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In most masonry arches stresses are very low and, therefore, collapse does not occur because of material failure. As a consequence, the safety of arches should not be assessed by means of a safety factor based on material strength as for conventional structures. In 1969 Heyman was the first to state that the safety of masonry arches relies on their geometry and proposed a method for computing the so-called “geometrical factor of safety” based on the comparison between the shape of the thrust line and the profile of the arch. In this context, we have recently developed a method capable of computing the line of thrust closest to the geometrical axis and defining a safety factor based on the comparison between such a line of thrust and the profile of the arch, which we have denoted as “performance factor”. In this paper, that supplements the author ref. (Tempesta and Galassi, 2019 [41]), the Matlab code of our method is provided for unlimited and unrestricted use by researchers as well as academics for educational purposes. • The method (denoted as FRS Method) is inspired by the method proposed by Heyman in 1969 • Unlike the original iterative method, the FRS Method computes the line of thrust using a one-step procedure, which is less time consuming and provides the exact solution • The original geometrical factor of safety is replaced by a performance factor, that characterizes the range of the equilibrium thrust lines within the profile of the arch effectively and the safety factor in a targeted way Method name: Full Range Factor of Safety Method (FRS Method), Keywords: Discrete arches, Line of thrust, Finite differences, Safety assessment, Heyman, Geometrical factor, Performance factor, Matlab code

The spread of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has caused a reduction in antibiotic effectiveness and an increase in mortality rates. Essential oils (EOs), known for their therapeutic efficacy, can be configured as novel broad-spectrum biocides. Accordingly, the bacteriostatic–bactericidal activity of Citrus Lemon (LEO), Pinus Sylvestris (PEO), Foeniculum Vulgaris (FEO), Ocimum Basilicum (BEO), Melissa Officinalis (MEO), Thymus Vulgaris (TEO), and Zingiber Officinalis Rosc. (GEO), at concentrations ranging from 1.25 to 40% (v/v), were tested in vitro against different E. coli and S. aureus strains using minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). The chemical compositions of the EOs were analyzed using GC/MS. The major components of all seven tested oils were limonene, α-pinene, anethole, estragole, citral, thymol, and zingiberene, respectively. We found that the bacteriostatic–bactericidal activity of the EOs was related to their chemotypes and concentrations, as well as the strain of the bacteria. A dose–effect correlation was found when testing GEO against S. aureus strains, whilst FEO was found to have no activity regardless of concentration. PEO, MEO, and BEO were found to have bactericidal effect with a MIC and MBC of 1.25% (v/v) against S. aureus strains, and LEO was found to have values of 1.25% (v/v) and 5% (v/v) against ATCC and clinical isolate, respectively. Interestingly, the antimicrobial activity of TEO was not related to oil concentration and the complete inhibition of growth across all E. coli and S. aureus was observed. Although preliminary, our data demonstrate the efficacy of EOs and pave the way for further investigations on their potential synergistic use with traditional drugs in the human and veterinary fields.

As some previous research has highlighted, landscape characteristics are useful for improving the market share of some food products and the market power of companies in the agrifood sector. The purpose of this study is to verify whether the visual aesthetic quality of the landscape can influence food preferences and the willingness to pay for agrifood products. To this end, the preferences of 64 participants for three types of juice (orange, peach and pear) were analysed through a blind tasting experiment. Each participant tasted three pairs of fruit juices, one for each type of juice. The juices belonging to each pair were the same, but before tasting, the participants were shown two photos portraying the orchards where the fruits were produced, so participants were induced to think that the juices were different. The landscape associated with each pair of photographs had a different visual aesthetic quality (high or low). Participants were asked to provide three measures while tasting the juices: their overall juice assessment using a seven-point hedonic scale, the visual aesthetic quality of the photos on a seven-point Likert scale, and their willingness to pay as a percentage variation of the price that they usually pay to buy fruit juices. According to our results, the mean overall liking score and the mean willingness to pay percentage variation for the juices associated with a preferred landscape was higher and statistically different. Despite the need for further research, our results suggest that landscape acts as a proxy for quality in the evaluation of some food products and that the use of landscape photos could be a valid marketing strategy in agribusiness.

Essential oils (EOs) of Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon proximus are known as sources of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenoids, although their biological activities have not been well investigated. In this study, the compositions of C. citratus and C. proximus EOs of Egyptian origin and their antifungal and antibiofilm properties against Candida spp. and Malassezia furfur were investigated. Antioxidant activities were also evaluated. GC-MS showed the presence of nine and eight constituents in C. citratus and C. proximus EOs, respectively, with geranial and neral as the major compounds of C. citratus EO and piperitone and α-terpinolene as the major compounds of C. proximus EO. Both EOs showed antifungal (MIC values ranging from 1.25 to 20 µL/ mL) and antibiofilm activities (% of reduction ranging from 27.65 ± 11.7 to 96.39 ± 2.8) against all yeast species. The antifungal and antibiofilm activities of C. citratus EO were significantly higher than those observed for C. proximus EO. M. furfur was more susceptible to both EOs than Candida spp. Both EOs exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. This study suggests that C. citratus and C. proximus EOs might be an excellent source of antifungal, antibiofilm and antioxidant drugs and might be useful for preventing Malassezia infections in both medical and veterinary medicine.

Electroweak measurements performed with data taken at the electron-positron collider LEP at CERN from 1995 to 2000 are reported. The combined data set considered in this report corresponds to a total luminosity of about 3fb-1 collected by the four LEP experiments ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL, at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 130GeV to 209GeV. Combining the published results of the four LEP experiments, the measurements include total and differential cross-sections in photon-pair, fermion-pair and four-fermion production, the latter resulting from both double-resonant W W and Z Z production as well as singly resonant production. Total and differential cross-sections are measured precisely, providing a stringent test of the Standard Model at centre-of-mass energies never explored before in electron-positron collisions. Final-state interaction effects in four-fermion production, such as those arising from colour reconnection and Bose-Einstein correlations between the two W decay systems arising in W W production, are searched for and upper limits on the strength of possible effects are obtained. The data are used to determine fundamental properties of the W boson and the electroweak theory. Among others, the mass and width of the W boson, mW and ΓW, the branching fraction of W decays to hadrons, B (W → had), and the trilinear gauge-boson self-couplings g1Z, κγ and λγ are determined to be: mW=80.376±0.033GeV ΓW=2.195±0.083GeV B(W→had)=67.41±0.27% g1Z=0.9840+0.018-0.020 κγ=0.982±0.042λγ=-0.022±0.019. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

There is a lack of consensus on whether the role of folate in cancer cells is protective or harmful. The use of folates in combination with cancer-targeting therapeutic regimens requires detailed information to ensure their safe and proper use. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of folic acid (FA) in combination with the chemotherapeutic compounds doxorubicin (DXR), camptothecin (CPT) and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) on the growth of MCF-7 cells. The data generated from the RTCA assays demonstrated that FA did not affect proliferation in MCF-7 cells treated with DXR and CPT; however, FA reduced the efficacy of MMS treatment. RTCA data also confirmed that DXR and CPT exert their cytotoxic effects in a time-dependent manner and that CPT induced a significantly greater decrease in MCF-7 cell proliferation compared with DXR. The MTT assay failed to detect a reduction in cell proliferation in cells treated with MMS. We quantified the mRNA expression levels of genes associated with cellular stress response, cell cycle and apoptosis pathways using RT-qPCR. The addition of FA to DXR or CPT promoted a similar shift in the gene expression profile of MCF-7 cells compared with cells treated with DXR or CPT without FA; however, this shift did not alter the bioactivity of these drugs. Rather, it indicated that these drugs promoted cell death by alternative mechanisms. In contrast, the addition of FA to MMS reduced the efficacy of the drug without changing the gene expression profile. None of the genes encoding folate receptors that were analyzed were differentially expressed in cells treated with or without FA. In conclusion, supplementation with 450 μM FA was not cytotoxic to MCF-7 cells. However, the addition of FA to anti-cancer drugs must be performed cautiously as the properties of FA might lead to a reduction in drug efficacy. Keywords: Folate, Breast cancer, Cytotoxicity, RTCA, Impedance, qPCR

