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The aim of this research is to develop a multiparametric downscaling analysis for the detection of abandoned waste in the environment. This methodology, using a multi-technological approach, involves the adoption VHR satellite images, Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV). The identified Warning Areas (WA) will be investigated through an in-situ analysis with air quality measurement devices based on advanced sensors mounted on drones. The creation of a Cadastre Accumulation of Abandoned Materials (CAMA) and the related APP will allow the administrations to monitor the phenomenon. Finally, the waste product analysis, retrieved by means of UAS dataset computation, allows to retrieve some interesting prospects regarding Waste to Energy framework. Here, preliminary results obtained by the on-going INTESA Project are presented.

Abstract Background Understanding the risk factors associated with hospital burden of COVID-19 is crucial for healthcare planning for any future waves of infection. Methods An observational cohort study is performed, using data on all PCR-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Regione Lombardia, Italy, during the first wave of infection from February-June 2020. A multi-state modelling approach is used to simultaneously estimate risks of progression through hospital to final outcomes of either death or discharge, by pathway (via critical care or not) and the times to final events (lengths of stay). Logistic and time-to-event regressions are used to quantify the association of patient and population characteristics with the risks of hospital outcomes and lengths of stay respectively. Results Risks of severe outcomes such as ICU admission and mortality have decreased with month of admission (for example, the odds ratio of ICU admission in June vs March is 0.247 [0.120–0.508]) and increased with age (odds ratio of ICU admission in 45–65 vs 65 + age group is 0.286 [0.201–0.406]). Care home residents aged 65 + are associated with increased risk of hospital mortality and decreased risk of ICU admission. Being a healthcare worker appears to have a protective association with mortality risk (odds ratio of ICU mortality is 0.254 [0.143–0.453] relative to non-healthcare workers) and length of stay. Lengths of stay decrease with month of admission for survivors, but do not appear to vary with month for non-survivors. Conclusions Improvements in clinical knowledge, treatment, patient and hospital management and public health surveillance, together with the waning of the first wave after the first lockdown, are hypothesised to have contributed to the reduced risks and lengths of stay over time.

El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar las características del xilema de las raíces de Arachis hypogaea L. en suelos con horizontes densificados y distinta condición hídrica. Este trabajo se llevó a cabo en dos parcelas de la región subhúmeda seca del Opto. Río Cuarto, con suelos Haplustoles típicos. Las raíces de ambas parcelas no presentan diferencias significativas en el área total transversal y área xilemática, sin embargo, cuando la humedad media del suelo es mayor y la resistencia mecánica menor, se observa mayor diámetro, espesor de pared y frecuencia de elementos conductores xilemáticos. En la otra parcela se observa que las ralees presentan un área xilemática similar pero menores valores en las características mencionadas de los miembros de vaso, por lo tanto, debe necesariamente presentar mayor proporción de tejido parenquimático. Este aporte demuestra como pequeños cambios en el contenido hídrico del suelo afectan la estructura del xilema.

L’obiettivo di questo studio era quello di confrontare la Videofluoroscopia (VFS), la valutazione endoscopica a fibre ottiche della deglutizione (FEES) e la scintigrafia oro-faringo-esofagea (OPES) per quanto riguarda la caduta pre-deglutitoria, il ristagno post-deglutitorio e l’aspirazione, al fine di valutare l’attendibilità di questi test nel rilevare la disfagia orofaringea. Sessanta pazienti, affetti da disfagia di varia origine, sono stati arruolati nello studio e sottoposti a VFS, FEES e OPES utilizzando un bolo liquido e uno semi-solido. Abbiamo usato la VFS come esame di riferimento. La FEES e la OPES hanno entrambe mostrato una buona sensibilità, con valori complessivi elevati (rispettivamente ≥ 80% e ≥ 90%). Il confronto tra FEES e VFS relativamente alla caduta pre-deglutitoria ha evidenziato una buona specificità (84,4% per i semi-solidi e 86,7% per i liquidi). Nel caso di ristagni post-deglutitori, il confronto tra FEES e VFS ha rivelato una buona validità complessiva (75% per i semi-solidi), con specificità e sensibilità ben equilibrate per i semi-solidi. Il confronto tra OPES e VFS ha dimostrato buona sensibilità (88,6%) e validità complessiva (76,7%) per i liquidi. Il confronto dei dati ottenuti tra FEES e VFS, relativamente all’ aspirazione, ha evidenziato una bassa validità complessiva (≤ 65%). D’altra parte, la OPES ha mostrato una validità complessiva apprezzabile (71,7%). VFS, FEES e OPES sono in grado di rilevare la disfagia oro-faringea. La FEES ha fornito risultati significativi nella valutazione dei ristagni post-deglutitori.

