Mathematical Modelling of Tensile Mechanical Behavior of a Bio-Composite Based on Polybutylene-Succinate and Brewer Spent Grains.

A model based on the fitting of stress-strain data by tensile tests of bio-composites made of a bioplastic (polybutylene succinate (PBS)) and brewer spent grain filler (BSGF) is developed. Experimental tests were performed for various concentrations of BSGF in the range from 2% to 30%. The model is suitable for describing the elastic-plastic behavior of these materials in terms of two mechanical parameters, tensile stress and tensile stiffness (or Young's modulus), depending on the filler concentration.

Spreading of Information on a Network: A Quantum View.

This paper concerns the modeling of the spread of information through a complex, multi-layered network, where the information is transferred from an initial transmitter to a final receiver. The mathematical model is deduced within the framework of operatorial methods, according to the formal mathematical apparatus typical of quantum mechanics. Two different approaches are considered: one based on the (H,ρ)-induced dynamics and one on the Gorini-Kossakowski-Sudarshan-Lindblad (GKSL) equation.

Implementation of video-calls between patients admitted to intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic and their families: a pilot study of psychological effects.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused over 530 million infections to date (June 2022), with a high percentage of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. In this context, relatives have been restricted from visiting their loved ones admitted to hospital. This situation has led to an inevitable separation between patients and their families.

Tracheal intubation while wearing personal protective equipment in simulation studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial-sequential analysis.

Background: Tracheal intubation in patients with coronavirus disease-19 is a high-risk procedure that should be performed with personal protective equipment (PPE). The influence of PPE on operator's performance during tracheal intubation remains unclear.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of simulation studies to evaluate the influence of wearing PPE as compared to standard uniform regarding time-to-intubation (TTI) and success rate.

Fatal VAP-related pulmonary aspergillosis by in a positive COVID-19 patient.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, known as a complication in patients with severe respiratory syndromes, recently showed a correlation with COVID-19 pneumonia, and the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) have been described. Unfortunately, infections by the genus are often diagnosed in time, because of diagnostic delays and a rapid worsening of respiratory conditions. Literature data document, in fact, only few cases of COVID-19 coinfection.

Systolic dysfunction as evaluated by tissue Doppler imaging echocardiography and mortality in septic patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Septic induced cardiomyopathy has a wide spectrum of presentation, being associated with systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction. There is currently no evidence of association between left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and mortality in septic patients.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association between systolic wave (s') obtained with Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) and mortality in septic patients.

Spreading of Competing Information in a Network.

We propose a simple approach to investigate the spreading of news in a network. In more detail, we consider two different versions of a single type of information, one of which is close to the essence of the information (and we call it ), and another of which is somehow modified from some biased agent of the system (, in our language). Good and fake news move around some agents, getting the original information and returning their own version of it to other agents of the network.

Echocardiographic Parameters and Mortality in Pediatric Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the prognostic value of echocardiographic parameters in pediatric septic patients.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE (last update April 5, 2020).

Study Selection: Observational studies of pediatric sepsis providing echocardiographic parameters in relation to mortality.