Optimization and public transport tendering: a case study in Southern Italy.

This article presents a multi-start heuristic approach to a design problem motivated by a real-world application in the Italian transport system. Specifically, it focuses on the problem of designing optimal lots in the public transport organization. In defining lots (in terms of number, size, and boundaries) both cost and service level have to be considered.

Genetic markers to discriminate benign and malignant thyroid nodules with undetermined cytology in an area of borderline iodine deficiency.

Background: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) with cytologic evaluation is the most reliable tool for malignancy prediction in thyroid nodules, but cytologic diagnosis remains undetermined for 20% of nodules.

Aim: We investigated the diagnostic potential of a set of 6 marker genes to distinguish benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Subjects And Methods: The prospective study included 153 thyroid samples obtained by FNA of thyroid nodules from 151 patients (56 benign, 43 malignant, and 54 nodules with undetermined cytology).

Antimicrobial activity of Inga fendleriana extracts and isolated flavonoids.

The EtOAc and n-BuOH extracts of Inga fendleriana inhibited Gram-positive, but not Gram-negative bacteria; a narrow spectrum of activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis was detected. The MIC values of the extracts ranged from 125 to 850 microg/mL. Quercetin 3-methylether, myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside and tricetin showed antibacterial activity against the same bacterial strains with MICs in the range from 31 to 250 microg/mL.

Epidemiology of infections caused by multiresistant gram-negatives: ESBLs, MBLs, panresistant strains.

Microbial drug resistance is a growing problem of global magnitude. In gram-negative pathogens, the most important resistance problems are encountered in Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter, with increasing trends observed for all major anti-gram-negative agents (beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides). A matter of major concern is the emergence of new beta-lactamases capable of degrading the expanded-spectrum cephalosporins and/or carbapenems, such as the extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and the carbapenemases.

Chemical and antibacterial evaluation of Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra.

Five extracts and pure compounds from the aerial parts of Hypericum triquetrifolium were tested for their antibacterial activity against 31 gram-positive and gram-negative strains using the agar dilution method (Lorian). The ethyl acetate extract exhibited a weak antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus strains, and pure constituents such as quercetin and I3,II8-biapigenin were the active components of this extract.