177,528 research outputs found
Clarification regarding old records of Roccella in the Maltese Islands
No full textThe only checklist of lichens of the Maltese Islands dates back to 1915 and includes both Roccella phycopsis and R. tinctoria. Material present in local collections and carrying the labels Roccella fucoides, R. phycopsis and R. tinctoria were examined and all were found to be Roccella phycopsis. Fresh specimens of Roccella from different areas were also collected and identified. Study has lead to the conclusion that early records of R. tinctoria are incorrect and that to date the only species of this genus found in the Maltese Islands is Roccella phycopsis Ach.peer-reviewe
The quality of life of children with pervasive developmental disorders
No full textAIM: Quality of life is increasingly the focus of attention by health, psychological and social services. Pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) are a group of psychiatric conditions in which the patient's clinical case history is characterized by disturbances in social interaction, deterioration of verbal and non-verbal communication, and presence of bizarre, limited and stereotyped activity. These disturbances affect multiple developmental areas and show up in very early stages of development, resulting in a permanent disorder. Many studies have sought to recognize causes and interventions for persons with PDD, however, they often take insufficient account of the effects these disorder can have on the lifestyle of patients and their families. These clinical case histories are so pervasive that they cause a disorder which upsets the equilibrium of the person's entire life. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of living with PDD on the person's quality of life and to highlight the factors that impact on the person and his/her family. METHODS: Both parents of 54 subjects (46 males and 8 females; age range 4-28 years) with diagnosed PDD (43 with autistic disorder, 2 with childhood disintegrative disorder, 3 with Asperger Syndrome, 6 with pervasive development disorder NAS) were enrolled in the study. The subjects affected with PDD were recruited at the AGSAS Onlus and IsMeC. Diagnosis was based on the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Quality of life was assessed using the Italian version of the Impact of Childhood Illness Scale (Hoare and Russell, 1995). This scale consists of 30 questions that investigate the effect of illness on children, parents and families. For each question, the parent was asked to rate two variables: frequency and importance. Another questionnaire was administered to obtain medical history, diagnostic and therapeutic data of the persons with PDD. RESULTS: Analysis of frequencies and percentages of questionnaire answers showed that the most important problems related to illness; specifically, according to the Frequency and Importance Parameters, the problems centered around self-care skills, difficulty in explaining the child's illness to others and looking after the child. The most important problems about the other children in the family concerned providing them with necessary attention and the restrictions their brother/sister's illness placed on their own activities. No significant correlations emerged between diagnosis type and answers on individual subscale items (Pearson's r). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that PDD has a considerable impact on both the child's development and the entire family. Parents' answers demonstrated that their child's illness had consequences for the child and how the family coped with it. For this reason, attention should be directed at psychological and social aspects, as well as attitudes, manners, reactions and effects such disturbances can have on the entire family
Innovazione e conservazione nel risanamento strutturale del grattacielo Pirelli a Milano
No full textTechnological review of the HRP manufacturing process R&D activity
No full textENEA and Ansaldo Nucleare S.p.A. have been deeply involved in the European International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) R&D activities for the manufacturing of high heat flux plasma-facing components (HHFC), and in particular for the inner vertical target (IVT) of the ITER divertor. This component has to be manufactured by using both armour and structural materials whose properties are defined by ITER. Their physical properties prevent the use of standard joining techniques. The reference armour materials are tungsten and carbon/carbon fibre composite (CFC). The cooling pipe is made of copper alloy (CuCrZr-IG). During the last years ENEA and Ansaldo have jointly manufactured several actively cooled monoblock mock-ups and prototypical components of different length, geometry and materials, by using innovative processes: HRP (hot radial pressing) and PBC (pre-brazed casting). The history of the technical issues solved during the R&D phase and the improvements implemented to the assembling tools and equipments are reviewed in the paper together with the testing results. The optimization of the processes started from the successful manufacturing of both W and CFC armoured small scale mockups thermal fatigue tested in the worst ITER operating condition (20 MW/m2) through the achievement of record performances obtained from a monoblock medium scale mockup. On the base of these results ENEA-ANSALDO participated to the European programme for the qualification of the manufacturing technology to be used for the procurement of the ITER divertor IVT, according to the F4E specifications. A divertor inner vertical target prototype (400 mm total length) with three plasma facing component units, was successfully tested at ITER relevant thermal heat fluxes. Now, ANSALDO and ENEA are ready to face the challenge of the ITER inner vertical target production, transferring to an industrial production line the experience gained in the development, optimization and qualification of the PBC and HRP processes. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Chemical diversity of five coastal Roccella species from mainland France, the Scattered Islands, and São Tomé and Príncipe
No full textInternational audienceRoccella species constitute interesting models to address questions regarding lichen metabolite diversity across taxonomic, ecological and geographic gradients. Indeed, owing to their wide distribution, their taxonomic diversity and the narrow ecological niche they occupy, Roccella species are good candidates to study the drivers of lichen chemistry. This study focuses on the chemical profiling of five species: R. applanata, R. belangeriana, R. fuciformis, R. montagnei and R. phycopsis. These five species were sampled in a rather narrow longitudinal range (W1°51' to E47°17') covering the Eastern Atlantic and Western Indian Ocean areas along an extended latitudinal range (N48°49' to S22°23'). High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis followed by mass spectrometry of 31 Roccella thalli revealed a number of interesting patterns through a multivariate (PCA) analysis, including the first detailed chemical profiles for two species from the Scattered Islands: R. applanata and R. belangeriana. Metabolite segregation amongst all studied Roccella species, including R. montagnei and R. belangeriana, gave some insight into the taxonomy of the latter two species, which we interpret as separate species. An additional analysis focusing on R. montagnei samples revealed chemical differences along both a latitudinal and ecological gradient (from Europa to São Tomé and Príncipe). Three mass spectra databases were built to dereplicate the ions, which gave an overview of the factors that could drive quantitative and qualitative metabolite composition in lichens. Additionally, several new Roccella species records are reported for the Scattered Islands as well as São Tomé and Príncipe
Autism spectrum disorders in children affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
No full textObjective
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive neuromuscular condition that has a high rate of cognitive and learning disabilities as well as neurobehavioral disorders, some of which have ben associated with disruption of dystrophin isoforms. Recent studies have pointed to an increased risk for intellectual disability and autism among affected males.The aim of the present study was to describe a case series of children with DMD that have also the presence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). they have been assessed by means of standardized autism scales and the monst appropriate psycho-educational treatment is herein discussed.
Methods and Results
In order to evaluate and identify the presence and intensity of autistic symptoms have been used the childhood autism rating Scale and autism diagnostic Observation Schedule tools. Moreover, in order to assess the intelligence of subjects and their lower limb function, Wisch-r intelligence scale and Vignos function scale were used, respectively.
Atypical behaviors included a preference for being alone, and selective interest in privileged objects used in a stereotyped manner, motor fretting, and attention instability were present in all children. By the administration of these scales was confirmed the presence of ADSs in all subjects.
Conclusion
It is important for clinical practice to consider this association increased
Analysis of active and passive magnetic field reduction systems (MFRS) of the ITER NBI
No full textIn ITER two heating (HNBI) and one diagnostic neutral beam injectors (DNBI) are foreseen. Inside these components there
are very stringent limits on the magnetic field (the flux density must be below some G along the ion path and below 20G in the
neutralizing regions). To achieve these performances in an environment with high stray field due to the plasma and the poloidal
field coils (PFC), both passive and active shielding systems have been foreseen. The present design of the magnetic field reduction
systems (MFRS) is made of seven active coils and of a box surrounding the NBI region, consisting of ferromagnetic plates. The
electromagnetic analyses of the effectiveness of these shields have been performed by a 3D FEM model using ANSYS code for
the HNBI. The ANSYS models of the ferromagnetic box and of the active coils are fully parametric, thus any size change of
the ferromagnetic box and coils (linear dimension or thickness) preserving the overall box shape could be easily reproduced by
simply changing some parameter in the model
Oscar Niemeyer, Edificio amministrativo e direzionale per le Cartiere Burgo a San Mauro Torinese
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