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Context: The evaluation of quadriceps muscle inhibition with the interpolated twitch technique is usually performed by stimulating the femoral nerve (FN). However, there are some problems related to the use of this stimulation site, which may be partially overcome by delivering the stimulation over the motor point (MP). This study sought to compare MP to FN stimulation at different joint angles for the evaluation of quadriceps muscle inhibition, resting peak torque, and discomfort in healthy women. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Sixteen healthy women (age: 28 [4] y; body mass: 60 [5] kg; height: 162 [5] cm) participated in this study. Supramaximal paired stimuli were delivered to the FN and to the rectus femoris MP before and during maximal voluntary contractions at different knee angles (15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° of knee flexion) to assess muscle inhibition and resting peak torque. Discomfort was also recorded for each stimulation site and knee angle. Results: Muscle inhibition was similar between the 2 stimulation sites (P >.05) and was higher at 45° than at 90° (P =.03). MP stimulation evoked lower resting peak torque at 30° (P =.004), 60° (P =.006), and 90° (P =.006) and higher discomfort at 30° (P =.008) and 90° (P =.027) compared to FN stimulation. Conclusions: Despite lower resting peak torque and higher discomfort at some angles, MP stimulation provided similar muscle inhibition to FN stimulation at all knee angles and is therefore a valid method to evaluate quadriceps muscle inhibition in healthy women. MP stimulation can be used as an alternative to FN stimulation for the evaluation of quadriceps muscle inhibition with no added discomfort at the angles where muscle inhibition is the highest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Intraforaminal lumbar disk herniations (IFDHs) represent a heterogeneous and relatively uncommon disease; their treatment is technically demanding due to the anatomical relationships with nerve roots and vertebral joints. Over time, several approaches have been developed without reaching a consensus about the best treatment strategy. Materials and methods Authors comparatively analyze surgical operability and exposure in terms of quantitative variables between the different microsurgical approaches to IFDHs, defining the impact of each approach on surgical maneuverability and exposure on specific targets. A comparative microanatomical laboratory investigation was conducted. The operability score (OS) was applied for quantitative analysis of surgical operability. Results Transarticular and combined translaminar-trans-pars-interarticularis approaches result in providing the best surgical exposure and maneuverability on all targets with surgical controls on both nerve roots, at the expense of a higher risk of iatrogenic instability. Trans-pars-interarticularis approach reaches comparable levels of operability, even limited to the pure foraminal area (lateral compartment); similar findings were recorded for partial facetectomy on the medial compartment. The contralateral interlaminar approach provides good visualization of the foramen without consensual favorable maneuverability, which should be considered the main drawback. Conclusions Approach selection has to consider disease location, the possible migration of disk fragments, the degree of nerve root involvement, and risk of iatrogenic instability. According to the findings, authors propose an operative algorithm to tailor the surgical strategy, based both on the precise definition of anatomic boundaries of exposure of each approach and on surgical maneuverability on specific targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited research on female football players, especially related to their physical and cognitive performance under different climactic conditions. We analyzed the impact of a hot environmental temperature on physical performance and anticipation in elite female football players during a fatigue‐inducing intermittent protocol. Elite female players (n = 21) performed the countermovement jump (CMJ) and responded to filmed sequences of offensive play under two distinct environmental temperatures (i.e., mild environment temperature‐ 20°C and 30% rh versus hot environment temperature‐ 38°C and 80% rh), interspersed by 1‐week interval. Linear mixed models were used. CMJ performance declined following the intermittent protocol on both temperature conditions (p < 0.05). Moreover, there were significant main effects for protocol on CMJ speed (m/s) (p = 0.001; ηp2 = 0.12), CMJ power (p = 0.002; ηp2 = 0.11), and CMJ Heightmax (p = 0.002; ηp2 = 0.12). After performing the intermittent protocol, exposure to a hot temperature caused a greater decline in anticipation accuracy (mild temperature = 64.41% vs. hot temperature = 53.44%; p < 0.001). Our study shows impaired performance in elite female football players following an intermittent protocol under hot compared with mild environmental conditions. We report decreased performance in both CMJ and anticipation performance under hotter conditions. The results reveal that exposure to hot temperatures had a negative effect on the accuracy of their anticipatory behaviors. We consider the implication of the work for research and training interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the development of visuospatial memory processes is useful for devising personalized educational interventions as well as for understanding the changes in cognitive functioning in an era characterized by technological progress. The present research is aimed at investigating spatial working memory ability in children that attended the first three years of primary school by means of the Brick Game Task (BGT), a novel visuospatial working memory test. BGT is a small-scale ecological test inspired by behavioral walking tasks with nine white bricks in different spatial configurations as well as to Corsi Block-Tapping test. 228 Italian children (121 F; mean age: 7.22 ± 1.18) were assigned to three groups based on the primary school class attended: Group 1 (N = 85; 40 F; mean age 6.18 ±.5), Group 2 (N = 61; 36 F; mean age 7.2 ±.83), and Group 3 (N = 82; 44 F; mean age 8.32 ±.94). All participants were asked to complete the Digit Span test, the Corsi Block-Tapping test, and to explore the three spatial configurations of the BGT with the form of Matrix, M-BGT, Cluster, CL-BGT, Cross, CR-BGT. MANOVA revealed a main significant effect for Group (F12,434 = 15.06; p <.0001) indicating that the group of older obtained a better global executive performance than 1 and 2 groups. Multiple linear regression indicated that Corsi Block-Tapping test performance and Age significantly predicted the M-BGT score. Moreover, Corsi Block-Tapping test and Digit Span significantly predicted the CL-BGT performance, showing how a higher score results in a better CL- BGT performance. Finally, Corsi Block-Tapping test, Digit Span, and Age were positively associated with the CR- BGT performance. The present findings evidenced that novel BGT is a sensible visuospatial working memory task suggesting thus its use to assess the children's executive performance in ecological way. These results open to the development of personalized educational interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global financial crisis of 2008/09 is generally regarded as the beginning of a slowdown in the process of economic