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opencc-by-4.0Dec 2022View details →

Describing and mapping of the main existing structures and systematic initiatives and academic activities for surveillance in the EU for zoonoses (transboundary, emerging and re-emerging) in domestic animals and wildlife

These annexes refer to a report which describes and maps the main existing structures and systematic initiatives and academic activities for surveillance in the EU for transboundary, emerging and re-emerging zoonoses in domestic animals, wildlife, and the environment, developed by the different sectors, namely human, domestic animal, wildlife and environmental, under One Health approach. This is essential to provide scientific and technical advice and improve future schemes of surveillance. A questionnaire was compiled by MSs and the information collected was complemented by literature reviews about (i) the main existing structures and systematic initiatives or activities, and (ii) academic activities for surveillance in the EU for zoonoses in domestic animals and wildlife. The annexes to the report are as follows: Annex 1. Questionnaire survey on official zoonotic disease surveillance activities in the EU and neighbouring countries. -          Sheet 1: PART 1 – Surveillance. This part explores the general organization of the surveillance plan -          Sheet 2: PART 2 – Pathogens. This part aims to identify target pathogen and species and methods for surveillance Annex 2. Characteristic of surveillance plans. -          Sheet “Pathogens”, where not primary but also a wide range of hosts are summarized. -          Sheet “active/passive surveillance” by country -          Sheet “origin of funding” (the proportion and number) of surveillance plans Annex 3. More detailed distribution of active and passive surveillance planaccording to countries and pathogen is presented in this Annex. Annex 4. Standardized data model (to extract key information to characterize the surveillance systems in the literature review on systematic surveillance. The data model was divided into two parts: -          Sheet 1: PART 1 – Surveillance system (explores the general organization) -          Sheet 2: PART 2 – Pathogens (identifies the target pathogen, species, and methods) Annex 5. Standardized data model used during the literature review to extract key information to characterize the surveillance performed by the academia

Multisite imaging of neural activity using a genetically encoded calcium sensor in the honey bee

Understanding of the neural bases for complex behaviors in Hymenoptera insect species has been limited by a lack of tools that allow measuring neuronal activity simultaneously in different brain regions. Here, we developed the first pan-neuronal genetic driver in a Hymenopteran model organism, the honey bee, and expressed the calcium indicator GCaMP6f under the control of the honey bee synapsin promoter. We show that GCaMP6f is widely expressed in the honey bee brain, allowing it to record neural activity from multiple brain regions. To assess the power of this tool, we focused on the olfactory system, recording simultaneous responses from the antennal lobe, and from the more poorly investigated lateral horn and mushroom body calyces. Neural responses to 16 distinct odorants demonstrate that odorant quality (chemical structure) and quantity are faithfully encoded in the honey bee antennal lobe. In contrast, odor coding in the lateral horn departs from this simple physico-chemical coding, supporting the role of this structure in coding the biological value of odorants. We further demonstrate robust neural responses to several bee pheromone odorants, key drivers of social behavior, in the lateral horn. Combined, these brain recordings represent the first use of a neurogenetic tool for recording large-scale neural activity in a eusocial insect, and will be of utility in assessing the neural underpinnings of olfactory and other sensory modalities and of social behaviors and cognitive abilities.

Pupil size reflects activation of subcortical ascending arousal system nuclei during rest

Neuromodulatory nuclei that are part of the ascending arousal system (AAS) play a crucial role in regulating cortical state and optimizing task performance. Pupil diameter, under constant luminance conditions, is increasingly used as an index of activity of these AAS nuclei. Indeed, task-based functional imaging studies in humans have begun to provide evidence of stimulus-driven pupil-AAS coupling. However, whether there is such a tight pupil-AAS coupling during rest is not clear. To address this question, we examined simultaneously acquired resting-state fMRI and pupil-size data from 74 participants, focusing on six AAS nuclei: the locus coeruleus, ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra, dorsal and median raphe nuclei, and cholinergic basal forebrain. Activation in all six AAS nuclei was optimally correlated with pupil size at 0- to 2-second lags, suggesting that spontaneous pupil changes were almost immediately followed by corresponding BOLD-signal changes in the AAS. These results suggest that spontaneous changes in pupil size that occur during states of rest can be used as a noninvasive general index of activity in AAS nuclei. Importantly, the nature of pupil-AAS coupling during rest appears to be vastly different from the relatively slow canonical hemodynamic response function that has been used to characterize task-related pupil-AAS coupling.

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2022View details →

Spectrogram of vibrations from inside an active beehive (Apis mellifera)

A piezoelectric transducer is inserted inside an active beehive. We record the vibrations within the hive every 5 minutes for about 2 months. We extract the spectrogram from each recording. The spectrogram is a time-frequency representation that shows how the frequencies of the recording evolve over time. All spectrograms from 3865 recordings are stacked and their corresponding timestamp appears on the upper left corner. The video demonstrates the vibrational activity of the bees and any other factor that can vibrate the beehive for two months.

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2022View details →

Estimated densities of activity from: Characterising diel activity patterns to design conservation measures: Case study of European bat species

Estimated densities of activity calculated in "Characterising diel activity patterns to design conservation measures: case study of European bat species" (see Materials and Methods for more information on these calculations). The files named "densitiyAllYear" correspond to the estimated densities based on our entire dataset. The files named "densitiySpring" correspond to the estimated densities based on a subset of our dataset comprising only monitoring carried out between 1 March and 21 June. The files named "densitiySummer" correspond to the estimated densities based on a subset of our dataset comprising only monitoring carried out between 22 June and 21 August. The files named "densitiyAutumn" correspond to the estimated densities based on a subset of our dataset comprising only monitoring carried out between 22 August and 31 October. The first column of each file ("PercentageNight") corresponds to the percentage of the night elapsed (0 % = sunset time, 100 % =  sunrise time), the second to the estimated activity density ("Density").

Activity in developing prefrontal cortex is shaped by sleep and sensory experience

In developing rats, behavioral state exerts a profound modulatory influence on neural activity throughout the sensorimotor system, including primary motor cortex (M1). We hypothesized that similar state-dependent modulation occurs in prefrontal cortical areas with which M1 forms functional connections. Here, using 8- and 12-day-old rats cycling freely between sleep and wake, we record neural activity in M1, secondary motor cortex (M2), and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). At both ages in all three areas, neural activity increased during active sleep (AS) compared with wake. Also, regardless of behavioral state, neural activity in all three areas increased during periods when limbs were moving. The movement-related activity in M2 and mPFC, like that in M1, is driven by sensory feedback. Our results, which diverge from those of previous studies using anesthetized pups, demonstrate that AS-dependent modulation and sensory responsivity extend to prefrontal cortex. These findings expand the range of possible factors shaping the activity-dependent development of higher-order cortical areas.

Human activities favour prolific life histories in both traded and introduced vertebrates

Species' life histories determine population demographics and thus the probability that introduced populations establish and spread. Life histories also influence which species are most likely to be introduced, but how such 'introduction biases' arise remains unclear. Here, we investigate how life histories affect the probability of trade and introduction in phylogenetic comparative analyses across three vertebrate classes: mammals, reptiles and amphibians. We find that traded species have relatively high reproductive rates and long reproductive lifespans. Within traded species, introduced species have a more extreme version of this same life history profile. Species in the pet trade also have long reproductive lifespans but lack 'fast' traits, likely reflecting demand for rare species which tend to have slow life histories. We identify multiple species not yet traded or introduced but with life histories indicative of high risk of future trade, introduction and potentially invasion. Our findings suggest that species with high invasion potential are favoured in the wildlife trade and therefore that trade regulation is crucial for preventing future invasions.

opencc-zeroDec 2021View details →

Data from: A surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based lab-on-chip for the detection of active α-glycosidase

Enzyme detection in liquid samples is a complex laboratory procedure, based on assays that are generally time- and cost-consuming, and require specialized personnel. Surface acoustic wave sensors can be used for this application, overcoming the cited limitations. To give our contribution, in this work we present the bottom-up development of a surface acoustic wave biosensor to detect active α-glycosidase in aqueous solutions. Our device, optimized to work at an ultra-high frequency (around 740 MHz), is functionalized with a newly synthesized probe 7-mercapto-1-eptyl-D-maltoside, bringing one maltoside terminal moiety. The probe is designed ad hoc for this application and tested in-cuvette to analyze the enzymatic conversion kinetics at different times, temperatures and enzyme concentrations. Preliminary data are used to optimize the detection protocol with the SAW device. In around 60 min, the SAW device is able to detect the enzymatic conversion of the maltoside unit into glucose in the presence of the active enzyme. We obtained successful α-glycosidase detection in the concentration range 0.15–150 U/mL, with an increasing signal in the range up to 15 U/mL. We also checked the sensor performance in the presence of an enzyme inhibitor as a control test, with a signal decrease of 80% in the presence of the inhibitor. The results demonstrate the synergic effect of our SAW Lab-on-a-Chip and probe design as a valid alternative to conventional laboratory tests.

