Modellazione fisica della glottide e inversione acustico-articolatoria

Questo lavoro presenta una tecnica per la stima del modello a due masse della corda vocale a partire da un datoflusso glottale tempo-variante. Il modello a due masse `e specificato da un certo numero di parametri meccanici di bassolivello, calcolati in funzione di quattro parametri articolatori (livelli di attivazione di tre muscoli laringali e pressione subglottale). Le forme d'onda del flusso glottale, sintetizzate dal modello, sono caratterizzate da un insieme di parametri acustici per la quantificazione della sorgente vocale. Misurando un flusso glottale di riferimento viene data una sequenza di parametri acustici e, impiegando la programmazione dinamica e l'interpolazione con reti RBF (Radial Basis Function Networks), si derivano i parametri di attivazione muscolare che portano alla risintesi del flusso glottale di partenza

A chemical, mechanical, and tribological analysis of DLC coatings deposited by magnetron sputtering

Diamond-like carbon is one of the most studied and used solid lubricants on the market. Despite this large use and its outstanding mechanical and tribological properties, there are still some unclear aspects related to its self-lubricant properties, and some drawbacks in the deposition methods. We deposited soft DLC films on Si(100), iron, and stainless steel substrates by PVD magnetron sputtering technique with a Cr/CrN adhesive interlayer. The DLC films were characterized from a chemical, mechanical, and tribological point of view. Our aim was to connect the coating chemical and mechanical characteristics to the different conditions used for the deposition, such as discharge power and substrate-target distance. We found a stronger sp(3) dependence on the discharge power for DLC deposited closer to the target. The tribological results did not depend on the chosen substrate-target distance, but rather on the hardness of the substrate. This could be ascribed to the better mechanical coupling of soft DLC films on harder substrates

A Percepção da Educação Ambiental no Ensino de Jovens e Adultos - EJA Escola Estadual Antônio Aggio - São Paulo, Capital

A Educação Ambiental (EA) decorre de uma percepção renovada de mundo; uma forma integral de ler a realidade e de oferecer a possibilidade de desenvolver projetos, que não somente envolvam e integrem a comunidade escolar, de todas as faixas etárias, mas que também possibilitem a construção de uma ponte, entre escola e comunidade, entre escola e realidade ambiental local e entre escola e vida. O principal objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar a educação ambiental de jovens e adultos. Desta forma apresentam-se os resultados obtidos com a aplicação de um questionário na Escola Estadual Antônio Aggio em três salas de Educação de Jovens e Adultos - EJA, na região de Santo Amaro São Paulo. Este trabalho visou buscar o conhecimento e o comportamento ambiental dos alunos quanto a percepção da Educação Ambiental inserida em seu currículo. A metodologia utilizada foi baseada na aplicação e análise dos resultados de questionários fechados, totalizando o número de 88 alunos entrevistados no ano de 2012

Pixel segmented ionization chamber for therapeutical beams of photons and hadrons

Abstract A fast and precise detector to monitor on-line the dose delivered by an active scanning therapeutical beam has been built and tested

Ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) mutations in two patients with tubular aggregate myopathy

Two likely causative mutations in the RYR1 gene were identified in two patients with myopathy with tubular aggregates, but no evidence of cores or core-like pathology on muscle biopsy. These patients were clinically evaluated and underwent routine laboratory investigations, electrophysiologic tests, muscle biopsy and muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They reported stiffness of the muscles following sustained activity or cold exposure and had serum creatine kinase elevation. The identified RYR1 mutations (p.Thr2206Met or p.Gly2434Arg, in patient 1 and patient 2, respectively) were previously identified in individuals with malignant hyperthermia susceptibility and are reported as causative according to the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group rules. To our knowledge, these data represent the first identification of causative mutations in the RYR1 gene in patients with tubular aggregate myopathy and extend the spectrum of histological alterations caused by mutation in the RYR1 gene

S100B‑p53 disengagement by pentamidine promotes apoptosis and inhibits cellular migration via aquaporin‑4 and metalloproteinase‑2 inhibition in C6 glioma cells

S100 calcium‑binding protein B (S100B) is highly expressed in glioma cells and promotes cancer cell survival via inhibition of the p53 protein. In melanoma cells, this S100B‑p53 interaction is known to be inhibited by pentamidine isethionate, an antiprotozoal agent. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pentamidine on rat C6 glioma cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis in vitro. The change in C6 cell proliferation following treatment with pentamidine was determined by performing a 3‑[4,5‑dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl]‑2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide‑formazan assay. Significant dose‑dependent decreases in proliferation were observed at pentamidine concentrations of 0.05 μM (58.5±5%; P<0.05), 0.5 μM (40.6±7%; P<0.01) and 5 μM (13±4%; P<0.001) compared with the control (100% viability). Furthermore, treatment with 0.05, 0.5 and 5 μM pentamidine was associated with a significant increase in apoptosis versus the untreated cells, as determined by DNA fragmentation assays, immunofluorescence analysis of C6 chromatin using Hoechst staining, and immunoblot analysis of B‑cell lymphoma‑2 (Bcl‑2)‑associated X protein (100%, P<0.05; 453%, P<0.01; and 1000%, P<0.001, respectively) and Bcl‑2 (‑60%, P<0.001; ‑80.13%, P<0.001; ‑95%, P<0.001, respectively). In addition, the administration of 0.05, 0.5 and 5 μM pentamidine significantly upregulated the protein expression levels of p53 (681±87.5%, P<0.05; 1244±94.3%, P<0.01; and 2244±111%, P<0.001, respectively), and significantly downregulated the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase‑2 (42±2.3%, P<0.05; 71±2.5%, P<0.01; and 95.8±3.3%, P<0.001, respectively) and aquaporin 4 (38±2.5%, P<0.05; 69±2.6%, P<0.01; and 88±3.0%, P<0.001, respectively), compared with the untreated cells. The wound healing assay demonstrated that cell migration was significantly impaired by treatment with 0.05, 0.5 and 5 μM pentamidine compared with untreated cells (88±4.2%, P<0.05; 64±2%, P<0.01; and 42±3.1%, P<0.001, respectively). Although additional in vivo studies are required to clarify the current in vitro data, the present study indicates that pentamidine and S100B‑p53 inhibitors may represent a novel approach for the treatment of glioma

