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We aimed to explore the significance of monumental trees as elements of heritage and their role in interpreting landscapes. Monumental carob trees, characterized by their impressive size and long lifespan, serve as valuable sources of information for understanding the territories they inhabit and the human societies that have preserved them over time. Over the centuries, these carob trees narrate the tale of Mediterranean landscapes, akin to stone monuments, making them authentic natural and cultural treasures of the Mediterranean region. Our findings, based on fields observations in Sicily (Italy) and GIS analysis, suggested that the landscape is an enabling medium through which traditional culture is preserved, local identities are transferred, and rural heritage is acknowledged. We unfold a conception of landscape based on visual, inherited traditional agricultural practices, valued rural heritage, and territorial identity.

This preclinical proof-of-concept study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of secretome therapy in diabetic mice with pressure ulcers. We utilized a custom-made hyaluronic acid (HA)-based porous sponge, which was rehydrated either with normal culture medium or secretome derived from human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to achieve a hydrogel consistency. Following application onto skin ulcers, both the hydrogel-only and the hydrogel + secretome combination accelerated wound closure compared to the vehicle group. Notably, the presence of secretome significantly enhanced the healing effect of the hydrogel, as evidenced by a thicker epidermis and increased revascularization of the healed area compared to the vehicle group. Notably, molecular analysis of healed skin revealed significant downregulation of genes involved in delayed wound healing and abnormal inflammatory response in ulcers treated with the hydrogel + secretome combination, compared to those treated with the hydrogel only. Additionally, we found no significant differences in therapeutic outcomes when comparing the use of secretome from fetal dermal MSCs to that from umbilical cord MSCs. This observation is supported by the proteomic profile of the two secretomes, which suggests a shared molecular signature responsible of the observed therapeutic effects.

The agri-food system plays a critical role in meeting global food demand, with traceability and food safety becoming key priorities for producers and consumers. Consumer trust, influenced by perceptions of food safety, quality and origin, has been declining due to the complexity of the food supply chain. Blockchain technology (BCT) has emerged as a promising solution to increase transparency, ensure data immutability, and improve food safety and quality. This study employs a systematic literature review methodology to analyze consumer perceptions of BCT in the agri-food sector. Using the PRISMA method, articles from Scopus®, Web of Science®, and PubMed® were reviewed, focusing on publications from 2019 to 2023. A total of 34 relevant studies were identified and examined to determine the key factors influencing consumer acceptance of BCT-tracked foods. Results indicate that trust, ngness to pay, perception of traceability, perceived risk and perceived safety are critical variables influencing consumer perceptions of BCT. Trust in BCT is supported by its ability to ensure data integrity and transparency, which significantly influences consumer behavior and adoption intentions. Consumers' willingness to pay for BCT-tracked products is influenced by their awareness and understanding of the benefits of BCT in improving food safety. In addition, BCT's potential to reduce perceived risk and improve supply chain transparency further enhances consumer trust. In conclusion, promoting consumer confidence through transparent information provided by BCT is essential for its widespread adoption in the agri-food sector. In order to educate consumers about the benefits of BCT and promote greater acceptance, the study recommends targeted communication strategies. Future research should focus on real-world applications and consumer education to further validate the impact of BCT on improving food safety and trust.

An assessment of the levelised cost and associated CO2-eq emissions for the thermal activation of serpentine mine tailings to be used as activated feedstock for CCUS processes via mineral carbonation, is reported here for the first time. Two main technological scenarios were assessed, based on either direct fuel sources heating (natural gas and hydrogen) or indirect, CST-based heating with a back-up burner and storage to provide continuous operations, for a 200 ton/hr of processed ore and a targeted roasting ore temperature of 700°C. For CST-based systems, 3 different solar input scales, namely 50, 150 and 450 MWth, were considered, and simulations performed over a year timeline with a 10 minutes time step, using Mt Keith Nickel mine in Western Australia as the reference location. The analysis highlighted that the proposed CST-hybrid plant layout can achieve similar cost to that of fuel-only cases with current Australian fuel prices for natural gas and hydrogen, with lower CO2-eq emissions, and a parity cost with fuel-only scenarios of some 16 USD/GJ. The proposed CST-hybrid plant layout was also identified as the potential, preferred route over direct CST routes to achieve 24/7 continuous heat supply while retaining fine tuning of activation temperature, given a very narrow temperature window of activation for the chosen mine tailings for mineral carbonation processes.

This study aims to describe the current framework of the Italian agricultural sector and the changes that occurred in the decade between the two general censuses of agriculture of 2010 and 2020, and the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) programming period 2014–2020. The General Census of Agriculture is an economic census carried out to fulfill international and EU legislation requirements, but also to meet national information needs. It consists in counting farms and identifying their characteristics. For this study, the official data of the 7th Italian General Census of Agriculture (GCA) of 2020 were collected, analyzed, and compared to those of the previous 6th GCA of 2010. Farms’ type of activities, structure, digitalization/computerization, innovation, and workforces’ characteristics were analyzed. Correlations between farms with investments in innovation and other variables like the age and the educational qualification of entrepreneurs and the farm’s size (agricultural used area) were calculated. Groups of similar Italian regions for types of farm and types of farming (segmenting the sector into subsets of regions that share common characteristics), and groups of similar farming characteristics in the entire agricultural sector, were highlighted. The results showed a notable positive correlation between farms’ investment in innovation and farms’ size, and a medium but positive correlation also with other two variables, the entrepreneur’s range of age and educational qualification. Results found groups of regions that are similar in terms of types of farm and farming types, highlighting that the agricultural sector in Italy is not homogeneous among all the regions of north, center, and south. Moreover, the discovered different groups of farming characteristics highlighted the Italian “farm profiles”, i.e., descriptions of key information about different specific types of farm. The overall analysis of all the results of this study provided the current situation of the Italian agricultural sector and discussion about its characteristics and changes during the last ten years. Based on our knowledge, this study is the first one with such a level of comprehensiveness. Findings are of high interest to academics in agriculture economics and policy maker, because they contribute to identifying the farms’ and territories’ strategic elements that require strengthening to foster economic and social development. Moreover these findings may provide food for thought on the effectiveness of the development strategy of the EU CAP 2023–2027 (through greening and digitization) at the regional and European levels, starting from the baseline situation of this country, which is certainly one, but which is among the most relevant ones in the European agri-food system and also globally.

In recent years, food authentication has acquired significant importance due to the increase in the incidence of fraud and counterfeiting. Alcoholic beverages are among the food products most susceptible to these kinds of illicit practices due to their high commercial value. In the EU alone, there are 47 categories of spirit drinks and approximately 250 geographical indications (GIs). The production and labeling of GIs are strictly regulated, and developing analytical procedures that can ensure compliance with the legislation is essential to guarantee the typicality of these products. The aim of this review is to summarize the most relevant analytical techniques used for the authentication and quality control of two well-renowned GIs: “Grappa” and wine brandy. It considers the last decade of advancements for both conventional targeted chromatographic techniques and less common methods mainly based on spectrometry coupled with chemometrics for quick and non-destructive discrimination of samples. Novel approaches and future perspectives are also highlighted.

