Impact of a very low-calorie ketogenic diet on metabolic and microbiota outcomes in post-bariatric patients and bariatric-Naïve individuals: A comparative pilot study.

Aims: To date, bariatric surgery (BS) is the most effective long-term treatment for obesity, but weight regain (WR) is common. The very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is effective for weight loss and may influence gut microbiota (GM) composition, but it has been scarcely evaluated in post-bariatric patients. This study compared the efficacy and safety of a VLCKD in patients with WR post-bariatric surgery (BS+) and in bariatric surgery-naïve patients (BS-).

Fatigue-Induced Failure of Polysilicon MEMS: Nonlinear Reduced-Order Modeling and Geometry Optimization of On-Chip Testing Device.

In the case of repeated loadings, the reliability of inertial microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) can be linked to failure processes occurring within the movable structure or at the anchors. In this work, possible debonding mechanisms taking place at the interface between the polycrystalline silicon film constituting the movable part of the device and the silicon dioxide at the anchor points are considered. In dealing with cyclic loadings possibly inducing fatigue failure, a strategy is proposed to optimize the geometry of an on-chip testing device designed to characterize the strength of the aforementioned interface.

Implementing a robust platform analytical procedure for measuring adeno-associated virus vector genome titer.

The vector genome (vg) titer measurement, which is used to control patient dosing and ensure control over drug product manufacturing, is essential for the development of recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy products. While qPCR and droplet digital PCR technologies are commonly implemented for measuring vg titer, chromatographic techniques with UV detectors represent promising future approaches, in line with traditional biotherapeutics. Here, we introduce a novel vg titer measurement approach using size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection, which achieves excellent method precision (<2% relative SD), demonstrates linearity across a range of concentrations and varied particle content, is stability indicating, and can be bridged with existing vg titer methods.

Pediatric Cranial Vault Lesions: A Tailored Approach According to Bony Involvement.

Background: Cranial vault lesions are common in children, with dermoid and epidermoid cysts being the most frequent. Management is debated due to their slow growth, but early resection can prevent complications and provide a definitive histological diagnosis, which is sometimes linked to systemic diseases.

Methods: A retrospective study of children treated surgically for cranial vault tumors from January 2011 to April 2023 was conducted.

QCD challenges from pp to AA collisions: 4th edition.

This paper is a write-up of the ideas that were presented, developed and discussed at the fourth International Workshop on QCD Challenges from pp to AA, which took place in February 2023 in Padua, Italy. The goal of the workshop was to focus on some of the open questions in the field of high-energy heavy-ion physics and to stimulate the formulation of concrete suggestions for making progresses on both the experimental and theoretical sides. The paper gives a brief introduction to each topic and then summarizes the primary results.

Improved limited view ultrasound tomography via machine learning.

Tomographic reconstruction is used extensively in medicine, non-destructive testing and geology. In an ideal situation where measurements are taken at all angles around an object, known as full view configuration, a full reconstruction of the object can be produced. One of the major issues faced in tomographic imaging is when measurements cannot be taken freely around the object under inspection.

Enhancing African coelacanth monitoring using environmental DNA.

Coelacanths are rare, elusive, ancient lobe-finned fish species, residing in poorly accessible tropical marine caves and requiring close monitoring and protection. Environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches are being increasingly applied in the detection of rare and threatened species. Here we devise an eDNA approach to detect the presence of African coelacanths () off the eastern coast of South Africa.

Early taxane exposure and neurotoxicity in breast cancer patients.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed tumor and a leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Taxanes are the most used chemotherapeutic agents and are strictly connected to neurotoxicity. Taxane-induced neuropathy (TIN) significantly impacts patients' quality of life (QOL).

Search for Time-Dependent CP Violation in D^{0}→π^{+}π^{-}π^{0} Decays.

A measurement of time-dependent CP violation in D^{0}→π^{+}π^{-}π^{0} decays using a pp collision data sample collected by the LHCb experiment in 2012 and from 2015 to 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 7.7  fb^{-1}, is presented. The initial flavor of each D^{0} candidate is determined from the charge of the pion produced in the D^{*}(2010)^{+}→D^{0}π^{+} decay.

A Biodegradable, Porous Flier Inspired by a Parachute-Like Tragopogon Fruit for Environmental Preservation.

New devices inspired by flying seeds, or more technically by fruits with dispersal units, could have a significant impact for environmental monitoring and aerial seeding. Among the various types of dispersal units (e.g.

Identification of PRMT5 as a therapeutic target in cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a very difficult-to-treat cancer. Chemotherapies are little effective and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors is limited. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies need to be identified.

A randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating immune responses of Typhim Vi and PPSV23 vaccines in healthy adults: The PREP study.

Rapid and early identification of emergent infections is essential for delivering prompt clinical care. To advance the development of algorithms for the clinical management of infection identification, we performed a vaccination clinical trial to investigate the potential of using vaccination as a model for studying mild inflammation responses associated with different infections (NCT05346302). We collected data at various time points over 4 weeks from blood samples, wearable devices, and questionnaires.

Mismanagement and poor transparency in the European processed seafood supply revealed by DNA metabarcoding.

In the global processed seafood industry, disparate actors play different roles along the supply chain, creating multiple opportunities for mistakes, malpractice, and fraud. As a consequence, consumers may be exposed to non-authentic products, which hinder informed purchasing decisions and broader efforts to improve trade transparency and sustainability. Here, we characterised the taxonomic composition of 62 processed seafood products in Italian, British and Albanian retailers, purposefully obtained from different supply routes, using multiple DNA metabarcoding markers.

Impact of Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors (SGLT2i) Therapy on Dementia and Cognitive Decline.

Dementia is an age-related syndrome characterized by the progressive deterioration of cognition and capacity for independent living. Diabetes is often associated with cognitive decline and shares similar pathophysiological mechanisms with dementia, such as systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and advanced glycation end-products formation. Therefore, adequate diabetes management may reduce the risk of cognitive decline, especially in patients with other comorbidities and risk factors.

North Atlantic deep-sea benthic biodiversity unveiled through sponge natural sampler DNA.

The deep-sea remains the biggest challenge to biodiversity exploration, and anthropogenic disturbances extend well into this realm, calling for urgent management strategies. One of the most diverse, productive, and vulnerable ecosystems in the deep sea are sponge grounds. Currently, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is revolutionising the field of biodiversity monitoring, yet complex deep-sea benthic ecosystems remain challenging to assess even with these novel technologies.

Attitudes, weight stigma and misperceptions of weight loss strategies among patients living with obesity in the Lazio Region, Italy.

Introduction: Patient engagement is essential to achieve long-term goals in obesity management. It is crucial to identify patients' perspectives, misperceptions and unmet educational needs on obesity etiology and treatments, to establish a correct therapeutic alliance between healthcare providers and patients.

Methods: Objective: This study, promoted by the regional section of the Italian Obesity Society (SIO Lazio), explores attitudes towards obesity, self-awareness, misperceptions of weight loss strategies, experiences of weight stigma and educational needs of patients living with overweight or obesity.

Human-Environment Interactions Shape Mosquito Seasonal Population Dynamics.

Mosquito species, including the Asian tiger mosquito, can transmit disease-causing pathogens such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, with their population dynamics influenced by a variety of factors including climate shifts, human activity, and local environmental conditions. Understanding these dynamics is vital for effective control measures. Our study, conducted in Jardí Botanic Marimurtra from May to November 2021, monitored activity using BG-Traps and investigated larval control effects.

Unlocking Antarctic molecular time-capsules - Recovering historical environmental DNA from museum-preserved sponges.

Marine sponges have recently emerged as efficient natural environmental DNA (eDNA) samplers. The ability of sponges to accumulate eDNA provides an exciting opportunity to reconstruct contemporary communities and ecosystems with high temporal and spatial precision. However, the use of historical eDNA, trapped within the vast number of specimens stored in scientific collections, opens up the opportunity to begin to reconstruct the communities and ecosystems of the past.

The forensic potential of environmental DNA (eDNA) in freshwater wildlife crime investigations: From research to application.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is widely used in biodiversity, conservation, and ecological studies but despite its successes, similar approaches have not yet been regularly applied to assist in wildlife crime investigations. The purpose of this paper is to review current eDNA methods and assess their potential forensic application in freshwater environments considering collection, transport and persistence, analysis, and interpretation, while identifying additional research required to present eDNA evidence in court. An extensive review of the literature suggests that commonly used collection methods can be easily adapted for forensic frameworks providing they address the appropriate investigative questions and take into consideration the uniqueness of the target species, its habitat, and the requirements of the end user.