Light scattering from a rough metal surface: theory and experiment

There is still great interest in the determination of microtopographic properties of rough metallic surfaces from light scattering measurements. According to Beckmann–Kirchhoff theory a clear relationship is established between the in-plane angular scattered light intensity and the statistical properties of the surface. We discuss one way to invert this relationship, and we introduce a new iterative procedure to retrieve the height autocorrelation function even for a very rough metallic surface (rms surface roughness of the same order of the optical wavelength). The procedure is eventually applied to the experimental data of a known metallic surface for validation

Arthroscopic biceps tendon tenodesis: the anchorage technical note

Treatment of long head biceps (LHB) tendon pathology has become an area of renewed interest and debate among orthopaedic surgeons in recent years. The background of this manuscript is a description of biceps tenodesis which ensure continual dynamic action of the tendon which depresses the head and impedes lateral translation. A new technique has been developed in order to treat LHB tendon irreversible structural abnormalities associated with cuff rotator lesions. This technique entails the construction of a biological anchor between the LHB and supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus tendons according to arthroscopic findings. The rationale, although not supported by biomechanical studies is to obtain a triple, biomechanical effect. The first of these biomechanical effects which we try to promote through the procedure of transposition is the elimination of the deviation and oblique angle which occurs as the LHB completes its intra-articular course prior to reaching the bicipital groove. Furthermore, we have found this technique extremely useful in the presence of large ruptures of the rotator cuff with muscle retraction. The most common complication associated to this particular method, observed in less than 3%, is failed biological fixation which manifests as subsidence of the tenodesis and consequent descent of the tendon with evident aesthetic deformit

Could the differences in O3 sensitivity between two poplar clones be related to a difference in antioxidant defense and secondary metabolic response to O3 influx?

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Search for Neutron Flux Generation in a Plasma Discharge Electrolytic Cell

Following some recent unexpected hints of neutron production in setups like high-voltage atmospheric discharges and plasma discharges in electrolytic cells, we present a measurement of the neutron flux in a configuration similar to the latter. We use two different types of neutron detectors, poly-allyl-diglicol-carbonate (PADC, aka CR-39) tracers and Indium disks. At 95% C.L. we provide an upper limit of 1.5 neutrons cm^-2 s^-1 for the thermal neutron flux at ~5 cm from the center of the cell. Allowing for a higher energy neutron component the largest allowed flux is 64 neutrons cm^-2 s^-1. This upper limit is two orders of magnitude smaller than what previously claimed in an electrolytic cell plasma discharge experiment. Furthermore the behavior of the CR-39 is discussed to point our possible sources of spurious signals.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Age-related changes of elastic fibers in shoulder capsule of patients with glenohumeral instability: A pilot study

Background. Recurrent shoulder dislocations occur much more frequently in adolescents than in the older population but a clear explanation of this incidence does not exist. The aim of the present study was to define the age-related distribution of the elastic fibers (EFs) in the shoulder capsule's extracellular matrix as a factor influencing shoulder instability. Materials and Methods. Biopsy specimens were obtained from the shoulder capsule of patients divided preoperatively into three groups: Group 1 consisted of 10 male patients undergoing surgery for unidirectional traumatic anterior instability (TUBS); Group 2 consisted of 10 male patients undergoing surgery for multidirectional instability (MDI); Group 3 represents the control, including 10 patients with no history of instability. In addition to the group as a whole, specific subgroups were analyzed separately on the basis of the age of subjects: > 22 or < to 22 years. All the samples were analyzed by histochemical (Weigert's resorcinol fuchsin and Verhoeff's iron hematoxylin), immunohistochemical (monoclonal antielastin antibody), and histomorphometric methods. Results. Both the elastin density and the percentage of area covered by EFs were significantly higher in younger subjects (<22 years old). Furthermore, the elastin density and the percentage of area covered by EFs were significantly higher in specimens of group of patients affected by multidirectional shoulder instability in comparison to the other two groups. Conclusion. Data of the present study confirmed the presence of an age-related distribution of EFs in the human shoulder capsule. The greater amount of EFs observed in younger subjects and in unstable shoulders could play an important role in predisposing the joint to first dislocation and recurrence

Age-related changes of elastic fibers in shoulder capsule of patients with glenohumeral instability: A pilot study

Background. Recurrent shoulder dislocations occur much more frequently in adolescents than in the older population but a clear explanation of this incidence does not exist. The aim of the present study was to define the age-related distribution of the elastic fibers (EFs) in the shoulder capsule's extracellular matrix as a factor influencing shoulder instability. Materials and Methods. Biopsy specimens were obtained from the shoulder capsule of patients divided preoperatively into three groups: Group 1 consisted of 10 male patients undergoing surgery for unidirectional traumatic anterior instability (TUBS); Group 2 consisted of 10 male patients undergoing surgery for multidirectional instability (MDI); Group 3 represents the control, including 10 patients with no history of instability. In addition to the group as a whole, specific subgroups were analyzed separately on the basis of the age of subjects: > 22 or < to 22 years. All the samples were analyzed by histochemical (Weigert's resorcinol fuchsin and Verhoeff's iron hematoxylin), immunohistochemical (monoclonal antielastin antibody), and histomorphometric methods. Results. Both the elastin density and the percentage of area covered by EFs were significantly higher in younger subjects (<22 years old). Furthermore, the elastin density and the percentage of area covered by EFs were significantly higher in specimens of group of patients affected by multidirectional shoulder instability in comparison to the other two groups. Conclusion. Data of the present study confirmed the presence of an age-related distribution of EFs in the human shoulder capsule. The greater amount of EFs observed in younger subjects and in unstable shoulders could play an important role in predisposing the joint to first dislocation and recurrence

Correction for potentially inappropriate prescribing can increase specificity when using drug prescriptions as an adjunct to diagnostic codes to assess comorbidities in older patients

Background: Comorbidities are a growing problem in older patients in many clinical settings, but electronic records may give an unsatisfactory picture of this complexity. Analysis of drug prescriptions can add further diagnostic information to that gathered from billing diagnostic codes, but the risk exhists that potentially inappropriate prescriptions may lead to over-estimating comorbidities. Methods: We analysed the administrative records and drug prescriptions of the 304 patients discharged during 2016 from a neurological rehabilitation unit. International Classification of Diseases – 9th revision diagnostic codes were matched with prescriptions at discharge, coded according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification. The codes of the prescriptions not explained by the diagnostic codes were recorded, grouped, corrected for potential inappropriate prescribing, and analysed. Results: Of the 304 patients, 295 had at least one prescribed drug not inferable from their diagnostic codes. The mean number of these prescriptions was 3.5 ± 1.9 per patient, and that of prescriptions remaining after correction for potentially inappropriate prescribing was 2.0 ± 1.5. The more frequent groups of potentially inappropriate medications were anti-acids, psychotropic drugs, laxatives, potassium supplements, cardiovascular drugs and lipid modifying agents. Administrative databases underestimate the complexity of older patients in neurological rehabilitation wards. More reliable data can be obtained by adding the analysis of drug prescriptions, but correction for potentially inappropriate prescription seems necessary to avoid an over-estimation of comorbidities

Prevention of mucositis in bone marrow transplantation: A double blind randomised controlled trial of sucralfate

Mucositis is still a leading side effect of high dose chemotherapy and irradiation delivered in autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. In this double blind randomised study, we tested the efficacy of sucralfate for the prevention of mucositis induced by such conditioning treatments. Treatment was started one day before conditioning regimen and patients were prospectively evaluated. The main endpoint was severe mucositis that was more frequent in the placebo group than in the sucralfate group (47% vs. 29%, P = 0.07). This trend was confirmed after adjustment on total body irradiation (TBI) (P = 0.06), the sole stratification parameter. Interestingly, patients receiving sucralfate showed a significant reduction of diarrhoea (25% vs. 53%, P = 0.005). Overall, the preventive administration of sucralfate appears to be an effective proce dure to diminish the occurrence of severe oral and intestinal mucositis in patients treated by high dose chemotherapy alone or combined with TBI before bone marrow transplantatio

A contribution to the Italian validation of the Parenting Interaction with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcome (PICCOLO)

Introduction. PICCOLO (Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes) is an observational instrument designed to assess four domains of parenting interactions that promote early child development (Affection, Responsiveness, Encouragement, and Teaching). Although PICCOLO has been validated in the United States for children as young as 4 months of age, the current focus is on parents with children aged between 10 and 47 months. This study contributes to the validation of the Italian translation of the PICCOLO by testing its psychometric properties and examining whether factors such as the child's age and child's sex are related to the four domains of parenting interactions. Methods. To these aims, 152 mothers of children aged 10-47 months from three Italian regions participated in the study. Results. Results indicate that the PICCOLO Italian version has acceptable inter-rater agreement, split-half reliability, and stability over time. Furthermore, the Italian version confirmed the robustness of the factor structure proposed in the original version. While there were no significant differences by child gender on the domains of parenting interactions, the Affection scores decreased with age. Discussion. Overall, these results demonstrate that the Italian version of the PICCOLO is a reliable measure of maternal interactions with children. The psychometric properties of the instrument make it appropriate for general research purposes and for assessment of parenting before and after support interventions