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Summary Postural balance requires the interplay between several physiological signals. Indirect evidence suggests that the perception of signals arising from the autonomic nervous system might play a role (e.g. cardiac awareness). Here, we tested this hypothesis by investigating the relationship between postural control and cardiac awareness (i.e. interoception) in a sample of N = 70 healthy individuals. Postural control was measured using a medical robotic device, while cardiac awareness was evaluated using the heartbeat counting task. A within-subject design included two platform configurations (static, unstable) and two visual feedback conditions (eyes open, eyes closed). For each condition, we measured the sway area and the range of oscillation of the platform, as well as the range of oscillation and the quantity of movement of participants’ trunk. In the “platform unstable, eyes closed” condition, participants with higher cardiac awareness demonstrated a significantly smaller sway area and reduced oscillations of both the platform and their trunk. These findings hint at a potential link between interoception and postural control, suggesting that the perception of internal body signals might sustain balance.

Abstract In this study, we demonstrate the potential of the NA64 experiment at CERN SPS to search for New Physics processes involving $$e\rightarrow \mu $$ e → μ transitions after the collision of 100 GeV electrons with target nuclei. A new Dark Sector leptonic portal in which a scalar boson $$\varphi $$ φ could be produced in the lepton-flavor-changing bremsstrahlung-like reaction, $$eN\rightarrow \mu N\varphi $$ e N → μ N φ , is used as benchmark process. In this work, we develop a realistic Monte Carlo simulation of the NA64 experimental setup implementing the differential and total production cross-section computed at exact tree-level and applying the Weiszäcker–Williams phase space approximation. Using this framework, we investigate the main background sources and calculate the expected sensitivity of the experiment. The results indicate that with minor setup optimization, NA64 can probe a large fraction of the available parameter space compatible with the muon $$g-2$$ g - 2 anomaly and the Dark Matter relic predictions in the context of a new Dark Sector leptonic portal with $$10^{11}$$ 10 11 EOT. This result paves the way to the exploration of lepton-flavour-changing transitions in NA64.

Abstract Background Solving the structure of mRNA transcripts is a major challenge for both research and molecular diagnostic purposes. Current approaches based on short-read RNA sequencing and RT-PCR techniques cannot fully explore the complexity of transcript structure. The emergence of third-generation long-read sequencing addresses this problem by solving this sequence directly. However, genes with low expression levels are difficult to study with the whole transcriptome sequencing approach. To fix this technical limitation, we propose a novel method to capture transcripts of a gene panel using a targeted enrichment approach suitable for Pacific Biosciences and Oxford Nanopore Technologies platforms. Results We designed a set of probes to capture transcripts of a panel of genes involved in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. We present SOSTAR (iSofOrmS annoTAtoR), a versatile pipeline to assemble, quantify and annotate isoforms from long read sequencing using a new tool specially designed for this application. The significant enrichment of transcripts by our capture protocol, together with the SOSTAR annotation, allowed the identification of 1,231 unique transcripts within the gene panel from the eight patients sequenced. The structure of these transcripts was annotated with a resolution of one base relative to a reference transcript. All major alternative splicing events of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes described in the literature were found. Complex splicing events such as pseudoexons were correctly annotated. SOSTAR enabled the identification of abnormal transcripts in the positive controls. In addition, a case of unexplained inheritance in a family with a history of breast and ovarian cancer was solved by identifying an SVA retrotransposon in intron 13 of the BRCA1 gene. Conclusions We have validated a new protocol for the enrichment of transcripts of interest using probes adapted to the ONT and PacBio platforms. This protocol allows a complete description of the alternative structures of transcripts, the estimation of their expression and the identification of aberrant transcripts in a single experiment. This proof-of-concept opens new possibilities for RNA structure exploration in both research and molecular diagnostics.

For years, the Bacillus genus has encompassed a heterogeneous group of individuals whose main common trait was their ability to sporulate in the presence of oxygen. This criterion has been revised, resulting in the reclassification of several species into new genera and to a redefinition of the characteristics of the members of this taxon. Currently, the species of the genus are grouped into the Subtilis clade and the Cereus clade. The former, called Bacillus sensu stricto, initially composed of B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. pumilus, and B. amyloliquefaciens, has subsequently incorporated new species related to these. The Cereus clade, Bacillus cereus sensu lato, consists of pathogenic species (B. anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis) as well as others of significance in agriculture and industry. Furthermore, identifying these individuals remains complex, requiring alternatives to 16S rRNA sequencing. The ability to form spores resistant to stressful conditions provides a significant advantage over other genera, with observable differences in sporulation rates and spore structure among different species. Additionally, Bacillus spp. are known for their capacity to produce antimicrobial substances, lytic enzymes, and volatile organic compounds, each with diverse applications. Some species are even used as probiotics. This review delves into aspects related to the taxonomy and identification of microorganisms belonging to the genus Bacillus, which often present challenges. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic. In addition, it highlights the characteristics and applications of the genus, emphasizing its importance in biotechnology and microbiology.

Abstract The inclusion of an additional U(1) gauge L μ − L τ symmetry would release the tension between the measured and the predicted value of the anomalous muon magnetic moment: this paradigm assumes the existence of a new, light Z′ vector boson, with dominant coupling to μ and τ leptons and interacting with electrons via a loop mechanism. The L μ − L τ model can also explain the Dark Matter relic abundance, by assuming that the Z′ boson acts as a “portal” to a new Dark Sector of particles in Nature, not charged under known interactions. In this work we present the results of the Z′ search performed by the NA64-e experiment at CERN SPS, that collected ~ 9 × 1011 100 GeV electrons impinging on an active thick target. Despite the suppressed Z′ production yield with an electron beam, NA64-e provides the first accelerator-based results excluding the g − 2 preferred band of the Z′ parameter space in the 1 keV < m Z ′ $$ {m}_{Z^{\prime }} $$ ≲ 2 MeV range, in complementarity with the limits recently obtained by the NA64-μ experiment with a muon beam.

