Pelvic Organ Prolapse-Associated Cystitis

This thesis concerns the construction of 2,3-dihydro-4r7-pyran-4-one and 3(2//)-furanone ring systems by mercury(II)-catalysed reactions, or by more conventional cyclisations, and the potential of such reactions for the synthesis of natural products. Chapter one provides a literature survey of reactions permitting the construction of 2,3-dihydro-4/7-pyran-4-one and 3(2//)-furanone ring systems background literature to relevant natural products is also provided, such as polyether antibiotics, carbohydrates and antitumer agents. Chapter two describes the application of mercury(II)-catalysed cyclisations of dihydroxylated ynones to give 3(2//)-furanones this was achieved by the dihydroxylation of enynones using Sharpless's asymmetric dihydroxylation conditions followed by treatment with a mecury(II) catalyst. The scope and limitations of this method were investigated and shown in several cases to give good yields and high enantiomeric excess. In cases where there was an electron-donating group on the alkyne functionality, such as an ethoxy group, the cyclisation occurred spontaneously during the dihydroxylation step. This methodology was applied for the synthesis of a natural product to confirm the selectivity of the cyclisation step. In chapter three the reactions developed in chapter two formed the basis of a proposed route to the natural product (-)-Pestalotin, a gibberellins synergist. Thus, the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation method was applied to (3,y-unsaturated ketones to give a main intermediate for the synthesis. Chapter four details different approaches to NK10958P, a plant growth regulator. The synthesis of two main fragments was achieved and the coupling of these fragments by syn-selective aldol addition is expected to furnish NK10958 P and its methyl analogue, pironetin, which has been reported to have good cytotoxic and immunosuppressive activity. Full experimental details follow chapter 2-4 and reference sections are provided at the end of each chapter

Artificial Intelligence Models in the Diagnosis of Adult-Onset Dementia Disorders: A Review

Background: The progressive aging of populations, primarily in the industrialized western world, is accompanied by the increased incidence of several non-transmittable diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases and adult-onset dementia disorders. To stimulate adequate interventions, including treatment and preventive measures, an early, accurate diagnosis is necessary. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents a technique quite common for the diagnosis of neurological disorders. Increasing evidence indicates that the association of artificial intelligence (AI) approaches with MRI is particularly useful for improving the diagnostic accuracy of different dementia types. Objectives: In this work, we have systematically reviewed the characteristics of AI algorithms in the early detection of adult-onset dementia disorders, and also discussed its performance metrics. Methods: A document search was conducted with three databases, namely PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, and Scopus. The search was limited to the articles published after 2006 and in English only. The screening of the articles was performed using quality criteria based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) rating. Only papers with an NOS score ≥ 7 were considered for further review. Results: The document search produced a count of 1876 articles and, because of duplication, 1195 papers were not considered. Multiple screenings were performed to assess quality criteria, which yielded 29 studies. All the selected articles were further grouped based on different attributes, including study type, type of AI model used in the identification of dementia, performance metrics, and data type. Conclusions: The most common adult-onset dementia disorders occurring were Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. AI techniques associated with MRI resulted in increased diagnostic accuracy ranging from 73.3% to 99%. These findings suggest that AI should be associated with conventional MRI techniques to obtain a precise and early diagnosis of dementia disorders occurring in old age

The burden of breast cancer in Italy: mastectomies and quadrantectomies performed between 2001 and 2008 based on nationwide hospital discharge records.

