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• Renewable energy is essential to support biowaste valorization; • Soil conditioner outperforms peat in 14/18 categories, with notable carbon savings; • Cogeneration resulted to be preferable with respect to biomethane upgrading; • Local suppliers and the electricity mix have a role in achieving carbon neutrality. The recent large-scale urbanization and industrialization resulted in an impressive growth of solid waste generation worldwide. Organic fraction generally constitutes a large fraction of municipal solid waste and its peculiar chemical properties open to various valorization strategies. On this purpose, life cycle assessment is applied to an innovative industrial system that processes 18 kt/y of agricultural and livestock waste into a high-quality soil conditioner. The high-quality soil conditioner production system consists of a series of processes, including anaerobic digestion and vermicomposting, allowing the generation of a peat-like material with high carbon content, porosity, and water-holding capacity. The presence of a photovoltaic plant and a cogeneration plant, fed with the biogas produced in the anaerobic digestion, makes the system entirely self-sufficient from the national grid and generating a surplus of electricity of 1177MWh/y. The high-quality soil conditioner showed better environmental performances in 15 out of 18 impact categories when compared to alternative scenarios. In particular, the high-quality soil conditioner and the related biowaste management resulted in a carbon saving of around 397 kg CO 2 eq/ton compared with a scenario involving the employment of peat in place of the high-quality soil conditioner and a traditional biowaste management, and 165 kg CO 2 eq/ton compared with a scenario where cogeneration is replaced by biomethane upgrading. This study demonstrates the possibility of using organic waste as an environmentally sustainable and renewable source for energy and carbon to soil conditioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LCA was applied to evaluate the environmental performances a fish-biorefinery process. • Electricity is the main contributing energy applications at laboratory scale. • In the scale up process the production of d-limonene is the most impactful stage. • The production of organic fertilizer is more sustainable than anaerobic digestion. Prospective life cycle assessment models were developed and applied at the laboratory and industrial scale with the aim to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with the LimoFish process used to produce the fish oil "AnchoiOil", the new organic fertilizer "AnchoisFert" or biogas (by means of anaerobic digestion) after treatment of anchovy fillet leftovers (AnLeft) with agro-solvent d-limonene. Potential impacts for climate change and freshwater eutrophication were estimated at 29.1 kg CO 2 eq/kg AnLeft and 1.7E−07 kg PO 4 eq/kg AnLeft at laboratory scale, and at 1.5 kg CO 2 eq/kg AnLeft and 2.2E−07 kg PO 4 eq/kg AnLeft at industrial scale. Electricity consumption is the main contributor to the environmental impact of the process and plays a significant role in the production of d -limonene, for which cold pressing extraction would reduce the related impacts by ∼ 70 %. The use of the solid by-product as organic fertilizer or input to anaerobic digestion would provide additional environmental benefits to the process. The LimoFish process is a successful example of a low impacting strategy to reduce the demand for natural resources and maximize the application of the circular economy principles in the fishing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U2AF Homology Motif Kinase 1 (UHMK1) is the only kinase that contains the U2AF homology motif, a common protein interaction domain among splicing factors. Through this motif, UHMK1 interacts with the splicing factors SF1 and SF3B1, known to participate in the 30 splice site recognition during the early steps of spliceosome assembly. Although UHMK1 phosphorylates these splicing factors in vitro, the involvement of UHMK1 in RNA processing has not previously been demonstrated. Here, we identify novel putative substrates of this kinase and evaluate UHMK1 contribution to overall gene expression and splicing, by integrating global phosphoproteomics, RNA-seq, and bioinformatics approaches. Upon UHMK1 modulation, 163 unique phosphosites were differentially phosphorylated in 117 proteins, of which 106 are novel potential substrates of this kinase. Gene Ontology analysis showed enrichment of terms previously associated with UHMK1 function, such as mRNA splicing, cell cycle, cell division, and microtubule organization. The majority of the annotated RNA-related proteins are components of the spliceosome but are also involved in several steps of gene expression. Comprehensive analysis of splicing showed that UHMK1 affected over 270 alternative splicing events. Moreover, splicing reporter assay further supported UHMK1 function on splicing. Overall, RNA-seq data demonstrated that UHMK1 knockdown had a minor impact on transcript expression and pointed to UHMK1 function in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Functional assays demonstrated that UHMK1 modulation