Censura e Tradução: George Bernard Shaw em Portugal

A presente dissertação de mestrado visa oferecer mais um contributo para o desenvolvimento dos Estudos de Tradução e Censura, mediante a análise de três peças de teatro da autoria de George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), traduzidas para português, que sofreram vários cortes levados a cabo pelos censores, durante o Estado Novo (1933-1974). Após um levantamento das traduções das peças escritas por Bernard Shaw, optou-se justamente por seleccionar, como objecto de estudo, aquelas que foram alvo do “lápis azul” da Censura: Cândida (1963), do original Candida (1894), O Senhor do Destino (1963), do original The Man of Destiny (1897) e Nunca se Sabe (1963), do original You Never Can Tell (1897). Mediante a análise dos respectivos relatórios dos censores, tentar-se-á, por um lado, perceber como funcionava a Censura em relação a peças de teatro, cuja tradução almejava a sua subida ao palco, bem como as razões específicas dos cortes relativos às obras em apreço. Por outro lado, tentar-se-á compreender se houve qualquer tentativa de autocensura por parte dos tradutores, Nuno Fradique, que traduziu O Senhor do Destino e Cândida, e Francisco Nicholson, que traduziu Nunca se Sabe. Assim, através de uma análise comparativa dos textos originais e das traduções, tentar-se-á apurar as temáticas mais sensíveis à mentalidade do Estado Novo, bem como as tácticas tradutórias utilizadas para evitar os cortesThe aim of this dissertation is to offer a further contribution to the development of the relationship between Translation Studies and Censorship, throughout the analysis of three plays by George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) which were the object of numerous cuts by the censorship, during the Estado Novo period (1933-1974). After carrying out a survey of Bernard Shaw’s plays in Portuguese, it was decided to choose those which were victims of censorship, for the purpose of this study: Cândida (1963), from the original Candida (1894), O Senhor do Destino (1963), from the original The Man of Destiny (1897) and Nunca se Sabe (1963), from the original You Never Can Tell (1897). By analysing the censors’ respective reports on each of them, an attempt will be made to understand the censors’ approach to plays, which were intended to be approved and consequently to be performed, as well as the specific reasons for the cuts in the plays. An attempt will also be made to assess if there was a measure of self-censorship on the part of the translators, Nuno Fradique, who translated O Senhor do Destino and Cândida, and Francisco Nicholson who translated Nunca se Sabe. Finally, through a comparative analysis between the original texts and the translations, a further attempt will be made to identify what themes were considered to be more sensitive by the Estado Novo, as well as the translation strategies used to avoid the cuts

Rapid Spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern 202012/01 in Southern Italy (December 2020–March 2021)

Epidemiological and virological studies have revealed that SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) are emerging globally, including in Europe. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spread of B.1.1.7-lineage SARS-CoV-2 in southern Italy from December 2020–March 2021 through the detection of the S gene target failure (SGTF), which could be considered a robust proxy of VOC B.1.1.7. SGTF was assessed on 3075 samples from week 52/2020 to week 10/2021. A subset of positive samples identified in the Apulia region during the study period was subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). A descriptive and statistical analysis of the demographic and clinical characteristics of cases according to SGTF status was performed. Overall, 20.2% of samples showed SGTF; 155 strains were confirmed as VOC 202012/01 by WGS. The proportion of SGTF-positive samples rapidly increased over time, reaching 69.2% in week 10/2021. SGTF-positive cases were more likely to be symptomatic and to result in hospitalization (p < 0.0001). Despite the implementation of large-scale non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as the closure of schools and local lockdowns, a rapid spread of VOC 202012/01 was observed in southern Italy. Strengthened NPIs and rapid vaccine deployment, first among priority groups and then among the general population, are crucial both to contain the spread of VOC 202012/01 and to flatten the curve of the third wav

Sperm quality improvement after natural anti-oxidant treatment of asthenoteratospermic men with leukocytospermia

