414 research outputs found
Green public procurement criteria for road infrastructures: State of the art and proposal of a weighted sum multicriteria analysis to assessenvironmental impacts
In the last years, the attention to environmental issue is growing, demonstrating the interest to protect the nature and to better use the non-renewable resources. At international level, and especially in the European Community, for different trades, a wide production of voluntary documents and institutional acts proves the interest and the need for a green economy. An innovative approach may lead to the experience of Green Public Procurements (GPP), to protect the environment as a public interest and to promote technological developments. So far, the experiences of GPP are limited, not entirely positive and in the field of road infrastructures almost entirely absent. Construction and maintenance of road infrastructures is objectively more complex than purchasing goods or services. The paper proposes the integration of the weighted sum multi-criteria analysis into existing procedures. The methodology needs for environmental labels related to materials, machines and works which contribute to the final product "road". The labels are recognized at international level and consistent with procedures, conditions and criteria currently published in road tenders, therefore the approach can be followed to pursue the environmental sustainability of road infrastructures without compromising the economic attention
Cold asphalt contaning 100% reclamed asphalt. A sustainable technology for cycle paths and maintenance intervations
Both the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Next Generation EU Program) and the development strategies for Smart Cities focus on cycle and pedestrian paths. Their pavements must be safe, durable and sustainable and considering the need to preserve the resources that Planet Earth offers to humans, it is essential to opt for innovative construction technologies that allow recycling methods without necessarily involving the addition of first-use materials. In the field of road infrastructure, the recovery of material deriving from the demolition of old pavements (RA - Reclaimed Asphalt) is only possible thanks to the use of specific products. A state-of-the-art rejuvenator is currently being used for the construction of cycling paths with 100% cold-mixed RA. This product is currently being studied for the INFRAROB project: âMaintaining integrity, performance and safety of the road infrastructure through autonomous robotized solutions and modularizationâ (Horizon 2020) with particular reference to âpotholes patchingâ materials. Some technical data of the experiences developed to date are shown below
Materials study to implement a 3D printer system to repair road pavement potholes
InfraRob is a research project funded by the European Commission's research programme Horizon 2020 that aims to maintain integrity, performance, and safety of the road infrastructure through autonomous robotized solutions and modularization. A specific task of the project is focused on the development of a system 3D printer able to extrude a specific mixture for filling in small cracks and potholes, to be integrated with an existing small autonomous carrier. The first step of the research deals with the definition of the optimal parameters of the system 3D printer/mixture, by studying in parallel the material design and the printer design. This paper presents the study performed on a mixture chosen among those commonly used for road potholes repair. The mixture is studied to achieve and balance the different conflicting performances: consistence, flowability homogeneity, and internal structure. In addition to the basic components, the use of special additives has also been explored to improve the plasticity and adhesivity of the mixture. The first phase of tests is conducted to define the main printing controls: i) Extrudability control: materials for 3D printing need to have an acceptable degree of extrudability, which is related to the capacity of a material to pass continuously through the printing head; ii) Flowability control, to ensure the mixture can be easy-pumpable in the delivery system and easy-usable on the crack or the pothole to be filed-in; iii) Setting time control: printing material requires a certain setting time to maintain a consistent flow rate for good extrudability, thus appropriate additives are needed to control the setting time. The second phase includes in situ tests to verify the compaction of the mixture under the traffic loads. The paper presents the results of the lab and in situ tests, and the features of the chosen mix, suitable to be managed by the 3D printer
The Adhesive Capsulitis Corticosteroid and Dilation (ACCorD) randomized controlled trial.
