Identification of biomarkers in wastewater-based epidemiology: Main approaches and analytical methods

2021

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has become popular to estimate the use of drugs of abuse and recently to establish the incidence of CoVID 19 in large cities. However, its possibilities have been expanded recently as a technique that allows to establish a fingerprint of the characteristics of a city, such as state of health/disease, healthy/unhealthy living habits, exposure to different types of contaminants, etc. with respect to other cities. This has been thanks to the identification of human biomarkers as well as to the fingerprinting and profiling of the characteristics of the wastewater catchment that determine these circumstances. The purpose of this review is to analyze the differ…

Green entrepreneurship and SME performance: the moderating effect of firm age

2021

AbstractGreen entrepreneurship has been increasing with growing attention to environment protection by a variety of stakeholders. Green innovation, as the essence of green entrepreneurship, has attracted a broad range of scholarly attention with yet inconclusive findings regarding its effect on firm performance. According to our analyses of 1667 firms listed on SME board and GEM in China during the period from 2010 to 2019, we find interesting results regarding the type of green innovation involved and the moderating effect of firm age on the link between green innovation and SME performance. More precisely, we find green utility-model innovation positively influences firm performance for S…

Integration of large-area optical imagers for biometric recognition and touch in displays

2021

In recent years there has been an increasing interest to integrate optical sensing in mobile displays, for instance, for biometric fingerprint scanning functionality. There are several routes to incorporate optical fingerprint functionality within the full display area, each with their own benefits and challenges. Here we investigate the different integration routes using large-area, ultra-thin imagers based on organic photodiodes.

Modular Paradigm for Composites: Modeling Hydrothermal Degradation of Glass Fibers

2021

Fiber-reinforced composite materials are often used in structural applications in humid, marine, and offshore environments. Superior mechanical properties are compromised by environmental ageing and hydrolytic degradation. Glass fibers are the most broadly used type of fiber reinforcement to date. However, they are also most severely affected by environmental degradation. The glass fiber degradation rates depend on: (1) glass formulation; (2) environmental factors: pH, T, stress; (3) sizing; (4) matrix polymer; (5) fiber orientation and composite layup. In this short review (communication), seven modules within the Modular Paradigm are reviewed and systematized. These modeling tools, encomp…

Cyber-Physical Systems for Smart Water Networks: A Review

2021

Author's accepted manuscript. There is a growing demand to equip Smart Water Networks (SWN) with advanced sensing and computation capabilities in order to detect anomalies and apply autonomous event-triggered control. Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) have emerged as an important research area capable of intelligently sensing the state of SWN and reacting autonomously in scenarios of unexpected crisis development. Through computational algorithms, CPSs can integrate physical components of SWN, such as sensors and actuators, and provide technological frameworks for data analytics, pertinent decision making, and control. The development of CPSs in SWN requires the collaboration of diverse scienti…

Spread of the fascioliasis endemic area assessed by seasonal follow-up of rDNA ITS-2 sequenced lymnaeid populations in Cajamarca, Peru

2021

Fascioliasis is a worldwide emerging snail-borne zoonotic trematodiasis with a great spreading capacity linked to animal and human movements, climate change, and anthropogenic modifications of freshwater environments. South America is the continent with more human endemic areas caused by Fasciola hepatica, mainly in high altitude areas of Andean regions. The Peruvian Cajamarca area presents the highest human prevalences reported, only lower than those in the Bolivian Altiplano. Sequencing of the complete rDNA ITS-2 allowed for the specific and haplotype classification of lymnaeid snails collected in seasonal field surveys along a transect including 2007–3473 m altitudes. The species Galba t…

Potere signorile, consenso, dissenso e controllo del territorio nella Sicilia del Trecento: l’esempio dei Chiaromonte

2021

The essay analyses the reasons why the governments created by Chiaromonte family in the cities of eastern Sicily failed, and investigates the cause of their success in the long lasting urban signorie of western Sicily. To create consensus, they had to ensure the supply of grain for the population, to defend the territory from external attacks, and to maintain public order. In addition to military prowess, they used their speaking skills to influence citizens and showed a magnificent lifestyle by building imposing palaces, celebrating sumptuous weddings and funerals, and commissioning works of art. They created spy networks and used violent methods to repress dissent (imprisonment, torture, …

On the subset sum problem for finite fields

2021

Abstract Let G be the additive group of a finite field. J. Li and D. Wan determined the exact number of solutions of the subset sum problem over G, by giving an explicit formula for the number of subsets of G of prescribed size whose elements sum up to a given element of G. They also determined a closed-form expression for the case where the subsets are required to contain only nonzero elements. In this paper we give an alternative proof of the two formulas. Our argument is purely combinatorial, as in the original proof by Li and Wan, but follows a different and somehow more “natural” approach. We also indicate some new connections with coding theory and combinatorial designs.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities, preclinical carotid atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk in an apparently healthy real-world population. Data …

2021

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent important causes of morbidity and mortality. Our study aimed to evaluate cardiovascular risk using the EuroSCORE, ECG and carotid ultrasound for prevention purpose in a population of companions aged 50-70 years, asymptomatic and without CVD. Methods: History of CVD, risk factors (RF), ECG and carotid ultrasound were evaluated. Intima-media thickness (IMT) was defined as wall thickness >0.9 mm, while focal thickening ≥1.5 mm protruding into the lumen as asymptomatic carotid plaque (ACP). Results: Totally, 1860 subjects were screened. 393 (21.1%) had no RF, 780 (42%) hypertension, 571 (30.7%) hypercholesterolemia, 557 (29.9%) diabetes, 4…

Livedo: une présentation clinique rare de mycosis fongoïde avec vascularite

2021

Introduction Le mycosis fongoide (MF), lymphome cutane T primitif le plus frequent, peut prendre des formes cliniques tres variees. Nous rapportons 3 cas d’une forme rare associant des plaques de MF a des lesions livedoides necrotiques correspondant a une vasculite cutanee (VC) associee. Materiel et methodes Cas 1: Un patient de 82 ans aux antecedents de leucemie lymphoide chronique B et de MF traite par dermocorticoides presentait un livedo racemosa du tronc, complique de necroses et ulcerations cutanees douloureuses. L’aspect histologique etait celui d’un infiltrat lymphoide dermique atypique, de phenotype T CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(-) avec pilotropisme et epidermotropisme, associe en profonde…

Anti-Aging Physiological Roles of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Its Dietary Regulators

2021

The vast majority of the literature on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor is concerned with its functions in xenobiotic detoxification. However, in the course of evolution, this receptor had to have physiological (rather than toxicological) functions. Our aim was to review the aryl hydrocarbon receptor’s role in the physiological functions involved in aging. This study was performed by searching the MEDLINE and Google Academic databases. A total of 34 articles were selected that focused specifically on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and aging, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and physiological functions, and the combination of both. This receptor’s main physiological functions (mediated by the modul…

Transcriptomic autophagy-related gene signature investigation for type 2 diabetes in Mediterranean subjects

2021

Abstract Background Autophagy (involving degradation and clearance of damaged organelles and compounds) plays a role in type 2 diabetes (T2D). There are three main types of autophagy and several genes involved. These genes have been well studied in animal models, but there are few transcriptomic studies in humans. Our aim is to analyze the differential gene expression, and the functional enrichment of the main autophagy-related genes (ARG) in T2D subjects from a Mediterranean population Methods We analyzed 120 White-European subjects (mean age 61,4 years; 50% women; 24 T2D) from Valencia, Spain. Clinical and lifestyle data were obtained. ARN was isolated from blood. Transcriptome-wide gene …

Strength and weakness of the Old English adjective

2021

Abstract As regards Old English, the inflectional strength and weakness are characterised by a kind of inconsistency. In the case of Old English adjectives these two inflectional properties appear to be different from those associated with nouns and verbs. In the case of the latter the two properties seem to be lexically determined while in the case of adjectives they appear to be determined by syntactic conditions. The traditional accounts of the Old English grammar attribute two paradigms to one adjectival lexical item. The analysis presented in this article postulates that one can actually speak about one adjectival inflection and what is traditionally presented as strong and weak adject…

Enterobius vermicularis infestation of the appendix mimicking acute appendicitis in a young Italian boy Case report.

2021

Enterobius Vermicularis (EV) is the most commonly identified heminth incidentally found within the appendix of a clinically diagnosed appendicitis. This simple presence of EV may cause appendicular colic, primarily affecting children, it is an important cause of negative appendicectomy. We report a case of a young male who presented with clinical features of acute appendicitis. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was uneventful and pathologic examination revealed the presence of an EV infestation originating from the lumen of his vermiform appendix. KEY WORDS: Acute appendicitis, Diagnosis, Enterobius Vermicularis.L’Enterobius Vermicularis (EV) è il più frequente ossiuro identificato occasionalment…

Molecular Basis of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1-Induced Immune Translational Shutdown as Revealed by All-Atom Simulations.

2021

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic represents the most severe global health crisis in modern human history. One of the major SARS-CoV-2 virulence factors is nonstructural protein 1 (Nsp1), which, outcompeting with the binding of host mRNA to the human ribosome, triggers a translation shutdown of the host immune system. Here, microsecond-long all-atom simulations of the C-terminal portion of the SARS-CoV-2/SARS-CoV Nsp1 in complex with the 40S ribosome disclose that SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1 has evolved from its SARS-CoV ortholog to more effectively hijack the ribosome by undergoing a critical switch of Q/E158 and E/Q159 residues that perfects Nsp1's interactions…

The importance of association between sexsteroids deficiency, reduction of bone mineral density and falling risk in men with implications in medical …

2021

Introduction. Endocrino-metabolic rehabilitation represent one of the most complex sector in clinical medicine, regarding functional rehabilitation. Sex hormones deficiency plays an important role in the etiology of osteoporosis in men. At the same time, with age, the trophic role of androgens on muscle decreases and determines an increased frequency of falls. The objective of our study is to determine the association between sexsteroids deficiency, reduction of bone mineral density (BMD) and falling risk in men. Methods. Our retrospective cross-sectional study included 146 men aged between 65–85 years with low BMD (study group) and 121 men with normal BMD (control group). The measurement o…

Tinkering with the two-to-one interview: Reflections on the use of two interviewers in qualitative constructionist inquiry

2021

Abstract Typically, qualitative interviews implicate a single interviewer. In this article, we consider an alternative comprising the simultaneous, active involvement of two interviewers. We base our considerations on experiences using the two-to-one interview in a nationwide research project on disability and physical activity. In addition to untapping and developing a qualitative interview method, the article provides an example in action of tinkering in qualitative inquiry. Tinkering entails a constant questioning of what to do, what is best, and what is appropriate within each moment of the research. Echoing social constructionist scholars, we argue that this flexible approach is useful…

The effect of exposure to radiofrequency fields on cancer risk in the general and working population: A protocol for a systematic review of human obs…

2021

Highlights • RF-EMF was classified by IARC as possibly carcinogenic to humans (2B) in May 2011 • A systematic review of all subject-relevant epidemiological studies is now needed. • A detailed protocol ensures the review's transparency, utility and credibility. • Original study validity will be evaluated with a customized OHAT risk of bias tool. • Internal coherence and external plausibility will inform conclusions.

Dynamics of Quadriceps Muscles during Isometric Contractions : Velocity-Encoded Phase Contrast MRI Study

2021

Objective: To quantify the spatial heterogeneity of displacement during voluntary isometric contraction within and between the different compartments of the quadriceps. Methods: The thigh muscles of seven subjects were imaged on an MRI scanner while performing isometric knee extensions at 40% maximal voluntary contraction. A gated velocity-encoded phase contrast MRI sequence in axial orientations yielded tissue velocity-encoded dynamic images of the four different compartments of the thigh muscles (vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), vastus intermedius (VI), and rectus femoris (RF)) at three longitudinal locations of the proximal–distal length: 17.5% (proximal), 50% (middle), and 7…

Sourcing on the internet: Examining the relations among different phases of online inquiry

2021

This study examined students’ engagement in sourcing throughout online inquiry, that is, when they specified the information need, formulated search queries, evaluated online texts, and composed a written product. Participants were 167 upper secondary school students. Students completed an online inquiry task in a restricted online environment that utilized authentic online texts. Students’ prior topic knowledge and reading fluency was measured and controlled for in the analysis. The results showed that students engaged in sourcing even in the earliest phases of online inquiry. A sequential regression analysis indicated that the more frequently students engaged in sourcing in specifying the…

How acute physical and psychological stress differentially influence the kynurenine pathway: A randomized cross-over trial.

2021

Abstract Psychological stress is associated with the pathogenesis of several neuropsychiatric disorders. In contrast, physical stress, as provoked by exercise, counteracts symptoms and potentially also disease progression. The kynurenine pathway, which is imbalanced in neuropsychiatric disorders, responds to both psychological and physical stress. Here, we compared the acute effects of psychological versus physical stress on the kynurenine pathway and inflammatory mediators. Thirty-five healthy males (mean age: 24.09±3.39 years) underwent both the Trier Social Stress Test (psychological stressor) and the Wingate-Test (physical stressor). The kinetics of tryptophan and its metabolites as wel…

Patterns of Carbon-Bound Exogenous Compounds in Patients with Lung Cancer and Association with Disease Pathophysiology.

2021

Abstract Asymptomatic anthracosis is the accumulation of black carbon particles in adult human lungs. It is a common occurrence, but the pathophysiologic significance of anthracosis is debatable. Using in situ high mass resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry imaging analysis, we discovered noxious carbon-bound exogenous compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), tobacco-specific nitrosamines, or aromatic amines, in a series of 330 patients with lung cancer in highly variable and unique patterns. The characteristic nature of carbon-bound exogenous compounds had a strong association wi…

Addio all'utilitarismo?

2021

In this article I will argument that the best utilitarian theory, that of Sumner, Harsanyi, Ferraro, cannot always protect the liberal and social rights of contemporary occidental constitutions and can from conceptual point of view violate some fundamental rights of some minority groups. Trova nel catalogo di Worldcat

Perioperative chemotherapy versus surgery alone for resectable colorectal liver metastases: an international multicentre propensity score matched ana…

2021

Abstract Background There is still uncertainty regarding the role of perioperative chemotherapy (CTx) in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), especially in those with a low-risk of recurrence. Methods Multicentre retrospective analysis of patients with CRLM undergoing liver resection between 2010–2015. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they received perioperative CTx or not and were compared using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Then, they were stratified according to prognostic risk scores, including: Clinical Risk Score (CRS), Tumour Burden Score (TBS) and Genetic And Morphological Evaluation (GAME) score. Results The study includ…

Implant insertion angle and depth : peri-implant bone stress analysis by the finite element method

2021

Background The study aimed to assess the influence of different implant insertion angles and depths on the stresses produced on the surface of peri-implant bone tissue under axial and oblique loading. Material and Methods The entire study followed the recommendations of the Checklist for Reporting In-vitro Studies (CRIS). The implant was placed in the region of element 36, according to the following models: M1 (0 mm / 0°); M2 (0 mm / 17°); M3 (0 mm / 30°); M4 (2 mm / 0°); M5 (2 mm / 17°); M6 (2 mm / 30°). The models were subjected to loading, with intensity of 100 N. The stress assessment followed the Mohr-Coulomb criterion and qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. Results A…

Optimizing the nickel boride layer thickness in a spectroelectrochemical ATR-FTIR thin-film flow cell applied in glycerol oxidation

2021

Abstract The influence of the drop-casted nickel boride catalyst loading on glassy carbon electrodes was investigated in a spectroelectrochemical ATR-FTIR thin-film flow cell applied in alkaline glycerol electrooxidation. The continuously operated radial flow cell consisted of a borehole electrode positioned 50 µm above an internal reflection element enabling operando FTIR spectroscopy. It is identified as a suitable tool for facile and reproducible screening of electrocatalysts under well-defined conditions, additionally providing access to the selectivities in complex reaction networks such as glycerol oxidation. The fast product identification by ATR-IR spectroscopy was validated by the …

Don't stress, it's under control: Neural correlates of stressor controllability in humans

2021

Abstract Animal research has repeatedly shown that control is a key variable in the brain's stress response. Uncontrollable stress triggers a release of monoamines, impairing prefrontal functions while enhancing subcortical circuits. Conversely, control over an adverse event involves prefrontally mediated downregulation of monoamine nuclei and is considered protective. However, it remains unclear to what extent these findings translate to humans. During functional magnetic resonance imaging, we subjected participants to controllable and uncontrollable aversive but non-painful electric stimuli, as well as to a control condition without aversive stimulation. In each trial, a symbol signalled …

Introduction

2021

Enhancing capsule in hepatocellular carcinoma: intra-individual comparison between CT and MRI with extracellular contrast agent

2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the value of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) to that of magnetic resonance imaging obtained with extracellular contrast agent (ECA-MRI) for the diagnosis of a tumor capsule in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using histopathologic findings as the standard of reference. Materials and methods: This retrospective study included patients with pathologically-proven resected HCCs with available preoperative contrast-enhanced CT and ECA-MRI examinations. Two blinded radiologists independently reviewed contrast-enhanced CT and ECA-MRI examinations to assess the presence of an enhancing capsule. The histopathological analysis of resected spe…

Acquisition of Mathematical and Linguistic Skills in Children With Learning Difficulties

2021

Comorbid learning difficulties in linguistic and mathematical skills often emerge in primary school age. The cause of coinciding of both learning difficulties during children’s development spanning pre- and primary-school age is not yet well understood. To address this research gap, we used data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS; n = 301) of four groups of children which were categorized according to their skill levels in pre-school age: children with learning difficulties isolated in linguistic skills (LD), children with learning difficulties isolated in mathematical skills (MD), children with learning difficulties combined in linguistic and mathematical skills (MD/LD)…

Sensitivity Analysis in Nonrandomized Longitudinal Mediation Analysis

2021

Mediation analysis relies on an untestable assumption of the no omitted confounders, which posits that an omitted variable that confounds the relationships between the antecedent, mediator, and outcome variables cannot exist. One common model in alcohol addiction studies is a nonrandomized latent growth curve mediation model (LGCMM), where the antecedent variable is not randomized, the two covarying mediators are latent intercept and slope modeling longitudinal effect of the repeated measures mediator, and an outcome variable that measures alcohol use. An important gap in the literature is lack of sensitivity analysis techniques to assess the effect of the violation of the no omitted confou…

Angiostrongiliasis humana. Aclaraciones a propósito del reporte de un caso importado en España

2021

Einige Bemerkungen zu den produktivsten Wortbildungsstrategien in der deutschen Fachterminologie des Eisenbahnwesens unter der kontrastiven Berücksic…

2021

Abstract This article is dedicated to present the most common word-formation strategies in German railway specialist terminology. The presentation of the most productive morphological nomination strategies in the analysed area is preceded by a short historical outline of the railway industry in Germany. The adumbration of the historical background and hints regarding the current EU environmental plans for railways are intended to expose the importance and relentless currency of the analysis undertaken here. The presented examples, which were extracted from the most extensive industry terminology database, RaiLLexic, have been correlated with their Polish equivalents. This contrastive proced…

Mango siciliano di IV gamma: come aumentarne la shelf life con l’uso di film edibili di origine naturale.

2021

Un nuovo edible coating, a base di olio di neem e gel di aloe, allunga la vita commerciale di frutti di mango in IV gamma senza alterarne il gusto

Sulla presenza di Erctella mazzullii (De Cristofori & Jan, 1832) (Gastropoda: Helicidae) nella Riserva Naturale di Isola delle Femmine (Palermo, Sici…

2021

[On the presence of Erctella mazzullii (De Cristofori & Jan, 1832) (Gastropoda: Helicidae) in the Nature Reserve of Isola delle Femmine (Palermo, Sicily, Italy)] The presence of a living population of Erctella mazzullii (De Cristofori & Jan, 1832) (Gastropoda: Helicidae), endemic species of the coastal strip of the Palermo Mountains (Sicily), from Isola delle Femmine or Isola di Fuori (Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve) is confirmed

An Information-Theoretic Framework to Measure the Dynamic Interaction between Neural Spike Trains

2021

Understanding the interaction patterns among simultaneous recordings of spike trains from multiple neuronal units is a key topic in neuroscience. However, an optimal approach of assessing these interactions has not been established, as existing methods either do not consider the inherent point process nature of spike trains or are based on parametric assumptions that may lead to wrong inferences if not met. This work presents a framework, grounded in the field of information dynamics, for the model-free, continuous-time estimation of both undirected (symmetric) and directed (causal) interactions between pairs of spike trains. The framework decomposes the overall information exchanged dynami…