Implementing new technologies in publishing : enhanced printed books

Although reading e-books is becoming more popular, printed books are still dominant medium in the publishing industry. This paper describes an experimental project that implements new technologies in printed textbook publishing. A textbook for a university course was published and its content was enriched with three innovative possibilities that include usage of tablets, smartphones or personal computers. QR codes are printed in the book in order to extend content by linking the reader to verified internet sources. In addition, web application was developed to help in the learning process – the application is a quiz composed of ten one-choice questions for each book chapter (with 250 questions in the database that will be upgraded periodically). Prior to publication, the application was tested and the results showed that students are ready to accept new ways of learning. The application is a single-page application that executes its logic on client-side and is written mostly in vanilla JavaScript. Besides QR codes and web application, social networking is used to accomplish interaction between readers, author and publisher. Usage of social networks and application converts a printed book into an integrating resource

Comparison of PM10 concentrations and metal content in three different sites of the Venice Lagoon: An analysis of possible aerosol sources

The Venice Lagoon is exposed to atmospheric pollutants from industrial activities, thermoelectric power plants, petrochemical plants, incinerator, domestic heating, ship traffic, glass factories and vehicular emissions on the mainland. In 2005, construction began on the mobile dams (MOSE), one dam for each channel connecting the lagoon to the Adriatic Sea as a barrier against high tide. These construction works could represent an additional source of pollutants. PM10 samples were taken on random days between 2007 and 2010 at three different sites: Punta Sabbioni, Chioggia and Malamocco, located near the respective dam construction worksites. Chemical analyses of V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Sb, Tl and Pb in PM10 samples were performed by Inductively coupled plasmaquadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS) and results were used to identify the main aerosol sources. The correlation of measured data with meteorology, and source apportionment, failed to highlight a contribution specifically associated to the emissions of the MOSE construction works. The comparison of the measurements at the three sites showed a substantial homogeneity of metal concentrations in the area. Source apportionment with principal component analysis (PCA) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) showed that a four principal factors model could describe the sources of metals in PM10. Three of them were assigned to specific sources in the area and one was characterised as a source of mixed origin (anthropogenic and crustal). A specific anthropogenic source of PM10 rich in Ni and Cr, active at the Chioggia site, was also identified

The influence of bone mineral density and bisphosphonate therapy on the determinants of oral health and changes on dental panoramic radiographs in postmenopausal women

The aim of this study was to assess the determinants of oral health including the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) and periodontal indices in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, osteoporosis treated with bisphosphonate therapy, and control group and to examine the correlation between dental panoramic indices (Mental Index-MI, Mandibular Cortical Index-MCI) and bone mineral density in these three groups of patients.The presented non-interventional study involved 120 postmenopausal women: women with osteoporosis (O) (n = 45), women with osteoporosis treated with bisphosphonates (OBP) (n = 45), and control group (C) (n = 30). DMFT, plaque, gingival and papilla bleeding index, pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, and the presence of periodontitis were evaluated for each patient. MI and MCI of all participants were measured on a dental panoramic radiograph.Group OBP showed significantly higher gingival, bleeding index and deeper pocket depth than C and/or O group. No significant differences were found in MI (p = .303) or MCI (p = .06) in all the examined groups. Also, there were no significant differences between the three groups in the presence of periodontitis as well as in the DMFT index.BP therapy could have a negative influence on periodontal health. Further, MI and MCI are not precise diagnostic tools for diagnosing low BMD in postmenopausal women.BP therapy could have a negative influence on the determinants of oral health in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis