showing 36 of ~574560 from 574555 documents
Aggregated neutrophil extracellular traps occlude Meibomian glands during ocular surface inflammation
2021
Abstract Purpose Obstructive Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is one of the leading causes of evaporative dry eye disease. Meibomian glands at the eyelid secrete lipids that prevent evaporation of the aqueous tear film. The pathogenesis of obstructive MGD is incompletely understood to date. Herein, we aim to investigate the pathogenesis of obstructive MGD using murine and human samples with various forms of ocular surface inflammation. Method The presence of Neutrophil extracellular Traps (NETs) was detected with immunofluorescence analysis of ocular surface discharge and biopsy samples from patients with blepharitis. Tear fluid from patients with MGD and blepharitis were evaluated for the…
Vascular Senescence: A Potential Bridge Between Physiological Aging and Neurogenic Decline
2021
The adult mammalian brain contains distinct neurogenic niches harboring populations of neural stem cells (NSCs) with the capacity to sustain the generation of specific subtypes of neurons during the lifetime. However, their ability to produce new progeny declines with age. The microenvironment of these specialized niches provides multiple cellular and molecular signals that condition NSC behavior and potential. Among the different niche components, vasculature has gained increasing interest over the years due to its undeniable role in NSC regulation and its therapeutic potential for neurogenesis enhancement. NSCs are uniquely positioned to receive both locally secreted factors and adhesion-…
false
2021
Abstract Contaminated soils are lands in Europe deemed less favourable for conventional agriculture. To overcome the problem of their poor fertility, bio-fertilization could be a promising approach. Soil inoculation with a choice of biological species (e.g. earthworm, mycorrhizal fungi, diazotroph bacteria) can be performed in order to improve soil properties and promote nutrients recycling. However, questions arise concerning the dynamics of the contaminants in an inoculated soil. The aim of this study was to highlight the soil-plant-earthworm interactions in the case of a slightly contaminated soil. For this purpose, a pot experiment in controlled conditions was carried out during 2 month…
Evidence for Transmission of Taenia solium Taeniasis/Cysticercosis in a Rural Area of Northern Rwanda
2021
Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection caused by the metacestode larval stage (cysticercus) of Taenia solium. In humans, cysticercosis may infect the central nervous system and cause neurocysticercosis, which is responsible for over 50,000 deaths per year worldwide and is the major cause of preventable epilepsy cases, especially in low-income countries. Cysticercosis infection is endemic in many less developed countries where poor hygiene conditions and free-range pig management favor their transmission. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 680 children from a rural primary school in Gakenke district (Northern province of Rwanda). Stool samples were collected from participants and analy…
Hematological immune related adverse events after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors
2021
Abstract Introduction With the increasing use of checkpoint inhibitors, rare immune-related adverse events (irAE) are being identified. Haematological irAE (hem-irAE) are difficult to treat and have shown high mortality rates. In order to improve side-effect management for these potentially life-threatening events, we analysed frequency, severity and outcomes. Patients and methods Patients who developed hem-irAE while being treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) therapy were retrospectively identified from 18 international cancer centres. Results In total, more than 7626 patients treated with ICI were screened, and 50 patients with hem-irAE identified. The calculated incidence amou…
SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Screening in Healthcare Workers in Non-Infectious Hospitals in Two Different Regions of Southern Poland (Upper Silesia and Opole …
2021
(1) Background: Detection of asymptomatic or subclinical human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers (HCWs) is crucial for understanding the overall prevalence of the new coronavirus and its infection potential in public (non-infectious) healthcare units with emergency wards. (2) Methods: We evaluated the host serologic responses, measured with semi-quantitative ELISA tests (IgA, IgG, IgM abs) in sera of 90 individuals in Hospital no. 4 in Bytom, 84 HCWs in the University Hospital in Opole and 25 in a Miasteczko Śląskie local surgery. All volunteers had negative RT-PCR test results or had not had the RT-PCR test performed within 30 days before sampling. The ELISA test was m…
Non-invasive stratification of hepatocellular carcinoma risk in non-alcoholic fatty liver using polygenic risk scores
2021
Background & Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk stratification in individuals with dysmetabolism is a major unmet need. Genetic predisposition contributes to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to exploit robust polygenic risk scores (PRS) that can be evaluated in the clinic to gain insight into the causal relationship between NAFLD and HCC, and to improve HCC risk stratification. Methods: We examined at-risk individuals (NAFLD cohort, n = 2,566; 226 with HCC; and a replication cohort of 427 German patients with NAFLD) and the general population (UK Biobank [UKBB] cohort, n = 364,048; 202 with HCC). Variants in PNPLA3-TM6SF2-GCKR-MBOAT7 were combined in a hepatic …
