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Grazing can impart long‐lasting changes in vegetated ecosystems. How ecosystems respond to herbivory depends on the ecological and evolutionary histories of their foundational species. The overall ecosystem functioning and associated biodiversity depend on these responses but there is still little understanding on how the intensity and duration of herbivory interact and impact vegetated ecosystems. We experimentally tested in the field the responses of three seagrass species with distinct life history traits to increasing intensities of herbivory over time. Specifically, we assessed structural responses (i.e., canopy height and shoot density) to reflect the ecosystem state. Additionally, we used mechanistic models to assess induced and constitutive responses in the different seagrass species. Results show that seagrasses coped with herbivory differentially in relation to their life history traits. Posidonia oceanica (persistent species) was resistant and only registered declines in canopy height, whereas both canopy heigh and shoot density rapidly decreased for Cymodocea nodosa (intermediate‐colonizing species) and Zostera noltei (colonizing species). Seagrasses also differed in the type of structural response, with the colonizing species experiencing reductions in shoot density, and the persistent P. oceanica registering declines in canopy height. After months of exposure to cumulative herbivory, all three species showed signs of stability. Interestingly, none of the species disappeared completely even when exposed to extreme herbivory. Mechanistic models indicate that herbivory‐induced responses are a potential explanation for these patterns. This study suggests that given the long evolutionary history of herbivory, some seagrasses may be remarkably well adapted to both intense and cumulative herbivory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Peripheral T‐cell lymphomas (PTCLs) have a poor prognosis and, to date, there are no reliable predictive biomarkers of response. In this work we explored the prognostic impact of cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) concentration in 75 newly diagnosed patients enrolled in a prospective multicenter study. Pre‐treatment cfDNA was strongly associated with clinical risk factors and was identified as a superior predictor for shorter progression‐free survival in multivariable analysis, outweighing canonical risk parameters. Furthermore, we identified a cfDNA value above which survival worsens. In conclusion, pre‐treatment cfDNA concentration represents an easily usable predictive biomarker that is highly associated with survival of PTCL patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 2273 is a prime target to explore how active nuclei can be fed. It has a star‐forming innermost nuclear ring with a radius of 0.33kpc from where material may be funneled to the supermassive black hole in its center. In this article, we discuss high‐resolution adaptive optics aided JHKs images of NGC 2273 taken with the Large Binocular Telescope. Using Galfit we decomposed the innermost part of NGC 2273 into a core, a disk, and a ring using 58 parameters, 44 of them were used to describe the ring. The stellar mass of the ring was found to be 12 ×108M⊙$$ \times 1{0}^8{\mathrm{M}}_{\odot } $$, a factor of 10 higher than its molecular gas mass. A continuous gas flow via the main stellar bar of NGC 2273 during the lifetime of the bar of up to 10 M⊙yr−1$$ {\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }{\mathrm{yr}}^{-1} $$ is required to provide the fuel for the formation of the stars unless the star formation efficiency is on the order of 10%. This does not affect the fueling of the nuclear source as the amount of molecular gas required for this low‐luminosity active galaxy to achieve this is on the order of 104M⊙$$ 1{0}^4{\mathrm{M}}_{\odot } $$ only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To review clinical characteristics, treatment, outcome and prognostic factors in dogs with solid cancer‐bearing bone metastases. Materials and Methods: Records were reviewed from dogs with histologically‐proven solid cancer and bone metastases. Clinicopathologic variables, bone metastases characteristics and skeletal‐related events were recorded. Endpoints were time to bone metastases and survival. Results: Fifty dogs were included, 20 of them with synchronous and 30 of them with metachronous bone metastases. In the latter group, median time to diagnosis of bone metastases was 210 days (range, 30 to 1835). Most common primary cancer locations included mammary gland (n=6), spleen (n=5) and tonsil (n=5). Most common histotypes were carcinoma (n=32) and hemangiosarcoma (n=10). Nineteen dogs had multiple bones involvement, with humeri and vertebrae more commonly affected. Twenty‐four dogs received antitumoural therapy, five symptomatic treatment and 21 were not treated. Overall median survival after bone metastases diagnosis was 30 days (range, 11 to 49); 83% of dogs died because of skeletal‐related events. Lack of antitumoural therapy was significantly associated with shorter survival (hazard ratio: 2.7; 95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 5.6) and with increased risk of skeletal‐related death (hazard ratio: 3.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.4 to 7.4). Dogs with endocrine/neuroendocrine tumours (odds ratio: 8.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.2 to 63.9), without appendicular metastases (odds ratio: 5.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.0 to 25.8), without extra‐skeletal metastases (odds ratio: 5.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.1 to 24.5) and receiving antitumoural therapy (odds ratio: 14.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.7 to 131.4) had an increased chance of surviving more than 100 days. Clinical Significance: Bone metastases in dogs with solid cancers are associated with poor prognosis and a high risk of skeletal‐related events. Treatment appears to have an impact on survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "OC19.08: Effectiveness of the antihypertensive therapy based on maternal hemodynamic findings in women with HDP: a multicentre prospective study," discusses a study that aimed to compare the effectiveness of appropriate and inappropriate antihypertensive therapy in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). The study included 152 women and assessed their hemodynamic profile before prescribing antihypertensive therapy. The results showed that women who received appropriate therapy had a lower occurrence of severe hypertension and were more likely to achieve target blood pressure values within 48-72 hours compared to those who received inappropriate therapy. The study suggests that considering the maternal hemodynamic profile when prescribing antihypertensive therapy can lead to better outcomes for women with HDP. [Extracted from the article]

