48 research outputs found
Nuclear obscuration in the high-ionization Seyfert 2 galaxy Tol 0109-383
We report the BeppoSAX detection of a hard X-ray excess in the X-ray spectrum
of the classical high-ionization Seyfert 2 galaxy Tol0109-383. The X-ray
emission of this source observed below 7 keV is dominated by reflection from
both cold and ionized gas, as seen in the ASCA data. The excess hard X-ray
emission is presumably due to the central source absorbed by an optically thick
obscuring torus with N(H)~2e24 cm-2. The strong cold X-ray reflection, if it is
produced at the inner surface of the torus, is consistent with the picture
where much of the inner nucleus of Tol0109-383 is exposed to direct view, as
indicated by optical and infrared properties. However, the X-ray absorption
must occur at small radii in order to hide the central X-ray source but leave
the optical high-ionization emission line region unobscured. This may also be
the case for objects like the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk231.Comment: 7 pages, MNRAS in pres
A marine biogenic source of atmospheric ice nucleating particles
The amount of ice present in clouds can affect cloud lifetime, precipitation and radiative properties1,2. The formation of ice in clouds is facilitated by the presence of airborne ice nucleating particles1,2. Sea spray is one of the major global sources of atmospheric particles, but it is unclear to what extent these particles are capable of nucleating ice3-11. Sea spray aerosol contains large amounts of organic material that is ejected into the atmosphere during bubble bursting at the organically enriched sea-air interface or sea surface microlayer12-19. Here we show that organic material in the sea surface microlayer nucleates ice under conditions relevant for mixed-phase cloud and high-altitude ice cloud formation. The ice nucleating material is likely biogenic and less than ~0.2 ÎĽm in size. We find that exudates separated from cells of the marine diatom T. Pseudonana nucleate ice and propose that organic material associated with phytoplankton cell exudates is a likely candidate for the observed ice nucleating ability of the microlayer samples. Global model simulations of marine organic aerosol in combination with our measurements suggest that marine organic material may be an important source of ice nucleating particles in remote marine environments such as the Southern Ocean, North Pacific and North Atlantic
Compton Thick AGN: the dark side of the X-ray background
The spectrum of the hard X-ray background records the history of accretion
processes integrated over the cosmic time. Several pieces of observational and
theoretical evidence indicate that a significant fraction of the energy density
is obscured by large columns of gas and dust. The absorbing matter is often
very thick, with column densities exceeding N_H > 1.5 10^24 cm-2, the value
corresponding to unity optical depth for Compton scattering. These sources are
called ``Compton thick'' and appear to be very numerous, at least in the nearby
universe. Although Compton thick Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are thought to
provide an important contribution to the overall cosmic energy budget, their
space density and cosmological evolution are poorly known. The properties of
Compton thick AGN are reviewed here, with particular emphasis on their
contributions to the extragalactic background light in the hard X-ray and
infrared bands.Comment: 28 pages, 10 figures. Review for "Supermassive Black Holes in the
Distant Universe", Ed. A. J. Barger, Kluwer Academi
Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy
IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical
attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced
colorectal cancers at diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced
oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all
17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December
31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period),
in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was
30 days from surgery.
EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery,
palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer
at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as
cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding,
lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery,
and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes
was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster
variable.
RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years)
underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142
(56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was
significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR],
1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic
lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the
SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients
undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for
these patients
Chromium hazard and risk assessment: new insights from a detailed speciation study in a standard test medium
Despite the consensus about the importance of chemical speciation in controlling the bioavailability and ecotoxicity of trace elements, detailed speciation studies during laboratory ecotoxicity testing remain scarce, contributing to uncertainty when extrapolating laboratory findings to real field situations in risk assessment. We characterized the speciation and ecotoxicological effects of CrIII and CrVI in the OECD medium for algal ecotoxicity testing. Total and dissolved (< 0.22 µm) Cr concentrations showed little variability in media spiked with CrVI, while dissolved Cr concentration decreased by as much as 80% over 72 hours in medium amended with CrIII. Analyses by ion chromatography ICP-MS highlighted the absence of redox interconversion between CrIII or CrVI both in the presence and absence of algal cells (Raphidocelis subcapitata). Furthermore, the concentration of ionic CrIII dropped below detection limits in less than 2 hours with the corresponding formation of carbonate complexes and Cr hydroxides. Precipitation of CrIII in the form of colloidal particles of variable diameters was confirmed by nanoparticle tracking analysis, spICP-MS and single particle counting. In terms of time weighted dissolved (< 0.22 µm) Cr concentration, CrIII was 4 to 10 times more toxic than CrVI. However, CrIII ecotoxicity could arise from interactions between free ionic CrIII and algae at the beginning of the test, from the presence of Cr-bearing nanoparticles or a combination of the two. Future ecotoxicological studies must pay more attention to Cr speciation to reliably compare the ecotoxicity of CrIII and CrVI