It was time to take stock. We modified the humipedon classification key published in 2018 to make it easier and more practical. This morpho-functional taxonomy of the topsoil (humipedon) was only ...available in English; we also translated it into French and Italian. A standardized morpho-functional classification of humipedons (roughly the top 30–40 cm of soil: organic and organomineral surface horizons) would allow for a better understanding of the functioning of the soil ecosystem. This paper provides the founding principles of the classification of humipedon into humus systems and forms. With the recognition of a few diagnostic horizons, all humus systems can be determined. The humus forms that make up these humus systems are revealed by measuring the thicknesses of the diagnostic horizons. In the final part of the article, several figures represent the screenshots of a mobile phone or tablet application that allows for a fast recall of the diagnostic elements of the classification in the field. The article attempts to promote a standardized classification of humipedons for a global and shared management of soil at planet level.
•One by one, the key for a classification of humus systems and forms in the field.•General environmental characters and distribution of humus systems.•Synthetic field key of classification of humus ...systems and forms.
This article is an as simple as possible key of classification of terrestrial (aerobic, not submersed) topsoils (organic and organic-mineral series of soil horizons). Based on the introduction exposed in Humusica 1, article 1, and using vocabulary and definitions listed in article 4, a classification is proposed for better understanding the biological functioning of the soil, partially disclosing the process of litter digestion. Five types of terrestrial topsoils, called terrestrial humus systems, are described and illustrated with the help of photographs. Within each humus system, 3–4 humus forms are also revealed, corresponding to similar series of soil horizons generated in a relatively homogeneous environment whose range of ecological factors is not so large to overstep and cause the genesis of another different humus system. The article ends with a figure that shows the relationship between Tangel and Amphi humus systems, and a dichotomous key of classification that one can easily print and bring in the field for practicing humus classification.
Knowledge of a little number of specific terms is necessary to investigate and describe humipedons. This “new vocabulary” allows individuating and circumscribing particular diagnostic horizons, which ...are the fundamental bricks of the humipedon. Few “components” defined by specific terms characterize a specific “humipedon horizon”; few “humipedon horizons” compose a given “humus form” and some similar “humus forms” are grouped in a functional “humus system”. In this article, specific terms and humus horizons are listed and explained one by one. Field difficulties are illustrated and resolved. The aim of the article is to present in a manner as simple as possible how to distinguish in the field the soil structures allowing a morpho-functional classification of terrestrial (aerated, not submerged) humipedons.
Knowledge of a little number of specific terms is necessary to investigate and describe humipedons. This "new vocabulary" allows individuating and circumscribing particular diagnostic horizons, which ...are the fundamental bricks of the humipedon. Few "components" defined by specific terms characterize a specific "humipedon horizon"; few "humipedon horizons" compose a given "humus form" and some similar "humus forms" are grouped in a functional "humus system". In this article, specific terms and humus horizons are listed and explained one by one. Field difficulties are illustrated and resolved. The aim of the article is to present in a manner as simple as possible how to distinguish in the field the soil structures allowing a morpho-functional classification of terrestrial (aerated, not submerged) humipedons.
The impact of immunosuppressive therapies on the efficacy of vaccines to SARS-CoV-2 is not completely clarified. We analyzed humoral and T cell-mediated response after COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in ...immunosuppressed patients and patients with common variable immunodeficiency disease (CVID).
We enrolled 38 patients and 11 healthy sex- and age-matched controls (HC). Four patients were affected by CVID and 34 by chronic rheumatic diseases (RDs). All patients with RDs were treated by corticosteroid therapy and/or immunosuppressive treatment and/or biological drugs: 14 patients were treated with abatacept, 10 with rituximab, and 10 with tocilizumab.
Total antibody titer to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was assessed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, CD4 and CD4-CD8 T cell-mediated immune response was analyzed by interferon-γ (IFN-γ) release assay, the production of IFN-γ-inducible (CXCL9 and CXCL10) and innate-immunity chemokines (MCP-1, CXCL8, and CCL5) by cytometric bead array after stimulation with different spike peptides. The expression of CD40L, CD137, IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-17 on CD4 and CD8 T cells, evaluating their activation status, after SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides stimulation, was analyzed by intracellular flow cytometry staining. Cluster analysis identified cluster 1, namely the "high immunosuppression" cluster, and cluster 2, namely the "low immunosuppression" cluster.
After the second dose of vaccine, only abatacept-treated patients, compared to HC, showed a reduced anti-spike antibody response (mean: 432 IU/ml ± 562 vs mean: 1479 IU/ml ± 1051: p = 0.0034), and an impaired T cell response, compared with HC. In particular, we found a significantly reduced release of IFN-γ from CD4 and CD4-CD8 stimulated T cells, compared with HC (p = 0.0016 and p = 0.0078, respectively), reduced production of CXCL10 and CXCL9 from stimulated CD4 (p = 0.0048 and p = 0.001) and CD4-CD8 T cells (p = 0.0079 and p = 0.0006). Multivariable General Linear Model analysis confirmed a relationship between abatacept exposure and impaired production of CXCL9, CXCL10, and IFN-γ from stimulated T cells. Cluster analysis confirms that cluster 1 (including abatacept and half of rituximab treated cases) showed a reduced IFN-γ response, as well as reduced monocyte-derived chemokines All groups of patients demonstrated the ability to generate specific CD4 T activated cells after spike proteins stimulation. After the third dose of vaccine, abatacept-treated patients acquired the ability to produce a strong antibody response, showing an anti-S titer significantly higher compared to that obtained after the second dose (p = 0.0047), and comparable with the anti-S titer of the other groups.
Patients treated with abatacept showed an impaired humoral immune response to two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The third vaccine dose has been demonstrated to be useful to induce a more robust antibody response to balance an impaired T cell-mediated one. All patients, exposed to different immunosuppressive drugs, were able to produce specific CD4-activated T cells, after spike proteins stimulation.
Local Ethical Committee NP4187.
Objective
The aim was to examine the tissue composition of extraction sockets that had been grafted with deproteinized bovine bone mineral and allowed to heal for 6 months.
Material and methods
...Twenty‐five subjects with one tooth each scheduled for extraction and replacement with dental implants were recruited. The assigned teeth were carefully removed. The site/patient was thereafter allocated to a test or a control group. In the test group patients, Bio‐Oss® Collagen was placed to fill the fresh extraction socket while in the controls no grafting was performed. After about 6 months of healing, a biopsy was sampled from the center of the extraction site. The specimens were decalcified, embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and stained in HTX. The proportions occupied by mineralized bone, osteoid, bone marrow, fibrous tissue, and Bio‐Oss® particles were determined by morphometric point counting.
Results
Mineralized bone made up 57.4 ± 12.4% of the control sites (C) and 48.9 ± 8.5% of the T1 sites (graft material not included). The amount of bone marrow (C: 7.1 ± 6.1%, T1: 2.1 ± 3.1%) and osteoid (C: 7.3 ± 4.9%, T1: 1.9 ± 2.1%) was about five times greater in the control than in the test sites. Fibrous tissue comprised 23.1 ± 16.3% (C) and 40.0 ± 11.9% (T1). I n the T2 sites (graft material included), the percentage mineralized bone was 39.9 ± 8.6 while the proportions of bone marrow and osteoid were 1.8 ± 2.5% and 1.6 ± 1.8%. Fibrous tissue occupied 32.4 ± 9.2% and Bio‐Oss® particles 19.0 ± 6.5% of the T2 sites.
Conclusion
Placement of the biomaterial in the fresh extraction socket retarded healing. The Bio‐Oss® particles were not resorbed but became surrounded by new bone. This may explain why grafted extraction sites may fail to undergo dimensional change.
The Ansaldo A.1 “Balilla” biplane is of great historical interest, because it illustrates the level of development reached by the Italian aircraft industry during the last stages of World War I. To ...date, the airplane is kept in its original state, and it has never been restored. The aircraft is essentially made of wood and fabric. Wood in particular has been used in a very skilful way, making the airplane lightweight, yet elastic and resistant. In this work, the entire wooden structure of the aircraft was analysed, and the tree species were microscopically identified. Species belonging to six different genera have been identified. We found spruce in the frame, elm in the wing ribs, walnut in the propeller, alder in various plywood layers, rosewood in the outer layer of the decorative plywood, and pine in the tail rudder. The main structure of the aircraft was made of spruce, most likely a Sitka spruce, which was widely used for aircraft construction. The Ansaldo A.1 “Balilla” biplane is an excellent example of the wise use of wood before the revolution upon the boost in synthetic materials and represents an important historical and cultural heritage.
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is a relatively new timber product used in construction that has gained popularity over the last decade. The product itself is constituted by multiple glued layers of ...juxtaposed boards, usually arranged in an orthogonal direction between one layer and the adjacent ones. This particular structure brings several benefits, such as the possibility to use the same product both for walls and slabs, since it can bear in-plane and out-of-plane loads. However, the mechanical behavior differs from usual timber products, and research is still ongoing to achieve common agreement on standard procedures for testing products and theories for evaluating stresses for safety verifications. This paper focuses on the in-plane shear behavior of CLT and analyzes the existing methods to evaluate shear stresses. An experimental part then presents a four-point bending test of CLT beams with a specific geometry to induce shear failure. Results are reported both for the elastic range test, measuring the Modulus of Elasticity, and for the failure test to investigate shear behavior with regard to different mechanisms. Previously exposed methods are used for the calculation of shear stresses and to analyze the correspondence between them, and the results are then compared with other existing tests and values in literature. A new test setup for future research is eventually proposed.
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