Hysteresis Modeling in Iron-Dominated Magnets Based on a Multi-Layered Narx Neural Network Approach

A full-fledged neural network modeling, based on a Multi-layered Nonlinear Autoregressive Exogenous Neural Network (NARX) architecture, is proposed for quasi-static and dynamic hysteresis loops, one of the most challenging topics for computational magnetism. This modeling approach overcomes drawbacks in attaining better than percent-level accuracy of classical and recent approaches for accelerator magnets, that combine hybridization of standard hysteretic models and neural network architectures. By means of an incremental procedure, different Deep Neural Network Architectures are selected, fine-tuned and tested in order to predict magnetic hysteresis in the context of electromagnets. Tests and results show that the proposed NARX architecture best fits the measured magnetic field behavior of a reference quadrupole at CERN. In particular, the proposed modeling framework leads to a percent error below 0.02% for the magnetic field prediction, thus outperforming state of the art approaches and paving a very promising way for future real time applications

Minority Stress, Resilience, and Mental Health: A Study of Italian Transgender People

Transgender people often experience oppression because of gender nonconformity. They represent an extremely stigmatized population at high risk of developing mental health problems. The minority stress model is a theoretical model used to understand social stigma as a potential cause of mental health disparities faced by the transgender population. In Italy, studies applying this model to the transgender population are limited. The current study applied the minority stress model to a sample of Italian transgender people (n = 149), analyzing effects of prejudice events, expectations of rejection, and internalized transphobia, and their interaction with protective factors (resilience and social support), on mental health. The results suggest that exposure to everyday discrimination and internalized transphobia are associated with increased mental health problems, while perceived social support from family and resilience significantly reduced the strength of association between everyday discrimination and mental health. Findings have important implications for both social issues and policies

Parenting Desire and Minority Stress in Lesbians and Gay Men: A Mediation Framework

Despite the rapid increase in lesbian and gay (LG) people who desire and decide to become parents, LG childless individuals may encounter serious obstacles in the parenthood process, such as minority stress. Notwithstanding, the psychological processes by which prejudice events might affect the desire to become parents are still understudied. As an extension of the minority stress theory, the psychological mediation framework sheds light on these psychological processes, as it encompasses a more clinical view of stress. Within this framework, the current study aimed at assessing the role of prejudice events in affecting parenting desire in 290 childless Italian LG individuals (120 lesbians and 170 gay men), as well as the role of internalized heterosexism and sexual orientation concealment in mediating the relationship between prejudice events and parenting desire. The results suggest that only in lesbians prejudice events were negatively associated with parenting desire, and that sexual orientation concealment and internalized heterosexism were also negatively associated with parenting desire. Furthermore, sexual orientation concealment, and not internalized heterosexism, mediated the relationship between prejudice events and parenting desire in lesbians, but not gay men. The findings have important implications for clinical practice

Pre-service teachers’ approaches to gender-nonconforming children in preschool and primary school: Clinical and educational implications

Corrective approaches taken by teachers towards gender nonconformity in childhood may increase the gender pressure that children feel, negatively affecting well-being and development. This study was aimed at assessing whether the approaches of 305 pre-service preschool and primary school teachers towards gender nonconformity in childhood are influenced by sexist and homophobic attitudes and feelings. The results indicated that the majority of the sample would adopt a supportive and affirmative approach towards gender nonconformity in childhood. Notwithstanding, the results also showed that sexism influenced the likelihood of adopting corrective approaches only to gender-nonconforming primary school children, whilst homophobia was positively associated with adoption of a corrective approach to gender nonconformity in both preschool and primary school children. Suggestions for educational and clinical practice are discussed

Error characterization and calibration of real-time magnetic field measurement systems

In synchrotrons at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), magnetic measurement systems known as B-trains measure the magnetic field in the main bending magnets in real-time, and transmit this signal for the control of the synchrotron’s RF accelerating cavities, magnet power converter and beam monitoring systems. This work presents an assessment of the capabilities and performance of the new FIRESTORM (Field In REal-time STreaming from Online Reference Magnets) system as part of the first phase of commissioning. A short summary of the architecture of the measurement system is provided first, followed by the definition of an error model which can be used to characterize random and systematic errors separately. We present a procedure for the metrological calibration and qualification of the B-trains, including an experimental evaluation of the different error sources for the four new systems being commissioned in the Proton Synchrotron Booster (PSB), Low Energy Ion Ring (LEIR), Proton Synchrotron (PS) and the Extra Low ENergy Antiproton (ELENA) ring. In particular, we discuss a method to calibrate systematic gain and offset errors based on the RF cavity frequency offset needed to center the beam on its theoretical orbit

Minority Stress and Mental Health in Italian Bisexual People

Bisexual people are a strongly stigmatized population experiencing health disparities caused by social stigmatization. The predominant framework helping to understand these health disparities and the impact of stigma on mental health of social groups belonging to a sexual minority identity constitutes the minority stress theory. In Italy, studies assessing this model in bisexual populations are very limited. Within this framework, the current study aimed at assessing in 381 Italian bisexual individuals (62 men and 319 women) the effects of anti-bisexual discrimination, proximal stressors (i.e., anticipated binegativity, internalized binegativity, and outness), and resilience on psychological distress. The results suggested that only anti-bisexual discrimination and internalized binegativity were positively associated with psychological distress, and that resilience was negatively associated with mental health issues. Furthermore, the results suggested that internalized binegativity mediated the relationship between anti-bisexual discrimination and mental health problems. No moderating effect of resilience was found. This is the first study to have thoroughly applied minority stress in Italian bisexual people, providing Italian clinicians and researchers with an outline of the associations between minority stress, stigma, resilience, and psychological distress within this population

