Global compactness for a class of quasi-linear elliptic problems

We prove a global compactness result for Palais-Smale sequences associated with a class of quasi-linear elliptic equations on exterior domains.Comment: 19 page

Ultrasound in the diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease. A systematic literature review and a meta-analysis

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Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XLIV. Ultrasound of the shoulder in healthy individuals

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of shoulder ultrasound (US) detectable abnormalities in asymptomatic individuals of various ages and to correlate the US findings with clinical data. METHODS: 97 healthy subjects were enrolled in the present study. They were subgrouped according to their age, as follows: group I (20-29 years); group II (30-39 years); group III (40-49 years); group IV (50-59 years); group V (>60 years). A physical examination of both shoulders, based on a series of provocative maneuvers, was carried out. The US assessment was performed by using a Logiq9 machine equipped with a multi-frequency linear probe working at 12MHz and included the study of a number of structures for the evaluation of local abnormalities, as follows: the long head of biceps tendon (synovial effusion (SE), synovial hypertrophy (SH), power Doppler (PD) signal); the subacromion-subdeltoid and sub-scapularis bursae (SE, SH, PD signal); the rotator cuff tendons (tendinosis, calcifications, tears, impingement); the acromionclavicular (ACJ) and gleno-humeral joints (SE, SH, PD signal, osteophytes, erosions, fibrocartilage calcifications, cartilage abnormalities, tophaceous deposits). In addition, deltoid, throchite and throchine enthesopathy were searched for. RESULTS: 194 shoulders were studied in total. A low but variable percentage of joints of healthy individuals (3.1-13.4%) showed positive provocative maneuvers. 138 shoulders (71.1%) did not show any US abnormalities. The most frequent changes were SE of ACJ (25.5%), osteophytes of ACJ (23.3%), and supraspinatus tendinosis (20.6%). The prevalence of abnormalities progressively increased with age. Sub-clinical involvement was present in most cases, being provocative maneuvers positive only in a low percentage of joints. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the presence of a wide set of US-detectable changes in healthy subjects, that were more frequently present in elderly individuals. The absence of any clinical sign of local pathology cannot exclude the presence of local abnormalities

The development of an operational system for estimating irrigation water use reveals socio-political dynamics in Ukraine

Irrigation is the main driver of crop production in many agricultural regions across the world. The estimation of irrigation water has the potential to enhance our comprehension of the Earth system, thus providing crucial data for food production. In this study, we have created a unique operational system for estimating irrigation water using data from satellite soil moisture, reanalysis precipitation, and potential evaporation. As a proof of concept, we implemented the method at a high resolution (1 km) during the period of 2015–2023 over the area south of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine, which collapsed on 6 June 2023. The selected study area enabled us to showcase that our operational system is able to track the effect of the pandemic and conflict on the irrigation water supply. Significant decreases of 63 % and 44 % in irrigation water compared to the mean irrigation water between 2015 and 2023 have been identified as being linked to the collapse of the dam and, potentially, to the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively.</p

Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist II. Ultrasonography of the hand and wrist

The hand is one of the anatomical regions most frequently explored by ultrasonography (US) in rheumatology. The last generation US systems equipped with high frequency probes allow for a quick and accurate assessment of even minimal pathological changes in patients with rheumatic conditions affecting the small joints and the sofa tissues of the hand and wrist. Several studies have demonstrated the great value of US imaging of the hand and wrist in rheumatology but there are still controversial issues which yet have to be adequately addressed, particularly with regard to US semi-quantitative evaluation of synovitis and bone erosions in patients with chronic arthritis. This paper provides the basic knowledge, reviews the available evidence and discusses the potential of US in the evaluation of the hand and wrist