3,661 research outputs found
Thermochemical stability: A comparison between experimental and predicted data
The first step to be performed during the development of a new industrial process should be the assessment of all hazards associated to the involved compounds. Particularly, the knowledge of all substances thermochemical parameters is a primary feature for such a hazard evaluation. CHETAH (CHEmical Thermodynamic And Hazard evaluation) is a prediction software suitable for calculating potential hazards of chemicals, mixtures or a single reaction that, using only the structure of the involved molecules and Benson's group contribution method, is able to calculate heats of formation, entropies, Gibbs free energies and reaction enthalpies. Because of its ability to predict the potential hazards of a material or mixture, CHETAH is part of the so-called \u201cdesktop methods\u201d for early stage chemical safety analysis.
In this work, CHETAH software has been used to compile a complete risk database reporting heats of decomposition and Energy Release Potential (ERP) for 342 common use chemicals. These compounds have been gathered into classes depending on their functional groups and similarities in their thermal behavior. Calculated decomposition enthalpies for each of the compounds have also been compared with experimental data obtained with either thermoanalytic or calorimetric techniques (Differential Scanning Calorimeter \u2013 DSC \u2013 and Accelerating Rate Calorimeter \u2013 ARC)
Discovery of the supernova remnant G351.0-5.4
Context. While searching the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) for diffuse radio
emission, we have serendipitously discovered extended radio emission close to
the Galactic plane. The radio morphology suggests the presence of a previously
unknown Galactic supernova remnant. An unclassified {\gamma}-ray source
detected by EGRET (3EG J1744-3934) is present in the same location and may stem
from the interaction between high-speed particles escaping the remnant and the
surrounding interstellar medium.
Aims. Our aim is to confirm the presence of a previously unknown supernova
remnant and to determine a possible association with the {\gamma}-ray emission
3EG J1744-3934.
Methods. We have conducted optical and radio follow-ups of the target using
the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on the Blanco telescope at Cerro Tololo
Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) and the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope
(GMRT). We then combined these data with archival radio and {\gamma}-ray
observations.
Results. While we detected the extended emission in four different radio
bands (325, 1400, 2417, and 4850 MHz), no optical counterpart has been
identified. Given its morphology and brightness, it is likely that the radio
emission is caused by an old supernova remnant no longer visible in the optical
band. Although an unclassified EGRET source is co-located with the supernova
remnant, Fermi-LAT data do not show a significant {\gamma}-ray excess that is
correlated with the radio emission. However, in the radial distribution of the
{\gamma}-ray events, a spatially extended feature is related with SNR at a
confidence level {\sigma}.
Conclusions. We classify the newly discovered extended emission in the radio
band as the old remnant of a previously unknown Galactic supernova: SNR
G351.0-5.4.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, accepted A&
increased endothelin 1 mediated vasoconstrictor tone in human obesity effects of gut hormones
The heavy impact of obesity on the development and progression of cardiovascular disease has sparked sustained efforts to uncover the mechanisms linking excess adiposity to vascular dysfunction. Impaired vasodilator reactivity has been recognized as an early hemodynamic abnormality in obese patients, but also increased vasoconstrictor tone importantly contributes to their vascular damage. In particular, upregulation of the endothelin (ET)-1 system, consistently reported in these patients, might accelerate atherosclerosis and its complication, given the pro-inflammatory and mitogenic properties of ET-1. In recent years, a number of gut hormones, in addition to their role as modulators of food intake, energy balance, glucose and lipid metabolism, and insulin secretion and action, have demonstrated favorable vascular actions. They increase the bioavailability of vasodilator mediators like nitric oxide, but they have also been shown to inhibit the ET-1 system. These features make gut hormones promising tools for targeting both the metabolic and cardiovascular complications of obesity, a view supported by recent large-scale clinical trials indicating that novel drugs for type 2 diabetes with cardiovascular potential may translate into clinically significant advantages. Therefore, there is real hope that better understanding of the properties of gut-derived substances might provide more effective therapies for the obesity-related cardiometabolic syndrome
Evolutionary vaccination dilemma in complex networks
In this work we analyze the evolution of voluntary vaccination in networked populations by entangling the spreading dynamics of an influenza-like disease with an evolutionary framework taking place at the end of each influenza season so that individuals take or do not take the vaccine upon their previous experience. Our framework thus puts in competition two well-known dynamical properties of scale-free networks: the fast propagation of diseases and the promotion of cooperative behaviors. Our results show that when vaccine is perfect, scale-free networks enhance the vaccination behavior with respect to random graphs with homogeneous connectivity patterns. However, when imperfection appears we find a crossover effect so that the number of infected (vaccinated) individuals increases (decreases) with respect to homogeneous networks, thus showing the competition between the aforementioned properties of scale-free graphs
Random Topologies and the emergence of cooperation: the role of short-cuts
We study in detail the role of short-cuts in promoting the emergence of
cooperation in a network of agents playing the Prisoner's Dilemma Game (PDG).
We introduce a model whose topology interpolates between the one-dimensional
euclidean lattice (a ring) and the complete graph by changing the value of one
parameter (the probability p to add a link between two nodes not already
connected in the euclidean configuration). We show that there is a region of
values of p in which cooperation is largely enhanced, whilst for smaller values
of p only a few cooperators are present in the final state, and for p
\rightarrow 1- cooperation is totally suppressed. We present analytical
arguments that provide a very plausible interpretation of the simulation
results, thus unveiling the mechanism by which short-cuts contribute to promote
(or suppress) cooperation
Chronic Neovascular Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: A Stress/Rest Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study
Half versus full vacuum suction drainage after modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer- a prospective randomized clinical trial[ISRCTN24484328]
BACKGROUND: Suction drains are routinely used after modified radical mastectomy and are an important factor contributing to increased hospital stay as the patients are often discharged only after their removal. Amongst various factors that influence the amount of postoperative drainage, the negative suction pressure applied to the drain has been reported to be of great significance. While a high negative suction pressure is expected to drain the collection and reduce the dead space promptly, it may also prevent the leaking lymphatics from closing and lead to increased drainage from the wound. Against this background a prospective randomized clinical study was conducted to compare the amount and duration of drainage between a half negative suction and full vacuum suction drainage in patients following modified radical mastectomy. The associated postoperative morbidity was also compared between the two groups. METHODS: 85 FNAC (fine needle aspiration cytology) proven cases of locally advanced breast cancer were randomized. (Using randomly ordered sealed envelops, which were opened immediately before the closure of the wound) in to 50 patients with full vacuum suction (pressure = 700 g/m2) and 35 cases in to half vacuum suction drainage (pressure = 350 g/m2) groups. The two groups were comparable in respect of age, weight, and technique of operation and extent of axillary dissection. Surgery was performed by the same surgical team comprising of five surgeons (two senior and three resident surgeons) using a standardized technique with electrocautery. External compression dressing was provided over the axilla for first 48 hrs and following that patients were encouraged to do active and passive shoulder exercises. The outcomes measured were postoperative morbidity and the length of hospital stay. Statistical methods used: Descriptive studies were performed with SPSS version 10 and group characteristics were compared using student t-test. RESULTS: Half vacuum suction drains were removed earlier than the full suction vacuum suction drains. There was no significant difference in the incidence of seroma formation in the two groups and there was a significant reduction in the total hospital stay in patients with half vacuum suction drainage systems as compared to the full suction drainage group (p < 0.001) without any added morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Half negative suction drains provide an effective compromise between no suction and full or high suction drainage after modified radical mastectomy by reducing the hospital stay and the post operative morbidity including post operative seromas
Sviluppo e convalida di una procedura sicura per lo scale-up di processi chimici che coinvolgono reazioni fuggitive
- …