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Globigerina bollii Cita and Premoli Silva was described from the historical Langhian-type section in Langhe, Piedmont (Italy). Due to its peculiar compact morphology, it was set apart from all the other globigerinids typical of the coeval Mediterranean fauna, and it was only reported for a short and limited stratigraphic range. The taxon became a first-order marker for the local biostratigraphy with its own Globigerina bollii Zone within the Langhian stage. However, the species was later synonymised with Globigerina falconensis Blow, ending its use in biostratigraphic schemes, and it was no longer utilised by authors working in the Mediterranean area and Paratethys. We present a reassessment of Globigerina bollii, showing for the first time a full collection of high-quality scanning electron and optical microscope images of the type series of specimens and a comparative study with Mediterranean individuals from the Langhian of the Cretaccio Section (Italy) and extra-Mediterranean individuals from Ocean Drilling Program Site 747 in the Kerguelen Plateau (Indian Ocean). The stratigraphic ranges of all the occurrences cited in the scientific literature from 1960 to the present day and all the references including images of the taxon are compiled. We compare G. bollii to other four-chambered morphospecies inhabiting the oceans during the Miocene, providing a detailed discussion of their morphological differences, which allows us to retain G. bollii as a valid taxon and to disclaim its synonymy with Globigerina falconensis. Our taxonomical observations also allow us to reassign Globigerina bollii to the genus Globoturborotalita, due to its strong affinities with other members of that genus, such as G. eolabiacrassata Spezzaferri and Coxall, and G. ouachitaensis (Howe and Wallace). We present a direct visual comparison with the other representatives of middle Miocene globoturborotaliids. An additional comparison is also discussed with Globigerina bollii lentiana Rögl, a species endemic in the Paratethys. We conclude that the presence of G. bollii in the Mediterranean Basin during such a confined stratigraphic interval (Mediterranean Subzone MMi4c–MMi4d), might be a palaeogeographical indicator of the intermittent opening of the eastern gateway with the Paratethys, affecting the Mediterranean faunas during the Langhian and their migration from oceanic realms into the Paratethys and Mediterranean.

Introduction The COVID pandemic and affiliated infodemic led to widespread health misinformation, generating confusion and distrust. Physicians must identify and address misinformation, with attention to cultural/health literacy, equity, and autonomy. Most medical students receive training in core communication techniques but are rarely taught how to combat misinformation with patients and lack opportunities for practice in diverse settings. Methods We used mixed methods to evaluate the impact of a role-play-based training curriculum on 44 third- and fourth-year medical students’ comfort and confidence applying ask-respond-tell-seek solutions (ARTS) and motivational interviewing (MI) to discuss vaccine hesitancy, using COVID-19 as an example. There were three training iterations: prior to volunteering at a community health fair, during a medicine clinical rotation, and during a pediatrics rotation. Pre- and postsession questionnaires were administered. Likert-scale questions assessed comfort and confidence using ARTS and MI. Narrative responses focused on previous experiences with vaccine hesitancy, challenges faced, and session takeaways. Results Students’ comfort, confidence with ARTS/MI, and self-reported ability to discuss COVID-19 vaccinations improved as measured by pre- and postsession surveys (p < .05). Qualitatively, students reported increased confidence delivering recommendations in plain language and exploring patients’ thought processes behind choices. Discussion Reinforcement of core communications strategies in medical school can positively impact trainees’ ability and ease addressing misinformation. We recommend this 45-minute training session to effectively increase medical students’ comfort and confidence in discussing COVID-19 vaccines with patients. It can be adapted to any health professions school with an existing communications thread.

Abstract Peripersonal space (PPS) is defined as the space that lies within reach. Previous research revealed that PPS can be dynamically reshaped with the use of tools extending the arm’s reach. Here we investigated whether PPS reshaping depends on the kind of selected tool and/or the motor routine associated with its use. Participants carried out a visuo-tactile detection task in an immersive VR environment that allowed to measure the PPS size before and after a short period of tools use. In Experiment 1, participants had to pull or push objects towards or away from themselves using a shovel. In Experiment 2, they were required to either hammer or shoot an avatar placed in the Extrapersonal space. We found, for the first time in a VR environment, that a period of pull training was effective in enlarging the PPS, a result that replicates and expands previous findings carried out in real life conditions. However, no significant change in PPS size was achieved for training with other tools and motor routines. Our results suggest that the reshaping of PPS is a complex phenomenon in which the kind of interaction between the agent, the targets and the exploited motor routines all play a critical role.

Abstract Anthropogenic underwater noise is an emergent pollutant. Despite several worldwide monitoring programs, only few data are available for the Mediterranean Sea, one of the global biodiversity hotspots. The results of the first continuous acoustic programme run at a transnational basin scale in the Mediterranean Sea are here presented. Recordings were done from March 2020 to June 2021, including the COVID-19 lockdown, at nine stations in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Spatial–temporal variations of the underwater sound are described, having one third octave band sound pressure levels (SPLs) from 10 Hz to 20 kHz as metrics. Higher and more variable SPLs, mainly related to vessel traffic, were found close to harbours, whereas Natura 2000 stations experienced lower SPLs. Lower values were recorded during the lockdown in five stations. Median yearly SPLs ranged between 64 and 95 as well as 70 and 100 dB re 1 µPa for 63 and 125 Hz bands, respectively. These values are comparable with those previously found in busy shallow EU basins but higher levels are expected during a business-as-usual period. This is a baseline assessment for a highly impacted and environmental valuable area, that needs to be managed in a new sustainable blue growth strategy.

