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Although moths and butterflies are closely related, they tend to respond to different floral cues for foraging and thus select for different suites of floral traits. Shifts between moth and butterfly pollination in the same plant clade provide an opportunity to assess the traits that are required to impart a shift between these pollination systems. The orchid genus Bonatea consists mostly of night-scented moth-pollinated taxa, but here we document a butterfly pollination system in Bonatea cassidea, a century after Mansel Weale's initial observations of butterflies carrying pollinaria of this taxon in South Africa were communicated to the Linnean Society by Charles Darwin. We recorded visits by a number of species of butterflies from the family Hesperiidae and Pieridae, but contrary to Weale, we found that the majority of pollinaria were firmly affixed between the palpi and not on the sternum. Removal of pollinaria from flowers during the day, but not at night, suggested that moths do not contribute to pollination, despite the white flower colouration. Floral traits found in B. cassidea but not its moth-pollinated congeners include diurnal anthesis, scent emission which is weak in the day and virtually absent at night, and the production of small amounts of relatively dilute sucrose-rich nectar in short spurs. These features are consistent with those expected for butterfly-pollinated plants in general. This study represents the first detailed report of butterfly-pollination in Bonatea and one of very few cases of orchid pollination by pierid butterflies.

Background and Aims The temporal dimensions of floral adaptation to pollinators are not yet well understood, partly because we lack accurate information on the diel rhythms of flower visitation for many pollinators. We investigated whether diel patterns of pollinator visitation to flowers of the African woodland orchid Bonatea polypodantha are synchronized with rhythms of floral anthesis, scent emission and nectar availability. Methods Direct observations and motion-activated cameras were used to identify pollinators of B. polypodantha and to document their activity periods. The timing of pollinaria removal from flowers, emission of scent and availability of nectar was also measured. Results We found that B. polypodantha is pollinated exclusively by short-tongued hawkmoths. Pollinaria of the orchid are affixed between the labial palps of the moths and brush over the protruding stigmatic arms. The flowers also receive visits by long-tongued hawkmoths, but these act as nectar thieves. Tracking of pollinaria removal from flowers confirmed that pollination occurs only at night. Camera footage revealed a striking crepuscular pattern of foraging by short-tongued hawkmoths with peaks of activity during the twilight periods at dusk and at dawn. In contrast, long-tongued hawkmoths were found to visit flowers throughout the night. Flowers of B. polypodantha exhibit unimodal peaks of anthesis, scent emission (dominated by nitrogenous aromatics) and nectar availability before or around dusk. Conclusions Flowers of B. polypodantha are pollinated exclusively by short-tongued hawkmoths, which show crepuscular foraging activity at dusk and dawn. Floral phenophases of the orchid are closely synchronized with the peak of pollinator activity at dusk.

Background The gold standard treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis is videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy (VLC). The aim of this study is to produce a predictive clinical ultrasound (US) score for difficult VLC to reduce the rate of conversion to open cholecystectomy surgery and intra and/or post-operative complications. Methods In this prospective study carried out in 2017 we enrolled 135 patients (pts) who underwent VLC in our General Surgery Unit. A specific pre-operative abdominal ultrasound scan was performed to assess gallbladder characteristics for each patient. All US and patients' characteristics were recorded in a standard form in order to obtain a preoperative score and were then added to the intra-operative variables. Results The analysis revealed a statistical significance between post-operative characteristics and parietal thickness, adhesions, stratifications and volume of gallstones. Comparing the degree of difficulty VLC assessed in the pre-operative stage to the intraoperative score, the sensitivity of the preoperative US scan test is 91.8% while the specificity is 76.7%. Conclusions The variables which proved statistically significant in predicting a difficult cholecystectomy were: age, parietal thickness >3 mm, adhesions, stratifications, gallstones >2 cm and fixed gallstones. We have definitively defined a predictive score for difficult VLC for which a VLC is to be considered potentially difficult whenever it presents a pre-operative score equal or greater than 4 (and a "easy" one with a pre-operative score less than 4). These findings may prove helpful in further reducing the conversion rate and the rate of intra- and/or post-operative complications., Highlights • The treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis is videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy. • A clinical ultrasound score for difficult VLC can reduce conversion rate. • Intra and post-operative complications is challenging for inexperienced surgeons.

Floral morphology can play a key role in mechanically guiding pollinators towards reproductive structures, particularly when visibility is limited at night, but the functional significance of morphological traits has seldom been considered in this context. Here we describe a remarkably intricate pollination mechanism in the hawkmoth-pollinated African grassland orchid Habenaria clavata, and also document aspects of the reproductive success and chemical ecology of this pollination system. The flowers are pollinated by several short-tongued hawkmoths, particularly Basiothia schenki, which was the most frequent visitor and occurred at all sites. Moths are probably attracted by the strong scent, which was dominated by several oxygenated aromatics that also elicited strong electrophysiological responses from antennae of B. schenki. Apart from the white rostellum lobes and stigma, which serve as a visual guide to the spur entrance, the flower parts are entirely green and indistinguishable from leaves in terms of spectral information. Using motion-activated video cameras we established that the leading edges of the forewings of foraging hawkmoths contact the two upwardly curving petal lobes, and that hawkmoths are then apparently mechanically guided down onto the reproductive structures. Pollinaria are attached in an unusual place – among hairs on the ventral surface of the thorax, between the middle legs – and are brushed over the protruding stigma lobes when the proboscis is fully inserted in the 41-mm-long spur. These results highlight how multiple traits (morphology, spectral reflectance and scent) can act synergistically to ensure transfer of pollen among flowers.

