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The goal of this paper is to explore a set of epistemological and ontological issues regarding the historical and philosophical role of placebos in the contested history of antidepressants. Starting from an account of the dual nature of the placebo as both an epistemic and a therapeutic tool, and against the background of the heated debates on the efficacy of second-generation antidepressants, I propose two related arguments. First, I argue that placebos as controls played a crucial but paradoxical role in the rise of so-called evidence-based approaches to depression. Second, I discuss how current research on placebo effects puts into question some of the most crucial assumptions of psychiatric technoscience regarding the ontology of affective experiences. Ultimately, this paper aims to probe discussions around placebos, placebo effects, and the status of depression both as a diagnostic category and a lived experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Séraphin (1747–1800) is considered the founder of shadow puppetry in France. This "facetious hunchback", well known to Parisians in the late 18th century, ran his own theater until his death in 1800 at the age of 53. His deformity seems to have left its mark on popular memory, and was an integral part of the "Théâtre Séraphin". Part of his skeleton was preserved in the Dupuytren Museum in Paris. In 1897, it was described as a "particular kind of ankylosis, probably different from ordinary kyphosis". Then, in 1899, Dr. André Léri, a pupil of Pierre Marie, hypothesized from skeletal analysis that Séraphin must have suffered from rhizomelic spondylosis (the first french name for ankylosing spondylitis). In this article, we present the recent analysis of his skeleton, restored at the Dupuytren Museum, as well as old documents, a graphic representation and texts that allow us to make the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. These documents show how this deforming disease contributed to the success of Seraphin's theatre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate two different approaches to determine patient risk to develop cardiac events: the burden of coronary atherosclerosis, as assessed by the Gensini score, and plaque morphology, as assessed by intracoronary optical coherence tomography (OCT). We assessed the Gensini score and OCT features of plaque vulnerability in 847 patients from the CLIMA registry. Patients were divided into four Gensini quartiles. The main study endpoint was the 1-year composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI) and/or target vessel revascularization (TVR). A total of 56 patients (6.6%) experienced the one-year main composite endpoint. The composite endpoint was significantly affected by the Gensini score (hazard ratio [HR] 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–1.81, p = 0.005), with a low incidence in the first Gensini quartile (Q1 1.3%) and a higher incidence in the remaining groups (Q2 8.3%, Q3 8.9% and Q4 8.3%). At the multivariable analysis, the combined four OCT criteria (HR 6.4, 95%CI 3.0-13.7, p < 0.001), thin fibrous cap (HR 2.9, 95%CI 1.7-5.0, p < 0.001), lipid arc > 180° (HR 2.1, 95%CI 1.2–3.6, p = 0.010), minimum lumen area < 3.5 mm2 (HR 1.7, 95%CI 1.01-3.0, p = 0.047) and the Gensini score (HR 1.4, 95%CI 1.1–1.8, p = 0.017) were independent predictors of the main composite endpoint. In this post-hoc analysis of the CLIMA study, the burden of coronary atherosclerosis as assessed by the Gensini score and OCT plaque characteristics were independent predictors of cardiac events. Patients with the largest atherosclerosis burden and with plaque vulnerability by OCT were at the highest risk of poor outcome. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02883088. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the long-term effects of prenatal nutrition on pre-slaughter Nelore bulls using integrative transcriptome and metabolome analyses of liver tissue. Three prenatal nutritional treatments were administered to 126 cows: NP (control, mineral supplementation only), PP (protein-energy supplementation in the third trimester), and FP (protein-energy supplementation throughout pregnancy). Liver samples from 22.5 ± 1-month-old bulls underwent RNA-Seq and targeted metabolomics. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) identified treatment-associated gene and metabolite co-expression modules, further analyzed using MetaboAnalyst 6.0 (metabolite over-representation analysis and transcriptome-metabolome integrative analysis) and Enrichr (gene over-representation analysis). We identified several significant gene and metabolite modules, as well as hub components associated with energy, protein and oxidative metabolism, regulatory mechanisms, epigenetics, and immune function. The NP transcriptome-metabolome analysis identified key pathways (aminoacyl t-RNA biosynthesis, gluconeogenesis, and PPAR signaling) and hub components (glutamic acid, SLC6A14). PP highlighted pathways (arginine and proline metabolism, TGF-beta signaling, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism) with arginine and ODC1 as hub components. This study highlights the significant impact of prenatal nutrition on the liver tissue of Nelore bulls, shedding light on critical metabolic pathways and hub components related to energy and protein metabolism, as well as immune system and epigenetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still burdened by a substantial number of complications despite constant technological advances, including the advent of intracoronary imaging (ICI) techniques. ICI modalities have been instrumental for the understanding the mechanism of PCI failure. Thanks to the ability to detail the pre-intervention coronary anatomy and identify the features indicative of sub-optimal stent deployment, ICI techniques can be utilised to improve coronary interventions in different clinical scenarios. More recently large randomized clinical trials on ICI guidance confirmed the clinical effectiveness of this approach especially in complex high-risk interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The release of ornamental pets and associated pathogens outside their native range might directly or indirectly impact the recipient community. In temperate regions, e.g., central Europe, feral freshwater species of tropical and sub-tropical origins are mainly constrained to thermally polluted waters and thermal springs. However, species with high environmental plasticity and reproduction rates, such as the shrimp Neocaridina davidi, may adapt to colder water regimes over time. A widening thermal niche may eventually overcome thermal barriers, further expanding the range and enhancing transmission opportunities for host generalist parasites. This study assesses the observed (field observations) and theoretical (species distribution models) range expansion of N. davidi and associated parasites in Europe. We report three newly established N. davidi populations from thermally polluted waters in central Europe (Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia) and provide further evidence of its range expansion into colder environments. Species distribution models predict thermally suitable habitats in the Mediterranean and a foreseeable expansion into Western Europe and the Balkans by 2050. We confirm the presence of the microsporidian parasite Ecytonucleospora hepatopenaei in feral N. davidi populations across Europe and expand the list of microsporidians found in this host from two to four. Furthermore, we provide the first evidence of parasite spillover from/to the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii, suggesting that parasite exchange with native biota might be possible. Such possibility, coupled with an ongoing range expansion of N. davidi bolstered by human-mediated introductions and climate change, will likely exacerbate the impact on native biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Limited data is reported regarding the bone mineralization around dental implants in the first months from insertion. The study analyzed the peri-implant bone around loaded and unloaded implants retrieved from human mandible after 4 months from placement. Method: The composition and mineralization of human bone were analyzed through an innovative protocol technique using Environmental-Scanning-Electron-Microscopy connected with Energy-Dispersive-X-Ray-Spectroscopy (ESEM/EDX). Two regions of interest (ROIs, approximately 750×500 μm) for each bone implant sample were analyzed at the cortical (Cortical ROI) and apical (Apical ROI) implant threads. Calcium, phosphorus, and nitrogen (atomic%) were determined using EDX, and the specific ratios (Ca/N, P/N, and Ca/P) were calculated as mineralization indices. Results: Eighteen implant biopsies from ten patients were analyzed (unloaded implants, n=10; loaded implants, n=8). For each ROI, four bone areas (defined bones 1–4) were detected. These areas were characterized by different mineralization degree, varied Ca, P and N content, and different ratios, and by specific grayscale intensity detectable by ESEM images. Bony tissue in contact with loaded