774 research outputs found
A study of the interannual variability of ECMWF surface re-analysisis meteorological fields over the Mediterranean basin for the period 1979-1993
The analysis of the ECMWF re-analysis surface meteorological fields (wind velocity, air temperature, relative humidity and cloud cover) is conducted on the Mediterranean basin and in its four small areas, mainly focusing on the interannual fluctuations of these data. This analysis (times series of surface integrals and EOF) shows an outstanding interannual signal in all data. In general, sporadic anomalous events in wind speed can occur during the winter months, while those in air temperature can occur during the summer months. Then, by comparing to
COADS, a general underestimation of the wind speed and a good agreement in the air temperature are found
Coupled wave-2D hydrodynamics modeling at the Reno River mouth (Italy) under climate change scenarios
This work presents the results of the numerical study implemented for the natural area of Lido di Spina, a touristic site along the Italian coast of the North Adriatic Sea, close to the mouth of River Reno. High-resolution simulations of nearshore dynamics are carried out under climate change conditions estimated for the site. The adopted modeling chain is based on the implementation of multiple-nested, open-source numerical models. More specifically, the coupled wave-2D hydrodynamics runs, using the open-source TELEMAC suite, are forced at the offshore boundary by waves resulting from the wave model (SWAN) simulations for the Adriatic Sea, and sea levels computed following a joint probability analysis approach. The system simulates presentday scenarios, as well as conditions reflecting the high IPCC greenhouse concentration trajectory named RCP8.5 under predicted climate changes. Selection of sea storms directed from SE (Sirocco events) and E-NE (Bora events) is performed together with Gumbel analysis, in order to define ordinary and extreme sea conditions. The numerical results are here presented in terms of local parameters such as wave breaking position, alongshore currents intensity and direction and flooded area, aiming to provide insights on how climate changes may impact hydrodynamics at a site scale. Although the wave energy intensity predicted for Sirocco events is expected to increase only slightly, modifications of the wave dynamics, current patterns, and inland flooding induced by climate changes are expected to be significant for extreme conditions, especially during Sirocco winds, with an increase in the maximum alongshore currents and in the inundated area compared to past conditions. \ua9 2018 by the authors
Evaluating Patient Engagement and User Experience of a Positive Technology Intervention: The H-CIM Case
The present chapter will provide an example of an intervention evaluation from the joint viewpoints of patient engagement and user experience. The authors evaluated H-CIM, a technological platform for the intelligent monitoring of physiological data of elderly patients performing physiotherapy exercises. Descriptive quantitative measures, behavioral observation, and qualitative interviews are integrated to evaluate H-CIM ability in (1) guaranteeing a positive experience to its users and (2) supporting them in advancing through a patient engagement development. This contribution would constitute a practical example of how these fundamental factors should be considered and evaluated when implementing positive technology for healthcare
Cooperation among cancer cells: applying game theory to cancer
Cell cooperation promotes many of the hallmarks of cancer via the secretion of diffusible factors that can affect cancer cells or stromal cells in the tumour microenvironment. This cooperation cannot be explained simply as the collective action of cells for the benefit of the tumour because non-cooperative subclones can constantly invade and free-ride on the diffusible factors produced by the cooperative cells. A full understanding of cooperation among the cells of a tumour requires methods and concepts from evolutionary game theory, which has been used successfully in other areas of biology to understand similar problems but has been underutilized in cancer research. Game theory can provide insights into the stability of cooperation among cells in a tumour and into the design of potentially evolution-proof therapies that disrupt this cooperation
Evolutionary dynamics of tumor-stroma interactions in multiple myeloma
Cancer cells and stromal cells cooperate by exchanging diffusible factors that sustain tumor growth, a form of frequency-dependent selection that can be studied in the framework of evolutionary game theory. In the case of multiple myeloma, three types of cells (malignant plasma cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts) exchange growth factors with different effects, and tumor-stroma interactions have been analysed using a model of cooperation with pairwise interactions. Here we show that a model in which growth factors have autocrine and paracrine effects on multiple cells, a more realistic assumption for tumor-stroma interactions, leads to different results, with implications for disease progression and treatment. In particular, the model reveals that reducing the number of malignant plasma cells below a critical threshold can lead to their extinction and thus to restore a healthy balance between osteoclast and osteoblast, a result in line with current therapies against multiple myeloma
Optimal index related to the shoreline dynamics during a storm: the case of Jesolo beach
The paper presents an application of shoreline monitoring aimed at
understanding the response of a beach to single storms and at identifying its
typical behaviour, in order to be able to predict shoreline changes and to
properly plan the defence of the shore zone. On the study area, in Jesolo
beach (northern Adriatic Sea, Italy), a video monitoring station and an
acoustic wave and current profiler were installed in spring 2013, recording,
respectively, images and hydrodynamic data. The site lacks previous detailed
hydrodynamic and morphodynamic data.
