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The electrification of the transport sector together with large renewable energy deployment requires powerful tools to efficiently use energy assets and infrastructure. In this framework, the forecast of electric vehicle demand and solar photovoltaic (PV) generation plays a fundamental role. This paper studies the impact of forecast accuracy on total electric cost of a simulated electric vehicles (EVs) charging station coupled with true solar PV and stationary battery energy storage. The optimal energy management system is based on the rolling horizon approach implemented in with a mixed integer linear program which takes as input the EV load forecast using long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network and persistence approaches and PV production forecast using a physical hybrid artificial neural network. The energy management system is firstly deployed and validated on an existing multi-good microgrid by achieving a discrepancy of state variables below 10% with respect to offline simulations. Then, eight weeks of simulations from each of the four seasons show that the accuracy of the forecast can increase operational costs by 10% equally distributed between the PV and EV forecasts. Finally, the accuracy of the combined PV and EV forecast matters more than single accuracies: LSTM outperforms persistence to predict the EV load (−30% root mean squared error), though when combined with PV forecast it has higher error (+15%) with corresponding higher operational costs (up to 5%).

Surface organometallic chemistry has developed as an effective strategy for the rational design and synthesis of well-defined, single-site Pt-based heterogeneous catalysts. Given its high sensitivity to changes in electronic structure, 195Pt solid-state NMR spectroscopy offers a unique approach to investigate the chemical structure and local environment of Pt surface sites, providing invaluable insights for establishing structure-activity relationships. However, this approach is typically hindered by severe sensitivity issues, due to the low loading of Pt sites and the often-encountered large 195Pt chemical shift anisotropies. To overcome this limitation, 195Pt NMR signature of surface metal centers can be indirectly detected through protons. Indirect detection on 13C spins, has also been demonstrated to be feasible by combining isotopic labeling with dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP). Here, we extend this methodology to a supported Pt complex at natural abundance. The material was prepared by grafting (COD)PtMeOSi(OtBu)3 (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, Me = methyl and tBu = tert‑butyl) onto partially dehydroxylated silica. DNP enhanced two-dimensional through-bond 13C{195Pt} heteronuclear correlation experiments were successfully implemented at fast magic angle spinning. They enabled the detection of the 0.37 % NMR-responsive surface species, thereby showcasing the remarkable sensitivity of this approach and its broad applicability. Key bonding information was obtained by measuring the correlated 13C and 195Pt isotopic chemical shifts as well as 1J(13C-195Pt) coupling constants, confirming directly the coordination structure of the surface Pt sites.

Tie rods play a crucial role in civil engineering, particularly in controlling lateral thrusts in arches and vaults, and enhancing the structural integrity of masonry buildings, both historic and contemporary. Accurately assessing the tensile axial forces in tie rods is challenging due to the limitations of existing methodologies. These methodologies often rely on indirect measurements, computational models, and optimization procedures, resulting in single-point solutions and neglecting both modeling and measurement uncertainties. This study introduces a novel Bayesian updating framework to effectively address these limitations. The framework aims to accurately identify the structural parameters influencing tie rod behavior and estimate uncertainties using natural frequencies as references. A key innovation lies in the mathematical formulation of Bayesian updating, which is founded upon the definition of computational models integrating uncertain updating parameters and latent random variables derived from a rigorous sensitivity analysis aimed at quantifying the impact of the updating parameters on the natural frequencies. Notably, the application of Bayesian updating to the structural identification problem of ancient tie rods represents a significant advancement. The framework provides a comprehensive description of the uncertainties associated with computational models, offering valuable insights for practitioners and researchers alike. Moreover, the results of the sensitivity analysis serve as a valuable tool for setting up inverse problems geared towards accurately identifying tensile axial forces.

