Assessment of European countries' national circular economy policies.

The circular economy (CE) has become key to achieving the environmental objectives set by the European Union (EU). This transformative process requires linear production processes to be abandoned and replaced with environmentally-friendly circular models. In this scenario, the present study uses Data Envelopment Analysis and the Sequential Malmquist Index to achieve a twofold objective: (1) to analyse the effectiveness of the national CE policies applied by 19 EU Member States and (2) to identify the items of circularity that need improvement, in order to support decision-makers in the implementation of appropriate CE policies.

Five-year results of a prospective trial of IORT-photon boost and hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation after breast-conserving surgery.

Aim: To assess for the first time the safety and feasibility of combining photon-IntraOperative RadioTherapy (ph-IORT) with hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation (hWBI) in patients referred to adjuvant radiotherapy after Breast-Conserving Surgery (BCS).

Methods: From February 2019 to August 2020, patients referred for breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in our institution were prospectively included in the present trial. BCS was discussed in the multidisciplinary tumor board (MTB).

IORT-photon boost plus hypofractionated whole breast irradiation in patients with breast cancer after primary systemic treatment: feasibility, safety and clinical results.

Aim: To assess for the first time the safety and feasibility of combining photon-intraoperative radiotherapy (ph-IORT) with hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (h-WBI) in patients referred to primary systemic therapy (PST).

Methods: From March 2019 to December 2020, patients referred for breast conservative surgery (BCS) after PST in our institution were prospectively included in the present trial. PST was prescribed to all patients according the ESMO-SEOM guidelines.

From risk factors to disease situations: A socio-spatial analysis of COVID-19 experiences in Lima, Peru.

The goal of this qualitative research study, part of an interdisciplinary project, was to understand the overlapping geographical distribution of COVID-19 and tuberculosis burden in Lima. Using an ethnographic approach, we applied the concept of disease situations to explore how inhabitants' social and spatial situatedness affected their capacity to respond to the pandemic. Our results show that for some populations in Lima, the risk to develop COVID-19 did not emerge suddenly; it could be traced back to situations of living under subsistence models, relying on unstable sources of income, facing food insecurity, depending on certain mechanisms of social protection, residing in precarious living environments and lacking access to quality health care.

Beneficiary Experience of Care by Level of Integration in Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans.

Importance: Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) are private managed care plans designed to promote Medicare and Medicaid integration for full-benefit, dually eligible beneficiaries. Currently, the highest level of D-SNP integration occurs in plans with exclusively aligned enrollment (EAE).

Objective: To compare patient experience of care, out-of-pocket spending, and satisfaction among dually enrolled Medicaid beneficiaries in D-SNPs with EAE, those in D-SNPs without EAE, and those with traditional Medicare.

Optical and Electrochemical Properties of a Nanostructured ZnO Thin Layer Deposited on a Nanoporous Alumina Structure via Atomic Layer Deposition.

This study explores the optical and electrochemical properties of a ZnO coating layer deposited on a nanoporous alumina structure (NPAS) for potential multifunctional applications. The NPAS, synthesized through an electrochemical anodization process, displays well-defined nanochannels with a high aspect ratio (~3000). The ZnO coating, achieved via atomic layer deposition, enables the tuning of the pore diameter and porosity of the NPAS, thereby influencing both the optical and electrochemical interfacial properties.

Combined Ultrahypofractionated Whole-Breast Irradiation and IORT-Boost: A Safety and Feasibility Analysis.

Background: The current standard of local treatment for patients with localized breast cancer (BC) includes whole breast irradiation (WBI) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Ultrahypofractionated WBI schemes (1-week treatment) were shown not to be inferior to the standard WBI. Tumor bed boost using photon intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is safe and feasible in combination with standard WBI.

Risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis recurrence, relapse and reinfection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The rate of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) recurrence is substantial. Identifying risk factors can support the development of prevention strategies.

Methods: We retrieved studies published between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 2022 that assessed factors associated with undifferentiated TB recurrence, relapse or reinfection.

Association between subclinical atherosclerosis burden and unrecognized myocardial infarction detected by cardiac magnetic resonance in middle-aged low-risk adults.

Aims: Evidence on the association between subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) and cardiovascular (CV) events in low-risk populations is scant. To study the association between SA burden and an ischaemic scar (IS), identified by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), as a surrogate of CV endpoint, in a low-risk population.

Methods And Results: A cohort of 712 asymptomatic middle-aged individuals from the Progression of Early SA (PESA-CNIC-Santander) study (median age 51 years, 84% male, median SCORE2 3.

Protocol for high throughput 3D drug screening of patient derived melanoma and renal cell carcinoma.

High Throughput Screening (HTS) with 3D cell models is possible thanks to the recent progress and development in 3D cell culture technologies. Results from multiple studies have demonstrated different drug responses between 2D and 3D cell culture. It is now widely accepted that 3D cell models more accurately represent the physiologic conditions of tumors over 2D cell models.

Colistin plasma concentrations are not associated with better clinical outcomes in patients with pneumonia caused by extremely drug-resistant .

In some cases, colistin is the only treatment option for infections caused by the very drug-resistant . However, in the past decade, there have been questions concerning its pharmacokinetics and concentration at the site of infection. In this scenario, its use in a difficult-to-treat infection like pneumonia is currently debatable.

High-Performance 3D Nanostructured Silver Electrode for Micro-Supercapacitor Application.

