•FeSO4 and colloidal nZVI are compared in the immobilization of Cr(VI) in a contaminated industrial soil.•Colloidal nZVI resulted in a faster and more efficient Cr(VI) reduction with respect to ...FeSO4.•The effect of the reduction treatment on metal mobilization and bioavailability was assessed by sequential extractions.•The mechanisms and the factors affecting the process are discussed.
Iron sulphate (FeSO4) and colloidal nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) as reducing agents were compared, with the aim of assessing their effectiveness in hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) removal from a contaminated industrial soil. Experiments were performed on soil samples collected from an industrial site where a nickel contamination, caused by a long-term productive activity, was also verified. The influence of reducing agents amount with respect to chromium content and the effectiveness of deoxygenation of the slurry were discussed.
The soil was fully characterized before and after each test, and sequential extractions were performed to assess chemico-physical modifications and evaluate metals mobility induced by washing.
Results show that both the reducing agents successfully lowered the amount of Cr(VI) in the soil below the threshold allowed by Italian Environmental Regulation for industrial reuse. Cr(VI) reduction by colloidal nZVI proved to be faster and more effective: the civil reuse of soil Cr(VI)<2mg/kg was only achieved using colloidal nZVI within 60min adopting a nZVI/Cr(VI) molar ratio of 30. The reducing treatment resulted in an increase in the amount of chromium in the oxide–hydroxide fraction, thus confirming a mechanism of chromium-iron hydroxides precipitation.
In addition, a decrease of nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb) content in soil was also observed when acidic conditions were established.
Summary Background Insulin therapy is often a delayed strategy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus because it is associated with weight gain, hypoglycaemia, and the need for subcutaneous ...injections. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of prandial Technosphere inhaled insulin compared with twice daily biaspart insulin. Methods In this randomised, open-label, parallel-group study, adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and poor glycaemic control despite insulin therapy, with or without oral antidiabetes drugs, were enrolled from ten countries between Feb 23, 2006, and Aug 8, 2007. Patients were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive 52 weeks' treatment with: prandial Technosphere inhaled insulin powder plus bedtime insulin glargine; or twice daily premixed biaspart insulin (70% insulin aspart protamine suspension and 30% insulin aspart of rDNA origin). The primary endpoint was a comparison of change in glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c ) from baseline to week 52 between treatment groups; the non-inferiority margin was 0·4%. Analysis was by per protocol for non-inferiority testing of the primary endpoint. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT00309244. Findings 334 patients were allocated to inhaled insulin plus insulin glargine, and 343 to biaspart insulin; 107 patients on inhaled insulin plus insulin glargine and 85 on biaspart insulin discontinued the trial. 211 patients on inhaled insulin plus insulin glargine and 237 on biaspart insulin were included in per-protocol analyses. Change in HbA1c with inhaled insulin plus insulin glargine (−0·68%, SE 0·077, 95% CI −0·83 to −0·53) was similar and non-inferior to that with biaspart insulin (−0·76%, 0·071, −0·90 to −0·62). The between-group difference was 0·07% (SE 0·102, 95% CI −0·13 to 0·27). Patients had significantly lower weight gain and had fewer mild-to-moderate and severe hypoglycaemic events on inhaled insulin plus insulin glargine than on biaspart insulin. The safety and tolerability profile was similar for both treatments, apart from increased occurrence of cough and change in pulmonary function in the group receiving inhaled insulin plus insulin glargine. Interpretation This study is part of a large clinical development programme addressing the efficacy and tolerability of use of Technosphere inhaled insulin in a wide variety of patients. Funding MannKind.
Nowadays, digital media play a central role in a shift towards updated modes of communicating knowledge. In addition to this, the tragic recent events related to the long series of earthquakes that ...have taken place in central Italy have also, unfortunately, reiterated the need to document and preserve not only the material value of the architectural heritage but also the intangible values related to the events and people that have characterized their history. In this framework, the paper investigates some of the opportunities offered by technological innovations, in particular, by the specific application areas of augmented reality and augmented virtuality. The case study The historical site chosen as case study is the complex of Santissima Annunziata, which has played a very important role in the city of Ascoli Piceno (Italy) for centuries. The objective was to develop a low-cost web-based platform to serve as a place to gather cultural content related to the diffuse cultural heritage, organized in applications regarding graphical and 3D models as well as 360° images and archival documents.
Cesarean delivery is a major surgical procedure, after which a woman can experience substantial postoperative discomfort or pain. Inadequate postoperative analgesia is one of the most common reasons ...for poor patient satisfaction following cesarean delivery. Although spinal or systemic opioids are currently the gold standard to achieve effective analgesia, they are often associated with side effects. In the last few years there has been growing interest in abdominal plane blocks, with promising data on their efficacy. The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a regional analgesic technique which is gaining acceptance in postoperative analgesia for lower abdominal surgeries. In this systematic review of articles published as of 31 December 2013, we searched the principal medical databases for randomized controlled trials that assessed the efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided TAP block following cesarean delivery and reported on postoperative opioid consumption and pain score, opioid-related side-effects and patient satisfaction. Although controversy surrounds the utility of US-guided TAP block in cesarean section, evidence suggests that when correctly executed as part of a multimodal analgesic regimen, TAP block may reduce postoperative opioid consumption and opioid-related side effects, improving postoperative pain control and patient satisfaction. Further studies are necessary to explore this field of research.
Microwave (MW) vacuum dehydration using temperature to control the level of MW power demonstrated potential in improving the performance of the process. Product surface temperature measured by an ...infrared temperature sensor was used to control MW power at any level between 0 and 3 kW. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated an r²= 0.942 for prediction of final moisture content and r²= 0.985 for prediction of puffed character of grapes based on product temperature, time, specific energy, fresh fruit sugar, and fresh fruit moisture content. Temperature was found to be the most significant predictor. The elemental and compound contents of grapes dried using MW vacuum was compared to sun-dried raisins. The grapes dried using MW vacuum exhibited better preservation. Vitamin A was found in the MW-vacuum-dried grapes but none was detected in the raisins, and Vitamin C, thiamine, and riboflavin were also higher in the MW-vacuum-dried grapes than in the raisins.
Circulating CD34+ cells are haemopoietic progenitors that may play a role in tissue repair. No data are available on circulating progenitors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ...Circulating CD34+ cells were studied in 18 patients with moderate-to-severe COPD (age: mean+/-sd 68+/-8 yrs; forced expiratory volume in one second: 48+/-12% predicted) and 12 controls, at rest and after endurance exercise. Plasma concentrations of haematopoietic growth factors (FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3) ligand, kit ligand), markers of hypoxia (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) and stimulators of angiogenesis (VEGF, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)) and markers of systemic inflammation (tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8) were measured. Compared with the controls, the COPD patients showed a three-fold reduction in CD34+ cell counts (3.3+/-2.5 versus 10.3+/-4.2 cells.microL-1), and a 50% decrease in AC133+ cells. In the COPD patients, progenitor-derived haemopoietic and endothelial cell colonies were reduced by 30-50%. However, four COPD patients showed progenitor counts in the normal range associated with lower TNF-alpha levels. In the entire sample, CD34+ cell counts correlated with exercise capacity and severity of airflow obstruction. After endurance exercise, progenitor counts were unchanged, while plasma Flt3 ligand and VEGF only increased in the COPD patients. Plasma HGF levels were higher in the COPD patients compared with the controls and correlated inversely with the number of progenitor-derived colonies. In conclusion, circulating CD34+ cells and endothelial progenitors were decreased in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and could be correlated with disease severity.
Aims: The aims of the study were to determine human breast milk adiponectin concentration and to investigate its relationship with serum adiponectin concentration in lactating mothers and their ...infants and also to evaluate the relationship between serum adiponectin concentration and anthropometric parameters in nurses and infants.
Methods: We enrolled 60 healthy term breastfed (BF) infants and their lactating mothers. Adiponectin was determined by radioimmunoassay test in serum and by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay test in human milk (HM). Infants’ and mothers’ anthropometric parameters were measured.
