31 research outputs found
River Survey Evolution by means of Autonomous Surface Vehicles
No full textLiguria (Italy) is one of the European regions where extreme events related to anthropogenic changes have had the greatest number of negative effects. In this area the use of suitable robots can improve monitoring the impact of anthropogenic pressure in wetland ecosystems. A recent bathymetry survey took place with an ASV named SWAMP that was specifically designed for the extremely shallow waters peculiar of rivers and inland waters. SWAMP was equipped with a single beam sonar protected inside the hull and performed a bathimetry in the area where Roja river flows not far from the Italy-France border. During the survey SWAMP proved to be easily transportable in a harsh environment and to be capable of working in extremely shallow water without any risk for sensors and propulsion and to be highly manoeuvrable in narrow space
Calcium-Phosphate homeostasis and insulin resistance in men
No full textBackground and aims: Data on P homeostasis in insulin resistance (IR) are still conflicting. We investigated calcium-phosphate homeostasis parameters in men with/without IR. Methods and results: 177 volunteers (aged 61.62 ± 12.11), whose body mass index (BMI) was 29.97 ± 6.35, were studied. On fasting blood and spot urine samples, we measured serum creatinine, sodium (sNa), potassium (sK), chloride (sCl), calcium (sCa), phosphate (sP), alkaline phosphatase total activity (ALP), glucose, insulin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D], and urinary electrolytes corrected for creatinine (uNa/Cr, uK/Cr, uCl/Cr, uCa/Cr, and uP/Cr). Through the QUICKI index, we separated subjects with (IR+, n = 68) or without (IR-, n = 109) IR, and their parameters were compared. Associations were assessed by age-adjusted partial correlation, whose coefficients were compared by Fisher's transform. IR + had higher sP (3.54 ± 0.65 vs. 3.35 ± 0.47, p = 0.044) and lower uCa/Cr levels (0.073 ± 0.056 vs. 0.095 ± 0.072, p = 0.047) than IR-. BMI correlated with sP (r = 0.21, p < 0.05) and PTH (r = 0.29, p < 0.01). QUICKI negatively correlated with sCa (r = -0.22, p < 0.05) and positively with uCa/Cr (r = 0.21, p < 0.05), in turn correlating with uNa/Cr (r = 0.45, p < 0.001). In both groups, uCa/Cr correlated with eGFR and uNa/Cr (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). In IR + only, sP correlated with BMI, PTH with insulin, and uP/Cr (p < 0.05 for all). IR+ and IR-coefficients differed (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001) for the correlation of sP with BMI and of PTH with insulin and uP/Cr. Conclusion: The higher sP and lower uCa/Cr levels found in men with IR + suggest that IR could modulate calcium-phosphate homeostasis, likely by affecting their renal handling
Mazabraud's Syndrome: A Case Report And Up-To-Date Literature Review
No full textMazabraud's syndrome is a rare form of bone fibrous dysplasia associated with intramuscular myxomas. Fibrous dysplasia, is generally localized to pelvis and femur and it results in a fragile bone with deformities, pain, pathological fractures and functional impairment. Intramuscular myxomas, are rare benign mesenchymal neoplasms that exceptionally may evolve to malignant forms
FOSS4G-IT 2020 - 04 Posizionamento e sensori
No full textFOSS4G-IT 2020
20/02/2020, Sessione Posizionamento e sensori - Moderatore: Paolo Dabove
00:00:00
A worldwide georeferenced database of regional geoid models (Juan Fernando Toro, Lorenzo Rossi, Daniela Carrion and
Mirko Reguzzoni)
00:16:40
Dati raw GNSS da dispositivi Android: analisi delle performance del dispositivo xiaomi mi 9 e sviluppo di una nuova app open source per l’acquisizione dei dati (Lorenzo Benvenuto, Manuel Viaggi, Tiziano Cosso and Giorgio Delzanno)
00:33:15
Analisi meteorologica in tempo quasi reale mediante sensori GNSS in ambiente alpino transfrontaliero (Ilaria Ferrando, Lorenzo Benvenuto, Bianca Federici, Domenico Sguerso, Tiziano Cosso, Roberta Fagandini and Roberto Marzocchi)
00:47:45
Contenuti urbani 3D e da sensori in tempo reale mediante la versione draft di CityGML 3 e Dynamizers (Fabrizio Massara)
01:09:00
progettoPRO Punti di Riferimento Open (Fabio Zonetti)</p
Metodi avanzati per la verifica a fatica di giunti saldati di testa
No full textLo scopo principale del presente lavoro è la valutazione della
resistenza a fatica di un giunto saldato di testa, tipico della
carpenteria pesante ed in particolare delle applicazioni navali,
al variare di diversi parametri geometrici caratterizzanti la
giunzione stessa. Allo scopo, sono stati utilizzati tre differenti
metodi di predizione della vita a fatica, ovvero l'Effective
Notch Stress Approach, che è ormai di uso comune ed è supportato
da ampia bibliografia, il metodo della Strain Energy
Density (SED) ed il Peak Stress Method (PSM), due approcci,
quest'ultimi, di recente introduzione nella letteratura
scientifica ed ancora in fase di sperimentazione in ambito
industriale. Si sono inoltre condotte tutte le analisi mediante
l'impiego di due distinti codici di calcolo agli elementi finiti:
ANSYS® ed ADINA®. Il servirsi di diversi software FEM ha
permesso di verificare la bontà dei risultati ottenuti, di far
emergere alcune peculiarità fondamentali relative ai metodi
di estrapolazione dei valori dai punti di integrazione degli
elementi finiti e di estendere l'approccio del PSM ad un altro
software oltre a quello proposto dall'autore del metodo
(ANSYS®).The main aim of this work is the fatigue strength assessment of
a butt joint with weld reinforcement, typically used in steel
works and especially in shipbuilding applications when varying
different geometric parameters of the welded joint; to
this purpose, three different approaches for fatigue strength
estimates were applied, i.e. the Effective Notch Stress Approach,
which is now commonly used and it is supported by
a comprehensive bibliography, the Strain Energy Density approach
(SED) and the Peak Stress Method (PSM), the latter
ones newly introduced in scientific literature and still being
tested within industrial practice. Furthermore, all analyses
were carried out using two different finite element codes:
ANSYS® and ADINA®. The application of different FEM
software allowed verifying the quality of obtained results,
