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Truffles represent a resource of great value all over the world. The various species are widespread and occupy various habitats. Methods to identify their value in terms of marketing, cultivation, and the ecological–forestal field are needed. The traditional classification of Tuber species is based on their morphology; nevertheless, the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the fruiting body, spores, and ectomycorrhizae may be absent or insufficiently discriminating. This problem is amplified when dealing with valuable truffle species, which are often replaced by truffles with lower organoleptic qualities and commercial value. Today, molecular biology can help to correctly identify them through several widely used methods that are fast, specific, and sensitive. Molecular methods are mostly PCR-based, with primers designed on various targets, genes, or regions widely variable between species but sufficiently conserved within the same species. The DNA regions analyzed for identifying truffles include ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), ribosomal large subunit (LSU), β-tubulin, and EF-α elongation factor. This review summarizes the main and most reliable DNA-based molecular methods for identifying Tuber species. The methods are listed schematically and clearly for quick consultation and use in all areas of study in which monitoring, and verification of the species is essential.

Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) in lung transplant recipients (LuTRs) has high heterogeneity between centers. Our aim was to investigate retrospectively the approach to PAP in our center over a 20-year period (2002–2023), and its impact on early post-operative infections (EPOIs) after lung transplantation (LuT). Primary endpoint was diagnosis of EPOI, defined as any bacterial infection including donor-derived events diagnosed within 30 days from LuT. Main exposure variables were type of PAP (combination vs. monotherapy) and PAP duration. We enrolled 111 LuTRs. PAP consisted of single-agent or combination regimens in 26 (25.2%) and 85 (74.8%) LuTR. Median PAP duration was 10 days (IQR 6–13) days. Piperacillin/tazobactam was the most common agent used either as monotherapy (n = 21, 80.7%) or as combination with levofloxacin (n = 79, 92.9%). EPOIs were diagnosed in 30 (27%) patients. At multivariable analysis no advantages were found for combination regimens compared to single-agent PAP in preventing EPOI (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 0.488–5.068, p:0.448). The impact of PAP duration on EPOIs development was investigated including duration of PAP ≤6 days as main exposure variables, without finding a significantly impact (OR:2.165, 95% CI: 0.596–7.863, p: 0.240). Our results suggest no advantages for combination regimens PAP in preventing EPOI in LuTR.

Lorenzo Viselli,1,* Fabiana Festucci,1,* Maria Chiara Pino,1 Aurora D’Atri,1 Federico Salfi,1 Giulia Amicucci,1,2 Domenico Corigliano,1,2 Federica Naccarato,1 Michele Ferrara,1 Daniela Tempesta1 1Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy; 2Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Michele Ferrara, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy, Email michele.ferrara@univaq.itPurpose: The present study aimed to validate the Italian version of the Iowa Resistance to Sleeplessness Test (iREST), a 16-item self-report assessing resilience to sleep debt in the affective, cognitive, and somatic domains.Participants and Methods: We examined its factor structure, assessed internal consistency and criterion validity, and established test-retest reliability on 768 Italian native speakers (65.8% of women) with a mean age of 25.98 years old.Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed a new 13-item structure for the Italian iREST (iREST-13), demonstrating more satisfactory goodness-of-fit values, and exhibiting good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α ranging from 0.73 to 0.89), relative to the 16-item original version. Results supported the iREST convergent validity, showing significant independence from established measures of sleep; low correlations with conceptually unrelated measures supported divergent validity, indicating that the iREST effectively measures resistance to sleeplessness without confounding with other constructs. Lastly, test-retest reliability was evaluated by administering the iREST to the same sample with a 2-week interval: the significant correlations supported its temporal stability.Conclusion: Further studies are needed to evaluate the applicability of the iREST in diverse populations and explore its relationship with objective sleep measures. Nevertheless, the Italian iREST provides a valuable tool for assessing resistance to sleep loss, offering insights into individual differences in resilience. Additionally, the iREST can assist in identifying individuals who require interventions to enhance resilience to sleep debt, as well as help clinicians evaluate the impact of chronic sleep disruption and deliver targeted interventions.Keywords: sleeplessness, resilience, sleep loss, vulnerability, individual differences, Italian validation

β-glucans found in cereal grains have been previously demonstrated to improve blood glucose control; however, current understanding points to their high viscosity as the primary mechanism of action. In this work, we present a novel, highly soluble, low-viscosity β-glucan fiber (HS-BG fiber) and a preclinical dataset that demonstrates its impact on two mechanisms related to the prevention of hyperglycemia. Our results show that HS-BG inhibits the activity of two key proteins involved in glucose metabolism, the α-glucosidase enzyme and the SGLT1 transporter, thereby having the potential to slow starch digestion and subsequent glucose uptake. Furthermore, we demonstrate in a multi-donor fecal fermentation model that HS-BG is metabolized by several different members of the gut microbiome, producing high amounts of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), known agonists of GPR43 receptors in the gut related to GLP-1 secretion. The production of SCFAs was verified in the translational gut model, SHIME®. Moreover, HS-BG fiber fermentation produces compounds that restored permeability in disrupted epithelial cells, decreased inflammatory chemokines (CXCL10, MCP-1, and IL-8), and increased anti-inflammatory marker (IL-10), which could improve insulin resistance. Together, these data suggest that the novel HS-BG fiber is a promising new functional ingredient that can be used to modulate postprandial glycemic responses while the high solubility and low viscosity enable easy formulation in both beverage and solid food matrices.

