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Digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) has emerged as a groundbreaking technology in molecular biology and diagnostics, offering exceptional precision and sensitivity in nucleic acid detection and quantification. This review highlights the core principles and transformative potential of dPCR, particularly in infectious disease diagnostics and environmental surveillance. Emphasizing its evolution from traditional PCR, dPCR provides accurate absolute quantification of target nucleic acids through advanced partitioning techniques. The review addresses the significant impact of dPCR in sepsis diagnosis and management, showcasing its superior sensitivity and specificity in early pathogen detection and identification of drug-resistant genes. Despite its advantages, challenges such as optimization of experimental conditions, standardization of data analysis workflows, and high costs are discussed. Furthermore, we compare various commercially available dPCR platforms, detailing their features and applications in clinical and research settings. Additionally, the review explores dPCR's role in water microbiology, particularly in wastewater surveillance and monitoring of waterborne pathogens, underscoring its importance in public health protection. In conclusion, future prospects of dPCR, including methodological optimization, integration with innovative technologies, and expansion into new sectors like metagenomics, are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trade-offs between quality and quantity arise in an abundance of contexts concerning group decision making. With the starting point being that group members provide more accurate evidence when they are involved with fewer tasks, team managers often encounter the following dilemma: Should they assign their group members with many tasks (attempting to gather more evidence with lower quality), or with fewer tasks (aiming at receiving less, but more high-quality evidence)? Secondly, what is the optimal way to aggregate the collected evidence from a group, which may be contrasting and varying in accuracy? Should more weight be given to the more accurate group members, or to the larger number of those who provide the same answer? This topic is already studied within the mathematical framework of Terzopoulou and Endriss (2019). In this paper we complement it experimentally, by investigating to what extent people's decision-making patterns are in accordance with the optimal ones proposed by the normative model. Our findings suggest that people understand the task at hand and generally opt for optimal choices, especially in conflict-free cases. Still, a tendency towards overvaluing the importance of additional evidence, despite their accuracy, is observed; this translates into choosing options that align with the majority rule in aggregation problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The ability to effectively regulate one's emotions is important for adolescent mental health. However, extant assessments of how adolescents regulate their emotions can be expanded upon in several ways, including incorporating more strategies (e.g., cultural and spiritual) and positive emotions, and being informed by adolescents and expert consultation during the development process. Thus, our study aimed to improve the construct validity of an emotion regulation measure by adapting and refining the Emotion Regulation Skills Questionnaire (ERSQ) into an adolescent self‐report. Methods: We recruited 24 13–17‐year‐olds (12 males; 11 females; 1 gender fluid) via social media advertisement in the United States in 2020. We used an iterative qualitative approach in which we combined expert consultation, cognitive interviewing with adolescents, and top‐down and bottom‐up coding to review and provide feedback on the ERSQ. Results: Findings of thematic analysis showed that a need for clarity in wording and inclusion of strategy examples across all sections of the ERSQ was needed. Adolescents also identified the need to replace the Silly/Excited section with a more age‐appropriate positive emotion section. Conclusion: Findings indicate cognitive interviewing can be successfully completed in a virtual format when necessary, youth utilize a wider range of strategies to maintain or upregulate positive emotions than what is represented in current measures, and use of qualitative methods may have reduced construct underrepresentation and construct‐irrelevant variance in the adapted ERSQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women who have survived interpersonal trauma are at elevated risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and potentially modifiable factors that may be targeted in treatment warrant further investigation. This study examined a pathway from interpersonal trauma to PTSD symptoms via emotion dysregulation and shame in a large non-clinical sample of women. The sample comprised 380 women, aged 18 to 59 years (M = 31.70, standard deviation = 10.06), all of whom had a history of interpersonal trauma. Participants completed the Experience of Shame Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Short Form, and the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5. A serial and parallel process model with interpersonal trauma as a predictor of PTSD symptoms, emotional dysregulation and facets of shame as intermediary variables, was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Statistics PROCESS Model 81with bias-corrected bootstrap tests of indirect effects. Non-interpersonal trauma was included as a covariate. Interpersonal trauma, emotion dysregulation, and characterological and bodily shame were significantly and directly associated with PTSD symptoms, together explaining 59% of the variation in PTSD symptoms. While emotion dysregulation was associated with behavioral shame, interpersonal trauma was not associated with behavioral shame, nor was behavioral shame associated with PTSD symptoms. Tests of indirect effects supported a pathway from interpersonal trauma to PTSD symptoms via emotion dysregulation and characterological and bodily shame. These findings suggest interventions that are particularly effective at reducing emotion dysregulation and characterological and bodily shame, such as compassion and acceptance-based approaches, may complement evidence-based PTSD interventions when working with women who have survived interpersonal trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides an overview of differentiation syndrome, a life-threatening complication that can occur during the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It discusses the symptoms, risk factors, prophylaxis, and treatment of differentiation syndrome, emphasizing the importance of early recognition and the use of corticosteroids. The article also highlights the role of hematology/oncology pharmacists in managing differentiation syndrome and ensuring patients receive appropriate care. By incorporating differentiation syndrome prophylaxis into chemotherapy regimens, the incidence and mortality related to the syndrome have decreased. Overall, the article provides valuable information for library patrons researching AML treatment and the management of differentiation syndrome. [Extracted from the article]

