Territorial analysis method of socio-economic conflicts between human development and environmental conservation.

This paper focuses on a methodology for analyzing potential territory capacities such as local development and conflict resolution of the use of land natural resources. Ecological economics and landscape ecology are the theoretical origins of this methodology so that it’s possible to give a value to both economic aspects and social-environmental aspects. In this case public stakeholder choices will have many actuation opportunities because they will be based on the sustainable development concept. The aim of our study is to describe the multifunctional role that the agricultural activities carry out within a territory; to do this, it is necessary to find a methodology which can define social functions that characterize the territory of analysis. According to the definitions widely accepted by part of the European scientific community, the agricultural field expresses four kinds of functions: environmental, natural, social and economic. Among these, the role of the forest is particularly important. For every defined function a set of indicators has been chosen that permit the analysis of the various aspects of agricultural activities. The statistical basis was the 2000 Agriculture Census (Istat, 2001). In this document there is present different types of information that are connected to the multifunctional aspects of the field.

Influence of methodological variables on fracture strength tests results of premolars with different number of residual walls. A systematic review with meta-analysis

The aim of the current meta-analysis was to assess the impact of methodological variables in performing fracture strength tests of upper premolars. Medline (Pubmed), Embase and Google Scholar were screened for studies performing ex vivo fracture strength tests of intact upper premolars or premolars with 0, 1 or 2 walls lost. The outcome variable for each study was the maximum breaking load expressed in Newton (kg × m/s2 ). Methodological variables (i.e., simulation of the periodontal ligament, load inclination, tip position, tip diameter and thermocycling) were registered to perform subgroup analyses and meta-regression. Overall, 25 studies and 78 study groups were included in the meta-analysis. Intact premolars (17 study groups) were not significantly influenced by any of the methodological variables considered. Subgroup analysis for load inclination (30◦ /45◦ vs. 90◦ /150◦ ) was significant for premolars with 0 (10 study groups), 1 (6 study groups) and 2 (45 study groups) walls lost; thermocycling was significant for premolars with 1 and 2 walls lost. A strong methodological heterogeneity across studies evaluating the fracture strength of upper premolars was highlighted, especially when 0, 1 or 2 walls were lost. Further studies are needed to standardize the methodology used in order to allow for across-studies comparisons

Conventional MRI-Derived Biomarkers of Adult-Type Diffuse Glioma Molecular Subtypes: A Comprehensive Review

The introduction of molecular criteria into the classification of diffuse gliomas has added interesting practical implications to glioma management. This has created a new clinical need for correlating imaging characteristics with glioma genotypes, also known as radiogenomics or imaging genomics. Although many studies have primarily focused on the use of advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques for radiogenomics purposes, conventional MRI sequences remain the reference point in the study and characterization of brain tumors. A summary of the conventional imaging features of glioma molecular subtypes should be useful as a tool for daily diagnostic brain tumor management. Hence, this article aims to summarize the conventional MRI features of glioma molecular subtypes in light of the recent literature

Vitamin E as Adjuvant in Emulsified Vaccine for Chicks

Abstract Mineral oil was partially replaced with D, L-α-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) in bacterial and viral inactivated emulsified vaccines. Vitamin E increased the immune response to the viral antigen (Newcastle disease virus) used but not to the bacterial antigen (Escherichia coli) when its presence in the oil phase did not exceed 30%. Inoculated vitamin E may have enhanced the immune response by interacting with the immune-competent cells involved in the inflammatory reaction that followed inoculation of emulsified vaccines

Extensive Sclerosing Mesenteritis of the Rectosigmoid Colon Associated with Erosive Colitis

Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare, idiopatic, usually benign, inflammatory process of the mesenteric adipose tissue. The most common site of involvement is the small bowel mesentery. We present a case of sclerosing mesenteritis of the rectosigmoid colon as a cause of severe abdominal pain, abdominal obstruction, and ischemic colic mucosal lesions. Contrast enema, colonoscopy, angiography, and CT were the imaging modalities used. A 20 cm diameter, fibrotic mass causing extensive compression of rectosigmoid colon was found at laparotomy. Histological examination showed extended fibrosis, inflammatory cells infiltration, lipophages, and granulomas within the mesenteric adipose tissue associated with erosive colitis. Clinical presentation and treatment are discussed

In vitro evaluation of live attenuated vaccines against Salmonella enteritidis: humoral immune response

Salmonella enteritidis (SE) vaccination is one of the major tool to reduce the infection in commercial poultry. In this work, techniques, evaluating the presence of Ig-G and Ig-A in serum, tears and intestinal secretions, were studied to improve the knowledge of the humoral immune response following SE live attenuated vaccination. The Ig-G and Ig-A ELISA are important and easy tests to plan and optimize SE vaccination programs

Schottky barrier heights at polar metal/semiconductor interfaces

Using a first-principle pseudopotential approach, we have investigated the Schottky barrier heights of abrupt Al/Ge, Al/GaAs, Al/AlAs, and Al/ZnSe (100) junctions, and their dependence on the semiconductor chemical composition and surface termination. A model based on linear-response theory is developed, which provides a simple, yet accurate description of the barrier-height variations with the chemical composition of the semiconductor. The larger barrier values found for the anion- than for the cation-terminated surfaces are explained in terms of the screened charge of the polar semiconductor surface and its image charge at the metal surface. Atomic scale computations show how the classical image charge concept, valid for charges placed at large distances from the metal, extends to distances shorter than the decay length of the metal-induced-gap states.Comment: REVTeX 4, 11 pages, 6 EPS figure