¿Qué nos cuenta la luz visible? : Astrofísica de rayos gamma y mucho más

Conferència realitzada el Dissabte, 23 de Febrer de 2019Nuestro conocimiento del universo viene dado básicamente por la observación de distintas fuentes que emiten radiación electromagnética. A partir de la observación de estas fuentes, intentando barrer todo el espectro electromagnético, es posible obtener información acerca de fenómenos astrofísicos que han ocurrido en el pasado y que están ocurriendo ahora. Los Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes investigan la parte no térmica del universo, detectando los rayos gamma de muy alta energía que se emiten en distintos procesos astrofísicos. Los telescopios MAGIC y los de la futura red de telescopios CTA son un ejemplo de el uso de esta tecnologia. Hablaremos de los principios de detección con este tipo de telescopios y repasaremos los resultados obtenidos hasta ahora y los que esperamos obtener con CTA

Maternal and foetal placental vascular malperfusion in pregnancies with anti-phospholipid antibodies

The objective of the study was to evaluate the rates of pathological placental lesions among pregnant subjects positive for aPL antibodies

Search for Dark Matter decay signals in the Galactic Halo with the MAGIC telescopes

MAGIC is a system of two Cherenkov telescopes located in the Canary island of La Palma. A key part of MAGIC Fundamental Physics program is the search for indirect signals of Dark Matter (DM) from different sources. In the Milky Way, DM forms an almost spherically symmetric halo, with a density peaked towards the center of the Galaxy and decreasing toward the outer region. We search for DM decay signals from the Galactic Halo, with a special methodology developed for this work. Our strategy is to compare pairs of observations performed at different angular distances from the Galactic Center, selected in such a way that all the diffuse components cancel out, except for those coming from the DM. In order to keep the systematic uncertainty of this novel background estimation method down to a minimum, the observation pairs have been acquired during the same nights and follow exactly the same azimuth and zenith paths. We collected 20 hours of data during 2018. Using half of them to determine the systematic uncertainty in the background estimation of our analysis, we obtain a value of 4.8% with no dependence on energy. Accounting for this systematic uncertainty in the likelihood analysis based on the 10 remaining hours of data collected so far, we present the limit to TeV DM particle with a lifetime of $10^26$ s in the $mathrmbarb$ decay channel

The IFAE/UAB Raman LIDAR for the CTA-North

The IFAE/UAB Raman LIDAR project aims to develop a Raman LIDAR suitable for the online atmospheric calibration of the CTA. Requirements for such a solution include the ability to characterize aerosol extinction to distances of more than 20 km with an accuracy better than 5%, within time scales of less than one minute. The Raman LIDAR consists therefore of a large 1.8 m mirror and a powerful pulsed Nd-YAG laser. A liquid light-guide collects the light at the focal plane and transports it to the readout system. An in-house built polychromator has been characterized thoroughly with respect to its capability to separate efficiently the different wavelengths (355 nm, 387 nm, 532 nm and 607 nm). It was found to operate according to specifications, particularly that light leakage from the elastic channels (532 nm and 355 nm) into the much dimmer Raman channels (387 nm and 607 nm) could be excluded to less than 2 x 10(-7). We present here the status of the integration and commissioning of this solution and plans for the near future. After a one-year test period at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, an in-depth evaluation of this and the solutions adopted by a similar project developed by the LUPM, Montpellier, will lead to a final Raman LIDAR proposed to be built for both CTA sites

Raman LIDARs for the atmospheric calibrationalong the line-of-sight of CTA

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is the next generation ground-based observatory forgamma-ray astronomy at very-high energies. Employing more than 100 Imaging AtmosphericCherenkov Telescopes in the northern and southern hemispheres, it was designed to reach un-precedented sensitivity and energy resolution. Understanding and correcting for systematic bi-ases on the absolute energy scale and instrument response functions will be a crucial issue forthe performance of CTA. The LUPM group and the Spanish/Italian/Slovenian collaboration arecurrently building two Raman LIDAR prototypes for the online atmospheric calibration alongthe line-of-sight of the CTA. Requirements for such a solution include the ability to characterizeaerosol extinction at two wavelengths to distances of 30 km with an accuracy better than 5%,within time scales of about a minute, steering capabilities and close interaction with the CTAarray control and data acquisition system as well as other auxiliary instruments. Our Raman LI-DARs have design features that make them different from those used in atmospheric science andare characterized by large collecting mirrors (∼2.5 m2), liquid light-guides that collect the light atthe focal plane and transport it to the readout system, reduced acquisition time and highly preciseRaman spectrometers. The Raman LIDARs will participate in a cross-calibration and character-ization campaign of the atmosphere at the CTA North site at La Palma, together with other sitecharacterization instruments. After a one-year test period there, an in-depth evaluation of the so-lutions adopted by the two projects will lead to a final Raman LIDAR design proposal for bothCTA sites

