Effect of the relative shift between the electron density and temperature pedestal position on the pedestal stability in JET-ILW and comparison with JET-C

The electron temperature and density pedestals tend to vary in their relative radial positions, as observed in DIII-D (Beurskens et al 2011 Phys. Plasmas 18 056120) and ASDEX Upgrade (Dunne et al 2017 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 59 14017). This so-called relative shift has an impact on the pedestal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability and hence on the pedestal height (Osborne et al 2015 Nucl. Fusion 55 063018). The present work studies the effect of the relative shift on pedestal stability of JET ITER-like wall (JET-ILW) baseline low triangularity (\u3b4) unseeded plasmas, and similar JET-C discharges. As shown in this paper, the increase of the pedestal relative shift is correlated with the reduction of the normalized pressure gradient, therefore playing a strong role in pedestal stability. Furthermore, JET-ILW tends to have a larger relative shift compared to JET carbon wall (JET-C), suggesting a possible role of the plasma facing materials in affecting the density profile location. Experimental results are then compared with stability analysis performed in terms of the peeling-ballooning model and with pedestal predictive model EUROPED (Saarelma et al 2017 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion). Stability analysis is consistent with the experimental findings, showing an improvement of the pedestal stability, when the relative shift is reduced. This has been ascribed mainly to the increase of the edge bootstrap current, and to minor effects related to the increase of the pedestal pressure gradient and narrowing of the pedestal pressure width. Pedestal predictive model EUROPED shows a qualitative agreement with experiment, especially for low values of the relative shift

Safety and Metabolic Tolerance of Citrate Anticoagulation in Critically Ill Polytrauma Patients with Acute Kidney Injury Requiring an Early Continuous Kidney Replacement Therapy

For severe polytrauma patients with an early AKI requiring renal replacement therapy, anticoagulation remains a great challenge. Due to a high bleeding risk, hemodynamic instability, and increased lactate levels, continuous modality (CKRT) and citrate anticoagulation seem to be the most appropriate. However, their safety with regard to the potential risk of impaired citrate metabolism is not documented. A retrospective study of 60 severe polytrauma patients admitted to the emergency department between January 2000 and December 2021 was conducted; the patients requiring CKRT during the first 72 h were treated with citrate (n. 46, group Citrate) or with heparin (n. 14, group Heparin). Out of 60 patients, 31 survived (51.7%). According to logistic regression analysis, age and SOFA score were significant predictors of mortality. The incidence of rhabdomyolysis was more common in the survivors (77.4 vs. 51.7%), and Kaplan–Meyer analysis showed a better trend towards survival at 90 days for the group Citrate than the group Heparin (p 0.0956). In the group Citrate, hemorrhagic episodes were significantly less common (0.045 vs. 0.273 episodes/day, p < 0.001); the effective duration (h/day) of CKRT was longer; and the effective net ultrafiltration rate (mL/kg/h) and blood flow rate were lower. For severe polytrauma patients, early, soft CKRT with citrate anticoagulation at a low blood flow rate and circuit citratemia showed a better safety and hemodynamic stability, suggesting that citrate should be the first choice anticoagulant in this subset of patients

Silk fibroin membranes with self-assembled globular structures for controlled drug release

In this paper, we have evaluated the incorporation of a drug model and its release from silk fibroin (SF) membranes, analyzing the morphological, chemical, barrier, and biological properties. SF self-assembled into stable globular structures, encapsulating the drug, when diclofenac sodium (DS) was incorporated into SF solution prior to membranes preparation. The membranes showed biostatic action and prevented microorganism permeation. Kinetic studies indicate that DS was released in 120 min, with Fickian diffusion as the main mechanism of release. Results of this paper emphasize the potential of SF in wound healing, with good barrier and biological properties13716CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal e Nível SuperiorFAPESP – Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa Do Estado De São Paulo0012016/17555‐