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous population of multipotent cells that can be obtained from various tissues, such as dental pulp, adipose tissue, bone marrow and placenta. MSCs have gained importance in the field of regenerative medicine because of their promising role in cell therapy and their regulatory abilities in tissue repair and regeneration. However, a better characterization of these cells and their products is necessary to further potentiate their clinical application. In this study, we used unbiased high-resolution mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis to investigate the impact of distinct priming strategies, such as hypoxia and IFN-γ treatment, on the composition and therapeutic functionality of the secretome produced by MSCs derived from the amniotic membrane of the human placenta (hAMSCs). Our investigation revealed that both types of priming improved the therapeutic efficacy of hAMSCs, and these improvements were related to the secretion of functional factors present in the conditioned medium (CM) and exosomes (EXOs), which play crucial roles in mediating the paracrine effects of MSCs. In particular, hypoxia was able to induce a pro-angiogenic, innate immune response-activating, and tissue-regenerative hAMSC phenotype, as highlighted by the elevated production of regulatory factors such as VEGFA, PDGFRB, ANGPTL4, ENG, GRO-γ, IL8, and GRO-α. IFN-γ priming, instead, led to an immunosuppressive profile in hAMSCs, as indicated by increased levels of TGFB1, ANXA1, THBS1, HOMER2, GRN, TOLLIP and MCP-1. Functional assays validated the increased angiogenic properties of hypoxic hAMSCs and the enhanced immunosuppressive activity of IFN-γ-treated hAMSCs. This study extends beyond the direct priming effects on hAMSCs, demonstrating that hypoxia and IFN-γ can influence the functional characteristics of hAMSC-derived secretomes, which, in turn, orchestrate the production of functional factors by peripheral blood cells. This research provides valuable insights into the optimization of MSC-based therapies by systematically assessing and comparing the priming type-specific functional features of hAMSCs. These findings highlight new strategies for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs, particularly in the context of multifactorial diseases, paving the way for the use of hAMSC-derived products in clinical practice.

Mango is one of the most traded, exported, and consumed tropical fruits worldwide. However, little is known about Italian consumers’ preferences for mango. This study empirically explores the factors that influence the consumption of mango in Italy. Food values, subjective and objective knowledge, and socio-demographic aspects were considered. An online survey was administered, resulting in an overall sample of 487 Italian participants. The data were statistically analysed through an ordered probit model. The results show that mango is more likely to be consumed by individuals who are more concerned with the naturalness of the product. Moreover, both subjective and objective knowledge positively affect the probability of consuming mango. The findings also show that socio-demographic traits, particularly gender and undertaking sports activities, significantly influence the probability of consuming mango. Practical implications are proposed based on the study findings.

The development of innovative products for restoring skin integrity and promoting wound healing is still a challenge. The aim of this work was to evaluate an innovative Spanish broom wound dressing impregnated with Glycyrrhiza glabra extract-loaded ufasomes to improve wound healing. Ufasomes were characterized in terms of size, polydispersity index, entrapment efficiency, zeta potential, and stability. In addition, in vitro release studies and biocompatibility, biosafety, and scratch tests on WS1 fibroblasts were performed. The loaded ufasomes showed a nanometric size (

Candida albicans is an oral mucosal commensal fungus that transforms into an opportunistic pathogen under specific conditions, including immunosuppression. It causes oral and systemic candidiasis, which results in a significant health burden. Furthermore, an alarming rise in antifungal drug resistance in Candida species raises the urgent need for novel drugs and drug targets. C. albicans Dfg5 and Dcw1 are homologous cell wall alpha-1,6-mannosidases with critical functions and represent potential new drug targets. Our past studies have shown that Dfg5 and Dcw1 function in cell wall biogenesis through the cross-linking of glycoproteins into the cell wall, thus playing a key role in cell wall integrity. Additionally, Dfg5 and Dcw1 are required for hyphal morphogenesis. However, the exact functions of Dfg5 and Dcw1 in cell wall integrity, hyphal morphogenesis, and pathogenesis are not known. In this study, we determined the relation of Dfg5 and Dcw1 with Hog1 MAPK, which plays a key role in cell wall integrity via the regulation of chitin synthesis in C. albicans. Additionally, we also determined the effects of dfg5 and dcw1 mutations on the gene expression of transcriptional regulators of hyphal morphogenesis. Furthermore, we determined the effects of dfg5 and dcw1 mutations on pathogenesis in a mouse model of oral candidiasis. Our results demonstrate that dfg5 and dcw1 mutations, as well as a hog1 knockout mutation, result in the dysregulation of chitin synthesis, resulting in a cell separation defect. Heterozygous and conditional mutations in dfg5 and dcw1 resulted in decreased transcriptional levels of cst20, a positive regulator of hyphal morphogenesis. However, dfg5 and dcw1 mutations resulted in increased levels of all the five negative regulators of hyphal morphogenesis—Tup1, Nrg1, Mig1, Rbf1, and Rfg1. Additionally, Tup1 levels were significantly higher than other negative regulators, indicating that Dfg5 and Dcw1 function in hyphal morphogenesis by repressing Tup1. Finally, dfg5 and dcw1 mutations affected the ability of C. albicans to cause oral candidiasis in mice. Thus, the cell wall glycosidases Dfg5 and Dcw1 are required for virulence and pathogenesis and represent novel drug targets.

