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The evacuated-tube collector (ETC) for solar heat production is one of the most efficient systems to convert Sun energy into usable energy. Unfortunately, some technological barriers are still present in solar-thermal heat systems that limit the use of these technologies to decarbonize processes. An important obstacle is the requirement for heat at stable temperatures, which is not always achievable by solar fields, e.g. variable sky. For that reason, in this work, we studied the phase-change materials embedded in the ETC to keep stable the water temperature for a short period (minutes, hours). In this study, carnauba wax was used as a sustainable phase-change material (PCM), to avoid the use of PCM based on hydrocarbon waxes. The PCM has been packaged using a polyethylene bag inserted into an ETC with heat-pipe technologies and tested. The collector has been tested outdoors under solar irradiation and under shading conditions. The experimental results show that is possible to detect a sensible effect of the PCM on the temperature using 4 kg of carnauba wax while there is an important effect on the temperature stabilization using 9 kg of PCM. Using 9 kg of the PCM, we observed a stability of the outlet water temperature at 65°C for 30 minutes under shading conditions.

The cross-fertilisation between biological and cultural evolution has led to an extensive borrowing of key concepts, theories, and statistical methods for studying temporal variation in the frequency of cultural variants. Archaeologists have been among the front-runners of those engaging with this endeavour, and the last 2 decades have seen a number of case studies where modes of social learning were inferred from the changing frequencies of artefacts. Here, we employ a simulation model to review and examine under-discussed assumptions shared by many of these applications on the nature of what constitutes the ‘population’ under study. We specifically ask (1) whether cultural transmission via ‘objects’ (i.e. public manifestations of cultural traits) generates distinct patterns from those expected from direct transmission between individuals and (2) whether basing inference on the frequency of objects rather than on the frequency of mental representations underlying the production of those objects may lead to biased interpretations. Our results show that the rate at which ideational cultural traits are embedded in objects, and shared as such, has a measurable impact on how we infer cultural transmission processes when analysing frequency-based archaeological data. At the same time, when cultural transmission is entirely mediated by the material representation of ideas, we argue that copying error should be interpreted as a two-step process which may occur in either one or both of embedding information in objects and retrieving it from them.

To compare the performances of artificial intelligence (AI) to those of radiologists in wrist fracture detection on radiographs.This retrospective study included 637 patients (1917 radiographs) with wrist trauma between January 2017 and December 2019. The AI software used was a deep neuronal network algorithm. Ground truth was established by three senior musculoskeletal radiologists who compared the initial radiology reports (IRR) made by non-specialized radiologists, the results of AI, and the combination of AI and IRR (IR+AI) RESULTS: A total of 318 fractures were reported by the senior radiologists in 247 patients. Sensitivity of AI (83%; 95% CI: 78-87%) was significantly greater than that of IRR (76%; 95% CI: 70-81%) (p0.001). Specificities were similar for AI (96%; 95% CI: 93-97%) and for IRR (96%; 95% CI: 94-98%) (p = 0.80). The combination of AI+IRR had a significantly greater sensitivity (88%; 95% CI: 84-92%) compared to AI and IRR (p0.001) and a lower specificity (92%; 95% CI: 89-95%) (p0.001). The sensitivity for scaphoid fracture detection was acceptable for AI (84%) and IRR (80%) but poor for the detection of other carpal bones fracture (41% for AI and 26% for IRR).Performance of AI in wrist fracture detection on radiographs is better than that of non-specialized radiologists. The combination of AI and radiologist's analysis yields best performances.• Artificial intelligence has better performances for wrist fracture detection compared to non-expert radiologists in daily practice. • Performance of artificial intelligence greatly differs depending on the anatomical area. • Sensitivity of artificial intelligence for the detection of carpal bones fractures is 56%.

The adoption of rice farming during the first millennium BC was a turning point in Japanese prehistory, defining the subsequent cultural, linguistic, and genetic variation in the archipelago. Here, we use a suite of novel Bayesian techniques to estimate the regional rates of dispersal and arrival time of rice farming using radiocarbon dates on charred rice remains. Our results indicate substantial variations in the rate of dispersal of rice within the Japanese islands, hinting at the presence of a mixture of demic and cultural diffusion, geographic variations in the suitability of its cultivation, and the possible role of existing social networks in facilitating or hindering the adoption of the new subsistence economy.

The last decade saw a rapid increase in the number of studies where time–frequency changes of radiocarbon dates have been used as a proxy for inferring past population dynamics. Although its universal and straightforward premise is appealing and undoubtedly offers some unique opportunities for research on long-term comparative demography, practical applications are far from trivial and riddled with issues pertaining to the very nature of the proxy under examination. Here I review the most common criticisms concerning the nature of radiocarbon time–frequency data as a demographic proxy, focusing on key statistical and inferential challenges. I then examine and compare recent methodological advances in the field by grouping them into three approaches: reconstructive, null-hypothesis significance testing, and model fitting. I will then conclude with some general recommendations for applying these techniques in archaeological and paleo-demographic research.