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure aimed at exposure of a larger tooth surface by gingivectomy alone or with cortical bone remodelling for aesthetic purposes in the anterior zone of the maxilla or for reconstruction of teeth affected by subgingival caries. We report two cases of crown lengthening in the anterior maxilla for aesthetic purposes by gingival and bone re-contouring performed by erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (erbium:YAG) laser. As highlighted in this report, the erbium:YAG laser-assisted crown lengthening is less invasive and also leads to faster clinical outcomes in contrast to the conventional surgical technique by scalpel incision, flap elevation and osteoplastic.

his study was carried out to detect and characterize Coxiella burnetii in ruminant milk samples and in different tick species from seropositive farms in four Lebanese regions. Milk and tick samples were screened for C. burnetii presence by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) targeting IS1111 region followed by multispacer sequence typing (MST). The overall positive percentages of 9.6% (27/282) and 95.45% (84/88) for C. burnetii were recorded in ruminant milk and tick samples, respectively. In detail, the C. burnetii DNA was recorded in 52/54 (96.3%) of Rhipicephalus annulatus, 20/21 (95.24%) of Rhipicephalus turanicus, 6/6 (100%) of Hyalomma anatolicum, 5/6 (83.3%) of Rhipicephalus sanguineus and 1/1 of Rhipicephalus bursa. After genotyping of some IS1111-positive samples (17/111), different MST genotypes were identified. Out of 15 positive ticks, 10 were infected with MST2 genotype, 4 were infected with MST7 genotype and 1 was infected with MST57. Moreover, genotypes MST20 and MST58 were found in one cow and one goat milk samples, respectively. The present study confirmed the high genetic diversity of C. burnetii in Lebanon.

Italy was the first western hotspot of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to contain the spread of the virus, the Italian Government imposed home confinement to the entire population for almost two months. The present study is the first large-scale longitudinal report of the sleep and mental health changes during the prolonged lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We focused on the gendered vulnerability in a sample of the Italian population since cross-sectional research identified women to be more at-risk than men during this unprecedented situation.A total of 2701 individuals (mean age ± standard deviation, 32.37 ± 11.62; range, 18–82) participated in a web-based longitudinal survey consisting of two measurements. Participants were first-time recruited on social networks and via telephone messages through a snowball sampling and tested during the third week of the lockdown period. Subsequently, a follow-up evaluation was carried out during the seventh week of restraining measures. The survey assessed sleep quality, insomnia and depression symptoms, perceived stress, and anxiety, using the following questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Beck Depression Inventory-second edition, the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, and the State-Anxiety Inventory.Female gender showed the worst condition for all the examined dimensions in both the assessments. Nevertheless, at the follow-up women reported a reduction in insomnia and depression severity symptoms, perceived stress, and anxiety. On the other hand, male participants showed a worsening of sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, and perceived stress. Consequently, the gender prevalence gap of clinical conditions such as insomnia and depression was largely reduced under lockdown.Our investigation pointed to a different time course of sleep and mental health between genders during the home confinement period. Women seemed to show greater long-term resilience during the lockdown. Meanwhile, the male gender emerges as the most vulnerable category to the extension of the restraining measures. Our results suggest that there is no “weaker gender” after a prolonged lockdown. Indeed, the Italian population transversely presented signs of psychological suffering and significant sleep disturbances after the protracted and stressful lockdown period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

