Showing papers by "University of Perugia published in 2021"
Daniel J. Klionsky1, Amal Kamal Abdel-Aziz2, Sara Abdelfatah3, Mahmoud Abdellatif4 +2980 more•Institutions (777)
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes.
Abstract: In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field.
1,129 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the population of 47 compact binary mergers detected with a false-alarm rate of 0.614 were dynamically assembled, and the authors found that the BBH rate likely increases with redshift, but not faster than the star formation rate.
Abstract: We report on the population of 47 compact binary mergers detected with a false-alarm rate of 0.01 are dynamically assembled. Third, we estimate merger rates, finding RBBH = 23.9-+8.614.3 Gpc-3 yr-1 for BBHs and RBNS = 320-+240490 Gpc-3 yr-1 for binary neutron stars. We find that the BBH rate likely increases with redshift (85% credibility) but not faster than the star formation rate (86% credibility). Additionally, we examine recent exceptional events in the context of our population models, finding that the asymmetric masses of GW190412 and the high component masses of GW190521 are consistent with our models, but the low secondary mass of GW190814 makes it an outlier.
468 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reported the observation of gravitational waves from two compact binary coalescences in LIGO's and Virgo's third observing run with properties consistent with neutron star-black hole (NSBH) binaries.
Abstract: We report the observation of gravitational waves from two compact binary coalescences in LIGO’s and Virgo’s third observing run with properties consistent with neutron star–black hole (NSBH) binaries. The two events are named GW200105_162426 and GW200115_042309, abbreviated as GW200105 and GW200115; the first was observed by LIGO Livingston and Virgo and the second by all three LIGO–Virgo detectors. The source of GW200105 has component masses 8.9−1.5+1.2 and 1.9−0.2+0.3M⊙ , whereas the source of GW200115 has component masses 5.7−2.1+1.8 and 1.5−0.3+0.7M⊙ (all measurements quoted at the 90% credible level). The probability that the secondary’s mass is below the maximal mass of a neutron star is 89%–96% and 87%–98%, respectively, for GW200105 and GW200115, with the ranges arising from different astrophysical assumptions. The source luminosity distances are 280−110+110 and 300−100+150Mpc , respectively. The magnitude of the primary spin of GW200105 is less than 0.23 at the 90% credible level, and its orientation is unconstrained. For GW200115, the primary spin has a negative spin projection onto the orbital angular momentum at 88% probability. We are unable to constrain the spin or tidal deformation of the secondary component for either event. We infer an NSBH merger rate density of 45−33+75Gpc−3yr−1 when assuming that GW200105 and GW200115 are representative of the NSBH population or 130−69+112Gpc−3yr−1 under the assumption of a broader distribution of component masses.
374 citations
TL;DR: This work exemplifies how the functionality of metal halide perovskites is extremely sensitive to the nature of the (nano)crystalline surface and presents a route through which to control the formation and migration of surface defects to achieve bandgap stability for light emission and could also have a broader impact on other optoelectronic applications-such as photovoltaics-for which band gap stability is required.
Abstract: Lead halide perovskites are promising semiconductors for light-emitting applications because they exhibit bright, bandgap-tunable luminescence with high colour purity1,2. Photoluminescence quantum yields close to unity have been achieved for perovskite nanocrystals across a broad range of emission colours, and light-emitting diodes with external quantum efficiencies exceeding 20 per cent-approaching those of commercial organic light-emitting diodes-have been demonstrated in both the infrared and the green emission channels1,3,4. However, owing to the formation of lower-bandgap iodide-rich domains, efficient and colour-stable red electroluminescence from mixed-halide perovskites has not yet been realized5,6. Here we report the treatment of mixed-halide perovskite nanocrystals with multidentate ligands to suppress halide segregation under electroluminescent operation. We demonstrate colour-stable, red emission centred at 620 nanometres, with an electroluminescence external quantum efficiency of 20.3 per cent. We show that a key function of the ligand treatment is to 'clean' the nanocrystal surface through the removal of lead atoms. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the binding between the ligands and the nanocrystal surface suppresses the formation of iodine Frenkel defects, which in turn inhibits halide segregation. Our work exemplifies how the functionality of metal halide perovskites is extremely sensitive to the nature of the (nano)crystalline surface and presents a route through which to control the formation and migration of surface defects. This is critical to achieve bandgap stability for light emission and could also have a broader impact on other optoelectronic applications-such as photovoltaics-for which bandgap stability is required.
