Search

This paper presents a collection of datasets holding information on the energy and climate action plans of 6,850 municipalities, taking part in the transnational initiative of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM). This collection includes commitments for reducing net GHG emissions by at least 20% by 2020, 55% by 2030 and becoming climate neutral by 2050. The signatories commit to addressing any of the three pillars of the initiative, namely climate change mitigation, adaptation and energy access. Following two previous releases, the third release of the GCoM collection is introduced, with closing date September 2022. The datasets include information on the action plans and monitoring reports as they are self-reported by signatories, undergoing a quality-harnessing procedure before publication. Additionally, an external comparison is developed with the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR v7), controlling for comparable sources and activity sectors, ensuring the usability of the GCoM datasets for relevant research on local policies and their effects on reducing the impact of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is a rare and potentially life-threatening disorder. Treatment advances have lowered morbidity rates, but past acute events can still cause long-term consequences, reducing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and determining cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression. We aimed to investigate these aspects and the role of caplacizumab and rituximab: 39 patients were evaluated using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the FACIT-Fatigue, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Functional Assessment in Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function questionnaires. The median age at study inclusion was 50 years (IQR 38–60), and the median follow-up from diagnosis was 97 months (IQR 14–182); 82% of patients were female, and 36% had one or more recurrences. Caplacizumab was administered in 16 patients (41%), as well as rituximab. ITTP patients reported lower physical and mental HRQoL scores than the general population. No differences in physical or mental domains were observed between patients treated or not with caplacizumab, while those who received rituximab reported lower scores in mental health. Neurological impairment at diagnosis correlated with worse fatigue. The majority of patients (72%) reported anxiety or depression (82%). ITTP had a significant impact on the long-term cognitive function, fatigue, depression, and anxiety levels of patients, with a negative effect on their HRQoL. Our findings underscore the need to pay special attention to patients' long-term physical and mental health, regardless of the medical treatments received. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an untreatable and clinically heterogeneous condition primarily affecting motor neurons. The ongoing quest for reliable biomarkers that mirror the disease status and progression has led to investigations that extend beyond motor neurons' pathology, encompassing broader systemic factors such as metabolism, immunity, and the microbiome. Our study contributes to this effort by examining the potential role of microbiome-related components, including viral elements, such as torque tenovirus (TTV), and various inflammatory factors, in ALS. In our analysis of serum samples from 100 ALS patients and 34 healthy controls (HC), we evaluated 14 cytokines, TTV DNA load, and 18 free fatty acids (FFA). We found that the evaluated variables are effective in differentiating ALS patients from healthy controls. In addition, our research identifies four unique patient clusters, each characterized by distinct biological profiles. Intriguingly, no correlations were found with site of onset, sex, progression rate, phenotype, or C9ORF72 expansion. A remarkable aspect of our findings is the discovery of a gender-specific relationship between levels of 2-ethylhexanoic acid and patient survival. In addition to contributing to the growing body of evidence suggesting altered peripheral immune responses in ALS, our exploratory research underscores metabolic diversity challenging conventional clinical classifications. If our exploratory findings are validated by further research, they could significantly impact disease understanding and patient care customization. Identifying groups based on biological profiles might aid in clustering patients with varying responses to treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through an analysis of the European Court of Human Rights' decisions concerning the practice of veiling, this article problematises the semiotics-architectural structure of article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion), questioning which representation of the human and the female subject is recognised and therefore protected by secular/liberal and Human Rights law. It argues that the semiotics-architectural structure of article 9, which is based on the distinction between faith and its manifestation, not only relies on a particular ontological understanding of the religious subject as well as a specific notion of religion, but it also reveals a distinct relationship between the individual and sovereign power through the division between the public and the private spheres. In light of this, the western debate surrounding the women's veiling overlooks how liberal secularism perceives and defines the religious and legal gendered subject in the modern world, and how this understanding is embedded in and reproduced through the law, which emerges as an instrument for regulating minority religious communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the food system has been faced with the significant problem of increasing food waste. Therefore, the feed industry, supported by scientific research, is attempting to valorise the use of discarded biomass as co-products for the livestock sector, in line with EU objectives. In parallel, the search for functional products that can ensure animal health and performances is a common fundamental goal for both animal husbandry and feeding. In this context, camelina cake (CAMC), cardoon cake (CC) and cardoon meal (CM), due valuable nutritional profile, represent prospective alternatives. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the antioxidant activity of CAMC, CC and CM following in vitro digestion using 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. Total phenolic content (TPC) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, actively involved in modulating antioxidant properties, were also studied. Further, a peptidomic analysis was adopted to substantiate the presence of bioactive peptides after in vitro digestion. The results obtained confirmed an interesting nutritional profile of CAMC, CC and CM and relevant antioxidant and ACE inhibitory activities. In particular, considering antioxidant profile, CM and CC revealed a significantly higher (10969.80 ± 18.93 mg TE/100 g and 10451.40 ± 149.17 mg TE/100 g, respectively; p < 0.05) ABTS value than CAMC (9511.18 ± 315.29 mg TE/100 g); a trend also confirmed with the FRAP assay (306.74 ± 5.68 mg FeSO4/100 g; 272.84 ± 11.02 mg FeSO4/100 g; 103.84 ± 3.27 mg FeSO4/100 g, for CC, CM and CAMC, respectively). Similar results were obtained for TPC, demonstrating the involvement of phenols in modulating antioxidant activity. Finally, CAMC was found to have a higher ACE inhibitory activity (40.34 ± 10.11%) than the other matrices. Furthermore, potentially bioactive peptides associated with ACE inhibitory, anti-hypertensive, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antiviral, antithrombotic, DPP-IV inhibitory and PEP-inhibitory activities were identified in CAMC. This profile was broader than that of CC and CM. The presence of such peptides corroborates the antioxidant and ACE profile of the sample. Although the data obtained report the important antioxidant profile of CAMC, CC, and CM and support their possible use, future investigations, particularly in vivo trials will be critical to evaluate and further investigate their effects on the health and performance of farm animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of intravenous antiplatelet therapy during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is not fully standardized. The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of periprocedural intravenous administration of cangrelor or tirofiban in a contemporary ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) population undergoing PPCI. This was a multicenter prospective cohort study including consecutive STEMI patients who received cangrelor or tirofiban during PPCI at seven Italian centers. The primary effectiveness measure was the angiographic evidence of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow < 3 after PPCI. The primary safety outcome was the in-hospital occurrence of BARC (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium) 2–5 bleedings. The study included 627 patients (median age 63 years, 79% males): 312 received cangrelor, 315 tirofiban. The percentage of history of bleeding, pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock at admission was comparable between groups. Patients receiving cangrelor had lower ischemia time compared to tirofiban. TIMI flow before PPCI and TIMI thrombus grade were comparable between groups. At propensity score-weighted regression analysis, the risk of TIMI flow < 3 was significantly lower in patients treated with cangrelor compared to tirofiban (adjusted OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.30–0.53). The risk of BARC 2–5 bleeding was comparable between groups (adjusted OR:1.35; 95% CI: 0.92–1.98). These results were consistent across multiple prespecified subgroups, including subjects stratified for different total ischemia time, with no statistical interaction. In this real-world multicenter STEMI population, the use of cangrelor was associated with improved myocardial perfusion assessed by coronary angiography after PPCI without increasing clinically-relevant bleedings compared to tirofiban. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccines can reduce the use of antibiotics by preventing specific infective diseases in pigs. Plant-based edible vaccines are particularly attractive because, upon oral ingestion via feed, they can elicit the local immune system against a foreign disease-causing organism. The aim of this study was to engineer two different independent lines of tobacco plants for the seed-specific expression of immunogenic proteins of VTEC as a model of an edible vaccine. For each antigen, fifty Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Xanthi leaf disks were transformed by agroinfection for the seed-specific expression of the structural parts of the fimbrial subunit FedF of F18 and the B-subunit of Vt2e genes. The synthetic genes, optimized by the codon adaptation index for their expression in tobacco, were inserted into expression cassettes under the control of β-conglycinin promoter. Regenerated tobacco plants (T0) were characterized by molecular and immunoenzymatic techniques. Our results showed that both FedF and Vt2eB genes were integrated into tobacco genome efficiently (> 80%) and they are also maintained in the second generation (T1). Western blotting analyses carried out on the positive producing lines, showed the tissue-specific expression in seeds and the temporal protein accumulation in the mid-late maturation phases. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed seed expression levels of 0.09 to 0.29% (from 138 to 444 µg/g of seeds) and 0.21 to 0.43% (from 321 to 658 µg/g of seeds) of total soluble protein for the FedF and Vt2eB antigens, respectively. This study confirmed the seed-specific expression of the selected antigens in plant seeds. The expression level is suitable for seed-based edible vaccination systems, which could represent a cost-effective way to prevent VTEC infection. Our findings encourage further in vivo studies focused on the activation of the local immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the foundation dates of cities, we developed a spatial model of European colonization timing for the Americas, a major social-ecological event in its environmental history. Colonization occurred gradually during the past 500 years, but with two main “waves”, an early one prior to 1600, and a late one during the nineteenth century, following countries´ independence. Early-colonized areas include the Caribbean, Mexico-Mesoamerica, the Tropical Andes and adjacent Pacific coasts, and the Brazilian Atlantic coast. Recently colonized areas include the inner Amazonian region, Patagonia and high latitude North America. By combining the spatial model with a map of ecoregions and current human population, we identified areas with different combinations of colonization history and present-day human impact. Our approach provides a new perspective on the social-ecological history of the Americas, and we briefly discuss the consequences of this for ecology of the Anthropocene, and for conservation policies in the new world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cough represents a natural mechanism that plays an important defensive role in the respiratory tract, but in some conditions, it may become persistent, nonproductive, and harmful. In general, refractory chronic cough (RCC) occurs in about 20% of individuals; hence, we aimed to assess the presence of altered gut–lung communication in RCC patients through a compositional and functional characterization of both gut (GM) and oral microbiota (OM). Methods: 16S rRNA sequencing was used to characterize both GM and OM composition of RCC patients and healthy controls (HC). PICRUST2 assessed functional changes in microbial communities while gas chromatography was used to evaluate fecal short-chain fatty acid levels and serum-free fatty acid (FFA) abundances. Results: In comparison with HC, RCC patients reported increased saliva alpha-diversity and statistically significant beta-diversity in both GM and OM. Also, a, respectively, significant increased or reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio in stool and saliva samples of RCC patients has been shown, in addition to a modification of the abundances of several taxa in both GM and OM. Moreover, a potential fecal over-expression of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and lipoic acid metabolism pathways and several differences in serum FFA levels have been reported in RCC patients than in HC. Conclusion: Since differences in both GM and OM of RCC patients have been documented, these findings could provide new information about RCC pathogenesis and also pave the way for the development of novel nutritional or pharmacological interventions for the management of RCC through the restoration of eubiotic gut–lung communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the post-mortem interval (PMI) is one of forensic pathology's primary objectives and one of its most challenging tasks. Numerous studies have demonstrated the accuracy of histomorphology and immunohistochemical investigations in determining the time of death. Nevertheless, the skin, a robust and easy-to-remove tissue, has only been partially analyzed so far. By studying 20 adult male mice, we tried to determine whether post-mortem immunohistochemical detection in the skin of HMGB1 proteins and associated components (Beclin1 and RAGE) could be used for this purpose. We discovered that nuclear HMGB1 overexpression indicates that death occurred within the previous 12 h, nuclear HMGB1 negativization with high cytoplasmic HMGB1 intensity indicates that death occurred between 12 and 36 h earlier and cytoplasmic HMGB1 negativization indicates that more than 48 h have passed since death. RAGE and Beclin1 levels in the cytoplasm also decreased with time. The latter proteins' negativization might indicate that more than 24 and 36 h, respectively, have passed from the time of death. These indicators might potentially be helpful in forensic practice for determining the PMI using immunohistochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given a polarizable ℤ-variation of Hodge structures V over a complex smooth quasi-projective base S , a classical result of Cattani, Deligne and Kaplan says that its Hodge locus (i.e. the locus where exceptional Hodge tensors appear) is a countable union of irreducible algebraic subvarieties of S , called the special subvarieties for V . Our main result in this paper is that, if the level of V is at least 3, this Hodge locus is in fact a finite union of such special subvarieties (hence is algebraic), at least if we restrict ourselves to the Hodge locus factorwise of positive period dimension (Theorem 1.5). For instance the Hodge locus of positive period dimension of the universal family of degree d smooth hypersurfaces in P C n + 1 , n ≥ 3 , d ≥ 5 and (n , d) ≠ (4 , 5) , is algebraic. On the other hand we prove that in level 1 or 2, the Hodge locus is analytically dense in S an as soon as it contains one typical special subvariety. These results follow from a complete elucidation of the distribution in S of the special subvarieties