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School Active Breaks are short bouts of physical activity (5-15 minutes) conducted by appropriately trained teachers and delivered during or between curricular lessons. They are a good strategy to counteract sedentary behaviors, and a growing body of evidence shows that they can represent also a tool to promote and improve health, school wellbeing and academic achievements. On 19 February 2022, the Working Group on Movement Sciences for Health of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health organized an Awareness Day on the effectiveness, usefulness and feasibility of School Active Breaks, opened to teachers, educators, school leaders, pediatricians, personnel from Departments of Prevention and Public Health and Health Policy-makers. During the event, the testimonies about the experiences already carried out in Italy showed that School Active Breaks are an effective intervention that each school can easily include in its educational offer and apply in any context.

IntroductionExternal Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes are designed to provide a snapshot of laboratory proficiency, identifying issues and providing feedback to improve laboratory performance and inter-laboratory agreement in testing. Currently there are no international EQA schemes for seasonal influenza serology testing. Here we present a feasibility study for conducting an EQA scheme for influenza serology methods.MethodsWe invited participant laboratories from industry, contract research organizations (CROs), academia and public health institutions who regularly conduct hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) and microneutralization (MN) assays and have an interest in serology standardization. In total 16 laboratories returned data including 19 data sets for HAI assays and 9 data sets for MN assays.ResultsWithin run analysis demonstrated good laboratory performance for HAI, with intrinsically higher levels of intra-assay variation for MN assays. Between run analysis showed laboratory and strain specific issues, particularly with B strains for HAI, whilst MN testing was consistently good across labs and strains. Inter-laboratory variability was higher for MN assays than HAI, however both assays showed a significant reduction in inter-laboratory variation when a human sera pool is used as a standard for normalization.DiscussionThis study has received positive feedback from participants, highlighting the benefit such an EQA scheme would have on improving laboratory performance, reducing inter laboratory variation and raising awareness of both harmonized protocol use and the benefit of biological standards for seasonal influenza serology testing.

This review explores and positions the value of serology testing to support current immunization policies and the broader policy response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis in Europe. We applied an exploratory approach to analysing existing evidence, international recommendations, and national policies using desk research from secondary sources, document analysis, and expert information. Regional and country-level resources from five focus countries were included: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Seven experts in the fields of COVID-19 immunization, serology testing, seroepidemiology, and vaccine safety and effectiveness studies contributed to the review and convened in two online panel sessions. The paper includes an overview of (1) the impact of the pandemic to date, (2) testing strategies, (3) COVID-19 vaccination policies, (4) lessons on using serology testing to support immunization, (5) current policies and recommendations on the use of a serology testing strategy, and (6) implementation barriers and challenges. Finally, this paper also provides a set of knowledge-based recommendations to advance the effective and timely inclusion of serology testing and resolve impeding knowledge gaps. The recommendations herein are intended to support timely decision-making, raise awareness, guide advocacy initiatives, and inspire future studies.

The use of liquid scintillation detectors provides the possibility to acquire information about both gamma-rays and neutrons. The capability of plutonium detection via gamma/n coincidences in liquid scintillation detectors is well demonstrated in the literature, and it is also acknowledged that correlated gamma/n detection can offer better sensitivity and signal to noise ratio compared to neutron-neutron for some applications. In this paper we perform an assessment of the use of gamma/n coincidence counting in small samples, what may have use in the context of nuclear safeguards. We formulate the expected number of gamma/n coincidences and calculate the average and covariance of gamma-ray and neutron multiplicities for Pu-238, Pu-240, Pu-242 and Cf-252. The multiplicative coefficients for the Pu-240 effective mass equation was then calculated using gamma/n coincidences, and Monte Carlo simulations performed in order to model the detection of neutrons and gamma-rays inside liquid scintillation detectors. We conclude that gamma/n coincidence counting still has potential capabilities when the objective is the detection of plutonium, but its use for plutonium effective mass quantification is limited compared to n/n coincidence counting. Nevertheless, the method could still be applicable for the purpose of plutonium mass quantification by using a calibration curve that is specific to a sample's mass and size.

The use of passive and active interrogation techniques to evaluate materials concerning their content of special nuclear materials (SNM) is fundamental in fields such as nuclear safeguards and secu ...

