5,776 research outputs found

    Are there hadronic bound states above the QCD transition temperature?

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    Recent lattice QCD calculations, at physical pion masses and small lattice spacings that approach the continuum limit, have revealed that non-diagonal quark correlators above the critical temperature are finite up to about 2 TcT_c. Since the transition from hadronic to free partonic degrees of freedom is merely an analytic cross-over, it is likely that, in the temperature regime between 1-2 TcT_c, quark and gluon quasiparticles and pre-hadronic bound states can coexist. The correlator values, in comparison to PNJL model calculations beyond mean-field, indicate that at least part of the mixed phase resides in color-neutral bound states. A similar effect was postulated for the in-medium fragmentation process, i.e. for partons which do not thermalize with the system and thus constitute the non-equilibrium component of the particle emission spectrum from a deconfined plasma phase. Here, for the first time we investigate the likelihood of forming bound states also in the equilibrated, parton dominated phase above TcT_c which is described by lattice QCD.Comment: 15 pages, 4 Figure

    A methodology for evaluating land suitability for medicinal plants at a regional level

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    Before introducing a new crop in an area, such as medicinal plant species, crop-land suitability analysis is a prerequisite to achieve an optimum exploitation of the available land resources for a sustainable agricultural production. To evaluate the land suitability it is important to take into account the habitats of the plant species. Moreover, agronomic, logistic and product quality aspects have to be considered. The importance of these aspects changes according to the stakeholders: the local government is more involved in supporting environmental suitability and production sustainability, farmers need areas which satisfy agronomic and logistic requirements, while industry is interested in the quality of production. A methodology was developed and implemented to create suitability maps for medicinal plants. Because of the generally limited information about medicinal plant adaptation, a simple methodology, based on a priori information has been developed, based on three different criteria: i) environmental suitability (point of view of local government); ii) agronomic, productivity and logistic suitability (point of view of the farmer); iii) quality suitability (point of view of industry). For each of the three criteria, a specific macro-indicator, based on land characteristics, was calculated using membership functions. Here, a methodology to create maps for the introduction of such species was developed and implemented. This methodology can be repeated by command scripts in an easy-to-use freeware GIS. The structure of the evaluation model can be easily adapted to consider more detailed land information like climate and soil. The methodology (implemented by scripts in a freeware GIS), can be easily repeated and adapted for other situations

    Retour sur l’oeuvre de Roberto Signorini (Milan, 1947-2009)

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    Nous remercions Maria Luisa Tornesello et Pierangelo Cavanna, qui ont mis à notre disposition les matériaux en leur possession. Photographe, essayiste, traducteur et divulgateur en Italie des théories les plus modernes du « photographique », Roberto Signorini s’intéresse à la photographie dès le début des années 1970, après avoir obtenu le diplôme de docteur ès lettres – avec une spécialité en philologie médiévale et humaniste – en 1971 à l’université catholique de Milan. Les études de philol..

    Localizzazione inusuale di cisti del dotto tireoglosso

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    nglish version Summary: An unusual localization of thyroglossal duct cyst. M. Barbaro, A. Di Mario, D. De Seta, G. Rispoli, E. Covelli, G.A. Bertoli, A. Minni Thyroglossal duct cysts are most common neck masses after benign lymphonodes. They originate from primitive thiroglossal duct, so they could be locate along its course. Every mass in the middle line of the neck can be considerated as a thyroglossal cyst. Best treatment is surgery (Sistrunk procedure). We present a case of unusual localization at floor of the mouth of thyroglossal in a 34 years old woman. To our knowledge in literature, only two cases, have been reported both

    SCREENING INSTRUMENTS FOR EARLY DETECTION OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IN SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITIES

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    Background: Since autism detection protocols rely primarily on parental accounts of early symptoms, the use by Spanish-speaking populations of screening tools developed in a different language and socio-cultural context (usually English) might hamper the success of early detection programs. Method: A systematic search in four databases was completed, identifying 59 tools used for ASD detection. Of these, only nine tools had been applied in Spanish-speaking populations, and of those, only five can be considered specific tools for the early detection of autism. Results: Sensitivity detecting autism was generally lower in the Spanish versions of the reviewed instruments, while specificity tended to be equal to or higher than that reported in the original screeners. Conclusions: Heterogeneity and poor methodological rigor of the studies conducted to date emphasize an urgent need for a concerted effort to develop reliable and valid instruments for the early detection of autism in Spanish-speaking populations worldwide

