173,787 research outputs found
Current Approaches to Post-fall Assessment in Nursing Homes
No full textFalls in nursing homes occur among a large percentage of residents. Their onset necessitates a postfall assessment (PFA) be performed by clinical staff to determine likely etiology. The absence of an empirically validated comprehensive postfall assessment tool has led to considerable variability in the types of PFAs performed. The purpose of this study was to examine the types of PFA tools available, their content, and to compare this with national recommendations for fall assessment in geriatric practice.Peer reviewe
The representation of segmental information: an fMRI investigation of the consonant-vowel distinction
No full textRecent studies suggest that consonants and vowels are represented
separately in cognitive/neural space. Much of the evidence
comes from research on dysgraphia (for review, see Miceli & Capasso,
submitted). In the first place, letter substitution errors preserve
the consonant/vowel (CV) status of the target (e.g., cinema fi cirema
or cinoma, but not cintma). Second, there are reports of selective
impairment for consonants or vowels. Additional evidence comes
from disorders of phonology, demonstrating the dissociability between
consonants and vowels (Caramazza, Chialant, Capasso, &
Miceli, 2000). However, while neuropsychological observations
clearly support the C/V distinction, the anatomical correlates of such
distinction are still unknown. We investigated this issue by means of
an event-related fMRI experiment, with a grapheme verification
task
Effect of thermal treatments on vitality and physical characteristics of bean, chickpea and lentil
No full textThermal disinfestation treatments are relatively easy to apply, leave no chemical residues and may have some fungicidal activity. However, temperature and time combinations required to kill insect pests may meet or exceed those that reduce the viability of seeds, nutrients content, shelf life or technological characteristics. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of thermal treatments (different temperature and time combinations) on physical and biological characteristics of bean, chickpea and lentil. Seed samples of common bean, chickpea and lentil were treated at low (12, 24 or 48 h at −18 °C) or high (30, 60 or 90 min at 60 °C) temperature. Seed germination, mean germination time, physical characteristics: solids loss, electrolytes leached and firmness after cooking, were determined. The use of thermal treatments for disinfesting seeds of bean, chickpea and lentil represent a physical technique of pest control that can be harmless for seeds destined for crop production (especially for organic farming) or to be stored in germplasm banks. Moreover, thermal treatments can be applied also to grain legumes used as food by humans, with no significant effect on lentils and with a reduction of cooking time for chickpeas. Beans should be treated only with cold treatments and for no more than 24 h
Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on the Quality of Swiss Chard at Harvest and during Storage as Minimally Processed Produce
No full textThe effects of different levels of nitrogen fertilization (0-50-100-150-200 kg ha-1), minimal processing and cold storage (14 days at 4°C) on yield and quality of fresh-cut Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla L.) were evaluated. Increasing the level of nitrogen fertilization over 100 kg N ha-1, plants had a higher fresh weight, reduced their dry matter content and resulted taller and leafier. Total and marketable yield increased linearly as increasing nitrogen level. Both nitrate and ascorbic acid content at harvest increased as increasing nitrogen supply. Nitrogen fertilization negatively affected the yield of minimal processing. No effect on appearance and quality loss during cold storage was detected. Reducing nitrogen fertilization could lead to a more environmentally friendly product with no significant loss in yield and quality both for raw plant and fresh-cut Swiss chard. Minimal processing can improve nutritional quality lowering nitrates and increasing ascorbic acid content in fresh-cut produce
Prove preliminari per la valorizzazione della borragine (Borrago officinalis L.) come prodotto minimamente processato