Carbohydrates play essential roles in a variety of biological processes that are dictated by their structures. However, characterization of carbohydrate structures remains extremely difficult and generally unsolved. In this work, a de novo mass spectrometry-based workflow was developed to isolate and structurally elucidate oligosaccharides to provide sequence, monosaccharide compositions, and glycosidic linkage positions. The approach employs liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based methods in a 3-dimensional concept: one high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF MS) analysis for oligosaccharide sequencing and two ultra high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ MS) analyses on fractionated oligosaccharides to determine their monosaccharides and linkages compositions. The workflow was validated by applying the procedure to maltooligosaccharide standards. The approach was then used to determine the structures of oligosaccharides derived from polysaccharide standards and whole food products. The integrated LC-MS workflow will reveal the in-depth structures of oligosaccharides.

The identification of polysaccharide structures in complex samples remains a unique challenge complicated by the lack of specific tools for polymeric mixtures. In this work, we present a method that depolymerizes polysaccharides to generate diagnostic oligosaccharide markers that are then analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF MS). Rapid identification of food polysaccharides was performed by aligning the identified oligosaccharides with a library of oligosaccharide markers generated from standard polysaccharides. Measurements of standard and food polysaccharides were performed to obtain the contributions of the identified polysaccharides using percent peak coverage and angle cosine methods. The method was validated using a synthetic mixture of standard polysaccharides while the reproducibility was confirmed with experimental triplicates of butternut squash samples, where standard deviation was less than 3% for the relative abundance of oligosaccharides. The method was further employed to examine diverse set of food samples.

Polysaccharides are the most abundant biomolecules in nature, but are the least understood in terms of their chemical structures and biological functions. Polysaccharides cannot be simply sequenced because they are often highly branched and lack a uniform structure. Furthermore, large polymeric structures cannot be directly analyzed by mass spectrometry techniques, a problem that has been solved for polynucleotides and proteins. While restriction enzymes have advanced genomic analysis, and trypsin has advanced proteomic analysis, there has been no equivalent enzyme for universal polysaccharide digestion. We describe the development and application of a chemical method for producing oligosaccharides from polysaccharides. The released oligosaccharides are characterized by advanced liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods with high sensitivity, accuracy and throughput. The technique is first used to identify polysaccharides by oligosaccharide fingerprinting. Next, the polysaccharide compositions of food and feces are determined, further illustrating the utility of technique in food and clinical studies.

BackgroundThe stable isotope deuterium dose-to-mother (DTM) technique to estimate nonbreast milk water intake demonstrates that maternal self-report methods of infant feeding overestimate the true prevalence of exclusively breastfeeding practices.ObjectiveWe aimed to determine potential monosaccharide and oligosaccharide markers that distinguish between exclusively breastfed (EBF) versus nonexclusively breastfed (non-EBF) infants utilizing LC-MS-based methods.MethodsData for the analysis were collected as part of a larger, longitudinal study of 192 breastfed Indonesian infants aged 2 mo and followed up at 5 mo. Feces samples were collected from infants aged 2 mo (n = 188) and 5 mo (n = 184). EBF and non-EBF strata at each time point were determined via the DTM technique. Feces samples were analyzed to determine monosaccharide content using ultra-high-performance LC-triple quadrupole MS (UHPLC-QqQ MS). Relative abundances of fecal oligosaccharides were determined using nano-LC-Chip-quadrupole time-of-flight MS (nano-LC-Chip-Q-ToF MS).ResultsAt age 2 mo, monosaccharide analysis showed the abundance of fructose and mannose were significantly higher (+377% and +388%, respectively) in non-EBF compared with EBF infants (P

Since the last IAEA-FEC in 2021, significant progress on the development of long pulse steady state scenario and its related key physics and technologies have been achieved, including the reproducible 403 s long-pulse steady-state H-mode plasma with pure radio frequency (RF) power heating. A thousand-second time scale (∼1056 s) fully non-inductive plasma with high injected energy up to 1.73 GJ has also been achieved. The EAST operational regime of high β _P has been significantly extended ( H _98y2 > 1.3, β _P ∼ 4.0, β _N ∼ 2.4 and n _e / n _GW ∼ 1.0) using RF and neutral beam injection (NBI). The full edge localized mode suppression using the n = 4 resonant magnetic perturbations has been achieved in ITER-like standard type-I ELMy H-mode plasmas with q _95 ≈ 3.1 on EAST, extrapolating favorably to the ITER baseline scenario. The sustained large ELM control and stable partial detachment have been achieved with Ne seeding. The underlying physics of plasma-beta effect for error field penetration, where toroidal effect dominates, is disclosed by comparing the results in cylindrical theory and MARS-Q simulation in EAST. Breakdown and plasma initiation at low toroidal electric fields (

A wearable sweat sensor chip based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is here presented. The plasmonic core of the chip, obtained by deposition of silver nanowires on a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) porous membrane, permits the direct and label-free detection of urea and lactate at physiologic concentrations in combination with the pH measurement in the range between 5 and 9. Once integrated with commercial biocompatible and adhesive tape layers, the as produced SERS-active chip provides a low-cost, flexible and wearable sensing device for rapid and reliable human sweat analysis. The chip was finally tested on real sweat samples to estimate lactate and urea during medium-intense exertions.