Negotiating Ethics-in-Action in a Long-term Research Relationship with a Young Child
2021
AbstractThis article continues the discussions of relational ethics put forward in Human Arenas in “Arena of Ethics” (Hilppö et al., 2019). Our aim in this article is to explore and discuss relational ethics, as ethics-in-action, in a long-term research relationship with a child. Our question is: How is ethics-in-action negotiated during critical incidents in the construction of a research space that involves a long-term research relationship with a young child? This article is based on a research project that focused on children’s transitions in early childhood education and care (ECEC). These transitions include the transition from home care to ECEC as well as transitions from child group…
Integrated use of unmanned aerial vehicle photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning to support archaeological analysis: The Acropolis of Selinunt…
2021
Southwestern Sicily is an area of infrequent seismic activity; however, some studies carried out in the archaeological Selinunte site suggest that, between the fourth century BC and the early Middle Ages, probably at least two earthquakes strucked this area with enough energy to damage and cause the collapse and kinematics of much of the architecture of Selinunte. Take into account that, in 2008, a noninvasive archaeological prospection and traditional data gathering methods along the Acropolis north fortifications were carried out. Following these first studies, after about 10 years, a new geophysical campaign was carried out. This second campaign benefited from the application of modern t…
Dendritic cell metabolism: moving beyond in vitro-culture-generated paradigms
2021
Dendritic cells (DCs) are key orchestrators of immunity and tolerance. It has become evident that DC function can be influenced by cellular metabolic programs. However, conclusions from early metabolic studies using in vitro GM-CSF DC cultures fail to correlate with bona fide DC populations. Here, we discuss the existing paradigms in the DC metabolism field, focusing on the limitations of the models utilized. Furthermore, we introduce alternative models to generate DCs in vitro that better emulate DCs found in vivo. Finally, we highlight new techniques to evaluate DC metabolism at the single-cell level. The combination of these two strategies could help advance the DC metabolism field towar…
The self-reported causes of sleepiness in shift-working tram and truck drivers
2021
Identifying the causes of sleepiness in various safety-critical work environments is neces-sary for implementing more efficient fatigue management strategies. In transportation, little is known about drivers' own perceptions of these causes. Therefore, we instructed shift-working tram (n = 23) and long-haul truck drivers (n = 52) to report at the end of their shifts what made them sleepy if they felt so. These self-reports, measured on-duty sleepiness, and sleep amounts were recorded on every shift over a period of 2-3 weeks per driver. The causes of sleepiness were queried with smartphone applications and sleep logs. Sleepiness was measured with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and sl…
An Internet-based treatment for Flying Phobia using 360° images: Study protocol for a feasibility pilot study
2021
Background Flying Phobia (FP) is a prevalent disorder that can cause serious interference in a person's life. ICBT interventions have already shown their efficacy in several studies, but studies in the field of specific phobias are still scarce. Moreover, few studies have investigated the feasibility of using different types of images in exposure scenarios in ICBTs and no studies have been carried out on the role of sense of presence and reality judgement. The aim of the present study is to explore the feasibility of an ICBT for FP (NO-FEAR Airlines) using two types of images with different levels of immersion (still and navigable images). A secondary aim is to explore the potential effecti…
Dynamic cerebrovascular autoregulation in patients prone to postural syncope: Comparison of techniques assessing the autoregulation index from sponta…
2021
Abstract Three approaches to the assessment of cerebrovascular autoregulation (CA) via the computation of the autoregulation index (ARI) from spontaneous variability of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and mean cerebral blood flow velocity (MCBFV) were applied: 1) a time domain method (TDM); 2) a nonparametric method (nonPM); 3) a parametric method (PM). Performances were tested over matched and surrogate unmatched pairs. Data were analyzed at supine resting (REST) and during the early phase of 60° head-up tilt (TILT) in 13 subjects with previous history of postural syncope (SYNC, age: 28 ± 9 yrs.; 5 males) and 13 control individuals (noSYNC, age: 27 ± 8 yrs.; 5 males). Analysis was completed b…
A User-Centered Chatbot (Wakamola) to Collect Linked Data in Population Networks to Support Studies of Overweight and Obesity Causes: Design and Pilo…
2021
[EN] Background: Obesity and overweight are a serious health problem worldwide with multiple and connected causes. Simultaneously, chatbots are becoming increasingly popular as a way to interact with users in mobile health apps. Objective: This study reports the user-centered design and feasibility study of a chatbot to collect linked data to support the study of individual and social overweight and obesity causes in populations. Methods: We first studied the users' needs and gathered users' graphical preferences through an open survey on 52 wireframes designed by 150 design students; it also included questions about sociodemographics, diet and activity habits, the need for overweight and o…
Active biopackaging produced from by‐products and waste from food and marine industries
2021
The agro‐food industry cannot today do without packaging to preserve and above all market its products. Plastic materials coming mainly from petrochemicals have taken a predominant place in the food packaging sector. They have become indispensable in many sectors, from fresh to frozen products, from meat and dairy products to fruit and vegetables or almost‐ready meals. Plastics are cheap, their lightness reduces transport costs, and their convenience is fundamental for out‐of‐home catering. However, plastics pose serious end‐of‐life issues. The development of materials that are more respectful of the consumer and the environment has become a major issue. In addition, the agro‐food industrie…
Valorization of apple peels through the study of the effects on the amyloid aggregation process of ?-casein
2021
Waste valorization represents one of the main social challenges when promoting a circular economy and environmental sustainability. Here, we evaluated the effect of the polyphenols extracted from apple peels, normally disposed of as waste, on the amyloid aggregation process of ?-casein from bovine milk, a well-used amyloidogenic model system. The effect of the apple peel extract on protein aggregation was examined using a thioflavin T fluorescence assay, Congo red binding assay, circular dichroism, light scattering, and atomic force microscopy. We found that the phenolic extract from the peel of apples of the cultivar "Fuji", cultivated in Sicily (Caltavuturo, Italy), inhibited ?-casein fib…
165P Baseline circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells correlate with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and overall survival in advanced non-small c…
2021
Irrigation water saving strategies in Citrus orchards: Analysis of the combined effects of timing and severity of soil water deficit
2021
[EN] The knowledge of the crop response to soil water deficit is essential to predict the actual crop water requirements under limited soil water conditions. The mathematical schematization of the crop response under RDI can allow identifying the exact irrigation timing. The threshold of soil water status below which crop transpiration decreases represents a key parameter for the water stress functions. The main objective of this paper was to investigate the effects of several RDI treatments, applied during the three stages of fruit growth, on soil-plant-water relations of drip-irrigated mandarin trees. Experiments were carried out in seven irrigation treatments: a control, irrigated at 125…
Measuring environmental performance in the treatment of municipal solid waste: The case of the European Union-28
2021
Abstract This paper proposes a measure of environmental performance in the treatment of municipal solid waste, which is defined as a ratio between a composite indicator of waste treated through environmentally desirable operations –recycling and recovery in our case study– and a composite indicator of waste treated through undesirable operations –landfill and incineration. Moreover, it contributes both overall and treatment-specific indicators of performance. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) techniques are used to compute the environmental performance indicators and they are illustrated with an empirical assessment of the environmental performance of the European Union-28 (EU-28) members in …
Identifying Past and Current Trends in Technology Education in Finland
2021
Technology education makes a unique contribution to the development of all young people by providing them a wide range of knowledge and skills. It has a role in shaping future debates and discourses by developing students’ technological literacy and by raising awareness of various dimensions of technology. In order to understand technology education in Finnish basic education, it is necessary to consider it within the subject of craft, particularly the domain of technical craft activities. However, the role of technology education has been and still is undefined in Finland. Thus, we need strategic planning and research in order to develop the necessary procedures and operations to achieve i…
Host-ectoparasite associations; the role of host traits, season and habitat on parasitism interactions of the rodents of northeastern Iran
2021
Abstract Background Rodents play a significant role as reservoirs of zoonotic diseases. Nevertheless, their ectoparasite assemblage and host-ectoparasite associations are poorly known. This study intended to give new insights on the relationships between ectoparasites and rodents in northeastern Iran. Methods Rodents were captured using live traps during the year of 2016–2020 and their ectoparasites were collected. Parasitological indices such as infestation rate, prevalence and mean intensity of infestation were analyzed. Results A total of 284 rodents, belonging to 17 species, were trapped which infested by 178 ectoparasites from five orders Siphonaptera, Phthiraptera, Ixodida, Mesostigma…
