A distributed software environment for collaborative web computing

Poster in the proceedingsThis paper describes an extensible core software element of a distributed, peer-to-peer system, which provides several facilities in order to help the implementation of collaborative, Web-based, distributed information storing and retrieval applications based on a decentralized P2P model. Moreover, after an architectural introduction of the core distributed software module, the Core Node, this paper describes a real application, named DART Node, based on it and designed and implemented within the DART (Distributed Agent-based Retrieval Tools) project, which carries out the idea of the design and implementation of a distributed, semantic and collaborative Web search engine, including mobile devices integration use cases.

Itv as a community-to-community collaborative system

Web-forums and Instant Messengers provide a unique opportunity for the users to create and support spontaneous communities. However, such systems tend to focus on the one-to-one and one-to-many approaches. Community-to- Community interaction, described as two groups of people which communicate by means of a network, is still missing. This work describes early implementation of an interactive television (iTV) chat system, which dynamically creates chat rooms where users can discuss, share their TV experience and access web resources.337-33

A DISTRIBUTED SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENT FOR COLLABORATIVE WEB COMPUTING

Abstract: This paper describes an extensible core software element of a distributed, peer-to-peer system, which provides several facilities in order to help the implementation of collaborative, Web-based, distributed information storing and retrieval applications based on a decentralized P2P model. Moreover, after an architectural introduction of the core distributed software module, the Core Node, this paper describes a real application, named DART Node, based on it and designed and implemented within the DART (Distributed Agent-based Retrieval Tools) project, which carries out the idea of the design and implementation of a distributed, semantic and collaborative Web search engine, including mobile devices integration use cases

Participants with Normal Weight or with Obesity Show Different Relationships of 6-n-Propylthiouracil (PROP) Taster Status with BMI and Plasma Endocannabinoids

Reduced taste sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), a genetic trait regarded as a general index for oral chemosensory perception, has been associated with a calorie-rich food preference and lower circulating endocannabinoid levels in participants with normal weight (NW), which suggests an adaptive mechanism to maintain a lean phenotype. In this study, we assessed whether participants with obesity (OB) show different patterns of plasma endocannabinoids and lipid metabolism biomarkers from those of NW, with further categorization based on their PROP sensitivity. NW and OB were classified by their PROP taster status as non-tasters (NT), medium-tasters (MT) and supertasters (ST). The blood samples were analysed for plasma endocannabinoids, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and retinol, which have been associated to metabolic syndrome. In OB, we found a higher BMI and lower circulating endocannabinoids in ST vs. OB NT. However, OB ST showed lower circulating NEFA and retinol levels, which suggested a more favourable lipid metabolism and body fat distribution than those of OB NT. We confirmed lower plasma endocannabinoid levels in NW NT than in NW ST. These data suggest that PROP taste sensitivity determines metabolic changes and ultimately body mass composition differently in OB and NW

Chronic kidney disease and urological disorders: systematic use of uroflowmetry in nephropathic patients

Background. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a highly prevalent condition. Urologic disorders are known causes of CKD, but often remain undiagnosed and underestimated also for their insidious onset and slow progression. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of urological unrecognized diseases in CKD patients by uroflowmetry. Methods. We enrolled consecutive stable CKD outpatients. The patients carried out two questionnaires, the International Prostate Symptom Score and Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form, and they also underwent uroflowmetry, evaluating max flow rate (Qmax), voiding time and voided volume values. Results. A total of 83 patients (43 males, mean age of 59.8613.3 years) were enrolled. Our study showed 28 males and 10 females with a significant reduction of Qmax (P<0.001) while 21 females reported a significant increase of Qmax (P<0.001) with a prevalence of 49.5% of functional urological disease. Moreover, we showed a significant association between Qmax and creatinine (P¼0.013), estimated glomerular filtration rate (P¼0.029) and voiding volume (P¼0.05). We have not shown significant associations with age (P¼0.215), body mass index (P¼0.793), systolic blood pressure (P¼0.642) or diastolic blood pressure (P¼0.305). Moreover, Pearson’s chi-squared test showed a significant association between Qmax altered with CKD (v2 ¼1.885, P¼0.170) and recurrent infection (v2¼8.886, P¼0.012), while we have not shown an association with proteinuria (v2¼0.484, P¼0.785), diabetes (v2¼0.334, P¼0.563) or hypertension (v2¼1.885, P¼0.170).Conclusions. We showed an elevated prevalence of urological diseases in nephropathic patients; therefore, we suggest to include uroflowmetry in CKD patient assessment, considering the non-invasiveness, repeatability and low cost of examination. Uroflowmetry could be used to identify previously unrecognized urological diseases, which may prevent the onset of CKD or progression to end-stage renal disease and reduce the costs of management