To evaluate three-dimensional (3D) turbo spin-echo (TSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the assessment of acute muscle injuries in elite athletes in comparison with two-dimensional (2D) MRI.Elite athletes with clinically suspected acute muscle injury of the thigh who underwent both 2D and 3D MRI protocols on the same day were retrospectively included. Two musculoskeletal radiologists independently assessed 2D and 3D MRIs, with both techniques evaluated separately 1-month apart. Muscle injuries were evaluated using the BAMIC and the INSEP classifications. A second assessment of injuries was performed by each reader 2 months after the initial readings. Agreement was determined using weighted kappa statistics. The level of diagnostic confidence in classifying injuries was also assessed for both MRI protocols.A total of 40 athletes were included. Intra-reader agreement when comparing injury grades from 2D vs. 3D for both INSEP and BAMIC classifications was almost perfect for both readers and ranged between 0.84 and 0.98. Inter-reader agreement was substantial to almost perfect and ranged from 0.78 to 0.93 for the 2D protocol, and from 0.78 to 0.95 for the 3D protocol. Intra-reader agreement for each MRI protocol separately was almost perfect to perfect for both readers and ranged between 0.84 and 1.00. Diagnostic confidence for grading injuries improved for both readers when using the 3D protocol.Compared to 2D MRI, 3D TSE MRI is a reliable technique for acute muscular injury assessment, providing faster acquisition times and improving the diagnostic confidence.• Compared to 2D MRI, 3D TSE MRI is a reliable technique for the assessment of acute muscular injuries. • 3D TSE MRI has the advantage of faster total acquisition times, thinner sections, and multiplanar reconstruction, improving the confidence for structural assessment including connective tissue involvement.

No contexto do futebol competitivo, cobra-se excelência nos diferentes níveis de desempenho, havendo uma pressão natural individual que pode levar à ansiedade e depressão. Percebeu-se que, com certa frequência, após a ocorrência de lesões musculoesqueléticas, surgiam sintomas desses transtornos mentais comuns. Busca-se, portanto, entender a relação entre as lesões físicas e a sintomatologia depressiva e ansiosa. Em um cenário de contusão, comparando jogadores ilesos com não ilesos, houve presença de maiores escores de depressão e pontuações de ansiedade por parte dos primeiros. Mulheres possuem o dobro da taxa de prevalência para ansiedade do que os homens O futebol, assim como qualquer esporte, tende a ser um fator de alívio no estresse e ansiedade. Todavia, pode ter o efeito contrário, quando aliado negativamente à pressão por excelentes desempenhos, cobranças excessivas por parte da torcida e imprensa, assim como a cobrança individual, muitas vezes desnecessária. A partir de um momento de lesão, o atleta vivencia diversos sentimentos: perda de identidade, negação, isolamento, medo, descrença e esgotamento mental. Devido a isso e à incapacidade de treinar e participar das competições, ocorre um declínio de sua condição física, levando à perda de confiança e potencial de desenvolver estados depressivos e ansiosos. Buscando avaliar essa correlação positiva, os dados foram coletados através dos questionários IDB e PSWQ. Foram obtidas 64 respostas de atletas, sendo 26 do futebol feminino e 38 do masculino. Desse total, 57,8% já sofreram alguma lesão na carreira. Confirmou-se correlação positiva entre história de lesão prévia e transtorno de ansiedade ou depressão, todavia a diferença de sexo não foi um fator significativo na comparação entre prevalência dos transtornos mentais. Em vista disso, é imprescindível haver maior atenção à saúde mental dos atletas de futebol profissional, trabalhando com projetos, mediantes participação de especialistas, a longo prazo, que visem o acompanhamento constante do jogador.

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar a resolução cirúrgica de uma infecção endodôntica persistente causada por um biofilme de Actinomyces sp em paciente diabético descompensado. Relato de caso: Uma mulher de 53 anos de idade, com diabetes mellitus insulino-resistente, reclamou de dor e edema na região do incisivo lateral superior direito (dente #12), o qual já havia sido tratado endodonticamente há 38 anos. Após o retrata- mento endodôntico o dente permaneceu sintomático. Portanto, a cirurgia apical foi realizada e a retrocavidade preenchida com agregado de trióxido mineral. A lesão removida foi submetida à análise histopatológica e diagnosticada como cisto periapical circundado por biofilme de Actinomyces. Exames clínicos e de imagem foram conduzidos durante todo o tratamento. Doze meses após a cirurgia, a tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico mostrou o sucesso da terapia, evidenciado pela formação de osso periapical. Conclusão: A cirurgia apical representou um efetivo tratamento para a periodontite apical sintomática com actinomicose em um paciente diabético descompensado.

Apesar de atingirem padrões de alta clínica, pacientes com COVID-19 não retomam as atividades cotidianas devido à incapacidade, sendo o processo de reabilitação de interesse dos serviços de saúde e sociedade. Objetivos: Descrever o nível de funcionalidade do paciente pós-Covid-19 e resultados de um processo de reabilitação multidisciplinar. Métodos: Estudo observacional, descritivo, de abordagem quantitativa, relativo à avaliação das demandas e processo de reabilitação interdisciplinar. Resultados: 22 pacientes participaram do estudo, idade 48,46 anos (±12,63), 50% homens, sendo que 81,8% apresentavam comorbidades e 95,5% sobrepeso ou algum grau de obesidade. Todos apresentaram diminuição na QV (SF36) e não alcançaram a distância média esperada para o teste de 6 minutos, 20 pacientes apresentaram dispnéia para realizar as atividades cotidianas e 21 apresentaram limitação na Escala de Status Funcional Pós-Covide19 (PCSF). O resultado do processo de reabilitação com 20 pacientes, mostrou na comparação antes e depois, diferenças significativas na força muscular (,000) PeakFlow Meter (,000), Berg (,000), Barthel (,001), teste 6 minutos para freqüência cardíaca (,002) e distância percorrida (,000). Na SF-36 para os domínios de Estado Geral da saúde (, 058) e Aspectos Emocionais (0,194) a diferença não foi significativa. Para as variáveis ordinais houve diferença significativa para PCSF (,000) e dispnéia (,000). Conclusão: O estudo aponta que a incapacidade do paciente teve maior correlação na entrada do serviço com o tempo de internação e que um processo de reabilitação interdisciplinar melhora na funcionalidade e QV do paciente com sequelas de Covid-19.

