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Concern about plastic pollution in coastal wetlands, seas and oceans has risen dramatically in recent years. Most of the waste found in the environment has a land-based origin and it is transported toward coastal-marine ecosystems through rivers and canals. Thus, waste collection in watercourses flowing through urban areas has a great potential to mitigate plastic pollution in local and coastal water bodies. In this paper, authors describe the results of three waste collection campaigns performed during 2021 (early summer, late summer and autumn) in three representative points of the channel network of the historical center of the city of Padova, Italy, where restoration efforts of the urban stream ecosystems are ongoing. The collected waste was analyzed both in terms of size and material type. A total of 418 kg of waste was collected: the prevailing fraction was the coarse one (59% of the material intercepted by a 100 mm side mesh sieve), and plastic represented the most abundant waste category (47% by weight). The total amount of litter produced in one year from the channel network of the city of Padova was estimated, with litter amounts on the canal banks found to be much higher than or at least comparable to those in water, a result which highlights the importance of planning waste collection together with riparian vegetation management to reduce plastic pollution. These findings provide a baseline for assessing the possibility to valorize the waste collected from the waterways of the city with processes other than landfilling and incineration

Migratory insects are key players in ecosystem functioning and services, but their spatiotemporal distributions are typically poorly known. Ecological niche modeling (ENM) may be used to predict species seasonal distributions, but the resulting hypotheses should eventually be validated by field data. The painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) performs multigenerational migrations between Europe and Africa and has become a model species for insect movement ecology. While the annual migration cycle of this species is well understood for Europe and northernmost Africa, it is still unknown where most individuals spend the winter. Through ENM, we previously predicted suitable breeding grounds in the subhumid regions near the tropics between November and February. In this work, we assess the suitability of these predictions through i) extensive field surveys and ii) two-year monitoring in six countries: a large-scale monitoring scheme to study butterfly migration in Africa. We document new breeding locations, year-round phenological information, and hostplant use. Field observations were nearly always predicted with high probability by the previous ENM, and monitoring demonstrated the influence of the precipitation seasonality regime on migratory phenology. Using the updated dataset, we built a refined ENM for the Palearctic-African range of V. cardui. We confirm the relevance of the Afrotropical region and document the missing natural history pieces of the longest migratory cycle described in butterflies., This work was funded by the National Geographic Society (grant WW1-300R-18); by the British Ecological Society (grant LRB16/1015); by the Research and Conservation Projects of the Fundació Barcelona Zoo; by the grant PID2020-117739GA-I00/MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Spanish State Research Agency to G.T.; by the grant LINKA20399 from the Spanish National Research Council iLink program to G.T., C.P.B., N.E.P., and R.V.; by fellowship FPU19/01593 of the program Formación de Profesorado Universitario (FPU) to A.G.-B.; by the Turkana Basin Institute, National Geographic Society, and Whitley Fund for Nature to D.J.M.; and by grant 2018-00738 of the New Frontiers in Research Fund (Government of Canada) to G.T. and C.P.B., Significance Abstract Results Field Surveys, Larval Hostplants, and Field-Based Model Validation Monitoring Results and Population Dynamics across Regions A Refined Model for the Afrotropical Region Discussion The Afrotropical Breeding Grounds of V. cardui: Multiple Generations Shift South Toward the Tropics Diversity and Phenology of Larval Hostplants in the Afrotropics The Ecological Relevance of Delimiting Spatiotemporal Distributions in Migratory Insects Conclusion Methods December-January Field Surveys and Year-Round Monitoring Spatiotemporal Ecological Niche Modeling Data, Materials, and Software Availability Acknowledgments Supporting Information References

