Luisa Di Paola

Publications

• 1.30

  Impact points

  Observer-based techniques for the identification and analysis of avascular tumor growth.

  Filippo Cacace, Valerio Cusimano, Luisa Di Paola, Alfredo Germani

  Mathematical biosciences. 12/2011; 234(2):147-53.

  Cancer represents one of the most challenging issues for the biomedical research, due its large impact on the public health state. For this reason, many mathematical methods have been proposed to forecast the time evolution of cancer size and invasion. In this paper, we study how to apply the Gomper... [more] Cancer represents one of the most challenging issues for the biomedical research, due its large impact on the public health state. For this reason, many mathematical methods have been proposed to forecast the time evolution of cancer size and invasion. In this paper, we study how to apply the Gompertz's model to describe the growth of an avascular tumor in a realistic setting. To this aim, we introduce mathematical techniques to discretize the model, an important requirement when discrete-time measurements are available. Additionally, we describe observed-based techniques, borrowed from the field of automation theory, as a tool to estimate the model unknown parameters. This identification approach is a promising alternative to traditional statistical methods, and it can be easily extended to other models of cancer growth as well as to the evaluation of not measurable variables, on the basis of the available measurements. We show an application of this method to the analysis of solid tumor growth and parameters estimation in presence of a chemotherapy agent.
• 1.42

  Impact points

  Bilirubin removal from albumin-containing solution by adsorption on polymer resin.

  M C Annesini, L Di Paola, L Marrelli, V Piemonte, L Turchetti

  The International journal of artificial organs. 08/2005; 28(7):686-93.

  Adsorption equilibrium of bilirubin onto polymeric resins is studied. Solutions containing albumin are used in order to simulate the behavior of systems for removal of albumin-bound substances from blood, serum or dialysis fluids. The effect of albumin pre-loading on the resin is also analysed.Resul... [more] Adsorption equilibrium of bilirubin onto polymeric resins is studied. Solutions containing albumin are used in order to simulate the behavior of systems for removal of albumin-bound substances from blood, serum or dialysis fluids. The effect of albumin pre-loading on the resin is also analysed.Results are explained by a chemically based model that accounts for binding reaction between albumin and bilirubin in the liquid phase. Thermodynamic equilibria and physical models are essential tools for designing adsorption columns aimed at detoxification treatments.
• 1.42

  Impact points

  Rheological characterization of an artificial synovial fluid.

  G Casentini, L Di Paola, L Marrelli, F Palma

  The International journal of artificial organs. 08/2005; 28(7):711-7.

  Rheological measurements on two classes of artificial synovial fluids have been carried out in the attempt to get a suitable but cheap lubricant for wear tests of prosthetic materials. Fluids of both classes are solutions of hyaluronic acid (HA) that, for one class, is dissolved into a simple Ringer... [more] Rheological measurements on two classes of artificial synovial fluids have been carried out in the attempt to get a suitable but cheap lubricant for wear tests of prosthetic materials. Fluids of both classes are solutions of hyaluronic acid (HA) that, for one class, is dissolved into a simple Ringer solution whereas, for the other class, into a mixture of human serum and Ringer solution. Similar rheological properties have been observed for both classes of fluids. Experimental results have been interpreted by two classical models that are commonly used in the literature to describe the rheological behavior of colloidal systems and of polymer solutions with high entanglement density, respectively. The quality of correlations shows that, at high HA concentrations, entangled structures are largely present and cannot be neglected.
• 2.28

  Impact points

  Net proton charge of beta- and kappa-casein in concentrated aqueous electrolyte solutions.

  M Cordeschi, L Di Paola, L Marrelli, M Maschietti

  Biophysical chemistry. 02/2003; 103(1):77-88.

  Titration experiments have been carried out in order to measure the net proton charge of beta- and kappa-casein in NaCl solutions at 0.1 M and 1 M salt concentrations, at 4 degrees C, in the pH range between 5.5 and 10.5. Experimental data are compared with model values calculated through pK(a)'... [more] Titration experiments have been carried out in order to measure the net proton charge of beta- and kappa-casein in NaCl solutions at 0.1 M and 1 M salt concentrations, at 4 degrees C, in the pH range between 5.5 and 10.5. Experimental data are compared with model values calculated through pK(a)'s of titrable groups neglecting the electrostatic perturbation term (deltapK(a)) in order to evaluate the magnitude of the error caused by this approximation and to delimit its effectiveness. At both ionic strengths, the agreement is good for kappa-casein in the pH range [5.5, 9.5], while errors of up to 2 charges are observed for beta-casein in the same range. These deviations are likely to be caused by strong electrostatic effects induced by the high density of negative charges of beta-casein 1-21 peptide. In order to account for these electrostatic effects, the net proton charge on this peptide is evaluated through a model based on the counterion condensation theory developed for the titration of polyelectrolytes with different types of ionizable groups.