ABSTRACT Background The cumulative, health system‐wide survival benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is unclear, particularly among real‐world patients with limited life expectancies and among subgroups poorly represented on clinical trials. We sought to determine the health system‐wide survival impact of ICIs. Methods We identified all patients receiving PD‐1/PD‐L1 or CTLA‐4 inhibitors from 2010 to 2023 in the national Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system (ICI cohort) and all patients who received non‐ICI systemic therapy in the years before ICI approval (historical control). ICI and historical control cohorts were matched on multiple cancer‐related prognostic factors, comorbidities, and demographics. The effect of ICI on overall survival was quantified with Cox regression incorporating matching weights. Cumulative life‐years gained system‐wide were calculated from the difference in adjusted 5‐year restricted mean survival times. Results There were 27,322 patients in the ICI cohort and 69,801 patients in the historical control cohort. Among ICI patients, the most common cancer types were NSCLC (46%) and melanoma (10%). ICI demonstrated a large OS benefit in most cancer types with heterogeneity across cancer types (NSCLC: adjusted HR [aHR] 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.54–0.58, p

Summary: Biomarkers have been instrumental in population selection and disease monitoring in clinical trials of recently FDA-approved drugs targeting amyloid-β to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). As new therapeutic strategies and biomarker techniques emerge, the importance of biomarkers in drug development is growing exponentially. In this emerging landscape, biomarkers are expected to serve a wide range of contexts of use in clinical trials focusing on AD and related dementias. The joint FDA-NIH BEST (Biomarkers, EndpointS, and other Tools) framework provides standardised terminology to facilitate communication among stakeholders in this increasingly complex field. This review explores various applications of biomarkers relevant to AD clinical trials, using the BEST resource as a reference. For simplicity, we predominantly provide contextual characterizations of biomarkers use from the perspective of drugs targeting amyloid-β and tau proteins. However, general definitions and concepts can be extrapolated to other targets.

The brain’s high demand for energy necessitates tightly regulated metabolic pathways to sustain physiological activity. Glucose, the primary energy substrate, undergoes complex metabolic transformations, with mitochondria playing a central role in ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation. Dysregulation of this metabolic interplay is implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), where compromised glucose metabolism, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to disease progression. This review explores the intricate bioenergetic crosstalk between astrocytes and neurons, highlighting the function of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCPs), particularly UCP4, as important regulators of brain metabolism and neuronal function. Predominantly expressed in the brain, UCP4 reduces the membrane potential in the inner mitochondrial membrane, thereby potentially decreasing the generation of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, UCP4 mitigates mitochondrial calcium overload and sustains cellular ATP levels through a metabolic shift from mitochondrial respiration to glycolysis. Interestingly, the levels of the neuronal UCPs, UCP2, 4 and 5 are significantly reduced in AD brain tissue and a specific UCP4 variant has been associated to an increased risk of developing AD. Few studies modulating the expression of UCP4 in astrocytes or neurons have highlighted protective effects against neurodegeneration and aging, suggesting that pharmacological strategies aimed at activating UCPs, such as protonophoric uncouplers, hold promise for therapeutic interventions in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Despite significant advances, our understanding of UCPs in brain metabolism remains in its early stages, emphasizing the need for further research to unravel their biological functions in the brain and their therapeutic potential.

The eel population of the Camargue lagoon system can be divided into two subunits living in two distinct biotopes (freshwater and brackish water) and characterised by different population structures and especially growth patterns. The sub-population living in the Fumemorte canal (average salinity: 0.9 g/l) is a freshwater population type (81.6% females, maximum ages observed = 9 - 11 years, slow growth (annual gain 46 mm)) whereas that of the Vaccarès lagoon (average salinity: 9.7 g/l over the same period) is typical of a lagoon (45.6% females, maximum ages 5 – 6 years, fast growth (annual gain 90 mm)). In each sub-population, Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) and OI (Ocular Index) were measured on female eels over a sampling period that started in January 1997 and ended in December 2000. In both types of habitat, and in agreement with previous studies, we observed a threshold value of GSI ≥ 1.4 % characterising the silver stage (MARCHELIDON et al., 1999). The increase in eye area was a progressive phenomenon, initiated in the yellow stage and was significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with the GSI. As with the GSI, OI increased in silver eels, the threshold value of ≥ 8.0 discriminating silver eels. We will show that silvering follows different patterns between the two habitats. Age at metamorphosis in female eels take place very early in the Vaccarès lagoon (83.3% of females metamorphose between 4 and 5 years) compared to those in the Fumemorte drainage canal (94% of females metamorphose between 7 and 9 years). We suggest that the growth potential provided by Vaccarès lagoon accounts for this difference in age at metamorphosis. Although, such a turnover cannot explain alone the different proportions of female silver eels observed in the Fumemorte drainage canal (23%) and Vaccarès lagoon (2.4%). Influence of population’s parameters like sex-ratio, population structure and abundance on silvering process, is discussed.

We have investigated the spread of the infection by Anguillicola crassus among the silver phase of the European eel Anguilla anguilla in the Rhône delta. We reported values of prevalence, mean intensity and abundance in 4 habitats and we revealed negative relationships between these parasitic parameters and values of salinity (prevalence from 52 % in brackish waters to 77 % in fresh waters). We have also assessed the health state of the infected organ, i.e. the swimbladder. This may be a way to check the parasitic history of individuals throughout their continental phase. In silver eels free from parasites, the proportion of past infected individuals was ranged between 40 % and 78 %. When adding individuals showing worms at the autopsy with those showing signs of past infection(s), we highlighted a great proportion of silver eels really affected by anguillicolosis (from 71 % to 95 %, with a negative relationship in respect to salinity values). So, considering the spread of the infection, and its potential impairments on body condition, gas exchanges, hydrostatic abilities, etc., one may legitimately question about the proportion of silver eels that may get back to the Sargasso sea and reproduce.

Une campagne d’échantillonnage des civelles Anguilla anguilla a été menée de novembre 2000 à mai 2001 au grau de la Fourcade (Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, côte méditerranéenne française). Des civelles ont été capturées sur toute la période d’échantillonnage, mais les maxima d’abondance se situent en janvier-février et, dans une moindre mesure, en avril. Afin d’optimiser le recrutement dans les lagunes littorales intérieures, la mesure de gestion proposée est donc de favoriser l’ouverture des martelières au milieu de l’hiver. Le suivi des proportions mensuelles des différents stades pigmentaires (de V A à VI A4) permet de conclure à un vieillissement généralisé des civelles en recrutement de novembre à mars, puis à l’arrivée d’un deuxième flux de civelles jeunes en avril. Parallèlement, il est observé une diminution très nette des masses et des longueurs moyennes mensuelles, et ce, même en ne considérant qu’un stade pigmentaire donné (en l’occurrence V B). Ces résultats sur l’évolution des caractéristiques biométriques et pigmentaires sont en accord avec les deux séries de travaux déjà menés sur la façade méditerranéenne française (années 30 et 70), ainsi qu’avec les données publiées en différents points de la façade atlantique. L’analyse comparée de ces données avec celles issues de la dernière étude en date sur la côte méditerranéenne française (Bages-Sigean, Languedoc-Roussillon, campagne 1974-75 ; LECOMTE-FINIGER, 1976) montre une composition pigmentaire mensuelle totalement différente, et révèle une diminution significative de la longueur des civelles, de l’ordre de 5 % en 25 ans.

Twaite shad, Alosa fallax nilotica occurs in Lake Shkodra (Albania) in sympatry with Agone Alosa agone. Differences in morpho-meristic variables, in the biology and the ecology of the two species are presented and potential explanations for the occurrence of these shad populations in sympatry are discussed.

The Vaccarès lagoon in the diked Rhône delta is the only lagoon in southern France out of 28 lagoons where a large population of YOY (young of the year) shad occurs every year from June-July to November-March depending on the year. This peculiar case can be explained on one hand by the nearby spawning ground in the River Rhône and its tributaries and on the other hand by a nocturnal recruitment of the YOY shad from the River Rhône to the diked Rhône delta through water pumped for rice farming. The timing of the appearance and growth of YOY shad were studied for six years. YOY began to enter through pumps in mid-June or mid-July depending on the year, with fork lengths ranging between 20-55 mm. Growth was nearly linear from mid-July to mid-December, and the growth rate (regression slope) varied significantly between years, from 0.9 to 1.4 mm.d-1. Maximum observed total lengths of YOY were 213 mm, and mean total length of YOY at the end of the growing season was 182.9 mm ± 24.3. Growth seemed to stop in winter. The date at which YOY disappeared from catches in the Vaccarès lagoon varied between years, from mid-November to mid-March. YOY seemed to leave the lagoon after the first cold weather (air temperature < 0°C). YOY growth observed in the Vaccarès lagoon is much higher than the growth recorded in Atlantic France and in northern Europe.

Greece holds the third larger breeding population of Dalmatian Pelican in the world. We present data about the establishment and growth, breeding performance and conservation status for all six colonies of the species in Greece for 40 years. Main features of wetlands and colonies are described. We discuss the local, regional and global natural and anthropogenic factors that may have affected colony growth. After 1982 colony surveys were carried out with various methods, adapted to the particularities of each wetland and availability of resources, and targeted estimating number of nests and number of near-fledged young via direct counting either during on-site visits or from vantage points, and recently, counts on photos taken by drones flown one or more times during breeding. Number of nests in Lake Mikri Prespa rose from ca. 100 to 1200-1500 and levelled-off. DPs from Prespa started breeding successfully in Kerkini in 2004 after placement of artificial nesting rafts. The Karla Reservoir was colonised in 2011, just two years after it started filling with water. The DP colony on Lake Chimaditis, an important stop over and feeding site, probably initiated around 2016 and continues growing. The two colonies at the western coastline have limited exchanges with those in the eastern part of the country. Amvrakikos increased and levelled off recently as conservation and management measures restricted disturbance, whilst emigrants re-established the old colony at Messolonghi in 2011 which continues to grow. The overall breeding population in Greece grew from ca 100 to over 2000 br pairs showing an annual growth rate of 7.9%. Younger colonies show high annual growth rates clearly attributed to immigration, while older colonies have growth rates less than 10%. Interacting natural and anthropogenic factors are assumed to have contributed to pelican increase in Greece the last 40 years: better legal protection status, increasingly effective protection, patrolling and conservation measures; public awareness campaigns; provision of artificial nesting structures; increased winter survival due to higher temperatures owed to climate change; less disturbance and persecution due to decline of fisheries; increasing abundance and availability of fish due to eutrophication and climate change; increasing numbers of sympatric great cormorants rendering pelican fishing more efficient; appearance of new wetlands and change of wetlands due to human intervention works.

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are shed from the plasma membrane, but the regulation and function of these EVs remain unclear. We found that oxidative stress induced by H2O2 in Hela cells stimulated filopodia formation and the secretion of EVs. EVs were small (150 nm) and labeled for CD44, indicating that they were derived from filopodia. Filopodia‐derived small EVs (sEVs) were enriched with the sphingolipid ceramide, consistent with increased ceramide in the plasma membrane of filopodia. Ceramide was colocalized with neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) and acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), two sphingomyelinases generating ceramide at the plasma membrane. Inhibition of nSMase2 and ASM prevented oxidative stress‐induced sEV shedding but only nSMase2 inhibition prevented filopodia formation. nSMase2 was S‐palmitoylated and interacted with ASM in filopodia to generate ceramide for sEV shedding. sEVs contained nSMase2 and ASM and decreased the level of these two enzymes in oxidatively stressed Hela cells. A novel metabolic labeling technique for EVs showed that oxidative stress induced secretion of fluorescent sEVs labeled with NBD‐ceramide. NBD‐ceramide‐labeled sEVs transported ceramide to mitochondria, ultimately inducing cell death in a proportion of neuronal (N2a) cells. In conclusion, using Hela cells we provide evidence that oxidative stress induces interaction of nSMase2 and ASM at filopodia, which leads to shedding of ceramide‐rich sEVs that target mitochondria and propagate cell death.

