Fireflies (Lampyris nocticula L., Coleoptera: Lampyridae) an adventive forensic insect

The application of forensic entomology in criminal cases is mostly focused on the presence of flies on a corpse which are useful in determining an accurate estimate of the PMI. However, entomology from time to time is useful in other ways such as whether a body has been displaced after death or in the peri-mortem period. Two bear carcasses were found not far from the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise (Central Italy). The necroscopy and toxicological examinations confirmed that the bears had died as a consequence of ingesting food poisoned with zinc phosphide (Zn3P2). Zinc phosphide is a chemical compound used to control rodents, but it is also used by poachers as baits to poison different animals. Death occurs in 24-48 hours so the poisoned animal may be able to move some distance from the place of poisoning. As a consequence the investigation covered a large territory which was time consuming and costly in terms of resources. In order to restrict the investigation it was decided to perform botanical and entomological analyses of the stomach contents of the bears. The flora in the stomach was not useful as it was all classified as belonging to cosmopolitan species. However, amongst the gut contents a firefly larvae (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) was found. During the larval period fireflies are carnivorous and they live in high humidity environments where snails are their food source. Prior to chemicals being used to control snails fireflies were common in cultivated fields, but as a consequence their presence now is more localized. When the investigation shifted to an examination of these environments the person responsible was located. This case shows us the importance of the entomofauna at specific localities, helping to pinpoint where the crime took place. Furthermore, it demonstrates that investigators need to think laterally because you never know what might be useful evidence in a forensic case

Historically Accurate Reconstruction of the Materials and Conservation Technologies Used on the Facades of the Artistic Buildings in Lecce (Apulia, Italy)

The protection of the stone surfaces of the buildings of the city of Lecce (Apulia, Italy) represents an ancient practice, which has always allowed the conservation of the historical-artistic heritage of the city, which nowadays is an international touristic and cultural destination. The identification of ancient recipes, materials and methodologies for the protection of historical buildings plays an important role in establishing correct protocols in order to ensure the durability of stone surfaces over time. This work presents a historically accurate reconstruction of the materials and conservation technologies used on the facades of the artistic buildings in Lecce. Several historical buildings, both civil and religious, have been selected in order to investigate the treatments applied on their facades and to know the traditions spread in the past in the field of building conservation in the Salento territory. Thanks to non-invasive or micro-destructive techniques (optical microscopy, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry), the characteristic molecular markers of the materials and the products of degradation have been identified, deepening the knowledge of the mechanisms of deterioration and interaction between the stone material, the surface finish and the surrounding environment. The paper is a valuable tool for the knowledge of ancient traditions and the planning of proper restoration works

Scutellaria caucasica A. Ham.: Morphological features and headspace characterization

In the context of a wide research project, a micromorphological and phytochemical characterization was performed on the vegetative and reproductive organs of Scutellaria caucasica A. Ham. (Lamiaceae), cultivated at the Ghirardi Botanic Garden (Toscolano Maderno, BS, Lombardy, Italy). The morphological survey revealed the presence of both non-glandular and glandular trichomes. The latter belonged to three different morphotypes: peltate, short-stalked and long-stalked capitate. Histochemical assays demonstrated that the terpenes biosynthesis mainly took place in the peltates, while short-stalked capitates secreted only polysaccharides; the long-stalked ones mainly produced polysaccharides, coupled with terpene and polyphenolic fractions. An element of novelty was represented by the characterization of the VOC emission profile. Leaves and flowers showed differences in their emissions: the floral profile had a higher number of compounds than that of the leaves (37 vs 29), with a higher heterogeneity. The almost totality of the leaf profile was characterized by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (98.8 %), while the flowers presented a more varied composition, with sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (87.2 %), monoterpenes (10.4 % oxygenated, 1.8 % hydrocarbons) and non-terpenes derivatives (0.6 %). The most abundant compounds were \u3b3-muurolene (42.6 %) and \u3b2-caryophyllene (35.0 %) in the leaves and in the flowers, respectively. In the flower headspace, 16 exclusive compounds were identified, among which germacrene D (31.7 %) dominated; leaves had 8 exclusive compounds, with valencene (1.8 %) as the most represented one. 21 common compounds were revealed: \u3b2-caryophyllene (34.1 % leaves; 35.0 % flowers), \u3b1-humulene (3.0 % leaves; 3.1 % flowers), alloaromadendrene (2.4 % leaves; 1.0 % flowers), \u3b1-copaene (2.1 % leaves; 2.7 % flowers) and \u3b2-copaene (2.2 % leaves; 1.5 % flowers) were the most abundant ones. \u3b3-Muurolene relative abundances (42.6 % leaves; 0.7 % flowers) were very different between the two profiles. Overall, this work represented the first multidisciplinary study on S. caucasica, combining a scientific research approach with the policies of the Open Science

Tools to tie: Flower characteristics, voc emission profile, and glandular trichomes of two mexican salvia species to attract bees

A plant can combine physical and chemical tools to interact with other organisms. Some are designed for pollinator attraction (i.e., colors and volatile organic compounds-VOCs); others can act to discourage herbivores (i.e., non-glandular trichomes). Few studies fully address available tools in a single species; notwithstanding, this information can be pivotal in understanding new interactions out of the home range. We characterized flower traits, emission profiles of constitutive compounds from flowers and leaves, micro-morphology of the glandular trichomes, and listed flower visitors of two Mexican bird-pollinated Salvia species (S. blepharophylla and S. greggii), growing in an Italian botanical garden. Flowers were highly variable in their morphometric characteristics. In both species, four trichome morphotypes with similar histochemistry and distribution were documented for leaves and flowers except the calyx abaxial side. The vegetative emission profiles were qualitatively more complex than the floral ones; however, common compounds occurring in high relative percentages were β-caryophyllene and germacrene D. Floral bouquets were dominated by limonene and β-pinene in S. greggii and by 1,8-cineole in S. blepharophylla. Two potential (non-bird) pollinators were especially abundant: small bees belonging to the genus Lasioglossum and large bees belonging to the species Xylocopa violacea. Our study highlights the plasticity of these plants, as well as tools that can be conveniently used to establish novel interactions

The prognostic impact of the metastatic lymph nodes ratio in colorectal cancer

Background: This study was designed to validate the prognostic significance of the ratio of positive to examined lymph nodes (LNR) in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods: 218,314 patients from the SEER database and 1,811 patients from the three independent multicenter were included in this study. The patients were divided into 5 groups on a basis of previous published LNR: LNR0, patients with no metastatic lymph nodes; LNR1, patients with the LNR between 0.1 and 0.17; LNR2, patients with the LNR between 0.18 and 0.41; LNR3, patients with the LNR between 0.42 and 0.69; LNR4, patients with the LNR >0.7. The 5-year OS and CSS rate were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and the survival difference was tested using log-rank test. Multivariate Cox analysis was used to further assess the influence of the LNR on patients' outcome. Results: The 5-year OS rate of patients within LNR0 to LNR4 group was 71.2, 55.8, 39.3, 22.6, and 14.6%, respectively (p < 0.001) in the SEER database. While the 5-year OS rate of those with LNR0 to LNR4 was 75.2, 66.1, 48.0, 34.0, and 17.7%, respectively (p < 0.001) in the international multicenter cohort. In the multivariate analysis, LNR was demonstrated to be a strong prognostic factor in patients with < 12 and 6512 metastatic lymph nodes. Furthermore, the LNR had a similar impact on the patients' prognosis in colon cancer and rectal cancer. Conclusion: The LNR allowed better prognostic stratification than the positive node (pN) in patients with colorectal cancer and the cut-off values were well validated

L-Proline Induces a Mesenchymal-like Invasive Program in Embryonic Stem Cells by Remodeling H3K9 and H3K36 Methylation

SummaryMetabolites are emerging as key mediators of crosstalk between metabolic flux, cellular signaling, and epigenetic regulation of cell fate. We found that the nonessential amino acid L-proline (L-Pro) acts as a signaling molecule that promotes the conversion of embryonic stem cells into mesenchymal-like, spindle-shaped, highly motile, invasive pluripotent stem cells. This embryonic-stem-cell-to-mesenchymal-like transition (esMT) is accompanied by a genome-wide remodeling of the H3K9 and H3K36 methylation status. Consistently, L-Pro-induced esMT is fully reversible either after L-Pro withdrawal or by addition of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), which in turn reduces H3K9 and H3K36 methylation, promoting a mesenchymal-like-to-embryonic-stem-cell transition (MesT). These findings suggest that L-Pro, which is produced by proteolytic remodeling of the extracellular matrix, may act as a microenvironmental cue to control stem cell behavior

1053pdgenomics features gf and integration with mri radiomics features rf to develop a prognostic model in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma oscc

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Prognosis of colorectal cancer patients is associated with the novel log odds of positive lymph nodes scheme: Derivation and external validation

Background and aim: To construct proper and externally validate cut-off points for log odds of positive lymph nodes scheme (LODDS) staging scheme in colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients and methods: The X-tile approach was used to find the cut-off points for the novel LODDS staging scheme in 240,898 patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database and externally validated in 1,878 from the international multicenter cohort. Kaplan-Meier plot and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were performed to investigate the role of the novel LODDS classification. Results: The prognostic cut-off values were determined as -2.18, and -0.23 (P< 0.001). Patients had 5-year cancer-specific survival rates of 83.8%, 57.4% and 24.4% with increasing LODDS (P< 0.001) in the SEER database. Five-year overall survival rates were 77.2%, 55.0% and 26.7% with increasing LODDS (P< 0.001) in the external international multicenter cohort. Multivariate survival analysis identified both the LODDS classification, the patient\u2019s age, the T category, the M status, and the tumor grade as independent prognostic factors in both two independent databases. The analyses of the subgroup of patients stratified by tumor location (colon or rectum), number of retrieved lymph node (< 12 or 65 12), TNM stage III, lymph node-negative also confirmed the LODDS as independent prognostic factors (P< 0.001) in both two independent databases. Conclusions: The novel LODDS classification was an independent prognostic factor for patients with CRCs and should be calculated for additional risk group stratification with pN scheme

GATEKEEPER’s Strategy for the Multinational Large-Scale Piloting of an eHealth Platform: Tutorial on How to Identify Relevant Settings and Use Cases

Background: The World Health Organization’s strategy toward healthy aging fosters person-centered integrated care sustained by eHealth systems. However, there is a need for standardized frameworks or platforms accommodating and interconnecting multiple of these systems while ensuring secure, relevant, fair, trust-based data sharing and use. The H2020 project GATEKEEPER aims to implement and test an open-source, European, standard-based, interoperable, and secure framework serving broad populations of aging citizens with heterogeneous health needs. Objective: We aim to describe the rationale for the selection of an optimal group of settings for the multinational large-scale piloting of the GATEKEEPER platform. Methods: The selection of implementation sites and reference use cases (RUCs) was based on the adoption of a double stratification pyramid reflecting the overall health of target populations and the intensity of proposed interventions; the identification of a principles guiding implementation site selection; and the elaboration of guidelines for RUC selection, ensuring clinical relevance and scientific excellence while covering the whole spectrum of citizen complexities and intervention intensities. Results: Seven European countries were selected, covering Europe’s geographical and socioeconomic heterogeneity: Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. These were complemented by the following 3 Asian pilots: Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. Implementation sites consisted of local ecosystems, including health care organizations and partners from industry, civil society, academia, and government, prioritizing the highly rated European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Aging reference sites. RUCs covered the whole spectrum of chronic diseases, citizen complexities, and intervention intensities while privileging clinical relevance and scientific rigor. These included lifestyle-related early detection and interventions, using artificial intelligence–based digital coaches to promote healthy lifestyle and delay the onset or worsening of chronic diseases in healthy citizens; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure decompensations management, proposing integrated care management based on advanced wearable monitoring and machine learning (ML) to predict decompensations; management of glycemic status in diabetes mellitus, based on beat to beat monitoring and short-term ML-based prediction of glycemic dynamics; treatment decision support systems for Parkinson disease, continuously monitoring motor and nonmotor complications to trigger enhanced treatment strategies; primary and secondary stroke prevention, using a coaching app and educational simulations with virtual and augmented reality; management of multimorbid older patients or patients with cancer, exploring novel chronic care models based on digital coaching, and advanced monitoring and ML; high blood pressure management, with ML-based predictions based on different intensities of monitoring through self-managed apps; and COVID-19 management, with integrated management tools limiting physical contact among actors. Conclusions: This paper provides a methodology for selecting adequate settings for the large-scale piloting of eHealth frameworks and exemplifies with the decisions taken in GATEKEEPER the current views of the WHO and European Commission while moving forward toward a European Data Space

"Proíbo a publicação e circulação..." - censura a livros na ditadura militar

Durante a ditadura militar brasileira (1964-1985), cerca de 140 livros de autores brasileiros foram oficialmente vetados pelo Estado. Este artigo apresenta parte dos resultados de um projeto que visou fazer o levantamento sistemático das obras censuradas e traçar um panorama da atuação censória do governo militar em relação a livros, destacadamente obras de autores brasileiros, com ênfase no período posterior a 1970. Além de fontes bibliográficas, utilizamos o arquivo de pareceres do Departamento de Censura de Diversões Públicas (DCDP), órgão do Ministério da Justiça, que a partir de 1970 passou a exercer a censura a livros e revistas. O presente artigo é uma versão modificada de trechos do livro Repressão e resistência: censura a livros na ditadura militar, publicado pela Edusp, com apoio da Fapesp, em 2011