On road experimental tests of hydrogen/natural gas blends on transit buses

The promise of reducing harmful and CO(2) emissions by focusing on hydrogen-methane blends (HCNG) have recently attracted the interest of vehicle manufacturers and transport operators. Several experiments have been conducted in laboratory facilities to assess the potential of HCNG blends in order to decrease the exhaust emissions. This paper reports the results of experimental tests performed at the ENEA Casaccia Research Center aiming to evaluate the energy and environmental performances of a CNG vehicle when fuelled with a hydrogen-methane blend. Two buses for urban transit service were fuelled with HCNG blends with different percentage of hydrogen (5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% of hydrogen by volume). A 100% methane gas was used as reference to compare the advantages and disadvantages that can be derived from the use of HCNG blends. Road tests have been carried out by running fixed tracks, which are representative of urban and suburban driving cycles. Vehicles were powered with a lean burn engine whose setup - based on ignition advance angle, has been tuned for controlling the NO(x) emissions. CO(2) emissions have been investigated to evaluate the leverage effect based on an increased CO(2) reduction resulting from an increased engine efficiency

Installation, Commissioning and Start Up of RFX

The reverse field experiment RFX has been operating since the end of 1991. The paper, after a brief description of the load assembly, presents the most significant aspects of the assembly phase and discusses methods and results of the final tests, carried out before the first plasma. Finally, the machine behaviour during the first experimental phase is described

Hospital hygiene and infection prevention and control in Italy: State of the art and perspectives

Although hospital hygiene has a long history in Italy it is necessary to reflect about it because of the innovation in healthcare systems and because of the evolution due to European Union related activities. Different traditions exist in European countries about hospital hygiene and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) adopted the term of "infection control and hospital hygiene" which includes all the engaged European healthcare professionals. We propose to modify hospital hygiene as "healthcare organisation hygiene" in order to focalise the attention to all care settings not only hospitals and to adopt the following definition: "all activities aimed to guarantee, in an appropriate, scientifically sound and efficient way, that structures and processes support healthcare practices in a safe comfortable and healthy environment both for patients, caregivers and healthcare workers". Hospital hygiene and its professionals, besides the long tradition, still remain a relevant pillar in guaranteeing quality and safety of healthcare in Italy

Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention and Control in Italy: state of the art and perspectives.

none80Although hospital hygiene has a long history in Italy it is necessary to reflect about it because of the innovation in healthcare systems and because of the evolution due to European Union related activities. Different traditions exist in European countries about hospital hygiene and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) adopted the term of "infection control and hospital hygiene" which includes all the engaged European healthcare professionals. We propose to modify hospital hygiene as "healthcare organisation hygiene" in order to focalise the attention to all care settings not only hospitals and to adopt the following definition: "all activities aimed to guarantee, in an appropriate, scientifically sound and efficient way, that structures and processes support healthcare practices in a safe comfortable and healthy environment both for patients, caregivers and healthcare workers". Hospital hygiene and its professionals, besides the long tradition, still remain a relevant pillar in guaranteeing quality and safety of healthcare in Italy.noneBrusaferro S, Arnoldo L, Finzi G, Mura I, Auxilia F, Pasquarella C, Agodi A; C. Arrigoni, M. Barchitta, G. Calella, B. Casini, M.L. Cristina, MM D’Errico, P. Laurenti, M.D. Masia, M.T. Montagna, I. Mura, G. Olivieri, A. Orsi, G.B. Orsi, L. Pesapane, G. Ripabelli, L. Sodano, R. Squeri, V. Teti, M.V. Torregrossa, E. Torri, R. Zarrilli, B.M. Are, A. Brighenti, S. Mascipinto, S. Iannazzo, F.P. D’Ancona, G. Sessa, A. Motta, R., Appignanesi, F. Argiolas, T. Baldovin, A. Bargellini, S. Berdini, G. Boccia, G. Calagreti, T. Caldarulo, F. Campanella, R. Chiesa, V. Ciorba, R. Contrisciani, D. D’Alessandro, O. De Giglio, L. Fabiani, G.M. Fara, G. Giuliani, P. Laganà, A. Marani, A.R. Mattaliano, A. Molino, M. Montesano, F. Moretti, M. Moro, U. Moscato, C. Napoli, N. Nicolotti, M. Nobile, R. Novati, F. Palumbo, A. Piana, G. Privitera, E. Prospero, A. Quattrocchi, E. Righi, V. Romano Spica, F. Rossi, A. Rossini, S. Schieppati, G. Sotgiu, S. Tardivo, I. Torre, F. Valeriani, L. Veronesi, C. Zotti.S, Brusaferro; L, Arnoldo; G, Finzi; I, Mura; F, Auxilia; C, Pasquarella; A, Agodi; Arrigoni, C.; Barchitta, M.; Calella, G.; Casini, B.; Cristina, M. L.; D’Errico, Mm; Laurenti, P.; Masia, M. D.; Montagna, M. T.; Mura, I.; Olivieri, G.; Orsi, A.; Orsi, G. B.; Pesapane, L.; Ripabelli, G.; Sodano, L.; Squeri, R.; Teti, V.; Torregrossa, M. V.; Torri, E.; Zarrilli, R.; Are, B. M.; Brighenti, A.; Mascipinto, S.; Iannazzo, S.; D’Ancona, F. P.; Sessa, G.; Motta, A.; Appignanesi, R.; Argiolas, F.; Baldovin, T.; Bargellini, A.; Berdini, S.; Boccia, G.; Calagreti, G.; Caldarulo, T.; Campanella, F.; Chiesa, R.; Ciorba, V.; Contrisciani, R.; D’Alessandro, D.; De Giglio, O.; Fabiani, L.; Fara, G. M.; Giuliani, G.; Laganà, P.; Marani, A.; Mattaliano, A. R.; Molino, A.; Montesano, M.; Moretti, F.; Moro, M.; Moscato, U.; Napoli, C.; Nicolotti, N.; Nobile, M.; Novati, R.; Palumbo, F.; Piana, A.; Privitera, G.; Prospero, E.; Quattrocchi, A.; Righi, E.; Romano Spica, V.; Rossi, F.; Rossini, A.; Schieppati, S.; Sotgiu, G.; Tardivo, S.; Torre, I.; Valeriani, F.; Veronesi, L.; Zotti., C

