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Abstract Muography is an imaging technique based on the measurement of absorption profiles for muons as they pass through rocks and earth. Muons are produced in the interactions of high-energy cosmic rays in the Earth’s atmosphere. The technique is conceptually similar to usual X-ray radiography, but with extended capabilities of investigating over much larger thicknesses of matter thanks to the penetrating power of high-energy muons. Over the centuries a complex system of cavities has been excavated in the yellow tuff of Mt. Echia, the site of the earliest settlement of the city of Naples in the 8th century BC. A new generation muon detector designed by us, was installed under a total rock overburden of about 40 metres. A 26 days pilot run provided about 14 millions of muon events. A comparison of the measured and expected muon fluxes improved the knowledge of the average rock density. The observation of known cavities proved the validity of the muographic technique. Hints on the existence of a so far unknown cavity was obtained. The success of the investigation reported here demonstrates the substantial progress of muography in underground imaging and is likely to open new avenues for its widespread utilisation.

Taisho Sanshoku is a variant of Koi fish (Cyprinus carpio) that has high demand due to its high economic value and relatively expensive price. This study aimed to determine the sex of the Taisho Sanshoku Koi fish by molecular sexing using the PCR method to amplify the ArS.9-15 gene. This study was initiated by rearing a 4–6 month-old of 10 Taisho Sanshoku Koi fish in a fish tank with a filter and oxygen aeration. The fish were fed with fish pellets for 1–3 days. The Koi fishes were then anesthetized using Koi anesthesia containing β-hydroxyethyl phenyl ether. Each fish's peripheral blood was collected as much as 0.5 mL per fish and then stored in tubes containing Ca-EDTA anticoagulant. The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and used as a template DNA for PCR amplification targeting ArS.9-15 gene. Agarose with 1.5% concentration and CybrSafe staining was used in electrophoresis for visualization of the PCR results then visualized in a dark chamber using a UV transilluminator. The Taisho Sanshoku Koi fish's sex was determined using descriptive analysis based on the electrophoresis results. According to the PCR results, the female Taisho Sanshoku Koi fish only produced one 800 bp DNA band, whereas the male fish produced two 800 bp and 1,100 bp DNA bands. The outcome of molecular fish sexing of the 10 Taisho Sanshoku Koi fish reported that 60% were male and 40% were female.

Abstract Background In spinal surgery adverse events (AE) and surgical complications (SC) significantly affect patient’s outcome and quality of life. The duration of surgery has been investigated in different surgical field as risk factor for complications. The aim of this study is to analyze the correlation between operative time and adverse events in spinal surgery. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data collected prospectively in a cohort of 336 patients surgically treated for spinal diseases of oncological and degenerative origin in a single center, between January 2017 to January 2018. Demographics and clinical data were collected. Adverse events were classified using Spinal Adverse Events Severity System version 2 (SAVES-V2) capture system. Focusing on degenerative patients, bivariate analysis and univariate logistic regression were used to determine the association between operative time and complications. Results A total of 105/336 patients experienced an AE related to surgery, respectively 38% in the oncological group and 28% in the degenerative group. The average age at surgery was 60.3 years (SD 17.1) and the mean operative time was 164.8 ± 138 min. A total of 206 adverse events (30 intraoperative, 135 early postoperative and 41 late postoperative AEs) were recorded. Early post-operative complications accounted for the most recorded AEs (55.5% in the oncological group and 73.2% in the degenerative group). Univariate logistic regression analyses confirmed that operative time correlated with increased risk of intra-operative (p-value = 0.0008), early post-operative (p-value

The Koi fish (Cyprinus carpio var. koi) is an ornamental fish with a high selling value because of its attractive colors, color patterns, body shape, and swimming motion. Koi fish is extensively traded in the international fish market because of their popularity among hobbyists from numerous countries worldwide. This review discusses various aspects of Koi fish cultivation, including genetic involvement, selective breeding strategies, and management systems. By examining crucial factors such as water parameters, technological innovations, and evolving cultivation methods, this review explored their influence on the quality of Koi fish. Breakthrough technologies, such as ornamental fish warehousing and recirculation aquaculture systems, enhance breeding efficiency and profitability. Molecular sexing, feed optimization, and color enhancement strategies are central to pursuing superior Koi fish. Reproduction management, disease prevention, and risk reduction during transport underscore ongoing efforts to ensure their survival. Despite notable progress, several challenges remain, including limited genetic studies, gaps in disease research, and unexplored herbal alternatives. The active involvement of hobbyists and breeders in research initiatives is a pivotal force in unlocking the untapped potential. The holistic approaches to enhance production efficiency and improve care standards require further exploration, paving the way for a sustainable future in the evolving management of Koi fish cultivation.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a central framework for guiding sustainable urban development. However, it is not clear how and where SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) is being implemented, and how such implementation might be improved. We investigate this subject by analyzing United Nations (UN) SDG Good Practices data from 2018 to 2021, using content analysis, classification, and descriptive statistics. The resulting analysis and classification is new in this field. We applied five criteria to the 336 SDG 11 responses: (1) geography; (2) actors; (3) progress toward targets; (4) areas of implementation; and (5) scale of action. Overall, 86 of the 193 countries that adopted the 2030 Agenda submitted at least one SDG 11 good practice. Thirty-three countries contributed 73.8% of the total, and most developing countries did not make submissions. A very small number of responses (between 2.6 and 9.1%) addressed equity-related targets. Good practices from developed countries were usually more technology-oriented and system-forming; developing countries typically focused on issues of day-to-day concern. This analysis points to the need for better and more systematic reporting on SDG 11 implementation, a more active public sector role in SDG implementation and reporting, more focus on dimensions related to social equity, and better formulation of urban sustainability targets and indicators.

