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Artificial atoms in solids are leading candidates for quantum networks, scalable quantum computing, and sensing, as they combine long-lived spins with mobile photonic qubits. Recently, silicon has emerged as a promising host material where artificial atoms with long spin coherence times and emission into the telecommunications band can be controllably fabricated. This field leverages the maturity of silicon photonics to embed artificial atoms into the world's most advanced microelectronics and photonics platform. However, a current bottleneck is the naturally weak emission rate of these atoms, which can be addressed by coupling to an optical cavity. Here, we demonstrate cavity-enhanced single artificial atoms in silicon (G-centers) at telecommunication wavelengths. Our results show enhancement of their zero phonon line intensities along with highly pure single-photon emission, while their lifetime remains statistically unchanged. We suggest the possibility of two different existing types of G-centers, shedding new light on the properties of silicon emitters. The authors demonstrate a cavity enhancement of single artificial atoms at telecommunication wavelengths in silicon by coupling them to highly optimized photonic crystal cavities, showing intensity enhancement and highly pure single-photon emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis (PVNS) is a proliferative disease arising from the synovial membrane, mainly affects large joints such as the knee (almost 80% of total). Prostheses implanted in PVNS osteoarthritis show a higher revision rate when compared to primary osteoarthritis, due to the recurrence of disease and the overall surgical complications. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize and compare indications, clinical and functional outcomes, disease-related and surgical-related complications of total knee arthroplasty in PVNS osteoarthritis. Materials and methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed with a primary search on Medline through PubMed. The PRISMA 2009 flowchart and checklist were used to edit the review. Screened studies had to provide preoperative diagnosis, previous treatments, main treatment, concomitant strategies, mean follow-up, outcomes and complications to be included in the review. Results: A total of 8 articles were finally included. Most of papers reported the use of non-constrained design implants, mainly posterior stabilized (PS) and in case of PVNS with extensive joint involvement implants with higher degree of constraint to obtain a fulfilling balancing. Recurrence of PVNS has been indicated as the major complication, followed by aseptic loosening of the implant and difficult post-operative course with an increased risk of stiffness. Conclusion: Total knee arthroplasty represents a valid treatment for patients with PVNS end-stage osteoarthritis, with good clinical and functional results, even in longer follow-up. It would be advisable a multidisciplinary management and a meticulous rehabilitation and monitoring following the procedure, to reduce the emergence of recurrence and overall complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-fast single-photon detectors with high current density and operating temperature can benefit space and ground applications, including quantum optical communication systems, lightweight cryogenics for space crafts, and medical use. Here we demonstrate magnesium diboride (MgB2) thin-film superconducting microwires capable of single-photon detection at 1.55 μm optical wavelength. We used helium ions to alter the properties of MgB2, resulting in microwire-based detectors exhibiting single-photon sensitivity across a broad temperature range of up to 20 K, and detection efficiency saturation for 1 μm wide microwires at 3.7 K. Linearity of detection rate vs incident power was preserved up to at least 100 Mcps. Despite the large active area of up to 400 × 400 μm2, the reset time was found to be as low as ~ 1 ns. Our research provides possibilities for breaking the operating temperature limit and maximum single-pixel count rate, expanding the detector area, and raises inquiries about the fundamental mechanisms of single-photon detection in high-critical-temperature superconductors. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors require operation at T < 4 K, and successful attempts to extend their operation at 20 K and above using high-TC BSCCO flakes come at the cost of lower scalability to large areas. Here, the authors break this trade-off by using high-quality MgB2 films and exploiting a helium-ion beam-based irradiation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kaon physics is at a turning point – while the rare-kaon experiments NA62 and KOTO are in full swing, the end of their lifetime is approaching and the future experimental landscape needs to be defined. With HIKE, KOTO-II and LHCb-Phase-II on the table and under scrutiny, it is a very good moment in time to take stock and contemplate about the opportunities these experiments and theoretical developments provide for particle physics in the coming decade and beyond. This paper provides a compact summary of talks and discussions from the Kaons@CERN 2023 workshop, held in September 2023 at CERN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iatrogenic ureteral injury (IUI) during colorectal surgery is a rare complication but related to a serious burden of morbidity. This comprehensive and systematic review aims to provide a critical overview of the most recent literature about IUI prevention techniques in colorectal surgery. We performed a comprehensive and systematic review of studies published from 2000 to 2022 and assessed the use of techniques for ureteral injury prevention and intraoperative localization. 