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We present a parameterized-background data-weak (PBDW) approach [Y Maday, AT Patera, JD Penn, M Yano, Int J Numer Meth Eng, 102(5), 933–965] to the steady-state variational data assimilation (DA) problem for systems modeled by partial differential equations (PDEs) and characterized by multiple interconnected components, with emphasis on vascular flows. We focus on the problem of reconstructing the state of the system in one specific component, based on local measurements. The PBDW approach does not require the solution of any PDE model at prediction stage (projection-by-data) and, as such, enables local state estimates on single components, as long as good background and update spaces for the estimation can be constructed. We discuss the application of PBDW to a two-dimensional steady Navier-Stokes problem for a family of parameterized geometries, and investigate instead the effects of enforcing no-slip boundary conditions and incompressibility constraints on the background and update spaces to enhance the state estimation. Furthermore, we show an actionable strategy to train local reduced-order bases (ROBs) for the background space that can later be used for DA tasks.

Vincenzo Nobile,1 Eleonora Spartà,1 Valentina Zanoletti,1 Francesco Sandolo,2 Enza Cestone2 1R&D Department, Complife Italia, San Martino Siccomario, PV, Italy; 2In vivo Testing Department, Complife Italia, San Martino Siccomario, PV, ItalyCorrespondence: Vincenzo Nobile, R&D Department, Complife Italia, San Martino Siccomario, 27028 PV, Italy, Tel + 39 0382 25504, Fax +39 0382 536006, Email vincenzo.nobile@complifegroup.comPurpose: The present study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a cosmetic product in improving the appearance of periocular skin.Patients and Methods: An open-label study on 40 female subjects showing clinical signs of skin aging in the periocular area (including bags under the eye and dark circles) was conducted. At day 0 and day 28 the bags under eye volume, dark circles color, skin texture, skin moisturization, skin elasticity, and skin radiance were measured. The instrumental measurements were integrated by clinical analysis carried out by a board-certified dermatologist and by a self-assessment questionnaire carried out by each subject participating in the study.Results: After 28 days of product use the volume of the bags under the eye was decreased by 6.8% (p = 0.005), the dark circle color red and blue component improved by 7.1% (p = 0.001) and 4.0% (p = 0.001), respectively, wrinkle depth and skin roughness decreased by 15.8% (p = 0.001) and 6.3% (p = 0.011), respectively, skin moisturization increased by 11.7% (p = 0.000), the skin distensibility decreased by 8.9% (p = 0.000), the overall skin elasticity increased by 10.4% (p = 0.000), and the skin radiance increased by 16.3% (p = 0.000). The instrumental measured effects were also confirmed by the clinical analysis of the dermatologist and the self-assessment questionnaire output.Conclusion: Conclusions: our results suggest that the test product is effective for periocular skin aesthetics (reduction of imperfections undermining the periocular area) and wellness.Keywords: bags under the eye, dark circles, periocular aging, cosmetic product, skin moisturization, skin elasticity

Benedicte Nobile,1,2 Emilie Olie,1– 3 Nicolas Ramoz,4 Jonathan Dubois,1,2 Sebastien Guillaume,1– 3 Philip Gorwood,4 Philippe Courtet1– 3 1Department of Emergency Psychiatry and Acute Care, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France; 2IGF, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France; 3FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France; 4Inserm UMRS1266, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, Paris, FranceCorrespondence: Benedicte Nobile Email benedicte.nobile@gmail.comBackground: Growing evidences suggest that depression with suicidal ideation (SI) could be a specific phenotype with its own characteristics. Moreover, opioid system deregulation might be implicated in suicidal behaviour (SB). The aim of this study was to determine whether the A118G polymorphism (rs1799971) in ORPM1 (the gene encoding opioid receptor mu 1) is associated with suicidal depression (ie, moderate to severe depression with SI) in a large cohort of outpatients with depression.Methods: GENESE is a large, prospective, naturalistic cohort of French adult outpatients with depression (DSM-IV criteria), treated and followed for 6 weeks. Depression severity was assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and SI with the suicidal item of the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-SI). From this cohort, patients with moderate or severe depression (HADS-D subscale score > 11) were selected and classified as without SI (MADRS-SI < 2), or with SI (MADRS-SI ≥ 2).Results: The AA/AG genotypes of the A118G polymorphism were significantly associated with suicidal depression in the non-adjusted (OR = 2.32, 95% CI = [1.28; 4.18]; p-value = 0.005) and in the adjusted models (OR = 2.54, 95% CI = [1.35; 4.78]; p-value = 0.004).Conclusion: Outpatients with depression harbouring the A allele are at higher risk of SI (and possibly SB) than those carrying the G allele. More studies are needed to better understand the link between this polymorphism and SB.Keywords: suicide, suicidal ideation, opioid system, A118G, OPRM1

Intussusception rarely occurs with transanal prolapse of intussusception (TAPI), this presentation may be a sign of Waugh's syndrome (WS), an association between intestinal malrotation and intussusception. The authors present the case of infant with an episode of TAPI, resolved with air enema, who required later diagnostic tests that showed the presence of WS, for which surgery was required after the resolution of the intussusception. At now we found only 72 cases reported of WS and some of them clinically presented with TAPI. In our opinion, patients with this type of presentation require a thorough radiological study of the intestine to rule out intestinal malrotations.

Candida parapsilosis is known to cause severe and persistent outbreaks in clinical settings. Patients infected with multidrug-resistant C. parapsilosis (MDR Cp) isolates were identified in a large Turkish hospital from 2017-2020. We subsequently identified three additional patients infected with MDR Cp isolates in 2022 from the same hospital and two echinocandin-resistant (ECR) isolates from a single patient in another hospital. The increasing number of MDR and ECR isolates contradicts the general principle that the severe fitness cost associated with these phenotypes could prevent their dominance in clinical settings. Here, we employed a multidimensional approach to systematically assess the fitness costs of MDR and ECR C. parapsilosis isolates. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a novel MDR genotype infecting two patients in 2022. Despite severe in vitro defects, the levels and tolerances of the biofilms of our ECR and MDR isolates were generally comparable to those of susceptible wild-type isolates. Surprisingly, the MDR and ECR isolates showed major alterations in their cell wall components, and some of the MDR isolates consistently displayed increased tolerance to the fungicidal activities of primary human neutrophils and were more immunoevasive during exposure to primary human macrophages. Our systemic infection mouse model showed that MDR and ECR C. parapsilosis isolates had comparable fungal burden in most organs relative to susceptible isolates. Overall, we observed a notable increase in the genotypic diversity and frequency of MDR isolates and identified MDR and ECR isolates potentially capable of causing persistent outbreaks in the future.

Valentina Mascaro,1 Lorena Squillace,1 Carmelo GA Nobile,2 Rosa Papadopoli,1 Thijs Bosch,3 Leo M Schouls,3 Francesco Casalinuovo,4 Rosanna Musarella,4 Maria Pavia11Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, Catanzaro, Italy; 2Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy; 3Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands; 4Section of Catanzaro, Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Southern Italy, Catanzaro, ItalyCorrespondence: Maria PaviaDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, Via Tommaso Campanella, Catanzaro 88100, ItalyTel +39 96 171 2367Fax +39 96 171 2382Email pavia@unicz.itPurpose: We conducted a cross-sectional study to measure the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization, with a particular focus on livestock associated (LA)-MRSA in farmers working in contact with livestock (sheep) in one Italian region. Furthermore, we have assessed the antimicrobial resistance pattern of isolates and the association of carriage with specific characteristic of farms and working tasks.Patients and methods: Demographic data, occupational history, and contact with animals information was collected. Nasal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected and all samples were tested for the isolation and identification of S. aureus. Isolates were examined for antimicrobial susceptibility and all MRSA strains underwent molecular analyses through multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA).Results: A total of 115 sheep farms and 275 sheep farmers were enrolled. MRSA colonized workers were found in three farms; S. aureus was isolated in 97 workers (35.5%), whereas MRSA was isolated in 3 (1.1%) workers. All MRSA isolates were classified as multidrug resistant. Two of the MRSA isolates were resistant to quinupristin/dalfopristin (QDA), mupirocin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. Among methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), 32 (34%) were resistant to tetracycline, 31 (33%) to erythromycin, 26 (27.6%) to QDA, and 22 (23.4%) to linezolid and clindamycin. One MRSA belonged to MLVA complex (MC) 001, found to colonize both humans and animals.Conclusion: The picture of MRSA transmission among sheep farmers does not seem to be critical, although there is the need to improve adequate control measures to prevent and minimize any biological risk in sheep farms for both animal and human health. Specific monitoring/surveillance programs would help in better understanding the epidemiology of resistant strains.Keywords: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, antimicrobial resistance, sheep farmers, colonization, epidemiology

