Engineering Tools for the Estimation of Dredging-Induced Sediment Resuspension and Coastal Environmental Management

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to environmental impacts that may result from resuspension, sedimentation and increase in concentration of chemicals during dredging activities. Dredging dislodges and resuspends bottom sediments that are not captured by dredge-head movements. Resuspended sediments are advected far from the dredging site as a dredging plume and the increase in the suspended solid concentration (SSC) can strongly differ, in time and space, depending on site and operational conditions. Well-established international guidelines often include numerical modelling applications to support environmental studies related to dredging activities. Despite the attention that has been focused on this issue, there is a lack of verified predictive techniques of plume dynamics at progressive distances from the different dredging sources, as a function of the employed dredging techniques and work programs, i.e., spatial and temporal variation of resuspension source. This chapter illustrates predictive techniques to estimate the SSC arising from dredges with different mechanisms of sediment release and to assess the spatial and temporal variability of the resulting plume in estuarine and coastal areas. Predictive tools are aimed to support technical choices during planning and operational phases and to better plan the location and frequency of environmental monitoring activities during dredging execution

New species of waterbear Minibiotus pentannulatus (Tardigrada: Macrobiotidae) from Colombia

Abstract The new species Minibiotus pentannulatus sp. nov., is described from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. It differs from the other species of the genus by star-shaped pores, the presence of a peculiar egg with a smooth shell, and small conical processes with 5 annulations. Other differences include the distribution and size of the pores, and other morphometric details regarding the size of the body and buccal tube, and the pt of the stylet support insertion point, macroplacoids and claws. To date, the genus Minibiotus R.O. Schuster, 1980, comprises 48 species, including the species described here

Application of colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic assay in the rapid detection of Urinary CK19 and Plasma D-dimer

血浆D-二聚体是交联纤维蛋白的特异性降解产物，是继发性纤溶亢进的敏感和特异指标。在各种单层上皮细胞中广泛分布的细胞角蛋白(cytokeratin，CK)19片段，已经成为膀胱移行细胞癌诊断和预后的指标。本课题将胶体金免疫层析法应用于尿液CK19及血浆D-二聚体的检测，探索研制了两种试剂盒：一种适用于膀胱癌高危患者的廉价、快速、简便的初筛，另一种适用于排除疑为血栓性疾病（如肺栓塞）患者进一步做静脉造影或超声检查的快速、简便、有效的筛查诊断。为了达到理想效果，本课题从胶体金的制备、胶体金溶液pH值调节、标金抗体和包膜抗体的选择、标金抗体用量、标金抗体的浓度以及包膜抗体和二抗的浓度等方面对胶体金免疫...Plasma D-dimer generated from the degradation of cross-linked fibrin, are specific markers of the activation of coagulation. Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) are wildly distributed in various epithelial cells. Urinary CK19 has become a prognostic and diagnostic marker for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. The objective of the study is to establish a colloid gold-based immunochromatographic...学位：理学硕士院系专业：生命科学学院生物化学与生物技术系_生物化学与分子生物学学号：20032609

Mitochondrial DNA variation of southern Tunisian populations

Due to its complex history of migrations and colonization of African, European and Asian people, the Tunisian territory is an ideal area to study the effects of cultural change on the genetic structure of human populations. We investigated the mtDNA genetic variation of Tunisian populations in order to detect the possible impact of recent historical events on their gene pool. Two Arab and three Berber communities were analysed using a comparison dataset of 45 other populations including African, Arabian, Asian, European and Near Eastern groups. The results obtained were compared with those produced using a large panel of autosomal SNPs. We observed a slight but important difference between the populations that inhabit the southern and central-northern areas of the country. Furthermore, robust signatures of genetic isolation were detected in two Berber populations (Nouvelle Zraoua and Tamezret) and in the seminomadic Arab group of the R’Baya. Our investigation suggests that the genetic structure of investigated southern Tunisian populations retains signatures of historical events which occurred between 7th-17th century, particularly the trans-Saharan slave trade and the emigration of Berbers in remote areas of the south during the Arab conquest

Optimal mixed payment system and medical liability. A laboratory study

In a controlled laboratory environment, we test the role of medical malpractice liability on physicians’ service provision under fee-for-service, capitation, and mixed payment. We find that the introduction of medical liability causes a significant deviation from patient-optimal treatment that it is not mitigated by the use of a standard mixed payment system. Specifically, we find that the presence of medical liability pressure involves a proper optimal calibration of mixed payment system. Our findings have relevant policy implications for the correct calibration and implementation of the mixed payment system

The fluxes of sub--cutoff particles detected by AMS, the cosmic ray albedo and atmospheric neutrinos

New measurements of the cosmic ray fluxes (p, e+, e- and Helium) performed by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) during a ten days flight of space shuttle have revealed the existence of significant fluxes of particles below the geomagnetic cutoff. These fluxes exhibit a number of remarkable properties, such as a He-3/He-4 ratio of order ~10, an e+/e- ratio of order ~4 and production from well defined regions of the Earth that are distinct for positively and negatively charged particles. In this work we show that the natural hypothesis, that these subcutoff particles are generated as secondary products of primary cosmic ray interactions in the atmosphere can reproduce all the observed properties. We also discuss the implications of the subcutoff fluxes for the estimate of the atmospheric neutrino fluxes, and find that they represent a negligibly small correction. On the other hand the AMS results give important confirmations about the assumption of isotropy for the interplanetary cosmic ray fluxes also on large angular scales, and on the validity of the geomagnetic effects that are important elements for the prediction of the atmospheric neutrino fluxes.Comment: Latex, 51 pages, 22 figure

