Tadalafil is a selective phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) inhibitor that is approved for the treatment of men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and/or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) associated symptoms. Besides its classical actions on PDE5 within the genitourinary tract, where the specific enzyme expression is maximal, it may exert different systemic effects. This is mainly due to the pleiotropic distribution of PDE5 enzyme throughout human (and animal) body, where it can exert protective effects in different clinical conditions. Recently, it has been demonstrated that tadalafil may display novel actions on androgen receptor (AR) expression and activity, cytochrome P19a1 (Cyp19a1) and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) expression in different in vitro systems, such as adipose, bone and prostate cancer cells where it can act as a selective modulator of steroid hormone production. This may determine novel potential mechanism(s) of control in pathophysiologic pathways. In this review we summarize basic research and translational results applicable to the use of tadalafil in the treatment of different clinical conditions.

The detection of subtle changes in the pituitary dimensions has relevant implications since this gland is crucial for the endocrine system. In cats, few studies established the cut-offs values of the pituitary gland’s dimensions, but using small and inhomogeneous samples. The aims of this study were: to determine by computed tomography (CT) the pituitary linear dimensions and the pituitary-to-brain (P:B) ratio in a sample of domestic short-haired (DSH) cats; to assess the effects of sex, age and weight on pituitary dimensions; to evaluate the inter- and intra-observer agreement for such measurements. Exclusion criteria were: clinical, laboratory or CT alterations of pituitary gland or brain diseases, fractures of the neurocranium, or diabetes mellitus. Pituitary dimensions and brain area were assessed by two different observers using multiplanar reconstructions and automated segmentation tools. Fifty-one cats were included in the final sample. The intraclass correlation coefficient for intra- and inter-observer reliability showed good/excellent and moderate/good reliability, respectively. No differences between sexes were detected, and negligible correlations were found with age and weight. Findings from the current study provided normal reference values for pituitary height (1.88 – 4.01 mm) and P:B ratio (0.25 – 0.49), useful for assessing abnormally enlarged pituitary gland in DSH cats.

According to the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, electromagnetic hypersensitivity affects more than 3 million people in France, and headaches are a very frequent cause of complaint in electrohypersensitive patients, to the point of dominating the clinical picture. These headaches share characteristics with migraine pathology, and clinical improvement with anti-migraine therapy has led us to consider that the headache in the electrohypersensitive patient may be a variant of the migraine disease mediated by the TRPA1 receptor, which if confirmed, would offer effective therapeutic possibilities to relieve the electrohypersensitive patient.

Integrating nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) into epoxy composites has significant interest due to their potential to enhance mechanical properties. This study evaluates the impact of dispersion quality on the mechanical performance of CNT/Fe₃O₄/Epoxy composites, comparing stirring and sonication methods at three different loadings: 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt.%. Tensile testing revealed that sonicated composites consistently outperformed stirred composites, with a significant increase in elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). However, fracture strain decreased in both composite types compared to pure epoxy, with sonicated composites experiencing a more significant reduction than stirred composites. These results underscore the importance of high-quality dispersion for optimizing mechanical properties.

Background: over the past 20 years, the treatment scenario of multiple sclerosis (MS) has radically changed and an ever-increasing number of disease-modifying treatments has emerged. Among high efficacy treatment agents, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have become a mainstay in the MS patient’s treatment due to their targeted mechanism, high efficacy and favorable risk profile. The latter varies from drug to drug and a skin cancer warning has emerged with sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors inhibitors. Several cases of skin malignancy in people with MS (pwMS) undergoing therapy with mAbs have also been described, but dermatological follow-up is not currently indicated. Objectives: the aim of this review is to investigate cases of cutaneous ma-lignancy during mAbs therapy and to explore possible pathophysiological mechanisms to evaluate the potential need for regular dermatological follow-up in pwMS treated with mAbs. Methods: literature search for original articles and review in PubMed. No date restrictions. Results: 1019 results were retrieved. Duplicates were removed using Endnote and manually. Only peer-reviewed studies published in English were considered for inclusion. At the end of these screening procedures, 54 studies published between 2001 and 2023 that met the objectives of this review were selected and reported. Conclusions: the available data do not show a clear link be-tween monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment in pwMS and the risk of skin cancer. At present, these treatments remain contraindicated for people with cancer. Dermatological screening is ad-visable before starting mAb treatment in pwMS, and subsequent follow-up should be individual-ised according to each patient's risk profile.

Sexual Issues played a significant role in Judaism’s engagement with its Greco-Roman world. This paper will examine that engagement in the Hellenistic Greco-Roman era to the end of the first century CE. In part sexual issues were a key element of demarcation between Jews and the wider community, alongside such matters as circumcision, food laws, sabbath keeping and idolatry. Jewish writers, such as Philo of Alexandria, make much of the alleged sexual profligacy of their Gentile contemporaries, not least in association with wild drunken parties, same-sex relations and pederasty. Jews, including the emerging Christian movement, claimed the moral high ground. In part, however, matters of sexuality were also areas where intercultural influence is evident, such as in the shift in Jewish tradition from polygyny to monogyny, but also in the way Jewish and Christian writers adapted the suspicion and sometimes rejection of passions characteristic of some popular philosophies of their day, seeing them as allies in their moral crusade.

Results-Based Financing (RBF) in pediatrics, in regions with scarce resources like Northern Uganda, provides an innovative approach to enhancing healthcare delivery. RBF aligns financial incentives with desired health outcomes, boosting service quality, efficiency, and effectiveness by tying compensation to achieving specific, measurable health targets. Lacor and Kalongo hospitals, before the introduction of RBF, faced numerous challenges, including limited resources, staffing shortages, and inconsistent quality of care. RBF adoption requires critical health outcomes to target, such as lowering child mortality rates, enhancing vaccination coverage, and increasing the frequency of timely prenatal care visits. The empirical application of RBF in pediatric services at Lacor and Kalongo Hospital from 2018 to 2024 shows improved healthcare quality and outcomes. Healthcare systems can identify ways to implement RBF models better, ensuring that financial incentives effectively contribute to attaining superior health outcomes.

The escalating demand for multifunctional and advanced materials for growing industries has turned scientific exploration to graphene-based hybrid filler polymer composites. The introduction of graphene with other fillers into polymer matrices results in astonishing properties and thus has gained significant attention in recent years. This study addresses the significance of graphene-based hybrid filler polymer composites in progressive materials science and engineering. The paper encloses some traditional and current preparation techniques employed in the fabrication of composites and a comprehensive review of successfully prepared graphene hybrid polymer composites with enhanced mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties reported in published research. The role of different factors, e.g., filler type, aspect ratios, filler-matrix compatibility, dispersion effects, homogeneity, filler orientation through polymer matrices, and curing conditions, are summarized. Finally, the applications in heavy industries, e.g., aerospace, electronics, energy storage, and automotive sectors were also analyzed. We hope this study will serve as a practical resource for new researchers and practitioners to understand and harness the full potential of these composites in various scientific and industrial fields.

Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) represents a rare subset of pancreatic cancer. Functional tumors caused hormonal changes and clinical syndromes, while non-functional ones are often diagnosed late. Surgical management need a multidisciplinary planning, involving enucleation, distal pancreatectomy with or without spleen preserving, cen-tral pancreatectomy, pancreaticoduodectomy or total pancreatectomy. Minimally invasive ap-proach increased in the last decade compared to the open technique. The aim of this study is to analyze current diagnostic and surgical trends for pNETs, to identify better interventions and their outcomes. Methods: The study adhered to PRISMA guidelines, conducting a systematic review of literature from May 2008 to March 2022 across multiple databases. Several combinations of keywords was used ("NET", "pancreatic", "surgery", "laparoscopic", "minimally invasive", "robotic”, “enuclea-tion”,“parenchima sparing”) and relevant article references was manually checked. Manuscript quality was evaluated. Results: The study screened 3867 manuscripts, twelve studies were selected, primarily from Ita-ly, the United States, and China. A total of 7767 surgical treated patients was collected from 160 included centers. The mean age was 56,3 y.o. Enucleations (EN) and distal pancreatectomy (DP) was the most common performed surgery and represents 43.4% and 38.6% of the total interven-tions, respectively. Pancreatic fistula, post operative bleeding, re-operation and follow up was recorded and analyzed. Conclusions: Enucleation show better postoperative outcomes and lower mortality rates com-pared to pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or distal pancreatectomy (DP), despite similar risks of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). DP was preferred over enucleation for pancreas body-tail, while laparoscopic enucleation is better for head pNETs.

Cigarette smoke (CS) is a major driver of many respiratory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tobacco causes oxidative stress, impaired phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages (AMs), and alterations in gene expression in the lungs of smokers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that influence several bi-ological processes and interfere with several regulatory pathways. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of active CS on miRNAs expression in AMs obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of ever- or never-smoker subjects and patients with COPD or NSCLC. BAL specimens were collected from 43 sex-matched subjects to determine the expression of has-miR-34a-5p, 17-5p, 16-5p, 106a-5p, 223-5p, and 20a-5p before and after in vitro CS exposure by RT-PCR. In addition, bioin-formatic analysis of miRNAs target genes linked to inflammation was performed. Distinct and common miRNA expression profiles were identified in response to CS, suggesting their possible role in smoking-related diseases. It is noteworthy that, following exposure to CS, the expression levels of hsa-miR-34a-5p and 17-5p in both ever- or never-smokers, 106a-5p in never-smokers and 20a-5p in ever-smokers, shifted towards those found in individuals with COPD, suggesting them like a risk factor in developing this lung condition. Moreover, we identified miRNA targets involved in the immune system or AMs property regulation using in silico analysis. In conclusion, our study iden-tified miRNA signatures in AMs exposed to CS, indicating that CS is an important driver of epige-netic changes that contribute to the onset of various lung diseases.

Growth monitoring of crops is a crucial aspect of precision agriculture, essential for optimal yield prediction and resource allocation. Traditional crop growth monitoring methods are labor-intensive and prone to errors. This study introduces an automated segmentation pipeline utilizing multi-date aerial images and orthomosaics to monitor the growth of cauliflower crops (Brassica Oleracea var. Botrytis). The methodology employs YOLOv8, Grounding DINO, and the Segment Anything Model (SAM) for automatic annotation and segmentation. The YOLOv8 model was trained using initial datasets, which then facilitated the training of the Grounded SAM framework. This approach generated automatic annotations and segmentation masks, classifying crop rows for temporal monitoring and growth estimation. The study's findings highlight the efficiency of this automated system in providing accurate crop growth analysis, promoting informed decision-making in crop management and sustainable agricultural practices. Results indicate consistent and comparable growth patterns between aerial images and orthomosaics, with significant periods of rapid expansion and minor fluctuations over time. The integration of these advanced techniques demonstrates the potential for enhancing precision agriculture through reduced labor and increased accuracy in crop growth monitoring.

Puberty identifies the transition from childhood to adulthood. It normally lasts from 3 to 5 years and begins from 9 years in males and 8 years in females, although with differences related to familiarity and geographical origin. Precocious puberty is the onset of signs of pubertal development before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys, it has an incidence of 1/5000–1/10.000 with an F:M ratio ranging from 3:1 to 20:1. Based on the mechanism that triggers puberty, precocious puberty can be classified as central, also known as gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty or true precocious puberty, and peripheral, also known as gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty or precocious pseudopuberty. Thus, the main aim of this narrative report is to describe the standard clinical management and therapy of precocious puberty according to the experience and expertise of pediatricians and pediatric endocrinologists at Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. In the suspicion of early sexual maturation, it is important to collect information regarding the age of onset, the speed of maturation of secondary sexual characteristics, exposure to exogenous sex steroids and the presence of neurological symptoms. The objective examination, in addition to the evaluation of secondary sexual characteristics, must also include the evaluation of auxological parameters. Initial laboratory investigations should include serum gonadotropin levels (LH and FSH) and serum levels of the sex steroids. Brain MRI should be performed as indicated by the 2009 Consensus Statement in all boys regardless of chronological age and in all girls with onset of pubertal signs before 6 years of age. The gold standard in the treatment of central precocious puberty is represented by GnRH analogs, whereas as far as peripheral forms are concerned, the triggering cause must be identified and treated. At the moment there are no reliable data establishing the criteria for discontinuation of GnRH analogs therapy. However, numerous pieces of evidence suggest that the therapy should be suspended at the physiological age at which puberty occurs.

