11,413 results on '"Clemente P."'
Search Results
252. Assessing resilience at different scales: from single assets to complex systems
- Author
-
Fuggini, Clemente, Solari, Celina, De Stefano, Rita, Bolletta, Fabio, and De Maio, Florencia Victoria
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
253. MR dynamic-susceptibility-contrast perfusion metrics in the presurgical discrimination of adult solitary intra-axial cerebellar tumors
- Author
-
Pons-Escoda, Albert, Garcia-Ruiz, Alonso, Garcia-Hidalgo, Clemente, Gil-Solsona, Ruben, Naval-Baudin, Pablo, Martin-Noguerol, Teodoro, Fernandez-Coello, Alejandro, Flores-Casaperalta, Susanie, Fernandez-Viñas, Montserrat, Gago-Ferrero, Pablo, Oleaga, Laura, Perez-Lopez, Raquel, and Majos, Carles
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
254. Editorial on the Special Issue on Insurance: complexity, risks and its connection with social sciences
- Author
-
Zappa, Diego, Clemente, Gian Paolo, Della Corte, Francesco, and Savelli, Nino
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
255. Social and Racial Disparities in Food Consumption Among Brazilian College Students: a Nationwide Study
- Author
-
Silva Júnior, André Eduardo, de Oliveira, Ana Debora Santos, Praxedes, Dafiny Rodrigues Silva, da Costa Paula, Déborah Tenório, de Lima Macena, Mateus, de Menezes Toledo Florêncio, Telma Maria, Clemente, Ana Paula Grotti, and Bueno, Nassib Bezerra
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
256. Structural assessment of the pedestrian bridge accessing Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy
- Author
-
Buffarini, Giacomo, Clemente, Paolo, Giovinazzi, Sonia, Ormando, Chiara, and Scafati, Federico
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
257. Optimal cashback in a cooperative framework for peer-to-peer insurance coverages
- Author
-
Clemente, Gian Paolo, Levantesi, Susanna, and Piscopo, Gabriella
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
258. Metastasis-Directed Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer Patients Treated with Systemic Therapy and Undergoing Oligoprogression: Report on 11 Consecutive Cases
- Author
-
Emanuele Chioccola, Mara Caroprese, Christina A. Goodyear, Angela Barillaro, Caterina Oliviero, Stefania Clemente, Chiara Feoli, Luigi Formisano, Antonio Farella, Laura Cella, Manuel Conson, and Roberto Pacelli
- Subjects
metastatic prostate cancer ,oligoprogression ,stereotactic body radiotherapy ,Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine ,R895-920 - Abstract
Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) targeted at metastatic sites of disease progression is emerging as a potential therapeutic approach for managing oligoprogressive prostate cancer. However, a definitive benefit has yet to be demonstrated. Herein, we present our institution’s experience with this treatment approach. Methods: From April 2018 to March 2023, 11 patients affected by oligoprogressive prostate cancer were treated with SBRT targeting the nodal or bone sites of progression while maintaining the ongoing systemic therapy. Three patients were undergoing single-agent ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy), while the remaining eight were receiving a subsequent line of systemic therapy. All patients were evaluated with a pre-treatment 68Ga-PSMA-11 or 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT, which demonstrated between one and five localizations of disease. All the active sites were treated with SBRT in one (15–24 Gy) or three (21–27 Gy) fractions, except for one patient, who was treated in five fractions (35 Gy). PSA serum levels were tested at baseline, one month after RT and at least every three months; all patients underwent a post-treatment 68Ga-PSMA-11 or 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT. The evaluated endpoints were PSA response, defined as a post-treatment decrease >50% from baseline measured within 6 months, time to next-line systemic treatment (NEST), local control (LC), biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS), radiological progression-free survival (rPFS) and freedom from polymetastatic progression (FPP). Results: Nineteen lesions were treated (seven nodal and twelve bone). At a median follow-up of 19 months (7–63), 9 of the 11 patients had a PSA response; all patients had local control of the treated metastases. A total of six patients switched to a next-line systemic treatment, with a median NEST of 13 months. Six patients had polymetastatic progression with an FPP median time of 19 months. No patients died during the follow-up period. The SBRT-related toxicity was negligible. Conclusions: Our data support the use of SBRT targeting the sites of oligoprogressive disease before moving to a subsequent line of systemic treatment in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Prospective studies to evaluate the potential impact of this approach on overall survival are warranted.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
259. A Personalized Mediterranean Diet Improves Pain and Quality of Life in Patients with Fibromyalgia
- Author
-
Ilenia Casini, Valeria Ladisa, Livio Clemente, Marianna Delussi, Elvira Rostanzo, Sofia Peparini, Anna Maria Aloisi, and Marina de Tommaso
- Subjects
Fibromyalgia ,Pain ,Inflammation ,Diet ,Mediterranean ,Anesthesiology ,RD78.3-87.3 - Abstract
Abstract Introduction Fibromyalgia is a form of chronic pain that affects a large number of women. It can start at any age and last a lifetime, with no cure. The Mediterranean diet is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate possible beneficial effects of a personalized Mediterranean diet in patients with fibromyalgia. Methods Outpatients with fibromyalgia were recruited and invited to participate in the study, including clinical, nutritional, and dietary assessments. Patients received a personalized Mediterranean diet (DIET group) or a general balanced diet (NODIET group) to be followed for 8 weeks. All tests were carried out at baseline and repeated after 4 and 8 weeks. Results In total, 100 subjects were included, 84 of whom completed the study. Most of the patients showed incorrect habits in terms of food choices, timing of meals and composition of nutrients. The DIET group showed an improvement in most of the fibromyalgia parameters, including the disability scores, fatigue, and anxiety. Conclusions The habit of eating inflammatory foods and/or eating meals with the wrong nutritional content would increase the negative status of patients with fibromyalgia. With this study, we confirm that proper attention to feeding habits would improve the quality of life of such patients.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
260. Affective temperaments and personality traits in couple well-being
- Author
-
Carmela Mento, Chiara La Barbiera, Maria Catena Silvestri, Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello, Clemente Cedro, Antonio Bruno, Gianluca Pandolfo, Fiammetta Iannuzzo, and Clara Lombardo
- Subjects
dark triad ,temperamental traits ,couple satisfaction ,Medicine (General) ,R5-920 - Abstract
Background. The objective of this study is to establish the link between affective temperament traits and maladaptive personality traits, to verify whether the potential presence of elements related to emotional, affective and dysfunctional relational functioning can affect the couple satisfaction, modifying the well-being or discomfort condition. Materials and Methods. A data collection questionnaire was developed to investigate the factors associated with dysfunctional emotional, affective, and relational modes of functioning. The sample consisted of 473 subjects. Data were collected including the TEMPS-A questionnaire, The Dirty Dozen Italian Assessment and the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS). Results. The findings of this study showed that the subscales of affective temperament were predictors of dark triad traits. The expressive, irritable and hyperthymic temperamental traits were found to be predictors of trait psychopathy; hyperthymic temperament is also a predictor of narcissistic traits and cyclothymic temperament is a predictor of lower couple satisfaction; men show higher scores than women in Dark triad. Conclusions. This study confirmed that temperamental traits can predict maladaptive personality traits belonging to the dark triad and confirms the importance of evaluating maladaptive personality traits to prevent forms of psychological violence in couple.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
261. Don’t Curb Your Enthusiasm! The Role of Work Engagement in Predicting Job Performance
- Author
-
Adela Reig-Botella, Pedro J. Ramos-Villagrasa, Elena Fernández-del Río, and Miguel Clemente
- Subjects
work engagement ,big five ,task performance ,contextual performance ,counterproductive work behaviors ,adaptive performance ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
Substantial evidence supports the idea that engaged workers reach high performance levels. Nevertheless, most research does not take into account that job performance is multidimensional. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between work engagement and performance (task performance, contextual performance, counterproductive work behaviors, and adaptive performance) and determine whether work engagement provides incremental validity over the Big Five personality traits in the prediction of performance. A questionaire with the variables of interest was filled in by 365 workers. Regression analyses revealed that work engagement plays a role in all dimensions of job performance. Results also revealed the differential functioning of work engagement dimensions, with vigor as the main predictor of task performance and the second predictor of adaptive performance, even when considering personality. High absorption decreases task performance but increases contextual performance, while dedication mediates between personality (i.e., agreeableness and extraversion) and CWB.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
