MAPS in 130 nm triple well CMOS technology for HEP applications

Deep N-well CMOS monolithic active pixel sensors (DNWMAPS) represent an alternative approach to signal processing in pixellated detectors for high energy physics experiments. Based on different resolution constraints, two prototype MAPS, suitable for applications requiring different detector pitch, have been developed and fabricated in 130 nm triple well CMOS technology. This work presents experimental results from the characterization of some test structures together with TCAD and Monte Carlo simulations intended to study the device properties in terms of charge diffusion and charge sharing among pixels

European registry on helicobacter pylori management: Effectiveness of first and second-line treatment in Spain

The management of Helicobacter pylori infection has to rely on previous local effectiveness due to the geographical variability of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of first and second-line H. pylori treatment in Spain, where the empirical prescription is recommended. A multicentre prospective non-interventional registry of the clinical practice of European gastroenterologists concerning H. pylori infection (Hp-EuReg) was developed, including patients from 2013 until June 2019. Effectiveness was evaluated descriptively and through a multivariate analysis concerning age, gender, presence of ulcer, proton-pump in-hibitor (PPI) dose, therapy duration and compliance. Overall, 53 Spanish hospitals were included, and 10, 267 patients received a first-line therapy. The best results were obtained with the 10-day bismuth single-capsule therapy (95% cure rate by intention-to-treat) and with both the 14-day bismuth-clarithromycin quadruple (PPI-bismuth-clarithromycin-amoxicillin, 91%) and the 14-day non-bismuth quadruple concomitant (PPI-clarithromycin-amoxicillin-metronidazole, 92%) therapies. Second-line therapies were prescribed to 2448 patients, with most-effective therapies being the triple quinolone (PPI-amoxicillin-levofloxacin/moxifloxacin) and the bismuth-levofloxacin quadruple schemes (PPI-bismuth-levofloxacin-amoxicillin) prescribed for 14 days (92%, 89% and 90% effective-ness, respectively), and the bismuth single-capsule (10 days, 88.5%). Compliance, longer duration and higher acid inhibition were associated with higher effectiveness. “Optimized” H. pylori therapies achieve over 90% success in Spain

A structural biology community assessment of AlphaFold2 applications

Most proteins fold into 3D structures that determine how they function and orchestrate the biological processes of the cell. Recent developments in computational methods for protein structure predictions have reached the accuracy of experimentally determined models. Although this has been independently verified, the implementation of these methods across structural-biology applications remains to be tested. Here, we evaluate the use of AlphaFold2 (AF2) predictions in the study of characteristic structural elements; the impact of missense variants; function and ligand binding site predictions; modeling of interactions; and modeling of experimental structural data. For 11 proteomes, an average of 25% additional residues can be confidently modeled when compared with homology modeling, identifying structural features rarely seen in the Protein Data Bank. AF2-based predictions of protein disorder and complexes surpass dedicated tools, and AF2 models can be used across diverse applications equally well compared with experimentally determined structures, when the confidence metrics are critically considered. In summary, we find that these advances are likely to have a transformative impact in structural biology and broader life-science research

Incidence, clinical characteristics and management of inflammatory bowel disease in Spain: large-scale epidemiological study

(1) Aims: To assess the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Spain, to describe the main epidemiological and clinical characteristics at diagnosis and the evolution of the disease, and to explore the use of drug treatments. (2) Methods: Prospective, population-based nationwide registry. Adult patients diagnosed with IBD—Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) or IBD unclassified (IBD-U)—during 2017 in Spain were included and were followed-up for 1 year. (3) Results: We identified 3611 incident cases of IBD diagnosed during 2017 in 108 hospitals covering over 22 million inhabitants. The overall incidence (cases/100, 000 person-years) was 16 for IBD, 7.5 for CD, 8 for UC, and 0.5 for IBD-U; 53% of patients were male and median age was 43 years (interquartile range = 31–56 years). During a median 12-month follow-up, 34% of patients were treated with systemic steroids, 25% with immunomodulators, 15% with biologics and 5.6% underwent surgery. The percentage of patients under these treatments was significantly higher in CD than UC and IBD-U. Use of systemic steroids and biologics was significantly higher in hospitals with high resources. In total, 28% of patients were hospitalized (35% CD and 22% UC patients, p < 0.01). (4) Conclusion: The incidence of IBD in Spain is rather high and similar to that reported in Northern Europe. IBD patients require substantial therapeutic resources, which are greater in CD and in hospitals with high resources, and much higher than previously reported. One third of patients are hospitalized in the first year after diagnosis and a relevant proportion undergo surgery. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Le specie alleate nella lotta contro gli insetti dannosi

Le specie alleate nella lotta contro gli insetti dannos

The role of ecological compensation areas on predator populations: an analysis on biodiversity and phenology of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) on non-crop plants within hedgerows in Northern Italy

The role of natural vegetation, including trees, shrubs and weeds in supporting predatory insects with particular reference to Coccinellids, was investigated in a two-year field studies. The samplings were carried out by mechanical knock-down (MKD) and visual inspections (VIS) in hedgerow of Northern Italy (Bologna province) between March and October. Among trees and shrubs, Euonymus europaeus L. (spindle-tree) and Prunus spinosa L. (blackthorn) showed the highest number of predatory species, followed by Crataegus monogyna Jacques (hawthorn), Populus sp. (poplar), Cornus sanguinea L. (dogwood) L. and Corylus avellana L. (hazel). Salix alba L. (willow) and Pyrus pyraster Burgsdorf (wild pear) were characterised by the lowest level of predator diversity. Coccinellidae represented the most abundant family of insect predators on trees and weeds. Eggs and/or larvae of Coccinellidae were found in all the tree and shrub species sampled with the exception of Sambucus nigra L. (elder). Data demonstrate that some trees and shrubs species can provide shelter for adult ladybirds, mainly in late summer, when many crops in Northern Italy are harvested. A list of the Coccinellid species, including relative abundance on the most important plant species, is provided. The number of species sampled by MKD on hedgerows was higher than those sampled by VIS. Among the weeds, Cirsium sp., Rumex sp. and Urtica dioica L. (stinging nettle) supported the reproduction of Coccinellids. Only adults of Coccinellids were found on Daucus carota L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Dipsacus sylvestris Hudson, Arctium sp., Crepis sp., Picris sp.. Correspondence analysis was used for the ordination of both plant and Coccinellid species and it was performed on the matrix of the data collected by VIS. The role of hedgerows and weeds in landscape management is discussed. Local biodiversity of beneficials in Bologna province can be conserved and improved by increasing \u201cisland\u201d habitats like hedgerows and field margins