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The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) has experienced significant changes in seawater temperature over the past 50 years. This warming affects seawater and sea ice microbial cycling of organic matter, where viral features could play a crucial role in sympagic sea ice melting environments. However, there is a lack of information about the sea ice viral abundances and processes (e.g. lysis rates and carbon release from microorganisms). To gain knowledge of sea ice viral, microbial, and chemical characteristics, we collected four different sea ice samples and their surrounding surface seawater during the Austral summer of 2019 north of the WAP. In each sample, we assessed viral and microbial abundances and environmental parameters. In the sea ice, we also measured viral-driven mortality rates on prokaryotes and protists and the consequent release of organic carbon. The viral and microorganism abundances in the sea ice were higher (4.5 ± 1.9 × 106 viruses mL−1; 1.5 ± 0.7 × 106 prokaryotes mL−1, 9.4 ± 5.0 × 102 protists mL−1) than in the surrounding surface seawater (1.7 × 106 viruses mL−1, 0.4 × 106 prokaryotes mL−1, 7.1 × 102 protists mL−1). Furthermore, viral lytic production on prokaryotes (4.5 ± 0.8 × 105 mL−1day−1) and protists (1.9 ± 1.0 × 104 mL−1 day−1) in sympagic environments had a higher viral impact on carbon release by protist (1.5 ± 1.1 µg C L−1 day−1) than by prokaryotes (0.3 ± 0.1 µg C L−1 day−1). Our results suggest that, after sea ice melting, viral abundances and activities may influence the functioning of the microbial food web by increasing the release of dissolved organic matter, affecting biogeochemical cycles and microbial communities in the underlying surface waters.

Alkylamines, volatile organic nitrogen compounds with low molecular weight, are present in the surface ocean and participate in the marine biogeochemical nitrogen cycle, atmospheric chemistry and cloud formation. Alkylamines have been detected in polar regions, suggesting that these areas constitute emission hotspots of these compounds. However, knowledge of the sea surface distribution patterns and factors modulating alkylamines remain limited due to their high reactivity and low concentrations, which hamper accurate measurements. We investigated the presence and distribution of alkylamines in seawaters around the Antarctic Peninsula and the northern Weddell Sea during the late austral summer and explored their potential links to marine microbiota. Alkylamines were ubiquitous in all analysed samples, accounting for ∼ 2 % of the dissolved and particulate organic nitrogen pool. The only particulate form found was trimethylamine (TMA), detected for the first time in Antarctic waters at concentrations of 9.7 ± 4.6 nM. We efficiently measured dissolved trimethylamine (TMA, 20.9 ± 15.2 nM), dimethylamine (DMA, 32.3 ± 32.7 nM) and diethylamine (DEA, 7.2 ± 1.7 nM) across the surveyed area, while dissolved monomethylamine (MMA, 12.7 ± 0.1 nM) remained below the detection limit in most samples. Variations in alkylamine concentrations did not align with the overall phytoplankton biomass but with specific biological components. TMA was predominantly associated with, and released from, nanophytoplankton. DMA was likely produced by the degradation of TMA or trimethylamine oxide by nanophytoplankton cells or associated heterotrophic bacteria. The sources of DEA remain unclear but were suggestive of a distinct biogeochemical pathway from those of TMA and DMA. MMA is thought to primarily originate from bacterial degradation of nitrogen-based osmolytes or amino acids, but detection in too few samples precluded any robust association with microbiota. This study reveals that volatile alkylamines are widespread in Antarctic surface waters, where they are primarily sourced from nanophytoplankton cells and associated heterotrophic bacteria and protists.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a well-established procedure to support Decision Makers (DMs) in considering and evaluating the effects of Policies, Plans, and Programs (PPPs) on the environment, along with social and economic considerations, providing a valid basis for informed decision making. The integration of sustainability issues into decision-making processes can be provided in several ways: offering a framework to support DMs in their choice, studying and analyzing alternatives, identifying sustainability objectives, and integrating sustainability criteria in PPPs. In light of such needs, this paper aims to present a methodological approach to guide the assessment phase of environmental effects in the SEA procedure. The proposed methodology consists in seeking a strong and clearly understandable connection between the environmental sustainability objectives deriving from policies at the international level, and the specific environmental sustainability objectives of a Plan, which is propaedeutic to the evaluation of the environmental effects of the Plan itself. Moreover, this approach allows to keep the analysis at the strategic level, which is the one required in SEA. The contextualization of the general objectives of environmental sustainability with respect to the environmental aspects affected by the Plan itself and to the characteristics of the reference territory allows the requirement of strategic relevance to be fully met, integrating policy directions that in some contexts, such as the European one, are not subject to the SEA procedure.

The impact of wind on disdrometer measurements has not yet been demonstrated through controlled reproducible physical experiments. This study aims to provide quantitative evidence of the deviation in raindrop trajectories approaching the sensing area of an optical disdrometer (the Thies Clima LPM) when immersed in a wind flow with a known velocity and direction relative to the sensor orientation. To this end, water drops with diameters between 0.9 mm and 1 mm were released in a wind tunnel and directed towards the instrument’s sensing area. Their trajectories were measured using a high-speed camera and compared with those expected in undisturbed conditions, as well as with the airflow field around the instrument body as measured in previous studies. This experiment provided the first direct measurement of the deviation in individual drop trajectories induced by wind near the Thies Clima LPM, a disdrometer commonly used in hydrological studies and applications. The effect of the non-radially symmetric geometry of the instrument on wind direction was observed, identifying the configuration most affected (parallel to the laser beam). The repeatability of the drop releasing system was checked by releasing multiple drops from the same position. This allowed attributing differences in the observed trajectories to a variation in the drop diameter. The collected dataset can be used to validate numerical models of the wind-induced bias of disdrometers and to develop adjustment functions for field measurements.

Background Specific components of lipid profile seem to differently impact on immune activity against cancer and unraveling their prognostic role in patients with solid cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is needed. Materials and Methods We retrospectively collected baseline clinicopathological characteristics including circulating lipid profile (total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], low-density lipoproteins [LDL], high-density lipoproteins [HDL]) of patients with consecutive solid cancer treated with ICIs, and we investigated their role in predicting clinical outcomes. Results At a median follow-up of 32.9 months, among 430 enrolled patients, those with TC ≥ 200 mg/dl showed longer median progression-free survival (mPFS; 6.6 vs. 4.7 months, P = .4), although not reaching statistical significance, and significantly longer median overall survival (mOS; 19.4 vs. 10.8 months, P = .02) compared to those with TC < 200 mg/dl. Conversely, patients with TG ≥150 mg/dl displayed shorter PFS (3.4 vs. 5.1 months, P = .02) and OS (7.1 vs. 12.9 months, P = .009) compared to those with TG <150 mg/dl. TC and TG were then combined in a “LIPID score” identifying three subgroups: good-risk (GR) (TC ≥200 mg/dl and TG <150 mg/dl), intermediate-risk (IR) (TC <200 mg/dl and TG <150 mg/dl or TC ≥200 mg/dl and TG ≥150 mg/dl) and poor-risk (PR) (TC <200 mg/dl and TG ≥150 mg/dl). The mPFS of GR, IR, and PR groups was 7.8, 4.3, and 2.5 months, respectively (P = .005); mOS of GR, IR, and PR was 20.4, 12.4, and 5.3 months, respectively (P < .001). At multivariable analysis, the PR profile represented an independent poor prognostic factor for both PFS and OS. Conclusions We developed a lipid score that defined subgroups of patients with cancer who differently benefit from ICIs. Further mechanistic insights are warranted to clarify the prognostic and predictive role of lipid profile components in patients treated with ICIs. Specific components of lipid profile have different effects on immune activity against cancer. This study aimed to unravel their prognostic role in solid tumors treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

The Italian National Strategy for Sustainable Development plays an important role in the national implementation of the 17 Goals for sustainable development set globally through the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations. The achievement of such goals in Italy is linked to the strategic choices and objectives established at the national level. The purpose of this work is to monitor the performance of the 20 Italian regions in 4 of the 5 areas of the Agenda (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace) over a period of time ranging from the implementation of the National Strategy to the post-pandemic. To do this, a set of representative indicators was created and a geographical sustainability assessment tool (SSAM) was used, which operates through a multicriteria analysis model perfectly integrated into a GIS environment. The results showed a strong regional variability and a radicalized North-South gap. Moreover, the monitoring between the different years (2017-2019-2021) showed the initially positive impact of the strategy, mainly due to the Planet dimension, but also the negative one that COVID-19 caused to all the regions, with different intensity depending on the dimensions considered.

