University of L'Aquila

To investigate the morphological and dimensional changes in vacuum-formed retainers (VFRs) after intraoral aging of 3 months and 6 months and to compare changes between VFRs with conventional and modified gingival margin design. Forty-one patients were randomly assigned to two groups: conventional design (CD) and modified design (MD). Preuse and postuse digital models of each VFR were imported to Geomagic Control software to assess the morphological and dimensional changes. In vivo, VFRs underwent significant changes over time. After 3 months, slight expansion of the VFRs was detected, while after 6 months, slight contraction was observed, despite not all parameters resulting in statistically significant differences. No statistically significant differences were found between the CD and MD groups. Intraoral aging affects the dimensional stability of VFRs. The gingival margin design did not impact the morphological and dimensional stability of VFRs over the observed period.

Post-tensioned cross-laminated timber (PT-CLT) rocking walls have emerged as an effective low-damage lateral force-resisting system. As urban densification and decarbonization trends drive the adoption of sustainable high-rise timber construction, taller and flexible PT-CLT buildings with longer natural periods are expected to become increasingly common. However, such structures are potentially susceptible to subduction earthquakes, as well as to excessive wind-induced vibrations. To support nonlinear dynamic analyses and structural reliability assessments for such structures under long-duration loads, computationally efficient yet robust numerical models are required. Although existing high-fidelity models can capture system behavior, they are computationally intensive and not well-suited for iterative analyses. Reduced-order models, which concentrate nonlinear behavior at the wall base to represent both geometric and material nonlinearity as well as rocking and energy dissipation, offer a practical alternative. However, their applicability to tall mass-timber buildings, where flexural behavior and higher-mode effects become significant, remains underexplored. This study first develops and validates a conventional reduced-order model (CROM) against full-scale building-level shaking-table test results and high-fidelity numerical models, demonstrating its capability in predicting global seismic responses. Building on the CROM, a refined reduced-order model (RROM) is developed, incorporating energy dissipation through an equivalent viscous damping formulation. Both models show strong agreement with shaking-table test results. To further demonstrate their versatility, the reduced-order models are extended to include an upper rocking joint in a tall PT-CLT rocking wall, enabling investigation of higher-mode mitigation strategies. The results highlight the computational efficiency, adaptability, and practicality of the proposed reduced-order models for PT-CLT walls.

This paper presents initial findings from the Bridge Evaluation and Accelerated Structural Testing (BEAST) lab at Rutgers University’s Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT). The BEAST lab is an accelerated testing facility for full-scale bridge systems. A steel-concrete composite bridge span underwent accelerated degradation, simulating cyclic multi-axle vehicle loads and extreme climatic conditions, particularly freeze-thaw cycles with de-icing salts, replicating 15–20 years of wear in just a few months. Over approximately two years of continuous monitoring, the test aimed to detect structural degradation by employing an extensive sensor network (200+ sensors) covering the deck, girders, joints, and pedestals. This study analyzes trends in sensor data related to structural deterioration during testing, evaluating response variability based on time, temperature, and cumulative load cycles. Non-parametric statistical tests (Mann-Kendall, Pettitt) were applied to detect trends, and linear regression models were developed to quantify the influence of each regressor. Additionally, the sensitivity of performance metrics to sensor positions and alignments was examined.