Variations in the shoreline were quantified in combination with available
near-shore wave conditions, making it possible to analyse the relationship
between the shoreline displacement and the wave features. Results denote
characteristic patterns of beach response to storm events, and highlight the
importance of improving beach protection in this zone, notwithstanding the
many interventions experimented in the last decades. A total of 31
independent storm events were selected during the period October
2013âOctober 2014, and for each of them synthetic indexes based on storm
duration, energy and maximum wave height were developed and estimated. It was
found that the net shoreline displacements during a storm are well correlated
with the total wave energy associated to the considered storm by an empirical
power law equation. A sub-selection
of storms in the presence of an artificial dune protecting the beach (in the
winter season) was examined in detail, allowing to conclude that the adoption
of this coastal defence strategy in the study area can reduce shoreline
retreat during a storm. This type of intervention can sometimes contribute to
prolonging overall stability not only in the replenished zone but also in
downdrift areas.
The implemented methodology, which confirms to be economically attractive if
compared to more traditional monitoring systems, proves to be a valuable
system to monitor beach erosive processes and provide detailed indications on
how to better plan beach-maintenance activities. The presented methodology
and the proposed results can therefore be used as a basis for improving the
collaboration between coastal scientists and managers to solve beach erosion
problems, in locations where data are scattered and sporadic.</p
Intronic CYP46 polymorphism along with ApoE genotype in sporadic Alzheimer Disease: from risk factors to disease modulators
Increasing biological and clinical findings argue for a link between brain cholesterol turnover and Alzheimer Disease (AD), high cerebral levels of the former increasing Abeta load. Cerebral cholesterol elimination involves two mechanisms dependent on Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and cholesterol 24-hydroxylase (CYP46). The aim of this study was to evaluate an intronic variation in CYP46 (intron 2, T --> C ) along with ApoE genotype as risk factors for AD and to establish the correlation between CYP46/ApoE polymorphism and disease progression. One-hundred and fifty-seven AD patients, who had been followed periodically through 1-year follow-up after enrollment, and 134 age- and gender-matched controls entered the study. The distribution of CYP46 genotypes was significantly different in AD compared to controls (P<0.004), being CYP*C allele higher in AD patients ( P<0.002). ApoE 4 genotype was more frequent in AD (41.4%) than in controls (15.9%, P<0.0001). The odds ratio (OR) for AD risk in CYP46*C carriers was 2.8, and in ApoE epsilon4 carriers was 4.05; the OR for having both CYP46*C and ApoE epsilon4 was 17.75, demonstrating the their synergic effect on AD risk. In AD patients, CYP46*C along with ApoE epsilon4 genotype were associated with a higher cognitive decline at 1-year follow-up (P<0.02). These findings provide direct evidence that CYP46 and ApoE polymorphisms synergically increase the risk for AD development, and influence on the rate of cognitive decline
Classification accuracy of blood-based and neurophysiological markers in the differential diagnosis of Alzheimerâs disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration
Background: In the last decade, non-invasive blood-based and neurophysiological biomarkers have shown great potential for the discrimination of several neurodegenerative disorders. However, in the clinical workup of patients with cognitive impairment, it will be highly unlikely that any biomarker will achieve the highest potential predictive accuracy on its own, owing to the multifactorial nature of Alzheimerâs disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Methods: In this retrospective study, performed on 202 participants, we analysed plasma neurofilament light (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and tau phosphorylated at amino acid 181 (p-Tau181) concentrations, as well as amyloid ÎČ42 to 40 ratio (AÎČ1â42/1â40) ratio, using the ultrasensitive single-molecule array (Simoa) technique, and neurophysiological measures obtained by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), including short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF), long-interval intracortical inhibition (LICI), and short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI). We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of combinations of both plasma and neurophysiological biomarkers in the differential diagnosis between healthy ageing, AD, and FTLD. Results: We observed significant differences in plasma NfL, GFAP, and p-Tau181 levels between the groups, but not for the AÎČ1â42/AÎČ1â40 ratio. For the evaluation of diagnostic accuracy, we adopted a two-step process which reflects the clinical judgement on clinical grounds. In the first step, the best single biomarker to classify âcasesâ vs âcontrolsâ was NfL (AUC 0.94, p < 0.001), whilst in the second step, the best single biomarker to classify AD vs FTLD was SAI (AUC 0.96, p < 0.001). The combination of multiple biomarkers significantly increased diagnostic accuracy. The best model for classifying âcasesâ vs âcontrolsâ included the predictors p-Tau181, GFAP, NfL, SICI, ICF, and SAI, resulting in an AUC of 0.99 (p < 0.001). For the second step, classifying AD from FTD, the best model included the combination of AÎČ1â42/AÎČ1â40 ratio, p-Tau181, SICI, ICF, and SAI, resulting in an AUC of 0.98 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The combined assessment of plasma and neurophysiological measures may greatly improve the differential diagnosis of AD and FTLD
Comparing international coverage of 9/11 : towards an interdisciplinary explanation of the construction of news
This article presents an interdisciplinary model attempting to explain how news is constructed by relying on the contributions of different fields of study: News Sociology, Political Communications, International Communications, International Relations. It is a first step towards developing a holistic theoretical approach to what shapes the news, which bridges current micro to macro approaches. More precisely the model explains news variation across different media organization and countries by focusing on the different way the sense of newsworthiness of journalists is affected by three main variables: national interest, national journalistic culture, and editorial policy of each media organization. The model is developed on the basis of an investigation into what shaped the media coverage of 9/11 in eight elite newspapers across the US, France, Italy and Pakistan
CSF Alzheimer's disease-like pattern in Corticobasal Syndrome: evidence for a distinct disorder.
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