947 research outputs found
Pagine d'Africa: il primo colonialismo italiano nelle biblioteche dell'universita' da Assab a Massaua 1869-1885
Sono qui raccolti i contributi scritti ed alcune immagini della mostra dello SBA dedicata alla riscoperta e valorizzazione del posseduto delle biblioteche dellâUniversitĂ di Bologna sul colonialismo italiano in Africa. In esposizione testi di fine â800, fotografie e materiale iconografico raro, medaglie, monete, divise delle prime campagne coloniali e dei protagonisti del tempo
Automatic Abdominal Organ Segmentation from CT images
In the recent years a great deal of research work has been devoted to the development of semi-automatic and automatic techniques for the analysis of abdominal CT images. Some of the current interests are the automatic diagnosis of liver, spleen, and kidney pathologies and the 3D volume rendering of the abdominal organs. The first and fundamental step in all these studies is the automatic organs segmentation, that is still an open problem. In this paper we propose our fully automatic system that employs a hierarchical gray level based framework to segment heart, bones (i.e. ribs and spine), liver and its blood vessels, kidneys, and spleen. The overall system has been evaluated on the data of 100 patients, obtaining a good assessment both by visual inspection by three experts, and by comparing the computed results to the boundaries manually traced by experts
ResĂduos de aflatoxina B1 em fĂgado de codornas japonesas (Coturnix japonica) expostas a alimentos contaminados e Ă corticosterona exĂłgena
The combined effect of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ) exposition and stress induced by corticosterone (CORT) upon the residual aflatoxin levels in livers of Japanese quail was examined. A total of 144 Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were divided into 6 treatments with 6 replicates per treatment, each containing 2 males and 2 females. The different treatments resulted from the combination of the presence or absence of CORT in drinking water (5 mg/L) with the presence or absence of AFB1 supplementation (100 or 500 ng/g). Dietary treatments were offered from 5 to 11 weeks of age. The different diets were: Treatment (T) 1: basal diet (B) AFB1 (15 ng/g); T2: B plus AFB1 (100 ng/g); T3: B plus AFB1 (500 ng/g); T4: B plus CORT (5 mg/L); T5: B plus AFB1 (100 ng/g) and CORT (5 mg/L); and T6: B plus AFB1 (500 ng/g) and CORT (5 mg/L). The residual levels of AFB1 were remarkably higher in livers of birds fed with AFB1 in comparison with those belonging to the group that received a combination of AFB1 and CORT (P< 0.05). A plausible explanation about the facts that could be responsible for observed reduction in the toxin carryover in liver was suggested. These results are very striking and may constitute the start point for a series of studies that aim to elucidate the precise influence of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) response to stress in birds exposed to AFB.Estudou-se o efeito combinado da exposição Ă aflatoxina B1 (AFB1 ) e o estresse induzido por corticosterona (CORT) sobre os nĂveis de residuais de AFB1 em fĂgados de codornas japonesas. Um total de 144 codornas japonesas (Coturnix japonica) foram divididas em 6 tratamentos com 6 repetiçÔes por tratamento, cada uma contendo 2 machos e 2 fĂȘmeas. As dietas dos tratamentos foram oferecidas da 5ÂȘ atĂ© a 11ÂȘ semana de idade. Os diferentes tratamentos resultaram da combinação da presença ou ausĂȘncia de CORT na ĂĄgua de beber (5 mg / L), com a presença ou ausĂȘncia de suplementação AFB1 (100 ou 500 ng /g) As dietas diferentes foram: Tratamento (T) 1: dieta basal (B) AFB1 (15 ng/g); T2: B mais AFB1 (100 ng / g); T3: B mais AFB1 (500 ng / g); T4: B mais CORT (5 mg / L); T5: B mais AFB1 (100 ng / g) e CORT (5 mg / L), e T6: B mais AFB1 (500 ng / g) e CORT (5 mg / L). Os nĂveis residuais de AFB1 foram significativamente mais elevados em fĂgados de aves alimentadas com AFB1 em comparação com os que pertencem ao grupo que recebeu uma combinação de AFB1 e CORT (P< 0,05). Sugere-se uma possĂvel explicação para a redução dos nĂveis da toxina observada naqueles animais submetidos a dieta com CORT. Estes resultados constituem-se de um ponto de inĂcio para uma sĂ©rie de estudos que visam a elucidar a influĂȘncia da resposta do eixo hipotalĂąmico-hipofisĂĄrio-adrenais (HPA) ao stress em aves expostas a AFB.Fil: Magnoli, Alejandra Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - CĂłrdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones BiolĂłgicas y TecnolĂłgicas. Universidad Nacional de CĂłrdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, FĂsicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones BiolĂłgicas y TecnolĂłgicas; ArgentinaFil: Chiacchiera, Stella Maris. Universidad Nacional de RĂo Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FisicoquĂmicas y Naturales. Departamento de QuĂmica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rosa, Carlos Alberto da Rocha. Universidade Federal Rural de Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Dalcero, Ana Maria. Universidad Nacional de RĂo Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, FisicoquĂmicas y Naturales. Departamento de MicrobiologĂa e InmunologĂa; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Marin, Raul Hector. Universidad Nacional de CĂłrdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, FĂsicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; Argentin
