430 research outputs found
Lot-sizing with stock upper bounds and fixed charges
Here we study the discrete lot-sizing problem with an initial stock variable and an associated variable upper bound constraint. This problem is of interest in its own right, and is also a natural relaxation of the constant capacity lot-sizing problem with upper bounds and fixed charges on the stock variables. We show that the convex hull of solutions of the discrete lot-sizing problem is obtained as the intersection of two simpler sets, one involving just 0-1 variables and the second a mixing set with a variable upper bound constraint. For these two sets we derive both inequality descriptions and polynomial-size extended formulations of their respective convex hulls. Finally we carry out some limited computational tests on single-item constant capacity lot-sizing problems with upper bounds and fixed charges on the stock variables in which we use the extended formulations derived above to strengthen the initial mixed integer programming formulations.mixed integer programming, discrete lot-sizing, stock fixed costs, mixing sets
Propionibacterium avidum infection following breast reduction: high morbidity from a low-virulence pathogen
Propionibacterium avidum is a common inhabitant of sebaceous glands, traditionally considered to be of low virulence and generally found on implanted foreign material. We report a rare case of P. avidum breast abscess, causing severe morbidity following breast reduction surgery. A 36-year-old woman presented with a non-painful wound discharge 3 weeks postoperatively, and was treated conservatively. She was readmitted 7 weeks postoperatively with a red and tender breast. A purulent discharging abscess was drained under ultrasound guidance. A 2-week intravenous course of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, followed by oral replacement for a month resulted effective. Serial ultrasound imaging was useful in treatment decision-making. The infective potential of P. avidum may be underappreciated. Proximity of sutures to the axilla, tobacco smoking and the potential for resorbable sutures to host bacteria may predispose to infection, and should raise the clinician's awareness
LCA assessment related to the evolution of the earthquake performance of a strategic structure
Several buildings and infrastructures, located in urban areas, are identified as strategic in the case of an earthquake event. This is the case of a water treatment plant which is currently built in Genoa, Italy, and which has been assessed for the scope of this research. Since the structure has been designed following the seismic design prescriptions, this work aims to provide a preliminary assessment of how the degradation mechanisms do affect its earthquake response. To this purpose, both chloride attack and carbonation are taken into account as main degradation mechanisms. Moreover, due to the importance of the water treatment plant, to develop a realistic Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis, the earthquake resistance of the structure and its evolution over time as a function of the aforesaid degradation mechanisms, have been accounted as Serviceability Limit State to estimate the frequency of the maintenance activities needed in a timeframe of 100 years
One-Stage Coverage of Leg Region Defects with STSG Combined with VAC Dressing Improves Early Patient Mobilisation and Graft Take: A Comparative Study
Lower limb skin defects are very common and can result from a wide range of aetiologies. Split thickness skin graft (STSG) is a widely used method to address these problems. The role of postoperative dressing is primary as it permits one to apply a uniform pressure over the grafted area and promote adherence. Focusing on lower limb reconstruction, our clinical study compares the application of V.A.C. (Vacuum Assisted Closure) Therapy vs. conventional dressing in the immediate postoperative period following skin grafting. We included in the study all patients who received skin grafts on the leg region between January 2015 and December 2018, despite the aetiology of the defect. Only reconstructions with complete preoperative and postoperative follow-up data were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups depending on if they received a traditional compressive dressing or a VAC dressing in the immediate postoperative period. We could retain 92 patients, 23 in the No VAC group and 69 in the VAC group. The patients included in the VAC group showed a statistically significant higher rate of graft take together with a lower immobilisation time (p < 0.05). Moreover, a lower rate of postoperative infection was recorded in the VAC group. This study represents the largest in the literature to report in detail surgical outcomes comparing the use of VAC therapy vs. conventional dressing after STSG in the postoperative management of lower limb reconstruction using skin grafts. VAC therapy was used to secure the grafts in the leg region, increasing the early graft take rate while at the same time improving patient mobilisation
Spectrally resolved observations of atmospheric emitted radiance in the H2O rotation band
This paper presents the project Earth Cooling by Water
Vapor Radiation, an observational programme, which aims at
developing a database of spectrally resolved far infrared
observations, in atmospheric dry conditions, in order to
validate radiative transfer models and test the quality of water
vapor continuum and line parameters. The project provides
the very first set of far-infrared spectral downwelling
radiance measurements, in dry atmospheric conditions,
which are complemented with Raman Lidar-derived
temperature and water vapor profiles
Characterization of atmospheric aerosol optical properties based on the combined use of a ground-based Raman lidar and an airborne optical particle counter in the framework of the Hydrological Cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment – Special Observation Period 1
Vertical profiles of the particle backscattering coefficient
at 355, 532 and 1064 nm measured by the University of Basilicata Raman
lidar system (BASIL) have been compared with simulated particle backscatter profiles obtained through a Mie
scattering code based on the use of simultaneous and almost co-located
profiles provided by an airborne optical particle counter. Measurements
were carried out during dedicated flights of the French research aircraft
ATR42 in the framework of the European Facility for Airborne Research (EUFAR)
project “WaLiTemp”, as part of the Hydrological Cycle in the Mediterranean
Experiment – Special Observation Period 1 (HyMeX-SOP1). Results from two
selected case studies are reported and discussed in the paper, and a dedicated analysis approach is illustrated and applied to the
dataset. Results reveal a good agreement between measured and simulated
multi-wavelength particle backscattering profiles. Specifically, simulated
and measured particle backscattering profiles at 355 and 532 nm for the second case study are found to
deviate less than 15 % (mean value =5.9 %) and 50 % (mean
value =25.9 %), respectively, when considering the presence of a
continental–urban aerosol component, while slightly larger deviation values are found for the first study. The reported good agreement between
measured and simulated multi-wavelength particle backscatter profiles
testifies to the ability of multi-wavelength Raman lidar systems to infer
aerosol types at different altitudes.</p
Human platelet lysate as a potential clinical-translatable supplement to support the neurotrophic properties of human adipose-derived stem cells
Background: The autologous nerve graft, despite its donor site morbidity and unpredictable functional recovery, continues to be the gold standard in peripheral nerve repair. Rodent research studies have shown promising results with cell transplantation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSC) in a bioengineered conduit, as an alternative strategy for nerve regeneration. To achieve meaningful clinical translation, cell therapy must comply with biosafety. Cell extraction and expansion methods that use animal-derived products, including enzymatic adipose tissue dissociation and the use of fetal bovine serum (FBS) as a culture medium supplement, have the potential for transmission of zoonotic infectious and immunogenicity. Human-platelet-lysate (hPL) serum has been used in recent years in human cell expansion, showing reliability in clinical applications.
Methods: We investigated whether hADSC can be routinely isolated and cultured in a completely xenogeneic-free way (using hPL culture medium supplement and avoiding collagenase digestion) without altering their physiology and stem properties. Outcomes in terms of stem marker expression (CD105, CD90, CD73) and the osteocyte/adipocyte differentiation capacity were compared with classical collagenase digestion and FBS-supplemented hADSC expansion.
Results: We found no significant differences between the two examined extraction and culture protocols in terms of cluster differentiation (CD) marker expression and stem cell plasticity, while hADSC in hPL showed a significantly higher proliferation rate when compared with the usual FBS-Added medium. Considering the important key growth factors (particularly brain-derived growth factor (BDNF)) present in hPL, we investigated a possible neurogenic commitment of hADSC when cultured with hPL. Interestingly, hADSC cultured in hPL showed a statistically higher secretion of neurotrophic factors BDNF, glial cell-derived growth factor (GDNF), and nerve-derived growth factor (NFG) than FBS-cultured cells. When cocultured in the presence of primary neurons, hADSC which had been grown under hPL supplementation, showed significantly enhanced neurotrophic properties.
Conclusions: The hPL-supplement medium could improve cell proliferation and neurotropism while maintaining stable cell properties, showing effectiveness in clinical translation and significant potential in peripheral nerve research
Brain morphology and immunohistochemical localization of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the bluefin tuna, <i>Thunnus thynnus</i>
The present study was focused on the morphology of the
diencephalic nuclei (likely involved in reproductive functions)
as well as on the distribution of GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing
hormone) in the rhinencephalon, telencephalon and the
diencephalon of the brain of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
by means of immunohistochemistry. Bluefin tuna has an
encephalization quotient (QE) similar to that of other large
pelagic fish. Its brain exhibits well-developed optic tecta and
corpus cerebelli. The diencephalic neuron cell bodies
involved in reproductive functions are grouped in two main
nuclei: the nucleus preopticus-periventricularis and the
nucleus lateralis tuberis. The nucleus preopticus-periventricularis
consists of the nucleus periventricularis and the nucleus
preopticus consisting of a few sparse multipolar neurons
in the rostral part and numerous cells closely packed and
arranged in several layers in its aboral part. The nucleus lateralis
tuberis is located in the ventral-lateral area of the
diencephalon and is made up of a number of large multipolar
neurones.
Four different polyclonal primary antibodies against salmon
(s)GnRH, chicken (c)GnRH-II (cGnRH-II 675, cGnRH-II 6)
and sea bream (sb)GnRH were employed in the immunohistochemical
experiments. No immunoreactive structures were
found with anti sbGnRH serum. sGnRH and cGnRH-II antisera
revealed immunoreactivity in the perikarya of the olfactory
bulbs, preopticus-periventricular nucleus, oculomotor
nucleus and midbrain tegmentum. The nucleus lateralis
tuberis showed immunostaining only with anti-sGnRH serum.
Nerve fibres immunoreactive to cGnRH and sGnRH sera were
found in the olfactory bulbs, olfactory nerve and neurohypophysis.
The significance of the distribution of the GnRHimmunoreactive
neuronal structures is discussed
Il trattamento ambulatoriale della patologia venosa degli arti inferiori con ablazione laser 1470 nm
Improved Selective Class i HDAC and Novel Selective HDAC3 Inhibitors: Beyond Hydroxamic Acids and Benzamides
The application of class I HDAC inhibitors as cancer therapies is well established, but more recently their development for nononcological indications has increased. We report here on the generation of improved class I selective human HDAC inhibitors based on an ethylketone zinc binding group (ZBG) in place of the hydroxamic acid that features the majority of HDAC inhibitors. We also describe a novel set of HDAC3 isoform selective inhibitors that show stronger potency and selectivity than the most commonly used HDAC3 selective tool compound RGFP966. These compounds are again based on an alternative ZBG with respect to the ortho-anilide that is featured in HDAC3 selective compounds reported to date
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