3 research outputs found
Value of ER-D5 immunocytochemical determination in routine tissue sections of human breast cancer
No full text ER-D5 is a recently identified protein related to estrogen receptors (ER). Generally ER measurement requires fresh frozen tissue and for ER-D5 assay ethanol (E) fixation of the specimen is recommended. We evaluated the possibility of immunocytochemical detection of ER-D5 in routine formalin-fixed (F) sections in 51 breast cancers comparing the results with those obtained in the same specimens using E as fixative. The results of ER-D5 assay were expressed by the staining index (SI) taking values ≥5 as positive. In all tumors ER was also assayed by a biochemical method (DCCA). The sensitivity of ER-D5 detection in F was only 33.3%, while the specificity was 94.4%. A lower cut-off value of SI for F sections (≥2) increased the sensitivity to 66.6%, leaving the specificity unchanged. A strong correlation was found between the SI of ER-D5 in E and F (p<0.001). The SI of ER-D5 in F sections was also well correlated with ER concentrations (p<0.001). These results suggest that immunocytochemical determination of ER-D5 in routine sections may be useful in retrospective studies of hormone dependence in breast cancer. </jats:p
Multi-scale freeform surface texture filtering using a mesh relaxation scheme
No full textSurface filtering algorithms using Fourier, Gaussian, wavelets, etc, are well-established for simple Euclidean geometries. However, these filtration techniques cannot be applied to today's complex freeform surfaces, which have non-Euclidean geometries, without distortion of the results. This paper proposes a new multi-scale filtering algorithm for freeform surfaces that are represented by triangular meshes based on a mesh relaxation scheme. The proposed algorithm is capable of decomposing a freeform surface into different scales and separating surface roughness, waviness and form from each other, as will be demonstrated throughout the paper. Results of applying the proposed algorithm to computer-generated as well as real surfaces are represented and compared with a lifting wavelet filtering algorithm
New sedimentoogical data from the Villafranchian deposits of Castelnuovo Garfagnana and Barga basins (Lucca, Tuscany, Italy)
No full textThe Castelnuovo Garfagnana and Barga basins are
located about 25 km north of Lucca along the
intramontane valley of the Serchio river. They are
about 5 Km wide, 15 and IO Km respectively long
and are separated by a structural high, known in
literature as "Soglia di Monte Perpoli" (Puccinelli,
1987). These basins constitute a tectonical
extensional depression, elongated in a NW-SE
direction, delimited southwest by the Alpi Apuane
and northeast by the Apennines. The geologica!
history of the Castelnuovo Garfagnana and Barga
basins, as the other depressions formed along the
Tyrrhenian margin of the Apennine chain, is related
to the Tyrrhenian rifting, active since late Tortonian,
and the counter-clockwise migration of the chainforedeep-
foreland system (Patacca et al., 1990). The
two basins, studied since 1800 for mining of lignite
and quarrying of clay, are filled with a remarkable
thickness of continental deposits, mainly of
Villafranchian age, generically interpreted in
literature as fluvio-lacustrine (Masini, 1936; Calistri,
1974). This study aims at offering a more detailed
reconstruction of the depositional history of these
deposits. A geologica! survey 1/ 10.000 scale,
together with sedimentological and compositional
analysis and paleontological data, allow to locate
five informai litostratigraphic units, whose
geometrica! relationships are shown in Fig. l. Within
each unit, a various number of lithofacies can be
seen (Miall, 1996 and, Sanchez-Moya et al., 1996
lithofacies code are used) and their association
allows to define some architectural elements (Miall,
1996). Their features and their geometrica!
relationships give rise to a more detailed and
complex reconstruction of the depositional history of
the Vi llafranchian deposits. Sixteen conglomeratic,
heterolithic, sandy and silty-clay lithofacies were
distinguished and grouped in nine architectural
elements belonging to channel belt elements and
overbank elements. The channel belt elements
consist of conglomeratic deposits (isolated channels
!C, grave! bar GB, debris flow deposit DF),
heterolithic and sandy elements (heterolithic bar HB
and sandy bar SB), while swamp (SP), pond (PO),
levee (L) and muddy-floodplain (M) constitute the
fine-grained overbank elements. On this basis four
alluvial depositional systems can be recognized. The
basai fluvial system, corresponding to
lithostratigraphic Uni t l , li es in disconformity o n the
substratum made by the metamorphic and nonmetamorphic
"Falda Toscana" units and subordinate
"Ligurian" units. !t is composed mainly of fine-
54
grained deposits, related to overbank elements with
intercalation of conglomeratic and sandy lithosomes
(Channel belt elements). Within overbank elements
SP deposits are characterized by widespread
presence of lignite (C lithofacies) and subordinate
intercalation of clays (Fm lithofacies). Tree trunks in
life-wise position have been observed. Vegetai
remains of G/yptostrobus sp., are consistent with
humid-subtropical climatic conditions. PO element is
characterized by rhythmical alternations of clay and
silt (Fh, Fsm and Fm lithofacies) containing freshwater
taxa like ostracodes (Candona spp. 1/yocypris
gibba), gastropods (Me/anoides curvicosta,
Prososthenia paulae Theodoxus sp. Laminifera
vi/lajranchiana), teeth of fish (Tinca sp., Leuciscus
cepha/us), together with charophytes oogonia and
leaves. L and M elements consist respectively of
rhythmical alternations of fine sand, silt, clay (Sh,
Fsm, Fm lithofacies) and clay and silty-clay (Fm,
Fsm lithofacies). Widespread presence of
hydromorphic paleosols (P lithofacies) containing
land taxa (e.g. Helix sp. , Pomatias e/egans, Discus
rotundatus) is observed mainly in M element.
