This study estimates the accuracy of the focused lung ultrasound (FLUS) compared with systematic thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) as the reference test for diagnosing pneumonia in pre- and postweaned ...dairy calves. One hundred thirty-five Holstein Friesian calves, aged between 1 to 6 mo were enrolled and were kept in the same pen with one or more animals showing signs of bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC). One operator performed FLUS on each calf, and then a second, blinded operator performed TUS on the same calf. For the FLUS, we only scanned the lung lobes that are most frequently affected during BRDC and are thus easier to detect, such as the caudal aspect of the cranial lobe of the left lung (fifth and fourth left intercostal spaces; ICS), the middle lobe of the right lung (fifth right ICS), and the caudal aspect of the cranial lobe of the right lung (fourth right ICS). Pneumonia was diagnosed when a calf had a minimum of one small lobular lung lesion that was at least 1 cm deep within a normally aerated lobe (TUS score of ≥2). Diagnostic accuracy indexes of the FLUS were calculated using TUS as the gold standard. The McNemar test was performed to evaluate the differences between the 2 techniques. In addition, an intertest agreement was assessed using the weighted kappa test. A total of 76 out of 135 calves had a TUS score of ≥2 and were therefore considered to be affected by BRDC. The FLUS had a sensitivity of 81.6% (95% CI = 71.0–89.5%), specificity = 100% (95% CI = 93.9–100%), positive predictive value was 100%, negative predictive value was 96.6% (95% CI = 94.7–97.9%), and accuracy was 97% (95% CI = 92.6–99.2%). The McNemar test highlighted a difference of 10.3% between the FLUS and TUS. The agreement between the TUS and FLUS was substantial (weighted kappa test 0.78). Although FLUS shows some limitations in diagnosing lung lesions associated with BRDC compared with the systematic approach, this study shows that the focused method could be used as an additional tool for evaluating consolidation, especially when examining a large number of postweaned dairy calves.
•We assessed insects moving across ecotones early in the season.•Ecotone influenced the movement of predators and parasitoids, but not phytophagous pests.•Predators were found to consistently move ...more frequently from native vegetation.•Native vegetation patches offer both opportunities and risks for pest management.
There is limited understanding about how insect movement patterns are influenced by landscape features, and how landscapes can be managed to suppress pest phytophage populations in crops. Theory suggests that the relative timing of pest and natural enemy arrival in crops may influence pest suppression. However, there is a lack of data to substantiate this claim. We investigate the movement patterns of insects from native vegetation (NV) and discuss the implications of these patterns for pest control services. Using bi-directional interception traps we quantified the number of insects crossing an NV/crop ecotone relative to a control crop/crop interface in two agricultural regions early in the growing season. We used these data to infer patterns of movement and net flux. At the community-level, insect movement patterns were influenced by ecotone in two out of three years by region combinations. At the functional-group level, pests and parasitoids showed similar movement patterns from NV very soon after crop emergence. However, movement across the control interface increased towards the end of the early-season sampling period. Predators consistently moved more often from NV into crops than vice versa, even after crop emergence. Not all species showed a significant response to ecotone, however when a response was detected, these species showed similar patterns between the two regions. Our results highlight the importance of NV for the recruitment of natural enemies for early season crop immigration that may be potentially important for pest suppression. However, NV was also associated with crop immigration by some pest species. Hence, NV offers both opportunities and risks for pest management. The development of targeted NV management may reduce the risk of crop immigration by pests, but not of natural enemies.
Introduction
Several studies highlighted how COVID-19-related isolation and quarantine deeply weighed on the mental health of both the general and psychiatric population. There has been limited ...investigation about self-harm and impulsivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to evaluate how COVID-19-related lockdown affected self-harm rates in an Italian hospital.
Methods
Data on 59 patients were retrospectively collected from the Emercency deparment of the Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, from March 11 to May 4, 2020 (Italian mass quarantine) and the same periods of 2019 and 2021. Demographics, psychiatric history, substance use/abuse, types of self-harm and admission in psychiatric acute unit (PAU) rates were recorded.
