Rural electrification in remote areas of developing countries has several challenges which hinders energy access to the population. For instance the extension of the national grid to provide electricity in these areas is largely not viable. The Kenyan government has put a target to achieve universal energy access by the year 2020. In order to realize this objective, focus is being shifted to establishing off-grid power stations in rural areas.Among rural areas to be electrified, Habaswein is a settlement in Kenya's North Eastern region without connection to the National Power Grid where Kenya Power installed a stand alone hybrid mini-grid.Based on field observations, power generation data analysis, evaluation of the potential energy resource and simulations, this research intends to evaluate the performance of the Habaswein mini-grid and optimize the existing hybrid generation system to enhance its reliability and reduce the operation costs.The result will be a suggestion of how Kenyan rural areas could be sustainably electrified by using renewable energy based off-grid power stations. It will contribute to bridge the research gap currently existing on that area, and it will be a vital tool to researchers, implementers and the policy makers in energy sector.

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.

The emergence of new methodologies and tools for digitizing objects belonging to the Cultural Heritage (CH) changed the paradigms adopted so far. Traditionally, the process to acquire artifacts required specialized and often costly equipment tailored to specific purposes. However, the development of more generalized, adaptable, and affordable tools led to novel approaches. This manuscript provides a glimpse into the evolving landscape of custom-made tools for digital documentation, both hardware and software, and their transformative impact on the digitization techniques, built to meet requirements of specific case studies, including ancient drawings, manuscripts, paintings, and museum objects. The advent of self-built instruments has revolutionized the way professionals work today, by leveraging a new generation of low-cost, adaptable gears, leading to unprecedented flexibility and efficiency, while facilitating the capture of high-quality digital representations of objects with minimal damage and preserving their integrity. The outcomes of instruments and tools specifically produced for the contexts described in this paper highlight their potential for promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, facilitating scholarly research, enhancing conservation efforts, and fostering cultural exchange. Ultimately, this research contributes to illustrate how custom software, in combination with recent devices such as smartphones and 3D printers, underscores the importance of adopting these innovative approaches to generate an ecosystem of tools and methods able to preserve, document, and promote the richness of our collective past for future generations.

Auricular keloids pose significant aesthetic and functional challenges, and traditional treatments often fall short in ad-dressing these. Our study presents an innovative combined approach of ablative CO2 and dye laser therapy for improved keloid management. This treatment protocol was applied to 15 patients with auricular keloids after an initial multispec-tral analysis to assess keloid composition. The laser sequence was tailored per patient based on this analysis. Evalua-tions using the Vancouver Scar Scale and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale were carried out at baseline and at 3-week intervals post-treatment. The results showed a significant reduction in these scores at the final follow-up (p<0.05), suggesting improvements in keloid color, texture, and pliability, with minimal adverse events. Additionally, no recur-rence of keloids was observed. Our findings indicate that this novel methodology of multispectral analysis followed by tailored laser therapy may offer a safe and effective solution for auricular keloids, promising enhanced keloid treatment and prevention of recurrence. However, further investigations, including randomized controlled trials, are needed to confirm and optimize this treatment protocol.

Oral immunization with the choleric toxin (CT) elicits a high level of protection against its enterotoxin activities and can control cholera in endemic settings. However, the complete B-cell epitope map of the CT responsible for protection remains to be clarified. Here, we have mapped the B-cell linear epitopes of the three chains of the CT protein (CTP) prepared by Spot synthesis. The immunoreactivity of sera from mice immunized with an oral, inactivated vaccine (Schankol†™) was measured against membrane-bound peptides for mapping. Results: Eighteen IgG epitopes were identified; eight in the CTA, three in the CTB, and seven in the protein P. Three epitopes, TQTGFVRHDDGYVST (aa 66-77, Vc/TxA-3), KNGAIFQVE VPGSQN (aa 64-78, Vc/TxB-11), and LNDEHK (aa 90-95, Vc/TxP-16), were chosen to synthesize a multiple antigen peptide that was used to coat ELISA plates to screen immunized mouse sera as a test for an in vitro diagnostics for cholera. Conclusion: Vaccination with inactive CT-generated antibodies against multiple linear epitopes and the selected epitopes can be used to construct immunological reagents for rapid serological diagnosis of cholera with high sensitivity and specificity.

In Brazil, Brazilian borreliosis (BB), characterized molecularly, exhibits symptoms akin to Lyme disease (LD) but presents unique epidemiological, clinical, and morphological features. This study explores the incidence, diagnostic challenges, and awareness initiatives regarding this disease in Brazil. Employing a narrative review methodology, data were sourced from Pubmed, Ebsco, Google Scholar, and Web of Science without temporal constraints. Results reveal diagnostic complexities in Brazil due to the low sensitivity of conventional tests and the use of North American B. burgdorferi antigens. Despite challenges, epidemiological studies indicate an upswing in cases in humans and animals. Therefore, there is an urgent need to define new biomarkers, molecular strategies, or new antigenic targets to advance the development of vaccines and diagnostics. Early and accurate pathogen identification is crucial for active surveillance to comprehend and manage this zoonosis.

Abstract: Canine ehrlichiosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted by ticks, posing a formidable challenge to both veterinary and public health sectors worldwide. Across continents and regions, the prevalence rates of Ehrlichia canis exhibit significant variation, underlining the necessity for a nuanced and globally informed approach to understanding and combating this disease. The review navigates through this complexity, shedding light on the intricate pathogenesis of the illness. Central to this understanding is the bacterium's adept manipulation of the host's immune response, contributing to the diverse clinical manifestations observed in infected animals. Diagnostic methodologies, crucial for timely intervention and management, are subjected to critical assessment. From traditional microscopy to modern molecular techniques and serology, each approach is scrutinized for its strengths and limitations. By acknowledging these nuances, the review aims to equip practitioners with the knowledge necessary to make informed diagnostic decisions. A central tenet of this review is the advocacy for an integrated "One Health" approach. By leveraging advancements in genomics, proteomics, and artificial intelligence, there is a potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and develop innovative therapeutic and preventive strategies globally. This collaborative approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, offering a holistic framework for tackling complex zoonotic diseases like canine ehrlichiosis. In conclusion, this review serves as a beacon of knowledge, illuminating the multifaceted landscape of canine ehrlichiosis. Through its synthesis of scientific literature and emphasis on methodological rigor, it provides a foundation upon which future research and interventions can be built. With a unified commitment to "One Health" principles and the integration of cutting-edge technologies, there exists the potential to mitigate the impact of this disease and safeguard both animal and human well-being worldwide

Drug repurposing is an attractive strategy for developing new antibacterial molecules. Herein, we evaluated the in vitro antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antivirulence activities of eight FDA-approved “non-antibiotic” drugs, comparatively to tobramycin, against selected Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from cystic fibrosis patients. MIC and MBC values were measured by broth microdilution methods. Time-kill kinetics was studied by the macro dilution method, and synergy studies were performed by checkerboard microdilution assay. The activity against preformed biofilm was measured by crystal violet and viable cell count assays. The effects on gene expression were studied by real-time quantitative PCR, while the cytotoxic potential was evaluated against IB3-1 bronchial CF cells. Ciclopirox, 5-fluorouracil, and actinomycin D showed the best activity against P. aeruginosa planktonic cells and, therefore, underwent further evaluation. Time-kill assays indicated actinomycin D and ciclopirox, contrarily to 5-fluorouracil and tobramycin, have the potential for bacterial eradication, although with strain-dependent efficacy. Ciclopirox was the most effective against the viability of the preformed biofilm. A similar activity was observed for other drugs, although they stimulate EPS production. Ribavirin showed a specific antibiofilm effect, not dependent on bacterial killing. Exposure to drugs and tobramycin generally caused hyperexpression of the virulence traits tested, except for actinomycin D, which downregulated the expression of alkaline protease and alginate polymerization. Ciclopirox and actinomycin D revealed high cytotoxic potential. Ciclopirox and ribavirin might provide chemical scaffolds for anti-P. aeruginosa drugs. Further studies are warranted to decrease ciclopirox cytotoxicity and evaluate the in vivo protective effects.

The aim of this study was to investigate the parameters affecting the extraction of positive molecules such as chlorogenic acids and antioxidants, as well as potentially carcinogenic substances such as acrylamide, in different coffee brewing methods. Three coffee varieties, each assigned to different roasting degree, were used to prepare coffee brews following eight diverse preparation methods. Acrylamide was quantified by HPLC-MS/MS instrument while chlorogenic acids and caffeine by HPLC-DAD system. Three spectrophotometric analyses were also performed (DPPH, TFC and TPC) to evaluate antioxidant activity as well. The results showed that the main brewing parameters, that have the greatest influence on the final content of these compounds were the volume of water used, more specifically the brewing ratio (coffee to water ratio), the extraction time and the particle size of the coffee powder.

(1) Background: The diphtheria toxoid antigen is a major component in pediatric and booster combination vaccines and is known to raise a protective humoral immune response upon vaccination. Although antibodies are considered critical for diphtheria protection, little is known about the antigenic determinants that maintain humoral immunity. (2) Methods: One hundred twelve 15-mer peptides covering the entire sequence of DTx protein were prepared by Spot-synthesis. Membrane-bound peptides immunoreactivity with sera from mice immunized with triple DTP vaccine allowed mapping of continuous B-cell epitopes, topological studies, MAPs synthesis, and ELISA development. (3) Results: Twenty epitopes were identified, being 2 in the signal peptide, 5 in the CD, 7 in the HBFT domain, and 5 in the RBD. Two 17-mer (CB/Tx-2/12 and CB/DTx-4-13) derived bi-epitope peptides linked by a Gly-Gly spacer were chemically synthesized. The peptides were used as antigens to coat ELISA plates and assayed with human (huVS) and mice vaccined sera (miVS) for in vitro diagnosis of diphtheria. The assay proved to be highly sensitive (99.96%) and specific (100%) either for huVS and miVS and when compared with a commercial ELISA test, demonstrate high performance. (4) Conclusions: Our work displayed the complete picture of the linear B cell IgG response epitope of the DTx responsible for the protective effect and demonstrated the specificity and eligibility to enter phase IIB studies of some epitopes to develop new and fast diagnostic assays.

Purpose: to assess any differences on marginal bone loss between bone-level or tissue-level dental implants through a review of literature until September 2019. Materials and methods: MEDLINE, Embase and other database were searched by two independent authors. The search was limited to articles in English. Results: The search provided 1028 records and, after removing the duplicates through titles and abstracts screening, 45 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. For qualitative analysis 20 articles were included, 17 articles of them for quantitative analysis. A total of 1161 patients (mean age 54,4 years) and 2933 implants were observed, 1427 (Tissue-level) and 1506 (Bone-level). The survival rate and the success rate were more than 90%, except for 2 studies with a success rate of 88% and 86.2%. No studies reported any differences between groups in term of success and survival rates. Three studies showed that BL-implants had statistically less marginal bone loss (P< 0.05). Only one study reported statistically less marginal bone loss in TL-implants (P< 0.05). In the most part of the studies, differences between implant types in marginal bone loss were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Despite to the peri-implant tissue around transmucosal implants has been reported to be inflammation-free because of the absence of bacterial infiltration in the micro-gap between the fixture and abutment, no clinical and radiological differences were highlighted between groups from the included studies after a variable period of follow-up ranged between 1 to 5 years.

