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Background: Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is one of the side effects of mechanical ventilation during ARDS; a prerequisite for averting it is the quantification of its risk factors associated with a given ventilatory setting. Many clinical variables have been proposed as predictors of VILI, of which driving pressure is the most widely used. In this study, we compared the performance of driving pressure, four times the driving pressure added to respiratory rate (4DPRR) and mechanical power ratio. Results: In a study population of 121 previously healthy pigs exposed to harmful ventilation, we compared the association of driving pressure, 4DPRR and mechanical power ratio to lung weight, lung wet-to-dry and total histological score. All the three variables were associated with these outcomes. Driving pressure, 4DPRR and mechanical power ratio increase linearly with the lung weight (adjusted R2 of 0.27, 0.36 and 0.40, respectively), the lung wet-to-dry ratio (adjusted R2 of 0.19, 0.25 and 0.37) and the total histological score (adjusted R2 of 0.26, 0.38 and 0.26). Using a multiple linear regression model with forward analysis, starting with tidal volume and progressively adding respiratory rate and positive end-expiratory pressure, and comparing the topic with the outcome variables, we obtained R2 values, respectively, of 0.07, 0.20, 0.42 for lung weight, 0.09, 0.19, 0.26 for lung wet-to-dry ratio and 0.07, 0.27, 0.43 for total histological score. Conclusions: Driving pressure, 4DPRR and mechanical power ratio, were all associated with lung injury in healthy animals undergoing mechanical ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study shows the danger zone and the safety corridor in the lateral approach with bridge plating by measuring the distance between the lateral side of the plate positioned on the lateral aspect of the humerus and the radial nerve after it pierces the lateral intermuscular septum, in the different forearm positions. Methods: Forty arms of 20 human cadavers were used, the radial nerve was identified and marked on the lateral surface the radial nerve at the exit of the lateral intermuscular septum and anteriorisation of the nerve in relation to the humeral shaft and the lateral epicondyle was also marked. The distances were measured with a digital caliper. A submuscular extraperiosteal corridor was created, proximally between the biceps brachialis and deltoid muscle and distally between the triceps and brachioradialis muscle, followed by the positioning of the low contact large fragments contoured plate with 14 combined holes (fixed and cortical angle), inserted from distal to proximal. Measurements were performed in four positions (elbow flexion with forearm pronation, elbow flexion with forearm supination, elbow extension with forearm pronation and elbow extension with forearm supination). Results: Significant statistical differences occurred with the different positions, and the elbow flexion with forearm supination was shown to be the position that provides the safest submuscular extraperiosteal corridor in a lateral approach of the humerus. Conclusion: The danger zone of radial nerve is an area that extends from 15 cm to 5 cm proximal to the lateral epicondyle and the safest way to create a submuscular and extraperiosteal corridor in the lateral region of the humerus is with the elbow in flexion and the forearm in supination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tensile properties of sintered C f -ZrB 2 /SiC UHTCMCs were investigated for different lamination sequences, revealing ultimate strengths of 570 MPa (0°/0°), 120 MPa (0°/90°), and 40 MPa (90°/90°). The results facilitated modeling the material's non-linear tensile response, characterized by a remarkably prolonged plateau with pseudo-plastic behavior, followed by stiffness recovery before ultimate failure. A simplified analytical model was developed to predict this behavior originated by residual thermal stresses and inelastic phenomena. A complete constitutive law was then developed and implemented in a FE model, utilizing a bi-phasic approach including Drucker-Prager plasticity and orthotropic ductile damage. Two-step analyses were performed, starting with a thermal step to represent the buildup of a self-equilibrating RTS state in the material phases, followed by a mechanical simulation. This demonstrated the model's efficacy in capturing the non-linear response in both homogeneous and cross-ply lay-ups, contributing to advancements in materials engineering and the design of UHTCMCs-based hot structures. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the properties of the constituent elements within Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) is of paramount importance. During manufacturing process, the properties of the starting phases can undergo changes or be influenced by their interactions. In this work, micro-indentation analysis was used to selectively characterize matrix and fiber of Ultra-High-Temperature CMCs (UHTCMCs) produced by slurry infiltration of unidirectional pitch-derived carbon fabrics and sintering. A loading pre-factor was exploited to differentiate between indentations made on the matrix and those made on the fibers. The ZrB 2 -based matrix showed typical elasto-plastic behavior, leaving a residual imprint, with hardness and a modulus of 11.5 GPa and 220 GPa, respectively, consistent with its porosity, cracks and fiber content. Conversely, the fiber displayed no residual imprint and displayed hardness and modulus values of 1.1 GPa and 40 GPa, respectively. These values were attributed to the graphitic sheets buckling and residual thermal stress. Furthermore, the indentations indicated a transition zone between the matrix and fiber affecting mechanical behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This performative paper interweaves contextual and theoretical discourse alongside the poetic, reflective text, to capture what Gherardi et al describe as the 'sociomaterial traces' of a practice of self-choreography in and through time. Emerging from/through my experience of the choreographic methodologies of solo female dance makers (Rosalind Crisp, Amy Voris, and Deborah Black/Mary Overlie), self-choreography is conceived as neither singular nor isolated, but as a deeply embedded and relational practice. Referencing the writing of feminist artist and psychoanalytical theorist Bracha Ettinger, this article re-frames the performance encounter as one of bi-directional 'wit(h)nessing' across a shared 'Borderspace', foregrounding solidarity between/with performer and audience. The resulting wit(h)ness scores invite both performer and audience-as-witness to remain open to each other's affective resonances in what Ettinger describes as a 'co-poietic' encounter-event, bringing about 'differentiation in co-emergence', solidarity and wonder. As Ettinger states, 'It's not about perception. It's about connecting'. In this shared borderspace, am I really the only one dancing? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In insects, olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) are localized in sensilla. Within a sensillum, different ORN types are typically co-localized and exhibit nonsynaptic reciprocal inhibition through ephaptic coupling. This inhibition is hypothesized to aid odor source discrimination in environments where odor molecules (odorants) are dispersed by wind, resulting in turbulent plumes. Under these conditions, odorants from a single source arrive at the ORNs synchronously, while those from separate sources arrive asynchronously. Ephaptic inhibition is expected to be weaker for asynchronous arriving odorants from separate sources, thereby enhancing their discrimination. Previous studies have focused on ephaptic inhibition of sustained ORN responses to constant odor stimuli. This begs the question of whether ephaptic inhibition also affects transient ORN responses and if this inhibition is modulated by the temporal arrival patterns of different odorants. To address this, we recorded co-localized ORNs in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and exposed them to dynamic odorant mixtures. We found reciprocal inhibition, strongly suggesting the presence of ephaptic coupling. This reciprocal inhibition does indeed modulate transient ORN responses and is sensitive to the relative timing of odor stimuli. Notably, the strength of inhibition decreases as the synchrony and correlation between arriving odorants decrease. These results support the hypothesis that ephaptic inhibition aids odor source discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) was introduced in 2011, and its advanced enablers strongly affect industrial practices. In the current literature, while several papers offer general reviews on the topic, contributions exploring the evidences coming from the implementation of I4.0 in multi‐sector Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises are few and expected. To address this gap, a comprehensive review of the main I4.0 enabling technologies is conducted, focusing on implementation experiences in companies belonging to different sectors. Forty (40) real case studies are analyzed and compared. The results show that 63% of the identified applications involve large enterprises in the transport sector, that is, automotive, aeronautics, and railway, adopting a structured set of enabling technologies. SMEs engaged in I4.0 projects primarily belong to the mechanical engineering sector, and 37% of such projects deals with the preliminary feasibility analysis of introducing a single enabling technology. Conclusions and trends guide researchers and practitioners in understanding the implementation level of I4.0 technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparison of microstructures and mechanical properties of different ZrB 2 -based CMCs, which were manufactured in the frame of the Horizon 2020 European C3HARME research project through different processes: slurry infiltration and sintering (SIS), polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) and radio frequency chemical vapour infiltration (RF-CVI). Tensile testing with a novel optimized shape of the specimens was performed and compared with the results of flexural tests to assess the structural properties. For the first time, tensile tests up to 1600 °C were carried out on UHTCMCs. Despite the different microstructural features, all the ZrB 2 -based CMCs demonstrated excellent structural properties even at elevated temperature. The characterization shows how the different amount of porosity and fibre properties, such as its stiffness, strength and elongation, affected the mechanical behaviour of the C3HARME's composites. Finally, the role of the high level of residual thermal stresses is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hexagonal Z-type ferrite Sr 3 Co 2 Fe 24 O 41 (SrZ) was first synthesised in 2001 and reported as being a room temperature multiferroic material in 2010, with subsequent investigations into its multiferroic properties, but little into high frequency and microwave properties, and ferromagnetic resonance frequency (FMR), which determines its ability as an electromagnetic (EM) absorber and radar absorbing (RAM) stealth material. It was shown that SrZ existed as a majority or single phase after heating in a narrow temperature range between 1170 and 1190 °C using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and measurement of magnetic hysteresis loops, with the sample appearing to be single phase SrZ at 1190 °C. We measured complex permeability and permittivity of a single phase polycrystalline ceramic sample of SrZ between 500 MHz and 8 GHz (X-band). The sample had a relatively high permittivity >17 over this entire frequency range, and it showed a strong ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) at 2.3 GHz. This FMR could also be tuned by the effect of an external magnetic field, by moving a simple bar magnet progressively closer to a toroidal sample. This incurred a very slight shift in the peak up to 2.48 GHz at distances of 2.5–10 cm from the sample – a tuning of ∼5–6% with applied magnetic fields estimated to be 0.11–0.23 T, which is not insignificant. At a close distance of 0.5 mm we got a high degree of tuning of FMR to 3.4 GHz, a large change of 1.07 GHz (= 46% increase) with an applied magnetic field estimated to be 0.40 T. Despite this, the applied field had no significant effect on permittivity over 0.5–8 GHz. Such results have never been reported before, and are significant, as this would enable tuning of the FMR via simple physical/mechanical movement of a bulk alloy magnet, effectively creating a tuneable microwave filter or absorber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous studies have reported a diverse range of threshold values for blood eosinophilia. In addition, a single predictive biomarker for eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps (ECRSwNP) has not yet been identified. Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the clinical characteristics of ECRSwNP and non-ECRSwNP to evaluate the preoperative risk of tissue eosinophilia of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) through a multiparametric statistical analysis. Methods: One hundred ten patients with evidence of chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis were included in this study and clinical records were retrospectively reviewed. Eosinophilic CRSwNP was diagnosed based on the presence of at least 10 eosinophils per high-power field. The demographic and clinical features of ECRSwNP and non-ECRSwNP are described. The values of blood eosinophilia as predictors of tissue eosinophilia have been identified using receiver operating characteristic curves. As the predictive value of the identified cutoff through regression analysis was low, we evaluated whether other risk factors could be statistically associated with ECRSwNP, and from this, a new predictive model was proposed for the identification of eosinophilic nasal polyps before surgery. Results: We found that the best method for predicting ECRSwNP is based on a model having asthma, blood eosinophil percentage, posterior ethmoid value in Lund-Mackay score, and modified Lund-Kennedy score as explanatory variables. Conclusions: This study provides new data for a better understanding of the polypoid CRS endotypes, and the proposed model allows the endotype to be identified preoperatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Italian versions of the 12-item Sexual Distress Scale (SDS) and the 5-item Sexual Distress Scale-Short Form (SDS-SF). A total sample of 2291 adults (1361 women, 930 men) participated through a web survey completing the SDS, the FSFI, the IIEF, the PANAS and the SCL-90-R. The results supported the adequacy of both the SDS and SDS-SF factor structures, good reliability (respectively, α =.96 and.92), discriminant validities and strong associations with satisfaction, fear, depression, and psychoticism. SDS and SDS-SF may facilitate the assessment of sexual distress for both clinical and research purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

See the response from Bennett et al. in this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Rotavirus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis in Europe. No specific clinical feature differentiates bacterial from viral gastroenteritis. Acute gastroenteritis self-resolves without antibiotics in the majority of healthy children regardless of the aetiology. Empirical antibiotics should only be prescribed for specific indications, as stated in the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) / European Society for Pediatrics Infectious Diseases (ESPID) Evidence -- Based Guidelines for the Management of Acute Gastroenteritis in Children in Europe. This audit aimed to assess the prevalence of the different pathogens causing acute gastroenteritis in children in Malta and to establish whether empirical antibiotics are being prescribed according to the aforementioned guidelines. METHOD All children admitted to Mater Dei Hospital between 1st September 2019 and 29th February 2020 with acute gastroenteritis were included. The data was collected retrospectively from iSOFT Clinical Manager and medical records. The results were compared to the aforementioned guidelines. RESULTS Rotavirus was the most commonly identified pathogen accounting for 37.9% of all cases. Non-typhoid Salmonella was the commonest bacterial cause. Empirical antibiotics were prescribed in 20.3% of all cases but were indicated in just 8.4%. Furthermore, empirical antibiotics were only indicated in 37.9% of the patients who received them. The commonest indicator was severe toxaemia. CONCLUSION Acute gastroenteritis in children in Malta is mainly viral, Rotavirus being the most common pathogen. There is significant over-prescription of empirical antibiotics in acute gastroenteritis. Measures need to be introduced to reduce antibiotic overuse and its risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insects