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Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain microRNAs (miRNAs), which are important regulators of embryonic development. Nevertheless, little is known about the precise molecular processes controlling blastocyst development and quality. In a previous study, we identified bta-miR-665 as one of the miRNAs more abundantly present in extracellular vesicles of embryo-conditioned culture media of blastocysts compared to degenerate ones. Here, we investigated the effect and regulatory roles of bta-miR-665 in blastocyst development by supplementation of bta-miR-665 mimics or inhibitors to the culture media. Supplementation of bta-miR-665 mimics improved cleavage and blastocyst rate ( P < 0.01), and blastocyst quality as indicated by increased inner cell mass rates and reduced apoptotic cell ratios ( P < 0.01). Furthermore, supplementation of bta-miR-665 inhibitors had the opposite effect on these phenotypes. Low input transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR revealed that bta-miR-665 acts on genes linked to microtubule formation and apoptosis/cell proliferation. These insights not only elucidate the important role of bta-miR-665 in embryo development, but also underscore its potential in improving reproductive efficiency in bovine embryo culture., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Guan, Fan, Six, Benedetti, Raes, Fernandez Montoro, Cui, Azari Dolatabad, Van Soom, Pavani and Peelman.)

Dental implants have been clinically used for almost five decades with high success rates. In vitro research models used in implant dentistry are limited to two-dimensional experiments, which are reproducible and well adapted to evaluate a single parameter but do not reproduce the complexity of clinical settings. On the contrary, the in vivo research models using animals offer similar histological and anatomical features to humans, and tissue healing can be close to a clinical situation, but those models are usually accompanied with ethical concerns, and their outcomes could not be extrapolated to humans because of interspecies variabilities. This makes the development of novel in vitro models that recapitulate physiological events occurring during dental implant placement of particular interest for current research in dentistry. Also, such models could be challenged by setting a pathological environment (peri-implantitis) to better understand the disease and eventually serve as a platform to evaluate novel treatment modalities. The aim of this systematic literature review was to cover all the in vitro three-dimensional (3D) complex models available for research in implant dentistry. To accomplish this, a comprehensive search of the literature present on Scopus and PubMed databases was done using specific keywords, as well as inclusion/exclusion criteria. Out of 1334 articles found, we have finally included 27 articles in this review with publication dates between 2001 and 2022. In those articles, the 3D models were designed to study tissue-implant interface behavior in bone or gingival tissue. The articles focused on simulating implant integration, evaluating the effect of different conditions on implant integration, or developing an infection model for the implant integration process. The methods used involved implant material and cells organized in a specific 3D structure. The 3D models developed were able to simulate the process of dental implant osseo- and soft tissue integration and lead to results comparable with conventional in vitro and in vivo models. A relatively limited number of articles were obtained, which indicates that this is an emerging field, highly dependent on progresses made in biotechnologies and tissue engineering, and that further investigation is needed to enhance these 3D in vitro models.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are future promising therapeutics, but their instability in vivo after administration remains an important barrier to their further development. Many groups evaluated EV surface modification strategies to add a targeting group with the aim of controlling EV biodistribution. Conversely, fewer groups focused on their stabilization to obtain "stealth" allogenic EVs. Modulating their stabilization and biodistribution is an essential prerequisite for their development as nano-therapeutics. Here, we explored polyoxazolines with lipid anchors association to the EV membrane (POxylation as an alternative to PEGylation) to stabilize EVs in plasma and control their biodistribution, while preserving their native properties. We found that this modification maintained and seemed to potentiate the immunomodulatory properties of EVs derived from mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC). Using a radiolabeling protocol to track EVs at a therapeutically relevant concentration in vivo, we demonstrated that POxylation is a promising option to stabilize EVs in plasma because it increased EV half-life by 6 fold at 6 h post-injection. Moreover, EV accumulation in tumors was higher after POxylation than after PEGylation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Morille reports financial support was provided by French National Research Agency. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Within the follicular fluid, extracellular vesicles (EVs) guide oocyte growth through their cargo microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we investigated the role of EVs and their cargo miRNAs by linking the miRNAs found in EVs, derived from the fluid of an individual follicle, to the ability of its oocyte to become a blastocyst (competent) or not (non-competent)., Methods: Bovine antral follicles were dissected, categorized as small (2-4 mm) or large (5-8 mm) and the corresponding oocytes were subjected to individual maturation, fertilization and embryo culture to the blastocyst stage. Follicular fluid was pooled in 4 groups (4 replicates) based on follicle size and competence of the corresponding oocyte to produce a blastocyst. Follicular fluid-derived EVs were isolated, characterized, and subjected to miRNA-sequencing (Illumina Miseq) to assess differential expression (DE) in the 4 groups. Functional validation of the effect of miR-34c on embryo development was performed by supplementation of mimics and inhibitors during in vitro maturation (IVM)., Results: We identified 16 DE miRNAs linked to oocyte competence when follicular size was not considered. Within the large and small follicles, 46 DE miRNAs were driving blastocyst formation in each group. Comparison of EVs from competent small and large follicles revealed 90 DE miRNAs. Cell regulation, cell differentiation, cell cycle, and metabolic process regulation were the most enriched pathways targeted by the DE miRNAs from competent oocytes. We identified bta-miR-34c as the most abundant in follicular fluid containing competent oocytes. Supplementation of miR-34c mimic and inhibitor during IVM did not affect embryo development. However, blastocyst quality, as evidenced by higher cell numbers, was significantly improved following oocyte IVM in the presence of miR-34c mimics, while miR-34c inhibitors resulted in the opposite effect., Conclusion: This study demonstrates the regulatory effect of miRNAs from follicular fluid-derived EVs on oocyte competence acquisition, providing a further basis for understanding the significance of miRNAs in oocyte maturation and embryonic development. Up-regulation of miR-34c in EVs from follicular fluid containing competent oocytes and the positive impact of miR-34c mimics added during IVM on the resulting blastocysts indicate its pivotal role in oocyte competence., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are important regulators of oocyte maturation, playing a key role in modulating gene expression both in a temporal- and spatial-specific manner. These small non-coding RNAs are involved in important processes during oocyte maturation, acting as messengers between the oocyte and its surrounding cumulus cells. Despite its significance, the bidirectional communication mechanism is still unknown. To test miRNA communication between oocyte and surrounding cumulus cells through the gap junctions the gap junctions were either blocked with carbenoxolone or not. MiRNA sequencing of oocytes at 1, 6, and 22 h of in vitro maturation was then performed. Among the differentially expressed miRNAs, bta-miR-21-5p, a regulator of cumulus cell viability and oocyte maturation, was the only previously known miRNA. Furthermore, by labeling a bta-miR-21-5p mimic with FAM, crossing of this miRNA through the gap junctions within the cumulus-oocyte complex could be visualized and internalization in the oocyte was confirmed by RT-qPCR. In conclusion, this study provides, for the first time, evidence that miRNA communication within the bovine cumulus-oocyte complex is enabled through the gap junctional network., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Six, Benedetti, Fan, Guan, Gansemans, Hedia, Bogado Pascottini, Pavani, Van Nieuwerburgh, Deforce, Smits, Van Soom and Peelman.)