Aim: To study the immune-modulating and anti-oxidant effects of beta-glucan, papaya, lactoferrin, and vitamins C and E on sperm characteristics of patients with asthenoteratozoospermia associated with leucocytosis. Methods: Fifty-one patients referred to our Sterility Center for semen analysis were selected. Sperm parameters were assessed before and after patient's treatment with beta-glucan, lactoferrin, papaya, and vitamins C and E. DNA damage was assessed by the acridine orange test and sperm structural characteristics were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. Results: After 90 days of treatment, an increase in the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (17.0 ± 5.2 vs. 29.8 ± 6.5) and total progressive motility (19.0 ± 7.8 vs. 34.8 ± 6.8) were detected. Structural sperm characteristics as well as chromatin integrity were also improved after treatment. In terms of leukocyte concentration in seminal fluid, a significant reduction was recorded (2.2 ± 0.9 vs. 0.9 ± 0.2). Conclusion: The treatment of an inflammatory process by the synergic action of immune modulators and anti-oxidants could protect sperm during maturation and migration, leading to improved sperm function

The Challenge of Using an Antigen Test as a Screening Tool for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in an Emergency Department: Experience of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern Italy

Background. In emergency hospital settings, rapid diagnosis and isolation of SARS-CoV-2 patients are required. The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of an antigen chemiluminescence enzymatic immunoassay (CLEIA) and compare it with that of Real-time Reverse transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR), the gold standard assay, to assess its suitability as a rapid diagnostic method for managing patients in the emergency department (ED). Methods. Consecutive patients with no previous history of SARS-CoV-2 infection attending the ED of the Policlinico Hospital of Bari between 23rd October and 4th November 2020 were enrolled. Clinical and demographic data were collected for all patients. Nasopharyngeal swabs collected on admission were subjected both to molecular (RT-qPCR) and antigen (CLEIA) tests for SARS-CoV-2. The performance of the CLEIA antigen test was analyzed using R Studio software and Microsoft Excel. Receiver operating characteristics were also performed. Results. A total of 911 patients were enrolled, of whom 469 (51.5%) were male. Of the whole cohort, 23.7% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR and 24.5% by CLEIA. The overall concordance rate was 96.8%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the antigen test were 94.9% (95% CI, 91.9–97.0), 97.4% (95% CI, 96.5–98.1), 91.9% (95% CI, 89.0–94.0), and 98.4% (95% CI, 97.4–99.1), respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.99. The kappa coefficient was 0.91. The overall positive and negative likelihood ratios were 37 (95% CI 23-58) and 0.05 (95% CI, 0.03–0.09), respectively. Conclusions. Data analysis demonstrated that the antigen test showed very good accuracy for discriminating SARS-CoV-2-infected patients from negative participants. The CLEIA is suitable for rapid clinical diagnosis of patients in hospital settings, particularly in EDs with a high prevalence of symptomatic patients and where a rapid turnaround time is critical. Timely and accurate testing for SARS-CoV-2 plays a crucial role in limiting the spread of the virus

Update on the Epidemiology of Macrolide-Resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Europe: A Systematic Review

Macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MR-MP) infections cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections in both children and adults, and are characterized by a longer duration of symptoms. Here, we undertook a systematic review of studies on MR-MP in Europe. The review meets PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct databases were searched using suitable keywords to identify relevant studies published from 2010 to 2021; 21 studies were included. Overall, a low level of MR-MP spread was reported in Europe. MR-MP spread increased during epidemic waves registered in Europe, particularly in Italy and Scotland, where the highest MR-MP infection rates were registered during the 2010–2011 epidemic. By contrast, no MR-MP infections were reported in Finland and the Netherlands. Continued monitoring of MR-MP in Europe is needed to maintain the low rates of infection. Moreover, a coordinated and structured pan-European surveillance program adequate for public health surveillance is advisable, with the purpose of containing the spread of antimicrobial resistance