globalization, what has been called slowbalisation. As a consequence of the changed geopolitical climate, the EU is now encouraging the reshoring (or the nearshoring) of certain activities and is pursuing an active industrial policy in critical sectors where it feels vulnerable. I argue that perceived geopolitical threats could act as a catalyst for a deeper degree of integration (as has always been the case at critical moments in the past), as the EU will only be able to muster the resources to succeed in its endeavor if it moves more decisively towards a political union. In turn, the resulting stronger EU, with its institutions, history and values, could play a stabilizing role in the global context, helping to keep the confrontation between countries and regions within physiological economic boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraskeletal chondromas (EC) are uncommon, benign cartilaginous tumours. Most common locations are upper and lower extremities. Location in the neck is extremely rare and reported only within the anterior compartment. Data are limited to just four case reports in the paediatric population. The first case of EC in neck’s posterior compartment is described herein. EC present peculiar features on imaging. Aetiology is unclear; however, trauma has been suggested as possible causative mechanism. Treatment of choice is surgical excision; recurrence is not uncommon, but additional removal seems to be resolutive. All cases in literature were asymptomatic, except for one presenting respiratory stridor. The present patient suffered from neck functional limitation and upper limb hypoesthesia. Symptoms improved after surgery in both cases. Imaging follow-up at 6 months in the present case showed no sign of recurrence. ECs are rare, benign lesions. However, they may be preoperatively misinterpreted as more malignant counterparts (both radiologically or histologically), so accurate diagnostic work-up and planning of the surgical procedure are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Football is a sport that involves a combination of continuous and intermittent effort. Therefore, players need to be able to recover quickly between moments of high intensity to continue to perform at a high level of output throughout the entire match. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of an intermittent exercise protocol on the rate of high-intensive force production through the countermovement test (CMJ) in elite Portuguese female soccer players. The sample consisted of 12 players from the first division of women's football in Portugal (Age = 18.1 ± 0.9 years; Weight = 60.10 ± 5.8 Kg; Height = 1.63 ± 4.8 cm; BMI = 22.48 ± 1.5 kg/m2). The players performed an intermittent exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer, lasting 8 minutes, in which each minute corresponded to 40 seconds of high-intensity (4W/kg, based on the player's body weight) and 20 seconds of low-intensity (75W). Before and after the protocol, the players performed the CMJ. Through the results obtained, it was possible to observe that players presented a significant decrease in the height of the CMJ between the two moments (before- 29.92 ± 3.55cm vs after- 26.92 ± 4.05cm; p < 0.01). The present study allowed us to conclude that intermittent exercise protocol promoted a negative influence on CMJ performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the end of the nineteenth century, the wide dissemination of Pott's disease has ignited debates about which should be the ideal route to perform ventrolateral decompression of the dorsal spine in case of paraplegia due to spinal cord compression in tuberculosis spondylitis. It was immediately clear that the optimal approach should be the one minimizing the surgical manipulation on both neural and extraneural structures while optimizing the exposure and surgical maneuverability on the target area. The first attempt was reported by Victor Auguste Menard in 1894, who described, for the first time, a completely different route from traditional laminectomy, called costotransversectomy. The technique was conceived to drain tubercular paravertebral abscesses causing paraplegia without manipulating the spinal cord. Over the following decades, many other routes have been described all over the world, thus demonstrating the wide interest on the topic. Surgical development has been marked by the new technical achievements and by instrumental/technological advancements, until the advent of portal surgery and endoscopy-assisted techniques. In this article, the authors retraced the milestones of this history up to the present days, through a systematic review on the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) are a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for thoracic surgeons. Although such lesions are usually benign, the risk of malignancy remains significant, particularly in elderly patients, who represent a large segment of the affected population. Surgical treatment in this subset, which usually presents several comorbidities, requires careful evaluation, especially when pre-operative biopsy is not feasible and comorbidities may jeopardize the outcome. Radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) are progressively being applied in predicting malignancy in suspicious nodules and assisting the decision-making process. In this study, we analyzed features of the radiomic images of 71 patients with SPN aged more than 75 years (median 79, IQR 76–81) who had undergone upfront pulmonary resection based on CT and PET-CT findings. Three different machine learning algorithms were applied—functional tree, Rep Tree and J48. Histology was malignant in 64.8% of nodules and the best predictive value was achieved by the J48 model (AUC 0.9). The use of AI analysis of radiomic features may be applied to the decision-making process in elderly frail patients with suspicious SPNs to minimize the false positive rate and reduce the incidence of unnecessary surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to determine if forward step-down task frontal kinematics differ in women with and without patellofemoral pain (PFP). Methods: Cross-sectional study. A total of 32 women were allocated into a healthy control group (CG; n = 16) and to a PFP (n = 16) group. All participants performed two trials with five consecutive forward step-down task (FSD) repetitions each. A video camera, positioned 3 m from the participant's frontal plane, recorded the movement (sampling rate = 30 Hz). All recorded videos were evaluated on Image-J software, and the following outcomes were obtained: delta mean (∆mean, the difference between final and initial positions) and delta peak (∆peak) values for Q-angle (Qϴ), hip and knee frontal plane projection angles, and dynamic valgus index. We compared groups with the Student's t test for independent samples and the Mann–Whitney test. Results: Groups showed similar (p > 0.05) values for Q-angle (∆mean CG = 3.7° ± 2.5°, PFP = 3.2° ± 2.9°; ∆peak CG = 5.8° ± 2.5°, PFP = 5.1° ± 3.1°), hip frontal plane projection angle (∆mean CG = − 13.2° ± 5.4°, PFP = − 10.7° ± 5.3°; ∆peak CG = − 16.9° ± 5.1°, PFP = − 13.7° ± 5.2°), knee frontal plane projection angle (∆mean CG = -3.3° ± 4.5°, PFP = − 3.9° ± 4.5°; ∆peak CG = − 7.9° ± 6.7°, PFP = − 7.6° ± 5.2°) and dynamic valgus index (∆mean CG = − 17.2° ± 8.3°, PFP = − 15.0° ± 9.2°; ∆peak CG = − 19.4° ± 8.1°, PFP = − 17.3° ± 8.7°). Conclusion: The similarity in frontal plane kinematics during FSD between PFP female patients and healthy women suggests that clinicians should be cautious when determining PFP presence in clinical practice with this method and when using it to measure a healthy condition to be achieved during rehabilitation. Trial registration: Study was registered at Clinical Trials (NCT02734030) on Jan 1th of 2016 (retrospectively registered). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between college student perceived and personal mental health stigmas. Participants: A sample of 352 undergraduate college students from two large Universities in the Eastern United States was utilized. Methodology: A self-report anonymous online survey was utilized. The survey contained demographics as well as questions to assess participant levels of perceived stigma, personal stigma, and social desirability. Results Results revealed that college student perceived stigma was significantly greater than personal stigma, and that perceived stigma and personal stigma were significantly and positively correlated. Conclusions: Overall findings suggest a misperception of campus mental health stigma levels. Based upon these student misperceptions of stigma, best practices for addressing stigma within the clinical setting are discussed. Overall implications for college counseling centers are presented, including campus outreach strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a setting where inequality is ingrained and largely unavoidable (battle of the sexes), we investigate whether subjects condition their behavior on the gender of their opponent. In order to identify the role of culture and gender norms, we run the experiment in two countries, Norway and India, characterised by very different levels of gender inequality. Our evidence is consistent with different patterns of gender effects in the two countries. In India, subjects appear to become more 'hawkish' when facing a woman. This occurs only for lower education subjects and is observed primarily in female participants. Highly educated Indian participants do not discriminate between male and female opponents. In Norway, the data hint at a gender effect that is the opposite of what observed in India: it is present only in highly educated male participants, and takes the form of subjects appearing to become more 'hawkish' when facing a man. Our evidence suggests that these gender effects may be due to subjects experiencing different levels of inequality aversion depending on the gender of their opponent, in a manner that is mediated by their culture and gender norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delayed graft function (DGF) is a common complication of kidney transplantation and frequently leads to the necessity of surveillance biopsies. The purpose of this study is to describe the histological findings in surveillance biopsies of deceased donor kidney transplant recipients and evaluate the risk factors for graft outcomes. This is a monocentric, retrospective study including kidney transplant recipients that underwent a graft biopsy during the DGF period between January 2006 and July 2019. 356 biopsies were performed in 335 deceased donor transplant recipients. Biopsies were analyzed according to the Banff classification. The main histological findings were: acute tubular necrosis in 150 biopsies (42.1%), acute rejection in 96 biopsies (26.9%), and borderline findings in 91 biopsies (25.5%). In the multivariate analysis, recipient age (p = 0.028) and DGF duration (p = 0.005) were associated with rejection, antibody-induction with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) was protective (p = 0.001). The occurrence of rejection was associated with lower death-censored graft survival (log-rank; p = 0.009). Surveillance biopsies of kidney grafts experiencing DGF remain an essential tool for the care of kidney transplant recipients. The recipient's age and duration of DGF are independent risk factors for acute rejection, while antibody-induction therapy with ATG is associated with protection from its occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Local projections are employed for 31 European countries in the 1995–2019 period. • Public investment multipliers are estimated by functions of government. • Public investment is confirmed to have a persistent multiplicative effect on GDP. • The multiplicative effect is stronger for specific categories of public investment. • Such categories are economic affairs, education and general public services. This paper contributes to the scientific and political debate on public investment multipliers by estimating them according to their respective function of government. The analysis is conducted on a sample of 31 European countries over the period 1995–2019 and uses the local projection method to estimate the multipliers. Total public investment is confirmed to have a persistent and robust multiplicative effect on GDP, in line with the findings of previous literature. Moreover, public investment seems to be particularly effective in fostering economic growth when it supports the creation of human capital and the functioning of economic affairs and public services, which also includes basic R&D and the operability of public institutions. Such effects appear to be stronger in the post-2008 period, where significant multiplicative effects are found also when resources are invested in other functions of government such as the promotion of health, public order and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synodal journey can take on a profound pedagogical and educational value if we recognize the opportunity for the participation of the People of God in discerning the life and mission of the Church, especially in ecclesial communities. If nourished by authentic dialogue, and not by «soliloquies» or «interior monologues», participation can foster reciprocal relationships that allow believers to live the synodal experience as an opportunity for formation, growth, personal and Christian maturation oriented towards communion and the mission. The ecclesial community would thus become the place where the educative auctoritas of the pastors would allow to nurture relationships and orient a community style ad intra and ad extra in which the «voice» of believers, their «gifts» and their «charisms» are the conditions for germinating an ecclesiological experience of communion attentive to the times and needs of humanity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study reports the challenges that primary school ESOL teachers in the United States face because of the unexpected instructional changes during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these challenges appear to have affected the well-being of these teachers. Findings indicate that the participants' stress levels increased due to the lack of support and compassion from school administrators, the lack of communication and connection with other teachers, increased workloads, teaching students with different levels of proficiency virtually, and a lack of technological devices for students. The newly emerged challenges have resulted in ESOL teachers reporting emotional and physical effects that did not exist before the pandemic. Based on the findings, we provide recommendations for school leaders and practical suggestions for ESOL teachers which can be applied during the pandemic and afterwards. We propose that ESOL teachers' well-being should be on the agenda of school administration since teachers are on