Background: There is a limited research on predictive models of fat mass ratio (FMR) in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PWH). This study aimed to develop models considering anthropometric and health-related factors to predict and validate FMR in PWH regardless of sex., Methods: One hundred and six Brazilian PWH (46.4±9.8 years) were evaluated for body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), body circumference (BC), and skinfold thicknesses (SKs). FMR predictive models were developed using stepwise linear regression, and their agreement with DXA was assessed using Bland-Altman plots. Cross-validation was performed using the predicted residual error sum of squares (PRESS) method., Results: Six FMR estimation models were developed for PWH, with adjusted R 2 ranging from 0.43 to 0.72, standard error of the estimate (SEE) from 0.16% to 0.22%, and 95% confidence interval (CI) from 1.03 to 1.15. Model 6, including thigh SK, waist BC, therapy duration, subscapular SK, education years, and abdominal SK, exhibited the highest determination power (R 2 adjusted 0.72, SEE 0.16%, and 95% CI: 1.06-1.15). The agreement between DXA-based FMR and predictive models showed minimal bias (-0.03 to +0.04) and narrower limits of agreement, particularly for the top-performing model (-0.33 to +0.30). Model 6 exhibited a high adjusted Q 2 PRESS (0.70) and low SPRESS (0.17)., Conclusions: Our predictive models advance the study of body composition in PWH by consolidating the use of anthropometry for diagnosing and monitoring lipodystrophy regardless of sex., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://atm.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/atm-23-1946/coif). A.P.d.S. received a scholarship from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - (Finance Code 001, grant No. 88882.317622/2019-01), and from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (grant No. 201126/2022-2). Additionally, the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) will pay the article processing charges for this manuscript. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Annals of Translational Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Children receiving maintenance dialysis (chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5d) have unique risk factors for micronutrient deficiency or toxicity. Children receiving chronic dialysis often require specialized diet plans that may provide more than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of water-soluble vitamins and micronutrients, with or without the addition of a kidney-friendly vitamin. The following is a comprehensive review of current literature on disorders of micronutrients in this population including those of water-soluble vitamins (vitamin C and vitamin B complexes) and trace elements (copper, selenium, and zinc) and has three areas of focus: (1) the risk factors and clinical presentations of disorders of micronutrients, both deficiency and toxicity, (2) the tools to evaluate micronutrient status, and (3) the central role of renal dietitians in optimizing nutritional status from a micronutrient perspective., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Pediatric Nephrology Association.)

Purpose of Review: The integration of risk prediction in managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) is universally considered a key point of routine clinical practice to guide time-sensitive choices, such as dialysis access planning or counseling on kidney transplant options. Several prognostic models have been developed and validated to provide individualized evaluation of kidney failure risk in CKD patients. This review aims to analyze the current evidence on existing predictive models and evaluate the different advantages and disadvantages of these tools., Recent Findings: Since Tangri et al. introduced the Kidney Failure Risk Equation in 2011, the nephrological scientific community focused its interest in enhancing available algorithms and finding new prognostic equations. Although current models can predict kidney failure with high discrimination, different questions remain unsolved. Thus, this field is open to new possibilities and discoveries., Summary: Accurately informing patients of their prognoses can result in tailored therapy with important clinical and psychological implications. Over the last 5 years, the number of disease-modifying therapeutic options has considerably increased, providing possibilities to not only prevent the kidney failure onset in patients with advanced CKD but also delay progression from early stages in at-risk individuals., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

In steam cracking, upstream pyrolysis oil hydroprocessing, and in many downstream processes, olefinic content is key to assess process performance and process safety risk associated with highly exothermic reactions. When looking to plastic pyrolysis oils as a potential feedstock, as well as downstream products such as pyrolysis gasoline (pygas), these materials contain unsaturated hydrocarbons which are not present in fossil feedstocks. Pygas is a product of pyrolysis and exhibits a large number of chemical structural similarities with plastic pyrolysis oils, especially in terms of olefins structure. Quantification of the unsaturation content (olefins and di-olefins) is extremely important in industry, hence the focus of this manuscript. Detailed hydrocarbon analysis with flame ionization detection is inadequate to fully characterize the hydrocarbon composition of such samples, especially when peaks are closely eluting, or even co-eluting. In this study, the gas chromatography coupled to vacuum ultraviolet (GC-VUV) detection method previously described for the analysis of liquid hydrocarbon streams 1 and plastic pyrolysis oils 2 has been compared with comprehensive gas chromatography (GC × GC) and the industry standard for olefin quantification (i.e., bromine number titration). Although based on different methodologies, a correlation between the olefin content obtained from GC-VUV and the bromine number titration method is hereby presented., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In vivo-matured oocytes exhibit higher developmental competence than those matured in vitro but mimicking the in vivo environment by in vitro conditions has been challenging. Until now, conventional two-dimensional (2D) systems have been used for in vitro maturation of bovine cumulus-oocytes-complexes (COCs). However, using such systems present certain limitations. Therefore, alternative low-cost methodologies may help to optimize oocyte in vitro maturation. Here, we used two different systems to culture COCs and evaluate their potential influence on embryo development and quality. In the first system, we used treated fumed silica particles to create a 3D microenvironment (liquid marbles; LM) to mature COCs. In the second system, we cultured COCs in 96-well plates with different dimensions (flat, ultra-low attachment round-bottom, and v-shaped 96-well plates). In both systems, the nuclear maturation rate remained similar to the control in 2D, showing that most oocytes reached metaphase II. However, the subsequent blastocyst rate remained lower in the liquid marble system compared with the 96-well plates and control 2D systems. Interestingly, a lower total cell number was found in the resulting embryos from both systems (LM and 96-well plates) compared with the control. In conclusion, oocytes matured in liquid marbles or 96-well plates showed no remarkable change in terms of meiotic resumption. None of the surface geometries influenced embryo development while oocyte maturation in liquid marbles led to reduced embryo development. These findings show that different geometry during maturation did not have a large impact on oocyte and embryo development. Lower embryo production after in vitro maturation in liquid marbles was probably detected because in vitro maturation was performed in serum-free medium, which makes oocytes more sensitive to possible toxic effects from the environment.