Early results of PRO-EPI: PROspective multicenter observational study on elective pelvic nodes irradiation in patients with intermediate/high/very high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer submitted to radical, adjuvant, or salvage radiotherapy with or without concomitant androgen deprivation therapy

Simple Summary: Although radiotherapy plays a fundamental role in the management of intermediate/high/very high-risk non-metastatic prostatic cancer (IHR-nmPca), there is still no consensus on the optimal treatment strategy in this setting. Remarkably, the role of elective nodal irradiation (ENI) is still highly controversial. The PROspective multicenter observational study on Elective Pelvic nodes Irradiation (PRO-EPI) was designed to provide "real life" data regarding the patterns of care for IHR-nmPca.Forty-three Italian Radiation Oncology centers participated in the PROspective multicenter observational study on Elective Pelvic nodes Irradiation (PRO-EPI) project, with 1029 patients enrolled. In this preliminary analysis, we longitudinally evaluated the impact of Elective Nodal Irradiation (ENI) and radiotherapy features on toxicity and quality of life (QoL). Six months follow-up data were available for 913 patients and 12 months data for 762 patients. Elective Nodal Irradiation was given to 506 patients (48.9%). Volumetric Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) was adopted in more than 77% of patients and Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) in 84.4%. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) was administered to the majority of patients (68.3%), and it was associated to ENI in 408 cases (81.1%). Toxicity was mostly mild and reversible and IGRT resulted in a significant reduction of rectal toxicity, although a non-significant trend toward increased urinary toxicity was observed. No statistically significant differences in QoL and toxicity were seen in patients treated with or without ENI. The adoption of IGRT is widespread and increasing and could reduce treatment toxicity. ENI is not yet the standard treatment, but it is performed in a growing fraction of cases and not resulting into an increase in toxicity or in a deterioration of QoL. Further analyses are needed to clarify the long-term toxicity profile and the impact of ENI on survival

Enalapril reduces proliferation and hyaluronic acid release in orbital fibroblasts

BACKGROUND: Orbital fibroblast proliferation and hyaluronic acid (HA) release are responsible for some of the clinical features of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). Thus, inhibition of these processes may be a possible therapeutic approach to this syndrome. Enalapril, a widely used antihypertensive drug, was found to have some inhibitory actions on fibroblast proliferation in cheloid scars in vivo, based on which we investigated its effects in primary cultures of orbital fibroblasts from GO patients and control subjects. METHODS: Primary cultures of GO and control fibroblasts were treated with enalapril or with a control compound (lisinopril). Cell proliferation assays, lactate dehydrogenase release assays (as a measure of cell necrosis), apoptosis assays, and measurement of HA in the cell media were performed. RESULTS: Enalapril significantly reduced cell proliferation in both GO and control fibroblasts. Because enalapril did not affect cell necrosis and apoptosis, we concluded that its effects on proliferation reflected an inhibition of cell growth and/or a delay in cell cycle. Enalapril significantly reduced HA concentrations in the media from both GO and control fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: Enalapril has antiproliferative and HA suppressing actions in both GO and control fibroblasts. Clinical studies are needed to investigate whether enalapril has any effects in vivo in patients with GO

Genetic screening for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy in western Sicily: Two years of experience in a neurological clinic

Background and purposeHereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) is caused by mutations in the TTR gene, leading to misfolded monomers that aggregate generating amyloid fibrils.MethodsA prospective systematic genetic screening for ATTRv-PN was proposed in patients presenting with a sensory-motor idiopathic polyneuropathy and two or more "red flags" among the following: family history of polyneuropathy or cardiopathy, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, cardiac insufficiency, renal amyloidosis, lumbar tract stenosis, autonomic dysfunction, idiopathic gastrointestinal disease, amyloid deposits on biopsy, and vitreous opacities. The detection rate was calculated, and nonparametric analyses were carried out to underline differences among screened positive versus negative patients.ResultsIn the first step, 145 suspected patients underwent genetic testing, revealing a diagnosis of ATTRv-PN in 14 patients (10%). Then, cascade screening allowed early recognition of 33 additional individuals (seven symptomatic ATTRv-PN patients and 26 presymptomatic carriers) among 84 first-degree relatives. Patients with a positive genetic test presented a higher frequency of unexplained weight loss, gastrointestinal symptoms, and family history of cardiopathy.ConclusionsA systematic screening for ATTRv-PN yielded an increased recognition of the disease in our neurological clinic. Unexplained weight loss associated with axonal polyneuropathy had the highest predictive value in the guidance of clinical suspicion. A focused approach for the screening of ATTRv-PN could lead to an earlier diagnosis and identification of asymptomatic carriers, who will be promptly treated after a strict follow-up at the clinical onset