Economic and Human Features for Energy and Environmental Indicators: A Tool to Assess Countries’ Progress towards Sustainability

Energy and environmental data represent fundamental information for the analysis of sustainable development. On the other hand, these aspects should be associated with economic and human dimensions in order to obtain a more holistic vision. From this perspective, some indicators are discussed and analyzed in this paper in order to assess the performance of a country. As regards the energetic aspects, the data of total primary energy supply and exergy losses were considered. The environmental aspects were taken into account by considering the greenhouse gas emissions and the particulate matter emissions. These energy and environmental data were put in relation to the GDP (gross domestic product) and HDI (human development index, a multidimensional index proposed by United Nations), respectively. So, two sets of indicators were introduced—the set E for economic properties and the set H for human aspects. A case study was conducted by analyzing a group of countries that meet two criteria: the same macro-geographical area and comparable numbers of citizens. The European area—in particular, its six most populous countries—was chosen. From the results obtained, it is possible to point out that some countries present different rankings depending on whether set E or set H is considered. Another important aspect discussed is the temporal evolution of the indicators (the interval from 1990 to 2017 was considered). Political decision-makers can be supported by the use of the indicators of set H in order to evaluate well-being related to their choices on actions related to the energy and environment. These indicators can be used both to analyze the trends of a country and to compare them with the performance of some other similar countries

Mechanical correlates of dyspnea in bronchial asthma.

We hypothesized that dyspnea and its descriptors, that is, chest tightness, inspiratory effort, unrewarded inspiration, and expiratory difficulty in asthma reflect different mechanisms of airflow obstruction and their perception varies with the severity of bronchoconstriction. Eighty-three asthmatics were studied before and after inhalation of methacholine doses decreasing the 1-sec forced expiratory volume by ~15% (mild bronchoconstriction) and ~25% (moderate bronchoconstriction). Symptoms were examined as a function of changes in lung mechanics. Dyspnea increased with the severity of obstruction, mostly because of inspiratory effort and chest tightness. At mild bronchoconstriction, multivariate analysis showed that dyspnea was related to the increase in inspiratory resistance at 5 Hz (R 5) (r (2) = 0.10, P = 0.004), chest tightness to the decrease in maximal flow at 40% of control forced vital capacity, and the increase in R 5 at full lung inflation (r (2) = 0.15, P = 0.006), inspiratory effort to the temporal variability in R 5-19 (r (2) = 0.13, P = 0.003), and unrewarded inspiration to the recovery of R 5 after deep breath (r (2) = 0.07, P = 0.01). At moderate bronchoconstriction, multivariate analysis showed that dyspnea and inspiratory effort were related to the increase in temporal variability in inspiratory reactance at 5 Hz (X 5) (r (2) = 0.12, P = 0.04 and r (2) = 0.18, P < 0.001, respectively), and unrewarded inspiration to the decrease in X 5 at maximum lung inflation (r (2) = 0.07, P = 0.04). We conclude that symptom perception is partly explained by indexes of airway narrowing and loss of bronchodilatation with deep breath at low levels of bronchoconstriction, but by markers of ventilation heterogeneity and lung volume recruitment when bronchoconstriction becomes more severe

Ventilation heterogeneity in obesity.

Obesity is associated with important decrements in lung volumes. Despite this, ventilation remains normally or near normally distributed at least for moderate decrements in functional residual capacity (FRC). We tested the hypothesis that this is because maximum flow increases presumably as a result of an increased lung elastic recoil. Forced expiratory flows corrected for thoracic gas compression volume, lung volumes, and forced oscillation technique at 5-11-19 Hz were measured in 133 healthy subjects with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 18 to 50 kg/m(2). Short-term temporal variability of ventilation heterogeneity was estimated from the interquartile range of the frequency distribution of the difference in inspiratory resistance between 5 and 19 Hz (R5-19_IQR). FRC \% predicted negatively correlated with BMI (r = -0.72, P < 0.001) and with an increase in slope of either maximal (r = -0.34, P < 0.01) or partial flow-volume curves (r = -0.30, P < 0.01). Together with a slight decrease in residual volume, this suggests an increased lung elastic recoil. Regression analysis of R5-19_IQR against FRC \% predicted and expiratory reserve volume (ERV) yielded significantly higher correlation coefficients by nonlinear than linear fitting models (r(2) = 0.40 vs. 0.30 for FRC \% predicted and r(2) = 0.28 vs. 0.19 for ERV). In conclusion, temporal variability of ventilation heterogeneities increases in obesity only when FRC falls approximately below 65\% of predicted or ERV below 0.6 liters. Above these thresholds distribution is quite well preserved presumably as a result of an increase in lung recoil

Hybrid injectable platforms for the in situ delivery of therapeutic ions from mesoporous glasses

Copper-containing bioactive glasses (Cu-MBGs) are attracting increasing interest as multifunctional agents for hard and soft tissue healing due to the ability of released copper ions to stimulate osteogenesis as well as angiogenesis and to impart anti-bacterial properties. The conjugation of these nanomaterials with a vehicle phase based on thermosensitive hydrogels represents an effective strategy to design non-invasive injectable devices for the in situ delivery of therapeutic ions from MBGs. In this contribution, Cu-containing MBGs were prepared by an aerosol-assisted spray-drying method (MBG_Cu 2%_SD) in the form of microspheres (surface area of ca 220m2 g−1) and through a sol-gel synthesis (MBG_Cu 2% _SG) in the form of spheroidal nanoparticles (surface area above 700m2 g−1). Both Cu-containing samples were able to release copper ions, although with different rates and percentage release. MBG_Cu 2%_SG released the total incorporated amount of Cu ions with a faster kinetics compared to MBG_Cu 2%_SD, that released approximately the 60% of copper. Cu-MBGs were incorporated with a final concentration of 20 mg/mL into a thermosensitive sol-gel system consisting of a novel amphiphilic poly(ether urethane) based on a commercialy available Poloxamer 407 (P407), with improved gelation ability, mechanical strength and stability in aqueous solution with respect to native P407. Cu-MBG-loaded hydrogels were characterised in terms of sol-to-gel transition temperature and time, injectability and stability in aqueous environment at 37 °C. The hybrid formulations showed fast gelation in physiological conditions (1 mL underwent complete sol-to-gel transition within 3–5 min at 37 °C) and injectability in a wide range of temperatures (5–37 °C) through different needles (inner diameter in the range 0.6–1.6 mm)

Ozone Improves the Aromatic Fingerprint of White Grapes

Ozone, a powerful oxidative stressor, has been recently used in wine industry as sanitizing agent to reduce spoilage microflora on grapes. In this study, we evaluated ozone-induced metabolic and molecular responses during postharvest grape dehydration. Ozone increased the contents of total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have a great impact on the organoleptic properties of grapes and wines. Among terpenes, responsible for floral and fruity aroma, linalool, geraniol and nerol were the major aromatic markers of Moscato bianco grapes. They were significantly affected by the long-term ozone treatment, increasing their concentration in the last phases of dehydration (&gt;20% weight loss). At molecular level, our results demonstrated that both postharvest dehydration and ozone exposure induce the biosynthesis of monoterpenes via methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway and of aldehydes from lipoxygenase-hydroperoxide lyase (LOX-HPL) pathway. Therefore, transcriptional changes occurred and promoted the over-production of many important volatile compounds for the quality of white grapes

Optimising lithium-ion cell design for plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles

Increased driving range and enhanced fast charging capabilities are two immediate goals of transport electrification. However, these are of competing nature, leading to increased energy and power demand respectively from the on-board battery pack. By fine-tuning the number of layers versus active electrode material of a lithium ion pouch cell, tailored designs targeting either of these goals can be obtained. Achieving this trade-off through iterative empirical testing of layer choices is expensive and often produces sub-optimal designs. This paper presents a model-based methodology for determining the optimal number of layers, maximising usable energy whilst satisfying specific acceleration and fast charging targets. The proposed methodology accounts for the critical need to avoid lithium plating during fast charging and searches for the optimal layer configuration considering a range of thermal conditions. A numerical implementation of a cell model using a hybrid finite volume-spectral scheme is presented, wherein the model equations are suitably reformulated to directly accept power inputs, facilitating rapid and accurate searching of the layer design space. Electrode materials exhibiting high solid phase diffusion rates are highlighted as being equally as important for extended range as the development of new materials with higher inherent capacity. The proposed methodology is demonstrated for the common module design of a battery pack in a plug-in hybrid vehicle, thereby illustrating how the cost of derivative vehicle models can be reduced. To facilitate model based layer optimisation, the open-source toolbox, BOLD (Battery Optimal Layer Design) is provided

Assessment of the Risk of Nodal Involvement in Rectal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: The NOVARA Score, a Multicentre Retrospective Study

open14noRectal neuroendocrine tumors (r‐NETs) are rare tumors with overall good prognosis after complete resection. However, there is no consensus on the extension of lymphadenectomy or regarding contraindications to extensive resection. In this study, we aim to identify predictive factors that correlate with nodal metastasis in patients affected by G1–G2 r‐NETs. A retrospective analysis of G1–G2 r‐NETs patients from eight tertiary Italian centers was performed. From January 1990 to January 2020, 210 patients were considered and 199 were included in the analysis. The data for nodal status were available for 159 cases. The nodal involvement rate was 9%. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify the diameter (&gt;11.5 mm) and Ki‐67 (3.5%), respectively, as cutoff values to predict nodal involvement. In a multivariate analysis, diameter &gt; 11.5 mm and vascular infiltration were independently correlated with nodal involvement. A risk scoring system was constructed using these two predictive factors. Tumor size and vascular invasion are predictors of nodal involvement. In addition, tumor size &gt; 11.5 mm is used as a driving parameter of better‐tailored treatment during pre‐operative assessment. Data from prospective studies are needed to validate these results and to guide decision‐making in r‐ NETs patients in clinical practice.openRicci A.D.; Pusceddu S.; Panzuto F.; Gelsomino F.; Massironi S.; De Angelis C.G.; Modica R.; Ricco G.; Torchio M.; Rinzivillo M.; Prinzi N.; Rizzi F.; Lamberti G.; Campana D.Ricci A.D.; Pusceddu S.; Panzuto F.; Gelsomino F.; Massironi S.; De Angelis C.G.; Modica R.; Ricco G.; Torchio M.; Rinzivillo M.; Prinzi N.; Rizzi F.; Lamberti G.; Campana D

Clinical and molecular data define a diagnosis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy in a carrier of a brugada-syndrome-associated PKP2 mutation

Plakophilin-2 (PKP2) is the most frequently mutated desmosomal gene in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), a disease characterized by structural and electrical alterations predominantly affecting the right ventricular myocardium. Notably, ACM cases without overt structural alterations are frequently reported, mainly in the early phases of the disease. Recently, the PKP2 p.S183N mutation was found in a patient affected by Brugada syndrome (BS), an inherited arrhythmic channelopathy most commonly caused by sodium channel gene mutations. We here describe a case of a patient carrier of the same BS-related PKP2 p.S183N mutation but with a clear diagnosis of ACM. Specifically, we report how clinical and molecular investigations can be integrated for diagnostic purposes, distinguishing between ACM and BS, which are increasingly recognized as syndromes with clinical and genetic overlaps. This observation is fundamentally relevant in redefining the role of genetics in the approach to the arrhythmic patient, progressing beyond the concept of \u201cone mutation, one disease\u201d, and raising concerns about the most appropriate approach to patients affected by structural/electrical cardiomyopathy. The merging of genetics, electroanatomical mapping, and tissue and cell characterization summarized in our patient seems to be the most complete diagnostic algorithm, favoring a reliable diagnosis

Comparative Effectiveness of Gemcitabine plus Nab-Paclitaxel and FOLFIRINOX in the First-Line Setting of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (GEM-NAB) and the combination of 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRINOX) are valid first-line options for advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC). However, no randomized trials comparing the two schemes have been performed. This meta-analysis aims to compare GEM-NAB and FOLFIRINOX in terms of safety and effectiveness, taking into account data from real-life studies on mPC. We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane library up to November 2018 to identify retrospective or cohort studies on mPC comparing GEM-NAB and FOLFIRINOX. We included 16 retrospective studies, including 3813 patients (2123 treated with GEM-NAB and 1690 treated with FOLFIRINOX). Despite a median weighted overall survival (OS) difference in favor of FOLFIRINOX (mean difference: 1.15, 95% confidence interval CI 0.08\u207b2.22, p = 0.03), in whole population OS was similar (hazard ratio (HR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.84\u207b1.16; p = 0.9). PFS was also not different between the two arms (HR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.71\u207b1.1; p = 0.26). The overall response rate was similar (25 vs. 24% with GEM-NAB and FOLFIRINOX). Among grade 3\u207b4 toxicities, neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and nausea were lower with GEM-NAB, while neurotoxicity and anemia were lower with FOLFIRINOX. In conclusion, despite a numerically longer median OS with FOLFIRINOX as compared to GEM-NAB, the overall risk of death and progression were similar. Their toxicity was different with less nausea, neutropenia, and febrile neutropenia with GEM-NAB, as compared to less neurotoxicity and anemia with FOLFIRINOX. Therefore, analysis of non-randomized "real world" studies to date has not provided evidence of a major benefit of one regimen over the other