Measurement of the atmospheric muon depth intensity relation with the NEMO Phase-2 tower

The results of the analysis of the data collected with the NEMO Phase-2 tower, deployed at 3500 m depth about 80 km off-shore Capo Passero (Italy), are presented. Cherenkov photons detected with the photomultipliers tubes were used to reconstruct the tracks of atmospheric muons. Their zenith-angle distribution was measured and the results compared with Monte Carlo simulations. An evaluation of the systematic effects due to uncertainties on environmental and detector parameters is also included. The associated depth intensity relation was evaluated and compared with previous measurements and theoretical predictions. With the present analysis, the muon depth intensity relation has been measured up to 13 km of water equivalent.Comment: submitted to Astroparticle Physic

The global financial crisis and developing countries

When the global financial crisis broke out in earnest in September 2008, it quickly became clear that developing countries would also be affected, but that the impacts would vary markedly. The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) coordinated a multi-country study over January-March 2009 involving developing country teams in 10 countries. This showed that, while the transmission mechanisms were similar in each (trade, private capital flows, remittances, aid), the effects varied by country, and much was not yet visible. As such, further country-specific monitoring was required. Most findings suggested that, as a result of time lags, the worst effects were yet to come. This synthesis of the effects of the global financial crisis on developing countries updates the description of the economic and social situation during the course of the crisis in 11 countries

Primary osteogenic sarcoma and osteogenic metaplastic carcinoma of the breast. Immunocytochemical identification in fine needle aspirates.

Pleomorphic spindle cells, osteoclastlike giant cells and plaques of osteoidlike material were the cytologic features observed in fine needle aspirates of the breast tumors from two patients. This cytologic pattern suggested a diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma, a rare neoplasm in the breast. Immunoperoxidase staining performed on the original smears showed reactivity for vimentin in both cases. One tumor was also positive for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA); reactivity for this marker revealed the metaplastic nature of the sarcomatous cells in this tumor, suggesting a diagnosis of metaplastic carcinoma. Histologically, both tumors showed a sarcomatous pattern, with osteoid and chondroid formation, with no evidence of epithelial differentiation. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against epithelial and mesenchymal markers used in tissue sections confirmed the immunophenotypes identified cytologically. Based on the immunochemical findings, the final diagnoses were osteogenic sarcoma of the breast in one case and osteogenic metaplastic carcinoma of the breast in the second case. Both patients died of metastatic disease within one year. These cases (1) show the reliability and accuracy of the immunoperoxidase method in making a differential diagnosis of ambiguous cytologic patterns in fine needle aspirates, (2) support the occurrence of a true osteogenic sarcoma of the breast (comparable to its skeletal counterpart) and (3) demonstrate that metaplastic carcinomas may closely simulate sarcomas of the breast, morphologically as well as biologically. Immunochemical staining techniques play an important role in the differential diagnosis of these neoplasms

Reliability coefficients from the Inventory of Learning patterns of Students (ILS)

Reliability coefficients of the Inventory of Learning patterns of Students (ILS; Vermunt, 1998), retrieved from articles and research reports of studies that met the eligibility criteria detailed in the prospective register: Anna Ciraso-Calí, J. Reinaldo Martínez-Fernández, Laura García Ravidà, Antonio Vega Martínez, Carla Quesada-Pallarès, Jan D. Vermunt. Reliability generalization of Vermunt’s Inventory of Learning Patterns: a meta-analysis of alpha coefficients. PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021239103 Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021239103 It contains variables that describe each study, and all the available alpha coefficients for each subscale (with the corresponding information about number of item for each subscale). It is intented to be useful for reliability generalization studies (meta-analysis of alpha coefficients)

A common variant in the patatin-like phospholipase 3 gene (PNPLA3) is associated with fatty liver disease in obese children and adolescents

The genetic factors associated with susceptibility to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in pediatric obesity remain largely unknown. Recently, a nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs738409), in the patatin-like phospholipase 3 gene (PNPLA3) has been associated with hepatic steatosis in adults. In a multiethnic group of 85 obese youths, we genotyped the PNLPA3 single-nucleotide polymorphism, measured hepatic fat content by magnetic resonance imaging and insulin sensitivity by the insulin clamp. Because PNPLA3 might affect adipogenesis/lipogenesis, we explored the putative association with the distribution of adipose cell size and the expression of some adipogenic/lipogenic genes in a subset of subjects who underwent a subcutaneous fat biopsy. Steatosis was present in 41% of Caucasians, 23% of African Americans, and 66% of Hispanics. The frequency of PNPLA3(rs738409) G allele was 0.324 in Caucasians, 0.183 in African Americans, and 0.483 in Hispanics. The prevalence of the G allele was higher in subjects showing hepatic steatosis. Surprisingly, subjects carrying the G allele showed comparable hepatic glucose production rates, peripheral glucose disposal rate, and glycerol turnover as the CC homozygotes. Carriers of the G allele showed smaller adipocytes than those with CC genotype (P = 0.005). Although the expression of PNPLA3, PNPLA2, PPARγ2(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2), SREBP1c(sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c), and ACACA(acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase) was not different between genotypes, carriers of the G allele showed lower leptin (LEP)(P = 0.03) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: A common variant of the PNPLA3 gene confers susceptibility to hepatic steatosis in obese youths without increasing the level of hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance. The rs738409 PNPLA3 G allele is associated with morphological changes in adipocyte cell size

PAH deficiency in Italy: correlation of genotype with phenotype in the Sicilian population

The results of the neonatal screening for phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency in Sicily show that its incidence is higher than previously reported for mainland Italians and that non-PKU HPA is in excess of classical and mild PKU. The latter finding suggests that a high number of non-PKU HPA mutations would occur in the Sicilian population compared to populations with an inverted PKU/non-PKU HPA ratio. Previous studies have identified 40 mutations accounting for the majority (98%) of mutant alleles underlying PAH deficiency in Sicily. In order to study the molecular basis of the distribution of PAH deficiency phenotypes in the Sicilian population, we have correlated 31 of those mutations with clinical and metabolic phenotypes in 12 mentally retarded patients, 14 treated patients with classic or mild PKU, and 13 subjects presenting the non-PKU HPA phenotype. The present study proposes a tentative classification for a large number (26) of PAH gene mutations which may represent an additional tool for establishing a differential diagnosis for PAH deficiency in the Sicilian population