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Ischemic or bleeding events might occur after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), with the potential to hamper clinical outcomes. This study aimed to characterize the average daily ischemic risks (ADIRs) and the average daily bleeding risks (ADBRs) over 1-year in all consecutive patients undergoing TAVR. ADBR included all bleeding events according to VARC-2 definition, and ADIR included cardiovascular deaths, myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. ADIRs and ADBRs were assessed within different timeframes post TAVR: acute (0–30 days), late (31–180 days), and very late (>181 days). Generalized estimating equations were used to test the least squares mean differences for the pairwise comparison of ADIRs and ADBRs. Our analysis was performed in the overall cohort and according to antithrombotic strategy (LT-OAC vs No LT-OAC). Ischemic burden was higher than bleeding burden, independently from the indication to LT-OAC, and in all timeframes examined. In the overall population, ADIRs were three-fold ADBRs (0.0467 [95% CI, 0.0431–0.0506] vs 0.0179 [95% CI, 0.0174–0.0185]; p < 0.001*). While ADIR was significantly higher in the acute phase, ADBR was relatively stable in all timeframes analysed. Of note, in LT-OAC population, OAC + SAPT group showed lower ischemic risk and higher bleeding events compared with OAC alone (ADIR: 0.0447 [95% CI: 0.0417–0.0477] vs 0.0642 [95% CI: 0.0557–0.0728]; p < 0.001*, ADBR 0.0395 [95% CI: 0.0381–0.0409] vs 0.0147 [95% CI: 0.0138–0.0156]; p < 0.001*). In patients undergoing TAVR Average daily risk fluctuates over time. However, ADIRs overcome ADBRs in all timeframes, especially in the acute phase and regardless of antithrombotic strategy adopted. ADR - average daily risk; ADIR - average daily ischemic risk; ADBR - average daily bleeding risk; LSMD - least mean square difference [Display omitted] • This study shows the great variability between ADIR and ADBR in the first 30 days after TAVR, with the highest prevalence of ischemic risk. • ADIR overcome ADBR in all timeframes with greater differences in the acute phase, which might be related to the procedural ischemic factors. • Understanding the time-dependent trend of ADR, highlights how an oversimplified approach, might be inadequate to capture the complexity of the phenomenon. • Bearing this in mind, a tailored antithrombotic strategy could improve clinical outcomes as a result of a balance between ischemic and bleeding risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the development and validation of a new scale called the Gastroscopy Rate of Cleanliness Evaluation (GRACE) for assessing the visualization of the upper gastrointestinal tract during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The scale consists of three different anatomic areas (esophagus, stomach, and duodenum) and four grades of cleanliness. The study involved expert and non-expert endoscopists evaluating images and performing real-time evaluations on patients. The results showed high levels of reproducibility, reliability, and agreement, suggesting that the GRACE scale could be an important tool for standardizing the evaluation of mucosal visibility and reducing the risk of missing lesions during EGD. [Extracted from the article]

Artisanal cheeses and other fermented milk products have long been part of the diet of African rural communities. Cheese is a source of nutrients that are essential to the development and growth of children in rural areas, where intake of amino acids, vitamin A, vitamin B12, calcium, phosphate, and polyunsaturated fatty acids may be limited. Wara, Karish, Ayib, Takammart, Wagashi, Domiati, and Ras are prominent cheeses of African origin. Artisanal cheese making should be expanded to improve people's nutritional status at low cost, stimulate the local economy, and empower small-scale farmers. This review firstly gives an overview of artisanal cheese production and consumption, and evaluates opportunities and challenges, while focusing on an African perspective. Secondly, it provides an insight into strategies that could improve cheese making at small-scale level. Possible areas of research and knowledge gaps are highlighted, particularly ways of improving cheese quality and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. EndoFaster® analyzes gastric juice in real time during gastroscopy allowing the detection of hypo-achlorhydric conditions, like corpus atrophic gastritis. Narrow-band imaging (NBI) endoscopy allows to accurately detect and perform target biopsies in areas of intestinal metaplasia, a histological change often associated to corpus atrophic gastritis. Aims. To compare the diagnostic accuracy of EndoFaster® with histological evaluation for corpus atrophic gastritis through high-resolution (HR) NBI targeted biopsies. Methods. Prospective study on consecutive adult patients undergoing gastroscopy between April and November 2018. Patients in therapy with proton pump inhibitors, previous gastric surgery, and/or known gastric neoplasia were excluded. At the beginning of gastroscopy, gastric juice was aspirated and analyzed by EndoFaster® in 15 seconds. Endoscopists were blinded to the report of EndoFaster®. Evaluation of gastric mucosa in HR-white light was firstly performed, then with HR-NBI allowing to perform targeted biopsies on areas suspected for intestinal metaplasia; otherwise, biopsies were performed according to the updated Sydney System protocol and sent for histopathological evaluation. Results. Overall, 124 patients were included [64% F; 56 (18-85) years]. Corpus atrophic gastritis was present in 41.9% of patients. EndoFaster® showed an accuracy for corpus atrophic gastritis diagnosis, compared to histopathological evaluation as gold standard, of 87.1% and a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 78.8%, 93.1%, 89.1%, and 85.9%, respectively. pH showed a positive correlation with the severity score of atrophy (r = 0.67 , 95% CI: 0.73-0.81, and p < 0.0001). EndoFaster® allowed to diagnose corpus atrophic gastritis in 3.7% of patients negative to NBI (corpus atrophic gastritis without intestinal metaplasia). Conclusion. EndoFaster® seems a promising tool to diagnose corpus atrophic gastritis. The evaluation of hypo-achlorhydria during gastroscopy can address bioptic sampling in corpus atrophic gastritis patients without intestinal metaplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Numerical simulations of single drop rising in a viscoelastic shear thinning fluid. • Viscoelasticity of the continuous phase may generate long tails. • Interfacial tension promotes tail breakup via the Rayleigh instability. We study the motion of a viscous drop rising in a viscoelastic liquid that exhibits elastic and shear thinning effects and is represented by the exponential PTT constitutive model. We validate the numerical formulation and solution method by comparing our predictions with previous experimental data, and we find quantitative agreement in terminal velocities and drop shapes. The interplay of viscous, elastic, and capillary forces is examined through an extensive parametric study. Increasing material elasticity of the continuous phase turns a spherical drop to one with a cusp and eventually with an extended tail in its rear pole. The viscoelastic extensional stresses developing in the continuous phase are crucial for the generation of these long tails. Low values of the interfacial tension allow the extension of threads of uniform width, but higher values break it under a Rayleigh-type instability. Increasing shear thinning increases the terminal velocity of the deformable intrusion. An important conclusion of this study is the confirmation that viscoelastic materials can be used to encapsulate small drops generated by the tip streaming of liquid filaments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although less invasive diagnostic procedures such as cardiac magnetic resonance, positron emission tomography, and recently strain echocardiography have become crucial in the diagnostic work-up of cardiovascular heart disease, only EMB offers a histopathologic diagnosis with unique prognostic and therapeutic implications. In this regard, EMB provides information about cellular or humoral rejection in the surveillance of heart transplant recipients and adjustment of their immunosuppressive therapy. This study aims to assess the incidence of EMB-related complications, This observational study retrospectively assessed 937 biopsies obtained in consecutive patients between May 2011 and May 2021 for surveillance of rejection episodes after HTx. Patients were stratified according to gender, age, access site and BMI resulting in 4 deferent cohorts. Procedural safety of EMB was the primary endpoint of this study, with definitions of major and minor complications based on earlier studies. The analysis revealed an overall complication rate of 2.8%. Serious life-threatening cardiac complications occurred 0.3% of EMB. More specifically tricuspid valve injury causing severe tricuspid regurgitation, pneumothorax and temporary AV block occured in 0.1%. Minor complications occurred in 2.5 % of the overall population. Pericardial effusion not requiring pericardiocentesis was the most frequently observed complication (1.8%), followed by complications related to the vascular access (0.5%). All other complications occurred in <0.1%. Complications were more often observed in female patients. No significant differences were found for the remaining major and minor complications in the different cohorts. In experienced hands, EMB for heart transplantation rejection is a safe procedure with low risk of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic profile, inflammation, hormonal activity, menstrual cyclicity, organochlorine burden, prostaglandin metabolism and immunological factors have been suggested to play a role in the establishment and development of endometriosis. From the epidemiological perspective, several risk factors have been studied to suggest or support the different aetiological hypotheses. Social class and family history apart, the factors most consistently associated with endometriosis are early age at menarche and long and heavy menstrual cycles. These menstrual characteristics (together with nulliparity) reflect increased exposure to menstruation. The other main risk factors are pigmentary traits and sun habits, alcohol intake, use of oral contraceptives, and environmental factors such as exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxin. All of these factors support a potential role of hormonal mileau and inflammation in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. There is a clear association between endometriosis and gastrointestinal and immunological diseases, ovarian cancer and other gynaecological cancers, and thyroid cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biofilm matrix is a complex of secreted polymers, absorbed nutrients and metabolites, cell lysis products, and even particulate material. Being polyanionic in nature, this matrix plays a crucial role in the biosorption of metal cations. In this work, the adsorption process of heavy metals in biofilms is modeled in one space dimension. The mathematical model is a free-boundary value problem for nonlinear hyperbolic and parabolic partial differential equations. Biomass and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) growth is governed by hyperbolic equations, and substrate evolution by parabolic equations. All equations are mutually connected. The model is general and can work for any number of microbial species, EPS, and substrates. In numerical analysis, heterotrophic-autotrophic competition for space with oxygen as common substrate is considered. The model can describe biofilm growth dynamics including spatial distribution of microbial species, substrate concentrations, EPS formation, and, in particular, is able to simulate heavy metal diffusion and adsorption into biofilm. Numerical simulations for representative examples are obtained by the method of characteristics. Results indicate that model is able to capture the main features of heavy metal adsorption process on EPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present an approximate policy iteration (API) method called API‐BRMϵ using a very effective implementation of incremental support vector regression (SVR) to approximate the value function able to generalise in continuous (or large) space reinforcement learning (RL) problems. RL is a methodology able to solve complex and uncertain decision problems usually modelled as Markov decision problems. API-BRMϵ is formalised as a non-parametric regularisation problem based on an outcome of the Bellman residual minimisation (BRM) which is able to minimise the variance of the problem. API-BRMϵ is incremental and can be applied to RL using the on-line agent interaction framework. Based on non-parametric SVR API-BRMϵ is able to find the global solution of the problem with convergence guarantees to the optimal solution. A value function should be defined to find the optimal policy specifying the total reward that an agent might expect in its current state taking one action. Therefore, the agent will use the value function to choose the action to take. Some experimental evidence and performance for well-known RL benchmarks are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study EBT3 GafChromic film in low-energy protons, and for comparison purposes, in a reference 60Co beam in order to use it as a calibrated dosimetry system in the proton irradiation facility under construction within the framework of the Oncological Therapy with Protons (TOP)-Intensity Modulated Proton Linear Accelerator for RadioTherapy (IMPLART) Project at ENEA-Frascati, Italy. Methods: EBT3 film samples were irradiated at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare--Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy, with a 5 MeV proton beam generated by a 7 MV Van de Graaff CN accelerator. The nominal dose rates used were 2.1 Gy/min and 40 Gy/min. The delivered dose was determined by measuring the particle fluence and the energy spectrum in air with silicon surface barrier detector monitors. A preliminary study of the EBT3 film beam quality dependence in low-energy protons was conducted by passively degrading the beam energy. EBT3 films were also irradiated at ENEA-National Institute of Ionizing Radiation Metrology with gamma radiation produced by a 60Co source characterized by an absorbed dose to water rate of 0.26 Gy/min as measured by a calibrated Farmer type ionization chamber. EBT3 film calibration curves were determined by means of a set of 40 film pieces irradiated to various doses ranging from 0.5 Gy to 30 Gy absorbed dose to water. An EPSON Expression 11000XL color scanner in transmission mode was used for film analysis. Scanner response stability, intrafilm uniformity, and interfilm reproducibility were verified. Optical absorption spectra measurements were performed on unirradiated and irradiated EBT3 films to choose the most sensitive color channel to the dose range used. Results: EBT3 GafChromic films show an under response up to about 33% for low-energy protons with respect to 60Co gamma radiation, which is consistent with the linear energy transfer dependence already observed with higher energy protons, and a negligible dose-rate dependence in the 2-40 Gy/min range. Short- and long-term scanner stabilities were 0.5% and 1.5%, respectively; film uniformity and reproducibility were better than 0.5%. Conclusions: The main purpose of this study was to implement EBT3 dosimetry in the proton low-energy radiobiology line of the TOP-IMPLART accelerator, having a maximum energy of 7 MeV. Low-energy proton and 60Co calibrated sources were used to investigate the behavior of film response vs to be written in italicum dose. The calibration in 5 MeV protons is currently used for dose assessment in the radiobiological experiments at the TOP-IMPLART accelerator carried out at that energy value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random sampling is an efficient method for dealing with constrained optimization problems. In computational geometry, this method has been successfully applied, through Clarkson’s algorithm (Clarkson 1996), to solve a general class of problems calledviolator spaces. In machine learning, Transductive Support Vector Machines (TSVM) is a learning method used when only a small fraction of labeled data is available, which implies solving a nonconvex optimization problem. Several approximation methods have been proposed to solve it, but they usually find suboptimal solutions. However, a global optimal solution may be obtained by using exact techniques, but at the cost of suffering an exponential time complexity with respect to the number of instances. In this article, an interpretation ofTSVMin terms of violator space is given. A randomized method is presented that extends the use of exact methods, thus reducing the time complexity exponentially w.r.t. the number of support vectors of the optimal solution instead of exponentially w.r.t. the number of instances. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Infant faces elicit caregiving in adults. In previous research on brain responses to images of infant faces, the faces were unknown to participants. This study investigated EEG in primiparous mothers of 3- to 6-month-old infants viewing their own infant's face compared to an unfamiliar but appearance-matched infant's face. Spectral power was calculated and compared, and power at three EEG bands (delta, theta, and gamma) was found to differ between faces. Brain responses among primiparous mothers distinguish images of their own versus unfamiliar infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Adequate gluten-free diet ( GFD) is the only treatment for coeliac disease ( CD). However, no agreement has been reached on either how and when to assess patient adherence to GFD or its effectiveness on villous atrophy. Aim To assess, in a prospective study, patient adherence to and efficacy of GFD on histological recovery after 1-year of GFD. Methods Between 2009 and 2012, we enrolled 65 consecutive newly-diagnosed adult patients (median age 38 years, 18-70) with biopsy-proven atrophic CD. Patients were re-evaluated after 1 year of GFD with duodenal histology, serological assays, symptoms and a dietary interview based on a validated questionnaire. Complete histological recovery was defined as the absence of villous atrophy and ≤30/100 intraepithelial lymphocytes. Results Overall, 81.5% of patients had adequate adherence ( ADA) to GFD, whereas 18.5% had an inadequate adherence ( IADA); 66% of ADA patients and no IADA patients achieved complete histological recovery ( P < 0.00001). Among ADA patients, antibody seroconversion and symptoms were not significantly different between patients who achieved complete histological recovery and those who achieved partial histological recovery with P = 0.309 and P = 0.197, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that Marsh 3C was a risk factor for incomplete histological recovery in ADA patients ( OR 8.74, 95% CI: 1.87-40.83). Conclusions This study shows that complete histological recovery after 1-year of GFD in adult patients, who are assessed as adherent to the GFD, can be obtained in 66% of patients. Patients with severe histological damage at diagnosis are at risk for incomplete histological recovery 1 year later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of season of the year associated with changes in feeding and management system (pasture-based vs. confinement) on milk and cheese fatty acid profile and on sensory properties of Caciocavallo cheese was evaluated on 3 mountain dairy farms. Each farm used a pasture-based feeding system from April to June and from September to October (PS), and a confinement system for the rest of the year (CS). As a consequence of grazing, PS milk showed higher percentages of C18:3, cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid, and trans-11 C18:1, and a reduced percentage of C16:0. The fatty acid profile of cheese largely reflected that of the corresponding raw milk from which cheese was made. This led to a significant decrease of atherogenic index in cheeses produced from cows on pasture. Based on sensory analysis, cheese from animals kept on pasture was more yellow and had a lower intensity of butter and smoked odors than did CS cheese. In addition, grazing induced a lower intensity of bitter and a higher intensity of spicy flavors compared with cheese from CS animals. In regard to texture, pasture feeding resulted in higher intensity of friability and graininess. All cheeses performed well in consumer tests; the panel found all samples more than acceptable for overall liking, and for liking according to appearance, taste/flavor, and texture. Overall liking of Caciocavallo cheese, as assessed by slope analysis, was affected primarily by taste/flavor (raw slope k = 0.88) and texture (k = 0.97), whereas appearance had a lesser effect (k = 0.72). The acidic and sensory profiles of cheese were well discriminated, with healthier cheeses produced by grazing cows. Therefore, wider use of pasture should be promoted to accentuate this favorable feature. Based on the specific nutritional and sensory characteristics of mountain Caciocavallo cheese, particularly that obtained from grazing animals, efforts should be made to indicate the quality of this cheese to the consumer and improve product recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rumen-protected conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reportedly improves fertility in lactating dairy cows by reducing the postpartum interval to first ovulation and enhancing the circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the blood metabolites, hormones, follicular fluid (FF) and liver for the effect of CLA supplementation (50 g top-dressed daily from 15 days pre-partum to 65 days in milk --DIM -). Pre-partum Holstein cows (n = 24) were assigned to two treatments: a Control and CLA group (n = 12 cows/group). Dry matter intake (DMI) and milk production were recorded daily. At 26 DIM, ovulation was synchronized and at 34 DIM, plasma and FF were analysed for paraoxonase 1(PON) levels. Moreover plasma was analysed for IGF binding protein 2 and 3 (IGFBP). From 34 DIM, blood samples and FF from follicles >9 mm were collected and analysed for estradiol, progesterone, IGF-I and lipoproteins. A liver biopsy was performed at 65 DIM and analysed for the expression of IGF-I, growth hormone receptor (GHR), pyruvate carboxylase (PC) and cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PECK). CLA supplemented cows, compared to the control group, recorded a significant lower milk fat production, improved DMI and energy balance and recorded significant increased plasma concentrations of IGF-I, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and IGFBP-3 (interaction treatment x DIM). The concentration of IGF-I, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and LDL tended to be higher in FF than plasma. This study confirms the positive effects of dietary CLA supplementation on the metabolism, by improving the energy intake and reducing the negative energy balance. Moreover, the improvement of plasma IGF-I levels observed in this study, coupled with a better energy balance support previous studies showing a positive effect of CLA supplementation on reproduction. However, CLA did not alter the plasma and the FF concentration of PON, nor the liver gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a cohort study of Italian and Portuguese patients with autosomal recessive congenital ichtyosis (ARCI), defined as a group of heterogeneous cornification disease. It is inferred that about 30-50% if ARCI patients have transglutaminase 1 deficiency due to mutations in TGM1 genes. TGM1 molecular analysis was used in the study. The prevalence of ARCI in Europe is discussed.

