Efficient Combination of Surface Texturing and Functional Coating for Very Low Secondary Electron Yield Surfaces and Rough Nonevaporable Getter Films

Abstract The formation of a fissured copper surface by picosecond pulsed laser irradiation is combined with functional coatings consisting of Ti and amorphous carbon layers or a Ti–Zr–V compound film to fabricate surfaces with the maximum of the secondary electron yield being as low as 0.4. By structural and spectroscopic analysis of the formed surfaces it is demonstrated that both coatings enclose the nanostructures generated by redeposition of metal structures from the laser‐induced plasma plume, keeping the initial topography intact. This allows an efficient elimination of secondary electron emission by combining the benefits from structural surface modification and adaption of electronic surface properties to efficiently dissipate the energy of impinging electrons. Thermal activation tests of the Ti–Zr–V nonevaporable getter films revealed that for films on nanostructured substrates, which have a much higher effective surface, a slight diminution of surface activation occurs at 160 and 200 °C, while this effect is completely compensated when heating up to 250 °C indicating promising pumping capabilities. Both examples highlight the benefits from combining 3D substrate patterning with classical 2D deposition technologies

Workplace drug testing on urine samples: evidence for improving efficacy of a first-level screening programme

Background: Previous reports revealed poor performance in identifying drugs of abuse users through first-level workplace drug testing (WDT), based on urine samples. In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated: (i) the effect of creatinine normalization of drug values from diluted urine samples (creatinine levels 6420 mg/dL) on the prevalence of drug users; (ii) the independent procedure-related predictors of positivity and dilution. Methods: Workers' urine samples were collected at the workplace or at our certified laboratory between 2008 and 2012. All samples were analysed for drugs of abuse by immuno-enzymatic method in our laboratory, according to the Italian WDT law. Detectable drugs of abuse concentrations lower than the positive cutoff values were normalized based on mean levels of urinary creatinine. Detectable concentrations of drugs were confirmed by GC/MS. Multivariate logistic regression was used to detect independent procedure-related predictors of positive and diluted urine samples. Results: Of the 3080 urine samples screened, 51 (1.7%) were found positive for some drugs of abuse (26 cannabinoids and 16 cocaine) and 116 (3.8%) were diluted. Seventeen out of 23 diluted urine samples with detectable concentrations of cannabinoids or cocaine were found positive after urine creatinine normalization and GC/MS confirmed both negative and positive results. This increased the percentage of positivity for cannabinoids and cocaine from 1.35% to 2.09% (+55%, p=0.0005), which is closer to the expected prevalence of drug users based on Italian self-reported surveys. Collection of samples in the laboratory was an independent predictor of positivity (OR=2.33, 95%CI 1.27-4.28) and diluted urine sample (OR=1.65, 95%CI 1.04-2.61). Conclusions: Efficacy of first-level WDT could be improved by well-controlled pre-Analytical procedures and urine creatinine normalization of detected concentrations of drugs of abuse

SYMPTOMATIC SARS-CoV-2 INFECTIONS AFTER FULL SCHEDULE BNT162b2 VACCINATION IN SEROPOSITIVE HEALTHCARE WORKERS: A CASE SERIES FROM A SINGLE INSTITUTION

AbstractWe report 11 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers (HCW) naive for COVID-19 and seropositive after the second dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Based on voluntary-based surveillance, they tested positive for different strains of SARS-CoV-2, as Spike gene sequencing showed. Five of them reported mild symptoms. Given the risk for SARS-CoV-2 introduction from asymptomatic vaccinees, this case series suggests the need to continue nasopharyngeal screening programs

Unruptured Aneurysms Italian Study (UAIS) background and method

Treatment of unruptured cerebral aneurysms still represents an unsettled question in neurosurgical and neuroradiological communities. Although nowadays the indication for treatment have become relatively clear, indeed uncertainity remains for what concerns the proper treatment modality (surgical or endovascular) in terms of both the risk and the mid and long-term efficacy of the two procedures. The "Unruptured Aneurysms Italian Study" is a cooperative prospective study which aims to delineate the "State of the Art" in a nation based population. It has been designed: 1) to depict the nationwide modality of treatment of Unruptured Aneurysms, 2) to assess in the most objective way the overall treatment-related mortality and morbidity as well as the surgical and endovascular risk in the respective patient populations (it is not a surgical versus endovascular study) and 3) to asses the efficacy of the different procedures in the mid and long term periods. The study started on June 2003 and to June 2006, 637 patients have been enrolled. The study will end when the 1000th patient is enrolled