Malignant Mesothelioma in Eastern Asia

Bianchi, Claudio,Bianchi, Tommaso Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.10

Relatively low numbers of malignant mesotheliomas have been reported from Eastern Asia. In order to explore the causes of this fact, the available data on mesothelioma incidence/mortality in five countries (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore) were reviewed. Data on the industrial histories of the above countries were also examined. Mesothelioma incidence was low, despite a history of high shipbuilding and port activities, in which heavy exposure to asbestos generally has occurred. Underestimation of mesothelioma could partly explain the above discrepancy. Moreover, in some areas a sufficient latency period for mesothelioma development may have not yet elapsed, due to recent industrialization. However, other possibilities have to be considered. The cancer epidemiology in Eastern Asia differs deeply from that seen in Western countries, an indication of differences in etiologic factors of cancer as well as in co-factors. In addition, the oncogenic spectrum of asbestos is wide, and not completely defined. In a very different milieu from that of Western countries, asbestos could preferentially hit targets other than serosal membranes.

BACTERIAL ABUNDANCE AND GROWTH IN OLIGOTROPHIC MEDITERRANEAN SEAWATER AND RHONE RIVER PLUME

BIANCHI,Micheline,SOTO,Yenise 嶺南大 海洋科學硏究所 1988 Marine Nature Vol.1 No.1

In order to compare microbial characteristics of the oligotrophic Mediterranean seawater and the eutrophic Rhone river freshwater, samples were taken at five depths of a marine station and of two stations in the plume area with a low salinity upper layer of 2-5 meters. No clear difference was seen either in bacterial densities(??) nor in bacterial growth rates (??) between oligotrophic and eutrophicated water. But, the bacterial production in the Rhone water was higher (5-8 times) than in the oligotrophic water. Counts of bacterial and heterotrophic micropredators showed oscillations between predator and prey populations along depth profiles. Au niveau du debouche du fleuve Rhone (??) se cree un panache deau dessalee et chargee en particules organiques et minerales, qui secoule sur l'eau Mediterraneenne reputee pour son oligotrophie. Afin de definir et de comparer les caracteristiques microbiologiques de ces 2 types d'eau, des echantillons ont ete preleves a 5 niveaux de 3 stations: une typiquement marine et deux autres situees dans le panache, montrant une couche de surface (2-3 metres) dessalee. Les effectifs bacteriens varient peu d'une station a l'autre (??). L'eau oligotrophe est caracterisee par une evolution parallele des effectifs bacteriens et de leurs predateurs. La pauvrete nutritionnelle de l'eau ne permet pas une production bacterienne intense (??). Aux deux autres stations de prelevement, dans la couche dessalee, les effectifs des bacteries et des predateurs montrent des relations inverses, classiques des evolutions entre proie et predateur. L'halocline constitue une interface en dessous de laquelle, en quelques metres, se retrouvent les caracteristiques microbiennes relevees a la station oligotrophe. La production bacterienne varie enre 0.12 et ?? bacteries·?? avec des taux de predations plus eleves que dans l'eau dessalee (??). Par contre, quelle que soit la qualite de l'eau, le taux de croissance reste sensiblement le meme (??) et du meme ordre de grandeur que ceux deja releves dans de semblables zones de front.

The Elderly Depressed Patient

Bianchi, G. Medical Publications Korea 1977 Medical Progress Vol.4 No.1

MICROHETEROTROPHIC COMMUNITIES IN THE WATER COLUMN OF THE RHONE RIVER PLUME

BIANCHI,Micheline,SOTO,Yenise 嶺南大 海洋科學硏究所 1990 Marine Nature Vol.3 No.1

As tidal range is very small in the Mediterranean, the Rhone River plume (1600㎥ ??) spreads as a thin layer of low density water over the seawater. Schematically, the water column of the plume area is constituted by three layers. The upper freshwater layer is about 1-1.5m deep and carries heavy loads of organic and mineral particles as well as dissolved components. The intermediate layer, of 0.5-1m, is a discontinuity zone, showing strong density and dissolved nutrients gradients. The third layer, seawater, receives mostly particles form the other layers. In the Rhone water layer, as well as in the seawater, bacterial production and biomass are relatively constant, whatever more important in the freshwater. The three superposed layers showed three distinct microbial communities. The river water community is composed of freshwater bacteria, with low activity. The interface layer community can be described as a juvenile community of oligotrophic marine bacteria. The marine water community was characterized by low numbers of bacteria which growth limited by organic substrate availability.

Mass-deformed brane tilings

Bianchi, Massimo,Cremonesi, Stefano,Hanany, Amihay,Morales, Jose Francisco,Pacifici, Daniel Ricci,Seong, Rak-Kyeong Springer-Verlag 2014 Journal of high energy physics Vol.2014 No.10

Study of Counter Diffusion in Isostatic Permeameters

Bianchi, F.,Pegoraro, M.,Zanderighi, L. The Membrane Society of Korea 2001 Korean Membrane Journal Vol.3 No.1

The counter-diffusion of two gaseous substances permeating a polymeric membrane has been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The aim of the study was to find mutual effects, if any, that could influence the permeability and diffusivity data. The experimental data were obtained with an isostatic permeameter operating at ambient pressure and 303 K: helium, nitrogen, carbon dioxide methane were used as permeating gas at different partial pressure; helium or nitrogen as equilibrating or carrier gas. No evident mutual effect of the counter-diffusing gas was observed. The theoretical analysis gave some insight into the phenomena and it was concluded that at near-atmospheric pressures, and in the absence of swelling phenomena no mutual interaction exists. On a theoretical basis any mutual interaction between diffusing and counter-diffusing gases could only occur: i) at high pressures , when the free movement of permeating gas molecules within the polymer is hindered by the counter-diffusing gas; ii) when a large part of the free volume fraction is occupied by the counter--diffusing gas; iii) swelling phenomena modify the structure and free volume fraction of the polymer.