Pretendeu-se analisar a legislação educacional do município de Lins, São Paulo, contemplando aspectos e princípios da gestão democrática em uma rede municipal. Primeiramente, realizamos uma contextualização histórica do município em relação a política educacional do país. Paralelamente, identificamos como foi institucionalizada a educação municipal. Por meio de pesquisa documental, de natureza descritiva, procurou-se identificar os princípios democráticos de gestão escolar nos textos legais em vigência. O estudo pode colaborar com o município de Lins, fazendo um retrospecto das ações já realizadas no processo de fortalecimento da gestão das unidades e do sistema local; mas também permitiu reflexões que poderão nortear uma efetiva democratização educacional em outros municípios, com o apoio dos mecanismos de participação organizada da sociedade.

RESUMO Introdução: O câncer de mama é a segunda neoplasia mais comum entre as mulheres. A constante evolução científica tem permitido abordagens cirúrgicas cada vez menos invasivas, diminuindo a morbidade relacionada ao tratamento sem prejuízo oncológico. O objetivo deste artigo é mostrar os resultados cirúrgicos e a versatilidade da mamoplastia redutora com a técnica de Pitanguy modificada, para otimização da reconstrução imediata associada à cirurgia oncológica. Métodos: Apresentamos os casos de três pacientes submetidas à técnica proposta. A marcação da mama com diagnóstico de câncer é planejada seguindo os princípios da mamoplastia redutora descrita por Pitanguy. Porém, o triângulo de ressecção inferolateral é transposto para a área supratumoral. Ele pode ser posicionado da junção dos quadrantes laterais (JQL) até o quadrante superolateral (QSL) da mama oncológica. Resultados: As três pacientes foram submetidas à técnica descrita associada à mamoplastia de simetrização contralateral com a técnica de Pitanguy. Todas realizaram radioterapia adjuvante, associada ou não à quimioterapia. Duas pacientes evoluíram sem intercorrências e uma apresentou pequena necrose de 1x1cm na junção inferior dos retalhos na mama com câncer, que foi tratada de maneira conservadora sem atrasar o tratamento adjuvante. Todas seguem satisfeitas com o resultado estético. Conclusão: A técnica descrita mostrou-se uma boa alternativa para tumores localizados entre a JQL e o QSL da mama oncológica, proporcionando ressecções mais amplas e dessa forma ampliando a indicação de cirurgia conservadora e reduzindo a necessidade de cirurgia radical, com melhores resultados estéticos sem prejuízo do desfecho oncológico. ABSTRACT Introduction: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women. Constant scientific evolution has allowed increasingly less invasive surgical approaches, reducing treatment-related morbidity without cancer damage. The objective of this article is to show the surgical results and the versatility of reduction mammoplasty with the modified Pitanguy technique to optimize the immediate reconstruction associated with cancer surgery. Methods: We present the cases of three patients who underwent the proposed technique. Marking of the breast diagnosed with cancer is planned following the principles of reduction mammoplasty described by Pitanguy. However, the inferolateral resection triangle is transposed into the supratumoral area. It can be placed from the junction of the lateral quadrants (JLQ) to the superolateral quadrant (SLQ) of the oncological breast. Results: the three patients underwent the described technique associated with contralateral symmetrization mammoplasty with the Pitanguy technique. All were submitted to adjuvant radiation therapy, associated or not with chemotherapy. Two patients progressed without incident and one had a small necrosis of 1x1 cm at the flaps lower junction in the breast with cancer, which was treated conservatively without delaying the adjuvant treatment. All were satisfied with the aesthetic result. Conclusion: The described technique proved to be a good alternative for tumors located between the JLQ and the SLQ of the oncological breast. It provides broader resections and thus expands the indication for conservative surgery and reduces the need for radical surgery, with better aesthetic results without impairment of the cancer outcome

The ability to detect and map landslides triggered by intense rainfall in quasi-real time is essential to mitigate their impact and for effective crisis management. The manipulation of space-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images has proven to be one of the most valuable and inalienable asset for this type of investigation. In mountainous areas, morphological variations, related to surface processes and activated by forceful meteorological events, can be usually detected by applying three type of approaches: amplitude-based methods, phase-coherence-based methods and polarimetric techniques. This study present a rapid, effective and straightforward coherence-based methodology which, using just three SAR images, can detect the activation of debris flows with a latency solely related to the repeat cycle of the SAR mission. The technique has been tested in the Italian Dolomites using the dataset of European Space Agency’s mission Sentinel-1, showing promising results. This research is carried out in the framework of Project VAILAND, a joint research agreement funded by the Veneto Region (Italy).

A new approach for the stabilization of the ferroelectric orthorhombic ZrO2 films is demonstrated through nanosecond laser annealing (NLA) of as-deposited Si/SiOx /W(14 nm)/ZrO2 (8 nm)/W(22 nm), grown by ion beam sputtering at low temperatures. The NLA process optimization is guided by COMSOL multiphysics simulations. The films annealed under the optimized conditions reveal the presence of the orthorhombic phase, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Macroscopic polarization-electric field hysteresis loops show ferroelectric behavior, with saturation polarization of 12.8 µC cm-2 , remnant polarization of 12.7 µC cm-2 and coercive field of 1.2 MV cm-1 . The films exhibit a wake-up effect that is attributed to the migration of point defects, such as oxygen vacancies, and/or a transition from nonferroelectric (monoclinic and tetragonal phase) to the ferroelectric orthorhombic phase. The capacitors demonstrate a stable polarization with an endurance of 6.0 × 105 cycles, demonstrating the potential of the NLA process for the fabrication of ferroelectric memory devices with high polarization, low coercive field, and high cycling stability.

