Material Testing in Support of the ISS Electrochemical Disinfection Feasibility Study

The International Space Station Program recognizes the risk of microbial contamination in their potable and non-potable water sources. With the end of the Space Shuttle Program, the ability to send up shock-kits of biocides in the event of an outbreak becomes even more difficult. Currently, the US Segment water system relies primarily on iodine to mitigate contamination concerns. To date, several small cases of contamination have occurred which have been remediated. NASA, however, realizes that having a secondary method of combating a microbial outbreak is a prudent investment. NASA is looking into developing hardware that can generate biocides electrochemically, and potentially deploying that hardware. The specific biocides that the technology could generate include: hydrogen peroxide, oxone, hypochlorite and peracetic acid. In order to use these biocides on deployed water systems, the project must determine that all the materials in the potential application are compatible with the biocides at their anticipated administered concentrations. This paper will detail the materials test portion of the feasibility assessment including the plan for both metals and non-metals along with results to date

Consumer perceptions towards sustainable supply chain practices in the hospitality industry

This study investigates the impacts of economic, social and environmental sustainability practices of companies in the hospitality supply chain on consumers’ satisfaction, loyalty and willingness to pay higher prices. Utilizing data collected from 288 tourists visiting south Sardinia, the study indicates that while economic sustainability practices have positive impacts on consumers’ satisfaction, loyalty and willingness to pay a premium, sustainability practices related to environmental and social dimensions have a direct positive impact on satisfaction and an indirect positive impact on consumer loyalty and willingness to pay a premium. Additionally, findings reveal that satisfaction is likely to mediate the impact of environmental and social sustainability practices on the loyalty of consumers. The theoretical and managerial implications of the study are provided

Expression of cGMP-binding cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE5) in mouse tissues and cell lines using an antibody against the enzyme amino-terminal domain

We have produced a polyclonal antibody that specifically recognizes cGMP-binding cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDES). The antibody was raised in rabbit using as immunogen a fusion protein, in which glutathione S-transferase was coupled to a 171 amino acid polypeptide of the N-terminal region of bovine PDE5. The antibody is able to immunoprecipitate PDES activity from mouse tissues and neuroblastoma extracts while it has no effect on all other PDE isoforms present in the extracts. PDES activity recovered in the immunoprecipitates retains its sensitivity to specific inhibitors such as zaprinast (IC50 = 0.6 muM) and sildenafil (IC50 = 3.5 nM), Bands of the expected molecular mass were revealed when solubilized immunoprecipitates were analysed in Western blots. The antibody selectively stained cerebellar Purkinje neurones, which are known to express high levels of PDES mRNA. Western blot analysis of mouse tissues revealed the highest expression signal in mouse lung, followed by heart and cerebellum, while a lower signal was evident in brain, kidney and a very low signal was present in the liver. In the hybrid neuroblastoma-glioma NG108-15 cells the antibody revealed a high PDE5 induction after dibutyryl-cAMP treatment. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B,V, All rights reserved

Short- and long-term effects of a cardiac rehabilitation program in patients implanted with a left ventricular assist device

The efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation in heart-failure patients who received a left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) instead of heart transplantation (HTx) is still unclear. This study aims to evaluate whether cardiac rehabilitation is beneficial in LVAD as HTx patients in the short term and whether its effects in LVAD patients persist over time. Twenty-five LVAD patients were evaluated by functional and psychological tests at admission (T0) and discharge (T1) of a 4-week inpatient structured rehabilitation program, and follow-ups 3 (T2), 6 (T3), and 12 months (T4) after discharge. Twenty-five matched HTx patients were also studied from T0 to T1 to compare the improvements in the six-minute walk test (6MWT). The quality-of-life scores substantially improved in LVAD patients and the 6MWT showed the same functional recovery as in HTx patients from T0 to T1. After T1, numerous LVAD patients withdrew from the study. However, the 6MWT outcome increased further from T1 to T3, with a positive trend during the follow-ups. Hemoglobin and the ventilatory performance increased, and the psychological perception of heart-failure symptoms and pain further improved at T2. In conclusion, exercise-based rehabilitation programs provide similar beneficial effects in LVAD and HTx patients, without deterioration in LVAD patients up to 12 months after discharge

Systematic review: predisposing, precipitating, perpetuating, and present factors predicting anticipatory distress to painful medical procedures in children.

Objective To conduct a systematic review of the factors predicting anticipatory distress to painful medical procedures in children. Methods A systematic search was conducted to identify studies with factors related to anticipatory distress to painful medical procedures in children aged 0–18 years. The search retrieved 7,088 articles to review against inclusion criteria. A total of 77 studies were included in the review. Results 31 factors were found to predict anticipatory distress to painful medical procedures in children. A narrative synthesis of the evidence was conducted, and a summary figure is presented. Conclusions Many factors were elucidated that contribute to the occurrence of anticipatory distress to painful medical procedures. The factors that appear to increase anticipatory distress are child psychopathology, difficult child temperament, parent distress promoting behaviors, parent situational distress, previous pain events, parent anticipation of distress, and parent anxious predisposition. Longitudinal and experimental research is needed to further elucidate these factor

Proteasome inhibitors in medullary thyroid carcinoma: time to restart with clinical trials?

IntroductionMedullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare thyroid tumour whose management in advanced stages is challenging, despite effective therapeutic options having expanded in recent years. Proteasome inhibitors (PrIn) have shown the ability to improve patient outcomes, including survival and quality of life, in several malignancies, due to their ability to impair cell proliferation and cause apoptosis through the inhibition of the proteasome activity. Consequently, these drugs could represent a useful tool, alone or in combination with other treatments, in MTC patients.Aim of the studyThis review aims to summarize the available in vitro and in vivo data about the role of PrIn in MTC.Materials and methodsWe performed an extensive search for relevant data sources, including full-published articles in international online databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus), preliminary reports in selected international meeting abstract repositories, and short articles published as supplements of international meetings, by using the following terms: medullary thyroid carcinoma, proteasome inhibitors, bortezomib, carfilzomib, ixazomib, delanzomib, marizomib, oprozomib, and MG132. Additionally, we conducted with the same keywords, an in-depth search in registered clinical trials repositories.ResultsOur search revealed in vitro studies in human and murine MTC cell lines, based on the use of PrIns, both alone and in combination with other anticancer drugs, and two pertinent clinical trials.ConclusionWe found a strong discrepancy between the evidence of PrIns effects in preclinical studies, and the scarcity or early interruption of clinical trials. We might speculate that difficulties in enrolling patients, as happens in other rare diseases, may have discouraged trials’ implementation in favor of drugs already approved for MTC. However, given the concrete improvement in the comprehension of the molecular basis of PrIn effects in MTC, new clinical trials with accurate inclusion criteria of enrollment might be warranted, in order to ascertain whether this treatment, alone or in combination with other drugs, could indeed represent an option to enhance the therapeutic response, and to ultimately improve patients’ outcome and survival

Bollettino Sismico Italiano: Analisys of Early Aftershocks of the 2016 MW 6.0 Amatrice, MW 5.9 Visso and MW 6.5 Norcia earthquakes in Central Italy

The Amatrice-Visso-Norcia seismic sequence is the most important of the last 30 years in Italy. The seismic sequence started on 24 August, 2016 and still is ongoing in central Apennines. At the end of February 2017 more than 57,000 events were located, 80,000 events up to the end of September 2017 (Fig. 1). The mainshocks of the sequence occurred on 24 August 2016 (Mw 6.0 and Mw 5.4), 26 October 2016 (Mw 5.4 and Mw 5.9), 30 October 2016 (Mw 6.5), 18 January 2017 (four earthquakes Mw≥ 5.0). In this seismic sequence, all the waveforms recorded by temporary stations deployed by the SISMIKO emergency group (stations T12**; Moretti et al., 2016) where available in real- time at the surveillance room of INGV. Because of the high level of seismicity and the dense seismic network installed in the region, more than 150 events per day were located at the end of February 2017; still 60 events per day were located up to the end of August 2017.The Amatrice-Visso-Norcia is the most important seismic sequence since 2015, the time when the analysis procedures of the BSI group (Bollettino Sismico Italiano) were revised (Nardi et al., 2015). BSI is now available every four months on the web: bulletins contain revised earthquakes (location and magnitude) with ML≥ 1.5, quasi-real time revision of ML≥ 3.5 earthquakes and phase arrivals from waveforms recorded on seismic stations available from the European Integrated Data Archive (EIDA), (Mazza et al., 2012). These last procedures allow the integration of signals from temporary seismic stations (Moretti et al., 2014) installed by the emergency group SISMIKO (Moretti and Sismiko working group, 2016), even when they are not in real time transmission, if they are rapidly archived in EIDA, together with real time signals from the seismic stations of the permanent INGV network. The analysis strategy of the BSI group for the Amatrice -Visso - Norcia seismic sequence (AVN.s.s in the following) was to select the earthquakes located in the box with min/max latitude: 42.2/43.2 - and min/max longitude: 12.4/14.1 to prepare a special volume of BSI on the seismic sequence.PublishedTrieste, Italy1SR. TERREMOTI - Servizi e ricerca per la Societ

Pathology reporting in neuroendocrine neoplasms of the digestive system: everything you always wanted to know but were too afraid to ask

During the 5th NIKE (Neuroendocrine tumors Innovation in Knowledge and Education) meeting, held in Naples, Italy, in May 2019, discussions centered on the understanding of pathology reports of gastroenetropancreactic neuroendocrine neoplasms. In particular, the main problem concerned the difficulty that clinicians experience in extrapolating relevant information from neuroendocrine tumor pathology reports. During the meeting, participants were asked to identify and rate issues which they have encountered, for which the input of an expert pathologist would have been appreciated. This article is a collection of the most rated questions and relative answers, focusing on three main topics: 1) morphology and classification; 2) Ki67 and grading; 3) immunohistochemistry. Patient management should be based on multidisciplinary decisions, taking into account clinical and pathology-related features with clear comprehension between all health care professionals. Indeed, pathologists require clinical details and laboratory findings when relevant, while clinicians require concise and standardized reports. In keeping with this last statement, the minimum requirements in pathology datasets are provided in this paper and should be a baseline for all neuroendocrine tumor professionals