Abstract: This paper presents a mathematical model able to simulate under dynamic conditions the physical, chemical and biological processes prevailing in a biological sulfate reducing gas-lift reactor. The proposed model is based on differential mass balance equations for substrates, products and bacterial groups involved in a sulfate reduction process. Heterotrophic sulfate reducing bacteria (HSRB), autotrophic sulfate reducing bacteria (ASRB), homoacetogenic bacteria (HB), methanogenic archaea (MA) and acetate degraders (AD) are the microbial groups taken into account in the model. The model is also used to validate a steady-state design model previously proposed by Esposito et al. [1]. The proposed model is able to simulate the competition between the biological bacteria growing in the reactor, and predict the performance of a gas-lift reactor. The model includes two main parts: (1) a kinetic part including growth, metabolism and competition of SRB, HB, MA and AD in the system and (2) a mass-transfer part describing the thermodynamic concentration equilibria of gaseous components in the liquid and gas phase. The model has been validated using experimental data obtained by operating a laboratory-scale gas-lift reactor as described in Esposito et al. [2]. The model can be applied to simulate the sulfate reduction process in a gas-lift reactor for several purposes, such as the evaluation of the optimal process conditions in terms of COD:SO4 2− ratio, hydraulic retention time and gas input flow. In particular, model simulations reported in this paper show the model capability to predict the prevailing bacterial species and concentrations in the reactor as a function of the hydraulic retention time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Using a two-step approach, which includes a screening method (based on Morris Method) followed by global sensitivity analysis (based on High-Dimensional Model Representation), the uncertainty-based sensitivity of binary diffusion coefficients and chemical kinetic parameters over the full uncertainty range are presented for both simulations of premixed and non-premixed hydrogen-oxidizer-diluent mixtures. By implementing realistic uncertainty factors for binary diffusion coefficients and chemical kinetic parameters, the measured experimental uncertainty of laminar flame propagation velocity is shown to be greater than the uncertainty on predicted propagated from the binary diffusion coefficient parametric space. For 1 and 15atm laminar flame speed simulations, the propagated uncertainties (ϵ) due to separate perturbation of the diffusion coefficients and chemical parameters are 3–5% and 12–41% respectively. The values of ϵ for the extinction strain rate at 1atm are 6–8% and 19–28%. In premixed flames, the propagated uncertainty of chemical parameters increases with pressure, whereas the propagated uncertainty of binary diffusion coefficients is not affected. Based on current flame property measurements (about 5–10%), these results indicate that the fundamental flame properties clearly offer the possibility of reducing the chemical kinetic parameter uncertainties but marginal or no possibility of reducing the diffusion coefficient uncertainties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A comprehensive investigation of the uncertainties associated with the experimental and numerical evaluation of the extinction strain rate in hydrogen/oxygen/nitrogen non-premixed flames is presented in this work. The reported new experimental uncertainties of the extinction strain rate include several sources of uncertainties that typically affect the characterisation of velocity and boundary conditions of counterflow flames via particle image velocimetry. The uncertainties associated with the numerical determination of the extinction strain rate not only depend upon the selected chemical kinetics parameters but also on the binary diffusion coefficients. In order to identify the major sources of uncertainties in the chemical and diffusion models, a Monte Carlo based high-dimensional model representation analysis of the extinction curve was performed. Independent and simultaneous perturbations of relevant chemical kinetics and diffusion parameters have shown that the uncertainties associated with the binary diffusion coefficients are about a factor of 10 smaller than the uncertainty due to chemical kinetics parameters. Since the experimentally well known binary diffusion coefficient for hydrogen and nitrogen, , accounts for most of the propagated uncertainty of the diffusion model, it is shown here that only a reduction of the uncertainty of chemical kinetics parameters will have a significant impact in improving the accuracy of the extinction strain rate predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study investigates how adults in two contrasting cultures (Italian and Japanese) perceive episodes of crying of typically developing (TD) children and children with Autism Disorder (AD). Although cries of children with AD have been reported to elicit more distress in Western cultures, it is not known whether similar findings hold in Eastern cultures. In Experiment 1, we artificially modified structural parameters (fundamental frequency, duration of pauses, waveform modulation) of cries and asked Italian and Japanese adults to judge levels of expressed and felt distress in the cries. In Experiment 2, we asked Italian and Japanese adults to report these levels of distress on hearing cries of AD and TD children. In both cultures, cries with higher fundamental frequency and shorter pause durations were judged more distressing and distressed and observers perceived cries of children with AD as more distressing and distressed than cries of TD children. The similar responses in adults from two contrasting societies constitute evidence that reactions to cries of children with AD might be universal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper we present a number of studies, some with humans and some with animals that have been directly influenced by the work of Philip Teitelbaum. As appropriate for a festschrift, we integrate a number of contributions from different fields (specifically, clinical psychopathology and neurobiology) and present the studies, not so much chronologically, but in ways that illustrate some of the key lessons that we have learned from Philip Teitelbaum. We would summarize these lessons as follows: (1) Complex and precise tools are required to assess the complexity of specific behaviors; using simplified tools will bias our understanding of the behavior itself. (2) Studying a specific behavior in atypical brain conditions is required to fully understand that behavior and how the brain controls it. (3) Considering the evolutionary basis of human behavior, studying corresponding behaviors in other mammalian species is required to strengthen and deepen our knowledge of specific human behaviors. In this paper we describe studies on motor development in humans and mice and their implication for the diagnosis of autism and early parental care that illustrate these three lessons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Fundamental flame characteristics derived from counterflow flames are routinely used in chemical kinetic model optimization and validation. This paper reports an experimental and computational investigation aimed at understanding and quantifying the source of uncertainties associated with such characterization of extinction limits of fuel–air mixtures, ranging from low extinction strain rate methane–air flames to high-extinction strain rate ethylene–air flames. In the experiments, two pairs of convergent nozzles with exit diameters of 7.9mm and 14.5mm were used to introduce opposed jets of nonpremixed fuel and air to establish a planar flame in the counterflow mixing region. Velocity profiles and extinction data were measured using both LV and PIV setups. Experiments were conducted at various nozzle separation distances to investigate potential differences in axial velocity profiles along the axial and radial directions and the corresponding local extinction strain rates. The slope of axial velocity in the axial and radial directions at the air outlet boundary was found to increase with decreasing nozzle separation distance. The variation of local extinction strain rate with changes in separation distance was within the uncertainty of experimental data. Using a C1–C4 chemical kinetic model, quasi one-dimensional computations have been performed to quantify the experimentally determined boundary condition effects on the predicted extinction strain rate of counterflow flames. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A mathematical model has recently been proposed by the authors to simulate the biochemical processes that prevail in a co-digestion reactor fed with sewage sludge and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. This model is based on the Anaerobic Digestion Model no. 1 of the International Water Association, which has been extended to include the co-digestion processes, using surface-based kinetics to model the organic waste disintegration and conversion to carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. When organic waste solids are present in the reactor influent, the disintegration process is the rate-limiting step of the overall co-digestion process. The main advantage of the proposed modeling approach is that the kinetic constant of such a process does not depend on the waste particle size distribution (PSD) and rather depends only on the nature and composition of the waste particles. The model calibration aimed to assess the kinetic constant of the disintegration process can therefore be conducted using organic waste samples of any PSD, and the resulting value will be suitable for all the organic wastes of the same nature as the investigated samples, independently of their PSD. This assumption was proven in this study by biomethane potential experiments that were conducted on organic waste samples with different particle sizes. The results of these experiments were used to calibrate and validate the mathematical model, resulting in a good agreement between the simulated and observed data for any investigated particle size of the solid waste. This study confirms the strength of the proposed model and calibration procedure, which can thus be used to assess the treatment efficiency and predict the methane production of full-scale digesters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a mathematical model able to simulate the physical, chemical and biological processes prevailing in a sulfate reducing biofilm under dynamic conditions. A mathematical modeling approach for microbial growth and decay is proposed. Complete oxidizers sulfate reducing bacteria, incomplete oxidizers sulfate reducing bacteria and acetate degraders are the microbial groups taken into account in the model. The proposed model is able to simulate the competition among the bacteria growing in the biofilm. The method of characteristics is introduced for the numerical process. As in the qualitative analysis of solutions, where it was first presented, this method seems to be a powerful tool in this situation also. The model has been applied to simulate the sulfate reduction process in a biofilm for several purposes. In particular the effect of the ratio and the effect of different simulation times on the reactor performances in terms of volume fraction of bacterial species and substrate diffusion trends in biofilm have been assessed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The development of a skeletal reaction model based on Principal Component Analysis of local Sensitivity (PCAS) coefficients is reported. The analysis presented is comprehensive in the sense that it includes sensitivity coefficients from three distinct canonical reacting configurations, namely ignition, flame propagation, and flame extinction phenomena. To minimize the computational effort involved in constructing sensitivity coefficients, and with the objective of accurately predicting global features or target functions such as ignition delay, burning velocity and extinction strain rates, optimal temporal and spatial locations to perform the local sensitivity are identified. Furthermore, it is shown that the sensitivity coefficients of temperature and heat release, and/or global flame properties (or eigenvalues) associated with burning velocity and extinction strain rate, are sufficient to extract an accurate skeletal model to predict stated target functions. Application of the PCAS approach to a C 1–C 4 hydrocarbon kinetic model consisting of 111 species and 784 reversible reactions, with ethylene as the fuel of interest, is presented. The results clearly indicate that the smallest skeletal model that can be developed is dictated by non-premixed extinction phenomenon that has been neglected in previous analyses using various reduction approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A dynamic mathematical model capable to predict the methane production in an anaerobic completely stirred tank reactor (CSTR), performing the co-digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and sewage sludge, is used to assess the effect of the organic loading rate (OLR) and OFMSW particle size on the reactor performances. The model is based on the approach proposed by the IWA Anaerobic Digestion Model no. 1 (ADM1), which has been modified to take into account the peculiarities of a co-digestion process. The main distinctiveness of the proposed model consists in considering two separate influent substrates (i.e. sewage sludge and OFMSW), which are modelled with different biodegradation kinetics. The sewage sludge degradation is modelled according to the ADM1 while a surface based kinetics is used to simulate the OFMSW disintegration process, which depends on particle size distribution (PSD) of the solid waste to be disintegrated. The methane production of a full scale municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWWTP) digester has been evaluated to assess the model capability to estimate the potential energy production under different process conditions. In particular, a sensitivity analysis on two key operational parameters of the CSTR co-digestion process, i.e. OLR and OFMSW particle size, has been carried out. This analysis shows the model suitability to assess the combined effect of such parameters on the digester performances, predicting the process failure occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Previous studies have highlighted that episodes of crying of children with autistic disorder (AD) were perceived as inexplicable from their parents who could not identify causative factors. These results supported the view of AD as related to a problem of expressing and sharing emotions. Moreover, no evidence has been presented on which characteristics of a cry episode influence the adult perception. Aim of our research is to investigate how acoustical features of crying episodes modulate their perception of infants with ASD compared with infants with typical development (TD) and infants with developmental delay (DD). Methods Two studies were employed. In study 1, we artificially modified structural parameters (fundamental frequency, duration of the pauses, waveform modulation) of a cry episode, and then 50 adults (parents and non-parents) were asked to judge the level of distress elicited. In study 2, acoustic analysis was applied to episodes of crying selected from retrospective home videos of 42 children with AD, TD and DD at 18 months. Results The results showed that (1) differences in the fundamental frequency and in other structural parameters of the cry lead parents and non-parents to perceive an episode of crying as more aversive and (2) at 18 months of age, AD episodes of crying have higher fundamental frequency (f0). Conclusion Our findings offer support for the hypothesis that acoustic characteristics of episodes of crying of children with autism, especially higher fundamental frequencies, may account for mental states of uneasiness in the listener. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Method: In 2007, a questionnaire covering all items of a Ministry of Health circular was sent to healthcare institutions in the French Poitou-Charentes region to assess the good antibiotic use policy. Results: A comparison with the Nosocomial Infection Committee 2006 activity report concerning measures included in the ICATB (antibiotic use) indicator revealed widespread implementation of surveillance and of protocols for first-line antibiotics and surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (88% of all healthcare institutions). The assessment of protocol monitoring and of professional practice was to be implemented. Antibiotic therapy training sessions were deficient because of a shortage of expert physicians (50% of healthcare institutions), and mirrored by a lack of treatment re-evaluation at 48 or 72hours (58% of healthcare institutions). However, nominative prescription use was widespread (90% of healthcare institutions). Securing drugs circuit with online drug prescriptions, computerized patient file, sharing data with other services (microbiology laboratory, pharmacy) were difficult to integrate to hospital information systems. Pharmaceutical-economic indicators used to monitor antibiotic consumption were rarely given to units using antibiotics. The average ICATB indicator in 2006 ranged between 6 and 8/20. Comments: Antibiotic therapy training sessions and evaluation of professional practices must be improved. Computerizing the drug circuit should improve interdisciplinary practices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents three steady-state mathematical models for the design of H2/CO2 fed gas-lift reactors aimed at biological sulfate reduction to remove sulfate from wastewater. Models 1A and 1B are based on heterotrophic sulfate reducing bacteria (HSRB), while Model 2 is based on autotrophic sulfate reducing bacteria (ASRB) as the dominant group of sulfate reducers in the gas-lift reactor. Once the influent wastewater characteristics are known and the desired sulfate removal efficiency is fixed, all models give explicit mathematical relationships to determine the bioreactor volume and the effluent concentrations of substrates and products. The derived explicit relationships make application of the models very easy, fast, and no iterative procedures are required. Model simulations show that the size of the H2/CO2 fed gas-lift reactors aimed at biological sulfate removal from wastewater highly depends on the number and type of trophic groups growing in the bioreactor. In particular, if the biological sulfate reduction is performed in a bioreactor where ASRB prevail, the required bioreactor volume is much smaller than that needed with HSRB. This is because ASRB can out-compete methanogenic archaea (MA) for H2 (assuming sulfate concentrations are not limiting), whereas HSRB do not necessarily out-compete MA due to their dependence on homoacetogenic bacteria (HB) for organic carbon. The reactor sizes to reach the same sulfate removal efficiency by HSRB and ASRB are only comparable when methanogenesis is inhibited. Moreover, model results indicate that acetate supply to the reactor influent does not affect the HSRB biomass required in the reactor, but favors the dominance of MA on HB as a consequence of a lower HB requirement for acetate supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a mathematical model able to simulate under dynamic conditions the physical, chemical and biological processes prevailing in a OFMSW and sewage sludge anaerobic digestion system. The model proposed is based on differential mass balance equations for substrates, products and bacterial groups involved in the co-digestion process and includes the biochemical reactions of the substrate conversion and the kinetics of microbial growth and decay. The main peculiarity of the model is the surface based kinetic description of the OFMSW disintegration process, whereas the pH determination is based on a nine-order polynomial equation derived by acid-base equilibria. The model can be applied to simulate the co-digestion process for several purposes, such as the evaluation of the optimal process conditions in terms of OFMSW/sewage sludge ratio, temperature, OFMSW particle size, solid mixture retention time, reactor stirring rate, etc. Biogas production and composition can also be evaluated to estimate the potential energy production under different process conditions. In particular, model simulations reported in this paper show the model capability to predict the OFMSW amount which can be treated in the digester of an existing MWWTP and to assess the OFMSW particle size diminution pre-treatment required to increase the rate of the disintegration process, which otherwise can highly limit the co-digestion system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In children with Down Syndrome (DS), as in other groups of special needs children, development depends crucially on the degree to which parents provide appropriate stimulation and effective support. The majority of recent studies investigating interactions between parents and children with DS have been conducted on mothers. Method Through observation of child solitary play, child collaborative play with their father, and father play with their child, the current study focused on paternal contributions to child play in association with the effective quality of father–child interactions. A total of 19 children ( M chronological age = 35.32 months, SD = 10.35; M mental age = 19.58, SD = 5.43) with DS and their fathers participated in the study. Two 10-min sessions, of child solitary play and collaborative play with their father, were videorecorded. A coding system for exploratory and symbolic play was applied to both sessions, and the Emotional Availability (EA) Scales were independently applied to the collaborative play session as a measure of the effective quality of the father–child interaction. Results Children showed more symbolic play during collaborative sessions compared with solitary sessions. Bivariate correlations showed positive associations between father play and child exploratory and symbolic play. Cluster analysis identified dyads in low, medium and high EA groups, which differed in terms of each partner's play. Specifically, both fathers and children of high EA dyads were more likely to show more symbolic play and less exploratory play than those with low EA dyads. Conclusions Our findings enrich the theoretical perspective that dyadic interactions based on emotional involvement may lead to enhanced cognitive functioning in children with DS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose:Pharmacological inhibition of beta-amyloid (Aβ) induced reactive gliosis may represent a novel rationale to develop drugs able to blunt neuronal damage and slow the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychotropic natural cannabinoid, exerts in vitro a combination of neuroprotective effects in different models of Aβ neurotoxicity. The present study, performed in a mouse model of AD-related neuroinflammation, was aimed at confirming in vivo the previously reported antiinflammatory properties of CBD.Experimental approach:Mice were inoculated with human Aβ (1–42) peptide into the right dorsal hippocampus, and treated daily with vehicle or CBD (2.5 or 10 mg kg−1, i.p.) for 7 days. mRNA for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was assessed by in situ hybridization. Protein expression of GFAP, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and IL-1β was determined by immunofluorescence analysis. In addition, ELISA assay of IL-1β level and the measurement of NO were performed in dissected and homogenized ipsilateral hippocampi, derived from vehicle and Aβ inoculated mice, in the absence or presence of CBD.Key results:In contrast to vehicle, CBD dose-dependently and significantly inhibited GFAP mRNA and protein expression in Aβ injected animals. Moreover, under the same experimental conditions, CBD impaired iNOS and IL-1β protein expression, and the related NO and IL-1β release.Conclusion and implications:The results of the present study confirm in vivo anti-inflammatory actions of CBD, emphasizing the importance of this compound as a novel promising pharmacological tool capable of attenuating Aβ evoked neuroinflammatory responses.