Correlation between retinal function and microstructural foveal changes in intermediate age related macular degeneration

Purpose: To assess foveal microstructural changes influencing retinal sensitivity (RS) and fixation stability using microperimeter MP-1 in intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 22 eyes of 22 patients (mean age: 75 ± 9.02 years) with intermediate AMD were enrolled. Retinal sensitivity and bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA) were obtained by microperimetry MP-1 (Humphrey 10-2 68-loci grid) under mesopic conditions. Drusen type, drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment, hyperreflective foci (HF), integrity of external limiting membrane (ELM), inner ellipsoid zone (ISel), RPE/Bruch’s mem- brane complex (RPE/B) and subfoveal choroidal thickness were analyzed in the foveal region and compared with RS and BCEA. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationship between variables. Logistic regression analysis was also used to assess morphological predictor influencing RS or BCEA. Results: RS was strongly and inversely related with the presence of HF (r = −0.66, P = 0.001), integrity of ELM (r = −0.70, P < 0.001), ellipsoid zone (r = −0.45, P = 0.03). Instead, BCEA is positively related to the ellipsoid zone integrity (r = 0.45, P = 0.03). Logistic regression analysis confirmed that disruption of ISel influenced fixation stability (ExpB: 9.69, P = 0.04) but not RS. Instead, the presence of HF and disruption of ELM predicted RS reduction (ExpB: 0.55, P = 0.02 and ExpB: 0.29, P = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions: The integrity of ELM and the presence of HF are both predictors of RS. The ELM status may be con- sidered a new biomarker of retinal function together with HF. Instead, the integrity of ISel band seems to be a more selective predictor of BCEA than RS

The city when it trembles. Earthquake destructions, post-earthquake reconstructions and grid configuration

Two different (yet tightly connected and complementary) wide issues appear to crisscross in this research. The first one is the general question of urban resilience, assumed in its relational meaning: the capacity of an urban system, thanks to the features of its spatial elements, to take abruptly imposed transformations, without significantly changing their mutual relations and hence the whole urban geography: and the transformation imposed by an earthquake (its destruction as well as the successive reconstruction) are undoubtedly sudden and abrupt. A discussion will hence be aimed at determining some configurational parameters, suitable for reproducing the capability of a spatial system to sustain sudden changes and yet to retain its inner working mechanisms. The second theme more specifically concerns the matter of earthquakes, and will here be aimed at investigating the effect of a seismic event on the inner geography of an urban settlement, thus verifying on several case studies the effects of an earthquake as well as the reliability of space syntax to describe their actual resilience. Summing all up, this paper aims at pinpointing the configurational features, if any, suitable for reproducing and accounting for the level of resilience a settlement is provided with, and - afterwards - at testing them on urban cases actually affected by earthquake destructions. The main case study here assumed is the settlement of L’Aquila, in Italy, with reference to the devastating earthquake of April, 6th 2009. The configuration analysis has been applied to the spatial consistencies respectively referred to three distinct phases: - beforetheearthquake; - soonaftertheearthquake(temporary,butstillpresentsituation); - after the earthquake, definitive (yet distant to come) situation, including the forthcoming reconstruction of the perished areas and the new development areas (at L’Aquila, the so-called ‘CASE’ project). Some significant outcome can be drawn. First, this approach allows highlighting the dramatic transformation an earthquake, like other natural disasters, is likely to cause to the inner geography of a settlement, upsetting the distribution of movement flows and the levels of attractiveness and centrality. Even more, the configurational analysis will reveal the likely effects the reconstruction and rehabilitation plans and projects on the variables of the urban system, over and above the fulfilment of recovery claim and the housing supplying. More in general, it will report the far-reaching and long-lasting relevance of urban plans worked out in emergency situation, under the pressure of need and urgency. On such basis, the method is here proposed as a suitable tool for supporting and orienting the temporary (yet often enduring) post-earthquake phase as well as the successive reconstruction planning

Managing Accessibility — The Configurational Approach to the Inclusive Design of Urban Spaces

This paper concerns the theme of the universal accessibility to urban spaces, proposing the contribution of configurational approach to their inclusive design. Several questions persuade that a merely functional approach, essentially based on the position of the located activities, cannot be said satisfying: only a configurational approach can account for the effects of the grid configuration on the actual accessibility of its spaces. This research focuses on Italian urban settlements, which appear as ideal case studies, due to the typical consistency of their urban spaces, which, especially in the inner historical cores, are densely build, geometrically irregular and hence generally far from actually providing a universal material accessibility. Here the impedance of space is much more than a theoretical hypothesis and concrete interventions are generally requested to eliminate or reduce its barriers and to make space actually and safely usable. Rather than at indicating the technical solution of single urban problems, which of course are strongly different each other, the research aims at defining a method suitable for any local context. Such method, integrating into a reliable tool the configurational vision with the functional and interactional approach, will provide a hierarchy of urban spaces with reference to the necessity of their universal accessibility

Evaluation of the progression of visual field damage in patients suffering from early manifest glaucoma

Abstract BACKGROUND: This retrospective study aimed to determine how often a perimetric examination should be carried out in order to identify visual field (VF) changes in patients with relatively early manifestation glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients included had a relatively recent manifestation of primary open-angle glaucoma. Patients with a minimum follow-up of 5 years and a minimum of seven VF tests were included. Statistical analysis was performed to verify the trend of variations in mean defect (MD) over time (PeriData). The results were subjected to a t-test for a comparative analysis of progression of VF changes over time. The annual rate of progression provided by PeriData considering all the VFs analyzed was compared with that obtained on half of the VF examinations during the same follow-up period. An analysis of the MD trend over time was also carried out in relationship to the number of VF tests done and by dividing the sample into a high-frequency group (more than eight VFs) and a low-frequency group (fewer than eight VFs) in the follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 96 eyes of 96 patients were included, and overall 846 VFs were examined. The paired t-test performed comparing the MD index of all the VFs against half of them did not show statistical significance (P=0.537). The high-frequency group comprised 39 eyes (average VF 11.05±1.91, average time interval 0.76 years) while the low-frequency group comprised 57 eyes (average VF 6.95±0.6, average time interval 1.21 years). The analysis of the MD trend in the high-frequency patients showed significance (P=0.017); the low-frequency group did not show statistical significance (P=0.08). CONCLUSION: The number of VFs in a determined time interval was not significant. However, a greater frequency of tests provides a predictive evaluation of the rate of progression of early manifestation open-angle glaucoma

On the slopes of Vesuvius: configuration as a thread between hazard and opportunity

This paper focuses on the urban agglomeration that has gone growing up along the centuries on the western side of Vesuvius, a still active and fearsome volcano, few kilometres southeast from Naples. In view of the dimension of the agglomeration and of the spontaneous and unplanned way it has been growing, the purpose is to investigate on the actual role Vesuvius – as an element of both danger and richness – has gone assuming in the urban self-organization. This paper will analyse the grid configuration of the whole settlement, in order to discuss the way Mount Vesuvius has been interiorized (if it actually has been) in the spatial choices and behaviour of the local communities so as to benefit from its presence and to co-exist with its threat. Three major results are expected from the findings: to examine and verify the actual resilience of the whole agglomeration, so as to evaluate the extent to which the concern and alarm are actually justified; to analyse the configurational state of the system in order to pinpoint possible actions for risk mitigation; more in general, and aside from the case of the Vesuvius area, to evaluate how risk from natural hazard is spontaneously mitigated in self-organized urban spaces; and if self-organized urban structures, when exposed to natural hazards, really work better than we may think or fear

Analysis of the Spectral Energy Distributions of Fermi bright blazars

Blazars are a small fraction of all extragalactic sources but, unlike other objects, they are strong emitters across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. In this study we have conducted a detailed investigation of the broad-band spectral properties of the gamma-ray selected blazars of the Fermi-LAT Bright AGN Sample (LBAS). By combining the accurately estimated Fermi gamma-ray spectra with Swift, radio, NIR-Optical and hard-X/gamma-ray data, collected within three months of the LBAS data taking period, we were able to assemble high-quality and quasi-simultaneous Spectral Energy Distributions (SED) for 48 LBAS blazars.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, "2009 Fermi Symposium", "eConf Proceedings C091122

Procedure and layout for the development of a fatigue test on an agricultural implement by a four poster test bench

The increasing demand in agricultural vehicles’ power requirements, payloads and driving speeds increases issues related to tractors and farm implements exposure to solicitations. One of the main factors to be taken into account for fatigue test developing on agricultural machines is the heterogeneity of the environment and activity in which the tractor operates. In particular, for contractors the use in transport conditions both on terrain and road becomes important. As far as transport is concerned. factors mainly affecting solicitations on carried implement are soil profile roughness, tractor settings and forward speed. In this paper, CRA-ING laboratory of Treviglio, Italy, together with Frandent Group s.r.l. (Osasco, Italy), analyse the possibility of creating a solicitation profile by means of one four poster test bench for fatigue test on a carried implement simulating transport conditions. Accelerations at the hubs of the tractor were acquired during transport on terrain and reproduced with one electro-hydraulic four posters test bench on one dummy of a tractor developed for carrying the implement. Artificial bumps were mathematically created and introduced in the time history to simulate squares solicitations. Twelve hours of test were carried out. This experience confirmed the possibility of carrying out laboratory fatigue test on agricultural implements by reproducing specific field conditions solicitations with four poster test bench