Introduction: Tildrakizumab is a humanized IgG1κ monoclonal antibody targeting the p19 subunit of interleukin (IL)-23, approved in 2018 for the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, safety and survival of tildrakizumab in the medium term (48 weeks) in psoriatic patients failure to previous biologic treatment in a real world setting. Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter observational study that included adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, failure to previous biologic therapy, consecutively treated with tildrakizumab. PASI and BSA values were recorded at baseline, at 12 and 48 weeks of treatment. Safety and tolerability of tildrakizumab were investigated by examining the presence of any adverse events. Results: Overall 51 patients were enrolled. Baseline disease severity was moderate to severe with a mean PASI score of 19.2 ± 8.5, mean BSA of 16 ± 10.4, and mean DLQI of 18.2 ± 6.8. A significant reduction in the mean PASI score was detected at 12 weeks of tildrakizumab therapy (3.5 ± 2.7, p < 0.001), with a further improvement at week 48 (0.6 ± 1.5, p < 0.001). At week 12, there was a great improvement in BSA score for all groups (p

Incidental memory is affected by retention delay, and by memory load. Here the authors show that female and male mice process high memory load through different activation of thalamic-cortical pathways, that makes their incidental memory resistant to distraction and to memory decay, respectively.

Although today all of the aspects of Legionella are better understood than in the past, in many countries the interest is still mainly focused on healthcare and tourism facilities. Other at-risk areas are less explored, such as those where workers are often in contact with water during their activities. In reality, any water system capable of producing aerosols can be considered a potential source of Legionella transmission, including car washes, where a large number of users work and flow through annually. From January to May 2022, 120 samples were carried out in 30 car washes located in Messina (Italy): 60 samples of water and 60 of aerosols. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the risk of legionellosis in car washing workers exposed to potentially contaminated aerosols. To increase the probability of finding Legionella, the sample collections were organized on different days of the week. Of the total samples taken, 10 (8.3%) were positive for Legionella: seven (11.7%) water (range 100–1000 CFU) and three (5%) aerosol (range 10–150 CFU) samples. Detected serogroups were L. pneumophila sgr 1, 7, 10 and Legionella gormanii. Given the results obtained, preventative measures should be implemented in such facilities in order to protect the health of users and car wash operators.

In this paper, a new approach for achieving a higher uniformity while spinning photoresist is presented. The proposed method allows to overcome the well-known problem of the edge beads formation, which shows either with circular, small or irregular samples. The method consists in the fabrication of an elastomeric mold for housing the substrate, to obtain an equivalent uniformly planar and round surface. After the spin-coating, it is possible to pull out the coated sample from the mold and use it in a standard optical lithography process as well in any technological process. Moreover, the mold can be reused if the sample requires different lithographic processes.

In this work, we theoretically investigate a graphene/silicon Schottky photodetector operating at 1550 nm whose performance is enhanced by interference phenomena occurring inside an innovative Fabry–Pèrot optical microcavity. The structure consists of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon/graphene/crystalline silicon three-layer realized on the top of a double silicon-on-insulator substrate working as a high-reflectivity input mirror. The detection mechanism is based on the internal photoemission effect, and the light-matter interaction is maximized through the concept of confined mode, exploited by embedding the absorbing layer within the photonic structure. The novelty lies in the use of a thick layer of gold as an output reflector. The combination of the amorphous silicon and the metallic mirror is conceived to strongly simplify the manufacturing process by using standard microelectronic technology. Configurations based on both monolayer and bilayer graphene are investigated to optimize the structure in terms of responsivity, bandwidth, and noise-equivalent power. The theoretical results are discussed and compared with the state-of-the-art of similar devices.

Abstract In the last two decades there has been growing interest in silicon photonics and in the possibility to integrate new materials to overcome the silicon intrinsic limitations. Erbium has represented a viable solution for the realization of light sources at telecommunications wavelengths opening the path to the investigation of various photonic devices based on rare earth. In this work we investigate a photodetector operating at 1550 nm whose detection mechanism is based on the internal photoemission effect through an Er/Si Schottky junction. The Er/Si junction has been carefully electrically characterized showing a potential barrier and cut-off wavelength of 0.59 eV and 2105 nm, respectively. Moreover, a responsivity of 0.62 mA/W has been measured for a 3 μm-width waveguide at 1550 nm and at reverse voltage of -8 V. Finally, the noise equivalent power of the device has been evaluated as high as 0.53 nW/(Hz)1/2 at -8 V. Even if device responsivity is still low, we believe that our insights may suggest Er/Si as a new platform for the integration of various optical functionalities on the same chip opening new frontiers in the field of low-cost silicon micro and nanophotonics.

