Chemical effects induced by the mechanical processing of granite powder

Starting from 1970s, the use of mechanical forces to induce chemical transformations has radically changed vast areas of metallurgy and materials science. More recently, mechanochemistry has expanded to core sectors of chemistry, showing the promise to deeply innovate chemical industry while enhancing its sustainability and competitiveness. We are still far, however, from unveiling the full potential of mechanical activation. This study marks a step forward in this direction focusing on the chemical effects induced on the surrounding gaseous phase by the mechanical processing of granite. We show that fracturing granite blocks in oxygen can result in the generation of ozone. The refinement of coarse granite particles and the friction between fine ones are also effective in this regard. Combining experimental evidence related to the crushing of large granite samples by uniaxial compression and the ball milling of coarse and fine granite powders, we develop a model that relates mechanochemical ozone generation to the surface area effectively affected by fracture and frictional events taking place during individual impacts. We also extend the investigation to gaseous phases involving methane, oxygen, benzene and water, revealing that chemical transformations occur as well

Multiple sclerosis: peripheral mononuclear cells inhibit <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> growth and are activated by parasite antigens

The human genome has been subjected to selective pressures to resist to infectious agents in spite of a heavy segregational load. With this regard, thalassaemia and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency have been considered an efficient genetic protection against P. falciparum malaria in Sardinia, insular Italy. In this island, some multiple sclerosis (MS)-associated HLA haplotypes have the highest odds ratios in the same highestrate malarious areas of the island. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) polymorphisms epidemiologically associated with both MS and malaria are ten-fold more frequent amongst Sardinians compared to other populations worldwide4. A possible association between MS and malaria in this island was never analysed experimentally. We studied the immunological response of mononuclear cells to P. falciparum and the killing effect of macrophages on parasites in Sardinian MS patients and in matched healthy controls (HC)

Mendelian breeding units <i>versus</i> standard sampling strategies: mitochondrial DNA variation in southwest Sardinia

We report a sampling strategy based on Mendelian Breeding Units (MBUs), representing an interbreeding group of individuals sharing a common gene pool. The identification of MBUs is crucial for case-control experimental design in association studies. The aim of this work was to evaluate the possible existence of bias in terms of genetic variability and haplogroup frequencies in the MBU sample, due to severe sample selection. In order to reach this goal, the MBU sampling strategy was compared to a standard selection of individuals according to their surname and place of birth. We analysed mitochondrial DNA variation (first hypervariable segment and coding region) in unrelated healthy subjects from two different areas of Sardinia: the area around the town of Cabras and the western Campidano area. No statistically significant differences were observed when the two sampling methods were compared, indicating that the stringent sample selection needed to establish a MBU does not alter original genetic variability and haplogroup distribution. Therefore, the MBU sampling strategy can be considered a useful tool in association studies of complex traits

Natural history and biomarkers of retinal dystrophy caused by the biallelic TULP1 variant c.148delG

Purpose To report clinical features and potential disease markers of inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD) caused by the biallelic c.148delG variant in the tubby-like protein 1 (TULP1) gene. Methods A retrospective observational study of 16 IRD patients carrying a homozygous pathogenic TULP1 c.148delG variant. Clinical data including fundus spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were assessed. A meta-analysis of visual acuity of previously reported other pathogenic TULP1 variants was performed for reference. Results The biallelic TULP1 variant c.148delG was associated with infantile and early childhood onset IRD. Retinal ophthalmoscopy was primarily normal converting to peripheral pigmentary retinopathy and maculopathy characterized by progressive extra-foveal loss of the ellipsoid zone (EZ), the outer plexiform layer (OPL), and the outer nuclear layer (ONL) bands in the SD-OCT images. The horizontal width of the foveal EZ showed significant regression with the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the eye (p < 0.0001, R-2 = 0.541, F = 26.0), the age of the patient (p < 0.0001, R-2 = 0.433, F = 16.8), and mild correlation with the foveal OPL-ONL thickness (p = 0.014, R-2 = 0.245, F = 7.2). Modelling of the BCVA data suggested a mean annual loss of logMAR 0.027. The level of visual loss was similar to that previously reported in patients carrying other truncating TULP1 variants. Conclusions This study describes the progression of TULP1 IRD suggesting a potential time window for therapeutic interventions. The width of the foveal EZ and the thickness of the foveal OPL-ONL layers could serve as biomarkers of the disease stage.Peer reviewe

Unexpected High Response Rate to Traditional Therapy after Dendritic Cell-Based Vaccine in Advanced Melanoma: Update of Clinical Outcome and Subgroup Analysis

We reviewed the clinical results of a dendritic cell-based phase II clinical vaccine trial in stage IV melanoma and analyzed a patient subgroup treated with standard therapies after stopping vaccination. From 2003 to 2009, 24 metastatic melanoma patients were treated with mature dendritic cells pulsed with autologous tumor lysate and keyhole limpet hemocyanin and low-dose interleukin-2. Overall response (OR) to vaccination was 37.5% with a clinical benefit of 54.1%. All 14 responders showed delayed type hypersensitivity positivity. Median overall survival (OS) was 15 months (95% CI, 8–33). Eleven patients underwent other treatments (3 surgery, 2 biotherapy, 2 radiotherapy, 2 chemotherapy, and 4 biochemotherapy) after stopping vaccination. Of these, 2 patients had a complete response and 5 a partial response, with an OR of 63.6%. Median OS was 34 months (range 16–61). Our results suggest that therapeutic DC vaccination could favor clinical response in patients after more than one line of therapy

Pain process of patients with cardiac surgery — Semantic annotation of electronic patient record data

Aims and objectives: To describe and compare the pain process of the patients’ with cardiac surgery through nurses’ and physicians’ documentations in the electronic patient records.Background: Postoperative pain assessment and management should be documented regularly, to ensure optimal pain care process for patients. Despite availability of evidence‐based guidelines, pain assessment and documentation remain inadequate.Design: A retrospective patients’ record review.Methods: The original data consisted of the electronic patient records of 26,922 patients with a diagnosed heart disease. A total of 1,818 care episodes of patients with cardiac surgery were selected from the data. We used random sampling to obtain 280 care episodes for annotation. These 280 care episodes contained 2,156 physician reports and 1,327 days of nursing notes. We developed an annotation manual and schema, and then, we manually conducted semantic annotation on care episodes, using the Brat annotation tool. We analysed the annotation units using thematic analysis. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research guideline was followed in reporting where appropriate in this study design.Results: We discovered expressions of six different aspects of pain process: (a) cause, (b) situation, (c) features, (d) consequences, (e) actions and (f) outcomes. We determined that five of the aspects existed chronologically. However, the features of pain were simultaneously existing. They indicated the location, quality, intensity, and temporality of the pain and they were present in every phase of the patient’s pain process. Cardiac and postoperative pain documentations differed from each other in used expressions and in the quantity and quality of descriptions.Conclusion: We could construct a comprehensive pain process of the patients with cardiac surgery from several electronic patient records. The challenge remains how to support systematic documentation in each patient.Relevance to clinical practice: The study provides knowledge and guidance of pain process aspects that can be used to achieve an effective pain assessment and more comprehensive documentation.<br /

Bacterial and viral investigations combined with determination of phytoplankton and algal biotoxins in mussels and water from a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Sardinia, Italy).

Calich Lagoon is a Mediterranean coastal lagoon located along the northwestern coast of Sardinia (Italy). The connection to marine and fresh water determines the high productivity of this coastal lagoon. Despite its great potential and the presence of natural beds of bivalve mollusks (Mytilus galloprovincialis), the lagoon has not yet been classified for shellfish production. In this study, through a multidisciplinary approach, the presence of several bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Vibrio spp.) and viral pathogens (hepatitis A virus and norovirus genogroups I and II) was evaluated from March 2017 to February 2018. In addition, phytoplankton composition in lagoon waters and associated algal biotoxins (paralytic and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning) in mussels were also monitored. The aim of this study was to provide useful data to improve knowledge about their seasonal presence and to assess the potential risk for public health, as well as to provide input for future conservation and management strategies. In mussels, Salmonella spp. were found in spring, along with E. coli, but Salmonella spp. were not found in autumn or winter, even though E. coli was detected in these seasons. Vibrio parahaemolyticus was found in autumn and winter, but not in spring. Norovirus genogroups I and II were found in winter samples. None of the bacteria were found in summer. Algal biotoxins have never been detected in mussel samples. Among potentially harmful phytoplankton, only Pseudo-nitzschia spp. were present, mainly in summer. The results showed that a possible bacterial and viral contamination, together with the presence of potentially toxic microalgae, is a real problem. Therefore, the development of natural resource management strategies is necessary to ensure the good quality of waters and guarantee the protection of consumers

Coping of persons with disabilities and migrant origin populations in serious disruptions and emergencies : Emergency action plans supporting preparedness

Operating models that support the coping of people with disabilities and immigrants in serious disruptions and emergency conditions has been developed in Building the Future based on COVID-19 Experiences project. Emergency action plans in this publication contain concrete tasks, operating methods and suggestions for supporting coping and developing preparedness. Co-creaton methods and research data on the effects of the coronavirus epidemic on the lives and services of people with disabilities and migrant origin populations has been utilised. The publication is aimed at people responsible for preparedness and emergency planning in cooperation areas, wellbeing service counties and municipalities, as well as social work, health and communication professionals in their different operating environments. This publication has been produced in Building the Future based on Covid-19 Experiences project, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) in 2021 2023. The project was carried out jointly by the Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Association of Finnish Municipalities and wellbeing services company Hyvil Oy