the frontlines of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare, in a primary human papillomavirus screening setting, two different validated human papillomavirus tests, considering their analytical and clinical screening performances. Methods: In Tuscany, a human papillomavirus screening program was implemented in 2013. Hybrid capture 2 (Qiagen) was used for testing until May 2016, when it was replaced by the cobas® 4800 human papillomavirus test (Cobas; Roche). We evaluated the performance of Hybrid capture 2 and Cobas on: the same screening population in two different periods (before and after changing to Cobas); the same Hybrid capture 2-positive consecutive samples. Discordant samples (Hybrid capture 2-positive/Cobas negative) were typed on the L1 gene (reverse line blot, AB Analitica) and E6/E7 genes (BD Onclarity assay). Results: In the considered time period (n = 37,775), human papillomavirus positivity was 9.8% and 7.4%, respectively, for Hybrid capture 2 and Cobas (p < 0.0001). At immediate colposcopy, the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 2 positive predictive value was, respectively, 23.8% and 34% (p < 0.001). At one-year recall, human papillomavirus persistence was, respectively, 40.6% and 62.2% (p < 0.0001). Of Hybrid capture 2-positive re-tested samples (n = 620), 32.4% were Cobas negative. Of discordant samples typed on L1, 7% were positive for the 12 high-risk human papillomavirus. Of the samples found to be negative for the 12 high-risk human papillomavirus types on L1, 14.5% were positive on E6/E7 typing. Among the discordant samples, the only two cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 3 lesions were non-high-risk human papillomavirus positive on both L1 and E6/E7 typing. Conclusion: At baseline, Hybrid capture 2 showed greater human papillomavirus positivity and a lower CIN2+ positive predictive value than Cobas, which was more specific than Hybrid capture 2 in detection of high-risk human papillomavirus: 80% of discordant samples were confirmed as high-risk human papillomavirus negative. This higher analytical specificity determined the non-identification of two CIN3 lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES Our goal was to assess the results and the costs of the quasilobar minimalist (QLM) thoracoscopic lung volume reduction (LVR) surgical method developed to minimize the trauma from the operation and the anaesthesia and to maximize the effect of the lobar volume reduction. METHODS Forty patients with severe emphysema underwent QLM-LVR that entailed adoption of sole intercostal block analgesia and lobar plication through a single thoracoscopic incision. Results were compared after propensity matching with 2 control groups undergoing non-awake resectional LVR with double-lumen tracheal intubation or awake non-resectional LVR by plication with thoracic epidural anaesthesia. As a result, we had 3 matched groups of 30 patients each. RESULTS Baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 s, residual volume, the 6-min walking test and the modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea index were 0.77 ± 0.18, 4.97 ± 0.6, 328 ± 65 and 3.3 ± 0.7, respectively, with no intergroup difference after propensity score matching. The visual pain score was better (P  < 0.007), the hospital stay was shorter (P  < 0.04) and overall costs were lower (P  < 0.04) in the QLM-LVR group than in the control groups. The morbidity rate was lower with QLM-LVR than with non-awake resectional-LVR (P  = 0.006). Significant improvements (P  < 0.001) occurred in all study groups during the follow-up period. At 24 months, improvements in residual volume and dyspnoea index were significantly better with QLM-LVR (P  < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS QLM-LVR proved safe and showed better perioperative outcomes and lower procedure-related costs than the control groups. Similar clinical benefit occurred at 12 months, but absolute improvements in residual volume and dyspnoea index were better in the QLM-LVR group at 24 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linear ac response of a pinned vortex system in uniaxial anisotropic superconductors is studied. The physical model for the interpretation of electrical transport experiments in the linear regime with arbitrary angles between the applied magnetic field, the applied current, and the anisotropy axis is provided. In particular, the pinning constant (also known as Labusch parameter) and Campbell resistivity tensors are derived for arbitrary orientations. The applicability to the various tensor quantities of the well-known angular scaling laws for the angular dependence on the field orientation in uniaxial superconductors is commented. Examples of data analysis based on the present results are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a first report of Aleurocanthus camelliae, the Camellia spiny whitefly, from Italy. The pest was found on plants of Camellia spp. grown in the nursery. Brief morphological and biological information is provided on this whitefly, as well as some considerations on the phytosanitary measures to be adopted to reduce the potential risk of its spread on ornamental plants in Europe and the EPPO region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this commentary, we highlight key scientific advancements in the area of depression and heart disease dual diagnosis, to explore how new approaches can be integrated from a mental health counseling perspective. The incorporation of mental health counseling is suggested as an aid in the treatment of patients with a cardiac disease diagnosis. However, there is no structured awareness or training program for mental health counselors to associate depression with heart disease since this involves both a high level of interdisciplinary research and collaboration with existing healthcare providers. Alongside rampant calls for changes in our modern healthcare system, new holistic practices may emerge, placing mental health services at the forefront to assist in improving cardiac disease patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the anisotropy of the vortex motion surface impedance of a FeSex Te1-x thin film grown on a CaF2 substrate. The dependence on the magnetic field intensity up to 1.2 T and direction, both parallel and perpendicular to the sample c-axis, was explored at fixed temperature at two distinct frequencies, ~ 16  GHz and ~ 27 GHz, by means of a bitonal dielectric resonator. The free flux flow resistivity ρff was obtained by exploiting standard models for the high frequency dynamics, whereas the angle dependence was studied in the framework of the well known and widely used Blatter-Geshkenbein-Larkin (BGL) scaling theory for anistropic superconductors. Excellent agreement with the scaling law prescription by the fluxon flux flow resistivity was obtained. From the scaling analysis, a low-field mass anisotropy ~ 1.8 was obtained, well within the value ranges reported in literature. The angular dependence of the pinning constant suggests that pinning is dominated by random, isotropic point pins, consistently with critical current density measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high frequency vortex motion in Nb3Sn was analyzed in this work up to 12 T. We used a dielectric loaded resonator tuned at 15 GHz to evaluate the surface impedance Z of a Nb3Sn bulk sample (24.8 at.