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Embryonic genome activation (EGA) occurs during preimplantation development and is characterized by the initiation of de novo transcription from the embryonic genome. Despite its importance, the regulation of EGA and the transcription factors involved in this process are poorly understood. Paired-like homeobox (PRDL) family proteins are implicated as potential transcriptional regulators of EGA, yet the PRDL-mediated gene regulatory networks remain uncharacterized. To investigate the function of PRDL proteins, we are identifying the molecular interactions and the functions of a subset family of the Eutherian Totipotent Cell Homeobox (ETCHbox) proteins, seven PRDL family proteins and six other transcription factors (TFs), all suggested to participate in transcriptional regulation during preimplantation. Using mass spectrometry-based interactomics methods, AP-MS and proximity-dependent biotin labeling, and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing we derive the comprehensive regulatory networks of these preimplantation TFs. By these interactomics tools we identify more than a thousand high-confidence interactions for the 21 studied bait proteins with more than 300 interacting proteins. We also establish that TPRX2, currently assigned as pseudogene, is a transcriptional activator. Synopsis: This study characterizes the molecular interactions and functions of human PRDL and other transcription factors in embryonic genome activation (EGA), revealing over a thousand high-confidence interactions and indicating key roles in transcription regulation. PRDL Family in EGA: The data support a crucial role for PRDL family proteins in embryonic genome activation, contributing to our understanding of the regulation of EGA. Interactomics Analysis: The study employs advanced mass spectrometry-based interactomics methods, identifying over a thousand high-confidence interactions involving PRDL proteins, thus mapping a comprehensive network of preimplantation transcription factors. This study characterizes the molecular interactions and functions of human PRDL and other transcription factors in embryonic genome activation (EGA), revealing over a thousand high-confidence interactions and indicating key roles in transcription regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To employ a novel analytic method—namely, exploratory graph analysis (EGA)—to subclinical attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) trait scores in order to reveal their dimensional structure, as well as compare EGA's performance with traditional factor‐analytic techniques in doing so. Method: 1149 respondents from a survey panel completed the ASRS, a common ADHD scale made up of 18 distinct trait measures. EGA and factor analysis were applied to identify traits which associate with each other. Results: EGA revealed 3 distinct communities, and ruled out a 2‐community structure. This was in contrast to the 2‐factor structure suggested by the factor analysis, and the conventional division of ADHD into two subdimensions (hyperactivity and inattention). Conclusion: A dimensional structure of three clusters (hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention) may better reflect the traits underlying ADHD. EGA has benefits in terms of both analytic approach and interpretability of findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) via their impact on sensory processing (SP), which previous simple correlational analysis suggests is affected in both. We examined adults from the general population without clinical diagnoses, using a broad-based self-report survey methodology, looking at the symptoms of ADHD and ASD, SP and a range of other issues (anxiety, reward sensitivity and schizotypy) which are reliant on sensory processing. Their relationship was explored using Exploratory Graph Analysis, a method which assesses whether survey responses cluster into 'communities'. We found three communities, reflecting typical inter and intrapersonal ADHD/ASD problems. Although ADHD/ASD did not form a community with sensory processing, the model suggested ADHD/ASD are connected to sensory processing through intermediary conditions, such as panic anxiety. The model suggested that disorganised thought, speech and behaviour, and challenges in social interaction, use anxiety as a bridge with sensory processing, through aberrant attentional deployment and biases in cognitive processes, which can induce anxious states and therefore manifest in behaviour typical of ADHD/ASD. Previous simple correlational analyses overestimate the direct relationship between ADHD/ASD and sensory processing changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are the major producer of type 1 IFN in response to TLR7 agonists. Aberrant TLR7 activation and type 1 IFN expression by pDCs are linked to the pathogenesis of certain types of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study investigated the underlying mechanisms for TLR7-mediated cytokine expression by pDCs using a late endosome trafficking inhibitor, EGA (4-bromobenzaldehyde N-(2,6- dimethylphenyl) semicarbazone). We found that EGA treatment decreased IFNa expression by pDCs stimulated with imiquimod (R837), single-stranded RNA40, and influenza virus. EGA also decreased TNFa expression and secretion by R837-stimulated pDCs. Mechanistically, EGA treatment decreased phosphorylation of IKKa/b, STAT1, and p38, and prolonged degradation of IkBa. Furthermore, EGA treatment decreased the colocalization of 3F, a substituted adenine TLR7 agonist, with LAMP1+ compartments in pDCs. EGA was also capable of diminishing IFNa expression by SLE pDCs treated with R837 or live PR8/A/34 influenza viruses. Therefore, we concluded that trafficking of TLR7 agonists to LAMP1+ compartments is important for IFNa expression by pDCs. Data from this study support additional examinations of the potential benefits of EGA in treating type 1 IFN-associated inflammatory diseases in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To employ a novel analytic method—namely, exploratory graph analysis (EGA)—to subclinical attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) trait scores in order to reveal their dimensional structure, as well as compare EGA's performance with traditional factor‐analytic techniques in doing so. Method 1149 respondents from a survey panel completed the ASRS, a common ADHD scale made up of 18 distinct trait measures. EGA and factor analysis were applied to identify traits which associate with each other. Results EGA revealed 3 distinct communities, and ruled out a 2‐community structure. This was in contrast to the 2‐factor structure suggested by the factor analysis, and the conventional division of ADHD into two subdimensions (hyperactivity and inattention). Conclusion A dimensional structure of three clusters (hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention) may better reflect the traits underlying ADHD. EGA has benefits in terms of both analytic approach and interpretability of findings.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are the major producer of type 1 IFN in response to TLR7 agonists. Aberrant TLR7 activation and type 1 IFN expression by pDCs are linked to the pathogenesis of certain types of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study investigated the underlying mechanisms for TLR7-mediated cytokine expression by pDCs using a late endosome trafficking inhibitor, EGA (4-bromobenzaldehyde N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl) semicarbazone). We found that EGA treatment decreased IFNα expression by pDCs stimulated with imiquimod (R837), single-stranded RNA40, and influenza virus. EGA also decreased TNFα expression and secretion by R837-stimulated pDCs. Mechanistically, EGA treatment decreased phosphorylation of IKKα/β, STAT1, and p38, and prolonged degradation of IκBα. Furthermore, EGA treatment decreased the colocalization of 3F, a substituted adenine TLR7 agonist, with LAMP1+ compartments in pDCs. EGA was also capable of diminishing IFNα expression by SLE pDCs treated with R837 or live PR8/A/34 influenza viruses. Therefore, we concluded that trafficking of TLR7 agonists to LAMP1+ compartments is important for IFNα expression by pDCs. Data from this study support additional examinations of the potential benefits of EGA in treating type 1 IFN-associated inflammatory diseases in the future.

The changes in epigenetic modifications during early embryonic development significantly impact mammalian embryonic genome activation (EGA) and are species-conserved to some degree. Here, we reanalyzed the published RNA-Seq of human, mouse, and goat early embryos and found that Zfp296 (zinc finger protein 296) expression was higher at the EGA stage than at the oocyte stage in all three species (adjusted p-value < 0.05 |log2(foldchange)| ≥ 1). Subsequently, we found that Zfp296 was conserved across human, mouse, goat, sheep, pig, and bovine embryos. In addition, we identified that ZFP296 interacts with the epigenetic regulators KDM5B, SMARCA4, DNMT1, DNMT3B, HP1β, and UHRF1. The Cys2-His2(C2H2) zinc finger domain TYPE2 TYPE3 domains of ZFP296 co-regulated the modification level of the trimethylation of lysine 9 on the histone H3 protein subunit (H3K9me3). According to ChIP-seq analysis, ZFP296 was also enriched in Trim28, Suv39h1, Setdb1, Kdm4a, and Ehmt2 in the mESC genome. Then, knockdown of the expression of Zfp296 at the late zygote of the mouse led to the early developmental arrest of the mouse embryos and failure resulting from a decrease in H3K9me3. Together, our results reveal that Zfp296 is an H3K9me3 modulator which is essential to the embryonic genome activation of mouse embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the dimensional structure of the German Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) in clinical groups of women with Anorexia Nervosa (AN; N = 821), Bulimia Nervosa (BN; N = 573), and Binge-Eating Disorder (BED; N = 359) using Exploratory Graph Analyses (EGA). The EGA yielded a 12-item-four-dimension structure for the AN group (subscales "Restraint", "Body Dissatisfaction", "Preoccupation", "Importance"), a 20-item-five-dimension structure for the BN group (subscales "Restraint", "Body Dissatisfaction", "Eating Concern", "Preoccupation", "Importance"), and a 17-item-four-dimension structure for the BED group (subscales "Restraint", "Body Dissatisfaction", "Concern", "Importance"). This first investigation of the EDE-Q's dimensional structure using EGA suggests that the original factor model may be suboptimal for specific clinical ED samples and that alternative scoring should be considered when screening specific cohorts or evaluating the effects of interventions. • There is limited evidence regarding specific diagnostic tools for women with EDs. • We carried out an EGA for the EDE-Q in a large sample of women with EDs. • The original factor structure of the EDE-Q could not be confirmed. • Dimensional structures of the EDE-Q are presented for women with AN, BN, and BED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) exhibit bifurcated cytokine responses to TLR9 agonists, an IRF7-mediated type 1 IFN response or a pro-inflammatory cytokine response via the activation of NF-κB. This bifurcated response has been hypothesized to result from either distinct signaling endosomes or endolysosomal trafficking delay of TLR9 agonists allowing for autocrine signaling to affect outcomes. Utilizing the late endosome trafficking inhibitor, EGA, we assessed the bifurcated cytokine responses of pDCs to TLR9 stimulation. EGA treatment of pDCs diminished both IFNα and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression induced by CpG DNAs (D- and K-type), CpG-DNAs complexed with DOTAP, and genomic DNAs complexed with LL37. Mechanistically, EGA suppressed phosphorylation of IKKα/β, STAT1, Akt, and p38, and decreased colocalization of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides with LAMP+ endo-lysosomes. EGA also diminished type 1 IFN expression by pDCs from systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Therefore, our findings help understand mechanisms for the bifurcated cytokine responses by pDCs and support future examination of the potential benefit of EGA in treating type 1 IFN-associated inflammatory diseases in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study: We evaluated and compared blood gas analysis (EGA) non-conformities (NC) considered operator-dependent performed in Point-Of-Care (POC) analyzer as quality indicators (IQ) of the pre-analytical phase. To this end, four different NC registered in the resuscitation departments of the Hospital Polyclinic Bari from the beginning of the pandemic (March 2020) until February 2022 were evaluated. The results obtained were compared with those recorded in the pre-COVID period (March 2018–February 2020) to check if there were differences in number and type. Material and methods: GEM 4000 series blood gas analyzers (Instrumentation Laboratory, Bedford, MA, United States) are installed with integrated Intelligent Quality Management (iQM®), which automatically identify and log pre-analytical errors. All blood gas analyzers are connected to the company intranet and interfaced with the GEM Web Plus (Werfen Instrumentation Laboratory, Bedford, MA, United States) data management information system, which allows the core laboratory to remotely supervise all decentralized POC stations. The operator-dependent process NC were expressed in terms of absolute and relative proportions (percentiles and percentage changes). For performance evaluation, the Mann–Whitney U test, Chi-squared test and Six-Sigma Metric calculation for performance classification were performed. Results: In the COVID period, 31,364 blood gas tests were performed vs. 16,632 tests in the pre-COVID period. The NC related to the suitability of the EGA sample and manageable by the operators were totals of 652 (3.9%) and 749 (2.4%), respectively, in the pre-COVID and COVID periods. The pre-analytical phase IQs used did not show statistically significant differences in the two periods evaluated. The Sigma evaluation did not show an increase in error rates. Conclusions: Considering the increase in the number of EGAs performed in the two periods, the training procedures performed by the core laboratory staff were effective; the clinical users of the POC complied with the indications and procedures shared with the core laboratory without increasing the operator-dependent NCs. Furthermore, the core laboratory developed monitoring activities capable of guaranteeing the maintenance of the pre-analytical quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable oils (e.g. linseed or tung) were used as lime mortar admixtures in order to increase the mortar durability (due to the water repealing effect) and/or to prolong the mortar's workability. The present paper aims to investigate the possibilities of thermal analysis to estimate the linseed oil content in a historic mortar. A set of model mortars containing Ca(OH)2, CaCO3 and variable amount of linseed oil was studied by methods usually used for mortars characterization: thermogravimetry with evolved gas analysis by mass spectroscopy (TG EGA-MS), FTIR spectroscopy (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and XRD (powder X-ray diffraction). Oil admixed in lime mortar undergoes two principal transformations: saponification to Ca carboxylates and polymerization (drying). The products of the oil transformation are thermally decomposing during the thermal analysis experiment, but unfortunately in the same temperature range as Ca(OH)2—common mortar component—does. A calculation procedure which enables to determine content of both Ca(OH)2 and "oil products" on base of thermogravimetry was proposed. As an alternative, an estimation of oil content based on EGA-MS results for m/z 95 ion was developed. Finally, total organic carbon (TOC) may be also used if any other organics are not present. These three approaches were used for the oil content estimation in the sample of historic mosaic mortar. The result obtained by TG EGA-MS approach was found to be the most realistic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Description of interactive oral story-telling in West African Niger-Congo languages, “orature” in contrast to “literature”, has traditionally been firmly in the domain of anthropological linguistics. The discourse structures of narrator-responder interaction and call-response chanted interludes and their prosody are an open challenge to discourse analysts, linguists and phoneticians. Two orature examples from related Niger-Congo languages, recorded during fieldwork in Côte d'Ivoire, are analyzed from a macrostructural acoustic phonetic perspective in terms of realtime rhythms, and then compared with other related orature examples and examples of reading aloud. In this transdisciplinary methodology, long time domains of up to 5 min in duration and beyond are studied using long-term spectra and spectrograms of the amplitude modulation of speech. Long-distance timing regularities and their variation during story-telling exchanges are analyzed in detail and explained in terms of Rhythm Formant Theory (RFT), a further development of Speech Modulation Theory, and its associated methodology Rhythm Formant Analysis (RFA).

