P-spline smoothing for spatial data collected worldwide

Spatial data collected worldwide at a huge number of locations are frequently used in environmental and climate studies. Spatial modelling for this type of data presents both methodological and computational challenges. In this work we illustrate a computationally efficient non parametric framework to model and estimate the spatial field while accounting for geodesic distances between locations. The spatial field is modelled via penalized splines (P-splines) using intrinsic Gaussian Markov Random Field (GMRF) priors for the spline coefficients. The key idea is to use the sphere as a surrogate for the Globe, then build the basis of B-spline functions on a geodesic grid system. The basis matrix is sparse and so is the precision matrix of the GMRF prior, thus computational efficiency is gained by construction. We illustrate the approach on a real climate study, where the goal is to identify the Intertropical Convergence Zone using high-resolution remote sensing data

Photochemistry of oxazolidinones antibacterial drugs

The photochemistry of six N3-(3-fluoro-4-dialkylaminophenyl)-oxazolidinones known for their antimicrobial activity has been examined. All of these compounds are defluorinated in water (dec ≈ 0.25) and in methanol (dec ≈ 0.03), reasonably via the triplet. The chemical processes observed are reductive defluorination and solvolysis, depending on the structural variation introduced (thus, tethering the dialkylamino group to the aromatic ring and introducing a highly polar group in the oxazolidinone moiety have an effect). A likely mechanism involves the fragmentation of the C-F bond yielding the corresponding triplet phenyl cation. This intermediate either is reduced or, under appropriate conditions, intersystem crosses to the singlet state that adds the solvent

Very early rheumatoid arthritis is the major predictor of major outcomes: clinical ACR remission and radiographic non-progression

OBJECTIVES: To identify predictors of clinical remission as well as of no x-ray progression in a cohort of early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) treated with a tight-control protocol. METHODS: A total of 121 consecutive patients with ERA were treated to reach European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and/or American College of Rheumatology (ACR) clinical remission with methotrexate (MTX) for 3 months, then with a combination with anti-tumour necrosis factor if the patient did not achieve a 44-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS44) ≤2.4. At baseline and after 12 months all the patients had hand and foot joint radiographs. Very early rheumatoid arthritis (VERA) was defined as a disease with symptoms of less than 12 weeks. RESULTS: In all, 46.3% of the patients reached DAS remission and 24.8% achieved ACR remission. More than 60% of patients reached remission with MTX. Male sex and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate <35 mm/h at onset arose as significant predictors of EULAR remission, while VERA disease was the only predictor of ACR remission. At baseline, 28.1% of the patients were erosive. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the only independent predictor of erosiveness was 'not having VERA disease'. After 12 months, VERA was the only factor predicting a lack of new erosions. CONCLUSIONS: VERA represents the best therapeutic opportunity in clinical practice to achieve a complete remission and to stop the erosive course of rheumatoid arthritis

A Survey of Telecardiology Projects in Italy.

It is estimated that in Italy there are about three million people affected by chronic heart failure. Cardiology is the health care field currently getting the largest benefits from telemedicine. Transmission, using wireless devices, makes possible to achieve virtual hospitalization: it is possible to anticipate the time of discharging and the patient can be remotely controlled by the central station in the ICU of the department of Medicine. Teleconsulting (i.e. a distance consulting between physicians) is applied in telecardiology, it allows the realization of a consulting between cardiology departments and remote services in the same hospital or among far-away hospitals. In this paper some of the most significant cardiac telemonitoring projects in Italy are described. Also reported, the projects involving the applications of implantable cardiac devices which can be controlled remotely. In conclusion, we sketch out the future prospects of telecardiology research and its applications in Italy

Memory B cell subsets and plasmablasts are lower in early than in long-standing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Alterations of B cell subset distribution have been described in the peripheral blood (PB) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, but no data are available on differences between the onset and the established phases of the disease. The purpose of the study was to clarify whether a peculiar distribution of B cell subsets characterizes RA onset, thus leading to a more favorable clinical response to treatment, and to evaluate the possible association of a particular B cell subpopulation with response to therapy

A Survey of Telecardiology Projects in Italy

It is estimated that in Italy there are about three million people affected by chronic heart failure. Cardiology is the health care field currently getting the largest benefits from telemedicine. Transmission, using wireless devices, makes possible to achieve virtual hospitalization: it is possible to anticipate the time of discharging and the patient can be remotely controlled by the central station in the ICU of the department of Medicine. Teleconsulting (i.e. a distance consulting between physicians) is applied in telecardiology, it allows the realization of a consulting between cardiology departments and remote services in the same hospital or among far-away hospitals. In this paper some of the most significant cardiac telemonitoring projects in Italy are described. Also reported, the projects involving the applications of implantable cardiac devices which can be controlled remotely. In conclusion, we sketch out the future prospects of telecardiology research and its applications in Italy

