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Background: The eye is an important sensory organ occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation (IR) in healthcare workers (HCWs) engaged in medical imaging (MI). New evidence highlights the possible induction of cataract at IR exposure levels to be much lower than expected in the past. Objective: Conduct an updated review on the current evidence on cataract risk in healthcare workers exposed to IR. Methods: Published scientific studies on cataract risk in IR exposed healthcare workers were collected through a systematic search of two biomedical databases (MEDLINE and Scopus). Data from included studies was extracted and summarized. Study quality was also assessed. Results: All 21 eligible studies reported an increased prevalence of cataract, especially posterior subcapsular cataract, in IR exposed HCWs with a higher prevalence in interventional cardiology staff. Discussion: Our review synthesizes the latest evidence to support the hypothesis of a significantly increased risk of occupational cataract in healthcare workers operating MI and exposed to IR, especially in interventional cardiologists. Data also support a dose-response relationship between IR exposure and the prevalence of opacities, especially posterior subcapsular opacities. Conclusions: Findings highlight the need for effective control measures including appropriate training, adherence to protective procedures, and a constant use of shields and eye personal protective equipment in healthcare workers with optical exposure to IR. Periodic health surveillance programs, possibly including lens evaluation, are also important to monitor cataract risk in these MI operators.

Here we report that aloe-emodin (AE), a hydroxyanthraquinone present in Aloe vera leaves, has a specific in vitro and in vivo antineuroectodermal tumor activity. The growth of human neuroectodermal tumors is inhibited in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency without any appreciable toxic effects on the animals. The compound does not inhibit the proliferation of normal fibroblasts nor that of hemopoietic progenitor cells. The cytotoxicity mechanism consists of the induction of apoptosis, whereas the selectivity against neuroectodermal tumor cells is founded on a specific energy-dependent pathway of drug incorporation. Taking into account its unique cytotoxicity profile and mode of action, AE might represent a conceptually new lead antitumor drug.

A growing interest in the prediction of highlift aerodynamics has grown in recent years,motivated by the AIAA High Lift PredictionWorkshop (HiLiftPW) series, which publicly re-lease standard wing-fuselage geometries with ex-perimental results from wind tunnel tests andpromote dissemination of meshing strategies,physics modelling, and statistical analyses on theresults provided by participants. The object ofthis work is the JAXA standard model proposedin the3rdAIAA HiLiftPW. The authors want topropose best practices for numerical meshing andanalysis with the lowest possible number of cells,giving indications on physics modelling and onthe location of grid refinements for mesh tuning.

The present paper deals with the preliminary design of a general aviation Commuter 11 seat aircraft. The Commuter aircraft market is today characterized by very few new models and the majority of aircraft in operation belonging to this category are older than 35 years. Tecnam Aircraft Industries and the Department of Aerospace Engineering (DIAS) of the University of Naples "Federico II" are deeply involved in the design of a new commuter aircraft that should be introduced in this market with very good opportunities of success. This paper aims to provide some guidelines on the conception of a new twin-engine commuter aircraft with eleven passengers. Aircraft configuration and cabin layouts choices are shown, also compared to the main competitors. The research activity also deals with the aerodynamic design that has been performed at DIAS during 2011 and it was focused on a general aerodynamic analysis and a deep investigation on some particular effects (such as the wing-fuselage interference or the nacelle lift contribution and their effect on wing span loading). The aerodynamic analysis was also essential to have an accurate estimation of aircraft stability and control derivatives (both longitudinal and lateral-directional) and to lead to a right sizing of tail surfaces. The aerodynamic analysis have been carried out through the use of a 3-D panel code internally developed and the aerodynamic analysis performed through 3-D panel code calculations have been also supported by semi-empirical estimation methodologies. Design of winglets to improve climb performance will be presented.

The paper presents wind-tunnel tests and CFD numerical aerodynamic analysis of Tecnam P2012 Traveller aircraft. An extensive wind tunnel tests campaign of several different modular aircraft configurations analyzed has been performed on a scaled model in order to experimentally estimate both longitudinal and lateral-directional stability, control derivatives, and to improve the aircraft aerodynamic performances. Simultaneously numerical investigations through a CFD software has been performed, both at wind-tunnel tests Reynolds number (Re=0.6millions) and at free flight Reynolds number of the full scale aircraft (Re=4 or 9 millions). Finally results are compared showing a good agreement in the lift and pitching moment coefficient both with and without control surfaces or flap deflections, and an underestimation of drag coefficient in the CFD numerical analysis. Horizontal tail positions are also tested in wind-tunnel and compared to CFD analysis highlighting how an accurate design leads to improvement both in stability and control. Results will be very useful in the final design of the aircraft and to perform dynamic simulations.

Experimental results of triaxial tests performed on unsaturated soil samples of statically compacted Boom clay are presented. Boom clay samples we re subjected to radial stress paths at two different constant water contents: w= 15%, the as-compacted one, and w= 18%, achieved by vapour transfer technique from the as-compacted condition. The dependence of volumetric compliance on the stress ratio and on the water content is evidenced. The results of the experimental investigation are interpreted in terms of anisotropy of the mechanical response, as a consequence of the induced anisotropy during static compaction, and in terms of the dependence of the compressibility on the micro-fabric of the material. The intrinsic link between the phenomenological soil behaviour and the evolution of its fabric is evidenced, and a normalising variable to take it into account at the constitutive level is proposed.

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes to the Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material 1.