ObjectivesTo assess the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and self-reported adherence to preventive measures in Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods4,299 participants from a digital cohort were followed between September 2020 and November 2021. Baseline equivalised disposable income and education were used as SES proxies. Adherence was assessed over time. We investigated the association between SES and adherence using multivariable mixed logistic regression, stratifying by age (below/above 65 years) and two periods (before/after June 2021, to account for changes in vaccine coverage and epidemiological situation).ResultsAdherence was high across all SES strata before June 2021. After, participants with higher equivalised disposable income were less likely to adhere to preventive measures compared to participants in the first (low) quartile [second (Adj.OR, 95% CI) (0.56, 0.37–0.85), third (0.38, 0.23–0.64), fourth (0.60, 0.36–0.98)]. We observed similar results for education.ConclusionNo differences by SES were found during the period with high SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates and stringent measures. Following the broad availability of vaccines, lower incidence, and eased measures, differences by SES started to emerge. Our study highlights the need for contextual interpretation when assessing SES impact on adherence to preventive measures.

The CD3/T cell receptor (TCR) complex is responsible for antigen-specific pathogen recognition by T cells, and initiates the signaling cascade necessary for activation of effector functions. CD3 agonistic antibodies are commonly used to expand T lymphocytes in a wide range of clinical applications, including in adoptive T cell therapy for cancer patients. A major drawback of expanding T cell populations ex vivo using CD3 agonistic antibodies is that they expand and activate T cells independent of their TCR antigen specificity. Therapeutic agents that facilitate expansion of T cells in an antigen-specific manner and reduce their threshold of T cell activation are therefore of great interest for adoptive T cell therapy protocols. To identify CD3-specific T cell agonists, several RNA aptamers were selected against CD3 using Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment combined with high-throughput sequencing. The extent and specificity of aptamer binding to target CD3 were assessed through surface plasma resonance, P32 double-filter assays, and flow cytometry. Aptamer-mediated modulation of the threshold of T cell activation was observed in vitro and in preclinical transgenic TCR mouse models. The aptamers improved efficacy and persistence of adoptive T cell therapy by low-affinity TCR-reactive T lymphocytes in melanoma-bearing mice. Thus, CD3-specific aptamers can be applied as therapeutic agents which facilitate the expansion of tumor-reactive T lymphocytes while conserving their tumor specificity. Furthermore, selected CD3 aptamers also exhibit cross-reactivity to human CD3, expanding their potential for clinical translation and application in the future.

Abstract Purpose Real world evidence is crucial to understanding the diffusion of new oncologic therapies, monitoring cancer outcomes, and detecting unexpected toxicities. In practice, real world evidence is challenging to collect rapidly and comprehensively, often requiring expensive and time‐consuming manual case‐finding and annotation of clinical text. In this Review, we summarise recent developments in the use of artificial intelligence to collect and analyze real world evidence in oncology. Methods We performed a narrative review of the major current trends and recent literature in artificial intelligence applications in oncology. Results Artificial intelligence (AI) approaches are increasingly used to efficiently phenotype patients and tumors at large scale. These tools also may provide novel biological insights and improve risk prediction through multimodal integration of radiographic, pathological, and genomic datasets. Custom language processing pipelines and large language models hold great promise for clinical prediction and phenotyping. Conclusions Despite rapid advances, continued progress in computation, generalizability, interpretability, and reliability as well as prospective validation are needed to integrate AI approaches into routine clinical care and real‐time monitoring of novel therapies.

Les pompes d'irrigation constituent la principale connexion aquatique entre l'île de Camargue et d'autres milieux d'eau douce. Nous avons suivi le passage de poissons dans 2 sites parmi les 15 stations de pompage du bassin du Fumemorte (68 km2) pendant toute la période rizicole, c'est-à-dire de fin avril à début octobre 1997. Les poissons peuvent survivre au passage par la pompe. En grande majorité, ce sont des individus de petites tailles (2-5 cm). Cependant, des individus de grandes tailles (jusqu'à 46 cm) sont passés vivants. On estime à 14 700 le nombre d'individus entrés en Camargue par la pompe du Sambuc, et à 98 000 pour l'ensemble du bassin du Fumemorte. Vingt-quatre espèces ont été capturées par pompage. Les espèces dominantes numériquement sont le gardon, l'anguille, le goujon et la brème bordelière. Ces résultats sont comparés aux données sur les peuplements d'autres milieux de Camargue, afin de discuter l'importance de l'immigration par pompage dans le fonctionnement des peuplements de poissons de Camargue. Ils suggèrent que (1) le pompage permet l'introduction d'espèces nouvelles en Camargue, (2) les populations de certaines espèces passant par les pompes ne sont maintenues en Camargue que par cette immigration (e.g., hotu, chevaine, barbeau), (3) les poissons utilisant les marais temporaires viennent davantage du réseau de drainage que du réseau d'irrigation (e.g., épinoche, gobie commun, athérine), et (4) certaines espèces pompées ont des populations abondantes en Camargue (e.g., anguille, Pseudorasbora parva, ablette, brèmes), pour celles-ci, l'importance de l'immigration par pompage dans le fonctionnement de leurs populations en Camargue reste difficile à évaluer.

