Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme and Angiotensin Type 2 Receptor Gene Genotype Distributions in Italian Children with Congenital Uropathies

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Indagine statistica su acquisti e vendite dei principali prodotti alimentari locali nei Siti di Interesse Nazionale (SIN)

L’indagine nasce dalla collaborazione tra l’Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia (IZS Sicilia) e l’Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in Ambiente Marino del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IAS-CNR) nell’ambito del progetto CISAS (Centro Internazionale di Studi Avanzati su Ambiente, Ecosistema e Salute Umana). In CISAS sono state svolte attività indirizzate alla valutazione del rischio sanitario per le popolazioni residenti nelle aree dei Siti di Interesse Nazionale (SIN) di Augusta-Melilli-Priolo (SIN 1), di Milazzo (SIN 2) e di Crotone (SIN 3) caratterizzati da un forte degrado ambientale e da fenomeni di impatto umano di varia origine, sostanzialmente causati dallo sviluppo di importanti attività industriali (Giosuè et al., 2020). In questo scenario, considerati anche i risultati emersi da diversi rapporti sia italiani che Europei (ISMEA, 2019), i quali evidenziano una crescita di vendite dei prodotti di origine locale (certificati con marchi quali ad es. DOP, IGP, ecc..), spesso a km zero, si è ritenuto di fondamentale importanza indagare sul mercato dei prodotti di origine vegetale e animale provenienti dai tre SIN e destinati al mercato locale. Inoltre, tenendo in considerazione che negli ultimi anni la Grande Distribuzione Organizzata (GDO) ha avviato processi di acquisto e vendita di prodotti locali, prevedendo dei disciplinari di produzione, spesso particolarmente rigidi nel garantire la sicurezza alimentare, l’IZS Sicilia ha ritenuto di notevole importanza realizzare un’indagine esplorativa sui flussi di vendita e acquisti di prodotti freschi locali proprio nell’ambito della GDO, al fine di reperire informazioni più puntuali per implementare le valutazioni sul rischio delle popolazioni residenti nel SIN o nelle aree limitrofe. L’indagine è stata condotta attraverso interviste ai responsabili commerciali delle principali insegne della GDO, identificati su base campionaria nei SIN di Augusta Melilli Priolo, di Milazzo e di Crotone

Global disparities in surgeons’ workloads, academic engagement and rest periods: the on-calL shIft fOr geNEral SurgeonS (LIONESS) study

: The workload of general surgeons is multifaceted, encompassing not only surgical procedures but also a myriad of other responsibilities. From April to May 2023, we conducted a CHERRIES-compliant internet-based survey analyzing clinical practice, academic engagement, and post-on-call rest. The questionnaire featured six sections with 35 questions. Statistical analysis used Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression (SPSS® v. 28). The survey received a total of 1.046 responses (65.4%). Over 78.0% of responders came from Europe, 65.1% came from a general surgery unit; 92.8% of European and 87.5% of North American respondents were involved in research, compared to 71.7% in Africa. Europe led in publishing research studies (6.6 ± 8.6 yearly). Teaching involvement was high in North America (100%) and Africa (91.7%). Surgeons reported an average of 6.7 ± 4.9 on-call shifts per month, with European and North American surgeons experiencing 6.5 ± 4.9 and 7.8 ± 4.1 on-calls monthly, respectively. African surgeons had the highest on-call frequency (8.7 ± 6.1). Post-on-call, only 35.1% of respondents received a day off. Europeans were most likely (40%) to have a day off, while African surgeons were least likely (6.7%). On the adjusted multivariable analysis HDI (Human Development Index) (aOR 1.993) hospital capacity > 400 beds (aOR 2.423), working in a specialty surgery unit (aOR 2.087), and making the on-call in-house (aOR 5.446), significantly predicted the likelihood of having a day off after an on-call shift. Our study revealed critical insights into the disparities in workload, access to research, and professional opportunities for surgeons across different continents, underscored by the HDI

Chloride transport and shrinkage of plain and internally cured concrete

Concrete bridge decks are susceptible to premature deterioration which may be caused by cracking of the concrete and corrosion of reinforcement. While engineers strive to design bridge decks to have high performance, it has become evident that mixtures that may lead to high strength and low transport properties (i.e., so called high performance concrete) may also have a potential to exhibit increased cracking. Recently, there has been an interest in developing mixtures that also strive to minimize the potential for cracking while providing a dense microstructure that reduces the potential for chloride ingress. Over the last fifteen years there has been growing interest in exploring the use of internally cured concrete since it minimizes early age volume changes and corresponding cracking. While the original intention of using internal curing was to reduce autogenous shrinkage, it has been observed that the internally cured concretes have additional benefits. For example previous research has shown that internally cured concrete has lower water absorption than comparable conventional (plain concrete mixtures). This thesis examines chloride transport and shrinkage of plain and internally cured concrete bridge decks that were cast in the state of Indiana (Monroe Co. near Bloomington) and in the state of New York (Tonawanda and Lisle) in between August and November 2010. In Bloomington, Indiana, two bridge decks were cast in close proximity by the same concrete producer and the same construction crew using the same materials. The first bridge deck used a conventional bridge deck concrete mixture while the second was cast using an internally cured concrete mixture. In the state of New York, in the cities of Lisle and Tonawanda, two different bridge deck mixtures were commercially prepared using high strength internally cured concrete mixtures at each location. Volume change properties and chloride transport performances were evaluated using a series of experimental techniques. The results indicate that internally cured concretes demonstrate superior performance to plain concrete. A reduction in volume change is observed for internally cured concrete. In addition, a reduced chloride transport rate in internally cured concrete is observed which can result in structures with improved durability

Documenting the Construction of a Plain Concrete Bridge Deck and an Internally Cured Bridge Deck

Durable and long lasting concrete is important, especially for bridge decks, which are susceptible to premature cracking and corrosion of the reinforcing steel. To increase the durability of the concrete and its service life, many transportation agencies use high-strength concretes. However, high-strength concretes often have problems with early age cracking due to shrinkage. These cracks can then open a path for chloride ions (found in road salts) to reach the reinforcing steel. The results of this research, which compared bridge installations on two structures in Monroe County, Indiana, confirm that internally cured concrete presents a better alternative to traditional plain concrete for durable bridge decks. With internally cured concrete, a portion of the fine aggregate in the concrete is replaced with the same volume of prewetted lightweight aggregate. As the concrete cures, water from the prewetted aggregate provides the hydration necessary for curing, and also enables curing from the inside. This internal curing process results in a concrete with less initial cracking, less shrinkage, lower thermal stress, lower strain, and greater resistance to chloride ion penetration, with similar or slightly higher strength, relative to plain concrete

Industrial demonstration of indirect mineral carbonation in the cement and concrete sector

This paper reports on the successful construction, commissioning and operation of a mobile indirect mineral carbonation (IMC) pilot plant in the concrete sector. This work confirms the technical feasibility of IMC at large scale, while producing precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and leached recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) as useful products. The plant is capable of handling industrial flue gas or pure CO2 as carbon feedstock, while processing around 80 kg/h of RCA as calcium feedstock, and storing around 0.9 kg/hr of CO2. Good recyclability of the aqueous ammonium nitrate mother liquor is suggested, although small changes occurred over time, with only small effects on the operation. Importantly, some CaCO3 precipitates in the dissolution reactor, especially at high CO2 feed rates; this does not decrease the CO2 storage rate, but it reduces the PCC production rate. The plant may be operated at a variety of operating conditions and it responds to them as expected from thermodynamic considerations. Similarly, the trade-offs in terms of performance parameters also change as expected. The observed calcium extraction efficiency is rather low due to the thermodynamic nature of the batch dissolution step. Also, the ammonium nitrate losses are rather high due to the plant not having a solvent recovery step integrated. Potentially alternative reactor concepts for the dissolution section can improve the calcium extraction efficiency while including a washing step, thus alleviating the main limitation. Material tests with the products of the process suggest that leached RCA is as good as, or even better than fresh RCA for use as aggregate in concrete; ground PCC performs similar as ground limestone in cement, however it is not the most attractive use of fine PCC, as higher value applications exist. Although improvements to the plant design are necessary to make the process economically and environmentally viable, this work represents an important steppingstone towards industrial implementation of IMC, and confirms its technical feasibility in the concrete sector.ISSN:2213-2929ISSN:2213-343