There is sparse published information on computed tomographic (CT) characteristics of canine gastrointestinal tumors. The purposes of this multi‐center, retrospective, descriptive study were to describe the CT features of histologically‐confirmed canine gastrointestinal spindle cell, epithelial, and round cell tumors and, when available, describe the corresponding ultrasound findings. The inclusion criteria were as follows: availability of pre‐and post‐contrast CT study, and a histopathological diagnosis of the lesions. Recorded parameters were tumor size, location, gastrointestinal wall layers involvement, lesion's growth and enhancement patterns, tumor margination, presence of stenosis, mineralization, ulcerations, lymphadenopathy, or other lesions in the abdomen/thorax. When available, ultrasound images were evaluated. Forty‐one dogs met the inclusion criteria and had the following histological diagnoses: 21/41 (51%) spindle cells (7 leiomyomas, 14 leiomyosarcomas/gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)), 13/41 (32%) epithelial (adenocarcinoma), and 7/41 (17%) round cell (lymphoma) tumors. The growth pattern was concentric, eccentric, and mixed in epithelial, spindle cell, and round cell tumors, respectively. Spindle cell tumors had the largest main volume and involved the outer gastrointestinal layer with an unaffected inner layer. Leiomyosarcomas/GISTs showed irregular margins compared to leiomyomas. Only lymphomas showed multifocal gastrointestinal involvement. Nine carcinomas and six spindle cell tumors caused partial stenosis with secondary sub‐obstruction. Mineralizations were more frequent in spindle cell tumors (10/21) and absent in lymphomas. Lymphadenomegaly was widespread in lymphomas, regional in leiomyosarcomas‐GISTs and adenocarcinomas, and absent in leiomyomas. The reported CT features may be useful in prioritizing the differential diagnosis between spindle cell, epithelial, and round cell tumors, similar to those reported on ultrasound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning (ML) models are nowadays used in complex applications in various domains, such as medicine, bioinformatics, and other sciences. Due to their black box nature, however, it may sometimes be hard to understand and trust the results they provide. This has increased the demand for reliable visualization tools related to enhancing trust in ML models, which has become a prominent topic of research in the visualization community over the past decades. To provide an overview and present the frontiers of current research on the topic, we present a State‐of‐the‐Art Report (STAR) on enhancing trust in ML models with the use of interactive visualization. We define and describe the background of the topic, introduce a categorization for visualization techniques that aim to accomplish this goal, and discuss insights and opportunities for future research directions. Among our contributions is a categorization of trust against different facets of interactive ML, expanded and improved from previous research. Our results are investigated from different analytical perspectives: (a) providing a statistical overview, (b) summarizing key findings, (c) performing topic analyses, and (d) exploring the data sets used in the individual papers, all with the support of an interactive web‐based survey browser. We intend this survey to be beneficial for visualization researchers whose interests involve making ML models more trustworthy, as well as researchers and practitioners from other disciplines in their search for effective visualization techniques suitable for solving their tasks with confidence and conveying meaning to their data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Background: b Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a rare complication of solid organ transplantation (SOT) and is composed of a heterogeneous spectrum of predominantly B-cell disorders. At PTLD diagnosis, lung recipients were more frequently EBV-DNA positive (6/7) than those liver transplanted (1/11) ( I p i = 0.001). The novelty of our experience is the observation that lung PTLD were more frequently EBV positive and associated with a worse outcome than kidney/liver ones. [Extracted from the article]

The demonstration that IL16 blocking therapies recovered sensitivity to therapies can lead to novel therapeutic approaches to overcome resistance in lymphoma patients. IL16 PRODUCTION IS A MECHANISM OF RESISTANCE TO BTK INHIBITORS AND TO R-CHOP B Introduction: b Covalent and non-covalent BTK inhibitors (BTKi) are used or being explored for the treatment of patients with B-cell malignancies, such as marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the activated B-cell type (ABC). [Extracted from the article]

Background and purpose: Adiponectin is a cytokine linking energy metabolism and immune system. After being assembled, adiponectin circulates as oligomers of different molecular weight, i.e. low, medium and high (HMW) molecular weight. These have the most potent biological effects. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the human central nervous system. The aim of this study was to characterize the expression levels of both total adiponectin and its oligomerization state in the serum from 99 patients with MS at baseline (i.e. not influenced by therapies). We also investigated the potential relationships between adiponectin and disease progression and severity. Methods: Adiponectin was quantified and visualized by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, western blotting and fast protein liquid chromatography. During the follow‐up (3.6 ± 2.20 years), the patients were evaluated using total annualized relapse rate and Expanded Disability Status Scale score. Results: Total adiponectin is statistically higher in patients with MS compared with matched controls (12.18 vs. 10.02 μg/mL, P = 0.001). Interestingly, the adiponectin oligomerization state is altered in MS, with an increase of HMW oligomers. In addition, patients with MS with higher levels of adiponectin at baseline have significantly higher risk of progression and severity (Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score, 3.84 vs. 2.44, P = 0.001). No statistical difference in adiponectin expression was found between active and inactive patients with MS and among the different forms of disease. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that adiponectin and its HMW oligomers are greatly involved in MS autoimmune disorder representing a potential biomarker to predict worse MS prognosis and severity. Further studies are required to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the properties of adiponectin and HMW oligomers in MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 multicolor‐image of Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 2273, highlighting its various spiral arms, bars, and rings. Observations through five filters have been used to create this image. FOV is 2.59'×2.01', north is 6.8° left of vertical. The innermost bluish ring inside the yel‐low square, measuring a few arcsec in diameter, is the target of the study by Schey et al., this issue, e220094, to explore how active nuclei are fed. Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, J.Greene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rituximab (RTX), a chimeric anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody, has demonstrated good efficacy as treatment in patients with resistant chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), but it is highly immunogenic due to its structure. Ocrelizumab (OCR) is a humanized anti‐CD20 antibody, with higher tolerability and a lower immunogenic profile compared to RTX. We present a case of refractory CIDP effectively treated with OCR, switched from RTX after the development of anti‐drug antibodies. A 25‐year‐old man was admitted to our clinic for the onset of distal upper and lower limb weakness and numbness, with electrodiagnostic criteria of CIDP. After several attempted standard CIDP treatments, RTX was introduced due to poor control of clinical relapses. Unfortunately, the patient developed a high anti‐drug antibody titer after RTX infusion, with no control of disease. OCR was started as an off‐label treatment, resulting in partial recovery from the last recurrence and achieving good prevention of new relapses with no adverse events. We suggest that OCR should be considered as another therapeutic option in refractory CIDP. In the literature, this is the first case of CIDP treated with OCR, demonstrating good efficacy for its anti‐CD20 effect and better tolerability because of its lower immunogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In dogs, inflammatory mammary carcinoma is a clinicopathological entity characterized by rapid progression and aggressive behavior from onset of disease. Reported median survival time is short, with no effective treatment options. The aims of this prospective, noncontrolled clinical trial were to investigate outcome variables and safety profile of toceranib, thalidomide and piroxicam with or without hypofractionated radiation therapy in dogs with measurable histologically confirmed inflammatory mammary carcinoma that underwent a complete staging. Eighteen dogs were enrolled: 14 received medical treatment, and 4 were treated with hypofractionated radiation therapy and medical therapy. Overall, median time to progression was 34 days and median survival time was 109 days. In dogs treated with medical therapy, overall response rate was 21%, and clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 64%; median time to progression was 28 days and median survival time was 59 days. In dogs receiving medical therapy and undergoing radiation therapy, overall response rate and clinical benefit rate were 100%, with significantly longer time to progression (156 days) and survival time (180 days). Overall, treatment was well tolerated, with mild gastrointestinal and dermatological adverse events. Although the optimal treatment to this disease remains uncertain, the current approach consisting of systemic anti‐angiogenic drugs with or without hypofractionated radiation therapy, provided clinical benefit in a significant proportion of dogs and should, therefore, be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: The aim of our work was to establish a semi‐automated high‐throughput DNA amplification method for the universal screening of bacteria in platelet concentrates (PCs). Background: Among cases of transfusion transmission of infectious agents, bacterial contamination ranks first in the number of events, morbidity and mortality. Transmission occurs mainly by transfused PCs. Automated culture is adopted by some blood banks for screening of bacterial contamination, but this procedure is expensive and has a relatively long turnaround time. Methods: PCs were spiked with suspensions of five different bacterial species in a final concentration of 1 and 10 colony‐forming units (CFU) per millilitre. After incubation, the presence of bacteria was investigated by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by the Enhanced Bacterial Detection System (eBDS, Pall) assay as a reference method. Real‐time PCR amplification was performed with a set of universal primers and probes targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Co‐amplification of human mitochondrial DNA served as an internal control. Results: Using the real‐time PCR method, it was possible to detect the presence of all bacterial species tested with an initial concentration of 10 CFU mL−1 24 h after contamination, except for Staphylococcus hominis. The PCR assay also detected, at 24 h, the presence of Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter cloacae with an initial concentration of 1 CFU mL−1. Conclusions: The real‐time PCR assay may be a reliable alternative to conventional culture methods in the screening of bacterial contamination of PCs, enabling bacterial detection even with a low initial concentration of microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate whether the rs35761398 variants of the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) gene may influence the acquisition of HIV infection and the clinical presentation of HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection. Methods: We compared 166 HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients with 186 HCV‐monoinfected patients, all with biopsy‐proven chronic hepatitis (using the Ishak scoring system), naïve for anti‐HCV treatment and tested for the CB2 rs35761398 polymorphism (using the TaqMan assay). Results: The HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients were more frequently male (P < 0.002), were younger (P < 0.001), and had lower median BMI (P < 0.001) and HCV RNA (P < 0.05) and higher median aspartate aminotransferase (AST; P < 0.001), alanine aminotransferase (ALT; P < 0.001) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT; P < 0.001) levels than the HCV‐monoinfected patients. The CB2 RR variant predominated in HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients (45.8% vs. 31.2% in HCV‐monoinfected patients; P < 0.001) and the CB2 QR variant in HCV‐monoinfected patients (57.5% vs. 38.6% in HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients; P < 0.00001), and the CB2 QQ variant was equally distributed. Focusing on patients with the CB2 QQ variant, the 26 HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients, compared with the 21 HCV‐monoinfected patients, showed less severe liver necroinflammation [lower histological activity index (HAI)] (P < 0.05). Of the patients with the CB2 RR variant, the 76 HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients, compared with the 58 HCV‐monoinfected patients, were more frequently male (P < 0.05), were younger (P < 0.001), and had a lower median body mass index (BMI; P < 0.001), a higher median AST level (P < 0.001), a higher mean HAI score (P < 0.05) and a higher rate of cases with severe steatosis (P = 0.05). In an analysis of variance ( anova) of HCV/HIV‐coinfected and HCV‐monoinfected patient data, those with the CB2 RR variant (P = 0.003) and of male sex (P = 0.002) were more prevalent in the HCV/HIV‐coinfected group. Conclusions: There is the suggestion of a positive effect of the CB2 RR variant on HIV acquisition and/or spread, which is in accordance with previous in vitro observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unresectable or metastatic (advanced) primary pulmonary carcinoma (PPC) represents a therapeutic challenge where surgery may be contraindicated and the therapeutic role of maximum‐tolerated dose (MTD) chemotherapy remains uncertain. This study was undertaken to explore the impact of metronomic chemotherapy (MC) in dogs with advanced PPC. Previously untreated dogs with advanced (T3 or N1 or M1) PPC, with complete staging work‐up and follow‐up data, receiving MC (comprising low‐dose cyclophosphamide, piroxicam and thalidomide), surgery, MTD chemotherapy or no oncologic treatment were eligible for inclusion. For all patients, time to progression (TTP) and survival time (ST) were evaluated. Quality‐of‐life (QoL) was only evaluated in patients receiving MC. To assess QoL, owners of dogs receiving MC were asked to complete a questionnaire before and during treatment. Ninety‐one dogs were included: 25 received MC, 36 were treated with surgery, 11 with MTD chemotherapy and 19 received no treatment. QoL was improved in dogs receiving MC. Median TTP was significantly longer in patients receiving MC (172 days) than patients undergoing surgery (87 days), receiving MTD chemotherapy (22 days), or no oncologic treatment (20 days). Median ST was similarly longer in patients receiving MC (139 days) than those undergoing surgery (92 days), MTD chemotherapy (61 days) and no oncologic treatment (60 days). In dogs with advanced PPC, MC achieved a measurable clinical benefit without significant risk or toxicity. This makes MC a potential alternative to other recognized management approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine nodal marginal zone lymphoma (nMZL) is classified as an indolent lymphoma. Such lymphomas are typified by low mitotic rate and slow clinical progression. While the clinical behaviour of canine splenic MZL has been described, characterized by an indolent course and a good prognosis following splenectomy, there are no studies specifically describing nMZL. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of and outcome for canine nMZL. Dogs with histologically confirmed nMZL undergoing a complete staging work‐up (including blood analysis, flow cytometry [FC] on lymph node [LN], peripheral blood and bone marrow, imaging, histology and immunohistochemistry on a surgically removed peripheral LN) were retrospectively enrolled. Treatment consisted of chemotherapy or chemo‐immunotherapy. Endpoints were response rate (RR), time to progression (TTP) and lymphoma‐specific survival (LSS). A total of 35 cases were enrolled. At diagnosis, all dogs showed generalized lymphadenopathy. One‐third was systemically unwell. All dogs had stage V disease; one‐third also had extranodal involvement. The LN population was mainly composed of medium‐sized CD21+ cells with scant resident normal lymphocytes. Histology revealed diffuse LN involvement, referring to “late‐stage” MZL. Median TTP and LSS were 149 and 259 days, respectively. Increased LDH activity and substage b were significantly associated with a shorter LSS. Dogs with nMZL may show generalized lymphadenopathy and an advanced disease stage. Overall, the outcome is poor, despite the “indolent” designation. The best treatment option still needs to be defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual analytics systems combine machine learning or other analytic techniques with interactive data visualization to promote sensemaking and analytical reasoning. It is through such techniques that people can make sense of large, complex data. While progress has been made, the tactful combination of machine learning and data visualization is still under-explored. This state-of-the-art report presents a summary of the progress that has been made by highlighting and synthesizing select research advances. Further, it presents opportunities and challenges to enhance the synergy between machine learning and visual analytics for impactful future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/ OFQ) and its receptor ( NOP) are involved in airway hyperresponsiveness ( AHR) and inflammation. However, the role of nociceptin at modulating the inflammatory immune microenvironment in asthma is still unclear. Objective To understand the role of N/ OFQ in the regulation of a Th2-like environment, we used a conventional murine model of AHR. Methods Balb/c and CD1 mice were sensitized to ovalbumin ( OVA) and treated with saline solution or N/ OFQ, at days 0 and 7. A group of Balb/c mice were killed at 7 and 14 days from the first sensitization for the inflammatory profile evaluation while a group of Balb/c and CD1 mice were aerosol-challenged from day 21 to 23 with OVA and killed 24 h later for functional evaluations. Results In OVA-sensitized mice, N/ OFQ significantly reduced IL-4+ CD4+ T cells in lymph nodes ( LN) and IL-13 in the lungs, while it induced IFN-γ increase in the lung. The efflux of dendritic cells ( DCs) to the mediastinic LN and into the lung of OVA-sensitized mice was reduced in N/ OFQ-treated and sensitized mice. N/ OFQ reduced the expression of CD80 on DCs, indicating its ability to modulate the activation of DCs. In a less prone Th2-like environment mice strain, such as CD1 mice, N/ OFQ did not modify lung resistances as observed in BALB/c mice. Finally, spectroscopic data showed the N/ OFQ was able to interact onto the membrane of DCs obtained from Balb/c rather than CD1 mice, indicating its ability to modulate AHR in a Th2-like environment with a direct activity on DCs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Our data confirmed the capability of N/ OFQ to modulate the immune microenvironment in the lung of Th2-biased, OVA-sensitized Balb/c mice, suggesting N/ OFQ- NOP axis as a novel pharmacological tool to modulate the inflammatory immune microenvironment in asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Methods: b We retrospectively collected data of DLBCL patients receiving CNS prophylaxis with at least 1 cycle of HD-MTX from 2017 to 2022. B Background: b Central nervous system (CNS) relapse still represents an often-fatal event in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Hereby, we report our experience of DLBCL patients undergoing CNS prophylaxis with systemic HD-MTX intercalated with systemic chemotherapy. [Extracted from the article]

