Euromediterranean Biomedical Journal: the renewed journal of young doctors aims even higher.

In January 2006, a new journal, Capsula Eburnea, was born in the Italian scientific pub-lishing scene, with the initial goal of creating, at the same time, “an open scientific forum and a blog”. Until December 2009, the vast majority of manuscripts was still published in Italian, restricting the number of readers. From the end of 2009, the journal has undergone extensive changes, becoming indexed in the main scientific search engines (Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journal, Google Scholar, Ulrich Periodical Directory), and renewing its Editorial Team with a role reassign-ment and expanding the Editorial Board to up to 40 young doctors with proven scientific experience from 15 countries around the world, working as researchers, PhD students, senior medical staff, research fellows or doctors in specialist training. Finally, the journal has progressively encouraged the publication of articles in English, through an endorsed English translation service provided by native English speaking translators. This service became mandatory for all peer-reviewed articles accepted by the Journal in 2011. At the same time, the Editorial Board unanimously decreed to change the name of the journal into “Euromediterranean Biomedical Journal for young doctors (formerly: Capsula Eburnea)” from January 2012. Today, the journal is fully open access (including the archives of Capsula Eburnea) with the possibility to download articles for free, and the publication process involves a blind peer review of each article by at least two scientists. During its first two years of activity, the Euromediterranean Biomedical Journal (EMBJ) published 48 scientific articles (17 origi-nal articles, 14 reviews, 13 case report, two technical reports and two commentaries) and one edition of Conference Proceedings

Phenotypic heterogeneity of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults identified by body composition analysis

Background: In patients with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) a lower body mass index was reported compared with classical type 2 diabetes (T2D), and was found to be associated with a faster progression to insulin-dependence. In this study we determined the body composition in a cohort of LADA patients from Sardinia, Italy, and compared it with age– and gender–matched patients diagnosed as having adult-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) and non-autoimmune T2D. Methods: In 210 LADA patients, 210 T2D patients and 30 adult-onset T1D patients of Sardinian origin we assessed total and segmental body composition (weight-adjusted percent fat mass and lean mass) by using Dual Energy X-rays Absorptiometry (DXA). Results: In the whole cohort of LADA patients total fat mass was significantly smaller compared with T2D patients (p &lt; 0.0001), while no difference was found between LADA and T1D patients. In LADA men fat depletion involved all body segments, while in LADA women it was observed only in the truncal segment (p &lt; 0.0001), as in the upper and lower regions fat deposits were larger compared to T2D (p &lt; 0.0001). However, LADA women showed a significantly elevated truncal fat compared to T1D women (p &lt; 0.004), whereas no difference was detected in the extremities. Conclusions: Body composition in LADA patients shows substantial difference, in a gender-dependent way, compared to classic T2D. In women fat deposits tend to accumulate in peripheral regions rather than centrally, whereas in men the distribution is more homogeneous. In addition, central fat depletion in LADA women appears to be a significant predictor of faster progression to insulin dependence. Thus, routine assessment of body composition may help the physician identify LADA patients who require early insulin treatment in order to delay beta-cell exhaustion, as well those with increased CV risk due to excess truncal adiposity.</br

Trapped vortex cell for aeronautical applications: flow analysis through PIV and Wavelet transform tools

Results of the application of a trapped vortex cell to an airfoil with the aim of improving the aerodynamic performances are presented for two complementary experiments arranged at CIRA and at Politecnico di Torino. In the CIRA experiments, PIV measurements on a simplified configuration were carried out to characterize the trapped vortical structure and its effect on the separating flow downstream of the cell. In the experimental investigation at Politecnico di Torino, static pressure distributions were measured around a complete airfoil model, to yield lift and pitching moment coefficients. Wake surveys were also carried out to measure the drag. To study the unsteady phenomena inside the cavity pressure fluctuations signals were also investigated using Kulite sensors. In both experiments, the angle of attack of the airfoil and the Reynolds number were varied. It is shown that the flow inside the cell is highly unsteady with significant shedding of flow structures downstream. This phenomenon results in a large region of separated flow, in higher drag and lower lift. By contrast, the cell flow is considerably stabilized and regularized by applying distributed suction over the cell wall. As a result, the flow downstream of the cell reattaches and lower drag and larger lift are observed

A case of pulmonary edema: The critical role of lung-heart integrated ultrasound examination.