Making raw data available to the research community is one of the pillars of Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reuse (FAIR) research. However, the submission of raw data to public databases still involves many manually operated procedures that are intrinsically time-consuming and error-prone, which raises potential reliability issues for both the data themselves and the ensuing metadata. For example, submitting sequencing data to the European Genome-phenome Archive (EGA) is estimated to take 1 month overall, and mainly relies on a web interface for metadata management that requires manual completion of forms and the upload of several comma separated values (CSV) files, which are not structured from a formal point of view. To tackle these limitations, here we present EGAsubmitter, a Snakemake-based pipeline that guides the user across all the submission steps, ranging from files encryption and upload, to metadata submission. EGASubmitter is expected to streamline the automated submission of sequencing data to EGA, minimizing user errors and ensuring higher end product fidelity.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) exhibit bifurcated cytokine responses to TLR9 agonists, an IRF7-mediated type 1 IFN response or a pro-inflammatory cytokine response via the activation of NF-κB. This bifurcated response has been hypothesized to result from either distinct signaling endosomes or endo-lysosomal trafficking delay of TLR9 agonists allowing for autocrine signaling to affect outcomes. Utilizing the late endosome trafficking inhibitor, EGA, we assessed the bifurcated cytokine responses of pDCs to TLR9 stimulation. EGA treatment of pDCs diminished both IFNα and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression induced by CpG DNAs (D- and K-type), CpG-DNAs complexed with DOTAP, and genomic DNAs complexed with LL37. Mechanistically, EGA suppressed phosphorylation of IKKα/β, STAT1, Akt, and p38, and decreased colocalization of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides with LAMP+ endo-lysosomes. EGA also diminished type 1 IFN expression by pDCs from systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Therefore, our findings help understand mechanisms for the bifurcated cytokine responses by pDCs and support future examination of the potential benefit of EGA in treating type 1 IFN-associated inflammatory diseases in the future.

