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Antifibrotic therapy in patients with acute lung injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textBackground: Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and often irreversible condition that can develop following acute lung injury (ALI), particularly in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. Antifibrotic agents such as pirfenidone and nintedanib slow fibrosis progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but their role in post-ALI fibrosis remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of antifibrotic therapy on mortality and secondary outcomes in patients with ALI. Methods: We searched Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane up to 17 March 2025 for randomized controlled trials and observational studies comparing antifibrotic therapy to standard care in patients with ALI. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at the longest follow-up available. Secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay and radiological and functional findings. Results: We identified six studies (two randomized, two propensity matched and two case control studies) for a total of 697 COVID-19 patients and no study performed on non-COVID-19 patients. Antifibrotic therapy was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality compared to the control group (16.1% vs. 23.9%, OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.40–0.93, p = 0.02, I2 = 40%). The number needed to treat to prevent one death was 13. There was no significant difference in length of hospital stay between the antifibrotic and control groups. Individual studies reported improvements in computed tomography severity scores and pulmonary function parameters in the antifibrotic group. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that antifibrotic therapy might reduce mortality in patients with ALI. Improvements in radiological and functional outcomes indicate a potential role for antifibrotic agents in modifying disease progression. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm these results and determine the optimal use of antifibrotic therapy in post-ALI fibrosis. The PROSPERO Registration: The study protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (registration number CRD420251001885)
International Yearbook of Futurism Studies
No full textThe Primitive as a cross-disciplinary and cross-geographical feature of
the historical avant-garde established new aesthetic models that functioned as alternatives
to the standards taught in the academies at the time. Amongst many
other things, this led in Europe to the ‘discovery’ (or rather: ‘creation’) of ‘tribal’
art. In Central and Eastern European countries, the Primitive was sought less frequently
in the exotic domain than in hitherto neglected cultures of peasants and
mountain dwellers. This is especially true for Poland, risen from the ashes of
three Empires at the end of the First Word War. The present essay deals with
three different approaches to this construct in Polish Futurism (and partly in
the closely related artistic group of Formists). What distinguished the Polish Futurists
was that they did not, on the whole, operate using a geographical concept of
‘otherness’ (as in the case of the art of Africa or Oceania), or take any inspiration
from a temporal past (as with prehistoric or medieval art). Instead, their primitive
model was a social construct (as with folk art). In Poland, the distance could also
be projected onto the future, as was the case with the Warsaw Futurists when they
rejected the whole of national culture in the name of a primitive-to-come, or onto a
mythic past, as in Aleksander Wat and Julian Tuwim’s literary Ur-Sprache created
in the spirit of Russian zaum’
Problematizzare la “cancel culture”: una sfida per le Interculture Postdigitali
No full textThe following article introduces the topic of this special issue “Questioning‘cancel culture’: challenges for Postdigital Intercultures”; such topic is described both as a challenge and as a testing ground in the research area of digital intercultural studies. The text briefly describes the so-called “cancel culture” as an “essentially contested concept”, particularly in the political and cultural domains; then it outlines a map – however brief and temporary - of some areas where such disputes take place (social web, cultural heritage, university contexts, and
children’s media productions). The article then seeks to describe some postdigital and intercultural features of such debates, also underlining their connections with intersectional and postcolonial approaches. Finally, the analysis aims at explaining the specific contribution that can be brought to this area of research by the
pedagogical–intercultural and media-educational perspectives combined together
Patient experience and shared decision-making in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer: A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative evidence
No full textIntroduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer generally has a good prognosis and can be successfully treated with different modalities (including de-escalation); therefore, shared decision-making regarding treatment has a special role. We aimed to assess how the patients experience this diagnosis in light of optimizing shared decision-making. Materials and Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched in two systematic reviews (CRD42023484134 and CRD42024501211). Studies were included if they described how patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer experience their illness and what factors they consider when confronted with a treatment decision. A results-based convergent synthesis design was adopted to analyze qualitative and quantitative evidence separately, then integrated through a narrative synthesis approach. Results: Nine of the 1978 articles met the selection criteria, resulting in a total of 392 patients being included. Five factors influencing patient decision-making were identified from the quantitative evidence: priority for cure and survival, and preference for de-intensification, which resulted in top-ranked issues for over 65% and 73% of patients who expressed them, respectively. Three qualitative themes were identified to encapsulate patient experiences, encompassing domains related to receiving and dealing with the diagnosis, decision-making, and perception of the impact of treatments. Based on these findings, a prompting list was created as a suggested communication toolkit for clinical practice. Conclusions: Our systematic review of the literature highlighted the multifaceted and complex experiences of patients facing the diagnosis of a curatively treatable HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Our findings should be considered for optimal shared decision-making in clinical practice
A measurement of the high-mass ττ ̄ production cross-section at s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector and constraints on new particles and couplings
No full textThe production cross-section of high-mass τ-lepton pairs is measured as a function of the dilepton visible invariant mass, using 140 fb−1 of s=13 TeV proton-proton collision data recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The measurement agrees with the predictions of the Standard Model. A fit to the invariant mass distribution is performed as a function of b-jet multiplicity, to constrain the non-resonant production of new particles described by an effective field theory or in models containing leptoquarks or Z′ bosons that couple preferentially to third-generation fermions. The constraints on new particles improve on previous results, and the constraints on effective operators include those affecting the anomalous magnetic moment of the τ-lepton
Machining of Critical Aerospace Components: Challenges and Case Studies
No full textThe aerospace industry in Italy is an increasingly important contributor to economy, with a highly skilled workforce and the presence of companies operating globally. Machining processes constitute a fundamental part of the manufacturing supply chain, with a global market size exceeding 22 billion euros in 2020. However, evolving industry demands for components with increasingly stringent requirements necessitate optimized and reconfigurable machining processes. This White Paper investigates advanced methodologies for optimizing chip removal processes in the manufacturing of aerospace components and outlines key challenges and potential solutions through case studies, aiming to provide practical insights for industrial players. The paper focuses on critical components such as mirrors, aeroengine airfoils, and aerospace structures addressing issues like deflection/deformation, vibrations and surface quality/ integrity
Measurement of the associated production of a top-antitop-quark pair and a Higgs boson decaying into a bb ̄ pair in pp collisions at √s=13 TeV using the ATLAS detector at the LHC
No full textThis paper reports the measurement of Higgs boson production in association with a tt ̄ pair in the H→bb ̄ decay channel. The analysis uses 140 fb-1 of 13 TeV proton–proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The final states with one or two electrons or muons are employed. An excess of events over the expected background is found with an observed (expected) significance of 4.6 (5.4) standard deviations. The tt ̄H cross-section is σtt ̄H=411-92+101fb=411±54(stat.)-75+85(syst.)fb for a Higgs boson mass of 125.09 GeV, consistent with the prediction of the Standard Model of 507-50+35 fb. The cross-section is also measured differentially in bins of the Higgs boson transverse momentum within the simplified template cross-section framework
Apple fruitlet drop prediction using spectral Vis/NIR and growth diameter times-series
No full textIn apple production different thinning strategies are applied to produce optimal yields of marketable fruit and to reduce the risk of alternate bearing. However, the effectiveness of a chemical thinning treatment is highly variable being influenced by the tree’s physiological state and environmental conditions both before and after application. Optical sensing with a visible/near-infrared spectrophotometer is tested as a prediction tool to decide if a further thinning treatment is required and precisely thin trees in the orchards. In 2023, in Southwest Germany and in Northern Italy, the apple cultivars ‘Gala’ and ‘Braeburn’ were chemically thinned between the 8-15 mm fruit diameter growth stage. King and second lateral fruitlets, which were the target of the thinning, were measured with digital calipers and optically scanned before and up to 13 days after thinning treatments. Thinning treatments effectively reduced fruit set by one half. Receiver operating characteristic curves were tested separately on spectral indices and fruit diameter growth. Spectral monitoring recorded similar information as measuring fruit diameter growth. The obtained area under the curves were >75% on 5-8 days after treatment for both cultivars. Persisting fruitlets showed higher light absorption in the chlorophyll and water related wavelength regions and higher light reflectance from the near-infrared region (699 to 939 nm)
Current role of ceftobiprole in the treatment of hospital-acquired and community-acquired pneumonia: expert opinion based on literature and real-life experiences
No full textIntroduction: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) are major global health challenges, with high morbidity and mortality rates. The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria may diminish the effectiveness of standard empirical antibiotics, highlighting the need for broader-spectrum agents that target also MDR organisms. Areas covered: This review summarizes findings from a PubMed search on the use of ceftobiprole in CAP and HAP. It highlights key features of ceftobiprole, including its mechanism of action and broad spectrum of activity against multiple MDR pathogens. Clinical data from randomized controlled trials and real-world studies underscore its non-inferiority to standard treatments, with favorable safety profile and high clinical cure rates even in challenging cases. Expert opinion: Ceftobiprole represents a valid option for the patients with CAP and HAP. Its main advantages include its broad spectrum of activity, making it a valuable therapeutic choice for treating polymicrobial infections, and its favorable safety profile, which makes it a good candidate in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities and polypharmacy. Caution is advised in patients at high risk of ESBL-producing organisms or MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, where combination therapy is recommended. Moreover, therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended to improve outcomes, particularly in complex clinical conditions
Search for vector-like leptons coupling to first- and second-generation Standard Model leptons in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
No full textA search for pair production of vector-like leptons coupling to first- and second-generation Standard Model leptons is presented. The search is based on a dataset of proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb−1. Events are categorised depending on the flavour and multiplicity of leptons (electrons or muons), as well as on the scores of a deep neural network targeting particular signal topologies according to the decay modes of the vector-like leptons. In each of the signal regions, the scalar sum of the transverse momentum of the leptons and the missing transverse momentum is analysed. The main background processes are estimated using dedicated control regions in a simultaneous fit with the signal regions to data. No significant excess above the Standard Model background expectation is observed and limits are set at 95% confidence level on the production cross-sections of vector-like electrons and muons as a function of the vector-like lepton mass, separately for SU(2) doublet and singlet scenarios. The resulting mass lower limits are 1220 GeV (1270 GeV) and 320 GeV (400 GeV) for vector-like electrons (muons) in the doublet and singlet scenarios, respectively