Coastal dunes are extremely fragile and threatened ecotones, which play a key environmental role in terms of functional connection between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. To counteract the ...hydrogeological vulnerability in coastal risk areas, reliance can be made on soil bioengineering techniques, consisting of planting native species in combination with natural inert materials. These interventions involve the use of typical Mediterranean plant species, which are fundamental for increasing soil surface protection as well as for their ecologic function in coastal dune consolidation. Monitoring studies on plant growth parameters are useful to assess the suitability of the different species to be used in soil bioengineering works. Hence, this study aimed to (i) identify some Mediterranean herbaceous and shrubby plant species to be used in coastal interventions, (ii) evaluate different plant propagation methods and short-term growth parameters, and (iii) provide useful insights into field management strategies before and after transplanting.
Juniperus phoenicea
L.,
Juniperus macrocarpa
Sm.,
Pistacia lentiscus
L.,
Tamarix africana
Poir. and
Tamarix gallica
L. were the selected shrubs species while
Ammophila arenaria
(L.) Link,
Sporobolus pungens
(Schreb.) Kunth.,
Agropyron junceum
(L.) P. Beauv.,
Eryngium maritimum
L.,
Calystegia soldanella
(L.) R. Br., and
Pancratium maritimum
L. were the selected herbaceous species. As to shrubs, seeds and cuttings proved the best propagation methods with an efficiency of up to 90%. Agamic propagation methods, on the other hand, were the most efficient (80–90%) for the herbaceous species. After transplantation, all the species showed an adaptation period to the new climatic and edaphic conditions. In particular,
Pistacia lentiscus
L. was found withered with the presence of some radical shoots.
Information on the associations among arterial stiffness, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaques as biomarkers of atherosclerosis is limited in diverse populations. We aimed to ...assess whether aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) - as a surrogate of arterial stiffness - is associated with increased cIMT and the presence of carotid plaques in a cohort of older adults of Amerindian ancestry.
Atahualpa residents aged ≥60 years (
= 320) underwent aPWV determinations, and carotid ultrasounds for cIMT and plaque assessment. Multivariate models were fitted to assess the independent association between the aPWV, and cIMT and carotid plaques, after adjusting for relevant confounders. Differences in risk factors across these biomarkers were investigated.
Mean values of aPWV were 10.3 ± 1.8 m/s, and those of cIMT were 0.91 ± 0.21 mm (24% had a cIMT >1 mm). Carotid plaques were observed in 118 (37%) subjects. In univariate analyses, risk factors associated with an increased aPWV included age, female gender, poor physical activity and high blood pressure. An increased cIMT was associated with age, male gender, a poor diet, high blood pressure and severe tooth loss. The presence of carotid plaques was associated with increasing age, poor physical activity and high blood pressure. Multivariate models showed a significant association between aPWV and cIMT (β: 0.028; 95% C.I.: 0.001-0.056;
=
0.047) but not between aPWV and carotid plaques (OR: 1.14; 95% C.I.: 0.83-1.56;
=
0.423).
This study shows an independent association between aPWV and cIMT but not with carotid plaques. These biomarkers may indicate distinct phenotypes for atherosclerosis.
Recent technological advancements have made the use of particle image velocimetry (PIV) more widespread for studying turbulent flows over a wide range of scales. Although PIV does not threaten to ...make obsolete more mature techniques, such as hot-wire anemometry (HWA), it is justifiably becoming an increasingly important tool for turbulence research. This paper assesses the ability of PIV to resolve all relevant scales in a classical turbulent flow, namely grid turbulence, via a comparison with theoretical predictions as well as HWA measurements. Particular attention is given to the statistical convergence of mean turbulent quantities and the spatial resolution of PIV. An analytical method is developed to quantify and correct for the effect of the finite spatial resolution of PIV measurements. While the present uncorrected PIV results largely underestimate the mean turbulent kinetic energy and energy dissipation rate, the corrected measurements agree to a close approximation with the HWA data. The transport equation for the second-order structure function in grid turbulence is used to establish the range of scales affected by the limited resolution. The results show that PIV, due to the geometry of its sensing domain, must meet slightly more stringent requirements in terms of resolution, compared with HWA, in order to provide reliable measurements in turbulence.
Aim
A randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the null hypothesis that there is no difference in circumferential resection margin (CRM) between extralevator abdominoperineal excision ...(ELAPE) and non‐ELAPE for rectal cancer.
Method
This was a multicentre, randomized controlled trial registered as NCT01702116. Patients with rectal cancer involving the external anal sphincter were randomized to ELAPE or non‐ELAPE following neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Randomization was performed according to Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines. The primary end‐point was CRM (in mm), defined as the shortest distance between the tumour and the cut edge of the specimen. Pathologists and centralized pathology were blinded to the patients’ study arm. Interrater reliability (IRR) was assessed using Kendall's coefficient. Intra‐operative perforation (IOP) was any rectal defect determined at pathology. Complications were classified using the Clavien–Dindo classification. Participating surgeons were retrained and credentialed. A sample size calculation showed that 34 subjects would provide sufficient power to reject the null hypothesis.