353 citations
University College of Medical Sciences1, Kyoto University2, Crozer-Keystone Health System3, Alexandria University4, Nagasaki University5, University of Split6, University of Newcastle7, Queen Mary University of London8, University of Perugia9, University College Cork10, Kobe University11, University of Twente12, Vrije Universiteit Brussel13, University of Hong Kong14, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology15, Ho Chi Minh City Medicine and Pharmacy University16, University of Bern17, University of Helsinki18, RAND Corporation19, University of Sydney20, University of Barcelona21, University of Vienna22, Kerman Medical University23, University of British Columbia24
325 citations
TL;DR: The data recorded by these instruments during their first and second observing runs are described, including the gravitational-wave strain arrays, released as time series sampled at 16384 Hz.
320 citations
Saarland University1, University of Parma2, Technical University of Denmark3, University of Giessen4, Pasteur Institute5, University of Lorraine6, Max Planck Society7, Goethe University Frankfurt8, University of Lisbon9, National Museum of Natural History10, Wageningen University and Research Centre11, University of Paris12, John Innes Centre13, University of Manchester14, University of Perugia15, University of Tübingen16, University of Strasbourg17, Jacobs University Bremen18, University Hospital Bonn19, University of Bristol20, Uppsala University21, University of Ljubljana22, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative23, University of Dundee24, Novartis25
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a strategic blueprint to substantially improve our ability to discover and develop new antibiotics, and propose both short-term and long-term solutions to overcome the most urgent limitations in the various sectors of research and funding.
Abstract: An ever-increasing demand for novel antimicrobials to treat life-threatening infections caused by the global spread of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens stands in stark contrast to the current level of investment in their development, particularly in the fields of natural-product-derived and synthetic small molecules. New agents displaying innovative chemistry and modes of action are desperately needed worldwide to tackle the public health menace posed by antimicrobial resistance. Here, our consortium presents a strategic blueprint to substantially improve our ability to discover and develop new antibiotics. We propose both short-term and long-term solutions to overcome the most urgent limitations in the various sectors of research and funding, aiming to bridge the gap between academic, industrial and political stakeholders, and to unite interdisciplinary expertise in order to efficiently fuel the translational pipeline for the benefit of future generations.
255 citations
Free University of Berlin1, Hospital Kuala Lumpur2, Cleveland Clinic3, Mater Dei Hospital4, Kantonsspital St. Gallen5, University of Zurich6, Medical University of Vienna7, Montreal Children's Hospital8, University of Cincinnati9, University of Southern Denmark10, Technische Universität München11, Opole University12, Federal University of Paraná13, University of Southampton14, Federal University of São Paulo15, New York University16, University of Debrecen17, Istanbul University18, Pompeu Fabra University19, University of Coimbra20, Vrije Universiteit Brussel21, Bethel University22, Laval University23, Hiroshima University24, Medical University of South Carolina25, Hannover Medical School26, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine27, Koç University28, Mahidol University29, University of Helsinki30, Royal Free Hospital31, Fraunhofer Society32, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens33, University of Groningen34, Nippon Medical School35, University of Milan36, Universidad Nacional de Asunción37, Johns Hopkins University38, Hacettepe University39, University of Paris40, University of Mainz41, University of Perugia42, University of Toronto43, University of Copenhagen44, Aarhus University Hospital45, Peking University46
TL;DR: This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) on 3 December 2020 as mentioned in this paper, with the participation of 64 delegates of 50 national and international societies and from 31 countries.
Abstract: This update and revision of the international guideline for urticaria was developed following the methods recommended by Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA²LEN) and its Urticaria and Angioedema Centers of Reference and Excellence (UCAREs and ACAREs), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF; EuroGuiDerm), and the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology with the participation of 64 delegates of 50 national and international societies and from 31 countries. The consensus conference was held on 3 December 2020. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell-driven disease that presents with wheals, angioedema, or both. The lifetime prevalence for acute urticaria is approximately 20%. Chronic spontaneous or inducible urticaria is disabling, impairs quality of life, and affects performance at work and school. This updated version of the international guideline for urticaria covers the definition and classification of urticaria and outlines expert-guided and evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria.
223 citations
Bose Corporation1, Cardiff University2, Durham University3, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań4, Max Planck Society5, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven6, Delft University of Technology7, Georgia Institute of Technology8, Kaiserslautern University of Technology9, Beihang University10, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne11, Saratov State University12, Paris-Sorbonne University13, The Catholic University of America14, University of Notre Dame15, University of Münster16, Emory University17, Polytechnic University of Milan18, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf19, Dresden University of Technology20, University of Exeter21, Donetsk National University22, SRM University23, National University of Singapore24, University of Greifswald25, Kyoto University26, Tohoku University27, University of Santiago, Chile28, Federico Santa María Technical University29, University of Perugia30, Université Paris-Saclay31, University of Manitoba32, University of Colorado Colorado Springs33, University of Tokyo34, University of Groningen35, Technische Universität München36, Technical University of Dortmund37, University of Vienna38, Aalto University39, University of California, Riverside40, Intel41, University of Duisburg-Essen42, University of Oldenburg43
TL;DR: The Roadmap on Magnonics as mentioned in this paper is a collection of 22 sections written by leading experts in this field who review and discuss the current status but also present their vision of future perspectives.
