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We describe a robust, portable, deployable instrument for multiparametric optical characterization of single airborne particles. It is based on the Single Particle Extinction and Scattering method with additional sensors at 45° and 90° angles. Four independent optical parameters are associated to each particle. Basically, it provides a rigorous measurement of the extinction cross section and the complex amplitude of the forward scattered field. Moreover, thanks to the multiparametric single particle approach, it is possible to roughly classify the particles within a size range from a few hundreds of nanometers to some micrometers. By assigning a reasonable single scattering albedo for each population, our data are enough to fit the phase function with acceptable uncertainties. We report here the results of tests performed with water droplets, generating well controlled data without any free parameters. Data analysis is described in detail. We also report measurements performed on urban aerosol collected in the city of Milan by recovering the optical properties and feeding radiative transfer models. The findings reported here support the importance of an accurate measurement of the phase function, as already established by the Community. Copyright © 2020 American Association for Aerosol Research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the data homogenization of the Milan series of meteorological observations based on objective information extracted from station history and on some statistical estimates. Events that could cause inhomogeneities in the temperature series; Causes of the inhomogeneities in the pressure series; Tests used to check possible errors in temperature and pressure series; Result of the application of a step-by-step procedure to homogenize the data.

Introduction Patients affected by severe manic episode, often with delusional symptoms, are commonly treated with a combination of mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and other sedatives. The choice of a specific drug, dose and term is still debated. Objectives A naturalistic study on a sample of 84 inpatients affected by acute severe mania treated with a combination therapy. Aims To compare efficacy and tolerability of haloperidol/risperidone/quetiapine in association with lithium and/or valproate. Methods Eighty-four bipolar inpatients affected by a manic episode according to DSM-5 criteria. Drugs administered according to our best practice. Clinical course weekly monitored with Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) for 4weeks. Extrapiramidal side effects (EPSE) monitored with Saint Hans Rating Scale (SHRS). Results Twenty-five men (29.76%) and 59 women (70.24%); mean age 43.37 ± 13.58 years. Mean YMRS score T0 40.27 ± 9.04. Forty-one patients (48.81%) treated with haloperidol (3.4 mg/die); 16 (19.05%) with risperidone (4.3 mg/die); 27 (32.14%) with quetiapine (438 mg/die). The 3 groups showed no difference regarding clinical characteristics and YMRS basal scores. Chi 2 analysis confirmed an higher response rate (50% of reduction of YMRS final score compared to T0) with haloperidol ( χ 2 = 14.88; P = 0.00). The repeated-measures model analysis showed a significant decrease ( P < 0.05) in YMRS scores in haloperidol vs. risperidone vs. quetiapine patients for all time points from second week. No statistical difference for EPSE was found. Conslusions We suggest that haloperidol could be advisable in the treatment of severe mania, with rapid efficacy, even with low doses. Occurrence of EPSE was not considerable during the acute treatment. Studies with a larger sample size, randomization, fixed doses, double blind design are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]