implants at the cortical ROI showed a higher percentage of low mineralized bone (bone 1) and a lower percentage of remodeling bone (bone 2) when compared to unloaded implants. The percentage of highly mineralized bone (bone 3) was similar in all groups. Conclusion: Cortical and apical ROIs resulted in a puzzle of different bone "islands" characterized by various rates of mineralization. Only the loaded implants showed a high rate of mineralization in the cortical ROI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Owing to the evidence that as many as 30–40% of patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) fail to report a remission of symptoms with first-line corticosteroid treatment (TCS), especially as what regards dyspareunia, we aimed to analyze patients' satisfaction following vulvar injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This is intended as an adjunctive treatment, to be used following TCS, and appears to promote tissue repair. It may also possibly have immunomodulatory proprieties. Materials and methods: Patients with VLS were considered eligible for this pilot study if, despite having been treated with a 3-month TCS regimen, they reported a persistence of symptoms. PRP was produced in a referral center using a manual method and a standardized protocol. Each patient received three treatments 4 to 6 weeks apart. Results: A total of 50 patients with a median age of 53 years [IQR 38–59 years] were included in the study. 6 months after the last injection of PRP all patients were either satisfied or very satisfied with the treatment (100%; 95% CI 93–100%). Median NRS scores for itching, burning, dyspareunia and dysuria were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) and FSFI, HADS and SF-12 questionnaires revealed a significant improvement in sexual function, psychological wellbeing and quality of life (p < 0.05). The number of patients reporting the need for maintenance TCS treatment was reduced by 42% (p < 0.001) and an improvement in vulvar elasticity and color was reported in all patients. Conclusion: Following standard medical therapy, PRP may be effective not only in improving symptoms, but also in restoring function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial species often comprise well-separated lineages, likely emerged and maintained by genetic isolation and/or ecological divergence. How these two evolutionary actors interact in the shaping of bacterial population structure is currently not fully understood. In this study, we investigate the genetic and ecological drivers underlying the evolution of Serratia marcescens, an opportunistic pathogen with high genomic flexibility and able to colonise diverse environments. Comparative genomic analyses reveal a population structure composed of five deeply-demarcated genetic clusters with open pan-genome but limited inter-cluster gene flow, partially explained by Restriction-Modification (R-M) systems incompatibility. Furthermore, a large-scale research on hundred-thousands metagenomic datasets reveals only a partial habitat separation of the clusters. Globally, two clusters only show a separate gene composition coherent with ecological adaptations. These results suggest that genetic isolation has preceded ecological adaptations in the shaping of the species diversity, an evolutionary scenario coherent with the Evolutionary Extended Synthesis. A large comparative genomics study reveals that Serratia marcescens is composed of five main phylogenetic clusters, isolated by genetic barriers but not clearly separated by ecological specialisations. This results provides insights into the bacterial diversification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key summary points: Aim: This study investigated factors associated with delirium in an acute-care setting, considering the interdependency of several clinical parameters with the frailty syndrome. Findings: In acute care, delirium was mainly present in participants with at least one among age > 85 years old, Clinical Frailty Scale > 4, and use of invasive devices. At the individual level, dementia, other psychiatric illnesses and use of antipsychotics were the greatest risk factors for delirium. Message: The evaluation of a limited number of clinical parameters, including frailty, can help clinicians identify older patients at high risk of delirium in acute-care wards with a high level of accuracy. Purpose: Delirium risk assessment in the acute-care setting generally does not account for frailty. The objective of this retrospective study was to identify factors associated with delirium, considering the interdependency of clinical variables with frailty syndrome in complex older patients. Methods: The clinical records of 587 participants (248 M, median age 84) were reviewed, collecting clinical, anamnestic and pharmacological data. Frailty syndrome was assessed with the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Delirium was the main study endpoint. The correlations of the considered anamnestic and clinical variables with delirium and its subtypes were investigated selecting only those variables not showing a high overlap with frailty. Correlations associated with a 25% excess of frequency of delirium in comparison with the average of the population were considered as statistically significant. Results: Delirium was detected in 117 (20%) participants. The presence of one among age > 85 years old, CFS > 4 and invasive devices explained 95% of delirium cases. The main factors maximizing delirium incidence at the individual level were dementia, other psychiatric illness, chronic antipsychotic treatment, and invasive devices. The coexistence of three of these parameters was associated with a peak frequency of delirium, ranging from 57 to 61%, mostly hypoactive forms. Conclusions: In acute-care wards, frailty exhibited a strong association with delirium during hospitalization, while at the individual level, dementia and the use of antipsychotics remained important risk factors. Modern clinical prediction tools for delirium should account for frailty syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sacroiliac bone marrow edema is an important factor in the diagnosis and management of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the effect of the different bDMARDs and tsDMARDs on the SPARCC score at 12–16 and 48–52 weeks. Methods: A systematic review, performed on PubMed (including Medline), Cochrane (CENTRAL) and DOAJ databases, included randomized controlled studies evaluating the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) SPARCC score at 12–16 or 48–52 weeks in patients with axSpA meeting the ASAS 2009 criteria or the modified New York criteria. We included studies evaluating the effects of the different treatments on the SPARCC score of SIJ in axial spondyloarthritis in comparison to a control group. Results: Eighteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. Nine studies evaluated the effect of TNFα inhibitors (TNFi), three for IL-17 inhibitors, and four for JAK inhibitors. At 12 and 16 weeks, SIJ SPARCC score was significantly improved by TNFi (WMD: − 3.29 [95% CI − 4.25; − 2, 34]), by IL-17 inhibitors (WMD: − 4.66 [95% CI − 6.22; − 3.09]), and by JAK inhibitors (JAKi) (WMD: − 3.06 [95% CI − 3.24; − 2.89]). There was no difference between the molecule subgroups. At 48–52 weeks, TNFα inhibitors reduced more SIJ SPARCC, but not significantly (WMD: − 2.26 [95% CI − 4.94; 0.42]), than placebo groups who began a TNFi treatment with delay. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis shows a comparable improvement of the SIJ SPARCC score regarding TNFi, JAKi, and IL-17 inhibitors at three months and suggests the presence of an opportunity window. Key Points • Anti-TNF Ab, anti-IL17 Ab, and JAK inhibitor treatments reduce the sacroiliac joint SPARCC scores. • There is no difference between the different treatments in the reduction of the sacroiliac joint SPARCC score after 3 months in axial spondyloarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical frequency-comb sources, which emit perfectly periodic and coherent waveforms of light1, have recently rapidly progressed towards chip-scale integrated solutions. Among them, two classes are particularly significant—semiconductor Fabry–Perót lasers2–6 and passive ring Kerr microresonators7–9. Here we merge the two technologies in a ring semiconductor laser10,11 and demonstrate a paradigm for the formation of free-running solitons, called Nozaki–Bekki solitons. These dissipative waveforms emerge in a family of travelling localized dark pulses, known within the complex Ginzburg–Landau equation12–14. We show that Nozaki–Bekki solitons are structurally stable in a ring laser and form spontaneously with tuning of the laser bias, eliminating the need for an external optical pump. By combining conclusive experimental findings and a complementary elaborate theoretical model, we reveal the salient characteristics of these solitons and provide guidelines for their generation. Beyond the fundamental soliton circulating inside the ring laser, we demonstrate multisoliton states as well, verifying their localized nature and offering an insight into formation of soliton