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The availability of accurate analytical models for the prediction of microwave transmission through subwavelength metasurfaces is of particular interest in the design phase for performance optimization. To this purpose, this article proposes new analytical expressions of the effective admittance of both the inductive and capacitive screens. The effective capacitance of a periodic array of metal patches on a dielectric layer is obtained as a function of the effective inductance of the complementary surface made of a period array of square apertures on a metal plate. The effective inductance of a wire grid is given from the one of the equivalent mesh strip grid, performing the same transmission and reflection characteristics. The proposed formulations are applied to the prediction of the microwave transmission performances of the considered screen configurations. The obtained results are validated by comparison with the ones given by a full-wave numerical code and with data reported in the literature.

Degeneration of the motoneuron and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and loss of motor units (MUs) contribute to age‐related muscle wasting and weakness associated with sarcopenia. However, these features have not been comprehensively investigated in humans. This study aimed to compare neuromuscular system integrity and function at different stages of sarcopenia, with a particular focus on NMJ stability and MU properties. We recruited 42 young individuals (Y) (aged 25.98 ± 4.6 years; 57% females) and 88 older individuals (aged 75.9 ± 4.7 years; 55% females). The older group underwent a sarcopenia screening according to the revised guidelines of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2. In all groups, knee extensor muscle force was evaluated by isometric dynamometry, muscle morphology by ultrasound and MU potential properties by intramuscular electromyography (iEMG). MU number estimate (iMUNE) and blood samples were obtained. Muscle biopsies were collected in a subgroup of 16 Y and 52 older participants. Thirty‐nine older individuals were non‐sarcopenic (NS), 31 pre‐sarcopenic (PS) and 18 sarcopenic (S). A gradual decrease in quadriceps force, cross‐sectional area and appendicular lean mass was observed across the different stages of sarcopenia (for all P< 0.0001). Handgrip force and the Short Physical Performance Battery score also showed a diminishing trend. iEMG analyses revealed elevated near fibre segment jitter in NS, PS and S compared with Y (Y vs. NS and S: P< 0.0001; Y vs. PS: P= 0.0169), suggestive of age‐related impaired NMJ transmission. Increased C‐terminal agrin fragment (P< 0.0001) and altered caveolin 3 protein expression were consistent with age‐related NMJ instability in all the older groups. The iMUNE was lower in all older groups (P< 0.0001), confirming age‐related loss of MUs. An age‐related increase in MU potential complexity was also observed. These observations were accompanied by increased muscle denervation and axonal damage, evinced by the increase in neural cell adhesion molecule‐positive fibres (Y vs. NS: P< 0.0001; Y vs. S: P= 0.02) and the increase in serum concentration of neurofilament light chain (P< 0.0001), respectively. Notably, most of these MU and NMJ parameters did not differ when comparing older individuals with or without sarcopenia. Alterations in MU properties, axonal damage, an altered innervation profile and NMJ instability are prominent features of the ageing of the neuromuscular system. These neuromuscular alterations are accompanied by muscle wasting and weakness; however, they appear to precede clinically diagnosed sarcopenia, as they are already detectable in older NS individuals.

Using a unique database that includes publicly disclosed fund holdings at the end of the quarter as well as the holdings in all non-publicly disclosed months, we found that some funds could alter their portfolios in publicly disclosed months to artificially increase their Active Share scores and consequently appear more active and take advantage of the positive relationship between Active Share and money flows. We show how, consistent with non-informed trades, these funds erode their future performance. However, these funds reach their objective of increasing future money flows. Moreover, we find that window-dresser funds can be identified by controlling the level of tracking error. The funds with high Active Share scores and low tracking errors have the highest levels of Active Share window dressing and the worst future returns. However, compared with less active funds, they are able to capture higher money flows.JEL CLASSIFICATION G23; G11

Building on the distinction between general and specific human capital, this study examines the impact of directors' educational level, technological background, and financial expertise on company performance, while also exploring the moderating effect of CEO firm-specific expertise. The analyses address both financial and innovation outcomes and apply OLS regression techniques on a sample of Italian medium and large high-tech companies. Findings indicate that both general and specific board human capital influence financial and innovation performance, with these effects being positively moderated by CEOs with firm-specific expertise. Additionally, they underscore that the alignment of directors' human capital with the type of performance affects the impact of board human capital on company outcomes. The study enriches academic discourse by clarifying the distinct impacts of various types of board human capital on different dimensions of company performance, and offers a more nuanced perspective compared to previous research in dynamic and highly competitive contexts.

Through experiments on action recognition and natural language description, we show that the paradox of surveillance and privacy can be solved by artificial intelligence and that respect for human rights is not a chimera.

