SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) is one of the flagship projects of the INFN Legnaro National Laboratories and at its heart there is a cyclotron for protons SPES aims to create an innovative research infrastructure dedicated both to fundamental physics studies and to interdisciplinary physics developments in particular the production of radionuclides of medical interest The implementation of the project is organised into five phases the first of which has recently concluded successfully.After a long cyclotron shutdown necessary for modernisation of SPES project buildings and infrastructures the first phase of project implementation included various activities Among these the manufacturing and test of the new plasma chamber for the ion source the replacement of part of RF amplifiers and their tuning the RF conditioning of both RF cavities and the control system upgrade.Cyclotron and the new recently installed transport line were optimised for three different extraction energies: 35 MeV Proton beams with the three energies were used to irradiate thin targets of different materials a natural Zinc target was irradiated at an energy of 50 MeV which allowed the observation of the gamma-decay of the theragnostic radionuclide Copper-67.This achievement marked the completion of Phase 1 of SPES accomplished thanks to the phased approach for the project implementation and the full commitment of all the laboratory’s divisions.Using the same approach the whole laboratory is now working on the next phases to reach SPES project completion: low energy radioactive ion beam production for mid 2025 (phase 2) ADIGE commissioning as new stable beam injector for ALPI accelerator complex for mid 2026 (phase 3) radioisotopes production facility implementation (phase 4) and radioactive ion beams post-acceleration with ADIGE-ALPI complex (phase 5) both for the end of 2027.  Vai al contenuto Vai al contenuto In its latest session, the Padua City Council approved the technical and economic feasibility project for the extension of the Sir3 tram line to the Agripolis university campus in the municipality of Legnaro This approval is crucial to obtaining funding for the project and the overall feasibility of the project the next steps will be the detailed design and the final design during which the development of the line will be refined and modifications can be made based on local needs The new section will start at the Sir3 terminus in Voltabarozzo and cross a new bridge to be built over the Bacchiglione River south of the existing one It will then cross the A13 motorway via the existing bridge and enter Viale dell’Università in the municipality of Legnaro with the terminus located on Via Orsaretto where a parking area and a covered depot for vehicles are planned This is an initial definition of the route which may be modified in future design phases based on local needs The definition of the technical and economic feasibility project was achieved through consultations with all the entities that signed the collaboration protocol for the extension of the line the National Institute for Nuclear Physics and the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of the Venezie commented: “Having a fast and efficient means of transport that connects Legnaro to Padua is great news for our university as well a university campus for Agriculture and Veterinary Studies of undisputed high quality is a large campus that involves more than four thousand people two new student residences are planned for construction in Legnaro I would like to thank Mayor Sergio Giordani and all the staff of the Municipality of Padua for their efforts in securing the extension of the Sir3 line one of the many projects that highlight the great synergy between the University and the Municipality of Padua as well as the mayors of the municipalities crossed by the line and all other involved institutional entities.” and cadaveric anatomy of the head of boa constrictors Animals—4 Boa constrictor imperator cadavers Procedures—Cadavers weighed 3.4 to 5.6 kg and had a body length ranging from 189 to 221 cm Radiographic and CT images were obtained with a high-detail screen-film combination and conventional CT was performed with a slice thickness of 1.5 mm Radiographic images were obtained in ventrodorsal and left and right laterolateral recumbency; CT images were obtained with the animals positioned in ventral recumbency directly laying on a plastic support At the end of the radiographic and CT imaging session 2 heads were sectioned following a stratigraphic approach; the other 2 carefully maintained in the same position on the plastic support were moved into a freezer (−20°C) until completely frozen and then sectioned into 3-mm slices The frozen sections were cleaned and then photographed on each side Anatomic structures were identified and labeled on gross anatomic images and on the corresponding CT or radiographic image with the aid of available literature Results—Radiographic and CT images provided high detail for visualization of bony structures; soft tissues were not easily identified on radiographic and CT images Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results provide an atlas of stratigraphic and cross-sectional gross anatomy and radiographic and CT anatomy of the heads of boa constrictors that might be useful in the interpretation of any imaging modality in this species In the past 2 decades, reptiles have become increasingly popular as pets and the demand for specialized veterinary services has similarly increased. Boa constrictors (Boa constrictor) are one of the most common species among captive snakes.1 However the lack of a univocal reference for the normal anatomy and clinical aspects of the so-called nonconventional (ie exotic) species is a limiting factor for the development of high-level clinical practice To the best of our knowledge, ophidian anatomic literature is dated and focuses almost entirely on single organs or systems.17–19 Moreover, there are only a few publications regarding imaging in snakes,20–27 and they include no information on the head region in those species most commonly kept as pets the purpose of the study reported here was to elucidate the relationship between boa constrictor head anatomy and its radio-graphic and CT appearance; the intention was to select images to illustrate the main features of the head of this species with minimal attention to organs or structures for which images have been published elsewhere Animals—Four Boa constrictor imperator cadavers were obtained for this study; 3 were male and 1 was female and snakes weighed from 3.4 to 5.6 kg and had a body length ranging from 189 to 221 cm All of the animals were referred to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the University of Padua for specialty examination and were euthanized A complete postmortem examination was performed on each snake which revealed pneumonia in 3 cases and egg retention in 1 case Gross examination ruled out any lesion in the head of each snake and slice thickness of 1.5 mm; the images were then displayed in a bone tissue window (window length Some tests that used both higher peak kilovolts and higher milliamperes (with lower rotation time) on the same specimens were performed These latter specimens were placed on a plastic support moved to a freezer (−20°C) immediately upon CT scan completion and carefully maintained in the same position as in the CT study for 24 hours Figure 1—Dorsoventral photographic (superficial [A] and deep plane [B] dissections) and radiographic (C) views of the head of a boa constrictor B—Musculus adductor mandibulae externus anterior musculus adductor mandibulae externus medialis musculus adductor mandibulae externus posterior and musculus adductor mandibularis internus were removed 8 = Musculus adductor mandibulae externus anterior 9 = Musculus adductor mandibulae externus medialis 10 = Musculus adductor mandibulae externus posterior 11 = Musculus occipito-quadrato-mandibularis Citation: American Journal of Veterinary Research 72, 12; 10.2460/ajvr.72.12.1592 Figure 3—Photograph of the head of a boa constrictor; lines (A–G) indicate the approximate levels of CT sections Figure 4—Photograph of an anatomic transverse cross section (A) and CT image (B) of the head of a boa constrictor at the level of the nasal cavities corresponding to line A in Figure 3 The right side of the head is oriented to the right of the images and the ventral aspect of the head is oriented to the bottom of the images Figure 9—Photograph of an anatomic sagittal cross section (A) and CT image (B) of the head of a boa constrictor at the level of the internal ear and retro-orbital region corresponding to line F in Figure 3 The sections are displayed with the cranial side to the left and the ventral part to the bottom of the images 12 = Musculus adductor mandibulae externus anterior 13 = Musculus adductor mandibulae externus medialis 14 = Musculus adductor mandibulae externus posterior Cross-sectional anatomic dissection was performed strictly following the imaging protocol by means of an electric band saw each section was 3 mm thick and therefore included 2 contiguous CT slices The difference between the CT and anatomic slice thickness was meant to curtail the likelihood of cut errors (which would be greater with a finer slice thickness) and therefore to maintain the best correlation between the cuts and imaging sections and photographed on the cranial and caudal surfaces Matched transverse and sagittal sections obtained from the cross-sectional studies were selected The limited quality of the CT images was the consequence of an intrinsic lack of resolution in the CT technique applied to small-sized specimens and the inability to reduce the field of view of the device to less than the limit of 16 cm All clinically relevant structures of the head were indicated in the cross-sectional and anatomic dissections. A small amount of mucus could be seen in the oral cavity of the cross-sectioned head (Figures 4–8) because the animal was affected by pneumonia Bony structures of the head were evident on radiographs and CT scans The bones composing the lower jaw had less than the minimum resolution level for radiographs and CT scans Soft tissues were poorly defined on radiographs; only the masticatory muscles were evident on the dorsoventral and ventrodorsal radiographs as a soft tissue opacity behind and around the supratemporal and quadrate bone most of the soft tissues were not distinctly recognizable have great anatomic variability among species they also have extreme individual variability It is important not to use results of the present study for interpretation of imaging of other snake species unless specific differences among the species under analysis and boa constrictors are well-known Snakes are the only vertebrates known to ingest whole prey larger in mass and diameter than themselves This ability derives from a unique head anatomy not found among other animals The 2 sides of the lower jaw are divided and independent of each another and attached by a loose fold of skin and mucosa The joints between the supratemporal and quadrate bones and the lower jaw are extremely loose; this makes positioning of the snake head during imaging studies difficult because it is hard to obtain perfect symmetry between the 2 sides of the head evaluation of symmetry of a radiograph is better performed by positioning the snout and braincase because of their fixed position Snakes possess a well-developed Harderian gland, which is a lachrymal gland extending from the rostral part of the orbit along its medial side and ventral to (and sometimes around) the optic nerve and back into the temporal region.36 All of our specimens had a well-developed Harderian gland surrounding the optic nerve (Figures 1, 5, 6, and 9) The Harderian gland was well visualized on CT scans; because of the superimposition of other structures The small size of the head and presence of a high number of superimposed structures make correct positioning during imaging studies mandatory Particular attention must be paid to correctly position movable structures such as jaws Radiographs provided a high level of detail regarding the bony structures and could be useful in evaluating pathological changes such as fractures Most of the main boa constrictor head structures were well visualized on CT scans soft tissues with similar structure and density where the lack of vascularization reduces contrast injection of contrast medium could provide better differentiation multislice helical scanners (enabling reduction of slice thickness to sub-millimetric values) with a dynamic field of view could provide higher-quality images and better resolution of bone and soft tissues Lindemann L, Harding J. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Animal Diversity web site. Boa constrictor: boa constrictor. Available at: animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Boa_constrictor.html Cross-sectional anatomy of the Beagle thorax Atlas of correlative imaging anatomy of the normal dog Anatomic atlas for computed tomography in the mesaticephalic dog: head and neck Anatomic atlas for computed tomography in the mesaticephalic dog: caudal abdomen and pelvis Anatomic atlas for computed tomography in the mesaticephalic dog: thorax and cranial abdomen Computed tomography and cross-sectional anatomy of the brain in clinically normal dogs and cross-sectional views of the anatomy of normal nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses in mesaticephalic dogs Normal cross section anatomy of the feline thorax and abdomen: comparison of computed tomography and cadaver anatomy Computed tomography and cross-sectional anatomy of the head in healthy rabbits Cross-sectional anatomy of the rabbit neck and trunk: comparison of computed tomography and cadaver anatomy Computed tomographic imaging of the equine head Anatomic reference for computed tomography of the head of the foal Computed tomographic anatomy of the head of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Anatomic and computed tomographic atlas of the newborn bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Computed tomographic imaging of the normal immature California sea lion head (Zalophus californianus) New York: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Clinical anatomy and physiology of exotic species: structure and function of mammals Two-dimensional echocardiographic anatomy of the snake heart (Python molurus bivittatus) Advanced radiography and ultrasonography in reptiles Semin Avian Exot Pet Med 2001; 10: 162–168 based on high-resolution x-ray computed tomography Computed tomography of the lungs of Indian pythons (Python molurus) Computed tomography for the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of bacterial pneumonia in Indian pythons (Python molurus) Computed tomography of the lung of healthy snakes of the species Python regius Comparative radiography of the respiratory tract of snakes using conventional high-resolution film-screen-system and a digital detector system [in German] Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 2010; 123: 177–185 Morphology of the skull of the white-nosed blindsnake Liotyphlops albirostris (Scolecophidia: Anomalepididae) NY: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Subscribe to newsletters © 2025 American Veterinary Medical Association. All rights reserved. Powered by KGL PubFactory The