Explore the vast range of titles available.

Remote sensing plays a central role in the assessment of environmental phenomena and has increasingly become a powerful tool for monitoring shorelines, river morphology, flood-wave delineation and flood assessment. Optical-based monitoring and the characterization of river evolution at long time scales is a key tool in fluvial geomorphology. However, the evolution occurring during extreme events is crucial for the understanding of the river dynamics under severe flow conditions and requires the processing of data from active sensors to overcome cloud obstructions. This work proposes a cloud-based unsupervised algorithm for the intra-event monitoring of river dynamics during extreme flow conditions based on the time series of Sentinel-1 SAR data. The method allows the extraction of multi-temporal series of spatially explicit geometric parameters at high temporal and spatial resolutions, linking them to the hydrometric levels acquired by reference gauge stations. The intra-event reconstruction of inundation dynamics has led to (1) the estimation of the relationship between hydrometric level and wet area extension and (2) the assessment of bank erosion phenomena. In the first case, the behavior exhibits a change when the hydrometric level exceeds 1 m. In the second case, the erosion rate and cumulative lateral erosion were evaluated. The maximum erosion velocity was greater than 1 m/h, while the cumulative lateral erosion reached 130 m. Time series of SAR acquisitions, provided by Sentinel-1 satellites, were analyzed to quantify changes in the wet area of a reach of the Tagliamento river under different flow conditions. The algorithm, developed within the Python-API of GEE, can support many types of analyses of river dynamics, including morphological changes, floods monitoring, and bio-physical habitat dynamics. The results encourage future advancements and applications of the algorithm, specifically exploring SAR data from ICEYE and Capella Space constellations, which offer significantly higher spatial and temporal resolutions compared to Sentinel-1 data.

We previously demonstrated that cells isolated from the mesenchymal region of the human amniotic membrane (human amniotic mesenchymal tissue cells, hAMTC) possess immunoregulatory roles, such as inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production, and suppression of generation and maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells, as reported for MSC from other sources. The precise factors and mechanisms responsible for the immunoregulatory roles of hAMTC remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to identify the soluble factors released by hAMTC and responsible for the anti-proliferative effect on lymphocytes, and the mechanisms underlying their actions, in vitro. Conditioned medium (CM) was prepared under routine culture conditions from hAMTC (CM-hAMTC) and also from fragments of the whole human amniotic membrane (CM-hAM). We analyzed the thermostability, chemical nature, and the molecular weight of the factors likely responsible for the anti-proliferative effects. We also evaluated the participation of cytokines known to be involved in the immunomodulatory actions of MSC from other sources, and attempted to block different synthetic pathways. We demonstrate that the inhibitory factors are temperature-stable, have a small molecular weight, and are likely of a non-proteinaceous nature. Only inhibition of cyclooxygenase pathway partially reverted the anti-proliferative effect, suggesting prostaglandins as key effector molecules. Factors previously documented to take part in the inhibitory effects of MSCs from other sources (HGF, TGF-β, NO and IDO) were not involved. Furthermore, we prove for the first time that the anti-proliferative effect is intrinsic to the amniotic membrane and cells derived thereof, since it is manifested in the absence of stimulating culture conditions, as opposed to MSC derived from the bone marrow, which possess an anti-proliferative ability only when cultured in the presence of activating stimuli. Finally, we show that the amniotic membrane could be an interesting source of soluble factors, without referring to extensive cell preparation.

This article presents a highly miniaturized frequency reconfigurable self-triplexing antenna with high isolation. The proposed antenna is constructed using two half-mode and one full-mode substrate-integrated cavities (SICs). The cavities are excited through microstrip feed lines loaded with slots to produce three fixed operating frequencies. Two methods are utilized to adjust these frequency bands. The initial approach involves adjusting the slot dimensions to fine-tune the individual frequency bands. This method provides frequency tuning ranges of 2.75–3.55 GHz, 4.3–6.3 GHz, and 5.42–8.05 GHz at lower, middle and upper-bands, respectively. Nonetheless, with each alteration in slot dimension, the proposed antenna must undergo fabrication and experimental validation, which is time consuming and costly. To address this issue, the frequency bands are reconfigured by utilizing microfluidic channels at the bottom of the cavities, which are filled with dielectric liquids. This technique provides frequency tuning ranges of 2.55–2.86 GHz for the lower band, 3.99–4.6 GHz for the middle band, and 5.2–5.89 GHz for the upper band, respectively. This technique also eliminates the need for additional fabrication. Using slot-loaded half-mode cavities and the channels offers a highly miniaturized footprint and high isolation. An equivalent circuit is developed to analyze the proposed antenna. To validate the design, an antenna prototype is fabricated and experimentally demonstrated. The antenna occupies a small area of 0.079 λ g 2 with high isolation of 33.2 dB. Furthermore, it exhibits frequency tuning within the ranges 2.55–2.86 GHz, 3.99–4.6 GHz, and 5.2–5.89 GHz using both the techniques with realized gain varying from 2.4 dBi to 5.65 dBi. Good alignment is observed between full-wave simulation and measurements.

