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The trajectories and the ablation positions of boron dust particles dropped from an impurity powder dropper in the peripheral plasma in the Large Helical Device (LHD) were calculated using a three‐dimensional edge plasma simulation code (EMC3‐EIRENE) and a dust transport simulation code (DUSTT). The simulation shows that the trajectory of the boron dust particles is deflected at the upper divertor leg due to the effect of the hydrogen plasma flow, and the ablation positions of the dust particles in an ergodic layer change toward the outboard side of the torus for higher plasma densities. The effect of the boron ion flow in the divertor leg on the deflection is investigated by coupling the two codes self‐consistently. The simulation predicts that the boron ions in the divertor leg, which are produced by sputtering on the divertor plates, which do not affect the change in the ablation positions. It also shows that the ablation positions move toward the inboard side and approach the Last Closed Flux Surface (LCFS) in case of increased boron dust drop rates, which is caused by the lowered plasma flow in the upper divertor leg due to the lowered electron temperature by radiation cooling by the dropped dust particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The debate about the conceptual model of mud volcanoes functioning is still alive in the literature. A large part of the literature focuses on the characterization of the deep reservoir where expelled fluids are expected to originate. Another part of literature is focused on the study of the shallow system of mud volcanoes, which could influence the short‐term variations in mud volcanoes activity. We present and analyze a new data set of micro‐gravimetric data to study the area of the Nirano Salse, Italy. Unlike what is commonly assumed for the study area, our results suggest that the geomorphology of the Nirano Salse is not related to a caldera collapse above a shallow mud chamber, but to the surface expression of slip distribution of a fault termination along which the fluids ascended to the surface. We believe that gravimetric data can significantly improve the study of hydrocarbon seeps and mud volcanism. Plain Language Summary: Mud volcanoes are broadly distributed throughout the globe, both on‐and off‐shore. They are formed by the episodic eruption of mud and rock fragments. The eruptions are mainly driven by of gravitative instability, due to the overall low density of clay on surrounding soil types and fluid overpressures. To date, a physical conceptual model of the area of Nirano Salse (Northern Italy), ascribes the mud eruptions to the presence of over‐pressurized fluids that are expelled from a main deep reservoir. The latter is put into communication with the surface due to the episodical reactivation of pre‐existing faults or pipes. The debate about this conceptual model is still open. To improve it, a new data set of gravimetric data was acquired during 2022. Our results suggest that the morphology of the study area is due to the presence of an almost vertical fault, which acts as a preferential route for the ascent of deep fluids. Key Points: A microgravimetric survey coupled with laboratory density measurements allows to image the shallow to medium subsurface below mud volcanoesGravimetric data allow to distinguish between morphologies due to caldera collapse and the surface expression of slip along a faultFor the first time the attenuation volume caused by mud intrusion is imaged by gravimetry along a fault [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a new torsional device based on shape memory alloy elements and operating as torque limiter is presented. It consists of a set of pseudoelastic NiTi tapes working in series configuration. The tapes are assembled radially with respect to the rotational direction and work sequentially in beam‐like bending mode. The trend of the resulting torque may span from pulsating to continuous by changing the number of tapes. Furthermore, the use of NiTi material enables a temperature‐dependent response. Due to the particular mounting, the flag‐shaped pseudoelastic mechanical behavior typical of NiTi is partially hidden; however, the use of pseudoelastic elements provides a stable cyclic response and enables the possibility to tune the output torque. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence suggests that conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) undergo aberrant maturation in COVID‐19, which negatively affects T‐cell activation. The presence of effector T cells in patients with mild disease and dysfunctional T cells in severely ill patients suggests that adequate T‐cell responses limit disease severity. Understanding how cDCs cope with SARS‐CoV‐2 can help elucidate how protective immune responses are generated. Here, we report that cDC2 subtypes exhibit similar infection‐induced gene signatures, with the upregulation of IFN‐stimulated genes and IL‐6 signaling pathways. Furthermore, comparison of cDCs between patients with severe and mild disease showed severely ill patients to exhibit profound downregulation of genes encoding molecules involved in antigen presentation, such as MHCII, TAP, and costimulatory proteins, whereas we observed the opposite for proinflammatory molecules, such as complement and coagulation factors. Thus, as disease severity increases, cDC2s exhibit enhanced inflammatory properties and lose antigen presentation capacity. Moreover, DC3s showed upregulation of anti‐apoptotic genes and accumulated during infection. Direct exposure of cDC2s to the virus in vitro recapitulated the activation profile observed in vivo. Our findings suggest that SARS‐CoV‐2 interacts directly with cDC2s and implements an efficient immune escape mechanism that correlates with disease severity by downregulating crucial molecules required for T‐cell activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate mothers' satisfaction with childbirth experience in a cohort of women who delivered during COVID pandemia and to compare them to a pre‐COVID cohort. Design: We performed a cross‐sectional study in a low‐risk Maternity Unit. Methods: Women who delivered during COVID‐19 pandemic were compared to a pre‐COVID cohort recruited in 2018 in the same setting. Italian version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale‐Revised (I‐BSS‐R) was used. Results: Three hundred and seventy‐seven women were included (277 pre‐COVID and 100 during COVID pandemic). No differences in terms of satisfaction at birth were reported (I‐BSS‐R mean 27.0, SD 5.3 versus mean 27.6, SD 6.1, p 0.34), despite an increased rate of active intrapartum interventions. Intrapartum variables that significantly reduced satisfaction were the same in the two groups: epidural analgesia (p <.0001 in both groups), prolonged active phases (p <.0001 in both), oxytocin administration (p <.0001 in both) and operative delivery (p 0.0009 versus p 0.0019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the connection between community college faculty engagement in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and student success by investigating the frequency of individual community college faculty members engagement in activities that comprise the SoTL categories of classroom research and pedagogical content knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The damping properties of NiTi elements produced through selective laser melting are investigated by tuning the process parameters. To this end, twelve parameters' sets are selected to fabricate fully‐dense NiTi specimens. Damping is evaluated through loss factor index, mechanical loading cycles (up to 104 cycles), solicitation frequency and strain amplitude. Results confirm that NiTi fabricated through selective laser‐beam melting is an excellent candidate to substitute conventional materials when used in the martensite phase. Furthermore, the selected process parameters enable specific damping performances that can be collected in damping maps which turn out to be practical tools for the fabrication of NiTi parts with tunable damping response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The most common large-deletion RHD allele (RHD*01N.01) includes the entire coding sequence, intervening regions and untranslated regions. The rest of large-deletion RHD alleles reported to-date consist of single-exon deletions, such as RHD*01N.67 which includes exon 1.Materials and Methods: Samples from two donors with RhD-negative serology yielded unclear or inconclusive results when subject to confirmatory testing on RHD genotyping arrays. To determine their RHD genotypes, genomic DNA was analyzed with a combination of allele-specific PCR, long-range PCR, Sanger sequencing, and next-generation sequencing assays.Results: Allele-specific PCR failed to detect products for RHD exons 1 to 3 in one sample and RHD exons 1 to 5 in the other. A quantitative next-generation sequencing assay confirmed deletion of exons 1 to 3 and 1 to 5 respectively, and detected the absence of an RHD gene in trans in both samples. Long-range PCR and Sanger sequencing enabled identification of the breakpoints for both alleles. Both deletions start within the 5' Rhesus box (upstream of the identity region for the 1-to-3 deletion, downstream of it for the 1-to-5 deletion), and end within introns.Conclusions: Resolution of unclear or inconclusive results from targeted genotyping arrays often leads to the discovery of new alleles. The 5' Rhesus box may be a hot spot for genetic recombination events, such as the large deletions described in this report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal DA closure due to early maternal intake of high‐dose paracetamol and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. MC twin pregnancy uncomplicated by TTTS with discordant prenatal DA closure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Spinal subarachnoid haemorrhage is a rare complication of spinal anaesthesia, especially following atraumatic lumbar puncture and in the absence of coagulopathies. The initial presentation of spinal subarachnoid haemorrhage is variable and paraplegia with full recovery within a few hours is rare. Bleeding can extend into the intracranial subarachnoid space, but there are only a few reports of symptomatic intracranial and spinal subarachnoid haemorrhage after spinal anaesthesia. We report co‐existing spinal subarachnoid haemorrhage and intracranial subarachnoid haemorrhage after atraumatic spinal anaesthesia in a 69‐year‐old woman without a coagulopathy. The day after surgery she developed flaccid paraplegia that spontaneously resolved in a few hours. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated subarachnoid high signal intensity from T11–S2, consistent with spinal subarachnoid haemorrhage. On the same day the patient complained of severe headache which was later followed by diplopia. Neurological imaging studies revealed diffuse distribution of blood in the subarachnoid space but no intracranial vascular malformations. At the time of diagnosis spontaneous recovery of spinal symptoms had already begun and the clinical manifestations eventually resolved with conservative management. The possibility of an intracranial haemorrhage should always be considered when spinal subarachnoid haemorrhage is identified, even in cases of uncomplicated spinal anaesthesia in patients with no known risk factors for spinal haemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we report two cases of left lower lobe lung cancer undergoing a surgical procedure that allowed the preservation of lung parenchyma and avoided pneumonectomy. The first case concerned a left lower lobe non‐small cell lung cancer with extracapsular spread in a metastatic interlobar lymph node and the second a left lower lobe lung cancer with invasion of the pulmonary artery at the origin of lobar branches to the lower lobe. In both cases, a lung‐sparing surgical treatment was preferred and a left lower lobectomy was performed with division of lingular arteries and the interlobar artery, preserving the remaining arterial branches to the upper lobe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This chapter describes the development of an applied research center at Atlantic Cape Community College and a statewide workforce training consortium run by the community college sector in New Jersey. Their contributions to the economic development mission of the colleges as well as their impact on the perception of community colleges by stakeholders are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presidential leadership contributed to the implementation of New Jersey's transfer articulation legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to describe a novel form of primary immune disorder characterized by circulating B cells with the exclusive transitional phenotype which fail to respond to CpG stimulation. The 12-year-old male patient suffered from recurrent bacterial infections since infancy. The immunological studies were based on extensive B cell immunophenotyping, humoral in vivo response to different vaccine antigens, and in vitro proliferation and immunoglobulin production after CpG stimulation. Sequence analysis for potentially candidate genes such as IRF8, MyD88, TLR9, T-bet were performed. The patient's serum immunoglobulin levels and the specific antibody response to tetanus toxoid were normal, whereas that to polysaccharide antigens was severely impaired. Flow cytometric analysis showed that almost all patient's peripheral B cells had the transitional phenotype (CD24bright CD38bright CD27neg). Furthermore, the patient's B cells did not proliferate and failed to secrete immunoglobulins after in vitro CpG stimulation. Sequence analysis for TLR9, MyD88, IRF8 and T-bet showed no mutations. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a novel primary immunodeficiency mimicking the clinical phenotype of common variable immunodeficiency, with a peculiar immunological phenotype characterized by normal immunoglobulin serum levels, circulating B cells with the exclusive transitional phenotype unable to respond to CpG stimulation. This defines a novel form of primary immunodeficiency mimicking common variable immunodeficiency in the presence of normal immunoglobulin serum levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis of intellectual disability (ID) is highly dependent on a comprehensive personal and family medical history, a complete physical examination and a careful developmental assessment of the patient. Our study intended to: (1) classify the aetiology of mild and severe ID in an adult population of 140 Italian subjects; (2) evaluate the frequency of associated medical conditions; (3) evaluate the age of diagnosis in both groups; and (4) underline the importance of aetiological diagnosis for adult ID patients also.The study involved 140 consecutive adult Italian ID inpatients and outpatients neurologically investigated at the Neurological Institute C. Mondino of Pavia Service for Mental Retardation. A total of 80 patients had mild ID (MID group) (39 females, 41 males), mean age 34 years (range 19–61 years), mean IQ = 64 (range 51–75), and 60 had severe ID (SID group) (32 females, 28 males), mean age 30 years (range 19–69 years). They underwent a complete diagnostic work-up that comprised prenatal, perinatal and postnatal history, physical examinations, laboratory investigations, genetic survey and neuroradiological investigations to determine the aetiology of ID and to evaluate the presence of associated medical conditions.ID aetiology was classified as prenatal in 34% of the MID and 28% of the SID group. Perinatal and postnatal events were found in 6% of the MID and in 5% of the SID group. Associated medical conditions were found in 97 patients (47% MID and 26% SID). A genetic diagnosis was possible in 6% of patients above 20 years of age and in 5% of patients above 40 years. A diagnosis of cerebral dysgenesis was possible in 5% of patients above 20 years and 4% of patients above 40 years.A long interval between the diagnosis of ID and the aetiological definition can be observed in a significant percentage (24%) of our population, leading to unfortunate consequences of late diagnosis: late onset of a specific therapeutic program, genetic counselling that is frequently no more useful, and ineffective prenatal diagnosis, leading to the birth of other affected subjects (for familiar ID). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fecal elastase is considered to be a highly sensitive and specific non-invasive exocrine pancreatic function test. However, enteropathy may theoretically cause decreased exocrine pancreatic enzyme secretion through alteration of enteric hormone release.OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible influence of transient small bowel damage on pancreatic elastase secretion.METHODS We studied 166 children (aged 4 months to 14 years, mean 2 years); 114 of these children had acute enteritis and 52 children were control subjects (with gastro-intestinal symptoms or extra-intestinal diseases). Feces were collected from each patient 3 days after the onset of diarrhea and then tested for fecal elastase, bacterial pathogens, Rotavirus, and Adenovirus. Liquid fecal samples were not considered eligible for elastase measurement. Pancreatic elastase was measured using an ELISA method (Sche.Bo.Tech, Germany). We classified the results, expressed in μg/g stool, as: severe pancreatic insufficiency (<100 μg/g), moderate pancreatic insufficiency (100 to 200 μg/g), and normal (>200 μg/g).RESULTS In the acute enteritis group we found severe levels in 14 (12%) children, moderate levels in 18 children (16%), and normal levels in 82 children (72%). In contrast, 52 of 52 (100%) control subjects demonstrated normal results. Statistical analysis (Wilcoxon rank test) demonstrated a significant difference between the enteritis and control groups ( < 0.01). Serial measurement of fecal elastase performed in 10 patients with enteritis showed a progressive increase of levels in 6 patients and an early decline with subsequent increases in the other 4 patients.CONCLUSIONS Transient exocrine pancreatic insufficiency may be present in transient small bowel disease, caused by both bacterial and viral infections, possibly related to reduced enteric CCK secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cesarean delivery rate in Italy rose dramatically from the mid-1970s to 1996, accounting for 22.4 percent of all deliveries in the last national survey. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of the clinical practice of a new staff in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a university hospital, with particular focus on the application of common protocols. The rates of cesarean sections and perinatal mortality were chosen as parameters for good clinical practice and were compared with national data. Methods: A new staff assumed the obstetric management at the hospital in 1982. Standardized protocols were implemented for all major indications for cesarean delivery (repeat cesarean section, dystocia, breech presentation, fetal distress). Results: The rate of cesarean deliveries decreased from 264 to 12 percent and remained stable during the past decade. Other operative modalities were used for approximately 1.5 percent of deliveries. The perinatal mortality decreased to 0.5 percent in 1994. To confirm whether or not staff followed common protocols, a review of three years (1994-1996) showed a fairly stable frequency of cesarean sections on different days and nights during the week, confirming the homogeneity of obstetric management. Conclusions: Our data showed that, irrespective of the local situation and of the risks of litigation, a significant reduction of cesarean sections can be achieved in a tertiary care center without detrimental effects on newborns, especially in a teaching hospital where residents are trained Despite national trends suggesting the contrary, some women may choose to deliver in an obstetrics department with better care and fewer operative procedures than in hospitals with higher cesarean delivery rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the interaction of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and concanavalin A (Con A) with regard to IgM and IgG produclion in in vitro cultures or human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). In our system LPS alone over a wide range of concentrations did not stimulate detectable IgM or IgG production, while Con A al optimal (6 μg/ml) and suboptimal (0.6 μg/ml) mitogenic concentrations induced synthesis of small amounts of Ig. A marked enhancing effect was present when both Con A and LPS were added to the cultures. The different doses of LPS had similar effects on both classes of Ig, and typical dose response curves were obtained. To evaluate the cellular basis of this synergism, the effect on cell proliferation was studied under identical experimental conditions in normal subjects and patients with X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (X-LA). Parallel cultures were set up after monocyte depletion by adherence on Petri dishes. On day 3, increasing doses of LPS were associated with progressive decreases in ³H-thymidinc (³H-TdR) incorporation. Similar results were obtained with normal lymphocytes and those from X-LA patients. Monocyte depletion did not substantially niter the lymphocyte response pattern. The preferential induction of helper activities, either directly by helper stimulation or indirectly by suppressor inhibition, is suggested as a possible mechanism of the interaction observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cells secreting IgM. IgG and IgA were evaluated in cultures of human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated in vitro with pokeweed mitogen by a haemolytic plaque assay using protein A-coated erythrocytes in the presence of class-specific antisera. Kinetic study revealed that immunoglobulin-secreting cells appeared after 3 days of culture and peaked between days 5 and 7. IgM-secreting cells predominated throughout the culture period. This plaque assay is a useful and sensitive in vitro test for the evaluation of polyclonal B-cell activation in humans and may provide a good approach lo the study of disturbances in the synthesis of the various classes of immunoglobulins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple technique has been worked out for the simultaneous assessment of cell proliferation, generation of plasma cells, plaque-forming cells and immunoglobulin production from single cultures of 1 × 106 human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM). Kinetic studies showed that number of cells, thymidine incorporation rate, number of plaque-forming cells against fluorescein-isothiocyanate-haptenated sheep erythrocytes and concentration of IgM and IgG in the supernatant peaked on the average between day 5 and 7 of culture. This technique is particularly suitable for the analysis of hypogammaglobulinaemias in infancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of a small proportion (10%) of in vivo concanavalin-A (Con-A)- activated spleen cells to normal spleen cell cultures suppressed the primary immune response to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) but had no effect on the thymusindependent primary immune response to 3,5-dinitro-l-hydroxy-phenacetyl-conjugated lipopolysaccharide. When Con-A-activated cells were added after 2-1 h, there was no suppression of the anti-SRBC response but rather an enhanced response when few cells were admixed. Con-A-activated cells did not influence activation of normal cells by polyclonal T- and B-cell activators. It is concluded that Con-A-induced suppressor cells do not act on B cells but rather on helper cells (T cells or macrophages) at a very early stage of the immune response to thymus-dependent antigens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain peculiarities of a bone marrow transplantation (BMT), between two minor siblings are reconsiders; the recipient a 6.5 year old girl with an adult-type chronic myeloid leukemia, was an only child, and her patents programmed a second pregnancy hoping that the future brother (sister) could be a compatible donor for BMT. Five years after this unusual and successful BMT, the psychological profiles of the recipient, the donor and their parents are substantially normal. We can therefore consider favourable perspectives for well adjusted and normal relationships among the family members, as well as for the psycho-intellectual development of these children. Furthermore the re-evaluation of the ethical questions and doubts concerning this 'special experience' suggests that the sons' and parents' rights have been fully respected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Young patients with Down's syndrome (DS) have high rates of infections, malignancies and autoimmune phenomena. Therefore, DS may be considered as a model of precocious, abnormal ageing of the thymus-dependent system in man. In DS children less than 6 years of age, the levels of serum immunoglobulins did not differ from healthy controls, but after that age, considerable hyper-IgG and -IgA were found. Furthermore, high levels of IgG1 and IgG3 have been found, whereas a progressive decline of IgG2 and IgG4 with age has been observed. The frequency of hepatitis B virus carriers even in the youngest age group is much higher among DS children. It has been reported that an IgG response was detectable in 75% of controls after HBsAg vaccination as compared to the 16.6% of DS patients. The presence of autoantibodies against human thyroblobulin did show a positive association with HB Virus Ag carriers, but only in the oldest DS subjects. Natural antibodies against intestinal antigens are low, while in the presence of cow's milk, abnormally high titres against casein and betalactoglobulin were present. High levels of IgG antibodies against gliadin have been observed. In spite of a normal percentage of CD3- and CD2-positive lymphocytes, a high proportion of cells express low-avidity receptors for sheep erythrocytes. Although the proportion of CD4+ T-lymphocyte helper-cells is normal, a marked imbalance in the CD4+ subpopulations has been documented. The percentage of suppressor-cytotoxic CD8+ lymphocytes is markedly increased. The responses to phytoemagglutinin and concanavalin A are within the normal range in the first decade of life and decline progressively thereafrer. A recent study reported defective proliferative response to allo-mixed lymphocyte culture, with decreased expression of the membrane CD25, low secretion of interleukin 2 in the supernatant and depressed allo-specific cytotoxic activity. Defective production of interferon alfa and gamma in DS has been... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that preventing the risk of alloimmunizing D– recipients with blood from donors is important in transfusion medicine. It mentions that routine serology typing can underestimate the prevalence of some D variants with antigenic sites. It offers information on the phenotypes, that occurred in a positive background for C or E.

The influence of H2-receptor antagonist drugs on the plasma lipid pattern has been studied prospectively in 51 patients treated with cimetidine (26 patients) or ranitidine (25 patients) for gastroenterological diseases. Total and HDL cholesterol and total triglycerides have been measured. Ranitidine did not influence the investigated parameters, while cimetidine produced a significant increase in the HDL cholesterol serum concentration (P = 0.008). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]