27 research outputs found
Pennella brachiata Blainville 1822
No full textPennella brachiata (Blainville, 1822) Not valid. Blainville (1822) established a new genus Lenaeopenna (synonym of Pennella; Wilson, 1917) based on a single specimen (probably P. sagitta; Wilson 1917 ), which was not actually seen or examined by the author. Accepted as P. sagitta (Walter & Boxshall 2015).Published as part of Hogans, W. E., 2017, Review of Pennella Oken, 1816 (Copepoda: Pennellidae) with a description of Pennella benzi sp. nov., a parasite of Escolar, Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (Pisces) in the northwest Atlantic Ocean, pp. 1-38 in Zootaxa 4244 (1) on page 15, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4244.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/40040
THE NEXUS AMONG RENEWABLE ENERGY, R&D ACTIVITIES AND GENDER INEQUALITY: EVIDENCE FROM EASTERN EUROPE
No full textThe ecological transition process is of vital importance to modern economies. In the literature, little attention has been paid to the role that social factors can play in the diffusion of renewable energy. The paper aims to contribute to this debate by focusing on the connections between R&D activities, gender inequality and renewable energy. Specifically, many authors have underlined the positive influence that R&D activities can have on the ecological transition process, by favouring the diffusion of green innovations within the various economic sectors. On the other hand, some studies have shown that gender inequality can represent an obstacle towards the adoption of more sustainable consumption and production choices in the energy context. In our study we wanted to combine the two aspects: is it possible that a greater participation of women in R&D activities could have a positive impact on the diffusion of energy from renewable sources? To answer the question, we employ a panel vector autoregressive model in first differences to test complex dynamic relationships among renewable electricity production (as a proxy of the ecological transition), R&D expenditures (as a proxy for a country's innovative capacity), and share of female researchers (as a proxy for gender equality in the sector), controlling for per capita income. The study concerns 9 Eastern European countries for the period 2000-2019. The results show that the R&D expenditure is positively related to the production of electricity from renewable sources. Moreover, increased employment of women in R&D activities seems to support the ecological transition process. Finally, an increase in R&D spending seems to ensure easier access for women in the research sector. Supporting R&D activities, however, may not be enough, since women participation in those activities does not show a path dependence. Furthermore, from the impulse response analysis, a shock exerted on the share of female researchers produces positive effects on the diffusion of renewable energy, but only for a short period. Policymakers should make constant efforts to favour the participation of women in R&D activities: the global energy transformation needs to be inclusive and women have to be part of it
Supplementary materials for ART and TRT in German
No full textSupplementary materials for:
Hug, Marion, Jarosch, Julian, Eichenauer, Christiane, Pennella, Selina, Kretzschmar, Franziska & Nicklas, Pascal (2024): Some students are more equal: Performance in Author Recognition Test and Title Recognition Test modulated by print exposure and academic background. Behavior Research Methods.
The supplimentary materials include the raw data for each test (ART, TRT, descriptives), an example questionnaire as handed to the participants and a list with the correct ART/TRT answers
Supplementary materials for ART and TRT in German
No full textSupplementary materials for:
Hug, Marion, Jarosch, Julian, Eichenauer, Christiane, Pennella, Selina, Kretzschmar, Franziska & Nicklas, Pascal (2024): Some students are more equal: Performance in Author Recognition Test and Title Recognition Test modulated by print exposure and academic background. Behavior Research Methods.
