9,379 research outputs found
Education-job (mis)matching and interregional migration: Italian university graduatesâ transition to work
This paper explores the patterns of education-job (mis)matching of recent university graduates, focussing on the impact of interregional migration. With the aim of offering a place-based perspective on the topic, the paper looks at the three Italian macro-regions of the North, the Centre and the South, comparing them with the country as a whole. We use an indicator of education-job (mis)matching drawn and adapted from the literature, and apply both ordered logit and probit models with self-selection to a dataset on graduatesâ entry in the labour market produced by the Italian National Statistical Institute. Our results suggest that, in line with most previous studies, interregional migration contributes to reduce education-job gaps: however, we find that the analysis for Italy as a whole masks stark differences between macro-regions, for which the typical North-South dualism still holds, confirming once more the cumulative and path-dependent nature of regional development trajectories
Synthetic cathinones related fatalities: an update
Synthetic cathinones, more commonly known as "bath salts", are synthetic drugs chemically related to cathinone, a psychostimulant found in the khat plant. They are the first most consumed products among new psychoactive substances, which cause psychostimulant and hallucinogenic effects determining a number of fatalities worldwide. In this paper, we have systematically reviewed cases of synthetic cathinones-related fatalities analytically confirmed, which have occurred in the last few years.OBJECTIVE: Synthetic cathinones,
more commonly known as âbath saltsâ, are synthetic
drugs chemically related to cathinone, a
psychostimulant found in the khat plant. They are
the first most consumed products among new
psychoactive substances, which cause psychostimulant
and hallucinogenic effects determining
a number of fatalities worldwide. In this paper, we
have systematically reviewed cases of synthetic
cathinones-related fatalities analytically confirmed,
which have occurred in the last few years.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant scientific
articles were identified in Medline, Cochrane
Central, Scopus, Web of Science and Institutional/
government websites up to November 2017
using the following keywords: synthetic cathinones,
mephedrone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone,
MDPV, methylone, ethylone, buthylone, fatal
intoxication, fatalities and death.
RESULTS: In total, 20 citations met the criteria
for inclusion, representing several fatal cases
with analytically confirmed synthetic cathinones
in biological sample/s of the deceased. The
death was attributed to hyperthermia, hypertension,
cardiac arrest and more in general to the
classic serotonin syndrome. Only rarely did the
concentration of the parent drug causing fatality
overcome the value of 1 mg/L in post-mortem
biological fluids.
CONCLUSIONS: Abuse of synthetic cathinones
still represents a serious public health issue.
Systematic clinical studies on both the animal
and human model are lacking; therefore, the
only available data are from the users who experience
the possible hazardous consequences.
Analytical methodologies for the identification
of parent compounds and eventual metabolites
both in ante-mortem and post-mortem cases
need to be developed and validated. Analytical
data should be shared through different communication
platforms with the aim of stopping this
serious health threat for drug users
Ethical and medico-legal remarks on uterus transplantation: may it solve uterine factor infertility?
Uterus transplantation was firstly tested with animal trials sixty-five years ago. Despite several successful attempts in human subjects, the different procedures still lay at the experimental stage, in need of further studies and investigations before they can be considered as standard clinical practices. Uterus transplant cannot be regarded as a life-saving procedure, but rather a method to restore woman ability to procreate, when lost, thus improving her quality of life. Uterus transplant is a complex surgical procedure and presents significant health threats. Medical staff should therefore always obtain informed consent from patients, emphasizing such risks. Before that, women undergoing uterine transplants should be thoroughly informed about the hazards inherent to the procedure and especially about the dangers of immunosuppressant drugs, administered after the surgery which may injure the fetus, eventually formed in the restored organ and even lead to its death, thus nullifying the purpose of the transplant itself. Therefore, the risk-benefit ratio of uterus transplantation needs to be carefully assessed and described
Hard Cosmic Ray Sea in the Galactic Center: a consistent interpretation of H.E.S.S. and Fermi-LAT -ray data
We present a novel interpretation of the gamma-ray diffuse emission measured
by H.E.S.S. in the Galactic Center (GC) region and the Galactic ridge. Our
starting base is an updated analysis of PASS8 Fermi-LAT data, which allows to
extend down to few GeV the spectra measured by H.E.S.S. and to infer the
primary CR radial distribution above 100 GeV. We compare those results with a
CR transport model assuming a harder scaling of the diffusion coefficient with
rigidity in the inner Galaxy. Such a behavior reproduces the radial dependence
of the CR spectral index recently inferred from Fermi-LAT measurements in the
inner GP. We find that, in this scenario, the bulk of the Galactic ridge
emission can be naturally explained by the interaction of the diffuse,
steady-state Galactic CR sea interacting with the gas present in the Central
molecular zone. The evidence of a GC PeVatron is significantly weaker than that
inferred adopting a conventional (softer) CR sea.Comment: Oral contribution to the International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC
2017), 12-20 July 2017, Bexco, Busan, Kore
Laser driven self-assembly of shape-controlled potassium nanoparticles in porous glass
We observe growth of shape-controlled potassium nanoparticles inside a random
network of glass nanopores, exposed to low-power laser radiation. Visible laser
light plays a dual role: it increases the desorption probability of potassium
atoms from the inner glass walls and induces the self-assembly of metastable
metallic nanoparticles along the nanopores. By probing the sample transparency
and the atomic light-induced desorption flux into the vapour phase, the
dynamics of both cluster formation/evaporation and atomic photo-desorption
processes are characterized. Results indicate that laser light not only
increases the number of nanoparticles embedded in the glass matrix but also
influences their structural properties. By properly choosing the laser
frequency and the illumination time, we demonstrate that it is possible to
tailor the nanoparticles'shape distribution. Furthermore, a deep connection
between the macroscopic behaviour of atomic desorption and light-assisted
cluster formation is observed. Our results suggest new perspectives for the
study of atom/surface interaction as well as an effective tool for the
light-controlled reversible growth of nanostructures.Comment: 14 pages,6 figures, http://iopscience.iop.org/1612-202X/11/8/085902
Nootropics use in the workplace. Psychiatric and ethical aftermath towards the new frontier of bioengineering
OBJECTIVE:
The authors have sought to expound upon and shed a light on the rise of nootropics, which have gradually taken on a more and more relevant role in workplaces and academic settings.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Multidisciplinary databases have been delved into by entering the following keys: "nootropics", "cognitive enhancement", "workplace", "productivity", "ethics", "bioengineering". In addition, a broad-ranging search has been undertaken on institutional websites in order to identify relevant analysis and recommendations issued by international institutions and agencies. Papers and reports have been independently pored over by each author. This search strategy has led to the identification of 988 sources but only 64 were considered appropriate for the purposes of the paper after being selected by at least 3 of the authors, independently.
RESULTS:
The notion of an artificially enhanced work performance - carried out by the 'superworker' - is particularly noteworthy and resonates with the conception of contemporary work on so many different levels: the rising need and demands for higher degrees of flexibility and productivity on the job, the implications of a '24/7' society, where more and more services are available at any time, the ever greater emphasis on entrepreneurial spirit, individual self-reliance and self-improvement, and last but not least, the impact of an ageing society on economic standards and performance.
CONCLUSIONS:
Moreover, it is worth mentioning that human enhancement technologies will predictably and increasingly go hand in hand with gene editing, bioengineering, cybernetics and nanotechnology. Applications are virtually boundless, and may ultimately affect all human traits (physical strength, endurance, vision, intelligence and even personality and mood)
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