The order Isopoda Latreille, 1816 consists of species occurring in terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments. In the Southern Ocean (SO), this group is amongst the most speciose and occur at all depths. Isopoda biogeography, despite being studied since the first Antarctic expeditions, is still poorly known from a geographical point of view and shows large occurrence gaps for some groups in specific sectors of the SO. In this paper, we update the isopod checklists of the Ross Sea (RS) and of some peri-Antarctic areas, such as the South Orkney Islands (SOI) and the South Sandwich Islands (SSI), based on the study of museum vouchers curated by the Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA, Section of Genoa).A total of 279 MNA samples from 15 different expeditions were studied. From this material, consisting of 419 specimens, 41 accepted species distributed in 24 families and 51 genera were identified. Comparing this newly-obtained information with the GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) and OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) portal, 15 species are here reported for the first time in the Ross Sea, with five new records in the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area. All records are new for the Terra Nova Bay area, for which a checklist of this group has never been produced before.

Grammatophyllum stapeliiflorum termasuk kedalam daftar appendix II CITES. Populasi anggrek ini menurun disebabkan karena aktivitas manusia dan tingkat perkecambahan yang rendah di alam. Teknik kultur jaringan merupakan salah satu solusi perbanyakan anggrek menggunakan biji sebagai sumber eksplan. Pepton merupakan senyawa organik yang bisa meningkatkan perkecambahan dan perkembangan protokorm karena mengandung asam amino, protein biotin, piridoksin, tiamin dan nitrogen. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui pengaruh pepton terhadap perkecambahan biji dan perkembangan protokorm G. stapeliiflorum melalui teknik kultur jaringan. Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan 6 perlakuan dan 4 ulangan. Biji yang sudah matang dari kapsul steril ditaburkan pada media MS tanpa pepton sebagai perlakuan kontrol dan dengan penambahan berbagai konsentrasi pepton (0, 5; 1; 1,5; 2; dan 2,5 g/L). Hasil analisis statistik menunjukkan bahwa pepton memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan dalam mempercepat perkecambahan. Persentase tertinggi perkecambahan biji (88,59%), pembentukan protokorm (61,02%) dan protokorm yang memiliki SAM dan RAM (22,43%) diamati pada media MS yang mengandung 2 g/L pepton.

Pemanfaatan limbah air cucian beras dari rumah tangga masih belum dioptimalkan, padahal air tersebut mengandung sejumlah besar unsur hara yang esensial bagi pertumbuhan tanaman. Limbah ini dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai pupuk alami untuk tanaman hortikultura. Air cucian beras memberikan berbagai manfaat bagi tanaman, mudah didapat oleh petani, dan juga ramah lingkungan. Selain itu, harganya sangat terjangkau sehingga dapat diakses oleh para petani. Tujuan kegiatan ini adalah untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan pemahaman masyarakat dalam pembuatan Pupuk Organik Cair (POC) yang berasal dari limbah air cucian beras, serta mengurangi penggunaan pupuk kimia dengan mengalihkannya ke pupuk organik guna menjaga kualitas tanah dan lingkungan. Kegiatan ini dilaksanakan di Nagari Lawang, Kecamatan Matur, Agam, Sumatera Barat. Metode yang digunakan adalah melalui ceramah dan demonstrasi pembuatan pupuk organik cair (POC). Hasil kegiatan ini menunjukkan interaksi antara penyelenggara dan peserta memiliki dampak positif, meningkatkan keterampilan dan memotivasi ibu PKK dalam budidaya tanaman. Halaman rumah dipandang sebagai lahan produktif untuk nutrisi dan pendapatan, tetapi ada hambatan seperti kurangnya pengetahuan dan modal. Mengatasi hambatan membutuhkan peningkatan pengetahuan teknis dan penyediaan modal. Selanjutnya pada kegiatan ini juga menghasilkan peningkatan pengetahuan dan partisipasi aktif dalam proses pembuatan pembuatan pupuk organik cair. Kesimpulan dari kegiatan ini meningkatkan pengetahuan dan keterampilan dalam pembuatan POC, memotivasi budidaya tanaman intensif. Minat publik dalam pembuatan POC dari limbah tinggi, meningkatkan pengetahuan dan keterampilan dalam memproduksi pupuk organik untuk budidaya tanaman yang sukses.

