A note on the comparison of some randomized response procedures

Abstract The paper reconsiders and compares some randomized response models in the light of the efficiency/protection criterion. The results show that, despite the assertion of the authors about the superiority of their methods, some procedures are perfectly equivalent to theWarner’s or the Simmons’models. Ourwork extends and generalizes the results of Bhargava and Singh [2002. On the efficiency comparison of certain randomized response strategies. Metrika 55, 191–197] and other authors

Anthropometric prediction of DXA-measured percentage of fat mass in athletes with unilateral lower limb amputation

To date there is no anthropometric equation specific to athletes with unilateral lower limb amputation to estimate the percentage of fat mass (%FM). This study investigated the accuracy of a set of anthropometric equations validated on able-bodied populations to predict the %FM assessed by-means of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in athletes with unilateral lower limb amputation. Furthermore, a predictive anthropometric equation specific to athletes with unilateral lower limb amputation was developed from skinfold thickness measurements using DXA as the reference method for the estimation of the %FM. Twenty-nine white male athletes with unilateral lower limb amputation underwent a DXA scan and an anthropometric assessment on the same day. The %FM, calculated through several existing anthropometric equations validated upon able-bodied populations, was compared with the DXA-measured %FM (%FM_DXA). Accuracy and agreement between the two methods was computed with two-tailed paired-sample t-test, concordance correlation coefficient, reduced major axis regression and Bland-Altman analysis. A stepwise multiple regression analysis with the %FM_DXA as the dependent variable and age and nine skinfold thicknesses as potential predictors was carried out and validated using a repeated 10-fold cross-validation. A linear regression analysis with the sum of nine skinfolds as the independent variable was also carried out and validated using a repeated 10-fold cross-validation. The results showed that the anthropometric equations validated on able-bodied populations are inaccurate in the estimation of %FM_DXA with an average bias ranging from 0.51 to -13.70%. Proportional bias was also found revealing that most of the anthropometric equations considered, tended to underestimate/overestimate the %FM_DXA as body fat increased. Regression analysis produced two statistically significant models (P < 0.001 for both) which were able to predict more than 93% of total variance of %FM_DXA from the values of four skinfold measurements (i.e., thigh, abdominal, subscapular and axillary skinfold measurements) or from the sum of 9 skinfolds. Repeated cross-validation analysis highlighted a good predictive performance of the proposed equations. The predictive equations proposed in this study represent a useful tool for clinicians, nutritionists, and physical conditioners to evaluate the physical and nutritional status of athletes with unilateral lower limb amputation directly in the field

Open versus laparoscopic splenectomy a meta-analysis of larger series

Background: Minimally invasive surgery for elective splenectomy has become a routine procedure in all laparoscopic centers. After first case series, many groups has published comparative studies between open and laparoscopic approach. For this purpose, a meta-analysis investigating comparative studies of open versus laparoscopic approach for splenectomy was performed.Methods: All kinds of manuscripts were reviewed, and we included the only studies with a laparoscopic group number >= 50 cases.Results: The literature search, performed until December 31, 2019, identified a total of 564 records. After full-text analysis, twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis. Operative time was higher for the laparoscopic group in all but one study. The length of stay, morbidity and mortality were less frequent in the laparoscopic group.Conclusions: The gain of shorter hospital-stay associated with the good outcomes suggests performing splenectomy by a laparoscopic procedure

Effects of somatic cell count on the gross composition, protein fractions and mineral content of individual ewe’s milk

The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of two somatic cell content (SCC) levels (<265,000 and >265,000 cells/ml) on ewe milk composition, protein fractions and mineral content. Samples were collected during two years, from three different ewe herds. Each herd was surveyed four times per year, one per season. For each survey more than 10 individual milk samples were collected during morning milking and analysed for SCC. On the basis of the results, two individual milk samples were selected: one from a sheep with low milk SCC (up to 265.000 cells/mL; LCC) and one from a sheep with high milk SCC (over 265,000 and less than 1,000,000 cells/mL; HCC). In one herd, it was not possible to collect the milk samples in summer. So, a total of 44 ewe milk samples (22 comparative pairs) were collected. On each milk sample, crude protein, crude whey protein, casein, casein number, non protein nitrogen x 6.38, true protein, true whey protein, fat, lactose, dry matter, ash, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and chloride were determined. Average SCC in LCC was 170,000 and 466,000 cells/ml in HCC milk. HCC milk had lower lactose (4.05 vs. 4.60 g/100 g), casein (3.91 vs. 4.28 g/100 g), phosphorus (131.31 vs. 138.81 mg/100 g), calcium (157.28 vs. 170.48 mg/100 g) and magnesium (14.59 vs. 15.30 mg/100 g) contents than LCC milk. Additionally, HCC milk had lower casein number (76.53 vs. 79.03%) and higher contents of true whey protein (1.00 vs. 0.92 g/100 g), ash (0.90 vs. 0.87 g/100 g) and chloride (103.57 vs. 93.17 mg/100 g) than LCC milk. Somatic cell content significantly affected ewe milk quality. As a result of the higher lactose, casein, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium contents, LCC milk was more suitable for cheese making than HCC milk.Key words: Ewe milk, milk quality, chemical composition, somatic cell content

Laparoscopy in liver transplantation: The future has arrived

In the last two decades, laparoscopy has revolutionized the field of surgery. Many procedures previously performed with an open access are now routinely carried out with the laparoscopic approach. Several advantages are associated with laparoscopic surgery compared to open procedures: reduced pain due to smaller incisions and hemorrhaging, shorter hospital length of stay, and a lower incidence of wound infections. Liver transplantation (LT) brought a radical change in life expectancy of patients with hepatic endstage disease. Today, LT represents the standard of care for more than fifty hepatic pathologies, with excellent results in terms of survival. Surely, with laparoscopy and LT being one of the most continuously evolving challenges in medicine, their recent combination has represented an astonishing scientific progress. The intent of the present paper is to underline the current role of diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy in patients waiting for LT, in the living donor LT and in LT recipients

Cost analysis of GER-induced asthma: A controlled study vs. atopic asthma of comparable severity

SummaryBronchial asthma is a costly disease: while the role of pharmaceutical strategies was greatly emphasised in order to alleviate its economic burden, the aetiological approach to asthma has received much less attention from this point of view. The impact of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER)-related asthma was assessed in comparison to atopic asthma in 262 matched patients, and the corresponding direct and indirect annual costs calculated. All subjects were screened by means of a 95-item self-questionnaire. The overall resource utilisation was calculated for the last 12 months. Drug-induced annual costs were €290.4 (interquartile range—iqr 32.8) in atopic and €438.4 (iqr 27.8) in GER-related asthma (p<0.001); expenditure for medical consultations and diagnostics were €166.1 (iqr 14.8) vs. €71.6 (iqr 11.0) (p<0.001), and €338.4 (20.0) vs. 186.9 (iqr 26.5) (p<0.001), respectively. Direct costs due to hospital admissions and indirect costs due to absenteeism were also higher in GER-related asthmatics: 2.201.7±90.0 vs. €567.1±11.0 (p<0.001), and €748.7±94.7 vs. €103.6±33.9 (p<0.001), respectively. The total annual cost per patient was €1246.7 (iqr 1979.6) in atopic and €3967.1 (iqr 3751.5) in GER-related asthma, p<0.001. In conclusion, GER-induced asthma has a more relevant economic impact on healthcare resources than atopic asthma. Although further studies are needed, present data tend to demonstrate that when facing difficult asthma (GER-related asthma in this case), the aetiological assessment of the disease plays a critical role in optimising the approach to patients’ needs

Pattern of antibiotic consumption in two Italian production chains differing by the endemic status for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome

The aim of this case study was to quantify antibiotic (AB) use in Italian weaning (W) and fattening (F) units differentiated for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) occurrence. Farms were classified as either PRRS negative (–) or PRRS positive (+) based on the circulation of the virus among the animals. In all the farms, the modified live PRRS virus (PRRSV) vaccine was provided to all the animals. In the PRRS– farms, the level of circulating antibodies was low, and the disease, in its clinical form, did not occur. In the PRRS+ farms, the level of circulating antibodies against the virus was high, and the disease was recurrent. Data regarding AB consumption were collected from 2017 to 2020, and the active compounds (ACs) were expressed as milligrams of AC/total kilogram of body weight (BW) produced. Each AC was classified into one of four categories according to the EuropeanMedicines Agency classification of ABs for prudent and responsible use in animals: Avoid, Restrict, Caution, and Prudence. Data regarding the ACs in each category were analyzed using a linear model that included production phase, PRRS status, and their interaction as factors. Performance parameters, average age of the pigs at the end of each phase, daily live weight gain, feed-to-gain ratio, total losses, cost index, and medication costs were significantly influenced by the PRRS chain. The use of class B ABs was not affected by production phase or PRRS status. Conversely, for class C ABs, interaction between the two factors (p = 0.02) was observed; W/PRRS+ and F/PRRS+ showed the greatest AB use for this class (p = 0.003). For class D ABs, the interaction was significant (p = 0.01); class C and D ABs were used more in the weaning (p = 0.07) than in the fattening phase (p = 0.003). For the weaning phase, the use of class C and D ABs was greater in the PRRS+ than in the PRRS– chain (p &lt; 0.01). In conclusion, PRRS status affected the growth of pigs and economic performance. Moreover, PRRS status significantly influenced the use of ABs during all the growing periods with the greatest impact being on the weaning phase

