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Digital curation is one of the most experimental areas of museum practice introduced by the digital revolution. A whole new generation of cultural experiences are emerging from the interaction with online spaces and social media platforms, encouraging museums to explore new curatorial approaches. In this paper, we will show how a digital experimental project led to the rethinking of the exhibition format into a more collaborative, interdisciplinary and laboratory approach to museum curation. The case study analysed is Laboratory of Stories, a dynamic participatory archive which was co-designed with a vibrant community of heritage professionals, local communities, and lovers of the Dolomites during a three-year project. An evaluation study combining different qualitative and quantitative methods was implemented to explore the nature of this curatorial practice. A series of key findings emerged from the study: the introduction of new narrative styles and interdisciplinary perspectives; the involvement of different communities in the curatorial process; the shift from a tangible, object-based, to a more intangible, open, and dialogic interpretation of heritage and of knowledge making. The findings show how the ‘laboratory’ metaphor can help museums to embrace the challenges of a participatory, post-digital society, suggesting a novel approach where the co-creation of narratives is at the heart of the curatorial practice.

Background: Very little is currently known about molecular alteration of matrix-producing carcinoma of the breast. However, the morphological similarity with other neoplasm with a myxo-chondroid component is remarkable. In this pilot study we evaluated the molecular alterations involving PLAG1 and MYC genes in 12 cases of matrix producing carcinoma. Methods: We evaluated PLAG1 rearrangements as Break-Apart and Gene Copy Gain, and MYC as amplification and polysomy in 12 cases of matrix producing carcinoma using a FISH method. Results: Among the 12 cases of matrix producing carcinomas we found that the three cases harboring MYC amplification were all negative for PLAG1 break-apart; four cases with MYC polysomy were associated to PLAG1 break-apart and high Gene Copy Number; among four cases wild type for MYC, three showed a PLAG1- break-apart signal and of them two died with disease. One of the deceased patients showed an amplification of MYC with PLAG1- wild-type and the other showed a PLAG1 break-apart (6%) and a MYC wild-type. Conclusion: This is the first report to the best of our knowledge that shows a possible correlation between a matrix producing carcinoma with PLAG1 and MYC involvement in the development and progression of this kind of tumor. We can suppose that MYC amplification behaves in an aggressive way together with PLAG1- break-apart in the cases of matrix producing carcinoma presented here. The gene copy gain is a useful diagnostic tool in the case of difficult diagnosis because an increase was observed in more than 50% of cases.

Graphical abstract, The COVID-19 crisis has immensely impacted the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development worldwide. This research aims at providing a policy response to support achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) taking the COVID-19 long-term implications into account. To do so, a qualitative analytical method was employed in the following four steps. First, a fuzzy cognitive map was developed to specify causal-effect links of the interdependent SDGs in Iran as a developing country in the Middle East. Second, potential effects of the pandemic on the SDGs achievement were analyzed. Third, five strategies were formulated, including green management, sustainable food systems, energizing the labor market, inclusive education, and supporting research and technology initiatives in the energy sector. And finally, different scenarios corresponding to the five proposed strategies were tested based on the identified interconnections among the SDGs. The analysis showed that applying each of the five considered strategies or their combination would mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on the SDGs only in case of a medium pandemic activation level. Moreover, implementing a single strategy with a high activation level leads to better outcomes on the SDGs rather than applying a combination of strategies in low or medium activation levels during the pandemic situation. The provided insights support stakeholders and policy-makers involved in the post-COVID-19 recovery action plan towards implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Questo articolo si propone di analizzare le politiche di promozione e tutela della salute dei migranti alla luce dell’approccio della Medicina di iniziativa. Tale approccio è basato su logiche di azione di tipo proattivo, adattivo e dinamico, puntando anche sul lavoro in rete e sul potenziamento delle capacità di mediazione. L'applicazione di questi principi consente di intervenire sull’insieme di precondizioni che de-terminano la possibilità, per le popolazioni migranti, di esercitare pienamente il diritto alla salute. Su questa base sono stati discussi tre casi di buone pratiche che hanno avuto luogo in Friuli Venezia Giulia. L’analisi ha confermato l’applicazione dei principi della Medicina di iniziativa e i buoni risultati che ne sono derivati.

Asphalt mixtures for road pavements are produced and laid at high temperatures, producing gaseous emissions that contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds that paving workers are exposed to. This paper aims to combine the effects of gaseous emissions on human health with the life cycle impacts of wearing courses. The results of sanitary-environmental risk analysis and life cycle assessment were combined in an integrated approach, the life cycle risk analysis, to evaluate the environmental performance of road pavements and local cancer and toxicological effects on workers. Two asphalt mixtures modified with crumb rubber (CR) from end-of-life tires (gap and dense graded) were compared to standard, unmodified asphalt mix. Air samples were collected at the screed and the driver’s seat of a paver during the construction of a full-scale trial section in Turin, Italy. The CR wearing course with a higher asphalt binder content (gap-graded) had a cancer effect on workers 3.5 and 2.9 times higher than the CR mixture with a lower asphalt binder percentage (dense-graded) and the standard mixture, respectively. Instead, the toxicological effects were 1.3 and 1.2 times higher for the gap-graded mixture than the dense-graded and the standard mix, respectively.

