Large Eddy Simulation (LES) delle correnti generate dal vento nel lago di Ledro

Il Lago di Ledro (Trentino - Italia) si trova a 652 metri sopra il livello medio del mare a 45,52\ub0 di latitudine N, con una superficie di 2,1 km2, un volume di 68 19106 m3e una profondit\ue0 massima di 48 m; viene utilizzato come serbatoio per la produzione di energia idroelettrica e, allo stesso tempo, rappresenta una delle principali risorse turistiche delle zone circostanti. Il bacino idrico in questione negli ultimi anni \ue8 stato interessato da intense fioriture del cianobatterio Planktotrixrubescens. La distribuzione verticale delle alghe dipende da diversi fattori come la stratificazione termica, la penetrazione della luce, la disponibilit\ue0 di nutrienti e i prelievi idrici. Come primo passo nell'analisi dell'influenza dei processi fisici sulla dinamica delle alghe, questa memoria presenta uno studio della circolazione forzata dal vento nel lago di Ledro utilizzando un modello ad alta definizione (LES-COAST), recentemente impiegato per l'analisi del mixing e del ricambio delle acque nelle aree semi-chiuse (porti)

Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of wind-driven circulation in Lake Ledro

Lake Ledro (Trentino \u2013 Italy) is located at 652 with a surface of 2.1 km2, a volume of 68 19106 m3 and a maximum depth of 48 m. It is used as a reservoir for hydropower produces and is one of the main touristic resource for the surrounding areas. In the recent years it was affected by intense blooms of the harmful cyanobacterium Planktotrix rubescens. The algal vertical distribution depends on several factors like thermal stratification, light penetration, nutrients availability and the withdrawal of water. As a first step in the analysis of the influence of physical processes on the algal dynamics, we present a study of the driven-wind circulation in lake Ledro by the means of LES-COAST model, taking in account the effect of density stratification and the non-homogeneity of wind distribution on the surface of lake

NM 21. Effects of different levels of crude protein of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (l.) Millsp) in broiler rations

An experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating the effects of different levels of suplementation of crude protein (CP) in the ration by ground raw pigeon pea (RPPG) on the performance of broilers at period 1 (P1= 1 to 28 days) and its influence on the períod 2 (P2= 29 to 45 days) and on the total period (PT= 1 to 45 days). A total of 672 chicks of Hubbard line was used in a completely randomized design. A 4 X 2 factorial arrangement design was used, with 4 levels of CP coming from RPPG (treatment) and 2 sexes, with 3 replications. In the P1, treatments (T) 1 to 3 refers to 3 rations, where 15, 30 and 45% of the CP was furnished by RPPG, respectively. In the control treatment (T0), the ration was made with white corn - BR451 and soybean meal. All rations were formulated to have 21.0% of CP and 3000 Kcal of ME/kg. In the P2, all chicks received the same ration, based on yellow corn and soybean meal, with 18.51% of CP and 3000 Kcal of ME/kg. In the P1 treatments had quadratic effects on weight gain, ration consumption and feed conversion. In P2 and PT significant effects were observed on weight gain and feed conversion

Folinic Acid and 5-Fluorouracil as adjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colon cancer is one of the major health problems in industrialized countries, and its incidence appears to be increasing. Surgical resectability is the most important prognostic determinant, although despite apparently curative surgery, recurrent tumors are common. Metastatic disease cannot be cured, and thus, there is a need for better adjuvant therapies. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-nine patients with surgically resected colon cancer in Dukes' stage B2 or C were randomly assigned to chemotherapy or observation alone to determine whether adjuvant chemotherapy could effectively reduce the rate of cancer recurrence. One hundred and twenty-one patients in stage B2 and 118 patients in stage C were enrolled in the study. Adjuvant treatment consisted of folinic acid 200 mg/m2, intravenously, plus 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2, intravenously, on days 1-5 every 4 weeks for 12 cycles. RESULTS: In stage B2, no significant difference between the adjuvant arm and the observation arm was noted. In stage C, adjuvant chemotherapy produced an advantage over observation in terms of a reduction in cancer recurrence rate with prolongation of a disease-free interval (P = 0.0016) and an improvement in overall survival (P = 0.0025). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that folinic acid plus 5-fluorouracil adjuvant chemotherapy is effective in patients with surgically resected Dukes' stage C colon carcinoma