In questo lavoro vengono riportati i risultati a breve termine di uno studio prospettico, finalizzato alla valutazione strumentale della funzionalità deglutitoria in pazienti affetti da tumore del rinofaringe e orofaringe sottoposti a trattamento radio o radiochemioterapico con tecnica ad intensità modulata (IMRT). L’ IMRT è stata finalizzata, oltre che al miglioramento della conformazione della dose radiante al volume tumorale, alla riduzione della stessa alle strutture responsabili della deglutizione (SWOARs). I criteri dello studio hanno previsto in tutti i pazienti la valutazione strumentale della deglutizione con Videofluoroscopia (VFS), Fibroscopia Endoscopica della deglutizione (FEES) e Scintigrafia Orofaringea (OPES) prima dell’inizio del trattamento e ad 1 mese dal termine dello stesso. Ogni esame è stato eseguito rispettivamente in seguito all’assunzione di un bolo liquido (L) e semiliquido (SL) e per ognuno sono stati calcolati i seguenti valori strumentali: presenza o meno di caduta pre-deglutitoria, presenza o meno di aspirazione, tempo di transito faringeo (PTT) ed indice di ritenzione ipofaringeo (HPRI). Dal Gennaio 2012 al Giugno 2013, un totale di 20 pazienti ha terminato il trattamento ed ha eseguito la valutazione strumentale a 1 mese dal termine della radioterapia. Il confronto tra i valori dell’HPRI prima e dopo il trattamento radiante ha mostrato un peggioramento significativo sia alla FEES-L (p = 0,021) e SL (p = 0,02) che alla VFS-L (p = 0,008) che SL (p = 0,005). Inoltre è stata riscontrata una significativa correlazione tra i valori dell’HPRI basale ed a 1 mese alla FEES-L e SL (p = 0,005) così come alla VFS-L e SL (p < 0,001). Diversamente, il tempo di transito faringeo (PTT) non è risultato essere influenzato dalla radioterapia (p > 0,2). Solo in pochi pazienti è stata riscontrata la comparsa di caduta pre-deglutitoria ( 1 paziente con tumore della base linguale alla FEES-L e SL) e la presenza di aspirazione (1 paziente con tumore del rinofaringe alla OPES-L e FEES-SL). Nel complesso i risultati iniziali del nostro studio mostrano che l’ IMRT, finalizzata al risparmio delle SWOARs, determina soltanto un significativo incremento della ritenzione di bolo a livello del distretto ipofaringeo. Un follow-up più lungo sarà necessario per valutare se tale incremento sia associato o meno ad un maggior rischio di sviluppare fenomeni di aspirazione tardivi.

This work focuses on the experimental study about the influence of microwave radiation (at 2.45 GHz of frequency) on the enzyme catalyzed hydrolysis of sucrose in aqueous solutions, in order to detect possible modifications in the whole reaction rate, and to identify the inhibition effect due to sucrose and/or to the hydrolysis product D-fructose. For comparison purposes, the same experimental conditions were applied both in the presence and in the absence of irradiation. The experimental concentrations were estimated from spectrophotometer acquisitions in the UV wavelengths, and data were fitted with proper kinetic models, taking into account the main reaction pathway and inhibition phenomena. The obtained results show a modification in the reaction kinetics due to the microwave application.

This work aims to develop a control system capable to maintain the viscosity curve measured in-line during the continuous production of a non-Newtonian fluid inside a range of values of viscosity which represent the target. Rheological models capable of relating the viscosity curve of the final product to the input variables were introduced to mimic changes in the production of a non-Newtonian fabric. A one-point control has been developed that acts modifying the mass flows of ingredients injected in the production plant to reject disturbances or track set-point changes. The developed controller is capable to maintain the viscosity curve inside the desired confidence range of viscosities. The methodology is easy to implement in similar continuous production processes by adjusting the model for other ingredients.

In this work, the bacterial consortium Bulab 5738 was used to simultaneously remove pyrene, phenanthrene and catechol from aqueous solutions. The bacterial population growth was estimated by means of optical density measurements while HPLC was used to quantify the pollutant concentration in the solution. The obtained data were used to model the systems, in term of biomass population and substrate concentration. The effects of pollutant concentration values were analysed using the outputs of a full factorial experimental design.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered priority pollutants because they have potentially dangerous effects on the environment and human health. Bioremediation has recently become attractive to restore polluted sites, because it is not expensive and fulfils the most important properties required by the current regulations. In this work the capability of a white-rot fungi, Pleurotus sajor-caju, was assessed for degradation of pyrene and chrysene. The main objective was to investigate the effects of pollutant concentration on the mycelium growth and find the conditions that can enhance the microorganism tolerance when exposed to pyrene and chrysene. The tests carried out in Petri dishes showed that chrysene inhibited mycelium growth, whereas pyrene was well tolerated. Experiments in liquid medium evidenced that the mycelium was able to degrade pyrene with a removal efficienty greater than 90%.

