Harbour Sea-floor Clearance: “HD” High Definition Magnetic Survey Performance

Seafloor clearance methods based on acoustic, direct-inspection, and single-sensor magnetic approaches suffer from limitations in controlling the target-sensor distance, and may prove ineffective when the small size or the dangerous nature of targets requires high accuracy in localization. Moreover, random magnetic variations over time bring about spatial decorrelation phenomena, and hinder the application of double-sensor methods in noisy harbour environments. The new High Definition (HD) magnetic survey protocol tackles the measurement-distance problem in two ways: first, by varying the sensor depth dynamically, and secondly by backprojecting the measured field according to seafloor data and vertical incremental factors associated with the bandwidth characteristics of targets. The method to make up for timeinduced loss in spatial localization ability exploits the local behaviour of a coherence function, which correlates local observations to a set of spatially-stabilized reference stations. The consequent normalization of measured magnetic signals allows one to assign the monitored areas with a specific level of confidence in the detection results, ranging from 100% (certainty) to 0% (random events). The principles of HD detection have been fully applied in the seafloor clearance of the firing test site located south of Cape Teulada (Sardinia, Italy), where very weak signal sources such as cartridge cases, mines, and small objects down to 1 Kg mass values (lobster pots) have been successfully localized, even when covered by extensive colonies of Posidonia

Characterization of multinucleated giant cells in synovium and subchondral bone in knee osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Multinucleated giant cells have been noticed in diverse arthritic conditions since their first description in rheumatoid synovium. However, their role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) still remains broadly unknown. We aimed to study the presence and characteristics of multinucleated giant cells (MGC) both in synovium and in subchondral bone tissues of patients with OA or RA. Methods: Knee synovial and subchondral bone samples were from age-matched patients undergoing total joint replacement for OA or RA, or non-arthritic post mortem (PM) controls. OA synovium was stratified by histological inflammation grade using index tissue sections. Synovitis was assessed by Krenn score. Histological studies employed specific antibodies against macrophage markers or cathepsin K, or TRAP enzymatic assay. Results: Inflamed OA and RA synovia displayed more multinucleated giant cells than did non-inflamed OA and PM synovia. There was a significant association between MGC numbers and synovitis severity. A TRAP negative/cathepsin K negative Langhans-like subtype was predominant in OA, whereas both Langhans-like and TRAP-positive/ cathepsin K negative foreign-body-like subtypes were most commonly detected in RA. Plasma-like and foam-like subtypes also were observed in OA and RA synovia, and the latter was found surrounding adipocytes. TRAP positive/ cathepsin K positive osteoclasts were only identified adjacent to subchondral bone surfaces. TRAP positive osteoclasts were significantly increased in subchondral bone in OA and RA compared to PM controls. Conclusions: Multinucleated giant cells are associated with synovitis severity, and subchondral osteoclast numbers are increased in OA, as well as in RA. Further research targeting multinucleated giant cells is warranted to elucidate their contributions to the symptoms and joint damage associated with arthritis

Time Domain Performances Analysis of Underwater Magnetic SIMAN Systems for Port Protection

In the new world military scenario, potential terrorist action against port structures is of increasing concern. By this way one of the most dangerous situations is represented by individual divers’ attacks which have to be considered as critical as an intrusion conduced by military divers of an enemy nation army. In fact, divers can approach protected littoral areas by exploiting regions inaccessible to acoustic-based systems, such as acoustic shadow zones caused by natural or man made actions (i.e. irregular seabed morphology, obstacles, high reverberation regions, etc…). The magnetic detection method offers a potentially interesting solution to this problem in such regions by integrating acoustic based intruder detection systems. This paper shows the result obtained during the operative test of a port protection underwater system based on a magnetometers’ new self-informed network. The experiment takes place in a geomagnetic space characterized by medium-high environmental noise with a relevant human origin magnetic noise component. The system has two different input signals: the magnetic background field (natural + artificial noise) and a signal composed by the magnetic background field and the magnetic field due to the target (informative signal). The system uses the first signal as filter for the second one to detect the target magnetic signal. The effectiveness of this procedure is related to the position of the magnetic field observation points (reference devices and sentinel devices). The sentinel devices must obtain correlation in the noise observations and de-correlation in the target signal observations. The system, during four tries of intrusion, has correctly detected all magnetic signals generated by divers. The processing of magnetic signals has been enhanced by implementing an amplitude threshold to cut the passive energy components, which are those components that don’t contain useful information about diver passages. The use of this Passive Energy Cutter (PEC) increases the reliability of the system in terms of detection probability versus false alarm probability, as evidenced by the comparison of the ROC curves for the system with and without the PEC use.Published538-5451.6. Osservazioni di geomagnetismo2.5. Laboratorio per lo sviluppo di sistemi di rilevamento sottomarini3.4. GeomagnetismoN/A or not JCRreserve

Time Domain Performances Analysis of Underwater Magnetic SIMAN Systems for Port Protection