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The on-line thermally induced evolved gas analysis (OLTI-EGA) is widely applied in many different fields. Aimed to update the applications, our group has systematically collected and published examples of EGA characterizations. Following the recently published review on EGA-MS applications, this second part reviews the latest applications of Evolved Gas Analysis performed by on-line coupling heating devices to infrared spectrometers (EGA-FTIR). The selected 2019, 2020, 2021 and early 2022 references are collected and briefly described in this review; these are useful to help researchers to easily find applications that are sometimes difficult to locate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover has been assessing the habitability and geologic history of Gale crater, Mars since landing in 2012. One of the primary objectives of the mission was to investigate a clay‐bearing unit identified using orbital spectral data, designated the Glen Torridon (GT) region. This region was of particular interest because of its elevated abundance of clay minerals that may have preserved geochemical evidence of ancient habitable environments. The Curiosity rover explored the GT region for ∼750 sols and analyzed eight drilled samples with the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite using evolved gas analysis‐mass spectrometry. Evolved sulfur‐bearing gases provided insight about the composition of sulfur‐containing compounds in Martian samples. Evolved gases were analyzed by three methods to understand the oxidation state of sulfur in the samples: (a) SO2 evolution temperature, (b) quadratic discriminant analysis comparing SAM data to SAM‐like laboratory investigations, and (c) sulfur isotope values from evolved 34SO2/32SO2. The results of these three methods were consistent with the majority of sulfur in the GT region being in an oxidized state, but two of the eight samples analyzed by SAM were consistent with the presence of small amounts of reduced sulfur. The oxidized and reduced sulfur could have a variety of sources and represents a nonequilibrium assemblage that could have supported putative ancient chemolithotrophic metabolisms. Plain Language Summary: The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover has been searching for ancient habitable environments in Gale crater, Mars, since 2012. Orbital data indicated the presence of a clay mineral‐rich region along the rover's traverse, which could have preserved geochemical evidence of ancient habitable environments. MSL drilled several samples from this region, now called the Glen Torridon region, and analyzed the samples' chemistry. The work here describes analyses of the sulfur chemistry from these samples as determined from the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite. The chemical state of sulfur in the samples was determined by a combination of SAM data and comparative laboratory investigations. While most of the sulfur in this clay‐bearing region was consistent with the presence of sulfate (SO42−), two samples were consistent with the presence of small amounts of sulfide (S2−). The presence of both sulfide and sulfate could have supported the energy requirements of ancient microorganisms if they were present. Key Points: The Curiosity rover investigated sulfur from the clay‐bearing Glen Torridon region with the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suiteMultiple analyses (evolved gases, isotopes, comparative laboratory research) were used to determine whether sulfur was oxidized or reducedThe samples mostly contained oxidized sulfur, but two had results consistent with reduced sulfur, which has implications for habitability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changes in epigenetic modifications during early embryonic development significantly impact mammalian embryonic genome activation (EGA) and are species-conserved to some degree. Here, we reanalyzed the published RNA-Seq of human, mouse, and goat early embryos and found that Zfp296 (zinc finger protein 296) expression was higher at the EGA stage than at the oocyte stage in all three species (adjusted p-value < 0.05 |log2(foldchange)| ≥ 1). Subsequently, we found that Zfp296 was conserved across human, mouse, goat, sheep, pig, and bovine embryos. In addition, we identified that ZFP296 interacts with the epigenetic regulators KDM5B, SMARCA4, DNMT1, DNMT3B, HP1β, and UHRF1. The Cys2-His2(C2H2) zinc finger domain TYPE2 TYPE3 domains of ZFP296 co-regulated the modification level of the trimethylation of lysine 9 on the histone H3 protein subunit (H3K9me3). According to ChIP-seq analysis, ZFP296 was also enriched in Trim28, Suv39h1, Setdb1, Kdm4a, and Ehmt2 in the mESC genome. Then, knockdown of the expression of Zfp296 at the late zygote of the mouse led to the early developmental arrest of the mouse embryos and failure resulting from a decrease in H3K9me3. Together, our results reveal that Zfp296 is an H3K9me3 modulator which is essential to the embryonic genome activation of mouse embryos.