Graphene hybrid-filler polymer composites have emerged as prominent materials that revolutionize heavy industries. This study encapsulates the in-depth analysis of different influential factors such as filler/graphene type, aspect ratios, dispersion methods, filler-matrix compatibility, fiber orientation, synergistic effects, different processing techniques, and post-curing conditions that affect the processing, properties and determine the resultant applications of graphene hybrid polymer composites. Additionally, it discusses the substantial role of graphene collaboration with other fillers such as carbon nanotubes, silica, nano-clays and metal oxides to produce functionalized hybrid polymer composites with synergistically enhanced tailored properties to offer solutions for heavy industries like aerospace, automotive, electronics, and energy harvesting. The review concludes with some suggestions and outlook on the future of these composite materials by emphasizing the need for continued research to fully optimize their potential.

According to the Water Framework Directive, the Ecological Flow (Eflow) is assumed to be the minimum water discharge required to achieve and maintain the environmental objectives of “good quality status” in a natural water body. It is highly recognized that, the hydrological regime of natural flow plays a primary and crucial role influencing the physical conditions of habitats, which in turn determines the biotic composition and sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, the simple assumption to supply a minimum instream during dry periods is not enough any longer in order to protect the river environment. The recent hydro-ecological understanding states that all flow components might be considered as operational targets for water management, starting from base flows (including low flows) to high and flood regimes in terms of magnitude, frequency, duration, timing and rate of change. Several codes have been developed and applied on different case studies in order to define common tools to be implemented for the Eflow assessment. The study proposes the application of the Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration methodology (IHA by TNC) coupled to the valuation of the Index of Hydrological Regime Alteration (IARI by ISPRA) as an operative tool to define the ecological flow in each monitoring cross section to support the sustainable water resources management and planning. The case study of Agri River, in Basilicata (Southern Italy) is presented. The analyses have been carried out on monthly discharge data derived applying the HEC-Hydrological Modelling System at the basin scale using the daily rain data measurements obtained by the regional rainfall gauge stations and calibrated through the observed inlet water discharge registered at the Lago del Pertusillo reservoir station.

In the last two decades, the discovery of various pathways involved in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have led to the development of biologically-driven targeted therapies. Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs), angiogenic growth factors, von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene mutations and oncogenic miRNAs play essential roles in the pathogenesis and drug resistance of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. These insights have led to the development of VEGF inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors and immunotherapeutic agents which have significantly improved outcomes of patients with advanced RCC. HIF inhibitors will be a valuable asset in the growing therapeutic armamentarium of RCC. Various histone deacetylase (HDAC)inhibitors, including selenium and agents such as PT2385 and PT2977, are being explored in various clinical trials as potential HIF inhibitors to ameliorate the outcomes of RCC patients. In this article, we will review the current treatment options and highlight the potential role of selenium in the modulation of drug resistance biomarkers expressed in ccRCC tumors.

Data security in the Internet of things (IoT) is often implemented by means of encryption, which can be burdensome for some entities. We propose in this paper a solution based on routing, by which data are forwarded only to entities that are intended to receive them. An IoT network can be seen as a partial order of equivalence classes of entities, and each entity can be labeled according to the position of its equivalence class in the partial order. The partial order can be constructed according to requirements of secrecy (or confidentiality), integrity and conflicts. Routing tables among entities can be compiled by using the labels. The method is demonstrated in this paper for Software defined networking (SDN) routers and controllers. We propose a centralized IoT architecture with a cloud structure using SDN as networking infrastructure, where storage entities (i.e. cloud servers) are associated with application entities. A small ‘hospital’ example is shown for illustration. Procedures for network reconfigurations are discussed. We also demonstrate the method for the normal case where different partial orders coexist among a set of entities. The method proposed does not impose an overhead on the normal functioning of an SDN network, since it requires calculations only when the network must be reconfigured, because of administrative intervention or policies.

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a network analysis optical frequency domain reflectometer (NA-OFDR) for distributed temperature measurements at high spatial (down to 3 cm) and temperature resolution. The system makes use of a frequency-stepped, continuous-wave (cw) laser, whose output light is modulated using a vector network analyzer. The latter is also used to demodulate the amplitude of the beat signal obtained by coherently mixing the Rayleigh backscattered light with a local oscillator. The system is capable of high measurand resolution (50 mK at 3-cm spatial resolution), thanks to the high sensitivity of coherent Rayleigh scattering to temperature. Furthermore, compared to the conventional optical-frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR), the proposed system does not rely on the use of a tunable laser, therefore it is less prone to limitations related to the laser coherence or sweep nonlinearity. Two configurations are analyzed, both numerically and experimentally, based on either a double sideband or single sideband modulated probe light. The results confirm the validity of the proposed approach.

Amyloids result from the aggregation of several unrelated proteins, due to either specific mutations or promoting intra- or extra-cellular conditions. Structurally, they are rich in intermolecular β-sheets and are the causative agents of several diseases, both neurodegenerative and systemic. It is believed that the most toxic species are small aggregates, referred to as oligomers, rather than the final fibrillar assemblies. Their mechanisms of toxicity are mostly mediated by aberrant interactions with the cell membranes, with resulting derangement of membrane-related functions. Much effort is being put in the search for natural antiamyloid agents, and/or in the development of synthetic molecules. Actually, it is well documented that the prevention of amyloid aggregation results in several cytoprotective effects. Here, we portray the state of the art in the field. Several natural compounds are effective antiamyloid agents, notably tetracyclines and polyphenols. They are generally non-specific, as documented by their partially overlapping mechanisms, and the capability to interfere with the aggregation of several unrelated proteins. Among rationally designed molecules, we mention the prominent examples of β-breakers peptides, whole antibodies and fragments thereof, and the special case of drugs contrasting transthyretin aggregation. In this framework, we stress the pivotal role of the computational approaches. When combined with biophysical methods, in several cases they have helped clarify in detail the protein/drug modes of interaction, which make it plausible that more effective drugs will be developed in the future.

In this paper the application of the solid-state cooling based on barocaloric effect in the cold food supply chain is investigated. Barocaloric solid-state technology is applied to the final chain links of the cold food supply chain, regarding the steps of retail and domestic conservation. In this context a barocaloric cooler with regard to food needing to be kept at 5°C (273 K), in order to operate with a promising cooling technology that result energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The categories of food interested in the investigation are meets and fresh food products like soft cheese, yogurt, milk. The energy performances of the barocaloric system have been carried out and compared with a commercial vapor compression refrigerator of a similar size, both operating with R600a under the same working conditions. Basing on the following consideration one can conclude that barocaloric cooling is a favourable technology to be employed in the last link chains of the cold food supply chain if the system operates in ABR cycle at frequencies between 1.25 and 1.50 Hz with a regenerator made of acetoxy silicone rubber as solid-state refrigerant and 50%EG-50%water mixture as heat transfer fluid flowing at the optimal velocity of 0.15 m s-1 that guarantees an appropriate trade-off between the temperature span, the cooling power and the coefficient of performances. Under these conditions the barocaloric system overperforms the domestic vapor compression cooler operating with R600a.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that is commonly considered to be a potent driver of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development and related mortality. A growing body of evidence supports the role of the immune system, mainly played by alveolar macrophages (AMs), as key axes regulating the development of COPD or NSCLC phenotypes in response to harmful agents. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that influence most biological processes and interfere with several regulatory pathways. The purpose of this study was to assess miRNA expression patterns in patients with COPD, NSCLC, and ever- or never-smoker controls to explore theirinvolvment in smoking-related diseases. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens were collected from a prospective cohort of 43 sex-matched subjects to determine expression of hsa-miR-223-5p, 16-5p, 20a-5p, -17-5p, 34a-5p and 106a-5p by RT-PCR. In addition, bioinformatic analysis of miRNA target genes linked to cancer was performed. Distinct and common miRNA expression levels were identified in each pathological group suggesting their possible role as an index of NSCLC or COPD microenvironment. Moreover, we identified miRNA targets linked to carcinogenesis using in silico analysis. In conclusion, this study identified miRNA signatures in AMs, allowing us to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying smoking-related conditions and potentially providing new insight for diagnosis or pharmacological treatment.

The time series of daily new cases of Covid-19 infection in different zones of Italy, several European countries and New York City were analyzed in order to characterize the large fluctuations contained in them. The comparison shows that the time series share a similar evolution, although with delays of one or two weeks, with Italy that precedes the other countries. Correlation analysis indicates a strict resemblance between the time series of the first differences, which emphasize accelerations and slowdowns of the epidemic (e.g., correlation coefficient r=0.70 for Italian vs. worldwide data). According to Fourier analysis the signals have a dominant oscillatory component at a period of seven days, with minima located near the weekends. Some of the possible causes of this time modulation are discussed. In particular, it is hypothesized a delayed or missed recognition of a significant fraction of the new cases during the weekend, with possible consequences for the evolution of the epidemic.

Several studies have demonstrated that the p75NTR low-affinity receptor of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), is produced in abnormally large amounts in several human cancer types. However, the role of p75NTR varies substantially depending on cell context, so that a dual role of this receptor protein in tumor cell survival and invasion, as well as cell death, has been supported in recent studies. Herein we explored for the first time the expression of p75NTR in human specimens (nr=40) from testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), mostly seminomas. Nuclear overexpression of p75NTR was detected by immunohistochemistry in tumor tissue as compared to normal tissue, whereas neither NGF nor its high-affinity TrkA receptor was detected. An increased nuclear staining of phospho-JNK, belonging to the p75NTR signaling pathway, and its pro-apoptotic target gene, p53, was concomitantly observed. Interestingly, our analysis revealed that decreased expression frequency of p75NTR, p-JNK, and p53 was related to staging progression, thus suggesting that p75NTR may represent a specific marker of differentiation in TGCTs.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of chronic liver disease. This term covers a broad spectrum of liver lesions, from simple steatosis to alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. The patho-genesis of ALD is multifactorial and not fully elucidated due to complex mechanisms related to direct ethanol toxicity with subsequent hepatic and systemic inflammation. The accumulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the reduction of anti-inflammatory cytokines promote the development and progression of ALD. To date, there are no targeted therapies to counteract disease progression and prevent acute liver failure. Corticosteroids reduce mortality by acting on the hepatic-systemic inflammation. On the other hand, several studies analyzed the effect of the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the stimulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines as potential therapeutic targets in ALD. This narrative review aims to clarify the role of the cy-tokines in the pathogenesis and treatment of ALD.

Sars-CoV-2 outbreak represents a public health emergency, affecting different regions of the world. Lung is the organ more damaged due to the high presence of Sars-CoV-2 binding receptor ACE2 on epithelial alveolar cells. Severity of infection vary from absence of symptomatology to be more severe, characterized by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiorgan failure and sepsis requiring treatment in Intensive Care Unit (ICU).It is not still clear why in a small percentage of patients immune system is not able to efficiently suppress viral replication. It has been documented as predictive factors for severity and susceptibility affections of cardiovascular system such as heart failure (HF), coronary heart disease (CHD) and risk factors for atherosclerotic progression, hypertension and diabetes among others.Atherosclerotic progression, as chronic inflammation process, is characterized by immune system dysregulation leading to pro-inflammatory pattern, including (Interleukin 6) IL-6, Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α) and IL-1β raise. Reviewing immune system and inflammation profiles in atherosclerosis and laboratory results report in severe Sars-CoV-2 infection we have supposed a pathogenetic correlation. Atherosclerosis may be a pathogenetic ideal substrate to high viral replication ability leading to adverse outcomes, how reported in patients with cardiovascular factors. Moreover, level of atherosclerotic progression may impact on a different degree of severe infection and in a vicious circle feeding itself Sars-CoV-2 may exacerbate atherosclerotic progression due to excessive and aberrant plasmatic concentration of cytokines.

We propose a new statistical analysis of the Acoustic Emissions (AE) produced in a series of triaxial deformation experiments leading to fractures and failure of two different rocks, namely, Darley Dale Sandstone (DDS) and AG Granite (AG). By means of q-statistical formalism, we are able to characterize the pre-failure processes in both types of rocks. In particular, we study AE inter-event time and AE inter-event distance distributions. Both of them can be reproduced with q-exponential curves, showing universal features which are observed here for the first time and could be important in order to understand more in detail rock fractures dynamics.

FeIFeI Fe2(S2C3H6)(CO)6(µ-CO) (1a-CO) and its FeIFeII cationic species (2a+-CO) are the simplest model of the CO-inhibited [FeFe] hydrogenase active site, which is known to undergo CO photolysis within a temperature- dependent process whose products and mechanism are still a matter of debate. Using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) computations, the ground state and low-lying excited state potential energy surfaces (PESs) of 1a-CO and 2a+-CO have been explored aimed at elucidating the dynamics of the CO photolysis yielding Fe2(S2C3H6)(CO)6 (1a) and Fe2(S2C3H6)(CO)6+ (2a+), two simple models of the catalytic site of the enzyme. Two main results came out from these investigations. First, a-CO and 2a+-CO are both bound with respect to any CO dissociation with lowest free energy barriers around 10 kcal mol-1, suggesting that at least 2a+-CO might be synthetized. Second, focusing on the cationic form, we found at least two clear excited state channels along the PESs of 2a+-CO that are unbound with respect to equatorial CO dissociation.

Herein we present the biocatalysed preparation of mono-N-carbamate-protected precursor of antitumoral Nutlin-3a, through enantioselective alkoxycarbonylation of meso-1,2-disubstituted-1,2-diaminoethane, using enzyme lipases and dialkyl carbonates as acylating agents. A series of supported or free lipase enzymes were screened in combination with commercially available diallyl-, diethyl and dimethyl- carbonate. The reactions were conducted at different temperatures, reaction times and with variable co-solvent systems to evaluate the effect on the enzyme catalytic activity. The best results in terms of conversion, enantiomeric excess and yield were obtained when lipase from Candida antarctica B (CAL-B) was used with diallyl carbonate (DAC) conducting the reaction solventless at 75 °C.

In this review we collect some recent achievements in the accurate and efficient solution of the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation (NLSE), with the preservation of its Hamiltonian structure. This is achieved by using the energy-conserving Runge-Kutta methods named Hamiltonian Boundary Value Methods (HBVMs) after a proper space semi-discretization. The main facts about HBVMs, along with their application for solving the given problem, are here recalled and explained in detail. In particular, their use as spectral methods in time, which allows efficiently solving the problems with spectral space-time accuracy.

Recent studies have shown that the mechanical properties of bioinspired periodic composite materials can be strongly influenced by finite deformation effects, leading to highly nonlinear static and dynamic behaviors at multiple length scales. For instance, in porous periodic nacre-like microstructures, microscopic and macroscopic instabilities may occur for a given uniaxial loading process and, as a consequence, wave attenuation properties may evolve as a function of the microstructural evolution, giving it the designation of metamaterials. The numerical outcomes provide new opportunities to design bioinspired soft composite metamaterials characterized by high deformability and enhanced elastic wave attenuation capabilities given by the insertion of voids and lead cores.

A number of research projects and a rich literature have dealt with the theme of abandoned medieval villages in Sardinia since the end of the 60s of the last century. Some more or less precise catalogues and reviews of villages in limited territories have been published. Only recently, however, this subject is being addressed in an interdisciplinary manner, combining traditional historical research with the results of archaeological surveys and excavation campaigns, geo-archaeology, toponymy, paleoclimatology. This allows us to have a picture of the landscape and human settlement evolution with its historical changes, conditioned not only by institutional superstructures but also by human and natural traumatic events. Particular attention will be given to the sudden changes that occurred between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. To carry out this survey, it is possible to use some very powerful IT tools which, through the aggregation, organization, correlation and management of information, allow the geo-localization of abandoned villages as proven by the documentary evidence. Thus, on this documentation, existing and acquired in the future, is founded the construction of the related information system. The most easy and suitable tools for this purpose are the CMSs (Content Management Systems) which, in association with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) engines, allow spatial and contextual analysis of the settlements, as they were inserted in their territory. This type of tools aggregates different peculiarities of the object of study, supporting a multidisciplinary reading on the argument. The computerized tools, integrated as a system, offer the possibility to implement it, feeding it and correcting it continuously, basing on new acquisitions. In this study, we will examine a historical areal, for which we have a sufficient number of sources available: Sarrabus, Colostrai and Quirra, adding to the geographical visual information, the temporal visual evolution.

Sustainability of current energy policies and known mid-term policies are analised in their multiple facets. First an overview is given about the trend of global energy demand and energy production, analysing the share of energy sources and the geographic distribution of demand, on the basis of statistics and projections published by major agencies. The issue of sustainability of the energy cycle is finally addressed, with specific reference to systems with high share of renewable energy and storage capability, highlighting some promising energy sources and storage approaches.

This paper discusses the theoretical and experimental correlations between fatigue and static strength statistical distributions. We use a two-parameter residual strength model that obeys the qualitative Strenght-Life Equal-Rank (SLERA) assumption for guidance. The modeling approach consists of recovering the model's parameters by best fitting the constant amplitude (CA) fatigue data at a given stress ratio, R, and the experimental Weibull parameters of the static strength distribution function. Once the model's parameters are fixed, its capabilities, potential, and limits are discussed by comparing its predictions with residual strength and fatigue data obtained at different stress ratios, R. Moreover, from a preliminary analysis, the theoretical extension of the model's capabilities to variable amplitude loadings is conceptualized. The application of Miner's rule is also discussed and compared with a new damage rule to analyze the fatigue responses under variable amplitude loadings.

Increasingly, conservation genetics pinpoint the use of biological matrices collected without stressing wildlife. Cervid’s antlers seem to fit with this need. We verified the amplification success rate from DNA obtained from red deer antlers collected in the State Nature Reserve of Bosco della Mesola, Northern Italy and its use for conservation purposes. Here occurs the only native red deer population of peninsular Italy, recently recognized as a distinct subspecies (Cervus elaphus italicus). Four antlers stored at room temperature for four years and four samples highly degraded by environmental conditions were analyzed using a multimarker approach. We utilized a simple, inexpensive method to extract DNA from drilled antlers powder. This study confirms that weathered antlers can be a suitable source of DNA also in Mediterranean climate characterized by strong seasonal fluctuations, and not only in dry climates. Our results pointed out that only burr drilling yielded good quality amplifiable DNA. Antlers can be used in particular for molecular genetic studies on rare or threatened species of cervids as providing an efficient and cost-effective non-invasive sampling.

The assessment of seismic risk in urban areas with high seismicity is certainly one of the most important problems that territorial managers have to face. A reliable evaluation of this risk is the basis for the design of both specific seismic improvement interventions and emergency management plans. Unappropriate seismic risk assessments may provide misleading results and induce bad decisions with relevant economic and social impact.The seismic risk in urban areas is mainly linked to three factors, namely, “hazard”, “exposure” and “vulnerability”. Hazard measures the potential of an earthquake to produce harm; exposure evaluates the amount of population exposed to harm; vulnerability represents the proneness of considered buildings to suffer damages in case of an earthquake. Estimates of such factors may not always coincide with the perceived risk of the resident population. The propensity to implement structural seismic improvement interventions aimed at reducing the vulnerability of buildings depends significantly on the perceived risk.This paper investigates on the difference between objective and perceived risk and highlights some critical issues. The aim of this study is to calibrate opportune policies, which allow addressing the most appropriate seismic risk mitigation options with reference to current levels of perceived risk. We propose the introduction of a Seismic Policy Prevention index (SPPi). This methodology is applied to a case-study focused on a densely populated district of the city of Catania (Italy).

Oestrogen receptor expression in breast cancer (BC) cells is a marker of high cellular differentiation and allows the identification of two BC groups (ER-positive and ER-negative) that, although not completely homogeneous, differ in biological characteristics, clinical behaviour and therapeutic options. The study, based on three publicly available EWAS datasets, focuses on the comparison between these two groups of breast cancer using an epimutation score. The score is calculated not only based on the presence of the epimutation but also on the deviation amplitude of the methylation outlier value. For each dataset, we performed a functional analysis based first on the functional gene region of each annotated gene (we aggregated the data per gene region TSS1500, TSS200, first-exon, body-gene identified by the information from the Illumina Data Sheet) and then we performed a pathway enrichment analysis through the REACTOME database based on the genes with the highest epimutation score. Thus, we blended our results and found common pathways for all three data sets. We found that a higher and significant epimutation score due to hypermethylation in ER-positive BC is present in the promoter region of the genes belonging to the SUMOylation pathway, the NOTCH pathway, the IFN-$\gamma$ signalling pathway and the deubiquitination protease pathway; while a higher and significant level of epimutation due to hypomethylation in ER-positive BC is present in the promoter region of the genes belonging to the ESR-mediated pathway. The presence of this state of promoter hypomethylation in the ESR-mediated signalling genes is consistent and coherent with an active signalling pathway mediated by oestrogen function in the group of ER-positive BC. SUMOylation and NOTCH pathways are associated with BC pathogenesis and have been found to play distinct roles in the two BC subgroups. We speculated that the altered methylation profile may play a role in regulating signalling pathways with specific functions in the two subgroups of ER-BC.

Digital Twin (DT) technology is a pivotal innovation within the built environment industry, facilitating digital transformation through advanced data integration and analytics. DTs have demonstrated significant benefits in building design, construction, and asset management, including optimizing lifecycle energy use, enhancing operational efficiency, enabling predictive maintenance, and improving user adaptability. By integrating real-time data from IoT sensors with advanced analytics, DTs provide dynamic and actionable insights for better decision-making and resource management. Despite these promising benefits, several challenges impede the widespread adoption of DT technology, such as technological integration, data consistency, organisational adaptation, and cybersecurity concerns. Addressing these challenges requires inter-disciplinary collaboration, standardization of data formats, and the development of universal design and development platforms for DTs. This paper provides a comprehensive review of DT definitions, applications, capabilities, and challenges within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industries. This paper provides important insights for researchers and professionals, helping them gain a more comprehensive and detailed view of DT. The findings also demonstrate the significant impact that DTs can have on this sector, contributing to advancing DT implementations and promoting sustainable and efficient building management practices. Ultimately, DT technology is set to revolutionize the AEC industries by enabling autonomous, data-driven decision-making and optimizing building operations for enhanced productivity and performance.

Calcium sulphate (CS) is currently used as a bioabsorbable, completely synthetic and sterile material in the management of infected tissues and dead spaces (DS) mainly resulting from surgical procedures. Residual DS in the postoperative, may create an environment where hematomas fill up and bacteria can proliferate, leading to a high incidence of postoperative infections. Considering the available reviews in the literature, CS has been mainly studied in orthopedic surgery mostly giving brilliant results and low complication rates. Nowadays, orthopedists avail it in the form of pearls both as a bone void filler and as an “off-label” delivery agent for antibiotics in arthroplasty, chronic osteomyelitis and open fractures, paving the way of its application in many other contexts given its natural dis-position to biodegradation. In the last years, CS beads have been gaining ground in the general, vascular and endocrinological surgical specialties. Despite its clear potential and the increasing number of scientific evidences on the safety and effectiveness of CS application in the prophylaxis and treatment of infections, there are not many studies reporting on its application in fields other than orthopedics, with a substantial paucity in plastic and reconstructive surgery literature. This is some-how surprising, since reconstructive surgery often deals with complex wounds secondary to bone and soft tissue exposure, suture dehiscence, trauma, and surgical site infections. As far as we know this is the first updated systematic review assessing the state of the art, indications and new perspectives on the application of CS beads in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

With challenged early detection came the collapse of a school roof, initiating a storm of public mistrust and hundreds of schools under investigation in the United Kingdom. The culprit is a poorly understood material heavily used in the 1950s to mid-1990s, reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). As a lightweight material with excellent insulation, RAAC was mainly used in roof and floor panels in many parts of the world. However, RAAC has a comparatively weak compressive strength, poor reinforcement anchorage, and high permeability and susceptibility to creep. The uniqueness of RAAC properties is exacerbated by poor manufacturing, negligent construction and maintenance as well as structural deviations from original design intent. Current guidance lacks in specifying RAAC management strategies beyond recommendations for periodic surveying. This paper delivers a state-of-the-art review of the material properties and structural performance of RAAC to recommend improved measures characterised by non-destructive testing methods and digital asset management. The reviewed literature targets understanding the influence of variable environmental exposure conditions, reinforcement condition, operational loading variations, structural deficiencies, and ageing, to predict their effect on the mechanism of RAAC failure. The established risk factors of RAAC are examined to inform of feasible response strategies against specific issues encountered in affected RAAC structures such as inadequate bearings, compromised transverse reinforcement, and environmental conditions.

Recently, polyacetylene (PA) is receiving a renewed scientific attention due to its electrical properties potentially useful for energy applications (e.g., fabrication of electrodes for batteries and supercapacitors) and unique functional characteristics (e.g., flame retardant, oxygen scavenger, EMI-shielding, etc.). This chemical compound can be obtained in form of a polyacetylene-PVOH copolymers simply by chemical dehydration of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), which is a very common type of polymer, widely used in packaging and other technological areas. This very inexpensive chemical reaction for the large-scale synthesis of PA/polyvinylenes has been investigated by reacting PVOH with fuming sulfuric acid at room temperature. In this process, PVOH, shaped in form of film, is dipped in fuming sulfuric acid (i.e., H₂SO₄ at 95-97%) and, after complete chemical-dehydration, it has been mechanically removed from the liquid phase by using a nylon sieve. The reduction process leads to a substantial PVOH film conversion to PA as it has been proved by infrared spectroscopy (ATR-mode). Indeed, the ATR spectrum of the reaction product included all characteristic absorption bands of PA. The reaction product has been also characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy in order to evidence the presence in the structure of conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds of various lengths. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis have been used respectively to investigate the PA solid-state cis-trans isomerization and thermal stability in air and nitrogen, respectively.

