131,015 research outputs found
Giant subcortical high-frequency SEPs in idiopathic generalized epilepsy: A protective mechanism against seizures?
No full textobjective: recently, we found that high-frequency somatosensory evoked potentials (HF-SEPs), which are modulated by arousal-related structures, were abnormally enhanced during N-REM sleep in two seizure-free IGE patients [restuccia d, rubino m, valeriani m, della marca g. increase of brainstem high-frequency SEP subcomponents during light sleep in seizure-free epileptic patients. clin neurophysiol 2005; 116: 1774-1778]. Here, we aimed at verifying whether similar HF-SEP abnormalities were significantly correlated to the clinical outcome in a larger population of untreated IGE patients. methods: patients were classified as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME; six patients) and childhood or juvenile absence epilepsy (CAE and JAE, six patients). they were untreated because newly diagnosed, or because seizure-free. HF-SEPs from patients were compared with those obtained from 21 healthy volunteers. results: HF-SEPs were abnormally enhanced in all seizure-free CAE-JAE patients, whereas they were normal in all JME patients and in CAE-JAE patients with frequent seizures. not only scalp distribution, but also dipolar source analysis suggested a subcortical origin for these enhanced subcomponents, possibly in the brainstem. conclusions: the enhancement of HF-SEPs might reflect the hyperactivity of arousal-related brainstem structures; such an enhancement was found in all seizure-free CAE-JAE patients, while it was never observed in JME patients. significance: we speculate that the hyperactivity of arousal-related brainstem structures might account for the different clinical outcome among IGE subsyndromes. (c) 2006 international federation of clinical neurophysiology
Cerebellar damage impairs detection of somatosensory input changes. A somatosensory mismatch-negativity study
No full textseveral recent studies support the view that the cerebellum's contribution to sensory processing is not limited to movement regulation. In a previous paper (restuccia d, valeriani m, barba c, le pera d, capecci m, filippini v, molinari m. functional changes of the primary somatosensory cortex in patients with unilateral cerebellar lesions. brain 2001; 124: 757-68) we showed that the cerebellum influences somatosensory input processing at very early stages. the present study was aimed at verifying whether an analogous influence is also exerted at higher levels. for some time it has been known that in the auditory modality a specific event-related potential (ERP), that is, mismatch negativity (MMN), reflects preattentive detection of changes in the incoming stimulus by comparing the new stimulus with sensory memory traces. to test the cerebellar influence on the processing of incoming somatosensory stimuli we first verified whether the electrical stimulation of fingers, according to an 'oddball' paradigm within a stimulus-ignored condition, was able to elicit event-related components specifically linked to the preattentive detection of change. we analysed scalp responses obtained from eight healthy volunteers during frequent and rare electrical stimulation of the first and fifth finger of the left hand, respectively. to ensure that responses to deviant stimuli were due to changes in detection mechanisms, rather than to activation of new afferents, we also analysed responses to rare stimulation alone ('standard-omitted' condition). the 'oddball' stimulation was able to elicit a parieto-occipital extra negativity that was different in scalp distribution and latency from the N140 response to the 'standard-omitted' stimulation. we considered that this response was related to changes in detection mechanisms and labelled it somatosensory mismatch negativity (S-MMN). When the same procedure was applied to six patients with unilateral cerebellar lesions we found that the S-MMN was clearly abnormal after stimulation of the affected hand (ipsilateral to the affected cerebellar hemisphere). Earlier ERPs, as well as ERPs elicited during the 'standard-omitted' condition, were fully normal. present data indicate that cerebellar processing is involved in preattentive detection of somatosensory input changes. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the reliability of S-MMN recordings and indicates that subjects with cerebellar damage may be impaired in the cortical processing of incoming somatosensory inputs
High frequency oscillations after median nerve stimulations in healthy children and adolescents
No full textThe aim of the present research was to address somatosensory high frequency oscillations (400–800 Hz) in healthy children and adolescents in comparison with healthy adults. We recorded somatosensory evoked potentials following median nerve stimulation in nineteen resting healthy children/adolescents and in nineteen resting healthy adults with eyes closed. We administered six consecutive stimulation blocks (500 sweeps each). The presynaptic component of high frequency oscillations amplitudes was smaller in healthy children/adolescents than in healthy adults (no difference between groups was found as far as the postsynaptic component was concerned). Healthy children/adolescents had smaller presynaptic component than the postsynaptic one (the postsynaptic component amplitude was 145% of the presynaptic one), while healthy adults showed the opposite (reduction of the postsynaptic component to 80% of the presynaptic one). No habituation phenomena concerning high frequency oscillation amplitudes were registered in neither healthy children/adolescents nor healthy adults. These findings suggest that healthy children/adolescents present with significantly different pattern of somatosensory high frequency oscillations compared with healthy adults’ ones. This different pattern is reasonably expression of higher cortical excitability of the developing brain cortex
Advances in Food Waste Biomass Transformation into High-Value Product
No full textIn recent years, there has been a concerning surge in waste generation, with agri-food
waste emerging as a significant issue across various stages of the food supply chain [1].
