DESIGNING THE METRIC SURVEY FOR BUILT HERITAGE DOCUMENTATION USING 360° IMAGES AND AN ONLINE CLOUD-BASED PLATFORM

The documentation process of Built Heritage could be really challenging, and managing the different phases of this process is not always straightforward. The metric survey design is still one of the most complex and delicate tasks in the overall process: it drives the activities of data acquisition, processing, validation, interpretation, and final product delivery. It encompasses several aspects: stakeholders involvement, choice of instruments and techniques, available resources (not only economical but also in terms of human resources) timelines, etc. Moreover, a wrong or inaccurate metric survey design can lead to significant mistakes during the data acquisition phase that can result in the collection of redundant data or, worst-case scenario, a lack of data. After a brief state-of-the-art in the European and Italian framework, the research presented in this work will focus on the different aspects of the documentation process and, more specifically, on new digital tools that can assist this step of the Built Heritage documentation. More specifically, the contribution will focus on 360° cameras and the related cloud-based platforms for using and sharing these types of data. This market sector has been rapidly growing in the last years, and we faced a lowering of the purchase costs for these systems together with a wider availability of different sensors. Finally, the resolution has reached exciting levels with sensors that can record 360° data up to 6K/8K

Terretonin N: A New Meroterpenoid from Nocardiopsis sp.

Hamed A, Abdel-Razek AS, Frese M, et al. Terretonin N: A New Meroterpenoid from Nocardiopsis sp. Molecules. 2018;23(2): 299.Terretonin N (1), a new highly oxygenated and unique tetracyclic 6-hydroxymeroterpenoid, was isolated together with seven known compounds from the ethyl acetate extract of a solid-state fermented culture of Nocardiopsis sp. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. The structure and absolute configuration of 1 were unambiguously determined by X-ray crystallography. The isolation and taxonomic characterization of Nocardiopsis sp. is reported. The antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of the strain extract and compound 1 were studied using different microorganisms and a cervix carcinoma cell line, respectively

Comparative Study of Some Natural and Artificial Food Coloring Agents on Hyperactivity, Learning and Memory Performance in Weanling Rats

Color additives are used in a wide variety of foods, Food azo-colours tartrazine (Tar) is one of the most widely used artificial foods, drugs and cosmetic yellow dyes, its E number is E102 while Curcumin (Cur, an active ingredient of turmeric) is brightly yellow colored which routinely used as spice, food preservative and coloring material in different parts of the world; its E number is E100. The present study aimed to Compare between artificial yellow coloring additive Tar and natural one Cur (has the same color) on hyperactivity, learning and memory and the possibility of using Cur instead of Tar or at least in combined with Tar to protect against Tar behavioral disorder in weanling rats. To characterized biochemical and behavioral parameters the study was assessed the effect of Tar (1%, 3%) alone or in combination with Cur (200 mg/kg/b.wt) for 8 weeks on Open field test to assess the potential hyperactivity and Morris water maze test to assess learning and memory. Furthermore, biomarkers of oxidative stress malondialdhyde (MDA, end product of lipid peroxides), nitric oxides (NO, as nitrite to nitrate ratio), GSH (reduced glutathione), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in addition to some neurotransmitter, monoamines [dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT)] were also measured in three different brain areas (frontal cortex, Striatum and hippocampus). These brain regions are important because they are involved in important behavioral functions, such as emotion, motivation, learning and memory. The results indicated that Tar extract significantly enhanced active behavioral response. Tar-treated rats showed hyperactivity in open field test presented by increasing horizontal locomotion as well as depletion in learning and memory by increased the escape latency in Morris water maze test and decreased the retention latency in probe test. Tar alone disturb oxidative stress marker by causing significant increase in serum NO and serum and tissue MDA and GSSG while it caused significant decrease in serum and tissue GSH as well as it inhibited neurotransmitters releases especially in striatum and hippocampus area. While combined treatment of Cur significantly ameliorated all the behavioral and biochemical alterations in serum and different brain regions of Tar-treated weanling rats. This study provides scientific evidence that there is a relationship between Tar and inflection of hyperactivity and depletion in learning and memory in weanling rats while coadministration of Cur attenuates the potential hazards of Tar

Imaging findings in craniofacial childhood rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the commonest paediatric soft-tissue sarcoma constituting 3–5% of all malignancies in childhood. RMS has a predilection for the head and neck area and tumours in this location account for 40% of all childhood RMS cases. In this review we address the clinical and imaging presentations of craniofacial RMS, discuss the most appropriate imaging techniques, present characteristic imaging features and offer an overview of differential diagnostic considerations. Post-treatment changes will be briefly addressed

Impact of Folic Acid in Modulating Antioxidant Activity, Osmoprotectants, Anatomical Responses, and Photosynthetic Efficiency of Plectranthus amboinicus Under Salinity Conditions

Salinity is a major threat to the sustainability of agricultural production systems. Salt stress has unfavorable implications on various plant physio-morphological and biochemical reactions, causing osmotic and ionic stress. Exogenously applied folic acid (FA) may at least provide one mechanism to evade the injurious stress effects of saline irrigation water on Plectranthus amboinicus. In this regard, two pot trials were performed during the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 seasons in an open greenhouse of an experimental farm (29°17'N; 30°53'E) in Fayoum, Egypt. We tested four levels of saline irrigation water (SW): 34, 68, and 102 mM NaCl, plus tap water as the control = 0), combined with FA at three concentrations (25 and 50 μM, plus spray with distilled water as the control = 0). The growth parameters, biochemistry, physiology, elemental leaf status, essential oil content, and anatomical responses were assessed. Salt markedly reduced photosynthetic productivity [Fv/Fm and performance index (PI)], total chlorophyll [soil plant analysis development (SPAD)], and leaf osmoprotectant compounds, i.e., total soluble sugars (TSS), free amino acids, proline, and total phenolics, thus hampering P. amboinicus growth and essential oil yield. However, the addition of FA as a foliar spray to P. amboinicus irrigated with saline water induced increases in Fv/Fm, SPAD, and PI. These were linked with enriched stem anatomical structures, leaf osmoprotectant compounds, and enhanced leaf enzymatic activity, e.g., superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant content. Under salt stress, supplementation of 25 and 50 μM FA increased the growth and production of essential oil by 27.8 and 55.6%, respectively, compared with no applied FA. The highest growth characteristics and elemental leaf contents were obtained when P. amboinicus was irrigated with 0 mM saline water and treated foliarly with 50 μM of FA compared with non-treated plants. Overall, these data showed that foliar spraying with FA reduces the impact of salt stress on P. amboinicus irrigated with saline water

Whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging for staging malignant lymphoma in children

CT is currently the mainstay in staging malignant lymphoma in children, but the risk of second neoplasms due to ionizing radiation associated with CT is not negligible. Whole-body MRI techniques and whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in particular, may be a good radiation-free alternative to CT. DWI is characterized by high sensitivity for the detection of lesions and allows quantitative assessment of diffusion that may aid in the evaluation of malignant lymphomas. This article will review whole-body MRI techniques for staging malignant lymphoma with emphasis on whole-body DWI. Furthermore, future considerations and challenges in whole-body DWI will be discussed

The Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: Estimates, Patterns, and Threats

The Mediterranean Sea is a marine biodiversity hot spot. Here we combined an extensive literature analysis with expert opinions to update publicly available estimates of major taxa in this marine ecosystem and to revise and update several species lists. We also assessed overall spatial and temporal patterns of species diversity and identified major changes and threats. Our results listed approximately 17,000 marine species occurring in the Mediterranean Sea. However, our estimates of marine diversity are still incomplete as yet—undescribed species will be added in the future. Diversity for microbes is substantially underestimated, and the deep-sea areas and portions of the southern and eastern region are still poorly known. In addition, the invasion of alien species is a crucial factor that will continue to change the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, mainly in its eastern basin that can spread rapidly northwards and westwards due to the warming of the Mediterranean Sea. Spatial patterns showed a general decrease in biodiversity from northwestern to southeastern regions following a gradient of production, with some exceptions and caution due to gaps in our knowledge of the biota along the southern and eastern rims. Biodiversity was also generally higher in coastal areas and continental shelves, and decreases with depth. Temporal trends indicated that overexploitation and habitat loss have been the main human drivers of historical changes in biodiversity. At present, habitat loss and degradation, followed by fishing impacts, pollution, climate change, eutrophication, and the establishment of alien species are the most important threats and affect the greatest number of taxonomic groups. All these impacts are expected to grow in importance in the future, especially climate change and habitat degradation. The spatial identification of hot spots highlighted the ecological importance of most of the western Mediterranean shelves (and in particular, the Strait of Gibraltar and the adjacent Alboran Sea), western African coast, the Adriatic, and the Aegean Sea, which show high concentrations of endangered, threatened, or vulnerable species. The Levantine Basin, severely impacted by the invasion of species, is endangered as well

Epidemiology, practice of ventilation and outcome for patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications

BACKGROUND Limited information exists about the epidemiology and outcome of surgical patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and how intraoperative ventilation was managed in these patients. OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of surgical patients at increased risk of PPCs, and to compare the intraoperative ventilation management and postoperative outcomes with patients at low risk of PPCs. DESIGN This was a prospective international 1-week observational study using the ‘Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia risk score’ (ARISCAT score) for PPC for risk stratification. PATIENTS AND SETTING Adult patients requiring intraoperative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of patients at increased risk of PPCs based on the ARISCAT score. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative ventilatory management and clinical outcomes. RESULTS A total of 9864 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The incidence of patients at increased risk was 28.4%. The most frequently chosen tidal volume (VT) size was 500 ml, or 7 to 9 ml kg1 predicted body weight, slightly lower in patients at increased risk of PPCs. Levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were slightly higher in patients at increased risk of PPCs, with 14.3% receiving more than 5 cmH2O PEEP compared with 7.6% in patients at low risk of PPCs (P < 0.001). Patients with a predicted preoperative increased risk of PPCs developed PPCs more frequently: 19 versus 7%, relative risk (RR) 3.16 (95% confidence interval 2.76 to 3.61), P < 0.001) and had longer hospital stays. The only ventilatory factor associated with the occurrence of PPCs was the peak pressure. CONCLUSION The incidence of patients with a predicted increased risk of PPCs is high. A large proportion of patients receive high VT and low PEEP levels. PPCs occur frequently in patients at increased risk, with worse clinical outcome