showing 36 of ~574560 from 574555 documents
Intelligence Artificielle et nodules thyroïdiens : aide au TIRADS, indication de cytoponction. Étude prospective
2021
Objectifs Utiliser l’Intelligence Artificielle (IA) pour : – aider a la classification TIRADS, – determiner quels nodules doivent beneficier de cytoponction, en s’affranchissant de classification. Materiel et methode Etude prospective multicentrique, multi-constructeur, de fevrier a juin 2021 : – inclusion de patients beneficiant d’une echographie thyroidienne avec ou sans Ponction a l’Aiguille Fine (PAF), – acquisitions d’images echographiques standardisees, – classement EU-TIRADS du nodule par deux experts, – diagnostic cytologique, Bethesda 2018. L’IA, via un reseau neuronal convolutif profond multitache, devrait permettre de : – classer les examens en EU-TIRADS-2-3-4-5, – identifier les…
Out-of-plane behaviour of unreinforced masonry infill walls: Review of the experimental studies and analysis of the influencing parameters
2021
Abstract Over the last 50 years, research has mainly focused on characterizing the In-Plane behaviour of unreinforced masonry infill walls. Recently, the focus of research has been addressed to understanding Out-of-Plane behaviour, also from the experimental point of view. However, in the experimental campaigns, there is high variability in the geometrical and mechanical properties of URM infill walls and also in the application of Out-of-Plane loads. Therefore, it is important to outline and critically evaluate the major findings obtained by experimental studies and identify research gaps to better understand the differences and the affinity of apparently equivalent tests. In this paper, t…
Determination of albendazole and ivermectin residues in cattle and poultry-derived samples from India by micellar liquid chromatography
2021
We have developed a method, based on micellar liquid chromatography, to determine albendazole and ivermectin in dairy products and biological waste from bovine, as well as edible tissues from poultry. Anthelmitics were resolved in less than 10 min using a C18 column and a mobile phase of 0.15 mol/L sodium dodecyl sulfate – 6% 1-pentanol at buffered at pH 7 with a 0.01 M phosphate salt, running under isocratic mode at 1 mL/min. Detection was by absorbance at 292 nm. Method was successfully validated following official validation guidelines, in terms of: selectivity, sensitivity, calibration range (0.0125−0.5 mg/kg to 25−50 mg/kg), linearity (r2 > 9990), trueness (86.3–105.6%), precision (<12…
Multi-scenario multi-objective robust optimization under deep uncertainty: A posteriori approach
2021
This paper proposes a novel optimization approach for multi-scenario multi-objective robust decision making, as well as an alternative way for scenario discovery and identifying vulnerable scenarios even before any solution generation. To demonstrate and test the novel approach, we use the classic shallow lake problem. We compare the results obtained with the novel approach to those obtained with previously used approaches. We show that the novel approach guarantees the feasibility and robust efficiency of the produced solutions under all selected scenarios, while decreasing computation cost, addresses the scenario-dependency issues, and enables the decision-makers to explore the trade-off …
Low contribution of Caribbean-based researchers to academic publications on biodiversity conservation in the insular Caribbean.
2021
11 pages; International audience; The insular Caribbean is among the most threatened global biodiversity hotspots, warranting urgent and effective action in conservation. However, the capacity of Caribbean-based researchers to address challenges in biodiversity conservation appears limited. To assess the latter, we used the contribution of Caribbean-based authors to the production of peer-reviewed journal papers on biodiversity conservation in the insular Caribbean as a proxy for research capacity. Moreover, because the insular Caribbean is a complex geopolitical system including sovereign states and overseas territories, we examined the contributions of these two groups to the number of pa…
Aircraft noise exposure drives the activation of white blood cells and induces microvascular dysfunction in mice
2021
Epidemiological studies showed that traffic noise has a dose-dependent association with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Whether microvascular dysfunction contributes significantly to the cardiovascular health effects by noise exposure remains to be established. The connection of inflammation and immune cell interaction with microvascular damage and functional impairment is also not well characterized. Male C57BL/6J mice or gp91phox−/y mice with genetic deletion of the phagocytic NADPH oxidase catalytic subunit (gp91phox or NOX-2) were used at the age of 8 weeks, randomly instrumented with dorsal skinfold chambers and exposed or not exposed to aircraft noise for 4 days. Pro…
Epistemic independence and speaker roles: Highlighting the role of second speaker and mitigating the role of first speaker
2021
Abstract Definitions of attenuation tend to place their emphasis on different aspects of the communication process, especially facework, propositional content, illocutionary force and the roles of speech participants. This paper concentrates on the latter of these aspects. Although studies mention the possibility that attenuation applies to more than one participant, the analysis of particular examples within those studies shows that authors tend to refer mostly (or even only) to the speaker's role (e.g., Briz, 1998, 2003; Briz and Albelda, 2013; Villalba Ibanez, 2016). This study explores the possibility that attenuation of the role of another participant (i.e. a participant other than the…
Can Ketogenic Diet Improve Alzheimer's Disease? Association With Anxiety, Depression, and Glutamate System
2021
Background: Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in our society, mainly characterized by loss of cognitive function. However, other symptoms such as anxiety and depression have been described in patients. The process is mediated by alterations in the synaptic and extrasynaptic activity of the neurotransmitter glutamate, which are linked to a hypometabolism of glucose as the main source of brain energy. In that respect, Ketogenic diet (KD) has been proposed as a non-pharmacological treatment serving as an alternative energy source to the neurons increasing the fat percentage and reducing the carbohydrates percentage, showing promising results to improve the cogni…
Clinical management of alveolar osteitis. A systematic review
2021
Background Alveolar Osteitis (AO) is one of the most common complications of tooth extraction. Several therapeutic interventions have been described for the treatment of AO, however, there are no treatment standardized protocols. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review on the efficacy in pain control of the different treatments for AO. The feasibility of the application of these interventions is also discussed. Material and Methods A structured electronic and hand search strategy was applied to PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, OpenGrey, and Google Scholar between January 2010 and July 2020 to identify studies according to PRISMA guidelines. The inclusion criteria were orig…
Uomini e technai nell'ambiente: tra Arie, acque, luoghi e il Prometeo incatenato
2021
Al centro dell'attenzione di questo studio è la relazione tra uomini e ambiente così come delineata nello scritto ippocratico Arie, acque, luoghi. In effetti, la valutazione di alcuni termini chiave presenti nell'opera ippocratica permette di individuare una relazione complessa, basata sulla reciproca osmosi e interazione tra l'essere umano e l'ambiente in cui vive, una relazione segnata da una terminologia che ne mette in luce il rapporto di somiglianza e di adattamento reciproco. Una particolare riflessione, in tal senso, merita la parte conclusiva del trattato ippocratico (considerato qui come unitario), in cui è descritta l'attitudine sociale (ethos) dell'essere umano, relativamente più…
Dimethyl fumarate treatment restrains the antioxidative capacity of T cells to control autoimmunity
2021
Abstract Dimethyl fumarate, an approved treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, exerts pleiotropic effects on immune cells as well as CNS resident cells. Here, we show that dimethyl fumarate exerts a profound alteration of the metabolic profile of human CD4+ as well as CD8+ T cells and restricts their antioxidative capacities by decreasing intracellular levels of the reactive oxygen species scavenger glutathione. This causes an increase in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels accompanied by an enhanced mitochondrial stress response, ultimately leading to impaired mitochondrial function. Enhanced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels not only result in enhanced T…