Embryo development is a dynamic process and critical stages may go unnoticed with the use of traditional morphologic assessments, especially the timing of embryonic divisions and aberrant zygotic cleavage patterns. Bovine embryo development is impaired after oocyte vitrification, but little is known about the underlying morphokinetic behavior. Here, bovine zygotes from fresh (n = 708) and vitrified oocytes (n = 182) were monitored by time-lapse imaging and the timing and nature of early blastomere divisions were modeled to find associations with blastocyst development at day 8. The predictive potential of morphokinetic parameters was analyzed by logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to determine optimal cut-off values. Lag-phase was highly correlated with embryo development. Remarkably, 100% of zygotes that reached the blastocyst stage showed a lag-phase. Fast first cleavage increased the chance of blastocyst development to 30% with a cut-off of 32 h and 22 min. Aberrant zygotic cleavage events, including multipolar division, unequal blastomere sizes, and membrane ruffling resulted in decreased blastocyst development. Multipolar division leads to uneven blastomeres, which was associated with anuclear and multinuclear blastomeres, indicating genome segregation errors. Moreover, we described for the first time morphokinetics of embryos derived from vitrified bovine oocytes. Vitrification severely affected blastocyst development, although lower cryoprotectant concentration in equilibration solutions seems to be less detrimental for embryo yield. Impaired development was linked to slow cleavages, lower lag-phase incidence, and increased early embryonic arrest. Typically, less than 15% of the embryos produced from vitrified oocytes reached more than eight cells. Interestingly, the rate of abnormal first cleavage events was not affected by oocyte vitrification. In conclusion, time to first cleavage, the presence of a lag-phase, and the absence of aberrant zygotic cleavage were the best predictors of bovine blastocyst development for both fresh and vitrified oocytes., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The ovary and its hormones may have major effects on the in vitro developmental capacity of the oocytes it contains. We related intrinsic ovarian factors namely the presence of corpus luteum (CL) and/or dominant follicle (>8 mm) and the follicular count to cumulus expansion (CE), embryo development, and blastocyst quality in a bovine model. Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were aspirated from follicles between 4 and 8 mm in diameter. In vitro embryo production was performed in a fully individual production system. The follicular fluid from which COCs were collected was pooled (per ovary) to evaluate the estrogen, progesterone, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations. Cumulus oocyte complexes collected from ovaries without a CL presented a greater CE than COCs derived from ovaries bearing CL. The absence of ovarian structures increased the blastocyst rate when compared to oocytes derived from ovaries with a CL, a dominant follicle, or both. Blastocysts derived from ovaries without a dominant follicle presented higher total cell numbers and a lower proportion of apoptosis than blastocysts derived from ovaries containing a dominant follicle. Cumulus oocyte complexes collected from ovaries with high follicular count resulted in higher cleavage than from ovaries with low follicular count, but the blastocyst rate was similar between groups. Ovaries bearing a CL had greater progesterone and IGF-1 follicular fluid concentrations in neighboring follicles than ovaries without a CL. Selection for bovine ovaries without CL or dominant follicle can have positive effects on CE, embryo development, and blastocyst quality in an individual embryo production system set-up., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest The authors have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: The incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increased in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD)., Summary: Aortic stiffness is a well-accepted biomarker for cardiovascular (CV) events in all stages of CKD. The worldwide prevalence of diabetes continues to grow, as does the prevalence of DKD. Insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia, hypertension, and the metabolic abnormalities of type-2 diabetes are all involved in the pathogenesis of CVD. The effect of these toxins on cardiac and vascular function is amplified by the worsening of renal function and the parallel rise of uraemic toxins., Key Messages: In this narrative review, we analysed why arterial stiffening can be considered a vascular mediator between diabetes and cardiac dysfunction, and we discussed the strong CV and nephroprotective effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter type-2 inhibitors., (© 2022 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Selenium is commonly used as an antioxidant in a serum-free culture medium setting. However, lycopene has emerged as a potent antioxidant being twice as efficient as β-carotene and 10 times as efficient as α-tocopherol with beneficial effects when supplemented in a serum-free maturation medium. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of lycopene supplementation in a serum-free culture medium on blastocyst development and quality. After in vitro maturation and fertilization, presumed zygotes were cultured in groups of 25 in 50 μl droplets of synthetic oviductal fluid. Culture medium supplementation was done using four experimental groups: insulin, transferrin, selenium (ITS, control); ITS + DMSO (diluent control); ITS + DMSO-lycopene 0.1 μM (ITSL); and IT + DMSO-lycopene 0.1 μM (ITL). DMSO was used as a diluent for lycopene. Blastocyst development among experimental groups was fitted in mixed-effects models, and blastocyst quality parameters (assessed via differential apoptotic staining) were evaluated in mixed linear regression models. The cleavage (85.3 ± 2.4, 82.6 ± 2.7, 86 ± 2.3 and 86.4 ± 2.3% for control, diluent control, ITSL and ITL, respectively) and day 8 blastocyst rates (37.4 ± 3.3, 36.9 ± 3.4, 39.7 ± 3.3 and 46.2 ± 3.4% for control, diluent control, ITSL and ITL, respectively) were not different (p > .1) among experimental groups. Embryos produced in the ITL group resulted in blastocysts with higher total cell numbers (TCN; 141 ± 19.2), inner cell mass (ICM; 65.3 ± 11.6) and trophectoderm cells (TE; 75.2 ± 8.8) compared with the control (129 ± 19.2, 56.3 ± 11.6 and 72.7 ± 8.8, for TCN, ICM and TE; p < .01, respectively). Lycopene-supplemented groups (ITSL and ITL) resulted in blastocysts with similar TCN, ICM and TE (p > .2). The number of apoptotic cells was not different among experimental groups (p > .1). Lycopene supplementation to the culture medium only produced a numerical increase in the blastocyst rate but replacing selenium with lycopene in a serum-free culture medium resulted in blastocysts with more cells., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objective: To identify factors at admission associated with a latency < 7 days after Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) between 22 and 32 weeks of gestation in singleton pregnancies., Material and Methods: A retrospective comparative study of all women with singleton pregnancies admitted for PPROM to an academic tertiary center during the 5-year period of 2015-2019. Women who gave birth < 7 days and ≥ 7 day after PPROM were compared. We determined risk at admission associated with a latency < 7 days after PPROM by logistic regression and identified high-risk subgroups by classification and regression tree (CART) analysis., Results: Among 174 eligible births, 76 (44%) women gave birth < 7 days after PPROM and 98 (56%) later. The two groups had similar maternal baseline and obstetric characteristics. In multivariate analysis, the following variables reported at admission were independently associated with a latency < 7 days: painful uterine contractions (aOR 3.9, 95%CI 1.1-7.4), cervical length < 20 mm (aOR 2.4, 95%CI 1.2-4.8), and C reactive protein ≥ 10 mg/L (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.8). Women with painful uterine contractions and cervical length at admission < 20 mm were at highest risk of latency < 7 days (rate: 91%). Conversely, the women at lowest risk were those without uterine contractions, with a cervical length ≥ 20 mm, and C-reactive protein < 10 mg/L at admission (rate: 22%)., Conclusion: Our results may be helpful in determining criteria at admission for selecting women eligible for outpatient care after an initial hospitalization., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Equine oocyte vitrification would benefit the growing in vitro embryo production programs, but further optimization of the protocol is necessary to reach clinical efficiency. Therefore, we aimed to perform a direct comparison of non-permeating and permeating cryoprotective agents (CPAs) during the vitrification and warming of equine immature oocytes. In the first experiment, cumulus oocytes complexes (COCs) were vitrified comparing sucrose, trehalose, and galactose in combination with ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). In the second experiment, the COCs were vitrified using three mixtures of permeating CPAs in a 50:50 volume ratio (ethylene glycol-dimethyl sulfoxide (ED), propylene glycol-ethylene glycol (PE), and propylene glycol-dimethyl sulfoxide (PD)) with galactose and warmed in different galactose concentrations (0.3 or 0.5 mol/L). Overall, all the treatments supported blastocyst formation, but the developmental rates were lower for all the vitrified groups in the first (4.3 to 7.6%) and the second (3.5 to 9.4%) experiment compared to the control (26.5 and 34.2%, respectively; p < 0.01). In the first experiment, the maturation was not affected by vitrification. The sucrose exhibited lower cleavage than the control ( p = 0.02). Although the galactose tended to have lower maturation than trehalose ( p = 0.060) and control ( p = 0.069), the highest numerical cleavage and blastocyst rates were obtained with this CPA. In the second experiment, the maturation, cleavage, and blastocyst rates were similar between the treatments. Compared to the control, only the ED reached similar maturation ( p = 0.02) and PE similar cleavage ( p = 0.1). The galactose concentration during warming did not affect the maturation, cleavage, or blastocyst rates ( p > 0.1), but the PE-0.3 exhibited the highest blastocyst rate (15.1%) among the treatments, being the only one comparable to the control (34.2%). As such, PE-galactose provides a valuable option for equine immature oocyte vitrification and should be considered for the future optimization of the protocol.