O C 20-20, Manual de Treinamento Físico Militar do Exército Brasileiro (Brasil, 2002), preconiza, em seu conteúdo, como um dos métodos de treinamento cardiopulmonar, o Treinamento Intervalado Aeróbico (TIA). O objetivo desse trabalho é verificar se o repouso de 90 segundos, recomendado pelo C 20-20, é suficiente para a recuperação desejada (70% da freqüência cardíaca máxima - FCMAX), bem como comparar a concentração de lactato sangüíneo após uma sessão de TIA, em grupos de militares com diferentes níveis de condicionamento físico. Participaram do estudo 35 militares voluntários, do sexo masculino, do 2° ano do Instituto Militar de Engenharia (IME), divididos em grupos, a partir dos resultados na corrida de 12 minutos do teste de avaliação física. [...]

The current society produces and consumes large amounts of digital content, especially young people. Each person accumulates throughout their lives a set of digital items that will constitute their own digital legacy. Recently, a number of works that focus on post-mortem data and technology have been published. Our work adds to the existing body of work, and explores the perspective of Brazilian young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 on digital legacy management systems. We investigate how this public understands the new concepts introduced by this domain, and what are their attitude towards it based on their experience with the different roles offered by the system, namely the account owner, the trusted contact and the heirs. We selected the system Afternote to provide a context for our exploration. The first step in our study was to perform a systematic analysis of the system, followed by two user studies in which young adults explored and shared their views of the system, based on their focus on the role of account owner or trusted contact. Our results show that participants could understand the novel concepts introduced by Afternote, but some of the processes that would take place in the future represented more of a challenge. They believed the system was useful, but raised many issues and costs associated to its use. These results contribute to the ongoing research, evaluation and design of Digital Legacy Management Systems.

Alessandro Introna, Eustachio D’Errico, Boris Modugno, Antonio Scarafino, Angela Fraddosio, Eugenio Distaso, Irene Tempesta, Antonella Mastronardi, Isabella Laura Simone Neurology Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari “Aldo Moro,” Bari, Italy Objective: Riluzole is the first drug approved to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Recently, an oral suspension (OS) of riluzole was made available. Thus, the aim of our study was to evaluate the adherence to 2 formulations of riluzole in patients with ALS.Patients and methods: We enrolled 45 consecutive patients with ALS. At disease diagnosis, riluzole was prescribed in 2 different formulations depending on the severity of dysphagia (27/45 patients received tablets and 18/45 patients received OS). Side effects (SEs) and treatment adherence were investigated using a clinical questionnaire including the ©Morisky 8-item Medication Adherence Questionnaire.Results: Gastroenteric complaints were the most frequent SEs (58% in the tablet group and 48% in the OS group), followed by those at the nervous system (29% and 40%, respectively). No serious SEs related to treatment were reported. The rate of adherence to riluzole was independent of the formulation of the drug and consistent with other medications assumed for comorbidities (p=0.004). In the tablet group, low adherence was caused by SEs in 55.6% and by dysphagia in 44.4% of patients. In the OS group, SEs caused low adherence in 75% of patients. Independently of the drug formulation, patients with high or medium adherence to riluzole had a higher progression rate (p=0.002 and p=0.009, respectively) and a shorter time to generalization (TTG; p=0.01), compared to those with low adherence.Conclusion: Gastroenteric symptoms were the most frequent SE related to tablet as well as OS. The rate of adherence was independent of the formulation of riluzole and the number of medications assumed for comorbidities, and it was consistent with the severity of the disease. The low adherence was caused by dysphagia and SEs in the tablet group, whereas it was caused prevalently by SEs in the OS group. Keywords: adherence, riluzole, oral suspension, tablet, side effects

Over time, feline viruses have acquired elaborateopportunistic properties, making their infections particularly difficult to prevent and treat. Feline coronavirus (FCoV) and feline herpesvirus-1 (FeHV-1), due to the involvement of host genetic factors and immune mechanisms in the development of the disease and more severe forms, are important examples of immune evasion of the host’s innate immune response by feline viruses.It is widely accepted that the innate immune system, which providesan initial universal form of the mammalian host protection from infectious diseases without pre-exposure, plays an essential role in determining the outcome of viral infection.The main components of this immune systembranchare represented by the internal sensors of the host cells that are able to perceive the presence of viral component, including nucleic acids, to start and trigger the production of first type interferon and to activate the cytotoxicity by Natural Killercells, often exploited by viruses for immune evasion.In this brief review, we providea general overview of the principal tools of innate immunity, focusing on the immunologic escape implemented byFCoVand FeHV-1 duringinfection.

Ospitiamo qui il progetto dell’ “Osservatorio sulle edizioni critiche” proposto da un gruppo di ricerca del Dipartimento di Studi letterari, filologici e linguistici dell'Università degli Studi di Milano, composto da Alberto Cadioli, Paolo Chiesa, Stefano Martinelli Tempesta, William Spaggiari, Roberto Tagliani. Ora il gruppo di lavoro intorno al progetto, coinvolge anche Paolo Borsa, Virna Brigatti, Massimiliano Gaggero, Rossana Guglielmetti, Giulia Ravera. Il progetto è stato presentato in un seminario tenutosi a Milano il 13 settembre 2017 (si veda la Cronaca accolta in questo terzo numero di «Prassi Ecdotiche della Modernità Letteraria: https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/PEML/article/view/9272). Observatory on Critical Editions The project “An Observatory on critical editions” is promoted by the Department of Literature, Philolgy and Linguistics of Università degli Studi di Milano. The research group is formed by Alberto Cadioli, Paolo Chiesa, Stefano Martinelli Tempesta, William Spaggiari, Roberto Tagliani. By now, the research team also involves Paolo Borsa, Virna Brigatti, Massimiliano Gaggero, Rossana Guglielmetti, Giulia Ravera. Tha project was presented during the seminar held in Milan on September the 13th 2017 (please see the resume published in this issue of «Prassi Ecdotiche della Modernità Letteraria»: https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/PEML/article/view/9272).

This study focuses on how traditional rural landscape and proximity to a Natura 2000 Site of Community Importance (SCI) might influence consumers’ choice of an agritourism farm for a weekend stay. Data were collected in Umbria region’s (Italy) agritourism farms in 2014 by interviewing 160 tourists. Results from a discrete choice experiment reveal that the most important feature affecting the interviewees’ propensity to pay a premium price to stay in an agritourism farm is the well-preserved traditional landscape (willingness to pay 32.32€/night for two people), followed by the availability of a swimming pool (willingness to pay 20.95€/ night for two people), the proximity to a historical village (willingness to pay 18.37€/night for two people) and, the location in a Natura 2000 SCI (willingness to pay 13.57€/night for two people). Furthermore, the results underline how the preservation of the traditional landscape and protection of the surrounding environment play a strategic role in developing agritourism and provide economic benefits to local communities.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the external marginal gap variation with a 3D quantitative method and the residual fracture resistance after cyclic fatigue in endodontically treated molars restored with overlays of different materials, with and without fiber posts-supported buildups. Forty-eight human maxillary molars were selected, endodontically treated, prepared with standardized MOD cavities and randomly allocated into 6 study groups considering the “core strategy” (build-up with composite resin; build-up with composite resin supported by a fiber post); and the “restorative material” of the indirect adhesive overlay (GrandioBlocks, Voco; Cerasmart, GC; CeltraDuo, Dentsply). All procedures were executed according with manufacturers guidelines. Micro-CT analysis prior and after cyclic fatigue were executed, followed by scanning electron microscope analysis and fracture resistance test. The Two-Way ANOVA analysis showed that interfacial gap progression was significantly influenced by the “core strategy” (p < 0.01) but not of “restorative material” (p = 0.59). Concerning fracture resistance, “restorative material” was statistically significant (p < 0.01), while “core strategy” (p = 0.63) and the interaction (p = 0.84) were not. In conclusion, the fiber post presence within the build-up promoted a lower interfacial gap opening after fatigue, evaluated through micro-CT scans. In terms of fracture resistance, teeth restored with Cerasmart and Celtra Duo were statistically similar, but superior to GrandioBlocks.

