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International audience; Cannabis exposure during the perinatal period results in varied and significant consequences in affected offspring. The prevalence of detrimental outcomes of perinatal cannabis exposure is likely to increase in tandem with the broadening of legalization and acceptance of the drug. As such, it is crucial to highlight the immediate and protracted consequences of cannabis exposure on pre-and post-natal development. Here, we identify lasting changes in neurons' learning flexibility (synaptic plasticity) and epigenetic misregulation in animal models of perinatal cannabinoid exposure (using synthetic cannabinoids or active components of the cannabis plant) in addition to significant alterations in social behavior and executive functions. These findings are supported by epidemiological data indicating similar behavioral outcomes throughout life in human offspring exposed to cannabis during pregnancy. Further, we indicate important lingering questions regarding accurate modeling of perinatal cannabis exposure as well as the need for sex-and agedependent outcome measures in future studies.

Abstract Background Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare, neuro-mucocutaneous disease which presents as orofacial swelling, facial palsy and fissured tongue. These symptoms may occur simultaneously or, more frequently, with a oligosymptomatic or monosymptomatic pattern. Swelling, that is the most common initial finding, may mimic hereditary or acquired angioedema, a disorder caused by histamine or bradykinin-mediated plasma-leakage affecting subcutaneous and/or submucosal tissue. The differential diagnosis of MRS includes also chronic inflammatory and infective diseases characterized by granulomatous infiltration, as well as rosacea, contact dermatitis, allergic reactions and Bell’s palsy. Case presentation A 71-year old, non-allergic female patient with no familial and personal history of angioedema presented, a few days after a possible herpes simplex or varicella-zoster virus infection, with monolateral facial paraesthesia and lower lip edema. After temporary remission of symptoms on oral steroids and antihistamines, she showed swelling recurrence refractory to valaciclovir therapy and a subsequent course of antihistamines. The clinical picture and a previous history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma prompted us to rule out an acquired form of paraneoplastic, C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency: C1q and both antigen and functional C1-INH tested normal, whilst we found low plasma levels of C3 and C4 possibly related to the parallel detection of antiphospholipid antibodies. Thus, we hypothesized a non-histaminergic, idiopathic form of angioedema and planned further therapy with tranexamic acid and the leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast. Treatment failure with both drugs finally suggested a Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome, which was confirmed by histologic findings of non caseating granulomas on lip biopsy. Conclusion Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome may occur with rather non-specific symptoms and overlap with alternative conditions, including recurrent angioedema. No specific biomarkers for MRS exist and clinical diagnosis is often of exclusion. The finding of complement or immune alterations, as in our patient, may be further confounding and justify the need for skin or mucosal biopsy to establish a correct diagnosis and prescribe targeted therapy.

Abstract One of the main challenges for India is increasing food security and promoting economic development using the domestic finite and already stressed natural resources. In the last decades silk production has been booming in India in response to the 2025 silk self-sufficiency goal set by the Indian Ministry of Textile. It is not clear to which extent mulberry (Morus alba), used to feed silkworm in 70% of the total domestic silk production, can be expanded in the wastelands identified by the Indian Government as suitable for moriculture without both endangering natural resources and causing competition for natural resources with the food sector. This issue is here investigated by a) assessing mulberry water consumption (rain and irrigation) in the plantations presently cultivated and in all the wastelands selected by the government for the expansion of moriculture as well; b) analyzing annual and sub-annual water scarcity induced by mulberry plantations within the plantations; c) studying the potential competition for natural resources between food crops and mulberry. To this end the dynamic spatially distributed crop water balance WATNEEDS model has been used to analyze two different scenarios being the reference scenario considering the present climate and land cover, and the “silk expansion scenario” combining present climate and the new mulberry plantations. Results for the reference scenario show mulberry expansion areas already suffering food insecurity and water scarcity in the dry period. Here, the expansion of mulberry cultivation is shown to exacerbate water scarcity in pre-monsoon months especially in the North-Eastern Region affecting on a yearly scale eleven million people. Results also show expanding food production on wastelands rather than mulberry could be a viable solution for alleviating the burden of malnutrition.

Leishmania infantum is widespread in Mediterranean countries including Turkey and can cause a serious disease in both humans and dogs. Dogs are considered to be its main reservoirs. The current epidemiological study was carried out in Istanbul for detection of leishmaniosis among dogs. A total of 246 dogs were included in the study. Twenty one (8.54%) blood samples were found to be positive based on PCR diagnosis, using primers specific for the kinetoplast DNA of Leishmania. Infection rate was 6.51% in 169 dogs living in shelters and 12.99% in 77 client-owned dogs. The rate was significantly (p<0.001) higher in the dogs (37.93%) presenting one or more clinical symptoms which may be attributable to leishmaniosis, than in the asymptomatic dogs (4.61%). Eleven (52.4%) of 21 PCR positive dogs presented clinical symptoms whereas the rest of the dogs (47.62%) were asymptomatic. The major clinical sign in PCR positive animals was dermatological problems. Amongst PCR positive dogs, skin lesions were present in 11, weight loss in 2, lymphadenopathy in 2, epistaxis in 2 and lethargy in 2 dogs.