in terms of typical/atypical intersections, with the exception of the atypical special subvarieties of zero period dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of sequential treatment comparisons, the acquisition of covariate information about the statistical units is crucial for the validity of the trial. Furthermore, balancing the assignments among covariates is of primary importance, since the potential imbalance of the covariate distributions across the groups can severely undermine the statistical analysis. For this reason, several covariate-adaptive randomization procedures have been suggested in the literature, but most of them only apply to categorical factors. In this paper we propose a new class of rules, called the Efficient Covariate-Adaptive Design, which is high-order balanced regardless of the number of factors and their nature (qualitative and/or quantitative), also accounting for every order covariate effects and interactions. The suggested procedure performs very well, is flexible and simple to implement. The advantages of our proposal are also analyzed via simulations and its finite sample properties are compared with those of other well-known rules, by also including the redesign of a real clinical trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a logico-algebraic investigation of AGM belief revision based on the logic of paradox (LP ). First, we define a concrete belief revision operator for LP , proving that it satisfies a generalised version of the traditional AGM postulates. Moreover, we investigate to what extent the Levi and Harper identities, in their classical formulation, can be applied to a paraconsistent account of revision. We show that a generalised Levi-type identity still yields paraconsistent-based revisions that are fully compatible with the AGM postulates. The main outcome is that, once the classical AGM framework is lifted up to an appropriate level of generality, it still appears as a regulative ideal for treating of paraconsistent-based epistemic operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the smooth, compactly supported solutions of the steady 3D Euler equations of incompressible fluids constructed by Gavrilov (Geom Funct Anal (GAFA) 29(1):190–197, 2019), and we study the corresponding fluid particle dynamics. This is an ode analysis, which contributes to the description of Gavrilov's vector field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Early time-restricted carbohydrate consumption (eTRC) is a novel dietary strategy that involves restricting carbohydrate-rich food intake to the morning and early afternoon to align with circadian variations in glucose tolerance. We examined the efficacy, feasibility and safety of eTRC in individuals with type 2 diabetes under free-living conditions. Methods: In this randomised, parallel-arm, open label, controlled trial, participants with type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity (age 67.2±7.9 years, 47.8% women, BMI 29.4±3.7 kg/m2, HbA1c 49±5 mmol/mol [6.6±0.5%]) were randomised, using computer-generated random numbers, to a 12 week eTRC diet or a Mediterranean-style control diet with matched energy restriction and macronutrient distribution (50% carbohydrate, 30% fat and 20% protein). The primary outcome was the between-group difference in HbA1c at 12 weeks. Body composition, 14 day flash glucose monitoring and food diary analysis were performed every 4 weeks. Mixed meal tolerance tests with mathematical beta cell function modelling were performed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results: Twelve (85.7%) participants in the eTRC arm and 11 (84.6%) participants in the control arm completed the study, achieving similar reductions in body weight and fat mass. The two groups experienced comparable improvements in HbA1c (−3 [−6, −0.3] mmol/mol vs −4 [−6, −2] mmol/mol, corresponding to −0.2 [−0.5, 0]% and −0.3 [−0.5, −0.1]%, respectively, p=0.386), fasting plasma glucose, flash glucose monitoring-derived glucose variability and mixed meal tolerance test-derived glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, insulin clearance and plasma glucagon levels, without changes in model-derived beta cell function parameters, glucagon-like peptide-1, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and non-esterified fatty acid levels. The two diets similarly reduced liver function markers and triglyceride levels, being neutral on other cardiometabolic and safety variables. In exploratory analyses, diet-induced changes in body weight and glucometabolic variables were not related to the timing of carbohydrate intake. Conclusions/interpretation: The proposed eTRC diet provides a feasible and effective alternative option for glucose and body weight management in individuals with type 2 diabetes, with no additional metabolic benefits compared with conventional dieting. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05713058 Funding: This study was supported by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and the Italian Society of Diabetology (SID). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), such as the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are reported to beneficially affect the intestinal immunity. The biological pathways modulated by n-3 PUFA during an infection, at the level of intestinal epithelial barrier remain elusive. To address this gap, we investigated the proteomic changes induced by n-3 PUFA in porcine enterocyte cell line (IPEC-J2), in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stress conditions using shotgun proteomics analysis integrated with RNA-sequencing technology. A total of 33, 85, and 88 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were identified in cells exposed to n-3 PUFA (DHA:EPA), LPS, and n-3 PUFA treatment followed by LPS stimulation, respectively. Functional annotation and pathway analysis of DAPs revealed the modulation of central carbon metabolism, including the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway, and oxidative phosphorylation processes. Specifically, LPS caused metabolic dysregulation in enterocytes, which was abated upon prior treatment with n-3 PUFA. Besides, n-3 PUFA supplementation facilitated enterocyte development and lipid homeostasis. Altogether, this work for the first time comprehensively described the biological pathways regulated by n-3 PUFA in enterocytes, particularly during endotoxin-stimulated metabolic dysregulation. Additionally, this study may provide nutritional biomarkers in monitoring the intestinal health of human and animals on n-3 PUFA-based diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating biological aspects of migratory marine animals like sea turtles is challenging. The Adriatic Sea is a key Mediterranean foraging ground for loggerhead turtles, yet certain feeding behaviors remain poorly known, including winter feeding and foraging within the neritic area of the Gulf of Manfredonia. With high fishing effort, this area experiences considerable turtle bycatch from trawlers during winter, representing an important conservation issue. Insights on how and to what extent the species interacts with anthropogenic threats such as trawlers and debris can be obtained from diet analysis. We examined feces and gut contents from 57 bycaught or stranded turtles to assess active feeding and digestion time during winter, identify and quantify prey items, evaluate feeding patterns among size classes, and ascertain the anthropogenic impact via debris and fishing discard ingestion. Our findings show that turtles feed actively during winter, primarily on benthic items, starting from a small size (32 cm Curved Carapace Length). No size effect was observed on dietary diversity or biomass percentage. We identified 37 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) across 10 dietary groups, with crustaceans and mollusks being most prevalent. Osteichthyes and cephalopods, likely scavenged from trawl discard, were also common, implying intensive local trawling may attract turtles, increasing bycatch and mortality rates. The frequency of anthropogenic material ingestion was comparable to other Mediterranean regions and its presence in feces suggests non-lethal effects, if any. This study shows how information on seasonal feeding behavior can provide insights into how the relationship of the species with the environment and threats changes over time, ultimately steering conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide more than 550,000 new patients suffering from malignant tumors are associated with human papillomaviruses (HPV) infection. However, only a small