105 research outputs found
INFLUENCE OF KINEMATIC VARIABLES OF DIFFERENT TRAJECTORIES ON RACING TIME AND VELOCITY IN ALPINE GIANT SLALOM
During the last five years, materials and techniques used in alpine giant slalom have changed drastically and influenced the trajectories chosen by the racers. Different trajectories influence racing lime and velocity (NACHBAUER AND RAUCH, 1991) and mathematical models describe optimal trajectories (REINISCH, 1991). The aim of this study was to determine the influence of different trajectories on racing time and velocity in field measurements
Study of a New Trigger on Multiplicity and Primary Interaction Vertex using the ALICE Silicon Pixel Detector
New trigger inputs for the ALICE Central Trigger Processor (CTP) are proposed. They are based on the use of Fast Multiplicity (FM) output signals generated by the ALICE Silicon Pixel Detector (SPD). These can be used for a multiplicity based centrality trigger and for a fast on-line computation of the primary vertex. A simple algorithm for primary vertex location at the trigger level is proposed. The precision that can be achieved with this method on centrality selection and primary vertex location, is discussed for interactions with different pseudo-rapidity density level. The feasibility of background rejection is also considered
Accuracy of parasitological and immunological tests for the screening of human schistosomiasis in immigrants and refugees from African countries: An approach with Latent Class Analysis
BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is a neglected infection affecting
millions of people, mostly living in sub-Saharan Africa.
Morbidity and mortality due to chronic infection are relevant,
although schistosomiasis is often clinically silent. Different
diagnostic tests have been implemented in order to improve
screening and diagnosis, that traditionally rely on
parasitological tests with low sensitivity. Aim of this study
was to evaluate the accuracy of different tests for the
screening of schistosomiasis in African migrants, in a non
endemic setting. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A retrospective
study was conducted on 373 patients screened at the Centre for
Tropical Diseases (CTD) in Negrar, Verona, Italy. Biological
samples were tested with: stool/urine microscopy, Circulating
Cathodic Antigen (CCA) dipstick test, ELISA, Western blot,
immune-chromatographic test (ICT). Test accuracy and predictive
values of the immunological tests were assessed primarily on the
basis of the results of microscopy (primary reference standard):
ICT and WB resulted the test with highest sensitivity (94% and
92%, respectively), with a high NPV (98%). CCA showed the
highest specificity (93%), but low sensitivity (48%). The
analysis was conducted also using a composite reference
standard, CRS (patients classified as infected in case of
positive microscopy and/or at least 2 concordant positive
immunological tests) and Latent Class Analysis (LCA). The latter
two models demonstrated excellent agreement (Cohen's kappa:
0.92) for the classification of the results. In fact, they both
confirmed ICT as the test with the highest sensitivity (96%) and
NPV (97%), moreover PPV was reasonably good (78% and 72%
according to CRS and LCA, respectively). ELISA resulted the most
specific immunological test (over 99%). The ICT appears to be a
suitable screening test, even when used alone. CONCLUSIONS: The
rapid test ICT was the most sensitive test, with the potential
of being used as a single screening test for African migrants
Rabbit slaughter hygiene: evaluation of process hygiene criteria for the supposed food category carcasses of rabbit
The AMMA mulid network for aerosol characterization in West Africa
Three ground based portable low power consumption microlidars (MULID) have
been built and deployed at three remote sites in Banizoumbou (Niger), Cinzana
(Mali) and M'Bour (Senegal) in the framework of the African Monsoon
Multidisciplinary Analyses (AMMA) project for the characterization of aerosols
optical properties. A description of the instrument and a discussion of the
data inversion method, including a careful analysis of measurement
uncertainties (systematic and statistical errors) are presented. Some case
studies of typical lidar profiles observed over the Banizoumbou site during
2006 are shown and discussed with respect to the AERONET 7-day
back-trajectories and the biomass burning emissions from the Combustion
Emission database for the AMMA campaign
I cattolici nella fabbrica del cinema e dei media: produzione, opere, protagonisti (1940-1970)
Il volume contiene alcuni esiti delle ricerche condotte nell’ambito del progetto PRIN 2012 I cattolici e il cinema in Italia tra gli anni ’40 e gli anni ’70, coordinato dall’Università degli Studi di Milano, capitalizzando riflessioni emerse nel corso di una serie di convegni che si sono succeduti dal 2014 al 2016.The issue contains some outcomes of the research project PRIN 2012 The Catholics and Cinema in Italy between the 40s and the 70s, coordinated by University of Milan, capitalizing reflections shared during a series of congresses between 2014 and 2016
The use of antimicrobials in Italian heavy pig fattening farms
Data on antimicrobial use (AMU) in heavy pig production (>150 kg) are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the AMU in this production. Data from 2015 were collected for 143 fattening farms. The AMU was estimated through a treatment index per 100 days (TI100) using the defined daily dose animal for Italy (DDDAit). When possible, a comparison with the European Medicines Agency's defined daily doses for animals (DDDvet) was performed. The median TI100 was 10.7 (range, 0.2-49.5). Group treatments represented 94.6% of overall consumption. The AMU calculated using DDDAit and DDDvet were strongly correlated (rho = 0.976; p < 0.001). The AMU was negatively correlated with injectables use (rho = -0.46, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with oral products (rho = 0.21, p = 0.014), premixes (rho = 0.26, p = 0.002), and mortality (rho = 0.18; p = 0.027). Farm size was negatively correlated with AMU (rho = -0.29, p < 0.001). Smaller farms were more frequently above the median TI100 (odds ratio = 2.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.2-4.7), suggesting that they may have lower biosecurity and management standards. The results of this study should provide useful insights for the development of an Italian monitoring system
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