Some meristic characteristics of hybrids between Acipenser naccarii and Acipenser baerii

The aim of this study was to describe meristic characters of hybrid Acipenser naccarii x A. baeri, to be used as the basis for characterizing hybrid specimens in a complementary manner to as described for A. naccarii by Hernando et al. (1999). Thirty 2+ and 3+ year class individuals from the Region of Lombardy (Italy) were analysed for eight morphological variables (Soljan 1975; Holcick et al. 1989), and weight. Three indices, viz the relative position of barbels (CA), the ratio of snout width to length (FB) (Garrido-Ramos et al. 1997), and the Soljan index (Hernando et al. 1999), were used to characterize hybrids. A descriptive analyses of variables, simple and multiple regression analysis, and principal components relationships, were calculated. The relationships between TI and the indices was described using a stepwise multiple regression analysis: TI = 33.32 - 0.26 CA + 10.49 FB + 74.45 SOLJ (F = 1.96; Df = 3 )

Design of a Virtual Reality-based Framework for Supporting the Work Reintegration of Wheelchair Users

Accidents at work often lead the involved people to severe impairments, which can seriously compromise their life and their work activities. Various studies have proven that, for disabled people, being employed contributes to a better quality of life, thus it is important to give them the opportunity to continue their profes-sional career. This paper presents a framework aimed at supporting the training and the work-reintegration of people that, after an accident, are forced to use a wheelchair. In the proposed work, the Virtual Reality is the leading technology for allowing the wheelchair users to be trained in simulated environments where, in safe conditions, they become aware of their capabilities, while facing different challenging situations. More-over, the behaviour of the users is tracked during the whole training session for monitoring, processing and assessing, through semantic models, their functional level and the jobs that are still suitable for them

Late thrombosis of a Transcatheter aortic valve: the border between a proactive and reactive management

BACKGROUND: Valve thrombosis - either biological or mechanical - is proved to increase patient's morbidity and mortality. No consensus exist on the best management in such cases. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 69-year-old man presenting with a late thrombosis of a transcatheter aortic valve who was medically managed until he acutely worsened, developing myocardial ischemia and cardiogenic shock. CONCLUSION: This unlucky case raises a word of caution about the safety of a reactive management

Morphometric study of Acipenser nuccurii (Bonaparte, 1836) in fish farm individuals

The main objective of this study was to analyse differences and similarities in morphometric characteristics among specimens of the same year class of Acipenser naccarii (Bonaparte, 1836), comparing fish raised either in Italy or Spain. All specimens were F1 of captive broodstock in Italy. Fifteen biometric variables were measured, and three derived indices were calculated, on 30 individuals of 3+ year class from Lombardy (Italy) and 90 individuals of I+, 2+ and 3+ year class from Riofrio (Granada, Spain). A stepwise discriminate analysis (SDA) was carried out, and the results were contrasted using a non-hierarchical cluster analysis. The two groups proved to be similar, so a principal component analysis and a simple regression analysis were performed on all individuals, taking total length (TI) as the independent variable and all the biometric variables as dependent. The study revealed that although the Soljan index (i.e. ratio of mouth width to snout length) is related to TI, and is a valid taxonomic characteristic, the CA index (i.e. relative position of the barbels) and FB index (i.e. ratio of snout length to width) are also valid characteristics for individuals longer than 57 cm, being independent of TI

Rehabilitation of Post-COVID Patients: A Virtual Reality Home-Based Intervention Including Cardio-Respiratory Fitness Training

The post-COVID syndrome is emerging as a new chronic condition, characterized by symptoms of breathlessness, fatigue, and decline of neurocognitive functions. Rehabilitation programs that include physical training seem to be beneficial to reduce such symptoms and improve patients' quality of life. Given this, and considering the limitations imposed by the pandemic on rehabilitation services, it emerged the need to integrate telerehabilitation programs into clinical practice. Some telerehabilitation solutions, also based on virtual reality (VR), are available in the market. Still, they mainly focus on rehabilitation of upper limbs, balance, and cognitive training, while exercises like cycling or walking are usually not considered. The presented work aims to fill this gap by integrating a VR application to provide cardio-respiratory fitness training to post-COVID patients in an existing telerehabilitation platform. The ARTEDIA application allows patients to perform a cycling exercise and a concurrent cognitive task. Patients can cycle in a virtual park while performing a "go/no-go" task by selecting only specific targets appearing along the way. The difficulty of the practice can be adjusted by the therapists, while the physiological response is continuously monitored through wearable sensors to ensure safety. The application has been integrated into the VRRS system by Khymeia. In the next months, a study to assess the feasibility of a complete telerehabilitation program based on physical and cognitive training will take place. Such a program will combine the existing VRRS exercises and the cardio-respiratory fitness exercise provided by the ARTEDIA application. Feasibility, acceptance, and usability will be assessed from both the patients' and the therapists' sides

Novel longitudinal Multiple Overall Toxicity (MOTox) score to quantify adverse events experienced by patients during chemotherapy treatment: a retrospective analysis of the MRC BO06 trial in osteosarcoma

Analysis and Stochastic

Managing Polyploidy in Ex Situ Conservation Genetics: The Case of the Critically Endangered Adriatic Sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii)

While the current expansion of conservation genetics enables to address more efficiently the management of threatened species, alternative methods for genetic relatedness data analysis in polyploid species are necessary. Within this framework, we present a standardized and simple protocol specifically designed for polyploid species that can facilitate management of genetic diversity, as exemplified by the ex situ conservation program for the tetraploid Adriatic sturgeon Acipenser naccarii. A critically endangered endemic species of the Adriatic Sea tributaries, its persistence is strictly linked to the ex situ conservation of a single captive broodstock currently decimated to about 25 individuals, which represents the last remaining population of Adriatic sturgeon of certain wild origin. The genetic variability of three F1 broodstocks available as future breeders was estimated based on mitochondrial and microsatellite information and compared with the variability of the parental generation. Genetic data showed that the F1 stocks have only retained part of the genetic variation present in the original stock due to the few parent pairs used as founders. This prompts for the urgent improvement of the current F1 stocks by incorporating new founders that better represent the genetic diversity available. Following parental allocation based on band sharing values, we set up a user-friendly tool for selection of candidate breeders according to relatedness between all possible parent-pairs that secures the use of non-related individuals. The approach developed here could also be applied to other endangered tetraploid sturgeon species overexploited for caviar production, particularly in regions lacking proper infrastructure and/or expertise

Questions of method regarding interoperability in architecture

Interoperability in architecture illustrates contemporary instances of innovation. It aims, through the standardisation of instruments and procedures (and especially through shared languages of/in IT tools and applications), at the optimisation of interactions amongst agents and the work done. It requires, within a consistently non-reductionist systemic approach: interactions and activities of conscious government in/amongst its fundamental component parts (politics, technical aspects, semantics); development of shared languages and protocols, to verify technical, poietic, etc., innovations which do not destroy accumulative effects and peculiarities (axiological, fruitional, etc.)