26 publications were included, divided into stent-based (prophylactic/lighted ureteral stent and near-infrared fluorescent ureteral catheter [PUS/LUS/NIRFUC]) and fluorescent dye (FD) groups. Costs, the percentage and number of IUIs detected, reported limitations, complication rates and other outcome points were compared. The IUI incidence rate ranged from 0 to 1.9% (mean 0.5%) and 0 to 1.2% (mean 0.3%) in the PUS/LUS/NIRFUC and FD groups, respectively. The acute kidney injury (AKI) and urinary tact infection (UTI) incidence rate ranged from 0.4 to 32.6% and 0 to 17.3%, respectively, in the PUS/LUS/NIRFUC group and 0–15% and 0–6.3%, respectively, in the FD group. Many other complications were also compared and descriptively analyzed (length-of-stay, mortality, etc.). These techniques appear to be feasible and safe in select patients with a high risk of IUI, but the delineation of reliable guidelines for preventing IUI will require more randomized controlled trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporosis is a common concern in the elderly that leads to fragile bones. Calcium supplementation plays a crucial role in improving bone health, reducing fracture risk, and supporting overall skeletal strength in this vulnerable population. However, there is conflicting evidence on the safety of calcium supplements in elderly individuals. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the adherence, safety and tolerability of calcium citrate supplementation in elderly osteopenic subjects. Methods: In this non-interventional, prospective, multicenter study, subjects received daily 500 mg calcium citrate supplementation for up to one year. Adherence was calculated based on compliance and persistence. Safety was assessed through adverse reactions (ARs), deaths, and clinical laboratory evaluations. Results: A total of 268 Caucasian subjects (91.4% female, mean age 70 ± 4.5 years) participated in the study. Mean adherence to treatment was 76.6 ± 29.5% and half of subjects had an adherence of 91% and ~ 33% of participants achieved complete (100%) adherence. ARs were reported by nine (3.9%) subjects, primarily gastrointestinal disorders, with no serious ARs. The frequency of all adverse events (including ARs) was significantly higher in subjects with adherence of < 80% (41.6%; 32/77) vs. those with adherence ≥ 80% (11%; 16/145, p < 0.0001). Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased from baseline to follow-up visit (change of -2.8 ± 13.9 mmHg, p = 0.0102 and -2.1 ± 10.4 mmHg, p = 0.0116, respectively). Conclusion: This study demonstrated favorable adherence to calcium citrate supplementation in elderly osteopenic subjects. The occurrence of ARs, though generally mild, were associated with lower adherence to calcium supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hypercalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common endocrine disorder that has been very well characterized. In contrast, many aspects of normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (NPHPT) such as natural history, organ damage, and management are still matter of debate. In addition, both the pathophysiology and molecular basis of NPHPT are unclear. We investigated whether PHPT and NPHPT patient cohorts share the same pattern of genetic variation in genes known to be involved in calcium and/or bone metabolism. Research design and methods: Genotyping for 9 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed by Real-Time PCR (TaqMan assays) on 27 NPHPT and 31 PHPT patients evaluated in a tertiary referral Center. The data of both groups were compared with 54 in house-controls and 503 subjects from the 1000 Genomes Project. All groups were compared for allele/haplotype frequencies, on a single locus, two loci and multi-locus basis. Results: The NPHPT group differed significantly at SNPs in OPG and ESR1. Also, the NPHPT cohort was peculiar for pairwise associations of genotypes and for the overrepresentation of unusual multilocus genotypes. Conclusions: Our NPHPT patient set harbored a definitely larger quota of genetic diversity than the other samples. Specific genotypes may help in defining subgroups of NPHPT patients which deserve ad hoc clinical and follow-up studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: FitBack is an international network established to support the creation of physical fitness monitoring and surveillance systems for children and adolescents across Europe. Aims: As a part of the greater scope of the FitBack European project, the FitBack web portal was designed and tailored for various target groups, such as teachers, health professionals, policy makers, parents, and youths, with the aim to promote their physical and health literacy. Methods: The FitBack web portal is a free and multilingual online resource, and two of its webpages were evaluated: "Make interactive report" was evaluated by 78 secondary school students and 27 physical education teachers, and "10 steps to design a physical fitness monitoring system" by 14 physical activity promotion policy makers. Validated scales and open-ended questions were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative responses. Results: 'Good'-to-'excellent' scores emerged for user experience (5.43–6.36 out of 7) and webpage usability (3.70–4.27 out of 5). Qualitative feedback highlighted positive comments and cues on how to improve website features. Conclusions: Results indicate that the current FitBack web portal is a clear and user-friendly mobile health tool, which includes relevant information on how to use and implement youth physical fitness monitoring and surveillance systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the inclusive Hb→ Xsγ decay with Hb a beauty baryon, in particular Λb, employing an expansion in the heavy quark mass at O m b − 3 at leading order in αs, keeping the dependence on the hadron spin. For a polarized baryon we compute the distribution d 2 Γ dy d cos θ P , with y = 2Eγ/mb, Eγ the photon energy and θP the angle between the baryon spin vector and the photon momentum in the Hb rest-frame. We discuss the correlation between the baryon and photon polarization, and show that effects of physics beyond the Standard Model can modify the photon polarization asymmetry. We also discuss a method to treat the singular terms in the photon energy spectrum obtained by the OPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riparian alder forests are threatened by Phytophthora across Europe. Comparative studies of the pathogenicity of Phytophthora species are crucial for developing effective management strategies. Although only a limited number of species, particularly P. × alni, lead to tree decline in natural environments, many species demonstrate pathogenicity in inoculation trials. Phytophthora species vary in their ability to infect different tissues, such as phloem and xylem, and trigger defence responses in the host through the formation of tyloses and callose. By comparing the histological responses of alder to various Phytophthora species, we can gain insights into the success of P. × alni and the potential damage that could be caused by other species. To investigate the defence strategies of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) against attack by Phytophthora and Halophytophthora species present in Catalonia (NE Spain), we conducted inoculation trials on saplings using nine potentially pathogenic species and compared the histological responses. Phytophthora × alni and P. plurivora were the most aggressive species followed by other exotic species such as P. × cambivora and P. cactorum. Phytophthora × alni and P. plurivora were equally damaging despite the higher prevalence of P. × alni in declining alders in natural settings. Although P. × alni mainly invaded the phloem, P. plurivora also invaded the xylem and triggered the production of tyloses. Histological analyses revealed a diverse range of plant responses to infection by Phytophthora species, providing a better understanding of their adaptability in natural environments compared with solely observing lesions. The low level of callose production in saplings inoculated with P. × alni compared with callose production in saplings inoculated with less pathogenic species suggests that P. × alni can evade recognition by the host and, hence, could partially explain its success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myeloid leukemia is the most common acute leukemia in adults and up to 20% of patients present with hyperleukocytosis at the onset of the disease. The therapeutic approach involves medical support, cytoreductive treatment, and/or leukapheresis. Despite WBC count greater than 100.000/μL, not all patients develop symptoms. To clarify the role of leukapheresis in the setting of hyperleukocytotic AML, we aimed to find associations between AML morphologic subtypes and molecular alterations on presence or absence of leukostasis symptoms (and hence therapeutic vs prophylactic leukapheresis) and clinical outcomes in the cohort of 41 patients at our single center who underwent leukapheresis for hyperleukocytotic AML. There was a trend for increased WBC count, 30-day mortality, M4-M5 AML subtypes, and number of leukapheresis procedures performed in symptomatic hyperleukocytotic pts. No molecular marker was significantly associated with presence or absence of leukostasis symptoms due to small sample size, though there was a trend for increased NPM1-mutated and NPM1 + FLT3-mutated AML in asymptomatic patients and a greater proportion of symptomatic patients who were negative for all assessed molecular alterations. In conclusion, leukapheresis combined with cytoreductive treatment represents a synergic and efficient approach in the management of hyperleukocytosis especially in symptomatic patients considering the higher mortality independently from the presence of specific clonal markers whose distribution among the two groups may result more considerable with a higher number of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is an uncommon paraneoplastic syndrome due to the overproduction of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). It is predominantly caused by mesenchymal tumors and cured upon their complete removal. Non-surgical treatment is an alternative option but limited to specific clinical conditions. Methods: We report a challenging case of TIO caused by a tumor involving the occipital bone. We also performed a literature review of TIO caused by tumors localized at this site, focusing on clinical findings, treatment, and outcomes. Results: The patient, a 62-year-old male, presented with a long-lasting history of progressive weakness. Biochemical evaluation revealed severe hypophosphatemia due to low renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate with raised intact FGF23 values. A 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET/TC imaging showed a suspicious lesion located in the left occipital bone that MRI and selective venous catheterization confirmed to be the cause of TIO. Stereotactic gamma knife radiosurgery was carried out, but unfortunately, the patient died of acute respiratory failure. To date, only seven additional cases of TIO have been associated to tumors located in the occipital bone. Furthermore, the tumor involved the left side of the occipital bone in all these patients. Conclusion: The occipital region is a difficult area to access so a multidisciplinary approach for their treatment is required. If anatomical differences could be the basis for the predilection of the left side of the occipital bone, it remains to be clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding sustainable approaches to achieve independence from terrestrial resources is of pivotal importance for the future of space exploration. This is relevant not only to establish viable space exploration beyond low Earth–orbit, but also for ethical considerations associated with the generation of space waste and the preservation of extra-terrestrial environments. Here we propose and highlight a series of microbial biotechnologies uniquely suited to establish sustainable processes for in situ resource utilization and loop-closure. Microbial biotechnologies research and development for space sustainability will be translatable to Earth applications, tackling terrestrial environmental issues, thereby supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Establishing sustainable approaches for human space exploration is key to achieve independency from terrestrial resources, as well as for ethical considerations. Here the authors highlight microbial biotechnologies that will support sustainable processes for space-based in situ resource utilization and loop-closure, and may be translatable to Earth applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal patterns of wood formation (xylogenesis) remain understudied in mixed pine–oak forests despite their contribution to tree coexistence through temporal niche complementarity. Xylogenesis was assessed in three pine species (Pinus cembroides, Pinus leiophylla, Pinus engelmannii) and one oak (Quercus grisea) coexisting in a semi-arid Mexican forest. The main xylogenesis phases (production of cambium cells, radial enlargement, cell-wall thickening and maturation) were related to climate data considering 5–15-day temporal windows. In pines, cambium activity maximized from mid-March to April as temperature and evaporation increased, whereas cell radial enlargement peaked from April to May and was constrained by high evaporation and low precipitation. Cell-wall thickening peaked from June to July and in August–September as maximum temperature and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) increased. Maturation of earlywood and latewood tracheids occurred in May–June and June–July, enhanced by high minimum temperatures and VPD in P. engelmannii and P. leiophylla. In oak, cambial onset started in March, constrained by high minimum temperatures, and vessel radial enlargement and radial increment maximized in April as temperatures and evaporation increased, whereas earlywood vessels matured from May to June as VPD increased. Overall, 15-day wet conditions enhanced cell radial enlargement in P. leiophylla and P. engelmannii, whereas early-summer high 15-day temperature and VPD drove cell-wall thickening in P. cembroides. Warm night conditions and high evaporation rates during spring and summer enhanced growth. An earlier growth peak in oak and a higher responsiveness to spring–summer water demand in pines contributed to their coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isospin-breaking (IB) effects in the two-pion contribution to hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) can be resonantly enhanced, if related to the interference of the ρ(770) and ω(782) resonances. This particular IB contribution to the pion vector form factor and thus the line shape in e+e−→ π+π− can be described by the residue at the ω pole — the ρ-ω mixing parameter ϵω. Here, we argue that while in general analyticity requires this parameter to be real, the radiative channels π0γ, ππγ, ηγ can induce a small phase, whose size we estimate as δϵ = 3.5(1.0)° by using a narrow-width approximation for the intermediate-state vector mesons. We then perform fits to the e+e−→ π+π− data base and study the consequences for the two-pion HVP contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, its IB part due to ρ-ω mixing, and the mass of the ω resonance. We find that the global fit does prefer a non-vanishing value of δϵ = 4.5(1.2)°, close to the narrow-resonance expectation, but with a large spread among the data sets, indicating systematic differences in the ρ-ω region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, D-meson, B-meson, and nucleon physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the nuclear and particle physics communities. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor f + (0) arising in the semileptonic K → π transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay constant ratio f K / f π and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements V us and V ud . Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of S U (2) L × S U (2) R and S U (3) L × S U (3) R Chiral Perturbation Theory. We review the determination of the B K parameter of neutral kaon mixing as well as the additional four B parameters that arise in theories of physics beyond the Standard Model. For the heavy-quark sector, we provide results for m c and m b as well as those for the decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters of charmed and bottom mesons and baryons. These are the heavy-quark quantities most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. We review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant α s . We consider nucleon matrix elements, and review the determinations of the axial, scalar and tensor bilinears, both isovector and flavor diagonal. Finally, in this review we have added a new section reviewing determinations of scale-setting quantities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the form factors parametrizing the Bc→ J/ψ, ηc matrix elements of the operators in a generalized low-energy b → c semileptonic Hamiltonian. We consider an expansion in nonrelativistic QCD, classifying the heavy quark spin symmetry breaking terms and expressing the form factors in terms of universal functions in a selected kinematical range. Using as an input the lattice QCD results for the Bc → J/ψ matrix element of the SM operator, we obtain information on other form factors. The extrapolation to the full kinematical range is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a calculation of the C-odd radiative corrections to e+e−→ π+π− in a dispersive formalism, concentrating on the leading pion-pole contribution in the virtual box diagrams. In particular, we show how the effect of a general pion vector form factor in the loop integral can be incorporated in a model-independent way and how the cancellation of infrared singularities proceeds in this case. The numerical results, dominated by the infrared enhanced contributions, indicate significant corrections beyond scalar QED, essentially confirming recent findings in generalized vector-meson-dominance models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a calculation of the C-odd radiative corrections to e+e−→ π+π− in a dispersive formalism, concentrating on the leading pion-pole contribution in the virtual box diagrams. In particular, we show how the effect of a general pion vector form factor in the loop integral can be incorporated in a model-independent way and how the cancellation of infrared singularities proceeds in this case. The numerical results, dominated by the infrared enhanced contributions, indicate significant corrections beyond scalar QED, essentially confirming recent findings in generalized vector-meson-dominance models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A literature search on the in vitro testing of anti-inflammatory compounds of natural origin revealed a considerable number of studies adopting a similar template for data reporting in the years up to 2019. Sixty-five such reports appear to have been published between the years 2008 and 2019. Interestingly, this format template was clearly recognizable by a few hallmarks, such as a precise way of plotting cell viability data, extremely consistent endpoints, and the way these were graphically represented. In some instances the similarities extended to some textual features, such as in the case of figure legends. The similarity was so high that chance can be excluded and these studies can be safely assumed to have intentionally followed a template. By 2020, however, no new reports following this format have been published. Although a consistent and reproducible formatting for data reporting may improve report readability, this phenomenon should also be closely scrutinized to assess the rationale why it occurred, the validity of the endpoints that were chosen and why it was then abandoned. The present report reviewed the mean features of this format, traced its origin and its evolution over time, while discussing the limitations of this model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In refrigeration systems, evaporative condensers have two main advantages compared to other condensation heat exchangers: They operate at lower condensation temperature than traditional air-cooled condensers and require a lower quantity of water and pumping power compared to evaporative towers. The heat and mass transfer that occur on tube batteries are difficult to study. The aim of this work is to apply an experimental approach to investigate the performance of an evaporative condenser on a reduced scale by means of a test bench, consisting of a transparent duct with a rectangular test section in which electric heaters, inside elliptical pipes (major axis 32 mm, minor axis 23 mm), simulate the presence of the refrigerant during condensation. By keeping the water conditions fixed and constant, the operating conditions of the air and the inclination of the heat transfer geometry were varied, and this allowed to carry out a sensitivity analysis, depending on some of the main parameters that influence the thermo-fluid dynamic phenomena, as well as a performance comparison. The results showed that the heat transfer increases with the tube surface exposed directly to the air as a result of the increase in their inclination, that has been varied in the range 0–20°. For the investigated conditions, the average increase, resulting by the inclination, is 28%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of glial cells (reactive gliosis) and the purinergic pathway, together with metalloproteinase (MMP)-induced remodeling of the neural extracellular matrix (nECM), drive maladaptive changes in the spinal cord following peripheral nerve injury (PNI). We evaluated the effects on spinal maladaptive plasticity through administration of oxidized ATP (oxATP), an antagonist of P2X receptors (P2XR), and/or GM6001, an inhibitor of MMPs, in rats following spared nerve injury (SNI) of the sciatic nerve. With morpho-molecular techniques, we demonstrated a reduction in spinal reactive gliosis and changes in the neuro-glial-nECM crosstalk via expression remodeling of P2XR, nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors (TrkA and p75), and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) after treatments with oxATP/GM6001. Altogether, our data suggest that MMPs and purinergic inhibition have a modulatory impact on key proteins in the neuro-glial-nECM network, acting at different levels from intracellular signaling to epigenetic modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed lifestyle worldwide, including sport. A comprehensive evaluation of the prevalence of cardiac involvement in COVID-19 is essential to finalize a safe protocol for resuming elite sport. The aim of this study is to evaluate incidence of cardiac involvement and COVID-19 impact on athletic performance. Materials and methods: This retrospective observational study analysed the data collected from consecutive competitive athletes who performed medical-sports examinations at the J Medical Center from March 2020 to March 2021. All athletes periodically performed a molecular test using a nasopharyngeal swab to detect COVID-19 infection. Positive athletes performed laboratory (cardiac troponin T—cTnT) and instrumental (echocardiography, stress test, Holter ECG) investigations following recovery to identify any cardiac involvement. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in case of abnormal findings at first-level evaluation. Results: Among 238 athletes (median age 20 years), 77 contracted COVID-19, mainly males (79%) with a median age of 16 years. Fifty-one athletes (66%) presented mild symptoms, and none required hospitalization. Evaluation for resuming sport was performed after a median of 30 days from the first positive test. Abnormal findings were obtained in 13 cases (5 athletes [6%] with elevated cTnT values; 13 athletes [17%] with arrhythmias on Holter ECG and/or during stress test; 2 athletes [3%] anomalies at echocardiography). Cardiac MRI discovered abnormalities in 9 cases, but none of these was clearly related to COVID-19 and none fulfilled acute myocarditis criteria. No negative impact on athletic performance was observed, and none of the athletes developed persistent COVID-related symptoms. Conclusions: Our registry confirms the predominantly self-limiting illness in young athlete population. The incidence of clear COVID-19-related structural myocardial injury was very low, but transient exertional ventricular arrhythmias or pericardial effusion was observed without significant impact on athletic performance. Implemented screening for return to activity is likely reasonable only in moderate-to-severe symptomatic athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inter- and intra-annual variability in radial growth reflects responses to climatic variability and water shortage, especially in areas subjected to seasonal drought. However, it is unknown how this variability is related to forest productivity, which can be assessed by measuring changes in canopy greenness and cover through remote sensing products as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). We combine xylogenesis with measurements of inter-annual changes in seasonal wood production (earlywood width, adjusted latewood width) and NDVI to improve the understanding of climate and drought impacts on growth and forest productivity in a Pinus teocote stand located in northern Mexico. Cambial dynamics accelerated in March and a high production of radially enlarging and thickening tracheids were observed from April to October and from June to October, respectively. Tracheid maturation was very active in October when latewood production peaked. Wet conditions in winter-spring and summer-autumn enhanced earlywood and latewood production, respectively. Earlywood and latewood were constrained by long (4–10 months) and short (2–3 months) droughts, respectively. The earlywood production depended on April soil moisture, which agrees with the peak of radially enlarging tracheid production found during that month. Aligning drought proxies at inter- and intra-annual scales by using growth and productivity measures improves our understanding of conifer forest responses to water shortage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The only difference between fractured and non-fractured postmenopausal women with PHPT of same sex, age, and BMI was a significantly mean higher serum k-periostin level. K-periostin value was associated with fracture at any site (odds ratio 1.044, 95% CI 1.005–1.091, p = 0.03). Introduction: To assess serum k-periostin fragment levels in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), fractured and non-fractured matched for sex, age, and body mass index. Methods: Twenty-five Caucasian fractured postmenopausal women with PHPT (group Fx) and 25 PHPT non-fractured (group NFx) were enrolled. Each patient underwent DXA scan at lumbar, hip, and forearm, spine X-ray, and biochemical evaluation of calcium metabolism. For k-periostin analyses, we utilized a specific ELISA test that detects CatK-generated fragment levels in the bloodstream. Results: We found no difference in mean BMD and bone turnover marker values between Fx and NFx groups. Prevalence of osteoporosis was not significantly different in Fx vs NFx (72% vs 60%, p = 0.55). Among Fx, 16% reported multiple fractures, 28% morphometric vertebral fractures, 4% femoral fractures, 28% non-vertebral non-femoral fractures, and 8% wrist fractures. The only detectable difference between Fx and NFx group was a significantly mean higher k-periostin serum level (46.2 ± 21.4 vs 34.7 ± 13.5 ng/ml, p = 0.02). K-periostin was associated with fracture at any site (odds ratio 1.044, 95% CI 1.005–1.091, p = 0.03). No difference in mean k-periostin values was found between patients with vertebral fracture vs those with non-vertebral fracture, and between those with multiple fractures vs those with single fracture. Conclusion: Serum k-periostin is significantly associated with fracture in PHPT. If confirmed by further studies, k-periostin could be considered a new marker of bone fragility in PHPT, independently of BMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform a detailed analysis of flavour changing neutral current processes in the charm sector in the context of 331 models. As pointed out recently, in the case of Z′ contributions in these models there are no new free parameters beyond those already present in the Bd,s and K meson systems analyzed in the past. As a result, definite ranges for new Physics (NP) effects in various charm observables could be obtained. While generally NP effects turn out to be small, in a number of observables they are much larger than the tiny effects predicted within the Standard Model. In particular we find that the branching ratio of the mode D0→ μ+μ−, despite remaining tiny, can be enhanced by 6 orders of magnitude with respect to the SM. We work out correlations between this mode and rare Bd,s and K decays. We also discuss neutral charm meson oscillations and CP violation in the charm system. In particular, we point out that 331 models provide new weak phases that are a necessary condition to have non-vanishing CP asymmetries. In the case of ∆ACP, the difference between the CP asymmetries in D0→ K+K− and D0→ π+π−, we find that agreement with experiment can be obtained provided that two conditions are verified: the phases in the ranges predicted in 331 models and large hadronic matrix elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Juglans, Fraxinus, Quercus and Pinus species seem to better maximize the carbon–water ratio providing useful indications on species selection for forestry plantations in areas with increasing drought risk. Maximizing carbon sequestration for a given water budget is extremely important in the contest of climate change in the Mediterranean region, which is characterized by increasing temperatures and rising water stress. This issue is fundamental for plantation stands, where limited water availability during the growing season reduces CO2 assimilation and, consequently, tree growth. In this study, the main objective was to investigate the performances in terms of carbon–water balance of conifer (Pinus halepensis and Cupressus sempervirens) and hardwood (Quercus robur, Juglans regia, Fraxinus excelsior and Populus spp.) mixed plantations. To this aim, we used carbon isotope signatures to evaluate the intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) and the species-specific relationship between basal area increments (BAI) and iWUE. At the species level, the highest iWUE values corresponded to the lowest carbon accumulation in terms of BAI, for water-saving species such as Cupressus. Conversely, Populus had the lowest iWUE and the highest BAI accumulation. Juglans, Fraxinus, and Pinus showed the most balanced ratio between BAI and iWUE. Overall, no clear correlation of iWUE and BAI was evident within all species, except for Populus and Cupressus. Considering projected aridification and increased temperatures that will negatively impact the growth, our data suggest that Pinus, for conifers, and Quercus, Juglans, Fraxinus for hardwood species should be preferred when choosing species for forestry plantation, as they performed better in terms of BAI and iWUE ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Message: Pinus leiophylla production of radially enlarging tracheids is bimodal with peaks in June and October. The production of thickening tracheids and NDVI were coupled. In drought-prone areas, xylem production and forest productivity are assumed to depend on the amount and timing of precipitation. However, few studies have addressed if xylogenesis and proxies of forest productivity as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are coupled and respond to moisture availability. In these areas, drought seasonality and timing could lead to bimodal growth patterns. We tested if xylogenesis was bimodal and coupled with climate and NDVI at the intra-annual scale in Pinus leiophylla from NW Mexico. We found a bimodal growth pattern with a major peak of production of radially enlarging tracheids in June and a secondary peak in October. The June peak preceded a coupled rise of the amount of cell-wall-thickening tracheids and the NDVI which peaked from September to October. The timing in the production of thickening and mature tracheids matched the NDVI pattern. This coupling suggests active carbon uptake after wet summer conditions and carbohydrate usage in tracheid maturation and cell-wall thickening. The production of radially enlarging tracheids, which determines the final ring width, was enhanced by warmer minimum temperatures whenever precipitation was abundant. In contrast, more mature latewood tracheids were produced in response to cool-wet summer conditions. The bimodal behavior of P. leiophylla radially enlarging tracheids illustrates xylem plasticity in response to seasonal drought. Xylogenesis and NDVI data were uncoupled. Therefore, the assessment of forest responses to climate warming in similar drought-prone areas must explicitly consider shifts in productivity and the timing of wood production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate clinical features, treatments, and outcomes of osteoporotic patients admitted to internal medicine and geriatric wards compared with non-osteoporotic patients (REPOSI registry). Methods: We studied 4714 patients hospitalized between 2010 and 2016. We reported age, sex, educational level, living status, comorbidities and drugs taken, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), Barthel Index, Short-Blessed Test, 4-item Geriatric Depression Scale, serum hemoglobin, creatinine, and clinical outcomes. Osteoporosis was defined based on the diagnoses recorded at admission, according to the following ICD9: 733, 805–813, 820–823. Results: Twelve percent of the patients had a preadmission diagnosis of osteoporosis. Only 20% of these had been prescribed oral bisphosphonates; 34% were taking vitamin D supplements. Osteoporotic patients were significantly older, with lower BMI, higher CIRS, and taking more drugs. They were significantly more depressed, less independent, with a higher severity of cognitive impairment compared with non-osteoporotic patients. At discharge, the number of patients receiving treatment for osteoporosis did not change. Length of stay and inhospital mortality did not differ between groups. Osteoporotic patients were more frequently nonhome discharged compared with those without osteoporosis (14.8 vs. 7.9%, p = 0.0007), mostly discharged to physical therapy or rehabilitation (8.8 vs. 2.5% of patients, p < 0.0001). Among osteoporotic patients deceased 3 months after discharge, the number of those treated with vitamin D, with or without calcium supplements, was significantly lower