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AbstractIn decision making under risk manifold individual differences are involved. To investigate their effect – specifically the effects of executive functions, memory, impulsivity, and consideration for future consequences − 130 healthy older adults were assessed through cognitive tests, self-report tools, and decisional tasks (the Game of Dice Task and the Balloon Analogue Risk-Taking Task). From a Latent Profile Analysis, three profiles characterised by differences in decisional performances emerged. “Impulsive and present-focused” individuals, notable for high levels of impulsivity and consideration for immediate consequences, and “Cautious” individuals, characterised by having impulsivity scores below average, presented decisional performances characterised by lower incomes and a higher number of risky choices compared to “Impulsive and cognitively functional” individuals, signified by the highest levels of impulsivity and cognitive functioning. Findings outlined how different configurations of individual differences can affect older adults’ decisions and implications can follow for deepening the decisional mechanisms in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are widespread bacterial protein secretion machines that inject toxic effector proteins into nearby cells, thus facilitating both bacterial competition and virulence. Pseudomonas aeruginosa encodes three evolutionarily distinct T6SSs that each export a unique repertoire of effectors. Owing to its genetic tractability, P. aeruginosa has served as a model organism for molecular studies of the T6SS. However, P. aeruginosa is also an opportunistic pathogen and ubiquitous environmental organism that thrives in a wide range of habitats. Consequently, studies of its T6SSs have provided insight into the role these systems play in the diverse lifestyles of this species. In this review, we discuss recent advances in understanding the regulation and toxin repertoire of each of the three P. aeruginosa T6SSs. We argue that these T6SSs serve distinct physiological functions; whereas one system is a dedicated defensive weapon for interbacterial antagonism, the other two T6SSs appear to function primarily during infection. We find support for this model in examining the signalling pathways that control the expression of each T6SS and co-ordinate the activity of these systems with other P. aeruginosa behaviours. Furthermore, we discuss the effector repertoires of each T6SS and connect the mechanisms by which these effectors kill target cells to the ecological conditions under which their respective systems are activated. Understanding the T6SSs of P. aeruginosa in the context of this organism's diverse lifestyles will provide insight into the physiological roles these secretion systems play in this remarkably adaptable bacterium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD) display a tendency toward making risky choices in value-based conditions. Possible causes may encompass the pathophysiologic characteristics of PD that affect neural structures pivotal for decision making (DM) and the dopaminergic medications that may bias choices. Nevertheless, excluding patients with concurrent impulse control disorders, results are few and mixed. Conversely, other factors, such as individual differences (e.g., emotional state, impulsivity, consideration for future consequences) and cognitive functioning, in particular executive functions (EFs), are involved, even though few studies investigated their possible role. The present study investigated (1) the differences in value-based DM between 33 patients with PD without impulse control disorders and 33 matched healthy controls, and (2) the relationships among decisional performances, EFs, and individual differences in a group of 42 patients with PD who regularly undertake dopaminergic medications. All participants underwent an individual assessment to investigate value-based DM, cognitive abilities, and individual differences associated with DM. Nonparametric analyses showed the presence of riskier decisions in patients compared with healthy controls, depending on the characteristics of the decisional situation. Moreover, parameters of the decisional tasks involving the number of risky choices were significantly related to the posology of dopaminergic medications, EFs, and individual differences. Findings were discussed, highlighting possible clinical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the recent global surge in Legionnaires' disease cases, the monitoring of Legionella pneumophila becomes increasingly crucial. Epidemiological cases often stem from local outbreaks rather than widespread dissemination, emphasizing the need to study the characteristics of this pathogen at a local level. This study focuses on isolates of L. pneumophila in the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia to assess specific genotype and phenotype distribution over time and space. To this end, a total of 127 L. pneumophila strains isolated between 2005 and 2017 within national surveillance programs were analysed. Rep-PCR, RAPD, and Sau-PCR were used for genotypic characterization, while phenotypic characterization was conducted through fatty acids analysis. RAPD and Sau-PCR effectively assessed genetic characteristics, identifying different profiles for the isolates and excluding the presence of clones. Although Sau-PCR is rarely used to analyse this pathogen, it emerged as the most discriminatory technique. Phenotypically, hierarchical cluster analysis categorized strains into three groups based on varying membrane fatty acid percentages. However, both phenotypic and genotypic analyses revealed a ubiquitous profile distribution at a regional level. These results suggest an absence of correlations between strain profiles, geographical location, and isolation time, indicating instead high variability and strain dissemination within this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 1960s, Foucault conducted his historical-philosophical research under the methodological name of archaeology, using this term to refer to the study of the historical conditions of possibility that allowed for the emergence of various knowledges and institutions. In his book The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences, published in 1966, Foucault focused his descriptive work on the different epochs of thought around the concepts of episteme and historical a priori, both of which were abandoned at least in the Foucauldian vocabulary of the following decade when Foucault began to describe his intellectual work as genealogy. In the intellectual field in Argentina, the reception and circulation of Foucault's work varied greatly from the 1950s to the present day. In recent years, archaeological categories have been used to think about both intellectual history and the diagnosis of contemporary society. In this paper, we will present two updates of Foucault's episteme to think about the tensions between knowledge and politics: the era of "The Forms" by Elías Palti and the postmodern episteme by Pablo Manolo Rodríguez, showing how both expressions reformulate the conceptual apparatus used by Foucault to think about an archaeology of the political in the case of the former, and the historical emergence of cybernetics by analyzing the epistemic changes made in the last fifty years in the case of the latter author. For this task, we will show what is retained from the Foucauldian gesture but also to what extent Argentine authors distance themselves from the thinker from Poitiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a world grappling with the severe effects induced by climate change, one of the most significant concerns