Modelling Biocontrol Agents as Plant Protection Tools

In recent years, researchers have increasingly explored sustainable tools for plant protection against pathogens, including the use of biological control agents (BCAs), which have the potential to complement or replace chemical fungicides. However, global reliance on their use remains relatively insignificant and the factors influencing their efficacy remain unclear. The complex interactions among a target pathogen, a host plant, and the BCA population in a changing environment can be studied by process-based, weather-driven mathematical models, able to interpret the combined effects on BCA efficacy of: (i) BCA mechanism of action, (ii) timing of BCA application with respect to timing of pathogen infection (preventative vs. curative), (iii) temperature and moisture requirements for both pathogen and BCA growth, and (iv) BCA survival capability. When the model was used under three contrasting weather conditions for the control of Botrytis bunch rot in grapevine, BCA efficacy was mostly influenced by environmental conditions, accounting for > 90% of the variance in simulated biocontrol efficacy. These findings indicate that the environmental responses of BCAs should be considered during their selection, BCA survival capability should be considered during both selection and formulation, and weather conditions and forecasts should be considered at the time of BCA application in the field. Different commercial BCAs for the control of Botrytis cinerea showed different environmental requirements and adaptation capabilities; therefore, the most suitable BCA to be used for a specific field application may consider weather conditions and forecasts at the time of intervention

MicroRNA-155 influences B-cell function through PU.1 in rheumatoid arthritis

MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) is an important regulator of B cells in mice. B cells have a critical role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here we show that miR-155 is highly expressed in peripheral blood B cells from RA patients compared with healthy individuals, particularly in the IgD-CD27- memory B-cell population in ACPA+ RA. MiR-155 is highly expressed in RA B cells from patients with synovial tissue containing ectopic germinal centres compared with diffuse synovial tissue. MiR-155 expression is associated reciprocally with lower expression of PU.1 at B-cell level in the synovial compartment. Stimulation of healthy donor B cells with CD40L, anti-IgM, IL-21, CpG, IFN-α, IL-6 or BAFF induces miR-155 and decreases PU.1 expression. Finally, inhibition of endogenous miR-155 in B cells of RA patients restores PU.1 and reduces production of antibodies. Our data suggest that miR-155 is an important regulator of B-cell activation in RA

Post-traumatic myocardial infarction with hemorrhage and microvascular damage in a child with myocardial bridge: is coronary anatomy actor or bystander?

We present the case of a 13 year old patient with myocardial bridge in left anterior descending coronary artery, who develops a myocardial infarction after a cardiothoracic trauma. About 24 hours after admission for trauma, an Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed an ST-segment elevation on anterior-lateral leads and QS complex referable to anterior-septal infarction, and an increase in troponin T serum levels was noted. An impaired left ventricular ejection fraction with diffuse regional wall motion abnormalities involving the left ventricular apex and interventricular septum were seen at transthoracic echocardiography. Contrast enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance showed a widespread myocardial edema and necrosis at the level of left ventricular apex and interventricular septum. Intramural hemorrhage and signs of microvascular damage were found mainly at the mid-ventricular level of the anteroseptal and anterior segments of myocardium. The coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries except for a myocardial bridge on distal part of left anterior descending coronary artery. A myocardial infarction with hemorrhage and microvascular damage was diagnosed, but the absence of a correspondence between site of the most severe myocardial injury and distal location of myocardial bridge was noted. Whether myocardial infarction and microvascular damage have been caused only by traumatic hit, or also by the contribution of myocardial bridge, is unknown. An intense constriction of left anterior descending coronary artery at the level of myocardial bridge could have determined thrombus formation with subsequent septal and distal embolization and myocardial infarction

Post-traumatic myocardial infarction with hemorrhage and microvascular damage in a child with myocardial bridge: is coronary anatomy actor or bystander?

We present the case of a 13 year old patient with myocardial bridge in left anterior descending coronary artery, who develops a myocardial infarction after a cardiothoracic trauma. About 24 hours after admission for trauma, an Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed an ST-segment elevation on anterior-lateral leads and QS complex referable to anterior-septal infarction, and an increase in troponin T serum levels was noted. An impaired left ventricular ejection fraction with diffuse regional wall motion abnormalities involving the left ventricular apex and interventricular septum were seen at transthoracic echocardiography. Contrast enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance showed a widespread myocardial edema and necrosis at the level of left ventricular apex and interventricular septum. Intramural hemorrhage and signs of microvascular damage were found mainly at the mid-ventricular level of the anteroseptal and anterior segments of myocardium. The coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries except for a myocardial bridge on distal part of left anterior descending coronary artery. A myocardial infarction with hemorrhage and microvascular damage was diagnosed, but the absence of a correspondence between site of the most severe myocardial injury and distal location of myocardial bridge was noted. Whether myocardial infarction and microvascular damage have been caused only by traumatic hit, or also by the contribution of myocardial bridge, is unknown. An intense constriction of left anterior descending coronary artery at the level of myocardial bridge could have determined thrombus formation with subsequent septal and distal embolization and myocardial infarction