In the new world military scenario, potential terrorist action against port structures is of increasing concern. By this way one of the most dangerous situations is represented by individual divers’ attacks which have to be considered as critical as an intrusion conduced by military divers of an enemy nation army. In fact, divers can approach protected littoral areas by exploiting regions inaccessible to acoustic-based systems, such as acoustic shadow zones caused by natural or man made actions (i.e. irregular seabed morphology, obstacles, high reverberation regions, etc…). The magnetic detection method offers a potentially interesting solution to this problem in such regions by integrating acoustic based intruder detection systems. This paper shows the result obtained during the operative test of a port protection underwater system based on a magnetometers’ new self-informed network. The experiment takes place in a geomagnetic space characterized by medium-high environmental noise with a relevant human origin magnetic noise component. The system has two different input signals: the magnetic background field (natural + artificial noise) and a signal composed by the magnetic background field and the magnetic field due to the target (informative signal). The system uses the first signal as filter for the second one to detect the target magnetic signal. The effectiveness of this procedure is related to the position of the magnetic field observation points (reference devices and sentinel devices). The sentinel devices must obtain correlation in the noise observations and de-correlation in the target signal observations. The system, during four tries of intrusion, has correctly detected all magnetic signals generated by divers. The processing of magnetic signals has been enhanced by implementing an amplitude threshold to cut the passive energy components, which are those components that don’t contain useful information about diver passages. The use of this Passive Energy Cutter (PEC) increases the reliability of the system in terms of detection probability versus false alarm probability, as evidenced by the comparison of the ROC curves for the system with and without the PEC use

Harbour Sea-floor Clearance: “HD” High Definition Magnetic Survey Performance

Seafloor clearance methods based on acoustic, direct-inspection, and single-sensor magnetic approaches suffer from limitations in controlling the target-sensor distance, and may prove ineffective when the small size or the dangerous nature of targets requires high accuracy in localization. Moreover, random magnetic variations over time bring about spatial decorrelation phenomena, and hinder the application of double-sensor methods in noisy harbour environments. The new High Definition (HD) magnetic survey protocol tackles the measurement-distance problem in two ways: first, by varying the sensor depth dynamically, and secondly by backprojecting the measured field according to seafloor data and vertical incremental factors associated with the bandwidth characteristics of targets. The method to make up for timeinduced loss in spatial localization ability exploits the local behaviour of a coherence function, which correlates local observations to a set of spatially-stabilized reference stations. The consequent normalization of measured magnetic signals allows one to assign the monitored areas with a specific level of confidence in the detection results, ranging from 100% (certainty) to 0% (random events). The principles of HD detection have been fully applied in the seafloor clearance of the firing test site located south of Cape Teulada (Sardinia, Italy), where very weak signal sources such as cartridge cases, mines, and small objects down to 1 Kg mass values (lobster pots) have been successfully localized, even when covered by extensive colonies of Posidonia.PublishedStockolm, Sweden1.6. Osservazioni di geomagnetismo2.5. Laboratorio per lo sviluppo di sistemi di rilevamento sottomarini3.4. Geomagnetismoope

Osteopathic Manual Treatment for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Feasibility Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Current interventions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are focused on supporting quality of life (QoL) and easing pain with a multidisciplinary approach. OBJECTIVE: Primary aim of this pilot work assessed feasibility, safety, tolerability and satisfaction of osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) in 14 ALS outpatients. METHODS: Patients were randomized according to an initial single-blind design (12 weeks, T0-T1), in order to receive OMT (weekly for 4 weeks, and fortnightly for the following 8 weeks) versus usual-care (n=7 each group), followed by an OMT open period (T1-T2, once a week for 8 weeks, n=10). Secondary aims included blind osteopathic assessment of somatic dysfunctions (SD) for goal attainment scale (GAS) calculation, Brief Pain Inventory-short form and McGill QoL-16 items. RESULTS: OMT was demonstrated feasible and safe and patients displayed high satisfaction (T1-VAS=8.34 ± 0.46; T2-VAS=8.52 ± 0.60). Considering secondary aims no significant differences emerged. Finally, at study entry (T0), a cervico-dorsal SD was found in 78% of ALS patients versus 28% of healthy matched controls (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: OMT was found feasible, safe and satisfactory in ALS. The lack of secondary aim differences can be due to the limited sample size. OMT could be an interesting option to explore in ALS

Zum Phänomen der "follia therapeutica" der etruskisch-italischen anatomischen Votive - soziale, ökonomische und religiöse Aspekte

L'articolo riassume i progressi fatti durante gli ultimi decenni nel campo delle terrecotte anatomiche votive nel mondo etrusco e italico fra il VI e il II sec.a.C. ed esamina particolarmente aspetti di tipo sociale, economico e religioso

Cippi, stele, statue-stele e semata. Testimonianze in Etruria, nel mondo italico e in Magna Grecia dalla Prima Età del ferro fino all'Ellenismo. Atti del Convegno internazionale, Sutri-Villa Savorelli, 24-25 aprile 2015

Questi Atti del Convegno comprendono una introduzione e 16 contributi di autori italiani, tedeschi, francesi e austriaci. Quasi tutti articoli sono riccamente illustrati. Viene trattato per la prima volta una categoria di monumenti cioè i cippi ed altri segnacoli funerari nel mondo etrusco, italico e magnogreco durante il primo millennio a.C