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Understanding how environmental factors affect species distribution is crucial for the conservation and management of marine organisms, especially in the face of global changes. Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) is a demersal cold-temperate fish, considered a 'relict species' in the Adriatic Sea. Despite its significance to commercial fisheries in the region, the specific drivers behind its spatial and temporal patterns have not been thoroughly examined. Here, we fitted a set of Generalized Linear Mixed Effects Models to data collected in the Northern and Central Adriatic from 1999 to 2019 during the Mediterranean International Trawl Survey to investigate the potential influence of depth, seafloor temperature and seafloor dissolved oxygen on the annual biomass density and spatial distribution of whiting in the spring-summer season. Our results showed that depth, and to a lesser degree temperature and oxygen, are important predictors of whiting distribution in this period, with preferences for depths of ~ 45 m, temperature of ~ 15.4°C and dissolved oxygen > 5.5 ml L-1. We predicted a persistent core area of distribution in front of the Po River Delta, in the Northern Adriatic Sea, while the density progressively declined towards the Central and Southern Adriatic Sea along the Italian coast. Additionally, the temporal trend exhibited high fluctuations over the years, occurring in cycles of 3 to 4 years. Finally, by comparing the biomass density estimates obtained under optimal conditions with those derived from the actual values for each variable, our analysis revealed that temperature had a pronounced and general impact on biomass density in the northern survey area (predictions revealed a density reduction of approximately two-thirds), while oxygen displayed a minor and more localized influence. This work deepens the current knowledge about the ecology of whiting in the Adriatic Sea and provides support for the conservation and management of this species.

Abstract Elasmobranchs, which include sharks and batoids, play critical roles in maintaining the integrity and stability of marine food webs. However, these cartilaginous fish are among the most threatened vertebrate lineages due to their widespread depletion. Consequently, understanding dynamics and predicting changes of elasmobranch communities are major research topics in conservation ecology. Here, we leverage long-term catch data from a standardized bottom trawl survey conducted from 1996 to 2019, to evaluate the spatio-temporal dynamics of the elasmobranch community in the heavily exploited Adriatic Sea, where these fish have historically been depleted. We use joint species distribution modeling to quantify the responses of the species to environmental variation while also including important traits such as species age at first maturity, reproductive mode, trophic level, and phylogenetic information. We present spatio-temporal changes in the species community and associated modification of the trait composition, highlighting strong spatial and depth-mediated patterning. We observed an overall increase in the abundance of the dominant elasmobranch species, except for spurdog, which has shown a continued decline. However, our results showed that the present community displays lower age at first maturity and a smaller fraction of viviparous species compared to the earlier observed community due to changes in species’ relative abundance. The selected traits contributed considerably to explaining community patterns, suggesting that the integration of trait-based approaches in elasmobranch community analyses can aid efforts to conserve this important lineage of fish.

In this article, we report a very efficient method for the determination of the enantiopurity of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine by 1H NMR analysis using a readily available chiral derivatizing boronic acid (CDA), (R)-(2-(((1-phenylethyl)amino)methyl)phenyl)boronic acid. After the removal of the acyl groups of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine via methanolysis and washing fatty acid byproducts with CHCl3, the obtained sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (GPC) with the free diol moiety is derivatized by the chiral boronic acid and analyzed by 1H NMR analysis. The choline methyl resonance of each diastereomer is observed at distinctive chemical shifts in the 1H NMR spectrum. Integration of the respective resonances allows direct determination of the enantiomeric purity. The procedure was tested successfully using 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) with different enantiomeric purities and with commercially available 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC).

