Sustainable forest management practices frequently confront the tension between economic viability and conservation objectives,particularly where forests occur in environmentally sensitive zones.The use of skidders in...Sustainable forest management practices frequently confront the tension between economic viability and conservation objectives,particularly where forests occur in environmentally sensitive zones.The use of skidders in protected areas is an essential solution for enabling timber harvesting in environments where the establishment of new skidding trails is either prohibited or highly restricted.These machines are the most used timber extraction machines in Central and Eastern Europe,and cable/adapted skidders are used to increase productivity and to reduce labor.This study compared the work cycles,productivity and costs of four types of skidders working in similar coniferous stands:a dedicated cable skidder,a dedicated cable-grapple skidder,a dedicated grapple skidder and an adapted skidder.The comparison of delay-free work cycles of the four skidders showed the largest share is occupied by travel loaded.The cable-grapple skidder had the highest average speed of 5.6 km h^(-1),followed by the grapple skidder at 3.97 km h^(-1),the cable skidder at 3.79 km h^(-1),and the adapted skidder with an average speed of 3.31 km h^(-1).The average delay-free productivity of the study skidders is highest for the adapted skidder,followed by the grapple skidder with a slightly lower rate,the cable-grapple skidder,and the cable skidder.In conclusion,the average payload of the grapple skidder and the cable grapple skidder is less than the maximum payload of the machine.This is due to the narrow skidding roads and because these skidders are not suitable for the specific site-selective felling with marked single and small groups of trees.The dedicated cable skidders and the adapted cable skidder are very close in productivity.The average productivity of dedicated cable skidders was 17.7 m^(3) h^(-1),while the productivity of the adapted skidder is 14.5 m^(3) h^(-1).Considering this,adapted skidders could be a good solution for improving economic productivity in sensitive forests.展开更多
Given the broad applicability of carbazole structural moieties in materials science and medicinal chemistry,significant efforts have been devoted to developing efficient synthetic catalytic methodologies to access thi...Given the broad applicability of carbazole structural moieties in materials science and medicinal chemistry,significant efforts have been devoted to developing efficient synthetic catalytic methodologies to access this valuable scaffold.Catalyzed direct Csp^(2)-H functionalization provides an effective and costefficient approach to synthesizing carbazoles from simple and readily available starting materials,ensuring a promising path characterized by excellent atom and step economy.This review highlights the substantial progress made in the last 10 years in advancing catalytic Csp^(2)-H functionalization techniques for synthesizing carbazoles.展开更多
Electrochemical CO_(2) reduction is a sustainable method for producing fuels and chemicals using renewable energy sources.Sn is a widely employed catalyst for formate production,with its performance closely influenced...Electrochemical CO_(2) reduction is a sustainable method for producing fuels and chemicals using renewable energy sources.Sn is a widely employed catalyst for formate production,with its performance closely influenced by the catalyst ink formulations and reac-tion conditions.The present study explores the influence of catalyst loading,current density,and binder choice on Sn-based CO_(2) reduc-tion systems.Decreasing catalyst loading from 10 to 1.685 mg·cm^(-2) and increasing current density in highly concentrated bicarbonate solutions significantly enhances formate selectivity,achieving 88%faradaic efficiency(FE)at a current density of−30 mA·cm^(-2) with a cathodic potential of−1.22 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE)and a catalyst loading of 1.685 mg·cm^(-2).This low-loading strategy not only reduces catalyst costs but also enhances surface utilization and suppresses the hydrogen evolution reaction.Nafion enhances formate production when applied as a surface coating rather than pre-mixed in the ink,as evidenced by improved faradaic efficiency and lower cathodic potentials.However,this performance still does not match that of binder-free systems because Sn-based catalysts intrinsic-ally exhibit high catalytic activity,making the binder contribution less significant.Although modifying the electrode surface with binders leads to blocked active sites and increased resistance,polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF)remains promising because of its stability,strength,and conductivity,achieving up to 72%FE to formate at−30 mA·cm^(-2) and−1.66 V vs.RHE.The findings of this research reveal method-ologies for optimizing the catalyst ink formulations and binder utilization to enhance the conversion of CO_(2) to formate,thereby offering crucial insights for the development of a cost-efficient catalyst for high-current-density operations.展开更多