have several methods to protect themselves and their resources from danger. One of them is to use their sense of smell. In this review, we describe how insects use smell to detect threats and perform behaviours of 'flight or fight' such as avoidance, escape or attack, in order to protect themselves. We also discuss how group-living insects share the information of danger through semiochemicals called alarm pheromones, to act as a collective. In the second section of this paper, we review how these odours are processed in insect brains. We discuss how the two kinds of neural architectures observed in olfactory areas, labelled-lines and across-fiber patterns, support the processing of alarm pheromones. Finally, we give an outlook on potential future studies that will help us understand this field better. Most animals must defend themselves in order to survive. Defensive behaviour includes detecting predators or intruders, avoiding them by staying low-key or escaping or deterring them away by means of aggressive behaviour, i.e., attacking them. Responses vary across insect species, ranging from individual responses to coordinated group attacks in group-living species. Among different modalities of sensory perception, insects predominantly use the sense of smell to detect predators, intruders, and other threats. Furthermore, social insects, such as honeybees and ants, communicate about danger by means of alarm pheromones. In this review, we focus on how olfaction is put to use by insects in defensive behaviour. We review the knowledge of how chemical signals such as the alarm pheromone are processed in the insect brain. We further discuss future studies for understanding defensive behaviour and the role of olfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Naphthalene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that has been associated with health effects, including cancer. As the state of the science on naphthalene toxicity continues to evolve, updated toxicity reference value(s) may be required to support human health risk assessment. OBJECTIVES: We present a systematic evidence map of studies that could be used to derive toxicity reference value(s) for naphthalene. METHODS: Human and animal health effect studies and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models were identified from a literature search based on populations, exposures, comparators, and outcomes (PECO) criteria. Human and animal studies meeting PECO criteria were refined to a smaller subset considered most informative for deriving chronic reference value(s), which are preferred for assessing risk to the general public. This subset was evaluated for risk of bias and sensitivity, and the suitability of each study for dose–response analysis was qualitatively assessed. Lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAELs) were extracted and summarized. Other potentially relevant studies (e.g., mechanistic and toxicokinetic studies) were tracked as supplemental information but not evaluated further. Existing reference values for naphthalene are also summarized. RESULTS: We identified 26 epidemiology studies and 16 animal studies that were considered most informative for further analysis. Eleven PBPK models were identified. The available epidemiology studies generally had significant risk of bias and/or sensitivity concerns and were mostly found to have low suitability for dose–response analysis due to the nature of the exposure measurements. The animal studies had fewer risk of bias and sensitivity concerns and were mostly found to be suitable for dose–response analysis. CONCLUSION: Although both epidemiological and animal studies of naphthalene provide weight of evidence for hazard identification, the available animal studies appear more suitable for reference value derivation. PBPK models and mechanistic and toxicokinetic data can be applied to extrapolate these animal data to humans, considering mode of action and interspecies metabolic differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider complex networks where the dynamics of each interacting agent is given by a nonlinear vector field and the connections between the agents are defined according to the topology of undirected simple graphs. The aim of the work is to explore whether the asymptotic dynamic behavior of the entire network can be fully determined from the knowledge of the dynamic properties of the underlying constituent agents. While the complexity that arises by connecting many nonlinear systems hinders us to analytically determine general solutions, we show that there are conditions under which the dynamical properties of the constituent agents are equivalent to the dynamical properties of the entire network. This feature, which depends on the nature and structure of both the agents and connections, leads us to define the concept of regions of reduced dynamics, which are subsets of the parameter space where the asymptotic solutions of a network behave equivalently to the limit sets of the constituent agents. On one hand, we discuss the existence of regions of reduced dynamics, which can be proven in the case of diffusive networks of identical agents with all-to-all topologies and conjectured for other topologies. On the other hand, using three examples, we show how to locate regions of reduced dynamics in parameter space. In simple cases, this can be done analytically through bifurcation analysis and in other cases we exploit numerical continuation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With less than a million neurons, the western honeybee Apis mellifera is capable of complex olfactory behaviors and provides an ideal model for investigating the neurophysiology of the olfactory circuit and the basis of olfactory perception and learning. Here, we review the most fundamental aspects of honeybee's olfaction: first, we discuss which odorants dominate its environment, and how bees use them to communicate and regulate colony homeostasis; then, we describe the neuroanatomy and the neurophysiology of the olfactory circuit; finally, we explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to olfactory memory formation. The vastity of histological, neurophysiological, and behavioral data collected during the last century, together with new technological advancements, including genetic tools, confirm the honeybee as an attractive research model for understanding olfactory coding and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to present, analyze, and relate the models that guided the basic education literature classes which a literature and language undergraduate experienced as student; and the models that he adopts to teach literature in his professional practices as language teacher on basic education. For that purpose, it was conducted an interview, in which the participant could describe the literature classes, both that he attended as student and teach as a teacher and analyze them from the perspective of what was called class model definers and demonstrators: class dynamics, content, didactic material and evaluation. Based on his answers, it was concluded that the literature classes which he attended as basic education student was guided by the historiographic model. It was also concluded that, although the participant had expressed dissatisfaction about that model, as a teacher, he tends to reproduce practices that characterize it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-traditional warehouses rise as effective solutions to shorten the travelled distances to store and retrieve unit loads, adding aisles crossing the parallel racks. Multiple warehouse configurations are proposed by the literature discussing the enhancements toward standard layouts. In previous contributions, the authors introduced the diagonal cross-aisle model, concluding about its positive impact on the handling performances under single command operations. This paper extends the previous works, integrating dual command operations, through an original analytic model supporting the design of non-traditional warehouses with a couple of symmetric straight diagonal cross-aisles and random storage assignment strategy. The closed-form expressions to compute the expected cycle travel distances are provided, optimising the aisle position. An industrial case study applies the model, getting distance savings ranging from 11 to 17%, compared to standard layout and further considering the loss of storage space due to the presence of the additional aisles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High entropy metal diborides (HEBs) represent a radically new approach to extend the chemical composition window of ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs). In this work, arc-melting was used to produce dense HEBs starting from UHTC powders. In order to understand the influence of each individual diboride within the quinary system (HfB 2 , ZrB 2 , TiB 2 , TaB 2 and CrB 2), we investigated five quaternary equimolar solid solutions e.g. Hf-Zr-Ti-Ta, Hf-Zr-Ti-Cr, Hf-Zr-Ta-Cr, Hf-Ti-Ta-Cr, Zr-Ti-Ta-Cr and the overall quinary equimolar combination. Arc-melting allowed a rapid screening of favorable and unfavorable combinations. The produced HEBs were free from undesired oxides and characterized by linear variation of lattice parameters typical of diborides and binary solid solutions. Because of evaporation during arc melting, CrB 2 was hardly found in the solid solution, suggesting that vapor pressure should be taken into account when designing HEB compositions especially for operating temperatures exceeding 2000 °C. Finally, Vickers microhardness ranged between the typical values of starting diborides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stacked aluminum oxide/aluminum nitride (Al 2 O 3 /AlN) layers were deposited on n-type (0001) 4H–SiC by atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes. The structural and chemical properties have been investigated and are consistent with the growth of ∼9 nm oriented (0001) AlN layer, and an upper 20 nm amorphous Al 2 O 3 layer. The entire Al 2 O 3 /AlN stack was electrically characterized and compared with respect to a single Al 2 O 3 layer having the same total thickness. The Al 2 O 3 /AlN bilayer exhibited a higher dielectric constant (κ = 8.7), a significant reduction of the oxide trapped charges (N OT) from 7.8 × 1012 to 1.8 × 1012 cm−2, as well as a decrease of a factor 2 of the interface traps density (D it) compared with the Al 2 O 3 single layer values. A large positive flat band voltage shift was observed in the C–V curves acquired on MIS capacitors. The comparison of the behaviour of MIS capacitors fabricated on both n-type and p-type 4H–SiC demonstrated that deep interface states (near the 4H–SiC mid gap) acting as acceptors or donors for the n-type and p-type MIS contribute to the observed behavior. This hypothesis has been also corroborated by TCAD simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) is a subtype of stiff-person syndrome (formerly stiff-man syndrome). It is rare and disabling, and characterised by brainstem symptoms, muscle stiffness, breathing issues and autonomic dysfunction. We describe a 65-year-old man who presented with odynophagia together with tongue and neck swelling, followed by multiple cranial nerve palsies culminating in bilateral vocal cord paralysis with acute stridor. He subsequently developed progressive generalised hypertonia and painful limb spasms. Serum antiglycine receptor antibody was strongly positive, but antiglutamic acid decarboxylase and other antibodies relating to stiff-person syndrome were negative. We diagnosed PERM and gave intravenous corticosteroids and immunoglobulins without benefit; however, following plasma exchange he has made a sustained improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a society dominated by technological progress, sexuality, as a need of the human being, requires particular attention and to deserve a careful look is precisely the interaction between sexuality and robotics. The latter, was born as a field of research and interdisciplinary practice which, thanks to or because of its developments on human-machine interactions, offers possibilities and raises questions in the field of sexual health. The triumph of sex dolls, as satisfactory tools for sexual purposes, has stimulated the reflection of numerous scientists to produce a sexual tool that came ever closer to the imaginary of the human being: the sex robot. The sex robot, in fact, recalls the characteristics of the human being in a more sophisticated way: it is able to entertain conversations, to experience emotions and has a pre-programmed personality. The sex robot even has the ability to simulate sexual movements and positions and to imitate an orgasm. This sexual product, therefore, was developed specifically for sexual purposes. The "march" of sex robots in real life is becoming increasingly accentuated to the point that, according to some scientists, humans, in a few decades, will find themselves having more sexual relations with sex robots than with their fellow humans in the flesh. Faced with this unceasing technological evolution, the scientific community is questioning the relationship between sex robots and human beings, focusing on the ethical aspects related to the latter. It follows that the appearance of these sexual products in the cybernetic industry has divided the scientific community, and not, into two ethical orientations. The first, considers sex robots to be potential, rather than deficient, tools for solving problems, such as pedophilia and prostitution; the second, on the other hand, considers the sex robots products capable of generating negatively significant social changes, such as an increase in deviant sexual behavior, the robotization of consent and the alienation of the human being. The position of those who consider sex robots as simple products for the exclusive use of a few people has also emerged in the scientific community. In addition, health professionals and the whole community are wondering about the use of sex robots in the therapeutic field. In fact, although the efficacy of other sexual products, such as sex toys, has been widely proven in the treatment of orgasm problems, on the effectiveness of sex robots as a therapeutic tool, however, there is little documentation. The undoubted efficacy of sex robots in sexual therapy seems to have fueled a general skepticism by psychotherapists and physicians, who are relatively open to the use of sex robots in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions and whose attitudes are influenced by ethical considerations regarding their use. The skepticism towards these sexual products does not depend exclusively on a technophobic vision or on an excessive moralism but arises from the need to exploit the potential of this sexual product by protecting public health and reducing related risks. The ethical evaluation by physicians and psychotherapists depends on several factors, such as gender, age, reasons behind the use of these sexual products, past experiences and the different training of health professionals. In other words, female psychotherapists and physicians present more ethical concerns than their male colleagues. Furthermore, younger therapists more easily accept the application of technology in the therapeutic field than their older colleagues. Sex robots, even, are rated negatively when used as a consumer product rather than as a therapeutic tool. The critical attitude of psychotherapists and doctors also depends on the negative association of sex robots with emotional dependence and pornography. Different sexual health professionals, namely psychotherapists and physicians, evaluate the use of sexual robots in clinical practice differently: the former, in fact, tend to be more critical than the latter. However, in clinical and therapeutic settings, the use of sex robots seems to increase in several fields of intervention, such as in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and anxiety related to the first sexual relationship or, even, with socially isolated people, sex offenders and, above all, with people suffering from dementia, autism and physical disability. According to Döring and Poeschl (2018), the technological advancement of sexual products provides opportunities for the creation of health promotion projects and, therefore, the sex industry and engineers should jointly engage with other expert figures, such as health professionals, in perfecting robots that have a positive impact on people's sexual well-being. The aim of this work is to highlight the relationship between technology and sexuality, focusing attention on the risks and benefits deriving from the use of sex robots and emphasizing the attitudes of health professionals towards the use of sex robots in the therapeutic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of limit design applied to masonry structures, this paper aims at analyzing the different behavior of a pavilion dome according to the adopted construction and reinforcement technologies. By using the static