Wearable systems have become an integral part of our daily lives. Scientific research has succeeded in integrating various systems for monitoring human physiological parameters such as heart rate, respiration, sweating, and more. In this context, the proposed work focuses on the study, design, and development of an innovative wearable sensor based on graphene. The device was produced using a screen-printing ink filled with graphene nanoplatelets and it was integrated into a fabric through the transfer printing process. The graphene-filled ink was optimized with respect to the filler concentration, enabling the production of a smart textile that incorporates high-performance deformation sensors. Another innovative aspect of this study concerns the investigation of the biocompatibility of the sensor-integrated fabric through in vitro tests using human keratinocytes. Lastly, the sensor was integrated into a garment and tested in an operational environment for the monitoring of elbow joint movement. The results obtained indicate the potential to scale up the developed sensor technology, according to the specific considered application, while maintaining high sensitivity and process scalability. Furthermore, ensuring biocompatibility makes the proposed solution valuable for human monitoring using wearable devices.

A semiassisted global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) authentication concept is proposed, with two main advantages. First, it can be implemented in a GNSS without modifications to the signal plan, provided that the GNSS can transmit an encrypted signal and an open signal with unpredictable and verifiable bits regularly. Second, it can work in a receiver for up to several days without any assistance or the possession of a private key, at the expense of some authentication latency. In this concept, parts of the encrypted signal to be transmitted in the future are re-encrypted, published, and downloaded in the receiver. Some seconds after transmission, the satellite openly broadcasts the decryption key, and the receiver performs the a-posteriori correlation with the encrypted signal. The concept is particularized for the Galileo system as Galileo assisted commercial authentication service, based on OSNMA in E1B for the decryption keys and E6C for the encrypted signal. An end-to-end procedure for measurement authentication is proposed and tested, showing its viability.

The rare earth element is a critical element in many industrial sectors. Due to unbalanced supply and demand, it is necessary to look for an alternative source. Coal ash is a waste product of power plant combustion. Previous research revealed that coal ash contained levels of rare earth elements. This research uses coal fly ash from the Paiton power plant. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of the Na2SO4 concentration, stirring rate, and temperature on the recovery of REE concentrate. The experiment was conducted in four steps: (1) alkaline leaching, the process was carried out for 2 hours at 90°C with fly ash solid to 8 M NaOH solution ratio of 1:4 to break the aluminosilicate bonds. (2) Acid leaching of residue for 4 hours at 90°C in 3 M HCl. (3) Precipitation of residue to remove the impurities such as Fe using 1 M NaOH at pH 5. (4) Precipitation of filtrate from process (3) using Na2SO4 to produce REE concentrate precipitates. The best condition to obtain the highest REE residue is conducting recovery at the concentration of 20% Na2SO4, stirring rate of 500 rpm, and temperature of 50°C, with a yield of 88.72%.

Ageing is accompanied by an inexorable loss of muscle mass and functionality and represents a major risk factor for numerous diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. This progressive loss of muscle mass and function may also result in the insurgence of a clinical syndrome termed sarcopenia, exacerbated by inactivity and disease. Sarcopenia and muscle weakness yield the risk of falls and injuries, heavily impacting on health and social costs. Thus, screening, monitoring and prevention of conditions inducing muscle wasting and weakness are essential to improve life quality in the ageing modern society. To this aim, the reliability of easily accessible and non‐invasive blood‐derived biomarkers is being evaluated. C‐terminal agrin fragment (CAF) has been widely investigated as a neuromuscular junction (NMJ)‐related biomarker of muscle dysfunction. This narrative review summarizes and critically discusses, for the first time, the studies measuring CAF concentration in young and older, healthy and diseased individuals, cross‐sectionally and in response to inactivity and physical exercise, providing possible explanations behind the discrepancies observed in the literature. To identify the studies investigating CAF in the above‐mentioned conditions, all the publications found in PubMed, written in English and measuring this biomarker in blood from 2013 (when CAF was firstly measured in human serum) to 2022 were included in this review. CAF increases with age and in sarcopenic individuals when compared with age‐matched, non‐sarcopenic peers. In addition, CAF was found to be higher than controls in other muscle wasting conditions, such as diabetes, COPD, chronic heart failure and stroke, and in pancreatic and colorectal cancer cachectic patients. As agrin is also expressed in kidney glomeruli, chronic kidney disease and transplantation were shown to have a profound impact on CAF independently from muscle wasting. CAF concentration raises following inactivity and seems to be lowered or maintained by exercise training. Finally, CAF was reported to be cross‐sectionally correlated to appendicular lean mass, handgrip and gait speed; whether longitudinal changes in CAF are associated with those in muscle mass or performance following physical exercise is still controversial. CAF seems a reliable marker to assess muscle wasting in ageing and disease, also correlating with measurements of appendicular lean mass and muscle function. Future research should aim at enlarging sample size and accurately reporting the medical history of each patient, to normalize for any condition, including chronic kidney disease, that may influence the circulating concentration of this biomarker.

