Eyes on the Coast: How Citizen Science Helps Map the Invasion of Perna viridis (Bivalvia, Mytilidae) in Ubatuba, SE Brazil - Giulia Vaz De Donno; Marcos Akira-Umeno; Mariana Pace Camargo; Carlos Eduardo Malavasi Bruno; Bruno Pereira Masi; Alexandre R. da Silva (Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences, 2026)

Chemical functionalization: a valuable tool for the smart surface engineering of heterogeneous catalysts - Giulia Tuci; Zeinab Saki; Lorenzo Isidoro; Andrea Rossin; Giuliano Giambastiani (Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali, 2026)
Heterogeneous catalysis plays a pivotal role in many key chemical transformations engaged in industrial productions of commodities and fine chemicals, environmental protection and renewable energy technologies. With the aim at overcoming limits dealing with the use of benchmark precious metal-based catalytic materials, metal-free carbon-based systems (eventually doped with light hetero-elements) and 2D transition metals dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have gained increasing interest among the scientific community as effective, cheap and sustainable catalysts for several challenging transformations. However, their complex structural/chemical composition poses often serious limits to the identification of the active sites engaged in the processes hence hampering any rational optimization of their performance. On this ground, chemical functionalization with well-defined moieties holds the potential to tackle these issues through a controlled engineering of surface chemico-physical/structural properties of either organic or inorganic materials. In this work, achievements in (electro)catalytic processes promoted by covalently grafted materials will be described, highlighting at the same time the key role of this top-down synthetic strategy in the comprehension of key structure/reactivity relationships as well as the underlying reaction mechanisms.

Healthcare professionals’ perspectives on medication adherence-supporting tools: a cross‑sectional survey in Italy - Monia Donati; Carlotta Lunghi; Giulia Grillini; Marco Domenicali; Maria Lia Lunardelli; Veronica Pasini; Susy Milandri; Monica Mussoni; Fabio Pieraccini; Elisa Sangiorgi; Emanuel Raschi; Valentina Colonnello; et al. (European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2026)
Purpose Medication adherence is essential for treatment effectiveness, yet the uptake of adherence-supporting tools in routine care remains suboptimal. This study assessed Italian healthcare professionals’ knowledge, perceived utility, and willingness to recommend medication adherence tools, and explored perceived barriers to their adoption. Methods A questionnaire targeting healthcare professionals working in inpatient or outpatient settings across Italy was developed and validated by a panel of seven experts. It was anonymously distributed online between October and December 2023 to physicians, pharmacists, and nurses. The survey included open-ended and Likert-scale questions investigating use, perceived usefulness, barriers, and future willingness to recommend specific medication adherence tools. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and differences by professional category were evaluated using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. Open-ended responses were analyzed through a multi-step conventional content analysis independently conducted by two researchers. Results A total of 660 healthcare professionals participated, including pharmacists (35%), nurses (26%), general practitioners (22%), geriatricians or internists (8.6%), and other medical doctors (8.5%). Overall, knowledge and recommendation regarding medication adherence tools were limited, with awareness ranging from 40.0% to 94.7% depending on the tool. Traditional tools such as pillboxes and paper diaries were more frequently used (42.1% and 26.3%, respectively) and were perceived as useful (26.7% and 22.3%). In contrast, digital tools (e.g., mobile apps, SMS reminders, electronic pillboxes) were rarely recommended and often described as unfamiliar. Patient-related barriers emerged as the most commonly reported obstacles for both traditional and digital tools. Conclusions Italian healthcare professionals show limited familiarity with and use of medication adherence tools, particularly digital solutions. Targeted training and system-level strategies are needed to increase awareness, address perceived barriers, and promote the integration of effective adherence-supporting tools into routine care.

Hexavalent Chromium Exposure Disrupts Cardiac Development in Chicken Embryos Through Oxidative Stress and Activation of TGFβ1/COL3A1 Pathway in Chick Embryos - Megha Dave; Selvaraj Jayaraman; Giulia Guerriero; A. V. Ramachandran; Raktim Mukherjee (Cardiovascular Toxicology, 2026)

Occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes in the Swiss food supply (2015–2024) - Giulia Savioli; Magali Chollet; Lena Fritsch; Françoise Fridez; Thomas Lüthi (Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety, 2026)
Listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes ( Lm ), is a severe foodborne illness predominantly affecting high-risk groups, and has a high case fatality rate. Switzerland has experienced several outbreaks, but a national overview of implicated foods is lacking. We reviewed foodborne listeriosis in Switzerland, investigating Lm presence in food and foods linked to outbreaks. Epidemiological data, data on official sampling, reporting and outbreaks were collected from government agencies and the literature. Between 2015 and 2024, on average 53 listeriosis cases were reported annually (incidence 0.61/100,000), with highest incidences in adults over 65 years old and children under one year old. Official sampling found Lm most commonly in meat and meat products (38% of positive samples), ready-to-eat foods (22%) and fish and fish products (7.9%). Among cantons with available data (13 out of 26 cantons), common serogroups and serotypes were serogroup IIa (serotypes 1/2a or 3a; 31%), serotype 1/2a (20%), serogroup IVb (serotypes 4b, 4d, 4e; 19%) and serotype 4b (14%). There were 25 recalls and 36 public warnings due to Lm . Eleven listeriosis outbreaks with a confirmed link to food were identified in Switzerland since 1983, with case fatality reaching 29%, involving both ready-to-eat and non-ready-to-eat foods of animal and plant origin. Non-ready-to-eat foods were likely associated with outbreaks through cross contamination. National legislation should be expanded to address cross-contamination risks posed by non-ready-to-eat products. A new genomic national information system is planned, which will enhance outbreak investigation, improving timely prevention and control of listeriosis.

Knockoff-Based Fine Mapping of MS-Associated SNPs in Sardinian Trios - Giulia Nicole Baldrighi; Andrea Nova; Claus Thorn Ekstrøm; Maria Luisa Piras; Maria Valeria Saddi; Luisa Bernardinelli; Teresa Fazia (Biochemical Genetics, 2026)
Genetic predisposition plays a key role in autoimmune and complex diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). However, identifying the specific variants or genomic regions responsible for disease susceptibility remains a significant challenge. In this study a family-based fine mapping approach was applied to analyze 142 trios, aiming to identify associated genetic variants linked to MS. The targeted genomic region resides within the 17:30,820,506–32,483,270 bp (Ch37/hg19), which includes the protein-coding gene ASIC2, previously implicated in MS and other neurological conditions, with surrounding genes comprising strongly correlated genetic variants to capture the broader signal from the region. Given the high prevalence of MS in Sardinia and the unique genetic characteristics of the Sardinian population, including reduced heterogeneity and extended linkage disequilibrium, we designed our study specifically within this population and focused on family-based data to enhance the power for detecting genetic signals, avoiding false discoveries. Genotype imputation found 2537 variants, which were then analyzed using the knockoff Trio method to identify loci associated with MS susceptibility. We found rs756787 (3′UTR of MYO1D) increased disease risk (OR 1.57, 95% CI [1.07–2.29], p = 0.02), while rs56175840 (intronic ASIC2) showed a protective effect (OR 0.17, 95% CI [0.04–0.74], p = 0.02), demonstrating the power of knockoff-based fine mapping in family datasets. Integrating LD-based expression and trait analyses helped reveal how rs756787 correlates with variants affecting genes involved in neurodegeneration and the immune response to Epstein–Barr virus, a known environmental factor implicated in MS pathogenesis. Our study highlights the effectiveness of knockoff-based fine mapping combined with expression-trait integration to identify genetic variants influencing MS risk in the Sardinian population.

Phylogenetic and histopathological characterization of putative Hepatozoon ophisauri-like lineages in rodents from Italy - Davide Sogliani; Maria Sampieri; Filippo Maria Dini; Mattia Calzolari; Deborah Torri; Valentina Carta; Patrizia Bassi; Alicia Rojas; Giulia Maioli (Acta Parasitologica, 2026)

Postconflict behaviour of captive female Himalayan tahr - Gabriele Schino; Giulia Santamaria; Carola Manzoni; Massimiliano Di Giovanni (acta ethologica, 2026)

From cells to reefs—fluorescent protein distribution reveals species‐specific photoadaptation in closely related Caribbean corals - Giulia M. Marchioro; Johanna Sonnleitner; Helena E. Silberhumer; Michael Schagerl; Luise Kruckenhauser; Gerhard J. Herndl; Igor Adameyko; Pedro R. Frade (Limnology and Oceanography, 2026)
Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are diverse and widespread pigments in reef‐building corals, assumed to modulate the internal light microenvironment within coral tissues. Yet, their precise distribution and organization at the tissue and cellular levels remain poorly understood, limiting our understanding of their functional roles. We examined the localization of FPs in three Madracis species ( M. decactis , M. pharensis , and M. senaria ) to identify species‐specific patterns and potential links to their ecological life‐history traits. Both cyan–green and orange–red fluorescent signals occurred across all species. Cyan–green fluorescence predominates in diffuse and granular forms, while orange–red fluorescence is exclusively diffuse in its distribution. Colocalization analyses showed a significantly greater spatial overlap between cyan–green fluorescence and photosymbionts in M. senaria than in M. decactis and M. pharensis . In M. senaria , colocalization increased with decreasing light exposure, suggesting a light‐driven modulation of protein localization. Linear Discriminant Analysis disclosed distinct species separation based on physiological and symbiotic traits, including colocalization of cyan–green fluorescence and photosymbionts, cyan–green‐to‐chlorophyll fluorescence intensity ratio, and symbiont photochemical efficiency. Our results revealed the spectral and structural complexity of FPs tissue distribution in Madracis , suggesting a role in species differentiation and adaptation to reef environments.

Callus culture of two Gomphrena celosioides Mart. Varieties as a sustainable platform for enhanced gomphrenol production and bioactivity - Dayanna Isabel Araque Gelves; Giulia Cristina Andreoli de Souza; Raul Rodriguez; Marcos José Salvador (Natural Product Research, 2026)

Holistic approach to restore marine ecosystems: RENOVATE project - Marco Marcelli; Sergio Scanu; Daniele Piazzolla; Simone Bonamano; Alice Madonia; Giorgio Fersini; Viviana Piermattei; Mar Bosch-Belmar; Francesco Paolo Mancuso; Giulia Ceccherelli; Annalisa Falace; Paola Del Negro; et al. (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2026)
Mediterranean coastal ecosystems are increasingly threatened by multiple anthropogenic pressures and climate change. As a result, these impacts have caused the decline of key endemic habitats such as Posidonia oceanica meadows and coralligenous reefs. Due to the slow natural recovery of these habitats after degradation, restoration actions play a key role in accelerating ecosystem recovery, reestablishing ecological structure and functional processes, and preventing further biodiversity and ecosystem service loss. Given the frequent habitat fragmentation and high levels of endemism, effective restoration efforts require a multidisciplinary, ecosystem-based approach that integrates marine science, engineering, socioeconomics, and policy. This study describes the holistic approach adopted in the RENOVATE project, which established an integrated framework to address the combined impacts of climate change and human pressures on vulnerable ecosystems. The framework employs advanced observational technologies, field data, and numerical modeling within an adaptive management loop, enabling site-specific, evidence-based restoration planning and assessment of ecosystem services recovery. Additionally, the study reports results from the northern Tyrrhenian coast (Latium, Italy), where RENOVATE aims to protect EU priority habitats and species from human pressures and climate-related threats. Although project activities are still in early stages, results from active restoration in the northern Latium coast show initial establishment and survival at pilot sites, highlighting the framework’s potential to guide effective, replicable interventions in coastal ecosystems. Beyond the regional case study, the proposed framework contributes to global marine restoration efforts by providing a transferable methodology for the management of coastal ecosystems.

Risk of falls and syncope across frailty levels in hypertensive older adults: a longitudinal study - Giulia Rivasi; Marco Capacci; Alessandro Mengozzi; Greta Ceccarelli; Michele Vinci; Vincenzo Giosuè Giambusso; Giuseppe D’Ambrosio; Virginia Gori; Alessandra Liccardo; Maria Francesca Bisignano; Noemi Pardini; Valeria Calsolaro; et al. (GeroScience, 2026)
In older hypertensive adults, frailty may increase the risk of adverse events associated with blood pressure lowering, including syncope and falls. However, the degree of frailty at which these risks become clinically significant remains uncertain. The study aimed to compare clinical characteristics and the incidence of falls and syncope across different frailty levels among older hypertensive adults. We analyzed data from the longitudinal HYPER-FRAIL study, involving hypertensive outpatients ≥ 75 years undergoing comprehensive geriatric assessment. Frailty was defined according to the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). The incidence of a composite outcome of falls and syncope was compared between fit (CFS < 4), mildly frail (CFS = 4–5) and frailer participants (CFS ≥ 6). Among 194 participants (mean age 81 years, 45% male), frailty was absent in 53.6%, mild in 31.4% and moderate-to-severe in 14.9%. A history of falls was more commonly reported among frailer (48.3%) and mildly frail patients (45.9%) compared to fit individuals (21.2%; p < 0.001 for both frailty groups vs fit). Over a median 12-month follow-up, the composite outcome occurred in 13.5% of fit, 31.1% of mildly frail and 31% of frailer participants ( p = 0.012 for mild vs absent frailty). Kaplan-Meier curves showed a greater risk in mild frailty ( p = 0.003 vs fit participants), with no differences compared to the moderate-to-severe frailty group ( p = 0.599). Mild frailty predicted syncope and falls independently of age, prior falls, orthostatic hypotension and depression, but not dementia. Mild frailty (i.e. CFS = 4–5) is common among hypertensive older adults and confers a risk of falls and syncope similar to that of moderate-to-severe frailty.

Impaired glucose tolerance in women with BRCA1 versus BRCA2 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants: Results from a prospective cohort study - Giovanni Grandi; Claudia Piombino; Giovanna Sighinolfi; Elena Barbieri; Marta Venturelli; Chiara Melotti; Rebecca Lippi Bruni; Valentina Grisendi; Riccardo Cuoghi Costantini; Mina Grippa; Emma Zattarin; Elena Tenedini; et al. (Familial Cancer, 2026)
Background Estrogens exert a beneficial effect on metabolism. Women carrying BRCA likely pathogenic/pathogenic variants (LP/PV) are at increased risk of premature menopause and may therefore be at higher risk of developing metabolic disorders later in life. In this single-center prospective cohort study, we investigated whether the specific BRCA mutation ( BRCA 1 vs. BRCA 2) has a differential impact on metabolism in women. Methods Eligible participants were BRCA LP/PV carriers who were premenopausal or underwent menopause –either natural or iatrogenic– within the 5 years prior to enrollment. Blood samples for lipid and glucose panels were obtained every 6 months, for a total of four time points. Body composition variables were evaluated at baseline and at the final follow-up using bioimpedance analysis. Glucose tolerance was assessed using the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Associations between lipid and glucose profile and patient characteristics were evaluated using univariable and multivariable linear regression models. Results Fifty-seven BRCA1 and 58 BRCA2 LP/PV carriers were included in the final analysis. At baseline, BRCA1 LP/PV carriers had a higher body mass index (BMI) (27.3 vs. 24.6 kg/m 2 , p = 0.01) and higher fat mass (27.3 vs. 21.9 kg, p = 0.013) than BRCA2 LP/PV carriers. Insulin levels and HOMA-IR were consistently higher in BRCA1 than in BRCA2 LP/PV carriers at all time points, and this difference was not attributable to age, BMI, menopausal status, risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy, previous chemotherapy or use of cholesterol-lowering agents. The lipid profile was similar between the groups, although BRCA1 LP/PV carriers showed a tendency toward a less favorable profile (higher LDL and lower HDL). Conclusions These prospective results suggest that BRCA1 LP/PV carriers might have impaired glucose tolerance and a greater tendency toward insulin resistance compared with BRCA2 LP/PV carriers: this first report needs further independent confirmations from other cohorts.