The present study investigated the combined effects of zofenoprilat (ZOFE) and nebivolol (NEBI) on endothelial function, focusing on their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The purpose was to evaluate whether these drugs, commonly used in clinical practice, offer a synergistic therapeutic strategy for managing hypertension and protecting vascular health. ZOFE, an ACE inhibitor, demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activities by reducing inflammatory cytokines, thereby mitigating vascular inflammation, a key factor in hypertension and atherosclerosis. NEBI, a third-generation beta-blocker, exhibited strong antioxidant effects by enhancing nitric oxide (NO) levels, crucial for maintaining endothelial function and reducing oxidative stress. The potential effect of ZOFE and NEBI treatment was evaluated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) as a model. Specifically, cells were challenged with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) to induce endothelial dysfunction. Subsequently, cell viability, NO production, protein levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), enzymatic activity of SOD and CAT, intracellular levels of glutathione (GSH), inflammatory status, and levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1), and the active form of nuclear factor kappa B (p-NFκB), were analyzed. Our results showed that NEBI significantly counteracted oxidative stress, increasing the main antioxidant defenses (SOD, CAT, and GSH). The combination of ZOFE and NEBI resulted in a potentiated effect, enhancing both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. This dual mechanism of action provides a comprehensive approach to protecting endothelial cells and improving vascular function. The combined therapy not only lowered blood pressure more effectively but also offered greater protection against endothelial damage compared to monotherapy with either drug alone. These findings suggest that the combination of ZOFE and NEBI could be particularly beneficial for patients with hypertension, especially those with coexisting inflammatory and oxidative stress-related conditions. This combination therapy, by addressing multiple pathogenic pathways simultaneously, could potentially be beneficial in patients with cardiovascular risk conditions. In conclusion, the combination of ZOFE and NEBI offers a potentially promising therapeutic approach for managing hypertension and protecting vascular health, aiming at improving clinical outcomes for patients with cardiovascular diseases. Not applicable.

Pancreatic and periampullary cancers are among the most challenging malignancies. Centralization of care and multidisciplinary management have been associated with improved outcomes. In 2024,the Italian Ministry of Health established a national Steering Committee with the objective of defining a centralized model for the management of pancreatic and periampullary diseases and identifying the minimum requirements for referral centers across Italy. The Steering Committee met every four weeks through plenary and focused working groups. Using data from the National Agency for Regional Health Services and the National Outcome Program, all ICD-9 codes related to pancreatic, periampullary, and distal biliary diseases were analyzed. Criteria were developed according to international recommendations and structured into a Hub-and-Spoke network model. Pancreas Units(Hub centers) were defined as hospitals providing 24/7 multidisciplinary expertise, advanced diagnostic and interventional capabilities, and a minimum surgical volume of ≥ 30 pancreatic resections per year with 90-day mortality < 10% (target < 5% within 3 years). Spoke centers were required to adhere to standardized diagnostic–therapeutic pathways and participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, without performing pancreatic surgery. Based on catchment area analyses, one Hub center per 700,000–1,200,000 inhabitants was recommended. Additional requirements included structured multidisciplinary processes, standardized diagnostic pathways, and integration with national research and training networks. This national model provides a comprehensive framework for centralizing pancreatic and periampullary diseases care. By defining minimum standards, enhancing multidisciplinary coordination, and concentrating complex procedures in high-performance centers, this initiative aims to improve outcomes, reduce regional disparities, and create a sustainable national Pancreas Unit network.

This Minireview focuses on recent and most impactful contributions in enantiodivergent organocatalysed reactions. Four different approaches based on achiral stimuli were examined as inversion strategies: solvent-controlled inversion, achiral reagent or additive inducted inversion, and minimal catalyst modification, discussing in detail for each example the mechanistic insights behind the chiral inversion. Other strategies to achieve enantiodivergence are also briefly discussed.

Spreading depolarization (SD) is an all-or-none response of gray matter, evolutionarily conserved from insects to mammals and characterized by near-complete breakdown of transmembrane ion gradients and cytotoxic edema. In humans, SD has been recorded in diverse neurological conditions, including cerebral ischemia and hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and even during whole-brain death following cardiac arrest or during continued systemic circulation. During migraine aura, initial hyperemia accompanies short-lived and benign SD. SD under energy deficiency is also initially reversible. However, if intraneuronal Ca2+ increases persist for too long, cell death develops, characterized by a negative ultraslow potential. The same SD wave can be long-lasting and deadly in one place, but short and harmless in another. Energy depletion after arterial obstruction triggers SD within minutes, but SD can also arise in non-ischemic tissue and trigger vasoconstriction and ischemia as a result of an inverse hemodynamic response. Overall, SD may be both adaptive and maladaptive, depending on the tissue conditions. As final reversible stage before ischemic neuronal death, it is not only an orderly retreat from life, but can also allow a reboot. SD is a biomarker of neuronal injury during neurocritical care and a compelling yet complex therapeutic target for neuroprotection.