Schrödinger’s worker: Are they positive or negative for SARS-CoV-2?

In these days of 2020, tests for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, and their use in the context of health surveillance of workers, are becoming popular. Nevertheless, their sensitivity and specificity could vary on the basis of the type of test used and on the moment of infection of the subject tested. The aim of this viewpoint paper is to make employers, workers, occupational physicians, and public health specialists think about the limits of diagnostic tests currently available, and the possible implication related to the erroneous and incautious assignment of “immunity passports” or “risk-free certificates” to workers during screening campaigns in workplaces

Fuel Cell-Based Inductive Power Transfer System for Supercapacitor Constant Current Charging

The majority of urban CO2 emissions come from the transportation sector. To be able to reduce them, it is definitely necessary to replace Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles with electric ones. In this article, a public transport system is proposed, consisting of a supercapacitor (SC)-powered electric vehicle (EV) charged through a fuel cell-powered (FC) Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) system. The bus runs the usual route and it is charged each time it reaches the terminal, where the charging system is placed. The main advantages of the proposed system are related to the long-term cost of the EV, compared to a classic battery-powered system, to the aspects of ease of use and safety for charging operations and to the possibility of realizing a net-zero-energy transport system thanks to the use of green hydrogen. In addition, the proposed charging methodology allows for better energy utilization avoiding major changes to the main power grid. In this article, the system is presented considering a real case study; it is simulated at system and hardware level, and then validated through the realization of a scaled-down prototype

Stress among medical students: Factor structure of the University Stress Scale among Italian students

Objectives The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the University Stress Scale (USS) among Italian medical students. Design, setting and participants A cross-sectional observational study based on data from an online cross-sectional survey from 11 to 23 December 2018. A total of 1858 Italian medical students participated in the study. Outcome measures We measured perceived stress among medical students using the USS, the Effort-Reward Imbalance Student Questionnaire (ERI-SQ) and the Kessler-10 (K10). Results Results showed that a bifactor-Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling solution provided excellent levels of fit to the data. Our results suggest that the modified version of 19 items of the Italian version of the USS does not have a simple unidimensional structure. Overall, an inspection of ancillary indices (omega indices, ECV and percentage of uncontaminated correlations) revealed that these were too low to suggest the use of the USS as a composite measure of university stress. We tested an alternative unidimensional short form (eight items; USS-S) that assessed all the five sources of stress. This version provided a good fit to the data. Evidence of convergent validity of the USS-S was observed by analysing the correlations between the USS and ERI-SQ (ranging from-0.34 to 0.37, all p<0.01). Finally, based on the clinical cut-off recommended on the K10, results from receiver operating characteristic showed that considering the clinical cut-off of the USS is 7.5 and that 59.70% of medical students reported stress levels in the clinical range. Conclusion Finally, our results showed a lack of support for using the USS to measure a general university stress factor, as the general USS factor accounted for little variance in our sample. In this sense, stress scores among Italian students can be better assessed by the use of the USS-S

Stability-Centric Design of a Droop-Mounted Adaptive Nonlinear Control for EV Charging in DC Microgrid

This paper presents a streamlined two-layer control system for effective power sharing and switching control in a DC microgrid designed for electric vehicles. The system integrates Energy Storage Systems and advanced converters to ensure a broad operational range and bidirectional power flow. The Dual active bridge topology is used to integrate the EV to DC MG. Hence, the DC MG system has multiple power converter operating simultaneously. The enhanced droop control strategy is advised for the upper layer and the switching controller is derived using nonlinear controls theory embedding the barrier functions. The enhanced droop strategy shares the power considering the individual dynamics of the storage devices while Barrier-based sliding mode control is applied to converters for current/voltage tracking. Mathematical analysis, leveraging Lyapunov's theory, confirms the large signal stability of the system. Demonstrated through MATLAB/Simulink-based simulations, the control system exhibits proficient load power sharing, and the adaptive nonlinear controller showcases robustness against unforeseen disturbances. Moreover, the comparative analysis provides insight into the performance of the proposed control methods concerning traditional methods. Hardware-in-loop tests, utilizing Typhoon HIL 404, authentically validate the real-time performance of the proposed control strategies. Different EV and Constant Power Load scenarios ensure a thorough examination, supporting the efficacy of the system. The study contributes valuable insights into the feasibility and efficiency of these control strategies, paving the way for advancements in sustainable electric mobility

In Vitro Study of the Proliferation of MG63 Cells Cultured on Five Different Titanium Surfaces

The use of dental implants for prosthetic rehabilitation in dentistry is based on the concept of osteointegration. This concept enables the clinical stability of the implants and a total absence of inflammatory tissue between the implant surface and the bone tissue. For this reason, it is essential to understand the role of the titanium surface in promoting and maintaining or not maintaining contact between the bone matrix and the surface of the titanium implant. Materials and Methods: Five types of titanium discs placed in contact with osteoblast cultures of osteosarcomas were studied. The materials had different roughness. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photos were taken before the in vitro culture to analyze the surfaces, and at the end of the culturing time, the different gene expressions of a broad pattern of proteins were evaluated to analyze the osteoblast response, as indicated in the scientific literature. Results: It was demonstrated that the responses of the osteoblasts were different in the five cultures in contact with the five titanium discs with different surfaces; in particular, the response in the production of some proteins was statistically significant. Discussion: The key role of titanium surfaces underlines how it is still possible to carry out increasingly accurate and targeted studies in the search for new surfaces capable of stimulating a better osteoblastic response and the long-term maintenance of osteointegration

Mental health among university students: The associations of effort-reward imbalance and overcommitment with psychological distress

Background: Mental health problems are highly prevalent among university students, but little is known about their underlying determinants. This study explores mental health among university students, the association between “effort-reward imbalance” (ERI), overcommitment and mental health, and to what extent ERI and overcommitment explain gender differences in mental health. Methods: Cross-sectional data were analyzed from 4760 Italian university students. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10 was used to measure self-reported psychological distress, as an indicator of mental health, and the ERI – Student Questionnaire to measure effort, reward and overcommitment. The associations between ERI and overcommitment with psychological distress were estimated with multinomial logistic regression analyses. Results: 78.5% of the respondents experienced psychological distress, with 21.3%, 21.1%, and 36.1% reporting respectively mild, moderate and severe psychological distress. Female students were more likely to report moderate and severe psychological distress. ERI and overcommitment were strongly associated with severe psychological distress with ORs respectively up to 19.9 (95% CI: 12.2–32.5) and 22.2 (95% CI: 16.1–30.7). ERI and overcommitment explained part of the higher odds of severe psychological distress among female students comparing to males, attenuating the ORs from 2.3 (95% CI: 1.9–2.7) to 1.4 (95% CI: 1.2–1.7). Limitations: This cross-sectional study was performed on a large, but convenient sample. Discussion: More than one out of three students reported severe psychological distress. Decreasing ERI and overcommitment may be beneficial in the prevention of psychological distress among university students and may reduce gender differences in psychological distress. Longitudinal studies are needed to further investigate these associations

How to combine CTA, 99mTc-WBC SPECT/CT, and [18F]FDG PET/CT in patients with suspected abdominal vascular endograft infections?

Purpose - We aimed at comparing Tc-99m-HMPAO white blood cells (Tc-99m-WBC) scintigraphy, 18fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose ([F-18]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and CT angiography (CTA) in patients with suspected abdominal vascular graft or endograft infection (VGEI). Moreover, we attempted to define a new visual score for interpreting [F-18]FDG PET/CT scans aiming at increasing its specificity. Methods - We prospectively compared Tc-99m-WBC SPECT/CT, [F-18]FDG PET/CT, and CTA in 26 patients with suspected abdominal VGEI. WBC scans were performed and interpreted according to EANM recommendations. [F-18]FDG PET/CT studies were assessed with both qualitative (Sah's scale and new visual score) and semi-quantitative analyses. CTA images were interpreted according to MAGIC criteria. Microbiology, histopathology or a clinical follow-up of at least 24 months were used to achieve final diagnosis. Results - Eleven out of 26 patients were infected. [F-18]FDG PET/CT showed 100% sensitivity and NPV, with both scoring systems, thus representing an efficient tool to rule out the infection. The use of a more detailed scoring system provided statistically higher specificity compared to the previous Sah's scale (p = 0.049). Tc-99m-WBC SPECT/CT provided statistically higher specificity and PPV than [F-18]FDG PET/CT, regardless the interpretation criteria used and it can be, therefore, used in early post-surgical phases or to confirm or rule out a PET/CT finding. Conclusions - After CTA, patients with suspected late VGEI should perform a [F-18]FDG PET/CT given its high sensitivity and NPV. However, given its lower specificity, positive results should be confirmed with Tc-99m-WBC scintigraphy. The use of a more detailed scoring system reduces the number of Tc-99m-WBC scans needed after [F-18]FDG PET/CT. Nevertheless, in suspected infections within 4 months from surgery, Tc-99m-WBC SPECT/CT should be performed as second exam, due to its high accuracy in differentiating sterile inflammation from infection

The video endoscopy inguinal lymphadenectomy for vulvar cancer: A pilot study

Objective This prospective pilot study aims to validate feasibility, efficacy and safeness of the innovative technique of video endoscopy inguinal lymphadenectomy (VEIL) and compare it to open inguinal lymphadenectomy (OIL) in the staging and treatment of vulvar cancer (VC). Material and methods All patients affected by VC suitable for bilateral inguinal-femoral lymphadenectomy were prospectively enrolled and submitted to VEIL on one side and OIL contralaterally, sparing the saphenous vein. The surgical and post-surgical data were collected. Univariate analysis included chi square analysis or Fisher's exact test, when appropriate for categorical variables, and the Student t test and Mann–Whitney test when appropriate for continuous variables. Results Between October 2014 and June 2015 fifteen patients were valuable for the study. Although nodal retrieval was comparable for both procedures, operative time was higher after VEIL. No intraoperative complications were observed in both techniques. Postoperative complications were observed in 3 and 2 cases for OIL and VEIL respectively. One patient needed reoperation after OIL for wound necrosis and infection. According to Campisi's stage, lymphedema resulted significantly to be lower after VEIL (p = 0.024). Conclusions Waiting for larger series and longer follow-up data, the VEIL seems to be feasible allowing a radical removal of inguinal lymph nodes as well as OIL with lower morbidity

Stress among medical students: factor structure of the University Stress Scale among Italian students

OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the University Stress Scale (USS) among Italian medical students. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional observational study based on data from an online cross-sectional survey from 11 to 23 December 2018. A total of 1858 Italian medical students participated in the study. OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured perceived stress among medical students using the USS, the Effort-Reward Imbalance Student Questionnaire (ERI-SQ) and the Kessler-10 (K10). RESULTS: Results showed that a bifactor-Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling solution provided excellent levels of fit to the data. Our results suggest that the modified version of 19 items of the Italian version of the USS does not have a simple unidimensional structure. Overall, an inspection of ancillary indices (omega indices, ECV and percentage of uncontaminated correlations) revealed that these were too low to suggest the use of the USS as a composite measure of university stress. We tested an alternative unidimensional short form (eight items; USS-S) that assessed all the five sources of stress. This version provided a good fit to the data. Evidence of convergent validity of the USS-S was observed by analysing the correlations between the USS and ERI-SQ (ranging from -0.34 to 0.37, all p<0.01). Finally, based on the clinical cut-off recommended on the K10, results from receiver operating characteristic showed that considering the clinical cut-off of the USS is 7.5 and that 59.70% of medical students reported stress levels in the clinical range. CONCLUSION: Finally, our results showed a lack of support for using the USS to measure a general university stress factor, as the general USS factor accounted for little variance in our sample. In this sense, stress scores among Italian students can be better assessed by the use of the USS-S

Current preventive policies and practices against Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and tuberculosis targeted for workers from hospitals of the Sardinia Region, Italy

Introduction. Health care Workers are exposed to infectious diseases more than the general population. Many of these infections are preventable by vaccination. The objective in this study is to investigate whether, how, and which vaccination underwent Sardinia Health Care Workers (HCWs) and the variability of policies in different Hospital Health Managements of the whole region. Methods. In March 2013, we enrolled the Hospital Health Management of all the 32 Sardinia hospitals. We investigate on immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases and education campaigns about recommended vaccinations for HCWs. Flu, hepatitis B, measles-mumps-rubella, varicella and tuberculosis were the objects of our research. Results. In most of the hospitals, influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs is less than 6%. Hepatitis B antibody assay was performed in all the respondent hospitals but only 14 had available data as collected electronically. Most of the hospitals did not perform serological tests for the evaluation of antibodies against Varicella, Measles, Mumps and Rubella in their HCWs. In 30 hospitals Mantoux test was replaced or integrated by "in vitro" test for health surveillance protocols. Conclusions. This method produced a large amount of data in small time and at a low cost. Sending back data to respective Hospital Health Management (HHM) we took a step towards greater awareness of the issue of biological risks of HCWs and of vaccine coverage