Advances in on-line thermally induced evolved gas analysis (OLTI-EGA) have been systematically reported by our group to update their applications in several different fields and to provide useful starting references. The importance of an accurate interpretation of the thermally-induced reaction mechanism which involves the formation of gaseous species is necessary to obtain the characterization of the evolved products. In this review, applications of Evolved Gas Analysis (EGA) performed by on-line coupling heating devices to mass spectrometry (EGA-MS), are reported. Reported references clearly demonstrate that the characterization of the nature of volatile products released by a substance subjected to a controlled temperature program allows us to prove a supposed reaction or composition, either under isothermal or under heating conditions. Selected 2019, 2020, and 2021 references are collected and briefly described in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early mammalian embryonic transcriptomes are dynamic throughout the process of preimplantation development. Cataloging of primate transcriptomics during early development has been accomplished in humans, but global characterization of transcripts is lacking in the rhesus macaque: a key model for human reproductive processes. We report here the systematic classification of individual macaque transcriptomes using RNA-Seq technology from the germinal vesicle stage oocyte through the blastocyst stage embryo. Major differences in gene expression were found between sequential stages, with the 4- to 8-cell stages showing the highest level of differential gene expression. Analysis of putative transcription factor binding sites also revealed a striking increase in key regulatory factors in 8-cell embryos, indicating a strong likelihood of embryonic genome activation occurring at this stage. Furthermore, clustering analyses of gene co-expression throughout this period resulted in distinct groups of transcripts significantly associated to the different embryo stages assayed. The sequence data provided here along with characterizations of major regulatory transcript groups present a comprehensive atlas of polyadenylated transcripts that serves as a useful resource for comparative studies of preimplantation development in humans and other species.

Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive clinical pathogen causing severe infections. Its survival during infection depends on its ability to utilize host-derived metabolites, such as protein-deglycosylation products. We have identified in E. faecalis OG1RF a locus (ega) involved in the catabolism of the glycoamino acid N-acetylglucosamine-L-asparagine. This locus is separated into two transcription units, genes egaRP and egaGBCD1D2 , respectively. RT-qPCR experiments revealed that the expression of the ega locus is regulated by the transcriptional repressor EgaR. Electromobility shift assays evidenced that N-acetylglucosamine-L-asparagine interacts directly with the EgaR protein, which leads to the transcription of the ega genes. Growth studies with egaG, egaB and egaC mutants confirmed that the encoded proteins are necessary for N-acetylglucosamine-L-asparagine catabolism. This glycoamino acid is transported and phosphorylated by a specific phosphotransferase system EIIABC components (OG1RF_10751, EgaB, EgaC) and subsequently hydrolyzed by the glycosylasparaginase EgaG, which generates aspartate and 6-P-N-acetyl-β- d -glucosaminylamine. The latter can be used as a fermentable carbon source by E. faecalis. Moreover, Galleria mellonella larvae had a significantly higher survival rate when infected with ega mutants compared to the wild-type strain, suggesting that the loss of N-acetylglucosamine-L-asparagine utilization affects enterococcal virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study: We evaluated and compared blood gas analysis (EGA) non-conformities (NC) considered operator-dependent performed in Point-Of-Care (POC) analyzer as quality indicators (IQ) of the pre-analytical phase. To this end, four different NC registered in the resuscitation departments of the Hospital Polyclinic Bari from the beginning of the pandemic (March 2020) until February 2022 were evaluated. The results obtained were compared with those recorded in the pre-COVID period (March 2018–February 2020) to check if there were differences in number and type. Material and methods: GEM 4000 series blood gas analyzers (Instrumentation Laboratory, Bedford, MA, United States) are installed with integrated Intelligent Quality Management (iQM®), which automatically identify and log pre-analytical errors. All blood gas analyzers are connected to the company intranet and interfaced with the GEM Web Plus (Werfen Instrumentation Laboratory, Bedford, MA, United States) data management information system, which allows the core laboratory to remotely supervise all decentralized POC stations. The operator-dependent process NC were expressed in terms of absolute and relative proportions (percentiles and percentage changes). For performance evaluation, the Mann–Whitney U test, Chi-squared test and Six-Sigma Metric calculation for performance classification were performed. Results: In the COVID period, 31,364 blood gas tests were performed vs. 16,632 tests in the pre-COVID period. The NC related to the suitability of the EGA sample and manageable by the operators were totals of 652 (3.9%) and 749 (2.4%), respectively, in the pre-COVID and COVID periods. The pre-analytical phase IQs used did not show statistically significant differences in the two periods evaluated. The Sigma evaluation did not show an increase in error rates. Conclusions: Considering the increase in the number of EGAs performed in the two periods, the training procedures performed by the core laboratory staff were effective; the clinical users of the POC complied with the indications and procedures shared with the core laboratory without increasing the operator-dependent NCs. Furthermore, the core laboratory developed monitoring activities capable of guaranteeing the maintenance of the pre-analytical quality.

