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In this work, a magnetic cross-linked chitosan-benzil/organoclay/Fe3O4 biocomposite (CHI-BZI/OC/Fe3O4) was synthesized as a bio-adsorbent for the removal of remazol brilliant blue R (RBBR) dye from aquatic environment. The adsorption factors i.e., CHI-BZI/OC/Fe3O4 dosage, pH, and time were statistically optimized using the Box-Behnken design (BBD). The highest RBBR removal efficiency of 90.9% was achieved at a CHI-BZI/OC/Fe3O4 dosage of 0.1 g/100 mL, initial solution pH of 4.0, and contact time of 20 min. The RBBR adsorption onto the CHI-BZI/OC/Fe3O4 matched the pseudo-second-order kinetic (PSO). Moreover, equilibrium study was conducted and the best fit to the adsoption expsrimantal data was described by Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption capacity of CHI-BZI/OC/Fe3O4 for RBBR was determined to be 102.9 mg/g. This work contributes to the advancement of environmentally friendly and sustainable methods for treating dye-contaminated water, showcasing the potential of biocomposite materials as effective adsorbents in the field of water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wilfrid Sellars' denunciation of the Myth of the Given was meant to clarify, against empiricism, that perceptual episodes alone are insufficient to ground and justify perceptual knowledge. Sellars showed that in order to accomplish such epistemic tasks, more resources and capacities, such as those involved in using concepts, are needed. Perceptual knowledge belongs to the space of reasons and not to an independent realm of experience. Dan Hutto and Eric Myin have recently presented the Hard Problem of Content as an ensemble of reasons against naturalistic accounts of content. In a nutshell, it states that covariance relations—even though they are naturalistically acceptable explanatory resources—do not constitute content. The authors exploit this move in order to promote their preferred radical enactivist and anti-representationalist option, according to which, basic minds—the lower stratum of cognition—do not involve content. Although it is controversial to argue that the Hard Problem of Content effectively dismisses naturalistic theories of representation, a central aspect of it—the idea that information as covariance does not suffice to explain content—finds support among the defenders of classical cognitive representationalism, such as Marcin Miłkowski. This support—together with the acknowledgment this remark about covariance is a point already made by Sellars in his criticism of the Myth of the Given—has a number of interesting implications. Not only is it of interest for the debates about representationalism in cognitive science, where it can be understood as an anticipatory move, but it also offers some clues and insights for reconsidering some issues along Sellarsian lines—a conflation between two concepts of representation that is often assumed in cognitive science, a distinction between two types of relevant normativities, and a reconsideration of the naturalism involved in such explanations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichusmawsoni) have been analyzed for qualitative and quantitative determination of muscular lipid distribution. The specimens were representative of different physical condition and life stage: two adults in good condition and two adults in poor condition (termed "axe handles" based on their emaciated shape) from the spawning area of the Ross Sea seamounts, and two sub-adults from the continental shelf. Axe handles had lower lipid quantities. Among the individuals in good condition, adults from the seamounts had higher accumulation of lipid in the dorsal portion, maybe related to the neutral buoyancy for the reproductive migration. Thirteen saturated fatty acids (SFA) and three unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) have been identified. Subadults from the shelf had higher SFA/UFA ratios in the anterior part of the body, where they might store somatic lipids for buoyancy. The individuals from the spawning area had higher SFA/UFA ratios in the posterior part of the trunk, indicating after the migration a primary consumption of the somatic fatty acids near the center of buoyancy. SFA uptake from the diet seems to be difficult at the spawning area and they may be replaced by UFA. This translates into a reduced ability to re-acquire neutral buoyancy for a returning migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) are membrane-bound ATP-gated ion channels that are composed of three subunits. Different subunit structures may be expressed due to alternative splicing of the P2RX7 gene, altering the receptor's function when combined with the wild-type P2X7A subunits. In this study, the application of the deep-learning method, AlphaFold2-Multimer (AF2M), for the generation of trimeric P2X7Rs was validated by comparing an AF2M-generated rat wild-type P2X7A receptor with a structure determined by cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) (Protein Data Bank Identification: 6U9V). The results suggested AF2M could firstly, accurately predict the structures of P2X7Rs and secondly, accurately identify the highest quality model through the ranking system. Subsequently, AF2M was used to generate models of heterotrimeric alternatively spliced P2X7Rs consisting of one or two wild-type P2X7A subunits in combination with one or two P2X7B, P2X7E, P2X7J, and P2X7L splice variant subunits. The top-ranking models were deemed valid based on AF2M's confidence measures, stability in molecular dynamics simulations, and consistent flexibility of the conserved regions between the models. The structure of the heterotrimeric receptors, which were missing key residues in the ATP binding sites and carboxyl terminal domains (CTDs) compared to the wild-type receptor, help to explain their observed functions. Overall, the models produced in this study (available as supplementary material) unlock the possibility of structure-based studies into the heterotrimeric P2X7Rs. Summary: AlphaFold2-Multimer was used to generate structures of the heterotrimeric P2X7 receptors composed of wild-type P2X7A subunits and alternatively spliced subunits (P2X7B, P2X7E, P2X7J, and P2X7L) that have been confirmed in humans. The study supports laboratory research by providing insight into the structure and flexibility of the heterotrimeric alternatively spliced receptors in a simulated environment and may thereby aid structure-guided drug design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To accurately predict species' phenology under climate change, we need to gain a detailed mechanistic understanding of how different environmental cues interact to produce the seasonal timing response. In the winter moth (Operophtera brumata), seasonal timing of egg hatching is strongly affected by ambient temperature and has been under strong climate change-induced selection over the past 25 years. However, it is unclear whether photoperiod received at the egg stage also influences timing of egg hatching. Here, we investigated the relative contribution of photoperiod and temperature in regulating winter moth egg development using two split-brood experiments. We experimentally shifted the photoperiod eggs received by 2–4 weeks compared to the actual calendar date and measured the timing of egg hatching, both at a constant temperature and in combination with two naturally changing temperature treatments – mimicking a cold and a warm year. We found an eight-fold larger effect of temperature compared to photoperiod on egg development time. Moreover, the very small photoperiod effects we found were outweighed by both between- and within-clutch variation in egg development time. Thus, we conclude that photoperiod received at the egg stage does likely not play a substantial role in regulating the seasonal timing of egg hatching in the winter moth. These insights into the regulatory mechanism of seasonal timing could have important implications for predicting insect climate change adaptation, as we might expect different targets of selection depending on the relative contribution of different environmental cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to validate a wearable device's walking speed estimation pipeline, considering complexity, speed, and walking bout duration. The goal was to provide recommendations on the use of wearable devices for real-world mobility analysis. Participants with Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Proximal Femoral Fracture, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Congestive Heart Failure, and healthy older adults (n = 97) were monitored in the laboratory and the real-world (2.5 h), using a lower back wearable device. Two walking speed estimation pipelines were validated across 4408/1298 (2.5 h/laboratory) detected walking bouts, compared to 4620/1365 bouts detected by a multi-sensor reference system. In the laboratory, the mean absolute error (MAE) and mean relative error (MRE) for walking speed estimation ranged from 0.06 to 0.12 m/s and − 2.1 to 14.4%, with ICCs (Intraclass correlation coefficients) between good (0.79) and excellent (0.91). Real-world MAE ranged from 0.09 to 0.13, MARE from 1.3 to 22.7%, with ICCs indicating moderate (0.57) to good (0.88) agreement. Lower errors were observed for cohorts without major gait impairments, less complex tasks, and longer walking bouts. The analytical pipelines demonstrated moderate to good accuracy in estimating walking speed. Accuracy depended on confounding factors, emphasizing the need for robust technical validation before clinical application. Trial registration: ISRCTN – 12246987. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to compare the weight change in people with or without binge eating who underwent various weight loss treatments. Methods: We searched for studies in PubMed, American Psychological Association, and Embase from inception to January 2022. The studies selected included assessment of binge eating and body weight before and after weight loss treatment in people of any age. The meta-analyses were conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA). We used Egger’s regression test, the funnel plot, and the Trim and Fill test to assess the risk of publication bias. Results: Thirty-four studies were included in the systematic review, with a total of 10.184 participants. The included studies were divided into three categories according to types of weight loss treatments, namely, (1) bariatric surgery; (2) pharmacotherapy isolated or combined with behavioral interventions; and (3) behavioral and/or nutritional interventions. The meta-analyses showed no significant difference in weight loss between people with or without binge eating engaged in weight loss treatments, with an overall effect size of − 0.117 (95% CI − 0.405 to 0.171; P = 0.426). Conclusions: Our findings showed no difference in weight loss in people with or without pre-treatment binge eating who received various weight loss treatments. Weight loss treatments should not be withheld on the basis that they will not be effective in people with pre-treatment binge eating, albeit their safety and longer term impacts are unclear. Level of evidence: Level I, at least one properly designed randomized controlled trials; systematic reviews and meta-analyses; experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We implemented a fire modeling approach to evaluate the effectiveness of silvicultural treatments in reducing potential losses to the Hyrcanian temperate forests of northern Iran, in the Siahkal National Forest (57,110 ha). We compared the effectiveness of selection cutting, low thinning, crown thinning, and clear-cutting treatments implemented during the last ten years (n = 241, 9500-ha) on simulated stand-scale and landscape-scale fire behavior. First, we built a set of fuel models for the different treatment prescriptions. We then modeled 10,000 fires at the 30-m resolution, assuming low, moderate, high, very high, and extreme weather scenarios and human-caused ignition patterns. Finally, we implemented a One-way ANOVA test to analyze stand-level and landscape-scale modeling output differences between treated and untreated conditions. The results showed a significant reduction of stand-level fire hazard, where the average conditional flame length and crown fire probability was reduced by about 12 and 22%, respectively. The conifer plantation patches presented the most significant reduction in the crown fire probability (>35%). On the other hand, we found a minor increase in the overall burn probability and fire size at the landscape scale. Stochastic fire modeling captured the complex interactions among terrain, vegetation, ignition locations, and weather conditions in the study area. Our findings highlight fuel treatment efficacy for moderating potential fire risk and restoring fuel profiles in fire-sensitive temperate forests of northern Iran, where the growing persistent droughts and fuel buildup can lead to extreme fires in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walking activity and gait parameters are considered among the most relevant mobility-related parameters. Currently, gait assessments have been mainly analyzed in laboratory or hospital settings, which only partially reflect usual performance (i.e., real world behavior). In this study, we aim to validate a robust walking detection algorithm using a single foot-worn inertial measurement unit (IMU) in real-life settings. We used a challenging dataset including 18 individuals performing free-living activities. A multi-sensor wearable system including pressure insoles, multiple IMUs, and infrared distance sensors (INDIP) was used as reference. Accurate walking detection was obtained, with sensitivity and specificity of 98 and 91% respectively. As robust walking detection is needed for ambulatory monitoring to complete the processing pipeline from raw recorded data to walking/mobility outcomes, a validated algorithm would pave the way for assessing patient performance and gait quality in real-world conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fungicides are frequently used in agriculture and can enter freshwater ecosystems through multiple pathways. The negative impacts of fungicides on microorganisms, fungi in particular, and their functions such as leaf decomposition have been repeatedly shown. In our previous microcosm experiment with three consecutive cycles of fungicide exposure and colonisation of leaf substrate, we found clear functional changes, but no differences in fungal community structure could be detected using morphological identification by analysing the spores of aquatic hyphomycetes. In this study, we examined the effects on fungal and bacterial community composition in detail using ITS and 16S metabarcoding and comparing the results to morphologically assessed community composition. Results: While we found fewer species with metabarcoding than with morphological identification, metabarcoding also enabled the identification of several fungal species that were otherwise unidentifiable morphologically. Moreover, by distinguishing individual amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) metabarcoding provided greater taxonomic resolution. In line with the morphological results, metabarcoding neither revealed effects of fungicides on the aquatic hyphomycetes nor on the total fungal or bacterial community composition. However, several ASVs responded significantly to fungicides, demonstrating variable tolerances within species. Conclusions: Overall, the absence of detectable effects of fungicides on the community structure despite clear functional effects, suggests a complex relationship between community structure and the ecosystem function of leaf decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell-free genetically encoded biosensors have been developed to detect small molecules and nucleic acids, but they have yet to be reliably engineered to detect proteins. Here we develop an automated platform to convert protein-binding RNA aptamers into riboswitch sensors that operate within low-cost cell-free assays. We demonstrate the platform by engineering 35 protein-sensing riboswitches for human monomeric C-reactive protein, human interleukin-32γ, and phage MS2 coat protein. The riboswitch sensors regulate output expression levels by up to 16-fold with input protein concentrations within the human serum range. We identify two distinct mechanisms governing riboswitch-mediated regulation of translation rates and leverage computational analysis to refine the protein-binding aptamer regions, improving design accuracy. Overall, we expand the cell-free sensor toolbox and demonstrate how computational design is used to develop protein-sensing riboswitches with future applications as low-cost medical diagnostics. Cell-free genetically encoded biosensors have been developed to detect small molecules and nucleic acids, but they have yet to be reliably engineered to detect proteins. Here the authors develop an automated platform to convert protein-binding RNA aptamers into riboswitch sensors that operate within low-cost cell-free assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective landscape-scale fuel management strategies are essential for reducing wildfire risk in Mediterranean fire-prone areas. In this study, the minimum travel time (MTT) fire-spread algorithm as implemented in FlamMap was applied to assess the potential of alternative fuel treatments for lowering wildfire losses in a 5,740-ha study area in eastern Sardinia, Italy. Twenty-seven wildfires at 10-m resolution were simulated considering three wind speeds (15, 18, and 21 km h−1) to compare fuel treatments: no treatment (NT), irrigated agroforestry areas with shrub clearing (T1), prescribed fire in eucalyptus stands (T2), and irrigated grasslands (T3). The simulations replicated a recent large wildfire that occurred in the study area (Orrì wildfire, 2019) and considered the weather and fuel moisture conditions associated with this event. The average wildfire exposure outputs (burned area, probability of burning, conditional flame length, potential crown fire occurrence, and surfaces withflame lengths above 2.5 m) decreased after fuel treatments, compared to no treatment. T1 was the most effective strategy in mitigating wildfire hazards and provided the most significant performance for several wildfire exposure indicators. Treating only 0.5% of the study area (~ 30 ha) resulted in a decrease in all wildfire exposure metrics to ~ 10% within the study area. In addition, the total surface characterized by high flame length (average > 2.5 m) was the lowest in the T1 treatment. This study can help land and fire managers optimize fuel treatment opportunities and wildfire risk mitigation strategies in Mediterranean areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a tandem clustering is applied on data collected by an Italian public transport company. Three clusters of evader passengers are discovered. Next, for each cluster, the influence of significant determinants in evaluating the chance of being a frequent fare evader is shown by logistic regression models. Members of Cluster 1 are a small segment of choice-workers, who seldom evade fares significantly. Members of Cluster 2 represent a big segment of captive students, who often evade the fare. Members of Cluster 3 are a medium segment of captive unemployed, who always evade the fare. The logistic regression models show that attributes related to the situational factors are significant, and honesty is the common variable that significantly affects the chance of being a frequent fare evader among segments. These outcomes are relevant and useful for both research and practice. Indeed, this paper contributes to the empirical understanding of the determinants of being a frequent fare evader for segments a posteriori selected. Moreover, it helps PTCs to better understand how some segments differ from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron (Fe) is the most important trace element in the ocean, as it is required by phytoplankton for photosynthesis and nitrate assimilation. Iron speciation is important to better understand the biogeochemical cycle and availability of this micronutrient, in particular in the Southern Ocean. Dissolved Fe (dFe) concentration and speciation were determined in 24 coastal subsurface seawater samples collected in the western Ross sea (Antarctica) during the austral summer 2017 as part of the CELEBeR (CDW Effects on glacial mElting and on Bulk of Fe in the Western Ross sea) project. ICP-DRC-MS was used for dFe determination, whereas CLE-AdSV was used to obtain the concentration of complexed and free dFe, of the ligands, and the values of the stability constants of the complexes. Dissolved Fe values ranged from 0.4 to 2.5 nM and conditional stability constant (logK'Fe'L) from 13.0 to 15.0, highlighting the presence of Fe-binding organic complexes of different stabilities. Principal component analysis (PCA) allowed us to point out that Terra Nova Bay and the neighboring area of Aviator and Mariner Glaciers were different in terms of chemical, physical, and biological parameters. A qualitative investigation on the nature of the organic ligands was carried out by HPLC–ESI–MS/MS. Results showed that siderophores represented a heterogeneous class of organic ligands pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the intensification of maritime traffic, recently emerged infectious diseases have become major drivers in the decline and extinction of species. Since 2016, mass mortality events have decimated the endemic Mediterranean Sea bivalve Pinna nobilis, affecting ca. 100% of individuals. These events have largely been driven by Haplosporidium pinnae's infection, an invasive species which was likely introduced by shipping. While monitoring wild populations of P. nobilis, we observed individuals that survived such a mass mortality event during the summer of 2018 (France). We considered these individuals resistant, as they did not show any symptoms of the disease, while the rest of the population in the area was devastated. Furthermore, the parasite was not detected when we conducted a PCR amplification of a species-specific fragment of the small subunit ribosomal DNA. In parallel, the transcriptomic analysis showed evidence of some parasite RNA indicating that the resistant individuals had been exposed to the parasite without proliferating. To understand the underlying mechanisms of resistance in these individuals, we compared their gene expression with that of susceptible individuals. We performed de novo transcriptome assembly and annotated the expressed genes. A comparison of the transcriptomes in resistant and susceptible individuals highlighted a gene expression signature of the resistant phenotype. We found significant differential expressions of genes involved in immunity and cell architecture. This data provides the first insights into how individuals escape the pathogenicity associated with infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk fibroin coating was used in this study as an edible coating for Solanum ferox (S. ferox), tropical fruit from Borneo. The effect of different concentration coatings and dip time on fruit quality attributes during storage was evaluated via response surface methodology. The optimal parameters were 2% silk fibroin concentration and 2 min of dip time. The optimized data for silk fibroin-coated fruit, carboxymethylcellulose-coated fruit and uncoated fruit as a control were compared. The weight loss and firmness at day 11 for fruit coated with silk fibroin were 14.9% and 3.07 N, respectively, compared to 13.49% and 3.53 N for fruit coated with carboxymethylcellulose. Uncoated fruit revealed a weight loss was 28.11% and firmness was 4.3 N. On day 11, the fruit coated with silk fibroin had chemical properties of 3.6 and 4 for total soluble solids (TSS) and pH, respectively. The carboxymethylcellulose-coated fruit had a TSS of 4.2 and a pH of 3.3. The uncoated fruit had a TSS of 4.3 and a pH of 5.2. In comparison to uncoated fruits, the ripening process of fruits coated with silk fibroin was slowed. Silk fibroin is suggested to be an effective edible coating for preserving fruit quality and extending its shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcription rates are regulated by the interactions between RNA polymerase, sigma factor, and promoter DNA sequences in bacteria. However, it remains unclear how non-canonical sequence motifs collectively control transcription rates. Here, we combine massively parallel assays, biophysics, and machine learning to develop a 346-parameter model that predicts site-specific transcription initiation rates for any σ70 promoter sequence, validated across 22132 bacterial promoters with diverse sequences. We apply the model to predict genetic context effects, design σ70 promoters with desired transcription rates, and identify undesired promoters inside engineered genetic systems. The model provides a biophysical basis for understanding gene regulation in natural genetic systems and precise transcriptional control for engineering synthetic genetic systems. Transcription rates are regulated by the interactions between RNA polymerase, sigma factor, and promoter DNA sequences in bacteria. Here the authors combine massively parallel experiments & machine learning to develop a predictive biophysical model of transcription, validated across 22132 bacterial promoters, and apply it to the design and debugging of genetic circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixtures containing 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [CnMIM][NTf2] n = {2, 10}, + ethanol or + N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone have been investigated to determine excess molar enthalpies, HE, and excess partial molar enthalpies of components, H 1 E and H 2 E , over the entire mole fraction, x1, range, at 298.15 K and 0.10 MPa. Ionic liquids, ILs, were pre-treated by heating and by using activated molecular sieves. Both mixtures in ethanol are endothermic and the H i E of the components are always positive while those in NMP are exothermic and the corresponding values of H i E are negative, in the whole x1 range. The deviations from ideality are quite significant, being the HE values at equimolar composition, H eq E ± u ; (+ 1800 ± 40 and + 2110 ± 10) J mol−1 for ethanol-containing mixtures and (− 1410 ± 10 and − 1980 ± 20) J mol−1 for NMP-containing mixtures (u is the standard uncertainty). The values of the excess partial molar enthalpies at infinite dilution of the components, H i E, ∞ , show regular trends. The H 1 E, ∞ are always greater than the H 2 E, ∞ ; their ratio is about 1.8 for mixtures in EtOH and 2.5 for NMP-containing mixtures. The greatest thermal effects are found when the molecular compound acts as a solvent in the dissolution of one mole of IL, under extreme dilution condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When responding to a conspecific call, especially when mobbing a predator, receivers rely on acoustic cues produced by callers. Variation in calls, either gradual or discrete, can inform potential mobbers about the situation. Great tits use a combinatorial call made of frequency-modulated elements (FMEs) and D notes. The gradual properties of the D notes change when facing different situations (e.g., different predators). We tested the relative effect of the number of D notes per call or the number of calls per minute on the behaviour of great tits with a playback experiment on free-ranging tits. Great tits did not change their approach behaviour depending on the treatments broadcast. However, they increased their vigilance level with an increased number of D notes in the total sequence. We propose that great tits can consider the overall amount of D notes as a form of information about the predator being mobbed. In addition, an increased number of D notes did not modify the approach behaviour but modified the vigilance behaviour, possibly indicating that great tits process the complete FME-D call as a whole mobbing unit rather than the simple sum of a vigilance call (FME) and a recruitment call (D notes). Our study sheds new light on the coding system of great tits when mobbing a predator and, more generally, how animals can combine simple syntactic rules and gradual variations when communicating. Significance statement: Information transfer when communicating about a predator is well described, particularly when mobbing a predator. However, it is unclear which specific variable(s) receivers rely on when adapting their response. Here, we test whether great tits adapt their response when the number of calls per minute and/or the number of notes per call is increased. Our results indicate that great tits rely on the overall number of notes in a calling sequence as a proxy for urgency. We also propose that the combinatorial call they use when mobbing is considered a whole rather than the simple sum of its constituents. Understanding how information transfer occurs in birds using combinatorial calls instead of simple note repetition adds to the current insights about compositional syntax in animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper describes a compact point of care (POC) optical device for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). The core of the device is a disposable plastic chip where an immunoassay for the determination of immunosuppressants takes place. The chip is designed in order to have ten parallel microchannels allowing the simultaneous detection of more than one analyte with replicate measurements. The device is equipped with a microfluidic system, which provides sample mixing with the necessary chemicals and pumping samples, reagents and buffers into the measurement chip, and with integrated thin film amorphous silicon photodiodes for the fluorescence detection. Submicrometric fluorescent magnetic particles are used as support in the immunoassay in order to improve the efficiency of the assay. In particular, the magnetic feature is used to concentrate the antibody onto the sensing layer leading to a much faster implementation of the assay, while the fluorescent feature is used to increase the optical signal leading to a larger optical dynamic change and consequently a better sensitivity and a lower limit of detection. The design and development of the whole integrated optical device are here illustrated. In addition, detection of mycophenolic acid and cyclosporine A in spiked solutions and in microdialysate samples from patient blood with the implemented device are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main limitations in state-of-the art solid-state quantum processors is qubit decoherence and relaxation due to noise from adsorbates on surfaces, impurities at interfaces, and material defects. For the field to advance towards full fault-tolerant quantum computing, a better understanding of these microscopic noise sources is therefore needed. Here, we use an ultra-high vacuum package to study the impact of vacuum loading, UV-light exposure, and ion irradiation treatments on relaxation and coherence times, as well as slow parameter fluctuations of flux tunable superconducting transmon qubits. The treatments studied do not significantly impact the relaxation rate Γ1 and the echo decay rate Γ 2 , SS e at the sweet spot, except for Ne ion bombardment which reduces Γ1. In contrast, flux noise parameters are improved by removing magnetic adsorbates from the chip surfaces with UV-light and NH3 treatments. Additionally, we demonstrate that SF6 ion bombardment can be used to adjust qubit frequencies in situ and post-fabrication without affecting qubit relaxation and coherence times at the sweet spot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical mobility is essential to health, and patients often rate it as a high-priority clinical outcome. Digital mobility outcomes (DMOs), such as real-world gait speed or step count, show promise as clinical measures in many medical conditions. However, current research is nascent and fragmented by discipline. This scoping review maps existing evidence on the clinical utility of DMOs, identifying commonalities across traditional disciplinary divides. In November 2019, 11 databases were searched for records investigating the validity and responsiveness of 34 DMOs in four diverse medical conditions (Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hip fracture). Searches yielded 19,672 unique records. After screening, 855 records representing 775 studies were included and charted in systematic maps. Studies frequently investigated gait speed (70.4% of studies), step length (30.7%), cadence (21.4%), and daily step count (20.7%). They studied differences between healthy and pathological gait (36.4%), associations between DMOs and clinical measures (48.8%) or outcomes (4.3%), and responsiveness to interventions (26.8%). Gait speed, step length, cadence, step time and step count exhibited consistent evidence of validity and responsiveness in multiple conditions, although the evidence was inconsistent or lacking for other DMOs. If DMOs are to be adopted as mainstream tools, further work is needed to establish their predictive validity, responsiveness, and ecological validity. Cross-disciplinary efforts to align methodology and validate DMOs may facilitate their adoption into clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we address the problem of studying those complex manifolds M equipped with extremal metrics g induced by finite or infinite-dimensional complex space forms. We prove that when g is assumed to be radial and the ambient space is finite-dimensional, then (M, g) is itself a complex space form. We extend this result to the infinite-dimensional setting by imposing the strongest assumption that the metric g has constant scalar curvature and is well behaved (see Definition 1 in the Introduction). Finally, we analyze the radial Kähler–Einstein metrics induced by infinite-dimensional elliptic complex space forms and we show that if such a metric is assumed to satisfy a stability condition then it is forced to have constant nonpositive holomorphic sectional curvature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In presence of indeterminate lesions by fine needle aspiration (FNA), thyroid cancer cannot always be easily diagnosed by conventional cytology. As a consequence, unnecessary removal of thyroid gland is performed in patients without cancer based on the lack of optimized diagnostic criteria. Aim of this study is identifying a molecular profile based on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) expression capable to discriminate between benign and malignant nodules. Methods: Patients were subjected to surgery (n = 19) for cytologic suspicious thyroid nodules or to FNA biopsy (n = 135) for thyroid nodules suspicious at ultrasound. Three thyroid-specific genes (TG, TPO, and NIS), six cancer-associated lncRNAs (MALAT1, NEAT1, HOTAIR, H19, PVT1, MEG3), and two housekeeping genes (GAPDH and P0) were analyzed using Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR). Results: Based on higher co-expression in malignant (n = 11) but not in benign (n = 8) nodules after surgery, MALAT1, PVT1 and HOTAIR were selected as putative cancer biomarkers to analyze 135 FNA samples. Cytological and histopathological data from a subset of FNA patients (n = 34) were used to define a predictive algorithm based on a Naïve Bayes classifier using co-expression of MALAT1, PVT1, HOTAIR, and cytological class. This classifier exhibited a significant separation capability between malignant and benign nodules (P < 0.0001) as well as both rule in and rule out test potential with an accuracy of 94.12% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 91.67%. Conclusions: ddPCR analysis of selected lncRNAs in FNA biopsies appears a suitable molecular tool with the potential of improving diagnostic accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori can be found in the stomach of about half of the humans, and a large population can be associated with serious diseases. To survive in the stomach H. pylori increases the pH locally by producing ammonia which binds to H+ becoming ammonium. This work investigated the effects on the in-vitro growth of H. pylori of a natural cation-exchanger mainly composed (≈70%) of clinoptilolite and mordenite. The zeolitized material from Cuba was evaluated in its original form (M), as well as in its Na- (M-Na) and Zn-exchanged (M-Zn) counterparts. In the preliminary agar cup diffusion test, H. pylori revealed susceptibility only to M-Zn, with a direct relationship between concentration and width of inhibition halo. Further experiments evidenced that bacterium replication increases when ammonium is supplied to the growth medium and decreases when zeolites subtract NH4+ via ion exchange. Due to the multi-cationic population of its zeolites M was not effective enough in removing ammonium and, in the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) test, allowed bacterial growth even at a concentration of 50 mg/mL. Inhibition was achieved with M-Na because it contained sodium zeolites capable of maximizing NH4+ subtraction, although the MIC was high (30 mg/mL). M-Zn evidenced a more effective inhibitory capacity, with a MIC of 4 mg/mL. Zinc has antimicrobial properties and H. pylori growth was affected by Zn2+ released from clinoptilolite and mordenite. These zeolites, being more selective towards NH4+ than Zn2+, can also subtract ammonium to the bacterium, thus enhancing the efficacy of M-Zn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the epistemological and communicative competences the experts need to use and communicate evidence in the reasoning process leading to diagnosis. The diagnosis and diagnosis communication are presented as intertwined processes that should be jointly addressed in medical consultations, to empower patients' compliance in illness management. The paper presents defeasible reasoning as specific to the diagnostic praxis, showing how this type of reasoning threatens effective diagnosis communication and entails that we should understand diagnostic evidence as defeasible as well. It argues that metaphors might be effective communicative devices to let the patients understand the relevant defeasors in the diagnostic reasoning process, helping to improve effective diagnosis communication, and also encouraging a change in patients' beliefs and attitudes on their own experience of illness and illness' management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical competence—the ability to represent, discriminate, and process numerical quantity information—is a widespread cognitive ability in animals that influences survival and reproductive success. Little is known about the role of numerical competence during predator mobbing—when a prey moves toward and harasses a predator. Since being in a larger group dilutes the risk of injury or death during a mobbing event and large groups are more efficient than small groups at repelling predators, the capacity to evaluate the number of mobbers before joining the mobbing flock may be highly beneficial for individuals. We tested whether the strength of the mobbing response of great tits (Parus major), a songbird that frequently mobs predators, is related to the number of callers. The minimum distance to the loudspeaker tended to be lower, and the number of calls produced by great tits was higher during playbacks simulating several callers than during the playbacks of one caller. These results suggest that numerical competence plays a central role during mobbing and that great tits reduce uncertainty of information by collating information from several individuals. We suggest further studies testing whether birds use individual vocal discrimination to assess the number of heterospecifics during mobbing. Significance statement: Can animals count? Although historically the ability to count has distinguished humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom, studies in the last decades have shown that numerical competence, the ability to represent, discriminate, and process numerical quantity information, is a widespread cognitive ability in animals. While this competence influences an individual's survival success, little is known about the role of numerical competence during predator mobbing. Using a field-based playback experiment on a population of wild great tits (Parus major), we demonstrate that great tit responses to mobbing calls were affected by the number of individuals calling. The minimum distance to the loudspeaker tended to be lower and the number of calls produced by great tits tended to be higher during playbacks simulating multiple callers than during the playbacks of one caller. Thus, numerical assessments are used to decide whether or not to participate in mobbing responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel tubes produced in steelmaking plants are generally subjected to severe in-service conditions. Hence, quality control plays a key role in this process. The bottleneck is that this information is made available only after tube production from laboratory analysis. Given process complexity and current data availability, this work employs a series of machine learning techniques, namely neural networks, random forests and gradient boosting trees, to predict critical mechanical properties for steel tubes, namely yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and hardness. The model performance was kept high by combining different variable selection procedures. The prediction error was less than the inherent variability of each mechanical property, i.e., it is equal to 20 MPa for yield strength and ultimate tensile strength, and to 2 HRC, for hardness. This information in advance allows interventions before complete tube production contributing to more stable operations and, ultimately, to reduce rework and customer lead time. In sequence, an optimization problem for set point definition is illustrated. The neural predictive model previously identified for the yield strength was used in this application, exploring its predictive capabilities. The optimal solution yielded to lower amount of molybdenum and tube exit temperature from the tempering furnace, while keeping quality aspects, which means reduction in material and energy costs. Concluding, steelmaking processes, which are complex by nature, can strongly benefit from data-driven approaches, since data availability and computational processing are no longer a problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidiosis is recognized as being a significant cause of gastrointestinal illness due to its wide range of vertebrate hosts, including humans. Infection with Cryptosporidium spp. is especially common in young domestic ruminants (calves, lambs and goat kids) and has been associated with economic losses worldwide. In contrast to cattle, to date, detailed studies on Cryptosporidium infections in sheep from Europe are still limited; thus, their importance as reservoirs of Cryptosporidium species with implications on animal and public health still needs to be clarified. This study evaluates the prevalence and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. in sheep farms in Italy. A total of 915 individual faecal samples divided into three different animal categories were collected from 61 sheep farms. Each sample was examined by microscopy of faecal smears stained by modified Ziehl-Neelsen and by biomolecular techniques. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 10.1% of the animals examined and in 34.4% of the farms. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was significantly higher (χ2 = 51.854; P < 0.001) in diarrhoeic samples than in pasty or normal faeces. Genotype analyses showed the presence of two Cryptosporidium species: C. parvum and C. ubiquitum. Subtyping analysis of C. parvum isolates revealed the presence of subtypes IIa15G2R1 and IIdA20G1 and of subtype XIIa for C. ubiquitum. These findings have public health implications since both Cryptosporidium species identified are considered zoonotic, and C. parvum is the second-most common Cryptosporidium species infecting humans. Our data reveal that lambs, especially those excreting diarrhoeic faeces, may be important reservoirs of Cryptosporidium. We also highlight the need to establish adequate control and monitoring programmes for the control of this infection in sheep farms primarily through coprological monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineered genetic systems are prone to failure when their genetic parts contain repetitive sequences. Designing many nonrepetitive genetic parts with desired functionalities remains a difficult challenge with high computational complexity. To overcome this challenge, we developed the Nonrepetitive Parts Calculator to rapidly generate thousands of highly nonrepetitive genetic parts from specified design constraints, including promoters, ribosome-binding sites and terminators. As a demonstration, we designed and experimentally characterized 4,350 nonrepetitive bacterial promoters with transcription rates that varied across a 820,000-fold range, and 1,722 highly nonrepetitive yeast promoters with transcription rates that varied across a 25,000-fold range. We applied machine learning to explain how specific interactions controlled the promoters' transcription rates. We also show that using nonrepetitive genetic parts substantially reduces homologous recombination, resulting in greater genetic stability. An algorithm to design nonrepetitive genetic parts enables synthetic biologists to reliably engineer stable circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many species of parasitoid wasps use plant volatiles to locate their herbivorous hosts. These volatiles are reliable indicators of host presence when their emission in plants is induced by herbivory. Hyperparasitoids may also use information from lower trophic levels to locate their parasitoid hosts but little is known about the role of volatiles from the plant–host complex in the foraging behavior of hyperparasitoids. Here, we studied how Dendrocerus aphidum (Megaspilidae) responds to plant and host volatiles in a series of experiments. This hyperparasitoid uses aphid mummies as its host and hampers biological control of aphids by parasitoids in greenhouse horticulture. We found that D. aphidum females were strongly attracted to volatiles from mummy-infested sweet pepper plants, but only when clean air was offered as an alternative odor source in the Y-tube olfactometer. Hyperparasitoid females did not have a preference for mummy-infested plants when volatiles from aphid-infested or healthy pepper plants were presented as an alternative. These olfactory responses of D. aphidum were mostly independent of prior experience. Volatiles from the host itself were also highly attractive to D. aphidum, but again hyperparasitoid females only had a preference in the absence of plant volatiles. Our findings suggest that plant volatiles may confuse, rather than guide the foraging behavior of D. aphidum. Mummy hyperparasitoids, such as D. aphidum, can use a wide variety of mummies and are thus extreme generalists at the lower trophic levels, which may explain the limited role of (induced) plant volatiles in their host searching behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lower-order cr-invariant variational problem for Legendrian curves in the 3-sphere is studied, and its Euler–Lagrange equations are deduced. Closed critical curves are investigated. Closed critical curves with non-constant cr-curvature are characterized. We prove that their cr-equivalence classes are in one-to-one correspondence with the rational points of a connected planar domain. A procedure to explicitly build all such curves is described. In addition, a geometrical interpretation of the rational parameters in terms of three phenomenological invariants is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do scientific models represent in a way that enables us to discover new truths about reality and draw inferences about it? Contemporary accounts of scientific discovery answer this question by focusing on the cognitive mechanisms involved in the generation of new ideas and concepts in terms of a special sort of reasoning—or model-based reasoning—involving imagery. Alternatively, I argue that answering this question requires that we recognise the crucial role of the propositional imagination in the construction and development of models for the purpose of generating hypotheses that are plausible candidates for truth. I propose simple fictionalism as a new account of models as Waltonian games of make-believe and suggest that models can lead to genuine scientific discovery when they are used as representations that denote real world phenomena and generate two main kinds of theoretical hypotheses, model-world comparisons and direct attributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largest anthropogenic extinction events during the Holocene occurred on Pacific islands, where thousands of bird populations were lost. Although ancient DNA approaches have become widely used to monitor the genetic variability of species through time, few studies have been conducted to identify the potential cryptic loss of genetic and species diversity within Pacific seabird species. Here we used heterochronous sampling of mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome b) in the genus Pterodroma from Norfolk Island to quantify potential loss of genetic and species diversity. We particularly focused on the providence petrel P. solandri whose main breeding colony (~ 1,000,000 breeding pairs) became extirpated from Norfolk Island following European settlement circa 1800. We sampled subfossil bones consistent with Pterodroma spp. from Norfolk Island, and performed genetic comparisons with other populations of P. solandri and congeneric species. The majority of subfossil Norfolk Island individuals exhibited the most common mitochondrial haplotype from Lord Howe Island P. solandri, suggesting no appreciable loss of genetic variation as a consequence of the Norfolk Island extirpation. Our findings provide an example where a large seabird population was rapidly extirpated by humans without loss of species-level genetic diversity, probably as a consequence of high connectivity with other populations. However, past connectivity was insufficient to prevent the extirpation itself, which has conservation implications for predicting the resilience of threatened seabirds. In contrast, ancient DNA analyses of smaller Pterodroma bones from Norfolk Island indicate the loss of a second species, potentially P. pycrofti, P. brevipes or another closely related, possibly undescribed taxon, from the Tasman Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of methods for lead ion determination in various biological and environmental samples is both necessary and challenging. In this context, considering the properties of both SBA-15 and MCM-41 mesoporous materials and the role of NH2-functional groups grafted on the silica surface (SBA-15-NH2 and MCM-41-NH2), the aim of the study was to investigate the electrochemical detection of Pb2+ by means of silica-modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs). The square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) was used to characterize the modified electrodes with four different samples of ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) powders, mentioned above. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize these modifiers. Pb2+ exhibits a well-defined oxidation peak (around − 0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl/KClsat) and high peak current at either bare or OMS-modified glassy carbon electrodes, but the best response was recorded in the case of GC/SBA-15-NH2-modified electrode in 0.1 M acetate buffer. The performance of the prepared electrodes is highlighted by good analytical parameters (satisfies the requirements of low cost and rapid results), which recommends them to be used for real sample analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the work of Lu and Tian (Duke Math J 125(2):351–387, 2004), in this paper we address the problem of studying those Kähler manifolds satisfying the Δ -property, i.e. such that on a neighborhood of each of its points the kth power of the Kähler Laplacian is a polynomial function of the complex Euclidean Laplacian, for all positive integer k (see below for its definition). We prove two results: (1) if a Kähler manifold satisfies the Δ -property then its curvature tensor is parallel; (2) if an Hermitian symmetric space of classical type satisfies the Δ -property then it is a complex space form (namely it has constant holomorphic sectional curvature). In view of these results we believe that if a Kähler manifold satisfies the Δ -property then it is a complex space form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]