Households’ willingness to pay (WTP) for water quality improvements—representing their economic value—depends on where improvements occur. Households often hold higher values for improvements close to their homes or iconic areas. Are there other areas where improvements might hold high value to individual households, do effects on WTP vary by type of improvement, and can these areas be identified even if they are not anticipated by researchers? To answer these questions, we integrated a water quality model and map-based, interactive choice experiment to estimate households’ WTP for water quality improvements throughout a river network covering six New England states. The choice experiment was implemented using a push-to-web survey over a sample of New England households. Voting scenarios used to elicit WTP included interactive geographic information system (GIS) maps that illustrated three water quality measures at various zoom levels across the study domain. We captured data on how respondents maneuvered through these maps prior to answering the value-eliciting questions. Results show that WTP was influenced by regionwide quality improvements and improvements surrounding each respondent’s home, as anticipated, but also by improvements in individualized locations identifiable via each respondent’s map interactions. These spatial WTP variations only appear for low-quality rivers and are focused around particular areas of New England. The study shows that dynamic map interactions can convey salient information for WTP estimation and that predicting spatial WTP heterogeneity based primarily on home or iconic locations, as typically done, may overlook areas where water quality has high value.

Despite decades of research efforts and multiple clinical trials aimed at discovering efficacious disease-modifying osteoarthritis (OA) drugs (DMOAD), we still do not have a drug that shows convincing scientific evidence to be approved as an effective DMOAD. It has been suggested these DMOAD clinical trials were in part unsuccessful since eligibility criteria and imaging-based outcome evaluation were solely based on conventional radiography. The OA research community has been aware of the limitations of conventional radiography being used as a primary imaging modality for eligibility and efficacy assessment in DMOAD trials. An imaging modality for DMOAD trials should be able to depict soft tissue and osseous pathologies that are relevant to OA disease progression and clinical manifestations of OA. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fulfills these criteria and advances in technology and increasing knowledge regarding imaging outcomes likely should play a more prominent role in DMOAD clinical trials. In this perspective article, we will describe MRI-based tools and analytic methods that can be applied to DMOAD clinical trials with a particular emphasis on knee OA. MRI should be the modality of choice for eligibility screening and outcome assessment. Optimal MRI pulse sequences must be chosen to visualize specific features of OA.

We present a species distribution model (SDM) of Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat) in China using present distribution data and estimates for the past based on palaeoclimatic reconstructions. Our model estimates the potential area suitable for buckwheat cultivation over the last 8,000 years, with northeast China consistently showing the highest suitability, providing insights on the discrepancy between the location of the earliest archaeobotanical records in the area and its origins in southwest China based on biogeographic and genetic data. The model suggests little to no variation over time in the spatial extent of the potential area suitable for buckwheat cultivation. In the northern parts of China, the limits of the ecological niche largely fall within the borders of the study area, while to the west it never extends into the main Tibetan plateau, explaining the lack of fossil evidence from Central Asia. In the southwest, the niche overlaps with the borders of modern China, which supports this direction as a viable route of westward dispersal. The comparison between the prediction from the model and sites with archaeobotanical evidence for Fagopyrum indicates that the environmental niche it occupied remained stable over time. This may contrast with a dispersal pattern characterised by continuous adaptations to new environments facilitated by human activity, which may be suggested for other major and minor crops.

Resumo A sexualidade envolve aspectos biológicos e subjetivos e está presente ao longo do desenvolvimento humano. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar relatos de idosos sobre sexualidade no envelhecimento. Foram realizadas entrevistas com dez idosos da Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade de uma cidade da região do Triângulo Mineiro, cujos resultados foram organizados e analisados por meio de uma análise de conteúdo temática. As duas categorias constituídas ressaltam concepções tradicionais de gênero e sexualidade: no geral, são homens idosos autodeclarados viris, sexualmente potentes e com elevada frequência de relações sexuais, e mulheres idosas autodeclaradas sexualmente desinteressadas (após a menopausa) que se submetem aos desejos e satisfações masculinas. Em comum, ambos destacam a importância da convivência e do diálogo para a manutenção de seus relacionamentos afetivo-sexuais de longa duração. Em suma, a intersecção entre gênero e geração (envelhecimento) replica a lógica heteronormativa e a desigualdade entre homens e mulheres idosos. Abstract Sexuality involves biological and subjective issues and is present in human development. The objective of this research was to investigate the elderly’s reports on sexuality in aging. Interviews were conducted with ten elderly whose results were organized and analyzed through a thematic content analysis. The two categories emphasize gender and sexuality traditional conceptions: in general, elderly men self-declared his potent and his high frequency of sexual relations, besides elderly women self-declared her sexual disinterested (after menopause) and her submit to male sexual desires. In common, both highlight the importance of coexistence and dialogue for the maintenance of their long-term relationships. In short, the intersection between gender and generation (aging) replicates heteronormativity logic and an inequality between elderly men and women. Resumen La sexualidad implica aspectos biológicos y subjetivos y está presente durante todo el desarrollo humano. El objetivo de esta investigación fue compreender los relatos de ancianos sobre la sexualidad en el envejecimiento. Se realizaron entrevistas a diez ancianos de la Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade de una ciudad de médio porte em Brasil, cuyos resultados se organizaron y analizaron mediante un análisis de contenido temático. Las dos categorías destacaron las concepciones tradicionales de género y sexualidad: en general, se trata de viejos autodeclarados viriles, sexualmente potentes y con alta frecuencia de relaciones sexuales y de viejas autodeclaradas desinteresadas sexualmente (después de la menopausia) que se someten a los deseos y satisfacciones masculinos. En común, ambos destacan la importancia de la convivencia y el diálogo para el mantenimiento de sus relaciones afectivo-sexuales. En resumen, la intersección entre el género y la generación (envejecimiento) reproduce la lógica heteronormativa y la desigualdad entre hombres y mujeres ancianas.