Distributional data on planktonic, benthic and sympagic copepods collected in the framework of the XXXIVth Expeditions of the Italian National Antarctic Programme (PNRA) to the Ross Sea sector from 2018–2019 are here provided. These occurrences correspond to specimens collected from the 25 μm filters used in the desalination plant of the Italian research station "Mario Zucchelli" (MZS), located in the Terra Nova Bay area (TNB; Ross Sea, Antarctica). This dataset is a contribution to the Antarctic Biodiversity Portal, the thematic Antarctic node for both the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (AntOBIS) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Antarctic Biodiversity Information Facility (ANTABIF). The dataset was uploaded and integrated with the SCAR-AntOBIS database (the geospatial component of SCAR-MarBIN). Please follow the guidelines from the SCAR Data Policy (ISSN 1998-0337) when using the data. If you have any questions regarding this dataset, please contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata or via data-biodiversity-aq@naturalsciences.be. Issues with the dataset can be reported at the biodiversity-aq GitHub project.We describe the diversity of marine copepods Terra Nova Bay sampled by the filters installed in the desalination unit (DU) of the Italian research station "Mario Zucchelli" described in recent work. The opening of the intake pipe of the DU is positioned at a depth of 4 m and allowed a total of 2,116 specimens to be sampled and recognised. In addition, new occurrence records of copepod genera and species are reported in the same zone. We provide an overview of the marine copepod diversity reported for TNB. The total of 2,116 individuals corresponds to 14 genera and 15 species and is represented by 136 occurrence records in this dataset. Around 52% of the total number of species are new records for the TNB area. The publication of this data paper was funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO, contract n°FR/36/AN1/AntaBIS) in the Framework of EU-Lifewatch as a contribution to the SCAR Antarctic biodiversity portal (biodiversity.aq).

Oil refineries release harmful pollutants affecting the neighboring communities. Τhe environmental impact of the continuous operation of an oil refinery was explored in soils and vegetables in northern Greece. The investigation focused on the presence of radionuclides and heavy metals in the surrounding area of the oil refinery. The determination of the activity concentrations of uranium, radium and thorium was performed by gamma and alpha spectrometry while the concentrations of heavy metals and trace elements (As, Pb, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni, Fe) were determined by X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The results obtained from a two-years survey, in cold and warm periods, showed slight temporal variation and the concentrations of the dispersed metals do not exceed literature values. Determination of pollution indexes, as contamination factor and degree (CF and Cd), as well as enrichment (EF) and transfer factor (TF) from soil to plants and hazard quotient (HQ) led to a better assessment of the environmental status so that measures can be taken to limit the pollution and the effects on human health.

Research has made clear that neighborhoods impact the health and well-being of their residents. A related strand of research shows that neighborhood disadvantage is geographically clustered. Because the neighborhoods of low-income and minority populations tend to be more disadvantaged, neighborhood conditions help explain racial and socioeconomic inequalities. These strands of research restrict processes of neighborhood influence to operate only within and between geographically contiguous neighbors. However, we are underestimating the role of neighborhood conditions in explaining inequality if disadvantage extends beyond the residential and extralocal environments into a network of neighborhoods spanning the urban landscape based on where residents move within a city. I use anonymized mobile phone data to measure exposure to air pollution among residents of poor and minority neighborhoods in 88 of the most populous US cities. I find that residents from minority and poor neighborhoods travel to neighborhoods that have greater air pollution levels than the neighborhoods that residents from White and nonpoor neighborhoods visit. Hispanic neighborhoods exhibit the greatest overall pollution burden, Black/White and Asian/White disparities are greatest at the network than residential scale, and the socioeconomic advantage of lower risk exposure is highest for residents from White neighborhoods. These inequalities are notable given recent declines in segregation and air pollution levels in American cities.

Ride-hailing businesses, including Uber and Lyft, have reshaped road traffic since they first began operating in the United States approximately a decade ago. It follows that ride-hailing may also alter the incidence and distribution of road traffic crash injuries and deaths. The available evidence relating ride-hailing to crashes is critically reviewed in this article. We present a theoretical model that synthesizes the hypothesized mechanisms, and we identify common methodological challenges and suggest priorities for future research. Mixed results have been reported for the overall incidence of road traffic crash injuries and deaths, likely due to heterogeneous impacts on vehicular traffic flow (e.g., increasing the volume of vehicles); on vehicle-, person-, and event-level characteristics (e.g., reducing alcohol-impaired driver crashes); on road-user types (e.g., increasing pedestrian crashes); and on environmental conditions (e.g., reducing crashes most substantially where public transit access is poorest). The lack of a well-developed theory of human mobility and methodological challenges that are common to many ecological studies impede exploration of these sources of moderation. Innovative solutions are required to explicate ride-hailing's heterogeneous impacts, to guide policy that can take advantage of the public health benefits of ride-hailing, and to ensure that research keeps pace with technological advances that continue to reshape road traffic use.

