Measurement of prompt J/psi and beauty hadron production cross sections at mid-rapidity in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

The ALICE experiment at the LHC has studied J/psi production at mid-rapidity in pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV through its electron pair decay on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity L-int = 5.6 nb(-1). The fraction of J/psi from the decay of long-lived beauty hadrons was determined for J/psi candidates with transverse momentum p(t) > 1,3 GeV/c and rapidity vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.9. The cross section for prompt J/psi mesons, i.e. directly produced J/psi and prompt decays of heavier charmonium states such as the psi(2S) and chi(c) resonances, is sigma(prompt J/psi) (p(t) > 1.3 GeV/c, vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.9) = 8.3 +/- 0.8(stat.) +/- 1.1 (syst.)(-1.4)(+1.5) (syst. pol.) mu b. The cross section for the production of b-hadrons decaying to J/psi with p(t) > 1.3 GeV/c and vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.9 is a sigma(J/psi <- hB) (p(t) > 1.3 GeV/c, vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.9) = 1.46 +/- 0.38 (stat.)(-0.32)(+0.26) (syst.) mu b. The results are compared to QCD model predictions. The shape of the p(t) and y distributions of b-quarks predicted by perturbative QCD model calculations are used to extrapolate the measured cross section to derive the b (b) over bar pair total cross section and d sigma/dy at mid-rapidity.

Implant Osseointegration in Circumferential Bone Defects Treated with Latex-Derived Proteins or Autogenous Bone in Dog's Mandible

Background: In sites with diminished bone volume, the osseointegration of dental implants can be compromised. Innovative biomaterials have been developed to aid successful osseointegration outcomes. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic potential of angiogenic latex proteins for improved bone formation and osseointegration of dental implants. Materials and Methods: Ten dogs were submitted to bilateral circumferential defects (5.0 x 6.3 mm) in the mandible. Dental implant (3.3 x 10.0 mm, TiUnite MK3 (TM), Nobel Biocare AB, Goteborg, Sweden) was installed in the center of the defects. The gap was filled either with coagulum (Cg), autogenous bone graft (BG), or latex angiogenic proteins pool (LPP). Five animals were sacrificed after 4 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively. Implant stability was evaluated using resonance frequency analysis (Osstell Mentor T, Osstell AB, Goteborg, Sweden), and bone formation was analyzed by histological and histometric analysis. Results: LPP showed bone regeneration similar to BG and Cg at 4 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively (p >= 3.05). Bone formation, osseointegration, and implant stability improved significantly from 4 to 12 weeks (p <= 2.05). Conclusion: Based on methodological limitations of this study, Cg alone delivers higher bone formation in the defect as compared with BG at 12 weeks; compared with Cg and BG, the treatment with LPP exhibits no advantage in terms of osteogenic potential in this experimental model, although overall osseointegration was not affected by the treatments employed in this study.

Disparities in female breast cancer mortality rates in Brazil between 1980 and 2009

OBJECTIVE: To describe the temporal trends in female breast cancer mortality rates in Brazil in its macro-regions and states between 1980 and 2009. METHODS: This was an ecological time-series study using data on breast cancer deaths registered in the Mortality Data System (SIM/WHO) and census data on the resident population collected by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE/WHO). Joinpoint regression analyses were used to identify the significant changes in trends and to estimate the annual percentage change (APC) in mortality rates. RESULTS: Female breast cancer mortality rates in Brazil tended to stabilize from 1994 onward (APC = 0.4%). Considering the Brazilian macro-regions, the annual mortality rates decreased in the Southeast, stabilized in the South and increased in the Northeast, North, and Midwest. Only the states of Sao Paulo (APC = -1.9%), Rio Grande do Sul (APC = -0.8%) and Rio de Janeiro (APC = -0.6%) presented a significant decline in mortality rates. The greatest increases were found in Maranhao (APC = 12%), Paraiba (APC = 11.9%), and Piaui (APC = 10.9%). CONCLUSION: Although there has been a trend toward stabilization in female breast cancer mortality rates in Brazil, when the mortality rate of each macro-region and state is analyzed individually, considerable inequalities are found, with rate decline or stabilization in states with higher socioeconomic levels and a substantial increase in those with lower socioeconomic levels.

