106 research outputs found
Evaluation of a time dependent air pollution model with a new vertical turbulent parameterization
The paper presents the evaluation of a model, with a new vertical eddy exchange parameterization, based on a general technique for solving the K-equation, using the truncated Gram-Charlier expansion (type A) of the concentration field and a finite set equations for the corresponding moments. The model can be applied routinely using as input simple ground-level meteorological data acquired by an automatic network. A performance evaluation is shown in the case of continuous emission from an elevated source in a variable boundary layer
Air quality modelling system over a central mediterranean region
This work presents a complex modelling system for air quality studies. The system couples meteorological models, emission preprocessors and dispersion models. Two meteorological models have been coupled in cascade: a mesoscale meteorological model and a 3D diagnostic micro-meteorological model, which is able to provide a realistic three-dimensional wind and temperature fields and two dimensional fields of boundary layer parameters. The emission data were obtained trough disaggregation of national emission inventory, by using a database related to all industrial sources, and through direct evaluation of road transport and biogenic emissions. Meteorological fields and emission data have been used by a photochemical model and by a Lagrangian puff dispersion model. The modelling system has been applied over Salento Peninsula, located in the south-east corner of Italy, in the Mediterranean central area in a real typical summer scenario.Este trabalho apresenta um complexo sitema de modelagem para estudos de qualidade do ar, acoplando modelos meteorológicos, preprocessadores de emissão e modelos de dispersão. Dois modelos meteorológicos foram acoplados em cascata: um modelo meteorológico de mesoescala e um modelo de diagnóstico micrometorólgico 3-D; capaz de gerar campos realísticos e tridimensionais de vento e temperatura e campos bidimensionais de parâmetros da camada limite planetária. Os dados de emissão foram obtidos do inventário nacional de emissão, que consiste em um banco de dados de todas as fontes industriais, e por estimativa direta da emissão de veículos e biogênica. Os campos meteorológicos e dados de emissão foram inseridos em um modelo fotoquímico e um modelo de dispersão puff-Lagrangeano. Todo o sistema foi então aplicado na Península de Salento, localizada no extremo sudeste da Itália, área central do Mar Mediterrâneo, para um cenário típico de verão
Asenapine in Clinical Practice: Responders Vs Non-responders
ntroduction Asenapine is a second-generation antipsychotic approved in Europe for the treatment of
manic or mixed episodes.
Objective To describe the clinical features of Asenapine responders and non-responders.
Methods A naturalistic, observational study is ongoing in patients treated with Asenapine. We have already
recruited 37 manic patients with a lifetime diagnosis of Bipolar I (BDI) or Schizoaffective Disorder referring
to our Psychiatric Ward. Patients are assessed with the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) at baseline
(T0), and after 1 (T1) and 4 weeks (T2) of treatment. According to YMRS scores, patients are classified as
responders and non-responders.
Results The preliminary results highlight a significant improvement of the YMRS score from T0 to T2 in
most patients. Asenapine seems particularly effective in patients with less severe manic symptoms, and
responders are more likely to have lower baseline YMRS score. No correlation has currently emerged
between responder status and diagnosis. Non-responders in our sample are females sharing some clinical
features: early onset BDI diagnosis, several previous treatments (antipsychotics, mood stabilizers), initial
cognitive impairment confirmed with the Mini Mental State Examination, Alzheimer Disease Assessment
Scale and neuroimaging.
Conclusions Elderly manic patients with neurological impairment and/or dementia may have poorer
therapeutic outcomes and poorer response to pharmacological treatment, which may prove effective in
reducing agitation but not mania ratings. Diagnosis (BDI or schizoaffective disorder) does not seem to have
a significant impact on Asenapine efficacy. The further recruitment and assessment of patients is expected
to support the results described above
Asenapine Effects On Peroxidation and Calcium Movements in HL-1 Cells
Introduction Bipolar patients are at higher risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than their
counterparts in the general population. In a recent in vitro study, Asenapine, a new antipsychotic for the
treatment of mania/mixed mania, was found to keep physiological endothelial function by activation of
eNOS-related NO release and to protect endothelial cells against peroxidation by interference with
mitochondria, apoptosis and cell survival.