We investigated the effect of the antioxidant lycopene supplemented into the in vitro maturation medium (TCM-199 with 20 ng/mL epidermal growth factor and 50 mg/mL gentamycin) in a heat shock (HS) model to mimic in vivo heat stress conditions. Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes were supplemented with 0.2 μM lycopene (or not supplemented; control) under HS (40.5 °C) and non-HS (NHS; 38.5 °C) during maturation. After 22 h of maturation, we evaluated the nuclear status of the oocytes, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and the respective blastocyst development and quality (via differential staining). Data were fitted in logistic and linear regression models, and the replicates were set as a random effect. The nuclear maturation was higher in NHS (84.0 ± 3.2%; least square mean ± standard error) than HS control (60.4 ± 4.3%; P < 0.001). Remarkably, the nuclear maturation in HS lycopene (71.7 ± 4.1%) was similar to NHS control (P = 0.7). Under HS conditions lycopene reduced ROS production (27.4 ± 4.8; relative fluorescence units (RFU)) in comparison to HS control (33.8 ± 1.8 RFU; P = 0.009). However, the ROS production in NHS lycopene (18.9 ± 2.0 RFU) was similar to NHS control (18.7 ± 1.8 RFU; P = 0.9). The cleavage rate in HS lycopene (76.1 ± 3.3%) was not lower than NHS lycopene (83.3 ± 2.5%; P > 0.1). On the day 8 of embryo development, the blastocyst rate was higher for NHS lycopene (55.2 ± 4.7%) versus NHS control (44.5 ± 4.7%; P = 0.04), but under HS the day 8 blastocyst rate was similar between control (29.9 ± 4.2%) and lycopene (32.3 ± 4.2%; P = 0.9). Lycopene supplementation increased the cell number of the embryos (total cell, trophectoderm, and inner cell mass numbers) under NHS conditions (P > 0.03). The apoptotic cell ratio was lower in lycopene (NHS and HS) versus control (NHS and HS) (P > 0.04). Lycopene has the ability to scavenge oocyte ROS and improved the cleavage rate of embryos under HS conditions. However, this could not be translated to a higher blastocyst development, which remained lower under HS. Results of our study indicate that antioxidant supplementation like lycopene during the maturation of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes may be routinely used to improve blastocyst rate and quality under standard maturation conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The primary outcome was to determine risks factors for wound complications after cesarean section. Secondary outcome was the management of these complications., Study Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study of consecutive cesarean deliveries performed at a secondary care facility between June 2017 and June 2019. Composite wound complications included infection, disruption and fluid collection occurring 30 days post-operatively. Medical records were reviewed and data including patient demographics, comorbidities, intra-partum characteristics were evaluated as potential risk factors for wound complications using multivariate logistic regression. Secondarily, post-operative management of wound complications was described., Results: Among 1520 patients undergoing cesarean section during the period of study, 67 developed wound complications (4.4 %). Mean Duration of local wound care was 41.35 days (2-95). Mean number of wound care related visits in our hospital was 4.85(1-11). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed 2 significant independant risk factors: preeclampsia with OR 5.60, 95 % CI 2.83, 11.11 (p:<0.001), and premature rupture of the membranes with OR 9.76, 95 % CI 2.13, 44.77 (p: 0.003)., Conclusion: Preeclampsia and premature rupture of the membrane were independent risk factors for wound complications after cesarean section. Information regarding higher rates of wound complications and preventive measures should be provided to high-risk women prior to surgery., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

