The impact of multifactorial factors on the Quality of Life of Behçet's patients over 10 years.

OBJECTIVE: This study analyses the 2020 survey and reviews the 2009, 2014 surveys to ascertain which Behçet's symptoms, personal and family status, patients' lifestyle, and work-related outcomes impacted on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). METHODS: Four hundred and fifty-nine Behçet's patients submitted an online survey/questionnaire. Patients provided information on socio-demographic characteristics, disease duration, historical and current symptoms, systemic and topical medication, health related lifestyle, work-related outcomes regarding employment status and claiming benefits and Quality of Life (QoL) measured by EQ-5D index. RESULTS: Four hundred and nineteen patients met the inclusion criteria, and 371 who had full data (Males: Females: Others = 84:285:2, mean-age = 41.1 ± 23.3:38 ± 13.2:40 ± 5). The main symptoms associated with patients seeking medical care were mouth ulcers 30% and genital ulcers 23%, joint 14%, and eye problems 9%. The EQ-5D index for 2009, 2014, 2020 was (mean ± SD); 0.47 ± 0.38, 0.42 ± 0.37, 0.34 ± 0.40, respectively, p < 0.05. 2020 patients had the worst values of the five domains compared to 2014 and 2009. Interestingly, mobility value was the same over the 10 years of monitoring patients. Behçet's syndrome (BS) symptoms that had significant negative impact on QoL were; 2009 (arthropathy, neurological problems, pathergy reaction, and stomach/bowel symptoms), 2014 (arthropathy, headache, neurological problems, pathergy reaction, and skin lesions), 2020 (arthropathy, neurological problems, and stomach/bowel symptoms). The 2014 and 2020 surveys reported the QoL is significantly better in patients on immunosuppressant, who did sport, continued in employment and not receiving benefits. CONCLUSION: Joints and neurological symptoms are the main symptoms which had negative impact on BS patients over the 10 years, sociodemographic (gender, age, marital, and education status), lifestyle (medication, cannabis, drinking wine, and regular exercise), employment status (employee and no career change), and accessing benefits (never claim benefit) had significant influence on patients' HRQoL

Resolving the extragalactic hard X-ray background

The origin of the hard (2-10 keV) X-ray background has remained mysterious for over 35 years. Most of the soft (0.5-2 keV) X-ray background has been resolved into discrete sources, which are primarily quasars; however, these sources do not have the flat spectral shape required to match the X-ray background spectrum. Here we report the results of an X-ray survey 30 times more sensitive than previous studies in the hard band and four times more sensitive in the soft band. The sources detected in our survey account for at least 75 per cent of the hard X-ray background. The mean X-ray spectrum of these sources is in good agreement with that of the background. The X-ray emission from the majority of the detected sources is unambiguously associated with either the nuclei of otherwise normal bright galaxies or optically faint sources, which could either be active nuclei of dust enshrouded galaxies or the first quasars at very high redshifts.Comment: Nature article in pres

The Curious Adventure of the Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays

These lectures discuss the mysteries involving the production and extragalactic propagation of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and suggested possible solutions.Comment: Lectures given at the D. Chalonge Euroschool, Erice, Italy, November 2000, 25 pages, 7 ps figs., expanded revision with color fig.

Fluids in cosmology

We review the role of fluids in cosmology by first introducing them in General Relativity and then by applying them to a FRW Universe's model. We describe how relativistic and non-relativistic components evolve in the background dynamics. We also introduce scalar fields to show that they are able to yield an inflationary dynamics at very early times (inflation) and late times (quintessence). Then, we proceed to study the thermodynamical properties of the fluids and, lastly, its perturbed kinematics. We make emphasis in the constrictions of parameters by recent cosmological probes.Comment: 34 pages, 4 figures, version accepted as invited review to the book "Computational and Experimental Fluid Mechanics with Applications to Physics, Engineering and the Environment". Version 2: typos corrected and references expande

Silvopastoral systems as a tool for territorial sustainability and biodiversity

Rural and livestock population evolution in the inner north of Portugal has demonstrated a great regression with consequences for environment and nature conservation. In this context, and taking into account that pastoral activity has shaped the natural areas of mountain territories since its beginning and that territories are currently part of Natura 2000 network, rethinking the importance of such activity has become vital. The constraints affecting daily tasks performed by shepherds and livestock breeders as well as the installed social segregation are a strong limitation. However, current research developed in the context of nature conservation has demonstrated the importance of the landscape mosaic promoted by grazing in the preservation of priority habitats. In this way, it is urgent to assess the issue of shepherds and livestock breeders’ image in terms of their roles, relationships and concerns, as well as to assess pastoralism socioeconomics in regard to self-consumption, market and rural self-sufficiency. In this perspective, this work presents an analysis of the adaptation of grazing to current times, perceiving its limitations and success potential.This work is supported by European Structural and Investment Funds, FEDER component, through the Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme (COMPETE 2020) [Project No. 006971 (UID/SOC/04011)], and national funds, through FCT, Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under project UID/SOC/04011/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The microwave background temperature at the redshift of 2.33771