• Chinese 'silk and metal carpets' from imperial workshops examined for the first time. • Characterisation of the mechanical production of the metal threads. • Ancient examples of brass coated metal threads. • Comparison with the Asian production of metal carpets outside of China. Chinese 'silk and metal carpets,' mainly made by imperial workshops during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911), are very luxurious and until now have not scientifically and technically been investigated. From the point of view of materials, a typical feature is the presence of metal threads which embellish backgrounds or details with a precious and golden appearance. Metal threads from a wide number of Chinese carpets were non-destructively investigated by XRF, while an in-depth characterization by SEM-EDS was performed on samples from few carpets. Although copper is always the main constituent of very thin metallic strips wound around a core of silk, the obtained results showed three types of strips, different in terms of materials and/or methods of making. The most frequent typology, covering over 85% of the investigated carpets, derives from the drawing of brass-plated copper wires. The obtained results are read and interpreted according to geographical and historical context, pertaining to the metallurgy and the making of metal threads, extending the comparisons also to other contexts in eastern and western world, during the ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal biodiversity is still mostly unknown and their presence in particular ecosystems such as freshwater habitats is often underestimated. The ecological role that these fungi play in freshwater environments mainly concerns their activity as decomposers of litter and plant material. At present, it is estimated that 3870 species belong to the ecological group of freshwater fungi (13 phyla and 45 classes). In this survey, we provide an overview of the Italian freshwater fungal diversity on the basis of the field and literature data. In the literature, data on freshwater fungi are fragmentary and not updated, focusing mainly on northern Italy where the most important lakes and rivers are present, while data from central and southern Italy (including Sicily and Sardinia) are almost completely ineffective. In particular, Ascomycota are reported in only 14 publications, most of which concern the freshwater environments of Lombardia, Piemonte, and Veneto. Only one publication explores the biodiversity of freshwater Basidiomycota in the wetlands of the Cansiglio forest (Veneto). The field observation allowed for us to identify 38 species of Basidiomycota growing in riparian forest of Italy. However, the number of fungi in freshwater habitats of Italy is strongly underestimated and many species are still completely unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) is implicated in melanin production in various organisms. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the overproduction of melanin might be related to several skin pigmentation disorders as well as neurodegenerative processes in Parkinson's disease. Based on this consideration, the development of tyrosinase inhibitors represents a new challenge to identify new agents in pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. With the goal of identifying tyrosinase inhibitors from a synthetic source, we employed a cheap and facile preliminary assay using tyrosinase from Agaricus bisporus (AbTYR). We have previously demonstrated that the 4-fluorobenzyl moiety might be effective in interactions with the catalytic site of AbTYR; moreover, the additional chlorine atom exerted beneficial effects in enhancing inhibitory activity. Therefore, we planned the synthesis of new small compounds in which we incorporated the 3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl fragment into distinct chemotypes that revealed the ability to establish profitable contact with the AbTYR catalytic site. Our results confirmed that the presence of this fragment is an important structural feature to improve the AbTYR inhibition in these new chemotypes as well. Furthermore, docking analysis supported the best activity of the selected studied compounds, possessing higher potency when compared with reference compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac amyloidosis is an uncommon restrictive cardiomyopathy featuring an unregulated amyloid protein deposition that impairs organic function. Early cardiac amyloidosis diagnosis is generally delayed by indistinguishable clinical findings of more frequent hypertrophic diseases. Furthermore, amyloidosis is divided into various groups, according to a generally accepted taxonomy, based on the proteins that make up the amyloid deposits; a careful differentiation between the various forms of amyloidosis is necessary to undertake an adequate therapeutic treatment. Thus, cardiac amyloidosis is thought to be underdiagnosed, which delays necessary therapeutic procedures, diminishing quality of life and impairing clinical prognosis. The diagnostic work-up for cardiac amyloidosis begins with the identification of clinical features, electrocardiographic and imaging findings suggestive or compatible with cardiac amyloidosis, and often requires the histological demonstration of amyloid deposition. One approach to overcome the difficulty of an early diagnosis is the use of automated diagnostic algorithms. Machine learning enables the automatic extraction of salient information from "raw data" without the need for pre-processing methods based on the a priori knowledge of the human operator. This review attempts to assess the various diagnostic approaches and artificial intelligence computational techniques in the detection of cardiac amyloidosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeds of Abies nebrodensis were subjected to laboratory tests aimed to detect fungal contaminants and to obtain xenobiotic-free seedlings, by the use of different surface sterilising agents. Moreover, hot water at 60 °C was used to suppress any fungal microorganisms colonizing the inner tissues. Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus and Stemphylium vesicarium were the most frequent fungal contaminants. Non-contaminated seeds showed germination values ranging from 0 to 36.4% depending on the applied sterilization protocol. Further analyses will be carried out to establish the influence of these fungi on the seed germination process and their relationship with seedlings of A. nebrodensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the fifth issue of the series of germination reports from Mediterranean areas (sensu Med- Checklist). It comprises germination protocols for 18 taxa: Hieracium and Pilosella from South Italy by Di Gristina & al. (Nos. 103-106); Genista from Sardinia by Deplano & al. (No. 107); Antirrhinum, Anthyllis, Digitalis, Echium, Jasione, Nothoscordum, Silene and Verbascum by Martínez-Oliver & al. (Nos. 108-116); Dianthus, Helichrysum and Silene from Sicily by Scafidi & Salmeri (Nos. 117-120). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Con i versi dell' Ode a Lucio Fontana (1962), Leonardo Sinisgalli rende omaggio all'amico e maestro Fontana, uno dei maggiori scultori e pittori del Novecento. Il testo sembra quindi un esempio abbastanza tipico di letteratura ekphrastica, nella quale spesso un artista verbale celebra l'opera di un artista visivo. L' Ode , tuttavia, non è solo un ritratto dell'italo-argentino ma anche un autoritratto dello stesso lucano, in una fase particolarmente complessa della sua carriera. Fontana e Sinisgalli si confrontano con una serie di contraddizioni, sia personali che di carattere collettivo, nel periodo che va dal Fascismo al cosiddetto miracolo economico degli anni Sessanta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary and secondary immunodeficiencies cause an alteration in the immune response which can increase the rate of infectious diseases and worsened prognoses. They can also alter the immune response, thus, making the infection even worse. Curcumin is the most biologically active component of the turmeric root and appears to be an antimicrobial agent. Curcumin cooperates with various cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells, B, T, and natural killer cells to modify the body's defence capacity. Curcumin also inhibits inflammatory responses by suppressing different metabolic pathways, reduces the production of inflammatory cytokines, and increases the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Curcumin may also affect oxidative stress and the non-coding genetic material. This review analyses the relationships between immunodeficiency and the onset of infectious diseases and discusses the effects of curcumin and its derivatives on the immune response. In addition, we analyse some of the preclinical and clinical studies that support its possible use in prophylaxis or in the treatment of infectious diseases. Lastly, we examine how nanotechnologies can enhance the clinical use of curcumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to investigate the debate regarding the Informal Value Transfer Systems (IVTS), in particular that of hawala, a trust-based money transfer system. In this regard, analyzing the debate regarding hawala using primary and secondary sources, the paper demonstrates how hawala suffers forms of coercion --particularly after the September 11 attacks in the US--. But also, experts and academics dealing with human rights, the remittance market and financial inclusion advocate for a fair and sustainable development of the hawala system. The article offers a brief overview of the possibilities and main challenges offered by the application of blockchain-based technologies and the societal, institutional and technological issues arising from it. In particular, the paper reflects on the contemporary debate about the hawala system to explain -- why at the moment -- the category of continuum cannot be considered adequate to describe the relationship between hawala and blockchain technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies demonstrated that hyperpigmentation pathologies might be treated by using agents targeting the enzymatic metallo-protein tyrosinase. Therefore, we predicted the development of a series of small molecules able to inhibit diphenolase activity of tyrosinase from Agaricus bisporus. The designed compounds were readily synthesized by S-alkylation and the synthesized compounds were tested through biochemical screening, thus providing structure-affinity relationships for this class of 5-(pyridin-4-yl)-3-(alkylsulfanyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-amine derivatives. In addition, docking simulations suggested the binding mode within the catalytic site of the targeted enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epithelial tumors of lacrimal glands are rare and primary ductal adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal gland accounts for only 2% of all epithelial lacrimal gland tumors. Considering its rarity and lack of uniform diagnostic criteria, treatment protocols are not well defined. In this study, we describe a Her‐2 positive case and review previously reported cases. Methods: In 2012, a 42‐year‐old woman affected by primary ductal adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal gland was treated with transpalpebral anterior orbitotomy and adjuvant radiotherapy. In July 2013, she presented local relapse and she underwent orbital exenteration. In November 2013, for neck nodal progression, seven cycles of chemotherapy (cisplatin and epirubicin) associated with a humanized monoclonal antibody–targeting HER 2 therapy (trastuzumab and pertuzumab) were performed, with a marked response rate. Then, she underwent total parotidectomy with right neck lymphadenectomy and adjuvant hadrontherapy. Results: Nine years later (113 months) after treatment completion, the patient was alive without disease and with acceptable toxicity. Conclusions: In primary ductal adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal gland, early diagnosis and multimodal treatments could be crucial, considering its often aggressive tendency. Considering the lack of treatment guidelines, case report recording can be useful in patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Patients with suprasystemic idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (S-PAH) have a poor prognosis. Therapeutic options are limited. Reverse Potts shunt creation modifies physiology transforming patients with PAH into Eisenmenger physiology with a better outcome. Percutaneous transcatheter stent secured aortopulmonary connection (transcatheter Potts Shunt, TPS) is a feasible very high-risk procedural option in such patients. We report our experience with patients undergoing TPS at our institution requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Methods: A prospective observational study of patients with drug-refractory PAH, worsening NYHA class, and right ventricular failure undergoing TPS. Two patients required rescue ECMO for cardiac arrest during the procedure. Subsequently, "standby ECMO" was available in all the following cases and elective support was provided in patients with extremely poor conditions. Results: Ten pediatric patients, underwent TPS at our institution. Two patients were rescued by ECMO after cardiac arrest during the shunt creation. This occurred as a result of the acute loading of the left ventricle (LV) after retrograde aortic arch filling through the Potts shunt. Following this, another two patients underwent elective ECMO after the uneventful induction of anesthesia. They all died postoperatively despite a successful TPS procedure. The causes of death were not related to the use of ECMO, but the complication of severe PAH. Six patients with successful TPS did not require ECMO and survived. Conclusions: TPS is a pioneering procedure offering the opportunity to treat high-risk idiopathic drug-refractory PAH patients. Acute LV failure is a complication of TPS in patients with S-PAH. Elective ECMO, an option to avoid circulatory arrest and acute profound hypoxia secondary to exclusive right-to left shunt systemic perfusion by Potts shunt and LV dysfunction with resulting pulmonary edema, may be used at the early stage of the learning curve, but it does not influence the prognosis of these patients which remains poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical fractionator is a convenient and practical solution for estimation of total cell number in a regulatory toxicology setting because it is insensitive to shrinkage allowing for paraffin processing/embedding and does not require measurement of the reference or organ volume. The principle involves sampling a known fraction of an organ in one or more steps and counting the total number of cells present in the final sample, physical disector section pairs. The total cell number in the organ is estimated by multiplying the cell count in the final fraction by the inverse of the sampling fraction(s). The key feature of the design is that tissue shrinkage due to paraffin processing occurs before the organ is uniformly sampled. Another requirement is that thermal expansion or contraction is avoided during the preparation of disector sections from the individual embedded subsamples, which ensures that the disector sections represent a known constant fraction. This vertical physical fractionator with subsampling is a simple and fast estimator to obtain precise and robust estimates of total cell number in large flat or hollow organs that do not