Night-time shift work and related stress responses: A study on security guards

Work-related stress can induce a break in homeostasis by placing demands on the body that are met by the activation of two different systems, the hypothalamic\u2013pituitary\u2013adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Night-shift work alters the body\u2019s exposure to the natural light\u2013 dark schedule and disrupts circadian (daily) rhythms. The greatest effect of night-shift work is the disruption of circadian rhythms. The impact that these disruptions may have on the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancer, is unknown. This study aims to discover the relationship among three different job activities of security guards and their stress-related responses by evaluating salivary cortisol levels and blood pressure. Methods: Ninety security guards, including night-time workers and night-time and daily-shift workers, were recruited for this study. Each security guard provided two saliva samples before and after three scheduled time points: (i) at 22:00, (ii) at 06:30, and (iii) at 14:00. Results: The results of the study showed a significant alteration in cortisol levels. Night-time shift cortisol levels significantly increased before and after the work shifts. A physiological prevalence of the vagal tone on the cardiocirculatory activity was found during night-shift work. Conclusions: This study indicates that cortisol levels and blood pressure are sensitive markers of biological responses to severe work stress. Shift-change consequences may occur at the end of the night shift when there is a significant increase in the cortisol level and a significant variation in cardiovascular parameters

Numerical modelling of ellipsoidal inclusions

Within the framework of numerical algorithms for the threedimensional random packing of granular materials this work presents an innovative formulation for polydispersed ellipsoidal particles, including an overlapping detection algorithm for an optimized simulation of the mesostructure of geomaterials, particularly concrete. Granular composite cement-based materials can be so reconstructed with adequate precision in terms of grain size distribution. Specifically, the algorithm performance towards the assumed inclusion shape (ellipsoidal or spheric) and degree of regularity (round or irregular) is here discussed. Examples on real grading curves prove that this approach is effective. The advantages of the proposed method for computational mechanics purposes are also disclosed when properly interfaced with visualization CAD (Computer Aided Design) tools

Investigation of stress-strain behaviour in concrete materials through the aid of 3D advanced measurement techniques

This work deals with the investigation of the mechanical behaviour of cementitious materials, following a mesoscopic approach where aggregates, grains and cement paste are explicitly represented, and the strict comparison between the numerical results and the experimental results from uniaxial tests is carried out. For this purpose, solid models are created with the support of advanced techniques of measurement and detection, such as laser scanners or computer tomography (CT). The 3D laser- scanning technique in fact allows to acquire the exact shape of the grains added to the concrete mix design while, through the adoption of an ad-hoc random distribution algorithm, a realistic disposition of the inclusions is guaranteed. The industrial CT instead, is able to reproduce exactly the tested specimens; the geometry of the inclusions and their placement. Once reconstructed realistic geometries for the models, the mechanical behaviour of concrete under uniaxial compression tests is numerically studied. A specific constitutive behaviour is assigned to each component; an elasto-plastic law with damage is assumed for the cement matrix while the aggregates are conceived to behave elastically. The implemented damage-plasticity model consists in the combination of the non-associated plasticity model by Men\ue9trey-Willam, where the yield surface is described in function of the second and the third invariant of the deviatoric stress tensor and the scalar isotropic damage model by Mazars. Comparisons between numerical and experimental results fairly prove the correctness of the suggested approach

Nonlinear Modelling, Design, and Test of Steel Blast-Resistant Doors

The nonlinear dynamic response for steel blast-resistant doors is here described, referring to an innovative experience at both national and international level requiring an ad hoc design and specific numerical simulations. The elements capability to sustain thermal loads due to fire hazards is additionally accounted for. The study has been conducted to define and characterize the nonlinear behaviour of a large number of doors, with the objective of sustaining dynamic loads from explosive hazards of fixed magnitude, as well as variable design and clearing times. The local overcome of the material strength limit (with correspondent plastic response) and possible formation of plastic hinges has been critically discussed. Numerical models have allowed for refining first design sketches and subsequently understanding the real thermomechanical behaviour for the investigated elements. Some experimental tests have been additionally performed, verifying the correctness of the already available numerical results, validating the adopted procedures, and correspondingly guaranteeing the doors' structural efficiency even under dynamic loads higher than design ones

Molecular Epidemiology and Genetic Diversity of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Sicily during Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Surveillance Seasons

Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is an important pathogen of acute respiratory tract infection of global significance. In this study, we investigated the molecular epidemiology and the genetic variability of hRSV over seven surveillance seasons between 2015 and 2023 in Sicily, Italy. hRSV subgroups co-circulated through every season, although hRSV-B mostly prevailed. After the considerable reduction in the circulation of hRSV due to the widespread implementation of non- pharmaceutical preventive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, hRSV rapidly re-emerged at a high intensity in 2022–2023. The G gene was sequenced for genotyping and analysis of deduced amino acids. A total of 128 hRSV-A and 179 hRSV-B G gene sequences were obtained. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the GA2.3.5a (ON1) and GB5.0.5a (BA9) genotypes were responsible for the hRSV epidemics in Sicily.; only one strain belonged to the genotype GB5.0.4a. No differences were observed in the circulating genotypes during pre- and post-pandemic years. Amino acid sequence alignment revealed the continuous evolution of the G gene, with a combination of amino acid changes specifically appearing in 2022–2023. The predicted N-glycosylation sites were relatively conserved in ON1 and BA9 genotype strains. Our findings augment the understanding and prediction of the seasonal evolution of hRSV at the local level and its implication in the monitoring of novel variants worth considering in better design of candidate vaccines

UPO Biobank: The Challenge of Integrating Biobanking into the Academic Environment to Support Translational Research

Biobanks are driving motors of precision and personalized medicine by providing high-quality biological material/data through the standardization and harmonization of their collection, preservation, and distribution. UPO Biobank was established in 2020 as an institutional, disease, and population biobank within the University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO) for the promotion and support of high-quality, multidisciplinary studies. UPO Biobank collaborates with UPO researchers, sustaining academic translational research, and supports the Novara Cohort Study, a longitudinal cohort study involving the population in the Novara area that will collect data and biological specimens that will be available for epidemiological, public health, and biological studies on aging. UPO Biobank has been developed by implementing the quality standards for the field and the ethical and legal issues and normative about privacy protection, data collection, and sharing. As a member of the "Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure" (BBMRI) network, UPO Biobank aims to expand its activity worldwide and launch cooperation with new national and international partners and researchers. The objective of this manuscript is to report an institutional and operational experience through the description of the technical and procedural solutions and ethical and scientific implications associated with the establishment of this university research biobank

Medical workforce planning in a changing health context: Comparison between Italy and Europe

An increasing need for healthcare workers as been estimated worldwide. To provide a comprehensive framework of the medical workforce in Italy, we investigated the post-lauream medical workforce training supply and demand. Further, a comparison of the medical workforce between Italy and other European Countries with a similar epidemiological and/or demographic context was performed. The distribution of pre-and post-lauream medical educational providers and post-lauream resources in place in Italy was analyzed among Italian macro-areas in the academic years 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.Italy and the European countries in study were compared in term of post-lauream funding and number of active physicians by specialization per 1,000 inhabitants. Open access data from official Italian and European institutional sources were used. The most of medical schools were distributed in the North, followed by South, islands and Central Italy, while the highest enrolment rate in the pre-lauream medical education was reported in Central Italy, followed by South & islands and North. The total number of active residency programs increased from 1092 to 1286 in the three considered academic years, while number of post-lauream training contracts decreased from 11.0 to 10.2 per 100,000 inhabitants. A misalignment between contracts assigned to residency programs and grants assigned to general practitioners specific courses was observed. Furthermore, when compared to the EU countries in study, Italy documented the lowest number of post-graduated training positions in 2015, with a rate of 12.1/100,000 inhabitants. Also, an excess of medical specialists (3.06 per 1,000 inhabitants) with a simultaneous shortage of general practitioners (0.89 per 1,000 inhabitants) was reported. On the contrary, Italy documented the highest number of paediatric practitioners. More efforts, including the implementation of adequate tools, are required both at national and regional level in order to provide a medical workforce planning in line with a continuously changing health context

Medical workforce planning in a changing health context: Comparison between Italy and Europe

An increasing need for healthcare workers as been estimated worldwide. To provide a comprehensive framework of the medical workforce in Italy, we investigated the post-lauream medical workforce training supply and demand. Further, a comparison of the medical workforce between Italy and other European Countries with a similar epidemiological and/or demographic context was performed. The distribution of pre-and post-lauream medical educational providers and post-lauream resources in place in Italy was analyzed among Italian macro-areas in the academic years 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.Italy and the European countries in study were compared in term of post-lauream funding and number of active physicians by specialization per 1,000 inhabitants. Open access data from official Italian and European institutional sources were used. The most of medical schools were distributed in the North, followed by South, islands and Central Italy, while the highest enrolment rate in the pre-lauream medical education was reported in Central Italy, followed by South & islands and North. The total number of active residency programs increased from 1092 to 1286 in the three considered academic years, while number of post-lauream training contracts decreased from 11.0 to 10.2 per 100,000 inhabitants. A misalignment between contracts assigned to residency programs and grants assigned to general practitioners specific courses was observed. Furthermore, when compared to the EU countries in study, Italy documented the lowest number of post-graduated training positions in 2015, with a rate of 12.1/100,000 inhabitants. Also, an excess of medical specialists (3.06 per 1,000 inhabitants) with a simultaneous shortage of general practitioners (0.89 per 1,000 inhabitants) was reported. On the contrary, Italy documented the highest number of paediatric practitioners. More efforts, including the implementation of adequate tools, are required both at national and regional level in order to provide a medical workforce planning in line with a continuously changing health context