Publications by authors named "Betti G"

The discarding of agri-food by-products is a stringent problem due to their high environmental impact. Recovery strategies can lead to a reduction of waste and result in new applications. Agri-food waste represents a source of bioactive molecules, which could promote health benefits.

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On March 5, 2022, a 12 kg meteoroid crossed the sky above Central Italy and was observed by three different observational systems: the PRISMA all-sky camera network (10 stations), the Italian national seismic network (61 stations), and a 4-element infrasound array. The corresponding datasets, each with its own resolution, provided three independent assessments of the trajectory, size and speed of the meteoroid. The bolide traveled across central Italy with an azimuth of 102 degrees, becoming visible at about 91 km above sea level with a velocity of about 15.

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In this paper we aim to propose a new method for improving the design effect of household surveys based on a two-stage design in which the first stage clusters, or Primary Selection Units (PSUs), are stratified along administrative boundaries. Improvement of the design effect can result in more precise survey estimates (smaller standard errors and confidence intervals) or in the reduction of the necessary sample size, i.e.

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In more recent times, there is an increasing consensus in the field of development study to view poverty as a multidimensional deprivation beyond the more commonly used monetary perspective. Although the multidimensional poverty measurement is gaining more acceptance among policy makers, it is still based on the clear distinction between the poor and non-poor through an arbitrary threshold. One alternative to this shortcoming is offered by a multidimensional poverty measurement with a fuzzy-set approach in which it is possible to recognize deprivations as a matter of degree.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Various shading structures, such as gazebos and beach umbrellas, were tested and found to reduce UV radiation by up to 90%, while also indicating the need for additional protection like T-shirts and sunscreen.
  • * The tested T-shirts provided very good to excellent UV protection, suggesting that implementing effective protective measures can help prevent health issues among lifeguards exposed to high levels of UV radiation.
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Background: Many surveys have been performed over the years to assess the medical and social requirements of patients with a rare disease, but no studies have focused specifically on patients in Europe or with an inherited metabolic disease (IMD). To obtain a comprehensive overview of the social and psychological status and needs of IMD patients, especially in Europe, the European Reference Network for Hereditary Metabolic Disorders (MetabERN) has performed a dedicated survey among its metabolic patients.

Results: A total of 924 patients and caregivers responded to the questionnaire.

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In the last forty, years semi-flexible pavements have been successfully employed, especially in those areas subjected to heavy and slow-moving loads. They usually comprise a wearing course of Grouted Macadam, a composite pavement material that provides significant advantages in comparison to both concrete and asphalt pavements. On the other hand, the laying process of this material is a two-stage operation, and the realization complexity leads to long realization times and high initial costs.

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Nutritional abnormalities and physical inactivity are risk factors of increased morbidity and mortality in patients with ESRD. Identify and define malnutrition, in particular protein-energy depletion (PEW), is an important task in the management of renal patients. The aim of this multicenter observational study was to implement the assessment of nutritional status and functional capacity in patients on peritoneal dialysis, including tests and validated methods which are relatively easy to apply in daily clinical practice.

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Background: In haemodialysis (HD) patients, anaemia is associated with reduced survival. Despite treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), a large number of patients with chronic kidney disease show resistance to this therapy and require much higher than usual doses of ESAs in order to maintain the recommended haemoglobin (Hb) target, and recent studies suggest that hepcidin (HEP) may mediate the ESA resistance index (ERI). High-volume online haemodiafiltration (HV-OL-HDF) has been shown to improve anaemia and to reduce the need for ESAs in HD patients; this effect is associated with a reduced inflammatory state in these patients.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and the activity of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1 (PTGS1), PTGS2, and endothelial, neuronal, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (e-, n-, and iNOS) in early, mid, late, and regressive corpora lutea (CL) of bovines during diestrus. PTGS1 immunoreactivity was localised mainly in the cytoplasm of small luteal cells, whereas PTGS2 was detected in the cytoplasm of large luteal cells during early, mid, and late stages. The immunoexpression of all NOS isoforms was observed in the nuclei of luteal cells in the CL stages examined.

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No controlled studies exist regarding the pharmaceutical reduction of ataxia symptoms in ataxia telangiectasia (A-T). In a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial, oral betamethasone (BETA) and placebo were compared in terms of their reduction of ataxia symptoms as assessed with the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS). In this study of 13 A-T children, betamethasone reduced the ICARS total score by a median of 13 points in the intent-to-treat population and 16 points in the per-protocol population (ie, median percent decreases of ataxia symptoms of 28% and 31%, respectively).

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Background: The treatment of human cancer has been seriously hampered for decades by resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Mechanisms underlying this resistance are far from being entirely known. A very efficient mechanism of tumor resistance to drugs is related to the modification of tumour microenvironment through changes in the extracellular and intracellular pH.

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Background And Aim: Assessment of physical activity level and of energy expenditure is important in the clinical and nutritional care of dialysis patients, but it is not so easy to accomplish. The SenseWear™ Armband (SWA) is a novel multisensory device that is worn on the upper arm and collects a variety of physiologic data related to physical activity. Thus, duration and intensity of physical activity is recorded and expressed as METs (Metabolic Equivalent Task), and energy expenditure is estimated.

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Our aim was to compare urinary ethylmalonic acid (EMA) levels in subjects who had no apparent clinical reason to have increased levels of this substance but were suffering from non-specific CNS impairment, and healthy controls. Urinary EMA concentrations detected by (1)H-NMR spectroscopy were studied in 130 subjects with CNS impairment of unknown origin (with no definite diagnosis, no specific symptoms or signs, and normal common biochemical and metabolic screening results) and 130 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. EMA levels exceeding two standard deviations (SD) above normal (i.

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This is a cross-sectional, multicenter, controlled study aiming to evaluate changes of actual dietary nutrient intake in 94 stable hemodialysis patients in respect to 52 normal subjects and guideline recommendations, and to assess the prevalence of signs of malnutrition. Energy and nutrients intake assessment was obtained by a three-day period food recall. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters of nutrition, bioelectric impedance vector analysis, and subjective global assessment (SGA) have been performed to assess nutritional status.

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Saffron (stigmata of Crocus sativus L.) has been used for medicinal purposes for millennia. Throughout history, uses against cancer and depressive mood can regularly be identified.

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A study was conducted from February 29, 1996, to March 28, 1996, at the University of Brno's Pathology Institute in the Czech Republic to explore the possible application of craniofacial intracranial endoscopic techniques through minimal skin incisions and trephines in fresh cadavers (3 to 12 hours old). Through the trephines the dura was totally dissected from the bone. After this dissection a standard bicoronal incision and a full craniotomy was performed to assess the integrity of the meninges.

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The determination of whole blood magnesium concentration (MgT) was investigated in uremics on chronic dialysis with a broad range of hematocrit (Ht) and of plasma magnesium concentration (MgP). In view of the inverse correlation between erythrocyte magnesium concentration (MgC) and Ht in dialyzed uremics, as shown in our previous paper, it was possible to derive a formula which expressed MgT in terms of MgP and Ht. By exploring the predictive power of this formula, it can be concluded that MgT can be calculated directly from MgP and Ht.

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The correlation between whole blood potassium (K) concentration and hematocrit (Ht) was investigated in chronically dialyzed uremics with a broad range of Ht. This correlation was found to be represented by a curve and its form was derived by the manipulation of the formula concerning the inverse relationship between erythrocyte K concentration and Ht. These findings show that in dialyzed patients the whole blood K concentration can be correctly predicted from any Ht value, despite their wide range of plasma K concentration.

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Plasma and erythrocyte potassium (K) concentrations were measured in uremics of chronic dialysis and in a control group composed of healthy persons and of patients with anemia due to causes other than renal failure. The behavior of the erythrocyte K content in uremics did not differ from that of the control group and in both cases a close inverse relationship was present between hematocrit and erythrocyte K concentration, irrespective of its plasma level. These findings suggest that the red blood cell count, rather than renal failure, may affect the erythrocyte K content.

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The serum levels of PTH, Mg, Ca, inorganic phosphate (Pi) and alkaline phosphatases (AlkPase) were determined in 22 uraemic patients on chronic haemodialysis with different Mg levels in th dialysate, in an attempt to clarify the pathogenesis of uraemic osteodystrophy. Baseline levels of all the considered parameters were obtained over a four month period whilst on standard Mg concentration in the dialysis solution (1.5 mEq/L).

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The correlation between whole blood potassium concentration (Kt) and hematocrit (Ht) was investigated in subjects with a broad range ofHt. This relationship was found to be represented by a curve, and its form was derived by the manipulation of the formula concerning the inverse correlation between Ht and erythrocyte potassium concentration (Kc).

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Plasma and erythrocyte magnesium (Mg) concentrations were measured in uremics on regular hemodialysis, in healthy persons and in patients with anemia due to causes other than renal failure. The mean plasma Mg concentration was found to be significantly higher in the uremic patients than in other subjects. The erythrocyte Mg concentration in anemic uremics and in nonuremic anemics was found to be higher than in normal subjects and a close inverse relationship was found between this figure and the hematocrit.

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