Showing papers by "University of Milano-Bicocca published in 2022"
Seoul National University1, California Institute of Technology2, Forschungszentrum Jülich3, Max Planck Society4, International Institute of Minnesota5, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources6, University of Milano-Bicocca7, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign8, École Polytechnique9, Carnegie Institution for Science10
TL;DR: In this article, the authors demonstrate that the canopy structure-related near-infrared reflectance of vegetation multiplied by incoming sunlight (NIRvP) is a robust proxy of far-red SIF across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales.
44 citations
Griffith University1, University of Porto2, University of Queensland3, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn4, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences5, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki6, University of the Aegean7, Open University of Cyprus8, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences9, University of Milano-Bicocca10, University of Salford11
TL;DR: The European Union (EU) has committed to an ambitious biodiversity recovery plan in its Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Green Deal, focusing on restoring degraded habitats, extending the network of protected areas (PAs), and improving the effectiveness of management, governance, and funding as mentioned in this paper.
40 citations
TL;DR: Bakurov et al. as mentioned in this paper revisited the Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) revisited: A data-driven approach for Structural Systems with Applications.
Abstract: Bakurov, I., Buzzelli, M., Schettini, R., Castelli, M., & Vanneschi, L. (2021). Structural similarity index (SSIM) revisited: A data-driven approach. Expert Systems with Applications, [116087]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2021.116087
32 citations
TL;DR: The CUORE experiment was the first to reach a tonne-scale, mK-cooled, experimental mass as mentioned in this paper, which has been operational since 2017 at a temperature of about 10 mK.
25 citations
TL;DR: In this article , a cumulative deficit approach was used to create a novel frailty index based on 30 items dealing with disease states, current medications, and laboratory values derived from data available from CENTER-TBI, a prospective, longitudinal observational study of patients with traumatic brain injury presenting within 24 h of injury and admitted to a ward or an intensive care unit at 65 centers in Europe between Dec 19, 2014, and Dec 17, 2017.
Abstract: Frailty is known to be associated with poorer outcomes in individuals admitted to hospital for medical conditions requiring intensive care. However, little evidence is available for the effect of frailty on patients' outcomes after traumatic brain injury. Many frailty indices have been validated for clinical practice and show good performance to predict clinical outcomes. However, each is specific to a particular clinical context. We aimed to develop a frailty index to predict 6-month outcomes in patients after a traumatic brain injury.A cumulative deficit approach was used to create a novel frailty index based on 30 items dealing with disease states, current medications, and laboratory values derived from data available from CENTER-TBI, a prospective, longitudinal observational study of patients with traumatic brain injury presenting within 24 h of injury and admitted to a ward or an intensive care unit at 65 centres in Europe between Dec 19, 2014, and Dec 17, 2017. From the individual cumulative CENTER-TBI frailty index (range 0-30), we obtained a standardised value (range 0-1), with high scores indicating higher levels of frailty. The effect of frailty on 6-month outcome evaluated with the extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) was assessed through a proportional odds logistic model adjusted for known outcome predictors. An unfavourable outcome was defined as death or severe disability (GOSE score ≤4). External validation was performed on data from TRACK-TBI, a prospective observational study co-designed with CENTER-TBI, which enrolled patients with traumatic brain injury at 18 level I trauma centres in the USA from Feb 26, 2014, to July 27, 2018. CENTER-TBI is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02210221; TRACK-TBI is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02119182.2993 participants (median age was 51 years [IQR 30-67], 2058 [69%] were men) were included in this analysis. The overall median CENTER-TBI frailty index score was 0·07 (IQR 0·03-0·15), with a median score of 0·17 (0·08-0·27) in older adults (aged ≥65 years). The CENTER-TBI frailty index score was significantly associated with the probability of an increasingly unfavourable outcome (cumulative odds ratio [OR] 1·03, 95% CI 1·02-1·04; p<0·0001), and the association was stronger for participants admitted to hospital wards (1·04, 1·03-1·06, p<0·0001) compared with those admitted to the intensive care unit (1·02, 1·01-1·03 p<0·0001). External validation of the CENTER-TBI frailty index in data from the TRACK-TBI (n=1667) cohort supported the robustness and reliability of these findings. The overall median TRACK-TBI frailty index score was 0·03 (IQR 0-0·10), with the frailty index score significantly associated with the risk of an increasingly unfavourable outcome in patients admitted to hospital wards (cumulative OR 1·05, 95% CI 1·03-1·08; p<0·0001), but not in those admitted to the intensive care unit (1·01, 0·99-1·03; p=0·43).We developed and externally validated a frailty index specific to traumatic brain injury. Risk of unfavourable outcome was significantly increased in participants with a higher CENTER-TBI frailty index score, regardless of age. Frailty identification could help to individualise rehabilitation approaches aimed at mitigating effects of frailty in patients with traumatic brain injury.European Union, Hannelore Kohl Stiftung, OneMind, Integra LifeSciences Corporation, NeuroTrauma Sciences, NIH-NINDS-TRACK-TBI, US Department of Defense.