Il Giubileo “diffuso” del 2015 ha interessato anche le regioni del nord-est: Friuli Venezia Giulia e Veneto, aree ricche di mete devozionali e di antiche (e spesso nuove) vie di pellegrinaggio. Nel volume si riportano i risultati di due ricerche elaborate all'interno del Dipartimento di Scienze politiche e sociali dell’Università di Trieste in occasione del Giubileo: una inserita all'interno di un ampio progetto nazionale sull'esperienza giubilare che ha coinvolto più gruppi accademici (coordinata da Giovanni Delli Zotti) e l’altra finanziata dall'ateneo giuliano, focalizzata sul turismo religioso (coordinata da Moreno Zago). Gli autori e i collaboratori coinvolti offrono una riflessione puntuale sulla partecipazione attiva al Giubileo, sull'adesione ai valori e alle pratiche religiose della società odierna, sulle diverse accezioni che assumono i termini di pellegrino e di turista religioso, sulla qualità delle mete devozionali e del loro hinterland, sulla capacità degli operatori di accogliere adeguatamente l’ospite e, infine, sulla valorizzazione e promozione dell’elemento religioso in chiave turistica.

Questo numero di Culture della Sostenibilità è quasi interamente dedicato all'XI convegno aree fragili, che aveva come tema il presunto divario culturale delle zone rurali più interne dell'Italia. La risposta alla provocazione è stata ampia e all'impronta dell'orgoglio territoriale.

Il lavoro presentato nel capitolo si inserisce nell'ambito delle attività del progetto del Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche e Sociali dell’Università di Trieste “Luoghi sacri fra eredità culturale e turismo religioso”. L’indagine mira a comprendere i significati attribuiti al Giubileo e rilevare le pratiche della sua celebrazione, oltre ad approfondire, più in generale, gli atteggiamenti e i comportamenti nei confronti della religione e le opinioni su proposte e aspetti controversi e/o “critici” da tempo oggetto di discussione nella comunità ecclesiale, tra i fedeli e nella società nella sua interezza.

Wheat α-amylase inhibitors (α-AIs) are known anti-nutritional factors, respiratory allergens, and they can sporadically cause food allergy. α-AIs are therefore expected to reach the enteric mucosae in an immunologically active form, but information on their stability to gastric digestion is not available. Resistance to pepsinolysis is nonetheless a key factor for any food allergen. We therefore investigated whether α-AIs could resist pepsin digestion in simulated gastric fluids (SGF) and in emulsified SGF, the latter simulating more realistically the multi-phase nature of stomach bolus. Since α-AIs comprise a huge family of proteins, we investigated 0.19 α-AI as a prominent member. The digestion patterns were analyzed by immunoblotting using anti-0.19 polyclonal antibodies and sera from wheat allergic patients sensitized to 0.19 α-AI. The results show that the immune epitopes of α-AI are detectable up to 120 min of digestion in emulsifying conditions. Intra-molecular disulfide bonds and, in particular, emulsification were found to be crucial factors for protein stability. The results show that 0.19 α-AI must be considered a potential food allergen.

Xylanase from Aspergillus niger (ANX) is widely used in bakeries as a processing aid since it stabilises and improves dough quality. An association between allergic symptoms among bakery workers and sensitisation to ANX has been reported, indicating that this enzyme is an occupational allergen. The presence of ANX in dough improvers and semi-finished goods is often hidden due to incomplete and unclear labelling. The quantification of microbial enzymes in these products is necessary and the determination of the actual concentration of ANX in workplaces is therefore essential to assess the occupational risk. To this purpose we have developed and characterised monoclonal antibodies to ANX. The monoclonal antibodies do not show any cross-reaction with other commonly used microbial enzymes, and they allow the detection of ANX in complex mixtures by ELISA inhibition assays down to the concentration limit of approximately 10 µg kg−1. These mAbs are a valuable tool to detect and quantify ANX and to investigate its allergenic potential in the workplace.

Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) is a plant protein that binds specifically to sugars expressed, among many others, by human gastrointestinal epithelial and immune cells. WGA is a toxic compound and an anti-nutritional factor, but recent works have shown that it may have potential as an anti-tumor drug and as a carrier for oral drugs. To quantitate the toxicity threshold for WGA on normal epithelial cells we previously investigated the effects of the lectin on differentiated Caco2 cells, and showed that in the micromolar range of concentrations WGA could alter the integrity of the epithelium layer and increase its permeability to both mannitol and dextran. WGA was shown to be uptaken by Caco2 cells and only approximately 0.1% molecules were observed to cross the epithelium layer by transcytosis. Here we show that at nanomolar concentrations WGA is unexpectedly bioactive on immune cells. The supernatants of WGA-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) can alter the integrity of the epithelium layer when administered to the basolateral side of differentiated Caco2 cells and the effects can be partially inhibited by monoclonal antibodies against IL1, IL6 and IL8. At nanomolar concentrations WGA stimulates the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and thus the biological activity of WGA should be reconsidered by taking into account the effects of WGA on the immune system at the gastrointestinal interface. These results shed new light onto the molecular mechanisms underlying the onset of gastrointestinal disorders observed in vivo upon dietary intake of wheat-based foods.

The study of the transport mechanisms connected to solid-liquid interactions is fundamental in the determination of the extension of the pollution of a site and in the evaluation of the best remediation process to be applied. The sorption of hydrophobic ionizable organic contaminants from the groundwaters is supervised not only by the physico-chemical properties of soil and pollutants, but also by the groundwaters pH, which deeply influences their solubility in the aqueous media, and consequently their transport mechanisms in the aquifer. In this work an experimental study of the sorption of phenol and 2-nitrophenol on two soils, different in particle-size distribution, CEC and organic carbon content, was realized. The sorption potential of the soils was evaluated by means of a physical, mineralogical and chemical characterization. The experimental data coming from some batch tests, performed at pH values equal to 4, 7 and 10 were fitted by means of linear, Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms models. The soil-contaminants interaction mechanisms that influence the isotherms shapes were then analyzed and discussed, and a comparison between the theoretical and experimental values of the partitioning coefficient KD was performed.