prolong routine necropsy procedures. It is compatible with paraffin processing, avoids exhaustive sectioning, and allows for the collection of routine histopathology sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, we found rust in pistachio fruits and verified that it was caused by Tuberculina persicina, anamorph of Helicobasidium purpureum, through isolation and culture, microscopic observation, molecular identification and pathogenicity tests of Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of rust fruit in pistachio caused by Tuberculina persicina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aged pressure sensitive tapes (PSTs) can compromise the integrity and readability of drawings and paper artworks. Typically, PSTs on contemporary artifacts are difficult to remove owing to degradation processes and to the intrinsic sensitiveness of paper, inks and dyes to the solvents and tools used in the traditional conservation practice. Alternatively, we provide here a critical overview and expansion on the use of two recently developed methodologies for the removal of PSTs, based on the confinement of cleaning fluids in retentive gels. Various combinations of PSTs backings and adhesives were addressed on paper mock-ups containing different types of artistic media (inks, dyes), monitoring the ability of a hydrogel and an organogel to gradually exchange, respectively, an oil-in-water microemulsion or diethyl carbonate through the PSTs backings, swelling the adhesive layers and enabling safe PST removal. It was shown that the two methodologies are complementary as they target the removal of tapes with different components. In all cases, selective tape removal was carried out without uncontrolled bleeding of inks or transport of dissolved matter through the paper matrix, thanks to the retentiveness of the gels. The two cleaning systems were then assessed on four completely different artworks on paper, where they proved to be versatile tools to remove aged PSTs, or re-adhere detackified tapes that were part of the original artwork. Overall, the two methodologies complement each other and allowed overcoming the limitations of traditional cleaning approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this study were 1) to determine the total fungal contamination in Sicilian raw materials and livestock, 2) to evaluate the occurrence of Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp. and Fusarium spp., 3) to identify fungi belonging to the genus Aspergillus and 4) to determine their ability to produce cellulolytic enzymes. Fourteen feed samples were collected in a feed mill near to Palermo (Sicily, Italy). Analysis of the total mycobiota was performed on Sabourad Dextros Agar (SAB) and Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and total fungal counts were expressed as CFU/g. Aspergillus spp. isolates were selected on the basis of the frequency of isolation and identified using micro and macro-morphological characteristics and ITS sequence analysis. The ability of the Aspergillus isolates to produce cellulolytic enzymes was tested qualitatively by in vitro assay at two temperature, 25 and 30 °C, and in static and shaking condition. Total fungal population ranged from 1.11x106 to 1.31x108 and from 1.11x103 to 1.58x106 CFU/g on PDA and SAB, respectively. All feed samples showed the recurrent presence of colonies belonging mostly to the ubiquitous genera Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. Eight isolates of Aspergillus spp. were obtained and identified as A. amstelodami, A. awamori, A. flavus, A. niger, A. oryzae and A. tubingensis. Between them, A. awamori, A. niger and A. tubingensis showed the highest enzymatic activity. The presence of potential mycotoxigenic isolates of Aspergillus spp. in the analysed feeds represents a risk for animal health; moreover their ability to produce cellulolytic enzymes can seriously affect feed quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new era of lunar exploration has begun with participation of all major space agencies. This activity brings opportunities for revolutionary science experiments and observatories on the Moon. The idea of a lunar gravitational-wave detector was already proposed during the Apollo programme. The key characteristic of the Moon is that it is seismically extremely quiet. It was also pointed out that the permanently shadowed regions at the lunar poles provide ideal conditions for gravitational-wave detection. In recent years, three different detector concepts were proposed with varying levels of technological complexity and science potential. In this paper, we confront the three concepts in terms of their observational capabilities based on a first more detailed modelling of instrumental noise. We identify important technological challenges and potential show-stoppers. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades (part 2)'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A properly CaO-Ca 12 Al 14 O 33 -Ni material with combined sorbent properties and catalyst activity was developed for H 2 production from hydrocarbons via sorption enhanced steam reforming (SE-SR) with simultaneous CO 2 capture. The combined sorbent-catalyst material (CSCM) was successfully prepared by multi-step approach method. At first a mixed calcium-aluminium oxide (CAO) ceramic was prepared by wet mixing/sintering method and used both as spacer for CaO-based sorbent and support for nickel catalyst. Subsequently, the sorbent and catalyst were prepared by wet mixing/sintering (900 °C) and wet impregnation/calcination (500 °C) methods, respectively. Then, an intimately powdery 1:1 mixture of two functional materials were cold-pressed and air-sintered at 900 °C obtaining the desired one-body sorbent-catalyst. The CSCM characteristics were investigated in detail by XRD, SEM-EDS, TG-DTG, BET physisorption, and TPR techniques. The CO 2 sorbent properties were assessed over 200th multiple sorption/desorption cycles and the stabilizing role of spacer Ca 12 Al 14 O 33 ceramic against sorbent decay was confirmed, whereas the presence of foreign Ni ions did not affect the sorbent CO 2 carrying capacity. A H 2 -rich gas (> 90%) with low concentrations of CO 2 and CO was produced over ten consecutive steam methane reforming (600 °C)/regeneration (750 °C) cycles at steam/carbon=3 molar ratio using CSCM. This good performance of SE-SR of methane process was attributed to the synergistic effect of high CO 2 capture capacity and catalytic activity, the latter thanks also to the facile surface NiAl 2 O 4 spinel to Ni° reduction in the low temperature range of 400–600 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Despite being used in half or fewer of included publications prior to 2012, reference to the WHO classification has since increased suggesting more widespread adoption. Highlights • Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic zoonosis with a global distribution. • Ultrasound (US) is the gold standard imaging modality for diagnosing CE. • The WHO US classification is progressively taking preference for classifying CE. • Adoption of a standardized classification system takes time and varies regionally. • Use of a common classification system improves communication and comprehension. Abstract Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a global parasitic zoonosis for which ultrasound (US) is the gold standard modality for diagnosis. In 2003, the WHO published a standardized US classification of CE, on which WHO treatment guidelines are based. In 2014, global adoption of the classification was questioned by a publication which indicated that, between 2004 and 2014, only half of studies utilizing a classification used the WHO classification. More recent studies have demonstrated that the WHO classification best reflects the natural history of CE, and is used with high reliability by experts in the field; despite these attributes, the classification's impact is ultimately limited by the extent of its adoption. A PubMed search using the terms "Echinococcus granulosus ultrasound," "Echinococcus granulosus classification," "cystic echinococcosis ultrasound," and "cystic echinococcosus classification" revealed publications on human CE utilizing a US classification. Classification(s) used, year of publication, and the country of the first author's institution were recorded. From 2004 to 2010, the WHO classification was used in 50% or fewer of included publications for 6 of the 7 years. After 2011, it appeared in a low of 75% (2013) to a high of 96% (2017) of included publications. Of all included studies published from 2004 to 2017, the WHO classification was referenced in 18% (3 of 17) from Africa, 64% (32 of 50) from Asia, 79% (89 of 113) from Europe, 89% (8 of 9) from North America, and 100% (9 of 9) from South America. Findings suggest that the WHO classification has been progressively taking preference to other classifications, with rate of adoption depending on continent of origin of the research. Residual use of the classification developed by Dr. Hassen Gharbi of Tunisia in 1982, used widely prior to development of the WHO classification (which reversed two stages in Gharbi's classification in order to more closely reflect the natural history of CE) suggests that adoption of a new classification takes time and varies regionally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Monitoring and assessment of Soil Biological Quality in wetlands in eastern Sicily. • First data on QBS-ar in Sicily and specifically on wetlands. • Influence of chemical-physical parameters on the composition of soil microarthropod fauna and Qbs-ar. • Influence of soil salinity in the composition of the fauna. Wetlands are of great importance for biodiversity as they support a rich variety of plant and animal species, and the presence of endemic and migratory species is frequent. It is therefore necessary to protect and monitor such areas. The work conducted, reported in the present paper, aimed to verify the quality of soil in most wetlands in eastern Sicily. Specifically, four areas were studied: three Oriented Nature Reserves (RNO), the Saline di Priolo, with the adjacent Penisola di Magnisi, the Saline di Siracusa, and the Faunistic Oasis of Vendicari 1 1 The Oasis takes the overall name of Vendicari, in reality it is made up of various localities that take on different names: Vendicari, Marianelli, Cittadella, Calamosche. , and one Special Protection Area (SPA), the Biviere di Lentini. The study areas were sampled in 12 different sites, in spring and in autumn, to monitor soil fauna and assess the soil biological quality through the calculation of the QBS-ar. The results represent the first data relating to the QBS-ar in Sicily and, in particular, relating to wetlands. The QBS-ar values recorded were all higher, for both seasons, than the averages reported for land use by Menta et al., 2018. The statistical analysis regarding annual QBS-ar divides the sites into two groups: Saline di Priolo1, Marianelli1, Cittadella1, Vendicari1, Biviere di Lentini2 with a QBS-ar > 200 and Biviere di Lentini1, Saline di Priolo2, Penisola di Magnisi1, Penisola di Magnisi2, Saline di Siracusa1 and Saline di Siracusa2 with QBS-ar < 200; Calamosche1 site show no significant difference between the two groups. Although the number of individuals varied considerably in the two seasons, there are no seasonal differences in the number of taxa and in the QBS-ar. The chemical-physical parameters that influenced the fauna composition and the QBS-ar were mostly those related to the soil texture; some groups were positively correlated with the percentage of silt, while others were negatively correlated with the percentage of sand. The QBS-ar show the same correlations with silt and sand. Proximity or non-proximity to water did not determine variations in the fauna composition and in the QBS-ar values. Soil salinity appeared to be a factor influencing the fauna composition, but further studies are needed to confirm such relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Parents' supportive emotion socialization behaviors promote children's socioemotional competence in early childhood, but the nature of parents' supportiveness may change over time, as children continue to develop their emotion‐related abilities and enter contexts that require more complex and nuanced social skills and greater autonomy. To test whether associations between parents' supportiveness of children's negative emotions and children's socioemotional adjustment vary with child age, 81 parents of 3‐ to 6‐year‐old children completed questionnaires assessing their responses to children's negative emotions and their children's emotion regulation, lability, social competence, and behavioral adjustment. As predicted, child age moderated the associations between parents' supportiveness and children's socioemotional adjustment. For younger children, parents' supportiveness predicted better emotion regulation and less anxiety/internalizing and anger/externalizing problems. However, for older children, these associations were reversed, suggesting that socialization strategies which were supportive for younger children may fail to foster socioemotional competence among 5‐ to 6‐year‐old children. These results suggest the importance of considering emotion socialization as a dynamic, developmental process, and that parents' socialization of children's emotions might need to change in response to children's developing emotional competencies and social demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (MBTS) is the most common palliative operation performed in patients with complex cardiac defects. Postoperative morbidity and mortality rates are high, mainly due to shunt thrombosis and over-shunting. Over-shunting may be difficult to identify postoperatively based on conventional criteria. Since plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations correlate with the magnitude of shunting in various left-to-right shunt cardiac defects, we investigated its ability to identify postoperative MBTS over-shunting. Methods and results This retrospective, observational study included 42 consecutive patients (median age 9.50 days, IQR: 6.00–58.25) undergoing MBTS for obstruction of the pulmonary blood flow at a tertiary referral pediatric cardiac center. The BNP threshold concentrations which accurately predicted outcome and MBTS over-shunting were derived using the ROC methodology. 443 BNP concentrations were analysed. The presence of atrio-ventricular valve regurgitation was the most important component of overall variance (72.75%). In 34 patients without regurgitation, BNP concentrations were predictive of a duration of mechanical ventilation > 8 days and of intensive care stay > 11 days, with ROC areas of 0.655 [0.597–0.719], 0.650 [0.589–0.711], a negative predictive value for the > 1035 pg mL − 1 threshold of 0.93 and 0.96 respectively. SaO 2 was less accurate for the prediction of both outcomes. In patients in whom the pulmonary flow was entirely MBTS-supplied, a BNP concentrations > 1052 pg mL − 1 was predictive of a pulmonary-to-systemic ratio > 2. Conclusion In MBTS patients without atrio-ventricular valve regurgitation, maintaining BNP below 1000 pg mL − 1 may represent a therapeutic target to avoid over-shunting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is proposed to develop a modernized method of aerial navigation using driftmeter measurements. Use of an electro-optical (E/O) system (LANTIRN or Sniper) for ground feature tracking by the pilot, and an independent altitude sensor (baro altimeter or radar altimeter) in conjunction with the INS, is envisioned. The idea is to use measurements taken by the pilot using the E/O system to aid an existing INS, thus automating the navigator's function. The ground feature measurements from the E/O system and the INS output will be used to form measurements provided to a linear Kalman filter (KF) running on the navigation computer to accomplish the INS aiding action. The structured environment (constant speed, constant altitude, and wings level flight while on autopilot) justifies the linearization of the KF kinematic and measurement equations used during an INS aiding session. It is shown that after one short aiding period a 60% reduction in position error covariance is realized. Copyright © 2017 Institute of Navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasensitive SERS substrates allowed us to detect complex mixtures of coloring components from Meiji Japanese woodblock prints (1868–1912). In museum settings, compositional analyses have limitations due to restrictions to sampling advised by conservators and curators for the adequate preservation of the objects. An additional layer of complexity is brought by the high heterogeneity of heritage materials, usually not resolved with commercial portable instruments. High-performance instruments for in situ analyses are seldom available in museums. Furthermore, the chambers of most instruments for morphological or chemical characterization accommodate small samples rather than large or medium-sized objects. The innovative sampling strategy herein proposed comprises the gentle touch-dry removal of small coloring molecules weakly bound to the surface of heritage objects, transferred through a silicone sampler to planar SERS substrates with selected solvents in a one-step procedure. The analytical protocol reduces the amount of sample necessary for reliable identification of color components down to nanograms. The selectivity of the solvents combined with the geometry of the planar SERS sensing devices produces reliable signals for molecular identification, with no need for incision or wetting of the printed material. Further, 3D Raman imaging allowed us to reach an unprecedented degree of molecular discrimination, advancing previously available minimally-invasive instrumental methods used in heritage science research. The validation with historical inks from Meiji woodblock prints led to the identification of soluble synthetic azo β-naphthols, barium sulfonic lakes, purple anilines, Prussian blue, glass arsenic sulfides and other traditional coloring media. [Display omitted] • SERS-based sampling for detecting azo β-naphthols, sulfonic lakes, anilines, Prussian blue, sulfides in complex systems. • Tunable protocol combining microextractions with ultrasensitive rough periodically oriented Al-coated SERS nanostructures. • Lowered limits of detection through reliable sensor responses for identifying and discriminating several coloring molecules. • Insights on Meiji woodblock printing materials and history of experimentation in synthetic chemistry. • 3D SERS molecular discrimination for enhanced analytical sensitivity applied to heritage science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of technologies which utilize hydrogen as energy vector requires the realization of efficient gas storage systems. Materials suitable for hydrogen storage at the solid state have to fulfill some specific requirements in order to be used inside the reactors. First of all it is necessary to have a material which could be cycled without observing reduction of performances in terms of kinetics and total hydrogen capacity. The reaction of the material with hydrogen must be reversible even after long time cycling, i.e. repeated absorption and desorption runs. For what concerns the efficiency of the reactors, one of the main parameters to be taken into account is the thermal conductivity of the bed of hydride. The use of powder is detrimental for thermal conductivity and also for gas permeability and particle entrainment by the gas flow in the reactor. Moreover powders after long term cycling tend to pack and sinter evidencing the problems reported before. For this reason powders of hydrides are compacted, generally in cylindrical shape, after mixing with agents for enhancing thermal conductivity and mechanical stability (for example Al, Cu, carbon-based materials). It has been reported that compacted systems during cycling tend to disaggregate returning to the form of powder in the loose form. This swelling mechanism causes rapid slowdown of the kinetics and all the problems correlated to the use of the powders. For this reason many efforts have been spent in order to extend the life of the compacted systems. In this work it is reported the study performed to improve the preparation of compacted powder systems by a procedure which includes the deposition of a thin layer of a metal on the surface of the pellet. The pellets prepared with this procedure demonstrated, after 50 cycles, variations of dimension eight time lower in comparison to those obtained on pellets prepared without coating. The quantity of metal deposited is less than 0.1% of the weight of the pellet and it doesn't affect hydrogen capacity and kinetics of reaction. Kinetics of reaction and microstructure have been studied with a volumetric Sievert's type apparatus and with Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A temperature profile 2400 m along the off-shore active caldera of Campi Flegrei (Gulf of Pozzuoli) was obtained by the installation of a permanent fiber-optic monitoring system within the framework of the Innovative Monitoring for Coastal and Marine Environment (MON.I.C.A) project. The system consists of a submerged, reinforced, multi-fiber cable containing six single-mode telecom grade optical fibers that, exploiting the stimulated Brillouin scattering, provide distributed temperature sensing (DTS) with 1 m of spatial resolution. The obtained data show that the offshore caldera, at least along the monitored profile, has many points of heat discharge associated with fluid emission. A loose association between the temperature profile and the main structural features of the offshore caldera was also evidenced by comparing DTS data with a high-resolution reflection seismic survey. This represents an important advancement in the monitoring of this high-risk volcanic area, since temperature variations are among the precursors of magma migration towards the surface and are also crucial data in the study of caldera dynamics. The adopted system can also be applied to many other calderas which are often partially or largely submerged and hence difficult to monitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat management in hydrogen storage tanks is a mandatory issue in order to ensure high level performances both in terms of hydrogen release/uptake kinetics and storage capacity. Previous research has ascertained that powders tend to pack and sinter during charge/discharge cycling giving rise to non-reacting material. Moreover powders, with intrinsically low thermal conductivity, can show problems related to hydrogen permeability, and suffer from hydraulic losses and particle entrainment by gas flow. To overtake these problems and to keep high performances, hydride powders mixed with high thermal conductivity additives are compacted in pellets. Some materials, like Expanded Natural Graphite (ENG), besides improving the pellet mechanical stability during cycling, can impart a thermal conductivity higher by order of magnitudes with respect to a simple powdered bed. On the basis of these considerations, pelleting can be very effective in improving tank performances. However pellets tend to swell and lose compactness during long term operation, returning back to the powder form with a detrimental effect on tank performances. In this work the swelling process caused by cycling of pellets simulating tank exercise has been studied. The pellets, which are constituted by ball milled magnesium hydride (MgH 2 ) with the addition of niobium oxide (Nb 2 O 5 ) and ENG, have been deeply studied by different microscopic methods including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Helium Ion Microscopy (HeIM) and high resolution Computed Tomography (CT) with the purpose of ascertaining microstructural modification and degradation mechanism in order to define strategies for material preparation able to reduce the entity of the swelling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain in head and neck cancer represents a major issue, before, during and after the oncological treatments. The most frequent cause of pain is chemo/radiation related oral mucositis, which involves 80% of the patients and worsens their quality of life inhibiting speaking, eating, drinking or swallowing and sometimes reducing the treatment compliance, the maximum dose intensity and thus the potential efficacy of treatment. Nevertheless pain is still often under estimated and undertreated. An Italian multidisciplinary group of head and neck cancer specialists met with the aim of reaching a consensus on pain management in this setting. The Delphi Appropriateness method was used for the consensus. External expert reviewers evaluated the final statements. The paper contains 30 consensus-reached statements about pain management in HNC patients and offers a review of recent literature in these topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers are important influences on children’s development in multiple domains; and teachers’ emotional expressiveness is a particularly salient influence on children’s social, emotional, and academic development. Well-validated observational measures of teachers’ emotional expressiveness are available, yet observational methods are not feasible for many researchers. Given the need for valid and reliable self-report measures of teachers’ emotional expressiveness, the present study of pre-kindergarten through second-grade teachers (n = 29) describes a novel adaptation of the widely used Self-Expressiveness in the Family Questionnaire for use by teachers. Highly consistent with the original measure, the adaptation yields a two-factor structure; and the positive and negative expressiveness scales demonstrate strong internal reliability and test–retest reliability. Limitations, directions for additional research, and applications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the traits of cancer cells is abnormal DNA methylation patterns. The idea that age-related epigenetic changes may partially explain the increased risk of cancer in the elderly is based on the observation that aging is also accompanied by comparable changes in epigenetic patterns. Lineage bias and decreased stem cell function are signs of hematopoietic stem cell compartment aging. Additionally, aging in the hematopoietic system and the stem cell niche have a role in hematopoietic stem cell phenotypes linked with age, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Understanding these changes will open up promising pathways for therapies against age-related disorders because epigenetic mechanisms are reversible. Additionally, the development of high-throughput epigenome mapping technologies will make it possible to identify the "epigenomic identity card" of every hematological disease as well as every patient, opening up the possibility of finding novel molecular biomarkers that can be used for diagnosis, prediction, and prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the few past decades, study of new hydrogen storage materials has been captivating scientists worldwide. Magnesium hydride, MgH2, is considered one of the most promising materials due to its low cost, high hydrogen capacity, reversibility and the abundance of Mg. However, it requires further research to improve its hydrogen storage performance as it has some drawbacks such as poor dehydrogenation kinetic, high operational temperature, which limit its practical application. In this study, we introduce an overview of recent progress in improving the hydrogen storage performance of MgH2 by the addition of titanium-based additives, which are one of the important groups of additives. The role of Ti-based additive hydrides, oxides, halides, carbides and carbonitrides are overviewed. In addition, the existing challenges and future perspectives of Mg-based hydrides are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Intraoperative pneumothorax during general anesthesia is a dangerous event. It is a possible cause of sudden intraoperative hypoxia, which can be critical especially in high‐risk patients such as those with end‐stage heart failure. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are essential. We describe the case of a pneumothorax during cardiac transplantation, diagnosed by ultrasound and immediately treated. A good skill in lung ultrasound is advantageous in the management of intraoperative hypoxia, particularly for prompt diagnosis of pneumothorax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims While prion infection ultimately involves the entire brain, it has long been thought that the abrupt clinical onset and rapid neurological decline in laboratory rodents relates to involvement of specific critical neuroanatomical target areas. The severity and type of clinical signs, together with the rapid progression, suggest the brainstem as a candidate location for such critical areas. In this study we aimed to correlate prion pathology with clinical phenotype in order to identify clinical target areas. Method We conducted a comprehensive survey of brainstem pathology in mice infected with two distinct prion strains, which produce different patterns of pathology, in mice overexpressing prion protein (with accelerated clinical onset) and in mice in which neuronal expression was reduced by gene targeting (which greatly delays clinical onset). Results We identified specific brainstem areas that are affected by prion pathology during the progression of the disease. In the early phase of disease the locus coeruleus, the nucleus of the solitary tract, and the pre- Bötzinger complex were affected by prion protein deposition. This was followed by involvement of the motor and autonomic centres of the brainstem. Conclusions Neurodegeneration in the locus coeruleus, the nucleus of the solitary tract and the pre-Bötzinger complex predominated and corresponded to the manifestation of the clinical phenotype. Because of their fundamental role in controlling autonomic function and the overlap with clinical signs in sporadic Creutzfeldt- Jakob disease, we suggest that these nuclei represent key clinical target areas in prion diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reporting of infection/sepsis in chemo/radiation-treated head and neck cancer patients is sparse and the problem is underestimated. A multidisciplinary group of head and neck cancer specialists from Italy met with the