Abstract Previous studies have reported that larger visual stimuli are perceived as lasting longer than smaller ones. However, this effect disappears when participants provide a qualitative judgment, by stating whether two stimuli have the “same or different” duration, instead of providing an explicit quantitative judgment (which stimulus lasts longer). Here, we extended these observations to the interaction between the numerosity of visual stimuli, i.e. clouds of dots, and their duration. With “longer vs shorter” responses, participants judged larger numerosities as lasting longer than smaller ones, both when the responses were related to the order (Experiment 1) or color (Experiment 4) of stimuli. In contrast, no similar effect was found with “same vs different” responses (Experiment 2) and in a time motor reproduction task (Experiment 3). The numerosity–time interference in Experiment 1 and Experiment 4 was not due to task difficulty, as sensory precision was equivalent to that of Experiment 2. We conclude that in humans the functional interaction between numerosity and time is not guided, in the main, by a shared bottom-up mechanism of magnitude coding. Rather, high-level and top-down processes involved in decision-making and guided by the use of “magnitude-related” response codes play a crucial role in triggering interference among different magnitude domains.

We have previously shown that after few seconds of adaptation by finger-tapping, the perceived numerosity of spatial arrays and temporal sequences of visual objects displayed near the tapping region is increased or decreased, implying the existence of a sensorimotor numerosity system (Anobile et al., 2016). To date, this mechanism has been evidenced only by adaptation. Here, we extend our finding by leveraging on a well-established covariance technique, used to unveil and characterize ‘channels’ for basic visual features such as colour, motion, contrast, and spatial frequency. Participants were required to press rapidly a key a specific number of times, without counting. We then correlated the precision of reproduction for various target number presses between participants. The results showed high positive correlations for nearby target numbers, scaling down with numerical distance, implying tuning selectivity. Factor analysis identified two factors, one for low and the other for higher numbers. Principal component analysis revealed two bell-shaped covariance channels, peaking at different numerical values. Two control experiments ruled out the role of non-numerical strategies based on tapping frequency and response duration. These results reinforce our previous reports based on adaptation, and further suggest the existence of at least two sensorimotor number channels responsible for translating symbolic numbers into action sequences.

IntroductionMuch research has revealed the human visual system is capable to estimate numerical quantities, rapidly and reliably, in both the spatial and the temporal domain. This ability is highly susceptible to short-term plastic phenomena related to previous exposure to visual numerical information (i.e., adaptation). However, while determinants of spatial numerosity adaptation have been widely investigated, little is known about the neural underpinnings of short-term plastic phenomena related to the encoding of temporal numerical information. In the present study we investigated the electrophysiological correlates of temporal numerosity adaptation.MethodsParticipants were asked to estimate the numerosity of a test sequence of flashes after being exposed to either a high or low numerous adapting sequence. Behavioral results confirmed the expected underestimation of test stimulus when this was preceded by a high numerous sequence as compared to when preceded by a low numerous sequence.ResultsElectrophysiological data revealed that this behavior was tightly linked to the amplitude of the steady-state visual evoked (ssVEP) response elicited by the test stimulus. When preceded by a high numerous sequence, the test stimulus elicited larger ssVEP responses as compared to when preceded by a low numerous sequence with this pattern being robustly correlated with behavior. Finally, topographical maps showed that this difference was mostly evident across two antero-posterior distributed clusters of electrodes and correlated with changes in functional connectivity.DiscussionTaken together, our results suggest that visual plastic phenomena related to the encoding of temporal numerosity information reflect changes in rhythmic evoked activity that are likely related to long range communications between distinct brain regions.

Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) induces a chronic infection in more than two-thirds of HCV infected subjects. The inefficient innate and adaptive immune responses have been shown to play a major pathogenetic role in the development and persistence of HCV chronic infection. Several aspects of the interactions between the virus and the host immune system have been clarified and, in particular, mechanisms have been identified which underlie the ability of HCV to seize and subvert innate as well as adaptive immune responses. The present review summarizes recent findings on the interaction between HCV infection and innate immune response whose final effect is the downstream inefficient development of antigen-specific adaptive immunity, thereby contributing to virus persistence.

Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major risk factors for chronic hepatitis, which may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as for type II mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), which may further evolve into an overt B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). It has been previously shown that B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoire, expressed by clonal B-cells involved in type II MC as well as in HCV-associated NHL, is constrained to a limited number of variable heavy (VH)- and light (VL)-chain genes. Among these, the VK3-20 light chain idiotype has been selected as a possible target for passive as well as active immunization strategy. In the present study, we describe the results of a multiparametric analysis of the innate and early adaptive immune response after ex vivo stimulation of human immune cells with the VK3-20 protein. This objective has been pursued by implementing high-throughput technologies such as multiparameter flow cytometry and multiplex analysis of cytokines and chemokines.