To add new molecular and pathogenetic insights into the biological machinery associated to kidney allograft fibrosis is a major research target in nephrology and organ transplant translational medicine. Interstitial fibrosis associated to tubular atrophy (IF/TA) is, in fact, an inevitable and progressive process that occurs in almost every type of chronic allograft injury (particularly in grafts from expanded criteria donors) characterized by profound remodeling and excessive production/deposition of fibrillar extracellular matrix (ECM) with a great clinical impact. IF/TA is detectable in more than 50% of kidney allografts at 2 years. However, although well studied, the complete cellular/biological network associated with IF/TA is only partially evaluated. In the last few years, then, thanks to the introduction of new biomolecular technologies, inflammation in scarred/fibrotic parenchyma areas (recently acknowledged by the BANFF classification) has been recognized as a pivotal element able to accelerate the onset and development of the allograft chronic damage. Therefore, in this review, we focused on some new pathogenetic elements involved in graft fibrosis (including epithelial/endothelial to mesenchymal transition, oxidative stress, activation of Wnt and Hedgehog signaling pathways, fatty acids oxidation and cellular senescence) that, in our opinion, could become in future good candidates as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

We address the scattering of a quantum particle by a one-dimensional barrier potential over a set of discrete positions. We formalize the problem as a continuous-time quantum walk on a lattice with an impurity and use the quantum Fisher information as a means to quantify the maximal possible accuracy in the estimation of the height of the barrier. We introduce suitable initial states of the walker and derive the reflection and transmission probabilities of the scattered state. We show that while the quantum Fisher information is affected by the width and central momentum of the initial wave packet, this dependency is weaker for the quantum signal-to-noise ratio. We also show that a dichotomic position measurement provides a nearly optimal detection scheme.

Whether kidney transplant recipients are capable of mounting an effective anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) adaptive immune response despite chronic immunosuppression is unknown and has important implications for therapy. Herein, we analyzed peripheral blood cell surface and intracellular cytokine phenotyping by flow cytometry along with serum antibody testing in 18 kidney transplant recipients with active coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and 36 matched, transplanted controls without COVID-19. We observed significantly fewer total lymphocytes and fewer circulating memory CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the COVID-19 subjects. We also showed fewer anergic and senescent CD8 + T cells in COVID-19 individuals, but no differences in exhausted CD8 + T cells, nor in any of these CD4 + T cell subsets between groups. We also observed greater frequencies of activated B cells in the COVID-19 patients. Sixteen of 18 COVID-19 subjects tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 serum antibodies showed positive immunoglobulin M or immunoglobulin G titers. Additional analyses showed no significant correlation among immune phenotypes and degrees of COVID-19 disease severity. Our findings indicate that immunosuppressed kidney transplant recipients admitted to the hospital with acute COVID-19 infection can mount SARS-CoV-2-reactive adaptive immune responses. The findings raise the possibility that empiric reductions in immunosuppressive therapy for all kidney transplant recipients with active COVID-19 may not be required., (© 2020 The American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.)

Background: Research on the health effects of chemical mixtures has focused mainly on early life rather than adolescence, a potentially important developmental life stage., Objectives: We examined associations of a metal mixture with general cognition in a cross-sectional study of adolescents residing near ferromanganese industry, a source of airborne metals emissions., Methods: We measured manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and chromium (Cr) in hair, blood, urine, nails, and saliva from 635 Italian adolescents 10-14 years of age. Full-scale, verbal, and performance intelligence quotient (FSIQ, VIQ, PIQ) scores were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III. Multivariable linear regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to estimate associations of the metal mixture with IQ. In secondary analyses, we used BKMR's hierarchical variable selection option to inform biomarker selection for Mn, Cu, and Cr., Results: Median metal concentrations were as follows: hair Mn, 0.08 μ g / g ; hair Cu, 9.6 μ g / g ; hair Cr, 0.05 μ g / g ; and blood Pb, 1.3 μ g / dL . Adjusted models revealed an inverted U-shaped association between hair Cu and VIQ, consistent with Cu as an essential nutrient that is neurotoxic in excess. At low levels of hair Cu (10th percentile, 5.4 μ g / g ), higher concentrations (90th percentiles) of the mixture of Mn, Pb, and Cr ( 0.3 μ g / g , 2.6 μ g / dL , and 0.1 μ g / g , respectively) were associated with a 2.9 (95% CI: - 5.2 , - 0.5 )-point decrease in VIQ score, compared with median concentrations of the mixture. There was suggestive evidence of interaction between Mn and Cu. In secondary analyses, saliva Mn, hair Cu, and saliva Cr were selected as the biomarkers most strongly associated with VIQ score., Discussion: Higher adolescent levels of Mn, Pb, and Cr were associated with lower IQ scores, especially at low Cu levels. Findings also support further investigation into Cu as both beneficial and toxic for neurobehavioral outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6803.