262. Performance analysis of ground‐based long baseline radar distributed systems for space situational awareness
- Author
-
Sebastián Díaz Riofrío, Simão DaGraça Marto, Christos Ilioudis, Massimiliano Vasile, and Carmine Clemente
- Subjects
MIMO radar ,radar ,radar signal processing ,space debris ,Telecommunication ,TK5101-6720 - Abstract
Abstract Detection of space objects is a key component of space situational awareness, which could help prevent and minimise space collisions. While there have been lots of radar systems designed to detect space objects, few of them have dealt with long baseline distributed bistatic pairs. The authors focus on the feasibility of long baseline bistatic radars, which can be extended for the multistatic case; and the performance of the multistatic system for a target at different altitudes assuming one transmitter over three different scenarios: a cluster of receivers, receivers spread throughout the world and the combination of the two previous cases. To analyse the performance the multiple‐input‐multiple‐output (MIMO) ambiguity function (AF) will be employed. The results of the MIMO AF show how the fusion of different bistatic pairs improves the detection capabilities. Moreover, when the different radar measurements are coherently summed in the MIMO AF, the uncertainty on the location of the target is reduced.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
263. Quantum biochemical analysis of the TtgR regulator and effectors
- Author
-
E. G. de Carvalho Matias, K. S. Bezerra, A. H. Lima Costa, W. S. Clemente Junior, J. I. N. Oliveira, L. A. Ribeiro Junior, D. S. Galvão, and U. L. Fulco
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Abstract The recent expansion of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens poses significant challenges in treating healthcare-associated infections. Although antibacterial resistance occurs by numerous mechanisms, active efflux of the drugs is a critical concern. A single species of efflux pump can produce a simultaneous resistance to several drugs. One of the best-studied efflux pumps is the TtgABC: a tripartite resistance-nodulation-division (RND) efflux pump implicated in the intrinsic antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E. The expression of the TtgABC gene is down-regulated by the HTH-type transcriptional repressor TtgR. In this context, by employing quantum chemistry methods based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT) within the Molecular Fragmentation with Conjugate Caps (MFCC) approach, we investigate the coupling profiles of the transcriptional regulator TtgR in complex with quercetin (QUE), a natural polyphenolic flavonoid, tetracycline (TAC), and chloramphenicol (CLM), two broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. Our quantum biochemical computational results show the: [i] convergence radius, [ii] total binding energy, [iii] relevance (energetically) of the ligands regions, and [iv] most relevant amino acids residues of the TtgR-QUE/TAC/CLM complexes, pointing out distinctions and similarities among them. These findings improve the understanding of the binding mechanism of effectors and facilitate the development of new chemicals targeting TtgR, helping in the battle against the rise of resistance to antimicrobial drugs. These advances are crucial in the ongoing fight against rising antimicrobial drug resistance, providing hope for a future where healthcare-associated infections can be more beneficially treated.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
264. Assessing the Long-Term (48-Week) Effectiveness, Safety, and Tolerability of Fremanezumab in Migraine in Real Life: Insights from the Multicenter, Prospective, FRIEND3 Study
- Author
-
Piero Barbanti, Gabriella Egeo, Stefania Proietti, Florindo d’Onofrio, Cinzia Aurilia, Cinzia Finocchi, Laura Di Clemente, Maurizio Zucco, Alberto Doretti, Stefano Messina, Massimo Autunno, Angelo Ranieri, Antonio Carnevale, Bruno Colombo, Massimo Filippi, Miriam Tasillo, Steno Rinalduzzi, Pietro Querzani, Giuliano Sette, Lorenzo Forino, Francesco Zoroddu, Micaela Robotti, Alessandro Valenza, Cecilia Camarda, Laura Borrello, Marco Aguggia, Giovanna Viticchi, Carlo Tomino, Giulia Fiorentini, Bianca Orlando, Stefano Bonassi, Paola Torelli, and for the Italian Migraine Registry study group
- Subjects
Fremanezumab ,Migraine treatment ,CGRP monoclonal antibody ,Real-world ,Long-term treatment ,Psychiatric comorbidities ,Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system ,RC346-429 - Abstract
Abstract Introduction Long-term (1-year) fremanezumab treatment proved to be effective, safe, and well tolerated in individuals with migraine and 3 treatment failures and various comorbidities. Methods A 48-week, prospective, multicenter (n = 26), cohort study assessed fremanezumab’s effectiveness, safety, and tolerability in consecutive adults with HFEM or CM with > 3 treatment failures. Primary endpoint was variation from baseline in monthly migraine days (MMD) in HFEM and monthly headache days (MHD) in CM at weeks 45–48. Secondary endpoints were changes in monthly analgesic medications, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), and the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) scores and ≥ 50%, ≥ 75%, and 100% responder rates. Results Of 533 participants who had received ≥ 1 fremanezumab dose, 130 were treated for ≥ 48 weeks and considered for effectiveness analysis. No participant missed any treatment dosage every other consecutive month during the 12-month period. Primary endpoint: fremanezumab significantly (p 3) therapeutic failures, even in the presence of concomitant medication overuse, psychiatric comorbidities, or both. The effectiveness-to-tolerability ratio appears to be better in RWE than in RCTs.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
265. Exploring antioxidant strategies in the pathogenesis of ALS
- Author
-
Pinilla-González Víctor, Montecinos-Barrientos Benjamin, Martin-Kommer Clemente, Chichiarelli Silvia, Saso Luciano, and Rodrigo Ramón
- Subjects
antioxidants ,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ,oxidative stress ,iron chelation ,multitarget therapy ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
The central nervous system is essential for maintaining homeostasis and controlling the body’s physiological functions. However, its biochemical characteristics make it highly vulnerable to oxidative damage, which is a common factor in neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a leading cause of motor neuron disease, characterized by a rapidly progressing and incurable condition. ALS often results in death from respiratory failure within 3–5 years from the onset of the first symptoms, underscoring the urgent need to address this medical challenge. The aim of this study is to present available data supporting the role of oxidative stress in the mechanisms underlying ALS and to discuss potential antioxidant therapies currently in development. These therapies aim to improve the quality of life and life expectancy for patients affected by this devastating disease.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
266. An evolutionary parsimonious approach to estimate daily reference evapotranspiration
- Author
-
F. Javier Ruiz-Ortega, Eddie Clemente, Alicia Martínez-Rebollar, and J. Jassón Flores-Prieto
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Abstract The reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is an essential component in hydrological and ecological processes. The objective of this research is to develop an explicit model to estimate ETo only using commonly measurable meteorological parameters such as relative humidity, air temperature, and wind speed, where the measurements corresponding to solar radiation are omitted. The model was generated using Genetic Programming (GP), evaluated, and validated with reference data ETo using FAO56-PM. This reference data was obtained from different climates (warm-temperate and arid-warm) and latitudes, acquired from CIMIS stations in the state of California, United States, and the El Porvenir station in the state of Coahuila, located in north-central Mexico. After applying the proposed methodology, a total of 3754 results were generated, demonstrating a significant improvement in the estimation of ETo compared to the Hargreaves–Samani model. A particularly noteworthy result revealed that our approach outperformed the Hargreaves–Samani model in the training phase by 27%, and in the testing phase by 16%, on average. In order to achieve a generalized model, a dataset encompassing meteorological stations in two different climates (warm-temperate and arid-warm) and various latitudes was utilized. The obtained outcome unveiled a highly effective model for estimating ETo in diverse climatic contexts, eliminating the need for local adjustments. This model significantly surpassed the Hargreaves–Samani model, exhibiting superior performance by 17% during the training phase and 18% during the testing phase. These results conclusively underscore the capability of our approach to provide more accurate and reliable ETo estimates. These results conclusively underscore the capability of our approach to provide more accurate and reliable ETo estimates. Finally, to validate the model, four different datasets with climates similar to those used for model creation (warm-temperate, warm-arid) and different latitudes were employed. The validation stage results clearly indicate the superiority of our reference evapotranspiration ETo11 model over the Hargreaves–Samani model by 51% in warm-temperate climates. For the dataset with arid-warm climate, our model continued to show satisfactory results, surpassing the Hargreaves–Samani model by 8%. GP emerges as an innovative and effective alternative for simplified model development. This approach introduces a novel paradigm that facilitates the efficient development of models, standing out for its simplicity and effectiveness in generating solutions.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