Prevalence of enamel defects in permanent teeth of patients with complete cleft lip and palate

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence, types, location, and characteristics of enamel defects in anterior permanent teeth of patients with complete unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate, as well as the relation with the cleft. Setting: Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil. Participants: Eighty patients of both genders, 12 years and older, with unilateral or bilateral cleft lip and palate. Methods: A single examiner carried out clinical examination under artificial light with a dental probe and mirror after drying teeth according to the modified DDE index. Results: Seventy-four of 80 patients presented with at least one tooth affected by enamel defects: 165 of 325 evaluated teeth (50.8%) presented enamel defects, with hypoplasia being the most prevalent (50.7%), followed by diffuse opacity (23.1%) and demarcated opacity (18.4%). The most affected tooth was 21 (36.5%), followed by 11 (34%), located at the middle (40%) and incisal (33%) thirds. Most defects occur at the buccal surface (47.7%), followed by the distal (22.7%), the mesial (19%), and the palatal (10.6%) surfaces. A significant relationship was found between the cleft side and enamel defects. Conclusion: Upper anterior teeth of patients with complete cleft lip and palate present a high prevalence of enamel defects; the highest percentage on the cleft side suggests that the cleft does influence the occurrence of enamel defects in permanent teeth.

Modelizzazione spazio-temporale delle dinamiche di uso del suolo ed analisi comparativa di differenti approcci predittivi. Uso integrato di SIG e telerilevamento nello studio dei processi di deforestazione nella regione La Joyanca in Peten, Guatemala

L’uso frequente dei modelli predittivi per l’analisi di sistemi complessi, naturali o artificiali, sta cambiando il tradizionale approccio alle problematiche ambientali e di rischio. Il continuo miglioramento delle capacità di elaborazione dei computer facilita l’utilizzo e la risoluzione di metodi numerici basati su una discretizzazione spazio-temporale che permette una modellizzazione predittiva di sistemi reali complessi, riproducendo l’evoluzione dei loro patterns spaziali ed calcolando il grado di precisione della simulazione. In questa tesi presentiamo una applicazione di differenti metodi predittivi (Geomatico, Reti Neurali, Land Cover Modeler e Dinamica EGO) in un’area test del Petén, Guatemala. Durante gli ultimi decenni questa regione, inclusa nella Riserva di Biosfera Maya, ha conosciuto una rapida crescita demografica ed un’incontrollata pressione sulle sue risorse naturali. L’area test puó essere suddivisa in sotto-regioni caratterizzate da differenti dinamiche di uso del suolo. Comprendere e quantificare queste differenze permette una migliore approssimazione del sistema reale; é inoltre necessario integrare tutti i parametri fisici e socio-economici, per una rappresentazione più completa della complessità dell’impatto antropico. Data l’assenza di informazioni dettagliate sull’area di studio, quasi tutti i dati sono stati ricavati dall’elaborazione di 11 immagini ETM+, TM e SPOT; abbiamo poi realizzato un’analisi multitemporale dei cambi uso del suolo passati e costruito l’input per alimentare i modelli predittivi. I dati del 1998 e 2000 sono stati usati per la fase di calibrazione per simulare i cambiamenti nella copertura terrestre del 2003, scelta come data di riferimento per la validazione dei risultati. Quest’ultima permette di evidenziare le qualità ed i limiti per ogni modello nelle differenti sub-regioni.

Démter y Perséfone: mito y narrativa en la poesía de Michéle Roberts

[ES]Este trabajo estudia la obra poética que dedica la autora feminista y anglo-francesa Michèle Roberts al mito de Deméter y Perséfone. A través de seis poemas presentados correlativamente, Roberts recorre la historia mitológica de dos mujeres simbólicas para reescribir y reinterpretar distintas percepciones del mito que engloba a las heroínas. Pasado y presente se corresponden, así como las valoraciones de la alegoría ficticia y la cultura contemporánea. En los poemas de Roberts, las narrativas en primera y tercera persona se entrelazan para tratar diversos temas como la relación entre madre e hija, el matrimonio, el ataque sexual, la identidad de las protagonistas, el inconsciente, el nacimiento y la muerte.