opencc-by-4.0Aug 2022View details →

Modulation of glia activation by TRPA1 antagonism in a pre-clinical model of migraine

This dataset comprises the findings obtained in the study aimed at investigating the relationship between TRPA1 channels and glia activation in the modulation of trigeminal hyperalgesia in preclinical models of migraine. In vivo assessments performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats four hours after treatment with nitroglycerin (10mg/kg, i.p.) or its vehicle in the acute model, and 24h after the last treatment with nitroglycerin (5mg/kg, i.p.) or its vehicle in the chronic model (injections every other day over a 9-day period for a total of five injections): - evaluation of trigeminal hyperalgesia in the orofacial formalin test: the face rubbing was measured counting the seconds the animal spent grooming the injected area (upper lip, lateral to the nose) with the ipsilateral forepaw or hindpaw 0–3 min (Phase I) or 12–45 min (Phase II) after formalin injection (50 µl, s.c.). The observation time was divided into 15 blocks of 3 min each. Ex vivo assessments performed on samples collected at the end of the behavioral test: - Microglia and astroglia activation was evaluated the trigeminal nucleus caudalis by means of immunofluorescence staining. Specifically, the medullary segment containing the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (between +1 and -5 mm from the obex) was removed and cut transversely at 30 µm thickness on a freezing sliding microtome. The anti-cluster of differentiation molecule 11b (anti-CD11b, 1:300) primary antibody (to detect microglia) or rabbit anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (anti-GFAP, 1:500) primary antibody (to label astrocytes) were used. Cell count for microglia and astroglia was assessed by counting CD11b- or GFAP-positive cells, respectively, from a stack of 16 pictures (1μm-thick, 20x magnification) taken from four representative sections alongside the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. The total number of CD11b- and GFAP-positive cells of the four sections were summed and expressed per mm2. Glial activation state was rated on a scale ranging from score 0 to 3. The final activation state was calculated as the average of the scores assessed for each of the four representative sections of the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. - Satellite glial cells activation (anti-GFAP, 1:600), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity (anti-CGRP, 1:500) and macrophage infiltration (anti-Iba1, 1:500) were evaluated in trigeminal ganglia using immunofluorescence staining. Specifically, trigeminal ganglia were removed and sectioned longitudinally at 20 µm thickness using a cryostat.  In the trigeminal ganglia, the number of Iba1+ cells/area and the % of GFAP-encircled neurons and of CGRP+ neurons were assessed in whole TG sections acquired at 20X magnification. - Gene expression analysis: mRNA expression levels of (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL) -1beta, IL-6, IL-10, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), GFAP, CD11b and CGRP in medulla oblongata and trigeminal ganglia. mRNA levels were measured by rt-PCR. All samples were assayed in triplicate and gene expression levels were calculated according to 2−∆∆Ct = 2− (∆Ct gene − ∆Ct housekeeping gene) formula by using Ct (cycle threshold) values. Results - In nitroglycerin-treated rats, ADM_12 showed an anti-hyperalgesic effect in both the acute and chronic models. ADM_12 was able to counteract the acute and chronic nitroglycerin-induced changes in cytokines’ gene expression in both the areas of interest. In the acute nitroglycerin model, we reported a significant increase in microglial and astroglial activation in the trigeminalis nucleus caudalis area, which was abolished by ADM_12 treatment. In the chronic model, we detected an activation of satellite glial cells in the trigeminal ganglia in nitroglycerin-treated rats; this was inhibited by ADM_12. This latter also prevented the increase in CGRP gene expression levels in the trigeminal ganglia of nitroglycerin-treated animals.