Equations based on surface renewal (SR) analysis to estimate the sensible heat flux ( H) require as input the mean ramp amplitude and period observed in the ramp-like pattern of the air temperature measured at high frequency. A SR-based method to estimate sensible heat flux ( HSR-LST) requiring only low-frequency measurements of the air temperature, horizontal mean wind speed, and land-surface temperature as input was derived and tested under unstable conditions over a heterogeneous canopy (olive grove). HSR-LST assumes that the mean ramp amplitude can be inferred from the difference between land-surface temperature and mean air temperature through a linear relationship and that the ramp frequency is related to a wind shear scale characteristic of the canopy flow. The land-surface temperature was retrieved by integrating in situ sensing measures of thermal infrared energy emitted by the surface. The performance of HSR-LST was analyzed against flux tower measurements collected at two heights (close to and well above the canopy top). Crucial parameters involved in HSR-LST, which define the above mentioned linear relationship, were explained using the canopy height and the land surface temperature observed at sunrise and sunset. Although the olive grove can behave as either an isothermal or anisothermal surface, HSR-LST performed close to H measured using the eddy covariance and the Bowen ratio energy balance methods. Root mean square differences between HSR-LST and measured H were of about 55 W m−2. Thus, by using multitemporal thermal acquisitions, HSR-LST appears to bypass inconsistency between land surface temperature and the mean aerodynamic temperature. The one-source bulk transfer formulation for estimating H performed reliable after calibration against the eddy covariance method. After calibration, the latter performed similar to the proposed SR-LST method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of the new aldose reductase inhibitor benzofuroxane derivative 5(6)-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylmethoxy)benzofuroxane (BF-5m) on the prolongation of cardiac QT interval and increase of coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) in isolated, high glucose (33.3 mM D-glucose) perfused rat hearts. BF-5m was dissolved in the Krebs solution at a final concentration of 0.01 μM, 0.05 μM, and 0.1 μM. 33.3 mM D-glucose caused a prolongation of the QT interval and increase of CPP up to values of 190 ± 12 ms and 110 ± 8 mmHg with respect to the values of hearts perfused with standard Krebs solution (11.1 mM D-glucose). The QT prolongation was reduced by 10%, 32%, and 41%, respectively, for the concentration of BF-5m 0.01 μM, 0.05 μM, and 0.1 μM. Similarly, the CPP was reduced by 20% for BF-5m 0.05 μM and by 32% for BF-5m 0.1 μM. BF-5m also increased the expression levels of sirtuin 1, MnSOD, eNOS, and FOXO-1, into the heart. The beneficial actions of BF-5m were partly abolished by the pretreatment of the rats with the inhibitor of the sirtuin 1 activity EX527 (10 mg/kg/day/7 days i.p.) prior to perfusion of the hearts with high glucose + BF-5m (0.1 μM). Therefore, BF-5m supplies cardioprotection from the high glucose induced QT prolongation and increase of CPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixty-three dogs with newly diagnosed lymphoma underwent complete staging and received the same chemotherapy. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was the leading histotype (44.4%), followed by peripheral T-cell lymphoma (20.6%). Indolent lymphomas accounted for 30.2% of cases. Most dogs with aggressive B-cell lymphoma had stage IV disease. Dogs with indolent and aggressive T-cell lymphoma had more often stage V disease and were symptomatic. Liver and bone marrow were predominantly involved in B-cell and T-cell lymphoma, respectively. The clinical stage was significantly related to substage, sex and total lactic dehydrogenase ( LDH) levels. Aggressive B-cell lymphomas were more likely to achieve remission. Median survival was 55 days for aggressive and indolent T-cell lymphoma, 200 and 256 days for indolent and aggressive B-cell lymphoma, respectively. The prognosis of advanced indolent lymphoma does not appear to be appreciably different from that of aggressive disease. Familiarity with the various histotypes is critical to make the correct diagnosis and drive therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamine biosynthesis starts with putrescine production through the decarboxylation of arginine or ornithine. In Arabidopsis thaliana, putrescine is synthesised exclusively by arginine decarboxylase ( ADC), which exists as two isoforms ( ADC1 and 2) that are differentially regulated by abiotic stimuli, but their role in defence against pathogens has not been studied in depth. This work analysed the participation of ADC in Arabidopsis defence against Pseudomonas viridiflava. ADC activity and expression, polyamine levels and bacterial resistance were analysed in null mutants of each ADC isoform. In non-infected wild-type ( WT) plants, ADC2 expression was much higher than ADC1. Analysis of adc mutants demonstrated that ADC2 contributes to a much higher extent than ADC1 to basal ADC activity and putrescine biosynthesis. In addition, adc2 mutants showed increased basal expression of salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid-dependent PR genes. Bacterial infection induced putrescine accumulation and ADC1 expression in WT plants, but pathogen-induced putrescine accumulation was blocked in adc1 mutants. Results suggest a specific participation of ADC1 in defence, although basal resistance was not decreased by dysfunction of either of the two ADC genes. In addition, and as opposed to WT plants, bacterial infection increased ADC2 expression and ADC activity in adc1 mutants, which could counterbalance the lack of ADC1. Results demonstrate a major contribution of ADC2 to total ADC activity and the specific induction of ADC1 in response to infection. A certain degree of functional redundancy between the two isoforms in relation to their contribution to basal resistance is also evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the degradation kinetics and of the reliability of state-of-the-art InGaN-based green laser diodes (LDs), submitted to CW stress tests at different operating conditions. Results described in the following indicate that: (i) constant current stress induces an increase in threshold current ( Ith), which is well correlated to a decrease in the sub-threshold emission; (ii) the Ith increase has a power law dependence on stress time; (iii) the degradation rate is strongly dependent on the stress current level while it does not significantly depend on the optical field in the cavity; (iv) stress temperature acts as an accelerating factor for LDs degradation; the activation energy of the degradation process is equal to 258 meV; (v) pure thermal storage does not induce a significant degradation of device characteristics. Cathodoluminescence measurements were carried out to get more insight into the physical origin of the degradation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this retrospective study was to describe clinical features, treatment and outcome of 21 dogs with metastatic cancer of unknown primary ( MCUP), a biopsy-proven malignancy being diagnosed at a metastatic stage, in which the anatomical origin of the primary tumour cannot be detected. All dogs underwent total-body computed tomography. Signalment, type and duration of clinical signs, metastasis site, pathology results, treatment and outcome were recorded. Carcinoma was the most common diagnosis (57.1%), followed by sarcoma, melanoma and mast cell tumour. The median number of disease sites per dog was 2, with bones, lymph nodes, lungs and spleen being the most frequent metastatic locations. The median survival for all dogs was 30 days. Overall, a primary site was not identified in 20 (95.2%) dogs. MCUP encompasses a variety of different pathologic entities and harbours a poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the main clinicopathological features of primary lung cancer ( PLC) in 37 dogs, with special regard to the pathogenetic and prognostic role of epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) overexpression. For each case the following characteristics were evaluated: tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, tumour histotype, histological grade, mitotic activity and immunohistochemical expression of EGFR. In samples with available normal lung tissue, the amount of background anthracosis was also measured by image analysis. In 27 tumours (73%) a variable number of cells (20-100%) stained positively for EGFR. The proportion of EGFR-positive tumours was significantly higher in cases with background anthracosis, and the amount of anthracosis was correlated with the percentage of positive tumour cells. Additionally, a trend towards shortened survival for the high EGFR group was observed. These findings suggest an involvement of EGFR signalling pathway in canine PLC, a negative prognostic significance of protein overexpression and its potential implication in air pollution carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tensile strained Ge is considered as an enabling material for the integration of light emitting sources on Si because it shows unique indirect to direct bandgap transition and very high carrier mobilities (> 10.000 cm2/Vs). In the framework of this goal we aim to realize tensile germanium on In(Ga)As quantum dots (QD) stressors grown on GaAs and in this paper we focus on the study of deposition at different temperatures of Ge layers by Metal Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE) on QD grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE). The structures were characterized by Photoluminescence (PL) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) before and after Ge epitaxy. Cross sectional TEM analysis shows that the Ge overlayer is epitaxially grown on the InGaAs/GaAs QD underlayer, with the same orientation. No structural defects are observed in the whole structures. Intermixing and In desorption occur at higher deposition temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Acinetobacter baumannii is a leading agent of healthcare-associated infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate cases of colonization or infection with polymyxin-resistant A. baumannii (PRAB) in liver transplant recipients and to identify the risk factors for the acquisition of PRAB. Methods. We evaluated all patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) between January and November of 2011. The exclusion criterion was death within the first 72 h after transplant. Patients were screened for PRAB through weekly rectal and inguinal swabs during their stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and at ICU discharge. Patients who came from other hospitals or had been treated in the emergency room for >72 h were screened at ICU admission. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for polymyxins were determined by broth microdilution, and clonality was determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The stepwise logistic regression was used to identify risk factors related to acquisition of PRAB, and Cox forward regression used to identify risk factors for 60-day mortality. Results. We evaluated 65 patients submitted to LT, among whom PRAB was isolated in 7, 4 of whom developed infection. The MICs for polymyxin E ranged from 16 to 128 mg/mL. All patients with PRAB required dialysis. The median time of polymyxin use before PRAB isolation was 21 days. These 4 included 1 case of primary bloodstream infection (BSI), which was treated with the carbapenem-polymyxin combination; 1 case of surgical site infection, which was treated with gentamicin, polymyxin, ampicillin-sulbactam, and tigecycline; and 2 cases of pneumonia, treated with the combination of carbapenem-polymyxin. In the case of BSI and in 1 of the cases of pneumonia, the treatment was considered successful. Mortality was 71% among the cases, compared with 33% among the non-cases. Conclusion. In the final model of the survival analysis, PRAB colonization or infection after LT was independently associated with mortality. One predominant clone was identified. The only risk factor identified in the multivariate analysis was polymyxin use. PRAB was an agent with high mortality, and the most important risk factor associated with colonization or infection for such bacterium was polymyxin use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by a decrease in bone density, which decreases its strength and results in fragile bones. The endocannabinoid/endovanilloid system has been shown to be involved in the regulation of skeletal remodelling. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible modulation of bone mass mediated by the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 channel ( TRPV1) in vivo and in vitro. Experimental Approach A multidisciplinary approach, including biomolecular, biochemical and morphological analysis, was used to investigate the involvement of TRPV1 in changes in bone density in vivo and osteoclast activity in vitro, in wild-type and Trpv1−/− mice, that had undergone ovariectomy or had a sham operation. Key Results Genetic deletion of Trpv1 as well as pharmacological inhibition/desensitization of TRPV1 signalling dramatically reduced the osteoclast activity in vitro and prevented the ovariectomy-induced bone loss in vivo, whereas the expression of cannabinoid type 2 ( CB2) receptors was increased. Conclusions and Implications These findings highlight the pivotal role TRPV1 channels play in bone resorption and suggest a possible cross-talk between TRPV1 and CB2 receptors. Based on these results, hybrid compounds acting on both TRPV1 and CB2 receptors in an opposite manner could provide a future pharmacological tool for the treatment of diseases associated with disturbances in the bone remodelling process. Linked Articles This article is part of a themed section on the pharmacology of TRP channels. To view the other articles in this section visit [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents Contrast-enhanced ultrasound with sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles was performed in seven healthy dogs without a history of reproductive pathology and with histologically confirmed normal testes and in 42 dogs with chronic scrotal anomalies. All dogs underwent orchiectomy and histological examination. Enhancement patterns and perfusion parameters (peak intensity and regional blood flow) of testes of healthy dogs and testes with chronic lesions were compared. Fourteen non-pathologic and 60 pathologic testes were considered. Forty testes were neoplastic (24 interstitial cell tumours, 9 seminomas, 7 Sertoli cell tumours), 20 were non-neoplastic (16 testicular degenerations, 2 chronic orchitis, 1 testicular atrophy, 1 interstitial cell hyperplasia). In healthy dogs, the contrast medium flow had a rapid homogeneous wash-in and wash-out, with a short peak phase. With contrast ultrasound, testes that were inhomogeneous with a hyperenhancing pattern were associated with neoplasia (sensitivity: 87.5%, specificity: 100%). Lesions with persistent inner vessels and a hypo-to-isoechoic background were significantly associated with seminomas (sensitivity: 77.8%, specificity: 100%). Testes with non-neoplastic lesions were characterized by a scant/moderate homogeneous enhancement. Perfusion parameters were higher in neoplastic lesions. Contrast ultrasound was a feasible diagnostic tool in the assessment of testicular lesions, with hyperenhancement being an important feature in the diagnosis of malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichosporon species are rare etiologic agents of invasive fungal infection in solid organ transplant ( SOT) recipients. We report 2 well-documented cases of Trichosporon inkin invasive infection in SOT patients. We also conducted a detailed literature review of Trichosporon species infections in this susceptible population. We gathered a total of 13 cases of Trichosporon species infections. Any type of organ transplantation can be complicated by Trichosporon infection. Bloodstream infections and disseminated infections were the most common clinical presentations. Liver recipients with bloodstream or disseminated infections had poor prognoses. Although the most common species was formerly called Trichosporon beigelii, this species name should no longer be used because of the changes in the taxonomy of this genus resulting from the advent of molecular approaches, which were also used to identify the strains isolated from our patients. Antifungal susceptibility testing highlights the possibility of multidrug resistance. Indeed, Trichosporon has to be considered in cases of breakthrough infection or treatment failure under echinocandins or amphotericin therapy. Voriconazole seems to be the best treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In order to improve our understanding of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) cardiovascular (CV) impact in obesity, the association of HDL-C plasma level with circulating early endothelial progenitor cell (early-EPC) number and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (EDV) in obese women with normal or high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) plasma levels was evaluated. Design and Methods: One hundred thirteen obese female subjects and a control group of 78 healthy female subjects were recruited. Circulating early-EPC were assessed by single- and two-color flow cytometric analyses with a fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACScan) flow cytometer. EDV was evaluated as response to ischemia by strain gauge plethysmography. Results: Both early-EPC number and EDV were significantly decreased in obese women compared with the control group. Obese women with low HDL-C showed a further decrease of early-EPC and EDV in the presence of both high or normal LDL-C plasmatic levels. In the normal HDL-C level subgroup, hypercholesterolemic and nonhypercholesterolemic subjects showed no difference in early-EPC number, whereas slight EDV impairment was present in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Conclusion: In obese women, low HDL-C is associated to decreased early-EPC number and impaired EDV, suggesting the need to assess whether evaluation of early-EPC and EDV may increase HDL-C prognostic value in the stratification of CV risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight dogs with a firm, nonpainful swelling in the ventral laryngeal region and with a final diagnosis of ectopic thyroid carcinoma were investigated by Computed Tomography (CT) at six different institutions. Computed Tomography findings were reviewed, focusing on lesion volume, shape, margins, relationship with surrounding structures and adjacent vessels, attenuation characteristics, and presence of metastases. Ectopic thyroid carcinomas were seen as oval-to-bilobed masses centered on the basihyoid bone with associated bone lysis, highly vascularized capsules with central poorly contrast enhancing areas. In all cases there was laryngeal wall infiltration, in two dogs invasion of the laryngeal lumen and in one case invasion of the ventral muscular and subcutaneous plane. Metastases were found in retropharyngeal lymph nodes (three cases) and in the lung (two cases). Ectopic thyroid carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a mass in the basihyoid region is present. Described CT features may be typical for ectopic thyroid neoplasia and could be used to help decide the therapeutic plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral blood stem cell cryopreservation is associated with cell damage and decreased viability. We evaluated the impact of up to 10 years of cryopreservation (5% DMSO) on viability of CD34+ cells utilizing graft samples of consecutive patients (2002-2012) with different malignancies who underwent stem cell collection and transplantation. Viability of CD34+ cells from oncohaematological patients measured after 5 weeks (97·2 ± 0·6%) or after 9-10 years of cryopreservation (95·9 ± 0·5%) was unaffected. Haemoglobin, granulocyte and platelet recovery after transplantation of long-term cryopreserved grafts occurred within 8-13 days. CD34+ stem cells can be safely stored up to 9-10 years, without affecting cell viability and clinical effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchrotron radiation (SR) X-ray microscopy combined with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) microspectroscopy provides unique information that have pushed the frontiers of biological research, particularly when investigating intracellular mechanisms. This work reports an SR-XRF microspectroscopy investigation on the distribution and the potential toxicity of Fe2O3 and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) in U87MG glioblastoma-astrocytoma cells. The U87MG cells exposed to NPs concentrations ranging from 5 to 250 µg/ml for 24 h were analyzed in order to monitor both morphological and chemical changes. The SR-XRF maps complemented with XRM absorption and phase contrast images have revealed different intracellular distribution patterns for the two nanoparticles types allowing different mechanism of toxicity to be deduced. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose The development of treatment strategies for cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis ( MS) is still in its infancy. The objective of this prospective, non-randomized, pilot study was to assess the possible efficacy of treatment with natalizumab in comparison with interferon beta ( IFNB) in a group of relapsing-remitting patients with MS. Methods We included 12 patients treated with natalizumab and 14 with IFNB. At baseline and at follow-up, cognitive functioning was assessed through Rao's Brief Repeatable Battery. All the patients underwent brain MR study with the assessment of T2 lesion volumes, neocortical volume, normalized brain volume and percentage brain volume change ( PBVC). Evolution of cognitive performance was assessed using available normative data for the Italian population. Treatment comparisons were assessed through the Mann- Whitney U-test, anova for repeated measures and linear multivariate regression analyses. Results After a mean follow-up of 1.5 years, the mean number of neuropsychological tests with a deteriorating performance was significantly lower in patients treated with natalizumab (0.7 ± 0.7 vs. 1.7 ± 1.4; P = 0.031). Likewise, PBVC was significantly lower in natalizumab-treated subjects than that observed in patients treated with IFNB (−0.51% ± 0.47% vs. −1.18% ± 0.98%; P = 0.050). Concluion Our results suggest a potential beneficial effect of natalizumab therapy on cognitive functioning in MS, possibly mediated by a reduction of brain atrophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present a method to produce micro and nanostructured surfaces containing bioadhesive features embedded in an antifouling matrix. These surfaces are fabricated by combining plasma polymerization and electron beam lithography. This combination allows the fabrication of structured surfaces in just two steps and without the use of solvents. ToF-SIMS analysis demonstrates that the e-beam treatment induces a chemical change at the surface depending upon the radiation dose employed. In particular, a decrease of peaks characteristic of the PEO-like fragments (e.g. CH3O+, C3H7O+, C3H5O2+) and a correspondent increase of hydrocarbon moieties such as C2H3+ and C3H3+ is observed in the irradiated zones. These results are supported by XPS analysis that indicate a slight reduction of the intensity of the C-O component in the C1s core level spectrum after irradiation similar to that observed in UV-treated PEO-like films. Experiments with proteins show a preferential adhesion of the biomolecules to the irradiated zone indicating the good potential of this technique for the development of nanostructured biosensing platforms. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. This study evaluated the efficacy of a regenerative approach using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and CAD-CAM customized pure and porous hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds to replace the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condyle. Methods. Pure HA scaffolds with a 70% total porosity volume were prototyped using CAD-CAM technology to replace the two temporomandibular condyles (left and right) of the same animal. MSCs were derived from the aspirated iliac crest bone marrow, and platelets were obtained from the venous blood of the sheep. Custom-made surgical guides were created by direct metal laser sintering and were used to export the virtual planning of the bone cut lines into the surgical environment. Sheep were sacrificed 4 months postoperatively. The HA scaffolds were explanted, histological specimens were prepared, and histomorphometric analysis was performed. Results. Analysis of the porosity reduction for apposition of newly formed bone showed a statistically significant difference in bone formation between condyles loaded with MSC and condyles without (P < 0.05). The bone ingrowth (BI) relative values of split-mouth comparison (right versus left side) showed a significant difference between condyles with and without MSCs (P < 0.05). Analysis of the test and control sides in the same animal using a split-mouth study design was performed; the condyle with MSCs showed greater bone formation. Conclusion. The split-mouth design confirmed an increment of bone regeneration into the HA scaffold of up to 797% upon application of MSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) belong to the amphiphile family: they possess a long hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain and a polar hydrophilic headgroup. In a polar solvent and over the critical micellar concentration these molecules join to form micelles. The micellar solutions, in turn, if doped with various ligands tend to aggregate. Solid SDS, micelles of SDS in water and micelles of SDS doped with two types of macrocyclic ligands, Kryptofix 2.2.2 (K222) and crown ether 18-Crown-6 (18C6), at different concentrations are studied by Raman scattering, that represents a new approach to such systems. The experimental Raman spectrum, obtained on crystalline powders of SDS, is compared with the ab initio computed spectrum in order to assign the vibrational bands. After discriminating sensitive peaks by comparing the crystalline powders of the single components and their water solutions, the aggregation process and the action of the ligands are analyzed following the evolution of the intensity and wavenumber of these characteristic Raman peaks. This shows that Raman spectroscopy is sensitive to the aggregation dynamics and to the effects induced by the hydration layer on the molecules in solutions. A saturation effect in the aggregation process with the increase of the ligand concentration is observed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malakoplakia is a rare chronic granulomatous disease of unknown cause. It is thought to be caused by an acquired bactericidal defect of macrophages. Malakoplakia is associated with chronic infections and immunosuppression. Although it occurs mainly in the urinary tract, it has already been reported in almost every organ system. The isolation of bacteria, especially Escherichia coli, is common in malakoplakia patients. Here, we present a case of primary cutaneous malakoplakia in a kidney transplant recipient who had been taking prednisone, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate. Culture of a lesion grew Burkholderia cepacia complex. Treatment with high doses of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was successful. We also present a systematic review of the literature, identifying 4 previously reported cases of malakoplakia after renal transplantation under similar immunosuppressive therapy, most occurring in the urinary tract or perineum and following benign courses to cure. Data in the literature suggest that malakoplakia has become even rarer since changes were made in the immunosuppressive therapy employed after kidney transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]