%Sn). From the field induced variation of Z, the high frequency vortex parameters (the pinning constant kp, the depinning frequency νp and the flux flow resistivity ρff) were obtained over a large temperature and field range; their field and temperature dependencies were analyzed. Comparison with other superconducting materials shows that high frequency applications in strong magnetic fields are also feasible with Nb3Sn. In the present work, we report the first measurements about the microwave response in Nb3Sn in strong magnetic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To review systematically the association between household composition and eating habits of adolescents. Methods: Systematic literature review. The search of articles was conducted on the databases MEDLINE via PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Web of Science, Virtual Health Library, Embase and Scopus. The articles were assessed through the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) Item Bank for risk of bias and accuracy of observational studies. Observational studies with adolescents (aged 10-19 years) were carried out. Results: Of 2,324 articles found, 11 met the eligibility criteria, nine being cross-sectional and two longitudinal studies. With respect to dietary habits, we assessed the following frequencies: family dinner, breakfast, meals consumption, breakfast skipping, food groups eaten, number of meals eaten per day, as well as energy density of food groups and the Healthy Diet Index. It was found that adolescents who lived with both parents had a higher frequency of having breakfast and eating more vegetables. The most positive and healthy food preferences were more frequent for adolescents who lived in nuclear families. On the other hand, irregular breakfast consumption and consumption of unhealthy food markers were more frequent among adolescents living in single-parent households, in reconstituted and extended families. Conclusion: Adolescents living with both parents have better eating patterns. The need to consider the household composition when planning healthy eating promotion programs for adolescents is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vertebral heart size is a method used to measure the cardiac dimension in order to identify the remodeling of the chambres in heart disease. This study aims to determinate the vertebral heart size values at right lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs views relating to canines weight and body area variations. For the purpose of the study 40 healthy dogs within the age of 1 to 6 years, males and females, with deep or intermediated thorax were selected, brachycephalic dogs were not included in the study; the dogs were separated in four groups: group 1(n=9) compound of dogs up to 5 kg; group 2 (n=8) with dogs from 5,1 to 10 kg; group 3 (n=12) with dogs from 10,1 to19 kg and group 4 (n=11) with dogs weighing more than 19,1 kg. The values of body score, body mass index and the thorax configuration where previously measured, as well as the vertebral heart size and the depth width ratio from the radiographs. The results demonstrated intervals of right lateral-lateral vertebral heart size 9.9 to 10.4v and ventro-dorsal vertebral heart size of 9.8-10.3v. The study results show that the vertebral heart size numbers did not correlate with weight or body area, regardless the type of radiography view. Therefore, it can be concluded that the vertebral heart size in right lateral and ventrodorsal radiography can be used to rate the cardiac area, not suffering influence by the dog's weight or body area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The area of human services is constantly adapting to best meet the needs of a changing client population. One group that is at an increased need of mental health services is the rapidly growing student veteran population. Through the use of telemental health, this population's unique mental health needs can be addressed while also considering their concerns for stigma and accessibility. With telemental health gaining credibility, there are a number of technologies, such as Avatars, Gamification, videoconferencing, mobile health applications, and short message service (SMS) that are being utilized during counseling sessions to provide quality mental health services. Based upon a practice perspective, the authors interviewed multiple clinicians, or "voices from the field," who are at the forefront of telemental health, in an effort to share the most novel forms of telemental health and best practices. Recommendations from these experts, as well as ethical considerations are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present a short overview on the results that can be obtained through the study of vortex motion at high frequencies. The phenomenological force balance for isolated-like vortices shaken by microwave currents and subjected to viscous drag, pinning forces and thermal creep is recalled and physically presented. The derived vortex motion resistivity, together with the main vortex parameters (viscosity η and flux flow resistivity ρff, pinning constant kp, creep factor χ), is then commented. Sample measurements are reported to illustrate the main aspects of the involved physical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pertrochanteric fractures (PFs) frequently affect the lower limb of osteoporotic patients and represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. In this prospective randomized controlled trial, we have compared functional and radiological results and complications of patients affected by PFs treated with two intramedullary proximal femoral nails. Materials: We enrolled 323 subjects with PFs, classified according to AO/OTA system as 31.A1 (pertrochanteric simple) and 31.A2 (pertrochanteric multifragmentary). Patients were divided into two groups according to the osteosynthesis devices: group A, Elos-Intrauma® nail (155 cases) and group B, Gamma 3-Stryker® nail (168 cases). Pre-operatively, the baseline characteristics of each patient (gender, age, weight and BMI) were collected. Intraoperative blood loss, subjective pain by visual analogue scale (VAS), esthetic satisfaction, functional scores of the hip by Harris Hip Score (HHS), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) were noted. The post-operative degree of fracture reduction was assessed. Each patient had a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Results: The study group was composed of 106 male and 217 female with an average age of 85.4 (range, 65–90, standard deviation (SD) 5.95) years. No statistical differences about sex and age distribution were noted between the two groups. Group A reported lower intraoperative blood loss, 45 ml vs 51 ml, respectively (p < 0.001). There was not any statistical difference about operative time. Group A had a better reduction of fracture (p = 0.0347). The greatest difference was detectable comparing subgroups 31.A2 (p = 0.032). There were no statistical differences about complication frequency and the overall rate was 25% (80 cases). Finally, there was no difference in terms of VAS, HHS, and WOMAC score between the two groups on each follow-up. Patients of group A showed a higher subjective satisfaction index at 1 post-operative year, 7.42 (SD 1.19) vs 6.45 (SD 1.35) of group B (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Elos® nail is a reliable device on a short-term follow-up and represents an alternative choice to the Gamma 3® nail, a well-known and appreciated system for over 25 