Tuber melanosporum is an ascomycete that forms ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses with a wide range of host plants, producing edible fruiting bodies with high economic value. The quality of seedlings in the early symbiotic stage is important for successful truffle cultivation. Numerous bacterial species have been reported to take part in the truffle biological cycle and influence the establishment of roots symbiosis in plant hosts and the development of the carpophore. In this work, three different bacteria formulations were co-inoculated in Quercus ilex L. seedlings two months after T. melanosporum inoculation. At four months of bacterial application, the T. melanosporum ECM root tip rate of colonization and bacterial presence were assessed using both morphological and molecular techniques. A 2.5-fold increase in ECM colonization rate was found in the presence of Pseudomonas sp. compared to the seedlings inoculated only with T. melanosporum. The same treatment caused reduced plant growth either for the aerial and root part. Meanwhile, the ECM colonization combined with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Pseudomonas sp. + Bradyrhizobium sp. reduced the relative density of fibrous roots (nutrient absorption). Our work suggests that the role of bacteria in the early symbiotic stages of ECM colonization involves both the mycorrhizal symbiosis rate and plant root development processes, both essential for improve the quality of truffle-inoculated seedlings produced in commercial nurseries.

The extensive characterization of glycosidic linkages in carbohydrates remains a challenge because of the lack of known standards and limitations in current analytical techniques. This study encompasses the construction of an extensive glycosidic linkage library built from synthesized standards. It includes an improved liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the quantitation of glycosidic linkages derived from disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides present in complicated matrices. We present a method capable of the simultaneous identification of over 90 unique glycosidic linkages using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QqQ MS) operated in dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (dMRM) mode. To build the library, known monosaccharides commonly found in plants were subjected to partial methylation to yield partially derivatized species representing trisecting, bisecting, linear, and terminal structures. The library includes glycosidic linkage information for three hexoses (glucose, galactose, and mannose), three pentoses (xylose, arabinose, and ribose), two deoxyhexoses (fucose and rhamnose), and two hexuronic acids (glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid). The resulting partially methylated monosaccharides were then labeled with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) followed by separation and analysis by UHPLC/dMRM MS. Validation of the synthesized standards was performed using disaccharide, oligosaccharide, and polysaccharide standards. Accuracy, reproducibility, and robustness of the method was demonstrated by analysis of xyloglucan (tamarind) and whole carrot root. The synthesized standards represent the most comprehensive group of carbohydrate linkages to date.

Insects are the only known animals in which sexual differentiation is controlled by sex-specific splicing. The doublesex transcription factor produces distinct male and female isoforms, which are both essential for sex-specific development. dsx splicing depends on transformer, which is also alternatively spliced such that functional Tra is only present in females. This pathway has evolved from an ancestral mechanism where dsx was independent of tra and expressed and required only in males. To reconstruct this transition, we examined three basal, hemimetabolous insect orders: Hemiptera, Phthiraptera, and Blattodea. We show that tra and dsx have distinct functions in these insects, reflecting different stages in the changeover from a transcription-based to a splicing-based mode of sexual differentiation. We propose that the canonical insect tra-dsx pathway evolved via merger between expanding dsx function (from males to both sexes) and narrowing tra function (from a general splicing factor to dedicated regulator of dsx).

Abstract Eveningness is distinctively associated with sleep disturbances and depression symptoms due to the misalignment between biological and social clocks. The widespread imposition of remote working due to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed a more flexible sleep schedule. This scenario could promote sleep and mental health in evening-type subjects. We investigated the effect of working from home on sleep quality/quantity and insomnia symptoms within the morningness-eveningness continuum, and its indirect repercussions on depressive symptomatology. A total of 610 Italian office workers (mean age ± standard deviation, 35.47 ± 10.17 years) and 265 remote workers (40.31 ± 10.69 years) participated in a web-based survey during the second contagion wave of COVID-19 (28 November–11 December 2020). We evaluated chronotype, sleep quality/duration, insomnia, and depression symptoms through validated questionnaires. Three moderated mediation models were performed on cross-sectional data, testing the mediation effect of sleep variables on the association between morningness-eveningness continuum and depression symptoms, with working modality (office vs. remote working) as moderator of the relationship between chronotype and sleep variables. Remote working was associated with delayed bedtime and get-up time. Working modality moderated the chronotype effect on sleep variables, as eveningness was related to worse sleep disturbances and shorter sleep duration among the office workers only. Working modality also moderated the mediation of sleep variables between chronotype and depression. The above mediation vanished among remote workers. The present study suggests that evening-type people did not show their characteristic vulnerability to sleep problems when working from home. This result could imply a reduction of the proposed sleep-driven predisposition to depression of late chronotypes. A working environment complying with individual circadian preferences might ensure an adequate sleep quantity/quality for the evening-type population, promoting their mental health.

Abstract This study aimed to describe and compare, at a national level, the measures implemented in the pediatric onco-hematology units and the number of infections among patients and healthcare staff during the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. A multicenter, descriptive, online survey was conducted between15th March and 15th April 2020 (T1) and between 1 and 31st January 2021 (T2). All the Italian Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Association (AIEOP) centers were invited to participate in the study. Data of the pre-pandemic, first, and second phase were compared. Thirty-six of the 48 AIEOP centers completed the survey (75%). Several organizational, screening, and swab measures were implemented by AIEOP centers to prevent the SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients and visitors. During the pandemic, there was a significant reduction in the number of onco-hematology inpatient beds (p