Graft failure is the worst complication of organ transplantation.Considering liver transplantation,aminotransferase levels have been demonstrated to be a precursor of severe graft failure,in particular when they excee...Graft failure is the worst complication of organ transplantation.Considering liver transplantation,aminotransferase levels have been demonstrated to be a precursor of severe graft failure,in particular when they exceed 5000 U/L in the immediate post-operation.However,some studies show that the outcome of the transplanted liver is not determinable by biochemistry alone.One of the most relevant studies is the one published by Lazzarotto-da-Silva et al.In this retrospective study,341 transplanted livers are considered.In 25 cases,this severe biochemical insult has been reported.But despite this event,more than half had significant long-term survival.One of the most valuable elements that emerge from this work is the identification of two easily measurable markers-serum factor V and arterial lactate,which independently can indicate the graft's 90-day outcome.This finding provides a key clinical picture to distinguish patients who are most likely to recover from those destined for irreversible graft loss.In a time where organs are increasingly scarce,these discoveries could facilitate more prudent use of retransplantation,improving both individual outcomes and the overall distribution of resources.This study contributes significantly to a deeper understanding of early graft injury,although larger prospective studies are needed.It highlights the need to move beyond singular value thresholds and toward integrated,evidence-based decision making during the crucial early posttransplant period.This study not only captures risk but also provides a tool for intervention.展开更多
BACKGROUND Eyelid reconstruction is an intricate process,addressing both aesthetic and functional aspects post-trauma or oncological surgery.Aesthetic concerns and oncological radicality guide personalized approaches....BACKGROUND Eyelid reconstruction is an intricate process,addressing both aesthetic and functional aspects post-trauma or oncological surgery.Aesthetic concerns and oncological radicality guide personalized approaches.The complex anatomy,involving anterior and posterior lamellae,requires tailored reconstruction for optimal functionality.AIM To formulate an eyelid reconstruction algorithm through an extensive literature review and to validate it by juxtaposing surgical outcomes from Cattinara Hos-in dry eye and tears,which may lead to long-term consequences such as chronic conjunctivitis,discomfort,or photo-phobia.To prevent this issue,scars should be oriented vertically or perpendicularly to the free eyelid margin when the size of the tumor allows.In employing a malar flap to repair a lower eyelid defect,the malar incision must ascend diagonally;this facilitates enhanced flap advancement and mitigates ectropion by restricting vertical traction.Conse-quently,it is imperative to maintain that the generated tension remains consistently horizontal and never vertical[9].Lagophthalmos is a disorder characterized by the inability to completely close the eyelids,leading to corneal exposure and an increased risk of keratitis or ulceration;it may arise following upper eyelid surgery.To avert this issue,it is essential to preserve a minimum of 1 cm of skin between the superior edge of the excision and the inferior boundary of the eyebrow.Epiphora may occur in cancers involving the lacrimal puncta,requiring their removal.As previously stated,when employing a glabellar flap to rectify medial canthal abnormalities,it is essential to prevent a trapdoor effect or thickening of the flap relative to the eyelid skin to which it is affixed.Constraints about our proposed algorithm enco-mpass limited sample sizes and possible publication biases in existing studies.Subsequent investigations ought to examine long-term results to further refine the algorithm.Future research should evaluate the algorithm across varied populations and examine the impact of novel graft materials on enhancing reconstructive outcomes.CONCLUSION Eyelid reconstruction remains one of the most intriguing challenges for a plastic surgeon today.The most fascinating aspect of this discipline is the need to restore the functionality of such an essential structure while maintaining its aesthetics.In our opinion,creating decision-making algorithms can facilitate reaching this goal by allowing for the individualization of the reconstructive path while minimizing the incidence of complications.The fact that we have decreased the incidence of severe complications is a sign that the work is moving in the right direction.The fact that there has been no need for reintervention,neither for reconstructive issues nor for inadequate oncological radicality,overall signifies greater patient satisfaction as they do not have to undergo the stress of new surgeries.Even the minor complic-ations recorded are in line with those reported in the literature,and,even more importantly for patients,they are of limited duration.In our experience,after a year of application,we can say that the objective has been achieved,but much more can still be done.Behind every work,a scientific basis must be continually renewed and refreshed to maintain high-quality standards.Therefore,searching for possible alternative solutions to be included in one’s surgical armamentarium is fundamental to providing the patient with a fully personalized option.展开更多
Treefall gap, canopy opening caused by the death of one or more trees, is the dominant form of disturbance in many forest systems worldwide. Gaps play an important role in forest ecology helping to pre- serve bio- and...Treefall gap, canopy opening caused by the death of one or more trees, is the dominant form of disturbance in many forest systems worldwide. Gaps play an important role in forest ecology helping to pre- serve bio- and pedo-diversity, influencing nutrient cycles, and maintain- ing the complex structure of the late-successional forests. Over the last 30 years, numerous reviews have been written describing gap dynamics. Here we synthesize current understanding on gap dynamics relating to tree regeneration with particular emphasis on gap characteristics consid- ered critical to develop ecologically sustainable forest management sys- tems and to conserve native biodiversity. Specifically, we addressed the question： how do gaps influence forest structure？ From the literature re- viewed, the size of gaps induces important changes in factors such as light intensity, soil humidity and soil biological properties that influence tree species regeneration and differ in gaps of different sizes. Shade- tolerant species can colonize small gaps; shade-intolerant species need large gaps for successful regeneration. Additionally, gap dynamics differ between temperate, boreal, and tropical forests, showing the importance of climate differences in driving forest regeneration. This review summa- rizes information of use to forest managers who design cutting regimes that mimic natural disturbances and who must consider forest structure, forest climate, and the role of natural disturbance in their designs.展开更多
