Effect of Lactoferrin on Clinical Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: The LAC Randomized Clinical Trial

As lactoferrin is a nutritional supplement with proven antiviral and immunomodulatory abilities, it may be used to improve the clinical course of COVID-19. The clinical efficacy and safety of bovine lactoferrin were evaluated in the LAC randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. A total of 218 hospitalized adult patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 were randomized to receive 800 mg/die oral bovine lactoferrin (n = 113) or placebo (n = 105), both given in combination with standard COVID-19 therapy. No differences in lactoferrin vs. placebo were observed in the primary outcomes: the proportion of death or intensive care unit admission (risk ratio of 1.06 (95% CI 0.63–1.79)) or proportion of discharge or National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) ≤ 2 within 14 days from enrollment (RR of 0.85 (95% CI 0.70–1.04)). Lactoferrin showed an excellent safety and tolerability profile. Even though bovine lactoferrin is safe and tolerable, our results do not support its use in hospitalized patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19

Application of Classification-Tree Methods to Identify Nitrate Sources in Ground Water

A study was conducted to determine if nitrate sources in ground water (fertilizer on crops, fertilizer on golf courses, irrigation spray from hog (Sus scrofa) wastes, and leachate from poultry litter and septic systems) could be classified with 80% or greater success. Two statistical classification-tree models were devised from 48 water samples containing nitrate from five source categories. Model 1 was con- structed by evaluating 32 variables and selecting four primary predictor variables (δ15N, nitrate to ammonia ratio, sodium to potassium ratio, and zinc) to identify nitrate sources. A δ15N value of nitrate plus potassium \u3e18.2 indicated animal sources; a value \u3c18.2 indicated inorganic or soil organic N. A nitrate to ammonia ratio \u3e575 indicated inorganic fertilizer on agricultural crops; a ratio \u3c 575 indicated nitrate from golf courses. A sodium to potassium ratio \u3e3.2 indicated septic- system wastes; a ratio \u3c3.2 indicated spray or poultry wastes. A value for zinc \u3e2.8 indicated spray wastes from hog lagoons; a value \u3c2.8 indicated poultry wastes. Model 2 was devised by using all variables except δ15N. This model also included four variables (sodium plus potassium, nitrate to ammonia ratio, calcium to magnesium ratio, and sodium to potassium ratio) to distinguish categories. Both models were able to distinguish all five source categories with better than 80% overall success and with 71 to 100% success in individual categories using the learning samples. Seventeen water samples that were not used in model development were tested using Model 2 for three categories, and all were correctly classified. Classification-tree models show great potential in identifying sources of contamination and variables important in the source-identification process

The paths of the Italian young poets. A Social Network Analysis of the contemporary poetic field

This paper explores the social dynamics and the interactions between young poets and the Italian poetic network. More specifically, 70 poets were questioned about their participation in poetic activities and their cultural path. Using Social Network Analysis approach, we obtained preliminary information about the roles and structure of the Italian poetic network. Moreover, the explorative multidimensional analysis of a two-mode network was conducted using Multiple Correspondence Analysis in order to focus on the nature of relational data and the presence of asymmetry between actors and events in the network. The main results show low density network with many isolated experiences, where traditional publishers are still determinant in the building of personal career path and in the distribution network’s support. Moreover, in a market that tends to “squeeze out,” platforms and online journals are strongly emerging as places of co-production and co-distribution of the young poetry in Italy