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the vortex pinning determined by artificially introduced pinning centers in the small-vortex displacement regime, we measured the microwave surface impedance at 47.7 GHz in the mixed state of YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin films, where submicrometric BaZrO3 particles have been incorporated. As a function of the BaZrO3 content, we observed that the absolute losses slightly decrease up to a BaZrO3 content of 5%, and then increase. We found that the magnetic-field-induced losses behave differently in that they are not monotonic with increasing BaZrO3 concentration. At small concentration (2.5%) the field-induced losses increase, but large reduction in the losses themselves, by factors up to 3, is observed upon further increasing the BaZrO3 concentration in the target up to 7%. Using measurements of both surface resistance and surface reactance, we estimate vortex pinning-related parameters. We found that BaZrO3 inclusions introduce deep and steep pinning wells. In particular, the minimum height of the energy barrier for single vortices is raised. At larger BaZrO3 content (5% and 7%) the phenomenon is at its maximum, but it is unclear whether it shows a saturation or not, leaving room for further improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a microwave characterization of a DyBa2Cu3O7-x single domain, grown by the top-seeded melt-textured technique. We report the (a,b) plane field-induced surface resistance, ΔRs(H), at 48.3 GHz, measured by means of a cylindrical metal cavity in the end-wall-replacement configuration. Changes in the cavity quality factor Q against the applied magnetic field yield ΔRs(H) at fixed temperatures. The temperature range (70 K;Tc) was explored. The magnetic field μ0H<0.8 T was applied along the c axis. The field dependence of ΔRs(H) does not exhibit the steep, steplike increase at low fields typical of weak links. This result indicates the single-domain character of the sample under investigation. ΔRs(H) exhibits a nearly square-root dependence on H, as expected for fluxon motion. From the analysis of the data in terms of motion of Abrikosov vortices, we estimate the temperature dependences of the London penetration depth λ and the vortex viscosity η, and their zero-temperature values λ(0)=165 nm and η(0)=3×10-7 N s m-2, which are found in excellent agreement with reported data in YBa2Cu3O7-x single crystals. Comparison of microwave properties with those of related samples indicates the need for reporting data as a function of T/Tc in order to obtain universal laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A panel of Brazilian experts convened in order to provide recommendations regarding staging methods, antineoplastic therapy, osteoclast-targeted therapy, and patient follow-up in non-metastatic, castrationresistant prostate cancer. Key points include the reliance on prostate-specific antigen doubling time for treatment decisions, the absence of a clear preference between conventional and novel imaging techniques, and the increasing role of novel androgen-receptor signaling inhibitors. Introduction: Non-metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) is an important clinical stage of prostate cancer, prior to morbidity and mortality from clinical metastases. In particular, the introduction of novel androgenreceptor signaling inhibitors (ARSi) has changed the therapeutic landscape in nmCRPC. Given recent developments in this field, we update our recommendations for the management of nmCRPC. Methods: A panel of 51 invited medical oncologists and urologists convened in May of 2021 with the aim of discussing and providing recommendations regarding the most relevant issues concerning staging methods, antineoplastic therapy, osteoclast-targeted therapy, and patient follow-up in nmCRPC. Panel members considered the available evidence and their practical experience to address the 73 multiple-choice questions presented. Results: Key recommendations and findings include the reliance on prostate-specific antigen doubling time for treatment decisions, the absence of a clear preference between conventional and novel (i.e., positron-emission tomography-based) imaging techniques, the increasing role of ARSis in various settings, the general view that ARSis have similar efficacy. Panelists highlighted the slight preference for darolutamide, when safety is of greater concern, and a continued need to develop high-level evidence to guide the intensity of followup in this subset of prostate cancer. Discussion: Despite the limitations associated with a consensus panel, the topics addressed are relevant in current practice, and the recommendations can help practicing clinicians to provide state-of-the-art treatment to patients with nmCRPC in Brazil and other countries with similar healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The combined effects of low-level laser therapy and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on knee osteoarthritis have yet to be analysed. This study aimed to determine the individual and combined effects of laser therapy and electrical stimulation on muscle activation and pain in older people with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A total of 45 women aged 60–75 years with knee osteoarthritis were randomised into three groups to receive stimulation, laser or stimulation plus laser therapy. All three groups underwent a 4-week control period (without intervention) followed by an 8-week intervention period. The effects of the interventions on muscle inhibition, electrical activity and pain were analysed. Findings: There was a decrease in muscle inhibition (effect size ≥0.6) and a reduction in pain (effect size >1.2) in all three groups. All therapies generated an increase in electrical activity (effect size 0.1–0.5). Conclusions: Laser alone or in combination with electrical stimulation promoted similar increases in muscle activation and pain relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The paper shows the use of Augmented and Mixed Reality (MR) in real scenarios. • The paper shows and discusses the problem of the Standardization of these new technologies. • The paper proposes a first step toward the integration of these technologies with the Aerospace and Defense (ASD) norms. • Proof of Concept to evaluate the different technologies based on MR has been presented. Abstract This paper is a review of the work presented at the 5th IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Aerospace, MetroAeroSpace 2018 (Piedimonte and Ullo, 2018) [1] , enriched with some concepts on standardization for Mixed Reality applications. Nowadays, large organizations are looking for new procedures and configuration management in order to optimize operations for training and maintenance. The idea is to employ advanced techniques in order to handle budget constraints and reduction of human resources. At this aim, Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Realities are getting more and more exploited to support complex systems during their in-service phase. Nevertheless, the Mixed Reality has not formal standards available for the different application fields yet. This problem limits its utilization because it is not simple to deal with all the possible variations that can occur on the apparatus under maintenance or during a training process, which need to be suitably recorded and carried on. These themes are typically managed by the "Configuration Management" and are already harmonized in the norms, typically used in the discipline of the Integrated Logistic Support (ILS). Moreover, the new scenarios, where Virtual, Augmented or Mixed Realities are employed, lead to a maintenance "on condition", rather than to an "established scheduled" maintenance. In this context, the traditional manuals for maintenance, which present a "constant visualization", typically a.pdf-file, lose effectiveness. On the contrary, the manuals based on a "variable visualization", such as the AeroSpace and Defense (ASD) S1000 D norm, integrated with logistic data based on ASD S 3000 L norm, offer a great competitive advantage. This paper aims to present first steps towards the standardization of Maintenance and Training Processes in Command Control Communications Computers and Intelligence (C4I) Military Systems of ITalian Air Force (ITAF) when Mixed Reality is applied. In order to understand the most suitable choice when the C4I systems are involved, ITAF is running a Proof of Concept (PoC) to evaluate and compare the different technologies based on Mixed Reality. It is worth to underline that the benefits of Augmented and Mixed Reality have been extended to other fields such as for instance: industrial, technical, social, medical, cultural, besides the military one. Therefore, the results of this paper and the efforts for implementing standardization procedures will be useful for exploitation actions in all application fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article aims to analyse academic production about the history of school architecture in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, concerning the development of research trajectories and dialogue between the areas of architecture and education, sources, analysis methodology and periodisation. The latter was based on research developed in Architecture and led to the depreciation of school architecture in the nineteenth century, especially the imperial period, through the assumed absence of specialised education facilities - a claim echoed by education historiography. However, education studies show us the importance of schools built between 1870 and 1889. The research concerning schools built in Campinas, a countryside city, will be specially featured; it showcases a common context between the builders inserted in the local society in the nineteenth century, who took part in the founding of schools and their public. The comparison of architectural approaches aimed at students of different social strata is central. They are part of national projects of emancipation, eradication of illiteracy and cultural development. Methodologies such as the ones developed by Escolano, Viñao Frago, and Bencostta are discussed as perspectives for the analysis of school facilities, considering that these buildings feature meaningful traits connected with their goals, public and idealiser's purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground-dwelling beetles play an important role in ecosystems, linked to soil formation and structuring, fragmentation and transport of organic material, and biological control. Changes in the landscape resulting from habitat fragmentation and changes in land use systems serve as a filter for surface and soil beetle community composition, as the most tolerant species, are able to remain in the environment while others that are less tolerant may disappear. This study aimed to assess the community composition of ground-dwelling beetles and their relationship with environmental variables in fragments of the subtropical landscape in southern Brazil. Hence, evaluations of morphospecies and ecomorphological traits of ground-dwelling beetles in three municipalities were used. In each landscape, a sampling grid was established within a window with 1 km diameter and two sampling periods (autumn and winter) were performed for ground-dwelling beetles, soil attributes, litter, and spatial variables. There was an increase of individuals in the fragments with forest systems and with greater soil cover. The beetle communities of the native forest differed from those of pasture, crop-livestock integration, and no-tillage. The hemiedaphic and epigeous life-forms were associated with eucalyptus plantation and shrub vegetation, respectively. The native forest favored beetles with larger body sizes, compared to pasture, no-tillage, and eucalyptus plantation systems. The functional diversity (FD) and Simpson's indices were similar throughout the landscape. The environmental variables (Macropores, Soil Nitrogen, Aeration Space, Perimeter of the fragments, Litter Dry Weight) showed a relationship with several morphospecies but despite that they explained only a small part of the community structure. The heterogeneity of land use systems in subtropical landscapes was a driver of changes in the composition of ground-dwelling beetle communities and ecomorphological traits. • Studying the diversity of ground-dwelling beetles species in subtropical landscape. • Forests hold larger body sizes of ground-dwelling beetles. • Variation of vegetation cover affects the abundance of the organisms. • The community composition is related with soil, litter, and spatial variables. • The functional diversity of beetles is maintained throughout the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To compare the incidence of intra-abdominal complications in dogs following resection and functional end-to-end stapled anastomosis (FEESA) versus anastomosis with an end-to-end sutured technique for treatment of enteric lesions. DESIGN Multicenter, retrospective descriptive cohort study. ANIMALS 180 dogs. PROCEDURES Medical records of dogs undergoing intestinal resection and anastomosis at 3 nonaffiliated private practice specialty centers were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative clinical variables, indication for surgery, surgical technique (sutured end-to-end anastomosis vs FEESA), and evidence of postoperative anastomosis site leakage (dehiscence) were recorded. Variables of interest were analyzed for associations with dehiscence. RESULTS Dehiscence rates of sutured and stapled anastomoses were 12 of 93 (13%) and 4 of 87 (5%), respectively; odds of postoperative dehiscence were significantly lower for dogs with FEESAs than for dogs with sutured anastomoses (OR, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.09 to 0.94), Among dogs that underwent surgery for treatment of intestinal dehiscence after surgery at another facility, subsequent dehiscence developed in 3 of 5 with sutured anastomoses and 0 of II with stapled anastomoses. Dehiscence rates varied significantly among clinics. No other variable was associated with risk of dehiscence. Eleven of 16 dogs with dehiscence were euthanized without additional surgery. Impaction at the anastomosis site was identified months or years after surgery in 3 dogs (4 anastomosis sites) that had FEESAs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Odds for dehiscence were significantly greater for sutured end-to-end anastomoses than FEESAs, and dogs undergoing surgery for previous dehiscence were significantly more likely to experience a subsequent dehiscence with a sutured anastomosis. However, variability of procedure types and dehiscence rates among clinics suggested further research is needed to confirm these findings. Obstruction at the anastomosis site was identified as a potential long-term complication of FEESA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penicillium