A novel closed-chest porcine model of chronic ischemic heart failure suitable for experimental research in cardiovascular disease

Cardiac pathologies are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in industrialized countries, with myocardial infarction (MI) representing one of the major conditions leading to heart failure (HF). Hitherto, the development of consistent, stable, and reproducible models of closed-chest MI in large animals, meeting the clinical realism of a patient with HF subsequent to chronic ischemic necrosis, has not been successful. We hereby report the design and ensuing application of a novel porcine experimental model of closed-chest chronic ischemia suitable for biomedical research, mimicking post-MI HF. We also emphasize the key procedural steps involved in replicating this unprecedented model, from femoral artery and vein catheterization to MI induction by permanent occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery through superselective deployment of platinum-nylon coils, as well as endomyocardial biopsy sampling for histologic analysis and cell harvesting. Our model could indeed represent a valuable contribution and tool for translational research, providing precious insights to understand and overcome the many hurdles concerning, and currently quenching, the preclinical steps mandatory for the clinical translation of new cardiovascular technologies for personalized HF treatments

Effect of external PEEP in patients under controlled mechanical ventilation with an auto-PEEP of 5 cmH2O or higher.

In some patients with auto-positive end-expiratory pressure (auto-PEEP), application of PEEP lower than auto-PEEP maintains a constant total PEEP, therefore reducing the inspiratory threshold load without detrimental cardiovascular or respiratory effects. We refer to these patients as complete PEEP-absorbers. Conversely, adverse effects of PEEP application could occur in patients with auto-PEEP when the total PEEP rises as a consequence. From a pathophysiological perspective, all subjects with flow limitation are expected to be complete PEEP-absorbers, whereas PEEP should increase total PEEP in all other patients. This study aimed to empirically assess the extent to which flow limitation alone explains a complete PEEP-absorber behavior (i.e., absence of further hyperinflation with PEEP), and to identify other factors associated with it.One hundred patients with auto-PEEP of at least 5 cmH2O at zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP) during controlled mechanical ventilation were enrolled. Total PEEP (i.e., end-expiratory plateau pressure) was measured both at ZEEP and after applied PEEP equal to 80 % of auto-PEEP measured at ZEEP. All measurements were repeated three times, and the average value was used for analysis.Forty-seven percent of the patients suffered from chronic pulmonary disease and 52 % from acute pulmonary disease; 61 % showed flow limitation at ZEEP, assessed by manual compression of the abdomen. The mean total PEEP was 7 ± 2 cmH2O at ZEEP and 9 ± 2 cmH2O after the application of PEEP (p < 0.001). Thirty-three percent of the patients were complete PEEP-absorbers. Multiple logistic regression was used to predict the behavior of complete PEEP-absorber. The best model included a respiratory rate lower than 20 breaths/min and the presence of flow limitation. The predictive ability of the model was excellent, with an overoptimism-corrected area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.89 (95 % CI 0.80-0.97).Expiratory flow limitation was associated with both high and complete PEEP-absorber behavior, but setting a relatively high respiratory rate on the ventilator can prevent from observing complete PEEP-absorption. Therefore, the effect of PEEP application in patients with auto-PEEP can be accurately predicted at the bedside by measuring the respiratory rate and observing the flow-volume loop during manual compression of the abdomen

One year of tropospheri clidar measurements of aerosol extinction and backscatter

The aerosol lidar system operational at IMAA-CNR in Tito Scalo (PZ) (Southern Italy, 40°36'N, 15°44'E, 820 m above sea level) is part of the EARLINET project. Systematic lidar measurements of aerosol backscatter and extinction in the troposphere have been performed since May 2000. Aerosol backscatter measurements were performed at both 355 nm and 532 nm, while aerosol extinction coeffi cient were retrieved from simultaneous N2 Raman backscatter signals at 386.6 nm. The observations were performed on a regular schedule of two night time measurements per week (around sunset) and one daytime measurement per week (around 13:00 UTC). Furthermore, special observations concerning Saharan dust outbreaks have been carried out. Starting in May 2000 the lidar measurements performed in Tito Scalo have been collected and analysed. Preliminary results regarding the fi rst year of measurements are reported. In particular, the evolution of the aerosol integrated backscatter and extinction as well as of the mean value of the lidar ratio in the whole aerosol layer is reported. Results show clear evidence of seasonal variation of the observed parameters, with higher values and greater variability during summertime

What is the impact of a novel MED12 variant on syndromic conotruncal heart defects? Analysis of case report on two male sibs

Background: Syndromic congenital heart disease accounts for 30% of cases and can be determined by genetic, environmental or multifactorial causes. In many cases the etiology remains uncertain. Many known genes are responsible for specific morphopathogenetic mechanisms during the development of the heart whose alteration can determine specific phenotypes of cardiac malformations. Case presentation: We report on two cases of association of conotruncal heart defect with facial dysmorphisms in sibs. In both cases the malformations' identification occurred by ultrasound in the prenatal period. It was followed by prenatal invasive diagnosis. The genetic analysis revealed no rearrangements in Array-CGH test, while gene panel sequencing identified a new hemizygous variant of uncertain significance (c.887G &gt; A; p.Arg296Gln) in the MED12 gene, located on the X chromosome and inherited from the healthy mother. Conclusion: No other reports about the involvement of MED12 gene in syndromic conotruncal heart defects are actually available from the literature and the international genomic databases. This novel variant is a likely pathogenic variant of uncertain significance and it could broaden the spectrum of genes involved in the development of congenital heart diseases and the phenotypic range of MED12-related disorders