affects proliferation, colony formation, and migration. Taken together, our data implicate UHMK1 as a splicing regulatory kinase, connecting protein regulation through phosphorylation and gene expression in key cellular processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Liquid and solid waste management in Trieste Nuclear Medicine Department. • Advanced screening models to assess discharged radioactivity into environment. • Effective dose exposure to individuals according to Directive 2013/59/EURATOM. • Assessing compliance with Italian Legislative Decree 101/2020. • Accidental fire event in Radiopharmacy Laboratories simulated by HotSpot software. Clinical procedures in a Nuclear Medicine Department produce radioactive liquid and solid waste. Regarding waste release into the environment from an authorised hospital, it is mandatory to verify the compliance with European Directive 2013/59/EURATOM, adopted by the Italian Government via the Legislative Decree 101/2020. Different activity release pathways into the environment from Trieste Nuclear Medicine Department have been analysed: liquid waste from patients' excreta discharged by sewage treatment system into the sea, and atmospheric releases following solid waste incineration. Reference models, provided by NCRP and IAEA guidelines, have been implemented to assess the impact of the discharged radioactivity for coastal waters and atmospheric transport conditions. Finally, an accidental fire event occurring in Radiopharmacy Laboratories has been simulated by HotSpot software. Advanced screening models give an effective dose to population of 5.3 · 10−3 µSv/y and 1.4 · 10−4 µSv/y for introduction by sewage system into coastal waters and atmospheric releases by the incinerator, respectively. Workers involved in the maintenance of the sewage treatment plant receive a total annual effective dose of 3.8 µSv/y, while for incinerator staff the total annual exposure is 5.9 · 10−8 µSv/y. For the accidental fire event the maximum total effective dose to an individual results 3.8 · 10−8 Sv with mild wind, and 4.1 · 10−7 Sv with strong wind. The total annual effective doses estimated to representative person, due to both Nuclear Medicine authorised clinical practices and in case of an accidental fire event, are in compliance with regulatory stipulations provided by Directives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale and Objectives: This study employs clinical/radiological evaluation in establishing the optimum imaging conditions for breast cancer imaging using the X-ray propagation-based phase-contrast tomography.Materials and Methods: Two series of experiments were conducted and in total 161 synchrotron-based computed tomography (CT) reconstructions of one breast mastectomy specimen were produced at different imaging conditions. Imaging factors include sample-to-detector distance, X-ray energy, CT reconstruction method, phase retrieval algorithm applied to the CT projection images and maximum intensity projection. Observers including breast radiologists and medical imaging experts compared the quality of the reconstructed images with reference images approximating the conventional (absorption) CT. Various radiological image quality attributes in a visual grading analysis design were used for the radiological assessments.Results: The results show that the application of the longest achievable sample-to-detector distance (9.31 m), the lowest employed X-ray energy (32 keV), the full phase retrieval, and the maximum intensity projection can significantly improve the radiological quality of the image. Several combinations of imaging variables resulted in images with very high-quality scores.Conclusion: The results of the present study will support future experimental and clinical attempts to further optimize this innovative approach to breast cancer imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies aimed at estimating the environmental impacts associated with the food sector, but most of the existing developed indicators limited the problem only to the climate change, while it is well-known that the food sector may extend its influence on a wider spectrum of environmental categories. In this work, the Life Cycle Assessment was applied to a list of 1001 recipes for an Italian food canteen, prepared with more than 150 ingredients, with the purpose to develop a comprehensive environmental indicator (namely, SQUIID: Simplified Quantitative Impact Indicator for food Dishes). SQUIID includes in the evaluation the environmental categories showing a significant contribution (at least 86%) to the single score, i.e., global warming potential (GWP), particulate matter formation, land occupation, human non-carcinogenic toxicity and water consumption. The list of recipes was then analyzed under three perspectives: mass, GWP and SQUIID. The mass perspective indicates that the list of recipes contains a fairly balanced amount of ingredients, pointing out a remarkable diversification of the menu in the examined canteen. Concerning GWP and SQUIID spheres, meat-based and fish-based recipes resulted the main impacting ones (77% for the former and 73% for the latter), demonstrating to be the two classes mainly responsible for the