Visioni periferiche per una Baukultur di alta qualità nell'area mediterranea
2021
Il concetto di Baukultur di alta qualità è stato rilanciato per attuare un approccio olistico ai processi di produzione, manutenzione e trasformazione dell'ambiente costruito, obiettivo coerente con il Green Deal europeo. Passando dalla teoria alla realtà, gli aspetti metodologici possono essere letti come uno sviluppo delle principali basi teoriche di qualsiasi pratica tecnologica per meglio cogliere le specificità locali in particolare, nell'area mediterranea. Alcune esperienze di cooperazione transfrontaliera tra la Sicilia e il nord della Tunisia offrono l'occasione per approfondire l'argomento: che è facilmente riconoscibile nel patrimonio culturale materiale e immateriale e nel contes…
Terbium Medical Radioisotope Production: Laser Resonance Ionization Scheme Development
2021
Terbium (Tb) is a promising element for the theranostic approach in nuclear medicine. The new CERN-MEDICIS facility aims for production of its medical radioisotopes to support related R&D projects in biomedicine. The use of laser resonance ionization is essential to provide radioisotopic yields of highest quantity and quality, specifically regarding purity. This paper presents the results of preparation and characterization of a suitable two-step laser resonance ionization process for Tb. By resonance excitation via an auto-ionizing level, the high ionization efficiency of 53% was achieved. To simulate realistic production conditions for Tb radioisotopes, the influence of a surplus of Gd at…
Grandes expectativas y una oportunidad perdida. El tribunal especial para el Líbano y los objetivos del Consejo de Seguridad de Naciones Unidas. Una …
2021
Entre los diversos tribunales penales internacionales ad hoc que se han creado desde finales del siglo XX, el Tribunal Especial para el Líbano destaca por su particularidad, tanto a nivel jurisdiccional como por su contribución al tratamiento de las víctimas. La labor del Tribunal Especial para el Líbano comenzó en 2009, dictando su primera sentencia de instancia el 18 de agosto de 2020. Mediante su constitución, el Consejo de Seguridad de Naciones Unidas apostó por no abandonar el camino iniciado en 1993 con la creación de los tribunales de Yugoslavia y Ruanda; sin embargo, el resultado no ha sido el esperado. Este trabajo pretende analizar las peculiaridades del Tribunal y su trabajo, rea…
Intra-Tumour Genetic Heterogeneity and Prognosis in High-Risk Neuroblastoma
2021
Simple Summary Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extra-cranial solid paediatric cancer and is responsible for 15% of childhood cancer deaths. Patients with NB are characterized by presenting a very heterogeneous clinic (inter-tumoural heterogeneity) and also both spatial and temporal intra-tumour heterogeneity (ITH) reflected in their genetic aberrations, which may be the consequence of the coexistence of different microenvironments within the tumour. Applying pangenomic techniques to detect genomic aberrations in different biopsies (solid and liquid) of high risk NB (HR-NB) we have detected spatial ITH in a surprisingly high percentage (almost 40%) of the studied cohort. Moreover, a po…
Functional Metabolic Diversity of Bacterioplankton in Maritime Antarctic Lakes
2021
A summer survey was conducted on the bacterioplankton communities of seven lakes from Byers Peninsula (Maritime Antarctica), differing in trophic and morphological characteristics. Predictions of the metabolic capabilities of these communities were performed with FAPROTAX using 16S rRNA sequencing data. The versatility for metabolizing carbon sources was also assessed in three of the lakes using Biolog Ecoplates. Relevant differences among lakes and within lake depths were observed. A total of 23 metabolic activities associated to the main biogeochemical cycles were foreseen, namely, carbon (11), nitrogen (4), sulfur (5), iron (2), and hydrogen (1). The aerobic metabolisms dominated, althou…
Grand Est, Moselle, Faulquemont, Wintersheck, tranche 1. L’occupation diachronique de la rive gauche de la Nied allemande, du Néolithique moyen à l’é…
2021
Uncertainty evaluation in the differential measurements of power losses in a power drive system
2021
Abstract In order to guarantee a correct classification in the standardized energy efficiency classes, the current standards concerning the power drive systems prescribe that their power losses must be evaluated with great accuracy. This circumstance involves the usage of expensive measurement systems, since accurate instrumentation, skilled personnel and controlled environments are required. During the design stage of a power drive system, however, the measurement of the absolute value of its power losses is not always needed. Often, in fact, it is enough to assess the power losses variations caused by a modification of either hardware or software sections of the power drive system. In the…
Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of a dish-Stirling Concentrating Solar Power Plant in the Mediterranean area
2021
