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The aim of this study is to describe resources and outcomes of coronary computed tomography angiography plus Stress CT perfusion (CCTA ​+ ​Stress-CTP) and stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (Stress-CMR) in symptomatic patients with suspected or known CAD. Six hundred and twenty-four consecutive symptomatic patients with intermediate to high-risk pretest likelihood for CAD or previous history of revascularization referred to our hospital for clinically indicated CCTA ​+ ​Stress-CTP or Stress-CMR were enrolled. Stress-CTP scans were performed in 223 patients while 401 patients performed Stress-CMR. Patient follow-up was performed at 1 year after index test performance. Endpoints were all cardiac events, as a combined endpoint of revascularization, non-fatal MI and death, and hard cardiac events, as combined endpoint of non-fatal MI and death. Twenty-nine percent of patients who underwent CCTA ​+ ​Stress-CTP received revascularization, 7% of subjects assessed with Stress-CMR were treated invasively, and a low number of non-fatal MI and death was observed with both strategies (hard events in 0.4% of patients that had CCTA ​+ ​Stress-CTP as index test, and in 3% of patients evaluated with Stress-CMR). According to the predefined endpoints, CCTA ​+ ​Stress-CTP group showed high rate of all cardiac events and low rate of hard cardiac events, respectively. The cumulative costs were 1970 ​± ​2506 Euro and 733 ​± ​1418 Euro for the CCTA ​+ ​Stress-CTP group and Stress-CMR group, respectively. The use of CCTA ​+ ​Stress-CTP strategy was associated with high referral to revascularization but with a favourable trend in terms of hard cardiac events and diagnostic yield in identifying individuals at lower risk of adverse events despite the presence of CAD. [Display omitted] The use of CCTA ​+ ​Stress-CTP strategy was associated with high referral to revascularization but with a protective trend in terms of hard cardiac events. Assessment with Stress-CMR is characterized by low rate of invasive referral, thus low overall management costs, but with a slightly higher risk of type I myocardial infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The currently existing Biological Protection Areas (BPAs) are Italian conservation measures specifically oriented to preserve/recover commercial fish stocks through the regulation or ban of few fishing activities. Although BPAs have been well identified/designed within the Italian national waters, neither data on their effects on fishery resources nor on the fishers' compliance with these no-take regulations are yet available. In this context, the present study was aimed to investigate how AIS data processing could be used to map patterns in fishing activity within/around small regulated areas and rate the effectiveness of the conservation measures in place. To do this, it was impossible not to address the issue surrounding well-known and substantial gaps in data coverage and attempt an estimate of them by flagging events when AIS had been switched off within/around BPAs. Results highlighted that almost all the BPAs are illegally trawled and that, unless additional legislation is effected to regulate the use of AIS by fishing vessels, it may provide a useful source of information to map fishing activities stated that the data are interpreted in an appropriate way. • First study addressing the fishers' compliance with the Italian Biological Protection Areas (BPAs). • Almost all the BPAs are illegally trawled. • High resolution AIS data can provide a useful source of information for rating the effectiveness of even small BPAs. • Before AIS data can be used, gaps in the data coverage must be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Seabed debris is much less investigated in respect to the sea surface and shores due to sampling difficulties and costs. However, detecting marine benthic litter is fundamental for developing policies aimed at achieving the Good Environmental Status in European Seas by 2020, as requested by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. This study estimates seafloor litter abundance, composition, spatial distribution and main sources in the North-Central Adriatic Sea (FAO GSA 17) over a six-year period (2011–2016) with 67 stations sampled per year, representing the longest data set for the basin. Litter items collected using a "rapido" trawl were classified in six major categories. The average density of the litter collected over six years was 102.66 ± 41.91 kg/km2. The highest concentration of litter was found in stations close to the coast within 30 m depth with a mean weight of 142.90 ± 27.20 kg/km2, while the lowest value was recorded between 30 and 50 m of depth (41.12 ± 9.62 kg/km2). Plastic was dominant followed by metal and other litter materials. Lost fishing nets and mussel culture debris accounted for 50% of the overall plastic litter collected. These data and the systematic monitoring of marine litter provide useful information to implement necessary measures to manage marine litter and minimize this type of anthropogenic pollution in the Adriatic region. Highlights • Assessment of seabed litter in the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean) over six years. • Composition, density and distribution of the marine litter collected on the seafloor during 6 years survey. • Kernel density and hot spots maps are produced for the main litter categories. • The study identifies the possible factors that could affect the presence and distribution of the litter categories. • The results constitute an important step for marine litter monitoring in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing concern