disclosing certain essential aspects related to the extrapolation
of values from integration points of finite elements and
extending the Peak Stress Method to an additional software
with respect to that proposed by the author of the method,
i.e. ANSYS®
Emerging therapeutic targets for osteoporosis
No full textIntroduction: Osteoporosis is a chronic, skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength and increased fracture risk; it affects 50% of women and 20% of men. In the past two decades, there have been substantial improvements in the pharmacotherapy of osteoporosis which have yielded potent inhibitors of bone resorption or stimulators of bone formation.Areas covered: This review discusses newly identified targets and pathways and conceptual approaches to the prevention of multiple age-related disorders. Furthermore, it summarizes existing therapeutic strategies for osteoporosis.Expert opinion: Our enhanced understanding of bone biology and the reciprocal interactions between bone and other tissues have allowed the identification of new targets that may facilitate the development of novel drugs. These drugs will hopefully achieve the uncoupling of bone formation from resorption and possibly exert a dual anabolic and antiresorptive effect on bone. Alas, limitations regarding adherence, efficacy on nonvertebral fracture prevention and the long-term adverse events still exist for currently available therapeutics. Moreover, the efficacy of most agents is limited by the tight coupling of osteoblasts and osteoclasts; hence the reduction of bone resorption invariably reduces bone formation, and vice versa. This field is very much 'a work in progress.
The effects of vegetarian diets on bone health: A literature review
No full textIn these recent years many people are adopting a vegetarian type diet due to the numerous positive health effects of this regimen such as the reduction of the incidence of many chronic disorders like diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cancer. However this diet is quite restrictive and so it could be possible to have a deficiency in some specific nutrients, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Although there are conflicting results on the effects of the vegetarian diet on bone health and fracture incidence, it is always recommendable in vegetarian people to have an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, through an increased intake of supplements, natural and fortified foods, an adequate intake of protein, fruit, vegetables, as well as vitamin B12. The aim of this literature review is to revise the actual knowledge of the effect of some nutrients and vegetarian diets on bone health
Energy Metabolism and Ketogenic Diets: What about the Skeletal Health? A Narrative Review and a Prospective Vision for Planning Clinical Trials on this Issue
No full textThe existence of a common mesenchymal cell progenitor shared by bone, skeletal muscle, and adipocytes cell progenitors, makes the role of the skeleton in energy metabolism no longer surprising. Thus, bone fragility could also be seen as a consequence of a "poor" quality in nutrition. Ketogenic diet was originally proven to be effective in epilepsy, and long-term follow-up studies on epileptic children undergoing a ketogenic diet reported an increased incidence of bone fractures and decreased bone mineral density. However, the causes of such negative impacts on bone health have to be better defined. In these subjects, the concomitant use of antiepileptic drugs and the reduced mobilization may partly explain the negative effects on bone health, but little is known about the effects of diet itself, and/or generic alterations in vitamin D and/or impaired growth factor production. Despite these remarks, clinical studies were adequately designed to investigate bone health are scarce and bone health related aspects are not included among the various metabolic pathologies positively influenced by ketogenic diets. Here, we provide not only a narrative review on this issue, but also practical advice to design and implement clinical studies on ketogenic nutritional regimens and bone health outcomes. Perspectives on ketogenic regimens, microbiota, microRNAs, and bone health are also included
Bone metabolism, bone mass and structural integrity profile in professional male football players
No full textBACKGROUND: Physical exercise plays an important role in bone mineralization as well as factors involved in bone metabolism influence the athletic performance. In European countries, soccer is the most popular sport. The aim of the study was to investigate bone metabolism, bone mass and structural integrity profile in professional male adult football players.
METHODS: Sixteen professional male football players from a single team of the 2nd division Italian League (mean age 22.4±0.7 years) were enrolled. Bone biochemical parameters, including serum calcium, phosphorus, albumin, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, intact plasma PTH, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-OHD), 24-h urinary calcium and phosphorus, and calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS), were evaluated at the beginning (October 2012) and at the end of the League (May 2013).
RESULTS: 25-OHD levels were significantly lower at the end of the League compared to the beginning (27.1 ± 5.9 vs 36.6 ± 9.5 ng/ml, fold change (FC)=0.25, p=0.008), and the prevalence of 25-OHD deficiency increased from 25 to 73%. Moreover, higher rate of previous bone, cartilage or ligament injuries correlated with 25-OHD deficiencies (p=0.014). T-score and Z-score were at the upper limits of the normality ranges, without significant difference between the beginning and end of the League. Phosphaturia was slightly decreased at the end of the League [(691.0 ± 364.5 vs 934.0 ± 274.3 mg/24h, FC=0.26, p=0.06)]. A significant correlation was found between phosphaturia and BQI (R square=0.28, p=0.03), and both T-s and Z-s (R square=0.28, p=0.03) at the beginning of the League.
CONCLUSIONS: With this pilot study, we demonstrated that vitamin D status significantly worsened at the end of the League. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation might be suggested in adult football players in order to prevent vitamin D deficiency and improve the athletic performance
