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This study discusses the essential need of re-naturalizing the built environment, focusing on schools. Leveraging research on the impact of nature on health, children’s development, and learning, we analyze case studies from America, Asia, and Europe with distinct trajectories of interplay between architecture and pedagogy. Using a theoretical framework on plant-architecture relationship, we identify effective re-naturalization solutions in some applications of biophilic design in rural and urban contexts, cautioning against superficial nature incorporations in schools. Our study asserts that technological sustainability is needed but insufficient, emphasizing the necessity of concurrent efforts in architecture and education to create meaningful student-nature connections.

Optical technologies could enable fast and power-efficient networks for data centers. Here, the authors report Si3N4 microcomb based ultrafast photonic switching to provide enhanced performance for data center applications.

The relationship between people and designed space is often approached exclusively with text-based research techniques (e.g., interviews and questionnaires). After proposing a theoretical framework for design from a sociological perspective, this paper first illustrates the limitations of those techniques when investigating appropriation of designed space, i.e., situated behaviors and perceptions. Then, the observation of socio-environmental indicators is proposed as a research technique, illustrating how this unobtrusive approach overcomes some of those limitations, allowing the study of habitation through the observation of effects of behaviors rather than the behavior itself. A taxonomy of socio-environmental indicators is introduced, showing how five categories can be construed (i.e., traces, alterations, adaptations, signs, and routines) for the analysis of habitation of designed spaces at various level of scales, from the proxemic space around the body to the larger designed environment. Certain specific examples are discussed, showing how indicators can be analyzed, generating insights and the formulation of hypotheses that may be further investigated triangulating with other research techniques. After discussing the limitations of this technique, the paper reflects on how its application contributes to a dialogical appreciation of design.

BackgroundAcute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a possible complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Although peculiar clinical features and underlying specific mechanisms of thrombogenesis have been suggested so far, there is no consensus on the appropriate vascular preventive drug regimen in patients with COVID-19.Aim and MethodsFrom a larger clinical series of consecutive acute ischemic strokes related to COVID-19 admitted to three cerebrovascular units in Northern Italy, herein, we describe the clinical features of a subgroup of patients in whom stroke occurred despite therapeutic anticoagulation.ResultsA total of seventeen/80 AIS related to COVID-19 (21.2%) occurred in anticoagulated patients. Although no blood level was available for Direct Oral AntiCoagulant, the drug dosage was appropriate according to guidelines. Their National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at admission was 12.0 (SD = 7.4) and 58.8% of them had evidence of large vessel occlusion. The case fatality rate was as high as 64.7%.Discussion and ConclusionsThe occurrence of an anticoagulation failure seems to be increased in the setting of COVID-19 infection, with worse clinical outcomes if compared to non-COVID-19 related ischemic strokes. We discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of such evidence, suggesting that some arterial thrombotic complications might be either resistant to or independent of the anticoagulation effect.

Combination of butanol-hyperproducing and hypertolerant phenotypes is essential for developing microbial strains suitable for industrial production of bio-butanol, one of the most promising liquid biofuels. Clostridium cellulovorans is among the microbial strains with the highest potential for direct production of n-butanol from lignocellulosic wastes, a process that would significantly reduce the cost of bio-butanol. However, butanol exhibits higher toxicity compared to ethanol and C. cellulovorans tolerance to this solvent is low. In the present investigation, comparative gel-free proteomics was used to study the response of C. cellulovorans to butanol challenge and understand the tolerance mechanisms activated in this condition. Sequential Window Acquisition of all Theoretical fragment ion spectra Mass Spectrometry (SWATH-MS) analysis allowed identification and quantification of differentially expressed soluble proteins. The study data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD024183. The most important response concerned modulation of protein biosynthesis, folding and degradation. Coherent with previous studies on other bacteria, several heat shock proteins (HSPs), involved in protein quality control, were up-regulated such as the chaperones GroES (Cpn10), Hsp90, and DnaJ. Globally, our data indicate that protein biosynthesis is reduced, likely not to overload HSPs. Several additional metabolic adaptations were triggered by butanol exposure such as the up-regulation of V- and F-type ATPases (involved in ATP synthesis/generation of proton motive force), enzymes involved in amino acid (e.g., arginine, lysine, methionine, and branched chain amino acids) biosynthesis and proteins involved in cell envelope re-arrangement (e.g., the products of Clocel_4136, Clocel_4137, Clocel_4144, Clocel_4162 and Clocel_4352, involved in the biosynthesis of saturated fatty acids) and a redistribution of carbon flux through fermentative pathways (acetate and formate yields were increased and decreased, respectively). Based on these experimental findings, several potential gene targets for metabolic engineering strategies aimed at improving butanol tolerance in C. cellulovorans are suggested. This includes overexpression of HSPs (e.g., GroES, Hsp90, DnaJ, ClpC), RNA chaperone Hfq, V- and F-type ATPases and a number of genes whose function in C. cellulovorans is currently unknown.

