Robust tool condition monitoring in Ti6Al4V milling based on specific force coefficients and growing self-organizing maps

Tool condition monitoring (TCM) is a mean to optimize production systems trying to use cutting tool life at its best. Nevertheless, nowadays available TCM algorithms typically lack robustness in order to be consistently applied in industrial scenarios. In this paper, an unsupervised artificial intelligence technique, based on Growing Self-Organizing Maps (GSOM), is presented in synergy with real-time specific force coefficients (SFC) estimation through the regression of instantaneous cutting forces. The conceived approach allows robustly mapping the SFC, exploiting process parameters and similarity to manage the variability of their estimation due to unmodelled phenomena, like machine dynamics and tool run-out. The devised approach allowed detecting the tool end-of-life in cutting tests with variable lubrication, machine tool and cutting speed, through the adoption of a self-starting control chart running on real-time clustered data. The solution was validated through the comparison of the GSOM framework with respect to the optimized self-starting control chart applied without GSOM clustering. The GSOM reached a root mean squared percentage error (RMSPE) of 13.2% with respect to 56.1% obtained with the analogous control chart in a full-set optimization scenario. When optimised on tests for a unique machine tool and tested on another machine tool, GSOM scored an RMSPE of 34.5%, whereas the optimized control chart scored 64.5%

Infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii: an autochthonous case in Bari, Southern Italy

An autochthonous case of lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix schenckii is reported. The patient developed skin lesions localized along the lymphatics that appeared after he suffered an injury while collecting wicker canes in marshy water. The fungus was identified as Sporothrix schenckii by MALDI-TOF and sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis was also performed. Low MIC values were detected for all tested echinocandins and azoles except for fluconazole. The patient was treated with itraconazole without significant improvement. A regression of lesions was observed after 3 months of therapy with voriconazole. Few cases of sporotrichosis have been reported in Europe. However, several cases of sporotrichosis have been described in Italy. The incidence of sporotrichosis in Italy may be underestimated and microbiologists, and clinicians must be aware of this fungal infection

Seroconversion and indolent course of COVID-19 in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with fingolimod and teriflunomide

Non applicale in quanto si tratta di di una Letter to the Edito

Predictors of therapy failure in newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Beira, Mozambique.

OBJECTIVE: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health issue, ranking in the top ten causes of death worldwide. A deep understanding of factors influencing poor treatment outcomes may allow the development of additional treatment strategies, focused on the most vulnerable groups. Aims of the study were: (i) to evaluate the treatment outcome among TB subjects followed in an outpatient setting and (ii) to analyze factors associated with treatment failure in newly diagnosed patients with pulmonary TB in Beira, the second largest city of Mozambique. RESULTS: A total of 301 TB adult patients (32.6% females) were enrolled. Among them, 62 (20.6%) experienced a treatment failure over a 6 months follow-up. On multivariate model, being males (O.R. = 1.73; 95% CI 1.28-2.15), absence of education (O.R. = 1.85; 95% CI 1.02-2.95), monthly income under 50 dollars (O.R. = 1.74; 95% CI 1.24-2.21) and being employed (O.R. = 1.57; 95% CI 1.21-1.70), low body mass index values (O.R. = 1.42; 95% CI 1.18-1.72) and HIV status (O.R. = 1.42; 95% CI 1.10-1.78) increased the likelihood of therapy failure over 6 months of follow-up. In this study, patients who need more medical attention were young males, malnourished, with low income and low educational degree and HIV positive. These subjects were more likely to fail therapy

Caspase 3 and 8 deficiency in human neuroblastoma

An altered apoptotic response represents a pivotal feature of cancer and is involved in cancerogenesis and resistance to chemotherapy. So far, however, only a few studies have been devoted to survey caspase content in malignant cell lines and primary tumor specimens. In this report, we investigated the expression of two pivotal caspases, 3 and 8, in 63 neuroblastoma specimens by three complementary techniques (i.e., reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry). We confirmed the frequent absence of caspase 8 expression. Moreover and most important, we demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge, that a significant percentage of neuroblastomas lack caspase 3 mRNA and protein. Both caspase alterations do not show any correlation with tumor stage and MYCN status. Immunohistochemistry showed a large number of caspase-negative cell islets also present in positive samples. Our findings suggest that the absence of caspases might play an important role in neuroblastoma development and resistance to apoptosisbased treatments

The peritoneum: healing, immunity and diseases

The peritoneum defines a confined microenvironment, which is stable under normal conditions, but is exposed to the damaging effect of infections, surgical injuries, and other neoplastic and non-neoplastic events. Its response to damage includes the recruitment, proliferation and activation of a variety of haematopoietic and stromal cells. In physiologic conditions, effective responses to injuries are organized, inflammatory triggers are eliminated, inflammation quickly abates, and the normal tissue architecture is restored. However, if inflammatory triggers are not cleared, fibrosis or scarring occur and impaired tissue function ultimately leads to organ failure. Autoimmune serositis is characterized by the persistence of self-antigens and a relapsing clinical pattern. Peritoneal carcinomatosis and endometriosis are characterized by the persistence of cancer cells or ectopic endometrial cells in the peritoneal cavity. Some of the molecular signals orchestrating the recruitment of inflammatory cells in the peritoneum have been identified in the last few years. Alternative activation of peritoneal macrophages was shown to guide angiogenesis and fibrosis, and could represent a novel target for molecular intervention. This review summarizes current knowledge of the alterations to the immune response in the peritoneal environment, highlighting the ambiguous role played by persistently activated reparative macrophages in the pathogenesis of common human diseases

No impact of previous NRTIs resistance in HIV positive patients switched to DTG+2NRTIs under virological control: Time of viral suppression makes the difference

The accumulation of drug-resistance mutations on combined antiretroviral regimens (ART) backbone could affect the virological efficacy of the regimen. Our aim was to assess the impact of previous drug resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) on the probability of virological failure (VF) in patients, under virological control, who switched to dolutegravir (DTG)+2NRTIs regimens. All HIV-1 positive drug-experienced patients who started a regimen composed by DTG+2NRTIs [abacavir/lamivudine or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)/emtricitabine (FTC)] in the ARCA collaborative group with HIV-RNA <50 cp/mL were included in the analysis. Patients with a previous VF to integrase inhibitors were excluded. The impact of single and combined NRTIs mutations on the probability of VF (defined as 2 consecutive HIV-RNA >50 copies/mL or one HIV-RNA >1000 copies/mL) was assessed by Kaplan Meier curves. A multivariable Cox regression analysis was constructed to assess factors potentially related to VF. Five hundred and eighty-eight patients were included in the analysis with a median time of viral suppression before the switch of 37 months (IQR 12-78), of whom 148 (25.2%) had at least one previous NRTIs resistance mutation. In the multivariable model no association was observed between NRTIs mutations and VF. Conversely, the duration of viral suppression before switch resulted associated with a lower risk of VF (for 1 month increase, adjusted 0.98, 95%CI 0.96-0.99; p=0.024). Previous NRTIs mutations appeared to have no impact on the risk of VF in patients switched to DTG+2NRTIs, whereas a longer interval on a controlled viremia decreased significantly the risk of VF

Local epidemics gone viral: Evolution and diffusion of the Italian HIV-1 recombinant form CRF60_BC

The molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Italy is becoming increasingly complex, mainly due to the spread of non-B subtypes and the emergence of new recombinant forms. We previously characterized the outbreak of the first Italian circulating recombinant form (CRF60_BC), occurring among young MSM living in Apulia between the years 2009 and 2011. Here we show a 5-year follow-up surveillance to trace the evolution of CRF60_BC and to investigate its further spread in Italy. We collected additional sequences and clinical data from patients harboring CRF60_BC, enrolled at the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the University of Bari. In addition to the 24 previously identified sequences, we retrieved 27 CRF60_BC sequences from patients residing in Apulia, whose epidemiological and clinical features did not differ from those of the initial outbreak, i.e., the Italian origin, young age at HIV diagnosis (median: 24 years; range: 18-37), MSM risk factor (23/25, 92%) and recent infection (from 2008 to 2017). Sequence analysis revealed a growing overall nucleotide diversity, with few nucleotide changes that were fixed over time. Twenty-seven additional sequences were detected across Italy, spanning multiple distant regions. Using a BLAST search, we also identified a CRF60_BC sequence isolated in United Kingdom in 2013. Three patients harbored a unique second generation recombinant form in which CRF60_BC was one of the parental strains. Our data show that CRF60_BC gained epidemic importance, spreading among young MSM in multiple Italian regions and increasing its population size in few years, as the number of sequences identified so far has triplicated since our first report. The observed further divergence of CRF60_BC is likely due to evolutionary bottlenecks and host adaptation during transmission chains. Of note, we detected three second-generation recombinants, further supporting a widespread circulation of CRF60_BC and the increasing complexity of the HIV-1 epidemic in Italy

High-Dose, Extended-Interval Colistin Administration in Critically Ill Patients: Is This the Right Dosing Strategy? A Preliminary Study

In critically ill patients with otherwise untreatable nosocomial infection due to gram-negative bacteria susceptible only to colistin, a high-dose, extended-interval colistin dosing regimen is, according to the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic behavior of the drug, associated with low renal toxicity and high efficacy