Higher order terms of Mather's β\beta-function for symplectic and outer billiards

We compute explicitly the higher order terms of the formal Taylor expansion of Mather's $\beta$-function for symplectic and outer billiards in a strictly-convex planar domain $C$. In particular, we specify the third terms of the asymptotic expansions of the distance (in the sense of the symmetric difference metric) between $C$ and its best approximating inscribed or circumscribed polygons with at most $n$ vertices. We use tools from affine differential geometry.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure

Vaccine hesitancy among Ukrainian refugees

Background On February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine so several refugees went to Poland, Romania, Russia, but also to Italy. Several factors contributed to low vaccination coverage in Ukraine and the occurrence of epidemic outbreaks. The purpose of our study was to analyze the main characteristics of refugees who accessed the Rozzano Vaccination Center (Italy), and the attitude towards proposed vaccinations. Methods In March-July 2022, we conducted a cross sectional study on Ukrainian refugees under the age of 18. On the basis of their vaccination certificates or antibody dosages, the doctor proposed to the parents (or legal guardians) any vaccinations to be carried out on the basis of the Italian Vaccinal Calendar. Refused or accepted vaccinations were registered and the data exported for statistical analysis. COVID-19 vaccination was excluded from our analysis. Results 27 refugees missed the appointment, so 79 Ukrainian refugees have been included in the study. Females represented the 51.90% of patients; the average age was 7.11 (sd 4.92) years. The most refused vaccinations were: HPV, MMR and men C. Significant differences due to age were found for Men C and Chickenpox. Conclusions The efforts made to ensure complete care and promote vaccination among refugees, offering them a complete evaluation of the vaccination status and the possibility of being vaccinated for free, seem to be insufficient to convince most refugees to get vaccinated

Effects of moderate and high rates of biochar and compost on grapevine growth in a greenhouse experiment

Biochar is used as soil amendment and enhancer of plant growth, but the mechanisms involved in grapevine are not understood. In this study, the short-term effects of amendments were evaluated in a trial combining three substrates (biochar, compost, peat-based media) with three doses(30, 70, 100%) along a time sequence on 1-year-old bare root cuttings of grapevine. Amendments were analyzed for elemental composition. Soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), chlorophyll (CHL), flavonoids (FL), anthocyans (ANT) and nitrogen balance index (NBI) were measured.Biochar differed from other amendments for stable C structures, where nutrients and lignin residues were high in compost. Biochar increased soil pH, whereas biochar plus compost mixture augmented EC. The amended plants had detrimental effects on root, true and lateral leaves. Nevertheless, at the lowest rate biochar increased the primary shoot and total scion to root biomass ratio. Among biochemicals, ANT and NBI were mostly affected by biochar, while compost gave only slight increments. Thus, although biochar rate was not adequate for the shedding in open field our results suggest that biochar might be useful in nursery when used at low dosages

Accuracy of intraoral optical scan versus stereophotogrammetry for complete-arch digital implant impression: An in vitro study

To assess and compare the accuracies of intraoral scanners (IOS) and stereophotogrammetry (SPG) devices for complete-arch digital implant impressions.A 4-analog model was digitized using a desk scanner to obtain a reference file. Thirty test scans were conducted using the investigated IOS device, while an additional 30 scans were performed using the SPG device. Using the best-fit algorithm, the resulting 60 test files were aligned with the reference file. Linear (ΔX, ΔY, and ΔZ-axis) and angular deviations (ΔANGLE) were evaluated. Three-dimensional (3D) deviation was calculated based on the Euclidean distance (ΔEUC). The analysis was stratified according to the scanning device and implant position. Fisher's F and t-tests were used to compare the variances and expected values of the two scanning systems.IOS expressed a higher 3D (ΔEUC) mean deviation than SPG (52.8 µm vs. 33.4 µm, P < 0.0001), with extreme measurements up to 181.9 µm. A significantly higher standard deviation (SD) was associated with IOS (37.1 µm vs. 17.7 µm, P < 0.0001). Considering angular deviations, the IOS showed slightly higher angular mean deviations (ΔANGLE) than the SPG (0.28° vs. 0.24°, P = 0.0022), with extreme measurements of up to 0.73°. The SPG SD values were significantly lower than the IOS SD values (0.14° vs. 0.04°, P < 0.0001).The SPG showed significantly higher 3D and angular accuracies for complete arch implant impressions, with consistent repeatability. IOS scanning revealed significantly higher extreme deviations exceeding the acceptable threshold value. Despite study limitations, SPG appears more feasible than IOS for complete-arch digital implant impressions

Scritture epistemiche: progettare la didattica intrecciando tradizione e innovazione

The article describes the first year of a project called “Vertical, transpositive and epistemic writings” (Indire and UniTo), whose goal is based on focusing on new forms of writing in the school environment. Over time, the approach to new technologies has oriented the use of various “written” production methods, intertwining different media languages: these are combinations ofwords, sounds, images, already present in the technologies themselves, partly of “scriptural ideas fruit of the creativity of millennials. The project intends to consider the previous thirty years of the web, the actuality and the gap of writing “inside” and “outside” the school in the perspective of a varied and effective capacity for expression. This can happen thanks to a conscious approach and to a fruitful collaboration between students, teachers and the community of the web, through playful, poetic, ironic and autobiographical methods, among others. It is therefore not a “writing workshop”, but a path of awareness of the self and the other that can guide the choices of teachers and students. This path can allow, at the same time, personal/individual development, but also group and community. Media education must therefore undertake to monitor the sudden changes in the expressive behaviors of young people, accompanying these paths aimed at developing media/digitalskills useful for their future life projects.L’articolo descrive il primo anno di un progetto denominato “Scritture verticali, traspositive ed epistemiche” (Indire e UniTo), il cui obiettivo si basa sulla focalizzazione di nuove forme di scrittura in ambito scolastico. L’approccio alle nuove tecnologie ha orientato nel tempo l’utilizzo di varie modalità di produzione “scritta”, intrecciando differenti linguaggi mediali: combinazioni di parole, suoni, immagini in “idee scritturali” generate da nuovi ambienti comunicativi ed dalla creatività dei millennials. Il progetto intende considerare il pregresso di trent’anni di web, l’attualità e il divario della scrittura “dentro” e “fuori” la scuola, nella prospettiva di una variegata ed efficace capacità di espressione. Ciò può avvenire grazie a un approccio consapevole e a una proficua collaborazione tra allievi, insegnanti e nuove strumentazioni, attraverso modalità, tra le altre, ludiche, poetiche, ironiche e autobiografiche. Non si tratta quindi di un “laboratorio di scrittura”, ma di un percorso di consapevolezza del sé e dell’altro che possa orientare le scelte di insegnanti e alunni. Tale percorso può consentire, allo stesso tempo, uno sviluppo personale/individuale, ma anche gruppale e comunitario. La media education si impegna a monitorare i cambiamenti repentini delle condotte espressive dei ragazzi, accompagnando questi percorsi orientati allo sviluppo di competenze mediali/digitali utili ai loro futuri progetti di vita

Accuracy of complete-arch digital implant impression with intraoral optical scanning and stereophotogrammetry: An in vivo prospective comparative study

Objectives: To assess accuracy of intraoral optical scanning (IOS) and stereophotogrammetry (SPG), complete-arch digital implant impressions in vivo. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients needing implant-supported screw-retained zirconia complete-arch fixed-dental prostheses (ISZ-FDP) were recruited. For each patient, three impressions were taken: IOS, SPG (tests), and open-tray plaster (reference). Linear (ΔX, ΔY, and ΔZ), three-dimensional (ΔEUC), and angular deviations (ΔANGLE) were evaluated and stratified according to scanning technology for each implant. Potential effects of impression device (IOS and SPG), arch (maxilla and mandible), and implant number (4 and 6) were evaluated through multivariable analysis. Significance level was set at.05. Results: A total of 11 complete arches (5 maxillae, 6 mandibles) in 11 patients were rehabilitated with ISZ-FDPs supported by 4 (n = 8) and 6 implants (n = 3). A total of 50 implants and 100 implant positions were captured by two investigated devices and compared to respective reference (mean ΔEUC IOS 137.2, SPG 87.6 μm; mean ΔANGLE 0.79, 0.38°). Differences between measurements (SPG-IOS) were computed for each implant, with negative values indicating better SPG accuracy. Significant mean ΔEUC difference of −49.60 μm (p =.0143; SD 138.15) and mean ΔANGLE difference of −0.40° (p <.0001; SD 0.65) were observed in favor of SPG. Multivariable analysis showed significant effect on ΔEUC (p =.0162) and ΔANGLE (p =.0001) only for impression devices, with SPG performing better. Conclusions: SPG experienced significantly higher linear and angular accuracy. No effect of type of arch or implant number was detected. Higher extreme deviations were experienced for IOS. SPG can be feasible for complete-arch digital impressions with caution, and rigid prototype try-in is recommended before screw-retained prosthesis manufacturing. © 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Pediatric males receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplant lose their male disadvantage in disease risk after the procedure: A retrospective observational study

Sex differences play a relevant role in cancer susceptibility, incidence and survival. Exploring such differences is difficult because of the close interplay of genetic, epigenetic and hormonal factors. However, a better understanding of the role of such disparities in cancer mechanisms could improve its prevention and therapy. Our study explores how sex differences in pediatric outcomes vary after undergoing first and advanced-line therapy for hematological malignancies. The primary goal was to evaluate if sex differences in pediatric outcomes after first-line therapy persist after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The secondary goal was to analyze sex differences in disease risk at onset and pediatric outcomes after first-line therapy to compare our results with the literature's reported results. Among a total of 485 patients (280 males, 205 females) admitted for hematological malignancies, disease risk at the onset was significantly higher in males (P &lt; .05). One hundred and seventy-four patients (111 males and 63 females) had a high-risk disease requiring HSCT. Before HSCT, all patients underwent myeloablative conditioning, which substantially impaired gonadal function. Although the number of boys undergoing HSCT was almost double that of girls, there were no sex-related differences in overall survival, cancer relapse and complications after HSCT exposure (P &gt; .05). These findings suggest that the existing sex differences in cancer risk ab initio can be somehow flattened by a conditioning regimen, shedding new light on the role of hormonal factors in cancer mechanism and management

Is a Genetic Variant associated with Bipolar Disorder Frequent in People without Bipolar Disorder but with Characteristics of Hyperactivity and Novelty Seeking?

Objective: The objective is to verify whether a genetic condition associated with bipolar disorder (BD) is frequent in old adults adapted to their environment, without BD, but with aptitudes for hyperactivity and novelty seeking (H/NS). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the study sample included healthy elderly people (40 participants, aged 60 or older) living in an urban area and recruited from a previous study on physical exercise and active aging, who were compared with 21 old adults with BD from the same area. The genetic methodology consisted of blood sampling, DNA extraction, real-time PCR jointly with FRET probes, and the SANGER sequencing method. The genetic variant RS1006737 of CACNA1C, found to be associated with bipolar disorder diagnosis, was investigated. Results: The frequency of the RS1006737 genetic variant in the study group (H/NS) is not higher than in the BD group and is statistically significantly higher than in all the control groups found in the literature. However, the familiarity for BD is higher in old adults with BD than in the H/NS sample without BD. The risk of BD in the family (also considering those without BD but with family members with BD) is not associated with the presence of the genetic variant examined. Conclusion: The study suggests that the gene examined is associated with characteristics of hyperactivity rather than just BD. Nevertheless, choosing to participate in an exercise program is an excessively general way to identify H/NS. The next step would be to identify the old adults with welldefined H/NS features with an adequate tool

Parenteral Nutrition in the Pediatric Oncologic Population: Are There Any Sex Differences?

Gender-based medicine is attracting increasing interest every day, but studies on pediatric populations are still limited. In this setting, sex differences among patients undergoing total parenteral nutrition (TPN) have not been previously reported. This study investigated the presence of sex differences in parenteral nutrition composition and outcomes among a cohort of pediatric patients admitted at the Oncohematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit of the Institute for Maternal and Child Health "Burlo Garofolo" of Trieste, Italy. For all 145 recruited patients (87 males, 58 females), the following data were collected: age, sex, volume and duration of TPN, macro- and micronutrient composition of TPN bags, electrolytic or blood gases imbalance, glycolipid alterations, liver damage during TPN, and the incidence of sepsis and thrombosis. The analysis showed that females required higher daily phosphate intake (p = 0.054) and essential amino acid supplementation (p = 0.07), while males had a higher incidence of hypertriglyceridemia (p < 0.05) and cholestasis. A higher incidence of sepsis was found in the non-transplanted male population (p < 0.05). No significant differences were appreciable in other analyzed variables. This study aims to create a basis for future gender-based nutritional recommendations in the pediatric field