Ageing is accompanied by a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, potentially determining the insurgence of sarcopenia. Evidence suggests that motoneuron and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) degeneration contribute to sarcopenia pathogenesis. Seeking for strategies able to slow down sarcopenia insurgence and progression, we investigated whether a 2‐year mixed‐model training involving aerobic, strength and balance exercises would be effective for improving or preserving motoneuronal health and NMJ stability, together with muscle mass, strength and functionality in an old, sarcopenic population. Forty‐five sarcopenic elderly (34 females; 11 males) with low dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) lean mass and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score <9 were randomly assigned to either a control group [Healthy Aging Lifestyle Education (HALE), n= 21] or an intervention group [MultiComponent Intervention (MCI), n= 24]. MCI trained three times per week for 2 years with a mix of aerobic, strength and balance exercises matched with nutritional advice. Before and after the intervention, ultrasound scans of the vastus lateralis (VL), SPPB and a blood sample were obtained. VL architecture [pennation angle (PA) and fascicle length (Lf)] and cross‐sectional area (CSA) were measured. As biomarkers of neuronal health and NMJ stability status, neurofilament light chain (NfL) and C‐terminal agrin fragment (CAF) concentrations were measured in serum. Differences in ultrasound parameters, NfL and CAF concentration and physical performance between baseline and follow‐up were tested with mixed ANOVA or Wilcoxon test. The relationship between changes in physical performance and NfL or CAF concentration was assessed through correlation analyses. At follow‐up, MCI showed preserved VL architecture (PA, Lf) despite a reduced CSA (−8.4%, P< 0.001), accompanied by maintained CAF concentration and ameliorated overall SPPB performance (P= 0.007). Conversely, HALE showed 12.7% decrease in muscle CSA (P< 0.001), together with 5.1% and 5.5% reduction in PA and Lf (P< 0.001 and P= 0.001, respectively), and a 6.2% increase in CAF (P= 0.009) but improved SPPB balance score (P= 0.007). NfL concentration did not change in either group. In the population, negative correlations between changes in CAF concentration and SPPB total score were found (P= 0.047), whereas no correlation between NfL and SPPB variations was observed. The present findings suggest that our 2‐year mixed aerobic, strength and balance training seemed effective for preventing the age and sarcopenia‐related increases in CAF concentration, preserving NMJ stability as well as muscle structure (PA and Lf) and improving physical performance in sarcopenic older individuals.

IMPORTANCE: Antiangiogenic drug combinations with anti–programmed cell death 1 protein and anti–programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) agents are a novel treatment option for lung cancer. However, survival remains limited, and the activity of these combinations for tumors with high tumor mutation burden (TMB) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical benefits and safety of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for patients with high-TMB advanced nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicenter, single-arm, open-label, phase 2 nonrandomized controlled trial (Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab in First-Line NSCLC Patients [TELMA]) included treatment-naive patients aged 18 years or older with confirmed stage IIIB-IV nonsquamous NSCLC with TMB of 10 or more mutations/megabase and no EGFR, ALK, STK11, MDM2, or ROS1 alterations. From May 2019 through January 2021, patients were assessed at 13 sites in Spain, with follow-up until February 28, 2022. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were given atezolizumab, 1200 mg, plus bevacizumab, 15 mg/kg, on day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Treatment was continued until documented disease progression, unacceptable toxic effects, patient withdrawal, investigator decision, or death. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary end point was 12-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate (according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours, version 1.1 criteria); PFS was defined as the time from enrollment to disease progression or death. Adverse events were monitored according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. RESULTS: A total of 307 patients were assessed for trial eligibility, of whom 266 were ineligible for enrollment. Of the 41 patients enrolled, 3 did not fulfill all inclusion criteria and were excluded. The remaining 38 patients (28 [73.7%] male; mean [SD] age, 63.7 [8.3] years) constituted the per-protocol population. The 12-month PFS rate was 51.3% (95% CI, 34.2%-66.0%), which met the primary end point. The 12-month overall survival (OS) rate was 72.0% (95% CI, 54.1%-83.9%). The median PFS was 13.0 months (95% CI, 7.9-18.0 months), and the median OS was not reached. Of the 38 patients, 16 (42.1%) achieved an objective response and 30 (78.9%) achieved disease control. The median time to response was 2.8 months (IQR, 2.8-3.58 months), with a median duration of response of 11.7 months (range, 3.57-22.4 months; the response was ongoing at cutoff). Of 16 responses, 8 (50.0%) were ongoing. Most adverse events were grade 1 or 2. For atezolizumab, the most common adverse events were fatigue (6 [15.8%]) and pruritus (6 [15.8%]). For bevacizumab, they were hypertension (10 [26.3%]) and proteinuria (4 [10.5%]). Drug discontinuation occurred in 2 patients receiving atezolizumab (5.3%) and 3 patients receiving bevacizumab (7.9%). PD-L1 levels were not associated with response, PFS, or OS. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that atezolizumab with bevacizumab is a potential treatment for high-TMB nonsquamous NSCLC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03836066

