The dynamic nature of meaning

This paper wants to be a contribution, mainly of philosophical character, to a new current of thought and research in semantics that have been defined the “dynamic turn ” in the study of meaning (cf. Peregrin 2003). The central point of this approach to meaning is that there is not such a thing like a precise literal meaning of a word or expression, bu

Determination of perfluoroalkyl acids in different tissues of graminaceous plants

A method for the determination of 12 perfluoroalkylacids (PFAA) in vegetal samples was proposed. The analytical procedure was developed to optimize the detention of short-chain PFAA (C<8) due to their higher potential to be translocated and bioaccumulated in plants than long-chain congeners. The method, based on ultrasonic extraction, clean-up and HPLC-MS/MS analysis, determined PFAA in the different plant tissues allowing to study the PFAA distribution and partition in vegetal compartments. The performance of this analytical procedure was validated by analysing samples (root, stem and leaf) of reed grass. The validated method was then applied to graminaceous plants from an agricultural area impacted by a fluorochemical plant discharge (Northern Italy). The PFAA congeners were detected in the most of samples with PFAA concentrations in whole plant ranging from < LOD to 10.4 ng g-1 ww and with a greater rate of PFAA accumulation in corn cob than corn kernel. The proposed approach is particularly relevant in edible plant investigation because PFAA levels recorded in the comestible fractions provide information for human risk assessment due to vegetable consumption. Furthermore data on the remaining not edible parts, intended for breeding forage, are also useful for the assessment of the PFAA transfer in the breeding trophic chain

Suburban waterfront with ecological and recreational function: planning based on network analysis

Urban fringe areas have multiple land uses and are places where sections of waterway, together with fragmented areas of natural vegetation, are often found passing through urban areas, transportation routes and gradually expanding rural areas. These overlapping functions are often the cause of an extremely disorderly landscape devoid of guiding connotative elements. In this context, the waterfront can be a guiding element for the redevelopment of the fringe areas between cities and the countryside. The purpose of this paper is the definition of a methodology for planning a suburban waterfront with an ecological function and bicycle paths for recreational use. The evaluation phases for resources and planning, conducted with tools for network analysis, have identified potential corridors based on current land uses and have addressed the issue of bicycle paths on an inter-municipal scale. The methodology is proposed for regional level planning and the validation of the method was achieved through its application to the stretch of the Lambro River between Monza Park and the city of Milan in the North of Italy

Body center of mass displacements during walking with low- and high-heeled shoes

Walking is a natural activity that is very often performed wearing shoes. Among many other kinds of footwear, high-heeled shoes induce increased ankle plantar flexion, greater knee flexion, anterior pelvic tilt, and trunk extension [1]. The modifications in the arrangement of body segments cause an altered position of the body centre of mass (CoM). In the current study, we quantitatively compared the 3D displacement of CoM during flat-heeled and high-heeled gait. Eleven volunteer women (mean age, 24 years) walked wearing either low-heeled and high-heeled shoes (minimum height, 70 mm). On each subject, the 3D coordinates of 14 body landmarks were recorded by an optoelectronic motion analyzer. The body was segmented in 10 independent masses: head, torso, two upper arms and two lower arms (upper body); two upper legs and two lower legs (lower body). Using mean anthropometric data, the whole body CoM was computed, as well as its superior (uCoM) and inferior (iCoM) components [2]. The body CoM was evaluated during normalized stride cycles. High-heeled gait, compared to flat-heeled gait, had a significantly lower CoM at Right heel strike (p=0.024) and Left heel strike (p=0.030). The same findings were also observed for uCoM and iCoM. No significant differences were found at Right toe off. In addition, a significant forward displacement of the iCoM in high-heeled gait was observed at each of the three stages (R heel strike, p=0.017; L heel strike, p=0.034; R toe off, p=0.003). Similar results were found for the whole CoM (p=0.024, p=0.038, p=0.004). The uCoM in high-heeled gait, instead, was significantly more anterior than in flat-heeled gait only at R toe off (p=0.024). Our findings confirmed that wearing high-heeled shoes significantly alters the normal displacement of both components of the human CoM

Effects of a treated sewage effluent on behavioural traits in Diamesa cinerella and Daphnia magna

Recently, the use of Daphnia magna has been proposed in on-line and real-time biomonitoring programmes as an early warning system for evaluating the effluent quality of sewage treatment plants (STPs). These systems are based on recording behavioural changes in the test organism resulting from the stress caused by the effluents. Indeed, altered behavioural signals could be induced at sublethal concentrations that are significantly lower than the corresponding EC50. However, at present, it is unknown whether the sensitivity of D. magna can be representative of that of other aquatic organisms, particularly benthic macroinvertebrates. An experiment was designed to verify whether D. magna can be employed in biomonitoring programmes for STPs located in alpine areas as a surrogate for cold freshwater best-adapted species. The responses of survival and behaviour alteration to exposure to the effluent of the Tonale Pass plant (Trentino, Italian Alps, 46°N, 10°E; 1799 m a.s.l.) were compared in a laboratory population of D. magna and a wild population of the chironomid Diamesa cinerella. These larvae were collected from the Vermigliana stream 50 metres upstream of the effluent input. Both organisms were exposed for 24 and 48 hrs to the effluent as it is and to three dilutions (/10, /100, /1000). The mortality rate and behavioural responses (using video tracking systems) were recorded. No significant mortality or change in behaviour was observed in the two species when exposed to the undiluted effluent. Exposure to serial dilutions of the treated effluent did not affect the survival of either species but notably altered their behaviour at both exposure times (e.g., the time spent in activity in D. magna and the average speed of movement and the cumulative distance travelled in both), especially when exposed to the ten-times-diluted effluent. Overall, the findings of this study emphasize that even though D. magna and D. cinerella use different behavioural strategies to cope with adverse environmental conditions, their overall sensitivity to treated effluents is similar. Accordingly, the use of D. magna in biological early warning systems protocols seems to also be sufficiently protective for local, cold-adapted species of alpine freshwater ecosystems

Facial soft-tissue volumes in adult Northern Sudanese individuals with Down syndrome

Objective: To investigate dimensions and ratios of soft-tissue facial volumes of adult Northern Sudanese subjects with Down syndrome by using computerized anthropometric measurements. Design, Setting, and Patients: The 3D coordinates of soft-tissue facial landmarks were obtained by a computerized digitizer in 26 Northern Sudanese adult subjects with Down syndrome (18 men, 8 women, aged 17-34 years), and in 99 healthy Northern Sudanese controls (48 women, 51 men) of the same age range. From the landmarks, several facial volumes and volume ratios were calculated. Data were compared to those collected in healthy individuals by computing z-scores. Results: In subjects with Down syndrome, facial volumes were significantly smaller than in control subjects (Student’s t, p &lt; 0.05). The patterns of deviation from the norm were similar in men and women. When compared to controls, subjects with Down syndrome had no differences in nose volume as a fraction of total facial volume and a larger total lip volume as a fraction of total facial volume; within the facial middle third, they had relatively larger upper lip volumes and relatively smaller nose volumes. Conclusions: The facial soft-tissue structures of subjects with Down syndrome differed from those of normal controls of the same age, sex and ethnic group: a reduced facial size was coupled with specific variations in the nasal and labial regions

Three-dimensional facial morphometry in patients rehabilitated with implant-supported prostheses

The aim of the present study was to assess a low-cost, non-invasive facial morphometric digitizer to assist the practitioner in three-dimensional soft-tissue changes before and after oral rehabilitation. The method should provide quantitative data to support an objective assessment of the facial esthetic outcome [1]. Twenty-two patients aged 45-82 years, all with edentulous maxilla and mandible, were assessed both before and after receiving their definitive complete implant-supported prostheses (each received 4-11 implants in each dental arch; full-arch fixed prostheses were made). The three-dimensional coordinates of 50 soft-tissue facial landmarks were collected with a non-invasive digitizer; labial and facial areas, volumes, angles and distances were compared without/ with the prostheses [2]. Dental prostheses induced significant reductions in the nasolabial, mentolabial and interlabial angles, with increased labial prominence (p&lt;0.05, Wilcoxon test). Lip vermilion area and volume significantly increased; significant increments were found in the vertical and anteroposterior labial dimensions. The presence of the dental prostheses significantly (p&lt;0.001) modified the three-dimensional positions of several soft-tissue facial landmarks. The current approach enabled quantitative evaluation of the final soft-tissue results of oral rehabilitation with implant-supported prostheses, without submitting the patients to invasive procedures. The method could assess the three-dimensional appearance of the facial soft tissues of the patient while planning the provisional prosthetic restoration, providing quantitative information to prepare the best definitive prosthesis. Dote ricerca: FSE, Regione Lombardi