Abstract We present an ensemble transfer learning method to predict suicide from Veterans Affairs (VA) electronic medical records (EMR). A diverse set of base models was trained to predict a binary outcome constructed from reported suicide, suicide attempt, and overdose diagnoses with varying choices of study design and prediction methodology. Each model used twenty cross-sectional and 190 longitudinal variables observed in eight time intervals covering 7.5 years prior to the time of prediction. Ensembles of seven base models were created and fine-tuned with ten variables expected to change with study design and outcome definition in order to predict suicide and combined outcome in a prospective cohort. The ensemble models achieved c-statistics of 0.73 on 2-year suicide risk and 0.83 on the combined outcome when predicting on a prospective cohort of $$\sim$$ ∼ 4.2 M veterans. The ensembles rely on nonlinear base models trained using a matched retrospective nested case-control (Rcc) study cohort and show good calibration across a diversity of subgroups, including risk strata, age, sex, race, and level of healthcare utilization. In addition, a linear Rcc base model provided a rich set of biological predictors, including indicators of suicide, substance use disorder, mental health diagnoses and treatments, hypoxia and vascular damage, and demographics.

Treize espèces de poissons dulçaquicoles exotiques sont actuellement recensées en Camargue, dans le delta du Rhône. Parmi elles, onze sont naturalisées. Deux écrevisses américaines ont également été recensées. Pour illustrer les modifications intervenues dans les peuplements de poissons à la suite de ces introductions, nous prenons l'exemple d'un canal de drainage. Les impacts potentiels (compétition alimentaire, hybridation) sur les espèces autochtones sont identifiés et discutés. Nous avons tenté de caractériser chez Pseudorasbora parva les traits d'histoire de vie qui ont permis l'établissement rapide de cette espèce exotique dans le canal. Des suggestions sont émises en conclusion, pour une meilleure compréhension des interactions entre espèces introduites et faune autochtone.

Abstract Particle physics today faces the challenge of explaining the mystery of dark matter, the origin of matter over anti-matter in the Universe, the origin of the neutrino masses, the apparent fine-tuning of the electro-weak scale, and many other aspects of fundamental physics. Perhaps the most striking frontier to emerge in the search for answers involves new physics at mass scales comparable to familiar matter, below the GeV-scale, or even radically below, down to sub-eV scales, and with very feeble interaction strength. New theoretical ideas to address dark matter and other fundamental questions predict such feebly interacting particles (FIPs) at these scales, and indeed, existing data provide numerous hints for such possibility. A vibrant experimental program to discover such physics is under way, guided by a systematic theoretical approach firmly grounded on the underlying principles of the Standard Model. This document represents the report of the FIPs 2022 workshop, held at CERN between the 17 and 21 October 2022 and aims to give an overview of these efforts, their motivations, and the decadal goals that animate the community involved in the search for FIPs.

In this review, I offer a critical summary of Adriana López-Labourdette's recent monograph El retorno del monstruo. Figuraciones de lo monstruoso en la literatura latinoamericana contemporánea. As emerges from a first reading of the title, the volume deals with the appearance of monstrous figurations in the recent Latin American literary field. In addition to illustrating the main aspects addressed in the book, this review aims to demonstrate the relevance of such a study in the field of monster studies, both in the Latin American field and in literature in general. In particular, in addition to offering a complex theoretical apparatus and an exhaustive survey of the literature related to the theme of the monster, the author also provides numerous new insights through which to read and interpret the monstrous figurations that haunt contemporary literature.

Previous mental health trajectory studies were mostly limited to the months before access to vaccination. They are not informing on whether public mental health has adapted to the pandemic. The aim of this analysis was to 1) investigate trajectories of monthly reported depressive symptoms from July 2020 to December 2021 in Switzerland, 2) compare average growth trajectories across regions with different stringency phases, and 3) explore the relative impact of self-reported worries related to health, economic and social domains as well as socio-economic indicators on growth trajectories. As part of the population-based Corona Immunitas program of regional, but harmonized, adult cohorts studying the pandemic course and impact, participants repeatedly reported online to the DASS-21 instrument on depressive symptomatology. Trajectories of depressive symptoms were estimated using a latent growth model, specified as a generalised linear mixed model. The time effect was modelled parametrically through a polynomial allowing to estimate trajectories for participants' missing time points. In all regions level and shape of the trajectories mirrored those of the KOF Stringency-Plus Index, which quantifies regional Covid-19 policy stringency. The higher level of average depression in trajectories of those expressing specific worries was most noticeable for the social domain. Younger age, female gender, and low household income went along with higher mean depression score trajectories throughout follow-up. Interventions to promote long-term resilience are an important part of pandemic preparedness, given the observed lack of an adaptation in mental health response to the pandemic even after the availability of vaccines in this high-income context.

Decades of research have shown that magnetocardiography (MCG) has the potential to improve cardiac care decisions. However, sensor and system limitations have prevented its widespread adoption in clinical practice. We report an MCG system built around an array of scalar, optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) that effectively rejects ambient magnetic interference without magnetic shielding. We successfully used this system, in conjunction with custom hardware and noise rejection algorithms, to record magneto-cardiograms and functional magnetic field maps from 30 volunteers in a regular downtown office environment. This demonstrates the technical feasibility of deploying our device architecture at the point-of-care, a key step in making MCG usable in real-world settings.