The environmental problem that often occurs in coal mining is acid mine drainage which can pose a serious threat to human health, animals and ecological systems. Acid mine drainage contains heavy metal contaminants such as iron and manganese. The purpose of this study was to determine the adsorption equilibrium carried out using natural zeolite adsorbents type mordenite from Klaten, Central Java. The application of natural zeolite with a volume of 100 mL synthetic acid mine drainage with concentrations of Fe 41.97 mg/L, Mn 21.75 mg/L and variations in dose of natural zeolite (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 grams). The highest percent removal was at a dose of 10 grams of zeolite resulted in % removal of 97.94 % for Fe and 67.81 % for Mn. The results obtained using Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The results followed the Freundlich isotherm model with an adsorption parameters Kf = 0.427 mg/g, R2 = 0.991, n = 1.610 Fe metal and Mn metal adsorption parameters are Kf = 0.006 mg/g, R2 = 0.9971, and n = 0.578

Aim: To investigate the association between dietary patterns and total and obesity-related cancer risk as well as to examine if acculturation modifies this relationship. Subjects and methods: Dietary intake of postmenopausal Hispanic women (N= 5,482) enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative was estimated from a Food Frequency Questionnaire and used to calculate dietary pattern scores: Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), Mexican Diet (MexD) score, alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMED), and the energy adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII™). Associations were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard regression models. Results: Six hundred thirty-one cancers and 396 obesity-related cancers were diagnosed over a mean follow-up of 12 years. Across dietary scores, there were no significant associations with cancer risk or mortality. Trend analysis suggested a potentially lower risk for total cancer mortality related to the highest MexD score (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.45–1.04, P-trend = 0.03) and lower risk for obesity-related cancer mortality related to the highest score category for MexD (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.37–1.16, P-trend = 0.02) and aMED (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.45–1.67, P-trend = 0.04). Further analysis suggested less acculturated women with higher MexD scores had a 56% lower risk for any cancer (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22–0.88, P-trend = 0.03) and 83% lower risk for cancer mortality (HR 0.17, 95% CI 0.04–0.76, P-trend = 0.01) compared to more acculturated Hispanic women. Conclusions: Dietary patterns were not associated with cancer risk and mortality in postmenopausal Hispanic women. Less acculturated, Spanish-preferred speakers who report consuming a more traditional Mexican diet may experience a lower risk of cancer and cancer mortality.

Physical exercise plays a pivotal role in primary and secondary prevention of non–communicable chronic diseases. Nonetheless, to date, exercise prescription to chronically ill subjects is not yet in line with guidelines indications. In Veneto region, the goal of reducing the gap between guidelines and their actual application has been pursued for several years thanks to a regional “model”of exercise prescription in chronic disease. However, regional data indicative of the real clinical impact of this "model" are lacking. We evaluated the impact of the regional model on a population of chronically ill people visited at our Clinic between 2014 and 2019. In this period, 366 subjects living in the province of Treviso (Veneto region, Italy) with a history of heart disease and/or diabetes have been admitted to our facility and have been provided with precise indications (in the form of prescription) about physical exercise to be practiced in secondary prevention. For each subject, adherence to the exercise prescription was assessed. The study population was therefore divided into 3 classes of activity in accordance with the physical activity practiced during the observation period: 0=not adherent at all at the exercise prescription (no exercise practice phase); 1= practice of unstructured physical activity/ not monitored physical exercise and/or not completely adhering to the exercise prescription in terms of intensity, duration and frequency; 2= practice of structured and monitored physical exercise, completely adherent to exercise prescription provided. By this way, any temporary suspension and subsequent resumption of the activity was considered and the period of cessation of the activity during the monitoring period was taken into account for each subject. Data on “health expenditure”, was collected for each subject at time zero as new hospitalizations and deaths were analyzed following our intervention (exercise prescription letter delivery). According to a preliminary analysis of our data, time spent in practicing exercise in class 1 and 2 lead to a significant improvement in survival and less hospitalizations for considered pathologies. Furthermore, time spent in class 2 exercise practice (structured and monitored physical exercise, at target for intensity, duration and frequency), seems to determine even greater protection compared to unstructured physical activity or structured but not monitored and/or non–targeted physical exercise (class 1).

