showing 36 of ~574560 from 574555 documents
Capillary Liquid Chromatography for the Determination of Terpenes in Botanical Dietary Supplements
2021
Dietary supplements of botanical origin are increasingly consumed due to their content of plant constituents with potential benefits on health and wellness. Among those constituents, terpenes are gaining attention because of their diverse biological activities (anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, geroprotective, and others). While most of the existing analytical methods have focused on establishing the terpenic fingerprint of some plants, typically by gas chromatography, methods capable of quantifying representative terpenes in herbal preparations and dietary supplements with combined high sensitivity and precision, simplicity, and high throughput are still necessary. In this study, we have e…
Correction de la mortalité attendue avec une fragilité individuelle pour une meilleure estimation de la survie nette et du délai de guérison à partir…
2021
Introduction Les modeles de guerison sont utilises dans les etudes de population pour estimer la survie nette et sa valeur asymptotique correspondant a la proportion de gueris. La survie nette est la survie que l’on observerait si la maladie etudiee (par exemple le cancer) etait la seule cause possible de deces. Son estimation suppose que la mortalite observee resulte de deux forces de mortalite : l’une due au cancer (mortalite en exces) et l’autre due aux autres causes de deces (mortalite attendue). Dans ce cadre populationnel, la mortalite attendue des patients est supposee egale a la mortalite observee des individus de memes caracteristiques de la population generale. Cependant, cette hy…
Body Mass Index and Risk for Intubation or Death in SARS-CoV-2 Infection
2021
Vineyard design supported by GPS application
2021
The innovative technologies of precision agriculture offer nowadays new applications in line with the needs of the wine sector. In hillside viticulture, within the same plot there are areas with different physical and chemical characteristics (lying, pH, active limestone, nutrients, etc.). This variability consequently influences the vigor of the vine which translates into a different production per single plant in terms of both yield and quality of the grapes. The aim of this study was to realize geo-referenced thematic maps by GPS application on a hilly plot covering about 6 hectares to be planted in a hedgerow trained vineyard for the production of quality grapes. The experimental tests …
Neurological complications in pediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review of the literature
2021
Abstract Objectives To describe clinical characteristics, laboratory tests, radiological data and outcome of pediatric cases with SARS-CoV-2 infection complicated by neurological involvement. Study design A computerized search was conducted using PubMed. An article was considered eligible if it reported data on pediatric patient(s) with neurological involvement related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also described a case of an acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in a 5-year-old girl with SARS-CoV-2 infection: this case was also included in the systematic review. Results Forty-four articles reporting 59 cases of neurological manifestations in pediatric patients were included in our revi…
Detecting biophysical and geometrical characteristics of the canopy of three olive cultivars in hedgerow planting systems using an UAV and VIS-NIR ca…
2021
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…
Multidimensional Prognostic Index and Mortality in Intermediate Care Facilities: A Retrospective Study.
2021
Multidimensional prognostic index (MPI) is a frailty assessment tool used for stratifying prognosis in older hospitalized people, but data regarding older people admitted to intermediate care facilities (ICFs) are missing. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether MPI can predict mortality in older patients admitted to the ICFs. MPI was calculated using different domains explored by a standard comprehensive geriatric assessment and categorized into tertiles (MPI-1 ≤ 0.20, MPI-2 0.20–0.34, MPI-3 >
The Role of the Bisphenol A in Diabetes and Obesity
2021
Bisphenol A is a compound commonly found in products meant for daily use. It was one of the first compounds to be identified as an endocrine disruptor that was capable of disrupting the endocrine system and producing very similar effects to those of metabolic syndrome. It has recently gained popularity in the scientific arena as a risk factor for obesity and diabetes due to its ability to imitate natural oestrogens and bind to their receptors. The aim was to study the possible relationship between the Bisphenol A endocrine disruptor with diabetes and obesity. The analysis of the articles allows us to conclude that Bisphenol A is an additional risk factor to consider in the development of di…
The gender gap in the diagnostic-therapeutic journey of the infertile couple
2021
Medical procreation impairs both the biological and psychological lives of couples. However, male and female attitudes to infertility are different and require a different approach during the IVF journey. Thus, the gender impact assessment (GIA) method was used to analyse original studies present in the literature. We found some gender-related differences and, subsequently, possible outcomes of intervention to improve healthy reproduction management and prevent infertility. In particular, it became apparent that there was the need for an in-depth male infertility assessment and a gender-specific follow-up.