portion of patients infected progress to cancer, suggesting that other factors other than HPV may play a role. Some studies have investigated HPV infection in colorectal cancer (CRC) with discordant results; moreover, the role of HPV in CRC development is still unknown. We investigated HPV infection in 50 CRC from different regions, excluding the anal one, by immunohistochemistry (IHC), real-time PCR and RNA-seq. For each patient, we studied the tumor microenvironment in neoplastic and matched non-neoplastic samples, and we compared the tumor-infiltrating immune cell phenotypes among HPV-positive and negative samples. Finally, we compared the CRC-associated microbiota in HPV-positive and negative neoplastic samples by 16S rRNA sequencing. HPV infection was identified in 20% of CRC from the right side (caecum, ascending and transverse colon) and in 40% from the left side (descending colon and rectum). In all HPV-positive CRCs we found no expression of p53 and RB, thus suggesting HPV involvement in tumorigenesis. As far as the tumor microenvironment is concerned, in HPV-related cancers we observed a neoplastic environment with a reduced immune surveillance but an enhanced cytotoxic response by lymphocytes. HPV-positive and -negative CRC showed a different microbiota with lack of species normally found in CRC in the HPV-positive ones. Our results support the carcinogenic significance of HPV in CRC, suggesting a role of HPV in modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal energy for defibrillation has not yet been identified and very often the maximum energy is delivered. We sought to assess whether amplitude spectral area (AMSA) of ventricular fibrillation (VF) could predict low energy level defibrillation success in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. This is a multicentre international study based on retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. We included all OHCAs with at least one manual defibrillation. AMSA values were calculated by analyzing the data collected by the monitors/defibrillators used in the field (Corpuls 3 and Lifepak 12/15) and using a 2-s-pre-shock electrocardiogram interval. We run two different analyses dividing the shocks into three tertiles (T1, T2, T3) based on AMSA values. 629 OHCAs were included and 2095 shocks delivered (energy ranging from 100 to 360 J; median 200 J). Both in the "extremes analysis" and in the "by site analysis", the AMSA values of the effective shocks at low energy were significantly higher than those at high energy (p = 0.01). The likelihood of shock success increased significantly from the lowest to the highest tertile. After correction for age, call to shock time, use of mechanical CPR, presence of bystander CPR, sex and energy level, high AMSA value was directly associated with the probability of shock success [T2 vs T1 OR 3.8 (95% CI 2.5–6) p < 0.001; T3 vs T1 OR 12.7 (95% CI 8.2–19.2), p < 0.001]. AMSA values are associated with the probability of low-energy shock success so that they could guide energy optimization in shockable cardiac arrest patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Some pesticides may increase the risk of certain lymphoid malignancies, but few studies have examined Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). In this exploratory study, we examined associations between agricultural use of 22 individual active ingredients and 13 chemical groups and HL incidence. Methods: We used data from three agricultural cohorts participating in the AGRICOH consortium: the French Agriculture and Cancer Cohort (2005–2009), Cancer in the Norwegian Agricultural Population (1993–2011), and the US Agricultural Health Study (1993–2011). Lifetime pesticide use was estimated from crop-exposure matrices or self-report. Cohort-specific covariate-adjusted overall and age-specific (< 40 or ≥ 40 years) hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox regression and combined using random effects meta-analysis. Results: Among 316 270 farmers (75% male) accumulating 3 574 815 person-years at risk, 91 incident cases of HL occurred. We did not observe statistically significant associations for any of the active ingredients or chemical groups studied. The highest risks of HL overall were observed for the pyrethroids deltamethrin (meta-HR = 1.86, 95% CI 0.76–4.52) and esfenvalerate (1.86, 0.78–4.43), and inverse associations of similar magnitude were observed for parathion and glyphosate. Risk of HL at ≥ 40 years of age was highest for ever-use of dicamba (2.04, 0.93–4.50) and lowest for glyphosate (0.46, 0.20–1.07). Conclusion: We report the largest prospective investigation of these associations. Nonetheless, low statistical power, a mixture of histological subtypes and a lack of information on tumour EBV status complicate the interpretability of the results. Most HL cases occurred at older ages, thus we could not explore associations with adolescent or young adult HL. Furthermore, estimates may be attenuated due to non-differential exposure misclassification. Future work should aim to extend follow-up and refine both exposure and outcome classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Unintentional dural puncture (UDP) occurs in 0.5–1.5% of labour epidural analgesia cases. To date, little is known about evidence of UDP-related complications. This work aimed to assess the incidence of intrapartum and postpartum complications in parturients who experienced UDP. Methods: This is a 10-year retrospective observational study on parturients admitted to our centre who presented UDP. Data collection gathered UDP-related complications during labour and postpartum. All women who displayed UDP received medical therapy and bed rest. An epidural blood patch (EBP) was not used in this population. Once asymptomatic, patients were discharged from the hospital. Results: Out of 7718 neuraxial analgesia cases, 97 cases of UDP occurred (1.25%). During labour, complications appeared in a small percentage of analgesia procedures performed, including total spinal anaesthesia (1.0%), extended motor block (3%), hypotension (4.1%), abnormal foetal heart rate (2%), inadequate analgesia (14.4%), and general anaesthesia following neuraxial anaesthesia failure (33.3% of emergency caesarean sections). During the postpartum period, 53.6% of parturients exhibited a postdural puncture headache, 13.4% showed neurological symptoms, and 14.4% required neurological consultation and neuroimaging. No patient developed subdural hematoma or cerebral venous sinus thrombosis; one woman presented posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome associated with eclampsia. Overall, 82.5% of women experienced an extension of hospital stay. Conclusion: Major complications occurred in a small percentage of patients during labour. However, since they represent high-risk maternal and neonatal health events, a dedicated anaesthesiologist and a trained obstetric team are essential. No major neurological complications were registered postpartum, and EBP was not performed. Nevertheless, all patients with UDP were carefully monitored and treated until complete recovery before discharge, leading to an extension of their hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-assisted resection (LAR) of pulmonary metastases offers several potential advantages compared to conventional surgical techniques. However, the technical details, indications and outcomes of LAR have not been extensively reviewed. We conducted a systematic literature search to identify all original articles reporting on LAR of pulmonary metastases. All relevant outcomes, including morbidity rate, R0 rate, pulmonary function tests, overall- (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were collected. Additionally, a comparison between outcomes obtained by laser-assisted and conventional resection techniques was provided. Of 2629 articles found by the initial search, 12 were selected for the systematic review. Following LAR, the R0 rate ranged between 72 and 100% and the morbidity rate ranged from 0 to 27.5%. The postoperative decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s varied between 3.4 and 11%. Median OS and RFS were 42–77.6 months and 9–34.1 months, respectively. Compared with patients treated by other resection techniques, patients treated by LAR frequently had a higher number of metastases and a higher rate of bilateral disease. Despite this, no significant differences were observed in R0 rate, morbidity rate, and median OS rate, while only 1 study found a lower RFS rate in the LAR cohort. Although selection bias limits the comparability of outcomes, the findings of