700 research outputs found
An update on Kawasaki disease
No full textKawasaki disease (KD) is a febrile systemic vasculitis complicated by coronary and peripheral arterial aneurysms in 20-35% of untreated patients. It is reported as the commonest cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed countries, and may be a risk for adult ischaemic heart disease. Although KD has been reported all over the world, it is overexpressed among Asian populations, especially Japanese. The disease pathogenesis is still unknown and several theories have been proposed, including the possibility of an infection by a toxin-secreting microorganism and of a superantigen-driven process. Despite numerous efforts there is still no diagnostic test available for KD, and the diagnosis' is based on clinical criteria after the exclusion of other diseases presenting with high persistent fever. Prompt diagnosis is critical, since the early administration of intravenous immunoglobulins and aspirin reduces the rate of coronary abnormalities to less than 5% of patients
Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) hens of different origin. Dispersion and habitat use after release
No full textBecause of the importance of pheasants as a game bird species in many European Countries, information on the success of the restocking programs is interesting for evaluation. For this reason the survival, behaviour and habitat selection of 10 wild translocated and 20 released ring-necked pheasants (10 offspring of wild captured and 10 from the farmed strain, both farm-reared) was studied using radio-telemetry during March-August (fixes were grouped in 3 categorized periods: March 2 - April 18; April 19 - May 28; May 29 - August 16). All the captive reared pheasants were reared according to the new disciplinary rules set forth by the Toscana region for the production of pheasants destined to be released in the wild as part of a game repopulation program. The study was carried out in a hilly area of the Tuscany characterised by 18.1% woodland (core: 1654895E, 4850468N). Results showed that live weights were higher in the farm-reared pheasants (either directly captured or offspring of the captured, P<0.05). The tarsus length statistically differed between the farmed offspring of the captured pheasants and the farm strain (P<0.05). The survival rates and breeding success of the surviving subjects were very high and did not differ between groups (survival rates: 50.0%, 70.0% and 80.0%, and breeding success: 60.0%, 28.6% and 50.0%, for the captive-reared offspring of captured wild pheasants, the captive-reared farm pheasants and the captured wild pheasants, respectively). The dispersion increased with time in the wild translocated pheasants (576 m, 889 m and 1209 m) while the offspring of the captured wild pheasants and the farm strain remained in the vicinity of the releasing site. The wild pheasants showed an increasing distance from the country houses, contrary to the offspring of captured wild pheasants and the farm strain. Artificial feeding stations were better used by the farm-reared pheasants, which remained in the vicinity of the artificial feeding points. The results of our study showed that pheasants, reared according to the disciplinary rules stated for the production of pheasants for wildlife reproduction programs, although more expensive, can guarantee the genetic identity with the resident populations and are able to provide good survival rates and breeding success of the released pheasants, of course when restocking is carried out in areas suitable for pheasant wildlife
Hydrological year 2007-2008: Meteorogical features for the italian Alps.
No full textIn the reports the following rules and conventions were observed.
The numbers in bold type preceding the name of the glaciers
are those of the «Catasto dei Ghiacciai Italiani» (Inventory of Italian
Glaciers), 4 voll., Comitato Glaciologico Italiano, 1959-1962,
and subsequent variations. The numbers in bold type that countermark
photographs and figures correspond to those of the glacier
inventory. In addition to the subject, the photographic station, the
format of the negative, the focal length of the lens, the date and the
author are also indicated.
The letters, sometime in pairs, between brackets and small,
placed next to the symbols of the signals, have the following meaning:
c, centre; d, right; s, left; f, frontal; l, lateral. The symbols (C),
(T) and (A) indicate that the altitude they refer to, always expressed
in metres, has been respectively derived from the topographical
map, determined topographically or obtained with an altimeter.
In the tables summarising the variations of each glacier the
distances, expressed in metres, are approximated to ±0.5 m and
are intended as real distances. Unless otherwise indicated in
brackets, previous distance means that of the year 2004. Variations
are indicated with the following symbols: – retreat; +
advance; –X not quantifiable retreat; +X not quantifiable advance,
0 stationary glacier; ? uncertain variation; SN snout covered by
residual snow; NM not measured.
