Space shuttle orbital maneuvering system failure detection and identification software requirements (uncontrolled)

Candidate designs and their software implementation are presented for the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) Failure Detection and Identification (FDI) algorithms in the Redundance Management (RM) module of the Space Shuttle Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) software. The OMS engine FDI algorithm monitors OMS engine thrust performance, and the OMS actuator FDI algorithm monitors OMS gimbal actuator performance. The software functional requirements of the algorithms are described along with the objective of each algorithm. A list of the assumptions which have governed its design, input/output requirements, a functional description of the algorithm (including a functional block diagram), and input interface requirements are given. The HAL (the language of the space shuttle flight computer) software formulation of the algorithms is considered including structured flowcharts of the procedures, estimates of flight computer core storage and CPU time, and processing requirements. A glossary of the symbols used to define the software requirements and formulations is included

La disuguaglianza socio-economica della salute come indicatore di benessere sociale

Obiettivo: Misurare il benessere sociale attraverso l’utilizzo della disuguaglianza socioeconomica della salute percepita dalle famiglie italiane e quantificare i contributi dei determinanti della salute alla disuguaglianza misurata. Materiali e metodi: Sono utilizzati i dati dell’indagine Istat sulle condizioni di vita (UDB IT-SILC), componente longitudinale. L’analisi è effettuata su un sotto-campione di 11.543 individui e 12 variabili, ottenuto dopo aver eliminato i dati mancanti per la variabile reddito e per le altre variabili rilevanti per la salute. E’ applicato il modello di regressione probit ordinale, per ottenere una misura continua della variabile salute, l’indice di concentrazione della salute, per misurare la disuguaglianza della salute, e infine la scomposizione della disuguaglianza, per calcolare il contributo di ciascun determinante. Le analisi sono a livello territoriale NUTS1. Risultati e conclusioni: La disuguaglianza di salute correlata al reddito è stimata pari all’1,18% a livello nazionale, mentre a livello territoriale il gradiente tra salute e reddito interviene solo al Sud. A livello territoriale, l’analisi rivela una disuguaglianza nella percezione della buona salute in tutte e cinque le ripartizioni territoriali, concentrata nel gruppo di individui avvantaggiati economicamente. La disuguaglianza nella salute è percepita maggiormente nel Nord Ovest (1,69%), seguita dal Nord Est (1,53%) e dal Sud (1,35%), Centro (1,21%); mentre la disuguaglianza della salute percepita non è significativa nelle Isole (-0,0012; IC95%=[-0,01; 0,01]). Emerge che in Italia nel 2010 si ha complessivamente una buona percezione della salute, che si concentra negli individui maschi, con una migliore posizione socioeconomica, istruzione più elevata, occupati; mentre esistono disuguaglianze nella malattia cronica e disabilità che penalizzano alcuni gruppi di popolazione svantaggiati economicamente con basso livello di istruzione e fuori dal mercato del lavoro

Can bayesian models play a role in dental caries epidemiology? Evidence from an application to the BELCAP data set

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to show the potential of Bayesian analysis in statistical modelling of dental caries data. Because of the bounded nature of the dmft (DMFT) index, zero-inflated binomial (ZIB) and beta-binomial (ZIBB) models were considered. The effects of incorporating prior information available about the parameters of models were also shown. MethodsThe data set used in this study was the Belo Horizonte Caries Prevention (BELCAP) study (Bohning etal. (1999)), consisting of five variables collected among 797 Brazilian school children designed to evaluate four programmes for reducing caries. Only the eight primary molar teeth were considered in the data set. A data augmentation algorithm was used for estimation. Firstly, noninformative priors were used to express our lack of knowledge about the regression parameters. Secondly, prior information about the probability of being a structural zero dmft and the probability of being caries affected in the subpopulation of susceptible children was incorporated. ResultsWith noninformative priors, the best fitting model was the ZIBB. Education (OR=0.76, 95% CrI: 0.59, 0.99), all interventions (OR=0.46, 95% CrI: 0.35, 0.62), rinsing (OR=0.61, 95% CrI: 0.47, 0.80) and hygiene (OR=0.65, 95% CrI: 0.49, 0.86) were demonstrated to be factors protecting children from being caries affected. Being male increased the probability of being caries diseased (OR=1.19, 95% CrI: 1.01, 1.42). However, after incorporating informative priors, ZIB models' estimates were not influenced, while ZIBB models reduced deviance and confirmed the association with all interventions and rinsing only. DiscussionIn our application, Bayesian estimates showed a similar accuracy and precision than likelihood-based estimates, although they offered many computational advantages and the possibility of expressing all forms of uncertainty in terms of probability. The overdispersion parameter could expound why the introduction of prior information had significant effects on the parameters of the ZIBB model, while ZIB estimates remained unchanged. Finally, the best performance of ZIBB compared to the ZIB model was shown to catch overdispersion in data

HIV-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Current perspectives

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, caused by the polyomavirus JC and occurring almost exclusively in the context of severe immune depression. AIDS represents the most common predisposing condition for PML development. Antiretroviral treatment has reduced PML incidence in HIV-infected subjects, but the disease remains a severe and life-threatening complication of AIDS, considering thus far the lack of an effective anti-JC virus (JCV) direct-acting antiviral drug. In the last decade, the use of monoclonal antibodies for treating immune-based diseases evidenced new predisposing conditions for PML development, promoting a renewed interest in PML pathogenesis. In this article, we review the current knowledge on JCV epidemiology and AIDS-associated PML incidence, JCV viral cycle, pathogenesis, and the interplay with HIV infection. We give an updated overview of diagnostic and prognostic tools available for PML diagnosis and describe past and current therapeutic approaches, including new strategies for PML cure

Clearance of human papillomavirus related anal condylomas after oral and endorectal multistrain probiotic supplementation in an HIV positive male: A case report.

Abstract Go to: Introduction: Here we present the case of a 56-year-old human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected man with multiple anal condylomas and positivity for human papilloma virus (HPV) 18 on anal brushing. Biopsies of the anal mucosa led to the diagnosis of Bowen's disease and a subsequent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan evidenced multiple reactive lymphoadenopathies and large intra-anal condylomas. The patient was treated with a complete excision of Bowen's lesion and with a 4 months course of supplementation with a high concentration multistrain probiotic formulation administered orally and by rectal instillation with the purpose to reduce local inflammation and to enhance local mucosal immunity. Go to: Conclusion: An MRI performed at the end of the supplementation period evidenced the clearance of the anal condylomas previously described and no evidence of residual lymphadenopathies. Trials are therefore required to confirm this therapeutic possibility and for a better understanding of the mechanisms by which this specific probiotic formulation interacts with local epithelium when administered by the anal route

Pharmacokinetic profiles of the active metamizole metabolites in healthy horses

Metamizole (MT) is an analgesic and antipyretic drug labelled for use in humans, horses, cattle, swine and dogs. MT is rapidly hydrolysed to the active primary metabolite 4-methylaminoantipyrine (MAA). MAA is formed in much larger amounts compared with other minor metabolites. Among other secondary metabolites, 4-aminoantipyrine (AA) is also relatively active. The aim of this research was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profiles of MAA and AA after dose of 25 mg/kg MT by intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) routes in healthy horses. Six horses were randomly allocated to two equally sized treatment groups according to a 2 9 2 crossover study design. Blood was collected at predetermined times within 24 h, and plasma was analysed by a validated HPLC-UV method. No behavioural changes or alterations in health parameters were observed in the i.v. or i.m. groups of animals during or after (up to 7 days) drug administration. Plasma concentrations of MAA after i.v. and i.m. administrations of MT were detectable from 5 min to 10 h in all the horses. Plasma concentrations of AA were detectable in the same range of time, but in smaller amounts. Maximum concentration (Cmax), time to maximum concentration (Tmax) and AUMC0-last of MAA were statistically different between the i.v. and i.m. groups. The AUCIM/AUCIV ratio of MAA was 1.06. In contrast, AUC0-last of AA was statistically different between the groups (P < 0.05) with an AUCIM/AUCIV ratio of 0.54. This study suggested that the differences in the MAA and AA plasma concentrations found after i.m. and i.v. administrations of MT might have minor consequences on the pharmacodynamics of the drug

Progetto di alternanza scuola-lavoro per la valorizzazione di collezioni zoologiche

Il progetto si è posto l’obiettivo di implementare le competenze trasversali degli studenti nell’ambito della divulgazione scientifica, attraverso un percorso avviato con lo studio della zoologia e proseguito con attività di comunicazione e guida museale, mantenendo uno spirito collaborativo tra i tutor, il personale del Museo e i giovani. Nel contesto museale, dove un elevato numero di forme animali è concentrato in uno spazio ristretto, gli studenti hanno “toccato con mano” la varietà di specie esistenti, percepita in maniera immediata ed emotivamente significativa. Hanno così imparato ad applicare le metodologie per classificare gli animali e denominarli, integrando, in diversi momenti, l’uso della lingua inglese. Gli studenti hanno poi trasferito praticamente i contenuti acquisiti in un lavoro di ideazione, progettazione e realizzazione di prodotti didattico-divulgativi, presentati in un evento di grande impatto sul territorio della città di Palermo: la “Notte europea dei musei” 2018

Natural product coumarins that inhibit human carbonic anhydrases.

Natural products (NPs) have proven to be an invaluable source of new chemotherapies yet very few have been explored to source small molecule carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors. CA enzymes underpin physiological pH and are critical to the progression of several diseases including cancer. The present study is the first to more widely investigate NP coumarins for CA inhibition following the recent discovery of a NP coumarin CA inhibitor. We assembled a NP library comprising 24 plant coumarins (compounds 4-27) and three ascidian coumarins (compounds 28-30) that together provide a diverse collection of structures containing the coumarin pharmacophore. This library was then evaluated for inhibition of six human CA isozymes (CAs I, II, VII, IX, XII and XIII) and a broad range of inhibition and isozyme selectivity profiles were evident. Our findings provide a platform to support further evaluation of NPs for the discovery of new chemotypes that inhibit disease relevant CA enzymes.Full Tex