Structure and Functionality of the Mesozooplankton Community in a Coastal Marine Environment: Portofino Marine Protected Area (Liguria)

This research is part of the LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research) project, a network of terrestrial, freshwater, transitional water and marine sites, on which ecological research is conducted on a multi-decade scale. LTER studies ecosystems, their dynamics and evolution, the relationships between biodiversity and ecological functionality, water quality, productivity, the role of resource availability, the effects of pollution and climate change. The research focuses on the study of the variability of zooplankton groups in the Portofino marine protected area, in Punta Faro. The samplings were carried out in the years 2018\u20132019, and the results were compared with the values of the years 2003\u20132005, interesting from a meteorological climatic and biological point of view. The plankton community of the Punta Faro system was analyzed by means of a modeling approach to obtain information on the functionality and health status of the system and to verify whether this has undergone any alterations in the last decade. The analyses carried out show a clear difference between the three-year period 2003\u20132005 and the two-year period 2018\u20132019, highlighting how environmental changes, such as the increase in temperature, have led to higher costs of system functioning in the last two years. The mesozooplankton community has changed both in terms of abundance of organisms and in terms of organization and functionality

Live Fast, Die Young: GMC lifetimes in the FIRE cosmological simulations of Milky Way-mass galaxies

We present the first measurement of the lifetimes of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in cosmological simulations at z = 0, using the Latte suite of FIRE-2 simulations of Milky Way (MW) mass galaxies. We track GMCs with total gas mass ≳10⁵ M⊙ at high spatial (∼1 pc), mass (7100 M⊙), and temporal (1 Myr) resolution. Our simulated GMCs are consistent with the distribution of masses for massive GMCs in the MW and nearby galaxies. We find GMC lifetimes of 5–7 Myr, or 1–2 freefall times, on average, with less than 2 per cent of clouds living longer than 20 Myr. We find decreasing GMC lifetimes with increasing virial parameter, and weakly increasing GMC lifetimes with galactocentric radius, implying that environment affects the evolutionary cycle of GMCs. However, our GMC lifetimes show no systematic dependence on GMC mass or amount of star formation. These results are broadly consistent with inferences from the literature and provide an initial investigation into ultimately understanding the physical processes that govern GMC lifetimes in a cosmological setting

Live Fast, Die Young: GMC lifetimes in the FIRE cosmological simulations of Milky Way-mass galaxies

We present the first measurement of the lifetimes of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in cosmological simulations at z = 0, using the Latte suite of FIRE-2 simulations of Milky Way (MW) mass galaxies. We track GMCs with total gas mass ≳10⁵ M⊙ at high spatial (∼1 pc), mass (7100 M⊙), and temporal (1 Myr) resolution. Our simulated GMCs are consistent with the distribution of masses for massive GMCs in the MW and nearby galaxies. We find GMC lifetimes of 5–7 Myr, or 1–2 freefall times, on average, with less than 2 per cent of clouds living longer than 20 Myr. We find decreasing GMC lifetimes with increasing virial parameter, and weakly increasing GMC lifetimes with galactocentric radius, implying that environment affects the evolutionary cycle of GMCs. However, our GMC lifetimes show no systematic dependence on GMC mass or amount of star formation. These results are broadly consistent with inferences from the literature and provide an initial investigation into ultimately understanding the physical processes that govern GMC lifetimes in a cosmological setting

Preliminary studies of a new dinosaur track locality from the Candeleros Formation (Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous), Neuquén Basin, Argentina

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Characteristics of the colorectal cancers diagnosed in the early 2000s in Italy. Figures from the IMPATTO study on colorectal cancer screening

The impact of organized screening programmes on colorectal cancer (CRC) can be observed at a population level only several years after the implementation of screening. We compared CRC characteristics by diagnostic modality (screen-detected, non-screen-detected) as an early outcome to monitor screening programme effectiveness. Data on CRCs diagnosed in Italy from 2000 to 2008 were collected by several cancer registries. Linkage with screening datasets made it possible to divide the cases by geographic area, implementation of screening, and modality of diagnosis (screen-detected, non-screen-detected).We compared the main characteristics of the different subgroups of CRCs through multivariate logistic regression models. The study included 23,668 CRCs diagnosed in subjects aged 50-69 years, of which 11.9%were screendetected (N=2,806), all from the North-Centre of Italy. Among screen-detected CRCs, we observed a higher proportion of males, of cases in the distal colon, and a higher mean age of the patients. Compared with pre-screening cases, screen-detected CRCs showed a better distribution by stage at diagnosis (OR for stage III or IV: 0.40, 95%CI: 0.36-0.44) and grading (OR for poorly differentiated CRCs was 0.86, 95%CI: 0.75-1.00). Screen-detected CRCs have more favourable prognostic characteristics than non-screen-detected cases. A renewed effort to implement screening programmes throughout the entire country is recommended

Use of MRI in assessing structural and functional aspects of the velopharyngeal mechanism: evolution and current trends

The complex and dynamic nature of the velopharynx makes it a difficult area to assess, particularly during speech. The velopharynx, including the velum, lateral pharyngeal walls, and posterior pharyngeal walls are deep within the head and are surrounded by air spaces and tissues including muscle and bone .The primary muscle for velar elevation is the levator muscle. The location of the velopharyngeal mechanism, its underlying musculature like the levator muscle, and its surrounding tissue prove to be difficult in allowing certain types of scans and technology to obtain a clear image of the mechanism (Yamawaki et al., 1997). In previous years, nasoendoscopy and videofluoroscopy have both been used to study and view the velopharyngeal mechanism. Neither nasoendoscopy, videofluoroscopy, nor CT scans provide a visual of the underlying musculature of the velopharyngeal mechanism. MRI scans are the only form of technology that offers a view of the underlying musculature from multiple planes and enables in vivo visualization of the levator muscle without the use of ionizing radiation (Ettema et al., 2002). Varying subject populations, stimuli, and variables contribute to velopharyngeal mechanism data obtained through MRI scans. While MRI cannot replace certain aspects of nasoendoscopy and videofluoroscopy, it does provide a noninvasive, repeatable test that can be used as an alternative to the studies mentioned. The purpose of the paper is to analyze current trends and the evolution of the application of MRI in assessing the velopharyngeal mechanism

How much does experience in guided implant surgery play a role in accuracy? A randomized controlled pilot study

The current literature is not consistent on whether experience influences accuracy. The aim of this study was to analyze the accuracy of implant insertion performed by inexperienced versus experienced surgeons. Thirty-three implants were inserted by the inexperienced group and 37 implants by the experienced group. Planning and post-surgical computed tomography images were matched and the accuracy data compared. The positioning error was also evaluated. Quantitative data for the two groups were described and illustrated using box plots. The t-test was used to compare accuracy values and positioning error. Significance was set at P≤0.05. In the inexperienced group, the mean coronal, apical, and angular deviation values were 0.75mm (range 1.01-0.51, standard deviation (SD) 0.18), 1.02mm (range 1.99-0.64, SD 0.44), and 3.07° (range 9.22-0.73, SD 2.70). In the experienced group, the mean coronal, apical, and angular deviations were 0.60mm (range 1.00-0.06, SD 0.25), 0.67mm (range 1.67-0.24, SD 0.34), and 3.21° (range 8.01-1.41, SD 1.57). The t-test did not show any statistically significant difference when coronal (P=0.125), apical (P=0.060), and angular (P=0.859) deviations were considered. A statistically significant difference (P=0.000) was determined when the positioning error was considered. Experience had a limited influence on accuracy, but reduced positioning error to a statistically significant degree