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Despite the high potential as feedstockfor the production of fuelsand chemicals, the industrial cultivation of microalgae still exhibitsmany issues. Yield in microalgae cultivation systems is limited bythe solar energy that can be harvested. The availability of reliablemodels representing key phenomena affecting algae growth may helpdesigning and optimizing effective production systems at an industriallevel. In this work the complex influence of different light regimeson seawater alga Nannochloropsis salinagrowth isrepresented by first principles models. Experimental data such as in vivofluorescence measurements are employed to developthe model. The proposed model allows description of all growth curvesand fluorescence data in a reliable way. The model structure is assessedand modified in order to guarantee the model identifiability and theestimation of its parametric set in a robust and reliable way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this meta-analysis, the minimally invasive techniques of laparoscopic surgery (LS), hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) and robotic splenectomy (RS) are compared to open surgery (OS). In this context, indications for splenectomy, comorbidity (such as portal hypertension) and surgical techniques (such as the use of staplers) are factors that can significantly influence clinical outcomes [[5]]. [Extracted from the article]

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, parents try to understand why the cancer developed. Although usually it is not possible to explain what caused an individual child's cancer, clinical experience has shown that parents do form theories about the origins of their child's illness although, or perhaps because, no one knows the actual cause. A parent-completed epidemiology questionnaire (EQ), designed to provide a comprehensive and general epidemiology data base for studies conducted by the Childrens Cancer Group, included an open-ended item ('Do you have any additional comments or concerns about anything that could have caused or contributed to your child's illness?'). A convenience sample of 500 EQs containing responses to the open-ended question was reviewed independently by two experienced pediatric oncology nurses. Statements contained in the responses were categorized into 12 major themes according to content: concern about environmental exposures (n = 303), concern about family health history (n = 270), specific causality attribution (n = 39), puzzlement (n = 24), concern with cancer 'clusters' (n = 23), concern with stress (n = 22), altruism (n = 15), specific feedback requests (n = 11), myths/misconceptions (n = 5), advocation of preventive education/screening (n = 4), active information-seeking (n = 6), and parental self-blame (n = 4 ). These themes or concerns provide useful information that can be applied in planning educational and supportive clinical interventions, as well as further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bottom sediments of the central area of the Venice Lagoon (Italy) and some lagoon canals, chosen as an anaerobic reference environment, were analyzed by a sequential extraction procedure for Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb,Zn, Mn and Fe. Bio-Available Phases (BAPs) and Non-Bio-Available Phases (NBAPs) have been determined in the Malamocco-Marghera Canal, to define the significant level of heavy metal contamination of the sediment. Relationships among metal distributions with Fe/Mn oxides/hydroxides and sulfides were determined in both environments, using statistical methods. The central lagoon area shows low pollution and a balanced influence of all the sediment components in the metal complexingprocesses, mostly due to the manganese and iron matrices. The inner canals are very polluted with heavy metals strongly bonded to H2S that form highly insoluble compounds, as demonstrated through the correlation analysis. The authors suggest different procedures for lagoon restoration due to the different sediment behaviours, ie., to avoid sediment turbation by dredging or by artificial bottom aeration which could result in an accelerated formation of more soluble oxygenated metal compounds making the toxic metals readily available to the aquatic environment. The sedimentological study of the central lagoon givenhere evidenced the correlation between grain size and mineralogical composition and heavy metal concentrations in bottom sediments. WhileFe, Mn, Zn and Cu show a good correlation with the percentages of mud (grain size < 62 micron) Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni are quite independent from the grain size of the sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a fundamental element of modern surgical practice. However, its integration into surgical training remains challenging. Through a scoping review, this study mapped existing evidence on the practice of EBM in surgery, focusing on knowledge, attitudes, barriers, and curricula., Methods: The literature was systematically searched through 3 databases and 2 registers. Fifty articles published over a 22-year period (2001-2023) were identified based on predefined eligibility criteria. These were reviewed using Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework. The review was checked against the PRISMA 2018 checklist for scoping reviews., Results: There is evidence of awareness and appreciation of EBM principles among surgeons and surgical trainees. However, the understanding of EBM terminology is varied. Attitudes toward EBM were predominantly positive yet reliance on clinical experience over evidence-based guidelines was noted. Key barriers to EBM practice included time constraints, lack of structured training, and methodological challenges in surgical research. The review highlighted the lack of validated competency assessment tools and the need for structured EBM curricula. Various educational strategies, such as journal clubs and courses, were found to improve EBM knowledge, albeit with limited evidence on long-term practice change., Conclusion: This scoping review underscores the need for a more detailed understanding of stakeholder views of EBM in surgical practice, the development, implementation, and assessment of educational interventions in this field, and tailored strategies to assess EBM competency in surgery., (© 2025 The Author(s). World Journal of Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Surgery/Société Internationale de Chirurgie (ISS/SIC).)