The quality of rosé wines significantly depends on their phenolic composition, particularly tannins, anthocyanins, and their derivatives, which determine the perceived color of these products and their color evolution throughout the storage and shelf-life periods. This study investigated the impact of phenolic content on the oxidation and color evolution of five different model rosé wines obtained by blending a fixed amount of grape tannins with varying concentrations of oenocyanin to modulate their respective ratio and color intensity. The solutions were monitored for color and pigment changes promoted by oxidation in a Fenton-like environment. The findings revealed a potential correlation between the initial phenolic concentration and the different degrees of oxidation within each solution, resulting in significant variations in CIELAB data. Overall, all solutions exhibited a substantial decrease in redness, with losses ranging from 23% in the darkest solution to 43% in the lightest one compared to their initial levels. Additionally, their color profiles shifted toward yellow hues, up to triple the original value, indicating the degradation of the pigments responsible for the characteristic rosé color. Greater amounts of anthocyanins preserved higher Fe(II) concentrations over time, suggesting the antioxidant role of these compounds. The whole dataset also permitted the evaluation of the different oxidation susceptibilities of individual anthocyanins, among which derived pigments, such as vitisins, proved to be notably more stable than native pigments, particularly delphinidin and petunidin.

El presente artículo se configura como un cúmulo de reflexiones en torno a la idea de ummah (comunidad) siguiendo la perspectiva de los estudios acerca del Islam. Una categoría que se expresa en múltiples dimensiones y que evidencia su presencia a medida que nos sumergimos en las fuentes tales como el Corán y los hadices (relatos acerca de la vida del profeta Muhammad). Con la fuerte convicción de que este din (forma de vida) es un camino para la emancipación individual y por ende colectiva, mediante este análisis buscamos relacionar a la ummah con conceptos centrales de la vida social y política como lo son: la justicia, la libertad y la soberanía.

Primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (pHLH) is a severe, life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome caused by defects in genes of the granule-dependent cytotoxic pathway. Here we investigated the clinical presentation and outcome in a large cohort of 143 patients with pHLH diagnosed in the last 15 years and enrolled in the Italian registry. The median age at diagnosis was 12 months (IQR 2-81), and ninety-two patients (64%) fulfilled the HLH-2004 criteria. Out of 111 patients who received first-line combined therapy (HLH-94, HLH-2004, Euro-HIT protocols), 65 (59%) achieved complete response (CR) and 21 (19%) partial response (PR). Thereafter, 33 patients (30%) reactivated, and 92 (64%) received HSCT, 78 of whom (85%) survived and were alive at a median follow-up from diagnosis of 67 months. Thirty-six patients (25%) died before HSCT and 14 (10%) after. Overall, 93 patients (65%) were alive after a median follow-up of 30 months. Unadjusted predictors of non-response were age