This waste, arising from production, processing, distribution, and consumption, not only
leads to substantial economic losses but also poses ethical and environmental challenges [2].
Addressing this modern challenge requires minimizing waste generation, optimizing production processes, and transitioning to a circular economic model, emphasizing minimal waste generation and the “zero waste concept” [3,4]. One promising approach involves
valorizing agri-food waste and byproducts to extract valuable compounds for nutraceutical,
agricultural, and food applications [5–8]. Additionally, there is a focus on developing new
formulations of food products with enhanced nutritional, technological, and sensory qualities
[9,10]. Moreover, economic evaluations and assessments of consumer acceptance play
crucial roles in gauging the viability and marketability of high-value products derived from
agri-food waste and byproducts [11,12]. This Special Issue aims to delve into these areas,
exploring innovative strategies to harness the potential of agri-food waste for sustainable and value-added solutions in the food industry
Il mercato dei fitoterapici e l'evoluzione della normativa
No full textLe piante possiedono la caratteristica di essere molto più ricche degli animali nella loro diversità biochimica. Infatti, nonostante anche gli animali producano metaboliti secondari, almeno i quattro quinti dei metaboliti secondari oggi conosciuti sono di origine vegetale. Se è vero che viene definito farmaco un composto chimico in grado di prevenire e di curare le malattie, è ipotizzabile quindi che sia statisticamente più probabile trovare nelle piante costituenti chimici che posseggano queste proprietà. Ciò premesso, per fitoterapia s’intende una pratica terapeutica che si avvale di prodotti medicinali la cui sostanza attiva è costituita esclusivamente da una droga o da una preparazione vegetale. Le sostanze attive vegetali si distinguono per essere delle miscele complesse di composti chimici (fitocomplessi) e non da singoli composti chimici come avviene nel caso della maggioranza dei farmaci attualmente in uso (farmaci monomolecolari). La fitoterapia è quindi una branca della farmacologia basata sulla somministrazione in forme predosate (capsule, compresse, soluzioni, bustine, ecc.) di droghe o preparazioni vegetali, singole o in combinazione multipla. Per droghe si intendono piante, funghi o licheni, in parte o interi, integri, tagliati, frantumati o spezzettati, freschi o essiccati e per preparazioni si intendono le sostanze ottenute dalle droghe sottoposte a processi di estrazione con solventi, distillazione, spremitura, polverizzazione o altri sistemi di frazionamento.
La fitoterapia è quindi una tecnica terapeutica di tipo farmacologico con attività farmacodinamica, che agisce su specifici recettori con attività farmacocinetica, che influenza la biodisponibilità e con attività modulante la tossicità
Influence of pyrolysis parameters on the efficiency of the biochar as nanoparticles into cement-based composites
No full textIn this research, a particular kind of biochar provided by UK Biochar Centre has been added as nanoparticles into cementitious composites. Its principle characteristic lies in the standardization of its process production, that makes it suitable to been used as filler in cement-matrix composites, ensuring the reproducibility of the cement mix (I. Cosentino "The use of Bio-char for sustainable and durable concrete", 2017). The pyrolysis parameters and the content of carbon in the standardized biochar influenced its efficiency to enhance the mechanical properties of the cement composites: the results, in terms of flexural strength and fracture energy, have been worse than those obtained in previous studies (L. Restuccia "Re-think, Re-use: agro-food and C&D waste for high-performance sustainable cementitious composites", 2016), in which particles have been produced with higher temperature. However, also with standardized biochar a general enhancement of mechanical properties has been recorded, a sign that they can be used to create new green building materials. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Peer-review under responsibility of the ECF22 organizers
Empirical fragility curves for masonry buildings struck by the 2016 Central Italy earthquake
No full textThe prevention of seismic risk at urban scale can be pursued through the estimate of the probability to reach or exceed a certain
damage grade given the seismic input. In this framework, seismic fragility curves are nowadays of large interest as they express
this probability in a synthetic way, also extended to large-scale applications. Real damage data are crucial in making more reliable
predictions of damage occurrence, although they can be influenced by a proper definition of the structural types and the
completeness of observations. The paper shows the empirical fragility curves obtained for a sample of 2263 masonry buildings
located within 19 historical centers struck by the 2016 Central Italy earthquake. The damage grade was evaluated according to the
European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98), also considering undamaged buildings, at the end of the sequence that spanned between
August and October. The buildings largely underwent several repairs and strengthening actions with reinforced concrete elements
starting from the 1980s. The systematization of the structural features led to a taxonomy for strengthened and original buildings,
which, based on the observed damage patterns, was matched to the EMS-98 vulnerability classification. The sample ranges from
class A (worst behavior) to D (best behavior). Class A was typically assigned to original buildings (without interventions) or illadvisedly tampered ones, i.e., those in which interventions had an unfavorable contribution to their seismic behavior. Class D
described buildings with properly designed strengthening interventions, classes B and C intermediate situations. Fragility curves
were obtained per each vulnerability class, as a function of the highest peak ground acceleration (PGA) observed in the sequence
from ShakeMaps. The results were then compared to other empirical fragility model
Somatosensory high frequency oscillations: A useful tool to analyze cortical excitability?