Resumo Esta pesquisa busca avaliar se a emissão de alertas de eventos adversos e desastres via Short Message Service, com base no Código de Endereçamento Postal (CEP) cadastrado pelas pessoas, é um meio eficaz para torná-las preparadas. Os procedimentos metodológicos incluem a espacialização dos códigos cadastrados pelas pessoas e a comparação com os códigos e as vias existentes e os riscos socioambientais. Os resultados indicam um percentual baixo de pessoas cadastradas, sobretudo em áreas de vulnerabilidade socioambiental. Ainda, 10% dos assentamentos informais possuem limitações na regularização de vias, implicando a inexistência de CEP. Logo, o processo da Defesa Civil de emissão de alertas baseado no código postal não atinge de forma efetiva as áreas de vulnerabilidade socioambiental, potencializando os riscos dos vulneráveis.

Neste estudo, parte-se de discussões entre corpo, sexualidade e religião. A pergunta que se apresenta é: como a teologia legitima abusos contra corpos, especialmente os femininos? Para tanto, mesclam-se análise e interpretação, procedimentalmente a pesquisa é bibliográfica e qualitativa. O objetivo do estudo é entender o corpo na religião cristã historicamente até os nossos dias. Ademais, apresenta-se um caso brasileiro com reflexos internacionais: João de Deus, que já fora condenado pelo Poder Judiciário por crimes sexuais contra fiéis que procuravam seus trabalhos espirituais. Faz-se análise de (re)leituras do corpo e do sexo na teologia a partir da teologia inclusiva, queer ou indecente, que integra a sexualidade de Deus, dos crentes e a libertação das atividades religiosas machistas e tradicionais. Para tanto, utilizam-se os estudos da teóloga argentina Marcella Althaus-Reid

The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of a gentle shampoo and a mousse containing Adelmidrol, tapioca starch and a non-prescription antimicrobial complex on seborrhoea and other clinical signs secondary to canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). Forty-six dogs with cAD-associated seborrhoea and/or pruritus > 4 cm on the pruritus visual analogue scale (P-VAS) and/or bacterial/Malassezia overgrowth were enrolled. The mousse was applied twice daily, and dogs were evaluated at days (D)0, 7, 14 and optionally 28, by means of a skin seborrheic index (SSI), P-VAS, cAD lesion index (CADLI), and a semiquantitative cytological score. The mean SSI value improved during the first two weeks (4.1 ± 0.37 to 1.9 ± 0.30; p < 0.0001). The mean P-VAS score (cm) decreased from 6.6 ± 0.19 at D0 to 3.8 ± 0.31 at D14 (p < 0.0001). The mean CADLI score dropped from 13.7 ± 1.24 to 8.5 ± 1.14 at D14 (p < 0.001). The cytological score for bacteria and Malassezia decreased from 3.2 ± 0.10 and 3.2 ± 0.11, respectively, to 1.2 ± 0.19 and 1.2 ± 0.24 (p < 0.0001). All the investigated signs further improved at D28. Altogether, these observations suggest that the tested protocol might be useful in managing cAD-associated signs.

Penggunaan pupuk organik mampu menjadi solusi dalam mengurangi aplikasi pupuk anorganik dikarenakan mampu memperbaiki sifat fisik, kimia, dan biologi tanah, sehingga bisa meningkatkan kualitas dan kuantitas hasil panen tanaman. Salah satu pupuk organik yang bisa memperbaiki unsur hara tanah dan bisa meningkatkan kualitas dan kuantitas panen adalah limbah air cucian beras. Limbah ini berguna bagi tanaman, mudah diperoleh petani dan ramah lingkungan, memiliki harga yang murah sehingga dapat terjangkau oleh petani. Tujuan kegiatan ini adalah 1. untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan pemahaman masyarakat dalam pembuatan Pupuk Organik Cair (POC) berasal dari limbah air cucian beras, 2. mengurangi penggunaan pupuk kimia yang dialihkan ke pupuk organik untuk menjaga kualitas tanah dan lingkungan. Kegiatan ini telah dilakukan pada bulan Juli sampai dengan bulan September 2022 di Kantor Wali Jorong Sigiran Nagari Tanjung Sani Kecamatan Tanjung Raya Kabupaten Agam. Metode kegiatan yang digunakan adalah: metode penyuluhan, dan peragaan pembuatan pupuk organik cair (POC). Hasil kegiatan menunjukkan bahwa mitra sangat tertarik dan antusias mengikuti pelaksanaan kegiatan dalam menerima ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi pupuk yang diberikan. Selanjutnya motivasi masyarakat kelompok ibu-ibu PKK mitra untuk melakukan usaha budidaya atau pemeliharaan tanaman lokal secara intensif sangat besar. Bahkan tingginya keinginan masyarakat/mitra untuk menguasai teknologi pembuatan pupuk organik cair (POC) yang diberikan. Dari kegiatan ini adapat disimpulkan bahwa kegiatan ini dapat menambah pengetahuan dan keterampilan masyarakat dalam memproduksi pupuk organik alternatif sehingga kegiatan budidaya tanaman dapat berjalan dengan baik di Nagari Tanjung Sani Kecamatan Tanjung Raya Kabupaten Agam, Sumatera Barat.

