1,721,093 research outputs found
Il Comune di Roma: problemi, difficoltà e prospettive delle politiche di inclusione sociale
No full textGoing 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
Variations 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
Services for LGBTQ+ Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: A Systematic Review
Full text linkLGBTQ+ individuals are overrepresented within the homeless population. While literature on dedicated services is increasing, research on their effectiveness remains limited. This review aims to systematise studies that describe programs, evaluate interventions, or outline operational models and strategies for LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness (PEH). Key features for effectiveness across individual, organisational, and institutional dimensions are highlighted, with emphasis on positive well-being measures. The systematic review, based on PRISMA standards, included: (a) peer-reviewed journals; (b) articles in English; (c) targeting the LGBTQ+ homeless population; (d) describing programmes, reporting on the assessment or outlining recommendations tailored for LGBTQ+ PEH. Fifty-three articles were included. Recommendations on the individual level focused on psychological resources, such as increased self-reported visibility, positive LGBTQ+ self-identity, and sense of belonging. Interpersonal and community-level factors, such as LGBTQ+ community participation, activism, and chosen families, were also found to be fundamental for promoting well-being. Organisational-level characteristics fostering self-affirmation, comprising competent staff and providing access to transgender-related support, led to overall effectiveness. This paper outlines the potential of intersectionality-competent services in promoting the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ PEH, providing affirming emotional support and fostering community connection. Incorporating user-led recommendations in planning is essential to develop LGBTQ+ tailored services valuing empowerment and resources. Please refer to the Supporting Information section to find this article's
Performance of PhenoMatrix for the detection of Group B Streptococcus from recto-vaginal swabs
Full text linkWe assessed the performance of PhenoMatrix digital imaging software in detection of Group B Streptococcus from recto-vaginal swabs plated on a specific chromogenic medium, using the WASP automated processor. PhenoMatrix algorithm showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 64.5%. False-positive results were mainly due to commensal viridans streptococci
Metabolic profiles of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains in basal conditions and under ‘antibiotic stress’
No full textBackground: The global spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae is of great concern to health services worldwide. In particular, multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) harbouring KPC enzymes has been causing epidemics of international proportions. The analysis of the metabolic profiles of KP strains could represent an intriguing approach to obtain useful information to set up new diagnostic methods and to develop new antimicrobial strategies. The aim of this study was to characterize the metabolic profiles of several KP strains, characterized by specific resistance pattern.
Materials/methods: A total of 59 KP strains, isolated from clinical samples submitted to the Microbiology Unit of S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital of Bologna (Italy) for diagnostic procedures, were included in the study. In particular, 27 carbapenemase-negative and 32 carbapenemase-positive strains were analyzed. For each strain, bacteria were grown overnight in Mueller-Hinton (MH) broth.
Afterwards, the suspension was standardized (2.8 McF) and centrifuged to separate the cell pellet from the supernatant. The metabolomic analysis was performed by means of 1H-NMR spectroscopy analysis (Avance III Spectrometer; Bruker), starting from 700 μL of filtered supernatants (‘external metabolome’) and 100 μL of cell lysates (‘internal metabolome’). The same protocol was used to study the metabolic profile of 8 KP strains (4 wild-type and 4 KPCproducing) under ‘antibiotic-stress’, allowing the bacteria to grow in MH broth with a meropenem concentration corresponding to 1/8 of the MIC value.Results: A total of 44 and 32 molecules, mainly belonging to organic acids, amino acids and alcohols, were detected in the external and the internal metabolome, respectively. In basal conditions, we found 6 metabolites (acetate, isobutyrate, lysine, phenylacetate, hydroxybutyrate) whose concentration was significantly different between carbapenemase-positive and carbapenemase-negative KP strains. TheTable shows the molecules that differed between carbapenemase-positive and carbapenemase-negative strains under ‘meropenem-stress’.Conclusions: The metabolomic analysis allows to detect molecules that significantly differed between
carbapenemase-positive and carbapenemase-negative KP strains, both in basal conditions and under ‘antibiotic stress’
Evaluation of BD ProbeTecTM CT/GC Qx DNA Amplified assay for the molecular detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections
No full textBackground: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorroheae (NG) represent the most common agents of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), worldwide. Recently, nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAATs) have become the reference methods for CT/NG infection diagnosis, thanks to the excellent sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, the use of multiplex tests allows the detection of both pathogens from the same sample, leading to a more simplified syndromic management.
The aim of this study was to assess the performance of BD ProbeTec CT/GC Qx DNA Amplified assay for CT and NG detection, by a comparison with another commercial NAAT.
Materials/methods: From January 2017, a total of 352 consecutive uro-genital samples, submitted to the Microbiology Unit of S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital in Bologna (Italy) for CT and NG detection, were selected. In particular, 26 swabs and 141 urines were collected from subjects attending different clinics in the Bologna city area, while 120 urines and 65 swabs from patients attending the STI Outpatients Clinic of the Hospital. All the samples were tested with a multiplex real-time PCR (Versant CT/GC DNA 1.0 Assay; Siemens), currently used in the diagnostic routine. Subsequently, all the specimens were tested also with the BD ProbeTec CT/GC Qx DNA Amplified assay run on BD Viper LT platform. Both the methods are characterized by highly automated systems for nucleic acids extraction and target detection. Results: When compared, the two methods showed excellent concordance values. In particular, a concordance of 98.4% and 98.8% was found for CT detection on urine samples and genital swabs,with Cohen k of 0.86 and 0.94, respectively. For NG infection, a 100%-concordance was found on urines and a 98.9% of concordance for the genital swabs, with Cohen k of 1 and 0.85, respectively. NG infection prevalence ranged from the 4% in the population attending the STI Clinic of the Hospital, to the 0.8% in the general population. CT infection prevalence reached the 9.1% in the high-risk
subjects, being 2.4% in the general population.
Conclusions: The BD assay and the Vyper system can represent an excellent choice for the molecular detection of CT and NG infection
Rapid identification and detection of β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae from positive blood cultures by MALDI-TOF/MS
Full text linkObjectives: Current evidence suggests that early diagnosis of sepsis and timely detection of antimicrobial resistance are crucial to improve mortality rates among patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate a rapid method for the identification of Gram-negative bacteria from positive blood cultures (BCs), combined with the detection of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESβL) and carbapenemases production, by means of MALDI-TOF/MS analysis. Methods: During the study, all BCs positive for Gram-negative rods were selected. Starting from bacterial pellets obtained directly from BC broths, species identification and hydrolysis assays were achieved through MALDI-TOF/MS (Bruker). In particular, we performed a hydrolysis assays of cefotaxime (CTX) and ertapenem (ERT) for the rapid detection of resistance via ESβL and carbapenemases, respectively. These results were compared with the routine workflow, including BC subcultures and confirmation phenotypic methods. Finally, a comparison of the turnaround-time (TAT) between the two protocols was conducted. Results: Overall, 185 BCs positive for Enterobacteriaceae were collected. In terms of species identification, we observed a concordance of 95.9% comparing MALDI-TOF/MS results to the subculture-based method. The sensitivity and specificity for CTX hydrolysis assay were 91.1% and 92%, respectively; ERT hydrolysis assay showed a sensitivity of 96.2% and a specificity of 99.2%. The TAT of the proposed MALDI TOF/MS-based protocol was significantly lower compared with the routine workflow (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The proposed protocol can provide reliable bacterial identification and data concerning β-lactam resistance in only 3 hours, positively improving management of patients in terms of antimicrobial stewardship
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