The new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a world health emergency. The disease predominantly effects individuals between 30 and 79 years of age with 81% of cases being classified as mild. Despite the majority of the general population displaying symptoms similar to the common cold, COVID-19 has also induced alveolar damage resulting in progressive respiratory failure with fatalities noted in 6.4% of cases. Direct viral injury, uncontrolled inflammation, activation of coagulation, and complement cascades are thought to participate in disease pathogenesis. Patients with COVID-19 have displayed kidney damage through acute kidney injury, mild proteinuria, hematuria, or slight elevation in creatinine possibly as consequence of kidney tropism of the virus and multiorgan failure. The impact of COVID-19 on patients with pre-existing kidney impairment, including those with chronic kidney disease, kidney transplant recipients, and individuals on hemodialysis (HD) has not yet been clearly established. No specific treatments for COVID-19 have been found yet. Research has revealed several agents that may have potential efficacy against COVID-19, and many of these molecules have demonstrated preliminary efficacy against COVID-19 and are currently being tested in clinical trials., (Copyright © 2020 Benedetti, Waldman, Zaza, Riella and Cravedi.)

Investigation of the fungal communities in animal models of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) showed a controversial role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida spp . In health and disease. These conflicting observations could be ascribed to immunogenic differences among co-specific strains. To assess the relevance of intra-strains differences on yeast immunogenicity and impact on the microbiota, we screened S. cerevisiae and Candida spp. Strains isolated from fecal samples of IBD patients. We compared the cytokine profiles, obtained upon stimulation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) and Dendritic Cells with different yeast strains, and evaluated the relationship between strain's cell wall sugar amount and immune response. Moreover, the gut microbiota composition was explored in relation to fungal isolation from fecal samples by metabarcoding analysis. The comparison of cytokine profiles showed strain dependent rather than species-dependent differences in immune responses. Differences in immunogenicity correlated with the cell wall composition of S. cerevisiae intestinal strains. Stimulation of human healthy PBMCs with different strains showed a pro-inflammatory IL-6 response counterbalanced by IL-10 production. Interestingly, Crohn's (CD) patients responded differently to "self" and "non-self" strains, eliciting pure Th1 or Th17 cytokine patterns. The differences observed in vitro were recapitulated in vivo , where different strains contributed in dramatically different ways to local epithelial activity and to the inflammation of wild type and Interleukin-deficient mice. Furthermore, we observed that the gut microbiota profiles significantly differentiated according to the presence of Saccharomyces or Candida spp. or the absence of fungal isolates in fecal samples. Our results show the importance to deepen metagenomics and immunophenotyping analyses to the strain level, to elucidate the role of fungal and bacterial communities in health and disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare financial and non-financial competing interests., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Frailty is a pre-disability condition in older persons providing a challenge to Health-Care Systems. Systematic reviews highlight the absence of a gold-standard for its identification. However, an approach based on initial screening by the General Practitioner (GP) seems particularly useful. On these premises, a 9-item Sunfrail Checklist (SC), was developed by a multidisciplinary group, in the context of European Sunfrail Project, and tested in the Community., Objectives: - to measure the concordance between the judgments of frailty (criterion-validity): the one formulated by the GP, using the SC, and the one subsequently expressed by a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Team (CGA-Team); - to determine the construct-validity through the correspondence between some checklist items related to the 3 domains (physical, cognitive and social) and the three tools used by the CGA-Team; - to measure the instrument's performance in terms of positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV)., Design: Cross-sectional study, with a final sample-size of 95 subjects., Setting: Two Community-Health Centers of Parma, Italy., Participants: Subjects aged 75 years old or more, with no disability and living in the community., Measurements: We compared the screening capacity of the GP using the SC to that one of CGA-Team based on three tests: 4-meter Gait-Speed, Mini-Mental State Examination and Loneliness Scale., Results: 95 subjects (51 women), with a mean age of 81±4 years were enrolled. According to GPs 34 subjects were frail; the CGA-Team expressed a frailty judgment on 26 subjects. The criterion-validity presented a Cohen's k of 0.353. Construct-validity was also low, with a maximum contingency-coefficient of 0.19. The analysis showed a PPV of 58.1% and a NPV equal to 84.6%., Conclusions: Our data showed a low agreement between the judgements of GP performed by SC and CGA-Team. However, the good NPV suggests the applicability of SC for screening activities in primary-care., Competing Interests: All the authors have nothing to disclose

We report on the deflection of laser pulses and accelerated electrons in a laser-plasma accelerator (LPA) by the effects of laser pulse front tilt and transverse density gradients. Asymmetry in the plasma index of refraction leads to laser steering, which can be due to a density gradient or spatiotemporal coupling of the laser pulse. The transverse forces from the skewed plasma wave can also lead to electron deflection relative to the laser. Quantitative models are proposed for both the laser and electron steering, which are confirmed by particle-in-cell simulations. Experiments with the BELLA Petawatt Laser are presented which show controllable 0.1-1 mrad laser and electron beam deflection from laser pulse front tilt. This has potential applications for electron beam pointing control, which is of paramount importance for LPA applications.

According to the 2018 European Union Ageing Report, the demographic profile of the European population is projected to be older. Aging cannot be considered a homogeneous process, and only in certain cases is "successful", with maintained functional ability, which is determined by intrinsic capacity, the environment, and their interaction. When intrinsic capacity is lost, elders with chronic diseases develop frailty, a condition with high-risk of disability. Old-age dependency-ratio is projected to increase from 29.6% to 51.2% in the EU in 2070: thus, the need of new approaches targeting the prevention of disability. Numerous studies are conducted in the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing and addressing identification, treatment, coordination and integration of care in frail older subjects. SUNFRAIL is aimed at developing a model, good practices and tools to improve the identification, prevention and care of frailty and management of multimorbidity. SPRINTT is testing the effectiveness of a multi-component treatment able to treat frailty and sarcopenia. VIGOUR, a project aimed at strengthening integrated-care in different contexts of European Countries, verifies enablers and obstacles encountered in the real world by these good practices. Through the creation of Parma-Lab and Frailty-Team in the Academic-Hospital of Parma combined with the contribution of Parma Health-Trust in the "Community Health-Centers", the Projects were translated into Health Services Arena. This response bridging European Studies and clinical practice, aims to early detecting and caring 75-year older citizens with frailty and multimorbidity, living in the community, not institutionalized and at risk of hospitalization and mobility ADL-disability.

It is often the case that the environment of a quantum system may be described as a bath of oscillators with an ohmic density of states. In turn, the precise characterization of these classes of environments is a crucial tool to engineer decoherence or to tailor quantum information protocols. Recently, the use of quantum probes in characterizing ohmic environments at zero-temperature has been discussed, showing that a single qubit provides precise estimation of the cutoff frequency. On the other hand, thermal noise often spoil quantum probing schemes, and for this reason we here extend the analysis to a complex system at thermal equilibrium. In particular, we discuss the interplay between thermal fluctuations and time evolution in determining the precision attainable by quantum probes. Our results show that the presence of thermal fluctuations degrades the precision for low values of the cutoff frequency, i.e., values of the order ω c ≲ T (in natural units). For larger values of ω c , decoherence is mostly due to the structure of environment, rather than thermal fluctuations, such that quantum probing by a single qubit is still an effective estimation procedure.

Guiding of relativistically intense laser pulses with peak power of 0.85 PW over 15 diffraction lengths was demonstrated by increasing the focusing strength of a capillary discharge waveguide using laser inverse bremsstrahlung heating. This allowed for the production of electron beams with quasimonoenergetic peaks up to 7.8 GeV, double the energy that was previously demonstrated. Charge was 5 pC at 7.8 GeV and up to 62 pC in 6 GeV peaks, and typical beam divergence was 0.2 mrad.

Objective: The aim was to assess sensitization using quantitative sensory testing in mechanical and thermal modes in individuals with and without osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Pain thresholds were correlated with functionality, symptoms of depression and intensity of pain., Methods: Thirty control volunteers and 30 patients with OA of the knee were assessed. Punctate pain thresholds using Von Frey filaments and thermal pain thresholds using a Thermal Sensory Analyzer were evaluated in the periarticular region of the knee and forearm. Using a digital pressure algometer, pressure pain thresholds were assessed in the periarticular region of the knee and on the root exit zone on the lumbar and sacral spine., Results: Punctate, pressure, and thermal pain thresholds differed significantly between participants with and without OA (p < 0.05). Values in those with OA were consistent with pain sensitization. Pressure pain thresholds also showed moderate and negative correlations with data on functionality, symptoms of depression and intensity of pain (-0.36 < r > -0.56), contributing up to 30% of their variability., Conclusions: Allodynia and hyperalgesia were demonstrated in the OA group, suggesting central sensitization in patients with mild to moderate severity of joint damage. Correlation between mechanical hypersensitivity and psychosocial factors seems to be small, despite of its significance.

Mitigation of the beam hose instability in plasma-based accelerators is required for the realization of many applications, including plasma-based colliders. The hose instability is analyzed in the blowout regime including plasma ion motion, and ion motion is shown to suppress the hose instability by inducing a head-to-tail variation in the focusing force experienced by the beam. Hence, stable acceleration in plasma-based accelerators is possible, while, by use of proper bunch shaping, minimizing the energy spread and preserving the transverse beam emittance.

Nanodroplets in inverse miniemulsions provide a colloidal confinement for the crystallization of ammonium phosphomolybdate (APM), influencing the resulting particle size. The effects of the space confinement are investigated by comparing the crystallization of analogous materials both in miniemulsion and in bulk solution. Both routes result in particles with a rhombododecahedral morphology, but the ones produced in miniemulsion have sizes between 40 and 90 nm, 3 orders of magnitude smaller than the ones obtained in bulk solution. The catalytic activity of the materials is studied by taking the epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene as a model reaction. The miniemulsion route yields APM particles catalytically much more active than analogous samples produced in bulk solution, which can be explained by their higher dispersibility in organic solvents, their higher surface area, and their higher porosity. Inorganic phosphate salt precursors are compared with organic phosphate sources. APM nanoparticles prepared in miniemulsion from d-glucose-6-phosphate and O-phospho-dl-serine yield a conversion in the epoxidation reaction of more than 90% after only 1 h, compared to 30% for materials prepared in bulk solution. In addition, the catalysts prepared in miniemulsion display a promising recyclability.