Microalgae are a promising renewable energy source because of their capability to produce a large amount of oil, which can be directly used as a fuel or converted into biodiesel through transesterification processes. Microalgae growth needs a certain amount of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus and, with this regard, the wastewater arising from aquaculture and many others agro-industrial processes can be a suitable and cheap source of these elements. Moreover, nitrogen and phosphorus are responsible for the eutrophication of the waters basins, therefore microalgae can be proficiently used to remove these pollutants. In this work Nannochloropsis oculata was tested to verify the nitrogen removal capability from a synthetic wastewater. The medium was composed of marine water added with appropriate macro and micronutrients mixtures. The experiments were carried out by means of lab-scale, completely mixed bubble-columns, photo-bioreactors. A Design of Experiments (DoE) approach was here used in order to assess whether the input factors (i) light intensity, (ii) different nitrogen concentration sources and (iii) carbon dioxide have a statistically significant impact on the microalgae growth. It was demonstrated that the only factors statistically significant are the light intensity and its interaction with the nitrate concentration, at least for the parameter ranges here investigated. As a final remark, it was found that nitrate removal were completed from 3 to 5 days depending on the medium composition, whereas urea and phosphates needed more time.

Tn, sialosyl-Tn and T antigens are simple mucintype carbohydrate antigens that may be expressed in human neoplasies due to alteration of the glycoprotein biosynthetic pathway. Utilising specific monoclonal antibodies (HB-Tn1, HB-STn1 and HB-T1), we have investigated the expression of these simple mucin-type carbohydrate antigens in large intestine of 8 human foetuses at early gestational age (9-10 weeks), obtained after therapeutic abortion. In all cases the expression of Tn antigen was mainly localised as a thin rim at the cell membrane and occasionally in the supranuclear region of epithelial cells, while sialosyl-Tn antigen was documented in some goblet cell vacuoles and occasionally in the cytoplasm of columnar cells. T antigen was not expressed in any case. These results indicate that Tn and sialosyl-Tn antigens are expressed as early as nine weeks of gestation, further supporting the notion that they may be considered as oncodevelopmental cancerassociated antigens in the large intestine.

Laurèn’s system subdivides gastric cancers into an intestinal type and a diffuse type. This histological classification mirrors histogenetic hypotheses according to which the intestinal- type cancer derives from intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia, while the diffuse-type originates directly from gastric mucosa, with or without a preceding non-metaplastic dysplasia. Studies concerning mucins expression in gastric neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions have provided contradictory data concerning such histogenetic relationships. The aim of the present study was to verify whether a correlation between mucins phenotype and Lauren’s classification subsists. 40 gastric adenocarcinomas, subdivided, according to Laurèn’s classification, into 27 intestinal-type, 10 diffusetype and 3 unclassified cases, were examined for MUC1 and MUC2 immunohistochemical expression. Intestinal-type carcinomas displayed a MUC1-positive staining in 23/27 cases and a MUC2-positive immunoreaction in 10/27 cases. Diffuse-type carcinomas expressed MUC1 in 3/10 and MUC2 in 8/10 cases, respectively. According to the mucins expression pattern, three phenotypes were identified: the gastric phenotype (MUC1+/MUC2–); the gastro-intestinal phenotype (MUC1+/MUC2+) and the intestinal phenotype (MUC1–/MUC2+). The gastric phenotype was significantly higherin intestinal-type adenocarcinomas, whereas cases showing an intestinal phenotype were significantly more frequent in diffuse-type adenocarcinomas. These findings provide evidence for a lack of correlation between Lauren’s classification and MUC1 and MUC2 phenotypes. In particular, the term intestinal-type tumour as referred to gland-forming gastric cancer does not seem to reflect an immunohistochemical phenotype.

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is the main protein in caveolae, and serves as a scaffolding protein onto which many classes of signalling molecules are assembled. Through interaction with protooncogene products, Cav-1 may suppress cell proliferation; or when phosphorylated, may also stimulate cell growth. The aim of this study was to determine Cav-1 expression in human fetal tissues, tissues composed of cells undergoing growth and differentiation processes which require a nurturing environment provided by transmembrane vesicular transport. By using immunohistochemistry, Cav-1 was detected in several fetal tissues during mid- and late gestation (from 14 to 39 weeks). The protein was present in adipocytes, endothelial cells, smooth muscle fibers and in a number of sites with a pattern of distribution similar to that of the adult. Intriguingly, a positive immunoreaction for Cav-1 was also noticed in tissues, such as the urothelium, which normally do not express this protein in adulthood. This unexpected pattern of Cav-1 in human fetus may predict novel roles for Cav-1 during fetal development.

In this work, the setting reaction of magnesium potassium phosphate ceramic (MKPC) from magnesia (MgO) and potassium di-hydrogen phosphate was investigated by means of in-situ synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The experimental data were analyzed through multivariate statistical techniques that enabled a real time and reliable understanding of the phenomena occurring in the process. Here, a method combining Multivariate Curve Resolution - Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) with Evolving Factor Analysis (EFA) was proposed. Comparison with the conventional methods showed that the compounds involved in the process can be correctly distinguished and the main reaction steps, such as reactants consumption, occurrence of intermediate amorphous phase and MKPC formation can be clearly identified.

Quality control of industrial products has become essential in modern industry as it aims to satisfy customer demands. Therefore it requires fast and simple procedures in order to ensure efficient on-line process monitoring and detect abnormal deviation from certain product specifications. In this work, commercial detergent quality control was performed by means of (i) Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy and(ii) Partial Least Square Regression (PLS-R) that allows for prediction from multivariate spectra. Sodium hydroxide and non-ionic surfactant concentrations were considered for the calibration PLS-R model. Results demonstrated excellent predictive performance of the PLS-R model. In addition, its robustness was evaluated by mimicking a fault in the process, in this case a deviation of anionic surfactant concentration. It was found that a Qx statistic can be introduced with the purpose to assess whether sodium hydroxide and non-ionic surfactant concentration are correctly estimated in presence of external interference.

The aim of this work is to evaluate the tolerance and the growth capabilities of a white rot fungus, the Pleurotus-Sajor Caju, when exposed to Poly-Aromatic Hydrocarbons. The research was carried out by using in vitro systems developed on Petri dishes, where microbial strains are exposed to chemical pollutants, in particular pyrene and chrysene along with addition of surfactants, peptone, copper sulphate and lecithin that may promote fungal growth and tolerance. It was found that the fungal population growth is strongly inhibited by chrysene presence. On the other hand the pyrene has a mild negative impact on the micelyal growth, which seems to be positively influenced by the presence of Tween 80 and copper sulphate.

El objetivo del presente trabajo es estudiar la forma de crecimiento de Dolichandra cynanchoides, especie trepadora característica del bosque serrano de la Provincia de Córdoba (Argentina), e inferir sus caracteres adaptativos. Los estudios se realizaron en su ambiente durante tres años consecutivos y en invernáculo los dos primeros años de vida. La forma de crecimiento de esta especie resulta de la presencia y combinación de los siguientes caracteres: liana perenne, germinación criptohipógea, vástagos aéreos predominantemente ortótropos y subterráneos ligeramente plagiótropos, sinflorescencias constituídas por tirsas con florescencias parciales dicasiales, raíz principal y raíces adventicias. El tallo presenta una estructura anómala, la cual le otorga flexibilidad para poder trepar. Uno de los factores limitantes para esta especie en el ambiente serrano es el agua, debido fundamentalmente a las pendientes pronunciadas y suelos incipientes, por lo cual para regular su balance hídrico desarrolla estructuras subterráneas que acumulan agua y hojas con caracteres xeromórficos que limitan la transpiraciónThe objective of this work is to study the growth form of Dolichandra cynanchoides, species characteristic of the hilly forest (Province of Córdoba - Argentina) in order to analize adaptive characters. The studies were carried out in the field during three consecutive years, and in greenhouse the first two years of development. The growth form of this species is determined by the presence and combination of the following characters: perennial liana, cryptohypogeous germination, predominantly orthotropic aerial shoots and slightly plagiotropic subterranean stems, thyrse synflorescences with partial dichasial florescences, tap root and adventitious roots.The stem shows unusual structure that makes it flexible and allows it to climb. One of the limiting factors is the water supply due to pronounced slopes and incipient soils. Therefore, this species developed subterranean structures to accumulate water and to regulate its hydric balance. The leaves have xeromorphic features which limit their transpiration

We present spectroscopic and photometric observations of the emission-line star MWC 930 (V446 Sct) during its long-term optical brightening in 2006–2013. Based on our earlier data we suggested that the object has features found in Luminous Blue Variables (LBV), such as a high luminosity (~3 105 L⊙), a low wind terminal velocity (~140 km s−1), and a tendency to show strong brightness variations (~1 mag over 20 years). For the last ~7 years it has been exhibiting a continuous optical and near-IR brightening along with a change of the emission-line spectrum appearance and cooling of the star’s photosphere. We present the object’s V-band light curve, analyze the spectral variations, and compare the observed properties with those of other recognized Galactic LBVs, such as AG Car and HR Car. Overall we conclude the MWC 930 is a bona fide Galactic LBV that is currently in the middle of an S Dor cycle.

