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Innovative renewable routes are potentially able to sustain the transition to a decarbonized energy economy. Green synthetic fuels, including hydrogen and natural gas, are considered viable alternatives to fossil fuels. Indeed, they play a fundamental role in those sectors that are difficult to electrify (e.g., road mobility or high-heat industrial processes), are capable of mitigating problems related to flexibility and instantaneous balance of the electric grid, are suitable for large-size and long-term storage and can be transported through the gas network. This article is an overview of the overall supply chain, including production, transport, storage and end uses. Available fuel conversion technologies use renewable energy for the catalytic conversion of non-fossil feedstocks into hydrogen and syngas. We will show how relevant technologies involve thermochemical, electrochemical and photochemical processes. The syngas quality can be improved by catalytic CO and CO2 methanation reactions for the generation of synthetic natural gas. Finally, the produced gaseous fuels could follow several pathways for transport and lead to different final uses. Therefore, storage alternatives and gas interchangeability requirements for the safe injection of green fuels in the natural gas network and fuel cells are outlined. Nevertheless, the effects of gas quality on combustion emissions and safety are considered.

Humans evolved within a microbial ecosystem resulting in an interlinked physiology. The gut microbiota can signal to the brain via the immune system, the vagus nerve or other host-microbe interactions facilitated by gut hormones, regulation of tryptophan metabolism and microbial metabolites such as short chain fatty acids (SCFA), to influence brain development, function and behavior. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may play a role in shaping cognitive networks encompassing emotional and social domains in neurodevelopmental disorders. Drawing upon pre-clinical and clinical evidence, we review the potential role of the gut microbiota in the origins and development of social and emotional domains related to Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia. Small preliminary clinical studies have demonstrated gut microbiota alterations in both ASD and schizophrenia compared to healthy controls. However, we await the further development of mechanistic insights, together with large scale longitudinal clinical trials, that encompass a systems level dimensional approach, to investigate whether promising pre-clinical and initial clinical findings lead to clinical relevance.

Methane is a significant contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Blending hydrogen with natural gas in existing networks presents a promising strategy to reduce these emissions and support the transition to a carbon-neutral energy system. However, hydrogen’s potential for atmospheric release raises safety and environmental concerns, necessitating an assessment of its impact on methane emissions and leakage behavior. This study introduces a methodology for estimating how fugitive emissions change when a natural gas network is shifted to a 10% hydrogen blend by combining analytical flowrate models with data from sampled leaks across a natural gas network. The methodology involves developing conversion factors based on existing methane emission rates to predict corresponding hydrogen emissions across different sections of the network, including mainlines, service lines, and facilities. Our findings reveal that while the overall volumetric emission rates increase by 5.67% on the mainlines and 3.04% on the service lines, primarily due to hydrogen’s lower density, methane emissions decrease by 5.95% on the mainlines and 8.28% on the service lines. However, when considering the impact of a 10% hydrogen blend on the Global Warming Potential, the net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is 5.37% for the mainlines and 7.72% for the service lines. This work bridges the gap between research on hydrogen leakage and network readiness, which traditionally focuses on safety, and environmental sustainability studies on methane emission.

We discuss a quantum non-demolition measurement (QNDM) protocol to estimate the derivatives of a cost function with a quantum computer. The cost function, which is supposed to be classically hard to evaluate, is associated with the average value of a quantum operator. Then a quantum computer is used to efficiently extract information about the function and its derivative by evolving the system with a so-called variational quantum circuit. To this aim, we propose to use a quantum detector that allows us to directly estimate the derivatives of an observable, i.e., the derivative of the cost function. With respect to the standard direct measurement approach, this leads to a reduction of the number of circuit iterations needed to run the variational quantum circuits. The advantage increases if we want to estimate the higher-order derivatives. We also show that the presented approach can lead to a further advantage in terms of the number of total logical gates needed to run the variational quantum circuits. These results make the QNDM a valuable alternative to implementing the variational quantum circuits.

