Zanasi & Partners (Italy)

Understanding how land use and land cover changes (LULCCs) affect ecosystem services (ES) is essential for guiding sustainable management strategies in protected areas (PAs), particularly in small island contexts where ecological processes, historical land uses and socio-economic dynamics are tightly interwoven. This study explores the medium-term dynamics of ES supply using LULCCs as a spatial indicator on the island of Asinara (Italy). Spatially modelled results show that the transition from agricultural and semi-natural uses to uncultivated areas, driven by land abandonment and soft nature-restoration actions, has reshaped the balance between provisioning, regulating and cultural services, generating reflections on opportunities and land management challenges. These outcomes require careful contextualization to reflect underlying ecological processes and land capabilities, highlighting the need for governance frameworks oriented towards conservation-driven landscape management rather than passive rewilding, especially in landscapes long shaped by human activities. More generally, sustainability in PAs is not an automatic outcome of protection or abandonment, but a contingent, spatially differentiated and governed process, in which indicators and maps serve to guide decisions, not to certify their success.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a consensus of expert opinion on the quality standards of care and outline management best practices for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in SSc and other CTDs.MethodsTwenty physicians and four nurse practitioners (NPs) managing patients with CTD-PAH (including SSc-PAH) from six European countries participated in a modified Delphi panel. Consensus was defined as ≥80% agreement among the physicians.ResultsThe importance of a multimodal approach to screening and early detection of PAH through combining echocardiography, biomarker tests and symptom evaluation was emphasised. Consensus agreement was also reached on the usefulness and increased access of echocardiography for optimising screening and early detection processes, noting the importance of cardiology expertise for accurate assessment of right-heart variables. Panellists reached consensus agreement on the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to managing SSc- and other CTD-PAHs through collaboration between rheumatologists and pulmonary hypertension (PH) specialists, NPs and patients. Rheumatologists aligned on the usefulness of the DETECT screening algorithm, whereas cardiologists and pulmonologists remained divided, with consensus not being reached, thus highlighting the lack of agreement regarding the relevance of a stepwise approach. Similarly, no consensus was reached on the impact of the new haemodynamic definition of PH in CTD-PAH management, where greater evidence is required.ConclusionsConsensus was reached on key recommendations for optimising CTD-PAH management, including the standardisation of multimodal screening and promotion of closer collaboration between healthcare specialties and patients.

The use of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers in both primary and revision rhinoplasties has gained increasing popularity among physicians in recent years. Although surgical rhinoplasty remains the gold standard for nasal reconstruction and correction, HA fillers provide a minimally invasive alternative with immediate results and a low morbidity rate. This study aimed to evaluate the proposed non-surgical rhinoplasty algorithm, which focuses on the correction of 4 specific anatomic points, by assessing aesthetic outcomes, patient satisfaction, and associated complications. Horizontal and vertical sagittal stability were monitored using profilometric Arnett analysis, focusing on measurements of the Nasion (Na), Rhinion (Rh), Pronasion (Prn), and Subnasal (Sn). The application of the 4 anatomic point treatment algorithm demonstrated significant improvements in nasal profile and overall facial harmony. This technique offers a safe and effective solution, avoiding the challenges associated with surgical interventions, such as scarring and general anesthesia, while ensuring high patient satisfaction.

Deep-seated landslides represent a major issue in geomorphology and engineering geology due to their complexity and potential impact on infrastructure and settlements. This study focuses on terrain analysis and monitoring of two large, complex deep-seated rock slides located in the Northern Apennines, in the municipality of Ferriere (Piacenza province, Italy). Both landslides (namely Colla di Gambaro and Brugneto) extend for more than 1 km in length and are characterized by roto-translational sliding of stratified arenaceous and silty rock masses (down to depths of more than 40 m), evolving into earth slides at the landslide toe. This makes the combination of conventional and remote sensing techniques essential for unreveal their characteristics and dynamics at the slope scale. An integrated approach was therefore adopted, using both existing and newly collected data. High-resolution DEMs from UAV surveys with LiDAR technologies and field surveys were integrated to delineate main landslide units and subunits based on combined geomorphological and kinematic criteria. The distinction of units affected by different movement rates and the evolution and propagation of movements downslope was greatly supported by InSAR displacement time series (obtained by both Permanent/Distributed Scatterers and Interferogram Stacking of Sentinel-1 satellite datasets) as well as continuous GNSS monitoring in some key points. Seismic surveys and inclinometers/piezometers, contributed to the identification of main sliding surfaces at depths and of the groundwater conditions. The integration of these techniques, improved the delineation of landslide boundaries, enhanced understanding of spatial variability in movement rates, and increased the accuracy of landslides mapping. Furthermore, it supported the construction of reference cross-sections that highlight the complexity of movements and movements rates at the slope scale, the transition from rock sliding mechanisms to earth sliding downslope. Maps and cross sections, ultimately, exemplify the geological and geotechnical model of these phenomena and demonstrate the added values of the combined use of conventional and remote sensing tools for enhancing our understanding of complex landslide phenomena, thus providing a basis for risk assessment and structural or non-structural mitigation strategies.