This study presents an analysis of consumer preferences for a new food product: Tinned Chianina meat. Respondents (N = 249) participated in a sensory test, where they were also asked to declare their willingness to pay (WTP) for the tasted product. The WTP data were collected after the sensory test by means of the contingent valuation method using a payment card elicitation format. Data were analysed with Cragg’s double-hurdle model to understand which factors influenced market participation (WTP > 0) and then the variables that influenced the declared WTP. According to our results, sensory perception played a key role in explaining both participation in the market and the magnitude of the expressed WTP. Moreover, we found that the sensory aspects have a different effect on the decision to participate in the market and on the magnitude of the expressed WTP. Smell and flavour are the most important in determining the probability of entering the market, while texture has the greatest impact on the declared WTP.

The four LEP collaborations, ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL, have searched for the neutral Higgs bosons which are predicted by the Minimal Supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). The data of the four collaborations are statistically combined and examined for their consistency with the background hypothesis and with a possible Higgs boson signal. The combined LEP data show no significant excess of events which would indicate the production of Higgs bosons. The search results are used to set upper bounds on the cross-sections of various Higgs-like event topologies. The results are interpreted within the MSSM in a number of "benchmark" models, including CP-conserving and CP-violating scenarios. These interpretations lead in all cases to large exclusions in the MSSM parameter space. Absolute limits are set on the parameter tan β and, in some scenarios, on the masses of neutral Higgs bosons.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of chemical-based adhesive techniques on promoting immediate and aged bond strength between zirconia and luting cement. A total of 128 discs of zirconia were divided into 4 groups (n = 32) according to the adhesive treatment: tribochemical silica-coating followed by silane (Silane Primer, Kerr) and bonding (Optibond FL, Kerr), Signum Zirconia Bond (Hereaus), Z-Prime Plus (Bisco), and All-Bond Universal (Bisco). Composite cylinders were cemented on the zirconia sample with Duo-Link Universal (Bisco). Eight specimens per group were subjected to 10,000 thermocycles and subsequently bond strength was tested with shear-bond strength test. ANOVA test showed that artificial aging significantly affected the bond strength to zirconia. Bonferroni test highlighted a significant influence of adhesive treatment (Signum) on bond strength after thermocycling. It was concluded that 10-MDP-based bonding systems showed no improvement in initial bond strength compared with tribochemical treatment. All chemical bonding techniques tested in this study were influenced by thermocycling.

In this work, mycorrhizal-assisted phytoextraction (MAP, Helianthus annuus–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus intraradices–Zn-volcanic ashes) was applied for the recovery of secondary and critical raw materials (SRMs and CRMs, respectively) from Joda West (Odisha, India) mine residues, within a novel multidisciplinary management strategy. Mine residues were preliminarily characterized by using advanced analytical techniques, and subsequently mapped, classified and selected using multispectral satellite Sentinel-2A images and cluster analysis. Selected mine residues were treated by MAP at laboratory scale, and the fate of several SRMs (e.g., Zn, Cr, As, Ni, Cu, Ca, Al, K, S, Rb, Fe, Mn) and CRMs (such as Ga, Ti, P, Ba and Sr) was investigated. Bioconcentration factors in shoots (BCS) and roots (BCR) and translocation factors (TF) were: 5.34(P) > BCS > 0.00(Al); 15.0(S) > BCR > 0.038(Ba); 9.28(Rb) > TF > 0.02(Ti). Results were used to predict MAP performance at larger scale, simulating a Vegetable Depuration Module (VDM) containing mine residues (1 m3). Estimated bio-extracting potential (BP) was in the range 2417 g/m3 (K) > BP> 0.14 g/m3 (As), suggesting the eventual subsequent recovery of SRMs and CRMs by hydrometallurgical techniques, with final purification by selective electrodeposition, as a viable and cost-effective option. The results are promising for MAP application at larger scale, within a circular economy-based approach.

Objective. The purpose of this ex vivo study was to compare the trueness of traditional and digital workflows and to analyze the interfacial fit of CAD/CAM restorations on gypsum and 3D-printed casts (3DC). Methods: Forty patients underwent indirect posterior adhesive restorations. After tooth preparation, both traditional and chairside procedures were followed. Obtained models were scanned to generate STL files of the intraoral impression (IOS), the conventional cast (RS), and the 3D-printed cast (3DCS). Superimposition of the casts was performed to evaluate trueness. Then, for each preparation, two identical CAD/CAM restorations were milled and luted on RS and 3DC. Micro-CT scan was performed to evaluate 3D interfacial fit. Results. Surface trueness analysis showed no significant differences among groups (p > 0.05), with average trueness ranging from 11.56 to 17.01 µm. Micro-CT analysis showed significant differences between gypsum casts (average ranging from 135.78 to 212.31 µm) and 3DC (average ranging from 57.63 to 144.55 µm) for both marginal and internal fit. Conclusions. In adhesive restorations manufacturing, digital and conventional procedures generate casts that are not significantly different. Marginal fit of adhesive restorations is similar to conventional crown design and clinically acceptable. It is assumable that a direct digital workflow could benefit from the usage of 3DC.

Monitoring the spreading of marine invasive species represents one of the most relevant challenges for marine scientists in order to understand their impact on the environment. In recent years, citizen science is becoming more and more involved in research programs, especially taking advantage of new digital technologies. Here, we present the results obtained in the first 20 months (from 12 July 2019 to 8 March 2021) since launching avvistAPP. This new app was conceived to track the spreading of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Adriatic Sea; it was also designed to collect sightings of 18 additional marine taxa (ctenophores, jellyfish, sea turtles, dolphins, salps and noble pen shell). A total of 1224 sightings were recorded, of which 530 referred to Mnemiopsis, followed by the scyphozoan jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo (22%), Cotylorhiza tuberculata (11%) and Aurelia spp. (8%). avvistAPP produced data confirming the presence of Mnemiopsis (often in abundances > 20 individuals m−2) along almost the entire Italian coast in the summer of 2019 and 2020.

In this paper we present some results obtained in a master’s research which aimed to evaluate what are the contributions that the acting as Physical monitor in a Science Museum has for the initial training and the beginning of the teaching career. Basing our analysis, we have adopted as theoretical assumptions the Teachers Knowledge and the Training Needs. We interviewed a group of ten teachers who played the function of Physics mediator in the Interdisciplinary Dynamic Museum (MUDI) of the State University of Maringá, and submit to the Textual Analysis Discursive process. The results allowed us to realize that the contributions go beyond the expected, revealing the great potential of the Science museums of as an aid to initial training, contributing to the development of competencies and abilities that today is required of the teacher, and them providing experiences load which otherwise would not be reached.