this review suggest that LAR is a valid alternative to conventional procedures of lung metastasectomy. The main difficulties of this technique consist in the adoption of a video-assisted thoracoscopic approach, and in the pathologic assessment of resection margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the rate of PMR who, during the follow-up, undergo a diagnostic shift as well as to assess which clinical, laboratory and US findings are associated to a diagnostic shift and predict the long-term evolution of PMR. All PMR followed-up for at least 12 months were included. According to the US procedures performed at diagnosis, patients were subdivided into four subgroups. Clinical data from follow-up visits at 12, 24, 48 and 60 months, including a diagnostic shift, the number of relapses and immunosuppressive and steroid treatment, were recorded. A total of 201 patients were included. During the follow-up, up to 60% had a change in diagnosis. Bilateral LHBT was associated with persistence in PMR diagnosis, whereas GH synovitis and RF positivity to a diagnostic shift. Patients undergoing diagnostic shift had a higher frequency of GH synovitis, shoulder PD, higher CRP, WBC, PLT and Hb and longer time to achieve remission, while those maintaining diagnosis had bilateral exudative LHBT and SA-SD bursitis, higher ESR, lower Hb and shorter time to remission. Cluster analysis identified a subgroup of older patients, with lower CRP, WBC, PLT and Hb, lower PD signal or peripheral synovitis who had a higher persistence in PMR diagnosis, suffered from more flares and took more GCs. Most PMR have their diagnosis changed during follow-up. The early use of the US is associated with a lower dosage of GCs. Patients with a definite subset of clinical, laboratory and US findings seem to be more prone to maintain the diagnosis of PMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of coronal dentinal micro-cracks after access cavity refinement using high-speed burs and ultrasonic tips by means of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis. Methods: In this study, 18 mandibular cadaveric incisors were divided into two groups according to the protocol of the preparation of the conventional access cavity. The diamond bur 802 # 12 was used until the perforation of the pulp roof. Then, the Endo-Z bur was used for the group #1 and the ultrasonic tip Start-X # 1 for the group #2 to finish and refine the access cavity. The preparation time of each access cavity has been recorded. The teeth underwent a micro-CT scan before and after the preparation of the access cavity. Fisher's exact test, the Chi-square test, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, the Mann–Whitney test, and the Student's test were used for statistical evaluation. Results: The percentage of teeth with new micro-cracks is not significantly different between the two groups (-p-value < 0.5). The number of newly formed micro-cracks and extension size were not significantly different between the two groups. The direction of extension of the micro- cracks was occluso-apical. The average duration of the access cavity is significantly smaller with the Endo-Z system (-p- value < 0.001). The roughness of walls surfaces has no statistically difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The use of ultrasound, although slower, is considered safe in the creation of dentinal micro-cracks, in the preparation of the access cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is a prevalent and debilitating manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS); however, it is not included in the widely used concept of No Evidence of Disease Activity (NEDA-3). We expanded the NEDA-3 concept to NEDA-3 + by encompassing CI assessed through the Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT) and evaluated the effect of teriflunomide on NEDA3 + in patients treated in a real-world setting. The value of NEDA-3 + in predicting disability progression was also assessed. Methods: This 96-weeks observational study enrolled patients already on treatment with teriflunomide for ≥ 24 weeks. The predictiveness of NEDA-3 and NEDA-3 + at 48 weeks on the change in motor disability at 96 weeks was compared through a two-sided McNemar test. Results: The full analysis set (n = 128; 38% treatment naïve) featured relatively low level of disability (baseline EDSS = 1.97 ± 1.33). NEDA-3 and NEDA-3 + statuses were achieved by 82.8% and 64.8% of patients, respectively at 48 weeks vs. baseline, and by 57.0% and 49.2% of patients, respectively at 96 weeks vs. baseline. All patients except one were free of disability progression at Week 96, and NEDA-3 and NEDA-3 + were equally predictive. Most patients were free of relapse (87.5%), disability progression (94.5%) and new MRI activity (67.2%) comparing 96 weeks with baseline. SDMT scores were stable in patients with baseline score ˃35 and improved significantly in those with baseline score ≤ 35. Treatment persistence was high (81.0% at Week 96). Conclusion: Teriflunomide confirmed its real-world efficacy and was found to have a potentially beneficial effect on cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is a major source of food and income for poor and rural households living in developing countries; yet, agricultural systems are increasingly threatened by changing climate conditions that compromise their productivity and resilience. Over time, international aid has provided support to the agricultural systems of recipient countries, though the literature is not unanimous in confirming their effectiveness. To shed light on this issue, the purpose of this work is to assess the efficacy of these aid in increasing the agricultural productivity of recipient nations, employing original approaches. First, to adopt a climate change perspective, we conduct our analysis using a recent classification adopted by the Official Development Assistance—the Rio Markers—which distinguishes aid between adaptation and mitigation to climate change. Second, taking into account that the starting conditions of recipient countries can significantly impact aid effectiveness, we classify 115 developing countries into four subgroups according to their vulnerability and readiness to climate change, as evaluated by the ND-Gain indicators. We perform a two-stage instrumental variable approach within the context of panel models to investigate the potential growth-enhancing impact that different types of agricultural aid may exert on the agriculture Total Factor Productivity in recipient countries. Our findings show that aid to agriculture, especially adaptation aid, has a positive impact on agricultural productivity growth. We also observe that countries with a higher climate readiness benefit the most from aid, whereas countries highly vulnerable and heavily dependent on the agricultural sector are less able to leverage the aid received to the same extent. Overall, our analysis confirms the importance of international aid to the agricultural sector and suggests that accurate impact assessment analyses should also consider a climate perspective to distinguish adaptation from mitigation aid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio-loud compact radio sources (CRSs) are characterised by morphological compactness of the jet structure centred on the active nucleus of the galaxy. Most of the local elliptical galaxies are found to host a CRS with nuclear luminosities lower than those of typical quasars, ≲ 10 42 erg s - 1 . Recently, low-luminosity CRSs with a LINER-like optical spectrum have been named Fanaroff–Riley (FR) type 0 to highlight their lack of substantially extended radio emission at kpc scales, in contrast with the other Fanaroff–Riley classes, full-fledged FR Is and FR II radio galaxies. FR 0s are the most abundant class of radio galaxies in the local Universe, and characterised by a higher core dominance, poorer Mpc-scale environment and smaller (sub-kpc scale, if resolved) jets than FR Is. However, FR 0s share similar host and nuclear properties with FR Is. A different accretion–ejection paradigm from that in place in FR Is is invoked to account for the parsec-scale FR 0 jets. This review revises the state-of-the-art knowledge about FR 0s, their nature, and which open issues the next generation of radio telescopes can solve in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition towards personalized medicine is happening and the new experimental framework is raising several challenges, from a clinical, ethical, logistical, regulatory, and statistical perspective. To face these challenges, innovative study designs with increasing