Abstract Among the different renewable energy sources, solar energy shows the highest exploitation potential to satisfy a substantial portion of the worlds’ future energy demand, guaranteeing at the same time lower emissions than conventional energy providers. Much of this potential is usable thanks to Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technologies, of which the dish-Stirling concentrator is the most efficient. Nevertheless, the production and installation phases of the dish-Stirling technology can have an environmental impact which motivated the assessment of the plant in the three dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic and social). The present publication evaluated an existin…
Diffusivity in force-free simulations of global magnetospheres
2021
Abstract: Assuming that the numerical diffusivity triggered by violations of the force-free electrodynamics constraints is a proxy for the physical resistivity, we examine its impact on the overall dynamics of force-free aligned pulsar magnetospheres endowed with an equatorial current sheet. We assess the constraint violations as a diffusivity source. The effects of modifications on electric fields used to restore force-free conditions are not confined to the equatorial current sheet, but modify the magnetospheric dynamics on timescales shorter than the pulsar rotational period. These corrections propagate especially via a channel that was unexplored, namely, changes induced to the electric…
Estimating the phenological dynamics of irrigated rice leaf area index using the combination of PROSAIL and Gaussian Process Regression
2021
The growth of rice is a sequence of three different phenological phases. This sequence of change in rice phenology implies that the condition of the plant during the vegetative phase relates directly to the health of leaves functioning during the reproductive and ripening phases. As such, accurate monitoring is important towards understanding rice growth dynamics. Leaf Area Index (LAI) is an important indicator of rice yields and the availability of this information during key phenological phases can support more informed farming decisions. Satellite remote sensing has been adopted as a proxy to field measurements of LAI and with the launch of freely available high resolution Satellite imag…
The migration path of Gondwanian dinosaurs toward Adria: New insights from the Cretaceous of NW Sicily (Italy)
2021
Abstract The increasing dinosaur record from Italy questioned classic palaeogeographic scenarios for the Central Mediterranean area and suggest the proximity of landmass areas and a geographical connection between Gondwana and Laurasia during Cretaceous times. Besides several track-sites and exceptionally-preserved specimens (e.g. Scipionyx samniticus), the Italian dinosaur record also consists of isolated bones, among which the bone fragment of a theropod discovered in north-western Sicily. The bone occurs in a shallow-water carbonate succession (i.e. Pizzo Muletta, Palermo Mountains) pertaining to the Panormide Carbonate Platform (PCP). The bone was previously ascribed to the Cenomanian, …
Environmental assessment of a waste-to-energy practice: The pyrolysis of agro-industrial biomass residues
2021
Abstract The bio-wastes pyrolysis is a waste to energy strategy that converts bio-wastes into valuable products (bio-char, bio-oil) with wide use in the agri-food sector. However, limited efforts are paid to the investigation of its environmental sustainability: in this context, the study contributes the need towards the assessment of a wide range of environmental impacts for the pyrolysis process of different types of bio-wastes under different operating conditions. The study estimates the potential environmental impacts related to bio-char production from the pyrolysis of several different agro-industrial residues and different temperatures and identifies the process “hot spots”. The anal…
Bilateral De-Jure Exchange Rate Regimes and Foreign Direct Investment: A Gravity Analysis
2021
Abstract This paper introduces a novel dataset on bilateral de-jure exchange rate regimes. The new dataset accounts for the fact that officially pegging to one currency is uninformative about the exchange rate regime prevailing vis-a-vis other currencies, and it allows characterizing bilateral exchange rate regimes based on countries’ ex-ante announcements rather than ex-post observations. We use this data to estimate the effect of expected exchange rate volatility on foreign direct investment (FDI). Starting from a simple model that suggests that announced exchange rate stability enhances bilateral FDI flows, we provide empirical evidence that lends support to this claim: countries that ar…
382 Molecular classification of endometrial carcinoma substantially changing risk-assessment: Results from a european multicentre initiative
2021
Introduction/Background* Endometrial carcinoma patient care was based on histopathologic examination for many years. However, conventional pathologic features are known to suffer from high inter-observer variability and may be irreproducible in many cases. TCGA-derived molecular classification was shown to provide clinically meaningful data and was recently introduced to ESGO/ESTRO/ESP endometrial carcinoma consensus guidelines. It was the aim of this study to quantify alterations in risk-assessment if molecular classification is added to conventional prognosticators. Methodology Consecutive primary endometrial carcinoma patients diagnosed in 2016 were identified in participating centres. O…
Beyond the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic: opportunities to optimize clinical trial implementation in oncology.
