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Halophytic species thriving in these environments display remarkable phytochemical resilience through specialized metabolite production. In Atriplex sagittata Borkh. (Nirano), 64 compounds, including flavonoids and phenylethylamine alkaloids, were identified. Sulfated flavonoids and alkaloids were enriched in populations exposed to higher salt inputs (Na⁺, Cl⁻, Br⁻). Similarly, Puccinellia fasciculata (Torr.) E.P.Bicknell exhibited enhanced production of sulfated flavonoids and alkaloids in the more saline soil of Ferdinando cone, and its polar extract inducing up to 85.3% mortality in Drosophila melanogaster, indicating environmentally triggered bioactive defenses. We studied the metabolome of Lavatera agrigentina Tineo and Suaeda vera Forssk. ex J.F.Gmel collected in Maccalube Nature Reserve and in a nearby stress-free environment. Analysis of the hydroalcoholic extract of S. vera using by LC-MS revealed a rich phytochemical profile, including flavonoids and sulphated flavonoids, phenylethylamine alkaloids and phenolic compounds. Similarly, HR-ESI-MS analysis of L. agrigentina identified metabolites such as flavonoids, coumarins, and terpenes. Comparative analysis showed that plants from the stress-free environment produced lower levels of abscisic acid, glycosylated, and sulphated derivatives.Radionuclide measurements in soils, mud and water pools complemented the botanical observations, revealing significant site-specific behavior. High concentrations of radon (²²²Rn) were detected exclusively at active mud emission centers, correlating with gas bubbling flows. Gamma spectrometry of mud, soil, and plant tissues (226Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, 137Cs) indicated generally homogeneous distributions; however, ⁴⁰K levels in dried plants were linked to biological activity, suggesting an interplay between vegetation and the radioactive properties of volcanic substrates.This study, conducted on both Nirano and Maccalube Nature Reserves, was supported by the PROMUD (PROtocol for MUD volcanoes) project, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research INGV Pianeta Dinamico Project. The results show how the plant species, particularly halophytes, can modulate their specialized metabolite pathways in response to environmental stressors in sedimentary volcanic settings. These findings underscore the value of sedimentary mud volcanoes as natural laboratories for studying environmental stress adaptation and biogeochemical interactions.

Abstract In 1946 Gilmore observed that the Hell Creek Formation component of the late Maastrichtian TT-zone contained more tyrannosaur taxa than just titanic Tyrannosaurus rex , based on a small, ontogenetically mature skull with a higher tooth count than the tyrant lizard. Over four decades later the skull was assigned to its own genus, Nanotyrannus lancensis . Also tagged shortly after was the taxon Stygivenator molnari . At the last turn of the century it was contended that all TT-zone tyrannosaurs are adult or juvenile T. rex , a view that became accepted by many. Because of the unusual morphological alterations that this hypothesis requires, it was consequently proposed that during ontogeny T. rex experienced a peculiar fish like metamorphosis. This conservative analysis rejects radical ontogenetic speculations, in favour of Tyrannosaurus having shared much the same average amniote/diapsid conventional growth observed in its fellow tyrannosaurids and especially tyrannosaurins. Actual juvenile Tyrannosaurus s pecimens show the same tooth count and other osteological features observed in the adults, negating the need for the metamorphosis not observed in any amniotes. This option has become widely accepted. The most extensive phylogenetic analysis to date confirms that the comparative anatomical analysis that most TT-zone mini tyrannosaurs possess a number of features that indicate they are not only not Tyrannosaurus , but represent an array of basal eutyrannosaur taxa that are neither Nanotyrannus nor Stygivenato r, with high tooth counts, and at least in some examples elongated hands, prominent dentary grooves and other features. Two new taxa are correspondingly named at the species and/or genus level, Gilmoretyrannus lethaeus and Larsonvenator elegans . These are postulated to represent at least in part the migration of basal eutyrannosaurs from former Appalachia into the Laramidia region via the new Laralachia land bridge. The total number of tyrannosaur taxa now known to have inhabited the TT-zone for over 1 MA is seven species in five genera from multiple subfamilies, with a smaller portion of this collection extant at any given stratigraphic level.

