The ways of the lustre: looking for the tunisian connection

Recent excavations at the Fatimid and Zirid site of Sabra al-Mansuriya near Kairouan (Tunisia) provide the first evidence of lustreware production in medieval Ifriqiya, in the 10th–11th centuries AD. As the Fatimid dynasty moved from Ifriqiya to Egypt to establish its capital in Fustat (Cairo), technological connections with the Egyptian lustreware could be expected. Tunisian lustreware may also be the link in the transmission of the technique towards Muslim Spain. It represents a new piece of the puzzle of understanding the diffusion of lustre technology from the East to the West of the Mediterranean. The composition and microstructure of the bodies and glazes, and the micro- and nano-structure of the lustre layer are compared in a preliminary approach to the technological relationships between Tunisian, Egyptian, and Spanish lustrewares.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

On the design of mesostructured acidic catalysts for the one-pot dimethyl ether production from CO2

Dimethyl ether (DME) production from hydrogenation of CO2 based on two-function (redox and acidic) catalysts is receiving increasing attention due to the high demand for alternative and green fuels. In this work, we propose different mesostructured acidic metal oxides as methanol dehydration catalysts to be used as physical mixtures in combination with a commercial Cu-based redox catalyst (CZA) for the CO2-to-DME one-pot production. Al-MCM41, TiO2 and TiO2-ZrO2 mixed oxides, obtained through Sol-Gel methods, either in a conventional or Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly approach were selected as mesostructured acidic systems and compared with a commercial zeolite (ferrierite). The regular mesoporous structure should render the active sites of the acidic catalyst easily accessible for CO2 and H2 and allow a homogeneous dispersion of the redox phase inside the mesopores in view of a possible development of bifunctional catalysts (redox + acidic). With the aim of understanding how the textural and acidic properties can be correlated with the performances and eventually design efficient dehydration catalysts, a careful study on the acidic sites was performed by both adsorption microcalorimetry with ammonia and FTIR-monitored adsorption of pyridine. The results of the performances highlighted a higher activity toward methanol dehydration for catalysts featured by Bronsted sites (zeolite and Al-MCM-41); as for catalysts with Lewis sites only (TiO2, Ti0.77Zr0.23O2) better performances were shown in case of systems presenting sites of moderate strength (Ti0.77Zr0.23O2). In the light of the above, Al-MCM-41 and TiO2ZrO2 demonstrated to be the most promising mesostructured dehydration catalysts in terms of selectivity to DME

Cognitive decline and healthy aging: an online activities and psychoeducational program for older adults in the context of COVID-19 Pandemic: preliminary results

AbstractBackground: The preventive and compulsory social isolation regulations due to COVID-19 affected the entire population, but this became more emphasized in the group of older adults. Many older adults who attended workshops, retirement centers and clubs had to interrupt their activities. This has impacted negatively on their activity level, socialization, and emotional state. The aim of the present study is to present preliminary results of the implementation of an online activities and psychoeducational program to prevent cognitive decline and promote healthy aging habits on older adults who live in Argentina in the context of Covid-19 Pandemic.Method. Design: Descriptive study. Subjects: 396 self-validated older adults, male and female. Instruments: socio-demographic and social participation questionnaire. Procedure: The intervention consists of a series of workshops (yoga, meditation, gym, singing lessons, memory, preparation for retirement and reflection about grief) and monthly specialist ´s talks on different topics about healthy aging. All the activities where done through zoom platform. All participants where offer one to one capacitation and written material about how to use this platform. Older adults could choose in how many activities they would take part in.Results. Data of 396 older adults who have taken part in the on-line version of the program on 2020 indicate that median age was 70.66 years old (ds= 8,7) of which 86 % were women. 79 % took part in specialists talks and 68 % on workshops and talks.Discussion: These results provide empirical evidence regarding the need to implement online intervention programs for older adults. Participating in an online educational program could increase participant?s cognitive healthy habits literacy, empowerment and engagement in brain health promotion activities, which in turn could reduce their dementia risk and feeling of loneliness in pandemic context.Fil: Feldberg, Carolina. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Tartaglini, María Florencia. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Hermida, Paula Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Somale, Maria Veronica. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Orellano, Anabel. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Ortiz, Juan Pablo. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Teran, Claudio. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Kasten, Sergio. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: De Cara, Josefina. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Degtiar, Marina. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Langer, Camilo. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Benetti, Laureana. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Redoni, Emiliano. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Gracia, Claudia. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaAlzheimer's Association International ConferenceDenverEstados UnidosAlzheimer's Associatio

Novel algorithmic approach predicts tumor mutation load and correlates with immunotherapy clinical outcomes using a defined gene mutation set

