17 research outputs found
Effect of the combination of basic fibroblast growth factor and cysteine on corneal epithelial healing after photorefractive keratectomy in patients affected by myopia
No full textBackground: This study sought to evaluate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor eye drops and cysteine oral supplements on corneal healing in patients treated with photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty patients treated bilaterally with PRK for myopia were enrolled at one of two eye centers (Clinica Santa Lucia, Bologna, Italy and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy) and were treated at the former center. Sixty patients included in the study group (Group 1) were treated postoperatively with topical basic fibroblast growth factor plus oral L-cysteine supplements, whereas 60 subjects included in the control group (Group 2) received basic fibroblast growth factor eye drops. We recorded the rate of corneal re-epithelialization and patients were followed-up every 30 days for 6 months. Statistical analyses were performed on the collected data. Results: The eyes in Group 1 demonstrated complete re-epithelialization at Day 5, whereas the eyes in Group 2 achieved this status on Day 6. No side-effects were reported. Conclusions : Patients treated with basic fibroblast growth factor eye drops and L-cysteine oral supplements benefit from more rapid corneal re-epithelialization. In human eyes, this combination treatment appeared to be safe and effective in accelerating corneal surfacing after surgery. Financial Disclosure: No author has any financial or proprietary interest in any material or method used in this study. Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN73824458. © 2005 - Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
Multi-stakeholder Participation in Disaster Recovery: A Case Study
No full textAbstractEver since the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004 and a series of disasters that followed in the last decade, triggered the nations around the world to focus on emergency relief operations. A well prepared and coordinated relief operation is required to reduce the vulnerability of the affected and bring back normalcy in the minimum possible time. The present article discusses the relief and recovery operation during the Hudhud cyclone that hit the coast of Bay of Bengal in October, 2014. The paper brings together the information collected through focus groups, personal interviews with personnel involved in the relief operations when the disaster hit the city. The article describes the different activities carried out at the different phases of disaster management process and concluding the different actions taken by the state to reduce the impact of such disasters in the future. Also, key learnings and focus areas are listed for reference in future disasters
Natyasastra , British Institutionalization of Indian Classical Dance in the ISTD, and the Question of Dance Modernity
No full textIn this essay, the author discusses the global institutionalization of “Indian classical dance” in Britain within the larger historical framework of British Orientalism, multiculturalism, and cultural diversity. The focus is on the Imperial Society of the Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) and the pedagogical approaches used to impart knowledge on Kathak and Bharatanatyam. The ISTD is important because it has had a real impact on the framing of Indian performing arts in the United Kingdom. The chapter will discuss questions relating to Indian classical dance modernity from a historical, decolonial, and postcolonial perspective and through the optics of national historiography, dance migration, cultural translation, and globalization. The author shows how the South Asian faculty used the Natyasatra and Abhinayadarpana to devise a modern transcultural syllabus for Kathak and Bharatnatyam within the universal framework of the ISTD
Determination of Synthetic Recovery Cost for Historical Towns in Deficit of Information Conditions: An Experimental Model
No full textAbstractThis paper is the result of an activity of still being tested research. It aims to provide a tool for the synthetic estimate of recovery costs for historic buildings in the phase of planning of measures, to be used in situations where it is not possible to have the necessary information for the application of more sophisticated instruments. The estimation method proposed arises from the need to program the recovery plans for old towns, especially those which are abandoned. This will take on a particular importance in view of their considerable potential new functions aimed at the sustainable development of territories as they fall, constituting an important part of the cultural landscape that characterizes the Inner Areas: areas in which identity resources, such as historical buildings, still remain and are a tool that can also give an economic perspective for these territories
Cultural Landscape and Cultural Routes: Infrastructure Role and Indigenous Knowledge for a Sustainable Development of Inland Areas
No full textAbstractCultural Routes and Cultural Landscapes have now been assumed as key elements in the panorama of cultural tourism, because they can combine, in one place, various aspects desired by tourists: contact with nature, identity and intangible heritage, knowledge and local production, etc. This paper analyses a territory in the province of Reggio Calabria that fulfills the cultural route and cultural landscape criteria: it has inside a big abandoned infrastructure, which could become a driving force for sustainable development of inland areas
The ten reasons why corticosteroid therapy reduces mortality in severe COVID-19. Author's reply
No full textThe Unesco Intangible Heritage as Input for the Development of Rural Areas: A Theoretical Model for the Valorization of the Mediterranean Diet
No full textAbstractThe study aims to identify guidelines for defining a model of cultural planning, oriented to the development of the city of Reggio Calabria as a metropolitan centre. It will focus specifically on the rural areas, to provide an integrated plan for the advancement of cultural identity. This study develops a theoretical operating model for the valorization of the Mediterranean diet. The methodology consists of a preliminary fact-finding investigation. The second step involves the selection of municipalities able to apply best practices in the area in order to promote the Mediterranean Diet
Development Of Materials For High Emission Density Electron Emitters For Microwave Tube Applications
No full textMicrowave tubes are the choice of a wide range of high power and millimeter wave applications in radar, electronic warfare and communication systems. Advances in these devices are due to device innovation, improved modeling, and development of advanced materials. In a microwave tube, electron emitter is the source of electron beam and it is one of the vital components
determining the life & performance of the device. High power, high frequency
microwave tubes require electron emitters with high emission density. The
present thesis aims at developing the materials for high emission density electron
emitters. It is aimed to improve the emission density of thermionic cathodes for
use in conventional microwave tubes and to develop cold emitters like ferroelectric cathodes for high power microwave devices. The work reported in the present thesis is a modest attempt of the author towards this aim.