Abstract: Magnonics is a rather young physics research field in nanomagnetism and nanoscience that addresses the use of spin waves (magnons) to transmit, store, and process information. After several papers and review articles published in the last decade, with a steadily increase in the number of citations, we are presenting the first Roadmap on Magnonics. This a collection of 22 sections written by leading experts in this field who review and discuss the current status but also present their vision of future perspectives. Today, the principal challenges in applied magnonics are the excitation of sub-100 nm wavelength magnons, their manipulation on the nanoscale and the creation of sub-micrometre devices using low-Gilbert damping magnetic materials and the interconnections to standard electronics. In this respect, magnonics offers lower energy consumption, easier integrability and compatibility with CMOS structure, reprogrammability, shorter wavelength, smaller device features, anisotropic properties, negative group velocity, non-reciprocity and efficient tunability by various external stimuli to name a few. Hence, despite being a young research field, magnonics has come a long way since its early inception. This Roadmap represents a milestone for future emerging research directions in magnonics and hopefully it will be followed by a series of articles on the same topic.
188 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the first and second observing runs of the Advanced LIGO and Virgo detector network were used to obtain the first standard-siren measurement of the Hubble constant (H 0).
Abstract: This paper presents the gravitational-wave measurement of the Hubble constant (H 0) using the detections from the first and second observing runs of the Advanced LIGO and Virgo detector network. The presence of the transient electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star GW170817 led to the first standard-siren measurement of H 0. Here we additionally use binary black hole detections in conjunction with galaxy catalogs and report a joint measurement. Our updated measurement is H 0 = km s−1 Mpc−1 (68.3% of the highest density posterior interval with a flat-in-log prior) which is an improvement by a factor of 1.04 (about 4%) over the GW170817-only value of km s−1 Mpc−1. A significant additional contribution currently comes from GW170814, a loud and well-localized detection from a part of the sky thoroughly covered by the Dark Energy Survey. With numerous detections anticipated over the upcoming years, an exhaustive understanding of other systematic effects are also going to become increasingly important. These results establish the path to cosmology using gravitational-wave observations with and without transient electromagnetic counterparts.
171 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a review of the recent developments in the field of late stage functionalization of complex biorelevant compounds and highlight the expected future progress and potential applications.
Abstract: The late stage functionalization (LSF) of complex biorelevant compounds is a powerful tool to speed up the identification of structure-activity relationships (SARs) and to optimize ADME profiles. To this end, visible-light photocatalysis offers unique opportunities to achieve smooth and clean functionalization of drugs by unlocking site-specific reactivities under generally mild reaction conditions. This review offers a critical assessment of current literature, pointing out the recent developments in the field while emphasizing the expected future progress and potential applications. Along with paragraphs discussing the visible-light photocatalytic synthetic protocols so far available for LSF of drugs and drug candidates, useful and readily accessible synoptic tables of such transformations, divided by functional groups, will be provided, thus enabling a useful, fast, and easy reference to them.
TL;DR: The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) is a precision particle physics detector on the International Space Station (ISS) conducting a unique, long-duration mission of fundamental physics research in space as mentioned in this paper.
TL;DR: The fourth edition of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICPN) was published by the Steering Committee of the IAVS Working Group for PhytoSociological nomenclatures (GPN) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The fourth edition of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICPN) was prepared by the Steering Committee of the IAVS Working Group for Phytosociological Nomenclature (GPN). The edition consists of 14 Definitions, 7 Principles, 53 Articles, and 7 Appendices. When compared with the previous edition, the main amendments are: (a) the acceptance of electronic publications (Art. 1); (b) the introduction of binding decisions (Definition XIV, Principle II, Articles 1, 2b, 3c, 29b, 40, 42, 44, Appendices 6 and 7); (c) the mandatory use of the English or Latin terminology for syntaxonomic novelties (Definition II, Principle II, Articles 3d and 3i); (d) the introduction of autonyms for the main ranks when the corresponding secondary ranks are created (Articles 13b and 24); (e) the automatic correction of the taxon names (name‐giving taxa) used in the names of syntaxa in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) (Article 44); (f) the possibility to mutate the name of a syntaxon in using other correct, alternative names for the name‐giving taxa (Article 45); (g) the introduction of inadequate names, a new category of rejected names (Definition V, Articles 43 through 45); and (h) the introduction of a conserved type (Definition XIII, Article 53). The fourth edition of ICPN was approved by the GPN on 25 May 2019 and becomes effectively binding on 1 January 2021.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report results of a search for an isotropic gravitational-wave background (GWB) using data from Advanced LIGO's and Advanced Virgo's third observing run (O3) combined with upper limits from the earlier O1 and O2 runs.