Negligible effects of tryptophan on the aflatoxin adsorption of sodium bentonite
The main objective of this study was to determine if the competitive adsorption of tryptophan (Trp) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) could potentially affect the ability of a sodium bentonite (NaB) to prevent aflatoxicosis in monogastric animals. The adsorption of Trp and AFB1 on this adsorbent is fast and could be operating on the same time-scale making competition feasible. In vitro competitive adsorption experiments under simulated gastrointestinal conditions were performed. A high affinity of the clay for Trp and NaB was observed. The effect of an excess of KCl to mimic the ionic strength of the physiological conditions were also investigated. A six-times decrease in the Trp surface excess at saturation was observed. A similar behaviour was previously found for AFB1 adsorption. Taking into account the amount of Trp adsorbed by the clay and the usual adsorbent supplementation level in diets, a decrease in Trp bioavailability is not expected to occur. Tryptophan adsorption isotherms on NaB were âSâ-shaped and were adjusted by the FrumkinâFowlerâGuggenheim model. The reversibility of the adsorption processes was investigated in order to check a potential decrease in the ability of NaB to protect birds against chronic aflatoxicoses. Adsorption processes were completely reversible for Trp, while almost irreversible for AFB1. In spite of the high affinity of the NaB for Trp, probably due to the reversible character of Trp adsorption, no changes in the AFB1 adsorption isotherm were observed when an excess of the amino acid was added to the adsorption medium. As a consequence of the preferential and irreversible AFB1 adsorption and the reversible weak binding of Trp to the NaB, no changes in the aflatoxin sorption ability of the clay are expected to occur in the gastrointestinal tract of birds.Fil: Magnoli, Alejandra Paola. Universidad Nacional de RĂo Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FisicoquĂmicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Copia, P.. Universidad Nacional de RĂo Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FisicoquĂmicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Monge, Maria del Pilar. Universidad Nacional de RĂo Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FisicoquĂmicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Magnoli, Carina Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de RĂo Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FisicoquĂmicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Dalcero, Ana Maria. Universidad Nacional de RĂo Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FisicoquĂmicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Chiacchiera, Stella Maris. Universidad Nacional de RĂo Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FisicoquĂmicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; Argentin
Cell-Based Therapies for Diabetic Complications
In recent years, accumulating experimental evidence supports the notion that diabetic patients may greatly benefit from cell-based therapies, which include the use of adult stem and/or progenitor cells. In particular, mesenchymal stem cells and the circulating pool of endothelial progenitor cells have so far been the most studied populations of cells proposed for the treatment of vascular complications affecting diabetic patients. We review the evidence supporting their use in this setting, the therapeutic benefits that these cells have shown so far as well as the challenges that cell-based therapies in diabetic complications put out
Hyaluronic Acid Conjugates as Vectors for the Active Targeting of Drugs, Genes and Nanocomposites in Cancer Treatment
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally-occurring glycosaminoglycan and a major component of the extracellular matrix. Low levels of the hyaluronic acid receptor CD44 are found on the surface of epithelial, hematopoietic, and neuronal cells; it is overexpressed in many cancer cells, and in particular in tumor-initiating cells. HA has recently attracted considerable interest in the field of developing drug delivery systems, having been used, as such or encapsulated in different types of nanoassembly, as ligand to prepare nano-platforms for actively targeting drugs, genes, and diagnostic agents. This review describes recent progress made with the several chemical strategies adopted to synthesize conjugates and prepare novel delivery systems with improved behaviors
Very High-Resolution Ultrasound of the Distal Median Nerve
Objective:
A very high-resolution (70 MHz) ultrasound device (VHRUS) has recently been approved for use in humans. The aim of this study was to use VHRUS to collect data on healthy subjects to propose some reference values for the digital branches of the median nerves of the hand.
Methods:
A VHRUS with 70 MHz linear array transducer was used to measure the cross sectional area of the median nerve at the wrist (CSAw) and digital branches (CSAf), largest and smallest fascicles, the fascicles number (Nfasc), the fascicle density (FD), the flattening ratio (FR) and CSAw/CSAf.
Results:
Data from 20 healthy subjects were obtained for both hands. The median nerve at the wrist and digital branches were properly identified without anatomical alterations. No differences were found between the right and the left hand. In the dominant hand, CSAw was 9.35 mm2 (4.57-12.35) and Nfasc was 24 (18-38). FD and FR were respectively 2.94 (2.47-4.91) and 2.74 (1.70-4.90).
Conclusion:
VHRUS technology can visualize the median nerves at the wrist, their internal structure and their small branches at the fingers, providing both a qualitative and quantitative assessment. Results from this study provide preliminary reference values in a young healthy sample.
Significance:
Most conventional ultrasound devices are not able to properly visualize the distal branches of the median nerve. In contrast, VHRUS allows to detect and measure smaller structures of the nerve, assisting in clinical practice
Emotional management and biological markers of dietetic regimen in chronic kidney disease patients
The aim of the study was to investigate the association between psychological characteristics and biological markers of adherence in chronic kidney disease patients receiving conservative therapy, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis (PD), or kidney transplantation. Seventy-nine adult patients were asked to complete the following questionnaires: Toronto Alexithymia scale, SnaithâHamilton Pleasure Scale, and Short Form Health Survey. Biological markers of adherence to treatment were measured. Peritoneal dialysis patients showed a lower capacity to feel pleasure from sensorial experience (pâ=â.011) and a higher values of phosphorus compared to the other patientsâ groups (pâ=â.0001). The inability to communicate emotions was negatively correlated with hemoglobin levels (râ=ââ(0).69; pâ=â.001) and positively correlated with phosphorus values in the PD patients (râ=â.45; pâ=â.050). Findings showed higher psychological impairments and a lower adherence to the treatment in PD patients and suggest the implication of emotional competence in adherence to treatment.The aim of the study was to investigate the association between psychological characteristics and biological markers of adherence in chronic kidney disease patients receiving conservative therapy, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis (PD), or kidney transplantation. Seventy-nine adult patients were asked to complete the following questionnaires: Toronto Alexithymia scale, Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, and Short Form Health Survey. Biological markers of adherence to treatment were measured. Peritoneal dialysis patients showed a lower capacity to feel pleasure from sensorial experience (pâ=â.011) and a higher values of phosphorus compared to the other patients' groups (pâ=â.0001). The inability to communicate emotions was negatively correlated with hemoglobin levels (râ=â-(0).69; pâ=â.001) and positively correlated with phosphorus values in the PD patients (râ=â.45; pâ=â.050). Findings showed higher psychological impairments and a lower adherence to the treatment in PD patients and suggest the implication of emotional competence in adherence to treatment
La maladie de Lyme au Québec : une analyse des interventions selon une perspective de développement durable
Depuis 2011, les cas de la maladie de Lyme au QuĂ©bec ont augmentĂ© dramatiquement et la maladie a atteint une grande expansion dans le territoire quĂ©bĂ©cois. Ce qui prĂ©cĂšde est dĂ» aux modifications de lâĂ©cosystĂšme et aux changements climatiques. Ces phĂ©nomĂšnes ont favorisĂ© les interactions entre lâhumain et les trois espĂšces qui font partie du cycle de transmission de la maladie de Lyme : la tique Ă pattes noires, le cerf de Virginie et la souris Ă pattes blanches. Pour combattre la maladie dans le territoire de lâEstrie, des interventions ciblant les personnes ont Ă©tĂ© divulguĂ©es et promues par la Direction de santĂ© de lâEstrie. Cependant, jusquâĂ aujourdâhui les interventions ciblant lâenvironnement nâont pas Ă©tĂ© introduites dans la rĂ©gion.