Seismic vulnerability assessment in urban areas would in principle require the detailed modeling of each single building and the implementation of complex numerical calculations. This procedure is clearly difficult to apply at urban scale where many buildings have to be considered and therefore it is essential to have simplified, but at the same time reliable, approaches to vulnerability assessment. Among the proposed strategies, one of the most interesting concerns the application of machine learning algorithms, able to classify buildings according to their vulnerability on the basis of training procedures applied to existing datasets. In this paper machine learning algorithms will be applied to a dataset which collects and catalogs the structural characteristics of a large number of buildings and reports the damage observed in L’Aquila territory during the intense seismic activity occurred in 2009. A combination of a trained neural network and a random forest algorithm allows to identify an opportune “a-posteriori” vulnerability score, deduced from the observed damage, which is compared to an “a-priori” vulnerability one, evaluated taking into account characteristic indexes for building’s typologies. By means of this comparison an inverse approach to seismic vulnerability assessment, which can be extended to different urban centers, is proposed.

Background: Permanent tracheostomy because of total laryngectomy surgery entails great conse-quences for the patient regarding respiratory physiopathology such as the filtering, humidifying, and heating function of the air by the nose is lost. The use of special stomal filters can determine adequate protection of the trachea-broncho-pulmonary system with a reduction in respiratory pathologies. In fact, in most cases laryngectomee patients are first cigarette smokers who for this reason already have also respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Despite the availability of tracheal filters, multiple times, as reported in the literature, the patient tends to limit their use due to reported breathing difficulties, especially in conditions of intense breathing. Methods: The objective of this clinical study was to evaluate the most suitable stomal filter for the laryngectomee patient during physical activity. The filters studied were an INHEALTH device (Blom-Singer SpeakFree HME); two ATOS devices (Provox® Life™ Energy HME and Provox® Life™ Home HME); and an FAHL device (Laryvox HME Sport). Results: For this purpose, the performances of 31 laryngectomee patients, subjected to medi-um-high physical effort, were analyzed through a standardized pneumological test, the Six Minute Walking Test (6MWT) which involves a sustained walk lasting six minutes, with evaluation , every 60 seconds, heart rate, oxygen saturation and meters travelled; furthermore, it examines two sub-jective indices, namely, the basal and final dyspnea index and the initial and final muscular fatigue index.

As the emission regulations get more and more stringent in the different fields of energy and environmental systems, the electric and fuel cell vehicles (FCV) have attracted growing attention by automakers, governments, and customers. Research and development efforts have been focused on devising novel concepts, low-cost systems, and reliable electric/fuel cell powertrain. In fact, electric and fuel cell vehicles coupled with low-carbon electricity sources offer the potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and exposure to tailpipe emissions from personal transportation. In particular, Pedal Assisted Bicycles (PAB) popularity is rising in urban areas due to their low energy consumption and environmental impact. In fact, when electrically moved, they are zero emission vehicles with very low noise emissions, as well. These positive characteristics could be even improved by coupling a PAB with a fuel cell based power generation system, thus increasing the vehicle autonomy without influencing their emissions and consumption performances. In this paper, four types of vehicles are compared from an environmental and accessibility point of view: conventional car, bus, electric PAB and hydrogen fuel cell PAB; for such vehicles, the respective utilization stages are accounted for, i.e. without considering the manufacturing process. The analysis has been carried out comparing different vehicles performance along different routes of an Italian middle-size city, Viterbo, which represents a very good pilot case as its Municipality is adopting many solutions suggested by European Union (EU) through the planning tool called Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP). The comparison is based on an ad-hoc developed mathematical procedure, which includes environmental (greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions), health (pollutants toxicity levels) and accessibility time (waiting times) indicators. According to this analysis, electric and fuel cell PAB exhibit interesting advantages over the other vehicles. However, the global economic efficiency of electric or fuel cell apparatus depends substantially on the exploited source of electrical energy.

Background: Many clinical conditions are affected by meteorological factors and climate changes. Psychiatric disorders are large contributors to the global disease burden, but the literature on the impact of climate changes on mental health is limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between rising temperatures and admissions for acute exacerbations of psychiatric disorders. Methods: Data were collected for summer months of years 2013 to 2022. Mean monthly tempera-tures were obtained from the meteorological station of the Department of Physics of the Universi-ty of Turin. Data on patients admitted to the acute psychiatric unit of San Luigi Gonzaga Univer-sity Hospital (Turin, Italy) were extracted from the hospital registry. Linear regression analyses were used to investigate the correlation between temperature and number of admissions. Results: A total of 1600 admissions to our psychiatric ward were recorded. Mean monthly temper-ature and monthly number of admissions were directly correlated (P = 0.0020). The correlation between temperature and admissions was significant for the subgroup of admissions due to Bipo-lar Disorders (BD) (P=0.0011), but not for Schizophrenia (P=0.6070) (SCZ) or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (P=0.0588). Conclusions: These results confirm the impact of meteorological factors on mental disorders, and in particular on the course of BD. This provides new insights into etiopathological mechanisms and can contribute to improved follow up and relapse prevention.

Many metabolic processes at the molecular level support both viral attack strategies and human defenses during Covid-19. This knowledge is of vital importance in the design of antiviral drugs. In this study, we extracted 18 articles (2021-2023) from PubMed reporting the discovery of hub-nodes specific for the liver during covid-19, identifying 142 hub-nodes. They are highly connected proteins from which to get deep functional information on viral strategies when used as functional seeds. Therefore, we evaluated the functional and structural significance of each of them to endorse their reliable use as seeds. After filtering, the remaining 111 hubs were used to get by STRING an enriched interactome of 1111 nodes (13,494 interactions). It shows the viral strategy in the liver is to attack the entire cytoplasmic translational system, including ribosomes, to take control of protein bio-synthesis. We used the SARS2-Human-Proteome Interaction Database (33,791 interactions), de-signed by us with BioGRID data to implement a reverse-engineering process that identified human proteins actively interacting with viral proteins. The results show 57% of human liver proteins di-rectly involved in Covid, a strong impairment of the ribosome and spliceosome, an antiviral defense mechanism against cellular stress of the p53 system, and, surprisingly, a viral capacity for multiple protein attacks against single human proteins that reveal underlying evolutionary-topological molecular mechanisms. Viral behavior over time suggests different molecular strategies for different organs.

Optic neuritis (ON) is the most common cause of vision loss in young adults. It manifests as acute or subacute vision loss, often accompanied by retrobulbar discomfort or pain on eye movements. Typical ON is associated with Multiple Sclerosis and is generally mild and steroid-responsive, whereas atypical forms are characterized by unusual features, such as optic disc edema, poor treatment response and bilateral involvement, and are often associated with autoantibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG). However, in rare cases AQP4 and MOG antibodies will come back negative, plunging the clinician in a diagnostic conundrum. Seronegative ON warrants a broad differential diagnosis, including autoantibody-associated, granulomatous, and systemic disorders. These rare forms need to be identified promptly, as their management and prognosis is greatly different. The scope of this review is to describe possible, rarer etiologies of ON when AQP4 and MOG antibodies are negative and discuss their diagnosis and treatment.

The growing interest in the use of energy storage systems to improve the performance of tramways has prompted the development of control techniques and optimal storage devices, displacement, and sizing to obtain the maximum profit and reduce the total installation cost. Recently, the rapid diffusion of renewable energy generation from photovoltaic panels has also created a large interest in coupling renewable energy and storage units. This study analyzed the integration of a photovoltaic power plant, supercapacitor energy storage system, and railway power system. Random optimization was used to verify the feasibility of this integration in a real tramway electric system operating in the city of Naples, and the benefits and total cost of this integration were evaluated.

The spread of high-performance personal computers, frequently equipped with powerful Graphic Processing Units (GPU), raised the interest on a set of techniques able to extract models of electromagnetic phenomena (and devices) directly from available examples of the desired behavior. Such approaches are collectively referred to as Machine Learning (ML). A typical representative ML approach is the so called “Neural Network” (NN). Using such data-driven models allows evaluating the output in a much shorter time when a theoretical model is available, or allows predicting the behavior of the systems and devices when no theoretical model is available. With reference to a simple yet representative benchmark electromagnetic problem, some of the possibilities and the pitfalls of the use of NN for the interpretation of measurements (inverse problem) or to obtain the required measurements (optimal design problem) are discussed. The investigated aspects include the choice of the NN model; the generation of the dataset(s); the selection of hyperparameters (hidden layers, training paradigm). Finally, the capabilities in the handling of ill-posed problems are critically revised.

: This study was conducted to evaluate the behavior of nitrate, moisture and organic matter in a soil with low agronomic input. The test was conducted on silty-sandy soil, a temporal variability of the variables in the different seasons was observed in the three theses. The theses were observed in parallel twice a week. Nitrates showed an increase during the summer-autumn season with higher values ​​in the thesis containing organic matter, “bare soil” followed by the thesis “fallow” and finally by the “cultivated” (see below in experimental set up). The humidity was higher in the “bare soil” thesis followed by “fallow” and “cultivated” one during the summer, in winter the “cultivated” showed the lowest humidity compared to the other two theses. The organic matter does not show great variability in the seasons but is higher in the “fallow” thesis followed by “bare soil” and “cultivated” one. The Montecarlo test informed us that organic matter and humidity were autocorrelated within 5-7.5 m of distance (10-15 lag) while nitrates even if they seemed to be not autocorrelated with each other and have a cyclical pattern.

The present review focuses on recent clinical trials that analyze the efficacy of intravitreal therapeutic agents for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), such as neuroprotective drugs, and complement inhibitors, also called immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory. A systematic literature search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials published prior to January 2019. Patients affected by dry AMD treated with intravitreal therapeutic agents were included. The changes in the correct visual acuity and the reduction in geographic atrophy progression were evaluated. Several new drugs have shown some promising results, including those targeting the complement cascade and agents called neuroprotective. The action potential of the two groups of drugs is to block the complement cascade model for immunomodulating agents, and prevent the degeneration and apoptosis of ganglion cells for the neuroprotectors, respectively. To the best of knowledge, and after extensive studies on the matter, there are still many investigations to be carried out on dry AMD in collaboration between researchers. They will have to identify truly effective molecules, understand the practical potential of pluripotent stem cells, and refine gene therapies. Only in-depth clinical trials will be able to allow the most appropriate and personalized treatments for each dry AMD patient.

A huge part of corrosion failures and even of catastrophes takes origin from a trivial mistake in either choice or connection of different materials, as well as from an inaccurate evaluation of the compatibility between materials an environment. The example shown in the present paper summarizes several wrong solutions due to the lack of knowledge of the basic rules of corrosion control. By chance, either the consequences of such mistakes were so precocious that it was possible to find a remedy during the construction, or they were happily so venial as to be tolerated. This paper is third in a series devoted to enhancing the need of a professional corrosion control design for infrastructures.

Over the last few years, Earth Observation (EO) data has shifted towards increased use to produce official statistics, particularly in the agriculture sector. National statistics offices worldwide, including in Asia and the Pacific, are expanding their use of EO data to produce agricultural statistics such as crop classification, yield estimation, irrigation mapping, and crop loss estimation. The advances in image classification, such as pixel-based and phenology-based classifications, and machine learning create new opportunities for researchers to analyze EO data applied to agriculture statistics. However, it requires the ground truth (GT) data because classification result mainly depends on the quality of GT. Therefore, in this study, we introduced a random sampling approach to design and collect GT data using EO imagery and ancillary data. As a result of data collection, GT data improve the algorithms and validates classification results. Nevertheless, despite the importance of GT data, they are rarely disseminated as a data product in themselves. Thus, this results in an untapped opportunity to share GT data as a global public good, and improved use of survey and census data as a source of GT data.