25 citations
TL;DR: The most traumatic elements of women's experiences were the sudden family separation, self-isolation, transfer to a referral centre, the partner not allowed to be present at birth and limited physical contact with the newborn as discussed by the authors .
23 citations
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn1, National Institute of Oceanography, India2, University of Palermo3, University of Messina4, Spanish National Research Council5, Agricultural University of Tirana6, Adolfo Ibáñez University7, Federal University of São Paulo8, Ocean University of China9, University of Dubrovnik10, Södertörn University11, University of Patras12, University of Aveiro13, American Museum of Natural History14, University of Alicante15, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences16, Aswan University17, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu18, Rhodes University19, University of Washington20, Northeastern University21, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences22, University of Lisbon23, University of Milano-Bicocca24, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center25, University of Tromsø26, Polytechnic University of Valencia27, National Research Council28, International Institute for Environment and Development29, Cawthron Institute30, Alexandria University31, Universiti Sains Malaysia32, University of Hong Kong33
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors performed a rapid global assessment to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related emerging control measures on the aquaculture supply chain.
21 citations
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań1, University of Milan2, University of Milano-Bicocca3, Aarhus University4, National Research Council5, University of Savoy6, University of Silesia in Katowice7, Polish Academy of Sciences8, Chiba University9, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine10, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences11, University of Warsaw12, University of Florida13, University of Colorado Boulder14, Charles University in Prague15, Hokkaido University16, Bergen University College17
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented and described morphological diversity, chemical and photoautotrophs composition, and organic matter content of cryoconite sampled from 33 polar and mountain glaciers around the globe.
16 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors compared SURG vs SOR regarding the OS and progression-free survival (PFS) in a real-world clinical scenario, and the inverse probability weighting (IPW) method was adopted to balance the confounders between the two groups.
Abstract: Objective: The aim of the study was to compare SURG vs SOR regarding the OS and progression-free survival (PFS) in a real-world clinical scenario. Background data: The treatment for advanced nonmetastatic HCC belonging to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C (BCLC C) is still controversial. Methods: BCLC C patients without extrahepatic spread and tumoral invasion of the main portal trunk were considered. Surgical patients were obtained from the HE.RC.O.LE.S. Register, whereas sorafenib patients were obtained from the ITA.LI.CA register The inverse probability weighting (IPW) method was adopted to balance the confounders between the 2 groups. Results: Between 2008 and 2019, 478 patients were enrolled: 303 in SURG and 175 in SOR group. Eastern Cooperative Oncological Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS), presence of cirrhosis, steatosis, Child-Pugh grade, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus, alcohol intake, collateral veins, bilobar disease, localization of the tumor thrombus, number of nodules, alpha-fetoprotein, age, and Charlson Comorbidity index were weighted by IPW to create two balanced pseudo-populations: SURG = 374 and SOR = 263. After IPW, 1–3–5 years OS was 83.6%, 68.1%, 55.9% for SURG, and 42.3%, 17.8%, 12.8% for SOR (P < 0.001). Similar trends were observed after subgrouping patients by ECOG-PS = 0 and ECOG-PS >0, and by the intrahepatic location of portal vein invasion. At Cox regression, sorafenib treatment (hazard ratio 4.436; 95% confidence interval 3.19–6.15; P < 0.001) and Charlson Index (hazard ratio 1.162; 95% confidence interval 1.06–1.27; P = 0.010) were the only independent predictors of mortality. PFS at 1–3–5 years were 65.9%, 40.3%, 24.3% for SURG and 21.6%, 3.5%, 2.9% for SOR (P = 0.007). Conclusions: In BCLC C patients without extrahepatic spread but with intrahepatic portal invasion, liver resection, if feasible, was followed by better OS and PFS compared with sorafenib.