Studies on decision-making have classically focused exclusively on its cognitive component. Recent research has shown that a further essential component of decisional processes is the emotional one. Indeed, the emotional route in decision-making plays a crucial role, especially in situations characterized by ambiguity, uncertainty, and risk. Despite that, individual differences concerning such components and their associations with individual traits, decisional styles, and psychophysiological profiles are still understudied. This pilot study aimed at investigating the relationship between individual propensity toward using an emotional or cognitive information-processing route in decision-making, EEG and autonomic correlates of the decisional performance as collected via wearable non-invasive devices, and individual personality and decisional traits. Participants completed a novel task based on realistic decisional scenarios while their physiological activity (EEG and autonomic indices) was monitored. Self-report questionnaires were used to collect data on personality traits, individual differences, and decisional styles. Data analyses highlighted two main findings. Firstly, different personality traits and decisional styles showed significant and specific correlations, with an individual propensity toward either emotional or cognitive information processing for decision-making. Secondly, task-related EEG and autonomic measures presented a specific and distinct correlation pattern with different decisional styles, maximization traits, and personality traits, suggesting different latent profiles.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) poses a significant public health risk due to its zoonotic potential and association with severe human diseases, such as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Ruminants are recognized as primary reservoirs for STEC, but swine also contribute to the epidemiology of this pathogen, highlighting the need for effective prevention strategies across species. Notably, a subgroup of STEC that produces Shiga toxin type 2e (Stx2e) causes edema disease (ED) in newborn piglets, economically affecting pig production. This study evaluates the immunogenicity of a chimeric protein-based vaccine candidate against STEC in pregnant sows and the subsequent transfer of immunity to their offspring. This vaccine candidate, which includes chimeric proteins displaying selected epitopes from the proteins Cah, OmpT, and Hes, was previously proven to be immunogenic in pregnant cows. Our analysis revealed a broad diversity of STEC serotypes within swine populations, with the cah and ompT genes being prevalent, validating them as suitable antigens for vaccine development. Although the hes gene was detected less frequently, the presence of at least one of these three genes in a significant proportion of STEC suggests the potential of this vaccine to target a wide range of strains. The vaccination of pregnant sows led to an increase in specific IgG and IgA antibodies against the chimeric proteins, indicating successful immunization. Additionally, our results demonstrated the effective passive transfer of maternal antibodies to piglets, providing them with immediate, albeit temporary, humoral immunity against STEC. These humoral responses demonstrate the immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate and are preliminary indicators of its potential efficacy. However, further research is needed to conclusively evaluate its impact on STEC colonization and shedding. This study highlights the potential of maternal vaccination to protect piglets from ED and contributes to the development of vaccination strategies to reduce the prevalence of STEC in various animal reservoirs.

Nurses play an active role in fostering engagement of oncological patients, and, therefore, adopting effective communication and interpersonal skills is crucial. However, the nurse–patient relationship and communication strategies are frequently undervalued. This scoping review aims to address this gap with a twofold objective: (1) to explore the existing literature to identify communication strategies and relational styles employed by nurses to promote patient engagement in non-pediatric oncology patients; (2) to assess current knowledge on this topic to determine the need for future research. The search was conducted on different scientific databases and grey literature. The review was conducted following the methodology outlined in the Joanna Briggs Institute guidance for scoping reviews and the updated version of the PRISMA-ScR Checklist. Thirteen articles were included in the study. The studies in total enrolled 863 participants. Four clusters of nursing interventions were identified, encompassing communication strategies and relational styles of varying complexity, along with ten categories of general outcomes emerging from their implementation. This study summarizes the current knowledge regarding nursing communication strategies and relational styles used to promote patient engagement in oncological patients. Further research is needed, to evaluate and integrate the researched techniques, tools, and interventions for future clinical nursing practice.

So far, little is known about the ability to contrast contextual bias as a protective factor in an ever-changing organizational environment. This study assessed whether professionals with different seniority can resist the reframing and the decoy effect under decision-making conditions and whether decision-making styles can predict the resistance to such covert influence tactics. To reach this aim, two groups of professionals divided into senior and junior professionals performed two novel tasks, a Resistance to Reframe Task (RRT) and a Resistance to Alternatives Task (RAT), which, by including ecological scenarios that represent typical decision situations that could arise in the company, can measure the resistance to such covert influence tactics. Decision-making styles were measured through the General Decision-Making Style (GDMS) and the Maximization Scale (MS). Results showed that all professionals were able to resist more to the reframing (at the RRT) than the decoy alternatives (RAT), without any difference between groups. In addition, higher GDMS-dependent subscale scores predict lower RRT scores, especially in the group of senior professionals. However, in the group of junior professionals, the GDMS-dependent subscale and MS high standards subscale predicted lower RAT scores. To conclude, this study showed that professionals know how to “keep the tiller straight” in organizations, especially when facing reframing conditions, rather than decoy alternatives; however, the predominance of dependent decision-making styles (for both senior and junior professionals) and the tendency to hold high standards in decisions (mainly for juniors) could undermine their resistance capacity and make them vulnerable to these covert influence tactics.

The analysis of bird ringing data often comes with some potential sources of error and bias, as ring wear and/or loss could affect mark-recapture analyses and produce erroneous estimates of survival. Furthermore, ring wear and loss rates may differ between and within species based on the habitat they use or the species' life-history traits and behaviour as well as the type of the ring. In this study we use resighting data from a long-term double marking experiment to directly estimate the rate of colour-ring loss among different Dalmatian Pelican colonies over time, evaluate any possible factors that could contribute to differential ring loss and assess how it may bias the results of mark-resighting analyses. Based on 14,849 resightings from 1275 individuals and using multi-state continuous-time hidden Markov models (HMMs) we showed that probability of ring loss was markedly different among colonies, ranging from 0.10 to 0.42 within the first year of marking, whereas the cumulative probability of losing a ring after ten years ranged 0.64 to 0.99. These rates are among the highest estimated when compared to previous studies in waterbirds. Our approach assessing the intra-specific variance in ring loss provided several factors potentially involved, such as the use of glue and the fledgling age accuracy and we could further hypothesise the effect of environmental factors. Finally, our results showed that ring loss can be a significant challenge for the assessment of the species' population dynamics using mark-recapture methods as survival was consistently underestimated when not accounting for ring loss and varied significantly among different colonies.

Housing instability is considered a significant life stressor and preemptive screening should be applied to identify those at risk for homelessness as early as possible so that they can be targeted for specialized care. We developed models to classify patient outcomes for an established VA Homelessness Screening Clinical Reminder (HSCR), which identifies housing instability, in the two months prior to its administration. Logistic Regression and Random Forest models were fit to classify responses using the last 18 months of document activity. We measure concentration of risk across stratifications of predicted probability and observe an enriched likelihood of finding confirmed false negative responses from veterans with diagnosed housing instability. Positive responses were 34 times more likely to be detected within the top 1 % of patients predicted at risk than from those randomly selected. There is a 1 in 4 chance of detecting false negatives within the top 1 % of predicted risk. Machine learning methods can classify between episodes of housing instability using a data-driven approach that does not rely on variables curated from domain experts. This method has the potential to improve clinicians’ ability to identify veterans who are experiencing housing instability but are not captured by HSCR.

