178 research outputs found
On the Feasibility of Creating Double-Identity Fingerprints
A double-identity fingerprint is a fake fingerprint created by combining features from two different fingers, so that it has a high chance to be falsely matched with fingerprints from both fingers. This paper studies the feasibility of creating double-identity fingerprints by proposing two possible techniques and evaluating to what extent they may be used to fool the state-of-the-art fingerprint recognition systems. The results of systematic experiments suggest that existing algorithms are highly vulnerable to this specific attack (about 90% chance of success at FAR = 0.1%) and that the fingerprint patterns generated might be realistic enough to fool human examiners
Morbidity of central neck dissection for papillary thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer has a very well-known propensity for nodal involvement, either in the central and lateral neck compartments. Neck dissection addressing the central compartment may be performed with an elective or therapeutic intent, the former concomitantly to a thyroidectomy whereas the latter may be accomplished also as a revision procedure for recurrent disease. In this paper complications of central compartment neck dissection will be described, analyzing separately primary and revision procedures
Determining the authenticity of PDO buffalo mozzarella: an approach based on Fourier transform infrared (MIR-FTIR) spectroscopy and on chemometric tools
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Risk of Macro- and Microvascular Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. To date, NAFLD is the most frequent chronic liver disease seen day by day in clinical practice across most high-income countries, affecting nearly 25-30% of adults in the general population and up to 70% of patients with T2DM. Over the last few decades, it clearly emerged that NAFLD is a "multisystemic disease" and that the leading cause of death among patients with NAFLD is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Indeed, several observational studies and some meta-analyses have documented that NAFLD, especially its advanced forms, is strongly associated with fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, as well as with specific cardiac complications, including sub-clinical myocardial alteration and dysfunction, heart valve diseases and cardiac arrhythmias. Importantly, across various studies, these associations remained significant after adjustment for established cardiovascular risk factors and other confounders. Additionally, several observational studies and some meta-analyses have also reported that NAFLD is independently associated with specific microvascular conditions, such as chronic kidney disease and distal or autonomic neuropathy. Conversely, data regarding a potential association between NAFLD and retinopathy are scarce and often conflicting. This narrative review will describe the current evidence about the association between NAFLD and the risk of macro- and microvascular manifestations of CVD, especially in patients with T2DM. We will also briefly discuss the biological mechanisms underpinning the association between NAFLD and its advanced forms and macro- and microvascular CVD
MAFLD and CKD: An Updated Narrative Review
Accumulating evidence now indicates that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is the most common chronic liver disease observed in clinical practice worldwide, is independently associated with an increased risk of incident chronic kidney disease (CKD). Given that NAFLD is linked to insulin resistance, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, an international panel of experts have recently proposed a name change from NAFLD to metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Since the diagnostic criteria for NAFLD and MAFLD are different, observational studies assessing the potential concordance (or even superiority) of MAFLD, compared with NAFLD, in detecting patients at increased risk of hepatic and extra-hepatic complications (including CKD) are required. Hence, in the last two years, some observational studies have investigated the potential relationship between MAFLD and CKD. The result is that, at present, evidence regarding the concordance or even superiority of MAFLD, compared with NAFLD, in detecting patients at higher risk of CKD is still preliminary, although some data indicate that MAFLD identifies patients with CKD as accurately as NAFLD. In this narrative review, we will discuss: (a) the epidemiological evidence assessing the association between NAFLD and risk of incident CKD, (b) the epidemiological data investigating the association between MAFLD and risk of CKD and (c) the biological mechanisms underlying the association between NAFLD/MAFLD and CKD
Retrieval of phase relation and emission profile of quantum cascade laser frequency combs
The major development recently undergone by quantum cascade lasers has
effectively extended frequency comb emission to longer-wavelength spectral
regions, i.e. the mid and far infrared. Unlike classical pulsed frequency
combs, their mode-locking mechanism relies on four-wave mixing nonlinear
processes, with a temporal intensity profile different from conventional
short-pulses trains. Measuring the absolute phase pattern of the modes in these
combs enables a thorough characterization of the onset of mode-locking in
absence of short-pulses emission, as well as of the coherence properties. Here,
by combining dual-comb multi-heterodyne detection with Fourier-transform
analysis, we show how to simultaneously acquire and monitor over a wide range
of timescales the phase pattern of a generic frequency comb. The technique is
applied to characterize a mid-infrared and a terahertz quantum cascade laser
frequency comb, conclusively proving the high degree of coherence and the
remarkable long-term stability of these sources. Moreover, the technique allows
also the reconstruction of electric field, intensity profile and instantaneous
frequency of the emission.Comment: 20 pages. Submitted to Nature Photonic
identifying the most promising agronomic adaptation strategies for the tomato growing systems in southern italy via simulation modeling
Abstract The main cultivation area of the Italian processing tomato is the Southern Capitanata plain. Here, the hardest agronomic challenge is the optimization of the irrigation water use, which is often inefficiently performed by farmers, who tend to over-irrigate. This could become unsustainable in the next years, given the negative impacts of climatic changes on groundwater availability and heat stress intensification. The aim of the study was to identify the most promising agronomic strategies to optimize tomato yield and water use in Capitanata, through a modeling study relying on an extensive dataset for model calibration and evaluation (22 data sets in 2005–2018). The TOMGRO simulation model was adapted to open-field growing conditions and was coupled with a soil model to reproduce the impact of water stress on yield and fruit quality. The new model, TomGro_field, was applied on the tomato cultivation area in Capitanata at 5 × 5 km spatial resolution using an ensemble of future climatic scenarios, resulting from the combination of four General Circulation Models, two extreme Representative Concentration Pathways and five 10-years time frames (2030–2070). Our results showed an overall negative impact of climate change on tomato yields (average decrease = 5–10%), which could be reversed by i) the implementation of deficit irrigation strategies based on the restitution of 60–70% of the crop evapotranspiration, ii) the adoption of varieties with longer cycle and iii) the anticipation of 1–2 weeks in transplanting dates. The corresponding irrigation amounts applied are around 360 mm, thus reinforcing that a rational water management could be realized. Our study provides agronomic indications to tomato growers and lays the basis for a bio-economic analysis to support policy makers in charge of promoting the sustainability of the tomato growing systems
INDIVIDUAZIONE DELLE AREE VOCATE ALL’ARBORICOLTURA CON SPECIE A LEGNAME PREGIATO IN PROVINCIA DI FIRENZE
Direct oral anticoagulants for secondary prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation
The patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), both permanent and paroxysmal, and history of previous transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke represent a category of patients at high risk of new embolic events, independently of the presence of other risk factors. In these patients, national and international guidelines recommend oral anticoagulants as first choice for antithrombotic prevention. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been demonstrated to be not inferior to warfarin for many end points in NVAF patients in terms of efficacy and safety. The post hoc analysis in selected subgroups of patients enrolled in the three mega trials of phase III comparing DOACs (RE-LY, ROCKET-AF and ARISTOTLE) with warfarin help to evaluate whether superiority and non-inferiority persist in these subgroups. Here, patients with NVAF and history of previous TIA/stroke receiving DOACs as secondary prevention are compared with patients with the same characteristics receiving warfarin. An analysis of these patients has been recently published (separately for each of three DOACs). This analysis shows that DOACs maintain their non-inferiority when compared with warfarin in secondary prevention, representing a real alternative in this context of patients at high risk for ischemic and bleeding events
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