102,723 research outputs found
A prospective validation of the Bova score in normotensive patients with acute pulmonary embolism
No full textBackground: The Bova score has shown usefulness in the identification of intermediate-high risk patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), but lacks prospective validation.The aim of this study was to prospectively validate the Bova score in different settings from the original derivation cohort.Methods: Consecutive, normotensive patients with acute PE recruited at 13 academic or general hospitals were stratified, using their baseline data, into the three Bova risk stages (I-III). The primary outcome was the 30-day composite of PE-related mortality, hemodynamic collapse and non-fatal PE recurrences in the three risk categories.Results: In the study period, 639 patients were enrolled. The primary end point occurred in 45 patients (7.0%; 95% Confidence Intervals, 5.2%-9.3%). Risk stage correlated with the PE-related complication rate (stage I, 2.9%; stage II, 17%; stage III, 27%). Patients classified as stage III by the Bova score had a 6.5-fold increased risk for adverse outcomes (3.1-13.5, p < 0.001) compared with stages I and II combined. Rescue thrombolysis increased from stage I to stage III (0.6%, 12% and 15% respectively). All-cause mortality (5.3%) did not substantially differ among the stages.Conclusions: The Bova score accurately stratifies normotensive patients with acute PE into stages of increasing risk of 30-day PE-related complications
Prognostic Impact of Albumin/Globulin and Lactate/Globulin Ratios Combined With sPESI and BOVA Scores in Pulmonary Embolism Mortality
No full textConclusions: This study demonstrated that A/G and L/G ratios, along with sPESI and BOVA scores, are effective in predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). A lower A/G ratio and a higher L/G ratio were associated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, the critical role of sPESI and BOVA scores in risk stratification was confirmed
The transmission of what is taken for granted in children’s socialization: The role of argumentation in family interactions
No full textArgumention is often considered as a way to transmit explicit information. However, in daily context-based activities, argumentation practices are embedded in discussions where many norms, beliefs and values are taken for granted. Our objective is to evaluate the consequences of this daily argumentative processes in terms of socialization. More specifically, we focus on family mealtime conversations and analyze the structure of argumentations thanks to an ideographic methodology based on two models: the pragma-dialectical ideal model of critical discussion (van Eemeren & Grootendorst, 2004) and the Argumentum Model of Topics (Rigotti & Greco Morasso, 2010). The results, based on corpus of 30 video-recorded separate meals of 10 middle to upper-middle-class Swiss and Italian families, indicate that implicits in argumentation are particularly effective in transmitting what is taken for granted in any given cultural community. This efficiency relies on the fact that presuppositions, i.e. background information not explicitly indicated as relevant, appear as unquestionable. Children, who are largely dependent on adults for their well-being as well as for their knowledge acquisition, are not in a position to call into question these presuppositions. Moreover, in the absence of the background necessary to understand an argument, children have to figure out (initially vaguely) a certain context that enables them to make sense of the ongoing dialogue. This background will progressively be enriched thanks to other interactions. Therefore the chances that many aspects of what is taken for granted in any given families will be maintained in the next generation are particularly high. The results of this study can contribute to the wider theme of argumentative practices and debates in societal and family issues. Family interactions constitute a favorable discursive arena involving children and adults through different intersubjective positions that are shaped by socio-cultural and interpersonal factors within the contingent context of discussion. Assuming the perspective of argumentation as cultural activity contributes not only to give conditions for defining development, but also to frame the context in which the development is supported
Rebecca G. Schär (2021): An Argumentative Analysis of the Emergence of Issues in Adult–Children Discussions
No full textSchär’s volume on adult-children argumentative discussions lies on her doctoral research conducted within the ArgImp project at the Università della Svizzera italiana, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF and supervised by Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont, Sara Greco, Antonio Iannaccone, and Andrea Rocci. This work proposes to put the concept of issue back at the center of argumentation. The overall goal of her book is to examine the emergence of the issue in argumentative discussions between adults and children. By quoting Schär’s word (p. 136): “By analyzing the emergence of the issue, this study shed light on what happens ‘behind the scenes’ of an argumentative discussion; what happens before an argumentative discussion comes into existence, and how argumentation is established in situations that are not argumentative per se.” To be sure, others have contributed to our understanding of adult-children argumentation, yet, the reader can only be impressed by the depth and breadth of Schär’s work on this important topic. The result offers anyone interested in adult-children argumentation a strong foundation for one of today’s fundamental themes in the field
BOVA is Superior to sPESI in Identification of High Risk Pulmonary Embolism Patients
No full textIntroduction: Prognostic models exist for the purpose of stratifying patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Of these, the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) and the simplified PESI (sPESI) are the most well-known, although more recent composite models, like the BOVA score, are now being studied and implemented. Comparative efficacy of these scores to predict long term mortality is not well established.
Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients diagnosed with PE using computed tomography scan from 2014-2016 at an urban tertiary-referral medical center. Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed to compare the performance of two prognostic models – sPESI and BOVA – to predict all-cause in-hospital and cumulative one-year mortality.
Results: The all-cause in-hospital mortality rate was 6.0%, and cumulative one-year mortality rate was 21.3%. In adjusted analyses, a BOVA score \u3e4 was significantly associated with an increased in-hospital mortality (HR 3.5, 95% CI: 1.4-9.0, p = 0.009) and one-year mortality (HR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0-3.9, p = 0.04), as compared to a BOVA score \u3c4. However, the sPESI (p = 0.14) did not show a significant association with one-year mortality. In identifying in-hospital mortality, the sPESI had high sensitivity (100%) and low specificity (10.1%), whereas the BOVA score had low sensitivity (20.0%) and high specificity (92.7%). Similar trends were seen for one-year mortality.
Conclusion: In this study, a high BOVA score was found to be the best predictor of both short and long-term mortality in PE patients. A low sPESI score identified with high sensitivity patients with low-risk PEs
Modellazione di circuiti motoristici per applicazioni di tempo minimo.
No full textThis work deals with the modelling of tracks used in motor racing competitions
with the aim of assessing their performance and enhancing their safety. The purpose
is to develop a methodology to support the industry professionals in the
objective identification of critical sections of a circuit and their possible solution
by means of automatic procedures.
First, a detailed explanation is given regarding the mathematical modelling of
a circuit, focusing the attention on minimum lap time applications. A procedure
for collecting and reconstructing data from real circuits using GPS technologies is
described.
Second, a multibody model of a human body is developed and validated against
experiments. The model implements four different anthropometric models, selected
from those available after a thorough review of the literature. Through the
validation process, a single anthropometric model is selected as the one that best
fit a motorcycle rider characteristics.
Third, different approaches to vehicle modelling are described: quasi-steadystate,
symbolic and numerical multibody models. The equations of motion of a
steady state motorcycle are described, together with the analitical derivation of
it’s g-g diagram limits. After that, a symbolic dynamic multibody model is briefly
described in its main characteristics, including tyre relaxation equations and model
states and inputs. Finally a numerical multibody model is developed, to include
the MagicFormula tyre model, non-linear suspensions and chassis structural stiffness.
The sliding dynamics of a human body on a three-dimensional surface is studied
afterwards and the equations of motion are derived analytically. Typical values
for friction and aerodynamic coefficients are identified through a video analysis
process of MotoGP riders crashes.
Subsequently, the numerical motorcycle multibody model together with the
validated rider model are used for stability analysis, carried out through a screw
axis approach instead of the classic frequency domain approach. The equations
for the Mozzi’s axis animation from the eigenvectors components are derived and
the method is applied to the weave and wobble modes.
Finally, a tool for the racing tracks safety assessment is described, including
features such as the automatic generation of gravel run-off areas and the identification
of the ideal barriers profile. An example of application is reported using a
3D model of the well-known Mugello-Circuit.This work deals with the modelling of tracks used in motor racing competitions
with the aim of assessing their performance and enhancing their safety. The purpose
is to develop a methodology to support the industry professionals in the
objective identification of critical sections of a circuit and their possible solution
by means of automatic procedures.
First, a detailed explanation is given regarding the mathematical modelling of
a circuit, focusing the attention on minimum lap time applications. A procedure
for collecting and reconstructing data from real circuits using GPS technologies is
described.
Second, a multibody model of a human body is developed and validated against
experiments. The model implements four different anthropometric models, selected
from those available after a thorough review of the literature. Through the
validation process, a single anthropometric model is selected as the one that best
fit a motorcycle rider characteristics.
Third, different approaches to vehicle modelling are described: quasi-steadystate,
symbolic and numerical multibody models. The equations of motion of a
steady state motorcycle are described, together with the analitical derivation of
it’s g-g diagram limits. After that, a symbolic dynamic multibody model is briefly
described in its main characteristics, including tyre relaxation equations and model
states and inputs. Finally a numerical multibody model is developed, to include
the MagicFormula tyre model, non-linear suspensions and chassis structural stiffness.
The sliding dynamics of a human body on a three-dimensional surface is studied
afterwards and the equations of motion are derived analytically. Typical values
for friction and aerodynamic coefficients are identified through a video analysis
process of MotoGP riders crashes.
Subsequently, the numerical motorcycle multibody model together with the
validated rider model are used for stability analysis, carried out through a screw
axis approach instead of the classic frequency domain approach. The equations
for the Mozzi’s axis animation from the eigenvectors components are derived and
the method is applied to the weave and wobble modes.
Finally, a tool for the racing tracks safety assessment is described, including
features such as the automatic generation of gravel run-off areas and the identification
of the ideal barriers profile. An example of application is reported using a
3D model of the well-known Mugello-Circuit
Sforzo, ricompensa e rottura del contratto psicologico: il ruolo del coinvolgimento lavorativo
No full textDiversi studi hanno mostrato interesse verso la comprensione delle variabili responsa-bili del contratto psicologico. Il presente contributo intende verificare gli effetti che le variabili considerate dal modello dell’Effort-Reward Imbalance (Siegrist, 1996) quali responsabili dello stress hanno sulla rottura del contratto psicologico. Lo studio è stato condotto su 300 lavoratori spagnoli. I risultati mostrano che lo sforzo, la ricompensa e la mancanza di equilibrio tra queste due elementi (E-RI) influenzano la rottura del con-tratto psicologico. Viene infine riscontrato il ruolo moderatore dell’overcommitment fra lo sforzo, l’E-RI e la percezione di rottura del contratto psicologico
Prefazione a Miranda Ernesto, Il dramma a "tristo fine". Il pensiero tragico di G. Leopardi
No full textImplicitness Functions in Family Argumentation
No full textThis paper focuses on the less investigated phenomenon of argumentative discussions among family members. More specifically, I address the issue of the implicitness and its functions within argumentative discussions in the family context. Drawing on the Pragma-dialectical approach to argumentation, the paper describes how the implicitness is a specific argumentative strategy adopted by parents during dinner conversations at home with their children
Alpha-1-adrenoceptor mediated formation of glycerophosphoinositol 4-phosphate in rat heart: possible role in the positive inotropic response
No full textIn the present study, we investigated whether phospholipase A2 (PLA2)/lysophospholipase activity producing glycerophosphoinositols from phosphoinositides was operating in rat heart and could be stimulated by alpha1-adrenergic agonists. PLA2/lysophospholipase activity was found in homogenates from rat right ventricles. The stimulation of PLA2/lysophospholipase activity by noradrenaline (NA) was prevented either by the alpha1-adrenergic antagonist prazosin or arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone, a selective inhibitor of the 85-110 kDa, sn-2-arachidonyl-specific cytosolic PLA2. The selective alpha1-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine induced a concentration- and time-dependent increase in glycerophosphoinositol (GroPIns) and glycerophosphoinositol 4-phosphate (GroPIns4P) in rat right ventricle slices prelabelled with D-myo-[3H]inositol. In electrically driven strips of rat right ventricles, prelabelled with D-myo-[3H]inositol, the positive inotropic effect induced by 20 microM NA in the presence of propranolol was accompanied by the formation of GroPIns and GroPIns4P. The concentration of the formed GroPIns4P (1.33+/-0.12 microM, N = 6) was similar to that previously reported to inhibit the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles (Luciani S, Antolini M, Bova S, Cargnelli G, Cusinato F, Debetto P, Trevisi L and Varotto R, Biochem Biophys Res Commun 206: 674-680, 1995). These findings show that the stimulation of alpha1-adrenoceptors in rat heart is followed by an increase in the formation of GroPIns4P, which may contribute to the positive inotropic effect of alpha1-adrenergic agonists by inhibition of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger
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