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Unmanned aerial vehicle-based LiDAR survey provides very-high-density point clouds, which involve very rich information about forest detailed structure, allowing for detection of individual trees, as well as demanding high computational load. Single-tree detection is of great interest for forest management and ecology purposes, and the task is relatively well solved for forests made of single or largely dominant species, and trees having a very evident pointed shape in the upper part of the canopy (in particular conifers). Most authors proposed methods based totally or partially on search of local maxima in the canopy, which has poor performance for species that have flat or irregular upper canopy, and for mixed forests, especially where taller trees hide smaller ones. Such considerations apply in particular to Mediterranean hardwood forests. In such context, it is imperative to use the whole volume of the point cloud, however keeping computational load tractable. The authors propose the use of a methodology based on modelling the 3D-shape of the tree, which improves performance with respect to maxima-based models. A case study, performed on a hazel grove, is provided to document performance improvement on a relatively simple, but significant, case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrition has a coadjuvant role in the management of children with acute diseases. We aimed to examine nutritional status, macronutrient requirements and actual macronutrient delivery in bronchiolitis. The nutritional status was classified according to WHO criteria and resting energy expenditure (MREE) was measured using an indirect calorimeter. Bland–Altman analysis was used to examine the agreement between MREE and estimated energy expenditure (EEE) with standard equations. Based on the ratio MREE/EEE in relation to Schofield equation on admission, we defined the subjects’ metabolic status. A total of 35 patients were enrolled and 46% were malnourished on admission, and 25.8% were hypermetabolic, 37.1% hypometabolic and 37.1% normometabolic. We performed a 24-h recall in 10 children and 80% were overfed (AEI: MREE >120%). Mean bias (limits of agreement) with MREE was 8.9 (−73.9 to 91.8%) for Schofield; 61.0 (−41 to 163%) for Harris–Benedict; and 9.9 (−74.4 to 94.2%) for FAO-WHO equation. Metabolism of infants with bronchiolitis is not accurately estimated by equations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Oxygen and nitrogen radicals are frequently produced during viral infections. These radicals are not only a physiological mechanism for pathogen clearance but also result in many pathological consequences. Low concentrations of radicals can promote viral replication; however, high concentrations of radicals can also inhibit viral replication and are detrimental to the cell due to their mitogenic activity. We reviewed the detailed mechanisms behind oxygen and nitrogen radical production and focused on how viruses induce radical production. In addition, we examined the eff ects of oxygen and nitrogen radicals on both the virus and host. We also reviewed enzymatic and chemical detoxifi cation mechanisms and recent advances in therapeutic antioxidant applications. Many molecules that modulate the redox balance have yielded promising results in cell and animal models of infection. This encourages their use in clinical practice either alone or with existing therapies. However, since the redox balance also plays an important role in host defence against pathogens, carefully designed clinical trials are needed to assess the therapeutic benefi ts and secondary eff ects of these molecules and whether these eff ects diff er between diff erent types of viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of heavy metals, both toxic (Pb, Cd) and essential (Cu, Zn) on the ultrastructure and the induction of Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) have been studied in the aquatic moss Leptodictyum riparium Hedw. In vitro cultured L. riparium was treated with different heavy metals, both toxic, as cadmium or lead; and essential microelements such as Copper or Zinc concentrations ranging from 10−3 to 10−6 M to investigate both ultrastructural damage and HSP induction. TEM observations showed that sub-lethal concentrations of heavy metals caused only slight changes, largely localized in the chloroplasts. Among all the heavy metals tested, cadmium caused the most severe modifications. Heavy metals caused the decrease of the soluble protein content and the enhancement of proteins reacting versus HSP70 antibodies, suggesting that molecular chaperons might be involved in the resistance to toxic effects of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc. Therefore, the induction of HSP70 in L. riparium would confer a higher resistance to pollutants under stressful conditions lethal for other mosses and higher plant species. These results suggest that the moss L. riparium can tolerate heavy metals stress without incurring severe cellular/subcellular damage. Therefore it can be used as a useful indicator of heavy metals accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We studied the antioxidant activity of the moss Leptodictyum riparium stressed with lead, cadmium, heat shock, and salinity. The acetonic extracts of the moss were tested for antioxidant activity on human whole blood leukocytes by a chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Stresses induced a significant increase of CL inhibition. Among the different stresses, heavy metals were the strongest enhancers of antioxidant activity. The different stresses induced antioxidant activity according the following scale: Cd > Pb > salinity > heat shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The many recent researches into the mysterious disappearance of Ettore Majorana, one of the greatest minds of theoretical physics in the twentieth century, are summarised and discussed in some detail. The fate of the Italian scientist is argued to be intimately related to the final months of his life in Naples, from where he decided to disappear in March 1938. This analysis of accurate and detailed investigations performed in the last few years, together with facts already known, reveals a fascinating and intriguing picture, which was previously unexpected. New light on the disappearance of Majorana, a mystery that has lasted for more than 70 years, then emerges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protecting the myocardium from the risk of acute ischemia during heart surgery is still an unsolved problem; the problem is even more open and more pressing in pediatric heart surgery. To meet this greater risk it is advisable to use a cardioplegic solution with a composition that is better suited to the particular morphofunctional conditions of the myocardium in the child, i.e., a solution offering greater protection. To this purpose the authors experimented with Celsior cardioplegic solution during heart surgery in children to evaluate the efficacy compared to the standard St. Thomas solution. In this comparative study 15 children were treated with Celsior cardioplegic solution and 15 others with St. Thomas cardioplegic solution. Each patient underwent 2 biopsies of the myocardium, the first before cardioplegic treatment and the second immediately after reperfusion.In both groups, focal lesions involving both the cardiomyocytes and the vascular-stromal structures were randomly found. The former had undergone a necrotic-regressive process with changes in the myofibrils and the mitochondria. The vascular–stromal structures showed changes in the permeability of the capillary endothelia, with interstitial edema. The results show the lesions to be similar in the 2 groups both on a quality and quantitative level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the implications of HIV infections during pregnancy for infants. Determination of the plasma lipid fatty acid composition in HIV-infected children in Italy; Health promotion for HIV positive mothers in Great Britain; Assessment on the virus levels of infants with HIV in Africa.