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• The 2023 ESH Guidelines give RAD a class of recommendation II with a Level of Evidence B. • RAD has two main areas of application: untreated and resistant hypertension. • The reduction in 24-H systolic BP after RAD exceeds that after SHAM by about 5 mmHg in treated patients. • Reduction in 24-H systolic BP (RAD–SHAM) is about 4 mmHg in treated patients. • Results from trials showed no important safety signals related to the procedure. Catheter-based renal artery denervation (RAD) is entering a new era. After the disappointing results of SYMPLICITY-HTN 3 trial in year 2014, several technical and methodological advancements led to execution of important SHAM-controlled randomized trials with promising results. Now, the 2023 ESH Guidelines give RAD a class of recommendation II with a Level of Evidence B. Currently, catheter-based RAD has two main areas of application: (a) Hypertensive patients who are still untreated, in whom RAD is a sort of a first-line treatment; (b) Difficult-to-control or true resistant hypertensive patients. Notably, randomized SHAM-controlled trials met their primary end-point in both these conditions. So far, we do not dispose of established predictors of the antihypertensive response to RAD. Some data suggest that younger patients with systo-diastolic hypertension, absence of diffuse atherosclerosis and evidence of sympathetic nervous system overactivity experience a better BP response to the procedure. We reviewed the available data on catheter-based RAD and included an updated meta-analysis of the results of the available SHAM-controlled trials. Overall, the reduction in 24-h systolic blood pressure (BP) after RAD exceeded that after SHAM by 4.58 mmHg (95% CI 3.07–6.10) in untreated patients, and by 3.82 mmHg (95% CI 2.46–5.18) in treated patients, without significant heterogeneity across trials, patient phenotype (untreated versus treated patients) and technique (radiofrequency versus ultrasound). There were no important safety signals related to the procedure. Notably, some data suggest that RAD could be an effective additional approach in patients with atrial fibrillation and other conditions characterized by sympathetic nervous system overactivity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuna represents one of the most consumed foods in many parts of the world. It is estimated that about 70 % of the tuna's weight is discarded in the production of canned fillets. This work is focused on the optimization of production of an oil rich in omega-3 from the tuna viscera, provided by a canned tuna production company, using the Alcalase enzyme. Combined use of Design of experiments (DoE), life cycle analysis (LCA), and principal component analysis (PCA) on the collected analytical data made it possible to define the best combination of the values of pH, enzyme/substrate OUS) ratio, and reaction time, respectively (pH = 8.5), E/S (1 56), and time (120 min), and to better understand the environmental bottleneck of the process. The outcomes of the study demonstrated that the duration of the hydrolysis and the associated electricity consumption is the factor that affects the most the environmental sustainability of the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ITER Neutral Beam Test Facility (NBTF) is hosted in Padua and includes two experiments: MITICA, the 1 MeV full-scale prototype of the ITER HNB injector, and SPIDER, the 100 keV full-size ITER Radio Frequency (RF) negative ion source. SPIDER and MITICA experiments are actively cooled by Ultrapure Water (UPW) to electrically insulate in-vessel components that are biased to high voltage levels. Water conductivity is an important monitored parameter to ensure components' insulation by limiting the leakage current of active cooled equipment. A very low conductivity water is especially important in MITICA, where components need to operate up to 1 MVdc, an insulation level beyond the actual industrial standard. Careful selection of suitable materials for any in-vessel (vacuum insulation) and out-vessel component (air insulation) is of utmost importance, as their interaction with water and different environment may affect their chemical and mechanical properties. Additionally, materials selection can severely influence water chemical characteristics: cooling circuits are made of metals (copper, aluminium, steel) and insulating materials (plastic, rubber) when connecting parts at different electric potentials. During the first years of cooling plant exploitation, it was shown that water degrades more quickly than estimated by design. The Primary Circuits (PCs) that showed the most severe water degradation during operation are SPIDER and MITICA power supply ones, respectively called PC01 and PC08. This paper describes the results of specific experimental tests performed on MITICA PC08 to evaluate possible causes of water degradation and detect sources of contaminants that might compromise future experimental campaigns. The cooling circuit was subdivided in different sections and water circulation tests were performed at constant temperature and flowrate. Water samples were collected and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses were performed to quantify the type and amount of metals released. Moreover, components samples collected along their cooling circuits were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) technique to detect undesired contaminants and immersed in UPW to study their corrosion behaviour using metal release tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Difficult calving may adversely affect dairy cow health and performance. Maternal:fetal disproportion is a major cause of dystocia. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the effects of dam:calf body weight ratio (D:C) on calving difficulty, rumination time, lying time, and inflammatory profile in 25 Holstein dairy cows. Using automatic monitoring systems, we monitored behavior and production in 9 primiparous and 16 pluriparous cows between dry-off and 30 d in milk. During the same period, we collected blood samples to monitor metabolism and inflammatory profile of these cows. Calvings were video recorded to assess calving difficulty and observe the duration of the expulsive stage. After parturition, the cows were separated into 3 classes according to their D:C: easy (E; D:C >17), medium (M; 14 < D:C <17), and difficult (D; D:C <14). The cows in class D showed relatively longer labor durations (108 min vs. 54 and 51 min for classes D, M, and E, respectively) and higher calving assistance rates (50% vs. 0 and 11% of calvings for classes D, M, and E, respectively) than those in the other 2 classes. Compared with the cows in classes M and E, those in class D exhibited shorter rumination times on the day of calving (176 min/d vs. 288 and 354 min/d for classes D, M, and E, respectively) and during the first week of lactation (312 min/d vs. 339 and 434 min/d for classes D, M, and E, respectively) and maintained lower rumination values until 30 DIM (399 min/d vs. 451 and 499 min/d for classes D, M, and E, respectively). Primiparous