We tested the hypothesis that common genetic variability of beta-cell genes responsible for monogenic diabetes may affect beta cell function in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We studied 794 drug- naïve GAD-negative patients with newly diagnosed T2DM (age: median=59 years; I.Q. range: 52-66; body mass index: 29.3 kg/m

Influenza D virus (IDV) is a novel influenza virus, first isolated from an ailing swine in 2011 in Oklahoma. Several studies have isolated IDV in cattle from multiple geographic areas, suggesting cattle as a possible primary natural reservoir for the virus. To date, few studies have been performed on human samples and there is no conclusive evidence on the ability of the virus to infect humans. This serological study aimed to assess the IDV prevalence in archived human serum samples collected in Italy from 2005 to 2017. The serum samples were tested by haemagglutination inhibition assay (HI) and confirmed by the virus neutralization assay. The results clearly show that specific HI antibodies against IDV were present in at least a small subset of serum samples taken in every single year between 2005 and 2017, although IDV was isolated and described for the first time in 2011. IDV antibodies displayed low levels, between 5.1% and 9.8%, in the years 2005 to 2007, followed by a sharp increase in 2008; the highest levels (33.9% - 46.0%) were reached in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2016, while the lowest levels (11.9% - 25.7%) were seen in 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2017. In addition, the highest levels of HI seropositivity (HI titers ≥ 1:40) were found in serum samples collected in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. This increase was not constant over the years, it shows sharp rises in some years followed by drops in subsequent years. The seroprevalence peaks detected in humans appear to follow IDV epidemics in animals. Moreover, as the titers did not remain high in the years following the increase, but dropped to lower levels, it is likely that a spill over event from an animal reservoir occurred, and that the virus does not circulate primarily in humans. Ultimately, the virus showed the ability to infect and elicit an immune response in humans and not to persist in the human population. Key messages Current knowledge of influenza D virus in humans is still limited. Neither potential threats to exposed individuals nor public health issues can be fully excluded.

Highlights • Pancreatic localization of paraganglioma is extremely rare (only 31 similar cases have been described in the scientific literature). • Differential diagnosis with meningiomas, schwannomas, and various metastatic carcinomas may be challenging to assess preoperatively. • Same management adopted for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (NET) may be rational., Background Paragangliomas are rare neoplasms that originate from the neural crest. They are malignant in approximately 10% of cases, with a 50% survival rate at 5 years from diagnosis. In most cases, manifestations of malignancy (such as metastasis) are lacking, and paragangliomas are considered benign lesions. Pancreatic paragangliomas are extremely rare, with only 31 cases described in the scientific literature to date. Case summary Here we describe a case of a 55-year-old Caucasian male patient referred to our institution in September 2013 for lumbar pain lasting five months. The ultrasound and the CT scan revealed a 2.5 cm solid nodule located in the uncinate process of the pancreas. On the basis of this evidence, the preoperative diagnosis was a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET), which was further confirmed by a subsequent In-Pentetreotide Scan examination. A pylorus-preserving duodenocephalopancreasectomy was performed. Pancreatic paraganglioma was the final pathological diagnosis. Rare localizations of paraganglioma are often discovered casually, during imaging examinations for other clinical reasons, as happened in the case of our patient. It appears evident that the preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic paragangliomas is extremely challenging. Surgery represents the cornerstone of the clinical management of these neoplasms, primarily for the need of a definitive diagnosis, which is difficult to assess preoperatively in most cases. Conclusions Our strategy is the same as that adopted for the management of pancreatic NETs; the dimensional limit for a conservative resection is 2 cm, while major resections (Whipple’s approach or distal pancreatectomy) should be employed in larger tumors, which are generally associated with a worse prognosis.

Augusto TrombettaUniversidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina1. INTRODUCCION: LA NATURALEzA NOMINAL DE LOS COMPUESTOS V-N1Los tradicionales compuestos de “verbo + nombre” han sido sometidos a distintos analisis para dar cuenta de sus particularidades morfologicas (la cuestion del nucleo del compuesto), sintacticas (en cuanto a la clase de palabra a la que pertenecen sus constituyentes) y semanticas (los aspectos interpretativos de la relacion entre su forma y su significado). Estos compuestos constituyen una pauta composicional muy productiva en castellano, entre otras lenguas, lo que explica el gran interes descriptivo y teorico que han despertado a lo largo de la historia, acentuado particularmente en los ultimos treinta anos.

