Is environmental sensitivity a unique trait? A multi-sample study on the association between sensitivity, personality, and psychological adjustment

We aimed to investigate the extent to which Environmental Sensitivity (ES), as captured by the Highly Sensitive Person, 12-item scale (HSP-12), is distinguishable from traditional personality traits, contributes to psychological adjustment over and above personality, and if this contribution depends on the rearing environment. We also explored the HSP-12 psychometric properties and invariance across countries (UK and Italy) and samples (university and general population). Across multiple adult samples (N = 4459), we provided evidence that ES can be reliably assessed with the HSP-12 across countries and groups. We also showed that ES is distinguishable from established personality traits and is associated with lower well-being and negative affect, beyond personality. An environment perceived as caring played a buffering role

influenza monitoring in sardinia italy identifies h3 subtype in mediterranean wild migratory birds

Introduction: Wild migratory birds are global distributors of pathogens. Sardinia, Italy, is the second largest Island in the Mediterranean and is a land bridge between Europe and Africa. Methodology: We designed a surveillance protocol to investigate wild migratory birds for presence, frequency, and type of avian influenza viruses. We collected over 4,000 avian samples and compared three sampling methods, fecal, cloacal, and tracheal, to determine the most productive for virus identification. To determine frequency of infection, RNA was extracted and RT-PCRs for avian influenza virus genes were run. Positive samples were cultivated for live virus, sub typed and sequenced. Results: Forty-four samples were positive for influenza nucleoprotein gene. We identified two previously unidentified H3 subtype strains and found cloacae to have the highest rate of virus identification and fecal sampling to provide quality RNA and repeatable results for determination of virus presence. Conclusion: Our investigation provides information on the frequency of Mediterranean avian influenza viruses, and validates the initiation of an avian influenza surveillance protocol. Taken together with global avian influenza findings, these results give insight into infectious disease distributions which is important for viral pandemic monitoring and design of preventative measures

A role of BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations in breast cancer susceptibility within Sardinian population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In recent years, numerous studies have assessed the prevalence of germline mutations in <it>BRCA1 </it>and <it>BRCA2 </it>genes in various cohorts. We here extensively investigated the prevalence and geographical distribution of <it>BRCA1-2 </it>mutations in the entire genetically-homogeneous Sardinian population. The occurrence of phenotypic characteristics which may be predictive for the presence of <it>BRCA1-2 </it>germline mutations was also evaluated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Three hundred and forty-eight breast cancer patients presenting a familial recurrence of invasive breast or ovarian carcinoma with at least two affected family members were screened for <it>BRCA1-2 </it>mutations by DHPLC analysis and DNA sequencing. Association of <it>BRCA1 </it>and <it>BRCA2 </it>mutational status with clinical and pathological parameters was evaluated by Pearson's Chi-Squared test.</p> <p>Results and Conclusion</p> <p>Overall, 8 <it>BRCA1 </it>and 5 <it>BRCA2 </it>deleterious mutations were detected in 35/348 (10%) families; majority (23/35;66%) of mutations was found in <it>BRCA2 </it>gene. The geographical distribution of <it>BRCA1-2 </it>mutations was related to three specific large areas of Sardinia, reflecting its ancient history: <it>a</it>) the Northern area, linguistically different from the rest of the island (where a <it>BRCA2 c.8764_8765delAG </it>mutation with founder effect was predominant); <it>b</it>) the Middle area, land of the ancient Sardinian population (where <it>BRCA2 </it>mutations are still more common than <it>BRCA1 </it>mutations); and <it>c</it>) the South-Western area, with many Phoenician and Carthaginian locations (where <it>BRCA1 </it>mutations are prevalent). We also found that phenotypic features such as high tumor grading and lack of expression of estrogen/progesterone receptors together with age at diagnosis and presence of ovarian cancer in the family may be predictive for the presence of <it>BRCA1-2 </it>germline mutations.</p

Measurement of nuclear modification factors of gamma(1S)), gamma(2S), and gamma(3S) mesons in PbPb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV

The cross sections for ϒ(1S), ϒ(2S), and ϒ(3S) production in lead-lead (PbPb) and proton-proton (pp) collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV have been measured using the CMS detector at the LHC. The nuclear modification factors, RAA, derived from the PbPb-to-pp ratio of yields for each state, are studied as functions of meson rapidity and transverse momentum, as well as PbPb collision centrality. The yields of all three states are found to be significantly suppressed, and compatible with a sequential ordering of the suppression, RAA(ϒ(1S)) > RAA(ϒ(2S)) > RAA(ϒ(3S)). The suppression of ϒ(1S) is larger than that seen at √sNN = 2.76 TeV, although the two are compatible within uncertainties. The upper limit on the RAA of ϒ(3S) integrated over pT, rapidity and centrality is 0.096 at 95% confidence level, which is the strongest suppression observed for a quarkonium state in heavy ion collisions to date. © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Funded by SCOAP3.Peer reviewe

IS200 fingerprint of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium human strains isolated in Sardinia.

A collection of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium human strains isolated in Northern Sardinia (Italy) was examined for the insertion sequence IS200, phage type, antibiotic profile, ribotyping polymorphisms and plasmid profile. All clinical isolates studied contained from 4 to 10 copies of the IS200 element. IS200 permitted to discriminate Typhimurium strains and to identify five IS200 types, some of them circulating in Sardinia at least since 1900. Strains belonging to phage DT104 predominated and correlated with a specific IS200 pattern

Preliminary Study on a 3D Printed Sensorized Probe to Characterize Pituitary Adenoma Hardness

Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery approach, is a new surgical technique used by otolaryngologists and neurosurgeons to resect pituitary adenoma (PA). The most challenging aspect is related to the fact that the strategy of the resection changes according to the hardness of PAs, which is mostly soft, but it can also be harder (fibrous adenoma). This work proposes a first attempt to develop an alternative and innovative sensorized probe capable to discern the different hardness of soft materials. The proposed solution can be implemented in training models in order to give feedback to the users. The probe was developed thanks to additive manufacturing Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technology. Inside the probe there is a magneto resistive sensor and a magnet that is glued on the tip in order to measure the variation of the magnetic field linked to the movement of the magnet. After a preliminary electrically characterization of the probe, tests were conducted with three different silicones with slightly different Shore A attested hardness in order to verify if the probe is able to discern the materials. The first results show a high repeatability with a mean variation < 1%. Future work will be conducted with ex-vivo samples of pituitary adenomas in order to characterize their hardness and to classify the different types of PAs with a hardness parameter, and also to find the best material to mimic the consistency for training models

Preliminary study of a sensorized system for real-time feedback for arachnoid collapse during neurosurgical training

The transsphenoidal surgery approach is a new minimally invasive procedure used by neurosurgeons to treat pituitary adenomas. One of the most challenging aspects of the surgery is handling the arachnoid membrane when it starts collapsing, as it is a thin and fragile membrane that contains the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). 3D-printed training models do not provide a system capable of mimicking the arachnoid collapse during surgery. This work reports the results of two tests on a specifically designed system capable of reproducing the arachnoid and the CSF within. The system consists of a jar filled with distilled water and sealed with a food film and a screw cap. In addition, a pressure sensor is inserted into the system to measure the change in pressure generated by an indenter connected to a load cell. The idea is to correlate the indentation force with the pressure variation. Data show a promising result in both tests, with a evident correlation between force and pressure. The first test shows a linear trend, with an R2 = 0.984 for the loading phase and a R2 = 0.999 for the unloading phase. The second test shows a linear trend with R2 = 0.954 from the unloading phase, while as for the loading phase, it has a nonlinear trend for values of applied force less than 1 N, which then tends to a linear trend above this value, with an R2 = 0.996. However, there is a low repeatability when comparing one test with another due to the initial conditions of the food film, residual stresses and deformations once positioned on the top of the jar and closed by the cap, and probable pressure losses in the system