A first attempt to evaluate the toxicity to Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin exposed to rare earth elements

The increasing use and demand of rare earth elements in many emerging technologies is leading to a potentially higher input to the marine environment. This study compared for the first time the effect of lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), neodymium (Nd), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), dysprosium (Dy), and erbium (Er) to the microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin. The algal growth inhibition was investigated after 72 h of exposure. The median effect concentrations (EC50) ranged from 0.98 mg/L to 13.21 mg/L and elements were ranked as follows: Gd > Ce > Er > La > Eu > Nd > Dy > Sm. The comparison of predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC) for hazard and risk assessment with measured environmental concentrations showed that ecological risks deriving from REEs could be present, but limited to specific environments like estuarine waters. The results support evidence of actions to manage the REE impact in seawater environments, looking to improve the monitoring tailored to the different and dynamic nature of ecosystems

The Role of Semi-productivity in Multiword Expression Identification: Why can BERT Capture novel MWEs?

In this paper, we argue that multiword expression identif ication systems based on BERT are able to capture semi-productive patterns that generate multiword expressions. To test this hypothesis we analyzed the results obtained by MTLB-STRUCT on unseen multiword expressions during edition 1.2 of the PARSEME shared task. We observed that MTLB-STRUCT discovers, in proportion, more light verb constructions and verb particle constructions than verbal idioms. Since light verb constructions and verb-particle constructions often result from semi-productive patterns, while verbal idioms are more idiosyncratic, the results corroborate our hypothesis

Automatic Classification and Rating of Videogames Based on Dialogues Transcript Files

Video games industry represents one of the most profitable activity connected with entertainment and visual arts. Even more than movie industry, video game industry involves a great number of different professionals who work together to create products expected to reach people in many countries. A substantial part of these people are teenagers, strongly attracted and influenced by video games. For these reasons, various systems of labels have been created. They indicate the recommended age ranges for each product. These systems are based on different criteria, but they have in common the presence of descriptors, or labels, which identify the type of contents in the game. One of them is PEGI (Pan-European Game Information), and we will mainly take this system in consideration for the purposes of our study. The rating procedure includes questionnaire enquires compiled by the publisher for the automatic attribution of the label and a large process of manual control of each submitted game. In order to help this large and demanding process, we propose a system of video games rating based on automatic classification of the products performed over the “transcript” or script, files that display the full transcription of dialogues in a video game. The proposed automatic classification algorithm is based on large, specialized dictionaries. Such as the dictionary of offensive language. This is based on semantic vector spaces and on sentiment analysis, and is able to provide an age rating and a genre classification of video games. It works in a more efficient way in games with a consistent amount of dialogues. The experimentation of the proposed algorithm is returning encouraging results

Reduced ventilatory efficiency during exercise predicts major vascular complications and mortality for interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis

Objective. Major vascular complication, such as digital ulcers (DUs), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) are hallmarks of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the major cause of mortality in SSc. The aim of study is to identify cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) vari- ables that predict MVC and mortality for ILD in SSc patients. Methods. In this cohort study, 45 SSc patients underwent clinical evaluation, echocardiography, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) and CPET. PFTs and echocardiography were performed annually for a 5-year follow-up. Results. 16 (35.6%) SSc patients had MVC: 14 new DUs (31.1%), 1 PAH (2.2%) and 1 SRC (2.2%). At univariate regression analysis, mRss [HR 1.099 (1.008-1.199), p<0.05], NVC patterns (active and late) [HR 0.032 (0.004-0.250), p<0.001], V’E/V’CO2 slope [HR 1.123 (1.052-1.198), p<0.001] were predictive of new onset of MVC. In multivariate analysis, NVC patterns (active and late) (HR 0.044 (0.004-0.486), p<0.05), V’E/V’CO2 (HR 1.094(1.020-1.198), p<0.05) were predictive of new onset of MVC. The 5-year mortality for ILD is 8.9%. In univariate analysis, DLco [(HR 0.927(CI 0.874-0.983), p<0.05], V’E/V’CO2 slope and lung parenchymal with radiological patterns of ILD [(1.2.02 (CI 1.018-1.419), p<0.05], represent risk factors for 5-year mortality for ILD [HR 1.142 (1.030-1.267), p<0.05]. In multivariate analysis, only V’E/V’CO2 slope [1.268 (CI 1.003- 1.602), p<0.05] represents a risk factor for 5-year mortality for ILD. Conclusions. V’E/V’CO2 slope is a prognostic marker of MVC and five-year mortality for ILD

Mycophenolate Mofetil Improves Exercise Tolerance in Systemic Sclerosis Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the overproduction of collagen leading to fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the major causes of death in patients with SSc. Exercise tolerance can be investigated by cardio-pulmonary exercise testing (CPET). First-line therapies in patients with SSc associated with ILD (SSc-ILD) include cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of patients with SSc-ILD to MMF by means of CPET. Methods: Ten consecutive SSc patients were enrolled in this study. All SSc patients underwent clinical evaluation, echocardiography, pulmonary function tests, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and CPET at baseline and after 2 years of therapy with MMF. Results: After 24 months of treatment with MMF (target dose 1500 mg twice daily), forced vitality capacity, diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure had not improved significantly and there were no significant differences in HRCT findigns. In addition, peak oxygen uptake (V'O2 peak) and ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide production (V'E/V'CO2 slope) had not improved significantly. In contrast, there was a significant improvement from baseline to 24 months of treatment in the respiratory exchange ratio [median (interquartile range): 1.07 (0.92-1.22) vs. 1.26 (1.22-1.28), respectively; p < 0.01] and in the Borg scale for leg discomfort [median (interquartile range): 5 (5-7) vs. 4 (3-4), respectively; p < 0.01] . Conclusion: These data from our pilot study on a small cohort of SSc patients are the first to demonstrate that treatment with MMF can improves exercise tolerance and leg discomfort in patients with SSc-ILD. These preliminary results need to be confirmed in large randomized studies

Safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in patients on dialysis: a multicentre cohort study in Italy

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients undergoing haemodialysis in Italy compared to the general population.Methods In this cohort study, 118 dialysis centres from 18 Italian Regions participated. Individuals older than 16 years on dialysis treatment for at least 3 months, who provided informed consent were included. We collected demographic and clinical information, as well as data on vaccination status, hospitalisations, access to intensive care units and adverse events. We calculated the incidence, hospitalisation, mortality, and fatality rates in the vaccinated dialysis cohort, adjusted for several covariates. The incidence rates of infection in the dialysis cohort and the general population were compared through Standardised Incidence Rate Ratio.Results The study included 6555 patients vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 infection according to the schedule recommended in Italy. Between March 2021 and May 2022, there were 1096 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with an incidence rate after completion of the three-dose vaccination cycle of 37.7 cases per 100 person-years. Compared to the general population, we observed a 14% reduction in the risk of infection for patients who received three vaccine doses (Standardised Incidence Rate Ratio: 0.86; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.81-0.91), whereas no statistically significant differences were found for COVID-19-related hospitalisations, intensive care unit admissions or death. No safety signals emerged from the reported adverse events.Conclusions The vaccination program against SARS-CoV-2 in the haemodialysis population showed an effectiveness and safety profile comparable to that seen in the general population