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Abstract State-of-the-art simulations of high-energy nuclear collisions rely on hybrid setups, involving in particular a pre-equilibrium stage to let the system evolve from a far-from-equilibrium initial condition towards a near-equilibrated state after which fluid dynamics can be applied meaningfully. A known issue is the mismatch between the equation of state in the fluid-dynamical evolution and the effective one in the previous stage, which leads to discontinuities at the interface between the two models. Here we introduce a new matching prescription at this interface, based on the entropy, and we compare it with the standard one relying on local energy conservation. We study the behavior of various quantities at the switching time between the models and investigate a number of final-state hadronic observables. For the latter, we show that they are not modified significantly by the choice of matching prescription, provided an appropriate normalization is chosen for the initial state. In turn, our approach reduces sizeably the ratio of bulk over thermodynamic pressure at the beginning of the fluid-dynamical stage.

En marzo de 2020, ante la llegada de la COVID-19, España decretó uno de los confinamientos más estrictos de Occidente. Esta medida sanitaria tan extrema plantea un conflicto ético de valores que se traslada, en lo político, a los derechos fundamentales y, en última instancia, a los derechos humanos. En este artículo se repasan los derechos afectados y se analiza el confinamiento impuesto por España e imitado luego por los países latinoamericanos, con el prisma de los principios éticos relativos a la contención de epidemias. El confinamiento fue una intervención inédita, que no estaba probada y cuya eficacia era desconocida; conllevó una vulneración grave de los derechos civiles sin justificación científica y sin verdaderos resultados epidemiológicos. Evitar el mismo error en futuras pandemias depende en parte de un escrupuloso respeto por los principios éticos que ya están recogidos en la legislación vigente.

Introduction: Adherence to mesalamine therapy in ulcerative colitis is often inadequate. This affects long-term remission and to some extent the risk of colon cancer. Means for assessing non-adherent behavior are cumbersome, expensive, and/or time consuming. Unless multiple tools are used in association, a proportion of patients with volitional and non-volitional non-adherence is nonetheless undetected. The study was aimed at evaluating to which extent rephrasing a single question on adherence to mesalamine therapy may help identifying patients who are not compliant with medication prescription. Methods: One-hundred and seventy-four inflammatory bowel disease outpatients were asked in two consecutive visits, in random order, if they “regularly assumed the prescribed dose of mesalamine” (adherence-centered question—AQ) or “how often they skipped mesalamine pills” (non-adherence centered question—NQ). Answer concordance was evaluated in relation to clinical and demographic variables. Results: The concordance between AQ and NQ was low (K = 0.22). Lower compliance to therapy was admitted in 37.4% more patients following NQ than AQ. The reported adherence to AQ was invariably higher than that of NQ, irrespective of the variable taken into consideration. The likelihood of non-concordant answers was non-significantly higher in CD patients than in UC and in patients with shorter disease duration than in those with longstanding disease, but the logistic regression model did not identify individual variables responsible for the different answers. Conclusions: Being simple and not requiring additional time expense, centering the question on medication non-adherence identifies a large proportion of patients who would not admit non-adherence or underestimate the number of skipped doses of medication, when directly asked if they are compliant to therapy.

Oceanographic mooring missions are critical for advancing our understanding of the world’s oceans and their role in the broader Earth system. These missions rely on the deployment and maintenance of complex observing systems, comprising subsurface, profiling, and surface moorings, which are designed to collect valuable data from the ocean interior. The success of these missions depends on meticulous planning and strategic execution, which are facilitated by the use of Field Service Plans (FSPs). FSPs are comprehensive and adaptable planning tools that integrate safety measures, contingency plans, and timelines to ensure the successful and safe recovery, maintenance, and deployment of mooring systems. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive guide to drafting, implementing, and adapting FSPs tailored to the unique challenges posed by oceanographic mooring missions. We highlight the critical role of FSPs in optimizing safety, data quality, and mission success, while also underscoring the need for flexibility and adaptation. Our aim is to provide practical guidance and a template for researchers, expedition leaders, and institutions engaged in oceanographic research.

IntroductionIn operational environments, human interaction and cooperation between individuals are critical to efficiency and safety. These states are influenced by individuals' cognitive and emotional states. Human factor research aims to objectively quantify these states to prevent human error and maintain constant performances, particularly in high-risk settings such as aviation, where human error and performance account for a significant portion of accidents.MethodsThus, this study aimed to evaluate and validate two novel methods for assessing the degree of cooperation among professional pilots engaged in real-flight simulation tasks. In addition, the study aimed to assess the ability of the proposed metrics to differentiate between the expertise levels of operating crews based on their levels of cooperation. Eight crews were involved in the experiments, consisting of four crews of Unexperienced pilots and four crews of Experienced pilots. An expert trainer, simulating air traffic management communication on one side and acting as a subject matter expert on the other, provided external evaluations of the pilots' mental states during the simulation. The two novel approaches introduced in this study were formulated based on circular correlation and mutual information techniques.Results and discussionThe findings demonstrated the possibility of quantifying cooperation levels among pilots during realistic flight simulations. In addition, cooperation time is found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) among Experienced pilots compared to Unexperienced ones. Furthermore, these preliminary results exhibited significant correlations (p < 0.05) with subjective and behavioral measures collected every 30 s during the task, confirming their reliability.

The study aimed at investigating the impact of an innovative Wake Vortex Alert (WVA) avionics on pilots' operation and mental states, intending to improve aviation safety by mitigating the risks associated with wake vortex encounters (WVEs). Wake vortices, generated by jet aircraft, pose a significant hazard to trailing or crossing aircrafts. Despite existing separation rules, incidents involving WVEs continue to occur, especially affecting smaller aircrafts like business jets, resulting in aircraft upsets and occasional cabin injuries. To address these challenges, the study focused on developing and validating an alert system that can be presented to air traffic controllers, enabling them to warn flight crews. This empowers the flight crews to either avoid the wake vortex or secure the cabin to prevent injuries. The research employed a multidimensional approach including an analysis of human performance and human factors (HF) issues to determine the potential impact of the alert on pilots' roles, tasks, and mental states. It also utilizes Human Assurance Levels (HALs) to evaluate the necessary human factors support based on the safety criticality of the new system. Realistic flight simulations were conducted to collect data of pilots' behavioural, subjective and neurophysiological responses during WVEs. The data allowed for an objective evaluation of the WVA impact on pilots' operation, behaviour and mental states (mental workload, stress levels and arousal). In particular, the results highlighted the effectiveness of the alert system in facilitating pilots' preparation, awareness and crew resource management (CRM). The results also highlighted the importance of avionics able to enhance aviation safety and reducing risks associated with wake vortex encounters. In particular, we demonstrated how providing timely information and improving situational awareness, the WVA will minimize the occurrence of WVEs and contribute to safer aviation operations.

Abstract A single 300 mg dose of tafenoquine (an 8-aminoquinoline), in combination with a standard 3-day course of chloroquine, is approved in several countries for the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of Plasmodium vivax malaria in patients aged ≥ 16 years. Despite this, questions have arisen on the optimal dose of tafenoquine. Before the availability of tafenoquine, a 3-day course of chloroquine in combination with the 8-aminoquinoline primaquine was the only effective radical cure for vivax malaria. The World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended standard regimen is 14 days of primaquine 0.25 mg/kg/day or 7 days of primaquine 0.5 mg/kg/day in most regions, or 14 days of primaquine 0.5 mg/kg/day in East Asia and Oceania, however the long treatment courses of 7 or 14 days may result in poor adherence and, therefore, low treatment efficacy. A single dose of tafenoquine 300 mg in combination with a 3-day course of chloroquine is an important advancement for the radical cure of vivax malaria in patients without glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, as the use of a single-dose treatment will improve adherence. Selection of a single 300 mg dose of tafenoquine for the radical cure of P. vivax malaria was based on collective efficacy and safety data from 33 studies involving more than 4000 trial participants who received tafenoquine, including over 800 subjects who received the 300 mg single dose. The safety profile of single-dose tafenoquine 300 mg is similar to that of standard-dosage primaquine 0.25 mg/kg/day for 14 days. Both primaquine and tafenoquine can cause acute haemolytic anaemia in individuals with G6PD deficiency; severe haemolysis can lead to anaemia, kidney damage, and, in some cases, death. Therefore, relapse prevention using an 8-aminoquinoline must be balanced with the need to avoid clinical haemolysis associated with G6PD deficiency. To minimize this risk, the WHO recommends G6PD testing for all individuals before the administration of curative doses of 8-aminoquinolines. In this article, the authors review key efficacy and safety data from the pivotal trials of tafenoquine and argue that the currently approved dose represents a favourable benefit–risk profile.

Abstract Background The European-funded Health Effects of Cardiac Fluoroscopy and Modern Radiotherapy in Pediatrics (HARMONIC) project aims to improve knowledge on the effects of medical exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) received during childhood. One of its objectives is to build a consolidated European cohort of pediatric patients who have undergone cardiac catheterization (Cath) procedures, with the goal of enhancing the assessment of long-term radiation-associated cancer risk. The purpose of our study is to provide a detailed description of the Italian cohort contributing to the HARMONIC project, including an analysis of cumulative IR exposure, reduction trend over the years and an overview of the prospective collection of biological samples for research in this vulnerable population. Methods In a single-center retrospective cohort study, a total of 584 patients (323 males) with a median age of 6 (2–13) years, referred at the Pediatric Cardiology in Niguarda Hospital from January 2015 to October 2023, were included. Biological specimens from a subset of 60 patients were prospectively collected for biobanking at baseline, immediately post-procedure and after 12 months. Results Two hundred fifty-nine (44%) patients were under 1 year old at their first procedure. The median KAP/weight was 0.09 Gy·cm2/kg (IQR: 0.03–0.20), and the median fluoroscopy time was 8.10 min (IQR: 4.00–16.25). KAP/weight ratio showed a positive correlation with the fluoroscopy time (Spearman’s rho = 0.679, p

Primary granitic melt inclusions are trapped in garnets of eclogites in the garnet peridotite body of Pfaffenberg, Granulitgebirge (Bohemian Massif, Germany). These polycrystalline inclusions, based on their nature and composition, can be called nanogranitoids and contain mainly phlogopite/biotite, kumdykolite, quartz/rare cristobalite, a phase with the main Raman peak at 412 cm−1, a phase with the main Raman peak at 430 cm−1, osumilite and plagioclase. The melt is hydrous, peraluminous and granitic and significantly enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILE), Th, U, Li, B and Pb. The melt major element composition resembles that of melts produced by the partial melting of metasediments, as also supported by its trace element signature characterized by elements (LILE, Pb, Li and B) typical of the continental crust. These microstructural and geochemical features suggest that the investigated melt originated in the subducted continental crust and interacted with the mantle to produce the Pfaffenberg eclogite. Moreover, in situ analyses and calculations based on partition coefficients between apatite and melt show that the melt was also enriched in Cl and F, pointing toward the presence of a brine during melting. The melt preserved in inclusions can thus be regarded as an example of a metasomatizing agent present at depth and responsible for the interaction between the crust and the mantle. Chemical similarities between this melt and other metasomatizing melts measured in other eclogites from the Granulitgebirge and Erzgebirge, in addition to the overall similar enrichment in trace elements observed in other metasomatized mantle rocks from central Europe, suggest an extended crustal contamination of the mantle beneath the Bohemian Massif during the Variscan orogeny.

Abstract Background Children are particularly at risk of malaria. This analysis consolidates the clinical data for pyronaridine–artesunate (PA) paediatric granules in children from three randomized clinical trials and a real-world study (CANTAM). Methods An integrated safety analysis of individual patient data from three randomized clinical trials included patients with microscopically-confirmed Plasmodium falciparum, body weight ≥ 5 kg to

The dataset presented here consists of 273 conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) stations, as well as 2034 sampled data points in the water column, where dissolved inorganic nutrients have been measured, that were collected during 12 summer oceanographic cruises (BANSIC series) in the Sicily Channel (central Mediterranean Sea) between 2010 and 2021. The quality of the CTD dataset is ensured by regular sensor calibrations and an accurate control process adopted during the acquisition, processing, and post-processing phases. The quality of the biogeochemical dataset is ensured by the adoption of best-practice analytical and sampling methods. This data collection fills a gap of information in the Sicily Channel, i.e., a key area where complex water mass exchange processes involve the transfer of physical and biogeochemical properties between the eastern and western Mediterranean. The available dataset will be useful to evaluate the long-term variability on a wide spatial scale, supporting studies on the evolution of the Mediterranean circulation and its peculiar biogeochemistry, as well as on the physical and biogeochemical modeling of this area. The data are available in Zenodo (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8125006, Placenti et al., 2023).

Workload and distraction are problems that affect road driving and can cause very serious accidents. Drive assistance systems are very important to help drivers relieve fatigue of driving by increasing road safety and reducing the number of accidents. The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is a useful driver assistance system to set and maintain a safe distance from the front vehicle, modulating speed and limiting sudden braking. However, the effects of the ACC on overall driver behaviour have not yet been thoroughly investigated. In this study, the authors assessed the influence of ACC on mental workload and attention of drivers in a real driving environment. The results of several evaluations were considered: subjective assessment of workload (NASA-TLX), physiological measurements of workload (brain activity through electroencephalographic technique and the analysis of visual behaviour through an eye monitoring device) and performance-based measurements (via Vbox Pro Video mounted on the vehicle). 52 drivers were involved in the study, 26 ACC experts and 26 non-experts, who drove along the ring road of Bologna (Tangenziale di Bologna) (Italy), both using ACC and manually, without the help of any device. During the test a secondary task was introduced: the sudden arrival of a braking car. Results showed that the use of ACC increased distraction when driving.

Noise Level Modulation (NLM) is a robust physical-layer security technique which uses the injection of random phase noise into the transmitted signal to provide confidentiality in optical networks. The legitimate receiver can seamlessly recover the information by utilizing a feedback loop, while eavesdropping attempts fail, irrespective of the attacker’s location or computational capabilities. This paper outlines the theoretical and implementation principles of NLM when applied to full fiber-optic networks. Our findings reveal that NLM can attain a complete secrecy rate while ensuring compatibility with existing optical devices and protocols. We also propose a practical fiber optic-based implementation scheme, providing a thorough analysis of its variations from the theoretical framework. Furthermore, we delve into the challenges associated with NLM in the context of secure full optical communication systems and explore potential future directions.

Abstract The Mediterranean Sea has been sampled irregularly by research vessels in the past, mostly by national expeditions in regional waters. To monitor the hydrographic, biogeochemical and circulation changes in the Mediterranean Sea, a systematic repeat oceanographic survey programme called Med-SHIP was recommended by the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM) in 2011, as part of the Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP). Med-SHIP consists of zonal and meridional surveys with different frequencies, where comprehensive physical and biogeochemical properties are measured with the highest international standards. The first zonal survey was done in 2011 and repeated in 2018. In addition, a network of meridional (and other key) hydrographic sections were designed: the first cycle of these sections was completed in 2016, with three cruises funded by the EU project EUROFLEETS2. This paper presents the physical and chemical data of the meridional and key transects in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean Sea collected during those cruises.

Global health, particularly in underserved settings can benefit immensely from well-trained community health workers (CHWs) supporting primary healthcare interventions. They can reduce morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases like malaria. Disease control programs can particularly benefit from a tight link between CHWs and communities and several studies have shown the benefit of the participation of non-facility-based CHWs in malaria control program activities for reducing malaria-related mortality in children. Because CHWs are often part of and trusted by served communities, they can also be an important resource to address challenges faced by their communities. Where post-marketing surveillance systems are underserved, they can relay important information about suspected safety signals and factors affecting therapeutic effectiveness in their communities. The CANTAM-Pyramax® trial was a phase IIIb/ IV cohort event monitoring study conducted at six centers in five African countries. To assess real-world effectiveness and safety of the anti-malarial pyronaridine-artesunate in 8560 malaria episodes, follow-up was not primarily conducted by medical staff but by specifically trained CHWs. This perspective paper discusses how the participation of a CHW workforce can be of benefit for effectiveness trials in limited-resource settings, using the example of the CANTAM-Pyramax trial.

Ocular artifacts, including blinks and saccades, pose significant challenges in the analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) data, often obscuring crucial neural signals. This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to the most effective methods for correcting these artifacts, with a focus on algorithms designed for both laboratory and real-world settings. We review traditional approaches, such as regression-based techniques and Independent Component Analysis (ICA), alongside more advanced methods like Artifact Subspace Reconstruction (ASR) and deep learning-based algorithms. Through detailed step-by-step instructions and comparative analysis, this tutorial equips researchers with the tools necessary to maintain the integrity of EEG data, ensuring accurate and reliable results in neurophysiological studies. The strategies discussed are particularly relevant for wearable EEG systems and real-time applications, reflecting the growing demand for robust and adaptable solutions in applied neuroscience.

Mixed Reality (MR) environments hold immense potential for inducing a sense of embodiment, where users feel like their bodies are present within the virtual space. This subjective experience has been traditionally assessed using subjective reports and behavioral measures. However, neurophysiological approaches offer unique advantages in objectively characterizing embodiment. This review article explores the current state of the art in utilizing neurophysiological techniques, particularly Electroencephalography (EEG), Photoplethysmography (PPG), and Electrodermal activity (EDA), to investigate the neural and autonomic correlates of embodiment in MR for out-of-the-lab applications. More specifically, it was investigated how EEG, with its high temporal resolution, PPG, and EDA, can capture transient brain activity associated with specific aspects of embodiment, such as visuomotor synchrony, visual feedback of a virtual body, and manipulations of virtual body parts. The potential of such neurophysiological signals to differentiate between subjective experiences of embodiment was discussed, with a particular regard to identify the neural and autonomic markers of early embodiment formation during MR exposure in real settings. Finally, the strengths and limitations of the neurophysiological approach in the context of MR embodiment research were discussed, in order to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of this multifaceted phenomenon.