Credit and financial markets in the Iberian Peninsula at the end of the Middle Ages. Historiographic production and recent developments
2021
El artículo examina la trayectoria de los estudios sobre el crédito y los mercados financieros en la Península Ibérica a finales de la Edad Media, desde los primeros trabajos sobre la usura y el préstamo a interés, fundamentalmente judío, en la primera mitad del siglo XX, hasta las líneas de investigación más recientes, que se ramifican en diversas direcciones, desde el marco teórico, doctrinal y legal del mercado del crédito y el estudio de los diferentes instrumentos financieros –préstamo a interés, crédito comercial y bancario, crédito a largo plazo en forma de censales y censos consignativos– a la deuda pública y el crédito privado, especialmente el crédito rural. Todos estos estudios m…
Inclusive and exclusive neutrino-nucleus cross sections and the reconstruction of the interaction kinematics
2021
Abstract We present a full kinematic analysis of neutrino-nucleus charged current quasielastic interactions based on the Local Fermi Gas model and the Random Phase Approximation. The model was implemented in the NEUT Monte Carlo framework, which allows us to investigate potentially measurable observables, including hadron distributions. We compare the predictions simultaneously to the most recent T2K and MINERvA charged current (CC) inclusive, CC0π and transverse kinematic-imbalance variable results. We pursuit a microscopic interpretation of the relevant reaction mechanisms, with the aim to achieving in neutrino oscillation experiments a correct reconstruction of the incoming neutrino kine…
Inferring possible magnetic field strength of accreting inflows in EXor-type objects from scaled laboratory experiments
2021
Aims. EXor-type objects are protostars that display powerful UV-optical outbursts caused by intermittent and powerful events of magnetospheric accretion. These objects are not yet well investigated and are quite difficult to characterize. Several parameters, such as plasma stream velocities, characteristic densities, and temperatures, can be retrieved from present observations. As of yet, however, there is no information about the magnetic field values and the exact underlying accretion scenario is also under discussion. Methods. We use laboratory plasmas, created by a high power laser impacting a solid target or by a plasma gun injector, and make these plasmas propagate perpendicularly to …
Physical Activity and Motor Competence in Preschool Children
2021
Longitudinal evidence has demonstrated that engagement in physical activity (PA) and the development of motor competence (MC) have numerous tangible health and developmental benefits [...]
Rapid extraction of short-lived isotopes from a buffer gas cell for use in gas-phase chemistry experiments. Part I: Off-line studies with 219Rn and …
2021
Abstract To study the chemical properties of the heaviest elements, a fast and efficient stopping and extraction of the highly energetic residues from heavy ion fusion reactions into the chemistry setup is essential. Currently used techniques like Recoil Transfer Chambers (RTC) relying on gas flow extraction provide high efficiencies for chemically non-reactive volatile species, but operate at extraction times t extr of about 0.5 s or more. Buffer Gas Cells (BGC) with electric and Radio-Frequency (RF) fields offer much faster extraction times. Here, we demonstrate the successful coupling of a BGC to a gas chromatography setup as is used for studies of chemical properties of superheavy eleme…
The role of heterochrony in Schizanthus flower evolution- a quantitative analysis
2021
Abstract Changes in the timing of development within a lineage (heterochrony) have an enormous impact on floral diversification. However, comparative quantitative studies in a broad range of ontogenetic stages are still needed to identify the role of different heterochronic processes shaping diversification patterns. In this study, changes in petal development were compared across species in the genus Schizanthus showing floral diversification mediated by pollinators. In this genus, transitions from bee- to hummingbird- and moth- pollination are associated with lower lip diversification. Variation in size and shape of petals was quantified at key ontogenetic stages by using a traditional an…
Multi-Antenna Covert Communication With Jamming in the Presence of a Mobile Warden
2021
Covert communication can hide the information transmission process from the warden to prevent adversarial eavesdropping. However, it becomes challenging when the warden can move. In this paper, we propose a covert communication scheme against a mobile warden, which maximizes the connectivity throughput between a multi-antenna transmitter and a full-duplex jamming receiver with the covert outage probability (COP) limit. First, we analyze the monotonicity of the COP to obtain the optimal location the warden can move. Then, under this worst situation, we optimize the transmission rate, the transmit power and the jamming power of covert communication to maximize the connection throughput. This …
Genomic Analysis and Lineage Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Strains in Migrants Accessing Europe Through the Libyan Route
2021
Many African countries, representing the origin of the majority of refugees, asylum-seekers, and other migrants, toward regions bordering on the Mediterranean area, are experiencing sustained local transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Sicily is one of the main entry gates of migrants crossing into Europe. We conducted a pilot study, based on the full-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated from migrants coming to Sicily by crossing the Mediterranean Sea, with the aim to investigate the viral genome polymorphism and to describe their genetic variations and the phylogenetic relationships. On June 21, a nongovernmental organization vessel rescu…
NG2-Glia Transiently Overcome Their Homeostatic Network and Contribute to Wound Closure After Brain Injury
2021
In the adult brain, NG2-glia represent a cell population that responds to injury. To further investigate if, how and why NG2-glia are recruited to the injury site, we analyzed in detail the long-term reaction of NG2-glia after a lesion by time-lapse two-photon in vivo microscopy. Live imaging over several weeks of GFP-labeled NG2-glia in the stab wounded cerebral cortex revealed their fast and heterogeneous reaction, including proliferation, migration, polarization, hypertrophy, or a mixed response, while a small subset of cells remained unresponsive. At the peak of the reaction, 2–4 days after the injury, NG2-glia accumulated around and within the lesion core, overcoming the homeostatic co…
Definite and indeterminate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis share similar clinical features and prognosis : A longitudinal study of 1893 biopsy-proven no…
2021
[Background and Aim] Histological score systems may not fully capture the essential nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) features, which is one of the leading causes of screening failure in clinical trials. We assessed the NASH distribution and its components across the fibrosis stages and their impact on the prognosis and their relationship with the concept of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).
Multimessenger Binary Mergers Containing Neutron Stars: Gravitational Waves, Jets, and γ-Ray Bursts
2021
Neutron stars (NSs) are extraordinary not only because they are the densest form of matter in the visible Universe but also because they can generate magnetic fields ten orders of magnitude larger than those currently constructed on earth. The combination of extreme gravity with the enormous electromagnetic (EM) fields gives rise to spectacular phenomena like those observed on August 2017 with the merger of a binary neutron star system, an event that generated a gravitational wave (GW) signal, a short γ-ray burst (sGRB), and a kilonova. This event serves as the highlight so far of the era of multimessenger astronomy. In this review, we present the current state of our theoretical understand…
Is there a need to widely prescribe antibiotics in patients hospitalized with COVID-19?
2021
Highlights • Antibiotics were a main part of COVID-19 treatments during the first epidemic peak. • Bacterial coinfections seem to be rare, especially if no ICU transfer needed. • We studied the place of antibiotics and the impact on prognosis of patients. • Antibiotics were prescribed if more severe infection and has no impact on prognosis. • We think that antibiotic therapy must be not widely prescribed.
false
2021
Aging and diabetes lead to protein glycation and cause dysfunction of collagen-containing tissues. The accompanying structural and functional changes of collagen significantly contribute to the development of various pathological malformations affecting the skin, blood vessels, and nerves, causing a number of complications, increasing disability risks and threat to life. In fact, no methods of non-invasive assessment of glycation and associated metabolic processes in biotissues or prediction of possible skin complications, e.g., ulcers, currently exist for endocrinologists and clinical diagnosis. In this publication, utilizing emerging photonics-based technology, innovative solutions in mac…
Violence against women: An observational study in an Italian emergency department
2021
Abstract Violence against women is a pervasive phenomenon affecting one in three women aged ≥15 in the world that are more likely to visit an emergency department (ED) for the serious physical and psychological consequences of the abuse. The aim of this observational single-centre study is to describe the socio-demographic and clinical variables associated with violence against women. We enrolled 425 female patients who attended an Italian ED for trauma on 2019 and the patients' information was collected and analyzed with descriptive statistics. The average age of the patients was 41.5 (standard deviation = 14.2) years. 74.6% of the women were Italians, and 86.6% were of metropolitan origin…
Induction of stress resistance and extension of lifespan in Chaenorhabditis elegans serotonin-receptor knockout strains by withanolide A
2021
Abstract Introduction Approximately 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression. The COVID-19 crisis may dramatically increase these numbers. Severe side effects and resistance development limit the use of standard antidepressants. The steroidal lactone withanolide A (WA) from Withania somnifera may be a promising alternative. Caenorhabditis elegans was used as model to explore WA's anti-depressive and anti-stress potential. Methods C. elegans wildtype (N2) and deficient strains (AQ866, DA1814, DA2100, DA2109 and MT9772) were used to assess oxidative, osmotic or heat stress as measured by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), determination of lifespan, and mRNA expression of …