O século XXI pode ser considerado o século da ascensão do populismo, um fenômeno político e social que fragiliza e destrói instituições e sistemas democráticos em nome do poder político. Nesse sentido, em 2020, um dos mais importantes teóricos da democracia, Pierre Rosanvallon, publicou a obra O século do populismo com o objetivo de compreender, de forma complexa e sistêmica, as características e riscos de líderes populistas. Assim, a partir de uma visão profunda que perpassa por um olhar sociológico, histórico e crítico, a teoria apresentada neste livro está ligada a indeterminação democrática, ou seja, na ideia de que a democracia possui paradoxos e ambiguidades, abrindo espaços para que o populismo nasça dentro dela mesma.

Exposure to heat is a growing public health concern as climate change accelerates worldwide. Different socioeconomic and racial groups often face unequal exposure to heat as well as increased heat-related sickness, mortality, and energy costs. We provide new insight into thermal inequities by analyzing 20 Southwestern U.S. metropolitan regions at the census block group scale for three temperature scenarios (average summer heat, extreme summer heat, and average summer nighttime heat). We first compared average temperatures for top and bottom decile block groups according to demographic variables. Then we used spatial regression models to investigate the extent to which exposure to heat (measured by land surface temperature) varies according to income and race. Large thermal inequities exist within all the regions studied. On average, the poorest 10% of neighborhoods in an urban region were 2.2 °C (4 °F) hotter than the wealthiest 10% on both extreme heat days and average summer days. The difference was as high as 3.3-3.7 °C (6-7 °F) in California metro areas such as Palm Springs and the Inland Empire. A similar pattern held for Latinx neighborhoods. Temperature disparities at night were much smaller (usually ~1 °F). Disparities for Black neighborhoods were also lower, perhaps because Black populations are small in most of these cities. California urban regions show stronger thermal disparities than those in other Southwestern states, perhaps because inexpensive water has led to more extensive vegetation in affluent neighborhoods. Our findings provide new details about urban thermal inequities and reinforce the need for programs to reduce the disproportionate heat experienced by disadvantaged communities.

Introdução: A educação na infância tem sido reconhecida como aspecto fundamental para o desenvolvimento global da criança, sendo a escola, o espaço onde se proporciona condições para ofertas pedagógicas intencionalmente planejadas, oferecendo condições para que as crianças exerçam o papel de ator social e sujeito de direitos. Nessa premissa, a documentação pedagógica, estratégia contemplada nas atuais pedagogias participativas, tem despontado como ferramenta relevante no cenário de Educação Infantil, sendo necessário apropriação prática para a obtenção de êxito nos resultados. Objetivo: Compreender essa centralidade de documentação pedagógica como estratégia contemplada para efetivação de pedagogias participativas na Educação Infantil, segundo a literatura sobre a temática. Método: Revisão de Literatura, realizada nas bases de dados Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), Scopus e Google Acadêmico, no período que compreende entre outubro de 2022 e novembro de 2022. Resultados: Foram constituídas três bases analíticas, a saber: Uma prática investigativa, adocumentação pedagógica e a observação e os registros na documentação pedagógica. Considerações finais: Evidenciou-se que, na prática, a documentação pedagógica impacta em condições para a reflexão das crianças sobre suas vivências, impulsionando-as a se inserirem em atividades investigativas a partir de suas problematizações, durante o processo pedagógico na Educação Infantil e, como via de mão dupla, oferece condições para a autoformação dos professores e professoras, com ênfase na reflexão sobre as práticas docentes.

Ridehailing services such as Uber have been promoted as viable interventions for curbing alcohol-involved driving fatalities. However, evidence of ridehailing's impact has been mixed, with some studies finding no association but others finding either an increase or a decrease in fatalities. We contribute to this literature by examining more recent years of data, which capture a period during which Uber ridership has grown substantially and alcohol-involved fatalities have increased. Furthermore, we test whether the relationship between Uber availability and traffic fatalities depends on local characteristics. We employ multivariate regression models to test the association between Uber availability and total, alcohol-involved, and weekend and holiday-specific traffic fatalities in the 100 most populated metropolitan areas in the United States between 2009 and 2017. We find that Uber availability is not associated with changes in total, alcohol-involved, and weekend and holiday-specific traffic fatalities in aggregate, yet it is associated with increased traffic fatalities in urban, densely populated counties.

En bloc resection consists in the surgical removal of a vertebral tumor in a single piece with a sufficient margin, to improve survival and reduce recurrence rate. This procedure is technically demanding and correlates with a high complication rate. The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors for complications in en bloc resection and evaluate if benefits overcome the risks in term of overall survival. We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data of patients treated with en bloc resection between 1980 and 2021. Complications were classified according to SAVES-V2. Overall Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. A total of 149 patients out of 298 (50%) suffered from at least one complication. Moreover, 220 adverse events were collected (67 intraoperative, 82 early post-operative, 71 late post-operative), 54% of these were classified as grade 3 (in a severity scale from 1 to 6). Ten years overall survival was 67% (95% CI 59–74). The occurrence of relapses was associated to an increased risk of mortality with OR 3.4 (95% CI 2.1–5.5), while complications did not affect the overall survival. Despite a high complication rate, en bloc resection allows for a better control of disease and should be performed in selected patients by specialized surgeons.

