A non-hydrostatic pressure distribution solver for the nonlinear shallow water equations over irregular topography

We extend a recently proposed 2D depth-integrated Finite Volume solver for the nonlinear shallow wa- ter equations with non-hydrostatic pressure distribution. The proposed model is aimed at simulating both nonlinear and dispersive shallow water processes. We split the total pressure into its hydrostatic and dy- namic components and solve a hydrostatic problem and a non-hydrostatic problem sequentially, in the framework of a fractional time step procedure. The dispersive properties are achieved by incorporating the non-hydrostatic pressure component in the governing equations. The governing equations are the depth-integrated continuity equation and the depth-integrated momentum equations along the x, y and z directions. Unlike the previous non-hydrostatic shallow water solver, in the z momentum equation, we retain both the vertical local and convective acceleration terms. In the former solver, we keep only the local vertical acceleration term. In this paper, we investigate the effects of these convective terms and the possible improvements of the computed solution when these terms are not neglected in the governing equations, especially in strongly nonlinear processes. The presence of the convective terms in the verti- cal momentum equation leads to a numerical solution procedure, which is quite different from the one of the previous solver, in both the hydrostatic and dynamic steps. We discretize the spatial domain us- ing unstructured triangular meshes satisfying the Generalized Delaunay property. The numerical solver is shock capturing and easily addresses wetting/drying problems, without any additional equation to solve at wet/dry interfaces. We present several numerical applications for challenging flooding processes en- countered in practical aspects over irregular topography, including a new set of experiments carried out at the Hydraulics Laboratory of the University of Palermo

A new route for the preparation of flexible skin\u2013core poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid)/polyaniline functional hybrids

Surface modification of polymeric films is a way to obtain final products with high performance for many specific and ad hoc tailored applications, e.g. in functional packaging, tissue engineering or (bio)sensing. The present work reports, for the first time, on the design and development of surface modified ethylene\u2013 acrylic acid copolymer (EAA) films with polyaniline (PANI), with the aim of inducing electrical conductivity and potentially enable the electronic control of a range of physical and chemical properties of the film surface, via a new \u2018\u2018grafting from\u2019\u2019 approach. In particular, we demonstrate that PANI was successfully polymerized and covalently grafted onto flexible EAA substrates, previously activated. The final hybrid materials and the corresponding intermediates were fully characterized via FTIR, XPS, SEM\u2013EDAX, mechanical and electrical tests. The mechanical properties of the films are not detrimentally affected by each treatment step, while a significant increase in electrical conductivity was achieved for the new hybrid materials

Cumulative doses analysis in young trauma patients: a single-centre experience

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) represents the main source of radiation exposure in trauma patients. The radiation exposure of young patients is a matter of considerable medical concern due to possible long-term effects. Multiple MDCT studies have been observed in the young trauma population with an increase in radiation exposure. We have identified 249 young adult patients (178 men and 71 women; age range 14\u201340 years) who had received more than one MDCT study between June 2010 and June 2014. According to the International Commission on Radiological Protection publication, we have calculated the cumulative organ dose tissue-weighting factors by using CT-EXPO software\uae. We have observed a mean cumulative dose of about 27 mSv (range from 3 to 297 mSv). The distribution analysis is characterised by low effective dose, below 20 mSv, in the majority of the patients. However, in 29 patients, the effective dose was found to be higher than 20 mSv. Dose distribution for the various organs analysed (breasts, ovaries, testicles, heart and eye lenses) shows an intense peak for lower doses, but in some cases high doses were recorded. Even though cumulative doses may have long-term effects, which are still under debate, high doses are observed in this specific group of young patients

Confronto fra valutazioni del run-up fatte con un modello matematico e una formula empirica con misure di campo

La posizione planimetrica della linea di riva, soli tamente, viene determinata attraverso l\u2019uso di immagini aeree ed utilizzata pe r la ricostruzione dell\u2019evoluzione storica dei litorali. Tuttavia, le informazioni est ratte da tali immagini, descrivendo il confine istantaneo acqua-terra, consentono l\u2019indivi duazione della linea di riva esclusivamente come limite asciutto-bagnato proprio nel momento della ripresa. Per una pi\uf9 corretta localizzazione della linea di riva , \ue8 quindi necessario quantificare, oltre agli effetti di marea e di trasporto solido, gli effetti prodotti dal moto ondoso su tale posizione e in particolare il cosiddetto ru n-up. Nel presente lavoro si studia il run-up in una spia ggia naturale a debole pendenza ricadente nella Sicilia occidentale. Lo studio geom orfologico del sito precede lo studio idraulico, che partendo dalle misure di onde al largo, attraverso la loro trasposizione e la propagazione simulata con un mod ello matematico, porta alla stima delle onde sotto costa. Queste ultime sono ut ilizzate per valutare il run-up sia mediante una nota formula empirica sia utilizzando un modello numerico alla Boussinesq con una nuova condizione al contorno per la linea di riva. Il confronto dei risultati con le misure di campo mostra che i r isultati migliori si ottengono con la formula empirica, nella quale \ue8 tuttavia necessa rio calibrare i coefficienti con misure in situ