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is caused by a lagovirus mainly affecting European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), although other European and North American lagomorph species are also susceptible to fatal infection by the new viral variant RHDV2/b. In the present work, direct mechanical transmission of the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV2/b variant) by the hematophagous Diptera Aedes albopictus(Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) and the sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi(Scopoli) (Diptera: Psychodidae) was tested. For each species, six and three laboratory rabbits were exposed to bites of dipterous females partially fed on RHDV2/b viral suspension 2 h and 24 h prior to exposure, respectively. The rabbits were then monitored for clinical changes and mortality for 35 d, and seroconversion was assessed by indirect ELISA. No rabbit died or showed clinical signs of disease, and seroconversion was recorded in two rabbits challenged with P. papatasifemales fed the viral suspension 2 h prior to exposure. The number of RHDV2/b RNA copies/female was higher in Ae. albopictusthan in P. papatasibut the decrease over time of RNA load in Ae. albopictuswas greater than that in P. papatasi. The results of this study suggest the inability of Ae. albopictusto serve as a direct mechanical vector of RHDV2/b, but sand flies could play a role in the local transmission of RHD.

Firms interested in becoming multinational companies must face additional costs, labelled by scholars as the liability of foreignness. These costs are: spatial distance and geography, lack of roots in the local environment, lack of legitimacy because of economic nationalism and the high cost of information acquisition for foreign firms. These liabilities are particularly strong for companies interested in entering China, a massive economy with high growth rates. To help enterprises overcome such liabilities, international business incubators emerged in the 1980s, offering a set of services to firms interested in pursuing internationalisation strategies. However, studies on such kinds of actors are limited, particularly the dynamics underlying the support that these programmes offer to firms. Through case studies of seven international business incubators located in China, we highlighted how these programmes help start-ups overcome the liability of foreignness, and determined the dimensions that are relevant to improving the success of international firms.

With better burn trauma survival rates, quality of life and functionality have become important outcomes in the evaluation of burn patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of burn survivors using the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief-Br and their function and health using the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) in order to assess whether there is a correlation in the results obtained between the two instruments. A cross-sectional study with 80 burn patients who underwent outpatient follow-up was completed. Quality of life was assessed using the BSHS-B-Br, an instrument translated and validated in Brazilian Portuguese. Based on ICF category concepts, a data collection tool was used with “yes” and “no” answers. A “yes” answer represented the “8” qualifier, indicating a problem without a specific order of magnitude. Both instruments were self-applied in standardized conditions without complications during the process. Results were analyzed through Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. The BSHS-B-Br had an average score of 127.12 (SD ± 23.03). The correlation was moderate between the total BSHS-B-Br score and the answers of ICF for body functions (r= −.53; P< .001) and environmental factors (r= −.50; P< .001). It was weak for body structures (r= −.47; P< .001) and for activities and participation (r= −.43; P< .001). This study found a moderate correlation between the results of the Burn Specific Health Scale – Brief – Brazil and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for burn patients showing that both instruments provide complementary information about burned patients.

This study aimed to unravel the genetic factors underlying missing heritability in spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17) caused by polyglutamine-encoding CAG/CAA repeat expansions in the TBPgene. Alleles with >49 CAG/CAA repeats are fully penetrant. Most patients, however, carry intermediate TBP41-49alleles that show incomplete penetrance.

ABSTRACTSt. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) is a neglected mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes severe neurological disease in humans. SLEV replication in the central nervous system (CNS) induces the local production of interferons (IFNs), which are attributed to host protection. The antiviral response to SLEV infection in the CNS is not completely understood, which led us to characterize the roles of IFNs using mouse models of St. Louis encephalitis. We infected mice deficient in type I IFN receptor (ABR−/-) or deficient in Type II IFN (IFNγ−/-) and assessed the contribution of each pathway to disease development. We found that type I and II IFNs play different roles in SLEV infection. Deficiency in type I IFN signaling was associated to an early and increased mortality, uncontrolled SLEV replication and impaired ISG expression, leading to increased proinflammatory cytokine production and brain pathology. Conversely, IFNγ−/-mice were moderately resistant to SLEV infection. IFNγ deficiency caused no changes to viral load or SLEV-induced encephalitis and did not change the expression of ISGs in the brain. We found that type I IFN is essential for the control of SLEV replication whereas type II IFN was not associated with protection in this model.