Age-adjusted neurofilament light chain cutoffs for diagnosing neurodegenerative dementia: a two-threshold machine learning approach - Chiara Gallingani; Riccardo Maramotti; Chiara Carbone; Giulia Vinceti; Silvia Cossutti; Najara Iacovino; Daniela Ballotta; Simone Salemme; Teresa Urbano; Roberta Bedin; Annalisa Chiari; Giovanna Zamboni; et al. (GeroScience, 2026)
Clinical implementation of neurofilament light chain (NfL), a biomarker of neurodegeneration, remains challenging due to absence of reliable cutoffs and influence of confounding factors, particularly age. We aimed to develop an age-adjusted, two-threshold classification framework to support clinical interpretation of NfL in the neurodegenerative dementia diagnosis. We retrospectively enrolled subjects with cognitive/behavioral disturbances and cognitively unimpaired controls (CTR). Participants underwent a baseline diagnostic workup, including at least a neuropsychological assessment, blood test, CSF and serum NfL measurement, and MRI, and were followed up for 2 years. At follow-up, they were diagnosed with either a neurodegenerative dementia [Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), or Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)] or a non-neurodegenerative condition [Other Etiology (OE)]. AD, FTD, and LBD were grouped as Neurodegenerative (NDG), while OE and CTR were grouped as Non-Neurodegenerative (non-NDG). Bayesian regression models assessed the effects of age, disease duration, renal function, and gender on NfL. A weighted support vector machine (SVM) with leave-one-out cross-validation defined age-adjusted cutoffs using a two-threshold strategy constraining sensitivity ≥ 85% and limiting the intermediate zone. We included 217 subjects (158 NDG, 59 non-NDG). Serum and CSF NfL levels were significantly higher in NDG. Age strongly increased NfL levels, particularly in serum where diagnostic separation declined beyond age 70. The SVM-based model applied to CSF NfL defined continuous, age-adjusted, two-threshold cutoffs, identifying low-risk, high-risk, and intermediate zones. The proposed framework for CSF NfL provides a clinically oriented decision-support tool to stratify the likelihood of underlying neurodegeneration and guide diagnostic workup in cognitive neurology settings, pending external validation. Graphical abstract

Combining dynamic Bayesian prediction of the crop coefficient with automated lysimetry for highly accurate water-use control - Alexander Kocian; Fatjon Cela; Giulia Carmassi; Simone Citti; Fernando Malorgio; Federica Paganelli; Stefano Chessa; Paolo Milazzo; Luca Incrocci (Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2026)

Plastic clean-up mechanisms: Experimental insights on their bycatch - Giulia Leone; Ana I. Catarino; Ine Pauwels; Mattias Bossaer; Regine Conda Oco; Chia-Yu Chu; Peter Troch; Peter L.M. Goethals; Gert Everaert (Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2026)

Mangrove species occurrence in relation to habitat types: Insights from the Maldives - Federico Cerri; Yohan Didier Louis; Eleonora Concari; Rossella Nicolai; Giulia Senna; Shazla Mohamed; Paolo Galli (Regional Studies in Marine Science, 2026)

Ozone in neurodegeneration: An environmental toxicant or a therapeutic hormetin? - Caterina Vinciguerra; Mariangela Cernera; Marika Comegna; Maria Rosaria Amoroso; Giulia Renata Franco; Loredana Bellia; Francesca De Stefano; Antimina Castaldo; Graziamaria Corbi; Giuseppe Rengo; Alessandro Cannavo (NeuroToxicology, 2026)

Beneficial effect of oat-based postbiotics produced through capsule or free-cell fermentation on lipopolysaccharide activated intestinal cells - Giulia Lentini; Francesca Passannanti; Francesca De Palma; Marianna Gallo; Natasha Petecca; Maria Stefania Spagnuolo; Andrea Budelli; Roberto Nigro; Luisa Cigliano (Food Chemistry, 2026)

Innovative monitoring of medicinal mushroom growth on food by-product substrates in solid-state fermentation - Giulia Bearzi; Silvia Grassi; Carola Cappa; Manuela Rollini; Cristina Alamprese (Food Bioscience, 2026)

Safety evaluation of honey truffle sweet protein produced from Komagataella phaffii - Susan M. Potter; Dan Zhao; Ashley Roberts; Robert Peterson; Daniel E. Connors; David B. Mayfield; Mel Lloyd; Thomas Martin; Sabitha Papineni; Giulia Tosi (Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2026)

Occurrence of microplastics across tissues in North Atlantic fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) - Giulia Vitale; Marc Ruiz-Sagalés; Valerie Chosson; Sverrir D. Halldórsson; Asunción Borrell; Alex Aguilar; Guðjón M. Sigurðsson; Fabiana Corami; Carlo Barbante; Odei Garcia-Garin (Environmental Pollution, 2026)

Unveiling the hidden entry route: permeation and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons through buccal and sublingual mucosa - Cecilia La Mantia; Giulia Di Prima; Desirèe Greco; Rosalia Ferreri; Giuseppina Campisi; Fabio D'Agostino; Viviana De Caro (Environmental Pollution, 2026)

Nature-based agricultural practices in the Mediterranean agroecosystems: A meta-analysis of their benefits on crop productivity, soil quality, and biodiversity - Wilfredo Jr. Barrera; Giulia Galli; Simone Orlandini; Leonardo Verdi; Anna Dalla Marta (European Journal of Agronomy, 2026)

The role of climate and loan financing information on solar irrigation adoption among cocoa farmers in Ghana - Lotte C.F.E. Muller; Andrew R. Bell; Marie-Charlotte Buisson; Carlos Calvo-Hernandez; Kekeli Gbodji; Salomon Obahoundje; Giulia Zane; Marije Schaafsma (Ecological Economics, 2026)

Biases in medical decision-making: A cross-medication comparison - Michele Cantarella; Simona Cantarella; Francesca Zaninotto; Massimo Riccaboni; Giulia Galli (Economics & Human Biology, 2026)

Advancing shrub dendroecology: A cutting-edge machine learning method for measuring shrub-rings - Giulia Resente; Alexander Gillert; Alan Crivellaro; Allan Buras; Martin Wilmking; Alba Anadon-Rosell (Dendrochronologia, 2026)

Foreword: Effects of abiotic components on the environment of the Castelporziano nature reserve - Alessandro Nardone; Giulia Bonella; Daniele Cecca; Dora Cimini (Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali, 2026)

Anthropogenic impact on peri-urban natural systems in mediterranean area: the case of Castelporziano Nature Reserve, (Rome) - Fabio Recanatesi; Eros Caputi; Alessio Patriarca; Giulia Mancini; Chiara Iavarone; Raffaele Pelorosso; Maria Nicolina Ripa (Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali, 2026)

Genomic and Proteolytic Profiling of Lacticaseibacillus sp. PRA205: Insights into PepX-Mediated Bioactive Peptide Metabolism - Marianna Cristofolini; Alice Cattivelli; Alessandra Barbieri; Giulia Zaccarini; Loris Bertoldi; Lisa Solieri; Davide Tagliazucchi (Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, 2026)

Effects of Enniatin B1 on differentiated Caco-2 human intestinal cells in vitro - Giulia Ranaldi; Mirko Bertazzo; Barbara Guantario; Leon J Spicer; Francesca Caloni (Mycotoxin Research, 2026)

Characterization of recharge components for delineation of a high-alpine rock glacier spring catchment, Ötztal Alps (northern Italy) - Giulia Bertolotti; Matevž Vremec; Simon Seelig; Karl Krainer; Thomas Wagner; Andrea Fischer; Gerfried Winkler (Hydrogeology Journal, 2026)
Rock glaciers provide shallow groundwater reservoirs that affect the hydrology of alpine headwater catchments. However, quantifying and identifying their temporally dominating recharge components, as well as delineating their hydrological catchment, can be challenging. The present study makes use of a lumped-parameter rainfall-runoff model (GR4J-CemaNeige) to tackle these issues, applied at a test site in the Ötztal Alps (northern Italy). The model relies on gridded precipitation and air-temperature data and is calibrated using discharge data. Three different catchment scenarios varying in size and glacier coverage extent were modeled to determine the most likely catchment. The model's outcome was validated using oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes and electrical conductivity analyses. Three dominant recharge components were quantified by the rainfall-runoff model for the 2012–2021 period: snowmelt (607 mm/year, 56%), rainfall (443 mm/year, 42%), and glacial ice melt (25 mm/year, 2%). The rock glacier permafrost ice melt contributes less than 1% of the total annual discharge, falling within the model uncertainty range. The study demonstrates that a simple rainfall-runoff model helps to identify individual recharge components. It gives a crucial indication for the most likely delineation of a rock glacier spring catchment in a complex periglacial and glacial environment. This provides the basis for quantitatively predicting climate change impact on such highly sensitive environments.

In vitro interactions of sulbactam/durlobactam in combination with meropenem, ceftazidime/avibactam, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefiderocol and fosfomycin against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) clinical isolates - Giulia Zocche; Russell E. Lewis; Gabriele Bianco; Carlo Tascini; Paolo Gaibani (European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 2026)

Encapsulation of putative probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lbio1 in sodium alginate matrix: in vitro assessment of its biofunctional properties and survivability - Nadia Bachtarzi; Mohamed Amine Gomri; Aridj El Yassamine Bouziani; Giulia Bisson; Clara Comuzzi; Marilena Marino (Archives of Microbiology, 2026)

Mechanical Performance of Thoracic Aortic Stent-Grafts: An In Vitro and In Silico Study - Anna Ramella; Sara Barati; Giulia De Campo; Giulia Luraghi; Jose Felix Rodriguez Matas; Frederic Heim; Nabil Chakfé; Tim J. Mandigers; Irene Fulgheri; Maurizio Domanin; Santi Trimarchi; Francesco Migliavacca (Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2026)
Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is the standard of care for thoracic aortic pathologies, and its clinical success is related to the choice of stent-grafts (SGs). In this study, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of four commercial SGs (Valiant Captivia (VC), Terumo RelayPro Bare Stent (TBS), Cook Zenith Alpha (CZA), and Gore CTAG (CTAG)) to evaluate their mechanical performance in idealised and patient-specific conditions. High-fidelity finite element models were developed and validated against experimental tests and in vitro TEVAR procedures in 3D-printed rigid phantoms. The validation showed strong agreement between simulations and experiments (average error Then, the SGs were virtually deployed in two aortic models to investigate device-wall interaction through geometrical and mechanical parameters. A greater metal density led to increased graft apposition (up to 94%) and increased radial forces (up to 354 N vs 116N). Conversely, sparser metal structures produced lower but more localised stress regions: maximum values of 0.25 MPa versus 0.49 MPa with denser metal. Higher stresses may contribute to improved device fixation and, when associated with greater apposition, may reduce the risk of endoleak. Nevertheless, high stresses could potentially induce long-term vascular remodelling. These results underscore the influence of SG’s design on TEVAR outcomes and support the integration of validated computational simulations into pre-operative planning. The SG performance varied across patient anatomies: this study highlights the importance of personalized device selection and establishes a foundation for using in silico methods to optimize TEVAR strategies and mitigate procedural risks.

Fine particulate matter and environmental injustice: a review of global inequalities in exposure and their health effects - Giulia Mariano Machado; Prashant Kumar; Thiago Nogueira (Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 2026)

The Fish Behind Fish Feed: Rethinking Transparency Using DNA Tools - Marine Cusa; Matilda Binner; Giulia Maiello; Rosalie Dowell; Stefano Mariani (Fish and Fisheries, 2026)
Aquaculture is now the fastest growing food sector and may be a promising solution to increasing seafood demands. Yet, carnivorous aquaculture species such as salmon and seabass continue to rely on fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO), which are derived largely from pelagic fish that are sometimes key to the food security of some coastal nations. This reliance on wild‐caught resources fuels debates around the ethics, sustainability and socio‐economic impacts of transforming edible fish into feed. Despite growing concerns, traceability and transparency around the origin and composition of FMFO is limited, leaving feed ingredients largely invisible to customers, consumers and policymakers. We argue that this opacity erodes trust and hinders informed debate and conversation around the growth of aquaculture, its sustainability, and ethical concerns regarding just and equitable food systems. Here, we highlight how DNA metabarcoding of commercial feed samples offers a promising transparency tool by revealing a wide diversity of species, far beyond what labels disclose. If aquaculture is to demonstrate that it supports global food security, this blind spot around fish feed will need to be addressed urgently. Increased transparency on FMFO sourcing and composition could rebuild public trust, empower producers, consumers and regulators, and safeguard the livelihoods of coastal communities by ensuring a just pathway to aquaculture production.

Ag(I) complexes with natural products and triphenylphosphine: activity against tumor cell lines and mycobacterium tuberculosis - Jocely Lucena Dutra; João Honorato de Araujo-Neto; Rafael Wendel Rodrigues Santana; Rone Aparecido De Grandis; Giulia Polinário; Fernando Rogério Pavan; Javier Ellena; Alzir Azevedo Batista (JBIC Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 2026)

Magnetic resonance-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy (MRIgSBRT) for nodal disease in oligometastatic setting: a single-institution study - Giuditta Chiloiro; Giulia Panza; Angela Romano; Rosa Autorino; Ciro Mazzarella; Gabriele Turco; Marco Valerio Antonelli; Matteo Nardini; Simone Raggio; Lorenzo Placidi; Maria Antonietta Gambacorta; Luca Boldrini (Clinical & Experimental Metastasis, 2026)

Solid lipid microparticles-into-film delivering clobetasol: from buccal formulation design to pilot clinical study in patients with oral lichen planus - Giulia Di Prima; Maria Elena Mauceri; Martina Coppini; Cecilia La Mantia; Rodolfo Mauceri; Giuseppina Campisi; Viviana De Caro (Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2026)
Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the oral cavity, for which the therapeutic gold standard consists of the topical administration of corticosteroids, such as clobetasol-17-propionate (CLB). Nowadays, there are no commercially available pharmaceuticals intended for CLB delivery within the oral cavity. Then, in clinical practice, the drug is administered via magistral galenic preparations, formulated as adhesive semisolids. As they possess numerous drawbacks (e.g., limited contact time, poor patients’ compliance, inaccurate dosing), the research is still focused on the development of suitable solid buccal drug delivery systems (BDDS). This work aims to: i) combine buccal film and lipid microsystem technologies, thus yielding an innovative composite BDDS and ii) preliminary assess its in vivo effectiveness. Solid Lipid Microparticles containing CLB were designed to possess a softening temperature close to body temperature, thereby facilitating the release of the drug in molecular form by fusion once applied. This lipid matrix, being tissue-affine, may also act as a penetration enhancer. Composite buccal films were then developed to facilitate microparticles administration, converting this powder into a solid mucoadhesive formulation. These Solid Lipid Microparticles-into-Film composites (SiF-composites) resulted homogeneous, highly mucoadhesive and capable of promoting CLB accumulation within the buccal mucosa. The best formulation was subjected to a pilot in vivo evaluation (5 patients per group receiving the SiF-composite or 0.05% CLB in Orafix) resulting in treatment adherence and a reduction in Thongprasom et al. scoring. The preliminary results obtained were extremely promising, thus suggest confirmation through a further larger, randomized double blind clinical trial.