affecting agriculture is the gradual decline in water quality for irrigation associated with reduced rainfalls and the consequent increase in soil salinity. This issue is particularly crucial for grapevine cultivation (Vitis vinifera L.) and the associated winemaking industry. The aroma of the resulting wines and the yield parameters can be influenced both directly by water quality and indirectly due to the effects exerted by salinity on the microbiota, which directly impacts plant health. To gain insights into this topic, our study aimed to analyse the changes induced in the microbiota of both the rhizosphere and the carposphere due to salt stress using a metabarcoding approach, focusing on Vitis vinifera cv. Glera. The control plants were irrigated with rainwater, while the treated plants were irrigated with water containing salt (NaCl). Our findings revealed significant differences in the microbiota (both fungi and bacteria) of the rhizosphere and carposphere between the two treatments. For instance, the Shannon diversity index (i.e., alpha diversity) was lower in the treated plants compared to the control not-treated ones, whilst the beta diversity did not show any differences. Several microbial phyla exhibited better resilience to this abiotic stress (e.g., Ascomycota, Saccharomycetes, Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes), shedding light on their impact on crucial bacterial and fungal groups essential for the subsequent winemaking stages. Additionally, the salt stress negatively affected the yield parameters. This study contributes valuable insights to the viticultural community, providing a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between soil characteristics, microbial communities, and their influence on productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

America's allies have reacted differently to the uncertainty surrounding US global leadership and the return to hard power politics in the 2010s. Some allies have remained steadfast in their commitment to Washington, while others distanced themselves from the United States. Why is it so? This article develops an integrated argument that brings together different strands of the literature on alignment, to better make sense of cross-national and within-case variations in allies' strategic behavior. By examining three case studies from distinct regional contexts – Japan, Poland and Turkey – the paper shows that although these allies all shared concerns about the Obama and Trump administrations' security commitment, it was their differing perceptions of the threats posed by China and Russia's power that influenced their pursuit of either stronger alignment with the US security patron – through internal balancing for 'attractiveness' and internal hedging –, or increased strategic autonomy from Washington by pursuing hard hedging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes Professor Hugo Drochon's book on Nietzsche's political philosophy, in which he seeks to restore the philosopher's political conceptions in contrast to commentators who suggest that they are subsumed in his metaphysical conceptions. Drochon situates Nietzsche in the spatial and temporal context in which his thinking was produced, mainly in Bismarck's Germany. The author argues that Nietzsche had a theory of the State and analyzes his reading of ancient Greek culture and politics. The book addresses topics such as the Greeks, the State, democracy, the relationship between philosophy and politics, the project of transvaluation, and the notion of Great Politics. Nietzsche's interpretations in relation to democracy and aristocracy are also analyzed, and the role of democracy and aristocracy in Nietzsche's vision of the future of Europe is examined. The author concludes that Nietzsche sought to bring his ideas into the realm of politics and proposed a political strategy for the party of life, highlighting his concern about what kind of elite should lead the future State and how his political theory can contribute to the construction of a new State and a new society. [Extracted from the article]

Promoting active and successful aging has become crucial to improve quality of life in later adulthood and reduce the impact of cognitive decline. Increasing evidence suggested that the ability to think creatively (e.g., via divergent thinking), similar to cognitive reserve, could represent a beneficial factor against the negative effects of aging. However, there is still little evidence investigating the relationships between divergent thinking, cognitive functions, and cognitive reserve in late adulthood. The present study explored these relationships in a sample of 98 individuals ranging from 61 to 88 years old (mean age: 72.44 ± 6.35). Results showed that visual, but not verbal, divergent thinking was affected by aging. Interestingly, visual divergent thinking performance was predicted by both the cognitive component of crystallized intelligence and cognitive reserve. Only the crystallized component of intelligence was found to mediate the aging effect on visual divergent thinking performance. These results suggest that in later adulthood a potential shift strategy to prior knowledge and semantic components over executive and control components of cognition could underlie a preserved ability to think divergently and, plausibly, creatively. Limitations of the study and implications for successful aging are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence shows that patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD) display the tendency toward making risky choices. This is due, at least in part, to the pathophysiological characteristics of the disease that affects neural areas underlying decision making (DM), in which a pivotal role is played by nonmotor corticostriatal circuits and dopamine. Executive functions (EFs), which can be impaired by PD as well, may sustain optimal choices in DM processes. However, few studies have investigated whether EFs can support PD patients to make good decisions. Adopting the scoping review approach, the present article is designed to deepen the cognitive mechanisms of DM under conditions of ambiguity and risk (that are conditions common to everyday life decisions) in PD patients without impulse control disorders. We focused our attention on the Iowa Gambling Task and the Game of Dice Task, because they are the most commonly used and reliable tasks to assess DM under ambiguity and under risk, respectively, and analyzed the performances in such tasks and their relationships with EFs tests in PD patients. The analysis supported the relationships between EFs and DM performance, especially when a higher cognitive load is required to make optimal decisions, as it happens under conditions of risk. Possible knowledge gaps and further research directions are suggested to better understand DM mechanisms in PD sustaining patients' cognitive functioning and preventing negative consequences in everyday life derived from suboptimal decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tourette's syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by tics, that may interfere with patients' everyday life. Research suggested that creative thinking (namely, divergent and convergent thinking) could help patients cope with their symptoms, and therefore it can be a resource in non-pharmacological interventions. The present study aimed at investigating (i) possible differences in creative thinking between Tourette's syndrome patients and healthy controls and (ii) whether creative thinking can support patients in coping with their symptomatology. Methods: A group of 25 Tourette's syndrome patients and 25 matched healthy controls underwent an assessment of creative thinking, fluid intelligence, and