15 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the biological effects of diesel exhaust particles were investigated in human bronchial BEAS-2B cells exposed to 50 μg/mL of PM (corresponding to 5.2 μg/cm2), and the results revealed that Euro 3 DEPs activated the typical inflammatory and pro-carcinogenic pathways induced by combustion-derived particles.
15 citations
TL;DR: In this article , a computational pipeline that integrates metabolomics and transcriptomics data, using constraint-based stoichiometric metabolic models as a scaffold, is proposed to disassemble the interdependence between different regulatory layers controlling metabolism.
Abstract: Metabolism is directly and indirectly fine-tuned by a complex web of interacting regulatory mechanisms that fall into two major classes. On the one hand, the expression level of the catalyzing enzyme sets the maximal theoretical flux level (i.e., the net rate of the reaction) for each enzyme-controlled reaction. On the other hand, metabolic regulation controls the metabolic flux through the interactions of metabolites (substrates, cofactors, allosteric modulators) with the responsible enzyme. High-throughput data, such as metabolomics and transcriptomics data, if analyzed separately, do not accurately characterize the hierarchical regulation of metabolism outlined above. They must be integrated to disassemble the interdependence between different regulatory layers controlling metabolism. To this aim, we propose INTEGRATE, a computational pipeline that integrates metabolomics and transcriptomics data, using constraint-based stoichiometric metabolic models as a scaffold. We compute differential reaction expression from transcriptomics data and use constraint-based modeling to predict if the differential expression of metabolic enzymes directly originates differences in metabolic fluxes. In parallel, we use metabolomics to predict how differences in substrate availability translate into differences in metabolic fluxes. We discriminate fluxes regulated at the metabolic and/or gene expression level by intersecting these two output datasets. We demonstrate the pipeline using a set of immortalized normal and cancer breast cell lines. In a clinical setting, knowing the regulatory level at which a given metabolic reaction is controlled will be valuable to inform targeted, truly personalized therapies in cancer patients.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors investigated short and long-term complications due to standard (≤24 hours) and extended (> 24 hours) prone position in COVID-19 patients.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors explored the lived experiences of the partners of positive childbearing women who gave birth during the first pandemic wave (March and April 2020) in a Northern Italy maternity hospital.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors study four-derivative corrections to the conformal anomalies of the dual 4d $$ \mathcal{N} = 2 minimal gauged supergravity using tools from conformal supergravity.
Abstract: A bstract We study four-derivative corrections to 5d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 2 minimal gauged supergravity using tools from conformal supergravity. There are two supersymmetric invariants at the four-derivative order and we show explicitly how to write down the action in the Poincaré frame in terms of their coefficients. We apply our results in the context of holography where the four-derivative terms in the supergravity action translate into corrections to the conformal anomalies of the dual 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 1 SCFT. We use these results to study corrections to the entropy of the supersymmetric black string solutions of minimal supergravity. We also discuss explicit embeddings of the 5d supergravity in string and M-theory and use them to fix the higher-derivative coefficients in terms of the microscopic parameters.
TL;DR: The first large-scale exploratory analysis of the network of interfamily marriages in ’Ndrangheta shows that this alliance network is polycentric, made up of cohesive subgroups centered around well-connected, powerful families, that occupy different positions in the network.
TL;DR: In this article , a Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling (MCMC) based approach is proposed to solve a Boolean matrix factorization problem to reconstruct longitudinal models of cancer evolution from single-cell mutational profiles.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors described two studies aiming to investigate the effectiveness of nudging interventions in promoting healthy eating among university students, which aimed to modify students' choice for each of the Italian meal courses: first course (pasta, rice or soup), second course (meat, fish, cheese or cured meat), side dish, bread, and fruit).