crystals15. Our results consolidate a monolithic electrically driven platform for direct soliton generation and open the door for a research field at the junction of laser multimode dynamics and Kerr parametric processes.Free-running stable optical dissipative solitons, called Nozaki–Bekki solitons, are created in a ring semiconductor laser; their spontaneous formation with tuning of laser bias eliminates the need for an external optical pump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chatbot-based tools are becoming pervasive in multiple domains from commercial websites to rehabilitation applications. Only recently, an eleven-item satisfaction inventory was developed (the ChatBot Usability Scale, BUS-11) to help designers in the assessment process of their systems. The BUS-11 has been validated in multiple contexts and languages, i.e., English, German, Dutch, and Spanish. This scale forms a solid platform enabling designers to rapidly assess chatbots both during and after the design process. The present work aims to adapt and validate the BUS-11 inventory in Italian. A total of 1360 questionnaires were collected which related to a total of 10 Italian chatbot-based systems using the BUS-11 inventory and also using the lite version of the Usability Metrics for User eXperience for convergent validity purposes. The Italian version of the BUS-11 was adapted in terms of the wording of one item, and a Multi-Group Confirmatory Factorial Analysis was performed to establish the factorial structure of the scale and compare the effects of the wording adaptation. Results indicate that the adapted Italian version of the scale matches the expected factorial structure of the original scale. The Italian BUS-11 is highly reliable (Cronbach alpha: 0.921), and it correlates to other measures of satisfaction (e.g., UMUX-Lite, τb = 0.67; p <.001) by also offering specific insights regarding the chatbots' characteristics. The Italian BUS-11 can be confidently used by chatbot designers to assess the satisfaction of their users during formative or summative tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is nowadays commonly made with the help of pelvic radiography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, there is an important inter-observer variability in radiography, and MRI is subject to possible false positives and is not the best modality for studying structural lesions. Conversely, pelvic computed tomography (CT) has excellent specificity and appears to be more effective than radiography for the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, its findings in patients over 50 years of age have not yet been studied. The objectives of this study were to describe the CT characteristics of sacro-iliac joints (SIJ) and the presence of intra-articular gas in patients with AS aged over 50 years and to compare them with controls of the same age and sex. This two-center, cross-sectional, observational study was performed using the medical records of the rheumatology departments of two University Hospitals. We included patients with a clinical diagnosis of axSpA, who had both definite radiographic sacroiliitis according to the modified New York criteria and met the ASAS 2009 criteria for axSpA (that is, AS), and who had undergone any CT scan including the whole SIJ. Each patient was matched for age and sex to a control randomly selected on the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), symptomatic or asymptomatic, and without spondyloarthritis. For each individual, CT scans were interpreted blindly by two independent rheumatologists and scored for joint space narrowing (JSN), erosions, sclerosis, intra-articular gas, and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Ninety patients and 90 controls were included in the study. The rates of positive JSN, erosion, and sclerosis scores were higher in the AS group (91% vs. 21%, p < 0.0001; 31% vs. 2%, p < 0.0001; 27% vs. 13%, p = 0.03, respectively), but the rates of intra-articular gas and DISH were higher in the control group (24% vs. 68%, p < 0.0001; 7% vs. 33%, p < 0.0001, respectively). 58% of patients had complete bilateral ankylosis. A total of 83 (92.2%) patients had a CT scan considered positive for AS, compared with only seven controls (7.8%). Sclerosis and erosions were predominantly on the anterosuperior part and iliac side of the joint in controls and were more diffuse in patients with AS. CT findings in patients with AS over 50 years of age are mostly represented by changes in the joint space; patients with AS have more erosions and sclerosis changes, but less intra-articular gas than controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite evidence from grasslands experiments suggesting that plant species loss reduces biomass production, the strength of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships in managed grasslands is still debated. High land-use intensity and reduced species pools are often suggested to make relationships between biodiversity and productivity less positive or even negative, but concrete evidence is still scarce. We investigated biodiversity-productivity relationships over two years in 150 managed grasslands in Germany. Specifically, we distinguished between relationships of biodiversity and biomass production in managed grasslands (1) varying in land-use intensity (e.g. of mowing, grazing and/or fertilization), (2) where land-use intensity is experimentally reduced, and (3) where additionally to land-use reductions, species pools are enlarged by seed addition. Among grasslands varying in land-use intensity, we found negative biodiversity-productivity relationships. Land-use reduction weakened these relationships, towards neutral, and sometimes, even positive relationships. Seed addition reduced species pool limitations, but this did not strengthen biodiversity-productivity relationships. Our findings indicate that land-use intensity is an important factor explaining the predominantly negative biodiversity-productivity relationships in managed grasslands. While we did not find that species pool limitations weakened biodiversity-productivity relationships, our results are based on a two-year-old experiment, possibly such effects are only visible in the long-term. Ultimately, advancing insights on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships helps us to understand under which conditions agricultural production may benefit from promoting biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past research has shown a non-significant association between the level of democracy and subjective well-being. This study attempts to address this inconsistency by examining the potential moderating role of anti-democratic attitudes. Drawing on a discrepancy theory framework, it was hypothesized that anti-democratic attitudes would moderate the association between the level of democracy and subjective well-being. To measure subjective well-being (i.e., satisfaction with life and happiness) and anti-democratic attitudes, data from the 7th wave of the World Value Survey as well as from the European Values Study 2017 were used. The level of democracy was assessed using the V-Dem's Electoral Democracy Index 2020. Data on 131,846 participants from 78 countries around the world were available for this study. Findings from multilevel mixed-effects linear regressions revealed that the relationship between the level of democracy and subjective well-being was positive and stronger at lower levels of anti-democratic attitudes compared to higher levels of anti-democratic attitudes. Subjective well-being is a function of the interaction between the level of democracy and negative attitudes toward democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum machine learning promises to revolutionize traditional machine learning by efficiently addressing hard tasks for classical computation. While claims of quantum speed-up have been announced for gate-based quantum computers and photon-based boson samplers, demonstration of an advantage by adiabatic quantum annealers (AQAs) is open. Here we quantify the computational cost and the performance of restricted Boltzmann machines (RBMs), a widely investigated machine learning model, by classical and quantum annealing. Despite the lower computational complexity of the quantum RBM being lost due to physical implementation overheads, a quantum speed-up may arise as a reduction by orders of magnitude of the computational time. By employing real-world cybersecurity datasets, we observe that the negative phase on sufficiently challenging tasks is computed up to 64 times faster by AQAs during the exploitation phase. Therefore, although a quantum speed-up highly depends on the problem's characteristics, it emerges in existing hardware on real-world data. Adiabatic quantum annealers offer a promising path to establish an edge over classical computation, even though the demonstration of an advantage is still open. In this paper, the authors employ Quantum RBMs on Adiabatic quantum annealers, finding orders-of-magnitude speed-up compared to classical computers on real-world cybersecurity tasks for negative phase sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In lotic freshwater