Introduction Pregnancy is an important life event, involving body and mind transformation as well as brain reorganization. ADHD dimension is an additional aggravating factor, albeit poorly studied in the literature, in patients with mental health disorders in the peripartum. Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation among ADHD dimension, trauma in childhood, and anxiety-depressive symptomatology to assess whether the ADHD dimension may affect the quality of life of peripartum patients, and to identify vulnerability factors and self-harm risk. Methods The sample included 74 women aged 21-46 years, recruited from Sant’Andrea Hospital in Rome between 2015 and 2019. All recruited women were administered the following scales: Adult ADHD Self Report Scale (ASRS), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS); Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson’s correlation with SPSS software to verify the presence of linear relationships (p

Abstract Background Nonthyroidal Illness Syndrome (NTIS) can be detected in many critical illnesses. Recently, we demonstrated that this condition is frequently observed in COVID-19 patients too and it is correlated with the severity the disease. However, the exact mechanism through which thyroid hormones influence the course of COVID-19, as well as that of many other critical illnesses, is not clear yet and treatment with T4, T3 or a combination of both is still controversial. Aim of this study was to analyze body composition in COVID-19 patients in search of possible correlation with the thyroid function. Methods and findings We report here our experience performed in 74 critically ill COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) of our University Hospital in Rome. In these patients, we evaluated the thyroid hormone function and body composition by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) during the acute phase of the disease at admission in the ICU. To examine the effects of thyroid function on BIA parameters we analyzed also 96 outpatients, affected by thyroid diseases in different functional conditions. We demonstrated that COVID-19 patients with low FT3 serum values exhibited increased values of the Total Body Water/Free Fat Mass (TBW/FFM) ratio. Patients with the lowest FT3 serum values had also the highest level of TBW/FFM ratio. This ratio is an indicator of the fraction of FFM as water and represents one of the best-known body-composition constants in mammals. We found an inverse correlation between FT3 serum values and this constant. Reduced FT3 serum values in COVID-19 patients were correlated with the increase in the total body water (TBW), the extracellular water (ECW) and the sodium/potassium exchangeable ratio (Na e :K e ), and with the reduction of the intracellular water (ICW). No specific correlation was observed in thyroid patients at different functional conditions between any BIA parameters and FT3 serum values, except for the patient with myxedema, that showed a picture similar to that seen in COVID-19 patients with NTIS. Since the Na+/K+ pump is a well-known T3 target, we measured the mRNA expression levels of the two genes coding for the two major isoforms of this pump. We demonstrated that COVID-19 patients with NTIS had lower levels of mRNA of both genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)s obtained from our patients during the acute phase of the disease. In addition, we retrieved data from transcriptome analysis, performed on human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM)s treated with T3 and we demonstrated that in these cells T3 is able to stimulate the expression of these two genes in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions In conclusion, we demonstrated that measurement of BIA parameters is a useful method to analyze water and salt retention in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in ICU and, in particular, in those that develop NTIS. Our results indicate that NTIS has peculiar similarities with myxedema seen in severe hypothyroid patients, albeit it occurs more rapidly. The Na+/K+ pump is a possible target of T3 action, involved in the pathogenesis of the anasarcatic condition observed in our COVID-19 patients with NTIS. Finally, measurement of BIA parameters may represent good endpoints to evaluate the benefit of future clinical interventional trials, based on the administration of T3 in patients with NTIS.

Abstract Clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients are worsened by the presence of co-morbidities, especially cancer leading to elevated mortality rates. SARS-CoV-2 infection is known to alter immune system homeostasis. Whether cancer patients developing COVID-19 present alterations of immune functions which might contribute to worse outcomes have so far been poorly investigated. We conducted a multi-omic analysis of immunological parameters in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of COVID-19 patients with and without cancer. Healthy donors and SARS-CoV-2-negative cancer patients were also included as controls. At the infection peak, cytokine multiplex analysis of blood samples, cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) cell population analyses, and Nanostring gene expression using Pancancer array on PBMCs were performed. We found that eight pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, IL-1ra, MIP-1a, IP-10) out of 27 analyzed serum cytokines were modulated in COVID-19 patients irrespective of cancer status. Diverse subpopulations of T lymphocytes such as CD8+T, CD4+T central memory, Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT), natural killer (NK), and γδ T cells were reduced, while B plasmablasts were expanded in COVID-19 cancer patients. Our findings illustrate a repertoire of aberrant alterations of gene expression in circulating immune cells of COVID-19 cancer patients. A 19-gene expression signature of PBMCs is able to discriminate COVID-19 patients with and without solid cancers. Gene set enrichment analysis highlights an increased gene expression linked to Interferon α, γ, α/β response and signaling which paired with aberrant cell cycle regulation in cancer patients. Ten out of the 19 genes, validated in a real-world consecutive cohort, were specific of COVID-19 cancer patients independently from different cancer types and stages of the diseases, and useful to stratify patients in a COVID-19 disease severity-manner. We also unveil a transcriptional network involving gene regulators of both inflammation response and proliferation in PBMCs of COVID-19 cancer patients.

