Seasonal variation of platelets in a cohort of Italian blood donors: a preliminary report

Massimo Gallerani1*, Roberto Reverberi2, Raffaella Salmi1, Michael H Smolensky3 and Roberto Manfredini4 Author Affiliations 1 Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria, Ferrara, Italy 2 Immunohematological and Transfusional Service, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria, Ferrara, Italy 3 Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA 4 Clinica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria, Ferrara, ItalyBackground: Since available data are not univocal, the aim of this study was to explore the existence of a seasonal variation in platelet count. Methods: The study was based on the database of the Italian Association of Blood Volunteers (AVIS), section of Ferrara, Italy, 2001–2010. Hematological data (170,238 exams referring to 16,422 donors) were categorized into seasonal and monthly intervals, and conventional and chronobiological analyses were applied. Results: Platelets and plateletcrit were significantly higher in winter-autumn, with a main peak in December-February (average +3.4% and +4.6%, respectively, P <0.001 for both). Conclusions: Although seasonal variations have been reported for several acute cardiovascular diseases, it is extremely unlikely that such a slight increase in platelet count in winter alone may be considered as a risk factor.Biomedical [email protected]

Environmental Liquid Effluents, A Novel Approach For Treatment Of Industrial Waste Water

Nutrient enrichment or eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems can cause an increase in algae and aquatic plants, loss of component species, and loss of ecosystem function. For these reasons, numerous studies were focused on nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewater streams. Most of these studies were based on biological processes and different combinations of anaerobic, aerobic, and anoxic zones such as Bardenpho, A2O, UCT, and their modifications. Hence phosphate recovery from sewage is in synergy with reducing other environmental impacts and making it a long term economic resource. The aim of the novel treatment process is to highlight on studies investigated for the nutrient removal performance using Chorella-vulgaris at different nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. The effect of ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus concentration on removal of these nutrients from synthetic wastewater by algae Chorella-vulgaris in batch cultivation have been investigated in this study and kinetic coefficients were determined. It is observed that an effluent may contain specific nutrients valuable for recovery and this observation may lead to the idea or understanding of treating an effluent from industrial source as a useful resource instead of the general idea of treating the effluent as waste products, and in the same process losing money in terms of expenses on chemicals and energy. Treatment and discharge of effluents into the receiving streams should not be an issue that will be considered as usual because there are specified standards required by the legislation, in terms of the quality and characteristic of the effluent before it is discharged into the waterways

Rivalry and Learning Among Clustered and Isolated Firms

In this paper explore the relationships between rivalry and geographical proximity at the very level of contacts between individual firms. In particular, we wish to highlight the influence of geographical proximity on rival identification, on the comparison of their knowledge, and on the consequent elaboration of a strategy. In order to reproduce the interactions between firms, we made use of an agent-based model (ABM) where the strategic choices of rival firms are derived from general assumptions on competitive behavior and learning processes. Aim of the model is to investigate the co-evolution of firms' knowledge, strategies and performances. Substantial empirical evidences claim that firms located in geographical clusters are more likely to learn and innovate than isolated firms.Industrial Clusters, Industrial Districts, Knowledge Development, Rivalry

Focal Firms as Technological Gatakeepers within Industrial Districts Knowledge Creation and Dissemination in the Italian Packaging Machinery Industry

Despite the diffusion of communication tools and boundary spanning technologies, knowledge flows in innovation processes retain a distinct localized nature in many industries and geographical clusters emerge as critical areas to foster technological diffusion. In this paper we focus on the role of focal firms in industrial clusters as “gatekeepers” introducing external technological novelties in the cluster and enacting new useful knowledge production locally, thus enhancing international competitive capabilities of all firms in the cluster. We analyze a longitudinal dataset of 720 patents 1 Corresponding Author www.druid.dk granted by USPTO between 1990 and 2003 to firms in the automatic packaging machinery industrial district of Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy, and a matched-sample to control for the uneven geographical distribution of R&D and patenting activities. Our results show that firms within the cluster use local knowledge to a greater extent and more rapidly than knowledge from the outside than it would be expected given the geographic distribution of innovative activity in the industry. Moreover, focal firms use external knowledge to a greater extent than other firms operating in the cluster, and other (non focal) firms within the cluster use knowledge from focal firms to a greater extent than would be expected given the geographic distribution of innovative activity in the industry. Implications for research on the geographical distribution of innovation activities are discussed.Innovation processes, Knowledge flows, Geographical clusters

Changing borders, stable attitudes: The national and European identity before and after the most recent EU enlargements

This article investigates whether changes occur in the national and European identities of the citizens from the old and new Member States following the 2004 and 2007 enlargements. Complementary, it seeks to identify the major attitudinal determinants of national and European identities for the EU citizens. The analysis focuses on the 27 EU Member States and uses individual level data from the 2002-2009 Candidate Countries and Standard Eurobarometers. The descriptive statistics and multivariate quantitative analyses reveal that no relevant changes occur in the levels of national and European identities. The two types of identities coexist and are shaped at various levels. Their determinants appear to be quite stable over time, thus indicating no major alterations after the enlargement

Mancha anular do cafeeiro (Coffee ringspot virus - CoRSV).

Importância do café; Mancha anular do cafeeiro; Local de descrição; Distribuição; Sintomas; Etiologia; Transmissão; Propriedades físicas; Taxonomia; Diagnose; Estudos citopáticos; Gama de hospedeiros; Purificação do CoRSV; Produção de antissoro e relacionamento sorológico; RNA do CoRSV; Preservação do vírus; Vetor ? Brevipalpus phoenicis; Epidemiologia; Danos e perdas; Efeito do CoRSV no peso de grãos de café; Controle.bitstream/item/43030/1/Doc-369.pdfVersão eletrônica

Radical distal ureterectomy secondary to an urotelial cancer and ureteral reconstruction robot-assisted. Case report

Indexación: Web of Science; ScieloObjective: To report a case of distal ureterectomy with robotic-assisted laparoscopic reimplantation using a Boari flap technique. Material and Methods: We report a 55 year old man with a diagnosis of distal ureteral urothelial carcinoma without multifocality. Results: A radical distal ureterectomy and robotic-assisted laparoscopic vesicoureteral reimplantation using a Boari flap technique was performed with the da Vinci S-HD surgical system. The operative time was 210 minutes, the estimated blood loss was 200 mL. The hospital stay was 48 hours, without perioperative complications. The histopathological study showed a high grade non-muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma of the distal ureter (pT1NxMx) with negative margins. Conclusions: The distal radical ureterectomy with Boari replacement is feasible and more precise with robotic assistance. Its oncological role must be demostrated with a larger number of cases.Objetivo: Comunicar un caso de tumor ureteral distal tratado con ureterectomía radical y neoimplante vesicoureteral con técnica de Flap Boari asistida por robot. Material y Métodos: Paciente hombre de 55 años, con diagnóstico de carcinoma urotelial de uréter distal sin compromiso multifocal. Resultados: Se realizó ureterectomía distal radical y neoimplante vesicoureteral con Flap Boari asistido por Robot da Vinci S-HD. El tiempo operatorio fue de 210 minutos, con un sangrado estimado de 200 ml. La estadía hospitalaria fue de 48 horas, sin complicaciones perioperatorias. El estudio histológico mostró un carcinoma urotelial de alto grado con infiltración de la lámina propia (pT1NxMx) y márgenes quirúrgicos negativos. Conclusiones: La ureterectomía radical distal con reconstrucción tipo Boari es técnicamente factible y más precisa con la asistencia robótica. Su rol oncológico requiere de validación con mayor número de casos.http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-40262011000400013&nrm=is

Industrial district effects and innovation in the Tuscan shipbuilding industry

The aim of the present work is to investigate innovative processes within a geographical cluster, and thus contribute to the debate on the effects of industrial clusters on innovation capacity. In particular, we would like to ascertain whether the advantages of industrial districts in promoting innovation, as already revealed by literature (diffusion of knowledge, social capital and trust, efficient networking), are also keys to success in the Tuscan shipbuilding industry of pleasure and sporting boats. First, we verify the existence of clusters of shipbuilding in Tuscany, using a specific methodology. Next, in the identified clusters, we analyse three innovative networks financed in a policy to support innovation, and examine whether the typical features of a cluster for promoting innovation are at work, using a questionnaire administered to 71 actors. Finally, we develop a performance analysis of the cluster firms and ascertain whether their different behaviours also lead to different performances. The analysis results show that our case records effects of industrial clustering on innovation capacity, such as the important role given to trust and social capital, the significant worth put in interfirm relations and in each partner’s specific competencies, or even the distinctive performance of firms belonging to a cluster.geographical clusters, industrial districts, innovation, technological transfer, shipbuilding industry

High Ureteric Injury Following Multiorgan Recovery: Successful Kidney Transplant with Boari Flap Ureterocystostomy Reconstruction

Introduction: Despite increased utilization of marginal organs, there is still a marked disparity between organ supply and demand for transplantation. To maximize resources, it is imperative that procured organs are in good condition. Surgical damage at organ recovery can happen and organs are sometimes discarded as a result. We describe a damaged recovered kidney with high ureteric transection that was successfully transplanted using a primary Boari flap ureterocystostomy. Case report: The donor kidney was procured form a deceased donor and sustained damage by transection of the ureter just distal to the pelvi-ureteric junction at organ recovery. The recipient had been on the transplant waiting list for eight years and not accepting this kidney would have seriously jeopardized her chance of future transplantation. Several centers rejected the donor kidney. We assessed the kidney and decided to proceed with transplantation. The kidney was successfully transplanted. A primary Boari flap was constructed and the transplant ureter implanted onto the bladder. The post-operative course was complicated by urine leak that settled down after management by nephrostomy insertion and bladder catheterization. The patient made a good recovery and remained well at six monthly follow up with a serum creatinine of 1.7 mg/dl. Conclusion: Primary Boari flap ureterocystostomy is a viable option when the transplant surgeon is faced with a high ureteric injury in the procured kidney. Since most patients wait years for a suitable graft and some may never find an adequate match, every effort should be made to effectively utilize the scarce available resources to the fullest.Keywords: Kidney; Transplant; Ureter; Donor efficienc