6,939 research outputs found
Nonequilibrium gas-liquid transition in the driven-dissipative photonic lattice
We study the nonequilibrium steady state of the driven-dissipative
Bose-Hubbard model with Kerr nonlinearity. Employing a mean-field decoupling
for the intercavity hopping , we find that the steep crossover between low
and high photon-density states inherited from the single cavity transforms into
a gasliquid bistability at large cavity-coupling . We formulate a van der
Waals like gasliquid phenomenology for this nonequilibrium situation and
determine the relevant phase diagrams, including a new type of diagram where a
lobe-shaped boundary separates smooth crossovers from sharp, hysteretic
transitions. Calculating quantum trajectories for a one-dimensional system, we
provide insights into the microscopic origin of the bistability.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures + Supplemental Material (2 pages, 2 figures
Plant communities of Italy. The vegetation prodrome
The Vegetation Prodrome of Italy was promoted in 2012 by the Italian "Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea Protection", in collaboration with the "Italian Society of Botany", to provide a comprehensive and systematic catalogue and description of Italian plant communities. The Prodrome that is presented in this paper is the first full organic synthesis of the vegetation of Italy at the alliance syntaxonomic level. It fulfils several needs, the main one being a unified and comprehensive national framework that may make an important contribution to the definition of the European Vegetation Prodrome. Syntaxonomy, as well as taxonomy, is sometimes based on considerations that may in part diverge: several authors tend to favour models that are divisive or aggregative to a greater or lesser extent in terms of flora, biogeography and ecology. These different points of view stimulate the scientific debate and allow the adoption of a framework that is more widely supported. The Prodrome includes 75 classes, 2 subclasses, 175 orders, 6 suborders and 393 alliances. The classes were grouped into nine broad categories according to structural, physiognomic and synecological elements rather than to syntaxonomic criteria. The rank, full valid name, any synonymies and incorrect names are provided for each syntaxon. The short declaration highlights the physiognomy, synecology, syndynamics and distribution of the plant communities that belong to the syntaxon. The Prodrome of the Italian Vegetation is linked to the European Strategy for Biodiversity, the European Habitats Directive and the European Working Groups related to the ecosystems and their services. In addition to basic applications, the Prodrome can be used as a framework for scientific research related to the investigation of the relationships between plant communities and the environmental factors that influence their composition and distribution
Commentary: drug-eluting balloons for carotid in-stent restenosis: can this technology deliver the goods?
Inhibition of in-stent stenosis by oral administration of bindarit in porcine coronary arteries
<p><b>Objective:</b> We have previously demonstrated that bindarit, a selective inhibitor of monocyte chemotactic proteins (MCPs), is effective in reducing neointimal formation in rodent models of vascular injury by reducing smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration and neointimal macrophage content, effects associated with the inhibition of MCP-1/CCL2 production. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of bindarit on in-stent stenosis in the preclinical porcine coronary stent model.</p>
<p><b>Methods and Results:</b> One or 2 bare metal stents (Multi-Link Vision, 3.5 mm) were deployed (1:1.2 oversize ratio) in the coronary arteries of 42 pigs (20 bindarit versus 22 controls). Bindarit (50 mg/kg per day) was administered orally from 2 days before stenting until the time of euthanasia at 7 and 28 days. Bindarit caused a significant reduction in neointimal area (39.4%, P<0.001, n=9 group), neointimal thickness (51%, P<0.001), stenosis area (37%, P<0.001), and inflammatory score (40%, P<0.001) compared with control animals, whereas there was no significant difference in the injury score between the 2 groups. Moreover, treatment with bindarit significantly reduced the number of proliferating cells (by 45%, P<0.05; n=6 group) and monocyte/macrophage content (by 55%, P<0.01; n=5â6 group) in stented arteries at day 7 and 28, respectively. These effects were associated with a significant (P<0.05) reduction of MCP-1 plasma levels at day 28. In vitro data showed that bindarit (10â300 micromol/L) reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (50 ng/mL)âinduced pig coronary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation and inhibited MCP-1 production.</p>
<p><b>Conclusion:</b> Our results show the efficacy of bindarit in the prevention of porcine in-stent stenosis and support further investigation for clinical application of this compound.</p>
Paclitaxel in endovascular devices. Identikit of a âserial killerâ?
Recent developments in the management of peripheral artery disease have been momentous, and a key advance has been the
introduction of drug-coated balloons, which capitalise on the mechanical effects of angioplasty balloons, and on the pharmacologic effects of anti-restenotic drugs [1,2]. Indeed, single reports from randomized trials and pooled estimates from meta-analyses have clearly showed that paclitaxel-coated balloons reduce the risk of restenosis and repeat revascularization, while improving patency, limb salvage, and freedom from claudication
Veneto's successful lesson for a world shocked by COVID-19: think globally and act locally
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-
2) infection has wreaked havoc globally, with an ominous
morbidity and mortality impact.1,2 Indeed, croronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) still represents a formidable challenge
for pathophysiology, prognostication, management, and
rehabilitation. This holds even truer given the conflicting
reports accrued so far for several purportedly effective
interventions.1,3,4 Although substantial steps have been accomplished
in terms of diagnostic yield, even recognizing early
infection is still quite challenging. Each country has addressed
COVID-19 in its own way, with variable results. Perusing data
on Chinaâs experience with the virus brings forward several
questions in terms of completeness and truthfulness of reporting,
with substantial skepticism despite several authoritative
reports.5 For instance, to date, China has reported fewer
COVID-19-related deaths than many smaller countries where
COVID-19 spread much later (eg, The Netherlands). Countries
and healthcare systems that have acted with a global vision,
but also with a firm and proactive local hand, have seen the
best results in terms of deaths and system derangement. Conversely,
countries with a loose policy (either initially such as
the United Kingdom or throughout such as Sweden) have
already paid an enormous toll of life and pain, and hypothetically
will continue to do so
Effects of thyroid hormone on the cardiovascular system
Increased or reduced action of thyroid hormone on certain molecular pathways in the heart and vasculature causes relevant cardiovascular derangements. It is well established that overt hyperthyroidism induces a hyperdynamic cardiovascular state (high cardiac output with low systemic vascular resistance), which is associated with a faster heart rate, enhanced left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function, and increased prevalence of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias - namely, atrial fibrillation - whereas overt hypothyroidism is characterized by the opposite changes. However, whether changes in cardiac performance associated with overt thyroid dysfunction are due mainly to alterations of myocardial contractility or to loading conditions remains unclear. Extensive evidence indicates that the cardiovascular system responds to the minimal but persistent changes in circulating thyroid hormone levels, which are typical of individuals with subclinical thyroid dysfunction. Subclinical hyperthyroidism is associated with increased heart rate, atrial arrhythmias, increased LV mass, impaired ventricular relaxation, reduced exercise performance, and increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. Subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with impaired LV diastolic function and subtle systolic dysfunction and an enhanced risk for atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. Because all cardiovascular abnormalities are reversed by restoration of euthyroidism ("subclinical hypothyroidism") or blunted by beta-blockade and L-thyroxine (L-T4) dose tailoring ("subclinical hyperthyroidism"), timely treatment is advisable in an attempt to avoid adverse cardiovascular effects. Interestingly, some data indicate that patients with acute and chronic cardiovascular disorders and those undergoing cardiac surgery may have altered peripheral thyroid hormone metabolism that, in turn, may contribute to altered cardiac function. Preliminary clinical investigations suggest that administration of thyroid hormone or its analogue 3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid greatly benefits these patients, highlighting the potential role of thyroid hormone treatment in patients with acute and chronic cardiovascular disease
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