Valentina Mascaro,1 Maria Simona Capano,1 Teresa Iona,2 Carmelo Giuseppe Angelo Nobile,3 Antonio Ammendolia,2 Maria Pavia11Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, Catanzaro, Italy; 2Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, Catanzaro, Italy; 3Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Cosenza, ItalyBackground and purpose: Athletes participating in contact or collision sports have a great chance of acquiring Staphylococcus aureus infections. The risk factors for colonization and infections include frequent antibiotic use, close contact situations, skin trauma, sharing of sports equipment, and poor hygiene. Therefore, our specific goals were to determine (1) prevalence of S. aureus among different types of contact sport athletes which were barely studied in the European region, (2) antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus isolates, and (3) association of carriage with particular risk factors of spor t practices.Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among contact or collision sport athletes in Italy. A questionnaire was used to gather information about sociodemographic characteristics, specific sport activities, and participants’ health conditions. Swabs were collected from the nares, oropharynx, and fingers and tested for S. aureus isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility.Results: S. aureus was carried by 42% of 238 enrolled athletes. Colonization was associated with number of weekly training days, sharing of sports equipment, not taking a shower immediately after training, and a previous history of pharyngitis or sinusitis and skin manifestations. Isolates were resistant to clindamycin (24.8%) and erythromycin (15.8%). Of all athletes, 1.3% carried methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA); MRSA were 3% of all S. aureus isolates. No strains were resistant to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim.Conclusion: Our results have shown a high prevalence of S. aureus carriage and a relevant resistance to antimicrobials used for the treatment of S. aureus infections. Prevention efforts aimed at reducing S. aureus colonization, and thus potentially reducing infections, should be improved.Keywords: S. aureus, MRSA, colonization, athletes, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic susceptible

A escrita de textos é uma habilidade complexa, que se apoia em competências cognitivas, linguísticas e metalinguísticas, como a habilidade metatextual, que envolve o conhecimento e controle sobre a estrutura dos diversos tipos de texto. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a relação entre a habilidade metatextual e o desempenho na produção escrita de histórias de alunos do Ensino Fundamental. Participaram da pesquisa 95 alunos do 4º e 5º ano de uma escola pública, solicitados a escrever uma história com temática livre e a responder um questionário avaliando seu conhecimento sobre a estrutura narrativa de histórias. Os resultados indicaram correlação positiva entre a habilidade metatextual e a produção escrita. Os alunos do 5º ano apresentaram desempenho superior aos do 4º na produção de texto, mas não com relação à habilidade metatextual. Sugere-se, portanto, que essa seja objeto de desenvolvimento explícito pela escola, a fim de melhorar a qualidade dos textos produzidos

Candida auris has become a serious threat to public health. The mechanisms of how this fungal pathogen adapts to the mammalian host are poorly understood. Here we report the rapid evolution of an adaptive C. auris multicellular aggregative morphology in the murine host during systemic infection. C. auris aggregative cells accumulate in the brain and exhibit obvious advantages over the single-celled yeast-form cells during systemic infection. Genetic mutations, specifically de novo point mutations in genes associated with cell division or budding processes, underlie the rapid evolution of this aggregative phenotype. Most mutated C. auris genes are associated with the regulation of cell wall integrity, cytokinesis, cytoskeletal properties, and cellular polarization. Moreover, the multicellular aggregates are notably more recalcitrant to the host antimicrobial peptides LL-37 and PACAP relative to the single-celled yeast-form cells. Overall, to survive in the host, C. auris can rapidly evolve a multicellular aggregative morphology via genetic mutations.

Abstract This study was aimed at introducing a new method for predicting the original metrics of fragmented standardized artifacts, specifically of flint blades from the Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (10,200/100–9,500/400 cal B.P.) in the Southern Levant. The excessive re-use of these artifacts or poor preservation conditions often prevent a complete set of metric data from being obtained. Our suggested approach is based on readily accessible machine learning (artificial intelligence) and neural network analysis. These are performed in a multi-paradigm programming language and numeric computing environment, with parameters represented by a rapid measurement system based on the technological features shared by all lithic artifacts of the studied assemblages. This method can be applied to various chronologies and/or contexts. A full set of metric data, including potential typological and functional elements of the assemblages studied, may provide a better understanding of the lithic technology involved; highlight cultural aspects related to the chaîne opératoire of the studied lithic production; and address issues related to cultural sub-divisions in larger-scale applications. Herein, neural network analysis was performed on blade samples from Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B sites from the Southern Levant specifically Nahal Yarmuth 38, Motza, Yiftahel, and Nahal Reuel.