UN CIMITERO RUPESTRE DI EPOCA TARDOANTICA IN SICILIA: STUDIO INTERDISCIPLINARE DELL’AMBIENTE E DEI REPERTI ARCHEOLOGICI.

Being the Family Caregiver of a Patient With Dementia During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Lockdown

Background: Family caregivers of patients with dementia are at high risk of stress and burden, and quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have increased the risk of psychological disturbances in this population. The current study was carried out during the national lockdown declared in March 2020 by the Italian government as a containment measure of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic and is the first nationwide survey on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the mental health of dementia informal caregivers.Methods: Eighty-seven dementia centers evenly distributed on the Italian territory enrolled 4,710 caregiver–patient pairs. Caregivers underwent a tel…

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Abstract Background Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18–49, 50–69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results NNVs were more favourable in su…

Low-Power Design of Delay Interpolating VCO

In this paper, a design methodology for low-power MCML based delay interpolating VCOs is presented. The methodology allows a fast and accurate graphical evaluation of the optimum design. It utilizes two closed form expressions for the upper and lower oscillation frequencies of the VCO. An expression of the tuning range is also derived. The effectiveness of the proposed design methodology has been tested by simulating several VCOs in an IBM 0.13 mum CMOS technology.

92C0 Foreste di Platanus orientalis e Liquidambar orientalis (Platanion orientalis)

A new species of Centaurea (Asteraceae) from Calabria(S Italy)

A new species is described here from the Presila in Calabria (S Italy) and named Centaurea calabra. It belongs to Centaurea sect. Phalolepis and is related to the C. deusta group, namely to C. sarfattiana. Taxonomical characteristics, distribution, and ecology of the new Centaurea are also provided.

Anatomical and clinical study on effects of sonography with pulse inversion and microbubble contrast in rabbit kidney

Minimum power-delay product design of MCML gates

This paper describes a methodology for the minimization of the power-delay product of MCML gates. The method is based on the novel concept of crossing point capacitance. The methodology was been validated by designing several gates using in an IBM 130 nm CMOS process.

Optimum design of two-level MCML gates

In this paper, we address the problem of the optimum design of two-level MOS Current Mode Logic (MCML) gates. In particular, we describe a design methodology based on the concept of crossing-point current already introduced for the optimum design of single-level MCML gates. This methodology is suited both for automated implementation and graphic estimate of the optimum design. Moreover, it clearly shows how some important design parameters affect the optimum values of delay and power consumption. Several gates were designed in an IBM 130 nm CMOS technology. The results of SPICE simulations, reported here, demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design methodology.

A Design Methodology for Low-Power MCML Ring Oscillators

In this paper, a low-power design method for MCML based ring oscillators is presented. The proposed method takes into account the parasitic capacitances of the MOS transistors. To validate it, some ring oscillators with different oscillation frequencies were designed in a 0.18 mum CMOS technology. SPICE simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the design method.

How neighbourhood interactions influence urban sprawl

International audience

Production of VEGF and b-FGF in the drainage fluid from patients undergoing incisional hernia repair

Wound healing is a complex process involving interaction between different cell types, such as growth factors. Among these, vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factors (b-FGF) are the most important. The aim of this study was to assess the production of VEGF and b-FGF in wound drainage fluid from patients undergoing incisional abdominal hernia repair. Ten female patients with abdominal midline incisional hernia undergoing surgical repair were included in this study. In all cases a closed suction drain was placed in the wound below the fascia and removed on postoperative day 4. Wound fluid was collected on the I, II, III and IV day and its amount at each ti…

Detecting biophysical and geometrical characteristics of the canopy of three olive cultivars in hedgerow planting systems using an UAV and VIS-NIR cameras

The success of olive (Olea europaea) orchards depends on the interaction between genotype, planting system and orchard management. Research efforts often collide with the lack of high-throughput monitoring technologies for effective and rapid evaluation of expressed phenotypes under field conditions. Rapid phenotyping technologies allow to acquire a large amount of information in a relatively short period, optimizing efforts and labor. In an experiment carried out in Sicily, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with VIS-NIR cameras was used to monitor canopy characteristics of three olive cultivars (‘Koroneiki’, ‘Biancolilla’ and ‘Calatina’), planted at three different planting distanc…

Association between preoperative evaluation with lung ultrasound and outcome in frail elderly patients undergoing orthopedic surgery for hip fractures: study protocol for an Italian multicenter observational prospective study (LUSHIP)

Abstract Background Hip fracture is one of the most common orthopedic causes of hospital admission in frail elderly patients. Hip fracture fixation in this class of patients is considered a high-risk procedure. Preoperative physical examination, plasma natriuretic peptide levels (BNP, Pro-BNP), and cardiovascular scoring systems (ASA-PS, RCRI, NSQIP-MICA) have all been demonstrated to underestimate the risk of postoperative complications. We designed a prospective multicenter observational study to assess whether preoperative lung ultrasound examination can predict better postoperative events thanks to the additional information they provide in the form of “indirect” and “direct” cardiac an…

Design of MOS Current Mode Logic Gates – Computing the Limits of Voltage Swing and Bias Current

Minimizing a quality metric for an MCML gate, such as power-delay product or energy-delay product, requires solving a system of nonlinear equations subject to constraints on both bias current and voltage swing. In this paper, we will show that the limits of the swing and the bias current are affected by the constraints on maximum area and maximum delay. Moreover, methods for computing such limits are presented.

Tokamak cooling systems and power conversion system options

DEMO will be a fusion power plant demonstrating the integration into the grid architecture of an electric utility grid. The design of the power conversion chain is of particular importance, as it must adequately account for the specifics of nuclear fusion on the generation side and ensure compatibility with the electric utility grid at all times. One of the special challenges the foreseen pulsed operation, which affects the operation of the entire heat transport chain. This requires a time-dependant analysis of different concept design approaches to ensure proof of reliable operation and efficiency to obtain nuclear licensing. Several architectures of Balance of Plant were conceived and dev…

Production of cytokines at the operation site

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Cytokines are part of a family of molecules involved in the initiation, control and termination of the events that occurs in wound healing process. Aim of this study was to evaluate the production of some cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-1alpha, IL-1ra, interferon (IFN)-gamma] in the drainage wound fluid from patients undergoing incisional hernia repair. METHODS: Ten female patients with abdominal midline incisional hernia undergoing to surgical repair were included in this study. In all cases a closed suction drain was placed in the wound below the fascia and it was removed on the 4th postoperative day. Wound fluid was collected on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th day …