Pseudorasbora parva (Téléostéen, Cyprinidae) est une espèce invasive d'origine est-asiatique. Présente dans le sud-est de l'Europe, elle est signalée en France depuis 1983 et dans le delta du Rhône, en Camargue, depuis 1993 où elle forme d'importantes populations. L'étude parasitologique d'un échantillon de 203 individus, a montré que 35 % étaient porteurs de larves L3 du nématode Anguillicola crassus.

BACKGROUND: Subjective well-being is an important target in the COVID-19 pandemic. Residential greenness may help cope with stress and hence influence subjective well-being during this mentally and physically challenging time. METHODS: We analysed the association between residential greenness and life satisfaction in 9,444 adults in the COVCO-Basel cohort. We assessed if the association is modified by age, sex, household income, financial worries, canton of residence, or month of study entry. In addition, we assessed if the association is attributed to specific types of greenspace or accessibility to greenspace. RESULTS: The association between residential greenness and life satisfaction varied by age groups, household income, and financial worries. Residential greenness was positively associated with life satisfaction in those with high household income and the least financially worried, and negatively associated with life satisfaction in the youngest age group (18–29 years) and the most financially worried. Living closer to a forest, but not to a park or an agricultural area, was associated with lower life satisfaction in the youngest age group. CONCLUSIONS: Residential greenness effects on life satisfaction vary according to sociodemographic characteristics. Living in a greener area does not benefit all dwellers in Basel and its region equally, with the most apparent benefit for those with high household income and without financial concerns.

Anthropogenic noise is a pervasive global pollutant that has been detected in every major habitat on the planet. Detrimental impacts of noise pollution on physiology, immunology and behaviour have been shown in terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates. Equivalent research on aquatic organisms has until recently been stunted by the misnomer of a silent underwater world. In fish, however, noise pollution can lead to stress, hearing loss, behavioural changes and impacted immunity. But, the functional effects of this impacted immunity on disease resistance due to noise exposure have remained neglected. Parasites that cause transmissible disease are key drivers of ecosystem biodiversity and a significant factor limiting the sustainable expansion of the animal trade. Therefore, understanding how a pervasive stressor is impacting host–parasite interactions will have far-reaching implications for global animal health. Here, we investigated the impact of acute and chronic noise on vertebrate susceptibility to parasitic infections, using a model host–parasite system (guppy–Gyrodactylus turnbulli). Hosts experiencing acute noise suffered significantly increased parasite burden compared with those in no noise treatments. By contrast, fish experiencing chronic noise had the lowest parasite burden. However, these hosts died significantly earlier compared with those exposed to acute and no noise treatments. By revealing the detrimental impacts of acute and chronic noise on host–parasite interactions, we add to the growing body of evidence demonstrating a link between noise pollution and reduced animal health.

Parlo dialetto da quando ho iniziato a dire le prime parole, dunque già da piccolina (sono nata il 27 dicembre 1964). I miei genitori mi hanno insegnato il dialetto perché loro lo parlavano sia tra di loro sia con mio fratello e mia sorella. Ho sempre parlato dialetto in casa, con amici e parenti. Solo a scuola mi esprimevo in italiano. Se devo scegliere una lingua preferita tra italiano e dialetto, preferisco indubbiamente il dialetto perché sono molto attaccata alle tradizioni e alle mie origini.

Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho caracterizar a fitossociologia de um fragmento de floresta nativa no município de Caroebe/RR, Brasil. Foram inventariadas todas as árvores com DAP ≥ 15 cm, em 18 parcelas permanentes de 15 x 20 m (300 m²). Foram identificados 175 indivíduos, distribuídos em 17 famílias botânicas, 37 gêneros e 45 espécies. Os gêneros com maior riqueza florística foram Protium, Vantanea e Couratari. Entre as famílias, Fabaceae e Lecythidaceae foram as que apresentaram maior diversidade de espécies. As espécies de maior valor de importância foram Dinizia excelsa (7,49%), Protium heptaphylum (7,41%) e Zigia racemosa (7,40%). O Índice de Diversidade de Shannon (H’) foi 3,39, e a Uniformidade de Pielou (J) foi 0,89. O grupo ecológico clímax foi predominante, com 26,7% das espécies e 21,7% dos indivíduos. A diversidade da floresta é baixa, embora predominem famílias que também estão presentes na maioria das florestas amazônicas maduras. Algumas espécies que possuem madeira com alto valor comercial também estão presentes na área com alto valor de importância ecológica. A distribuição dos indivíduos em classes diamétricas sugere que a floresta, ainda que jovem e com alta dinâmica, já se encontra em equilíbrio. Portanto, a área estudada pode ser manejada para extração de produtos madeireiros ou não-madeireiros, com fins conservacionistas, obedecendo às suas características fitossociológicas discutidas no presente estudo e à Legislação Brasileira.

