FIRB "SQUARE" project: nano-structured sensors for the detection of the polluting in engine exhaust gases and for indoor air quality monitoring

The present work is a final dissemination of activities carried out and main results obtained in the national founded project Firb "Square". The project is leaded by Centro Ricerche Fiat and it involves the most qualified national public Research Institutes and Universities active in the fields of nanomaterials synthesis, nanotechnology and gas sensors development

I sintomi neuropsichiatrici nei disturbi neurocognitivi

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Deposition of Y thin films by nanosecond UV pulsed laser ablation for photocathode application

In this work, yttrium (Y) thin films have been deposited on Si (100) substrates by the pulsed laser deposition technique. Ex-situ morphological, structural and optical characterisations of such films have been performed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry. Polycrystalline films with a thickness of 1.2 mu m, homogenous with a root mean square roughness of about 2 nm, were obtained by optimised laser irradiation conditions. Despite the relatively high thickness, the films resulted very adherent to the substrates. The high quality of such thin films is important to the synthesis of metallic photocathodes based on Y thin film, which could be used as electron sources of high photoemission performance in radio-frequency guns

ADAPTIVE COPING STRATEGIES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH POST-SURGICAL DISTRESS REDUCTION IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS: A PRE-POST STUDY

Introduction: Breast cancer surgery may have a profound impact on women’ needs and coping abilities. Additionally, a high percentage of breast cancer survivors report considerable levels of distress that might, however, elicit resilience and adaptive coping strategies, based on situational factors. Hence, the present study aims at investigating pre-/post-surgery distress variation in women diagnosed with breast cancer, and at better characterizing the potential association between such variation and different types of coping strategies. Methods: One hundred and fifty women diagnosed with breast cancer (mean age=59.37; SD=±13.23) were administered the Distress Thermometer and the Brief COPE before (T0) and after (T1) the surgery (±7days). Data were analysed through: (1) the Wilcoxon S-R test, to detect changes in distress levels between T0 and T1; (2) factor analysis and multiple linear regression, allowing for the prediction of such changes based on types of coping strategies assessed through the Brief COPE. All p values were <0.05. Results: The Wilcoxon S-R test revealed a significant distress reduction from T0 to T1 (TW=-5.68<-zα/2=-1.96; p<0.001). Factor analysis allowed to extract and rotate through Varimax five distinct components, i.e., 1.active coping and planning; 2.venting + use of emotional and instrumental support; 3.humor + positive reframing + self-blame; 4.denial + behavioral disengagement; 5.religion. Regression analysis revealed that, among these 5 components, lower distress levels at T1 were significantly predicted by T0 adaptive coping strategies (e.g., planning; use of emotional support) belonging to the first component (p=0.014). Conclusion: The present study revealed that T0 adaptive coping strategies significantly contributed to distress reduction in T1. These findings highlight the crucial need of providing psychological support to breast cancer patients in the pre-intervention phase in a timely and individualized way

Effects of SGLT2 inhibition via empagliflozin on cognitive and physical impairment in frail diabetic elders with chronic kidney disease

OBJECTIVE.To assess whether the sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin improves cognitive impairment in frail older adults with diabetes and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS. We designed a prospective study to assess cognitive and physical function in consecutive frail older adults with diabetes and HFpEF, comparing the effects of empagliflozin, metformin, and insulin. RESULTS. A total of 162 frail older adults with HFpEF and diabetes successfully completed the study. Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores at baseline and after 1 month were 19.80 ± 3.77 vs. 22.25 ± 3.27 (P < 0.001) in the empagliflozin group, 19.95 ± 3.81 vs. 20.71 ± 3.56 (P = 0.26) in the metformin group, and 19.00 ± 3.71 vs. 19.1 ± 3.56 (P = 0.81) in the insulin group. A multivariable regression analysis confirmed the beneficial effects of empagliflozin. Additionally, we observed a marked amelioration of physical impairment, assessed by the 5-m gait speed test, in the empagliflozin and metformin groups but not in the insulin group. CONCLUSIONS. This study is the first to show significant beneficial effects of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin on cognitive and physical impairment in frail older adults with diabetes and HFpEF