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A proof of principle biosensor for the Brucella abortus recognition onsite is presented. The system is based on a plasmonic optical fiber probe functionalized with an oriented antibody layer immobilized on a short polyethyleneglycol (PEG) interface through carbodiimide chemistry and protein G as an intermediate layer. The biosensor is inserted in a holder built in 3D printing technology, obtaining a custom holder useful for housing the sample to be measured and the equipment. The removable sensor chip is a low-cost Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) platform based on D-shaped plastic optical fibers (POFs), built-in in 3D printed connectors, used here for the first time to detect bacteria via a bio-receptor layer specific for its membrane protein. The performances of the biosensor in Brucella abortus recognition are tested by using two different SPR-POF probes combined with the same bio-receptor layer. The best sensor configuration has presented a sensitivity at low concentrations of one order of magnitude greater than the other. A limit of detection (LoD) of 2.8 bacteria/mL is achieved well competitive with other systems but without the need for amplification or special sample treatments. Specificity has been tested using Salmonella bacteria, and reproducibility, regenerability and stability are moreover evaluated. These experimental results pave the way for building an efficient and specific biosensor system for Brucella abortus detection onsite and in a few minutes. Moreover, the proposed POF-based SPR biosensor device, with respect to the already available technologies, could be a Point-of-care-test (POCT), simple to use, small-size and portable, low-cost, don't necessary of a microfluidic system, and can be connected to the Internet (IoT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed at exploring the relationship between objective disability, illness perceptions, resilience, fear of COVID-19, and psychological distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, and stress) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) during the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. A group of 122 pwMS recruited in an Italian university hospital took part in this cross-sectional monocentric study. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess the strength of the hypothesized associations. Results indicated that, differently from cognitive impairment, motor disability was positively associated with anxiety. However, accounting for subjective illness perception, such association was no longer significant. Moreover, accounting for both protective and risk factors in the models, even illness perception was no longer significant, highlighting the central role of resilience and fear of COVID-19 in explaining the negative emotional outcomes. Implications for clinical interventions and psychoeducational trainings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Online sexual activities (OSAs) are sexual behaviors involving online sexual content and stimuli and are categorized into non-arousal (N-OSAs), solitary arousal (S-OSAs), and partnered arousal activities (P-OSAs). As such activities in older age remain largely underexamined, this study aimed to explore OSAs in a sample of Italian older adults, analyzing their associations with gender and sexual orientation, considering sexual permissiveness as a moderator. Methods: One hundred and fourteen cisgender participants (85 men and 29 women) aged from 52 to 79 years old (M = 62.57, SD = 6.19) were recruited between September 2019 and January 2020 to participate in an online cross-sectional survey on OSAs. Results: A total of 58.1% of participants had engaged in S-OSAs at least 2–3 times during the previous month, while a lower percentage of participants had engaged in N-OSAs (38.6%) and P-OSAs (29.9%) at least 2–3 times during the previous month. Men were more likely to be engaged in S-OSAs than women. Being non-heterosexual was associated with an increase in engagement in N-OSAs and S-OSAs, but not in P-OSAs. Sexual permissiveness was significantly associated with N-OSAs and S-OSAs, but not with P-OSAs, and did not moderate either the relationship of gender with OSAs or that of sexual orientation with OSAs. Conclusions: This study sheds light on the need to include online resources in sexual health educational programs addressed at older people, as well as in training programs addressed at healthcare professionals and social workers working with this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may experience sexual dysfunction throughout the disease course. Validated scales to assess sexual dysfunction in MS for Italian patients are lacking. Hence, we aimed at validating Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire (MSISQ-19) for Italian MS patients. Methods: We included both male and female MS patients. Each patient completed the Italian translation of the MSISQ-19. Construct validity was explored by the exploratory factor analysis and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Test-retest stability and concurrent internal and external validity were examined by Pearson' correlation coefficients. Results: We enrolled 369 MS patients (323 female and 46 male). Italian MSISQ-19 showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.92. MSISQ-19 test and retest total scores correlated between each other (r = 0.48, p = 0.01). MSISQ-19 total score also correlated with primary, secondary and tertiary subscales (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Italian Version of the MSISQ-19 showed satisfactory internal consistency and reliability with moderately adequate test-retest reproducibility, suggesting that it may be used as a valuable measure of sexual dysfunction in the Italian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB) is frequently used to estimate cognitive function in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), while it has been included in few studies on young MS, also because of the absence of normative values. We aim to evaluate the impact of age, gender, and education on BRB scores in a young adolescent population.Methods: We administered the BRB to 76, 14-to-17-year-old, healthy subjects. Linear regression models were used to assess the impact of age, gender, and education on sub-test scores. When statistically significant (p < 0.05), we used the regression coefficient to correct the raw scores.Results: Younger age was associated with better performance on SPART (β = - 2.54; p < 0.05) and SPART-D (β = - 1.06; p < 0.05). Male gender was associated with better performance on SPART (β = 3.40; p < 0.05), SPART-D (β = 1.41; p < 0.05), PASAT-3 (β = 5.58; p < 0.05), and PASAT-2 (β = 5.07; p < 0.05). Educational attainments were associated with better performance on SPART (β = 3.23; p < 0.05) and SPART-D (β = 1.28; p < 0.05). Cut-off points were suggested at the 5th lowest percentile.Interpretation: Age, gender, and education must be accounted for when applying the BRB to young population. Present results can prove useful for future clinical and research applications in adolescent MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the moderating role of resilience in the relationship between affective disorders and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) for adolescents and young adults with multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods: A quantitative methodology was adopted. Fifty-three adolescents and young adults were interviewed to assess resilience as a personality trait (Ego-Resiliency Scale) and resilience as an interactive competence (CYRM-28), Health-Related Quality of Life (PedsQL 4.0), depression and anxiety (BDI-II and STAI-Y).Results: Affective disorders, both depression (β = -.38, p < .001) and anxiety (State β = -.35, p < .001; Trait β = -.41, p < .001), were negatively associated with HRQoL. Data also showed that the resilience competencies using Individual (β = .22, p < .001) and relational resources (β = .12, p < .05) are significantly associated HRQoL. According to the regression analyses, we tested the moderating role of resilience competence using individual resources on the relationship between the Depression Cognitive Factor and Emotional Functioning. Data show that in step 2 of the regression analysis, we obtained a variation of β = -.45 (p < .001) to β = -.30 (p < .001) in the dimension for the Depression Cognitive Factor. The Sobel test showed that the moderating effect of resilience was significant regarding the increase in R2 (p < .01).Conclusions: Resilience competence using individual resources moderates the relationship between the Depression Cognitive Factor and Emotional Functioning in adolescents with MS. Our study suggests that to improve well-being for adolescents with MS resilience could play a key role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from land-use change are of particular concern for land-based biofuels. Emissions avoided by substituting fossil fuels with biofuels may be offset by emissions from direct and indirect land-use changes (LUC). There is an urgent need to investigate what impact land-use change emissions may have on the expansion of bioenergy and biofuels, in the context of EU mitigation policies. This paper focuses on Ireland, which faces a number of challenges in delivering its renewable energy and GHG reduction targets. The Irish TIMES energy systems model was used to assess the impact of a range of land-use change emissions' levels on the evolution of Ireland's low-carbon energy system. A reference scenario was developed where LUC is ignored and Ireland achieves a least-cost low-carbon energy system by 2050. If high indirect land-use change (ILUC) emissions are included, this results in a decrease by 30 % in bioenergy and a 68 % increase in marginal abatement costs by 2050. Hydrogen is used instead of bioenergy in the freight sector in this scenario, while private cars are fuelled by renewable electricity. If GHG emissions from ILUC were considered less severe, indigenous grass biomethane becomes the key biofuel representing 31 % of total bioenergy consumption. This is in line with recent research in Ireland of the key role that grass biomethane can play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The published version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in Table 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]