What could 2-D minimal surfaces teach about TGD?
2021
In the TGD Universe space-time surfaces within causal diamonds (CDs) are fundamental objects. 1. M8 − H duality means that one can interpret the space-time surfaces in two manners: either as an algebraic surface in complexified M8 or as minimal surfaces in H = M4×CP2. M8 − H duality maps these surfaces to each other. 2. Minimal surface property holds true outside the frame spanning minimal surface as 4-D soap film and since also extremal of K¨ahler action is in question, the surface is analog of complex surface. The frame is fixed at the boundaries of the CD and dynamically generated in its interior. At frame the isometry currents of volume term and K¨ahler action have infinite divergences …
An In Vitro Stereomicroscopic Evaluation of Bioactivity between Neo MTA Plus, Pro Root MTA, BIODENTINE & Glass Ionomer Cement Using Dye Penetrati…
2021
The ideal root end filling material should form a tight seal in the root canal by adhering to the cavity walls. Several materials have been used for root end filling. The present study aims to find out and compare the bioactivity of Neo MTA Plus, Pro Root MTA White, BIODENTINE & glass ionomer cement as root end filling materials using 1% methylene blue as tracer. Materials and methods: 80 extracted human permanent maxillary anterior teeth were used in the study. They were divided into four groups. Specimens were sectioned transversely in the cervical area to separate the crown from the root. The root canal was obturated with gutta percha and zinc oxide eugenol sealers. Thereafter, each …
Toward Self-Supervised Feature Learning for Online Diagnosis of Multiple Faults in Electric Powertrains
2021
This article proposes a novel online fault diagnosis scheme for industrial powertrains without using historical faulty or labeled training data. The proposed method combines a one-class support vector machine (SVM) based anomaly detection and supervised convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithms to online detect multiple faults and fault severities under variable speeds and loads. The one-class SVM algorithm is to derive a score for defining faults or health classes in the first stage, and the resulting health classes are used as the training data for the CNN-based classifier in the second stage. Within this framework, the self-supervised learning of the proposed CNN algorithm allows the…
Hydrogels for Three-Dimensional Ionizing-Radiation Dosimetry
2021
Radiation-sensitive gels are among the most recent and promising developments for radiation therapy (RT) dosimetry. RT dosimetry has the twofold goal of ensuring the quality of the treatment and the radiation protection of the patient. Benchmark dosimetry for acceptance testing and commissioning of RT systems is still based on ionization chambers. However, even the smallest chambers cannot resolve the steep dose gradients of up to 30–50% per mm generated with the most advanced techniques. While a multitude of systems based, e.g., on luminescence, silicon diodes and radiochromic materials have been developed, they do not allow the truly continuous 3D dose measurements offered by radiation-se…
Sarcopenia and appendicular muscle mass as predictors of impaired fasting glucose/type 2 diabetes in elderly women
2021
Elderly women exhibit a high risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), but no definitive data exist about the possible role of postmenopausal increases in visceral adiposity, the loss of lean body mass, or decreases in the sum of the lean mass of arms and legs (appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM)). This retrospective, longitudinal study investigated whether body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis) predicted the development of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or T2D in a cohort of 159 elderly women (age: 71 ± 5 years, follow-up: 94 months) from southern Italy (Clinical Nutrition and Geriatric Units of the “Mater Domini” University Hospital in Catanzaro, Calabria region, and the “P. Giacco…
Mistranslation Drives Alterations in Protein Levels and the Effects of a Synonymous Variant at the Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Locus.
2021
This article also appears in: Health, Medical, and Life Sciences Virtual Issue for Advanced Science.