Context:Spinal cord infarction is a rare condition that develops as a result of insufficient vascular perfusion, sometimes related to procedures involving the aorta and vertebral arteries.Findings:We present the case of a 66-year-old woman who developed weakness on all four extremities and thermalgesic sensory deficit following an elective endovascular embolization of an incidentally diagnosed aneurysm in the posterior circulation. The procedure involved the cathetherization of both vertebral arteries, but was unremarkable and the flow into the anterior spinal artery was preserved. Radiological findings highly suggested a spinal cord infarction. She was started on corticosteroids and showed a significant neurological improvement.Clinical relevance:The present case illustrates that spinal cord infarction is a typical – but uncommon – complication that has to be suspected after vertebral artery endovascular procedures. It can result from hypoperfusion of smaller branches that irrigate the cervical spinal cord, and patients can make remarkable recoveries despite severe initial deficits.

Integrated crop–livestock systems that intercrop forage crops with grain crops are effective for increasing forage production and improving nutrient cycling and soil health. However, the potential for root competition when maize (Zea maysL.) and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench] are intercropped with forages in sandy soils is unknown. The objectives of this study were (a) to evaluate the root growth and production characteristics of maize and sorghum intercropped with forage grasses and (b) quantify above‐ and belowground biomass in a tropical integrated cropping system. Two 3‐yr experiments were conducted in which maize and sorghum were intercropped with forage grasses: guineagrass (Panicum maximumJacq.), ruzigrass [Urochloa ruziziensis(Germ. & Evrard) Crins], palisade grass [Urochloa brizantha(Hochst ex A. Rich.) R. Webster], or an Urochloahybrid. Monocropped maize and sorghum were used as controls. Fine roots (≤3 mm) were sampled in the monocropped and intercropped systems at soil depths of 1.0 m. Intercropping guineagrass and palisade grass with maize and sorghum resulted in 40% greater dry matter production than intercropping with ruzigrass and the Urochloahybrid. The positive effect of intercropping forage grasses in the low‐fertility sandy soil was greater for sorghum than for maize because of lower root growth competition. On average, intercropping maize and sorghum with forages increased the total above‐ and belowground biomass by 30 and 50%, respectively, compared with monocropping. In summary, intercropping maize and sorghum with forage grasses is a viable option to enhance biomass during the off‐season in tropical integrated crop–livestock systems. Intercropping sorghum and maize with grasses is viable for enhancing off‐season biomass.Sorghum production characteristics are not influenced by intercropping with grasses.Competition with grass is stronger for the root system of maize than of sorghum.

The use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the operating room and intensive care unit can provide invaluable information on cardiac as well as abdominal organ structures and function. This approach may be particularly useful when the transabdominal ultrasound examination is not possible during intraoperative procedures or for anatomical reasons. This review explores the role of transgastric abdominal ultrasonography (TGAUS) in perioperative medicine. We describe several reported applications using 10 views that can be used in the diagnosis of relevant abdominal conditions associated with organ dysfunction and hemodynamic instability in the operating room and the intensive care unit.

Coronary artery anomalies are a rare form of congenital heart disease.

This article presents the authors’ experience with the use of fat grafting via the Coleman technique, for the adjuvant treatment of facial burn wounds and their sequelae. It demonstrates the regenerative effects of fat injected under the wound and/or the scar as well as of fat delivered to the debrided surface of the wound and to the surface of the scar after laser treatment or microneedling.

