Mid-term safety and effectiveness of macular peeling one month after intravitreal dexamethasone implant for tractional diabetic macular edema

Macular peeling combined or followed by intravitreal dexamethasone implant (DEX-i) was recommended as an efficacy approach for tractional diabetic macular edema (tDME). Knowing the synergistic effect of cataract surgery and DEX-i one month earlier in eyes with DME, we compared Epiretinal Membrane/Inner Limiting Membrane (ERM/ILM) peeling preceded by DEX-i one month before versus ERM/ILM peeling alone for the treatment of tDME. A retrospective study on patients affected by tDME who underwent ERM/ILM peeling one month after DEX-i (n = 11; Group A) or ERM/ILM peeling alone (n = 10; Group B) was performed. Longitudinal comparison of best-correct visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) between the time of surgery (T0) and each time point (months 1,3,5,6) within and among the groups were assessed. To evaluate the repeated measurements of BCVA, CRT, and IOP, a linear mixed-effects model was used. In Group A, DEX-i significantly improved mean BCVA and CRT (P < 0.001) just after 1 month (T0). After ERM/ILM peeling, mean BCVA and CRT significantly improved from month 1 in Group A and month 3 in Group B. Mixed model revealed a significant difference in BCVA (P ≤ 0.0001) and CRT (P ≤ 0.02) at different time-points among the groups with better results in Group A. Neither complications nor uncontrolled IOP increase was detected. ERM/ILM peeling confirmed its effectiveness in treating tDME. DEX-i performed one month before surgery seemed to be a safe approach and ensured a greater and faster recovery considering functional and tomographic parameters

SWIPE: a bolometric polarimeter for the Large-Scale Polarization Explorer

The balloon-borne LSPE mission is optimized to measure the linear polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background at large angular scales. The Short Wavelength Instrument for the Polarization Explorer (SWIPE) is composed of 3 arrays of multi-mode bolometers cooled at 0.3K, with optical components and filters cryogenically cooled below 4K to reduce the background on the detectors. Polarimetry is achieved by means of large rotating half-wave plates and wire-grid polarizers in front of the arrays. The polarization modulator is the first component of the optical chain, reducing significantly the effect of instrumental polarization. In SWIPE we trade angular resolution for sensitivity. The diameter of the entrance pupil of the refractive telescope is 45 cm, while the field optics is optimized to collect tens of modes for each detector, thus boosting the absorbed power. This approach results in a FWHM resolution of 1.8, 1.5, 1.2 degrees at 95, 145, 245 GHz respectively. The expected performance of the three channels is limited by photon noise, resulting in a final sensitivity around 0.1-0.2 uK per beam, for a 13 days survey covering 25% of the sky.Comment: In press. Copyright 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibite

The Large-Scale Polarization Explorer (LSPE)

The LSPE is a balloon-borne mission aimed at measuring the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) at large angular scales, and in particular to constrain the curl component of CMB polarization (B-modes) produced by tensor perturbations generated during cosmic inflation, in the very early universe. Its primary target is to improve the limit on the ratio of tensor to scalar perturbations amplitudes down to r = 0.03, at 99.7% confidence. A second target is to produce wide maps of foreground polarization generated in our Galaxy by synchrotron emission and interstellar dust emission. These will be important to map Galactic magnetic fields and to study the properties of ionized gas and of diffuse interstellar dust in our Galaxy. The mission is optimized for large angular scales, with coarse angular resolution (around 1.5 degrees FWHM), and wide sky coverage (25% of the sky). The payload will fly in a circumpolar long duration balloon mission during the polar night. Using the Earth as a giant solar shield, the instrument will spin in azimuth, observing a large fraction of the northern sky. The payload will host two instruments. An array of coherent polarimeters using cryogenic HEMT amplifiers will survey the sky at 43 and 90 GHz. An array of bolometric polarimeters, using large throughput multi-mode bolometers and rotating Half Wave Plates (HWP), will survey the same sky region in three bands at 95, 145 and 245 GHz. The wide frequency coverage will allow optimal control of the polarized foregrounds, with comparable angular resolution at all frequencies.Comment: In press. Copyright 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibite

Low temperature NO 2 sensor based on YCoO 3 and TiO 2 nanoparticle composites

Chemical sensors based on metal oxides have been widely explored and used in the literature and have found different application fields as a function of their operating characteristics like selectivity, sensitivity, stability over time etc. Recently, some papers started to diffuse the idea that innovative chemical sensors could be obtained using two different metal oxides combined together providing enhanced sensing capabilities. In this paper the authors propose a new sensor based on perovskite support modified by a TiO 2 based compound in order to test enhanced sensing performance. Moreover, the present work aims to show that nanocomposites obtained introducing in a matrix of a given metal oxide a second nano-structured metal oxide, which can act either as a catalyst or as a structure modifier, can provide improved sensitivity, selectivity and stability

YCoO 3 resistive gas sensors for the detection of NO 2 in ‘resistance controlled mode’

In this paper the unconventional measurement technique, ‘resistance controlled mode’, which consists in driving the sensor heater in order to maintain constant the sensing-film resistance, and reading as a sensor output the temperature of the film, is applied to the detection of NO 2 gas with YCoO 3 based resistive gas sensors. The technique is discussed and its results are compared to those obtained with conventional measurements of resistance at constant temperature, showing that it has similar performance in terms of resolution and better in terms of speed

L'impatto di politiche attive di salute mentale in tempi di crisi economica: il caso di Modena

Scopo La crisi economica e la successiva recessione hanno causato tagli all’occupazione su scala mondiale. L’incertezza per la perdita del lavoro e le condizioni lavorative precarie sono stati individuati come determinanti negativi per la salute mentale. Il nostro obiettivo è stato quello analizzare l’impatto della disoccupazione sulla salute mentale nella provincia di Modena (colpita oltre che dalla crisi economica anche dal terremoto del 2012), e se questo si sia stato più importante nelle zone interessate dal sisma. Metodi Sono stati utilizzati i dati di due indagini sulle condizioni socio-economiche delle famiglie residenti: ICESmo2 (2006) e ICESmo3 (2012) confrontati con osservazioni su base nazionale (ISTAT 2014). Per la valutazione degli effetti della crisi economica sulla salute mentale locale sono stati utilizzati microdati ricavati dal Sistema Informativo del Dipartimento di Salute Mentale e Dipendenze Patologiche dell’AUSL di Modena. Risultati Nel 2012 la provincia ha mostrato di risentire molto della crisi con effetti significativi in termini di tassi di disoccupazione e riduzione del reddito. Sebbene l’indice di salute fisica nella provincia di Modena sia rimasto stabile, l’indice di salute mentale è diminuito più della media nazionale. Gli effetti della crisi economica sulla salute mentale in termini di utilizzo dei Servizi Sanitari hanno mostrato una maggior frequenza di sintomatologia depressiva e dell’utilizzo di psicofarmaci; in particolare una situazione di “non lavoro” è stata associata a sintomi depressivi più evidenti. Inoltre, l’effetto del terremoto sembra aver ulteriormente indebolito gli indici di salute mentale come variabile addizionale e indipendente. Conclusioni Entrambe le analisi hanno confermato l’impatto negativo della crisi sulla condizione di benessere psicologico. I dati locali hanno evidenziato come tale effetto sia stato più accentuato nella provincia di Modena rispetto alla media nazionale con un conseguente aumento della domanda di Servizi di Salute Mentale. Segnaliamo dunque l’importanza di politiche di sostegno per la salute mentale soprattutto in tempi di crisi e l’utilità di progetti di inserimento lavorativo per soggetti con disagio psichico

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Socioeconomic Deprivation on Admissions to the Emergency Department for Psychiatric Illness: An Observational Study in a Province of Southern Italy

The restriction measures adopted to limit population movement in order to contain the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a global public health system crisis. This retrospective study aimed at identifying changes in psychiatric admissions to Accident and Emergency Departments (A&Es) in a province in southern Italy during the first two years of the pandemic and was characterized by two different restriction levels (phases 2 and 3) compared to the pre-pandemic period (phase 1). We also investigated the role of socioeconomic deprivation (DI) on psychiatric admissions. The total number of patients admitted to the A&Es was 291,310. The incidence of admission for a psychiatric disorder (IPd) was 4.9 per 1000 admissions, with a significant younger median age of 42 [IQR 33–56] compared to non-psychiatric patients (54 [35–73]). The type of admission and type of discharge were factors related to the psychiatric admission to A&E, and their relationship was modified by the pandemic. In the first year of the pandemic, patients with psychomotor agitation increased compared to the pre-pandemic period (72.5% vs. 62.3%). In the period preceding the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the IPd was equal to 3.33 ± 0.19; after the pandemic started, there was an increase in the IPd: 4.74 ± 0.32 for phase 2 and 3.68 ± 0.25 for phase 3. The IPd was higher for psychiatric admissions from areas with a very low DI compared to areas with a low DI; however, during phase 2, this difference was reduced. In conclusion, an increase in admissions for psychiatric disease was observed during the initial spread of SARS-CoV-2. Patients who lived in the most deprived municipalities generally came to the A&Es less than others, probably because the patients and their families had less awareness of their mental health. Therefore, public health policies to address these issues are needed to reduce the pandemic’s impact on these conditions

On-component multilayer tri-Axial capacitive probe for clearance measurement

In this paper, an on-component triaxial capacitive probe for clearance measurement (static and dynamic measurement of distance) is proposed and studied. The device is designed to be deposited onto machinery components or complex structures and is aimed at reducing the impact of probe mounting on the monitored component. The problem is discussed from a theoretical point a view and then supported by the development of a prototype in screen printed technology. The results prove the feasibility of this innovative device

Surface State Model for Metal Oxide p-Type Conductometric CO Sensors

The materials exploited for the development of gas conductometric sensors are often n-type semiconductors as in the case, e.g., of SnO2. Several materials studied in the last years for this application behave as p-type semiconductors (e.g. CuO, Cr2O3, K- or Ag-Hollandites). In this work the authors present a novel surface state model for p-type, large grained, thick film materials, with a specific reference to K- or Ag-Hollandites, which accounts for the material response to CO in dry and humid N-2, and in dry and humid air. A reliable and compact model of this type is of the utmost utility from several points of view, including the development of measurement systems based on gas sensors. The availability of a simulation tool able to accurately predict the sensor behavior enables the replacement of experimental tuning with simulations, and can significantly speed-up sensor-based system development and guarantee better performance