Human alpha rhythms during visual delayed choice reaction time tasks: A magnetoencephalography study, Human Brain Mapping 2005;24(3):184–192

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in the March 2005 issue of Human Brain MappingHuman Brain Mapping (2005) 24(3) 184–192

A study protocol for the evaluation of occupational mutagenic/carcinogenic risks in subjects exposed to antineoplastic drugs: a multicentric project

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Some industrial hygiene studies have assessed occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs; other epidemiological investigations have detected various toxicological effects in exposure groups labeled with the job title. In no research has the same population been studied both environmentally and epidemiologically. The protocol of the epidemiological study presented here uses an integrated environmental and biological monitoring approach. The aim is to assess in hospital nurses preparing and/or administering therapy to cancer patients the current level of occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs, DNA and chromosome damage as cancer predictive effects, and the association between the two.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>About 80 healthy non-smoking female nurses, who job it is to prepare or handle antineoplastic drugs, and a reference group of about 80 healthy non-smoking female nurses not occupationally exposed to chemicals will be examined simultaneously in a cross-sectional study. All the workers will be recruited from five hospitals in northern and central Italy after their informed consent has been obtained.</p> <p>Evaluation of surface contamination and dermal exposure to antineoplastic drugs will be assessed by determining cyclophosphamide on selected surfaces (wipes) and on the exposed nurses' clothes (pads). The concentration of unmetabolized cyclophosphamide as a biomarker of internal dose will be measured in end-shift urine samples from exposed nurses.</p> <p>Biomarkers of effect and susceptibility will be assessed in exposed and unexposed nurses: urinary concentration of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine; DNA damage detected using the single-cell microgel electrophoresis (comet) assay in peripheral white blood cells; micronuclei and chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Genetic polymorphisms for enzymes involved in metabolic detoxification (i.e. glutathione <it>S</it>-transferases) will also be analysed.</p> <p>Using standardized questionnaires, occupational exposure will be determined in exposed nurses only, whereas potential confounders (medicine consumption, lifestyle habits, diet and other non-occupational exposures) will be assessed in both groups of hospital workers.</p> <p>Statistical analysis will be performed to ascertain the association between occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs and biomarkers of DNA and chromosome damage, after taking into account the effects of individual genetic susceptibility, and the presence of confounding exposures.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The findings of the study will be useful in updating prevention procedures for handling antineoplastic drugs.</p

L' Archivio Istituzionale openaccessrepository.it

Presentazione al Direttore e alla Resp Divisione Ricerca di Frascat

Realter: An Immersive Simulator to Support Low-Vision Rehabilitation

The project REALTER (wearable egocentric altered reality simulator) exploits immersive technologies and extended reality (XR) environments to support low-vision rehabilitation, by offering an immersive simulator of low-vision conditions. Perceiving and navigating the world as low-vision individuals has the potential of being a useful tool for ophthalmologists and visual rehabilitators to increase empathy with the assisted population and to improve the existing therapeutic techniques. Additionally, by analyzing ocular movements acquired during experimental sessions with healthy-sighted individuals in a condition of simulated low vision, researchers may collect quantitative data to extend the state of the art in understanding the behavioral changes of low-vision persons. The project involved the implementation of an immersive system by using commercial device tools currently available on the market. The hardware consists of an immersive virtual reality (VR) headset with an integrated eye tracker and a pair of external cameras, to provide gaze-contingent altered/extended reality (XR) content by a pass-through modality. The software can realistically simulate several low-vision conditions, such as age-relatedmacular degeneration, glaucoma, and hemianopsia, and simultaneously acquire eye and head movements for data analysis

The use of tensiometers to automatically control the irrigation of ornamental species in containers

The detection of soil water potential by means of tensiometers is one of the possible techniques to adapt water supply to real plant exigencies, reducing water and nutrient consumption and the environmental impact. The aim of the different experiments illustrated in this paper was the evaluation of tensiometer performances in the automatic control of the irrigation or fertigation of some ornamental species cultivated in containers. Different experiments were carried out over a two-year period on four ornamental species. Three species were cultivated outdoor and equipped with a drop irrigation system while the fourth was cultivated in greenhouse using two different irrigation techniques (drop and subirrigation). In all experiments, tensiometer-based system allowed water or nutrient solution saving ranging from 45% to 25% in comparison with timer-based irrigation management, without negatively affect plant growth and qualitative characteristics. Some arrangements to obtain the best performances of tensiometers in the automatic irrigation management are also illustrated

Scanning electron microscopy in monitoring the aging of alternative materials for plastering of canvas manufactured products.

During the restoration of manufactured canvas, the plastering of recoverable lacunae is generally carried out by means of dehydrated gesso, rabbit-skin glue or, more rarely, by using already made up products. Being gesso-animal glue mixture totally comparable with canvas constitutive materials, it must be considered the strong drying correlated shrinkage, the poor mechanical resistance and the possibility to be a substrate for deteriorating biological agents, in particular environmental conditions. Similarly, ready-to-use products, such as Modostuc and Polyfilla, undergo a dramatic shrinkage and show a poor mechanical resistance. Aquazol , BEVA  gesso and Balsite , new products commonly used for different purposes, have been here analyzed. Their behavior has been studied by careful light microscopy observation of their chromatic changes and by scanning electron microscopy of their surface details. An artificial aging condition was also induced to better characterize their response to the environmental damage progression. The performed studies on these materials provided very positive results and their potential use in the place of common use fillers has been suggested

Scanning electron microscopy in monitoring the aging of alternative materials for plastering of canvas manufactured products

During the restoration of manufactured canvas, the plastering of recoverable lacunae is generally carried out by means of dehydrated gesso, rabbit-skin glue or, more rarely, by using already made up products. Being gesso-animal glue mixture totally comparable with canvas constitutive materials, it must be considered the strong drying correlated shrinkage, the poor mechanical resistance and the possibility to be a substrate for deteriorating biological agents, in particular environmental conditions. Similarly, ready-to-use products, such as Modostuc and Polyfilla, undergo a dramatic shrinkage and show a poor mechanical resistance. Aquazol , BEVA  gesso and Balsite , new products commonly used for different purposes, have been here analyzed. Their behavior has been studied by careful light microscopy observation of their chromatic changes and by scanning electron microscopy of their surface details. An artificial aging condition was also induced to better characterize their response to the environmental damage progression. The performed studies on these materials provided very positive results and their potential use in the place of common use fillers has been suggested