AIMS: Is it feasible to conduct a definitive multicentre trial in community settings of corticosteroid injections (CSI) and hydrodilation (HD) compared to CSI for patients with frozen shoulder? An adequately powered definitive randomized controlled trial (RCT) delivered in primary care will inform clinicians and the public whether hydrodilation is a clinically and cost-effective intervention. In this study, prior to a full RCT, we propose a feasibility trial to evaluate recruitment and retention by patient and clinician willingness of randomization; rates of withdrawal, crossover and attrition; and feasibility of outcome data collection from routine primary and secondary care data. METHODS: In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advises that prompt early management of frozen shoulder is initiated in primary care settings with analgesia, physiotherapy, and joint injections; most people can be managed without an operation. Currently, there is variation in the type of joint injection: 1) CSI, thought to reduce the inflammation of the capsule reducing pain; and 2) HD, where a small volume of fluid is injected into the shoulder joint along with the steroid, aiming to stretch the capsule of the shoulder to improve pain, but also allowing greater movement. The creation of musculoskeletal hubs nationwide provides infrastructure for the early and effective management of frozen shoulder. This potentially reduces costs to individuals and the wider NHS perhaps negating the need for a secondary care referral. RESULTS: We will conduct a multicentre RCT comparing CSI and HD in combination with CSI alone. Patients aged 18 years and over with a clinical diagnosis of frozen shoulder will be randomized and blinded to receive either CSI and HD in combination, or CSI alone. Feasibility outcomes include the rate of randomization as a proportion of eligible patients and the ability to use routinely collected data for outcome evaluation. This study has involved patients and the public in the trial design, dissemination methods, and how to include groups who are underserved by research. CONCLUSION: We will disseminate findings among musculoskeletal clinicians via the British Orthopaedic Association, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the Royal College of Radiologists, and the Royal College of General Practitioners. To ensure wide reach we will communicate findings through our established network of charities and organizations, in addition to preparing dissemination findings in Bangla and Urdu (commonly spoken languages in northeast London). If a full trial is shown to be feasible, we will seek additional National Institute for Health and Care Research funding for a definitive RCT. This definitive study will inform NICE guidelines for the management of frozen shoulder
Surgical versus conservative management of ankle fractures in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordAims: This study compared outcomes of surgical versus conservative management of ankle fractures in adults through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE and CENTRAL databases (1946âJune 2019) for randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing surgical versus conservative management of closed adult ankle fractures of any type. Estimates of effect were pooled using random effects meta-analysis. Results: 1153 patients from 7 trials were included. Our primary outcome, ankle function score, was not statistically significantly different at 6-months (pooled mean difference (surgical minus conservative) = 1.0; 95% CI: â2.3 to 4.3; p = 0.55) or 12-months or more (pooled mean difference = 4.6; 95% CI: â1.0 to 10.2; p = 0.11) between surgical and conservative groups in three trials assessing displaced or unstable fractures, and two trials using non-validated questionnaires. One trial assessing AO-type-B1 fractures without talar shift had a statistically significant difference favouring conservative management, which was not clinically meaningful. Surgery had lower rates of early treatment failure and malunion/non-union, but higher rates of further surgery and infection. Conclusions: Surgical and conservative management of displaced or unstable ankle fractures produce similar short-term functional outcomes. The higher risk of early treatment failure and malunion/non-union in the conservative group versus higher rates of further surgery and infection in the surgical group should be considered. Trials are needed to assess longer-term results and inform management of select patient groups.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR
Sentient Spaces: Intelligent Totem Use Case in the ECSEL FRACTAL Project
The objective of the FRACTAL project is to create a novel approach to reliable edge computing. The FRACTAL computing node will be the building block of scalable Internet of Things (from Low Computing to High Computing Edge Nodes). The node will also have the capability of learning how to improve its performance against the uncertainty of the environment. In such a context, this paper presents in detail one of the key use cases: an Internet-of-Things solution, represented by intelligent totems for advertisement and wayfinding services, within advanced ICT-based shopping malls conceived as a sentient space. The paper outlines the reference scenario and provides an overview of the architecture and the functionality of the demonstrator, as well as a roadmap for its development and evaluation
Acromioclavicular joint reconstruction implants have differing ability to restore horizontal and vertical plane stability
Purpose Persistent acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) instability following high grade injuries causes significant symptoms. The importance of horizontal plane stability is increasingly recognised. There is little evidence of the ability of current implant methods to restore native ACJ stability in the vertical and horizontal planes. The purpose of this work was to measure the ability of three implant reconstructions to restore native ACJ stability. Methods Three groups of nine fresh-frozen shoulders each were mounted into a robotic testing system. The scapula was stationary and the robot displaced the clavicle to measure native anterior, posterior, superior and inferior (A, P, S, I) stability at 50 N force. The ACJ capsule, conoid and trapezoid ligaments were transected and the ACJ was reconstructed using one of three commercially available systems. Two systems (tape loopâ+âscrew and tape loopâ+âbutton) wrapped a tape around the clavicle and coracoid, the third system (suturesâ+âbuttons) passed directly through tunnels in the clavicle and coracoid. The stabilities were remeasured. The data for A, P, S, I stability and ranges of AâP and SâI stability were analyzed by ANOVA and repeated-measures Student t tests with Bonferroni correction, to contrast each reconstruction stability versus the native ACJ data for that set of nine specimens, and examined contrasts among the reconstructions. Results All three reconstructions restored the range of AâP stability to that of the native ACJ. However, the coracoid loop devices shifted the clavicle anteriorly. For SâI stability, only the suturesâ+âbuttons reconstruction did not differ significantly from native ligament restraint. Conclusions Only the suturesâ+âbuttons reconstruction, that passed directly through tunnels in the clavicle and coracoid, restored all stability measures (A, P, S, I) to the native values, while the tape implants wrapped around the bones anteriorised the clavicle. These findings show differing abilities among reconstructions to restore native stability in horizontal and vertical planes. (300 words
Functional conservation of the grapevine candidate gene INNER NO OUTER for ovule development and seed formation
Seedlessness represents a highly appreciated trait in table grapes. Based on an interesting case of seedless fruit production described in the crop species Annona squamosa, we focused on the Vitis vinifera INNER NO OUTER (INO) gene as a candidate. This gene encodes a transcription factor belonging to the YABBY family involved in the determination of abaxial identity in several organs. In Arabidopsis thaliana, this gene was shown to be essential for the formation and asymmetric growth of the ovule outer integument and its mutation leads to a phenotypic defect of ovules and failure in seed formation. In this study, we identified in silico the V. vinifera orthologue and investigated its phylogenetic relationship to INO genes from other species and its expression in different organs in seeded and seedless varieties. Applying cross-species complementation, we have tested its functionality in the Arabidopsis ino-1 mutant. We show that the V. vinifera INO successfully rescues the ovule outer integument growth and seeds set and also partially complements the outer integument asymmetric growth in the Arabidopsis mutant, differently from orthologues from other species. These data demonstrate that VviINO retains similar activity and protein targets in grapevine as in Arabidopsis. Potential implications for grapevine breeding are discussed
Proteomic profiling of retinoblastoma-derived exosomes reveals potential biomarkers of vitreous seeding
Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common tumor of the eye in early childhood. Although recent advances in conservative treatment have greatly improved the visual outcome, local tumor control remains difficult in the presence of massive vitreous seeding. Traditional biopsy has long been considered unsafe in RB, due to the risk of extraocular spread. Thus, the identification of new biomarkers is crucial to design safer diagnostic and more effective therapeutic approaches. Exosomes, membrane-derived nanovesicles that are secreted abundantly by aggressive tumor cells and that can be isolated from several biological fluids, represent an interesting alternative for the detection of tumor-associated biomarkers. In this study, we defined the protein signature of exosomes released by RB tumors (RBT) and vitreous seeding (RBVS) primary cell lines by high resolution mass spectrometry. A total of 5666 proteins were identified. Among these, 5223 and 3637 were expressed in exosomes RBT and one RBVS group, respectively. Gene enrichment analysis of exclusively and differentially expressed proteins and network analysis identified in RBVS exosomes upregulated proteins specifically related to invasion and metastasis, such as proteins involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and interaction, resistance to anoikis and the metabolism/catabolism of glucose and amino acids
Neuroblastoma-secreted exosomes carrying miRâ375 promote osteogenic differentiation of bone-marrow mesenchymal stromal cells
Bone marrow (BM) is the major target organ for neuroblastoma (NB) metastasis and its involvement is associated with poor outcome. Yet, the mechanism by which NB cells invade BM is largely unknown. Tumour microenvironment represents a key element in tumour progression and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been recognized as a fundamental part of the associated tumour stroma. Here, we show that BM-MSCs isolated from NB patients with BM involvement exhibit a greater osteogenic potential than MSCs from non-infiltrated BM. We show that BM metastasis-derived NB-cell lines secrete higher levels of exosomal miR-375, which promotes osteogenic differentiation in MSCs. Of note, clinical data demonstrate that high level of miR-375 correlates with BM metastasis in NB patients. Our findings suggest, indeed, a potential role for exosomal miR-375 in determining a favourable microenvironment in BM to promote metastatic progression. MiR-375 may, thus, represent a novel biomarker and a potential target for NB patients with BM involvement
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