environmental impacts observed, even if the vegetarian and vegan food dishes represent the 41% in mass. Meat-based dishes represent the 42% of the entire list of recipes in case of GWP, when adopting SQUIID, their overall contribution is reduced to the 35%. In fact, the main percentage of SQUIID is instead attributed to fish, raising from 31% (GWP) to 43%. Such variation demonstrated the relevance of the four additional selected categories for a final and comprehensive evaluation, proving that GWP-based indicators provide to the consumer only a partial representation of the environmental issue. • Meat and fish-based food dishes are found to be the most environmentally impactful. • Limiting environmental estimations only to GWP provides an incomplete EIA of food. • A new indicator is proposed by weighing other important environmental categories. • A definitive ranking solely based on food class cannot be predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phase-contrast CT addresses poor soft-tissue contrast in X-ray breast imaging. • Interactive 3D breast virtual visualizations available at different resolutions. • Spatial resolution bridging from radiological level to virtual histology level. • 2D and 3D images may be combinedly used in a multidisciplinary clinical context. • Discernibility of breast structures and microcalcifications is enhanced. Phase-contrast imaging techniques address the issue of poor soft-tissue contrast encountered in traditional X-ray imaging. This can be accomplished with the propagation-based phase-contrast technique by employing a coherent photon beam, which is available at synchrotron facilities, as well as long sample-to-detector distances. This study demonstrates the optimization of propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography (CT) techniques for multiscale X-ray imaging of the breast at the Elettra synchrotron facility (Trieste, Italy). Two whole breast mastectomy samples were acquired with propagation-based breast-CT using a monochromatic synchrotron beam at a pixel size of 60 µm. Paraffin-embedded blocks sampled from the same tissues were scanned with propagation-based micro-CT imaging using a polychromatic synchrotron beam at a pixel size of 4 µm. Images of both methodologies and of the same sample were spatially registered. The resulting images showed the transition from whole breast imaging with propagation-based breast-CT methodology to virtual histology with propagation-based micro-CT imaging of the same sample. Additionally, conventional histological images were matched to virtual histology images. Phase-contrast images offer a high resolution with low noise, which allows for a highly precise match between virtual and conventional histology. Furthermore, those techniques allow a clear discernment of breast structures, lesions, and microcalcifications, being a promising clinically-compatible tool for breast imaging in a multiscale approach, to either assist in the detection of cancer in full volume breast samples or to complement structure identification in paraffin-embedded breast tissue samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the influence of conventional and organic managements on Vitis vinifera cv. Trebbiano Abruzzese on fungal community was investigated. Moreover, spontaneous vinifications were performed, and wines were characterized for some oenological parameters and aroma profiles. A core of 8 genera was detected (Zygosaccharomyces spp. , Cladosporium spp. , Botrytis spp. , Hanseniaspora spp. , Pichia spp. , Alternaria spp. , Candida spp. , Aureobasidium spp.), while some genera were unique for each grape sample. Saccharomyces spp. and Mucor spp. were present only on conventional grapes, while Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. only on organic ones. At the species level Aureobasidium pullulans, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Pichia terricola dominated in both samples with varying abundance depending on the vineyard management. The fermentation performed with conventional grapes resulted in a faster rate than that performed with organic ones. No significative differences were observed for the oenological parameters analyzed with the only exception of ethanol content which was higher in conventional wines than in organic ones: 11.57 ± 0.10 g/L and 10.51 ± 0.09 g/L, respectively. Conventional wines were characterized by the presence of aldehydes, while organic ones by terpenes and β-damascenone. The obtained results suggested an effect of vineyard practices on grape fungal community which could in turn influence some characteristics of Trebbiano d'Abruzzo wines. • Farming practices influenced Trebbiano Abruzzese grape fungal community. • Fermentations performed with conventional grapes showed a fastest rate. • Conventional and organic wines showed a similar physical-chemical profile. • Conventional wines were rich in aldehydes. • Organic wines were rich in terpenes, and β-damascenone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of alginate based microcapsules to deliver drugs and cells with a minimal host interaction is increasingly being proposed. A proficient method to track the position of the microcapsules during such therapies, particularly if they are