Search

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease, accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancer cases. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has emerged as a less invasive alternative to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for axillary staging in breast cancer, offering reduced morbidity and comparable accuracy. However, the application of SLNB in MBC remains underexplored, with limited male-specific data and treatment protocols often extrapolated from female breast cancer studies. Available evidence suggests that SLNB in men demonstrates high diagnostic accuracy, with low false-negative rates and a high sentinel lymph node identification rate. Despite this, there is ongoing debate about its long-term impact on clinical outcomes, particularly for patients with sentinel node metastasis, where ALND may still provide superior survival outcomes in some cases. Predictive tools are being developed to identify better patients who may benefit from SLNB alone, potentially reducing the need for more invasive procedures. As the role of SLNB continues to evolve in MBC management, further prospective research is needed to refine its application and assess its long-term oncologic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a modified approach for DFT-based spectra and cross-spectra estimation that allows to significantly reduce the problem of spectral leakage at very low frequencies. This results in the ability to select larger resolution bandwidths that, in turn, allow for reduced measurement time for a given maximum level of statistical error in spectral points at very low frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Staphylococcus aureus is a human and animal pathogen that can cause severe mastitis in sheep. The severity of this disease is influenced by several factors, among which the presence of virulence genes in the bacterium. In the present study, 110 strains, isolated from the milk of sheep with clinical mastitis south of Tuscany, Italy, and with subclinical mastitis in a farm in the same region, were investigated for enterotoxin and hemolysin genes' presence through molecular analysis. The distribution of the profiles on this territory was analyzed. Twenty different profiles were found, but 43.64% of the tested strains showed the same profile. Considering the enterotoxin genes, four profiles were identified while using hemolysin genes' presence, 12 genes patterns were found. Several different strains were detected in the farm with subclinical mastitis. Spatial analysis of the overall isolated strains did not show a specific distribution. However, the study highlights the importance of identifying and analyzing virulence genes of this bacterium involved in dairy sheep mastitis, and the presence of different strains in the same farm. Staphylococcus aureus is well known to be the primary causal agent of clinical or subclinical mastitis in dairy sheep. The production of virulence factors allows S. aureus strains to cause mastitis. In the present study, 96 strains isolated from dairy sheep farms used for the production of autologous vaccines were tested for enterotoxin and hemolysin genes by PCR. In addition, 14 strains isolated from half udders of ewes with subclinical mastitis belonging to a single farm were also tested for the same genes. The phylogenetic trees were constructed, and spatial analysis was performed. Overall, 20 gene patterns were identified, but 43.64% of the tested strains showed the same profile (sec+, sel+, hla+, hld+, hlgAC+). Considering only the enterotoxin genes, four profiles were identified while the evaluation of the hemolysin genes revealed the presence of 12 gene patterns. In the farm with subclinical mastitis, six gene profiles were found. Spatial analysis of the isolated strains and their virulence genes did not show a specific pattern. The present study highlights the importance of identifying and analyzing virulence genes of S. aureus strains involved in dairy sheep mastitis, and the presence of different strains in the same farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In response to the widespread transmission of COVID-19 in Australia, healthcare facilities implemented stringent infection control measures, and mandatory and manual screening procedures were introduced to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare staff. However, these necessary measures resulted in imbalances within the healthcare system, a shortage of front-line workers and impacts on patient experience and wait times. The prioritization of infection control measures shifted resources away from routine care, causing delays in accessing necessary healthcare services. Methods and Findings: To address these challenges, we developed and implemented an Internet of Things (IoT) Smart Screening eGate solution in partnership with a large metropolitan children's hospital in Australia. This solution integrated a contactless health self-service web app, thermal camera, and physical barrier to automate the COVID-19 health screening and data recording process. During the 3-month pilot period, we deployed the eGate at multiple entrances to the hospital, and monitored the number of users of the system in different periods. We also used a framework of formative evaluation to classify user design challenges within limited resources and improved the design of the eGate to enhance its effectiveness. Our findings show that the IoT eGate solution improved the efficiency of the screening process and reduced the workload and exposure risks of front-line staff and anyone who required access to the hospital. By automating the screening process, we reduced the need for manual screening and minimized contact between individuals, thus reducing the risk of potentially infected. Conclusion: In conclusion, our pilot study demonstrated the potential of IoT technologies in improving the efficiency and safety of medical facilities during pandemics and provided a series of recommendations for the translation of IoT technologies for medical facilities, including the importance of co-design and collaboration with stakeholders, user-centered design, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analytical methods for the early detection of the neurodegenerative biomarker for Parkinson’s disease (PD), α-synuclein, are time-consuming and invasive, and require skilled personnel and sophisticated and expensive equipment. Thus, a pain-free, prompt and simple α-synuclein biosensor for detection in plasma is highly demanded. In this paper, an α-synuclein electrochemical biosensor based on hierarchical polyglutamic acid/ZnO nanowires decorated by gold nanoparticles, assembled as nanostars (NSs), for the determination of α-synuclein in human plasma is proposed. ZnO NSs were prepared by chemical bath deposition (CBD) and decorated with electrodeposited Au nanoparticles (Au NPs). Then, electro-polymerized glutamic acid was grown and functionalized with anti-α-synuclein. A synergistic enhancement of electrode sensitivity was observed when Au NPs were embedded into ZnO NSs. The analytical performance of the biosensor was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), using the Fe(II)(CN)64−/Fe(III)(CN)63− probe. The charge transfer resistance after α-synuclein recognition was found to be linear, with a concentration in the range of 0.5 pg·mL−1 to 10 pg·mL−1, a limit of detection of 0.08 pg·mL−1, and good reproducibility (5% variation) and stability (90%). The biosensor was also shown to reliably discriminate between healthy plasma and PD plasma. These results suggest that the proposed biosensor provides a rapid, quantitative and high-sensitivity result of the α-synuclein content in plasma, and represents a feasible tool capable of accelerating the early and non-invasive identification of Parkinson’s disease.