The supplimentary materials include the raw data for each test (ART, TRT, descriptives), an example questionnaire as handed to the participants and a list with the correct ART/TRT answers
Prognostic Value of Ki67 Percentage, WT-1 Expression and p16/CDKN2A Deletion in Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma: A Single-Centre Cohort Study
No full textDiffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) is a rare malignant neoplasm with a poor survival. Although some advances in knowledge have been obtained for the pleural form, much less is known about DMPM. Advantages in terms of prognosis are still limited and strong efforts need to be made. The aim of our study was to correlate several histological and molecular factors with survival in a large cohort of 45 DMPMs. We evaluated histotype, nuclear grade, mitotic count, necrosis, inflammation, desmoplastic reaction, Ki67 percentage, WT-1 expression, p16 protein by immunohistochemistry and CDKN2A deletion by FISH. Our results showed that epithelioid histotype, nuclear grade 2, mitotic count ≤5 x mm2, absence of desmoplasia and p16/CDKN2A deletion, low Ki67 value, and high WT-1 expression were correlated with the most prolonged survival (p = 0.0001). Moreover, p16 loss in immunohistochemistry reflected CDKN2A deletion detected with FISH, and both were correlated with the worst survival (p = 0.0001). At multivariate analysis, Ki67 value, WT-1 expression and p16/CDKN2A deletion emerged as independent prognostic factors (p = 0.01, p = 0.0001 and p = 0.01, respectively). These parameters are easy to analyse at the time of DMPM diagnosis and may support better patient stratification, prediction of treatment effectiveness and therapeutic optimization
Application of uav system and sfm techniques to develop high-resolution terrain models
No full textTo address the geomorphological and hydrological dynamics of fluvial systems, one of the most promising solutions is represented by the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, as it allows the on-demand acquisition of high-resolution images. However, the high number of images and the computing resources needed for image processing potentially limits the extension of the areas to be monitored. This work involves the use of UAV systems and Structure from Motion techniques as the main tools to develop high-resolution models of a section of the Basento river, in Basilicata. By developing a shell script to run the SfM process on to a cloud system, it was possible to exceed the range limit imposed by UAV surveys thanks to distributed computing. We managed to design a workflow useful to analyze an extended section of river with very high resolutions and to characterize it from a geomorphological and/or hydraulic point of view
High-dose dexamethasone treatment for COVID-19 severe acute respiratory distress syndrome: a retrospective study
No full textLow-dose dexamethasone reduces mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of high-dose dexamethasone in patients with COVID-19-related ARDS and evaluated factors affecting the composite outcome (death or invasive mechanical ventilation). From March 4th to April 1st 2020, 98 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were included. Those who after at least 7 days from symptom onset presented a worsening of the respiratory function or of inflammatory biomarkers were started on intravenous high-dose dexamethasone (20 mg daily for 5 days, followed by 10 mg daily for 5 days). Most patients were males (62%) with a mean age of 69 years. Hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD) were prevalent. Following dexamethasone treatment, a significant improvement in PaO2/FiO2 (277.41 [178.5–374.8] mmHg vs. 146.75 [93.62–231.16] mmHg, p < 0.001), PaO2 (88.15 [76.62–112.0] mmHg vs. 65.65 [57.07–81.22] mmHg, p < 0.001), and SpO2 (96 [95–98]% vs. 94 [90–96]%, p < 0.001) was observed. A concomitant decrease in C-reactive protein and ferritin levels was found (132.25 [82.27–186.5] mg/L vs. 7.3 [3.3–24.2] mg/L and 1169 [665–2056] ng/mL vs. 874.0 [569.5–1434] ng/mL, respectively; p < 0.001 for both vs. baseline). CVD was found to increase the risk of the composite outcome (RR 7.64, 95% CI 1.24–47.06, p = 0.028). In hospitalized patients with COVID-19-related ARDS, high-dose dexamethasone rapidly improves the clinical status and decreases inflammatory biomarkers. CVD was found to increase the risk of the composite outcome. These data support the importance of randomized clinical trials with high-dose dexamethasone in COVID-19 patient
Pathologic Grading of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A REAL Evidence-Based Proposal
No full textBackground: A pathologic grading system (PGS) in malignant pleural mesothelioma
(MPM) could be clinically warranted to better identify different risk categories of
patients, plan therapy options and activate clinical trials.
Design: A cohort of 328 MPM patients was raised between October 1980 and June 2015.
All original slides were jointly reviewed for consistency, blindly to asbestos exposure,
overall survival, staging and (neo)-adjuvant chemotherapy. Histologic scoring was
constructed by attributing to each parameter, independent upon multivariate analysis,
different scores based on 50% increments of the corresponding hazard ratios (HR).
Accordingly, final scores ranged from 0 to 12 points for each tumor patient.
Results: Histology (epithelioid, biphasic, sarcomatoid), necrosis (absent v. present),
cell atypia (mild, moderate, severe), mitotic count per 1 mm2 (cut-offs: 1-2, 3-5, 6-9,
10 or more) and Ki-67 labeling index on 2000 cells (cut-off 30%) were independent
factors of survival after adjusting for confounding factors (stage, age and chemotherapy).
Tumor patterns in epithelioid MGM or type of material (biopsy vs. resection) did not
affect survival. PGS (AUC-ROC: 0.79) outperformed mitotic count (AUC-ROC: 0.68)
and Ki-67 (AUC-ROC: 0.69). Patient survival progressively deteriorated from score 0
(median: 79.2 mo.) to score 12 (median: 1.3 mo.), with median survival values being
26.6 mo. (CI: 21.6-42.6), 15.1 mo. (CI: 13.3-16.8), 8.8 mo. (CI: 6.8-10.9) and 3.9 mo.
(CI: 3.3-4.9) for 0-2, 3-5, 6-7, and 8-12 score, respectively. This PGS was effective
not only in MPM considered as a whole, but also within epithelioid, biphasic and
sarcomatoid subgroups, with HR values being 1.34 (CI: 1.27-1.41), 1.36 (CI: 1.27-
1.46), 1.29 (1.12-1.49) and 1.44 (1.16-1.79) for each point of increase, respectively.
Effectiveness of this PGS was then confirmed in an independent validation set dealing
with further 60 MPM patients.
Conclusions: The combination of multiple parameters outperformed each single
variable to construct a simple PGS, which predicted survival in diversely featuring
MPM even at the level of an individual patient’s cancer.Background: A pathologic grading system (PGS) in malignant pleural mesothelioma
(MPM) could be clinically warranted to better identify different risk categories of
patients, plan therapy options and activate clinical trials.
Design: A cohort of 328 MPM patients was raised between October 1980 and June 2015.
All original slides were jointly reviewed for consistency, blindly to asbestos exposure,
overall survival, staging and (neo)-adjuvant chemotherapy. Histologic scoring was
constructed by attributing to each parameter, independent upon multivariate analysis,
different scores based on 50% increments of the corresponding hazard ratios (HR).
Accordingly, final scores ranged from 0 to 12 points for each tumor patient.
Results: Histology (epithelioid, biphasic, sarcomatoid), necrosis (absent v. present),
cell atypia (mild, moderate, severe), mitotic count per 1 mm2 (cut-offs: 1-2, 3-5, 6-9,
10 or more) and Ki-67 labeling index on 2000 cells (cut-off 30%) were independent
factors of survival after adjusting for confounding factors (stage, age and chemotherapy).
Tumor patterns in epithelioid MGM or type of material (biopsy vs. resection) did not
affect survival. PGS (AUC-ROC: 0.79) outperformed mitotic count (AUC-ROC: 0.68)
and Ki-67 (AUC-ROC: 0.69). Patient survival progressively deteriorated from score 0
(median: 79.2 mo.) to score 12 (median: 1.3 mo.), with median survival values being
26.6 mo. (CI: 21.6-42.6), 15.1 mo. (CI: 13.3-16.8), 8.8 mo. (CI: 6.8-10.9) and 3.9 mo.
(CI: 3.3-4.9) for 0-2, 3-5, 6-7, and 8-12 score, respectively. This PGS was effective
not only in MPM considered as a whole, but also within epithelioid, biphasic and
sarcomatoid subgroups, with HR values being 1.34 (CI: 1.27-1.41), 1.36 (CI: 1.27-
1.46), 1.29 (1.12-1.49) and 1.44 (1.16-1.79) for each point of increase, respectively.
Effectiveness of this PGS was then confirmed in an independent validation set dealing
with further 60 MPM patients.
Conclusions: The combination of multiple parameters outperformed each single
variable to construct a simple PGS, which predicted survival in diversely featuring
MPM even at the level of an individual patient’s cancer
Molecular changes of malignant mesothelioma in the testis and their impact on prognosis: Analyses of two cases
No full textMalignant mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive tumour, generally asbestos-related. When the tumour arises in the pleura or peritoneum a non-occupational or environmental asbestos exposure has also been reported. The latency period from the initial asbestos exposure to the clinical diagnosis is variable but usually long, sometimes as long as 30-40 years. Malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis (MMTVT) is extremely rare; in Italy, the standardized incidence rate for MMTVT is 0.2 cases per million inhabitants. Usually, in this site the tumour appears to be idiopathic in nature but exceptionally, an asbestos exposure has been documented. Here, we report two patients with locally advanced disease; an occupational history of asbestos exposure was ascertained in one case. Radical surgery was performed and adjuvant chemotherapy was administered only in one case