Background: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular pathogen transmitted by the ticks that cause equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA). This pathogen is infects predominantly blood cells, principally granulocytes and especially neutrophils. A. phagocytophilum causes an acute febrile disease in horses accompanying with lethargy, loss of appetite, lameness and hemorrhages. In horses, this disease should be considered in all acute symptoms accompanied by thrombocytopenia and leukopenia identified by hematological test performed. Tick-borne pathogens have become increasingly threatening for both animals and also public health since ticks mostly carry numerous well-documented and undocumented pathogens, and the geographical range of ticks has expanded in the recent years. This research has aimed to evaluate the impact of A. phagocytophilum infection on some oxidative/nitrosative stress parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities, proinflammatory biomarkers and trace element levels in horses. Materials, Methods & Results: The present study has been carried out using blood samples collected from 93 horses aged 1-year and older. The blood samples were centrifuged and sera were separated. Serum samples stored in the freezer (-20°C) until the day of analysis. The DNA was extracted from blood and analysed by nested-PCR technique targeting 16S rRNA gene of A. phagocytophilum and then positive PCR products were sequenced. A. phagocytophilum was 6 horses (6.4%) showed positive nested-PCR results. An infected group comprised of 6 positive horses according to PCR analysis results also 6 healthy horses as control were selected. Serum SOD (Horse Superoxide Dismutase(Cu-Zn)) ELISA Kit, MPO (ELISA Assay Kit Horse Myeloperoxidase) and GPx (Horse glutathione peroxidase 1 ELISA Kit Assay), IL1 (Horse Interleukin 1 Beta ELISA Kit), IL6 (Horse Interleukin 6 ELISA Kit), TNF α (Horse Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha ELISA Kit) and IL18 (Horse Interleukin 18 (IL18) ELISA Kit) levels were determined by ELISA reader. Serum TAS,TOS Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) levels were determined using colorimetric kit method. The determination of peroxynitrite was performed using spectrophotometry as described by Vanuffelen. The levels of Fe, Zn, Se, Cu, Mn, Ar, Cr, Co, Cd Ni and Pb elements were analyzed by ICP-OES. Total oxidant status (TOS) and peroxynitrite levels of the positive group infected with A. phagocytophilum were found to be higher compared with the control group (P < 0.05, respectively). Whereas, total antioxidant status (TAS), glutathione peroxidase (GPx),superoxide dismutase (SOD), G6PD and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were detected to be statistically significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05, respectively). Cu, Mn, Se and Zn levels were also found to be lower in the infected group (P < 0.05, respectively). IL1, IL6, TNFα and IL18 from proinflammatory markers were elevated in the A. phagocytophilum infected group (P < 0.05, respectively). Discussion: The evaluation of the proinflammatory biomarkers with respect to host-parasite interactions has been suggested as a beneficial clinical tool for determination of the infection severity and diagnosis of the disease. As a conclusion, increased oxidative stress and high levels of some proinflammatory biomarkers assessed by the multibiomarker analysis carried out for the infection in the horses caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum will provide a contribution to diagnosis, treatment and clarification of the pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal behavior of two commercially available sweeteners based on Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni was studied by TG–DSC and EGA. The composition prior and after heating was analyzed by LC–MS/MS to identify the steviol glycosides present in each formulation and thermal degradation products, respectively. The two formulations (S1 and S2) presented thermal stability up to at least 200 °C. By DSC, it was possible to identify the presence of rebaudioside (REB) C and REB A in S1. S2 was composed mainly by erythritol (confirmed by both DSC and FTIR), REB A and E. By LC–MS/MS analyses, it was possible to observe that S1 is composed mainly by stevioside and REB A, E, C and B, and that the major products formed after heating are, basically, partially deglycosylated steviol structures. The thermal decomposition products were different depending on the formulation employed. These chemical changes in the compounds' properties can cause a change in the desired taste and solubility of the formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The on-line thermally induced evolved gas analysis (OLTI-EGA) is widely applied in many different fields. Aimed to update the applications, our group has systematically collected and published examples of EGA characterizations. Following the recently published review on EGA-MS applications, this second part reviews the latest applications of Evolved Gas Analysis performed by on-line coupling heating devices to infrared spectrometers (EGA-FTIR). The selected 2019, 2020, 2021 and early 2022 references are collected and briefly described in this review; these are useful to help researchers to easily find applications that are sometimes difficult to locate.

The beach in front of the Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) facility has historically been visited by turtles and extensively used for nesting. The present study reveals the beach is not anymore conducive for sea turtle due to natural and climate change impacts.

Advances in on-line thermally induced evolved gas analysis (OLTI-EGA) have been systematically reported by our group to update their applications in several different fields and to provide useful starting references. The importance of an accurate interpretation of the thermally-induced reaction mechanism which involves the formation of gaseous species is necessary to obtain the characterization of the evolved products. In this review, applications of Evolved Gas Analysis (EGA) performed by on-line coupling heating devices to mass spectrometry (EGA-MS), are reported. Reported references clearly demonstrate that the characterization of the nature of volatile products released by a substance subjected to a controlled temperature program allows us to prove a supposed reaction or composition, either under isothermal or under heating conditions. Selected 2019, 2020, and 2021 references are collected and briefly described in this review.

Da molti anni sono convinto che EGA sia la migliore rivista di rappresentazione dell’architettura – se non addirittura di tutte quelle che si interessano di rappresentazione grafica – e non ne faccio mistero. È ovvio che non tutti condividono e qualcuno si arrabbia quando lo affermo, ma si tratta di opinione meditata, suffragata da dati inoppugnabili, svincolati dal mio personale rapporto con la rivista e i colleghi che la curano.

Le grandi idee nascono sovente da piccoli avvenimenti. Tutto risale agli incontri tra chi scrive e Gaspare De Fiore a Roma sul finire degli anni Cinquanta e tra Emma Mandelli e Angela Garcia Codoñer a Firenze negli anni Ottanta. Dal primo nel 1980 è scaturita la nascita dell’UID, l’Unione Italiana Disegno, con l’intento di rafforzare e sviluppare la ricerca scientifica del Disegno nelle università italiane, mentre dal secondo ha avuto origine il rapporto tra Angela e il Disegno italiano, da cui è nata l’EGA, associazione spagnola dei docenti di Expresión Gráfica Arquitectónica, che costituisce il simmetrico dell’UID. Un segno sottile e incerto, che via via si è fatto sempre più sicuro e deciso, affrontando e sviluppando la ricerca nel campo della scienza della rappresentazione, che si è impresso sulla carta nel corso di oltre venticinque anni, investigando nelle diverse aree tematiche del Disegno.