IntroductionThe pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is widely unknown, and the role of autoantibodies is still undetermined.MethodsTo identify brain-reactive autoantibodies possibly related to NPSLE, immunofluorescence (IF) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on rat and human brains were performed. ELISA was used to reveal the presence of known circulating autoantibodies, while western blot (WB) was applied to characterize potential unknown autoantigen(s).ResultsWe enrolled 209 subjects, including patients affected by SLE (n=69), NPSLE (n=36), Multiple Sclerosis (MS, n=22), and 82 age- and gender-matched healthy donors (HD). Autoantibody reactivity by IF was observed in almost the entire rat brain (cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum) using sera from NPSLE and SLE patients and was virtually negative in MS and HD. NPSLE showed higher prevalence (OR 2.4; p = 0.047), intensity, and titer of brain-reactive autoantibodies than SLE patients. Most of the patient sera with brain-reactive autoantibodies (75%) also stained human brains. Double staining experiments on rat brains mixing patients’ sera with antibodies directed against neuronal (NeuN) or glial markers showed autoantibody reactivity restricted to NeuN-containing neurons. Using TEM, the targets of brain-reactive autoantibodies were located in the nuclei and, to a lesser extent, in the cytoplasm and mitochondria. Given the high degree of colocalization between NeuN and brain-reactive autoantibodies, we assumed NeuN was a possible autoantigen. However, WB analysis with HEK293T cell lysates expressing or not expressing the gene encoding for NeuN protein (RIBFOX3) showed that patients’ sera carrying brain-reactive autoantibodies did not recognize the NeuN corresponding band size. Among the panel of NPSLE-associated autoantibodies (e.g., anti-NR2, anti-P-ribosomal protein, antiphospholipid) investigated by ELISA assay, only the anti-β2-glycoprotein-I (aβ2GPI) IgG was exclusively found in those sera containing brain-reactive autoantibodies.ConclusionIn conclusion, SLE and NPSLE patients possess brain-reactive autoantibodies but with higher frequency and titers found in NPSLE patients. Although many target antigens of brain-reactive autoantibodies are still undetermined, they likely include β2GPI.

Excessive predominance of pathological species in the gut microbiota could increase the production of inflammatory mediators at the gut level and, via modification of the gut–blood barrier, at the systemic level. This pro-inflammatory state could, in turn, increase biological aging that is generally proxied by telomere shortening. In this study, we present findings from a secondary interaction analysis of gut microbiota, aging, and inflammatory marker data from a cohort of patients with different diagnoses of severe mental disorders. We analyzed 15 controls, 35 patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), and 31 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) recruited among those attending a community mental health center (50 males and 31 females, mean and median age 46.8 and 46.3 years, respectively). We performed 16S rRNA sequencing as well as measurement of telomere length via quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. We applied statistical modeling with logistic regression to test for interaction between gut microbiota and these markers. Our results showed statistically significant interactions between telomere length and gut microbiota pointing to the genus Lachnostridium, which remained significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of MDD even after adjustment for a series of covariates. Although exploratory, these findings show that specific gut microbiota signatures overexpressing Lachnoclostridium and interacting with biological aging could modulate the liability for MDD.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA) and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) represent life-threatening syndromes after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). In both conditions, endothelial dysfunction is a common denominator, and development of relevant biomarkers is of high importance for both diagnosis and prognosis. Despite the fact that soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) have been determined as endothelial injury indices in various clinical settings, their role in HSCT-related complications remains unexplored. In this context, we used immunoenzymatic methods to measure suPAR and GDF-15 levels in HSCT-TMA, acute and/or chronic GVHD, control HSCT recipients, and apparently healthy individuals of similar age and gender. We found considerably greater SuPAR and GDF-15 levels in HSCT-TMA and GVHD patients compared to allo-HSCT and healthy patients. Both GDF-15 and suPAR concentrations were linked to EASIX at day 100 and last follow-up. SuPAR was associated with creatinine and platelets at day 100 and last follow-up, while GDF-15 was associated only with platelets, suggesting that laboratory values do not drive EASIX. SuPAR, but not GDF-15, was related to soluble C5b-9 levels, a sign of increased HSCT-TMA risk. Our study shows for the first time that suPAR and GDF-15 indicate endothelial damage in allo-HSCT recipients. Rigorous validation of these biomarkers in many cohorts may provide utility for their usefulness in identifying and stratifying allo-HSCT recipients with endothelial cell impairment.