Cardiogenic pulmonary edema is a common presentation of acute heart failure normally treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), diuretics and nitrates. This therapy is contraindicated in case of cardiac tamponade. We describe a case of pulmonary edema due to cardiac tamponade in which integrated lung-heart ultrasound examination allowed prompt diagnosis and pericardiocentesis before administration of CPAP thus avoiding circulatory collapse

Distribuzione e abbondanza della stigofauna nell\'habitat ipogeo di natura fratturato,nella zona di Nardò (Puglia)

ItLa falda sotterranea nei pressi di Nardò (LE)è stata costantemente monitorata dal CNR-IRSA di Bari a partire dal 1997 e,dal 2001 sono state effettuate le ricerche dei parametri microbiologici di contaminazione fecale.Il Laboratorio Ipogeo Salentino di Biospeleologia “Sandro Ruffo ”ha campionato la fauna sotterranea nelle stesse aree esaminando tre categorie ecologiche:stigosseni,stigo &#64257;li e stigobionti. Gli autori hanno voluto veri &#64257;care la sensibilità della stigofauna alle variazioni delle qualità ambientali dell’habitat ipogeo quali cambi di temperatura dell’acqua,di salinità,pH o composizione chimica,tenuto conto che questi organismi partecipano attivamente ai processi degradativi.Dalla ricerca emerge che il misidaceo Spelaeomysis bottazzii non può essere utilizzato come indicatore biologico in quanto è stato ritrovato sia in siti contaminati che in zone non contaminate.EnThe ground water quality at the Nardò (LE)site has been continuously monitored by CNR-IRSA since 1997,and after 2001 also by considering pathogenic indicators due to fecal ground water pollution.In the same area,the Laboratorio Ipogeo Salentino di Biospeleologia “Sandro Ruffo ” sampled the underground fauna and three ecological categories were examined:stygoxenes,stygophiles and stygobi- onts.The authors aimed to check the stygofauna sensitivity to hypogeous habitat changes due to environmental stresses such as water temperature,water salinity, pH or chemical constituents,though they are active organisms which contribute to the biodegradation.Here the possible relationship between sampled aquatic organ- isms and ground water pollution has been focused.The results showed that Spe- laeomysis bottazzii cannot be useful as biological indicator,because the species lives in both contaminated and non-contaminated ground waters

Friction drag measurements in turbulent wall flows

Results of an experimental investigation devoted to the assessment of methodologies aimed at the friction drag measurement in turbulent wall flows are presented. Two techniques for local measurements have been developed. Namely, different versions of the velocity profile method have been used for a turbulent boundary layer developing on a flat plate. The oil flow interferometer has been arranged and results related with measurements performed in a fully developed turbulent channel flow and in the turbulent boundary layer are presented. Moreover a balance based on a floating-buoyancy system finalized to the integral measurement of the friction force acting on the flat plate is presented. The results of the three techniques are compared considering as a reference a well assessed empirical law. Good level of measurement accuracy using the balance has been evidenced highlighting the capability of the balance or the characterization of micro-grooved surfaces addressed for friction drag reduction applications

Distribution of sources and transfer of tools made of quartz from the Sierras of Córdoba, Argentina

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados del análisis de fuentes de cuarzo, del material recuperado en tres canteras taller, denominadas Arroyo La Mina 1 (CALM1), Arroyo El Vigilante 1 (CAEV1) y Arroyo El Tabaquillo 1 (CAET1) ubicadas en las sierras de Córdoba y de una colección de instrumentos procedente de cuatro sitios de la microrregión del sur de Punilla. La metodología consistió, por un lado, en prospecciones, relevamientos y recolecciones superficiales en los sitios cantera taller; y, por el otro lado, en el análisis lítico a partir de aproximaciones tecno- morfológicas. El estudio de las fuentes de cuarzo demuestra la importancia que ha tenido este recurso en la confección de instrumentos y bifaces en el pasado. Esta materia prima, que incluye la variedad hialina o cristal de roca, alcanza una distribución hacia las zonas de fondo de valle, manifestada por la presencia de puntas de proyectil características del Holoceno tardío final.This paper presents the results of the analysis carried out on quartz sources of the material recovered in three workshop qu arries: Arroyo La Mina 1 (CALM1), Arroyo El Vigilante 1 (CAEV1) and Arroyo El Tabaquillo 1 (CAET1) located in Córdoba ranges, and of a collection of tools from four sites of the micro region of southern Punilla. The methodology consisted in, on the one hand, field surveys and surface collections in quarry-workshop areas and on the other hand, in lithic analysis from techno-morphological approaches. The study of quartz sources reveals the importance that this resource has had in the manufacture of tools and bifaces in the past. This raw material, that includes the hyaline variety or rock crystal, reaches a distribution towards the valley floor areas displayed by the presence of projectile points typical of the final late Holocene.Sociedad Argentina de Antropologí

La destinazione dei beni confiscati alle mafie nell'Unione Europea

The volume compares the legislation and the application practice regarding administration and destination in the EU. Then the main experiences of social reuse and reuse regimes are presented, with a focus on the Italian (direct social reuse) and French (indirect social reuse) cases