Ultrastructural evidence of eosinophil clustering and ETosis in association with damage to single tumour cells in a case of poorly cohesive NOS gastric carcinoma

A case of poorly cohesive NOS gastric carcinoma, characterised by high-grade tumour-associated tissue eosinophilia (TATE), is studied by transmission electron microscopy. Eosinophil clustering around single tumour cells constituted a recurrent ultrastructural hallmark. Some eosinophils were in intimate contact with tumour cells and exhibited extracellular trap cell death (ETosis): a non-apoptotic cell death process, recently described in non-neoplastic, eosinophil-associated diseases. Discharge of chromatin material and specific granules, due to eosinophil ETosis, was polarised towards single tumour cells that showed various degrees of cytopathogenic changes. Our data suggest that eosinophil ETosis may exert an antitumoural activity in gastric cancer

Analysis, characterization and minimization of IPMSMs cogging torque with different rotor structures

This paper presents the analysis, characterization and comparison of the cogging torque components generated by five different IPMSM rotor structures. More in detail, an IPMSM model (named IPMSM1), which is derived from a commercial geometry, is analyzed by using a Finite Element Method (FEM) approach. Then, four other IPMSM models, which are obtained by modifying the IPMSM1 rotor structure and by maintaining the same stator configuration, are proposed and analyzed. From the obtained simulation results, the cogging torque components for each structure are determined and compared. From this comparison, a significant cogging torque decrease is occurring for the modified geometries, without affecting the values of the generated torque. Furthermore, a meaningful relationship between the peak values of the cogging torque and the gradients of the flux density around the neutral area is reported and discussed. Therefore, simple structure modifications applied to the rotor geometry can bring significant improvements in terms of motor performances and cogging torque reductio

What is Behind Counterproductive Work Behaviors in the Nursing Profession? A Systematic Review

LETTURA CONSIGLIAT

An Updated Review of Cribriform Carcinomas with Emphasis on Histopathological Diagnosis and Prognostic Significance

Cribriform is a histopathological term used to describe a neoplastic epithelial proliferation in the form of large nests perforated by many quite rounded different-sized spaces. This growth pattern may be seen in carcinomas arising in different organs, and shows important prognostic implications. Therefore, recent data in literature suggest that cribriform carcinoma is a histologically and clinically distinctive type of tumour that should be separated from other similar tumour types. In this article, the pathology of cribriform adenocarcinoma of the prostate, lung, breast, stomach, colon, thyroid, and skin is discussed with particular reference to morphologic and immunohistochemical features, differential diagnosis, and clinical behaviour

Violare le norme organizzative e sociali nei luoghi di lavoro: Studio correlazionale nel contesto infermieristico

Obiettivi: L’obiettivo principale di questo studio è stato di valutare le relazioni esistenti tra le variabili del contesto organizzativo (per esempio, carichi di lavoro, conflitti interpersonali, vincoli organizzativi), il burnout, il disimpegno morale e i comportamenti controproduttivi (CWB) degli infermieri, negli specifici ambiti clinici in cui lavorano. Metodo: Uno studio descrittivo correlazionale è stato condotto su un campione di 347 infermieri di diverse realtà operative di una grande struttura ospedaliera universitaria del centro Italia. Per l’indagine è stato utilizzato un questionario composto da scale per la misurazione delle variabili di contesto organizzativo, delle dimensioni del burnout, del sovraccarico relazionale, del disimpegno morale e dei comportamenti contro produttivi. Risultati: Gli ambiti clinici influenzavano il benessere organizzativo vissuto dagli infermieri che, a loro volta, influenzavano l’attuazione di CWB. Le aree ambulatoriali e di day hospital risultavano quelle in cui gli infermieri mettevano meno in pratica i CWB, diversamente da quelle di pronto soccorso e di medicina generale in cui i CWB venivano attuati più frequentemente. Conclusioni: I risultati di questo studio sono importanti per chi si occupa del benessere dei lavoratori e per i dirigenti delle professioni infermieristiche perché mettono in luce quanto gli ambiti clinici e le variabili di contesto organizzativo possano spingere gli infermieri ai CWB. Le variabili di contesto organizzativo devono essere tenute in seria considerazione perché si riflettono sulla qualità delle cure offerte ai malati