complexity have been proposed. In particular, adaptive enrichment designs are becoming more attractive for their flexibility. However, these procedures rely on an increasing number of parameters that are unknown at the planning stage of the clinical trial, so the study design requires particular care. This review is dedicated to adaptive enrichment studies with a focus on design aspects. While many papers deal with methods for the analysis, the sample size determination and the optimal allocation problem have been overlooked. We discuss the multiple aspects involved in adaptive enrichment designs that contribute to their advantages and disadvantages. The decision-making process of whether or not it is worth enriching should be driven by clinical and ethical considerations as well as scientific and statistical concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the logical context, ignorance is traditionally defined recurring to epistemic logic. In particular, ignorance is essentially interpreted as "lack of knowledge". This received view has - as we point out - some problems, in particular we will highlight how it does not allow to express a type of content-theoretic ignorance, i.e. an ignorance of φ that stems from an unfamiliarity with its meaning. Contrarily to this trend, in this paper, we introduce and investigate a modal logic having a primitive epistemic operator I, modeling ignorance. Our modal logic is essentially constructed on the modal logics based on weak Kleene three-valued logic introduced by Segerberg (Theoria, 33(1):53–71, 1997). Such non-classical propositional basis allows to define a Kripke-style semantics with the following, very intuitive, interpretation: a formula φ is ignored by an agent if φ is neither true nor false in every world accessible to the agent. As a consequence of this choice, we obtain a type of content-theoretic notion of ignorance, which is essentially different from the traditional approach. We dub it severe ignorance. We axiomatize, prove completeness and decidability for the logic of reflexive (three-valued) Kripke frames, which we find the most suitable candidate for our novel proposal and, finally, compare our approach with the most traditional one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine diagnostic performance of MRI radiomics-based machine learning for classification of deep-seated lipoma and atypical lipomatous tumor (ALT) of the extremities. Material and methods: This retrospective study was performed at three tertiary sarcoma centers and included 150 patients with surgically treated and histology-proven lesions. The training-validation cohort consisted of 114 patients from centers 1 and 2 (n = 64 lipoma, n = 50 ALT). The external test cohort consisted of 36 patients from center 3 (n = 24 lipoma, n = 12 ALT). 3D segmentation was manually performed on T1- and T2-weighted MRI. After extraction and selection of radiomic features, three machine learning classifiers were trained and validated using nested fivefold cross-validation. The best-performing classifier according to previous analysis was evaluated and compared to an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist in the external test cohort. Results: Eight features passed feature selection and were incorporated into the machine learning models. After training and validation (74% ROC-AUC), the best-performing classifier (Random Forest) showed 92% sensitivity and 33% specificity in the external test cohort with no statistical difference compared to the radiologist (p = 0.474). Conclusion: MRI radiomics-based machine learning may classify deep-seated lipoma and ALT of the extremities with high sensitivity and negative predictive value, thus potentially serving as a non-invasive screening tool to reduce unnecessary referral to tertiary tumor centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, thermophilic membrane biological reactors (TMBRs) are used to treat industrial wastewaters and biological sewage sludge with the aim of nutrients recovery. The performance of the biological process is strongly influenced by rheological behaviour of the thermophilic biological sludge (TBS) inside the reactor. Considering the high concentration of heavy metals in matrices fed to the reactors, this work aims to evaluate the influence of heavy metal types and concentration on rheological properties of TBS. Sludge has been extracted from a full-scale TMBR and conditioned with Fe3+, Cu2+, and Al3+. Rheological measures have been conducted and constants k and n of Herschel–Bulkley model were used to define the rheological properties of TBS. Rheological properties of high consistency TBS (0.06 ≤ k0 < 0.2 and 0.6 ≤ n0 < 0.8) were not significantly affected by the conditioning with Fe3+, Cu2+, and Al3+. In case of TBS with initial low consistency (0.02 ≤ k0 < 0.06) and behaviour more similar to Newtonian fluids (0.8 ≤ n0 < 1), Fe3+ and Al3+ determined a significant increase in consistency. On the contrary, the addition of Cu2+ reduced k of conditioned TBS with a lower impact on the distance for Newtonian behaviour (n). This work demonstrates the strong influence of Fe3+, Cu2+, and Al3+ on the rheological properties of TBS depending on the initial consistency of the sludge, and the types and dosage of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that some harmful objects in the Tanner graph of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes have a negative impact on their error correction performance under iterative message-passing decoding. Depending on the channel and the decoding algorithm, these harmful objects are different in nature and can be stopping sets, trapping sets, absorbing sets, or pseudocodewords. Differently from LDPC block codes, the design of spatially coupled LDPC codes must take into account the semi-infinite nature of the code, while still reducing the number of harmful objects as much as possible. We propose a general procedure, based on edge spreading, enabling the design of good quasi-cyclic spatially coupled LDPC (QC-SC-LDPC) codes. These codes are derived from quasi-cyclic LDPC (QC-LDPC) block codes and contain a considerably reduced number of harmful objects with respect to the original QC-LDPC block codes. We use an efficient way of enumerating harmful objects in QC-SC-LDPCCs to obtain a fast algorithm that spans the search space of potential candidates to select those minimizing the multiplicity of the target harmful objects. We validate the effectiveness of our method via numerical simulations, showing that the newly designed codes achieve better error rate performance than codes presented in previous literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension is the most prevalent chronic disease World-wide, and the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Few patients accomplish the objective of decreasing blood pressure and avoiding hypertensive target organ damage after treatments with antihypertensive agents which opens the door for other treatments, such as herbal-and antihypertensive combination therapy. Captopril (CAP), as a-pril which inhibits angiotensin converting enzyme has long been used in the management of hypertension and CVD. Gedan Jiangya Decoction (GJD) is known for antihypertensive effects in prior studies. The research is aimed to determine whether GJD in combination with captopril has antihypertensive, kidney protective, antioxidant, and vasoactive effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Regular measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and body weight were monitored weekly. H&E staining was utilized to examine histopathology. The combined effects were studied using ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR. Significant reductions in SBP, DBP, aortic wall thickness, and improvement in renal tissue were observed following GJD + CAP treatment, with increased serum levels of NO, SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT and decreases in Ang II, ET-1, and MDA. Similarly, GJD + CAP treatment of SHR's significantly decreased ET-1 and AGTR1 mRNA and protein expression while increasing eNOS mRNA and protein expression in thoracic aorta and kidney tissue. In conclusion, the present investigation found that GJD + CAP treatment decreases SHR blood pressure, improves aorta remodeling and renal protection, and that this effect could be attributable, in part, due to antioxidant and vascular tone improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyse the representation of positive polynomials in terms of Sums of Squares. We provide a quantitative version of Putinar's Positivstellensatz over a compact