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the shaping characteristics of ProTaper Ultimate (Dentsply Sirona) and BlueShaper (Zarc4Endo) using microcomputed tomographic imaging technology (micro-CT).Methods: Thirty mesial and distal canals of extracted second mandibular molars with similar anatomy were selected and scanned pre- and postoperatively by micro-CT scanning (SkyScan 1172, Bruker micro-CT) with a voxel size of 11 μm and shaped with two different procedures: ProTaper Ultimate (Group 1: n = 15) and BlueShaper (Group 2: n = 15) were used following the manufacturer’s recommendations up to final 30 apical size. Irrigation was ensured in all groups with 5.25% NaOCl and 10% EDTA during instrumentation. Canal transportation, the volume of removed dentin, and area of untreated surface were matched with preoperative values with Bruker CT Analyser (Bruker micro-CT). Data were statistically analyzed using Student’s t-test.Results: No significant differences were observed between Group 1 and Group 2 in terms of canal transportation, volume of removed dentin, and untreated surfaces. A significant difference (p < 0.05) in the amount of untreated surfaces was found between the mesial and distal canals in both groups.Conclusion: Shaping procedures with both ProTaper Ultimate and BlueShaper demonstrated similar canal enlargement volumes and similar canal transportation without evidence of significant preparation errors. Nevertheless, a high amount of untreated surface was reported for both systems, particularly in distal canals.

The article is well written and easy to read; some minor English adjustments could be made to further enhance its clarity.

Does the angulation of ultrashort implants influence the stability of the peri-implant bone? The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of non-axial ultrashort implants after 2 to 9years of follow-up in resorbed alveolar ridges. All partially edentulous patients with ultrashort implants (< 6mm) used in the posterior region of an atrophic mandible or maxilla, to support partial dentures in conjunction with standard implants, were included in this study. Peri-implant bone loss, success and survival rates, crestal bone levels, crown-to-implant ratio and implant angulation were measured for each implant. Implants were divided into two groups: straight implants with angulation < 17° (control group) and tilted implants with angulation > 17° (test group). Statistical analysis was used to find any significant differences between the two study groups and to investigate significant linear correlations among all the variables (p = 0.05). A total of 42 ultrashort implants with a mean of 4years of follow-up were included: 20 ultrashort axially loaded implants and 22 tilted implants. Mean crestal bone levels from baseline loading to maximum follow-up did not reveal statistical differences in regard to PBL; mean success and survival rates were 100% in all groups. PBL, success and survival rates of axial ultrashort implants and tilted ultrashort implants are comparable to those of conventional implants. This retrospective study revealed that ultrashort implants, even when placed with an angulation > 17°, can safely be used to support partial fixed prostheses. Further prospective clinical studies with larger samples and prospective design are needed to confirm these findings.

This paper investigates the role of maritime drones in the military doctrines of EU and NATO Member States, highlighting their relevance in addressing national and regional security and defence challenges. The first part of the paper covers the current use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in this domain, considering existing applications and ongoing research and development activities in these countries. The second part focuses on the UAV market, providing examples of the existing systems. The conclusion highlights the current trends in terms of UAV employment and some consideration on the future of these systems.

To date, no clinical studies have investigated the effect of using resorbable collagen membrane in conjunction with customized titanium mesh to promote bone formation in guided bone regeneration. Therefore, a non-inferiority analysis (one-sided 95% CI approach) was designed to compare the augmented bone gained using meshes with and without collagen membranes, through histological and histomorphometric investigations. Thirty patients undergoing bone augmentation procedures at both maxillary and mandible sites were randomly treated with customized titanium meshes alone (M-, n = 15) or covered with resorbable membrane (M+, n = 15), in both cases filled with autogenous bone and xenograft. After 6 months of healing, bone tissue biopsies were taken from the augmented region. The bone tissue (B.Ar), grafting material (G.Ar), and non-mineralized tissue (NMT.Ar) areas were quantified through histomorphometric analysis, as were the osteoid area (O.Ar) and its width. Collagen membrane did not appear to significantly influence the investigated parameters: B.Ar, G.Ar, NMT.Ar, and O.Ar were similar between Group M- (34.3%, 11.5%, 54.1%, 1.95 μm2 , respectively) and Group M+ (35.3%, 14.6%, 50.2%, and 1.75 μm2 , respectively). Considering the overall population, significantly higher rates of newly formed bone were obtained in mandibular sites, while non-mineralized and dense connective tissue rates were higher in the maxilla (p < .05). The application of collagen membrane over titanium mesh did not lead to significant results. Bone formation appeared significantly different in the maxilla compared with the mandible. Additional studies are required to further investigate the issues observed.