BACKGROUND: Where population coverage is limited, the exclusive use of Cancer Registries might limit ascertainment of incident cancer cases. We explored the potentials of Nationwide hospital discharge records (NHDRs) to capture incident breast cancer cases in Italy. METHODS: We analyzed NHDRs for mastectomies and quadrantectomies performed between 2001 and 2008. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) and related 95% Confidence Interval (CI) in the actual number of mastectomies and quadrantectomies performed during the study period were computed for the full sample and for subgroups defined by age, surgical procedure, macro-area and singular Region. Re-admissions of the same patients were separately presented. RESULTS: The overall number of mastectomies decreased, with an AAPC of -2.1% (-2.3 -1.8). This result was largely driven by the values observed for women in the 45 to 64 and 65 to 74 age subgroups (-3.0%, -3.4 -3.6 and -3.3%, -3.8 -2.8, respectively). We observed no significant reduction in mastectomies for women in the remaining age groups. Quadrantectomies showed an overall +4.7 AAPC (95%CI:4.5-4.9), with no substantial differences by age. Analyses by geographical area showed a remarkable decrease in mastectomies, with inter-regional discrepancies possibly depending upon variability in mammography screening coverage and adherence. Quadrantectomies significantly increased, with Southern Regions presenting the highest average rates. Data on repeat admissions within a year revealed a total number of 46,610 major breast surgeries between 2001 and 2008, with an overall +3.2% AAPC (95%CI:2.8-3.6). CONCLUSIONS: In Italy, NHDRs might represent a valuable supplemental data source to integrate Cancer Registries in cancer surveillance

Safety of treatments for inflammatory bowel disease: Clinical practice guidelines of the Italian Group for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IG-IBD)

Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic conditions of unknown etiology, showing a growing incidence and prevalence in several countries, including Italy. Although the etiology of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis is unknown, due to the current knowledge regarding their pathogenesis, effective treatment strategies have been developed. Several guidelines are available regarding the efficacy and safety of available drug treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases. Nevertheless, national guidelines provide additional information adapted to local feasibility, costs and legal issues related to the use of the same drugs. These observations prompted the Italian Group for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IG-IBD) to establish Italian guidelines on the safety of currently available treatments for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These guidelines discuss the use of aminosalicylates, systemic and low bioavailability corticosteroids, antibiotics (metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, rifaximin), thiopurines, methotrexate, cyclosporine A, TNFα antagonists, vedolizumab, and combination therapies. These guidelines are based on current knowledge derived from evidence-based medicine coupled with clinical experience of a national working group

Sistemi di produzione energetica alternativa e tecnologie impiantistiche per assetti temporanei

Lo scenario della produzione energetica in condizioni di emergenza. L'autoproduzione e l'impiego di sistemi attivi e passivi

La formazione universitaria nella pianificazione

Indagine sulla formazione nel settore della professione di pianificatore territorial

Gli scenari della ricerca per l’abitabilita’ extragravitazionale: i moduli gonfiabili

Il progetto di ricerca SHIC (Space Habitat Inflatable Component) è stato selezionato, approvato e finanziato dall’ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) nell’ambito di “Nuovi progetti afferenti la piattaforma Stazione Spaziale” del programma FLECS (Flexible Expandible Commercial Structure) per la sperimentazione di tecnologie abilitanti ai voli umani interplanetari. Il progetto affronta le problematiche relative al design microgravitazionale applicato ai sistemi gonfiabili per l’abitabilità. Il prototipo del modulo gonfiabile viene lanciato nello spazio in una configurazione ripiegata per poi essere successivamente dispiegato e pressurizzato in orbita per raggiungere la sua dimensione ed il suo volume e diventare parte integrante della Stazione Spaziale Internazionale e dell’ambiente entro il quale gli astronauti effettueranno le misurazioni ed i test necessari a validare le performance in orbita. La progettazione del prototipo del modulo standard ha previsto la realizzazione di un ABM (Advanced Breadboard Model), che rappresenta l’involucro, l’ambiente ed i suoi ingombri, le dimensioni, i movimenti elementari ed una serie di items di supporto che lo rendono flessibile ai diversi usi in stato di microgravità, e la caratterizzazione dei materiali per la struttura dei tubolari e dei vari componenti di finitura

Presentazione del progetto SHIC (Space nell’ambito del Convegno ESTEC sull’Armonizzazione Europea “Solar Arrays and Drive Mechanism & Deployable Booms Inflatable and Deployable Structures” 7-8 ottobre 2003, Noordwijk, Olanda

Presentazione del progetto SHIC (Space Habitable Inflatable Component

Che cosa è la luce

I principi fisici che regolano la trasmissione della lucee che costituiscono la base del lavoro teorico di ogni architetto e designer