2021
Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic affected millions of people globally with lasting effects on society, patients, investigators and health institutions. Clinical trials, our best tool to improve cancer treatment for patients through testing the clinical value of a new treatment, have been affected by the pandemic. The pandemic footprint represents both a risk of compromising development of new therapies and an opportunity to elicit discussion over a portfolio of broader reforms, applicable irrespective of pandemics, in order to improve the design and implementation of clinical trials in oncology. The administrative load should be reduced, without affecting the quality of research and principle…
Mirages du technosolutionnisme
2021
International audience
Rebuilding a Cluster while protecting knowledge within Low-medium-tech supplier SMEs: A Spanish and French comparison
2021
International audience; Most of SMEs are engaged in open innovation practices, but they do not benefit from open innovation or from patenting in the same way as larger firms do. At the same time SMEs, as territorialized suppliers, play a crucial role within evolving regional specialization. In this context the purpose of our study is to examine how low and medium technology supplier SMEs learn and organize themselves at a territorial level to address the challenge of IP protection in an open innovation paradigm. We used a qualitative method with a longitudinal multi-case study involving 27 companies with a historical lance to compare the territorial dynamics of knowledge protection within c…
Association of Variants in the SPTLC1 Gene with Juvenile Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
2021
Key Points Question What genetic variants are associated with juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)? Findings In this family-based genetic study, exome sequencing was performed in 3 patients diagnosed with juvenile ALS and failure to thrive; this identified de novo variants in SPTLC1 (p.Ala20Ser in 2 patients and p.Ser331Tyr in 1 patient). Variants in SPTLC1 are a known cause of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy, type 1A, and these data extend the phenotype associated with this gene. Meaning De novo variants in the SPTLC1 gene are associated with juvenile ALS, a fatal neurological disorder.
Circular business models for lithium-ion batteries - Stakeholders, barriers, and drivers
2021
Abstract Business models for the circular economy, or circular business models, is a growing field of research applied in various industries. Global sustainability trends, such as electrification of the transport sector and increased energy consumption from renewable sources, have led to rapid growth in the number of batteries produced, especially lithium-ion based batteries. Sustainable lifetime management, including end-of-life, needs development to avoid social and environmental harm and potentially to recapture economic value as the use of these batteries increases. Current research primarily focuses on technical and economic issues based on recycling and the second use of batteries rat…
Rats bred for low intrinsic aerobic exercise capacity link obesity with brain inflammation and reduced structural plasticity of the hippocampus.