Abstract Background Low T3 syndrome is frequent in patients admitted to intensive care units for critical illness and pneumonia. It has been reported also in patients with COVID-19, Hodgkin disease and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. We analyzed the clinical relevance of Low T3 syndrome in COVID-19 patients and, in particular, in those with associated hematological malignancies. Methods Sixty-two consecutive patients, hospitalized during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Sant’Andrea University Hospital in Rome, were subdivided in 38 patients (Group A), showing low levels of FT3, and in 24 patients (Group B), with normal FT3 serum values. During the acute phase of the disease, we measured serum, radiologic and clinical disease severity markers and scores, in search of possible correlations with FT3 serum values. In addition, in 6 COVID-19 patients, 4 with Low T3 syndrome, including 2 with a hematological malignancy, and 2 with normal FT3 values, we performed, high-dimensional single-cell analysis by mass cytometry, multiplex cytokine assay and gene expression profiling in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Results Low FT3 serum values were correlated with increased Absolute Neutrophil Count, NLR and dNLR ratios and with reduced total count of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Low FT3 values correlated also with increased levels of inflammation, tissue damage and coagulation serum markers as well as with SOFA, LIPI and TSS scores. The CyTOF analysis demonstrated reduction of the effector memory and terminal effector subtypes of the CD4+ T lymphocytes. Multiplex cytokine assay indicates that mainly IL-6, IP-10 and MCAF changes are associated with FT3 serum levels, particularly in patients with coexistent hematological malignancies. Gene expression analysis using Nanostring identified four genes differently expressed involved in host immune response, namely CD38, CD79B, IFIT3 and NLRP3. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that low FT3 serum levels are associated with severe COVID-19. Our multi-omics approach suggests that T3 is involved in the immune response in COVID-19 and coexistent hematological malignancy and new possible T3 target genes in these patients have been identified.

Abstract Background Several immune mechanisms activate in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Usually, coronavirus infection is characterized by dysregulated host immune responses, interleukine-6 increase, hyper-activation of cytotoxic CD8 T lymphocytes. Interestingly, Vitamin D deficiency has been often associated with altered immune responses and infections. In the present study, we evaluated Vitamin D plasma levels in patients affected with different lung involvement during COVID-19 infection. Methods Lymphocyte phenotypes were assessed by flow cytometry. Thoracic CT scan involvement was obtained by an image analysis program. Results Vitamin D levels were deficient in (80%) of patients, insufficient in (6.5%) and normal in (13.5%). Patients with very low Vitamin D plasma levels had more elevated D-Dimer values, a more elevated B lymphocyte cell count, a reduction of CD8 + T lymphocytes with a low CD4/CD8 ratio, more compromised clinical findings (measured by LIPI and SOFA scores) and thoracic CT scan involvement. Conclusions Vitamin D deficiency is associated with compromised inflammatory responses and higher pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 affected patients. Vitamin D assessment, during COVID-19 infection, could be a useful analysis for possible therapeutic interventions. Trial registration: 'retrospectively registered'.

