87 research outputs found
Strong interfacial exchange field in the graphene/EuS heterostructure
Exploiting 2D materials for spintronic applications can potentially realize
next-generation devices featuring low-power consumption and quantum operation
capability. The magnetic exchange field (MEF) induced by an adjacent magnetic
insulator enables efficient control of local spin generation and spin
modulation in 2D devices without compromising the delicate material structures.
Using graphene as a prototypical 2D system, we demonstrate that its coupling to
the model magnetic insulator (EuS) produces a substantial MEF (> 14 T) with
potential to reach hundreds of Tesla, which leads to orders-of-magnitude
enhancement in the spin signal originated from Zeeman spin-Hall effect.
Furthermore, the new ferromagnetic ground state of Dirac electrons resulting
from the strong MEF may give rise to quantized spin-polarized edge transport.
The MEF effect shown in our graphene/EuS devices therefore provides a key
functionality for future spin logic and memory devices based on emerging 2D
materials in classical and quantum information processing
HEREDITARY BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER SYNDROME: FREQUENCY AND DISTRIBUTION OF BRCA1/2 PATHOGENIC VARIANTS IN SICILIAN POPULATION
Role of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in local complications of acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis (AP) represents a pancreas inflammation of sudden onset that can present different degrees of severity. AP is a frequent cause of acute abdomen and its complications are still a cause of death. Biliary calculosis and alcohol abuse are the most frequent cause of AP. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not necessary for the diagnosis of AP but they are fundamental tools for the identification of the cause, degree severity and AP complications. AP severity assessment is in fact one of the most important issue in disease management. Contrast-enhanced CT is preferred in the emergency setting and is considered the gold standard in patients with AP. MRI is comparable to CT for the diagnosis of AP but requires much more time so it is not usually chosen in the emergency scenario. Complications of AP can be distinguished in localized and generalized. Among the localized complications, we can identify: acute peripancreatic fluid collections (APFC), pseudocysts, acute necrotic collections (ANC), walled off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN), venous thrombosis, pseudoaneurysms and haemorrhage. Multiple organ failure syndrome (MOFS) and sepsis are possible generalized complications of AP. In this review, we focus on CT and MRI findings in local complications of AP and when and how to perform CT and MRI. We paid also attention to recent developments in diagnostic classification of AP complications
46 Measurements of Reactive Oxygen Species production induced by Gold Nanoparticles in Radiotherapy protocols
Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in families from southern Italy (Sicily)—Prevalence and geographic distribution of pathogenic variants in BRCA1/2 genes
Recent advances in the detection of germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in BRCA1/2 genes have allowed a deeper understanding of the BRCA-related cancer risk. Several studies showed a significant heterogeneity in the prevalence of PVs across different populations. Because little is known about this in the Sicilian population, our study was aimed at investigating the prevalence and geographic distribution of inherited BRCA1/2 PVs in families from this specific geographical area of Southern Italy. We retrospectively collected and analyzed all clinical information of 1346 hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer patients genetically tested for germline BRCA1/2 PVs at University Hospital Policlinico “P. Giaccone” of Palermo from January 1999 to October 2019. Thirty PVs were more frequently observed in the Sicilian population but only some of these showed a specific territorial prevalence, unlike other Italian and European regions. This difference could be attributed to the genetic heterogeneity of the Sicilian people and its historical background. Therefore hereditary breast and ovarian cancers could be predominantly due to BRCA1/2 PVs different from those usually detected in other geographical areas of Italy and Europe. Our investigation led us to hypothesize that a higher prevalence of some germline BRCA PVs in Sicily could be a population-specific genetic feature of BRCA-positive carriers
DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF IXIP INDEX AND PROSTATE MRI IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PROSTATE CANCER: PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON A COMBINED APPROACH
The purpose of this study was to assess whether Immune CompleX Predictive Index (iXip) improves diagnostic accuracy of multiparametric prostate MRI (mpMRI) for clinically significant prostate cancer. This study included 72 patients (mean age: 68±8 years) with suspicion of prostate cancer and available iXip score. mpMRI images were evaluated by two radiologists according to the PI-RADS v2.1. Reference standard was based on fusion biopsy and standard transperineal 12-point biopsy. Diagnostic accuracy of iXip, mpMRI and their combination were calculated. Optimal cutoff of iXip with sensitivity and specificity was identified using the Youden index. Patients with clinically significant prostate cancers had significantly higher iXip values compared to patients without clinically significant prostate cancers (median 0.411 vs 0.273; p=0.026). The AUROC for iXip was 0.795 (95% CI 0.579-1.000, p=0.026). Sensitivity and specificity were 75% and 100% respectively for mpMRI alone, and 100% and 80% respectively for mpMRI combined with iXip > 0.375. The combination of mpMRI with a cutoff value of iXip > 0.375 has a very high sensitivity for the diagnosis of prostate cancer and a moderately high specificity
A Literature Survey of Information Systems Facilitating the Identification of Industrial Symbiosis
Improving Pulse Oximetry Accuracy by Removing Motion Artifacts from Photoplethysmograms Using Relative Sensor Motion: A Preliminary Study
Pregnancy rate in lactating Bos indicus cows subjected to fixed-time artificial insemination and treated with different follicular growth inducers
No evidence of association between prothrombotic gene polymorphisms and the development of acute myocardial infarction at a young age
Background : we investigated the association between 9 polymorphisms of genes encoding hemostasis factors and
myocardial infarction in a large sample of young patients chosen because they have less coronary atherosclerosis than
older patients, and thus their disease is more likely to be related to a genetic predisposition to a prothrombotic state Methods and Results : this nationwide case-control study involved 1210 patients who had survived a first myocardial infarction at an age of 45 years who underwent coronary arteriography in 125 coronary care units and 1210 healthy subjects matched for age, sex, and geographical origin. None of the 9 polymorphisms of genes encoding proteins involved in coagulation (G-455A -fibrinogen: OR, 1.0; CI, 0.8 to 1.2; G1691A factor V: OR, 1.1; CI, 0.6 to 2.1; G20210A factor II: OR, 1.0; CI, 0.5 to 1.9; and G10976A factor VII: OR, 1.0; CI, 0.8 to 1.3), platelet function (C807T
glycoprotein Ia: OR, 1.1; CI, 0.9 to 1.3; and C1565T glycoprotein IIIa: OR, 0.9; CI, 0.8 to 1.2), fibrinolysis (G185T factor XIII: OR, 1.2; CI, 0.9 to 1.6; and 4G/5G plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1: OR, 0.9; CI, 0.7 to 1.2), or homocysteine metabolism (C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase: OR, 0.9; CI, 0.8 to 1.1) were associated with an increased or decreased risk of myocardial infarction Conclusions : this study provides no evidence supporting an association between 9 polymorphisms of genes encoding proteins involved in hemostasis and the occurrence of premature myocardial infarction or protection against it
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