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Background The association among gallbladder disease, cholecystectomy, and pancreatic cancer is unclear. Moreover, time interval between gallbladder disease or cholecystectomy and pancreatic cancer diagnosis is not considered in most previous studies. Aim To quantify the association among gallbladder disease, cholecystectomy, and pancreatic cancer, considering time since first diagnosis of gallbladder disease or cholecystectomy. Methods We used data from nine case-control studies within the Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control Consortium, including 5760 cases of adenocarcinoma of the exocrine pancreas and 8437 controls. We estimated pooled odds ratios and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals by estimating study-specific odds ratios through multivariable unconditional logistic regression models, and then pooling the obtained estimates using fixed-effects models. Results Compared with patients with no history of gallbladder disease, the pooled odds ratio of pancreatic cancer was 1.69 (95% confidence interval, 1.51-1.88) for patients reporting a history of gallbladder disease. The odds ratio was 4.90 (95% confidence interval, 3.45-6.97) for gallbladder disease diagnosed

The consumption of processed meat has been associated with noncardia gastric cancer, but evidence regarding a possible role of red meat is more limited. Our study aims to quantify the association between meat consumption, namely white, red and processed meat, and the risk of gastric cancer, through individual participant data meta-analysis of studies participating in the “Stomach cancer Pooling (StoP) Project”. Data from 22 studies, including 11,443 cases and 28,029 controls, were used. Study-specific odds ratios (ORs) were pooled through a two-stage approach based on random-effects models. An exposure-response relationship was modeled, using one and two-order fractional polynomials, to evaluate the possible nonlinear association between meat intake and gastric cancer. An increased risk of gastric cancer was observed for the consumption of all types of meat (highest vs. lowest tertile), which was statistically significant for red (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.00–1.53), processed (OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.06–1.43) and total meat (OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.09–1.55). Exposure-response analyses showed an increasing risk of gastric cancer with increasing consumption of both processed and red meat, with the highest OR being observed for an intake of 150 g/day of red meat (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.56–2.20). This work provides robust evidence on the relation between the consumption of different types of meat and gastric cancer. Adherence to dietary recommendations to reduce meat consumption may contribute to a reduction in the burden of gastric cancer. © 2019 UICC

Purpose: Flavonoids have drawn attention because of their antioxidant capacity and anti-carcinogenic effect in various types of cancer. A limited number of studies has investigated their potential effect on the risk of bladder cancer, with inconsistent results. Methods: We analyzed data from an Italian case–control study including 690 incident bladder cancer cases and 665 controls admitted to the same network of hospitals for acute, non-neoplastic, non tobacco-related diseases. Subjects were interviewed using a reproducible and validated food-frequency questionnaire. We applied data on food and beverage composition to estimate the intake of isoflavones, anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavanones, flavones and flavonols. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) through multiple logistic regression models, including terms for potential confounding factors, including tobacco smoking and total energy intake. Results: We found an inverse association between isoflavones (OR for the highest compared to the lowest quintile of intake = 0.56, 95% CI 0.37–0.84) and flavones (OR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.44–0.95) and bladder cancer. Non-significant inverse association was found for flavan-3-ols (OR = 0.70), flavonols (OR = 0.85) and total flavonoids (OR = 0.76). The results were consistent for non-muscle-invasive and muscle-invasive bladder cancers. Conclusions: Our data indicate an inverse association between isoflavones and flavones with respect to bladder cancer risk. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

We assessed the association of processed meat intake with the risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and bladder cancer. We used data from two Italian hospital-based case-control studies, including 1,115 RCC cases and 2,582 controls, and 1,417 bladder cancer cases and 1,732 controls. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with unconditional logistic regression models, adjusted for major confounders. The median consumption of processed meat in cases and controls was around 2 portions/week (50 g/portion). The ORs for a daily 10 g increment of processed meat was 0.89 (95% CI 0.84–0.94) for RCC and 1.00 (95% CI 0.94–1.06) for bladder cancer. The OR for the highest vs. the lowest consumption was 0.80 (95% CI 0.66–0.96) for RCC and 0.98 (95% CI 0.80–1.21) for bladder cancer. The ORs were consistent in strata of various covariates. For bladder cancer, however, a significant 23% excess risk was found in women (95% CI 1.03–1.47) for a daily increase of 10 g, significantly heterogeneous from the risk recorded in men (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.90–1.02). The inconsistent results between men and women and the absence of association in both sexes combined indicate that the apparent association between processed meat and bladder cancer in women is unlikely to be causal. © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Background and AIM Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent complication of HCV liver cirrhosis. The reduction of risk after the clearance of HCV-RNA is debated. The aim of our study was to detect the appearance of HCC during the follow-up after antiviral treatment with direct acting antiviral therapy.Patients and Methods: In four specialist Centers, 280 HCV patients were analyzed. The choice of the regimen was based on genotype and stage of liver disease. Abdomen ultrasonography was performed prior, at the end of therapy, and after six months. Biochemistry, BMI, presence of comorbidity, and any complications of related to cirrhosis were also evaluated.Results: Nine HCC were found by ultrasonography (5 cases at the end of therapy, 4 cases 3 months after the end of follow-up); in all cases, HCC was confirmed by a second level imaging examination (computed tomography or magnetic resonance). Characteristics of patients were: male (66.9%; range 56-77), BMI (median 25.4; range 21-40). Prevalence of diabetes was 55.2%. Genotypes were: 1b (6 patients), 1a (2 patients), 2a/2c (1 patient). The therapies were: sofosbuvir plus simeprevir (1 patient), sofosbuvir plus simeprevir plus ribavirin (2 patients), sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir plus ribavirin (2 patients), sofosbuvir plus ribavirin (2 patients), Viekirax + Exviera plus ribavirin (2 patient). One patient only experienced a viral relapse at week 12 after the end of therapy. The incidence of HCC was 3.2%.Conclusions: In patients with liver cirrhosis, even if HCV replication stops, a close follow-up with ultrasonography is mandatory. Since the cumulative incidence is high, a greater sample size is necessary to clarify if the interferon-free antiviral therapy had an influence on the onset of HCC.

The EU FP7 Network of Excellence project CIPRNet has bundled its ser-vices to the CIP/CIR community in a Virtual Centre of Competence & Ex-pertise in CIP (VCCC). The VCCC services include CIP/CIR knowledge sharing, demonstrations of new technical capabilities, an e-Lear-ning platform, and access to CIPe-dia©, a very popular online glossary of CIP/CIR terms. The VCCC services can be accessed via CIPRNet’s website. Moreover, most of the VCCC services will be kept active beyond the end of CIPRNet.

Wood from heritage is usually attacked by wood-decay fungi generating mainly loss of dimensional and structural stability. The study of wood biodegradation process and its mechanism allow the obtaining of tools for wood conservation. In this paper, wood biodegradation and biodeterioration processes were studied in order to acquire a direct and visual indicator of the beginning of wood degradation. This indicator will allow the consolidation and protection of wood before it will be structurally compromised. Wood degradation conditions found in turntable were reproduced in laboratory by accelerated processes: environment degradation was developed by fluctuation cycles of humidity and temperature. Biological degradation was performed using wood decay fungus isolated from wooden heritage samples. The wood samples were inoculated with an equal amount of mycelia until abortive basidiomata emerged. The result analysis indicated that even though each species occupies particular niches, first settlers (environmental fungi) would generate a material more bioreceptive for wood decay fungi being replaced each other as dynamic communities. Consequently, environmental fungi allow the wood decay fungi to colonise and exploit better their ecological niche (succession). It was concluded that the appearance of first settlers is therefore a reliable visual indicator of the need of wood consolidation in order to preventing irreversibly wooden heritage loss. Fil: Alfieri, Paula V. CIDEPINT (Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología de Pinturas); Argentina Fil: García, Renato. CIC. LEMIT (Laboratorio de Entrenamiento Multidisciplinario para la Investigación Tecnológica); Argentina Fil: Rosato, Vilma. UTN (Universidad Tecnológica Nacional). LEMaC (Centro de Investigaciones Viales); Argentina. CONICET LEMIT (Laboratorio de Entrenamiento Multidisciplinario para la Investigación Tecnológica); Argentina Fil: Correa, María. CIC. LEMIT (Laboratorio de Entrenamiento Multidisciplinario para la Investigación Tecnológica); Argentina

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus has been associated with an excess risk of pancreatic cancer, but the magnitude of the risk and the time–risk relationship are unclear, and there is limited information on the role of antidiabetic medications. Patients and methods: We analyzed individual-level data from 15 case–control studies within the Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control Consortium, including 8305 cases and 13 987 controls. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were estimated from multiple logistic regression models, adjusted for relevant covariates. Results: Overall, 1155 (15%) cases and 1087 (8%) controls reported a diagnosis of diabetes 2 or more years before cancer diagnosis (or interview, for controls), corresponding to an OR of 1.90 (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.72–2.09). Consistent risk estimates were observed across strata of selected covariates, including body mass index and tobacco smoking. Pancreatic cancer risk decreased with duration of diabetes, but a significant excess risk was still evident 20 or more years after diabetes diagnosis (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.03–1.63). Among diabetics, long duration of oral antidiabetic use was associated with a decreased pancreatic cancer risk (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.14–0.69, for ≥15 years). Conversely, insulin use was associated with a pancreatic cancer risk in the short term (OR 5.60, 95% CI 3.75–8.35, for

The thermodynamic behavior of the carbon schwarzite fcc (Formula presented) has been studied by tight-binding molecular-dynamics simulations at constant temperature and pressure. The system is totally (Formula presented) bonded and it can be represented as a folded graphite sheet made by hexagonal and heptagonal rings. The structure has a density (Formula presented) as low as (Formula presented) at (Formula presented) K and a bulk modulus B, evaluated by measuring the volume variation upon application of an external hydrostatic load, as large as (Formula presented) Mbar. At (Formula presented) K, the structure unfolds via a topological transformation, which brings the value of the topological connectivity of the structure (Formula presented) from (Formula presented) (for a cell including four molecules) to (Formula presented) (which is the value of a graphite sheet). The behavior of the structural, dynamical, and electronic-structure properties has been evaluated in the whole temperature range, below and above the temperature of the topological transition.