Morbidity and mortality after anaesthesia in early life:results of the European prospective multicentre observational study, neonate and children aud…
2021
Background: Neonates and infants requiring anaesthesia are at risk of physiological instability and complications, but triggers for peri-anaesthetic interventions and associations with subsequent outcome are unknown. Methods: This prospective, observational study recruited patients up to 60 weeks' postmenstrual age undergoing anaesthesia for surgical or diagnostic procedures from 165 centres in 31 European countries between March 2016 and January 2017. The primary aim was to identify thresholds of pre-determined physiological variables that triggered a medical intervention. The secondary aims were to evaluate morbidities, mortality at 30 and 90 days, or both, and associations with critical …
Network for blood pressure research in children and adolescents (COST Action CA 19115)
2021
High blood pressure is a clearly established modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular and renal disease. Although most of its adverse effects develop in adulthood, it has become clear that high BP is a lifelong problem that can manifest early in life. While few would dispute the importance of taking effective steps to identify and manage this condition in middle-aged and elderly individuals, relatively little attention has been paid to the problem of high BP in children and adolescents.Therefore, the development of actions focused on early childhood, childhood and adolescence and the investigation of the underlying causes of this epidemic are of utmost importance. There is a pressing need …
Comparative efficiency of green and conventional bonds pre- and during COVID-19: An asymmetric multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis
2021
Abstract Motivated by the lack of research on price efficiency dynamics of green bonds and the impact of the COVID-19 on the pricing of fixed-income securities, this study investigates the comparative efficiency of green and conventional bond markets pre- and during the COVID-19 pandemic applying asymmetric multifractal analysis. Specifically, the multifractal scaling behaviour is examined separately during upward and downward trends in bond markets using the asymmetric multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (A-MF-DFA) approach. The empirical findings confirm the presence of asymmetric multifractality in the green and traditional bond markets. Not surprisingly, inefficiency in both bon…
Integrated membrane bioreactors modelling: A review on new comprehensive modelling framework
2021
International audience; Integrated Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) models, combination of biological and physical models, have been representing powerful tools for the accomplishment of high environmental sustainability. This paper, produced by the International Water Association (IWA) Task Group on Membrane Modelling and Control, reviews the state-of-the-art, identifying gaps for future researches, and proposes a new integrated MBR modelling framework. In particular, the framework aims to guide researchers and managers in pursuing good performances of MBRs in terms of effluent quality, operating costs (such as membrane fouling, energy consumption due to aeration) and mitigation of greenhouse gas…
Aspects Regarding the use of Biodegradable Ecological Detergents in the Decontamination of R.B.C.
2021
Abstract Ecological decontamination solutions are widely used in various fields of activity especially in this period when many countries in the world are implementing at macro level the concept of sustainable development. The use of detergents in the process of R.B.C. decontamination led to in-depth analyzes of the absorbent properties of organic products. These products have the ability to partially or completely remove detergents from wastewater resulting from decontamination, thus reducing pollution by environmental factors. The present paper aimed at the comparative analysis of the absorbent properties of a power plant ash and diatomite ore. Also, some experiments were performed on the…
The Mediating Role of Psychological Distress in Excessive Gambling among Young People: A Four-Country Study
2021
Background and aims: Loneliness and a low sense of mastery are associated with excessive gambling, but the underlying processes of these relationships remain unstudied. Because psychological distress can increase vulnerability to excessive gambling, we investigated its mediating role in these relationships among young people. To meet the need for cross-country research, we also observed how these relationships occur in four countries with different cultures. Design, setting, and participants: Demographically balanced cross-sectional survey data were collected from 15–25-year-olds in Finland (n = 1200
Potential Health Risk Associated with Mycotoxins in Oat Grains Consumed in Spain
2021
Spain is a relevant producer of oats (Avena sativa), but to date there has been no study on the occurrence/co-occurrence of mycotoxins in oats marketed in Spain. The present study is addressed to overcome this lack of knowledge. One hundred oat kernel samples were acquired across different Spanish geographic regions during the years 2015–2019 and analyzed for mycotoxin content using an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–ESI–MS/MS) method and matrix-matched calibration. The focus was on the regulated mycotoxins although other relevant mycotoxins were considered. The percentage of incidence (levels ≥ limit of detection), mean an…
Neuronal Cytoskeleton in Intellectual Disability: From Systems Biology and Modeling to Therapeutic Opportunities
2021
Intellectual disability (ID) is a pathological condition characterized by limited intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors. It affects 1–3% of the worldwide population, and no pharmacological therapies are currently available. More than 1000 genes have been found mutated in ID patients pointing out that, despite the common phenotype, the genetic bases are highly heterogeneous and apparently unrelated. Bibliomic analysis reveals that ID genes converge onto a few biological modules, including cytoskeleton dynamics, whose regulation depends on Rho GTPases transduction. Genetic variants exert their effects at different levels in a hierarchical arrangement, starting from the molecular lev…
Phytolith analyses from Khil and Kaf Taht el-Ghar (Western Maghreb): Plant use trajectories in a long-term perspective
2021
In this paper we present the results of phytolith investigations at two archaeological sites in northwestern Morocco: Khil (Tangier) and Kaf Taht el-Ghar (Tétouan). The two sites located in Western Maghreb, one on the Atlantic and one on the Mediterranean coast, were investigated in the framework of the AGRIWESTMED project. Phytolith analysis complemented archaeobotanical, geoarchaeological and archaeological investigations to better identify plant use during the entire occupation sequence. At Khil 16 samples have been studied, coming from two profiles excavated in two different caves of the same system – grotte B and grotte C – that span a chronology comprised between the early Neolithic a…
L’inedito antependium d’argento di Salvatore Castronovo a San Mauro Castelverde
2021
Tra i diversi e ricchi Tesori siciliani, indagati a partire dagli anni Trenta del secolo scorso da Maria Accascina, si inserisce quello, pressoché inedito, di San Mauro Castelverde. A conclusione del processo di rinnovamento stilistico che interessò la chiesa di san Mauro del centro madonita nel corso del XVIII secolo, venne commissionato, nel 1778, l’inedito paliotto architettonico in argento, con la figura del Patrono al centro, oggetto di questo studio One of the many rich Sicilian treasures investigated since the 1930s by Maria Accascina is the almost unpublished altarpiece from San Mauro Castelverde. At the end of the process of stylistic renovation that affected the church of San Maur…
Characterizing Breakthrough Cancer Pain Using Ecological Momentary Assessment with a Smartphone App: Feasibility and Clinical Findings.
2021
Background: mobile applications (apps) facilitate cancer pain ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and provide more reliable data than retrospective monitoring. The aims of this study are (a) to describe the status of persons with cancer pain when assessed ecologically, (b) to analyze the utility of clinical alarms integrated into the app, and (c) to test the feasibility of implementing an app for daily oncological pain monitoring. Methods: in this feasibility study, 21 patients (mean age = 56.95 years, SD = 10.53, 81.0% men) responded to an app-based evaluation of physical status (baseline and breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP)) and mental health variables (fatigue, mood, and coping) daily d…
A Crowd-Sourced Database of Coronamusic: Documenting Online Making and Sharing of Music During the COVID-19 Pandemic
2021
When a sweeping COVID-19 pandemic forced cultural venues, schools, and social hangouts into hibernation in early 2020, music life relocated to the digital world. On social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok, sofas and balconies took center stage for musical performances presented as live-streamed concerts and recorded videos. Amateurs and professional musicians alike embraced digital formats and innovated novel genres of corona-themed music. We will refer to the products of this musical phenomenon collectively as "coronamusic." Adapting a well-known term from cultural musicology (Small, 1999), the diverse practices of listening, playing, dancing, composing, rehearsi…
WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE COVID-19 VACCINATION IN COSTUMERS ACCESSING COMMUNITY PHARMACIES IN THE PROVINCE OF PALERMO, ITALY
2021
In Italy, vaccination against COVID-19 began on December 27, 2020. To date, 13,713,224 people in Italy are fully vaccinated, which accounts for 25.3 % of the general population, and 44.8% received at least one vaccination dose. The present study aim to investigate willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination in costumers accessing a sample of community pharmacies in the Province of Palermo, Italy. A self-administered and anonymous questionnaire was carried out among costumers older than 18 years old between December 2020 and March 2021. Three hundred and sixty-three subjects were enrolled in the study, 259 (71.3%) expressed their willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination. The main determin…
Effect of E. coli biofilm formation and removal on passive films on AISI 316L during fermentation processes
2021
Abstract 316L coupons were sanitized in hot water vapour inducing iron enrichment in passive films. Coupons were then immersed in a pilot fed-batch fermenter in presence of E. coli. Sanitization causes iron enrichment in passive films. Fermentation causes the growth of biofilm on the SS, constituted by bacteria embedded in an extracellular polymeric substance. During fermentation SS open circuit potential is very negative due to low oxygen concentration on its surface, while the chelating action of siderophores induces chromium enrichment in the passive film. Disinfection in NaClO for 30 min allows removal of biofilm and formation of a protective passive film.
Water company productivity change: A disaggregated approach accounting for changes in inputs and outputs
2021
Abstract The assessment of the productivity change of water utilities provides essential information to sector managers and regulators. This study uses the Luenberger-Hicks-Moorsteen Productivity Indicator (LHMPI) to evaluate productivity change as it can be further decomposed into three components namely technical change (TC), technical efficiency change (TEC), and scale efficiency change (SEC). This study evaluates the productivity of several water companies in England and Wales from 2001 to 2018. We found that productivity declined 1.2% per year due to the use of inputs that increased by 1.4% per year relative to outputs that increased by 0.2% per year.
Aged Mice Devoid of the M3 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Develop Mild Dry Eye Disease
2021
The parasympathetic nervous system is critically involved in the regulation of tear secretion by activating muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Hence, various animal models targeting parasympathetic signaling have been developed to induce dry eye disease (DED). However, the muscarinic receptor subtype (M1–M5) mediating tear secretion remains to be determined. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the M3 receptor subtype regulates tear secretion and to evaluate the ocular surface phenotype of mice with targeted disruption of the M3 receptor (M3R−/−). The experimental techniques included quantification of tear production, fluorescein staining of the ocular surface, environmenta…
Presentazione dell’edizione italiana di storia della Sicilia da Odisseo ai giorni nostri di Jean-Yves Frétigné
2021
Published for the first time in 2009, for the Fayard types, and re-edited in 2018 in a "pocket" format, this History of Sicily by Jean-Yves Frétigné, with the subtitle from Odysseus to the present day, presented to the French public as an easy consultation, a "Compagnon de voyage" destined to have an excellent editorial success with over 8,000 copies sold.The Italian translation presented here does not have the presumption of concurring with the monumental works of the history of Sicily which constitute an essential reference by the same Author, as the rich bibliography in the appendix to the volume clearly testifies. Rather, it intends to offer, in just over 400 pages, the “external” look …
Transcriptomic and Genetic Associations between Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Cancer.
2021
Simple Summary Epidemiological studies have identified a link between neurodegenerative disorders and a reduced risk of overall cancer. Increases and decreases in the risk of site-specific cancers have also been reported. However, it is still unknown whether these associations arise due to shared genetic and molecular factors or are explained by other phenomena (e.g., biases in epidemiological studies or the use of medication). In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential molecular, genetic, and pharmacological links between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and a large panel of 22 cancer types. To examine the overlapping involvement of genes and pathways, we obtained differentia…
Study protocol: the Norwegian Triple-S Cohort Study - establishing a longitudinal health survey of children and adolescents with experiences of maltr…
2021
Abstract Background Child maltreatment is prevalent and associated with both short- and long-term health problems. Previous studies have established child maltreatment as a risk factor for a wide range of problems over the life course such as mental- and somatic health problems, self-harm, alcohol- and drug abuse and decreased work-life participation. Still, there are few large and well-conducted longitudinal studies focusing on describing prevalence and identifying risk factors and long-term consequences of child maltreatment. The purpose of the current study is to recruit a large number of children and adolescents exposed to maltreatment and follow them long-term. Methods/design The curre…
Prologo. Kinderdorf Pestalozzi
2021
Italian translation of two of N. Vrettakos' poems