Abstract Objective The continuous identification of HIV-1 non-B subtypes and recombinant forms in Italy indicates the need of constant molecular epidemiology survey of genetic forms circulating and transmitted in the resident population. Methods The distribution of HIV-1 subtypes has been evaluated in 25 seropositive individuals residing in Italy, most of whom were infected through a sexual route during the 1995–2005 period. Each sample has been characterized by detailed molecular and phylogenetic analyses. Results 18 of the 25 samples were positive at HIV-1 PCR amplification. Three samples showed a nucleotide divergence compatible with a non-B subtype classification. The phylogenetic analysis, performed on both HIV-1 env and gag regions, confirms the molecular sub-typing prediction, given that 1 sample falls into the C subtype and 2 into the G subtype. The B subtype isolates show high levels of intra-subtype nucleotide divergence, compatible with a long-lasting epidemic and a progressive HIV-1 molecular diversification. Conclusion The Italian HIV-1 epidemic is still mostly attributable to the B subtype, regardless the transmission route, which shows an increasing nucleotide heterogeneity. Heterosexual transmission and the interracial blending, however, are slowly introducing novel HIV-1 subtypes. Therefore, a molecular monitoring is needed to follow the constant evolution of the HIV-1 epidemic.

Landing kinetics and kinematics have historically been correlated with potential injury. A factor that requires more attention associated with its correlation to injury risk includes the impact of physiological fatigue. Fatigue is a multifaceted phenomenon involving central and peripheral factors resulting in a slowing or cessation of motor unit firing and a decrease in maximal force and power. Sports participation rarely results in momentary muscular failure occurring, as many sports consist of intermittent periods of activity that are interspersed with short rest periods that allow for recovery to take place. However, over the course of the competition, fatigue can still accumulate and can result in impaired performance. Current literature on the topic struggles to replicate the peripheral and central metabolic stresses required to induce a state of fatigue that would be equivalent to athletic exposure. Furthermore, the current literature fails to demonstrate consistency regarding the kinetic implications associated with fatigue, which may be secondary to the inconsistencies associated with fatigue protocols utilized. This article focuses on providing an overview of the current literature associated with fatigue’s impact on the kinetics associated with landing from a jump. The article will provide a prospective methodology utilizing repeat bouts of the Wingate Anaerobic Power Test. The proposed protocol may help further our understanding of the relationship between fatigue and lower extremity biomechanics.

High-resolution bathymetry provides critical information to marine geoscientists. Bathymetric big data help characterise the seafloor and its benthic habitats, understand sedimentary records, and support the development of offshore engineering infrastructures. From 27 September to 20 October 2022, the new CNR research vessel Gaia Blu explored the seafloor of the Naples and Pozzuoli gulfs and the Amalfi coastal area (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) from 50 to more than 2000 m water depth, acquiring about 5000 km2 of multi-beam echo sounder data. This area is particularly vulnerable to abrupt changes driven by the dynamics of several volcanic complexes, active in the area, and by human-induced impacts reflecting the proximity to the highly populated and touristic coastal area of Naples and nearby famous islands. For these reasons, the seafloor of the area needs to be known and constantly monitored. The digital bathymetric data previously available are restricted to the shallow highly dynamic area of the Gulf of Naples and appear fragmented as they were acquired in successive years, with different goals thereby using a variety of devices, with markedly different spatial resolutions. In this paper, we present bathymetric maps of the Gulf of Naples and adjacent slope basins at unprecedented resolution using three state-of-the-art multi-beam echo sounders. These high-resolution data highlight the technological advances of geophysical surveys achieved over the last 20 years and contribute to assessing the most dynamic areas where changes in the seafloor over time can be quantified. The new digital multi-resolution bathymetric products are openly accessible via Marine Geosciences Data System MGDS (refer to "Data availability" section, Table 8, for datasets and product DOIs), perfectly matching the FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) and open science principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a short-term passive post-exercise heat acclimation (HA) protocol on anaerobic performance in college students. Methods: In total, 28 participants (age 22.3 ± 2.1 years, height 168 ± 9.1 cm, mass 71.5 ± 16.6 kg) volunteered and were randomly divided into either an intervention (INT) or control (CON) group. Both groups followed a consecutive two-day protocol, consisting of a 25 min submaximal cycle @ 50–60% heart rate reserve (HRR), followed by a 25 min hot water immersion (INT) or nothing (CON). All participants performed a 30 s Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) on four separate occasions—familiarization, pre-intervention, acutely post-intervention, and 24 h post intervention. The WAnT measured their peak power (W), relative peak power (W/kg), mean power (W), fatigue index (%), and total work (kJ). Results: From the results of the Factorial ANOVA, it was found that there were no significant differences, with no main effect for group (INT vs. CON) or time (Trials 1–4) and no significant interaction across all measured variables (p > 0.05). Conclusions: A two-day post-exercise passive HA protocol utilizing hot water immersion had no significant effect on the measurement of anaerobic performance in college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]