The coordinators assume both scientific and editorial responsibility
for all reports in the sectors within their competence
An inverse problem to infer paleo-flow conditions from turbidites
No full textAn inverse problem is here studied to infer paleoflow conditions from turbidites (i.e., from turbidity current deposits). Such a problem is constrained to outcrop data from the Laga Formation (Lower Messianian; central Apennines, Italy). Analytical solutions of layeraveraged governing equations for net depositional turbidity currents flowing over a flat bottom are found. These allow recovering conditions for current velocity, thickness, and sediment concentration at the start of the net deposition by using the analytic solution of the Exner equation for net-depositional turbidity currents. The Exner equation describes the along-current profile of a sedimentary bed deposited by a single depositional event. For lobe deposits of the Laga Formation we obtain values of 1.5 m/s for layer-averaged current velocities, 50–100 m for current thicknesses, and 0.5% for layer-averaged sediment volume concentrations. The duration time of these flows is also computed and gives rather short time span values varying from 1 to 15 h. All of these values are in good agreement with those reported in literature
Laboratory investigation on internal solitary waves interacting with a uniform slope
No full textInternal solitary waves (ISWs) propagating in a two layer stratified fluid system are studied by laboratory experiments through the standard lock-release method. We investigated the generation, propagation, and breaking phases of large amplitude internal solitary waves of depression, propagating horizontally in a wave tank. ISWs main features depend on the geometrical parameters that define the initial experimental setting. Relations between ISWs geometric and kinematic features and the initial setting parameters are analyzed and empirical relations are developed. The approach of the ISWs towards a uniform slope is investigated. Depending on both wave properties and slopes values, different physical processes characterize the shoaling phase, causing different breaker type. Following a qualitatively analysis of the different breaking mechanisms, collapsing-plunging breakers show the larger contribution in terms of mixing. The characteristics of the breaking events affecting internal wave packets propagating towards the North of the Messina Strait (Mediterranean Sea) are discussed. Additional laboratory experiments are performed to investigate how the pycnocline thickness is affected by the breaking of plunging ISWs. The consequent increase of the pycnocline thickness results to be nonlinearly related with the Iribarren number
Elbow arthritis: a rare inaugural manifestationof acute leukemia
No full textWe report four cases of swelling of the elbow in children in whom the final diagnosis was acute leukemia. We believe that elbow arthritis in children, especially when isolated, is an unusual finding that is unlikely to indicate juvenile idiopathic arthritis and should suggest alternative diagnoses including neoplastic disease
Scaling and solution of space-time fractional diffusion equations with a nonlinear flux,
No full textIn the Fourier heat conduction equation, when the flux definition is expressed as the product of a constant diffusivity and the temperature gradient, the characteristic length scale evolves as the square root of time. However, if we replace the 1st order transient and gradient terms in the Fourier equation with fractional derivatives and/or define a non-linear spatially dependent diffusivity, it is possible to generate an anomalous space-time scaling, i.e., a scaling where the time exponent differs from the expected value of 1/2. To compare and contrast the possible consequences of using fractional calculus along with a non-linear flux, we investigate a spacetime fractional heat diffusion equation that involves a non-linear diffusivity. Following presentation of the governing non-linear fractional equation, we arrive at a space-time scaling that accounts for the combined anomalous contributions of memory (fractional derivative in time), non-locality (fractional derivative in space), and a non-linear diffusivity. We demonstrate how this scaling can manifest in a physical setting by considering the analytical solution of a non-linear fractional spacetime diffusion equation, a limit case Stefan problem related to moisture infiltration into a porous media. A direct physically realizable simulation of this process shows how the anomalous space-time scaling is explicitly related to measures of both the memory and non-linearity in the system. Overall, the findings from this work clearly show how the definition of a non-linear diffusivity might contribute to anomalous diffusion behavior and suggests that, in modeling a particular observation, the roles of fractional derivatives and a suitably defined non-linear diffusivity are interchangeable
High frequency ultrasound can detect improvement of lesions in juvenile localized scleroderma
No full textBackground. Juvenile Localized Scleroderma (JLS) causes functional disabilities and cosmetic deformities. Evaluation and follow-up of lesions are mandatory to understand the disease evolution. The objective of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of skin ultrasonography (US) in monitoring the response to treatment in JLS. Methods. Ten patients (age: 101,7 ± 66,2 months; 7 M, 3 F) affected by juvenile onset LS underwent sequential US exams (at baseline and after 6 months). Skin thickness was measured by using high-frequency US (18 MHz). All patients were evaluated both clinically (modified Rodnan Skin Score, mRSS) and by US (dermal thickness) at baseline and at 6 months. At baseline, 6/10 patients received 3 pulses of corticosteroids (solumedrol 30 mg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days, then oral steroids (1mg/kg), and methotrexate s.c. (15 mg/mq/week). After 6 months, 1/6 was switched to mycophenolate mofetil (25 mg/kg/day) due to inefficacy of MTX; 4/10 did not receive any further therapy. Results. US showed a thicker dermis and a thinned hypodermis in the lesional skin areas in respect to the healthy ones (p < 0.05). After treatment, in seven patients a clinical improvement (decrease of mRSS) was found. In six of these patients, US showed a decrease of dermal thickness showing a correlation with clinical data. Three patients who did not receive drugs showed unmodified images and clinical findings. Conclusion. US can help the assessment of skin and hypodermis in JLS and can detect an improvement of the lesions. © 2014 Japan College of Rheumatology
- …