BackgroundMigraine is one of the most common neurological diseases and an estimated 1.04 billion people worldwide have been diagnosed with migraine. Available data suggest that migraine is world widely associated with a high economic burden, but there is great variability in estimated costs that depends on the geographical, methodological and temporal differences between the studies. The purpose of this study was to quantify the annual direct cost of episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM), both for the patient and for the National Health System (NHS), using data from subjects who attended an Italian tertiary headache centre. Furthermore, we evaluated comparatively the impact of gender and age on the economic burden of migraine.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective and non-interventional observational analysis of the electronic medical records of subjects with EM and CM who consecutively attended the Regional Referral Headache Centre of Rome and undergoing continuous treatment in the 2 years prior to 31 January 2019. This approach was intended to prevent distorsions due to natural fluctuations in migraine status over time. The collected data included demographic characteristics, number of specialist visits, consumption of medications, diagnostic tests, accesses in the emergency department (ED) and days of hospitalization due to the pathology.ResultsOur sample consisted of 548 patients (85.4% women and 14.6% men): 65.5% had CM and 34.5% had EM. The average annual expenditure per patient was €1482. 82.8% of the total cost (€1227) was covered by the NHS. The main item of expenditure were medications that represented 86.8% (€1286), followed by specialist visits (10.2%), hospitalizations for (1.9%), diagnostic tests for (1%) and ED visits for (0.1%). Costs were significantly higher for women than men (€1517 vs. €1274, p = 0.013) and increased with age (p = 0.002). The annual direct cost of CM was 4.8-fold higher than that of EM (€2037 vs. €427, p = 0.001).ConclusionOur results provide a valuable estimate of the annual direct cost of CM and EM patients in the specific setting of a tertiary headache centre and confirm the high economic impact of migraine on both the NHS and patients.

Background Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infectious disease of the central nervous system caused by the TBE virus (TBEV), which is usually transmitted by a tick-bite, with increasing incidence in northeastern Europe and eastern Asia during the past decade. Ocular involvement has not been described in the literature to date. Case presentation A 58-year-old patient presented to the emergency department with occipital headaches and poor balance for 5 days. He reported a tick-bite 6 weeks before without erythema migrans followed by a flu-like syndrome. Serological testing was negative for Borreliosis and TBEV. At presentation, he was febrile with neck stiffness and signs of ataxia. Three days later, he presented unilateral visual loss in his right eye. Examination revealed non granulomatous anterior uveitis, vitreous inflammation, and retinal haemorrhages at the posterior pole without macular oedema or papillitis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the cerebrospinal fluid returned negative for all Herpes family viruses. No clinical evidence of other infection nor malignancy was identified. A seroconversion of the TBEV- immunoglobulin titres was observed 2 weeks later while the serum antibodies for Borrelia were still not detected. Magnetic resonance imaging was unremarkable. We concluded to the diagnosis of TBE-related uveitis. Under supportive treatment, there was complete resolution of the neurological symptoms and the intraocular inflammation without sequelae within the following weeks. Conclusions We describe a new association of TBEV with uveitis. In view of the growing number of TBE cases and the potential severity of the disease we aim at heightening awareness to achieve prompt recognition, prevention, and treatment.

Kombucha, a traditional drink crafted from fermented sweetened black or green tea using a symbiotic association of bacteria and yeasts known as SCOBY, has become a popular product in Western countries. Whey, a nutrient-rich byproduct of dairy production, provides an interesting option as substrate for producing novel beverages. Here, we aimed at evaluating the fermentation of whey, with (WS) or without (W) supplementation of sucrose, by using the SCOBY microbiota of kombucha. The variables pH, acidity, acetic acid and ethanol concentrations, and the microbial composition of the whey-based beverages were analyzed. W and WS were fermented during 7 days at 25 °C, without agitation to emulate kombucha fermentation conditions. Results show volatile acidity levels ranging from 342 to 1612% and 280 to 3358% of acetic acid equivalent per liter for WS and W, respectively. The initial pH of 6.0 decreased to 4.5 and 3.7 in WS and W fermented beverages, respectively. Under both fermentation conditions, final ethanol concentrations were higher than 0.5% in volume, classifying the product as alcoholic. Predominant taxa identified in SCOBY fermentation included the bacterial genus Komagataeibacter and the fungal genus Zygosaccharomyces in both media, with greater microbial abundance observed in WS. These results highlight the potential of this beverage as a functional product. Graphical abstract