Male middle age is a transitional period where many physiological and psychological changes occur leading to cognitive and behavioural alterations, and a deterioration of brain function. However, the mechanisms underpinning such changes are unclear. The gut microbiome has been implicated as a key mediator in the communication between the gut and the brain, and in the regulation of brain homeostasis, including brain immune cell function. Thus, we tested whether targeting the gut microbiome by prebiotic supplementation may alter microglia activation and brain function in ageing. Male young adult (8 weeks) and middle-aged (10 months) C57BL/6 mice received diet enriched with a prebiotic (10% oligofructose-enriched inulin) or control chow for 14 weeks. Prebiotic supplementation differentially altered the gut microbiota profile in young and middle-aged mice with changes correlating with faecal metabolites. Functionally, this translated into a reversal of stress-induced immune priming in middle-aged mice. In addition, a reduction in ageing-induced infiltration of Ly-6Chi monocytes into the brain coupled with a reversal in ageing-related increases in a subset of activated microglia (Ly-6C+) was observed. Taken together, these data highlight a potential pathway by which targeting the gut microbiome with prebiotics can modulate the peripheral immune response and alter neuroinflammation in middle age. Our data highlight a novel strategy for the amelioration of age-related neuroinflammatory pathologies and brain function.

The fecal microbiome of 55 obese children and adolescents (BMI-SDS 3.2 ± 0.7) and of 25 normal-weight subjects, matched both for age and sex (BMI-SDS − 0.3 ± 1.1) was analysed. Streptococcus, Acidaminococcus, Sutterella, Prevotella, Sutterella wadsworthensis, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Prevotella copri positively correlated with obesity. The inferred pathways strongly associated with obesity concern the biosynthesis pathways of tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and methionine pathways. Furthermore, polyamine biosynthesis virulence factors and pro-inflammatory lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathway showed higher abundances in obese samples, while the butanediol biosynthesis showed low abundance in obese subjects. Different taxa strongly linked with obesity have been related to an increased risk of multiple diseases involving metabolic pathways related to inflammation (polyamine and lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis). Cholesterol, LDL, and CRP positively correlated with specific clusters of microbial in obese patients. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes-ratio was lower in obese samples than in controls and differently from the literature we state that this ratio could not be a biomarker for obesity.

Quaternary glaciations and mostly last glacial maximum have shaped the contemporary distribution of many species in the Alps. However, in the Maritime and Ligurian Alps a more complex picture is suggested by the presence of many Tertiary paleoendemisms and by the divergence time between lineages in one endemic species predating the Late Pleistocene glaciation. The low number of endemic species studied limits the understanding of the processes that took place within this region. We used species distribution models and phylogeographical methods to infer glacial refugia and to reconstruct the phylogeographical pattern of Silene cordifolia All. and Viola argenteria Moraldo & Forneris. The predicted suitable area for last glacial maximum roughly fitted current known distribution. Our results suggest that separation of the major clades predates the last glacial maximum and the following repeated glacial and interglacial periods probably drove differentiations. The complex phylogeographical pattern observed in the study species suggests that both populations and genotypes extinction was minimal during the last glacial maximum, probably due to the low impact of glaciations and to topographic complexity in this area. This study underlines the importance of cumulative effect of previous glacial cycles in shaping the genetic structure of plant species in Maritime and Ligurian Alps, as expected for a Mediterranean mountain region more than for an Alpine region.