La rápida transformación y desarrollo de las tecnologías, dispositivos y aplicaciones de apoyo a los trabajos realizados en EGA, introduce un factor de aceleración en la producción docente e investigadora que implican importantes incrementos de velocidad, en una acción irrenunciable. Si bien está generando una abundantes resultados cuantificables, hace difícil establecer el marco coherente de actuación. Pensamiento ID_EGA21 significa encontrar lo subyacente del mismo en EGA hoy, la segunda década del siglo (21), y la identidad (ID) que la hace diferenciada de otras confluyentes en la formación del arquitecto. Pareciera no existir soporte ideológico, o de identidad en las acciones gráficas actuales; o se encuentran diluidas ante la potencia presencial de las tecnologías.

Tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) is a protein exotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani that causes the deadly spastic neuroparalysis of tetanus. It consists of a metalloprotease light chain and of a heavy chain linked via a disulphide bond. TeNT binds to the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and it is retro-axonally transported into vesicular compartments to the spinal cord, where it is released and taken up by inhibitory interneuron. Therein, the catalytic subunit is translocated into the cytoplasm where it cleaves its target protein VAMP-1/2 with consequent blockage of the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters. Vaccination with formaldehyde inactivated TeNT prevents the disease, but tetanus is still present in countries where vaccination coverage is partial. Here, we show that small molecule inhibitors interfering with TeNT trafficking or with the reduction of the interchain disulphide bond block the activity of the toxin in neuronal cultures and attenuate tetanus symptoms in vivo. These findings are relevant for the development of therapeutics against tetanus based on the inhibition of toxin molecules that are being retro-transported to or are already within the spinal cord and are, thus, not accessible to anti-TeNT immunoglobulins.

The Mars Science Laboratory mission investigated Vera Rubin ridge, which bears spectral indications of elevated amounts of hematite and has been hypothesized as having a complex diagenetic history. Martian samples, including three drilled samples from the ridge, were analyzed by the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite via evolved gas analysis‐mass spectrometry (EGA‐MS). Here, we report new EGA‐MS data from Martian samples and describe laboratory analogue experiments. Analyses of laboratory analogues help determine the presence of reduced sulfur in Martian solid samples, which could have supported potential microbial life. We used evolved carbonyl sulfide (COS) and carbon disulfide (CS2) to identify Martian samples likely to contain reduced sulfur by applying a quadratic discriminant analysis. While we report results for 24 Martian samples, we focus on Vera Rubin ridge samples and select others for comparison. Our results suggest the presence of reduced sulfur in the Jura member of Vera Rubin ridge, which can support various diagenetic history models, including, as discussed in this work, diagenetic alteration initiated by a mildly reducing, sulfite‐containing groundwater. Plain Language Summary: The Mars Science Laboratory studied the chemical composition of Vera Rubin ridge in Gale crater, Mars. The Sample Analysis at Mars, a set of scientific instruments designed to study rock chemistry, observed a number of gases released during the heating of Martian drilled samples. The same gases were observed when Mars‐relevant minerals were analyzed with similar instruments on Earth. From these two sets of data, we applied statistical analyses to determine which Mars samples on Vera Rubin ridge contained important sulfur compounds. Two samples on the ridge showed evidence for these compounds, which could have supported the energetic requirements for life. The results presented here improve both the understanding of the history of Gale crater and the potential for ancient life to have existed. Key Points: The Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite studied carbon‐sulfur gases released during evolved gas analysis of Vera Rubin ridge samplesQuadratic discriminant analysis compared laboratory and flight data to identify Martian samples that contain reduced sulfurTwo Vera Rubin ridge samples from the Jura member were identified as likely to include reduced sulfur [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloned animals generated by the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) approach are valuable for the farm animal industry and biomedical science. Nevertheless, the extremely low developmental efficiency of cloned embryos hinders the application of SCNT. Low developmental competence is related to the higher apoptosis level in cloned embryos than in fertilization-derived counterparts. Interleukin 17D (IL17D) expression is up-regulated during early mouse embryo development and is required for normal development of mouse embryos by inhibiting apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate whether IL17D plays roles in regulating pig SCNT embryo development. Supplementation of IL17D to culture medium improved the developmental competence and decreased the cell apoptosis level in cloned porcine embryos. The transcriptome data indicated that IL17D activated apoptosis-associated pathways and promoted global gene expression at embryonic genome activation (EGA) stage in treated pig SCNT embryos. Treating pig SCNT embryos with IL17D up-regulated expression of GADD45B, which is functional in inhibiting apoptosis and promoting EGA. Overexpression of GADD45B enhanced the developmental efficiency of cloned pig embryos. These results suggested that IL17D treatment enhanced the developmental ability of cloned pig embryos by suppressing apoptosis and promoting EGA, which was related to the up-regulation of GADD45B expression. This study demonstrated the roles of IL17D in early development of porcine SCNT embryos and provided a new approach to improve the developmental efficiency of cloned porcine embryos.

The fusion of two highly differentiated cells, an oocyte with a spermatozoon, gives rise to the zygote, a single totipotent cell, which has the capability to develop into a complete, fully functional organism. Then, as development proceeds, a series of programmed cell divisions occur whereby the arising cells progressively acquire their own cellular and molecular identity, and totipotency narrows until when pluripotency is achieved. The path towards pluripotency involves transcriptome modulation, remodeling of the chromatin epigenetic landscape to which external modulators contribute. Both human and mouse embryos are a source of different types of pluripotent stem cells whose characteristics can be captured and maintained in vitro. The main aim of this review is to address the cellular properties and the molecular signature of the emerging cells during mouse and human early development, highlighting similarities and differences between the two species and between the embryos and their cognate stem cells.

Objective: To employ a novel analytic method-namely, exploratory graph analysis (EGA)-to subclinical attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) trait scores in order to reveal their dimensional structure, as well as compare EGA's performance with traditional factor-analytic techniques in doing so., Method: 1149 respondents from a survey panel completed the ASRS, a common ADHD scale made up of 18 distinct trait measures. EGA and factor analysis were applied to identify traits which associate with each other., Results: EGA revealed 3 distinct communities, and ruled out a 2-community structure. This was in contrast to the 2-factor structure suggested by the factor analysis, and the conventional division of ADHD into two subdimensions (hyperactivity and inattention)., Conclusion: A dimensional structure of three clusters (hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention) may better reflect the traits underlying ADHD. EGA has benefits in terms of both analytic approach and interpretability of findings., (© 2023 The Authors. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Advances in evolved gas analysis (EGA) techniques are periodically reported by our group to provide useful examples of their applications in many different fields. It is actually recognized that anytime is requested a correct interpretation of the thermally induced reaction mechanism, involving the formation of gaseous species, it is strongly recommended the characterization of the evolved products. In this review, recent applications of mass spectrometry for EGA (EGA–MS), selected among those published in 2016 and 2017, are reported to show how the characterization of the nature of volatile products released by a substance subjected to a controlled temperature program allows to prove a supposed reaction, either under isothermal or under heating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Binary and ternary lanthanide complexes with N -phenylanthranilic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline were synthesized. • Formation of the complexes was confirmed by FTIR and XRD methods. • Previously unreported thermal behaviour of these compounds was investigated in oxidative and inert atmospheres. • The coupled TG-FITR-MS technique provided information about gaseous products of thermal decomposition. • The antibacterial activity of the obtained compounds were proved. Abstract New binuclear binary and ternary complexes of Sm(III), Eu(III), and Gd(III) ions with N -phenylanthranilic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline were obtained in solid phase and characterized by chemical and elemental analysis, molar conductance, UV–vis and IR spectroscopies as well as thermoanalytical techniques (TG/DTG–DSC coupled with MS and FT-IR). The dilution method was used to examine the antibacterial activity of the synthesized compounds. The spectroscopic studies indicated that the carboxylate group of N -phenylantranilate ligand is involved in the coordination of metal ion both in binary and ternary complexes. Thermal decomposition of the obtained compounds was carried out in air and nitrogen atmosphere. During heating the complexes decompose via intermediate products to the oxide (Ln 2 O 3) in air atmosphere and to the oxide (Ln 2 O 3) or oxide polluted by carbon (Ln 2 O 3 +nC) in nitrogen atmosphere. The dehydration process was discussed in relation to the nature of water present in these compounds. Using coupled TG-FTIR-MS techniques the decomposition pathways of the synthesized compounds were examined. Additionally, gaseous products released during pyrolysis and thermal oxidation of the complexes were identified. All the complexes exhibit marked activity against two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial strains. The ternary complexes, especially Gd(III) complex in comparison with the binary ones, have enhanced activity against Escherichia coli. Moreover, antibacterial activity of the synthesized compounds with respect to Pseudomonas aeruginosa is comparable to tetracycline and greater than for kanamycin, erythromycin, and ampicillin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candesartan is a widely used active pharmaceutical ingredient in the treatment of systemic arterial hypertension. This work presents the investigation of the thermal behavior of candesartan, such as its thermal stability, melting temperature, and thermal decomposition, both in pyrolysis (N 2) or oxidizing (air) conditions by evolved gas analysis (EGA). The thermal study showed that the drug melts at 189 °C (onset at 184 °C) followed by decomposition in six mass loss steps. The drug presents a similar thermal behavior under pyrolytic and oxidizing conditions up to 360 °C. The main gaseous products released are N 2 O, NH 3, CO, CO 2 , HCN, and CH 3 CH 2 NCO (ethyl isocyanate). Pyrolysis degradation products have been analyzed, and a thermal degradation pathway has been proposed with fifteen different structures based on the HRMS and MS/MS analysis. Furthermore, the characterization of the pyrolytic degradation products of candesartan by UHPLC-HRMS is reported for the first time, showing that the initial degradation pathway occurs through a dimerization reaction. • Candesartan was studied under pyrolysis and oxidizing conditions by TG-FTIR. • Considerable differences in thermal behavior are observed only after 360 ºC. • Ethyl isocyanate, N 2 O, NH 3 , CO, and CO 2 were identified by TG-FTIR analysis. • Dimeric compounds are amongst candesartan possible decomposition products. • Candesartan melts at 189 ºC followed by decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En el año 1993 ve la luz el primer número de EGA.