ABSTRACTThe Brazilian Sucro-energy Sector produces both energy, in the form of ethanol fuel, industrial steam and electricity, and sugar. Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira(CTC), the leading Brazilian sugarcane breeding company, has developed a pipeline of insect-protected sugarcane varieties to control sugarcane borer damage. The goal of this manuscript is to present the results of studies with three genetically modified (GM) sugarcane varieties and to evaluate the published literature regarding the possible presence of GM sugarcane DNA or protein in raw or refined sugar. Specifically, two varieties of approved GM sugarcane, CTC91087-6 and CTC175-A, and an experimental CTC variety, were grown in four individual plots to produce four batches each of processed raw sugar using standard smaller-scale laboratory processing methods resulting in a total of 12 independent batches of raw sugar. Herein, we report the development of event-specific probes and DNA detection methods, designed to detect the junction of sugarcane genomic DNA and the inserted DNA of the two approved GM varieties. An identical approach was used for the testing of sugar made from the experimental CTC variety. The methodology used TaqMan® real-time PCR and ELISA assays validated for the four GM proteins expressed by these three events (Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, NPTII, and PAT (bar)). The developed assays had very low limits of detection (LODs) for the various event-specific DNA probes (7.2–25 ng/g sugar) and insecticidal and selectable marker proteins (2.9–10.9 ng/g sugar). No event-specific DNA and no GM proteins were detectable in the 12 independent batches of raw sugar produced from these three GM sugarcane events. The results of this study, using very sensitive methods and testing several sugar batches, extend the conclusions of previous studies, reviewed herein, that showed the extensive degradation and removal of DNA and protein during sugarcane processing. Overall, these results indicate that there are no distinguishable differences between the highly purified, chemically defined sugar produced from conventional or GM varieties.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a commercial seed crop grown for its good yield of high-quality oil. It is tolerant to water stress but may be sensitive to soil compaction. The aim of this study was to assess safflower growth under different degrees of soil compaction at depths of 0.15 m to 0.20 m. The experiment was carried out in PVC pots constructed from three rings. Five levels of penetration resistance (0.20, 0.33, 0.50, 0.93, and 1.77 MPa) were applied in the intermediate ring, and two safflower genotypes, IMA-4904 and IMA-2106, were examined. There was no difference between safflower genotypes with respect to their resistance to soil compaction, which reduced root length density in the compacted layer and changed the root distribution in the soil profile, but did not prevent the roots from crossing the compacted layer and developing in depth. Increased soil bulk density in the compacted layer increased root diameter of the IMA-2106 genotype. Penetration resistance levels over 0.20 MPa (density of 1.2 mg.dm-3) limited safflower root development. The maximum safflower growth occurred when the soil penetration resistance was 0.86 MPa. In this study, the Q1/2 index was higher than 1.77 and 1.55 for the IMA-2106 and IMA-4904 genotypes, respectively. Hence, safflower has proven to be tolerant to soil compaction, and stands out as a species with potential to decrease soil bulk density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic Digestion Model no.1 (ADM1) for the "Mixed Reactor Compartment" of AQUASIM with modified kinetic parameters was proven to be effective in predicting the behavior of thermophilic anaerobic digestion of sugarcane vinasse in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) equipped with unwoven textile as the microbial immobilization media. The modified kinetic parameters implied higher microbial growth rate constants in the CSTR with microbial immobilization media than the CSTR without media. The 16 s rRNA assay confirmed the inferences on the physical interpretation of the kinetic parameters. Microbial immobilization media shifted the initially homogeneous microbial composition in the CSTR’s bulk liquid into methanogenic dominance in the biofilm attached to the media and acidogenic dominance in the liquid bulk after 90 days of operation. The remarkable finding of this study was that the segregated microorganisms indicated a beneficial micro-environment for both acidogenic and methanogenic populations to have favorable conditions for each of them. ADM1 well predicted the effect of this segregation with modified kinetic parameters and confirmed by the 16 s rRNA assay on the reactor’s liquid and biofilm samples.

IntroductionItalian law mandates that every competitive athlete must undergo annual preparticipation evaluation (PPE) to identify cardiovascular (CV) diseases that pose a risk of sudden death (SD) during sport and other conditions that may threaten the athlete’s health. We investigated the diagnostic yield, rate of disqualification and costs of our PPE.MethodsWe included 5910 consecutive apparently healthy athletes (61% males, mean age 15±4 years) who underwent annual PPE performed by a sports medicine specialist. The PPE included history, physical examination, weight, height and blood pressure measurement, test of visual acuity, spirometry, urine chemistry, resting 12-lead ECG and exercise testing with ECG monitoring. In cases of abnormal findings, we carried out second-line investigations.ResultsDuring a 12-month study period, 5.326 (90.2%) athletes were cleared for competition after a normal first-line evaluation and 584 (9.8%) underwent one or more further examinations. Of those, 88 (1.5%) were diagnosed to have a CV disease (including 18 (0.3%) at-risk of SD) and 31 (0.5%) had a non-CV diagnosis. A total of 32 (0.5%) athletes were temporarily (n=15) or permanently (n=17) disqualified from competitive sports. The average cost per athlete was €79, which consisted of €64 (80%) for first-line evaluations and €15 (20%) for additional investigations.ConclusionPPE according to the Italian model identified a range of diseases in 2.0% of apparently healthy athletes at an average cost of €79.

Previamente se había iniciado el proceso metodológico para la validación transcultural al idioma español de la escala Hair Specific Skindex-29(HSS-29), que mide el impacto de la alopecia androgénica femenina sobre la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS). Para finalizar el proceso, el objetivo del estudio fue completar la validación a través de la determinación de su sensibilidad al cambio y su correlación con una escala generalista de CVRS (SF-12).

