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• A healthy patient presented with a sudden onset of aphasia without any other alterations. • Serum showed presence of HIV and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines. • Cerebrospinal fluid analyses revealed the presence of John Cunningham virus and SARS-CoV-2. • Inflammation caused by COVID-19 triggered and exacerbated the condition. • First case report of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with HIV and COVID-19. This report presents the case of a 47-year-old male patient who worked as a mathematics teacher and experienced the sudden onset of disorientation, aphasia, and acalculia during an online class. The current study reveals the first documented case of HIV and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and human polyomavirus 2 (previously known as John Cunningham virus) in the cerebrospinal fluid. Furthermore, serum analysis revealed elevated concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and IL-8, which are potential factors known to reduce the expression of tight junctions and adhesion molecules in the extracellular matrix, thereby affecting the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Finally, the study discusses whether SARS-CoV-2 triggers or exacerbates progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) hollow microcavities turn out to be the site of an extremely rich and complex phenomenological scenario when pumped with a continuous-wave laser source. The coexistence of numerous non-linear and optomechanical effects have been reviewed in this paper. In our previous works we have investigated and described non-linear emissions as the stimulated Brillouin and Raman scattering, the degenerated and non-degenerated Kerr effects, such as four wave mixing (FWM). These effects happened concomitantly to parametric optomechanical oscillations which are the consequence of the radiation pressure. We have confirmed the regenerative oscillation of acoustic eigenmodes of the cavity leading to parametric instabilities and the activation of optomechanical chaotic oscillations. Finally, we have demonstrated that the blue-side excitation of WGM resonances lead to the chaos transition with a spectral evolution depending on the cavity size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (LC) is an infectious vector-borne disease caused by parasites belonging to the genus Leishmania. Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been investigated as alternatives for the treatment of LC owing to their small size and high surface area. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of MNPs in the treatment of LC through experimental, in vitro and in vivo investigations. The databases used were MEDLINE/ PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Science Direct. Manual searches of the reference lists of the included studies and grey literature were also performed. English language and experimental in vitro and in vivo studies using different Leishmania species, both related to MNP treatment, were included. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021248245). A total of 93 articles were included. Silver nanoparticles are the most studied MNPs, and L. tropica is the most studied species. Among the mechanisms of action of MNPs in vitro, we highlight the production of reactive oxygen species, direct contact of MNPs with the biomolecules of the parasite, and release of metal ions. MNPs may be considered a promising alternative for the treatment of LC, but further studies are needed to define their efficacy and safety. [Display omitted] • Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) showed significant leishmanicidal activity against various Leishmania species in both in vitro and in vivo studies. • MNPs induce leishmanicidal effects via oxidative stress, mainly through reactive oxygen species and nitrogen radical species. • The release of metal ions from MNPs disrupts Leishmania 's cellular homeostasis, boosting their leishmanicidal activity. • MNPs in Leishmania also inhibit antioxidant systems, induce mitochondrial dysfunction, and cause lipid peroxidation. • The efficacy of MNPs is influenced by various factors. Biological synthesis has emerged as a promising approach for optimizing MNPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High accuracy in stereotactic brain radiosurgery is crucial. • MR images distortions and image co-registration uncertainties affect treatment accuracy. • A phantom simulating a realistic anatomical situation allows for a realistic assessment of targeting accuracy. • A CT and MR compatible phantom allows testing of procedures involving different imaging modalities. To determine the targeting accuracy of brain radiosurgery when planning procedures employing different MRI and MRI + CT combinations are adopted. A new phantom, the BrainTool, has been designed and realized to test image co-registration and targeting accuracy in a realistic anatomical situation. The phantom was created with a 3D printer and materials that mimic realistic brain MRI and CT contrast using a model extracted from a synthetic MRI study of a human brain. Eight markers distributed within the BrainTool provide for assessment of the accuracy of image registrations while two cavities that host an ionization chamber are used to perform targeting accuracy measurements with an iterative cross-scan method. Two procedures employing 1.5 T MRI-only or a combination of MRI (taken with 1.5 T or 3 T scanners) and CT to carry out Gamma Knife treatments were investigated. As distortions can impact targeting accuracy, MR images were preliminary evaluated to assess image deformation extent using GammaTool phantom. MR images taken with both scanners showed average and maximum distortion of 0.3 mm and 1 mm respectively. The marker distances in co-registered images resulted below 0.5 mm for both MRI scans. The targeting mismatches obtained were 0.8 mm, 1.0 mm and 1.2 mm for MRI-only and MRI + CT (1,5T and 3 T), respectively. Procedures using a combination of MR and CT images provide targeting accuracies comparable to those of MRI-only procedures. The BrainTool proved to be a suitable tool for carrying out co-registration and targeting accuracy of Gamma Knife brain radiosurgery treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic biomarkers of cancer are based on changes in nucleic acids, which include abnormal expression levels of some miRNAs, point mutations in DNA sequences, and altered levels of DNA methylation. The presence of tumor-related nucleic acids in body fluids (blood, saliva, or urine) makes it possible to achieve a non-invasive early-stage cancer diagnosis. Currently existing techniques for the discovery of nucleic acids require complex, time-consuming, costly assays and have limited multiplexing abilities. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a vibrational spectroscopy technique that is able to provide molecular specificity combined with trace sensitivity. SERS has gained research attention as a tool for the detection of nucleic acids because of its promising potential: label-free SERS can decrease the complexity of assays currently used with fluorescence-based detection due to the absence of the label, while labeled SERS may outperform the gold standard in terms of the multiplexing ability. The first papers about SERS-based methods for the measurement of genomic biomarkers were written in 2008, and since then, more than 150 papers have been published. The aim of this paper is to review and evaluate the proposed SERS-based methods in terms of their level of development and their potential for liquid biopsy application, as well as to contribute to their further evolution by attracting research attention to the field. This goal will be reached by grouping, on the basis of their experimental protocol, all the published manuscripts on the topic and evaluating each group in terms of its limit of detection and applicability to real body fluids. Thus, the methods are classified according to their working principles into five main groups, including capture-based, displacement-based, sandwich-based, enzyme-assisted, and specialized protocols. [Display omitted] • SERS-based detection of miRNA level changes, DNA point mutations, and DNA methylation level alterations in body fluids have good potential for early-stage cancer diagnosis. • Biological protocols designed for the selective detection of the target DNAs/miRNAs have been reviewed and grouped into the following categories: capture, displacement, sandwich, cleavage, and specific protocols. • The protocols have been arranged according to the increasing complexity of the assays and evaluated in terms of their performance for liquid biopsy application. As a result, one-to-step protocols have shown good LODs, applicability in body fluids, and multiplexing abilities, especially for miRNA detection. • In general, labeled protocols outperform label-free assays by reaching the LODs as low as 10 − 16 M and detecting the target miRNA/DNA in the complex matrices, such as total RNAs/DNAs and real body fluids. However, the performance of the label-free protocols can be improved by developing highly sensitive SERS substrates. • Thus, there is a potential to develop relatively simple SERS-based protocols for liquid biopsy applications with promising LODs and multiplexing abilities, but more work should be conducted in this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In swimming sport, the proper perception of moving water masses is a key factor. This paper presents an embedded system for the acquisition of values of pressure on swimmers hands and their transformation into sound. The sound, obtained using sonification, is used as an auditive representation of hand-water interactions while swimming in water. The sound obtained is used as an auditive feedback for the swimmer and as an augmented communication channel between the swimming trainer and the athlete. The developed system is self-contained, battery powered and able to work continuously for over eight hours, thus, representing a viable solution for daily usage in swimmers training. Preliminary results from in-pool experiments with both novel and experienced swimmers demonstrate the high acceptability of this technology and its promising future evolution and usage possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquito eggs are laid in water but freshly laid eggs are susceptible to dehydration, if their surroundings dry out at the first hours of development. During embryogenesis of different mosquito vectors the serosal cuticle, an extracellular matrix, is produced; it wraps the whole embryo and becomes part of the eggshell. This cuticle is an essential component of the egg resistance to desiccation (ERD). However, ERD is variable among species, sustaining egg viability for different periods of time. While Aedes aegypti eggs can survive for months in a dry environment (high ERD), those of Anopheles aquasalis and Culex quinquefasciatus in the same condition last, respectively, for one day (medium ERD) or a few hours (low ERD). Resistance to desiccation is determined by the rate of water loss, dehydration tolerance and total amount of water of a given organism. The ERD variability observed among mosquitoes probably derives from diverse traits. We quantified several attributes of whole eggs, potentially correlated with the rate of water loss: length, width, area, volume, area/volume ratio and weight. In addition, some eggshell aspects were also evaluated, such as absolute and relative weight, weight/area relationship (herein called surface density) and chitin content. Presence of chitin specifically in the serosal cuticle as well as aspects of endochorion external surface were also investigated. Three features could be related to differences on ERD levels: chitin content, directly related to ERD, the increase in the egg volume during embryogenesis and the eggshell surface density, which were both inversely related to ERD. Although data suggest that the amount of chitin in the eggshell is relevant for egg impermeability, the participation of other yet unidentified eggshell attributes must be considered in order to account for the differences in the ERD levels observed among Ae. aegypti , An. aquasalis and Cx. quinquefasciatus . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Embryogenesis time differs among Ae. aegypti, An. aquasalis and Cx. quinquefasciatus. [•] An. aquasalis and Cx. quinquefasciatus acquire embryonic desiccation resistance (EDR). [•] EDR is related with serosal cuticle formation in these three species. [•] Morphological stage differs among species when EDR is acquired. [•] Distinct degrees of viability under dry conditions occurs among the three species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To explore the understanding of collaboration between clinicians working in pediatric weight management and parents of overweight children. METHODS: Clinicians (n=12) and parents (n=8) seeking pediatric weight management care participated in semi-structured focus groups or individual interviews. A family-centered, collaborative model of care was used to frame the data and develop codes/themes for analysis. Member checking and external reviews were conducted to verify emergent themes. RESULTS: Analyses revealed that collaboration between clinicians and parents included a positive therapeutic relationship, negotiation of health care delivery, and regular monitoring and evaluation. These elements are consistent with a philosophy of family-centered care, emphasize the importance of tailoring health services to families' needs, respect parents as experts, and identify clinician responsiveness as pivotal to partnerships with families. Parents described dissatisfaction with care and a lower likelihood of seeking future care when clinicians deviated from these principles. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that pediatric weight management should be family-centered to give parents the opportunity to actively engage in health services and negotiate their family's care. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Clinicians may be able to optimize their interactions with families seeking pediatric weight management care by taking a family-centered approach that is individualized and responsive to families' needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The paper illustrates the main features of a performance monitoring system which supervises more than 1200 loops of refinery plants. The system analyses data recorded by the DCS during routine operations and originates verdicts about the performance of control loops; also, indications of low performance causes and different strategies to adopt (retuning, valve maintenance, upstream actions) are given. First, the architecture of the system is illustrated, and characteristics of modules which accomplish different tasks of data acquisition and transfer, system configuration and priority assignment, performance analysis and verdicts emission, database query and operator support, are described. A synthesis of main techniques adopted in the system for stiction detection, process identification and performance evaluation, is also reported. The procedure for calibration of threshold values of key parameters, in order to match verdicts issued automatically by the system with operators evaluations and to avoid false alarms, is also discussed. Examples of results achieved from field validation are then presented, with illustration of loop performance before and after actions suggested by the monitoring system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Patterns of cytokine levels and their association with stroke severity, infarct size, and muscle strength are obscure. We aimed to analyze the immune mediators linked to T helper (Th)1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cell patterns and their association with stroke severity, infarct size, and muscle strength.Materials and Methods: We included patients with acute stroke (n = 15) and healthy non-disabled individuals (n = 20) aged > 18 years. The dependent variables were stroke severity according to the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), infarct size on computed tomography, handgrip strength by dynamometry, and global muscle strength according to the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. The independent variables were the circulating cytokine levels. The cytokine levels were compared between the groups, and correlations between the clinical data were verified.Results: The stroke group had higher interleukin (IL)-6 (p < 0.0001) and IL-10 (p < 0.0001) levels, but lower tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (p = 0.036) levels than the control group. IL-10 and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNF-RII) levels were correlated with each other (r = 0.533; p = 0.042) and infarct size (r = 0.653; p = 0.033 and r = 0.689; p = 0.018, respectively). MRC scores were positively and negatively correlated with handgrip strength of the affected side (r = 0.78; p = 0.001) and NIHSS scores (r = -0.87; p < 0.0001), respectively.Conclusions: Plasma levels of some cytokines were associated with changes in the acute phase of stroke, and IL-10 and sTNF-RII levels are potential biomarkers of infarct size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the developments of the preliminary application of conversation cards to simplify conversation between health professionals and parents of children with obesity. It mentions that idea for conservation cards came from the study of the Great Britain-based project for adults living with diabetes. It also determines that conversation cards offers health care professionals practical, tangible and interactive tool to manage pediatric obesity.