Brain notochordal cell tumors (BTCN) are lesions arising from notochordal differentiation which affect the axial skeleton.We report a case of a patient treated in our General Surgery Unit of the University Hospital of Bari, Italy, with occasional finding of sacral chordoma at the histological examination.Because of their location, sacral chordomas can affect bowel and bladder with organ specific symptoms. Radiotherapy may be used as a palliative treatment or for recurrence in those patients who cannot be submitted to surgery.Due to the high local recurrence rate radiation therapy should be considered mandatory after any type of chordoma resection. Multidisciplinary management of the disease is mandatory and improve patient outcomes. Patients should have maximal tumor debulking with adjuvant radiotherapy when possible.

We report a case of squamous carcinoma arising from a pilonidal sinus.Patient of 83 years old, that after 30 years had a recurrence of pilonidal sinus revealed by a sacral abscess studied with pelvic CT scan and MRI. After clinical investigation, traditional open surgical technique was performed and pathologic studies revealed a squamous carcinoma. The patient performed a new CT scan with persistence of disease, and a second surgical look with mass excision until the presacral fascia and V-Y flap was performed. Histological exami-nation was found to be positive for squamous carcinoma on the margin and the patient underwent adjuvant radiotherapy cycles with a close follow-up with evidence of free disease survival. He died after 5 years for old age.The incidence of carcinoma arising from a pilonidalis sinus is about 0.1% and the most important risk factor is represented by a chronic abscess from 20-30 years. In literature there are about 100 cases. Gold standard treatment is surgery with complete excision of the presacral fascia, while radiotherapy decrease the risk of recurrence.All cases reported in literature are submitted as case report. Sacro-coccyxal fistula should be treated early because chronic inflammation can determine neoplastic degeneration. Histological examination should be performed routinely. Gold standard is surgery with wide excision. There is no evidence about the gold standard for the reconstructive time.

Introduction Peptic ulcer perforation (PPU) is a common surgical emergency and the mortality rate ranges 10% to 40%, especially in elderly patients. Laparoscopic repair achieved encouraging results. Materials and methods We enrolled patients performing surgical repair for PPU from January 2007 to December 2015 in our surgical unit. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to compare the results of PPU laparoscopic repair with open technique. The following characteristics of patients were evaluated: age, sex and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification. The site and the diameter of perforation were recorded: gastric, pyloric, duodenal, and the location on the anterior or posterior wall. Results In total, 59 patients (39 males and 20 females) with a mean age of 58.85 years (±SD) were treated surgically. Laparoscopic repair was accomplished in 21 patients. The mean operative time for laparoscopic repair was 72 minutes (±SD), significantly shorter than open repair time (180 min ±SD). The results demonstrated that laparoscopic repair is associated with a shorter operative time, reduced postoperative pain (4.75 vs. 6.42) and analgesic requirements, a shorter hospital stay (7.5 vs. 13.1), and earlier return to normal daily activities. Discussion Laparoscopic surgery minimizes postoperative wound pain and encourages early mobilization and return to normal daily activities. The benefit of early discharge and return to work may outweigh the consumable cost incurred in the execution of laparoscopic procedures. Conclusions Complications in both procedures are similar but laparoscopic procedure shows economic advantages for reducing postoperative hospital stay, postoperative pain, and for a good integrity of abdominal wall.

Introduction Gallstone ileus is an uncommon condition of mechanical bowel obstruction caused by the passage of a gallstone into the bowel. It occurs more frequently in female patients older than 65 years and often for a biliary-enteric fistula. The pathognomonic features of gallstone ileus - the Rigler's triad - are pneumobilia, ectopic gallstone and bowel obstruction. Less commonly, a gallstone may enter the intestinal lumen through the common bile duct, after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and very rarely in colecistectomized patient. Case report A 92-year old colecistectomized male patient was admitted to our unit for the clinical suspicion of bowel obstruction. He was also submitted to ERCP seven months before. Physical examination revealed tenderness in the lower abdomen and CT showed intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary dilatation and small bowel obstruction with a hyperdense formation in right iliac fossa as gallstone ileus. It was performed an emergency laparotomy with enterotomy and a 5x3 cm gallstone removal. There were no post-operative complications and the patient was discharged 8 days after surgery. Discussion Cholecysto-duodenal fistulas are most frequently described in worldwide-reports. There are only few cases in literature of gallstone which enter the gastrointestinal tract following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and sphincterotomy through papilla of Vater, without a biliary-enteric fistula, causing gallstone ileus. If the patient is cholecistectomized, gallstone removal alone is required. Conclusion The differential diagnosis in case of small bowel obstruction should always include gallstone ileus, even if the patient previously underwent a cholecystectomy.

The giant condyloma acuminatum or Buschke-Loewenstein tumor is a rare, sexually transmitted disease. It is an epithelial tumor characterized by its high potential of malignancy towards developing into a highly invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The present case concerns a drug addicted 40-year-old man who smuggled drugs using his rectum. He had a partially ulcerated mass in the perianal area of about 20 x 10 cm. He reported a progressive growth of this neoplasm during the last 3 years associated with perianal pain, obstructed defecation, bad sitting posture, no fever and weight loss. Our first approach was a left laparoscopic loop colostomy for a fecal diversion and antalgic purpose, and biopsy of the perineal mass. Then, he underwent a complete excision of the perianal neoplasm. The pathologist's positive diagnosis of a well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, evidently necessitated the radicalization of the surgical procedure of abdominal perineal resection. In consideration of the surgical wound depth and size, a VAC Therapy with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy was applied. The BLT incidence rate has been steadily increasing over the last decade especially among male patients. An aggressive surgical approach is usually to get the best oncologic outcome but the difficult management of the perianal wound is challenging. In our experience VAC therapy has been shown to be an effective tool in promoting the healing of the perineal wound after abdominoperineal resection.

