COVID-19 and the impact on the cranio-oro-facial trauma care in Italy: An epidemiological retrospective cohort study

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has deeply modified the organization of hospitals, health care centers, and the patient’s behavior. The aim of this epidemiological retrospective cohort study is to evaluate if and how the COVID-19 pandemic has determined a modification in cranio-oro-facial traumatology service. Methods: The dataset included hospital emergency room access of a six-month pre-pandemic period and six months into pandemic outbreak. The variables collected were: patient age, gender, type of emergency access with relative color code, Glasgow Coma Scale Score, type of discharge. Results: 537 vs 237 (pre-pandemic vs pandemic) patients accessed the hospital emergency room and the mean age decreased from 60.79 ± 25.34 to 56.75 ± 24.50 year. Yellow and green code access went from 28.9% and 66.1% to 37.5% and 57.7% (pre-pandemic vs pandemic). Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) shows an increase of 16.6% vs 27.8% of 15 grade score, a 28.7% vs 28.5% of the 14 grade score and reduction of 13 and 12 grade 40.2% and 14.5% vs 37.1 and 9.7% (pre-pandemic vs pandemic). Conclusions: Since the COVID-19 outbreak continues, epidemiological data are still necessary to perform public health intervention strategies and to appropriately predict the population needs, in order to properly manage the COVID-19 related to oral pathologies as well as the most common health problems

comparison between thermal energy and acoustic emission for the fatigue behavior of steels

Abstract The paper is focused on the study of fatigue materials, using an energy approach, with the support of two different non-destructive techniques. Indeed, the analysis of the energy behavior was conducted by the simultaneous application of Acoustic Emission (AE) and Thermography (TH). The purpose of the paper was to compare and integrate the results obtained by the two methodologies to assess the fatigue behavior of materials. The experimental tests were carried out on flat steel specimens of steels commonly used for metal carpentry either under static loading or under sequences of increasing cyclic loading. The results allow to define the fatigue limit either by the thermography or by the acoustic emission and they are encouraging to continue the comparison and the integration between the two energetic methodologies

Average energy dissipated by mega-electron-volt hydrogen and helium ions per electron-hole pair generation in 4H-SiC

The pulse height response for He and H ions with energies between 1 and 6 MeV incident upon n-type 4H-SiC epitaxial Schottky diodes has been investigated. The average amount of energy, ε, given up by the incident radiation to form electron-hole pair in this material was obtained by comparison with the average energy loss per pair in silicon detectors and it was found to be (7.78±0.05)eV at room temperature. This value is smaller than that foreseen by Klein's semiempirical linear relationship between ε and the semiconductor band gap

Photocurrent study of beta-ray priming in CVD diamond

Priming by X-rays or by beta-rays is generally needed in order to qualify CVD diamond for nuclear detection or for dosimetry. The priming effect is usually attributed in filling the hole traps, which are responsible for the charge collection efficiency of the detector. Emptying the filled traps can be easily detected by Thermoluminescence (TL), which is considered to be a measure of the absorbed dose. In this work, we prove that below-gap photocurrent (BGPC) can also be used in the same way and it is dominated by the optical detrapping of holes from the same centers. Time dependence of this beta-rays induced persistent photocurrent (PPC), which in fact, depends only on the total number of photons impinging onto the sample. In fact, at long times or for large number of photons, the photocurrent approaches to the same limit of PC for a null dose. The hole trapping centers distribution seems to extend from 1.25 to 2.5 eV valence band

Hyaluronic acid injections in post-enucleation or evisceration socket syndrome: a case series

Background: One of the primary goals of enucleation and evisceration surgery is the restoration of an adequate orbital volume through the use of appropriately sized alloplastic or autogenous tissues. In patients inadequately treated, post-enucleation or evisceration socket syndrome occurs. Fillers are an ideal alternative for eyelid and eyebrow arcade volume enhancement since their injection is easily performed in an outpatient setting avoiding several complications. The aim of this study is to report the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers to treat volume deficits of the upper and lower eyelids, projecting the brow arcade and reducing the asymmetry. Methods: Thirteen patients (2 male, 11 female, mean age 32.7 years) were treated from June 2012 to May 2020. Non-surgical treatment by HA filler injection for aesthetic rehabilitation of deep superior sulcus, inferior tear trough deformity, and scleral show was performed. Results: No complications as orbital-ache and/or vasovagal response were reported during the injections. Minor complications such as light swelling at the site of injection, self-resolved within 2 days, were recorded. Stable results were observed at follow-ups. In two cases, two successive treatments were required at 3 and 6 years from the first injection. Conclusions: Hyaluronic acid fillers offer a versatile and safe method for replacing soft tissue lost from the upper eyelid/brow complex in cases of post-enucleation or evisceration socket syndrome. Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study

Performances of 4H-SiC Schottky diodes as neutron detectors

Abstract Large area 4H-SiC Schottky diodes equipped with a 6LiF converter were tested as neutron detectors in the epithermal column realized for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) applications at the fast reactor TAPIRO (ENEA Casaccia Roma). The neutron spectra were assessed using the Monte Carlo code MCNP-4C. The performances of SiC detectors were evaluated with neutron fluences in the range of 109–1013 cm−2 which is typical for BNCT. Spectra of alpha and tritium particles generated by 6Li(n,α)3H reaction were collected at various neutron fluences and spectra obtained by interposing polyethylene moderators of different thickness. Only weak damaging effects primarily due to the alpha particles were observed; at neutron fluence of 1013 cm−2 the count rate decreased b

Lateral IBIC analysis of GaAs Schottky diodes

Abstract Charge collection efficiency (CCE) profiles of a semi-insulating (SI) gallium arsenide LEC (Liquid Encapsulated Czochralski) Schottky diode have been investigated by lateral Ion Beam Induced Charge collection (IBIC) technique. A focussed 2.4 MeV proton microbeam was scanned over the cleaved surface of a SI-GaAs diode and the charge collection efficiency was evaluated as a function of the ion beam position at different bias voltages. By fitting the CCE profiles with the equations derived by the Shockley–Ramo–Gunn's theorem, drift lengths of electrons and holes were obtained. Experimental results are consistent with previous OBIC (Optical Beam Induced Current) and SP (Surface Potential) measurements and confirm the model based on the formation of a Mott barrier due to the enhanced electron capture cross section in high field conditions