Background and aim: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the degree of glycaemic control and the frequency of diabetic complications in Italian people with diabetes who were treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Methods and results: Questionnaires investigating the organisation of diabetes care centres, individuals’ clinical and metabolic features and pump technology and its management were sent to adult and paediatric diabetes centres that use CSII for treatment in Italy. Information on standard clinical variables, demographic data and acute and chronic diabetic complications was derived from local clinical management systems. The sample consisted of 6623 people with diabetes, which was obtained from 93 centres. Of them, 98.8% had type 1 diabetes mellitus, 57.2% were female, 64% used a conventional insulin pump and 36% used a sensor-augmented insulin pump. The median glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level was 60 mmol/mol (7.6%). The HbA1c target (i.e. 18 years) was achieved in 43.4% of paediatric and 23% of adult participants. Factors such as advanced pump functions, higher rate of sensor use, pregnancy in the year before the study and longer duration of diabetes were associated with lower HbA1c levels. The most common chronic complications occurring in diabetes were retinopathy, microalbuminuria and hypertension. In the year before the study, 5% of participants reported ≥1 episode of severe hypoglycaemic (SH) episodes (SH) and 2.6% reported ≥1 episode of ketoacidosis. Conclusions: Advanced personal skills and use of sensor-based pump are associated with better metabolic control outcomes in Italian people with diabetes who were treated with CSII. The reduction in SH episodes confirms the positive effect of CSII on hypoglycaemia. Clinical trial registration number: NCT 02620917 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a polyanionic natural polymer occurring as a linear polysaccharide composed of glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine repeats. Hyaluronic acid has a wide range of applications with its excellent physicochemical properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity and serves as an excellent tool in biomedical applications such as osteoarthritis surgery, ocular surgery, plastic surgery, tissue engineering and drug delivery. This work provides an overview on hyaluronic acid, its chemistry and biochemistry and its medical applications.

Aims: The effectiveness of ozone (aqueous and gaseous) treatment as alternative sanitizing technology to common conventional disinfectants for the reduction of the microbial contamination of both water and air was investigated. Methods: Ozone was added for 20 minutes to a well-defined volume of water and air by the system named “Ozonomatic®”. The effectiveness of ozonation was determined by counting UFC/m3 or ml of bacteria present in samples of air or water collected before (T0) and after (T1) the addition of ozone and comparing the microbial load of different bacteria present in ozonized and non-ozonized samples. Results: When the ozonisation equipment was located at 30 cm from the water level contained in the bath tub in which the bacteria investigated were inoculated, the sanitization was able to reduce by 70.4% the total microbial load present in the aerosol at a temperature of 36°C for 48 hours. Conversely, at 22°C for 5 days a modest decrease (9.1%) was observed. Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were completely eliminated. A 93.9% reduction was observed for Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Streptococcus faecalis (25.9%). The addition of ozone to water was able to almost eliminate Staphylococcus aureus (98.9% of reduction), and to exert a strong impact also on Legionella pneumofila, with a 87.5 % of diminishment. Regarding Streptococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed a diminishment of 64.2% and 57.4%, respectively. Conversely, only a 26.4% reduction was observed for the bacterium Escherichia coli. This study showed that the addition of ozone in the air exerted a modest reduction on microbial load at 36°C, whereas no effect was observed at 22°C. Conclusions: Aqueous and gaseous ozone treatments were effective against microbial contaminants reducing the CFU of the microorganisms studied. These results confirm the efficacy of the ozone disinfection treatment of both water and air; particularly it represents an extremely promising alternative allowing the possibility to reuse contaminated water., Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 58, No 1 (2017): 2017581

