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Fuel cells powered by biogas for decentralised cogeneration of heat and power are an attractive alternative to combustion technologies. However, biogas contains sulfur-based compounds (H2S, COS, DMS, siloxanes), which are harmful to fuel cells. This work was carried out in the framework of the European project Waste2Watts, involving the laboratories of Politecnico di Torino, ENEA, and PSI. The aim is to design and test a flexible and cost-effective cleaning unit to remove impurities for the use of biogas in high-efficiency fuel cell systems. The focus is on small- to medium-sized farms for which deep cleaning of biogas by adsorption materials is a suitable techno-economic solution to avoid intensive gas processing treatments. The ability of commercial adsorption materials (activated carbons, metal oxides, and metal hydroxides) to remove hydrogen sulphide and carbonyl sulphide was tested under different biogas compositions (oxygen and humidity). After evaluating the results, three plant configurations were proposed to optimally utilise the potential of the sorbents. Indeed, the RGM3 sorbent has proven to be an effective solution for removing H2S and COS under humid conditions (50% RH), whilst R7H and R8C sorbents are better suited for removing H2S and COS, respectively, in dry biogas conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This article investigates the hospital costs related to the management of COVID-19 positive patients, requiring a hospitalization (from the positivity confirmation to discharge, including rehabilitation activities).Methods: A time-driven activity-based costing analysis, grounding on administrative and accounting flows provided by the management control, was implemented to define costs related to the hospital management of COVID-19 positive patients, according to real-word data, derived from six public Italian Hospitals, in 2020.Results: Results reported that the higher the complexity of care, the higher the hospitalization cost per day (low-complexity = €475.86; medium-complexity = €700.20; high-complexity = €1,401.65). Focusing on the entire clinical pathway, the overall resources absorption, with the inclusion of rehabilitation costs, ranged from 6,198.02€ to 32,141.20€, dependent from the patient's clinical condition.Conclusions: Data could represent the baseline cost for COVID-19 hospital management, thus being useful for the further development of proper reimbursement tariffs devoted to hospitalized infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In particular, in the case of bariatric patients, weight reduction before surgery might play a mechanistic role [[1]] reducing postoperative complications, decreasing operating time, facilitating technical aspects of surgery and improving co-morbidities such as glycemic control and cardiovascular performance. Keywords: Prehabilitation; Exercise; Nutrition; Autonomic nervous system; Lifestyle; Hear rate variability EN Prehabilitation Exercise Nutrition Autonomic nervous system Lifestyle Hear rate variability 517 520 4 04/20/21 20210401 NES 210401 Dear Editor, Improving cardiovascular risk profile in surgery candidates may reduce surgical risk and ameliorate prognosis. [Extracted from the article]

Damage tolerant methodology is increasingly used in aeronautical components, especially due the fact that the Aviation Regulation requires such an assessment in case an accidental damage occurs. At present, there is a strong and actual interest in applying such procedures to helicopter components that are subjected to high frequency cyclic loads. In this paper, an investigation on a damaged transmission shaft for a tail rotor transmission of an actual helicopter has been carried out focusing on the fatigue crack propagation. A complete sequence of experimental tests was performed in order to create an actual ballistic damage and to subsequently check the damage tolerant behaviour. The shaft was damaged by oblique ballistic impact and was subsequently subjected to torsional fatigue loading. During the fatigue cycles several cracks propagated from the ballistic damages. Both of these steps (impact and fatigue loading) were also simulated by a complex modelling approach based on Finite Element Models and fracture mechanics theory. The comparison between the experimental and numerical results shows a good agreement but it underlines the need for a very refined modelling technique capable to replicate all the features associated with the damage in order to reliably simulate the subsequent propagation phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southern Pacific Islands region is highly seismically active and includes earthquakes from four major subduction systems, seafloor fracture zones and transform faults, and other sources of crustal seismicity. Since 1900, the area has experienced >350 earthquakes of M  > 7.0, including 11 of M  ≥ 8.0. Given the elevated threat of earthquakes, several probabilistic seismic hazard analyses have been published for this region or encompassed subregions; however, those that are publicly accessible do not provide complete coverage of the region using homogeneous methodologies. Here, we present a probabilistic seismic hazard model for the southern Pacific Islands that comprehensively covers the Solomon Islands in the northwest to the Tonga islands in the southeast. The seismic source model accounts for active shallow crustal seismicity with seafloor faults and gridded smoothed seismicity, subduction interfaces using faults with geometries defined based on geophysical data sets and models, and intraslab seismicity modelled by a set of ruptures that occupy the slab volume. Each source type is assigned occurrence rates based on subcatalogues classified to each respective tectonic context. Subduction interface and crustal fault occurrence rates also incorporate a tectonic component based on their respective characteristic earthquakes. We demonstrate the use of non-standard magnitude–frequency distributions to reproduce the observed occurrence rates. For subduction interface sources, we use various versions of the source model to account for epistemic uncertainty in factors impacting the maximum magnitude earthquake permissible by each source, varying the interface lower depth and segmentation as well as the magnitude scaling relationship used to compute