aim of reaching a consensus on a clinical definition and management of infections and sepsis. The Delphi appropriateness method was used for this consensus. External expert reviewers then evaluated the conclusions carefully according to their area of expertise. The paper contains seven clusters of statements about the clinical definition and management of infections and sepsis in head and neck cancer patients, which had a consensus. Furthermore, it offers a review of recent literature in these topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers and theorists agree that parents may ignore children's emotions as a form of emotion socialization, yet few parent-report measures assess this emotion socialization strategy. This study describes a conceptual approach to understanding parents' ignoring responses and describes a novel subscale added to the Coping with Children's Negative Emotions Scale, which assesses parents' intentional ignoring of children's negative emotions. Eighty-one parents of 3–6-year-old children reported on their emotion socialization and their children's socioemotional adjustment. Relations between parents' ignoring responses and other emotion socialization strategies and among parents' emotion socialization strategies and children's adjustment are explored. The ignoring subscale is internally consistent and relates positively to unsupportive strategies such as punitive and minimizing responses and to children's emotional lability and anger/aggression. Implications and directions for additional research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mechanochemistry has played an important role in the synthesis of many novel compounds, in particular within the field of materials for solid state hydrogen storage applications. This work investigates reactive milling of ethane 1,2-di-amineborane (EDAB) and sodium hydride which yields the evolution of one equivalent of hydrogen and the formation of a novel compound (named NaEDAB) as evidenced by X-ray diffraction analyses. We postulate for this compound the chemical formula NaB 2 C 2 N 2 H 13 . The thermolysis of NaEDAB below 400 °C releases about 8 wt.% pure hydrogen, without producing foaming. Moreover, sodium addition significantly modifies hydrogen desorption enthalpies, giving rise to milder exothermic H 2 release at moderate temperatures with respect to neat EDAB, as well as an endothermic desorption process at higher temperature. This result opens novel and promising perspectives towards the reversible hydrogenation of these compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents socialize children's emotion through active, purposeful strategies and through their own expressivity; yet little research has examined whether parents are inconsistent within or between these socialization domains. The author presents a heuristic model of inconsistency in parents' emotion socialization. Parents ( M age = 34.8 years, 85% mothers) of preschool-aged children ( M age = 4.5 years, 53% female) reported on their responses to children's emotions, their own expressivity, child emotion regulation and expressivity, child social competence, and child internalizing and externalizing. Parents were largely consistent in their emotion socialization, with one exception being that some highly negatively expressive parents punished children's negative expressivity. This pairing of inconsistent socialization behaviors interacted to explain variance in child emotion regulation and internalizing. The author discusses the implications and limitations of the findings and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Materials to be used in tanks for hydrogen storage should have suitable thermal properties otherwise their performances in term of kinetics and hydrogen capacity would rapidly decrease during exercise. For these reason in this work ball milled powders of MgH2 with Nb2O5 as catalyst and Expanded Natural Graphite (ENG) have been compacted at different pressures in the range between 100 and 600 MPa. The pellets were tested until 50 cycles after which the material was able to absorb and desorb hydrogen without significant reduction in maximum capacity. The mechanical stability of these compacted systems during repeated cycling under hydrogen pressure is discussed together with the modifications of the microstructure. The compaction pressure revealed to affect largely the distribution of ENG in the pellets and their mechanical stability upon cycling while this parameter have only a slight effect on the sorption kinetics. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and volumetric Sievert's type apparatus have been used to characterize the samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The possibility of exploiting carbon nanotubes (CNT) in biomedical practices requires thorough analysis of the chemical or bulk effects they may exert on the immune system, the complex network that recognizes and eliminates foreign particles. In particular, the phagocytosing ability of cells belonging to the monocyte/macrophage lineage may render these immune cells an ideal toxicological target of pristine CNT, which may form aggregates of size exceeding monocyte/macrophage phagocytosing plasticity. To shed light on this issue, we analyzed the effects that pristine multi-walled CNT (MWCNT) without metal or biological impurities exert on survival and activation of freshly explanted human peripheral blood monocytes, analyzing in parallel the non-phagocytosing lymphocytes, and using graphite as control carbon material. MWCNT (diameter 10-50 nm, length up to 10 μm) exert two different toxic effects on mononuclear leukocytes: a minor apoptogenic effect (on lymphocytes > monocytes), and a major, apoptosis-independent effect that exclusively and deeply affect monocyte homeostasis. Analysis of monocyte number, adhesion, redox equilibrium, and the differentiation markers CD14 and CD11b reveals that MWCNT cause the selective disappearance of phagocytosis-competent monocytes by mechanisms related to the presence of large nanoparticle aggregates, suggesting phenomena of bulk toxicity possibly consisting of frustrated phagocytosis. At the same time, MWCNT stimulate adhesion of the phagocytosis-incompetent monocytes, and their differentiation toward a peculiar maturation asset. These observations point out novel mechanisms of CNT toxicity, renewing concerns that they may impair the innate immune system deranging the inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Compacted mixtures based on ball-milled magnesium hydride (MgH2) have gained significant research interest as suitable materials for hydrogen storage tanks. The issue related to their stability during practical service conditions is one of paramount relevance. In this work, we investigate the microstructure and morphology of pellets obtained by the compaction of ball-milled MgH2/Nb2O5 powders mixed with expanded natural graphite. The pellets are subjected to repeated hydrogen sorption cycles to measure hydrogen storage properties and its stability with cycling. Moreover, the effect of air-exposure on the hydrogen sorption behavior is studied. Electron microscopy observations of as-prepared and cycled pellets point to a dramatic modification of the material''s microstructure upon repeated hydrogen cycling. In particular, the appearance of MgH2 particles depleted of the Nb2O5 catalyst and the formation of hollow MgO shells are highlighted. These findings are discussed by a simple model which takes into account the basic mechanisms intervening during the metal-hydride transformation in the pellet. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]