Ovidio e Marziale tra poesia e retorica

This 
study
 participates 
of
 the 
vivacious
 and
 recent 
interest
 for
 the 
Martial’s
 work, 
that
 has
 brought
 to
 discover
 a
 wealth
 and 
a 
complexity,
 remained 
for 
a
long
 time
 hidden, 
of 
the 
epigrammatic
 kind.
 Of
 this
 complexity
 is
 an
 important
 part
 the
 refined
 allusive
 game
 with
 the
 preceding
 tradition,
 as
 that
 with 
Ovid.
 My 
work
 is
 divided
 in
 two
 sections: 
the 
first
 one
 is dedicated
 to 
the 
passages 
in 
which
 Martial
 quotes
 Ovid
 and
 to
 the
 surest
 and
 more
 important
 recalls.
 The
 single
 chapters
 are
 dedicated
 to
 a
 detail
 theme
 (the
 apostrophe
 to
 the
 book;
 the
 mythology;
 the
 love;
 the
 exile).
 The
 second
 section, 
instead, 
is
 dedicated 
to 
the 
rhetoric,
 with
 an 
analysis 
of
 the
 structure 
of 
the 
poetic
 discourse
 in
 the
 elegy
 and
 in
 the
 epigram,
 and
 to
 the study
 of
 some
 rhetorical
 figures,
 in
 primis
 the
 sententia,
 key‐element
 in
 the
 Martial’s
 work,
 but
 also
 decisive
 in
 the
 innovative
 poetic process
 begun by
 Ovid.


Framing Death. La morte in diretta, tra cinema e media digitali

Come dimostrano i sempre più numerosi casi di cronaca riportati dai notiziari, la preoccupazione per la gestione delle immagini di morte si configura come un nodo centrale che coinvolge spettatori, produttori di contenuti e broadcaster, dato che la sua emersione nel panorama mediale in cui siamo immersi è sempre più evidente. Se la letteratura socio-antropologica è generalmente concorde nel ritenere che, rispetto al passato, oggi la morte si manifesti con meno evidenza nella vita comune delle persone, che tendono a rimuovere i segni della contiguità vivendo il lutto in forma privata, essa è però percepita in modo pervasivo perché disseminata nei (e dai) media. L'elaborato, concentrandosi in maniera specifica sulle produzioni audiovisive, e quindi sulla possibilità intrinseca al cinema – e alle sue forme derivate – di registrare un evento in diretta, tenta di mappare alcune dinamiche di produzione e fruizione considerando una particolare manifestazione della morte: quella che viene comunemente indicata come “morte in diretta”. Dopo una prima ricognizione dedicata alla tensione continua tra la spinta a considerare la morte come l'ultimo tabù e le manifestazioni che essa assume all'interno della “necrocultura”, appare chiaro che il paradigma pornografico risulta ormai inefficace a delineare compiutamente le emersioni della morte nei media, soggetta a opacità e interdizioni variabili, e necessita dunque di prospettive analitiche più articolate. Il fulcro dell'analisi è dunque la produzione e il consumo di precisi filoni quali snuff, cannibal e mondo movie e quelle declinazioni del gore che hanno ibridato reale e fittizio: il tentativo è tracciare un percorso che, a partire dal cinema muto, giunga al panorama contemporaneo e alle pratiche di remix rese possibili dai media digitali, toccando episodi controversi come i Video Nasties, le dinamiche di moral panic scatenate dagli snuff film e quelle di contagio derivanti dalla manipolazione e diffusione delle immagini di morte.

Development and applications of hollow fiber flow field-flow fractionation in the bioanalytical field. Studies of aggregation phenomena in complex protein samples