the maximum magnitude earthquake and subsequently its occurrence rate. The ground motion characterization uses a logic tree that weights three ground motion prediction equations for each tectonic region. We compute hazard maps for 10 and 2 per cent probability of exceedance in 50 yr on rock sites, discussing the regional distribution of peak ground acceleration and spectral acceleration with a period of 1.0 s, honing in on the hazard curves and uniform hazard spectra of several capital or populous cities and drawing comparisons to other recent hazard models. The results reveal that the most hazardous landmasses are the island chains closest to subduction trenches, as well as localized areas with high rates of seismicity occurring in active shallow crust. We use seismic hazard disaggregation to demonstrate that at selected cities located above subduction zones, the PGA with 10 per cent probability of exceedance in 50 yr is controlled by M w > 7.0 subduction interface and intraslab earthquakes, while at cities far from subduction zones, M w < 6.5 crustal earthquakes contribute most. The model is used for southern Pacific Islands coverage in the Global Earthquake Model Global Hazard Mosaic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic hazard modeling is a multidisciplinary science that aims to forecast earthquake occurrence and its resultant ground shaking. Such models consist of a probabilistic framework that quantifies uncertainty across a complex system; typically, this includes at least two model components developed from Earth science: seismic source and ground motion models. Although there is no scientific prescription for the forecast length, the most common probabilistic seismic hazard analyses consider forecasting windows of 30 to 50 years, which are typically an engineering demand for building code purposes. These types of analyses are the topic of this review paper. Although the core methods and assumptions of seismic hazard modeling have largely remained unchanged for more than 50 years, we review the most recent initiatives, which face the difficult task of meeting both the increasingly sophisticated demands of society and keeping pace with advances in scientific understanding. A need for more accurate and spatially precise hazard forecasting must be balanced with increased quantification of uncertainty and new challenges such as moving from time‐independent hazard to forecasts that are time dependent and specific to the time period of interest. Meeting these challenges requires the development of science‐driven models, which integrate all information available, the adoption of proper mathematical frameworks to quantify the different types of uncertainties in the hazard model, and the development of a proper testing phase of the model to quantify its consistency and skill. We review the state of the art of the National Seismic Hazard Modeling and how the most innovative approaches try to address future challenges.Plain Language Summary: In this review paper we describe the state of the art in modeling earthquake hazard at the national scale. National hazard models take our understanding of fundamental earthquake processes and develop models of earthquake shaking relevant to the decades to come. The shaking estimates from the models provide important inputs into societal decision making across a wide range of uses including such things as building design requirements or for guiding insurance policy. Here were introduce national models from 10 regions around the world, including multinational models that aim to make results comparable from nation to nation. We describe key challenges and assumptions in making the models and provide recommendations about research for improving future generations of national models. An emerging and overriding philosophy is the need to better quantify and make useful the uncertainties in our knowledge of earthquake processes. Future models will better be able to include this uncertainty and will aim to better quantify the ability of the models to provide the outputs society needs. Finally, future models will become increasingly reliant on computer models that simulate how earthquakes interact with each other and cause shaking at the surface of the Earth.Key Points: National Seismic Hazard Models (NSHMs) are regional models that take our understanding of earthquake occurrence and their consequent shaking intensities and make this information useful for decision makers and societyKey goals in modern probabilistic NSHMs are the improved quantification of uncertainty and research to understand the skill and usefulness of the forecastsCurrent PSHA‐based methods used by NSHMs from diverse tectonic settings around the world are reviewed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the metabolic correlates of Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to investigate the role of ε2 as a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Methods: A total of 159 ALS cases underwent APOE and ALS‐related genes analysis, neuropsychological assessment and cerebral 18F‐2‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose positron emission tomography. The APOE genotype was regressed against whole brain metabolism as assessed by 18F‐2‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose positron emission tomography, with age, sex, education, type of onset and C9orf72 status as covariates. Results: Brain metabolism was significantly positively correlated with APOE genotype from ε2/ε2 to ε3/ε4 in the left prefrontal [Brodmann area (BA) 10], orbitofrontal (BAs 11, 45, 47) and anterior cingulate (BA 32) cortices. There was a tendency to a relative hypometabolism going towards the ε2/ε2 extreme. Conclusions: We found a highly significant, relatively lower metabolism in association with the ε2 allele in extra‐motor areas typically affected in frontotemporal dementia (left prefrontal, orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortices), strengthening the finding of a role of ε2 as a risk factor for cognitive impairment in ALS. Our data suggested a link between cholesterol homeostasis and neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence suggests that early neurodevelopmental defects in Huntington's disease (HD) patients could contribute to the later adult neurodegenerative phenotype. Here, by using HD-derived induced pluripotent stem cell lines, we report that early telencephalic induction and late neural identity are affected in cortical and striatal populations. We show that a large CAG expansion causes complete failure of the neuro-ectodermal acquisition, while cells carrying shorter CAGs repeats show gross abnormalities in neural rosette formation as well as disrupted cytoarchitecture in cortical organoids. Gene-expression analysis showed that control organoid overlapped with mature human fetal cortical areas, while HD organoids correlated with the immature ventricular zone/subventricular zone. We also report that defects in neuroectoderm and rosette formation could be rescued by molecular and pharmacological approaches leading to a recovery of striatal identity. These results show that mutant huntingtin precludes normal neuronal fate acquisition and highlights a possible connection between mutant huntingtin and abnormal neural development in HD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of a magnitude-homogenized catalogue is often one of the most fundamental steps in seismic hazard analysis. The process of homogenizing multiple catalogues of earthquakes into a single unified catalogue typically requires careful appraisal of available bulletins, identification of common events within multiple bulletins and the development and application of empirical models to convert from each catalogue's native scale into the required target. The database of the International Seismological Center (ISC) provides the most exhaustive compilation of records from local bulletins, in addition to its reviewed global bulletin. New open-source tools are developed that can utilize this, or any other compiled database, to explore the relations between earthquake solutions provided by different recording networks, and to build and apply empirical models in order to harmonize magnitude scales for the purpose of creating magnitude-homogeneous earthquake catalogues. These tools are described and their application illustrated in two different contexts. The first is a simple application in the Sub-Saharan Africa region where the spatial coverage and magnitude scales for different local recording networks are compared, and their relation to global magnitude scales explored. In the second application the tools are used on a global scale for the purpose of creating an extended magnitude-homogeneous global earthquake catalogue. Several existing high-quality earthquake databases, such as the ISC-GEM and the ISC Reviewed Bulletins, are harmonized into moment magnitude to form a catalogue of more than 562 840 events. This extended catalogue, while not an appropriate substitute for a locally calibrated analysis, can help in studying global patterns in seismicity and hazard, and is therefore released with the accompanying software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent major earthquakes in the Italian territory have reaffirmed the seismic vulnerability of precast industrial buildings typical of past Italian building practices, highlighting structural deficiencies observed during previous events and primarily related to the transfer of horizontal forces between structural and nonstructural elements. An intrinsic lack of shear and ductility capacity has been observed in simply supported beam-to-joist and beam-to-column connections, primarily constituted by vertical steel dowels or solely relying on shear friction, with or without neoprene pads. These connections were designed neglecting seismic loads and their premature failure was observed during recent seismic events to cause a loss of support of beam elements, owing to the relative movements of elements, and the collapse of part of the buildings, primarily the roof. The seismic displacement demand of the industrial buildings under consideration is larger than traditional RC frame structures owing to their higher flexibility, according to both higher interstory height and to a cantilevered static scheme. Furthermore, this high flexibility may also result in displacement incompatibility between structural and nonstructural elements, such as precast cladding panels, causing their connection failure. On the basis of detailed field observations on a relevant number of buildings, collected just after the earthquakes, seven representative industrial facilities are examined to outline the primary vulnerabilities of one-story precast concrete structures not designed and detailed for seismic loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastocytosis is a clonal disorder characterized by the proliferation and accumulation of mast cells ( MC) in different tissues, with a preferential localization in skin and bone marrow ( BM). The excess of MC in mastocytosis as well as the increased releasability of MC may lead to a higher frequency and severity of immediate hypersensitivity reactions. Mastocytosis in adults is associated with a history of anaphylaxis in 22-49%. Fatal anaphylaxis has been described particularly following hymenoptera stings, but also occasionally after the intake of drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids and drugs in the perioperative setting. However, data on the frequency of drug hypersensitivity in mastocytosis and vice versa are scarce and evidence for an association appears to be limited. Nevertheless, clonal MC disorders should be ruled out in cases of severe anaphylaxis: basal serum tryptase determination, physical examination for cutaneous mastocytosis lesions, and clinical characteristics of anaphylactic reaction might be useful for differential diagnosis. In this position paper, the ENDA group performed a literature search on immediate drug hypersensitivity reactions in clonal MC disorders using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, reviewed and evaluated the literature in five languages using the GRADE system for quality of evidence and strength of recommendation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of solid-shell elements in explicit dynamics has been so far limited by the small critical time step resulting from the small thickness of these elements in comparison with the in-plane dimensions. To reduce the element highest eigenfrequency in inertia dominated problems, the selective mass scaling approach previously proposed in [G. Cocchetti, M. Pagani and U. Perego, Comp. & Struct. 2013; 127:39-52.] for parallelepiped elements is here reformulated for distorted solid-shell elements. The two following objectives are achieved: the critical time step is governed by the smallest element in-plane dimension and not anymore by the thickness; the mass matrix remains diagonal after the selective mass scaling. The proposed approach makes reference to one Gauss point, trilinear brick element, for which the maximum eigenfrequency can be computed analytically. For this element, it is shown that the proposed mass scaling can be interpreted as a geometric thickness scaling, obtaining in this way a simple criterion for the definition of the optimal mass scaling factor. A strategy for the effective computation of the element maximum eigenfrequency is also proposed. The considered mass scaling preserves the element translational inertia, while it modifies the rotational one, leading to errors in the kinetic energy when the motion rotational component is dominant. The error has been rigorously assessed for an individual element, and a simple formula for its estimate has been derived. Numerical tests, both in small and large displacements and rotations, using a state-of-the-art solid-shell element taken from the literature, confirm the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Autonomic nervous system ( ANS) regulation may be altered in functional diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS), but published data are not clear to date. The aim of the study was to analyze ANS function in IBS subjects classified by Rome III criteria and healthy controls using standardized technique. Methods ANS activity was evaluated by autoregressive spectral analysis of RR interval and systolic arterial pressure variabilities, to obtain indices of sympatho-vagal modulation of the heart and of spontaneous cardiac baroreflex ( α index). A symptom list was used to score 18 somatic complaints (score 0-180) (4 SQ). Fatigue and stress were assessed through the use of a global scoring index (0-10). Key Results We enrolled 41 IBS subjects (29 F, age 40 ± 2 years) and 42 healthy matched controls. Heart rate was higher in IBS than control subjects (69 ± 2 vs 61 ± 1; p < 0.001). The total variance of RR interval variability, and α index, were significantly lower in IBS compared to controls (1983.12 ± 384.64 ms2 vs 4184.55 ± 649.59 ms2; 18.1 ± 2 ms/mmHg vs 29 ± 3 ms/mmHg; p < 0.01). The α index results showed an inverse correlation with stress scores and somatic symptoms. Conclusions & Inferences IBS subjects display a significant reduction in α index, an established marker of cardiac baroreflex. ANS dysfunction appears to be involved in the pathophysiology of IBS and its assessment may open new perspectives for clinical management of patients suffering from IBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caregivers of patients in vegetative state and minimally conscious state play a crucial role in the process of taking care and, as previous studies reported, they can suffer of high burden and negative health outcomes. The aim of this national cross-sectional study was to assess whether physical and mental health of caregivers, considering gender differences, is related to the presence of depressive symptoms, anxiety, age and patient's disease duration. Four-hundred and eighteen caregivers, 294 women and 124 men, completed the State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y, Beck Depression Inventory, second version and Short Form-12. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to evaluate to which extent depressive and anxiety symptoms predict physical and mental health. Men reported higher levels of mental health state, whereas physical health was not different across gender. High levels of anxiety symptoms were associated to negative mental health outcomes in both genders, whereas depressive symptoms were found to impact on female's mental and physical health only. A comprehensive and cost-effective screening of anxiety and depressive symptoms may help to identify determinants of health worsening in order to plan, when necessary, caregivers' support. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages Female caregivers of patients in vegetative state and minimally conscious state have poorer levels of mental health, whereas physical health is similar to men's., Anxiety symptoms are related to negative mental health outcomes in both male and female caregivers, whereas depressive symptoms are found to impact on female mental and physical health only., It is essential to consider and assess depressive and anxiety symptoms as they may contribute to caregivers' health worsening. This knowledge can lead to plan more comprehensive and tailored caregivers' supports and a better care for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Involvement of family members is crucial to provide daily informal caring to patients in vegetative state and minimally conscious state. Previous studies showed that perceived burden is a risk factor for informal caregivers as it increases psychophysical distress. This research further investigated the relationship between these factors and aimed at providing a model that thoroughly describes this mechanism of functioning. In the frame of a national survey on people with disorders of consciousness, 487 informal caregivers of children and adult patients in vegetative and minimally conscious state were administered measures of depression, anxiety, caregiver needs, and family strain. Regression models proposed by Baron and Kenny and the Sobel test were adopted to investigate the relationship between depressive and anxiety symptoms, perceived burden and needs expressed. Our study shows that the relation between those symptoms and needs is mediated by burden, where higher burden accentuates and lower burden mitigates the needs expressed by caregivers. Our findings demonstrate that psychosocial components of the burden perceived by caregivers of patients with disorders of consciousness play a key role in shaping those caregivers' needs, especially their needs for information and communication. We recommend implementation of comprehensive steps to meet the needs of these caregivers, steps that incorporate improved economic and public health programs, social support, and use of psychological interventions to ameliorate caregivers' psychological distress and decrease their burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]