Comparación preliminar entre el sondeo de Pocala y una cueva innominada en Borgo Grotta Gigante, Karst de Trieste

[Abstract] In 2000 five boring were performed in a unroofle cave at Borgo Grotta gigante, the third in particular is correlable with the boring outside Pocala Cave. The first result has been obtained by observing the absence of collapsed rocks, in particular in the unroofle cave of Borgo Grotta Gigante. Clearly limestones have dissolve

Estudio sedimentológico preliminar y análisis de minerales pesados en la cueva Pocala

[Abstract] In 1999 two borings were performedin the area of Pocala Cave, one outside the cave and the other inside in the cave. In particular four samples of the first boring were studied.It seems that mineralogy is strictly connected with sedimentology where quartz and plagioclase are present. It could be a consequence of a periodical floods of flysch sediments during interglacial perio

The FOOT GROUND REACTION ON THE SOCCER AND RUGBY PLAYER

Introduction The body’s motion must be interpreted a succession of elementary movements that can be studied as the combination of translational and rotational motions. The correct expression of a motion is dependent on the balance between internal and external forces. The vector and scalar characteristics of the reaction are related to the physical and mechanical characteristics of two structures coming in contact Methods and Materials The analysis is performed during the normal strike and the running of the soccer and the rugby player. We have used a dynamometric platform Kistler that provided the complete progression of the foot ground reaction which deve1opes during the stage of placing of the fool on the ground.24 soccer p layers of Italian national team and 40 soccer players with high ability and performance and 50 rugby players are examined and the tests are correlated with a control reference group of normal subjects. Results The analysis of the soccer players’ foot-ground reaction on the sagittal plane has revealed: during the normal strike an impact phase characterized by high force both maximum and medium and high velocity of progression of application's point. A support phase characterized by velocity of progression of application point lower compared to the impact phase and by the backward inclination of vectors. A propulsive phase with a presence of a peak of force lower than the first one in the contact phase and with rotational moment significantly increased compared to the normal. The trace diagram show a wider extension of internal rotation during the contact phase and movement with a predominance of an external rotation during the support phase. The analysis of the rugby players' fool-ground reaction has revealed on the sagittal plane: during the normal strike an impact phase with high force both maximum and medium and high velocity of progression of application's point. In comparison of the soccer player’s ground reaction the data show values reduced of force during the impact phase. A support phase shows backward inclination of vectors and a reduced velocity of progression compared to the impact phase. A propulsive phase demonstrate a presence of a peak of force same that the first one during the contact phase. On the horizontal plane, the trace diagram shows a normal extension of internal rotation and a significantly extension of external rotation. Conclusions: The ground reaction pattern of the professional soccer player is repetitive, typical and different by the pattern of the vectorial diagram of the rugby player

PRINCIPLES OF APPLIED BIOMECHANICS ON THE RACE WALKERS: IMPROVEMENT IN PERFORMANCE WITH A PLANTAR ORTHOSIS

When race walking it is essential to attain and maintain for a period of time the maximal speed with minimal expenditure of energy, in observance of the prescribed standards. To achieve this end, optimizing the physical carriage is indispensable. This may be done in two ways: I) by reducing those force component hat ace employed along directions of application that do no concur with the sense of progression, since they interfere with and disperse part of the energy; and 2) by increasing the vectorial components that have the same direction as the forward movement. The aim of our work was to verify the modifications that are induced by the use of plantar orthoses , as reflected by parameters of biomechanical performance on the race walker: Under standard reference conditions, we studied the kinematics and ground reaction of 10 highly-trained Athletes. With reference to report that confirmed previous study by us and other authors, we verified the modifications induced by the applications of special dynamic plantar orthoses. The ground reaction appeared to be optimized by the use of these orthoses through the following mechanisms: 1) a diminution of the sagittal force components that are opposed to the direction of movemen6 2) a diminution of the transverse edgewise components that are not useful to the progression, and 3) an increase in the reclamation of useful elastic energy stored by the functional unit, the 'musculo-skeletal footwear system”

growth performance and stress response of common sole subjected to varying stocking densities and rearing temperatures

AbstractEarlier short-term studies have shown productivity of intensively farmed common sole (S. solea) to be closely dependent on rearing density. Irrespective of fish size, elevating crowding conditions led to declining growth rates while the effect of density on mortality remains controversial. To what extent water temperature could affect productivity of growing sole subjected to varying crowding conditions, warrants investigation as very few studies have tried to quantify the effects of this fundamental rearing parameter on growth and survival in this fish species. This is particularly crucial for developing suitable farming protocols in Italy, where common sole may experience a broad range of water temperatures throughout the rearing cycle. The aim of this study was to evaluate productivity and blood cortisol level as a measure of stress response, in growing sole subjected to different stocking densities and temperature conditions. Six hundred juveniles (ind. weight 21.8±1.5g) were randomly allotted..