Peripheral microRNA signature in genetic frontotemporal dementia—findings from the GENFI initiative - Chiara Fenoglio; Maria Serpente; Marina Arcaro; Tiziana Carandini; Luca Sacchi; Manuela Pintus; Vittoria Borracci; Giulia Giudici; Marta Rigoni; Paola Muti; Laura Ghezzi; Arabella Bouzigues; et al. (GeroScience, 2026)
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by significant clinical and genetic heterogeneity, with approximately 40% of cases linked to hereditary genetic mutations, including MAPT , GRN , and C9ORF72 . Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of cellular processes related to neurodegeneration and as potential biomarkers for FTD. However, their relevance in presymptomatic stages remains poorly understood. We conducted a miRNA expression analysis using TaqMan OpenArray® panels on blood samples collected from 171 individuals, including symptomatic mutation carriers (SMC), presymptomatic carriers (PMC), and healthy non-carriers (NC). Dysregulated miRNAs were validated and bioinformatic tools were used to identify potential associated molecular pathways. In C9ORF72 , miR-20b-5p and miR-223-5p were significantly upregulated in SMC (fold regulation over NC: 2.418 p = 0.0336 and 7.829 p < 0.0264 respectively) and PMC (5.518, p < 0.0001 and 3.941, p < 0.0001 respectively). In GRN mutation carriers, miR-28-3p was altered in both SMC and PMC (fold regulation over NC: 1.484 p < 0.050 and 3.287, p < 0.050). In MAPT mutation carriers, miR-28-5p, miR-192-3p, miR-25-3p, and miR-532-3p were altered only in SMC (fold regulation over NC: 1.496 p < 0.050, 1.911 p = 0.006, 1.468 p < 0.05, and 0.728 p < 0.05). Bioinformatic analysis revealed enrichment of pathways related to neurodegeneration and synapse impairment. These results suggest that miRNA expression levels are deregulated in mutated SMC, in C9ORF72 and GRN PMC. Notably, miR-20b-5p, miR-223-5p, and miR-28-3p were increased in preclinical stages of the disease, supporting their role as early biomarkers for C9ORF72 -FTD and GRN -FTD. Conversely, alterations in MAPT carriers appeared only in symptomatic stages, suggesting a different involvement in disease progression.

Dietary Paecilomyces variotii single-cell protein supports growth and intestinal health in gilthead sea bream - Serena Busti; Trond M Kortner; Elin Christine Valen; Elisa Benini; Alessio Bonaldo; Charilaos Xiros; Fabio Brambilla; Daniel Scicchitano; Giorgia Palladino; Marco Candela; Marco Berrettini; Francesco Dondi; et al. (Aquaculture, 2026)

Effects of activated sludge processes on bacterial communities and antibiotic resistance assessed by intra- and extracellular DNA analysis - Raffaella Sabatino; Giulia Borgomaneiro; Denise Lunardi; Tomasa Sbaffi; Antonino Fiorentino; Gianluca Corno; Andrea Di Cesare (Water Research, 2026)

Responses of drought-tolerant Tipuana tipu trees to long-term irrigation: A tree-ring study in Lisbon, Portugal - Augusto Akio Lucchezi Miyahara; Ana Paula Ramos; Filipa Maia; Ana Julia Francisco; Milena Godoy-Veiga; Mario Tomazello-Filho; Francisco William da Cruz; Francisco J. Escobedo; Laia Andreu-Hayles; Giulia Nunes de Aguiar Souto; Giuliano Maselli Locosselli (Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2026)

To label or not to label? A meta-regression analysis of consumer willingness to pay for sustainability claims - Giulia Andreani; Juan Tur-Cardona; Federico Antonioli; Jesus Barreiro-Hurle; Giovanni Sogari; Davide Menozzi (Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2026)

Urethral reconstruction using a preputial mucosa free flap and autologous mesenchymal stromal cells in a male alpaca (Vicugna pacos) - Daniele Zambelli; Giulia Ballotta; Marco Cunto; Angelita Capone; Penelope Maria Gugole; Barbara Merlo; Eleonora Iacono (Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 2026)

Fossil sardines from the Pisco Formation (Miocene), Peru: Taxonomy, taphonomy, and paleoecology - Giorgio Carnevale; Luca Pellegrino; Giulia Bosio; Giovanni Bianucci; Alberto Collareta; Claudio Di Celma; Elisa Malinverno; Abel Alejandro Ramirez Ampuero; Luz Tejada-Medina; César Chacaltana; Mario Urbina; Giuseppe Marramà (Palaeoworld, 2026)

Physiological and biochemical responses of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) to polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics exposure - Gaia di Gennaro; Monica Ruffini Castiglione; Lucia Giorgetti; Giulia Lauria; Lorenzo D'Asaro; Stefania Bottega; Carmelina Spanò; Simonetta Muccifora; Costanza Ceccanti; Lucia Guidi; Anna Davini; Marco Landi (NanoImpact, 2026)

A window into a middle Eocene mesotrophic mixed siliciclastic-carbonate system from the South American Pacific margin (Paracas Formation, Pisco Basin, Peru) - Giovanni Coletti; Luca Mariani; Elisa Malinverno; Alberto Vimercati; Claudio Di Celma; Alberto Collareta; Giancarlo Molli; Giovanni Sarti; Giovanni Bianucci; Orangel Aguilera; Alessandro Cavallo; Mario Urbina; et al. (Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 2026)

Microbiological quality of plant-based cheese analogues and pathogen behavior in cashew nut-based varieties - Jaqueline Sousa Correia; Dionisio Pedro Amorim-Neto; Emilie Lang; Matheus Péricles da Silva Láscaris; Beatriz Machado Dal Pian; Larissa Pereira Margalho; Arthur Kael Rodrigues da Pia; Bárbara Cipulo Legabão; Angelica Zaninelli Schreiber; Giulia Paes Strabelo; Anderson S. Sant'Ana (International Journal of Food Microbiology, 2026)

Characterization of eggs from laying hens fed insect-enriched diets - Maria Giulia Bonomini; Katia D'Ambra; Giovanna Minelli; Domenico Pietro Lo Fiego; Giulia Leni; Veronica Lolli; Augusta Caligiani (Food Chemistry, 2026)

Serum PCBs, OCPs, PBDEs and PCAs: Associations with metabolic syndrome risk factors in the Flemish Gut Flora Project cohort - Adam Cseresznye; Fatima den Ouden; Yu Ait Bamai; Liesa Engelen; Elias Maris; Ellen De Paepe; Giulia Poma; Muriel Derrien; Arnau Vich Vila; Sebastian Proost; Lindsey de Commer; Chloe Verspecht; et al. (Environmental Research, 2026)

Diclofenac stress responses and biotransformation pathways in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum - Léopold Alezra; Emilie Le Floc'h; Christine Félix; David Rosain; Elena Gomez; Frédérique Courant; Eric Fouilland; Giulia Cheloni (Environmental Pollution, 2026)

Ecosystem services and food security: Local perception aligning with demands in the state of Amazonas, Brazil - Ana Luisa de Carvalho Cruz; David M. Lapola; Moara Almeida Canova; Tiago da Silva Jacaúna; Júlia Menin; Marko Monteiro; Giulia Melilli Serbin; Maíra C.G. Padgurschi (Ecosystem Services, 2026)

Starch aerogels as nutraceutical carriers: Experimental and computational strategies for designing a delivery system - Giulia Clare; Pedro N. Simões; Irina Smirnova; Luísa Durães (Carbohydrate Polymers, 2026)

Wave-induced transport of non-buoyant microplastic particles: Phase-resolved experiments and excess-Shields scaling - Giovanni Passalacqua; Giulia Bonanno; Claudio Iuppa; Carla Faraci (Coastal Engineering, 2026)

Smells modulate thermal sensation: A multisensory study in office environments during winter - Giulia Torriani; Simone Torresin; Francesco Babich; Massimiliano Zampini; Rossano Albatici (Building and Environment, 2026)

Near-surface wind field characterization of medicanes using satellite observations - Stefano Sebastianelli; Leo Pio D'Adderio; Paolo Sanò; Daniele Casella; Giulia Panegrossi (Atmospheric Research, 2026)

Detection and characterization of Candidatus mycoplasma haemolamae haplotype in South American camelids farmed in Italy - Stefania Lauzi; Elisa Castaldo; Gabriele Ratti; Giulia Sala; Alessandra Cafiso; Alessia Facchin; Joel Filipe; Donatella Scavone; Cristina Crespi; Stefano Scarcelli; Laura Filippone Pavesi; Camilla Luzzago; et al. (Veterinary Research Communications, 2026)
‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemolamae’ (CMhl) is a hemotropic bacterium infecting South American Camelids (SAC), whose epidemiology and clinical significance are still not fully elucidated. This study investigated CMhl by qPCR in blood samples of alpacas ( Vicugna pacos ) and llamas ( Lama glama ) in Italy in 2021–2024, characterizing CMhl haplotypes based on partial 16 S rRNA sequences and defining haematological findings in a subset of CMhl-infected animals. Statistical analysis was performed to detect potential risk factors associated with CMhl positivity. Out of 206 animals (200 alpacas and 6 llamas), CMhl was detected by qPCR in 88 (42.7%) animals. CMhl haplotype #1 and #2 were detected in 42.2% and 0.5% of the animals, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that higher CMhl positivity was significantly associated with larger herd size ( P = 0.011), Northern Italy area of origin ( P = 0.031) and warmer seasons ( P = 0.003). The detection of two CMhl haplotypes confirms the high diffusion of CMhl in SAC farmed in Italy. Results confirm that CMhl usually causes subclinical infections, suggesting that antimicrobial treatment is likely not necessary based on qPCR positivity alone. Results focusing on the association of CMhl positivity with warm temperatures and large herd size suggest the need of further studies on the genetic features, epidemiology and immune response in CMhl-positive SAC from Italy, with emphasis on understanding potential vector transmission.

Ultrasound-guided minimally invasive thoracotomy for removal of migrating grass Awn in a Cat - Vicente Francisco Ratto Valderrama; Federica Valeri; Domenico Caivano; Giulia Moretti; Antonello Bufalari (Veterinary Research Communications, 2026)
Migrating grass awns are a rare cause of thoracic reactions in cats, resulting in pleural effusion, inflammation, infection and granulomatous responses. Diagnosis and localization are challenging, and treatment commonly requires invasive surgical intervention. We report a case of a 5-year-old, neutered male, domestic shorthair cat referred for pleural effusion and suspected intrathoracic vegetal foreign body. Thoracic ultrasonography confirmed the presence of pleural effusion and a linear hyperechoic structure within the pleural space was visualized. An ultrasound-guided minimally invasive thoracotomy was performed through the right fifth intercostal space and intraoperative ultrasonography was useful to precisely locate and remove the foreign body using a Hartmann ear forceps. Cytological analysis was performed on the pleural fluid and bacteriological analysis was performed on both the pleural fluid and the retrieved foreign body. The cytologic findings were consistent with an exudative effusion but no bacteria were isolated on both direct and enrichment bacterial cultures; empirical antibiotic treatment with marbofloxacin was continued. The patient recovered uneventfully, and follow-up revealed complete resolution of the clinical signs. This case report highlights the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided minimally invasive approach for intrathoracic vegetal foreign body removal in a cat. The transthoracic and intraoperative ultrasound can be useful for visualization and exact localization of the grass awn, minimizing surgical trauma and improving the outcome.

Hypercalcemia of malignancy in a dog with cutaneous apocrine gland carcinoma and malignant myoepithelioma - Ludovica Emiliani Pescetelli; Ambra Luisa Misia; Giulia Moretti; Giovanni Angeli; Maria Teresa Antognoni; Antonello Bufalari; Eleonora Scorsi; Elvio Lepri (Veterinary Research Communications, 2026)
Humoral Hypercalcemia of Malignancy (HHM) is a commonly reported condition in dogs affected by several cancers, mostly T-cell lymphoma and anal sac gland carcinomas, but also other type of tumors. We report the case of a 6-years-old, female neutered Border Collie with an ulcered nodule on the right retromandibular region, that had mild serum total calcium elevation (14,1 mg/dl; reference range (RR): 8,4 to 11 mg/dl) in the absence of clinicopathological abnormalities or imaging finding suggesting any known cause of hypercalcemia. Histologically, the tumor had a tubular epithelial component, admixed with a second, dominant, myoepithelial one; immunohistochemically, the former strongly reacted with anti-Cytokeratin antibodies, while the latter had a weak and patchy immunoreactivity both to Cytokeratin and a-SMA, while Vimentin and Calponin immunostaining was strong and diffuse, suggesting the diagnosis of apocrine gland carcinoma and malignant myoepithelioma. After the excision of the tumor, calcium decreased within limits (8.8 mg/dl RR: 8.4 to 11. mg/dl). In the author’s knowledge, this is the first report of HHM associated with apocrine sweat gland carcinoma in the dog.

Human Myelin Spheres for in Vitro Oligodendrocyte Maturation, Myelination and Neurological Disease Modeling - Karan Ahuja; Roya Ramezankhani; Xinyu Wang; Thibaut Burg; Giulia Amos; Katrien Neyrinck; Alessio Silva; Geethika Arekatla; Eleanor Eva Cassidy; Fatemeharefeh Nami; Joke Terryn; Keimpe Wierda; et al. (Stem Cell Reviews and Reports, 2026)

Genomic Analysis, Safety Evaluation, and Incorporation of Probiotic Candidate Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Jb21-11 into an Ice Cream Formulation - Mohamed Amine Gomri; Nadia Bachtarzi; Cerine Yasmine Boulahlib; Giulia Bisson; Clara Comuzzi; Marilena Marino; Amel Benmoussa; Karima Kharroub (Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, 2026)

Beyond safety: adverse events and unanticipated advantages of SGLT2 inhibitors - Lorenzo Falsetti; Nicola Tarquinio; Luciano Mucci; Silvia Santini; Emanuele Guerrieri; Laura Giovenali; Giulia Pierdomenico; Vincenzo Zaccone; Giovanna Viticchi; Gianluca Moroncini (European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2026)
Background Sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are widely used for diabetes management and have demonstrated benefits in treating acute and chronic heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Their increasing application has revealed various side effects, although only a few are currently recognized as drug-related adverse events, based on ongoing observations. Aims This review synthesizes positive and negative side effects linked to SGLT2i and proposes management strategies. Methods A literature search of PubMed/EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from the past 10 years identified randomized trials, meta-analyses, observational cohorts, and pharmacovigilance studies reporting SGLT2i-related events across genitourinary, endocrine, metabolic, hematologic, skeletal, and vascular domains. Results Data indicate an increased incidence of genital infections (GIs) in diabetic subjects, while associations with urinary tract infections (UTIs) are less consistent. Non-diabetic HF/CKD patients show modest increases in GIs and UTIs. SGLT2i modestly increase hematocrit and may reveal clonal erythrocytosis. Rare conditions like Fournier’s gangrene have been reported, though without a clearly increased risk in clinical trials: all the reported cases led to drug discontinuation. There is no conclusive evidence linking SGLT2i to fractures or osteoporosis, and risk of lower-limb amputation appears comparable to DPP-4 inhibitors, with some trend compared to GLP-1 receptor agonists, suggesting caution in patients with peripheral artery disease. Observational data suggest SGLT2i may protect against syncope and reduce acute kidney injury. Conclusions Overall, SGLT2i are safe, with manageable adverse events such as GIs and UTIs. A thorough understanding of potential complications is essential for clinicians to optimize patients’ management.