Objectives To examine the cardiac protective effects elicited by Asenapine against peroxidation and on the
Ca2+ movements.
Methods In HL-1 that had undergone oxidative stress by 20 min hydrogen peroxide the effects of 30 min
pre-treatment with Asenapine on survival and proliferation will be examined. In Fura-2AM loaded HL-1 we will
next analyze the effects of Asenapine on Ca2+ movements and the related involvement of cAMP/PKA and
PLC pathways, CaMKII, L and T type Ca2+ channels and 5HT1A receptors. The role of 'capacitative” Ca2+
entry, plasma-membrane Ca2+ pump inhibitor (PMCA) and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger will be analyzed.
Changes of membrane potential caused by interference with K+ channels will be examined, as well.
Results We expect to find a proliferative and anti-peroxidative effect of Asenapine in HL-1 cells. Asenapine
could also affect Ca2+ movements through cAMP/PKA and PLC-dependent signalling and the involvement
of 5HT1A receptors. The effects of Asenapine could also be related to changes of plasma membrane by
interference with K+ channels and the modulation of PMCA activity and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger.
Conclusions We expect to further confirm the protective effect of Asenapine against peroxidative
injuries.Implications will be discusse
Feeling Through the Body: Alexithymia and Eating Disorders
INTRODUCTION
Alexithymia is characterized by difficulties identifying and communicating feelings, and problems
differentiating between feelings and bodily sensations; its concrete cognitive style focused on the external
environment is typical of psychosomatic patients. Patients with eating disorders (EDs) have high levels of
alexithymia, particularly difficulties identifying and describing their feelings.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of our study are (1) to assess the alexythimia, emotional empathy, facial emotion identification
skills and social inference abilities in a sample of ED patients; (2) to compare these variables between ED
patients and healthy controls (HC); and (3) to correlate levels of alexithymia with the severity of the ED as
measured by the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3) EDRC score in the ED group.
METHODS
ED (N=42) and HC (N=42) were tested with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Eating Disorder
Inventory (EDI-3), Facial Emotion Identification Test (FEIT), The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT)
and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI).
RESULTS
Data collection is being completed and the results’ analysis is ongoing. We expect the ED sample to show
greater alexythimia and a poorer performance at FEIT and TASIT than HCs. We expect to find a linear
correlation between the TAS-20 and EDRC score.
CONCLUSION
A better understanding of the role of alexithymia in ED etiology and maintenance might allow the
development of targeted treatment approaches to help patients improve their skills in identifying and
expressing emotions
Il bilancio integrato per le PMI
Accanto ai capitali finanziario e produttivo, ogni impresa
fonda il proprio business e il proprio successo anche su
risorse intangibili, quali il capitale intellettuale, il capitale
umano, il capitale sociale e relazionale ed il capitale
naturale. Il tradizionale bilancio economico-finanziario,
però, non è adatto a valutare e rappresentare tali risorse,
poiché è stato concepito con riferimento ad un’economia
industriale fondata pressoché esclusivamente su capitali
tangibili; pertanto, anche avuto riguardo alla realtà delle
PMI, si rende oggi necessario introdurre nuovi strumenti
e nuovi indicatori per la misurazione e la rendicontazione,
che siano in grado di cogliere e valorizzare anche le
componenti immateriali del capitale aziendale. In questo
contesto, il bilancio integrato si pone come una forma
evoluta di comunicazione aziendale, finalizzata ad
illustrare come strategia, governance, modello di
business, rapporti con gli stakeholder, performance
passate e prospettive future, rischi e opportunità
consentano anche ad un’impresa di piccole e medie
dimensioni di creare valore nel breve, medio e lungo
termine
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