The use of hypoxic devices among athletes who train in normobaric hypoxia has become increasingly popular; however, the acute effects on heart and brain metabolism are not yet fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the mitochondrial bioenergetics in trained male and female Wistar rats after acute hypoxia training. The experimental plan included exercising for 30 min on a treadmill in a Plexiglas cage connected to a hypoxic generator set at 12.5% O2 or in normoxia. After the exercise, the rats were sacrificed, and their mitochondria were isolated from their brains and hearts. The bioenergetics for each complex of the electron transport chain was tested using a Clark-type electrode. The results showed that following hypoxia training, females experienced impaired oxidative phosphorylation through complex II in heart subsarcolemmal mitochondria, while males had an altered ADP/O in heart interfibrillar mitochondria, without any change in oxidative capacity. No differences from controls were evident in the brain, but an increased electron transport system efficiency was observed with complex I and IV substrates in males. Therefore, the study’s findings suggest that hypoxia training affects the heart mitochondria of females more than males. This raises a cautionary flag for female athletes who use hypoxic devices.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) constitute a complication that occurs in 19% to 34% of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study is to describe median days to healing, average velocity of wound closure, and percentage of wound surface closed at 3, 6, and 12 weeks through the use of homogenized and lyophilized amniotic membrane (hAMpe) dressings for the treatment of DFUs in ambulatory patients. Methods: An observational, descriptive, longitudinal study was performed. Patients presenting with granulation-based DFU, after proper debridement, were included from August 19, 2021, until July 14, 2023. hAMpe dressings placed every 3 days were used for the treatment of these ulcers. Results: Sixteen patients were included with a mean age of 52.38 (8.07) years. The analyzed lesions were postsurgical ulcers in 15 of the 16 included patients. Median ulcer size was 19.5 cm2 (6.12-36). The median ABI was 1.10 (1-1.14). The median days to healing was 96 (71-170). The median percentage closure of the wound at 3 weeks was 41% (28.9%-55.3%), at 6 weeks it was 68.2% (48.6%-74.2%), and at 12 weeks it was 100% (81%-100%). The average velocity closure was 1.04% per day (95% CI 0.71%-1.31%). It was higher during the closure of the first 50% of the ulcer, 2.12% per day (95% CI 0.16%-4.09%), and decreased from 50% to 25% of the ulcer size to 0.67% per day (95% CI 0.23%-1.10%) and from 25% to closure to 0.47% per day (95% CI 0.14%-0.80%), P <.001. Conclusion: These results are difficult to compare to other studies given the higher surface area of the ulcers included in our sample. The development of hAMpe dressings enables patients to apply them without requiring assistance from health care teams and was not associated with any recognized complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While transitions to college can be stressful, links between distinct types of college transitions and changing student well-being remain unclear. For instance, peer ability often shifts from high school to college, though students differ markedly in how much peer ability change they experience. Here, we draw on national longitudinal data (National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health [Add Health]; Waves 1 and 3; N = 1,453) to demonstrate how peer ability transitions from high school to college relate to changes in depressive symptoms and self-esteem, net of student personal background and school-average levels of peer ability. We find that depressive symptoms increase by 27% for students experiencing lowered peer ability across their college transition, relative to no substantial change in peer ability. Meanwhile, heightened peer ability in college links to neither diminished nor enhanced student well-being across the transition. Overall, student well-being relates more closely to collegiate than high-school peer ability.

O poder público tem a finalidade de definir a instalação de equipamentos urbanos comunitários por meio do ordenamento territorial. Entretanto, o rápido crescimento da população, aliado à falta de planejamento das cidades, não permite que essas demandas sejam adequadamente atendidas. Um problema mal avaliado resulta em uma ação falha de resposta perante desastres. Um exemplo é em Curitiba, onde muitos equipamentos urbanos, como unidades de saúde e escolas, situam-se em áreas atingidas por inundações. O objetivo deste artigo é destacar e avaliar situações de conflitos sociais e políticos envolvidos na problemática. A metodologia se baseia na análise de leis, documentos oficiais, mapeamentos e relatórios de ocorrência da defesa civil. Concluiu-se que além de tornar as comunidades vulneráveis, o tempo de inatividade do serviço prestado e os danos materiais aos bens públicos causam prejuízos significativos. A pesquisa apresenta como a instalação de equipamentos urbanos em locais de desacordo as normas, inutilizam locais estratégicos do município, principalmente para ações emergenciais de resposta em caso de desastres.

ABSTRACT In this work, we observed an increased presence of antibodies (Abs) against type I interferon (IFN-I) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) compared to non-ICU COVID-19 patients and healthy control (HC) subjects. Human endogenous retrovirus W (HERV-W) can reactivate after viral infection; therefore, we also investigated the presence of antibodies against HERV-W envelope (HERV-W-env)-derived epitopes. A total of 113 subjects (41 female and 72 male subjects) were analyzed. A significant difference in autoantibodies against IFN-α, IFN-ω, and HERV-W was observed between HCs and ICU patients; indeed, the latter have higher levels of autoantibodies against IFN-α, IFN-ω, and HERV-W than subjects with mild COVID-19 and HCs. Neutralizing anti-IFN-I autoantibodies may affect the ability of IFN-I to bind to the type I interferon receptor (IFNAR), blocking the activation of the antiviral response. IMPORTANCE In this work, we report the increased presence of IFN autoantibodies in correlation with HERV-W-env autoantibodies in ICU COVID-19 patients. The novelty of the results is in the association of these IFN autoantibodies with autoantibodies against HERV-W-env, a protein recently discovered to be overexpressed in lymphocytes of COVID-19 patients and correlated with severe disease and pneumonia. Type I IFNs are part of a complex cross-regulatory network; however, in a small percentage of cases, the increase in autoantibodies against these proteins may lead to damage to the host instead of protection against infectious diseases.