Modelling in demographic ecology offers insights into population stability and instability in village societies. In this study we explore the hypothesis that among storage dependent fisher-hunter-gatherers, access to high resource diversity favors reduced demographic volatility over time. To better understand this relationship, we generate summed probability distributions (SPDs) from legacy radiocarbon records to model the population histories of Middle to late Holocene groups residing in the Mid-Fraser Canyon and the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia. Our analysis indicates that Lower Fraser populations (with high subsistence resource diversity) were highly stable after 4000 years ago. In contrast, Mid-Fraser populations (with lower subsistence resource diversity) were very low 2000–4000 cal. BP, peaked at high densities by ca. 1200–1300 cal. BP, and were again low until the final centuries before first contacts with Europeans. We argue that climate related impacts on anadromous fish resources likely affected Mid-Fraser populations to a more substantial degree than those of the Lower Fraser. These results offer wider implications concerning demographic volatility and its effects on cultural stability and social change. Our study offers a means by which legacy radiocarbon data may be studied using a permutation-based statistical inference of SPDs.

Climate change is a touchable phenomenon and hydrogen has become an attractive solution for experts and for policymakers. However, in order to understand the environmental impact of an energy vector, it is necessary to consider its entire value chain and not simply the end uses. Hydrogen is really "clean" when produced by the exploitation of renewable sources (so-called "green hydrogen") or (at most) when produced by fossil fuels using technologies able to impede the release of greenhouse gases emissions in the atmosphere (so-called "blue hydrogen"). The major potential of hydrogen consists into the increase of renewable sources' integration into the energy system, addressing two major challenges of renewable energy: intermittency and non-programmability. Hydrogen produced by RES can be transported over long distances, injected into the natural gas grid, stored and reconverted into electricity as needed, so that the Hard-To-Abate sector gets electrified. Nevertheless, the need for timely review of regulation strongly emerges from legislative gaps concerning both the energy vector and the existing regulation, which imply barriers that can actively interfere with the development of the hydrogen supply chain. As the European Union has seen a great intrinsic potential in hydrogen development, also Italy is trying to bring to action the European pathways together with their customization. This article analyses some of the barriers and gaps of the current legislation, namely: the need for a Guarantee of Origin system; on the goal of sector coupling, which consists in the realization of an integrated energy system based on the exploitation of green energy; on one of the cleanest hydrogen production technology, the "power-to-gas", and its role inside the integrated energy system. The analysis starts from the European Union and then deepens the Italian context with the purpose of understanding peculiarities and possibilities., Trento Student Law Review, V. 3 N. 2 (2021)

Volumetric solar receivers are essential components in high-temperature concentrated solar power plants. Their optical design is crucial for achieving efficient photon-thermal energy conversion; however, their three-dimensional geometry complicates a reliable and accurate optical characterization. This work proposes a new methodology for the 3D optical-performance analysis of the volumetric absorber having an open hierarchical structure. Firstly, the solar absorber is optically characterized using a test bench that mainly comprises a solar simulator and a customized instrument equipped with single-photon avalanche diodes, which holds the absorber and measures light flux on its external surface. Then experimental measurements are compared with a Monte Carlo ray-tracing numerical model. The results are consequently employed to understand light propagation in the absorber. This procedure is successfully applied to characterize a complex three-dimensional self-similar structure manufactured by Selective Laser Melting. The proposed experimental technique is a promising candidate for becoming a robust in operando method to characterize the radiation propagation within the complex porous structures employed for volumetric receivers.

Justificativa e Objetivos: De acordo com estudos anteriores, a melatonina, uma indolamina, pode possivelmente reduzir a dispneia em pacientes que apresentam asma ou DPOC. Adicionalmente, foi provado igualmente, através dos estudos experimentais, que a molécula joga possivelmente um papel antiinflamatório, porque pôde inibir a transcrição de NFk-B em modelos experimentais da asma e do COPD. Este estudo tem como objetivo investigar os efeitos da melatonina em modelos experimentais de asma, DPOC e Sobreposição da Asma-DPOC (ACO). Métodos: 64 camundongos foram divididos em 8 grupos, a fim de induzir DPOC (grupo “ELA”), asma (“OVA”) ou ACO (“ACO”). O grupo controle (“SAL”) recebeu solução salina. Os grupos de tratamento (“+MEL”) foram submetidos aos dois protocolos de doença e também receberam Melatonina (intraperitonealmente). Após os protocolos, foram avaliados o óxido nítrico exalado (Eno), bem como as células totais e diferenciais do fluido do lavado broncoalveolar. Resultados: OVA+MEL (11.3±1.65ppb) apresentou redução em eNO em comparação a OVA (24.17±4.30ppb). Além disso, OVA+MEL (11.3±1.65x104 céls./mL) e ACO+MEL (2.17±0.63x104 céls./mL) apresentaram redução na quantidade de células totais em comparação a OVA (25.70±4.59x104 céls./mL) e ACO (14.33±3.11x104 céls./mL), respectivamente. Houve queda na contagem de eosinófilos em OVA+MEL (5.37±1.41x104 céls./mL) e em ACO+MEL (0.87±0.36x104 céls./mL) em comparação a OVA (18.67±4.01x104 céls./mL) e ACO (1.45±0.41x104 céls./mL), respectivamente. Adicionalmente, o número de linfócitos apresentou redução em OVA+MEL (1.00±0.24x104 céls./mL) em comparação a OVA (3.94±1.15x104 céls./mL). O número de macrófagos também apresentou redução em OVA+MEL (3.09±0.39x104 céls./mL) e em ACO+MEL (1.10±0.27x104 céls./mL) em comparação a OVA (7.26±1.93x104 céls./mL) e ACO (6.41±1.54x104 céls./mL), respectivamente (p

