Search

The use of symbols in architecture of the past centuries is evident, even if sometimes cryptic. The reasons behind the representation of plants in artistic and architectural contexts are of great interest as they help in their understanding. We analysed the plants carved in the Fountain of Four Rivers (Rome), designed by G.L. Bernini (mid-seventeenth century), through iconographic and historical documents. The carved plants (about 34 species) creates a natural and symbolic association with the selected rivers and continents. Some species are chosen to characterise various geographic contexts or fluvial and rupestrian habitats or are referred to the papal coats of arms (Innocent X Pamphilj). A certain number has auspicious connotation and takes a strong symbolic salvific meaning and protective against the evil's threat. The Kircherian influence emerges in several iconographic choices, as well as the river selection and orientation, in a philosophical-religious logic linked to the Papacy and Christianity role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iloprost (ILO) is employed intravenously for the treatment of severe Raynaud phenomenon (RP) and digital ulcers (DU) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the intravenous treatment with ILO in different phases of SSc. Eighty-one consecutive non-selected SSc patients, all on nifedipine, with moderate RP, treated with ILO infusion, were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were sub classified according to the edematous or fibrotic/atrophic cutaneous phase of the disease. ILO was infused with a progressive increase of the dosage up to the achievement of patient’s tolerance, 1 day/week. In cases of slower infusion regimen due to adverse events (AE) at the beginning of the administration, patients received a lower dose of the drug (not possible to quantify precisely the final cumulative dosage). 16/81 SSc patients presented digital edema, 5 developed diarrhea, and 9 developed transient hypotension during the infusion at 20 ml/h that ameliorated when the drug was withdrawn. Moreover, 10/16 edematous patients experienced significant and painful digital swelling, unlike patients in the fibrotic group (p < 0.0001); 11/16 patients reported flushing and 7/16 headache, always controlled with dose tapering below 10 ml/h. In the atrophic/fibrotic phase patients (65/81), 10 developed diarrhea and 24 hypotension at infusion rate of 20 ml/h that led to temporary withdrawal of the drug. When ILO was restarted and kept below 10 ml/h, no side effects were experienced. 23/65 patients experienced flushing and 8/65 headache, all controlled with infusion reduction below 10 ml/h. In these patients, adverse events were significantly less frequent than in the edematous group (p = 0.023 and p = 0.008, respectively). Our data suggest that calcium channel blockers should be transitorily stopped while using ILO and that a pre-treatment approach might reduce or control adverse events. In patients with digital edema, ILO infusion should be carefully employed after the evaluation of patient’s drug tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To retrospectively analyze the feasibility, safety and complication rate of laparoscopic inguinal herniorraphy in babies weighing 5 kg or less. Methods: Thirty infants weighing 5 kg or less underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair during a 3-year period. Twenty-eight infants were born preterm and the mean body weight at surgery was 3,800 kg. Internal inguinal ring was closed with a non-absorbable purse-string suture. Contralateral processus vaginalis was closed if patent. Feeding was started on the same day and the patient discharged the following day. Follow-up consisted of physical examination at 1 week, 6 and 12 months post-operatively. Results: Of the 30 patients (27 males, 3 females), 11 had bilateral and 19 monolateral hernia (16 right, 3 left). At laparoscopy, 23 infants needed to have bilateral herniorraphies. The mean corrected gestational age at surgery was 49.1 weeks. The mean operative time for repair was 30 min for unilateral and 41 min for bilateral hernia. There were not intra- or post-operative complications as well as conversions or recurrences. Conclusions: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in newborns and in ex-preterm infants is a safe and effective procedure to perform and, perhaps, even less technically demanding than open herniotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of the present study was to predict kinetics of both Ni concentration in soil solution and leaf Ni mass for the Ni-hyperaccumulator Leptoplax emarginata cultivated on a fertilized and Ni-contaminated sandy topsoil. Methods: The 0-D (independent of space) one-site rate-limited desorption model proposed by Ingwersen et al. (J Environ Qual 35:2055-2065, ) was modified. The plant sink term of the model was approximated by the biophysical equation which assumes that the leaf nickel mass is equal to the triple product of the Intact Plant Transpiration Stream Concentration Factor for Ni IPTSCF (xylem:solution Ni concentration ratio), Ni concentration in solution and the volume of transpired water. The model input variables were the constant mean IPTSCF value, determined from independent leaf Ni accumulation kinetics, and the exponential law fitting the transpiration rate kinetics. Using the best calibration, the model was validated and a sensitivity analysis was carried out thereafter. Models were formulated as sets of ordinary differential equation systems which were solved using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. Results: The best model calibration was the joint parameter optimization: the two parameters of the Freundlich Ni adsorption isotherm and of the Ni desorption rate coefficient are obtained using the kinetics of Ni concentrations in the soil solutions for the reference unplanted Ni-contaminated topsoils. The model was validated reasonably well for both Ni concentration in soil solution and leaf Ni mass. Conclusions: The joint parameter optimization of the two parameters of the Freundlich nickel sorption isotherm and of the Ni desorption rate was successful whereas the Freundlich batch Ni sorption isotherm dramatically overestimated Ni sorption. This joint approach is therefore recommended for any plant metal uptake model. The 0-D one-site rate-limited desorption model linked to a biophysical coupled Ni and water uptake model reasonably validated the kinetics of both Ni concentration in solution and leaf Ni mass. This promising simplified model for predicting both metal concentration in solution and leaf metal mass for metal needs further validations in culture chambers and further improvements in order to use it in the field as a one-dimensional model, taking into account soil moisture dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal damage of silicon photodiodes exposed to intense optical radiation is investigated. Damage thresholds of Si photodiodes irradiated by 1.06 μm laser pulses are reported for values of irradiation time, τ, ranging from 10 to 1s. Threshold laser irradiation produces visible microscopic damage and a permanent degradation in photoresponse. The loss of responsivity is associated with degradation of the detector diode characteristics due to laser-induced heating. The time and wavelength dependence agree with the predictions of a thermal model which treats a semi-infinite material irradiated by a Gaussian laser beam. The energy density thresholds are independent of τ for short irradiation times and asymptotically approach a limiting behaviour which increases as τ for long times. They are given by the empirical relation E=65[1+217 τ/tan(258 τ)] J cm for 1.06 μm radiation. The thresholds at short irradiation times of detectors damaged by 1.06 μm radiation are about 25 times larger than those of detectors exposed to 0.6943 μm radiation. The greater susceptibility at 0.6943 μm is attributed to a larger optical absorption coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enzyme dipeptidyl aminopeptidase has been immobilized on cellulose triacetate fibers. The Michaelis-Menten parameters of the entrapped enzyme have been determined and compared to those of the literature for the native enzyme. The entrapped enzyme retains 13% of its activity toward synthetic substrate. The influence of mixing effects on the catalytic properties of the enzyme has been substantiated. The activity appears to be controlled by external mass-transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]