INTRANS (Instrumentation and Training for Nuclear Spectroscopy and Reaction Dynamics) Service Improvement subtask of the EURO-LABS Horizon EU program promotes the coordination between the research infrastructures and research groups involved in nuclear spectroscopy and reaction studies to optimize the use of valuable resources and to enhance synergies among researchers on a broad European scale for frontline research We are very pleased to announce you the Hands-on training on operation, test and repair of Hyper Pure Ge Detectors organized in September 2024, from Monday the 2nd after lunch to Friday the 6th at noon, at LNL-INFN (Italy). More information here Cookie Policy Objective—To evaluate the precision and accuracy of assessing bone mineral density (BMD) by use of mean gray value (MGV) on digitalized and digital images of conventional and digital radiographs of ex vivo bovine and equine bone specimens in relation to the gold-standard technique of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) Sample—Left and right metatarsal bones from 11 beef cattle and right femurs from 2 horses Procedures—Bovine specimens were imaged by use of conventional radiography whereas equine specimens were imaged by use of computed radiography (digital radiography) Each specimen was subsequently scanned by use of the same DEXA equipment The BMD values resulting from each DEXA scan were paired with the MGVs obtained by use of software on the corresponding digitalized or digital radiographic image Results—The MGV analysis of digitalized and digital x-ray images was a precise (coefficient of variation respectively) and highly accurate method for assessing BMD compared with DEXA (correlation coefficient 0.910 and 0.937 for conventional and digital radiography Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The high correlation between MGV and BMD indicated that MGV analysis may be a reliable alternative to DEXA in assessing radiographic bone density On the other hand, direct conventional or digital radiography has not been considered as a useful tool in evaluating BMD because of the limited resolution and accuracy of radiography itself, which requires at least 30% to 40% of the mineral content to be depleted from the bone for this technology to be applicable, and the intrinsic inability of such a technique to quantify the bone mineral status.2 a study that correlates MGV and BMD as determined via DEXA has not been performed in animals The purpose of the study reported here was to determine the precision and accuracy of MGV in assessing bone mineral status on digitalized and digital images of conventional and digital radiographs of bovine and equine bone specimens by comparing MGV with BMD values as determined by use of the gold-standard DEXA technique Bone specimens—The left and right metatarsal bones and the right femur were excised and collected at the slaughterhouse from 11 feedlot beef cattle and 2 horses the 22 bovine bone specimens were refrigerated at 4°C and all imaging procedures were performed within 36 hours after collection The 2 equine femurs were immediately defleshed after dissection and sectioned along the transverse plane by means of an electric stainless steel bone saw into 7 and 10 sections The 17 specimens of equine origin were then boiled in soapy water and all imaging procedures were performed within 2 months after collection and the BMD (expressed as g/cm2) of each ROI was calculated Each equine specimen was radiographed in a craniocaudal view by means of the same x-ray unit,a operating at 400 mA, 0.025 seconds, and 60 kVp, with a focus-film distance of 100 cm. A computed radiography systemh was used; image processing was performed by use of softwarei included in the computed radiography image-reading device and the image settings were not modified after image acquisition The computed image processing procedure did not alter the gray level values of each pixel Image features were as follows: resolution Each image was stored in DICOM format without compression Each specimen then underwent a DEXA scan in the same view as for the radiographic procedure The ROIs were chosen to obtain a quadrangular shape including both medullar and cortical bone; the BMD (expressed as g/cm2) of each ROI was calculated Experimental image analysis protocols—The MGV analyses of digitalized and digital radiographic images were obtained by means of an open-source CAIAS.j Mean gray value is the sum of the gray values of all the pixels in the selection divided by the number of pixels The pixel depth is the number of data bits each pixel represents and each displayed pixel can be 1 of 256 possible shades of gray (28 combinations in binary code) the gray level may range between 0 and 255 Conventional radiography—A cold-light negati-voscope and a digital camerak were used to digitalize the x-ray films The camera was mounted on an adjustable support with the lens oriented orthogonally toward the negativoscope The distance between the lens and the film was 45 cm and each photograph was obtained excluding all light sources except the nega-tivoscope Camera settings were kept constant for the entire study as follows: aperture 2,048 × 1,536 pixels; white balance neon mode; exposition matrix mode; manual focus; iso auto adaption; saturation black and white; macro function on; and autoflash and zoom off The file format of choice should have been .nef (raw data) but it was discarded because it could not have been read directly by the open-source CAIAS the digital images were stored as 8-bit high-quality .tiff files without compression To standardize the brightness and contrast of each digitalized image without altering the gray values of pixels the CAIAS automatic balancing function was used; this enabled the CAIAS to optimize brightness and contrast on the basis of an analysis of the image histogram Optimization was done by allowing a small percentage of pixels in the image to become saturated (displayed as black or white) The CAIAS procedure to evaluate MGV on the digital images comprised the following consecutive steps: automatic balancing of the digitalized image by use of the window and level function; pixel-centimeter calibration of the digital image by use of the straight line tool to draw a line corresponding to the scale bar (a ruler) and then the set scale function (this step is not influenced by relative image magnification); ROI selection by use of the polygonal selection tool to obtain an area as similar in size as possible to that of the ROI of each corresponding DEXA scan; applying of the set measurements function enabling the operator to examine the area of the ROI by use of the area tool and to verify proper image balance by use of the minimum and maximum gray value tool; and the final MGV analysis by use of the measure function Digital radiography—16-bit DICOM images were converted into 8-bit DICOM files to obtain the same gray-level scale as in conventional radiography The CAIAS analysis procedure was the same as for conventional radiography with the exception of the automatic balancing and the pixel-centimeter calibration Mean 8-bit DICOM file resolution was 1,220 × 1,100 pixels Statistical analysis—Statistical analyses were performed by use of commercial statistical software.l Precision results were expressed for both the MGV determination procedures as percentage CV values (CV = 100 × SD/mean) Accuracy was determined by comparing the MGVs obtained on conventional and digital radiographs and the corresponding BMD values as determined via DEXA Correlation coefficients (R2 = covariance/SDx × SDy) relating MGVs on conventional and digital radiographs to corresponding BMD values as determined via DEXA were calculated r2 values were also calculated between