No full textLa borragine (Borago officinalis L.) è una pianta erbacea annuale tomentosa della famiglia Boraginaceae originaria dell'Europa e del Nord Africa, ampiamente diffusa in molti paesi mediterranei. Questa pianta è coltivata in tutto il mondo ed è usata per scopi medicinali nonché per la preparazione di bevande e per essere consumata cruda o cotta. La coltivazione della borragine è principalmente orientata alla produzione di seme, mentre la coltura da ortaggio è molto limitata e spesso si ricorre alla raccolta delle piante spontanee per soddisfare le richieste di mercato. Al fine di valorizzare il potenziale orticolo di questa specie, la presente ricerca ha lo scopo di valutare la possibilità di coltivazione per la produzione di foglie di borragine minimamente processate. Dai risultati ottenuti nella presente ricerca, la borragine si è dimostrata una specie rustica, di facile coltivazione e con limitate esigenze idriche e nutritive. Pertanto risulta una specie interessante per diversificare la produzione orticola di pieno campo. Inoltre, le foglie di borragine hanno dimostrato una buona idoneità alla preparazione di prodotto di IV gamma, mantenendo sufficienti requisiti qualitativi durante 14 giorni di conservazione a 4°C. Ulteriori ricerche sono in corso per migliorare la produttività della coltura ed ottenere piante più pulite che consentano di ridurre le manipolazioni nelle operazioni di mondatura e lavaggio delle foglie per l’ottenimento di prodotto minimamente processato
Suitability of borago officinalis for minimal processing as fresh-cut produce
No full textBorage (Borago offcinalis L.) is a wild vegetable appreciated as a folk medicine and for culinary preparations. The introduction of borage as a specialized cultivation would allow for the diversification of vegetable crops and would widen the offerings of raw and minimally processed leafy vegetables. Thus, the aim of the research was to evaluate the quality and shelf-life of fresh-cut borage stored at different temperatures. Borage plants were grown during the autumn-winter season and immediately minimally processed after harvest. Fresh-cut borage leaves packed in sealed bags were stored at 2 or 6 °C for 21 d. Weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid, nitrates, leaf color characteristics and overall quality were determined through the storage period. Borage plants were deemed suitable for minimal processing. Storage temperature significantly influenced the rate of quality loss. Borage leaves had an initial nitrate content of 329.3 mg kg-1 FW that was not affected by temperature or storage. TSS and TA were higher in leaves stored at 6 °C. TSS, TA and ascorbic acid content increased during storage. Minimally processed borage leaves stored at 2 °C had lower weight loss and leaf color modifications during storage and a longer shelf life than those stored at 6 °C, so were still marketable after 21 d of storage
Excavations in San Miceli, Sicily
No full textIn 2014, Andrews University began excavating San Miceli in Sicily in order to offer its students the opportunity to excavate in a site of a different period, Early Christianity. The site had been explored in the late 1800’s. However, many questions were left unanswered and the dating of the finds was questionable due to lack of correct stratigraphy. Thus, the Andrews team has excavated in San Miceli for the last 4 years. This work has rendered additional information for the historical reconstruction of the site and its connections to the surrounding towns. Three fields were opened, A, B, and C. A large building was found in field A; tombs and a baptistery were found in field B; and in field C five rooms were dug and showed a large amount of pottery
Cerastium lacaitae Barberis, Bechi & Miceli et C. scaranii Ten. (Caryophyllaceae): aspects biosystématiques, taxonomiques et distributifs.
No full textThe MICELI (MICrofluidic, ELectrical, impedance): Prototyping a point-of-care impedance platelet aggregometer
No full textAs key cellular elements of hemostasis, platelets represent a primary target for thrombosis and bleeding management. Currently, therapeutic manipulations of platelet function (antithrombotic drugs) and count (platelet transfusion) are performed with limited or no real-time monitoring of the desired outcome at the point-of-care. To address the need, we have designed and fabricated an easy-to-use, accurate, and portable impedance aggregometer called “MICELI” (MICrofluidic, ELectrical, Impedance). It improves on current platelet aggregation technology by decreasing footprint, assay complexity, and time to obtain results. The current study aimed to optimize the MICELI protocol; validate sensitivity to aggregation agonists and key blood parameters, i.e., platelet count and hematocrit; and verify the MICELI operational performance as compared to commercial impedance aggregometry. We demonstrated that the MICELI aggregometer could detect platelet aggregation in 250 μL of whole blood or platelet-rich plasma, stimulated by ADP, TRAP-6, collagen, epinephrine, and calcium ionophore. Using hirudin as blood anticoagulant allowed higher aggregation values. Aggregation values obtained by the MICELI strongly correlated with platelet count and were not affected by hematocrit. The operational performance comparison of the MICELI and the Multiplate® Analyzer demonstrated strong correlation and similar interdonor distribution of aggregation values obtained between these devices. With the proven reliability of the data obtained by the MICELI aggregometer, it can be further translated into a point-of-care diagnostic device aimed at monitoring platelet function in order to guide pharmacological hemostasis management and platelet transfusions
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