Lung transplant recipients (LRs) have a reduced median 5-year survival of approximately 55% primarily due to chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Statins have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects that may facilitate CLAD prevention. This study sought to evaluate statin effect on CLAD development. Adult bilateral LRs from January 2004 to October 2013 were included. Statin group included recipients with early statin use and continued for minimum 6 months. Propensity score matching was performed for age, gender, and native lung disease to select matched nonstatin group. Competing risk approach was used to evaluate statin effect on CLAD development at 3 years while controlling for acute rejection and CMV pneumonitis. A total of 130 patients were included in each group. CLAD cumulative incidence at 3 years for statin and nonstatin groups was 20.6% (CI: 11.8%-33.5%) and 22.4% (CI: 12.2%-27.3%). Statin use was not associated with a decreased risk of CLAD (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR]: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.55-1.59, P = .80) but was associated with a decreased risk of death (SHR: 0.45, CI: 0.22-0.90, P = .024). At 3 years, patient survival was 81.7% in statin group and 68.3% in nonstatin group (P = .012). Statins did not significantly delay the time to development of CLAD in LR but did demonstrate a benefit in patient survival., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The photoactivated free radical miniemulsion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and the zirconium oxocluster Zr 4 O 2 (methacrylate) 12 is used as an effective and fast preparation method for polymer/inorganic hybrid nanoparticles. The oxoclusters, covalently anchored to the polymer network, act as metal-organic cross-linkers, thus improving the thermomechanical properties of the resulting hybrid nanoparticles. Benzoin carbonyl organic compounds were used as photoinitiators. The obtained materials are compared in terms of cross-linking, effectiveness of cluster incorporation, and size distribution with the analogous nanoparticles produced by using conventional thermally induced free radical miniemulsion copolymerization. The kinetics of the polymerization process in the absence and in the presence of the oxocluster is also investigated.

Single-shot, charge-dependent emittance measurements of electron beams generated by a laser plasma accelerator (LPA) reveal that shock-induced density down-ramp injection produces beams with normalized emittances a factor of 2 smaller than beams produced via ionization injection. Such a comparison is made possible by the tunable LPA setup, which allows electron beams with nearly identical central energy and peak spectral charge density to be produced using the two distinct injection mechanisms. Parametric measurements of this type are essential for the development of LPA-based applications which ultimately require high charge density and low emittance.

Background: Donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) after lung transplantation correlate with poor outcomes. The ideal treatment strategy for antibody-mediated rejection AMR is not defined. Our institution implemented an aggressive multimodality protocol for the treatment of suspected AMR., Methods: Lung transplant recipients with suspected AMR were treated with a standardized protocol of plasma exchange, steroids, bortezomib, rituximab, and intravenous immune globulin. Primary outcome was DSA clearance at 6 months in those alive. Secondary endpoints included preserved allograft function at 6 months, survival at 6 and 12 months and complications due to the protocol., Results: Sixteen lung transplant recipients with documented DSA and allograft dysfunction were included in the analysis. Of the 16 patients, 11 survived to 6 months. Three of those 11 patients (27%) cleared all DSAs within 6 months of the protocol. Four of the 11 patients (36%) had preserved allograft function at 6 months. Overall 12-month patient survival was 56%. Complications included thrombocytopenia (50%) and abdominal pain or gastrointestinal discomfort (18.7%)., Conclusions: This multimodality protocol resulted in clearance of DSAs and preserved lung function in a minority of lung transplant recipients with suspected AMR surviving to 6 months after therapy. There were significant side effects of the protocol., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose To determine if the obliteration of a cervical space, the paraspinal fat pad (PFP), can be used as an indicator at computed tomography (CT) of an injury of cervical spine posterior ligamentous complex (PLC). Materials and Methods This retrospective study was approved by the institutional board review; written informed consent was obtained from healthy subjects and was waived for patients. First, PFP appearance was evaluated in an anatomic specimen and in 10 healthy subjects on spine CT scans by three radiologists (readers 1, 2, and 3) working in consensus. Then, in 85 patients with suspicion of cervical spine trauma following high-velocity trauma, readers 2 and 3 reviewed in consensus the cervical spine CT (reference for fracture and luxation) and 1.5-T magnetic resonance images (T1, T2, and short inversion time inversion-recovery sequences; reference for ligament and disk injuries and contusion or occult fracture) for traumatic injuries. CT appearance of PFP was independently analyzed by readers 1 and 2, and interobserver agreement (weighted kappa) was calculated. Relationships between PFP changes and injuries and descriptive analysis were calculated by using logistic regression and Fisher test, respectively. Results The PFP could be identified as a well-circumscribed fatty area between cervical spine and posterior muscles. Interobserver agreement was 0.76. An abnormal PFP was associated with PLC (P < .001) and arch (P = .006) injuries but not with body (P = .056), longitudinal ligaments (P = .412), or disk (P = .665) injuries. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for PLC injuries were 55% (11 of 20), 97% (38 of 39), 92% (11 of 12), and 81% (38 of 47), respectively. Conclusion PFP changes on CT scans are significantly associated with injuries of PLC in patients with spine cervical trauma. © RSNA, 2016 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Practical implementations of quantum technology are limited by unavoidable effects of decoherence and dissipation. With achieved experimental control for individual atoms and photons, more complex platforms composed by several units can be assembled enabling distinctive forms of dissipation and decoherence, in independent heat baths or collectively into a common bath, with dramatic consequences for the preservation of quantum coherence. The cross-over between these two regimes has been widely attributed in the literature to the system units being farther apart than the bath's correlation length. Starting from a microscopic model of a structured environment (a crystal) sensed by two bosonic probes, here we show the failure of such conceptual relation, and identify the exact physical mechanism underlying this cross-over, displaying a sharp contrast between dephasing and dissipative baths. Depending on the frequency of the system and, crucially, on its orientation with respect to the crystal axes, collective dissipation becomes possible for very large distances between probes, opening new avenues to deal with decoherence in phononic baths., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles are prepared by free-radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with the structurally well-defined methacrylate-functionalized zirconium oxocluster Zr 4 O 2 (methacrylate) 12 . The polymerization process occurs in the confined space of miniemulsion droplets. The formation of covalent chemical bonds between the organic and the inorganic counterparts improves the distribution of the guest species (oxoclusters) in the polymer particles, overcoming problems related to migration, leaching, and stability. Because of the presence of a high number of double bonds (12 per oxocluster), the oxoclusters act as efficient cross-linking units for the resulting polymer matrix, thus ruling its swelling behavior in organic solvents. The synthesized hybrid nanostructures are applied as heterogeneous systems in the catalytic oxidation of an organic sulfide to the corresponding sulfoxide and sulfone by hydrogen peroxide, displaying quantitative sulfide conversion in 4-24 h, with overall turnover numbers (TON) up to 8000 after 4 cycles.