Display omitted
•A review of the literature has been conducted.•Some methodological approaches for the treatment of cigarette butts have been analyzed.•The by-products and their possible use has been ...described.
Trillions of cigarettes are smoked annually making cigarette butts one of the most common types of litter in the world. Due to the materials and toxic substances that they contain, this waste carries a very harmful risk for the environment and for living organisms (including humans). Only a few - barely sustainable - solutions have tried to tackle this waste and alternative solutions to landfilling and incineration are needed. Identifying the best methodological solutions and technologies for recycling this kind of waste in terms of results and applicability to real contexts would reduce the presence of dangerous materials in the environment and ecosystems and would promote the recovery of materials in line with the circular economy and sustainable development.
The objective of this review was to collect and analyze the alternative solutions available in the literature for the recovery and recycling of the materials in cigarette butts, considering them as possible sources of secondary raw materials applicable to contexts of common interest. Several papers were selected and the results obtained by the authors are presented in terms of type of treatment process (physical, chemical or both), product derived (in solid, liquid or gaseous form) and its possible use in different sectors (e.g. construction, electronics, energy, chemistry and environmental protection). The main results, together with the advantages and disadvantages are highlighted and proposals for further research are outlined.
Abstract The inflow of CSF into perivascular spaces (PVS) in the brain is crucial for clearing waste molecules. Inefficiency in PVS flow leads to neurodegeneration. Failure of PVS flushing is ...associated with CSF flow impairment in the intracranial hydrodynamic condition of CSF hypo-pulsatility. However, enlarged PVS (ePVS), a finding indicative of PVS flow dysfunction, is also present in patients with derangement of CSF dynamics characterized by CSF hyper-pulsatility, which increases CSF flow. Intriguingly, two opposite intracranial hydrodynamic conditions would lead to the same result of impairing the PVS flushing. To investigate this issue, we assessed the subsistence of a dysfunctional interplay between CSF and PVS flows and, if the case, the mechanisms preventing a hyper-pulsatile brain from providing an effective PVS flushing. We analyzed the association between phase contrast MRI aqueductal CSF stroke volume (aqSV), a proxy of CSF pulsatility, and the burden of ePVS in chronic adult hydrocephalus, a disease involving a broad spectrum of intracranial hydrodynamics disturbances. In the 147 (85 males, 62 females) patients, the age at diagnosis ranged between 28 and 88 years (median 73 years). Ninety-seven patients had tri-ventriculomegaly and 50 tetra-ventriculomegaly. According to the extent of ePVS, 113 patients had a high ePVS burden, while 34 had a low ePVS burden. aqSV, which ranged between 0 and 562 μL (median 86 μL), was increased with respect to healthy subjects. Patients presenting with less ePVS burden had higher aqSV ( p < 0.002, corrected for the multiple comparisons) than those with higher ePVS burden. The present study confirmed the association between CSF dynamics and PVS flow disturbances and demonstrated this association in intracranial hyper-pulsatility. Further studies should investigate the association between PVS flow failure and CSF hypo- and hyper-pulsatility as responsible/co-responsible for glymphatic failure in other neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in diseases in which CSF disturbances can be corrected, as in chronic adult hydrocephalus.
CSF flow suppress during breath-holding (Dreha-Kulaczewski et al., 2015, 2017). ...debris in the CSF spaces or their obstruction for congenital, inflammatory, infectious, haemorrhagic, neoplastic, ...and traumatic processes impairs CSF circulation, see Table 2 in Williams et al. “ Perivenular involvement may also occur (Wilson, 2016). ...cerebrospinal-interstitial fluid might also stagnate in the interstitium due to the rise of resistance on the venous side of perivascular spaces from decreased fluid efflux (Jiang et al., 2017). Discussion Considering how G-Ls functions (Louveau et al., 2018; Nedergaard and Goldman, 2020), its chronic failure may lead to dysregulation of brain waste molecule clearance, intra-extracellular water, ion homeostasis, and CNS immune response alterations. ...since aquaporin-4 is involved in ependymal development and physiology (Kahle et al., 2016), G-Ls damage may disrupt the anatomy and function of CSF spaces. In the “G-Ls pathology” model, therapies to prevent neurodegeneration should target aquaporin-4 polymorphisms and alterations; therapies aimed at preventing aquaporin-4-specific IgG binding are under investigation (Papadopoulos and Verkman, 2013). ...the prevention of hydrodynamic disturbances related to arterial circulation can follow treatment indications for cerebrovascular disease (Smith et al., 2017).