italicum (Blue mold) is a major postharvest disease of citrus. An alternative to controlling the disease is through the use of yeasts. The purpose of the present study was to screen effective yeast antagonists against P. italicum , isolated from soil, leaves, flowers, and citrus fruits, to assess the action mechanisms of the yeast isolates that were demonstrated to be effective for biocontrol, and to identify the most effective yeast isolates for the biocontrol of blue mold. The in vitro assays showed that six yeast strains inhibited up to 90% of the pathogen's mycelial growth. In vivo assays, evaluating the incidence of blue mold on sweet oranges, the strains ACBL-04, ACBL-05, ACBL-10 and ACBL-11 were effective, demonstrating the potential for the blue mold control when preventively applied, whereas the ACBL-08 strain showed a high potential to preventive and curative applications. Additional studies on the modes of action of these yeast strains showed that most of the evaluated yeast strains did not produce antifungal substances, in sufficient quantities to inhibit the pathogen growth. Competition for nutrients was not a biocontrol strategy used by the yeast strains. The ‘ killer ’ activity might be the main action mechanism involved in P. italicum biocontrol. This study indicated that the multiple modes of action against the pathogen presented by yeasts may explain why these strains provided P. italicum control under in vitro and in vivo conditions. However, further studies in future might be able to elucidate the ‘ killer ’ activity and its interaction with pathogen cells and the bioproduct production using Candida stellimalicola strains for control postharvest diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport and vortex pinning properties of nanocomposite YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) film grown by pulsed laser deposition with addition of Ba2 Y(Nb/Ta)O6 (BYNTO) were compared with BaZrO3 added YBCO by DC (long-range vortex motion) and microwave (small-displacement vortex motion) measurement techniques. A high efficiency of BYNTO was observed in the field dependence and in the angular dependence of the critical current density Jc at 77 K, as well as in the field dependence of the complex surface impedance ΔZ. Based on the field dependence of the pinning parameters, such as the pinning parameter r and the pinning constant kp, the vortex pinning regimes were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for continuous improvement of the magnetic properties of coated conductors requires in-depth knowledge of vortex pinning. Microwave measurements of the superconductor complex resistivity are a very effective tool in obtaining complementary information on vortex pinning, in addition to conventional critical current density Jc measurements. The microwave characterization suffers, however, from geometrical effects when the superconducting films are not thick with respect to the penetration depth, as the high-frequency field leaks through the superconductor and also probes the underlying substrate structure. Whilst the resulting electromagnetic problem has largely been addressed in the case of insulating or semiconducting substrates, metal substrates in coated conductors require further consideration. In this paper, we address the issue of obtaining the microwave resistivity of thin superconducting films grown on metal substrates, with particular emphasis on the correct determination of the vortex parameters. We finally illustrate the extraction procedure on a real sample measurements performed on a YBCO film deposited on metal tape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of the high-frequency complex resistivity in superconductors are a tool often used to obtain the vortex parameters, such as the vortex viscosity, the pinning constant, and the depinning frequency. In anisotropic superconductors, the extraction of these quantities from the measurements faces new difficulties due to the tensor nature of the electromagnetic problem. The problem is specifically intricate when the magnetic field is tilted with respect to the crystallographic axes. Partial solutions exist in the free-flux-flow(no pinning) and Campbell (pinning dominated) regimes. In this paper, we develop a full tensor model for the vortex motion complex resistivity, including flux-flow, pinning, and creep. We give explicit expressions for the tensors involved. We obtain that, despite the complexity of the physics, some parameters remain scalar in nature. We show that under specific circumstances the directly measured quantities do not reflect the true vortex parameters, and we give procedures to derive the true vortex parameters from measurements taken with arbitrary field orientations. Finally, we discuss the applicability of the angular scaling properties to the measured and transformed vortex parameters and we exploit these properties as a tool to unveil the existence of directional pinning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Excellent cosmetic results from skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) are often impaired by skin flaps’ necrosis (SFN), from 8%–25% or worse in smokers. This study prospectively investigated the efficacy of Double-Mirrored Omega Pattern (DMOP-SSM) compared to Wise Pattern SSM (WP-SSM) for immediate reconstruction in moderate/large-breasted smokers. Methods:From 2008–2010, DMOP-SSM was performed in 51 consecutive immediate breast reconstructions on 41 smokers (mean age = 49.8 years) with moderate/large and ptotic breasts. This active group (AG) was compared to a similar historical control group (CG) of 37 smokers (mean age = 51.1 years) who underwent WP-SSM and immediate breast reconstruction, with a mean follow-up of 37.6 months. Skin ischaemic complications, number of surgical revisions, time to wound healing, and patient satisfaction were analysed. Descriptive statistics were reported and comparison of performance endpoints was performed using Fisher’s exact test and Mann-WhitneyU-test. Ap-value <.05 was considered significant. Results:Patients’ mean age (p = .316) and BMI (p = .215) were not statistically different between groups. Ischaemic complications occurred in 11.7% of DMOP-SSMs and in 32.4% of WP-SSMs (p = .017), and revision rates were, respectively, 5.8% and 24.3% (p = .012), both statistically significant. Mean time to wound healing was, respectively, 16.8 days and 18.4 days (p = .205). Mean patients’ satisfaction scores were, respectively, 18.9 and 21.1, statistically significant (p = .022). Conclusion:Although tobacco use in moderate/large breasted patients can severely impair outcomes of breast reconstruction, the DMOP-SSM approach, compared to WP-SSM, allows smokers to benefit from SSM, but with statistically significant reduced skin flaps ischaemic complications, revision surgery, and better cosmetic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study provide information on the first occurrence in Italy of the Coleoptera Cerambycidae Chlorophorus annularis (Fabricius, 1787). It is a species naturally and widely distributed in Asia and in oriental tropical and subtropical areas. This cerambyx is a post-harvest pest of bamboo belonging to several genera as Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Phyllostachys, Sinocalamus, but it can also infest cultivated plants as Citrus spp., Gossypium, Liquidambar spp., Saccharum officinarum L., Vitis spp., and Zea mays L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]