A model of the Italian 380 kV electrical transmission network has been analyzed under the topological and the functional viewpoints. The DC power flow model used to evaluate the power flux has been solved on the basis of input conditions (injected power - extracted power, line's reactances and the maximum flux capacity of each line) taken from real data. The vulnerability of the network under load conditions has been estimated by evaluating the power flux redistribution along the lines subsequent to line's removal. When the perturbed network cannot sustain a given input--output demand, the maximum power sustainable by the network has been evaluated to optimize the \texttt{Quality of Service}, defined as the difference between the expected and the effective dispatched power. The functional relevance of the different lines of the network has been classified according to the amount of power that the network must reduce, to keep alive, upon their removal. Results show that topological and functional relevances are related to different lines; lines having a strong topological relevance may have a bare relevance in the flow distribution and thus their removal does not affect the functioning of the network.

In this paper we describe the parallelization of a molecu­lar dynamics code, based on a Tight-Binding Hamiltonian, on a DMMP parallel platform. The data-parallel implementation has been carried out within the HPF framework, and tested on IBM SP2 architectures. The integration of an optimized parallel library routine (PESSL) for the full diagonalization of large symmetric matrices is also described. The scalability of this approach, the performance of the parallel code and that of the PESSL routine are shown. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1998.

A genetic algorithm for ground-state structure optimization of a Palladium atomic cluster has been developed and ported on a SIMDMIMD parallel platform. The SIMD part of the parallel platform is represented by a Quadrics/APE100 consisting of 512 floating point units while the MIMD part is formed by a cluster of workstations. The proposed algorithm contains a part where the genetic operators are applied to the elements of the population and a part which performs a further local relaxation and the fitness calculation via Molecular Dynamics. These parts have been implemented on the MIMD part and on the SIMD one, respectively. Results have been compared to those generated by using a Simulated Annealing technique. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1996.

Astrocomp is a joint project, developed by the INAF-Astrophysical Observatory of Catania, University of Roma La Sapienza and Enea. The project has the goal of providing the scientific community of a web-based user-friendly interface which allows running parallel codes on a set of high-performance computing (HPC) resources, without any need for specific knowledge about parallel programming and Operating Systems commands. Astrocomp provides, also, computing time on a set of parallel computing systems, available to the authorized user. At present, the portal makes a few codes available, among which: FLY, a cosmological code for studying three-dimensional collisionless self-gravitating systems with periodic boundary conditions; ATD, a parallel tree-code for the simulation of the dynamics of boundary-free collisional and collisionless self-gravitating systems and MARA, a code for stellar light curves analysis. Other codes are going to be added to the portal., LaTeX with elsart.cls and harvard.sty (included). 7 pages. To be submitted to a specific journal

The dynamics of a large stellar (globular) cluster containing N=128,000 stars has been simulated by a direct summation (O(N$^2$)) method by using a heterogeneous platform. Preliminary simulations have been carried out on model systems with and without the presence, in their center of mass, of a black hole whose mass has been varied from 0.02 to 0.1 times the total mass of the cluster. These simulations followed the evolution of the globular cluster in order to describe its dynamics over an interval of time sufficiently large respect to the internal crossing time. Computations have demonstrated that the platform heterogeneity, allowing a very efficient use of the computational resources, can be considered a key feature for sustaining large computational loads. Our results show that the massive object in the center of the cluster alters the surrounding star distribution very quickly; the following evolution is much slower as it occurs via two-body collisional relaxation., 10 pages+12 eps figures; submitted to Journ. of Comp. Physics

IMAGE is an application tool, based on the vector quantization method, aiding the discovery of nucleotidic sequences corresponding to Transcription Factor binding sites. Starting from the knowledge of regulation regions of a number of co-expressed genes, the software is able to predict the occurrence of specific motifs of different lengths (starting from 6 base pairs) with a defined number of punctual mutations.

Risk assessment aims at improving prevention and preparedness phases of the crisis management lifecycle. Qualitative risk assessment of a system is important for risks identification and analysis by the various stakeholders and often requires multi-disciplinary knowledge. We present an automatic approach to qualitative risk assessment in metropolitan areas using semantic techniques. In particular, users are provided with a computational support to identify and prioritize by relevance risks of city services, through generation of semantic descriptions of risk situations. This approach is enabled by a software system consisting of: TERMINUS, a domain ontology representing city knowledge; WS-CREAM, a web service implementing risk identification and ranking functions; and CIPCast, a GIS-based Decision Support System with functions of risk forecast due to natural hazards. Finally we present the results of a preliminary validation of the generated risks concerning some points of interest in two different areas of the city of Rome.