Results: Median (25‰, 75‰) adiponectin concentration in HM was 9.99 (3.59, 20.52) ng/mL. Serum adiponectin concentration in infants was 60.49 (45.76, 74.24) μg/mL and in lactating mothers 21.14 (12.61, 29.66) μg/mL. Adiponectin concentration in HM correlated positively with adiponectin in mothers’ serum; r = 0.60 (p < 0.001) and in infants’ serum r = 0.37 (p = 0.015). Adiponectin in HM correlated negatively with infants’ age r = −0.3 (p = 0.04). Infants’ serum adiponectin correlated negatively with their weight r = −0.35 (p = 0.005), length r = −0.35 (p = 0.006) and age r = −0.46 (p < 0.001) and mothers’ serum adiponectin with their weight r = −0.37 (p = 0.02) and body mass index r = −0.45 (p = 0.004).
Conclusions: The observed correlations between adiponectin in mothers, HM and BF infants may be suggestive for a metabolic link between nurses and infants through milk.
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The paper presents an experimental study on mortar samples taken from historic and monumental buildings damaged or collapsed following the seismic events in Central Italy (2016-2017). Sixty-one ...samples were analysed via a set of diagnostic investigations to characterize the mortar and correlate it with the performance of the masonry. The techniques used were: X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis, differential scanning calorimetry, calcimetry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, soluble salt analysis by conductimetry and dosage of anionic species by ion chromatography, particle-size analysis, direct shear. Microstructural characterization of the mortars revealed differences in mortar composition depending on their provenance. In particular the samples from Norcia contained large quantities of calcite while in the mortars from Pretare, dolomite was identified. In the case of Amatrice, only a few samples showed crystalline phases and compounds ascribable to binders. These results were largely confirmed by the other chemical and physical analysis performed, and mechanical tests also demonstrated low cohesion. The tests showed that in almost all the samples, poor quality mortars were used, and, in some cases, underachieving binder mortar.
•Modern angiographic systems register Dose Area Product at the end of the procedures.•Patient’s Peak Skin Dose can be measured by means of Gafchromic film.•A correlation between DAP and PSD can be ...found.•Patients exceeding a PSD threshold are identified.•A follow-up program to prevent skin deterministic effect can be easily implemented.
Number and complexity of interventional cardiology procedures have increased during last years and can result in patient skin dose high enough to cause deterministic skin effects. The aim of the work is to investigate the correlation between Peak Skin Dose (PSD) and the dosimetric indicators directly registered by the radiological equipment and provide the physicians a tool to identify patients at risk of deterministic effects and include them into a follow-up program.
PSD was measured in vivo using radiochromic Gafchromic XR-RV3 films, properly calibrated. DAP, Cumulative Dose at the interventional reference point (CD) and exposure time of each procedure were retrieved from the Radiation Dose Structured Reports created by an Allura Clarity Xper FD20 angiographic system. Linear correlation between PSD and both DAP and CD was investigated.
42 interventional cardiology procedures (16 CA and 26 PTCA) were involved in the study. The dosimetric indicators values for PTCA are generally higher than those for CA, due to the different levels of procedure complexity. Mean PSD values were (103 ± 64) and (526 ± 436) mGy for CA and PTCA procedures. For CA, we found strong correlation both between PSD and DAP (r = 0.753) and PSD and CD (r = 0.782). For PTCA, good correlation both for DAP (r = 0.648) and CD (r = 0.649) was found.
DAP and CD show strong correlation with PSD measured with Gafchromic films during interventional procedures. The proposed method allows the physician to estimate patient’s PSD from the dosimetric indicators that the radiological equipment display and record at the end of the procedure.
The paper aims at presenting some results of a point cloud-based survey carried out through integrated methodologies based on active and passive 3D acquisition techniques for processing 3D models. ...This experiment is part of a research project still in progress conducted by an interdisciplinary team from the School of Architecture and Design of Ascoli Piceno and funded by the University of Camerino. We describe an experimentation conducted on the convent of San Francesco located in Monterubbiano town center (Marche, Italy). The whole complex has undergone a number of substantial changes since the year of its foundation in 1247. The survey was based on an approach blending range-based 3D data acquired by a TOF laser scanner and image-based 3D acquired using an UAV equipped with digital camera in order to survey some external parts difficult to reach with TLS. The integration of two acquisition methods aimed to define a workflow suitable to process dense 3D models from which to generate high poly and low poly 3D models useful to describe complex architectures for different purposes such as photorealistic representations, historical documentation, risk assessment analyses based on Finite Element Methods (FEM).
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