about the depletion of marine resources due to fishing overexploitation and degradation of ecosystems has been demonstrated over the last decade. Monitoring the spatial and temporal distribution of fishing activities is an important tool for fisheries management which can also be used by other sectors such as fisheries science, public authorities, policy-makers and marine spatial planning. In this paper we introduce the first map of fishing activity at a Mediterranean scale of EU and non-EU fishing vessels, extracted using Automatic Identification System ship tracking data. Fishing activity maps were produced for three different years with a spatial resolution of 0.01° × 0.01°. As a main result, for the first time, changes of bottom trawl fishing activities between two consecutive years were map for the whole Mediterranean Sea. The results confirmed the suitability of this monitoring system to obtain reliable information on the extent of bottom trawl fishing activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-plastic particles in the world's oceans represent a serious threat to both human health and marine ecosystems. Once released into the aquatic environment plastic litter is broken down to smaller pieces through photo-degradation and the physical actions of waves, wind, etc. The resulting particles may become so small that they are readily taken up by fish, crustaceans and mollusks. There is mounting evidence for the uptake of plastic particles by marine organisms that form part of the human food chain and this is driving urgent calls for further and deeper investigations into this pollution issue. The present study aimed at investigating for the first time the occurrence, amount, typology of microplastic litter in the gastrointestinal tract of Solea solea and its spatial distribution in the northern and central Adriatic Sea. This benthic flatfish was selected as it is a species of high commercial interest within the FAO GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) area 37 (Mediterranean and Black Sea) where around 15% of the overall global Solea solea production originates. The digestive tract contents of 533 individuals collected in fall during 2014 and 2015 from 60 sampling sites were examined for microplastics. These were recorded in 95% of sampled fish, with more than one microplastic item found in around 80% of the examined specimens. The most commonly found polymers were polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, and polyamide, 72% as fragments and 28% as fibers. The mean number of ingested microplastics was 1.73 ± 0.05 items per fish in 2014 and 1.64 ± 0.1 in 2015. PVC and PA showed the highest densities in the northern Adriatic Sea, both inshore and off-shore while PE, PP and PET were more concentrated in coastal areas with the highest values offshore from the port of Rimini. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This electron impact ion source has been fabricated using the MEMS technology. The chosen process is fully compatible with the reflectron''s fabrication so that the ion source could be integrated into a micro-Time-Of-Flight mass spectrometer used for gas analysis. The fabrication process and its performances are reported. The current generated could be as high as tens of nano-amps, one of the highest reported for an integrated source in a micro mass spectrometer. It presents a raw ionization efficiency of 2,5.10-3. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the Mediterranean Sea, fishing vessels often operates throughout the geographical subdivisions adopted for statistical data collection (Geographical Sub-Areas; GSAs), causing a potential mismatch between catches site and reporting site. This paper provides a quantitative assessment of the fluxes of fishing activity of bottom trawlers across the Mediterranean Sea, by analyzing the Automatic Identification System (AIS) data broadcasted in 2017. Fishing activity was analyzed from three perspectives: fishing site, port of arrival and registration site of the vessel. For each GSA, a "fidelity score" was calculated to quantify the proportion of fishing time spent in the home GSA; an "intrusion score" was computed to quantify the effort deployed by vessels registered elsewhere. Major vessel fluxes were detected between GSAs, and fleets were classified based on their mobility. Areas showing fleet overlaps were identified and those characterized by the largest overlaps were selected as case studies. The lowest fidelity scores were observed in the central Mediterranean (GSAs 11.2, 15, 16 and 18), while the highest intrusion score was recorded in the southern Mediterranean and around Crete. The vessels responsible of the largest fluxes were those registered in GSAs 16, 18, and 6. The case studies included: GSAs 23, where several fleets exploited narrow slope areas; GSA 13, where multiple fleets overlapped in a relatively wide area; and GSA 17, where two fleets overlapped in a wide platform area. Mobility was distinguished in short-range – involving platform areas of contiguous GSAs – and long-range – involving slope areas of non-contiguous GSAs. • Fishing activity of non-home vessels was detected in most of the areas. • Two patterns of fleet mobility were described: short-range and long-range. • Short-range was common: fishing neighboring areas and returning to homeport. • Specific fleets do long-range: fishing distant areas also basing in non-home port. • Slope areas in the eastern Mediterranean attract vessels from distant areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on abundance and composition of fish assemblages surrounding offshore extraction platforms is essential to evaluate their impact as well as to understand relationships