Why women do not ask for information on preconception health? A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Preconception care involves health promotion to reduce risk factors that might affect women and couples of childbearing age. The risk factors of adverse reproductive outcomes include recognized genetic diseases in the family or the individual, previous congenital diseases, miscarriage, prematurity, fetal growth restriction, infertility, chronic maternal diseases, lifestyle, and occupational or environmental factors. Effective preconception care involves a range of preventive, therapeutic and behavioural interventions. Although in Italy there are national preconception care recommendations concerning the general population, they are usually encouraged informally and only for single risk factors. At present there is increasing interest in offering a global intervention in this field. The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes and behaviours of Italian women of childbearing age and healthcare professionals regarding preconception health. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study among women of childbearing age and healthcare professionals between February 2014 and February 2015. Five focus groups were held: 2 with non-pregnant women aged 22 to 44 years and 3 with healthcare professionals. Discussion topics included women's questions about preconception health, worries and barriers regarding preconception care interventions, attitudes and behaviours of women and healthcare professionals towards preconception health, women's information sources. In the analysis of the focus groups priority was given to what was said by the women, supplemented by information from the healthcare professionals' focus groups. RESULTS: Fourteen women of childbearing age (8 nulliparae and 6 multiparae) and 12 healthcare professionals (3 nurses, 4 midwives, 5 doctors) participated in the focus groups. The results indicate the presence of many barriers and a lack of awareness of preconception health relating to women, healthcare professionals and policies. Women's knowledge and attitudes towards primary preconception care information are described. The main reference source of information in this field for Italian women seems to be their obstetric-gynaecologist. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that several barriers influence preconception care in Italy. Moreover, a lack of awareness of preconception health and care among Italian women of childbearing age and healthcare professionals emerges. The findings might contribute to strategies for the implementation of preconception care guidelines

Why women do not ask for information on preconception health? A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Preconception care involves health promotion to reduce risk factors that might affect women and couples of childbearing age. The risk factors of adverse reproductive outcomes include recognized genetic diseases in the family or the individual, previous congenital diseases, miscarriage, prematurity, fetal growth restriction, infertility, chronic maternal diseases, lifestyle, and occupational or environmental factors. Effective preconception care involves a range of preventive, therapeutic and behavioural interventions. Although in Italy there are national preconception care recommendations concerning the general population, they are usually encouraged informally and only for single risk factors. At present there is increasing interest in offering a global intervention in this field. The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes and behaviours of Italian women of childbearing age and healthcare professionals regarding preconception health. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study among women of childbearing age and healthcare professionals between February 2014 and February 2015. Five focus groups were held: 2 with non-pregnant women aged 22 to 44 years and 3 with healthcare professionals. Discussion topics included women's questions about preconception health, worries and barriers regarding preconception care interventions, attitudes and behaviours of women and healthcare professionals towards preconception health, women's information sources. In the analysis of the focus groups priority was given to what was said by the women, supplemented by information from the healthcare professionals' focus groups. RESULTS: Fourteen women of childbearing age (8 nulliparae and 6 multiparae) and 12 healthcare professionals (3 nurses, 4 midwives, 5 doctors) participated in the focus groups. The results indicate the presence of many barriers and a lack of awareness of preconception health relating to women, healthcare professionals and policies. Women's knowledge and attitudes towards primary preconception care information are described. The main reference source of information in this field for Italian women seems to be their obstetric-gynaecologist. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that several barriers influence preconception care in Italy. Moreover, a lack of awareness of preconception health and care among Italian women of childbearing age and healthcare professionals emerges. The findings might contribute to strategies for the implementation of preconception care guidelines

First experimental proof for aberration correction in XPEEM: Resolution, transmission enhancement, and limitation by space charge effects

a b s t r a c t The positive effect of double aberration correction in x-ray induced Photoelectron Emission Microscopy (XPEEM) has been successfully demonstrated for both, the lateral resolution and the transmission, using the Au 4f XPS peak for element specific imaging at a kinetic energy of 113 eV. The lateral resolution is improved by a factor of four, compared to a non-corrected system, whereas the transmission is enhanced by a factor of 5 at a moderate resolution of 80 nm. With an optimized system setting, a lateral resolution of 18 nm could be achieved, which is up to now the best value reported for energy filtered XPEEM imaging. However, the absolute resolution does not yet reach the theoretical limit of 2 nm, which is due to space charge limitation. This occurs along the entire optical axis up to the contrast aperture. In XPEEM the pulsed time structure of the exciting soft x-ray light source causes a short and highly intense electron pulse, which results in an image blurring. In contrast, the imaging with elastically reflected electrons in the low energy electron microscopy (LEEM) mode yields a resolution clearly below 5 nm. Technical solutions to reduce the space charge effect in an aberration-corrected spectro-microscope are discussed