Resin pellets, due to their high potential for environmental dispersion, can absorb pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) upon entering marine environments. The primary aim of this study was to statistically confirm the correlation between pollutant concentrations and the yellowing index-a parameter indicative of the chemical aging of pelletssupporting the use of resin pellets as a cost-effective alternative for assessing chemical pollution in marine environments. As part of a nationwide citizen science initiative, we carried out Italy’s first national survey of resin pellets. A total of 2,270 pellets were collected from 73 beaches across 13 Italian regions. These were analyzed based on morphological features, including discoloration, fouling, and porosity. From selected subsamples, four PAH and six PCB congeners were extracted and quantified. Pollutant concentrations showed a significant correlation with the yellowing index, further validating the use of resin pellets as an effective proxy for environmental pollution. This approach offers a practical alternative to traditional bioindicators, such as mussels, aligning with the goals of the International Pellet Watch (IPW) initiative.

Climate change poses significant risks to both natural and urban systems, and fostering climate literacy among younger generations is increasingly recognized as a key component of resilience strategies. This paper presents the outcomes of a transnational climate education project involving high school students from Cinisello Balsamo (Italy) and Edremit (Turkey), developed under the EU-funded Town Twinning program. The project combined scientific seminars, experiential learning, and digital tools (including carbon footprint calculators and immersive virtual glacier tours) to enhance climate knowledge and civic engagement. Youth Climate Councils were established to co-develop local sustainability proposals and engage with municipal authorities. Quantitative tests and qualitative evaluations confirmed significant learning gains and high satisfaction among participants. A comparative analysis with international initiatives highlights the project’s unique integration of scientific rigor, participatory methods, and cross-border cooperation. The proposed model offers a replicable framework for embedding place-based climate education into urban governance and youth policy.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether the subjective assessments of strong and weak muscles in the Functional Myodiagnosis muscle test (FMD-MT) can be objectively and reproducibly verified using physically measurable parameters. Additionally, we sought to evaluate the reliability of the manual muscle test in order to reinforce the scientific evidence supporting this accepted, yet not widely adopted, complementary medicine method. Methods: In a crossover observational study, three experienced medical practitioners conducted the FMD-MT of the rectus femoris muscle on 24 healthy participants using a specially designed therapy bench, with all measurements recorded via an oscillogram. The study investigated the force-time integral, joint angle change, additional force load, mean force turning point 1, as well as the interrater reliability and validity of both examiner assessments and instrumental analyses for the two muscle reaction variants: strong and weak. Results: A significant difference between the response pattern of strong and weak muscles was identified for the force-time integral (p = 0.005), the change in joint angle (p < 0.001), and the additional force load (p = 0.001). No difference between strong and weak muscles could be detected regarding the force turning point 1 (p = 0.972). The examiners demonstrated 100% accuracy in identifying weak muscle reactions as weak, and 99.2% accuracy in identifying strong muscle reactions as strong (p = 0.316). The overall intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.984. The oscillogram correctly visualized weak muscle reactions in weak muscles with an accuracy of 81.7%, and strong muscle reactions in strong muscles with an accuracy of 86.7% (p = 0.289). Conclusions: The Functional Myodiagnosis muscle test (FMD-MT) enables a clear and objective differentiation between strong and weak muscles, with statistically significant differences observed in the force-time integral, additional force load, and joint angle changes. Under rigorously standardized testing conditions, the FMD-MT of the rectus femoris muscle demonstrates a validity rate of 99.6% and an excellent reliability (ICC 0.984). Consequently, the FMD muscle test proves to be a reliable, reproducible, and objective diagnostic method. Trial registration: German Register of Clinical Studies U1111-1212-6622.