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) can be really considered to be systemic diseases since they are often associated with extraintestinal manifestations,complications, and other autoimmune disorders. Indeed,physicians w...Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) can be really considered to be systemic diseases since they are often associated with extraintestinal manifestations,complications, and other autoimmune disorders. Indeed,physicians who care for patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, the two major forms of IBD, face a new clinical challenge every day, worsened by the very frequent rate of extraintestinal complications. The goal of this review is to provide an overview and an update on the extraintestinal complications occurring in IBD.Indeed, this paper highlights how virtually almost every organ system can be involved, principally eyes, skin,joints, kidneys, liver and biliary tracts, and vasculature (or vascular system) are the most common sites of systemic IBD and their involvement is dependent on different mechanisms.展开更多
Considering that diverse fire severities can affect soil properties differently,the aim of this study was to examine to what extent changes in soil properties caused by fire could condition seedling establishment.This...Considering that diverse fire severities can affect soil properties differently,the aim of this study was to examine to what extent changes in soil properties caused by fire could condition seedling establishment.This new approach is for identifying a new fire cause-effect chain to qualify the impacts of fire on soils with the purpose of using fire as a tool in forest management to favour Pinus halepensis Mill.regeneration.The study area was a reforested P.halepensis area which had been crossed by fire for78.8 ha,causing various degrees of damage.The forest was subdivided into three large areas according to the gravity of crown scorch,[low(LS),medium(MS)and high(HS)severity],on the basis of needle yellowing which usually occurs after exposure to direct flames.Results showed significant differences in soil properties with respect to fire severity.In the HS area,total nitrogen and carbon were considerably reduced while ash and phosphorus contents significantly increased.The changes in soil properties,in particular to nutrient levels,affected P.halepensis regeneration,mainly the first year after the fire.Greater regeneration occurred in areas affected by moderate fire severity in which the temperatures reached increased the mineralization of soil organic matter with the consequent release of nutrients available for seedling growth.Additionally,moderate fire severity suppressed the regeneration of grasses,reducing the interspecific competition.Heights of seedlings were inversely proportional to the density of grasses.Where the number was abundant(LS),the height was modest;conversely,where the number was low(HS),the greater hypsometric differentiation of pine seedlings was observed.These results suggest that moderate fire severity represents an environmental stress(hormesis)altering microscale conditions to increase pine germination and establishment.The exposure of P.halpensis to a moderate environmental factor that is damaging at higher intensities,induces an adaptive beneficial effect on seedling regeneration.This data can re-evaluate the assertion that coniferous burned areas,if left unmanaged,would remain unproductive for an indefinite period.展开更多
Fetal malformations are very frequent in industrialized countries.Although advanced maternal age may affect pregnancy outcome adversely,80%-90%of fetal malformations occur in the absence of a specific risk factor for ...Fetal malformations are very frequent in industrialized countries.Although advanced maternal age may affect pregnancy outcome adversely,80%-90%of fetal malformations occur in the absence of a specific risk factor for parents.The only effective approach for prenatal screening is currently represented by an ultrasound scan.However,ultrasound methods present two important limitations:the substantial absence of quantitative parameters and the dependence on the sonographer experience.In recent years,together with the improvement in transducer technology,quantitative and objective sonographic markers highly predictive of fetal malformations have been developed.These markers can be detected at early gestation(11-14 wk)and generally are not pathological in themselves but have an increased incidence in abnormal fetuses.Thus,prenatal ultrasonography during the second trimester of gestation provides a"genetic sonogram",including,for instance,nuchal translucency,short humeral length,echogenic bowel,echogenic intracardiac focus and choroid plexus cyst,that is used to identify morphological features of fetal Down’s syndrome with a potential sensitivity of more than 90%.Other specific and sensitive markers can be seen in the case of cardiac defects and skeletal anomalies.In the future,sonographic markers could limit even more the use of invasive and dangerous techniques of prenatal diagnosis(amniocentesis,etc.).展开更多
This work reviews technologies that can be used to develop low-temperature solid oxide cells(LT-SOCs)and can be applied in fuel cells and electrolyzers operating at temperatures below 500℃,thus providing a more cost-...This work reviews technologies that can be used to develop low-temperature solid oxide cells(LT-SOCs)and can be applied in fuel cells and electrolyzers operating at temperatures below 500℃,thus providing a more cost-effective alternative than conventional high-temperature SOCs.Two routes showing potential to reduce the operating temperature of SOCs to below 500℃ are discussed.The first route is the principal way to enhance cell performance,namely,structure optimization.This technique includes the reduction of electrolyte thickness to the nanometer scale and the exploration of electrode structure with low polarization resistance.The other route is the development of novel protonconducting electrolyte materials,which is in the frontier of SOCs study.The fundamentals of proton conduction and the design principles of commonly used electrolyte materials are briefly explained.The most widely studied electrolyte materials for LT-SOCs,namely,perovskitetype BaCeO_(3) -and BaZrO_(3) -based oxides,and the effect of doping on the physical-chemical properties of these oxide materials are summarized.展开更多
The purpose of the next internet of things(Io T)is that of making available myriad of services to people by high sensing intelligent devices capable of reasoning and real time acting.The convergence of Io T and multi-...The purpose of the next internet of things(Io T)is that of making available myriad of services to people by high sensing intelligent devices capable of reasoning and real time acting.The convergence of Io T and multi-agent systems(MAS)provides the opportunity to benefit from the social attitude of agents in order to perform machine-to-machine(M2 M)cooperation among smart entities.However,the selection of reliable partners for cooperation represents a hard task in a mobile and federated context,especially because the trustworthiness of devices is largely unreferenced.The issues discussed above can be synthesized by recalling the well known concept of social resilience in Io T systems,i.e.,the capability of an Io T network to resist to possible attacks by malicious agent that potentially could infect large areas of the network,spamming unreliable information and/or assuming unfair behaviors.In this sense,social resilience is devoted to face malicious activities of software agents in their social interactions,and do not deal with the correct working of the sensors and other information devices.In this setting,the use of a reputation model can be a practicable and effective solution to form local communities of agents on the basis of their social capabilities.In this paper,we propose a framework for agents operating in an Io T environment,called Res Io T,where the formation of communities for collaborative purposes is performed on the basis of agent reputation.In order to validate our approach,we performed an experimental campaign by means of a simulated framework,which allowed us to verify that,by our approach,devices have not any economic convenience to performs misleading behaviors.Moreover,further experimental results have shown that our approach is able to detect the nature of the active agents in the systems(i.e.,honest and malicious),with an accuracy of not less than 11%compared to the best competitor tested and highlighting a high resilience with respect to some malicious activities.展开更多
The use of non-equilibrium plasmas for the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts is a field that has not been explored intensively. The main reasons for the recent increase of research activity in this field are relate...The use of non-equilibrium plasmas for the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts is a field that has not been explored intensively. The main reasons for the recent increase of research activity in this field are related to the advantages that go with the technique of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition （PECVD）. The most principal of these advantages are the possibility to avoid the use of environmentally harmful solvents and the one-step nature of the procedure, making it very time and labor efficient. Non-equilibrium plasma technology, more in particular dielectric barrier discharge （DBD） technology, has been applied in this work for the synthesis of hybrid tin-silicate materials to be used as a heterogeneous catalyst in the isomerization of glucose into fructose. Atomizers, innovative devices which make it possible to inject nanosized precursor liquids into the plasma zone, are used instead of applying vapor phase techniques, where the amount of precursor is limited by the vapor pressure of the liquid. A design of experiments approach has been employed to investigate the effect of the plasma parameters, namely gas flow, frequency and power density, on the catalytic properties of the catalysts within a well-defined parameter field. It has been found that indeed these parameters, together with the molar ratio of Si/Sn, have an important influence on the activity, selectivity, and thus yield of the produced chemicals.展开更多
About one-fourth of adults globally suffer from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD), which is becoming a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Its prevalence has rapidly increased in recent years, and ...About one-fourth of adults globally suffer from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD), which is becoming a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Its prevalence has rapidly increased in recent years, and is projected to increase even more. NAFLD is a leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), the sixth-most prevalent cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death. Although the molecular basis of HCC onset in NAFLD is not completely known, inflammation is a key player. The tumor microenvironment(TME) is heterogeneous in patients with HCC, and is characterized by complex interactions between immune system cells, tumor cells and other stromal and resident liver cells. The etiology of liver disease plays a role in controlling the TME and modulating the immune response. Markers of immune suppression in the TME are associated with a poor prognosis in several solid tumors. Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs) has become the main option for treating cancers, including HCC. However, meta-analyses have shown that patients with NAFLD-related HCC are less likely to benefit from therapy based on ICIs alone. Conversely, the addition of an angiogenesis inhibitor showed better results regarding the objective response rate and progression-free survival. Adjunctive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, such as the application of novel biomarkers and the modulation of gut microbiota, should be considered in the future to guide personalized medicine and improve the response to ICIs in patients with NAFLD-related HCC.展开更多
基金supported by the inter-institutional agreement between the University of Forestry (Bulgaria)the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria (Italy)by the Ph.D. course “Agricultural, Food and Forestry Science” of the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria (Italy)—XXXIX cycle。
文摘Sustainable forest management practices frequently confront the tension between economic viability and conservation objectives,particularly where forests occur in environmentally sensitive zones.The use of skidders in protected areas is an essential solution for enabling timber harvesting in environments where the establishment of new skidding trails is either prohibited or highly restricted.These machines are the most used timber extraction machines in Central and Eastern Europe,and cable/adapted skidders are used to increase productivity and to reduce labor.This study compared the work cycles,productivity and costs of four types of skidders working in similar coniferous stands:a dedicated cable skidder,a dedicated cable-grapple skidder,a dedicated grapple skidder and an adapted skidder.The comparison of delay-free work cycles of the four skidders showed the largest share is occupied by travel loaded.The cable-grapple skidder had the highest average speed of 5.6 km h^(-1),followed by the grapple skidder at 3.97 km h^(-1),the cable skidder at 3.79 km h^(-1),and the adapted skidder with an average speed of 3.31 km h^(-1).The average delay-free productivity of the study skidders is highest for the adapted skidder,followed by the grapple skidder with a slightly lower rate,the cable-grapple skidder,and the cable skidder.In conclusion,the average payload of the grapple skidder and the cable grapple skidder is less than the maximum payload of the machine.This is due to the narrow skidding roads and because these skidders are not suitable for the specific site-selective felling with marked single and small groups of trees.The dedicated cable skidders and the adapted cable skidder are very close in productivity.The average productivity of dedicated cable skidders was 17.7 m^(3) h^(-1),while the productivity of the adapted skidder is 14.5 m^(3) h^(-1).Considering this,adapted skidders could be a good solution for improving economic productivity in sensitive forests.
基金support and funding by the European Union-Next Generation EU under the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) National Innovation Ecosystem (No.ECS00000041-VITALITY and also “Ecosistema TECH4YOU-(Spoke 3-Goal 3.5)MUR is thanked for PRIN-PNRR 2022 project "P2022XKWH7-Circular Waste+3 种基金The University of Perugia is acknowledged for financial support to the university project “Fondo Ricerca di Ateneo,edizione 2022”The National Ph D program in Catalysis coordinated by the University of Perugia is also thankedthe financial supports of key research and development and technology transfer projects of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (No.2025KJHZ0008)major special projects of science and technology of Ordos (No.2022EEDSKJZDZX003)。
文摘Given the broad applicability of carbazole structural moieties in materials science and medicinal chemistry,significant efforts have been devoted to developing efficient synthetic catalytic methodologies to access this valuable scaffold.Catalyzed direct Csp^(2)-H functionalization provides an effective and costefficient approach to synthesizing carbazoles from simple and readily available starting materials,ensuring a promising path characterized by excellent atom and step economy.This review highlights the substantial progress made in the last 10 years in advancing catalytic Csp^(2)-H functionalization techniques for synthesizing carbazoles.
基金financially supported by a PhD Grant from VITO’s Strategic Research Funds(No.2310345).
文摘Electrochemical CO_(2) reduction is a sustainable method for producing fuels and chemicals using renewable energy sources.Sn is a widely employed catalyst for formate production,with its performance closely influenced by the catalyst ink formulations and reac-tion conditions.The present study explores the influence of catalyst loading,current density,and binder choice on Sn-based CO_(2) reduc-tion systems.Decreasing catalyst loading from 10 to 1.685 mg·cm^(-2) and increasing current density in highly concentrated bicarbonate solutions significantly enhances formate selectivity,achieving 88%faradaic efficiency(FE)at a current density of−30 mA·cm^(-2) with a cathodic potential of−1.22 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE)and a catalyst loading of 1.685 mg·cm^(-2).This low-loading strategy not only reduces catalyst costs but also enhances surface utilization and suppresses the hydrogen evolution reaction.Nafion enhances formate production when applied as a surface coating rather than pre-mixed in the ink,as evidenced by improved faradaic efficiency and lower cathodic potentials.However,this performance still does not match that of binder-free systems because Sn-based catalysts intrinsic-ally exhibit high catalytic activity,making the binder contribution less significant.Although modifying the electrode surface with binders leads to blocked active sites and increased resistance,polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF)remains promising because of its stability,strength,and conductivity,achieving up to 72%FE to formate at−30 mA·cm^(-2) and−1.66 V vs.RHE.The findings of this research reveal method-ologies for optimizing the catalyst ink formulations and binder utilization to enhance the conversion of CO_(2) to formate,thereby offering crucial insights for the development of a cost-efficient catalyst for high-current-density operations.
文摘Graft failure is the worst complication of organ transplantation.Considering liver transplantation,aminotransferase levels have been demonstrated to be a precursor of severe graft failure,in particular when they exceed 5000 U/L in the immediate post-operation.However,some studies show that the outcome of the transplanted liver is not determinable by biochemistry alone.One of the most relevant studies is the one published by Lazzarotto-da-Silva et al.In this retrospective study,341 transplanted livers are considered.In 25 cases,this severe biochemical insult has been reported.But despite this event,more than half had significant long-term survival.One of the most valuable elements that emerge from this work is the identification of two easily measurable markers-serum factor V and arterial lactate,which independently can indicate the graft's 90-day outcome.This finding provides a key clinical picture to distinguish patients who are most likely to recover from those destined for irreversible graft loss.In a time where organs are increasingly scarce,these discoveries could facilitate more prudent use of retransplantation,improving both individual outcomes and the overall distribution of resources.This study contributes significantly to a deeper understanding of early graft injury,although larger prospective studies are needed.It highlights the need to move beyond singular value thresholds and toward integrated,evidence-based decision making during the crucial early posttransplant period.This study not only captures risk but also provides a tool for intervention.
文摘BACKGROUND Eyelid reconstruction is an intricate process,addressing both aesthetic and functional aspects post-trauma or oncological surgery.Aesthetic concerns and oncological radicality guide personalized approaches.The complex anatomy,involving anterior and posterior lamellae,requires tailored reconstruction for optimal functionality.AIM To formulate an eyelid reconstruction algorithm through an extensive literature review and to validate it by juxtaposing surgical outcomes from Cattinara Hos-in dry eye and tears,which may lead to long-term consequences such as chronic conjunctivitis,discomfort,or photo-phobia.To prevent this issue,scars should be oriented vertically or perpendicularly to the free eyelid margin when the size of the tumor allows.In employing a malar flap to repair a lower eyelid defect,the malar incision must ascend diagonally;this facilitates enhanced flap advancement and mitigates ectropion by restricting vertical traction.Conse-quently,it is imperative to maintain that the generated tension remains consistently horizontal and never vertical[9].Lagophthalmos is a disorder characterized by the inability to completely close the eyelids,leading to corneal exposure and an increased risk of keratitis or ulceration;it may arise following upper eyelid surgery.To avert this issue,it is essential to preserve a minimum of 1 cm of skin between the superior edge of the excision and the inferior boundary of the eyebrow.Epiphora may occur in cancers involving the lacrimal puncta,requiring their removal.As previously stated,when employing a glabellar flap to rectify medial canthal abnormalities,it is essential to prevent a trapdoor effect or thickening of the flap relative to the eyelid skin to which it is affixed.Constraints about our proposed algorithm enco-mpass limited sample sizes and possible publication biases in existing studies.Subsequent investigations ought to examine long-term results to further refine the algorithm.Future research should evaluate the algorithm across varied populations and examine the impact of novel graft materials on enhancing reconstructive outcomes.CONCLUSION Eyelid reconstruction remains one of the most intriguing challenges for a plastic surgeon today.The most fascinating aspect of this discipline is the need to restore the functionality of such an essential structure while maintaining its aesthetics.In our opinion,creating decision-making algorithms can facilitate reaching this goal by allowing for the individualization of the reconstructive path while minimizing the incidence of complications.The fact that we have decreased the incidence of severe complications is a sign that the work is moving in the right direction.The fact that there has been no need for reintervention,neither for reconstructive issues nor for inadequate oncological radicality,overall signifies greater patient satisfaction as they do not have to undergo the stress of new surgeries.Even the minor complic-ations recorded are in line with those reported in the literature,and,even more importantly for patients,they are of limited duration.In our experience,after a year of application,we can say that the objective has been achieved,but much more can still be done.Behind every work,a scientific basis must be continually renewed and refreshed to maintain high-quality standards.Therefore,searching for possible alternative solutions to be included in one’s surgical armamentarium is fundamental to providing the patient with a fully personalized option.
基金supported through funds provided by Regione Calabria within the project"Robinwood Plus"-Interreg IV C
文摘Treefall gap, canopy opening caused by the death of one or more trees, is the dominant form of disturbance in many forest systems worldwide. Gaps play an important role in forest ecology helping to pre- serve bio- and pedo-diversity, influencing nutrient cycles, and maintain- ing the complex structure of the late-successional forests. Over the last 30 years, numerous reviews have been written describing gap dynamics. Here we synthesize current understanding on gap dynamics relating to tree regeneration with particular emphasis on gap characteristics consid- ered critical to develop ecologically sustainable forest management sys- tems and to conserve native biodiversity. Specifically, we addressed the question： how do gaps influence forest structure？ From the literature re- viewed, the size of gaps induces important changes in factors such as light intensity, soil humidity and soil biological properties that influence tree species regeneration and differ in gaps of different sizes. Shade- tolerant species can colonize small gaps; shade-intolerant species need large gaps for successful regeneration. Additionally, gap dynamics differ between temperate, boreal, and tropical forests, showing the importance of climate differences in driving forest regeneration. This review summa- rizes information of use to forest managers who design cutting regimes that mimic natural disturbances and who must consider forest structure, forest climate, and the role of natural disturbance in their designs.
基金Supported by an unrestricted grant from Fondazione Ricerca in Medicina
文摘Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) can be really considered to be systemic diseases since they are often associated with extraintestinal manifestations,complications, and other autoimmune disorders. Indeed,physicians who care for patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, the two major forms of IBD, face a new clinical challenge every day, worsened by the very frequent rate of extraintestinal complications. The goal of this review is to provide an overview and an update on the extraintestinal complications occurring in IBD.Indeed, this paper highlights how virtually almost every organ system can be involved, principally eyes, skin,joints, kidneys, liver and biliary tracts, and vasculature (or vascular system) are the most common sites of systemic IBD and their involvement is dependent on different mechanisms.
基金This work was supported by Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria Italy as part of the Lifelong Learning Program ERASMUS Placement 2013-2014.
文摘Considering that diverse fire severities can affect soil properties differently,the aim of this study was to examine to what extent changes in soil properties caused by fire could condition seedling establishment.This new approach is for identifying a new fire cause-effect chain to qualify the impacts of fire on soils with the purpose of using fire as a tool in forest management to favour Pinus halepensis Mill.regeneration.The study area was a reforested P.halepensis area which had been crossed by fire for78.8 ha,causing various degrees of damage.The forest was subdivided into three large areas according to the gravity of crown scorch,[low(LS),medium(MS)and high(HS)severity],on the basis of needle yellowing which usually occurs after exposure to direct flames.Results showed significant differences in soil properties with respect to fire severity.In the HS area,total nitrogen and carbon were considerably reduced while ash and phosphorus contents significantly increased.The changes in soil properties,in particular to nutrient levels,affected P.halepensis regeneration,mainly the first year after the fire.Greater regeneration occurred in areas affected by moderate fire severity in which the temperatures reached increased the mineralization of soil organic matter with the consequent release of nutrients available for seedling growth.Additionally,moderate fire severity suppressed the regeneration of grasses,reducing the interspecific competition.Heights of seedlings were inversely proportional to the density of grasses.Where the number was abundant(LS),the height was modest;conversely,where the number was low(HS),the greater hypsometric differentiation of pine seedlings was observed.These results suggest that moderate fire severity represents an environmental stress(hormesis)altering microscale conditions to increase pine germination and establishment.The exposure of P.halpensis to a moderate environmental factor that is damaging at higher intensities,induces an adaptive beneficial effect on seedling regeneration.This data can re-evaluate the assertion that coniferous burned areas,if left unmanaged,would remain unproductive for an indefinite period.
基金Supported by FESR P.O.Apulia Region 2007-2013-Action 1.2.4(grant number 3Q5AX31)the National Council of Research Project AMOLAB
文摘Fetal malformations are very frequent in industrialized countries.Although advanced maternal age may affect pregnancy outcome adversely,80%-90%of fetal malformations occur in the absence of a specific risk factor for parents.The only effective approach for prenatal screening is currently represented by an ultrasound scan.However,ultrasound methods present two important limitations:the substantial absence of quantitative parameters and the dependence on the sonographer experience.In recent years,together with the improvement in transducer technology,quantitative and objective sonographic markers highly predictive of fetal malformations have been developed.These markers can be detected at early gestation(11-14 wk)and generally are not pathological in themselves but have an increased incidence in abnormal fetuses.Thus,prenatal ultrasonography during the second trimester of gestation provides a"genetic sonogram",including,for instance,nuchal translucency,short humeral length,echogenic bowel,echogenic intracardiac focus and choroid plexus cyst,that is used to identify morphological features of fetal Down’s syndrome with a potential sensitivity of more than 90%.Other specific and sensitive markers can be seen in the case of cardiac defects and skeletal anomalies.In the future,sonographic markers could limit even more the use of invasive and dangerous techniques of prenatal diagnosis(amniocentesis,etc.).
文摘This work reviews technologies that can be used to develop low-temperature solid oxide cells(LT-SOCs)and can be applied in fuel cells and electrolyzers operating at temperatures below 500℃,thus providing a more cost-effective alternative than conventional high-temperature SOCs.Two routes showing potential to reduce the operating temperature of SOCs to below 500℃ are discussed.The first route is the principal way to enhance cell performance,namely,structure optimization.This technique includes the reduction of electrolyte thickness to the nanometer scale and the exploration of electrode structure with low polarization resistance.The other route is the development of novel protonconducting electrolyte materials,which is in the frontier of SOCs study.The fundamentals of proton conduction and the design principles of commonly used electrolyte materials are briefly explained.The most widely studied electrolyte materials for LT-SOCs,namely,perovskitetype BaCeO_(3) -and BaZrO_(3) -based oxides,and the effect of doping on the physical-chemical properties of these oxide materials are summarized.
基金partially supported by the University of Catania,Piano per la Ricerca 2016-2018-Linea di intervento 1(Chance),prot.2019-UNCTCLE-0343614the Italian MIUR,PRIN 2017 Project“Fluidware”(CUP H24I17000070001)。
文摘The purpose of the next internet of things(Io T)is that of making available myriad of services to people by high sensing intelligent devices capable of reasoning and real time acting.The convergence of Io T and multi-agent systems(MAS)provides the opportunity to benefit from the social attitude of agents in order to perform machine-to-machine(M2 M)cooperation among smart entities.However,the selection of reliable partners for cooperation represents a hard task in a mobile and federated context,especially because the trustworthiness of devices is largely unreferenced.The issues discussed above can be synthesized by recalling the well known concept of social resilience in Io T systems,i.e.,the capability of an Io T network to resist to possible attacks by malicious agent that potentially could infect large areas of the network,spamming unreliable information and/or assuming unfair behaviors.In this sense,social resilience is devoted to face malicious activities of software agents in their social interactions,and do not deal with the correct working of the sensors and other information devices.In this setting,the use of a reputation model can be a practicable and effective solution to form local communities of agents on the basis of their social capabilities.In this paper,we propose a framework for agents operating in an Io T environment,called Res Io T,where the formation of communities for collaborative purposes is performed on the basis of agent reputation.In order to validate our approach,we performed an experimental campaign by means of a simulated framework,which allowed us to verify that,by our approach,devices have not any economic convenience to performs misleading behaviors.Moreover,further experimental results have shown that our approach is able to detect the nature of the active agents in the systems(i.e.,honest and malicious),with an accuracy of not less than 11%compared to the best competitor tested and highlighting a high resilience with respect to some malicious activities.
基金the PhD scholarship,awarded by VITO,and the funding granted by SBO-IWT,IAP(Belspo)the Methusalem long-term financing of the Flemish government
文摘The use of non-equilibrium plasmas for the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts is a field that has not been explored intensively. The main reasons for the recent increase of research activity in this field are related to the advantages that go with the technique of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition （PECVD）. The most principal of these advantages are the possibility to avoid the use of environmentally harmful solvents and the one-step nature of the procedure, making it very time and labor efficient. Non-equilibrium plasma technology, more in particular dielectric barrier discharge （DBD） technology, has been applied in this work for the synthesis of hybrid tin-silicate materials to be used as a heterogeneous catalyst in the isomerization of glucose into fructose. Atomizers, innovative devices which make it possible to inject nanosized precursor liquids into the plasma zone, are used instead of applying vapor phase techniques, where the amount of precursor is limited by the vapor pressure of the liquid. A design of experiments approach has been employed to investigate the effect of the plasma parameters, namely gas flow, frequency and power density, on the catalytic properties of the catalysts within a well-defined parameter field. It has been found that indeed these parameters, together with the molar ratio of Si/Sn, have an important influence on the activity, selectivity, and thus yield of the produced chemicals.
基金Fondazione Roma for continuous support to our scientific research。
文摘About one-fourth of adults globally suffer from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD), which is becoming a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Its prevalence has rapidly increased in recent years, and is projected to increase even more. NAFLD is a leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), the sixth-most prevalent cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death. Although the molecular basis of HCC onset in NAFLD is not completely known, inflammation is a key player. The tumor microenvironment(TME) is heterogeneous in patients with HCC, and is characterized by complex interactions between immune system cells, tumor cells and other stromal and resident liver cells. The etiology of liver disease plays a role in controlling the TME and modulating the immune response. Markers of immune suppression in the TME are associated with a poor prognosis in several solid tumors. Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs) has become the main option for treating cancers, including HCC. However, meta-analyses have shown that patients with NAFLD-related HCC are less likely to benefit from therapy based on ICIs alone. Conversely, the addition of an angiogenesis inhibitor showed better results regarding the objective response rate and progression-free survival. Adjunctive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, such as the application of novel biomarkers and the modulation of gut microbiota, should be considered in the future to guide personalized medicine and improve the response to ICIs in patients with NAFLD-related HCC.