Abstract Background Involvement in research activities is complex in pediatric nursing and allied health professionals (AHPs). It is important to understand which individual factors are associated with it to inform policy makers in promoting research. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to describe the level of participation in research activities over the last ten years of nurses and AHPs working in a tertiary pediatric hospital. A large sample of nurses and AHPs working in an Italian academic tertiary pediatric hospital completed an online self-report questionnaire between June and December 2018. Three multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to predict participation in research projects, speaking at conferences, and writing scientific articles. Results Overall, data from 921 health professionals were analyzed (response rate = 66%), of which about 21% (n = 196) reported participating in a research project, while 33% (n = 297) had attended a scientific conference as a speaker, and 11% (n = 94) had written at least one scientific paper. Having a Master or a Regional Advanced Course, working as an AHP or a ward manager, as well as regularly reading scientific journals and participation in an internal hospital research group or attendance in a specific course about research in the hospital, significantly predicted participation in research projects, speaking at conferences and writing scientific papers. It is important to foster research interest and competencies among health professionals to improve participation in research projects, speaking at conferences, and writing scientific papers. Conclusions Overall, we found a good level of attendance at conferences as speakers (33%), a moderate level of participation in research (21%), and low levels for writing scientific papers (11%). Our study highlighted the need to support participation in research activities among nurses and AHPs. Policymakers should identify strategies to promote research among nurses and AHPs, such as protected rewarded time for research, specific education, strengthened collaboration with academics, and financial support. Moreover, hospital managers should promote the development of research culture among health professionals, to improve their research competencies and evidence-based practice.

Abstract With technological advances in wearable health care monitoring system, there increasing demands for the patterning technology for reliable sensors. Dry-film photoresists (DFRs) have several advantages for the patterning of silver nanowires (AgNWs), including cost-effectiveness, low toxicity of the process, and ease of mass production through a roll-to-roll process. In this study, using DFRs, we achieved the facile fabrication of AgNW-based chips for optical detection of myoglobin (Mb) via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Mb is found in accessible biological fluids such as urine and serum, which is a representative protein biomarker for human health monitoring. AgNWs were successfully patterned on polyethylene terephthalate films using DFR to form multiple spots, with a diameter of ~500 µm, that are available for detection. SERS spectra showed that the AgNW chips can efficiently detect myoglobin proteins down to levels of clinical significance. Our results will provide insights for the cost-effective production method of futuristic health care monitoring system.

The structural analysis of carbohydrates remains challenging mainly due to the lack of rapid analytical methods able to determine and quantitate glycosidic linkages between the diverse monosaccharides found in natural oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. In this research, we present the first liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based method for the rapid and simultaneous relative quantitation of glycosidic linkages for oligosaccharide and polysaccharide characterization. The method developed employs ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QqQ-MS) analysis performed in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. A library of 22 glycosidic linkages was built using commercial oligosaccharide standards. Permethylation and hydrolysis conditions along with LC-MS/MS parameters were optimized resulting in a workflow requiring only 50 μg of substrate for the analysis. Samples were homogenized, permethylated, hydrolyzed, and then derivatized with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) prior to analysis by UHPLC/MRM-MS. Separation by C18 reversed-phase UHPLC along with the simultaneous monitoring of derivatized terminal, linear, bisecting, and trisecting monosaccharide linkages by mass spectrometry is achieved within a 15 min run time. Reproducibility, efficacy, and robustness of the method was demonstrated with galactan ( Lupin) and polysaccharides within food such as whole carrots. The speed and specificity of the method enables its application toward the rapid glycosidic linkage analysis of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides.

A rapid method for the quantitation of sixteen neutral and acidic monosaccharides, from both animal and plant sources was developed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QqQ-MS) in dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (dMRM) mode. Monosaccharides including three pentoses (ribose, xylose, arabinose), two deoxyhexoses (rhamnose, fucose), five hexoses (fructose, mannose, allose, glucose, galactose), two hexuronic acids (glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid), and two N-acetyl-hexosamines (GlcNAc, GalNAc), were derivatized with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP), while underivatized sialic acids, Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc, were simultaneously analyzed with a 10-minute run. With the optimized UHPLC conditions, baseline separations of the isomers were achieved. The sensitivity and calibration ranges of this method were determined. The limits of detection were between femtomoles and attomoles with linear ranges spanning four to six orders of magnitude and coefficients of variation (CVs) ≤7.2%. Spiking experiments performed on a pooled fecal sample demonstrated the high accuracy of this method even when applied to samples with complicated matrices. The validated method was applied to fecal samples from an infant transitioning from breast milk to weaning foods. Major milk monosaccharides including galactose, fucose, glucose, GlcNAc, and Neu5Ac were found to be the most abundant components in the feces of milk-fed infants. PMP-derivatives of nine other monosaccharides including apiose, lyxose, altrose, talose, gulose, glucosamine, galactosamine, mannosamine, and N-acetylmannosamine (ManNAc) were also tested and could be added to the quantitation method depending on the need. The speed and sensitivity of the method makes it readily adaptable to rapid throughput analysis of monosaccharides in biological samples.

In this article, the authors discuss the results of a study of student reading in a general literature course at a mid-sized state university. Data collection and analysis included 216 samples of student writing from four sections of the course and interviews with six teachers of the course. Results indicate that when students chooses texts to read outside of a course, they choose texts that will entertain them or help them acquire knowledge on a topic of interest. Most students who discuss what they prefer to read say they prefer reading texts to which they can relate. Some students identify themselves as disliking reading, which many attribute to their experiences of having had no choice in what to read in past literature courses. Teachers recognize the need for making literature relevant to students' lives and wish to give students autonomy in choosing some or all of the texts they read in the course. Drawing on students' and teachers' perspectives, the authors argue that a general literature course has value within a liberal arts curriculum because it gives non-English majors the opportunity to develop reading habits that will benefit them beyond the course itself.