The trials evaluated possible changes in the physical and mechanical properties of ‘Chardonnay’ grapes trained to GDC, depending on the winter pruning system. The following pruning techniques were carried out: manual pruning (m); mechanical pruning (M); mechanical pre-pruning and hand finishing (M+m), this method had a wagon facility with two operators equipped with pneumatic scissors. During the trials were measured: working time, quality of pruning and vegetative-productive response of vines. For the 2010 harvesting, a consolidated analytical method of texture analysis was applied to evaluate the physical parameters of the grapes: pedicel detachment, skin perforation, skin thickness, and other features such as hardness, cohesiveness, springiness. Analysis of working times showed that manual pruning (m) required a greater commitment of time, while mechanical pruning (M) presented a time reduction of 93%. Mechanical pruning associated with manual finishing (M+m) lowered the time by 65%. The cost reduction is less evident but still significant. Mechanical pruning, compared with the manual pruning, gave an increase of spurs and buds density. A higher percentage of damaged spurs and in the wrong position was also detected. Generally, the increasing of mechanization levels of pruning gave origin to more bunches, sparser with smaller berries. The study of mechanical properties of berries showed significant differences in the mechanical behaviors of the pruning tests. The mechanical pruning (M) presented higher values for pedicel detachment, skin perforation, cohesiveness and springiness. The results showed that mechanical pruning can modify berry properties which can influence other mechanical interventions in the vineyard.

Aim: To investigate the outcome and pattern of survivals of rectal cancer patients presenting a complete or nearly complete tumor response after neo-adjuvant treatment. Methods: Young surgeons

The research aims to analyze the stresses transmitted during the interception and transport of grape by mechanical tools of grape harvesters. The aim is to characterize mechanically an overlooked feature of the harvesters, identifying the most critical points in terms of mechanical stress on the product. The research has tested the main horizontal shaking machines, trailed and self-propelled, operating in Italy. The tests were carried out on Lambrusco Grasparossa vines grown on level land. The vineyard was trained to spurred cordon, with a plant distance of 1.2 m by 2.5 m. The impact on machine parts, from the moment the product was detached until it was unloaded into the hopper, was measured using an instrumented sphere. Each grape harvester has been used in real work condition by putting the sphere in the grape flow. The trial allowed to trace the path of the grape inside the grape harvester, showing significant differences between the two types of machines (self-propelled and trailed) within the same type. It appears that the interception and transport equipment can worsen the integrity and quality of the grapes harvested mechanically.

The vaporization thermodynamics of several intermediate phases in the Pd–Yb system was investigated by means of vaporization experiments performed under Knudsen conditions (KEML, Knudsen Effusion Mass Loss). The following thermal decomposition processes were studied in the overall temperature range 819–1240 K and their enthalpy changes determined: 4 PdYb(s) = Pd4Yb3(s) + Yb(g); 5/3 Pd4Yb3(s) = 4/3 Pd5Yb3(s) + Yb(g); 21/13 Pd5Yb3(s) = 5/13 Pd21Yb10(s) + Yb(g); 1/3 Pd21Yb10(s) = 21/9 Pd3Yb(s) + Yb(g). Additional measurements were performed by KEMS (Knudsen Effusion Mass Spectrometry) on a Pd-rich two-phase sample, which allowed to detect both Yb(g) and Pd(g) in the vapor phase and to determine the atomization enthalpy of the Pd3Yb phase (Pd-rich composition boundary, Pd3.08Yb0.92): Pd3.08Yb0.92(s) = 0.92 Yb(g) + 3.08 Pd(g). The enthalpy of formation of this compound was thereafter determined as −68 ± 2 kJ/mol at. and, by combining this value with the decomposition enthalpies derived by KEML, the enthalpies of formation of the studied Pd–Yb intermediate phases were evaluated (kJ/mol at.): −75 ± 4 (Pd21Yb10), −75 ± 3 (Pd5Yb3), −73 ± 3 (Pd4Yb3), and −66 ± 3 (PdYb). A modified version of the Pd–Yb phase diagram is also reported, re-drawn on the basis of literature data and of new experimental information recently become available.

