A website to explore the TINITALY/01 DEM

In 2007, a new digital elevation model (DEM) of the whole Italian territory, named TINITALY/01, was presented by Tarquini et al. [2007]. This DEM was the final result of the DIGITALIA project supported by the Italian Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio in the framework of a general agreement involving the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). The whole database of this DEM, in the form of a 10 m cell size grid, is available to the INGV research community at the web portal Kharita (http://kharita.rm.ingv.it/dmap/). Tarquini et al. [2007] mentioned in short a dedicated website (http://webgis.pi.ingv.it/), where authorized users were allowed to explore full resolution nadiral or perspective shaded relief images (in stereo or conventional format) obtained from the TINITALY/01 DEM. The navigation of this website is now opened to the public. The present technical report illustrates this website, describing its content and unfolding related technological aspects

Multiview 3D reconstruction in geosciences

Multiview three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction is a technology that allows the creation of 3D models of a given scenario from a series of overlapping pictures taken using consumer-grade digital cameras. This type of 3D reconstruction is facilitated by freely available software, which does not require expert-level skills. This technology provides a 3D working environment, which integrates sample/field data visualization and measurement tools. In this study, we test the potential of this method for 3D reconstruction of decimeter-scale objects of geological interest. We generated 3D models of three different outcrops exposed in a marble quarry and two solids: a volcanic bomb and a stalagmite. Comparison of the models obtained in this study using the presented method with those obtained using a precise laser scanner shows that multiview 3D reconstruction yields models that present a root mean square error/average linear dimensions between 0.11 and 0.68%. Thus this technology turns out to be an extremely promising tool, which can be fruitfully applied in geosciences

Release of a 10-m-resolution DEM for the Italian territory: Comparison with global-coverage DEMs and anaglyph-mode exploration via the web

The 10-m-resolution TINITALY/01 DEM (Tarquini et al., 2007) is compared with the two, coarser-resolution, global-coverage, spaceborne-based SRTM and ASTER DEMs and with a high-resolution, LIDAR-derived DEM. Afterwards, we presented a webGIS which allows to explore a 10-m-resolution anaglyph layer showing the landforms of the whole Italian territory in 3D. The webGIS (http://tinitaly.pi.ingv.it/) is open to the public, and can be used to carry out a preliminary analysis of landforms. The TINITALY/01 DEM is available for scientific purposes on the basis of a research agreement (see the above website or write to [email protected])

Long-term effects of bariatric surgery on meal disposal and beta-cell function in diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

Gastric bypass surgery leads to marked improvements in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in obese type 2 diabetes; the impact on glucose fluxes in response to a physiological stimulus - such as a mixed meal (MTT) - has not been determined. We administered an MTT to 12 obese type 2 diabetic patients (T2D) and 15 obese nondiabetic subjects (ND) before and one year after surgery (10 T2D and 11 ND) using the double-tracer technique and modeling of ß-cell function. In both groups postsurgery, tracer-derived appearance of oral glucose was biphasic, a rapid increase followed by a sharp drop, a pattern that was mirrored by postprandial glucose levels and insulin secretion. In diabetic patients, surgery lowered fasting and postprandial glucose levels; peripheral insulin sensitivity increased in proportion to weight loss (∼30%), ß-cell glucose sensitivity doubled but did not normalize (viz. 21 nonsurgical obese and lean controls). Endogenous glucose production, however, was less suppressed during the MMT as the combined result of a relative hyperglucagonemia and the rapid fall in plasma glucose and insulin levels.We conclude that, in type 2 diabetes bypass surgery changes the postprandial response to a dumping-like pattern, improves glucose tolerance, ß-cell function, and peripheral insulin sensitivity but worsens endogenous glucose output in response to a physiological stimulus