depressive symptoms. Creative thinking was compared between patients and healthy controls after controlling for fluid intelligence and depressive symptoms. Moreover, the moderating role of divergent and convergent thinking on the subjective impact of tics was tested in a group of 30 patients. Results: Tourette's syndrome patients outperformed healthy controls in convergent thinking. Moreover, divergent thinking was found as a significant moderator of the relationship between tics severity and the subjective impact in Tourette's syndrome patients. Conclusions: Findings highlighted the specific impact of convergent and divergent thinking on Tourette's syndrome patients. Considering the supportive role of creative thinking in Tourette's syndrome, our results confirm that higher levels of divergent thinking may reduce the tic-related discomfort. These findings suggest the potential positive implications of creative thinking in non-pharmacological interventions for Tourette's syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are cell envelope‐spanning protein complexes that Gram‐negative bacteria use to inject a diverse arsenal of antibacterial toxins into competitor cells. Recently, Wang et al. reported that the H2‐T6SS of Pseudomonas aeruginosa delivers the peptidoglycan recycling amidase, AmpDh3, into the periplasm of recipient cells where it is proposed to act as a peptidoglycan degrading toxin. They further reported that PA0808, the open reading frame downstream of AmpDh3, encodes an immunity protein that localizes to the periplasm where it binds to and inactivates intercellularly delivered AmpDh3, thus protecting against its toxic activity. Given that AmpDh3 has an established role in cell wall homeostasis and that no precedent exists for cytosolic enzymes moonlighting as T6SS effectors, we attempted to replicate these findings. We found that cells lacking PA0808 are not susceptible to bacterial killing by AmpDh3 and that PA0808 and AmpDh3 do not physically interact in vitro or in vivo. Additionally, we found no evidence that AmpDh3 is exported from cells, including by strains with a constitutively active H2‐T6SS. Finally, subcellular fractionation experiments and a 1.97 Å crystal structure reveal that PA0808 does not contain a canonical signal peptide or localize to the correct cellular compartment to confer protection against a cell wall targeting toxin. Taken together, these results cast doubt on the assertion that AmpDh3‐PA0808 constitutes an H2‐T6SS effector–immunity pair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between water temperature and gonadal maturation of a landlocked ecophenotype of marine pejerrey (Odontesthes argentinensis) in La Salada de Pedro Luro lake was analysed during three spawning seasons. Mainly vitellogenic females were found in August (winter), some ovulating in October (mid-spring) and with atretic oocytes in December (end of spring). In accordance with this, gonadosomatic index (GSI) and estradiol plasma levels showed maximum values in October (7.6 ± 0.7%; 1631.7 ± 256.1 pg/mL) and minimum values in December (1.2 ± 0.3%; 230,33 ± 8,74 pg/mL). Spermiating males were found during the whole spawning season and only arrested in December. The highest GSI values were recorded in October (4.6 ± 0.2%) and for testosterone (T) in August (1113.2 ± 503.8 pg/mL). Meanwhile, in December the minimum GSI and T plasma values (1.3 ± 0.6%, 323.8 ± 5.3 pg/mL) were observed. According to the Fourier fitted models, temperature explains more than 70% of the observed variation in GSI in both sexes. Moreover, the total GSI variation range was positively related to the total temperature range variation experienced during the reproductive seasons demonstrating the influence of this environmental variable on maturation intensity and dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding predictors of parents' willingness to vaccinate their children appears fundamental to promote vaccine acceptability, especially in a pandemic scenario. The present study aimed to investigate the role of conspiracy beliefs and absolutist thinking in parental attitude toward COVID‐19 vaccine, and the predictive role of parents' individual differences on decisions against children's vaccination. An online survey was administered to 415 parents of children aged 5–11, at the very beginning of the vaccination targeting this population in Italy. Results showed that absolutism predicted the tendency to believe in conspiracies, associated with a negative attitude toward the COVID‐19 vaccine administration to children. Moreover, mothers were less willing to vaccinate children and parents of children aged 5–7 were more hesitant, or even against vaccination, than parents of older children. Finally, the worry about consequences of COVID‐19 infection on children's health facilitated vaccine adherence. These findings contribute to deepening mechanisms regarding the vaccine acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision making (DM) has a pivotal role in supporting individual autonomy and well-being. It is considered a complex ability exploiting many cognitive functions, among which executive functions (EFs) are crucial. Few studies analyzed the role played by EFs in DM in healthy adults under ambiguity and risk, which are common conditions for most decisions in daily life. This scoping review aims to analyze the relationships between two individual tasks widely used to assess DM under these conditions (Iowa Gambling Task and Game of Dice Task) and EFs. According to the organizing principle that conceptualizes hot and cold EFs, DM under such conditions mainly implies hot EFs, but the relationship with cold EFs is still unclear. Using such an approach, a comprehensive framework is provided, highlighting main findings and identifying possible gaps in the literature. The results suggest different roles played by cold EFs in DM under ambiguity and risk, according to the characteristics of the tasks. The findings can offer guidance to further studies and to design interventions to support DM in healthy adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus is a species extensively studied and employed in food production for its widely recognized probiotic properties. This study aimed to enhance understanding of this species by characterizing a diverse range of strains sourced from international collections or isolated from various origins, such as dairy products, sourdoughs, wine or must, and human bodily excreta. Initially, 60 Lbs. rhamnosus strains underwent genotypic characterization utilizing Rep-PCR, RAPD, and Sau-PCR techniques to evaluate their genetic relationships and eliminate clones. Subsequently, a phenotypic characterization was conducted to assess strain resistance to different stressors such as pH, NaCl, and ethanol. Furthermore, particular attention was given to food safety aspects concerning the potential use of these strains as food starters and/or probiotics. This included investigating antibiotic resistance profiles, antimicrobial capabilities, biogenic amines production, presence of genes associated with ethyl carbamate production, and the occurrence of technologically relevant enzymes such as monoamine oxidase and diamine oxidase. The analyses revealed significant genetic variability among strains, with limited correlation to their sources of isolation. Additionally, strain-specific phenotypic traits were observed, emphasizing the importance of thorough strain characterization for food applications. • High genetic diversity observed among Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strains. • Three strains particularly sensitive to antibiotics, also to vancomycin. • 85 % of the strains exhibited α or β haemolysis. • 18 out of 60 strains displayed mono-copper oxidase (MCO) activity. • Strain-specific traits emphasize the need for characterization and tailored selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrorist groups have integrated social discourse into their narratives to exploit public fear. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to measure how ISIS modified narratives, stimulated group communication, reinforced enemy hatred, and employed new mobilization/recruitment strategies. Using Significance Quest Theory, this study examines ISIS's Twitter activity related to COVID-19 (N = 630,201) and how the group leverages the psychological effects and the social disruption. This study employs a two-stage analysis of tweet sentiment and emotion with a statistical analysis of retweet-motivating factors to explore how ISIS manages its narrative, needs, and network. Results show content with higher negative sentiment scores had more retweets across all sample sets. Insights include deeper understanding of extremist activity and group adaptation to external changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision-making competence is one of the most important aspects throughout the individual's lifespan. Making correct choices in everyday life is essential to keep autonomy, which is crucial, especially when age increases. Even though many studies showed that awareness about the decisional process plays a key role in an effective decision, no tools are available to assess it. Such awareness is especially crucial during old age, when most of the cognitive functions underlying the decision-making ability tend to impair, making the decisional process less efficient as well. This study concerns the Metacognitive Decision-Making Scenarios, a self-report tool designed to explore the elderly's awareness of the decisional process. Data collected through a pilot phase will be presented. Responses of 40 participants were investigated. Results revealed that the tool has internal consistency levels above the acceptance threshold and the answers to the items are stable over time. Further findings concern the relations between subscales and principal cognitive abilities and psychological characteristics bound to the decisional process, as well as possible differences associated with age, schooling, and sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent to which evolution can rescue a species from extinction, or facilitate range expansion, depends critically on the rate, duration, and geographical extent of the evolutionary response to natural selection. Adaptive evolution can occur quickly, but the duration and geographical extent of contemporary evolution in natural systems remain poorly studied. This is particularly true for species with large geographical ranges and for timescales that lie between “long-term” field experiments and the fossil record. Here, we introduce the Virtual Common Garden (VCG) to investigate phenotypic evolution in natural history collections while controlling for phenotypic plasticity in response to local growing conditions. Reconstructing 150 y of evolution in Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) as it invaded North America, we analyze phenology measurements of 3,429 herbarium records, reconstruct growing conditions from more than 12 million local temperature records, and validate predictions across three common gardens spanning 10° of latitude. We find that phenological clines have evolved repeatedly throughout the range, during the first century of evolution. Thereafter, the rate of microevolution stalls, recapitulating macroevolutionary stasis observed in the fossil record. Our study demonstrates that preserved specimens are a critical resource for investigating limits to evolution in natural populations. Our results show how natural selection and trade-offs measured in field studies predict adaptive divergence observable in herbarium specimens over 15 decades at a continental scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Parkinson's disease (PD) impairments in decision making can occur, in particular because of the tendency toward risky and rewarding options. The Iowa Gambling Task has been widely used to investigate decision processes involving these options. The task assesses the ability to manage risk and to learn from feedback. The present paper aims at critically examining those studies in which this task has been administered to PD patients, in order to understand possible anomalies in patients' decision processes and which variables are responsible for that. A meta‐analysis has been conducted as well. Features of the task, sociodemographic and clinical aspects (including daily drugs intake), cognitive conditions and emotional disorders of the patients have been taken into account. Neural correlates of decision‐making competences were considered. It emerged that PD patients show a trend of preference toward risky choices, probably due to an impairment in anticipating the unrewarding consequences or to an insensitiveness to punishment. The possible role played by dopamine medications in decision making under uncertain conditions, affecting basal ganglia and structures involved in the limbic loop, was discussed. Attention has been focused on some aspects that need to be investigated in further research, in order to delve into this issue and promote patients' quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single molecules in solid state matrices have been proposed as sources of single photon Fock states back 20 years ago. Their success in quantum optics and in many other research fields stems from the simple recipes used in the preparation of samples, with hundreds of nominally identical and isolated molecules. Main challenges as of today for their application in photonic quantum technologies are the optimization of light extraction and the on-demand emission of indistinguishable photons. We here present Hong–Ou–Mandel (HOM) experiments with photons emitted by a single molecule of dibenzoterrylene in an anthracene nanocrystal at 3 K, under continuous wave and also pulsed excitation. A detailed theoretical model is applied, which relies on independent measurements for most experimental parameters, hence allowing for an analysis of the different contributions to the two-photon interference visibility, from residual dephasing to spectral filtering. A HOM interference visibility of more than 75% is reported, which, according to the model, is limited by the residual dephasing present at the operating temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The ability to think creatively and skills associated to humor are still present in older age. • Creativity and humor share common psychological and neurobiological processes. • Creativity supports older people to face daily problems and the changes prompted by aging, so contributing to personal well-being. • Humor assists people to re-interpret the meaning of life in late adulthood. In the paper the possible links between creative thinking and humor are sketched and their role in promoting well-being in the elderly is taken into account. The specific features of creative thinking in older people and its developmental trend in aging are outlined. The changes in humor which occur during aging are considered as well. The connections between creative thinking and humor are analysed, by highlighting the cognitive mechanisms which are shared and the alleged common neural underpinnings. The functions which creativity and humor can play to promote well-being in late adulthood are discussed. These functions refer to the way older people can interpret their own experience, interact and communicate with others, and face daily problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fertigation divided in two-times