An IPMSM torque/weight and torque/moment of inertia ratio optimization

In this paper, a torque/weight and torque/moment of inertia ratio optimization procedure for interior permanent magnet syncronous motors (IPMSMs) is presented. More in detail, a performance comparison between several IPMSM rotor structures has been carried out in order to determine the optimum geometry that can maximize the torque/weight and torque/moment of inertia ratios. A commercial motor, with known electrical and mechanical characteristics, has been taken as reference. Its rotor structure has been modified several times, obtaining different rotor geometries and, therefore, many IPMSM models with different electrical and mechanical characteristics. The finite element method (FEM) analysis of each IPMSMs has been performed using the software FEMM, allowing to determine the related torque/load-angle characteristics. From the comparison between the torque/load-angle characteristics of the different IPMSM structures, it can be stated that significant performance improvements can be obtained in dependence not only of the type of permanent magnets and their direction of magnetization, but also of the PM displacement within the rotor

Nanostructured Ni-Fe-P Alloy for Alkaline Electrolyzer

In recent years, the interest towards green hydrogen has drastically increased due to the global decarbonization process. Electrochemical water splitting is considered an attractive solution to convert and store the surplus energy from renewable energy sources. However, hydrogen production by water electrolysis is not economically sustainable. To reduce the cost of produced hydrogen, it is necessary to switch from noble-metal catalyst (Pt, Pd…) to cheap alternatives with a lower per unit energy cost but at the same time able to guarantee a high electrocatalytic activity for both oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions. Among transition metals, nickel was selected as active material for its low cost and high chemical stability in alkaline media. Currently, the most investigated transition metal catalyst includes alloy of nickel with sulfide, phosphide, and nitride. In this work, a ternary alloy of Nickel-Iron-Phosphorus with nanowires morphology was investigated and compared to the binary alloy of Nickel-Iron. Ni-Fe-P NWs electrodes were obtained by potential-controlled pulse electrochemical deposition using polycarbonate membrane as template. Electrodes morphology and structure were studied by scanning electrode microscopy (SEM), energy diffraction spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Electrodes were tested both as cathodes as anodes by Quasi Steady State Polarization (QSSP) and Galvanostatic Test. All the tests were performed in 30% w/w KOH aqueous solution at room temperature. Preliminary results showed better performance of the ternary alloy compared to the binary one

Mappatura della letteratura sulle soluzioni digitali e tecnologiche nell'assistenza infermieristica: un protocollo di scoping review

   INTRODUCTION: Digital and technological solutions (DTS) might have an impact on people’s personal and professional lives. These types of solutions, according to studies, have the potential to revolutionize and improve the quality and long-term sustainability of healthcare activities, with nurses playing a significant role. Although DTS appears to be intimately linked to the future of nursing, technology must be utilized as an active rather than passive tool. Nonetheless, understanding DTS appears to be difficult, and a scoping study can provide a thorough overview of such a complicated topic. As a result, the scoping study on this topic will map all of the important aspects of DTS and synthesize studies on the nursing workforce, as well as analyze and clarify knowledge gaps and aid future research and development. This article presents the study protocol.  METHODS: The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review methodology will be used for the proposed scoping review. It will include both quantitative and qualitative scientific research as well as grey literature on DTS in nursing. Only English-language works will be considered for inclusion. Two independent reviewers will take part in an iterative process of evaluating literature, choosing papers, and extracting data. Disagreements among reviewers will be resolved through debate until a consensus is reached or through consultation with the study team if necessary. Results will be presented using descriptive statistics, diagrammatic or tabular displayed information, and narrative summaries, as specified in the JBI guidelines.  DISCUSSION: This scoping review protocol explained why it is important to describe the literature on embracing DTS in the nursing field, how to approach the research process, and what the study's key implications will be. The protocol itself may be helpful to increase transparency in the research process, attract interested researchers to work with the group that developed the protocol and offer a practical methodological benchmark for researchers interested in performing scoping reviews by serving as an example of a scoping review protocol.  KEYWORDS: Digital solutions; Technological solutions; Nursing; Scoping review; Study protocol; Framework    INTRODUZIONE: Le soluzioni digitali e tecnologiche potrebbero avere un impatto sulla vita personale e professionale della popolazione. Questi tipi di soluzioni, secondo gli studi, hanno il potenziale per rivoluzionare e migliorare la qualità e la sostenibilità a lungo termine delle attività di salute, deve gli infermieri svolgono un ruolo significativo di innovatori, facilitatori e gestori dei processi. Sebbene le soluzioni digitali e tecnologiche sembrino essere intimamente legate al futuro dell’assistenza infermieristica, la tecnologia deve essere utilizzata come strumento attivo, piuttosto che passivo. Tuttavia, la comprensione del fenomeno sembra essere difficile e una scoping review può fornire una panoramica completa di un argomento di tale complessità. Di conseguenza, la presente scoping review mapperà tutti gli aspetti salienti legati alle soluzioni digitali e tecnologiche e sintetizzerà gli studi sul coinvolgimento della professione infermieristica, nonché analizzerà e chiarirà le lacune di conoscenza presenti e aiuterà la ricerca e i progetti futuri. Questo articolo presenta il protocollo di studio di scoping review per raggiungere l’obiettivo di mappatura della letteratura.  METODI: Il protocollo utilizza la metodologia di scoping review del Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Comprenderà sia la ricerca scientifica quantitativa che qualitativa, nonché la letteratura grigia sulle soluzioni digitali e tecnologiche nell’assistenza infermieristica. Solo i lavori in lingua inglese saranno presi in considerazione per l’inclusione. Due revisori indipendenti prenderanno parte a un processo iterativo di valutazione della letteratura, scelta dei documenti ed estrazione dei dati. I disaccordi tra i revisori saranno risolti attraverso il dibattito fino al raggiungimento di un consenso o attraverso la consultazione con il gruppo di studio, ove necessario. I risultati saranno presentati utilizzando statistiche descrittive, le informazioni presentate in forma grafica, tabulare o a mezzo narrativo, come specificato nelle linee guida JBI.  DISCUSSIONE: Questo protocollo di scoping review intende definire perché è importante descrivere la letteratura sull’adozione delle soluzioni digitali e tecnologiche in ambito infermieristico, come affrontare il processo di ricerca sottostante alla revisione e quali saranno le implicazioni chiave dello studio. Il protocollo stesso può essere utile per aumentare la trasparenza nel processo di ricerca, ingaggiare i ricercatori interessati a lavorare con il gruppo che ha sviluppato il protocollo (research engagement) e offrire un punto di riferimento metodologico e pratico per i ricercatori interessati a svolgere revisioni nel medesimo ambito.  PAROLE CHIAVE: Soluzioni digitali; Soluzioni tecnologiche; Infermieristica; Revisione della letteratura; Protocollo di studi

Alzheimer’s disease and molecular chaperones: Current knowledge and the future of chaperonotherapy

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a dementia, a neurodegenerative condition, and a protein-misfolding disease or proteinopathy, characterized by protein deposits, extracellular plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, which contain the AD’s typical pathological proteins, abnormal [1]-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau, respectively, and are located predominantly in the cortex of the frontal, parietal, and temporal brain lobes. What is the role of molecular chaperones in AD? Data indicate that molecular chaperones, also known as Hsp, are involved in AD, probably displaying protective roles and/or acting as pathogenic factors as it occurs in chaperonopathies in which case AD would be suitable to chaperonotherapy. Hsp60, Hsp70, and Hsp90 can be augmented and overexpressed or diminished and downregulated in various situations in AD affected tissues and cells, indicating they are active during disease development and progression. Question: What is the role of molecular chaperones in AD? Data indicate that molecular chaperones, also known as Hsp, are involved in AD, probably displaying protective roles and/or acting as pathogenic factors as it occurs in chaperonopathies in which case AD would be suitable to chaperonotherapy. Objective: Investigate the role of Hsp in AD, focusing on Hsp60, Hsp70, and Hsp90. Method: Critical examination of published data. Results: Hsp60, Hsp70, and Hsp90 can be augmented and overexpressed or diminished and downregulated in various situations in AD affected tissues and cells, indicating they are active during disease development and progression. Conclusion and Perspectives: Notwithstanding that the roles and mechanisms of action of chaperones in AD are still incompletely understood, there is already enough evidence to encourage the development of therapeutic strategies targeting them, either to block their activity in case they promote disease progression or to boost their performance when they are protective. The latter is an example of positive chaperonotherapy, which also includes chaperone replacement via gene or protein administration. On the contrary, if a chaperone is found to help the disease, it has to be blocked or eliminated, which constitute modalities of negative chaperonotherapy

Experimental investigation on the performances of a multilevel inverter using a field programmable gate array-based control system

The Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) represents a valid solution for the design of control systems for inverters adopted in many industry applications, because of both its high flexibility of use and its high-performance with respect to other types of digital controllers. In this context, this paper presents an experimental investigation on the harmonic content of the voltages produced by a three-phase, five level cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel inverter with an FPGA-based control board, aiming also to evaluate the performance of the FPGA through the implementation of the main common modulation techniques and the comparison between simulation and experimental results. The control algorithms are implemented by means of the VHDL programming language. The output voltage waveforms, which have been obtained by applying to the inverter the main PWM techniques, are compared in terms of THD%. Simulation and experimental results are analyzed, compared and finally discussed