theorem applied to the dome discretized in rigid macroblocks of variable shape aligned along parallels and meridians, a mathematical model has been constructed in order to search for the load collapse multiplier, and thus to evaluate the degree of structural safety. Then, the associated failure mechanism is represented at the instant in which the collapse is reached. The program implementing the model is sufficiently versatile and, in addition to the mechanical characteristics, allows to define the intrados profile, the thickness variability, as well as to insert any window opening in the drum, the lantern at the top and the hoops at each level. The results shown here are concerned with some numerical applications carried out on a theoretical dome, as well as with a preliminary analysis of the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence by Brunelleschi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within cellular manufacturing systems (CMSs), families of parts are assigned to manufacturing cells, composed by homogeneous sets of machines. In conventional CMSs, each cell is devoted to the production of a specific part family, reducing material handling and work-in-process. Despite their flexibility, such systems still suffer from coping with the present market challenges asking for dynamic part mix and the need of agility in manufacturing. To meet these challenges, the recent literature explores the idea of including elements of the emerging reconfigurable manufacturing paradigm in the design and management of CMSs, leading to the cellular reconfigurable manufacturing system (CRMS) concept. The aim of this paper is to propose an original linear programming optimization model for the design of CRMSs with alternative part routing and multiple time periods. The production environment consists of multiple cells equipped with reconfigurable machine tools (RMTs) made of basic and auxiliary custom modules. By changing the auxiliary modules, different operations become available on the same RMT. The proposed approach determines the part routing mix and the auxiliary module allocation best balancing the part flows among RMTs and the effort to install the modules on the machines. The approach discussion is supported by a literature case study, while a multi-scenario analysis is performed to assess the impact of different CMS configurations on the system performances, varying both the number of cells and the RMT assignment to each of them. A benchmarking concludes the paper comparing the proposed CRMS against a conventional CMS configuration. The analysis shows relevant benefits in terms of reduction of the intercellular travel time (− 58.6%) getting a global time saving of about 53.3%. Results prove that reconfigurability is an opportunity for industries to face the dynamics of global markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Dual-particulate composites of cobalt ferrite dispersed in a fully dense PZT matrix are produced by quite-fast sintering of mechanically activated powders. By high-energy milling of the powders a bi-modal grain size distribution, with octahedral nano-grains and larger grains grown by multiple parallel twinning, are achieved in the final microstructure. The material display a "wasp-waisted" magnetic response as a consequence of the two main CoFe 2 O 4 grain populations and can be exploited for broadband energy harvesting or field sensors. After poling under 5 kV/mm, a maximum d 33 of 30 pC/N was achieved. This value is an order of magnitude lower than that of bulk PZT. Nevertheless, a magnetoelectric coefficient of 1.74 mV cm−1 Oe−1 is obtained, which suggests the high potentiality of these materials, since this value is higher than that shown by magnetoelectric composites with similar composition and connectivity reported in literature. This is so for a partially poled material and thus, magnetoelectric coefficients should be significantly increased by improving the poling process. Highlights • Bi-modal CoFe 2 O 4 grain size distribution in a fully dense PZT matrix is produced. • CoFe 2 O 4 consists in octahedral (150 nm) and multiple parallel twinned (2 μm) grains. • Differentiated magnetic susceptibility response is given by the two populations. • These composites can be used as magnetoelectric diodes and energy-harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims : Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) can be accomplished using radiofrequency (RF) or second generation cryoballoon (CB2). We aimed to compare the freedom from very late recurrence (VLR) defined as recurrence beyond one year in patients who were AF-free during the first post-procedural year after PVI using CB2 or RF. Methods : Consecutive patients who underwent PVI by RF or CB2 ablation between August 2014 and December 2015 were included. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of VLR in follow-up after 12 months. Patients who experienced recurrence between the first 3 to 12 months after PVI and those who did not complete 15-month follow-up time were excluded. Results: 139 patients were included: 68 underwent PVI by CB2 and 71 using RF. The global VLR rate was of 22.15%. The freedom from VLR beyond 12-month follow-up was of 84.5% (57 patients) for the CB2 group vs. 71% (50 patients) in the RF group (p=0.037). 15 patients underwent re-ablation (11 of the RF group and 4 of the CB2 group): all of the patients who had undergone PVI by RF in the index procedure were found to have vein reconnection, whereas none of the CB2 group had reconnected veins (3 cavotricuspid isthmus and 1 mitral isthmus). Conclusions : In patients free of recurrence during the first post-procedural year after pulmonary vein isolation for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: second generation cryoballoon ablation showed a significantly lower very late recurrence rate compared to radiofrequency ablation. Condensed abstract : The present study evaluates the freedom from very late recurrence (VLR), defined as recurrence in patients who were arrhythmia-free during the first post-procedural year after pulmonary vein isolation using second generation cryoballoon (CB2) or radiofrequency (RF). CB2 ablation had a lower VLR rate compared to RF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of long-term (2001–2017) and extensive data (> 1700 breeding attempts), we assess factors influencing breeding parameters in Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus), a medium-sized ground-nesting semi-colonial raptor breeding in cereal fields, in a study area in its core distribution range (Extremadura, Spain). We evaluated annual and long-term variation in breeding parameters, as well as changes in environmental variables such as weather or harvest date. We then evaluated breeding failure and productivity in relation to nest protection measures, weather conditions, lay date and colony size. We found a significant trend for productivity to decrease over the 17-year study period, associated with a trend for predation probability to increase over time. Harvest occurred increasingly earlier in more recent years. The success rate of nests protected with unfenced unharvested patches (the most frequently used protection measure) increased with harvest date, but also declined throughout the study period for equivalent harvest dates. When considering all explanatory variables together, probability of nest success decreased significantly with lay date and throughout the study period, increased with annual rainfall and varied in relation to protective measures (being highest for nests protected with fences or where harvest in the plot had been delayed). In addition, among successful nests, fledged brood size also decreased significantly with lay date and temperature, and increased with annual rainfall. We found no effect of number of neighbours on breeding output. We discuss our results in relation to future conservation prospects for the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Different configurations of continuous carbon fiber-reinforced ultrahigh temperature ceramics (UHTCs), by combining coatings and matrix, were produced via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) and slurry infiltration. The toughening of non-periodic fiber distribution induced by the EPD process was investigated through work of fracture analysis. The results show that a non-periodic fiber distribution results in toughness increase from 8 MPa√m to 11 MPa√m with respect to a periodic fiber distribution. This toughness improvement does not strongly affect the flexural strength, which is mainly related to the fiber volumetric amount. It is shown that the assembling of carbon fibers into bundles (i.e. by dispersing the fibers with a non-periodic distribution) increases the crack propagation energy dissipated on the crack-wake from 0.5 kJ/m2 to 1 kJ/m2, which can be mainly ascribed to the fiber/bundle pull-out. On the other hand, the energy dissipated on the crack-tip (as fiber/matrix debonding) is fiber distribution-independent and increases from 0.3 kJ/m2 to 0.4 kJ/m2 with increasing the fiber amount from 33 vol% to 40 vol%. Finally, WoF analysis is proposed as test to evaluate pull-out toughening instead of push-in and push-out tests. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of ZrB 2 and TiB 2 coating on carbon fabrics is shown. • ZrB 2 and TiB 2 coatings withstand subsequent manufacturing steps of UHTCMCs. • The EPD derived samples show a non-periodic carbon fiber distribution. • Toughness is sensitive to the degree of fiber distribution, whereas strength is not. • The crack shielding is enhanced by a non-periodic distribution of the fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction is defined as an obstruction of the flow of urine from the renal pelvis to the proximal ureter. Congenital abnormalities may be observed in both adults and children, but adults may also present with UPJ obstruction secondary to surgery or other disorders that can cause inflammation of the upper urinary tract. In adults, other etiologies must be considered, including stones, ureteral compression due to extrinsic processes, retroperitoneal fibrosis, and other inflammatory processes. The obstruction leads to hydronephrosis. Presenting signs and symptoms include palpable mass, intermitted pain, hematuria, urinary infection, fever, hypertension and renal stones. Case Report: The aim of this report is to describe the case of a 50 years old male patient who came to Urology Clinic known with multiple left renal lithiasis, ureteropelvic junction syndrome on the left, left malrotated kidney with left autostatic stent. The patient has history of surgical interventions, diagnosed with dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus type 2 and acquired renal cyst. Discussions : A PCNL and flexible ureteroscopy were attempted on the left side but they were unsuccessful. The next step for this patient will be laparoscopic surgery with pyelolithotomy and pyeloplasty. Conclusions: Patient discharged with good general condition, afebrile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Urinary stones are an important cause of morbidity in the US. More than 500,000 people are affected yearly, with a female gender prevalence and an age group ranging from 30 to 50 years old. Urinary tract stones are usually diagnosed in the emergency department where the symptomatic patient is admitted due to renal colic, a common symptom of ureterolithiasis. It is also true that ureteral stones can be silent for many months, leading to nephrectomy. Case Report: 69-years-old female patient, known with primary hypertension and chronic ischemic heart disease, under treatment with metoprolol, perindopril-indapamin and lercadipin; presented to the urology clinic ER complaining of colicky pain on the right side. She also had fever, shivering, nausea, vomiting and dysuria. At presentation the analyses were in normal range and uroculture was negative. The patient medical history reveals an increased cholesterol level, increased ESR, increased urea and a eGFR of 71.39 ml/min. From her surgical history emerged that she had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The Computed Tomography (CT scan) revealed a normal left kidney and an atrophic right one, with a decreased parenchymatous index (6mm) and pelvic hypotonia at the level of the caliceal groups, without kidney stones. In the right ureter, the CT showed a voluminous radiopaque mass measuring 48x12mm. Abdominal aortic calcifications were also noted. After repeated analyses, the eGFR was 81.34 ml/min, the ESR was 55ml/h, the cholesterol level was high and the urine culture tested positive for E. Coli, treated with antibiotics. Due to lack of symptoms, the patient developed a large calculus in the right ureter, which caused a hydroureter and a subsequent atrophization of the right kidney. The patient was referred to the surgeon for a nephrectomy. Discussions : The peculiarity of this case is that a large stone went unnoticed for years because the patient did not develop any symptoms. This led the patient to the operating room for a laparoscopic nephrectomy. The reason behind this surgical decision was to avoid recurrent UTIs, which could have exposed the patient to sepsis. Conclusions: Asymptomaticity was deleterious for this patient as it laid the foundations for the development of a silent change in the kidney structure, narrowing treatment options to surgery alone. It is possible to say that the nephrectomy could have been avoided if the stone had been caught earlier by being symptomatic. After surgery the patient was discharged in good conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(0001) oriented aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films have been grown by plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) on silicon carbide (4H-SiC) substrates. During different PE-ALD processes, the ammonia (NH 3) plasma pulsing time has been varied and its effect on the microstructure and on the orientation degree of the AlN layers has been monitored. Structural characterization by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed that the crystalline structure of the deposited films was strongly dependent on the NH 3 -plasma pulsing, so that different polymorphic structures were observed. In particular, both processes resulted in wurtzite AlN structure for few nanometers at the interface with the 4H-SiC substrate, while upon increasing thickness a poly-crystalline wurtzite phase was obtained by short-pulse NH 3 -plasma, whereas longer plasma exposure resulted in a mixture of wurtzite and zincblende defective phases. Phase formation mechanism were discussed and electrical nanoscopic characterization by conductive atomic force microscopy showed a clear correlation between the different AlN crystalline phases and the insulating properties. [Display omitted] • (0001)Oriented AlN thin dielectric film on (0001) 4H-SiC substrates can be frabricated by PE-ALD. • Different wurzite and zincblende AlN crystal structures can be grown depending on NH3 plasma flow values. • wurzite AlN thin films possess the best dieletric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was undertaken to validate a set of candidate biomarkers of seizure susceptibility in a retrospective, multisite case–control study, and to determine the robustness of these biomarkers derived from routinely collected electroencephalography (EEG) within a large cohort (both epilepsy and common alternative conditions such as nonepileptic attack disorder). Methods: The database consisted of 814 EEG recordings from 648 subjects, collected from eight National Health Service sites across the UK. Clinically noncontributory EEG recordings were identified by an experienced clinical scientist (N = 281; 152 alternative conditions, 129 epilepsy). Eight computational markers (spectral [n = 2], network‐based [n = 4], and model‐based [n = 2]) were calculated within each recording. Ensemble‐based classifiers were developed using a two‐tier cross‐validation approach. We used standard regression methods to assess whether potential confounding variables (e.g., age, gender, treatment status, comorbidity) impacted model performance. Results: We found levels of balanced accuracy of 68% across the cohort with clinically noncontributory normal EEGs (sensitivity =61%, specificity =75%, positive predictive value =55%, negative predictive value =79%, diagnostic odds ratio =4.64, area under receiver operated characteristics curve =.72). Group level analysis found no evidence suggesting any of the potential confounding variables significantly impacted the overall performance. Significance: These results provide evidence that the set of biomarkers could provide additional value to clinical decision‐making, providing the foundation for a decision support tool that could reduce diagnostic delay and misdiagnosis rates. Future work should therefore assess the change in diagnostic yield and time to diagnosis when utilizing these biomarkers in carefully designed prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Quantitative failure of the ideal Donnan model to predict ion partitioning between relatively dilute electrolyte aqueous solutions and ion exchange polymers arises from neglecting non-ideal behavior of ions. Hypothetically, when a water swollen, charged polymer is equilibrated with concentrated salt solutions, most of the fixed charge groups are neutralized by sorbed counter-ions, which can screen electrostatic effects and create, in the membrane, an environment thermodynamically similar to that experienced by ions in the external electrolyte solution. In this study, a combined experimental and theoretical approach was used to test this hypothesis. A fundamental study of ion partitioning between a cation exchange membrane based on cross-linked poly(p-styrene sulfonate-co-divinylbenzene) and NaCl and CaCl 2 concentrated brines is presented. At high electrolyte concentrations, the experimentally measured ion activity coefficients in the membrane match those in the contiguous external solution, and the ideal Donnan model provides an accurate prediction of co-ion and counter-ion concentrations in the polymer. This physical picture was further confirmed by the recently developed Manning-Donnan model. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Ion partitioning between brines and IEMs is described by the ideal Donnan model. • Ion activity coefficients in the membrane and in solution are equal at high salt concentration. • Sulfonated polystyrene behaves like an uncharged polymer in CaCl 2 brines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites (UHTCMCs) based on ZrB 2 -matrix reinforced with 45 vol% of unidirectional continuous carbon fibers are studied through the thermal mechanical hysteresis in order to investigate the thermal damage accumulation. The analysis carried out allowed to extrapolate the Young's modulus of the matrix from thermal expansion measures. It was found that the initial matrix Young's modulus of 195 GPa steadily decreases by thermal cycling the samples between RT and 1300 °C as a consequence of matrix cracking. On the other hand, the analysis suggested that carbon fibers keep their Young's modulus constant at 780 GPa. Finally, the residual stresses due to the different coefficient of thermal expansion between matrix and carbon fibers are discussed and let to justify the Young's modulus of 230 GPa, which cannot be explained with the so-called "rule of mixtures" generally valid and widely used in the composite science. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Thermal cycles induce matrix cracking which decreases the Young's modulus of the ZrB 2 -based matrix from 195 GPa to 24 GPa. • The longitudinal thermal dilatation of the composites decreases by thermal cycling and approaches that of bare carbon fibers. • Contrary to linear elasticity the composite Young's modulus is affected by residual stresses even in absence of micro-damage. • A new equation is proposed to account for residual stresses effect and damage frequency on Young's modulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epileptic seizures are a common cause for presentation to acute medical services. Whether presenting with an isolated, unprovoked seizure or with status epilepticus, a good understanding of seizures and their mimics ensures appropriate investigation and treatment. This article describes the practical aspects of the management of patients presenting with seizures to the emergency department or the acute medical unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: We recently reported that self‐evaluation of the incidence and severity of treatment‐related side effects (TSEs) using a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0‐based questionnaire was feasible and more informative than doctor reports in patients undergoing standard adjuvant chemotherapy for operable breast cancer. Here, we compare self‐ and doctor‐evaluated day of onset and duration of TSEs in the same population. Patients and methods: Six hundred and four patients were enrolled at 11 sites in Italy. CTCAE v4.0 definitions of grade of severity of nausea, vomiting, constipation, anorexia, dysgeusia, diarrhea, fatigue, pain, paresthesia, and dyspnea were translated into Italian and rephrased. Questionnaires were administered after the first and third chemotherapy cycles. At each time‐point, information on TSEs was extracted from the medical charts and compared to patient questionnaires. Results: A total of 594 and 573 paired patient and doctor questionnaires were collected after cycles one and three, respectively. TSE duration was significantly longer when reported by patients compared to doctors for six and seven of ten items after cycles one and three, respectively. Due to the combined effect of doctor underreporting of TSE incidence and duration, the mean percentages of cycle days with TSEs were significantly higher for all ten items when based on patient reports. Day of onset could not be evaluated because of insufficient numbers of complete records. Conclusions: Self‐reporting TSE duration is feasible using a CTCAE‐derived questionnaire. As doctors tend to underestimate TSE incidence and duration, patient‐reported outcomes should be incorporated into clinical practice, perhaps using eHealth technologies, to harness their potential to better estimate total TSE burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The synthesis of early transition nanocrystals using NaBH4 and the respective metal oxides at atmospheric pressure was studied at temperatures between 400 and 1000°C. Reaction products were analyzed by x‐ray diffraction, the crystallite size was determined after Rietveld refinement of diffraction patterns, while the morphology was analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. For all the investigated systems the lowest temperature to complete the synthesis was 700°C and the reaction occurred in three subsequent steps: (i) decomposition of NaBH4, (ii) formation of crystalline ternary species Na–M–O and Na–B–O, (iii) conversion of intermediary species to MB2 and NaBO2. Syntheses carried out at T > 700°C only caused coarsening of the powders. The synthetized boride powders had the morphology of highly agglomerated nanocrystals. TiB2 had a specific surface area of 33.5 m2/g and crystallite diameter of 12 nm. Both ZrB2 and HfB2 had a platelet‐like morphology with crystallite diameter around 45 nm and specific surface area of 25.0 and 36.4 m2/g, respectively. Finally, NbB2 and TaB2 powders had a crystallite diameter around 5 nm with specific surface area of 21.1 and 11.4 m2/g, respectively. The goal of this synthesis is the use of cheap raw materials and moderate temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packaging is crucial in protecting and handling products through the stages of their logistic networks. Actually, both disposable and reusable packaging containers are used. The former ends its life at the last stage of the distribution chain, the latter requires reverse flows to collect, recondition and, then, reuse it. Costs and emissions associated to the two types of packaging containers are different in nature, i.e. raw materials and landfill cost and emissions vs. reverse logistic costs and emissions, so that their choice is not univocal. Furthermore, such choice heavily affects the supply chain network structure and management. This paper addresses this topic aiming at designing a supply chain network including the packaging container best selection, storage/handling node location and flow allocation. An original bi-objective mixed integer linear programming model supports the decisional process. Despite the approach is general, a deep focus is on fresh fruit and vegetable distribution chain because of disposable and reusable packaging containers coexist in practice. The model looks at the cost and environmental impact minimisation over the whole network getting the Pareto frontier and supporting the logistic managers, industrial practitioners and policy makers in the network design and management. A real instance from Emilia-Romagna region, Italy, showcases the model application getting the economic and environmental optima together with best-balance configurations. Results stress the convenience of mixing reusable and disposable packaging containers to reach a global optimum. 47.1% reusable and 52.9% disposable is a possible good balance configuration reducing emissions while containing the cost increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a response to the article by Bennett et al. in this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, relatively few studies have provided an in-depth overview of approaches to treating paraphilic sexual fantasies. The different types of treatment were considered separately or some were not included or explored. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide a broad and in-depth overview of therapeutic approaches related to problematic sexual fantasies. A comprehensive search of four electronic databases (Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Scopus, and EBSCO) was carried out to identify literature regarding the treatments of paraphilic sexual fantasies. References lists of articles were reviewed to identify additional papers. A total of 67 papers and relevant books were included. From the results of the current review, two main treatment approaches for paraphilic sexual fantasies emerged: behavioral and psychoanalytic. Behavioral strategies would appear to be the predominant approach to treating problematic sexual fantasies and behaviors. The cognitive-behavioral approach includes a range of procedures and techniques that aim to reduce inappropriate sexual arousal (e.g., covert sensitization, satiation, systematic desensitization) or to improve appropriate sexual arousal (e.g., orgasm reconditioning). However, over the years, the use of alternative treatments (e.g., cognitive imagery techniques, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, use of drugs) have been suggested. This review would highlight the limited presence of research confirming the efficacy of behavioral strategies in the treatment of problematic sexual fantasies and behaviors. In light of the above, further studies could consider more integrated approaches to better understand how to improve treatments for problematic sexual fantasies and behaviors. We have no conflict of interest to declare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sexual Distress Scale (SDS) is a validated and widespread used tool to assess the sexually-related personal distress in women. The present study aimed to test the psychometric characteristics of the 12-item version of the SDS (Derogatis et al., 2002) and of the 5-item short form of SDS-SF (Santos-Iglesias et al., 2020) in women and men of the Italian population. After linguistic translation, the psychometric properties (internal consistency, construct, and discriminant validity) were evaluated. 2291 participants (1361 women and 930 men, 1427 healthy and 852 clinical groups complaining about sexual problems) participated in the present study. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test the fit of the original factor structures of the SDS and SDS-SF versions. Cronbach α and composite reliability were used as internal consistency measures and differences between clinical and control groups were run to test the discriminant validity for the female and male versions. The associations with emotions, psychopathological symptoms and sexual functioning measures were also reported. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the adequacy of both the SDS and SDS-SF factor structures for women and men. Moreover, the SDS and the SDS-SF showed strong associations with emotional response, psychopathological symptoms and sexual functioning, differentiating between clinical and control groups. The present findings support the validity and the internal consistency of the Italian versions of the SDS and SDS-SF and allow the assessment of sexually-related personal distress for both clinical and research purposes. We have no conflict of interest to declare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the biggest challenges of the materials science is the mutual exclusion of strength and toughness. This issue was minimized by mimicking the natural structural materials. To date, few efforts were done regarding materials that should be used in harsh environments. In this work we present novel continuous carbon fiber reinforced ultra-high-temperature ceramic matrix composites (UHTCMCs) for aerospace featuring optimized fiber/matrix interfaces and fibers distribution. The microstructures – produced by electrophoretic deposition of ZrB 2 on unidirectional carbon fibers followed by ZrB 2 infiltration and hot pressing – show a maximum flexural strength and fracture toughness of 330 MPa and 14 MPa m 1/2 , respectively. Fracture surfaces are investigated to understand the mechanisms that affect strength and toughness. The EPD technique allows the achievement of a peculiar salami-inspired architecture alternating strong and weak interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the highly efficient olfactory code, olfactory sensory systems are able to reliably encode enormous numbers of olfactory stimuli. The olfactory code consists of combinatorial activation patterns across sensory neurons, thus its capacity exceeds the number of involved classes of sensory neurons by a manifold. Activation patterns are not static but vary over time, caused by the temporally complex response dynamics of the individual sensory neuron responses. We systematically analyzed the temporal dynamics of olfactory sensory neuron responses to a diverse set of odorants. We find that response dynamics depend on the combination of sensory neuron and odorant and that information about odorant identity can be extracted from the time course of the response. We also show that new response dynamics can arise when mixing two odorants. Our data show that temporal dynamics of odorant responses are able to significantly enhance the coding capacity of olfactory sensory systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates office-holding and private enterprise in eighteenth-century Sicily through a case study of the activities of Baron de Piro, a native of Malta. Based on documents held in Maltese and Sicilian archives, the article demonstrates how political developments in the kingdom both opened up and circumscribed the opportunities within which an upwardly-mobile household sought its fortune by identifying the social, political and economic contexts in which they operated. In doing so, it delivers insights into the impact of successive regime changes on the socio-economic landscape in Sicily as it passed from the Austrian Habsburgs to the Bourbons of Naples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer outcome is considered to result from the interplay of several factors, among which host inflammatory and immune status are deemed to play a significant role. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) have been profitably used as surrogate markers of host immunoinflammatory status and have also been shown to correlate with outcome in several human tumors. However, only a few studies on these biomarkers have been performed in gastric cancer patients, yielding conflicting results.Methods: Data were retrieved from a prospective institutional database. Overall survival (OS) of 401 patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer between January 2000 and June 2015 as well as disease-free survival (DFS) rates in 297 radically resected patients were calculated. MaxStat analysis was used to select cutoff values for NLR and LMR.Results: NLR and LMR did not significantly correlate with tumor stage. Patients with a high NLR and a low LMR experienced more tumor recurrences (p < 0.001) and had a higher hazard ratio (HR) for both OS (HR = 2.4 and HR = 2.10; p < 0.001) and DFS (HR = 2.99 and HR = 2.46; p < 0.001) than low NLR and high LMR subjects. Both biomarkers were shown to independently predict OS (HR = 1.65, p = 0.016; HR = 2.01, p = 0.002, respectively) and DFS (HR = 3.04, p = 0.019; HR = 4.76, p = 0.002, respectively). A score system combining both biomarkers was found to significantly correlate with long-term results.Conclusions: A simple prognostic score including preoperative NLR and LMR can be used to easily predict outcome in gastric cancer patients undergoing surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane gas separation is a mature and expanding technology. However, the availability of better membrane materials would promote faster growth. In this Perspective we analyze the state of the art of membrane materials, including polymers and hybrid materials, as well as the current issues and barriers, and finally, we outline future research directions in membrane science. Development of new membrane materials for large scale separations will rely on a multidisciplinary approach that embraces the broad fields of chemical and materials engineering, polymer science, and materials chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]