Supermassive Binaries and Extragalactic Jets

Some quasars show Doppler shifted broad emission line peaks. I give new statistics of the occurrence of these peaks and show that, while the most spectacular cases are in quasars with strong radio jets inclined to the line of sight, they are also almost as common in radio-quiet quasars. Theories of the origin of the peaks are reviewed and it is argued that the displaced peaks are most likely produced by the supermassive binary model. The separations of the peaks in the 3C 390.3-type objects are consistent with orientation-dependent "unified models" of quasar activity. If the supermassive binary model is correct, all members of "the jet set" (astrophysical objects showing jets) could be binaries.Comment: 31 pages, PostScript, missing figure is in ApJ 464, L105 (see http://www.aas.org/ApJ/v464n2/5736/5736.html

Irbesartan in Marfan syndrome (AIMS): a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial

BACKGROUND: Irbesartan, a long acting selective angiotensin-1 receptor inhibitor, in Marfan syndrome might reduce aortic dilatation, which is associated with dissection and rupture. We aimed to determine the effects of irbesartan on the rate of aortic dilatation in children and adults with Marfan syndrome. METHODS: We did a placebo-controlled, double-blind randomised trial at 22 centres in the UK. Individuals aged 6-40 years with clinically confirmed Marfan syndrome were eligible for inclusion. Study participants were all given 75 mg open label irbesartan once daily, then randomly assigned to 150 mg of irbesartan (increased to 300 mg as tolerated) or matching placebo. Aortic diameter was measured by echocardiography at baseline and then annually. All images were analysed by a core laboratory blinded to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was the rate of aortic root dilatation. This trial is registered with ISRCTN, number ISRCTN90011794. FINDINGS: Between March 14, 2012, and May 1, 2015, 192 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to irbesartan (n=104) or placebo (n=88), and all were followed for up to 5 years. Median age at recruitment was 18 years (IQR 12-28), 99 (52%) were female, mean blood pressure was 110/65 mm Hg (SDs 16 and 12), and 108 (56%) were taking β blockers. Mean baseline aortic root diameter was 34·4 mm in the irbesartan group (SD 5·8) and placebo group (5·5). The mean rate of aortic root dilatation was 0·53 mm per year (95% CI 0·39 to 0·67) in the irbesartan group compared with 0·74 mm per year (0·60 to 0·89) in the placebo group, with a difference in means of -0·22 mm per year (-0·41 to -0·02, p=0·030). The rate of change in aortic Z score was also reduced by irbesartan (difference in means -0·10 per year, 95% CI -0·19 to -0·01, p=0·035). Irbesartan was well tolerated with no observed differences in rates of serious adverse events. INTERPRETATION: Irbesartan is associated with a reduction in the rate of aortic dilatation in children and young adults with Marfan syndrome and could reduce the incidence of aortic complications

DOES CARDIAC REHABILITATON IMPROVE HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE?

Backgrounds: The integration of EQ-5D questionnaire in the standard core set of utilized outcome measures may be useful aiming at a whole evaluation of cardiac rehabilitation improvements. Objectives: To investigate the effect of a cardiac rehabilitation program on HRQoL and other health-related information. Methods: Data are collected in a Northern Italy Cardiac Rehabilitation Institute. A longitudinal survey approach will be adopted, and a sample of about 250 patients with heart failure will be recruited before 30 June 2006. The questionnaires, distributed to every patient before and after cardiac rehabilitation, include both information about socio-demographic characteristics and a medical statement with diagnosed pathology, NYHA gravity class, risk factors, ECO, and Walking Test. Patient\u2019s anxiety and depression are tested with the Schedule A-D of CBA-2.0. The self-perceived health-status is evaluated with the EQ-5D questionnaire. Results: Analysis on disposable data (92 patients) show that the overall VAS mean value increases significatively after rehabilitation period. Health status perception after and before rehabilitation was analysed observing EQ-5D profile and VAS scores. Analysing correspondence between profiles and VAS scores, it results that an improvement of reported profile doesn\u2019t correspond with a VAS increase of the same intensity. Conclusions: The observed rehabilitation therapy provides significant advantages in quality of life both considering VAS Score and EQ-5D problems frequency, although the variations of the two aspects are not fully correlated

La sorveglianza della poliomielite in Italia : stato immunitario della popolazione di età 0-14 anni.

Mis à part les cas d’Angers, de Lodève, de Rodez et de Poissy où aucune opération d’urbanisme volontaire et planifiée n’a pu être démontrée par l’étude morphologique, toutes les autres agglomérations observées, grandes ou petites, présentent des aménagements qui ne doivent rien au hasard. Se pose alors la question des promoteurs de ces aménagements. Qui sont-ils ? Quels buts poursuivent-ils ? Quels programmes appliquent-ils ? Les réponses qu’apporte, en partie, cet ouvrage collectif à ces div..

Adaptation of fungi, including yeasts, to cold environments

A wide range of cold environments exist, with an equally broad variety of fungi and yeasts that have adapted to such environments. These adaptations, which affect membranes, enzymes and other cellular components, such as radical scavenging molecules, display a great potential for exploitation in biotechnology. Alterations have been detected in membrane lipids, with an increase in fatty acid unsaturated bonds that enhance their fluidity. We report new data on the different phospholipid composition in membrane lipids in the same fungal species from both Antarctic and temperate regions. The decrease in temperature causes intracellular oxidative stress by inducing the generation of reactive oxygen species. We report the results of the first analysis of the non-enzymatic antioxidant response and phenolic compound production by an Antarctic strain of Geomyces pannorum. A survey on yeasts from the cryosphere is reported with a focus on their adaptation to a cold environment. Some studies have shown that the number of macrofungi in glacier forefronts rises as deglaciation increases. The survival success of many plants in such areas may be attributed to their mycorrhizal associations. We highlighted the macrofungal biodiversity of some Italian alpine habitats, in which we Inocybe microfastigiata, Laccaria montana and Lactarius salicis-herbaceae were recorded for the first time in Lombardy (Italy)