Case history : a magnetic and GPR prospection on a Roman rural villa in western Piedmont (Italy )

To explore an archaeological site in western Piedmont we proceed to a multimethod survey using fast methods and taking also into account the information achievable after a 2D or 3D data processing and/or rendering. This choice restricted the methodologies to magnetic and GPR prospecting. The non contact resistance imaging, in our opinion, still gives too smeared results even if indicative of resistivity anomalies. We selected the magnetic prospecting because of the remarkable size of some of the walls actually excavated even if, as we explain in the geological context, the probability of collecting a significant amount of noise was high

Rancang Bangun Animasi 3 Dimensi Budaya Passiliran

Suku Toraja adalah suku yang masih memegang erat adat istiadat mereka dari zaman dahulu hingga kini, namun ada juga kebiasaan leluhur mereka yang telah ditinggalkan seperti budaya Passiliran akibat perkembangan zaman yang begitu pesat serta masuknya Injil di Tana Toraja. Passiliran adalah tradisi menguburkan mayat bayi yang belum tumbuh gigi susunya di batang pohon Pina. Dengan adanya animasi 3 dimensi tentang budaya Passiliran leluhur masyarakat Toraja, masyarakat bisa mendapatkan informasi tambahan mengenai budaya-budaya dari masyarakat Toraja yang tidak diketahui oleh banyak orang. Proses produksi film animasi 3 dimensi ini menggunakan metode Sutopo yang dikembangkan dari metode Luther dimana pada metode ini terdapat 6 langkah atau tahapan secara garis besar, yaitu: Consept, Design, Material Collecting, Assembly, Testing, dan Distribution. Dalam animasi 3 dimensi budaya Passiliran ini terdapat 6 scene utama dan 2 scene tambahan. Objek-objek yang telah selesai dibuat akan ditata sesuai dengan kebutuhan pada masing-masing scene. Setiap scene yang telah dibuat akan di render kedalam bentuk potongan-potongan gambar terlebih dahulu kemudian ketika semua frame telah selesai di render, semua frame disatukan menjadi satu file video. Untuk musik dan narasi disesuaikan setelah seluruh file video dari setiap scene telah masuk pada final editing. Animasi 3 dimensi ini berhasil dibuat, namun yang perlu ditingkatkan adalah dari segi tampilan gambar. Ketika proses rigging pada karakter, diharapkan pada para animator agar lebih sabar dan teliti dalam menentukan banyaknya jumlah frame per langkah agar gerakan yang dihasilkan bisa lebih halus

Influencia de especies leñosas en el crecimiento aéreo de gramíneas perennes en pastizales semiáridos del centro de Argentina

The interaction between woody and grass species in semi-arid rangelands of central Argentina was assessed through the evaluation of the impact of woody species on grass growth over a 2-y period. The study comprised two morpho-physiologically different woody species and two cool-season perennial grass species highly preferred by domestic livestock. The study involved the assessment of total green length (TGL) and number of green leaves (NGL) per tiller in grasses growing beneath the canopy of woody species and in open rangeland areas. Soil temperature, pH and water, nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter content were estimated at the same study sites. Precipitation during the study period was also recorded. Woody species induced higher TGL of grasses growing beneath their canopy when rainfall was near or above the long-term average for the study site and had no effect on NGL. Nitrogen and organic matter content of soils beneath the canopy of woody species were higher than values in open areas, while differences in the other soil parameters were scarce. Overall, the results of the present study suggest that woody species exert a facilitative effect on perennial grass species in semi-arid rangelands of central Argentina.La interacción entre especies leñosas y gramíneas en pastizales semiáridos del centro de Argentina fue evaluada a través del impacto de las especies leñosas sobre el crecimiento de las gramíneas durante un período de dos años. El estudio involucró a dos especies leñosas de diferentes características morfo-fisiológicas y a dos gramíneas perennes de ciclo otoño-inverno-primaveral altamente preferidas por el ganado doméstico. Se determinó la longitud total verde (LTV) y número de verdes hojas (NHV) por macolla en plantas de las gramíneas creciendo bajo la canopia de las especies leñosas y en sitios abiertos del pastizal; mientras que, la temperatura del suelo, pH y contenido de agua, nitrógeno, fósforo y materia orgánica se estimaron en los mismos sitios. También se registró la precipitación durante el período de estudio. Las gramíneas que crecieron bajo la canopia de las especies leñosas tuvieron mayor LTV cuando la precipitación fue similar o superior al promedio histórico del sitio de estudio; sin embargo, no se detectaron diferencias en el NHV. El contenido de nitrógeno y de materia orgánica en el suelo debajo de la canopia de las especies leñosas fue mayor que en los sitios abiertos; mientras que, las diferencias en los otros parámetros del suelo fueron escasas y las posibles causas de ello son discutidas. En general, los resultados del presente estudio sugieren que las especies leñosas ejercen un efecto facilitador sobre las gramíneas perennes en los pastizales semiáridos del centro de Argentina.Fil: Blazquez, Francisco Ruben. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida(i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Peláez, D. V.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida(i); Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Andrioli, Romina Jessica. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Elia, Omar Raul. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida(i); Argentin

AB0563 DISCONTINUATION OF ANTI-TNFα IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: A SINGLE-CENTER EXPERIENCE

Background:TNF inhibitors have been largely demonstrated to be effective and reasonably safe for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Current EULAR guidelines recommend the use of an anti-TNF as first choice treatment in patients with PsA for whom a synthetic DMARD (usually methotrexate or leflunomide) is not efficacious or not well tolerated [1]. In a scenario where biologic treatments are easily available, and the treat to target strategy is widely accepted, a complete disease remission or at least a minimal disease activity are considered realistic goals to be achieved in a growing proportion of patients [2]. However, there remains very little research regarding anti-TNF discontinuation in patients who achieved a complete remission [3-5].Objectives:The primary aim of this study was to measure the disease-free interval after anti-TNF discontinuation, secondary it was investigated whether the use of Power Doppler Ultrasound (PDUS) and Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) could improve the diagnostic accuracy in the recognition of the relapse. Finally, we wanted to characterize the clinical features of the disease recurrence.Methods:From June 2018, 35 patients with PsA (27 males and 8 female) treated with anti-TNF, in stable remission were prospectively monitored for 1 year after treatment discontinuation. Remission was defined as documented absence of clinical and ultrasonographic signs of arthritis or enthesitis. Complete rheumatological and dermatological examinations were performed in all participants, at baseline and every 8-12 weeks: American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 66-68 joint count; Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI); patient pain visual analog score (VAS); patient global disease activity VAS; Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ); Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI); Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI); Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI); Power Doppler Ultrasound (PDUS) of the involved joints and entheses, Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) of a selected joint or enthesis and laboratory inflammation tests.Results:31 out of the 35 enrolled patients, experienced a disease recurrence with an average disease-free interval of 27.9±21.1 weeks (Figure 1). In 3 patients the treatment was restored for a relapse of the skin psoriasis, 8 patients reported only axial symptoms of disease relapse and 20 patients had both axial and peripheral joints involvement (average DAPSA score of 23.6±11.1; average BASDAI score of 4.7±2.6; average BASFI score 4.5±2.9). In all cases the disease flare was moderate and all patients promptly regained remission after restarting the treatment. Both PDUS and CEUS were safe and reliable showing a good percentage of accordance (95,4%) in detecting synovitis and enthesitis.Conclusion:The rate of disease relapse of PsA after anti-TNF discontinuation is relevant. However the disease-free interval was not short. Retreatment with the same anti-TNF was effective and safe.References:[1]Gossec L, Baraliakos X, Kerschbaumer A, et al. EULAR recommendations for the management of psoriatic arthritis with pharmacological therapies: 2019 update. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020 Jun;79(6):700-712.[2]Dures E, Shepperd S, Mukherjee S, et al. Treat-to-target in PsA: methods and necessity. RMD Open. 2020 Feb;6(1):e001083.[3]Stober C, Ye W, Guruparan T, et al. Prevalence and predictors of tumour necrosis factor inhibitor persistence in psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2018 Jan 1;57(1):158-163.[4]Huynh DH, Boyd TA, Etzel CJ, et al. Persistence of low disease activity after tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) discontinuation in patients with psoriatic arthritis. RMD Open. 2017 Jan 16;3(1):e000395.[5]Ye W, Tucker LJ, Coates LC. Tapering and Discontinuation of Biologics in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis with Low Disease Activity. Drugs. 2018 Nov;78(16):1705-1715.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Xi and AntiXi production in Pb+Pb collisions at 40 AGeV at CERN SPS

First results on the production of Xi and AntiXi hyperons in Pb+Pb interactions at 40 AGeV are presented. The AntiXi/Xi ratio at midrapidity is studied as a function of collision centrality. The ratio shows no significant centrality dependence within statistical errors; it ranges from 0.07 to 0.15. The AntiXi/Xi ratio for central Pb+Pb collisions increases strongly with the collision energy.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, proceedings of SQM03, to be published in Journal of Physics G; V2: changes in table 1 and figure

Quality of life after tailored combined surgery for stage I non-small-cell lung cancer and severe emphysema

Background. We analyzed the early and long-term quality of life changes occurring in 16 patients undergoing tailored combined surgery for stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and severe emphysema. Methods. Mean age was 65 +/- 5 years. All patients had severe emphysema with severely impaired respiratory function and quality of life. Tumor resection was performed with sole lung volume reduction (LVR) in 5 patients, separate wedge resection in 3 patients, segmentectomy in 2 patients, and lobectomy in 6 patients. A bilateral LVR was performed in 5 patients. Quality of life was assessed at baseline and every 6 months postoperatively by the Short-form 36 (SF-36) item questionnaire. Results. Mean follow-up was 44 +/- 21 months. All tumors were pathologic stage I. There was no hospital mortality nor major morbidity. Significant improvements occurred for up to 36 months in the general health (p = 0.02) domain and for up to 24 months in physical functioning (p = 0.02), role physical (p = 0.005), and general health (P = 0.01) SF-36 domains. Associated improvements regarded dyspnea index (-1.3 +/- 0.6) forced expiratory volume in one second (+0.28 +/- 0.2L), residual volume (-1.18 +/- 0.5L) and 6-minute-walking test distance (+86 +/- 67 m). Actuarial 5-year survival was similar to that of patients with no cancer undergoing LVRS during the same period (68% vs 82%, p = not significant). Conclusions. Our study suggests that selected patients with stage I NSCLC and severe emphysema may significantly benefit from tailored combined surgery in terms of long-term quality of life and survival. (Ann Thorac Surg 2003;76:1821-7