1,721,029 research outputs found
Healthcare associated infections in companion animals: Epidemiology, risk factors and prevention [Infezioni correlate all'assistenza negli animali da compagnia: Epidemiologia, fattori di rischio e prevenzione]
No full textLe infezioni correlate all’assistenza (ICA) sono definite come infezioni contratte
in ospedale o in qualsiasi struttura sanitaria dopo almeno 48 ore di
ricovero. La prevalenza di ICA è scarsamente documentata nelle strutture
veterinarie, tuttavia si suppone che l’incidenza complessiva sia in aumento
negli ospedali veterinari per un incremento dei pazienti sensibili esposti
e delle procedure invasive eseguite. I microrganismi associati a ICA sono
generalmente batteri multiresistenti.
Gli ospiti più sensibili allo sviluppo di ICA sono animali ricoverati in unità di
terapia intensiva, mentre le infezioni più comunemente riportate sono le seguenti:
infezioni del tratto urinario, infezioni del torrente circolatorio, infezioni
del sito chirurgico e polmoniti. L’istituzione di un programma di controllo delle
infezioni (ICP) nelle strutture sanitarie con l’adozione delle appropriate misure
preventive rappresenta il mezzo più efficace per monitorare, contrastare
e ridurre l’incidenza di ICA. L’igiene e la protezione personale, compresa
l’igiene delle mani e l’uso dei dispositivi di protezione individuale, dovrebbero
essere associate a procedure standardizzate di sanificazione dell’ambiente
ospedaliero e ad un adeguato isolamento dei pazienti in base al
rischio infettivo. L’ICP dovrebbe includere sistemi di sorveglianza (attiva, mirata,
passiva o sindromica) finalizzati a monitorare gli eventi sanitari, la prevalenza
della resistenza antimicrobica e altri potenziali fattori di rischio associati
a ICA. Inoltre, una politica coordinata di gestione antimicrobica nelle
strutture veterinarie dovrebbe guidare un uso appropriato degli antibiotici
per massimizzarne i benefici, causando al contempo il minor danno. Infine,
per un’applicazione effettiva ed efficace di un ICP è fondamentale aumentare
la consapevolezza, tramite programmi di educazione ed aggiornamento,
del personale sanitario, nonché di studenti e proprietari degli animali,
sui rischi relativi alle ICA, incluse le possibili zoonosi, e sull’importanza
di una rigorosa osservazione delle misure di prevenzione.Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are defined as infections contracted in a hospital or any healthcare facility after at least 48 hours of hospitalization. Incidence of HAIs is scarcely documented in veterinary medicine; however, it is supposed to be on the rise and run in parallel with the increment of susceptible patients and invasive procedures performed in veterinary hospitals. Generally, microorganisms associated with HAIs are multidrug-resistant bacteria. The most susceptible hosts to causative pathogens of HAI are small animals hospitalised in the intensive care unit, while the most common sites of infection are the following: urinary tract, lungs, bloodstream, and surgical site. The institution of an ICP in a healthcare facility is a key element in monitoring and contrasting the occurrence of HAIs. Personal hygiene and protection, including hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment should be associated with standardized procedures of cleaning and disinfection of the hospital environment and proper isolation and aborting of patients according to their infectious risk. ICP should include surveillance systems (active, targeted, passive, or syndromic) finalized to monitor health events, prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and other potential risk factors associated with HAIs. Moreover, a coordinated antimicrobial stewardship policy in the VH should guide an appropriate use of antimicrobials to maximise their benefit, while causing the least harm. Finally, for an effective application of an ICP it is essential to increase the awareness, through education and training of the healthcare personnel, as well as of students and animal owners, on the risks related to HAIs, including zoonoses, and on the importance of the rigorous observation of the preventive measures
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
A virtual assistant in cultural heritage scenarios
No full textNew technologies, tools, and methodologies have been used in the Cultural Heritage (CH) scenarios to assist the visitor to enrich and enjoy his experiences during the visit. Intelligent information systems based upon machine learning approaches have been specifically designed for CH to enhance the quality of services in art exhibitions and events. In this work, we show an innovative framework that can be specifically designed to help visitors during his/her visit by answering to their questions. We also describe a system architecture and a case study in a well-defined CH context
Remarks on the numerical approximation of Dirac delta functions
Full text linkWe investigate the convergence rate of the solutions of one and two-dimensional Poisson-type PDEs where the Dirac delta function, representing the forcing term, is approximated by several expressions. The goal is to see if the solution to a Poisson's equation converges when solved by a numerical method, with a source or sink approximated using a delta proposed in the literature. We will look at two parameters, how fast it converges, by estimating the order of convergence, and how well, by calculating the error between the analytical form and the numerical result. We investigate smoothed discrete delta functions based on the Immersed boundary (IB) approach, and we revisit their definitions, as in level set methods, by expanding their support for assessing higher-order of convergence in PDE solutions. We developed a Python package utilizing FiPy, a PDE solver based on the finite volume (FV) technique, and accelerated the solver with the AmgX package, a GPU solution. We have observed that when the support is wider, better results may be achieved. Moreover, the overall trends of error and the convergence rate in the 2D configuration differ from the 1D problems
Quantitative analysis of brick-faced masonry: Examples from some large imperial buildings in Rome
No full textThis paper aims to present some preliminary results of an ongoing study which started from the analysis of the external brick facing of the Aurelianic Walls. The methodology employed was to analyse the brick facing by sampling the brick wall surfaces, drawing consistent areas of 1x1 m2 in CAD, based on rectified photographs. These samples were then measured in detail to make a quantitative-statistical analysis of the elements constituting the brick facings, in order to yield standard parameters which could meaningfully describe their features. In this first part of the work, we tried to compare some of the most important imperial brick buildings, each with its own characteristic features. Sampling has covered the Aurelianic Walls extensively, focusing on the early periods of Aurelian and Honorius. After were sampled brick-faced walls from a Neronian building facing the Valley of the Colosseum; the substructures of the Baths of Trajan; and some sectors of the Domus Tiberiana, towards the north slope of the Palatine Hill
A machine learning approach for IoT cultural data
No full textThe data science discipline can play a crucial role in developing effective data driven strategies for the valorization and promotion of the cultural heritage (CH) domain. Machine learning approaches can provide new perspectives, allowing knowledge extraction and insights generation from data since in the last decade CH domain has benefited from the applications of internet of things (IoT) solutions in order to improve visitors’ experience. Analyzing a great amount of data increasingly requires the use of advanced mathematical algorithms and therefore requires distribution, calculation and digital protection services. Data represent a great challenge for the CH domain, as well as a resource; this paper presents and discusses the application of a machine learning approach on IoT cultural data collected in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. With the deployment of some Bluetooth sensing boards we collected the visit paths of the users in a non-invasive way. The research goal is to analyze and classify the collected visiting behavioural data in order to produce useful insights for cultural stakeholders. The knowledge of people behaviours can help museum organizations both in terms of medium-long term strategy and also in terms of strictly operational decisions
Presynaptic effects induced by pretreatment with formamide of the neuromuscular junction of the mouse
No full textVariations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
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