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MONOCLINICORTHORHOMBIC PHASE TRANSITION IN THE METASTABLE BiCr1xScxO3 (x0, 0.1) PEROVSKITES Cardoso J.P.1, Delmonte D.2, Gilioli E.2, Shvartsman V.V.3, Vieira J.M.1, Salak A.N.1 1Department of Materials and Ceramics Engineering and CICECO Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal, joaopcardosoua.pt 2Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism, Parma, Italy 3Institute for Materials Science and CENIDE Center for Nanointegration DuisburgEssen, University of DuisburgEssen, Essen, Germany Here we report on a comparative study of reversible phase transition from the monoclinic C2/c phase (resultant from highpressure synthesis) to the nonpolar orthorhombic Pnma phase in BiCrO3 and BiCr0.9Sc0.1O3. Due to a considerable size difference between Cr3 by Sc3, 10 mol substitution of chromium by scandium was expected to result in structural changes without destroying the longrange magnetic order. Здесь мы сообщаем о сравнительном исследовании обратимого фазового перехода из моноклинной фазы C2/c (полученной в результате синтеза под высоким давлением) в неполярную орторомбическую фазу Pnma в BiCrO3 и BiCr0.9Sc0.1O3. Изза значительной разницы в размерах между Cr3 Sc3 , ожидается, что 10 ное замещение хрома скандием приведет к структурным изменениям без разрушения дальнего магнитного порядка.

Oxalate nephropathy is a rare entity with poor renal prognosis. When history of kidney stones and/or classical risk factors for secondary hyperoxaluria (such as bariatric surgery) are present, the diagnosis is easy. Sometimes the clinical onset is confusing and the diagnosis can be delayed, even if a renal biopsy is performed. We present the case of a 69-year-old man with history of type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease who presented with worsening renal function (creatinine 2 to 4 mg/dl), hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis. Urine analysis showed mild proteinuria (200mg/day) and no crystals. Kidneys had normal volume and no stones were seen by ultrasonography. A renal biopsy showed mild nodular diabetic glomerulopathy and acute tubular injury with intratubular deposition of birefringent crystals (Figure 1A). Differential diagnosis included oxalate nephropathy and, less likely 2,8- dihydroxyadenine and urate crystals. Since conventional spectrometry could not be performed on single crystals due to their small size, we decided to investigate the crystals with the typical structural and compositional characterization techniques used in the field of Material Science, SC-XRD and SEM-EDX.

We report on the successful high-pressure synthesis of single-phase powders of the quadruple perovskite (YMn3) Mn4O12, where the chemical pressure exerted by the small Y3+ ion is expected to enhance the exchange interaction between Mn3+ ions. According to this expectation, powder neutron diffraction, specific heat, and magnetization measurements give evidence of a C-type antiferromagnetic ordering of the Mn3+ ions in the octahedrally coordinated B sites at T-N,T-B = 108 K, 30 K higher than in the isostructural and isovalent compound, (LaMn3) Mn4O12. Surprisingly, we found no evidence of long-range magnetic order of the square-coordinated A' sites, although an indication of latent magnetic order is given by a broad peak of the DC magnetization between 70 and 40 K and by a sharp peak in the AC susceptibility at T* = 70 K. A further unexpected feature of (YMn3) Mn4O12, not found in previously reported (AMn(3)) Mn4O12 compounds, is a second-order structural phase transition at T-s = 200 K, attributed to a partial redistribution of charge involving both the B and A'-site Mn3+ ions. The present results suggest the existence of competing magnetic orderings, which may be linked to the occurrence of magnetic ferroelectricity in the (AMn(3)) Mn4O12 system.

AIMS: Literature data show that one third of patients discontinue antidepressant therapy within the first month of treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether paroxetine liquid solution 10 mg/ml may influence adherence inpatients receiving long-term treatment. METHODS: 71 subjects affected by mood disorders or panic disorder were monitored for six months. The study sample was divided into two groups: controls (n=33) maintained their own therapy with paroxetine tablets; 38 patients maintained the same dosage of paroxetine, but shifted to liquid formulation 10 mg/ml. Compliance and general wellness were evaluated with the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WhoQol). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). RESULTS: Significant differences were found in MARS scores: patients on oral solution 10 mg/ml showed an improvement of compliance month by month. In addition, age, formulation and quality of life had a significant impacton patient compliance. Significant correlations were found between MARS and quality of life. A specific paroxetine formulation could be a variable able to influence adherence to psychopharmacological treatment. The same consideration can be made for quality of life, sex and age that showed a trend towards improved adherence when compared with controls. Inparticular, the WhoQol subscale analysis of delta scores showed a significant difference in self-perception of quality of life inpatients treated with paroxetine either in tablet or drop formulation. DISCUSSION: Formulation in drops 10 mg/ml is equally effective to tablets, but it may allow patients having a higher cognition and control on drug assumption.

Objectives It important to quantify the true burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in different countries, to enable informed decisions about imposing and relaxing control measures. COVID-19 surveillance data fails in this respect, as it is influenced by different definitions, control policies and capacities. This article aims to quantify excess mortality and estimate the distribution between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 causes of death. Study design Observational study and mathematical modelling. Methods Publicly available data from multiple institutional sources were used and an in-depth analysis was carried out of deaths from all causes between 2015 and 2020 in Italy at the national, regional and local level. Excess mortality over time and space was first explored, followed by an assessment of how this related to COVID-19 surveillance and, ultimately, assuming a fixed male:female ratio, a model was developed and applied to estimate the proportions of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 excess mortality in 2020. Results In Italy, the mortality rate doubled in March and April 2020 compared with data from 2015-2019 (+109%), with excess mortality reaching >600% in large municipalities in northern areas. Notified COVID-19 deaths accounted for only 43·5% (regional range: 43–62%) of excess mortality. It is estimated that more than two-thirds of excess deaths that were not captured by surveillance are non-COVID-19 deaths, which could be a result of the excess burden on the health systems, in addition to reduced demand and supply of other non-COVID healthcare services. Conclusions The impact of COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic is much larger than official figures have reported. Monitoring excess mortality helps to capture the full effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, which differs between regions in Italy. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in significant indirect effects on the well-being of the population., Highlights • Excess mortality in Italy in 2020 was quantified and the distribution estimated between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 causes. • All-cause deaths doubled in March-April 2020, compared with 2015-2019, with excess mortality >600% in large municipalities in the north of Italy. • Notified COVID-19 deaths accounted for only 43·5% of excess mortality (regional range: 43-62%). • The COVID-19 burden is larger than the official reported figures. • A large number of excess deaths may be due to causes other than COVID-19 and linked to decreased demand and supply of non-COVID-19 healthcare services.