No full textn/
Cerebellar damage impairs detection of somatosensory input changes. A somatosensory mismatch-negativity study
No full textSeveral recent studies support the view that the cerebellum's contribution to sensory processing is not limited to movement regulation. In a previous paper (Restuccia et al. 2001)) we showed that the cerebellum influences somatosensory input processing at very early stages. The present study was aimed at verifying whether an analogous influence is also exerted at higher levels. For some time it has been known that in the auditory modality a specific Event-Related Potential (ERP), i.e., Mismatch Negativity (MMN), reflects preattentive detection of changes in the incoming stimulus by comparing the new stimulus with sensory memory traces. To test the cerebellar influence on the processing of incoming somatosensory stimuli we first verified whether the electrical stimulation of fingers, according to an "oddball" paradigm within a stimulus-ignored condition, was able to elicit event-related components specifically linked to the preattentive detection of change. We analysed scalp responses obtained from eight healthy volunteers during frequent and rare electrical stimulation of the first and fifth finger of the left hand respectively. To ensure that responses to deviant stimuli were due to changes in detection mechanisms, rather than to activation of new afferents, we also analysed responses to rare stimulation alone (“standard-omitted” condition). The "oddball" stimulation was able to elicit a parieto-occipital extra negativity that was different in scalp distribution and latency from the N140 response to the “standard-omitted” stimulation. We considered that this response was related to changes in detection mechanisms and labelled it Somatosensory Mismatch Negativity (S-MMN). When the same procedure was applied to six patients with unilateral cerebellar lesions we found that the S-MMN was clearly abnormal after stimulation of the affected hand (ipsilateral to the affected cerebellar hemisphere). Earlier ERPs, as well as ERPs elicited during the “standard-omitted” condition, were fully normal. Present data indicate that cerebellar processing is involved in preattentive detection of somatosensory input changes. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the reliability of S-MMN recordings and indicates that subjects with cerebellar damage may be impaired in the cortical processing incoming somatosensory inputs.Several recent studies support the view that the cerebellum's contribution to sensory processing is not limited to movement regulation. In a previous paper (Restuccia et al. 2001)) we showed that the cerebellum influences somatosensory input processing at very early stages. The present study was aimed at verifying whether an analogous influence is also exerted at higher levels. For some time it has been known that in the auditory modality a specific Event-Related Potential (ERP), i.e., Mismatch Negativity (MMN), reflects preattentive detection of changes in the incoming stimulus by comparing the new stimulus with sensory memory traces. To test the cerebellar influence on the processing of incoming somatosensory stimuli we first verified whether the electrical stimulation of fingers, according to an "oddball" paradigm within a stimulus-ignored condition, was able to elicit event-related components specifically linked to the preattentive detection of change. We analysed scalp responses
Re-think, Re-use: agro-food and C&D waste for high-performance sustainable cementitious composites
No full textWith the development of "mega-constructions" and especially of slender components in ever-higher buildings, new construction materials need to be more performing. At the same time, environmental problems emerged during the last decades require that the manufacturing process of traditional building material needs to be more efficient and environmentally sustainable. The question behind this research is "You can get a traditional building material with better performance and less energy consumption?" Concrete is the most artificial material produced and used in the world. In recent years, the production of cement has reached 4 billion tons, making it a process with a high-energy consumption: it is one of the main causes of the production and placing of CO2 in the atmosphere. With the increasing demand for high-performance building materials, today we are witnessing a very common phenomenon: improve the mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strength, toughness and durability are becoming increasingly important features in the new concrete technology) by aggregates and very expensive additives. An example of this is certainly the direction of the predominant research in America, which involves the use of carbon-based materials such as Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) to meet the market needs of the new concrete. Through a simple reflection ("Concrete is a low cost material, why improve it with materials that, albeit in very small quantities, greatly affect it with their prohibitive cost?") was thus thought to use "poor" carbon-based materials. Therefore, the main theme of the present research is to obtain an enhancement of strength and toughness in traditional cement based materials by incorporating waste materials, to meet the challenge of "green" construction material
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