Teachers’ stress experiences during COVID-19-related emergency remote teaching: Results from an exploratory study

The study provides a portrait of teachers’ stress experience in the face of the needed introduction of information systems (IS) during COVID-19-related emergency remote teaching. Researchers contacted the headmasters at several Italian schools, who choose teacher’s representatives. The latters shared the online questionnaire among colleagues; the teachers voluntarily decided to participate. The cross-sectional study involved 237 Italian teachers (81.5% female; Mage = 50.20; SDage = 8.87). This survey wanted to detect information systems-related distress and eustress on the job, and technostress creators and inhibitors. Descriptive statistics, correlational analyses, and a multiple regression model using structural equation modeling were run. As according to the model, IS-related distress and eustress on the job were the dependent variables, technostress creators and inhibitors the independent ones, and respondents’ gender and age the control ones. Both technostress creators and inhibitors showed significant relationships with IS-related distress and eustress. Technostress creators showed a positive relationship with IS-related distress and a negative one with IS-related eustress; conversely, technostress inhibitors showed an opposite pattern of relationships. Only technostress creators significantly associate to both age and gender in the model, suggesting that older, female teachers tended to experience more technostress creators. Due to the increases in remote work, the awareness of IS-related stress experiences represents a key factor to evaluate work-related risks and prevent stress-related problems. The results from this study suggest that using technologies can represent both a threat to one’s well-being, highlighting the need to provide adequate trainings and support, but also a resource for personal enrichment

Secondary metabolites in xylella fastidiosa-plant interaction

During their evolutionary history, plants have evolved the ability to synthesize and accumulate small molecules known as secondary metabolites. These compounds are not essential in the primary cell functions but play a significant role in the plants’ adaptation to environmental changes and in overcoming stress. Their high concentrations may contribute to the resistance of the plants to the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which has recently re‐emerged as a plant pathogen of global importance. Although it is established in several areas globally and is considered one of the most dangerous plant pathogens, no cure has been developed due to the lack of effective bactericides and the difficulties in accessing the xylem vessels where the pathogen grows and produces cell aggregates and biofilm. This review highlights the role of secondary metabolites in the defense of the main economic hosts of X. fastidiosa and identifies how knowledge about biosynthetic pathways could improve our understanding of disease resistance. In addition, current developments in non-invasive techniques and strategies of combining molecular and physiological techniques are examined, in an attempt to identify new metabolic engineering options for plant defense

Mars exploration : Silanes as fuels for Martian ramjet and scramjet engines

Mars is a rocky planet, with only half the diameter of Earth, a far thinner atmosphere (composed mainly of CO2) and a cold and SiO 2-rich desert-like surface; moreover, from time to time, Mars experience dust storms, growing thousands of kilometers across the atmosphere. These extreme conditions pose questions about propulsion and fuels useful to Mars exploration. The density of Mars atmosphere being less than one-hundredth of a bar makes chemical ground propulsion difficult, and in any case very slow due to the rugged terrain. Rapid survey and excursions over significant planetary distances become feasible only by flying; however, the thin Mars atmosphere cannot provide sufficient lift, unless by flying sufficiently fast to collect the 'right' amount of CO2. The Martian CO2 collected could then be reacted with light metals, as already proposed by Shafirovitch et al in the US and by Golovitchev in Sweden. Here we propose instead to rely on combustion reactions between Martian CO2 and hydrides. In particular, this paper focuses on silicon hydrides ('silanes') because of their interesting combustion and energetic properties; when used as fuels for ramjets and SCRJ, silanes in combination with atmospheric CO 2 seem, at this preliminary stage of analysis, an intriguing conceptual alternative to a conventional LOX/LH2 or LCH4 'hopping' rockets. That gas-turbine propulsion should be excluded on Mars because of dust storms effects on blades. Accordingly, this work explores the practical limits of application of silanes, including their performance for cruising and accelerating. Equilibrium composition of the combustion products of silanes, from monosilane up to pentasilane were calculated. Ideal ramjet and scramjet performance (specific thrust and specific impulse) were evaluated along constant dynamic pressure trajectories in the Mars atmosphere and compared to those with CH4/Air and H2/Air mixtures. High specific thrust is obtained as the equivalence ratio is increased; the Isp trend is the reverse, but still very appealing when weighted with the bulk density of silanes

Mars exploration : Silanes as fuels for Martian ramjet and scramjet engines

Mars is a rocky planet, with only half the diameter of Earth, a far thinner atmosphere (composed mainly of CO2) and a cold and SiO 2-rich desert-like surface; moreover, from time to time, Mars experience dust storms, growing thousands of kilometers across the atmosphere. These extreme conditions pose questions about propulsion and fuels useful to Mars exploration. The density of Mars atmosphere being less than one-hundredth of a bar makes chemical ground propulsion difficult, and in any case very slow due to the rugged terrain. Rapid survey and excursions over significant planetary distances become feasible only by flying; however, the thin Mars atmosphere cannot provide sufficient lift, unless by flying sufficiently fast to collect the 'right' amount of CO2. The Martian CO2 collected could then be reacted with light metals, as already proposed by Shafirovitch et al in the US and by Golovitchev in Sweden. Here we propose instead to rely on combustion reactions between Martian CO2 and hydrides. In particular, this paper focuses on silicon hydrides ('silanes') because of their interesting combustion and energetic properties; when used as fuels for ramjets and SCRJ, silanes in combination with atmospheric CO 2 seem, at this preliminary stage of analysis, an intriguing conceptual alternative to a conventional LOX/LH2 or LCH4 'hopping' rockets. That gas-turbine propulsion should be excluded on Mars because of dust storms effects on blades. Accordingly, this work explores the practical limits of application of silanes, including their performance for cruising and accelerating. Equilibrium composition of the combustion products of silanes, from monosilane up to pentasilane were calculated. Ideal ramjet and scramjet performance (specific thrust and specific impulse) were evaluated along constant dynamic pressure trajectories in the Mars atmosphere and compared to those with CH4/Air and H2/Air mixtures. High specific thrust is obtained as the equivalence ratio is increased; the Isp trend is the reverse, but still very appealing when weighted with the bulk density of silanes

Hemorrhagic uterine necrosis after surgical vessel ligation and B-Lynch suture in persistent post-cesarean uterine atony: case report and review of literature

Uterine necrosis is a rare life-threatening condition reported in few case reports and series, associated with uterine artery embolization for uterine fibroids or postpartum hemorrhage. We report a hemorrhagic uterine necrosis in a nulliparous 35 years-old woman underwent cesarean section at 40+1 weeks of gestation for obstructed labor, presenting post-partum persisting bleeding and uterine atony and congestion. Bleeding stopped only after placement of two set of compressive sutures, curettage of uterine cavity and placement of Bakri Balloon but the uterine body never contracted and become congested. Notwithstanding an effective antibiotic therapy, the patient developed an intermittent fever and signs of severe anemia. Clinical and radiological diagnosis with CT and MRI scan were compatible with uterine necrosis characterized by hemorrhagic infarction of the uterine wall and decomposition of its muscular tissue. Hysterectomy was discussed with patient and performed on day 32 after C-section. Uterine apoplexy, a rare life-threatening disease, was detected with CT by lack of uterine contrast enhancement and a gas-filled uterine cavity and necrosis was confirmed with MRI by showing fluid degeneration of the myometrium. Failure to recognize a necrotic uterus on imaging can cause delayed hysterectomy, which is mandatory and potentially life-saving

Dominance of charged excitons in single quantum dot photoluminescence spectra

Single InxGa1-xAs/GaAs quantum dot photoluminescence spectra, obtained by low-temperature near-field scanning optical microscopy, are compared with theoretically derived optical spectra. The spectra show shell filling as well as few-particle fine structure associated with neutral and charged multiexcitons, in good agreement with the many-body calculations. There appears to be a greater tendency to charged-exciton formation, which is discussed in terms of the high diffusivity of photogenerated electrons

Covid-19 management in the pediatric age: Consensus document of the covid-19 working group in paediatrics of the Emilia-Romagna Region (re-co-ped), Italy

Since December 2019, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly spread, becoming the first pandemic of the 21st century by number of deaths (over 2,000,000 worldwide). Many aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents remain unclear, and optimal treatment has not yet been defined. Therefore, our goal was to develop a consensus document, practically synthesizing the accumulated data and clinical experience of our expert group. Literature research was carried out using the keywords “COVID-19” or “SARS-CoV-2” and “children” or “pediatrics” and “prevention” or “diagnosis” or “MIS-C” or “treatment” in electronic databases (MEDLINE, PUBMED), existing guidelines and gray literature. The fact that the majority of the problems posed by SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric age do not need hospital care and that, therefore, infected children and adolescents can be managed at home highlights the need for a strengthening of territorial pediatric structures. The sharing of hospitalization and therapeutic management criteria for severe cases between professionals is essential to ensure a fair approach based on the best available knowledge. Moreover, the activity of social and health professionals must also include the description, management and limitation of psychophysical-relational damage resulting from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the health of children and adolescents, whether or not affected by COVID-19. Due to the characteristics of COVID-19 pathology in pediatric age, the importance of strengthening the network between hospital and territorial pediatrics, school, educational, social and family personnel both for strictly clinical management and for the reduction in discomfort, with priority in children of more frail families, represents a priority

