Meteorological Navigation by Integrating Metocean Forecast Data and Ship Performance Models into an ECDIS-like e-Navigation Prototype Interface

In the complex processes of route planning, voyage monitoring, and post-voyage analysis, a key element is the capability of merging metocean forecast data with the available knowledge of ship responses in the encountered environmental conditions. In this context, a prototype system has been implemented capable of integrating metocean models forecasts with ship specific performance data and models. The work is based on the exploitation of an open source ECDIS-like system originally developed in the e-Navigation framework. The resulting prototype system allows the uploading and visualization of metocean data, the consequent computation of fuel consumption along each analyzed route, and the evaluation of the encountered meteo-marine conditions on each route way point. This allows us to "effectively and deeply dig inside" the various layers of available metocean forecast data regarding atmospheric and marine conditions and evaluating their effects on ship performance indicators. The system could also be used to trigger route optimization algorithms and subsequently evaluate the results. All these functionalities are tailored in order to facilitate the "what-if" analysis in the route selection process performed by deck officers. Many of the added functionalities can be utilized also in a shore-based fleet monitoring and management center. A description is given of the modeling and visualization approaches that have been implemented. Their potentialities are illustrated through the discussion of some examples in Mediterranean navigation

Moderate Exercise Improves Experimental Cancer Cachexia by Modulating the Redox Homeostasis

Cachexia is a debilitating syndrome that complicates the management of cancer patients. Muscle wasting, one of the main features of cachexia, is associated with hyper-activation of protein degradative pathways and altered mitochondrial function that could both result from impaired redox homeostasis. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of oxidative stress to cancer-induced cachexia in the presence or in the absence of moderate exercise training. Mice bearing the colon C26 carcinoma, either sedentary or exercised, were used. The former showed muscle wasting and redox imbalance, with the activation of an antioxidant response and with upregulation of markers of proteasome-dependent protein degradation and autophagy. Moderate exercise was able to relieve muscle wasting and prevented the loss of muscle strength; such a pattern was associated with reduced levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), carbonylated proteins and markers of autophagy and with improved antioxidant capacity. The muscle of sedentary tumor hosts also showed increased levels of molecular markers of mitophagy and reduced mitochondrial mass. Conversely, exercise in the C26 hosts led to increased mitochondrial mass. In conclusion, moderate exercise could be an effective non-pharmacological approach to prevent muscle wasting in cancer patients, decreasing muscle protein catabolism and oxidative stress and preserving mitochondria

Preeclampsia in Lean Normotensive Normotolerant Pregnant Women Can Be Predicted by Simple Insulin Sensitivity Indexes

Certain similarities between preeclampsia and insulin resistance syndrome suggest a possible link between the 2 diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate 3 insulin sensitivity (IS) indexes (fasting homeostasis model assessment IS [IS HOMA ], quantitative insulin sensitivity check index [IS QUICKI ], and oral glucose IS [OGIS]) early and late in pregnancy in a large number of normotensive pregnant women with a normal glucose tolerance and to test the ability of these indexes to predict the risk of subsequent preeclampsia. In all, 829 pregnant women were tested with a 75-g, 2-hour oral glucose load in 2 periods of pregnancy: early (16 to 20 weeks) and late (26 to 30 weeks). In early and late pregnancy, respectively, IS HOMA was 1.23±0.05 and 1.44±0.05 ( P <0.01), IS QUICKI was 0.40±0.002 and 0.38±0.002 ( P <0.01), and OGIS was 457±2.4 mL min −1 m −2 and 445±2.2 ( P <0.001), all confirming the reduction in insulin sensitivity during pregnancy. Preeclampsia developed in 6.4% of the pregnant women and correlated positively with the 75th centile of IS HOMA ( P =0.001), with a sensitivity of 79% in the early and 83% in the late period and a specificity of 97% in both. IS QUICKI <25th centile was also related with preeclampsia ( P =0.001), with a sensitivity of 85% in the early and 88% in the late period and a specificity of 97% in both. Judging from our findings, IS HOMA and IS QUICKI are simple tests that can pinpoint impaired insulin sensitivity early in the pregnancy. Given their high sensitivity and specificity, these indexes could be useful in predicting the development of preeclampsia in early pregnancy, before the disease become clinically evident

Epitaxial InN/InGaN quantum dots on Si: Cl- anion selectivity and pseudocapacitor behavior

Epitaxial InN quantum dots (QDs) on In-rich InGaN, applied as an electrochemical electrode, activate Cl−-anion-selective surface attachment, bringing forth faradaic/pseudocapacitor-like behavior. In contrast to traditional pseudocapacitance, here, no chemical reaction of the electrode material occurs. The anion attachment is explained by the unique combination of the surface and quantum properties of the InN QDs. A high areal capacitance is obtained for this planar electrode together with rapid and reversible charge/discharge cycles. With the growth on cheap Si substrates, the InN/InGaN QD electrochemical electrode has great potential, opening up new application fields for III–nitride semiconductors