The field of application of the research proposed in this contribution - with reference to the objective of the 2030 Agenda "to protect and safeguard the cultural and natural heritage of the world" - is the vast range of contemporary landscapes in the Mediterranean area defined as "neglected" or at risk of compromise or disappearance despite having (or having had) a role of fundamental identity for the communities. The product of the research is the construction of an atlas of strategies - developed in design workshops, educational laboratories, theoretical and applied research and through activities of additional fieldwork - exportable and transferable in contexts similar to those analysed. Specifically, this contribution contains three in-depth studies concerning the abandoned rural terraces along the coastline, the rivers compromised by the phenomena of uncontrolled urbanism and the depopulated villages in the internal areas. The three case studies are associated with three key concepts - unveiling, layering, re-configuring - in both the narrative and application. The ultimate aim is the experimentation of an interpretative / operational approach that embraces the principles of environmental, social and economic sustainability - considered essential in the contemporary world - in relation to the specificity of the cultural and identity features of the Mediterranean landscapes, of the link between ritual and representation and of the relationship between myth and history. Strategie rigenerative per paesaggi mediterranei negletti Il campo di applicazione della ricerca proposta in questo contributo – in riferimento all’obiettivo dell’Agenda 2030 “proteggere e salvaguardare il patrimonio culturale e naturale del mondo” – è la vasta gamma di paesaggi della contemporaneità in area mediterranea definiti “negletti” in quanto a rischio di compromissione o sparizione pur avendo (o avendo avuto) un ruolo identitario fondamentale per le comunità di abitanti in essi insediati. Il prodotto della ricerca è la costruzione di un atlante di strategie – sperimentate in workshop progettuali, laboratori didattici, ricerche teoriche e applicate, attività di terza missione – esportabili e trasferibili in contesti similari a quelli analizzati. Nello specifico di questo contributo sono esposti tre approfondimenti che riguardano: i terrazzamenti rurali abbandonati lungo le linee di costa; le fiumare compromesse dai fenomeni di urbanesimo incontrollato; i borghi spopolati nei territori interni. Ai tre casi studio sono associati i tre concetti chiave – svelamenti, sovrascritture, riconfigurazioni – in una duplice dimensione narrativa e applicativa. Lo scopo ultimo è la sperimentazione di un approccio interpretativo/operativo che accolga i principi di sostenibilità ambientale, sociale, economica – ritenuti imprescindibili nella contemporaneità – declinandoli in relazione alla specificità dei caratteri culturali e identitari dei paesaggi mediterranei, del legame fra rito e rappresentazione, del rapporto tra mito e storia.

In this work, we investigate a vertically illuminated near-infrared photodetector based on a graphene layer physically embedded between a crystalline and a hydrogenated silicon layer. Under near-infrared illumination, our devices show an unforeseen increase in the thermionic current. This effect has been ascribed to the lowering of the graphene/crystalline silicon Schottky barrier as the result of an upward shift in the graphene Fermi level induced by the charge carriers released from traps localized at the graphene/amorphous silicon interface under illumination. A complex model reproducing the experimental observations has been presented and discussed. Responsivity of our devices exhibits a maximum value of 27 mA/W at 1543 nm under an optical power of 8.7 μW, which could be further improved at lower optical power. Our findings offer new insights, highlighting at the same time a new detection mechanism which could be exploited for developing near-infrared silicon photodetectors suitable for power monitoring applications.

In last years, the introduction of 2-dimensional materials such as graphene has revolutionized the world of silicon photonics. In this work, we demonstrate a new approach for integrating graphene into silicon-based photodetectors. We leverage a thin film of hydrogenated amorphous silicon to embed the graphene within two different photonic structures, an optical Fabry-Pérot microcavity, and a waveguide, achieving a stronger light-matter interaction. The investigated devices have shown promising performance resulting in responsivities as high as 27 mA/W and 0.15 A/W around 1550 nm, respectively.

In this work, we present the first experimental results on a Schottky photodetector based on Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Graphene (Gr) designed to operate in the visible spectral range. While SiC has been extensively investigated for various applications in the ultraviolet domain, there are only a few works in the visible range, where SiC exhibits negligible optical absorption. To overcome such intrinsic limit of SiC, we exploit the properties of a single layer of Gr to enhance, significantly, the photodetection performance of the device operating, in our experiments, at the wavelength of λ=633 nm. From the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, a series resistance of 3.7 kΩ, an ideality factor of 8.4, and the zero-bias Schottky barrier height of 0.755 eV have been calculated. Finally, the internal responsivity, as function of the reverse bias applied to the device, has been measured demonstrating a maximum value exceeding 1 mA/W at -5V.

Waterproofing systems of tunnels is of crucial importance for the long-term effectiveness of the underground works and for the possible impact on the surrounding environment. In conventional tunnelling, polymeric geomembranes are nowadays used with fluid barrier function, while nonwoven geotextiles and geonets are commonly employed with mechanical protection and drainage functions. After some descriptions of the main requirements of the geosynthetics used in tunnels and underground structures, the durability aspects of the materials forming the waterproofing systems are briefly outlined.

Aerobiological monitoring is a crucial tool for human and environmental health. Real-time bioaerosol samplers are major innovative techniques for aerobiological monitoring. In this study, we evaluate the use of a real-time bioaerosol sampler to monitor the exposure in an indoor occupational environment. We used a WIBS-NEO sampler, continuously operating during working and non-working days. The fluorescent particles were 16.5% of the total, identifiable as bioparticles. There was a significant difference between working and non-working days regarding bioparticles (+19% on average), especially in the morning (+91% on average), the part of the day mostly associated to worker presence. In working days, there is a difference between working and non-working-hours, reinforced by a strong correlation between the time of occupation of the room and the number of particles identified as pollen and fungal spores (R2 = 0.741, p < 0.01). The bacterial component does not seem to be influenced by the presence of workers; however, it follows the general distribution of bioparticles. Our results indicate the reliability of the real-time instrument for the monitoring of different biocomponents, and the role of workers in the distribution of some types of bioaerosol particles, like pollen and fungal spores, which can have several health impacts, such as allergies.

The Unit (COU) of Microbiology and Virology of Sandro Pertini Hospital began monitoring the immune response on a cohort of healthcare operators who received the Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine. Three different tests for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were used showing 100% of seroconversion after 28 days from the first dose.

Abstract Background Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) belonging to clonal complex 398 is recognized as an occupational hazard for workers employed in intensive animal husbandry, especially in the swine-breeding chain. In this study, we compared the prevalence and epidemiological type of MRSA isolates from swine and farm workers in a large area of southern Italy. Methods Between January and March 2018, 88 workers from 32 farms where we had previously performed a survey for MRSA colonization of farmed pigs, were sampled by nasal swabbing. A follow-up investigation was conducted on seven workers 1 year after primary screening. MRSA isolates were characterized by MLST, spa and SCCmec typing, and tested for susceptibility to 15 antimicrobials. Epidemiological correlations between human and swine MRSA isolates were supported by Rep-MP3 and RAPD PCR fingerprinting, and whole-genome sequencing. Results The overall colonization rate of MRSA in swine farm workers was 21.6%, being significantly higher in intensive farms and in workers with direct animal contact. All human MRSA isolates were multi-drug resistant, belonged to the ST398 livestock clade, and did not carry Panton-Valentine leukocidin and enterotoxin genes. Notably, 94.1% of human MRSA isolates belonged to the same epidemiological type as swine MRSA isolates from the corresponding farm. Persistent MRSA carriage was documented in some workers 1 year after primary sampling. Conclusions We report a high prevalence of MRSA among swine farm workers, with higher colonization rates associated with intensive breeding and animal exposure. Our findings suggest unidirectional animal-to-human transmission of LA-MRSA and denote the high zoonotic transmissibility of the ST398 livestock clade.

Abstract Background Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a significant cause of emergency department (ED) visits, with a major impact on healthcare resource utilization. A multicentre observational study, aimed to describe frequency, seriousness and preventability of ADEs reported in four EDs, was performed in Sicily (Italy) over a 1-year period. Methods Two trained monitors for each ED supported clinicians in identifying ADEs of patients admitted to EDs between June 1st, 2013 and May 31st, 2014 through a systematic interview of patients or their caregivers and with an additional record review. A research team analyzed each case of suspected ADE, to make a causality assessment applying the Naranjo algorithm and a preventability assessment using Schumock and Thornton criteria. Absolute and percentage frequencies with 95% confidence interval (CI) and medians with interquartile ranges (IQR) were estimated. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate independent predictors of serious and certainly preventable ADEs. Results Out of 16,963 ED visits, 575 (3.4%) were associated to ADEs, of which 15.1% resulted in hospitalization. ADEs were classified as probable in 45.9%, possible in 51.7% and definite in 2.4% of the cases. Moreover, ADEs were considered certainly preventable in 12.3%, probably preventable in 58.4%, and not preventable in 29.2% of the cases. Polytherapy influenced the risk to experience a serious, as well as a certainly preventable ADE. Whilst, older age resulted an independent predictor only of serious events. The most common implicated drug classes were antibiotics (34.4%) and anti-inflammatory drugs (22.6%). ADEs due to psycholeptics and antiepileptics resulted preventable in 62.7 and 54.5% of the cases, respectively. Allergic reactions (64%) were the most frequent cause of ADE-related ED visits, followed by neurological effects (10.2%) that resulted preventable in 1.9 and 37.3% of the cases, respectively. Conclusion ADEs are a frequent cause of ED visits. The commonly used antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs should be carefully managed, as they are widely involved in mild to severe ADEs. Polytherapy is associated with the occurrence of serious, as well as certainly preventable ADEs, while older age only with serious events. A greater sensitivity to drug monitoring programs among health professionals is needed.

Abstract Background Colonization by livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) has increasingly been reported in the swine population worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of MRSA nasal carriage in healthy pigs, including the black (Calabrese) breed, from farms in the Calabria Region (Southern Italy). Between January and March 2018, a total of 475 healthy pigs reared in 32 farms were sampled by nasal swabbing. MRSA isolates were characterized by spa, MLST and SCCmec typing, and susceptibility testing to 17 antimicrobials. Results 22 of 32 (66.8%) pig farms resulted positive for MRSA. The prevalence of MRSA was 46.1% (219 MRSA culture-positive out of 475 samples). MRSA colonization was significantly higher in intensive farms and in pigs with a recent or ongoing antimicrobial treatment. All 219 MRSA isolates were assigned to ST398. The most common spa types were t011 (37.0%), t034 (22.4%) and t899 (15.1%). A novel spa type (t18290) was detected in one isolate. An insertion of IS256 in the ST398-specific A07 fragment of the SAPIG2195 gene was detected in 10 out of 81 t011 isolates. Nearly all isolates carried the SCCmec type V element, except 11 isolates that carried the SCCmec type IVc. None of the isolates was positive for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin. All isolates were resistant to tetracycline. High resistance rates were also found for clindamycin (93.1%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (68.4%), fluoroquinolones (47.9–65.3%) and erythromycin (46.1%). None of the isolates was resistant to vancomycin and fusidic acid. Overall, a multidrug resistant phenotype was observed in 88.6% of isolates. Conclusions We report a high prevalence of MRSA among healthy swine in Southern Italy farms, with higher isolation frequency associated with intensive farming. The epidemiological types identified in our study reflect those reported in other European countries. Our findings underscore the importance of monitoring the evolution of LA-MRSA in pig farms in order to implement control measures and reduce the risk of spread in the animal population.

Background: Sex and gender-related factors have been under-investigated as relevant determinants of health outcomes across non-communicable chronic diseases. Poor medication adherence results in adverse clinical outcomes and sex differences have been reported among patients at high cardiovascular risk, such as diabetics. The effect of diabetes and gender-related factors on medication adherence among women and men at high risk for ischemic heart disease (IHD) has not yet been fully investigated.Aim: To explore the role of sex, gender-related factors, and diabetes in pre-admission medication adherence among patients hospitalized for IHD.Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the Endocrine Vascular disease Approach (EVA) (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02737982), a prospective cohort of patients admitted for IHD. We selected patients with baseline information regarding the presence of diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors, and gender-related variables (i.e., gender identity, gender role, gender relations, institutionalized gender). Our primary outcome was the proportion of pre-admission medication adherence defined through a self-reported questionnaire. We performed a sex-stratified analysis of clinical and gender-related factors associated with pre-admission medication adherence.Results: Two-hundred eighty patients admitted for IHD (35% women, mean age 70), were included. Around one-fourth of the patients were low-adherent to therapy before hospitalization, regardless of sex. Low-adherent patients were more likely diabetic (40%) and employed (40%). Sex-stratified analysis showed that low-adherent men were more likely to be employed (58 vs. 33%) and not primary earners (73 vs. 54%), with more masculine traits of personality, as compared with medium-high adherent men. Interestingly, women reporting medication low-adherence were similar for clinical and gender-related factors to those with medium-high adherence, except for diabetes (42 vs. 20%, p = 0.004). In a multivariate adjusted model only employed status was associated with poor medication adherence (OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.31–0.97). However, in the sex-stratified analysis, diabetes was independently associated with medication adherence only in women (OR 0.36; 95%CI 0.13–0.96), whereas a higher masculine BSRI was the only factor associated with medication adherence in men (OR 0.59, 95%CI 0.35–0.99).Conclusion: Pre-admission medication adherence is common in patients hospitalized for IHD, regardless of sex. However, patient-related factors such as diabetes, employment, and personality traits are associated with adherence in a sex-specific manner.

The use of equivalent beam models to estimate the dynamical characteristics of complex tall buildings has been investigated by several authors. The main reason is the structural response estimation to stochastic loads, such as wind and earthquake, using a reduced number of degrees of freedom, which reduces the computational costs and therefore gives the designer an effective tool to explore a number of possible structural solutions. In this paper, a novel approach to calibrate the mechanical and dynamical features of a complete 3D Timoshenko beam, i.e., describing bending, shear and torsional behavior, is proposed. This approach is based on explicitly considering the sub-structures of the tall building. In particular, the frames, shear walls and lattice sub-systems are modeled as equivalent beams, constrained by means of rigid diaphragms at different floors. The overall dynamic features of the tall building are obtained by equating the deformation energy of an equivalent sandwich beam with that of the selected sub-structures. Finally, the 3D Timoshenko equivalent beam parameters are calibrated by minimizing a suitable function of modal natural frequencies and static displacements. The closed form modal solution of the equivalent beam model is used to obtain the response to stochastic loads.

Zinc oxide nanowires (ZnONWs) are largely used in biosensing applications due to their large specific surface area, photoluminescence emission and electron mobility. In this work, the surfaces of ZnONWs are modified by covalent bioconjugation of a peptidic nucleic acid (PNA) probe whose sequence is properly chosen to recognize a complementary DNA (cDNA) strand corresponding to a tract of the CD5 mRNA, the main prognostic marker of chronic lymphatic leukemia. The interaction between PNA and cDNA is preliminarily investigated in solution by circular dichroism, CD melting, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After the immobilization of the PNA probe on the ZnONW surface, we demonstrate the ability of the PNA-functionalized ZnONW platform to detect cDNA in the μM range of concentration by electrical, label-free measurements. The specificity of the sensor is also verified against a non-complementary DNA sequence. These preliminary results highlight the potential application of PNA-bioconjugated ZnONWs to label-free biosensing of tumor markers.