Winemakers have access to a diverse range of commercially available Inactivated Dry Yeast Based products (IDYB) from various companies and brand names. Among these, thermally inactivated dried yeasts (TIYs) are utilized as yeast nutrients during alcoholic fermentation, aiding in the rehydration of active dry yeasts and reducing ochratoxin A levels during wine maturation and clarification. While IDYB products are generally derived from Saccharomyces spp., this study investigates into the biodiversity of those deriving from non-Saccharomyces for potential applications in winemaking. For that S. cerevisiae and non-Saccharomyces TIYs were produced, characterized for nitrogen and lipid content using FT-NIR spectroscopy, and applied in a wine-like solution (WLS) for analyzing and quantifying released soluble compounds. The impact of TIYs on oxygen consumption was also assessed. Non-Saccharomyces TIYs exhibited significant diversity in terms of cell lipid composition, and amount, composition, and molecular weight of polysaccharides. Compared to that of S. cerevisiae, non-Saccharomyces TIYs released notably higher protein amounts and nHPLC-MS/MS-based shotgun proteomics highlighted the release of cytosolic proteins, as expected due to cell disruption during inactivation, along with the presence of high molecular weight cell wall mannoproteins. Evaluation of antioxidant activity and oxygen consumption demonstrated significant differences among TIYs, as well as variations in GSH and thiol contents. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) results suggest that oxygen consumption is more closely linked to the lipid fraction rather than the glutathione (GSH) content in the TIYs. Overall, these findings imply that the observed biodiversity of TIYs could have a significant impact on achieving specific oenological objectives.

In flames, turbulence can either limit or enhance combustion efficiency by means of strain and mixing. The interactions between turbulent motions and chemistry are crucial to the behaviour of combustion processes. In particular, it is essential to correctly capture non-equilibrium phenomena such as localised ignition and extinction to faithfully predict pollutant formation. Reactor-based combustion models — such as the Eddy Dissipation Concept (EDC) or Partially Stirred Reactor (PaSR) — may account for turbulence-chemistry interactions at an affordable computational cost by calculating combustion rates relying upon canonical reactors of small fluid size and timescale. The models may include multiscale mixing, detailed chemical kinetic schemes and high-fidelity multispecies diffusion treatments. Although originally derived for conventional, highly turbulent combustion, numerous recent efforts have sought to generalise beyond simple empirical correlations using more sophisticated relationships. More recent models incorporate the estimation of scales based on local variables such as turbulent Reynolds and Damköhler numbers, phenomenological descriptions of turbulence based on fractal theory or specific events such as extinction. These modifications significantly broaden the effective range of operating conditions and combustion regimes these models can be applied to, as in the particular case of Moderate or Intense Low-oxygen Dilution (MILD) combustion. MILD combustion is renown for its ability to deliver appealing features such as abated pollutant emissions, elevated thermal efficiency and fuel flexibility. This review describes the development and current state-of-the-art in finite-rate, reactor-based combustion approaches. Recently investigated model improvements and adaptations will be discussed, with specific focus on the MILD combustion regime. Finally, to bridge the gap between laboratory-scale canonical burners and industrial combustion systems, the current directions and the future outlook for development are discussed.

High-performance computing (HPC) in data centers increases energy use and operational costs. Therefore, it is necessary to efficiently manage resources for the sustainability of and reduction in the carbon footprint. This research analyzes and optimizes ENEA HPC data centers, particularly the CRESCO6 cluster. The study starts by gathering and cleaning extensive datasets consisting of job schedules, environmental conditions, cooling systems, and sensors. Descriptive statistics accompanied with visualizations provide deep insight into collated data. Inferential statistics are then used to investigate relationships between various operational variables. Finally, machine learning models predict the average hot-aisle temperature based on cooling parameters, which can be used to determine optimal cooling settings. Furthermore, idle periods for computing nodes are analyzed to estimate wasted energy, as well as for evaluating the effect that idle node shutdown will have on the thermal characteristics of the data center under consideration. It closes with a discussion on how statistical and machine learning techniques can improve operations in a data center by focusing on important variables that determine consumption patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In severe stages of periodontitis, conventional periodontal therapy and maintenance care are usually insufficient due to the viral and bacterial etiology; thus, a mechanical approach alone may not be sufficient to eliminate a substantial portion of subgingival pathogens, especially in deep periodontal sites. Background and Objectives: This single-blind, randomized clinical trial aimed to compare the clinical and microbiological efficacy of a low-cost protocol using povidone–iodine and sodium hypochlorite formulations as adjuncts to non-surgical therapy for patients with stage IV periodontitis when compared with chlorhexidine, the most commonly employed substance to date for antimicrobial regimens in periodontal therapy. Materials and Methods: Forty-five patients were randomly divided into two groups: control (subgingival instrumentation, chlorhexidine-assisted) and test (antiviral medication, subgingival instrumentation with povidone–iodine, sodium hypochlorite rinsing solution, and antibiotics). Clinical measurements and microbiological analyses were performed at baseline and after three months. Results: After three months, notable differences were found in the bacterial detection scores for Porphyromonas gingivalis (a significant reduction in detection frequency was observed in the test compared to the control (p = 0.021)), and there were significant reductions in detection in the test group for Tannerella forsythia and Treponema denticola, showing undetectable levels (p < 0.0001 for both). In the test group, the pocket probing depth median value was reduced significantly (p = 0.0005); similarly, bleeding on probing showed a marked decrease (p < 0.0001). However, changes in clinical attachment loss and full-mouth plaque score were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Using the proposed protocol, substantial improvements in clinical and microbiological parameters were obtained when compared with the current antimicrobial recommendations.