Objective: Intradural Extramedullary (IDEM) tumors are usually treated with surgical excision. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact on clinical outcomes of pre-surgical clinical conditions, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM), surgical access to the spinal canal, histology, degree of resection and intra/postoperative complications.Methods: This is a retrospective observational study analyzing data of patients suffering from IDEM tumors who underwent surgical treatment over a 12 year period in a double-center experience. Data were extracted from a prospectively maintained database and included: sex, age at diagnosis, clinical status according to the modified McCormick Scale (Grades I-V) at admission, discharge, and follow-up, tumor histology, type of surgical access to the spinal canal (bilateral laminectomy vs. monolateral laminectomy vs. laminoplasty), degree of surgical removal, use and type of IONM, occurrence and type of intraoperative complications, use of Ultrasonic Aspirator (CUSA), radiological follow-up.Results: A total number of 249 patients was included with a mean follow-up of 48.3 months. Gross total resection was achieved in 210 patients (84.3%) mostly in Schwannomas (45.2%) and Meningiomas (40.4%). IONM was performed in 162 procedures (65%) and D-wave was recorded in 64.2% of all cervical and thoracic locations (99 patients). The linear regression diagram for McCormick grades before and after surgery (follow-up) showed a correlation between preoperative and postoperative clinical status. A statistically significant correlation was found between absence of worsening of clinical condition at follow-up and use of IONM at follow-up (p = 0.01) but not at discharge. No associations were found between the choice of surgical approach and the extent of resection (p = 0.79), the presence of recurrence or residual tumor (p = 0.14) or CSF leakage (p = 0.25). The extent of resection was not associated with the use of IONM (p = 0.91) or CUSA (p = 0.19).Conclusion: A reliable prediction of clinical improvement could be made based on pre-operative clinical status. The use of IONM resulted in better clinical outcomes at follow-up (not at discharge), but no associations were found with the extent of resection. The use of minimally invasive approaches such as monolateral laminectomy showed to be effective and not associated with worse outcomes or increased complications.

The effects of a mechanical process on the solid fuel quality and anaerobic biodegradability of hazelnut and olive pruning were determined. The feedstock was treated using a two-stage dry milling process, followed by fractionation into four different products. The coarser products from the processing of both the raw materials, named C and M, were notable for the high reduction in both the ash and nitrogen content. Therefore, for hazelnut, they met the requirement of the EN ISO 17225-2 standard for both the industrial and residential pellets, whereas C and M from olive processing met the requirements only for the industrial pellet. The raw materials and the finest products from processing, named F1 and F2, were anaerobically digested in batch reactors under mesophilic conditions. The F2 product from hazelnut processing reached a methane yield of 118.1 Nm3 tVS−1, corresponding to a +70.1% gain over the untreated substrate, whereas F2 from olive pruning processing reached 176.5 Nm3 tVS−1, corresponding to a methane yield gain of about +93.5% over the untreated raw material. These results suggest that the investigated process could be successfully used to improve the quality of pruning and establish new markets for them.

Photochemistry in solution often involves coexisting reaction channels that may comprise intermediates capturing a solvent molecule. Here, the authors show for one of the most reactive species, diphenylcarbene, that the decision-maker is not the nearest solvent molecule but its neighbour.

Ischemic stroke during pregnancy and puerperium represents a rare occurrence but it could be a serious and stressful event for mothers, infants, and also families. Whenever it does occur, many concerns arise about the safety of the mother and the fetus in relation to common diagnostic tests and therapies leading to a more conservative approach. The physiological adaptations in the cardiovascular system and in the coagulability that accompany the pregnant state, which are more significant around delivery and in the postpartum period, likely contribute to increasing the risk of an ischemic stroke. Most of the causes of an ischemic stroke in the young may also occur in pregnant patients. Despite this, there are specific conditions related to pregnancy which may be considered when assessing this particular group of patients such as pre-eclampsia-eclampsia, choriocarcinoma, peripartum cardiomiopathy, amniotic fluid embolization, and postpartum cerebral angiopathy. This article will consider several questions related to pregnancy-associated ischemic stroke, dwelling on epidemiological and specific etiological aspects, diagnostic issue concerning the use of neuroimaging, and the related potential risks to the embryo and fetus. Therapeutic issues surrounding the use of anticoagulant and antiplatelets agents will be discussed along with the few available reports regarding the use of thrombolytic therapy during pregnancy.

In spite of the strong epidemiologic evidence linking migraine and ischemic stroke in young adults, the mechanisms explaining this association remain poorly understood. The observation that stroke occurs more frequently during the interictal phase of migraine prompts to speculation that an indirect relation between the two diseases might exist. In this regard, four major issues might be considered which may be summarized as follows: (1) the migraine-ischemic stroke relation is influenced by specific risk factors such as patent foramen ovale or endothelial dysfunction and more frequent in particular conditions like spontaneous cervical artery dissection; (2) migraine is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors; (3) the link is caused by migraine-specific drugs; (4) migraine and ischemic vascular events are linked via a genetic component. In the present paper, we will review epidemiological studies, discuss potential mechanisms of migraine-induced stroke and comorbid ischemic stroke, and pose new research questions.