Robotic Monitoring of Habitats: the Natural Intelligence Approach

In this paper, we first discuss the challenges related to habitat monitoring and review possible robotic solutions. Then, we propose a framework to perform terrestrial habitat monitoring exploiting the mobility of legged robotic systems. The idea is to provide the robot with the Natural Intelligence introduced as the combination of the environment in which it moves, the intelligence embedded in the design of its body, and the algorithms composing its mind. This approach aims to solve the challenges of deploying robots in real natural environments, such as irregular and rough terrains, long-lasting operations, and unexpected collisions, with the final objective of assisting humans in assessing the habitat conservation status. Finally, we present examples of robotic monitoring of habitats in four different environments: forests, grasslands, dunes, and screes

Chromosome 1p13 genetic variants antagonize the risk of myocardial infarction associated with high ApoB serum levels

PMCID: PMC3480949This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Selecting b-thalassemia patients for gene therapy: a decision-making algorithm

The Societ\ue0 Italiana Talassemie ed Emoglobinopatie (Italian Society of Thalassemias and Hemoglobinopathies, SITE) has developed this document based on multidisciplinary discussions of a panel of experts to provide guidance on the identification and selection of patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (\u3b2-TDT) who could benefit from gene therapy. Currently, allogeneic transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells is the only curative and most widely used therapy treatment for \u3b2-TDT. However, recent trials of gene therapy have reported very promising results in terms of overall survival and thalassemia-free survival and are opening a new landscape of treatment. This algorithm for the selection of patients suitable for gene therapy and the supporting notes were formulated by consensus review after an evaluation of currently available scientific evidence using validated criteria. The evidence was interpreted with caution because clinical trial experience of gene therapy is currently limited, a conventional treatment is available for patients with \u3b2-TDT and the availability of gene therapy will, at least initially, be quite limited. Clinical experience of allogeneic transplantation in \u3b2-TDT, which began in 1981, immediately showed the importance of patient risk stratification in order to achieve the best results (see the Pesaro experience and their classification of patients according to risk). Published data in the literature and the recent analysis of clinical evidence by the European Registry of Hemoglobinopathies of a large number of patients (2011 and 2018 analyses) confirm that young patient age (<14 years) and the availability of a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical family donor are factors that offer the best outcome from allogeneic transplantation. Current knowledge of, and experience with, non-conventional treatments, such as allogeneic transplantation and gene therapy, are discussed in order to identify the best available treatment and indication for these patients according to their characteristics. At this point in time, when we can see the emergence of \u2018the age of gene therapy\u2019, it is essential to establish the optimal patient setting in which gene therapy can be applied, or better, to define the setting that represents the most suitable indication for gene therapy, identify the patients who should have clinical priority for access to the procedure, and set out requirements and recommendations for the identification of qualified treatment centers for gene therapy. When considering changes to the treatment of patients with \u3b2-TDT, including gene therapy, it is essential that a detailed consultation is held with the patient and their caregiver/family to discuss all possible risks and potential benefits from the treatment. Discussion of this aspect of care is outside of the scope of this document but remains an important element of patient care

Maternal depression and anxiety predicts the pattern of offspring symptoms during their transition to adulthood

Background. Episodes of depression and anxiety (D&A) during the transition from late adolescence to adulthood, particularly when persistent, are predictive of long-term disorders and associated public health burden. Understanding risk factors at this time is important to guide intervention. The current objective was to investigate the associations between maternal symptoms of D&A with offspring symptoms during their transition to adulthood. Method. Data from a large population-based birth cohort study, in South Brazil, were used. Prospective associations between maternal D&A and offspring risk of these symptoms during the transition to adulthood (18/19, 24 and 30 years) were estimated. Results. Maternal D&A in adolescence was associated with offspring symptoms across the transition to adulthood, associations were consistently stronger for females than for males. Daughters whose mothers reported D&A were 4.6 times (95% confidence interval 2.71–7.84) as likely to report D&A at all three time-points, than daughters of symptom-free mothers. Conclusions. Maternal D&A is associated with persistent D&A during the daughter’s transition to adulthood. Intervention strategies should consider the mother’s mental health

Combined Use of Phenotypic Screening and of a Novel Commercial Assay (REALQUALITY Carba-Screen) for the Rapid Molecular Detection of Carbapenemases: A Single-Center Experience

Carbapenem resistance is a serious public health threat, causing numerous deaths annually primarily due to healthcare-associated infections. To face this menace, surveillance programs in high-risk patients are becoming a widespread practice. Here we report the performance of the combined use of a recently approved commercial multiplex real-time PCR assay (REALQUALITY Carba-Screen kit) with conventional phenotypic screening. In this three-month study, 479 rectal swabs from 309 patients across high-risk units were evaluated by combining the two approaches. Although the molecular assay showed a higher positivity rate than phenotypic screening (7.1% vs. 5%), it should be noted that the molecular method alone would have missed eight carbapenem-resistant isolates, while using only phenotypic screening would not have detected sixteen isolates. This demonstrates the complementary strengths of each method. Our study confirms the need for a combined approach to maximize the possible clinical impact of this kind of screening, ensuring a more comprehensive detection of resistant strains

CD90 is regulated by notch1 and hallmarks a more aggressive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma phenotype

Background: Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is characterized by a strong stromal reaction playing a role in tumor progression. Thymus cell antigen 1 (THY1), also called Cluster of Differentiation 90 (CD90), is a key regulator of cell–cell and cell–matrix interaction. In iCCA, CD90 has been reported to be associated with a poor prognosis. In an iCCA PDX model, we recently found that CD90 was downregulated in mice treated with the Notch γ-secretase inhibitor Crenigacestat. The study aims to investigate the role of CD90 in relation to the NOTCH pathway. Methods: THY1/CD90 gene and protein expression was evaluated in human iCCA tissues and xenograft models by qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Notch1 inhibition was achieved by siRNA. THY1/CD90 functions were investigated in xenograft models built with HuCCT1 and KKU-M213 cell lines, engineered to overexpress or knockdown THY1, respectively. Results: CD90 co-localized with EPCAM, showing its epithelial origin. In vitro, NOTCH1 silencing triggered HES1 and THY1 down-regulation. RBPJ, a critical transcriptional regulator of NOTCH signaling, exhibited putative binding sites on the THY1 promoter and bound to the latter, implying CD90 as a downstream NOTCH pathway effector. In vivo, Crenigacestat suppressed iCCA growth and reduced CD90 expression in the PDX model. In the xenograft model, Crenigacestat inhibited tumor growth of HuCCT1 cells transfected to overexpress CD90 and KKU-M213 cells constitutively expressing high levels of CD90, while not affecting the growth of HuCCT1 control cells and KKU-M213 depleted of CD90. In an iCCA cohort, patients with higher expression levels of NOTCH1/HES1/THY1 displayed a significantly shorter survival. Conclusions: iCCA patients with higher NOTCH1/HES1/THY1 expression have the worst prognosis, but they are more likely to benefit from Notch signaling inhibition. These findings represent the scientific rationale for testing NOTCH1 inhibitors in clinical trials, taking the first step toward precision medicine for iCCA

DESIGNING OF A RT REAL TIME PCR ASSAY BASED ON NS1 GENE FOR RAPID DETECTION OF USUTU VIRUS (USUV)

Introduction: Usutu virus belongs to the Japanese encephalitis virus group (the isolates exhibited 97% identity) within the family Flaviviridae closely related to West Nile virus (WNV). Both share in nature an enzootic infectious cycle between avian hosts and mosquito vectors (i.e. Culex spp.). The distribution areal is expanding in several European countries, including Italy; the simultaneous spatial and temporal co-circulation of new flaviviruses require a new approaches in the laboratory diagnosis for Flaviviridae infection in humans

