Streamlining large-scale oceanic biomonitoring using passive eDNA samplers integrated into vessel's continuous pump underway seawater systems.

Passive samplers are enabling the scaling of environmental DNA (eDNA) biomonitoring in our oceans, by circumventing the time-consuming process of water filtration. Designing a novel passive sampler that does not require extensive sample handling time and can be connected to ocean-going vessels without impeding normal underway activities has potential to rapidly upscale global biomonitoring efforts onboard the world's oceanic fleet. Here, we demonstrate the utility of an artificial sponge sampler connected to the continuous pump underway seawater system as a means to enable oceanic biomonitoring. We compared the performance of this passive sampling protocol with standard water filtration at six locations during a research voyage from New Zealand to Antarctica in early 2023. Eukaryote metabarcoding of the mitochondrial COI gene revealed no significant difference in phylogenetic α-diversity between sampling methods and both methods delineated a progressive reduction in number of Zero-Radius Operational Taxonomic Units (ZOTUs) with increased latitudes. While both sampling methods revealed comparable trends in geographical community compositions, distinct clusters were identified for passive samplers and water filtration at each location. Additionally, greater variability between replicates was observed for passive samplers, resulting in an increased estimated level of replication needed to recover 90 % of the biodiversity. Furthermore, traditional water filtration failed to detect three phyla observed by passive samplers and extrapolation analysis estimated passive samplers recover a larger number of ZOTUs compared to water filtration for all six locations. Our results demonstrate the potential of this passive eDNA sampler protocol and highlight areas where this emerging technology could be improved, thereby enabling large-scale offshore marine eDNA biomonitoring by leveraging the world's oceanic fleet without interfering with onboard activities.

Biofouling sponges as natural eDNA samplers for marine vertebrate biodiversity monitoring.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has now become a core approach in marine biodiversity research, which typically involves the collection of water or sediment samples. Yet, recently, filter-feeding organisms have received much attention for their potential role as natural eDNA samplers. While the indiscriminate use of living organisms as 'sampling tools' might in some cases raise conservation concerns, there are instances in which highly abundant sessile organisms may become a nuisance as biofouling on artificial marine structures. Here we demonstrate how a sea sponge species that colonizes the moorings of the world's largest curtain of hydroacoustic receivers can become a powerful natural collector of fish biodiversity information. By sequencing eDNA extracted from Vazella pourtalesii retrieved from moorings during routine biofouling maintenance, we detected 23 species of marine fish and mammals, compared to 19 and 15 species revealed by surface and bottom water eDNA respectively, and 28 species captured by groundfish survey in the surrounding area, which are more ecologically impactful and involve higher additional costs. Sponge-based species inventories proved at least as informative as those obtained by traditional survey methods, and are also able to detect seasonal differences in fish assemblages. We conclude that opportunistic sampling of marine sponge biofouling may become an efficient way to document and monitor biodiversity in our rapidly changing oceans.

Prediction of Response to Anti-Angiogenic Treatment for Advanced Colorectal Cancer Patients: From Biological Factors to Functional Imaging.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading tumor worldwide. In CRC, the angiogenic pathway plays a crucial role in cancer development and the process of metastasis. Thus, anti-angiogenic drugs represent a milestone for metastatic CRC (mCRC) treatment and lead to significant improvement of clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, not all patients respond to treatment and some develop resistance. Therefore, the identification of predictive factors able to predict response to angiogenesis pathway blockade is required in order to identify the best candidates to receive these agents. Unfortunately, no predictive biomarkers have been prospectively validated to date. Over the years, research has focused on biologic factors such as genetic polymorphisms, circulating biomarkers, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and microRNA. Moreover, research efforts have evaluated the potential correlation of molecular biomarkers with imaging techniques used for tumor assessment as well as the application of imaging tools in clinical practice. In addition to functional imaging, radiomics, a relatively newer technique, shows real promise in the setting of correlating molecular medicine to radiological phenotypes.

CD44: A New Prognostic Marker in Colorectal Cancer?

Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a non-kinase cell surface glycoprotein. It is overexpressed in several cell types, including cancer stem cells (CSCs). Cells overexpressing CD44 exhibit several CSC traits, such as self-renewal, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) capability, and resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. The role of CD44 in maintaining stemness and the CSC function in tumor progression is accomplished by binding to its main ligand, hyaluronan (HA). The HA-CD44 complex activates several signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion. The CD44 gene regularly undergoes alternative splicing, resulting in the standard (CD44s) and variant (CD44v) isoforms. The different functional roles of CD44s and specific CD44v isoforms still need to be fully understood. The clinicopathological impact of CD44 and its isoforms in promoting tumorigenesis suggests that CD44 could be a molecular target for cancer therapy. Furthermore, the recent association observed between CD44 and KRAS-dependent carcinomas and the potential correlations between CD44 and tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) open new research scenarios for developing new strategies in cancer treatment. This review summarises current research regarding the different CD44 isoform structures, their roles, and functions in supporting tumorigenesis and discusses its therapeutic implications.

Agent-based systems in healthcare.

This Special Issue is dedicated to discussing which are the advantages, challenges and open issues in the application of the agent-based approach as a part of the digital transformation in the healthcare sector. Agent-based technology in healthcare optimises resource allocation and coordination and supports clinical decision-making. Challenges, such as model reliability and interdisciplinary collaboration, must be addressed for widespread adoption. Embracing this technology promises improved healthcare delivery and better patient outcomes. Six papers, out of the many submitted, have been accepted for publication, each one discussing an aspect of this broad field.

Immunotherapy and Cancer: The Multi-Omics Perspective.

Immunotherapies have revolutionized cancer treatment approaches. Because not all patients respond positively to immune therapeutic agents, it represents a challenge for scientists who strive to understand the mechanisms behind such resistance. In-depth exploration of tumor biology, using novel technologies such as omics science, can help decode the role of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in producing a response to the immune blockade strategies. It can also help to identify biomarkers for patient stratification and personalized treatment. This review aims to explore these new models and highlight their possible pivotal role in changing clinical practice.

Ultrathin Ambipolar Polyelectrolyte Capacitors Prepared via Layer-by-Layer Assembling.

Miniaturized solid state capacitors leveraging migration of unipolar ions in a single polyelectrolyte layer sandwiched between metal electrodes, namely, polyelectrolyte capacitors (PECs), have been recently reported with areal capacitance up to 100-200 nF mm-2. Nonetheless, application of PECs in consumer and industrial electronics has been hindered so far by their small operational frequency range, up to a few kHz, due to the resistive behavior (phase angle >-45°) of PECs in the range kHz-to-MHz. Here, it is reported on multilayer polyelectrolyte capacitors (mPECs) that leverage as dielectric an ambipolar nanometer-thick (down to 10 nm) stack of anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes assembled layer-by-layer between metal electrodes to eliminate the resistive behavior at frequencies from kHz to MHz. This significantly extends the operational range of mPECs over PECs. mPECs with areal capacitance as high as 25 nF mm-2 at 20 Hz and full capacitive behavior from 100 mHz to 10 MHz are demonstrated using different assembling conditions and anionic/cationic polyelectrolyte pairs. The mPECs reliably operate over time for >300 million cycles, at different biasing voltages up to 3 V, and temperatures up to 80 °C, showing a reversible capacitive behavior without significant hysteresis. Application of mPECs in flexible electronics, also operating at high frequency, is envisaged.

A printed luminescent flier inspired by plant seeds for eco-friendly physical sensing.

Continuous and distributed monitoring of environmental parameters may pave the way for developing sustainable strategies to tackle climate challenges. State-of-the-art technologies, made with electronic systems, are often costly, heavy, and generate e-waste. Here, we propose a new generation of self-deployable, biocompatible, and luminescent artificial flying seeds for wireless, optical, and eco-friendly monitoring of environmental parameters (i.e., temperature). Inspired by natural Acer campestre plant seeds, we developed three-dimensional functional printed luminescent seed-like fliers, selecting polylactic acid as a biocompatible matrix and temperature as a physical parameter to be monitored. The artificial seeds mimic the aerodynamic and wind dispersal performance of the natural ones. The sensing properties are given by the integration of fluorescent lanthanide-doped particles, whose photoluminescence properties depend on temperature. The luminescent artificial flying seeds can be optically read from a distance using eye-safe near-infrared wavelengths, thus acting as a deployable sensor for distributed monitoring of topsoil environmental temperatures.

Surface Acoustic Wave-Based Microfluidic Device for Microparticles Manipulation: Effects of Microchannel Elasticity on the Device Performance.

Size sorting, line focusing, and isolation of microparticles or cells are fundamental ingredients in the improvement of disease diagnostic tools adopted in biology and biomedicine. Microfluidic devices are exploited as a solution to transport and manipulate (bio)particles via a liquid flow. Use of acoustic waves traveling through the fluid provides non-contact solutions to the handling goal, by exploiting the acoustophoretic phenomenon. In this paper, a finite element model of a microfluidic surface acoustic wave-based device for the manipulation of microparticles is reported. Counter-propagating waves are designed to interfere inside a PDMS microchannel and generate a standing surface acoustic wave which is transmitted to the fluid as a standing pressure field. A model of the cross-section of the device is considered to perform a sensitivity analysis of such a standing pressure field to uncertainties related to the geometry of the microchannel, especially in terms of thickness and width of the fluid domain. To also assess the effects caused by possible secondary waves traveling in the microchannel, the PDMS is modeled as an elastic solid material. Remarkable effects and possible issues in microparticle actuation, as related to the size of the microchannel, are discussed by way of exemplary results.

Mismatch Repair system protein deficiency as a resistance factor for locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma patients receiving neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Available data on Mismatch Repair system (MMR) deficiency are conflicting and derived from small studies. Our study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic implications of MMR status in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from 318 patients affected by LARC treated in Italy at the Medical Oncology Units of the University Hospital of Cagliari, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori Milan, and AOU Ospedali Riuniti Ancona. All patients underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The primary objective was major TRG while secondary objectives were pathological complete response, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: One hundred sixty patients (148 pMMR and 12 dMMR) were included in the exploratory cohort and 158 (146 pMMR and 12 dMMR) were included in the validation cohort. A major TRG has been shown in 42.6% and 43.1% patients with pMMR in exploratory and validation cohort, respectively; while no major TRG have been shown in dMMR patients in both cohorts. Exploratory and validation cohorts showed a statistically significant higher mDFS in pMMR patients compared to dMMR: NR vs. 14 months and NR vs. 17 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated an association between dMMR and poor response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy and they represent a hypothesis-generating data for new neoadjuvant strategies.

Trapped DNA fragments in marine sponge specimens unveil North Atlantic deep-sea fish diversity.

Sponges pump water to filter feed and for diffusive oxygen uptake. In doing so, trace DNA fragments from a multitude of organisms living around them are trapped in their tissues. Here we show that the environmental DNA retrieved from archived marine sponge specimens can reconstruct the fish communities at the place of sampling and discriminate North Atlantic assemblages according to biogeographic region (from Western Greenland to Svalbard), depth habitat (80-1600 m), and even the level of protection in place. Given the cost associated with ocean biodiversity surveys, we argue that targeted and opportunistic sponge samples - as well as the specimens already stored in museums and other research collections - represent an invaluable trove of biodiversity information that can significantly extend the reach of ocean monitoring.

Febrile seizures and convulsions with mild gastroenteritis: age-dependent acute symptomatic seizures.

Background: Febrile seizures (FS) and benign convulsions in children with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) are acute symptomatic seizures, transiently occurring in infants and young children, probably related to the immaturity of the brain. Our paper aims to review the literature data on patients with FS and CwG. Methods: A review of series of patients with FS and CwG was performed by literature search on PubMed January 1960 to October 2022. Several parameters were considered, including epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, electroencephalographic findings and other diagnostic studies, and treatment. Results: FS and CwG share an age-dependent course, but they show significant differences in the pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnostic studies, and treatment. Conclusion: Acute symptomatic seizures include seizures that are caused by acute structural brain pathologies, such as stroke, as well as seizures that are provoked by a reversible factor, such as hyponatraemia, although the two groups should be not equated. Furthermore, FS and CwG should be set apart as "age-dependent acute symptomatic seizures", reinforcing the concept of their self-limited course over a certain period.