In diesem Bericht werden die wichtigsten geomorphologischen und geomorphometrischen Analysen zur Erkennung und Bestimmung des mobilisierbaren Volumens von Murgängen in Einzugsgebieten von Gebirgsregionen vorgestellt. Abschnitt 1enthält die grundlegenden Definitionsgrundlagen von Murgangereignissen. Außerdem werden die wichtigsten Klassifizierungssysteme für Murgänge sowie die Schlüsselelemente geomorphologischer und morphometrischer Ansätze zur Unterscheidung zwischen Murgängen und anderen Feststofftransportprozessen beschrieben. Abschnitt 2befasst sich mit der Bewertung von mobilisierbarem Material in den Einzugsgebieten von Murgangereignissen. Hierbei wird zunächst die Identifizierung und Charakterisierung von Sedimentquellgebieten im Untersuchungsgebiet vorgenommen (Unterabschnitt 2.1). Die Kartierung der Sedimentquellgebiete wird durch die Erfassung von Daten aus den Bodenuntersuchungen validiert und ergänzt. Im Rahmen des SedInOut-Projekts wurde ein Erhebungsgbogen entwickelt, der auf eine Standardisierung der Datenerfassung abzielt.Unterabschnitt 2.1enthält die Leitlinien für die Verwendung des Erfassungsbogens. InUnterkapitel 2.3wird dagegen ein geomorphologischer Ansatz zur Abschätzung der mobilisierbaren Volumina aus den kartierten Sedimentquellgebieten beschrieben, während im anschließendenUnterkapitel 2.4die Nützlichkeit historischer Murganggrößen, empirischer Formeln und Skalenbeziehungen als Vergleichselement zu geomorphologisch fundierten Abschätzungen dargelegt wird. InAbschnitt 3werden zwei geomorphometrische Verfahren beschrieben. Diese Methoden sind für die Analyse des Verbindungsgrades von Sedimentquellen mit dem Hauptgewässernetz (Unterabschnitt 3.1) geeignet. Außerdem dienen sie der Erfassung erodierbarer Volumina auf Grundlage multitemporaler digitaler Modellanalysen. Diese sind in der Lage geomorphologische Veränderungen zu quantifizieren, die durch ein oder mehrere Ereignisse von besonderer Intensität eingetreten sind. Es wird davon ausgegangen, dass die Kombination der in diesem Bericht beschriebenen Methoden dazu beitragen kann, die oft beträchtlichen Unsicherheiten bei der Abschätzung des mobilisierbaren Volumens in Einzugsgebieten von Murgangereignissen zu verringern.

El síndrome de Hughes Stovin es una vasculitis de pequeños y grandes vasos, más frecuente en hombres jóvenes. Se manifiesta con trombosis y aneurismas. Inicia con tromboflebitis que evoluciona a aneurismas con eventual desenlace fatal por ruptura de los mismos. Algunos autores consideran el síndrome de Hughes Stovin como una variante de la enfermedad de Behçet. El diagnóstico es clínico y el tratamiento de primera línea son los corticoides y la ciclofosfamida. Frente a un caso de trombosis, la anticoagulación es controversial por el riesgo de sangrado. Presentamos el caso de un varón joven con cuadro clínico compatible en el cual se descartaron otras patologías con requerimiento de tratamiento quirúrgico por mala evolución clínica.

Il contributo presenta il rapporto delle attività svolte nel WP4 “Rilevamento di dettaglio nelle aree pilota” del Progetto SedInOut illustrando, in particolare, le principali analisi geomorfologiche e geomorfometriche finalizzate al riconoscimento e alla determinazione dei volumi mobilizzabili delle colate detritiche in bacini montani. La sezione 1, dopo aver introdotto la definizione delle colate detritiche e i principali schemi della loro classificazione, descrive gli elementi chiave degli approcci geomorfologici e morfometrici per la distinzione tra colate detritiche e altri processi di trasporto solido. La sezione 2 tratta della valutazione del materiale mobilizzabile nei bacini interessati da colate detritiche, che vede come primo passaggio l’individuazione e caratterizzazione delle aree sorgenti di sedimento presenti nell’area di studio (sottosezione 2.1). La mappatura delle aree sorgenti di sedimento è validata ed integrata dalla raccolta di dati derivata dai rilievi di terreno, per la quale nel corso del progetto SedInOut, è stata sviluppata una scheda di rilevamento con l’obiettivo di standardizzare questa importante attività di raccolta dati. Nella sottosezione 2.1 sono riportate le linee guida per l’utilizzo della scheda. La sottosezione 2.3, descrive invece un approccio geomorfologico per la stima dei volumi mobilizzabili a partire dalle aree sorgenti mappate, mentre nella successiva sottosezione 2.4 si evidenzia l’utilità dei dati storici di magnitudo delle colate detritiche, delle formule empiriche e relazioni di scala come elemento di confronto con le stime a base geomorfologica. La sezione 3 descrive due tecniche geomorfometriche utili per l’analisi del grado di connessione delle aree sorgenti di sedimento con il corso d’acqua principale (sottosezione 3.1) e per la raccolta di informazioni sui volumi erodibili sulla base di analisi di modelli digitali multitemporali che sono in grado di quantificare le variazioni geomorfiche occorse a causa di uno o più eventi di particolare intensità. Si ritiene che l’attento utilizzo combinato dei metodi descritti in questo contributo possa contribuire a ridurre l’incertezza, spesso piuttosto rilevante, delle stime dei volumi mobilizzabili in bacini interessati da colate detritiche. Infine, la sezione 4, riporta i principali risultati ottenuti nelle aree pilota della Regione del Veneto., La ricerca è stata finanziata dal Progetto Interreg V-A Italy – Austria ITAT3032 SedInOut – 'Development of a risk management methodology through the assessment of sediment availability for mass wasting in a mountain environment'

Hydrogen-like light muonic ions, in which one negative muon replaces all the electrons, are extremely sensitive probes of nuclear structure, because the large muon mass increases tremendously the wave function overlap with the nucleus. Using pulsed laser spectroscopy we have measured three 2S-2P transitions in the muonic helium-3 ion ($\mu^3$He$^+$), an ion formed by a negative muon and bare helium-3 nucleus. This allowed us to extract the Lamb shift $E(2P_{1/2}-2S_{1/2})= 1258.598(48)^{\rm exp}(3)^{\rm theo}$ meV, the 2P fine structure splitting $E_{\rm FS}^{\rm exp} = 144.958(114)$ meV, and the 2S-hyperfine splitting (HFS) $E_{\rm HFS}^{\rm exp} = -166.495(104)^{\rm exp}(3)^{\rm theo}$ meV in $\mu^3$He$^+$. Comparing these measurements to theory we determine the rms charge radius of the helion ($^3$He nucleus) to be $r_h$ = 1.97007(94) fm. This radius represents a benchmark for few nucleon theories and opens the way for precision tests in $^3$He atoms and $^3$He-ions. This radius is in good agreement with the value from elastic electron scattering, but a factor 15 more accurate. Combining our Lamb shift measurement with our earlier one in $\mu^4$He$^+$ we obtain $r_h^2-r_\alpha^2 = 1.0636(6)^{\rm exp}(30)^{\rm theo}$ fm$^2$ to be compared to results from the isotope shift measurements in regular He atoms, which are however affected by long-standing tensions. By comparing $E_{\rm HFS}^{\rm exp}$ with theory we also obtain the two-photon-exchange contribution (including higher orders) which is another important benchmark for ab-initio few-nucleon theories aiming at understanding the magnetic and current structure of light nuclei., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures

We present an standard constraints generation algorithm to find an explicit set whose robustness is equal to the robustness of the feasible solution set of a combinatorial optimization problem with cost uncertainty. Computational experience shows that for problems with moderate dimensions the running time of the algorithm may be tolerable and in many cases the number of solutions required to achieve near-ideal robustness may be manageable for decision makers., Comment: I have received comments from an expert on the subject indicating that the proposed algorithm is well known. I should check this situation as soon as possible

BACKGROUND Around 25% of patients who have had a stroke suffer from severe upper-limb impairment and lack effective rehabilitation strategies. The AVANCER proof-of-concept clinical trial (NCT04448483) tackles this issue through an intensive and personalized-dosage cumulative intervention that combines multiple non-invasive neurotechnologies. METHODS The therapy consists of two sequential interventions, lasting until the patient shows no further motor improvement, for a minimum of 11 sessions each. The first phase involves a brain-computer interface governing an exoskeleton and multi-channel functional electrical stimulation enabling full upper-limb movements. The second phase adds anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the motor cortex of the lesioned hemisphere. Clinical, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging examinations are performed before, between, and after the two interventions (T0, T1, and T2). This case report presents the results from the first patient of the study. FINDINGS The primary outcome (i.e., 4-point improvement in the Fugl-Meyer assessment of the upper extremity) was met in the first patient, with an increase from 6 to 11 points between T0 and T2. This improvement was paralleled by changes in motor-network structure and function. Resting-state and transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked electroencephalography revealed brain functional changes, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures detected structural and task-related functional changes. CONCLUSIONS These first results are promising, pointing to feasibility, safety, and potential efficacy of this personalized approach acting synergistically on the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Integrating multi-modal data may provide valuable insights into underlying mechanisms driving the improvements and providing predictive information regarding treatment response and outcomes. FUNDING This work was funded by the Wyss-Center for Bio and Neuro Engineering (WCP-030), the Defitech Foundation, PHRT-#2017-205, ERA-NET-NEURON (Discover), and SNSF (320030L_197899, NiBS-iCog).

The introduction of computerized medical records in hospitals has reduced burdensome operations like manual writing and information fetching. However, the data contained in medical records are still far underutilized, primarily because extracting them from unstructured textual medical records takes time and effort. Information Extraction, a subfield of Natural Language Processing, can help clinical practitioners overcome this limitation, using automated text-mining pipelines. In this work, we created the first Italian neuropsychiatric Named Entity Recognition dataset, PsyNIT, and used it to develop a Large Language Model for this task. Moreover, we conducted several experiments with three external independent datasets to implement an effective multicenter model, with overall F1-score 84.77%, Precision 83.16%, Recall 86.44%. The lessons learned are: (i) the crucial role of a consistent annotation process and (ii) a fine-tuning strategy that combines classical methods with a "few-shot" approach. This allowed us to establish methodological guidelines that pave the way for future implementations in this field and allow Italian hospitals to tap into important research opportunities.