RUOLO DEL LABORATORIO DI BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE NELLE CONTAMINAZIONI IN AMBITO OSPEDALIERO DI PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA

Obiettivi: Lo scopo del lavoro è stato valutare la presenza di P.aeruginosa (Pa) e le mutazioni responsabili della produzione di alginato in campioni provenienti da diversi riuniti odontoiatrici quali modello di possibili infezioni nosocomiali. In particolare il gene mucA codifica per una proteina coinvolta nella produzione di alginato in Pa, le mutazioni presenti nel promotore del gene o lungo la parte amino-terminale della proteina, modulano un’iper-espressione di alginato, conferendo al biofilm batterico una barriera pressoché impermeabile agli antimicrobici. Questo aspetto deve essere considerato durante l’utilizzo di microbicidi ossidanti quali H2O2, in grado di determinare mutazioni cromosomiche in Pa, inoltre i perossidi rappresentano i disinfettanti d’elezione nei riuniti, rendendo questi presidi ad alto rischio per contaminazioni di ceppi di Pa farmaco resistenti. Materiali e Metodi: In 90 campioni prelevati su 20 riuniti odontoiatrici la presenza/titolo di Pa, e il profilo nucleotidico di mucA sono stati valutati attraverso PCR real time e Sequenziamento capillare (ABI 310) . Inoltre è stata valutata la massa del biofilm totale calcolando i genomi batterici con PCR quantitativa, amplificando una regione conservata per i batteri del gene rrs, la calibrazione è stata eseguita utilizzando ceppi di Pa a titolo noto e con profilo allelico conosciuto per il gene mucA. Risultati: I risultati hanno evidenziato una contaminazione da Pa nell’ 8% dei riuniti esaminati. Il 20% dei ceppi presentavano mutazioni missense nella regione codificante del gene (GGG/GCG in posizione 63). Conclusioni: Il presente lavoro può rappresentare un metodo utile nello screening per la prevenzione di infezioni nosocomiali sostenute da Pseudomonas spp. 1. Szmolka A, Libisch B, Paszti J, et al. Virulence and antimicrobial resistance determinants of human pathogenic and commensal strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Acta Microbiol Immunol Hung 2009;56:399-402. 2. Hay ID, Gatland K, Campisano A, et al. Impact of alginate overproduction on attachment and biofilm architecture of a supermucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain. Appl Environ Microbiol 2009;75:6022-5

Elimination of human rabies in Goa, India through an integrated One Health approach

Dog-mediated rabies kills tens of thousands of people each year in India, representing one third of the estimated global rabies burden. Whilst the World Health Organization (WHO), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have set a target for global dog-mediated human rabies elimination by 2030, examples of large-scale dog vaccination programs demonstrating elimination remain limited in Africa and Asia. We describe the development of a data-driven rabies elimination program from 2013 to 2019 in Goa State, India, culminating in human rabies elimination and a 92% reduction in monthly canine rabies cases. Smartphone technology enabled systematic spatial direction of remote teams to vaccinate over 95,000 dogs at 70% vaccination coverage, and rabies education teams to reach 150,000 children annually. An estimated 2249 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were averted over the program period at 526 USD per DALY, making the intervention ‘very cost-effective’ by WHO definitions. This One Health program demonstrates that human rabies elimination is achievable at the state level in India

Parental childhood growth and offspring birthweight : Pooled analyses from four birth cohorts in low and middle income countries

Funding Information Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Grant Number: OPP1020058 Wellcome Trust 089257/Z/09/Z Contract grant sponsor: the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at National Institutes of Health. Grant Number: HHSN 268200900028C to the Center of Excellence – INCAP/ Guatemala; and Grand Challenges Canada (Grant number: 0072‐03 to the Grantee, The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania)Peer reviewedPublisher PD