ecosystems, the drift or downstream movement of animals (e.g., macroinvertebrates) constitutes a key dispersal pathway, thus shaping ecological and evolutionary patterns. There is evidence that macroinvertebrate drift may be modulated by parasites. However, most studies on parasite modulation of host drifting behavior have focused on acanthocephalans, whereas other parasites, such as microsporidians, have been largely neglected. This study provides new insight into possible seasonal and diurnal modulation of amphipod (Crustacea: Gammaridae) drift by microsporidian parasites. Three 72 h drift experiments were deployed in a German lowland stream in October 2021, April, and July 2022. The prevalence and composition of ten microsporidian parasites in Gammarus pulex clade E varied seasonally, diurnally, and between drifting and stationary specimens of G. pulex. Prevalence was generally higher in drifting amphipods than in stationary ones, mainly due to differences in host size. However, for two parasites, the prevalence in drift samples was highest during daytime suggesting changes in host phototaxis likely related to the parasite's mode of transmission and site of infection. Alterations in drifting behavior may have important implications for G. pulex population dynamics and microsporidians' dispersal. The underlying mechanisms are more complex than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the rarest prehistoric bones found by archaeologists are enormously precious and are considered to be part of our cultural and historical patrimony. Radiocarbon dating is a well-established technique that estimates the ages of bones by analysing the collagen still present. However, this method is destructive, and its use must be limited. In this study, we used imaging technology to quantify the presence of collagen in bone samples in a non-destructive way to select the most suitable samples (or sample regions) to be submitted to radiocarbon dating analysis. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) that was connected to a camera with hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was used along with a chemometric model to create chemical images of the distribution of collagen in ancient bones. This model quantifies the collagen at every pixel and thus provides a chemical mapping of collagen content. Our results will offer significant advances for the study of human evolution as we will be able to minimise the destruction of valuable bone material, which is under the protection and enhancement of European cultural heritage and thus allow us to contextualise the valuable object by providing an accurate calendar age. The collagen present in rare prehistoric bones allows for their age to be estimated by radiocarbon dating, but this method is destructive towards these precious archaeological remains. Here, the authors report a non-destructive method based on near-infrared hyperspectral imaging to precisely localize the collagen preserved in parts of ancient specimens suitable for radiocarbon dating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the different impact of optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived vulnerable plaque features on future adverse events (AEs) according to the biological sex. Methods: The prospective multicenter CLIMA study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02883088) enrolled 1003 patients with OCT plaque analysis of non-treated coronary plaques located in the proximal left anterior descending artery. Sex-specific differences in plaque composition and vulnerable features were described. We investigated the incidence of AEs, including cardiac death, any myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization at 1-year. Results: Among 1003 patients, 24.6% were women. Women were older and more frequently affected by chronic kidney disease. Dyslipidemia, prior MI and smoking habit were more common in men. At OCT analysis, women had shorter plaque length (p < 0.001), ticker fibrous cap (p = 0.001), smaller maximum lipid arc (p = 0.019), lower macrophage infiltration (p < 0.001) and intra-plaque layered tissue (p = 0.007). During follow-up, 65 AEs were registered. The presence of a thin fibrous cap and a large macrophage infiltration (> 67°) predicted AEs in both sexes. The presence of macrophages (HR 3.38, p = 0.018) and a small minimum lumen area (HR 4.97, p = 0.002) were associated with AEs in women but not in men, while a large lipid arc (> 180°) was associated with AEs in men (HR 2.56, p = 0.003) but not in women. Conclusion: This subanalysis of the CLIMA study investigated for the first-time sex-specific OCT features of plaque vulnerability associated with AEs. Local inflammation was associated with AEs in women and a large lipid arc was predictive in men. OCT may help develop sex-specific risk stratification strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cerebellum is a structure in the suprasegmental nervous system classically known for its involvement in motor functions such as motor planning, coordination, and motor learning. However, with scientific advances, other functions of the cerebellum, such as cognitive, emotional, and autonomic processing, have been discovered. Currently, there is a body of evidence demonstrating the involvement of the cerebellum in nociception and pain processing. The aim of this review is to present the current literature on the anatomical, physiological, and functional aspects of the cerebellum in pain processing and suggest functional mechanisms of pain processing based on the cerebellum and its connections with other brain structures. To achieve this, searches were conducted in databases to identify relevant studies on the topic. Studies with relevant data and information were collected and summarized. Current literature demonstrates that the cerebellum receives nociceptive afferents from different pathways and exhibits activity in different regions including the vermis, hemispheres, and deep cerebellar nuclei in pain processing. Through its connections with different brain regions, it is possible that the cerebellum participates in the multidimensional processing of pain, which may make it a potential therapeutic target for pain treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the present study is to explore whether there is a temporal association between anti-Islamic online and offline hate, and if so in which direction. Methods: We used data on hateful Twitter content, and hate incidents and hate crimes/offences recorded by the Metropolitan Police Service in the United Kingdom to analyse this association, using time-series analysis. This study is unique in its use of newly developed technology to undertake big data analysis with recent, disaggregated online and offline hate data. Results: Our study examined the 'everyday' incidents of (online and offline) hate that affect communities throughout the United Kingdom and we found that anti-Islamic hate speech followed rather than preceded Islamophobic hate offline. Conclusions: Our findings likely point to what we have referred to as compound retaliation, which suggests that media and social media dissemination about offline acts of hate compound already tense intergroup hostilities, providing further permission for those to express hatred online. Such a situation represents the compounding of hate and hostility through offline and online networks that are likely to be reinforcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recently, Pluvicto™ ([177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617), a small-molecule prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radioligand therapeutic, has been approved by the FDA in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Pluvicto™ and other PSMA-targeting radioligand therapeutics (RLTs) have shown side effects due to accumulation in certain healthy tissues, such as salivary glands and kidney. Until now, the molecular mechanism underlying the undesired accumulation of PSMA-targeting RLTs had not been elucidated. Methods: We compared the sequence of PSMA with the entire human proteome to identify proteins closely related to the target. We have identified glutamate carboxypeptidase III (GCPIII), N-acetylated alpha-linked acidic dipeptidase like 1 (NAALADL-1), and transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) as extracellular targets with the highest similarity to PSMA. The affinity of compound 1 for PSMA, GCPIII, NAALADL-1, and TfR1 was measured by fluorescence polarization. The expression of the putative anti-target GCPIII was assessed by immunofluorescence on human salivary glands and kidney, using commercially available antibodies. Results: A fluorescent derivative of Pluvicto™ (compound 1) bound tightly to PSMA and to GCPIII in fluorescence polarization experiments, while no interaction was observed with NAALADL-1 and TfR1. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed abundant expression of GCPIII both in healthy human kidney and salivary glands. Conclusion: We conclude that the membranous expression of GCPIII in kidney and salivary gland may be the underlying cause for unwanted accumulation of Pluvicto™ and other Glu-ureido PSMA radio pharmaceuticals in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) has been proposed as a key driver in the etiopathogenesis of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), likely related to an "adrenergic storm" upon a susceptible microvascular circulation. The aim of our manuscript was to assess CMD in patients with TTS through the computation of the angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and its correlation with clinical presentation. Coronary angiograms of 41 consecutive TTS patients were retrospectively analyzed to derive angiography-based indices of CMD. Three indices (NH-IMRangio, AngioIMR and A-IMR) were calculated based on quantitative flow ratio. CMD was defined as an IMRangio value ≥ 25 units. The correlation between CMD and clinical presentation was then assessed. Median age was 76 years, 85.7% were women and mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at first echocardiogram was 41.2%. Angiography-derived IMR was higher in left anterior descending artery (LAD) than circumflex and right coronary artery with either NH-IMRangio (53.9 ± 19.8 vs 35.8 ± 15.4 vs 40.8 ± 18.5, p-value < 0.001), AngioIMR (47.2 ± 17.3 vs 31.8 ± 12.2 vs 37.3 ± 13.7, p-value < 0.001) or A-IMR (52.7 ± 19 vs 36.1 ± 14.1 vs 41.8 ± 16.1, p-value < 0.001). All patients presented CMD with angiography-derived IMR ≥ 25 in at least one territory with each formula. Angiography-derived IMR in LAD territory was significantly higher in patients presenting with LVEF impairment (≤ 40%) than in those with preserved ventricular global function (NH-IMRangio: 59.3 ± 18.1 vs 46.3 ± 16.0 p-value = 0.030; AngioIMR: 52.9 ± 17.8 vs 41.4 ± 14.2, p-value = 0.037; A-IMR: 59.2 ± 18.6 vs 46.3 ± 17.0, p-value = 0.035). CMD assessed with angiography-derived IMR is a common finding in TTS and it is inversely correlated with LV function. The available formulas have a substantial superimposable diagnostic performance in assessing coronary microvascular function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital restoration is a rapidly growing methodology within the field of heritage conservation, especially for early cinematic films which have intrinsically unstable dye colourants that suffer from irreversible colour fading. Although numerous techniques to restore film digitally have emerged recently, complex degradation remains a challenging problem. This paper proposes a novel vector quantization (VQ) algorithm for restoring movie frames based on the acquisition of spectroscopic data with a custom-made push-broom VNIR hyperspectral camera (380–780 nm). The VQ algorithm utilizes what we call a multi-codebook that correlates degraded areas with corresponding non-degraded ones selected from reference frames. The spectral-codebook was compared with a professional commercially available film restoration software (DaVinci Resolve 17) tested both on RGB and on hyperspectral providing better results in terms of colour reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disentangling the causes and consequences of ontogenetic niche shifts has been a pivotal challenge in ecology, aiming to enhance the understanding of biological processes that function at the individual, population, and community levels. Studies on ontogenetic dietary shifts have traditionally focused on short time scales, mostly including sampling covering just one or a few consecutive years, thus neglecting possible aspects of temporal variation and ecosystem stability that can only be revealed on long-term scales. We address ontogenetic dietary shifts of two fish predators in an intraguild system (Arctic charr and brown trout) using a long-term dataset spanning 20 consecutive years. Our study revealed distinct ontogenetic niche shifts of the two intraguild predators and demonstrated that these patterns were stable over time, suggesting large stability in prey acquisition and resource partitioning despite changes in their abundances and relative species composition. Some interannual variation was observed, but this was primarily due to sampling bias from low observation numbers for some ontogenetic stages, reflecting a common methodical challenge for ontogenetic niche shift studies. The persistent patterns in the trophic ontogeny of intraguild predators likely facilitate population and community stability by reducing inter- and/or intraspecific competition, thereby having important consequences for ecosystem functioning and resilience. Our study provides a strong rationale for performing ontogenetic niche shift studies over several consecutive years, enabling important insights into temporal variation, enhancement of observation numbers by merging data from multiple years, and the facilitation of a less intrusive sampling scheme for more vulnerable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the association between regime type, political trust, and subjective well-being (SWB) in 78 countries. Differently from previous works, democracy was conceptualized in terms of a multidimensional model (i.e., regime type), rather than a bipolar continuum ranging from authoritarian regimes to full democracies. The first question was raised as to whether regime characteristics would be nonlinearly related to SWB. A second question was examined as to whether political trust could moderate the relationship between regime type and well-being, such that under conditions of high or low trust in the government the differences in well-being across the type of regimes would be reduced. Data from the European Values Study as well as from the World Value Survey were used. Moreover, regime types were defined according to the Varieties of Democracy as well as the Economist Intelligence Unit. Multilevel analyses revealed that life satisfaction scores were lower for electoral autocracy compared to closed autocracy and liberal democracy. Moreover, happiness scores were significantly higher for full democracies compared to authoritarian regimes and flawed democracies. Finally, political trust moderated the association between regime type and SWB. Specifically, at higher or lower levels of political trust, the relationship between regime type and well-being tended to decrease. Overall, the findings support the conclusion that the relationship between democracy and subjective well‐being is nonlinear, and that the role of political trust is as important as the role of democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation aims to study the interaction between systemic and intra-plaque inflammation in predicting cardiac events. We investigated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as well as plaque inflammation with optical coherence tomography (OCT)-detected macrophages in the CLIMA study. 689 patients had admission CRP serum values reported, and high CRP values were defined as ≥ 2 mg/dl. The main study endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and/or target vessel revascularization at 1-year follow-up. At multivariate Cox regression analysis, a large (hazard ratio [HR] 2.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–4.3; p = 0.013) and superficial (HR 2.78, 95%CI 1.5–5.1; p = 0.001) macrophage arc was predicted of the main composite endpoint in patients with high CRP levels. Patients with large/superficial macrophage accumulation and low CRP levels were not at higher risk of adverse events. The presence of high CRP levels and large/superficial macrophage accumulation at OCT analysis identified patients at higher risk of clinical events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: JAK-inhibitors (JAK-i) might be associated with venous (VTE) and arterial thromboembolic events (ATE). To evaluate the association between JAK-i and the risk of VTE and ATE. Methods: A self-controlled case series was performed using data from the nationwide French healthcare insurance system database SNDS. We included all patients treated with JAK-i (baricitinib or tofacitinib), and having presented at least one VTE or ATE between November 1, 2017 and June 30, 2019. Associations were estimated using the incident rate ratio (IRR). Two post-exposure periods (until day 30 and until day 60) were individualized. Results: Among 5870 patients with JAK-i dispensing, 92 had an incident VTE or ATE within the study period. Their median age at JAK-i initiation was 65.7 years [IQR: 56.1–75.8] and 65.2% were female (n = 60). Before event incidence, 65.2% (n = 60) received baricitinib, 32.6% (n = 30) tofacitinib and 2.2% (n = 2) had both medications. Moreover, 41.3% (n = 38) presented a VTE and 58.7% (n = 54) an ATE. The median time-to-onset after JAK-i initiation was 4.6 months [IQR: 2.5–9.2] for VTE and 6.1 months [IQR: 3.0–8.5] for ATE. An IRR of 8.27 (95% CI 3.41–20.04) for VTE was detected during JAK-i treatment and remained increased over the 30-day period of post-exposure (6.52 [2.02–21.11]). An IRR of 9.27 (3.68–23.34) was also found for ATE, which remained increased over the 30-day period of post-exposure (10.12 [3.27–31.37]). No increased risk was detected during long-term post-exposure for either VTE or ATE. Conclusions: This study shows evidence of an increased risk of VTE and ATE associated with the use of baricitinib and tofacitinib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) represent