Channel belt elements consist of isolated channels
(IC) and heterolithic bar (HB). IC element shows a
ribbon geometry and frequently "ailes d' etalement"
(sensu Friend et al. , 1979). Width-depth ratio is
consistent with stable channels. They are composed
of polygenic, grain-supported conglomerate (Gp, Gt
and Gcm lithofacies), frequently organized in fining
upward trend. HB element shows a plane-convex
upward geometry and consists of alternations
between sand and grave! (Ep, Et, St, Sp lithofacies)
organized in fining upward trend. They represent
bars migration within the channel. Compositional
data and paleocurrent analysis (northwest to
southeast direction) are consistent with a single
longitudinal (sensu Miall, 1996) fluvial course
flowing through the two basins. The whole acquired
data is consistent with the characteristic of cohesive
sediment anabranching river system, organo-clastic
sub-type (sensu Nanson & Knighton, 1996). The
second alluvial system recognized corresponds to
lithostratigraphic Uni t 2 (Fig. l). Unlike the
underlying system, Unit 2 is mainly composed of
conglomerates (channel belt elements), while finegrained
deposits (overbank elements) are
subordinate. GB and SB elements constitute channel
belt elements. GB element is made up of openwork
and matrix-filled conglomerates (Gp and Gt
lithofacies), frequently organized in fining upward
trend. Reactivation surfaces are frequently observed. SB element consists of medium to coarse-grained
sand (Sp and St lithofacies) sometimes containing
clay soft clasts. GB and SB associations are
interpreted to represent bars migration within the
channel. L and M elements constitute the overbank
elements. They are respectively characterized by fine
to medium-grained sand (Sh and Sr lithofacies) and
by drapes of clay (Fm lithofacies), while immature
paleosols (P lithofacies) are common in M element.
L and M deposits show strong affinities with the
actual overbank deposits of Serchio river. Deposits
belonging to this unit are related to a gravel bed load
braided system (sensu Sanchez-Moya et al., 1996).
Compositional and paleocurrent analysis point out
more or less the same longitudinal fluvial course,
flowing through the two basins, observed for the
underlying cohesive anabranching river system
organo-clastic sub-type. Along the Castelnuovo
Garfagnana and Barga margins, spatially limited
conglomeratic lithosome, showing latero-vertical
relationships with Unit l and 2 (Fig. l) are mapped.
Lithostratigraphic Unit 3 crops out along the
Apennine margin of the two basins. !t consists of
channel belt elements of very coarse massive
monogenic conglomerate (Gcm and Gmm
lithofacies), exclusively derived from the
surroundings "Macigno" F ormation. The same
textural characteristics were observed in the
litostratigraphic Unit 4 (Fig. l) cropping out in a
small area of the southwest margin of the Barga
basin. Besides "Macigno" clasts, the conglomerate is
also composed of deriving "Falda Toscana" and
Methamorphic units clasts. The close proximity of
source area and textural features are consistent with a
debris flow dominated fan (sensu Stanistreet & Mc
Carthy, 1993) developed transversally to the basi n' s
axis. The lithostratigraphic Unit 5 crops out in the
southwest margin of the Castelnuovo Garfagnana
basin and consists of channel belt elements.
Lithofacies Gp, Gt e Sm, (polygenic, clast supported
conglomerate and medium-coarse grained sand)
representing the composition of surrounding area are
associated in GB element. Paleocurrent analysis
shows a radiai pattem. This unit is interpreted as a
braided fluvial fan alluvial system (sensu Stanistreet
& McCarthy, 1993) developed transversally to the
basin 's axis. The whole acquired data lead to
delineate the depositional history of villafranchian
deposits cropping out in the Castelnuovo Garfagnana
and Barga basins. The results of this study can be
summarized in two principal points: i) onset, in a
humid sub-tropical climate phase, of a first alluvial
system, flowing through the two basins and related
to a cohesive sediment anabranching river (sub-type
organo-clastic) characterized by a prevalent finegrained
overbank organic-rich sedimentation. At the
same time coalescent debris flow dominated fan,
mainly derived from Apennines margin, forms
transversally to the basins axis. ii) Development of a
gravel bed load braided alluvial system,
characterized by prevalent gravelly channel belt
deposits, flowing through the two basins. The
erosive contact between this system and the
underlying one, is an abrupt facies change inferring a
possible disconformity surface. At the same time
debris flow dominated fans derived from the
Apennines margin continue to develop. Although the
proposed reconstruction involves the necessity of a
disconformity surface also within these deposits, the
spatially limited outcrops and the frequently
weathering do not permit to evaluate this hypothesis.
During this depositional phase a braided fluvial fan
derived from the Apuan Alps develops transversally
in the Castelnuovo Garfagnana basin. This
palaeoenvironment reconstruction implies that
Monte Perpoli high plays a different role compared
to that proposed by other authors. In our
interpretation, according to the sedimentological and
statistica! compositional data (Sodini M. et al.,
2002), this area acted as a sedimentary by-pass since
the opening (Lower Villafranchian) of the
Castelnuovo Garfagnana and Barga basins. This
interpretation is consistent with most recent data
about Alpi Ar uane uplift times (Molli G., 2001)