A Preliminary Evaluation of the Pro-Chondrogenic Potential of 3D-Bioprinted Poly(ester Urea) Scaffolds

Degeneration of articular cartilage (AC) is a common healthcare issue that can result in significantly impaired function and mobility for affected patients. The avascular nature of the tissue strongly burdens its regenerative capacity contributing to the development of more serious conditions such as osteoarthritis. Recent advances in bioprinting have prompted the development of alternative tissue engineering therapies for the generation of AC. Particular interest has been dedicated to scaffold-based strategies where 3D substrates are used to guide cellular function and tissue ingrowth. Despite its extensive use in bioprinting, the application of polycaprolactone (PCL) in AC is, however, restricted by properties that inhibit pro-chondrogenic cell phenotypes. This study proposes the use of a new bioprintable poly(ester urea) (PEU) material as an alternative to PCL for the generation of an in vitro model of early chondrogenesis. The polymer was successfully printed into 3D constructs displaying adequate substrate stiffness and increased hydrophilicity compared to PCL. Human chondrocytes cultured on the scaffolds exhibited higher cell viability and improved chondrogenic phenotype with upregulation of genes associated with type II collagen and aggrecan synthesis. Bioprinted PEU scaffolds could, therefore, provide a potential platform for the fabrication of bespoke, pro-chondrogenic tissue engineering constructs

Observational database serenoa repens (DOSSER): Overview analysis and results - A multicentric SIUrO (Italian Society of Oncological Urology) Project

Objective: Men affected with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) are demonstrating to require an increasing amount of attention from Urologists and Primary-care Physicians. Over the years, common urological medications were based on either \u3b1-blockers and/or 5\u3b1-reductase inhibitors.During the last decade the phytotherapeutic drugs are gaining a more often central role in the BPH and LUTS managements. In particular, clinical usage of the extract of the dried ripe fruit of serenoa repens with a dosage of 320 mg per day, has shown its clinical efficacy and its superiority. Purpose of this multicentric observational retrospective study was to evaluate all the urological aspects (clinical, biochemical, instrumental and pathological) of patients affected by BPH and LUTS, with a PSA < 10 ng/ml, a previous negative prostatic biopsy and in therapy with a daily dose of 320/640 mg of serenoa repens. Patients and Methods: The study was conducted in 8 different centers throughout Italy from September 2010 to November 2011. Data and information of 298 men with an average of 63 years (mean PSA of 5.4 ng/ml and mean prostate gland volume of 57 cc), affected by non-acute urinary symptoms caused by BPH, a dosed PSA level inferior to 10 ng/ml, a previous negative prostate biopsy and in therapy with serenoa repens alone or associated to an \u3b1-blocker, were retrospectively inserted in an extensive on-line SIUrO Database. Comprehensive questionnaires were filled in for each patient at 3 and 6 months of follow-up. Each questionnaire contained various sections, each of them composed by several items: dosed PSA levels, uroflowmetry, International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS) patterns, digital rectal examinations (DRE) aspects, previous prostate bioptical results (histology) and side effects. Results: PSA levels weren\u2019t subjected to an increase, revealing a stabilizing or downward trend. Percentage of patients with PSA below the level of 4 ng/mL was lower at the end of the study. The overall changes in the uroflowmetry were similar and parallel both in the group with only serenoa repens intake and in the group with serenoa repens plus \u3b1-blocker. The mean medium flow and the mean maximum flow had a slightly increase along the observation time. There was a substantial decreasing in the amount of patients presenting severe prostatic symptoms. Patients reported through the IIEF-5 score a sexual activity substantially unchanged after 6 months of follow-up. The serenoa repens intake resulted in an improvement of the \u201cinflammatory-like reports\u201d, in terms of ultrasound patterns, DRE and bioptical features. Conclusions: serenoa repens demonstrated its efficacy reducing dysuria with minimal side effects. Further prospective studies might confirm its stabilization or lowering role on PSA levels in this cohort of patients and its possible clinical anti-inflammatory action