Clinker based on calcium looped meals from the Cleanker Project.

The Cleanker (CLEAN clinKER production by Calcium Looping process) project, financed in the framework of Horizon 2020 EU funding program, has demonstrated the feasibility of the integrated CaL concept at industrial scale in a new demo system realised in the Buzzi Unicem cement plant in Vernasca (IT). The Calcium Looping (CaL) CO capture process exploits the reversible reaction of limestone calcination/carbonation (CaCO ↔ CaO + CO). The Cleanker pilot plant consists of the coupling of a carbonator and an oxyfuel calciner.

Quantum Coherence in Loopless Superconductive Networks.

Measurements indicating that planar networks of superconductive islands connected by Josephson junctions display long-range quantum coherence are reported. The networks consist of superconducting islands connected by Josephson junctions and have a tree-like topological structure containing no loops. Enhancements of superconductive gaps over specific branches of the networks and sharp increases in pair currents are the main signatures of the coherent states.

Primary Cutaneous Gamma-Delta T Cell Lymphomas: A Case Series and Overview of the Literature.

Primary cutaneous gamma-delta T cell lymphomas (PCGDTCLs) are rare and aggressive cutaneous malignancies that have been diagnostically challenging for dermopathologists and clinicians since their first published descriptions in 1991. Since then, the availability of immunostaining for T cell receptors γ and δ in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples has greatly increased our knowledge of the gamma-delta phenotype by showing that it may also be present in the context of indolent entities, such as mycosis fungoides (MFs) and lymphomatoid papulosis, and this has raised questions concerning its diagnostic and prognostic implications. We here describe the histological and clinical differences between the dermo-epidermal and subcutaneous sub-groups of PCGDTCL observed in a cohort of 20 patients attending a single experienced centre, with particular focus on cases with an MF-like presentation, which are still less well defined than those of classic MF.

Josephson Currents and Gap Enhancement in Graph Arrays of Superconductive Islands.

Evidence is reported that topological effects in graph-shaped arrays of superconducting islands can condition superconducting energy gap and transition temperature. The carriers giving rise to the new phase are couples of electrons (Cooper pairs) which, in the superconducting state, behave as predicted for bosons in our structures. The presented results have been obtained both on star and double comb-shaped arrays and the coupling between the islands is provided by Josephson junctions whose potential can be tuned by external magnetic field or temperature.

Disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis: unusual presentation in an alcoholic patient.

Sporotrichosis is an implantation mycosis highly prevalent in Brazil, associated with soil activities and contact with infected animals. It has numerous clinical manifestations and its disseminated cutaneous form is uncommon, found in approximately 4% of cases and usually related to immunosuppressive conditions. We report an alcoholic 56-year-old male patient with no other comorbidities, presenting with multiple cutaneous nodules and ulcers.

CT colonography followed by elective surgery in patients with acute diverticulitis: a radiological-pathological correlation study.

Purpose: To perform a radiologic-pathologic correlation analysis of sigmoid colon in patients undergoing pre-operative CT Colonography (CTC) after an episode of acute diverticulitis (AD).

Methods: Fifty-nine consecutive patients (31/28 M/F; 58 ± 13 years) underwent CTC 55 ± 18 days after AD, 8 ± 4 weeks before surgery. Thirty-seven patients (63%) underwent conventional abdominal CT at time of AD.

Conditioning of Superconductive Properties in Graph-Shaped Reticles.

We report on phenomena observed in planar integrated networks obtained connecting superconducting island by Josephson tunnel junctions. These networks, identifiable as tree-like graphs, have branches consisting of series arrays of Josephson junctions which can be individually current biased and characterized. Both Josephson supercurrents and gap parameters of the arrays embedded in the graph structures display properties significantly different from those of "reference" arrays fabricated on the same chips and having identical geometrical shape.

Interaction-dependent effects of surface structure on microbial spatial self-organization.

Surface-attached microbial communities consist of different cell types that, at least to some degree, organize themselves non-randomly across space (referred to as spatial self-organization). While spatial self-organization can have important effects on the functioning, ecology and evolution of communities, the underlying determinants of spatial self-organization remain unclear. Here, we hypothesize that the presence of physical objects across a surface can have important effects on spatial self-organization.

Prognostic evaluation in palliative care: final results from a prospective cohort study.

Prognostic characterization in the initial assessment of patients with advanced cancer disease is an essential step to plan the most appropriate therapeutic program. Since clinical prediction of survival (CPS) may be of limited value, some authors have tried to integrate specific prognostic factors into prognostic multidimensional scores. We carried out a prospective cohort study in two palliative care units to compare the accuracy of the Palliative Prognostic (PaP) Score, the Objective Prognostic Score (OPS), and the Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI).

Anodization-based process for the fabrication of all niobium nitride Josephson junction structures.

We studied the growth and oxidation of niobium nitride (NbN) films that we used to fabricate superconductive tunnel junctions. The thin films were deposited by dc reactive magnetron sputtering using a mixture of argon and nitrogen. The process parameters were optimized by monitoring the plasma with an optical spectroscopy technique.

Sézary Syndrome in a 17-Year-Old Boy: Clinicopathologic Features and Genomic Profile.

We describe the case of a 17-year-old Hispanic boy who had had erythroderma and diffuse lymphadenopathy for approximately 6 months. A diagnosis of Sézary syndrome was made on the basis of the histologic features of the skin; the presence of the same T-cell clone on the skin, blood, and bone marrow; and the high CD4(+) lymphocyte count with an aberrant phenotype in peripheral blood; bone marrow involvement was also present. The patient was treated with systemic gemcitabine and achieved partial remission.

Experimental Study of Spectral Properties of a Frenkel-Kontorova System.

We report on microwave emission from linear parallel arrays of underdamped Josephson junctions, which are described by the Frenkel-Kontorova (FK) model. Electromagnetic radiation is detected from the arrays when biased on current singularities (steps) appearing at voltages V(n)=Φ(0)(nc̅/L), where Φ(0)=2.07×10(-15)  Wb is the magnetic flux quantum, and c̅, L, and n are, respectively, the speed of light in the transmission line embedding the array, L its physical length, and n an integer.

Reticular erythematous mucinosis: histopathological and immunohistochemical features of 25 patients compared with 25 cases of lupus erythematosus tumidus.

Background And Objectives: Reticular erythematous mucinosis (REM) and lupus erythematosus tumidus (LET) share similarities. However, to our knowledge no study extensively compared the histological features of these two conditions. The aim of this study is to compare the histological and immunohistochemical features of REM and LET.

Characterization of anomalous pair currents in Josephson junction networks.

Measurements performed on superconductive networks shaped in the form of planar graphs display anomalously large currents when specific branches are biased. The temperature dependences of these currents evidence that their origin is due to Cooper pair hopping through the Josephson junctions connecting the superconductive islands of the array. The experimental data are discussed in terms of theoretical models which predict, for the system under consideration, an inhomogeneous Cooper pair distribution on the superconductive islands of the network as a consequence of a Bose-Einstein condensation phenomenon.

Reticular erythematous mucinosis: a review of patients' characteristics, associated conditions, therapy and outcome in 25 cases.

Background: Reticular erythematous mucinosis (REM) is an uncommon disease, the nosology and specific characteristics of which are controversial because most reports deal with single cases or small series.

Objectives: To describe the characteristics of patients with REM regarding demographics, clinical and pathological features, comorbidities, treatment and course.

Methods: A retrospective and prospective study was conducted on 25 patients diagnosed with REM in the setting of university-affiliated dermatology departments and dermatopathology centres.

[Inflammation and oxidative stress in respiratory and limb muscles of patients with severe sepsis].

Background And Objective: Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to the diaphragm contractile dysfunction observed in animal models of sepsis and endotoxemia. In septic patients, molecular events have never been explored in their respiratory muscles. Levels of oxidative stress and inflammation were evaluated in a respiratory muscle, the external intercostal, and a limb muscle, the vastus lateralis, of patients with sepsis.

Adopting integrated care pathways in non-small-cell lung cancer: from theory to practice.

Introduction: Integrated care pathways (ICPs) have been proposed as effective strategies for quality improvement. To date, limited data are available that detail the methodology to design an optimal care pathway for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The main aim of this study was to assess the quality of health care delivered to lung cancer patients referred to a hub university hospital.

A randomised phase II study of docetaxel/oxaliplatin and docetaxel in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer: an Alpe-Adria Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary group trial (ATOM 019).

Introduction: To date, no combination regimen has proven superior to single agent chemotherapy as a second-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: This multicenter, non-comparative randomised phase II trial evaluated the activity of docetaxel (75 mg/m(2) on day 1) with oxaliplatin (70 mg/m(2) on day 2) every 3 weeks in previously treated NSCLC patients; the reference arm was single-agent docetaxel (75 mg/m(2) on day 1 every 3 weeks). It was designed as a one-stage, three-outcome phase II trial; 21 evaluable patients were required in each arm.

EGFR pathway in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Chemotherapy is the standard of care for patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) because of the a modest improvement in survival and quality of life but its efficacy has already reached a plateau. Several molecular targets involved in the uncontrolled growth of lung cancer cells has been recently discovered and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) pathway is as a key therapeutic target. Strategies to block such pathway include tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and monoclonal antibodies.

Herpes simplex virus infection and pemphigus.

Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune blistering diseases of the skin and/or mucous membranes caused by the presence of antibodies against adhesion molecules on the cell surface of keratinocytes. In genetically predisposed patients, several factors, including drugs, physical agents, neoplasms, hormones, and viruses, notably herpes simplex virus (HSV), have been hypothesized to trigger or exacerbate the disorder. To clarify whether HSV infection represents an aetiopathogenetic factor for pemphigus or a consequence of the immunosuppressive treatment, skin and/or mucosal swabs from 35 patients with pemphigus vulgaris or pemphigus foliaceus were tested for HSV by polymerase chain reaction.

The usefulness of clonality for the detection of cases clinically and/or histopathologically not recognized as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Background: The determination of clonality has proven to be a useful adjunct to the diagnosis of cutaneous lymphocytic infiltrates. It is considered particularly helpful for the distinction of mycosis fungoides (MF) and inflammatory dermatoses.

Objectives: To verify the sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-heteroduplex analysis of T-cell receptor gamma-chain gene (TCRgamma) rearrangements in patients with MF and to establish whether a clinicopathological re-evaluation of lesions previously unclassified or considered to be non-neoplastic entities but found to be monoclonal allowed the recognition of additional cases of MF.

Recovery of distal nephron enzyme activity after release of unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Purpose: Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) for 24 hours results in a severe compromise of distal tubular function. The acidification defect is believed to be localized in the collecting duct. To characterize distal tubular function recovery one month after junction release, clearance studies in whole animals and enzyme studies in microdissected segments were performed in an experimental model of unilateral ureteral obstruction.