Background: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) and tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) are the two principals enzymes involved in the catabolization of tryptophan (Trp) into kynurenine (Kyn). Despite their well-established role in the immune escape, their involvement in angiogenesis remains uncertain. We aimed to characterize TDO and IDO1 in human umbilical venular endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs). Methods: qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence were used for TDO and IDO1 expression while their activity was measured using ELISA assays. Cell proliferation was examined via MTT tests and in in vitro angiogenesis by capillary morphogenesis. Results: HUVECs and ECFCs expressed TDO and IDO1. Treatment with the selective TDO inhibitor 680C91 significantly impaired HUVEC proliferation and 3D-tube formation in response to VEGF-A, while IDO1 inhibition showed no effect. VEGF-induced mTor phosphorylation and Kyn production were hindered by 680C91. ECFC morphogenesis was also inhibited by 680C91. Co-culturing HUVECs with A375 induced TDO up-regulation in both cell types, whose inhibition reduced MMP9 activity and prevented c-Myc and E2f1 upregulation. Conclusions: HUVECs and ECFCs express the key enzymes of the kynurenine pathway. Significantly, TDO emerges as a pivotal player in in vitro proliferation and capillary morphogenesis, suggesting a potential pathophysiological role in angiogenesis beyond its well-known immunomodulatory effects.

The present modelling aims to construct a computational information representation system useful for decision support system (DSS) solutions in the realization of intelligent systems or complex systems analysis solutions. Starting from an n-dimensional space (with n ≥ 7) represented by problem variables (referred to as CSF—Critical Success Factors), a dimensional embedding procedure is used to transition to a two-dimensional space. In the two-dimensional space, thanks to new lattice motion algorithms, the decision support system can determine the optimal solution with a lower computational cost based on the decision-maker’s preferences. Finally, thanks to an algorithm that takes into account the hierarchical order of importance of the seven CSFs as per the expert’s liking or according to his optimization logics, a return is made to the n-dimensional space and the final solution in the original space. As we will see, the starting and ending states in the n-dimensional space (referred to as micro-states) when projected into the two-dimensional space generate states (referred to as macro-states) which are degenerate. In other words, the correspondence between micro-states and macro-states is not one-to-one, as multiple micro-states correspond to one macro-state. Therefore, in relation to the decision-maker’s preferences, it will be the responsibility of the decision support system to provide the decision-maker with the micro-state of interest in the n-dimensional space (dimensional emergence procedure), starting from the obtained optimal macro-state. This result can be achieved starting from a flat chain of sensors capable of measuring/emulating certain specific parameters of interest. As we will see, it emerges that by considering random–exhaustive rolling value paths in order to track and potentially intervene to rebalance a dynamic system representing the state of stress/sensing of a system of interest, we are using the most general and, therefore, complex hypotheses of ergodic theory. In this work, we will focus on the representation of information in n-dimensional and two-dimensional spaces, as well as construct evaluation scenarios. We will also show the results of the decision support system in some cases of specific interest, thanks to a specific lattice motion algorithm of the realized decision-making environment.

