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The map ‘Geology of the Monte Banchetta – Punta Rognosa area (Troncea valley, Western Alps)’ details the lithostratigraphy and structural setting of a key sector in the Alpine chain, characterized by close associations of continental and oceanic basements, and meta-sediments. The mapped Monte Banchetta – Punta Rognosa unit (BRU), tectonically juxtaposed to different metaophiolitic units, comprises the Punta Rognosa succession, made of serpentinized mantle overlain by Middle-Upper? Jurassic polymictic meta-breccia, with oceanic and continental clasts, and metasandstone, and the Monte Banchetta succession, consisting of continental crust and Lower–Upper? Jurassic carbonate-bearing quartzite, micaschist and polymictic meta-breccia. These two successions share the uppermost stratigraphic levels consisting of post-rift Upper Jurassic-Cretaceous carbonate-micaschists. The deciphered stratigraphic architecture indicates that the lower succession of the BRU represents portions of continental crust and exhumed mantle reworked and emplaced before deposition of post-rift sediments.

The identification of therapeutic approaches to improve response to platinum-based therapies is an urgent need for ovarian carcinoma. Deubiquitinases are a large family of ubiquitin proteases implicated in a variety of cellular functions and may contribute to tumor aggressive features through regulation of processes such as proliferation and cell death. Among the subfamily of ubiquitin-specific peptidases, USP8 appears to be involved in modulation of cancer cell survival by still poorly understood mechanisms. Thus, we used ovarian carcinoma cells of different histotypes, including cisplatin-resistant variants with increased survival features to evaluate the efficacy of molecular targeting of USP8 as a strategy to overcome drug resistance/modulate cisplatin response. We performed biochemical analysis of USP8 activity in pairs of cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant cells and found increased USP8 activity in resistant cells. Silencing of USP8 resulted in decreased activation of receptor tyrosine kinases and increased sensitivity to cisplatin in IGROV-1/Pt1 resistant cells as shown by colony forming assay. Increased cisplatin sensitivity was associated with enhanced cisplatin-induced caspase 3/7 activation and apoptosis, a phenotype also observed in cisplatin sensitive cells. Increased apoptosis was linked to FLIPL decrease and cisplatin induction of caspase 3 in IGROV-1/Pt1 cells, cisplatin-induced claspin and survivin down-regulation in IGROV-1 cells, thereby showing a decrease of anti-apoptotic proteins. Immunohistochemical staining on 65 clinical specimens from advanced stage ovarian carcinoma indicated that 40% of tumors were USP8 positive suggesting that USP8 is an independent prognostic factor for adverse outcome when considering progression free survival as a clinical end-point. Taken together, our results support that USP8 may be of diagnostic value and may provide a therapeutic target to improve the efficacy of platinum-based therapy in ovarian carcinoma.

IntroductionCOVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted people’s mental and physical health. Three areas have been significantly impacted, among others: eating-related behaviors, occupational balance, and exposure to self-image due to videoconferencing. This study aims to explore and document eaters profiles that were reported during the pandemic in the general Canadian population using a holistic perspective, including body perceptions, attitudes, and eating behaviors (i.e., body image, behaviors, attitudes, and motivations regarding food), and occupations (i.e., physical activity and cooking).MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted from May to September 2020. Two hundred and seventy-three Canada’s residents, French speaking of 18 years of age and older, participated in an online survey on behaviors, attitudes, and motivations regarding food and eating as well as body image and occupations during the COVID-19 pandemic. A hierarchical cluster analysis was used to determine the eaters profiles. One-way ANOVA and Chi-square test were conducted to differentiate occupational characteristics between eaters profiles.ResultsThree distinctive profiles were found during the COVID-19 pandemic and could be placed on a continuum: the Congruent-driven eater is at the functional pole of the continuum, whereas the Incongruent-driven eater is at the dysfunctional pole of the eaters continuum. In the middle of the continuum, the Incongruent-perceptual eater is at a critical crossing point. Significant differences were reported between eaters profiles.DiscussionThe empirical results based on an eaters continuum conceptualization highlight the importance of understanding how people perceive their body to assess and promote food well-being.

Abstract The Banchetta-Rognosa tectonic unit (BRU), covering an area of 10 km2 in the upper Chisone valley, consists of two successions referred to a continental margin (Monte Banchetta succession) and a proximal oceanic domain (Punta Rognosa succession) respectively. In both successions, Mesozoic meta-sedimentary covers discordantly lie on their basement. This paper presents new data on the lithostratigraphy and the metamorphic evolution of the continental basement of the Monte Banchetta succession. It comprises two meta-sedimentary sequences with minor meta-intrusive bodies preserving their original lithostratigraphic configuration, despite the intense Alpine deformation and metamorphic re-equilibration. Phase equilibrium modeling points to a metamorphic eclogitic peak (D1 event) of 20–23 kbar and 440–500 °C, consistent among three different samples, analyzed from suitable lithologies. The exhumation P–T path is characterized by a first decompression of at least 10 kbar, leading to the development of the main regional foliation (i.e. tectono-metamorphic event D2). The subsequent exhumation stage (D3 event) is marked by a further decompression of almost 7–8 kbar associated with a significant temperature decrease (cooling down to 350–400 °C), implying a geothermal gradient compatible with a continental collision regime. These data infer for this unit higher peak P–T conditions than previously estimated with conventional thermobarometry. The comparison of our results with the peak P–T conditions registered by other neighboring tectonic units allows to interpret the BRU as one of the westernmost eclogite-facies unit in the Alps.

Background: Purpose of this report is to analyze possible effects and clinical outcomes of anterolateral thigh (ALT)-free fascial flaps on bone healing in Gustilo type IIIB-C open tibial fractures. Methods: We present a technique, wherein the fascia is wrapped around bone stumps, bone chips or not vascularized bone graft were used to fill the defects. Five patients with a mean follow-up of 36 months were treated. Results Mean time from injury to flap coverage was 72 hours. The mean size of bone defects was 4-7,6 cm. All flaps were Antero Lateral Tight flaps, and the fracture sites did not have any evidence of infection. None of the patients was a smoker. A solid bone union was reached, and full wearing was in a mean of 11 (4–20) weeks after the injury. The lower limb was saved in 100% of the cases. Conclusion Despite the goods results, further studies applied on a large number of patients are needed to confirm authors theory, however, we can consider the fascial ALT flap as a valid help for bone healing in 3B-C open tibial fractures.

The chemical composition of dark chocolate has a significant impact on its complex flavor profile. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the volatile chemical composition and perceived flavor of 54 dark chocolate samples made from Trinitario cocoa beans from the Dominican Republic. The samples were evaluated by a trained panel and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify and quantify the volatile compounds. Predictive models based on a partial least squares regression (PLS) allowed the identification of key compounds for predicting individual sensory attributes. The models were most successful in classifying samples based on the intensity of bitterness and astringency, even though these attributes are mostly linked to non-volatile compounds. Acetaldehyde, dimethyl sulfide, and 2,3-butanediol were found to be key predictors for various sensory attributes, while propylene glycol diacetate was identified as a possible marker for red fruit aroma. The study highlights the potential of using volatile compounds to accurately predict chocolate flavor potential.

Wastewater treatment plant effluents release microbiological pollutants, including the intI1 gene (integrases of class 1 integron), which has been proposed as a target for monitoring anthropogenic pollution in surface waters. This gene correlates with antibiotic resistance genes, making it an important proxy for genetic contamination in aquatic environments. It is currently unclear whether intI1 found in lake water is mainly present due to continuous seeding or if autochthonous bacteria harbor this gene. To better understand the fate and dynamics of class 1 integrons in aquatic systems, we resorted to classical limnological monitoring of intI1 (qPCR) over multiple years in three different size fractions: free‐living bacteria, particle‐attached bacteria, and zooplankton‐attached bacteria. We also conducted experiments to elucidate the impact of grazers on the abundance of intI1. The monitoring of different size fractions of the Lake Maggiore microbial community showed a particle‐bound lifestyle for intI1‐hosting bacteria. Most of these bacteria originated from both a wastewater effluent that discharges into Lake Maggiore and the lake water itself (amplicon sequencing). We hypothesize that these bacteria grow on particles in open waters, making them particularly vulnerable to grazing by large filter feeders such as Daphnia. Therefore, the presence of Daphnia reduced the abundance of intI1 in lake water, whereas this was not true for other grazers such as Rotaria macrura or Poterioochromonas sp. Our study shows that the food web structure and temporal changes in the lake influence the abundance of intI1 and consequently the assessment of anthropogenic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were (a) to explore the preliminary cross‐cultural validity of a visual‐perceptual method to assess body image; (b) to examine potential differences and similarities in body image phenomena between women from two Western countries (i.e., Canada and Spain). 201 self‐identified women participated in this cross‐sectional study. Ideal, normal, and self‐perceived body sizes were assessed using a visual‐perceptual method, whereas body dissatisfaction was measured using both a visual‐perceptual method and a questionnaire. Visual‐perceptual body dissatisfaction was significantly correlated with questionnaire body dissatisfaction, suggesting a preliminary convergent validity between the two assessment methods. Women in both countries were dissatisfied with their bodies. Compared to their self‐perceived body, all women chose a significantly thinner visual representation of their "normal" and ideal body. These results may suggest a shift towards the "thin" body as not only ideal, but also normative. This study provides the first evidence for the cross‐cultural validity of a visual‐perceptual body image assessment tool. The results of the current study confirm the presence of "normative discontent", and suggest more cross‐country similarities than differences among women from these two Western societies. Highlights: This study had two objectives: (a) to explore the preliminary cross‐cultural validity of a visual‐perceptual method to assess body image; (b) to examine potential differences and similarities in body image phenomena between women from Canada and Spain.The results highlight the preliminary validity of a novel continuum of 3D bodies as a valid cross‐cultural visual‐perceptual method to assess body image phenomena.Women in both countries were dissatisfied with their bodies.Compared to their self‐perceived body, all women chose a significantly thinner visual representation of their "normal" and ideal body. These results may suggest a shift towards the "thin" body as not only ideal, but also normative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]