The Gamma-Flash data acquisition system for observation of terrestrial gamma-ray flashes

Gamma-Flash is an Italian project funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and led by the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), devoted to the observation and study of high-energy phenomena, such as terrestrial gamma-ray flashes and gamma-ray glows produced in the Earth's atmosphere during thunderstorms. The project's detectors and the data acquisition and control system (DACS) are placed at the "O. Vittori" observatory on the top of Mt. Cimone (Italy). Another payload will be placed on an aircraft for observations of thunderstorms in the air. This work presents the architecture of the data acquisition and control system and the data flow.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and System XXXII (2022

Influence of workload and posture on handcycling efficiency

Handbike (HB) is an arm propelled device of locomotion for subjects with lower limbs disabilities. Handcycling has become a Paralympics discipline, increasing the need to study how lesion level may influence posture on HB and energy cost during exercise. The aim was also to test how postures different from the free chosen one might influence functional parameters during exercise

Effects of short sleep duration on energy metabolism and energy balance in subjects with overweight and obesity

Introduction: The chronic reduction of sleep duration is associated to an increased risk of weight gain, but mechanistic aspects remain to be fully elucidated. The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between short sleep duration and energy metabolism, fuel selection and energy balance in overweight and obesity. Methods: Inclusion criteria were: age 18–65 years, BMI ≥25 kg/m2. Use of any CNS medications, any psychiatric disorders and night shift work were considered as exclusion criteria. Body composition was evaluated by DXA. All participants underwent indirect calorimetry. The respiratory quotient (RQ) was calculated from gas exchanges. The equations by Weir and by Frayn were used to calculate the resting energy expenditure (REE), and carbohydrate and fat oxidation, respectively. Sleep duration, total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and the level of physical activity (METs/day) were objectively assessed (Sensewear Armband). A 3-day dietary record was administered. Participants were divided into two groups, “regular sleep” (RS): >300 min/day or “short sleep”(SS): ≤300 min/day. Results: 88 women and 30 men were included (age:49.6±12.1 years), of whom 30.5% exhibited a short sleep duration. BMI (39.7±7.1 vs. 36.2±5.0 kg/m2, P=0.03) and truncal body fat (18.7±6.2 vs. 16.1±4.6 kg, P=0.04) were higher in the SS group than the RS group. Subjects with short sleep had a lower RQ (0.71±0.12 vs. 0.76±0.12, P=0.004) and oxidized more fat (113±55 vs. 95±56 g/min, P=0.006) than regular sleepers. The METs/day were higher in the SS group compared to the RS group (1.56±0.55 vs. 1.35±1.24, P=0.04). RQ was positively associated to sleep duration (P=0.04, adj. for age, sex, and body fat). No difference emerged in TDEE or energy intake (SS group: 23±10 vs. RS group: 25±6 kcal/kg/day, P>0.05). Conclusion: Short sleep affects energy substrate metabolism and adiposity distribution in overweight and obese subjects

Effects on the incidence of cardiovascular events of the addition of pioglitazone versus sulfonylureas in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin (TOSCA.IT): a randomised, multicentre trial

Background The best treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes in whom treatment with metformin alone fails to achieve adequate glycaemic control is debated. We aimed to compare the long-term effects of pioglitazone versus sulfonylureas, given in addition to metformin, on cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods TOSCA.IT was a multicentre, randomised, pragmatic clinical trial, in which patients aged 50\ue2\u80\u9375 years with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin monotherapy (2\ue2\u80\u933 g per day) were recruited from 57 diabetes clinics in Italy. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1), by permuted blocks randomisation (block size 10), stratified by site and previous cardiovascular events, to add-on pioglitazone (15\ue2\u80\u9345 mg) or a sulfonylurea (5\ue2\u80\u9315 mg glibenclamide, 2\ue2\u80\u936 mg glimepiride, or 30\ue2\u80\u93120 mg gliclazide, in accordance with local practice). The trial was unblinded, but event adjudicators were unaware of treatment assignment. The primary outcome, assessed with a Cox proportional-hazards model, was a composite of first occurrence of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or urgent coronary revascularisation, assessed in the modified intention-to-treat population (all randomly assigned participants with baseline data available and without any protocol violations in relation to inclusion or exclusion criteria). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00700856. Findings Between Sept 18, 2008, and Jan 15, 2014, 3028 patients were randomly assigned and included in the analyses. 1535 were assigned to pioglitazone and 1493 to sulfonylureas (glibenclamide 24 [2%], glimepiride 723 [48%], gliclazide 745 [50%]). At baseline, 335 (11%) participants had a previous cardiovascular event. The study was stopped early on the basis of a futility analysis after a median follow-up of 57\uc2\ub73 months. The primary outcome occurred in 105 patients (1\uc2\ub75 per 100 person-years) who were given pioglitazone and 108 (1\uc2\ub75 per 100 person-years) who were given sulfonylureas (hazard ratio 0\uc2\ub796, 95% CI 0\uc2\ub774\ue2\u80\u931\uc2\ub726, p=0\uc2\ub779). Fewer patients had hypoglycaemias in the pioglitazone group than in the sulfonylureas group (148 [10%] vs 508 [34%], p<0\uc2\ub70001). Moderate weight gain (less than 2 kg, on average) occurred in both groups. Rates of heart failure, bladder cancer, and fractures were not significantly different between treatment groups. Interpretation In this long-term, pragmatic trial, incidence of cardiovascular events was similar with sulfonylureas (mostly glimepiride and gliclazide) and pioglitazone as add-on treatments to metformin. Both of these widely available and affordable treatments are suitable options with respect to efficacy and adverse events, although pioglitazone was associated with fewer hypoglycaemia events. Funding Italian Medicines Agency, Diabete Ricerca, and Italian Diabetes Society