Brazil is one of the leading countries in the production of maize (Zea mays), with great potential for growing green maize, which has a superior commercial value in relation to maize marketed in the form of grains. Although important, the availability of cultivars recommended for the production of green maize is still very scarce. The objectives of the present study were to estimate genetic parameters and to identify promising hybrid combinations for the development of new green maize cultivars to farmers. In the summer crop of 2016/17, ten hybrid combinations obtained through a complete diallel of five maize populations, with attributes for in natura consumption, were evaluated in two sites of the state of São Paulo, Brazil: the Instituto Agronômico (IAC) in Campinas and Tatuí. A randomized block design was used with two additional checks, with three replications, in plots with four five-meter rows spaced by 0.9 m in Campinas and 0.8 m in Tatuí, with 5 plants per meter. The following agronomic traits were assessed: grain yield, ear yield with straw and ear yield without straw, using Griffing's method 4. Significant effects of genotypes, environments and interaction genotypes × environments were detected for all traits. Estimates of the general combining ability led to the selection of populations P2, P4, and P5 as the ones with a higher concentration of favorable alleles for the characters evaluated. Estimates of specific combining ability and improved grain yield performance allowed P2xP3 to be selected as the most promising for production of green maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia has an abundant resource of natural zeolite due to its geological location involcano pathway. This material has been widely employed in various processing technologies. Inspite of the diverse applications, the usage of zeolite in the hydrothermal treatment (HT) of waste israrely found. Recently, HT shows a promising technology for municipal solid waste (MSW)treatment. The main objective in this research is to study the influence of zeolite addition in HT ofMSW in terms of liquid product properties. In this research, equal weight of sawdust and crushedplastic bottle waste (PET) were used to represent MSW. The waste mixture was loaded into a 2Lbatch reactor with zeolite addition from Min (0%) to 20%wt. using 220oC temperature treatment.The liquid side product was then investigated in terms of organic compounds, functional groups,potassium (K) and phosphate (P) contents. It is assigned that zeolite addition enhancesdecomposition process of the MSW into various organic compounds as well as improving P ad Kconcentration in liquid product that can be utilized for fertilizer preparation.

Shellac is a natural product which has been presumed as a fragile polymer due to itschemical properties. The objective of this study was to improve chemical properties of shellac by themodification with different concentration of glycerol and acrylic acid. Shellac was reacted withglycerol at various temperature and amounts of glycerol. The intermediate product was reacted withacrylic acid at different concentration. Acid value, hydroxyl groups, and free glycerol concentrationof modified shellac was determined. The result showed that acid value gradually decrease alongincreasing temperature for each ratio of glycerol and acrylic acid to shellac. The concentration ofhydroxyl groups rise as temperature and ratio increases. Furthermore, free glycerol concentration felldown along with the rise temperature. Modification chemical properties of shellac with glycerol andacrylic acid can be applied for the further study to enhance shellac properties.

The anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, muscle-relaxant, and sedative-hypnotic effects of benzodiazepine site ligands are mainly elicited by allosteric modulation of GABAAreceptors via their extracellular αx+/γ2– (x= 1, 2, 3, 5) interfaces. In addition, a low affinity binding site at the homologous α+/β– interfaces was reported for some benzodiazepine site ligands. Classical benzodiazepines and pyrazoloquinolinones have been used as molecular probes to develop structure–activity relationship models for benzodiazepine site activity. Considering all possible α+/β– and α+/γ– interfaces, such ligands potentially interact with as many as 36 interfaces, giving rise to undesired side effects. Understanding the binding modes at their binding sites will enable rational strategies to design ligands with desired selectivity profiles. Here, we compared benzodiazepine site ligand interactions in the high affinity α1+/γ2– site with the homologous α1+/β3– site using a successive mutational approach. We incorporated key amino acids known to contribute to high affinity benzodiazepine binding of the γ2– subunit into the β3– subunit, resulting in a quadruple mutant β3(4mut) with high affinity flumazenil (Ro 15-1788) binding properties. Intriguingly, some benzodiazepine site ligands displayed positive allosteric modulation in the tested recombinant α1β3(4mut) constructs while diazepam remained inactive. Consequently, we performed in silicomolecular docking in the wildtype receptor and the quadruple mutant. The results led to the conclusion that different benzodiazepine site ligands seem to use distinct binding modes, rather than a common binding mode. These findings provide structural hypotheses for the future optimization of both benzodiazepine site ligands, and ligands that interact with the homologous α+/β– sites.

Shielding and absorbing screens made of tunable graphene/ dielectric laminate (GL) doped by an electrostatic field bias are designed applying simple modelling procedures in the low-gigahertz frequency range. The adaptive response of both types of screens is achieved through the control of the effective sheet resistance of the GL, consisting of a proper number of doped graphene layers separated by thin films of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The performances of the shielding screen are predicted in the frequency range up to 1 THz, using simple approximate expressions and rigorous simulation models. The multilayer absorber is a twoperiod dielectric Salisbury screen, in which the outer lossy sheet is made of a single-layer graphene and the inner one is a GL with two electrically doped graphene layers. The reflection coefficient is minimized at each frequency through the proper setting of the electrostatic field bias. The optimal absorbing performances of the screen are predicted in the frequency range between 2 GHz and 25 GHz.