Recent advances in the fast growing area of therapeutic/diagnostic proteins and antibodies - novel and highly specific drugs - as well as the progress in the field of functional proteomics regarding the correlation between the aggregation of damaged proteins and (immuno) senescence or aging-related pathologies, underline the need for adequate analytical methods for the detection, separation, characterization and quantification of protein aggregates, regardless of the their origin or formation mechanism. Hollow fiber flow field-flow fractionation (HF5), the miniaturized version of FlowFFF and integral part of the Eclipse DUALTEC FFF separation system, was the focus of this research; this flow-based separation technique proved to be uniquely suited for the hydrodynamic size-based separation of proteins and protein aggregates in a very broad size and molecular weight (MW) range, often present at trace levels. HF5 has shown to be (a) highly selective in terms of protein diffusion coefficients, (b) versatile in terms of bio-compatible carrier solution choice, (c) able to preserve the biophysical properties/molecular conformation of the proteins/protein aggregates and (d) able to discriminate between different types of protein aggregates. Thanks to the miniaturization advantages and the online coupling with highly sensitive detection techniques (UV/Vis, intrinsic fluorescence and multi-angle light scattering), HF5 had very low detection/quantification limits for protein aggregates. Compared to size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), HF5 demonstrated superior selectivity and potential as orthogonal analytical method in the extended characterization assays, often required by therapeutic protein formulations. In addition, the developed HF5 methods have proven to be rapid, highly selective, sensitive and repeatable. HF5 was ideally suitable as first dimension of separation of aging-related protein aggregates from whole cell lysates (proteome pre-fractionation method) and, by HF5-(UV)-MALS online coupling, important biophysical information on the fractionated proteins and protein aggregates was gathered: size (rms radius and hydrodynamic radius), absolute MW and conformation.

Medeae Medea forem! : zur Euripidesrezeption Ovids in den Heroides

In den Briefen 4, 6, 11 und 12 der Heroides hat Ovid direkt oder indirekt Figuren des Mythos zum Gegenstand seiner Dichtung gemacht, die den zeitgenössischen wie auch den heutigen Rezipienten insbesondere durch Tragödien des Euripides bekannt sind. Die zu Beginn dieser Arbeit dazu durchgeführte historische Analyse der grundsätzlichen Bedingungen der Rezeption der Tragödien des Euripides in der Zeit Ovids zeigt, dass der römische Dichter für ein intertextuelles Dichten in den Heroides die Werke des griechischen Tragikers als Prätexte nutzen konnte, da die Rezipienten über die theoretische und praktische Kompetenz verfügten, entsprechende Verweisungen zu identifizieren, diese in einem Prozess der intertextuellen Lektüre zu dekodieren und den Text auf diese Weise zu interpretieren. Eine Beschreibung dieses antiken literarischen Kommunikationsprozesses zwischen Ovid und seinen Rezipienten erfolgt dabei mit den Mitteln einer für die Euripidesrezeption Ovids konkretisierten Intertextualitätstheorie (Kapitel A.I und II). Die ausführlichen Interpretationen zu den Heroides-Briefen 12, 6, 4 und 11 sowie zur Rezeption des Medea-Prologs in verschiedenen Gedichten Ovids (Kapitel B.I bis V) zeigen, dass der römische Dichter verschiedene Formen intertextueller Verweisungen nutzt, um in den bekannten Geschichten von Medea, Hypsipyle, Phaedra und Canace bislang ungenutztes narratives Potential zu entdecken und auf dieser Grundlage eine alte Geschichte neu zu erzählen. Das in der Forschung bereits vielfach beschriebene Prinzip Ovids des idem aliter referre ist in den untersuchten Texten konkret darauf ausgerichtet, die aus den Tragödien bekannten Heroinen in einer bestimmten Phase ihrer Geschichte zu Figuren einer elegischen Welt werden zu lassen. Diese neu geschaffene elegische Dimension einer ursprünglich tragischen Geschichte dient dabei nicht einer umwertenden Neuinterpretation der bekannten tragischen Figur. Vielmehr lässt Ovid seine Briefe zu einem Teil des Mythos werden, zu einem elegischen Vorspiel der Tragödie, die einen durch Euripides vorgegebenen Rahmen des Mythos erweitern und damit zugleich zentrale Motive der tragischen Prätexte vorbereiten. Ovid gestaltet aus, was in dem von Euripides initiierten Mythos angelegt ist, und nutzt das elegische Potential der tragischen Erzählung, um das Geschehen und vor allem die Heroine selbst in seinem Brief zur Tragödie hinzuführen. Damit bereitet Ovid in den Heroides die weitere Entwicklung der äußeren tragischen Handlung vor, indem er vor allem eine innere Entwicklung der von ihm geschaffenen Briefschreiberin aufzeigt und auf diese Weise jeweils aus einer von ihm geschaffenen elegischen Frau jene tragische Heldin werden lässt, die den Rezipienten aus der jeweiligen Tragödie des Euripides bekannt ist. Die sich daraus notwendigerweise ergebenden Spannungen und Interferenzen zwischen den Erwartungen der Rezipienten und der Realität der von Ovid neu gestalteten Figur in ihrem elegischen Kontext werden von dem römischen Dichter produktiv genutzt und durch die im Text initiierte Entwicklung aufgehoben. So scheinen dann letztlich aus den Elegien Ovids die Tragödien des Euripides hervorzugehen.