Intestinal microbiota alterations were described in allergic individuals and may improve with diets. Farmina Ultra Hypo (FUH), a hydrolyzed fish/rice starch hypoallergenic diet, is able to improve clinical signs in allergic dogs. Study objectives were to determine microbiota differences in allergic dogs before and after feeding with FUH for eight weeks. Forty skin allergic dogs were evaluated clinically before and after the diet. Unresponsive dogs were classified as canine atopic dermatitis (CAD); responsive dogs relapsing after challenge with previous foods were classified as being food reactive (AFR), and those not relapsing as doubtful (D). Sequencing of feces collected pre- and post-diet was performed, with comparisons between and within groups, pre- and post-diet, and correlations to possible altered metabolic pathways were sought. Microbiota in all dogs was dominated by Bacteroidota, Fusobacteriota, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, albeit with large interindividual variations and with some prevalence changes after the diet. In general, bacteria producing short-chain fatty acids were increased in all samples. CAD dogs showed pre-and post-diet microbiota patterns different from the other two groups. Bacteria taxa were enriched post-diet only in the AFR group. Changes in metabolic pathways were observed mainly in the CAD group. FUH may be able to improve intestinal microbiota and thus clinical signs of skin allergy.

CFR-PEEK is gaining popularity in spinal oncological applications due to its reduction of imaging artifacts and radiation scattering compared with titanium, which allows for better oncological follow-up and efficacy of radiotherapy. We evaluated the use of these materials for the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases (DDs) and considered the biomechanical potential of the carbon fiber in relation to its modulus of elasticity being similar to that of bone. Twenty-eight patients with DDs were treated using CRF-PEEK instrumentation. The clinical and radiographic outcomes were collected at a 12-month FU. Spinal fusion was evaluated in the CT scans using Brantigan scores, while the clinical outcomes were evaluated using VAS, SF-12, and EQ-5D scores. Out of the patients evaluated at the 12-month FU, 89% showed complete or almost certain fusion (Brantigan score D and E) and presented a significant improvement in all clinical parameters; the patients also presented VAS scores ranging from 6.81 ± 2.01 to 0.85 ± 1.32, EQ-5D scores ranging from 53.4 ± 19.3 to 85.0 ± 13.7, SF-12 physical component scores (PCSs) ranging from 29.35 ± 7.04 to 51.36 ± 9.75, and SF-12 mental component scores (MCSs) ranging from 39.89 ± 11.70 to 53.24 ± 9.24. No mechanical complications related to the implant were detected, and the patients reported a better tolerance of the instrumentation compared with titanium. No other series of patients affected by DD that was stabilized using carbon fiber implants have been reported in the literature. The results of this pilot study indicate the efficacy and safety of these implants and support their use also for spinal degenerative diseases.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease that is rarely diagnosed at an early stage. Although the understanding of PD-related mechanisms has greatly improved over the last decade, the diagnosis of PD is still based on neurological examination through the identification of motor symptoms, including bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability, and resting tremor. The early phase of PD is characterized by subtle symptoms with a misdiagnosis rate of approximately 16–20%. The difficulty in recognizing early PD has implications for the potential use of novel therapeutic approaches. For this reason, it is important to discover PD brain biomarkers that can indicate early dopaminergic dysfunction through their changes in body fluids, such as saliva, urine, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). For the CFS-based test, the invasiveness of sampling is a major limitation, whereas the other body fluids are easier to obtain and could also allow population screening. Following the identification of the crucial role of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) in the pathology of PD, a very large number of studies have summarized its changes in body fluids. However, methodological problems have led to the poor diagnostic/prognostic value of this protein and alternative biomarkers are currently being investigated. The aim of this paper is therefore to summarize studies on protein biomarkers that are alternatives to α-syn, particularly those that change in nigrostriatal areas and in biofluids, with a focus on blood, and, eventually, saliva and urine.

The components and the salivary flow have a direct influence on the composition of the oral microbiota of children and young people with oropharyngeal dysphagia, and studies have already demonstrated the excessive accumulation of supragingival dental calculus in individuals with enteral nutrition. This study aimed to compare the oral hygiene, biochemical, and microbiological aspects of the oral cavity of children and young people with neurological impairment and oropharyngeal dysphagia. Forty children and young people with neurological impairment and oropharyngeal dysphagia were enrolled and divided into two groups: group I, encompassing 20 participants fed via gastrostomy; and group II, encompassing 20 participants fed via the oral route. Oral hygiene and salivary pH and flow were assessed, and a polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate the messenger RNA expressions of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tanerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola. In groups I and II, the mean Oral Hygiene Index—Simplified scores were 4 and 2, respectively, showing a significant difference; the mean Calculus Index scores were 2 and 0, respectively, showing a significant difference; and the mean pH was 7.5 and 6.0, respectively, showing a significant difference. Bacterial analysis indicated no association between the two groups. It can be concluded that children and young people who use gastrostomy had a poorer oral hygiene, greater dental calculus deposition, and higher salivary pH. The saliva of patients in both groups contained Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tanerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola.