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This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, presents an interim analysis of a study comparing the diagnostic yield and reading time of experts and trainees in capsule endoscopy (CE) with and without the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). The study evaluated 50 videos of patients who underwent CE, with one expert reviewing the videos in standard mode and the other in AI mode, while trainees evaluated videos in both modalities. The results showed comparable accuracy between standard and AI-assisted readings for both experts and trainees, with AI-assisted reading significantly reducing reading time. The findings suggest that AI could be a valuable optimization strategy for CE training. [Extracted from the article]

Members of the globally distributed bivalve family Ostreidae (oysters) have a significant role in marine ecosystems and include species of high economic importance. In this work, we report the occurrence of digenean parasites of the families Bucephalidae (Prosorhynchoides sp.) and Monorchiidae (Postmonorchis sp.) in Mediterranean native populations of Ostrea edulis (but not in the introduced Magallana gigas). Molecular detection was based on DNA sequencing of the ribosomal intergenic spacer 2 (ITS2) marker. The importance of detecting the presence of overlooked digenean parasites in Mediterranean oysters is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-pressure processing ( HPP) has been shown to enhance and accelerate infusion of molecules compared with osmosis-driven diffusion. The primary cause for enhanced HPP infusion is attributed to cell membrane permeabilization. This study tests the validity of this commonly accepted mechanism by conducting HPP (100 MPa-551 MPa) infusion of quercetin into cranberries. Two systems used in this study were fresh cranberries, cells of which are intact, and frozen-thawed cranberries, cells of which are permeabilized during freeze-thaw process. Results showed that while fresh and frozen-thawed cranberries had similar cell membrane permeability after HPP, twice as much quercetin was infused into fresh cranberries as compared with frozen-thawed cranberries. If cell membrane permeability were the only cause of infusion, the amount of quercetin infused into cranberries in both systems should have been same. These results suggest that enhanced infusion caused by HPP is not just caused by cell permeabilization alone. Practical Applications Conventional diffusion based mass transport methods, currently used in the food industry for infusion, are slow processes. In order to accelerate the mass transport, this research investigated the potential of HPP to enhance and accelerate infusion in cranberries. The present study was focused on the comparison of infusion during HPP using fresh cranberries, cells of which were intact and frozen-thawed cranberries, cells of which were permeabilized (with ruptured cell membranes) by freeze-thaw process. Results showing increased infusion in fresh cranberries and similar cell permeability in both fresh and frozen-thawed cranberries suggested that enhanced infusion during HPP was not caused only by cell permeabilization. This research opens new avenues for investigating additional mass transport mechanisms occurring during HPP, which will help develop accurate predictive mass transport models for HPP infusion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-pressure processing ( HPP) has been shown to enhance infusion of small-size molecules into foods primarily because of cell membrane rupture. The enhanced infusion has been previously explained using increased effective diffusivity, which does not elucidate the actual mass transport mechanisms. This study evaluates and explains the role of transport processes and the influence of process parameters on enhanced infusion of antioxidants by HPP. Frozen-thawed cranberries were infused with quercetin. A greater amount of quercetin (three times) was infused faster (18 times) in cranberries after HPP (100 MPa-551 MPa at 22 C) compared with those infused at ambient conditions. While freeze-thawing process ruptured cell membranes in cranberries, measured as cell permeability, there was no additional cell rupture after HPP. A similar degree of measured cell permeability before (0.48 ± 0.01) and after HPP (0.48 ± 0.04), and observed enhanced infusion under high-pressure suggest that cell membrane permeabilization may not be the only cause for high-pressure-assisted infusion. Practical Applications Conventional diffusion-based mass transport methods currently used in the food industry are slow processes. In order to accelerate the process, this research investigates (1) the potential of high-pressure processing ( HPP) to enhance and accelerate infusion in cranberries and (2) the mechanisms operative during high-pressure-assisted infusion. The present study was focused on understanding influence of process variables on extent of infusion and cell permeability. HPP significantly enhanced and accelerated infusion of quercetin in cranberries. Additionally, the commonly accepted explanation of cell permeabilization being the only cause for enhanced infusion under high pressure was not found to be operative in the current system of study. The success of this research can highlight the potential of HPP as an alternative technology that will be useful to the food industry to develop a broad class of nutrient infused food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amphibian micronucleus test has been widely used during the last 30 years to test the genotoxic properties of several chemicals and as a tool for ecogenotoxic monitoring. The vast majority of these studies were performed on peripheral blood of urodelan larvae and anuran tadpoles and to a lesser extent adults were also used. In this study, we developed protocols for measuring micronuclei in adult shed skin cells and larval gill cells of the Italian crested newt ( Triturus carnifex). Amphibians were collected from ponds in two protected areas in Italy that differed in their radon content. Twenty-three adult newts and 31 larvae were captured from the radon-rich pond, while 20 adults and 27 larvae were taken from the radon-free site. The animals were brought to the laboratory and the micronucleus test was performed on peripheral blood and shed skins taken from the adults and on larval gills. Samples from the radon-rich site showed micronucleus frequencies higher than those from the radon-free site and the difference was statistically significant in gill cells ( P < 0.00001). Moreover, the larval gills seem to be more sensitive than the adult tissues. This method represents an easy (and noninvasive in the case of the shed skin) application of the micronucleus assay that can be useful for environmental studies in situ. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 56:412-417, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean Sea is currently under siege by a conspicuous alien pressure, and, within some families (e.g. the Ostreidae), the number of native species seems to be remarkably outnumbered by that of the alien ones. We wanted to test the reliability of the molecular data currently available on the small alien oysters recently invading the Mediterranean Sea. Samples from Greece and Turkey, encompassing the known species-specific morphological variation, were sequenced for the markers with the widest taxonomic coverage in the group of small oysters (i.e. the 16S rDNA and the COI). The sequences obtained have been compared with those available in GenBank, and a possible identification at the species level has been finally tested in a DNA-barcoding fashion. The present results clearly demonstrated that our samples belong to a single, morphologically highly variable species. Their 16S sequences were closely related to a sequence registered under the name Dendostrea folium, with a genetic distance which does not warrant conspecificity. Additionally, a remarkable number of sequences retrieved from the GenBank (of both genes) did not form a monophyletic group according to the published classification of the vouchers, suggesting—at least in part—an origin from specimens not properly identified. Both genes seem promising for use as DNA-barcode, although the COI will probably prove more effective. Therefore, we urge the availability of a baseline of oyster pedigreed DNA barcode sequences in the public databases, to allow the use of such genetic data to reliably monitor bio-invasions in the Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Faunistic inventories of particular regions would provide essential datasets for conservation and resource management, but often data are not evenly distributed through the space and time as a consequence of an unequal sampling effort. Therefore, to accurately estimate species diversity it is necessary to minimize this potential confounding effect embedded within most existing datasets. In this study, we identified as high-priority conservation targets areas of high-value species diversity of amphibians in Latium (Central Italy), by illustrating a methodology to generate biodiversity patterns from very heterogeneous datasets, which accounts for the relationships between species richness and sampling effort. We analyzed 6656 data records collected from 1991–2011, which were assigned to the corresponding 10 × 10 km cell of the UTM grid. In order to remove the bias introduced by the differential field effort across cells, we used regression analyses after applying a curve estimation procedure. Then, we validated the best regression model by comparing species richness estimated using this model against that obtained using rarefaction curves. Our results show that the use of residuals can be a suitable approach for controlling the influence of sampling effort on the observed species richness except in a very unequal distribution of the records. Indeed, residuals can be calculated for any cells, irrespective of the observation effort, while when using rarefaction curves a relatively high number of records per cell is required. Finally, when contrasting the amphibian diversity pattern with the existing network of protected areas, several conservation gaps are identified in Latium, especially in mountainous areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological invasions have become a major cause of biodiversity loss. Tracing the origin of the populations of alien species is essential to infer the dispersal pathway and finally to set conservation policies aimed at preventing new introductions. The Italian wall lizard,Podarcis sicula, is one of the reptile species most widely introduced, with allochthonous populations occurring from the United States to Turkey. For some of them, instances of geographic expansion and competition/hybridization with autochthonousPodarcissp. have been indicated. In the Iberian Peninsula, five introduced populations are known: Lisbon (W Portugal), Noja, Cantabria (N Spain), La Rioja (N Spain) and Almería (S Spain) and Sant Celoni, Barcelona (NE Spain) while the species now widely ranges Menorca Island in the Balearics. Here we assess the origin of four populations (Barcelona population will not be included) by comparing in a phylogenetic framework the cytochromebgene sequences of specimens from the introduced and native populations. The results from this study provide evidence for distinct sources, pathways, and timing of introduction in Iberian Peninsula and Balearics byP. siculafrom Tuscany, Calabria, Sicily, and Sardinia. This finding underpins the fact thatP. siculaholds considerable potential invasiveness and advises for conservation strategies based on a global and preventive plan for avoiding new introductions as well as on eradication and control measures when prevention fails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For planning practical measures aimed at biodiversity protection, conservation priorities must be identified at a local scale. Unfortunately, identifying local conservation priorities requires high-resolution data on species distribution, and these are often unavailable. Atlases of species distribution provide data for several groups of organisms in many different areas but are often too coarse in resolution to provide valuable information. We explored the possibility of cross-scale modelling species distributions and we clarified, for the first time, its effect on prioritization exercises. We used different modelling techniques for scaling down atlas data for Sardinian reptiles, validated the outcomes with detailed, field-sampled data, and compared conservation priorities deriving from atlas maps and downscaled models. Doing this, we obtained as a further result the identification of priority species and areas for future conservation strategies. Our results encourage us to experiment further with this approach. Through the downscaling procedure, we obtain high-resolution models with strong variations in predictive performances, although most of the models show satisfactory/excellent scores. This testifies that low-resolution data can be downscaled maintaining low rates of omission and commission errors. Increasing the resolution of distribution maps used for prioritization influences the spatial patterns of