basic semialgebraic set S, with a new polynomial bound on the degree of the positivity certificates. This bound involves a Łojasiewicz exponent associated to the description of S. We show that if the gradients of the active constraints are linearly independent on S (Constraint Qualification condition), this Łojasiewicz exponent is equal to 1. We deduce the first general polynomial bound on the convergence rate of the optima in Lasserre's Sum-of-Squares hierarchy to the global optimum of a polynomial function on S, and the first general bound on the Hausdorff distance between the cone of truncated (probability) measures supported on S and the cone of truncated pseudo-moment sequences, which are positive on the quadratic module of S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Active sacroiliitis represents the hallmark of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and manifests as inflammatory low back pain associated with morning stiffness (MS). Sometimes, the combination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and biological disease modifying drugs (bDMARDs) proves unsatisfactory in achieving a remission. Materials and methods: We enrolled patients affected with active sacroiliitis confirmed via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and treated with a corticosteroid sacroiliac joint injection (SIJI) via ultrasound guidance. After SIJI, we evaluated visual–analogue scale (VAS) and MS pain changes. As controls, we selected axSpA patients starting bDMARDs. Results: We enrolled 26 patients (mean age 55 ± 14 years; 25 females and 1 male; > 95% treated with NSAIDs; 46% on bDMARDs; 75.82 ± 123 months) and examined a total of 47 treated joints. We detected a 48% reduction in VAS pain after 24 h. Moreover, we observed a significant reduction (p < 0.0001) of VAS pain between the baseline and every subsequent follow-up visit. Further, a significant difference in VAS pain compared to the baseline in the controls was observed starting from week 12. There was a significant reduction in MS after 1 week due to SIJIs, while in the controls the first significant change from the baseline in MS was detected after 12 weeks. The efficacy of infiltrative therapy lasted up to 6 months: persistent VAS as well as MS pain reduction was observed. Conclusions: US-guided SIJI represents an effective and safe technique for patients who have active sacroiliitis yet are ineligible for biologic treatment or who experience unsatisfactory disease control despite receiving therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opinion statement: Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is an ultra-rare, translocated vascular sarcoma. EHE can have different clinical presentations from indolent to rapidly evolving cases, behaving as a high-grade sarcoma. Serosal effusion and systemic symptoms such as fever and severe pain are known as adverse prognostic factors; however, outcome prediction at disease onset remains a major challenge. In spite of its rarity, an international collaborative effort is in place with the support of patient advocates to increase the knowledge of EHE biology, develop new treatment options, and improve patient access to new active medications. Currently, systemic therapies are indicated only for patients suffering from progressive and/or symptomatic disease and in patients with a high risk of organ dysfunction. Standard systemic agents available so far for treatment of sarcomas, and in particular anthracycline-based chemotherapy, have marginal activity in EHE. On this background, EHE patients should be always considered for clinical study when available. The MEK inhibitor trametinib has been recently investigated prospectively in advanced EHE showing some activity, but the publication of the full dataset is still awaited to better interpret the results. Besides, there are data on response to antiangiogenics such as sorafenib and bevacizumab and, from retrospective studies, interferon, thalidomide, and sirolimus. Unfortunately, none of these agents is formally approved for EHE patients and access to treatments varies greatly between countries causing a huge disparity in patient care from one country to another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of nano-TiO 2 is a time consuming process, due to a long peptization phase. In the past years, ultrasound has become more and more popular as a tool for improving chemical processes. With its ability to enhance mass transfer and deagglomeration, it is a promising technology to investigate the reduction of the production time of nano-TiO 2 in a size range of 40 nm. In the present work, the effect of ultrasound on the hydrodynamic diameter during the production of nano-TiO 2 is investigated. Additionally, different precursors are used in combination with ultrasound to find the optimal process conditions. The obtained data shows a significant reduction of the production time for nano-TiO 2 , especially when precursors with long alkoxide chains are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increased population growth and suburban sprawl, anthropogenic landscapes such as urban ecosystems are becoming increasingly abundant, with changes in land cover contributing to loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functions. As such, it is important to understand how land cover choices impact ecosystem services and functions within urban ecosystems. Turf grass lawns are the default landscape in North America, but recent efforts have focused on replacing lawns with native plant communities. Native plant communities within urban ecosystems increase abundance and diversity of insects and insectivorous birds, but less is known about how native gardens could impact underlying soil bacterial communities. In this study, we identified 13 sites in the Omaha/Lincoln, Nebraska, USA area with native plant gardens that were converted from turf grass. We collected soil samples in October, 2020 (n = 18 native garden soil samples and n = 13 turf grass samples) and isolated DNA for high throughput sequencing. We compared the bacterial community structure, bacterial diversity, and individual bacterial taxa between native plant gardens and adjacent turf grass. We found several potentially beneficial bacterial taxa to be more abundant in native garden soil than in adjacent turf. The genera Gemmatimonas, Kofleria, and Acidobacteria belonging to Subdivision3 genera incertae sedis, were significantly more abundant in native garden soils, while Solirubrobacter was significantly more abundant in turf grass soils. Kofleria has been suggested as a keystone taxon for rich organic soils, while greater abundance of Gemmatimonas in native garden soils indicates a high level of soil carbon and phosphorous sequestration and functions as a potential sink for the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. Native gardens also supported significantly more bacterial biodiversity than adjacent turf. These findings suggest that conversion of turf grass to native gardens could improve ecosystem services associated with soil bacterial diversity such as increased carbon sequestration, phosphate dissolution, and soil reduction of nitrous oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sea turtles, somatic growth rates and Age at Sexual Maturity (ASM) are important parameters for investigating population dynamics. Moreover, ASM informs on the time lag needed to observe the effects of past environmental variables, threats and conservation measures acting at nesting beaches on future numbers of clutches or nesting females, that are the most monitored indices. Assessing ASM of mixed populations that share the same foraging areas is difficult, as in the case of the Mediterranean Sea that is frequented by turtles originating from both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Here we investigated growth rates of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) foraging in the Adriatic Sea, known to be frequented only by individuals of Mediterranean origin. Capture–mark–recapture records of 79 turtles provided growth rates ranging from – 1.1 to 9.6 cm yr−1 which were analyzed through Generalized Additive Models. When integrated with previous data on growth rates in the first years of life, results indicate a non-monotonic growth curve, likely due to an ontogenetic shift from oceanic to neritic areas. Using an integration equation, we estimated mean ASM to be 29.5 or 25.0 year based on mean nester size in Greece (83.4 cm curved carapace length, CCL) or across the Mediterranean (79.7 cm CCL), respectively. Growth rates and size-at-age are similar to the Atlantic population, but Mediterranean turtles mature earlier at a smaller size. The heterogenous growth rates and ASM reported so far in the Mediterranean are probably due, at least in part, to different foraging areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate plant nutritional status and soil fertility preservation can be achieved through sustainable agricultural management techniques. The challenge of intensive orchard cultivation, besides the risk of nutrient decline, is to prevent the loss of soil fertility that could lead to soil degradation with a consequent negative impact on yield and fruit quality. The use of organic amendments could be a sustainable strategy to combine high plant performance with soil fertility improvement. This work aims at shedding light on the effects of compost addition with respect to an unfertilized control and a mineral fertilization treatment on macronutrient (K, Ca, Mg, and S) dynamics in plants and soil of a commercial nectarine orchard planted in 2001. In the first 0.15 m of soil, compost addition resulted in higher values (26–42%) of all the parameters. Both fertilization treatments induced a 28% increase in roots' S content compared to the control but did not induce macronutrient content variation in plant skeleton, pruned wood, and thinned fruits. In autumn leaves, all the macronutrients resulted in higher values (24–45%) with both mineral and compost fertilization, and the same was observed in fruit at harvest (increases of 15–31%). In our study, the treatment with compost satisfied plants' nutrient demands as much as the mineral fertilizer. In addition, compost treatment also improved soil nutrient content while preserving yield. Our results show that it is possible to reconcile plant nutrient needs with the preservation of soil fertility with the aim of improving sustainability of agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters for feed efficiency-related traits and their genetic correlations with growth, male fertility, and carcass traits using multi-trait analysis in Guzerat cattle. Further, it aimed to predict the direct and correlated responses for feed efficiency traits when selection was applied for growth, male fertility, and carcass traits. The evaluated traits were adjusted weight at 120 (W120), 210 (W210), 365 (W365), and 450 days of age (W450), adjusted scrotal circumference at 365 days of age (SC365) and at 450 days of age (SC450), scrotal circumference, ribeye area (REA), backfat thickness (BFT), rump fat thickness (RFT), residual feed intake (RFI), and dry matter intake (DMI). The genetic parameters were obtained by the restricted maximum likelihood method (REML), using an animal model in multi-trait analyses. The heritability estimates for W120, W210, W365, W450, SC365, and SC450 varied from low to high (0.17 to 0.39). The carcass traits, REA, BFT, and RFT, displayed low to moderate heritability estimates, 0.27, 0.10, and 0.31, respectively. The heritability estimates for RFI (0.15) and DMI (0.23) were low and moderate, respectively. The RFI showed low genetic correlations with growth traits, ranging from − 0.07 to 0.22, from 0.03 to 0.05 for scrotal circumference, and from − 0.35 to 0.16 for carcass, except for DMI, which ranged from 0.42 to 0.46. The RFI and DMI presented enough additive genetic variability to be used as selection criteria in Guzerat breed genetic improvement program. Additionally, the response to selection for RFI would be higher when selection is performed directly for this trait. The selection for residual feed intake would not promote unfavorable correlated responses for scrotal circumference, carcass (yield and finish), and growth traits. Therefore, the selection for more efficient animals would not compromise the productive, reproductive, and carcass performance, contributing to reduce the production costs, increasing the profitability and sustainability of beef cattle production in tropical areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the economic and commercial efficiency of the beef production chain, the yield and quality of the meat produced must also be included in breeding programs. For the Nellore breed, including the polled herd, these aspects have not been much studied. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for scrotal circumference adjusted to 365 (SC365) and 450 (SC450) days of age, age at first calving (AFC), accumulated productivity (AP), stayability (STAY), longissimus muscle area (LMA), thickness of subcutaneous fat over the 12th–13th ribs (BF), thickness of subcutaneous fat over the rump (RF), and shear force measured by Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) of polled Nellore cattle. Bayesian analyses were performed by adopting a linear animal model, whereas STAY analyses used the linear threshold model. Heritability estimates were 0.31 (SC365), 0.37 (SC450), 0.16 (AFC), 0.25 (AP), 0.16 (STAY), 0.30 (LMA), 0.13 (BF), 0.24 (RF), and 0.15 (WBSF), indicating moderate response to selection. Genetic and residual correlations between SC365 and SC450 were high (0.91 and 0.74, respectively), as well as the genetic correlations of AP with SC365, SC450, AFC, and STAY (0.61, 0.62, − 0.69, and 0.83, respectively). Genetic and residual correlations of WBSF with reproductive and carcass characteristics exhibited high standard deviations, however favorable. Based on the results, it is expected that in the medium term, animals with greater sexual precocity will also have greater accumulated productivity and longer permanence of females in the herd, along with superior carcass traits. However, due to the low heritabilities and small genetic associations with reproductive traits, fat thickness characteristics (BF and RF) will still require direct selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of applying genomic information in pedigree uncertainty situations on genetic evaluations for growth- and cow productivity–related traits in Nelore commercial herds. Records for accumulated cow productivity (ACP) and adjusted weight at 450 days of age (W450) were used, as well as genotypes of registered and commercial herd animals, genotyped with the Clarifide Nelore 3.1 panel (~29,000 SNPs). The genetic values for commercial and registered populations were estimated using different approaches that included (ssGBLUP) or did not include genomic information (BLUP), with different pedigree structures. Different scenarios were tested, varying the proportion of young animals with unknown sires (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%), and unknown maternal grandsires (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%). The prediction accuracies and abilities were calculated. The estimated breeding value accuracies decreased as the proportion of unknown sires and maternal grandsires increased. The genomic estimated breeding value accuracy using the ssGBLUP was higher in scenarios with a lower proportion of known pedigree when compared to the BLUP methodology. The results obtained with the ssGBLUP showed that it is possible to obtain reliable direct and indirect predictions for young animals from commercial herds without pedigree structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequential multiple assignments randomized trials (SMARTs) are a type of experimental design where patients may be randomised multiple times according to pre-specified decision rules. The present work investigates the state-of-the-art of SMART designs in oncology, focusing on the discrepancy between the available methodological approaches in the statistical literature and the procedures applied within cancer clinical trials. A systematic review was conducted, searching PubMed, Embase and CENTRAL for protocols or reports of results of SMART designs and registrations of SMART designs in clinical trial registries applied to solid tumour research. After title/abstract and full-text screening, 33 records were included. Fifteen were reports of trials' results, four were trials' protocols and fourteen were trials' registrations. The study design was defined as SMART by only one out of fifteen trial reports. Conversely, 13 of 18 study protocols and trial registrations defined the study design SMART. Furthermore, most of the records considered each stage separately in the analysis, without considering treatment regimens embedded in the trial. SMART designs in oncology are still limited. Study powering and analysis is mainly based on statistical approaches traditionally used in single-stage parallel trial designs. Formal reporting guidelines for SMART designs are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]