Communication strategies on eye health promotion: A study about the FVG region

The EyeCare project (CUP: J22F16000130002) \u2013 funded by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (L.R. 17/2014) and realized by the University of Trieste in collaboration with the Istituto Rittmeyer and Irifor FVG \u2013 aims at identifying the most effective communication modalities as for the eye health promotion for the regional population. According to the existing literature on the utilization of eye care services, we developed an ad hoc questionnaire, which was really easy and quick to fill in, on participants\u2019 attitude toward health promotional initiatives and on their approach to communication strategies. The questionnaire was administered to about 2500 persons. We found interesting differences across sociodemographic variables as for the use of communication channels and tools, the attention paid on health promotion campaigns shared through different media and the motivation for attending, or not attending, eye care services. Our results will be employed to develop and test the effectiveness of new communication campaigns, specifically targeted to that regional population. Lastly, guidelines for the development of adequate communication campaigns for eye health promotion will be developed and shared among policy makers and stakeholders

Wall conditioning and density control in the reversed field pinch RFX-mod

In the reversed field pinch RFX-mod at the highest plasma current of 2 MA, when error fields are not effectively feedback controlled, localized thermal loads up to tens of MW m(-2) can be produced. The graphite tiles withstand such high power loads, but the high hydrogen retention makes density control extremely difficult. Several wall conditioning techniques have been optimized in the last campaigns, including helium glow discharge cleaning and wall boronization by diborane glow discharges. More recently, lithium conditioning has been applied for the first time in a reversed field pinch by the evaporation technique. The main results are discussed in this paper. Lithization leads to important operational advantages: a significant improvement of the density control is obtained. Densities up to n/n(G) approximate to 0.5 can be produced in a controlled way. At the same value of input power, plasmas at higher densities can be sustained. However, due to the short particle confinement time, such densities are reached with high rates of gas puffing and the resulting profiles at high density are edge peaked. A lithium multipellet injector, to be applied in order to obtain a more uniform deposition, has been tested

The Burden of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in ICU COVID-19 Patients: A Regional Experience

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of superinfections in intensive care units (ICUs) has progressively increased, especially carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-Ab). This observational, multicenter, retrospective study was designed to investigate the characteristics of COVID-19 ICU patients developing CR-Ab colonization/infection during an ICU stay and evaluate mortality risk factors in a regional ICU network. A total of 913 COVID-19 patients were admitted to the participating ICUs; 19% became positive for CR-Ab, either colonization or infection (n = 176). The ICU mortality rate in CR-Ab patients was 64.7%. On average, patients developed colonization or infection within 10 &plusmn; 8.4 days from ICU admission. Scores of SAPS II and SOFA were significantly higher in the deceased patients (43.8 &plusmn; 13.5, p = 0.006 and 9.5 &plusmn; 3.6, p &lt; 0.001, respectively). The mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (12; 7%, p = 0.03), septic shock (61; 35%, p &lt; 0.001), and in elders (66 &plusmn; 10, p &lt; 0.001). Among the 176 patients, 129 (73%) had invasive infection with CR-Ab: 105 (60.7%) Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP), and 46 (26.6%) Bloodstream Infections (BSIs). In 22 cases (6.5%), VAP was associated with concomitant BSI. Colonization was reported in 165 patients (93.7%). Mortality was significantly higher in patients with VAP (p = 0.009). Colonized patients who did not develop invasive infections had a higher survival rate (p &lt; 0.001). Being colonized by CR-Ab was associated with a higher risk of developing invasive infections (p &lt; 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, risk factors significantly associated with mortality were age (OR = 1.070; 95% CI (1.028&ndash;1.115) p = 0.001) and CR-Ab colonization (OR = 5.463 IC95% 1.572&ndash;18.988, p = 0.008). Constant infection-control measures are necessary to stop the spread of A. baumannii in the hospital environment, especially at this time of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, with active surveillance cultures and the efficient performance of a multidisciplinary team