PREVENZIONE DEI DISTURBI DELLO SVILUPPO DEL BAMBINO

Abstract Introduction: The literature and current experience tend to doubt the usefulness of the psychomotor rehabilitation in the cases of pre-perinatal neurodamage. The characteristics of brain development undoubtedly indicate that the first year of life and actually the first months are crucial for the post-natal development and re-organization of structures. These periods are characterised by a greater plasticity and therefore they are theoretically the most suitable for rehabilitation. Aim: To investigate the efficacy of the early application (within the first three months of life) of a specific educational-rehabilitative methodology (the one applied at “A.R.C. i Nostri figli”) in children presenting with neurodamage and in children at risk. Method: Retrospective observational study on patients treated in the rehabilitation centre A.R.C. i Nostri Figli from 1995 to 2005. Results: The results show a statistically significant improvement in the autonomy of patients that start the therapy before 3 months of age if compared with those that start it after that age. Conclusions: These observations need to be confirmed on children that have been treated with different therapies. We think that a controlled perspective rather than retrospective experimentation is not ethical. So, for the time being, we can conclude that any effort should be done for each single patient in order to anticipate the rehabilitation intervention to the first months of age

Multifunctional graphene oxide/biopolymer composite aerogels for microcontaminants removal from drinking water

Due to water depletion and increasing level of pollution from standard and emerging contaminants, the development of more efficient purification materials and technology for drinking water treatment is a crucial challenge to be addressed in the near future. Graphene oxide (GO) has been pointed as one of the most promising materials to build structure and devices for new adsorbents and filtration systems. Here, we analyzed two types of GO doped 3D chitosan-gelatin aerogels with GO sheets embedded in the bulk or deposited on the surface. Through combined structural characterization and adsorption tests on selected proxies of drinking water micropollutants, we compared both GO-embedded and GO-coated materials and established the best architecture for achieving enhanced removal efficiency toward con- taminants in water. To evaluate the best configuration, we studied the adsorption capacity of both systems on two organic molecules (i.e., fluoroquinolonic antibiotics ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin) and a heavy metal (lead Pb2\ufe) of great environmental relevance and with already proved high affinity for GO. The Pb monolayer maximum adsorption capacity qmax was 11.1 mg/g for embedded GO aerogels and 1.5 mg/g in coated GO-ones. Only minor differences were found for organic contaminants between coating and embedding approaches with an adsorption capacity of 5e8 mg/g and no adsorption was found for chitosan-gelatin control aerogels without GO. Finally, potential antimicrobial effects were found particularly for the GO-coated aerogels materials, thus corroborating the multifunctionality of the newly developed porous structures

Dissecting the effect of soil on plant phenology and berry transcriptional plasticity in two Italian grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera L.)

Grapevine embodies a fascinating species as regards phenotypic plasticity and genotype-per-environment interactions. The terroir, namely the set of agri-environmental factors to which a variety is subjected, can influence the phenotype at the physiological, molecular, and biochemical level, representing an important phenomenon connected to the typicality of productions. We investigated the determinants of plasticity by conducting a field-experiment where all terroir variables, except soil, were kept as constant as possible. We isolated the effect of soils collected from different areas, on phenology, physiology, and transcriptional responses of skin and flesh of a red and a white variety of great economic value: Corvina and Glera. Molecular results, together with physio-phenological parameters, suggest a specific effect of soil on grapevine plastic response, highlighting a higher transcriptional plasticity of Glera in respect to Corvina and a marked response of skin compared to flesh. Using a novel statistical approach, we identified clusters of plastic genes subjected to the specific influence of soil. These findings could represent an issue of applicative value, posing the basis for targeted agricultural practices to enhance the desired characteristics for any soil/cultivar combination, to improve vineyards management for a better resource usage and to valorize vineyards uniqueness maximizing the terroir-effect