267. Genomic malaria surveillance of antenatal care users detects reduced transmission following elimination interventions in Mozambique
- Author
-
Nanna Brokhattingen, Glória Matambisso, Clemente da Silva, Eric Neubauer Vickers, Arnau Pujol, Henriques Mbeve, Pau Cisteró, Sónia Maculuve, Boaventura Cuna, Cardoso Melembe, Nelo Ndimande, Brian Palmer, Manuel García-Ulloa, Humberto Munguambe, Júlia Montaña-Lopez, Lidia Nhamussua, Wilson Simone, Arlindo Chidimatembue, Beatriz Galatas, Caterina Guinovart, Eduard Rovira-Vallbona, Francisco Saúte, Pedro Aide, Andrés Aranda-Díaz, Bryan Greenhouse, Eusébio Macete, and Alfredo Mayor
- Subjects
Science - Abstract
Abstract Routine sampling of pregnant women at first antenatal care (ANC) visits could make Plasmodium falciparum genomic surveillance more cost-efficient and convenient in sub-Saharan Africa. We compare the genetic structure of parasite populations sampled from 289 first ANC users and 93 children from the community in Mozambique between 2015 and 2019. Samples are amplicon sequenced targeting 165 microhaplotypes and 15 drug resistance genes. Metrics of genetic diversity and relatedness, as well as the prevalence of drug resistance markers, are consistent between the two populations. In an area targeted for elimination, intra-host genetic diversity declines in both populations (p = 0.002-0.007), while for the ANC population, population genetic diversity is also lower (p = 0.0004), and genetic relatedness between infections is higher (p = 0.002) than control areas, indicating a recent reduction in the parasite population size. These results highlight the added value of genomic surveillance at ANC clinics to inform about changes in transmission beyond epidemiological data.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
268. Dynamic similarity and the peculiar allometry of maximum running speed
- Author
-
David Labonte, Peter J. Bishop, Taylor J. M. Dick, and Christofer J. Clemente
- Subjects
Science - Abstract
Abstract Animal performance fundamentally influences behaviour, ecology, and evolution. It typically varies monotonously with size. A notable exception is maximum running speed; the fastest animals are of intermediate size. Here we show that this peculiar allometry results from the competition between two musculoskeletal constraints: the kinetic energy capacity, which dominates in small animals, and the work capacity, which reigns supreme in large animals. The ratio of both capacities defines the physiological similarity index Γ, a dimensionless number akin to the Reynolds number in fluid mechanics. The scaling of Γ indicates a transition from a dominance of muscle forces to a dominance of inertial forces as animals grow in size; its magnitude defines conditions of “dynamic similarity“ that enable comparison and estimates of locomotor performance across extant and extinct animals; and the physical parameters that define it highlight opportunities for adaptations in musculoskeletal “design” that depart from the eternal null hypothesis of geometric similarity. The physiological similarity index challenges the Froude number as prevailing dynamic similarity condition, reveals that the differential growth of muscle and weight forces central to classic scaling theory is of secondary importance for the majority of terrestrial animals, and suggests avenues for comparative analyses of locomotor systems.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
269. Real-practice management and treatment of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease with siltuximab: a collection of clinical experiences
- Author
-
Bernardo Rossini, Nicola Cecchi, Felice Clemente, Maria Rosaria De Paolis, Stefan Hohaus, Vanessa Innao, Mariano Lucignano, Roberto Massaiu, Giovanna Palumbo, Gian Matteo Rigolin, Francesca Gaia Rossi, Luisa Verga, and Attilio Guarini
- Subjects
idiopathic multicentric castleman disease ,management ,siltuximab ,treatment ,Therapeutics. Pharmacology ,RM1-950 - Abstract
Castleman disease (CD) is a group of lymphoproliferative disorders that share common histopathological features yet have widely different aetiologies, clinical features and grades of severity as well as treatments and outcomes. Siltuximab is currently the only therapy approved by the FDA and EMA for idiopathic multicentric CD and is recommended as first-line therapy in treatment guidelines. Despite the extensive characterization of siltuximab treatment in clinical trials, available evidence from real-world practice is still scant. This collection of clinical experiences focuses on patients treated with siltuximab therapy, particularly regarding the idiopathic multicentric CD diagnostic work-up, and on treatment administration in patients with complex disease entering differential diagnosis with CD or concomitant diseases. Thus, these data help further characterize and improve the use of siltuximab in real practice in terms of effectiveness and safety of long-term administration as well as consequences of treatment interruption.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
270. Factors associated to mortality in children with critical COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in a resource-poor setting
- Author
-
Emmerson C. F. de Farias, Manoel J. C. Pavão Junior, Susan C. D. de Sales, Luciana M. P. P. do Nascimento, Dalila C. A. Pavão, Anna P. S. Pinheiro, Andreza H. O. Pinheiro, Marília C. B. Alves, Kíssila M. M. M. Ferraro, Larisse F. Q. Aires, Luana G. Dias, Mayara M. M. Machado, Michaelle J. D. Serrão, Raphaella R. Gomes, Sara M. P. de Moraes, Gabriella M. G. Moura, Adriana M. B. de Sousa, Gabriela C. L. Pontes, Railana D. F. P. Carvalho, Cristiane T. C. Silva, Guilherme Lemes, Bruna da C. G. Diniz, Aurimery G. Chermont, Kellen F. S. de Almeida, Salma B. Saraty, Mary L. F. Maia, Miriam R. C. Lima, Patricia B. Carvalho, Renata de B. Braga, Kathia de O. Harada, Maria C. A. Justino, Gleice Clemente, Maria Teresa Terreri, and Marta C. Monteiro
- Subjects
SARS-CoV-2 virus ,Intensive Care Unit ,Pediatric ,Child health ,Risk factor ,Mortality ,Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Abstract SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is usually asymptomatic/mild. However, some patients may develop critical forms. We aimed to describe characteristics and evaluate the factors associated to in-hospital mortality of patients with critical COVID-19/MIS-C in the Amazonian region. This multicenter prospective cohort included critically ill children (1 mo–18 years old), with confirmed COVID-19/MIS-C admitted to 3 tertiary Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) in the Brazilian Amazon, between April/2020 and May/2023. The main outcome was in-hospital mortality and were evaluated using a multivariable Cox proportional regression. We adjusted the model for pediatric risk of mortality score version IV (PRISMIV) score and age/comorbidity. 266 patients were assessed with 187 in the severe COVID-19 group, 79 included in the MIS-C group. In the severe COVID-19 group 108 (57.8%) were male, median age was 23 months, 95 (50.8%) were up to 2 years of age. Forty-two (22.5%) patients in this group died during follow-up in a median time of 11 days (IQR, 2–28). In the MIS-C group, 56 (70.9%) were male, median age was 23 months and median follow-up was 162 days (range, 3–202). Death occurred in 17 (21.5%) patients with a median death time of 7 (IQR, 4–13) days. The mortality was associated with higher levels of Vasoactive Inotropic-Score (VIS), presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), higher levels of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, (ESR) and thrombocytopenia. Critically ill patients with severe COVID-19 and MIS-C from the Brazilian Amazon showed a high mortality rate, within 12 days of hospitalization.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
271. Effects of recreational team sports on the metabolic health, body composition and physical fitness parameters of overweight and obese populations: A systematic review
- Author
-
Tao Wang, Liu Yang, Qi Xu, Jun Dou, and Filipe Clemente
- Subjects
group sport ,physical exercise ,cardiorespiratory fitness ,health ,overnutrition ,Sports medicine ,RC1200-1245 ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
This systematic review aims to provide a summary of the results from individual studies that specifically focused on overweight or obese populations, regardless of age or sex. The goal is to determine the effects of structured recreational team sports interventions (TSG) on metabolic health, body composition and physical fitness parameters when compared to passive or active control groups. This study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines for reporting a systematic review. A thorough examination of relevant literature was conducted on November 06, 2023, using three prominent databases: PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science. Inclusion criteria considered overweight (e.g., BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m 2 ) and obese (e.g., BMI > 30 kg/m 2 ) populations exposed to training interventions using recreational team sports, while the comparator group consisted of the same populations not exposed to exercise (passive controls) or exposed to alternative training methods. The primary outcomes of interest were metabolic health parameters (glucose, waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides), body composition (e.g., fat mass, lean mass), as well as physical fitness parameters (e.g., aerobic fitness, muscular fitness). Only studies with two- or multi-arm designs, whether randomized or not, were eligible for inclusion. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological bias of the included studies. Out of the initial 275 titles retrieved, we deemed ten eligible for our study. In terms of body composition, TSG demonstrated a significant decrease in body mass index across three studies (−2.3 to −5.1%) and a significant reduction in waist circumference in four studies (−4.6% to −8.4%). Regarding blood pressure, TSG exhibited a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure in two studies (−3.9% to -8.3%), while diastolic blood pressure showed a significant decrease in only one study (−7.3%). Cholesterol levels saw a significant decrease in TSG in three studies (−7.0% to −9.7%), and triglyceride levels showed a significant reduction in four studies (−16.4% to −20.1%). In terms of aerobic fitness, TSG demonstrated within group improvements in the field-based tests in three studies (8.1% to 79.0%), and within-group improvements in maximal oxygen uptake in four studies (6.5% to 31.0%), with significant favoring of TSG in most studies. Overall, TSG demonstrated significant benefits for overweight and obese populations compared to the control group, particularly in terms of improvements in body mass index, systolic blood pressures, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and aerobic fitness. Future research ought to concentrate on tailoring responses to varying training volumes on an individualized basis.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
272. Design of a binary programmable transmitarray based on phase change material for beam steering applications in D-band
- Author
-
Samara Gharbieh, Jorick Milbrandt, Bruno Reig, Denis Mercier, Marjolaine Allain, and Antonio Clemente
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Abstract This paper introduces the design of a reconfigurable transmitarray operating within the D-band frequency range (110–170 GHz). The transmitarray unit cell is composed of three metal layers and two quartz dielectric substrates. It achieves a 1-bit phase shift resolution through the alternating states of two innovative switches integrated into the active transmitting patch of the unit cell. To address the challenge of miniaturization in the D-band, compact switches compatible with the proposed unit cell dimensions are introduced. These switches are constructed using phase change materials (PCM) that change between amorphous and crystalline states when exposed to heat. The paper includes a full-wave simulation of the unit cell, demonstrating an insertion loss below 1.5 dB across a wide frequency band of 27%. Additionally, a 10 $$\times $$ × 10 elements transmitarray is synthesized using a numerical tool and its theoretical results are compared to full-wave electromagnetic simulations for validation purposes. The results indicate that by incorporating the proposed switches into the unit cell, the transmitarray achieves promising reconfiguration capabilities within the D-band. Moreover, the paper presents the architecture of a command line designed to bias the PCM switches. Notably, this command line represents a novel approach, as it enables individual biasing of each PCM switch using direct current (DC). The influence of these command lines on the transmitarray’s performance is thoroughly investigated. Although there is a compromise in the 1-dB gain bandwidth, the overall behavior of the transmitarray remains encouraging.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
273. Intracerebellar injection of monocytic immature myeloid cells prevents the adverse effects caused by stereotactic surgery in a model of cerebellar neurodegeneration
- Author
-
Carlos del Pilar, Lucía Garrido-Matilla, Lucía del Pozo-Filíu, Rafael Lebrón-Galán, Raúl F. Arias, Diego Clemente, José Ramón Alonso, Eduardo Weruaga, and David Díaz
- Subjects
Selective neurodegeneration ,Neuroinflammation ,Immune cell modulation ,Cell therapy ,Surgical brain injury ,MDSCs ,Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system ,RC346-429 - Abstract
Abstract Background Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) constitute a recently discovered bone-marrow-derived cell type useful for dealing with neuroinflammatory disorders. However, these cells are only formed during inflammatory conditions from immature myeloid cells (IMCs) that acquire immunosuppressive activity, thus being commonly gathered from diseased animals. Then, to obtain a more clinically feasible source, we characterized IMCs directly derived from healthy bone marrow and proved their potential immunosuppressive activity under pathological conditions in vitro. We then explored their neuroprotective potential in a model of human cerebellar ataxia, the Purkinje Cell Degeneration (PCD) mouse, as it displays a well-defined neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory process that can be also aggravated by invasive surgeries. Methods IMCs were obtained from healthy bone marrow and co-cultured with activated T cells. The proliferation and apoptotic rate of the later were analyzed with Tag-it Violet. For in vivo studies, IMCs were transplanted by stereotactic surgery into the cerebellum of PCD mice. We also used sham-operated animals as controls of the surgical effects, as well as their untreated counterparts. Motor behavior of mice was assessed by rotarod test. The Purkinje cell density was measured by immunohistochemistry and cell death assessed with the TUNEL technique. We also analyzed the microglial phenotype by immunofluorescence and the expression pattern of inflammation-related genes by qPCR. Parametric tests were applied depending on the specific experiment: one or two way ANOVA and Student’s T test. Results IMCs were proven to effectively acquire immunosuppressive activity under pathological conditions in vitro, thus acting as MDSCs. Concerning in vivo studios, sham-operated PCD mice suffered detrimental effects in motor coordination, Purkinje cell survival and microglial activation. After intracranial administration of IMCs into the cerebellum of PCD mice, no special benefits were detected in the transplanted animals when compared to untreated mice. Nonetheless, this transplant almost completely prevented the impairments caused by the surgery in PCD mice, probably by the modulation of the inflammatory patterns. Conclusions Our work comprise two main translational findings: (1) IMCs can be directly used as they behave as MDSCs under pathological conditions, thus avoiding their gathering from diseased subjects; (2) IMCs are promising adjuvants when performing neurosurgery.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
274. Hypoxia-induced immortalization of primary cells depends on Tfcp2L1 expression
- Author
-
D. Otero-Albiol, J. M. Santos-Pereira, A. Lucena-Cacace, C. Clemente-González, S. Muñoz-Galvan, Y. Yoshida, and A. Carnero
- Subjects
Cytology ,QH573-671 - Abstract
Abstract Cellular senescence is a stress response mechanism that induces proliferative arrest. Hypoxia can bypass senescence and extend the lifespan of primary cells, mainly by decreasing oxidative damage. However, how hypoxia promotes these effects prior to malignant transformation is unknown. Here we observed that the lifespan of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) is increased when they are cultured in hypoxia by reducing the expression of p16 INK4a , p15 INK4b and p21 Cip1 . We found that proliferating MEFs in hypoxia overexpress Tfcp2l1, which is a main regulator of pluripotency and self-renewal in embryonic stem cells, as well as stemness genes including Oct3/4, Sox2 and Nanog. Tfcp2l1 expression is lost during culture in normoxia, and its expression in hypoxia is regulated by Hif1α. Consistently, its overexpression in hypoxic levels increases the lifespan of MEFs and promotes the overexpression of stemness genes. ATAC-seq and Chip-seq experiments showed that Tfcp2l1 regulates genes that control proliferation and stemness such as Sox2, Sox9, Jarid2 and Ezh2. Additionally, Tfcp2l1 can replicate the hypoxic effect of increasing cellular reprogramming. Altogether, our data suggest that the activation of Tfcp2l1 by hypoxia contributes to immortalization prior to malignant transformation, facilitating tumorigenesis and dedifferentiation by regulating Sox2, Sox9, and Jarid2.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
275. Exploring spirituality, religion and life philosophy among parents of children receiving palliative care: a qualitative study
- Author
-
Pau Miquel, Ignasi Clemente, and Mario Ciccorossi
- Subjects
End of life ,Terminal illness ,Spiritual assessment ,Relational ,Transcendent ,Interview data ,Special situations and conditions ,RC952-1245 - Abstract
Abstract Background Few studies have examined the spiritual environment of parents of children receiving palliative care in Southern European countries, which are mostly characterized by secularization (or the abandonment of traditional religiosity) and an increase of cultural and religious diversities resulting in a much broader spectrum of spiritual and religious beliefs. This study aimed to explore the parents’ own spirituality, religiosity, and philosophy of life in coping with the care of their child with palliative needs. Methods Qualitative interviews of 14 parents of children included in a palliative care program in a pediatric hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Inclusion criteria were parents of children who have been cared for the palliative care program for a minimum of 3 months and who displayed a willingness to talk about their personal experiences and gave written consent. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed by an independent service, and analyzed on a case-by-case basis using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results The three domains identified were life philosophy, relational, and transcendent. Life philosophy included principles that guided parents’ decision-making, and how the onset of their child’s serious illness had promoted a change in their values. Relational was focused on how they perceived themselves (e.g. motherhood), others (e.g. one’s own child exceptionality), and the way they believed others perceived and supported them (e.g. relatives, friends, and healthcare providers). The transcendent domain involved God-related concepts, divinity and divine intervention (e.g. a miracle as an interpretive framework for that which cannot be explained within scientific knowledge limitations). Conclusions Inflexible categories identifying parents as having a particular religious faith tradition are not sufficient to capture the interrelation of knowledges (ethical, religious, scientific) that each parent generates when faced with their child receiving palliative care. Clinicians should explore parents’ spirituality in an individualized way that responds to the uniqueness of their experiential process.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
276. Dysfunction of Drosophila mitochondrial carrier homolog (Mtch) alters apoptosis and disturbs development
- Author
-
Cristina González, Lidia Martínez‐Sánchez, Paula Clemente, Janne Markus Toivonen, Juan José Arredondo, Miguel Ángel Fernández‐Moreno, and José Alberto Carrodeguas
- Subjects
apoptosis ,development ,Drosophila ,mitochondria ,mitochondrial carrier homolog (MTCH) ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Mitochondrial carrier homologs 1 (MTCH1) and 2 (MTCH2) are orphan members of the mitochondrial transporter family SLC25. Human MTCH1 is also known as presenilin 1‐associated protein, PSAP. MTCH2 is a receptor for tBid and is related to lipid metabolism. Both proteins have been recently described as protein insertases of the outer mitochondrial membrane. We have depleted Mtch in Drosophila and show here that mutant flies are unable to complete development, showing an excess of apoptosis during pupation; this observation was confirmed by RNAi in Schneider cells. These findings are contrary to what has been described in humans. We discuss the implications in view of recent reports concerning the function of these proteins.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
277. Lead iodide thin films deposited by sputtering: The effect of deposition temperature on the optical and structural properties
- Author
-
José Maria Clemente da Silva Filho, Nelson Fabian Villegas Borrero, Andreia de Morais, Jilian Nei de Freitas, and Francisco das Chagas Marques
- Subjects
Lead iodide ,Thin films ,Optical and structural properties ,Energy industries. Energy policy. Fuel trade ,HD9502-9502.5 ,Renewable energy sources ,TJ807-830 - Abstract
Lead iodide (PbI2) is a 2D layered semiconductor used in several electronic applications, such as solar cells, X-ray, and gamma-ray detectors. Most of its properties have been reported for monocrystals or polycrystalline thick films used in high-energy photon detectors. As for thin films used in other optoelectronic devices, the reported properties are limited to the conditions adopted in manufacturing the devices. Furthermore, very little is known about the properties of films deposited by sputtering. Here, we investigate the optical and structural properties of PbI2 thin films deposited by rf-sputtering a PbI2 target. The deposition temperature significantly influences the film's properties, as determined by X-ray, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-vis, and Raman spectroscopy. A common characteristic at all temperatures was forming metallic lead (Pb) segregated in the surface of films, with concentration depending on the deposition temperature. These lead clusters were successfully converted into PbI2 using an iodination process, allowing the synthesis of pure PbI2 films without lead segregation. The activation energy for the reaction between Pb clusters and iodine vapor was determined by adopting the Arrhenius equation. It was also observed that converting PbI2 film into perovskite through the two-step process, by immersion of the PbI2 film into methylammonium iodide solution, transforms the segregated lead into perovskite. The sputtering technique allows the deposition of uniform films over large areas compatible with roll-to-roll processes, which are desired to produce large-area detectors and perovskite solar cells.
- Published
- 2025
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
278. Stability and instability of strange dwarfs
- Author
-
Di Clemente, Francesco, Drago, Alessandro, Char, Prasanta, and Pagliara, Giuseppe
- Subjects
Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics ,Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena ,High Energy Physics - Phenomenology ,Nuclear Theory - Abstract
More than 20 years ago, Glendenning, Kettner and Weber proposed the existence of stable white dwarfs with a core of strange quark matter. More recently, by studying radial modes, Alford, Harris and Sachdeva concluded instead that those objects are unstable. We aim to clarify this issue. We investigate the stability of these objects by looking at their radial oscillations while incorporating boundary conditions at the quark-hadron interface, corresponding to either a rapid or a slow conversion of hadrons into quarks. Our analysis shows that objects of this type are stable if the star is not strongly perturbed, and ordinary matter cannot transform into strange quark matter because of the Coulomb barrier separating the two components. On the other hand, ordinary matter can be transformed into strange quark matter if the star undergoes a violent process, as in the preliminary stages of a type Ia supernova, and this causes the system to become unstable and to collapse into a strange quark star. In this way, accretion-induced collapse of strange dwarfs can be facilitated, and km-sized objects with subsolar masses can be produced., Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures. Version accepted for publication on A&A Letters
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
279. A Systematic Literature Review of Game-based Assessment Studies: Trends and Challenges
- Author
-
Gomez, Manuel J., Ruipérez-Valiente, José A., and Clemente, Félix J. García
- Subjects
Computer Science - Computers and Society - Abstract
Technology has become an essential part of our everyday life, and its use in educational environments keeps growing. In addition, games are one of the most popular activities across cultures and ages, and there is ample evidence that supports the benefits of using games for assessment. This field is commonly known as game-based assessment (GBA), which refers to the use of games to assess learners' competencies, skills, or knowledge. This paper analyzes the current status of the GBA field by performing the first systematic literature review on empirical GBA studies. It is based on 65 research papers that used digital GBAs to determine: (1) the context where the study has been applied; (2) the primary purpose; (3) the domain of the game used; (4) game/tool availability; (5) the size of the data sample; (6) the computational methods and algorithms applied; (7) the targeted stakeholders of the study; and (8) what limitations and challenges are reported by authors. Based on the categories established and our analysis, the findings suggest that GBAs are mainly used in K-16 education and for assessment purposes, and that most GBAs focus on assessing STEM content, and cognitive and soft skills. Furthermore, the current limitations indicate that future GBA research would benefit from the use of bigger data samples and more specialized algorithms. Based on our results, we discuss current trends in the field and open challenges (including replication and validation problems), providing recommendations for the future research agenda of the GBA field., Comment: 25 pages, 12 figures, 1 table
- Published
- 2022
280. Strategies for the Determination of the Running Coupling of $(2+1)$-dimensional QED with Quantum Computing
- Author
-
Clemente, Giuseppe, Crippa, Arianna, and Jansen, Karl
- Subjects
High Energy Physics - Lattice ,Quantum Physics - Abstract
We propose to utilize NISQ-era quantum devices to compute short distance quantities in $(2+1)$-dimensional QED and to combine them with large volume Monte Carlo simulations and perturbation theory. On the quantum computing side, we perform a calculation of the mass gap in the small and intermediate regime, demonstrating, in the latter case, that it can be resolved reliably. The so obtained mass gap can be used to match corresponding results from Monte Carlo simulations, which can be used eventually to set the physical scale. In this paper we provide the setup for the quantum computation and show results for the mass gap and the plaquette expectation value. In addition, we discuss some ideas that can be applied to the computation of the running coupling. Since the theory is asymptotically free, it would serve as a training ground for future studies of QCD in $(3+1)$-dimensions on quantum computers.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
281. Classical Splitting of Parametrized Quantum Circuits
- Author
-
Tüysüz, Cenk, Clemente, Giuseppe, Crippa, Arianna, Hartung, Tobias, Kühn, Stefan, and Jansen, Karl
- Subjects
Quantum Physics - Abstract
Barren plateaus appear to be a major obstacle to using variational quantum algorithms to simulate large-scale quantum systems or replace traditional machine learning algorithms. They can be caused by multiple factors such as expressivity, entanglement, locality of observables, or even hardware noise. We propose classical splitting of ans\"atze or parametrized quantum circuits to avoid barren plateaus. Classical splitting is realized by splitting an $N$ qubit ansatz to multiple ans\"atze that consists of $\mathcal{O}(\log N)$ qubits. We show that such an ansatz can be used to avoid barren plateaus. We support our results with numerical experiments and perform binary classification on classical and quantum datasets. Then, we propose an extension of the ansatz that is compatible with variational quantum simulations. Finally, we discuss a speed-up for gradient-based optimization and hardware implementation, robustness against noise and parallelization, making classical splitting an ideal tool for noisy intermediate scale quantum (NISQ) applications., Comment: main text 11 pages, 5 figures; supplementary material 10 pages, 11 figures
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
282. Clustering coefficients as measures of the complex interactions in a directed weighted multilayer network
- Author
-
Bartesaghi, Paolo, Clemente, Gian Paolo, and Grassi, Rosanna
- Subjects
Economics - Econometrics - Abstract
In this paper, we provide novel definitions of clustering coefficient for weighted and directed multilayer networks. We extend in the multilayer theoretical context the clustering coefficients proposed in the literature for weighted directed monoplex networks. We quantify how deeply a node is involved in a choesive structure focusing on a single node, on a single layer or on the entire system. The coefficients convey several characteristics inherent to the complex topology of the multilayer network. We test their effectiveness applying them to a particularly complex structure such as the international trade network. The trade data integrate different aspects and they can be described by a directed and weighted multilayer network, where each layer represents import and export relationships between countries for a given sector. The proposed coefficients find successful application in describing the interrelations of the trade network, allowing to disentangle the effects of countries and sectors and jointly consider the interactions between them.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
283. Correction to: Assessing the Long-Term (48-Week) Effectiveness, Safety, and Tolerability of Fremanezumab in Migraine in Real Life: Insights from the Multicenter, Prospective, FRIEND3 Study
- Author
-
Piero Barbanti, Gabriella Egeo, Stefania Proietti, Florindo d’Onofrio, Cinzia Aurilia, Cinzia Finocchi, Laura Di Clemente, Maurizio Zucco, Alberto Doretti, Stefano Messina, Massimo Autunno, Angelo Ranieri, Antonio Carnevale, Bruno Colombo, Massimo Filippi, Miriam Tasillo, Steno Rinalduzzi, Pietro Querzani, Giuliano Sette, Lorenzo Forino, Francesco Zoroddu, Micaela Robotti, Alessandro Valenza, Cecilia Camarda, Laura Borrello, Marco Aguggia, Giovanna Viticchi, Carlo Tomino, Giulia Fiorentini, Bianca Orlando, Stefano Bonassi, Paola Torelli, and for the Italian Migraine Registry study group
- Subjects
Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system ,RC346-429 - Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
284. 16S rRNA metagenomics data on the bacterial communities in Poring Hot Spring, Sabah, Malaysia
- Author
-
Bak Zaibah Fazal, Nurshafrina Aida Yahya, Clemente Michael Wong Vui Ling, Yew Chee Wei, Thean Chor Leow, Mardani Abdul Halim, Krishnan Nair Balakrishnan, Cahyo Budiman, and Zarina Amin
- Subjects
Bacterial community ,Hot spring ,Metagenome ,16S rRNA ,Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics ,R858-859.7 ,Science (General) ,Q1-390 - Abstract
Hot springs are known to harbor potentially unique microorganisms due to the extreme temperatures in which they thrive and their biotechnologically important enzymes that are active at high temperature, which are beneficial for various industries. Sabah, Malaysia, houses several hot springs, yet knowledge of their microbiological diversity remains limited. Here, the raw sequence data of bacterial communities in a hot spring through metagenomic analysis are revealed. The data were obtained by collecting water and sediment samples from Poring Hot Spring (PHS) in Ranau, Sabah, and their bacterial diversity was analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing targeting the V3-V4 regions. The analysis identified bacterial diversity in both water and sediment samples, with 35 phyla, 76 families, and 90 genera in water, and 38 phyla, 114 families, and 128 genera in sediment. Proteobacteria dominated the water samples (87 %), while Cyanobacteria were most abundant in sediment samples (51 %). The most abundant genera in water were Tepidimonas, Hydrogenophilus and Methylothermus, whereas Geitlerinema, Calothrix and Nitrospira dominated the sediment. Sediment samples exhibited higher bacterial richness and diversity compared to water samples, as indicated by α-diversity analysis. Sequences and sample data are deposited in the NCBI Sequence Read Archive under Bioproject ID PRJNA982554 (Accession number: SRX20671661 to SRX20671666) at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Traces/study/?acc=PRJNA982554&o=acc_s%3Aa).
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
285. Monitoring the rewilding of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest on tree and mammal diversity: From a biodiversity hotspot to a biodiversity hopespot
- Author
-
Paola Merelli, Lara Oliveira Clemente, and Roberto Cazzolla Gatti
- Subjects
Atlantic forest ,Rewilding ,Biodiversity hotspot ,Reforestation ,Biodiversity recovery ,Ecosystem restoration ,Environmental sciences ,GE1-350 - Abstract
The implementation of rewilding initiatives is crucial for biodiversity recovery, particularly in biodiversity hotspots such as the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Long-term monitoring of rewilding initiatives is critical for assessing progress and informing management choices. This study assesses the efficiency of different reforestation practices for biodiversity recovery, including passive restoration, active reforestation with different native seedlings, and plantations of exotic species. We applied an ecosystem approach to estimate the tree and mammal diversity, collected through forest plots and camera traps. We selected differently managed areas and included the oldest forest patches as reference points for the assessment of biodiversity; a naturally disturbed montane forest in the area was included as a control category for the disturbance analysis. Moreover, we investigated the influence of ecological variables, such as biodiversity, aboveground biomass, and altitude, on rewilding processes. Our results suggest that Eucalyptus plantations, a simplified ecosystem made up of monocultures of exotic species, support lower biodiversity. On the contrary, active reforestation with different native species resulted in an ecological status comparable to naturally regrown secondary forests. We show that active reforestation can reduce the time required for rewilding. We also found a positive correlation between tree and mammal species richness. These results underscore the importance and potential of responsible restoration efforts in recovering local biodiversity, contributing to the vision of a future where the Brazilian Atlantic Forest can be acknowledged not only as a biodiversity hotspot but also as a “hopespot.”
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
286. A comprehensive investigation of the anion inhibition profile of a β-carbonic anhydrase from Acinetobacter baumannii for crafting innovative antimicrobial treatments
- Author
-
Viviana De Luca, Simone Giovannuzzi, Claudiu T. Supuran, and Clemente Capasso
- Subjects
Acinetobacter baumannii ,carbonic anhydrase ,enzyme kinetic ,anions ,antibiotic resistance ,Therapeutics. Pharmacology ,RM1-950 - Abstract
This study refers to the intricate world of Acinetobacter baumannii, a resilient pathogenic bacterium notorious for its propensity at antibiotic resistance in nosocomial infections. Expanding upon previous findings that emphasised the bifunctional enzyme PaaY, revealing unexpected γ-carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity, our research focuses on a different class of CA identified within the A. baumannii genome, the β-CA, designated as 𝛽-AbauCA (also indicated as CanB), which plays a crucial role in the resistance mechanism mediated by AmpC beta-lactamase. Here, we cloned, expressed, and purified the recombinant 𝛽-AbauCA, unveiling its distinctive kinetic properties and inhibition profile with inorganic anions (classical CA inhibitors). The exploration of 𝛽-AbauCA not only enhances our understanding of the CA repertoire of A. baumannii but also establishes a foundation for targeted therapeutic interventions against this resilient pathogen, promising advancements in combating its adaptability and antibiotic resistance.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
287. Cloning, expression, and purification of an α-carbonic anhydrase from Toxoplasma gondii to unveil its kinetic parameters and anion inhibition profile.
- Author
-
Viviana De Luca, Simone Giovannuzzi, Clemente Capasso, and Claudiu T. Supuran
- Subjects
carbonic anhydrase ,anion inhibitors ,Toxoplasmosis ,enzyme kinetics ,Therapeutics. Pharmacology ,RM1-950 - Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, induced by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, holds considerable implications for global health. While treatment options primarily focusing on folate pathway enzymes have notable limitations, current research endeavours concentrate on pinpointing specific metabolic pathways vital for parasite survival. Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) have emerged as potential drug targets due to their role in fundamental reactions critical for various protozoan metabolic processes. Within T. gondii, the Carbonic Anhydrase-Related Protein (TgCA_RP) plays a pivotal role in rhoptry biogenesis. Notably, α-CA (TcCA) from another protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, exhibited considerable susceptibility to classical CA inhibitors (CAIs) such as anions, sulphonamides, thiols, and hydroxamates. Here, the recombinant DNA technology was employed to synthesise and clone the identified gene in the T. gondii genome, which encodes an α-CA protein (Tg_CA), with the purpose of heterologously overexpressing its corresponding protein. Tg_CA kinetic constants were determined, and its inhibition patterns explored with inorganic metal-complexing compounds, which are relevant for rational compound design. The significance of this study lies in the potential development of innovative therapeutic strategies that disrupt the vital metabolic pathways crucial for T. gondii survival and virulence. This research may lead to the development of targeted treatments, offering new approaches to manage toxoplasmosis.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
288. Improving the accuracy of SIF quantified from moderate spectral resolution airborne hyperspectral imager using SCOPE: assessment with sub-nanometer imagery
- Author
-
A. Belwalkar, T. Poblete, A. Hornero, R. Hernández-Clemente, and P.J. Zarco–Tejada
- Subjects
Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence ,SIF ,Narrow-band ,SCOPE ,Airborne ,Hyperspectral ,Physical geography ,GB3-5030 ,Environmental sciences ,GE1-350 - Abstract
Hyperspectral imaging of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) is required for plant phenotyping and stress detection. However, the most accurate instruments for SIF quantification, such as sub-nanometer (≤1-nm full-width at half-maximum, FWHM) airborne hyperspectral imagers, are expensive and uncommon. Previous studies have demonstrated that standard narrow-band hyperspectral imagers (i.e., 4–6-nm FWHM) are more cost-effective and can provide far-red SIF quantified at 760 nm (SIF760), which correlates strongly with precise sub-nanometer resolution measurements. Nevertheless, narrow-band SIF760 quantifications are subject to systematic overestimation owing to the influence of the spectral resolution (SR). In this study, we propose a modelling approach based on the Soil Canopy Observation, Photochemistry and Energy Fluxes (SCOPE) model with the objective of enhancing the accuracy of absolute SIF760 levels derived from standard airborne hyperspectral imagers in practical settings. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated using airborne imagery acquired from two airborne hyperspectral imagers (FWHM ≤ 0.2-nm and 5.8-nm) flown in tandem on board an aircraft that collected data from two different wheat and maize phenotyping trials. Leaf biophysical and biochemical traits were first estimated from airborne narrow-band reflectance imagery and subsequently used as SCOPE model inputs to simulate a range of top-of-canopy (TOC) radiance and SIF spectra at 1-nm FWHM. The SCOPE simulated radiance spectra were then convolved to match the spectral configuration of the narrow-band imager to compute the 5.8-nm FWHM SIF760. A site-specific model was constructed by employing the convolved 5.8-nm SR SIF760 as the independent variable and the 1-nm SR SIF760 directly simulated by SCOPE as the dependent variable. When applied to the airborne dataset, the estimated SIF760 at 1-nm SR from the standard narrow-band hyperspectral imager matched the reference sub-nanometer quantified SIF760 with root mean square error (RMSE) less than 0.5 mW/m2/nm/sr, yielding R2 = 0.93–0.95 from the two experiments. These results suggest that the proposed modelling approach enables the interpretation of SIF760 quantified using standard hyperspectral imagers of 4–6 nm FWHM for stress detection and plant physiological condition assessment.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
289. Soil lipid analysis by chromatography: A critical review of the current state in sample preparation
- Author
-
Gladys Arteaga-Clemente, María Araceli García-González, and Mónica González-González
- Subjects
Soil lipids ,Extraction ,Derivatization ,Pyrolysis ,High-performance liquid-chromatography ,Gas chromatography ,Analytical chemistry ,QD71-142 - Abstract
The slow formation and renewal of soil, coupled with the multitude of services it provides to humanity, render this resource a critical component of the biosphere. The maintenance of soil structure and the accumulation of carbon, as well as the maintenance of biodiversity in soils, rely on the contribution of different fractions of soil organic matter. Despite its minor component in soils, the lipid fraction is of particular importance. Its functional diversity offers an inherent diagnostic value regarding soil organic matter, microbial biodiversity and the pedological processes to which the soil is subjected. Soil lipids are comprised of diverse groups of organic compounds, exhibiting structural variations from derivatives of complex organic components (e.g., phosphoglycerides or phospholipids, sphingomyelins, glycosphingolipids) to simpler functional classes which can combine to form other compounds such as wax esters, acylglycerols, sterols, terpenoids, and fatty acids. The analytical strategy for determining lipids in soils commonly involves extracting the lipids, then fractionating, hydrolyzing, derivatizating, identifying, and/or measuring them by chromatography. These sample treatment procedures for lipid analysis in this complex matrix are typically traditional. While sustainable sample preparation procedures are not yet fully implemented, the analysis of intact lipids by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detection is becoming more common to avoid fractionation and derivatization. This paper reviews current sample preparation strategies for the analysis of soil lipids and presents some alternatives to the traditional methods used for soil lipid extraction, fractionation, and derivatization.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
290. Piperine, quercetin, and curcumin identified as promising natural products for topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis
- Author
-
Clemente, Camila M., Murillo, Javier, Garro, Ariel G., Arbeláez, Natalia, Pineda, Tatiana, Robledo, Sara M., and Ravetti, Soledad
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
291. Cutting of dry forests in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil
- Author
-
Nogueira, Euler Melo, Clemente, Carlos Magno Santos, Yanai, Aurora Miho, dos Reis, Mateus, and Fearnside, Philip Martin
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
292. Hypoxia-induced immortalization of primary cells depends on Tfcp2L1 expression
- Author
-
Otero-Albiol, D., Santos-Pereira, J. M., Lucena-Cacace, A., Clemente-González, C., Muñoz-Galvan, S., Yoshida, Y., and Carnero, A.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
293. Use of three-dimensional printing technology for supporting the hip reconstruction surgery in paediatric patients
- Author
-
Iuppariello, L., Calderone, D., Casaburi, A., Romano, G., Guida, P., and Clemente, F.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
294. Integrated Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis Identifies Plasma Biomarkers of Hepatocellular Failure in Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis.
- Author
-
Argemi, Josepmaria, Kedia, Komal, Gritsenko, Marina, Clemente-Sanchez, Ana, Asghar, Aliya, Herranz, Jose, Liu, Zhang-Xu, Atkinson, Stephen, Smith, Richard, Norden-Krichmar, Trina, Day, Le, Stolz, Andrew, Tayek, John, Bataller, Ramon, Morgan, Timothy, and Jacobs, Jon
- Subjects
Humans ,Transcriptome ,Hepatocyte Growth Factor ,Proteomics ,Thrombin ,Carcinoma ,Hepatocellular ,Liver Neoplasms ,Hepatitis ,Alcoholic ,Proteins ,Biomarkers - Abstract
Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is a form of liver failure with high short-term mortality. Recent studies have shown that defective function of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4a) and systemic inflammation are major disease drivers of AH. Plasma biomarkers of hepatocyte function could be useful for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Herein, an integrative analysis of hepatic RNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was performed to identify plasma protein signatures for patients with mild and severe AH. Alcohol-related liver disease cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and healthy subjects were used as comparator groups. Levels of identified proteins primarily involved in hepatocellular function were decreased in patients with AH, which included hepatokines, clotting factors, complement cascade components, and hepatocyte growth activators. A protein signature of AH disease severity was identified, including thrombin, hepatocyte growth factor α, clusterin, human serum factor H-related protein, and kallistatin, which exhibited large abundance shifts between severe and nonsevere AH. The combination of thrombin and hepatocyte growth factor α discriminated between severe and nonsevere AH with high sensitivity and specificity. These findings were correlated with the liver expression of genes encoding secreted proteins in a similar cohort, finding a highly consistent plasma protein signature reflecting HNF4A and HNF1A functions. This unbiased proteomic-transcriptome analysis identified plasma protein signatures and pathways associated with disease severity, reflecting HNF4A/1A activity useful for diagnostic assessment in AH.
- Published
- 2022
295. Determinación del Cono de Alta Renta de Santiago de Chile mediante autocorrelación espacial de precios
- Author
-
Ivo Gasic Klett and Clemente Larraín Videla
- Subjects
autocorrelación espacial ,precio del suelo ,cono de alta renta ,santiago de chile ,Cities. Urban geography ,GF125 ,Urban groups. The city. Urban sociology ,HT101-395 - Abstract
En esta investigación se analiza la autocorrelación espacial del precio del suelo en Santiago de Chile para comprobar la existencia de un distrito de alta renta, propio de los modelos de ciudades latinoamericanas. Para ello se aplica el Índice de Moran a un conjunto de 206 zonas de mercado dispuestas en una serie de 131 trimestres entre 1983-2016. Los resultados revelan una alta y estable autocorrelación espacial del precio del suelo, lo que confirma un distrito de alta renta, identificado como Cono de Alta Renta (CAR), localizado en las comunas de mayor ingreso de Santiago.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
296. Detection differences between eDNA and mid‐water trawls are driven by fish biomass and habitat preferences
- Author
-
Tessa Rehill, Ben Millard‐Martin, Matt Lemay, Kate Sheridan, Anya Mueller, Evan Morien, Rute B. G. Clemente‐Carvalho, Brian P. V. Hunt, and Jennifer M. Sunday
- Subjects
community similarity ,environmental DNA ,marine fisheries ,metabarcoding ,species detection ,trawl surveys ,Environmental sciences ,GE1-350 ,Microbial ecology ,QR100-130 - Abstract
Abstract Marine scientific trawl surveys are commonly used to assess the distribution and population size of fisheries‐related species, yet the method is effort‐intensive and can be environmentally destructive. Sequencing environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples can reveal the presence of organisms in a community without capturing them; however, we expect the detectability of taxa to differ between eDNA and trawl surveys, and understanding how species traits and population variables contribute to detection differences can help calibrate our expectations from each form of sampling. Here, we coupled eDNA metabarcoding and capture trawl surveys in British Columbia, Canada, to examine species traits that explain recurrent differences in detectability between the two methods, including habitat, body size, and biomass. At the regional scale, 17 of 23 fish species (74%) captured by the trawl were detected by eDNA metabarcoding, and 39 additional species were detected by eDNA sampling only. We found that eDNA metabarcoding disproportionately detected trawl‐caught species with greater local biomass (i.e., greater biomass in the adjacent trawl). Fish detected only in eDNA had a greater range of body lengths and a broader range of habitat preferences outside the trawls' target size and sampling areas. Our results suggest that with our level of sampling, eDNA metabarcoding can adequately recapitulate detection of fish communities detected by trawl surveys, but with a bias toward fish of high population biomass and greater inclusion of fish from outside the trawled area.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
297. Comparative efficacy of neuromodulation and structured exercise program on pain and muscle oxygenation in fibromyalgia patients: a randomized crossover study
- Author
-
Alejandro Rubio-Zarapuz, María Dolores Apolo-Arenas, José Francisco Tornero-Aguilera, Jose A. Parraca, and Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez
- Subjects
fibromyalgia ,neuromodulation therapy ,exercise program ,muscle oxygenation ,pain modulation ,HIIT ,Physiology ,QP1-981 - Abstract
Introduction: This study investigates the comparative efficacy of neuromodulation therapy using the EXOPULSE Mollii Suit and a structured exercise program in pain modulation and muscle oxygenation in Fibromyalgia patients.Methods: A randomized, crossover, longitudinal, and experimental study design was employed, involving 10 female Fibromyalgia patients. Participants were subjected to two distinct treatment modalities: neuromodulation therapy with the EXOPULSE Mollii Suit and a strength-based High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) exercise program, each conducted over 16 sessions. Outcome measures included pain severity, assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and muscle oxygenation variables measured via Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS).Results: Both interventions demonstrated significant reductions in NRS scores and improvements in muscle oxygenation. However, the exercise program yielded more pronounced long term basal adaptations in muscle oxygenation compared to the neuromodulation therapy.Discussion: The findings underscore the potential of integrating non-pharmacological treatments, particularly structured exercise programs, in managing Fibromyalgia. While neuromodulation therapy presents a viable alternative, the exercise regimen’s capacity to induce basal muscle oxygenation adaptations suggests its superiority in addressing the complex symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Furthermore, these therapeutic approaches may enhance patients’ vocational values and employability opportunities by improving their functional capabilities and overall quality of life.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
298. Allergenic response induced by Pterobothrium crassicolle (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) extracts in murine model
- Author
-
Danuza Pinheiro Bastos Garcia de Mattos, Maurício Afonso Verícimo, Sérgio Carmona de São Clemente, Michelle Cristie Gonçalves da Fonseca, and Marcelo Knoff
- Subjects
IgE ,IgG ,immunoblot ,passive cutaneous anaphylaxis ,fish parasite ,Animal culture ,SF1-1100 - Abstract
Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the allergenic activity of components present in crude extracts of Pterobothrium crassicolle plerocerci (CPE) and blastocysts (CBE) obtained from Micropogonias furnieri in a murine model. Two groups of seven animals each received 50 µg of CPE or CBE on days 1, 35 and 120. Serum samples were tested by ELISA and Immunoblotting. Specific IgG and IgE levels were detected by ELISA, showing specific humoral responses for the primary immunization for both immunoglobulins and continuously growing titers for IgE. Positive Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis tests in rats sensitized with anti-CBE sera and tested by CBE, showed biologically, the allergenic activity of the extracts. The CPE and CBE showed some different recognition regions but both experimental groups recognized all regions of the extracts when tested for cross reactions, showing that CPE and CBE could share antigenic recognition sites.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
299. Torsemida em Comparação com Furosemida no Tratamento da Insuficiência Cardíaca: Uma Revisão Sistemática e Metanálise de Ensaios Clínicos Randomizados
- Author
-
Larissa Teixeira, Nicole Felix, Denilsa D. P. Navalha, Rafael Ferreira, Mariana R.C. Clemente, Thiago Madeira, Alleh Nogueira, and Lucas Tramujas
- Subjects
Insuficiência Cardíaca ,Inibidores de Simportadores de Cloreto de Sódio e Potássio ,Furosemida ,Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system ,RC666-701 - Abstract
Resumo A furosemida é o diurético mais utilizado para o tratamento de sintomas de sobrecarga de volume em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca. Dados recentes sugerem que a torsemida pode ser superior à furosemida neste contexto. No entanto, ainda não é claro se isso se traduz em melhores resultados clínicos nesta população. Avaliar se a torsemida é superior à furosemida no contexto da insuficiência cardíaca. Realizamos uma revisão sistemática e metanálise de estudos clínicos randomizados (ECRs) comparando a eficácia da torsemida em comparação com a furosemida em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca. PubMed, Embase e Web of Science foram as bases de dados pesquisadas em busca de estudos elegíveis. Os desfechos de interesse foram internações por todas as causas, internações por insuficiência cardíaca (IIC), internações por todas as causas cardiovasculares, mortalidade por todas as causas, e melhoria de classe da NYHA. Parâmetros ecocardiográficos também foram avaliados. Foi aplicado um modelo de efeitos aleatórios para calcular as razões de risco (RR) e as diferenças médias (DM) com intervalos de confiança (IC) de 95% e nível de significância de 0,05. Foram incluídos 12 ECRs, envolvendo 4.115 pacientes. A torsemida reduziu significativamente a IIC (RR de 0,60; IC de 95%, 0,43-0,83; p=0,002; I2=0%), internação por causas cardiovasculares (RR de 0,72; IC de 95%, 0,60-0,88; p=0,0009; I2=0%), e melhora da fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) (DM de 4,51%; IC de 95%, 2,94 a 6,07; p
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
300. Endobronchial Valves in the Management of Recurrent Hemoptysis: A Case Report
- Author
-
Alan Jhunior Solis Solis, Carmen Angela Centeno Clemente, and Antoni Rosell Gratacos
- Subjects
Diseases of the respiratory system ,RC705-779 - Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
Catalog
Discovery Service for Jio Institute Digital Library
For full access to our library's resources, please sign in.