Smoking causes several diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Aspirin-triggered-resolvin D1 (AT-RvD1) is a lipid mediator produced during the resolution of inflammation and demonstrates anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution effects in several inflammatory experimental models including in the airways. Here we evaluated the role of AT-RvD1 (100 nM) in bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) stimulated by cigarette smoke extract (CSE; 1%; 1 cigarette) for 24 h. CSE induced the productions of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-4 and IFN-γ as well as the activations of NF-κB and STAT3 and the expression of ALX/FPR2 receptor. AT-RvD1 reduced the IL-1β and TNF-α production and increased the production of IFN-γ. These effects were reversed BOC2, an antagonist of ALX/FPR2 receptor for AT-RvD1. The production of IL-4 and IL-10 were not altered by AT-RvD1. In addition, AT-RvD1 reduced the phosphorylation of NF-κB and STAT3 when compared to CSE-stimulated BEAS-2B cells. No alteration of ALX/FPR2 expression was observed by AT-RvD1 when compared to CSE group. In the human monocytic leukemia cell line, the relative number of copies of IL-1β and IL-4 was significantly higher in CSE + AT-RvD1 group compared CSE group, however, the expression of M1 cytokine was more pronounced than M2 profile. AT-RvD1 could be an important target for the reduction of inflammation in the airways associated with smoking. [Display omitted] • AT-RvD1 acts on BEAS-2B cells to attenuate CSE-induced inflammatory effects. • AT-RvD1 acts on human macrophages increasing the M1 profile after CSE exposure. • Anti-inflammatory effects of AT-RvD1 in CSE-induced airway inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokines are small molecules secreted by numerous cells. Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is a cytokine initially described due to its function of inhibiting random macrophage migration. Currently, new functions have been described for MIF, such as stimulating inflammatory functions in response to infections by microorganisms including, Toxoplasma gondii. However, the primordial MIF function related to macrophages has been little addressed. The main purpose of the study was to recapitulate MIF function on macrophages in response to T. gondii infection. To achieve this goal, peritoneal macrophages were collected from C57BL/6WT and Mif 1-/- mice after recruitment with thioglycolate. Macrophages were cultured, treated with 4-Iodo-6-phenylpyrimidine (4-IPP), and infected or not by T. gondii for 24 h. Following this, the culture supernatant was collected for cytokine, urea and nitrite analysis. In addition, macrophages were evaluated for phagocytic activity and T. gondii proliferation rates. Results demonstrated that T. gondii infection triggered an increase in MIF production in the WT group as well as an increase in the secretion of IL-10, TNF, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-17 in the WT and Mif 1-/- macrophages. Regarding the comparison between groups, it was detected that Mif 1-/- macrophages secreted more IL-10 compared to WT. On the other hand, the WT macrophages produced greater amounts of TNF, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-17. Urea production was more pronounced in Mif 1-/- macrophages while nitrite production was higher in WT macrophages. T. gondii showed a greater ability to proliferate in Mif 1-/- macrophages and these cells also presented enhanced phagocytic activity. In conclusion, T. gondii infection induces macrophage activation inciting cytokine production. In presence of MIF, T. gondii infected macrophages produce pro-inflammatory cytokines compatible with the M1 activation profile. MIF absence caused a dramatic reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines that are balanced by increased levels of urea and anti-inflammatory cytokines. These macrophages presented increased phagocytic capacity and shared features activation with the M2 profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure for a spatially selective immobilization of antibodies, via photochemical activation, on the inner surface of optical microbubble resonators (OMBRs) is reported. The method is based on a suitable UV mask process. As proof of concept of this technique, immunoassay in photo-activated OMBR was implemented and fluorescence investigation was conducted. Moreover, the possible application of this procedure towards the development of a biochemical multiplexed detection system based on OMBR is presented. Finally, the high Q factor values measured after the immunoassay event (>10 5 ) make these photo–activated OMBRs suitable devices for future label-free biosensor implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide internal corrosion of carbon steel pipelines remains a major issue that is typically mitigated via the addition of corrosion inhibitors. In specific operational environments, a protective natural corrosion product layer known as iron carbonate (FeCO 3) can evolve on internal pipeline walls, providing comparable corrosion inhibitionefficiency to that achieved from surfactants. However, in some instances, incomplete corrosion product coverage can initiate localised corrosion. In our previous work, we demonstrated the ability of Poly (allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) to act synergistically with FeCO 3 when the corrosion product exhibits partial coverage of ×65 carbon steel surfaces in an aqueous CO 2 corrosion environment. In this work, we employ density functional theory (DFT) to show that PAH is able to coordinate with both FeCO 3 and the bare carbon steel surface, producing a FeCO 3 -PAH hybrid structure. The surface and chemical properties of a naturally formed FeCO 3 and the FeCO 3 -PAH hybrid layers are characterised employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with focused ionic beam (FIB), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). [Display omitted] • The PAH molecules adsorb onto the carbon steel surface and corrosion product (FeCO 3) via chemisorption and physisorption. • The PAH molecules interact with FeCO 3 through coordination and hydrogen bonding producing a hybrid layer. • The PAH centres of interaction with film-free carbon steel and FeCO 3 film are protonated and neutral amine groups. • The crystal structure and layer thickness of FeCO 3 and FeCO 3 -PAH hybrid layers are characterised and compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]