the ROI areas as determined via CAIAS on conventional and digital radiographs and the corresponding areas as determined via DEXA Mean ± SD MGVs obtained via 10 repeated measurements on the same digitalized and digital radiographs were 128.86 ± 0.13 and 152.91 ± 0.14 The CV values calculated for evaluation of technique precision in determining MGV via conventional and digital radiography were 0.10% for MGVs determined on conventional radiographs and 0.09% for MGVs determined on digital radiographs All MGV and BMD values obtained on each specimen along with the values of the corresponding ROI areas as measured via CAIAS and DEXA techniques on conventional radiographs (n = 22) and digital radiographs (17) were considered Correlation coefficients relating MGVs on conventional radiographs and BMD (R2 = 0.910; P < 0.01) and MGVs on digital radiographs and BMD (r2 = 0.937; P < 0.01) were determined r2 values were calculated between the ROI areas measured via DEXA and the corresponding areas measured via CAIAS on conventional (r2 = 1; P < 0.01) and digital (r2 = 0.799; P < 0.01) radiographs The x-ray-based MGVs determined in the present study were precise (CV 0.10 and 0.09 for conventional and digital radiography respectively) and accurate (r2 = 0.910 and 0.937 for conventional and digital radiography respectively) in relation to BMD values as determined via DEXA on ex vivo bone specimens The high correlation between the MGV and DEXA data in the present study reflects the great accuracy and reliability of MGV analysis as an alternative to DEXA for assessing bone density the smaller CV and the higher r2 obtained by use of the digital technique was probably attributable to the fewer steps necessary to attain initial image analysis via CAIAS the chemical processing of conventional film and the subsequent digitalization of the radiographic images are likely to negatively influence the final image grayscale determination it is not unlikely to have an even higher correlation when images obtained via direct radiography are used The r2 between areas as determined via DEXA and the corresponding areas as measured via CAIAS revealed a lower correlation for digital analysis (0.799) than for conventional analyses (1) This was likely attributable to the higher variability of the ROI dimensions in the digital radiography study group In the conventional radiography study group the outline of each ROI matched exactly the corresponding specimen edge the ROIs were included within the corresponding equine specimens despite the lower precision of ROI selection with both DEXA and CAIAS analysis the correlation among areas still was significant the bovine metatarsal bones were all imaged without the removal of any soft tissue we propose that MGV is a reliable diagnostic tool for assessing bone mineral status in regular follow-up analysis of a patient or in a longitudinal research plan The complementary MGV analysis of digitalized or digital images of bone radiographs should give more information both in ex vivo or in longitudinal studies of the effects of diet and drug treatments as well as orthopedic (including bone-healing process) strict standardization of the radiographic procedure (position and preprocessing or postacquisition image manipulation in digital radiography) is mandatory for the entire duration of the study to avoid any bias occurring in the image gray scale Further investigations into accuracy and precision are required to test the effects of greater soft tissue thicknesses on MGVs (eg in MGV evaluation of vertebral bodies) as well as reliability of MGVs in flat bones and readily available tool for radiographic analysis of bone mineral status in veterinary species Digital imaging and communications in medicine ImageJ, version 1.4.3, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. Available at: rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/index.html Official positions of the international society for clinical densitometry J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004; 89:3651–3655 The use of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in animals Vertebral mineral density measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in a group of healthy Italian Boxer dogs J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2004; 51:254–258 Bone mineral density in two Boxer dogs affected by moderate to end-stage chronic renal failure A preliminary investigation of the relationship between the “moment of resistance” of the canine spine and the frequency of traumatic vertebral lesions at different spinal levels Evaluation of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry for in situ measurement of bone mineral density of equine metacarpi Equine third meta-carpal bone assessment by quantitative ultrasound and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry: an ex vivo study J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2003; 50:42–47 Accuracy and precision of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry for ex vivo determination of mineral content in turkey poult bones Measures of bone mineral content in mature dairy cows Physiological values and factors affecting the metacarpal bone density of healthy feedlot beef cattle as measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry Evaluation of a computerised image analyser for studying alterations in radiographic bone density in the rat simvastatin and sodium alendronate on alveolar bone in rats Radiographic assessment of bone density around integrated titanium implants after ovariectomy in rats Effects of diabetes mellitus and insulin therapy on bone density around osseointegrated dental implants: a digital subtraction radiography study in rats Correlation of CBCT gray scale values with bone densities Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2009; 107:e28 Conversion of CBCT gray levels to Hounsfield units Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2008; 105:e56 Bone density measurements in intra-oral radiographs Trabecular and cortical bone separately assessed at radius with a new ultrasound device in a young adult population with various physical activities In vivo axial dynamization of canine tibial fractures using the Securos external skeletal fixation system Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2005; 18:199–207 Ultrasonographic evaluation of endometrial changes using computer assisted image analysis Osteopenia and other radiographic signs in canine hyperadrenocorticism LARAMED is currently under the spotlight of the international community for its potential in the diagnosis and treatment of some tumours The interdisciplinary aspects of the production of medically-relevant radionuclides, such as 67Cu, 47Sc, 52Mn etc., are shown, including the latest technological achievements in targetry The ambitious goals of the LARAMED project are reached thanks to a solid team work The research activities on radionuclides production for medicine (e.g., new radiopharmaceuticals development) and applied and interdisciplinary physics (e.g., radiobiology and environmental studies) at the INFN-LNL are coordinated by the Radionuclides for Medicine and Applied Physics service (RMFA) located in the research division A 9-month-old sexually intact female Bernese Mountain Dog weighing 30 kg (66 lb) was referred for neurologic consultation because of a progressive stumbling gait starting during the second month after birth No signs of previous illness or trauma were recorded by the owner the mental status was bright and responsive; a marked general proprioceptive ataxia with hypermetric gait in all 4 limbs was detected lack of conscious proprioception was evident in all limbs the thoracic limbs being more severely affected Signs