Outdoor exercise is beneficial for psychophysical well-being. Limited studies have compared outdoor and virtual reality (VR) indoor physical activities, especially in coastal settings. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of outdoor coastal walking and indoor walking in a VR simulation with a similar environment on physiological and psychological variables in healthy adults. Twenty-six subjects (14M and 12F; age 25.2 ± 2.5 years) voluntarily participated in this crossover randomized controlled and counterbalanced study and were allocated under three conditions: VR indoor walking (INVR), outdoor walking (OUT) and standard indoor walking (IN). IN and INVR conditions were performed on a treadmill (speed 4.5 Km/h) and the OUT was per-formed on a seaside pedestrian road. The same outdoor environment was displayed in the visor during the INVR. Heart rate (HRmean/max), Physical Activity Enjoyment (PACES-It) and State of Mindfulness for Physical Activity (SMS-PA) were assessed at the end of each condition. The OUT condition showed significantly greater PACES-It scores and HRmean than IN and INVR (p<0.001) and greater SMS-PA scores and HRmax than IN (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). No significant dif-ferences were found between OUT and INVR regarding HRmax and SMS-PA scores (p>0.05). Findings suggest that physical activity in an immersive technology may lead to physiological loads comparable to the outdoor environment. OUT is more enjoyable than IN and INVR but exhibits a mindfulness response comparable to INVR. Therefore, INVR could be an alternative to OUT for those who cannot engage in outdoor activities for various reasons.

Today, the kennel is considered one of the crucial concerns of the human-animal relationship, since it is very often regarded as animal dump where dogs exile, thus representing a burden on society. Therefore, drawing up strategies for a new “kennel conception”, as an added value for human society, environment, and dogs is still an unmet need. Here, we described the activities of a shelter dog in southern Italy, which faithfully meets criteria aimed at One Health perspective. It normally relies on an initial careful assessment by veterinary behaviorist, in order to guarantee the most suitable life conditions for the animals in the kennels, increase the chances of adoption and enroll them in projects tailored to their predispositions. Accordingly, dogs housed there are normally included in training courses to increase the skills to be used in different human social contexts, like support to the inmates, rescue in the rubble, animal-assisted interventions, as well as zooanthropology educational programs. The main strength for this groundbreaking shelter relies on the environmental protection schedule, where the purposes, employing technically and economically sustainable tools, point towards the continuous improvement and minimization of the environmental impact, promoting joint integrative projects for a sustainable One Health framework.

Lung cancer remains the main cause of global cancer-related deaths. Currently low-dose computed tomography (LD-CT) shows a 20% reduction of mortality. However, its clinical suitability is hindered by cost, radiation, and some false positives. Thus, the discovery non-invasive and less-expensive biomarker is urgent needed. In this scenario, proteins released in biological fluids could be considered interesting biomarkers for their role in cancer development. We conducted a pioneering case-control pilot study aimed at assessing the usefulness of Raf Kinase Inhibitory Protein (RKIP) and its phosphorylated form (pRKIP) as potential early-stage lung cancer biomarkers. Urine and Blood samples of two consecutive and independent cohorts of lung cancer patients and healthy controls were screened by means of a novel experimental ELISA assay designed to evaluate both forms of the biomarker. Although urinary levels of RKIP were not statistically different between the lung cancer group and high-risk healthy group, serum ones instead increased significantly in early stage LC patients and permitted to discriminate LC patients from both low-risk (HS) and high-risk healthy subjects (HR-HS) with an overall 93% accuracy (AUC 0.93) when LC was compared to HS and 74% (AUC 0.73) when it was compared to high-risk group. Of note, the analysis of RKIP/pRKIP ratio also showed a high accuracy (90% - AUC 0.95) in discriminating LC patients from HS and more importantly, it allowed to identify LC patients compared to HR-HS, with a higher accuracy (79% - AUC 0.79) than RKIP alone. We hypothesize that serum RKIP levels may be correlated to the activation of the immune systems against the tumor during the first phases of its development. Our study identified a preliminary, non-invasive, RKIP and pRKIP profile able to discriminate with high specificity and sensitivity the early-stage lung cancer patients from high-risk Healthy Subjects. These results, although preliminary, suggest the utility of measuring RKIP/pRKIP as potential new screening test for lung cancer and provide the basis for future validation studies.

Phased injection of natural gas into internal combustion marine engines is a promising solution for optimizing performance and reducing harmful emissions, particularly unburned methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This innovative practice distinguishes itself from continuous injection because it allows for more precise control of the combustion process with only a slight increase in system complexity. By synchronizing the injection of natural gas with the intake and exhaust valve opening and closing times while also considering the gas path in the manifolds, methane release into the atmosphere is significantly reduced, making a substantial contribution to efforts to address climate change. Moreover, phased injection improves the efficiency of marine engines, resulting in reduced overall fuel consumption, lower fuel costs, and increased ship autonomy. This technology has been tested on a single-cylinder, large-bore, four-stroke research engine designed for marine applications, operating in dual-fuel mode with diesel and natural gas. Performance was compared with that of the conventional continuous feeding method. Evaluation of the effect on equivalent CO2 emissions indicates a potential reduction of up to approximately 20%. This reduction effectively brings greenhouse gas emissions below those of the diesel baseline case, especially when injection control is combined with supercharging control to optimize the air-fuel ratio.

Dynamic analyses and seismic assessments of multi-storey buildings at urban level require large-scale simulations and computational procedures based on simplified but accurate numerical models. At this aim the present paper propos-es an equivalent non-uniform beam-like model, suitable for the dynamic analysis of buildings with asymmetric plan and non-uniform vertical distribution of mass and stiffness. The equations of motion of this beam-like model, which pre-sents only shear and torsional deformability, are derived through the application of Hamilton’s principle. The linear dy-namic behaviour is evaluated by discretizing the continuous non-uniform model according to a Rayleigh-Ritz approach based on a suitable number of modal shapes of the uniform shear-torsional beam. In spite of its simplicity, the model is able to reproduce the dynamic behaviour of low- and mid-rise buildings with a significant reduction of the computa-tional burden with respect to that required by more general models. The efficacy of the proposed approach has been tested, by means of comparisons with linear FEM simulations, on three multi-storey buildings characterized by different irregularities. The satisfactory agreement, in terms of natural frequencies, modes of vibration and seismic response, proves the capability of the proposed approach to reproduce the dynamic response of complex spatial multi storey frames.

In this paper we present experimental results concerning Acoustic Emission (AE) recorded during cyclic compression tests on two different kinds of brittle building materials, namely concrete and basalt. The AE inter-event times were investigated through a non-extensive statistical mechanics analysis which shows that their decumulative probability distributions follow q-exponential laws. The entropic index q and the relaxation parameter q  1=Tq, obtained by fitting the experimental data, exhibit systematic changes during the various stages of the failure process, namely (q; Tq) linearly align. The Tq = 0 point corresponds to the macroscopic breakdown of the material. The slope, including its sign, of the linear alignment appears to depend on the chemical and mechanical properties of the sample. These results provide an insight on the warning signs of the incipient failure of building materials and could therefore be used in monitoring the health of existing structures such as buildings and bridges.

The work consisted in identifying possible effects from heavy metals (HMs) pollution due to waste disposal activities in three potentially polluted sites located in Basilicata (Italy), where a release of pollutants with values over the thresholds allowed by the Italian legislation was detected. The potential variations in the physiological efficiency of vegetation have been analyzed through the multitemporal processing of satellite images. In detail, Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) images were used to calculate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) trend over the years. Then, the multitemporal trends were analyzed using the median of Theil-Sen, a non-parametric estimator particularly suitable for the treatment of remote sensing data, being able to minimize the outlier effects due to exogenous factors. Finally, the subsequent application of the Mann-Kendall test on the trends identified by Theil-Sen slope allowed the evaluation of trends significance and, therefore, the areas characterized by the effects of contamination on vegetation. The application of the procedure to the three survey sites led to the exclusion of the presence of significant effects of HMs contamination on the vegetation surrounding the sites during the years of waste disposal activities.

Cryonotothenioidea is the main group of fishes that thrive in the extremely cold Antarctic environment, thanks to the acquisition of peculiar morphological, physiological and molecular adaptations. We have previously disclosed that IgM, the main immunoglobulin isotype in teleosts, display typical cold-adapted features. Recently, we have analyzed the gene encoding the heavy chain constant region (CH) of the IgT isotype from the Antarctic teleost Trematomus bernacchii (family Nototheniidae), characterized by the near-complete deletion of the CH2 domain. Here, we aimed to track the loss of the CH2 domain along notothenioid phylogeny and to identify its ancestral origins. To this end, we obtained the IgT gene sequences from several species belonging to the Antarctic families Nototheniidae, Bathydraconidae and Artedidraconidae. All species display a CH2 remnant of variable size, encoded by a short Cτ2 exon, which retains functional splicing sites and therefore is included in the mature transcript. We also considered representative species from the three non-Antarctic families: Eleginopsioidea (Eleginops maclovinus), Pseudaphritioidea (Pseudaphritis urvillii) and Bovichtidae (Bovichtus diacanthus and Cottoperca gobio). Even though only E. maclovinus, the sister taxa of Cryonotothenioidea, shared the partial loss of Cτ2, the other non-Antarctic notothenioid species displayed early molecular signatures of this event. These results shed light on the evolutionary path that underlies the origins of this remarkable gene structural modification.

In numerous instances, the fate of a single cell not only represents its peculiar outcome but also contributes to the overall status of an organism. In turn, cell division cycle and its control strongly influence cell destiny playing a critical role in targeting it towards a specific phenotype. Several factors participate to the control of growth and among them p27 and p57, two proteins modulating various transitions of cell cycle, appear to play key functions. In this review, the major features of p27 and p57 will be described, focusing in particular on their recently identified roles not directly correlated to cell cycle modulation. Then, their possible role as molecular effectors of polyphenols activities are discussed. Polyphenols represent a large family of natural bioactive molecules that have been demonstrated to play promising protective activities against several human diseases. Their use has also been proposed in association with classical therapies for ameliorating their clinical effects and for diminishing their negative side activities. The importance of p27 and p57 in polyphenol cellular effects will be discussed with the aim of identifying novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of important human diseases, such as cancers, characterized by an altered control of growth.

Transdermal drug delivery systems have become an intriguing research topic in healthcare technology and one of the most frequently developed pharmaceutical products in the global market. In recent years, researchers and pharmaceutical companies have made significant progress in developing new solutions in the field. This study sheds light on current trends, collaboration patterns, research hotspots, and emerging frontiers of transdermal drug delivery. Herein, a bib-liometric and patent analysis of data recovered from Scopus and The Lens databases, respectively, is reported over the last 20 years. From 2000 to 2022, the annual global publications increased from 131 in 2000 to 659 in 2022. Researchers in the United States, China, and India produced the highest number of publications. Likewise, most patent applications have been filed in the USA, China, and Europe. The recovered patents are 7,275, grouped into 2,997 patent families, of which 314 were granted. This study could support the work of decision-makers, scientific managers, or scientists to create new business opportunities or save money, time, and intellectual capital, thus, defining when a research or technology project should be a priority or not.

The connectivity level of last-generation vehicles is constantly on the rise. The combined use of Vehicle-To-Everything (V2X) connectivity and autonomous driving can provide remarkable benefits through the optimization of the route and speed trajectory. In this framework, this paper focuses on vehicle eco-driving optimization in a connected environment. The virtual test rig of a premium segment passenger car was used for generating the simulation scenarios. The benefits, in terms of energy and time savings, that the introduction of V2X communication, integrated with cloud computing, can have in a real-world scenario were assessed. The Reference Scenario is a pre-defined Real Driving Emissions (RDE) compliant route, while the simulation scenarios were generated by assuming two different penetration levels of V2X technologies. The associated energy minimization problem is formulated and solved by means of a global optimization algorithm, i.e., Dynamic Programming (DP). The optimization framework includes information coming from the surrounding environment, e.g., traffic lights state, speed limits, distance to travel, etc. The simulations show that introducing a smart infrastructure along with optimizing the vehicle speed in a real-world route can potentially reduce the required energy by 54% while shortening the travel time by 38%. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed on the bi-objective optimization cost function to find a set of Pareto optimal solutions, between energy and travel time minimization.

As a result of decades of austerity, the economies of the Eurozone are experiencing under-investment and crumbling infrastructures in an era of extremely severe emergencies as the cli-mate change and aggressive global competition. The private savings glut of the rich and the strict fiscal rules suggest a crowding-in approach in partnership with big finance in a new age of in-fra-structures. If governments mint public infrastructures into investable assets, they can gen-erate steady returns for investors and asset managers who look after pensions and insurances schemes and unlock trillions now devoted to welfare state. For the big finance to accept to be partner, however, governments must take the task of de-risking returns. Innovation technology and macro-financial literacy can synergically act to enhance this new de-risking role to address in a financially sustainable way the intense phenomena of Natural Hazards (NHs) that can severely compromise economic growth. This is precisely the aim of our Public-Private Partnership (PPP) among the Department of Economics, Management and Institutions of the University of Naples and a Knowledge Transfert Management, the Department of Engineering and the Aca-demic Spin-Off “STRAIN”, of the University of Campania. Our PPP has been contributing to the eval-uation and mitigation of NHs such as floods, landslides and earthquakes since 2012. The ex-tremely advanced results of this multi-stakeholder partnership ensure a better knowledge of NHs which, as evidenced in the paper, is the fundamental input for the desired Public-Private In-surance Programmes (PIPPs).

The availability of new self-sensing cement-based strain sensors allows the development of dense sensor networks for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of reinforced concrete structures. These sensors are fabricated by doping cement-matrix materials with conductive fillers, such as Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs), and can be embedded into structural elements made of reinforced concrete prior to casting. The strain sensing principle is based on the multifunctional composites outputting a measurable change in their electrical properties when subjected to a deformation. Previous work by the authors was devoted to material fabrication, modeling and applications in SHM. In this paper, we investigate the behavior of several sensors fabricated with and without aggregates and with different MWCNTs content. The strain sensitivity of the sensors, in terms of fractional change in electrical resistivity for unit strain, as well as their linearity are investigated through experimental testing under both static and dynamically varying compressive loadings. Moreover, the responses of the sensors when subjected to destructive compressive tests are evaluated. Overall, the presented results contribute to improving the scientific knowledge on the behavior of smart concrete sensors and to furthering their understanding for SHM applications.

The global malaria community has picked up the theme of malaria elimination in greater than 90 % of the world’s population in the next decade. The recent reports of P. vivax in all sub-Saharan Africa, including Duffy negative individuals, threaten the efforts to achieve elimination. This is not only in view of strategies that are tailored only to P. falciparum elimination, but also due to currently revealed biological characteristics of P. vivax concerning the relapse patterns of hypnozoites and conservation of a large biomass at cryptic sites in the bone marrow and spleen. A typical scenario has been observed in Botswana from the period between 2008 to 2018, which palpably projects how P. vivax could endanger efforts at malaria elimination where the two parasites co-exist. The need for the global malaria community, NMPs, funding agencies and relevant stakeholders to engage in a forum to discuss and recommend clear pathways for sub-Saharan Africa regarding malaria elimination including P. vivax, is warranted.

Epigenetic changes regulate gene expression through histone modifications, chromatin remod-eling and proteins interpreter of these modifications. The PRC1 and PRC2 complexes shape gene repression via histone modifications. Specifically, the CBX protein family aids PRC1 recruitment to chromatin, impacting the progressive multistep process driving chromatin silencing. Among family members, CBX3 is a complex protein involved in aberrant epigenetic mechanisms that drive lung cancer progression. CBX3 promotes lung tumorigenesis by interacting with key pathways such as PI3K/AKT, Ras/KRAS, Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK, Notch, and p53, leading to in-creased proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, and enhanced resistance to therapy. Given our current lack of knowledge, additional research is required to uncover the intricate mechanisms underlying CBX3 activity, as well as its involvement in molecular pathways and its potential biomarker evaluation. Specifically, the dissimilar roles of CBX3 could be reexamined in order to gain a greater insight into lung cancer pathogenesis. This review aims to provide a clear overview of the context-related molecular profile of CBX3, which could be useful for addressing clinical challenges and developing novel targeted therapies based on personalized medicine.

Usually, towed hydrophone arrays are instrumented with a set of compasses. Data from these sensors are utilized while beamforming the acoustic signal for target bearing estimation. However, elements of the hydrophone array mounted in the neighborhood of a compass can affect the Earth’s magnetic field detection. The effects depend upon the kind of elements present in the platform hosting the compass. If the disturbances are constant in time, they can be compensated for by means of a magnetic calibration. This process is commonly known as soft and hard iron compensation. In this paper, a solution is presented to carry out the magnetic calibration of a COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) digital compass without unattainable sensor motion. This approach is particularly suited in applications where a physical rotation of the platform that hosts the sensor is unfeasible. In our case, the platform consists in an assembled and operational towed hydrophone array. A standard calibration process relies on physical rotation of the platform and thus on the use of the geomagnetic field as a reference during the compensation. As a variation on this approach, we provide to the sensor an artificial reference magnetic field to simulate the unfeasible physical rotation. We obtain this by using a tri-axial Helmholtz coil, which enables programmability of the reference magnetic field and assures the required field uniformity. In our work, the simulated geomagnetic field is characterized in terms of its uncertainty. The analysis indicates that our method and experimental set-up represent a suitably accurate approach for the soft and hard iron compensation of the compasses equipped in the hydrophone array under test.

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are increasingly permeating our daily life and we ever more commit our data to the cloud. Events like the COVID-19 pandemic put an exceptional burden upon ICT infrastructures. This involves increasing implementation and use of data centers, which increased energy use and environmental impact. The scope of this work is to take stock on data center impact, opportunities, and assessment. First, we estimate impact entity. Then, we review strategies for efficiency and energy conservation in data centers. Energy use pertain to power distribution, IT-equipment, and non-IT equipment (e.g. cooling): Existing and prospected strategies and initiatives in these sectors are identified. Among key elements are innovative cooling techniques, natural resources, automation, low-power electronics, and equipment with extended thermal limits. Research perspectives are identified and estimates of improvement opportunities are presented. Finally, we present an overview on existing metrics, regulatory framework, and bodies concerned.

Mini-drones can be used for a variety of tasks, such as weather monitoring, package delivery, search and rescue, and recreation. Their uses are mostly restricted to outside locations with access to the Global Positioning System (GPS) and/or similar systems since their usefulness, safety, and performance substantially rely on ubiquitously accurate positioning and navigation. Indoor localization is getting better, thanks to technologies like Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (V-SLAM). However, more advancements are still required for mini-drone navigation applications with greater safety standards. In this research, a novel method for enhancing indoor mini-drone localization performance is proposed. By merging Oriented Rotated Brief SLAM (ORB-SLAM2), Semi-Direct Monocular Visual Odometry (SVO), and an Adaptive Complementary Filter, the suggested strategy improves V-SLAM approaches (ACF). The findings demonstrate that, when compared to other widely-used indoor localization algorithms, the suggested methodology performs better at estimating location under various situations (low light, low texture, and dynamic environments).

This paper presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of four different computational vision algorithms for implementing an unpalleting system in a factory environment, under typical edge computing constraints. The primary objective is to automate the process of detecting and locating specific variable-shaped objects on a pallet, enabling a robotic system to accurately unstack them. The four algorithms evaluated are Pattern Matching, Scale-Invariant Feature Transform, Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF, and Haar cascade classifiers. Each technique is described in detail in this paper, and their implementations are outlined. Experimental results are thoroughly analyzed, assessing the algorithms’ performance based on accuracy, robustness to variability, computational speed, detection sensitivity, and resource consumption. The findings reveal the strengths and limitations of each algorithm, providing valuable insights for selecting the most appropriate technique based on the specific requirements of the unpalleting system. This research contributes to the advancement of automated object detection and localization in industrial environments, paving the way for more efficient and reliable unpalleting systems.

Background: Military pilots show high visuo-spatial skills. Previous studies demonstrate that they are better in mental rotating a target, in taking different perspectives, in estimating distances, in travel planning and in topographic memory. Here, we compared navigational cognitive styles between military pilots and people without flight experience. Pilots were expected to be more survey users than non-pilots, showing higher navigational strategies. Method: 106 jet military pilots of Italian Air Force and 92 non-pilots were enrolled in order to investigate group differences in navigational styles. Participants were asked to perform a reduced version of the Spatial Cognitive Style Test – SCST, consisting of six tasks that allow to distinguish individuals in landmark (people orient themselves by using a figurative memory for environmental objects), route (people use an egocentric representation of the space) and survey (people have a map-like representation of the space) users. Results: In line with our hypothesis, military pilots mainly adopt a survey style, whereas non-pilots mainly adopt the route style. In addition, pilots outperformed non pilots in both the 3D-Rotation task and Map Description Task. Conclusion: Military flight expertise influences some aspects of the spatial ability, leading to enhance human navigation. Although, it must be considered that they are a population whose navigational skills were already high at the time of selection at the academy before formal training began.

This paper proposes an unusual method for the dissemination of geological sciences and the promotion of geotourism: the scientific documentary, where a representative itinerary of geological and geomorphological evolution of this portion of the Apennines was presented. The considerations that led to the identification of the geological route proposed to the editorial staff of FOCUS TV are presented in detail. At each stop there was an explanation by academic professors and researchers, mainly from the Geology Division of the University of Camerino (MC), who explained in detail the outcrops. During the episode, insights were also given into the anthropogenic frequentation of the epigean caves in Frasassi (AN), ancient places of frequentation and worship thanks to their suggestiveness and the sense of sublime that they can elicit. In addition to the illustration of the individual stops, the article offers further insights into the geomorphology of the most important geosites depicted, all of which are in nature parks or protected areas and characterized by a high landscape value. The result was the production of an episode of the television program 'Geological Wonders of Italy: The Marche and Umbria Regions', which was broadcast in October 2022 by the Italian national Mediaset group.

The quartz tuning fork used as an acoustic sensor in Quartz-Enhanced Photo-Acoustic Spectroscopy gas detection systems is usually read-out by means of a transimpedance preamplifier, based on a low-noise operational amplifier closed in a feedback loop. The gain-bandwidth product of the operational amplifier used in the circuit is a key parameter which must be properly chosen to guarantee that the circuit works as expected. Here we demonstrate that, if the value of this parameter is not sufficiently large, the response of the preamplifier exhibits a peak at a frequency which does not coincide with the series resonant frequency of the quartz tuning fork. If this peak frequency is selected for modulating the laser bias current and is also used as reference frequency of the lock-in amplifier, a penalty results in terms of signal to noise ratio at the output of the QEPAS sensor. This worsens the performance of the gas sensing system in terms of ultimate detection limits. We show that this happens when the front-end preamplifier of the quartz tuning fork is based on some amplifier models that are typically used for such application, both when the integration time of the lock-in amplifier filter is long, to boost noise rejection, and when it is short, in order to comply with a relevant measurement rate.

Food waste is one of the greatest challenge to sustainability in developed and developing countries. In the former, food waste is concentrated in the final part of the chain. Too Good To Go is a digital platform aimed to prevent food waste, where consumers can buy magic boxes from different outlets containing food products that are approaching their end-of-life. However, the mechanism of the platform enable the outlets to publish their offering much in advance of the pick-up time, raising the question whether the food sold on the platform is effectively a leftover or a planned production. Our empirical study gathers data from over 1200 outlets in Rome on the Too Good To Go platform.

In this work we theoretically investigate the responsivity/noise equivalent power (NEP) trade-off in graphene/semiconductor Schottky photodetectors (PDs) operating in the near-infrared regime and working at room temperature. Our analysis shows as the responsivity/NEP ratio is strongly dependent on the Schottky barrier height (SBH) of the junction and we derive a closed analytical formula for maximizing it. In addition, we theoretically discuss as the SBH is linked to the bias applied to the junction in order to show how these devices could be optimized in practice for different semiconductors. We discover that graphene/n-silicon (Si) Schottky PDs could be optimized at 1550nm showing a responsivity and NEP of 133mA/W and 500fW/Hz, respectively, by a low reverse bias of only 0.66V. Moreover, we show that graphene/n-germanium (Ge) Schottky PDs optimized in term of responsivity/NEP ratio could be employed at 2000nm with a responsivity and NEP of 233mA/W and 31pW/Hz, respectively. We believe that our insights are of great importance in the field of silicon photonics for the realization of Si-based PDs to be employed in power monitoring, lab-on-chip and environment monitoring applications.

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our times. Its impact on human populations is not yet completely understood. Many studies have focused on single aspects with contradictory observations. However, climate change is a complex phoenomenon that cannot be adequately addressed from a single discipline's perspective. Hence, we propose a comprehensive conceptual framework on the relationships between climate change and human responses. This framework includes biological, psychological and behavioural aspects, and provides a multidisciplinary overview and critical information for focused interventions. The role of tipping points and regime shifts is explored, and a historical perspective is presented to describe the relationship between climate evolution and socio-cultural crisis. Vulnerability, resilience and adaptation are analyzed from an individual and a community point of view. Finally, emergent behaviours and mass effect phenomena are examined that account for mental maladjustment and conflicts.

The fresh bulbs of Stenomesson miniatum, a plant belonging to Amaryllidaceae family with a poorly investigated phytochemical profile, were traditionally employed by Andean healers to treat tumors and abscesses. The aims of this study were to characterize the alkaloid extract from the bulbs of S. miniatum and test its cytotoxic and antibacterial potential. The alkaloid extract was characterized by dereplication using various techniques (CPC, NMR, UPLC-HRMS) and referring to in-home or online databases for spectroscopic data matching. Cytotoxic activities were evaluated on A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells through a metabolic assay, and on Jurkat human acute T-leukemia cells through a cell-impermeant fluorescent nuclear probe. Antibacterial assays were carried out against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus pyogenes by using a standardized microdilution broth method 96-well plate. Eleven known Amaryllidaceae alkaloids were identified together with another compound determined as being an extraction artefact. The alkaloid extract showed good cytotoxic activity against both the tumor cell lines, reaching an IC50 of 3.3 µg/mL against A431 cells and of 10.9 µg/mL against Jurkat cells. The analysis of the fractions allowed the activity to be attributed to the presence of pretazettine and haemathamine. Conversely, no antibacterial activities were recorded for any of the samples.

Obesity is a global public health problem and the environment as its major determinant. To identify interventions an evidence base is warranted. To this aim we investigate the relationship between the consumption of foods and eating locations (like home, school/work and others) in British adolescents, using data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Program (2008–2012 and 2013-2016). Cross-sectional analysis of 62,523 food diary entries from this nationally representative sample then focused on foods contributing up to 80% total energy to the daily adolescent´s diet. Correspondence Analysis (CA) was first used to generate food-location relationship hypotheses and Logistic Regression (LR) to quantify the evidence in terms of odds ratios and formally test those hypotheses. The less-healthy foods that emerged from CA were chips, soft drinks, chocolate and meat pies. Adjusted Odds Ratios (99% CI) for consuming specific foods at a location “Other” than home (H) or school/work (S) in the 2008-12 survey sample were: for soft drinks 2.8 (2.1 to 3.8) vs. H and 2.0 (1.4 to 2.8) vs. S; for chips 2.8 (2.2 to 3.7) vs. H and 3.4 (2.1 to 5.5) vs. S; for chocolates 2.6 (1.9 to 3.5) vs. H and 1.9 (1.2 to 2.9) vs. S; and for meat pies 2.7 (1.5 to 5.1) vs. H and 1.3 (0.5 to 3.1) vs. S. These trends were confirmed in the 2013-16 survey sample. Interactions between location and BMI were not significant in either sample. In conclusion, our study showed that adolescents are more likely to consume specific less-healthy foods at locations away from home and school/work, irrespective of BMI. Such locations include leisure places, food outlets and “on the go”, hence public health policies to discourage less-healthy food choices in these locations is warranted for all adolescents.

Lung cancer represents the most common form of cancer accounting for 1.8 million deaths globally in 2020.The 5-year relative survival rate for lung cancer is lower than many other leading cancer types. Over the last decade the treatment for advanced and metastatic non small cell lung cancer have dramatically improved due to the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors and the identification of targetable driver mutations. Recently, potentially effective inhibitors of a hitherto untargetable oncogenic driver mutation in NSCLC, Kirsten Rat Sarcoma (KRAS) have been developed. KRAS mutations are found in 20-25% of NSCLC and represent the most frequent mutation. The mutation is almost exclusively detected in adenocarcinoma and is found among smokers 90% of the time. Along with the development of new drugs that have been showing promising activity, resistance mechanisms have begun to be clarified. The aim of this review is to unwrap the biology of KRAS in NSCLC with a specific focus on primary and secondary resistance mechanisms and their possible clinical implications.

In many instances paints interlayers delamination is attributed either to environmental or to application reasons. The composition as well as the structure, including morphology are always given for granted. The resin to pigment ratio, the surfactants, the quality of pigments and fillers (dimensions, shape, wettability, reactivity, homogeneity of distribution…) are not clearly required, defined and consequently checked. A fundamental article appeared in 1949 defining PVC and CPVC. In the following, it was quoted several times but not many improvements in the subject were shown: the subject was considered as obvious and unquestionable. We have tested some cases of coating delamination from big steel structures where other causes were either absent or not dominating if paint features were not taken into account. Many features of paint composition and structure were analyzed with both SEM and EDAX and a comparison with a carefully formulated paint was carried out.

In many instances paints interlayers delamination is attributed either to environmental or to application reasons. The composition as well as the structure, including morphology are always given for granted. Extended interlayer delamination was observed on two huge structures (>50000m2 each) causing more than $10 M damages. Overcoating time, UV exposure, Solvent retention and other possible environmental possible causes were considered. However, a careful morphological analysis showed that substantial differences existed in terms of the resin to pigment ratio, the surfactants, the quality of pigments and fillers (dimensions, shape, wettability, reactivity, homogeneity of distribution…) with respect to the sample used to certify suitability of the systems to climatic conditions C4 – C5 (ISO12944). The need to avoid any either voluntary or casual modification in both PVC and the kind and size of pigments to be used should be made evident as well as shown in some paragraph of existing Standards.

Due to their remarkable intrinsic physical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can enhance mechanical properties and confer electrical and thermal conductivity to polymers currently investigated for use in advanced applications based on thermal management. An epoxy resin filled with varying concentrations of CNTs (up to 3 wt.%) was produced and experimentally characterized. The electrical percolation curve identified two critical filler concentrations: 0.5 wt%, near the electrical percolation threshold, suitable for exploring mechanical and piezoresistive properties, and 3 wt% for investigating thermo-electric properties due to the Joule effect with applied voltages ranging from 70V to 200V. Numerical models were developed using multiphysics simulation software. Once validated with experimental data, these models were used to investigate additional physical properties of the composites. Furthermore, a statistical approach based on the design of experiments (DoE) was employed to examine the influence of certain thermal parameters on the final performance of the materials. The purpose of this research is to promote the use of contemporary statistical and computational techniques alongside experimental methods to enhance understanding of materials science. New materials can be identified through these integrated approaches, or existing ones can be more thoroughly examined.

Background: Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) believe that diet is a key factor in the pathogenesis of their disease and in worsening their symptoms; they often follow restrictive diets that can lead to malnutrition, anxiety, and stress. Recent studies have found an association between eating disorders and IBD, particularly anorexia nervosa and ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). None of these studies report the association with orthorexia nervosa, that is the obsession with healthy and natural foods. Aim: to assess the risk of orthorexia nervosa in patients with IBD. Methods: 158 consecutive subjects were recruited, including 113 patients diagnosed with IBD and 45 controls. The Donini standardized questionnaire ORTO-15 was administered to assess the risk of orthorexia; clinical and demographic data were also collected. Results: patients with IBD have a prevalence of orthorexia of 77%, significantly higher than the 47% observed in the control group. In patients with IBD, the risk of orthorexia is associated with lower BMI and history of previous surgery. Conclusion: Many patients with IBD develop orthorexia nervosa that impacts the patient's psychological and social sphere, exposes them to a high risk of nutritional deficiencies, and affects quality of life. Further high quality studies are warranted to evaluate the clinical impact of orthorexia and its correlation with clinical features and frank eating disorders.

The emergence of new plant diseases is an increasingly important concern. Climate change is likely to be among the factors causing most of the emerging diseases endangering forest and tree heritage around the world. Such diseases may be caused by latent pathogens or microorganisms cryptically associated with plants. The shift from a non-pathogenic to a pathogenic stage may depend on physiological alterations of the host, environmental changes and/or stress factors. In some woods of the Salento peninsula (Apulia region, Italy) sudden declines of holm oak plants (Quercus ilex L.) have been observed since 2016. The morphological and molecular characterization of representative fungal isolates associated with canker and necrosis in declining plants indicated that these isolates belong to the Botryosphaeriaceae family, and the most frequent species were Diplodia corticola and Diplodia quercivora, followed by Neofusicoccum vitifusiforme. In artificially inoculated young holm oak plants, both D. corticola and D. quercivora species produced intense and severe subcortical and leaf margin necrosis. N. vitifusiforme, although less aggressive, induced the same symptoms. Our research in addition to confirm the involvement of D. corticola in olm oak decline, represents the first report of D. quercivora as a new pathogen on Quercus ilex in Italy. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, we also found N. vitifusiforme as a new pathogen on Q. ilex for the first time.

Oriented strand board (OSB) panels are widely marketed for several applications, from building to packaging. The manufacturing of poplar OSB started recently in Northern Italy representing a relevant innovation in the sector since this product is usually made of coniferous wood. The thermal treatment is widely used for reducing the hygroscopicity of wood-based products, nonetheless it influences the mechanical behavior and degrades the main components of wood, which can affect their finishing. Therefore, it is important to know the properties of the treated surfaces. To this purpose, in this study a lot of OSB panels, made of poplar wood, 15 mm thick and with a density of 590 kg/m³, were thermally treated under vacuum conditions at 190 °C for 2 h and then subjected to accelerated weathering. The changes in color and in wettability due to treatment and accelerated weathering were studied. The thermal treatment determined a significant darkening of the color; the accelerated weathering darkened the untreated surfaces and, on the opposite, lightened the thermo-treated surfaces. The wettability decreased after thermal treatment and increased after weathering, more evidently in treated panels. Overall, this study improves the knowledge about the behavior of the surface of thermo-treated poplar OSB, which is relevant for the industrial coating of this product.

Aim: In a human pilot case, we used a root formed temporary prosthetical device (Intra-alveolar Device - IAD), to investigate the effect of mechanical stimulation on hard tissue clinically and radiographically. Background: The extraction of a tooth determines the resorption of the alveolar bone. This determines challenge to place an implant and to integrate the prosthesis in soft tissue. Mechanical stimulation is fundamental for bone tropism but is not understood the effect of mechanical stimulation on post-extraction site. Case presentation: A 24 years old woman was enrolled. The IAD’s were used as expected by protocol. Clinical healing was uneventfully. Vertical radiographical bone resorption measured on CBCT was -0,14mm (5,6%) while horizontal bone resorption was -0,21mm (12,36%). Conclusion: This study demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed model. We need clinical prospectical studies enrolling more patients

Limited observational studies have described the relationship between sleep duration and overall diet. The present study investigated the association between sleep duration at weekdays and empirically derived dietary patterns in a nationally representative sample of UK adults, aged 19-64 years old, participating in the 2008-2012 UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme. Survey members completed between three to four days of dietary records. Sleep duration at weekdays was categorised into tertiles to reflect short, normal and long sleep duration. Social jetlag was calculated as the difference between sleep duration at weekends and weekdays. The association between sleep duration/ social jetlag and dietary patterns, derived by principal components analysis, was assessed regressing diet on sleep whilst accounting for the complex survey design and adjusting for relevant confounders. Survey members in the highest tertile of sleep duration had on average 0.45 (95% CI -0.78, -0.12) lower healthy dietary pattern score compared to middle tertile (p =0.007). There was an inverted u-shaped association between social jetlag and a healthy dietary pattern, such that when sleep at weekends exceeded weekday sleep by 1h 45min, scores for indicating a healthy dietary pattern declined (p =0.005). In conclusion, long sleep duration at weekdays and an increased social jetlag are associated with a lower healthy dietary pattern score. Further research is required to address factors influencing dietary patterns in long sleepers.

Recently, there appeared in this journal (Beh and Lombardo \textbf{2022}, {\it Symmetry}, 14, 1103) a paper that showed how to perform a correspondence analysis on a two-way contingency table where Bowker's statistic lies at the numerical heart of this analysis. Thus, we showed how this statistic can be used to visually identify departures from perfect symmetry. Interestingly, Bowker's statistic is a special case of the symmetry-version of the Cressie-Read family of divergence statistics. Therefore, this paper presents a new framework for visually assessing departures from perfect symmetry using a second-order Taylor series approximation of the Cressie-Read family of divergence statistics.

In a Water-Cooled Lithium-Lead (WCLL) Breeding Blanket (BB), the heat generated by the plasma thermal radiation and nuclear reactions is removed mainly by two components; namely, the First Wall (FW) and the Breeding Zone (BZ). The FW faces the neutrons and charged particles fluxes generated by the fusion reactions and the thermal radiation coming from the plasma. The present work takes into account the FW cooling system inspired by the WCLL BB 2018 design of DEMO 2017 baseline. Unlike the baseline where a Pressurized-Water Reactor (PWR) setup is used for the coolant, various setup between the Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) and the High-Pressure (HP) BWR are studied in the present work operating in the Two-Phase Flow (TPF) regime. The 3D model of the FW in the WCLL BB 2018 design is simplified into a 1D model and a steady state analysis is carried out to optimize the mass flow rate of the water and the number of parallel channels at the BB cells at different poloidal locations of the reactor, which helps not only in reducing the used coolant but also in improving the Tritium Breeding Ratio (TBR). The present work takes into account forced convection in the liquid only region, the subcooled boiling region, and the saturated boiling region using suitable empirical or semi-empirical models from the literature. The results are validated against the existing results in the literature. In the end, related conclusions are made regarding the pros and cons of the studied operating conditions.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects young adults. The high prevalence of the disease and its impact on patients' quality of life led to priority being given to the etiopathogenesis of the disease to identify possible modifiable factors and consequent effective intervention strategies. Recent hypotheses suggest that the etiopathogenesis of MS is multifactorial and includes factors related to the immune system, neuroinflammation and neuro-degeneration. In this scenario, sleep has a close - although indirect - relationship with MS, through its relationship with each of those factors. In particular, the role of cytokines in immune system impairment and neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in neurodegeneration all are associated with sleep in different forms. Furthermore, melatonin in relation with vitamin D has a potential therapeutic effect in MS sleep-related problems. Given the growing interest of research in the mechanisms underlying MS and therapies able to alleviate MS-related symptoms at all stages of the disease, a more in-depth study of the role of sleep disturbances and the factors intrinsically related to sleep and MS could be useful both to investigate the etiopathogenetic factors of MS and to develop potential non-invasive intervention strategies for MS treatment.

Background: Infantile tibia vara (ITV) is a rare proximal tibia deformity in infancy, leading to progressive knee varus. High tibial osteotomy is commonly practiced but has high recurrence rates. This study analyzed factors affecting treatment failure and recurrence in children undergoing opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) for ITV. Methods: We retrospectively studied children with ITV who had OWHTO with press-fit cancellous bone allograft between 2000 and 2020, with ≥2-year follow-up. Outcomes included recurrence (knee varus with tibiofemoral angle >10°), complications, and reintervention. Results: We analyzed 39 knees in 29 patients (mean age: 4.8 ± 1.9 years; median follow-up: 7.4 years). Recurrence occurred in 22 cases (56%). Age at surgery significantly influenced recurrence, with rates of 16% before age 5 versus 95% later (hazard ratio: 12.0, p = 0.001). Langenskiöld stage also affected recurrence (β-coefficient: 2.7, 95% C.I. 1.0–4.5, p = 0.002; pseudo-R-squared: 0.50, p = 0.001), with recurrence in all stage III IV or higher cases. Conclusions: Early diagnosis and treatment before age 45, ideally with Langenskiöld stage III or lower, are crucial for stable correction with OWHTO alone. Late, high-grade ITV may require combined, acute or gradual, and/or staged correction. Further evidence is needed for optimal management.

During the thinning process, in the semiconductor industry, residual stress from thin films can cause severe warpage in wafers, which can compromise their processability and packaging. This warpage can lead to bifurcation or buckling, making it important to understand this phenomenon for the manufacturing of large semiconductor wafers. We conducted a finite element analysis of the thinning process using ANSYS mechanical enterprise 2023/R2 to investigate the asymmetric curvatures resulting from bifurcation in a standard 300 mm Si (001) wafer. We induced an asymmetry in the system by applying a slight force on a point of the circumferential region perpendicularly to the substrate. We also simulated the compressive stress from the damaged layer formed during the thinning process and considered its influence on warpage and bifurcation in both linear and non-linear cases. We also included the influence of Earth's gravity induced deflection (GID) and investigated the influence of the compressive stress damaged layer on the grinding process of the whole wafer by adding a metal front layer to the ground back damaged wafer.

Scaling up the production of power devices involves, in the semiconductor industry, the use of large semiconductor 8” and 12” wafers of Si or SiC. Their use implicates a successful an effective monitoring and control of wafer warpage, as the geometrical size of the substrate increases, as well as a command control on the degeneration of non-linear warpage into critical phenomena known as bifurcation or buckling.To mitigate the warpage, the use of taiko wafers, which consists of wafers having a thicker region on the rim region of the wafer, has been generally adopted in the production lines. In a previous work [1] we investigated the warpage of taiko wafers by introducing the concept of equivalent thickness, in the linear approximation, for the case of a front side metalized taiko wafer. However, as the thickness of the central semiconductor substrate region decreases the possibility that also the taiko wafer bifurcates emerges. For this reason, in this work we have investigated the occurrence of bifurcation or buckling in a taiko wafer. In particular, we implemented a finite element analysis method by using ANSYS Mechanical Enterprise 2023/R2 to investigate the phenomenon of bifurcation in a taiko wafer. The investigated system consisted of a 200 mm Si (001) front side metalized (FSM) taiko wafer, having a substrate thickness ranging from 100 µm to 400 µm, with a step height fixed to 450 µm. The FSM layer consisted of an Al layer of 4.5 µm thin. The system was subjected to a thermal load such that, getting cooled from a nominal temperature T to 25°C, the metal layer can develop a residual stress. To investigate the bifurcation, an asymmetry was induced in the system by applying a slight force on a point of the circumferential region perpendicularly to the substrate. The temperature investigated ranged from 30 °C to 170 °C. From this investigation, it results that also the bifurcation is mitigated by the taiko structure. Indeed, the bifurcation emerges at higher values of the stresses with respect to the case of flat wafers having the same size and thickness of the substrate. Moreover, the concept of equivalent thickness needs to be reformulated by taking into account of the bifurcation phenomenon. Indeed, from the warpage at the bifurcation point of the taiko wafer, we can determine an overall equivalent thickness of the taiko wafer.

Previous research on the relative benefits of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems (AACs) has indicated controversial results regarding the effectiveness, the ease of use, and the preference for the different systems. The study aims to observe the comparative effectiveness of two different Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools, the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and a speech-generating device (SGD), as communication aids for children with autism. Three children with severe autism and minimally verbally or with no functional language participated. The results showed an increase of communicative behavior with both AAC intervention strategies and a speed acquisition time slightly shorter for the SGD training. Two of the three participants showed a preference for the use of the SGD. Reduction in problem behaviors and improvement in vocal production was observed for one of the participants. Results suggest that PECS and SGD are similarly appropriate for the development of initial request skills and that they can encourage vocal production in students with specific prerequisites.

This study explores the innovative use of CO2 laser technology in frenuloplasty, a significant shift from traditional methods like scalpel surgery or electrocautery, towards a minimally invasive approach. The research involved 15 patients aged 25 to 50, undergoing frenuloplasty with a CO2 laser system equipped with a 7-inch defocused handpiece, set at 20Hz and 0.3W. This method diverges from conventional laser techniques, focusing on controlled laser passes combined with manual traction to elongate the fibrous tissue of the frenulum. The results demonstrated that the CO2 laser technique allowed for a precise and progressive modification of the frenulum, significantly reducing the risks of hemorrhage and secondary in-tention fibrosis. The healing process was notably expedited, with patients reporting satisfactory outcomes within a two-week period. Statistically significant improvements were observed in pa-tient-reported outcomes, as evidenced by the increases in the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) scores, with the mean Physical Component Summary (PCS) score rising from 32.5 to 47.5 and the mean Mental Component Summary (MCS) score from 39.3 to 52.3 (p < 0.001 for both). The study concludes that CO2 laser frenuloplasty is an effective and safe technique, offering sub-stantial benefits in terms of reduced healing time and enhanced patient satisfaction. The signifi-cant improvements in SF-12 scores underscore the positive impact on patient quality of life, ad-vocating for the broader application of this technique in clinical practice. Further research is warranted to explore its potential in a wider clinical context.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the second most common cancer worldwide, resulting in 1.8 million deaths/year. Most of the patients are diagnosed with a metastatic disease. Central Nervous System is one of the major metastatic sites. Brain metastases are associated with severe neurological symptoms, shorter survival and worst clinical outcomes. Brain radiotherapy and systemic oncological therapies are currently used for controlling both cancer progression and neurological symptoms. Brain radiotherapy includes stereotactic brain ablative radiotherapy (SBRT) or whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). SBRT is applied for single or multiple (≤ 4) small lesions (&lt; 3 cm), while WBRT represents the best treatment choice in case of multiple and large brain metastases. In both cases radiotherapy application can represent an overtreatment causing severe toxicities without achieving a significant clinical benefit. So far, some scores have been proposed to define the potential clinical benefits derived from brain radiotherapy. However, most of them are not well validated into clinical practice. In this article, by presenting a clinical case of a patient with advanced NSCLC carrying a BRAFV600E mutation and brain metastases, we review the variables as well as the potential applicable scores to be considered in order to predict clinical outcomes and benefits from brain radiotherapy in patients with NSCLC and brain metastases.

Over the last decades, in addition to the improvement of pathophysiological knowledge regarding the role and mechanisms of action of Vitamin D, there has been a progressive advancement in analytical technologies for its determination, as well as in methodological standardization. A significant number of scientific works, meta-analyses, and guidelines have been published on the importance of Vitamin D and the need for supplementation in deficient individuals. However, it appears necessary to clarify the fundamental elements related to the determination of Vitamin D (both at the strictly analytical and post-analytical levels) and the scientific evidence related to the efficacy/safety of supplementation. Additionally, given the important interrelations between Vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23), the analytical issues and clinical utility of these biomarkers will be discussed.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the second most common cancer worldwide, resulting in 1.8 million deaths/year. Most of the patients are diagnosed with a metastatic disease. Central Nervous System is one of the major metastatic sites. Brain metastases are associated with severe neurological symptoms, shorter survival and worst clinical outcomes. Brain radiotherapy and systemic oncological therapies are currently used for controlling both cancer progression and neurological symptoms. Brain radiotherapy includes stereotactic brain ablative radiotherapy (SBRT) or whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). SBRT is applied for single or multiple (≤ 4) small lesions (&lt; 3 cm), while WBRT represents the best treatment choice in case of multiple and large brain metastases. In both cases radiotherapy application can represent an overtreatment causing severe toxicities without achieving a significant clinical benefit. So far, some scores have been proposed to define the potential clinical benefits derived from brain radiotherapy. However, most of them are not well validated into clinical practice. In this article, by presenting a clinical case of a patient with advanced NSCLC carrying a BRAFV600E mutation and brain metastases, we review the variables as well as the potential applicable scores to be considered in order to predict clinical outcomes and benefits from brain radiotherapy in patients with NSCLC and brain metastases.

In humans, coronaviruses can cause infections of the respiratory system, with damage of varying severity depending on the virus examined: ranging from mild or moderate upper respiratory tract diseases, such as the common cold, to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. Human coronaviruses known to date, common throughout the world, are seven. The most common - and least harmful - ones were discovered in the 1960s and cause a common cold. Others, more dangerous, were identified in the early 2000s and cause more severe respiratory tract infections. Among these the SARS-CoV, isolated in 2003 and responsible for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (the so-called SARS), which appeared in China in November 2002, the Coronavirus 2012 (2012-nCoV) cause of the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome from Coronavirus (MERS), which exploded in June 2012 in Saudi Arabia, and actually SARS-CoV-2. On December 31, 2019, a new Coronavirus strain was reported in Wuhan, China, identified as a new Coronavirus beta strain ß-CoV from Group 2B, with a genetic similarity of approximately 70% to SARS-CoV, the virus responsible. of SARS. In the first half of February, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), in charge of the designation and naming of the viruses (i.e., species, genus, family, etc.), thus definitively named the new coronavirus as SARS-CoV-2. This article highlights the main knowledge we have about the biomolecular and pathophysiologic mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2.

Stress during a pandemic increased the risk of alcohol consumption, which may require pharmacological management. The characteristics of emergency calls for alcohol-related issues for patients pharmacologically treated, admitted to, or not admitted to the emergency department (ED) were analyzed. An observational single-center retrospective study was conducted from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021, and divided into 2-year periods (2018–2019 and 2020–2021). This study focused on calls to one of the EDs of seven hospitals in the Bari (Italy) metropolitan area for patients requiring emergency services (ES) who were either admitted or not admitted, due to their refusal. A 30% reduction in emergency calls for alcohol-related issues and a 41.17% reduction in calls for patients who refused to be admitted to the ED were observed during the pandemic. During the pandemic, a reduced rate of pharmacological treatment for calls coded green (non-critical), and an increase in calls coded yellow (fairly critical) and red (very critical) were recorded. Metadoxine was administered in almost all alcohol-related emergencies, primarily in conjunction with drugs acting on the gastrointestinal tract, irrespective of age, the period considered, and whether patients were admitted or not admitted to the ED. ES is the first and only out-of-hospital service encountered by numerous patients with alcohol-use disorders who refuse to be admitted to the ED. These patients should be directed by ES personnel to a multidisciplinary program to receive treatment for drinking, improve their quality of life, and reduce sanitation costs.