compared with survivors (12 vs. 32%, p = 0.0168). Conclusions: The diagnosis of osteoporosis is poorly considered both during hospital stay and at discharge; osteoporotic patients are frailer compared to non-osteoporotic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We evaluated the early effect of denosumab on circulating markers of atherosclerosis in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Methods: Denosumab (60 mg) was administered subcutaneously every 6 months (m) in 27 women (mean age 75 ± 5 years) with postmenopausal osteoporosis and high cardiovascular risk for a total of 24 m. Zoledronic acid was administered in 6 age-matched women as a single intravenous dose. Serum levels of vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), E and P selectin, CD-40 ligand (CD40L), interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1 and 9, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), fibrinogen (FBG), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured at baseline, 15 days (d), 2, 6 and 12 m after dosing. In the denosumab group, observation was extended to 24 m as secondary endpoint. Results: Serum ICAM-1 levels showed significant increase in the zoledronic acid group (+18 ± 0.1%; p < 0.01) at 12 m. In the denosumab group, we observed a significant increase in serum CD40L (+2 ± 0.8%; p < 0.001), MMP-1 (+11 ± 0.4%, p < 0.02), and MMP-9 (+39.4 ± 0.8%, p < 0.01) at 24 m. There was a significant increase in serum FBG and hs-CRP in both groups at 12 m (denosumab:+2.2 ± 0.2% and +50.3 ± 1.6%; zoledronic acid: +9.4 ± 0.1 and +81.8 ± 0.8%; p < 0.01). No significant between-group differences were found. Conclusions: 24-m treatment with denosumab has no effect on the circulating markers of atherosclerosis in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Fluctuation of serum ICAM-1, CD40L, MMPs, FBG and hs-CRP can be ascribed to perturbation of immunological mechanisms stimulated by denosumab and zoledronic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusive semileptonic decays of beauty baryons are studied using the heavy quark expansion to O 1 / m b 3 , at leading order in αs. The case of a polarized decaying baryon is examined, with reference to Λb. An extension of the Standard Model effective Hamiltonian inducing b → U ℓ ν ¯ ℓ transitions (U = u, c and ℓ = e, μ, τ) is considered, which comprises the full set of D=6 semileptonic operators with left-handed neutrinos. The effects of the new operators in several observables are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this clinical narrative review is to summarize and critically appraise the literature on the differential diagnosis of hypocalcemia and to provide its correct management. Calcium is essential for muscle contraction and neurotransmitter release, but clinical manifestations of hypocalcaemia (serum calcium level <8 mg/dl; 2.12 mmol/L) may involve almost any organ and system and may range from asymptomatic to life-threating conditions. Disorders causing hypocalcemia can be divided into parathyroid hormone (PTH) and non-PTH mediated. The most frequent cause of hypocalcemia is postsurgical hypoparathyroidism, while a more comprehensive search for other causes is needed for appropriate treatment in the non PTH-mediated forms. Intravenous calcium infusion is essential to raise calcium levels and resolve or minimize symptoms in the setting of acute hypocalcemia. Oral calcium and/or vitamin D supplementation is the most frequently used as treatment of chronic hypocalcemia. In hypoparathyroidism, providing the missing hormone with the use of the recombinant human (rh) PTH(1–84) has been recently approved both by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This new therapy has the advantage of being effective for correcting serum calcium levels and significantly reducing the daily requirements of calcium and active vitamin D supplements. However, due to the high cost, a strict selection of candidates to this therapy is necessary. More challenging is the long-term hypocalcemia treatment, due to its associated complications. The development of long-acting recombinant human PTH will probably modify the management of chronic hypoparathyroidism in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Construction and demolition waste (C&DW) is the largest waste stream in the European Union (EU) and all over the world. Proper management of C&DW and recycled materials—including the correct handling of hazardous waste—can have major benefits in terms of sustainability and the quality of life. The Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC aims to have 70% of C&DW recycled by 2020. However, except for a few EU countries, only about 50% of C&DW is currently being recycled. In the present research, the environmental impact of concrete with recycled aggregates and with geopolymer mixtures is analysed. The aim of the present research is to propose a comparative LCA of concrete with recycled aggregates in the context of European politics. Methods: Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is applied using Simapro© software. A cradle to grave analysis is carried out. The results are analysed based on the database Ecoinvent 3.3 and Impact 2002+. Results: Results show that the concrete with 25% recycled aggregates is the best solution from an environmental point of view. Furthermore, geopolymer mixtures could be a valid alternative to reduce the phenomenon of "global warming"; however, the production of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide has a great environmental impact. Conclusions: A possible future implementation of the present study is certainly to carry out an overall assessment and to determine the most cost-effective option among the different competing alternatives through the life cycle cost analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]