of neck pain were not obvious; however given that the dog refused passive extension and flexion of the cranial portion of the cervical region Figure 1—Lateral (A) and ventrodorsal (B) radiographic views of the cranial portion of the cervical vertebral column of a 9-month-old sexually intact female Bernese Mountain Dog with no history of previous illness referred for neurologic consultation because of a progressive stumbling gait starting from the second month after birth Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 244, 3; 10.2460/javma.244.3.283 Determine whether additional imaging studies are required, or make your diagnosis from Figure 1—then turn the page → On lateral and ventrodorsal radiographic views of the cranial portion of the cervical vertebral column, an irregularly shaped mass extends from the caudal third of the dorsal arch of the atlas, involving ventrally both the caudal articular foveae of the atlas and the corresponding cranial articular surfaces of the axis, to the cranial third of the spinous process of the axis (Figure 2) The mass consists of multiple mineral opaque foci with a granular appearance Both the caudoventral portion of the dorsal lamina of the atlas and the cranioventral aspect of the spinous process of the axis appear misshapen with signs of bone remodeling; this latter feature can also be detected at the atlantoaxial articular surfaces differential diagnoses included calcinosis circumscripta The dog underwent CT examination of the neck to further evaluate the actual extension of the mass and possible involvement of the vertebral canal Figure 2—Same radiographic images as in Figure 1 A—A mass consisting of multiple mineral opaque foci with a granular appearance is visible within the atlantoaxial space (long arrow) the caudal portion of the dorsal lamina of the atlas and the cranial portion of the spinous process of the axis appear misshapen with signs of bone remodeling (arrowheads) B—The same signs of bone remodeling can be seen at the atlantoaxial articular surfaces (asterisks) Skin folds are superimposed (short arrows) On CT examination (Figure 3) a mass (4.2 × 3.6 × 2.2 cm) and the mineral nature of the hyperattenuating multiple granular foci (610 to 650 Hounsfield units independent of contrast medium injection) were confirmed The soft tissue portion of the mass was characterized by marked contrast enhancement (50 Hounsfield units before and 150 Hounsfield units after IV administration of contrast medium) Bone remodeling of the dorsal lamina of the atlas and of the cranial articular surfaces of the axis was evident vertebral canal stenosis and consequent compression of the spinal cord within the canal at C1-2 were present; the CT features of the remaining cervical vertebral column were normal Differential diagnosis included calcinosis circumscripta Figure 3—Postcontrast transverse tomographic images of the neck at the level of the atlantoaxial junction of the same dog as in Figure 1 350 HU); notice the pattern of bone remodeling at the level of the articular surfaces (arrowhead) 40 HU); spinal cord compression is evident (arrow) Images were obtained with a third-generation CT machine and a slice thickness of 3 mm Acquisition of a percutaneous CT-guided biopsy specimen was attempted twice with a biopsy needle,a but both attemps were unsuccessful because of the excessive shear strength of the mass Surgical excision of the mass was not planned The dog was euthanized at the owner's request because of a sudden worsening of clinical conditions; however some cadaveric core biopsy specimens of the mass were obtained On histologic examination of biopsy specimens following H&E and Masson trichromic staining the mass consisted of well-differentiated fibrous tissue infiltrating paravertebral muscles with multiple foci of calcification surrounded by a fibroblastic reaction with rare macrophages Foci of osteochondrotic tissue were also observed in the specimens The microscopic findings were consistent with calcinosis circumscripta this is the first report on the CT features of idiopathic atlantoaxial calcinosis circumscripta causing spinal cord compression in a dog Computed tomography rather than radiography enabled a more detailed definition of the extension of the mass and adjacent bone remodeling as well as provided information about the presence of spinal cord compression a CT myelogram (with subarachnoid deposition of contrast material) would have been more useful for a better evaluation of the compression Calcinosis circumscripta in the dog: a retrospective pathological study J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2005; 52: 13–17 dysplastic and depositional diseases of dermal connective tissue In: Skin diseases of the dog and cat: clinical and histopathological diagnosis Calcinosis circumscripta in dogs as a cause of spinal ataxia Thoracic spinal calcinosis circumscripta causing cord compression in two German Shepherd Dog littermates Among the deposition technologies able to use the exact material amount for target manufacturing starting from powder, High Energy Vibrational Powder Plating (HIVIPP) have started to be investigated within  E_PLATE project. The technology exploits the motion of the metallic powder in a static electric field and they are insulated from each other by a quartz cylinder where the powder to be deposited is inserted The process is performed in vacuum and high voltage (10s kV) is applied between the electrodes and it is available for further studies using different materials.  More information can be found here: * Cisternino Upgrade of the HIVIPP Deposition Apparatus for Nuclear Physics Thin Targets Manufacturing doi:10.3390/instruments6030023.* Cisternino Cryomilling of Isotope-Enriched Ti Powders for HIVIPP Deposition to Manufacture Targets for Nuclear Cross Section Measurement HIVIPP deposition and characterization of isotopically enriched 48Ti targets for nuclear cross-section measurements Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators UTokyo FOCUS Japanese Inquiries about the content of this page: Institute for Cosmic Ray Research Send inquiry Kashiwa Campus Hongo Campus Komaba Campus Access and Campus Maps Back To subscribe to the INFN newsletter, fill in and submit the fields below. 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You can unsubscribe at any time by writing to comunicazione@presid.infn.it with the subject “Unsubscribe from INFN Newsletter” The PNRR set up a fund for the construction of an integrated system of research and innovation infrastructure to help create or strengthen pan-European research infrastructure and dedicated innovation infrastructure promoting the combination of public and private investments INFN is the leader of 6 research infrastructure projects: INFN is also the partner in 3 projects led by other research bodies: The PNRR also set up Innovation Ecosystems networks of state and private universities and other highly qualified and internationally renowned public and private entities The task of the Innovation Ecosystemsis to take action in areas of technological specialisation in line with the industrial and research focus of the reference area promoting and enhancing collaboration between the research system INFN is the partner of the following Innovation Ecosystems: The PNRR funds a maximum of 15 major research programmes broad networks of public and private entities INFN is involved in the following Extended Partnerships: INFN also participates in two MUR health projects: Dare -Digital Lifelong Prevention Anthem Advanced technologies for human-centered medicine [3556] INFN also leads the industrial property system INTEFF_2 – INovazione TEcnologica dalla Fisica Fondamentale (Technological Innovationfrom Fundamental