Active and low-cost hyperspectral imaging for spectral analysis in low lighting environment

Hyperspectral imaging can capture information beyond conventional RGB cameras; thus, it has many applications, such as material identification and spectral analysis. However, like many camera systems, most of the existing hyperspectral cameras are still passive imaging systems: they require external light sources to illuminate the objects to capture the spectral intensity. As a result, the collected images highly depend on the environment lighting, and the imaging system cannot function in a dark or low-lighting environment. This work develops a prototype system for active hyperspectral imaging, which actively emits different single-wavelength lights at different frequencies when imaging. This concept has several advantages: first, using the controlled lighting, the magnitude of the individual bands is normalized to extract reflectance information; second, the system is capable of collecting information at the desired spectral range by tailoring the light sources; third, an active system is mechanically easier to make, since it does not require complex band filters as used in passive systems; last, such a system may work under low light or dark environments, which greatly facilitate underground/subsurface sensing applications such as borehole based mining exploration. This prototype is achieved by using an array of low-cost and single-wavelength LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights, a remote control module controlling the LED illuminator, and the shutter of a full spectrum camera. We demonstrate that such design is feasible and could yield informative hyperspectral images for spectral analysis and machine learning-based object identification in low light or dark environments, having great potential to benefit both the academic and industry such as in geochemistry, earth science, subsurface energy, and mining.

Maryland private school websites' physical activity promotion

Excel file of 387 Maryland (USA) private schools' websites' mentioning of PE (the term physical education, PE teacher, PE curriculum, PE dosage) and physical activity (intramural physical activity, interscholastic sports, physical activity images)

Data for: Inhibition is a prevalent mode of activity in the neocortex around awake hippocampal ripples in mice

Coordinated peri-ripple activity in the hippocampal-neocortical network is essential for mnemonic information processing in the brain. Hippocampal ripples likely serve different functions in sleep and awake states. Thus, the corresponding neocortical activity patterns may differ in important ways. We addressed this possibility by conducting voltage and glutamate wide-field imaging of the neocortex with concurrent hippocampal electrophysiology in awake mice. Contrary to our previously published sleep results, deactivation and activation were dominant in post-ripple neocortical voltage and glutamate activity, respectively, especially in the agranular retrosplenial cortex (aRSC). Additionally, the spiking activity of aRSC neurons, estimated by two-photon calcium imaging, revealed the existence of two subpopulations of excitatory neurons with opposite peri-ripple modulation patterns: one increases and the other decreases firing rate. These differences in peri-ripple spatiotemporal patterns of neocortical activity in sleep versus awake states might underlie the reported differences in the function of sleep versus awake ripples.

Migration strategies, performance and annual activity budget in a short-distance migrant, the common starling Sturnus vulgaris

Migratory birds typically separate energetically demanding parts of the annual cycle like breeding, moult, and migration with some species engaging in so-called moult-migration. Moult-migration is known to occur in starlings from the northern breeding populations, however, little is known about the dynamics of this phenomenon and the costs and benefits for the involved individuals. Here, using state-of-the-art multi-sensor geolocators, we gathered information about the annual cycles of 10 starlings from two breeding sites in Latvia. We used a novel analytical approach based on atmospheric pressure measurements to reveal that all but one of the tracked individuals migrated to wintering sites in the British Isles. Tracking data exposed two separate migration strategies – (1) departure from the breeding grounds in mid-June soon after chick fledging with long stationary periods at moulting sites approx. 900 km westward (n = 5 of 10); (2) residing in close vicinity of the breeding sites up until the end of October (n = 5 of 10). Accelerometer data revealed significantly higher activity budgets during moult for the individuals exhibiting moult-migration. Furthermore, birds that underwent moult-migration arrived at the breeding sites in the following year on average 10 days later and showed significantly higher activity levels during the pre-breeding period compared to birds without moult-migration. Activity tracking also showed that 67% of all migratory flights were performed during the night, contradicting previous assumptions of starlings being predominantly diurnal migrants. Maximum recorded flight altitudes reached 2500 m.a.s.l. and the longest uninterrupted flight lasted 22.5 hours. Our results highlight energetic trade-offs of moult-migration in starling, but their downstream consequences remain to be tested.