Context: Indigofera suffruticosa Miller (Fabaceae) and I. truxillensis Kunth produce compounds, such as isatin (ISA) and indirubin (IRN), which possess antitumour properties. Their effects in mammalian cells are still not very well understood. Objective: We evaluated the activities of ISA and/or IRN on cell viability and apoptosis in vitro, their genotoxic potentials in vitro and in vivo, and the IRN- and ISA-induced expression of ERCC1 or BAX genes. Materials and methods: HeLa and/or CHO-K1 cell lines were tested (3 or 24 h) in the MTT, Trypan blue exclusion, acridine orange/ethidium bromide, cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) and comet (36, 24 and 72 h) tests after treatment with IRN (0.1 to 200 μM) or ISA (0.5 to 50 μM). Gene expression was measured by RT-qPCR in HeLa cells. Swiss albino mice received IRN (3, 4 or 24 h) by gavage (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg determined from the LD50 – 1 g/kg b.w.) and submitted to comet assay in vivo. Results: IRN reduced the viability of CHO-K1 (24 h; 5 to 200 μM) and HeLa cells (10 to 200 μM), and was antiproliferative in the CBMN test (CHO-K1: 0.5 to 10 μM; HeLa: 5 and 10 μM). The drug did not induce apoptosis, micronucleus neither altered gene expression. IRN and ISA were genotoxic for HeLa cells (3 and 24 h) at all doses tested. IRN (100 and 150 mg/kg) also induced genotoxicity in vivo (4 h). Conclusion: IRN and ISA have properties that make them candidates as chemotherapeutics for further pharmacological investigations.

A measurement of the inclusive semileptonic branching ratios of b hadrons produced in Z decay is presented, using four million hadronic events collected by the ALEPH detector from 1991 to 1995. Electrons and muons are selected opposite to b-tagged hemispheres. Two different methods are explored to distinguish the contributions from direct b → Xlν and cascade b → c → Xlν decays to the total lepton yield. One is based on the lepton transverse momentum spectrum, the other makes use of the correlation between the charge of the lepton and charge estimators built from tracks in the opposite hemisphere of the event. The latter method reduces the dependence on the modelling of semileptonic b decays. The results obtained by averaging the two techniques are BR(b → Xlν) = 0.1070 ± 0.0010stat ± 0.0023syst ± 0.0026model , BR(b → c → Xlν) = 0.0818 ± 0.0015stat ± 0.0022syst-0.0014 model+0.0010. © Springer-Verlag / Società Italiana di Fisica 2001.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and has no cure. Therapeutic strategies focusing on the reduction of oxidative stress, modulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) toxicity and inhibition of tau protein hyperphosphorylation are warranted to avoid the development and progression of AD. The aim of this study was to screen the crude extracts (CEs) and ethyl-acetate fractions (EAFs) of Guazuma ulmifolia, Limonium brasiliense, Paullinia cupana, Poincianella pluviosa, Stryphnodendron adstringens and Trichilia catigua using preliminary in vitro bioassays (acetylcholinesterase inhibition, antioxidant activity and total polyphenol content) to select extracts/fractions and assess their protective effects against Aβ25-35 toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. The effect of the EAF of S. adstringens on mitochondrial membrane potential, lipid peroxidation, superoxide production and mRNA expression of 10 genes related to AD was also evaluated and the electropherogram fingerprints of EAFs were established by capillary electrophoresis. Chemometric tools were used to correlate the in vitro activities of the samples with their potential to be evaluated against AD and to divide extracts/fractions into four clusters. Pretreatment with the EAFs grouped in cluster 1 (S. adstringens, P. pluviosa and L. brasiliense) protected SH-SY5Y cells from Aβ25-35-induced toxicity. The EAF of S. adstringens at 15.62 μg/mL was able completely to inhibit the mitochondrial depolarization (69%), superoxide production (49%) and Aβ25-35-induced lipid peroxidation (35%). With respect to mRNA expression, the EAF of S. adstringens also prevented the MAPT mRNA overexpression (expression ratio of 2.387x) induced by Aβ25-35, which may be related to tau protein hyperphosphorylation. This is the first time that the neuroprotective effects of these fractions have been demonstrated and that the electropherogram fingerprints for the EAFs of G. ulmifolia, L. brasiliense, P. cupana, P. pluviosa and S. adstringens have been established. The study expands knowledge of the in vitro protective effects and quality control of the evaluated fractions.