Lâobjectif principal de cet essai est dâanalyser de maniĂšre systĂ©mique les mesures qui nâont pas Ă©tĂ© mises en place dans la rĂ©gion de lâEstrie, et qui ont Ă©tĂ© appliquĂ©es ailleurs en obtenant des rĂ©sultats positifs pour le contrĂŽle et la prĂ©vention de la maladie de Lyme. Cette analyse a Ă©tĂ© basĂ©e sur les trois piliers du dĂ©veloppement durable, sâagissant des piliers Ă©cologique, Ă©conomique et social.
Dâabord, une recherche dans la littĂ©rature scientifique a Ă©tĂ© faite afin dâidentifier les interventions appliquĂ©es ailleurs dans la province. Par la suite, ces interventions ont Ă©tĂ© classifiĂ©es dans quatre groupes selon lâobjectif ciblĂ© par la mesure, ces groupes sont : les interventions ciblant la tique, les interventions ciblant les cerfs, les interventions ciblant la souris et les modifications du paysage. Pour chaque groupe une description qui comprend lâefficacitĂ© et le fonctionnement a Ă©tĂ© faite. Ensuite, compte tenu lâobjectif de ce travail, une analyse dans une perspective de dĂ©veloppement durable a Ă©tĂ© faite pour chaque intervention. De plus, un bref portrait rĂ©glementaire a Ă©tĂ© donnĂ© pour chaque groupe de mesures et une courte analyse des mesures appliquĂ©es actuellement au QuĂ©bec sera prĂ©sentĂ©e.
Avec ce travail, il est possible de conclure quâafin dâatteindre une rĂ©duction de lâexpansion de la maladie et des cas dans la rĂ©gion, il est nĂ©cessaire de mettre en place diffĂ©rents types dâinterventions. Finalement, pour la sĂ©lection des mesures les plus appropriĂ©es, il est essentiel dâavoir une Ă©tude de la rĂ©gion.Abstract: Since 2011, the number of cases of Lyme disease in QuĂ©bec has increased drastically and the disease has achieved a vast expansion over the territory. The foregoing, as a result of the modifications in the ecosystem and climate change. These phenomena have favoured the interactions between humans and the three-main species of the Lyme disease transmission cycle which are: the black-legged tick, the white-tailed deer and the white-footed mice. To fight the disease in the Estrie Region, multiple interventions which focus on the people have been disclosed and promoted by the Direction de santĂ© de lâEstrie. Nevertheless, until today, the interventions that target the environment, have not been introduced. The main objective of this essay is to analyze, in a systematic way, the measures which have yet not been applied to the Estrie Region, and that had obtained positive results for controlling and preventing the Lyme disease outside the province. The analysis has been done taking into account the three cornerstones of the sustainable development which are: the ecology, the economy and the social pillars. First, a research in the scientific literature has been made in order to identify the interventions that have been applied outside the province. Thereafter, the interventions were classified in four groups according to the target, these groups are: the interventions that target the tick, the interventions that target the deer, the interventions that target the mouse and the landscape modifications. For each group, a description that includes the effectiveness and the functioning has been made. Afterwards, taking into account the main objective of this paper, the sustainable development based analysis was built for each intervention. Additionally, a brief legal framework is given for each interventional group and a short analysis about the interventions that are presently applied in QuĂ©bec is presented. With this paper, it is possible to conclude that in order to decrease the expansion and the number of cases of Lyme disease in the region, it is necessary to set up and establish different types of interventions. Finally, for choosing the most appropriate interventions for the region, a previous study of the area is essential
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