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 151, 1272–1279; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707337; published online 25 June 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Peptidylarginine deiminase 6 (PAD6) is an enzyme that is uniquely expressed in male and female germ cells. To study the function of this enzyme in vivo we generated mice deficient for PAD6. Here we show that inactivation of the PAD6 gene in mice leads to female infertility whereas male fertility is not affected. The absence of the PAD6 protein and consequently absence of citrullination activity in oocytes results in dispersal of the cytoskeletal sheets in oocytes, indicating an essential role of these germ cell-specific structures in zygote/embryo development. PAD6 deficient mice do not show any other overt phenotype. Thus, we identify citrullination as a new regulator of fertility. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A 600ml continuously stirred tank reactor was used to assess the performance of a zinc sulfide precipitation process using a biogenic sulfide solution (the effluent of a sulfate-reducing bioreactor) as sulfide source. In all experiments, a proportional-integral (PI) control algorithm was used to control the pH and the sulfide (S2−) concentration at the desired level in the precipitator. The pS (defined as: −log[S2−]) and pH were optimised using a chemical Na2S solution as sulfide source. A S2− concentration of 10−15 M (i.e. pS 15) was found to be optimal for zinc sulfide precipitation, resulting in a residual zinc concentration of 0.07mg/l from a 3g/l Zn2+ influent, for both chemical Na2S and biogenic sulfide solutions. The mean particle size of the ZnS precipitates at pS 15 and pH 6.3 was 7.5 and 10.2μm when using biogenic sulfide and chemical Na2S, respectively, indicating that both sulfide sources are adequate for solid–liquid separation by sedimentation. When biogenic sulfide instead of chemical Na2S was used, the efficiency of the ZnS precipitation process slightly decreased both in terms of zinc effluent concentration (at pS 10 and 20) and particle size of the precipitate (at pS 10, 15 and 20). This was shown to be attributed to the presence of various substances (phosphate, micro-nutrients, acetate, EDTA) present in the sulfate-reducing reactor effluent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Models of gravity with variable G and Λ have acquired greater relevance after the recent evidence in favour of the Einstein theory being non-perturbatively renormalizable in the Weinberg sense. The present paper builds a modified Arnowitt–Deser–Misner (ADM) action functional for such models which leads to a power-law growth of the scale factor for pure gravity and for a massless ϕ4 theory in a Universe with Robertson–Walker symmetry, in agreement with the recently developed fixed-point cosmology. Interestingly, the renormalization-group flow at the fixed point is found to be compatible with a Lagrangian description of the running quantities G and Λ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper reports on DNA DSB induction in human fibroblasts by iron ions of different energies, namely 5, 1 GeV/u, 414 and 115 MeV/u, in absence or presence of different shields (PMMA, Al and Pb). Measure of DNA DSB was performed by calibrated Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis using the fragment counting method. The RBE–LET relationships for unshielded and shielded beams were obtained both in terms of dose average LET and of track average LET. Weak dependence on these parameters was observed for DSB induction. The shielding efficiency, evaluated by the ratio between the cross sections for unshielded and shielded beams, depends not only on the shield type and thickness, but also on the beam energy. Protection is only observed at high iron ions energy, especially at 5 GeV/u, where PMMA shield gives higher protection compared to Al or Pb shields of the same thickness expressed in g/cm2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose : To characterize the differences among the experimental DNA fragmentation spectra induced in Chinese hamster V79 cells by γ -rays, low-energy protons and alpha-particles through the use of a phenomenological model. Materials and methods : A model of DNA fragmentation was developed as a generalization of the broken-stick model, in which the double-strand breaks induced by radiation were considered randomly placed, but in which the manifestly non-random fragmentation of the control sample was fully taken into account and considered as the initial fragment distribution. Further, an analytical method was introduced that allowed an evaluation of the deviation from randomness of the fragmentation induced by radiation. Results : The analysis of the experimental distribution of DNA fragments showed that there was a progressive departure from randomness in radiation-induced fragmentation going from γ -rays to protons and then to alpha-particles. This deviation was characterized by an enhanced induction of fragments, and therefore by a larger correlation of double-strand breaks, in the experimental range of lower molecular weights. Conclusion : The analysis shows that low-energy light ions induce DNA fragmentation, at the loop level of the chromatin organization, that can be significantly non-random. The same analysis can readily be applied at different length scales, and thus it could offer a basis for the study of the link between DNA damage, correlated at various spatial scales and biological end-points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A continuous laboratory-scale gas-lift reactor was used to investigate the influence of sludge retention time (SRT) on the competition for hydrogen between sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB), methanogenic archaea (MA) and homoacetogenic bacteria (HB). The reactor (30 °C; pH 7) was inoculated with anaerobic sludge and fed with H2/CO2 and sulphate. The reactor was initially operated at a SRT of 2.6 days and loaded with hydrogen in excess while sulphate was limiting (H2/SO4 ratio=12.6). Sulphate reduction, methanogenesis and homoacetogenesis occurred simultaneously. The sulphide formation rate attained a stable level of approximately 3 gCOD l−1 day−1; the methane and acetate formation rates increased from 2.4 and 0.5 gCOD l−1 day−1 to 3.6 and 3.1 gCOD l−1 day−1 in 9 days, respectively. When sulphate was in excess (H2/SO4 ratio=1.9–4), SRB outcompeted MA and HB for H2, independently of the applied SRT (2.6 and 19.8 days). However, the change from sulphate limitation to excess of sulphate resulted in a rapid drop of methanogenic activity at a SRT of 2.6 days: methane production fell from 3.6 to 0.2 gCOD l−1 day−1 in 5 days. At a SRT of 19.8 days, MA were outcompeted much more slowly: the methane production decreased from 1.5 to 0.1 gCOD l−1 day−1 in 40 days. Thus, elevated SRTs delay the outcompetition of MA, without affecting the final outcome of the competition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Peierls brackets are part of the space-time approach to quantum field theory, and provide a Poisson bracket which, being defined for pairs of observables which are group invariant, is group invariant by construction. It is therefore well suited for combining the use of Poisson brackets and the full diffeomorphism group in general relativity. The present paper provides an introduction to the topic, with applications to gauge field theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time accurate measurements of electron and positron fluxes in the energy range 0.2/10 GeV have been performed with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) at altitudes of 370/390 km in the geographic latitude interval ±51.7°. We focused on the under-cutoff lepton fluxes inside the region of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), defined as region where the local magnetic field B ≤ 0.26 G. A clear transition region from stably-trapped flux typical of the Inner Van Allen Belts to quasi-trapped flux typical underneath the Van Allen Belts is observed in the SAA up to energies O(Gev). The observations strongly support positrons abundance in the Inner Van Allen Belts, both in the stably trapped component and in the quasi-trapped one. The flux maps as a function of the canonical adiabatic variables L, α[sub o] are presented for the interval 0.95 < L < 3, 0° < α[sub o] < 90° for electrons (E < 10 GeV) and positrons (E<3 GeV). The results are compared with existing data at lower energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac myocytes respond to biomechanical stress by initiating cellular processes that lead to hypertrophy. Although cardiac hypertrophy is a response to increased stress on the heart, it is associated with elevated plasma catecholamine levels and an increase in cardiac morbidity and mortality. Understanding the cellular signals that initiate the hypertrophic response will be of critical importance to identify pathways that mediate the maladaptive deterioration of the hypertrophic heart to one of cardiac failure. This review will focus on the role of G protein-coupled receptors in the activation of signalling pathways in the heart, such as the mitogen activated protein kinase and phosphoinositide-3 kinase pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the effects of two cannabinoid receptor agonists, WIN 55,212–2 and cannabinol, on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in the C6 glioma cell line. After 24 h of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 µg/mL) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) (300 U/mL) stimulation, a significant increase in NO production, evaluated as nitrite, was observed in the culture medium. WIN 55,212–2 (0.1–10000 nm) and cannabinol (0.3–30000 nm), dose-dependently inhibited nitrite production showing a different potency (WIN 55,212–2 EC[sub 50]: 4.2 nm; cannabinol EC[sub 50]: 700 nm). WIN 55,212–2 (100 nm), given concomitantly to the stimulus also inhibited iNOS expression but had no effect when added to the cells 2 h after LPS/IFN-γ, indicating a possible interference at the protein synthesis level or at an earlier step, as gene transcription. The cannabinoid CB[sub 1] receptor antagonist, SR141716A (0.1–100 nm), but not the cannabinoid CB[sub 2] receptor antagonist, SR144528 (0.1–100 nm), reduced in a dose-related manner WIN 55,212–2-and cannabinol-induced inhibition of nitrite production. SR141161A also reversed the WIN 55,212–2-induced inhibition of iNOS expression. These data suggest that selective cannabinoid CB[sub 1] receptor activation, by inhibiting iNOS expression and NO overproduction in glial cells, might be helpful in NO-mediated inflammation leading to neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of suppressing primary sedimentation on nitrogen removal efficiency of a pre-denitrification system have been evaluated for a large municipal wastewater treatment plant. Simulations have been carried out using the STOAT model. For both the process schemes with and without primary sedimentation, nitrification efficiencies are calculated for increasing influent loads of COD, total N and suspended solids. The sensitivity analysis shows that for the usual carbon to nitrogen ratios in the raw influent both the process schemes allow the requested removal efficiencies, whereas for significantly high C/N ratios the scheme with primary sedimentation is preferable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Lignocellulosic materials (LMs) are abundant feedstocks with excellent potential for biofuels and biocommodities production. In particular, nut and coffee wastes are rich in biomolecules, e.g. sugars and polyphenols, the valorisation of which still has to be fully disclosed. This study investigated the effectiveness of ultrasounds coupled with hydrothermal (i.e. ambient temperature vs 80 °C) and methanol (MeOH)-based pretreatments for polyphenols and sugar solubilisation from hazelnut skin (HS), almond shell (AS), and spent coffee grounds (SCG). The liquid fraction obtained from the pretreated HS was the most promising in terms of biomolecules solubilisation. The highest polyphenols, i.e. 123.9 (±2.3) mg/g TS, and sugar, i.e. 146.0 (±3.4) mg/g TS, solubilisation was obtained using the MeOH-based medium. However, the MeOH-based media were not suitable for direct anaerobic digestion (AD) due to the MeOH inhibition during AD. The water-based liquors obtained from pretreated AS and SCG exhibited a higher methane potential, i.e. 434.2 (±25.1) and 685.5 (±39.5) mL CH 4 /g glucose in , respectively, than the HS liquors despite having a lower sugar concentration. The solid residues recovered after ultrasounds pretreatment were used as substrates for AD as well. Regardless the pretreatment condition, the methane potential of the ultrasounds pretreated HS, AS, and SCG was not improved, achieving maximally 255.4 (±7.4), 42.8 (±3.3), and 366.2 (±4.2) mL CH 4 /g VS, respectively. Hence, the solid and liquid fractions obtained from HS, AS, and SCG showed great potential either as substrates for AD or, in perspective, for biomolecules recovery in a biorefinery context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study which examined the mechanics of light nonaqueous phase liquid movement in a partially saturated sand. Experimental procedures; Observations; Conclusions.

A letter to the editor is presented concerning the indications for targeted molecular screening in autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis including transglutaminase 1 deficiency and corneocyte collapse.

Aim Methods Results Conclusion The aim of the present study was to identify clinical and socio‐demographic factors associated with duration of untreated illness (DUI) in patients affected by panic disorder (PD).Data were collected from patients' medical records (N = 157) of two mental health services respectively located in Milan and in Monza (Italy). Correlation analyses and analysis of variance (ANOVAs) were run to analyse the relation between DUI and quantitative/qualitative variables respectively. Statistically significant variables in uni‐ variate analyses were then inserted in a linear multivariable regression model (backward procedure).Mean DUI was 27.33 (±50.56) months. Patients with an earlier age at onset (r = −0.270; p < .01), a longer duration of illness (r = 0.483; p < .01) and who received a lifetime psychotherapy (F = 6.86; p = .01) had a longer DUI. The final global model showed that a longer DUI was associated with pre‐onset poly‐substance misuse (p = .05) and a longer duration of illness (p < .01).The results of our study showed that a longer DUI was predicted by clinical factors such as the presence of a pre‐onset poly‐substance use disorder and that delayed proper treatment can lead to a chronicization of PD, as indicated by a longer duration of illness. Further studies are needed to in‐depth investigate the role of DUI in influencing the course and outcome of anxiety disorders, including PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]