Brazilian exchange rate complexity: Financial crisis effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piqueira, José Roberto C.; Mortoza, Letícia Pelluci D.

2012-04-01

With the financial market globalization, foreign investments became vital for the economies, mainly in emerging countries. In the last decades, Brazilian exchange rates appeared as a good indicator to measure either investors' confidence or risk aversion. Here, some events of global or national financial crisis are analyzed, trying to understand how they influenced the "dollar-real" rate evolution. The theoretical tool to be used is the López-Mancini-Calbet (LMC) complexity measure that, applied to real exchange rate data, has shown good fitness between critical events and measured patterns.

Italo-Swiss "Chalk and blackboard interactive 2-day workshop"-participants feedback.

PubMed

Camozzi, Pietro; Faré, Pietro B; Lavagno, Camilla; Milani, Gregorio P; Fossali, Emilio F; Bianchetti, Mario G; Lava, Sebastiano A G

2015-08-20

Ten "chalk and blackboard interactive workshops" have taken place between 2011 and 2015 in Southern Switzerland or Italy. Students, residents and expert pediatricians meet during 2 days and discuss 10-15 cases. Pediatricians promote reasoning, provide supporting information and correct statements. Emphasis is placed on history taking and examination, and on all participants being involved in a stimulating atmosphere. Thirty-seven participants were asked, ≥3 months after workshop-completion, to evaluate the workshop and a recent teaching session. Thirty answered and scored the workshop as excellent (N = 24) or above average (N = 6). The scores assigned to the workshop were higher (P < 0.001) than those assigned to the lecture-based teaching.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lopez-Ruiz, R.; Nagy, A.; Romera, E.

A two-parameter family of complexity measures C-tilde{sup ({alpha},{beta})} based on the Renyi entropies is introduced and characterized by a detailed study of its mathematical properties. This family is the generalization of a continuous version of the Lopez-Ruiz-Mancini-Calbet complexity, which is recovered for {alpha}=1 and {beta}=2. These complexity measures are obtained by multiplying two quantities bringing global information on the probability distribution defining the system. When one of the parameters, {alpha} or {beta}, goes to infinity, one of the global factors becomes a local factor. For this special case, the complexity is calculated on different quantum systems: H-atom, harmonic oscillator, andmore » square well.« less

Myth as History, History as Myth: Family and Church Among Italo-Americans

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Passi, Michael M.

1975-01-01

Asserts that the history of white ethnics has been written far too long as the story of disorganization and disintegration. Argues that the themes of rebirth and creativity should be explored, discarding the myth of the American as a new man emerging after stripping away Old World traditions and institutions. (Author/RJ)

Measuring complexity in Brazilian economic crises.

PubMed

Mortoza, Letícia P D; Piqueira, José R C

2017-01-01

Capital flows are responsible for a strong influence on the foreign exchange rates and stock prices macroeconomic parameters. In volatile economies, capital flows can change due to several types of social, political and economic events, provoking oscillations on these parameters, which are recognized as economic crises. This work aims to investigate how these two macroeconomic variables are related with crisis events by using the traditional complex measures due to Lopez-Mancini-Calbet (LMC) and to Shiner-Davison-Landsberg (SDL), that can be applied to any temporal series. Here, Ibovespa (Bovespa Stock Exchange main Index) and the "dollar-real" parity are the background for calculating the LMC and SDL complexity measures. By analyzing the temporal evolution of these measures, it is shown that they might be related to important events that occurred in the Brazilian economy.

Lo Gnomone Clementino Astronomia Meridiana in Basilica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sigismondi, Costantino

2014-05-01

Costruito per chiara volontà del papa 70 anni dopo il caso Galileo, lo Gnomone Clementino è un grande telescopio solare che non fa uso di lenti a 92 anni dall’invenzione del cannocchiale. Queste due caratteristiche basterebbero da sole a giustificare l’interesse verso questo strumento. L’astronomia meridiana è alla base dell’astrometria e dell’astrofisica moderna. Lo Gnomone Clementino sta oggi all’astronomia, come il veliero “Amerigo Vespucci” sta alla Marina Italiana. E’ possibile svolgere ogni genere di osservazione e studio su questo strumento, e dal 2002 vi tengo lezioni teorico-pratiche del corso di Storia dell’Astronomia e La Terra nel Sistema Solare della Sapienza, Università di Roma, Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia. Questo testo aggiunge alcuni tasselli alla ricerca storica sulla meridiana, appoggiandosi, com’è naturale, sulle spalle di giganti che mi hanno preceduto in questi studi. In particolare la misura dell’azimut della meridiana, ed il suo inquadramento tra gli strumenti simili ed alcuni studi di astrometria sui dati del 1701-1703 di Bianchini, che sono apparsi fin’ora soltanto su riviste specializzate ed in Inglese vengono qui proposti in Italiano e semplificati, per valorizzare sempre più questa straordinaria opera d’arte e di scienza.

Measuring complexity in Brazilian economic crises

PubMed Central

Mortoza, Letícia P. D.; Piqueira, José R. C.

2017-01-01

Capital flows are responsible for a strong influence on the foreign exchange rates and stock prices macroeconomic parameters. In volatile economies, capital flows can change due to several types of social, political and economic events, provoking oscillations on these parameters, which are recognized as economic crises. This work aims to investigate how these two macroeconomic variables are related with crisis events by using the traditional complex measures due to Lopez-Mancini-Calbet (LMC) and to Shiner-Davison-Landsberg (SDL), that can be applied to any temporal series. Here, Ibovespa (Bovespa Stock Exchange main Index) and the “dollar-real” parity are the background for calculating the LMC and SDL complexity measures. By analyzing the temporal evolution of these measures, it is shown that they might be related to important events that occurred in the Brazilian economy. PMID:28301506

Entropy and complexity analysis of hydrogenic Rydberg atoms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lopez-Rosa, S.; Departamento de Fisica Aplicada II, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012-Sevilla; Toranzo, I. V.

The internal disorder of hydrogenic Rydberg atoms as contained in their position and momentum probability densities is examined by means of the following information-theoretic spreading quantities: the radial and logarithmic expectation values, the Shannon entropy, and the Fisher information. As well, the complexity measures of Cramer-Rao, Fisher-Shannon, and Lopez Ruiz-Mancini-Calvet types are investigated in both reciprocal spaces. The leading term of these quantities is rigorously calculated by use of the asymptotic properties of the concomitant entropic functionals of the Laguerre and Gegenbauer orthogonal polynomials which control the wavefunctions of the Rydberg states in both position and momentum spaces. The associatedmore » generalized Heisenberg-like, logarithmic and entropic uncertainty relations are also given. Finally, application to linear (l= 0), circular (l=n- 1), and quasicircular (l=n- 2) states is explicitly done.« less

Understanding how active volcanoes work: a contribution from synchrotron X-ray computed microtomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polacci, M.; Baker, D. R.; Mancini, L.

2009-04-01

and their implications on the rheological properties of magmas and on the intensity of explosive activity at volcanoes. Andronico, D., R. A. Corsaro, A. Cristaldi, and M. Polacci (2008), Characterizing high energy explosive eruptions at Stromboli volcano using multidisciplinary data: An example from the 9 January 2005 explosion, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 176, 541-550. Burton, M. R., H. M. Mader, and M. Polacci (2007), The role of gas percolation in quiescent degassing of persistently active volcanoes, E. Planet. Sci. Lett., 264, 46-60. Colò, L., D. R. Baker, M. Polacci, and M. Ripepe (2007), Magma vesiculation and infrasonic activity in open conduit volcanoes, abstract presented at the AGU 2007 Fall meeting, 10-14 December, San Francisco, California, USA. Piochi, M., M. Polacci, G. De Astis, R. Zanetti, A. Mangiacapra, R. Vannucci, and D. Giordano (2008), Texture and composition of pumices and scoriae from the Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy): implications on the dynamics of explosive eruptions, G-cubed, doi:10.1029/2007GC001746. Polacci, M., D. R. Baker, L. Mancini, G. Tromba, F. Zanini (2006), Three-dimensional investigation of volcanic textures by X-ray microtomography and implications for conduit processes, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L13312, doi:10.1029/2006GL026241. Polacci, M., D. R. Baker, L. Bai, and L. Mancini (2008a), Large vesicles record pathways of degassing at basaltic volcanoes, Bull. Volcanol., 70, 1023-1029, doi:10.1007/s00445-007-0184-8. Polacci, M., D. R. Baker, L. Mancini, S. Favretto, and R. Hill (2008b), Vesiculation in magmas from Stromboli (Aeolian Archipelago, Italy) and implications for normal Strombolian activity and paroxysmal explosions in basaltic systems, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2008JB005802

Some New Reflections on Mr. Palomar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertolami, O.

2009-08-01

The character Mr. Palomar, the alter-ego of the Italian author Italo Calvino, appeared for the first time in 1975 on the pages of the ``Il Corriere della Sera'', and then more or less regularly till its debut as a book in 1983. Through illuminating thoughts and reflections based on observations, for instance, of sea waves, Mr. Palomar discovers that they induce a peaceful and inspirational state of mind that prevents coronary and mental illnesses, and also holds the key to capturing the complexity of the world reducing it into its most elementary mechanisms. In this contribution I will survey some of Mr. Palomar's thoughts while he observes the sky and speculate on others that he might have explored if he shared our contemporary knowledge of the cosmos. I will also discuss the thoughts of other authors on how, cosmological thinking affects the human condition.

A comparison of LMC and SDL complexity measures on binomial distributions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piqueira, José Roberto C.

2016-02-01

The concept of complexity has been widely discussed in the last forty years, with a lot of thinking contributions coming from all areas of the human knowledge, including Philosophy, Linguistics, History, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and many others, with mathematicians trying to give a rigorous view of it. In this sense, thermodynamics meets information theory and, by using the entropy definition, López-Ruiz, Mancini and Calbet proposed a definition for complexity that is referred as LMC measure. Shiner, Davison and Landsberg, by slightly changing the LMC definition, proposed the SDL measure and the both, LMC and SDL, are satisfactory to measure complexity for a lot of problems. Here, SDL and LMC measures are applied to the case of a binomial probability distribution, trying to clarify how the length of the data set implies complexity and how the success probability of the repeated trials determines how complex the whole set is.

Automatic Clustering of Rolling Element Bearings Defects with Artificial Neural Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antonini, M.; Faglia, R.; Pedersoli, M.; Tiboni, M.

2006-06-01

The paper presents the optimization of a methodology for automatic clustering based on Artificial Neural Networks to detect the presence of defects in rolling bearings. The research activity was developed in co-operation with an Italian company which is expert in the production of water pumps for automotive use (Industrie Saleri Italo). The final goal of the work is to develop a system for the automatic control of the pumps, at the end of the production line. In this viewpoint, we are gradually considering the main elements of the water pump, which can cause malfunctioning. The first elements we have considered are the rolling bearing, a very critic component for the system. The experimental activity is based on the vibration measuring of rolling bearings opportunely damaged; vibration signals are in the second phase elaborated; the third and last phase is an automatic clustering. Different signal elaboration techniques are compared to optimize the methodology.

A Career in Manuscripts: Genres and Purposes of a Physician’s Writing in Rome, 1600–1630*

PubMed Central

De Renzi, Silvia

2011-01-01

Following the stellar career of papal physician Giulio Mancini, the article brings into focus learned doctors’ uses of, and relationships with, manu- scripts. Manuscripts were the main outcome of their practice — as letters of consultation to patients and colleagues, as consilia of various kinds, including for use in courts of law, and also in the form of key professional tools such as casebooks. Clues found in Mancini’s rich paper-trail shed light on material aspects of his professional writing and on the role that circulating knowledge in manuscript had in creating and sustaining medical networks. The article also argues that even in a domain as shaped by print as early modern medicine, physicians’ use of this medium should not be taken for granted; especially in courtly settings, scribal, as opposed to print, publishing provided them with an effective means of building the social relationships on which their careers depended. PMID:22298938

Immunophenotype of leukemic blasts with small peroxidase-positive granules detected by electron microscopy.

PubMed

Vainchenker, W; Villeval, J L; Tabilio, A; Matamis, H; Karianakis, G; Guichard, J; Henri, A; Vernant, J P; Rochant, H; Breton-Gorius, J

1988-05-01

Forty-three cases of undifferentiated leukemias by light microscopy examination were diagnosed as acute myeloblastic leukemias by ultrastructural revelation of peroxidase and were subsequently studied by immunological markers. In 41 of these cases, blasts were labeled by at least one of the antimyeloid MoAbs (My 7, My 9, and 80H5). An antimyeloperoxidase polyclonal antibody was used in 23 cases and was clearly positive in 11 of them, while cytochemistry by light microscopy was negative. These myeloblasts were frequently mixed with a minority of blasts from other lineages especially promegakaryoblasts. It is noteworthy that in 6 cases myeloid and lymphoid markers (E rosette receptor, common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (cALLA), CD 9, CD 19 antigens (anti-B4 MoAb] were detected on a fraction of blast cells, suggesting a bilineage leukemia. However, in double labeling experiments, blasts with myeloperoxidase coexpressed lymphoid and myeloid markers including cALLA and CD 19 antigen. In one case, blasts had a typical non-B, non-T acute lymphoblastic leukemia phenotype (HLA-DR, CD 9, CD 19, cALLA positive) without staining by any of the antimyeloid MoAbs. However, 70% of the blasts were labeled by the antimyeloperoxidase antibody and expressed peroxidase-positive granules at ultrastructural level. In conclusion, most of the AML undiagnosed by optical cytochemistry are identified by antimyeloid antibodies. Some of these cases are also stained by some antilymphoid MoAbs. Use of antibodies against myeloperoxidase may improve the diagnosis of difficult cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia.

New Technology Drafts: Production and Improvements

ScienceCinema

Lapidus, Alla

2018-01-22

Alla Lapidus, head of the DOE Joint Genome Institute's Finishing group, gives a talk on how the DOE JGI's microbial genome sequencing pipeline has been adapted to accommodate next generation sequencing platforms at the "Sequencing, Finishing, Analysis in the Future" meeting in Santa Fe, NM.

Careers and people

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2016-07-01

Medical physicist Alla Reznik's work on next-generation positron emission tomography (PET) devices - which recently won her a Leadership Award from the Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network (ORION) - developed out of more than a decade of research into the fundamental properties of wide band-gap semiconductors.

Hypersonic-Flow Governing Equations with Electromagnetic Files

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-01

CO. [15] B. Finzi, Principio d’azione stazionaria nell’elettrodinamica dei fluidi, Annali di Matematica Pura e Applicata 50 (1960) 321–339. [16] L...Waves, 2nd Edition, W. H. Freeman & Company, San Francisco CA, 1970. [45] E. Persico, Introduzione alla Fisica Matematica , 3rd Edition, Zanichelli

The Department of Defense Chemical, Biological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosive Response Enterprise: Have We Learned the Lessons to Ensure an Effective Response?

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-10

Chernobyl . New York, NY: Warner Books. Gniady, Lisa N. 2008. Bridging the gap: Department of Defense’s planning for domestic disaster assistance. Thesis...Hurricane Katrina disaster . Fort Leavenworth: Combat Studies Institute Press. Yaroshinskaya, Alla. 1994. Chernobyl : The forbidden truth. Lincoln, NE...41 Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor Incident ............................................................................ 43 Conclusion

Computer Page: Computer Studies for All--A Wider Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edens, A. J.

1975-01-01

An approach to teaching children aged 12 through 14 a substantial course about computers is described. Topics covered include simple algorithms, information and communication, man-machine communication, the concept of a system, the definition of a system, and the use of files. (SD)

Panic attacks and possession by djinns: lessons from ethnopsychiatry.

PubMed

Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi; Del Puente, Giovanni

2012-01-01

This clinical case report shows how important it is for a psychiatrist to have a knowledge of the cultural and religious context of the patient, in order to understand fully his or her complaints. Culture and religion, in fact, are not neutral, but convey symbols, meanings, and myths that should be properly explored to shed light on the patient's inner world. Patient D was a 19-year-old Muslim Italo-Tunisian girl, who consulted a psychiatrist for anxiety and panic attacks, and reported being possessed by djinns (ie, "evil creatures", as described in the Qur'an). A culturally informed interview was carried out, together with administration of psychometric scales, including the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised and Psychological Measure of Islamic Religiousness. Based on her scores and the results of this multidimensional assessment, patient D was treated with transcultural psychotherapy and fluoxetine. After a year of follow-up, she reported no further episodes of panic disorder. For proper assessment and treatment, a combined anthropological, sociological, and psychopathological approach was necessary.

Panic attacks and possession by djinns: lessons from ethnopsychiatry

PubMed Central

Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi; Del Puente, Giovanni

2012-01-01

This clinical case report shows how important it is for a psychiatrist to have a knowledge of the cultural and religious context of the patient, in order to understand fully his or her complaints. Culture and religion, in fact, are not neutral, but convey symbols, meanings, and myths that should be properly explored to shed light on the patient’s inner world. Patient D was a 19-year-old Muslim Italo-Tunisian girl, who consulted a psychiatrist for anxiety and panic attacks, and reported being possessed by djinns (ie, “evil creatures”, as described in the Qur’an). A culturally informed interview was carried out, together with administration of psychometric scales, including the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised and Psychological Measure of Islamic Religiousness. Based on her scores and the results of this multidimensional assessment, patient D was treated with transcultural psychotherapy and fluoxetine. After a year of follow-up, she reported no further episodes of panic disorder. For proper assessment and treatment, a combined anthropological, sociological, and psychopathological approach was necessary. PMID:23293545

Cultural, social and personal ways of experiencing love – an analysis of the perception of subjectivity

PubMed Central

Gori, Claudia

2011-01-01

Summary This article is based on analysis of 4 couple’s personal and public documents, in order to integrate personal choices, values and ideas with cultural representations and social attitudes. Moreover, being based on Italian sources from the nineteenth century, the study offers an historical insight on the Italian nation-building process and its political and social foundations. This study is based on archival and printed primary sources from: Gianna Maffei and Ercole Trotti Mosti (Museo Centrale del Risorgimento – Roma – MCRR); Augusto Pierantoni and Grazia Mancini (Museo Centrale del Risorgimento – Roma); Luigi Majno and Ersilia Bronzini (Archivio Unione Femminile Nazionale – Milano); Angiolo Orvieto and Laura Cantoni (Archivio Contemporaneo Bonsanti del Gabinetto Vieuesseux – Firenze – ACGV). This study reflects on love as a political and moral issue, by linking the personal sphere of subjectivity to the public dimension of the political community. An extensive understanding of the role played by the perception and the expression of sentiments can be considered as the central issue of this analysis. PMID:22037756

SCDC Spanish Curricula Units. Fine Arts Strand, Unit 9, Grade 3, Supplement & Ditto Packet.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spanish Curricula Development Center, Miami Beach, FL.

The supplement and ditto packet to the fine arts strand of unit nine for third graders contains illustrations, ditto masters, and four songbooks to help the teacher carry out the fine arts activities of this unit. Materials for both group activities and seatwork are included. Kit 33 uses the songbook "Canciones de Aqui y de Alla" and…

Misura della sezione d'urto totale e Dello scattering elastico all'energia Nel centro di massa di $$\\sqrt{s}=1.8$$ TeV (in Italian)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Paoletti, Riccardo

La produzione di eventi elastici è stata misurata al Collider Tevatron del Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Batavia. 11.~ U .S.A.) alla energia nel centro di massa. di √s = 1800 GeV, nell'intervallo 0.06 < I t I< 0.24. Sono forniti dettagli sull'esperimento CDF che ha compiuto la misura e sui criteri di selezione degli eventi.

Aqui y Alla en California. (Here and There in California).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Galarza, Ernesto

One in the series "Coleccion Mini-Libros" (Mini-Book Collection) written in Spanish as an enrichment tool for the Spanish speaker, the booklet is a compilation of photographs accompanied by brief descriptions of various points of beauty and interest throughout the State of California. Among the points of interest described are La Sierra Nevada,…

Surgical treatment of neglected congenital idiopathic talipes equinovarus after walking age in Eritrea: an Italo-Eritrean cooperation.

PubMed

Faldini, C; Prosperi, L; Traina, F; Nanni, M; Tesfaghiorghi, S; Tsegay, S; Yosief, M; Pungetti, C; Sanzarello, I

2016-08-01

An Italian team of orthopaedic surgeons joined Eritrean colleagues to perform a clinical study in ambulating children affected by neglected idiopathic congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot). This study reports the surgical strategy as well as clinical outcomes, early complications and relapse at a mid-term follow-up. Four expeditions of 7 days were organized between 2012 and 2015 from Italy to the Halibet Hospital of Asmara in Eritrea. In each expedition were included two experienced surgeons, two assistants and one anaesthesiologist. During these expeditions, a total of 468 patients were evaluated together with Eritrean colleagues and 45 cases of neglected talipes equinovarus in ambulating children were diagnosed and selected for surgery. Follow-up range was 1-3 years. During the four expeditions, the Eritrean team of orthopaedic surgeons learned to manage most cases of neglected talipes equinovarus. No major complications were reported. Sixteen feet were considered excellent, 25 good and four poor. No overcorrections were observed. Neglected congenital talipes equinovarus is the result of delayed treatment of congenital deformity in developing countries, and its treatment often requires extensive surgery. Collaboration with foreign expert surgeons may help local doctors to learn how to treat this disease. The current study demonstrates that surgical expeditions in developing countries, when organized in collaboration with local doctors, help to manage on site this severe deformity.

