High-resolution kinetic energy release distributions and dissociation energies for fullerene ions C(n)(+), 42 \u3c= n \u3c= 90

We have measured the kinetic energy released in the unimolecular dissociation of fullerene ions, C(n)(+)--\u3eC(n-2)(+)+C(2), for sizes 42less than or equal tonless than or equal to90. A three-sector-field mass spectrometer equipped with two electric sectors has been used in order to ensure that contributions from isotopomers of different masses do not distort the experimental kinetic energy release distributions. We apply the concept of microcanonical temperature to derive from these data the dissociation energies of fullerene cations. They are converted to dissociation energies of neutral fullerenes with help of published adiabatic ionization energies. The results are compared with literature values. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics

Music regulators in two string quartets: a comparison of communicative behaviors between low- and high-stress performance conditions

In ensemble performances, group members use particular bodily behaviors as a sort of “language” to supplement the lack of verbal communication. This article focuses on music regulators, which are defined as signs to other group members for coordinating performance. The following two music regulators are considered: body gestures for articulating attacks (a set of movements externally directed that are used to signal entrances in performance) and eye contact. These regulators are recurring observable behaviors that play an important role in non-verbal communication among ensemble members. To understand how they are used by chamber musicians, video recordings of two string quartet performances (Quartet A performing Bartók and Quartet B performing Haydn) were analyzed under two conditions: a low stress performance (LSP), undertaken in a rehearsal setting, and a high stress performance (HSP) during a public recital. The results provide evidence for more emphasis in gestures for articulating attacks (i.e., the perceived strength of a performed attack-type body gesture) during HSP than LSP. Conversely, no significant differences were found for the frequency of eye contact between HSP and LSP. Moreover, there was variability in eye contact during HSP and LSP, showing that these behaviors are less standardized and may change according to idiosyncratic performance conditions. Educational implications are discussed for improving interpersonal communication skills during ensemble performance

Numerical simulation of the thermal fragmentation process in fullerene C60

The processes of defect formation and annealing in fullerene C60 at T=(4000-6000)K are studied by the molecular dynamics technique with a tight-binding potential. The cluster lifetime until fragmentation due to the loss of a C2 dimer has been calculated as a function of temperature. The activation energy and the frequency factor in the Arrhenius equation for the fragmentation rate have been found to be Ea = (9.2 +- 0.4) eV and A = (8 +- 1)10^{19} 1/s. It is shown that fragmentation can occur after the C60 cluster loses its spherical shape. This fact must be taken into account in theoretical calculations of Ea.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Nutrient intake during pregnancy and adherence to dietary recommendations: The mediterranean phime cohort

Few studies provide a detailed description of dietary habits during pregnancy, despite the central role of nutrition for the health of the mother and offspring. This paper describes the dietary habits, energy and nutrient intake in pregnant women from four countries belonging to the Mediterranean PHIME cohort (Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia) and evaluates their adherence to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommendations. A total of 1436 women were included in the present analysis. Maternal diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The mean macro and micronutrient intakes were estimated and compared with the dietary reference values (DRVs). The percentage distribution of the 16 food groups in the total intake of each macronutrient was estimated. All women shared a similar diet during pregnancy; almost all the women in the four countries exceeded the DRV for sugars, and the total fat intake was above the DRV in most women in all the countries, as was the contribution of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) to the total energy intake. In all four countries, we observed an increased risk of micronutrient deficiency for iron, folate and vitamin D. Shared guidelines, implemented at both the national and European level, are essential to improve the maternal nutritional status during pregnancy

Il consolidamento degli apparati decorativi mediante dispositivi a memoria di forma: il progetto di ricerca sui dipinti murali di via dell’Abbondanza a Pompei

Il progetto di ricerca, iniziato durante il cantiere di restauro, recentemente concluso, ha riguardato gli interventi di consolidamento, conservazione e restauro su alcune facciate delle antiche botteghe di via dell'Abbondanza (Regio IX, Insulae 7 e 11) nel sito archeolo-gico di Pompei. Questi fronti sono caratterizzati da alcuni dei dipinti murali più importanti e le iscrizioni elettorali. Il progetto denominato “Da Asellina a Verecundus: ricerca, restauro e monitoraggio sulle pitture di alcune celebri botteghe di via dell'Abbondanza a Pompei (Regio IX, Insulae 7 e 11)” nato dalla collaborazione fra la Soprintendenza Ar-cheologica di Pompei, la Facoltà di Architettura Valle Giulia dell’Università di Roma La Sapienza, la Facoltà di Architettura e il Centro DIAPReM dell’Università di Ferrara e la II Facoltà di Ingegneria (sede di Forlì) dell’Università di Bologna, con l’obiettivo della salva-guardia di alcune strutture architettoniche e degli apparati pittorici e decorativi fra i più importanti di tutta la città. L’intervento di restauro, in particolare, ha riguardato alcune botteghe poste sul braccio del decumano massimo compreso fra il Foro e Porta Sarno. Tali facciate, riportate alla luce durante gli scavi condotti nel 1912 da Vittorio Spinazzola, appartengono all’officina coactiliaria (Regio IX, VII, 7-5); ad una casa privata (Regio IX, VII, 3); all’officina infectoria (Regio IX, VII, 2); all’officina coactiliaria (Regio IX, VII,1); al compitum (Regio IX, XI, 1); al thermopolium di Asellina, rivendita di bevande calde (Regio IX, XI, 2). Una sezione del progetto di ricerca ha riguardato la sperimentazione di nuovi dispositivi tecnologici finalizzati al restauro di pitture murali e basati su leghe a memoria di forma (SMA) per risolvere i problemi di consolidamento altrimenti risolto per mezzo di non-reversibile o invadente metodologie. Una delle applicazioni innovative di questi dispositivi riguarda il movimento delle lastre in policarbonato in grado di proteggere le pit-ture murali. Il particolare contesto del progetto di ricerca è collocato sul confine tra l'area scavata e l'area ancora sepolta, così, è stato particolarmente interessante mettere a fuoco le ricerche sul consolidamento delle decorazioni e pitture murali, anche attraverso lo studio delle interventi di Vittorio Spinazzola durante i lavori di scavo, all'inizio del XX secolo