Abstract Stock picking based on regularities in time series is one of the most studied topics in the financial industry. Various machine learning techniques have been employed for this task. We build a trading strategy algorithm that receives as input indicators defined through outliers in the time series of stocks (return, volume, volatility, bid-ask spread). The procedure identifies the most relevant subset of indicators for the prediction of stock returns by combining an heuristic search strategy, guided from the Information Gain Criterium, with the Naive-Bayes classification algorithm. We apply the methodology to two sets of stocks belonging respectively to the EUROSTOXX50 and the DOW JONES index. Performance is smoother than in the Buy&Hold strategy and yields a higher risk-adjusted return, in particular in a turbulent period. However, outperformance vanishes when transaction costs (5–15 basis points) are inserted. Asset return and return/volume serial correlation turn out to be the most relevant indicators to build the trading algorithm.

Abstract The assembly behaviour of amphiphilic poly(styrene)-block-poly(t -butyl acrylate) block copolymer at air/water interface has been studied in view of its ability to form condensed phases. The film, transferred by Horizontal Precipitation Langmuir-Blodgett method without modifications, has been studied. Chemical imaging unravels the orientation of the condensed phases and, once defined their chemical orientation, the morphology of the block copolymer film and the pressure-induced growth processes have been investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy . Micelles and flat regions, 1 nm thick, were found. The micelles growth mechanism is interpreted as a coalescence process, allowing to predict the pressure-induced evolution of the chemical microphases.

Abstract We study propagation of uncertainty related to bioreactive parameters through the biodegradation reaction network of atrazine (ATZ) and its metabolites in soils. The work is motivated by the recognition that detailed analyses of these aspects in models of complex biogeochemical systems is especially critical when the feedback amongst hydraulic, chemical and microbial processes is strong. With an emphasis on microbial processes, the ATZ reaction network is exemplary because it includes 19 biological reactions mediated by 3 microbial functional groups that compete in 6 metabolic and co-metabolic degradation pathways under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Propagation of model parametric uncertainty yields the probability distributions of ATZ, its metabolites, and the microbial biomass. It also enables us to identify key parameters that drive the long-term system dynamics. We base our analyses on an initial screening of model parameters and a subsequent moment-based global sensitivity analysis, and we show that the probability density of target outputs are multimodal as a result of nonlinearities in the degradation rate formulations. The employed global sensitivity metrics reveal that joint effects of the uncertainty of multiple kinetic parameters significantly contribute to output uncertainties, thus suggesting the presence of a high level of coupling between processes included in the network. Specific biomass affinity to a given substrate is found to be a lumped indicator that can facilitate the analysis of microbial growth when multiple and competing microbial functional groups coexist.

Background: The aim of this research is to describe the performance over time of transcatheter aortic valve implantations (TAVIs) in a high-volume center with a contemporary, real-world population. Methods: Patients referred for TAVIs at the University Hospital of Verona were prospectively enrolled. By cumulative sum failures analysis (CUSUM), procedural-control curves for standardized combined endpoints—as defined by the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2)—were calculated and analyzed over time. Acceptable and unacceptable limits were derived from recent studies on TAVI in intermediate and low-risk patients to fit the higher required standards for current indications. Results: A total of 910 patients were included. Baseline risk scores significantly reduced over time. Complete procedural control was obtained after approximately 125 and 190 cases for device success and early safety standardized combined endpoints, respectively. High risk patients (STS ≥ 8) had poorer outcomes, especially in terms of VARC-2 clinical efficacy, and required a higher case load to maintain in-control and proficient procedures. Clinically relevant single endpoints were all influenced by operator’s experience as well. Conclusions: Quality-control analysis for contemporary TAVI interventions based on standardized endpoints suggests the need for relevant operator’s experience to achieve and maintain optimal clinical results, especially in higher-risk subjects.

Controlling the stoichiometry, structure, defects, size, and shape of engineered nanomaterials (in the forms of powders, colloids, and thin films) is a fundamental issue in designing new functionalities and providing reproducible and efficient synthetic methods, thus enabling the construction of high-tech devices. Nanosized materials are complex systems; therefore, to meet these goals, advanced physicochemical methods and dedicated and robust characterization tools, bearing a solid statistical value, are required. Here we present frontier techniques based on X-ray total scattering (mainly, but not only, synchrotron-based) and the Debye scattering equation modeling. The method has been developed in the field of crystalline nanomaterials and nanocomposites, from very small colloidal semiconductor quantum dots to halide perovskites, metals, oxides, nanodrugs, and bioceramics, and provides atomic- to nanometer-scale characterization to an unbeatable level. Examples from the recent scientific literature are presented.

Microorganisms often cause significant damage on historical objects. The archive or library materials 24 as well as textile or leather artifacts suffer serious attacks that need appropriate care treatments. 25 Several biocide processes have been implemented but often their application does not preserve the 26 material of the good. The objective of this work is the disinfection through ionizing radiation of 27 leather wallpaper from the museum building Palazzo Chigi in Ariccia (Rome, Italy). The controlled 28 sterilization treatments were carried out using X-ray beams to eliminate the microorganisms present 29 on the leather and maintaining unchanged the properties of the constituent material. Some fragments 30 of decorated leather wallpaper, dating back to the 1700s, were irradiated with X-rays up to 5000 Gy. 31 The amount of microorganisms was evaluated by microbiological analysis before and after X-ray 32 irradiation treatments to identify the dose that inhibits the bacterial load. It will be shown how the 33 results obtained by the application of different chemical-physical techniques (Scanning Electron 34 Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and Light Transmission Analysis) have helped 35 in the evaluation of the impact of the X-rays on leather chemical and physical integrity.