Loglines. July - August 2012

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-01

ammunition ship USNS Sacagawea (left) and the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde conduct an underway replenishment in the Mediterranean Sea...Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector in Libya, for example, the organization went from supporting one ship in the Mediterranean Sea to 28. “They all...a combination of nutritional food groups including vegetables, beverages, meat, poultry, desserts and condiments, which provide a balanced diet

[Health expenditure for prevention in Italy (2006-2013): descriptive analysis, regional trends and international comparisons].

PubMed

Signorelli, Carlo; Odone, Anna; Bianco, Daniela; Di Vivo, Natalia; Bevere, Francesco

2016-01-01

Il dato dell'Organizzazione per la cooperazione e lo sviluppo economico (OCSE) del 2012, che indicava l'Italia come il Paese con la più bassa spesa in prevenzione sanitaria, ha dato lo spunto per una raccolta sistematica e un'analisi critica dei flussi disponibili sulla spesa per le attività di prevenzione in Italia. Le statistiche correnti di spesa sanitaria sono raccolte centralmente dall'Agenzia nazionale per i servizi sanitari regionali (Agenas) attraverso i modelli di rilevazione dei costi dei livelli essenziali di assistenza (LEA) delle aziende USL. Le tre macroaree dei LEA sono: assistenza distrettuale, assistenza ospedaliera e assistenza sanitaria collettiva in ambiente di vita e di lavoro. Le spese per la prevenzione rientrano in quest'ultima e sono ripartite nelle seguenti voci: attività di prevenzione rivolte alle persone, igiene degli alimenti e della nutrizione, igiene e sanità pubblica, prevenzione e sicurezza negli ambienti di lavoro, sanità pubblica veterinaria, attività medico-legale per finalità pubblica. Tra il 2006 e il 2013, ultimo dato disponibile, la spesa per le attività di prevenzione del Servizio sanitario nazionale (SSN) è rimasta costante in rapporto alla spesa sanitaria totale (4,2%), pari a 4,9 miliardi nel 2013. Nel periodo di studio considerato (2006-2013) appaiono in aumento le spese per le attività rivolte alle persone (+8,7%), attribuibili soprattutto a vaccinazioni e screening, e in diminuzione le attività di igiene pubblica (-5,7%) e quelle della sanità pubblica veterinaria (-3,8%). I confronti internazionali indicano una spesa per la prevenzione del 2,9% rispetto alla spesa sanitaria totale, costante negli anni e nella media dei Paesi OCSE. Per la prevenzione, l'Italia spende tanto quanto i Paesi che non possiedono un servizio sanitario pubblico; il dato risulta inferiore del 5% rispetto alla programmazione nazionale, con poche eccezioni e molta variabilità regionale all'interno delle componenti delle voci di spesa

Isla Hispaniola: A trans-boundary flood risk mitigation plan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brandimarte, Luigia; Brath, Armando; Castellarin, Attilio; Baldassarre, Giuliano Di

It is sadly known that over the past decades Isla Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) has been exposed to the devastating passage of several hurricanes and tropical storms. Territories that are economically weak and extremely poor in terms of natural resources have been shaken by severe flood events that caused the loss of thousands of human lives, displacement of people and damage to the environment. On May 24th 2004, the flooding of the trans-boundary river Soliette killed over 1000 Haitian and Dominican people, wiping out villages and leaving behind desolation and poverty. After this catastrophic flood event, the General Direction for Development and Cooperation of the Italian Department of Foreign Affairs funded through the Istituto Italo-Latino Americano (IILA, www.iila.org) an international cooperation initiative (ICI), coordinated and directed by the University of Bologna. The ICI involved Haitian and Dominican institutions and was twofold: (a) institutional capacity building on flood risk management and mitigation measures and policies; (b) hydrological and hydraulic analysis of the May 2004 flood event aimed at formulating a suitable and affordable flood risk mitigation plan, consisting of structural and non-structural measures.

Comparing Simulated and Observed Spectroscopic Signatures of Mix in Omega Capsules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tregillis, I. L.; Shah, R. C.; Hakel, P.; Cobble, J. A.; Murphy, T. J.; Krasheninnikova, N. S.; Hsu, S. C.; Bradley, P. A.; Schmitt, M. J.; Batha, S. H.; Mancini, R. C.

2012-10-01

The Defect-Induced Mix Experiment (DIME) campaign at Los Alamos National Laboratory uses multi-monochromatic X-ray imaging (MMI)footnotetextT. Nagayama, R.C. Mancini, R. Florido, et al, J. App. Phys. 109, 093303 (2011) to detect the migration of high-Z spectroscopic dopants into the hot core of an imploded capsule. We have developed an MMI post-processing tool for producing synthetic datasets from two- and three-dimensional Lagrangian numerical simulations of Omega and NIF shots. These synthetic datasets are of sufficient quality, and contain sufficient physics, that they can be analyzed in the same manner as actual MMI data. We have carried out an extensive comparison between simulated and observed MMI data for a series of polar direct-drive shots carried out at the Omega laser facility in January, 2011. The capsule diameter was 870 microns; the 15 micron CH ablators contained a 2 micron Ti-doped layer along the inner edge. All capsules were driven with 17 kJ; some capsules were manufactured with an equatorial ``trench'' defect. This talk will focus on the construction of spectroscopic-quality synthetic MMI datasets from numerical simulations, and their correlation with MMI measurements.

Clinico-immunological aspects of vernal catarrh in hilly terrains of Himachal Pradesh.

PubMed

Bisht, R; Goyal, A; Thakur; Singh, T; Sharma; Vijay; Goyal, B K

1992-01-01

Very few immunological studies in vernal catarrh have been conducted in India and abroad, but none in Himachal Pradesh in spite of its high incidence in the State. In the present study 25 patients of vernal catarrh residing at a height ranging between 1000 to 2500 meters above mean sea level have been evaluated. Their immunological status of serum and tears after detailed clinical assessment was studied by single radial immunodiffusion technique of Mancini et al. The values of serum IgA and IgM were significantly higher in patients than in controls. The serum IgE level had no significant difference. The IgG was significantly lower in patients with vernal catarrh. The values of tear IgM, IgE and IgA in these patients were significantly higher than in controls. However, in no case or control group C3C and C4 were detected in tears. The limbal type of vernal catarrh was found to be the most common in this part of the country. No mixed case was seen. Derangement of the immune system in the pathogenesis of vernal catarrh is suggested.

The Use of Ion Implantation for Materials Processing.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-03-06

34 ASME, J. Lub. Technology 105, pp. 534-541 (1983). 89. J. M. Lambert, P. A. Treado, D . Trbojevic , R. G. Allas, A. R. Knudson, G. W. Reynolds, and F. R...Singer and R.G. Vardiman D . In Situ Auger Analysis Of Surface Composition During High Fluence Ion Implantation...Niobium Implantation Of Iron Films ..............................................37 B. D . Sartwell and D.A. Baldwin F. Sputtering And Migration During Ta

Proceedings of the Course on Algorithms and Data Structures for Geometric Computations Held at CISM (Centre International des Sciences Mecaniques) in Udine (Italy) on 8-12 July 1985,

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-07-26

Science Student Via alla Roggia, 9a 6962 Viganello Switzerland CHAABAN Moustafa, Professor Ain Shams University Faculty of Engineering 15, El Farik El ...Masri st. Almaza, Heliopolis, Cairo Egypt DELLA RICCIA Giacomo, Professor Universita’ di Udine Ist. di Matematica , Informatica e Sistemistica Via...Ro cq uencourt , B . P . 105 78153 Le Chesnay Cedex France .%c Page 5 TASSO Carlo, Assoc. Professor U1niversita’ di Udine 1st. di Matematica

Aqui y Alla: Exploring Our Lives through Poetry--Here and There

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schlessman, Elizabeth

2010-01-01

The bilingual poetry and stories of Salvadoran writer Jorge Argueta have been an invaluable resource in this author's classroom. She has used poems from "Talking with Mother Earth" for homework and class analysis during a study of ecosystems, the story "Xochitl and the Flowers" to lead into persuasive writing, and "Bean Soup" to teach…

Ipotesi di variazioni del clima correlate alla precessione dei nodi lunari

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Donà, Giuseppe

2005-04-01

The paper shows the existence of a striking correlation between seasonal and yearly mean temperatures, recorded from 1925 through 2003 at the Arabba Avalanche Center, and the Moon's latitude over the ecliptic during the same period. Also the mean amount of rain in the same time period may be controlled by the Moon, but this quantity shows an anti-correlation to the lunar latitude instead of the direct correlation displayed by the mean temperatures.

Experimental Control of a Fast Chaotic Time-Delay Opto-Electronic Device

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-01-01

chaotic sources such as the erbium-doped Þber laser. The basic idea is to use the message as a driving signal for the chaotic system. The message...47 x 3.10 Block diagram of feedback loop. Light from the interferometer is con- verted into an electrical signal by the photodiode (PD). All...a time delay of τD. Finally, the electrical signal is converted back into light by the laser diode (LD). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 3.11 Setup

Research Needs for Artificial Intelligence Applications in Support of C3 (Command, Control, and Communication).

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-12-01

system. The reconstruction process is Simply data fusion after allA data are in. After reconstruction, artifcial intelligence (Al) techniques may be...14. CATE OF fhPM~TVW MWtvt Ogv It PAWE COMN Interim __100 -_ TO December 1984 24 MILD ON" s-o Artificial intelligence Command control Data fusion...RD-Ai5O 867 RESEARCH NEEDS FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLICATIONS i/i IN SUPPORT OF C3 (..(U) NAVAL OCEAN SVSTEIIS CENTER SAN DIEGO CA R R DILLARD

The Use of Ion Implantation for Materials Processing.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-08-23

Amsterdam. 1983) p. 35 5 . 191 J.M. Lambert. P.A. Treado. D . Trbojevic . R.(; Alias. A.R 13J N.,.W. Hartley, K.S. (Graboski, C.R. (jossett and...Technology 105, pp.53 4-541,(1983). 89. J. M. Lambert, P. A. Treado, D . Trbojevic , R. G. Allas, A. R. Knudson, G. W. Reynolds, and F. R. Vozzo...VACUUM CARBURIZATION IN STEEL . .................................... 21 D . Farkas, 1. L. Singer, and M. Rangaswamy D . BOLTZMANN APPROACH TO CASCADE

Contextualizing the Psychosocial Well-being of Military Members and Their Partners: The Importance of Community and Relationship Provisions.

PubMed

O'Neal, Catherine Walker; Mancini, Jay A; DeGraff, Alycia

2016-12-01

Evidence of the impact of communities has been documented for a variety of individual and relational outcomes, including mental and physical health as well as the quality of romantic and parent-child relationships. The military represents a rather unique work context; in that, it is generally considered a lifestyle with a distinct culture and community. Yet, military families are also members of their broader, comprehensive community. Drawing from the social organizational theory of action and change (SOC) (Mancini & Bowen, 2013), and relationship provisions theory (Weiss, 1969) and utilizing a sample of 266 active duty military families, this study examined connectedness with the military community and the broader, comprehensive community. A dyadic model was evaluated whereby each partner's perspective of their comprehensive and military community was hypothesized to influence their own psychosocial well-being as well as their partner's psychosocial well-being. The role of relationship provisions (that is, having relationship needs met) as a mechanism linking community connections to psychosocial well-being was also examined. Overall, the findings supported the hypothesized model, particularly for intra-individual effects and military members. Findings emphasize the importance of considering what is gained from connections within a community rather than a focus solely on the connections themselves. © Society for Community Research and Action 2016.

A Neurobehavioral Study of Rats Using a Model Perfluorinated Acid, NDFDA.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-07-13

1 AD-Alla 560 DISTICT OFVCOLUMBIAUUNIV WASHIrGTON, DEPT OF BIOLOGY F662 NEUROEHA IORAL STUDY OF RATS USING A MODEL PERFLUORINATEO AC--ETCU U JUL A2 I...S. TYPE OF REPORT & PERIOD COVERED A NEUROBEHAVIORAL STUDY OF RATS USING A MODEL Final Report PERFLUORINATED ACID, NDFDA ___nu; 6. PERFORMING O IG...OPT0 Y&’ A@E(ben Des Btntete AFOSR-TR" FINAL RPORT A NEUROBUEIAVIORAL STUDY ON RATS USING A MODEL PERFLUORINATED ACID , NDFDA Prepared by: Inez R

The Use of Ion Implantation for Materials Processing.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-09-28

SPUTTERING ANALYSIS WITH PIXE.......................... 31 J.M. Lambert, P.A. Treado, D . Trbojevic ,2 R.G. Alias, A.R. Knudson, G.W. Reynolds and F.R...Lambert and P. . Treado I D . Trbojevic R. G. Allas and A. R. Knudson 3 G. W. Reynolds and F. R. Vozzo 4 IGeorgetown University Washington, D . C. and...D.C. 20057 and 20375 D . Trbojevic Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 20057 R.G. Alias and A.R. Knudson Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C

"No Soy de Aqui ni Soy de Alla": Transgenerational Cultural Identity Formation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cardona, Jose Ruben Parra; Busby, Dean M.; Wampler, Richard S.

2004-01-01

The transgenerational cultural identity model offers a detailed understanding of the immigration experience by challenging agendas of assimilation and by expanding on existing theories of cultural identity. Based on this model, immigration is a complex phenomenon influenced by many variables such as sociopsychological dimensions, family,…

Chemical Durability Improvement and Static Fatigue of Glasses.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-08-01

Afl-Alla 837 RENSSELAER POLYIECmfJ!C INST TRtOY NY DEPT OF MATERIAL--ETC F/6 ii/ CHEMICAL DURABILITY IMPROVEMENT AND STATIC FATIGUE OF GLASSESW AUC2...82 M TOMOZAWA NOGGIN 7A-C-0315 UNC LASS IF IED N ENEEEEEE FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT For the period April 1, 1978 "u March 31, 198200 CHEMICAL DURABILITY...REPORT A PERIOD COVERED Chemical Durability Improvement and Static Final Technical Report Fatiue o GlasesApril 1, 1978"’,March 31, 1982 S. PERFORMING ORG

Public Water Supply, Red River Parish, Louisiana.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-04-01

aI -4 w0 > k)~ 04 00 004 0 Ř 1-4 ua4 0 to 441 Ia) 40 1.H r. ) 4 14w w. ’a (A 0a 4) 0 a 0 Ai 0 41 .a- .a. to 0tic .. 9-:. PS4 W w~ u 00 r4 to- $4 0...tidT.ant sho~uld he recoarded on the hack -4 VA IL Ilbis Ir t o a. st.panite %heef andI alla, hv.. r I L_ 1 1 14. 4;. ian the valaies in ech

Proceedings of Damping Volume 2 of 3

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-06-01

engineering, marine engineering, auto-industry, sporting goods, proved that the realms of application will definitely be expanding. The paper surveyed by...G13 = G13 + i Tic G13 (43a) D11 = D + i ibD (43b) (AI-All)* =(All-All) + i ql(AI1-AIl) (43c) B11 ’= Bjj + i 1d BIL (43d) (All+A11) =(Aj1 +Ajj) + i l.(A...F.: Tail Buffet Characteristics and Longitudinal Oscillation of Combat Airplanes. NAVY x Bureau of Aeronautics, Structures Project Report No. 27, Feb

UAV and Computer Vision in 3D Modeling of Cultural Heritage in Southern Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barrile, Vincenzo; Gelsomino, Vincenzo; Bilotta, Giuliana

2017-08-01

On the Waterfront Italo Falcomatà of Reggio Calabria you can admire the most extensive tract of the walls of the Hellenistic period of ancient city of Rhegion. The so-called Greek Walls are one of the most significant and visible traces of the past linked to the culture of Ancient Greece in the site of Reggio Calabria territory. Over the years this stretch of wall has always been a part, to the reconstruction of Reggio after the earthquake of 1783, the outer walls at all times, restored countless times, to cope with the degradation of the time and the adjustments to the technical increasingly innovative and sophisticated siege. They were the subject of several studies on history, for the study of the construction techniques and the maintenance and restoration of the same. This note describes the methodology for the implementation of a three-dimensional model of the Greek Walls conducted by the Geomatics Laboratory, belonging to DICEAM Department of University “Mediterranea” of Reggio Calabria. 3D modeling we made is based on imaging techniques, such as Digital Photogrammetry and Computer Vision, by using a drone. The acquired digital images were then processed using commercial software Agisoft PhotoScan. The results denote the goodness of the technique used in the field of cultural heritage, attractive alternative to more expensive and demanding techniques such as laser scanning.

Mineralogical, petrological and geochemical aspects of alkaline and alkaline-carbonatite associations from Brazil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morbidelli, L.; Gomes, C. B.; Beccaluva, L.; Brotzu, P.; Conte, A. M.; Ruberti, E.; Traversa, G.

1995-12-01

A general description of Mesozoic and Tertiary (Fortaleza) Brazilian alkaline and alkaline-carbonatite districts is presented with reference to mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry and geochronology. It mainly refers to scientific results obtained during the last decade by an Italo-Brazilian research team. Alkaline occurrences are distributed across Brazilian territory from the southern (Piratini, Rio Grande do Sul State) to the northeastern (Fortaleza, Ceará State) regions and are mainly concentrated along the borders of the Paraná Basin generally coinciding with important tectonic lineaments. The most noteworthy characteristics of these alkaline and alkaline-carbonatite suites are: (i) prevalence of intrusive forms; (ii) abundance of cumulate assemblages (minor dunites, frequent clinopyroxenites and members of the ijolite series) and (iii) abundance of evolved rock-types. Many data demonstrate that crystal fractionation was the main process responsible for magma evolution of all Brazilian alkaline rocks. A hypothesis is proposed for the genesis of carbonatite liquids by immiscibility processes. The incidence of REE and trace elements for different major groups of lithotypes, belonging both to carbonatite-bearing and carbonatite-free districts, are documented. Sr and preliminary Nd isotopic data are indicative of a mantle origin for the least evolved magmas of all the studied occurrences. Mantle source material and melting models for the generation of the Brazilian alkaline magma types are also discussed.

Regional Stratigraphy and Petroleum Systems of the Illinois Basin, U.S.A.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Swezey, Christopher S.

2009-01-01

The publication combines data on Paleozoic and Mesozoic stratigraphy and petroleum geology of the Illinois basin, U.S.A., in order to facilitate visualizing the stratigraphy on a regional scale and visualizing stratigraphic relations within the basin. Data are presented in eight schematic chronostratigraphic sections arranged approximately from north to south, with time denoted in equal increments along the sections, in addition to the areal extent of this structural basin. The stratigraphic data are modified from Hass (1956), Conant and Swanson (1961), Wilman and others (1975), American Association of Petroleum Geologists (1984, 1986), Olive and McDowell (1986), Shaver and others (1986), Thompson (1986), Mancini and others (1996), and Harrison and Litwin (1997). The time scale is taken from Gradstein and others (2004). Additional stratigraphic nomenclature is from Harland and others (1990), Babcock and others (2007), and Bergstrom and others (2008). Stratigraphic sequences as defined by Sloss (1963, 1988) and Wheeler (1963) also are included, as well as the locations of major petroleum source rocks and major petroleum plays. The stratigraphic units shown are colored according to predominant lithology, in order to emphasize general lithologic patterns and to provide a broad overview of the Illinois basin. For the purpose of comparison, three columns on the right show schematic depictions of stratigraphy and interpreted events in the Illinois basin and in the adjacent Michigan and Appalachian basins.

[Agammaglobulinemia with the absence of circulating B-lymphocytes. 9 cases].

PubMed

Bejaoui, M; Barbouche, M R; Mellouli, F; Tirellil, N; Dellagi, K

1998-03-28

Agammaglobulinemia with absence of circulating B lymphocytes is a rare genetically transmitted immunodeficiency that appears in early childhood and affect mainly boys. The clinical manifestations of the disease are rather heterogeneous. Nine patients (7 boys and 2 girls) were diagnosed as suffering from agammaglobulinemia with absence of circulating B lymphocytes, over a period of 6 years. Quantitation of immunoglobulins and search for circulating B lymphocytes were respectively performed by the Mancini method and immunofluorescence using T specific (anti-CD3, anti-CD4 and anti-CD8) and B (anti-CD19) monoclonal antibody. The disease started to manifest clinically at the mean age of 8.7 months (4-16 months). The mean age at diagnosis is 4 years (1-11 years). The clinical manifestations were essentially recurrent infections of the lung and the gastrointestinal tract. However, bacterial meningitidis was observed in 3 patients. Severe complications such as an echovirus 27 meningoencephalitis and a chronic active hepatitis (1 patient) and a pericarditis (1 patient) were observed. All of our patients lacked circulating B lymphocytes and had low or null immunoglobulin levels. Five patients were treated by intravenous immunoglobulin (Ig) and 3 were treated by intramuscular immunoglobulin with a residual IgG level respectively of 5.5 g/l and 3.3 g/l. Recurrent infections are the principal manifestation of the agammaglobulinemia, early Ig treatment is the only therapy allowing improved.