Star polymers, consisting of many arms connecting to a central core, represent a branched nanoscale material with compact structure and large surface area. Their synthesis is usually performed by making use of living polymers made by anionic polymerization as arms, and multifunctional compounds as linking agents. In general, polymer blends resulting from the star coupling process exhibit some polydispersity, which is influenced by (i) the polydispersity of the primary chains and (ii) the kinetics of the linking processes to the coupling agent. In the present contribution we develop a mathematical model for the description of the star coupling process in continuous reactors. The proposed model is based on the following statements: (i) the characterization of the MWD of the branched polymer species is accomplished by exploiting a probabilistic approach and (ii) the concentration of the single species is evaluated through implementation of mass balance equations, where the reactions describing the linking of the living polymers to the active branched unit are modelled with first and second order kinetics. The final goal is to predict the MWD shape when varying the operating conditions (i.e.: concentration of polymers and multifunctional agents in the feed flow and residence time).

Tn, sialosyl-Tn and T antigens are simple mucintype carbohydrate antigens that may be expressed in human neoplasies due to alteration of the glycoprotein biosynthetic pathway. Utilising specific monoclonal antibodies (HB-Tn1, HB-STn1 and HB-T1), we have investigated the expression of these simple mucin-type carbohydrate antigens in large intestine of 8 human foetuses at early gestational age (9-10 weeks), obtained after therapeutic abortion. In all cases the expression of Tn antigen was mainly localised as a thin rim at the cell membrane and occasionally in the supranuclear region of epithelial cells, while sialosyl-Tn antigen was documented in some goblet cell vacuoles and occasionally in the cytoplasm of columnar cells. T antigen was not expressed in any case. These results indicate that Tn and sialosyl-Tn antigens are expressed as early as nine weeks of gestation, further supporting the notion that they may be considered as oncodevelopmental cancerassociated antigens in the large intestine.

By immunohistochemistry, we have investigated the expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), HGF-R or c-met and the transcritor factor STAT3 in a series of 80 colorectal tumours (40 adenomas and 40 adenocarcinomas). The expression of HGF, c-met and STAT3 was revealed in 40/40 (100%) of adenomas and in 26/40 (65%) of adenocarcinomas; the remaining 14/40 (35%) carcinomas expressed cmet but failed to express HGF and STAT3. Positive immunoreaction score was defined through the number of stained cells: low (1-10%), moderate (11-50%) and high (>51%). In adenomas, the HGF immunoreaction was high in 33 (82.5%) and moderate in 7 (17.5%); the c-met staining was high in 3 (7.5%) and moderate in 37 (92.5%); and the STAT3 reactivity was high in 25 (62.5%) and moderate in 15(37.5%). In carcinomas, the HGF immunoreaction was moderate in 21 (80.7%) and low in 5 (19.2%); the c-met staining was high in 14 (35%), moderate in 25 (62.5) and low in 1 (2.5%); and the STAT3 reactivity was moderate in 17 (65.3%) and low in 9 (34.6%). In both type of lesions, HGF and c-met showed a membranous and cytoplasmic location. In adenomas, STAT3 was detected in cytoplasm and nucleus and in carcinomas it was limited to cytoplasm. While the HGF/c-met/STAT3 expression in adenomas was significantly different from carcinomas (c2 = 17, p < 0.0001), no correlation was found among HGF, c-met, or STAT3 immunostaining with histotype or degree of dysplasia in adenomas and the same for histotype, grading or staging in carcinomas. These features, suggesting a role of the HGF/c-met/STAT3 signal in colon tumorigenesis, indicate that a reduced expression of HGF and c-met is associated to progression of adenoma into carcinoma.

In the present study, using immunohistochemistry, we studied the expression of CD30 and CD30-L in 35 deciduas obtained from women following elective abortion during normal physiological gestation and in 60 deciduas obtained from women after spontaneous abortion with or without signs of inflammation. The main difference was noticed in the first trimester of gestation in which was found a decrease in CD30/CD30-L-positive decidual glandular and stromal cells in a greater number of cases of spontaneous abortions with respect to cases of physiological pregnancies (70% vs 50%, p

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