Results
Thirty‐four patients underwent the allocated intervention. Seventeen patients treated with ELAPE were comparable with 17 patients treated with non‐ELAPE regarding age, gender, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class and pre‐existing comorbidities. CRM depth (7.14 ± 5.76 mm vs 2.98 ± 3.28 mm, P = 0.016) and involvement rates (5.8% vs 41.0%, P = 0.04) were significantly increased in patients treated with ELAPE. The IRR for CRM was 0.78. There were no significant differences in IOP (5.8% vs 11.7%, P = 0.77) and complication rates (29% vs 29%, P = 0.97).
Conclusions
ELAPE was associated with statistically improved CRM with no difference in IOP and complication rates compared with non‐ELAPE for rectal cancer involving the external anal sphincter.
Fusion for Energy is delivering 5 out of 6 ITER superconducting poloidal field coils (PF coils), which are composed of stacks of 6 to 8 double-layered circular coils - double pancakes (DPs). The ...double pancakes range from 17 m to 24 m in diameter and the wound conductor has a NbTi core inside a stainless steel squared jacked. Due to the size of the PF 2-4 coils, they have been manufactured on the ITER site, very close to the assembly hall. This article highlights the manufacturing processes, the learning curve, the main challenges and learned lessons during the winding activities of the 30 double pancakes that comprise 4 PF coils.
This work is aimed to study the use of pultruded profiles for the selective reinforcement of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) parts produced by rotational molding. A preliminary screening on ...different types of pultruded profiles was performed, highlighting the relevance of adhesion to LLDPE in order to prevent debonding of the reinforcing pultruded profiles. As expected, high density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix pultruded tapes are characterized by a very high adhesion to rotomolded LLDPE. Therefore, HDPE matrix pultruded tapes, fastened on the inner surface of the mold, are incorporated into LLDPE during rotomolding. Plate bending tests performed on reinforced rotomolded plates and pressurization tests performed on the box shaped prototypes showed a significant increase of the stiffness with a negligible amount of reinforcement and increase of the weight of the component.
Background
To evaluate efficacy and safety of Trans-Radial Approach (TRA) in cerebral angiography for diagnostic and therapeutic purpose.
Methods
We retrospectively included consecutive patients ...eligible for TRA cerebral angiography at our Institution between September 2019 and January 2020. Cerebral DSA was classified in
diagnostic
(one-vessel imaging) or
therapeutic
(emergency/elective). Technical and clinical outcome were recorded for each group.
Results
A total of 61 TRA angiographies were evaluated. Right-sided TRA was obtained in 85,2% of all cases. Interventional procedures included 11 strokes, 2 ruptured aneurysms, 2 unrupted aneurysms, 1 DAVF and 3 symptomatic atheromatous intracranial stenosis. Successful TRA angiographies were obtained in 97,6% and 94,7% for diagnostic and therapeutic group, respectively. No major radial artery complications were recorded. Mean puncture-to-final angiogram was 11 and 62 min for diagnostic and therapeutic groups, respectively. Mean radial compression maintenance was 4 h, allowing patients discharge within 6 h in all cases undergone diagnostic angiography.
Conclusions
TRA could be a valid technique in terms of efficacy and safety both for diagnostic and therapeutic cerebral angiographies, with low complication rate.
Background/objectiveThis study compares the global disability status of patients who had a mild ischaemic stroke at 30 and 90 days poststroke, as measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and ...identifies predictors of change in disability status between 30 and 90 days.MethodsThe study population included 1339 patients who had a ischaemic stroke enrolled in the Mild and Rapidly Improving Stroke Study with National Institutes of Health (NIH) stroke score 0–5 and mRS measurements at 30 and 90 days. Outcomes were (1) Improvement defined as having mRS >1 at 30 days and mRS 0–1 at 90 days OR mRS >2 at 30 days and mRS 0–2 at 90 days and (2) Worsening defined as an increase of ≥2 points or a worsening from mRS of 1 at 30 days to 2 at 90 days. Demographic and clinical characteristics at hospital arrival were abstracted from medical records, and regression models were used to identify predictors of functional improvement and decline from 30 to 90 days post-stroke. Significant predictors were mutually adjusted in multivariable models that also included age and stroke severity.ResultsFifty-seven per cent of study participants had no change in mRS value from 30 to 90 days. Overall, there was moderate agreement in mRS between the two time points (weighted kappa=0.59 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.62)). However, worsening on the mRS was observed in 7.54% of the study population from 30 to 90 days, and 17.33% improved. Participants of older age (per year OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.03), greater stroke severity (per NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) point at admission OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.34), and those with no alteplase treatment (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.69) were more likely to show functional decline after mutual adjustment.DiscussionA quarter of all mild ischaemic stroke participants exhibited functional changes between 30 and 90 days, suggesting that the 30-day outcome may insufficiently represent long-term recovery in mild stroke and longer follow-up may be clinically necessary.Trial registration number NCT02072681.
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