Finestre sul mondo. Racconto e rappresentazione del viaggio in TV.

Programmi che raccontano viaggi e programmi che utilizzano il viaggio come espediente narrativo: questa l'idea di fondo del volume. La rappresentazione televisiva del viaggio gioca su quest'ambiguit\ue0 costitutiva, da un lato promette una rottura rispetto al quotidiano, dall'altro ricorda al telespettatore che questa evasione \ue8 pur sempre guidata dal medium, che ne traccia inevitabilmente i limiti

Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for prolonged SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding in lower respiratory tract samples of critically ill patients

PURPOSE The length of time a critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient remains infectious and should therefore be isolated remains unknown. This prospective study was undertaken in critically ill patients to evaluate the reliability of single negative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in lower tracheal aspirates (LTA) in predicting a second negative test and to analyze clinical factors potentially influencing the viral shedding. METHODS From April 9, 2020 onwards, intubated COVID-19 patients treated in the intensive care unit were systematically evaluated for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by RT-PCR of nasopharyngeal swabs and LTA. The time to negativity was defined as the time between the onset of symptoms and the viral clearance in LTA. In order to identify risk factors for prolonged viral shedding, we used univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS Forty-eight intubated SARS-CoV-2 patients were enrolled. Overall, we observed that the association of the first negative RT-PCR with a second negative result was 96.7%. Median viral shedding was 25 (IQR: 21.5-28) days since symptoms' onset. In the univariate Cox model analysis, type 2 diabetes mellitus was associated with a prolonged viral RNA shedding (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.06-3.11, p = 0.04). In the multivariate Cox model analysis, type 2 diabetes was associated with a prolonged viral RNA shedding (HR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11-0.89, p = 0.029). CONCLUSION Intubated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus may have prolonged SARS-CoV-2 shedding. In critically ill COVID-19 patients, one negative LTA should be sufficient to assess and exclude infectivity

La Tv \ue8 servita. Viaggi e sapori della cucina televisiva

Il volume raccoglie gli sguardi di studiosi e professionisti dei media e si offre come occasione di riflessione su un fenomeno che ha radici lontane: dalla narrazione all'informazione, dall'inchiesta ai pi\uf9 recenti format internazionali il cibo \ue8 indagato come luogo privilegiato di riconoscimento valoriale e identitario

Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for prolonged SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding in lower respiratory tract samples of critically ill patients

The length of time a critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient remains infectious and should therefore be isolated remains unknown. This prospective study was undertaken in critically ill patients to evaluate the reliability of single negative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in lower tracheal aspirates (LTA) in predicting a second negative test and to analyze clinical factors potentially influencing the viral shedding. From April 9, 2020 onwards, intubated COVID-19 patients treated in the intensive care unit were systematically evaluated for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by RT-PCR of nasopharyngeal swabs and LTA. The time to negativity was defined as the time between the onset of symptoms and the viral clearance in LTA. In order to identify risk factors for prolonged viral shedding, we used univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Forty-eight intubated SARS-CoV-2 patients were enrolled. Overall, we observed that the association of the first negative RT-PCR with a second negative result was 96.7%. Median viral shedding was 25 (IQR: 21.5–28) days since symptoms’ onset. In the univariate Cox model analysis, type 2 diabetes mellitus was associated with a prolonged viral RNA shedding (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.06–3.11, p = 0.04). In the multivariate Cox model analysis, type 2 diabetes was associated with a prolonged viral RNA shedding (HR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11–0.89, p = 0.029). Intubated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus may have prolonged SARS-CoV-2 shedding. In critically ill COVID-19 patients, one negative LTA should be sufficient to assess and exclude infectivity

The natural radioactivity map of Umbria (Italy): a multipurpose tool for environmental understanding

We present the first map of the terrestrial natural radioactivity, with relative uncertainties, of the Umbria Region (Italy). The total specific activity is derived from the abundances of natural radionuclides (40K, 238U, 232Th) measured in 283 rock and 14 soil samples using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometer while an area accounting for ∼20% of the territory was investigated through large-volume NaI detectors mounted on an ultralight aircraft. A multivariate estimation method (Collocated CoKriging) for interpolating sparse γ-ray data considering the well-known geological information as ancillary was applied. This regional radioactivity map is a powerful tool for a number of different applications: (i) for the identification of distinctive lithological characteristics on the basis of radioactive content; (ii) for the definition of the natural baseline of outdoor effective dose rate in the event of a radiological contamination; (iii) for Green Building indoor air quality certifications, through the estimation of the radon flux derived from uranium content in the site location; (iv) for the stone industry, through the radiological characterization of building materials extracted from quarries in the investigated area, following the export regulations of the international market. Finally, the geo-environmental data presented are also available on an open access platform, supporting the general public understanding and the local authorities decision making