application promoted the photosynthesis parameters compared to a single fertilization and to the non-treated vines. • Via fertigation, biological and physiological activity of the whole plant was enhanced. • Fertigation tendentially and significantly improved the qualitative, productive, physiological, and oenological parameters of "Schioppettino" wine. Nowadays a balance in plant production is required, especially in terms of nutrition, yield and for an optimal aroma and sensory profile of resulted wines. In this research, we compared two different methods of plant nutrition: one-single application (single-fertilization-SF) and two applications with the same amount adopting the fertigation (split fertigation-SpF), including a control not-treated, in a specific Italian region where grapevine Schiopettino cv. is being cultivated and this practice was not investigated yet. SpF promoted the photosynthesis parameters compared to a SF and to the non-treated vines (NTC). On these basis, the biological and physiological activity of the whole plant was enhanced. SpF treatment tendentially and significantly improved the qualitative, productive, physiological, and oenological parameters of "Schioppettino" wine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Whole genome assembly (WGA) of bacterial genomes with short reads is a quite common task as DNA sequencing has become cheaper with the advances of its technology. The process of assembling a genome has no absolute golden standard and it requires to perform a sequence of steps each of which can involve combinations of many different tools. However, the quality of the final assembly is always strongly related to the quality of the input data. With this in mind we built WGA-LP, a package that connects state-of-the-art programs for microbial analysis and novel scripts to check and improve the quality of both samples and resulting assemblies. WGA-LP, with its conservative decontamination approach, has shown to be capable of creating high quality assemblies even in the case of contaminated reads. Availability and implementation WGA-LP is available on GitHub (https://github.com/redsnic/WGA-LP) and Docker Hub (https://hub.docker.com/r/redsnic/wgalp). The web app for node visualization is hosted by shinyapps.io (https://redsnic.shinyapps.io/ContigCoverageVisualizer/). Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South America, the order Atheriniformes includes the monophyletic genus Odontesthes with 20 species that inhabit freshwater, estuarine and coastal environments. Pejerrey Odontesthes argentinensis is widely distributed in coastal and estuarine areas of the Atlantic Ocean and is known to foray into estuaries of river systems, particularly in conditions of elevated salinity. However, to our knowledge, a landlocked self‐sustaining population has never been recorded. In this study, we examined the pejerrey population of Salada de Pedro Luro Lake (south‐east of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) to clarify its taxonomic identity. An integrative taxonomic analysis based on traditional meristic, landmark‐based morphometrics and genetic techniques suggests that the Salada de Pedro Luro pejerrey population represents a novel case of physiological and morphological adaptation of a marine pejerrey species to a landlocked environment and emphasises the environmental plasticity of this group of fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Steelhead ecotype (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) have promoted a recreational fishery in the Santa Cruz river, the last large free flowing river of Patagonia. However, two dams are being built upstream in the middle course, potentially affecting the life cycle of these anadromous salmonids. The study describes the dynamics of the recreational fishing of the Santa Cruz river around Piedrabuena city and anglers perceptions, discussing its trends according to possible river connectivity scenarios. The fishery was assessed through a monthly year-round field sampling from April 2018 to April 2019, developing instantaneous angler counts, discriminating fishing methods, effort, and catch per unit effort; also, in situ interviews were used to collect information on anglers’ motivations and perceptions. In addition, information on fishing tournaments was used. Three fishing zones (FZ) were identified near Piedrabuena city: FZ-1, located downstream where anglers used baited hook and line to catch the native marine Patagonian blenny (Eleginops maclovinus); FZ-2, located in the town where baited hook and line, spinning, and fly-cast are used to catch Patagonian blenny and salmonids; FZ-3 located upstream the town, where fishing effort was mainly directed to salmonids employing spinning and fly-cast. Fishing effort showed a seasonal pattern with high values from March to May and September to October, agreeing with Steelhead and Chinook salmon runs, respectively. The most relevant motivations for anglers were nonoriented catch variables. Anglers preferred the capture of salmonids over native species, considering dams to be a major threat to fishery. Although a postdamming scenario could allow the adult salmonids to migrate upstream, the current reproduction grounds of Steelhead will be flooded, and juveniles and adults of both species will be hindered in their downstream migration to sea. These aspects seem to seriously compromise the future of these unique fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cheirodon interruptus is a small characid widely distributed in South America; it is the species most commercialized as a baitfish in the Pampean region. Harvesting wild fish to supply a market of about two million people exerts a significant impact on fish assemblage and the environment. In search of alternatives to reduce the harvesting impact, growth and time to reach commercial fish size were analyzed and linked to consumer demand to design a strategy for production optimization. Based on the Akaike selection criteria, the use of the logistic model is proposed to estimate growth in C. interruptus aquaculture management. A differential growth by sex was observed, with females reaching a larger final size and males showing higher growth rates. These characteristics are useful to meet demand, optimizing time and space in the production schedule. The combined sequence of growth models and the demand curve show that a total of 5 induced spawning events are necessary to guarantee supply during peak seasonal demand. The results of this study can help to replace current fishing on wild fish populations, contributing to the regulatory frameworks in force and, hence, preventing degradation in fragile Pampean wetlands and aiding their recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease is a severe neurodegenerative disease characterized by the deposition of neuritic plaques on neuronal membranes and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles within neurons. Several proteins, such as amyloid beta and tau, play major roles in the pathophysiology and progression of Alzheimer's disease and are important factors to consider when developing novel therapeutics. The following review outlines the current understanding of the role these peptides play in Alzheimer's and the state of therapeutics that target them. Contrary to previous theories, it is now understood that soluble amyloid beta and tau proteins are more neurotoxic than the insoluble aggregates they form. Treatments that target the individual biosynthetic pathways of these neurotoxic proteins have been ineffective. Thus, new therapies must overcome challenges associated with pharmacokinetics and clinical research design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An exploratory study aimed at