Geomatic measurement of “New Aniene” and “Claudia” roman aqueducts for flows estimation

The aqueducts are the most impressive and original building of the ancient Rome. The aqueducts moved water only by gravity, being constructed with a slight downward slope, within conduits of stone, brick or concrete. All along valleys or plains, the conduit was supported by buildings with arches, or its contents were placed to pressure in lead, ceramic or stone pipes. The aim of this work is to study and determine the slope and so to evaluate the actual flows, considering also that the area is interested by crustal movements. To evaluate it a geomatic survey of a part of the New Aniene and Claudia roman aqueducts was realised. The measured average slopes have values close to the value of 2 described in ancient texts that report the details of the realization of the Roman works. From the slopes through a hydraulic model the flow rate has been calculated. The general lowering of the study area was also highlighted through the comparison of reconstructed lines slope and those realized in 1917, approximately equal to 0.45 m

Characterization and Determination of Interesterification Markers (Triacylglycerol Regioisomers) in Confectionery Oils by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Interesterification is an industrial transformation process aiming to change the physico-chemical properties of vegetable oils by redistributing fatty acid position within the original constituent of the triglycerides. In the confectionery industry, controlling formation degree of positional isomers is important in order to obtain fats with the desired properties. Silver ion HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) is the analytical technique usually adopted to separate triglycerides (TAGs) having different unsaturation degrees. However, separation of TAG positional isomers is a challenge when the number of double bonds is the same and the only difference is in their position within the triglyceride molecule. The TAG positional isomers involved in the present work have a structural specificity that require a separation method tailored to the needs of confectionery industry. The aim of this work was to obtain a chromatographic resolution that might allow reliable qualitative and quantitative evaluation of TAG positional isomers within reasonably rapid retention times and robust in respect of repeatability and reproducibility. The resulting analytical procedure was applied both to confectionery raw materials and final products

Accelerated Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking Using Topography-Guided UV-A Energy Emission: Preliminary Clinical and Morphological Outcomes

Purpose. To assess the clinical and morphological outcomes of topography-guided accelerated corneal cross-linking. Design. Retrospective case series. Methods. 21 eyes of 20 patients with progressive keratoconus were enrolled. All patients underwent accelerated cross-linking using an ultraviolet-A (UVA) exposure with an energy release varying from 7.2 J/cm2 up to 15 J/cm2, according to the topographic corneal curvature. Uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuity, topography, in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), and anterior segment optic coherence tomography (AS-OCT) were evaluated preoperatively and at the 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Results. 12 months after surgery UDVA and CDVA did not significantly vary from preoperative values. The average topographic astigmatism decreased from -4.61±0.74 diopters (D) to -3.20±0.81 D and coma aberration improved from 0.95 ± 0.03 μm to 0.88 ± 0.04 μm after surgery. AS-OCT and IVCM documented differential effects on the treated areas using different energies doses. The depths of demarcation line and keratocyte apoptosis were assessed. Conclusions. Preliminary results show correspondence between the energy dose applied and the microstructural stromal changes induced by the cross-linking at various depths in different areas of treated cornea. One year after surgery a significant reduction in the topographic astigmatism and comatic aberration was detected. None of the patients developed significant complications

Possible additional value of 18FDG-PET in managing pancreas intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: Preliminary results

Although some clinical and radiological features may predict malignancy presence in intraductal papillary mucinous pancreas neoplasms, preoperative diagnosis remains difficult. In this study we present 7 patients with Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN) studied both with 18FDG-PET and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). A focal hypermetabolism was documented in 2 patients (the standardized uptake value in the neoplastic foci was 6.7 and 9), while absence of FDG uptake in the neoplasm area was recorded in the remaining 5 cases. Mean follow-up was 27 months (range 21–34). The final judgement was benign IPMN in 5 cases and malignant IPMN in 2. PET scan always correctly predicted the presence or absence of malignancy, while MRCP failed to detect malignancy in 3/7 cases. In conclusion, this preliminary experience suggests that 18FDG-PET may prove useful for malignancy detection in IPMN, improving differential diagnosis with benign intraductal papillary growth by functional data

HTRA1 and TGF-β1 concentrations in the aqueous humor of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To evaluate the expression of high-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), growth differentiation factor 6 (GDF6), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) proteins in the aqueous humor of patients with naïve choroidal neovascularization (nCNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: We measured by ELISA the concentrations of HTRA1, TGF-β1, BMP4, GDF6 and VEGFA in the aqueous humor of 23 patients affected by nCNV who received 3 consecutive monthly intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg ranibizumab. Samples were collected at baseline (before the first injection), month 1 (before the second injection), and month 2 (before the third injection). 23 age-matched cataract patients served as controls. RESULTS: BMP4 and GDF6 were not detectable in any samples. Baseline HTRA1 was higher than controls (P<0.0001), and higher than both the month 1 (P<0.0001) and the month 2 (P<0.0001) values. Baseline VEGFA was higher than controls (P<0.0001), not different from month 1 value (P=0.0821), but higher than month 2 value (P<0.0001). Baseline TGF-β1 was higher than controls (P=0.0015) and not different from month 1 (P=0.129) and month 2 values (P=0.5529). No correlation was found in naïve patients between concentrations of HTRA1 and TGF-β1, HTRA 1 and VEGFA, or TGF-β1 and VEGFA. CONCLUSIONS: In nCNV patients, HTRA1 and TGF-β1 were significantly higher compared to controls. After treatment, TGF-β1 was persistently elevated, while HTRA1 returned to control levels, suggesting the involvement of TGF-β1 and HTRA1 in nAMD and a VEGFA-independent role for TGF-β1