Progettazione e realizzazione di un editor grafico per la modellazione di superfici NURBS

Lo scopo di questa tesi è la realizzazione di un editor grafico per la modellazione di superfici NURBS e altri tipi di oggetti tridimensionali, curandone anche il rendering. Il modello a cui ci si è ispirati per la realizzazione è Maya Autodesk, noto software di computer grafica 3D, tramite il quale sono state realizzate molte opere di grafica commerciali come film di animazione e videogiochi. Il software realizzato consente la creazione e modellazione di scene tridimensionali, prevede inoltre la possibilità di salvare le scene create.

Dose escalation and pharmacokinetic study of AEZS-108 (AN-152), an LHRH agonist linked to doxorubicin, in women with LHRH receptor-positive tumors

Receptors for luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) can be utilized for targeted chemotherapy of cytotoxic LHRH analogs. The compound AEZS-108 (previously AN-152) consists of [D-Lys?]LHRH linked to doxorubicin. The objectives of this first study in humans with AESZ-108 were to determine the maximum tolerated dose and to characterize the dose-limiting toxicity, pharmacokinetics, preliminary efficacy, and hormonal effects.

Enhanced activity of meprin-?, a pro-migratory and pro-angiogenic protease, in colorectal cancer

Meprin-α is a metalloprotease overexpressed in cancer cells, leading to the accumulation of this protease in a subset of colorectal tumors. The impact of increased meprin-α levels on tumor progression is not known. We investigated the effect of this protease on cell migration and angiogenesis in vitro and studied the expression of meprin-α mRNA, protein and proteolytic activity in primary tumors at progressive stages and in liver metastases of patients with colorectal cancer, as well as inhibitory activity towards meprin-α in sera of cancer patient as compared to healthy controls. We found that the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced migratory response of meprin-transfected epithelial cells was increased compared to wild-type cells in the presence of plasminogen, and that the angiogenic response in organ-cultured rat aortic explants was enhanced in the presence of exogenous human meprin-α. In patients, meprin-α mRNA was expressed in colonic adenomas, primary tumors UICC (International Union Against Cancer) stage I, II, III and IV, as well as in liver metastases. In contrast, the corresponding protein accumulated only in primary tumors and liver metastases, but not in adenomas. However, liver metastases lacked meprin-α activity despite increased expression of the corresponding protein, which correlated with inefficient zymogen activation. Sera from cancer patients exhibited reduced meprin-α inhibition compared to healthy controls. In conclusion, meprin-α activity is regulated differently in primary tumors and metastases, leading to high proteolytic activity in primary tumors and low activity in liver metastases. By virtue of its pro-migratory and pro-angiogenic activity, meprin-α may promote tumor progression in colorectal cancer.

Reconstruction and 3D visualisation based on objective real 3D based documentation

Reconstructions based directly upon forensic evidence alone are called primary information. Historically this consists of documentation of findings by verbal protocols, photographs and other visual means. Currently modern imaging techniques such as 3D surface scanning and radiological methods (Computer Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging) are also applied. Secondary interpretation is based on facts and the examiner's experience. Usually such reconstructive expertises are given in written form, and are often enhanced by sketches. However, narrative interpretations can, especially in complex courses of action, be difficult to present and can be misunderstood. In this report we demonstrate the use of graphic reconstruction of secondary interpretation with supporting pictorial evidence, applying digital visualisation (using 'Poser') or scientific animation (using '3D Studio Max', 'Maya') and present methods of clearly distinguishing between factual documentation and examiners' interpretation based on three cases. The first case involved a pedestrian who was initially struck by a car on a motorway and was then run over by a second car. The second case involved a suicidal gunshot to the head with a rifle, in which the trigger was pushed with a rod. The third case dealt with a collision between two motorcycles. Pictorial reconstruction of the secondary interpretation of these cases has several advantages. The images enable an immediate overview, give rise to enhanced clarity, and compel the examiner to look at all details if he or she is to create a complete image.