testing CREC, a training programme designed for people with cognitive impairments caused by a stroke, is reported. The goal of the programme is to improve flexibility in thinking through a creative approach based on everyday problems. The programme includes two Serious Games (SGs) developed ad hoc, dealing with the transfer of the learned strategies to the home environment. The training was applied to six patients to test if it could bring beneficial effects to them. Before and after the training, patients’ neuropsychological functioning, emotional state and level of creativity were assessed. Results showed improvements in memory, logical reasoning and praxic skills. Improvements in quality of life and in creativity emerged as well. At the end of the training, the patients perceived themselves as more efficient in problem solving and recognised that the SGs led them to reflect critically on some aspects of their daily life that they usually took for granted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recreational and artisanal fisheries are common activities in Latin America often interpreted as competitors due to the use of common-pool resources in coastal areas. Conflicts between the (historical) artisanal fisheries (AF) and recreational fisheries (RF) in Anegada Bay resulted in the prohibition of the former. This study addresses key fisheries characteristics to detect the degree of spatio-temporal overlap between them considering the annual dynamic of the coastal fish assemblage and proposed management alternatives. Both fisheries exerted different fishing effort coinciding with the dynamic of the fish assemblages but partial temporal and spatial overlap where apparent especially during one month. However, both fisheries focused their catches on different target species thus greatly reducing the overlap in resource use. Moreover, the low proportion of juveniles caught, limited fishing effort using selective bottom gillnets and scarce total harvest (168 tonnes/years) for AF compared with those of RF harvest (631 tonnes/years) in Anegada Bay poorly justifies the actual prohibition. However, the vulnerability index of AF landings resulted in higher values than the RF. To resolve conflicts, a co-management including AF, RF and industrial (trawl) stakeholders and non-fishing community is suggested. Because of the economic importance of fishing for local people, an efficient inter and intra-sector communications process and new fisheries guidelines are urgent for the equitable use of fisheries resources without compromising the goals of a protected area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I The Genetics of Colonizing Species i coedited by H. G. Baker and G. L. Stebbins (1965. Invasion ecology in its modern form began in the 1980s, based on principles in C. S. Elton's I The Ecology of Invasions by Animals and Plants i (1958. Much of this work came from studies of invading species, demonstrating why biological invasions are great "natura" experiments to explore fundamental questions in ecology and evolution. [Extracted from the article]

Warmer and drier climates have shifted phenologies of many species. However, the magnitude and direction of phenological shifts vary widely among taxa, and it is often unclear when shifts are adaptive or how they affect long-term viability. Here, we model evolution of flowering phenology based on our long-term research of two species exhibiting opposite shifts in floral phenology: Lythrum salicaria, which is invasive in North America, and the sparse Rocky Mountain native Boechera stricta. Genetic constraints are similar in both species, but differences in the timing of environmental conditions that favour growth lead to opposite phenological shifts under climate change. As temperatures increase, selection is predicted to favour earlier flowering in native B. stricta while reducing population viability, even if populations adapt rapidly to changing environmental conditions. By contrast, warming is predicted to favour delayed flowering in both native and introduced L. salicaria populations while increasing long-term viability. Relaxed selection from natural enemies in invasive L. salicaria is predicted to have little effect on flowering time but a large effect on reproductive fitness. Our approach highlights the importance of understanding ecological and genetic constraints to predict the ecological consequences of evolutionary responses to climate change on contemporary timescales. This article is part of the themed issue 'Human influences on evolution, and the ecological and societal consequences'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive and endangered species reflect opposite ends of a spectrum of ecological success, yet they experience many similar eco-evolutionary challenges including demographic bottlenecks, hybridization and novel environments. Despite these similarities, important differences exist. Demographic bottlenecks are more transient in invasive species, which (i) maintains ecologically relevant genetic variation, (ii) reduces mutation load, and (iii) increases the efficiency of natural selection relative to genetic drift. Endangered species are less likely to benefit from admixture, which offsets mutation load but also reduces fitness when populations are locally adapted. Invading species generally experience more benign environments with fewer natural enemies, which increases fitness directly and also indirectly by masking inbreeding depression. Adaptive phenotypic plasticity can maintain fitness in novel environments but is more likely to evolve in invasive species encountering variable habitats and to be compromised by demographic factors in endangered species. Placed in an eco-evolutionary context, these differences affect the breadth of the ecological niche, which arises as an emergent property of antagonistic selection and genetic constraints. Comparative studies of invasions and extinctions that apply an eco-evolutionary perspective could provide new insights into the environmental and genetic basis of ecological success in novel environments and improve efforts to preserve global biodiversity. This article is part of the themed issue 'Human influences on evolution, and the ecological and societal consequences'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Work-related stress is one of the major concerns for occupational safety and health. Indeed, workplace stress may affect workers’ well-being and lead to health issues, and it has been estimated that about half of all work absence is due to work-related stress disorders. The objective of this study is to investigate associations between work-related stress risk factors and a set of health outcomes, in a sample of public sector employees. Material and methods Employees (N = 779) filled in a self-report questionnaire on work-related stress, musculoskeletal pain and stressrelated disorders. Logistic regressions were conducted, with pain and disorders as outcome variables and the Health and Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool (HSE-MS IT) scales as predictors. Results Excessive workload was associated with neck pain, shoulder pain and anxiety-depression symptoms. Employees exposed to risk on the role dimension reported higher neck pain and more gastrointestinal disorders. Hostile working relationships were associated with shoulder pain and gastrointestinal disorders, and lack of managers’ support turned out to be a risk factor for insomnia. Conclusions Workplace stress plays a role in the incidence of specific health outcomes. Through the use of validated work-related stress assessment instruments, such as the HSE-MS IT, management can identify the critical intervention targets in work design domains for improving workers’ health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odontesthes bonariensis is an inland water fish from the Pampas region, valued due to the quality of its flesh and its attractiveness as a game fish. Chasicó Lake located in the south of the pampean region is appreciated by fishermen due to O. bonariensis abundance. However, in the last year, a reduction in their catches was recorded. In this work, it was analyzed the changes of O. bonariensis biomass in relation to climate change and salinity in Chasicó Lake from 1997 to 2013. From 2004 to 2013, when a dry period began, a reduction in lake area (68.1-47.4 km) and an increase in salinity (18.9-41.5 g l) were observed. O. bonariensis catches showed a significant decrease in the same period as a result of salinity increments. Possibly, at high salinity, O. bonariensis may still develop but with an impaired reproduction and limited embryo and juvenile survival. In conclusion, after 2004, the fishery quality in Chasicó Lake showed a decreasing trend from the maximum registered in the Pampas lakes. This was in agreement with a marked decrease in the lake area which in turn increased water salinity up to levels close to the O. bonariensis tolerance limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pampean lakes are characterised by the alternation of flood and drought periods, but little is known about its effects on fish assemblage in an extended temporal scale. This study analyses the temporal variability of the fish assemblage in Chascomús Lake, and discusses the role of temperature and precipitation as potential drivers of fish composition shifts. Data acquisition was based on experimental fishing performed from 1999 to 2013 and from historical fishing records. Two alternative fish assemblage configurations were identified by cluster analysis. Odontesthes bonariensis, Parapimelodus valenciennis and Cyphocharax voga were the dominant species, which accounted for 70-80% of the relative abundance. The species O. bonariensis showed temporal fluctuations in its representativeness, changing from dominant to almost absent, whereas C. voga and P. valenciennis changed their abundance following a similar pattern along time. When historical data were considered, Platanichthys platana appeared as the fourth most relevant species. Precipitation, critical temperatures and fish mortalities were identified as the main drivers of species abundance shifts. This study highlights the importance of long-term assessments to understand the influence of climatic factors and the need to maintain or restore natural ecological processes as the basis to support dynamic sustainable fisheries in Pampean shallow lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological invasions are 'natural' experiments that can improve our understanding of contemporary evolution. We evaluate evidence for population differentiation, natural selection and adaptive evolution of invading plants and animals at two nested spatial scales: (i) among introduced populations (ii) between native and introduced genotypes. Evolution during invasion is frequently inferred, but rarely confirmed as adaptive. In common garden studies, quantitative trait differentiation is only marginally lower (~3.5%) among introduced relative to native populations, despite genetic bottlenecks and shorter timescales (i.e. millennia vs. decades). However, differentiation between genotypes from the native vs. introduced range is less clear and confounded by nonrandom geographic sampling; simulations suggest this causes a high false-positive discovery rate (>50%) in geographically structured populations. Selection differentials (¦s¦) are stronger in introduced than in native species, although selection gradients (¦ β¦) are not, consistent with introduced species experiencing weaker genetic constraints. This could facilitate rapid adaptation, but evidence is limited. For example, rapid phenotypic evolution often manifests as geographical clines, but simulations demonstrate that nonadaptive trait clines can evolve frequently during colonization (~two-thirds of simulations). Additionally, QST- FST studies may often misrepresent the strength and form of natural selection acting during invasion. Instead, classic approaches in evolutionary ecology (e.g. selection analysis, reciprocal transplant, artificial selection) are necessary to determine the frequency of adaptive evolution during invasion and its influence on establishment, spread and impact of invasive species. These studies are rare but crucial for managing biological invasions in the context of global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, several studies have reported an alarming increase in pathogen resistance to current antibiotic therapies and treatments. Therefore, the search for effective alternatives to counter their spread and the onset of infections is becoming increasingly important. In this regard, microorganisms of the former Lactobacillus genus have demonstrated the ability to reduce the virulence of pathogens. In addition to the production of bioactive substances, self- and coaggregation, and substrate competition, lactobacilli influence gene expression by downregulating genes associated with the virulence of pathogens. As demonstrated in many in vivo and in vitro trials, lactobacilli counteract and inhibit various virulence factors that favor pathogens, including the production of toxins, biofilm formation, host cell adhesion and invasion, and downregulation of virulence genes linked to quorum sensing. The aim of this review is to summarize current studies on the inhibition of pathogen virulence by lactobacilli, an important microbial group well known in the industrial and medical fields for their technological and probiotic properties that benefit human hosts with the potential to provide an important aid in the fight against pathogens besides use of the current therapies. Further research could lead to the identification of new strains that, in addition to alleviating adverse effects, could improve the efficacy of antibiotic therapies or play an important preventive role by reducing the onset of pathogen infections if regularly taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Health & Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool (HSE-MS IT) is a questionnaire commonly used to assess work-related stress risks at an organizational level. A critical factor in determining whether this instrument is actually useful is that higher levels of stress risk in the work-design domains should predict higher levels of stress and stress-related outcomes in workers. Only a few studies, however, have addressed this issue. Aims To test both the concurrent and construct validity of the HSE-MS IT, by relating it with another widely used instrument, the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), and by examining its relationships with a set of work-related stress outcomes. Methods An anonymous cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to a sample of employees in an Italian municipality. The questionnaire included the HSE-MS IT, self-reported measures of job satisfaction, job motivation and stress at work, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the reduced form of the JCQ. Results A total of 760 out of 779 employees completed the questionnaire. Results showed moderate to strong correlation among the corresponding HSE-MS IT and JCQ scales. Hierarchical regression highlighted the specific contribution of each of the HSE-MS IT scales in predicting three relevant work-related stress outcomes (self-reported stress, job satisfaction and job motivation), after controlling for gender, age and life satisfaction. Conclusions Our findings consolidated the HSE-MS IT validity and showed the specific