Behavioural and cognitive changes in a patient with leukoencephalopathy due to lymphomatosis cerebri

A 59 years old female with a prior history of facial hemangioma, with a three-month progressive cognitive impairment (MoCA score 15/30) combined with abulia, unmotivated crying,  non-fluent language, limb paratonia, bilateral Hoffman and palmomental reflex; and apraxic gait.  Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 59 años con antecedente de hemangioma facial, con deterioro cognitivo progresivo de tres meses de evolucón (puntuación MoCA 15/30) combinado con abulia, llanto desmotivado, lenguaje no fluido, paratonia de extremidades, Hoffman bilateral y reflejo palmomental; y marcha apráxica.Se realizó resonancia magnética cerebral al ingreso, que reveló una lesión extensa que involucraba la sustancia blanca periventricular, subcortical y profunda. La espectroscopia multivoxel mostró un aumento en la colina y la disminución de NAA.En la evaluación: un laboratorio específico para infecciones virales, sífilis, VIH, LDH y CEA fue normal. Además, el LCR fue normal y la citología del LCR y la citometría de flujo fueron negativas. La angiografía cerebral descartó la presencia de fístula arteriovenosa o anastomosis anormal. Una biopsia determinó que la lesión era un linfoma no Hodgkin de células B (CD20 +). Debido a su extensión, se realizó el diagnóstico definitivo de linfomatosis cerebral. No se encontró lesión primaria. &nbsp

Current state and perspectives of simulation and modeling of aliphatic isocyanates and polyisocyanates

Aliphatic isocyanates and polyisocyanates are central molecules in the fabrication of polyurethanes, coatings, and adhesives and, due to their excellent mechanical and stability properties, are continuously investigated in advanced applications; however, despite the growing interest in isocyanate-based systems, atomistic simulations on them have been limited by the lack of accurate parametrizations for these molecular species. In this review, we will first provide an overview of current research on isocyanate systems to highlight their most promising applications, especially in fields far from their typical usage, and to justify the need for further modeling works. Next, we will discuss the state of their modeling, from first-principle studies to atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and coarse-grained approaches, highlighting the recent advances in atomistic modeling. Finally, the most promising lines of research in the modeling of isocyanates are discussed in light of the possibilities opened by novel approaches, such as machine learning.This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding UIDB/04650/2020 and by the project SATRAP (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028108). The work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020—Research and Innovation Framework Programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement no. 642890 (http://thelink-project.eu/, accessed on 14 April 2022)

Il valore delle pronunce del Comitato europeo dei diritti sociali ai fini dell’interpretazione della Carta sociale europea nel diritto internazionale

Il contributo intende mettere in luce la complessità degli organi di controllo nel diritto internazionale e le loro funzioni, al fine di chiarire il valore delle pronunce del Comitato europeo dei diritti sociali (Comitato europeo o CEDS) per l’interpretazione CSE ed in particolare quelle emesse in seguito a reclamo collettivo.7 Lo scopo mediato è quello di contribuire a delineare l’interpretazione della norma internazionale ai fini della definizione del parametro di costituzionalità delle leggi ex art. 117 co. 1 della Costituzion

Debris flows in the eastern Italian Alps: seasonality and atmospheric circulation patterns

Abstract. The work examines the seasonality and large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns associated with debris-flow occurrence in the Trentino–Alto Adige region (eastern Italian Alps). Analysis is based on classification algorithms applied to a uniquely dense archive of debris flows and hourly rain gauge precipitation series covering the period 2000–2009. Results highlight the seasonal and synoptic forcing patterns linked to debris flows in the study area. Summer and fall season account for 92% of the debris flows in the record, while atmospheric circulation characterized by zonal west, mixed and meridional south and southeast (SE–S) patterns account for 80%. Both seasonal and circulation patterns exhibit geographical preference. In the case of seasonality, there is a strong north–south separation of summer–fall dominance, while spatial distribution of dominant circulation patterns exhibits clustering, with both zonal west and mixed patterns prevailing in the northwest and central east part of the region, while the southern part relates to meridional south and southeast pattern. Seasonal and synoptic pattern dependence is pronounced also on the debris-flow-triggering rainfall properties. Examination of rainfall intensity–duration thresholds derived for different data classes (according to season and synoptic pattern) revealed a distinct variability in estimated thresholds. These findings imply a certain control on debris-flow events and can therefore be used to improve existing alert systems

Approximate Bayesian Computation of radiocarbon and paleoenvironmental record shows population resilience on Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

Examining how past human populations responded to environmental and climatic changes is a central focus of the historical sciences. The use of summed probability distributions (SPD) of radiocarbon dates as a proxy for estimating relative population sizes provides a widely applicable method in this research area. Paleodemographic reconstructions and modeling with SPDs, however, are stymied by a lack of accepted methods for model fitting, tools for assessing the demographic impact of environmental or climatic variables, and a means for formal multi-model comparison. These deficiencies severely limit our ability to reliably resolve crucial questions of past human-environment interactions. We propose a solution using Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) to fit complex demographic models to observed SPDs. Using a case study from Rapa Nui (Easter Island), a location that has long been the focus of debate regarding the impact of environmental and climatic changes on its human population, we find that past populations were resilient to environmental and climatic challenges. Our findings support a growing body of evidence showing stable and sustainable communities on the island. The ABC framework offers a novel approach for exploring regions and time periods where questions of climate-induced demographic and cultural change remain unresolved

Interpretation and the Constraints on International Courts

This paper argues that methodologies of interpretation do not do what they promise – they do not constrain interpretation by providing neutral steps that one can follow in finding out a meaning of a text – but nevertheless do their constraining work by being part of what can be described as the legal practice

Trends in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections: effect of the MRSA "search and isolate" strategy in a hospital in Italy with hyperendemic MRSA

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the secular trends in MRSA BSIs after the introduction of a nosocomial MRSA control intervention. DESIGN: Before-after study. SETTING: An 850-bed community hospital with an ICU and vascular surgery, neurosurgery, bone marrow transplantation, and AIDS units. MRSA is endemic at this hospital; the prevalence of methicillin resistance among patients with S. aureus infection is greater than 50%. PATIENTS: Among all inpatients, MRSA BSI was identified, its origin defined, and incidence rates calculated by ward and origin. INTERVENTION: A MRSA control program was implemented based on active surveillance cultures to identify MRSA-colonized patients, followed by isolation using contact precautions. Incidence rates of MRSA BSI during the intervention (i.e., July 1, 1997, to December 31, 2001) and preintervention (i.e., January 1, 1996, to June 30, 1997) periods were compared. RESULTS: Sixty-nine MRSA BSIs were identified. When compared with the preintervention period, the incidence rate of MRSA BSI was reduced from 0.64 to 0.30 per 1000 admissions (RR, 0.46; CI95, 0.25-0.87; P = .02) during the intervention period. The impact was greater in the ICU, with an 89% reduction (RR, 0.11; CI95, 0.01-0.98; P = .03), and for CVC-associated MRSA BSIs, with an 82% decrease (RR, 0.17; CI95, 0.05-0.55; P = .002). Methicillin resistance among S. aureus blood isolates decreased from 46% to 17% (RR, 0.36; CI95, 0.22-0.62; P = .0002). CONCLUSION: A reduction in MRSA bacteremia is achievable through use of the MRSA "search and isolate" intervention even in a hospital with high rates of endemic MRSA

Ferroelectric orthorhombic ZrO2 thin films achieved through nanosecond laser annealing

A new approach for the stabilization of the ferroelectric orthorhombic ZrO2 films is demonstrated through nanosecond laser annealing (NLA) of as-deposited Si/SiOx/W(14 nm)/ZrO2(8 nm)/W(22 nm), grown by ion beam sputtering at low temperatures. The NLA process optimization is guided by COMSOL multiphysics simulations. The films annealed under the optimized conditions reveal the presence of the orthorhombic phase, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Macroscopic polarization-electric field hysteresis loops show ferroelectric behavior, with saturation polarization of 12.8 mu C cm(-2), remnant polarization of 12.7 mu C cm(-2) and coercive field of 1.2 MV cm(-1). The films exhibit a wake-up effect that is attributed to the migration of point defects, such as oxygen vacancies, and/or a transition from nonferroelectric (monoclinic and tetragonal phase) to the ferroelectric orthorhombic phase. The capacitors demonstrate a stable polarization with an endurance of 6.0 x 10(5) cycles, demonstrating the potential of the NLA process for the fabrication of ferroelectric memory devices with high polarization, low coercive field, and high cycling stability.A.P.S.C. and M.C.I. contributed equally to this work. This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding Contract UIDB/04650/2020. This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 958174 (M-ERA-NET3/0003/2021-NanOx4EStor). M. C. I. and C. G. acknowledge the financial support by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS/CCCDI - UEFISCDI, project number COFUND-M-ERANET-3-NanOx4Estor, within PNCDI III and POC 332/390008/29.12.2020-SMIS 109522. The authors acknowledge the CERIC-ERIC Consortium for access to experimental facilities and financial support under proposals 20202037, 20202038, and 20192055. The authors would also like to thank Jose Santos for technical support in the Thin Film Laboratory at CF-UM-UP. J.L.M-D. thanks the ERC grant, EU-H2020-ERC-ADG #882929, EROS. And the Royal Academy of Engineering, grant CIET1819_24. MOH thanks the Herchel Smith foundation of Cambridge for a research fellowship. This work made use of the University of Cambridge Wolfson Electron Microscopy Suite

Utilisation de plasma enrichi en plaquette (PRP) en médecine du sport : synthèse ReFORM de la position de consensus du CIO

editorial reviewe

Quasi-elastic processes of the 48Ca + 120Sn system and the 48Ca nuclear matter density

We present the results of a high-precision quasi-elastic excitation function measurement for the 48Ca + 120Sn system at θLAB = 160 at near-barrier energies in steps of 1.0 MeV. The corresponding quasi-elastic barrier distribution is derived. A large-scale coupled-channel calculation was performed to investigate the role of several reaction channels in the reaction mechanism. An excellent agreement between theory and data was obtained for the barrier distribution. The first quadrupole vibrations of the 48Ca and 120Sn, the 2n, and the 4He transfers have a strong influence on the reaction mechanism and are responsible for the good agreement achieved. The 1n transfer has a minor importance in the result when compared with the 2n transfer, which suggests that the pairing correlation might play an important role in the 2n-neutron transfer process. However, if the octupole vibration of the projectile is included in the coupling scheme, the agreement with the data gets worse. The comparison of the coupled-channel calculations with experimental data leads to the conclusion that the nuclear matter diffuseness of the 48Ca nucleus is 0.56 fm in agreement with most of the double-magic nuclei.European Community 26201