The Influence of Cosmopolitan Values on Environmental Attitudes: An International Comparison

Many recent environmental politics and environmental behavior studies have attempted to explain the variation in individuals’ environmental attitudes by means of their personal values. This piece enters into the recent debate that has developed around the dichotomous ideologies of cosmopolitanism and patriotism and their relationship to environmentalism, arguing that individuals with cosmopolitan values are more likely to exhibit concern for environmental issues than those with patriotic values. Through an analysis of regression models for seven Western industrialized nations, this study confirms a positive correlation between cosmopolitan values and environmentalism. The explanatory power of cosmopolitanism was greater than that of social demographic variables and political ideology, as well two other popularly examined ideologies, postmaterialism and egalitarianism

Omalizumab effectiveness in patients with a previously failed oral immunotherapy for severe milk allergy

Background: Some studies addressed the issue of omalizumab (OML) effectiveness in children starting their first oral immunotherapy (OIT) attempt but no study investigated the possible role of OML in the setting of patients with persisting milk allergy after a failed OIT attempt.Methods: Single-center, prospective, observational study in a selected group of patients with a persisting and severe cow milk (CM) allergy associated with moderate allergic asthma, in which a previous OIT attempt had already failed. We performed an open oral food challenge (OFC) to identify patients who tolerated less than 173 mg of cow's milk protein. At the end of the recruitment, we have found four patients with a mean age of 16.25 years (8-24) who had suspended a previous OIT attempt and still reacted to an amount of CM equal or below 173 mg. Enrolled patients, after an 8-week course of OML along with a CM avoiding diet, underwent again an open OFC with CM to re-evaluate their threshold. Eventually, a new OIT course was started using the same OIT protocol of the previous attempt, maintaining cotreatment with OML for the first 12 months. For each patient, we documented: the threshold of CM at OFC, level of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgG4 for milk, and quality of life (QoL).Results: During OIT the four patients experienced no reactions or extremely mild ones (oral itching, transient mild abdominal pain). All increased their threshold of CM in OML if compared with the baseline and maintained it long after that biologic therapy had discontinued. Specific milk proteins IgG4 levels significantly increased in all.Conclusion: In this series, OML was effective in patients with severe CM allergy who had previously failed OIT, allowing milk intake without adverse reactions and improving the QoL

A numerical comparison of the flow behaviour in Friction Stir Welding (FSW) using unworn and worn tool geometries

The tool is a key component in the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) process, but the tool degrades and changes shape during use; however, only a limited number of experimental studies have been undertaken in order to understand the effect that worn tool geometry has on the material flow and resultant weld quality. In this study, a validated model of the FSW process is generated using the CFD software FLUENT, with this model then being used to assess the detail of the differences in the flow behaviour, mechanically affected zone (MAZ) size and strain rate distribution around the tool for both unworn and worn tool geometries. Comparisons are made at two different tool rotational speeds using a single weld traverse speed. The study shows that there are significant differences in the flow behaviour around and under the tool when the tool is worn. This modelling approach can therefore be used to improve understanding of the effective limits of tool life for welding, with a specific outcome of being able to predict and interpret the behaviour when using specific weld parameters and component geometry without the need for experimental trials

A review of friction stir welding of aluminium matrix composites

As a solid state joining process, friction stir welding (FSW) has proven to be a promising approach for joining aluminium matrix composites (AMCs). However, challenges still remain in using FSW to join AMCs even with considerable progress having been made in recent years. This review paper provides an overview of the state of-the-art of FSW of AMC materials. Specific attention and critical assessment have been given to: (a) the macrostructure and microstructure of AMC joints, (b) the evaluation of mechanical properties of joints, and (c) the wear of FSW tools due to the presence of reinforcement materials in aluminium matrices. This review concludes with recommendations for future research directions

Young child with painful edema and purpura: a case report

Background: We reported the case of a two-old-year boy with a painful acute hemorrhagic edema. This is a self-limited benign condition: usually, affected children are well appearing and this strongly support the diagnosis. In the opposite, in our case, we observed a painful presentation of the edema. Therefore, we demonstrated that rarely, this condition could have also a painful presentation. Conclusions: This case report helps clinician to know that also acute hemorrhagic edema could have a painful presentation, so we must considered it in the differential diagnosis with sepsis, sickle cell crisis and child abuse. We believe that these findings will be of interest to pediatricians