Results
No statistical difference was reported in self-harm rates 9.8%(26/266) in 2019 vs 13.2%(10/76) in 2020 vs 10.7%(23/215) in 2021;p>0.05. In 2020 subjects were younger (31.9±12.1 vs 39.2±14.4,p=0.22;vs 38.1±14.4;p=0.15) and had higher incidence of psychiatric history 90%(9/10) vs 73.1%(19/26), p=0.42;vs 65.2% (15/23),p=0.29,than 2019 and 2021 respectively. Substance use/abuse rates were significantly lower in 2020 compared to 2019 and 2021 10%(1/10) vs 53.8%(14/26),p=0.04;vs 60.9% (14/23), p=0.02. In 2020, subjects committing self-harms were more frequently admitted to PAU compared to 2019 and 2021 60%(6/10)vs19.2%(5/26),p=0.04; vs 17.4% (4/23), p=0.04).
Conclusions
Consistent with the literature, lockdown-related measures negatively impacted on younger people, with higher rates of self-harm between March and May 2020. This, together with a higher rate of admissions to PAU, should warn the mental health system to target with specific programs to support adolescents and youngers.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Cover crops with reduced tillage technology (CC-RT) can foster soil health and functioning, a crucial agroecological principle in any transition strategy to more sustainable agricultural systems. ...However, CC-RT commonly strongly relies on herbicides and synthetic fertilizers, and vegetable crop yields are variable and often low. We assessed the effects of two tillage systems (RT and conventional tillage) and the application of native effective microorganisms (NEM) on onion crop growth and development, yield, N-status, weed pressure, and soil physico-chemical and biological quality after a summer CC, without using herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. Using a participatory research strategy, we conducted a two-year experiment at an experimental station and a one-year trial on two commercial farms. Onion yields were generally low (between 10 and 16 Mg ha−1) and lower in 2019 than in 2020, and lower in RT than in CT in 2020. The relatively low yields in 2019 and RT were associated with poor crop growth and development and leaf-N concentrations below the critical threshold in the early stages of crop development. Soil bulk density was not limiting crop growth in any treatment. Soil mineral N was lower in 2019 than in 2020 and did not significantly differ between treatments. Soil biological activity was higher in RT than in CT. Although the CC residue soil cover in the early stages of the onion crop in RT was more than 50%, RT had a higher weed pressure than CT, which was reversed later in the growing season. The NEM application did not significantly affect most crop, weed, and soil variables. In conclusion, a reduced tillage system for onions without herbicides and synthetic fertilizers is within reach. However, further research is needed to manage weeds and soil N supply dynamics to make CC-RT feasible for no or low agrochemical input systems.
•A cover crop–reduced tillage system for onion production without herbicides and synthetic fertilizers was studied.•Reduced tillage provided >80% soil cover, increased biological activity and did not constrain soil bulk density.•Onion yields were 50% lower than the regional average and lower in reduced than in conventional tillage.•Onion leaf N concentrations in reduced tillage were lower than in conventional tillage and weed pressure was higher.•Weed suppression and N availability in reduced tillage in no or low agrochemical input systems are still challenging.
Purpose
Currently, the interest on craniosynostosis in the clinical practice is raised by their increased frequency and their genetic implications other than by the still existing search of less ...invasive surgical techniques. These reasons, together with the problem of legal issues, make the need of a definite diagnosis for a crucial problem, even in single-suture craniosynostosis (SSC). Although the diagnosis of craniosynostosis is primarily the result of physical examination, craniometrics measuring, and observation of the skull deformity, the radiological assessment currently plays an important role in the confirmation of the diagnosis, the surgical planning, and even the postoperative follow-up. On the other hand, in infants, the use of radiation or the need of sedation/anesthesia raises the problem to reduce them to minimum to preserve such a delicate category of patient from their adverse effects.
Methods, results and conclusions
This review aims at summarizing the state of the art of the role of radiology in craniosynostosis, mainly focusing on indications and techniques, to provide an update not only to pediatric neurosurgeons or maxillofacial surgeons but also to all the other specialists involved in their management, like neonatologists, pediatricians, clinical geneticists, and pediatric neurologists.
The human telomeric G-quadruplex structural motif of DNA has come to be known as a new and stimulating target for anticancer drug discovery. Small molecules that interact with G-quadruplex structures ...in a selective way have gained impressive interest in recent years as they may serve as potential therapeutic agents. Here, we show how circular dichroism, UV resonance Raman and small angle X-ray scattering spectroscopies can be effectively combined to provide insights into structural and molecular aspects of the interaction between human telomeric quadruplexes and ligands. This study focuses on the ability of berberine and palmatine to bind with human telomeric quadruplexes and provides analysis of the conformational landscape visited by the relevant complexes upon thermal unfolding. With increasing temperature, both free and bound G-quadruplexes undergo melting through a multi-state process, populating different intermediate states. Despite the structural similarity of the two ligands, valuable distinctive features characterising their interaction with the G-quadruplex emerged from our multi-technique approach.
A multi-technique biophysical method is used to study the ligand binding to G-quadruplex DNA.
The aim of the study is to report surgical and early functional outcomes of first 100 patients undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with totally intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD) ...in a single center. The main surgeon (A.P.) attended a modular training program at a referring center mentored by a worldwide-recognized robotic surgeon (P.W.). The program consisted of: (a) 10 h of theoretical lessons; (b) video session (c) step-by-step in vivo modular training. Each procedure was performed as taught, without any technique variation. Demographics, intra-operative data and post-operative complications, along with early functional outcomes, were recorded for each patient. We retrospectively evaluated the first consecutive 100 patients submitted to RARC with totally ICUD from July 2015 to December 2018. Median age at surgery was 69 years (IQR 60–74). 52 (52%), 32 (32%), and 17 (17%) patients received orthotopic neobladder, ileal conduit and uretero-cutaneostomy, respectively. Median operative time was 410 min. A median number of lymph nodes retrieved were 27 and median estimated blood loss was 240 mL with median hospitalization time of 7 days. All procedures were completed successfully without open conversion. A statistically significant improvement was found in the late (30–90 post-operative days) post-operative complications (
p
= 0.02) and operative time for urinary derivation. At multivariate logistic regression model ASA score ≥ 3 (OR = 4.2,
p
= 0.002) and number of lymph nodes retrieved (OR = 1.16,
p
= 0.02) were found to be predictors of 90-day complications. An adequate modular training is paramount to obtain successful results and reduce the learning curve of RARC, as demonstrated by our experience.
The formation of particles from precursor vapors is an important source of atmospheric aerosol. Research at the Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets (CLOUD) facility at CERN tries to elucidate which ...vapors are responsible for this new-particle formation, and how in detail it proceeds. Initial measurement campaigns at the CLOUD stainless-steel aerosol chamber focused on investigating particle formation from ammonia (NH sub(3)) and sulfuric acid (H sub(2)SO sub(4)). Experiments were conducted in the presence of water, ozone and sulfur dioxide. Contaminant trace gases were suppressed at the technological limit. For this study, we mapped out the compositions of small NH sub(3)-H sub(2)SO sub(4) clusters over a wide range of atmospherically relevant environmental conditions. We covered NH sub(3) in the range from < 2 to 1400 pptv, H sub(2)SO sub(4) from 3.3 x 10 super(6) to 1.4 x 10 super(9) cm super(-3) (0.1 to 56 pptv), and a temperature range from -25 to +20 degree C. Negatively and positively charged clusters were directly measured by an atmospheric pressure interface time-of-flight (APi-TOF) mass spectrometer, as they initially formed from gas-phase NH sub(3) and H sub(2)SO sub(4), and then grew to larger clusters containing more than 50 molecules of NH sub(3) and H sub(2)SO sub(4), corresponding to mobility-equivalent diameters greater than 2 nm. Water molecules evaporate from these clusters during sampling and are not observed. We found that the composition of the NH sub(3)-H sub(2)SO sub(4) clusters is primarily determined by the ratio of gas-phase concentrations NH sub(3) / H sub(2)SO sub(4), as well as by temperature. Pure binary H sub(2)O-H sub(2)SO sub(4) clusters (observed as clusters of only H sub(2)SO sub(4)) only form at NH sub(3) / H sub(2)SO sub(4) < 0.1 to 1. For larger values of NH sub(3) / H sub(2)SO sub(4), the composition of NH sub(3)-H sub(2)SO sub(4) clusters was characterized by the number of NH sub(3) molecules m added for each added H sub(2)SO sub(4) molecule n ( Delta m/ Delta n), where n is in the range 4-18 (negatively charged clusters) or 1-17 (positively charged clusters). For negatively charged clusters, Delta m/ Delta n saturated between 1 and 1.4 for NH sub(3) / H sub(2)SO sub(4) > 10. Positively charged clusters grew on average by Delta m/ Delta n = 1.05 and were only observed at sufficiently high NH sub(3) / H sub(2)SO sub(4). The H sub(2)SO sub(4) molecules of these clusters are partially neutralized by NH sub(3), in close resemblance to the acid-base bindings of ammonium bisulfate. Supported by model simulations, we substantiate previous evidence for acid-base reactions being the essential mechanism behind the formation of these clusters under atmospheric conditions and up to sizes of at least 2 nm. Our results also suggest that electrically neutral NH sub(3)-H sub(2)SO sub(4) clusters, unobservable in this study, have generally the same composition as ionic clusters for NH sub(3) / H sub(2)SO sub(4) > 10. We expect that NH sub(3)-H sub(2)SO sub(4) clusters form and grow also mostly by Delta m/ Delta n > 1 in the atmosphere's boundary layer, as NH sub(3) / H sub(2)SO sub(4) is mostly larger than 10. We compared our results from CLOUD with APi-TOF measurements of NH sub(3)-H sub(2)SO sub(4) anion clusters during new-particle formation in the Finnish boreal forest. However, the exact role of NH sub(3)-H sub(2)SO sub(4) clusters in boundary layer particle formation remains to be resolved.
► Synthesis of superparamagnetic nanoparticles. ► Functionalization with a diethoxydiphenylsilane coating. ► Analysis of PAHs in urinary samples of smoking and no-smoking people.
Superparamagnetic ...Fe3O4 diphenyl nanoparticles were prepared according to a solvothernal procedure and characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, surface area measurements, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic phases present in the nanoparticle samples were analyzed by thermomagnetic analysis and the samples’ magnetic properties were studied by vibrating sample magnetometry. The resulting nanoparticles having an average diameter of 200nm were then used as solid-phase extraction sorbent for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine samples. Method validation proved the feasibility of the developed beads for the quantitation of the investigated analytes at trace levels obtaining lower limit of quantitation values in the ng/l range. A good precision with coefficients of variations always lower than 15% was obtained. Finally, the superior extraction performance of the synthesized nanoparticles with respect to commercially available beads was proved.
Efficient thermal insulating materials can significantly reduce energy consumption for both heating and cooling of buildings. When selecting an insulation material, however, it is important to ...consider other important aspects, such as acoustic performance, environmental impacts, effects on human health and costs of production. That is the reason why key research developments are recently achieved in the field of sustainable, highly efficient materials. Within this context, this paper deals with the thermal and acoustic performance and the environmental impact analysis of two kinds of corrugated multi-layer cardboard panels, usually applied in the packaging industry. Thermal analyses were conducted in order to measure the thermal conductivity by means of both an experimental campaign and numerical methods. The acoustic absorption coefficient and the transmission loss were experimentally determined by means of an impedance tube. Finally a Life Cycle Assessment of the considered panels was implemented and compared to the performance of other commonly used insulation materials. The main results of the study show that the cardboard-made panels usually applied for low-cost packaging present promising performance in terms of both acoustic and thermal insulation potential, i.e. of the same order of magnitude than high-performance commercialized products. The environmental impact evaluation also reveals an interesting behavior of the corrugated cardboard panels, which can by any means be considered as a promising recycled insulation material.
•Innovative insulating cardboard panels from the packaging industry are studied.•Analytical-numerical-experimental multi-physics characterization is performed.•Thermal conductivity performance show promising results (λ ∼ 0.05 W/mK).•Larger flute panels show good sound absorption and transmission loss capability.•LCA shows suitable results for the same larger flute panel vs. the market products.
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