Objetivo: O artigo representa uma reflexão sobre a evolução do direito ao livre planejamento familiar e da esterilização voluntária no Brasil, destacando os resquícios da ingerência do Estado na esfera individual e o papel do gênero no âmbito reprodutivo. Para mais, tem por objetivo analisar as postulações da Lei nº 9.263/1996 antecedentes à Lei nº 14.443/2022, bem como as inovações impetradas. A pesquisa considera fundamental delimitar o atual cenário dos direitos reprodutivos para, assim, adequá-lo ao patamar constitucional.Metodologia: Adere ao método hipotético-dedutivo, com a aplicação de técnicas de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, mediante a utilização de livros e de artigos científicos pertinentes à temática, bem como da jurisprudência e da legislação específica sobre o tema.Resultados: O trabalho reconhece a elevada valia das alterações postuladas pela Lei nº 14.443/2022, mas aponta a necessidade da apreciação crítica dos seus verdadeiros efeitos, especialmente no que tange à implementação das balizas legais do direito ao livre planejamento familiar à prática.Contribuição: O texto poderá servir de ponto inicial para estudos relativos aos atualizados requisitos concernentes à Lei de Planejamento Familiar, além de sinalizar a importância da contínua análise acerca de sua efetivação prática.Palavras-chave: Planejamento Familiar; Esterilização Voluntária; Direitos Reprodutivos; Lei nº 9.263/1996; Lei nº 14.443/2022. ABSTRACTObjective: The article represents a reflection on the evolution of the right to free planned parenthood and voluntary sterilization in Brazil, highlighting the remnants of the interference of the State in the individual sphere and the role of gender in the reproductive sphere. Furthermore, it aims to analyze the postulations of Law No. 9.263/96 prior to Law No. 14.443/22, as well as the innovations filed. The research considers it essential to delimit the current scenario of reproductive rights in order to adapt it to the constitutional level.Methodology: It adheres to the hypothetical-deductive method, with the application of bibliographic and documentary research techniques, through the use of books and scientific articles relevant to the theme, as well as jurisprudence and specific legislation on the subject.Results: The paper recognizes the high value of the amendments proposed by Law No. 14,443/2022, but points out the need for critical appreciation of its true effects, especially with regard to the implementation of the legal beacons of the right to free planned parenthood to practice.Contribution: The paper may serve as a starting point for studies related to the updated requirements concerning the Planned Parenthood Law, in addition to signaling the importance of continuous analysis of its practical implementation.Keywords: Planned Parenthood; Voluntary Sterilization; Reproductive Rights; Gender; Law No. 9.263/96; Law No. 14.443/22.

The Italian Navy has always had, among its missions, the safeguard of the marine environment, and is strongly oriented to give its contribution to the targets fixed form the European Parliament with the European Green Deal. In 2012, the Italian Navy launched the Green Fleet initiative, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving national energy security. To achieve these goals, the Italian Navy follows three main strategies: - adoption of a renewable synthetic fuel; - development and use of innovative eco-design technologies, which allow the reduction of the environmental impact of ships (LED lighting, SCR, foul release coatings); - adoption of energy saving operating procedures (electric propulsion, energy dashboard). The paper presents a case study focused on increasing the overall efficiency of a ship by recycling the thermal energy normally released to the environment by diesel engines. In fact, the overall efficiency of a diesel engine is about 40%, which means that 40% of the energy coming from the fuel is normally converted into usable power and the remainder is waste, which is delivered as heat to the environment. The case study identifies an effective solution to use a significant portion of that energy, while reducing the ship’s energy consumption, thereby increasing overall efficiency and reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during operations. At the same time, the identified technical solution makes possible to reduce electrical load peaks, making the electrical load diagram more homogeneous, with the further result of optimizing the working conditions of the diesel engines.

Orientador: Regina Maria Puppin-Rontani Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba Resumo: O objetivo neste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes pastas obturadoras e agentes de limpeza sobre a dentina radicular de dentes decíduos, sobre: a estrutura molecular; e a morfologia de superfície da dentina radicular em dentes decíduos. Foram utilizadas 80 raízes de dentes decíduos anteriores extraídos por razões clínicas. As coroas foram seccionadas na junção cemento-esmalte e descartadas; e as raízes seccionadas no sentido longitudinal expondo os condutos radiculares, as quais foram planificadas e sonicadas. As raízes foram fixadas com resina composta para facilitar o manuseio, em seguida os condutos foram instrumentados com limas tipo K (15 a 35) e irrigados a cada troca de lima com hipoclorito de sódio a 0,5% + EndoPTC. Então, os espécimes foram distribuídos em 4 grupos de acordo com as pastas obturadoras (n=20): Controle-CP (sem obturação), Calen® espessada com óxido de zinco-CZ, Calcipex II®-CII, Vitapex®-V. Após a obturação, os espécimes foram armazenamentos por 7 dias. Após esse período, as pastas obturadoras foram removidas e os espécimes foram subdivididos em 4 grupos de acordo com os agentes de limpeza (n=5): Controle-CL (Sem limpeza), Etanol-E, Tergenform®-T, Ácido fosfórico-AF 35%...Observação: O resumo, na íntegra, poderá ser visualizado no texto completo da tese digital Abstract: The aim of this study was to verify the effect the different filling pastes and cleaning agents in primary dentin root, as: molecular structure and morphologic structure the surface of root dentin in primary teeth. For the study were used 80 anterior primary teeth roots extracted for clinical reasons. The crowns of the teeth were sectioned at cement enamel junction and discarded. The roots were separated longitudinally exposing the root canal, which were ground flat and sonicated. The specimens were fixed using composite resin to facilitate manipulation, and then they were prepared with K-type files size #15-35 and irrigated with of 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution + EndoPTC cream. Thus, were divided into 4 groups (n=20) according to the filling pastes: Control (without filling), Calen® paste thickened with zinc oxide, Calcipex II®, Vitapex®. Then, the specimens were stored for seven days. After that, filling paste was removed and the specimens were subdivided into 4 cleaning agents groups (n=5): Control (without cleaning agents), Ethanol, Tergenform®, Phosphoric acid (35%)...Note: The complete abstract is available with the full electronic document Mestrado Odontopediatria Mestre em Odontologia