Physics)_ 2 ETIC is developed as part of the Einstein Telescope (ET) international project which aims to create the future European observatory for gravitational waves Thanks to its advanced design and to the cutting-edge technologies used ET will allow the researchers to observe almost all gravitational waves emissions from fusions of stellar or intermediate black holes or neutron stars It will be a unique tool to assist us in understanding the universe the principles of physics that regulate its evolution and the mechanisms that govern the physics of neutron stars and black holes It is currently one of the biggest and most ambitious projects of the roadmap of ESFRI – the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructure – which identifies the research infrastructures in which it is crucial for Europeto invest The ETIC (Einstein Telescope Infrastructure Consortium) project has two main objectives: the first is to create a feasibility and characterisation study of the disused mine site of Sos Enattos in the province of Nuoro to support the Italian application to house the ET in Sardinia the Sardinian location is competing with a proposed site in the border region between the Netherlands The second objective is to create and/or strengthen at the INFN sites and institutions participating in the ET project a network of research and development laboratories aimed at studying enabling technologies particularly seismic filtering systems and low-frequency control systems for suspending the optics of the ET low-noise cryogenic apparatus for thermal noise abatement in the main optics of the ET new technologies in the field of photonics and finally new materials for creating the mirrors of the Einstein Telescope developed in the context of the EuPRAXIA project funded with 3 million euros as part of Horizon 2020 which consists of creating a new generation of plasma particle accelerators EuAPS groups together different aspects of the cutting-edge science of photon sources which are key components for the proper functioning of the EuPRAXIA project Various structures will also be created in Italy strengthening and guaranteeing the international competitiveness of the institutions involved and their users The EuAPS project involves a source of laser-driven betatron x-ray radiation being placed into operation at the SPARC_LAB laboratory of INFN’s National Laboratories of Frascati already partly tested and included in the scientific objectives of EuPRAXIA presents intrinsic benefits in the temporal resolution of experiments thanks to the small dimensions of the electron beam Advanced photon diagnostic tools will be developed at CNR-ISM to characterise completely the betatron x-ray radiation while the University of Tor Vergata will provide the compact and integrated end station for the user The Milan Section of INFN will provide the theoretical and numerical support required for the optimised design of the infrastructure EuAPS also includes the development of high-tech lasers: Power (up to 1 PW) and High Repetition (up to 100 Hz) lasers are developed by the CNR laboratories of Pisa and by the INFN’s National Laboratories ofthe South in Catania creating amongst other things research infrastructures for scientific and industrial developments based upon ultra-fast lasers The work in EuAPS also plays a crucial role in complementing the EuPRAXIA construction project at the Laboratories of Frascati developing and further strengthening the high technology of EuPRAXIA its scientific programme and its user base in Italy and beyond aims to create a distributed infrastructure across the whole country with particular reference to the South (Salernosite) to develop high-temperature superconducting technologies such as connection cables for the transport of electricity to reduce energy losses and to create high-field magnets for next generation particle accelerators the large particle collider proposed to replace the LHC at CERN the project also sees the participation of the Universities of Milan A high quality infrastructure will be constructed at the Salerno site dedicated to the study of the characteristics and the testing of the future high-temperature superconducting cables able to transport high-power electricity over large distances one of the potential assets of the energy transition of which INFN is both the proponent and leader funds crucial actions for expanding the Italian site of Capo Passero of theKM3NeT submarine neutrino observatory the ambitious international project for neutrino research in the Mediterranean The observatory includes the submarine apparatus ARCA (Astroparticle Research with Cosmics in the Abyss) will boast 230 submarine detection strings and ORCA (Oscillation Researchwith Cosmics in the Abyss) for which 115 detection strings are planned The KM3NeT4RR project will significantly expand the potential of the submarine telescope for ARCA neutrinos aimed at searching for cosmic neutrinos up to extreme energies thereby making a crucial contribution to the development of scientific programmes of multi-message astronomy approximately2/3 of the final infrastructure will be completed in 30 months also equipping INFN with laboratories and the necessary staff for the expansion construction and installation of the underlying network and the submarine detection systems aims to strengthen the basic infrastructures of INFN’s Gran Sasso National Laboratories (LNGS) to prepare them for the scientific challenges of the future Every year more than a thousand scientists use the Gran Sasso Laboratories for their research activities: the study of the properties of neutrinos and the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the functioning of stars are the main threads of the articulated research programme of the LNGS the LNGS are the ideal place for conducting complex experiments their success is closely linked to the ability to provide integrated services and quality scientific support in the sectors of mechanics analytical chemistry and scientific computing The LNGS-FUTURE project aims to modernise and strengthen the technical and safety services of the laboratory and to create support for advanced cryogenics a technique that is increasingly used in new generation experiments The ultimate aim is to host the most important experiments dedicated to studying the nature of the neutrino thereby allowing the Gran Sasso Laboratories to maintain their global leadership in astroparticle physics for the next decade of which INFN is the proponent along with the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics – OGS aims to create a synergy betweenthe Research Infrastructures GARR-T PRACE and HPC-BD-AI and to complement the National Centre of High Performance Computing Big Data and Quantum Computing (established and managed by the ICSC Foundation) The three research infrastructures that the project aims to integrate and strengthen form part of the national strategic infrastructures identified by the Ministry of University and Research in the National Plan for Research Infrastructures (PNIR): • GARR-X (now GARR-T) is the network infrastructurethat supports education and research in Italy The leader of the infrastructure is the GARR Consortium represented in this project by INFN; • PRACE-Italy is a high-performance computing infrastructure (HPC) the Italian hub of the PRACE European infrastructure The leaders are OGS and CINECA • HPC-BD-AI is a computing infrastructure distributed across several sites in the country able to manage high-performance computing resources big data and artificial intelligence applications The project aims to strengthen the infrastructures creating greater integration between them and with the National Centre for HPC