In this paper we studied combinatorial problems with parameterized locally budgeted uncertainty. We are looking for a solutions set such that for any parameters vector there exists a solution in the set with robustness near optimal. The algorithm consists of applying a multiparametric algorithm to obtain a near optimal multiparametric solution relative to the objective function for a combinatorial problem defined to find a robust solution for parameters fixed. As far as we know this is the first algorithm presented to do that task. Computational experience is presented to shortest path and $p$-medians problems, Comment: 26 pages including 7 tables and 4 appendices

In this study, a new tool for quantitative, data-driven susceptibility zoning (SZ) is presented. The SZ plugin has been implemented as a QGIS plugin to maximize its operational use within the geoscientific community. QGIS is in fact a commonly used open-source geographic information system. We have scripted the plugin in Python, and developed it as a collection of functions that allow one to pre-process the input data, calculate the susceptibility, and then estimate the quality of the classification results. The susceptibility zoning can be carried out via a number of classifiers including weight of evidence, frequency ratio, logistic regression, random forest, support vector machine, and decision tree. The plugin allows one to use any kind of mapping units, to fit the model, to test it via a k-fold cross-validation, and to visualize the relative receiving operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Moreover, a new classification method of the susceptibility index (SI) has been implemented in the SZ plugin. A typical workflow of the SZ plugin is described, and its application for landslide susceptibility zoning in Northeast India is reported. The data of the predisposing factors used are open, and the analysis has been carried out using a logistic regression and weight of evidence models. The corresponding area under the curve of the relative ROC curves reflects an optimal model prediction capacity. The user-friendly graphical interface of the plugin has allowed us to perform the analysis efficiently in few steps.

Introdução: A periodontite apical assintomática (PAA) é caracterizada pela inflamação e destruição dos tecidos periapicais, e sua progressão promove reabsorção óssea, podendo ser agravada pelo uso contínuo de isotretinoína. Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi relatar a resolução de uma PAA com rompimento de cortical óssea mandibular em um paciente sob tratamento contínuo com isotretinoína (Roacutan®), por meio de procedimentos químicos-mecânicos convencionais e controle com tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC). Descrição: Um paciente com 21 anos de idade, ASA I, em tratamento contínuo com isotretinoína, procurou atendimento odontológico com moderada dor na região do elemento dental #38. Após exames clínicos, radiográficos e tomográficos, verificou-se a necessidade de tratamento endodôntico do dente #36. A TCFC mostrou uma imagem apical extensa e hipodensa entre os dentes #36 e #37, compatível com lesão cística óssea, com dimensões de 25,59 mm (largura) x 14,37 mm (altura) x 8,40 mm (profundidade). Também foram observados reabsorção apical da raiz distal, halo hipodenso sob a restauração coronal do #36 e ruptura da cortical externa vestibular e lingual. O tratamento endodôntico foi realizado em três sessões, com auxílio de um microscópio operatório e protocolos químicos-mecânicos, como Easy Clean e terapia fotodinâmica. Resultado: A resolução da PAA foi observada após acompanhamento por três anos. Conclusão: O tratamento endodôntico permitiu o reparo de uma lesão periapical extensa, evitando a cirurgia parendodôntica imediata, e o uso contínuo de isotretinoína não afetou a resolução da PAA.

We present a species distribution model (SDM) of Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat) in China using present distribution data and estimates for the past based on palaeoclimatic reconstructions. Our model estimates the potential area suitable for buckwheat cultivation over the last 8,000 years, with northeast China consistently showing the highest suitability, providing insights on the discrepancy between the location of the earliest archaeobotanical records in the area and its origins in southwest China based on biogeographic and genetic data. The model suggests little to no variation over time in the spatial extent of the potential area suitable for buckwheat cultivation. In the northern parts of China, the limits of the ecological niche largely fall within the borders of the study area, while to the west it never extends into the main Tibetan plateau, explaining the lack of fossil evidence from Central Asia. In the southwest, the niche overlaps with the borders of modern China, which supports this direction as a viable route of westward dispersal. The comparison between the prediction from the model and sites with archaeobotanical evidence for Fagopyrum indicates that the environmental niche it occupied remained stable over time. This may contrast with a dispersal pattern characterised by continuous adaptations to new environments facilitated by human activity, which may be suggested for other major and minor crops.

Examining how past human populations responded to environmental and climatic changes is a central focus of the historical sciences. The use of summed probability distributions (SPD) of radiocarbon dates as a proxy for estimating relative population sizes provides a widely applicable method in this research area. Paleodemographic reconstructions and modeling with SPDs, however, are stymied by a lack of accepted methods for model fitting, tools for assessing the demographic impact of environmental or climatic variables, and a means for formal multi-model comparison. These deficiencies severely limit our ability to reliably resolve crucial questions of past human-environment interactions. We propose a solution using Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) to fit complex demographic models to observed SPDs. Using a case study from Rapa Nui (Easter Island), a location that has long been the focus of debate regarding the impact of environmental and climatic changes on its human population, we find that past populations were resilient to environmental and climatic challenges. Our findings support a growing body of evidence showing stable and sustainable communities on the island. The ABC framework offers a novel approach for exploring regions and time periods where questions of climate-induced demographic and cultural change remain unresolved., Summed probability distributions of radiocarbon dates can be used to estimate past demography, but methods to test for associations with environmental change are lacking. Here, DiNapoli et al. propose an approach using Approximate Bayesian Computation and illustrate it in a case study of Rapa Nui.