Solid-state supercapacitors with areal capacitance in the order of 100 mF⋅cm−2 are developed on paper substrates, using eco-friendly, low-cost materials and a simple technology. The electrochemically active material used as the electrode is prepared from a stable water-based ink, obtained by doping commercial polypyrrole (PPY) powder with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA), and characterized by optical and electrical measurements, Raman investigation and Atomic Force Microscopy. The PPY:DBSA ink can be directly applied on paper by means of rechargeable water pens, obtaining, after drying, electrically conducting solid state tracks. The PPY:DBSA layers are then interfaced to one another through a polymer gel based on potassium hydroxide and chitosan, acting both as the ion-conducting medium and as the separator. The areal capacitance of the devices developed by following such a simple rule can be improved when the PPY:DBSA ink is applied in combination with other nanostructured carbon material.

This article explores cross-country patterns in how conditions relating to family background, education, and the labor market are related to literacy and numeracy skills. It seeks to assess whether these patterns are in agreement with models of skills formation as identified in the political economy literature. The novelty of this article resides in a reexamination of the findings in the literature of skills formation and education and training system with new data on adults' skills. This research uses a two-step approach: first it applies Shapley decomposition variance on adult skills and then each country scores are clustered to search for common pattern and regularities in skills formation. This leads us to single out common regularities among groups of countries in the way skills are structured and distributed. We find three main typologies and different subgroups within them that are compatible with the literature on skills formation models.

The automatic generation of structured 3D model from point clouds is a primary focus for a lot of researches in the area of 3D modelling and HBIM. The use of procedural modelling techniques, based on set of geometric rules, is spreading the construction of parametric objects and processes for survey data mapping. In this research field one of the most common methodological approach consists in testing different procedures based on use of specific data from point cloud. One of the main problem to solve is to define the best parameters to use in relation to geometric features of different architectural element and what are the data to extract from point cloud. Starting from shape grammar approach, the main goal of our research is to define 3D parametric models for ribbed vaults suitable to generate 3D smart model for different uses. Most researches in this area deal the case of rectangular or square plan vaults, we addressed the case of trapezoidal vaults and different rules used for apsidal vaults tracing. Our aim is to define an adaptive parametric model that we can use to generate a 3D ideal model or a mixed reality based model. In order to evaluate our tool we compared two 3D models with point clouds: the first is based on geometric rules from sources, the second is based on some specific data from point cloud. Testing the tool on two gothic churches in Naples, the church of S. Lorenzo and the church of S.Maria di Donnaregina, we are going to improve it.

The paper presents the first results of the metric and geometric investigations carried out in the analysis of the stamps on Greek-Italic amphorae of Neapolitan production, found during the archaeological excavation of Piazza Nicola Amore, in Naples, Italy.The experiments were carried out with a view to defining a methodological process useful on the one hand to document in a digital archive the three-dimensional morphology of the artefact under investigation, and on the other to allow new readings, through a manipulation of the data that goes beyond the physical limits of the artefact itself. In particular, the research presented here proposes the topological investigation for the identification of stamps obtained from the same punch and therefore the possibility of ideally reconstructing the printing matrix.Since the stamps left by the punches on the amphorae are impressed at millimetric depths, the stamps are not always easy to read using traditional archaeological documentation methods. The research operations therefore began with the digitisation of a substantial number of finds by means of three-dimensional, reality-based surveys of sub-millimetre detail. Before proceeding with specific correspondence analyses, the archaeological classification based on the typological similarities of the marks was of great support.

Abstract This review discloses the technological advances involving enzyme‐based amperometric biosensors engaging challenging limits of detection as low as a single molecule. At first, we summarise the most recent findings concerning electrode modification toward the enhancement of the enzyme loading accomplished mainly through the deposition of nanomaterials. The increase of the electron transfer (ET) rate is mostly based on the enzyme site‐specific immobilization through the analysis of the enzyme structure/sequence and protein bioengineering is overviewed. However, both approaches are not appropriate to develop enzyme‐based amperometric biosensors able to reach reliable analytical detections below micro‐/nano‐molar. The last part is devoted to single‐molecule electrochemistry that has been widely exploited as a near‐field approach in the last decades as a proof‐of‐concept for the detection of single ET events. Organic electrochemical transistors operated as Faradaic current amplifiers do not detect below micro‐/nano‐molar. We here propose an alternative approach based on the combination of an electrochemical cell with a bipolar junction transistor in the extended base configuration, drawing some conclusions and future perspectives on the detection of single ET events at a large electrode for the development of Point‐of‐Care devices.

Abstract is missing (Short communication)

Background: Childhood interspecific relationships can be viewed as a mirror of the person’s capacity to interact with other living beings. The interspecific relationship can involve different attachment styles, affect regulation skills, transitional object dynamics, and self-awareness and mentalization processes. Yet interspecific relationships can also be disrupted, since they can be associated with cruel behavior toward animals, which is in turn related to possible psychopathology. Method: We provided a conceptual framework based on the literature addressing the interspecific relationship in both its adaptive and positive features as well as in its disrupted aspects. Discussion: Pets have often been regarded as attachment figures that can aid children in socialization and growth processes. They have been deemed to represent “social catalysts” that tend to facilitate human relationships, thus increasing prosocial behaviors. On the dark side of the pet-child interaction, childhood abuse of animals tends to be associated with behavioral and emotional problems that have been thought of as underlying psychopathology (e.g., conduct disorder and antisocial personality traits). Childhood cruelty to animals seems to accompany emotion dysregulation, poor social information processing, and low empathy. Conclusions: Since the child-pet relationship has substantial implications for the individual’s mental health and for the potential development of psychopathology, addressing children’s attitudes toward animals can aid in understanding the affective and emotional dimensions of their interpersonal experience.

Abstract The ultrasensitive measurement of protein markers plays a pivotal role in the early diagnosis of infectious and progressive diseases. Recently, digital methods such as those enabled by the Simoa Planar Array technology (SP‐X System) have made significant progress in reaching ultrasensitive detection with clinically relevant protein biomarkers. The elicited Simoa technology is based on printing high‐density capturing antibodies layers on the bottom of the wells of a microtiter plate, followed by a standard sandwich‐type immunometric chemiluminescent detection. Such assay, reaching limit‐of‐detections (LODs) in the low femtomolar range, can be conveniently customized. An optimized Simoa SP‐X assay for detecting and quantifying immunoglobulin M (IgM, non‐specific indicator of inflammation) is developed herein and optimized. A full factorial experimental design is undertaken to optimize the assay, leading to a reduced experimental effort and increased quality of the information obtained concerning the traditional one‐variable‐at‐a‐time approach. The optimization process leads to an IgM LOD of 4 fm that compares well with those achieved with commercially available Simoa Planar Array kits. Remarkably, depositing both the capturing and detecting layer from a solution (0.1 µg mL−1) one order of magnitude less concentrated than in standard kits is needed, and the assay's cost is sizably reduced.

Objectives The introduction of information and communication technology influences the work environment of large groups of employees in healthcare. In Sweden, a national healthcare service providing patient accessible electronic health records (PAEHR) has been deployed, and this paper investigates nurses’ expected effects of this implementation.Setting Nurses associated with the Swedish Association of Health Professionals working in healthcare such as primary care, hospitals and midwives in Sweden. Before a full-scale national implementation of PAEHR, a web survey study was distributed nationally. The respondents represented all 21 Swedish regions. Questions included five-point Likert scale questions and open questions.Participants A survey link was distributed via email to 8460 registered nurses, midwives and union representatives in Sweden. The response rate was 35.4% (2867 respondents: registered nurses 84%; midwives 6%; chief position 5%; in projects 2% and other 3%). Three reminders were sent out, all of them increasing the response rate. A majority of the respondents were female (89.9%), 8.4% male, whereas 1.7% did not indicate their gender. 31.4% were under 40 years old, 53.8% 40–59 and 13.7% over 60.Results Data were analysed using exploratory factor analysis with principal component analysis as the extraction method. The analysis revealed three distinct factors related to nurses’ expectations of PAEHR: (1) PAEHR improves the quality of care, (2) PAEHR improves the quality of the work environment and (3) risk and fears concerning patients’ well-being. Some interesting results include that more experienced nurses are more favourable to PAEHR. Our analysis also shows that the view of the nurse–patient relationship is an essential underlying factor related to positive or negative expectations.Conclusions Results show that the expectations and perceptions of PAEHR vary depending on the nurse’s view of who the electronic record belongs to. Younger nurses are somewhat more negative towards PAEHR than older nurses.

BackgroundOngoing efforts worldwide to provide patients with patient-accessible electronic health records (PAEHRs) have led to variability in adolescent and parental access across providers, regions, and countries. There is no compilation of evidence to guide policy decisions in matters such as access age and the extent of parent proxy access. In this paper, we outline our scoping review of different stakeholders’ (including but not limited to end users) views, use, and experiences pertaining to web-based access to electronic health records (EHRs) by children, adolescents, and parents. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify, categorize, and summarize knowledge about different stakeholders’ (eg, children and adolescents, parents, health care professionals [HCPs], policy makers, and designers of patient portals or PAEHRs) views, use, and experiences of EHR access for children, adolescents, and parents. MethodsA scoping review was conducted according to the Arksey and O’Malley framework. A literature search identified eligible papers that focused on EHR access for children, adolescents, and parents that were published between 2007 and 2021. A number of databases were used to search for literature (PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO). ResultsThe approach resulted in 4817 identified articles and 74 (1.54%) included articles. The papers were predominantly viewpoints based in the United States, and the number of studies on parents was larger than that on adolescents and HCPs combined. First, adolescents and parents without access anticipated low literacy and confidentiality issues; however, adolescents and parents who had accessed their records did not report such concerns. Second, the main issue for HCPs was maintaining adolescent confidentiality. This remained an issue after using PAEHRs for parents, HCPs, and other stakeholders but was not an experienced issue for adolescents. Third, the viewpoints of other stakeholders provided a number of suggestions to mitigate issues. Finally, education is needed for adolescents, parents, and HCPs. ConclusionsThere is limited research on pediatric PAEHRs, particularly outside the United States, and on adolescents’ experiences with web-based access to their records. These findings could inform the design and implementation of future regulations regarding access to PAEHRs. Further examination is warranted on the experiences of adolescents, parents, and HCPs to improve usability and utility, inform universal principles reducing the current arbitrariness in the child’s age for own and parental access to EHRs among providers worldwide, and ensure that portals are equipped to safely and appropriately manage a wide variety of patient circumstances. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.2196/36158