Self-cleaning measurements on tiles manufactured with micro-sized photoactive TiO₂

Bianchi, C.L.,Gatto, S.,Nucci, S.,Cerrato, G.,Capucci, V. Techno-Press 2013 Advances in materials research Vol.2 No.1

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a rapidly developing field in environmental engineering. It has a great potential to cope with the increasing pollution in the air. The addition of a photocatalyst to ordinary building materials such as tiles, concrete, paints, creates environmental friendly materials by which air pollution or pollution of the surface itself can be controlled and diminished. This work reports the results of the laboratory research, especially carried out towards air purifying action and self-cleaning measurements. In particular the research was focused on the study of the photocatalytic behavior of industrially prepared tiles produced starting from commercial micro-sized $TiO_2$. Air purification action has been investigated through NOx degradation tests. On the contrary, the degradation of pollution at the surface, also called as self-cleaning action, is verified by the degradation of two different organic dyes: Rhodamine B (red color) and Metanil yellow (yellow).

Occupational Risks in Midwifery: From Bernardino Ramazzini to Modern Times

Bianchi, Tommaso,Belingheri, Michael,Nespoli, Antonella,De Vito, Giovanni,Riva, Michele A. Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute 2019 Safety and health at work Vol.10 No.2

Occupational risks are often underestimated in midwifery. It is not commonly known that occupational risks were originally described by the Italian physician Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714) at the beginning of the 18th century. Our aim was to describe occupational risks in midwifery from Ramazzini to modern times. The original text by Bernardino Ramazzini was analyzed. A review of modern scientific articles on occupational risks in midwifery was conducted. Ramazzini identified two major occupational risks in midwifery: infections and awkward postures. Modern literature seems to agree with his considerations, focusing on infection, use of universal protection and personal protective equipment, and musculoskeletal problems. Modern studies also evidenced posttraumatic stress disorder that was probably postulated by Ramazzini himself. The poor number of articles in literature on midwives' occupational risks shows a lack of interest toward this issue. Prevention should therefore be emphasized in this field, so high-quality studies on occupational risks in midwifery are needed.

Impact of Testosterone on Alzheimer’s Disease

Bianchi Vittorio Emanuele 대한남성과학회 2022 The World Journal of Men's Health Vol.40 No.2

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease responsible for almost half of all dementia cases in the world and progressively increasing. The etiopathology includes heritability, genetic factors, aging, nutrition, but sex hormones play a relevant role. Animal models demonstrated that testosterone (T) exerted a neuroprotective effect reducing the production of amyloid-beta (Aβ), improving synaptic signaling, and counteracting neuronal death. This study aims to evaluate the impact of T deprivation and T administration in humans on the onset of dementia and AD. A search was conducted on MEDLINE and Scopus for the “androgen deprivation therapy” and “testosterone therapy” with “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s.” Studies lasting twenty years with low risk of bias, randomized clinical trial, and case-controlled studies were considered. Twelve articles on the effect of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and AD and seventeen on T therapy and AD were retrieved. Men with pros-tate cancer under ADT showed a higher incidence of dementia and AD. The effect of T administration in hypogonadal men with AD and cognitive impairment has evidenced some positive results. The majority of studies showed the T administration improved memory and cognition in AD while others did not find any benefit. Although some biases in the studies are evi-dent, T therapy for AD patients may represent an essential clinical therapy to reduce dementia incidence and AD progression. However, more specific case-controlled trials on the effect of androgens therapy in men and women to reducing the onset of AD are necessary.

Comparison of PM Motor Structures and Sensorless Control Techniques for Zero-Speed Rotor Position Detection

Bianchi, N.,Bolognani, S.,Ji-Hoon Jang,Seung-Ki Sul IEEE 2007 IEEE transactions on power electronics Vol.22 No.6

<P>The rotor position of a synchronous permanent magnet (PM) motor can be detected by means of the injection of a high-frequency stator voltage superimposed to the fundamental component. Thanks to the rotor anisotropy, the corresponding high-frequency current is modulated and used to determine the rotor position. Two techniques are considered: the first one adopts a pulsating voltage vector in the estimated synchronous reference frame, while the second one adopts a rotating voltage vector. These techniques are effective at zero and at low motor speed. The accuracy of the rotor position detection depends strictly on the rotor saliency, that is, on the geometry of the PM rotor. In fact both saturation and d-and q-axis cross-coupling have a heavy influence on the correct rotor position detection. The aim of this paper is to compare the two sensorless control techniques, together with two rotor geometries, that is, IPM and inset rotor. In order to highlight the effectiveness of the sensorless technique, the tests are carried out at various operating conditions. It is found that the effectiveness of the sensorless rotor position detection strongly depends on the PM rotor geometry. Conversely, the choice of the sensorless control technique affects slightly the rotor position detection.</P>