GrailQuest & HERMES: Hunting for Gravitational Wave Electromagnetic Counterparts and Probing Space-Time Quantum Foam

Within Quantum Gravity theories, different models for space-time quantisation predict an energy dependent speed for photons. Although the predicted discrepancies are minuscule, GRB, occurring at cosmological distances, could be used to detect this signature of space-time granularity with a new concept of modular observatory of huge overall collecting area consisting in a fleet of small satellites in low orbits, with sub-microsecond time resolution and wide energy band (keV-MeV). The enormous number of collected photons will allow to effectively search these energy dependent delays. Moreover, GrailQuest will allow to perform temporal triangulation of high signal-to-noise impulsive events with arc-second positional accuracies: an extraordinary sensitive X-ray/Gamma all-sky monitor crucial for hunting the elusive electromagnetic counterparts of GW. A pathfinder of GrailQuest is already under development through the HERMES project: a fleet of six 3U cube-sats to be launched by 2021/22

La donazione del cordone ombelicale: l’esperienza della clinica ostetrico-ginecologica di Udine dal 2002 al 2006

Il sangue del cordone ombelicale costituisce una ricca fonte di cellule staminali emopoietiche e mesenchimali multipotenti e viene impiegato nel trattamento di numerose patologie. Lo scopo di questo studio è stato quello di valutare il lavoro svolto nella nostra Clinica nel reclutamento e nella selezione delle madri donatrici, nel periodo compreso tra gennaio 2002 e dicembre 2006 e analizzare l’esito delle donazioni di sangue cordonale. Sulla base di criteri forniti dalla Banca del Sangue di Cordone di Padova, alla quale il nostro centro fa riferimento, sono state escluse dalla donazione pazienti e coppie con familiarità per alcune patologie di rilievo. Dal 2002 al 2006 sono stati condotti 1.851 colloqui ed il numero totale di sacche idonee ed attualmente depositate presso la Banca del Sangue di Cordone di Padova con il sangue del cordone ombelicale di mamme che hanno partorito presso la nostra clinica sono 96 (6.1%)

Prepregnancy body mass index and adverse pregnancy outcomes

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between prepregnancy BMI, and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Method In this retrospective cohort study 916 consecutive singleton gestations were included who gave birth between 1 January 2006 and 31 August 2006 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Udine, Italy. Statistical analysis was performed using univaried logistic regression and measured by odds ratio. Results The obese patients had a statistically, signiWcantly increased incidence of Caesarean section (OR = 2.17, p = 0.009). Women with overweight (OR = 2.43, p = 0.002) and obese weight (OR = 4.86, p < 0.0001) were at increased risk for preterm deliveries. The pre-eclampsia and the fetal macrosomia (\ub84,000 g) were increased in obese women (OR = 5.68, p < 0.0001; OR = 2.58, p = 0.033, respectively). Conclusion Maternal prepregnancy obesity is signiWcantly associated with increased risk of Caesarean section, preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia and macrosomia