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Simple Summary: Honeybees are vital pollinators, essential for maintaining ecosystems and biodiversity, but there is rising concern about the health of managed honey bee colonies, especially in heavily human-influenced ecosystems. Multiple factors contribute to this decline, including environmental conditions, forage quality, and pesticide use. These elements have a complex effect on the health and nutritional status of honeybee colonies and influence their response to disease and various stressors. In this study, the authors propose a new approach to assess colony health by correlating common measures of colony strength such as honey and pollen reserves, the number of bees, and brood with hemolymph proteins, common bee pathogens (Varroa destructor and Nosema spp.), and essential trace elements (iron, zinc, and copper). Significant correlations were found between hemolymph proteins and colony performance measures, and between V. destructor and hemolymph proteins and iron content. In conclusion, this study confirms the need for a more holistic approach to honeybee health considering all the relevant aspects and critical points that may affect colony survival. Environment, forage quality, management practices, pathogens, and pesticides influence honeybee responses to stressors. This study proposes an innovative approach to assess colony health and performance using molecular diagnostic tools by correlating hemolymph proteins with common measures of colony strength, prevalent honeybee pathogens (Varroa destructor and Nosema spp.), and essential trace elements (iron, zinc and copper). Colonies were selected from four apiaries located in different environmental and foraging conditions in the province of Bologna (Italy). Hemolymph samples were taken from June to October 2019. The Varroa infestation of the colonies was estimated by assessing the natural mortality of the mites, while the bees were tested for Nosema spp. spores using a microscopic method. Hemolymph proteins were quantified and separated using SDS-PAGE, and colony performance was assessed by determining adult bees, total brood, honey, and pollen reserves. The biomarkers measured proved to be useful for monitoring changes in performance and trophic conditions during summer and early autumn. Significant correlations were found between hemolymph proteins and colony performance measures. A positive correlation between pollen reserves, vitellogenin, and hexamerin 70a highlights the importance of these proteins for successful overwintering. In October, Varroa infestation was negatively correlated with total proteins, vitellogenin, apolipophorin II, transferrin, and hexamerin 70a, with negative implications for overwintering; furthermore, Varroa infestation was also negatively correlated with iron content, potentially affecting iron homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis E virus belonging to the Rocahepevirus ratti species, genotype HEV-C1, has been extensively reported in rats in Europe, Asia and North America. Recently, human cases of hepatitis associated with HEV-C1 infection have been reported, but the zoonotic nature of rat-HEV remains controversial. The transmission route of rat-HEV is unidentified and requires further investigation. The HEV strains of the Paslahepevirus balayani species, belonging to the same Hepeviridae family, and including the zoonotic genotype HEV-3 usually found in pigs, have also sporadically been identified in rats. We sampled 115 rats (liver, lung, feces) between 2020 and 2023 in Northeast Italy and the HEV detection was carried out by using Reverse Transcription PCR. HEV RNA was detected in 3/115 (2.6%) rats who tested positive for HEV-C1 strains in paired lung, intestinal contents and liver samples. Overall, none tested positive for the Paslahepevirus balayani strains. In conclusion, our results confirm the presence of HEV-rat in Italy with a prevalence similar to previous studies but show that there is a wide heterogeneity of strains in circulation. The detection of HEV-C1 genotype of Rocahepevirus ratti species in some human cases of acute hepatitis suggests that HEV-C1 may be an underestimated source of human infections. This finding, with the geographically widespread detection of HEV-C1 in rats, raises questions about the role of rats as hosts for both HEV-C1 and HEV-3 and the possibility of zoonotic transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural performance of laminated glass is strongly dependent on the shear coupling offered by the interlayer between the bounding layered and monolithic limits of the glass plies. The most common simplified design approach consists of defining the effective thickness, i.e., the thickness of a monolithic section with equivalent flexural section properties. The Enhanced Effective Thickness (EET) method has been verified to estimate deflection in laminated glass for a range of load and boundary conditions for two-, three-, and multi-ply beams; however, for some static schemes, the EET method is less accurate for predicting stress. The recently proposed Conjugate Beam Effective Thickness (CBET) method, initially developed for cantilevered laminated glass balustrade applications, accounts for the relative displacement of glass plies across the interlayer for a range of loads and statically determinate boundary conditions. In this paper, the CBET method is extended to the evaluation of two-ply simply supported beams under concentrated, uniformly, and tapered distributed out-of-plane loads. Predicted deflection- and stress-effective thickness obtained from effective thickness methods is compared with finite element model results in illustrative examples, demonstrating improved accuracy. Closed-form formulas are summarized in tables to facilitate the practical application of the CBET method in the design practice.

A critical issue in the design of structural glass elements in buildings is represented by the evaluation of thermally induced stresses and strains. For both climatic actions and fire, thermal stresses represent one of the main causes of premature failure, due to the high sensitivity of glass to temperature gradients. Thermal loads pose a severe safety risk for glass, due to their uneven distribution but also the lack of knowledge on the modification of mechanical properties with temperature. In design practice, approximate tools are used to describe temperature fields in glazing, which do not adequately estimate the thermally induced stresses. Additionally, the existing standards prescribe different methods for the calculation of both the temperature field and the consequent stress, usually based on strong simplifying assumptions, and there is a lack of uniformly defined procedures. Here, an accurate review of the state of the art on glass elements exposed to thermal actions, from both the scientific and the regulatory perspectives, is presented. Reference is made first to the evaluation of the thermal actions, and further to the proper assessment of both the temperature distribution and the consequent thermal stress. The paper also emphasizes open problems and future perspectives related to these topics, to evidence areas of research that should be strengthened and possible future enhancements to the current design and assessment methodologies, which should also be introduced in a regulatory framework.

Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide distributed zoonotic protozoan capable of infecting a wide range of mammals (including humans) and birds as intermediate hosts. Migratory wild birds, through interconnecting countries along their flyways, can play a role in the spatial spread of T. gondii and could contribute to its sylvatic cycle. Additionally, hunted wild birds used for meat consumption could represent a further source of human infection. To determine the presence of T. gondii in wild birds, a total of 50 individuals belonging to the Anseriformes and Charadriiformes orders were sampled during the 2021–2022 hunting season in Northern Italy. Cardiac muscle samples of three Northern shovelers (Anas clypeata), two wild mallards (A. platyrhynchos), one Eurasian teal (A. crecca), and one Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) were positive for the molecular detection of T. gondii based on a targeted amplification of the B1 gene. A 14% (7/50) overall positivity was observed in the sampled population. Results from this study suggest a moderate exposure of wild aquatic birds to T. gondii, highlighting the importance of a further characterization of T. gondii in its wildlife hosts.

In the last decade, green solutions for road tunnels have steadily emerged in the field of engineering. The focus has been on using renewable energy sources to conserve energy and address issues of disaster risk management, territorial resilience and vulnerability, especially as these issues relate to critical infrastructures (CIs), such as roads and railways. Focusing on the equilibrium of the infrastructure through integrated system services and their external effects guarantees a better evaluation of both effects as they relate to other systems and energy consumption optimisation. To this end, a systematic literature review has been conducted herein that collects and analyses studies carried out in the last decade that relate to green energy solutions in tunnels. Upon a review of the Scopus database from 2013 to 2022, 46 conceptual and empirical studies were selected. Classifications and discussions were then developed according to the main issues identified (e.g., energy saving in road tunnels, zero-energy tunnels, renewable energy sources, tunnel safety lighting, and sustainable infrastructure). Each contribution constitutes a part of the current literature that combines the problems of tunnel safety (as represented by the energy costs of safety devices, e.g., tunnel lighting systems) with issues of renewable energy sources in tunnels. The results of this systematic review offer ideas for future directions of the ‘green’ vision for tunnel infrastructure. This study represents the state-of-the-art of renewable energy solutions currently present worldwide. Gaps in the literature that have yet to be addressed include how to build a green system as well as how to balance its life costs. The review supports the claim that the integration of renewable energy sources can exploit innovative solutions related to the concept of resilience.

The management of forearm nonunion is challenging for orthopaedic surgeons because the forearm is a unique anatomical segment in which all the bones and structures involved embody a complex functional unit. Therefore, when treating such a complex condition, the surgeon must focus not only on bone healing but also on the restoration of the native anatomy in order to replicate the normal relationship between the bones and all the surrounding structures and thus the full function of the forearm, the elbow and the wrist.Here we report the case of a 53-year-old patient with a left forearm deformity due to an atrophic nonunion of the ulna and a malunion of the radius, which was successfully managed with the use of the Masquelet technique associated with a corrective osteotomy of the radius, performed with the aid of a 3D model.

Bovine eosinophilic myositis (BEM) is a specific inflammatory myopathy, often associated with Sarcocystis spp., with multifocal gray-green lesions leading to carcass condemnation with considerable economic losses. Here is described a peculiar case of BEM that occurred in an adult (16 month) cattle, born in France, bred, and slaughtered in Italy at the end of 2021. On inspection, muscles showed the typical multifocal gray-green lesions that were sampled for, cytological, histological, and molecular investigations, while meat juice was subjected to IFAT for Toxoplasma IgG. Genomic DNA was extracted from lesions, portions of healthy muscle and from meat juice pellet and analyzed by PCR targeting 18S rDNA, COI mtDNA and B1 genes, and sequenced. The cytology showed inflammatory cells mostly referable to eosinophils; at histology, protozoan cysts and severe granulomatous myositis were observed. A BEM lesion and meat juice pellet subjected to PCR showed, concurrently, sequences referable both to S. hominis and T. gondii. Meat juice IFAT resulted negative for T. gondii IgG. Our findings highlight the first detection of T. gondii DNA in association with S. hominis in a BEM case, suggesting a multiple parasite infection associated with this pathology, although the actual role of T. gondii infection in the pathophysiology of the diseases should be clarified.

Simple Summary: In the realm of next-generation imaging, whole-body MRI (WB-MRI) is evolving as a key player in the modern management of patients with prostate cancer, showing great potential in the initial staging of high-risk disease, post-treatment evaluation, and recurrence assessment. This technique showcases both notable agreement and complementarity with PET/CT, particularly in identifying secondary bone, nodal, and visceral lesions. WB-MRI's strength lies in its "one size fits all" nature, avoiding contrast agents and radiotracers and adapting to diverse patient needs. Leveraging DWI and rFF%, it excels in bone metastasis detection, offering a comprehensive view. With promising potential for precise response assessment, WB-MRI emerges as a transformative tool in the management of metastatic prostate cancer. Prostate cancer ranks among the most prevalent tumours globally. While early detection reduces the likelihood of metastasis, managing advanced cases poses challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Current international guidelines support the concurrent use of 99Tc-Bone Scintigraphy and Contrast-Enhanced Chest and Abdomen CT for the staging of metastatic disease and response assessment. However, emerging evidence underscores the superiority of next-generation imaging techniques including PSMA-PET/CT and whole-body MRI (WB-MRI). This review explores the relevant scientific literature on the role of WB-MRI in metastatic prostate cancer. This multiparametric imaging technique, combining the high anatomical resolution of standard MRI sequences with functional sequences such as diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and bone marrow relative fat fraction (rFF%) has proved effective in comprehensive patient assessment, evaluating local disease, most of the nodal involvement, bone metastases and their complications, and detecting the increasing visceral metastases in prostate cancer. It does have the advantage of avoiding the injection of contrast medium/radionuclide administration, spares the patient the exposure to ionizing radiation, and lacks the confounder of FLARE described with nuclear medicine techniques. Up-to-date literature regarding the diagnostic capabilities of WB-MRI, though still limited compared to PSMA-PET/CT, strongly supports its widespread incorporation into standard clinical practice, alongside the latest nuclear medicine techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae is the most important blood-sucking ectoparasite in egg-laying hen facilities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro acaricidal activity of different concentration of authorized (phoxim, ByeMite®, 500 mg/mL) and unauthorized (fipronil, Frontline® 250 mg/100 mL spray) molecules on 14 field isolates of D. gallinae collected from different ornamental poultry farms from different Italian regions. The sensitivity test was performed by contact exposure to four concentrations of each insecticide diluted at 1:5 (10,000-2000-400-80 ppm for phoxim, 500-100-20-4 ppm for fipronil) on a filter paper. The effectiveness of the treatment was significantly (p < 0.0001) associated with the dose of the pesticide used. Considering the mean lethality, phoxim has greater efficacy compared to fipronil (p < 0.001). A great variability of lethality rate was observed with the increase in fipronil dilution; conversely, for phoxim, some outliers were observed, particularly in one farm, suggesting the hypothesis that a certain degree of resistance in the mite population could occur possibly as a consequence of the continual contact with the molecule. This underlines the importance of the use of licensed products administered at correct dosages and the need for alternative molecules to avoid the onset of drug resistance phenomena.

Introduction Youth with brain-based disabilities (BBDs), as well as their parents/caregivers, often feel ill-prepared for the transfer from paediatric to adult healthcare services. To address this pressing issue, we developed the MyREADY TransitionTM BBD App, a patient-facing e-health intervention. The primary aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) was to determine whether the App will result in greater transition readiness compared with usual care for youth with BBD. Secondary aims included exploring the contextual experiences of youth using the App, as well as the interactive processes of youth, their parents/caregivers and healthcare providers around use of the intervention.Methods and analysis We aimed to randomise 264 youth with BBD between 15 and 17 years of age, to receive existing services/usual care (control group) or to receive usual care along with the App (intervention group). Our recruitment strategy includes remote and virtual options in response to the current requirements for physical distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will use an embedded experimental model design which involves embedding a qualitative study within a RCT. The Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire will be administered as the primary outcome measure. Analysis of covariance will be used to compare change in the two groups on the primary outcome measure; analysis will be intention-to-treat. Interviews will be conducted with subsets of youth in the intervention group, as well as parents/caregivers and healthcare providers.Ethics and dissemination The study has been approved by the research ethics board of each participating site in four different regions in Canada. We will leverage our patient and family partnerships to find novel dissemination strategies. Study findings will be shared with the academic and stakeholder community, including dissemination of teaching and training tools through patient associations, and patient and family advocacy groups.Trial registration number NCT03852550.

Several developments have been recently achieved to understand pet-dog parasites and their relationship with hosts; however, parasites' presence and distribution in shepherd-dog have been mainly neglected; this knowledge gap is of critical sanitary importance, as shepherd-dogs could harbor zoonotic helminths including Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. The related human disease, cystic echinococcosis, is a worldwide neglected disease, with high endemicity in the Mediterranean Basin. To evaluate the presence of E. granulosus and other parasites, a sheep-dog population from the province of Grosseto (Tuscany, Italy) has been investigated. Overall, 648 dog fecal samples obtained from 50 modern sheep farms, having a total of 216 dogs, were collected. Specimens were analyzed using a standardized centrifugal flotation method (specific gravity = 1.3). Taeniid eggs detected were further isolated using a sieving/flotation technique. DNA was isolated from eggs for PCR and sequence analyses for species identification (gene target: 12S rRNA and nad1). Thirty-nine (78%) farms tested positive for at least one parasite species or genus. The most represented intestinal helminths were Toxocara spp. in 64% of farms, followed by Ancylostomatidae (58%), Trichuris vulpis (50%), Capillaria spp. (34%), and taeniids (32%). Sequence analyses confirmed the presence of Taenia hydatigena in seven farms, Taenia (syn. Multiceps) multiceps in five farms, and T. pisiformis in one farm. No DNA was extracted from four previously taeniid egg-positive farms. No amplification of amplicon corresponding to E. granulosus was achieved in the investigated farms. Although not entirely expected, Spearman's test showed a positive correlation between flock size and the number of dogs per farm (ρ = 0.588, P < 0.001). The quantitative analysis reported that the home slaughter practice was affected neither by the flock size nor by the number of dogs per farm. The probability to diagnose farms positive for taeniids had been increased by about 35% for each dog unit increase [odds ratio (OR) = 1.35, P = 0.012]. In conclusion, the wide distribution of T. hydatigena and T. multiceps detected in the present study clearly reveals that dogs have still access to raw offal, a major risk for the transmission of E. granulosus. Home slaughtering is an unavoidable practice, and more efforts must be undertaken by the public health system to prevent and control potential zoonotic taeniids.