Thyroid cysts and pseudocysts, or hemorrhagic cysts, are quite frequent thyroid pathologies. Surgical theraphy has always been the treatment of choice in this pathology, but percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) is becoming still more common. PEI was originally used in the treatment of liver nodules and subsequently in solid, hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules, but today it is used exclusively in cysts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PEI in reducing thyroid cyst volume 12 and 84 months after treatment and to compare cost-benefit to that of surgical treatment. The study includes 110 consecutive patients, who all underwent PEI after cytological analysis had excluded the presence of neoplasia. All patients had refused surgical treatment. One patient died during the follow-up due to cerebral hemorrhage. Each patient received an average of 5.3 ± 2.7 PEI treatments. After 12 months, volume was reduced by 82.6% and after 84 months by 93.03%. Dysphonia occurred in 2 cases of which one resolved spontaneously and one received cortisone therapy. The cost of PEI treatment is considerably lower than the cost of surgical therapy (the cost saving in our patient population was about €200,000). PEI should therefore be preferred to surgical treatment due to its efficacy and lower cost.SommarioLe cisti e le pseudo cisti tiroidee o cisti emorragiche sono una patologia abbastanza frequente tra quelle tiroidee. La terapia d'elezione è sempre stata quella chirurgica, ma prende sempre più piede l'alcolizzazione per via percutanea (PEI). La PEI è una terapia derivata da quella dei noduli epatici. Utilizzata inizialmente per i noduli solidi iperfunzionanti, è oggi utilizzata esclusivamente sulle cisti. Scopo di questo studio è stato quello di valutare l'efficacia della PEI sulla riduzione volumetrica delle cisti tiroidee dopo 12 e 84 mesi e di confrontare il rapporto costo-beneficio con la chirurgia. Sono stati considerati in serie successiva 110 pazienti, tutti trattati mediante alcolizzazione previo studio citologico che escludeva una patologia neoplastica. Tutti i soggetti avevano rifiutato l'intervento chirurgico. Uno dei pazienti è deceduto durante il follow-up per ictus cerebri. Ogni paziente è stato sottoposto in media a 5.3 ± 2.7 sedute. Dopo 12 mesi la riduzione volumetrica è stata del 82.6%; dopo 84 mesi del 93.03%. Gli effetti collaterali come la disfonia con risoluzione spontanea si sono verificati in 2 soli casi. Inoltre, comparando i costi della PEI con l'intervento chirurgico si evince un risparmio (per quanto riguarda i nostri soggetti) di circa 200.000 euro. Quindi la PEI si pone come prima scelta nei confronti della chirurgia sia per l'efficacia, sia per il risparmio economico da parte del SSN.

Over the last four to five decades, high-temperature materials chemistry (HTMC) has become a flourishing area of scientific and applied research, spurred by both a growing demand for new inorganic materials (e.g., oxide and non-oxide modern multifunctional ceramics, intermetallics, and oxidation-resistant alloys) able to withstand extreme thermal and chemical environments and by the recognition that chemical and physical behavior at high temperatures differs from, and cannot be extrapolated from, behavior at temperatures near room temperature. Despite the important role played by HTMC in modern advanced technology and the fundamental differences in behavior encountered at high temperatures, HTMC topics are rarely covered in chemistry and materials science programs at the university level because of a lack of readily accessible resource material - no textbook exists specifically devoted to HTMC topics. IUPAC's Inorganic Chemistry Division sponsored a project to address this gap, resulting in the present report. The report includes an introduction and seven sections covering historical background, chemical behavior of condensed-phase/gas-phase systems at high temperature, basic concepts of materials thermodynamics, experimental techniques, use of thermodynamic data and modeling, vaporization, and decomposition processes, and gas-solid reactions. The ninth section covers more specific topics, primarily concerning applications of high-temperature materials and processes. Each recommended topic is accompanied by a bibliography of helpful references, a short introduction or explanation including the areas of application, and some relevant teaching suggestions. An extensive annotated resource bibliography is an Appendix to the report available as supplementary material.

A Central Composite Design (CCD) was applied in order to identify positive combinations of the production parameters of amikacin sulphate spray-dried powders for inhalation, with the intent to expand the experimental space defined in a previous half-fractional factorial design. Three factors, namely drying temperature, feed rate and ethanol proportion, have been selected out of the initial five. In addition, the levels of these factors were increased from two to three and their effect on amikacin respirability was evaluated. In particular, focus was given on the role of ethanol presence on the formation of the microparticles for inhalation. The overall outcome of the CCD was that amikacin respirability was not substantially improved, as the optimum region coincided with areas already explored with the fractional factorial design. However, expanding the design space towards smaller ethanol levels, including its complete absence, revealed the crucial role of this solvent on the morphology of the produced particles. Peclet number and drug solubility in the spraying solution helped to understand the formation mechanism of these amikacin sulphate spray-dried particles. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A gas-inlet system coupled with a Knudsen effusion mass spectrometer has been developed to study at high temperature the interaction of solids and vapors with reactive permanent gases, such as H2 and O2, directly introduced into the cell from external low-pressure reservoirs (pressure range: 10−4

The Yb–Si binary system was assessed using the CALPHAD method based on experimental data from the literature and a few new tensimetric measurements of the Yb activity in the liquid phase obtained by the Knudsen Effusion-Mass Spectrometry technique. A consistent thermodynamic description of the Yb–Si phases is presented: six intermediate phases (Y b 5 Si 3 , Y b 5 Si 4 , YbSi, Y b 8 Si 11 , Y b 3 Si 5 and Y bSi 1.74 ), three solid solution phases (Yb-rich bcc and fcc, Si-rich diamond) and the liquid solution phase were considered in the assessment. The intermediate phases were treated as stoichiometric compounds, the solid solutions as ideal and the liquid solution phase by the Redlich–Kister formalism. The calculated phase diagram and thermodynamic properties are in good agreement with available experimental data.