Background: The newly introduced COVID-19 vaccines have reduced disease severity and hospitalizations. However, they do not significantly prevent infection or transmission. In the same context, measuring IgM and IgG antibody levels is important, but it doesn't provide information about the status of the mucosal immune response. This article describes a comprehensive mapping of IgA epitopes of the S protein, its cross-reactivity, and the development of an ELISA-peptide assay. Methods: IgA epitope mapping was conducted using Spot-synthesis and sera from RT-qPCR COVID-19-positive patients. Specific and cross-reacting epitopes were identified, and an evolutionary analysis from the early Wuhan strain to the Omicron variant was performed using bioinformatics tools and a microarray of peptides. The selected epitopes were chemically synthesized and evaluated using ELISA-IgA. Results: 40 IgA epitopes were identified, with 23 in S1 and 17 in the S2 subunit. Among these, at least 23 epitopes showed cross-reactivity with DENV and other organisms and 24 with other associated coronaviruses. Three MAP4 polypeptides were validated by ELISA, demonstrating a sensitivity of 90-99.96% and a specificity of 100%. Among the six IgA-RBD epitopes, only the SC/18 epitope of the Omicron variants (BA.2 and BA.2.12.1) presented a single IgA epitope. Conclusions: This research unveiled the IgA epitome of the S protein and identified many epitopes that exhibit cross-reactivity with DENV and other coronaviruses. The S protein of variants from Wuhan to Omicron retains many conserved IgA epitopes, except for one epitope (#SCov/18). The cross-reactivity with DENV suggests limitations in using the whole S protein or the S1/S2/RBD segment for IgA serological diagnostic tests for COVID-19. The expression of these identified specific epitopes as diagnostic biomarkers could facilitate monitoring mucosal immunity to COVID-19, potentially leading to more accurate diagnoses and alternative mucosal vaccines.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) worldwide includes infections by ESKAPE-E pathogens. Environmental surfaces and fomites are important components in HAI transmission dynamics, and shoe soles are vectors of HAI. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is an effective method to inactivate pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, we investigated whether the SANITECH UVC shoe sole decontaminator equipment that provides germicidal UVC radiation could effectively reduce this risk of different pathogens. Six standard strains and four clinical MDR strains in liquid and solid medium were exposed to a UVC System at specific concentrations at other times. Bacterial inac-tivation (growth and cultivability) was investigated using colony counts and resazurin as meta-bolic indicators. SEM was performed to assess the membrane damage. Statistically significant reduction in cell viability for all ATCCs strains occurred after 10 sec of exposure to the UVC sys-tem, except for S enterica, which only occurred at 20 sec. The cell viability of P. aeruginosa (90.9%), E. faecalis and A. baumannii (85.3%), S. enterica (82.9%), E. coli (79.2%) and S. aureus (71.9%) was re-duced considerably at 20 sec. In colony count, after 12 sec of UVC exposure, all ATCC strains showed a 100% reduction in CFU counts, except for A. baumannii, which reduced 97.7%. A sub-stantial reduction of colonies above 3 log10 was observed at 12 and 20 sec in all bacterial strains tested, except for A. baumannii ATCC 19606 (12 sec). The exposure of ATCCs bacterial strains to the UVC system for only 2 sec was able to reduce 100% in the CFU count in all ATCCs strains, S. au-reus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, A. baumannii, E. faecalis, except the S. enterica strain which had a statis-tically significant reduction of 99.7%. In ATCC strains, there was a substantial decrease in colonies after 4 sec (sec) of exposure to the UVC system, with a reduction ranging from 3.78-4.15 log10 CFU/mL. This reduction was observed in MDR/ESKAPE-E strains within 10 sec, showing that UVC could eliminate above 3.84 log10 CFU/mL. SEM showed a reduction of pili-like appendages after UVC treatment in all strains except for E. coli (ATCC 25922). The Sanitech UVC shoe sole decontaminator equipment from Astech Co. effectively killed in vitro a series of ATCCs and MDR/ESKAPE-E bacteria of sanitary interest, commonly found in the hospital environment.

Nicastrin (NICT) is a transmembrane protein physically associated with the polytypical aspartyl protease presenilin that plays a vital role in the correct localization and stabilization of presenilin to the membrane-bound γ-secretase complex. This complex is involved in the regulation of a wide range of cellular events including cell signaling and the regulation of endocytosed membrane proteins for their trafficking and protein processing. Mehtods: In Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of the Chagas disease, an NICT-like protein (Tc/NICT) was identified with a short C-terminus orthologous to the human protein, a large ectodomain (ECD) with numerous glycosylation sites and a single core transmembrane domain containing a putative TM-domain (457GSVGA461) important for the γ-secretase complex activity. Results: Using the Spot-synthesis strategy with Chagasic patient sera, five extracellular epitopes were identified and synthetic forms were used to generate rabbit anti-Tc/NICT polyclonal serum that recognized a ~72-kDa molecule in immunoblots of T. cruzi epimastigote extracts. Confocal microscopy suggests that Tc/NICT is localized in the flagellar pocket, which is consistent with data from our previous studies with a T. cruzi presenilin-like protein. Phylogenetically, Tc/NICT was localized within a subgroup with the T. rangeli protein that are clearly detached from the other Trypanosomatidae such as T. brucei. These results, together with a comparative analysis of the selected peptide sequence regions between the T. cruzi and mammalian proteins suggest a divergence from the human NICT that might be relevant to Chagas disease pathology. As a whole, our data show that an NICT-like protein is expressed in the infective and replicative stages of T. cruzi and may be considered further evidence for a γ-secretase complex in trypanosomatids.

Hospital bed shortage is a worldwide concern. Beds unavailability has caused elective surgery cancellations, at our hospital peaking in spring 2016 at over 50%. This is often due to difficult patient step-down from intensive care (ICU) and high-dependency units (HDU). In our general/digestive surgery service admitting approximately 1000 patients yearly, ward rounds were run on a consultant firm basis. We report a quality improvement (ISRCTN13976096) introducing in our service a structured daily multi-disciplinary board round framework (SAFER Surgery R2G) adapted from the “SAFER patient flow bundle” and the "Red to Green days” approaches to enhance flow, comparing the previous year to 2017, when our framework was applied for 12 months.We used a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology. Our intervention consisted in 1) systematic communication of the key care plan after the afternoon ward rounds to the nurse in charge; 2) 30’ 10AM Monday-to-Friday multidisciplinary board rounds, attended daily by the senior-team and weekly by hospital and site managers, revising the key care plan aiming at safe, early discharges, assessing the appropriateness of each inpatient day and tackling any cause of delay. We measured patient flow by average length of stay (LOS), ICU/HDU step-downs and operation cancellations count, monitoring safety through early 30-day readmissions. Compliance was assessed by board round attendance and staff satisfaction rate surveys.After 12 months (PDSA 2, N=1032), LOS significantly decreased from 7.2(±8.9) to 6.3(±7.4) days (p=0.003); ICU/HDU bed step-down flow increased by 9.3% from 345 to 375 (p=0.197), surgery cancellations dropped from 38 to 15 (p=0.100). 30-day re-admissions increased from 0.9% (N=9) to 1.3% (N=14)(p=0.390). Average cross-specialty attendance was 80%. Satisfaction rates were >75%, regarding enhanced teamwork and faster decisions.The SAFER Surgery R2G framework has shown an increase in patient flow in the context of an enhanced multidisciplinary approach, requiring senior staff commitment to remain sustainable.

(1) Background: Health Care-Associated Infections (HAIs)are a significant public health problem worldwide favoring multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms. The SARS-CoV-2 infection had a negative association with the increase in antimicrobial resistance, and the ESKAPE group had the most significant impact on HAIs. The study aimed to evaluate the bactericidal effect of high concentration O3 gas on some reference and ESKAPE bacteria. (2) Material and Methods: Four standard strains and four clinical or environmental MDR strains were exposed to high ozone doses at different concentrations and times. Bacterial inactivation (growth and cultivability) was investigated using colony counts and resazurin as a metabolic indicator. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed. (3) Results: The culture exposure to a high level of O3 inhibited the growth of all bacterial strains tested with a statistically significant reduction in colony count compared to the control group. The cell viability of S. aureus (MRSA) (99,6%) and P. aeruginosa (XDR) (29,2%) was reduced considerably, and SEM showed damage on bacteria after O3 treatment (4) Conclusion: High doses of ozone were able to interfere in the growth of all strains studied, evidencing that ozone-based decontamination approaches may represent the future of hospital cleaning methods.

(1) Background: Disinfection of medical devices designed for clinical use associated or not with the growing area of tissue engineering is an urgent need. However, traditional disinfection methods are not always suitable for some biomaterials, especially those sensitive to chemical, thermal, or radiation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the minimal concentration of ozone gas (O3) necessary to control and kill a set of sensitive or multi-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The cell viability, membrane permeability, and the levels of reactive intracellular oxygen (ROS) species were also investigated; (2) Material and Methods: Four standard strains and a clinical MDR strain were exposed to low doses of ozone at different concentrations and times. Bacterial inactivation (cultivability, membrane damage) was investigated using colony counts, resazurin as a metabolic indicator, and propidium iodide (PI). A fluorescent probe (H2DCFDA) was used for the ROS analyses; (3) Results: No reduction in the count colony was detected after O3 exposure, compared to the control group. However, the cell viability of E. coli (30%), P. aeruginosa (25%), and A. baumannii (15%) was reduced considerably. The bacterial membrane of all strains was not affected by O3 but presented a significant increase of ROS in E. coli (90 ± 14%), P. aeruginosa (62.5 ± 19%), and A. baumanni (52.6 ± 5%); (4) Conclusion: Low doses of ozone were able to interfere in the cell viability of most strains studied, and although it does not cause damage to the bacterial membrane, increased levels of reactive ROS are responsible for causing a detrimental effect in the lipids, proteins, and DNA metabolism.

The issue of being pro-gender is still a controversial topic to be debated in Indonesian society. However, in the 21st Century, many women have been able to break through barriers and participate in the public sphere. It is a form of self-existence as proposed by Simone de Beauvoir on existentialist feminism. Based on these problems, this study aims to find out and answer questions about how Indonesian women exist in the public sphere in the 21st Century and find out how Indonesian women exist in the public sphere through Simone de Beauvoir's existentialist feminism paradigm. The research method used is descriptive-qualitative through a literature review of 23 journal articles, websites, and data reports with a range of 2019-2021. This study found that based on Simone de Beauvoir's feminist paradigm, Indonesian women in the 21st Century are no longer a figure other than complete. Furthermore, the data collected by the researcher shows that several gender indicators have shown that Indonesian women have been able to occupy public spaces in various aspects. Based on these results, it is hoped that it can provide information about Simone de Beauvoir's existentialist feminism thought and its relevance to the existence of Indonesian women in the public sphere in the 21st Century. However, this research has limitations, those are only about women in Indonesia, and the paradigm of feminism is limited to Simone de Beauvoir's existentialist feminism.

The increasing regulatory pressure to monitor and reduce GHG emissions and air pollutants requires cost-effective methods for their surveillance. The most common technique used for scientific investigations on gas concentration monitoring in barns are accurate but expensive and with a complex maintenance. This research study analysed the potential use of a low-cost portable measurement devices for the measurement of ammonia (NH3) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in an open dairy barn. A comparison between gas concentrations acquired at different heights from the floor by using portable devices and those acquired by a photoacoustic infrared multigas spectroscope (i.e., reference measurement) in the same sampling locations was carried out to determine the precision of the low-cost portable devices. The performance of low-cost portable devices was statistically analysed by the application of the one-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The results showed a significant difference between gas concentration values at various heights from the floor for both NH3 and CO2. The correlations between concentrations acquired by the low-cost portable device and the INNOVA were statistically significant (r=0.83; P&lt;0.001) for gas concentrations monitored at 0.4 m from the floor. Compared with the reference measurement device, the low-cost devices were effective in the monitoring of NH3 concentrations at 0.40 m from the floor though it underestimated them in the barn at increasing of the height from the floor, whereas the device was not adequate for CO2 concentrations. In detail, the relative measurement error of the low-cost devices compared to INNOVA was reduced close to the floor during NH3 concentration measurements. Within these limitations, this device could be useful for monitoring NH3 concentration in the barn and to assess variation in NH3 concentrations mainly related to the animal occupied zone. Further efforts are needed in this field of research to identify low-cost device that could simplify emission estimation from open dairy barns.

