Publications

Abstract The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is a surveillance mechanism required for the fidelity of chromosome segregation, ensuring that anaphase is not initiated until all chromosomes are properly attached to the mitotic spindle. In cancer cells, SAC inactivation leads to aneuploidy beyond the cell's adaptation, culminating in cell death. This review provides a concise overview of the SAC signaling process and properties. Recent drug discovery strategies to selectively target kinases, particularly Aurora B and monopolar spindle kinase (MPS1), aimed at developing innovative anticancer agents able to override SAC are also presented.

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance: Plants contain various bioactive molecules that may promote human health by preventing the onset and progression of different illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative conditions, and cardiovascular issues. Salvia species have been employed since ancient times in traditional medicine and for culinary use. Aim of the study: Herein, four extracts from leaves of Salvia officinalis L., cultivated in Calabria (Italy) were obtained and quali-and quantitatively characterized, finding a high presence of bioactive compounds. The extracts were investigated for their biological activities, showing interesting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. In addition, all the extracts were tested for their potential regulation of some enzymes involved in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, as MAO-A and B, AChE and BChE. Finally, the safety of the extracts was also investigated. Materials and methods: The extracts were obtained using conventional maceration and ultrasound-assisted extractions. The chemical characterization was achieved by the means of Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The biological evaluation was performed by in vitro, direct enzymatic, fluorescence and cell-based assays. Results: The chromatographic analysis indicated a high presence of bioactive compounds, which confer high ability in ROS scavenging, NO production inhibition and impacting breast cancer cells viability. In addition, all the extracts targeted some enzymes involved in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, as MAO-A and B, AChE and BChE. Moreover, the extracts were found safe and with a low hepatotoxic toxicity. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that the extracts from Salvia officinalis L. leaf, traditionally used for many puproses, possess various biological activities, regulating the oxidative stress and inflammation, reducing the growth of breast cancer cells and blocking some key enzymes involved in neurological diseases. The combined low toxicity and biological features reported in this work suggest a high potential of the studied extracts for the management of some pathological conditions and/or for the achievement of nutraceutical products.

Abstract This study presents an environmentally friendly approach for synthesis Ag-TiO2 composite using pulsed reverse current (PRC) electrodeposition from green electrolytes, specifically deep eutectic solvents (DESs). The combination of PRC and DESs offers better control over nanoparticle synthesis while eliminating the need for toxic or expensive precursors, representing a significant advancement in sustainable nanomaterial synthesis. Different electrochemical parameters were adjusted, and their influence on the structure and morphology of the composite was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM analysis revealed that silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are attached to TiO2 nanopowder, with the coexistence of TiO2 and Ag further confirmed by XRD and XPS. The recorded UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) displayed a broad peak in the range of 400 - 650 nm, associated with the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Ag NPs on the semiconductor's surface. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanopowder and Ag-TiO2 composite was evaluated based on the degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye under UV and visible light illumination. Our findings clearly demonstrated that the incorporation of Ag improved the photocatalytic efficiency. The mechanism of MO dye degradation was explored by using various scavengers, revealing that superoxide radicals (center dot O-2(-)) play a dominant role. Furthermore, the incorporation of Ag NPs significantly enhanced the antimicrobial activity of the oxide against both Gram-positive (B. subtilis) and Gram-negative (E.coli) strains.

Abstract Benzazole derivatives exhibit distinctive photophysical behavior due to excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), making them promising candidates for optoelectronic applications such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and fluorescent sensors. Understanding their sublimation energetics, phase behavior, and emissive properties is essential for both fundamental studies and materials design. This article reports an investigation on two benzazole derivatives-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole and 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HBO)-through studies of thermal analysis, vapor pressure measurements, and fluorescence spectroscopy to establish structure-property relationships. Thermal stability and phase transitions are characterized using simultaneous thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) and heat-flux DSC. Vapor pressures are determined using both Knudsen effusion mass loss and mass spectrometry. The derived standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, vaporization, and fusion highlight the presence of heteroatom (S versus O) on intermolecular interactions. Solid-state fluorescence measurements reveal strong emission in both compounds, with a large Stokes shift-consistent with ESIPT-and complex spectra attributed to solid-state molecular packing. This comprehensive experimental strategy delivers benchmark thermodynamic and photophysical data, offering new insights into the interplay between molecular structure, thermal behavior, and fluorescence of benzazole derivatives. Such understanding is relevant for the development of advanced optoelectronic materials.

Abstract <jats:p>This study examines the impact of a Science–Technology–Society–Environment (STSE) educational intervention on the teaching of acid–base reactions to 11th-grade students (n = 17). The didactic sequence combined laboratory experiments, real-data analysis, and an interdisciplinary role-play debate, designed to connect chemical concepts with pressing socio-environmental challenges such as ocean acidification, acid rain, and acid mine drainage. Data collection included a pre- and post-test on environmental awareness and semi-structured interviews, enabling the assessment of both conceptual learning and attitudinal change. Significant conceptual gains were observed, with five of eleven test items reaching a normalized Hake gain ≥ 0.70, alongside increased environmental awareness. Qualitative findings further revealed that students valued the real-world context and interdisciplinary integration, reporting enhanced motivation, civic responsibility, and a more meaningful engagement with science. Overall, the results suggest that STSE-based chemistry instruction not only strengthens students’ understanding of acid–base equilibria but also fosters sustainability competencies essential for responsible and informed citizenship in the 21st century.</jats:p>

Abstract <jats:p>Steel consumption in the construction sector is one of the main contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, developing processes for the reuse of steel-based products with lower environmental impacts is essential for the sustainability of the construction sector. One example is the reuse of metal road guardrail beams on highways. This study investigated the environmental sustainability of a reconditioning process for such beams, instead of using new guardrails. The environmental impacts of the process were studied and compared with the impacts of the traditional production process using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. This study revealed that most of the impacts of the reconditioning process derive from the use of electricity. The comparison with the traditional beam production process revealed that when primary raw materials are replaced by reused raw materials, the environmental impacts associated with the production process decrease significantly. Of the 19 impact indicators assessed, 18 were lower, and 17 had a drop of more than 90 percent compared to the traditional production process. The results indicate that the reconditioning process has the potential to significantly reduce environmental impacts by avoiding the consumption and transportation of primary raw materials, which were identified as the main sources of impacts in the traditional production process, as well as minimizing waste generation.</jats:p>

Abstract <jats:p>Urban parks are essential to sustainable cities, providing climate regulation, support-ing biodiversity, and offering vital spaces for recreation and overall well-being. How-ever, their soils also act as long-term reservoirs for persistent organic pollutants (POPs), resulting from decades of atmospheric deposition, diffuse urban emissions, and the inherent heterogeneity of urban soils. This review brings together current knowledge on the occurrence, sources, and environmental behaviour of priority POPs, such as OCPs, PCBs, PCDD/Fs, PBDEs, PFAS, and PAHs, in the soils of parks and gar-dens. We examine how the physicochemical properties of these compounds interact with urban soil features to influence sorption, mobility, degradation, and air–soil ex-change. Evidence from cities worldwide reveals consistent patterns: urban parks ac-cumulate mixtures of legacy and emerging pollutants, reflecting both historical inputs and ongoing urban activities. These contaminants contribute to chronic low-level ex-posure through soil ingestion, dust inhalation, and dermal contact, as well as through dietary intake when food is grown in parks. Such pathways have been linked to endo-crine, immune, neurodevelopmental, metabolic, and carcinogenic effects. Despite growing research, significant gaps remain. Mixture toxicity, temporal trends, harmo-nised monitoring, and exposure scenarios specific to recreational soils are still insuffi-ciently understood. Recognising urban parks as both essential green infrastructures and active repositories of persistent pollution is crucial for improving urban environ-mental management. By integrating ecological, toxicological, and urban-planning perspectives, this review highlights the need for proactive monitoring and policy de-velopment to ensure that parks remain healthy and equitable spaces within increas-ingly complex urban landscapes.</jats:p>

Abstract [No abstract available]

Abstract Soil acts as a natural 'filter', playing a crucial role in the transfer of geogenic and anthropogenic pollutants from abandoned coal mine sites to surrounding water bodies. Key indicators of soil contamination, such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and organic matter (OM), expressed as loss-on-ignition (LOI), can signal contamination risks when they deviate from optimal ranges. To enable sustainable risk assessment through monitoring of pH, EC, and LOI, streamlined spectroscopic techniques Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), near-infrared (NIR), Raman, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were applied in combination with multivariate analysis (MVA), to soil samples from two abandoned coal mines in NW Portugal. Partial least squares (PLS) regression models demonstrated that XRF spectroscopic data provided the most accurate assessment of soil pH, EC, and LOI at the local scale (R2 = 0.92-0.99). The most significant spectroscopic signatures, identified through weighted regression coefficients (Bw), enabled robust predictions of these key soil parameters. These findings highlight that these geochemical variables outperform molecular spectroscopy techniques for efficient and environmentally relevant risk monitoring of contamination in abandoned coal mine sites.

Abstract Due to the high quantities of solid waste with high concentrations of chromium that the footwear industry produces and its disposal sites, it is vital to understand whether leather residue itself is harmful to the ecosystem. Thus, a microcosm test with multispecies (Brassica oleracea and Eisenia fetida) was carried out using an agricultural soil contaminated with two different leather residues (Wet Blue and Finished Leather) from the footwear industry. After the stabilization period, Brassica oleracea seedlings and Eisenia fetida adults were exposed to these treatments. At the end of the experiment, a series of parameters were analysed in the B. oleracea leaves (leaf chlorophyl content, gas exchange measurements and photosynthetic parameters), in the E. fetida organisms (alkaline comet assay and biomarkers such as acetylcholinesterase and lipid peroxidation) and in the soils (total chromium content, enzymes activity and nitrogen mineralization and potential nitrification). In the case of soil’s enzymatic activity, even though some were significantly altered, no negative effects could be attributed to the leather residues. Moreover, the addition of residues to the soil did not significantly affect the plant species; however, the same was not observed for the earthworm E. fetida when in contact with Finished Leather. Overall, Finished Leather residue was the one that caused more effects on the parameters analysed and therefore its disposal should be carefully examined.