Correction: Plant growth promotion by a native Algerian Streptomyces phaeoluteigriseus: a potential bioinoculant for phosphorus mobilization in tomato cultivation - Abdelwahab Rai; Giulia Semenzato; Aida Raio; Ali Guettaf; Manel Meslaoui; Ait Kaci Mazari; Ihdene Sofiane; Mohamed Kebdani; Abdeltif Amrane; Lotfi Mouni (Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration, 2026)

Influence of red gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata) forests on coralligenous community structure across different regions, seasons, thermal environment, and water trophic state - La Manna Gabriella; Bolinesi Francesco; Bosch-Belmar Maria del Mar; Colletti Alberto; Di Marino Claudio; Fabietti Ylenia; Fraschetti Simonetta; Licciardi Luca; Mancuso Francesco Paolo; Mangoni Olga; Morello Giuseppe; Musumeci Simone Maria Santo; et al. (Coral Reefs, 2026)

Characterization and distribution of the endemic flora in Northern Italy - Giulia Tomasi; Michael Kleih; Alessio Bertolli; Francesco Boscutti; Enzo Bona; Roberto Dellavedova; Alberto Selvaggi; Michele Adorni; Alessandro Alessandrini; Sebastiano Andreatta; Nicola M. G. Ardenghi; Carlo Argenti; et al. (Plant Biosystems, 2026)
Floristic mapping advances the biogeographical knowledge by revealing patterns of biodiversity through a standardized grid-based survey of species’ occurrences. It consists of the systematic grid-based survey of species occurrence, aimed at producing distribution maps of vascular plants within a given territory. We compiled a dataset of 32,939 floristic records (field observations, herbarium specimens, and literature) referenced to the Central European Floristics Mapping standard, documenting the distribution of 447 endemic taxa across 3,612 grid cells (5' of longitude and 3' of latitude) in Northern Italy. This study aims to characterize the composition and distribution of Northern Italy’s endemic flora—encompassing the Alps and the northern Apennines, including Alpine-restricted taxa whose range extends beyond the Italian border), highlighting major geographical patterns and their functional and ecological attributes. We quantified endemic species richness, life-form and habitat preferences, and Landolt’s ecological indicator values. Endemism was spatially aggregated, with clear hotspots along the Alpine and Prealpine belts and species-poor, fragmented assemblages in the lowlands; regional floristic affinities mirrored shared substrates and elevation ranges. We also detected coherent ecological gradients, with a light/temperature axis opposing a moisture/nutrients axis, consistent with topographic and edaphic controls. Habitat use by endemics tended to be focused on open, primary substrates (e.g., rocky outcrops, grasslands, screes). Together, these results provide a complete overview of Northern Italy’s endemic flora, identify priority areas for conservation, and offer a reproducible baseline for land-use planning and climate-change monitoring.

Long-term P management has limited impacts on soil microbial communities, with unique patterns driven by location, land use, and soil depth - Kirill Bogdanov; Parag Bhople; Giulia Bondi; Naoise Nunan; Lars Elsgaard; Anke M. Herrmann; Karl G. Richards; Mart Ros; David Wall; Fiona Brennan; Sergio E. Morales; Timothy J. Clough (Applied Soil Ecology, 2026)

Breathing lung-on-chip: a versatile tool for assessing respiratory toxicity across multiple therapeutic modalities - Linnea Johansson; Giulia Raggi; James Cartwright; Johnny Lindqvist; Laurène Froment; Patrik Andersson; Catherine Betts; Jorrit J. Hornberg; Nina Hobi; Anna Ollerstam; Paul Fitzpatrick (Archives of Toxicology, 2026)

Larval Genomics as a Viable, Fisheries‐Independent Tool for Investigating Population Structure in Tropical Pacific Tunas - Jacob E. Jaskiel; Hannah E. Aichelman; Giulia Anderson; Louw Claassens; James E. Fifer; Christina M. Hernandez; Alexa K. Huzar; Joel K. Llopiz; Jan W. Witting; Sean P. Mullen; Randi D. Rotjan (Molecular Ecology, 2026)
Understanding how dispersal, life history, and environmental variability shape genetic connectivity in the open ocean remains a central challenge in evolutionary biology. Highly migratory marine predators like tunas have traditionally been considered genetically homogeneous across ocean basins, yet emerging genomic evidence suggests that cryptic population structure can persist even in species with high gene flow and large effective population sizes. We used 2bRAD sequencing of 348 larval and subadult skipjack ( Katsuwonus pelamis ), yellowfin ( Thunnus albacares ), and bigeye tuna ( T. obesus ) collected from the central Pacific across 7 years of sampling to examine species boundaries, population genetic information, genetic structure, and connectivity. Larval sampling revealed consistent spawning by all three species and enabled unbiased detection of genetic patterns prior to recruitment bottlenecks. We found strong divergence amongst species, no evidence of structuring within skipjack or bigeye, and a divergent yellowfin population detected in 2 consecutive sampling years north of American Samoa. Comparisons between larvae and subadults suggest that sampling early life history stages can be a valuable tool for assessing population genetic information before recruitment bottlenecks, selective harvest by fisheries, adult dispersal, and selective pressures acting on adult populations, thereby contributing novel insights to the research and effective management of these species. These results highlight how larval genomics can complement traditional population genomic studies of adult tunas and reveal fine‐scale structure in highly vagile species, providing new perspectives on connectivity in the open ocean.

Cascade testing as the missing link in cancer prevention among Lynch syndrome families - Lea Godino; Giulia Erini; Giovanni Innella; Sara Miccoli; Simona Ferrari; Pamela Magini; Luca Caramanna; Martina Preite; Veronica Simoni; Daniela Turchetti (Familial Cancer, 2026)

Preclinical Evidence on Plant-Derived Aphrodisiacs and Male Reproductive Function: Mechanisms, Hormonal Modulation, and Translational Implications - Merry Edah; Benjamin Oritsemuelebi; Awhin E. Prosper; Jerome Ndudi. Asiwe; Costantino Parisi; Corrado Pane; Giulia Guerriero; Orish Ebere Orisakwe (Current Pharmacology Reports, 2026)

The Effect Of Localized Circumferential Residual Stress On Pressurized Stress State Of CT Reconstructed Vessels: A Finite Element Study - Vittorio Lissoni; Martina Schembri; Giulia Luraghi; Alessandro Caimi; Virginia Fregona; Mauro Di Giancamillo; Jessica Bassi; Ferdinando Auricchio; Michele Conti; Gabriele Dubini; Francesco Migliavacca; Jose Felix Rodriguez Matas (Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2026)
Purpose Residual stresses are intrinsic stresses present in arteries even in the absence of external loads or blood pressure. They originate during growth and remodeling and contribute to vascular mechanical equilibrium. Despite advances in computational methods, incorporating residual stresses into patient-specific vascular models remains challenging. Evidence regarding the influence of circumferential residual stresses on physiological loading in realistic anatomies is still limited. Methods We combined in vitro imaging, mechanical testing, and finite element (FE) simulations to incorporate residual stresses into a pressurized porcine aorta model. Medical images were acquired in both pressurized and zero-stress states, the latter obtained after 2 h of longitudinal cutting. Locally measured mechanical properties from distinct aortic regions were used to define an orthotropic hyperelastic material response. Residual stresses were restored by simulating vessel closure under displacement-controlled boundary conditions with a tied contact interface. Stress distributions were then compared in FE pressurization simulations performed with and without residual stresses. Results Residual stresses substantially influenced the predicted stress fields. They homogenized stress across the vessel thickness and reduced stress concentrations near the lumen. Moreover, lumen cross-sectional areas at 120 mmHg aligned more closely with experimental measurements when residual stresses were included. In contrast, neglecting residual stresses produced an average overestimation of lumen area by 4.84% and stress peaks up to 50% higher in the inner wall. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of accounting for residual stresses in biomechanical vascular simulations. Incorporating them improves prediction accuracy and reduces artificial stress concentrations, which is crucial for patient-specific risk assessment and surgical planning.

Biomechanics of Human Plantar Skin: Experimental and Constitutive Analysis - Chiara Giulia Fontanella; Sofia Pettenuzzo; Alice Berardo; Elisa Belluzzi; Assunta Pozzuoli; Pietro Ruggieri; Emanuele Luigi Carniel (Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2026)
Purpose Plantar skin is a highly specialised tissue which protects the foot from injuries and adapts to external stresses. However, it can be subjected to diabetic plantar ulcers, which are among the most difficult and costly wounds to treat. Although this is a crucial topic, few studies have focused on the mechanical properties of foot skin and how disease alters them. In this context, this work aims to fully describe the mechanical behavior of plantar skin through experiments and constitutive analysis. Methods Different experimental tests (failure tensile tests, unconfined compression at different strain rates, stress relaxation tests) were conducted on human plantar skin samples cut along the posterior-anterior (PA), lateral-medial (LM), and cranial-caudal (CC) directions. Then, experimental results were used to identify, through an inverse analysis, the parameters of the anisotropic visco-hyperelastic constitutive model adopted to describe the skin's mechanical response. Results Plantar skin’s non-linear, anisotropic, and time-dependent behavior, with differences between the anterior and posterior foot’s regions. In addition, the constitutive model adopted is able to capture the mechanical behavior of the plantar skin Failure tensile tests showed that PA directions exhibited higher elastic modulus than LM directions in both posterior (22.05 vs 12.91 MPa) and anterior (17.39 vs 12.82 MPa) regions, while the unconfined compression tests revealed that compressive elastic moduli in the posterior region increased with increasing strain rates. Conclusion The proposed model provides new insights into the mechanics of plantar skin, being a valuable tool for applications such as diagnosing skin diseases and developing skin substitutes.

Bird diversity and health status of bioindicator species (Coturnix coturnix, Horsfield, 1821) in Egypt’s Manzala Lagoon: seasonal resilience monitoring - Valeria Guerretti; Mohamed Abdou Abdallah Abd-Ellatif; Rubina Vangone; Claudia Cucolo; Maria Maddalena De Vivo; Abdelraouf Abdelrahman Moustafa; Giulia Guerriero; Samira Rizk Mansour (Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2026)

Dietary Replacement of Fish Oil with Plant Oils and Schizochytrium limacinum Biomass Modulates Gut Microbiota Composition and Functional Potential in European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) - Federico Moroni; Simona Rimoldi; Antonia Bruno; Giulia Agostinetto; Violeta Kalemi; Valerio Mezzasalma; Genciana Terova (Fishes, 2026)
Aquaculture sustainability requires a reduction in the reliance on marine-derived raw materials such as fish oil in aquafeeds while maintaining fish health and product quality. This study investigated the effects of replacing fish oil with plant oils supplemented with DHA-rich Schizochytrium limacinum biomass on the gut microbiota of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). S. limacinum SR21—an oleaginous microalga naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids—was produced through heterotrophic fermentation using crude glycerol, a waste stream from biodiesel production, within a circular economy framework. A 21-week feeding trial was conducted in an indoor recirculating aquaculture system using 280 fish distributed across eight tanks. Four experimental diets were tested: fish oil-based (FO), plant oil-based without microalga (VO + 0), and plant oil-based supplemented with 5% (VO + 5) or 10% (VO + 10) microalgal biomass. Gut microbiota was analyzed in 22 fish per group using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. While alpha and beta diversity analyses of gut microbiota revealed modest structural shifts at phylum and class ranks, genus-rank differences were evident, with Lactobacillus and Clostridium sensu stricto associated with FO and VO + 0 diets, and Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus enriched in microalga-supplemented groups. Functional inference highlighted enhanced bile acid biosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in VO + 0, whereas antioxidant-related pathways, including ubiquinone and carotenoid biosynthesis, were stimulated in VO + 5 and VO + 10 groups. These results demonstrate that S. limacinum biomass modulates microbiota functional capacity, potentially contributing to oxidative stress mitigation and host resilience. The findings support microbiota-informed feed formulation strategies to advance sustainable aquaculture.

Hylotelephium telephium (L) H. Ohba leaves juice improves herpetic lesions: new findings from in vitro investigations - Rosaria Arvia; Marco Biagi; Giulia Baini; Giorgio Cappellucci; Paolo Governa; Sergio Balatri; Krystyna Zakrzewska (Natural Product Research, 2026)

A Mechanistic Understanding of the Different Factors Affecting Adaptation and Flexibility During Probabilistic Reversal Learning: A Neurocomputational Study on Patients with Parkinson’s Disease and Control Subjects - Giulia Piermaria; Silvana Pelle; Alessio Zizzi; Carola Cosentino; Susanna Mezzarobba; Giovanna Calandra-Buonaura; Luisa Sambati; Federica Scarpellini; Elisa Pelosin; Mauro Ursino (Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2026)
Purpose Reinforcement learning with reversal is a paradigm frequently employed in neuropsychology to assess the adaptive capacity and flexibility in individuals in non-stationary environments. Each single behavior, however, depends on the superimposition of multiple factors, which are still not completely understood. Methods We optimize a neurocomputational model of the Basal Ganglia to simulate the behavior of 18 patients with Parkinson’s disease (both ON and OFF medication) and 14 control subjects during a two-choice probabilistic reversal learning task (with 80–20% reward probabilities). The individual behavior (in terms of the cumulative number of correct responses during a 40-trials direct phase and a 40-trial reversal phase) is reproduced by fitting a few model parameters for each individual, representing the tonic dopamine level, Hebbian learning, and the exploratory attitude (noise level). Results Results show that very different responses can be explained quite well, ascribing them to the varying combination of the aforementioned individual factors. The tonic dopamine level is significantly different for patients in ON and OFF medication, while the other parameters were not statistically different. A regression analysis reveals that the value of the Hebbian learning rate is correlated with the subject's sensitivity to punishments. In contrast, the noise standard deviation is correlated with exploration, i.e., the tendency to modify the choice even after a reward. Conclusion The results provide a mechanistic explanation of the various factors that affect adaptation and flexibility in reinforcement learning, representing a first step toward characterizing and understanding the diverse behaviors on an individual basis.

AI-driven analysis of animal cleanliness: A data-fusion model using RGB and thermal imaging - Alberto Carraro; Giulia Bugin; Francesco Marinello; Maddi Aguirrebengoa; Stefano Frattini; Andrea Pezzuolo (Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2026)

Analysis of the performance of Air Pollution Control residues as CO2 sorbents in the calcium looping process - Carmela Chianese; Alessandro Dal Pozzo; Valentina Scognamiglio; Giulia Masi; Maria Chiara Bignozzi; Valerio Cozzani (Waste Management, 2026)

Feasibility of 16S rRNA gene qPCR for rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria in bovine cerebrospinal fluid - Sara Ferrini; Patrizia Nebbia; Ugo Ala; Maria Cristina Stella; Giulia Cagnotti; Giorgia Di Muro; Marzia Pezzolato; Elena Bozzetta; Giuliano Borriello; Claudio Bellino; Barbara Iulini; Antonio D’Angelo (Veterinary Microbiology, 2026)

Low-dose Intestinal Exposure to Botulinum Neurotoxins Increases Susceptibility to Salmonella and Shigella Infection - Federico Fabris; Paola Brun; Aram Megighian; Giulia Bernabè; Ignazio Castagliuolo; Ilenia Drigo; Luca Bano; Florigio Lista; Maria Lina Bernardini; Eric A. Johnson; Cesare Montecucco; Ornella Rossetto (Toxicon, 2026)

Botulinum Neurotoxin as a Tool to Study Neuromuscular Junction Plasticity - Stefano Amoretti; Giulia Zanetti; Samuele Negro; Giorgia Schiavone; Leonardo Nogara; Fabio Lauria; Toma Tebaldi; Gabriella Viero; Aram Megighian; Ornella Rossetto; Marco Pirazzini (Toxicon, 2026)

Sinking particles as repository of antimicrobial resistome diversity in the Sansha Yongle Blue Hole - Raffaella Sabatino; Chiara Gini; Giulia Borgomaneiro; Tomasa Sbaffi; Gianluca Corno; Kai Sun; Xiao-Hua Zhang; Andrea Di Cesare (Science of The Total Environment, 2026)

Remote sensing of tropical forest recovery: A review and decision-support framework for multi-sensor integration - Chima J. Iheaturu; Giulia F. Curatola Fernández; Vladimir R. Wingate; Felicia O. Akinyemi; Chukwuma J. Okolie; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza (Remote Sensing of Environment, 2026)

Antimicrobial resistance and virulence-associated genes in Escherichia coli from young healthy chickens - Giulia Cagnoli; Fabrizio Bertelloni; Flavia Zendri; Dorina Timofte; Alessia Di Paolo; Margherita Marzoni Fecia di Cossato; Valentina Virginia Ebani (Research in Veterinary Science, 2026)

From Neanderthals to Homo sapiens: New palaeoecological and tephrocronological data from the MIS3 layers of Grotta-Riparo di Uluzzo C (Apulia, southern Italy) - Juan Ochando; Donatella Magri; Biagio Giaccio; Giovanni Zanchetta; Antonino Vazzana; Omry Barzilai; Francesco Berna; Gruppo Speleologico Neretino; Giulia Marciani; Andrea Zerboni; Sara Silvestrini; Enza E. Spinapolice; et al. (Quaternary Science Reviews, 2026)

Bipolar volcanic ice-core synchronization of the entire last glacial period - Anders Svensson; Guido Vettoretti; Jia-mei Lin; Giulia Sinnl; Dorthe Dahl-Jensen; Jørgen Peder Steffensen; Sune Olander Rasmussen; Bo Vinther; Christine Hvidberg; Helle Astrid Kjær; Vasileios Gkinis; Eliza Cook; et al. (Quaternary Science Reviews, 2026)

Role of methyl jasmonate in enhancing pigmentation of Tarocco Sant'Alfio (Citrus sinensis [L.], Osbeck) oranges during cold storage - Alessio Allegra; Paolo Inglese; Giancarlo Colelli; Maria Luisa Amodio; Lucia Russo; Danial Fatchurrahman; Fernando Garrido-Auñón; Giuseppe Sortino; Giulia Modica; Laura Siracusa; Alberto Continella (Postharvest Biology and Technology, 2026)

Synthetic cannabidiol analogues exhibit lower toxicity than cannabidiol and protect against ethanol-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells - Carolina Aparecida Faria Almeida; Gabriela Salles; Vitor Bruno; Jessyca Milene Ribeiro; Alessandra Oliveira Silva; Giulia de Assis Braz; Felype Valentim Duarte Castelhano; Graziella dos Reis Rosa Franco; Cláudio Viegas; Tania Marcourakis; Larissa Helena Lobo Torres; Raphael Caio Tamborelli Garcia (NeuroToxicology, 2026)

A line with no hook: longline-associated passive eDNA samplers for deep-sea fish monitoring - Martina Spiga; Valentina Crobe; Alice Ferrari; Giulia Maiello; Elia Bueloni; Elisabetta Cilli; Tommaso Russo; Simone Di Crescenzo; Rita Cannas; Giusy Catalano; Corrado Piccinetti; Stefano Mariani; et al. (Marine Environmental Research, 2026)

Lethal and sub-lethal effects of two botanical nano-insecticides against Liposcelis bostrychophila - Maria Pineda; Ilaria Latella; Pierluigi Forlano; Giulia Giunti; Orlando Campolo; Antonino Modafferi; Vincenzo Palmeri (Journal of Stored Products Research, 2026)

Industrial water reclamation in southern Italy: Insights from the life cycle assessment of a brewery case study - Giulia Casarano; Francesco Sardella; Pasquale Giungato (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2026)

Diospyros kaki leaf polyphenolic extract as a new edible source of anti-glycative agents: bioaccessibility and structure-activity relationship investigation - Giulia Moretto; Raffaella Colombo; Sara Perteghella; Stefano Negri; Hellas Cena; Francesca Alessandra Ambrosio; Stefano Alcaro; Giosuè Costa; Adele Papetti (Food Research International, 2026)

A cross-country analysis on satisfaction and perception of non-alcoholic wine - Mingze Rui; Simone Blanc; Filippo Brun; Antonina Sparacino; Giulia Mastromonaco; Stefano Massaglia (Food Quality and Preference, 2026)

Food Safety and quality of some Italian honey: Study of long-persistent contaminants (heavy metals and PFAS) in different production areas in southern Italy - Sergio Passarella; Simone Moretti; Alessia Iannone; Fabiana Carriera; Sonia Ganassi; Dalila Di Criscio; Loretta De Giorgi; Giulia Corazzi; Ivan Notardonato; Carolina Barola; Roberta Galarini; Pasquale Avino; et al. (Food Chemistry, 2026)

Reformulating savory biscuit-like snacks for a healthier diet by using ancient grain and glasswort powder: effect on quality, sensory descriptors and acceptability - Antonio Derossi; Grazia Marinaro; Carmela Lamacchia; Rossella Caporizzi; Giulia Conversa (Food Bioscience, 2026)

Managing bioactive amines in plant-based fermented products - Judit Costa-Catala; Giulia Tabanelli; Alicia Díez-González; M. Luz Latorre-Moratalla; M. Carmen Vidal-Carou; Oriol Comas-Basté (Food Control, 2026)

Numerical and experimental validation of a novel force correction method for hybrid simulation applied to the partitioned G-α algorithm - Giulia Giuliani; Alessio Bonelli; Nicola Tondini (Engineering Structures, 2026)

Role of sediment entrainment in the flash-flood to debris-flow transition during cascading landslide dam failures - Jialin Liu; Gordon G.D. Zhou; Yunxu Xie; Kahlil F.E. Cui; Xueqiang Lu; Ming Peng; Wei Zhong; Giulia Bossi (Engineering Geology, 2026)

Redistribution through urban food hubs: A comprehensive sustainability assessment - Andrea Casson; Giulia Valentini; Andrea Rizzuni; Abhishek Dattu Narote; Giovanni Scotti; Riccardo Guidetti; Valentina Giovenzana (Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2026)

Social performance assessment of Frantoio Franci: social life cycle analysis in the extra virgin olive oil sector - Dario Barberini; Maria Giovina Pasca; Giulia Padovani; Gabriella Arcese (The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 2026)

2 step hydrolytic conversion of orange processing waste into C5-C6 sugars: the “Hemicellulose Ahead” protocol - Giulia Brufani; Emilia Paone; Rosaria Ciriminna; Mario Pagliaro; Majd Al-Naji; Luigi Vaccaro; Francesco Mauriello (Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali, 2026)
Practically viable chemical valorization of lignocellulosic biomass requires innovative and selective fractionation strategies. In this study, we present the “Hemicellulose Ahead” protocol: a novel two-step hydrolysis approach for converting industrial orange processing waste into valuable sugars. This strategy targets a first recovery of C5–C6 sugars from hemicellulose via acid hydrolysis with dilute formic acid, followed by glucose recovery from cellulose using dilute hydrochloric acid. The process is carried out in one pot under relatively mild conditions (100 °C, atmospheric pressure). Prior to hydrolysis, orange processing waste needs to be washed with pressurized 50:50 (wt:wt) ethanol:water mixture to remove free sugars, flavonoids and processing residues, which proved essential to prevent the formation of degradation products during the initial hemicellulose conversion. The sequential process was successfully scaled from 100 mL to 500 mL and 5 L batch reactors, with only minor variations in sugar yields across the different scales. The process provides a cost-effective pathway for valorizing citrus processing waste into C5 and C6 sugars. At the same time, the solid residue, rich in pectin, can be utilized for the recovery of this latter polysaccharide. Graphical abstract

Virtual reality environmental enrichment effects on heart rate variability in healthy volunteers - Giulia Benvegnù; Rudi Graffer; Federico Maria Lorusso; Sofia Ceccato; Erika Tedesco; Cristiano Chiamulera (Psychopharmacology, 2026)
Rationale Environmental enrichment (EE) is a nonpharmacological approach widely used in preclinical studies and only recently applied to humans using virtual reality (VR). Virtual EE has been shown to decrease basal cravings for smoking and palatable food; however, little is known about what processes are affected by EE. One hypothesis is that it may affect participants’ emotional state (stress- relief hypothesis). Objectives We aimed to investigate whether physiological parameters of stress response are modified by virtual EE by assessing heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy volunteers. Second, we explored psychological measures of affective and mood states associated to virtual EE and assessed the correlation of HRV to measures of locomotion and interaction in the virtual simulation. Methods Twenty healthy volunteers (11 men) were exposed to a virtual EE and Control Environment (CE), in counterbalancing order. HRV and participants’ behavior were measured during VR exposure. Self-report measures of mood, arousal, pleasantness and immersion were also collected before and after VR. Results Participants showed a significant increase in time-domain HRV (RMSSD), but not in frequency-domain (HF and LF/HF ratio) measures, and self-report measures (pleasantness, activation, positive mood and perception of immersion) in EE vs. CE. Positive correlations between the score of immersion in the VR simulation and HRV indexes emerged in EE scenario only. Conclusions The results showed an improvement in subjectively reported emotional state and an increase in parasympathetic component of HRV, suggesting that the mechanism underlying the EE effects found in this and previous work may be due to decreased stress, consistent with the “stress-relief” hypothesis.

Clinical image analysis to build patient-specific models of acute ischemic stroke patients - Virginia Fregona; Ilaria Bottini; Sara Barati; Amedeo Cervo; Antonio Macera; Ghil Schwarz; Guglielmo Pero; Mariangela Piano; Gabriele Dubini; Jose Felix Rodriguez Matas; Giulia Luraghi; Francesco Migliavacca (Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 2026)
Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is an emergency treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) to remove a clot occluding a large cerebral vessel. Histological analysis on retrieved thrombi have shown that they are mainly composed of red blood cells (RBCs), platelets and fibrin, and the outcome of MT appears to be influenced by clot composition. Therefore, being able to predict clot composition from routine medical images used for AIS diagnosis could support the choice of interventional strategy. Along with that, finite element simulations of the MT procedure can help provide insights into the impact of the procedural choices, the vessels morphology and the clot characteristics on the MT outcome. To achieve this, a realistic representation of the involved structures is necessary. In this context, this work aimed to (i) develop a methodology for the analysis of routine radiological images aiming at inferring information about clot characteristics (position, length, and composition) and (ii) develop a semi-automatic pipeline to position the clot in the patient-specific reconstructed geometry to build a patient-specific model which could be the starting point for the in silico replica of the MT procedure. However, image analysis alone could not distinguish between white and mixed clots, while a distinction between red and non-red clots was possible. Consequently, histological analyses were used to assign the clot composition, and thus the mechanical properties, in the positioning simulation. The resulting patient-specific model showed a strong similarity with pre-interventional clinical images.

Compost amount, rather than composition, determines lettuce growth, physiology, and soil mineral content - Emanuela Campana; Michele Ciriello; Sergio Saia; Luigi Duri; Mariavittoria Verrillo; Antonio Caporale; Antonio Pannico; Giulia Graziani; Youssef Rouphael; Stefania De Pascale (Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 2026)

First documented black seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus) nesting aggregation in the Mediterranean Sea - Jennifer C. A. Pistevos; Athanasios Nikolaou; Ivan T. Petsimeris; Giulia Pitarra; Nicola Greggio; Olympos Andreadis; Thomas Hasiotis; Antonios D. Mazaris; Stelios Katsanevakis (Environmental Biology of Fishes, 2026)

Pharmaceutical-contaminated water irrigation impacts the human pathobiome of soil and alters aphid-endosymbiont dynamics - Monica Brienza; Raffaella Sabatino; Roberto Rosamilia; Giulia Borgomaneiro; Oussama Baaloudj; Andrea Di Cesare; Donatella Battaglia; Paolo Fanti; Vincenzo Trotta (Applied Soil Ecology, 2026)

Late Holocene deforestation and reforestation controls lake mixing regimes and aquatic ecology: Lessons from anthropogenic disturbances in NE Poland - Giulia Wienhues; Hendrik Vogel; Wojciech Tylmann; Martin Grosjean (Anthropocene, 2026)

Circular use of supercritical CO₂-extracted Peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) residues in ruminant nutrition: An In Vitro fermentation model - Giulia Dallavalle; Selene Massaro; Jonas Andersen; Andrea Angeli; Urska Vrhovsek; Nicola De Zordi; Giorgia Secchi; Franco Tagliapietra; Elena Franciosi (Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2026)

Assessing the limits: citizen science data accuracy in underwater monitoring - Charalampos Dimitriadis; Katerina Konsta; Melih Ertan Çinar; Alper Doğan; Vasilis Gerovasileiou; Giulia Gatti; Laure Thierry de Ville d’Avray; Maria Sini; Stelios Katsanevakis; Antonios D. Mazaris; Drosos Koutsoubas (Biodiversity and Conservation, 2026)

A scoping review of temperate food forestry research: key themes, methodological considerations and research priorities - Anna M. Roodhof; Lieke Moereels; Isabelle van der Zanden; Giulia Bongiorno; Alejandra Hernandez Guzman; Jeroen Kruit; Madelon Lohbeck; Sietze Norder; Suzy Rebisz; Bastiaan Rooduijn; Jordy van Eijk; Heitor Mancini Teixeira (Agroforestry Systems, 2026)
There is increasing interest in practice and policy in the use of polycultures composed of a tree layer integrated with multiple other perennial vegetation layers (“food forests”) in temperate regions, but scientific understanding of this farming system appears limited. This scoping review aims to facilitate future food forestry research by providing a clear overview of existing empirical research and research agenda. To do so, we unite a body of literature that is currently fragmented, mainly due to inconsistent terminology, and organize it around nine key research themes defined in a conceptual framework. This conceptual framework, collaboratively developed by a network of food forestry scholars, outlines the following themes to strengthen the science-policy-practice interface: personal motivation, external factors, knowledge (co-)creation, types of food forests, management characteristics, ecosystem functioning, value creation, interaction or comparison with other land use systems, and transition processes. For each theme, we describe the extent to which the theme and more specific subthemes within this theme have been empirically investigated, which methodological approaches are used to do so, and which topics and methodologies future research should prioritize. Overall, we highlight three ‘clusters’ of research gaps. These center around questions pertaining to food production at food forests, multifunctionality at food forests, and processes of knowledge legitimization around food forestry. Methodologically, we make a case for transdisciplinary approaches. Additionally, studies with more analytical, experimental and longitudinal approaches, larger sample sizes, older study sites, and conducted in underexplored regions, are necessary to address the research gaps we identify.

Variation in Environmental Conditions and Biodiversity Between Contrasting Intertidal Habitats Across Multiple Spatial Scales on European Rocky Shores - Luca Rindi; Ludovica Pedicini; Iacopo Bertocci; Lisandro Benedetti‐Cecchi; Dan Smale; Fernando Tuya; Adriana Rodriguez; Mariachiara Chiantore; Valentina Asnaghi; Paolo Albicini; Rolf Karez; Dominique Davoult; et al. (Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2026)
Aim Foundation species sustain biodiversity by providing habitat, resources, and protection from environmental stress. However, their influence on environmental severity and variability and their role in shaping diversity across spatial scales remain poorly understood. We conducted a large‐scale study to assess how environmental conditions and community diversity vary between areas with and without canopy‐forming macroalgae across local to regional spatial scales. Location Latitudinal range from 28°34′N to 54°11′N, encompassing both the Northeast Atlantic and Western Mediterranean regions. Time Period 2019–2020. Major Taxa Studied Marine macroalgae and benthic invertebrates. Methods Using a standardised nested sampling design across 13 sites in two marine regions (the Northeast Atlantic and Western Mediterranean) we compared the intensity and variability of temperature and light intensity, as well as community α‐ and β‐diversity, between intertidal rocky areas with and without canopy‐forming macroalgae. Data were analysed by means of linear mixed‐effects models. Results There were regional differences in variations of environmental conditions between habitats: NE Atlantic macroalgal canopies were characterised by lower environmental extremes and variability—especially in summer—than open rock areas, whereas differences between habitats were small in the W Mediterranean. Likewise, differences in α‐ and β‐diversity between habitats were region‐specific and scale‐dependent: in the NE Atlantic, α‐diversity was higher in the presence of canopies than in open rock areas from local to regional scales, while β‐diversity decreased in canopy stands with increasing spatial scale. In the W Mediterranean, α‐diversity was higher under canopies than on open rock at the regional scale, whereas β‐diversity was higher under canopies at small to intermediate scales. Main Conclusions Our results support the view that key environmental conditions and biodiversity on intertidal rocky shores differ between areas characterised by the presence or absence of canopy‐forming macroalgae acting as foundation species, across a hierarchy of spatial scales.

The Marsupial Database: A comprehensive dataset on the ecology and life history of American and Australasian marsupials - Mariana Silva Ferreira; Rodrigo C. Rossi; Stephane Batista; Kathleen Sena; Kevin R. Bairos‐Novak; Shamia Farhana Shoma; Natália O. Leiner; Diego Astúa; Graeme Coulson; Diana O. Fisher; Natasha D. Harrison; Julian Nicholas Garcia Willmer; et al. (Ecology, 2026)
Marsupials are an important but typically neglected group of mammals that have been overlooked in many comparative analyses of vertebrate ecology and life history evolution. In order to address this knowledge bias, we have developed The Marsupial Database. The Marsupial Database contains traits for a phylogenetically diverse set of 414 extant and recently extinct (last 200 years) species from all seven modern marsupial orders (Dasyuromorphia, Didelphimorphia, Diprotodontia, Microbiotheria, Notoryctemorphia, Paucituberculata, Peramelemorphia) native to 34 countries in the Americas and Australasia. The database comprises 11,054 records of 35 traits describing anatomical, physiological, phenological, and reproductive characteristics, as well as information on species' ecology and current conservation status. Data were collected from 41 sources, comprising published databases and other relevant sources of information. By providing a centralized repository of marsupial ecological and life history traits, The Marsupial Database facilitates analyses of ecological and evolutionary patterns within the group, and also encourages inclusion of marsupials in comparative studies of mammals, vertebrates, and the entire animal kingdom. The Marsupial Database is free from copyright or proprietary restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications or scientific presentations.

Searching for New Possible Peripheral Biomarkers of Cognitive Decline in Down Syndrome: The Role of IL-18 Pathway and its Interaction with TGF-β1 and TNF-α - Margherita Grasso; Annamaria Fidilio; Francesca L’Episcopo; Marilena Recupero; Concetta Barone; Marta Lovino; Silvia Alboni; Maria Giulia Bacalini; Giuseppe Caruso; Donatella Greco; Serafino Buono; Rafael De La Torre; et al. (NeuroMolecular Medicine, 2026)

Microbubble-free mechanical sonoporation for MR-guided drug delivery in solid tumours: a proof-of-concept study - Deyssy Patrucco; Martina Capozza; Francesca Garello; Alberto Mangia; Carla Carrera; Giulia Tarso; Enzo Terreno (Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2026)
Ultrasound (US)-mediated drug delivery is a promising strategy for localised, minimally invasive molecular transport, typically relying on microbubble-assisted sonoporation. However, clinical translation is limited by the short half-life, cost, and cytotoxicity of exogenous microbubbles. In this proof-of-concept study, we present a microbubble-free, mechanically driven sonoporation approach for intracellular delivery of hydrophilic agents, monitored non-invasively by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using a low-intensity, non-focused ultrasound protocol (1 MHz, MI 0.25, 25% duty cycle, 1 Hz PRF) we achieved efficient intracellular internalisation of the MRI contrast agent Gadoteridol (~ 7 × 10⁹ Gd ions/cell) in vitro while maintaining > 70% cell viability and demonstrating complete membrane resealing within 30 min. Co-delivery with propidium iodide (PI) was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and MRI, showing cytosolic distribution with negligible passive uptake in non-sonoporated controls. Compared to established permeabilisation methods (electroporation, pinocytosis, hypotonic swelling), microbubble-free sonoporation produced higher uptake with lower oxidative stress. In vivo experiments in K562 tumour-bearing mice showed that intravenous co-administration of Gadoteridol and PI followed by local sonoporation yielded significantly enhanced and prolonged T1 MRI contrast and increased intratumoural accumulation of both agents. These findings establish microbubble-free sonoporation as an effective, controllable technique for intracellular delivery, with the added benefit of MRI-based monitoring. This strategy addresses key limitations of microbubble-based methods and holds strong potential for image-guided therapeutic applications in solid tumors. Graphical abstract

Metabolic profiling of Metternichia macrocalyx and Metternichia principis (Solanaceae) using LC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS data in molecular networking and chemometric analysis - Thiago Araújo de Medeiros Brito; Anauara Lima e Silva; Yasmin Ferreira de Araújo; Natyele Rodrigues Fonseca; Giulia Cavalcanti Ottino; Domingos Benício Oliveira Silva Cardoso; Josean Fechine Tavares; Lucas Silva Abreu; Marcelo Sobral da Silva (Natural Product Research, 2026)

The quiet side of EU novel foods: how ‘ordinary’ innovations are overshadowed by extreme cases - Maria Giulia Bonomini; Chiara Dall’Asta (Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2026)

An integrated in vitro and in silico testing strategy applied to PFAS inhibition of antibody production to define a tolerable daily intake - Martina Iulini; Aafke W.F. Janssen; Karsten Beekmann; Giulia Russo; Francesco Pappalardo; Styliani Fragki; Alicia Paini; Emanuela Corsini (Toxicology Letters, 2026)

Histological-based characterization of ovarian developmental stages in blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) within the spawning season in the central western Adriatic Sea - Giulia Chemello; Elena Giannico; Matteo Zarantoniello; Erica Trotta; Laura Ciaralli; Marco Matiddi; Cecilia Silvestri; Ludovica Di Renzo; Loredana Manfra; Giovanni Libralato; Ike Olivotto; Giorgia Gioacchini (Tissue and Cell, 2026)

A novel bio-inspired encoding for evolving cryptographic Boolean functions - Rocco Ascone; Giulia Bernardini; Luca Manzoni; Gloria Pietropolli (Swarm and Evolutionary Computation, 2026)

Accessing benzofuran moieties: A methodological overview of transition-metal-catalysed C–H functionalisation - Giulia Brufani; Alessandro Maselli; Francesco Mauriello; Luigi Vaccaro (Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 2026)

Do diabetes and hypertension mediate the association of air pollution with the incidence of end-stage kidney disease? Results from two large European cohorts - Gudrun Weinmayr; Andrea Jaensch; Claudia Marino; Pietro Manuel Ferraro; Julia Kerschbaum; Patrizia Haller; Wolfgang Brozek; Paola Michelozzi; Matteo Renzi; Massimo Stafoggia; Nera Agabiti; Kees de Hoogh; et al. (Science of The Total Environment, 2026)

From tree loss to climate gains: Rethinking carbon flows, payoffs, and trade-offs of forest landscape restoration - Marco di Cristofaro; Federico Valerio Moresi; Mauro Maesano; Riccardo Salvati; Dora Cimini; Daniele Cecca; Giulia Bonella; Giuseppe Scarascia-Mugnozza (Science of The Total Environment, 2026)

Overlaps of marine predators, aquaculture, and fish-aggregating devices: Passive acoustics reveal site- and time-specific dolphin behavior - Patrizia Patti; Elena Papale; Giulia Pedrazzi; Viola Cossio; Michela Aquilina; Matthew Laspina Parisi; Jean Paul Schembri; Sofia Rinalduzzi; Daniela Silvia Pace (Regional Studies in Marine Science, 2026)

Use of human data for risk assessment of pesticides: A review including an evaluation of trichlorfon as case study - Giulia Collatuzzo; Paolo Boffetta (Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2026)

Knockout of a pectate lyase in tomato increases fruit firmness and reduces foliar susceptibility to pathogens - Ludovica Fumelli; Muhammad Ilyas; Fabrizio Olivieri; Barbara Farinon; Roberto Forniti; Rinaldo Botondi; Antonio Granell; Giulia De Lorenzo; Andrea Mazzucato (Plant Science, 2026)

Investigating drivers of Mediterranean coralligenous fish communities using passive acoustic monitoring: the role of thermal environment, day length and moon phases - Gabriella La Manna; Mariangela Moro Merella; Riccardo Vargiu; Giuseppe Morello; Gianluca Sarà; Giulia Ceccherelli (Marine Environmental Research, 2026)

End of life permanent magnet recycling: State of the art and material flow analysis in the framework of potential substitution of RE-based magnets with ferrites - Alessia Amato; Alessandro Becci; Giulia Merli; Valentina Innocenzi; Francesco Vegliò; Maria Villen-Guzman; Maria del Mar Cerrillo-Gonzalez; Ionela Birloaga; Francesca Beolchini (Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2026)

Harnessing the aqueous phase from hydrothermal liquefaction of plastic and non-plastic waste for the production of carboxylic acids - Flavia Marzulli; Giulia Simonetti; Gaia Salvatori; Benedetta de Caprariis; Martina Damizia; Sogand Musivand; Carmela Riccardi; Marianna Villano (Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2026)

Visible-near infrared spectral behavior of Mars-analog clays, sulfate, and basalt mixtures - Beatrice Baschetti; Cristian Carli; Matteo Massironi; Fabio Tateo; Giulia Alemanno (Icarus, 2026)

On the use of industrial steel mill scale as a high-density energy carrier: Part II. Microstructural and chemical evolution over cycling - Laurine Choisez; Bénédicte Kuypers; Nicole Stevens; Willie Prasidha; Théo Mauxion; Philip de Goey; Giulia Finotello; Pascal J. Jacques (Fuel, 2026)

On the use of industrial steel mill scale as a high-density energy carrier: Part I. Reaction processes and particle size evolution over cycling - Laurine Choisez; Nicole Stevens; Willie Prasidha; Bénédicte Kuypers; Théo Mauxion; Philip de Goey; Giulia Finotello; Pascal J. Jacques (Fuel, 2026)

Accelerated storage of ground coffee: Merging of analytical techniques to assess sensitivity to oxygen and moisture exposure - Federica De Agostini; Cristina Alamprese; Silvia Grassi; Susanna Buratti; Simona Benedetti; Serena Gobbi; Vittorio Bassi; Chiara Margarone; Giulia Cusanno; Daniela Gagliardi; Sara Limbo (Food Research International, 2026)

Exploring the influence of traceability and sustainability certifications on consumers choices: A CUB model analysis with gender and geographical affiliations-based insights - Giulia Mastromonaco; Antonina Sparacino; Valentina Maria Merlino; Stefano Massaglia; Danielle Borra; Emanuela Vassallo; Fabrizio Massimelli; Simone Blanc (Food Quality and Preference, 2026)

Short-, medium- and long-chain chlorinated paraffins in novel plant-based foods – Occurrence, patterns and food safety assessment - Alicia Macan Schönleben; Adam Cseresznye; Shanshan Yin; Thomas J. McGrath; Stijn Bosschaerts; Alexander L.N. van Nuijs; Adrian Covaci; Giulia Poma (Food Control, 2026)

Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants and sex-specific neonatal outcomes in the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort - Adam Cseresznye; Fatima den Ouden; Liesa Engelen; Elias Maris; Yu Ait Bamai; Ellen De Paepe; Giulia Poma; Muriel Derrien; Arnau Vich i Vila; Lieselot Y. Hemeryck; Roger Pero-Gascon; Sarah De Saeger; et al. (Environmental Research, 2026)

Microplastic and other anthropogenic particles in surface waters of the Isfjorden system (Svalbard) - Carolin Philipp; France Collard; Claudia Halsband; Dorte Herzke; Giulia Vitale; Fabiana Corami; Katrine Husum; Geir W. Gabrielsen; Ingeborg G. Hallanger (Environmental Pollution, 2026)

The role of crystal-bubble interactions, outgassing and magma composition in the ascent dynamics of alkaline magmas: Implications for eruptions at Vesuvius - Fabio Arzilli; Giuseppe La Spina; Emily C. Bamber; Daniele Morgavi; Lorenzo Fedele; Lucia Mancini; Marko Prašek; Ileana Santangelo; Giulia Chiominto; Annamaria Perrotta; Thomas Lemaire; Hélène Balcone-Boissard; et al. (Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2026)

Cryosphere and lithology influence the hydrological gradients of high elevation Alpine catchments - Stefano Brighenti; Matteo Delpero; Francesca Bearzot; Giulia Bertolotti; Monica Tolotti; Maria Cristina Bruno; Andrea Fischer; Gerfried Winkler; Giulio Voto; Agnese Aguzzoni; Werner Tirler; Francesco Comiti (CATENA, 2026)

Bioapatite crystallinity and Rare Earth Element signatures in fossil and Recent sharks: A window into Past and Present seas - Luca Medici; Annalisa Ferretti; Alberto Collareta; Giulia Bosio; Giovanni Bianucci; Giorgio Carnevale; Simone Casati; Simona Clò; Luca Lanteri; Federico Lugli; Giuseppe Marramà; Frederik H. Mollen; et al. (Chemical Geology, 2026)

Is soil sampling appropriate for quantitative carbon accounting for biochar? An experimental investigation to assess soil carbon accumulation - David Chiaramonti; Giulia Lotti; Francesca Tozzi; David Casini; Francesco Primo Vaccari; Hamed Sanei; Michaela Luconi; Marco Buffi (Biomass and Bioenergy, 2026)

Melanoma in horses: distribution by sex, age, nationality, and slaughterhouse findings in 28 horses from Northern Italy - Giovanni Maria Muresu Ibba; Antonio Poeta; Giorgia De Lorenzi; Giovanni Pupillo; Giulia D’Annunzio; Annamaria Pezzarossi; Isabella Bisceglia; Lucia Mangone (Veterinary Research Communications, 2026)

Variation in pollinator assemblage along a Mediterranean urbanization gradient does not affect the reproductive output of the wild radish - Carla Sorvillo; Paolo Biella; Giulia Brambilla; Massimo Labra; Salvatore Cozzolino; Giovanni Scopece (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Invasive alien plants and the city: distribution patterns in response to urban elements and urbanization in three of the largest cities in Italy - Chiara Montagnani; Nicole Sebesta; Emanuele Vegini; Giulia Daniele; Elena Barni; Laura Celesti-Grapow; Francesca Emili; Federica Larcher; Rodolfo Gentili; Sandra Citterio (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Cities are extensively colonised by invasive alien plants, and their spread can negatively impact urban ecosystems including remaining natural habitats. It is therefore crucial to understand how invasive alien plants spread across urban landscapes and which anthropogenic drivers favour their persistence. Accordingly, in three of the largest Italian cities (Milan, Rome and Turin), a pool of alien species highly invasive in Europe was selected and their distribution was studied. Using a stratified sampling design defined along a gradient of urbanization, we analysed the distribution and abundance of 26 target species in relation to urban elements (e.g. linear infrastructures, gardens and buildings). With almost 20,000 occurrences, the analysis highlighted that, within the species’ pool, the most widespread spontaneous alien plants were Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Parthenocissus agg., Phytolacca americana L., Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. Notably, Ulmus pumila L. was widespread in Milan and Turin. In response to the gradient of urbanization, a clear distinction emerged between species adapted to highly disturbed central areas, i.e. A. altissima , and those more suited to suburban contexts, i.e. R. pseudoacacia . Along the entire gradient, physical constraints limited the occurrence of species on buildings and other sealed areas, whereas gardens and road sides were the most receptive urban elements in terms of taxa richness and frequency. This comparative study of urban alien flora in three large Italian cities contributes to the understanding of distribution patterns and secondary spread of alien species in highly urbanised contexts of Southern Europe. Our study suggests that strategies for preventing and managing the colonisation of invasive alien plants in cities should be tailored to certain species, depending on levels of urbanisation and fine-scale land use.

