Private school quality in Italy

Private school enrolment may lead to worse subsequent performance in further education or in the labour market. If students differ in their ability not only to pay but to take advantage of educational opportunities (“talent” for short), private schools attract a worse pool of students when publicly funded schools are better suited to foster progress by more talented students. In the data we analyze, the impact of observable talent proxies on educational and labour market outcomes is indeed more positive for students who (endogenously) choose to attend public schools than for those who choose to pay for private education

Intergenerational persistence in educational attainment in Italy

In this paper we show that there is a reduction in the correlation coefficient between father and children schooling levels over time in Italy. However, focusing on equality of circumstances, we show that there is still a persistent difference in the odds of attaining a college degree between children of college educated parents and children of parents with lower secondary education attainment. The explanation of these trends lies in differential impact of liquidity constraints and risk aversion. Some descriptive evidence on the persistent differential in returns to college education depending on father's education is also provided

Death rates from malaria epidemics, Burundi and Ethiopia.

Death rates exceeded emergency thresholds at 4 sites during epidemics of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Burundi (2000-2001) and in Ethiopia (2003-2004). Deaths likely from malaria ranged from 1,000 to 8,900, depending on site, and accounted for 52% to 78% of total deaths. Earlier detection of malaria and better case management are needed

Sessanta anni di istruzione in Italia

In this article we analyze the fulfilment of the 1948 Italian Republican Constitution regarding education. We verify that inequality in the highest degree of attained education has declined within cohorts and geographical areas. We also find a reduction of the impact of the parental background on educational choice over time. However, there still is a relevant difference in the probability of attaining a university degree depending on the parental education. Among the possible reasons, we investigate the differential return of a university degree between individuals with different familiar background, the difference in opportunity costs and the drop-out rates.

Accuracy of five algorithms to diagnose gambiense human African trypanosomiasis.

Algorithms to diagnose gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (HAT, sleeping sickness) are often complex due to the unsatisfactory sensitivity and/or specificity of available tests, and typically include a screening (serological), confirmation (parasitological) and staging component. There is insufficient evidence on the relative accuracy of these algorithms. This paper presents estimates of the accuracy of five algorithms used by past Médecins Sans Frontières programmes in the Republic of Congo, Southern Sudan and Uganda

Special Issue on Dental Materials: Latest Advances and Prospects

Most fields of dentistry are closely related to newly developed materials, and all clinical improvements often follow or, in any case, go hand in hand with the creation and development of innovative and higher-performing materials, instruments, and equipment [...

Special Issue on Dental Materials: Latest Advances and Prospects—Volume II

Many fields of dentistry are firmly connected to innovative materials, and the highest clinical improvements frequently come with the development and creation of original and high-performing equipment, instruments, and biomaterials [...

Stage progression and neurological symptoms in Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness: role of the CNS inflammatory response

Background: Human African trypanosomiasis progresses from an early (hemolymphatic) stage, through CNS invasion to the late (meningoencephalitic) stage. In experimental infections disease progression is associated with neuroinflammatory responses and neurological symptoms, but this concept requires evaluation in African trypanosomiasis patients, where correct diagnosis of the disease stage is of critical therapeutic importance. Methodology/Principal Findings: This was a retrospective study on a cohort of 115 T.b.rhodesiense HAT patients recruited in Eastern Uganda. Paired plasma and CSF samples allowed the measurement of peripheral and CNS immunoglobulin and of CSF cytokine synthesis. Cytokine and immunoglobulin expression were evaluated in relation to disease duration, stage progression and neurological symptoms. Neurological symptoms were not related to stage progression (with the exception of moderate coma). Increases in CNS immunoglobulin, IL-10 and TNF-α synthesis were associated with stage progression and were mirrored by a reduction in TGF-β levels in the CSF. There were no significant associations between CNS immunoglobulin and cytokine production and neurological signs of disease with the exception of moderate coma cases. Within the study group we identified diagnostically early stage cases with no CSF pleocytosis but intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis and diagnostically late stage cases with marginal CSF pleocytosis and no detectable trypanosomes in the CSF. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that there is not a direct linkage between stage progression, neurological signs of infection and neuroinflammatory responses in rhodesiense HAT. Neurological signs are observed in both early and late stages, and while intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis is associated with neurological signs, these are also observed in cases lacking a CNS inflammatory response. While there is an increase in inflammatory cytokine production with stage progression, this is paralleled by increases in CSF IL-10. As stage diagnostics, the CSF immunoglobulins and cytokines studied do not have sufficient sensitivity to be of clinical value

SISTEMA DI DECONTAMINAZIONE DI CIRCUITI IDRICI

La presente invenzione si riferisce ad un sistema per la decontaminazione di un circuito idrico costituito da un condotto di alimentazione di acqua, in particolare proveniente dalla rete di fornitura o da serbatoio interno al riunito o allo studio, ed almeno un condotto di scarico dell'acqua circolante nel circuito; il sistema comprende mezzi di apertura e chiusura del condotto di alimentazione di acqua, mezzi di apertura e chiusura del condotto di scarico dell'acqua circolante nel circuito e mezzi di immissione di aria in pressione nel circuito idrico

Surgical masks vs respirators: properties and indications for use

OBIETTIVI. Sono numerose le procedure odontoiatriche in grado di creare un aerosol capace di trasportare batteri, virus e particelle inquinate nell’ambiente circostante. L’utilizzo di una turbina o di uno strumento ultrasonico va a creare una sospensione di particelle di vario diametro che presenta un serio rischio infettivo per le cavità nasali e tracheo-bronchiali. Questa deposizione di particelle avviene su differenti livelli a seconda delle loro dimensioni, dove le più grosse vengono fermate nelle cavità nasali, mentre le più piccole finiscono negli alveoli polmonari. Queste particelle aerosoliche hanno un proprio movimento, anche di alcuni metri, in parte causato dallo spostamento di masse d’aria e dai moti browniani prodotti dall’urto delle particelle gassose contro quelle aerosoliche. Poiché questa nube aerosolica persiste e si alimenta continuativamente in ambienti dove pazienti e procedure si susseguono e si sovrappongono nell’arco di una giornata, è fondamentale da parte degli operatori l’utilizzo di dispositivi di protezione individuale, fra i quali appare preminente la scelta di una mascherina appropriata. L’obiettivo di questo lavoro è di chiarire la terminologia,i criteri di costruzione di una mascherina, di illustrare le differenze tra mascherine e respiratori orali e di fornire un supporto pratico per la protezione propria e dei pazienti, scegliendo il dispositivo adatto a ogni situazione clinica. MATERIALI E METODI. In questo lavoro è stata condotta una revisione della letteratura nazionale e internazionale sull’argomento, sono stati raccolti i dati scientifici pubblicati dall’introduzione delle mascherine fino a oggi e vengono descritte le caratteristiche, le differenze e le indicazioni cliniche all’uso di mascherine e respiratori orali nel contesto odontoiatrico. CONCLUSIONI. La mascherina chirurgica e il respiratore sono presidi individuali che soddisfano standard specifici e il cui utilizzo va sempre abbinato ad altri DPI quali schermi e occhiali protettivi, copricapo, guanti, camici monouso e naturalmente a un’attenta igiene personale. Va sempre sottolineata l’importanza di esaminare la scheda tecnica riferita ai dispositivi utilizzati, al fine di controllare la necessaria stretta aderenza ai protocolli di riferimento. Ad oggi vi sono ancora pareri discordanti su quale possa essere l’indicazione corretta sulla tipologia di respiratore da utilizzare per prevenire il contagio da Sars-CoV-2. I respiratori senza filtro-valvola sembrano i dispositivi in grado di fornire la protezione più alta a operatore e paziente, ma proprio per la loro alta capaci-tà di filtraggio rendono difficile la respirazione se portati per lungo tempo continuativamente. Per migliorare la capacità respiratoria e quindi per ricercare un maggior comfort è ipotizzabile l’utilizzo di un respiratore ad alto filtraggio con valvola di esalazione, in associazione a una mascherina chirurgica da applicarvi sopra. Le mascherine chirurgiche rimangono comunque dei validi presidi per tutte quelle prestazioni che non comportano creazione di aerosol altamente infetti e conseguente dispersione di particelle potenzialmente contaminate nell’aria. Infine, per limitare il più possibile la diffusione del Covid-19, chiunque dovrebbe indossare una mascherina chirurgica, in modo tale che un soggetto infetto non possa contaminare l’ambiente circostante e le persone vicine. SIGNIFICATO CLINICO. Questo contributo mette in evidenza le caratteristiche di mascherine chirurgiche e respiratori orali, fornendo indicazioni pratiche sui dispositivi più idonei alla protezione da infezione da Covid-19.OBJECTIVES. Many dental procedures are responsible for the creation of an aerosol capable of transporting bacteria, virus and infected particles into the surrounding environment. The use of handpieces and/or ultrasonic devices creates an aerosol of particles with different diameters that present a severe risk for nasal and tracheobronchial cavities. This deposition of particles occurs on different levels, depending on their dimensions: particles with larger diameter stops in the nasal cavities, while the smaller ones end up in lung alveoli. These aerosol particles have their own movement, partly caused by the displacement of air masses and by the Brownian motions produced by the impact of the gaseous particles against the aerosol ones. Since these droplets are able to persist continuously for long time in environments where patients and procedures follow and overlap over the course of a day, it is essential for dental clinicians to adopt personal protective equipment, among which the choice of an appropriate mask. The aim of this literature overview is to clarify the terminology, the criteria for the construction of a mask, to illustrate the differences between masks and oral respirators. and to provide practical support for personal and patient protection, choosing the device suitable for each clinical situation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. This work is a literature review of the national and international literature on this topic: the scientific data published since mask introduction to date have been collected, and the characteristics, differences and clinical indications for the use of masks and oral respirators in dentistry have been analyzed. CONCLUSIONS. The surgical mask and the respirator are individual devices that meet specific standards and whose use must always be combined with other PPE such as screens and protective glasses, headgear, gloves, disposable gowns and of course a careful personal hygiene. The importance of examining the technical data sheet referring to the devices used, in order to check the necessary strict adherence to the reference protocols, must always be underlined. To date there are still conflicting opinions on what the correct indication may be on the type of respirator to be used to prevent contagion from Sars-CoV-2. Respirators without a filter-valve seem to be the devices capable of providing the highest protection to the operator and patient but, precisely because of their high filtering capacity, they make breathing difficult if worn for a long time continuously. To improve respiratory capacity and therefore to seek greater comfort, the use of a high filter respirator with exhalation valve, in association with a surgical mask to be applied on it, is conceivable. However, surgical masks remain valid devices for all those services that do not involve the creation of highly infected aerosols and the consequent dispersion of potentially contaminated particles in the air. Finally, to limit the spread of Covid-19 as much as possible, anyone should wear a surgical mask, so that an infected person cannot contaminate the surrounding environment and people nearby. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE. This work highlights the characteristics of surgical masks and oral respirators, providing practical indications on the most suitable devices for protection from Covid-19 infection