Abstract The first COVID-19 contagion wave caused unprecedented restraining measures worldwide. In Italy, a period of generalized lockdown involving home confinement of the entire population was imposed for almost two months (9 March–3 May 2020). The present is the most extensive investigation aimed to unravel the demographic, psychological, chronobiological, and work-related predictors of sleep disturbances throughout the pandemic emergency. A total of 13,989 Italians completed a web-based survey during the confinement period (25 March–3 May). We collected demographic and lockdown-related work changes information, and we evaluated sleep quality, insomnia and depression symptoms, chronotype, perceived stress, and anxiety using validated questionnaires. The majority of the respondents reported a negative impact of confinement on their sleep and a delayed sleep phase. We highlighted an alarming prevalence of sleep disturbances during the lockdown. Main predictors of sleep disturbances identified by regression models were: female gender, advanced age, being a healthcare worker, living in southern Italy, confinement duration, and a higher level of depression, stress, and anxiety. The evening chronotype emerged as a vulnerability factor, while morning-type individuals showed a lower predisposition to sleep and psychological problems. Finally, working from home was associated with less severe sleep disturbances. Besides confirming the role of specific demographic and psychological factors in developing sleep disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic, we propose that circadian typologies could react differently to a particular period of reduced social jetlag. Moreover, our results suggest that working from home could play a protective role against the development of sleep disturbances during the current pandemic emergency.

The 2014-2016 JET results are reviewed in the light of their significance for optimising the ITER research plan for the active and non-active operation. More than 60 h of plasma operation with ITER first wall materials successfully took place since its installation in 2011. New multi-machine scaling of the type I-ELM divertor energy flux density to ITER is supported by first principle modelling. ITER relevant disruption experiments and first principle modelling are reported with a set of three disruption mitigation valves mimicking the ITER setup. Insights of the L-H power threshold in Deuterium and Hydrogen are given, stressing the importance of the magnetic configurations and the recent measurements of fine-scale structures in the edge radial electric. Dimensionless scans of the core and pedestal confinement provide new information to elucidate the importance of the first wall material on the fusion performance. H-mode plasmas at ITER triangularity (H = 1 at β N ∼ 1.8 and n/n GW ∼ 0.6) have been sustained at 2 MA during 5 s. The ITER neutronics codes have been validated on high performance experiments. Prospects for the coming D-T campaign and 14 MeV neutron calibration strategy are reviewed.

Objectives: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease often associated with non-atopic comorbidities. Recently, a severity-dependent relationship between AD and sleep/mental health diseases has been proposed. However, few studies investigated these comorbidities and their association with AD severity through validated questionnaires. This study aimed to use a set of validated instruments to assess the impact of AD on sleep and psychological disorders and estimate the association of itch and AD severity with sleep disorders and psychological symptoms, distinguishing between clinical-oriented and patient-oriented measures. Methods: We conducted a case-control study, recruiting 57 adult AD patients (mean age ± std. dev. 34.28 years ± 13.07; 27 males) matched for age and sex with 57 healthy adults (34.39 years ± 13.09; 27 males). To investigate the differences in sleep quality, insomnia, depression, and anxiety between the two groups, we performed independent sample t-Tests. Moreover, we conducted univariate linear regression analyses to examine the relationship between itch and objective/subjective severity of AD and sleep quality, insomnia, and psychological symptoms. Results: AD patients reported lower sleep quality (p = 0.002), more severe insomnia (p = 0.006) and depression (p = 0.013), and higher stress levels than healthy adults (p = 0.049). Itch intensity was linked to sleep disturbances and psychological symptoms (R2range = 0.13–0.19, prange = 0.02–<0.001). Objective and subjective AD severity were similarly associated with worse sleep quality (R2 = 0.26, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.24, p < 0.001; respectively), anxiety (R2 = 0.15, p = 0.04; R2 = 0.17, p = 0.001; respectively), and self-perceived stress (R2 = 0.10, p = 0.02; R2 = 0.07, p = 0.049; respectively). However, subjective AD severity was more strongly associated with insomnia (R2 = 0.31, p < 0.001) and depression (R2 = 0.20, p < 0.001) than clinical-oriented AD severity (R2 = 0.19, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.05, p = 0.098; respectively). Conclusions: The study demonstrated poor sleep quality and high levels of insomnia, depression, and stress in AD patients, with an aggravated psychological status for adults with more severe skin disease. We suggest implementing a multidisciplinary approach to AD management/treatment that considers objective and subjective measures of disease severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The effects of environmental and conservation management scenarios on the permanence of the historical book collections housed at the Classense Library (Ravenna, Italy) were investigated. Non-destructive material surveys delivered paper pH and degree of polymerisation data that, in conjunction with the Collections Demography dose–response function, provide heritage managers with estimations of the predicted collection lifetimes in diverse environmental management scenarios. For the first time, quantitative measurements of paper properties obtained in a historical library collection were used to elaborate isochrone and demographic plots, evaluated against the long-term planning horizon of 500 years. The scenarios include preventive and interventive actions aiming to preserve the fitness-for-use of collection items in terms of their ability to withstand manual handling, and consider cooling, dehumidification and deacidification, as well as combinations thereof. The results inform the conservation decision-makers about the preservation outcomes of environmental management options, to be considered for further action, once environmental, economic and social sustainability of such scenarios is considered.

Abstract An innovative survey was conducted of the collections of the historical Biblioteca Classense, located in the urban area of Ravenna (Northern Italy). The survey aimed to evaluate the current conservation state of the book collections, where 297 paper-based items, including incunabula, manuscripts and books, dating from the 14th to the 20th century, were selected for analysis. This innovative survey was carried out non-destructively by assessing degradation visually and by measuring NIR spectral data followed by multivariate data analysis. Chemical and physical paper properties, important for paper characterisation and implementation of conservation strategies were determined, including paper type, pH, degree of polymerisation (DP), tensile strength, lignin, protein, and rosin content. This survey provided a significant quantitative dataset for rag paper covering a 600-year period. The analysis of DP changes over time allowed the first experimental estimation of the rate constant for historical rag paper, i.e., (4.2 ± 0.6)·10−7 year−1, which was validated with predictions based on the Collections Demography dose response function for historic paper taking into account the past climate in Ravenna. Statistical methods were employed to describe the correlations between the measured variables and different features of the books, suggesting that the degree of polymerisation can be used as a general proxy for rag paper mechanical strength.

