The QUAX proposal: a search of galactic axion with magnetic materials

Aim of the QUAX (QUaerere AXion) proposal is to exploit the interaction of cosmological axions with the spin of electrons in a magnetized sample. Their effect is equivalent to the application of an oscillating rf field with frequency and amplitude which are fixed by axion mass and coupling constant, respectively. The rf receiver module of the QUAX detector consists of magnetized samples with the Larmor resonance frequency tuned to the axion mass by a polarizing static magnetic field. The interaction of electrons with the axion-equivalent rf field produces oscillations in the total magnetization of the samples. To amplify such a tiny field, a pump field at the same frequency is applied in a direction orthogonal to the polarizing field. The induced oscillatory magnetization along the polarizing field is measured by a SQUID amplifier operated at its quantum noise level.Comment: 5 pages, Contribution for the proceedings of the TAUP2015, International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics, 7-11 September 2015, Torino, Ital

Comportamento vegetativo e produtivo de kiwizeiro ‘Elmwood’ submetido a diferentes intensidades de poda

The objective of this study is to evaluate the vegetative and productive behavior of kiwifruit trees cv. ‘Elmwood’ submitted to different intensities of pruning, in “Serra Gaúcha” region. Treatments consisted in maintaining different bud load levels in each cane of 10, 15 and 20 buds cane-1. The experiment, carried out during the 2016/2017 vegetative season had a completely randomized design with nine repetitions per treatment. Bud fertility, vegetative, productive and fruit quality features were evaluated. The percentage of mixed buds was higher next to the cane apex in three different treatments, while in the base of each cane ocurred the highest percentage of non sprouting buds. The decrease in the number of buds per cane induced larger leaves and increased leaf dry matter. Longitudinal and transversal diameter of fruits and fruit mass were inversely proportional to the number of buds per cane. Pruning of ‘Elmwood’ kiwifruit tree with different number of buds did not influence the index of real bud fertility, but affected directly leaf and shoot size. Pruning maintaining canes with 10 buds favors the increase of fruit weight and did not reduce productivity.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento vegetativo e produtivo de kiwizeiros da cultivar ‘Elmwood’ submetidos a diferentes intensidades de poda, na região da Serra Gaúcha. Os tratamentos utilizados consistiram na manutenção de diferentes níveis de cargas de gemas: 10; 15 e 20 gemas vara-1. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com nove repetições por tratamento. O experimento foi realizado durante o ciclo 2016/2017, avaliando-se a fertilidade das gemas, os atributos vegetativos, os produtivos e os de qualidade dos frutos. O maior percentual de brotações mistas foi próximo ao ápice da vara, nos três diferentes tratamentos; já na base dos ramos de ano, ocorreu o maior percentual de gemas que não brotaram. A diminuição da carga de gemas por vara induziu aumento do tamanho das folhas e incremento da matéria seca foliar. O diâmetro longitudinal, transversal e a massa de fruto foram inversamente proporcionais ao número de gemas por vara. A poda de kiwizeiros ‘Elmwood’ com diferentes cargas de gemas não influencia o índice de fertilidade real das gemas, porém interfere diretamente no tamanho das folhas e dos ramos do ano. A poda, mantendo varas com 10 gemas, favorece o aumento da massa de fruto e não reduz a produtividade

Salerno Quadrante. N.1-3 (1955)

