The dynamics of capillary flow in an open-channel system featuring trigger valves.

Trigger valves are fundamental features in capillary-driven microfluidic systems that stop fluid at an abrupt geometric expansion and release fluid when there is flow in an orthogonal channel connected to the valve. The concept was originally demonstrated in closed-channel capillary circuits. We show here that trigger valves can be successfully implemented in open channels.

Maternal mortality in Italy estimated by the Italian Obstetric Surveillance System.

This study aimed to calculate Italy's first national maternal mortality ratio (MMR) through an innovative record-linkage approach within the enhanced Italian Obstetric Surveillance System (ItOSS). A record-linkage retrospective cohort study was conducted nationwide, encompassing all women aged 11-59 years with one or more hospitalizations related to pregnancy or pregnancy outcomes from 2011 to 2019. Maternal deaths were identified by integrating data from the Death Registry and national and regional Hospital Discharge Databases supported by the integration of findings from confidential enquiries conducted through active surveillance.

Role of homeostatic plasticity in critical brain dynamics following focal stroke lesions.

Can focal brain lesions, such as those caused by stroke, disrupt critical brain dynamics? What biological mechanisms drive its recovery? In a recent study, we showed that focal lesions generate a sub-critical state that recovers over time in parallel with behavior (Rocha et al., Nat. Commun.

Human migration from the Levant and Arabia into Yemen since Last Glacial Maximum.

While a broad consensus about the first successful migration modern humans out of Africa seems established, the peopling of Arabia remains somewhat enigmatic. Identifying the ancestral populations that contributed to the gene pool of the current populations inhabiting Arabia and the impact of their contributions remains a challenging task. We investigate the genetic makeup of the current Yemeni population using 46 whole genomes and 169 genotype arrays derived from Yemeni individuals from all geographic regions across Yemen and 351 genotype arrays derived from neighboring populations providing regional context.

Prognostic role of aetiological agent vs. clinical pattern in candidates to lead extraction for cardiac implantable electronic device infections.

Cardiac implantable electronic devices infections (CIEDI) are associated with poor survival despite the improvement in transvenous lead extraction (TLE). Aetiology and systemic involvement are driving factors of clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore their contribute on overall mortality.

Parallel single-cell metabolic analysis and extracellular vesicle profiling reveal vulnerabilities with prognostic significance in acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive disease with a high relapse rate. In this study, we map the metabolic profile of CD34(CD38) AML cells and the extracellular vesicle signatures in circulation from AML patients at diagnosis. CD34 AML cells display high antioxidant glutathione levels and enhanced mitochondrial functionality, both associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Multi-environment and multi-parameter screening of stability and coating efficiency of gold nanoparticle bioconjugates in application media.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and their biocompatible conjugates find wide use as transducers in (bio)sensors and as Nano-pharmaceutics. The study of the interaction between AuNPs and proteins in representative application media helps to better understand their intrinsic behaviors. A multi-environment, multi-parameter screening strategy is proposed based on asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4)-multidetector.

The effects of disordered edge and vanishing friction in microscale structural superlubric graphite contact.

Structural superlubricity (SSL), a state of ultralow friction and no wear between two solid surfaces in contact, offers a fundamental solution for reducing friction and wear. Recent studies find that the edge pinning of SSL contact dominates the friction. However, its nature remains mysterious due to the lack of direct characterizations on atomic scale.

Nanoscale polarization transient gratings.

Light manipulation at the nanoscale is essential both for fundamental science and modern technology. The quest to shorter lengthscales, however, requires the use of light wavelengths beyond the visible. In particular, in the extreme ultraviolet regime these manipulation capabilities are hampered by the lack of efficient optics, especially for polarization control.

Our ways will not change: Future collective continuity increases present prosocial considerations.

Collective continuity, the perception of the ingroup as an enduring temporal entity, has been linked with ingroup favouritism, negative attitudes and prejudice towards the outgroups. However, previous studies focused mainly on the perceived connection between the past and present of the group. We proposed that the expectation of a strong similarity between the present and future of the national ingroup, future collective continuity (FCC), positively affects present intergroup relations construals.

Prophylactic HPV vaccination in HPV-related gynecologic cancers: European Society of Gynecological Oncology (ESGO) prevention committee opinion.

Many clinicians recommend that patients diagnosed with HPV-related gynecologic cancers receive prophylactic HPV vaccination at the time of cancer diagnosis or after cancer treatment. In view of the large use of such practice, we aimed to assess the literature evidence supporting the use of prophylactic HPV vaccines after diagnosis or treatment of HPV-related gynecologic cancers. Women who develop HPV-related cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers represent a subgroup of patients who may be particularly sensitive to HPV infection and re-acquire infections.

Update on andrological effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19: An overview review.

Background: Evidence indicates a wide range of andrological alterations in patients with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Aim: To provide an update on the andrological effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19.

Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE and Institutional websites were searched for randomized clinical trials, non-systematic reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.