Abstract Aims The purpose of this work is to find the gut microbial fingerprinting of pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes. Methods The microbiome of 31 children with type 1 diabetes at onset and of 25 healthy children was determined using multiple polymorphic regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA. We performed machine-learning analyses and metagenome functional analysis to identify significant taxa and their metabolic pathways content. Results Compared with healthy controls, patients showed a significantly higher relative abundance of the following most important taxa: Bacteroides stercoris, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides intestinalis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Gammaproteobacteria and its descendants, Holdemania, and Synergistetes and its descendants. On the contrary, the relative abundance of Bacteroides vulgatus, Deltaproteobacteria and its descendants, Parasutterella and the Lactobacillus, Turicibacter genera were significantly lower in patients with respect to healthy controls. The predicted metabolic pathway more associated with type 1 diabetes patients concerns “carbon metabolism,” sugar and iron metabolisms in particular. Among the clinical variables considered, standardized body mass index, anti-insulin autoantibodies, glycemia, hemoglobin A1c, Tanner stage, and age at onset emerged as most significant positively or negatively correlated with specific clusters of taxa. Conclusions The relative abundance and supervised analyses confirmed the importance of B stercoris in type 1 diabetes patients at onset and showed a relevant role of Synergistetes and its descendants in patients with respect to healthy controls. In general the robustness and coherence of the showed results underline the relevance of studying the microbioma using multiple polymorphic regions, different types of analysis, and different approaches within each analysis.

This paper discusses Pietro Gori’s charismatic leadership of the Italian anarchist movement at the turn of the nineteenth century and, in particular, the characteristics of his political communication. After a discussion of the literature on the topic, the first section examines Gramsci’s derogatory observations on the characteristics and success of the communicative style adopted by anarchist activists such as Gori. The second investigates the political project underpinning the kind of “organized anarchism” that Gori championed together with Malatesta. The third section unveils Gori’s communication strategy when promoting this project through those platforms considered by Gramsci as being primary schools of political alphabetization in liberal Italy: trials, funerals, commemorations, and celebrations. Particular attention is devoted to the trials, which effectively demonstrated Gori’s modern political skills. The analysis of Gori’s performance at the trials demonstrates Gramsci’s mistake in identifying Gori simply as one of the champions of political sentimentalism. TRANSLATED ABSTRACTS FRENCH – GERMAN – SPANISH Emanuela Minuto. L’anarchisme de Pietro Gori: politique et spectacle (1895–1900). Cet article étudie le leadership charismatique de Pietro Gori du mouvement anarchiste italien au début du dix-neuvième siècle et en particulier les caractéristiques de sa communication politique. Après un examen de la littérature sur le sujet, la première partie passe en revue les remarques dénigrantes de Gramsci sur les caractéristiques et le succès du style de communication adopté par les activistes anarchistes tels que Gori. La deuxième partie analyse le projet politique sous-tendant le type d’“anarchisme organisé” que Gori défendit avec Malatesta. La troisième partie expose la stratégie de communication de Gori lorsqu’il promut ce projet par le biais de ces plateformes que Gramsci considérait comme étant des écoles primaires d’alphabétisation politique dans l’Italie libérale: les procès, les enterrements, les commémorations et les célébrations. Une attention particulière est consacrée aux procès qui prouvèrent efficacement les compétences politiques modernes de Gori. L’analyse de la performance de Gori aux procès démontre l’erreur de Gramsci lorsqu’il identifia simplement Gori comme l’un des défendeurs du sentimentalisme politique. Traduction: Christine Plard Emanuela Minuto. Pietro Goris Anarchismus: Politik und Spektakel (1895–1900). Der Aufsatz behandelt Pietro Goris Rolle als charismatischer Führer der italienischen anarchistischen Bewegung um die Wende vom 19. zum 20. Jahrhundert, insbesondere die Eigenschaften von Goris politischem Kommunikationsstil. Im Anschluss an einen Überblick über die Literatur zum Thema werden im ersten Abschnitt die abwertenden Bemerkungen Gramscis zu den Merkmalen und zum Erfolg des Kommunikationsstils untersucht, den sich anarchistische Aktivisten wie Gori zu eigen machten. Der zweite Abschnitt untersucht das politische Projekt, das der von Gori gemeinsam mit Malatesta befürworteten Variante des “organisierten Anarchismus” zugrundelag. Im dritten Abschnitt wird die Kommunikationsstrategie dargestellt, mit der Gori dieses Projekt in jenen Kontexten voranzubringen versuchte, die Gramsci als Schulen der politischen Alfabetisierung im liberalen Italien betrachtete: Gerichtsverhandlungen, Beerdigungen, Gedenkfeiern und Festivitäten. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit wird den Gerichtsverhandlungen gewidmet, in denen Gori sein modernes politisches Geschick wirksam unter Beweis stellte. Die Analyse der von Gori vor Gericht gewählten Vorgehensweise zeigt, dass sich Gramsci täuschte, als er in Gori nichts als einen Fürsprecher politischer Gefühlsduselei sah. Übersetzung: Max Henninger Emanuela Minuto. El anarquismo de Pietro Gori: la política y el espectáculo (1895–1900). En este texto se analiza el carismático liderazgo de Pietro Gori en el movimiento anarquista italiano en los últimos años del siglo XIX y, de forma particular, las características de su comunicación política. Tras hacer una revisión de la historiografía existente sobre el tema, la primera parte del artículo presta atención a las observaciones que de forma despectiva fueron realizadas por Gramsci respecto a las características y el éxito del estilo comunicativo adoptado por algunos activistas anarquistas como Gori. La segunda parte del texto se adentra en el proyecto político que se encuentra en la base del denominado “anarquismo organizado” que Gori lideró junto con Malatesta. La tercera parte analiza la estrategia comunicativa de Gori a la hora de difundir su proyecto a través de aquellos medios que fueron considerados por Gramsci como las escuelas primarias de alfabetización política de la Italia liberal: juicios, funerales, actos conmemorativos y celebraciones. Se presta una atención particular a los procesos judiciales, ya que fue donde se demostraron de forma efectiva las cualidades de Gori para la política moderna. El análisis de las actuaciones de Gori en los juicios nos permiten demuestrar el error de Gramsci a la hora de identificar a Gori simplemente como uno de los campeones del sentimentalismo político. Traducción: Vicent Sanz Rozalén

Anthropogenic climate change is a major threat to biodiversity in mountain ecosystems, particularly when hosting endemic species with limited ranges of distribution and low dispersal ability. These species may persist in situ if climatic conditions remain within their tolerance limits, or they can shift their range by tracking suitable habitats. We assessed the potential impact of global warming on seven endemic plant species, considering how different refugia types support species survival. Western Alps. We classified persistence areas into three categories: long‐term refugia (stable suitable areas across time), holdouts (temporarily suitable areas) and stepping stones (short‐term habitats facilitating range shifts). We used species distribution models to evaluate the potential impact of climate change on seven species, endemic to the South‐western Alps, examining how different refugia types support their survival and whether these patterns are species‐specific. We modelled habitat suitability under two climate scenarios (SSP245 and SSP585) across three future time slices, from 2021 to 2080, using five predictive models. Our results suggest that habitat suitability declines for most populations, but those of high elevation are less affected, often gaining suitability at higher elevations while losing it at lower ones. Long‐term refugia are the most common persistence type under moderate climate change, whereas holdouts dominate under extreme. Stepping stones are rare, suggesting that these species may struggle to track shifting climates. The distribution of refugia types follows an elevational gradient, with long‐term refugia at higher elevations and holdouts at mid‐elevations. Our findings highlight the vulnerability of Alpine endemics to climate change and emphasise the importance of conservation strategies that account for range shifts, also by active translocation, to ensure their long‐term survival. This study assesses the impact of climate change on seven endemic plant species in the Alps by modelling future habitat suitability under different climate scenarios. By identifying long‐term refugia, holdouts and stepping stones, the study reveals species‐specific patterns of persistence and highlights the limited potential for range shifts. The findings underscore the need for conservation strategies, including assisted migration, to support the survival of these vulnerable Alpine endemics.