Scienza dei servizi

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cavenago, Dario; Mezzanzanica, Mario

I servizi sono oramai centrali nella vita sociale di ogni Paese. L'aspettativa di ogni attore sociale, sia esso cittadino/utente e/o istituzione, è quella di ricevere da uno scambio che ha alla base un servizio un contributo che si caratterizza per una qualità intrinseca. Il mantenimento di tale promessa richiede all'azienda erogatrice un forte coinvolgimento, nel disegno del servizio, degli utenti ed una capacità di gestione della conoscenza; ciò è particolarmente significativo per quei servizi che si caratterizzano per una forte personalizzazione o complessità progettuale. Disegnare un servizio, metterlo in produzione e gestirne l'erogazione ha una complessità variabile in base al grado di coinvolgimento dei destinati ed alle dimensioni critiche che esprimono le condizioni di fattibilità di un servizio di qualità appropriato alle attese degli utilizzatori. Ugualmente la globalizzazione dell'economia e la scarsità delle risorse ha portato l'attenzione, ai fini della sostenibilità delle condizioni sopra richiamate, di una ricerca di modelli e strumenti che permettano una valutazione e una standardizzazione dei processi di produzione ed erogazione secondo condizioni di economicità. Tali primi e sintetici elementi hanno condotto diversi attori istituzionali, grandi imprese ed università attraverso i loro centri di ricerca, ad una azione di riflessione sul grado di "ingegnerizzazione" dei processi sottesi alla erogazione dei servizi ed in particolare ai servizi che attuano le politiche dei grandi settori di base dell'economia di una Nazione: educazione, sanità, sociale, sviluppo infrastrutture ecc.

Brief report: Bereaved parents informing research design: The place of a pilot study.

PubMed

Donovan, L A; Wakefield, C E; Russell, V; Hetherington, Kate; Cohn, R J

2018-02-23

Risk minimization in research with bereaved parents is important. However, little is known about which research methods balance the sensitivity required for bereaved research participants and the need for generalizable results. To explore parental experiences of participating in mixed method bereavement research via a pilot study. A convergent parallel mixed method design assessing bereaved parents' experience of research participation. Eleven parents whose child was treated for cancer at The Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane completed the questionnaire/interview being piloted (n = 8 mothers; n = 3 fathers; >6 months and <6 years bereaved). Of these, eight parents completed the pilot study evaluation questionnaire, providing feedback on their experience of participation. Participants acknowledged the importance of bereaved parents being central to research design and the development of bereavement programs. Sixty-three per cent (n = 5/8) of parents described completion of the questionnaire as 'not at all/a little bit' of a burden. Seventy-five per cent (n = 6/8) of parents opting into the telephone interview described participation as 'not at all/a little bit' of a burden. When considering the latest timeframes for participation in bereavement research 63% (n = 5/8) of parents indicated 'no endpoint.' Findings from the pilot study enabled important adjustments to be made to a large-scale future study. As a research method, pilot studies may be utilized to minimize harm and maximize the potential benefits for vulnerable research participants. A mixed method approach allows researchers to generalize findings to a broader population while also drawing on the depth of the lived experience.

The acoustic design of the Centro Nacional de las Artes in Mexico City

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooper, Rusell

2002-11-01

In this paper the acoustic design of the separate buildings housing the school of music, school of drama, and school of dance that opened in 1996 will be described. Spaces that JHA designed included practice rooms, studios, rehearsal rooms, black box, and concert hall. Details of room acoustic treatments, sound isolation measures, and venturi air flow will be illustrated. An overview of the entire project will also include the 500 seat multipurpose theater (with variable absorption systems) and the Alla Magna. Differences between the American and Mexican styles of consulting, importing of materials, installation, and commissioning will also be discussed.

Imagineering the astronomical revolution - Essay review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jardine, Nicholas.

2006-11-01

Concerning following Books: (I) Transmitting knowledge - words, images, and instruments in early modern Europe. Kusukawa and Maclean (eds.), OUP, Oxford, 2006; (II) Widmung, Welterklärung und Wissenschaftslegitimierung: Titelbilder und ihre Funktionen in der wissenschaftlichen Revolution. Remmert, Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, 2005; (III) The power of images in early modern science. Lefevre, Renn and Schoepflin (eds.), Birkhäuser, Basel, 2003; (IV) Immagini per conoscere - dal Rinascimento alla rivoluzione scientifica. Meroi and Pogliano (eds.), Olschki, Florenz, 2001; (V) Erkenntnis Erfindung Konstruktion - Studien zur Bildgeschichte von Naturwissenschaften und Technik vom 16. bis zum 19. Jahrhundert. Holländer (ed.), Mann, Berlin, 2000.

Visual detail about the body modulates tactile localisation biases.

PubMed

Margolis, Aaron N; Longo, Matthew R

2015-02-01

The localisation of tactile stimuli requires the integration of visual and somatosensory inputs within an internal representation of the body surface and is prone to consistent bias. Joints may play a role in segmenting such internal body representations, and may therefore influence tactile localisation biases, although the nature of this influence remains unclear. Here, we investigate the relationship between conceptual knowledge of joint locations and tactile localisation biases on the hand. In one task, participants localised tactile stimuli applied to the dorsum of their hand. A distal localisation bias was observed in all participants, consistent with previous results. We also manipulated the availability of visual information during this task, to determine whether the absence of this information could account for the distal bias observed here and by Mancini et al. (Neuropsychologia 49:1194-1201, 2011). The observed distal bias increased in magnitude when visual information was restricted, without a corresponding decrease in precision. In a separate task, the same participants indicated, from memory, knuckle locations on a silhouette image of their hand. Analogous distal biases were also seen in the knuckle localisation task. The accuracy of conceptual joint knowledge was not correlated with tactile localisation bias magnitude, although a similarity in observed bias direction suggests that both tasks may rely on a common, higher-order body representation. These results also suggest that distortions of conceptual body representation may be more common in healthy individuals than previously thought.

Medical competence, anatomy and the polity in seventeenth-century Rome

PubMed Central

De Renzi, Silvia

2007-01-01

At the centre of this article are two physicians active in Rome between 1600 and 1630 who combined medical practice with broader involvement in the dynamic cultural, economic and political scene of the centre of the Catholic world. The city's distinctive and very influential social landscape magnified issues of career-building and allows us to recapture physicians’ different strategies of self-fashioning at a time of major social and religious reorganization. At one level, reconstructing Johannes Faber and Giulio Mancini's medical education, arrival in Rome and overlapping but different career trajectories contributes to research on physicians’ identity in early modern Italian states. Most remarkable are their access to different segments of Roman society, including a dynamic art market, and their diplomatic and political role, claimed as well as real. But following these physicians from hospitals to courts, including that of the Pope, and from tribunals to the university and analysing the wide range of their writing – from medico-legal consilia to political essays and reports of anatomical investigations – also enriches our view of medical practice, which included, but went beyond, the bedside. Furthermore, their activities demand that we reassess the complex place of anatomical investigations in a courtly society, and start recovering the fundamental role played by hospitals – those quintessential Catholic institutions – as sites of routine dissections for both medical teaching and research. (pp. 551–567) PMID:21949463

[Improving home auto-control in diabetic children: reducing atherogenic risk].

PubMed

Bayes García, R; Campoy Folgoso, C; Pérez Bonilla, E; Molina Font, J

1991-03-01

Insulin-dependent Diabetes (IDDM) is a major endocrine abnormality in children and the greatest morbi-mortality problems for diabetic patients are those related to cardiovascular complications (macro-microangiopaties), where kept hyperlipidemia and hyperglucemia play a fundamental patogenic role. The programs for optimization of home autocontrol have reduced frequent metabolic derangements. The aim of this study was to analyze the metabolic control state and its relationships with plasma lipids and atherogenic ratios in diabetic patients that were submitted to a program for optimization of home autocontrol of this illness. Blood samples were taken fom 49 IDDM, aged 10.53 +/- 0.51 (+/- SEM) years old, with a mean evolution period of 4.34 +/- 0.38 years, at the begining of the program (Stage I) and 6 months later (Stage II). Biochemical Analysis: Total Cholesterol (TC), cholesterol joined to high density lipoprotein (HDLc), Triglycerides (TG) and Phospholipids (Ph) were measured by microspectrphotometric methods. Cholesterol joined to very low and low density lipoproteins (VLDLc and LDLc, respectively) were calculated by Friedwald's formula. Apoproteins A and B (Apo A and Apo B) were measured using Mancini's method, Glycemia levels (Gly) by peroxidase's method, Glycosilated Serum Protein (GSP) by colormetric's method and Glycosilated haemoglobine (HbA1c) by chromatographic separation using cationic interchange microcolumns. 65% of the patients showed a significant decrease in plasma levels of Gly, GSP and HbA1c percentage between Stages I and II (Favourable Metabolic Control).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Information-Theoretical Complexity Analysis of Selected Elementary Chemical Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molina-Espíritu, M.; Esquivel, R. O.; Dehesa, J. S.

We investigate the complexity of selected elementary chemical reactions (namely, the hydrogenic-abstraction reaction and the identity SN2 exchange reaction) by means of the following single and composite information-theoretic measures: disequilibrium (D), exponential entropy(L), Fisher information (I), power entropy (J), I-D, D-L and I-J planes and Fisher-Shannon (FS) and Lopez-Mancini-Calbet (LMC) shape complexities. These quantities, which are functionals of the one-particle density, are computed in both position (r) and momentum (p) spaces. The analysis revealed that the chemically significant regions of these reactions can be identified through most of the single information-theoretic measures and the two-component planes, not only the ones which are commonly revealed by the energy, such as the reactant/product (R/P) and the transition state (TS), but also those that are not present in the energy profile such as the bond cleavage energy region (BCER), the bond breaking/forming regions (B-B/F) and the charge transfer process (CT). The analysis of the complexities shows that the energy profile of the abstraction reaction bears the same information-theoretical features of the LMC and FS measures, however for the identity SN2 exchange reaction does not hold a simple behavior with respect to the LMC and FS measures. Most of the chemical features of interest (BCER, B-B/F and CT) are only revealed when particular information-theoretic aspects of localizability (L or J), uniformity (D) and disorder (I) are considered.

The Use of Radioactivation Analysis in Biology; APPLICAZIONI DELL'ANALISI PER RADIOATTIVAZIONE ALLA BIOLOGIA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Merlini, M.

1962-01-01

The principles of activation analysis and the methods of detection and measurement of radioactivity from neutron irradiated samples are described. The application of this method in different fields is mentioned. An example of the use of activation analysis in biology is given; and the results of a study on the manganese content in different parts of a lamellibranch, Unio mancus elongatus (Pfeiffer) of Lago Maggiore, are presented and discussed. (auth)

"Alla en Guatemala": Transnationalism, Language, and Identity of a Pentecostal Guatemalan-American Young Woman

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ek, Lucila D.

2009-01-01

This article examines the transnationalism of a Pentecostal Guatemalan-American young woman who is a second-generation immigrant. Amalia traveled to Guatemala from when she was six months old until her sophomore year in college. These visits to Guatemala have helped her maintain her Guatemalan language, culture, and identity in the larger Southern…

[Linee guida italiane per il trattamento dell'alcolismo].

PubMed

Ceccanti, Mauro; Iannitelli, Angela; Fiore, Marco

2018-01-01

RIASSUNTO. L'Europa è la regione con il più forte consumo di alcol al mondo, con la più elevata percentuale di malattie totali e morti premature alcol-correlate. In Italia, questo fenomeno coinvolge circa il 13% della popolazione oltre i 18 anni e oltre il 25% dei pazienti ospedalizzati. Sfortunatamente, solo il 5% di questi pazienti vengono riconosciuti come persone affette da disturbo da uso di alcol (DUA). Una scarsa conoscenza della malattia, la mancanza di accesso alle cure e le poche risorse messe a disposizione nella gestione del problema sono tra le principali cause di ritardo nella diagnosi, alla fine con conseguenze cliniche molto più importanti e costose da gestire. Alla luce di ciò, abbiamo deciso di dedicare questo numero speciale della Rivista di psichiatria a una serie di articoli riguardanti le linee guida italiane per il trattamento della dipendenza da alcol. Realizzate in collaborazione con numerosi esperti e importanti società scientifiche italiane come il Centro di Riferimento Alcologico della Regione Lazio (CRARL), la Società Italiana Tossicodipendenze (SITD), la Società italiana per il Trattamento dell'Alcolismo e le sue Complicanze (SITAC), la Società Italiana Psichiatria delle Dipendenze (SIPDip), la Società Italiana Patologie da Dipendenza (SIPaD) e l'Istituto di Biologia Cellulare e Neurobiologia (IBCN-CNR), queste linee guida forniscono agli operatori una serie di raccomandazioni basate su prove di efficacia volte ad aumentare la conoscenza e un uso appropriato dei farmaci per le persone affette da DUA. Con la possibilità di un continuo aggiornamento, l'obiettivo principale di queste linee guida sarà quello di garantire l'omogeneità dei trattamenti e un incremento qualitativo nell'assistenza dei pazienti affetti da DUA, così da ridurre le conseguenze psicosociali e sulla salute pubblica di questa importante malattia psichiatrica.

Data Element Dictionary of Five Federal Agencies’ Systems for Processing of Technical Report Literature

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-01-01

ELZRNT: kepozt CI&MlflcatiOm SOU* cft AGENCY: DYUC OSI: flaadatory C, x f cato itadlcto. the degree of protectloo rq~ird age Acatof t alo di Řs0 14...03 ELS9 704T £33 &AC12COMPATISLA UNIOZUGS. ONE fiulflckiO6:. ’LITL AhL 0133 iViOAJS905Z ൕ.X2 A&W (3KW&95.’) MAR iQ .4322.18.1u -IEI 39UAS AML Mk...WOhiI oilo xis 11 ALLA.n iN 30353. Sot$ !IUPOAAI DATA 11 DOW=I3on AMl £MCLObSD hI~dh 66"AS 9BACASX K34 . *NTNUvAL Tag: $If

Analysis of spontaneous MEG activity in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease using spectral entropies and statistical complexity measures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruña, Ricardo; Poza, Jesús; Gómez, Carlos; García, María; Fernández, Alberto; Hornero, Roberto

2012-06-01

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Over the last few years, a considerable effort has been devoted to exploring new biomarkers. Nevertheless, a better understanding of brain dynamics is still required to optimize therapeutic strategies. In this regard, the characterization of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is crucial, due to the high conversion rate from MCI to AD. However, only a few studies have focused on the analysis of magnetoencephalographic (MEG) rhythms to characterize AD and MCI. In this study, we assess the ability of several parameters derived from information theory to describe spontaneous MEG activity from 36 AD patients, 18 MCI subjects and 26 controls. Three entropies (Shannon, Tsallis and Rényi entropies), one disequilibrium measure (based on Euclidean distance ED) and three statistical complexities (based on Lopez Ruiz-Mancini-Calbet complexity LMC) were used to estimate the irregularity and statistical complexity of MEG activity. Statistically significant differences between AD patients and controls were obtained with all parameters (p < 0.01). In addition, statistically significant differences between MCI subjects and controls were achieved by ED and LMC (p < 0.05). In order to assess the diagnostic ability of the parameters, a linear discriminant analysis with a leave-one-out cross-validation procedure was applied. The accuracies reached 83.9% and 65.9% to discriminate AD and MCI subjects from controls, respectively. Our findings suggest that MCI subjects exhibit an intermediate pattern of abnormalities between normal aging and AD. Furthermore, the proposed parameters provide a new description of brain dynamics in AD and MCI.

Let the Doors of Learning Be Open to All--A Case for Recognition of Prior Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singh, A. M.

2011-01-01

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process of evaluating an adult learners previous experience, skills, knowledge and informal learning and articulating it towards a formal qualification. Whilst RPL is enshrined in a number of international qualifications frameworks, there are certain barriers which have prevented its application and…

"Tanto Necesitamos De Aqui Como Necesitamos De Alla": "Leer Juntas" among Mexican Transnational Mothers and Daughters

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de la Piedra, Maria Teresa

2011-01-01

This paper presents part of the results of a qualitative study about literacy practices of Mexican transnational mothers, who live in and frequently cross the border between two countries (the United States and Mexico). Drawing on sociocultural approaches to literacy and literature on transnationalism, I analyze one practice: "leer…

Observation of Interspecies Ion Separation in Inertial-Confinement-Fusion Implosions via Imaging X-ray spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joshi, Tirtha Raj

2016-10-01

Interspecies ion separation has been proposed as a yield-degradation mechanism in inertial-confinement-fusion (ICF) experiments. We present direct experimental evidence of interspecies ion separation in direct-drive ICF experiments performed at the OMEGA laser facility. These experiments were designed based on the fact that interspecies ion thermo-diffusion would be strongest for species with large mass and charge difference. The targets were spherical plastic shells filled with D2 and Ar (1% by atom). Ar K-shell spectral features were observed primarily between the time of first-shock convergence and slightly before neutron bang time, using a time- and space-integrated spectrometer, streaked crystal spectrometer, and two gated multi-monochromatic X-ray imagers fielded along quasi-orthogonal lines-of-sight. Detailed spectroscopic analyses of spatially resolved Ar K-shell lines reveal deviation from the initial 1%-Ar gas fill and show both Ar-concentration enhancement and depletion at different times and radial positions of the implosion. The experimental results are interpreted with radiation-hydrodynamic simulations that include recently implemented, first-principles models of interspecies ion diffusion. The experimentally inferred Ar-atom-fraction profiles agree gently with calculated profiles associated with the incoming and rebounding first shock. This work was done in collaboration with P. Hakel, S. C. Hsu, E. L. Vold, M. J. Schmitt, N. M. Hoffman, R. M. Rauenzahn, G. Kagan, X.-Z. Tang, Y. Kim, and H. W. Herrmann of LANL, and R. C. Mancini of UNR. LA-UR-16-24804. Supported by the LANL ICF and ASC Programs under US-DoE contract no. DE-AC52-06NA25396.

Nationwide program of education for undergraduates in the field of disaster medicine: development of a core curriculum centered on blended learning and simulation tools.

PubMed

Ingrassia, Pier Luigi; Ragazzoni, Luca; Tengattini, Marco; Carenzo, Luca; Della Corte, Francesco

2014-10-01

In recent years, effective models of disaster medicine curricula for medical schools have been established. However, only a small percentage of medical schools worldwide have considered at least basic disaster medicine teaching in their study program. In Italy, disaster medicine has not yet been included in the medical school curriculum. Perceiving the lack of a specific course on disaster medicine, the Segretariato Italiano Studenti in Medicina (SISM) contacted the Centro di Ricerca Interdipartimentale in Medicina di Emergenza e dei Disastri ed Informatica applicata alla didattica e alla pratica Medica (CRIMEDIM) with a proposal for a nationwide program in this field. Seven modules (introduction to disaster medicine, prehospital disaster management, definition of triage, characteristics of hospital disaster plans, treatment of the health consequences of different disasters, psychosocial care, and presentation of past disasters) were developed using an e-learning platform and a 12-hour classroom session which involved problem-based learning (PBL) activities, table-top exercises, and a computerized simulation (Table 1). The modules were designed as a framework for a disaster medicine curriculum for undergraduates and covered the three main disciplines (clinical and psychosocial, public health, and emergency and risk management) of the core of "Disaster Health" according to the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM) international guidelines for disaster medicine education. From January 2011 through May 2013, 21 editions of the course were delivered to 21 different medical schools, and 524 students attended the course. The blended approach and the use of simulation tools were appreciated by all participants and successfully increased participants' knowledge of disaster medicine and basic competencies in performing mass-casualty triage. This manuscript reports on the designing process and the initial outcomes with respect to learners

Rapid determination of collagen in meat-based foods by microwave hydrolysis of proteins and HPAEC-PAD analysis of 4-hydroxyproline.

PubMed

Messia, M C; Di Falco, T; Panfili, G; Marconi, E

2008-10-01

A rapid microwave procedure for protein hydrolysis coupled with High Performance Anion Exchange Chromatography and Pulsed Amperometric Detection (HPAEC-PAD) was developed to quantify the amino acid 4-hydroxyproline in meat and meat-based products. This innovative approach was successfully applied to determine collagen content (4-hydroxyproline×8) as the index quality of meat material employed in the preparation of typical meat sausages ("Mortadella di Bologna PGI" and "Salamini italiani alla cacciatora PDO") and fresh filled pastas. Microwave hydrolysis showed a precision and accuracy similar to traditional hydrolysis (RSD% from 0.0 to 6.4; relative error 1.4-10.0%) with a reduction in the hydrolysis time from 24h to 20min. HPAEC-PAD allowed detection of 4-hydroxyproline without pre or post-column derivatization and the use of non-toxic eluents.

Efficacy of Bilevel-auto Treatment in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Not Responsive to or Intolerant of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Ventilation

PubMed Central

Carlucci, Annalisa; Ceriana, Piero; Mancini, Marco; Cirio, Serena; Pierucci, Paola; D'Artavilla Lupo, Nadia; Gadaleta, Felice; Morrone, Elisa; Fanfulla, Francesco

2015-01-01

Background: Ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, it was recently suggested that a novel mode of ventilation, Bilevel-auto, could be equally effective in treating patients unable to tolerate CPAP. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of Bilevel-auto to treat OSA patients whose nocturnal ventilatory disturbances are not completely corrected by CPAP. Methods: We enrolled 66 consecutive OSA patients, not responsive to (group A) or intolerant of (group B) CPAP treatment, after a full night of manual CPAP titration in a laboratory. Full polysomnography data and daytime sleepiness score were compared for each group in the three different conditions: basal, during CPAP, and during Bilevel-auto. Results: The apnea-hypopnea index decreased significantly during CPAP in both groups; however, in the group A, there was a further significant improvement during Bilevel-auto. The same trend was observed for oxygenation indices, while the distribution and the efficiency of sleep did not differ following the switch from CPAP to Bilevel-auto. Conclusions: This study confirmed the role of Bilevel-auto as an effective therapeutic alternative to CPAP in patients intolerant of this latter mode of ventilation. Moreover, extending the use of Bilevel-auto to those OSA patients not responsive to CPAP, we showed a significantly better correction of nocturnal respiratory disturbances. Citation: Carlucci A, Ceriana P, Mancini M, Cirio S, Pierucci P, D'Artavilla Lupo N, Gadaleta F, Morrone E, Fanfulla F. Efficacy of Bilevel-auto treatment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea not responsive to or intolerant of continuous positive airway pressure ventilation. J Clin Sleep Med 2015;11(9):981–985. PMID:25902825

Geographic variation in social acceptability of wildland fuels management in the western United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brunson, M.; Schindler, Bruce A.

2004-01-01

Contemporary natural resource management requires consideration of the social acceptability of management practices and conditions. Agencies wishing to measure, respond to, and influence social acceptability must understand the nuances of public perception regarding controversial issues. This study explores social acceptability judgments about one such issue: reduction of wildland fuel hazards on federal lands in the western United States. Citizens were surveyed in four locations where fire has been a significant ecological disturbance agent and public land agencies propose to reduce wildland fuel levels and wildfire hazards via prescribed burning, thinning, brush removal, and/or livestock grazing. Respondents in different locations differed in their knowledge about fire and fuel issues as well in their acceptability judgments. Differences are associated with location-specific social and environmental factors as well as individual beliefs. Results argue against using a??one-size-fits-alla?? policies or information strategies about fuels management.

[Un processo che può gettare luce sulla cosiddetta 'paura di sé' nel disturbo ossessivo-compulsivo: l'Identificazione Retrospettiva delle Motivazioni e delle Inclinazioni].

PubMed

Mannino, Gherardo; Guerini, Rossella

2018-01-01

RIASSUNTO. Al fine di comprendere meglio la psicopatologia del disturbo ossessivo-compulsivo (DOC), in anni recenti è stata prestata una crescente attenzione alla cosiddetta "paura di sé" (fear of self), vale a dire la paura che le persone con DOC nutrono di ospitare dentro di sé aspetti inaccettabili. Tuttavia, l'esatta dinamica di questo fenomeno ancora non è chiara: di conseguenza, allo scopo di delucidarla meglio, sarà qui descritto uno specifico processo psicologico denominato Identificazione Retrospettiva delle Motivazioni e delle Inclinazioni (IRMI). Quando un paziente con DOC valuta in qualche modo come inaccettabile una propria esperienza interna (pensieri, emozioni, immagini mentali, ecc.) o un proprio comportamento, identificherà retrospettivamente le presunte motivazioni/inclinazioni negative che sarebbero state all'origine di quell'esperienza o comportamento. L'IRMI non solo aiuta a comprendere meglio il fenomeno della "paura di sé", ma possiede anche importanti implicazioni per la terapia.

Lamotriginium crotonate and lamotriginium salicylate ethanol monosolvate: the role of solvent molecules in the packing organization.

PubMed

Freire, Eleonora; Echeverría, Gustavo A; Baggio, Ricardo

2017-07-01

Two lamotriginium salts, namely lamotriginium crotonate [systematic name: 3,5-diamino-6-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,4-triazin-2-ium but-2-enoate, C 9 H 8 Cl 2 N 5 + ·C 4 H 5 O 2 - , (III)] and lamotriginium salicylate [systematic name: 3,5-diamino-6-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,4-triazin-2-ium 2-hydroxybenzoate ethanol monosolvate, C 9 H 8 Cl 2 N 5 + ·C 7 H 5 O 3 - ·C 2 H 5 OH, (IV)] present extremely similar centrosymmetric hydrogen-bonded A...L...L...A packing building blocks (L is lamotriginium and A is the anion). The fact that salicylate salt (IV) is (ethanol) solvated, while crotonate salt (III) is not, has a profound effect on the way these elemental units aggregate to generate the final crystal structure. Possible reasons for this behaviour are analyzed and the hypothesis raised checked against similar structures in the literature.

Adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PubMed

Stock, Wendy

2010-01-01

During the last decade, increasing attention has been paid to a unique group of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who lie at the crossroad of therapeutic care by pediatric and adult hematologists/oncologists. ALL is a disease that affects infants, children, adolescents, and adult patients. With current therapies, the vast majority of children with ALL are now long-term survivors; unfortunately, the same good results have not yet been obtained for adults with ALL. This review will describe current controversies surrounding the treatment of adolescents and young adults with ALL--a group who finds themselves in the transition from "pediatric" to "adult" treatment approaches. The review focuses on recent insights into disease biology, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes that have led to a series of prospective clinical trials specifically designed for adolescents and younger adults (AYAs) with ALL. These trials have been designed to provide important new clinical, psychosocial, and biological insights, and to further improve the survival of this challenging and unique group of patients.

First principles electronic and thermal properties of some AlRE intermetallics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srivastava, Vipul; Sanyal, Sankar P.; Rajagopalan, M.

2008-10-01

A study on structural and electronic properties of non-magnetic cubic B 2-type AlRE (RE=Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr and Lu) intermetallics has been done theoretically. The self-consistent tight binding linear muffin tin orbital method is used to describe the electronic properties of these intermetallics at ambient and at high pressure. These compounds show metallic behavior under ambient conditions. The variation of density of states under compression indicates some possibility of structural phase transformation in AlLa, AlCe and AlPr. Thermal properties like Debye temperature and Grüneisen constant are calculated at T=0 K and at ambient pressure within the Debye-Grüneisen model and compared with the others’ theoretical results. Our results are in good agreement. We have also performed a pressure-induced variation of Debye temperature and have found a decrease in Debye temperature around 40 kbar in AlRE (RE=La, Ce, Pr) intermetallics.

Crop water use measurement using a weighing lysimeter at the Dayr Alla Research Station in the Jordan Valley, Jordan

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Since 2003, a regional project funded by USDA-ARS-OIRP has focused on improving irrigation scheduling in Jordan, Palestine and Israel. The Middle Eastern Regional Irrigation Management Information Systems (MERMIS) project involves cooperators from Palestine, Jordan, Israel and the United States, all...

Il contributo di G. Braga alla Sociologia del linguaggio (The Contributions of G. Braga to the Sociology of Language).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tessarolo, Marisella

1989-01-01

Discusses Braga's contribution to the study of the sociology of language. Braga developed a dynamic interdisciplinary model of verbal communication based on theories of sociology and linguistics and stressed the importance of language in the acculturation of an individual and in the determination of that individual's status in society. (CFM)

PREFACE: FLUIDOS 2010: XI Meeting on Recent Advances in the Physics of Fluids and their Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bove, Italo; Cabeza, Cecilia; Martí, Arturo C.; Sarasúa, Gustavo

2011-04-01

anticipate enjoying another successful FLUIDOS meeting to be held in one of the main cultural centres of the continent. Italo Bove, Cecilia Cabeza, Arturo C Martí, and Gustavo SarasúaEditors

C1q complement component and -antibodies reflect SLE activity and kidney involvement.

PubMed

Horák, P; Hermanová, Z; Zadrazil, J; Ciferská, H; Ordeltová, M; Kusá, L; Zurek, M; Tichý, T

2006-07-01

The role of the complement system in the pathogenesis of systemic diseases is very ambivalent. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), many abnormalities in the activation of the complement system have been reported. The most important antibodies formed against the complement system in SLE are the ones associated with the C1q component. The aim of this study was to assess separately the anti-C1q antibodies and C1q component in the serum from 65 patients with SLE, then in individuals with (n=33) and without (n=32) lupus nephritis and with active (n=36) and nonactive (n=29) form of the disease (European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement, ECLAM>3, ECLAMMancini was used to measure the C1q complement component. The mean serum levels were 90.89+/-13 IU/ml for anti-C1q antibodies and 145+/-52 mg/l for C1q. The significant difference in C1q antibodies levels was found between individuals with and without lupus nephritis (117.5+/-52 IU/ml vs. 28.2+/-12.2 IU/ml, p=0.0001) and between those with active and nonactive SLE (154.6+/-115 IU/ml vs. 50.6+/-73, p=0.001). C1q complement component was statistically lower in patients with lupus nephritis (144+/-30 mg/l vs. 175+/-50 mg/ml, p=0.002) and in active patients (138+/-40 mg/l vs. 202+/-20 mg/l, p=0.001). If the two parameters are measured together, they seem to have a mirror-like pattern of serum concentration, and they are potential markers of SLE activity and of the presence of lupus nephritis.

[CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CRITERIA FOR THE ADVERSE COURSE OF INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS IN CHILDREN].

PubMed

Kolesnik, Ya; Zharkova, T; Rzhevskaya, O; Kvaratskheliya, T; Sorokina, O

2018-05-01

The article presents the results of our own studies to determine the criteria for the adverse variants of the course of infectious mononucleosis (IM) in children. The study was conducted in the regional children's infectious clinical hospital in Kharkov. 161 children aged three to fifteen years were under observation with diagnosis of infectious moninucleosis. Out of 161 ill children, 140 (86.9%) had moderate severity of disease, and 21 (13.1%) had severe forms. All children were prescribed standard clinical and laboratory-instrumental examinations. The diagnosis of IM was verified by PCR (detection of VEB DNA in the blood) and ELISA (anti-VEB Ig M and Ig G). In 140 children (86.9%) IM proceeded sharply, smoothly (the first group), in 21 (13.1%) - unfavorably (wave and / or prolonged course) - the second group. The groups were comparable according to age, the severity of the disease and other parameters. All children received therapy according to approved protocols (Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 354 of 09.07.2004). Immune status of children was assessed by determining the relative contents of CD3 +, CD4 +, CD8 +, CD16 +, CD19 + blood cells with appropriate monoclonal antibodies, serum IgA, IgM, IgG concentration by Mancini and interleukin (IL) -1β cytokine response and - 4, tumor necrosis factor (TNF α) is a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Based on the results of observations, it was established that the prognostically unfavorable criteria of IМ at the stages of manifestation of disease include: generalized lymphadenopathy involving 5-6 groups of lymph nodes and a significant increasing of them, purulent tonsillitis, marked increasing of size of liver and spleen on the background of anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and the absence of atypical mononuclears in the complete blood count. There is a depression of the cellular link and an increase in the humoral mechanisms of immune responses in case of development of adverse

Central radio galaxies in groups: cavities, bubbles and the history of AGN heating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giacintucci, S.; Venturi, T.; Raychaudhury, S.; Vrtilek, J.

2008-10-01

E' noto che le regioni centrali degli ammassi e gruppi di galassie costituiscono un ambiente in cui gas caldo e plasma radioemittente proveniente dalle galassie dominanti interagiscono tra loro. In particolare, si pensa che la radioemissione dell'AGN centrale ed i suoi possibili cicli di attivita', siano strettamente legati alla presenza di cavita' e "bubbles" nel gas intergalattico. Si presentera' lo status di un progetto osservativo effettuato con il Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT, India) su di un campione di 18 gruppi di galassie, osservati a tre frequenze radio (235 MHz, 325 MHz e 610 MHz). Lo studio della morfologia radio degli AGN centrali e la relativa analisi spettrale permettono di ottenere stime sull'eta' di questi oggetti, e sulla loro energia totale, che a loro volta sono in relazione con le proprieta' X dei gruppi stessi. Per tutti gli oggetti del campione sono disponibili osservazioni Chandra di proprieta'. Per due oggetti del campione, 4C+24.36 (al centro di AWM04) e NGC741 (al centro di RSOG17) verra' presentato uno studio dettagliato.

The Milky Way and the Local Group

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rampazzo, Roberto; D'Onofrio, Mauro; Zaggia, Simone; Lattis, James M.; van der Kruit, Pieter C.; Vallenari, Antonella; Calzetti, Daniela; Madore, Barry F.; Karachentseva, Valentina; Ibata, Rodrigo; Gallart, Carme; Lake, George; Tully, Brent R.; Gilmore, Gerald F.

The beauty and the charm of the Milky May (MW) have been celebrated by countless poets and writers of many Countries along the centuries (see e.g. the beautiful anthology of Piero Boitani 2012 ). The stellar nature of the MW was firstly observed by Galileo. In 1610 in the Sidereus Nuncius ( Galilei 1993 ) Galileo wrote that the MW is "nient'altro che una congerie di innumerevoli Stelle, disseminate a mucchi; chè in qualunque regione di essa si diriga il cannocchiale, subito una ingente folla di Stelle si presenta alla vista, delle quali parecchi si vedono abbastanza grandi e molto distinte; ma la moltitudine delle piccole è del tutto inesplorabile". In the same paragraph, Galileo remarked that observations with his telescope, for the first time, wipe out centuries of philosophical discussions about the nature of the MW. Three more centuries have been necessary to complete a second radical Copernican Revolution that displaces the solar system from being roughly at the center of the MW and project this latter in the vast Universe populated by billions of similar spiral galaxies (see Chap. 1).

Size estimates for fat inclusions in an isotropic Reissner-Mindlin plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morassi, Antonino; Rosset, Edi; Vessella, Sergio

2018-02-01

In this paper we consider the inverse problem of determining, within an elastic isotropic thick plate modelled by the Reissner-Mindlin theory, the possible presence of an inclusion made of a different elastic material. Under some a priori assumptions on the inclusion, we deduce constructive upper and lower estimates of the area of the inclusion in terms of a scalar quantity related to the work developed in deforming the plate by applying simultaneously a couple field and a transverse force field at the boundary of the plate. The approach allows us to consider plates with a boundary of Lipschitz class. The first author is supported by PRIN 2015TTJN95 ‘Identification and monitoring of complex structural systems’. The second author is supported by FRA 2016 ‘Problemi Inversi, dalla stabilità alla ricostruzione’, Università degli Studi di Trieste. The second and the third authors are supported by Progetto GNAMPA 2017 ‘Analisi di problemi inversi: stabilità e ricostruzione’, Istituto Nazionale di Alta Matematica (INdAM).

Stress fractures of the base of the metatarsal bones in young trainee ballet dancers

PubMed Central

Albisetti, Walter; De Bartolomeo, Omar; Tagliabue, Lorenzo; Camerucci, Emanuela; Calori, Giorgio Maria

2009-01-01

Classical ballet is an art form requiring extraordinary physical activity, characterised by rigorous training. These can lead to many overuse injuries arising from repetitive minor trauma. The purpose of this paper is to report our experience in the diagnosis and treatment of stress fractures at the base of the second and third metatarsal bones in young ballet dancers. We considered 150 trainee ballet dancers from the Ballet Schools of "Teatro Alla Scala" of Milan from 2005 to 2007. Nineteen of them presented with stress fractures of the base of the metatarsal bones. We treated 18 dancers with external shockwave therapy (ESWT) and one with pulsed electromagnetic fields (EMF) and low-intensity ultrasound (US); all patients were recommended rest. In all cases good results were obtained. The best approach to metatarsal stress fractures is to diagnose them early through clinical examination and then through X-ray and MRI. ESWT gave good results, with a relatively short time of rest from the patients’ activities and a return to dancing without pain. PMID:19415273

[Trattamento della dipendenza da alcol. Alcol e giovani: punto di vista sociale].

PubMed

Alessandrini, Giovanni; Ciccarelli, Rosaria; Battagliese, Gemma; Lombardo, Giuseppe; De Rosa, Francesca; Messina, Marisa Patrizia; Vitali, Mario; Pisciotta, Fabiola; Nanut, Miriana; Attilia, Maria Luisa; Ceccanti, Mauro

2018-01-01

RIASSUNTO. Gli adolescenti rappresentano la fascia di età più vulnerabile ai danni causati dall'abuso di alcol, in quanto iniziare a bere in giovane età è associato a un aumento del rischio di dipendenza da alcolici in età adulta. I giovani tendono a bere grandi quantità di alcolici al fine di ricercare forti emozioni e nel tentativo di raggiungere il divertimento a ogni costo, tramite le proprietà psicotrope degli alcolici. Le cause che li inducono ad assumere questi comportamenti sono da ricercare nella non conoscenza degli effetti dannosi dell'alcol, nel rito di convivialità sociale (evenienza per la quale si attribuisce all'alcol la funzione di facilitatore dell'aggregazione tra giovani), nella mancanza di interessi personali, nella scarsità dei controlli e nelle abitudini familiari. Le azioni da intraprendere per limitare o arrestare il consumo nocivo di alcol nei giovani si devono basare su interventi finalizzati a ritardare l'età del primo contatto con le bevande alcoliche, mediante la realizzazione di campagne educazionali rivolte ai giovani stessi, ai loro familiari e alla società intera.

Aspetti deontologici e giuridici della Responsabilità professionale del chirurgo in Italia. Evoluzione storica a partire dal '900.

PubMed

Picardi, Nicola

2018-01-01

È pleonastico ricordare che ogni individuo raziocinante delle essere responsabile delle sue azioni: deve agire con la coscienza degli scopi che si propone evitando possibili conseguenze negative dei suoi atti. In ambito medico questo tipo di responsabilità è codificata con le norme della "deontologia". Per secoli l'arte terapeutica è stata praticata da individui dotati di una particolare vocazione ed una particolare cultura acquisita da Maestri dell'arte ancor prima che dalla propria esperienza, con nozioni di erboristeria e di elementari conoscenze anatomiche e di fisiologia, circondati da un'aura sacerdotale e da un rispetto derivante dal timore e dall'ammirazione per il coraggio e auspicabilmente dai successi, e facendo riferimento nell'occidente mediterraneo alle regole operative fissate nel Giuramento di Ippocrate, di significato tra il sacro ed il deontologico. Lo sviluppo delle tecniche anestesiologiche a partire dalla seconda metà dell'800 ha determinato l'ampliamento delle iniziative chirurgiche di tipo elettivo, a fianco con gli storici interventi in emergenza per la cura di lesioni traumatiche, ancor prima delle acquisizioni riguardanti le infezioni. Con l'espansione del campo di azione della chirurgia, le possibili complicanze ed i possibili insuccessi hanno fatto da contrappeso ai sentimenti di rispetto e di fiducia nei confronti dei chirurghi, giungendo a far assimilare in tali casi la loro opera quale causa all'origine di danni, provocati rientrando quindi nella categoria dei reati sottoposti alla Legge penale. Così, al termine deontologico di "responsabilità" valido per ogni iniziativa ed ogni professione, per i medici è venuto ad associarsi la qualifica di "professionale", con un significato di presunta colpevolezza. Da una parte le regole deontologiche si sono ampliate, ed hanno coinvolto direttamente il paziente nella fase decisionale delle terapie chirurgiche, formalizzate programmaticamente in moderni codici deontologici ed

Curriculum Guide for Italian Language Arts. Literature Levels AB = Guida alla Lettura della Lingua Italiana Letteratura Ciclo A & B. Working Draft.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chicago Board of Education, IL. Dept. of Curriculum.

A curriculum and teaching guide for introductory literature appreciation in the Chicago public schools is an orientation for the bilingual teacher of Italian students. Concepts such as rhyme and personification are developed for the teacher. For each of the two levels included, the section begins with a list of specific performance objectives,…

Sull' Applicazione di Paradigmi della Linguistica alla Theoria dei Testi Letterari (On the Application of Linguistic Paradigms to Literary Text Theory).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fasoli, Paolo

1992-01-01

Summarizes trends over the last century of analyzing literature (poetry and prose) through the aid of linguistic theory. The contributions and shortcomings of various schools (Structuralist, Danish, Formalist, Transformationalist, Generativist) to the evaluation of literature are briefly outlined. (LET)

The orbital record in stratigraphy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fischer, Alfred G.

1992-01-01

Orbital signals are being discovered in pre-Pleistocene sediments. Due to their hierarchical nature these cycle patterns are complex, and the imprecision of geochronology generally makes the assignment of stratigraphic cycles to specific orbital cycles uncertain, but in sequences such as the limnic Newark Group under study by Olsen and pelagic Cretaceous sequence worked on by our Italo-American group the relative frequencies yield a definitive match to the Milankovitch hierarchy. Due to the multiple ways in which climate impinges on depositional systems, the orbital signals are recorded in a multiplicity of parameters, and affect different sedimentary facies in different ways. In platform carbonates, for example, the chief effect is via sea-level variations (possibly tied to fluctuating ice volume), resulting in cycles of emergence and submergence. In limnic systems it finds its most dramatic expression in alternations of lake and playa conditions. Biogenic pelagic oozes such as chalks and the limestones derived from them display variations in the carbonate supplied by planktonic organisms such as coccolithophores and foraminifera, and also record variations in the aeration of bottom waters. Whereas early studies of stratigraphic cyclicity relied mainly on bedding variations visible in the field, present studies are supplementing these with instrumental scans of geochemical, paleontological, and geophysical parameters which yield quantitative curves amenable to time-series analysis; such analysis is, however, limited by problems of distorted time-scales. My own work has been largely concentrated on pelagic systems. In these, the sensitivity of pelagic organisms to climatic-oceanic changes, combined with the sensitivity of botton life to changes in oxygen availability (commonly much more restricted in the Past than now) has left cyclic patterns related to orbital forcing. These systems are further attractive because (1) they tend to offer depositional continuity

Laser interferometry of radiation driven gas jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swanson, Kyle James; Ivanov, Vladimir; Mancini, Roberto; Mayes, Daniel C.