Abstract: We report results of a search for an isotropic gravitational-wave background (GWB) using data from Advanced LIGO’s and Advanced Virgo’s third observing run (O3) combined with upper limits from the earlier O1 and O2 runs. Unlike in previous observing runs in the advanced detector era, we include Virgo in the search for the GWB. The results of the search are consistent with uncorrelated noise, and therefore we place upper limits on the strength of the GWB. We find that the dimensionless energy density
Ω
GW
≤
5.8
×
10
−
9
at the 95% credible level for a flat (frequency-independent) GWB, using a prior which is uniform in the log of the strength of the GWB, with 99% of the sensitivity coming from the band 20–76.6 Hz;
Ω
GW
(
f
)
≤
3.4
×
10
−
9
at 25 Hz for a power-law GWB with a spectral index of
2
/
3
(consistent with expectations for compact binary coalescences), in the band 20–90.6 Hz; and
Ω
GW
(
f
)
≤
3.9
×
10
−
10
at 25 Hz for a spectral index of 3, in the band 20–291.6 Hz. These upper limits improve over our previous results by a factor of 6.0 for a flat GWB, 8.8 for a spectral index of
2
/
3
, and 13.1 for a spectral index of 3. We also search for a GWB arising from scalar and vector modes, which are predicted by alternative theories of gravity; we do not find evidence of these, and place upper limits on the strength of GWBs with these polarizations. We demonstrate that there is no evidence of correlated noise of magnetic origin by performing a Bayesian analysis that allows for the presence of both a GWB and an effective magnetic background arising from geophysical Schumann resonances. We compare our upper limits to a fiducial model for the GWB from the merger of compact binaries, updating the model to use the most recent data-driven population inference from the systems detected during O3a. Finally, we combine our results with observations of individual mergers and show that, at design sensitivity, this joint approach may yield stronger constraints on the merger rate of binary black holes at
z
≳
2
than can be achieved with individually resolved mergers alone.
Lund University1, King's College London2, Erasmus University Medical Center3, University of Gothenburg4, McGill University5, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital6, Carlos III Health Institute7, University of Perugia8, University of Milan9, University of Chieti-Pescara10, University of Brescia11, Sahlgrenska University Hospital12, University of Leicester13, University of California, San Francisco14, National Institutes of Health15, University College London16, University of Cambridge17, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust18, Karolinska Institutet19, Centre for Mental Health20, Stavanger University Hospital21
TL;DR: In this article, increased cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light (NfL) is used as a marker of neurodegeneration in 13 neuro-degenerative disorders, Down syndrome, depression and cognitively unimpaired controls from two multicenter cohorts.
Abstract: Increased cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light (NfL) is a recognized biomarker for neurodegeneration that can also be assessed in blood. Here, we investigate plasma NfL as a marker of neurodegeneration in 13 neurodegenerative disorders, Down syndrome, depression and cognitively unimpaired controls from two multicenter cohorts: King’s College London (n = 805) and the Swedish BioFINDER study (n = 1,464). Plasma NfL was significantly increased in all cortical neurodegenerative disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and atypical parkinsonian disorders. We demonstrate that plasma NfL is clinically useful in identifying atypical parkinsonian disorders in patients with parkinsonism, dementia in individuals with Down syndrome, dementia among psychiatric disorders, and frontotemporal dementia in patients with cognitive impairment. Data-driven cut-offs highlighted the fundamental importance of age-related clinical cut-offs for disorders with a younger age of onset. Finally, plasma NfL performs best when applied to indicate no underlying neurodegeneration, with low false positives, in all age-related cut-offs.
TL;DR: This is the first candidate for a charged hidden-charm tetraquark with strangeness, decaying into D_{s}^{-}D^{*0} and D-D^{0}.
Abstract: We report a study of the processes of e^{+}e^{-}→K^{+}D_{s}^{-}D^{*0} and K^{+}D_{s}^{*-}D^{0} based on e^{+}e^{-} annihilation samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at BEPCII at five center-of-mass energies ranging from 4.628 to 4.698 GeV with a total integrated luminosity of 3.7 fb^{-1}. An excess of events over the known contributions of the conventional charmed mesons is observed near the D_{s}^{-}D^{*0} and D_{s}^{*-}D^{0} mass thresholds in the K^{+} recoil-mass spectrum for events collected at sqrt[s]=4.681 GeV. The structure matches a mass-dependent-width Breit-Wigner line shape, whose pole mass and width are determined as (3982.5_{-2.6}^{+1.8}±2.1) MeV/c^{2} and (12.8_{-4.4}^{+5.3}±3.0) MeV, respectively. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. The significance of the resonance hypothesis is estimated to be 5.3 σ over the contributions only from the conventional charmed mesons. This is the first candidate for a charged hidden-charm tetraquark with strangeness, decaying into D_{s}^{-}D^{*0} and D_{s}^{*-}D^{0}. However, the properties of the excess need further exploration with more statistics.