    Characterization of free L- and D-amino acids in size-segregated background aerosols over the Ross Sea, Antarctica

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    The study of airborne chemical markers is crucial for identifying sources of aerosols, and their atmospheric processes of transport and transformation. The investigation of free amino acids and their differentiation between the L-and D- en-antiomers are even more important to understand their sources and atmospheric fate. Aerosol samples were collected with a high-volume sampler with cascade impactor at Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS) on the coast of the Ross Sea (Antarctica) for two summer campaigns (2018/19 and 2019/20). The total mean concentration of free amino acids in PM10 was 4 +/- 2 pmol m-3 for both campaigns and most of free amino acids were distributed in fine particles. The coarse mode of airborne D-Alanine and dimethylsufoniopropionate in seawater showed a similar trend during both Antarctic campaigns. Thus, the study of D/L Ala ratio in fine, coarse and PM10 fractions indicated the microlayer as the local source. This paper demonstrated that free amino acids follow the trend of DMS and MSA release occurred in the Ross Sea, confirming their applicability as markers for phytoplankton bloom also in paleoclimatic studies

    New strontium-based coatings show activity against pathogenic bacteria in spine infection

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    Infections of implants and prostheses represent relevant complications associated with the implantation of biomedical devices in spine surgery. Indeed, due to the length of the surgical procedures and the need to implant invasive devices, infections have high incidence, interfere with osseointegration, and are becoming increasingly difficult to threat with common therapies due to the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes by pathogenic bacteria. The application of metal-substituted tricalcium phosphate coatings onto the biomedical devices is a promising strategy to simultaneously prevent bacterial infections and promote osseointegration/osseoinduction. Strontium-substituted tricalcium phosphate (Sr-TCP) is known to be an encouraging formulation with osseoinductive properties, but its antimicrobial potential is still unexplored. To this end, novel Sr-TCP coatings were manufactured by Ionized Jet Deposition technology and characterized for their physiochemical and morphological properties, cytotoxicity, and bioactivity against Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P human pathogenic strains. The coatings are nanostructured, as they are composed by aggregates with diameters from 90 nm up to 1 mu m, and their morphology depends significantly on the deposition time. The Sr-TCP coatings did not exhibit any cytotoxic effects on human cell lines and provided an inhibitory effect on the planktonic growth of E. coli and S. aureus strains after 8 h of incubation. Furthermore, bacterial adhesion (after 4 h of exposure) and biofilm formation (after 24 h of cell growth) were significantly reduced when the strains were cultured on Sr-TCP compared to tricalcium phosphate only coatings. On Sr-TCP coatings, E. coli and S. aureus cells lost their organization in a biofilm-like structure and showed morphological alterations due to the toxic effect of the metal. These results demonstrate the stability and anti-adhesion/antibiofilm properties of IJD-manufactured Sr-TCP coatings, which represent potential candidates for future applications to prevent prostheses infections and to promote osteointegration/osteoinduction

    Fragrances as new contaminants in the Venice lagoon

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    FragranceMaterials (FMs) are omnipresent components of household and Personal Care Products (PCPs). In spite of their widespread use, little is known about their environmental occurrence. We selected 17 among the longest-lasting and most stable fragrance ingredients that are commercially available, namely: Amberketal, Ambrofix, Amyl Salicylate, Benzyl Salicylate, Bourgeonal, Dupical, Hexyl Salicylate, Isobutavan, Lemonile, Mefranal, Myraldene, Okoumal, Oranger Crystals, Pelargene, Peonile, Tridecene-2-Nitrile, Ultravanil. A new analytical method was developed to quantify FMs in water samples and it was applied to perform the first study about the distribution of these compounds in the surface waters of the city of Venice and its lagoon. Total FMs concentrations range from about 30 ng L-1 to more than 10 mu g L-1 in polluted canals during the low tide. Sewage discharges were supposed to be the main sources of the selected FMs in the environment. Salicylates, oestrogenic and allergenic compounds, were in general the most abundant and widespread components. This study reports for the first time the detection of most of the selected FMs in surface waters and represent the first step to understand their environmental fate. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

    Stroke and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Review

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    Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that involves collagen tissue throughout the body. Several previous studies have shown that the risk of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke is significantly higher in SLE when compared to the general population, particularly in young individuals, representing one of the principal causes of death in these patients. Though the precise pathophysiology behind this increased risk is still poorly understood, several mechanisms are suggested to play a role. The high burden of cerebral small vessel disease features noted on brain neuroimaging studies, as well as the accelerated process of atherosclerosis identified in these patients, are likely to be responsible for at least some of the ischaemic strokes occurring in the SLE population. Repeated episodes of arterial and venous thrombosis secondary to antiphospholipid syndrome are likewise important. Less is known regarding the exact pathophysiological relationship between SLE and the high incidence of haemorrhagic stroke, though thrombocytopenia and a greater susceptibility to form typical and atypical brain aneurysms, which may then rupture, are thought to be the main mechanisms responsible for the occurrence of intracerebral and subarachnoid haemorrhage, respectively. Both inflammatory and noninflammatory events, all involving the immune system, are responsible for several pathological changes affecting cerebral vessels of every calibre in SLE, as confirmed by histopathology. In this context, endothelial activation and dysfunction play a critical role. This review will briefly analyse the most important factors responsible for the higher ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke risk in the SLE population, with a particular focus on brain vascular changes

    Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators in neonatal sepsis: association between homeostasis and clinical outcome

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    OBJETIVO: avaliar a utilidade de citocinas pró-inflamatórias (TNF-±, IL-1² e IL-6) e de citocinas antinflamatórias (IL-10 e IL-1Ra) no diagnóstico da sepse neonatal, e verificar se a homeostase entre estes mediadores poderia ser determinante para a evolução clínica da doença. MÉTODO: coorte prospectiva compreendendo 31 recém-nascidos (RN) com diagnóstico de sepse neonatal, classificados em dois grupos: sepse e sepse grave, com evolução complicada (choque, falência múltipla de órgãos, óbito). Os níveis séricos de TNF-±; IL-1²; IL-6; IL-10 e IL-1Ra foram mensurados nos dias 0 (diagnóstico), 3 e 7 (evolutivos). Foram calculadas as médias, desvios-padrão, medianas, e valores mínimos e máximos para cada um dos mediadores. Foram construídos gráficos dos perfis individuais dos pacientes, e o perfil médio dos dois grupos contendo os erros-padrão. Para o tratamento estatístico dos dados oriundos da avaliação das concentrações de citocinas ao longo do tempo, foi utilizado o teste ANOVA com medidas repetidas. Para todas as análises realizadas foi adotado nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: no grupo de recém-nascidos com sepse e boa evolução, os níveis séricos de TNF-±; IL-1² e Il-10 se apresentaram próximos aos valores mínimos detectáveis pelo método, e nos RN com sepse grave, esses níveis foram estatisticamente superiores (p;1) e da resposta antiinflamatória nos dia 3 e 7 de evolução (razão ;1) e somente no dia 7, houve predomínio da ação antiinflamatória (razão ;1, com inversão nos dias 3 e 7). A persistência de predomínio das citocinas pró-inflamatórias em relação às antiinflamatórias no terceiro dia após o diagnóstico está correlacionada à evolução clínica desfavorável.OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the utility of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-±, IL1-², and IL- 6) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and IL-1Ra) for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, and to verify if the homeostasis of these mediators might determine the clinical outcome. METHOD: prospective cohort study including 31 newborns with neonatal sepsis whose diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical signs and positive blood culture, or high C-reactive protein. Newborns were classified in two groups: sepsis and favorable outcome, and severe sepsis with unfavorable outcome (septic shock and/or DIVC and/or FMOS and/or death). On days 0 (diagnosis), 3 and 7 after diagnosis, serum levels of TNF-±, IL-1², IL-6, IL-10, and IL-1Ra were measured. Statistical analysis included mean values, standard deviation, median, and minimum and maximum values of all mediators, as well as the construction of mean profiles for each patient and then for both groups (with standard errors). The ANOVA with repetitive measures was used to compare cytokines variation according to time. The significance level for all statistical analyses was 5%. RESULTS: the newborns who evolved favorably presented serum levels of TNF-±, IL-1² and IL-10 very close to the minimum levels detectable by the method, whilst in the newborns with severe sepsis, these cytokine levels were significantly higher (p;1 on day 0 and 3, and ;1), and there was a ratio inversion on days 3 and 7 (r ;1 on days 0 and 3). In the latter group the persistence of pro-inflammatory predominance versus antiinflammatory factors on day 3 after diagnosis of sepsis was correlated to clinical outcome
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