Polyphenols as antiviral agents onto NWF of face masks: a proof of concept

The pandemic situation caused by the SARS CoV2 that we are still experiencing has highlighted that the use of disposable face masks can effectively mitigate the spreading of respiratory virus. At the same ime, several works recently published, raised some doubts about the real effectiveness of these devices in filtering SARS CoV2 during coughs by infected patients. The mask is often worn incorrectly and frequently touched, increasing the risk of contamination of the user‘s hands and of surfaces. In this scenario, we thought to use polyphenolic compounds, which are characterized by well-known antiviral properties, as coating agents of the external surface of surgical masks. Indeed, their application onto the non-woven fabric (NWF) of masks could limit the infection circulation, by reducing the cross-contamination of patients and health care workers. In this context, our work aimed at improving the barrier effect of disposable face masks by depositing on their external surface a mixture of bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols, extracted from agronomical sources

Changing Features of COVID-19: Characteristics of Infections with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) and Alpha (B.1.1.7) Variants in Southern Italy

Differences in the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients infected with the Alpha and Delta SARS‐CoV‐2 variants of concern in a large region of Southern Italy were assessed. Two cohorts of positive patients were compared. The Alpha group consisted of 11,135 subjects diagnosed between 21 March and 21 April 2021, and the Delta group consisted of 499 positive subjects diagnosed between 21 July and 21 August 2021. A descriptive and statistical analysis of the demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups was performed. The proportion of patients with mild and moderate infections was significantly higher in the Delta than in the Alpha group (p < 0.001). In fully vaccinated patients, the proportion of symptomatic individuals was significantly higher in the Delta than in the Alpha group. The Delta group showed odds ratios of 3.08 (95% CI, 2.55–3.72) for symptomatic infection and 2.66 (95% CI, 1.76–3.94) for hospitalization. Improving COVID‐19 vaccination rates is a priority, since infection with the SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta variant has a significant impact on patient outcomes. Additional targeted prevention strategies such as social distancing, the use of masks in indoor settings irrespective of vaccination status, and the use of a sanitary passport could be crucial to contain further spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection

CT colonography: Preliminary assessment of a double-read paradigm that uses computer-aided detection as the first reader

Purpose: To compare diagnostic performance and time efficiency of double-reading first-reader computer-aided detection (CAD) (DR FR CAD) followed by radiologist interpretation with that of an unassisted read using segmentally un-blinded colonoscopy as reference standard. Materials and Methods: The local ethical committee approved this study. Written consent to use examinations was obtained from patients. Three experienced radiologists searched for polyps 6 mm or larger in 155 computed tomographic (CT) colonographic studies (57 containing 10 masses and 79 polyps >= 6 mm). Reading was randomized to either unassisted read or DR FR CAD. Data sets were reread 6 weeks later by using the opposite paradigm. DR FR CAD consists of evaluation of CAD prompts, followed by fast two-dimensional review for mass detection. CAD sensitivity was calculated. Readers' diagnoses and reviewing times with and without CAD were compared by using McNemar and Student t tests, respectively. Association between missed polyps and lesion characteristics was explored with multiple regression analysis. Results: With mean rate of 19 (standard deviation, 14; median, 15; range, 4-127) false-positive results per patient, CAD sensitivity was 90% for lesions 6 mm or larger. Readers' sensitivity and specificity for lesions 6 mm or larger were 74% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 65%, 84%) and 93% (95% CI: 89%, 97%), respectively, for the unassisted read and 77% (95% CI: 67%, 85%) and 90% (95% CI: 85%, 95%), respectively, for DR FR CAD (P = .343 and P = .189, respectively). Overall unassisted and DR FR CAD reviewing times were similar (243 vs 239 seconds; P = .623); DR FR CAD was faster when the number of CAD marks per patient was 20 or fewer (187 vs 220 seconds, P < .01). Odds ratio of missing a polyp with CAD decreased as polyp size increased (0.6) and for polyps visible on both prone and supine scans (0.12); it increased for flat lesions (9.1). Conclusion: DR FR CAD paradigm had similar performance compared with unassisted interpretation but better time efficiency when 20 or fewer CAD prompts per patient were generated. (C) RSNA, 201