Abstract Background Patient body size represents the main determinant of parenchymal enhancement and by adjusting the contrast media (CM) dose to patient weight may be a more appropriate approach to avoid a patient over dosage of CM. To compare the performance of fixed-dose and lean body weight (LBW)-adapted contrast media dosing protocols, in terms of image quality and parenchymal enhancement. Results One-hundred cancer patients undergoing multiphasic abdominal CT were prospectively enrolled in this multicentric study and randomly divided in two groups: patients in fixed-dose group (n = 50) received 120 mL of CM while in LBW group (n = 50) the amount of CM was computed according to the patient’s LBW. LBW protocol group received a significantly lower amount of CM (103.47 ± 17.65 mL vs. 120.00 ± 0.00 mL, p

Abstract Background The actual SARS-CoV-2 outbreak caused a highly transmissible disease with a tremendous impact on elderly people. So far, few studies focused on very elderly patients (over 80 years old). In this study we examined the clinical presentation and the outcome of the disease in this group of patients, admitted to our Hospital in Rome. Methods This is a single-center, retrospective study performed in the Sant’Andrea University Hospital of Rome. We included patients older than 65 years of age with a diagnosis of COVID-19, from March 2020 to May 2020, divided in two groups according to their age (Elderly: 65–80 years old; Very Elderly > 80 years old). Data extracted from the each patient record included age, sex, comorbidities, symptoms at onset, the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI), the ratio of the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) to the inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) (P/F) on admission, laboratory tests, radiological findings on computer tomography (CT), length of hospital stay (LOS), mortality rate and the viral shedding. The differences between the two groups were analyzed by the Fisher’s exact test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for categorical variables and the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables. To assess significance among multiple groups of factors, we used the Bonferroni correction. The survival time was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method and Log Rank Test. Univariate and Multivariate logistic regression were performed to estimate associations between age, comorbidities, provenance from long-stay residential care homes (LSRCH) s and clinical outcomes. Results We found that Very Elderly patients had an increased mortality rate, also due to the frequent occurrence of multiple comorbidities. Moreover, we found that patients coming from LSRCHs appeared to be highly susceptible and vulnerable to develop severe manifestations of the disease. Conclusion We demonstrate that there were considerable differences between Elderly and Very Elderly patients in terms of inflammatory activity, severity of disease, adverse clinical outcomes. To establish a correct risk stratification, comorbidities and information about provenience from LSRCHs should be considered.

IntroductionParkinson's disease (PD) patients frequently engage in rehabilitation to ameliorate symptoms. During the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, access to rehabilitation programs has been markedly limited, consequently, telerehabilitation gained popularity. In this prospective, open-label, and pilot study, we aimed to investigate feasibility, safety, and efficacy of telerehabilitation in mild-to-moderate PD patients.Materials and MethodsTwenty-three PD patients, with Hoehn and Yahr stage 30-min of self-conducted exercises per week. Patients received video tutorials of exercises and were asked to keep a diary of sessions. At baseline (T0), at the end of the intervention (T1), and 1 month after the end of treatment (T2), patients were remotely assessed with MDS-UPDRS part I-III, PDQ-39, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Frontal Assessment Battery scales, respectively. Acceptable compliance to the program was defined as >60% matching of frequency and duration of sessions, whereas optimal compliance was set at >80% matching.ResultsThe dropout rate was 0%. Over 85% of patients reached acceptable adherence cut-off and around 70% reached optimal one. No adverse events were reported during sessions. The repeated measure analysis of variance (rANOVA) showed a significant effect of factor “time” for MDS-UPDRS-III (p < 0.0001) with a mean reduction of 4.217 points between T0 and T1 and return to baseline at T2. No significant effect was found for other outcome measures.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate that telerehabilitation is safe, feasible, and effective on motor symptoms in mild-to-moderate PD patients.