Introduction. Chronic diseases, such as hemophilia, can evoke psychological sequelae and be associated with a higher risk of mental health disorders. The utilization of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs in subjects with hemophilia is not completely understood and few data are available.Objectives. The aim of this analysis is to describe use of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs in subjects with hemophilia of the Umbria Region in the period 2011-2022. Methods. A descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective analysis based on data on filled prescriptions for antidepressants and antipsychotics has been carried out. The overall and annual prevalence of drugs use and consumption were calculated based on pharmaceutical prescriptions charged to the National Health Service in subjects with hemophilia and matched controls from general population.Results. In the study period 170 subjects with hemophilia were identified; about 80% were male. About 20% and 8.2% received antidepressants and antipsychotics, respectively. A higher percentage of users and consumption were found in subjects with hemophilia compared to matched controls, although no statistically significant differences were observed.Conclusions. Our analysis suggests that depression and psychosis are important comorbidities in subjects with hemophilia. Further larger studies are needed in order to confirm these data and better define the burden of mental health disorders in subjects with hemophilia.

Nomophobia, a form of behavioral addiction, is uncontrolled, obsessive fear of being disconnected from the mobile phone network. Excessive use of smartphone during care, a source of errors and distractions, is among the top ten risks related to the use of technologies in healthcare. The study aims to investigate the presence of nomophobia among nurses and students of the Degree in Nursing and any differences based on gender, age group and seniority. A cross-sectional quantitative descriptive study conducted at Università Politecnica delle Marche and Azienda Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord departments; the NMP-Q questionnaire (Nomophobia Questionnaire) was administered to a non-probabilistic sample of nurses and nursing students. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential non-parametric statistical measurements. A total of 280 questionnaires were returned, 141 for students and 139 for nurses. The mean total score for students and nurses was moderate and overlapping (M=79.9 vs. 79.3, p>0.05), with no difference by gender and course year (p>0.05); in the sample of nurses score is higher in men (M=89.8 vs. 76.0, p=0.037), under 30 (M=72.0) and over 50 years (M=83.1, p=0.021). The comparison between the two groups shows higher percentages of moderate nomophobic grade among students (+17pp), mild (+8.2 pp) and severe (+7.4 pp) among nurses, without significant gender differences. In the perspective of proper risk management, the level of nomophobia found in both groups should not be underestimated. This study highlights the importance of monitoring the phenomenon, adopting information and awareness-raising policies aimed at healthcare personnel as early as university training: distracting factors associated with the over-use of smartphones in the workplace make nurses, particularly newly graduates and with less expertise, more vulnerable and more exposed to the risk of error.

This paper presents a novel psychological model of the socio-cognitive management of uncertainty, the semiotic dimensional model (SDM). The SDM claims that uncertainty increases the momentum of affect-laden meanings in meaning-making. This is so because affective meanings provide a simplified interpretation of the world that restores the experience of being able to make sense of the reality destabilized by uncertainty. Moreover, the SDM models the affective meanings in terms of low-dimensional mental phase space (MPS). Each dimension of the MPS detects a facet of the context. The lower the MPS dimensionality, the lower the number of facets of the context processed, therefore, the more simplified the meaning-making is. We attained the first empirical validation of the SDM in a sample of 120 Italian people. First, the SDM assumption that the low-dimensional MPS is the computational descriptor of affective meaning was tested. Second, an experimental study was designed in which uncertainty was manipulated so as to assess its effects on the dimensionality of participants’ MPS. It was hypothesized that uncertainty induces a decrease in the MPS dimensionality. Results were consistent with both hypotheses. Theoretical implications of the SDM and its relationship with other theories are discussed and future research direction outlined.

The first cases of SARS-CoV-2 were reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. In January the disease spread rapidly to other regions and beyond Chinese borders until it reached Italy where, on February 21, the first case of non-imported contagion was found. On the same date, as the commercial activities were still regularly open, the dinner, which saw as protagonists the participants of this retrospective study, took place. Of the 49 people attending the event, 47 joined the study. The participants of this study were all males, with an average age of 57 years old, all asymptomatic during the dinner. The participants voluntarily underwent serological or swab tests for SARS-CoV-2 and answered questions from our telephone interview. From the data obtained it emerges that 26 people (55.3%), after the dinner, developed one or more symptoms. The most frequently encountered symptom was fever, present in 76.9% of the symptomatic. 26 people were positive on the diagnostic tests (55.3% of the total examined), 24 of them were symptomatic. The conceivable R0 (the basic reproduction number) is higher than the one present in the literature (7.7 vs 3.8), this is probably due to the conditions in which the dinner took place (not ventilated environment, absence of safety distances, absence of personal protective equipment).