TL;DR: KAGRA as discussed by the authors is a newly built gravitational-wave telescope, a laser interferometer comprising arms with a length of 3 km, located in Kamioka, Gifu, Japan.
Abstract: KAGRA is a newly built gravitational-wave telescope, a laser interferometer comprising arms with a length of 3\,km, located in Kamioka, Gifu, Japan. KAGRA was constructed under the ground and it is operated using cryogenic mirrors that help in reducing the seismic and thermal noise. Both technologies are expected to provide directions for the future of gravitational-wave telescopes. In 2019, KAGRA finished all installations with the designed configuration, which we call the baseline KAGRA. In this occasion, we present an overview of the baseline KAGRA from various viewpoints in a series of of articles. In this article, we introduce the design configurations of KAGRA with its historical background.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the use and effect of prone position in intubated, invasively ventilated patients with Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) during the first 2020 pandemic wave.
Abstract: Limited data are available on the use of prone position in intubated, invasively ventilated patients with Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) Aim of this study is to investigate the use and effect of prone position in this population during the first 2020 pandemic wave Retrospective, multicentre, national cohort study conducted between February 24 and June 14, 2020, in 24 Italian Intensive Care Units (ICU) on adult patients needing invasive mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 Clinical data were collected on the day of ICU admission Information regarding the use of prone position was collected daily Follow-up for patient outcomes was performed on July 15, 2020 The respiratory effects of the first prone position were studied in a subset of 78 patients Patients were classified as Oxygen Responders if the PaO2/FiO2 ratio increased ≥ 20 mmHg during prone position and as Carbon Dioxide Responders if the ventilatory ratio was reduced during prone position Of 1057 included patients, mild, moderate and severe ARDS was present in 15, 50 and 35% of patients, respectively, and had a resulting mortality of 25, 33 and 41% Prone position was applied in 61% of the patients Patients placed prone had a more severe disease and died significantly more (45% vs 33%, p < 0001) Overall, prone position induced a significant increase in PaO2/FiO2 ratio, while no change in respiratory system compliance or ventilatory ratio was observed Seventy-eight % of the subset of 78 patients were Oxygen Responders Non-Responders had a more severe respiratory failure and died more often in the ICU (65% vs 38%, p = 0047) Forty-seven % of patients were defined as Carbon Dioxide Responders These patients were older and had more comorbidities;
however, no difference in terms of ICU mortality was observed (51% vs 37%, p = 0189 for Carbon Dioxide Responders and Non-Responders, respectively) During the COVID-19 pandemic, prone position has been widely adopted to treat mechanically ventilated patients with respiratory failure The majority of patients improved their oxygenation during prone position, most likely due to a better ventilation perfusion matching Trial registration: clinicaltrialsgov number: NCT04388670
TL;DR: The hypothesis that HSA analysis may be used to identify patients at higher risk of death in Covid-19 patients is led to.
Abstract: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic associated with a high risk of mortality. Human serum albumin (HSA) is an acute phase reactant with antioxidant property; however, its behavior and impact on survival in COVID-19 patients have never been studied so far. Among 319 COVID-19 patients followed up for a median of 19 days, 64 died. Compared with survivors, nonsurvivors had more prevalence of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, elevated levels of D-dimer, high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) and troponins, and lower values of albumin. At the Cox regression analysis, albumin (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23-0.63, p < 0.001) and age (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06, p = 0.001) were independently associated with mortality, irrespective of adjustment for gender, ICU admission, heart failure, COPD, and hs-CRP levels. Our observation leads to the hypothesis that HSA analysis may be used to identify patients at higher risk of death in COVID-19 patients.
TL;DR: In this paper, the performance of the reconstruction and identification algorithms for electrons and photons with the CMS experiment at the LHC is presented, based on proton-proton collision data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and recorded in 2016-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 136 fb$^{-1}$.
Abstract: The performance is presented of the reconstruction and identification algorithms for electrons and photons with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The reported results are based on proton-proton collision data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and recorded in 2016-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 136 fb$^{-1}$. Results obtained from lead-lead collision data collected at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=$ 5.02 TeV are also presented. Innovative techniques are used to reconstruct the electron and photon signals in the detector and to optimize the energy resolution. Events with electrons and photons in the final state are used to measure the energy resolution and energy scale uncertainty in the recorded events. The measured energy resolution for electrons produced in Z boson decays in proton-proton collision data ranges from 2 to 5%, depending on electron pseudorapidity and energy loss through bremsstrahlung in the detector material. The energy scale in the same range of energies is measured with an uncertainty smaller than 0.1 (0.3)% in the barrel (endcap) region in proton-proton collisions and better than 1 (3)% in the barrel (endcap) region in heavy ion collisions. The timing resolution for electrons from Z boson decays with the full 2016-2018 proton-proton collision data set is measured to be 200 ps.