a devastating consequence of total joint arthroplasty. The European Knee Associates (EKA), the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) International Committee, and the Arthroplasty Society in Asia (ASIA) board members were interested in quantifying differences in arthroplasty surgeons' use of various PJI prevention measures to provide clinical recommendations to reduce PJI incidence. Methods: A prospective Microsoft Forms online survey was distributed among EKA, AAHKS International Committee, and ASIA members and their affiliated arthroplasty surgeons. The survey consisted of 20 single and multiple response questions focused on PJI prevention strategies at three perioperative periods: preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively. Results: Three hundred and ninety-four arthroplasty surgeons from 6 different continents completed the survey. Preoperative: (A) PJI Risk Stratification: 40.6% routinely set thresholds (e.g., BMI, HgbA1C) to be met to qualify for surgery, 36.5% only review past medical history; 9.1% use machine learning to personalize PJI risk; (B) BMI limit: 36% no limit; 15.4% BMI < 35; 30.9% BMI < 40; 17.2% BMI < 45; (C) Nutritional status: 55.3% do not screen; among those who screen their patients (44.7%), albumin is the single most used marker (86.3%); (D) Hyperglycemia/Diabetes: 83.3% check this comorbidity; 88.1% use HgbA1C as single best screening test; (E) MRSA nasal colonization: 63.7% do not test; 28.9% test all patients; 7.4% test selectively. Intraoperative: (A) Antibiotic prophylaxis in high-risk patients: 43.4% use single antibiotic for 24 h; 21.3% use double antibiotic for 24 h; 14.2% use single/double antibiotic for 7 days postoperatively; (B) Skin-cleansing: 68.7% at home (45.6% chlorhexidine sponge; 11.9% clippers); (C) Intraoperative skin disinfection: 46.9% single chlorhexidine; 25% double chlorhexidine–povidone-iodine;15.4% single povidone-iodine; (D) Tranexamic acid (TXA) to reduce bleeding/SSI: 96% yes (51% double IV dose, 35.2% single IV dose, 23.6% intra-articular injection); (E) Surgical suction drain: 52% do not use drains; 19.7% use a drain < 24 h; (F) Intra-articular lavage: 64.9% use only saline; 28.1% use dilute povidone-iodine; (G) Antibiotic local delivery to prevent PJI: 82.4% use antibiotic-added cement. Postoperative: (A) Routine monitoring of PJI serologic markers: 42% only in symptomatic patients; 34.2% do not; 20.8% in all patients; (B) Serologic markers to rule in/out PJI: 95.9% CRP; 71% SEDRATE; 60.6% WBC; (C) Synovial fluid test to rule in/out PJI: 79.6% culture/sensitivity; 69.5% WBC count; 31.4% CRP. Conclusions: This survey demonstrated that notable differences still exist in the application of PJI preventive measures across different geographic areas: Optimizing the patient preoperatively and applying multimodal intraoperative strategies represent newer, clinically relevant steps in the effort to reduce the burden of PJI. More uniform guidelines still need to be produced from international scientific societies in order facilitate a more comprehensive approach to this devastating complication. Level of evidence: IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The efficacy of public measures for reducing the transmission of the COVID-19 infection relies on citizens' voluntary adherence with prescribed actions. Drawing on prior literature about compliant behavior, this study aimed to identify factors associated with people engagement in health-protective behaviors by including a conjoint complement of instrumental/self-oriented, normative/community-based, and affective variables. Method: A cross-sectional study involving a non-representative sample of 4045 Italian citizens was carried out during the first stage of the pandemic (April–May 2020). Variables associated with health-protective behaviors were perceived personal and societal concerns and perceived effectiveness of the institutional response to the outbreak (instrumental dimensions), and family and friends perceived norms and sense of community responsibility (normative dimensions). Two negative emotions (anxiety and fear) were included as mediators between personal and societal concerns and outcome behaviors. Results: Results showed the importance of both self-interest and community-based factors. Indeed, self-interest concerns, family perceived norms, and sense of community responsibility were significant predictors of people's decisions to engage in health-protective behaviors. Conclusions: The research findings show that compliance with public health prescriptions is a multimodal phenomenon and integrating self-interest and community-based factors can offer a better understanding of people's decision to engage in health-protective behaviors. Further, this study unveils that a shared sense of community is effective in encouraging adherence to recommended behaviors so as behavioral changes can be sustained by targeting the recommendations not only on risk minimization for oneself but also on the allocation of personal responsibility toward the belonging community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut is of importance in the pathology of COVID-19 both as a route of infection, and gut dysfunction influencing the severity of disease. Systemic changes caused by SARS-CoV-2 gut infection include alterations in circulating levels of metabolites, nutrients and microbial products which alter immune and inflammatory responses. Circulating plasma markers for gut inflammation and damage such as zonulin, lipopolysaccharide and β-glycan increase in plasma along with severity of disease. However, Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein / Fatty Acid Binding Protein 2 (I-FABP/FABP2), a widely used biomarker for gut cell death, has paradoxically been shown to be reduced in moderate to severe COVID-19. We also found this pattern in a pilot cohort of mild (n = 18) and moderately severe (n = 19) COVID-19 patients in Milan from March to June 2020. These patients were part of the first phase of COVID-19 in Europe and were therefore all unvaccinated. After exclusion of outliers, patients with more severe vs milder disease showed reduced FABP2 levels (median [IQR]) (124 [368] vs. 274 [558] pg/mL, P < 0.01). A reduction in NMR measured plasma relative lipid-CH3 levels approached significance (median [IQR]) (0.081 [0.011] vs. 0.073 [0.024], P = 0.06). Changes in circulating lipid levels are another feature commonly observed in severe COVID-19 and a weak positive correlation was observed in the more severe group between reduced FABP2 and reduced relative lipid-CH3 and lipid-CH2 levels. FABP2 is a key regulator of enterocyte lipid import, a process which is inhibited by gut SARS-CoV-2 infection. We propose that the reduced circulating FABP2 in moderate to severe COVID-19 is a marker of infected enterocyte functional change rather than gut damage, which could also contribute to the development of hypolipidemia in patients with more severe disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil respiration is an important pathway of soil organic carbon losses in temperate grasslands; however, it is rarely studied across broad management intensity gradients in a landscape. Using the soda-lime method, we measured in-situ soil CO2 efflux with single measurements of long exposure time (i.e. 3 day long) in 150 grasslands in three German regions in early summer 2018 and 2019. The grasslands ranged from unfertilized and grazed grasslands to intensively fertilized and frequently harvested ones. To assess effects of grazing and fertilization intensities and plant diversity on soil CO2 efflux, we used Structural Equation Modeling to account for direct effects and indirect effects through soil and plant organic matter quantity and quality. Soil CO2 efflux was suppressed by limited water availability caused by naturally occurring droughts in both study years. Under the prevailing environmental conditions, grazing intensity, plant biomass and plant C:N ratio were not related to soil CO2 efflux. In contrast, fertilization intensity was positively associated with soil CO2 efflux (standardized coefficient of net effect: + 0.04 in 2018 and + 0.03 in 2019). This was because fertilization led to lower plant species richness and, thus, to lower C:N ratios in soils, which were associated with higher soil CO2 efflux (plant species richness net effect: −0.09 in 2018 and −0.18 in 2019; soil C:N ratio direct effect: −0.23 in 2018 and −0.33 in 2019). Intensively managed grasslands have higher soil respiration than extensively managed, plant species-rich grasslands even under the extreme conditions of natural droughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose nitrate (CN) has been used in the past as support for photographic negatives and cinematographic films. This material is particularly unstable and can undergoes severe degradation due to thermal, photocatalytic and hydrolytic loss of nitro groups from the lateral chain. Thus, to prevent the disappearance of the movies, their scanning and digitalization become a priority. However, CN bases degradation may prevent the scanning of the films. The decrease in pH, for instance, lowers the viscosity of gelatin, which becomes softer. This causes the formation of gelatin residues which stick on the back of the superimposed frames inside the reels creating a deposit. Traditional approaches to clean gelatin residues from the surface of CN bases include the mechanical removal with scalpels and the use of organic solvents (such as isopropyl alcohol). However, these methods are either slow and ineffective or could potentially damage the degraded CN supports. To overcome these drawbacks, we have evaluated the performance of three choline chloride and betaine-based Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) formulations as alternative for the removal of gelatine residues from CN supports. These solvents are inexpensive (when compared to traditional solvents), easy to prepare, green (non volatile, safe towards the operators and the environment, and potentially recyclable), non flammable and have been previously proposed for the extraction of proteinaceous materials, but their use for the restoration of photographic negatives or cinematographic films has not been reported yet. Selected areas over the frames of a real deteriorated CN cinematographic film were cleaned comparing the DES performances with the ones obtained using isopropyl alcohol as an example of a traditional method. In particular, the tested DES formulations showed superior cleaning power compared to isopropyl alcohol and, at the selected application times, resulted capable to remove the gelatin residues without affecting the CN film supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical colour charts provide a rich and often well-dated reference materials source for studying the chemical composition of all kinds of commercial brands of artists' paints. This article presents the results of an extensive analytical study of more than 80 paint hues from 11 colour charts that are included in the German standard book Das Deutsche Farbenbuch by H. Trillich (1925, Part II). Our research focused on the identification of synthetic organic pigments, whose quickly increasing significance for artists' paints in the early twentieth century is impossible to evaluate by documentary source research alone. A stepwise procedure combining different non- or minimally invasive vibrational spectroscopy techniques—Normal Raman and Surface-Enhanced Raman spectroscopy as well as Metal Underlayer Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy—allowed the identification of 18 different organic colourants in artists' watercolours, tempera and oil colours from six German manufacturers. In addition, micro-X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy was applied to determine the elemental pattern of substrates, fillers, and admixed inorganic pigments. In addition to a few traditional natural organic colourants (dark and rose madder lake, cochineal lake), most of the identified compounds comprised synthetic organic pigments or synthetic dyes from various chemical classes (indigo, anthraquinone, monoazo, ß-naphthol, xanthene, triarylcarbonium, nitroso, and azine compounds). Some of these have not or only rarely been reported in artists' paints so far. Since the identified organic colourants have mainly poor to fair (only sometimes good) fastness to light according to modern standards and partially also to solvents typically used in conservation treatments, it is evident that works of art from this period should be treated keeping in mind the possible presence of such colourants, when planning both interventive treatments and preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grassland management intensity influences nutrient cycling both directly, by changing nutrient inputs and outputs from the ecosystem, and indirectly, by altering the nutrient content, and the diversity and functional composition of plant and microbial communities. However, the relative importance of these direct and indirect processes for the leaching of multiple nutrients is poorly studied. We measured the annual leaching of nitrate, ammonium, phosphate and sulphate at a depth of 10 cm in 150 temperate managed grasslands using a resin method. Using Structural Equation Modeling, we distinguished between various direct and indirect effects of management intensity (i.e. grazing and fertilization) on nutrient leaching. We found that management intensity was positively associated with nitrate, ammonium and phosphate leaching risk both directly (i.e. via increased nutrient inputs) and indirectly, by changing the stoichiometry of soils, plants and microbes. In contrast, sulphate leaching risk was negatively associated with management intensity, presumably due to increased outputs with mowing and grazing. In addition, management intensification shifted plant communities towards an exploitative functional composition (characterized by high tissue turnover rates) and, thus, further promoted the leaching risk of inorganic nitrogen. Plant species richness was associated with lower inorganic nitrogen leaching risk, but most of its effects were mediated by stoichiometry and plant community functional traits. Maintaining and restoring diverse plant communities may therefore mitigate the increased leaching risk that management intensity imposes upon grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small-scale plant was built for measuring the ability of solid sorbents towards the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) in exhaust flue gas from an internal combustion engine. The investigated sorbents were calcium and lithium hydroxides. Both sorbents are low cost and used in the breathing gas purification systems. The carbonation capacity of each sorbent was measured for different sorbent granulometry (pellets and powder), different temperature (from ambient up to 300 °C), gas space velocity, moisture content and chemical composition of the gaseous stream. The aim was, in fact, to expose the sorbents to a gas stream with chemical and physical parameters close to those at the exhaust of an internal combustion engine. Carbonation capacity was measured with a double technique: on-line by continuously CO2 measurement with a non-dispersive infrared analyzer and off-line by using scanning electron microscopy on carbonated sorbents. Experimental results showed good CO2 uptake capacity of calcium hydroxide at low temperature (between 20 and 150 °C). Performance improvements came from the fine granulometry due to the increased exposed surface area; moreover, the presence of the moisture in gas stream also enhanced CO2 capture. The presence of sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide, instead, greatly decreased the carbonation capacity of sorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research shows that life satisfaction is associated with political participation, although there are some inconsistencies in the literature. Drawing on a discrepancy perspective, the present study aims to investigate the moderating role of preference for non-democratic solutions. More specifically, the hypothesis states that the relationship between non-conflictual forms of political participation and life satisfaction would be weaker for high levels of preference for non-democratic regimes (high discrepancy) compared to low levels of preference for non-democratic regimes (low discrepancy). An ancillary analysis was also conducted to investigate the moderating role of preference for non-democratic solutions in the relationship between protest activities and life satisfaction. Analyses were conducted using data from the World Values Survey wave 7 involving 51 countries/territories for a total of 76,897 participants. The results revealed that the relationship between non-conflictual forms of political participation and life satisfaction was negative at high levels of preference for non-democratic regimes (high discrepancy) and positive at low levels of preference for non-democratic regimes (low discrepancy). In addition, the association between protest activities and life satisfaction was negative at medium to high levels of preference for non-democratic political systems, while at low levels of the moderator this association was positive. Results highlight the need to consider the discrepancy between preferences for non-democratic regimes and participation to fully characterize the relationship between life satisfaction and political participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of artificial neural networks is expected to strongly benefit from recent developments of quantum computers. In particular, quantum machine learning, a class of quantum algorithms which exploit qubits for creating trainable neural networks, will provide more power to solve problems such as pattern recognition, clustering and machine learning in general. The building block of feed-forward neural networks consists of one layer of neurons connected to an output neuron that is activated according to an arbitrary activation function. The corresponding learning algorithm goes under the name of Rosenblatt perceptron. Quantum perceptrons with specific activation functions are known, but a general method to realize arbitrary activation functions on a quantum computer is still lacking. Here, we fill this gap with a quantum algorithm which is capable to approximate any analytic activation functions to any given order of its power series. Unlike previous proposals providing irreversible measurement–based and simplified activation functions, here we show how to approximate any analytic function to any required accuracy without the need to measure the states encoding the information. Thanks to the generality of this construction, any feed-forward neural network may acquire the universal approximation properties according to Hornik's theorem. Our results recast the science of artificial neural networks in the architecture of gate-model quantum computers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses cluster analysis on a sample of regular cyclists from six European countries (the U.K., the Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Italy, and Spain) to shed light on common cycling patterns, demographic characteristics, and attitudes. Participants completed an online survey on cycling behaviour, attitudes towards cycling, discomfort while cycling in mixed traffic, cycling environment and comparative cycling risk perception. A two-step cluster analysis was performed to identify segments of cyclists based on cycling patterns, and a multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to profile the segments. The two-step cluster analysis yielded three components. Leisure-time cyclists cycled almost exclusively for leisure/training, had a clear preference for car use relative to bicycle, and low riding frequency. Resolute Cyclists were characterised by a high variety of cycling trip purpose, a clear preference for bicycle use relative to the car, and high riding frequency. Convenience Cyclists were characterised by cycling for personal business or leisure/training but not for commuting, no evident preference for bicycle vs car, and medium riding frequency. The value of the present study is to highlight commonalities in patterns, characteristics, and attitudes of cyclists in Europe. Our study showed that cycling patterns and habits are linked to psychosocial variables such as attitudes and the cycling environment, explicitly highlighting the importance of discomfort in mixed traffic and the relationship with cycling culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bones and teeth are biological archives, but their structure and composition are subjected to alteration overtime due to biological and chemical degradation postmortem, influenced by burial environment and conditions. Nevertheless, organic fraction preservation is mandatory for several archeometric analyses and applications. The mutual protection between biomineral and organic fractions in bones and teeth may lead to a limited diagenetic alteration, promoting a better conservation of the organic fraction. However, the correlation between elemental variations and the presence of organic materials (e.g., collagen) in the same specimen is still unclear. To fill this gap, chemiluminescent (CL) immunochemical imaging analysis has been applied for the first time for collagen localization. Then, Laser Ablation–Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) and CL imaging were combined to investigate the correlation between elemental (i.e., REE, U, Sr, Ba) and collagen distribution. Teeth and bones from various archeological contexts, chronological periods, and characterized by different collagen content were analyzed. Immunochemical analysis revealed a heterogeneous distribution of collagen, especially in highly degraded samples. Subsequently, LA–ICP–MS showed a correlation between the presence of uranium and rare earth elements and areas with low amount of collagen. The innovative integration between the two methods permitted to clarify the mutual relation between elemental variation and collagen preservation overtime, thus contributing to unravel the effects of diagenetic alteration in bones and teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Geriatric rapid observation units may represent an alternative to hospitalization in older patients with non-critical acute illness. Aims: To describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to a geriatric observation unit called URGe (Unità Geriatrica Rapida), implemented in an Italian hospital and characterized by multidisciplinary medical staff with geriatric expertise, fast-track access to diagnostic resources, regular use of point-of-care ultrasound and predicted length of stay (LOS) < 72 h. Methods: The medical records of patients admitted to URGe during a 3-month period (452 subjects, 247 F and 205 M, median age 82 years, IQR 77–87) were retrospectively examined. The primary study endpoint was transferral from URGe to regular wards. Baseline covariates included demographics, comprehensive geriatric assessment, acute illnesses, comorbidities, vital signs and routine laboratory tests. Results: Despite elevated burden of multimorbidity (median number of chronic diseases 4, IQR 2–5) and frailty (median Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale score 4, IQR 3–6), only 137 patients (30.3%) required transferral from URGe to regular wards. The main factors positively associated with this outcome were Rockwood score, fever, cancer and red cell distribution width (P < 0.05 on multivariate logistic regression model). The rate of complications (mortality, delirium, and falls) during URGe stay was low (0.5%, 7% and 2%, respectively). Overall duration of hospital stay was lower than that of a group of historical controls matched by age, sex, main diagnosis, multimorbidity and frailty. Conclusions: The URGe model of acute geriatric care is feasible, safe and has the potential of reducing unnecessary hospitalizations of older patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Current diversity and species composition of ecological communities can often not exclusively be explained by present land use and landscape structure. Historical land use may have considerably influenced ecosystems and their properties for decades and centuries. Objectives: We analysed the effects of present and historical landscape structure on plant and arthropod species richness in temperate grasslands, using data from comprehensive plant and arthropod assessments across three regions in Germany and maps of current and historical land cover from three time periods between 1820 and 2016. Methods: We calculated local, grassland class and landscape scale metrics for 150 grassland plots. Class and landscape scale metrics were calculated in buffer zones of 100 to 2000 m around the plots. We considered effects on total species richness as well as on the richness of species subsets determined by taxonomy and functional traits related to habitat use, dispersal and feeding. Results: Overall, models containing a combination of present and historical landscape metrics showed the best fit for several functional groups. Comparing three historical time periods, data from the 1820/50s was among the most frequent significant time periods in our models (29.7% of all significant variables). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the historical landscape structure is an important predictor of current species richness across different taxa and functional groups. This needs to be considered to better identify priority sites for conservation and to design biodiversity-friendly land use practices that will affect landscape structure in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Near infrared spectroscopy-Intravascular ultrasound (NIRS-IVUS) provide a fully automated Lipid Core Burden Index (LCBI). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is potentially capable of measuring lipid longitudinal extension in a dedicated two-dimensional LCBI spread-out plot. The present study has been designed to validate an automated approach to assess OCT images, able of providing a dedicated LCBI spread-out plot.Methods: We compared results obtained with conventional (manual) OCT, with those obtained with a novel automated OCT algorithm and with NIRS-IVUS in consecutive 40 patients. Our goal was to calculate the lipid core longitudinal extension in a dedicated two-dimensional LCBI spread-out plot. Three groups were identified according to the studied lesions: (1) culprit lesions in ACS patients (n = 16), (2) non-culprit lesions in ACS patients (n = 12) and (3) lesions in stable patients (n = 12). OCT (either manual and automated) and NIRS-IVUS assessment showed for culprit ACS plaques a more complex anatomy.Results: A strong trend for increased LCBI was found in the culprit ACS group, regardless of the adopted imaging modality (either NIRS-IVUS or automated OCT). A fair correlation was obtained for the maximum 4 mm LCBI measured by NIRS-IVUS and automated OCT (r = 0.75). The sensitivity and specificity of automated OCT to detect significant LCBI (> 400) were 90.5 and 84.2 respectively.Conclusion: We developed an OCT automated approach that can provide a dedicated lipid plaque spread-out plot to address plaque vulnerability. The automated OCT software can promote and improve OCT clinical applications for the identification of patients at risk of hard events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]