Thermal remote sensing of sea surface temperature

Sea surface temperature has been an important application of remote sensing from space for three decades. This chapter first describes well-established methods that have delivered valuable routine observations of sea surface temperature for meteorology and oceanography. Increasingly demanding requirements, often related to climate science, have highlighted some limitations of these ap-proaches. Practitioners have had to revisit techniques of estimation, of characterising uncertainty, and of validating observations—and even to reconsider the meaning(s) of “sea surface temperature”. The current understanding of these issues is reviewed, drawing attention to ongoing questions. Lastly, the prospect for thermal remote sens-ing of sea surface temperature over coming years is discussed

JAK2 Allele Burden in the Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Effects on Phenotype, Prognosis and Change with Treatment.

The field of Philadelphia-chromosome-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) has recently witnessed tremendous advances in the basic knowledge of disease pathophysiology that followed the identification of mutations in JAK2 and MPL. These discoveries led to a revision of the criteria employed for diagnosis by the World Health Organization. The prognostic role of the JAK2V617F mutation and of its allelic burden has been the objective of intensive research using a variety of cellular and animal models as well as in large series of patients. While a definitive position cannot yet been taken on all of the issues, there is a consensus that the presence of higher V617F allele burden, that is on the basis of a stronger activation of intracellular signalling pathways, is associated with the clinical phenotype of polycythemia vera and with defined haematological and clinical markers indicative of a more aggressive phenotype. On the other hand, a low allele burden in myelofibrosis is associated with reduced survival. Finally, a significant reduction of JAK2 V617F allele burden has been demonstrated in patients treated with interferon, while the effects of novel JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitors have not yet been fully ascertained

Burden of multimorbidity in relation to age, gender and immigrant status: A cross-sectional study based on administrative data

Objectives Many studies have investigated multimorbidity, whose prevalence varies according to settings and data sources. However, few studies on this topic have been conducted in Italy, a country with universal healthcare and one of the most aged populations in the world. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity in a Northern Italian region, to investigate its distribution by age, gender and citizenship and to analyse the correlations of diseases. Design Cross-sectional study based on administrative data. Setting Emilia-Romagna, an Italian region with-1/44.4 million inhabitants, of which almost one-fourth are aged 6565 years. Participants All adults residing in Emilia-Romagna on 31 December 2012. Hospitalisations, drug prescriptions and contacts with community mental health services from 2003 to 2012 were traced to identify the presence of 17 physical and 9 mental health disorders. Primary and secondary outcome measures Descriptive analysis of differences in the prevalence of multimorbidity in relation to age, gender and citizenship. The correlations of diseases were analysed using exploratory factor analysis. Results The study population included 622 026 men and 751 011women, with a mean age of 66.4 years. Patients with multimorbidity were 33.5% in 75 years and >60% among patients aged 6590 years; among patients aged 6565 years, the proportion of multimorbidity was 39.9%. After standardisation by age and gender, multimorbidity was significantly more frequent among Italian citizens than among immigrants. Factor analysis identified 5 multimorbidity patterns: (1) psychiatric disorders, (2) cardiovascular, renal, pulmonary and cerebrovascular diseases, (3) neurological diseases, (4) liver diseases, AIDS/HIV and substance abuse and (5) tumours. Conclusions Multimorbidity was highly prevalent in Emilia-Romagna and strongly associated with age. This finding highlights the need for healthcare providers to adopt individualised care plans and ensure continuity of care

Serviços prestados por “restaurantes”: uma análise acerca da incidência tributária referente ao ISS e ICMS

Trabalho de Conclusão do Curso, apresentado para obtenção do grau de bacharel no Curso de Direito da Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, UNESC.O ramo do Direito Tributário é instituto que regula os Tributos a serem instituídos em um país, sendo regulados pela Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil de 1988 e pelo disposto no Código Tributário Nacional. No presente trabalho monográfico, aborda-se o conflito de competência existente, no que compreende a aplicação do ISS ou ICMS nas atividades prestadas por restaurantes. Segundo norma constitucional, não poderá dois impostos distintos tributarem sobre um mesmo fato gerador. Assim, apresentando-se a atividade exercida pelos restaurantes como negócio de natureza mista, uma vez que comporta tanto a prestação de serviços quanto a venda de mercadorias, criou-se polêmica e intrigante discussão acerca do tributo devido. Não esclarecendo a Constituição Federal os conceitos de serviço e circulação de mercadorias, gerou-se um conflito de competência entre a fazenda pública estadual e municipal, ambas buscando arrecadação quanto ao fornecimento de alimentos. A análise feita neste trabalho irá contribuir para que haja uma melhor interpretação destes serviços, afim de que se possa definir tal competência. Atualmente, o posicionamento majoritário entende pela aplicação do ICMS. No entanto, por tratar-se de questão de interpretação, a qualquer momento este posicionamento pode ser alterado. A pesquisa empregada possui o método dedutivo

Urine Parameters in Patients with COVID-19 Infection

ABSTRACT A urine test permits the measure of several urinary markers. This is a non-invasive method for early monitoring of potential kidney damage. In COVID-19 patients, alterations of urinary markers were observed. This review aims to evaluate the utility of urinalysis in predicting the severity of COVID-19. A total of 68 articles obtained from PubMed studies reported that (i) the severity of disease was related to haematuria and proteinuria and that (ii) typical alterations of the urinary sediment were noticed in COVID-19-associated AKI patients. This review emphasizes that urinalysis and microscopic examination support clinicians in diagnosing and predicting COVID-19 severity

Continuity of care in children with special healthcare needs: a qualitative study of family’s perspectives

Background : To explore parents’ experiences and perceptions on informational, management and relational continuity of care for children with special health care needs from hospitalization to the first months after discharge to the home. Methods : Semi-structured interviews and a focus group were carried out to capture parents’ experiences and perceptions. Transcripts were analyzed using a directed approach to the qualitative content analysis. Results : 16 families participated to this study: 13 were involved in interviews (10 face-to-face and 3 by phone) and 3 in a focus group, within 1–6 months after discharge from the University Hospital of Bologna (S.Orsola/Malpighi) and from hospitals of Bologna Province. To parents of children with special health care needs, the three domains of continuity of care were relevant in a whole but with different key elements during hospitalization, at discharge and after discharge. Moreover, empowerment emerged from parents’ narratives as essential to help parents cope with the transition from the hospital setting to the new responsibilities connected with the home care of their child. Parent’s perceptions about the family pediatrician concerned his/her centrality in the activation and coordination of the healthcare network. Moreover, parents exhibited different attitudes towards involvement in decision making: some wished and expected to be involved, others preferred not to be involved. Conclusions : Care coordination for children with special care needs is a complex process that need to be attended to during the hospitalization phase and after discharge to the community. The findings of this study may contribute to elucidating the perceptions and experiences of parents with children with special health care needs about the continuity of care from hospital to community care