Universal closed-tube barcoding for monitoring the shark and ray trade in megadiverse conservation hotspots.

Trade restrictions for endangered elasmobranch species exist to disincentivise their exploitation and curb their declines. However, trade monitoring is challenging due to product variety and the complexity of import/export routes. We investigate the use of a portable, universal, DNA-based tool which would greatly facilitate in-situ monitoring. We collected shark and ray samples across the Island of Java, Indonesia, and selected 28 commonly encountered species (including 22 CITES-listed species) to test a recently developed real-time PCR single-assay originally developed for screening bony fish. In the absence of a bespoke elasmobranch identification online platform in the original FASTFISH-ID model, we employed a deep learning algorithm to recognize species based on DNA melt-curve signatures. By combining visual and machine-learning assignment methods, we distinguished 25/28 species, 20 of which were CITES-listed. With further refinement, this method can improve monitoring of the elasmobranch trade worldwide, without a lab or species-specific assays.

Vapor-Phase Synthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers on Nanostructured Materials at Room-Temperature.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have recently emerged as robust and versatile artificial receptors. MIP synthesis is carried out in liquid phase and optimized on planar surfaces. Application of MIPs to nanostructured materials is challenging due to diffusion-limited transport of monomers within the nanomaterial recesses, especially when the aspect ratio is >10. Here, the room temperature vapor-phase synthesis of MIPs in nanostructured materials is reported. The vapor phase synthesis leverages a >1000-fold increase in the diffusion coefficient of monomers in vapor phase, compared to liquid phase, to relax diffusion-limited transport and enable the controlled synthesis of MIPs also in nanostructures with high aspect ratio. As proof-of-concept application, pyrrole is used as the functional monomer thanks to its large exploitation in MIP preparation; nanostructured porous silicon oxide (PSiO2 ) is chosen to assess the vapor-phase deposition of PPy-based MIP in nanostructures with aspect ratio >100; human hemoglobin (HHb) is selected as the target molecule for the preparation of a MIP-based PSiO2 optical sensor. High sensitivity and selectivity, low detection limit, high stability and reusability are achieved in label-free optical detection of HHb, also in human plasma and artificial serum. The proposed vapor-phase synthesis of MIPs is immediately transferable to other nanomaterials, transducers, and proteins.

A survey on agents applications in healthcare: Opportunities, challenges and trends.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The agent abstraction is a powerful one, developed decades ago to represent crucial aspects of artificial intelligence research. The meaning has transformed over the years and now there are different nuances across research communities. At its core, an agent is an autonomous computational entity capable of sensing, acting, and capturing interactions with other agents and its environment. This review examines how agent-based techniques have been implemented and evaluated in a specific and very important domain, i.e. healthcare research. METHODS: We survey key areas of agent-based research in healthcare, e.g. individual and collective behaviours, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and social epidemiology. We propose a systematic search and critical review of relevant recent works, introduced by an exploratory network analysis. RESULTS: Network analysis enables to devise out 5 main research clusters, the most active authors, and 4 main research topics. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support discussion of some future directions for increasing the value of agent-based approaches in healthcare.

High taxonomic diversity and miniaturization in benthic communities under persistent natural CO2 disturbances.

Metabarcoding techniques have revolutionized ecological research in recent years, facilitating the differentiation of cryptic species and revealing previously hidden diversity. In the current scenario of climate change and ocean acidification, biodiversity loss is one of the main threats to marine ecosystems. Here, we explored the effects of ocean acidification on marine benthic communities using DNA metabarcoding to assess the diversity of algae and metazoans. Specifically, we examined the natural pH gradient generated by the Fuencaliente CO2 vent system, located near La Palma Island (Canary Islands). High-resolution COI metabarcoding analyses revealed high levels of taxonomic diversity in an acidified natural area for the first time. This high number of species arises from the detection of small and cryptic species that were previously undetectable by other techniques. Such species are apparently tolerant to the acidification levels expected in future oceans. Hence and following our results, future subtropical communities are expected to keep high biodiversity values under an acidification scenario, although they will tend toward overall miniaturization due to the dominance of small algal and invertebrate species, leading to changes in ecosystem functions.

Fish eDNA detections in ports mirror fishing fleet activities and highlight the spread of non-indigenous species in the Mediterranean Sea.

Gathering comprehensive marine biodiversity data can be difficult, costly and time consuming, preventing adequate knowledge of diversity patterns in many areas worldwide. We propose fishing ports as "natural" sinks of biodiversity information collected by fishing vessels probing disparate habitats, depths, and environments. By combining rapid environmental DNA metabarcoding (eDNA) surveys and data from public registers and Automatic Identification Systems, we show significant positive relationships between fishing fleet activities (i.e. fishing effort and characteristics of the fishing grounds) and the taxonomic fish assemblage composition in eleven Mediterranean fishing ports. Overall, we identified 160 fish and 123 invertebrate OTUs, including at least seven non-indigenous species, in some instances well beyond their known distribution areas. Our findings suggest that eDNA assessments of fishing harbours' waters might offer a rapid way to monitor marine biodiversity in unknown or under-sampled areas, as well as to reconstruct fishing catches, often underreported in several regions.

MEMS Reliability: On-Chip Testing for the Characterization of the Out-of-Plane Polysilicon Strength.

Polycrystalline silicon is a brittle material, and its strength results are stochastically linked to microscale (or even nanoscale) defects, possibly dependent on the grain size and morphology. In this paper, we focus on the out-of-plane tensile strength of columnar polysilicon. The investigation has been carried out through a combination of a newly proposed setup for on-chip testing and finite element analyses to properly interpret the collected data. The experiments have aimed to provide a static loading to a stopper, exploiting electrostatic actuation to move a massive shuttle against it, up to failure. The failure mechanism observed in the tested devices has been captured by the numerical simulations. The data have been then interpreted by the Weibull theory for three different stopper sizes, leading to an estimation of the reference out-of-plane strength of polysilicon on the order of 2.8-3.0 GPa, in line with other results available in the literature.

4D Printing of Humidity-Driven Seed Inspired Soft Robots.

Geraniaceae seeds represent a role model in soft robotics thanks to their ability to move autonomously across and into the soil driven by humidity changes. The secret behind their mobility and adaptivity is embodied in the hierarchical structures and anatomical features of the biological hygroscopic tissues, geometrically designed to be selectively responsive to environmental humidity. Following a bioinspired approach, the internal structure and biomechanics of Pelargonium appendiculatum (L.f.) Willd seeds are investigated to develop a model for the design of a soft robot. The authors exploit the re-shaping ability of 4D printed materials to fabricate a seed-like soft robot, according to the natural specifications and model, and using biodegradable and hygroscopic polymers. The robot mimics the movement and performances of the natural seed, reaching a torque value of ≈30 µN m, an extensional force of ≈2.5 mN and it is capable to lift ≈100 times its own weight. Driven by environmental humidity changes, the artificial seed is able to explore a sample soil, adapting its morphology to interact with soil roughness and cracks.

1D and 2D Field Effect Transistors in Gas Sensing: A Comprehensive Review.

Rapid progress in the synthesis and fundamental understanding of 1D and 2D materials have solicited the incorporation of these nanomaterials into sensor architectures, especially field effect transistors (FETs), for the monitoring of gas and vapor in environmental, food quality, and healthcare applications. Yet, several challenges have remained unaddressed toward the fabrication of 1D and 2D FET gas sensors for real-field applications, which are related to properties, synthesis, and integration of 1D and 2D materials into the transistor architecture. This review paper encompasses the whole assortment of 1D-i.e., metal oxide semiconductors (MOXs), silicon nanowires (SiNWs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-and 2D-i.e., graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD), phosphorene-materials used in FET gas sensors, critically dissecting how the material synthesis, surface functionalization, and transistor fabrication impact on electrical versus sensing properties of these devices. Eventually, pros and cons of 1D and 2D FETs for gas and vapor sensing applications are discussed, pointing out weakness and highlighting future directions.