Introduction: Emerging data suggest that tomosynthesis mammograms (TS) are considerably superior to two-dimensional (2D) screening mammograms (2DMG) at reducing false positive biopsies for breast cancer screening. However, very little is reported about the comparative efficacy of the two modalities in the post-treatment setting. We compared the rate of downstream workup up after undergoing post-radiation screening 2DMG and TS following breast conservation therapy at our institution. Methods: Between the years 2011-2017, 712 breast cancer patients (range 31-91 years) were treated with lumpectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy. As per institutional standard, follow up included either screening 2DMG (n=569) or TS(n=143) and reviewed in this IRB-approved study. The primary endpoint for comparison was the rate of further imaging/workup post-treatment . Comparative analysis was conducted via multivariable binomial regression with propensity matching between the 2DMG and TS groups. Patients with clinical suspicion of recurrence otherwise were excluded. Results: The patient cohort in both groups included the following clinical characteristics,: 129 patients with ductal carcinoma in-situ (the remainder were invasive carcinoma; ductal or lobular). A total of 418 patients had T1 lesions, 143 T2, and 22 T3/T4. Eighty-five patients were node positive. Of those, 501 ER+/Her2-, 101 triple negative, and 96 triple positive. Adjuvant radiation included conventional fraction (457) or hypofractionation (153) with boost to the surgical cavity in523Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) was delivered in 106 patients. Post treatment scans occurred within 3 months (166), at 3-6 months (256), or 6+ months (281). The aforementioned characteristics were similarly distributed between 2DMG and TS groups, except for slightly more DCIS in the 2D group. There was a significantly higher proportion of patients that were recommended for immediate downstream workup in the 2D group (40.7%) compared to in the tomo group (16.8%) (HR = 3.40, P Conclusion: Post-breast conservation follow-up with tomo synthesis mammography resulted in significantly less downstream workup as compared to conventional 2D screening mammography. Further investigation is warranted to unveil the absolute and relative cost-effectiveness between the two modalities. Citation Format: Colosimo BL, Weinberger K, Hasan S, Gresswell S, Anderson S, Wegner RE, Trombetta M. Downstream workup after post-treatment mammography in breast conservation therapy: Is there a significant difference between tomosynthesis and 2-dimensional mammograms? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-02-05.

Expression of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC)/osteonectin, a collagen-binding matricellular protein, is frequently associated with tissues with high rates of collagen turnover, such as bone. In the oral cavity, expression of SPARC/osteonectin has been localized to the periodontal ligament (PDL), a collagen-rich tissue with high rates of collagen turnover. The PDL is critical for tooth position within the alveolar bone and for absorbing forces generated by chewing. To characterize the function of SPARC/osteonectin in PDL, SPARC/osteonectin expression in murine PDL was evaluated by immunochemistry at 1, 4, 6, and >18 months. Highest levels of SPARC/osteonectin were detected at 1 and >18 months, with decreased levels associated with adult (4–6 months) PDL. To determine whether the absence of SPARC/osteonectin expression influenced cellular and fibrillar collagen content in PDL, PDL of SPARC-null mice was evaluated using histological stains and compared with that of wild-type (WT). Our results demonstrated decreased numbers of nuclei in PDL of SPARC-null mice at 1 month. In addition, decreased collagen volume fractions were found at 1 and >18 months and decreases in thick collagen fiber volume fraction were detected at 4, 6, and >18 months in SPARC-null PDL. The greatest differences in cell number and in collagen content between SPARC-null and WT PDL coincided with ages at which levels of SPARC/osteonectin expression were highest in WT PDL, at 1 and >18 months. These results support the hypothesis that SPARC/osteonectin is critical in the control of tissue collagen content and indicate that SPARC/osteonectin is necessary for PDL homeostasis. (J Histochem Cytochem 58:871–879, 2010)

Summary Sarcomas arising in the equine species are rare tumours, and treatment is generally surgical. Radiotherapy has been used in the management of malignancies of large animals; however, conventional external radiotherapy delivery is difficult. Interstitial brachytherapy has been used in the management of human sarcomas with reasonable success, although equine experience is minimal. We report a case of equine haemangiosarcoma treated with brachytherapy demonstrating the feasibility of the procedure and the highly malignant natural history of haemangiosarcoma. An 8-year-old American Saddlebred gelding presented for evaluation of a soft tissue mass on the forehead which had been present for at least 6 months. Initial surgical attempts at management were unsuccessful; therefore a radiation oncologist specialising in brachytherapy was consulted. The radiation oncologist and veterinary surgeon performed an interstitial implant of the tumour mass on the rostrum of the horse under general anaesthesia. The procedure was well tolerated by the horse. The tumour demonstrated immediate response and was noted to have completely regressed within 6 weeks of the implant removal. Unfortunately, the horse developed widespread metastatic disease and required euthanasia. At the time of necropsy, no visible tumour was identified at the implant site. Interstitial brachytherapy is feasible in soft tissue sarcomas of the horse; however, supportive demands are great with this procedure and we recommend it only be done at large speciality centres.

Signo y Seña es la revista especializada del Instituto de Lingüística de la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad de Buenos Aires. Convoca y está destinada a investigadores del lenguaje formados y en formación tanto de la Argentina como del exterior. Es una publicación semestral electrónica y de libre acceso que tiene como objetivo fundamental promover el debate, el intercambio de ideas y la difusión de investigaciones recientes de todas las áreas de la lingüística. Signo y Seña incluye en cada número: una sección temática o monográfica a cargo de reconocidos especialistas en el área,una sección general de resultados investigaciones de todas las áreas de la Lingüística y una sección de reseñas y novedades referentes a la disciplina. En sus páginas se publican trabajos originales e inéditos evaluados con el sistema de pares externos doble ciego en español y en portugués.

Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a still-frequent and poorly-understood complication of haemodialysis. Haemofiltration has recently been shown to reduce the phenomenon of IDH. HFR-Aequilibrium adds to traditional HFR and is, in practice, a variant comprising endogenous re-infusion of haemodiafiltration with dialysate sodium concentration and ultrafiltration rate profiles elaborated by the ‘Profiler’ plasma sodium biofeedback system, and measurement of plasma sodium via the on-line Natrium sodium sensor.

The combination of radiotherapy treatments and breast reconstruction, using temporary tissue expanders, generates several concerns due to the presence of a magnetic valve inside the radiation field. The objective of this work is to evaluate a radiotherapy treatment planning for a patient using a tissue expander. Isodose curve maps, obtained using radiochromic films, were compared to the ones calculated with two different dose calculation algorithms of the Eclipse radiotherapy Treatment Planning System (TPS), considering the presence or absence of the heterogeneity. The TPS calculation considering the presence of the heterogeneity shows changes around 5% in the isodose curves when they were compared with the calculation without heterogeneity correction. This calculation did not take in account the real density value of the heterogeneity. This limitation was quantified to be around 10% in comparison with the TPS calculation and experimental measurements using the radiochromic film. These results show that the magnetic valve should be taken in account in dose calculations of the TPS. With respect to the AAA and Pencil Beam Convolution algorithms, when the calculation is compared with the real distribution, AAA presents a distribution more similar to experimental dose distribution.

BACKGROUND: Congenital forms of hearing impairment can be caused by mutations in the estrogen related receptor beta (ESRRB) gene. Our initial linkage studies suggested the ESRRB locus is linked to high caries experience in humans. METHODS: We tested for association between the ESRRB locus and dental caries in 1,731 subjects, if ESRRB was expressed in whole saliva, if ESRRB was associated with the microhardness of the dental enamel, and if ESRRB was expressed during enamel development of mice. RESULTS: Two families with recessive ESRRB mutations and DFNB35 hearing impairment showed more extensive dental destruction by caries. Expression levels of ESRRB in whole saliva samples showed differences depending on sex and dental caries experience. CONCLUSIONS: The common etiology of dental caries and hearing impairment provides a venue to assist in the identification of individuals at risk to either condition and provides options for the development of new caries prevention strategies, if the associated ESRRB genetic variants are correlated with efficacy. Fil: Weber, Megan L.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Hsin, Hong Yuan. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Kalay, Ersan. Karadeniz Technical University; Turquía Fil: Brožková, Dana Š. Charles University; República Checa. University Hospital Motol; República Checa Fil: Shimizu, Takehiko. Nihon University. School of Dentistry; Japón Fil: Bayram, Merve. Medipol Istanbul University; Turquía Fil: Deeley, Kathleen. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Küchler, Erika C.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Forella, Jessalyn. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Ruff, Timothy D.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Trombetta, Vanessa M.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Sencak, Regina C.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Hummel, Michael. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Briseño Ruiz, Jessica. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Revu, Shankar K.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Granjeiro, José M.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; Brasil Fil: Antunes, Leonardo S.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; Brasil Fil: Antunes, Livia A.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; Brasil Fil: Abreu, Fernanda V.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; Brasil Fil: Costabel, Marcelo C.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Tannure, Patricia N.. Veiga de Almeida University; Brasil. Salgado de Oliveira University; Brasil Fil: Koruyucu, Mine. Istanbul University; Turquía Fil: Patir, Asli. Medipol Istanbul University; Turquía Fil: Poletta, Fernando Adrián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas ; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Mereb, Juan C.. Estudio Colaborativo Latino Americano de Malformaciones Congénitas; Argentina Fil: Castilla, Eduardo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas ; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Orioli, Iêda M.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Marazita, Mary L.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Ouyang, Hongjiao. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Jayaraman, Thottala. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Seymen, Figen. Istanbul University; Turquía Fil: Vieira, Alexandre R.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos

Free-standing CVD diamond disk-shaped films of varying thicknesses between ∼40 and 1000 μm were fractured in ball-on-ring flexure using a high-precision hydraulic testing machine. Some of the films were smooth on the side formerly in contact with the substrate and rough (large crystallites) on the reverse side and some of the films were polished. Raman spectroscopic examination showed some of the films to be of high quality and others to be of lower quality (higher levels of non-diamond carbon mixed with diamond phase). All fracture surfaces were examined to identify the origin of failure. Strength varied between 650 and 971 MPa, and the fracture toughness was determined from fracture surface analysis to average 8 ± 1 MPam1/2.

We determined whether non-alcoholic fatty liver is associated with an increased prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Type 1 diabetes.We studied 343 patients with Type 1 diabetes, who had no history of excessive alcohol consumption or other secondary causes of chronic liver disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver was diagnosed by ultrasonography. Chronic kidney disease was defined as presence of either abnormal albuminuria (i.e., urinary albumin/creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g) or estimated glomerular filtration rate of less than 60 ml min(-1) 1.73 m(-2) .Compared with those without steatosis, patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver (n = 182) had significantly lower estimated GFR (83.0 ± 27 vs. 93.3 ± 29 ml min(-1) 1.73 m(-2) , P 0.001) and a greater prevalence of abnormal albuminuria (50.0 vs. 20.5%, P 0.0001) and chronic kidney disease (54.4 vs. 24.2%, P 0.0001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that non-alcoholic fatty liver was associated with an increased risk of either abnormal albuminuria (adjusted odds ratio 2.21, 95% CI 1.2-4.1, P = 0.01) or chronic kidney disease (adjusted odds ratio 1.93, 95% CI 1.1-3.6, P = 0.02), independently of age, gender, smoking status, physical activity, diabetes duration, HbA(1c) , BMI, systolic blood pressure, plasma lipids and use of anti-hypertensive and lipid-lowering medications.Our findings demonstrate that ultrasound-diagnosed non-alcoholic fatty liver is associated with a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease in patients with Type 1 diabetes, independently of several risk factors, including the components of the metabolic syndrome.

On enregistre la resonance magnetique detectee optiquement de defauts ponctuels dans ces superreseaux. L'etat electronique a une symetrie A 1 coherente avec les previsions theoriques pour l'atome interstitiel Ga, mais pas pour l'antisite Ga As . La recombinaison via ces defauts reduit l'emission excitonique intrinseque du superreseau. La fonction d'onde a un caractere localise

Toxic epidermal necrolysis and Steven Johnson syndrome are rare diseases that usually follow drug-exposures. The authors present one retrospective study with their management and focus their retrospective analysis on finding prognostic factors.We reviewed charts of admitted patients from January 1995 to December 2005. Only those with an histologic-proved diagnosis were included in the study. Causative drugs, symptoms, management and outcome were recorded and analysed.We found 32 patients that met inclusion criteria. Mortality rate was 34.4% (11/32). Age, delay of referral, Total Burn Surface Area, white blood cells, creatinine, blood sodium, immunoglobulins therapy and more than two different types of blood bacterial species isolated were significantly correlated with death (p0.05).These data confirm prognostic factors already present in literature and find that the number of different bacterial species isolated from blood increase mortality. Further prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Phase change memory cells composed of nanocrystalline Ge2Sb2Te5 with a heater diameter of 10 nm and Ge2Sb2Te5 thickness of 100 nm are studied by using two-dimensional finite element simulations with COMSOL Multiphysics. The nanocrystalline Ge2Sb2Te5 is emulated by using a mesh-based model incorporating crystalline grains of random size and location embedded in the amorphous media. The material parameters are modelled with temperature dependency from 300 to 1000 K, including electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, electric field breakdown and Seebeck coefficient. This model is shown to capture the cycle-to-cycle and device-to-device variability in phase change memory cells.

In a model of repeated Cournot competition under complete information, we show that delegation has no effect on cartel stability if managers collude, while it may hinder cartel stability when owners collude in setting the incentive schemes. If owners can choose whether to delegate or keep control of their respective firms, and both groups of individuals collude or play noncooperatively in their respective variables according to the level of intertemporal discount factor, then if managers are not able to collude in output levels, owners' delegation decision is non-monotone in the discount factor.

An increasing number of studies have shown that post-mastectomy radiotherapy presents benefits associated with the patients survival and a significant fraction of the treated patients makes use of tissue expanders for breast reconstruction. Some models of tissue expanders have a magnetic disk on their surface that constitutes heterogeneity in the radiation field, which can affect the dose distribution during the radiotherapy treatment. In this study, the influence of a metallic heterogeneity positioned in a breast tissue expander was evaluated by means of Monte Carlo simulations using the MCNPX code and using Eclipse treatment planning system. Deposited energy values were calculated in structures which have clinical importance for the treatment. Additionally, the effect in the absorbed energy due to backscattering and attenuation of the incident beam caused by the heterogeneity, as well as due to the expansion of the prosthesis, was evaluated in target structures for a 6 MV photon beam by simulations. The dose distributions for a breast treatment were calculated using a convolution/superposition algorithm from the Eclipse treatment planning system. When compared with the smallest breast expander volume, underdosage of 7% was found for the largest volume of breast implant, in the case of frontal irradiation of the chest wall, by Monte Carlo simulations. No significant changes were found in dose distributions for the presence of the heterogeneity during the treatment planning of irradiation with an opposed pair of beams. Even considering the limitation of the treatment planning system, the results obtained with its use confirm those ones found by Monte Carlo simulations for a tangent beam irradiation. The presence of a heterogeneity didn't alters the dose distributions on treatment structures. The underdosage of 7% observed with Monte Carlo simulations were found for irradiation at 0°, not used frequently in a clinical routine.

Electro-optical (EO) systems, the platforms they perform on, and their missions continue to place increasing requirements on the infrared windows and domes associated with these systems. Supersonic flight, observability, EMI shielding, sensor range, multispectral sensors, environmental degradation resistance (sand and rain erosion resistance), and affordability are some of the requirements that are rendering most current IR window and dome technologies inadequate. Texas Instruments (TI), through both IRD slower missiles could use ZnS, GaAs, and possibly GaP. For Mach 3 or greater missile systems with IR sensors operating in the 3- to 5-micrometers range, GaP is the most promising material, with its higher thermal shock resistance and lower absorption and, therefore, lower emission at elevated temperatures at 3 to 5 micrometers than sapphire, spinel, yttria, ALON, Si or ZnS. For multispectral use (3 to 5 and 8 to 12 micrometers ) at supersonic speeds, GaP and multispectral ZnS are the candidates; low supersonic use could include GaAs; and subsonic use could include ZnSe. For IR windows and domes where EMI shielding is required, GaAs offers the highest shielding of any window with or without metal grids. Si, Ge, and GaP offer bulk electrical conductivity like GaAs, but, because of the intrinsic behavior of the carriers, cannot offer the same level of shielding. Durability is a growing concern on all IR windows and domes. Various coatings for rain and sand erosion including diamond, BP, and TI GaP, amorphous carbon and novel Ti IR polymers are discussed.

Through a joint effort between Texas Instruments (TI) and Olin Aerospace Company (OAC), a supersonic hydrogen arc jet for high-growth-rate chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of thick layers of optical quality diamond has been developed for flat substrates as large as 8 inches in diameter and for hemispherical domes measuring 2.5 inches in diameter. An overview of this deposition system is presented, along with optical and structural analysis of the subsequently deposited material. Efforts to monitor the plasma chemistry, along with in-depth computer modeling of the gas phase chemistry and hydrodynamics of this supersonic jet, in order to produce a higher-growth-rate process while maintaining optical quality, are discussed. The current status of the overall performance of this deposition system and the resultant material are presented in relation to the requirements for high-speed-missile domes and windows.