The abandonment of agricultural land and the afforestation of grassland habitats represent major threats for butterflies in European and Mediterranean areas. A crucial goal for Lepidoptera conservation is to maintain and/or restore habitat quality by targeted management. Nevertheless, there are few experimental studies allowing to derive data-driven strategies to protect butterflies of open grasslands in the Mediterranean region. We developed a habitat management strategy for the conservation of the Italian endemic butterfly Zerynthia cassandra by adopting a three-step procedure: (i) characterising which environmental and host plant features influence oviposition on plants; (ii) identifying and testing the effect of a data-driven habitat management intervention; (iii) understanding which micro-habitat features promote Z. cassandra oviposition in restored places to optimise the intervention. Both patch (areas of 1 m radius hosting Aristolochia shoots) and plant features affect oviposition, with the strongest positive effects showed by high irradiation of the patch and plant quality (high number of flowers and leaves). Accordingly, the management consisted in vegetation cuts to increase irradiation, and 2 years of monitoring demonstrated that this procedure significantly increased oviposition (average increase of about 2 eggs per plant) and larval presence. Micro-habitat sampling demonstrated that the maximum oviposition differed between vegetation structures, highlighting the importance of a local fine-tuning before the intervention. We provided a data-driven, effective, and sustainable management strategy to increase habitat suitability and oviposition for an endemic and endangered Mediterranean butterfly. Our framework can drive management strategies for other species with similar ecological requirements and subjected to similar threats.

This study investigates the major chemical components, particle-bound water content, acidity (pH), and major potential sources of PM2.5in major cities (Belluno, Conegliano, Vicenza, Mestre, Padua, and Rovigo) in the eastern end of the Po Valley. The measured PM2.5mass was reconstructed using a multiple-site hybrid chemical mass closure approach that also accounts for aerosol inorganic water content (AWC) estimated by the ISORROPIA-II model. Annually, organic matter accounted for 31–45% of the PM2.5at all sites, followed by nitrate (10–19%), crustal material (10–14%), sulfate (8–10%), ammonium (5–9%), elemental carbon (4–7%), other inorganic ions (3–4%), and trace elements (0.2–0.3%). Water represented 7–10% of measured PM2.5. The ambient aerosol pH varied from 1.5 to 4.5 with lower values in summer (average in all sites 2.2±0.3) and higher in winter (3.9±0.3). Six major PM2.5sources were quantitatively identified with multiple-site positive matrix factorization: secondary sulfate (34% of PM2.5), secondary nitrate (30%), biomass burning (17%), traffic (11%), re-suspended dust (5%), and fossil fuel combustion (3%). Biomass burning accounted for ~90% of total PAHs. Inorganic aerosol acidity was driven primarily by secondary sulfate, fossil fuel combustion (decreasing pH), secondary nitrate, and biomass burning (increasing pH). Secondary nitrate was the primary driver of the inorganic AWC variability. A concentration-weighted trajectory (multiple-site) analysis was used to identify potential source areas for the various factors and modeled aerosol acidity. Eastern and Central Europe were the main source areas of secondary species. Less acidic aerosol was associated with air masses originating from Northern Europe owing to the elevated presence of the nitrate factor. More acidic particles were observed for air masses traversing the Po Valley and the Mediterranean, possibly due to the higher contributions of fossil fuel combustion factor and the loss of nitric acid due to its interaction with coarse sea-salt particles.

In this study, the wettability, cell viability, and roughness of an experimental dense bovine hydroxyapatite [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] ceramic block were evaluated so that, in the future, it could be used as a base material for dental implants. The results to commercial zirconia and a commercially pure titanium (Ti) alloy were compared. The surface roughness and contact angles were measured. An in vitro evaluation was conducted by means of tests in which pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were placed in indirect and direct contact with these materials. For cell viability, a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and crystal violet test were conducted. A qualitative analysis was conducted using variable pressure scanning electron microscopy (SEM). No statistically significant differences were observed in wettability and roughness tests among the groups. In both the MTT assay and crystal violet test, all groups demonstrated satisfactory results without cytotoxicity. SEM showed cell adhesion and cell proliferation results on the material surfaces after 24 h and 48 h. In conclusion, this dense Ca10 (PO4)6(OH)2 ceramic can be considered as a potential biocompatible material.