Background: Tetanus is an acute, fatal disease caused by exotoxins released from Clostridium tetani during infections. A protective humoral immune response can be induced by vaccinations with pediatric and booster combinatorial vaccines that contain inactivated tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) as a major antigen. Although some epitopes in NeNT have been described using various ap-proaches, a comprehensive list of its antigenic determinants that are involved with immunity have not been elucidated. To that end, a high resolution analysis of the linear B-cell epitopes in NeNT was performed using antibodies generated in vaccinated children. Methods: Two hundred sixty-four peptides that cover the entire coding sequence of TeNT protein were prepared in situ on a cellulose membrane by SPOT synthesis and probed with sera from children vaccinated (ChVS) with a triple DTP-vaccine to map continuous B-cell epitopes that were further characterized and validated by immunoassays. Results: Forty-three IgG epitopes were identified. Four (TT-215-218) were chemically synthesized as Multiple Antigen Peptides (MAPs) and used in peptide ELISAs to screen post-pandemic DTP vaccinations. The assay displayed a high performance with high sensitivity (99.99%) and specificity (100%). Conclusions: The complete map of linear IgG epitopes induced by vaccination with inactivated TeNT highlights three key epitopes involved in the ef-ficacy of the vaccine. Antibodies against epitope TT-8/G can block enzymatic activity, and those against epitopes TT-40/G and TT-42/G can interfere with TeNT binding to neuronal cell receptors. We further show that four of the epitopes identified can be employed in peptide ELISAs to assess vaccine coverage. Overall, the data suggest a set of select epitopes to engineer new, directed vaccines

Despite successful vaccination efforts, the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants poses ongoing challenges to control COVID-19. Understanding humoral responses concerning SARS-CoV-2 infections and their impact is crucial for developing future vaccines that are effective worldwide. Here, we identified 41 immunodominant linear IgG B-cell epitopes in its Spike glycoprotein with a SPOT synthesis peptide array probed with a pool of serum from hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Bioinformatics showed a restricted set of epitopes unique to SARS-CoV-2 compared to other coronavirus family members. Potential crosstalk was also detected with Dengue virus (DENV), confirmed by screening individuals infected with DENV before the COVID-19 pandemic in a commercial ELISA assay for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Higher reactivity indices were often measured in individuals with a pre-pandemic dengue infection than those with COVID-19. A high-resolution evaluation of antibody reactivity against peptides representing epitopes in the spike protein identified ten sequences in the NTD, RBD, and S2 domains. Functionally, antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) in SARS-CoV-2 infection of monocytes was observed with pre-pandemic dengue-positive sera. A significant increase in viral load was measured compared to controls, with no detectable neutralization or considerable cell death, suggesting its role in viral entry. This study highlights the importance of identifying the epitopes generated during the humoral response to a pathogenic infection to understand the potential interplay of previous and future conditions on disease. Vaccine development and optimization strategies should be mindful of the potential for A.D.E. that could differ geographically due to endemic biological risks.

While there are software tools available for assisting to conduct the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), such as OpenLCA, these tools lack integration with process design, simulation and optimization software. As LCA has critical role in sustainable product design, it is presented in this work a platform called EMSO_OLCA, which integrates the LCA provided by OpenLCA into the Environment for Modeling, Simulation, and Optimization (EMSO). EMSO_OLCA incorporates a database of environmental impact assessment methodologies from OpenLCA and aligns to the principles of LCA outlined in ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. Validation tests were conducted to compare the results obtained by the LCA of sugarcane ethanol using OpenLCA and EMSO_OLCA, revealing a high level of agreement. The average relative error was 0.045%, indicating a negligible discrepancy between the tools. Besides, it took only 0.3 seconds for calculation, which is desirable for using with process systems engineering tools. A second case study was applied to a steam and bioelectricity production from the combustion of sugarcane bagasse and straw in a combined heat and power system. The results show the integration of LCA with simulation and sensitivity analysis tools, thus contributing for supporting sustainable decision-making processes. EMSO_OLCA bridges the gap between LCA and process engineering, enabling a holistic approach to sustainability, design and implementation of environmentally friendly solutions.

Tsunami modeling and simulation has changed in the past few years more than it had in decades, especially so with respect to coastal inundation. Among other things, this change is supported by the approaching era of exa-scale computing, whether via GPU or more likely forms of hybrid computing whose presence is growing across the geosciences. For reasons identified across this review, exa-scale computing efforts will impact the on-shore, highly turbulent r\'egime to higher degree than the 2D shallow water equations used to model tsunami propagation in the open ocean. This short review describes the different approaches to tsunami modeling from generation to impact and underlines the limits of each model based on the flow r\'egime. Moreover, from the perspective of a future comprehensive multi-scale modeling infrastructure to simulate a full tsunami, we underline the current challenges associated with this approach and review the few efforts that are currently underway to achieve this goal. A table of existing tsunami software packages is provided along with an open Github repository to allow developers and model users to update the table with additional models as they are published and help with model discoverability.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) surgery is now a viable solution in selected patients and the “remodelling” palatopharyngeal surgery is the most common one. Recently it becomes less in-vasive with the introduction of Barbed Sutures (BS). An optimization of surgical technique is represented by Barbed pharyngoplasty (BP), that requires surgical precision and needs efficient and precise oropharyngeal visualization. Consequently, the lighting system is of pivotal im-portance in BP. The aim of this work is to describe the first experience on the use of a new light-ing system, called KlaroTM in BP for OSA. We evaluated the Klaro™ system in 15 consecutives BP for OSA in comparison with conventional headlamp illumination. The visualization of pala-topharyngeal muscle in the bottom of the tonsillar fossa, entry and exit needle, such as needle tip were statistically better with KlaroTM than headlamp illumination both for surgeon and resi-dent (p<0.05). No significant differences for the visualization of the posterior pharyngeal wall and uvula were reported. The KlaroTM lighting system allows a satisfied illumination of oral cavity and oropharynx in the majority of cases. We encourage to use of KlaroTM not only in BP for OSA, but also in all oral and pharyngeal surgeries, including tonsillectomy and oncological surgery.

Background: developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a condition characterized by abnormal hip development in infancy. Early diagnosis allows for effective treatment, while late presentation often necessitates complex surgical interventions. Current recommendations advise screening between the 6th and 8th week postnatal using ultrasound, typically employing the Graf method. However, there's no universal consensus on whether ultrasound screening significantly increases treatment compared to clinical examination-guided ultrasound. This study aims to explore the feasibility of prenatal ultrasound for early identification of DDH risk. Methods: This prospective observational study involved 100 pregnant women undergoing fetal hip ultrasound during the second and third trimesters. Using the modified Graf method, alpha and beta angles were calculated on the fetus. Postnatally, alpha and beta angles were compared with prenatal values. Results: Prenatal ultrasound at 24th week showed inconclusive results because of the difficulty in identification of Graf landmarks, while ultrasound at 34th week has proved to be a reliable and safe method for quantitative determination of alpha and beta angles. Significant correlations were found between prenatal and postnatal alpha and beta angles. Moreover, significant differences in prenatal alpha and beta values were observed in patients developing mature/immature hips postnatally. Conclusions: Prenatal diagnostics show promise for predicting infant hip development. Further research is warranted to validate correlation strength and clinical applicability.

In this work we outline a general method for calculating Auger spectra in molecules, which accounts for the underlying symmetry of the system. This theory starts from Fano’s formulation of the interaction between discrete and continuum states and generalizes this formalism to deal with the simultaneous presence of several intermediate quasi-bound states and several non-interacting decay channels. Our theoretical description is specifically tailored to resonant autoionization and Auger processes, and includes explicitly the incoming wave boundary conditions for the continuum states and an accurate treatment of the Coulomb repulsion. This approach is implemented and applied to the calculation of the K−LL Auger and autoionization spectra of ozone, which is a C2v symmetric molecule, whose importance in our atmosphere to filter out radiation has been widely confirmed. We also show the effect that the molecular point group, and in particular the localization of the core-hole in the oxygen atoms related by symmetry operations, has on the electronic structure of the Auger states and on the spectral lineshape by comparing our results with experimental data.

A growing body of evidences is showing that dysbiotic gut microbiota may correlate with a wide range of disorders; hence, the clinical use of microbiota maps and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can be exploited in the clinic of some infectious diseases. Through direct or indirect ecological and functional competition, FMT may stimulate decolonization of pathogens or opportunistic pathogens, modulating immune response and colonic inflammation, and restoring intestinal homeostasis, with reduction of host damage. Herein, we discuss how diagnostic parasitology may contribute to design clinical metagenomics pipelines and FMT programs, especially in pediatric subjects. The consequences of a more specialized diagnostics in the context of gut microbiota communities may improve the clinical parasitology and extend its applications to the prevention and treatment of several communicable and even noncommunicable disorders.

Vitrimers are covalent network materials, comparable in structure to classical thermosets. Unlike normal thermosets, they possess a chemical bond swap mechanism that makes their structure dynamic and suitable for activated welding and even autonomous self-healing. The central question in designing such materials is the trade-off between autonomy and material stability: The swap mechanism facilitates the healing but it also facilitates creep, which makes the perfectly stable self-healing solid a hard goal to reach. Here, we address this question for the case of self-healing vitrimers made from star polymers. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we study the adhesion of two vitrimer samples and find that they bond together on timescales that are much shorter than the stress relaxation time. We show that the swap mechanism allows the star polymers to diffuse through the material through coordinated swap events, but the healing process is much faster and does not depend on this mobility.

As the world’s population age, Cognitive Frailty (CF) is becoming one of the most serious health problems and elucidating its biological mechanisms along with prevention and treatments becomes increasingly important also considering the associated health costs. This pilot study aims to investigate the potential cognitive and neuropsychological effects of a 5-week treatment with a therapy based on the regenerative properties of ozone (O3) in a cohort of patients stratified according to CF. We also study the potential effects of O3 on blood-based biomarkers indicative of specific biological systems that may be altered in CF. Seventy-five older persons have been recruited and randomly assigned to receive the active treatment (150cc of oxygen-O2-O3 mixture at the concentration of 30ug of O3 per cc of O2) or O2, or the placebo (air) for 5 weeks. The primary endpoint is a change in the scores of clinical scales from baseline (T0) to weeks 3 (T3), 9 (T9), 15 (T15) after treatment. The secondary endpoint is a change in biomarkers levels resulting from transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomic patterns at the same times. This study will evaluate whether an intervention with the O2-O3 therapy could have potential cognitive, neuropsychological and biological effects on CF.

We generate numerically on a lattice an ensemble of stationary metrics, with spherical symmetry, which have Einstein action S_E « ħ. This is obtained through a Metropolis algorithm with weight exp(-β²S_E²) and β » ħ^-1. The squared action in the exponential allows to circumvene the problem of the non-positivity of S_E. The discretized metrics obtained exhibit a spontaneous polarization in regions of positive and negative scalar curvature. We compare this ensemble with a class of continuous metrics previously found, which satisfy the condition S_E=0 exactly, or in certain cases even the stronger condition R(x)=0 for any x. All these gravitational field configurations are of considerable interest in quantum gravity, because they represent possible vacuum fluctuations and are markedly different from Wheeler's ''spacetime foam''.

Contemporary cities are facing many challenges, from social and economic issues to the new risks related to the impacts of climate change. Focusing on energy consumptions, and the related GHG emissions, cities are considered not only the main global contributors but also the areas most exposed to risks, because of their density of population and economic activities. Implementing urban planning strategies with the purpose of increasing energy efficiency and resilience overall are, for all these reasons, considered a top priority. This paper investigates the innovative contents about energy-efficient and energy-resilient urban planning solutions that have started to be implemented in the cities of the Emilia-Romagna region. Two kinds of planning instruments are therefore analyzed: the voluntary Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) and the mandatory General Urban Plans (GUPs), recently approved in several cities of Emilia-Romagna. A comparative analysis of three cities in the Emilia-Romagna region, Bologna, Modena and Ravenna, is proposed on the strategies of their newly local city plans and SECAPs with focus on energy management and planning. The aim is to assess whether the new structure of local city plans and the influence of SECAPs could be useful in implementing such urban energy resiliency solutions.

Typhoid fever is a communicable disease transmitted by the bacteria Salmonella typhi, related to serotype paratyphi A, B and C. The disease is of a significant health concern in most developing countries especially Cameroon. Objectives: The study aimed at determining the prevalence and associated risk factors of typhoid fever in children ( 0-18 years) attending the “Deo Gratias” hospital in Douala. Method: A hospital base cross sectional study from August to September 2018 was carried out in patients’ age 0-18 years suffering from typhoid fever at the Deo gratias Catholic hospital. Widal slide agglutination test was the diagnostic test used. Positive tested patients were administered questionnaires to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitude and practice toward the disease, as well as their self-management abilities. Data obtained from respondents was analysed by descriptive statistics. One-way ANOVA and means comparison using Tukey’s test (α = 0.05) was performed to check whether the population of respondents differed significantly across risk factor practices. Results were finally presented on bar charts, tables and pie chart. Results: Typhoid fever was more prevalent in females (52.3%) than in males (47.7%), with a high proportion in the ages 5-9 years (38.6%). A significant difference was observed in population of respondents across risk factor practices. Conclusion: Water quality have a great impact on the burden of typhoid fever among children. The identification of risk factors associated to the disease is of great importance in the development of rational control strategies of the disease.

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.

Australia and New Zealand have the highest incidence of skin cancer. Sport is a fundamental part of Australasian culture, beginning in childhood, often with life-long participation. Participating in outdoor sports can contribute significantly to the lifetime ultraviolet radiation (UVR) dose individuals receive and their risk of developing skin cancer. This systematic scoping review explores the use of sun-protection by outdoor sporting participants in Australasia and considers how sun-protection practices may be better evaluated and improved in the community. A search of electronic databases using the search strategy “sun protection” AND “sport” AND “Australia” yielded 17 studies published in English from January 1992 to August 2021. Study methods included using UV-dosimeters to measure individual UVR-exposure; remote estimates of clothing-adjusted UVR-exposure; direct observation of sun-protection practices; and self-reported sun-exposure and sun-protection. Despite 40-years of ‘Slip Slop Slap’ campaigns in Australia, the use of sun-protection in most outdoor sports is inadequate. The paucity of comparable data limited our analyses, demonstrating a need for standardized, objective evaluation tools. Such tools, if used across a range of sports, should inform the development of workable recommendations that sporting clubs could implement and adopt into policy, thus empowering them to better protect the health of their participants.

In recent years, many studies have highlighted the consistent finding of amoxicillin in waters destined for wastewater treatment plants, in addition to superficial waters of rivers and lakes in both Europe and North America. In this paper, the amoxicillin degradation pathway was investigated by simulating the chlorination process normally used in a wastewater treatment plant to reduce similar emerging pollutants at three different pH values. The structures of 16 isolated degradation byproducts (DPs), one of which was isolated for the first time, were separated on a C-18 column via a gradient HPLC method. Then, combining mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS/TOF) and nuclear magnetic resonance, we compared commercial standards and justified a proposed formation mechanism beginning from the parent drug. Microbial growth inhibition bioassays with Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus were performed to determine the potential loss of antibacterial activity in isolated degradation byproducts. An increase of antibacterial activity in the DPs was observed compared to the parent compound.

The Simulation analogy presented in this work enhances the accessibility of abstract quantum theories, specifically the stochastic hydrodyanimc model (SQHM), by relating them to our daily experiences. The SQHM incorporates the influence of fluctuating gravitational background, resembling dark energy, into quantum equations. This model successfully addresses key aspects of Objective-Collapse Theories, including resolving the 'tails' problem through the definition of quantum potential length in addition to the De Broglie length, beyond which coherent Schrödinger quantum behavior and wavefunction tails cannot be maintained. The SQHM emphasizes that an external environment is unnecessary, asserting that the quantum stochastic behavior leading to wave-function collapse can be an inherent property of a system in a spacetime with fluctuating metrics. Embedded in relativistic quantum mechanics, the theory establishes a coherent link between the uncertainty principle and the constancy of light speed, aligning seamlessly with finite information transmission speed. Within a fluctuating quantum system, the SQHM derives the indeterminacy relation between energy and time, offering insights into measurement processes impossible within a finite time interval in a truly quantum global system. Experimental validation is found in confirming the Lindemann constant for solid lattice melting points and the transition from fluid to superfluid states. The SQHM's self-consistency lies in its ability to describe wavefunction collapse and the measure process. Additionally, the theory resolves the Pre-existing Reality problem by showing that large-scale systems naturally decay into decoherent states stable in time. Continuing, the paper demonstrates that the physical dynamics of SQHM can be analogized to a computer simulation employing optimization procedures for realization. This perspective elucidates the concept of time in contemporary reality and enriches our comprehension of free will. The overall framework introduces an irreversible process impacting the manifestation of macroscopic reality at the present time, asserting that the multiverse exists solely in future states, with the past comprising the formed universe after the current moment. Decoherence at the present time functions as a reduction of the multiverse to a single universe. The macroscopic reality, characterized by fractal consistency where microscopic domains with quantum properties coexist, provides insights into how our consciousness apprehends dynamic reality, the spontaneous emergence of gravity in discrete spacetime evolution, and the attainment of the classical General Relativity limit in Quantum Loop Gravity and Causal Dynamical Triangulation. The Simulation Analogy highlights a strategy focused on minimizing information processing, facilitating the universal simulation in solving its predetermined problem. From within, reality becomes the manifestation of specific physical laws emerging from the inherent structure of the simulation devised to address its particular issue. In this context, the reality simulation appears to employ an entropic optimization strategy, minimizing information loss while efficiently compressing data in line with the simulation's intended purpose.

In these last years, self-healing polymers have emerged as a topic of considerable interest owing to their capability to partially restore material properties and thereby extend the product's lifespan. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the nano-indentation response in terms of hardness, reduced modulus, contact depth and coefficient of friction of a self-healing resin developed for use in aeronautical and aerospace contexts. To achieve this, the bifunctional epoxy precursor underwent tailored functionalization to improve its toughness, facilitating effective compatibilization with a rubber phase dispersed within the host epoxy resin. This approach aimed to highlight the significant impact of the quantity and distribution of rubber domains within the resin on enhancing its mechanical properties. The main results are that pure resin exhibits a higher hardness (about 36.7% more) and reduced modulus (about 7% more), consequently leading to a lower contact depth and coefficient of friction (11.4% less) compared to other formulations that, conversely, are well-suited for preserving damage from mechanical stresses due to their capabilities in absorbing mechanical energy. Furthermore, finite element method (FEM) simulations of the nanoindentation process were conducted. The numerical results were meticulously compared with experimental data, demonstrating a good agreement. This validation of the FEM model underscores its efficacy in predicting the mechanical behavior of nanocomposite materials under nanoindentation. The proposed investigation aims to contribute knowledge and optimization tips about self-healing resins.

The increasing availability of longitudinal data (repeated numerical observations of same units at different times) requires the development of flexible techniques to automatically detect common errors in such data. Besides obvious and easily identifiable cases, such as missing or out-of-range data, large longitudinal dataset often present problems not easily traceable by the techniques used for generic datasets. In particular, elusive and baffling problems are i) inversion of one or more values from one unit to another; ii) anomalous jumps in the series of values, iii) errors in the timing of the values due to a recalculation operated by the data providers to compensate previous errors. This work proposes a statistical-mathematical approach based on a system of indicators that is able to capture the complexity of the described problems by working at the formal level, regardless of the specific meaning of the data. The proposed approach identifies suspect erroneous data and is applicable in a variety of contexts. We implement this approach in a relevant database of European Higher Education institutions (ETER) by analyzing Total academic staff, that is one of the most important variables, used in empirical analysis as proxy of size and also considered by policy makers at European level.

Among all Brazilian economic sectors, the livestock sector stands out due to its large production and high export volume. However, beef production is associated to significant environmental impacts, such as deforestation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. The Paris Agreement was settled to avoid that global mean temperature rise up to 1.5 – 2º C by 2100. In 2020, Brazil committed in its nationally determined contribution (NDC) to reduce its GHG emission by 43% until 2030. This study aims to identify the association of beef production and beef cattle emissions, as well as assess predictive GHG emission scenarios for 2030 and value these emissions. To translate the environmental impacts of beef production into economic impacts, and thus amplify the discussion, we valued GHG emissions using the social cost of carbon (SCC). The results showed that the business as usual (BAU) GHG emission derived from beef production would range between 0.423 and 0.634 GtCO₂e in 2030, whereas the maximum emission estimated to meet the NDC should be 0.257 GtCO₂e. The SCC revealed the opportunity to reduce between US $18.8 and $42.6 billion in the cost of BAU emissions from beef production in 2030 if the NDC is met. Lastly, assessing a scenario where climate targets and beef exports are prioritized, between 2-10 kg of beef per capita would be available in the domestic market in 2030. Our results reveal the need and urgency of changes in livestock production to emit less GHG per kg of beef produced, and the avoided monetary cost of reducing emissions.

In this review we aim to address the current status of phage therapy in the management of multidrug-resistant infections, from compassionate use cases to ongoing clinical trials, as well as the challenges this approach presents in the particular context of CF patients.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by spreading rapidly a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has imposed a unique situation for the humanity. Sao Paulo has reported 124,105 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5,623 deaths up to June 14th, being considered the epicenter of the pandemic in Brazil and in South America. Due to the measures for social distancing, there was a drop in the air pollution concentration in Sao Paulo. Starting on March 16th, 2020, we broke 90 days of social distancing into 13 weeks and compared to an equivalent period in 2019. We investigated the air quality improvement during the quarantine period and compared the associated avoided deaths to COVID-19 burden deaths. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) was the best indicator of air quality in the analyzed weeks, since its reduction reached 58 %. Our study showed that the 5,623 deaths occurred during the analyzed weeks of quarantine represents an economic health loss of US$ 10.5 billion. In opposite, we observed a significant air quality improvement due to pollutants concentrations’ reductions during the analyzed weeks. Considering PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and NO₂, the decrease of concentration levels respectively avoided 78, 337 and 387 premature deaths and prevented up to US$ 1.5 billion on health costs. These results highlight the importance of continuing to enforce existing air pollution regulations and measures to protect human health both during and after COVID-19 pandemic.

The urgency to develop vaccines against Covid-19 is putting pressure on the long and expensive development timelines which are normally required for development of lifesaving vaccines. There is a unique opportunity to take advantage of new technologies, smart and flexible design of clinical trials, and evolving regulatory science to speed up vaccine development against Covid-19 and transform vaccine development altogether.

In this work, the nearest neighbor distances and Voronoi cell features of the Cu-Ag deposits were analyzed and fitted with Lognormal, Weibull, and Gamma distributions. The nearest neighbor distance distributions of the samples were compared with those of complete spatially random points, showing spatial inhomogenity due to the nucleation exclusion effect. The radial distribution function was calculated, showing both influences from the grain size and the nucleation exclusion effect. Voronoi cells were generated based on the shape of the grains. The size, occupancy, and coordination of the Voronoi cells were examined and fitted. The results show that despite the Cu-Ag deposits seem to be governed by instantaneous nucleation mode, the spatial distribution of the nuclei is more impacted by the nucleation exclusion effect than the Cu-only samples. This behavior is also justified by the grain size distribution generated with Voronoi cell size and occupancy distributions.

Background: Amyloid beta peptides (Aβ) have been identified as the main pathogenic agents in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Soluble Aβ oligomers, rather than monomer or insoluble amyloid fibrils, show membrane-binding capacity to red blood cells (RBCs) and trigger several morphological and functional alterations in RBCs that can result in impaired oxygen transport and delivery. Since bioactive lipids have been recently proposed as potent protective agents against Aβ toxicity, we investigated the role of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in signaling pathways involved in the mechanism underlying ATP release in Aβ-treated RBCs. Methods: In RBCs following different treatments, ATP, 2,3 DPG, cAMP levels, and caspase 3 activity were determined by spectrophotometric and immunoassay. Results: S1P rescued the inhibition of ATP release from RBCs triggered by Aβ through a mechanism involving caspase-3 and restoring 2,3 DPG and cAMP levels within the cell. Conclusions: These findings reveal the molecular basis of S1P protection against Aβ in RBCs and suggest new therapeutic avenues in AD.

Regional anesthesia in postoperative pain management have developed in recent years, especially with the advent of fascial plane blocks. This study aims to compare the ultrasound-guided bilateral erector spinae plane block (ESPB) versus bilateral transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) on postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic or robotic urologic surgery. This was a retrospective observational study; 97 patients (ESPB-group) received bilateral ultrasound-guided ESPB with 20 mL of ropivacaine 0.375% plus 0.5 mcg/kg of dexmedetomidine in each side at the level of T7-T9, and 93 patients (TAPB-group) received bilateral ultrasound-guided TAPB with ropivacaine 0.375% or 0.25%. The primary outcome was post-operative numeric rating scale (NRS) pain score, which was significantly lower in the ESPB-group on postoperative days 0, 2, and 3 (p=0.012, p=0.016 and p=0.004). Concerning the secondary outcomes, consumption of ropivacaine was significantly lower in ESPB-group (p<0.001) and the total amount of analgesic rescue doses was significantly lower in the ESPB-group than TAPB-group in postoperative days from 2 to 4 (1 vs 3, p>0.001). Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was higher in the TAPB-group and no block related complications were observed. We conclude that ESPB provide better postoperative pain control with less consumption of local anesthetic and less total rescue analgesic therapies.

Obesity represents a worldwide epidemic disorder, increasing the overall morbidity and mortality rate. In this study we investigated the impact of obesity on peri-operative and long-term functional outcomes of Robotic assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP). Baseline flowmetry parameters and validated questionnaires’ scores were prospectively recorded. Follow-up assessments included Flowmetry and validated questionnaires. Composite outcomes (Trifecta) was defined as combination of: post-operative Q-max>15 ml/sec, IPSS score<8 and absence of complications. Pentafecta included also post-operative ejaculation persistence (MSHQ score>0) and the Erectile function maintenance (∆IEEF<6). Data were stratified by BMI (<30 or ≥30). 81 patients underwent RASP in our Institution. Baseline demographics and clinical features, questionnaires score and baseline flowmetry results were comparable between obese and non-obese cohorts. At follow-up, obese patients reported lower subjective improvement in IPSS (p=0.02) and OABQ scores (p<0.001) and higher incidence of stress incontinence requiring Duloxetin (p<0.001). Flowmetry outcomes, were also worse in this cohort (p=0.02 and p=0.03, respectively). At comprehensive outcomes assessment, obese patients had comparable Trifecta (67% vs 54%, p=0.39) and pentafecta achievement rate (p=0.76). Our prelimirary results proved that obesity is associated with worse functional outcomes (storage LUTS and incontinence rate) after RASP, but doesn’t affect trifecta and pentafecta achievement rate.

Pediatric psychology action in the pediatric clinical-surgical high complexity unit has become increasingly necessary. It allows for the possibility of integrating complex pediatric clinical-surgical operations by reducing painful effects on the emotional world of children and adolescents. The pediatric psychologist in a pediatric unit continuously oversees children and adolescents (C/A) throughout the entire therapeutic process, extending activity to parents and healthcare personnel. In ill children and adolescents, physical pain and psychological suffering follow, with minimal temporary variations, the same clinical path with continuous changes which put a strain on the ability of children, adolescents, parents and healthcare staff to cope with stress.

The genus Strophantus belongs to the Apocynaceae family of flowering plants which grows primarily in tropical Africa. The plants are widely used in traditional herbal medicine. S. sarmentosus, in particular, is used for the treatment of, e.g., joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis, wound infections, head lice, diarrhoea, snake bite, and eye conditions. Despite the widespread use, dedicated research characterizing bioactive plant components is scarce. Investigations focussed mainly on the cardenolides, because of their cardioactivity and historical use as cardiotonic. There are also studies concerning the antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of plant extracts. This review summarizes the present knowledge about the biochemical and analytical reserach on Strophantus, in general, and S. sarmentosus, in particular, and describes the current state-of-the-field based on the available sientific literature.

In the last four years, the evolution and adoption of blockchain and, more generally, distributed ledger systems have shown the affirmation of many concepts and models with significant differences in system governance and suitable applications. This work aims to update the critical analysis of blockchain technologies carried out by our previous contribution to this journal, extending the focus to distributed ledger components and systems. Starting from the topical concept of decentralization, we introduce concepts and building blocks currently adopted in the available systems centering on their functional aspects and impact on possible applications. We present some conceptual framing tools helpful in the application context, and we will propose the concept of process authenticity, which we will discuss through two use cases: blockchain document dematerialization and e-voting.

Human Adenovirus (HAdV) infection occurs in 14-16% of patients in the early months after pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and this correlates with a higher risk to develop HAdV disease and overall 6-month mortality. The main risk factors for HAdV infection are T-cell depletion of the graft by ex vivo CD34+ selection or in vivo use of alemtuzumab or anti-thymocyte serum, the development of grade III-IV graft versus host disease (GVHD), the type of donor (unrelated donor, cord blood, haploidentical or HLA mismatched parent) and severe lymphopenia (< 0.2 x 109/L). The prevention of HAdV disease is based on early intervention with antivirals in the asymptomatic patient when the permitted viral load threshold on blood (> 102-3 copies/ml) and/or on the stool (109 copies/g stool) is exceeded. Cidofovir, a monophosphate nucleotide analog of cytosine, is the primary drug for preemptive therapy, used at 5 mg/kg/week for 2 weeks followed by 3-5 mg/kg every 2 weeks. The alternative schedule is 1 mg/kg every other day (three times/week). Enhancing virus-specific T-cell immunity in the first months post-HCT by donor-derived or third-party-derived virus-specific T cells represents an innovative and promising way of intervention applicable both in prevention and therapeutic setting.

The huge advancement of Internet web facilities as well as the progress in computing and algorithm development, along with current innovations regarding high-throughput techniques enables the scientific community to gain access to biological datasets, clinical data, and several databases containing billions of information concerning scientific knowledge. Consequently, during the last decade the system for managing, analyzing, processing and extrapolating information from scientific data has been considerably modified in several fields including the medical one. As a consequence of the mentioned scenario, scientific vocabulary was enriched by novel lexicons such as Machine Learning (ML)/Deep Learning (DL) and overall Artificial Intelligence (AI). Beyond the terminology, these computational techniques are revolutionizing the scientific research in drug discovery pitch, from the preclinical studies to clinical investigation. Interestingly, between preclinical and clinical research, the translational research is benefitting from computer-based approaches, transforming the design and execution of the translational research, resulting in breakthroughs for advancing human health. Accordingly, in this review article, we analyze the most advanced applications of AI in translational medicine, providing an up-to-date outlook regarding this emerging field.

This paper presents and discusses the pedagogical implication of teaching Shared Value, presenting a case study about a contamination lab namely the case of the Shared Value Living Lab (SVLL) which took place at the University of Torino (UniTO) in Italy. The paper analyzes the pedagogical side of CSV (arguments, topics, learning methodologies, etc.) in the framework of recent theories and approaches of teaching sustainability in business school and in the cooperation between industry and academia, as well. Our research methodology relies on the analysis and comparison of one case study under an intrinsic as it enables researchers to find “interactivity” and connectedness between the individuals participating. The SVLL case is an interesting example of co-creation of social value between academia and its stakeholders. First, it represents an inclusive project linking society and business; second, SVLL acted as a hub putting in contact different interlocutors; third, SVLL training stimulated the acquisition of soft skill in students (interviews, managing relations, represents the project outside university, explaining the project to people, research curiosity) through contamination activities. With our study, we demonstrate the change in students participating in the SVLL may not only be cognitive but also affective, making students feel hopeful, empowered and liberated, and ready to contribute to a more profound change towards the vast array of pro-sustainability behaviors.

We apply the stochastic thermodynamics formalism to describe the dynamics of systems of complex Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations. We provide in particular a simple and general recipe to calculate thermodynamical currents, dissipated and propagating heat for networks of nonlinear oscillators. By using the Hodge decomposition of thermodynamical forces and fluxes, we derive a formula for entropy production that generalises the notion of non-potential forces and makes transparent the breaking of detailed balance and of time reversal symmetry for states arbitrarily far from equilibrium. Our formalism is then applied to describe the off-equilibrium thermodynamics of a few examples, notably a continuum ferromagnet, a network of classical spin-oscillators and the Frenkel-Kontorova model of nano friction.

Bilateral recurrent nerve damage following total thyroidectomy in thyroid surgery represents severe complications. These complications have almost low incidence thanks also by using the Nerve Intraoperative Monitoring. The aim of this observational retrospective study is to evaluate the inception mode and the recovery time for different clinical laryngeal pictures that arise from this surgery. We enrolled 25 patients with bilateral vocal folds mobility deficit between October 2017 and October 2022, diagnosed in ENT Unit of University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, out of a total of 1417 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy. The 25 patients (23F,2M) aged from 24 to 78 years old (average age 51.7) presented a bilateral vocal folds motility deficit (occurring in about 0.1% of cases). All patients underwent 9 months diagnostic/therapeutic process, which started approximately 30 days after thyroid surgery. There are several outcomes of these complications with functional laryngeal defects being mainly related to respiratory and phonatory activities. These clinical manifestations evolve in different ways within a context of a wide range of possibilities, from spontaneous bilateral or monolateral recovery to functional or surgical restoration. This study allowed the acquisition of useful information about prognostic indications and an adequate therapeutic process, based on the specific clinical characteristics.

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.

In the field of 18F-chemistry for the development of radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission tomography (PET), various labeling strategies by the use of prosthetic groups have been im-plemented, including chemoselective 18F-labeling of biomolecules. Among those, chemoselec-tive 18F-fluoroglycosylation methods focus on the sweetening of pharmaceutical radiochemistry by offering a highly valuable tool for the synthesis of 18F-glycoconjugates with suitable in vivo properties for PET imaging studies. A previous review covered the various 18F-fluoroglycosylation methods that have been developed and applied as of 2014 [Maschauer and Prante, BioMed. Res. Int. 2014, 214748]. This paper is an updated review, providing the recent progress in 18F-fluoroglycosylation reactions and the preclinical application of 18F-glycoconjugates, including small molecules, peptides, and high-molecular-weight proteins.

Cetacean Morbillivirus, the most relevant pathogen impacting the health and conservation of cetaceans worldwide, has shown in recent years an increased tendency to cross “interspecies barriers”, thereby giving rise to disease and mortality outbreaks in free-ranging dolphins and whales. The present article deals with the evolutionary “trajectories” of this viral pathogen, likely originating from Rinderpest Virus, along with its “journey” from land to sea (and viceversa), mimicking that of cetaceans' terrestrial ancestors.

Some qualitative results are provided on the cylindrical version of the Lane-Emden equation. Although the explicit form of the solution is not exactly known, we establish some properties on the critical points of the solution in some specific cases and we propose a technique to evaluate the distance between a pair of solutions in small intervals.

Sudden unexpected death (SUD) is a fatal event that occurs in an apparently healthy subject so that such an abrupt outcome could have not been predicted. SUD - including sudden intrauterine unexplained death (SIUD), sudden neonatal unexpected death (SNUD), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), sudden unexpected death of the young (SUDY), sudden unexpected death in the adult (SUDA) - occurs as the first manifestation of an unknown underlying disease or within a few hours of presentation of a disease. SUD is a major unsolved, shocking form of death that occurs frequently and can happen at any time without warning. For each case of SUD, a review of clinical history data and performance of a complete autopsy, particularly focused on the study of the cardiac conduction system were carried out according to the necropsy protocol devised by the Lino Rossi Research Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy. Research cases are represented by 75 SUD victims, subdivided into 15 SIUD, 15 SNUD, 15 SUDY, and 15 SUDA victims, collected and selected for this study. After the routine autopsy and clinical history analysis, the death remained unexplained and hence a diagnosis of SUD was assigned to the 75. subjects, which included45 females (60%) and 30 (40%) males, ranging in age from 27 gestational weeks to 76 years. Serial sections of the cardiac conduction system disclosed frequent congenital alterations, of the cardiac conduction system in fetuses and infants. An age-related significant difference in distribution among the 5 age-related groups was detected for the following anomalies of the conduction system: central fibrous body (CFB) islands of conduction tissue, fetal dispersion, resorptive degeneration, Mahaim fiber, CFB cartilaginous meta-hyperplasia, His bundle septation, sino-atrial node (SAN) artery fibromuscular thickening, atrio-ventricular junction hypoplasia, intramural right bundle branch, and SAN hypoplasia. The results data are useful to understand the cause of death for all SUD cases that were unexpected and would have otherwise remained unexplained, so to motivate medical examiners and pathologists to perform more in-depth studies.

Customers make purchases through a multi-stage, omnichannel process, which now extends to social media. A loyalty loop can be achieved when an existing customer bypasses the initial stages –consider and evaluate– to make a direct purchase. However, to build that loyalty loop, a retailer must embrace techniques and software across social media marketing, social CRM, and omnichannel CRM. Reviewing literature from academic researchers and industry practitioners, this paper identifies emerging industry trends and discusses an illustrative case study of a UK digital retailer. The importance of social media for omnichannel retailing and building loyalty is highlighted and discussed.

This paper extends previous research on the influence of social media and digital channels on customer purchase behaviour by presenting a new omnichannel purchasing model. We characterise that model as a “virtuous circle” as it centres around customer use of social media and has potential to benefit both customers and companies. We illustrate that model with a worked example, discuss approaches to its implementation and evaluate its use in the context of a business case study. The model creates a framework that combines elements of digital marketing, social CRM, omnichannel CRM, and customer experience and engagement. This paper bridges academic and industry practitioner communities across those fields.

School-museum relations have gained considerable attention in the academic literature in recent decades. However, there still needs to be more research on their role in enhancing science education. This work reports the outcomes of the recovery, study, and valorization of the 18th-century geo-mineralogical collection belonging to the Collegio Nazareno, now housed at the Istituto San Giuseppe Calasanzio in Rome. The project consisted of four phases: 1) the securing of more than 1720 specimens; 2) their cataloging using the Italian national catalographic standards for the mineralogical and petrological heritage; 3) the establishment of new exhibit and storage areas; 4) the development of a self-instructive exhibition itinerary. The project, which was participated by the students enrolled in the fourth and fifth high school classes, revealed fascinating and unique specimens such as the ones collected by prominent Italian naturalists –e.g., Scipione Breislak (1750–1826) and Carlo Giuseppe Gismondi (1762–1824) – or those comprising the mineralogical collection donated by the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II (1741–1740) to the Mineralogical Cabinet of the Collegio Nazareno in 1785. This work thus offers significant insights into the importance of natural history school museums as useful (and oft-forgotten) learning tools in science education.

Tourism may not sustainably support territories with limited natural resource stock as islands. The volume in visitor arrivals and the industry investments can increase the pressure even beyond sustainable levels. There is an evident and unresolved tension between these two great polarities, sustainability and economic growth driven by tourism. The aim for policymakers is to find an acceptable equilibrium between these two dimensions. This paper investigates the tourism evolution between 2007 and 2019 in 15 Mediterranean islands, comparing the tourism pressures through statistical indicators. The analysis will compare tourism demand and supply trends in these contexts. The performances will be evaluated to identify the Islands positioning between sustainability needs and tourism development opportunities considering post-covid-19 challenges.

The COVID-19 pandemics has had an unprecedented global impact, and the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign has been commonly regarded as crucial to overcome the pandemics. Since all-cause mortality is the best way to measure the consequences of a health intervention, the present study was devised to analyze the all-cause mortality data of the United Kingdom (UK), which are made publicly available broken down by vaccination status. Data from April 2021 to May 2023 were retrospectively collected and analyzed according to age groups and vaccination status and the Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) for all-cause mortality and for non-COVID-19 were calculated in comparison to the corresponding unvaccinated groups. Results show that, since an age group dependent date, the all-cause mortality SMRs were increasing in any of the age groups considered. Initially, the all-causes death SMRs were less than 1 for all age groups, but due to their growth, for the age groups 18-39, 80-89 and 90+ years by a certain date they exceeded the reference value. For the other age groups, as long as the trend is maintained, it is possible to predict the date in which the SMR would reach the value 1. Non-COVID-19 SMR values show a very similar trend. Their initial values much lower than 1 suggest the presence of significant biases in the ONS dataset which lead to an underestimation of the risks for those vaccinated, as it is not plausible that the vaccine protects from causes other than COVID-19. The finding that all-cause mortality SMRs in vaccinated in comparison to unvaccinated people increases over time requires careful examination to understand the underlying factors. Meanwhile, the other major countries should undertake a systematic collection of all-causes mortality broken down by vaccination status, and should be implemented a moratorium of the promotion of mass vaccination campaigns.

Mesenchymal stem cells due to their multipotent ability are considered one of the best candidates to be used in regenerative medicine. The most used source of those stem cells long the last decades was the bone marrow, despite its limited cell resources and the painful and very invasive surgical treatment. Therefore, the scientific community investigated many alternative sources for the harvesting of these stem cell subpopulations. Adipose tissue attracted the biggest interest thanks to special features, such as great tissue abundance, easy availability, and in the end the large amount of positive mesenchymal stem cells. Once it was verified that these stem cell subpopulations possess the same bone marrow differentiation potential, it became evident that they would be the ideal candidate to be used in regenerative and tissue engineering applications. Even the regenerative use of these cells long become a sensitive point because not all the acquired phenotypes resulted in the best source for plastic procedures. As documented in the literature, the ideal fillers for regenerative is represented by stem cell population. Therefore, it became crucial to investigate any kind of biological mechanism on the differentiative ability of those mesenchymal stem cells, especially their regulative factors. One of the most studied and important regulators are the miRNAs. Indeed, miRNA play a crucial role in the differentiation process of adipose stem cell cultures isolated from patients or obtained by commercial cell lines toward osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes differentiated populations.

Contemporary diagnostic practice in psychiatry relies on the tick-box approach of diagnostic manuals. In light of the obvious limitations of diagnostic systems, narrative formulations, whether in the form of biological, psychodynamic or behavioural cognitive ones, have been proposed. Their approach, which can be caricatured as one of drawing arrows, enriches our clinical tools and practice but in their explicitly theoretical orientation, as well as expanding the field of discovery, they also constrain it. In two previous papers I summarized the resulting limitations, with specific reference to the patient’s experience and proposed further enriching clinical perspicacity by attending to images and parataxis. The specific intent of attending to the patient’s experiences through a process that explicitly eschews narrativization, but allows clinical phenomena to “hang loose”, is to facilitate a process of clinical discovery and healing through practices of co-production between patient and clinician. In the present paper, I expand the range of phenomena that may assist in this co-production through adding attention to dreams to that of images and parataxis. In particular, I turn to the work of the Italian novelist Guido Morselli. Morselli agrues that the self is created through bundling experiences together through acts of “will” in order to establish our personal narrative. In doing so, however, the “will” forbids access to phenomena that do not fit the dominant narrative. Experience is therefore impoverished. Dream consciousness is a type of consciousness not harnessed by the constraints of narrativity. It allows a slipping of the narrative vigilance which bundles phenomena together to create a coherent narrative and thus offers a richer menu of potential experiences, including “bizarre” images that can serve to challenge our usual self-narrative and offer a new perspective on ourselves.

ORF7b-2 is an accessory protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus of only 43 amino acids. It has been implicated in various functional hypotheses, some of which predict its involvement as a trans-membrane protein. In this study, ORF7b-2 has often been compared to ORF7b-1 of the SARS virus to highlight differences and similarities with a protein that should have a similar biological role. Structural analysis of ORF7b-2 and its electrostatic characteristics show a polypeptide with both ends negatively charged and a diffuse negative charge over the entire structure. Therefore, its behavior in solution is like that of a weak negative polyelectrolyte, more precisely a polyanion with a net charge of – 4 at neutral pH. Its structure was modeled with two different modeling systems, one of which was ab initio. The two best models are similar, as confirmed by the Ramachandran plot, and show a central alpha-helical structure with two disordered and mobile ends. A normal mode analysis characterized the low-frequency dynamic aspects of the protein. The analysis of the structural shows a rigid central segment with mobile and fluctuating extremities, involved in a conformational equilibrium of the helix ↔ coil type. The calculation of the dipole moment shows its vector is not aligned with the main axis of the structure with an outward tilt of 24°. Molecular dynamics simulations were also conducted and the one in water is in good agreement with the previous results. While, the simulation performed by inserting a pre-oriented dimer (OMP) into a solvated lipid showed the low tendency of the protein to solvate in the apolar environment of the membrane. ORF7b-2 also shows a widespread distribution of negative surfaces that dynamically adjust to changes in structural organization. The BioGrid platform's [Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets] through the BioGrid COVID-19 Coronavirus Curation Project shows a very large number of experimentally proven physical interactions unique to ORF7b-2, some of them with cytoplasmic proteins. These features of ORF7b-2, evaluated together, suggest a remarkable propensity of ORF7b-2 to interact with multiple molecular partners on both an electrostatic and hydrophobic basis. All this makes it unreasonable that the only biological function of this protein should be that exerted as an intramembrane protein.

The statistical bundle is the set of couples $(Q,W)$ of a probability density Q and a random variable W such that $\mathbb{E}$_Q [W] = 0. On a finite state space, we assume Q to be a probability density with respect to the uniform probability and give an affine atlas of charts such that the resulting manifold is a model for Information Geometry. Velocity and accelleration of a one-dimensional statistical model are computed in this set up. The Euler-Lagrange equations are derived from the Lagrange action integral. An example of Lagrangian using minus the entropy as potential energy is briefly discussed.

Variance-driven decomposition based on the singular spectrum analysis of the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) dD, CO2 and CH4 records allowed a novel quantitative structural interpretation of all glacial/interglacial cycles and glacial terminations of the last 800 kyr. This bottom-up approach used the response components of EPICA stacked records to reconstruct the envelope of the thermal response through a physical interference model. The aim was to improve the understanding regarding the features of intensity, amplitude, and asymmetry of 73 marine isotope stages (MIS) and seven terminations. The Antarctic stack record can be described by a variance-weighted interference model of ten thermal waves of different origins (mid-term oscillation, orbitals and suborbitals) that stochastically interfere at a given time according to their relative differences in frequency, intensity, and polarity. Interglacial/glacial stages resulted from constructive interference and bipolar amplification of warming/cooling responses, respectively. The low intensity MISs (including 90% of substages) and the unbiased-dated terminations fell in the low interference regions where dominant destructive patterns minimise the thermal envelope. The positive skewness of the EPICA stack resulted from the constructive interference with a strong bias in the warming direction, especially after the Mid-Brunhes Event. Duration analysis of short eccentricity hemicycles exhibited an intrinsic unexpectedly prolonged mean cooling in the nominal solution (5.8 kyr) and its EPICA response as well (8.6 kyr), along with an interference-induced asymmetry (21.1 kyr). The overall effect resulted in the saw-tooth shape of glacial cycles which is heavily induced by interference and related to the intermediate feedback mechanisms controlled by short eccentricity.

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.

A brief overview of the past and present trajectories made by the A(H5N1) avian influenza virus among domestic birds, avian and mammalian wildlife species and humans is presented here, thereby taking into special account the 2.3.4.4b clade of the virus recently emerged in several geographic areas of the globe.

The strictness of the result of an excavation, whether mechanical or by means of explosives, is naturally conditioned by the objective, and therefore by the type of technique applied to achieve it. To attain the best results in terms of rock breakage and respect of the final profile, it’s important to evaluate the excavation specific energy and its optimization. This research focuses on evaluating the effects of different techniques on the quality of final walls in open-pit and underground operations. Different geometries and configurations can be applied to both quarrying and tunnelling blasts. The research is aimed to push contour blasts to their limits, and the main aspects are discussed in order to improve the blast parameters in the daily practice.

Triangular resonators re-shaped with the Sierpinski geometry and U-shaped resonators have been designed, linking them with single-pole-double-through (SPDT) RF MEMS switches to provide frequency tuning for potential applications in the K-Band. Prototypes of band-stop narrowband filters working around 20 GHz and 26 GHz, interesting for RADAR and satellite communications, have been studied in coplanar waveguide (CPW) configuration, and the tuning was obtained by switching between two paths of the devices loaded with different resonators. As a result, dual-band operation or fine-tuning can be obtained depending on the choice of the resonator, acting as a building block. The studied filters belong to the more general group of devices inspired by the metamaterial design.

Abstract: Cancer cells are originated by normal cells and with those share the need to be fed. Metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells is not yet fully understood although there is a vast literature suggesting that huge amounts of both energy and substrates are require for synthesis of components of new neoplastic cells so that any macronutrient may be efficiently utilized. Recently, in vitro data show that EAA supplementation promoted colon cancer cells apoptosis by enhanced autophagy. Therefore, in this study we tested in vivo the effects of matched macronutrients standard laboratory diet (control) versus EAA rich modified diet (EAArmd) in mice injected with colon cancer cells. Results of the first set of 12 animals, 6 controls and 6 EAArmd-fed, showed that controls mice develop cancer volume cancers 5 times larger and heavier than EAArmd-fed. If confirmed, these results would open new scenarios for the cancer integrate therapies.

The paper aims at presenting the results obtained in the development of a system allowing the detection and monitoring of forest fires and the continuous comparison of their intensity when several events occur simultaneously, as usually happens in the European Mediterranean countries during the summer season. The system, called SFIDE (Satellite FIre DEtection), exploits a geostationary satellite sensor (SEVIRI on board of MSG satellite series). The algorithm was developed several years ago in the framework of a project (SIGRI) funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). This algorithm has been completely reviewed in order to enhance its efficiency by reducing false alarms rate preserving a high sensitivity. Due to the very low spatial resolution of SEVIRI images (4x4 km² at Mediterranean latitude) the sensitivity of the algorithm should be very high to detect even small fires. The improvement of the algorithm has been obtained by: introducing the sun elevation angle in the computation of the preliminary thresholds to identify potential thermal anomalies (hot spots), introducing a contextual analysis in the detection of clouds and in the detection of night-time fires. The results of the algorithm have been validated in the Sardinia region by using ground true data provided by the regional Corpo Forestale e di Vigilanza Ambientale (CFVA). A significant reduction of the commission error (less than 10%) has been obtained with respect to the previous version of the algorithm and also with respect to fire-detection algorithms based on low earth orbit satellites.

Keywords: oligozoospermia; male infertility; epididymis; scrotal exploration; scrotal ultrasound; partial epididymal obstruction

Cannabis has long been used for its medicinal and psychoactive properties. With the relatively new adoption of formal medicinal cannabis regulations worldwide, the study of cannabinoids, both endogenous and exogenous, has similarly flourished in more recent decades. In particular, research investigating the role of cannabinoids in regeneration and neurodevelopment has yielded promising results in vertebrate models. However, regeneration-competent vertebrates are few, whereas a myriad of invertebrate species have been established as superb models for regeneration. As such, this review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the endocannabinoid system, with a focus on current advances in the area of endocannabinoid system contributions to invertebrate neurodevelopment and regeneration.

Hymenoscyphus albidus is a native fungus in Europe where it behaves as a harmless decomposer of leaves of common ash. Its close relative Hymenoscyphus fraxineus was introduced into Europe from Asia and currently threatens ash (Fraxinus sp.) stands all across the continent causing ash dieback. H. fraxineus isolates from Europe were previously shown to harbor a mycovirus named Hymenoscyphus fraxineus Mitovirus 1 (HfMV1). In the present study, we describe a conspecific mycovirus that we detected in H. albidus. HfMV1 was consistently identified in H. albidus isolates (mean prevalence: 49.3%) which were collected in the sampling areas before the arrival of ash dieback. HfMV1 strains in both fungal hosts contain a single ORF of identical length (717 AA) for which a mean pairwise identity of 94.5% was revealed. The occurrence of a conspecific mitovirus in H. albidus and H. fraxineus is most likely the result of parallel virus evolution in the two fungal hosts. HfMV1 sequences from H. albidus showed a higher nucleotide diversity and a higher number of mutations compared to those from H. fraxineus, probably due to a bottleneck caused by the introduction of H. fraxineus in Europe. Our data also points to multiple interspecific virus transfers from H. albidus to H. fraxineus, which could have contributed to the intraspecific virus diversity found in H. fraxineus.

Lattice structures have emerged as promising materials for aerospace structures applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratios, customizable properties, and efficient use of materials. These properties make them at-tractive for use in anti-ice systems, where lightweight and heat exchanging are essential. This paper presents an extensive experimental investigation into mechanical compression properties of lattice trusses fabricated from AlSi10Mg powder alloy, a material commonly used in casted aerospace parts. The truss structures were manufactured using additive manufacturing Selective Laser Melting technique and subjected to uniaxial compressive loading to assess their performance. The results demonstrate that AlSi10Mg lattice trusses exhibit remarkable compressive strength with strong correlations depending upon both topology and cells’ parameters setup. The finding described highlights the potential of AlSi10Mg alloy as a promising material for custom truss fabrication, offering customizable cost-effective and lightweight solutions for aerospace market. The paper also emphasizes the role of additive manufacturing in producing complex structures with pointwise tailored mechanical properties.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a persistent neurodevelopment disorder frequently co-occurring with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and behavior-related disorders. While behavioral therapy is the first-line option to manage ASD core symptoms, pharmacological therapy is sometimes needed to treat acute problems, such as agitation and aggressive behaviors. Recent guidelines recommend neuroleptics to reduce psychomotor agitation in people with ASD. However, since children with ASD are often drug-resistant, alternative treatments are often justified. Reports from literature showed that intra-venous valproate (IV-VPA) can be effective in reducing agitation in psychiatric patients, with lower frequency of adverse events compared to convention-al treatments. However, since findings are occasionally inconsistent, IV-VPA is not an approved option in clinical psychiatry. We aim at improving the knowledge on the IV-VPA treatment option in emergency psychiatry in the pediatric age. Methods: We report the case of a 11-year-old boy suffering from a complex neurodevelopmental condition, who experienced a psychotic episode with severe aggressive and disruptive behaviors, successfully treated with IV-VPA. Besides, we conducted an up-dated literature review on this topic. Conclusion: In our case, first-line therapies proved to be ineffective. On the contrary, IV-VPA led to a safe and prompt clinical success, in line with other reports. Based on our literature review, IV-VPA can be highly effective and can reduce the risk of adverse events that frequently occur with the use of high-dose standard medications in emergency psychiatry.

The scratch test consists in pushing a tool across the surface of a material at a given penetration depth or applied load. It has several applications in Science and Engineering including strength testing, damage and quality control of thin films and coatings. Despite numerous attempts in scientific literature, the application of scratch test to characterizations of fracture properties remains a heavily controversial topic. Therefore, this investigation arises as an experimental study in order to assess the fracture toughness using scratch test. A study on the effect of cryogenic treatment, performed after tempering, on fracture toughness, via scratch test experiments, of different tool steels has been made. A laboratory investigation on AISI D2, AISI M2 and X105CrCoMo18 steel confirms the possibility of increasing the fracture toughness by carrying out the cryogenic treatment after the usual heat treatment

Abstract: Background: Hemopexin (Hx) is a plasma glycoprotein that scavenges heme (Fe(III) protoporphyrin IX), Hx have important implication in hemolytic disorders and hemorrhagic condition because the release of hemoglobin increase labile heme, which is potentially toxic producing oxidative stress. Hx has been considered for therapeutic use and diagnostics. In this work, we analyzed and mapped interaction sequences of Hx with hemin and hemoglobin (2) Methods: Spot-synthesis technique was used to map human hemopexin (P02790) binding to hemin and human hemoglobin, a library of 15 amino acid peptides with a 10-amino acid overlap was designed to represent the entire coding region (aa 1-462) of hemopexin and synthesized onto cellulose membranes. In silico approach was performed to analyze amino acid frequency in identified interaction regions, and molecular docking was applied for protein-protein interaction (3) Results: Seven linear peptide sequences in Hx were identified to bind hemin (H1-H7), and five were described for Hb (Hb1-Hb5) interaction, with just two sequences shared between hemin and Hb. Amino acid composition of identified sequences demonstrated that Histidine residues are relevant for heme binding, H105, H293, H373, H400, H429, and H462 was distributed in H1-H7 peptide sequences, but other residues may also play an important role. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated Hx association with the β-chain of Hb, with several hot spot amino acids that coordinated interaction. (4) Conclusions: This study highlights new insights on Hx-hemin binding motifs and protein-protein interactions with Hb. Binding sequences and identified specific peptides can be used for therapeutic purposes and diagnostics, as hemopexin is under investigation to treat different diseases, and there is an urgent need for diagnostics of labile heme for monitoring hemolysis.

Darier disease (DD) is an autosomal dominant disorder due to mutation of ATP2A2 gene causing an isolated skin manifestation based on keratinocyte disconnection and apoptosis. Systemic manifestations of DD have not been demonstrated so far although a high incidence of neuropsychiatric syndromes suggest an involvement of central nervous system. A Novel ATP2A2 Gene Mutation c.118G>A, causing keratinocyte and cardiomyocyte disconnection in Darier disease, is reported. Their common pathologic pathway, still unreported, was documented by both skin and left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy because of cardiac dilatation and dysfunction appeared several decades after skin manifestations.Keratinocyte disconnection was paralleled by cardiomyocyte separation at lateral junction. Cardiomyocyte separation was associated to cell disarray, sarcoplasmic reticulum dilatation and increased myocyte apoptosis. Clinically, hyperkeratotic skin papules were associated to chest pain, severe muscle exhaustion and ventricular arrhythmias that improved following administration of aminophylline, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor enhancing SERCA2 protein phosphorylation.Specific mutations of ATP2A2 gene may cause cardiac involvement in patients with DD. Cardiac pathologic changes are similar to those documented in the skin including cardiomyocyte disconnection that promotes precordial pain and cardiac arrhythmias. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors, enhancing SERCA2 protein phosphorylation may substantially attenuate the symptoms.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is useful in the most dangerous maneuvers such as braking and acceleration. This study assesses how ACC modifies traffic flows by analysing the differences be-tween manual and autonomous driving in connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). Using a platoon of 80 vehicles, tested in pairs on the road, it was possible to define the speed trends during braking and acceleration and the reaction times to the driving maneuvers (PRT, TH, TCC) with a kinematic data detector. The interactions between the CAV and the driver, have been studied in-novatively, i.e through gaze analysis. Situations of potential danger, characterized by the braking of the vehicle that precedes the car with the driver equipped with the eye tracker tool, have been recreated, considering the influence of the driver’s ACC experience. Results statistically confirmed that with the ACC switched on the reaction times are greater than manual driving (2.4/3.8 sec); this can lead to a reduction in road safety, further motivated by the rapid decrease in speed. The interpolation between automated and human data, finally, has allowed the detection of some criticalities of the system that are fundamental in order to reach the second level of automation.

The presence of heavy metals in industrial effluents has recently become a source of concern for human health and the environment. Efficient removal of metal ions and wastewater treatment is essential for protecting public health and the environment. In this study, we present an eco-friendly, green synthesis of reactive and fully dispersed zerovalent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) in carbon nanofibers via an electrospinning technique. In this novel study, green tea (GT) was used as environmentally friendly, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used for the stabilization and reduction of nZVI, and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was added to provide flexibility and to increase the specific surface area of the nZVI based nanofibers. GT contains polyphenols, which act as reducing agents, converting iron ions into nZVI and the particles can then serve as the building blocks for the carbon nanofibers. TEOS can also contribute to the stability of the nZVI by coating their surfaces with a silica layer. This silica layer helps prevent the oxidation of the nZVI, thereby reducing their catalytic activity. The nZVI-based composite (∼ 400 nm) / carbonized (∼ 200 nm) nanofibrous mats were fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The average size of the nZVI embedded in the composite and carbonized nanofibers can range from 50 nm to 100 nm. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of nZVI-based carbon nanofibers showed that there is no crystallinity and a single-phase cubic structure. Both energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis also confirmed the formation of single-phase nZVI-based composite / carbonized nanofibers. The high intensity of the peaks in the FTIR spectrum indicates the formation of nZVI in the nanofibers structure. The electrospun nZVI-based carbon nanofibers have a higher surface area and better reactivity due to small particle size and large surface area-to-volume ratio. They can provide excellent water stability and dispersibility in water compared to bulk nZVI, which tend to agglomerate and settle quickly. Additionally, nanofiber morphology can enhance the mechanical strength and durability of the composite material. Due to low-cost synthesis and their high efficiency in removing pollutants, these nanofibers could be used as nano-filters for wastewater treatment.

In this study the effects of three different main preparatory tillage operations [ploughing at 0.4 m (P40) and 0.20 m (P20) depth and minimum tillage at 0.20 m depth (MT) each of them carried out at two different soil water contents (WC) [low, 58% (LH) and high, 80% (HH) of field capacity] were investigated. The results obtained in this research show high values of soil strength in term of Penetration resistance (CI) and shear strength (SS) particularly in deeper soil layers at lower water content. Fossil-fuel energy requirements both for P40 LH and P20 LH were 25 and 35% higher with respect to the HH treatments and tractor slip were very high (P40 LH = 32.4%) with respect to the P40 HH treatment (16%). Therefore soil water content had significantly influenced tractor performance during soil ploughing, particularly at 0.40 m depth while MT was not influenced at all. A significant correlation between grain yield and soil penetration resistance was found highlighting how soil strength may be good indicator of its productivity. Obtained results during these field tests allowed considering MT and P20 treatments more suitable for this type of soil in climate change scenarios.

(1) Background: The aim of the work was to characterize the climatic evolution and change based on the Multi Criteria Classification through the dynamics of bioclimatic indices in viticulture across Italy and its regional administrative boundaries, focusing on latitudes and elevations. (2) Methods: The impact of climate change on viticulture in Italy was analysed and spatialized with reference to historical data from 1991 to 2021 and to the Future Scenarios up to 2080 assumed by SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, taking into account 13 GCMs. (3) Results: The bioclimatic indices have all shown a significant trend in the historical period, with an increase in temperature and a decrease in precipitation, reflecting their effects on the entire Italian territory with respect to HI, up to 44°N for CI and up to 46°N for DI, regardless of altitude. The Future Scenarios highlighted a shift towards the warmer classes of the two temperature-based indices (HI and CI) for both SSPs, especially for altitudes up to 900 m a.s.l.. The DI-based classification based on DI remained relatively stable in Italy over time, although DI values will become increasingly negative in the near future. (4) Conclusions: The climate in Italy is warming, especially in the south and in the coastal regions. By 2080, more areas will be “Very Hot” with “Warm Nights.” Drought will also increase and have a negative impact on viticulture. The importance of higher latitudes and altitudes in mitigating the effects of climate change justifies the continuing trend towards the relocation of vineyards as a medium-term solution and as an alternative to targeted cultivation methods that must be adopted in the short-term to safeguard the suitability of an area to quality viticulture.

The Upper Hunter Valley is a major coal mining area containing approximately 40% of the currently identified total coal reserves in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Due to the ongoing increase of mining activities, PM10 (air-borne particle with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 micrometres) pollution has become a major air quality concern in local communities. This paper summarises the spatial and temporal variability modes of PM10 pollution in the region, based on long-term multi-site monitoring data and the application of the rotated principal component analysis (RPCA) and wavelet analysis techniques. RPCA identified two distinct air quality clusters/subregions in the valley, one in the west/northwest, the other in the southeast. Wavelet analysis revealed the annual cycle to be most persistent temporal mode of PM10 variability in both subregions, with intermittent signals observed at time scales of around 120, 30~90 and under 30 days. How these variation modes are related to the effects of local PM10 emissions and the influence of meteorology at different time scales deserves further attention in future work. The findings will be used in air quality reporting and forecasting in NSW. The methodology and results can also be useful for air quality research in similar regions elsewhere.

Microstructured optical fibres (MOFs) are a new type of optical fibres that possess a wide range of optical properties and many advantages over common optical fibres. Those are provided by unique structures defined by a pattern of periodic or quasi-periodic arrangement of air holes that run through the fibre length. In recent years, MOFs have opened up new possibilities in the field of optics and photonics, enabling the development of advanced devices and novel optical systems for different applications. The key application areas of PCFs vary from telecommunications and high-power energy transmission to quantum optics and sensing. The stack-and-draw method is a standard manufacturing technique for MOFs, where a preform is first manually created and then drawn in a high-tech furnace into a fibre with the required final dimensions and position of the air holes. Since in the manufacturing process experimenters can control only a few parameters, mathematical models and numerical simulations of the drawing process are highly requested. They not only allow to deepen the understanding of physical phenomena occurring during the drawing process, but they also accurately predict the final cross-section shape and size of the fibre. In this manuscript, we assume thermal equilibrium between the furnace and the fibre and propose a functional form of the fibre temperature distribution. We utilise it with asymptotic mass, momentum, and evolution equations for free surfaces already available in the literature to describe the process of fibre drawing. By doing so, the complex heat exchange problem between the fibre and the furnace need not be solved. The numerical results of the whole asymptotic model overall agree well with experimental data available in the literature, both for the case of annular capillaries and for the case of holey fibres.

Coastal inundation is recently requiring a significant attention worldwide. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme events (sea storms, tsunami waves) are highly stressing the coastal envi-ronments, e.g. endangering a large number of residential areas, ecosystems, tourist facilities, and also leading to potential environmental risks. Predicting such events and the generated coastal flooding is thus of paramount importance and can be reached by exploiting the potential of different tools, like remote sensors and numerical modeling. To this aim, a combination is possible between marine radars and wave-resolving propagation models. While instruments like X-band radars are able at precisely reconstructing both wave field and bathymetry within a coastal area that is some kilometers offshore, wave-resolving Boussinesq-type models can reproduce the wave propagation in the nearshore and the consequent coastal flooding. The present work illustrates the reconstruc-tion of coastal data (wave field and seabed depth) conducted using radar signals and a specifically suited data processing, named “Local Method”, and the use of such coastal data to run numerical simulations of wave propagation (using the FUNWAVE-TVD solver) aimed at reproducing coastal inundation over different scenarios. Such scenarios are built using two different European beaches, i.e. Senigallia (Italy) and Oostende (Belgium), and three different directional spreading values, to evaluate the performances in case of either long- or short-crested waves. The overall validation of the methodology, in terms of maximum inundation, shows good performances, especially in case of short-crested wind waves. Furthermore, the application on the Oostende beach demonstrates that the present methodology might work only using open-access tools, i.e. an easy investigation of the coastal inundation and a potential low-cost integration into early warning systems.

Malnutrition, clinically evident primarily with sarcopenia, is present in more than 50% of CHF patients and is an independent factor of morbidity and mortality. Several pathophysiological mechanisms, such as reduced appetite, metabolic imbalance and altered protein synthesis/degradation rate, due to the blood increase of hypercatabolic molecules, have been proposed to explain this phenomenon. Nutritional supplementation with proteins, amino acids and vitamins have all been used to treat malnutrition, acting through mTOR stimulation. However, the success and efficacy of these procedures are often contradictory and not conclusive. Interestingly, data on exercise training show that exercise reduces mortality and increase functional capacity, although it also increases energy expenditure and nitrogen providing substrate needs. Therefore, this paper discusses the molecular mechanisms of integrated nutritional approaches that would stimulate metabolic anabolic pathways. Pivotal in our opinion, is the relationship between exercise and Deptor, a subunit of the mTOR complex. Consequently, we propose a combination of personalized and integrate nutritional supplementation as well as exercise to treat malnutrition and related anthropometric and functional CHF-related disorders.

Food Neophobia (FN), defined as the reluctance to eat new or unfamiliar foods, mainly concerns fruit, vegetables, and legumes, typical of the Mediterranean Diet (MD). Considering these premises, this study aimed to clarify the relationship between FN and AMD in a sample of Italian children and their association with some socio-demographic factors and children's nutritional status. A sample of 288 children aged 3-11 years, participated to an assessment carried out with a questionnaire evaluating FN and AMD, respectively with Child Food Neophobia Scale (CFNS) and the KIDMED Test. Most of the sample showed an intermediate (67.3%) or high level of FN (18.1%) with high rates among 6-11 years old children (63.9%) and especially in only-child (50%). The AMD was mostly low (29.5%) or medium (54.8%) and reached lower levels among higher neophobic children (51.9%; p value &lt; 0.05). Present results confirm the study hypothesis that FN is a driver of MD abandonment and show the positive effects on children's eating habits of having siblings. Finally, this study proves the relevance of adopting effective feeding strategies against FN to avoid its maintenance in adulthood and detrimental effects on future overall health and well-being.

The Upper Hunter Valley is a major coal mining area in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Due to the ongoing increase of mining activities, PM10 (air-borne particle with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 micrometres) pollution has become a major air quality concern in local communities. The early part of this study identified two air quality subregions in the valley. This paper aims to provide a holistic summarisation of the relationships between elevated PM10 pollution in two subregions and the local- and synoptic-scale meteorological conditions for spring and summer, when PM10 pollution is relatively high. A catalogue of twelve synoptic types and a set of six local meteorological patterns have been quantitatively derived and linked to each other using the self-organising map (SOM) technique. The complex meteorology-air pollution relationships have been visualised/interpretated on the SOM planes for two representative locations. It was found that the influence of local meteorological patterns differed significantly for mean PM10 levels vs the occurrence of elevated pollution events and between air quality subregions. In contrast, synoptic types showed generally similar relationships with mean vs elevated PM10 pollution in the valley. Two local meteorological patterns, the hot-dry-northwesterly wind conditions and the hot-dry-calm conditions, were found most PM10 pollution conducive in the valley when combined with a set of synoptic counterparts. These synoptic types are featured with the influence of eastward migrating continental high pressure system and westerly troughs, or a ridge extending northwest towards coastal northern NSW or southern Queensland from the Tasman Sea. The method and results can be used in air quality research for other locations of NSW, or similar regions elsewhere.

Telecommuting is a flexible form of work that has progressively spread over the last 40 years and which has been strongly encouraged by the measures to limit the Covid19 pandemic. There is still limited evi-dence on the effects it has on workers' health. In this survey we invited 905 workers of companies that made a limited use of telework to fill out a questionnaire to evaluate: Intrusive leadership of managers (IL), the request for work outside traditional hours (OFF-TAJD), workaholism (BWAS), effort / reward imbalance (ERI), happiness and common mental issues (CMIs), anxiety and depression, assessed by the Goldberg scale (GADS). The interaction between these variables has been studied by structural equation modeling (SEM). Intrusive leadership and working after hours were significantly associated with occu-pational stress. Workaholism is a relevant moderator of this interaction: intrusive leadership significantly increased the stress of workaholic workers. Intrusive leadership and overtime work were associated with reduced happiness, anxiety and depression. These results indicate the need to guarantee the right to disconnect, to limit the effect of the OFF-TAJD. In addition to this, companies should implement policies to prevent intrusive leadership and workaholism.

The excitation of the visual system increases with increasing retinal illumination. At the same time, the sensitivity of the system decreases (light adaptation). Higher excitation automatically results in a lower sensitivity. This study investigates whether this parallelism between the excitation and the sensitivity also applies in the dynamic case, that is, during the transition to a higher excitation level after an increase in the retinal illuminance. For this purpose, the courses of the subjective and the electroretinographic threshold during the transitional phase after a step of the adaptation illumination was determined by means of a special light-stimulation apparatus. As a measure of the course of the excitation during this time, the response ERG on the adaptation step was recorded with a special amplifier. The threshold curve always has an overswing, which shows subjectively very strong differences. It can be concluded that the glare caused by a sudden increase in illuminance is subjectively very different. The comparison between the response ERG on the adaptation step and the course of the electroretinographic increment threshold during this time shows a broad agreement between the two courses. It can thus be assumed that the sensitivity of the visual system follows the course of the excitation also in the dynamic case. In addition, the investigation shows that the glare experienced after a step in the illuminance clearly shows great subjective differences.

A nutritional approach could be a promising strategy to prevent or slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, since there is no effective therapy for these diseases so far. The beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids are now well established by a plethora of studies through their involvement in multiple biochemical functions, including synthesis of antinflammatory mediators, cell membrane fluidity, intracellular signalling and gene expression. This systematic review will consider epidemiological studies and clinical trials that assessed the impact of supplementation or dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Indeed, treatment with omega-3 fatty acids, being safe and well tolerated, represent a valuable and biologically plausible tool in the management of neurodegenerative diseases in their early stages.

The purpose is to verify trends of scientific production from 2010 to 2020, considering the best universities of the United States, China, the European Union (EU) and private companies. The top 30 universities in 2020 in China, the EU, and the US and private companies were selected from the SCImago institutions ranking (SIR). The positions in 2020, 2015, 2010 in SIR and three sub-indicators were analyzed by means of non-parametric statistics, taking into consideration the effect of time and group on rankings. American and European Union universities have lost positions to Chinese universities and even more to private companies, which have improved. In 2020, private companies have surpassed all other groups considering Innovation as sub-indicator. The loss of leadership of European and partly American universities mainly concerns research linked to the production of patents. This can lead to future risks of monopoly that may elude public control and cause a possible loss of importance of research not linked to innovation.

This article proposes a particular strategy to proceed with a progressive electrification of public transport systems in cities. Starting from a bus operation model, the possible electrification of two routes is analysed, one urban and another extra-urban in the city of Pisa. An estimate is made of the energy uses associated with certain operating modes. The maximum level of consumption is estimated at approximately 280 kWh per day per bus for the urban route and excluding some special days, less than 215 kWh per day for the extra-urban route, for which a hybrid bus is proposed. Starting from an estimate of the daily consumption for the management of the two routes, the sizing of a photovoltaic system distributed on some modular shelters which serves to power the same routes is carried out. The resulting system has a power of the order of 190-200 kW. The modular solution is also outlined, and an installation is proposed. The analyzed case lends itself to being easily replicated.

The recent years have been marked by rapid growth in the field of "ESG finance," leading to the emergence and expansion of ESG ratings and rating agencies. This study seeks to examine how financial investors respond to updates in ESG ratings provided by two prominent ESG rating agencies: MSCI and Refinitiv. Specifically, the goal is to determine whether any potential positive or negative alterations in a company's sustainability ratings directly affect its market value. The chosen methodology for this investigation is the Event Study, a model employed to assess the influence of economic events on corporate valuations by analyzing their Cumulated Average Abnormal Returns (CAARs). Over 840 instances of rating updates (events) were analyzed using a sample of 75 companies across various industries, all listed on major stock exchanges. The findings indicate that shifts in sustainability ratings, as evaluated by the two rating agencies, do not have a significant impact on companies' market capitalization. Moreover, these outcomes remain consistent over time, suggesting that financial markets are not assigning increasing significance to ESG ratings. Potential explanations are offered and discussed in relation to existing literature on the subject.

The cyclic load applied to civil and mining structures can lead to a reduction of the materials’ strength, different from that which would occur with a monotonous load. Numerous cases can be found where the decay of the rock parameters subjected to this type of stress leads to progressive or sudden collapse: among them, tunnel walls, pillars and slabs in mining operations, roads with a heavy vehicle transit, abutments of bridges and dams can be quoted. The topic can therefore be fundamental for a correct structural design, to avoid problems during the life of the structure. However, given the heterogeneity of the rock materials and the difficulty of their characterization under this aspect, an unequivocal analysis is hardly achievable. Then, the discussion initially develops through a general historical review of the concept of fatigue, with a synthetic collection of case histories. The laboratory tests on rock samples are then examined and the most important results obtained are discussed. Finally, a comparison between different types of tests is proposed. The experimental data are expressed through the Wӧhler diagram. The goal is to fill the lack of design codes or standards in the field of cyclic stresses applied to rock materials, the understanding of its effect being of great interest in order to apply suitable parameters in the design phase.