In the current energy crisis scenario, the development of renewable energy forms such as energy storage systems among the supercapacitors is an urgent need as a tool for environmental protection against increasing pollution. In this work, we have designed a novel 3D nanostructured silver electrode through an antireplica/replica template-assisted procedure. The chemical surface and electrochemical properties of this novel 3D electrode have been studied in a 5 M KOH electrolyte.

Real-world experience of therapeutic drug monitoring and PK/PD achievement of ceftaroline administered by different infusion regimens in patients with confirmed infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria.

Background: Ceftaroline is a novel cephalosporin active against MDR Gram-positive (GP) bacteria. For β-lactam antibiotics, such as ceftaroline, prolonged infusions and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) are used for dosage optimization based on their pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD).

Objectives: To describe our experience with TDM and PK/PD target attainment of ceftaroline administered by intermittent and prolonged infusion in a cohort of patients with MDR-GP bacterial infections.

Cardiac Insulin Resistance in Subjects With Metabolic Syndrome Traits and Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis.

Objective: Experimental evidence suggests that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with changes in cardiac metabolism. Whether this association occurs in humans is unknown.

Research Design And Methods: 821 asymptomatic individuals from the Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis (PESA) study (50.

Relationship between technology acceptance model, self-regulation strategies, and academic self-efficacy with academic performance and perceived learning among college students during remote education.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the technology acceptance model, self-regulation strategies, and academic self-efficacy with academic performance and perceived learning among college students during remote education.

Methods: The participants were 301 university students from Lima. Structural equation model was used to test the proposed theoretical relationships between the variables.

Trusted sources for COVID-19 testing and vaccination: lessons for future health communication.

Background: Promoting COVID-19 vaccination (both the primary series and boosters) remains a priority among healthcare professionals and requires understanding the various sources people trust for acquiring COVID-19 information.

Method: From October 2021 to May 2022, we interviewed 150 people who called 2-1-1 helplines in Connecticut and North Carolina about their COVID-19 testing and vaccination experiences in order to (1) better understand where people obtain trusted COVID-19 health information and (2) identify how public health professionals can share emergency health information in the future. We used a mixed methods approach in which semi-structured qualitative interviews and survey data were collected in parallel and analyzed separately.

Optical Characterization of ALD-Coated Nanoporous Alumina Structures: Effect of Sample Geometry or Coated Layer Material.

Optical characterization of nanoporous alumina-based structures (NPA-bSs), obtained by ALD deposition of a thin conformal SiO layer on two alumina nanosupports with different geometrical parameters (pore size and interpore distance), was performed by two noninvasive and nondestructive techniques such as spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and photoluminescence (Ph) spectra. SE measurements allow us to estimate the refraction index and extinction coefficient for the studied samples and their dependence with wavelength for the 250-1700 nm interval, showing the effect of sample geometry and cover-layer material (SiO, TiO, or FeO), which significantly affect the oscillatory character of both parameters, as well as changes associated with the light incidence angle, which are attributed to surface impurities and inhomogeneity. Photoluminescence curves exhibit a similar shape independently of sample pore-size/porosity, but they seem to affect intensity values.

Modified Chevrel technique for abdominal closure in critically ill patients with abdominal hypertension and limited options for closure.

Unlabelled: Abdominal compartment syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition seen in critically ill patients, and most often caused by acute pancreatitis, postoperative abdominal vascular thrombosis or mesenteric ischemia. A decompressive laparotomy is sometimes required, often resulting in hernias, and subsequent definitive wall closure is challenging.

Aim: This study aims to describe short term results after a modified Chevrel technique for midline laparotomies in patients witch abdominal hypertension.

Exchange Bias Effect of Ni@(NiO,Ni(OH)) Core/Shell Nanowires Synthesized by Electrochemical Deposition in Nanoporous Alumina Membranes.

Tuning and controlling the magnetic properties of nanomaterials is crucial to implement new and reliable technologies based on magnetic hyperthermia, spintronics, or sensors, among others. Despite variations in the alloy composition as well as the realization of several post material fabrication treatments, magnetic heterostructures as ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic coupled layers have been widely used to modify or generate unidirectional magnetic anisotropies. In this work, a pure electrochemical approach has been used to fabricate core (FM)/shell (AFM) Ni@(NiO,Ni(OH)) nanowire arrays, avoiding thermal oxidation procedures incompatible with integrative semiconductor technologies.

Risk factors indicating the need for surgical therapy in patients with pyogenic liver abscesses.

Background: Percutaneous drainage (PD) and antibiotics are the therapy of choice (non-surgical therapy [non-ST]) for pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA), reserving surgical therapy (ST) for PD failure. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify risk factors that indicate the need for ST.

Methods: We reviewed the medical charts of all of our institution's adult patients with a diagnosis of PLA between January 2000 and November 2020.

Mindfulness Initiatives for Students, Teachers, and Parents: a Review of Literature and Implications for Practice During COVID-19 and Beyond.

The use of mindfulness in schools has greatly expanded over the past 10 years. Research has demonstrated positive psychological effects of mindfulness for students as well as teachers (Emerson et al., Mindfulness 8:1136-1149, 2017; Semple et al.

Isoniazid preventive therapy completion in children under 5 years old who are contacts of tuberculosis cases in Lima, Peru: study protocol for an open-label, cluster-randomized superiority trial.

Background: Children < 5 years old in contact with TB cases are at high risk for developing severe and fatal forms of TB. Contact investigation, BCG vaccination, and isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) are the most effective strategies to prevent TB among children. However, the implementation of IPT faces challenges at several stages of the cascade of care of TB infection among children, particularly those less than 5 years old.