Combined effects of reduced pH, as predicted under climate change scenarios, and the most popular and widely used stimulant caffeine were assessed in hemocyte parameters of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, being hemocytes involved in immune defense. Bivalves were exposed for one week to natural pH (8.1) and two reduced pH values (pH -0.4 units and pH -0.7 units). Exposure continued for additional two weeks, both in the absence and in the presence of environmentally relevant concentrations of caffeine (0.05 and 0.5 &micro, g/L). Hemocyte parameters (total hemocyte count, hemocyte volume and diameter, neutral red uptake and hemocyte proliferation) were measured after 7 days of exposure to pH only, and after 14 (T1) and 21 (T2) days of exposure to the various pH*caffeine combinations. At all sampling times, pH significantly affected all the biological variables considered, whereas caffeine exhibited a significant influence at T2 only. Among the various hemocyte parameters, caffeine caused a significant increase in total hemocyte count at T2, and in hemocyte volume and diameter at both T1 and T2, when a significant interaction between pH and caffeine was also found. Overall, results demonstrated that hemocyte functionality was strongly influenced by the experimental conditions tested. Further studies are needed to assess combined effects of climate changes and emerging contaminants on bivalve immune system when challenged with environmental pathogens.

This study investigates the major chemical components, particle-bound water content, acidity (pH), and major potential sources of PM

A total of 85 PM2.5 samples were collected at a site located in a large industrial zone (Porto Marghera, Venice, Italy) during a 1-year-long sampling campaign. Samples were analyzed to determine water-soluble inorganic ions, elemental and organic carbon, and levoglucosan, and results were processed to investigate the seasonal patterns, the relationship between the analyzed species, and the most probable sources by using a set of tools, including (i) conditional probability function (CPF), (ii) conditional bivariate probability function (CBPF), (iii) concentration weighted trajectory (CWT), and (iv) potential source contribution function (PSCF) analyses. Furthermore, the importance of biomass combustions to PM2.5 was also estimated. Average PM2.5 concentrations ranged between 54 and 16 μg m−3 in the cold and warm period, respectively. The mean value of total ions was 11 μg m−3 (range 1–46 μg m−3): The most abundant ion was nitrate with a share of 44 % followed by sulfate (29 %), ammonium (14 %), potassium (4 %), and chloride (4 %). Levoglucosan accounted for 1.2 % of the PM2.5 mass, and its concentration ranged from few ng m−3 in warm periods to 2.66 μg m−3 during winter. Average concentrations of levoglucosan during the cold period were higher than those found in other European urban sites. This result may indicate a great influence of biomass combustions on particulate matter pollution. Elemental and organic carbon (EC, OC) showed similar behavior, with the highest contributions during cold periods and lower during summer. The ratios between biomass burning indicators (K+, Cl−, NO3 −, SO4 2−, levoglucosan, EC, and OC) were used as proxy for the biomass burning estimation, and the contribution to the OC and PM2.5 was also calculated by using the levoglucosan (LG)/OC and LG/PM2.5 ratios and was estimated to be 29 and 18 %, respectively.

Understanding host plant preference and the relative quality of resource provided by co-occurring host plants is a key step to predict butterfly species abundance and responses to environmental changes, and, consequently, to plan management measures. Zerynthia cassandra is an Italian endemic species strongly dependent on the availability of its host plants, Aristolochia rotunda and Aristolochia lutea. The insular population occurring on Elba island (Tuscan Archipelago) is highly threatened, because of limited host plant distribution, small population size and apparent lack of gene flow with the mainland. In 2017, we carried out field surveys and rearing experiments to (i) identify the characteristics of the host plants (vegetative status) and the site characteristics (aspect, irradiation, distance from other patches) correlated with the number of eggs occurring on individual plants, (ii) compare larval growth, food-conversions rate and larval and adult survivorship on the two host plants species. Egg occurrence depends on patch irradiation, the number of leaves and flowers occurring on individual plants and the occurrence of nearby patches. These findings allowed to identify the optimal Aristolochia patch features for egg laying and development. Laboratory rearing success was higher than 50% and although plant species did not show a significant effect on oviposition, we found that larval and adult survival was higher on A. rotunda. Our results suggest habitat management aimed at increasing resource availability for Z. cassandra and possible ex-situ conservation actions aimed at recovering the population in case of potential catastrophic events.