Salt stress in olive tree shapes resident endophytic microbiota

Olea europaea L. is a glycophyte representing one of the most important plants in the Mediterranean area, both from an economic and agricultural point of view. Its adaptability to different environmental conditions enables its cultivation in numerous agricultural scenarios, even on marginal areas, characterized by soils unsuitable for other crops. Salt stress represents one current major threats to crop production, including olive tree. In order to overcome this constraint, several cultivars have been evaluated over the years using biochemical and physiological methods to select the most suitable ones for cultivation in harsh environments. Thus the development of novel methodologies have provided useful tools for evaluating the adaptive capacity of cultivars, among which the evaluation of the plant-microbiota ratio, which is important for the maintenance of plant homeostasis. In the present study, four olive tree cultivars (two traditional and two for intensive cultivation) were subjected to saline stress using two concentrations of salt, 100 mM and 200 mM. The effects of stress on diverse cultivars were assessed by using biochemical analyses (i.e., proline, carotenoid and chlorophyll content), showing a cultivar-dependent response. Additionally, the olive tree response to stress was correlated with the leaf endophytic bacterial community. Results of the metabarcoding analyses showed a significant shift in the resident microbiome for plants subjected to moderate salt stress, which did not occur under extreme salt-stress conditions. In the whole, these results showed that the integration of stress markers and endophytic community represents a suitable approach to evaluate the adaptation of cultivars to environmental stresses

Home management of children with COVID-19 in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy

In most children, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a mild or moderate disease. Moreover, in a relevant number of cases, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains totally asymptomatic. All these findings seem to suggest that otherwise healthy children with suspected COVID-19 might be managed in the community in most cases, thus avoiding hospital admission and closely related medical, social and economic problems, including overwhelming hospitals. Unfortunately, home management of children with suspected COVID-19 rarely occurs, and many children with suspected or laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection are frequently hospitalized irrespective of the severity of disease. To evaluate the role of community health houses (CHHs) in the management of children with COVID-19, 1,009 children with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection were studied in Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy. Among them, 194 (19.2%) resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2. The majority (583, 58%) were tested at home by CHHs, while 426 (42%) were brought to the hospital for testing. The patients who were managed in the hospital had a significantly lower median age than those who were managed at home (2 vs. 12 years, p < 0.001). Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 cases within the family was significantly more frequent among those who were managed at home (82 vs. 46%, p < 0.05). The clinical findings were similar between the children who were managed at home and those who were managed in the hospital. Only one of the children managed at home (0.7%) required hospitalization; in comparison, 26 (48%) of those whose swab samples were taken at the hospital were hospitalized. Our research shows for the first time the importance of CHHs in the management of COVID-19 in children; because of the high frequency of mild to moderate cases, management by CHHs can reduce the care load in hospitals, providing enormous advantages on the familial, medical, social, and economic levels. These findings could be useful for suggesting a territorial rather than hospital-based strategy in pediatrics in the case of a new wave of the epidemic

Screening of Olive Biodiversity Defines Genotypes Potentially Resistant to Xylella fastidiosa

none17noThe recent outbreak of the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS), caused by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca (Xf), is dramatically altering ecosystem services in the peninsula of Salento (Apulia Region, southeastern Italy). Here we report the accomplishment of several exploratory missions in the Salento area, resulting in the identification of thirty paucisymptomatic or asymptomatic plants in olive orchards severely affected by the OQDS. The genetic profiles of such putatively resistant plants (PRPs), assessed by a selection of ten simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, were compared with those of 141 Mediterranean cultivars. Most (23) PRPs formed a genetic cluster (K1) with 22 Italian cultivars, including ‘Leccino’ and ‘FS17’, previously reported as resistant to Xf. The remaining PRPs displayed relatedness with genetically differentiated germplasm, including a cluster of Tunisian cultivars. Markedly lower colonization levels were observed in PRPs of the cluster K1 with respect to control plants. Field evaluation of four cultivars related to PRPs allowed the definition of partial resistance in the genotypes ‘Frantoio’ and ‘Nocellara Messinese’. Some of the PRPs identified in this study might be exploited in cultivation, or as parental clones of breeding programs. In addition, our results indicate the possibility to characterize resistance to Xf in cultivars genetically related to PRPs.openPavan S.; Vergine M.; Nicoli F.; Sabella E.; Aprile A.; Negro C.; Fanelli V.; Savoia M.A.; Montilon V.; Susca L.; Delvento C.; Lotti C.; Nigro F.; Montemurro C.; Ricciardi L.; De Bellis L.; Luvisi A.Pavan, S.; Vergine, M.; Nicoli, F.; Sabella, E.; Aprile, A.; Negro, C.; Fanelli, V.; Savoia, M. A.; Montilon, V.; Susca, L.; Delvento, C.; Lotti, C.; Nigro, F.; Montemurro, C.; Ricciardi, L.; De Bellis, L.; Luvisi, A