Adapted Physical Activity for the Promotion of Health and the Prevention of Multifactorial Chronic Diseases: the Erice Charter

The Erice Charter was unanimously approved at the conclusion of the 47th Residential Course "Adapted Physical Activity in Sport, Wellness and Fitness: New Challenges for Prevention and Health Promotion", held on 20-24 April 2015 in Erice, Italy, at the "Ettore Majorana" Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture, and promoted by the International School of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine "G. D'Alessandro" and the Study Group on Movement Sciences for Health of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health. After an intense discussion the participants identified the main points associated with the relevance of physical activity for Public Health, claiming the pivotal role of the Department of Prevention in coordinating and managing preventive actions. The participants underlined the importance of the physicians specialized in Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health. The contribution of other operators such as physicians specialized in Sport Medicine was stressed. Further, the holders of the new degree in Human Movement and Sport Sciences were considered fundamental contributors for the performance of physical activity and their presence was seen as a promising opportunity for the Departments of Prevention. Primary prevention based on recreational physical activities should become easily accessible for the population, avoiding obstacles such as certification steps or complex bureaucracy. The Sport Doctor is recognized as the principal referent for preliminary physical evaluation and clinical monitoring in secondary and tertiary prevention actions based on adapted physical activities. Developing research in the field is essential as well as implementing higher education on physical activity management in Schools of Public Health

Adapted physical activity for the promotion of health and the prevention of multifactorial chronic diseases: The Erice Charter

The Erice Charter was unanimously approved at the conclusion of the 47th Residential Course "Adapted Physical Activity in Sport, Wellness and Fitness: New Challenges for Prevention and Health Promotion", held on 20-24 April 2015 in Erice, Italy, at the "Ettore Majorana" Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture, and promoted by the International School of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine "G. D'Alessandro" and the Study Group on Movement Sciences for Health of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health. After an intense discussion the participants identified the main points associated with the relevance of physical activity for Public Health, claiming the pivotal role of the Department of Prevention in coordinating and managing preventive actions. The participants underlined the importance of the physicians specialized in Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health. The contribution of other operators such as physicians specialized in Sport Medicine was stressed. Further, the holders of the new degree in Human Movement and Sport Sciences were considered fundamental contributors for the performance of physical activity and their presence was seen as a promising opportunity for the Departments of Prevention. Primary prevention based on recreational physical activities should become easily accessible for the population, avoiding obstacles such as certification steps or complex bureaucracy. The Sport Doctor is recognized as the principal referent for preliminary physical evaluation and clinical monitoring in secondary and tertiary prevention actions based on adapted physical activities. Developing research in the field is essential as well as implementing higher education on physical activity management in Schools of Public Health

Epidemiology of intensive care unit-acquired sepsis in Italy: results of the SPIN-UTI network