class D cows had shorter resting times during the first week after calving compared with those in class M (8 vs. 11 h/d for classes D and M, respectively). Interclass differences were found in terms of the levels of inflammation markers such as acute-phase proteins (ceruloplasmin, albumin, retinol, and paraoxonase). Moreover, cows in class D had lower plasma levels of fructosamine and creatinine after calving. Low D:C reduced postcalving rumination time and increased inflammation grade, suggesting a lower welfare of these animals at the onset of lactation. The D:C might serve as a useful index for the identification of cows at relatively higher risk of metabolic and inflammatory disease, thus helping farmers and veterinarians improve the welfare and health of these cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beet and cane molasses are produced worldwide as a by-product of sugar extraction and are widely used in animal nutrition. Due to their composition, they are fed to ruminants as an energy source. However, molasses has not been properly characterized in the literature; its description has been limited to the type (sugarcane or beet) or to the amount of dry matter (DM), total or water-soluble sugars, crude protein, and ash. Our objective was to better characterize the composition of cane and beet molasses, examine possible differences, and obtain a proper definition of such feeds. For this purpose, 16 cane and 16 beet molasses samples were sourced worldwide and analyzed for chemical composition. The chemical analysis used in this trial characterized 97.4 and 98.3% of the compounds in the DM of cane and beet molasses, respectively. Cane molasses contained less DM compared with beet molasses (76.8 ± 1.02 vs. 78.3 ± 1.61%) as well as crude protein content (6.7 ± 1.8 vs. 13.5 ± 1.4% of DM), with a minimum value of 2.2% of DM in cane molasses and a maximum of 15.6% of DM in beet molasses. The amount of sucrose differed between beet and cane molasses (60.9 ± 4.4 vs. 48.8 ± 6.4% of DM), but variability was high even within cane molasses (39.2–67.3% of DM) and beet molasses. Glucose and fructose were detected in cane molasses (5.3 ± 2.7 and 8.1 ± 2.8% of DM, respectively), showing high variability. Organic acid composition differed as well. Lactic acid was more concentrated in cane molasses than in beet molasses (6.1 ± 2.8 vs. 4.5 ± 1.8% of DM), varying from 1.6 to 12.8% of DM in cane molasses. Dietary cation-anion difference showed numerical differences among cane and beet molasses (7 ± 53 vs. 66 ± 45 mEq/100 g of DM, on average). It varied from −76 to +155 mEq/100 g of DM in the cane group and from +0 to +162 mEq/100 g of DM in the beet group. Data obtained in this study detailed differences in composition between sources of molasses and suggested that a more complete characterization could improve the use of molasses in ration formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptors mediate the entry into the cell of three strains of coronavirus: SARS-CoV, NL63 and SARS-CoV-2. ACE2 receptors are ubiquitous and widely expressed in the heart, vessels, gut, lung (particularly in type 2 pneumocytes and macrophages), kidney, testis and brain. ACE2 is mostly bound to cell membranes and only scarcely present in the circulation in a soluble form. An important salutary function of membrane-bound and soluble ACE2 is the degradation of angiotensin II to angiotensin 1-7. Consequently, ACE2 receptors limit several detrimental effects resulting from binding of angiotensin II to AT1 receptors, which include vasoconstriction, enhanced inflammation and thrombosis. The increased generation of angiotensin 1-7 also triggers counter-regulatory protective effects through binding to G-protein coupled Mas receptors. Unfortunately, the entry of SARS-CoV2 into the cells through membrane fusion markedly down-regulates ACE2 receptors, with loss of the catalytic effect of these receptors at the external site of the membrane. Increased pulmonary inflammation and coagulation have been reported as unwanted effects of enhanced and unopposed angiotensin II effects via the ACE→Angiotensin II→AT1 receptor axis. Clinical reports of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 show that several features associated with infection and severity of the disease (i.e., older age, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) share a variable degree of ACE2 deficiency. We suggest that ACE2 down-regulation induced by viral invasion may be especially detrimental in people with baseline ACE2 deficiency associated with the above conditions. The additional ACE2 deficiency after viral invasion might amplify the dysregulation between the 'adverse' ACE→Angiotensin II→AT1 receptor axis and the 'protective' ACE2→Angiotensin 1-7 →Mas receptor axis. In the lungs, such dysregulation would favor the progression of inflammatory and thrombotic processes triggered by local angiotensin II hyperactivity unopposed by angiotensin 1-7. In this setting, recombinant ACE2, angiotensin 1-7 and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers could be promising therapeutic approaches in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Multivariate exploratory data analysis allows revealing patterns and extracting information from complex multivariate data sets. However, highly complex data may not show evident groupings or trends in the principal component space, e.g. because the variation of the variables are not grouped but rather continuous. In these cases, classical exploratory methods may not provide satisfactory results when the aim is to find distinct groupings in the data. To enhance information extraction in such situations, we propose a novel approach inspired by the concept of combining weak classifiers, but in the unsupervised context. The approach is based on the fusion of several adjacency matrices obtained by different distance measures on data from different analytical platforms. This paper is intended to present and discuss the potential of the approach through a benchmark data set of beer samples. The beer data were acquired using three spectroscopic techniques: Visible, near-Infrared and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. The results of fusing the three data sets via the proposed approach are compared with those from the single data blocks (Visible, NIR and NMR) and from a standard mid-level data fusion methodology. It is shown that, with the suggested approach, groupings related to beer style and other features are efficiently recovered, and generally more evident. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • A new approach to enhance information extraction from highly complex datasets is proposed. • The approach is based on the fusion of adjacency matrices obtained from different clustering strategies. • Information extracted from different data blocks is fused, so the approach can also be a method for high-level data fusion. • Visible, NIR and NMR data of beer samples are used as a benchmark for testing the approach. • The approach can highlight groups in a better way than the single-block and mid-level data-fusion approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crosstalk of two major heart cell groups, cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts, relies on direct electromechanical cellular coupling as well as indirect mechanical signal transmission through the surrounding viscoelastic extracellular matrix. Upon injury of cardiac tissue, this communication becomes unbalanced: fibrosis is initiated leading to increased collagen deposition, accompanied by an activation of fibroblasts – the key players of fibrosis. They undergo a reorganization or partial transformation to myofibroblasts during this process, which precedes scar formation within the infarcted heart in vivo. Here, we induce wound formation in an in vitro system as a model for these fibrotic conditions: we assessed the dynamics of wound healing in co-cultures of fibroblasts and myocytes upon targeted wound initiation using Electric Cell Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) under optical control. We discovered distinct wound closure dynamics for mono- and co-cultures of myocytes and fibroblasts and observed a cessation of the contractile behavior for recovering cardiomyocyte cultures. We furthermore identified a change of cellular impedance for recovering fibroblasts and the presence of α-SMA, suggesting a partial transformation into myofibroblasts. This was concomitant with a modulation of connectivity, cell-substrate dynamics and membrane capacitance of all wounded cell cultures. Qualitatively, connexin 43 observation confirmed the ECIS trend found for cell-cell connectivity. Finally, we were able to validate the ECIS based wounding approach against an ECIS based barrier assay – the so-called electric fence. In particular the cell-cell connectivity and thus cell layer integrity dominates the healing dynamics within the two intrinsically different assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Although the cross-kingdom transfer of vegetable miRNAs (miRNAs) in mammalian species, including humans, is still controversial, recent studies have rejected this theory. Based on these recent studies, we hypothesized that artichoke-derived miRNAs (cca-miRNAs) are not adsorbed into human intestinal cells after cooking and in vitro digestion. In order to test this hypothesis, we evaluated miRNA (cca-miRNAs) in the edible part of globe artichokes (head portion), after cooking and digestion by an in vitro digestion system. The cca-miRNA levels were analyzed by real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and those that withstood cooking and digestion conditions were further analyzed for their bioavailability using an in vitro system (Caco-2/TC7 cell clone). We detected 20 cca-miRNAs after cooking, 5 of which were statistically down-regulated in comparison with uncooked samples. Only 4 cca-miRNAs were found after in vitro digestion. By using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we also evaluated the extracellular vesicles (EVs) in homogenized artichoke as possible miRNA transporters. However, approximately 81% were degraded after cooking, while the remaining EVs had changed shape from round to elliptical. Finally, we detected no cell-free cca-miRNAs, miRNAs bound to protein complex, and no cca-miRNAs encapsulated in EVs inside Caco-2 cells or in basolateral medium after bioavailability experiments. In conclusion, the data from the present study agrees with recent findings that the human small intestine does not uptake dietary miRNAs from raw or cooked artichoke heads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limiting feeding time has been a concept used in growing and nonlactating ruminant animals with good success, especially in improving feed efficiency while maintaining normal rumen function and fiber digestibility. This study evaluated the physiological and productive responses of cows fed a total mixed ration (TMR) available for 24 or 19 h/d with or without access to additional long hay. Eight multiparous Holstein cows were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Rations were formulated to mimic a TMR used in the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production area of Italy, consisting of all dry and nonfermented components. Intakes were reduced by 2.49 kg/d in cows with restricted TMR access and 1.16 kg/d without supplemental hay. Rumen characteristics were similar for all groups with improvements in energy-corrected milk. The results show that once cows adapted to diet changes, few differences were observed when offering TMR continuously or with limited access. Energy-corrected milk feed efficiency was improved in cows having access to feed 19 versus 24 h/d. In addition, the presence of long hay during the TMR restriction offered the optimal conditions for ruminal function and pH stability, yet no effects were observed on body weight change. A Latin square with 21-d periods could have a carry-over effect on energy storage, and mobilization of fat reserves might be able to mask negative energy balance during restriction. Restricted feeding could be used as a strategy to manage feed availability according to cow production and metabolic condition, to maximize the use of nutrient resources, reducing the cost of milk production and improving the cows' welfare and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the well-established tools for food metabolomic analysis, as it proved to be very effective in authenticity and quality control of dairy products, as well as to follow product evolution during processing and storage. The analytical assessment of the EU mountain denomination label, specifically for Parmigiano Reggiano "Prodotto di Montagna - Progetto Territorio" (Mountain-CQ) cheese, has received limited attention. Although it was established in 2012 the EU mountain denomination label has not been much studied from an analytical point of view. Nonetheless, tracing a specific profile for the mountain products is essential to support the value chain of this specialty. The aim of the study was to produce an identity profile for Parmigiano Reggiano "Prodotto di Montagna - Progetto Territorio" (Mountain-CQ) cheese, and to differentiate it from Parmigiano Reggiano PDO samples (conventional-PDO) using 1H NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate data analysis. Three different approaches were applied and compared. First, the spectra-as-such were analysed after proper preprocessing. For the other two approaches, Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) was used for signals resolution and features extraction, either individually on manually-defined spectral intervals or by reapplying MCR-ALS on the whole spectra with selectivity constraints using the reconstructed "pure profiles" as initial estimates and targets. All approaches provided comparable information regarding the samples' distribution, as in all three cases the separation between the two product categories conventional-PDO and Mountain-CQ could be highlighted. Moreover, a novel MATLAB toolbox for features extraction via MCR-ALS was developed and used in synergy with the Chenomx library, allowing for a putative identification of the selected features. A first identity profile for Parmigiano Reggiano "Prodotto di Montagna - Progetto Territorio" obtained by interpreting the metabolites signals in NMR spectroscopy was obtained. Our workflow and toolbox for generating the features dataset allows a more straightforward interpretation of the results, to overcome the limitations due to dimensionality and to peaks overlapping, but also to include the signals assignment and matching since the early stages of the data processing and analysis. • For the first time a NMR metabolomic characterization of Parmigiano Reggiano "Prodotto di Montagna - Progetto Territorio" was obtained. • A MATLAB toolbox was developed allowing pure metabolites profiles determination and putative identification. • It has been possible to highlight metabolites capable to differentiate Mountain Parmigiano Reggiano from conventional Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Source for Production of Ions of Deuterium Extracted from a Radiofrequency plasma (SPIDER) is the 100 keV full-size Ion Source prototype of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Neutral Beam Injectors (NBI), currently in operation at Consorzio RFX in Padova, Italy. The SPIDER vacuum pumping system is designed to operate at a nominal gas pressure of 0.3 Pa inside the Beam Source (BS), and it consists of two primary pumping groups, four turbo-molecular pumps, and eight cryogenic pumps. However, during the first three years of SPIDER operations, it was found that increasing the BS pressure to 0.6 Pa was necessary to achieve nominal performance. Additionally, a specific experimental study conducted in 2019 revealed the existence of a pressure limit in the SPIDER Vacuum Vessel (VV) that must be respected to reduce the probability of Radio Frequency breakdown. These two factors have necessitated an upgrade to the current vacuum pumping system. To address the issue of limited space for installing new pumps, a Vacuum Enhancement Module (VEM) will be added to the existing SPIDER Vacuum Vessel (VV). The VEM will house up to 512 Non-Evaporable Getter (NEG) pump cartridges in 16 × 32 modules. The pumps will need to be regenerated at temperatures up to 600 °C for up to 72 h to extract the hydrogen isotopes absorbed during operation. To prevent the heating of surrounding parts, such as the SPIDER Beam Source (BS) and electrical connections, a dedicated cooling system is required to cool down the VEM components during the NEG regeneration process. This paper presents a thermal-hydraulic study, design, and analysis of the cooling system for the VEM using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To define the role of cavernosal venous occlusive dysfunction (CVOD) as the only cause of erectile dysfunction (ED).Materials and Methods: Patients meeting the CVOD criteria without any risk factors for organic ED were randomized into 2 groups; the end-diastolic velocity (EDV), peak systolic velocity (PSV), and resistive index (RI) of their cavernosal arteries were assessed using color duplex Doppler ultrasound (CDDU) after intracavernous injection (ICI) of 10 µg alprostadil. Group 1 (153 patients) underwent repeated CDDU + ICI assessments (a maximum of 3 rounds). Group 2 (149 patients) underwent CDDU + ICI before and after sexological counseling. The percentage data were analyzed using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test; the numerical data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test.Results: For group 1, the PSVs (median values: first round 42 cm/s; second round 54 cm/s; third round 66 cm/s) and RIs (median values: first round 70%; second round 89%; third round 92%) increased significantly in each CDDU + ICI round, whereas the EDVs were significantly lower (median values: first round 11 cm/s; second round 5 cm/s; third round 1 cm/s). For group 2, the PSVs (median values: from 44 to 67 cm/s) and RIs (from 72% to 93%) increased significantly after sexological counseling, whereas the EDVs (median values: from 12 to 1 cm/s) were significantly lower.Conclusion: Repeated CDDU + ICI and counseling strongly diminished the percentage of patients meeting the CVOD criteria, leading to the suspicion that CVOD is linked to psychological issues in highly selected young healthy men with ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Helianthus genus, very large intra- and interspecific variability related to two specific retrotransposons of Helianthus annuus ( Helicopia and SURE ) exists. When comparing these two sequences to sunflower sequence databases recently produced by our lab, the Helicopia family was shown to belong to the Maximus / SIRE lineage of the Sirevirus genus of the Copia superfamily, whereas the SURE element (whose superfamily was not even previously identified) was classified as a Gypsy element of the Ogre / Tat lineage of the Metavirus genus. Bioinformatic analysis of the two retrotransposon families revealed their genomic abundance and relative proliferation timing. The genomic abundance of these families differed significantly among 12 Helianthus species. The ratio between the abundance of long terminal repeats and their reverse transcriptases suggested that the SURE family has relatively more solo long terminal repeats than does Helicopia . Pairwise comparisons of Illumina reads encoding the reverse transcriptase domain indicated that SURE amplification may have occurred more recently than that of Helicopia . Finally, the analysis of population structure based on the SURE and Helicopia polymorphisms of 32 Helianthus species evidenced two subpopulations, which roughly corresponded to species of the Helianthus and Divaricati / Ciliares sections. However, a number of species showed an admixed structure, confirming the importance of interspecific hybridisation in the evolution of this genus. In general, these two retrotransposon families differentially contributed to interspecific variability, emphasising the need to refer to specific families when studying genome evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PSG is a reliable and safe tool that allows the precise quantification of night rest and to evaluate its architecture. • Changes in sleep architecture appear to be sensitive markers of clinical changes during a manic episode of bipolar disorder. • Sleep management during the manic episode is confirmed as a primary clinical objective. Sleep plays a key role in the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of mood disorders. However, only a few studies have investigated sleep architecture during the manic episodes of Bipolar Disorder (BD) and changes in sleep parameters that follow clinical variations. Twenty-one patients (8 males, 13 females) affected by BD, manic phase, underwent polysomnographic recordings (PSG) at the beginning of the admission in our ward (T 0) and after three weeks of hospital treatment (T 1). All participants were clinically evaluated using Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). During the admission, we observed an increase in both quantity (Total Sleep Time - TST) and quality (Sleep Efficiency - SE) of sleep. In addition, clinical improvement, evaluated with YMRS and PSQI scales, was accompanied by a significant increase in the percentage of REM sleep. According to our findings, the improvement of manic symptoms is accompanied by an increase in "REM pressure" (increase in REM% and REM density, reduction of REM latency). Overall, changes in sleep architecture appear to be markers sensitive to clinical variations during manic phases of Bipolar Disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The goal of the present research was to examine the potential of a learner-oriented approach to improving older adults’ performance in tasks that are similar to real-life situations that require strategic deployment of cognitive resources. A crucial element of this approach involves encouraging older adults to explicitly analyze tasks to consider how to adapt trained skills to a new task context. In an earlier study, a specialist-directed intervention produced training gains and transfer to some untrained memory tasks. Method In the present study, older adults received a manual instructing them about principles of task analysis, two memory strategies, and strategy adaptation. Self-guided strategy-adaption training involved practicing some memory tasks as well as instructions on how the trained skills could be applied to new tasks that were not practiced. The criterion tasks involved practice tasks, non-practiced tasks that were discussed in the manual, and transfer tasks that were never mentioned in the manual. Two of the tests were from the Everyday Cognition Battery (inductive reasoning and working memory). Results As compared to a waiting-list control group, older adults assigned to self-guided strategy-adaption training showed memory improvements on tasks that were practiced or discussed during training. Most important, the learner-oriented approach produced transfer to the everyday tasks. Conclusion Our findings show the potential of instructing task appraisal processes as a basis for fostering transfer, including improving older adults’ performance in simulated everyday tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical withstand capabilities of polyethylene films and ad hoc prepared PE sandwich samples containing controlled cavities inside, both coated with organic-inorganic hybrid thin layers also modified with graphene oxide, have been investigated. While films have been subjected to breakdown tests, samples with cavities have been exposed to partial discharge (PD) induced electrical ageing, valuating the different evolution of the damage due to PD activity. Experimental results highlight the positive effect brought by the presence of the hybrid coating and in particular of the coating containing also graphene oxide on the electrical performance of the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows experimental results about R1234yf condensation inside a microfin tube with an inner diameter at the fin tip of 3.4 mm. R1234yf is a new environmentally friendly refrigerant, with a Global Warming Potential lower than 1, therefore it matches the new environmental laws. Experimental tests are carried out for mass velocities from 100 to 1000 kg m −2  s −1 , vapor qualities from 0.95 to 0.2, at saturation temperature of 30 °C and 40 °C. The experimental results show that heat transfer coefficient increases when both mass velocity and vapor quality increase. Frictional pressure gradient increases with mass velocity at constant vapor quality, whereas at constant mass velocity it increases with vapor quality up to a maximum, after which it slightly decreases. The experimental heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop are also compared against the values predicted by empirical correlations available in the open literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new concept of chemical foaming is proposed for the preparation of geopolymers with fine porosity. The use of an interactive powder mixture of gas releasing agent and carrier particles, potentially combines the benefits of small point sources of gas with easy homogenization in the fresh geopolymer. This concept was exploited here for the preparation of porous flyash-based geopolymers. The interactive powder mixture was a SiC powder containing reactive submicron FeSi/FeSi 2 particles. Premature foaming was avoided due to prolonged induction period and slow reaction rate of the active phase. Samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, mercury porosimetry, tree-point bending tests and thermal conductivity measurements. In addition, total porosity was determined using measured apparent and real densities. It was found that fine pore structure (diameter 140 ± 80 μm) not normally obtained using chemical foaming, was achieved in a reproducible manner with this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Theory of Mind (ToM) is a complex human ability that allows people to make inferences on others’ mental states such as beliefs, emotions and desires. Previous studies on ToM in normal aging have provided heterogeneous findings. In the present study we examined whether a mixed calculation of different aspects of ToM may have contributed to these conflicting results. We had two aims. First, we explored the age-related changes in the performance of cognitive vs. affective ToM. Second, we investigated the extent to which the effect of aging on cognitive vs. affective ToM is mediated by age-related differences in executive functions. Method To address these issues three age groups (young, young-old, and old-old adults) were compared on cognitive and affective ToM using the faux pas test. In addition, participants were tested using a battery of executive function tasks tapping on inhibition, working memory updating, and word fluency. Results The analyses indicated that young adults outperform both young-old and old-old adults on cognitive ToM but not on affective ToM. Correlations showed that, whereas cognitive ToM was significantly associated with age, working memory updating, and inhibition, affective ToM was not. Finally, analyses revealed that individual differences in working memory updating (but not inhibition) mediated the effect of age on cognitive ToM. Conclusion Our findings support the view of selective age-related differences on cognitive, but not affective, ToM in normal aging. The distinction between the two ToM components is further supported by a dissociable pattern of correlations with executive functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Total sleep deprivation combined with light therapy is a powerful treatment for bipolar depression. • The effect of chronoterapeutics on sleep has never been objectively assessed, despite the well-known importance of sleep in bipolar disorder. • Sleep architecture modifications were observed after treatment with double chronotherapy, especially regarding sleep stages 2 and 3, and REM density. • Reduction of N3 sleep was correlated with depressive symptoms reduction. The aim of this study is to objectively evaluate sleep architecture changes of depressed bipolar subjects treated with chronoterapeutics. Eleven depressed bipolar inpatients received 3 cycles of Total Sleep