Paediatric recurrent pericarditis: Appropriateness of the standard of care and response to IL1-blockade

Objective: To analyse, in a cohort of paediatric patients with recurrent pericarditis (RP) undergoing anti-IL-1 treatment: the agent and dosing used as first line treatment, the long-term efficacy of IL1-blockers, the percentage of patients achieving a drug-free remission, the presence of variables associated with drug-free remission. Study design: Data were collected from patients' charts. Annualized relapse rate (ARR) was used for evaluation of treatment efficacy, bivariate logistic regression analysis for variables associated with drug-free remisison. Results: 58 patients, treated between 2008 and 2018, were included in the study (mean follow-up 2.6 years). 14/56 patients non-responsive to first line drugs were under-dosed. 57 patients were treated with anakinra: the ARR before and during daily treatment was 3.05 and 0.28, respectively (p<0.0001); an increase to 0.83 was observed after the reduction/withdrawal of treatment (p<.0001). The switch from anakinra to canakinumab (5 patients) was associated to an increase of the ARR (0.49 vs 1.46), but without statistical significance (p=0.215). At last follow-up only 9/58 patients had withdrawn all treatments. With the limits of a retrospective study and the heterogeneity between the patients enrolled in the study, a shorter duration of treatment with anakinra was the only variable associated with drug-free remission. Conclusion: This study shows that most of the pediatric patients with RP needing IL-1 blockade received an inadequate treatment with first line agents. The effectiveness of anakinra is supported by this study, but few patients achieved drug free-remission. The different rate of response to anakinra and canakinumab may suggest a possible role of IL1α in the pathogenesis of RP

A chemical survey of exoplanets with ARIEL

Thousands of exoplanets have now been discovered with a huge range of masses, sizes and orbits: from rocky Earth-like planets to large gas giants grazing the surface of their host star. However, the essential nature of these exoplanets remains largely mysterious: there is no known, discernible pattern linking the presence, size, or orbital parameters of a planet to the nature of its parent star. We have little idea whether the chemistry of a planet is linked to its formation environment, or whether the type of host star drives the physics and chemistry of the planet’s birth, and evolution. ARIEL was conceived to observe a large number (~1000) of transiting planets for statistical understanding, including gas giants, Neptunes, super-Earths and Earth-size planets around a range of host star types using transit spectroscopy in the 1.25–7.8 μm spectral range and multiple narrow-band photometry in the optical. ARIEL will focus on warm and hot planets to take advantage of their well-mixed atmospheres which should show minimal condensation and sequestration of high-Z materials compared to their colder Solar System siblings. Said warm and hot atmospheres are expected to be more representative of the planetary bulk composition. Observations of these warm/hot exoplanets, and in particular of their elemental composition (especially C, O, N, S, Si), will allow the understanding of the early stages of planetary and atmospheric formation during the nebular phase and the following few million years. ARIEL will thus provide a representative picture of the chemical nature of the exoplanets and relate this directly to the type and chemical environment of the host star. ARIEL is designed as a dedicated survey mission for combined-light spectroscopy, capable of observing a large and well-defined planet sample within its 4-year mission lifetime. Transit, eclipse and phase-curve spectroscopy methods, whereby the signal from the star and planet are differentiated using knowledge of the planetary ephemerides, allow us to measure atmospheric signals from the planet at levels of 10–100 part per million (ppm) relative to the star and, given the bright nature of targets, also allows more sophisticated techniques, such as eclipse mapping, to give a deeper insight into the nature of the atmosphere. These types of observations require a stable payload and satellite platform with broad, instantaneous wavelength coverage to detect many molecular species, probe the thermal structure, identify clouds and monitor the stellar activity. The wavelength range proposed covers all the expected major atmospheric gases from e.g. H2O, CO2, CH4 NH3, HCN, H2S through to the more exotic metallic compounds, such as TiO, VO, and condensed species. Simulations of ARIEL performance in conducting exoplanet surveys have been performed – using conservative estimates of mission performance and a full model of all significant noise sources in the measurement – using a list of potential ARIEL targets that incorporates the latest available exoplanet statistics. The conclusion at the end of the Phase A study, is that ARIEL – in line with the stated mission objectives – will be able to observe about 1000 exoplanets depending on the details of the adopted survey strategy, thus confirming the feasibility of the main science objectives.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Preliminary data revealing efficacy of Streptococcus salivarius K12 (SSK12) in Periodic Fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis, and cervical Adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome: A multicenter study from the AIDA Network PFAPA syndrome registry