Urinary Metabolites Reveal Hyperinsulinemia and Insulin Resistance in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

The identification of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not a minor issue. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA) is the most used index of IR (Insulin Resistance), validated in overweight and obese patients but not in normal-weight PCOS subjects, who can still present with increased insulin secretion by an oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT]. The evaluation of insulin secretion and resistance represents a still unresolved problem. The aim of this study is to identify a possible yet noninvasive method to properly evaluate the insulin metabolism in young non-diabetic subjects. Girls aged 14–22 years, afferent to the center of Gynecological Diseases in Childhood and Adolescence of Cagliari (Italy), were screened for PCOS. A total of 42 subjects comprised the study group. Hormonal assays, OGTT, transabdominal (TA) or transvaginal (TV) US, and urine collection for 1H-NMR analysis were assayed in the early follicular phase. A 1H-NMR coupled multivariate statistical analysis was performed. The OPLS model indicated that the NMR profile of urine had a good fit and prediction ability for the AUC OGTT with R2 = 0.813. Metabolomics can be a promising tool to the potential identification of biomarkers of an exaggerated insulin response to OGTT and can encourage substantial progress for a more accurate and early diagnosis in PCOS

Active elderly and health-can moderate exercise improve health and wellbeing in older adults? Protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background: Aging is marked by a progressive rise in chronic diseases with an impact on social and healthcare costs. Physical activity (PA) may soothe the inconveniences related to chronic diseases, has positive effects on the quality of life and biological rhythms, and can prevent the decline in motor functions and the consequent falls, which are associated with early death and disability in older adults. Methods: We randomized 120 over-65 males and females into groups of similar size and timing and will give each either moderate physical activity or cultural and recreational activities. Being younger than 65 years, inability to participate in physical activity for any medical reason, and involvement in a massive program of physical exercise are the exclusion criteria. The primary outcome measures are quality of life, walking speed, and postural sway. Participants are tested at baseline, post-treatment, and 6-month (24 weeks) and 12-month (48 weeks) follow-ups. Discussion: This study aims at improving the quality of life, wellness, and cognitive functioning in the elderly through a low-cost affordable program of moderate physical activity. Given the growing aging of the world population and the social and economic burden of disability in the elderly, our results might have a major impact on future practices

Intermittency and fine structure of velocity fluctuations arising in flow-pattern transitions in stirred tanks

The intermittent velocity fluctuations, induced by a change in the vertical location of the impeller, associated with the double- to single-loop transition in stirred vessels are thoroughly analyzed. It is shown that this type of flow-pattern instability is characterized by a multiscale and nested structure of the velocity fluctuations, in which intermittent bursts pertaining to the two regimes are intermingled in a seemingly "self-similar" way. A filtering procedure based on a Markovian approach grounded on the definition of a transfer probability matrix is proposed in order to deconvolute from the original time series the nested intermittent bursts corresponding to local single- and double-loop patterns. This technique permits to define and estimate macroscopic statistical properties, such as the average burst duration in one of the two-regimes, and the frequency that characterizes this type of flow pattern intermittency. A heuristic analysis of the dynamic origin of the flow-pattern transitions in terms of global bifurcations and attractor crisis is addressed. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Investigation on Spray Characteristics of a Pumpless Pneumatic Fuel Injection System for Two-Cycle, S.I. Engines

The adoption of a system of pneumatic direct fuel injection in two-cycle, S.I. engines can radically reduce their most important drawbacks, which consist of a poor energetic efficiency and of great amounts of unburnt hydrocarbon exhaust emissions. The main cause of these drawbacks is the loss of fuel from the exhaust port during the scavenging process, loss which can be eliminated with the adoption of any system of direct fuel injection. Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten a second cause, which is poor combustion and/or misfire at light loads, for the excessive ratio of residual gas to fresh gas within the cylinder. This second cause is enhanced if the fuel atomisation is not complete at the ignition time, and this is what normally happens with the liquid fuel injection (excepted the only case of very expensive high-pressure systems), also owing to the very short time elapsing between injection and ignition. The pneumatic fuel injection (i.e. the introduction of the fuel into the cylinder by means of an air stream) allows better results, at the condition that the fuel is injected already well atomised. Of course, it is more difficult to respect this condition if the air pressure is low, like in the very simple system conceived and realized some years ago by one of the writers. In this case system configuration and tuning should be carefully optimized and for this purpose a research has been undertaken with the aims: a) to distinguish the spray characteristics by means of a special method of photographic image electronic processing; b) to investigate both the dependence of such characteristics on some parameters of the injection system, and their influence on engine performance, with special regard to fuel economy and exhaust emissions