Background and ObjectiveNonthyroidal Illness Syndrome (NTIS) occurs in approximately 70% of patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU)s and has been associated with increased risk of death. Whether patients with NTIS should receive treatment with thyroid hormones (TH)s is still debated. Since many interventional randomized clinical trials (IRCT)s were not conclusive, current guidelines do not recommend treatment for these patients. In this review, we analyze the reasons why TH treatment did not furnish convincing results regarding possible beneficial effects in reported IRCTs.MethodsWe performed a review of the metanalyses focused on NTIS in critically ill patients. After a careful selection, we extracted data from four metanalyses, performed in different clinical conditions and diseases. In particular, we analyzed the type of TH supplementation, the route of administration, the dosages and duration of treatment and the outcomes chosen to evaluate the results.ResultsWe observed a marked heterogeneity among the IRCTs, in terms of type of TH supplementation, route of administration, dosages and duration of treatment. We also found great variability in the primary outcomes, such as prevention of neurological alterations, reduction of oxygen requirements, restoration of endocrinological and clinical parameters and reduction of mortality.ConclusionsNTIS is a frequent finding in critical ill patients. Despite several available IRCTs, it is still unclear whether NTIS should be treated or not. New primary endpoints should be identified to adequately validate the efficacy of TH treatment and to obtain a clear answer to the question raised some years ago.

Abstract Ras gene family members play a relevant role in cancer, especially when they are mutated. However, they may play additional roles in other conditions beside cancer. We performed gene expression analysis using the NanoString PanCancer IO 360 panel in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of six COVID-19 patients and we found that H-Ras gene was significantly upregulated, while both K-Ras and N-Ras genes were downregulated. In particular, H-Ras gene upregulation was more evident in COVID-19 patients with a more severe disease. We compared our results with those obtained by analyzing two different and independent datasets, including a total of 53 COVID-19 patients, in which the gene expression analysis was performed using the Immunology_V2 panel. Comparative analysis of the H-Ras gene expression in these patients confirmed our preliminary results. In both of them, in fact, we were able to confirm the upregulation of the expression of the H-Ras gene. The exact role of this specific upregulation of the H-Ras gene in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and its possible role in cancer still remains to be elucidated. In conclusion, H-Ras gene participates to the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, especially in patients affected by the most severe form of the COVID-19.

Introduction The curious effect of an increase of the placebo effect across year of publication has been shown for depression, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as for some medical conditions like hypertension and pain. Objectives We aimed to observe how randomised clinical trials with a placebo control behave at this respect in panic disorder trials. Methods We searched the PubMed database using the strategy: (panic disorder OR panic attack disorder) AND placebo, which on 3 November 2020 produced 779 records. Inclusion criteria were the above stated, excluded were all studies focusing on the same patients as others and those not providing intelligible data. In our selection we used the PRISMA statement and reached agreement with Delphi rounds. Results We identified through other sources further 3 studies. The finally eligible studies were 82, excluded were 700 studies, mainly consisting of reviews (176), challenge studies (173), not dealing with panic disorder (67), studies with unsuitable designs to detect placebo effect (53), studies using same populations as others (36), those with misfocused outcomes (57), those lumping diagnoses and not allowing to separate data for panic disorder (22), and those not using placebo at all (21). Mean response to placebo in included panic disorder studies was 36.01±19.812, ranging from 0 to 76.19%; the correlation with year of publication was positive and significant (Pearson’s r= 0.246; p=0.026). Conclusions The effect of placebo in randomised control trials has increased across the years, but this field of research appears to be idle in recent years. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Single suicide attempters (SSAs) and multiple suicide attempters (MSAs) represent distinct subgroups of individuals with specific risk factors and clinical characteristics. This retrospective study on a sample of 397 adult psychiatric inpatients analyzed the main sociodemographic and clinical differences between SSAs and MSAs and the possible differences between SSAs, MSAs, and psychiatric patients with and without suicidal ideation (SI). Clinical variables collected included psychiatric diagnoses (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), presence of substance use, current suicide risk status (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale), Clinical Global Impression at admission, Global Assessment of Functioning improvement between admission and discharge, age at onset of psychiatric illness, duration of untreated illness in years, number of hospitalizations in psychiatric settings, and lethality of the most severe suicide attempt. A multinomial logistic regression model with groups showed that MSAs had a higher lethality of their last suicide attempt as compared to SSAs. In addition, MSAs had distinct sociodemographic characteristics compared to both SSAs and patients with SI. Although the study was limited by the relatively small sample size and retrospective nature, the present results suggest that identifying MSAs could be useful in predicting suicide risk and designing ad hoc prevention strategies.