Objective: To evaluate the potential role of Streptococcus salivarius K12 (SSK12) in controlling febrile flares in patients with Periodic Fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis, and cervical Adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome. Further aims were to assess the impact of SSK12 on (i) flare duration, (ii) variation in the degree of the highest body temperature during flares, (iii) steroid-sparing effect, and (iv) change of PFAPA accompanying symptoms before and after SSK12 introduction. Patients and methods: The medical charts from 85 pediatric patients with PFAPA syndrome (49 males and 36 females) enrolled in the AIDA registry and treated with SSK12 for a median period of 6.00 ± 7.00 months in the period between September 2017 and May 2022 were examined. Children recruited had a median time of disease duration of 19.00 ± 28.00 months. Results: The number of febrile flares significantly decreased comparing the 12 months before [median (IQR), 13.00 (6.00)] and after SSK12 initiation [median (IQR), 5.50 (8.00), p &lt; 0.001]. The duration of fever was significantly reduced from 4.00 (2.00) days to 2.00 (2.00) days [p &lt; 0.001]. Similarly, the highest temperature in°C was found significantly lower in the last follow-up assessment [median (IQR), 39.00 (1.00)] compared to the period prior to SSK12 start [median (IQR), 40.00 (1.00), p &lt; 0.001]. Steroid load (mg/year) of betamethasone (or any equivalent steroid) significantly decreased between 12 months before treatment with SSK12 [median (IQR), 5.00 (8.00) mg/year] and the last follow-up visit [median (IQR), 2.00 (4.00) mg/year, p &lt; 0.001]. The number of patients experiencing symptoms including pharyngitis/tonsillitis (p &lt; 0.001), oral aphthae (p &lt; 0.001) and cervical lymphadenopathy (p &lt; 0.001) significantly decreased following SSK12. Conclusion: SSK12 prophylaxis given for at least 6.00 months was found to reduce febrile flares of PFAPA syndrome: in particular, it halved the total number per year of fever flares, shortened the duration of the single febrile episode, lowered body temperature by 1°C in the febrile flare, provided a steroid-sparing effect, and significantly reduced the accompanying symptoms related to the syndrome

The “Diabetes Comorbidome”: A Different Way for Health Professionals to Approach the Comorbidity Burden of Diabetes

(1) Background: The disease burden related to diabetes is increasing greatly, particularly in older subjects. A more comprehensive approach towards the assessment and management of diabetes’ comorbidities is necessary. The aim of this study was to implement our previous data identifying and representing the prevalence of the comorbidities, their association with mortality, and the strength of their relationship in hospitalized elderly patients with diabetes, developing, at the same time, a new graphic representation model of the comorbidome called “Diabetes Comorbidome”. (2) Methods: Data were collected from the RePoSi register. Comorbidities, socio-demographic data, severity and comorbidity indexes (Cumulative Illness rating Scale CIRS-SI and CIRS-CI), and functional status (Barthel Index), were recorded. Mortality rates were assessed in hospital and 3 and 12 months after discharge. (3) Results: Of the 4714 hospitalized elderly patients, 1378 had diabetes. The comorbidities distribution showed that arterial hypertension (57.1%), ischemic heart disease (31.4%), chronic renal failure (28.8%), atrial fibrillation (25.6%), and COPD (22.7%), were the more frequent in subjects with diabetes. The graphic comorbidome showed that the strongest predictors of death at in hospital and at the 3-month follow-up were dementia and cancer. At the 1-year follow-up, cancer was the first comorbidity independently associated with mortality. (4) Conclusions: The “Diabetes Comorbidome” represents the perfect instrument for determining the prevalence of comorbidities and the strength of their relationship with risk of death, as well as the need for an effective treatment for improving clinical outcomes