Another one bites the dirt: a closer look into geophagy in tadpoles of Thoropa miliaris (Spix, 1824) - Gustavo Colaço; Júlio Lopes; Gabriel Fidalgo; Mendel C. Fonseca; Katrine Paiva; Marcelo Batista; Gabriel Limp; Giulia Miranda-Silva; Marcos Vinicius Colaço; Regina Cely Barroso; Helio Ricardo da Silva (The Science of Nature, 2026)

Impact of Plant-Microorganism Interaction: A Key Driver for the Production of Bioactive Metabolites of Interest in the Pharmaceutical, Agricultural, Cosmetic, and Food Industries - Dayanna Isabel Araque Gelves; Giulia Cristina Andreoli de Souza; Marcos José Salvador; Alondra María Díaz-Rodríguez; Ixchel Campos-Avelar; Sergio de los Santos-Villalobos (Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 2026)

Plant growth promotion by a native Algerian Streptomyces phaeoluteigriseus: a potential bioinoculant for phosphorus mobilization in tomato cultivation - Abdelwahab Rai; Giulia Semenzato; Aida Raio; Ali Guettaf; Manel Meslaoui; Ait Kaci Mazari; Ihdene Sofiane; Mohamed Kebdani; Abdeltif Amrane; Lotfi Mouni (Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration, 2026)

Sense and Mind method: an innovative methodological approach to embodied rehabilitation - Annalisa Risoli; Alessandro Antonietti; Laura Colautti; Sara Magenes; Giulia Purpura; Leonardo Fogassi (Cognitive Processing, 2026)
As neurorehabilitation research expands, it is crucial to ensure that scientific findings are integrated into neurorehabilitation clinical practice. Building on evidence about embodied cognition, this paper proposes an innovative method called Sense and Mind (SaM), designed for individuals with neurodevelopmental and acquired neurocognitive and neuromotor impairments. It aims to rehabilitate spatial cognition and executive functions from the patient’s bodily experience. A description of the theoretical bases of the SaM method is provided. Theory construct involves neuroscientific evidence relative to embodied cognition, movement and action, spatial representation, mental imagery, and executive functions. Furthermore, a description of the methodological structure is outlined, allowing for interventions with the patient at different levels of complexity and with various goals through a restitutive approach, ranging from programming voluntary movement to constructing and using mental images. Through different goal-directed activities based on multimodal sensory experiences, the SaM method focuses on recovering executive functions, which are crucial for daily life. The SaM method, through an individualised approach based on each patient’s psychomotor profile, can be helpful for neuromotor and neuropsychological rehabilitation of several types of disabilities. Further studies are necessary to investigate its efficacy on larger samples of patients.

AGGRESCAN and its evolution: A two-decade perspective on protein aggregation prediction - Giulia Pesce; Oriol Solé; Oriol Bárcenas; Salvador Ventura (Biophysical Reviews, 2026)
Protein aggregation is a widespread phenomenon with profound biological, biomedical, and biotechnological implications. In human disease, aberrant protein self-assembly is a hallmark of numerous neurodegenerative disorders, whereas in the biopharmaceutical industry, aggregation complicates the production, stability, and formulation of therapeutic proteins. The Aggrescan platform was one of the first empirically based tools designed to predict aggregation-prone regions (APRs) within protein sequences. It has since expanded to incorporate three-dimensional structural contexts and environmental conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the development, application, and impact of the Aggrescan family of tools, which includes AGGRESCAN, Aggrescan3D, and the recent Aggrescan4D. We examine the algorithmic foundations, empirical validation, and key use cases spanning fields from biotechnology to biomedical research. Additionally, we describe how the recent integration of AlphaFold models has enabled proteome-scale exploration of aggregation determinants. This review highlights how Aggrescan has evolved alongside with advances in the field, becoming a reliable and accessible tool for studying and redesigning protein aggregation.

ATENA: dATabase of ornamEntal non-NAtive trees of seven Italian cities - Marco Varricchione; Nicole Sebesta; Elena Barni; Giulio Barone; Maria Laura Carranza; Laura Celesti-Grapow; Sandra Citterio; Emilio Di Gristina; Giulia Daniele; Federica Larcher; Lorenzo Mazzola; Chiara Montagnani; et al. (Plant Biosystems, 2026)

Ailanthus altissima Swingle: beyond invasiveness and biodiversity threat. A phytochemical and functional characterization - Francesca Vidotto; Giulio Tremori; Tiberio Fiaschi; Giulia Baini; Giorgio Cappellucci; Claudia Angiolini; Elisabetta Miraldi; Stefano Loppi; Riccardo Fedeli (Plant Biosystems, 2026)

Concentration response analyses for QT data with several active compounds - Günter Heimann; Giulia Lestini; Jochen Zisowsky (Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics, 2026)

Effects of annual cropland and season on pollen diversity and pesticide exposure in honey bee colonies - Sarah Manzer; Douglas Sponsler; Alexander Keller; Carolina Honert; Carsten A. Brühl; Giulia Mainardi; Ricarda Scheiner; Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter (Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2026)

Dimethyltryptamine and harmine, components of ayahuasca, prevented cocaine-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells - Gabriela Salles; Carolina Aparecida de Faria Almeida; Isabella de Carvalho Alves; Giulia de Assis Braz; Flávia Barrio Lopes; João Paulo dos Santos Fernandes; Daniela Aparecida Chagas-Paula; Albert Katchborian-Neto; Matheus Fernandes Alves; Vitor Bruno; Beatriz Aparecida Passos Bismara Paranhos; Tania Marcourakis; et al. (Archives of Toxicology, 2026)

A broad kinase inhibitor library live cell imaging screen using liver, kidney and cardiac hiPSC-ICAM1-eGFP reporter lineages identifies liabilities for TNFα pathway modulation - Matthijs Vlasveld; Linda van den Berk; Janet Piñero; Palle S. Helmke; Gerhard F. Ecker; Rob van Rossom; Bela Z. Schmidt; Catherine Verfaillie; Konstantinos Tassis; Giulia Callegaro; Peter Bouwman; Bob van de Water (Archives of Toxicology, 2026)

WABAD : A world annotated bird acoustic dataset for passive acoustic monitoring - Cristian Pérez‐Granados; Jon Morant; Kevin F. A. Darras; Oscar H. Marín‐Gómez; Irene Mendoza; Miguel A. Muñoz‐Mohedano; Eduardo Santamaría‐García; Giulia Bastianelli; Alba Márquez‐Rodríguez; Michał Budka; Gerard Bota; José M. De la Peña‐Rubio; et al. (Ecology, 2026)
Under the current global biodiversity crisis, there is a need for automated and noninvasive monitoring techniques that can gather large amounts of data cost‐effectively at various ecological scales, from local to large spatial scales. These data can then be analyzed to inform stakeholders and decision‐makers. One such technique is passive acoustic monitoring, which is commonly coupled with automatic identification of animal species based on their sound. Automated sound analyses usually require the training of sound detection and identification algorithms. These algorithms are based on annotated acoustic datasets which mark the occurrence of sounds of species inside sound recordings. However, compiling large annotated acoustic datasets is time‐consuming and requires experts, and therefore, they normally cover reduced spatial, temporal, and taxonomic scales. This data paper presents WABAD, the World Annotated Bird Acoustic Dataset for passive acoustic monitoring. WABAD is designed to provide the public, the research community, and conservation managers with a novel and globally representative annotated acoustic dataset. This database includes 5047 min of audio files annotated to species‐level by local experts with the start and end time and the upper and lower frequencies of each identified bird vocalization in the recordings. The database has a wide taxonomic and spatial coverage, including information on 91,931 vocalizations from 1192 bird species recorded at 72 recording sites in 29 recording locations (mainly countries) and distributed across 13 biomes. WABAD can be used, for example, for developing and/or validating automatic species detection algorithms, answering ecological questions, such as assessing geographical variations on bird vocalizations, or comparing acoustic diversity indices with species‐based diversity indices. The dataset is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license that permits redistribution and reuse on the condition that the original work is properly credited.

Correction to: High-Fidelity Finite Element Modeling Technique to Improve Sensitivity to Bone Tissue Changes of Older Adults with Obesity undergoing Intensive Lifestyle Intervention - Michael A. K. Liebschner; Daeseung Kim; Nina Klonis; Giulia Gregori; Reina Armamento-Villareal; Clifford Qualls; Dennis T. Villareal (Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2026)

The Mediterranean introduced pearl oyster Pinctada radiata: can an invasion be changed into a gain in a climate change scenario? - Claudio Calabrese; Adriana Giangrande; Elisa Quarta; Daniele Arduini; Maria Immacolata Acquaviva; Francesca Biandolino; Santina Giandomenico; Giulia Pitarra; Ermelinda Prato; Loredana Stabili (Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2026)

Corrigendum to “Obesity is associated with reduced sensitivity to stimulus rewarding value, but unaltered effects of fasting and contextual modulation during action prediction” [Appetite 213 (2025) 108050] - Valentina Bianco; Mattia D'Alleva; Stefano Lazzer; Giulia D'Argenio; Sara Boscarol; Cosimo Urgesi (Appetite, 2026)

Impacts of invasive algae from the perspective of fishers in the Lagoon of Venice, Northern Italy - Jimlea Nadezhda Mendoza; Baiba Prūse; Giulia Mattalia; Sophia Kochalski; Julia Prakofjewa; Alessandro Buosi; Aimee Ciriaco; Francesco Primavera; Agnese Martini; Maria Viktoria Bittner; Renata Sõukand; Adriano Sfriso (Marine Policy, 2026)

Landfill contamination and slope instability mapping through multi-source data fusion: advancing multi-hazard detection via 3D modeling, geophysical investigations, and open GIS data - Paolo Ciampi; Giorgio Cassiani; Giulia Felli; Nino Tarantino; Giovanni Savarese; Giuseppe Vadalà; Marco Petrangeli Papini (Waste Management, 2026)

Ex vivo-stimulated cytokine expression in whole blood indicates swine influenza vaccine-induced immune memory - Giulia Fantoni; Andrea Müllebner; Nimród Pálmai; Péter Trampus; Kathrin Lillie-Jaschniski; Han Smits; Navodita Maurice; Krishna Latha; J. Catharina Duvigneau; István Kiss (Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 2026)

Toxic effects of gadolinium on spermatogenesis are associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy - Sara Falvo; Giulia Grillo; Massimo Venditti; Gabriella Chieffi Baccari; Maria Maddalena Di Fiore; Tiziana Cappello; Maria Maisano; Giuseppe Petito; Rosalba Senese; Concetta De Stefano; Giuseppe Zaffino; Alessandra Santillo (Toxicology, 2026)

Financing climate change mitigation actions in cities: insights from the Covenant of Mayors initiative - Valeria Todeschi; Gema Hernandez-Moral; Enrico Clementi; Paolo Bertoldi; Giulia Melica (Sustainable Cities and Society, 2026)

A comprehensive circular design framework for graphene-enhanced industrial systems: cross-sectoral methodology and multi-criteria evaluation - Ahmed Refaat Elmasry; Miguel Moldes; Gyu-Eun Cho; Carmen R.Tubio; Pablo Acuña; Gianluigi Creonti; Ali Rezaei; Diogo Garcia; Ilaria Bolliri; Daniele Pullini; Simone Barletta; Giulia Molinari; et al. (Sustainable Production and Consumption, 2026)

Designing for reuse in timber buildings: The environmental benefits of aligning the time of nature and time of use - Nicoletta Patrizi; Fabio Sporchia; Anna Ruini; Elena Neri; Morena Bruno; Giulia Zarroli; Simone Bastianoni; Nadia Marchettini (Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2026)

Appraising retrieval schemes from spaceborne hyperspectral imagery for mapping leaf and canopy traits in forest ecosystems - Giulia Tagliabue; Cinzia Panigada; Beatrice Savinelli; Luigi Vignali; Micol Rossini (Remote Sensing of Environment, 2026)

Dynamics and population genetics of Pinna rudis in the Tyrrhenian Sea: Exploring the potential link to the local extinction of Pinna nobilis - Giulia Fassio; Elisa Nocella; Roberta Di Ganci; Sara Cardone; Fulvia Farina; Gianluca Mancini; Daniele Ventura; Silvia Giuliani; Paolo Mariottini; Andrea Belluscio; Giandomenico Ardizzone; Marco Oliverio; et al. (Marine Environmental Research, 2026)

A phenotype-structured mathematical model for the influence of hypoxia on oncolytic virotherapy - David Morselli; Giulia Chiari; Federico Frascoli; Marcello Edoardo Delitala (Mathematical Biosciences, 2026)

Trees use predominantly summer water in a pre-Alpine catchment - Giulia Zuecco; Diego Todini-Zicavo; Chiara Marchina; Stefano Brighenti; Daniele Penna; Marco Borga (Journal of Hydrology, 2026)

Modeling the quality decay kinetic of encapsulated ground coffee - Marco Lopriore; Marika Valentino; Giulia Ravaioli; Maria Cristina Nicoli; Amalia Conte; Matteo Alessandro Del Nobile (Journal of Food Engineering, 2026)

Environmental sustainability assessment of remediation alternatives for highly contaminated marine sediments - Alessia Amato; Alessandro Becci; Giulia Merli; Francesca Beolchini; Antonio Dell’Anno (Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2026)

Boosting microbial dextran production through moderate-intensity pulsed electric field (MI-PEF) treatments - Giulia Bisson; Sofia Melchior; Anna Rossi; Clara Comuzzi; Matteo Zanocco; Francesca D'Este; Francesco Andreatta; Maria Cristina Nicoli; Sonia Calligaris; Marilena Marino (Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 2026)

Reconstructing extreme Late Pleistocene floods in Morocco's Inaouène Valley reveals larger discharges during terrace aggradation than both incision and modern floods - Mohammed Lghamour; Lhoucine Karrat; Vincenzo Picotti; Irka Hajdas; Negar Haghipour; Giulia Guidobaldi; Wyss Heeb Karin (Geomorphology, 2026)

Pleistocene stratigraphy of aeolian deposits at the base of an energetic structural coastal slope: sedimentology and OSL chronology (Port des Canonge, Mallorca, Western Mediterranean) - Federica Perazzotti; Lluís Gómez-Pujol; Giulia Cossu; Vincenzo Pascucci; Joan J. Fornós (Geomorphology, 2026)

Assessment of H2-air and CH4/H2-air fuel-rich premixed flames for flash reduction of magnetite particles - Atanu Dolai; Giulia Finotello; XiaoCheng Mi (Fuel, 2026)

From soil to fork: Are mulch films releasing additives to the soil and contaminating our food? - Costanza Scopetani; Saul Santini; Giulia Selvolini; Agnese Bellabarba; Tania Martellini; Carlo Viti; Alessandra Cincinelli (Food Chemistry, 2026)

Unlocking the biological potential of whey proteins through lactic acid bacteria fermentation - Anna Rossi; Nadia Innocente; Giulia Di Filippo; Niccolò Renoldi; Marilena Marino (Food Bioscience, 2026)

Chemical exposure in childhood: A study on organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers in a Flemish birth cohort - Fatima den Ouden; Adam Cseresznye; Liesa Engelen; Elias Maris; Stijn Bosschaerts; Celine Gys; Paulien Cleys; Yu Ait Bamai; Roger Pero-Gascon; Lieselot Y. Hemeryck; Ellen De Paepe; Sebastian Proost; et al. (Environmental Research, 2026)

On the geometrical limitations of the globe thermometer for assessing pedestrian radiative exposure in outdoor settings - Giulia Lamberti; Davide Della Vista; Francesco Leccese; Giacomo Salvadori (Energy and Buildings, 2026)

Microstructural insight into the effect of fine content on frost heave in clayey sand mixtures - Giulia Guida; Floriana Anselmucci; Francesca Casini; Vanessa Magnanimo (Cold Regions Science and Technology, 2026)

Transitioning from hydrothermal carbonization to humification for producing artificial humic substances - Giulia Ischia; Nader Marzban; Johannes Schmidt; Alexander Volikov (Bioresource Technology, 2026)

Reintroducing a large carnivore in a human dominated landscape: Dynamics of an isolated brown bear population over two decades post-reintroduction - Marco Salvatori; Natalia Bragalanti; Andrea Corradini; Luca Pedrotti; Luca Corlatti; Valentina La Morgia; Vincenzo Gervasi; Chiara Rossi; Heidi C. Hauffe; Barbara Crestanello; Davide Righetti; Giulia Bombieri (Biological Conservation, 2026)

