843 research outputs found
Resilience to flow rate variability in a green wall for greywater treatment
No full textGreen and blue infrastructures are an innovative solution to contrast climate changes (SDG 13 of
UN 2030 Agenda) and increase cities resilience (SDG 11), using a smarter water management that
transform wastewater into a new resource for non-potable reuses. Due to the lack of horizontal
surfaces in urban areas, green walls are one of the most suitable nature-based solution to treat
greywater (i.e. the portion of household wastewater that exclude toilet flush and kitchen sink).
Green walls allow for a multidisciplinary approach, providing multiple benefits such as thermal
and acoustic regulation, biodiversity preservation, decreasing heat islands effects and removing
CO2, improving life quality and buildings value.
Green walls have also been proposed for treating the large amount of greywater that is daily
produced (e.g. around 100 L/PE/die in Italy), an approach that also provides urban green while
reducing the need of irrigation water. Following previous work on a pilot system, this study aims to
improve the green walls design and test its resilience to variations in the flow rate of greywater fed
to the green wall. Two panels have been built in which synthetic greywater flows by gravity along
three levels of pots with different plant species. The 18 pots (arranged in a 3x3 matrix in each
panel) have been filled with a mix of coconut fibre and perlite (1:1 in volume) and fed with
greywater, and output water samples have been collected almost weekly from June to December
2021. The control panel has been regularly fed with 24 L/die/col (standard flow rate), the other has
been fed with different flow rates (standard, underflow, overflow and maintenance) that usually
changed after three weeks. Different parameters (e.g. TSS, BOD5, COD, DO, TN, TP, MBAS), have
been monitored in the outflow of each pot and average performances of each level has been
evaluated. Results indicate a good efficiency of the green wall in removing contaminants even
when the provided flow rate is not constant.
The treatment performances increase along the columns in both panels and the first two levels
guarantee a good compounds removal during standard flow and underflow rates. On the other
hand, the overflow rate caused a performances decrease in the variable flow panel for many
parameters, followed by a visible plant stress. However, one week of standard flow rate was
sufficient to reduce the negative effects of the three- weeks-overflow. This demonstrated the
resilience of the green wall facing flow variability, that can be caused by seasonal variation or
system failure
Social consequences of COVID-19 in a low resource setting in Sierra Leone, West Africa
No full textEconomical and psychological consequences of the lockdown in low-resource setting in rural Africa are unknown. We drafted a survey in order to address the social impact of COVID-19 lockdown on a rural village in Sierra Leone. The survey developed by the study group and translated in the local language, distributed to the householders of the village on April 13th and responses collected on April 14th, when Sierra Leone was on day 11 of lockdown. The questions aimed to assess in the community the following items: age group, main activities before lockdown, change in income and ability to feed the family during lockdown, anxiety during lockdown. 78 householders (100% of Bureh Town) replied. All, expect one, declared a 51-80% (19.2%) to 81-100% (79.4%) reduction of weekly income compared with the pre-lockdown period, declaring difficulties in providing food for the family members (82%), and anxiety (60%). Our analyses showed that people lost their jobs and have difficulties in providing food for their families. Highlights: Our analyses in a low resource setting in rural Africa in Sierra Leone, West Africa, showed that people lost their jobs and have difficulties in providing food for their families, as a consequence of COVID-19 lockdown
Bianca Garavelli studiosa e scrittrice
No full textBianca Garavelli (Vigevano, 1958-2021) was a highly regarded figure in the literary world, both on the critical and creative side. Author of important critical studies on Dante and of a successful commentary on the Commediam (begun under the supervision of Maria Corti but then continued independently), as well as critic and reviewer for newspapers and periodicals, Garavelli also wrote and published poems, novels and short stories. This article offers an exhaustive bio-bibliographical profile of Bianca Garavelli, whose literary work in various fields is reconstructed and critically examined
Open-label trials for CGRP-targeted drugs in migraine prevention: A narrative review
No full textBackground: Calcitonin gene-related peptide-targeted drugs have proven safe and effective for migraine prevention in large randomized-controlled, double-blind trials with an average duration of six months. Open-label studies may provide additional information on the long-term safety and efficacy of these substances. Methods: We searched PubMed for open-label trials with calcitonin gene-related peptide(-receptor) monoclonal antibodies and calcitonin gene-related peptide-receptor antagonists. We summarized and critically analyzed the literature in a narrative way. Results: Overall, 13 open-label trials were included in this review (n = 4 for erenumab, n = 4 for galcanezumab, n = 3 for fremanezumab, n = 1 for eptinezumab, n = 1 for atogepant). Open-label trial duration ranged between 12 and 264 weeks. No safety concerns emerged, and the adverse events profile was similar to the double-blind study phase. Discontinuation rates were generally low with >75% of patients remaining in the trials after one year. Efficacy data showed a sustained reduction of migraine frequency throughout the trials, along with a lasting improvement in quality of life. Conclusions: The open-label study program for calcitonin gene-related peptide-targeted migraine preventives confirms the favorable safety and efficacy profile of these drugs over time. Treatment adherence appears higher than with previous unspecific migraine preventives. Real-world data and post-marketing surveillance studies may corroborate and complement open-label results
Management of Malaria in Children Younger Than 5 Years Old During Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Sierra Leone: A Lesson Learned?
No full textGrowing evidences are showing the potential indirect effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the health systems of low-resource settings, where diseases such as Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Malaria represent major killers. Therefore, we performed a retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on Malaria programs in a peripheral region of Sierra Leone, previously involved by the Ebola outbreak in 2015, when malaria care have been impaired since local health systems were overwhelmed by Ebola cases. During COVID-19 in Sierra Leone, we did not notice a significant drop in malaria diagnosis in children, suggesting that a proactive approach in the management of malaria in endemic countries during COVID-19 may have had a positive impact. A comprehensive approach that include also educational activities to sensitize the local population, was useful to guarantee successful malaria diagnosis and treatment, and prevents excess of malaria deaths due to potential disruption of the local health systems related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Let´s (watch me) play : which factors relate to Let´s Play addiction?
No full textAuthor Bianca Haun, BScZusammenfassungen in englischer SpracheMasterarbeit Universität Linz 201
A combined intervention for executive deficits and anxiety in Parkinson's patients: a case study
No full textParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder most commonly associated with motor symptomatology, yet often presenting with deficits in attention, executive functioning (EF; e.g., planning, mental flexibility, complex attention), anxiety, and depression, with debilitating effects on patients’ quality of life. Current interventions, including pharmacological and surgical methods show efficacy in motor symptom management, yet produce equivocal results in addressing non-motor dysfunction. The goal of this paper was to describe and investigate the efficacy and patient acceptance of a nonpharmacological intervention for treatment of executive dysfunction (ED) and anxiety in PD, in the context of a case study (the case of Mr. K). Brain and Mind Fitness Program (BMFP) is a short-term intervention, consisting of a combination of cognitive remediation and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). BMFP was demonstrated to be fully acceptable to Mr. K, based on ratings of 4 feasibility dimensions (fatigue, effort, progress, and enjoyment). The program also proved to be efficacious in alleviating Mr. K’s anxiety and depression symptoms, with benefits extending over the treatment period. BMFP, elsewhere shown to be an effective cognitive re-training of EF in PD patients, exhibited limited gains in the case of Mr. K., possibly due to his relatively intact cognitive abilities at baseline. Despite its limitations, the case of Mr. K presents a novel approach to treatment of PD non-motor symptoms and a learning opportunity for researchers and clinicians interested in expanding their knowledge across disciplines.Psy. D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Bianca R. Georgesc
Complications in thyroid surgery. Harmonic Scalpel, Harmonic Focus versus Conventional Hemostasis: A meta-analysis
No full textBACKGROUND:
To evaluate the incidence of postoperative complications, hemostatic effects and safety of Total Thyroidectomy (TT) performed using the Harmonic Scalpel (HS), the Harmonic Focus (HF) or Conventional Hemostasis (CH).
METHODS:
The meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. A literature search was conducted from 2003 to 2014 and stringent criteria were required for inclusion. Thirteen studies concerning an overall population of 1458 compared HS versus CH, whilst 8 studies with 1667 patients compared HF versus CH.
RESULTS:
There was a significant reduction of operative time (Mean Difference [MD] = -25.49 min.; 95% CI -32.43 to -18.55), intraoperative blood loss (MD = -30.49 mL; 95% CI -53.01 to -7.97), postoperative drainage volume (MD = -12.90 mL; 95% CI -22.83 to -2.98) and postoperative pain (MD = -0.87; 95% CI -1.27 to -0.46) in patients underwent TT with HS. Regarding HF group, a significant reduction of operative time (MD = -25.99 min., 95% CI -34.56 to -17.41), length of hospital stay (MD = -0.57; 95% CI -0.97 to -0.17), transient hypocalcemia (OR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.39 to 0.81) and postoperative pain (MD = -1.33 days; 95% CI -2.49 to -0.17) resulted.
CONCLUSIONS:
HS TT can be a safe, useful and fast alternative to conventional TT. The newer HF can reduce the rate of hypocalcemia. Future RCTs of larger patient cohorts with more detailed data of postoperative complications, cost-effectiveness and cosmetic results, randomization procedures, intention-to-treat analyses and blinding of outcome assessors are needed to draw more meaningful conclusions
BIANCA (Brain Intensity AbNormality Classification Algorithm): a new tool for automated segmentation of white matter hyperintensities
No full textReliable quantification of white matter hyperintensities of presumed vascular origin (WMHs) is increasingly needed, given the presence of these MRI findings in patients with several neurological and vascular disorders, as well as in elderly healthy subjects. We present BIANCA (Brain Intensity AbNormality Classification Algorithm), a fully automated, supervised method for WMH detection, based on the k-nearest neighbour (k-NN) algorithm. Relative to previous k-NN based segmentation methods, BIANCA offers different options for weighting the spatial information, local spatial intensity averaging, and different options for the choice of the number and location of the training points. BIANCA is multimodal and highly flexible so that the user can adapt the tool to their protocol and specific needs. We optimised and validated BIANCA on two datasets with different MRI protocols and patient populations (a “predominantly neurodegenerative” and a “predominantly vascular” cohort). BIANCA was first optimised on a subset of images for each dataset in terms of overlap and volumetric agreement with a manually segmented WMH mask. The correlation between the volumes extracted with BIANCA (using the optimised set of options), the volumes extracted from the manual masks and visual ratings showed that BIANCA is a valid alternative to manual segmentation. The optimised set of options was then applied to the whole cohorts and the resulting WMH volume estimates showed good correlations with visual ratings and with age. Finally, we performed a reproducibility test, to evaluate the robustness of BIANCA, and compared BIANCA performance against existing methods. Our findings suggest that BIANCA, which will be freely available as part of the FSL package, is a reliable method for automated WMH segmentation in large cross-sectional cohort studies. © 2016 The Author
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