Research has a critical role in supporting the implementation of farming practices that are appropriate for meeting food and climate security for a growing global population. Notwithstanding progress towards more sustainable agricultural production, the rate of change varies across and within regions and is, overall, too slow. Understanding what is and is not working at the implementation level and, critically, providing justified explanations on outcomes, is an important contribution of the literature. Based on the assumption that theory-informed research can contribute to adoption policy and practice, this review ascertained and described the use of theory in the identification and examination of barriers to adoption in studies included in a recent systematic literature review. Following the application of criteria for ‘theory use’, 16 studies out of 75 were found to have applied or built upon one or more of 14 theories and models in their research approaches, including established theories in the social and behavioural sciences, as well as systems based models developed specifically in the sustainable agriculture space. Following a description of theory and model use in the studies, results are discussed relative to how theoretical constructs and mechanisms within individual and across studies can assist in explaining why and how adoption of sustainable practices is constrained.

Engineering asset management (EAM) is a rapidly growing and developing field. However, efforts to select and develop engineers in this area are complicated by our lack of understanding of the full range of competencies required to perform. This exploratory study sought to clarify and categorise the professional competencies required of individuals at different hierarchical levels within EAM. Data from 14 field interviews, 61 online surveys, and 10 expert panel interviews were used to develop an initial professional competency framework. Overall, nine competency clusters were identified. These clusters indicate that engineers working in this field need to be able to collaborate and influence others, complete objectives within organisational guidelines, and be able to manage themselves effectively. Limitations and potential uses of this framework in engineering education and research are discussed.

Leptocephali are the characteristic larvae of the superorder Elopomorpha that are difficult to identify at the species level. In this study, we used DNA barcoding (i.e. short genetic sequences of DNA used as unique species tags) coupled with classical taxonomic methods to identify leptocephali in the southern Adriatic Sea. This information will provide an assessment of the biodiversity of the eel larvae in this region. A total of 2,785 leptocephali were collected, and using external morphology were assigned to seven morphotypes: Ariosoma balearicum, Conger conger, Gnathophis mystax, Facciolella sp., Nettastoma melanurum, Dalophis imberbis and Chlopsis bicolor. Collectively, these seven morphotypes are considered to be a good proxy for the Anguilliformes community (the main order of the Elopomorpha) in the southern Adriatic Sea (to date, seven families and sixteen species have been recorded in this region). Interestingly, the higher number of G. mystax larvae collected suggests an increased abundance of this genus. To validate the morphological identifications, we sequenced 61 leptocephali (at a 655 bp fragment from the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial region) and developed barcode vouchers for the seven morphotypes. Using genetic information from reference databases, we validated three of these morphotypes. Where reference sequences were unavailable, we generated barcodes for both adult and juvenile forms to provide additional genetic information. Using this integrated approach allowed us to characterize a new species of Facciolella in the Adriatic Sea for the first time. Moreover, we also revealed a lack of differentiation, at the species level, between G. mistax and G. bathytopos, a western Atlantic Ocean species. Our morphological and barcode data have been published in the Barcoding of the Adriatic Leptocephali database. This work represents the first contribution to a wider project that aims to create a barcode database to support the assessment of leptocephali diversity in the Mediterranean Sea.

DNA barcoding is a molecular tool that enables rapid and accurate identification of biological species by sequencing a short, standardized region of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I ( COI) as internal species tag. The aim of the present study was to use DNA barcoding in addition to classical taxonomy in order to obtain a more reliable species-identification of leptocephali, the characteristic larval forms of the superorder Elopomorpha, often difficult to identify and to match with their adult stage. Based on the examination of external morphology, meristics, and pigmentation, 2785 leptocephalus larvae collected in the Adriatic Sea between 2010 and 2012, were ascribed to 7 morphotypes, belonging to Anguilliform order (Ariosoma balearicum, Conger conger, Gnathophis mystax, Nettastoma melanurum, Dalophis imberbis, Chlopsis bicolor, Facciolella sp.) and 69 specimens were sequenced for a 655 bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene (COI) to confirm the previous morphological analysis. The highly consistent results obtained revealed a good performance of COI barcoding as a diagnostic method for the identification of these larvae, but the limited number of leptocephali species annotated in the reference databases for barcode (Barcode of Life Data Systems and GenBank) allowed to validate only partially the morphological analysis. Moreover two species, Gnathophis mystax and Facciolella sp., showed unexpected outcomes. The data obtained in this work represent the first results of a wider project aimed at the creation of a new barcode database for the assessment of leptocephali diversity in the Mediterranean Sea (Barcoding of the Adriatic Leptocephali [BAL]), contributing to the knowledge of these unusual larvae and of their adult forms.

To achieve water quality targets needed to support the ecological restoration of the Great Barrier Reef, increased uptake of programs aiming to change farming practices is needed. However, notwithstanding extensive research and progress in this area, knowledge gaps may be limiting the potential effectiveness of initiatives. Of particular significance is the relative paucity of reliable evidence on social and psychological factors that are theoretically known to influence the performance of a person's behaviour. This paper reports an application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour to evaluate intentions, perceived behavioural control, attitudes and social norms in changing farming practices following participation in a project aiming to enhance water quality. Overall, 23.5 % of the variance in self-reported framing practices were explained by the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The results are consistent with previous research on the influence of social norms in the adoption of behaviours, supporting a role for including social and psychological variables in farming practice change research, while simultaneously acknowledging the need for further research to draw definitive conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The actual SARS-CoV-2 outbreak caused a highly transmissible disease with a tremendous impact on elderly people. So far, few studies focused on very elderly patients (over 80 years old). In this study we examined the clinical presentation and the outcome of the disease in this group of patients, admitted to our Hospital in Rome.Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective study performed in the Sant'Andrea University Hospital of Rome. We included patients older than 65 years of age with a diagnosis of COVID-19, from March 2020 to May 2020, divided in two groups according to their age (Elderly: 65-80 years old; Very Elderly > 80 years old). Data extracted from the each patient record included age, sex, comorbidities, symptoms at onset, the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI), the ratio of the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) to the inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) (P/F) on admission, laboratory tests, radiological findings on computer tomography (CT), length of hospital stay (LOS), mortality rate and the viral shedding. The differences between the two groups were analyzed by the Fisher's exact test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for categorical variables and the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables. To assess significance among multiple groups of factors, we used the Bonferroni correction. The survival time was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method and Log Rank Test. Univariate and Multivariate logistic regression were performed to estimate associations between age, comorbidities, provenance from long-stay residential care homes (LSRCH) s and clinical outcomes.Results: We found that Very Elderly patients had an increased mortality rate, also due to the frequent occurrence of multiple comorbidities. Moreover, we found that patients coming from LSRCHs appeared to be highly susceptible and vulnerable to develop severe manifestations of the disease.Conclusion: We demonstrate that there were considerable differences between Elderly and Very Elderly patients in terms of inflammatory activity, severity of disease, adverse clinical outcomes. To establish a correct risk stratification, comorbidities and information about provenience from LSRCHs should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agricultural Information Worldwide is the property of International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Agricultural Information Worldwide is the property of International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Nitinol is used as the structural framework in numerous types of medical devices (e.g., guidewires, transcatheters, stents). The desire to understand the material compatibility of nitinol with vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VH 2 O 2 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) sterilization is increasing in healthcare technology. As a result of increased regulatory pressure and capacity limitations related to ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization, the industry is seeking alternative, sustainable sterilization options. Objective: This study sought to characterize the corrosion resistance of nitinol metal alloy wire when exposed to varying levels of VH 2 O 2 and NO 2 sterilization. Methods: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) scans were performed to understand the effects of VH 2 O 2 and NO 2 sterilization treatments on the surface morphology and chemical composition of nitinol. Results: From the SEM-EDS results, no notable difference was observed when comparing VH 2 O 2 and NO 2 test samples with nonsterile control samples. In addition, cyclic potentiodynamic polarization measurements were performed per ASTM F2129-19a to determine corrosion susceptibility. No considerable changes were detected in the electrochemical potential after VH 2 O 2 and NO 2 sterilization treatments, when compared with the nonsterile control samples. Conclusion: SEM-EDS and corrosion test results indicated no considerable changes in the surface properties or electrochemical potential of the sterilized samples compared with the nonsterilized control samples. Therefore, nitinol metal showed promising results for compatibility with VH 2 O 2 and NO 2 sterilization.