and to make them more accessible by the whole national research community the GARR infrastructure will be upgraded with connections at capacities up to a Terabit per second covering geographical areas complementary to those already covered through the interventions of the ICSC project and the GARR institutional funds PRACE-Italy will perform the upgrade of its Tier-1 category HPC system developing a hybrid architecture and connecting it to the other Exascale centres of EuroHPC such as Leonardo available according to the edge-computing paradigm use and associated services of the integrated TeRABIT system will be developed in close collaboration with ICSC The TeRABIT user basin is similar to that of ICSC but it considers specific use cases complementary to the main ones addressed by ICSC and considering a use that may begin from the delocalised HPC sites situated close to the user basin only to lead to the use of high-performance central systems The National Research Centre in High Performance Computing founded and managed by the ICSC Foundation is one of the National Centresestablished by the PNRR The Centre performs research and development activities for innovation in the field of simulations computing and high-performance data analysis The supercomputing activities of the National Centre willbe focused on maintaining and strengthening the Italian HPC and Big Datainfrastructure and on developing advanced numerical methods andapplications simulation,collection and analysis of interest to the research system and the production and socialsystem also through cloud and distributed approaches It will involve and promote the bestinterdisciplinary skills of the sciences and of engineering encouraging substantial andsustainable innovations in fields ranging from basic research to computational andexperimental sciences for the climate from the study of matterand life to medicine from materials technologies to information systems and devices.INFN is the proponent of the Centre leader of Spoke 2 “Fundamental Research & SpaceEconomy” and co-leader of Spoke 0 “Supercomputing Cloud Infrastructure” and Spoke 3“Astrophysics & Cosmos ObservationS” will provide a unique opportunity for the Italian and international community to increase significantly the scientific and technological returns associated with the Cherenkov Telescope Array the next generation ground-based observatory for gamma-ray astronomy at very-high energies with southern site in Chileand northern site on the island of La Palma INFN plays an important role in the construction of the two Large-Sized Telescopes (LST) which will be located at the centre of the southern hemisphere to cover sensitivity to the lowest energies will construct the photosensor chambers with a total field of vision of approximately 4.3 degrees INFN is currently already working on the LST at the northern site in the Canaries Additional R&D activities will be performed as the “CTA spin-off” including the development of high-performance photodetectors training activities on scientific dissemination and communication will be organised Led by CNR, EBRAINS-Italy contributes to the European neuroscience research infrastructure EBRAINS-EU The aim of EBRAINS is to facilitate our understanding of the mechanisms in action in the human brain along with “brain-inspired” technologies: artificial intelligence EBRAINS provides digital tools and services to address the research challenges in these sectors This infrastructure consolidates the research activities performed by the Human Brain Project a ten-year research project involving over 120 institutions EBRAINS studies the mechanisms and functions of the different cerebral states (wakefulness developing activity simulations of the thalamocortical system and analysis pipelines for comparing the experimental data and simulations INFN will provide software tools and pipelines for analysing and comparing experimental and simulated brain activity with regard to propagation and rhythms of spontaneous or evoked waves acquired with different experimental methodologies or generated by models to support the identification in the latter of the optimal parameter configurations ITINERIS will constitute the first research infrastructure hub focused on the environment for the study and observation of atmospheric processes supporting access to data and services and assisting Italy in tackling the present and future climate challenges The main aim is to develop multidisciplinary research in the environmental sciences on some crucial issues such as the sustainable use of environmental resources the development of nature-centred solutions the management of critical areas and ecosystems The main aim is to strengthen Sicily’s already consolidated experience in the field of microelectronics and micro- and nanotechnologies to expand the impact of the sector on the industrial scenario of the island and on society The set of activities actually develops around the common thread of micro- and nanotechnologies combining methodologies and applications and directing them towards six main areas: energy The project aims to support the ecological transition of the regional economic and social system of Emilia-Romagna through a process involving all sectors technologies and competences on a cross-sectional basis combining digital transition and sustainability with work and people’s well-being and environmental protection in coherence with the aims of the Pact for Work and for the Climate deals with ecological transition based upon HPC &data technology The role of CINECA and INFN is to encourage the use of the resources of the ICSC National Centre and in particular the resources present at the Bologna Technopole RAISE was designed to consolidate innovation with high technological vocation between the major supply chains of the Ligurian economy and involves a budget of 144 million euros using the resources allocated for the PNRR The RAISE ecosystem will constitute a sort of “engine” that will fuel new industrial and production processes through robotics and artificial intelligence being applied specifically in the domains of logistics and port facilities The project aims to play a lead role in the outlined area of specialisation (Robotics and AI) nationally and internationally through the competences already present and consolidated in the Liguria area INFN is present as an affiliate of Spoke 4 in WP2 – port protection and cybersecurity for the development of innovative methods for controlling the illegal trafficking of special nuclear materials as part of maritime transport The project aims to create a network for strengthening the integration between universities (Sapienza Thales and others) and regional institutions for vocational training New training programmes will be developed to meet the needs of highly qualified personnel and permanent models of collaboration between research and enterprise will be implemented creating a pole of attraction for the innovation chain INFN has the task of strengthening the open research infrastructures already present in the structure of the National Laboratories of Frascati as well as extending the outreach activities on topics of energy transition The project will be funded with a contribution of 110 million among the 11 innovation ecosystems funded at national level aspart of the PNRR The planned funding amounts to 110 million euros assigned by the Ministry of University and Research in reference to Mission 4 (Education and Research) of the PNRR particularly component 2 “From Research to Business” THE arises from a design proposal presented by the University of Florence in coherence with one of the strategic lines of the Tuscany Region relating to life sciences INFN participates