A DNA barcode-assisted annotated checklist of the spider (Arachnida, Araneae) communities associated to white oak woodlands in Spanish National Parks

Background: A large scale semi-quantitative biodiversity assessment was conducted in white oak woodlands in areas included in the Spanish Network of National Parks, as part of a project aimed at revealing biogeographic patterns and identify biodiversity drivers. The semiquantitative COBRA sampling protocol was conducted in sixteen 1-ha plots across six national parks using a nested design. All adult specimens were identified to species level based on morphology. Uncertain delimitations and identifications due to either limited information of diagnostic characters or conflicting taxonomy were further investigated using DNA barcode information. New information: We identified 376 species belonging to 190 genera in 39 families, from the 8,521 adults found amongst the 20,539 collected specimens. Faunistic results include the discovery of 7 new species to the Iberian Peninsula, 3 new species to Spain and 11 putative new species to science. As largely expected by environmental features, the southern parks showed a higher proportion of Iberian and Mediterranean species than the northern parks, where the Palearctic elements were largely dominant. The analysis of approximately 3,200 DNA barcodes generated in the present study, corroborated and provided finer resolution to the morphologically based delimitation and identification of specimens in some taxonomically challenging families. Specifically, molecular data confirmed putative new species with diagnosable morphology, identified overlooked lineages that may constitute new species, confirmed assignment of specimens of unknown sexes to species and identified cases of misidentifications and phenotypic polymorphisms

Antifouling paints based on natural products

En este resumen se presenta la actividad antiincrustante de distintos compuestos obtenidos de organismos vegetales y animales que fueron incluidos en pinturas de matriz soluble. Estas pinturas fueron formuladas y elaboradas en el CIDEPINT, aplicadas sobre paneles de acrílico arenados (4x12cm) y expuestas en el puerto de Mar del Plata durante los meses de verano, período en el que ocurre la mayor fijación. En todos los casos la actividad antiincrustante y de los controles se estimó mediante porcentajes de cobertura utilizando una grilla de puntos al azar. Se aplicaron tests estadísticos.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Drug-Eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization (DEB-TACE): Outcome Analysis Using a Model Based On Pre-Treatment CT Texture Features

(1) Introduction and Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic value, in terms of response and survival, of CT-based radiomics features for patients with HCC undergoing drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE). (2) Materials and Methods: Pre-treatment CT examinations of 50 patients with HCC, treated with DEB-TACE were manually segmented to obtain the tumor volumetric region of interest, extracting radiomics features with TexRAD. Response to therapy evaluation was performed basing on post-procedural CT examination compared to pre-procedural CT, using modified RECIST criteria for HCC. The prognostic value of texture analysis was evaluated, investigating the correlation between radiomics features, response to therapy and overall survival. Three models based on texture and clinical variables and a combination of them were finally built; (3) Results: Entropy, skewness, MPP and kurtosis showed a significant correlation with complete response (CR) to TACE (all p < 0.001). A predictive model to identify patients with a high and low probability of CR was evaluated with an ROC curve, with an AUC of 0.733 (p < 0.001). The three models built for survival prediction yielded an HR of 2.19 (95% CI: 2.03-2.35) using texture features, of 1.7 (95% CI: 1.54-1.9) using clinical data and of 4.61 (95% CI: 4.24-5.01) combining both radiomics and clinical data (all p < 0.0001). (4) Conclusion: Texture analysis based on pre-treatment CT examination is associated with response to therapy and survival in patients with HCC undergoing DEB-TACE, especially if combined with clinical data

Advances in the systematics of the spider genus <i>Troglohyphantes</i> (Araneae, Linyphiidae)

<p>With 128 described species and five subspecies, the spider genus <i>Troglohyphantes</i> (Araneae, Linyphiidae) is a remarkable example of species diversification in the subterranean environment. In this paper, we conducted a systematic revision of the <i>Troglohyphantes</i> species of the Italian Alps, with a special focus on the <i>Lucifuga</i> complex, including the description of two new species (<i>T. lucifer</i> sp. nov. and <i>T. apenninicus</i> n. sp.). In addition, we provided new diagnostic drawings of the holotype of <i>T. henroti</i> (<i>Henroti</i> complex) and established three new synonymies within the genus. The molecular analysis of the animal DNA barcode confirms the validity of this method of identification of the Alpine <i>Troglohyphantes</i> and provides additional support for the morphology based species complexes. Finally, we revised the known distribution range of additional <i>Troglohyphantes</i> species, as well as other poorly known alpine cave-dwelling spiders.</p> <p><i>Troglohyphantes lucifer</i><a href="http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AB4B644A-D18A-4EB7-99E7-B5117AED5389" target="_blank">http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AB4B644A-D18A-4EB7-99E7-B5117AED5389</a></p> <p><i>Troglohyphantes apenninicus</i><a href="http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3C86E78E-7145-4F0C-803E-2A909201579C" target="_blank">http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3C86E78E-7145-4F0C-803E-2A909201579C</a></p

Hydrolates and Gellan: An Eco-innovative Synergy for Safe Cleaning of Paper Artworks

The gellan hydrogel is used as a cleaning agent for paper artworks. The purposes of this work were to give the gellan hydrogel both a microbial resistance and a cytocidal action against the biodeteriogens using hydrolates. Broth microdilution assays were performed to identify the fungicidal action of 16 hydrolates vs 3 fungal strains. The study concerned the Minimal Fungicidal Concentration and pH, colour, and ultra-structural variations on all paper samples, by placing them in contact with GELYD (GELlan + hYDrolat). The in vitro tests showed that eight out of 16 hydrolates strongly inhibited fungal growth, but only two of them (Monarda fistulosa, Citrus aurantium subsp amara) showed in situ fungicidal action. Data indicate a new and interesting eco-innovative use of hydrolates, since GELYD is able not only to clean paper artworks, but also to kill the fungal cells present on paper that are potentially harmful for paper and operators