Background: Because of poor knowledge of risks and benefits, prophylactic explantation of high BIA-ALCL risk breast implant (BI) is not indicated. Several surgical risks have been associated with BI surgery, with mortality being the most frightening. Primary aim of this study is to assess mortality rate in patients undergoing breast implant surgery for aesthetic or reconstructive indication., Materials and Methods: In this retrospective observational cohort study, Breast Implant Surgery Mortality rate (BISM) was calculated as the perioperative mortality rate among 99,690 patients who underwent BI surgery for oncologic and non-oncologic indications. Mean age at first implant placement (A1P), implant lifespan (IL), and women's life expectancy (WLE) were obtained from a literature review and population database., Results: BISM rate was 0, and mean A1P was 34 years for breast augmentation, and 50 years for breast reconstruction. Regardless of indication, overall mean A1P can be presumed to be 39 years, while mean BIL was estimated as 9 years and WLE as 85 years., Conclusion: This study first showed that the BISM risk is 0. This information, and the knowledge that BI patients will undergo one or more revisional procedures if not explantation during their lifetime, may help surgeons in the decision-making process of a pre-emptive substitution or explant in patients at high risk of BIA-ALCL. Our recommendation is that patients with existing macrotextured implants do have a relative indication for explantation and total capsulectomy. The final decision should be shared between patient and surgeon following an evaluation of benefits, surgical risks and comorbidities., Level of Evidence Iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 ., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Aim: The aim of this study has been to measure the distress of workers at a large hospital in Rome, immediately after the lockdown with relaxed national restrictions except the indication to wear masks FP2 and to maintain the interpersonal distance of at least one meter., Method: A web-based anonymous survey has been conducted. Of the 324 responders (23-69 years; 78.09% females), 41.05% was nurse, 31.17% medical doctor, 7.72% employee with administrative function, 3.09% psychologist, 1.54% biologist, 13.58% grouped in the "other" category. 60.49% worked in a no-covid-19 ward, 20.37% in the covid-19 ward, 13.58% in outpatient clinics, and 5.56% outside the hospital. 45.06% have been exposed to covid-19 and 7.72% tested positive for covid-19. 66.67% were satisfied with the safety measures taken by the hospital. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as measured by IES-R, and peritraumatic distress, measured by CPDI, were frequently reported (41.05% and 43.21%, respectively). PTSD resulted independently associated with peritraumatic distress (Adjusted Odds Ratio, AOR 49.83), perception of being avoided by family and/or friends due to work performed (AOR= 4.05), low hope for the future (AOR= 2.25) and female gender (AOR= 2.90). Age and profession were considered confounding variables., Results: These results showed that even in times of reduced restrictions, the prevalence of peritraumatic distress and PTSD is high, regardless of work and professional specialization, length of service, more or less direct contact with covid-19 patients., Conclusions: Since the biological damage resulting from a PTSD is known, it is important to activate screening programs followed by specific interventions to reduce long-term risks to mental health.