Summary Clonal expansion of B cells and the production of oligoclonal IgG in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have long been interpreted as ...circumstantial evidence of the immune-mediated pathogenesis of the disease and suggest a possible infectious cause. Extensive work on intrathecally produced antibodies has not yet clarified whether they are pathogenetically relevant. Irrespective of antibody specificity, however, the processes of antibody synthesis in the CNS of patients with MS are becoming increasingly clear. Likewise, targeting B cells might be therapeutically relevant in MS and other autoimmune diseases that are deemed to be driven predominantly by T cells. Accumulating evidence indicates that in MS, similar to rheumatoid arthritis, B cells aggregate into lymphoid-like structures in the target organ. The process of aggregation is mediated through the expression of lymphoid-homing chemokines. In the brain of a patient with MS, ectopic B-cell follicles preferentially adjoin the pial membrane within the subarachnoid space. Recent findings indicate that substantial numbers of B cells that are infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) accumulate in these intrameningeal follicles and in white matter lesions and are probably the target of a cytotoxic immune response. These findings, which await confirmation, could be an explanation for the continuous B-cell and T-cell activation in MS, but leave open concerns about the possible pathogenicity of autoantibodies. Going beyond the antimyelin-antibody dogma, the above data warrant further work on various B-cell-related mechanisms, including investigation of B-cell effector and regulatory functions, definition of the consistency of CNS colonisation by Epstein-Barr virus-infected B cells, and understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the formation and persistence of tertiary lymphoid tissues in patients with MS and other chronic autoimmune diseases (ectopic follicle syndromes). This work will stimulate new and unconventional ways of reasoning about MS pathogenesis.
Many potentially modifiable risk factors for MS are investigated. It is not known, however, if these factors also apply to MS-related cognitive impairment (CI), a frequent consequence of MS.
The aim ...of our study was to assess risk factors for CI in MS patients, focusing on environmental exposures, lifestyle and comorbidities.
We included MS patients referring to MS Centers in Florence and Barletta between 2014 and 2017. Neuropsychological performance was assessed through the Rao's battery and Stroop test, cognitive reserve (premorbid intelligence quotient-IQ) was evaluated using the National Adult Reading Test (NART). Potential risk factors were investigated through a semi-structured questionnaire.
150 patients were included. CI was detected in 45 (30%) subjects and was associated with older age (p<0.005), older age at MS onset (p = 0.016), higher EDSS score (p<0.005), progressive disease course (p = 0.048) and lower premorbid IQ score (p<0.005). As for risk factors, CI was related with lower physical activity in childhood-adolescence (p<0.005). In women, hormonal therapy resulted to be protective against CI (p = 0.041). However, in the multivariable analysis, the only significant predictors of CI were older age (p<0.05; OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.10) and lower premorbid IQ (p<0.05; OR 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88-0.98). Removing IQ from the model, CI was associated with higher EDSS (p = 0.030; OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.02-1.53) and, marginally, previous physical activity (p = 0.066; OR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.23-1.05).
Our findings suggest that physical activity in childhood-adolescence could be a contributor to cognitive reserve building, thus representing a potential protective factors for MS-related CI susceptible to preventive strategies.
Introduction
Direct apical vertebral rotation represents an important goal of posterior surgery for thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), so as to obtain a better cosmetic effect and to ...avoid posterior thoracoplasty. However, the real effectiveness in correction of vertebral rotation, using posterior only procedures, is still open to debate. The aim of the present study is to compare the correction of axial apical rotation obtained with direct rotation procedure versus simple concave rod rotation, in patients treated by posterior fusion for thoracic AIS using pedicle screw-only construct.
Materials and methods
A retrospective review was performed on a total of 62 consecutive patients (one single institution, three different surgeons) affected by AIS, who had undergone a posterior spinal fusion with pedicle screw-only instrumentation between January 2005 and April 2008 at the reference center. All cases presented a main thoracic curve (Lenke type 1 and 2). The angle of rotation (RAsag) of the apical vertebra was measured from the preoperative and last follow-up axial CT. According to the derotation procedure, two groups were identified: a direct vertebral rotation group (DR group;
n
= 32 patients) and a simple concave rod rotation group (No-DR group;
n
= 30 patients). There were no statistical differences between the two groups, in terms of age, Risser’s sign, curve patterns, Cobb main thoracic (MT) curve magnitude and flexibility, extension of fusion, offset measurements on the coronal plane and sagittal preoperative contour.
Results
All 62 patients were reviewed at an average follow-up of 3.7 years (range 2.5–4.2 years). The DR group compared to the No-DR group showed a significantly better final correction of apical vertebral rotation (DR 63.4 % vs. No-DR 14.8 %;
p
< 0.05) and a greater final correction (61.3 vs. 52.4 %;
p
< 0.05) with better maintenance of the initial correction (−1.7° vs. −1.9°; ns) of the main thoracic curve. Concerning the coronal balance, there was the same aforementioned trend of better results in the DR group, with less final apical MT vertebra translation (DR 2.2 cm vs. No-DR 4.1 cm), greater overall change (preop-final) of lower instrumented vertebra (LIV) coronal tilt (−14.9° vs. −11.1°;
p
< 0.05); the final global coronal balance (C7–S1) resulted quite better in DR group, but without a significant difference. The T5–T12 kyphosis angle was quite similar in both group before surgery (DR 16.8° vs. No-DR 17.5°) and was little lower at final follow-up evaluation in direct vertebral rotation group (14.5° vs. 16.5°). The T10–L2 sagittal alignment angle was similar in each group before surgery (12.5° in DR vs. 11.8° in No-DR), and at the latest follow-up averaged 5.3° versus 8.2°, respectively. Lumbar lordosis was similar in each group before surgery (DR −42° vs. No-DR −44.1°) and at the final follow-up evaluation (−45.9° vs. −43.2°). At the latest follow-up, SRS-30 and SF-36 findings were similar between the two groups. The complication rate was higher in the simple concave rod rotation group (13.3 vs. 9.3 %), related in two cases to thoracoplasty, which was never utilized in direct rotation patients.
Conclusions
The direct vertebral rotation obtained significantly better final results, when compared to simple concave rod rotation, both concerning correction of apical vertebral rotation and magnitude of MT curve. On the other hand, the DR group presented a little reduction in T5–T12 kyphosis at follow-up, in comparison with concave rod rotation procedure. Both procedures were found to be satisfying from patients’ perspective. Nevertheless overall complication rate was higher in the simple concave rod rotation group, related mainly to thoracoplasty (2 cases), which was never necessary in direct rotation patients.
Professorships in Italy are assigned following public competitions. However, favouritism affects faculty hiring. Researchers lacking clientelistic support remain excluded from academia and are ...obliged to seek employment abroad or at non-university institutions, or to abandon their career. Do non-recruited researchers have better or worse scientific capacity than those who have attained professorships in Italy?
Files regarding the competitions in bibliometric disciplines won by 186 professors in Florence were analysed. An equal number of professors recruited at other Italian universities and scientists who never attained professorship in Italy were randomly drawn from the pool of individuals having national scientific qualification (the prerequisite for professorship) in the same disciplines as each Florentine professor. H-indexes of the year of qualification (T1), of the Florence call (T2), and in July 2021 (T3) were obtained from Scopus.
Non-recruited individuals were more likely (Chi-square test) to show a higher H-index than both Florentine (T1
p
= 0.0005, T2
p
= 0.0015, T3
p
= 0.0095) and non-Florentine professors (T1
p
= 0.0078, T2
p
= 0.0245, T3
p
= 0.0500). Fifty-four non-recruited scientists serve in foreign universities, 100 at national/international research centres. The remaining scientists (25 who continue producing despite precarious employment, and seven who have stopped publishing) were as likely as Florentine (T3
p
= 0.69) and non-Florentine (T3
p
= 0.14) professors to show a higher H-index.
Italian faculty hiring disregards merit. A more challenging qualification would limit the access of researchers with lower scientific capacity, and favour those with greater proficiency. As it stands, competition is useless. Once professors obtain permanent employment, they seem less motivated to publish.
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) has received a great deal of attention in recent years due to the relationship between worker comfort and productivity. Many academics have studied IEQ from both a ...building design and an IEQ assessment perspective. This latter line of research has mostly used direct eliciting to obtain weights assigned to IEQ categories such as thermal comfort, visual comfort, acoustic comfort, and indoor air quality. We found only one application of indirect eliciting in the literature. Such indirect eliciting operates without the need for imprecise direct weighing and requires only comfort evaluations, which is in line with the Industry 5.0 paradigm of individual, dynamic, and integrated IEQ evaluation. In this paper, we use a case study to compare the only indirect eliciting model already applied to IEQ, based on TOPSIS, to an indirect eliciting method based on PROMETHEE and to a classical direct eliciting method (AHP). The results demonstrate the superiority of indirect eliciting in reconstructing individual preferences related to perceived global comfort.
This study is a retrospective case series review of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) who were revised more than 1 year after the index procedure, due to a late-developing deep ...wound infection, to determine onset, bacteriology, possible influence of implant alloy (titanium vs. stainless-steel) and treatment outcome of patients. From a total of 540 patients who underwent posterior-only fusion for AIS from 1993 through 2005 at our institution, 15 cases (2.77%) were revised due to a late-developing post-operative infection: there were six males and nine females, with an average age at initial surgery of 15.8 years (range 12–18). Late infections occurred at a mean of 70 months (15–95) after the index procedure. The implant alloy used was a stainless-steel instrumentation in 11 patients (4.56% of 241) and a titanium one in 4 patients (1.33% of 299): there was an higher incidence of late infections in stainless-steel alloy group of patients (
P
< 0.0001). Complete removal of instrumentation was performed in nine patients, obtaining in all cases wound healing and no symptoms of infection, at a minimum 3 years follow-up. In the other six patients, presenting less severe clinical signs of infections, an attempt to save/replace the previous instrumentation was performed, but a complete instrumentation removal had to be performed 11.6 months later (range 3–24) for the persistence or recurrence of infection: all patients healed uneventfully at a minimum 3 years follow-up. Intraoperative cultures were obtained in all 15 cases, being positive in 13 cases (
S. epidermidis
in 5 patients,
S. aureus
in 3,
Propionibacterium acnes
in 1,
Serratia marcescens
in 1,
Propionibacterium acnes
+
S. epidermidis
in 1,
S. aureus
+
S. epidermidis
in 1 and coagulase-negative Staphylococci in 1). None presented at latest follow-up scoliosis progression: there was no statistically significant difference between final and pre-operative revision surgery values (
P
= 0.17). In conclusion
,
treatment of late-developing post-operative infection in AIS surgery required complete removal of the implant, continuous drain and adequate antibiotic therapy based on intraoperative swab antibiogram. Titanium alloy instrumentations resulted less subject to late post-operative infections, when compared to stainless-steel ones (
P
< 0.0001).
A surging demand for sustainable energy and the urgency to lower greenhouse gas emissions is driving industrial systems towards more eco-friendly and cost-effective models. Biogas from agricultural ...and municipal organic waste is gaining momentum as a renewable energy source. Concurrently, the European Hydrogen Strategy focuses on green hydrogen for decarbonising the industrial and transportation sectors. This paper presents a multi-objective network design model for urban–industrial symbiosis, incorporating anaerobic digestion, cogeneration, photovoltaic, and hydrogen production technologies. Additionally, a Bayesian best-worst method is used to evaluate the weights of the sustainability aspects by decision-makers, integrating these into the mathematical model. The model optimises industrial plant locations considering economic, environmental, and social parameters, including the net present value, energy consumption, and carbon footprint. The model’s functionalities are demonstrated through a real-world case study based in Emilia Romagna, Italy. It is subject to sensitivity analysis to evaluate how changes in the inputs affect the outcomes and highlights feasible trade-offs through the exploration of the ϵ-constraint. The findings demonstrate that the model substantially boosts energy and hydrogen production. It is not only economically viable but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with fossil fuels and landfilling. Additionally, it contributes to job creation. This research has significant implications, with potential future studies intended to focus on system resilience, plant location optimisation, and sustainability assessment.
PDF