sensitivity of its scales to assess different aspects of work-related distress, including self-perception of stress at work. These results can have practical implications for the occupational well-being of employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A twin TEPC with electric-field guard tubes has been constructed to be used to characterize the BNCT field of the irradiation facility of LENA reactor. One of the two mini TEPC was doped with 50ppm of 10B in order to simulate the BNC events occurring in BNCT. By properly processing the two microdosimetric spectra, the gamma, neutron and BNC spectral components can be derived with good precision (~6%). However, direct measurements of 10B in some doped plastic samples, which were used for constructing the cathode walls, point out the scarce accuracy of the nominal 10B concentration value. The influence of the Boral® door, which closes the irradiation channel, has been measured. The gamma dose increases significantly (+51%) when the Boral® door is closed. The crypt-cell-regeneration weighting function has been used to measure the quality, namely the RBE µ value, of the radiation field in different conditions. The measured RBE µ values are only partially consistent with the RBE values of other BNCT facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand what makes some species successful invaders, it is critical to quantify performance differences between native and introduced regions, and among populations occupying a broad range of environmental conditions within each region. However, these data are not available even for the world's most notorious invasive species. Here we introduce the Global Garlic Mustard Field Survey, a coordinated distributed field survey to collect performance data and germplasm from a single invasive species: garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) across its entire distribution using minimal resources. We chose this species for its ecological impacts, prominence in ecological studies of invasion success, simple life history, and several genetic and life history attributes that make it amenable to experimental study. We developed a standardised field survey protocol to estimate population size (area) and density, age structure, plant size and fecundity, as well as damage by herbivores and pathogens in each population, and to collect representative seed samples. Across four years and with contributions from 164 academic and non-academic participants from 16 countries in North America and Europe thus far, we have collected 45,788 measurements and counts of 137,811 plants from 383 populations and seeds from over 5,000 plants. All field data and seed resources will be curated for release to the scientific community. Our goal is to establish A. petiolata as a model species for plant invasion biology and to encourage large collaborative studies of other invasive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of invasive species has been explained by two contrasting but non-exclusive views: (i) intrinsic factors make some species inherently good invaders; (ii) species become invasive as a result of extrinsic ecological and genetic influences such as release from natural enemies, hybridization or other novel ecological and evolutionary interactions. These viewpoints are rarely distinguished but hinge on distinct mechanisms leading to different management scenarios. To improve tests of these hypotheses of invasion success we introduce a simple mathematical framework to quantify the invasiveness of species along two axes: (i) interspecific differences in performance among native and introduced species within a region, and (ii) intraspecific differences between populations of a species in its native and introduced ranges. Applying these equations to a sample dataset of occurrences of 1,416 plant species across Europe, Argentina, and South Africa, we found that many species are common in their native range but become rare following introduction; only a few introduced species become more common. Biogeographical factors limiting spread (e.g. biotic resistance, time of invasion) therefore appear more common than those promoting invasion (e.g. enemy release). Invasiveness, as measured by occurrence data, is better explained by inter-specific variation in invasion potential than biogeographical changes in performance. We discuss how applying these comparisons to more detailed performance data would improve hypothesis testing in invasion biology and potentially lead to more efficient management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses for the first time the relationship between annual cycles of different biological indices with growth patterns of a marine pejerrey Odontesthes argentinensis population near its southern-distribution boundary in North Patagonia. The reproductive period is between September and November evidenced by an increase in the gonado-somatic index with a peak in October corresponding to spawning. The reproductive cycle was also coupled with metabolic processes related to energy allocation as shown by changes in the hepato-somatic index and body condition. Total length ( LT) at maturity was 270 for females and 282 mm for males, whereas fecundity was estimated at mean ± s.d. = 9380 ± 1797 mature oocytes. Based on the marginal increment analysis, most of the scales showed a maximum value during summer, with a sharp decline thereafter during autumn and winter, indicating that scale rings are formed during the latter period and only once a year. Growth fitted by the von Bertalanffy model for both males and females did not show significant differences and showed a rapid growth during the first 2 years. The shorter reproductive period compared with that of the northern O. argentinensis populations inhabiting tropical and subtropical areas was interpreted as an adjustment to temperate environmental conditions. The larger maximum LT and LT at first maturity are in agreement with the counter-gradient hypothesis and could be related to the selective effects of low temperature and a shorter growing season. This latitude dependency argues strongly against the application of the same fishing regulations for different O. argentinensis populations as a whole and reinforces the need to assess basic biological features at a population scale to promote local sustainable fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the track structure of light ions, a measuring device has been developed at the Legnaro National Laboratory of INFN, which can be used to investigate separately the penumbra region of particle tracks and the trackcore region, which is a few nanometres in diameter. The device is based on single-electron counting techniques by means of a gas detector; it simulates a 'nanometre-sized' biological volume of about 20 nm in diameter that can be moved with respect to a narrow particle beam to measure the ionizationcluster- size distributions caused within the target volume by the passage of single primary particles, as a function of the impact parameter. To investigate the ionization-cluster-size formation caused by primary particles of medical interest when they penetrate through or pass by the target volume at a specified impact parameter, measurements and Monte Carlo simulations were performed for 20MeV protons, 16MeV deuterons, 48MeV 6Li-ions, 26.7MeV 7Li-ions and 96MeV 12C-ions. The detailed analysis of the resulting distributions showed that in the track-core region their shape is mainly determined by the mean free ionization path length of the primary particles, whereas in the penumbra region the shape of the distributions is almost independent of the impact parameter, and also of the particle type and velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]