In this work, diatomaceous earth (Diat) was explored as filler for polycaprolactone (PCL) to obtain composite green materials with promising viscoelastic and thermal properties. The composites were prepared by blending variable Diat amounts (5, 15 and 50 wt%) with a molten PCL matrix. The viscoelastic characteristics of PCL/Diat hybrids were studied by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) under an oscillatory regime, while the thermal properties were determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). We detected that the presence of Diat enhances the energy storage capacity of PCL for temperatures lower than the polymer melting point. Both DMA and DSC data revealed that the PCL melting temperature is slightly affected by the Diat addition, while the TGA results showed that the thermal stability of the polymer can be significantly improved by mixing PCL with diatomaceous earth. Moreover, we observed that the dispersion of Diat into the matrix favors the crystallization process of PCL. Interestingly, the improvements of PCL properties (elasticity, thermal stability, and crystallinity) are proportional to the Diat concentration of the composites. These findings reflect the interfacial compatibility between PCL and diatomaceous earth. In conclusion, this study highlights that the preparation of PCL/Diat hybrids by melt blending is suitable for the development of composite materials for technological applications, including the remediation of air pollutants within museum environments.

This paper reports an experimental investigation into the kinetics of magnesium carbonate calcination, conducted using a broad spectrum of heating rates (0.1°C/s to 179.9°C/s) in an air environment for a thin layer bed with Biot number < 0.1. These heating rates surpass those typically employed in thermogravimetric analysers (< 1°C/s) by many orders of magnitude. It was found that higher heating rates led to lower activation energies, as demonstrated by a 24.5% reduction in activation energy, E, from 220.8 kJmol−1 to 166.6 kJmol−1, for an increase in the heating rate from 0.1°C/s to 102.9°C/s. Furthermore, a higher heating rate led to a non-linear reduction in the residence time required to achieve the maximum conversion fraction. For instance, the time required for magnesite calcination to attain a conversion fraction from X=0.1 to X=0.84 decreased by a factor of eight, from 1920 s to 240 s, for only a three-fold increase in the heating rate, from 59.2°C/s to 179.9°C/s. These increases were associated with a higher specific surface area, highlighting the strong influence of the heating rate on the kinetics of magnesium carbonate calcination.It was also found that the highest specific surface area of cases examined for magnesite occurs for a heating rate of 59.2°C/s and a temperature less than 950°C, which avoids significant sintering. Increasing the temperature beyond 950°C reduces the specific surface area by causing sintering.

In this paper, each contribution uses an object biography – or object itinerary – methodology, tracking their chosen objects from conception and purchase, across time and space, to today. The function of each object could change significantly over time, and these stories serve to remind us of the range of projects and activities that observatories might support or host, including overseas astronomical expeditions, a local time service, mathematical calculations, measurement of photographic plates, magnetic, meteorological and seismological observation, the hosting and dining of visitors, and the display and promotion of the observatory’s status. In each case, the object’s movements and location within particular spaces point the reader to consider a wide range of people, whether located within the observatory, beyond its walls, or within international scientific networks. The objects considered here are a London-made marine chronometer purchased by the Palermo Observatory, which was not used for navigation but was nevertheless well travelled; a large wooden table placed in the Octagon Room of the Royal Observatory Greenwich; and a British seismograph set up in at the Meteorological and Magnetic Observatory of the University of Coimbra. These itineraries also show how the value attached to objects changes over time: they shift from functional tools to obsolescence, then regain significance as their histories have been recovered and re-examined. This paper forms part of the collection ‘Revealing observatory networks through object stories’ where object stories are presented in three themed papers (with further papers being ‘Instrumental networks’ and ‘Observatory audiences’). The genesis of the collection is described in the ‘Introduction’.