The thesis is organized in six chapters.
Chapter 1 gives a brief introduction of thermionic and ferroelectric emitters. Different types of electron emission mechanisms and a brief background of thermionic and ferroelectricemitters are discussed in this chapter. The genesis of the problem taken up and its importance as well as the plan and scope of the work is also given in this chapter.
In Chapter 2, the basic experimental techniques used in the present work are discussed. Preparation of mixed metal matrix and M- type dispenser cathodes and their characterization techniques has been discussed in this chapter. Subsequently, ferroelectric materials preparation and characterization for their material properties and electron emission has been discussed. A brief introduction to FEM software ANSYS, used for thermal analysis of dispenser cathodes and electrostatic field analysis of ferroelectric cathodes, has been given at the end of this chapter.
Thermal analysis, development process, emission characterization, work function distribution, of W-Ir mixed metal matrix (MM type) cathodes and a simple innovative technique to estimate the barium evaporation rate from the emission data of the dispenser cathodes is presented in Chapter 3. Under normal microwave tube operating conditions, the cathode of the electron gun has to be heated up to 1050°C to obtain stable thermionic electron emission. Thermal analysis is a first step in the development process of cathodes, optimizing its structure for improved performance with respect to its operating power, warm-up time and efficiency. Thermal analysis of a dispenser cathode in electron gun
environment using the FEM software ANSYS and its experimental validation are presented. Development of porous W-Ir mixed metal matrix material required for dispenser cathode applications has been discussed. Determination of pore size, pore density and pore uniformity has been carried out. The performance of the cathodes made with these pellets is at par with the results reported in the literature. The surface of mixed metal pellet is an inherently two-phase structure consisting of tungsten solid solution phase and W-Ir ε phase causing more spread in the spatial distribution of work function. W-Ir mixed metal matrix cathodes have been realized and their work function distribution has been determined form the measured I-V characteristics. Also in this chapter, a novel technique for estimation of barium evaporation rate for dispenser cathodes from their I-V characteristics is presented. Results of life test carried out on these cathodes are given at the end of the chapter.
In Chapter 4, work carried out on enhancing the emission properties of mixed metal matrix cathodes by suitably modifying the impregnant mix is discussed. W-Ir MM type cathodes discussed in the previous chapter give a emission current density of ~ 7.5A/cm2 with a work function of 1.99 eV. Thesevalues are very close to that of B-type cathode. In this chapter, it is explored to suitably dope the 5BaO:3CaO:2Al2O3 impregnant mix to reduce the work function of W-Ir cathodes. Lithium and Scandium oxides have been added to the 5:3:2 imp regnant mix. Lithium oxide doped impregnated MM type cathodes have given more than 30 A/cm2 current density at 1050oC. For scandium oxide doped MM type cathodes current density has increased to 15 A/cm2 at the same temperature.
In Chapter 5, Electron emission from the ferroelectric cathodes has been discussed. FEM simulation of Ferroelectric cathodes to study the electrical excitation effects on emission. Triple point electric field in FE Cathodes is very large and can lead to field emission from the metallic grid at triple points. FEM simulation has been carried out to find out the effect of grid thickness on triple junction electric field using ANSYS software. From FEM modeling it is also seen that if a dielectric layer of lower dielectric constant (εr≤10) is placed between the grid and the ferroelectric material the triple junction electric field increases three fold. Use of dielectric layer can also reduce the secondary electron coefficient (δ) and surface plasma generation.
Lanthanum doped PZT has been chosen for the study and these materials have been tested in diode configuration for emission characterization in demountable vacuum systems. Repeatable electron emission has been achieved for all the three compositions of PLZT (x/65/35) material (x = 7, 8, 9). However, it has been observed that when the ferroelectric is subjected to repetitive unipolar electrical excitation, fatigue is set in and cathode material is cracking. To study the effect of domain switching on the residual stress in the ferroelectric material, XRD studies have been carried out. Shift in XRD peaks for fresh and emission tested samples has been used to calculate the residual stress developed in the samples. Details of High current switch realized using ferroelectric cathodes have been discussed.
Chapter 6 gives the Summary of the work done and suggestions for further research on W-Ir mixed metal matrix cathodes and ferroelectric cathodes
GPS- GIS and Neural Networks for Monitoring Control, Cataloging the Prediction and Prevention in Tectonically Active Areas
No full textAbstractMonitoring the system of active faults in Castrovillari, carried out in time by the Geomatics of the University Mediterranean of Reggio Calabria, through GPS measurement onsite on test networks, created a database of crustal movements, useful for different studies and analysis of tectonic and deformation type. With the help of the powerful spatial and temporal data processing tools offered by GIS, and integration with traditional artificial intelligence models of neural networks, we created a platform that can not only to handle the huge amount of data processing, analysis and visualization tools, but also can get the first results for predicting displacements/distortions also useful for civil protection
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Author Correction: New Ca. Liberibacter psyllaurous haplotype resurrected from a 49-year-old specimen of Solanum umbelliferum: a native host of the psyllid vector
No full textAn amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper
