cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Impact of different scoring algorithms applied to multiple-mark survey items on outcome assessment: an in-field study on health-related knowledge.
Creators: name: Domnich, Alexander
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015

description: Introduction. Health-related knowledge is often assessed through multiple-choice tests. Among the different types of formats, researchers may opt to use multiple-mark items, i.e. with more than one correct answer. Although multiple-mark items have long been used in the academic setting â sometimes with scant or inconclusive results â little is known about the implementation of this format in research on in-field health education and promotion.

Methods. A study population of secondary school students completed a survey on nutrition-related knowledge, followed by a single-lecture intervention. Answers were scored by means of eight different scoring algorithms and analyzed from the perspective of classical test theory. The same survey was re-administered to a sample of the students in order to evaluate the short-term change in their knowledge.

Results. In all, 286 questionnaires were analyzed. Partial scoring algorithms displayed better psychometric characteristics than the dichotomous rule. A penalizing algorithm in which the proportion of marked distracters was subtracted from that of marked correct answers was the only one that highlighted a significant difference in performance between natives and immigrants, probably owing to its slightly better discriminatory ability. This algorithm was also associated with the largest effect size in the pre-/post-intervention score change.

Discussion. The choice of an appropriate rule for scoring multiple-mark items in research on health education and promotion should consider not only the psychometric properties of single algorithms but also the study aims and outcomes, since scoring rules differ in terms of biasness, reliability, difficulty, sensitivity to guessing and discrimination.
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 4 (2015): 2015564
SHERPA Discussion Paper - Digitalisation in rural areas
Creators: name: Brunori, Gianluca
name: Rolandi, Silvia
name: Arcuri, Sabrina
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: digitalisation, smart communities, smart villages, digital villages, digital services, digital divide

description: The SHERPA process will support the gathering of evidence from across Europe, at multiple levels, regarding digitalisation, showing the directions in which it is most appropriate and feasible to address local needs. This SHERPA Discussion Paper provides a synthesis of international and EU policy aims and findings from research as identified in recent research projects. It sets out the main research findings and approaches of EU policy in relation to digitalisation.
Susceptibility of Multidrug Resistant Clinical Pathogens to a Chlorhexidine Formulation
Creators: name: GÃ¼nther, Frank
name: Kaiser, Stefan
name: Fries, Tamara
name: Frank, Uwe
name: Mutters, Nico T
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015
Subjects: Chlorhexidine; drug resistant; gram-negative; hospital-acquired infection; MRSA; VRE;

description: Multidrug resistant pathogens are a widespread problem in the hospital setting especially on intensive care units (ICU).Â  This study evaluated the susceptibility of clinical isolates of gram-negative extensively drug resistant (XDR) organisms, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) to a proprietary chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) formulation used in one brand of CHG-impregnated cloths.Â  Ten isolates each of XDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa, XDR Acinetobacter baumannii, XDR Klebsiella pneumoniae, XDR Escherichia coli, MRSA, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium from our hospital were tested.Â  All isolates were susceptible to the proprietary CHG formulation (0.5%, 1%, 2%), with 99% to 100% suppression of growth at the earliest time point in time kill assays (1 minute for gram-positive and 15 seconds for gram-negative organisms). Minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 1:4096 to 1:65536 for MRSA, 1:1024 to 1:2048 for VRE, 1:2048 to 1:4096 for XDR .E. coli, 1:512 to 1:2048 for XDR A. baumannii, 1:512 to 1:1024 for XDR P. aeruginosa, and 1:512 to 1:1024 for XDR K. pneumoniae.Â  Cloths impregnated with this CHG formulation provide effective protection against colonization and infection by many pathogens.Â  This study provides in vitro evidence that the proprietary CHG formulation used in one brand of CHG-impregnated cloths is effective against XDR gram-negative organisms, MRSA, and VRE.Â
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 4 (2015): 2015564
A Health Technology Assessment: laparoscopy versus colpoceliotomy
Creators: name: Damonti, Alessio
name: Ferrario, Lucrezia
name: Morelli, Pamela
name: Mussi, Matteo
name: Patregnani, Cinzia
name: Garagiola, Elisabetta
name: Foglia, Emanuela
name: Pagani, Roberta
name: Carminati, Roberto
name: Porazzi, Emanuele
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015
Subjects: colpoceliotomy; laparoscopy; HTA

description: Introduction

The objective of this paper is the comparison between two different technologies used for the removal of a uterine myoma, a frequent benign tumor of the uterus: the standard technology currently used, laparoscopy, and an innovative one, colpoceliotomy. It was considered relevant to evaluate the real and the potential effects of the two technologies and, in addition, the consequences that the introduction or exclusion of the innovative technology would have for both the National Health System (NHS) and the entire community.

Methods

The comparison between these two different technologies, the standard and the innovative one, was conducted using a Health Technology Assessment (HTA). In particular, in order to analyse their differences, a multi-dimensional approach was considered: effectiveness, costs and budget impact analysis data were collected with the implementation of different instruments, such as the Activity Based Costing methodology (ABC), the Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) and the Budget Impact Analysis (BIA). Organisational, equity and social impact were also evaluated.

Results

The results showed that the introduction of colpoceliotomy would provide significant economic savings to the Regional and National Health Service; in particular, a saving of â¬ 453.27 for each surgical patient.

Discussion

The introduction of the innovative technology, colpoceliotomy, would lead substantial savings in terms of surgery costs for the treatment of uterine myomas. Furthermore, it could be considered a valuable tool; one offering many advantages related to less invasiveness and a shorter surgical procedure than the standard technology currently used (laparoscopy).
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 4 (2015): 2015564
SUREHYP : An Open Source Python Package for Preprocessing Hyperion Radiance Data and Retrieving Surface Reflectance
Creators: name: Miraglio, Thomas
name: Coops, Nicholas C.
Publisher: name: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Year: 2023

description: Surface reflectance is an essential product from remote sensing Earth observations critical for a wide variety of applications, including consistent land cover mapping and change, and estimation of vegetation attributes. From 2000 to 2017 the Earth Observing-1 Hyperion instrument acquired the first satellite based hyperspectral image archive from space resulting in over 83,138 publicly available images. Hyperion imagery however requires significant preprocessing to derive surface reflectance. SUREHYP is a Python package designed to process batches of Hyperion images, bringing together a number of published algorithms and methods to correct at sensor radiance and derive surface reflectance. In this paper, we present the SUREHYP workflow and demonstrate its application on Hyperion imagery. Results indicate SUREHYP produces flat terrain surface reflectance results comparable to commercially available software, with reflectance values for the whole spectral range almost entirely within 10% of the software’s over a reference target, yet it is publicly available and open source, allowing the exploitation of this valuable hyperspectral archive on a global scale.
How can the results of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) evaluations applied to vaccinations be communicated to decision-makers and stakeholders? The ISPOR Rome Chapter Project
Creators: name: Gasparini, Roberto
name: Mennini, Francesco Saverio
name: Panatto, Donatella
name: Bonanni, Paolo
name: Bechini, Angela
name: Ricciardi, Walter
name: De Waure, Chiara
name: Marcellusi, Andrea
name: Cicchetti, Americo
name: Ruggeri, Matteo
name: Boccalini, Sara
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015

description: HTA is considered the most comprehensive and transparent method of supporting decision-makers in their choices in Public Health.

HTA on vaccines is being performed by many experts. However, they often present their studies to colleagues, but not to decision-makers, who should be the main target and current users. It is therefore crucial to improve the transfer of scientific data to decision-makers and all stakeholders.

The aims of the present project are: 1) to set up a team of experts to collect economic evaluations and HTA studies on vaccines and assess their actual use in decision-making processes; 2) to constitute regional working groups in order to identify the critical aspects of the communication process and identify the most appropriate method of data transfer.

Systematic reviews of economic evaluations and HTA on vaccines and their actual use in decision-making will be used to draw up the basic documents for discussion by the 3 regional working boards. The working groups will discuss the current scientific evidence and communication methods and will try to implement a model of technology assessment with well-defined and objective criteria, in order to better fit pharmaco-economic and HTA methods to the field of vaccinations.

Improving the transfer of HTA results to stakeholders, particularly decision-makers, will enable decisions to be taken on the basis of scientific evidence, and appropriate, sustainable actions to be undertaken.
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 4 (2015): 2015564
Pharyngeal desmoid-type fibromatosis in a pediatric patient with Gardner\'s syndrome
Creators: name: LÃ³pez Garro, Nuria
Publisher: name: EURORAD
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Head and neck
subject: CT
subject: MR
subject: Ultrasound-Colour Doppler
subject: Diagnostic procedure
subject: Neoplasia

description: Clinical History Image Findings Discussion Find Diagnosis Differential Diagnosis
description: male, 6 years
description: Clinical History: It is a 6-year-old male with a personal history of Gardner's syndrome and, foot and occipital muscle desmoid tumours resection. He presented to the emergency department with a clinical history of progressive dysphonia and dysphagia. In fibro-laryngoscopy,... Final Diagnosis: Pharyngeal desmoid-type fibromatosis in a patient with Gardner's syndrome.
Study on the activity of ZnO-SnO2 nanocomposite against bacteria and fungi
Creators: name: Omar, Karzan Abdulkareem
name: Meena, Bashdar Ismael
name: Muhammed, Srwa Ali
Publisher: name: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław
Year: 2016
Subjects: ZnO-SnO2 nanocomposite
bacteria
fungi
sol-gel method

description: Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing; ISSN 2084-4735
Kinetics and isotherm modelling of Zn(II) ions adsorption onto mine soils
Creators: name: Jalayeri, Haniyeh
name: Salarirad, Mohammad Mehdi
name: Ziaii, Mansour
Publisher: name: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław
Year: 2016
Subjects: copper mine soil
Zn(II)
adsorption kinetic
adsorption isotherms

description: Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing; ISSN 2084-4735
Depression effect of corn starch on muscovite mica at different pH values
Creators: name: Peng, Weijun
name: Zhang, Lingyan
name: Qiu, Yangshuai
name: Shaoxian, Song
Publisher: name: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław
Year: 2016
Subjects: muscovite mica
corn starch
pulp pH
depression effect

description: Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing; ISSN 2084-4735
Characteristics of natural and synthetic molecular sieves and study of their interactions with fragrance compounds
Creators: name: Kasperkowiak, Malgorzata
name: Strzemiecka, Beata
name: Voelkel, Adam
Publisher: name: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław
Year: 2016
Subjects: molecular sieves
fragrance compounds
adsorption properties
thermodynamic parameters
thermal stability

description: Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing; ISSN 2084-4735
Applicability of statistical process control for surface modification plant and properties of coated calcite
Creators: name: Ucurum, Metin
name: Malgir, Eda
name: Deligezen, Hamdi
name: Karaer, Necmettin
name: Avsar, Mustafa
Publisher: name: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław
Year: 2016
Subjects: calcite
surface modification
pin mill plant
statistical process control
coated calcite properties

description: Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing; ISSN 2084-4735
Epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis infections: case distribution by age and relevance of carriage
Creators: name: Gabutti, Giovanni
name: Stefanati, Armando
name: Kuhdari, ParvanÃ¨
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015

description: Notwithstanding different meningococcal serogroups have changed their distribution and their impact in different age classes over time, N. meningitidis' invasive diseases are a major public health issue worldwide, due to the related complications and severe sequelae. Nowadays, the highest rates of invasive disease are registered in children younger than 1 year of age, with a second lesser peak in adolescents and young adults (15-25 years of age). On the contrary, the prevalence of carriage is low in newborns and in school-age children, and increases during adolescence and young-adult age; then it decreases again in older age. N. meningitidis' infection prevalence has greatly decreased in Europe and North America thanks to the use of conjugate vaccines (Men C and MenACWY) as well as the incidence of invasive disease due to serogroup A in sub-saharian Africa after the introduction of MenAfriVac conjugate vaccine.

The great success of conjugate vaccines is related not only to the direct protection from disease but also to the impact on carriage; this latter allows an indirect protection of unimmunized subjects. For these reasons, the implementation of immunization with the new generation vaccines in the age classes most impacted by disease and carriage (first year of life, adolescence and young adulthood) could permit to achieve an extraordinary decrease of the incidence of meningococcal disease.Â
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 3 (2015): 2015563
Supplementary document for Fourier ptychographic dark field X-ray microscopy - 5559206.pdf
Creators: name: Carlsen, Mads
name: Ræder, Trygve
name: Yildirim, Can
name: Rodriguez-Lamas, Raquel
name: Detlefs, Carsten
name: Simons, Hugh
Publisher: name: Optica Publishing Group
Year: 2025
Subjects: Uncategorized

description: Supplementary document
Een gereedschapskist voor digitale vaardigheden
Creators: name: Hettne, Kristina
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Digital skills, R, R Markdown, OpenRefine, Spreadsheets, Carpentries
subject: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1273263
subject: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206904
subject: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53086556
subject: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5583871
subject: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11272
subject: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10135
subject: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q74245723

description: Workshop “Een gereedschapskist voor digitale vaardigheden” by Kristina Hettne at the VOGIN-IP Lezing 2022
 Digitale vaardigheden ontwikkelen: hoe doe je dat? Welke tools heb je nodig en wanneer gebruik je die? Van dagelijkse databewerking en het maken van mooie figuren voor rapporten tot het goed kunnen communiceren met onderzoekers en hen ondersteunen. Het zijn allemaal voorbeelden waar digitale vaardigheden van pas komen. In de workshop gaan we samen ontdekken hoe verschillende tools zoals spreadsheetprogramma’s, OpenRefine, R en RMarkdown je in je werk kunnen ondersteunen en wanneer je het beste welke tool kan gebruiken. Om optimaal gebruik te kunnen maken van digitale tools zijn er basale digitale vaardigheden nodig. We kijken samen naar de lessen van de “Carpentries” als een voorbeeld van een leeromgeving waar je ook zelf mee aan de slag kan. Het doel van de workshop is om ervaringen uit te wisselen en nieuwe vaardigheden op te doen om met een goede basis verder zelf te kunnen leren.
Meningococcal serogroup B vaccine in Italy:  state-of-art, organizational aspects and perspectives
Creators: name: Signorelli, Carlo
name: Chiesa, Valentina
name: Odone, Anna
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015
Subjects: Meningococcal serogroup B vaccine; meningococcal diseases; regional immunization schedules