While mass spectrometry-based proteomics largely relies on digesting proteins into peptides, there is no equivalent strategy for polysaccharide analysis. Here, the authors develop a chemical approach to break down poly- into oligosaccharides and present a workflow to identify polysaccharides by oligosaccharide fingerprinting.

In this article, I demonstrate how the use of reflective writing assignments in first-year composition facilitated students' understanding of their own writing process strategies. I first discuss the theoretical roots from which reflective practice among student writers grows. Next, I employ my students' voices to demonstrate that reflection allowed these students to become aware of and to make decisions about their own writing processes. Finally, I offer tips for teachers who wish to bring reflective writing into their classrooms.

Introduction: To date, there are no studies investigating whether laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is technically more complex in patients waiting for kidney transplant. The aim of this study is to create a user-friendly score to identify high-risk cases for complex LC integrating end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analysed 321 patients undergoing LC during the period 2014–2016. Two groups were compared: ESRD group (n = 25) versus control group (n = 296). Concerning statistical analysis, continuous variables were compared using Kruskal–Wallis' test, dummy variables with Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test when appropriate. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for complex LC. A backward conditional method was used to design the final model. Results: Seventy out of 321 (21.8%) cases were considered as complex, with a higher prevalence in the ESRD group (32.0 vs. 20.9%; P = 0.2). Using a multivariable logistic regression analysis, we formulated a score based on the independent risk factors for complex LC: 4×(previous cholecystitis) +5 × (previous ESRD) +1 × (age per decade) +2 × (previous open abdominal surgery). High-risk cases (score ≥ 10) were more commonly reported in the ESRD group (72.0 vs. 24.7%; P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Although several scores investigating the risk for complex LC have been proposed, none of them has focused on ESRD. This is the first series demonstrating that ESRD is an independent risk factor for technical complexity in LC. We developed a score to offer surgeons an extra tool for pre-operative evaluation of patients requiring LC.

Italy was the first western hotspot of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to contain the spread of the virus, the Italian Government imposed home confinement to the entire population for almost two months. The present study is the first large-scale longitudinal report of the sleep and mental health changes during the prolonged lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We focused on the gendered vulnerability in a sample of the Italian population since cross-sectional research identified women to be more at-risk than men during this unprecedented situation.A total of 2701 individuals (mean age ± standard deviation, 32.37 ± 11.62; range, 18–82) participated in a web-based longitudinal survey consisting of two measurements. Participants were first-time recruited on social networks and via telephone messages through a snowball sampling and tested during the third week of the lockdown period. Subsequently, a follow-up evaluation was carried out during the seventh week of restraining measures. The survey assessed sleep quality, insomnia and depression symptoms, perceived stress, and anxiety, using the following questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Beck Depression Inventory-second edition, the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, and the State-Anxiety Inventory.Female gender showed the worst condition for all the examined dimensions in both the assessments. Nevertheless, at the follow-up women reported a reduction in insomnia and depression severity symptoms, perceived stress, and anxiety. On the other hand, male participants showed a worsening of sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, and perceived stress. Consequently, the gender prevalence gap of clinical conditions such as insomnia and depression was largely reduced under lockdown.Our investigation pointed to a different time course of sleep and mental health between genders during the home confinement period. Women seemed to show greater long-term resilience during the lockdown. Meanwhile, the male gender emerges as the most vulnerable category to the extension of the restraining measures. Our results suggest that there is no “weaker gender” after a prolonged lockdown. Indeed, the Italian population transversely presented signs of psychological suffering and significant sleep disturbances after the protracted and stressful lockdown period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resumo Objetivou-se analisar a tendência dos diferentes domínios da atividade física em adultos brasileiros segundo sexo, faixa etária e escolaridade. Foram utilizados os dados do sistema de Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (Vigitel), no período de 2006 a 2016, em todas as capitais brasileiras e no Distrito Federal. As principais questões do Vigitel que foram relevantes para este estudo tratam da prática de atividade física no tempo livre, deslocamento, ocupacional e doméstico. A análise de tendência foi obtida usando-se a regressão de Prais-Winsten, levando-se em conta o nível de significância igual a 5%. Os resultados gerais encontrados apontaram tendência crescente para atividade física no tempo livre, sendo 14,9% em 2006 e 20,8% em 2016, apresentando um aumento anual significativo de 3,6%, porém, nos demais domínios, foram estacionárias. A tendência também foi crescente para ambos os sexos no tempo livre, já no domínio ocupacional foi observada tendência decrescente para os homens (-0,6%) e no doméstico para as mulheres (-1,9%), que passou de 71,6% em 2006 para 55,6% em 2016. Foram encontradas tendências decrescentes entre aqueles com 20-29 anos no domínio ocupacional (-1,6%) e doméstico (-4,3%), 30-39 anos no deslocamento (-5,9%), doméstico (-1,6%) e para os indivíduos que tiveram ≥ 12 anos de estudos no domínio ocupacional (-0,6%). A meta mais importante para a saúde pública, relacionada à atividade física, é aumentar esta prática entre aqueles que atualmente não realizam nenhuma modalidade.