La organización social capitalista presenta diferentes confi guraciones en cada momento histórico. Las formas de dominación del capital sobre el trabajo adoptan especifi cidades histórico-espaciales. En este sentido, la instauración del modo de regulación posfordista en la década del setenta, la globalización económico-fi nanciera y la implementación de las políticas neoliberales coadyuvaron para que la precarización laboral se erija como el modo de existencia de la abrumadora mayoría de los trabajadores. El objetivo en este artículo es, en primer término, presentar las diversas formas teóricas de concebir la precarización, que a nuestro entender pueden dividirse en tres grandes grupos: aquella perspectiva que entiende que toda forma de trabajo asalariada en el capitalismo es inherentemente precaria, otra que asocia la precarización con las condiciones de contratación, es decir con el empleo, llegando incluso a utilizarla como sinónimo de fl exibilización, y una tercera que analiza la precarización en función de sus implicancias sobre el trabajo; en otras palabras, sobre todos los aspectos de la vida. Una vez descriptas y discutidas las posturas teóricas, nos ocuparemos de un caso en particular: la Coordinadora de Trabajadores Precarizados de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, para refl exionar sobre la precarización laboral en la Argentina y, a su vez, para plantear las formas de organización que estos trabajadores se dan, generalmente por fuera de las estructuras tradicionales, y las potencialidades y limitaciones que entrañan.

There is a host of pharmaceutical formulations of diclofenac, which ensures that it can be used orally, rectally, intrarectally, or topically. Objective - to comparatively analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters and time course of changes in the serum concentration of diclofenac potassium after oral administration in a dose of 50 mg as sachets or sugar-coated tablets. Results. There is evidence that patients tolerate both its sachets and tablets equally well, as confirmed by subjective and objective observations. There are neither marked side effects nor considerable changes in laboratory tests and in the values of vital functions. Diclofenac potassium as early-action tablets (50 and 100 mg) exerts a very good analgesic effect in treating migraine since the plasma concentration of the drug peaks on an average of an hour of administration (range 0,33-2 hours) and the analgesic effect developed following 60-90 min. Conclusion. By comparing the rate of absorption, it may be concluded that diclofenac potassium as sachets will produce a much rapider analgesic effect. Thus, the high solubility of diclofenac potassium and its very good absorbability (as sachets in particular) make the drug a superior analgesic that has a rapid analgesic activity.

We consider the feasibility of observing the gravitational quantum states of positronium. The proposed scheme employs the flow-throw technique used for the first observation of this effect with neutrons. Collimation and Stark deceleration of Rydberg positronium atoms allow selecting the required velocity class. If this experiment could be realized with positronium, it would lead to a determination of g for this matter-antimatter system at the few % level. As discussed in this contribution, most of the required techniques are currently available but important milestones have to be demonstrated experimentally before such an experiment could become reality. Those are the efficient focusing of a bunched positron beam, Stark deceleration of Rydberg positronium, and its subsequent excitation into states with large angular momentum. We provide an estimate of the efficiencies we expect for these steps and assuming those could be confirmed we calculate the signal rate.

Different experiments are ongoing to measure the effect of gravity on cold neutral antimatter atoms such as positronium, muonium, and antihydrogen. Among those, the project GBAR at CERN aims to measure precisely the gravitational fall of ultracold antihydrogen atoms. In the ultracold regime, the interaction of antihydrogen atoms with a surface is governed by the phenomenon of quantum reflection which results in bouncing of antihydrogen atoms on matter surfaces. This allows the application of a filtering scheme to increase the precision of the free fall measurement. In the ultimate limit of smallest vertical velocities, antihydrogen atoms are settled in gravitational quantum states in close analogy to ultracold neutrons (UCNs). Positronium is another neutral system involving antimatter for which free fall under gravity is currently being investigated at UCL. Building on the experimental techniques under development for the free fall measurement, gravitational quantum states could also be observed in positronium. In this contribution, we report on the status of the ongoing experiments and discuss the prospects of observing gravitational quantum states of antimatter and their implications.

This paper reviews the search for light dark matter in beam dump experiments with a special emphasis on the necessity of beam purity for precise background rejection at the sensitivities aimed at these experiments. As a case study we cite the P348 experiment which has test beam time in Fall 2015 at the SPS H4 beam line at CERN and aims to search for the U′(1) gauge boson, A′, which as per one model of dark matter mediates a weak interaction between ordinary matter and dark matter via mixing of these “dark photons” with ordinary photon. The experiment aims to probe the still unexplored area of mixing strength 10-5≤ϵ≤10-3 and masses MA′≤100 MeV by using 10–300 GeV electron beam from the CERN SPS. This paper presents the simulation results for rejection of background due to beam impurity, by tracking the incoming particles with Micromegas detectors at a level

En condiciones de regiones semi-árida templada y tropical húmeda, un total de quince cabras primalas y adultas fueron estudiadas en: a).- La caracterización de la carga calórica ambiental Para obtener el articulo completo pueden contactar al Editor de la Revista Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios en el siguiente correo electrónico era@ujat.mx y se les enviará sin algún costo.

This article discusses the symbolic values assigned to Italian women writers in the historical age that precedes national unification. At the beginning of 19th century, aiming at its Risorgimento, Italy shaped its own identity. Establishing a cultural genealogy of its women, the nation-to-be finds a way to shed light on the persistence of an erudite stream rooted in the glorious tradition of the “roman mothers”, as well as to define an image of itself as an up-to- date modern European nation. The cultural condition of its women becomes, thanks to a simplifying and still effective mechanism, measurement for the emancipation of a whole nation. How this mechanism works can be explained by the example of a dispute between the Irish novel writer Lady Morgan and the Italian pedagogue Ginevra Canonici Fachini, by analyzing their apparently irreconcilable argumentations under the perspective of their time, which point to the making of the nation and of its narration.The aim of this article is to demonstrate that the setting up of an encyclopaedia of illustrious Italian women, that Canonici Fachini presents as a reply to the criticism expressed in Morgan's Italy (1821), constitutes, much more than explicit retorts that remain trapped in their own reciprocal contrasts, the constructive outcome of an encounter and clash of two different ways of narrating the nation. As postcolonial studies demonstrated, the more innovative propositions are in fact generated in those in-between spaces that are to be found in the wrinkles of an apparently insoluble contraposition: between the discourses with which the other represents us, and our own narration that institutes the myth of an objective self-definition.

Woodard et al. (1973) mencionan en detalles los aspectos involucrados en la producción de codornices. Existen pocos informes sobre las necesidades de proteína.