1 (giugno 1955): Guglielmo Longo, Ospedali, esigenza prima del Mezzo giorno, P. 3 ; Giuseppe Lanocita, Attualità della questione demaniale e suoi aspetti nel comune di Eboli, P. 9 ; Bilancio di un disastro: L'alluvione in cifre, P. 11 ; Alessandro Pinto, Canti popolari cilentani, P. 17 ; Giovanni Capasso, Poesie inedite, P. 18 ; Francesco Franco. S. Pietro al Tanagro, il paese dalle tovaglie di terra, P. 19 ; Antonio De Angelis, Scafati, cittadina di provincia, P. 23 ; Enzo Barba, Matteo Luciani, P. 25 ; Augusto Visconti, Curiosità e irrequietezza in tre giovani pittori salernitani: D'Agosto, Gentile, Della Monica, P. 28 ; II Centro di cultura Citta di Salerno, P. 29 ; Recensioni, P. 32- 40 ; La resistenza salernitana (fuori testo).2-3 (dicembre 1955): Ugo Renna, Viaggio nel Cilento, P. 3 ; Francesco Franco, La crisi tessile e Ie M.C.M. Fratte-Pellezzano, P. 14 ; Giuseppe Tortorella, II problema del Porto (intervista), P. 23 ; Guglielmo Longo, Difendiamo l'industria salernitana, P. 27 ; Enzo Barba, Errico de Marinis e il "socialismo demariniano, P. 33 ; Giuseppe Lanocita, Attualità della questione demaniale e suoi aspetti nel comune di Eboli, P. 43 ; Giuseppe A. Leone, Pietà per Crocco il brigante (poesia), p. 52 ; Gianni Nunziante, Titoli di proprietà immobiliare al portatore nella pratica medievale salernitana, P. 53 ; Mario Carotenuto, Olga Napoli nella pittura contemporanea (fuori testo)

Management of acute diverticulitis with pericolic free gas (ADIFAS). an international multicenter observational study

Background: There are no specific recommendations regarding the optimal management of this group of patients. The World Society of Emergency Surgery suggested a nonoperative strategy with antibiotic therapy, but this was a weak recommendation. This study aims to identify the optimal management of patients with acute diverticulitis (AD) presenting with pericolic free air with or without pericolic fluid. Methods: A multicenter, prospective, international study of patients diagnosed with AD and pericolic-free air with or without pericolic free fluid at a computed tomography (CT) scan between May 2020 and June 2021 was included. Patients were excluded if they had intra-abdominal distant free air, an abscess, generalized peritonitis, or less than a 1-year follow-up. The primary outcome was the rate of failure of nonoperative management within the index admission. Secondary outcomes included the rate of failure of nonoperative management within the first year and risk factors for failure. Results: A total of 810 patients were recruited across 69 European and South American centers; 744 patients (92%) were treated nonoperatively, and 66 (8%) underwent immediate surgery. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Hinchey II-IV on diagnostic imaging was the only independent risk factor for surgical intervention during index admission (odds ratios: 12.5, 95% CI: 2.4-64, P =0.003). Among patients treated nonoperatively, at index admission, 697 (94%) patients were discharged without any complications, 35 (4.7%) required emergency surgery, and 12 (1.6%) percutaneous drainage. Free pericolic fluid on CT scan was associated with a higher risk of failure of nonoperative management (odds ratios: 4.9, 95% CI: 1.2-19.9, P =0.023), with 88% of success compared to 96% without free fluid ( P <0.001). The rate of treatment failure with nonoperative management during the first year of follow-up was 16.5%. Conclusion: Patients with AD presenting with pericolic free gas can be successfully managed nonoperatively in the vast majority of cases. Patients with both free pericolic gas and free pericolic fluid on a CT scan are at a higher risk of failing nonoperative management and require closer observation

Towards a muon collider

A muon collider would enable the big jump ahead in energy reach that is needed for a fruitful exploration of fundamental interactions. The challenges of producing muon collisions at high luminosity and 10 TeV centre of mass energy are being investigated by the recently-formed International Muon Collider Collaboration. This Review summarises the status and the recent advances on muon colliders design, physics and detector studies. The aim is to provide a global perspective of the field and to outline directions for future work

Towards a Muon Collider

A muon collider would enable the big jump ahead in energy reach that is needed for a fruitful exploration of fundamental interactions. The challenges of producing muon collisions at high luminosity and 10 TeV centre of mass energy are being investigated by the recently-formed International Muon Collider Collaboration. This Review summarises the status and the recent advances on muon colliders design, physics and detector studies. The aim is to provide a global perspective of the field and to outline directions for future work.Comment: 118 pages, 103 figure

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients