Search

Data Fusion-based Discovery (DAFdiscovery) is a pipeline designed to help users combine mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and bioactivity data in a notebook-based application to accelerate annotation and discovery of bioactive compounds. It applies Statistical Total Correlation Spectroscopy (STOCSY) and Statistical HeteroSpectroscopy (SHY) calculation in their data using an easy-to-follow Jupyter Notebook.Different case studies are presented for benchmarking, and the resultant outputs are shown to aid natural products identification and discovery. The goal is to encourage users to acquire MS and NMR data from their samples (in replicated samples and fractions when available) and to explore their variance to highlight MS features, NMR peaks, and bioactivity that might be correlated to accelerated bioactive compound discovery or for annotation-identification studies.Different applications were demonstrated using data from different research groups, and it was shown that DAFdiscovery reproduced their findings using a more straightforward method.DAFdiscovery has proven to be a simple-to-use method for different situations where data from different sources are required to be analyzed together.

Over the last decades, the success of advanced cell therapies and the increasing production volumes of vaccines, proteins, or viral vectors have raised the need of robust cell-based manufacturing processes for ensuring product quality and satisfying good manufacturing practice requirements. The cultivation process of cells needs to be highly controlled for improved productivity, reduced variability, and optimized bioprocesses. Cell cultures can be easily monitored using different technologies, which could deliver direct or indirect assessment of the cells' viability. Among these techniques, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful technology that permits the evaluation and the identification of key endogenous metabolites. NMR can provide information on the cell metabolic pathways, on the bioprocesses, and is also capable to quickly test for impurities. In this study, NMR was successfully used as a technology for monitoring cell viability and expansion in different supports for cell growth (including bioreactors), to predict the bioprocess output and for the early identification of key metabolites linked to cell starvation. This investigation will allow the timely control of culture conditions and favor the optimization of the bioprocesses.

Although aberrant salience (AS) is a putative vulnerability factor in schizophrenia, empirical research on AS in early stages of psychosis is currently relatively scarce (especially as regards on its longitudinal course and treatment response in adolescence). The aim of the present study was to longitudinally monitor the stability of AS along a 1-year follow-up period in an Italian population of community help-seeking adolescents with First Episode Psychosis (FEP) or at Ultra-High Risk (UHR) of psychosis and to examine any relevant association of AS with specific treatment components of a specialized “Early Intervention in Psychosis” (EIP) program across the 1 year of follow-up. Participants (38 FEP, 42 UHR), aged 13-18 years, completed the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS) and the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI) both at baseline and at the end of the follow-up period. Spearman's correlations between AS scores and specific EIP treatment components were performed. After the 1 year of follow-up, both FEP and UHR adolescents showed a statistically significant reduction in AS levels. In FEP patients, this was correlated to the number of psychoeducational sessions provided to their family members. In the UHR subgroup, this AS decrease was associated with the number of individual Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) sessions directly offered to help-seeking adolescents. AS is relevant both in FEP and UHR adolescents already at the enrollment in specialized EIP programs. However, its longitudinal levels decrease over time, together with the delivery of specific psychosocial EIP interventions.

OBJECTIVE To establish the association between quality of life and depression among COPD patients of the Colombian Caribbean. METHOD A cross-sectional study was carried out with the participation of adult COPD patients. COPD-related quality of life was quantified with the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and depression using the Zung 10-item Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS-10). The relationship between COPD-related quality of life and depression with odds ratios (OR), crude and adjusted, was determined. RESULTS 408 patients participated in the study. They were aged between 40 and 102 years (mean = 72.9, SD = 10.2) and 58.8% men. Two hundred eighty-four patients (69.6%) reported worse health status (CAT ≥10), and 114 patients (27.9%) scored for depression (SDS-10). Patients with worse health status presented more depression (OR = 5.85, 95% CI 3.01-11.36) and after adjusting for gender (OR = 5.70, 95% CI 2.92-11.13). CONCLUSIONS In patients with COPD and CAT ≥10, there is a five times greater risk of depression than patients with CAT

This paper explores whether family and non‐family firms differ in terms of their capability to introduce green patenting. By considering the environmental performance as a corporate social responsibility related concern, the analysis is based on a large data set of patenting activities carried out by Italian manufacturing firms over the period 2009–2017. Results show that family firms are less likely than non‐family firms to implement innovations in green technologies. This holds true whatever the level of accumulation in green and non‐green knowledge.

This report describes the unexpected formation of root-like structures following the avulsion of immature permanent teeth without replantation. A six-year-old female patient had avulsed the four permanent mandibular incisors and the two deciduous mandibular canines. The patient was seen in an emergency health care unit but did not receive specialized treatment for tooth replantation. As follow up treatment, she received a removable prosthesis. After four years of follow-up, an image obtained by panoramic radiography showed formations similar to four root structures in the alveolus of the previously-avulsed permanent teeth. This finding was confirmed by periapical radiography and computed tomography. This case report demonstrates that in teeth with incomplete root development, even after avulsion without replantation, cells from the pulp stump may have the capacity to form mineralized structures that appear radiographically comparable to root dentin.

Background Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder due to an unstable expansion of a CAG repeat in the ATXN2 gene. Although weight loss has been associated with disease progression in several neurodegenerative conditions, it has been barely assessed in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. Objective The objective of this study was to test whether body mass index is altered in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 with varying expansion sizes from early to late disease stages. Methods A cross-sectional case-control study was performed, which included 222 clinically and molecularly diagnosed patients and 214 sex- and age-matched healthy individuals. ATXN2 genotypes and sex were considered as risk factors. Clinical outcomes included the body mass index, age at onset, disease duration, Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia score, disease stage, dysphagia, and progression rate. Multiple linear regression models were generated. Results Body mass index was significantly decreased in male patients, but not in female patients, relative to control subjects. In addition to sex, body mass index was significantly associated with age at onset and progression rate. Conversely, body mass index, along with repeat length in ATXN2 expanded alleles and disease duration, was associated with Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia score. In addition, body mass index, along with the age at onset and the repeat length in ATXN2 normal and expanded alleles, has a significant influence on progression rate. Conclusions Body mass index might be a useful biomarker of disease severity, particularly in male patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 in the context of nutritional interventions or clinical trials assessing the efficacy of promising new drugs. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Aim Identifying discrete dimensions that underline negative symptoms in First Episode Psychosis (FEP) could improve the understanding and the treatment of such invalidating symptomatology. The aim of this study is to examine the negative symptom structure in FEP individuals and to compare the resulting factor configurations between FEP subjects with and without Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD vs non-SSD). Methods One hundred and seventy participants (88 SSD and 82 non-SSD), aged 13-35 years, completed the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). A principal component analysis was then performed to investigate PANSS negative symptom structure in both non-SSD and SSD groups. Results Whereas in the SSD sample a 3-factor model solution (i.e., "Socio-Emotional Disengagement", "Motor/Thought Poverty", and "Avolition/Apathy" dimensions) was identified, a 2-factor model solution (with a mixed alogia/avolition domain in addition to a mixed socio-emotional disengagement/expressive deficits dimension) appeared more appropriate in the non-SSD group. Conclusions Our results show a relevant difference in the negative symptom factor structure between SSD and non-SSD individuals. In particular, a different specificity and significance of negative symptom models in FEP populations with diagnoses other than schizophrenia (compared to those with SSD) must be realistically considered. Notably, a "Motor/Thought Poverty" domain, which specifically includes alogia and motor retardation separately from the other PANSS negative items, appears to specifically characterize FEP young patients with the schizophrenia spectrum.

Occasionally, non‐Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) occur simultaneously or subsequently to Hodgkin disease. We report on a case of a woman with Hodgkin lymphoma treated with ABVD, who developed 4 years later T‐cell NHL with both nodal and extranodal involvement. Brentuximab vedotin could be an effective choice in treating metachronous T‐cell NHL.

The objective of this article is twofold: first, investigating the relationship between technical efficiency and decoupled direct payments of a sample of Italian farms prior to the application of the 2014–2020 Common Agricultural Policy reform; second, evaluating possible implications of alternative scenarios about distribution of direct payments on technical efficiency. To these aims, a stochastic frontier analysis is adopted. Results indicate that direct payments produce significant effects on technical efficiency in specialized farms, which received higher levels of support. However, effects are contrasting. Moreover, results show that redistribution of policy subsidies may negatively impact on technical efficiency to an extent depending upon the criterion of redistribution applied. Finally, some policy suggestions are given.

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 to fuels or commodity chemicals is a reaction of high interest for closing the anthropogenic carbon cycle. The role of the electrolyte is of particular interest, as the interplay between the electrocatalytic surface and the electrolyte plays an important role in determining the outcome of the CO2 reduction reaction. Therefore, insights on electrolyte effects on the electrochemical reduction of CO2 are pivotal in designing electrochemical devices that are able to efficiently and selectively convert CO2 into valuable products. Here, we provide an overview of recently obtained insights on electrolyte effects and we discuss how these insights can be used as design parameters for the construction of new electrocatalytic systems., The electrochemical reduction of CO2 to fuels and chemicals can potentially close the carbon cycle. Here, the authors discuss the importance of the electrolyte in determining the outcome of the reaction. They highlight recently obtained insights on electrolyte effects and discuss how the electrolyte choice can be used as a design parameter for more efficient electrocatalytic systems.

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinicopathologic features of acquired oral syphilis cases in South American countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data were retrospectively collected from the records of 18 oral diagnostic services in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Uruguay, and Peru. Serologies of nontreponemal and treponemal tests were used for diagnosis. RESULTS: The series comprised 339 cases of acquired oral syphilis. Secondary syphilis ranked as the most common stage (86.7%). Lesions were more frequent among males (58.0%) and young adults with a mean age of 33.3 years. Individuals aged 20-29 years were most affected (35.3%). The most commonly involved sites were the tongue (31.6%), lip/labial commissure (25.1%), and hard/soft palate (20.4%). Clinically, acquired oral syphilis usually presented as mucous patches (28.4%), papules (25.7%), and ulcers (18.1%). Skin manifestations occurred in 67.7% of individuals, while lymphadenopathy and fever were observed in 61.3% and 11.6% of all subjects, respectively. Most patients were treated with the benzathine penicillin G antibiotic. CONCLUSION: This report validates the spread of acquired oral syphilis infection among young adults in South America. Our directives include accessible diagnostic tools for proper disease screening, surveillance, and counselling of affected individuals, especially in low- and middle-income countries

A new species of the armoured catfish genus Corydoras is described from the Xingu-Tapajos ecoregion, Brazilian Amazon. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by having the following combination of features: short mesethmoid, with anterior tip poorly developed, smaller than 50% of bone length; posterior margin of pectoral spine with serrations directed towards spine tip or perpendicularly oriented; infraorbital 2 only in contact with sphenotic; ventral laminar expansion of infraorbital 1 poorly or moderately developed; flank midline covered by small dark brown or black saddles with similar size to remaining markings on body; relatively larger, scarcer and more sparsely distributed dark brown or black spots on body; absence of stripe on flank midline; caudal fin with conspicuous dark brown or black spots along its entire surface; slender body; and strongly narrow frontals. A more comprehensive description of poorly-explored internal character sources, such as the gross morphology of the brain, Weberian apparatus and swimbladder capsule elements is presented.