Introduction: The beneficial effects of physical exercise on functional capacity and inflammatory response are well-known in cardiovascular diseases; however, studies on sickle cell disease (SCD) are limited. It was hypothesized that physical exercise may exert a favorable effect on the inflammatory response of SCD patients, contributing to an improved quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a regular physical exercise program on the anti-inflammatory responses in SCD patients. Methods: A non-randomized clinical trial was conducted in adult SCD patients. The patients were divided into two groups: 1—Exercise Group, which received a physical exercise program three times a week for 8 weeks, and; 2—Control Group, with routine physical activities. All patients underwent the following procedures initially and after eight weeks of protocol: clinical evaluation, physical evaluation, laboratory evaluation, quality of life evaluation, and echocardiographic evaluation. Statistical analysis: Comparisons between groups were made using Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney test, chi-square test, or Fisher’s exact test. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was calculated. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: There was no significant difference in inflammatory response between the Control and Exercise Groups. The Exercise Group showed an improvement in peak VO2 values (p < 0.001), an increase in the distance walked (p < 0.001), an improvement in the limitation domain due to the physical aspects of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) quality of life questionnaire (p = 0.022), and an increase in physical activity related to leisure (p < 0.001) and walking (p = 0.024) in the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). There was a negative correlation between IL-6 values and distance walked on the treadmill (correlation coefficient −0.444, p = 0.020) and the estimated peak VO2 values (correlation coefficient −0.480; p = 0.013) in SCD patients in both groups. Conclusions: The aerobic exercise program did not change the inflammatory response profile of SCD patients, nor did it show unfavorable effects on the parameters evaluated, and patients with lower functional capacity were those with the highest levels of IL-6.

RestPoll is a transdisciplinary project aiming to provide society with tools to reverse wild insect pollinator declines and to position Europe as a global leader in pollinator restoration and set the future agenda for pollinator restoration worldwide. The RestPoll consortium combines the expertise of natural and social scientists, as well as representatives of NGOs, businesses and ministries. RestPoll - together with stakeholders ranging from individual land managers to public authorities - co-designs, evaluates and refines measures and cross-sectoral approaches to restore pollinators and their services. Central to RestPoll is the establishment of a Europe-wide network of pollinator restoration case-study areas with Living Labs, which are unique hubs for experimentation, demonstration and mutual learning at various spatial scales (field, farm, landscape, European scales), in landscapes dominated by intensively managed crops or grasslands. The RestPoll consortium explores, tests, evaluates and refines cross-sectoral pollinator restoration approaches to conserve biodiversity and to benefit nature and society. Our holistic approach also aims to engage in participatory planning and the development of new business models along the food value chain by engaging through newly-developed participatory approaches at diverse social, ecological and political scales. Learning outcomes are communicated to a diverse range of regional and European partners and collaborators, which allows for making a lasting impact beyond the end of the project.

We investigated the enzymatic complex produced by selected fungi strains isolated from the environment using the agro-industrial residues rice husk, soybean hull, and spent malt as substrates. Microbial growth was carried out in solid-state cultivation (SSC) and in submerged cultivations (SC) and the enzymatic activities of xylanase, cellulase, β-xylosidase, and β-glucosidase were determined. All substrates were effective in inducing enzymatic activities, with one strain of Aspergillus brasiliensis BLf1 showing maximum activities for all enzymes, except for cellulases. Using this fungus, the enzymatic activities of xylanase, cellulase, and β-glucosidase were generally higher in SSC compared to SC, producing maxima activities of 120.5, 25.3 and 47.4 U g −1 of dry substrate, respectively. β-xylosidase activity of 28.1 U g −1 of dry substrate was highest in SC. Experimental design was carried out to optimize xylanase activity by A. brasiliensis BLf1 in SSC using rice husk as substrate, producing maximum xylanase activity 183.5 U g −1 dry substrate, and xylooligosaccharides were produced and characterized. These results suggest A. brasiliensis BLf1 can be used to produce important lytic enzymes to be applied in the preparation of xylooligosaccharides.

Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The benefits of exercise in patients with chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, are well established. For patients with sickle cell disease, medical recommendation was to avoid physical exercise for fear of triggering painful crises or increasing the impairment of the cardiopulmonary function. Only recently, studies have shown safety in exercise programs for this population. Despite that, there is no report that assess the effects of physical exercise on cardiac parameters in patients with sickle cell disease. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of regular physical exercise (a home-based program) on cardiovascular function in patients with sickle cell disease. A quasi-randomized prospective controlled trial. During the years 2015 and 2016, we started recruiting among adult patients treated at a Brazilian Center for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease to participate in a study involving a home exercise program. The experimental (exercise) and control groups were submitted to clinical evaluation and cardiovascular tests before and after the intervention. Analysis of variance was applied to compare groups, considering time and group factors. Twenty-seven adult outpatients with a sickle cell disease diagnosis. Exercise group (N = 14): a regular home-based aerobic exercise program, three to five times per week not exceeding give times per week, for eight weeks; no prescription for the control group (N = 13). Echocardiographic and treadmill test parameters. The exercise group showed significant improvement in cardiovascular tests, demonstrated by increased distance traveled on a treadmill (p<0.01), increased ejection fraction (p < 0.01) and improvement of diastolic function assessed by mitral tissue Doppler E' wave on echocardiography (p = 0.04). None of the patients presented a sickle cell crisis or worsening of symptoms during the exercise program. The selected home-based exercise program is safe, feasible, and promotes a favorable impact on functional capacity and cardiovascular function in sickle cell disease patients.