393 research outputs found
STEREOPHOTOGRAMMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE HUMAN FACE: A TOOL FOR MODERN MORPHOLOGISTS
No full textThe introduction of new technologies has provided, in the last years, a significant contribution to anthropometry. In this context, facial anthropometry has greatly benefited from optical instruments such as laser scanners and stereophotogrammetry.
The latter technique has proven to be accurate, repeatable and fast; therefore, taking into consideration its non-invasive nature, it has been increasingly applied to medicine, due to the relevant support that anthropometry can provide to this field.
A facial anthropometric assessment can provide reliable morphometric details about the presence of deformities and peculiar features connected to underlying pathological conditions, not always easily recognizable. In the case of certain neurologic diseases, it can also provide new insights about the genotype/phenotype correlation taking the close relationship between facial and cerebral development into consideration.
Furthermore, the three-dimensional morphometric evaluation of the face can reveal objective parameters useful for the planning and assessment of maxillo-facial and dental treatments, thus facilitating the clinical decisions and increasing the patients’ compliance.
The facial morphometric evaluations presented in the current thesis were performed through the VECTRA M3 3D stereophotogrammetric system (Canfield Scientific, Fairfield, NJ, USA). All the patients and control subjects involved were marked with a set of facial landmarks (adapted according to the different study purposes), before the acquisitions. Once the three-dimensional models were obtained, they were elaborated through the software of the stereophotogrammetric system. Data were analysed through different statistical techniques, according to the type of study executed. The morphometric evaluations were divided in two groups: facial morphometric analyses performed through a landmark-based approach and through a surface- based approach.
The first group included the studies: 1) “The face of adult patients affected by Dravet Syndrome: a 3D stereophotogrammetric preliminary assessment”, 2) “3D Craniofacial morphometric analysis of GLUT-1 DS patients” and 3) “Stereophotogrammetric analysis of a case of holoprosencephaly”.
The second group included the studies: 4) “3D stereophotogrammetric assessment of labial symmetry in a girl treated for a lymphatic malformation” and 5) “Facial reanimation assessment performed through 3D-3D superimposition: a new method”.
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For both assessed syndromes, study 1 and 2 allowed the individuation of facial features common among the patients, whose recognition can have a role in the diagnosis of the disease, both in children (study 2) and in adult cases (study 1). Study 3 allowed the identification of the presence of dysmorphic facial features in a girl affected by holoprosencephaly with an apparently normal aspect, thus sustaining the potential of the 3D stereophotogrammetric facial analysis in the morphometric characterisation of the face. Study 4 and 5 showed the usefulness of this technique for performing an objective surgical follow-up and final evaluation of maxillo-facial treatments, helping clinicians in their decisions and motivating the patients.
In conclusion, all the studies sustained the usefulness, for medical purposes, of an anthropometric assessment of the human face, performed through a three-dimensional stereophotogrammetric analysis. Moreover, they highlighted its applicability to different categories of patients, including children and people with intellectual disability; thus again justifying the increasing diffusion of stereophotogrammetry in clinical and research centres
Progetto GLAST, studio fotometrico del Quasar 3C 454.3
No full textA photometric B,V,R study of the QSO 3C 454.3 was performed with the UAI Remote Telescope by the Skylive network. The object showed an extraordinary episode of fast variability on June 10.5, 2008, reaching mV = 14.5 +/- 0.02
Retention Behavior of neutral molecules in ion interaction chromatography
No full textThe retention behaviour of aprotic neutral molecules in Ion Interaction Chromatography was investigated. The study demonstrates that their retention, for an aqueous mobile phase (phosphate buffer pH 7.2-methanol, 85:15 v/v) containing the ion-interaction reagent (IIR) in the range 0-25 mM, decreases with increasing IIR concentration. Silanophilic interactions were accounted for by comparison of results obtained with either a silica based or a styrene-divinylbenzene based C18 stationary phase, under otherwise identical conditions. The retention behaviour of neutral molecules was elucidated on the basis of the exhaustive Ion Interaction retention model and evidence was obtained to support the proposition that the decreased retention is the result of an adsorption competition between tested analytes and ion- interaction reagent for inner layer sites on the stationary phase
Nova Vulpeculae 2007
No full textA photometric V & R study of Nova Vulpeculae 2007 performed with the UAI remote telescope (www.skylive.it). The star showed three maxima during the first 10 fays after its outburst, followed by a final decline with a large reddenin
Corrigendum to "2nd St. Gallen EORTC Gastrointestinal Cancer Conference: Consensus recommendations on controversial issues in the primary treatment of rectal cancer" [Eur J Cancer 63 (August 2016) 11-24].
No full textThe authors regret that the name of the co-author Salvatore Pucciarelli was misspelt in the original version of this article. The correct spelling is Salvatore Pucciarelli as given here. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused
3D facial features in Andersen-Tawil syndrome: a family report
No full textAndersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is an inherited potassium channelopathy affecting cardiac and skeletal muscle, which results in periodic paralysis and symptomatic arrhythmias. Distinctive facial and skeletal features also characterize the disorder. Variability in expression of heterozygous mutation in the KCNJ2 gene and the rarity of the syndrome (estimated worldwide prevalence 1:100.000) may lead to misdiagnosis. The recognition of facial dysmorphic features can improve the early diagnosis of ATS. However, facial features may be mild and they may be easily overlooked on routine physical examination. Today a detailed evaluation of craniofacial structures can be performed through the application of noninvasive 3D image acquisition systems. The study aims to better characterize the facial phenotype of ATS in order to improve the early diagnosis of the syndrome. We studied 4 members of a family with genetically confirmed diagnosis of ATS. Computerized acquisitions of the 3D facial image through stereophotogrammetric procedures were performed on a 39-year-old mother and 3 of her 4 sons (aged 5, 12, and 14 years respectively, the youngest one with a different father) without previous history of craniofacial trauma. From the digital 3D coordinates of 50 landmarks, facial linear distances and angles were com- pared with those collected in healthy subjects matched for age and sex. All members of the family showed 1) larger intercanthal width and smaller length of eye fissure than controls, 2) larger alar base width and smaller nasal tip protrusion, 3) smaller forehead and lower facial height including shorter and wider philtrum, 4) smaller anteroposterior facial distances and wider facial convexities in the horizontal plane. The present family study allowed to better characterize the facial features associated with ATS. The results are in accordance with the already known facial features of the syndrome, except for the extension of the forehead. 3D morphometric facial analysis pointed out characteristics of the philtrum which were not described previously in subjects with ATS, and could be more than a mere somatic familial trait
Validity and reliability of the caregiver contribution to self-care of heart failure index version 2
No full textBackground: Lay caregivers are important in contributing to self-care of patients with heart failure (HF). The Caregiver Contributions to Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (CC-SCHFI) measures these contributions, but after developing the Situation-Specific Theory of Caregiver Contributions to Heart Failure Self-Care, the CC-SCHFI needed updating to reflect the theory.
Objective: The aim of this study was to test the psychometric characteristics of the CC-SCHFI 2 that measures caregiver contributions (CC) to HF self-care with 3 scales: CC to self-care maintenance, CC to symptom perception, and CC to self-care management.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. We tested the CC-SCHFI 2 with confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, item-total correlations, and test-retest reliability. With the CC-SCHFI 2, we also administered the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index v.7.2 to patients and the Caregiver Contribution to Heart Failure Self-Care Scale to caregivers to assess concurrent validity.
Results: A sample of 277 caregivers was enrolled (mean [SD] age, 52.7 [14.9] years; 70.4% female). In confirmatory factor analysis, each CC-SCHFI 2 scale had supportive fit indices: comparative fit index ranged between 0.94 and 0.95, and root mean square error of approximation ranged between 0.05 and 0.07. Internal consistency of the 3 scales was evident with a Cronbach α between .81 and .83 and a global reliability index between 0.79 and 0.86. Item-total correlations were all greater than 0.30. In concurrent validity testing, there were significant correlations between the CC-SCHFI 2 and the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index v.7.2 and the Caregiver Contribution to Heart Failure Self-Care Scale. Test-retest reliability showed intraclass correlation coefficients between 0.72 and 0.91.
Conclusions: Testing of the CC-SCHFI 2 supported validity and reliability, indicating that the instrument can be used in clinical practice and research to evaluate CC to the self-care of patients with HF
Laser scanner compared with stereophotogrammetry for measurements of area on nasal plaster casts
No full textPreliminary Studies on the Synthesis and Antimicrobial activity of TiO2/Ag/Au nanoparticles on materials for sanitation of indoor Ambient Assisted Living environments.
No full textPreliminary Studies on the Synthesis and Antimicrobial activity of TiO2/Ag/Au nanoparticles on materials for sanitation of indoor Ambient Assisted Living environments.
Ramadori A. T. a,b Galassi R.,a Micozzi, D.,c Pucciarelli, S. c
a School of Science and Technology, Chemistry Division, University of Camerino, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino; e-mail: [email protected]
b Fellow from T.R.A.S.P.A.R.E.N:T.E project
c School of Biology, Chemistry Division, University of Camerino, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino;
Infectious diseases contracted in the home environment are still a significant problem in the western world due to the excessive use of antibiotics, the occurrence of bacterial resistance and not always correct behavior of the population; prevention and personal hygiene are able to dramatically reduce the risk of transmission, but in some circumstances, for example in the case of older people not fully self-sufficient, long-term care in hospitals and residential health and social environments, which are overcrowded and poorly ventilated, normal personal and domestic hygiene measures may be insufficient.1 Hence, in the development of new technology for the improvement of the sanitation of environments and objects, the use of nanoparticle (NP) systems2 based on Au, Ag and TiO2 NPs was taken into consideration as additives in plasters, resins for water-based paints and varnishes. TiO2 has been purchased, while different Au and Ag NPs syntheses have been perfomed.3 The NPs have been characterized by spectroscopic methods such as UV-vis or IR spectroscopy. Different formulations and concentrations of NPs have been attempted. The obtained samples were tested to evaluate their antimicrobial activity on pathogenic coltures.
References:
1) a) Bruce, N.; Perez-Padilla, R.; Albalak, R. Bull.World Health Org. 2000, 78, 1078-1092. b) Gandara, A.; Mota, L. C.; Gibbs S. G. Environ. Health Perspective 2006, 114, 1859-1864.
2) Ashavani, K.; Praveen, K. V.; Pulickel, M. A.; George, J. Nature Materials 2008, doi:10.1038/nmat2099.
3) a) Wojtysiak, S.; Kudelski, A. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2012, 410, 45-51. b) Rohiman, A., Anshori, I., Surawijaya, A., Idris, I. AIP Conf. Proc. 2011, 1415, 39-42. c) Cubillana-Aguilera, L.M.; Franco-Romano, M.; Gil, M.L.A.; Naranjo-Rodríguez, I.; Hidalgo-Hidalgo de Cisneros, J. L.; Palacios-Santander, J.M. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 2011, 18, 789-794
Ottimizzazione del metodo delle aggiunte standard nella determinazione di tracce di metalli pesanti in acque naturali mediante voltammetria di ridissoluzione anodica.
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