description: Neisseria meningitidis causes severe invasive meningococcal diseases (IMDs) in humans including meningitis and septicemia, responsible for serious clinical conditions and leading to life-long disabilities and death. Serogroup B dominates IMDs burden in Italy, accounting for over 60% of total cases. On January 2013 the European Medicine Agency (EMA) licensed the first serogroup B meningococcal (Men B) vaccine in Europe. A number of European countries and Regions have introduced the new Men B vaccine in their immunization schedule, including Italy. In this paper we present the state of art, related critical issues and future perspectives of Men B vaccine introduction in Italy, in the context of the most recent available epidemiological data. In particular, we systematically assess the ongoing processes in the 8 Italian regions and one autonomous province that have already introducedÂ  Men B vaccine. With the new National Vaccine Prevention Plan including active Men B vaccine offer about to be adopted, it is of fundamental importance to gather further evidence on Men B vaccine clinical effectiveness, duration of protection and cost-effectiveness. Italian regions are called to organize and manage Men B immunization programs. Careful consideration will need to be devoted on timing, doses, and co-administration with other vaccines but also to economic assessments and strengthened communication to the general public. Our data will help to plan, implement and evaluate Men B immunization programmes in other Italian and international settings.Â
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 3 (2015): 2015563
title: Exploring circularity in clothing resale: a new materialism and value perspective
Creators: name: McQuillan, Victoria Ann
Publisher: name: University of Glasgow
Year: 2021

description: The mainstreaming of alternative or circular business models is considered key for increased sustainability in clothing consumption. One such business model, clothing resale, is a growing but under-researched market. Clothing resale is a way to maintain value beyond an initial purchase. Previous research considers value key to sustainability but provides limited insight into what value means in this context. The role of the consumer is overlooked in circular business models, with assumptions made that they will engage with businesses’ offerings without challenge. This research explores circularity and value, considering retailer and consumer behaviours and how these relate to value maintenance, values and longevity in clothing resale. The research used new materialism as a theoretical lens to consider circularity in clothing resale in relation to sustainability and value. Over a 12-month fieldwork period, this research used a multi- method qualitative approach. This approach included in-depth interviews and visual methods to collect data from a purposive sample of nine retailer participants and thirteen consumer participants. All participants were actively engaged in clothing resale behaviours. The data was analysed thematically. The findings of the study mapped a value regime for clothing resale to outline the value outcomes that underpinned behaviours, including economic, aesthetic, and experiential value. The formal and informal practices of retailers and consumers in clothing resale and the conflict between mainstream and alternative market logic limited the maintenance and longevity of value in clothing resale. In some cases, this caused value disruption and loss. This research makes a theoretical contribution to knowledge by going beyond new materialism’s singular focus on material value to uncover the multiple value outcomes that motivate clothing resale behaviours. A further contribution to the value literature comes from extending a value regime’s object pathway to recognise the need to understand value in other related object pathways to outline a clear value regime for sustainability. Finally, the study’s findings suggest that value is not always maintained but rather disrupted through the conflict of mainstream and alternative market logic and the value and values of consumers and retailers. This finding extends knowledge on the proposed sustainability of circular business models, such as resale.
Implementing an audit and feedback cycle to improve adherence to the Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations : clustered randomized trail
Creators: name: Singer, Alexander
name: Kosowan, Leanne
name: Abrams, Elissa M.
name: Katz, Alan
name: Lix, Lisa
name: Leong, Katrina
name: Paige, Allison
Publisher: name: BioMed Central
Year: 2023

description: Background: Audit and Feedback (A&F), a strategy aimed at promoting modified practice through performance feedback, is a method to change provider behaviour and reduce unnecessary medical services. This study aims to assess the use of A&F to reduce antibiotic prescribing for viral infections and antipsychotic prescribing to patients with dementia. Methods: Clustered randomized trial of 239 primary care providers in Manitoba, Canada, participating in the Manitoba Primary Care Research Network. Forty-six practices were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control group, intervention 1 (recommendations summary), intervention 2 (recommendations summary and personalized feedback). We assessed prescribing rates prior to the intervention (2014/15), during and immediately after the intervention (2016/17) and following the intervention (2018/19). Physician characteristics were assessed. Results: Between 2014/15–2016/17, 91.6% of providers in intervention group 1 and 95.9% of providers in intervention group 2 reduced their antibiotic and antipsychotic prescribing rate by ≥ 1 compared to the control group (77.6%) (p-value 0.0073). This reduction was maintained into 2018/19 at 91.4%. On multivariate regression alternatively funded providers had 2.4 × higher odds of reducing their antibiotic prescribing rate compared to fee-for-service providers. In quantile regression of providers with a reduction in antibiotic prescribing, alternatively funded (e.g. salaried or locum) providers compared to fee-for-service providers were significant at the 80th quantile. Conclusions: Both A&F and recommendation summaries sent to providers by a trusted source reduced unnecessary prescriptions. Our findings support further scale up of efforts to engage with primary care practices to improve care with A&F.
Meningococcal B vaccine and the vision of a meningitis free world
Creators: name: Bianchi, Alessia
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015
Subjects: meningococcal B vaccine, MATS, cross protection

description: A century of traditional vaccinology lost the fight against meningococcus serogroup B (MenB). However, thanks to an innovative genome-based approach, the first broadly effective MenB vaccine, BexseroÂ® (GSK Vaccines), was developed and has been licensed for use in various age groups by the EU and other regulatory authorities. Genes encoding for the main meningococcus B antigens were identified and screened in order to achieve a broadly protective vaccine, taking into account the fact that meningococcus B has many different subtypes whose membrane proteins may be different. Since the antigens selected for BexseroÂ® are also harbored by meningococci belonging to other serogroups there may be the potential for BexseroÂ® to offer a certain level of protection against non-B serogroups. Therefore preliminary studies were carried out to investigate the potential of the vaccine to also provide a degree of cross protection against non-B serogroups. Here we review the potential for BexseroÂ® to offer a certain level of protection against the diversity of meningococcus type B subtypes and its potential ability to offer some cross protection from non-B serogroups. Lastly, we describe the future perspectives in pentavalent meningococcal vaccine (ABCWY) development which hopefully will result in a vaccine able to help prevent Invasive Meningococcal Diseases (IMD) from the majority of currently circulating meningococcal strains.
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 3 (2015): 2015563
Estimates of the burden of meningococcal disease in Italy: implications for prevention and control
Creators: name: Martinelli, Domenico
name: Fortunato, Francesca
name: Prato, Rosa
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015
Subjects: Meningococcal disease; Incidence; Serogroup B

description: Meningococcal disease is an acute, severe bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis. The most common presentations of invasive meningococcal infection (IMD) are meningitis and sepsis, less common pathologic presentations include focal infections. IMD is a feared, rapidly progressive infection that can develop from initial symptoms to death within 24 hours. As many as 20% of survivors have permanent sequelae. Infants <1 year of age have the highest incidence and adolescents the highest carriage prevalence.

In Italy, the incidence of IMD was 0.25 confirmed cases per 100,000 in 2011, but this may have been considerably underestimated due to under-detection and under-reporting. Recently, we estimated the impact of the MenC universal vaccination on the burden of meningococcal meningitis in Puglia by assessing the completeness of three registration sources (notifications, hospitalizations, and laboratory surveillance). The sensitivity of the three systems was 36.7% (95% CI: 17.5%â57.9%) and registrations lost nearly 28 cases/year in the period.

In the National Surveillance of Invasive Bacterial Diseases, serogroup B accounted for 64.9% of samples serotyped in 2011. Applying this percentage to the total number of hospitalizations for IMD registered in the same year (n= 256), we obtained an estimated 166 episodes attributable to serogroup B.
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 3 (2015): 2015563
MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD: EPIDEMIOLOGY, CLINICAL FEATURES AND PREVENTION
Creators: name: Esposito, Susanna
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015
Subjects: children; invasive meningococcal disease; meningococcal disease; pediatric age; Neisseria meningitidis.

description: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) represents a public health problem and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. IMD can occur as an endemic disease with sporadic cases or epidemics with outbreaks. Neisseria meningitis strains are divided into 13 serogroups, but only five (A, B, C, W-135, and Y) are responsible for most IMD across the world. All age groups are at risk for IMD, but infants and adolescents are particularly vulnerable. The most common clinical manifestations of IMD are meningitis and septicemia, although in some cases both clinical pictures are present. The clinical pattern can differ according to age; in young children, the clinical manifestations may be more insidious and the diagnosis may be more difficult compared to older children or adolescents. Death occurs in 6-10% of cases and sequelae in 4.3-11.2% of cases. Early recognition of children with meningococcal infection is important in order to initiate systemic antibiotic therapy, although vaccination remains the best strategy to control meningococcal disease. Recently, different meningococcal vaccines have been introduced worldwide, resulting in a reduction in the overall burden of the disease. The goal of the next few years should be to increase vaccination coverage against meningococcal diseases, continue to monitor IMD and develop a unique vaccine able to cover all of the main meningococcal strains.
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 3 (2015): 2015563
IRS-Enabled Ultra-Low-Power Wireless Sensor Networks : Scheduling and Transmission Schemes
Creators: name: Alwazani, Hibatallah
name: Chaaban, Anas
Publisher: name: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Year: 2023

description: Passive technologies, including intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS), are gaining traction thanks to their ability to enhance communication systems while maintaining minimal cost and low complexity. They can assist a wireless sensor network (WSN) by achieving low power requirements for sensors and aid communication needs in many applications, for instance, environmental monitoring. In this paper, we propose an IRS-equipped WSN which describes sensors equipped with IRSs instead of active radio frequency (RF) electronics. The IRS sensor node (ISN) intercepts a dedicated signal from a power source such as a base station (BS) and modulates the transmission of that signal to an intended recipient. In order to enable multiple sensors to transmit to the receiver, we study opportunistic scheduling (OS) utilizing multi-sensor diversity while considering blind IRS operation, and compare it with round-robin (RR), proportional fairness (PF), and a theoretical upper bound. We study the effect of the choice of the number of IRS elements N and number of ISNs L on the average throughput of the system under OS. Finally, we provide pertinent comparisons for the different scheduling schemes and IRS configurations under relevant system performance metrics, highlighting different scenarios in which each scheme performs better.
Supplementary document for Fourier ptychographic dark field X-ray microscopy - 5559206.pdf
Creators: name: Carlsen, Mads
name: Ræder, Trygve
name: Yildirim, Can
name: Rodriguez-Lamas, Raquel
name: Detlefs, Carsten
name: Simons, Hugh
Publisher: name: Optica Publishing Group
Year: 2022
Subjects: Uncategorized

description: Supplementary document
Meningococcal B vaccination strategies and their practical application in Italy
Creators: name: Gasparini, Roberto
name: Amicizia, Daniela
name: Lai, Piero Luigi
name: Panatto, Donatella
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015
Subjects: Meningococcal B vaccine; vaccination; Italy

description: Immunisation against meningococcal meningitis has a long history, which has passed through several phases: the studies by Flexner, extraction of the polysaccharide capsule, the development of monovalent and multivalent conjugate vaccines, the outer membrane vesicle vaccines up to the development of effective and safe vaccines for meningococcal B invasive disease through the application of the techniques of molecular biology and reverse vaccinology.

The new available vaccines are BexseroÂ® and TrumenbaÂ®. BexseroÂ® has been approved and is available in Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and Chile, and is currently under review in Brazil for the prevention of MenB invasive disease in subjects ≥ 2 months. TrumembaÂ® is currently approved only in the USA, for use in adolescents and young adults.

At present, the greatest obstacle to the extensive use of these vaccines in industrialised countries is the high cost and the need administer multiple doses in infants. However, in some European countries and in some Italian Regions, strategies (free and active call) to fight the disease through vaccination (BexseroÂ®) are already in place.Â
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 3 (2015): 2015563
Occurrence of Acrylamide in breakfast cereals and biscuits available in Italy
Creators: name: Capei, Raffaella
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015

description: Introduction. Acrylamide, produced during thermal processing of carbohydrate-rich foods, is classified as âprobably carcinogenic to humansâ by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Objective. The aim of this study was to determine acrylamide levels in biscuits and breakfast cereals considering the widespread use of these products for all ages.

Method. Acrylamide determination was carried out in 56 samples by HPLC-UV technique.

Results and discussion. The results showed a considerable variability in the contents of acrylamide in the samples analysed, most likely due to differences in industrial processing and ingredients. The percentages of contaminated samples tested were very high (95.5% of the biscuits and 75% of the breakfast cereals) with a wide range of contamination: from 30 Âµg/KgÂ  to 940 Âµg/Kg. Our results showed that 22.7% of biscuits andÂ  33% of breakfast cereals exceeded the indicative values recommended by EC 2013/647 set at 500 Âµg/Kg and 200-400 Âµg/Kg (according to the composition) respectively.

Conclusions. Our findings suggest concern about the risk for human health.
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 4 (2015): 2015564
Prevalence of acute alcohol intoxication in Borgo Trento Hospital Emergency Department (Verona).
Creators: name: Majori, Silvia
name: Ricci, Giorgio
name: Marchiori, Francesco
name: Bocchi, Mariangela
name: Zannoni, Massimo
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015
Subjects: Alchool; Acute intoxication; Emergency department

description: Introduction: Alcohol is an important factor weighting towards global disease burden, premature death and Disability-Adjusted Life Years. This study examines the burden imposed on the Borgo Trento Verona Hospital Emergency Department (ED) by patients with acute alcohol intoxication (AAI).

Methods: A 6-year retrospective study was performed by reviewing medical records in all patients (≥16 years old) diagnosed with AAI. Clinical criteria for inclusion in the sample followed those defined in the âAlcohol Intoxication Symptomsâ section of DSM-IV-TR. Ambiguous cases presenting traumas potentially related to AAI were confirmed positive using a Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) test before inclusion in the sample. Socio-demographic data, case history, timing of admission/discharge and outcome were collected for each patient.

Results: One thousand five hundred forty-seven patients (males:females = 6.6:1) were included in the study. With regard to marital status, the crude rate within the sample shows that single and married subjects have a significantly higher prevalence (p<0.01). When demographic data of residents was taken into consideration, divorced/separated and single categories were significantly more represented (p<0.05).

The admissions appeared fairly constant throughout the week with a higher prevalence of patients aged between 25-55 years, and a significant peak of the youngest age class on weekends. Higher rates of admission were recorded during the late afternoon and night.

The triage code of admission appeared uniformly distributed along the week, with the highest prevalence of green code (67.7%), followed by yellow one (25.8%). The analysis of clinical symptoms and BAL highlights that moderate clinical severity concerns almost 50%, and clinically critical severity the 6.6% of cases of access.

Admissions rates of foreign patients resulted to be 3 times higher compared to those of natives when adjusted to demographic data.

Discussion: Social disadvantages such as foreign provenance and social difficulties as unemployment, low money intake, perception of loneliness, and dysfunction in family life were frequently identified in the sample. An exception was found within the youngest age group, where the AAI are mostly related to alcohol abuse during social outings over the weekend.

EDs play a crucial role in helping patients with AAI, but prevention of alcohol abuse though implementation of social and sanitary health policies on all ages (but especially among the youngest) is essential.
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 4 (2015): 2015564
title: Editorial: Die desinfizierte Gesellschaft. Zwischen Schutz des Sozialen und Entsozialisierung in (post)pandemischen Zeiten
Creators: name: Guanzini, Isabella
name: Hable, Ingrid
name: Taschl-Erber, Andrea
Publisher: name: Universität Graz
Year: 2022

description: LIMINA: Grazer theologische Perspektiven | 5:1, 2022, 7–11 | www.limina-graz.eu
A comparative study on recovery of chromium from tannery wastewater as nano magnesium chromite
Creators: name: Abdel-Aal, E.A.
name: Farghaly, F.E.
name: Tahawy, R.
name: El-Shahat, M.F.
Publisher: name: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław
Year: 2016
Subjects: recovery
chromium
magnesium chromite
magnesium chromium(III) oxide
magnesium dichromate
tannery wastewater

description: Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing; ISSN 2084-4735
Preparing the National Archaeological Repertory for ARIADNEplus
Creators: name: ȘANDRIC, Bogdan
name: STREINU, Marius
name: MATEI, Dan
name: IANCU, Alina
name: DINU, Georgiana
name: GRIGORAȘ, Bianca
name: BORLEAN, Oana
name: TUARU, Marian
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Heritage Romania Archaeology Ontology GIS

description: This presentation provides a brief overview of Institutul Naționalal Patrimoniului (INP - the National Heritage Institute of Romania) and its database, Repertoriul Arheologic Național (RAN - the National Archaeological Repertory ). It describes how the records are being contributed to ARIADNE, which document 2,550 archaeological sites along with relevant geographical information and how this activity has has also improved the quality and richness of the RAN data with some examples. The final part shows how the RAN records were converted to the ontology and format of AriadnePlus(i.e. AOcat).
Assessing a multi-method approach for dryland soil salinization with respect to climate change and global warming - The example of the Bajestan region (NE Iran)
Creators: name: Khosravichenar, Azra
name: Aalijahan, Mehdi
name: Moaazeni, Saeid
name: Ulrich, Mathias
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2023
Subjects: Desertifikation
Fernerkundung
Bodenversalzung
Iran

description: Dryland soil salinization strongly affects soil properties, with severe consequences for regional ecology, agriculture and the aeolian dust dynamics. Given its climate-sensitivity it forms a serious environmental hazard, and to cope with this challenge during current global warming it needs to be better understood. The Bajestan Playa in the strongly salinization-affected Iranian drylands hosts several protected areas and forms an important regional dust source. Hence, soil salinization in this region affects local and regional ecosystems and societies, but was not systematically studied yet. Using an unprecedented comprehensive approach we systematically monitored regional soil salinity 1992-2021 using remote sensing as well as on-site field and laboratory measurements, and linked these with regional and global climatic data to understand (i) the spatio-temporal soil salinity dynamics, (ii) the impact of regional and global climate changes, and (iii) the potential of our approach for further soil salinity studies. Our annual time resolution over three decades provided significantly deeper and unprecedented insights into soil salinization: Both regional annual precipitation and temperature control soil salinity, but the latter responds to precipitation with time lags of up to two years and to higher temperatures without any time lag. This probably reflects the transport time of leached soluble salts from their sources following humid years. No systematic soil salinity changes were observed within the playa basin, but outside the basin soil salinity systematically increased. Whereas regional precipitation did not show a systematic trend during the last decades, regional temperature increased and was mostly correlated with the increasing GLOTI, POL and TSA climatic indices. Hence, given ongoing global warming a further increase of regional soil salinization should be expected, with serious consequences for saline dust emissions, the regional protected areas and climate-related migrations. Altogether, our multi-disciplinary pioneer study demonstrates a high future application potential also for other salinity-affected drylands, forming a base to deal with the consequences of ongoing global climate change. Quelle: ScienceDirect
Extraction properties of tetraheptylresorcin[4]arenes in relation to Cr(III) ions
Creators: name: Konczyk, Joanna
name: Miroshnychenko, Stanislav
name: Kozlowski, Cezary
Publisher: name: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław
Year: 2016
Subjects: solvent extraction
resorcin[4]arenes
chromium(III)
cadmium(II)
zinc(II)

description: Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing; ISSN 2084-4735
Home Literacy Environment and Chinese-Canadian First Graders’ Bilingual Vocabulary Profiles : A Mixed Methods Analysis
Creators: name: Li, Guofang, 1972-
name: Sun, Zhuo
name: Zhen, Fubiao
name: Ji, Xuejun Ryan
name: Gunderson, Lee, 1942-
Publisher: name: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Year: 2023

description: Bilingual children in the North American context significantly improve in English language proficiency, but their heritage language learning varies between different linguistic groups. This mixed methods study was designed to explore the developmental patterns in bilingual vocabulary among Chinese-Canadian first-graders’ (N = 75) and to identify home factors that may have contributed to divergent bilingual developmental trajectories. Cluster analyses were conducted to identify underlying discrepancy profiles in bilingual oral lexicon. Four children with contrasting bilingual profiles were selected for qualitative analysis to explore home factors that may have contributed to the discrepancies. Thematic analyses of parental interviews revealed several family factors such as beliefs and attitudes toward bilingualism, quality literacy engagement, and sibling dynamics, that all appearing to contribute to the discrepancies.
Supplementary document for High resolution graphene angle sensor based on ultra-narrowband optical perfect absorption - 5561282.pdf
Creators: name: Chen, Yimin
name: Fan, Yansong
name: Zhang, Zhengzhuo
name: Hong, Zhu
name: Liu, Ken
name: Zhang, Jianfa
name: xu, wei
name: Yuan, Xiaodong
name: Guo, Chucai
Publisher: name: Optica Publishing Group
Year: 2025
Subjects: Uncategorized

description: additional simulation results and the details of fabrication processes and measurement method
Removal of sulfur and phosphorous from iron ore concentrate by leaching
Creators: name: Pour, Hassan Rezvani
name: Mostafavi, Ali
name: Pur, Tayebeh Shams
name: Pour, Ghobad Ebadi
name: Omran, Amir Haji Zadeh
Publisher: name: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław
Year: 2016
Subjects: sulfur removal
chemical leaching
iron ore concentrate

description: Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing; ISSN 2084-4735
Design document for a new mechanically active on-chip flow pump that will be integrated in a microfluidic device for use as a transfer standard in drug discovery and in organ on a chip applications for flow rates lower than 100 nL/min
Creators: name: Silverio, Vania
name: Canane, Patricia
name: Martins, Tomas
name: Afonso, Ruben
name: Cardoso, Susana
name: Batista, Elsa
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Micropump, microfluidics, drug delivery

description: Overall Objective: Using input from A3.2.1-A3.2.4, INESC MN and IPQ and will write a design document for a new mechanically active on-chip flow pump that will be integrated in a microfluidic device for use as a transfer standard in drug discovery and in organ on-a-chip applications for flow rates lower than 100 nL/min.
Beneficial effects and mechanism of lead ion on wolframite flotation
Creators: name: Yang, Siyuan
name: Qiu, Xianyang
name: Peng, Tiefeng
name: Chang, Ziyong
name: Feng, Qiming
name: Zhong, Chuangang
Publisher: name: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław
Year: 2016
Subjects: activator
wolframite
lead ion
benzohydroxamic acid
flotation

description: Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing; ISSN 2084-4735
Simultaneous optimization of flotation column performance using genetic evolutionary algorithm
Creators: name: Nakhaei, Fardis
name: Irannajad, Mehdi
name: Yousefikhoshbakht, Majid
Publisher: name: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław
Year: 2016
Subjects: flotation column
optimization
genetic algorithm
non-linear regression
upgrading curve

description: Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing; ISSN 2084-4735
Geocoding health data with Geographic Information Systems: a pilot study in northeast Italy for developing a standardized data-acquiring format
Creators: name: Baldovin, Tatjana
name: Zangrando, Dorelia
name: Casale, Patrizia
name: Ferrarese, Francesco
name: Bertoncello, Chiara
name: Buja, Alessandra
name: Marcolongo, Adriano
name: Baldo, Vincenzo
Publisher: name: Department of Health Science - University of Genoa
Year: 2015
Subjects: Environment and Public Health; Geographic Information Systems; Data matching

description: Abstract

Introduction: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become an innovative and even more crucial tool for analyzing relationships between public health data and environment. This study, though focusing on a Local Health Unit of northeastern Italy, could be taken as a benchmark for developing a standardized national data acquiring format.

Methods: Geocoding analysis was carried out on a health database comprising 268,517 records of the Local Health Unit of Rovigo in the Veneto region, covering a period of 10 years, starting from 2001 up to 2010. The Map Service provided by the Environmental Research System Institute (ESRI, Redlands, CA), and ArcMap 10.0 by ESRIÂ® were, respectively, the reference data and the GIS software, employed in the geocoding process.

Results: The first attempt of geocoding produced a poor quality result, having about 40% of the addresses matched. A procedure of manual standardization was performed in order to enhance the quality of the results, consequently a set of guiding principle were expounded which should be pursued for geocoding health data. High-level geocoding detail will provide a more precise geographic representation of health related events.

Conclusions: The main achievement of this study was to outline some of the difficulties encountered during the geocoding of health data and to put forward a set of guidelines, which could be useful to facilitate the process and enhance the quality of the results. Public health informatics represents an emerging specialty that highlights on the application of information science and technology to public health practice and research. Therefore, this study could draw the attention of the National Health Service to the underestimated problem of geocoding accuracy in health related data for environmental risk assessment.
description: Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 56, No 2 (2015)