TL;DR: In this paper, a nested case-control study in which compared male participants with extreme phenotype selected from the Italian GEN-COVID cohort of SARS-CoV-2-infected participants was conducted.
Abstract: Background Recently, loss-of-function variants in TLR7 were identified in two families in which COVID-19 segregates like an X-linked recessive disorder environmentally conditioned by SARS-CoV-2. We investigated whether the two families represent the tip of the iceberg of a subset of COVID-19 male patients. Methods This is a nested case-control study in which we compared male participants with extreme phenotype selected from the Italian GEN-COVID cohort of SARS-CoV-2-infected participants ( Results Overall, we found TLR7 deleterious variants in 2.1% of severely affected males and in none of the asymptomatic participants. The functional gene expression profile analysis demonstrated a reduction in TLR7-related gene expression in patients compared with controls demonstrating an impairment in type I and II IFN responses. Conclusions Young males with TLR7 loss-of-function variants and severe COVID-19 represent a subset of male patients contributing to disease susceptibility in up to 2% of severe COVID-19. Funding Funded by private donors for the Host Genetics Research Project, the Intesa San Paolo for 2020 charity fund, and the Host Genetics Initiative. Clinical trial number NCT04549831.
Vienna University of Technology1, Delft University of Technology2, Lund University3, University of California, Berkeley4, University of Bologna5, Forschungszentrum Jülich6, National Research Council7, Centre national de la recherche scientifique8, Spanish National Research Council9, Sungkyunkwan University10, Agricultural Research Service11, Finnish Meteorological Institute12, University of Copenhagen13, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia14, University of Graz15, Invertis University16, Argonne National Laboratory17, University of Colorado Boulder18, Chinese Academy of Sciences19, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich20, University of Southern California21, University of Salamanca22, University of Chile23, University of Perugia24, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration25, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens26, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada27, Rutgers University28, Monash University, Clayton campus29, United States Department of Agriculture30, University of Twente31, Russian Academy of Sciences32, Chengdu University of Information Technology33, Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate34, International Sleep Products Association35, University of Dundee36, Tsinghua University37, Wuhan University38, University of Arizona39, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven40, European Space Agency41
TL;DR: The main scope of this paper is to inform readers about the evolution of the ISMN over the past decade, including a description of network and data set updates and quality control procedures.
Abstract: . In 2009, the International Soil Moisture Network (ISMN) was initiated as a community effort, funded by the European Space Agency, to serve as a centralised data hosting facility for globally available in situ soil moisture measurements ( Dorigo et al. , 2011 b , a ) . The ISMN brings together in situ soil moisture measurements collected and freely shared by a multitude of organisations, harmonises them in terms of units and sampling rates, applies advanced quality control, and stores them in a database. Users can freely retrieve the data from this database through an online web portal ( https://ismn.earth/en/ , last access: 28 October 2021). Meanwhile, the ISMN has evolved into the primary in situ soil moisture reference database worldwide, as evidenced by more than 3000 active users and over 1000 scientific publications referencing the data sets provided by the network. As of July 2021, the ISMN now contains the data of 71 networks and 2842 stations located all over the globe, with a time period spanning from 1952 to the present. The number of networks and stations covered by the ISMN is still growing, and approximately 70 % of the data sets contained in the database continue to be updated on a regular or irregular basis. The main scope of this paper is to inform readers about the evolution of the ISMN over the past decade, including a description of network and data set updates and quality control procedures. A comprehensive review of the existing literature making use of ISMN data is also provided in order to identify current limitations in functionality and data usage and to shape priorities for the next decade of operations of this unique community-based data repository.
University of Gothenburg1, Lund University2, King's College London3, McGill University4, UCL Institute of Neurology5, University of Perugia6, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki7, Medical University of Łódź8, University of Eastern Finland9, University of Oxford10, Stavanger University Hospital11, Karolinska Institutet12, Sahlgrenska University Hospital13
TL;DR: In this paper, the diagnostic and disease-monitoring potential of plasma biomarkers in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia and cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals was investigated.
