Institute of Applied Science and Intelligent Systems

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation plays a pivotal role in plant growth, metabolism, and the accumulation of bioactive compounds, but its effects under greenhouse conditions are highly species- and dose-dependent. This study investigated the responses of eggplant (Solanum melongena L., cv. Lunga Napoletana) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., cv. Rosplus) cultivated under greenhouse films transmitting 3-39% of ambient UV-B. Leaf temperature was monitored throughout the growth cycle using infrared thermography, while physiological parameters (chlorophyll, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and nitrogen index) and post-harvest nutritional traits (antioxidant activity, vitamin C, carotenoids, and total chlorophyll) were assessed. Comparative analysis revealed species-specific responses. Eggplant exhibited peak nutraceutical quality at higher UV-B levels (35-39%) with minimal changes in yield, whereas lettuce achieved maximal yield and secondary metabolite accumulation under intermediate UV-B (30-35%). At the highest UV-B transmittance (39%), both species exhibited stable or slightly reduced thermal and physiological parameters, indicating dose-dependent regulatory mechanisms that maintain photoprotection and metabolic activity under elevated UV-B exposure. Results suggest an apparent optimal range of UV-B transmittance in greenhouse systems under the tested experimental conditions, contributing to improved crop productivity and nutritional quality.

The excessive discharge of phosphorus into aquatic systems is a major environmental concern, contributing to eutrophication and biodiversity loss. This study investigates the reuse of electric arc furnace slag (EAF-slag), an abundant steelmaking byproduct, as a low-cost, upcycled adsorbent material for phosphorus removal and recovery, in line with circular economy and sustainable waste management principles. The slag, rich in calcium and reactive oxides, was extensively characterized using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray fluorescence, and tested for phosphate adsorption across a wide range of concentrations (5-400 mg/L) and solid-liquid ratios (from 1:10 to 1:50 expressed as g of slag in mL of P-solution). Excellent removal efficiency was achieved under all conditions, with complete phosphate uptake and a maximum sorption capacity of 10.97 mg/g at S/L = 1:30. Post-adsorption analyses (Raman mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and cross-sectional energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) confirmed the formation of hydroxyapatite on the slag surface. Importantly, the performance of EAF-slag was also evaluated in more complex aqueous systems containing phosphate, nitrate, and sulfate ions (50 and 100 mg/L each). The phosphate adsorption capacity remained unaffected, and the slag simultaneously removed nitrate and sulfate, confirming its multifunctional sorption behavior. Additional recycling experiments demonstrated that the spent slag can be reused after resting, maintaining satisfactory phosphorus removal efficiency (≈60%) even after 5 or 10 days. Moreover, the hydroxyapatite-enriched slag showed potential for use as a fertilizer, enabling phosphorus recovery and reuse. These findings demonstrate the potential of EAF-slag as an effective, low-cost, and sustainable material for phosphorus recovery and valorization of secondary raw materials, laying the groundwork for its future application in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

The release of toxic heavy metals into marine ecosystems poses serious risks due to their persistence and bioaccumulation. Diatoms, like Skeletonema pseudocostatum, are sensitive to environmental changes, making them ideal bioindicators. Traditional detection methods, though accurate, are slow, use harmful reagents, and do not reveal biological impacts quickly.We addressed this by using a new high-power terahertz (THz) spectrometer to study heavy metal toxicity in S. pseudocostatum. Combining THz spectroscopy, microscopy, and ecotoxicological assays, we found that lead, copper, and chromium disrupt diatom metabolism, significantly reducing chain formation. While THz spectra remained unchanged in control samples, they were highly responsive to chain length variations caused by metal exposure.Our results show THz spectroscopy can probe metabolic processes in diatoms, offering a rapid, non-destructive method to assess heavy metal toxicity—supporting its use in environmental monitoring of marine pollutants.

Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell signaling systemthat takesplace at a key concentration (quorum) of signal molecules and viaa peculiar signaling pathway. Both bacteria and yeasts possess QSmechanisms, mediated by specific molecules (farnesol, tyrosol, 2-phenylethanol,tryptophol) in yeasts, and N-acylhomoserine lactones(AHLs) and modified oligopeptides in bacteria. Here, we report thefirst chemical evidence of bacterial QS activity in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (OS3 and V5 strains) byUPLC-MS/MS identification of N-octanoyl- and N-decanoyl-L-homoserine lactones in cell-free culture mediaextracts. The AHLs' presence was unexpected, as they are producedexclusively by bacteria. Tyrosol, a yeast signal molecule, was identifiedand quantified by NMR analysis. Metataxonomic analysis suggested theexistence inside S. cerevisiae cellsof bacteria, including Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Proteobacteria. Our study paves the way forinvestigations into bacterial detection within S. cerevisiae cells and their role in biotechnological performance in the foodfermentation fields.

This study proposes an explainable framework for automatic hereditary anemias (HAs) phenotypic characterization based on machine learning (ML) regression models and quantitative phenotype ranking scores, such as the weighted-ranking score (WRS) developed by the RBC-Iron Genetics Lab at the University Federico II of Naples. WRS, based on seven clinical features, quantifies disease severity. Higher WRS values indicate more severe phenotypic expressions of HA. To avoid manual WRS estimation, a custom Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) model is introduced for automated computation, enhancing phenotypic characterization. Additionally, explainable Artificial Intelligence (xAI) is applied to identify key predictive features, providing clinicians with interpretable insights for disease assessment and personalized treatment planning.

The ability to print biomolecules is crucial in biomedical research, drug discovery, biosensors, and diagnostics, enabling detailed molecular studies. Structural changes in biomolecules like Tau, α-synuclein, or αβ 1-42 amyloid play a key role in neurodegenerative diseases, making them targets for early diagnosis and astronaut health monitoring. A novel technique, pyro-electrohydrodynamic jetting (p-jet), was introduced. This study validates p-jet’s effectiveness in concentrating diluted biomolecules into fluorescent microscale spots. Despite progress, optimizing binding strategies for low-abundance proteins remains challenging. We assessed BSA immobilization in p-jet spots, confirming its reliability for immunodetection. Various immobilization strategies were evaluated. We report the first detection of pre-aggregated Tau in artificial urine at 130 fM. With minimal sample needs and low cost, p-jet offers a promising tool for neurodegeneration diagnosis and point-of-care use.