2021
Abstract BACKGROUND Increasing evidence shows obesity and poor metabolic health are associated with cognitive deficits, but the mechanistic connections have yet to be resolved. We studied rats selectively bred for low and high intrinsic aerobic capacity in order to test the association between low physical fitness, a genetic predisposition for obesity, and brain health. We hypothesized that low-capacity runner (LCR) rats with concurrently greater levels of adiposity would have increased hippocampal inflammation and reduced plasticity compared to the more physically fit high-capacity runner (HCR) rats. METHODS We examined markers for inflammation and brain plasticity in the hippocampi of LCR…
Quantitative analysis of rhenium in irradiated tungsten
2021
Abstract Pure tungsten (W), irradiated to 3.5 dpa in a target of the Swiss neutron spallation source (SINQ), was characterized using high-sensitivity HPGe gamma ray spectroscopy to identify the present radionuclides. Synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to quantify the amount of Re produced in the irradiated W. An atomic concentration of 0.61% Re in the irradiated W was determined from the height of the L3-edge X-ray absorption edge jump. Analysis of the local atomic structure from the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra indicates that rhenium (Re) produced in the system is mainly coordinated by W atoms and partly coordinated by void defects. First-princip…
Crustal Structure of the Seismogenic Volume of the 2010–2014 Pollino (Italy) Seismic Sequence From 3D P- and S-Wave Tomographic Images
2021
A tomographic analysis of Mt. Pollino area (Italy) has been performed using earthquakes recorded in the area during an intense seismic sequence that occurred between 2010 and 2014. 870 local earthquakes with magnitude ranging from 1.8 to 5.0 were selected considering the number of recording stations, the signal quality, and the hypocenter distribution. P- and S-wave arrival times were manually picked and used to compute 3D velocity models through tomographic seismic inversion. The resulting 3D distributions of VP and VS are characterized by high resolution in the central part of the investigated area and from surface to about 10 km below sea level. The aim of the work is to obtain high-qual…
La ragionevole durata del processo civile: uno studio di diritto comparato
2021
Il volume indaga il tema della ragionevole durata del processo civile, ponendo a raffronto le principali riforme adottate in Italia e in Inghilterra per ridurre i ritardi della giustizia nazionale in linea con l’art. 6 Cedu. La trattazione prende in esame l’assetto normativo e rimediale di ciascuno dei sistemi giuridici considerati guardando, in prospettiva diacronica, alle fonti legislative e giurisprudenziali, nonché agli indicatori internazionali e alle nuove tecnologie digitali, che mirano all’efficienza processuale. Il quadro così tracciato mette in luce la differente declinazione della ragionevolezza dei tempi del processo nei due ordinamenti europei, in risposta alla necessità di gar…
Intervention Programs to Promote the Quality of Caregiver–Child Interactions in Childcare: A Systematic Literature Review
2021
Sensitive caregiver–child interactions appear fundamental throughout childhood, supporting infants’ wellbeing and development not only in a familial context but in professional caregiving as well. The main aim of this review was to examine the existing literature about Early Childhood Education Context (ECEC) intervention studies dedicated to caregiver–child interaction, fostering children’s socioemotional developmental pathways. Studies published between January 2007 and July 2021 were identified in four electronic databases following PRIMSA guidelines. The initial search yielded a total of 342 records. Among them, 48 studies were fully reviewed. Finally, 18 of them met all inclusion crite…
Immediate and long-term microshear bond strength of resin-based cements to core build-up materials
2021
Background To evaluate the microshear bond strength (μ-SBS) between resin-based cements and core build-up materials after water storage. Material and methods Cylinders (1x1 mm) of conventional dual-cure resin cement (RelyX ARC, 3M ESPE), universal dual-cure resin cement (RelyX Ultimate, 3M ESPE) or self-adhesive resin cement (RelyX U200, 3M ESPE) were adhered to disks (6x2 mm) made with commercial core build-up materials (Bis-Core, Bisco or LuxaCore Z, DMG) or conventional nanocomposite resin (Filtek Z350 XT, 3M ESPE). The specimens (n=10) were submitted to μ-SBS test using a universal testing machine and fracture pattern analysis at 48 hours or after 9 months of water storage. The data wer…