2017-06-01

In a series of experiments performed at the 1MA Zebra pulsed power accelerator of the Nevada Terawatt Facility nitrogen gas jets were driven with the broadband x-ray flux produced during the collapse of a wire-array z-pinch implosion. The wire arrays were comprised of 4 and 8, 10μm-thick gold wires and 17μm-thick nickel wires, 2cm and 3cm tall, and 0.3cm in diameter. They radiated 12kJ to 16kJ of x-ray energy, most of it in soft x-ray photons of less than 1keV of energy, in a time interval of 30ns. This x-ray flux was used to drive a nitrogen gas jet located at 0.8cm from the axis of the z-pinch radiation source and produced with a supersonic nozzle. The x-ray flux ionizes the nitrogen gas thus turning it into a photoionized plasma. We used laser interferometry to probe the ionization of the plasma. To this end, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer at the wavelength of 266 nm was set up to extract the atom number density profile of the gas jet just before the Zebra shot, and air-wedge interferometers at 266 and 532 nm were used to determine the electron number density of the plasma right during the Zebra shot. The ratio of electron to atom number densities gives the distribution of average ionization state of the plasma. A python code was developed to perform the image data processing, extract phase shift spatial maps, and obtain the atom and electron number densities via Abel inversion. Preliminary results from the experiment are promising and do show that a plasma has been created in the gas jet driven by the x-ray flux, thus demonstrating the feasibility of a new experimental platform to study photoionized plasmas in the laboratory. These plasmas are found in astrophysical scenarios including x-ray binaries, active galactic nuclei, and the accretion disks surrounding black holes1. This work was sponsored in part by DOE Office of Science Grant DE-SC0014451.1R. C. Mancini et al, Phys. Plasmas 16, 041001 (2009)

Combined chelation based on glycosyl-mono- and bis-hydroxypyridinones for aluminium mobilization: solution and biodistribution studies.

PubMed

Chaves, Sílvia; Dron, Paul I; Danalache, Florina A; Sacoto, Diana; Gano, Lurdes; Santos, M Amélia

2009-11-01

Taking into account the recognized interest of a poly-pharmacological strategy in chelation therapy, a study of aluminium combined chelation based on 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone (3,4-HP) compounds with complementary properties, associated to different denticity, size and extrafunctionality, is presented herein. In particular, Al-chelation has been explored, using a tetradentate IDA bis-(3,4-HP) ligand, L, and two N-glycosyl mono-(3,4-HP) derivatives (A or B). Combined complexation studies with the tetradentate and the most promising bidentate ligand (A) evidenced the formation of ternary complexes with high thermodynamic stability (Al-L-A) being the predominant species at physiological pH. In vivo studies on the ability for radiotracer ((67)Ga) removal from loaded mice, as a model of aluminium accumulation in body, have shown that the simultaneous administration to (67)Ga-loaded mice of a mono- and a bis-(3,4-HP) chelator (e.g. A and L) leads to a rapid metal elimination from main organs and whole animal model. This may be rationalized by coadjuvation and eventual synergistic effects, due to complementary accessibility of the chelators to different cellular compartments.

From Here to There. Economic Organization Booklet 2. Teacher's Edition=De aqui a alla. Organizacion economica libro 2. Manual para El Maestro.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

California State Univ., Los Angeles. National Dissemination and Assessment Center.

The booklet is part of a grade 10-12 social studies series produced for bilingual education. The series consists of six major thematic modules, with four to five booklets in each. The interdisciplinary modules are based on major ideas and designed to help students understand some major human problems and make sound, responsive decisions to improve…

Aqui y Alla (Here and There) Information-Based Learning Corridors between Tennessee and Puerto Rico: The Five Golden Rules in Intercultural Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mehra, Bharat; Allard, Suzie; Qayyum, M. Asim; Barclay-McLaughlin, Gina

2008-01-01

This article proposes five information-based Golden Rules in intercultural education that represent a holistic approach to creating learning corridors across geographically dispersed academic communities. The Golden Rules are generated through qualitative analysis, grounded theory application, reflective practice, and critical research to…

Haunted exoplanets around the pulsar PSR1257+12 received scary names. (Italian Title: Battezzati 3 esopianeti attorno alla pulsar PSR1257+12)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciprari, L.

2016-05-01

Following the competition Name Exoworlds, organized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), and on a proposal submitted from Planetarium Alto Adige/Südtirol, won with 2305 votes, the exoplanetary system PSR1257 + 12, consisting of a millisecond neutron star and three planets of roughly the mass of our Earth, has officially received the name Lich for the pulsar and Draugr, Poltergeist and Phobetor for the three exoplanets.

Padus, Sandalus, Gens Fadiena. Underwater Surveys in Palaeo-Watercourses (ferrara District - Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bucci, G.

2015-04-01

In the ambit of our program of researches on ancient rivers in Ferrara hinterland (Italy), we have been joining a Scientific - Didactic Project between Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici dell'Emilia Romagna, Comune di Portomaggiore Assessorato alla Cultura, CMAS A.CDCI. - Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques Federation ITA F07 - Associazione CMAS Diving Center Italia. The Project is focused on underwater archaeological surveys in ex quarry lakes, following the Rivers Padus and Sandalus between Voghiera, Gambulaga and Portomaggiore (Ferrara District). Here we are going to introduce our most recent results, after the last immersions and a 3D bathymetrical survey completed by echo-side scan sonar in Tramonto Lake at Gambulaga, explaining the connection with remote sensing investigations and direct surveys applied to underwater archaeology of the inland water. The main submerged structure individuated is a part of wooden dock on the left side of Padus, in front of the Necropolis of Fadieni (1st-3rd cent. A.D.). Thanks to the study of 183 finds coming from the lake, involving students and young collaborators of the Archaeological National Museum of Ferrara, we are reconstructing the ancient landscape between Proto-Imperial Age and Late Antique.

[I direttori delle riviste vanno avanti: attenersi ai principi accademici, adottare trasparenza e rispetto e applicare le regole.

PubMed

Teixeira da Silva, Jaime A; Dobránszki, Judit

2018-05-01

Nonostante i cambiamenti in corso nell'ambito delle pubblicazioni scientifiche (STEM - scienza, tecnologia, ingegneria e medicina), è indubbio che i direttori delle riviste restano i più importanti custodi del processo editoriale. In questo articolo vengono analizzati i motivi per cui i direttori delle riviste devono continuare ad attenersi ai principi editoriali fondamentali e a utilizzare le nuove tecnologie digitali solo per dare forza al contenuto, ma non per sostituirlo nella sua qualità. Per raggiungere questo obiettivo, in un'epoca caratterizzata da controlli ed equilibri, i direttori delle riviste devono essere attentamente sorvegliati e ritenuti responsabili tanto quanto gli autori che essi stessi valutano. Qualunque scorciatoia potrebbe avere conseguenze negative e inaspettate per quella rivista che non si attenesse a tali regole, che vedrebbe intaccata la propria reputazione e che dovrebbe faticare per recuperare la fiducia dei propri lettori. Quindi, a rischio di sembrare scontati, è meglio prevenire il danno alla reputazione piuttosto che curarlo. L'unico modo per evitarlo è che i direttori delle riviste si adattino a un crescente movimento sempre più critico, che richiede maggiore trasparenza e responsabilità da parte di chi contribuisce a costruire la base delle conoscenze scientifiche e dalla società, specialmente laddove la ricerca è finanziata pubblicamente.

An overview on the history of pedology and soil mapping in Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calzolari, C.

2012-04-01

In Italy, the word pedology (pedologia) was introduced in a text book as synonym of soil science for the first time in 1904 by Vinassa de Regny. In the literature, the term cohabitates with the words agrology (agrologia), agro-geology (agro-geologia), agricultural geognostic (geognostica agraria), geopedology (geo-pedologia) used in different historical moments by differently rooted soil scientists. When early pedologists started with systematic studies of soils, their characteristics and geography, they were strongly influenced by their cultural background, mainly geology and agro-chemistry. Along the time, the soil concept evolved, as did the concept of pedology, and this is somehow witnessed by the use of different Italian words with reference to soil: suolo, terreno, terra. Differently from agro-chemists, early pedologists based the soil study on the field description of soil profile. This was firstly based on the vertical differentiation between humus rich layers and "inactive" layers and later on, as long as the discipline evolved, on the presence of genetic horizons. The first complete soil map of Italy is dated 1928. Its Author, the geologist De Angelis d'Ossat, was the president of the organising committee of the 1924 International Soil Conference of Rome, where the International Society of Soil Science was founded. The map was based on the geological map of Italy, drafted in scale 1:1,000,000 after the creation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. The internal disputes within the Geological Society, together with the scarce interest of most of geologists for soil, did not facilitate the birth of a central soil survey. Soil mapping was mainly conducted by universities and research institutes, and we had to wait until 1953 for a new soil map (scale 1:3,125,000) at national level to be realised by Paolo Principi, based on literature data. In 1966 a new 1:1,000,000 soil map of Italy was eventually published by a national committee, led by Fiorenzo Mancini. This

You and Beyond. Culture and Social Organization Booklet 2. Teacher's Edition=Tu y mas alla. Cultura y organizacion social libro 2. Manual para El Maestro.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

California State Univ., Los Angeles. National Dissemination and Assessment Center.

The booklet is part of a grade 10-12 social studies series produced for bilingual education. The series consists of six major thematic modules, with four to five booklets in each. The interdisciplinary modules are based on major ideas and designed to help students understand some major human problems and make sound, responsive decisions to improve…

How changes in nutrition have influenced the development of allergic diseases in childhood

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

The increasing prevalence of allergic diseases in childhood in the last decades could be linked to concomitant dietary changes, especially with the modified and lower consumption of fruit, vegetables and minerals. The consumption of these foods by pregnant women and children in the first years of life seems to be associated with a reduced risk of asthma and related symptoms. Foods that can prevent the development of wheezing through their antioxidant effects contain vitamin C and selenium; blood levels of these elements correlate negatively with the risk of wheezing. Intake of vitamin E during pregnancy also appears to be correlated with a reduced risk of wheezing for the unborn child. Similarly, low intake of zinc and carotenoids by pregnant women is associated with an increased risk of wheezing and asthma in childhood. Fiber also has anti-inflammatory properties and protective effects against allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and asthma. The consumption of fat influences the development of the airways. Populations in Western countries have increased their consumption of n-6 PUFAs and, in parallel, reduced n-3 PUFAs. This has led to decreased production of PGE2, which is believed to have a protective effect against inflammation of the airways. Conflicting hypotheses also concern vitamin D; both an excess and a deficiency of vitamin D, in fact, have been associated with an increased risk of asthma. Further studies on the role of these substances are necessary before any conclusions can be drawn on a clinical level. Astratto La crescente prevalenza negli ultimi decenni delle malattie allergiche in età pediatrica potrebbe essere legata a concomitanti cambiamenti nella dieta, in particolare alla minore e modificata introduzione di frutta, verdura e minerali. Il consumo di questi alimenti da parte delle donne in gravidanza e dei bambini nei primi anni di vita sembra essere associato ad un ridotto rischio di asma e di sintomi correlati. Gli alimenti che

Application of the FADS system on the Re-entry Module

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhen, Huang

2016-07-01

The aerodynamic model for Flush Air Data Sensing System (FADS) is built based on the surface pressure distribution obtained through the pressure orifices laid on specific positions of the surface,and the flight parameters,such as angle of attack,angle of side-slip,Mach number,free-stream static pressure and dynamic pressure are inferred from the aerodynamic model.The flush air data sensing system (FADS) has been used on several flight tests of aircraft and re-entry vehicle,such as,X-15,space shuttle,F-14,X-33,X-43A and so on. This paper discusses the application of the FADS on the re-entry module with blunt body to obtain high-precision aerodynamic parameters.First of all,a basic theory and operating principle of the FADS is shown.Then,the applications of the FADS on typical aircrafts and re-entry vehicles are described.Thirdly,the application mode on the re-entry module with blunt body is discussed in detail,including aerodynamic simulation,pressure distribution,trajectory reconstruction and the hardware shoule be used,such as flush air data sensing system(FADS),inertial navigation system (INS),data acquisition system,data storage system.Finally,ablunt module re-entry flight test from low earth orbit (LEO) is planned to obtain aerodynamic parameters and amend the aerodynamic model with this FADS system data.The results show that FADS system can be applied widely in re-entry module with blunt bodies.

Phase diagram of the itinerant helical magnet MnSi at high pressures and strong magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stishov, Sergei

We performed a series of resistivity, heat capacity and ultrasound speed measurements of a MnSi single crystal at high pressures and strong magnetic fields [1-3]. Two notable features of the phase transition in MnSi that disappear on pressure increasin are a sharp peak marking the first order phase transition and a shallow maximum, situated slightly above the critical temperature and pointing to the domain of prominent helical fluctuations. The longitudinal and transverse ultrasound speeds and attenuation were measured in a MnSi single crystal in the temperature range of 2-40 K and magnetic fields to 7 Tesla. The magnetic phase transition in MnSi in zero magnetic field is signified by a quasi-discontinuity in the c11 elastic constant, which almost vanishes at the skyrmion - paramagnetic transition at high magnetic fields. The powerful fluctuations at the minima of c11 make the mentioned crossing point of the minima and the phase transition lines similar to a critical end point, where a second order phase transition meets a first order one.

Acute effect on satiety, resting energy expenditure, respiratory quotient, glucagon-like peptide-1, free fatty acids, and glycerol following consumption of a combination of bioactive food ingredients in overweight subjects.

PubMed

Rondanelli, Mariangela; Opizzi, Annalisa; Perna, Simone; Faliva, Milena; Solerte, Sebastiano Bruno; Fioravanti, Marisa; Klersy, Catherine; Edda, Cava; Maddalena, Paolini; Luciano, Scavone; Paola, Ceccarelli; Emanuela, Castellaneta; Claudia, Savina; Donini, Lorenzo Maria

2013-01-01

A combination of bioactive food ingredients (capsaicinoids, epigallocatechin gallate, piperin, and l-carnitine, CBFI) may promote satiety and thermogenesis. The study was conducted in order to assess whether there is any effect on satiety, resting energy expenditure (REE), respiratory quotient, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), free fatty acids (FFA) and glycerol release, following a standardized mixed meal with or without single consumption of a CBFI. An 8-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Dietetic and Metabolic Unit, Azienda di Servizi alla Persona, University of Pavia and "Villa delle Querce" Clinical Rehabilitation Institute, Rome, Italy. Thirty-seven overweight adults (body mass index [BMI]: 25-35). Nineteen overweight subjects were included in the supplemented group (14 women, 5 men; age 46.4 ± 6.4; BMI: 30.5 ± 3.3) and 18 in the placebo group (13 women, 5 men; age 40.8 ± 11.5; BMI: 30.1 ± 2.6). Satiety was assessed using 100-mm visual analogue scales (VAS) and the area under the curve was calculated. All measured parameters increased significantly in comparison with baseline in response to meal, both with CBFI and with placebo. However, throughout the study day, the supplemented group experienced a significantly greater increase than the placebo group in their sensation of satiety following acute administration of the supplement. CBFI may therefore be of great value in the treatment of overweight patients by increasing satiety and stimulating thermogenesis.

A new eco-hydrological distributed model for the analysis of the climate change impact on water resources of Mediterranean ecosystems: the Flumendosa basin case study in Sardinia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarigu, Alessio; Cortis, Clorinda; Montaldo, Nicola

2014-05-01

In the last three decades, climate change and human activities increased desertification process in Mediterranean regions, with dramatic consequences for agriculture and water availability. For instance in the Flumendosa reservoir system in Sardinia the average annual runoff in the latter part of the 20th century was less than half the historic average rate, while the precipitation over the Flumendosa basin has decreased, but not at such a drastic rate as the discharge, suggesting a marked non-linear response of discharge to precipitation changes. With the objective of analyzing and looking for the reasons of the historical runoff decrease a new ecohydrological model is developed and tested for the main basin of the Sardinia island, the Flumendosa basin. The eco-hydrological model developed couples a distributed hydrological model and a vegetation dynamic model (VDM). The hydrological model estimates the soil water balance of each basin cell using the force-restore method and the Philips model for runoff estimate. Then it computes runoff propagation along the river network through a modified version of the Muskingum -Cunge method (Mancini et al., 2000; Montaldo et al., 2004). The VDM evaluates the changes in biomass over time from the difference between the rates of biomass production (photosynthesis) and loss (respiration and senescence), and provides LAI, which is then used by the hydrological model for evapotranspiration and rainfall interception estimates. Case study is the Flumendosa basin (Sardinia, basin area of about 1700 km2), which is characterized by a reservoir system that supplies water to the main city of Sardinia, Cagliari. Data are from 42 rain stations (1922-2008 period) over the entire basin and data of runoff are available for the same period. The model has been successfully calibrated for the 1922 - 2008 period for which rain, meteorological data and discharge data are available. We demonstrate that the hystorical strong decrease of runoff is

Meningococco B: controllo di due focolai epidemici mediante vaccinazione

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Riassunto La problematica di un efficace approccio vaccinale nei confronti del Meningococco B (MenB) è stata superata identificando con la metodica della "reverse vaccinology" alcuni antigeni capaci di indurre una risposta verso la maggior parte dei ceppi di MenB circolanti nel mondo. Il nuovo vaccino MenB a 4 componenti (4CMenB) è stato autorizzato in Europa, Australia e Canada, ed è entrato nei calendari di immunizzazione pediatrica internazionali: Australia, Canada, UK. In Italia, le prime regioni che hanno raccomandato la vaccinazione contro il MenB sono state Basilicata e Puglia. La gestione di epidemie/focolai epidemici richiede la messa in atto di una risposta rapida da parte delle autorità sanitarie nei confronti di una emergenza sanitaria ad elevato impatto, anche emotivo, sulla popolazione, come recentemente dimostrato in due università americane. Alla dichiarazione di focolaio epidemico in atto, in entrambi i contesti si è attivata una procedura per l'uso del vaccino 4CMenB non ancora autorizzato negli USA. È stato così possibile organizzare gli interventi di profilassi attiva nei due campus universitari, adottando il primo impiego su larga scala del nuovo vaccino 4CMenB e conseguendo, in tempi relativamente brevi, elevati tassi di copertura vaccinale. A fronte di circa 14000 studenti immunizzati con almeno una dose, non è stata segnalata alcuna problematica di eventi avversi conseguenti all'immunizzazione; ad oggi non si sono verificati casi nei soggetti che hanno ricevuto il vaccino. Come conseguenza dei due focolai descritti, è oggi in corso la valutazione da parte dell'FDA per l'estensione dell'uso del vaccino 4CMenB negli Stati Uniti negli adolescenti e giovani adulti. PMID:25916017

Calibrazioni a terra e prestazioni in volo di spettrometri ad immagine nel visibile e nel vicino infrarosso per l'esplorazione planetaria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filacchione, Gianrico

2006-10-01

Nel corso dell’ultimo decennio l’esplorazione planetaria ha potuto beneficiare dei dati prodotti dagli spettrometri ad immagine: grazie a questa nuova classe di strumenti, realizzati per l’osservazione in remoto di superfici ed atmosfere planetarie, è possibile acquisire dati iperspettrali con elevati poteri risolutivi spaziali e spettrali. Il principale vantaggio offerto dagli spettrometri ad immagine, rispetto alle camere ed agli spettrometri puntuali, è rappresentato dalla capacità di misurare, identificare e mappare le unità composizionali delle superfici planetarie; queste informazioni permettono di investigare sia l’evoluzione geochimica delle superfici sia la dinamica e la composizione delle atmosfere. Sebbene i primi spettrometri ad immagine siano stati francesi (Phobos/ISM, Imaging Spectrometer for Mars) e statunitensi (Galileo/NIMS, Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer), il nostro paese nel corso degli ultimi anni è stato in grado di proporre alla com unità spaziale internazionale degli strumenti dalle elevate prestazioni che sono stati infatti accettati come payload scientifici su diverse missioni interplanetarie: dai canali visibili di VIMS (Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer) su Cassini (Nasa, JPL, ESA, ASI) e di OMEGA (Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l’Eau, les Glacies et l’Activitè de Mars) su MarsExpress (ESA) ai due VIRTIS (Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer) su Rosetta (ESA) e VenusExpress (ESA) fino a VIR-MS (Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer) su Dawn (Nasa). In questo momento inoltre altri due spettrometri sono in avanzata fase di studio: JIRAM (Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper) su Juno (missione New Discovery Nasa) e VIHI (Visible and Infrared Hyperspectral Imager) integrato nel payload italiano di remote sensing SIMBIO-SYS di BepiColombo (missione cornerstone ESA). La realizzazione di uno spettrometro ad immagini da utilizzare su una missione interplanetaria richiede un’accurata analisi in fase

Landslide hazard prediction in the North-Eastern Apennines (Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Disperati, L.; Guastaldi, E.; Rindinella, A.

2003-04-01

training dataset of occurrences and a test dataset, a cross validation is made. The valuation both for flows and slides was performed through Prediction Rate Curves (PRC). By utilising the occurrences of the test dataset, PRC derived from the relation between CF trend in the whole area (cumulative percentage), portion of total area and number of landslides. As result, engineering geology can be indicated as the dominant factor for PRC of flows; likewise engineering geology, land use and RBS combination is the more effective combination. On the other side, slope and aspect resulted less determinative in best PRC trend. Moreover, the combination of engineering geology and slope allowed the computation of best PRC for landslide. References CARMIGNANI L. (2001): Realizzazione della cartografia geologica e geotematica e dei relativi supporti informatici alla scala 1/10.000 -- Progetto 1 -- Zona Nord. Progetti strumentali alla funzione di ricostruzione. Interventi strutturali comunitari obiettivo 5b -- Misura 3.1.4 Azioni di ricostruzione e recupero del tessuto urbano infrastrutturale nei territori colpiti dal sisma (Azione 7). Contratto tra la Regione Marche -- Servizio Urbanistica e Cartografia e l'Università degli Studi di Siena. Rapporto Finale. Università degli Studi di Siena, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Dicembre 200 1, pp. 6 I. CHUNG C. J. (1999): Prediction models in spatial data analysis for landslide hazard mapping -- Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada-Mineral Resources Division-Spatial Data Analysis Laboratory, http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/gsc/mrd/sdalweb/landslides/index.htm. CHUNG C. J., FABBRI A.G. (1993): The representation of geoscience information for data integration. Non-renewable Resources, v. 2., n. 3, pp. 1 22-139. CHUNG C. J., FABBRI A.G., VAN WESTEN C.J (1995).- Multivariate regression analysis for landslide hazard zonation. In Carrara, A. and Guzzetti, F., eds.: "Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards

Sviluppi di Ricevitori E di Componentistica Per Banda 3 mm Ad INAF-OA Cagliari

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navarrini, Alessandro

2017-11-01

L'INAF-OA Cagliari (OACa) sta sviluppando un ricevitore criogenico a basso rumore basato su un mixer SSB (Single Side Band) a superconduttore SIS (Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor) per la banda 3 mm. Il ricevitore, acquistato da IRAM, è stato fortemente modificato per essere adattato al fuoco Gregoriano di SRT (Sardinia Radio Telescope). Lo strumento è caratterizzato da una nuova criogenia a ciclo chiuso 4 K (per evitare l'uso di elio liquido in antenna), da un nuovo oscillatore locale (di tipo ALMA Banda 3) e da un nuovo sistema di controllo e di monitoraggio basato su schede Raspberry ed Arduino sviluppato ad OACa. Verranno presentati i recenti sviluppi sul ricevitore, inclusi i risultati preliminari della misura della temperatura di rumore, che raggiunge un valore pari a Trec=66 K alla frequenza di 86 GHz, nonostante la criogenia non sia ancora ottimizzata. L'INAF-OACa è coinvolto nel progetto AETHRA (Advanced European Technologies for Heterodyne Receivers for Astronomy) nel quadro del programma Radionet/Horizon2020 per il quale sta contribuendo al WP1 (Work Package 1). Lo scopo del WP1 è di sviluppare e costruire un dimostratore di un array di ricevitori a doppia polarizzazione per la banda 3 mm basato su amplificatori criogenici a basso rumore (LNA) in tecnologia a semiconduttore MMIC. Nell'ambito del WP1 l'OACa ha in carico il progetto di un OrthomodeTransducer (OMT) in guida d'onda o in tecnologia planare per la banda 72-116 GHz che sia integrabile con amplificatori MMICs ed adatto all'integrazione in un array da installare nel piano focale di un radiotelescopio. Verranno presentati i design preliminari degli OMT per AETHRA, che sono basati su prototipi sviluppati in passato da OACa.

Dabhol resumes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Burr, M.T.

1997-01-01

Shockwaves were felt throughout the global business community when political forces in India stalled out the Dabhol power project. Lenders and investors felt even less secure about the risks involved with developing infrastructure projects in emerging economies, and Dabhol came to symbolize the sinkholes that lie in wait for even the best-devised projects with the strongest sponsors. The project resumed in early December, however, after the Bombay High Court dismissed the only remaining lawsuit filed against Dabhol Power Co. Now, the Dabhol project is set to become an example of how a project can succeed in a big way ifmore » it has developers with integrity, skill, flexibility, and--above all--a great deal of patience. Originally a 695 MW facility, Dabhol was renegotiated so the complex totals 2,450 MW, with one 740 MW phase and another 1,710 MW phase. {open_quotes}The additional capacity allowed us to recover the costs we incurred during cancellation,{close_quotes} says Rebecca Mark, CEO of Enron Development Corp. in Houston, Texas. {open_quotes}We reduced rates for the second phase, and we`ll handle it on a competitive basis when it comes to specifying equipment.{close_quotes} Enron is the lead developer of the project, with an 80 percent equity stake. GE Capital of Stamford, Conn., USA, and Bechtel Enterprises of San Francisco, Calif., each hold a 10 percent share in the project. {open_quotes}The changes in the project have had little effect on the financing arrangements. Additional project costs which resulted from the delays were funded by the equity group, and the debt levels and terms remain consistent with those of the original closing,{close_quotes} says Everett Smith III, executive vice president and director-international, for GE Capital Services Structured Finance Group.« less

Adverse reactions to blood donations: the READ project.

PubMed

Garozzo, Giovanni; Crocco, Isabella; Giussani, Barbara; Martinucci, Annalisa; Monacelli, Stefano; Randi, Vanda

2010-01-01

In 2006 in Italy 2,404,267 donations of blood components were made by 1,539,454 donors; approximately 55% of the donations were collected directly by Transfusion Structures (TS), while about 45% were collected in Donation Centres managed by Associations and Federations of Donors. The aim of the READ (Rilevamento Eventi Avversi alla Donazione) project is to create a network of TS to test a standardised system for monitoring adverse events (AE) related to blood donations. Shared, standardised data collection forms, compatible with the forms produced by the ISBT-EHN, were prepared. Two types of form were used: (i) a form to collect data on single events (READ 1), to be used at the individual collection sites; (ii) a form for processing the data collected by each TS (READ 2). Between February and August 2008 six TS collected data related to the donation of 89,332 units of blood. Overall, 523 AE were recorded. The AE occurred in 0.59% of the donations. The mean duration of the symptoms was 17 minutes. Fifteen percent of the symptoms were related to the venipuncture (mainly haematomas) and 77% to vasovagal AE. The AE were defined severe (grade C) in 47 cases. The donations in which AE were recorded were completed in 81% of the cases; 59% of the AE did not require treatment. Three donors were monitored briefly (for less than 4 hours) in hospital. The use of standardised forms enabled the collection of data that could be analysed. Some problems related to the performance of the haemovigilance programme did, however, emerge: (i) organisational problems, (ii) limited sensitivity, (iii) inadequate training, and (iv) poorly defined responsibilities. These problems must be resolved at various levels: local, regional and national.

Silver(I) complexes with hydantoins and allantoin: synthesis, crystal and molecular structure, cytotoxicity and pharmacokinetics.

PubMed

Puszyńska-Tuszkanow, Mariola; Grabowski, Tomasz; Daszkiewicz, Marek; Wietrzyk, Joanna; Filip, Beata; Maciejewska, Gabriela; Cieślak-Golonka, Maria

2011-01-01

Coordination polymers [Ag(L(1,3))](n) (L(1)=hydantoin, L(3)=5,5-dimethylhydantoin), {[Ag(L(2))](.)0.5H(2)O}(n) (L(2)=1-methylhydantoin) and [Ag(NH(3))(L(4))](n) (L(4)=allantoin) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic (IR, FTIR and NMR), thermal and mass spectrometry methods. The crystal structure of {[Ag(1-methylhydantoin)]·0,5H(2)O}(n) was determined and analyzed. Three 1-methylhydantoinate ligands create a T-shape (CN=3) coordination sphere around the Ag(+) ion. Additionally, a short Ag⋯Ag distance of 2.997Å was found in the structure resulting in the expanded [3+2] environment of a distorted square shape. The [Ag(L(2))] entities are bound to each other by the bridging organic ligands. Thus a two-dimensional coordination polymer is created with water molecules located between the layers. In contrast to hydantoins, the allantoin complex contains an additional ammonia molecule in the coordination sphere. Moreover, in the Ag-alla complex the M-organic ligand binding site is shifted to the N-atom of the ureid chain. Free ligands are cytotoxically inactive against human MCF-7 and A549 cancer cell lines and mouse fibroblasts Balb/3T3. The silver hydantoin complexes exhibit a very strong activity against these lines. (The introduction of the methyl groups to the ring slightly increases resistance only against the A549 cell line.) In contrast, the silver complex of allantoin shows only a weak activity which may be related to the presence of the cytotoxic ammonia group in the composition of the compound and/or the different binding site of the ligand. Calculated in silico physiochemical parameters are promising for the future application of the complexes as drugs. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Relationship between 8/9-yr-old school children BMI, parents' BMI and educational level: a cross sectional survey.

PubMed

Lazzeri, Giacomo; Pammolli, Andrea; Pilato, Valentina; Giacchi, Mariano V

2011-07-19

Parents are responsible not only for the genetic structure of their children, but also for passing onto them their behaviours and attitudes toward life. The aim of this study was to analyse the connection between school-age children's obesity and that of their parents as well as between child obesity and parents' educational level, as a proxy indicator of the socio-economic status (SES) of families in Tuscany. The children sample was selected from "OKkio alla Salute 2010" (a cross sectional survey carried out by the Italian Institute of Health) and consisted of 1,751 (922 males and 855 females) 8-9 year-old school children. Weight and height were measured by ad hoc trained personnel, and Body Mass Index (BMI) categories were calculated using Cole et al.'s cut-off. Parents' weight, height and educational level were collected by a self-administered questionnaire. The educational levels were classified as high, medium and low. The prevalence of obese children increased along the parents' BMI category: from 1.4% for underweight mothers to 30.3% for obese mothers and from 4% for under-normal-weight fathers to 23.9% for obese fathers (p < 0.001). An inverse relationship was observed between the parents' educational level and child obesity, the lowest educational level corresponding to the highest prevalence of obese children: 9.3% for mothers with a low educational level compared to 5.8% for mothers with a high educational level (p = 0.15); similarly, the corresponding prevalence for fathers was 9.5% compared to 4.5% (p = 0.03). Parents' obesity and the cultural resources of the family, particularly the father's, seem to influence the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Tuscan children.

Geophysical techniques in the historical center of Venice (Italy): preliminary results from HVSR and multichannel analysis of surface waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trevisani, Sebastiano; Rocca, Michele; Boaga, Jacopo

2014-05-01

This presentation aims to outline the preliminary findings related to an extensive seismic survey conducted in the historical center of Venice, Italy. The survey was conducted via noninvasive and low-cost seismic techniques based on surface waves analysis and microtremor methods, mainly using single station horizontal to vertical spectral ratio techninques (HVSR) and multichannel analysis of surface waves in passive (ReMI) and active (MASW) configurations. The importance and the fragility of the cultural heritage of Venice, coupled with its peculiar geological and geotechnical characteristics, stress the importance of a good knowledge of its geological architecture and seismic characteristics as an opportunity to improve restoration and conservation planning. Even if Venice is located in a relatively low seismic hazard zone, a local characterization of soil resonance frequencies and surficial shear waves velocities could improve the planning of engineering interventions, furnishing important information on possible local effects related to seismic amplification and possible coupling within buildings and soil resonance frequencies. In the specific we collected more than 50 HVSR single station noise measurements and several passive and active multichannel analysis of surface waves located in the historical center. In this work we report the characteristics of the conducted seismic surveys (instrumentation, sampling geometry, etc.) and the preliminary findings of our analysis. Moreover, we discuss briefly the practical issues, mainly of logistic nature, of conducting this kind of surveys in a peculiar and crowed historical center as represented by Venice urban contest. Acknowledgments Instrumentation acquired in relation to the project co-financed by Regione Veneto, POR-CRO, FESR, 2007-2013, action 1.1.1. "Supporto ad attività di ricerca, processi e reti di innovazione e alla creazione di imprese in settori a elevato contenuto tecnologico"

[Mortality from respiratory diseases in the provinces of Apulia Region (Southern Italy) from 1933 to 2010].

PubMed

Montinari, Maria Rosa; Gianicolo, Emilio Antonio Luca; Vigotti, Maria Angela

2016-01-01

OBIETTIVI: valutare l'andamento temporale della mortalità per patologie respiratorie nelle province pugliesi utilizzando dati omogenei per fonte e metodologia di calcolo. DISEGNO: analisi ecologica storica degli andamenti temporali di mortalità per tumori e patologie dell'apparato respiratorio nelle province pugliesi, in Puglia e nelle ripartizioni geografiche italiane dal 1933 al 2010. SETTING E PARTECIPANTI: i dati di mortalità e le popolazioni residenti sono di fonte Istat. Sono state esaminate tutte le cause di decesso, il tumore della laringe, il tumore del polmone, l'insieme dei tumori respiratori, la bronchite, la polmonite e la broncopolmonite considerate congiuntamente, e l'insieme delle patologie respiratorie. Le analisi sono disaggregate per sesso dal 1969. PRINCIPALI MISURE DI OUTCOME: rapporti standardizzati di mortalità (SMR%) in riferimento all'Italia, con intervalli di confidenza al 95%, e tassi di mortalità standardizzati col metodo diretto (TSD ) in riferimento alla popolazione standard europea. RISULTATI: dal 1933 al 2010, i TSD per tumori respiratori e per bronchiti diminuiscono in tutte le aree analizzate. Tuttavia, nelle province di Taranto, Brindisi e Lecce, l'SMR% per tumori respiratori, inferiore al riferimento nazionale fino agli anni Sessanta, si allinea (a Brindisi) e supera (a Lecce e Taranto) il riferimento negli anni successivi. Nelle province di Foggia e Bari il numero dei decessi per tumore del polmone è costantemente inferiore all'atteso. CONCLUSIONI: la ricostruzione storica e l'analisi dei trend temporali di mortalità dal 1933 al 2010 mostrano alcune criticità sanitarie in periodi specifici. L'elaborazione dei dati di mortalità per un arco temporale di circa 80 anni ha messo in evidenza la maggiore rilevanza di queste criticità con l'avvio dello sviluppo industriale.

Geological and geophysical activities at Spallanzani Science Department (Liceo Scientifico Statale "Lazzaro Spallanzani" - Tivoli, Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Favale, T.; De Angelis, F.; De Filippis, L.

2012-04-01

The high school Liceo Scientifico "Lazzaro Spallanzani" at Tivoli (Rome) has been fully involved in the study of geological and geophysical features of the town of Tivoli and the surrounding area in the last twelve years. Objective of this activity is to promote the knowledge of the local territory from the geological point of view. Main activities: • School year 2001-2002: Setting up inside the school building of a Geological Museum focusing on "Geological Evolution of Latium, Central Italy" (in collaboration with colleagues M. Mancini, and A. Pierangeli). • March, 15, 2001: Conference of Environmental Geology. Lecturer: Prof. Raniero Massoli Novelli, L'Aquila University and Società Italiana di Geologia Ambientale. • School years 2001-2002 and 2002-2003: Earth Sciences course for students "Brittle deformation and tectonic stress in Tivoli area". • November, 2003: Conference of Geology, GIS and Remote Sensing. Lecturers: Prof. Maurizio Parotto and Dr Alessandro Cecili (Roma Tre University, Rome), and Dr Stefano Pignotti (Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sulla Montagna, Rome). • November, 2003, 2004 and 2005: GIS DAY, organized in collaboration with ESRI Italia. • School year 2006-2007: Earth Sciences course for students "Acque Albule basin and the Travertine of Tivoli, Latium, Central Italy" (focus on travertine formation). • School year 2010-2011: Earth Sciences course for students "Acque Albule basin and the Travertine of Tivoli. Geology, Hydrogeology and Microbiology of the basin, Latium, Central Italy" (focus on thermal springs and spa). In the period 2009-2010 a seismic station with three channels, currently working, was designed and built in our school by the science teachers Felice De Angelis and Tomaso Favale. Our seismic station (code name LTTV) is part of Italian Experimental Seismic Network (IESN) with identification code IZ (international database IRIS-ISC). The three drums are online in real time on websites http

Designing an orally available nontoxic p38 inhibitor with a fragment-based strategy.

PubMed

Guarnieri, Frank

2015-01-01

The MAPK p38 became a focal point of inflammatory research when it was recognized that it played a key role in the production of the pro-inflammatory molecules TNF-alpha, IL-beta, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The pharmaceutical industry devoted enormous efforts to creating p38 inhibitors, because blocking p38 had the potential of downregulating a group of pro-inflammatory mediators, and thus, one drug could have a cocktail effect. The market potential seemed to be clearly established (Bonafede et al., Clinicoecon Outcomes Res 6:381-388, 2014) with a multiplicity of TNF-alpha antibodies and a soluble receptor (Mewar and Wilson, Br J Pharmacol 162:785-791, 2011) already on the market, although the relationship between TNF-alpha production and p38 activation is a complicated two-way (Sabio and Davis, Semin Immunol 26:237-245, 2014) signal transduction process. With the discovery that activated p38 stabilizes (Mancini and Di Battista, Inflamm Res 60:1083-1092, 2011) COX-2 mRNA and upregulates expression of IL-beta (Bachstetter and Van Eldik, Aging Dis 1:199-211, 2010) probably in a similar manner, inhibiting p38 appeared to be a way of blocking TNF-alpha, COX-2, and IL-beta simultaneously. At Locus Pharmaceuticals we jumped on this opportunity, because we believed that our fragment-based drug discovery approach was ideally suited for making a potent small molecule p38 inhibitor that did not bind in the ATP site, but also had the solubility, lack of planarity, and low molecular weight required of a clinical candidate. Just to be clear, in our experience highly planar compounds often result in poor pharmacokinetics, because they tend to bind strongly to plasma proteins. At Locus we typically repeated assays by adding increasing amounts of plasma to check for potency degradation in the presence of blood. We found this to be a useful early indicator of pharmacokinetics and in vivo behavior. It became clear from our work and the work of others that binding to the ATP site

Conscientious Objection to Animal Experimentation in Italian Universities

PubMed Central

Baldelli, Ilaria; Massaro, Alma; Penco, Susanna; Bassi, Anna Maria; Patuzzo, Sara; Ciliberti, Rosagemma

2017-01-01

Simple Summary This paper examines the trend of Italian academic faculties in complying with the obligation to inform university students of their right to exercise their conscientious objection to scientific or educational activities involving animals, hereafter written as “animal CO”, as established by Law 413/1993, “Norme sull’obiezione di coscienza alla sperimentazione animale” (“Rules on conscientious objection to animal experimentation”), thereafter “Law 413/1993”. Despite an increasing interest in the principles of animal ethics by the international community, this law is still largely disregarded more than 20 years after its enactment. The Ethics Committees, Animal Welfare Committees, as well as the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research should preside over and monitor the Universities’ compliance with the duty to disclose animal CO. Abstract In Italy, Law 413/1993 states that public and private Italian Institutions, including academic faculties, are obliged to fully inform workers and students about their right to conscientious objection to scientific or educational activities involving animals, hereafter written as “animal CO”. However, little monitoring on the faculties’ compliance with this law has been performed either by the government or other institutional bodies. Based on this premise, the authors have critically reviewed the existing data and compared them with those emerging from their own investigation to discuss limitations and inconsistencies. The results of this investigation revealed that less than half of Italian academic faculties comply with their duty to inform on animal CO. Non-compliance may substantially affect the right of students to make ethical choices in the field of animal ethics and undermines the fundamental right to express their own freedom of thought. The Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, ethics committees and animal welfare bodies should cooperate to make

The ``Perrier Oceans'' Of Europa And Enceladus (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matson, D.; Johnson, T. V.; Lunine, J. I.; Castillo, J. C.

2010-12-01

NASA contract, and for JIL under "Incentivazione alla mobilita' di studiosi straineri e italiani residenti all'estero" of Italy.

MN112: a new Galactic candidate luminous blue variable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gvaramadze, V. V.; Kniazev, A. Y.; Fabrika, S.; Sholukhova, O.; Berdnikov, L. N.; Cherepashchuk, A. M.; Zharova, A. V.

2010-06-01

We report the discovery of a new Galactic candidate luminous blue variable (cLBV) via detection of an infrared circular nebula and follow-up spectroscopy of its central star. The nebula, MN112, is one of many dozens of circular nebulae detected at 24μm in the Spitzer Space Telescope archival data, whose morphology is similar to that of nebulae associated with known (c)LBVs and related evolved massive stars. Specifically, the core-halo morphology of MN112 bears a striking resemblance to the circumstellar nebula associated with the Galactic cLBV GAL079.29+00.46, which suggests that both nebulae might have a similar origin and that the central star of MN112 is an LBV. The spectroscopy of the central star showed that its spectrum is almost identical to that of the bona fide LBV PCygni, which also supports the LBV classification of the object. To further constrain the nature of MN112, we searched for signatures of possible high-amplitude (>~1mag) photometric variability of the central star using archival and newly obtained photometric data covering a 45-yr period. We found that the B magnitude of the star was constant within error margins, while in the I band the star brightened by ~=0.4mag during the last 17 yr. Although the non-detection of large photometric variability leads us to use the prefix `candidate' in the classification of MN112, we remind the readers that the long-term photometric stability is not unusual for genuine LBVs and that the brightness of PCygni remained relatively stable during the last three centuries. Partially based on observations collected at the German-Spanish Astronomical Center, Calar Alto, jointly operated by the Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie Heidelberg and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC). E-mail: vgvaram@mx.iki.rssi.ru (VVG); akniazev@saao.ac.za (AYK); fabrika@sao.ru (SF); olga@sao.ru (OS); berdnik@sai.msu.ru (LNB); cher@sai.msu.ru (AMC); alla@sai.msu.ru (AVZ)

[Immune, inflammatory, and nutritional protein profile in children with iron deficiency in Côte d'Ivoire].

