410 research outputs found
Le conoscenze in Física all'inizio dei corsi universitari in Italia
The article reports the results of an investigation on Italian university students concerning physics knowledge related to common sense schemes at the beginning of the university courses. The results of the diagnosis were communicated both to the students and to the teachers of the courses. The communication enabled the teachers, in the didactical practice, to pinpoint and discuss with the students the discrepancies between the scientific newtonian scheme and common sense scheme. A posttest, given at the end of the course, gives the indication that this practice is effective in inducing a change in the students ideas, notwithstanding the fact that no complete understanding of the scientific viewpoint is teached by the majority of students
Coronary Artery Disease: A Study on the Joint Role of Birth Weight, Adenosine Deaminase, and Gender
An inverse relationship between birth weight and coronary artery diseases is well documented but it remains unclear which exposure in early life might underlie such association. Recently it has been reported an association between adenosine deaminase genetic polymorphism and coronary artery diseases. Gender differences in the degree of this association have been also observed. These observations prompted us to study the possible joint effects of BW, ADA, and gender on the susceptibility to coronary artery diseases. 222 subjects admitted to hospital for nonfatal coronary artery diseases, and 762 healthy consecutive newborns were studied. ADA genotypes were determined by DNA analysis. A highly significant complex relationship has emerged among ADA, birth weight, and gender concerning their role on susceptibility to coronary artery diseases in adult life. Odds ratio analysis suggests that low birth weight is more important in females than in males. ADA∗2 allele appears protective in males, while in females such effect is obscured by birth weight
Occurrence of gas phase ammonia in the area of Beijing (China)
The atmospheric concentrations of gaseous ammonia have been measured during two field campaigns in the winter and in the summer of 2007 at Beijing (China). These measurements were carried out by means of diffusion annular denuders coated with phosphorous acid. The results were discussed from the standpoint of temporal and diurnal variations and meteorological effects. The daily average NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations were in the range of 0.20–44.38 μg/m<sup>3</sup> and showed regular temporal variations with higher concentrations during summer and with lower during winter. The temporal trends seemed to be largely affected by air temperature because of agricultural sources. No diurnal variability was observed for gaseous NH<sub>3</sub> levels in both winter and summer seasons. The highest ammonia value of 105.67 μg/m<sup>3</sup> was measured in the early morning during the summer period when stable atmospheric conditions occurred. The diurnal winter and summer trends of ammonia showed a weak dependence on the air temperature and they were affected nearly by wind direction suggesting regional and local source influences. Ammonia was also correlated with the atmospheric mixing in the boundary layer, and, with NO<sub>x</sub>, CO and PM<sub>2.5</sub> air concentrations supporting the hypothesis that the traffic may be also an important source of ammonia in Beijing
Gemcitabine plus vinorelbine in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a phase II study of three different doses
Our aim was to study the activity and toxicity of the gemcitabine plus vinorelbine (Gem Vin) combination and to identify the optimal dose. Previously untreated patients aged < 70 years, with stage IV or IIIb (not candidates for radiotherapy) non-small cell lung cancer were eligible. Studied dose-levels of Gem Vin, administered on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks, were (mg m–2): level I = 1000/25; level II = 1200/25; level III = 1000/30; level IV = 1200/30. A feasibility study was performed at each dose-level, followed by a single-stage phase II study. Dose-level IV was unfeasible because of grade 4 neutropenia. Overall, out of 126 patients enrolled in phase II studies, there were one complete and 32 partial responses (response rate 26%: 95% CI 18–34%). Response rates were 27.9%, 21.4% and 29.3% at levels I, II and III, respectively. The treatment was well tolerated. Toxicity was less frequent and severe at level I. Overall median survival was 33 weeks (95% CI 28–40). Descriptive quality of life analysis showed that patients with a worse baseline global health status score tended to drop out of the study earlier than those with a better score. Gem Vin is feasible at different doses. It is sufficiently active and well tolerated. A phase III study to compare the effect on quality of life of Gem Vin (level I) vs cisplatin-based chemotherapy is ongoing. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig
Surprisingly small HONO emissions from snow surfaces at Browning Pass, Antarctica
Measured Fluxes of nitrous acid at Browning Pass, Antarctica were very low, despite conditions that are generally understood as favorable for HONO emissions, including: acidic snow surfaces, an abundance of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> anions in the snow surface, and abundant UV light for NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> photolysis. Photochemical modeling suggests noon time HONO fluxes of 5–10 nmol m<sup>-2</sup> h<sup>-1</sup>; the measured fluxes, however, were close to zero throughout the campaign. The location and state of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> in snow is crucial to its reactivity. The analysis of soluble mineral ions in snow reveals that the NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> ion is probably present in aged snows as NaNO<sub>3</sub>. This is peculiar to our study site, and we suggest that this may affect the photochemical reactivity of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>, by preventing the release of products, or providing a reactive medium for newly formed HONO. In fresh snow, the NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> ion is probably present as dissolved or adsorbed HNO<sub>3</sub> and yet, no HONO emissions were observed. We speculate that HONO formation from NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> photolysis may involve electron transfer reactions of NO<sub>2</sub> from photosensitized organics and that fresh snows at our site had insufficient concentrations of adequate organic compounds to favor this reaction
Prevalence and management of pain in Italian patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer
Pain is a highly distressing symptom for patients with advanced cancer. WHO
analgesic ladder is widely accepted as a guideline for its treatment. Our aim was
to describe pain prevalence among patients diagnosed with advanced non-small-cell
lung cancer (NSCLC), impact of pain on quality of life (QoL) and adequacy of pain
management. Data of 1021 Italian patients enrolled in three randomised trials of
chemotherapy for NSCLC were pooled. QoL was assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30 and LC-13.
Analgesic consumption during the 3 weeks following QoL assessment was recorded.
Adequacy of pain management was evaluated by the Pain Management Index (PMI).
Some pain was reported by 74% of patients (42% mild, 24% moderate and 7% severe);
50% stated pain was affecting daily activities (30% a little, 16% quite a bit, 3%
very much). Bone metastases strongly affected presence of pain. Mean global QoL
linearly decreased from 64.9 to 36.4 from patients without pain to those with
severe pain (P<0.001). According to PMI, 616 out of 752 patients reporting pain
(82%) received inadequate analgesic treatment. Bone metastases were associated
with improved adequacy and worst pain with reduced adequacy at multivariate
analysis. In conclusion, pain is common in patients with advanced NSCLC,
significantly affects QoL, and is frequently undertreated. We recommend that:
(i). pain self-assessment should be part of oncological clinical practice; (ii).
pain control should be a primary goal in clinical practice and in clinical
trials; (iii). physicians should receive more training in pain management; (iv).
analgesic treatment deserves greater attention in protocols of anticancer
treatment
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