowing the pyocin to accumulate on the cell surface. The N-terminal domain binds the ferric pyochelin transporter FptA while its associated disordered region binds the inner membrane protein TonB1, which together drive import of the bacteriocin across the outer membrane. Finally, we identify the minimal requirements for sensitizing Escherichia coli toward PyoS5, as well as other pyocins, and suggest that a generic pathway likely underpins the import of all TonB-dependent bacteriocins across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.

La gestione del rischio, in emergenza e in condizioni ordinarie, si può schematizzare secondo una filiera che utilizza l'adattamento, la mitigazione e la riduzione del rischio, perseguibili con interventi strutturali e non strutturali variamente combinati. Filo conduttore del percorso delineato è la valutazione della pericolosità dei fenomeni e/o degli eventi, su area vasta e su singolo versante. Fra gli interventi non strutturali assumono un ruolo di rilievo il monitoraggio - specialmente se condotto nell'ambito di laboratori in sito - e il coinvolgimento delle comunità che vivono nelle aree a rischio. In particolare, il coinvolgimento della popolazione risulta essenziale per conseguire i risultati più efficaci possibili nella gestione del rischio stesso. Tutti concordano, infatti, nell'affermare che un'adeguata informazione e consapevolezza dei cittadini sull'esposizione al rischio, nonché un'educazione al rischio stesso, siano fondamentali per attuare mirate strategie di intervento. Infatti, se la popolazione non è sufficientemente consapevole ed informata dei pericoli naturali a cui è esposta, difficilmente adotterà misure che ne possano ridurre gli impatti negativi. Se da una parte, quindi, è importante che una comunità sia informata e consapevole dell'esposizione ai pericoli naturali, risulta ancora più importante che gli amministratori locali siano consapevoli del grado di conoscenza della popolazione da loro amministrata al fine di stabilire politiche adeguate. Inoltre, comprendere come il pubblico percepisce il rischio risulta cruciale nel determinare il modo di diffondere informazioni appropriate allo scopo di aumentare la fiducia della popolazione nelle autorità e, in questo modo, migliorare la capacità pubblica di rispondere a eventi estremi e aumentare la resilienza delle persone. Scienziati e politici spesso concordano sul fatto che il pubblico ha la tendenza a reagire emotivamente o soggettivamente alla complessità e spesso non è in grado di apprezzare la natura incerta complessa delle questioni ambientali. Il pubblico, d'altro canto, tende, molte volte, a criticare gli esperti (scienziati e responsabili politici) per l'utilizzo di un linguaggio tecnico inaccessibile e per non fornire risposte chiare e complete. Questi rilievi evidenziano le difficoltà di interlocuzione che esistono tra il pubblico e gli esperti e la necessità di migliorare la comunicazione del rischio da parte degli esperti. Partendo da questa riflessione, si è ritenuto opportuno svolgere nel febbraio 2018 un'indagine sulla percezione del rischio frana da parte della popolazione di Maierato, cittadina in provincia di Vibo Valentia, coinvolta il 15 febbraio 2010 da un evento franoso ad elevato impatto ambientale e socio-economico. Al termine di questa indagine si è aggiunta l'esigenza di realizzare delle interviste semi-strutturate, coinvolgendo altresì gli esperti cioè gli attori politici locali e i responsabili tecnici e di Protezione Civile del comune in carica nel periodo in cui si è verificato l'evento franoso del 2010 e i soggetti che rivestivano tali incarichi alla data dell'indagine e cioè otto anni dopo l'evento. Questa esigenza è nata dalla necessità di conoscere il punto di vista di amministratori e tecnici locali sulla gestione dell'emergenza del 2010, sul recupero e la riabilitazione, sulla percezione e consapevolezza del rischio della popolazione e sugli interventi di prevenzione, preparazione e adattamento che si inseriscono nel quadro degli interventi non strutturali utili alla mitigazione del rischio.

Il titolo scelto per queste conclusioni “dove va il Congo?” è ovviamente una domanda aperta a cui non siamo certo in grado di fornire una risposta. Tuttavia, ci pare opportuno provare a tirare le fila di questo volume e al contempo riflettere sull’evoluzione del quadro politico congolese senza pretendere di elaborare alcuna previsione, ma limitandoci a sondare le possibili conseguenze e derive della crisi attuale

The Maltese Islands are intersected by two major fault systems associated with two diverse rifting episodes affect the islands. The first and most widespread system is Early Miocene to mid-Pliocene in age, and consists of faults that are orientated ENE-WSW. The most distinct of these faults is the Great Fault (known also as the Victoria Lines Fault). The younger system of faults (Late Miocene-Early Pliocene) is still active and consists of faults striking NW to SE that often cross-cut the first generation of faults. The most extensive of these faults is the Maghlaq Fault, located along the southern coastline of the Maltese Islands., peer-reviewed