Andean plateau in Peru and its World Heritage sites are particularly affected by the impacts of climate change. The sacred Valley Archaeological Site around the city of Cuzco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is exposed to significant geological risks due to recurrent landslides induced and worsened by climate change effects that threaten its structural integrity, security and exploitation. The Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary was built on Upper Permian-Lower Triassic (250&amp;#8211;300 Ma) igneous rocks, primarily plutonic, which form the Vilcabamba Cordillera's backbone (from 2000m since 6000m a.s.l.) These intrusive formations, oriented ONO&amp;#8211;ESE, constitute the elevated regions of the Eastern Cordillera. The area is dominated by a batholith composed mainly of granite and granodiorite, with medium-textured basic granite prominently outcropping within the citadel. The Machu Picchu site and all the sacred valley of Cuzco its surroundings are characterized by instability phenomena driven by complex geomorphological and structural/tectonic conditions worsened by the effects induced at altitude by the climate change (melting of the permafrost, heavy rainfall and increase in temperature). The above mentioned phenomena are exacerbated by the interplay of primary discontinuity families, resulting in recurring processes such as planar slides, rockfalls, topples, debris slides, debris flows, and avalanches. The present work shows the application of Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) technique to measure slow, non-catastrophic morphological changes with millimeter-scale precision. A previous interferometric satellite analysis work carried out in the early 2000s to test the general stability of the Inca Citadel has been resumed and updated. The analysis captures both long-term and seasonal processes triggered by diverse causative factors, enabling informed planning of mitigation strategies. Specifically, DInSAR data processing was conducted for the Machu Picchu archaeological area and for the wider Cusco area, complemented by direct field surveys to validate the results (November 2024). Multi-temporal SAR images from the Sentinel-1 constellation (C-band radar) were processed using advanced DInSAR techniques to generate ground displacement measurement points. The spatial distribution and correlation of these measurements with slope instability and structural damage were analyzed, revealing ground deformation trends from January 2020 to August 2024. Preliminary results indicate that the citadel exhibits average ground and structural displacement of less than 1 mm/year substantially negligible. However, localized analyses highlight distinct patterns of small-scale displacement in the Grupo de las Tres Puertas with slight brick detachment and in the Upper Plaza and Eastern Citadel sector showing relative subsidence compared to adjacent areas, suggesting potential movements of the eastern flank. Monitoring systems (remote and in situ) are recommended. The use of Sentinel-1 DInSAR data provided critical insights into the interaction between ground displacement and archaeological structures. It facilitated the identification of potentially unstable areas, detected anomalies, and traced ground displacement accelerations over time. Displacement anomalies and weather-climate anomalies over time, highlights the effects of the latter on the spatial-temporal increase of instability phenomena. These findings underscore the utility of DInSAR as a powerful tool for addressing preservation of intervention on CH threatened by slope instability, offering data-driven approaches for damage prevention and site management.

Abstract Many tumors are driven by oncogenic kinases. While a majority of the most prevalent oncogenic kinases currently have existing targeted therapies available, most of the molecules were not designed to be CNS penetrant and are therefore unable to control CNS metastatic tumors. By employing principles for the design of CNS penetrant molecules, we discovered two brain-penetrant BRAF inhibitors, which both progressed into clinical trials. The first candidate, ARRY-461, was designed to inhibit class I mutant BRAF V600E tumors. The second candidate, ARRY-440, was designed to inhibit class I, II, III, and indel mutant BRAF tumors. Additionally, ARRY-440 was designed to overcome both the paradoxical activation of BRAF as well as inhibit mBRAF:wtCRAF heterodimers, two features that most 1st generation BRAF V600E inhibitors lack. Finally, we were pleased to see that ARRY-440 led to clinical responses in a variety of different BRAF V600E tumors, including in some tumors that harbored both a BRAF V600E mutation and an oncogenic NRAS mutation. Citation Format: Dean Kahn. Discovery of brain-penetrant inhibitors for the treatment of BRAF mutant tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Optimizing Therapeutic Efficacy and Tolerability through Cancer Chemistry; 2024 Dec 9-11; Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2024;23(12_Suppl):Abstract nr IA020.

Abstract Microplastics (MPs) concentrations in atmospheric fallout is a growing environmental concern, this paper reports data regarding the MPs pollution determined using snow samples collected in wintertime and in 6 different areas on Mount Terminillo (2216 m a.s.l.) a typical Apennines massif located north of Rome. Assessment results show that the maximum average concentration found un snow is 74.69 MPsL-1of melted snow. The results of the characterization show that the most common MPs form was microfibers having dimensions &lt;5mm. The largest MPs were characterized by Fourier Transformed IR (FTIR) analysis, among the polymer materials, the most abundant were polyamide (PA, 25.93%), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 22,23%), polyester (PES, 17.28%) polypropylene (PP, 8.64%) and polyethylene (PE, 7.40%). The presence of PTFE fibers and a fragment of ABS, typical materials of technical clothing, shows that MPs contamination is also due to recreational activities as well as atmospheric deposits. The Carbonyl Index values indicated that some MPs (PE, PP) are degraded.