Correction: Systematic Phenotyping and Molecular Analysis of the Woozy Mouse: A Preclinical Model of Cerebellar Ataxia - Fabio Bellia; Laura Amodei; Anna Giulia Ruggieri; Francesca Potenza; Marianna Viele; Manuela Bomba; Francesco Del Pizzo; Manuela Iezzi; Alberto Granzotto; Luca Federici; Michele Sallese (Molecular Neurobiology, 2026)

Systematic Phenotyping and Molecular Analysis of the Woozy Mouse: A Preclinical Model of Cerebellar Ataxia - Fabio Bellia; Laura Amodei; Anna Giulia Ruggieri; Francesca Potenza; Marianna Viele; Manuela Bomba; Francesco Del Pizzo; Manuela Iezzi; Alberto Granzotto; Luca Federici; Michele Sallese (Molecular Neurobiology, 2026)
Over the years, a diverse range of animal models has been established and employed in both basic and translational research, elucidating the intricate molecular mechanisms that drive cerebellar ataxias. However, many preclinical models remain insufficiently characterised, hindering our understanding of the diseases and the development of effective therapeutic approaches. The present study provides a comprehensive phenotypic and molecular characterisation of the woozy ( Sil1 wz ) mouse model of Marinesco-Sjögren Syndrome (MSS), a rare autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia characterised by cerebellar dysfunction, congenital cataracts, and progressive myopathy. Disease progression was monitored from 5 to 26 weeks using a series of motor assessments, including the accelerating rotarod, beam walking, pole test, and inverted grid test. These evaluations revealed progressive cerebellar ataxia in Sil1 wz mice, with symptoms emerging around the ninth week of age. A clear sex-related difference was observed in the motor tests, with female Sil1 wz mice outperforming their male counterparts across all assessments. Histological analysis revealed significant muscular atrophy in glycolytic muscles (gastrocnemius and quadriceps) but not in oxidative muscles (soleus) of 26-week-old Sil1 wz mice. Molecular analyses confirmed the upregulation of unfolded protein response markers (BiP and pEIF2α) and proteolysis-associated proteins (Rab11 and LC3-II) in glycolytic but not oxidative muscles. Cognitive assessment using nesting behaviour showed deficits in Sil1 wz mice at 14 weeks, assuming similarities with mental retardation shown by MSS patients. Our findings established a comprehensive timeline of disease progression in this MSS model and highlighted the differential vulnerability of glycolytic versus oxidative muscles and cerebellar regions. These insights pave the way for the development of therapeutic strategies for MSS and related cerebellar ataxias.

Exploring the anatomical and metabolomic variabilities in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile fruits - Federico Pinna; Mauro Commisso; Flavia Guzzo; Simonetta Bagella; Giulia Ceccherelli; Giovanna Becca; Maria Franca Usai; Patrizia Stipcich (Marine Biology, 2026)
Anatomical and metabolomic variability in marine plants can provide valuable insights into species adaptive strategies and resilience to environmental changes. This study explores the anatomical characteristics and metabolomic profiles of Posidonia oceanica fruits, a key Mediterranean seagrass species, collected from three areas in Sardinia (Alghero, Oristano, and Olbia). Anatomical analyses of pericarps assessed cuticle thickness and intercellular spaces. Additionally, metabolomic analyses were performed using UPLC-HRMS on both the pericarps and the seeds. Significant differences in the percentage of intercellular spaces among pericarps from the different areas were found, with those from Alghero, exhibiting a higher percentage. Metabolomic analyses highlighted distinct profiles across areas, with Alghero pericarps showing greater metabolomics complexity, characterized by high levels of chicoric acid, hydroxycinnamate and hydroxybenzoate derivatives, while seeds exhibited an abundance of procyanidins, benzoic and caffeic acids and quercetins. Interestingly, seeds from Olbia presented a higher abundance of lipids. This study provides the first comprehensive metabolomic characterization of P. oceanica pericarps and seeds, highlighting significant variability that may influence seed dispersal, germination, and species adaptability. Our findings offer new perspectives for the conservation and management of this key species, which are particularly relevant in the context of global climate change.

Autochthonous human subconjunctival dirofilariasis in europe: a case report from Italy and literature review - Luca Santilli; Benedetta Canovari; Maria Balducci; Giulia Cesaretti; Francesco Ginevri; Monia Maracci; Antonio Polenta; Norma Anzalone; Lucia Franca; Beatrice Mariotti; Lucia Sterza; Luca Lanzafame; et al. (European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 2026)

Post-pubertal Susceptibility to Cadmium-Induced Cardiac Injury: Role of Metallothionein, Antioxidant Defense, and Endocrine Modulation - Raktim Mukherjee; Megha Dave; Selvaraj Jayaraman; Giulia Guerriero; A. V. Ramachandran (Cardiovascular Toxicology, 2026)

The importance of choosing a proper validation strategy in predictive models. Part 2: Recipes for (avoiding) overfitting-A tutorial - Eneko Lopez; Giulia Gorla; Jaione Etxebarria-Elezgarai; Jose Manuel Amigo; Andreas Seifert (Analytica Chimica Acta, 2026)

Sea-level and paleoenvironmental changes revealed by benthic foraminifera across Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2) at Eastbourne (SE England) - Giulia Amaglio; Maria Rose Petrizzo; Francesca Falzoni; Ann Holbourn; Wolfgang Kuhnt (Cretaceous Research, 2026)

Future warming stimulates growth and photosynthesis in an Arctic microalga more strongly than changes in light intensity or carbon dioxide partial pressure - Sebastian D. Rokitta; Christian H. Großmann; Elisa Werner; Jannika Moye; Marie Pavie; Giulia Castellani; Björn Rost (Limnology and Oceanography, 2026)
We assessed responses of Arctic Isochrysis sp. grown under a matrix of temperature (2°C vs. 6°C), light intensity (55 vs. 160 μ mol photons m −2 s −1 ) and pCO 2 (400 vs. 1000 μ atm CO 2 ). Next to acclimation parameters (growth rates, particulate and dissolved organic C and N, chlorophyll a content), we measured physiological processes in vivo (electron transport rates and net photosynthesis) using fast‐repetition rate fluorometry and membrane‐inlet mass spectrometry. Within the applied driver ranges, elevated temperature had the most pronounced impacts, significantly increasing growth (~ 40%) and particulate organic carbon production (up to ~ 140%). Light stimulations manifested prominently under high temperature (~ 30–35%), underlining its role as a “master‐variable.” pCO 2 was the least effective driver, exerting mostly insignificant effects. The obtained data were used for a simplistic upscaling simulation to investigate potential changes in Isochrysis ' bloom dynamics in the Fram Strait with increasing temperatures over the 21 st century. Results suggest that global warming will accelerate bloom dynamics, with earlier onsets of blooms and higher peak biomasses. Despite remaining uncertainties about the magnitude of these effects, data strongly suggest that increasing temperatures over the coming century will affect the phenology of Isochrysis and other Arctic phytoplankton with likely important implications for higher trophic levels.

Flow variability and macroinvertebrates jointly regulate stream periphyton and metabolism: Insights from experimental stream mesocosms - Flavia Tromboni; Carolina Jativa; Carina Seitz; Alain Maasri; Silvia Mohr; Hans‐Peter Grossart; Giulia Grandi; Enrico Bertuzzo; Sonja C. Jähnig; Clara Mendoza‐Lera; Andreas Lorke; Marco Cantonati; et al. (Limnology and Oceanography, 2026)
Climate change profoundly alters riverine flow regimes and community composition, affecting key ecosystem functions. We used an experimental mesocosm approach to examine how gradual flow velocity reduction (Experiment 1) and flushing events (Experiment 2) influence periphyton community composition and metabolism, with and without a macroinvertebrate assemblage. We prepared eight stream mesocosms with pre‐grown periphyton, half including macroinvertebrates. Six mesocosms gradually transitioned from high (0.25 m s −1 ) to low flow velocity (0.05 m s −1 ), followed by three flushing events of increasing frequency (i.e., reducing time between events) and same intensity, raising from 0.05 to 0.25 m s −1 for 6 h before returning to base flow. Two control mesocosms (one with and one without macroinvertebrates) remained at constant flow (0.1 m s −1 ) throughout the experiment. We measured algal biovolume, taxonomic composition, and metabolic rates (gross primary production; ecosystem respiration; net ecosystem production) over time. Macroinvertebrates altered community composition and reduced algal biovolume, with stronger effects at low flow. Flow reduction had scale‐dependent effects: at the chamber scale it lowered periphyton gross primary production and net ecosystem production, while at the whole‐mesocosm scale it decreased ecosystem respiration more than production, increasing net ecosystem production. Flushing events decreased algal biovolume, but enhanced periphyton autotrophy, though this effect weakened with repeated disturbance. Macroinvertebrate assemblages, while reducing total algal biovolume, enhanced the resistance of metabolic responses to flushing. Together, these results show that hydrological variability and macroinvertebrate presence jointly regulate periphyton structure and function and provide mechanistic insight into the processes controlling carbon cycling in running waters.

Blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease and olfactory decline over 15 years in older adults - Ingrid Ekström; Davide Liborio Vetrano; Martina Valletta; Robert Ruane; Maria Larsson; Claudia Fredolini; Bengt Winblad; Giulia Grande; Erika J. Laukka (GeroScience, 2025)
Olfactory impairment is common in older age and is a known early feature of several dementia diseases. Blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) now offer a scalable method for detecting pathophysiological mechanisms related to olfactory decline in the general population. However, few studies have examined how these biomarkers relate to long-term olfactory trajectories. Most existing work has been limited to cross-sectional settings. In this population-based study, we used biomarker data collected at baseline and followed participants for up to 15 years, enabling us to test whether early biological changes are temporally linked to subsequent olfactory decline. Data came from the ongoing Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), a longitudinal population-based study with baseline assessments from March 21, 2001, through August 30, 2004. We included participants without prevalent neurodegenerative diseases who completed olfactory assessment at baseline. The 15-year follow-up was finished in December 2019. Data were analysed from December 2023 to April 2024. Serum-derived biomarkers of tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (p-tau217) and at theorine181 (p-tau181), total tau (t-tau), amyloid-β ratio (Aβ42/Aβ40), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were obtained at baseline. Linear mixed models examined associations between biomarker quartiles and Sniffin’ Sticks odor identification performance over 15 years, adjusting for demographics, health conditions, and semantic knowledge. We included 1868 participants (mean [SD] age 71.3 [9.9] years; 1122 females [60.1%]). In fully adjusted models, higher quartiles of p-tau217, p-tau181, NfL, and GFAP, and lower quartiles of Aβ42/Aβ40, were associated with steeper olfactory decline, with the steepest decline among participants in the highest quartiles (β for Q4 vs Q1: -0.20 [95% CI: -0.26 to -0.15] for p-tau217; -0.19 [95% CI: -0.25 to -0.13] for p-tau181; -0.23 [95% CI: -0.29 to -0.17] for NfL; β = -0.17 [95% CI: -0.23 to -0.11] for GFAP. Participants in the lowest Aβ42/Aβ40 quartile declined more steeply than those in the highest (β = -0.09 [95% CI: -0.14 to -0.04]). Associations appeared stronger in the oldest participants, in APOE ε4 carriers for p-tau181, in non-carriers for NfL and GFAP, and among former smokers for NfL. Blood-based biomarkers of AD were consistently associated with faster olfactory decline in older adults, particularly in the highest biomarker quartiles. These results provide large-scale longitudinal evidence, across up to 15 years of follow-up, that olfactory decline in the general population is linked to AD-related blood biomarkers, supporting the hypothesis that common olfactory losses in ageing partly reflect dementia-related processes. Graphical Abstract

Western Hunter-Gatherer genetic ancestry contributes to human longevity in the Italian population - Stefania Sarno; Vincenzo Iannuzzi; Marco Sazzini; Chiara Pirazzini; Maria Giulia Bacalini; Davide Gentilini; Giuseppe Passarino; Daniela Mari; Daniela Monti; Benedetta Nacmias; Sandro Sorbi; Davide Pettener; et al. (GeroScience, 2025)
The genetics of human longevity has been primarily studied using classical methods developed in genome-wide association studies. With the recent advances in paleogenomics, it is now possible to investigate to what extent ancient population ancestries contribute to complex traits. In this study, we explored the role of ancient genetic components in human longevity by focusing on the Italian Peninsula, whose genetic heritage includes several past genetic ancestries that have contributed to the current European genetic make-up. We analyzed genome-wide data of 333 Italian centenarians and 690 geographically matched healthy controls, and compared their genetic composition to 103 ancient genomes representative of the main past European population ancestries. Our findings indicate that Italian centenarians have a higher genetic affinity with Western Hunter-Gatherer (WHG)-related ancestry compared to controls, according to PCA and f4-statistics. Logistic regression models based on supervised admixture revealed a significant association between higher WHG ancestry and the centenarian status. Additionally, residual-based predictive analysis showed that centenarians exhibit a significantly higher WHG contribution independent of the genetic structuring of the general Italian population. By painting the chromosomes of modern Italians, we also showed a significantly higher number of WHG alleles at pro-longevity SNPs. In the present study, we demonstrate the contribution of ancient genetic components to the longevity phenotype. In particular, we showed a greater contribution from Western Hunter-Gatherer-related ancestry to Italian centenarians, thus suggesting that this pre-Neolithic genetic component, which has been linked to population shifts occurring within Europe after the Last Glacial Maximum, could be beneficial for longevity today. Graphical Abstract

Evidence of Inter-Regional Connectivity for Risso’s Dolphins in the Western Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean Sea - Giulia Cipriano; Maria Menniti; Francesca Santacesaria; Carmelo Fanizza; Maria Grandinetti; Roberto Carlucci; Adriana Vella (Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 2025)
This brief report is the first comparative study of a photo-identification catalogue of the Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) in the Western Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea). The positive match of two photo-identified individuals observed in two neighbouring areas in different and non-consecutive years represents the first record of Risso’s dolphin re-sightings across two Ionian sub-regions. This suggests potential inter-regional connectivity for the species, as reported in other sub-regions of the Mediterranean basin. Further, this supports the hypothesis that Risso’s dolphins use a large home range with seasonally different critical habitats, as suggested in previous studies carried out in the Western Ionian Sea.

Prediction of hop cone ripening through Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies - Giulia Oddi; Martina Galaverni; Laura Belli; Margherita Rodolfi; Luca Davoli; Gianluigi Ferrari; Tommaso Ganino (Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2025)

Garlic essential oil nanoemulsion for sustainable management of Bemisia tabaci and phytotoxicity evaluation in four key horticultural crops - Gaetano Giuliano; Annamaria Ienco; Alberto Urbaneja; Meritxell Pérez-Hedo; Vittoria Pettinato; Valentina Coco; Giulia Giunti; Vincenzo Palmeri; Orlando Campolo (Crop Protection, 2025)

Gadolinium impairs male steroidogenesis: In vivo and in vitro evidence - Sara Falvo; Giulia Grillo; Massimo Venditti; Gabriella Chieffi Baccari; Maria Maddalena Di Fiore; Tiziana Cappello; Mariachiara Galati; Maria Maisano; Giuseppe Petito; Rosalba Senese; Alessandra Santillo (Toxicology, 2025)

Utility of an automated analyzer for cytological analysis of bovine cerebrospinal fluid - Sara Ferrini; Giuliano Borriello; Giulia Cagnotti; Ugo Ala; Claudio Bellino; Elena Bozzetta; Giorgia Di Muro; Barbara Miniscalco; Samuel-Philips Nobs; Antonio D’Angelo (The Veterinary Journal, 2025)