none139BACKGROUND: Sepsis is the major cause of mortality from any infectious disease worldwide. Sepsis may be the result of a healthcare associated infection (HAI): the most frequent adverse events during care delivery especially in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). The main aim of the present study was to describe the epidemiology of ICU-acquired sepsis and related outcomes among patients enrolled in the framework of the Italian Nosocomial Infections Surveillance in ICUs - SPIN-UTI project. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective multicenter study. METHODS: The SPIN-UTI network adopted the European protocols for patient-based HAI surveillance. RESULTS: During the five editions of the SPIN-UTI project, from 2008 to 2017, 47.0% of HAIs has led to sepsis in 832 patients. Overall, 57.0% episodes were classified as sepsis, 20.5% as severe sepsis and 22.5% as septic shock. The most common isolated microorganisms from sepsis episodes were Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The case fatality rate increased with the severity of sepsis and the mean length of ICU-stay was significantly higher in patients with ICU-acquired sepsis than in patients without. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence that ICU-acquired sepsis occurs frequently in Italian ICU patients and is associated with a high case fatality rate and increased length of stay. However, in order to explain these findings further analyses are needed in this population of ICU patients.noneAgodi A, Barchitta M, Auxilia F, Brusaferro S3, D'Errico MM, Montagna MT, Pasquarella C, Tardivo S, Arrigoni C, Fabiani L, Laurenti P, Mattaliano AR, Orsi GB, Squeri R, Torregrossa MV, Mura I, Aiello MR, Alliani C, Amatucci MR, Antoci M, Antonelli M, Astuto M, Arnoldo L, Arru B, Baccari G, Barbadoro P, Barbara A, Barilaro C, Battaglia P, Bellocchi P, Bernasconi MO, Bianco A, Bissolo E, Bocchi A, Bruno A, Brusaferro M, Buccheri M, Campanella F, Canino R, Cannistrà A, Carini SA, Catalano S, Castellani P, Castiglione G, Coniglio S, Consolante C, Conte C, Contrisciani R, Corallini R, Crollari P, Damiani G, Denaro C, De Remigis S, Diana F, Di Bartolo R, Di Benedetto A, Di Fabio G, Di Falco C, Digeronimo V, Di Gregorio P, Distefano R, Egitto G, Falciani E, Farruggia P, Fenaroli S, Ferlazzo G, Garofalo G, Girardis M, Giovanelli L, Giubbini G, Graceffa A, Guadagna A, Gregu G, Ingala F, Innocenzi L, La Camera G, La Rosa MC, Lesa L, Longhitano AM, Luppino G, Maida CM, Manta G, Marino G, Masia MD, Maviglia R, Mazzetti M, Maugeri A, Megna MT, Mella LM, Milazzo M, Milia M, Minari C, Minerva M, Mordacci M, Murgia P, Oliveri P, Olori MP, Pagliarulo R, Palermo R, Pandiani I, Pappalardo F, Papetti C, Partenza A, Pascu D, Pasculli M, Pavia M, Pavone ML, Pellegrino MG, Pelligra F, Pillon D, Pintaudi S, Pitzoi L, Pinto A, Piotti P, Pupo S, Quattrocchi R, Righi E, Rigo A, Rigo A, Romeo A, Rosa E, Rutigliano S, Sarchi P, Scimonello G, Seminerio A, Stefanini P, Sticca G, Taddei S, Tessari L, Tetamo R, Ticca M, Tribastoni S, Vallorani S, Venturoni F, Vitagliano E, Vitali P, Zappone A, Zei E, Zeoli MP.Agodi, A; Barchitta, M; Auxilia, F; Brusaferro, S3; D'Errico, Mm; Montagna, Mt; Pasquarella, C; Tardivo, S; Arrigoni, C; Fabiani, L; Laurenti, P; Mattaliano, Ar; Orsi, Gb; Squeri, R; Torregrossa, Mv; Mura, I; Aiello, Mr; Alliani, C; Amatucci, Mr; Antoci, M; Antonelli, M; Astuto, M; Arnoldo, L; Arru, B; Baccari, G; Barbadoro, P; Barbara, A; Barilaro, C; Battaglia, P; Bellocchi, P; Bernasconi, Mo; Bianco, A; Bissolo, E; Bocchi, A; Bruno, A; Brusaferro, M; Buccheri, M; Campanella, F; Canino, R; Cannistrà, A; Carini, Sa; Catalano, S; Castellani, P; Castiglione, G; Coniglio, S; Consolante, C; Conte, C; Contrisciani, R; Corallini, R; Crollari, P; Damiani, G; Denaro, C; De Remigis, S; Diana, F; Di Bartolo, R; Di Benedetto, A; Di Fabio, G; Di Falco, C; Digeronimo, V; Di Gregorio, P; Distefano, R; Egitto, G; Falciani, E; Farruggia, P; Fenaroli, S; Ferlazzo, G; Garofalo, G; Girardis, M; Giovanelli, L; Giubbini, G; Graceffa, A; Guadagna, A; Gregu, G; Ingala, F; Innocenzi, L; La Camera, G; La Rosa, Mc; Lesa, L; Longhitano, Am; Luppino, G; Maida, Cm; Manta, G; Marino, G; Masia, Md; Maviglia, R; Mazzetti, M; Maugeri, A; Megna, Mt; Mella, Lm; Milazzo, M; Milia, M; Minari, C; Minerva, M; Mordacci, M; Murgia, P; Oliveri, P; Olori, Mp; Pagliarulo, R; Palermo, R; Pandiani, I; Pappalardo, F; Papetti, C; Partenza, A; Pascu, D; Pasculli, M; Pavia, M; Pavone, Ml; Pellegrino, Mg; Pelligra, F; Pillon, D; Pintaudi, S; Pitzoi, L; Pinto, A; Piotti, P; Pupo, S; Quattrocchi, R; Righi, E; Rigo, A; Rigo, A; Romeo, A; Rosa, E; Rutigliano, S; Sarchi, P; Scimonello, G; Seminerio, A; Stefanini, P; Sticca, G; Taddei, S; Tessari, L; Tetamo, R; Ticca, M; Tribastoni, S; Vallorani, S; Venturoni, F; Vitagliano, E; Vitali, P; Zappone, A; Zei, E; Zeoli, Mp