Evaluating the Efficacy of Lysozyme Against Lactic Acid Bacteria Under Different Winemaking Scenarios

This study evaluated the efficacy of lysozyme in winemaking to control lactic acid bacteria (LAB). In a wineryvinification, indigenous LAB were partially and completely inhibited when lysozyme was added to red and whitegrape must respectively. This result was confirmed by using two selected strains of Lactobacillus brevis andOenococcus oeni to contaminate the grape must. In the red wine microvinification, the cell population decreasedonly temporarily and malolactic fermentation terminated at different times, depending on the grape must pH andlysozyme dosage. In the white wine microvinification, cell mortality rates differed according to lysozyme dosagerather than pH values. During the fermentation, lysozyme activity was stable or decreased, depending on theabsence or presence of grape must respectively. The study highlighted that lysozyme efficacy is strongly affected bythe type of vinification

Doctoral Physical Therapy Students\u27 Increased Confidence Following Exploration of Active Video Gaming Systems in a Problem-based Learning Curriculum in the United States: A Pre-and Post-intervention Study

Purpose: Active video gaming (AVG) is used in physical therapy (PT) to treat individuals with a variety of diagnoses across the lifespan. The literature supports improvements in balance, cardiovascular endurance, and motor control; however, evidence is lacking regarding the implementation of AVG in PT education. This study investigated doctoral physical therapy (DPT) students\u27 confidence following active exploration of AVG systems as a PT intervention in the United States. Methods: This pretest-posttest study included 60 DPT students in 2017 (Cohort 1) and 55 students in 2018 (Cohort 2) enrolled in a problem-based learning curriculum. AVG systems were embedded into patient cases and 2 interactive laboratory classes across 2 consecutive semesters (April-December 2017 and April-December 2018). Participants completed a 31-question survey before the intervention and 8 months later. Students\u27 confidence was rated for general use, game selection, plan of care, set-up, documentation, setting, and demographics. Descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare differences in confidence pre- and post-intervention. Results: Both cohorts showed increased confidence at the post-test (cohort 1: pre-test, median [IQR]=57.1 [44.3-63.5]), post-test, median [IQR]=79.1 [73.1-85.4]; cohort 2: pre-test, median [IQR]=61.4 [48.0-70.7], post-test, median [IQR]=89.3 [80.0-93.2]). Cohort 2 was significantly more confident at baseline than cohort 1 (

Large-sized pleomorphic adenoma of the cheek treated with Nd:Yag laser: Report of a case and review of the literature

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) mostly involves parotid glands, while extra-parotid localizations are relatively uncommon. Particularly, PAs of the cheek minor salivary glands with a size larger than 4 cm are exceedingly rare, with only few cases reported. Surgical treatment of PA usually consists in radical excision. However, despite a presumptive radicality, recurrences, sometimes followed by malignant transformation, may occur. Here we report a case of a large-sized (6 cm) PA of the cheek minor salivary glands in a 70 year-old female patient, successfully treated through a conservative approach, based on the use of Nd:YAG Laser (λ=1064 nm). No recurrences were observed after a 2-year follow-up. A concise review of the literature, describing the features of 14 cases is also provided. Advantages of laser treatment include a precise cut, reduction of trauma on surrounding tissues, the possibility of a very good intraoperative hemostasis. Such features may sometimes allow to avoid general anesthesia, even for removal of big lesions. Post-operative course, in terms of pain and swelling, is usually better for intervention performed with laser, when compared to traditional surgery

Effect of the Austempering Process on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 27MnCrB5-2 Steel

AbstractThe effect of austempering parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 27MnCrB5-2 steel has been investigated by means of: dilatometric, microstructural and fractographic analyses; tensile and Charpy V-notch (CVN) impact tests at room temperature and a low temperature.Microstructural analyses showed that upper bainite developed at a higher austempering temperature, while a mixed bainitic-martensitic microstructure formed at lower temperatures, with a different amount of bainite and martensite and a different size of bainite sheaf depending on the temperature. Tensile tests highlighted superior yield and tensile strengths (≈30%) for the mixed microstructure, with respect to both fully bainitic and Q&T microstructures, with only a low reduction in elongation to failure (≈10%). Impact tests confirmed that mixed microstructures have higher impact properties, at both room temperature and a low temperature

Large-sized pleomorphic adenoma of the cheek treated with Nd:Yag laser: Report of a case and review of the literature

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) mostly involves parotid glands, while extra-parotid localizations are relatively uncommon. Particularly, PAs of the cheek minor salivary glands with a size larger than 4 cm are exceedingly rare, with only few cases reported. Surgical treatment of PA usually consists in radical excision. However, despite a presumptive radicality, recurrences, sometimes followed by malignant transformation, may occur. Here we report a case of a large-sized (6 cm) PA of the cheek minor salivary glands in a 70 year-old female patient, successfully treated through a conservative approach, based on the use of Nd:YAG Laser (λ=1064 nm). No recurrences were observed after a 2-year follow-up. A concise review of the literature, describing the features of 14 cases is also provided. Advantages of laser treatment include a precise cut, reduction of trauma on surrounding tissues, the possibility of a very good intraoperative hemostasis. Such features may sometimes allow to avoid general anesthesia, even for removal of big lesions. Post-operative course, in terms of pain and swelling, is usually better for intervention performed with laser, when compared to traditional surgery

Adolescents and primary herpetic gingivostomatitis: an Italian overview

Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the therapies administered to Italian adolescents with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (PHGS) Methods The medical records of 74 adolescents with PHSG were reviewed. The following data were recorded: age, gender, day of onset, type of treatment, lesions' severity, pain scoring, eating, and drinking ability. The oral examination was performed at the first evaluation (T0) and after one week (T1). Results All patients showed up at the first visit at least 48 h after the onset of symptoms. No patient was prescribed an antiviral therapy. An antibiotic therapy was prescribed in order to prevent secondary bacterial infections. Fifteen patients had been treated with non alcoholic chlorhexidine rinses (group A), 29 patients with non alcoholic chlorhexidine rinses plus hyaluronic acid gel (group B); 30 patients with non alcoholic chlorhexidine rinses plus Mucosyte (R) (group C). A significant improvement of the pain scoring and lesions' severity was noted in group C. Conclusion In Italian adolescents, PHGS is diagnosed at least 48 h after onset and the antibiotic therapy is widely prescribed in order to prevent overinfections. Among topical therapies, an association of verbascoside and sodium hyaluronhate seems to favour a faster healing

Optical Performance of Ag-based Back Reflectors with different Spacers in Thin Film Si Solar Cells

Abstract We have compared different Ag-based back reflectors (BRs) applied to superstrate-type microcrystalline Si devices grown on Asahi U glass. In particular, substitution of the conventional ZnO:Al layer by MgF 2 , with lower refractive index and no free-carrier absorption, has been investigated. As electrical issues can mask the optical performance of the BR when evaluated by EQE measurements, a purely optical method that compares the intensity of Raman spectra generated with long wavelength excitation light has been applied. Based on this investigation, MgF 2 /Ag is potentially superior to ZnO:Al/Ag, even when MgF 2 is used in the form of ultrathin layer (few nm, likely island-like). Nevertheless, the novel dual-function n-SiO x /Ag BR outperforms all the other BRs

SARS-CoV-2 has been circulating in northern Italy since december 2019: evidence from environmental monitoring

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the coronavirus disease COVID-19, a public health emergency worldwide, and Italy is among the most severely affected countries. The first autochthonous Italian case of COVID-19 was documented on February 21, 2020. We investigated the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Italy earlier than that date, by analysing 40 composite influent wastewater samples collected - in the framework of other wastewater-based epidemiology projects - between October 2019 and February 2020 from five wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in three cities and regions in northern Italy (Milan/Lombardy, Turin/Piedmont and Bologna/Emilia Romagna). Twenty-four additional samples collected in the same WWTPs between September 2018 and June 2019 (i.e. long before the onset of the epidemic) were included as ‘blank’ samples. Viral concentration was performed according to the standard World Health Organization procedure for poliovirus sewage surveillance, with modifications. Molecular analysis was undertaken with both nested RT-PCR and real-rime RT-PCR assays. A total of 15 positive samples were confirmed by both methods. The earliest dates back to 18 December 2019 in Milan and Turin and 29 January 2020 in Bologna. Virus concentration in the samples ranged from below the limit of detection (LOD) to 5.6 × 104 genome copies (g.c.)/L, and most of the samples (23 out of 26) were below the limit of quantification of PCR. Our results demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 was already circulating in northern Italy at the end of 2019. Moreover, it was circulating in different geographic regions simultaneously, which changes our previous understanding of the geographical circulation of the virus in Italy. Our study highlights the importance of environmental surveillance as an early warning system, to monitor the levels of virus circulating in the population and identify outbreaks even before cases are notified to the healthcare system