Observaciones sobre el proceso de conservación del cuerpo de la momia del Nevado del Chuscha

Fil: De Cicco, Carlos G.. Universidad Nacional de Cuy

Lower semicontinuity in GSBD for nonautonomous surface integrals

We provide a sufficient condition for lower semicontinuity of nonautonomous noncoercive surface energies defined on the space of $GSBD^p$ functions, whose dependence on the $x$-variable is $W^{1,1}$ or even $BV$: the notion of \emph{nonautonomous symmetric joint convexity}, which extends the analogous definition devised for autonomous integrands in \cite{FPS} where the conservativeness of the approximating vector fields is assumed. This condition allows to extend to our setting a nonautonomous chain formula in $SBV$ obtained in \cite{ACDD}, and this is a key tool in the proof of the lower semicontinuity result. This new joint convexity can be checked explicitly for some classes of surface energies arising from variational models of fractures in inhomogeneous materials

Restauración y conservación de una momia de altura : informe sobre control, tratamiento tanatopráxico parcial y tareas complementarias aplicadas a la "Momia Incaica del Cerro Aconcagua" (prov. Mendoza, Argentina)

En 2001 publicamos todas las investigaciones realizadas sobre el niño de 7 años ofrendado hace unos 500 años a las divinidades incaicas, hallado en 1985 en los flancos del cerro Aconcagua a 5.300 metros de altura. En la presente oportunidad se informa sobre un trabajo de carácter técnico efectuado en 2005 sobre esta momia (conservada en un freezer) con el fin de restaurarla, debido a que había quedado parcialmente dañada por efectos de la intervención practicada dos décadas antes con fines tanatológicos y de investigación biológica. Se detallan las sustancias utilizadas y los procedimientos -que consideramos novedosos y de valor metodológico que llevan a una restauración muy satisfactoria y contribuirá a la mejor conservación de este importante hallazgo antropológico.In 2001 we publish di the researches realized on the 7-year-oldchild ofrended approximately 500 years ago to the divinities incaicas, found in 1985 in the flanks of the hill Aconcagua to 5.300 meters of height. In the present opportunity it reports on a work of technical character effected in 2005 on this mummy (preserved in a freezer) in order to restore it, due to the fact that she had remained partially damaged by effects of the practised intervention two decades before with purposes tanatological and of biological research. The used substances and the procedures are detailed - that we consider to be new and of methodological value — that lead to a very satisfactory restoration and will contribute to the best conservation of this important anthropologic find.Fil: Allegretti, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de CuyoFil: De Cicco, Carlos G.. Universidad Nacional de CuyoFil: Schobinger, Juan. Universidad Nacional de Cuy

Olive leaf extract inhibits metastatic melanoma spread through suppression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition

Olive tree leaves are an abundant source of bioactive compounds with several beneficial effects for human health, including a protective role against many types of cancer. In this study, we investigated the effect of an extract, obtained from olive tree (Olea europaea L.) leaves (OLE), on proliferation, invasion, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) on metastatic melanoma, the highly aggressive form of skin cancer and the deadliest diseases. Our results demonstrated that OLE inhibited melanoma cells proliferation through cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptotic cell death. Moreover, OLE suppressed the migration, invasion, and colonies formation of human melanoma cells. Similar to our in vitro findings, we demonstrated that the oral administration of OLE inhibited cutaneous tumor growth and lung metastasis formation in vivo by modulating the expression of EMT related factors. In addition, the anti-proliferative and anti-invasive effects of OLE against melanoma were also related to a simultaneous targeting of mitogen-activated protein kinase and PI3K pathways, both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our findings suggest that OLE has the potential to inhibit the metastatic spread of melanoma cells thanks to its multifaceted mechanistic effects, and may represent a new add-on therapy for the management of metastatic melanoma