PubMed

Yapi, Houphouët Félix; Ahiboh, Hugues; Yayo, Eric; Edjeme, Angele; Attoungbre-Hauhouot, Marie Laure; Allico, Joseph Djaman; Monnet, Dagui

2009-01-01

Throughout the world and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, deficiencies in trace elements constitute a real public health problem because of the insufficient nutritional quality of food. These trace elements are necessary for many of the body's biochemical reactions. The role of microelements such as vitamin A and zinc has been established in the functioning of the immune system and secretion of inflammatory reaction proteins, but the role of iron in these functions remains to be elucidated. The sample consists of 186 children (3/4) 80 with an iron deficiency and 106 with normal iron status. They range in age from 5 to 15 years and all attend school in the department of Adzope. The study excluded all children with parasites that might affect blood iron, protein and other hematological indicators, in particular, Plasmodium falciparum, Giardia intestinalis, Trichomonas intestinalis, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Ancylostoma. Inflammatory, immune and nutritional proteins were measured by radial immunodiffusion (Mancini's method). Ferritin was measured by a specific immunoenzymatic assay. Hematological indicators were tested by an automatic blood cell counter. Nutritional status was estimated by the weight/height ratio (W/H). This analysis showed that iron deficiency was associated with reduced IgG levels (p < 0.05), although immunoglobulins A and M remained stable (p > 0.05. Iron deficiency was also associated with reduced levels of thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA) and albumin (p < 0.05). Inflammatory proteins did not differ significantly between the two groups (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the prognostic inflammatory and nutritional index (PINI) did not show any inflammatory, vital or nutritional risk, because it was lower than or equal to 2. Finally, malnutrition was not observed in the iron-deficient children: the difference in the weight/height ratio (W/H = 96.58 +/- 2.4%) between the children with iron deficiency and those with normal iron status (98.7 +/- 4.3%) did

Prospective study on the potential of RAAS blockade to halt renal disease in Alport syndrome patients with heterozygous mutations.

PubMed

Stock, Johanna; Kuenanz, Johannes; Glonke, Niklas; Sonntag, Joseph; Frese, Jenny; Tönshoff, Burkhard; Höcker, Britta; Hoppe, Bernd; Feldkötter, Markus; Pape, Lars; Lerch, Christian; Wygoda, Simone; Weber, Manfred; Müller, Gerhard-Anton; Gross, Oliver

2017-01-01

genes (present in 1 % of total population) as underlying disease. Hence, greater alertness towards timely diagnosis and therapy has the potential to prevent progressive renal failure in most-if not all-AS patients with heterozygous mutations in the causal genes.

Characterizing coal beds in western Kentucky with the Al-La-Sc coherent triad

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chyi, L.L.; Medlin, J.H.

1996-01-01

Cyclic sedimentation and lateral facies changes make coal bed correlations inconclusive and difficult. This uncertainty can be further complicated if a coal basin has been structurally deformed. Coal macerals can be studied to indicate the nature and degree of coalification. Their use in coal bed correlation, however, is limited. Most of the trace elements and their ratios that have been studied show significant within-bed lateral and stratigraphic variations, and thus are not effective in correlating coal beds regionally. Geochemically coherent groups of elements, such as rare earth elements (REE) and platinum group elements (PGE), appear to be highly differentiated in coal-forming environments. Geochemical coherent elemental triads appear to be useful for coal bed identification or fingerprinting. The best triad which was demonstrated to be effective in coal bed characterization in western Kentucky, is that of Al, La and Sc. These three elements are highly correlated with one another and they can be determined accurately and simultaneously with instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The elemental triad Al-La-Sc is used to identify and fingerprint three key coal beds in western Kentucky: the Springfield (western Kentucky No. 9), the Davis (western Kentucky No. 6), and the Mining City and Dawson Springs are both considered to be the No. 4 coal bed in western Kentucky). Four distinct groupings can be recognized by use of the Al-La-Sc triad. The Dawson Springs coals have the highest Al/(La + Sc) ratios, followed by the Springfield, the Davis and the Mining City. The Mining City coal bed generally has the highest La/Sc ratio. However, the Dawson Springs is not correlated with the Mining City using the triad analysis, even though they have reportedly similar stratigraphic positions in the western Kentucky coal basin. The Al-La-Sc triad appears to be effective in discriminating between the Springfield and the Davis coal beds throughout the entire Illinois

Does one workshop on respecting cultural differences increase health professionals' confidence to improve the care of Australian Aboriginal patients with cancer? An evaluation.

PubMed

Durey, Angela; Halkett, Georgia; Berg, Melissa; Lester, Leanne; Kickett, Marion

2017-09-15

Aboriginal Australians have worse cancer survival rates than other Australians. Reasons include fear of a cancer diagnosis, reluctance to attend mainstream health services and discrimination from health professionals. Offering health professionals education in care focusing on Aboriginal patients' needs is important. The aim of this paper was to evaluate whether participating in a workshop improved the confidence of radiation oncology health professionals in their knowledge, communication and ability to offer culturally safe healthcare to Aboriginal Australians with cancer. Mixed methods using pre and post workshop online surveys, and one delivered 2 months later, were evaluated. Statistical analysis determined the relative proportion of participants who changed from not at all/a little confident at baseline to fairly/extremely confident immediately and 2 months after the workshop. Factor analysis identified underlying dimensions in the items and nonparametric tests recorded changes in mean dimension scores over and between times. Qualitative data was analysed for emerging themes. Fifty-nine participants attended the workshops, 39 (66% response rate) completed pre-workshop surveys, 32 (82% of study participants) completed post-workshop surveys and 25 (64% of study participants) completed surveys 2 months later. A significant increase in the proportion of attendees who reported fair/extreme confidence within 2 days of the workshop was found in nine of 14 items, which was sustained for all but one item 2 months later. Two additional items had a significant increase in the proportion of fair/extremely confident attendees 2 months post workshop compared to baseline. An exploratory factor analysis identified three dimensions: communication; relationships; and awareness. All dimensions' mean scores significantly improved within 2 days (p < 0.005) and persisted to 2 months. The workshop raised awareness about barriers and enablers to delivering services respectful of

A sputnik IV saga

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lundquist, Charles A.

2009-12-01

The Sputnik IV launch occurred on May 15, 1960. On May 19, an attempt to deorbit a 'space cabin' failed and the cabin went into a higher orbit. The orbit of the cabin was monitored and Moonwatch volunteer satellite tracking teams were alerted to watch for the vehicle demise. On September 5, 1962, several team members from Milwaukee, Wisconsin made observations starting at 4:49 a.m. of a fireball following the predicted orbit of Sputnik IV. Requests went out to report any objects found under the fireball path. An early morning police patrol in Manitowoc had noticed a metal object on a street and had moved it to the curb. Later the officers recovered the object and had it dropped off at the Milwaukee Journal. The Moonwarch team got the object and reported the situation to Moonwatch Headquarters at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. A team member flew to Cambridge with the object. It was a solid, 9.49 kg piece of steel with a slag-like layer attached to it. Subsequent analyses showed that it contained radioactive nuclei produced by cosmic ray exposure in space. The scientists at the Observatory quickly recognized that measurements of its induced radioactivity could serve as a calibration for similar measurements of recently fallen nickel-iron meteorites. Concurrently, the Observatory directorate informed government agencies that a fragment from Sputnik IV had been recovered. Coincidently, a debate in the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space involved the issue of liability for damage caused by falling satellite fragments. On September 12, the Observatory delivered the bulk of the fragment to the US Delegation to the UN. Two days later, the fragment was used by US Ambassador Francis Plimpton as an exhibit that the time had come to agree on liability for damage from satellite debris. He offered the Sputnik IV fragment to USSR Ambassador P.D. Morozov, who refused the offer. On October 23, Drs. Alla Massevitch and E.K. Federov of the USSR visited the

Calorimetria nucleare in collisioni tra ioni pesanti ad energie intermedie

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spezzi, L.

2002-07-01

Nel presente lavoro di tesi ci si e' occupati di uno studio sistematico di misure di temperatura ed energia di eccitazione in sistemi nucleari formati in reazioni tra ioni pesanti ad energie intermedie. La temperatura a stata misurata tramite due diversi metodi: rapporto tra le rese di isotopi che differiscono di uno stesso numero di nucleoni ( d/t-3He/4He , 3He/4He -6Li/7Li) - temperatura isotopica -, e rapporto tra le popolazioni degli stati eccitati in frammenti instabili (5Li e 6Li) che decadono in particelle leggere in coincidenza - temperatura di emissione. Le misure in esame sono state effettuate presso i Laboratori Nazionali del Sud per i sistemi 93Nb+93Nb, 93Nb+116,124Sn, 116,120Sn+116,124Sn e 116Sn+93Nb ad energie comprese tra 17 e 40 A MeV. L'apparato di rivelazione era costituito da un odoscopio ad alta granularite (96 telescopi Si (50micron)-Si(300micron)-CsI(Tl) ) e basse soglie di rivelazione, utilizzato sia per identificare risonanze in frammenti eccitati che per misure di rese di isotopi di frammenti con 2<=Z<=6, e dal multirivelatore FIASCO che, grazie alla misura contemporanea di posizione e tempo di volo dei frammenti provenienti dal proiettile (PLF - Projectile Like Fragments) e dal bersaglio (TLF - Target Like Fragment), e' stato utilizzato per misurare direttamente l'energia di eccitazione del sistema in studio. Analisi precedenti, condotte nell'ambito di varie collaborazioni, hanno messo in evidenza la possible esistenza di una transizione di fase liquido-gas del primo ordine nella materia nucleare. In tale contesto, ci siamo occupati di una verifica della curva calorica nucleare, ovvero della correlazione esistente fra temperatura ed energia di eccitazione del sistema, indagando, nel contempo, sulla sua dipendenza dalla massa del sistema che si frammenta. Si e' effettuato, inoltre, un confronto fra i due diversi metodi di misura della temperatura (temperatura isotopica e di emissione): l'andamento plateau-like della curva calorica e' stato

The ancient harbour system of Terracina (Latium, Italy) obtained by gravity survey.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

di Nezza, M.; di Filippo, M.

2009-04-01

Historical research has shown that Terracina (Latina, Latium) played a fundamental role in the maritime and land traffic since before the foundation of the colony. The settlement was established where the organized system of maritime, land, coastal, and fluvial transport had the most ideal conditions to constitute an important commercial crossroads, apparently since the beginning of recorded history. In order to reconstruction the buried archaeological structures attributed to the ancient Roman port, traditionally attributed to Traiano, in the current area of the harbour of Terracina, it was carried out a gravity survey, more than 380 gravity stations. This method enables to recognize the cavity and the structures of the buildings underground through the results of variations density in the subsoil. In the residual gravity anomaly map a series of positive anomalies are visible which confirm the round structures and the pier of the buried foundations of the Imperial harbour. Unfortunately, little remains of the functioning facilities of the harbour's activities. The modern construction of the harbour, in fact, has to be developed around the new inhabitable commercial area, know today as Terracina Bassa or Borgo alla Marina. It had to be developed with a modern infrastructure of a harbor area, as in the construction of the rooms for storage of goods, warehouses, as well as for the thermal baths, hotels and amphitheatre. Furthermore, there are always the positive anomalies that characterize the area to the north-east of "Montone" hill where archaeological remains are easily visible near Via Lungolinea Pio VI. A large negative anomaly is situated in correspondence with "Montone". Gravity information shows an average density of the hill approximately 1.10 g/cm3, notably less than the recorded data relative to dry sand, approximately 1.6 g/cm3. The low value founds hits at the possibility of an "emptiness" in the subsoil of "Montone" hill, attribuiting to the possible

Effects of a school based intervention to promote healthy habits in children 8-11 years old, living in the lowland area of Bologna Local Health Unit.

PubMed

Sacchetti, R; Dallolio, L; Musti, M A; Guberti, E; Garulli, A; Beltrami, P; Castellazzi, F; Centis, E; Zenesini, C; Coppini, C; Rizzoli, C; Sardocardalano, M; Leoni, E

2015-01-01

A school based health promotion intervention was performed with the aim of increasing physical activity and improving the dietary habits of primary school pupils, using integrated educational strategies involving schools, families, public bodies, sports associations and public health operators. The intervention concerned 11 classes during 3 school years from 2009-10 (231 third-year school children) to 2011-12 (234 fifth-year school children). Information was collected both before and after the intervention about the dietary habits and the physical activities practised by the children, using the questionnaires of the project !OKkio alla Salute! which were administered to both children and parents. At the same time anthropometric measurements were taken (height, weight, BMI) and motor skills were assessed using standardized tests: Sit & Reach, medicine-ball forward throw, standing long jump, 20 m running speed, and forward roll. At the end of the intervention 12 different expected outcomes were assessed (5 about dietary habits, 5 about motor habits, 1 about anthropometric characteristics, 1 about motor skills). At baseline, 35.8% of the children show excess weight (23.4% overweight; 12.4% obese); this percentage falls to 29.3% (25.3% overweight; 4% obese) after the intervention (p <0.05). The dietary habits improve from the pre- to the post-intervention: there is a rise in the percentage of children who receive an adequate mid-morning snack (p <0.0001), a fall in the percentage of children who consume snacks and drinks after the dinner (p <0.01), and an increase in the percentage of those who take five or more portions of fruits and vegetables daily. The motor habits do not improve in the same way, since there is the increasing tendency with age to skip from a regular daily practice of physical exercise to favour of the occasional practice of a sport. The motor performances, compared after normalization for modifications due to the process of growth, improve between

A geochronological study of mafic and acidic lavas from Veneto Volcanic province (North-East Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brombin, Valentina; Webb, Laura; Bonadiman, Costanza; Marzoli, Andrea; Coltorti, Massimo

2017-04-01

The Veneto Volcanic Province (VVP), in the North-East of Italy represents one of the most important magmatic province of the Adria Plate. VVP magmatism occurred in a period ranging from late Paleocene to late Oligocene (De Vecchi et al., 1976). Five main volcanic districts can be defined from north-west to south-east: Val d'Adige, Marosticano, Lessini Hills, Berici Hills and Euganean Hills. Most of the volcanic products are relatively undifferentiated lavas, ranging in compostion from mela-nephelinites to quartz-normative tholeiites (Beccaluva et al., 2007). By contrast in the Euganean Hills volcanic and subvolcanic rocks range from subordinate basalts to prevalently acidic types, mostly quartz-trachytes and rhyolites (Milani et al., 1999). Despite of the deep petrological knowledge about this province, the radioisotopic ages of the related volcanic activities for each district are still poorly defined or even totally missing. 40Ar/39Ar ages on 9 samples have been obtained to determine the age range for the VVP. 40Ar/39Ar whole rock step heating analyses yielded ages ranging from 40.7 ± 0.2 Ma to 23.3 ± 1.5 Ma for basanites of Val d'Adige and Marosticano area, respectively. For the Lessinean district, 40Ar/39Ar whole rock analyses for two basanites, one trachybasalt and one alkali basalt close to 40 Ma, while a tholeiite from the same area yielded the youngest age for this district (i.e. 32.9 ± 1.8 Ma). This young age is comparable to 40Ar/39Ar ages obtained for the Euganean Hills intermediate-acidic rocks (Jourdan, pers. comm., 2016), suggesting a time-related shift from more alkaline to Si-saturated magmatism in the whole province. References Barbieri G., Medizza F. (1969). Contributo alla conoscenza geologica della regione di Bolca (Monti Lessini). Memorie dell'Istituto di Geologia e Mineralogia dell'Università di Padova, 27, 1-36. Beccaluva L., Bianchini G., Bonadiman C., Coltorti M., Milani L., Salvini L., Siena F., Tassinari R. (2007). Intraplate

The origin of the Dargom canal in the oasis of Samarkand (Uzbekistan). A new scenario from geoarcheological data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marconi, V.; Mantellini, S.; Picotti, V.; Gabbianelli, G.; Tosi, M.

2009-04-01

As the main oases developed in the arid regions of Central Asia, the region of Samarkand is the outcome of large hydraulic works carried out since the past times. The main result of such a great landscape transformation is a complex irrigation network formed by several artificial channels and useful for both urban water supply and irrigation purposes. Within the framework of the Italo-Uzbek Archaeological Project begun in 2001, a specific study was aimed to reconstruct the history of Dargom, the primary canal on the South of the city, and its relationships with the settlement dynamics. According to the most accepted theories, the Dargom was dug during the Achaemenid Age (6th-4th c. BC) as a consequence of a master plan linked to a strong central political power. The new investigations carried out by a joined team of Archaelogists and Geologists from the University Bologna allowed a new hypothesis on the way of digging and the chronology of the Dargom itself. The analyses on the historical settlement patterns seem to suggest a low development of Samarkand's territory during the Achaemenid times, whilst the increasing of sites during the Early Middle Age (5th-8th c.) can be explained throughout the rich trades along the Silk Road as well as the development of irrigated agriculture. The present-day Dargom is a high sinuosity channel deeply incised into the bedrock flowing to the east, strongly resembling a natural channel. It has been excavated for around 70 km along an apron of alluvial fans sourced by a southern mountain range. Its morphology clearly document a natural evolution after excavation: incision and meandering took place, likely due to the increasing gradient related to the headward migration of lowering of the base-level and the decrease of the bed load through time. Field survey around the fortress of Kafir Kala, the main archeological site geographically linked to the Dargom, allowed reconstructing the original bed of the canal, marked by a layer of

Neoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the Jebel Saghro and Bou Azzer - El Graara inliers, eastern and central Anti-Atlas, Morocco

USGS Publications Warehouse

Walsh, Gregory J.; Aleinikoff, John N.; Harrison, Richard W.; Burton, William C.; Quick, James E.; Benziane, Foudad; Yazidi, Abdelaziz; Saadane, Abderrahim

2012-01-01

much of the lower Ouarzazate Supergroup volcanic rocks in the area are probably related to caldera out-flow facies and collapse. Late stage PA3 intrusive rocks include the Bouskour–Sidi Flah and Timijt rhyolitic dike swarms at about 563 Ma, the voluminous pink Isk-n-Alla granite (559 ± 5 Ma), and volumetrically minor gabbro of Tagmout (556 ± 5 Ma). Rhyolite flows from the upper part of the Ouarzazate Supergroup, above a regional angular unconformity, yielded ages of 558 ± 4 and 556 ± 4 Ma. The youngest ages place an upper limit on block faulting and weak folding during latest Pan-African tectonic activity (PA3), coincident with the departure of the Cadomian crustal fragment from the northern margin of the WAC.

Sediment yield estimation in mountain catchments of the Camastra reservoir, southern Italy: a comparison among different empirical methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lazzari, Maurizio; Danese, Maria; Gioia, Dario; Piccarreta, Marco

2013-04-01

using sediment storage in reservoirs provides a good opportunity: i) to test the reliability of the empirical methods used to estimate the sediment yield; ii) to investigate the catchment dynamics and its spatial and temporal evolution in terms of erosion, transport and deposition. References Ciccacci S., Fredi F., Lupia Palmieri E., Pugliese F., 1980. Contributo dell'analisi geomorfica quantitativa alla valutazione dell'entita dell'erosione nei bacini fluviali. Bollettino della Società Geologica Italiana 99: 455-516. Mitasova H, Hofierka J, Zlocha M, Iverson LR. 1996. Modeling topographic potential for erosion and deposition using GIS. International Journal of Geographical Information Systems 10: 629-641. Renard K.G., Foster G.R., Weesies G.A., McCool D.K., Yoder D.C., 1997. Predicting soil erosion by water: a guide to conservation planning with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), USDA-ARS, Agricultural Handbook No. 703.

[Ecological study on the mortality of residents in Manfredonia (Apulia Region, Southern Italy) from 1970 to 2013].

PubMed

Gianicolo, Emilio Antonio Luca; Mangia, Cristina; Cervino, Marco; Bruni, Antonella; De Marchi, Bruna; Biggeri, Annibale; Porcu, Rosa; Vigotti, Maria Angela

2016-01-01

OBIETTIVI: valutare lo stato di salute della popolazione residente nel comune di Manfredonia dal 1970 al 2013. DISEGNO: analisi descrittiva dell'andamento temporale della mortalità generale, per gruppi di cause, dal 1970 al 2013. SETTING E PARTECIPANTI: i dati di mortalità e le popolazioni residenti sono di fonte Istat. Sono state esaminate 55 cause di decesso. Le analisi sono disaggregate per sesso e periodo. PRINCIPALI MISURE DI OUTCOME: sono stati elaborati i rapporti standardizzati di mortalità (SMR%), con i rispettivi intervalli di confidenza al 90% (IC90%), e i tassi di mortalità standardizzati col metodo diretto (TSD ). RISULTATI: lo stato di salute misurato dal tasso di mortalità per tutte le cause migliora nel tempo: i TSD passano da 92 x10.000 negli anni 1970-1974 a 52 x10.000 nel biennio 2012-2013 negli uomini, da 70 x10.000 a 39 x10.000 nelle donne. Tuttavia, rispetto alla media regionale Manfredonia perde progressivamente il suo vantaggio, passando da -20% a -10% negli uomini, e da -20% a +1,5% nelle donne. Questo andamento è molto evidente per il complesso delle cause cardiovascolari, mentre i tumori maligni sono in generale nella media regionale. Nell'ultimo periodo disponibile per causa di decesso (2006-2011), la mortalità per infarto miocardico è stata più alta della media regionale (uomini: +35%; donne: +54%). I rapporti standardizzati di mortalità (SMR) mostrano tra gli uomini valori in crescita, in particolar modo rispetto al riferimento provinciale, con un eccesso a cominciare dal periodo 2006-2011 (22 decessi/anno e 19 attesi; SMR%: 117,2; IC90% 101,1-135,2; riferimento: provincia di Foggia). Anche tra le donne gli SMR% superano i riferimenti provinciali negli ultimi periodi esaminati (nel 2012-2013: 7 decessi/ anno e 4,2 attesi; SMR%: 116,4; IC90% 97,0-260,7; riferimento: provincia di Foggia). CONCLUSIONI: la mortalità a Manfredonia è diminuita in misura minore rispetto a quella osservata nei riferimenti provinciali e regionali

Trends in HIV Terminology: Text Mining and Data Visualization Assessment of International AIDS Conference Abstracts Over 25 Years.

PubMed

Dancy-Scott, Nicole; Dutcher, Gale A; Keselman, Alla; Hochstein, Colette; Copty, Christina; Ben-Senia, Diane; Rajan, Sampada; Asencio, Maria Guadalupe; Choi, Jason Jongwon

2018-05-04

"men who have sex with men" and "MSM" were rarely used until 1994; subsequently, use of these terms increased through 2014. The term "sex worker" steadily increased in frequency throughout conference years, whereas the term "prostitute" decreased over time. The results of this study highlight changes in HIV terminology use over 25 years, including the addition, disappearance, and changing use of terms that reflect advances in HIV research and medical practice and destigmatization of the disease. Coupled with findings from related quantitative research, HIV-related terminology recommendations based on results of this study are included. Adoption of these recommendations will further efforts to use less stigmatizing language and facilitate effective communication between health professionals and people affected by HIV. ©Nicole Dancy-Scott, Gale A Dutcher, Alla Keselman, Colette Hochstein, Christina Copty, Diane Ben-Senia, Sampada Rajan, Maria Guadalupe Asencio, Jason Jongwon Choi. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (http://publichealth.jmir.org), 04.05.2018.

The ancient harbour system of Terracina (Latium, Italy) obtained by gravity and seismic surveys.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

di Nezza, Maria; di Filippo, Michele

2010-05-01

Historical research has shown that Terracina (Latina, Latium) played a fundamental role in the maritime and land traffic since before the foundation of the colony. The settlement was established where the organized system of maritime, land, coastal, and fluvial transport had the most ideal conditions to constitute an important commercial crossroads, apparently since the beginning of recorded history. In order to reconstruction the buried archaeological structures attributed to the ancient Roman port, traditionally attributed to Traiano, in the current area of the harbour of Terracina, it was carried out a gravity survey, more than 380 gravity stations. The gravity method enables to recognize the cavity and the structures of the buildings underground through the results of variations density in the subsoil. Seismic tomography treats the problem of identifying a buried structure as a wave propagation process by inverting the linearized wave equation to compute the spatial distribution of the slowness of the velocity. The purpose of our tomographic study is to further test the method and to guide archaeologists in their future excavations by locating and identifying buried structures. In the residual gravity anomaly map a series of positive anomalies are visible which confirm the round structures and the pier of the buried foundations of the Imperial harbour. Unfortunately, little remains of the functioning facilities of the harbour's activities. The modern construction of the harbour, in fact, has to be developed around the new inhabitable commercial area, know today as Terracina Bassa or Borgo alla Marina. It had to be developed with a modern infrastructure of a harbor area, as in the construction of the rooms for storage of goods, warehouses, as well as for the thermal baths, hotels and amphitheatre. Furthermore, there are always the positive anomalies that characterize the area to the north-east of "Montone" hill where archaeological remains are easily visible

The benefits and harms of intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator within 6 h of acute ischaemic stroke (the third international stroke trial [IST-3]): a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Sandercock, Peter; Wardlaw, Joanna M; Lindley, Richard I; Dennis, Martin; Cohen, Geoff; Murray, Gordon; Innes, Karen; Venables, Graham; Czlonkowska, Anna; Kobayashi, Adam; Ricci, Stefano; Murray, Veronica; Berge, Eivind; Slot, Karsten Bruins; Hankey, Graeme J; Correia, Manuel; Peeters, Andre; Matz, Karl; Lyrer, Phillippe; Gubitz, Gord; Phillips, Stephen J; Arauz, Antonio

2012-06-23

improved functional outcome. Benefit did not seem to be diminished in elderly patients. UK Medical Research Council, Health Foundation UK, Stroke Association UK, Research Council of Norway, Arbetsmarknadens Partners Forsakringsbolag (AFA) Insurances Sweden, Swedish Heart Lung Fund, The Foundation of Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg, Polish Ministry of Science and Education, the Australian Heart Foundation, Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Swiss National Research Foundation, Swiss Heart Foundation, Assessorato alla Sanita, Regione dell'Umbria, Italy, and Danube University. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PREFACE: DICE 2006—Quantum Mechanics between Decoherence and Determinism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diósi, Lajos; Elze, Hans-Thomas; Vitiello, Giuseppe

2007-06-01

and sponsors generously supported the workshop and their representatives and, in particular, the citizens of Piombino are deeply thanked for the hospitality: G. Anselmi (Sindaco del Comune di Piombino), O. Dell'Omodarme (Assessore alle Culture), A. Tempestini (Assessore alla Pubblica Istruzione), E. Murzi (Assessore al Turismo), A. Falchi (Dirigente dei Servizi Educativi e Culturali), M. Gianfranchi (Responsabile del Servizio Promozione Culturale), T. Ghini (Ufficio Beni Culturali), and L. Grilli, C. Boggero and P. Venturi (Ufficio Cultura), M. Pierulivo (Segreteria del Sindaco), L. Pasquinucci (URP e Comunicazione). Thanks go to Idearte (Cooperativa di Servizi Culturali) and especially to L. Pesce (Vitrium Galleria, Populonia). Funds made available by Universitá di Pisa (Centro Interdisciplinare per lo Studio dei Sistemi Complessi -- CISSC and Domus Galilaeana) and Universitá di Salerno (Dipartimento di Fisica and INFN) are gratefully acknowledged. The research papers presented at the workshop, often incorporating further developments since then, have been edited by L. Diósi, H.-T. Elze and G. Vitiello. They are collected here, essentially following the program of the workshop, however, divided into Invited Lectures and Contributed Papers, respectively. In the name of all participants, we would like to thank G. Douglas (IOP Publishing, Bristol) for his friendly advice and immediate help during the editing process. Lajos Diósi, Hans-Thomas Elze and Giuseppe Vitiello Budapest, Pisa, Salerno, March 2007 1Decoherence and Entropy in Complex Systems ed H-T Elze Lecture Notes in Physics 633 (Berlin: Springer, 2004) 2Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Decoherence, Information, Complexity and Entropy DICE 2004 ed H-T Elze Braz. J. Phys. 35, 2A and 2B (2005) pp 205 529 freely accessible at: www.sbfisica.org.br/bjp

Geomorpho-Landscapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farabollini, Piero; Lugeri, Francesca; Amadio, Vittorio

2014-05-01

value -referring to biodiversity, geodiversity, culture- which can be considered as a special heritage. Starting from the concept of Geomorphosite, a geomorphologic landform with a scientific, cultural and socio-economical value (Panizza 2001), we propose a further definition, useful in the preliminary steps of the landscape analysis: "geomorpho-landscape" as a spatial object or component of a geological landscape, whose geo-morphological evolution, linked to the geological setting, are elements of aesthetical, semiological as well as historical and cultural value. The structure of the landscape is represented by the physical shape and spatial organization, in dynamic way: it is necessary to provide a readout of the landscape components that supplements the geo-morphological, lithological, geodiversity data (Lugeri et alii, 2012). The concept of "geomorpho-landscape" is conceived to address the need to describe by a synthetic approach the geological processes emerging at the landscape scale, allowing to link spatial patterns to geological processes Each geo-form has in itself geological, geo-morphological, landmark, historical and cultural features, of such special relevance, that they can be defined in terms of scientific quality, rarity, aesthetic appeal and educational and cultural value. Reference List AMADIO V. (2003). Analisi di sistemi e progetti di paesaggio. Franco Angeli, Milano, pp 236 AMADIO V, AMADEI M, BAGNAIA R, DI BUCCI D, LAURETI L, LISI A, LUGERI FR, LUGERI N. (2002). The role of Geomorphology in Landscape Ecology: The Landscape Unit Map of Italy', Scale 1: 250,000 ("Carta della Natura" Project). In: Allison RJ (ed) Applied Geomorphology: theory and practice. John Wiley & Sons, London, pp 265-282 APAT (2003). Carta della natura alla scala 1:250,000: metodologie di realizzazione. APAT, Manuali e linee guida 17/2003, Roma, pp 103 LUGERI F.R., FARABOLLINI P., GRAVIANO G. & AMADIO V. (2012). Geoheritage: Nature and culture in a landscape approach. European

3D modelling of the Austroalpine-Penninic collisional wedge of the NW Alps: dataset management and preliminary results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monopoli, Bruno; Bistacchi, Andrea; Bertolo, Davide; Dal Piaz, Giovanni; Gouffon, Yves; Massironi, Matteo; Sartori, Mario; Vittorio Dal Piaz, Giorgio

2016-04-01

considered as a sort of pseudo-stratigraphy, since they are the oldest feature that can be traced continuously at the map scale. For this reason we have developed a set of attributes identifying the tectonic and lithological units (a "legend"), implemented both in the GIS database and in the 3D models, which at the same time is compatible with the data structure of 3D modelling packages like Move and Skua/Gocad, and allows tracing the complex hierarchic classification of the units mapped in the GIS. This allows for the almost automatic and consistent two-way transfer of data between the GIS and geomodelling environments. E.g. results of 3D modelling, which is based on input data originally stored in the GIS, will eventually be transferred back to the GIS. The results of this study, which are preliminarily presented here, will open new opportunities to study the collision- and subduction-related nappe architecture and kinematics with younger deformations removed, and will eventually lead (with additional studies) to a step-by-step retrodeformation supported by modern technologies, following the path traced by Argand at the beginning of the 20th century. Argand E. 1909. L'exploration géologique des Alpes pennines centrales. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat., 45, 217-276. Argand A. 1911. Les nappes de recouvrement des Alpes pennines et leurs prolongements structuraux. Mat. Carte Géol. Suisse, 31, 25. Argand A. 1916. Sur l'arc des Alpes occidentales. Eclogae Geol. Helv., 14, 145-191. Franchi S., Mattirolo E., Novarese V., Stella A. & Zaccagna D. 1908. Carta geologica delle Alpi Occidentali alla scala 1:400.000. Regio Ufficio Geologico, Roma. Gerlach H. 1869. Die Penninischen Alpen. N. Denkschr. Schweiz. Natf. Ges., 23, 132. Gerlach H. 1871. Das Suedwestliche Wallis. Beitraege Geol. Karte Schweiz, 9, 175. Giordano F. 1869. Sulla orografia e sulla geologica costituzione del Gran Cervino. Atti R. Acc. Sci. Torino, 4, 304-321.

Enceladus' Interior: A Liquid Circulation Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matson, Dennis L.; Johnson, Torrence; Lunine, Jonathan; Castillo-Rogez, Julie

transferred to the near-surface ice. The water is now relatively cold and dense. It absorbs the remaining bubbles and descends via fractures or defects in the ice, and percolates down to the "ocean". The water is in intimate contact with the ice and chemical interactions and heat exchange are possible. While the formation of the briny "ocean" was envisioned as due to the exclusion of non-water chemical species from the ice as it froze [8], a number of mechanisms permit a variety of organic and inorganic species to be present in the ice. The downward percolation of briny water facilitates these by making a large volume of the ice accessible along the crack surfaces. References: [1] J. H. Waite Jr et al., Nature, 460, 487-490 (2009). [2] F. Postberg et al., Nature, 459, 1098-1101 (2009). [3] S. W. Kieffer et al., Science, 314, 1764-1766 (2006). [4] C. Howett, J. R. Spencer, J. Pearl, M. Segura, Bull. Am. Astron. Soc., 41, 1122 (2009). [5] O. Abramov, J. R. Spencer, Icarus, 199, 189-196 (2009). [6] G. D. Crawford, D. J. Stevenson, Icarus, 73, 66-79 (1988). [7] S. L. Murchie, J. W. Head, LPS XVII, 583-584 (1986). [8] M. Y. Zolotov, Geophysical Research Letters, 34, L23203 (2007). This work has been conducted at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and for JIL under the program "Incentivazione alla mobilita' di studiosi straineri italiani residenti all'estero" of Italy.

Social vulnerability in the flood-prone anthropogenic landscape of Northern Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roder, Giulia; Sofia, Giulia; Wu, Zhifeng; Tarolli, Paolo

2017-04-01

alla cartografia. http://geoportale.isprambiente.it. (Italian) The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks. Off. J. Eur. Union 2007, L288-27

The use of straw in vineyards and orchards to reduce soil and water losses in Eastern Spain.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cerdà, Artemi; García-Díaz, Andrés; Rodrigo Comino, Jesús; Pereira, Paulo; Novara, Agata; Jordán, Antonio; Brevik, Eric

2017-04-01

Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant no. 603498 (RECARE Project). J. Rodrigo-Comino, was awarded with a scholar grant (FPU) by Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte de España (Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, Spain). References Cerdà, A., González-Pelayo, Ó., Giménez-Morera, A., Jordán, A., Pereira, P., Novara, A., Brevik, E.C., Prosdocimi, M., Mahmoodabadi, M., Keesstra, S., Orenes, F.G., Ritsema, C.J. 2016. Use of barley straw residues to avoid high erosion and runoff rates on persimmon plantations in Eastern Spain under low frequency-high magnitude simulated rainfall events. Soil Research 54, 154-165. Keesstra, S., Pereira, P., Novara, A., Brevik, E.C., Azorin-Molina, C., Parras-Alcántara, L., Jordán, A., Cerdà, A. 2016. Effects of soil management techniques on soil water erosion in apricot orchards. Science of the Total Environment 551-552, 357-366. Mwango, S.B., B.M. Msanya, P. . Mtakwa, D.N. Kimaro, J. Deckers, and J. Poesen. 2016. Effectiveness of Mulching Under Miraba in Controlling Soil Erosion, Fertility Restoration and Crop Yield in the Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Land Degradation and Development 27 (4): 1266-1275. doi:10.1002/ldr.2332. Novara, A., Gristina, l., Saladino, S.S., Santoto, S., Cerdà, A. 2011. Soil erosion assessment on tillage and alternative soil managements in a Sicilian vineyard. Soil and Tillage Research 117, 140-147. García-Díaz, A., Allas, R.B., Gristina, L., Cerdà, A., Pereira, P., Novara, A. 2016. Carbon input threshold for soil carbon budget optimization in eroding vineyards. Geoderma 271, 144-149. Prosdocimi M., Burguet M., Di Prima S., Sofia G., Terol E., Rodrigo Comino, J., Cerdà A., Tarolli P. 2017. Rainfall simulation and Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry for the analysis of soil water erosion in Mediterranean vineyards. Science of the Total Environment 574, 204-215. Prosdocimi, M., Cerdà, A., Tarolli, P. 2016a. Soil water erosion on Mediterranean vineyards: A review. Catena 141, 1

EDITORIAL The 17th Central European Workshop on Quantum Optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Man'ko, Margarita A.

2011-02-01

-correlation function for graphs with and without time-reversal symmetry: the open system case Michał Ławniczak, Szymon Bauch, Oleh Hul and Leszek Sirko Independent nonclassical tests for states and measurements in the same experiment Alfredo Luis and Ángel Rivas On the classical capacity of quantum Gaussian channels Cosmo Lupo, Stefano Pirandola, Paolo Aniello and Stefano Mancini Entropic inequalities for center-of-mass tomograms Margarita A Man'ko Semiclassical dynamics for an ion confined within a nonlinear electromagnetic trap Bogdan M Mihalcea Zeno-like phenomena in STIRAP processes B Militello, M Scala, A Messina and N V Vitanov A beam splitter with second-order nonlinearity modeled as a nonlinear coupler V Peřinová, A Lukš and J Křepelka Energy-level shifts of a uniformly accelerated atom between two reflecting plates L Rizzuto and S Spagnolo Cross-Kerr nonlinearities in an optically dressed periodic medium K Słowik, A Raczyński, J Zaremba, S Zielińska-Kaniasty, M Artoni and G C La Rocca An approximate effective beamsplitter interaction between light and atomic ensembles Richard Tatham, David Menzies and Natalia Korolkova Stochastic simulation of long-time nonadiabatic dynamics Daniel A Uken, Alessandro Sergi and Francesco Petruccione

Editorial . Quantum fluctuations and coherence in optical and atomic structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eschner, Jürgen; Gatti, Alessandra; Maître, Agnès; Morigi, Giovanna

2003-03-01

the quantum level leads naturally to the issue of entanglement. This is an exclusive feature of the quantum world, which represents a valuable resource for quantum information processing and for high-precision measurements. The de.nition and criteria for measuring entanglement have been traditionally formulated within the Hilbert-space formalism (the quantum state formalism). However, quantum structures are intrinsically multi-mode systems, for which the Hilbert-space approach is often unpractical and cumbersome. More appealing are the "classical looking" phase space descriptions, where it is hence of great importance to reformulate concepts such as entanglement or Bell inequalities. The paper by Santos addresses the general problem of characterizing the entanglement properties of an electromagnetic field in the language of Q-representation. Entanglement involving the spatial modes of the electromagnetic field carrying orbital angular momentum provides new degrees of freedom and could play an important role in the field of quantum information, since such non-classical states enable the possibility of multichannel communications. The paper by Barbosa discusses quantum states of twin photons produced by parametric down-conversion and entangled in polarization and orbital angular momentum. The issue of entanglement is intrinsically connected to decoherence, and to the transition from the quantum to the classical world. In particular, massive systems are characterized by strong interactions with the environment, and at room temperature they usually exhibit classical behaviour. In this context, the paper by Karlsson discusses the decay of quantum correlations of protons and positive muons in condensed matter, a system characterized by strong coupling to the environment, and proposes experiments where such quantum correlations could be measured. Mancini et al. investigate macroscopic manifestations of quantum features, presenting a proposal for entangling the macroscopic

AAS 227: Day 1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohler, Susanna

2016-01-01

Editors Note:This week were at the 227th AAS Meeting in Kissimmee, FL. Along with several fellow authors from astrobites.com, I will bewritingupdates on selectedevents at themeeting and posting at the end of each day. Follow along here or at astrobites.com, or catch ourlive-tweeted updates from the @astrobites Twitter account. The usual posting schedule for AAS Nova will resumenext week.Things kicked off last night at our undergraduate reception booth. Thanks to all of you who stopped by we were delightedto have so many people tell us that they already know about and useastrobites, and we were excited to introduce a new cohort of students at AAS to astrobites for the first time.Tuesday morning was the official start of the meeting. Here are just a few of the talks and workshops astrobiters attended today.Opening Address (by Becky Smethurst)The President of the AAS, aka our fearless leader Meg Urry kicked off the meeting this morning at the purely coffee powered hour of 8am this morning. She spoke about the importance of young astronomers at the meeting (heres looking at you reader!) and also the importance of the new Working Group for Accessibility and Disabilities (aka WGAD pronounced like wicked) at the AAS. The Society has made extra effort this year to make the conference accessible to all,a message which was very well received by everyone in attendance.Kavli Lecture: New Horizons Alan Stern (by Becky Smethurst)We were definitely spoilt with the first Plenary lecture at this years conference Alan Stern gave us a a review of the New Horizons mission of the Pluto Fly By (astrobites covered the mission back in July with this post). We were treated to beautiful images, wonderful results and a foray into geology.Before (Hubble) and after #NewHorizons. #thatisall #science #astro alanstern #aas227 pic.twitter.com/kkMt6RsSIR Science News (@topsciencething) January 5, 2016Some awesome facts from the lecture that blew my mind:New Horizons is now 2AU (!) beyond Pluto

VIMOS - a Cosmology Machine for the VLT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2002-03-01

bundle can simultaneously observe a continuous sky area measuring no less than 56 x 56 arcsec 2. A dedicated machine, the Mask Manufacturing Unit (MMU) , cuts the slits for the entrance apertures of the spectrograph. The laser is capable of cutting 200 slits in less than 15 minutes. This facility was put into operation at Paranal by the VIRMOS Consortium already in August 2000 and has since been extensively used for observations with the FORS2 instrument; more details are available in ESO PR 19/99. Fast start-up of VIMOS at Paranal ESO PR Photo 09d/02 ESO PR Photo 09d/02 [Preview - JPEG: 473 x 400 pix - 280k] [Normal - JPEG: 946 x 1209 pix - 728k] ESO PR Photo 09e/02 ESO PR Photo 09e/02 [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 438 pix - 176k] [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 876 pix - 664k] Caption : PR Photo 09d/02 : The VIRMOS team in the MELIPAL control room, moments after "First Light" on February 26, 2002. From left to right: Oreste Caputi, Marco Scodeggio, Giovanni Sciarretta , Olivier Le Fevre, Sylvie Brau-Nogue, Christian Lucuix, Bianca Garilli, Markus Kissler-Patig (in front), Xavier Reyes, Michel Saisse, Luc Arnold and Guido Mancini . PR Photo 09e/02 : The spiral galaxy NGC 5364 was the first object to be observed by VIMOS. This false-colour near-infrared, raw "First Light" photo shows the extensive spiral arms. Technical information about this photo is available below. VIMOS was shipped from Observatoire de Haute-Provence (France) at the end of 2001, and reassembled at Paranal during a first period in January 2002. From mid-February, the instrument was made ready for installation on the VLT MELIPAL telescope; this happened on February 24, 2002. VIMOS saw "First Light" just two days later, on February 26, 2000, cf. PR Photo 09e/02 . During the same night, a number of excellent images were obtained of various objects, demonstrating the fine capabilities of the instrument in the "direct imaging"-mode. The first spectra were successfully taken during the night of March 2 - 3, 2002 . The slit