between natural and artificial habitats. Also decommissioning practice, which belongs to the lifecycle of these structures, can be encouraged or discouraged if fish school behaviour in the close proximity of the platform is well understood. With thousands of platforms to be decommissioned around the world in coming decades, understanding such dynamic interactions is key to improve spatial management of marine ecosystems. In this context, this study drafts a work plan that can be used to investigate fish presence and abundance, school movement and qualitative species composition around a platform over long time periods. It integrates fishing captures, multibeam echosounder (MBES) investigations, and drop camera shootings to overcome the limitations of the individual methods. Monthly samplings were conducted at a three-leg gas extraction platform placed at ~80 m depth in the central Adriatic Sea, for one year after its installation. MBES completely insonified the studied area, providing data on school shape, volume, surface area and position throughout the water column. Fishing captures were useful for MBES targets' identification by measuring the presence/abundance of nekto-benthic and pelagic species both in the nearby of the structure and in the open sea, while drop camera shootings added evidence of a few species in close proximity to the poles, which were not censused by the other methods. Results underlined the strong attraction exerted by the platform and the significant influence of the explanatory variable distance on the schools' nominal volume. • The study investigates fish behaviour at an offshore gas platform in the Adriatic Sea. • Monitoring approach integrating fishing captures, MBES surveys, and drop camera shootings. • Species abundances and school features change mostly with distance. • Platforms' impact on fish assemblage should be identified before planning decommissioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rosette formation is an unusual finding in malignant lymphomas. We herein report another case of a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with ultrastructural evidence of cellular projections, sinusoidal growth pattern, and strong CD30 expression. A literature review of the DLBCL cases showing all these features was also performed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Linear buffer strips (BS) along watercourses are commonly adopted to reduce run-off, accumulation of bank-top sediments and the leaking of pesticides into fresh-waters, which strongly increase water pollution. However, the monitoring of their conditions is a difficult task because they are scattered over wide rural areas. This work demonstrates the benefits of using a standard data layer and Augmented Reality (AR) in watershed control and outlines the guideline of a novel approach for the health-check of linear BS. We designed a mobile environmental monitoring system for smart maintenance of riverbanks by embedding the AR technology within a Geographical Information System (GIS). From the technological point of view, the system's architecture consists of a cloud-based service for data sharing, using a standard data layer, and of a mobile device provided with a GPS based AR engine for augmented data visualization. The proposed solution aims to ease the overall inspection process by reducing the time required to run a survey. Indeed, ordinary operational survey conditions are usually performed basing the fieldwork on just classical digitized maps. Our application proposes to enrich inspections by superimposing information on the device screen with the same point of view of the camera, providing an intuitive visualization of buffer strip location. This way, the inspection officer can quickly and dynamically access relevant information overlaying geographic features, comments and other contents in real time. The solution has been tested in fieldwork to prove at what extent this cutting-edge technology contributes to an effective monitoring over large territorial settings. The aim is to encourage officers, land managers and practitioners toward more effective monitoring and management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the association of pre-morbid functional status [Barthel Index (BI)] and frailty [modified Frailty Index (mFI)] with in-hospital mortality and a risk scoring system developed for COVID-19 in patients ≥75 years diagnosed with COVID-19. Retrospective bicentric observational study. Data on consecutive patients aged ≥75 years admitted with COVID-19 at 2 Italian tertiary care centers were collected from February 22 to May 30, 2020. Overall, 221 consecutive patients with COVID-19 aged ≥75 years were admitted to 2 hospitals in the study period and were included in the analysis. Clinical, functional (BI), frailty (mFI), laboratory, and imaging data were collected. Mortality risk on admission was assessed with the COVID-19 Mortality Risk Score (COVID-19 MRS), a dedicated score developed for hospital triage. Ninety-seven (43.9%) patients died. BI, frailty, age, dementia, respiratory rate, Pa o 2 /Fi o 2 ratio, creatinine, and platelet count were associated with mortality. Analysis of the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) indicated that the predictivity of age was modest and the combination of BI, mFI, and COVID-19 MRS yielded the highest prediction accuracy (AUC COVID-19MRS+BI+mFI vs AUC Age : 0.87 vs 0.59; difference: +0.28, lower bound–upper bound: 0.17-0.34, P <.001). Premorbid BI and mFI are associated with mortality and improved the accuracy of the COVID-19 MRS. Functional status may prove useful to guide clinical management of older individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]