Estrogen-Eluting Stents

Coronary stenting is routinely utilized to treat symptomatic obstructive coronary artery disease. However, the efficacy of bare metal coronary stents has been historically limited by restenosis, which is primarily due to excessive neointima formation. Drug-eluting stents (DES) are composed of a stainless steel backbone encompassed by a polymer in which a variety of drugs that inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation and excessive neointima formation are incorporated. DES have significantly reduced the incidence of restenosis but are also associated with a small (~0.5% per year) but significant risk of late stent thrombosis. In that regard, estrogen-eluting stents have also undergone clinical evaluation in reducing restenosis with the additional potential benefit of enhancing reendothelialization of the stent surface to reduce stent thrombosis. Estrogen directly promotes vasodilatation, enhances endothelial healing, and prevents smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation. Due to these mechanisms, estrogen has been postulated to reduce neointimal hyperplasia without delaying endothelial healing. In animal studies, estrogen treatment was effective in decreasing neointimal hyperplasia after both balloon angioplasty and stenting regardless of the method of drug delivery. The first uncontrolled human study using estrogen-coated stents demonstrated acceptable efficacy in reducing late lumen loss. However, subsequent randomized clinical trials did not show superiority of estrogen-eluting stents over bare metal stents or DES. Further studies are required to determine optimal dose and method of estrogen delivery with coronary stenting and whether this approach will be a viable alternative to the current DES armamentarium

Contemporary snapshot of tumor regression grade (TRG) distribution in locally advanced rectal cancer: a cross sectional multicentric experience.

Pre-operative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgical resection is still the standard treatment for locally advanced low rectal cancer. Nowadays new strategies are emerging to treat patients with a complete response to pre-operative treatment, rendering the optimal management still controversial and under debate. The primary aim of this study was to obtain a snapshot of tumor regression grade (TRG) distribution after standard CRT. Second, we aimed to identify a correlation between clinical tumor stage (cT) and TRG, and to define the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the restaging setting. Between January 2017 and June 2019, a cross sectional multicentric study was performed in 22 referral centers of colon-rectal surgery including all patients with cT3-4Nx/cTxN1-2 rectal cancer who underwent pre-operative CRT. Shapiro-Wilk test was used for continuous data. Categorical variables were compared with Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test, where appropriate. Accuracy of restaging MRI in the identification of pathologic complete response (pCR) was determined evaluating the correspondence with the histopathological examination of surgical specimens.In the present study, 689 patients were enrolled. Complete tumor regression rate was 16.9%. The "watch and wait" strategy was applied in 4.3% of TRG4 patients. A clinical correlation between more advanced tumors and moderate to absent tumor regression was found (p = 0.03). Post-neoadjuvant MRI had low sensibility (55%) and high specificity (83%) with accuracy of 82.8% in identifying TRG4 and pCR.Our data provided a contemporary description of the effects of pre-operative CRT on a large pool of locally advanced low rectal cancer patients treated in different colon-rectal surgical centers

Prediction models for public health containment measures on covid-19 using artificial intelligence and machine learning: A systematic review

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have expanded their utilization in different fields of medicine. During the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, AI and ML were also applied for the evaluation and/or implementation of public health interventions aimed to flatten the epidemiolog-ical curve. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of AI and ML when applied to public health interventions to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Our findings showed that quarantine should be the best strategy for containing COVID-19. Nationwide lockdown also showed positive impact, whereas social distancing should be considered to be effective only in com-bination with other interventions including the closure of schools and commercial activities and the limitation of public transportation. Our findings also showed that all the interventions should be initiated early in the pandemic and continued for a sustained period. Despite the study limitation, we concluded that AI and ML could be of help for policy makers to define the strategies for containing the COVID-19 pandemic