Performance Comparison of Technological Solutions for Spark Applications in AWS

Cloud computing is providing a pay-as-you-go in-frastructure for the deployment of complex applications, with auto-scaling support and the ability to manage and process huge amount of data. However, due to the underlying complexity of the cloud infrastructure, it is not trivial to evaluate the setup providing the best performance of such scenario. To this aim the present paper proposes a thorough performance evaluation of a real application in a Cloud platform, measuring the impact of several design choices and technological solution. The experimental results, based on a real application and on realistic data can provide a significant insight that can integrate the traditional approach of cloud performance evaluation based on synthetic benchmarks

Effect of selective gastric residual monitoring on enteral intake in preterm infants

Objective: Prefeed gastric residuals (GRs) monitoring has been correlated with an increased time to reach full feeds and longer parenteral nutrition without beneficial effect on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) occurrence. We aimed to assess effects of a new local protocol to provide for the selective evaluation of GRs excluding their routine monitoring. Methods: We carried out a retrospective study based on a “before and after” design in a cohort of infants born at 23+0–31+6 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome was the age at full enteral feeding (150 mL/kg/d). Secondary outcomes included age at regaining of birth weight, and evaluation of Z-scores of weight, length, and head circumference at discharge. Results: We studied 49 infants in the selective GR group and 59 in the routine GR group. Age at full (150 mL/kg) enteral feeding (17.8 ± 10.1 vs. 22.9 ± 10.5 days, P = 0.017) and regaining of birth weight (11.1 ± 3.0 vs. 12.5 ± 3.5 days, P = 0.039) were lower while the Z-scores of weight at discharge (-1.10 ± 0.83 vs. -1.60 ± 1.45, P = 0.040) were higher in infants in the selective GR group in comparison with infants in the routine GR group. Conclusions: Selective monitoring of GRs decreased age at full enteral feeding and at regaining of birth weight and induced better Z-scores of weight at discharge in comparison with routine GR monitoring in a cohort of extremely preterm infants without increasing the incidence of NEC. Omitting prefeed GRs monitoring in clinical practice seems reasonable

Mediterranean Diet in Developmental Age: A Narrative Review of Current Evidences and Research Gaps

Numerous studies in recent decades have shown that Mediterranean diet (MD) can reduce the risk of developing obesity in pediatric patients. The current narrative review summarizes recent evidence regarding the impact of MD across the different stages of child development, starting from fetal development, analyzing breastfeeding and weaning, through childhood up to adolescence, highlighting the gaps in knowledge for each age group. A literature search covering evidence published between 1 January 2000 and 1 March 2022 and concerning children only was conducted using multiple keywords and standardized terminology in PubMed database. A lack of scientific evidence about MD adherence concerns the age group undergoing weaning, thus between 6 months and one year of life. In the other age groups, adherence to MD and its beneficial effects in terms of obesity prevention has been extensively investigated, however, there are still few studies that correlate this dietary style with the incidence of non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, research on multi-intervention strategy should be implemented, especially regarding the role of education of children and families in taking up this healthy dietary style

APPLICATION OF HEATING MICROSCOPY ON SINTERING AND MELTING BEHAVIOUR OF NATURAL SANDS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST

In antiquity, beach sand was one of the main raw materials for glass-making and for the production of other vitreous materials, like Egyptian blue and faience. During the 1st century AD, glass and pigments manufacturing industry was active along the Gulf of Naples, Italy, where we sampled four littoral sands. Samples were analyzed with different techniques: chemical analysis was performed by means of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and mineralogical analyses with X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) and Raman Spectroscopy. The complete sintering to melting thermal behaviour of the four sands was studied by heating microscopy or hot-stage microscope (HSM) equipped with an high resolution camera capable to collect sample profile during heating. The effect of the grain size on the sintering curves, which were automatically elaborated by specimen profile transformation, was also investigated. Finally, some deductions about the granulometry effect and the presence of alkaline and alkaline-earth oxides on sintering and melting behaviour were drawn. All the four sands were found suitable for highly sintered manufacts rather than glasses, to reach complete amorphous materials the addition of fluxes was necessary

Transmission of Group B Streptococcus in late-onset neonatal disease: a narrative review of current evidence

Group B streptococcus (GBS) late-onset disease (LOD, occurring from 7 through 89 days of life) is an important cause of sepsis and meningitis in infants. The pathogenesis and modes of transmission of LOD to neonates are yet to be elucidated. Established risk factors for the incidence of LOD include maternal GBS colonisation, young maternal age, preterm birth, HIV exposure and African ethnicity. The mucosal colonisation by GBS may be acquired perinatally or in the postpartum period from maternal or other sources. Growing evidence has demonstrated the predominant role of maternal sources in the transmission of LOD. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) to prevent early-onset disease reduces neonatal GBS colonisation during delivery; however, a significant proportion of IAP-exposed neonates born to GBS-carrier mothers acquire the pathogen at mucosal sites in the first weeks of life. GBS-infected breast milk, with or without presence of mastitis, is considered a potential vehicle for transmitting GBS. Furthermore, horizontal transmission is possible from nosocomial and other community sources. Although unfrequently reported, nosocomial transmission of GBS in the neonatal intensive care unit is probably less rare than is usually believed. GBS disease can sometime recur and is usually caused by the same GBS serotype that caused the primary infection. This review aims to discuss the dynamics of transmission of GBS in the neonatal LOD

Platelet Count and Volume and Pharmacological Closure with Paracetamol of Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Infants

Background: Low platelet count might promote resistance to pharmacological closure with indomethacin and ibuprofen of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA). However, no studies have investigated if this occurs with paracetamol. Methods: We retrospectively assessed the correlation between platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), and plateletcrit (PCT), as well as the effectiveness of paracetamol in closing hsPDA in infants born at 23+0 –31+6 weeks of gestation who were treated with 15 mg/kg/6 h of i.v. paracetamol for 3 days. Results: We studied 79 infants: 37 (47%) Had closure after a course of paracetamol and 42 (53%) did not. Platelet count and PCT did not correlate with paracetamol success or failure in closing hsPDA, while MPV was lower at birth (10.7 ± 1.4 vs. 9.5 ± 1.1; p < 0.001) and prior to starting therapy (11.7 ± 1.9 vs. 11.0 ± 1.6; p = 0.079) in refractory infants. Regression analysis confirmed that the low MVP measured prior to starting the treatment increased the risk of hsPDA paracetamol closure failure (OR 1.664, 95% CI 1.153–2.401). Conclusions: The greater MPV correlated positively with the effectiveness of paracetamol in closing hsPDA, while platelet count and PCT did not influence closure rates. Additional studies are needed to confirm our results

Infectious Risks Related to Umbilical Venous Catheter Dwell Time and Its Replacement in Newborns: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence

The use of umbilical venous catheters (UVCs) has become the standard of care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to administer fluids, medications and parenteral nutrition. However, it is well known that UVCs can lead to some serious complications, both mechanical and infective, including CLABSI (Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections). Most authors recommend removing UVC within a maximum of 14 days from its placement. However, the last Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice (INS) guidelines recommends limiting the UVC dwell time to 7 to 10 days, to reduce risks of infectious and thrombotic complications. These guidelines also suggest as an infection prevention strategy to remove UVC after 4 days, followed by the insertion of a PICC if a central line is still needed. Nevertheless, the maximum UVC dwell time to reduce the risk of CLABSI is still controversial, as well as the time of its replacement with a PICC. In this study we reviewed a total of 177 articles, found by using the PubMed database with the following search strings: “UVC AND neonates”, “(neonate* OR newborn*) AND (UVC OR central catheter*) AND (infection*)”. We also analyze the INS guidelines to provide the reader an updated overview on this topic. The purpose of this review is to give updated information on CVCs infectious risks by examining the literature in this field. These data could help clinicians in deciding the best time to remove or to replace the UVC with a PICC, to reduce CLABSIs risk. Despite the lack of strong evidence, the risk of CLABSI seems to be minimized when UVC is removed/replaced within 7 days from insertion and this indication is emerging from more recent and larger studies

Differential integrity of TALE nuclease genes following adenoviral and lentiviral vector gene transfer into human cells

The array of genome editing strategies based on targeted double-stranded DNA break formation have recently been enriched through the introduction of transcription activator-like type III effector (TALE) nucleases (TALENs). To advance the testing of TALE-based approaches, it will be crucial to deliver these custom-designed proteins not only into transformed cell types but also into more relevant, chromosomally stable, primary cells. Viral vectors are among the most effective gene transfer vehicles. Here, we investigated the capacity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1- and adenovirus-based vectors to package and deliver functional TALEN genes into various human cell types. To this end, we attempted to assemble particles of these two vector classes, each encoding a monomer of a TALEN pair targeted to a bipartite sequence within the AAVS1 'safe harbor' locus. Vector DNA analyses revealed that adenoviral vectors transferred intact TALEN genes, whereas lentiviral vectors failed to do so, as shown by their heterogeneously sized proviruses in target cells. Importantly, adenoviral vector-mediated TALEN gene delivery resulted in site-specific double-stranded DNA break formation at the intended AAVS1 target site at similarly high levels in both transformed and non-transformed cells. In conclusion, we demonstrate that adenoviral, but not lentiviral, vectors constitute a valuable TALEN gene delivery platfor

Neonatal heart failure and noncompaction/dilated cardiomyopathy from mucopolysaccharidosis. First description in literature

Mucopolysaccharidosis are genetic disorders due to deficiency of lysosomal enzymes, resulting in abnormal glycosaminoglycans accumulation in several tissues. Heart involvement tends to be progressive and worsens with age. We describe the first case of mucopolysaccharidosis type I presenting with noncompaction/dilated-mixed cardiomyopathy and heart failure within neonatal period, which responded successfully to specific metabolic treatment. Cardiac function recovered after enzyme replacement therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, adding to the existing knowledge of the disease