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the association between psychiatric disease, climatic and seasonal factors in patients recorded to the Emergency Unit, in Messina Hospital (Italy). Method: A total of 6565 psychiatric patients were recorded to the Emergency Unit in Messina from January 2005 and December 2010. Each psychiatric visit in emergency, was categorized by date of appearance and admitting diagnosis according to diagnostic categories: Anxiety, Mood Disorders and Psychosis. Local weather data were obtained from the Metereological Instituted “Aereonautica Militare” station in Messina, Sicily, In addition, to gathering data on the state of the sky, temperature, atmosphericpressure with the normalized value at sea level, relative humidity, rainfall, wind direction and speed, the station is connected to a buoy located on the eastern sector of Tyrrhenian Sea. Results: In anxiety disorders we have found relevant results comparison between winter and spring (p=.007) and spring and fall (p=.001). In affective disorders the differences occur in relation to winter and fall (p=.002), spring and fall (p=001), spring and summer (p=002). The psychotic disorder presents significant differences between summer and fall (p=.001) and spring and fall (p=.002). Conclusions: We can observe a similarity of affective disorders, i.e. anxiety and mood disorders compared to psychosis, which have different influences and probably according to dissimilar etiopathogenetic ways. In our research, the distribution of anxiety disorders is higher than depressive disorders in terms of delivering emergency room visits. The major differences occur comparing spring and fall, the seasons when all pathological classes have significant differences. It follows that the most abrupt climate change, typical of these seasons, as a whole, cause psychopathological emergencies. The study is important for planning a more effective assistance for patients needing psychiatric support.

We present the complex case of a high-risk patient with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, who experienced a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular (LV) thrombi and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent implantation. The patient was initially treated with short-term triple therapy including aspirin, clopidogrel, and rivaroxaban 15 mg/die. Following aspirin dropping one month after discharge, the patient continued on dual therapy with clopidogrel and rivaroxaban, and a clinical and imaging follow-up at 6 and 12 months confirmed the LV thrombi resolution, with no thromboembolic episodes and a good safety profile.

No Abstract

[b]Introduction. [/b]In hospital and other health care facilities, contamination of water systems by potentially infectious microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa, is a source of nosocomial infections, which may originate fromcolonization of water pipes, cooling towers, spa pools, taps, showers and water supplies. [b]Objective. [/b]The study focuses on the occurrence of [i]Legionella spp.[/i], free-living amoebae and non-fermenting Gram-negative microorganisms in a University hospital water system located in the town of Messina (Sicily, Italy), which had never been examined previously. Materials and Methods. From January 2008 – March 2009, hot tap water samples were collected from 10 wards.[i] Legionella spp[/i]. recovered on selective culture medium were identified by microagglutination latex test; free-living amoebae were cultured using [i]Escherichia coli [/i]as a food source. Non-fermenting Gram negative microorganisms were identified by API 20 NE strips. [b]Results.[/b] [i]Legionella spp.[/i] were found in 33.33% of the samples. [i]L. pneumophila[/i] serogroup 1 was recovered from the Laboratory Diagnostic and Anaesthesia-Neurology Wards, with a peak of 3.5 × 10[sup]4[/sup] cfu/L in May 2008. [i]L. pneumophila[/i] serogroups 2–14 were found in the Othorhinolaryngology, Pathologic Anatomy, Paediatrics and Surgery Wards, and peaked (4 × 10[sup]4[/sup] cfu/L) in April 2008. Pseudomonadaceae and Hyphomycetes were also detected. Legionella spp. were recovered from samples positive for non-pathogenic amoebae [i]Hartmannella spp[/i]. [b]Conclusion.[/b] This first study of a Messina hospital water system suggested potential health risks related to the detection of [i]Hartmannella spp[/i]., as reservoirs for[i] Legionella spp.[/i], and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram negative non-fermenting bacterium frequently causing nosocomial pneumonia. The urgent need for monitoring programmes and prevention measures to ensure hospital water safety is stressed.