Abstract: Introduction This study investigated the diagnostic and disease-monitoring potential of plasma biomarkers in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia and cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals. Methods Plasma was analyzed using Simoa assays from 99 CU, 107 MCI, and 103 AD dementia participants. Results Phosphorylated-tau181 (P-tau181), neurofilament light, amyloid-β (Aβ42/40), Total-tau and Glial fibrillary acidic protein were altered in AD dementia but P-tau181 significantly outperformed all biomarkers in differentiating AD dementia from CU (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.91). P-tau181 was increased in MCI converters compared to non-converters. Higher P-tau181 was associated with steeper cognitive decline and gray matter loss in temporal regions. Longitudinal change of P-tau181 was strongly associated with gray matter loss in the full sample and with Aβ measures in CU individuals. Discussion P-tau181 detected AD at MCI and dementia stages and was strongly associated with cognitive decline and gray matter loss. These findings highlight the potential value of plasma P-tau181 as a non-invasive and cost-effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in AD.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that a BIPP system can be profitable without subsidies, while its national deployment could contribute to a 61% reduction of carbon emissions per unit of gross domestic product in 2030 compared to 2005 and result additionally in a reduction in air pollutant emissions.
Abstract: Recognizing that bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) may still take years to mature, this study focuses on another photosynthesis-based, negative-carbon technology that is readier to implement in China: biomass intermediate pyrolysis poly-generation (BIPP). Here we find that a BIPP system can be profitable without subsidies, while its national deployment could contribute to a 61% reduction of carbon emissions per unit of gross domestic product in 2030 compared to 2005 and result additionally in a reduction in air pollutant emissions. With 73% of national crop residues used between 2020 and 2030, the cumulative greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction could reach up to 8620 Mt CO2-eq by 2050, contributing 13–31% of the global GHG emission reduction goal for BECCS, and nearly 4555 Mt more than that projected for BECCS alone in China. Thus, China’s BIPP deployment could have an important influence on achieving both national and global GHG emissions reduction targets. BIPP with biochar sequestration is a ready-to-implement negative emission technology in China. Here, the authors show that its national deployment could contribute to a 61% reduction of carbon emissions per GDP in 2030 compared to 2005, and contribute 13–31% of the global biomass-based negative emission goal by 2050.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors performed a quantitative scientific evolution analysis of the application of the circular economy in the building sector to detect new trends and highlight the evolvement of this research topic.
Abstract: The building industry is responsible for considerable environmental impacts due to its consumption of resources and energy, and the production of wastes. Circular Economy (CE), a new paradigm can significantly improve the sustainability of this sector. This paper performs a quantitative scientific evolution analysis of the application of CE in the building sector to detect new trends and highlight the evolvement of this research topic. Around 7000 documents published 2005 to 2020 at Web of Science and Scopus were collected and analyzed. The bibliometric indicators, network citation, and multivariate statistical analysis were obtained using Bibliometrix R-package and VOSviewer. The co-occurrence analysis showed five keyword-clusters, in which the three main ones are: (i) energy and energy efficiency in buildings; (ii) recycling, waste management and alternative construction materials; (iii) sustainable development. The analysis showed that researchers pay close attention to “sustainability”, “energy efficiency”, “life cycle assessment”, “renewable energy”, and “recycling” in the past five years. This paper highlights that (i) the development and use of alternative construction materials; (ii) the development of circular business models; (iii) smart cities, Industry 4.0 and their relations with CE, are the current research hotspots that may be considered as potential future research topics.
University of Chieti-Pescara1, University of Milano-Bicocca2, University of Perugia3, Monash University, Clayton campus4, Universidade Lusófona5, University of Tübingen6, University of Paris7, University of Lausanne8, TOBB University of Economics and Technology9, Utrecht University10, University of Queensland11, University of Almería12, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń13, DePaul University14, University of Greenwich15, University of Limerick16, University of Helsinki17, Southwest Jiaotong University18, Universidad del Desarrollo19, University of Kent20, The Chinese University of Hong Kong21, University of Exeter22, University of Buenos Aires23
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated individuals' willingness to engage in prescribed and discretionary behaviors, as well as country-level and individual-level factors that might drive such behavioral intentions, and found that the more people endorsed moral principles of fairness and care (vs. loyalty and authority), the more they were inclined to report trust in science, which, in turn, statistically predicted prescribed, discretionary behavioral intentions.
Abstract: The worldwide spread of a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) since December 2019 has posed a severe threat to individuals’ well-being. While the world at large is waiting that the released vaccines immunize most citizens, public health experts suggest that, in the meantime, it is only through behavior change that the spread of COVID-19 can be controlled. Importantly, the required behaviors are aimed not only at safeguarding one’s own health. Instead, individuals are asked to adapt their behaviors to protect the community at large. This raises the question of which social concerns and moral principles make people willing to do so. We considered in 23 countries (N = 6948) individuals’ willingness to engage in prescribed and discretionary behaviors, as well as country-level and individual-level factors that might drive such behavioral intentions. Results from multilevel multiple regressions, with country as the nesting variable, showed that publicized number of infections were not significantly related to individual intentions to comply with the prescribed measures and intentions to engage in discretionary prosocial behaviors. Instead, psychological differences in terms of trust in government, citizens, and in particular toward science predicted individuals’ behavioral intentions across countries. The more people endorsed moral principles of fairness and care (vs. loyalty and authority), the more they were inclined to report trust in science, which, in turn, statistically predicted prescribed and discretionary behavioral intentions. Results have implications for the type of intervention and public communication strategies that should be most effective to induce the behavioral changes that are needed to control the COVID-19 outbreak.
TL;DR: In this article, the most recent researches dealing with the use of natural plant biostimulants for improving plant resistance to drought and salinity, in an anthropogenic climate change scenario, have been reported and critically discussed.
Itziar de Rojas1, Itziar de Rojas2, Sonia Moreno-Grau2, Sonia Moreno-Grau1 +356 more•Institutions (96)
TL;DR: In this article, a large genetic association study was performed by merging all available case-control datasets and by-proxy study results (discovery n = 409,435 and validation size n = 58,190).
Abstract: Genetic discoveries of Alzheimer’s disease are the drivers of our understanding, and together with polygenetic risk stratification can contribute towards planning of feasible and efficient preventive and curative clinical trials. We first perform a large genetic association study by merging all available case-control datasets and by-proxy study results (discovery n = 409,435 and validation size n = 58,190). Here, we add six variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk (near APP, CHRNE, PRKD3/NDUFAF7, PLCG2 and two exonic variants in the SHARPIN gene). Assessment of the polygenic risk score and stratifying by APOE reveal a 4 to 5.5 years difference in median age at onset of Alzheimer’s disease patients in APOE ɛ4 carriers. Because of this study, the underlying mechanisms of APP can be studied to refine the amyloid cascade and the polygenic risk score provides a tool to select individuals at high risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
TL;DR: The mechanistic relationships between inflammation and thrombosis, the macrovascular and microvascular complications, the prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of thromboembolism in patients affected by COVID-19 and the decision-making process should be made in individual-case basis are reviewed.
Abstract: Emerging evidence points to an association between severe clinical presentation of COVID-19 and increased risk of thromboembolism. One-third of patients hospitalized due to severe COVID-19 develops macrovascular thrombotic complications, including venous thromboembolism, myocardial injury/infarction and stroke. Concurrently, the autopsy series indicate multiorgan damage pattern consistent with microvascular injury. COVID-19 associated coagulopathy has distinct features, including markedly elevated D-dimers concentration with nearly normal activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and platelet count. The diagnosis may be challenging due to overlapping features between pulmonary embolism and severe COVID-19 disease, such as dyspnoea, high concentration of D-dimers, right ventricle with dysfunction or enlargement, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Both macro- and microvascular complications are associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Therefore, early recognition of coagulation abnormalities among hospitalized COVID-19 patients are critical measures to identify patients with poor prognosis, guide antithrombotic prophylaxis or treatment, and improve patients’ clinical outcomes. Most of the guidelines and consensus documents published on behalf of professional societies focused on thrombosis and hemostasis advocate the use of anticoagulants in all patients hospitalized with COVID-19, as well as 2-6 weeks post hospital discharge in the absence of contraindications. However, since there is no guidance for deciding the intensity and duration of anticoagulation, the decision-making process should be made in individual-case basis. Here, we review the mechanistic relationships between inflammation and thrombosis, discuss the macrovascular and microvascular complications and summarize the prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of thromboembolism in patients affected by COVID-19.
TL;DR: In this article, a systematic review of the available evidence in the literature for cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) in association with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is presented.
Abstract: Background and purpose Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection predisposes patients to arterial and venous thrombosis. This study aimed to systematically review the available evidence in the literature for cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) in association with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases to identify cases of COVID-19-associated CVT. The search period spanned 1 January 2020 to 1 December 2020, and the review protocol (PROSPERO-CRD42020214327) followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Identified studies were evaluated for bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A proportion meta-analysis was performed to estimate the frequency of CVT among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Results We identified 57 cases from 28 reports. Study quality was mostly classified as low. CVT symptoms developed after respiratory disease in 90%, and the mean interval was 13 days. CVT involved multiple sites in 67% of individuals, the deep venous system was affected in 37%, and parenchymal hemorrhage was found in 42%. Predisposing factors for CVT beyond SARS-CoV-2 infection were present in 31%. In-hospital mortality was 40%. Using data from 34,331 patients, the estimated frequency of CVT among patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection was 0.08% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01-0.5). In an inpatient setting, CVT accounted for 4.2% of cerebrovascular disorders in individuals with COVID-19 (cohort of 406 patients, 95% CI: 1.47-11.39). Conclusions Cerebral venous thrombosis in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection is a rare, although there seems to be an increased relative risk. High suspicion is necessary, because the diagnosis of this potentially life-threatening condition in COVID-19 patients can be challenging. Evidence is still scarce on the pathophysiology and potential prevention of COVID-19-associated CVT.