Generation and reduction of the data for the Ulysses gravitational wave experiment

A procedure for the generation and reduction of the radiometric data known as REGRES is described. The software is implemented on a HP-1000F computer and was tested on REGRES data relative to the Voyager I spacecraft. The REGRES data are a current output of NASA's Orbit Determination Program. The software package was developed in view of the data analysis of the gravitational wave experiment planned for the European spacecraft Ulysses

Mineral Recognition and Liberation Degree Measurements in Industrial Ore Processing

This study aims at identifying calculation procedures and representation methods for identifying the mineral species present in a rock. The goal of the study is to identify: the characteristic spectrum for each mineral species identified in the ore; the main shape of the individual species; the preferential arrangement of the individual mineral species; the grain-size distribution of the individual mineral species and of the grains resulting from comminution processes; the degree of liberation for each mineral; and the degree of liberation of the comminution products obtained from the ores

Characterization of Oxidized Zinc (Calamine) Ores by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Electron Microprobe Analysis

Textural and structural features of Sardinian oxidized zinc (calamine) ores have been established by scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis, the elements analyzed being Zn, Pb, Ca and Fe. The surface composition of grains produced by comminution has also been determined, especially with reference to the presence of smithsonite and cerussite. The methodological approach adopted has revealed intimate intergrowth of the mineral species present and contamination of the main mineral by inclusions of other species, which explains why it is so difficult to obtain good recoveries and high-quality concentrates by beneficiation processes

First test of a BAE transducing scheme on a Resonant Gravitational-Wave Antenna

We present the results obtained with a resonant capacitive transducer, suitable for Back Action Evasion (BAE) measurements, coupled for the first time to a gravitational-wave antenna. This scheme was developed in collaboration with the Group of the University of Rome La Sapienza. The antenna is a 270 kg aluminum 5056 alloy cylinder, with a resonant frequency of 1805 Hz, operating at 4.2K in the ALTAIR cryostat, located in Frascati (Italy) at the IFSI-CNR laboratory. The apparatus was able to work continuously for periods as long as days, both in up-conversion and BAE configurations, with good stability. The behaviour of the system is in reasonable Agreement with a proposed model of a double harmonic oscillator in a BAE readout scheme. The limits on the sensitivity of this set-up are discussed as well as the possible future improvements

Enhanced pre-frontal functional-structural networks to support postural control deficits after traumatic brain injury in a pediatric population

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects the structural connectivity, triggering the re-organization of structural-functional circuits in a manner that remains poorly understood. We focus here on brain networks re-organization in relation to postural control deficits after TBI. We enrolled young participants who had suffered moderate to severeTBI, comparing them to young typically developing control participants. In comparison to control participants, TBI patients (but not controls) recruited prefrontal regions to interact with two separated networks: 1) a subcortical network including part of the motor network, basal ganglia, cerebellum, hippocampus, amygdala, posterior cingulum and precuneus; and 2) a task-positive network, involving regions of the dorsal attention system together with the dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal regions

Minimally invasive rehabilitation of a severely atrophic and fully edentulous maxilla using 4-mm-ultrashort implants: A case report with 1-year follow-up

This case report describes an alternative minimally invasive treatment option using 4-mm-long ultrashort implants placed to rehabilitate a severely atrophic edentulous maxilla. The patient, coming from a full removable denture, asked for an implant prosthesis avoiding reconstructive surgeries and expensive procedures. Considering that the mean available bone was about 4.8 mm in height on Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans, 6 implants were placed where bone volumes were sufficient to receive 4-mm-ultrashort implants. Six months after implant placement an implant-supported bar-retained overdenture prosthesis was delivered. The healing process was uneventful and 1 year after loading the result appears clinically and radiographically stable and the patient is fully satisfied. The described approach, despite some prosthetic compromises, within all the limitations of this case report, might be applied in selected cases, reducing rehabilitative times, possible complications and costs. However, longer follow-ups on large number of patients coming from Randomised Controlled clinical Trials (RCTs) are necessary before making more reliable recommendations