Assessment of antimicrobial activity of melittin encapsulated in bicontinuous microemulsions prepared using renewable oils

The objective of this study is to demonstrate that melittin, a well-studied antimicrobial peptide (AMP), can be solubilized in an active form in bicontinuous microemulsions (BMEs) that employ biocompatible oils. The systems investigated consisted of Winsor-III and -IV BME phases composed of Water/Aerosol-OT (AOT)/Polysorbate 85/isopropyl myristate and a Winsor-IV BME employing Polysorbate 80 and limonene. We found that melittin resided in an a-helix-rich configuration and was in an apolar environment for the AOT/Polysorbate 85 Winsor-III system, suggesting that melittin interacted with the surfactant monolayer and was in an active conformation. An apolar environment was also detected for melittin in the two Winsor-IV systems, but to a lesser extent than the Winsor-III system. Small-angle X-ray scattering analysis indicated that melittin at a concentration of 1.0 g/Laq in the aqueous subphase of the Winsor-IV systems led to the greatest impact on the BME structure (e.g., decrease of quasi-periodic repeat distance and correlation length and induction of interfacial fluidity). The antimicrobial activity of the Polysorbate 80 Winsor-IV system was evaluated against several bacteria prominent in chronic wounds and surgical site infections (SSIs). Melittin-free BMEs inhibited the growth of all tested bacteria due to its oil, limonene, while the inclusion of 1.0 g/Laq of melittin in the BMEs enhanced the activity against several bacteria. A further increase of melittin concentration in the BMEs had no effect. These results demonstrate the potential utility of BMEs as a delivery platform for AMPs and other hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs to inhibit antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in chronic wounds and SSIs.

Data for: Sex-based divergence in tidal, lunar and seasonal cycles of activity in the olive sea snake, Aipysurus laevis (Elapidae, Hydrophiinae)

Marine environments show strong cycles at daily (tidal), monthly (lunar) and seasonal timeframes, and the behavioural responses of marine organisms to such cycles may depend upon ecological and behavioural traits that differ between the sexes. Underwater observations of free-ranging olive sea snakes (Aipysurus laevis, Hydrophiinae, Elapidae) at a site on the southern Great Barrier Reef revealed sex-based divergences in the effects of abiotic cycles on snake activity. Female snakes were active primarily on high and rising tides that allowed access to shallow-water sites for foraging. In contrast, male snakes were active primarily on low and falling tides, especially near the time of the full moon (when tidal range is highest), conditions that may restrict a female snake's ability to evade a courting male. Males were common on the coral-reef site during winter (the mating season), but were rarely seen during summer, whereas females remained on the reef year-round. This highly sexually dimorphic species shows strong temporal separations between the sexes in patterns of activity.

Data from: Plant attributes interact with fungal pathogens and nitrogen addition to drive soil enzymatic activities and their temporal variation

Nitrogen enrichment can alter soil communities and their functioning directly, via changes in nutrient availability and stoichiometry, or indirectly, by changing plant communities or the abundance of consumers. However, most studies have only focused on one of these potential drivers and we know little about the relative importance of the different mechanisms (changes in nutrient availability, in plant diversity or functional composition, or in consumer abundance) by which nitrogen enrichment affects soil functioning. In addition, soil functions could vary dramatically between seasons, however, they are typically measured only once during the peak growing season. We therefore know little about the drivers of intra-annual stability in soil functioning. In this study, we measured activities of β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase, two extracellular enzymes that indicate soil functioning. We did so in a large grassland experiment which tested the effects, and relative importance, of nitrogen enrichment, plant functional composition and diversity, and foliar pathogen presence (controlled by fungicide) on soil functioning. We measured the activity of the two enzymes across seasons and years to assess the stability and temporal dynamics of soil functioning. Overall β-glucosidase activity was slightly increased by nitrogen enrichment over time but did not respond to the other experimental treatments. Conversely, plant functional diversity, and interactions between plant attributes and fungicide application, were important drivers of mean acid phosphatase activity. The temporal stability of both soil enzymes was differently affected by two facets of plant diversity: species richness increased temporal stability and functional diversity decreased it; however, these effects were dampened when nitrogen and fungicide were added. Synthesis: The fungicide effects on soil enzyme activities suggest that foliar pathogens can also affect belowground processes and the interacting effect of fungicide and plant diversity suggests that these plant enemies can modulate the relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem functioning. The contrasting effects of our treatments on the mean versus stability of soil enzyme activities clearly show the need to consider temporal dynamics in belowground processes, to better understand the responses of soil microbes to environmental changes such as nutrient enrichment.

Newly created accounts activity

This dataset contains the IDs of about 8,000,093 tweets from 510,841 newly created accounts on Twitter. --- Files --------------------------------------------------------------------- * tweets.csv      List of tweets produced by monitored accounts, each with       "id"        tweet id. * users.csv     List of monitored fake accounts, each with       "id"   user account id.

BUKTI CORRESPONDING AUTHOR IGNATIA MARTHA HENDRATI Email: ignatia.hendrati.ep@upnjatim.ac.id Journal Cogent Business and Management The Role of Moderation Activities The Influence of The Audit Committee And The Board Of Directors on The Planning of The Sustainability Report

The Role of Moderation Activities The influence of the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors on the Planning of the Sustainability Report Abstract In order to show the consistency of agency theory as a theory to explain the influence of the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors on Sustainability, this study will explore the role of moderating actions of the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors on Sustainability. The firms that make up the demographic and research sample for this study, which uses a quantitative technique, are those that are included in the Jakarta Islamic Index for the years 2017 through 2021. the study's yearly financial report panel data. The data analysis methods employed in this study were robust, fixed effects, random effects, and ordinary least square regression. These methods are one of the regression solution approaches that may be used with a lot of flexibility in research that combines thoughts, ideas, and facts. The first study found that the audit committee had an effect on sustainability, whereas the second found that the board of directors has no effect. Due to the third and fourth conclusions of the role of activities, the audit committee and board of directors are less strong on sustainability. Keywords : Activity; Board of Directors; Sustainability; Audit Committee; Stata JEL Classification: G32, G02, M1, G34, Z1

Datasets for: Colony-nesting gulls restrict activity levels of native top carnivore during the breeding season

Although nesting in colonies can offer substantial reproductive benefits for many seabird species, increased visibility to predators remains a significant disadvantage for most colony-breeders. To counteract this, some seabird species have evolved aggressive nest defense strategies to protect vulnerable eggs and chicks. Here we used an experimental approach to test whether colony inhabitance by breeding gulls (Larus spp.) in western Norway impacts visitation rates of a native, mammalian predator, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) during the breeding season. Camera traps were placed inside of and on the periphery of seabird colonies prior to the breeding season and left to run for one continuous year. Sighting frequency of otters on these cameras was compared to a control region free of gull nesting. We found that otter activity was significantly reduced on the colonies when gulls were incubating and rearing chicks, compared to time periods when gulls were building nests and absent from the colonies. Rhythmic activity patterns did not seem to be significantly impacted by the presence of gulls. This study provides clear evidence that certain colony-nesting species can have a direct, negative impact on visitation rates of a native carnivore. Seasonal carnivore activity patterns are likely to be highly dependent on differing nesting strategies and level of nest defense by seabirds.

Dataset related to the article "Purinergic Receptor P2Y2 Stimulation Averts Aortic Valve Interstitial Cell Calcification and Myofibroblastic Activation"

This record contains raw data related to the article "Purinergic Receptor P2Y2 Stimulation Averts Aortic Valve Interstitial Cell Calcification and Myofibroblastic Activation" Rationale-Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is a pathological condition of the aortic valve with a prevalence of 3% in the general population. It is characterized by massive rearrangement of the extracellular matrix, mostly due to the accumulation of fibro-calcific deposits driven by valve interstitial cells (VIC), and no pharmacological treatment is currently available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of P2Y2 receptor (P2RY2) activation on fibro-calcific remodeling of CAVS. Methods-We employed human primary VICs isolated from CAVS leaflets treated with 2-thiouridine-5'-triphosphate (2ThioUTP, 10 µM), an agonist of P2RY2. The calcification was induced by inorganic phosphate (2 mM) and ascorbic acid (50 µg/mL) for 7 or 14 days, while the 2ThioUTP was administered starting from the seventh day. 2ThioUTP was chronically administered for 5 days to evaluate myofibroblastic activation. Results-P2RY2 activation, under continuous or interrupted pro-calcific stimuli, led to a significant inhibition of VIC calcification potential (p < 0.01). Moreover, 2ThioUTP treatment was able to significantly reduce pro-fibrotic gene expression (p < 0.05), as well as that of protein α-smooth muscle actin (p = 0.004). Conclusions-Our data suggest that P2RY2 activation should be further investigated as a pharmacological target for the prevention of CAVS progression, acting on both calcification and myofibroblastic activation.