Deciphering the Role of Crown-ether Receptor Orientation in C-H Oxidation Catalyzed by Supramolecular Nonheme FeIV(O) Complexes.

The outstanding efficiency and selectivity of enzymatic reactions, such as C-H oxidation by nonheme iron oxygenases, stems from a precise control of substrate positioning inside the active site. The resulting proximity between a specific moiety (a certain C-H bond) to the reactant (a FeIV(O) active species) translates into higher rates and selectivity, that can be in part replicated also with artificial supramolecular catalysts. However, structural modification of the position and orientation of the binding site both in enzymes and in artificial catalysts often leads to significant variations in reactivity that can be difficult to rationalize due to the system's complexity.

ALLIN: A tool for annotation of a protein alignment combined with structural visualization.

The physiological, functional, and structural properties of proteins and their pathogenic variants can be summarized using many tools. The information relating to a single protein is often spread among different sources requiring different programs for access. It is not always easy to select, simultaneously visualize, and compare specific properties of different proteins.

Guidelines for the standardization of pre-analytical variables for salivary biomarker studies in Alzheimer's disease research: An updated review and consensus of the Salivary Biomarkers for Dementia Research Working Group.

There is a pressing need for accessible biomarkers with high diagnostic accuracy for Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis to facilitate widespread screening, particularly in underserved groups. Saliva is an emerging specimen for measuring AD biomarkers, with distinct contexts of use that could complement blood and cerebrospinal fluid and detect various analytes. An interdisciplinary, international group of AD and related dementias (ADRD) researchers convened and performed a narrative review of published studies on salivary AD biomarkers.

Estimation of Ligand Binding Free Energy Using Multi-eGO.

The computational study of ligand binding to a target protein provides mechanistic insight into the molecular determinants of this process and can improve the success rate of drug design. All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can be used to evaluate the binding free energy, typically by thermodynamic integration, and to probe binding mechanisms, including the description of protein conformational dynamics. The advantages of MD come at a high computational cost, which limits its use.

Environmental Conditions Modulate Warming Effects on Plant Litter Decomposition Globally.

Empirical studies worldwide show that warming has variable effects on plant litter decomposition, leaving the overall impact of climate change on decomposition uncertain. We conducted a meta-analysis of 109 experimental warming studies across seven continents, using natural and standardised plant material, to assess the overarching effect of warming on litter decomposition and identify potential moderating factors. We determined that at least 5.

The RAB32 p.Ser71Arg Variant in Parkinsonisms: Insights from a Large Italian Cohort.

Background And Objective: Recently, RAB32 has been identified as possibly linked to Parkinson's disease. We studied the prevalence and clinical correlates of the p.Ser71Arg variant in the RAB32 gene in a large case series of Italian patients with Parkinson's disease or atypical parkinsonism.

Analysis of oxytocin and oxytocin receptor expressions after hand therapy treatment in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy .

Objectives: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a distinct subtype of breast cancer that has a poor prognosis due to the lack of effective therapeutic agents. Since a significant proportion of human surgical samples of TNBC expressed mRNA for the growth hormone (GH), growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptors, and the mitogenic proliferative activity of GH, GHRH, and GnRH, have been identified as effective therapeutic targets for somatostatin and its analogs and GnRH analogs, Di Bella Method (DBM), a combination of hormonal analogs and vitamins, was introduced to target and inhibit solid tumors. The present study aimed to improve the prognosis of TNBC using DBM in women with TNBC.

Expanding the phenotype and genotype spectrum of TAOK1 neurodevelopmental disorder and delineating TAOK2 neurodevelopmental disorder.

Purpose: The TAOK proteins are a group of serine/threonine-protein kinases involved in signalling pathways, cytoskeleton regulation, and neuronal development. TAOK1 variants are associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) characterized by distinctive facial features, hypotonia and feeding difficulties. TAOK2 variants have been reported to be associated with autism and early-onset obesity.

Integrating dynamical modeling and phylogeographic inference to characterize global influenza circulation.

Global seasonal influenza circulation involves a complex interplay between local (seasonality, demography, host immunity) and global factors (international mobility) shaping recurrent epidemic patterns. No studies so far have reconciled the two spatial levels, evaluating the coupling between national epidemics, considering heterogeneous coverage of epidemiological, and virological data, integrating different data sources. We propose a novel-combined approach based on a dynamical model of global influenza spread (GLEAM), integrating high-resolution demographic, and mobility data, and a generalized linear model of phylogeographic diffusion that accounts for time-varying migration rates.

A pilot study for assessing NAO humanoid robot assistance in shoulder rehabilitation.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the potential application of NAO in guiding patients through rehabilitative exercises using external audiovisual stimuli, focusing on temporospatial control in terms of range of motion (ROM), execution time and movement smoothness.

Methods: This is a preliminary analysis involving ten healthy volunteers and two patients with shoulder musculoskeletal disorders. The protocol was developed in two phases (III and IV) with different ROM limits and including flexion-extension (FE), external-rotation (ER) and internal-rotation (IR) exercises, performed at two speeds and both with and without NAO assistance.