Successful private–public funding of paediatric medicines research: lessons from the EU programme to fund research into off-patent medicines

The European Paediatric Regulation mandated the European Commission to fund research on off-patent medicines with demonstrated therapeutic interest for children. Responding to this mandate, five FP7 project calls were launched and 20 projects were granted. This paper aims to detail the funded projects and their preliminary results. Publicly available sources have been consulted and a descriptive analysis has been performed. Twenty Research Consortia including 246 partners in 29 European and non-European countries were created (involving 129 universities or public funded research organisations, 51 private companies with 40 SMEs, 7 patient associations). The funded projects investigate 24 medicines, covering 10 therapeutic areas in all paediatric age groups. In response to the Paediatric Regulation and to apply for a Paediatric Use Marketing Authorisation, 15 Paediatric Investigation Plans have been granted by the EMAPaediatric Committee, including 71 studies of whom 29 paediatric clinical trials, leading to a total of 7,300 children to be recruited in more than 380 investigational centres. Conclusion: Notwithstanding the EU contribution for each study is lower than similar publicly funded projects, and also considering the complexity of paediatric research, these projects are performing high-quality research and are progressing towards the increase of new paediatric medicines on the market. Private–public partnerships have been effectively implemented, providing a good example for future collaborative actions. Since these projects cover a limited number of offpatent drugs and many unmet therapeutic needs in paediatrics remain, it is crucial foreseeing new similar initiatives in forthcoming European funding programmes

Conventional Drills Versus Piezoelectric Surgery Preparation for Placement of Four Immediately Loaded Zygomatic Oncology Implants in Edentulous Maxillae: 3 Year Results of a Within Person Randomised Controlled Trial

PURPOSE. A within-person randomised controlled trial to compare the outcome of site preparation for two zygomatic oncology implants per zygoma using conventional preparation with rotary drills or piezoelectric surgery with dedicated inserts. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twenty edentulous patients with severely atrophic maxillae and insufficient bone volumes for placing dental implants with less than 4 mm of bone height subantrally had their hemi-maxillae randomised according to a within-patient study design into implant site preparation with either conventional rotational drills or piezoelectric surgery. Two zygomatic oncology implants (unthreaded coronal portion) were placed in each hemi-maxilla. Implants that achieved an insertion torque of greater than 40 Ncm were immediately loaded with provisional screw-retained metal-reinforced acrylic prostheses. Outcome measures were: prosthesis and implant failures, any com-plications, time to place the implants, presence of post-operative haematoma, and patient preference, as assessed by blinded assessors when possible. All patients were followed up for 3 years after loading. RESULTS. In two patients, drills had to be used in the piezoelectric surgery arm in order to prepare implant sites properly. One implant from the conventional drill group did not achieve an insertion torque of greater than 40 Ncm since the zygoma fractured. Three patients dropped out. Two distal oncology implants failed in the same patient (one per group), who was not prosthetically rehabilitated. Six patients experienced at least one complication at drilled sites and five at piezoelectric surgery sites (three patients had bilateral complications), the difference not being statistically significant (odds ratio = 1.5; P [McNemar’s test] = 1.0; 95% CI of odds ratio: 0.25 to 8.98). Implant placement with con-vention drills took on average 14.35±1.76 minutes vs. 23.50±2.26 minutes with piezoelectric surgery, the implant placement time being significantly shorter with conventional drilling (difference = 9.15±1.69 minutes; 95%CI: 8.36 to 9.94 minutes; P = 0.000). Post-operative haematomas were larger at drilled sites in 11 patients and similar at both sides in nine patients (chi-square = 20.4; df = 3; P = 0.0001), and 16 patients found both techniques equally acceptable while four preferred piezoelectric surgery (chi-square = 34.4; df = 3; P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS. Although these results may be system-dependent, and therefore cannot be generalised to other zygomatic systems with confidence, both drilling techniques achieved similar clinical outcomes. However, conventional drilling required 9 minutes less and could be used in all instances, though it was more aggressive