In this article, the academic internship supervision in Social work is the reflection object. This internship supervision mode helps in the process of student vocational training in the teaching-learning process your offering critical analysis of professional work in your entirety, allowing you to build and rebuild knowledge through your object of intervention and of the foundations of theoretical-methodological, ethical dimensions-and operating-technical policies of the profession. It’s (re)thinking academic supervision from the review of literature on the subject, theoretically existing legislation in being on stage and supervision in Social work and pedagogic-political guidelines of the Brazilian Association of education and Research in Social Service (ABEPSS) through the National Policy stage (PNE) of 2010. As well, as authors who discuss about internship supervision, in order to handle the academic supervision of probation in addition to a systematic activity, but mainly of your meaning in professional training of future social workers. The literature review identified mainly academic supervision is the synthesis of the activity of training and mediation for the formation of the set of skills and theoretical-methodological skills, ethical policies and operating of technical students of Social Service.

Background: A number of studies have been reported on the effects of high-concentration oxygen (HCO) on cytokine synthesis, with controversial results. We assessed the effect of administration of perioperative HCO on systemic inflammatory and immune response in patients undergoing laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF). Materials and Methods: Patients (n = 117) were assigned randomly to an oxygen/air mixture with a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) of 30% (n = 58) or 80% (n = 59). Administration was commenced after induction of anaesthesia and maintained for 6 h after surgery. White blood cells, peripheral lymphocytes subpopulation, human leucocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR), neutrophil elastase, interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were investigated. Results: A significantly higher concentration of neutrophil elastase, IL-1, IL-6 and CRP was detected post-operatively in the 30% FiO2group patients in comparison with the 80% FiO2group (P < 0.05). A statistically significant change in HLA-DR expression was recorded post-operatively at 24 h, as a reduction of this antigen expressed on monocyte surface in patients from 30% FiO2group; no changes were noted in 80% FiO2group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that perioperative HCO (80%), during LNF, can lead to a reduction in post-operative inflammatory response, and possibly, avoid post-operative immunosuppression.

The restraining measures due to the COVID-19 outbreak deeply affected the general population’s sleep health and psychological status. The current literature proposes young and older people as two particularly at-risk groups. However, the differential impact of the lockdown period in these specific age categories needs to be disentangled. Through a web-based survey adopting validated questionnaires, we evaluated and compared sleep quality/habits, insomnia, perceived stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms of Italian late adolescents (n = 670; mean age ± SD, 19.38 ± 0.74, 18–20 years) and elderly (n = 253; 68.18 ± 2.79, 65–75 years). Young respondents reported more severe insomnia symptoms, worse subjective sleep quality, longer sleep latency, higher daytime dysfunction, and a more prevalent disruption of sleep habits (bedtime, get-up time, nap) than the elderly. On the other hand, older participants showed shorter sleep duration, lower habitual sleep efficiency, and greater use of sleep medications. Finally, the younger population displayed higher levels of depression and perceived stress. Our findings indicate that the lockdown period had more pervasive repercussions on sleep and the mental health of late adolescents. The implementation of supportive strategies is encouraged for this vulnerable population group.

The use of SERS for real-world bioanalytical applications represents a concrete opportunity, which, however, is being largely delayed by the inadequacy of existing substrates used to collect SERS spectra. In particular, the main bottleneck is their poor usability, as in the case of unsupported noble metal colloidal nanoparticles or because of the need for complex or highly specialized fabrication procedures, especially in view of a large-scale commercial diffusion. In this work, we introduce a graphene paper-supported plasmonic substrate for biodetection as obtained by a simple and rapid aerosol deposition patterning of silver nanowires. This substrate is compatible with the analysis of small (2 μL) analyte drops, providing stable SERS signals at sub-millimolar concentration and a detection limit down to the nanogram level in the case of hemoglobin. The presence of a graphene underlayer assures an even surface distribution of SERS hotspots with improved stability of the SERS signal, the collection of well-resolved and intense SERS spectra, and an ultra-flat and photostable SERS background in comparison with other popular disposable supports.

Objetivo: Analisar a frequência de consumo de alimentos marcadores de dieta saudável e não saudável entre homens e mulheres adultos e os fatores demográficos e socioeconômicos associados. Métodos: Estudo de corte transversal, de base populacional, com dados do Sistema de Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas não Transmissíveis por Inquérito Telefônico (Vigitel). Foram incluídos 1.005 adultos (400 homens e 605 mulheres), de 20 a 59 anos, residentes em Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, entrevistados entre fevereiro e dezembro de 2014. As variáveis do estudo foram o consumo de alimentos marcadores de dieta saudável e não saudável e variáveis demográficas e socioeconômicas. Na análise de dados, utilizou-se análise bivariada por meio do teste de qui-quadrado (Rao-Scott) e teste de tendência linear. Resultados: A média de idade dos participantes foi de 37,9 anos para mulheres e 36,3 anos para os homens, dos quais 50,9% (n=605) eram mulheres, 60,0% (n=455) eram adultos jovens, de 20 a 39 anos, e de raça/cor preta ou parda (69,7%; n= 569). Maior consumo regular de frutas e hortaliças foi observado entre mulheres (p=0,01), entre aquelas de maior escolaridade e da raça/cor branca, e maior consumo de feijão foi observado entre os homens (p=0,04). O consumo de carnes com excesso de gordura foi maior entre os homens (p

Dentato-Rubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) is a rare autosomal, dominant, progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes involuntary movements, mental and emotional problems. DRPLA is caused by a mutation in the ATN1 gene that encodes for an abnormal polyglutamine stretch in the atrophin-1 protein. DRPLA is most common in the Japanese population, where it has an estimated incidence of 2 to 7 per million people. This condition has also been seen in families from North America and Europe. We obtained a reprogrammed iPSC line from a Caucasian patient with a juvenile onset of the disease, carrying 64 CAG repeat expansion in the ATN1 gene.