in the capacity of affiliate in Spoke 1 Advanced radiotherapies and diagnostics in oncology The Project focuses on research in the field of artificial intelligence and on the development of methodologies and techniques in the field of AI to deal with future challenges such as the design of systems capable of interacting and collaborating with humans able to be aware of their limits and to adapt to new situations and to interact in complex systems The project refers to the creation of a consortium hub dedicated to research in the field of Quantum Science and Technology NQSTI focuses on research and development at experimental “proof of concept” level in the laboratory quantum technologies for radically innovative applications in sensing in secure communication and in the processing of quantum information and in simulation These will be accompanied by the necessary developments of concepts innovative materials and cutting-edge devices The medium to long-term aim (beyond the conclusion of the PNRR) is to establish a national consortium gathering together all institutions active in quantum science and technology guaranteeing competitiveness and the stable and long-term presence of the country in this important scientific-technological sector INFN participates actively in the activities of Spoke 3 Atomic and molecular platforms for quantum technologies Spoke 4 Photonic platform for quantum technologies Spoke 8 Technology Transfer and Spoke 9 Education and outreach As part of the Plan of Complementary Investments of the PNRR concerning “Research initiatives for technologies and innovative trajectories in the health and care sectors” of the ANTHEM (AdvaNced Technologies forHuman-centrEd Medicine) project led by the University of Milan Bicocca The budget for INFN is 12.5 million euros out of a total of 123 million euros ANTHEM was established as a Foundation on 9 November 2022 and currently boasts 23 partners ANTHEM is a multidisciplinary project aimed at bridging the existing gap in the healthcare of frail and chronic patients within specific territories and communities for pathologies without specific therapies diagnostic and monitoring systems and innovative technologies integrated with the most recent methodologies in the field of Artificial Intelligence INFN’s activity will be focused on Spoke 4 (“Preclinical and clinicalbreakthrough theranostics and treatments for cancer”) the leader of which is the University of Catania in collaboration with the Vanvitelli University a Research and Clinical Centre will be established in Caserta for the study and application of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) an innovative radiotherapy which tackles the challenges posed by infiltrating This will be possible thanks to the high technology of the RFQ accelerator designed at the National Laboratories of Legnaro and to the expertise developed in this field (radiobiology measurement and treatment systems) over the last twenty years by the various sites of the Institution benefiting from a health ecosystem already active in the Sicily Region (University of Catania – also with its CAPIR service centre) National Laboratories of the South and Catania Section) studies will be developed on FLASH and ULTRA-FLASH techniques with electrons and photons which are becoming increasingly promising for improving the effectiveness of treatments and the quality of life of patients The ambitious objective of DARE is to create and develop innovation and participation of many stakeholders a community of connected and distributed knowledge which produces collects and organises multidisciplinary knowledge and solutions (technical ethical-legal and organisational) necessary to support Italy’s leadership in the field of digital prevention the DARE initiative will work to improve the instruments and knowledge that allow us to exploit the enormous potential of data for defining monitoring and forecasting health prevention and promotion pathways This result can be achieved through health data referring directly to the state of health and well-being of individuals or to the health services received by individuals collected from health operators or from patients themselves it can also be achieved by using health-related data (also known as citizen-generated data) namely data that are not immediately correlated to an individual’s health and well-being but that may be used tosupport health decisions telecommunications data and meteorological data L’INFN è l’ente pubblico nazionale di ricerca dedicato allo studio dei costituenti fondamentali della materia e delle leggi che li governano Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. “Our senior leadership always told us to go and get involved in the community,” says the ever-enthusiastic Legnaro, who’s coming up on his 24th year with the Canadian Armed Forces. “I called my guys and said, ‘Look, this family needs help.’ ” And with that, five colleagues signed on for the Nov. 29 move of Abdelkrim and Nadia El Bayadi and their sons Hicham and Youssef, even though for some it meant a full day of heavy lifting right after finishing an overnight shift at Canadian Forces Station Leitrim. Legnaro, 44, had previously assembled Forces crews to work on Habitat’s four-home build on Nantes Street during the summer as well as the charity’s Steel Toes and Stilettos Gala fundraiser in October. When he and his team arrived at the El Bayadis’ rental home on moving day, they could see the stress of anticipation and preparation had exhausted the family. Although Habitat doesn’t normally arrange moving services for its families, suddenly here were six eager guys boxing up the last of the El Bayadis’ possessions, lowering a sofa off a balcony with a rope because the stairwell wouldn’t cooperate, and cramming everything into a rented U-Haul and the crew’s own vehicles. His team was used to doing such stuff, says Legnaro, referencing the regular moves that are part of the lives of Armed Forces families. Legnaro is also accustomed to working on Habitat projects. He first did it while posted in the United States and immediately saw the positive outcomes for not just Habitat families but also the volunteers. “When I came back here, I wanted my guys (and gals) to experience that. I wanted them to see how fast a bond can form when you open up your soul.” That bond turned doubly strong when the volunteer team arrived at the El Bayadis’ new home in Orléans. Legnaro abruptly realized that the house was the one he and his earlier crew had helped build. “It was really cool,” he says. “I took the family around and showed them the home we built.” Legnaro and his men then assembled the family’s beds, hung mirrors on walls, spread a carpet on the floor. Nadia, seeing her new home spring up around her, “lit up like a Christmas tree,” says Legnaro. “She grabbed my arm and started crying.” For her part, Nadia said at the dedication ceremony for all four homes a couple of weeks later, “Mario is very nice. He came with his amazing team to help us.” Added her husband, “They worked very hard in the bad weather.” Concludes Legnaro, who served in Afghanistan, “You don’t have to go 4,000 miles to make a difference in someone’s life. You can do it in your own backyard.” transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account INFN is the national public research institute dedicated to studying the elementary constituents of matter and the fundamental laws of the universe and undertake scientific research in nuclear astroparticle and fundamental interactions physics which also involve technological research and development relevant to the activities in these sectors” (art INFN has launched a project for quantifying the environmental footprint of its activities