Cryptococcus gattii Meningoencephalitis in an Immunocompetent Person 13 Months after Exposure

Abstract : A 53-year old immunocompetent Swiss female is described who developed severe meningoencephalitis due to infection with Cryptococcus gattii 13 months following exposure on Vancouver Island, Canada. Diagnosis was based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination, i.e., positive India-ink staining, positive latex particle agglutination, and positive culture. Species identification was performed by growth on L-canavanine-glycine-bromthymol blue medium and by sequencing of the intergenic and internal transcribed spacer regions of the rRNA genes. After initial therapy with fluconazole by which the patient did not improve, therapy was changed to amphotericin B and flucytosine and later to high-dose fluconazole and amphotericin B. Despite long-term treatment and external drainage of the CSF, the patient's condition improved only slowly. The patient was discharged after 132 days of hospitalizatio

X-ray dynamical diffraction in amino acid crystals: a step towards improving structural resolution of biological molecules via physical phase measurements

CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPIn this work, experimental and data analysis procedures were developed and applied for studying amino acid crystals by means of X-ray phase measurements. The results clearly demonstrated the sensitivity of invariant triplet phases to electronic charge distribution in D-alanine crystals, providing useful information for molecular dynamics studies of intermolecular forces. The feasibility of using phase measurements to investigate radiation damage mechanisms is also discussed on experimental and theoretical grounds.50689700CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPCONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP306982/2012-9452031/2015-02012/01367-212/15858-814/08819-114/21284-016/11812-4Acknowledgments are due to the Brazilian funding agencies CNPq (grant Nos. 306982/2012-9 and 452031/20150) and FAPESP (grant Nos. 2012/01367-2, 12/15858-8, 14/08819-1, 14/21284-0 and 16/11812-4), Diamond Light Source (proposal MT11922), and the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Source (proposals 17063, 18011 and 19018). We also thank Professor Lisandro P. Cardoso, Dr Steven Collins and Dr José Brandão-Neto for helpful discussions

A transcriptome analysis identifies molecular effectors of unconjugated bilirubin in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

Background: The deposition of unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) in selected regions of the brain results in irreversible neuronal damage, or Bilirubin Encephalopathy (BE). Although UCB impairs a large number of cellular functions in other tissues, the basic mechanisms of neurotoxicity have not yet been fully clarified. While cells can accumulate UCB by passive diffusion, cell protection may involve multiple mechanisms including the extrusion of the pigment as well as pro-survival homeostatic responses that are still unknown. Results: Transcriptome changes induced by UCB exposure in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line were examined by high density oligonucleotide microarrays. Two-hundred and thirty genes were induced after 24 hours. A Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that at least 50 genes were directly involved in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. Validation of selected ER stress genes is shown by quantitative RT-PCR. Analysis of XBP1 splicing and DDIT3/CHOP subcellular localization is presented. Conclusion: These results show for the first time that UCB exposure induces ER stress response as major intracellular homeostasis in surviving neuroblastoma cells in vitro

Causes of Microcephaly in the Zika Era in Argentina: A Retrospective Study

There are gaps in understanding the causes and consequences of microcephaly. This paper describes the epidemiological characteristics, clinical presentations, and etiologies of children presenting microcephaly during the Zika outbreak in Argentina. This observational retrospective study conducted in the pediatric hospital of Juan P. Garrahan reviewed the medical records of 40 children presenting microcephaly between March 2017 and November 2019. The majority (60%) were males and born full-term. At first evaluation, microcephaly was defined as congenital (31/40, 77%) and associated with other features (68%) such as seizures, developmental delay, non-progressive chronic encephalopathy, and West Syndrome. It was found manifestations restricted to central nervous system (55%), ocular (8/40, 20%), and acoustic (9/40, 23%) defects, and abnormal neuroimaging findings (31/39, 79%). Non-infectious diseases were the primary cause of isolated microcephaly (21/37, 57%), largely related to genetic diseases (13/21, 62%). Only 3 were children were diagnosed with Congenital Zika infection (3/16, 7.5%)

The efficacy of anakinra in an adolescent with colchicine-resistant familial Mediterranean fever

Colchicine is the treatment of choice in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) for the prevention of both attacks and secondary amyloidosis. The overall nonresponder rate is about 5–10%. Anakinra is known to have good effectiveness in a severe autoinflammatory syndrome [chronic infantile neurological cutaneous and articular (CINCA) syndrome] and other recurrent hereditary periodic fevers. Pyrin—the protein involved in FMF—has a role in activating the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β. We report the effectiveness of the addition of an IL-1-receptor inhibitor (anakinra) to colchicine in controlling the febrile attacks and acute phase response in an adolescent with FMF resistant to colchicine