priority but does not modify the evaluation of species representation. Overall, we show that atlases can meet the large demand for distribution data by decision makers if appropriate downscaling procedures are adopted. In addition, we provide practical instruments for the conservation of reptiles in Sardinia by identifying priority species and areas that require strict management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibians have emerged as a major conservation concern because of the global decline in their numbers in recent decades. Notwithstanding, they are often neglected in conservation planning respects to other less threatened vertebrate groups. In Italy, few studies have analyzed the effectiveness of amphibian protection regimes. The main aim of this paper is to estimate the contribution of the WWF oases network to amphibians conservation in Italy. Moreover, we conducted a prioritization of this network and we individuated additional areas that should be protected for implementing an oases role. We assembled the largest and most up-to-date dataset available for amphibians in the WWF oases, and we adopted a spatial approach based on gap and irreplaceability analyses. Our results provide a critical assessment of the oases importance for amphibians conservation. Many species that are completely uncovered by oases protection have been identified, and new areas suitable for filling the conservation gap have been recognized. We recommend designation of new reserves in these areas to help guarantee amphibian conservation. Moreover, we identified those oases that ensure the representation of the largest number of species. In this light, Monte Arcosu appeared to be the most important site for the achievement of the current degree of species representation. Together with six other oases that obtained high irreplaceability scores, Monte Arcosu represents a priority for the preservation of amphibian diversity. Specific initiatives should be primarily implemented in these oases, guaranteeing that highly irreplaceable sites will maintain their crucial role in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which compared the results of numerical modeling of continuous flow microwave heating using the COMSOL Multiphysics v3.4 and ANSYS 8.0 software packages. The primary aim was to develop a three dimensional (3-D) model in COMSOL based on coupling of Maxwell's equation with heat and momentum transport equations. The COMSOL and ANSYS models were in close agreement in their prediction of power loss. Both models produced similar temperature profile prediction.

Cardiovascular diseases (CYDs) account for 45% of all deaths in the western world according to the 2004 World Health Organization statistics report. Heart failure (HF), CVD's primary paradigm, mainly affects people older than 65. The European MyHeart Project's mission is to empower citizens to fight CVD by leading a preventative lifestyle and allowing early diagnosis. This paper presents the iterative design and development of the HF management system, part of MyHeart Project. The system daily measures vital body signals to assess HF. The methodology applied herein has involved stakeholders in an iterative process: concept validation, feasibility, efficiency, patients' experience, and patients' acceptance. The final solution allows patient self-management of their chronic condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ballast water transported in ocean going vessels has been demonstrated to introduce invasive aquatic species during the de-ballasting operations at ports of destinations around the world. Continuous microwave heating in focusing cavities can be applied as a treatment to ballast water to eliminate these invasive species. This paper presents the first attempt to numerically model the temperature and flow distribution in ballast water heated through a continuous focused microwave system. The model was developed by coupling the High Frequency Electromagnetic Module and FLOTRAN CFD Module in the finite element analysis software ANSYS Multiphysics™ (Pittsburg, PA), and the numerical results were validated against experimental data at different salinities using model ballast water (0 and 1.5%) heated in a 915 MHz focused microwave unit at 4.5 kW incident power. The average absolute errors between the experimental and modeling data were approximately 3°C and 3.9°C for the 0% and the 1.5% salinity studies, respectively. Several parameters were investigated with respect to their influence on the ballast water temperature, including water salinity (0 and 1.5%) and flow rate (1 and 1.6 lpm). The highest temperature increase (ΔT of 40°C) was achieved for the 1.5% salinity water at 1 lpm, while the lowest temperature increase (ΔT of 6°C) was observed for the 0% salinity water at 1.6 lpm. The power loss was numerically determined to be 0.7 kW for 0% water, respectively 2.5 kW for the 1.5% saltwater. The developed model was helpful in understanding the process of continuous microwave heating of ballast water and the effects of salt content and flow rates on the temperature profile of ballast water for temperatures below boiling. The model can be used as a tool by researchers and engineers interested in designing continuous microwave systems for heat treatment applications of ballast water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contest of European and National choices regarding energy and mobility policies, the goal of this paper is to introduce reasonable guidelines for the local promotion of electric mobility in an area of central Italy and possibly to extend the methodology to other regions/countries. In fact, the path towards car electrification is started worldwide, but the rate of increase of electrically powered cars will depend primarily on charging stations availability. In this respect, utilities that manage/own local grids may be key actors by investing on infrastructures and thus locally creating the conditions for the spreading of electric cars. A techno-economic analysis of the investment of a local utility has been performed taking into account medium- and long term-forecasts of electricity and fuel prices, as well as electric cars market share and economic risk. The study proved that an investment in urban charging station infrastructure in Italy can be profitable even without incentives, with a payback period of 4–5 years. The results of the analysis have been exploited by an Italian utility which owns/manages the local electric grid in two municipalities. The first steps of the plan implementation, which started in 2014, are reported in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]