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors analyzed and compared how traditional and innovative biotechnological approaches are exploited to maximize the ability of microalgae to produce omega-3 FAs, especially eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA), and highlighted that microalgal bioprospecting, combined with engineering approaches and with the study of the influence from the environment, can provide a reliable and sustainable alternative for omega 3 FAs production.
Abstract: Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) are relevant commodities in the market due to their important role in human wellbeing. As the worldwide demand is increasing, alternative sources and sustainable processes are needed to face the limited supply of the omega-3 FAs of fish origin. Microalgae provide a portfolio of biodiversity able to satisfy the quest for alternative sources and to match the need of sustainability for the production of these compounds. This review deepens the topic of sustainable production and supply chain by analyzing the current data available in scientific literature and providing a glance of the market of omega-3 FAs from different microalgal species. This was assessed in the light of the technologies applicable to enhance and improve production. We analyzed and compared how traditional and innovative biotechnological approaches are exploited to maximize the ability of microalgae to produce omega-3 FAs, especially eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA and DHA). This critical overview highlights that microalgal bioprospecting, combined with engineering approaches and with the study of the influence from the environment, can provide a reliable and sustainable alternative for omega-3 FAs production. Unlocking the interdependence of these factors will play a key role in achieving the industrial scalability and standardization of the processes. Finally, the strategy to promote the consumer's acceptability of algae-based products will also be pivotal to substitute the current sources of omega-3 FAs and therefore to address the sustainability challenges that Europe, as well as the rest of the world, is facing.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the link between local NBL values and their generating hydrogeochemical processes and so is addressed here for the redox-sensitive species As, NH4, Fe and Mn in the groundwater bodies of Lombardy region, N Italy.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors investigated the link between local NBL values and their generating hydrogeochemical processes and so is addressed here for the redox-sensitive species As, NH4, Fe and Mn in the groundwater bodies of Lombardy region, N Italy.
TL;DR: This paper investigated the robustness and the magnitude of the Foreign Language Effect (FLE) on decision-making and found that the FLE is not moderated by language experience or methodological choices.
Abstract: Abstract In the present meta-analysis, we investigated the robustness and the magnitude of the Foreign Language Effect (FLE) – that is, the putative effect of language context (native versus foreign language) on decision-making. We also investigated whether the FLE is moderated by language experience – measured by second language age of acquisition and proficiency – or by methodological choices – the types of decision problems adopted, the presentation modality of the tasks administered, and the perspective in which problems are framed. Our results showed a reliable FLE, which was not moderated by language experience or methodological choices. We discuss our findings in relation to available theories of FLE, and indicate possible future directions to improve our understanding of the interplay between bilingualism and decision-making.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used 16S rRNA and 18 s rRNA metabarcoding and shotgun metagenomics to assess the diversity, composition, and functional potential of the snow algae blooms bacterial and eukaryotic communities at three different sites of Maritime Antarctic.
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors reviewed how conditional Sox2 knockout in mouse with different Cre recombinases leads to very diverse phenotypes in different regions of the developing and postnatal brain.
Abstract: SOX2 is a transcription factor conserved throughout vertebrate evolution, whose expression marks the central nervous system from the earliest developmental stages. In humans, SOX2 mutation leads to a spectrum of CNS defects, including vision and hippocampus impairments, intellectual disability, and motor control problems. Here, we review how conditional Sox2 knockout (cKO) in mouse with different Cre recombinases leads to very diverse phenotypes in different regions of the developing and postnatal brain. Surprisingly, despite the widespread expression of Sox2 in neural stem/progenitor cells of the developing neural tube, some regions (hippocampus, ventral forebrain) appear much more vulnerable than others to Sox2 deletion. Furthermore, the stage of Sox2 deletion is also a critical determinant of the resulting defects, pointing to a stage-specificity of SOX2 function. Finally, cKOs illuminate the importance of SOX2 function in different cell types according to the different affected brain regions (neural precursors, GABAergic interneurons, glutamatergic projection neurons, Bergmann glia). We also review human genetics data regarding the brain defects identified in patients carrying mutations within human SOX2 and examine the parallels with mouse mutants. Functional genomics approaches have started to identify SOX2 molecular targets, and their relevance for SOX2 function in brain development and disease will be discussed.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors proposed new local clustering coefficients for multiplex networks, looking at the network from different perspectives depending on the node position, as well as a global clustering coefficient for the whole network.
TL;DR: In this article , the key ingredients ruling decoherence in multispin clusters were pinpointed and the system Hamiltonian was designed to design optimal molecules embedding quantum error correction, which allowed the authors to derive optimized code words, enhancing the power of the quantum code by orders of magnitude.
Abstract: We pinpoint the key ingredients ruling decoherence in multispin clusters, and we engineer the system Hamiltonian to design optimal molecules embedding quantum error correction. These are antiferromagnetically coupled systems with competing exchange interactions, characterized by many low-energy states in which decoherence is dramatically suppressed and does not increase with the system size. This feature allows us to derive optimized code words, enhancing the power of the quantum error correction code by orders of magnitude. We demonstrate this by a complete simulation of the system dynamics, including the effect of decoherence driven by a nuclear spin bath and the full sequence of pulses to implement error correction and logical gates between protected states.
TL;DR: In this article, a framework was developed to link soil quality parameters, orchard attributes and Agricultural Management Practices (AMPs) to the provision of ecosystem services in mixed orchards.
Abstract: Orchards in insular, mountainous environments provide a range of Ecosystem Services (ES). However, research on the benefits of mixed orchards to ES remains very limited. We use Cyprus as a model to study the ES provided by 52 mixed orchards in Organic (Org) and Conventional (Con) farms. The orchards comprised different tree species including pome and stone fruits, nuts and other crops. A framework was developed to link soil quality parameters, orchard attributes and Agricultural Management Practices (AMPs) to the provision of ES. Cluster analysis based on AMPs, orchard attributes and soil properties separated the orchards into a Con and an Org cluster. There were significant differences in soil quality parameters between Org and Con orchards: aggregate stability (Mean Weight Diameter; MWD mm) (Org: 12.5; Con: 9.3), organic matter content (OM %) (Org: 1.15; Con: 0.92), seed bank (number of species) (Org: 6.6; Con: 3.4), Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF; % of roots colonization) (Org: 31.3; Con: 19.3) and soil respiration (mg CO2/100 g soil dry weight/day) (Org: 36.3; Con: 21.7). Soil types did not differ between the two systems. Using the parameters AMF presence, aggregate stability and organic matter content as proxies for soil biology, physics and chemistry, respectively, we show that Org orchards have a higher potential to provide ES than Con. The results of the study are useful for selecting agricultural management practices to maintain and optimize ES in Mediterranean island mixed orchards.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors investigate the ultrafast carrier and phononic dynamics in SnSe and demonstrate that optical excitations can transiently switch the point-group symmetry of the crystal from Pnma to Cmcm at room temperature in a few hundreds of femtoseconds with an ultralow threshold for the excitation carrier density.
Abstract: Layered tin selenide (SnSe) has recently emerged as a high-performance thermoelectric material with the current record for the figure of merit (ZT) observed in the high-temperature Cmcm phase. So far, access to the Cmcm phase has been mainly obtained via thermal equilibrium methods based on sample heating or application of external pressure, thus restricting the current understanding only to ground-state conditions. Here, we investigate the ultrafast carrier and phononic dynamics in SnSe. Our results demonstrate that optical excitations can transiently switch the point-group symmetry of the crystal from Pnma to Cmcm at room temperature in a few hundreds of femtoseconds with an ultralow threshold for the excitation carrier density. This nonequilibrium Cmcm phase is found to be driven by the displacive excitation of coherent Ag phonons and, given the absence of low-energy thermal phonons, exists in SnSe with the status of 'cold lattice with hot carriers'. Our findings provide an important insight for understanding the nonequilibrium thermoelectric properties of SnSe.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors explore the disease experience of adolescents and young adults with Type 1 diabetes focusing on the barriers and facilitators that characterise their disease self-care, and highlight the importance of designing and improving technology related to diabetes accounting for patients' experiences.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors combine classical molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations to elucidate the mechanism of penetration of a protonated Doxorubicin molecule (DOX+) into potential liposome membranes, here modeled as lipid bilayers based on mixtures of phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol lipid molecules, of different compositions and lipid phases.