New insights on metal allergy in total joint arthroplasty

Metal allergy is an uncommon and not completely understood cause of failure in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). However, either immunopathology neither histologic studies clarified the mechanisms through which the metal ions could lead to the complications related to them. The lack of evidence around this topic also reflects the difficulties to diagnose the MRP in TJA. In fact, the diagnosis is generally based on the exclusion of other causes. Currently, skin-patch testing and lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) are being commonly used to investigate about metal hypersensitivity and a delayed type-IV hypersensitivity is the immuno-histologic response to metals involved in TJA loosening. A review of the recent publications about this topic has been made focusing on immunology, histopathology, and clinics to better understand a still debated topic in orthopedic practice

New threats for pediatric respiratory health: beware of vaping

Electronic cigarette (EC) was proposed on the market about 15 years ago as a harmless alternative to traditional combustion cigarettes (CC). Since then, EC and other electronic devices that deliver nicotine by simulating traditional smoking without combustion have achieved unexpected success, with around 80 million users worldwide by 2023. Such devices are commonly felt to be safer than CC, especially among adolescents, who are also the main target for aggressive marketing from the tobacco industry. Increasing evidence shows that e-liquids and vape contain toxicants and irritants and that acute and chronic vaping causes airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction and reduces responses to infections. Moreover, some studies have shown that second- and third-hand smoke, as well as in utero exposure, may cause detrimental effects to the airways and to health in general. Notably, the recent E-cigarette or Vaping use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) epidemic in the USA has shown that EC has higher acute toxicity than CC, while long-term effects are still not known. Since adolescents and children are often completely unaware of the health risks associated with vaping or of the potential presence of nicotine in e-liquids, pediatricians play a crucial role in educating them, in order to prevent vaping, as well as smoking. Pediatricians should always consider the possibility of vaping as the cause of unusual respiratory diseases, especially in adolescents. This narrative review paper briefly outlines the most recent data on EC and their effects on the airways, focusing on childhood and adolescence

Role of surgical setting and patients-related factors in predicting the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications after abdominal surgery

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the role of surgical setting (urgent vs. elective) and approach (open vs. laparoscopic) in affecting postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) prevalence in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After local Ethical Committee approval, 409 patients who had undergone abdominal surgery between January and December 2014 were included in the final analysis. PPCs were defined as the development of one of the following new findings: respiratory failure, pulmonary infection, aspiration pneumonia, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, atelectasis on chest X-ray, bronchospasm or un-planned urgent re-intubation. RESULTS: PPCs prevalence was greater in urgent (33%) vs. elective setting (7%) (chi(2) with Yates correction: 44; p=0.0001) and in open (6%) vs. laparoscopic approach (1.9%) (chi(2) with Yates correction: 12; p=0.0006). PPCs occurrence was positively correlated with in-hospital mortality (Biserial Correlation r=0.37; p=0.0001). Logistic regression showed that urgent setting (p=0.000), Ariscat (Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia) score (p=0.004), and age (p=0.01) were predictors of PPCs. A cutoff of 23 for Ariscat score was also identified as determining factor for PPCs occurrence with 94% sensitivity and 29% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing abdominal surgery in an urgent setting were exposed to a higher risk of PPCs compared to patients scheduled for elective procedures. Ariscat score fitted with PPCs prevalence and older patients were exposed to a higher risk of PPCs. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these result

Structural change of carbon supported Pt nanocatalyst subjected to a step-like potential cycling in PEM-FC

Abstract In this paper we present detailed X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations of the changes in the local geometric and electronic structure of Pt nanoparticles used as a cathode catalyst in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), working under controlled potential cycling conditions. The body of the results obtained suggests that in the first stage of \{PEMFC\} operation, small particle dissolution was a dominant process. Subsequent 100 h of work led to the progressive agglomeration of nanoparticles followed by a pronounced growth of the mean nanoparticle size. At the same time, high-quality \{XAFS\} spectra analysis demonstrated that negligible changes in structural local ordering and a slight increase in Pt 5d-electron density occurred during the whole \{FC\} operation period under consideration

Hollow-Core-Fiber Placement in Latency-Constrained Metro Networks with edgeDCs

We investigate the optimal placement of Hollow-Core Fibers (HCF) in latency-constrained metro networks with edgeDCs, performing physical-layer validation. Upgrading 24% of links to HCF reduces edgeDCs number by 29% compared to a network without HCFs