Insects are the only known animals in which sexual differentiation is controlled by sex-specific splicing. The doublesex transcription factor produces distinct male and female isoforms, which are both essential for sex-specific development. dsx splicing depends on transformer, which is also alternatively spliced such that functional Tra is only present in females. This pathway has evolved from an ancestral mechanism where dsx was independent of tra and expressed and required only in males. To reconstruct this transition, we examined three basal, hemimetabolous insect orders: Hemiptera, Phthiraptera, and Blattodea. We show that tra and dsx have distinct functions in these insects, reflecting different stages in the changeover from a transcription-based to a splicing-based mode of sexual differentiation. We propose that the canonical insect tra-dsx pathway evolved via merger between expanding dsx function (from males to both sexes) and narrowing tra function (from a general splicing factor to dedicated regulator of dsx).

In the present study quantification of phenolic components of Achyranthes aspera and Aerva javanica leaves was made using LC-ESI-MS/MS. Antioxidant and antimutagenic activities of both plant leaves' extracts probably associated with their phenolic constituents were also monitored. Extracts were prepared using different concentrations of aqueous and acidified methanol. Extract yields and total phenols varied 5.4–58.8% (w/w) and 111.2 ± 1.2 to 325.5 ± 2.9 mg g−1 of extract, respectively. Achyranthes aspera having lesser cytotoxicity (2.95 ± 0.14% at 0.5 mg mL−1) than that of Aerva javanica (12.2 ± 0.85% at 0.5 mg mL−1) provided relatively good protection against oxidative damage to pBR322 DNA plasmid. LC-ESI-MS/MS profiling exposed sixteen phenolics including kaempferol, catechin, syringic, quinic, sinapic, caffeic, chlorogenic acids in Achyranthes aspera; and six compounds including p-coumaric, gallic acid, myricetin in Aerva javanica. Aside from quinic acid, the two species did not share any phenolic compound.

RESUMO: Introdução: A hipertensão arterial sistêmica é um importante problema de saúde pública devido à sua alta prevalência, baixas taxas de controle e causa de morbidade e mortalidade cardiovascular. Objetivo: Analisar a prevalência de hipertensão arterial sistêmica e fatores associados em homens e mulheres residentes em municípios da Amazônia Legal. Métodos: No estudo transversal de base populacional conduzido com 1.296 adultos de ambos os sexos foram coletados dados sociodemográficos, estilo de vida, antropométricos e pressão arterial, sendo considerados hipertensos os que apresentaram pressão arterial ≥ 140/90 mmHg e/ou os que referiram uso de drogas anti-hipertensivas. As análises estatísticas foram feitas no módulo survey do programa Stata versão 11.0. Resultados: A prevalência da hipertensão arterial sistêmica foi de 22,3%. Após ajustes, as variáveis que se associaram à hipertensão nos homens foram a idade de 30 a 39 anos (RP ajustada = 2,69; IC95% 1,49 - 4,86), 40 a 49 anos (RP ajustada = 3,28; IC95% 1,82 - 5,93) e 50 a 59 anos (RP ajustada = 4,80; IC95% 2,63 - 8,76), sobrepeso (RP ajustada = 1,97; IC95% 1,39 - 2,78), obesidade (RP ajustada = 3,32; IC95% 2,32 - 4,75) e ser natural da região Norte ou Nordeste (RP ajustada = 0,31; IC95% 0,18 - 0,59). Entre as mulheres, associaram à hipertensão a idade de 40 a 49 anos (RP ajustada = 3,41; IC95% 1,91 - 6,07) e 50 a 59 anos (RP ajustada = 7,29; IC95% 4,07 - 13,07); o consumo de vinho (RP ajustada = 0,31; IC95% 0,10 - 0,97) e obesidade (RP ajustada = 2,39; IC95% 1,65 - 3,45). Conclusão: A hipertensão arterial associou-se independentemente com a idade, estado nutricional e naturalidade nos homens. E nas mulheres com a idade, estado nutricional e tipo de bebida alcoólica.

Purpose: The gut barrier is altered in certain pathologic conditions (shock, trauma, or surgical stress), resulting in bacterial and/or endotoxin translocation from the gut lumen into the systemic circulation. In this prospective randomized study, we investigated the effect of surgery on intestinal permeability (IP) and endotoxemia in patients undergoing elective colectomy for colon cancer by comparing the laparoscopic with the open approach. Patients and Methods: A hundred twenty-three consecutive patients underwent colectomy for colon cancer: 61 cases were open resection (OR) and 62 cases were laparoscopic resection (LR). IP was measured preoperatively and at days 1 and 3 after surgery. Serial venous blood sample were taken at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min, and at 12, 24, and 48 h after surgery for endotoxin measurement. Results: IP was significantly increased in the open and closed group at day 1 compared with the preoperative level (P < 0.05), but no difference was found between laparoscopic and open surgery group. The concentration endotoxin systemic increased significantly in the both groups during the course of surgery and returned to baseline levels at the second day. No difference was found between laparoscopic and open surgery. A significant correlation was observed between the maximum systemic endotoxin concentration and IP measured at day 1 in the open group and in the laparoscopic group. Conclusion: An increase in IP, and systemic endotoxemia were observed during the open and laparoscopic resection for colon cancer, without significant statistically difference between the two groups.