CT enterography as a powerful tool for the evaluation of inflammatory activity in Crohn's disease: relationship of CT findings with CDAI and acute-phase reactants

Few studies have correlated computed tomography enterography (CTE) findings with Crohn's disease (CD) clinical and biochemical activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate correlations between CTE findings with CD activity.The CTE datasets from 62 patients were retrospectively reviewed for different parameters: bowel wall thickening and hyperenhancement, mesenteric alterations, abdominal free fluid and complications related to the disease (fistulas, strictures, abscesses). Activity was assessed using the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and some biochemical markers (C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, alpha 2-globulins, fibrinogen, platelets, haemoglobin). Correlations between CTE parameters, clinical activity score and laboratory parameters were assessed by logistic regression.CDAI was significantly correlated with increased fat density (p = 0.03) and intestinal strictures (p = 0.04). Platelet counts were elevated in patients with enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes (p = 0.009) and the comb sign (p = 0.05). Serum alpha 2-globulins were higher in the presence of the comb sign (p = 0.03).The CTE finding of perienteric inflammation (increased fat density) and vascular engorgement of the vasa recta in CD patients suggest that the disease is clinically active and that these patients may require more aggressive treatment than patients without these findings

Effects of PPARγ agonists on the expression of leptin and vascular endothelial growth factor in breast cancer cells.

The obesity hormone leptin has been implicated in breast cancer development. Breast cancer cells express the leptin receptor and are able to synthesize leptin in response to obesity-related stimuli. Furthermore, leptin is a positive regulator of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and high levels of both proteins are associated with worse prognosis in breast cancer patients. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ligands are therapeutic agents used in patient with Type 2 diabetes and obesity which have recently been studied for their potential anti-tumor effect. Here, we studied if these compounds, ciglitazone and GW1929, can affect the expression of leptin and VEGF in breast cancer cells. In MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, treatment with submolar concentrations of ciglitazone and GW1929 elevated the expression of leptin and VEGF mRNA and protein, and increased cell viability and migration. These effects coincided with increased recruitment of PPAR to the proximal leptin promoter and decreased association of a transcriptional factor Sp1 with this DNA region

Swallowing evaluation with videofluoroscopy in the paediatric population

Paediatric swallowing disorders can have several causes, from prematurity and congenital anomalies to gastro-oesophageal reflux and infective or inflammatory pathologies of the upper digestive tract. In neonates, the swallowing process is reflexive and involuntary. Later in infancy, the oral phase comes under voluntary control, while the pharyngeal phase and oesophageal phases remain involuntary. Swallowing difficulties can severely compromise pulmonary health and nutritional intake of paediatric patients. Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) is a radiographic procedure that provides a dynamic view of the swallowing process and is frequently considered to be definitive evaluation for objective assessment of dysphagia in paediatric patients. This review focuses on the different possible aetiologies of paediatric swallowing disorders and related videofluoroscopic swallowing study procedures and appearances

Swallowing disorders after thyroidectomy: What we know and where we are. A systematic review

Introduction Dysphagia and hoarseness are possible complications that can be observed in patients undergoing thyroidectomy or other neck surgery procedures. These complaints are usually related to superior and inferior laryngeal nerves dysfunction, but these can appear even after uncomplicated surgical procedure. Methods We reviewed the current literature available on MEDLINE database, concerning the swallowing disorders appearing after the thyroidectomy. The articles included in the review reported pathophysiology and diagnostic concerns. Results Twenty articles were selected for inclusion in the review. Depends on the possible causes of the difficulty swallowing (related to nerve damage or appearing after uncomplicated thyroidectomy), different types of diagnostic procedures could be used to study patient discomfort, as well as intraoperative nerve monitoring, fiber optic laryngoscopy, endoscopy, pH monitoring, esophageal manometry and videofluorography. Among all these procedures, videofluorography is considered the gold standard to evaluate the entire swallowing process, since that allows a real-time study of all the three phases of swallowing: oral phase, pharyngeal phase and esophageal phase. Conclusion The diagnostic procedures described can help to identify the mechanisms involved in swallowing disorders, with the aim to choose the best therapeutic option. More studies are needed for understanding the causes of the dysphagia appearing after thyroidectomy

Lateral IBIC characterization of single crystal synthetic diamond detectors

In order to evaluate the charge collection efficiency (CCE) profile of single-crystal diamond devices based on a p-type/intrinsic/metal configuration, a lateral Ion Beam Induced Charge (IBIC) analysis was performed over their cleaved cross sections using a 2 MeV proton microbeam. CCE profiles in the depth direction were extracted from the cross-sectional maps at variable bias voltage. IBIC spectra relevant to the depletion region extending beneath the frontal Schottky electrode show a 100% CCE, with a spectral resolution of about 1.5%. The dependence of the width of the high efficiency region from applied bias voltage allows the constant residual doping concentration of the active region to be evaluated. The region where the electric field is absent shows an exponentially decreasing CCE profile, from which it is possible to estimate the diffusion length of the minority carriers by means of a drift-diffusion model. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim