Purpose Open surgical repair with replacement of the diseased segment by a synthetic Dacron graft remains the standard treatment for ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. However, post-operative sequelae, including dissection of the descending aorta (DA), have been reported and are often attributed to the mechanical compliance mismatch between the rigid graft and native aortic tissue. This mismatch can significa...

Accurate ocean forecasting is essential for supporting a wide range of marine applications. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have highlighted the potential of data-driven models to outperform traditional numerical approaches, particularly in atmospheric weather forecasting. However, extending these methods to ocean systems remains challenging due to their inherently slower dynamics and complex boundary conditions. In...

Based on the evaluation of 3,902 local floristic references published between 2005 and 2025, an update to the floristic knowledge map of Italy is presented. To measure the progress in floristic knowledge across Italy’s administrative regions, the ‘Index of Floristic Knowledge Advancement’ (IFA) is proposed here. This index categorizes regions based on the proportion of potential improvement that has actually been achieved. Res...

Resting-state network topology may provide a powerful framework for understanding how large-scale brain organisation supports cognitive functions. However, the topological correlates of social cognition remain poorly characterised. This study examined whether individual differences in social cognition are associated with the global topology of the resting-state functional connectome derived from high-density EEG across canonic...

Monitoring regulated quarantine plant pathogens and, when relevant, their vectors is compulsory in the European Union. Local Monochamus species (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) vector the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus , a non-native pest already established in most of Portugal. Only 29 M. galloprovincialis individuals were trapped in Belgium in ten years (2013–2022), despite a dense coverage of pheromone-baited trap...

The full extent of the ecological threat posed by non-native invasive leguminous N-fixing trees to Italian ecosystems has not been thoroughly documented at the national level. This study, conducted by the Working Group on Alien Species of the Italian Botanical Society, aims to develop a comprehensive dataset that provides information on invaded and non-invaded areas, supporting multi-scale ecological analyses on the impact of...

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a global health challenge despite the availability of highly effective direct-acting antivirals. Early case identification through population screening is crucial to achieve the WHO target of HCV elimination. We conducted a population-based screening program in the Marche Region (Italy), focusing on the Local Health Authority of Pesaro–Urbino, to evaluate the feasibility and...

The grey reef shark Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos is one of the most frequently encountered reef‐associated shark species in the Maldives, yet very little is known about its local size structure or population dynamics. This study provides new insights into two aggregations of C. amblyrhynchos in the Maldives, based on biometric measurements obtained with laser photogrammetry, standardized visual surveys, opportunistic behavioural...

Monitoring Essential Ocean, Climate, and Biodiversity Variables (EOVs, ECVs and EBVs) collected through the marine Research Infrastructures (RIs) is critical for assessing environmental status, improving scientific knowledge and defining environmental policies. This study evaluates the capacity of the Italian marine monitoring system, including facilities such as fixed stations, buoys, autonomous platforms, and mobile systems...

Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) from fishers and sea users is invaluable for reconstructing the occurrences of data deficient and vulnerable fish species, particularly target species. This study explores the distribution patterns of the data-deficient wreckfish Polyprion americanus in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea) using semi-structured interviews with 40 sea users (27 fishers and 13 observational data providers). We...

This study investigates the differences in gut microbiota composition between DMD patients with (DMD +) and without (DMD −) intellectual disability (ID) and its potential role in cognitive outcomes. In this study, we assessed the gut microbiota in 50 genetically confirmed DMD patients (median age 13.1 years) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Cognitive assessment was performed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales, with ID defin...