BACKGROUND: While clinical outcomes following immunotherapy have shown an association with tumor mutation load using whole exome sequencing (WES), its clinical applicability is currently limited by cost and bioinformatics requirements. METHODS: We developed a method to accurately derive the predicted total mutation load (PTML) within individual tumors from a small set of genes that can be used in clinical next generation sequencing (NGS) panels. PTML was derived from the actual total mutation load (ATML) of 575 distinct melanoma and lung cancer samples and validated using independent melanoma (n = 312) and lung cancer (n = 217) cohorts. The correlation of PTML status with clinical outcome, following distinct immunotherapies, was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method. RESULTS: PTML (derived from 170 genes) was highly correlated with ATML in cutaneous melanoma and lung adenocarcinoma validation cohorts (R(2) = 0.73 and R(2) = 0.82, respectively). PTML was strongly associated with clinical outcome to ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4, three cohorts) and adoptive T-cell therapy (1 cohort) clinical outcome in melanoma. Clinical benefit from pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1) in lung cancer was also shown to significantly correlate with PTML status (log rank P value < 0.05 in all cohorts). CONCLUSIONS: The approach of using small NGS gene panels, already applied to guide employment of targeted therapies, may have utility in the personalized use of immunotherapy in cancer. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12916-016-0705-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Hyperuricemia and chronic kidney disease: to treat or not to treat

Hyperuricemia is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may be present in 50% of patients presenting for dialysis. Hyperuricemia can be secondary to impaired glomerular filtration rate (GFR) that occurs in CKD. However, hyperuricemia can also precede the development of kidney disease and predict incident CKD. Experimental studies of hyperuricemic models have found that both soluble and crystalline uric acid can cause significant kidney damage, characterized by ischemia, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and inflammation. However, most Mendelian randomization studies failed to demonstrate a causal relationship between uric acid and CKD, and clinical trials have had variable results. Here we suggest potential explanations for the negative clinical and genetic findings, including the role of crystalline uric acid, intracellular uric acid, and xanthine oxidase activity in uric acid-mediated kidney injury. We propose future clinical trials as well as an algorithm for treatment of hyperuricemia in patients with CKD

The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe

The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early Universe, the dynamics of the supernova bursts that produced the heavy elements necessary for life and whether protons eventually decay --- these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our Universe, its current state and its eventual fate. The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) represents an extensively developed plan for a world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions. LBNE is conceived around three central components: (1) a new, high-intensity neutrino source generated from a megawatt-class proton accelerator at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, (2) a near neutrino detector just downstream of the source, and (3) a massive liquid argon time-projection chamber deployed as a far detector deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. This facility, located at the site of the former Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota, is approximately 1,300 km from the neutrino source at Fermilab -- a distance (baseline) that delivers optimal sensitivity to neutrino charge-parity symmetry violation and mass ordering effects. This ambitious yet cost-effective design incorporates scalability and flexibility and can accommodate a variety of upgrades and contributions. With its exceptional combination of experimental configuration, technical capabilities, and potential for transformative discoveries, LBNE promises to be a vital facility for the field of particle physics worldwide, providing physicists from around the globe with opportunities to collaborate in a twenty to thirty year program of exciting science. In this document we provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess.Comment: Major update of previous version. This is the reference document for LBNE science program and current status. Chapters 1, 3, and 9 provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess. 288 pages, 116 figure

Commissioning Plan of the IFMIF-DONES Accelerator

IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility- DEMO-Oriented Neutron Early Source) - a powerful neutron irradiation facility for studies and certification of materials to be used in fusion reactors - is planned as part of the European roadmap to fusion electricity. Its main goal will be to characterize and to qualify materials under irradiation in a neutron field similar to the one faced in a fusion reactor. The intense neutron source is produced by impinging deuterons, from high-power linear deuteron accelerator, on a liquid lithium curtain. The facility has accomplished the preliminary design phase and is currently in its detailed design phase. At the present stage, it is important to have a clear understanding of how the commissioning of the facility will be performed, especially the commissioning of a 5 MW CW deuteron beam, together with the lithium curtain and the beam optimization for the neutron irradiation. In this contribution, the present plans for the hardware and beam commissioning of the accelerator will be given, focusing on the most critical aspects of the tiered approach and on the integration of the procedure with the lithium and tests systems

Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape

Wildlife must adapt to human presence to survive in the Anthropocene, so it is critical to understand species responses to humans in different contexts. We used camera trapping as a lens to view mammal responses to changes in human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across 163 species sampled in 102 projects around the world, changes in the amount and timing of animal activity varied widely. Under higher human activity, mammals were less active in undeveloped areas but unexpectedly more active in developed areas while exhibiting greater nocturnality. Carnivores were most sensitive, showing the strongest decreases in activity and greatest increases in nocturnality. Wildlife managers must consider how habituation and uneven sensitivity across species may cause fundamental differences in human–wildlife interactions along gradients of human influence.Peer reviewe

Enabling planetary science across light-years. Ariel Definition Study Report

Ariel, the Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey, was adopted as the fourth medium-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision programme to be launched in 2029. During its 4-year mission, Ariel will study what exoplanets are made of, how they formed and how they evolve, by surveying a diverse sample of about 1000 extrasolar planets, simultaneously in visible and infrared wavelengths. It is the first mission dedicated to measuring the chemical composition and thermal structures of hundreds of transiting exoplanets, enabling planetary science far beyond the boundaries of the Solar System. The payload consists of an off-axis Cassegrain telescope (primary mirror 1100 mm x 730 mm ellipse) and two separate instruments (FGS and AIRS) covering simultaneously 0.5-7.8 micron spectral range. The satellite is best placed into an L2 orbit to maximise the thermal stability and the field of regard. The payload module is passively cooled via a series of V-Groove radiators; the detectors for the AIRS are the only items that require active cooling via an active Ne JT cooler. The Ariel payload is developed by a consortium of more than 50 institutes from 16 ESA countries, which include the UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, and a NASA contribution