Deprivation, followed by daily light therapy sessions for one week. Polysomnography was performed before and after the treatment. Depressive symptoms significantly reduced, and sleep architecture changed with significant differences in N2% and N3% and REM density. Change in N3% was also positively correlated to depressive symptoms reduction. Although, previous studies reported sleep architecture changes after chronoterapeutics in unipolar depression, this is the first study to demonstrate changes also in bipolar depressed subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 1/3 of patients with non–ST-segment elevation (NSTE) acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are ≥75 years of age. Risk stratification in these patients is generally difficult because supporting evidence is scarce. The investigators developed and validated a simple risk prediction score for 1-year mortality in patients ≥75 years of age presenting with NSTE ACS. The derivation cohort was the Italian Elderly ACS trial, which included 313 patients with NSTE ACS aged ≥75 years. A logistic regression model was developed to predict 1-year mortality. The validation cohort was a registry cohort of 332 patients with NSTE ACS meeting the same inclusion criteria as for the Italian Elderly ACS trial but excluded from the trial for any reason. The risk score included 5 statistically significant covariates: previous vascular event, hemoglobin level, estimated glomerular filtration rate, ischemic electrocardiographic changes, and elevated troponin level. The model allowed a maximum score of 6. The score demonstrated a good discriminating power (C statistic = 0.739) and calibration, even among subgroups defined by gender and age. When validated in the registry cohort, the scoring system confirmed a strong association with the risk for all-cause death. Moreover, a score ≥3 (the highest baseline risk group) identified a subset of patients with NSTE ACS most likely to benefit from an invasive approach. In conclusion, the risk for 1-year mortality in patients ≥75 years of age with NSTE ACS is substantial and can be predicted through a score that can be easily derived at the bedside at hospital presentation. The score may help in guiding treatment strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracellular Tau inclusions are a pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, collectively known as the tauopathies. They include Alzheimer disease, tangle-only dementia, Pick disease, argyrophilic grain disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration. Tau pathology appears to spread through intercellular propagation, requiring the formation of assembled "prion-like" species. Several cell and animal models have been described that recapitulate aspects of this phenomenon. However, the molecular characteristics of seed-competent Tau remain unclear. Here, we have used a cell model to understand the relationships between Tau structure/phosphorylation and seeding by aggregated Tau species from the brains of mice transgenic for human mutant P301S Tau and full-length aggregated recombinant P301S Tau. Deletion of motifs 275VQIINK280 and 306VQIVYK311 abolished the seeding activity of recombinant full-length Tau, suggesting that its aggregation was necessary for seeding. We describe conformational differences between native and synthetic Tau aggregates that may account for the higher seeding activity of native assembled Tau. When added to aggregated Tau seeds from the brains of mice transgenic for P301S Tau, soluble recombinant Tau aggregated and acquired the molecular properties of aggregated Tau from transgenic mouse brain. We show that seeding is conferred by aggregated Tau that enters cells through macropinocytosis and seeds the assembly of endogenous Tau into filaments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the relative use of urethral dilation, urethrotomy, and urethroplasty for male stricture disease in the Veterans Affairs (VA) population and examine trends over time in this cohort. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed using the VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure database to access the Corporate Data Warehouse. The current procedural terminology codes were used to define a cohort of all men who underwent procedures for urethral stricture disease between October 1999 and August 2013. Results A total of 92,448 procedures were performed: 50,875 urethral dilations (55.03%), 39,785 urethrotomies (43.03%), and 1788 urethroplasties (0.19%). Over the course of the study, there was a shift in the management of male stricture disease. The relative percentage of urethral dilations performed decreased in each quintile (71.27, 58.03, 45.61, 44.39, and 38.67). The relative percentage of urethrotomies increased in each quintile (27.89, 40.80, 52.18, 53.04, and 56.95) as did the relative percentage of urethroplasties performed (0.85, 1.17, 2.21, 2.57, and 4.38). A total of 80.4% of these urethroplasties were performed in locations with a residency program. Conclusion Although urethroplasty is still underused, there is a trend toward increased use of urethroplasty for male urethral stricture disease in the VA population. The majority of urethroplasties were performed at VA medical centers in locations with a residency program. We predict continued increases in utilization of urethroplasty for male urethral stricture disease as the number of fellowship-trained reconstructive urologists increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Silicon nanowires physical properties strongly depend on their growth conditions, as already assessed. We report on the electrical properties of nanowires (NWs) grown by the vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism, one of the most established for NW growth, and by the more recent metal-assisted wet chemical etching (MaCE). Wet etching growth process promises to be an industrial advantageous way for growing Si NWs, because of its cheapness, fastness, relative easiness. The electronic level scheme in VLS grown, boron (B)- and phosphorus (P)-doped NWs has been experimentally investigated. We have demonstrated that the doping impurities induce the same shallow levels as in bulk silicon. The presence of two donor levels in the lower half-bandgap is also revealed, which has been successfully related to VLS growth details. We report, also, on the first results on the physical properties of Si NW arrays grown by MaCE, and compare them to those of VLS grown Si NWs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study examined cultural differences in stereotypes and attributions regarding aging and memory. Two subcultures belonging to the same country, Italy, were compared on general beliefs about memory. Sardinians live longer than other areas of Italy, which is a publically shared fact that informs stereotypes about that subculture. An innovative instrument evaluating simultaneously aging stereotypes and attributions about memory and memory change in adulthood was administered to 52 Sardinian participants and 52 Milanese individuals divided into three age groups: young (20–30), young–old (60–70), and old–old (71–85) adults. Both Milanese and Sardinians reported that memory decline across the life span is more typical than a pattern of stability or improvement. However, Sardinians viewed stability and improvement in memory as more typical than did the Milanese. Interestingly, cultural differences emerged in attributions about memory improvement. Although all Sardinian age groups rated nutrition and heredity as relevant causes in determining the memory decline, Sardinians’ rated typicality of life-span memory improvement correlated strongly with causal attributions to a wide number of factors, including nutrition and heredity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cadmium zinc telluride, CdZnTe or CZT, is presently the best candidate for radiation detectors since it can operate at room temperature and in hostile environment. In recent years, advancements of the crystal growth methods and subsequent processes, as for example thermal treatments, have led to an increasing quality of the material. However, the major obstacle to optimize detectors' performance still consists in the defects, both grown-in and processing-induced, which seem to be inevitably present. In this contribution, we present the state-of-the-art of the knowledge on the electrical properties of defects in Cd(1−x)Zn x Te with zinc content x=0.1–0.2, focusing on point defects due to intrinsic defects or their complexes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Coordination compounds have been applied in many fields of technology, such as electronics, optics and optoelectronics, information storage, sensing and magnetism. These materials are designed to incorporate a variety of functional properties, and at the same time are gifted with functional groups that control their interactions and assembly in the solid state. In order to integrate coordination compounds in solid-state devices, the control of their assembly should not only be at the molecular level but also at different length scales since the precise positioning and size-control of the individual assembled structures are needed. In this direction, wet-lithographic techniques play a key role in the manufacture and application of micro- and nanostructures based on soluble coordination compounds. This review provides an overview of wet-lithographic methods applied to patterning of coordination compounds, highlighting some of the recent advances and the major criticisms. The first part is focused on probe-assisted methods while the second part is focused on stamp-assisted ones. Eventually, a section on the combination of wet and conventional lithographic methods is presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Neurofibrillary tangles, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD), are composed of paired helical filaments of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau. The accumulation of these pro-teinaceous aggregates in AD correlates with synaptic loss and severity of dementia. Identifying the kinases involved in the pathological phosphorylation of tau may identify novel targets for AD. We used an unbiased approach to study the effect of 352 human kinases on their ability to phosphorylate tau at epitopes associated with AD. The kinases were overexpressed together with the longest form of human tau in human neuroblastoma cells. Levels of total and phosphorylated tau (epitopes Ser(P)-202, Thr(P)-231, Ser(P)-235, and Ser(P)-396/404) were measured in cell lysates using AlphaScreen assays. GSK3α, GSK3β, and MAPK13 were found to be the most active tau kinases, phosphorylating tau at all four epitopes. We further dissected the effects of GSK3α and GSK3β using pharmacological and genetic tools in hTau primary cortical neurons. Pathway analysis of the kinases identified in the screen suggested mechanisms for regulation of total tau levels and tau phosphorylation; for example, kinases that affect total tau levels do so by inhibition or activation of translation. A network fishing approach with the kinase hits identified other key molecules putatively involved in tau phosphorylation pathways, including the G-protein signaling through the Ras family of GTPases (MAPK family) pathway. The findings identify novel tau kinases and novel pathways that may be relevant for AD and other tauopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In engineering design, the selection of material alternatives usually depends of different criteria based on the specific problem. Due to the different units of this criteria, a normalization process is needed in the selection model. A lot of normalization approach can be found in literature and at the same time many algorithms have been developed to ensure the optimal material selection for a certain industrial application. Two elements of reflection can be drawn from the analysis of these. The first is the absence of an aided support to the selection of the correct engineering criteria by whom operate the selection process. The second is the need to define a weighting method that at the same time can be user-friendly to use and representative of the project’s needs. A new selection model based on the integration between House of Quality and the Comprehensive Vikor Algorithm is presented in this paper. This approach, called Integral Aided Material Selection (IAMS), can overcome the main lack of traditional material selection model and provide a real support tool to the project team. That way the project team can optimally choose the selection criteria and assign to these the correct priority coherently with the project needs. A case study is presented to illustrate and justify the proposed method. The topic of the case study concerns the identification of the best coating for the protection of an aluminum alloy substrate (Al-7075) from the effects of abrasive wear against an alternating counterpart made by a high-strength cast iron. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To look for a link between compensation of diabetes in patients with uncompensated/undiagnosed diabetes with chronic Peyronie''s disease (PD) and improvement of their PD symptoms. Methods: Thirty-six nonsmoking patients with uncompensated diabetes and PD were studied. The plaque area and pain (ie, PD symptoms) were compared before and after a strict control of hemoglobin A1c and of glycemia at a timeframe of 37 ± 13 weeks. Thirty-two nonsmoking nondiabetic patients with PD who had their PD symptoms assessed twice with a mean time lag of 39 ± 11 weeks were used as controls. The differences in PD symptoms between the 2 assessments were evaluated using the Wilcoxon test. A Spearman rank correlation test was used to identify any correlation between glycemia before diabetic compensation and the percentage of decrease in the size of plaque of patients with diabetes. Results: Plaque area and pain diminished in patients with diabetes, coincidentally with diabetes compensation and antidiabetic therapy administration. On the other hand, the controls had their plaque area significantly increased while their pain was not modified. The Spearman tests found a significant correlation between glycemia before diabetic compensation and the percentage of decrease in the size of plaque of patients with diabetes. Conclusion: Diabetes compensation and/or antidiabetic therapy improved PD symptoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The paper presents a comprehensive overview of the most recent research works on heat transfer (and pressure drop) with natural refrigerants in minichannels, aimed at proper design of heat transfer equipment. About boiling heat transfer, experimental HT results are mainly fitted by empirical correlations referring to the common mechanisms used in more conventional geometries (nucleate and convective boiling); evaporation heat transfer through thin liquid film around vapor plugs is at times considered. About shear dominated condensation heat transfer, suggested design tools again mostly refer to the extension of the semi-empirical correlations earlier established for conventional geometries. For CO2, heat transfer at supercritical conditions, such as in a gas cooler, is also treated. Finally the concept of the Penalty Factor is applied to shear condensation in minichannels to establish the heat transfer performance of the different working fluids, the superior effectiveness of minitubes over macrotubes, and the optimization of minichannel condensers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study examined age and cultural differences on both personal and general beliefs about memory by comparing three age groups within two subcultures belonging to the same country: Milanese and Sardinian. Two innovative instruments on general and personal beliefs with graphic-rating-scale format (General Beliefs about Memory Instrument and Personal Beliefs about Memory Instrument) and a memory task (recall of 40 words) were administrated to participants. Sardinians held more positive attitudes about the effects of aging on memory reporting a later onset of declining memory ability and control over memory across the life span. They were also more optimistic in rating their global memory efficacy, control, and retrospective change. The two subcultural groups differed in terms of memory performance, with Sardinian individuals outperforming the Milanese. Findings are discussed in relation to the view of aging in different subcultural contexts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Because of limitations in infrastructure, the aetiology of infections caused by anaerobic bacteria is seldom determined in clinical laboratories of developing countries. This study reports on the identification of 1010 anaerobic bacterial isolates collected between 1999 and 2008 in a major Costa Rican hospital with the use of two commercial phenotypic systems (RapID 32A and API 20A). Approximately 60% of the isolates were Gram-positive and, among the 35 species of Gram-positive bacteria found, the genera Clostridium, Propionibacterium and Eggerthella, and anaerobic cocci predominated. Twenty eight species were found among 395 isolates of Gram-negative bacteria. Species of Bacteroides were very frequent, followed by species of Prevotella, Veillonella, Fusobacterium and Porphyromonas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether decreased estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) expression in endometriotic lesions could be balanced by an increased expression of estrogen receptor-related receptors (ERRs). To evaluate whether ERR-α expression is influenced by hormonal change in fertile and menopausal women. Design: Prospective controlled study. Setting: University Hospital, Department of Gynecology. Patient(s): Twenty-five women: 20 women of reproductive age with (n = 10) and without (control; n = 10) endometriosis and 5 menopausal women. Intervention(s): Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Immunohistochemistry. Main Outcome Measure(s): The ER and ERR expression levels were studied by reverse transcriptase–qPCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry using endometriotic and normal endometrial tissues. The ERR-α protein distribution was performed by immunohistochemistry in fertile and menopausal women. Result(s): Increased levels of ER-β were associated with ER-α, ERR-α, and ERR-γ reductions in ectopic tissue but not in eutopic and normal endometria. Similar levels of ERR-β were found in women with and without endometriosis. The ERR-α expression was similar in proliferative and secretory endometrial samples, whereas a down-regulation of this receptor was found in atrophic tissue. Conclusion(s): Our data confirm the up-regulation of ER-β as the principal receptor involved in the progression of human endometriosis. In addition, we found that ERR-α seems to be unresponsive to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work focuses on P450 biosensors based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and different cytochrome isoforms: 3A4, 2B4, 2C9. The proposed biosensors exhibit enhanced sensitivities and decreased detection limits thanks to carbon nanotubes. The MWCNT structuring improves the sensitivity from 5.1 to 20.5nA/mMmm2 in case of CYP2B4-mediated Benzphetamine detection, from 0.26 to 0.63nA/μMmm2 in case of CYP3A4-mediated Cyclophosphamide detection, and from 0.11 to 0.25nA/μMmm2 in case of CYP2C9-mediated Naproxen detection. By using MWCNT, the limit of detection was enhanced from 59 to 12μM in case of Cyclophosphamide and from to 187 to 82μM in case of Naproxen. This makes possible the drug detection in human serum within the pharmacological range. In the paper, a new mathematical model is also proposed to succeed in discriminating different drug contributions in a mixture containing both Cyclophosphamide and Dextromethorphan or combining Naproxen and Flurbiprofen. Data analysis shows variations in reduction peaks that are dependent on the drug ratio, and that are consistent with competitive kinetics of substrates. This new approach enables multiple drug detection and opens the way to possible applications in personalized therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Label-free DNA detection plays a crucial role in developing point-of-care biochips. Capacitance detection is a promising technology for label-free detection. However, data published in literature often show evident time drift, large standard deviation, scattered data points, and poor reproducibility. To address these problems, mercapto-hexanol or similar alkanethiols are usually considered as blocking agents. The aim of the present paper is to investigate new blocking agents to further improve DNA probe surfaces. Data from AFM, SPR, florescence microscopy, and capacitance measurements are used to investigate new lipoate and ethylene-glycol molecules. The new surfaces offer further improvements in terms of diminished detection errors. Film structures are investigated at the nano-scale to justify the detection improvements in terms of probe surface quality. This study demonstrates the superiority of lipoate and ethylene-glycol molecules as blocking candidates when immobilizing molecular probes onto spot surfaces in label-free DNA biochip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]