The Cosmic Microwave Background radiation is a fundamental prediction of Hot Big Bang cosmology. The temperature of its black-body spectrum has been measured at the present time, $T_{\rm CMBR,0}$ = 2.726$\pm$ 0.010 K, and is predicted to have been higher in the past. At earlier time, the temperature can be measured, in principle, using the excitation of atomic fine structure levels by the radiation field. All previous measurements however give only upper limits as they assume that no other significant source of excitation is present. Here we report the detection of absorption from the first {\sl and} second fine-structure levels of neutral carbon atoms in an isolated remote cloud at a redshift of 2.33771. In addition, the unusual detection of molecular hydrogen in several rotational levels and the presence of ionized carbon in its excited fine structure level make the absorption system unique to constrain, directly from observation, the different excitation processes at play. It is shown for the first time that the cosmic radiation was warmer in the past. We find 6.0 < T_{\rm CMBR} < 14 K at z = 2.33771 when 9.1 K is expected in the Hot Big Bang cosmology.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Nature, Press embargo until 1900 hrs London time (GMT) on 20 Dec 200

CMB Telescopes and Optical Systems

The cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB) is now firmly established as a fundamental and essential probe of the geometry, constituents, and birth of the Universe. The CMB is a potent observable because it can be measured with precision and accuracy. Just as importantly, theoretical models of the Universe can predict the characteristics of the CMB to high accuracy, and those predictions can be directly compared to observations. There are multiple aspects associated with making a precise measurement. In this review, we focus on optical components for the instrumentation used to measure the CMB polarization and temperature anisotropy. We begin with an overview of general considerations for CMB observations and discuss common concepts used in the community. We next consider a variety of alternatives available for a designer of a CMB telescope. Our discussion is guided by the ground and balloon-based instruments that have been implemented over the years. In the same vein, we compare the arc-minute resolution Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) and the South Pole Telescope (SPT). CMB interferometers are presented briefly. We conclude with a comparison of the four CMB satellites, Relikt, COBE, WMAP, and Planck, to demonstrate a remarkable evolution in design, sensitivity, resolution, and complexity over the past thirty years.Comment: To appear in: Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems (PSSS), Volume 1: Telescopes and Instrumentatio

Circumstellar disks and planets. Science cases for next-generation optical/infrared long-baseline interferometers

We present a review of the interplay between the evolution of circumstellar disks and the formation of planets, both from the perspective of theoretical models and dedicated observations. Based on this, we identify and discuss fundamental questions concerning the formation and evolution of circumstellar disks and planets which can be addressed in the near future with optical and infrared long-baseline interferometers. Furthermore, the importance of complementary observations with long-baseline (sub)millimeter interferometers and high-sensitivity infrared observatories is outlined.Comment: 83 pages; Accepted for publication in "Astronomy and Astrophysics Review"; The final publication is available at http://www.springerlink.co

Who needs bereavement support? A population based survey of bereavement risk and support need

This study identifies and describes the profiles of bereavement risk and support needs of a community sample in Australia and tests the fit of the data with the three-tiered public health model for bereavement support. Family members who were bereaved 6-24 months prior to the survey and who were clients of four funeral providers participated (May-July 2013). A postal survey was used to collect information about bereaved people's experience of caring and perceived satisfaction with any bereavement support provided. The questionnaire included a validated risk assessment screening measure for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PG-13). A total of 678 bereaved people responded. The model predicted that 60% of the sample would be low risk, 30% moderate risk, and 10% high risk. Actual figures were very close at 58.4%, 35.2%and 6.4% respectively. The analysis of the demographic characteristics, experience and impact of caring and bereavement, and satisfaction with support received from a variety of sources revealed differential experiences and needs that align with the expectation of low, moderate, and high bereavement support need, as articulated in the public health model. This is the first empirical test of the public health model of bereavement support. As there is a lack of clear evidence to guide development and allocation of bereavement support programs, the findings have the potential to inform the ability of services, community organizations and informal networks to prioritize care according to each level of bereavement need. This is essential to achieve cost-effective and equitable resource allocation