Mode of onset of type 2 diabetes from normal or impaired glucose tolerance

Wartości stężenia glukozy na czczo (FPG, fasting plasma glucose) wskazują, jakie jest ryzyko wystąpienia cukrzycy typu 2. Nie wiadomo, czy hiperglikemia rozwija się stopniowo, czy też narasta skokowo. W grupie mężczyzn i nieciężarnych kobiet w wieku 35&#8211;64 lat, biorących udział w badaniu populacyjnym Mexico City Diabetes Study, podczas doustnego testu tolerancji glukozy (OGTT, oral glucose tolerace test) sprawdzano stężenie glukozy i insuliny w surowicy. Testy te przeprowadzono w czasie badania wstępnego (n = 2279) oraz po 3,25 (n = 1740) i 7 latach (n = 1711) obserwacji. Wśród osób z prawidłową tolerancją glukozy (NGT, normal glucose tolerance) w czasie wszystkich trzech badań (osoby niechorujące, n = 911) wartość FPG wzrosła nieznacznie (0,23 &plusmn; 0,79 mmol/l, średnia &plusmn; SD; p < 0,0001) w okresie 7 lat. Natomiast wystąpienie cukrzycy wśród osób z NGT (n = 98) poprzedzał znaczny wzrost FPG, niezależnie od czasu zachorowania (3,06 &plusmn; 2,57 i 2,94 &plusmn; 3,11 mmol/l, odpowiednio w 3,25. i 7. roku obserwacji; p < 0,0001 vs. osoby niechorujące). Podobnie u osób z upośledzoną tolerancją glukozy, które zachorowały na cukrzycę (n = 75), wartość FPG wzrosła o 3,14 &plusmn; 3,83 i 3,12 &plusmn; 3,61 mmol/l (p < 0,0001 vs. osoby niechorujące). U 3/4 osób, które zachorowały na cukrzycę, obserwowano wzrost FPG powyżej 90. percentyla rozkładu wzrostu glikemii u osób niechorujących na cukrzycę. U osób, które zachorowały na cukrzycę, stwierdzono wyższe wyjściowe wartości wskaźnika masy ciała (BMI, body mass index) (30,4 &plusmn; 4,9 vs. 27,3 &plusmn; 4,0 kg/m2; p < 0,001) i insulinemii na czczo (120 &plusmn; 78 vs. 84 &plusmn; 84 pmol/l; p < 0,02) niż u osób niechorujących, mimo że nie zaobserwowano zmian żadnego z tych parametrów przed zachorowaniem. Przeciwnie, zmiany stężenia insuliny, w stosunku do wcześniejszych oznaczeń, w 2. godzinie testu tolerancji glukozy wykazywały istotną statystycznie odwrotną zależność (p < 0,0001) z odpowiadającymi zmianami w FPG. W czasie 3-letniej obserwacji stwierdzono, iż początek cukrzycy charakteryzuje się częściej skokowym niż stopniowym wzrostem glikemii, co można w pewnym stopniu wyjaśnić zmniejszeniem uwalniania insuliny w odpowiedzi na stymulację glukozą.Fasting plasma glucose concentrations (FPG) predict development of type 2 diabetes. Whether hyperglycemia evolves from normoglycemia gradually over time or as a step increase is not known. We measured plasma glucose and insulin levels during oral glucose testing in 35-to 64-year-old men and nonpregnant women from a population-based survey (Mexico City Diabetes Study) at baseline (n = 2,279) and after 3.25 (n = 1,740) and 7 years (n = 1,711) of follow-up. In subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) on all three occasions (nonconverters; n = 911), FPG increased only slightly (0.23 &#177; 0.79 mmol/l, mean &#177; &#177; SD; P < 0.0001) over 7 years. In contrast, conversion to diabetes among NGT subjects (n = 98) was marked by a large step-up in FPG regardless of time of conversion (3.06 &#177; 2.57 and 2.94 &#177; 3.11 mmol/l, respectively, at 3.25 and 7 years; P < 0.0001 vs. nonconverters). Likewise, in subjects who converted to diabetes from impaired glucose tolerance (n = 75), FPG rose by 3.14 &#177; 3.83 and 3.12 &#177; 3.61 mmol/l (P < 0.0001 vs. nonconverters). Three-quarters of converters had increments in FPG above the 90th percentile of the corresponding increments in nonconverters. Converters had higher baseline BMI (30.4 &#177; &#177; 4.9 vs. 27.3 &#177; 4.0 kg/m2; P < 0.001) and fasting plasma insulin values (120 &#177; 78 vs. 84 &#177; 84 pmol/l; P < 0.02) than nonconverters; however, no consistent change in either parameter had occurred before conversion. In contrast, changes in 2-h postglucose insulin levels between time of conversion and preceding measurement were significantly (P < < 0.0001) related to the corresponding changes in FPG in an inverse manner. We conclude that, within a 3-year time frame, the onset of diabetes is very often rapid rather than gradual and is in part explained by a fall in glucose-stimulated insulin response

Pulsating Heat pipe only for Space (PHOS): Results of the REXUS 18 sounding rocket campaign

Two Closed Loop Pulsating Heat Pipes (CLPHPs) are tested on board REXUS 18 sounding rocket in order to obtain data over a relatively long microgravity period (approximately 90 s). The CLPHPs are partially filled with FC-72 and have, respectively, an inner tube diameter larger (3 mm) and slightly smaller (1.6 mm) than the critical diameter evaluated in static Earth gravity conditions. On ground, the small diameter CLPHP effectively works as a Pulsating Heat Pipe (PHP): the characteristic slug and plug flow pattern forms inside the tube and the heat exchange is triggered by thermally driven self-sustained oscillations of the working fluid. On the other hand, the large diameter CLPHP works as a two- phase thermosyphon in vertical position and doesn't work in horizontal position: in this particular condition, the working fluid stratifies within the device as the surface tension force is no longer able to balance buoyancy. Then, the idea to test the CLPHPs in reduced gravity conditions: as the gravity reduces the buoyancy forces becomes less intense and it is possible to recreate the typical PHP flow pattern also for larger inner tube diameters. This allows to increase the heat transfer rate and, consequently, to decrease the overall thermal resistance. Even though it was not possible to experience low gravity conditions due to a failure in the yoyo de-spin system, the thermal response to the peculiar acceleration field (hyper-gravity) experienced on board are thoroughly described