The high-temperature gaseous molecules YbH, YbO and YbOH have been identified and their thermochemistry investigated by the Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry technique coupled with a controlled pressure gas inlet system.Solid ytterbium monosilicide and disilicide samples were made to react in the Knudsen cell with H 2 (g) and H 2 (g)/O 2 (g); in these conditions, several gaseous species (Yb, YbO, YbH, YbOH, SiO, SiO 2 , H 2 O) were formed under equilibrium conditions. The temperature dependences of the partial pressures of the observed gaseous molecules were analyzed to derive the Yb-X bond energies (X=H, O, OH). Selected values are D o 0 (Yb-H)= 179.4 ′ 2.0 kJ mol - 1 , D o 0 (Yb-O) = 384 ′ 10 mol - 1 and D o 0 (Yb-OH)=322+12kJmol - 1 , and Δ a t H o 0 (YbOH)=746′12kJmol - 1 . Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were also performed. Experimental and computational results are discussed and compared to previous data when available. The SiO/SiO 2 high-temperature gaseous equilibrium was also observed.

Process for treating an asbestos containing material, comprising treating the material with exhausted milk whey so as to obtain a liquid phase and a solid phase containing the asbestos and subjecting the solid phase containing the asbestos to a hydrothermal process. The asbestos containing material is thus subjected to the action not of a common acidic chemical reagent, but rather of an acidic industrial waste product, i.e. milk whey, preferably exhausted milk whey, which, besides creating an acidic environment, contributes bacterial components believed to favour an attack on the material itself. After said treatment, which releases the asbestos fibres from the matrix in which they are englobed, the asbestos is then “inertized” by means of a high-temperature, high-pressure hydrothermal process.

The dissociation energy of the intermetallic molecule AuMg was for the first time determined by the Knudsen-effusion mass spectrometry technique. Partial pressures of Au(g), Mg(g), AuMg(g) and Au2(g) species produced under equilibrium vaporization of an appropriate alloy were monitored in the temperature range 1870–2333 K. The collected data were analyzed by the second- and third-law methods for the gaseous equilibria AuMg(g) ¼ Au(g) + Mg(g) and AuMg(g) + Au(g) ¼ Au2(g) + Mg(g). The selected value for the dissociation energy of AuMg at 0 K is D � (AuMg) ¼

The experimental description of the Ni-rare earth systems is incomplete, with many gaps and uncertainties remaining in both the phase diagram and the thermochemical information. No thermodynamic information is available for the Ni-Yb system, except for an estimation of the enthalpy of formation of the Ni5Yb compound. In this work, we investigated the thermochemistry of the Ni-Yb intermediate phases by means of tensimetric measurements and, on a few compositions, calorimetric measurements. The equilibrium vapor pressures over two solidphase regions were measured by Knudsen effusion-mass spectrometry and Knudsen effusion-weight loss, and the data were analyzed by the second- and the third-law methods in order to derive the enthalpy changes for the HT decomposition reactions. Furthermore, the enthalpy of formation of the NiYb compound was preliminarily determined by direct reaction calorimetry (DRC). The heats of formation of the five intermediate phases was finally obtained by a combined analysis of all the collected data. The values are as follows: Ni17Yb2, −13.9±0.3 kJ/mol atoms; Ni5Yb, −20.9±4.4 kJ/mol atoms; Ni3Yb, −26.0±4.8 kJ/mol atoms; Ni2Yb, −32.0±4.6 kJ/mol atoms; and NiYb, −28.0 ± 2 kJ/mol atoms. The results are compared with those estimated by the Miedema’s model.

The Knudsen effusion-mass loss method was used to determine the saturated vapor pressure and molar enthalpy of sublimation for C 60F 18, fluorofullerene. The average molar mass of the effusing vapor was checked by an independent torsion effusion-mass loss experiment. The vapor pressure against temperature dependence is described by the equation ln (p / Pa) = − (23739 ± 1234) · (K / T) + (33.23 ± 1.97) in the temperature range (591 to 671) K. The anomalously high value of the sublimation enthalpy of C 60F 18{ΔsubHmo (627 K) = (197 ± 10)kJ · mol − 1} compared with the values found for the parent fullerene C 60and the other fluorofullerenes C 60F48 and C 60F 36so far studied, may be explained by the high polarity of the C 60F18 molecule.

AIM The aim of our study is to compare the outcomes of laparoscopic resection (LR) and open resection (OR) for colorectal cancer surgery evaluating lymph node assessment. It may be important to remove and examine an adequate number of lymph nodes because a more extensive nodal resection has been associated to higher survival rate and lower recurrences. PATIENTS AND METHODS 150 patients (74 females and 76 males) with colorectal cancer were enrolled and analyzed from January 2006 to March 2010 in our Unit. 100 procedures were performed with traditional laparotomy and 50 procedures laparoscopically. A strict follow-up was scheduled every 1-3-6 months after surgery and, therefore, every year. RESULTS Laparoscopic techniques require a longer operating time. 2484 total lymph nodes examined with a mean of 16,56 removed per resection in all procedures. 1632 lymph nodes were removed during open procedures and 852 removed during laparoscopy. The scheduled follow-up demonstrated that local recurrence and distant metastasis presented with no significant differences between two groups and overall survival and disease-free survival were assessed over 5 year in 80% of patients. CONCLUSIONS According to our experience, laparoscopic colorectal surgery is safe and feasible, with better short-term outcomes and oncological adequacy comparable to open approach.

An amikacin product for convenient and compliant inhalation in cystic fibrosis patients was constructed by spray-drying in order to produce powders of pure drug having high respirability and flowability. An experimental design was applied as a statistical tool for the characterization of amikacin spray drying process, through the establishment of mathematical relationships between six Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) of the finished product and five Critical Process Parameters (CPPs). The surface-active excipient, PEG-32 stearate, studied for particle engineering, in general did not benefit the CQAs of the spray dried powders for inhalation. The spray drying feed solution required the inclusion of 10% (v/v) ethanol in order to reach the desired aerodynamic performance of powders. All desirable function solutions indicated that the favourable concentration of amikacin in the feed solution had to be kept at 1% w/v level. It was found that when the feed rate of the sprayed solution was raised, an increase in the drying temperature to the maximum value (160 °C) was required to maintain good powder respirability. Finally, the increase in drying temperature always led to an evident increase in emitted dose (ED) without affecting the desirable fine particle dose (FPD) values. The application of the experimental design enabled us to obtain amikacin powders with both ED and FPD, well above the regulatory and scientific references. The finished product contained only the active ingredient, which keeps low the mass to inhale for dose requirement. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

Vaporization thermodynamics in the binary system calcium–silicon has been studied by Knudsen effusion-mass spectrometry and vacuum microbalance techniques. The equilibrium partial pressure of Ca(g) over the two-phase regions in the composition range 20–75at.% Si has been measured and the standard enthalpy changes for the appropriate vaporization reactions were determined from the temperature dependence of the measured vapor pressures. The standard reaction enthalpy changes were also evaluated by the third-law method using the pressure data in conjunction with estimated Gibbs energy functions. Standard enthalpies of formation of the calcium silicides were derived from the standard reaction enthalpy values at room temperature. The results obtained for ΔfH°298 were the following: Ca2Si=−56.1±3.1, Ca5Si3=−55.3±3.5, CaSi=−49.6±2.2, Ca3Si4=−40.6±1.5, Ca14Si19=−44.4±2.3, CaSi2=−37.8±1.6 all in kJ/mol atoms. The results for Ca2Si, CaSi and CaSi2 may be compared with previous measurements, all other results are first determinations.

We describe a case of epicardial surgical ablation of drug refractory lone atrial fibrillation in a pediatric patient. Minimally invasive radiofrequency equipment was used off-pump through a right mini-thoracotomy. Electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins cuffs was obtained. The preoperative electrophysiological study identified a macro re-entrant circuit around the pulmonary veins orifices as the mechanism of arrhythmia triggering. At follow-up, the patient is in stable sinus rhythm and there is no evidence of pulmonary vein stenosis. The minimally invasive, off-pump ablation of lone atrial fibrillation is feasible and reliable, even in children who may pose incremental technical challenges. This technique may represent an additional tool for the current treatment algorithms to treat lone atrial fibrillation.

We have measured high-resolution Ru K-edge x-ray absorption spectra for the intermetallic La1-xCexRu2 system. Multiple-scattering calculations are made to explore the origins of different features observed in the experimental x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and their variation with Ce doping. The experiments and theoretical analysis demonstrate that the Ce doping in La1-xCexRu2 has a direct influence on the states at the Fermi level and hence the hybridization between the f and d states induced by doping.

The group III metal dimers Ga2 and In2 and the newly identified intermetallic molecule GaIn were investigated in a Knudsen cell-mass spectrometric study of the vapors over gallium–indium alloys. From the all-gas equilibria analyzed by the second-law and third-law methods the following dissociation energies were derived; D00 (Ga2)=110.8±4.9 kJ mol−1, D00 (In2)=74.4±5.7 kJ mol−1, D00 (GaIn)=90.7±3.7 kJ mol−1. The value here measured for the dissociation energy of In2 is discussed and compared with a previous experimental determination and with the results of more recent theoretical investigations.

Many negative effects of mechanical harvesting of grapes are attributed to damage and subsequent leakage of juice, often accentuated by high time between harvest and processing as well as high temperature. The presence of must in the product harvested by machine, which can reach very high levels (25-30% of the total mass), can cause several negative effects such as phenols oxidation, abnormal fermentation, skins maceration, etc. For that reason, an innovative system of handling and grapes transporting was developed in order to separate, once harvested, the liquid part (must) from the solid one (bunch of grapes and single grape), and then to apply different working process on each of them. Thanks to this system, it was possible to isolate the must in a closed tank and thus, immediately, preserve it by dry ice or liquid carbon dioxide, with the addition of enological chemicals (sulphur dioxide, ascorbic acid and tannin) to avoid chemical and microbiological modifications. The evaluation of wines throughout tests and sensorial analysis highlighted the better quality of the wines, obtained by the proposed technique compared with the traditional one, cause of higher presence of primary fragrances, better color, and a better balanced structure of the wine preserved by oxidation action.

The vaporization thermodynamics of the aluminum-rich portion of the HfAl system have been investigated by Knudsen cell-mass spectrometry in the temperature range 1280–1680 K. The aluminum vapor pressures were measured in the two-phase regions in the composition range 50%–75% at. Al, and the enthalpy changes of the decomposition reactions were determined by second-law and third-law methods. Hence, the enthalpies of formation of the intermetallic compounds were derived: HfAl3, −44.7 kJ g−1 atom−1; Hf2Al3, −40.8 kJ g−1 atom−1. The results of the vaporization experiments which yielded a residue not assignable to a definite phase were tentatively submitted to thermodynamic analysis, by introducing the formation of HfAl or Hf5Al4, and their enthalpies of formation were derived.

A method for the mass spectrometric quantitative determination, down to the sub-ppb level, of the 4 He content in the gaseous products of cold fusion Pd+D 2 O electrolytic cells is described. The data collected in an experiment lasting over 1000 h provided a time picture of the phenomena. Measurements of the 20 Ne content have also been performed in order to check air contamination. The methods and controls employed are suitable for use with non-dedicated mass spectrometers which cannot be operated in vacuum static conditions.

The vaporization behavior of MgB2 and MgB4 under thermodynamic conditions has been studied by the Knudsen effusion-mass spectrometry technique. In the temperature range explored (883–1154 K), magnesium borides are observed to decompose by loss of gaseous Mg only. The equilibrium pressures of Mg(g) have been measured during high-temperature decompositions involving MgB2/MgB4 and MgB4/MgB7 two-phase mixtures and the corresponding standard reaction enthalpies were determined. The decomposition temperatures for MgB2 and MgB4 were also inferred by the relevant Van’t Hoff plots.

The aim of this work was to develop and characterize gastro-resistant multiparticulate systems for mesalazine colon delivery to be easily dispersed in water and swallowed by children. Mesalazine microparticles, containing stearic acid, carnauba wax and Eudragit L, were obtained by spray-congealing. "Excipient microparticles" of mannitol/lecithin were prepared by spray-drying. Mesalazine lipid microparticles, non-agglomerating per se, were agglorerated by blending in turbula with mannitol/lecithin spray-dried microparticles in different ratio (2:1, 4:1, 6:1 and 8:1). The lipidic microparticles agglomerates were characterized by Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and X-ray Powder Diffraction. Gastro-resistance and mesalazine release were evaluated by dissolution tests (USP XXXI Apparatus) at variable pH (2h in HCl 0.1 N and 6h in phosphate buffer pH 7.4). The lipidic microparticles showed smooth, glossy and sticky surface, and rounded shape. the agglomerates presented a less polish surface, but always a rounded shape. During the tumbling process, the lecithin's compatibility with the wax material of lipid microparticles favours the deposition of "excipient microparticles" all over the surface. As the ratio of the "excipient microparticles" increased, the area related to the melting of mannitol was increased. This effect was confirmed from the X-ray Powder Diffraction analysis. The dissolution profile showed a drug modified release: in acid medium the formulations were gastroresistant with less of 10% drug release (except for the agglomerates 2:1 where the higher amount of lechitin in the "excipient microparticles" acts as a surfactant), while in phosphate buffer the mesalazine was released in 4-5 hours. Lipidic microparticles preparated by spray congealing are gastroresistant; their wettability can be incresed be increased by their agglomaration with mannitol/lecithin microparticles.

Purpose: The aim of this work was to develop and characterize gastro-resistant multiparticulate systems for mesalazine colon delivery capable to facilitate the dispersion in water and the intake by children. Methods: Mesalazine microparticles, containing stearic acid, carnauba wax and Eudragit L®, were obtained by spray-congealing. “Excipient microparticles” of mannitol/lecithin were prepared by spray-drying. Mesalazine lipid microparticles, non-agglomerating per se, were agglomerated by blending in turbula with mannitol/lecithin spray-dried microparticles in different ratio (2:1, 4:1, 6:1 and 8:1). The lipidic microparticles and agglomerates were characterized by optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray Powder Diffraction (PDXR). Gastro-resistance and drug release were evaluated by dissolution tests at variable pH (2h in HCl 0.1N and 6h in phosphate buffer pH 7.4). Samples were collected at fixed times and analyzed by UV spectroscopy (λ 301 nm and 330 nm in acidic and alkaline medium, respectively). Results: The surface of lipidic microparticles was smooth and sticky, while the agglomerate morphology appeared rounded. During the tumbling process, the lecithin’s compatibility with the wax material of lipid microparticles favours the deposition of “excipient microparticles” all over the surface. As the ratio of “excipient microparticles” increases the thickness of coating raises. The DSC and PDXR analyses strengthened this hypothesis. During the dissolution test less than 10% of loaded mesalazine was released in acidic medium (except for agglomerates 2:1 where the release was about 15%), while in phosphate buffer the drug was released in 4-5 hours. The presence of excipient microparticles reduced the tendency to floatation of lipid microparticles improving their wettability. Conclusion: Lipidic microparticles prepared by spray congealing are gastroresistant; their wettability can be increased by agglomeration with mannitol/lecithin microparticles. The agglomeration technology can make feasible the delivery of gastro-resistant system for extemporaneous oral use in small children.

The germanium monochalcogenide molecules Ge2S2, Ge2Se2, and Ge2Te2 were identified in a Knudsen cell mass spectrometric study of the vapors in equilibrium over solid GeS, GeSe, and GeTe. From a second and third law evaluation of the equilibrium data the following dimerization energies ΔH0,dimo were determined: 106.5 ± 2.1, 102.1 ± 4.6, 102 ± 8 kJ mol−1 for Ge2S2, Ge2Se2, Ge2Te2, respectively. These data and literature data allow to look into trends of the bonding energetics of group IVB-VIB gaseous compounds.

The U2O3(g) and U2O4(g) species have been for the first time identified by Knudsen cell‐mass spectrometry and their heats of formation and atomization energies have been tentatively derived. A redetermination of these quantities for the already known UO3(g) and U2O2(g) molecules has been also attempted.

The existence of gaseous CoF4a species with an unusually high degree of oxidation of the metalhas been demonstrated by means of Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry and FTIR spectroscopy. The Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry method has been applied to investigate the gas-phase composition over the CoF3(s)−TbF4(s) system and to establish the optimum in situ conditions for CoF4 synthesis. The electron impact mass spectrum of the CoF4 molecule has been obtained. From the infrared spectrum of argon-isolated CoF4 molecules, the Co−F stretching mode has been detected at 767.8 cm-1.

"The high temperature decomposition of the intermediate phases of the Ba-Si system (namely, Ba2Si, Ba5Si3, BaSi, Ba3Si4 and BaSi2) was investigated by means of Knudsen effusion-mass spectrometry and Knudsen effusion-weight loss techniques. All barium silicides decompose at high temperature by losing monatomic gaseous barium. The standard enthalpy changes of the decomposition reactions were derived from vapor pressure measurements by the second- and third-law methods of analysis. From these values the heats of formation of all the barium silicides were calculated. First principles electronic structure calculations for the same compounds were also performed by the density functional theory approach, in the generalized gradient approximation, using plane wave basis functions and Vanderbilt ultrasoft pseudopotentials. The experimental ground state lattices of the barium silicides have been studied: structures have been relaxed and total energy values derived. These were used in combination with calculated total energies of diamond-silicon and fcc-barium to derive the heats of formation of the barium silicides. First principles predictions and experimental heats of formation are in satisfactory agreement. The selected values of the heats of formation of the intermediate phases of the Ba-Si system are (kJ mol-at.(-1)): Ba2Si, -35.8 +/- 7.0; Ba5Si3, -42.4 +/- 5.2; BaSi, -50.1 +/- 2.9; Ba3Si4, -50.7 +/- 3.1; and BaSi2, -46.7 +/- 3.5. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved."

We read with great interest the article by Barreiro et al. [1] regarding the current role of subclavian flap aortoplasty (SFA) in the surgical treatment of coarctation in infancy. We are in complete agreement with the authors that the SFA still has a role in isolated isthmic coarctation repair, in infancy as well as in the most difficult subgroups of patients operated in neonatal age. In fact, the technique itself allows excellent aortic continuity with naturally harmonious restoration of the aortic arch—isthmus tract. These goals are not foreseen either with patch aortoplasty or with endto-end (ETE) anastomosis, both of which, respectively, distort and eliminate the stenotic thoracic aorta. If the hypoplasia of the aortic arch is mild-to-nil, the physiological antegrade flow through the arch and the absence of gradient at the end of the procedure will guarantee adequate longterm repair, in most cases. In our institute, 178 patients presenting with neonatal coarctation were operated. In the search for the (perhaps utopic) ideal surgical management, we have changed our surgical strategy over the years in our institute. In the earlyto-mid phase of our activity we proposed a patch aortoplasty for all neonates that has the advantage of always relieving the gradient at the level of the isthmus by means of a technique which is both timeand hemorrhage-controlled. The incidence of aneurysm formation in the long term (2/178 in our experience at a follow-up of 10 years, but frequently reported in the literature [2] to longer follow-up) and the high rate of recoarctation (26%) discouraged us from electively employing the patch. After a period of non-randomized surgical strategy of SFA, extended ETE (EETE) anastomosis and ETE anastomosis technique, in our institute we currently adopt the following strategies

Congenital hypothyroidism is associated with increased incidence of congenital defects (15.6%), frequently involving the heart (5.8%). Only few studies have evaluated the association between congenital hypothyroidism and patent ductus arteriosus. We report on two term newborns affected by thyroid agenesis and patent ductus arteriosus that closed after starting L-thyroxine substitutive therapy. This association suggests a close relation between hypothyroidism and patent ductus arteriosus. Hypothyroidism should be considered in term infants with patent ductus arteriosus because thyroid hormone production is among the prerequisites for postnatal ductal closure.

A study of apple juice products sold in Italy and South Africa was initially carried out on 20 samples bought in Cesena, Italy, and Tygerberg in Cape Town, South Africa. The samples were bought at random and analysed for patulin contamination. All 12 of the Italian samples had no detectable levels of patulin, except one, which was just slightly above the lowest regulatory limit of 10 ng ml(-1). On the other hand, five of the eight South African samples were all contaminated with patulin levels above 10 ng ml(-1), with one showing a concentration of 75 ng ml(-1), well above the highest regulated limit of 50 ng ml(-1). This latter result led to a more targeted investigation with 14 samples being purchased in the low-income areas of Tygerberg where the initial samples were sourced. These samples confirmed that there might be a problem of mycotoxin contamination in apple juices products sold to low-income consumers because half of the samples showed patulin contamination of which four had levels well above the acceptable limits. This is the first study in South Africa to look at apple juice products in low-income areas and it points to a need to intervene and introduce quality systems in the supply chain of the manufacture and packaging of apple juice products by independent small business.

The results of an experimental study concerning the thermodynamic stability of the Yb germanides, described as intermediate valence compounds, complemented by a computational investigation for the Yb3Ge5 compound are reported. These compounds belong to the rare earth (RE) tetrelides (tetrel = Si, Ge, i.e., group 14 elements), a class of intermetallic materials showing unusual and promising physical properties (giant magnetocaloric effect, magnetostriction, and magnetoresistence). The high-temperature decomposition reactions of the Yb-Ge intermediate phases were studied experimentally by means of the KEMS (Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry) and KEWL (Knudsen effusion weight loss) techniques. From the reaction enthalpies derived by measuring the Yb(g) decomposition pressures as a function of temperature, the heats of formation of five out of six of the intermediate phases in the Yb-Ge system were calculated. From the computational side, the stability of the Yb3Ge5(s) compound has been investigated by DFT-LCAO-B3LYP (density functional theory-linear combination of atomic orbitals-hybrid b3lyp exchange-correlation functional) first principles calculations deriving its equilibrium geometry and the enthalpy of formation at 0 K in relation to the intermediate valence state of Yb in the lattice.