amenable to commonly used instrumentation, would greatly help the development of such treatments. Here we propose to label the microcapsules with gold nanoparticles to provide a bright contrast on small animal x-ray micro-CT systems enabling single microcapsule detection. The microcapsules preparation is based on a simple protocol using inexpensive compounds. This, combined with the widespread availability of micro-CT apparatus, renders our method more accessible compared with other methods. Our labeled microcapsules showed good mechanical stability and low cytotoxicity in-vitro . Our post-mortem rodent model data strongly suggest that the high signal intensity generated by the labeled microcapsules permits the use of a reduced radiation dose yielding a method fully compatible with longitudinal in-vivo studies. From the Clinical Editor The authors of this study report the development of a micro-CT based tracking method of alginate-based microcapsules by incorporating gold nanoparticles in the microcapsules. They demonstrate the feasibility of this system in rodent models, where due to the high signal intensity, even reduced radiation dose is sufficient to track these particles, providing a simple and effective method to track these commonly used microcapsules and allowing longitudinal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] HPAED–PAD proved to be a suitable technique to study the saccharide profile of beer. [•] The accuracy, sensitivity, limit of detection, etc., were very good. [•] The great differences in brewpub technology led to great data variability. [•] A good discrimination of different beer types was not possible. [•] Saccharides content was very important to check beer differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim of this research was to study the effect of some agronomic and oenological factors on the content of biogenic amines as quality index of sixty-five Abruzzo wines. Sum of amines was found to be decreasing in the order: red (19.3±12.8mgL−1), rosé (9.20±6.34mgL−1), white (7.67±3.84mgL−1) wine. Significant differences in relationship among amines levels and chemical and chemico-physical characteristics of red, white and rosé wine are due to their different biotechnological process and winemaking. Besides the aging treatment, influential seems to be the effect of the winery, regardless of the area in which it is situated. The single amines significantly correlated with their sum were putrescine, histamine and tyramine, even if reached levels were below toxicity threshold, demonstrating a good quality of the wines of Abruzzo whose consumption is no risk to the health of the consumer following the rules of proper nutrition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The ability to perform cell tracking using x-ray computed tomography combined with gold nanoparticles has been demonstrated recently on ex vivo samples using different malignant and nonmalignant cell lines. Here we proved the concept of the method for in vivo assessment in a small-animal model of malignant brain tumors. The limitations of the method due to radiation dose constraints were investigated using Monte Carlo simulations. Taking into consideration different x-ray entrance doses and the spatial resolution, the visibility of the cell clusters was evaluated. The results of the experiments conducted on mice implanted with F98 tumor cells confirmed the prediction of the Monte Carlo calculations. Small clusters of cells exogenously loaded with gold nanoparticles could be visualized using our in vivo method. From the Clinical Editor: This article discusses the use of CT-based detection of gold nanoparticle loaded cells of interest in small-animal models of malignant brain tumors, where small clusters of cells loaded with gold nanoparticles could be visualized. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The growth of selected, indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae added as starters (SRS1, MS72 and RT73) was monitored during Montepulciano d''Abruzzo wine production. In all the fermentations the addition of the starter, caused a decrease of the non-Saccharomyces yeasts. When strains MS72 and RT73 were used as starters they were detected in the first phases of fermentations, while strain SRS1 competed successfully with native yeasts during all the process. Wines obtained by fermentation with the indigenous starters showed some different characteristics, according to the chemical and sensory analyses. This study highlighted that among selected starters with high fermentative capacity, some are able to dominate better than other natural wine yeast biota, whereas some strains can interact and survive besides native yeast populations during the fermentation. As a consequence, the dominance character can have a positive or negative effect on wine quality and has to be considered in the frame of yeast selection in order to improve or characterize traditional wines. Winemakers could choose among different degrees of yeast dominance to modulate the interaction among starter and native wine yeast population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The ability to track cells in small-animal models of human disease is important because it gives the potential to improve our understanding of the processes of disease progression as well as our understanding of the therapeutic effects of interventions. In this study gold nanoparticles have been used as a permanent marker of implanted normal and malignant cell grafts in combination with a suitable x-ray apparatus. Using x-ray computed tomography the micrometric three-dimensional distribution of these marked cells could be displayed with penetration depth, high cell sensitivity and high spatial resolution in rodent models of human diseases. In principle the method allows quantification of cell numbers at any anatomical location over time in small animals. From the Clinical Editor: In this paper, a gold nanoparticle based cell labeling method is presented for in vivo cell tracking via micro-CT. Although a tumor model is shown in this pilot experiment, the method can theoretically be utilized in cell labeling experiments of any kind. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A red Sangiovese wine was aged using separate or combined different technological treatments and techniques (chips, chips and micro-oxygenation, chips and lees and micro-oxygenation), to evaluate their influence on phenolic compounds. The use of chips induced slight modifications on wine phenolic composition, while micro-oxygenation, jointly with chips, increased wine colour even if a lower level of monomeric pigments was determined. Aging with lees (jointly with chips and micro-oxygenation treatments) slightly affected phenolic composition but increased colour and red polymeric pigments more than other treatments. The application of different technologies during bottle storage affected wine composition and micro-oxygenated wines were more stable. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose We propose a technique for the characterization of tissues, based on a hybrid phase contrast-attenuation imaging. The technique, first introduced in [1] , makes use of a method for material basis decomposition proposed by Alvarez and Macovski [2] . We present a semi-analytical simulation of the imaging process, as well as a preliminary implementation on a set of radiographic images of a dedicated phantom. Methods The phantom consists in a thin plastic plate composed of two “soft” materials, arranged in such a way to create a faint pattern of decreasing radiographic contrasts. The imaging was performed using synchrotron radiation (i.e. a quasi-parallel, monochromatic and coherent X-ray beam) and placing the phantom at different distances from the detector, so as to enhance the contribution of phase contrast. The images were acquired at the SYRMEP beamline of the Elettra synchrotron facility (Trieste, Italy). Results The reconstructed composition of the phantom was compared to the results of the semi-analytical simulation, showing a good agreement with the theoretical expectations. In particular, the technique proved able to enhance the visibility of faint contrasts with respect to the standard attenuation-based imaging. Moreover, it provided a precise quantitative estimate of the local composition of the imaged phantom. Conclusions The application of the basis decomposition method to the context of phase contrast imaging allows an effective rendering of a broad spectrum of radiographic patterns, from low frequency textures (which are captured by the attenuation effects) to high frequency details (highlighted by the phase shift effects). In addition, thanks to the simultaneous enforcement of two separate imaging channels, it also allows a two-component reconstruction of the imaged object. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To measure the dose distribution in a phantom during a synchrotron radiation (SR) computed tomography (CT) scan using radiochromic films, for procedure assessment and for offline dose monitoring in SR breast CT. Methods We used XR-QA2 radiochromic films (calibrated in terms of free air kerma) and a 14-cm PMMA cylindrical phantom. Measurements were performed at the SYRMEP beamline of ELETTRA facility, within the SYRMA-3D project for phase-contrast breast CT [1]. The phantom was positioned at isocenter, pending from the patient bed. Measurements were performed at 38 keV, beam size of 3 mm × 150 mm (H × W), at an air kerma corresponding to a mean glandular dose of 5 mGy in a 14-cm diameter 50% glandular breast. The phantom was irradiated over 360° first with a film at the mid-plane, and then with film strips wrapped on its surface. Additional tests were made over 180° with an axial scan pitch of 1, 0.8 or 0.5. Results Results show a dose map at mid-plane the phantom, indicating the cup-shaped horizontal profile due to primary and scatter dose. Analogous maps were recorded with the films at the periphery of the phantom, representing the surface dose maps. Conclusions We performed measurements of the dose distribution in a phantom during a SR CT scan with different irradiation geometries. This technique produces evidence for selecting the suitable scan procedure. Moreover, as an offline monitor system, a piece of calibrated radiochromic film wrapped on a suitable holder around the breast could record the history of the organ irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]