Community core detection in transportation networks

This work analyses methods for the identification and the stability under perturbation of a territorial community structure with specific reference to transportation networks. We considered networks of commuters for a city and an insular region. In both cases, we have studied the distribution of commuters' trips (i.e., home-to-work trips and viceversa). The identification and stability of the communities' cores are linked to the land-use distribution within the zone system, and therefore their proper definition may be useful to transport planners.Comment: 8 pages, 13 figure

Why reintroducing military conscription in Europe would be counterproductive

The reintroduction of military conscription has frequently been proposed as a way to instil national values in younger citizens. These arguments have gained added significance in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Drawing on new research, Vincenzo Bove, Riccardo Di Leo and Marco Giani argue that many of the proposed benefits of conscription are difficult to identify empirically. Indeed, far from fostering cohesion among citizens, conscription appears to be linked to a decline in institutional trust

phyto oestrogens and chaste tree berry a new option in the treatment of menopausal disorders

For a woman, menopause represents a transitional phase from a fertile to a non-fertile age, in which there is a gradual reduction in ovarian function accompanied by a gradual cessation of oestrogen production. The clinical presentation can involve a series of disorders, including hot flushes with episodes of sweating, particularly at night, palpitations, changes in sleep-wake rhythm, irritability, anxiety and mood changes, vaginal dryness due to a process of progressive atrophy with thinning of the outer and inner labia, reduction of vascularisation and elastic fibres, and decreased sexual desire; subsequently, Many women use alternative therapies to treat hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms. The purpose of this review is to summarize current information on the efficacy and safety of phytoestrogens and the herbal medicine. Given the importance that these symptoms assume for the woman, not only for the perceived quality of life, but also for the increased risk of developing all the diseases, all the treatments adopted for menopausal women are directed primarily to resolving vasomotor disorder

Autonomic function in elderly uremics studied by spectral analysis of heart rate

Autonomic function in elderly uremics studied by spectral analysis of heart rate.BackgroundAging determines an altered response of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to physiologic stresses. A widespread autonomic damage is well recognized in chronic renal failure (CRF).MethodsWe studied 30 CRF patients, aged 19 to 85 years, who were on bicarbonate hemodialysis. Surface electrocardiogram was recorded on lying and 65° head-up tilt standing positions. A dedicated software, using an autoregressive modeling technique, allowed to calculate power spectral analysis (PSA) of heart rate variability, assessing a low-frequency band in the range 0.03 to 0.15 Hz, and a high-frequency band in the range 0.15 to 0.33 Hz. Low-frequency and high-frequency components are regarded, but not invariably, as specific markers of sympathetic and parasympathetic activities, respectively, and the low-frequency/high frequency ratio as an index of sympathovagal balance.ResultsIn normal controls, low-frequency band value and low-frequency/high-frequency ratio on standing resulted significantly reduced in the group older than 65 years when compared with those younger than 65 years; an opposite finding was seen in high-frequency band value on standing. In uremic patients, low-frequency band on lying resulted significantly lower only in elderly uremics when compared with elderly controls, whereas low-frequency band on standing was significantly lower in elderly than in younger uremics. Regression analysis showed a significant inverse relationship between aging and most low-frequency band values, especially in uremics. The comparison of linear regression models confirmed that a sympathetic autonomic derangement is greatly present in older uremics, in particular after 50 years of age.ConclusionOur data support assertion that combination of aging and CRF increases the chance of autonomic derangement being present

Reply: Choice of ART programme for serodiscordant couples with an HIV-infected male partner

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Smart Devices and Services for Smart City

Citizen quality of life can be improved through facilities and services that have been thought to ease citizen interaction with municipal authorities, offices and structures. All technologies and devices, used for developing these facilities, are the pillars of the Smart City idea: a City that adapts itself, at least in part, to citizens’ needs. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) could become the backbone of all the smart city projects. Other public services can be loaded on AMI’s to be smart and thus helping to find the affordability of investments. The paper deals with this topic by describing devices and results of a pilot project, which has been carried out in an Italian middle city (Salerno), to experience the use of RF 169MHz wM-bus based AMI. Experimental results regarding a set of about 2500 installed devices for gas and water metering, car parking management and elder tele-assistance, will be reported in detail to show convenience and problems of this approach

Genetic Effects of Trabecular Titanium on MG-63 Cell Line: A Genetic Profiling Evaluation

Pure titanium and titanium alloys are materials widely used in orthopaedics because of their mechanical properties, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. Recently, a new highly porous titanium biomaterial named Trabecular Titanium (TT) has been developed. In this in vitro study, we tested the genetic effects of TT on osteoblast-like cells (MG63) using DNA microarrays technology: cDNA microarrays provides the ability to comparatively analyze mRNA expression of thousands of genes in parallel thus showing activated and repressed genes by the presence of the TT. Several genes that were significantly up- or downregulated have been identified. Globally, it was demonstrated that TT stimulates osteoblasts proliferation and differentiation, and reduces apoptosis. Therefore, all these effects can contribute to improve the osseointegration of this material. These results encourage the clinical application of Trabecular Titanium to prosthetic devices

Self-perceived Difficulties With Suicidal Patients in A Sample of Italian General Practitioners

BACKGROUND: Suicidal behaviours are relatively common among primary care patients, but suicide ideation seems to be poorly detected by GPs. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the frequency of issues related to suicidal behaviour in GPs' setting and to inquire the level of difficulties perceived by physicians when dealing with suicidal patients. METHODS: A survey on 88 GPs in Rovigo (Italy) has been conducted through the use of a self-administered questionnaire inquiring about suicidal behaviour in patients, personal history and outside professional lives. RESULTS: Four out of 5 doctors have encountered at least a case of suicide in their professional career, and 3 out of 4 recorded at least a case of suicide attempt in a working year. The frequency of personal history of suicidal ideation/behaviour was 2.3%. One third of GPs have come into contact with suicides or suicide attempts outside the professional setting. Sixty one per cent of doctors admitted difficulties in exploring suicidal ideation, but tended to ascribe it to a reluctant attitude of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores GPs' need of being helped in the difficult task of recognising suicidal patient

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

a combined treatment with myo inositol and monacolin k improve the androgen and lipid profiles of insulin resistant pcos patients

Objective: We sought to assess and compare the effects of myo-inositol combined with monacolin k (Group A) versus inositol only (Group B) and metformin (Group C), on the clinical, hormonal, metabolic and lipid profiles of insulin-resistant PCOS patients. Study design: 60 insulin resistant PCOS patients were randomly assigned into three groups. All groups were treated for 6 months with either myo-inositol and monacolin k, inositol only or metformin. Patients clinical, hormonal and metabolic profiles were compared between all groups, and within each group, prior and following the aforementioned treatment. Results: All treatment arms improved patients' clinical, hormonal and metabolic profiles, with a tendency toward better results in patients using the combination of myo-inositol and monacolin k. Conclusion: The combined treatment with the natural products: monacolin K and myo-inositol represents a valid and well tolerated alternative to the common medical therapy, improving the PCOS related symptoms, with minimal side effects