561 research outputs found
Collective excitations of trapped one-dimensional dipolar quantum gases
We calculate the excitation modes of a 1D dipolar quantum gas confined in a
harmonic trap with frequency and predict how the frequency of the
breathing n=2 mode characterizes the interaction strength evolving from the
Tonks-Girardeau value to the quasi-ordered, super-strongly
interacting value . Our predictions are obtained
within a hydrodynamic Luttinger-Liquid theory after applying the Local Density
Approximation to the equation of state for the homogeneous dipolar gas, which
are in turn determined from Reptation Quantum Monte Carlo simulations. They are
shown to be in quite accurate agreement with the results of a sum-rule
approach. These effects can be observed in current experiments, revealing the
Luttinger-liquid nature of 1D dipolar Bose gases.Comment: 5 pages, 2 EPS figures, RevTeX
Sportspersonship in martial arts.
Studies on psychological outcomes related to individual differences have increased showing
contradictory results, especially in martial arts. The difficulty to provide conclusive evidence for the
psychological outcomes of martial arts practice and to determine if and to what extent martial arts
trainings explain the above mentioned effects needs a more in-depth analysis of those dispositional
aspects which can impact adaptive behaviors in terms of sportspersonship. Since no studies on
sportspersonship and goal orientations has been carried out in the specific context of martial arts, the
current research aimed at examining the role of goal orientations and trait aggressiveness as predictors of
sportspersonship. A cross-sectional study was conducted. 389 Italian martial artists (Mage = 29.60, SD =
9.22) completed a questionnaire composed of four sections: a socio-anagraphic section, the
Multidimensional Sportspersonship Orientations Scale, the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport
Questionnaire, and the Aggression Questionnaire. Descriptive and casual analyses were applied to data.
The expected hypotheses were generally confirmed. Results suggested that ego orientation and trait
aggressiveness negatively predicted sportspersonship, whereas task orientation positively predicted a
sportspersonship attitude. In sum, this research contributed to a better identification of the dispositional
factors which prevent antisocial behaviors, especially in the context of martial arts
Dairy buffalo life cycle assessment (LCA) affected by a management choice: the production of wheat crop
Life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed in dairy buffalo farms representative of Southern Italian farming systems, similar due to several characteristics, with the exception of wheat production. This work evaluated the impacts derived from this management choice, comparing farms with wheat crop (WWC) or not (NWC). In agreement with the literature, economic allocation was chosen as a useful strategy to attribute equivalents to by-products, i.e., culled animals; the same criterion was also adopted to assign pollutants to wheat grain, limited to WWC farms. Environmental impacts in terms of Global Warming Potential (GWP, kg CO2 eq), Acidification Potential (AC, g SO2 eq), Eutrophication Potential (EU, g PO43- eq), Agricultural Land Occupation (ALO, m2 y) and Water Depletion (WD, m3) were estimated. The production of wheat crop significantly affected (p < 0.05) the Agricultural Land Occupation (ALO) category as WWC farms need adequate land. WWC farms could allow a significant reduction in eutrophication (EU) compared to NWC farms (p < 0.05)
Influence of seasonality on the comfort supplied by different materials used as cubicle flooring for dairy cows
The comfort provided by four different cubicle floorings was evaluated with a preference test in relation to winter and summer seasons. The test showed that polyethylene vinyl acetate and polypropylene vinyl acetate mats were preferred during winter, while solid manure and wood shavings assured more comfort than inorganic floorings during summer period. Results obtained suggest that the resting comfort of cubicle floorings may be evaluated also in relation to environmental microclimatic patterns
Errors in the arterial blood pressure measurement
ntroduction The artefacts affecting arterial wave morphology may compromise recorded values of arterial blood pressure (ABP) and can lead to therapeutic errors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the errors between invasive and noninvasive arterial pressure values, the incidence of artefacts due to an inadequate dynamic response of the transducer-tubing system, and their detection by the ICU staff. Methods Seventy-five consecutive patients (50 male, mean age 55 ± 18) admitted to the ICU for heterogeneous pathologies were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were: the presence of an intra-arterial catheter (IAC) for invasive blood pressure monitoring, and age >18 years. Pregnancy was excluded. At admission and every time the IAC was replaced we acquired invasive systolic, diastolic, and medium arterial pressure values (I-SP, I-DP, I-MP) during hemodynamic stability (variations of mean arterial pressure <10%); at the same time, noninvasive systolic and diastolic arterial pressure values (Ni-SP, Ni-DP) were measured with a sphygmomanometer at the same arm of the IAC. Noninvasive medium arterial pressure (Ni-MP) was calculated as follows: (SP + 2DP) / 3. At every time of the study, before ABP value acquisition, medical and nursing staff answered a questionnaire on the reliability of the arterial waveform. The staff could perform the fast flush test if considered appropriate. However, the fast flush test was executed by the main investigator at the end of questionnaire in all patients. Bland–Altman analysis was performed.
Results We compared 130 pairs of Ni-SP, Ni-DP and Ni-MP and I-SP, I-DP and I-MP. The mean bias between Ni-SP and I-SP was –11 mmHg (limit of agreement (LoA) –43.6 to 21.4 mmHg). The mean bias between Ni-DP and I-DP and between Ni-MP and I-MP was 6.1 mmHg (LoA –15.5 to 27.7 mmHg) and 0.37 mmHg (LoA –21.0 to 21.7 mmHg), respectively. We performed the fast flush test 130 times; an inadequate dynamic response of the transducer-tubing system was observed 55 times: in 45 cases the arterial signal was underdumped and in 10 cases was overdumped. The arterial dumping was correctly detected by the medical staff in 95% of cases, by nursing staff and postgraduates in 35% of cases.
Conclusion The bias between invasive and noninvasive ABP measure can be relevant and mislead in the therapeutic management. These errors can be avoided by identifying the artefacts that affect arterial signal and so the ICU staff must pay attention to the recognition of arterial dumping in critically ill patients
Effect of increasing dietary aminoacid concentration in late gestation on body condition and reproductive performance of hyperprolific sows
A total of 62 highly prolific Danbred sows was used to evaluate the implications of increasing dietary amino acid (AA) concentration during late gestation (from day 77 to 107 of pregnancy) on body condition and reproductive performances. Sows were assigned to one of the two treatments (n = 31, with similar number of sows in the second-, third-and fourth-cycle); control diet (containing 6 g of standardized ileal digestible lysine-SID Lys-)/kg) and high AA level (containing 10 g SID Lys/kg and following the ideal protein concept for the remaining essential AA). On day 108 of pregnancy, animals were moved to the farrowing-lactating facilities where they spent until weaning receiving a common standard lactation diet. After farrowing, litters were standardized to 13 piglets each. At 107 d of gestation, backfat depth was thicker in sows fed high AA concentration than in those fed control diet (p 0.05). Additionally, at farrowing, the litter size (p = 0.043) and weight (p = 0.017) were higher in sows fed high AA level. It can be concluded that the increase in the AA content in the feed during the last month of gestation could improve the body condition of the sows and their performance results
Effects of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 in IBS patients
Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder, which still lacks effective therapy. We aimed to investigate the effects of a novel formulation of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 with vitamin B6 (LBB) on symptoms, intestinal permeability, cultivable bacteria and metabolome in IBS subjects. Materials and methods: Twenty-five IBS patients (Rome IV criteria) (M:F = 8:17; age 48 years ± 11 SD) were randomized to treatment (LBB) or placebo (one month each) in a crossover randomized double-blind controlled trial. Symptoms, intestinal habits, disease severity, intestinal permeability and intestinal microbiota were analysed at 0, 30, 45 and 60 days. Results: Percentage decrease from baseline of abdominal pain (−48.8% vs −3.5%), bloating (−36.35% vs +7.35%) and severity of disease (−30.1% vs −0.4%) was significantly (P <.0001) greater with LBB than placebo, respectively. In IBS-D patients, the improvement from baseline of Bristol score was more consistent with LBB (from 6 ± 0.4 to 4.3 ± 1.1, P <.00001) than placebo (from 6.2 ± 0.7 to 5.3 ± 1.1, P =.04). In IBS-C patients, Bristol score tended to improve from baseline after LBB (2.6 ± 1.1 vs 3.2 ± 0.5, P =.06). LBB significantly improved the percentage of sucralose recovery (colonic permeability) (1.86 ± 0.1 vs 1.1 ± 0.2, P =.01). During treatment, presumptive lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria, relative abundance of propanoic, butanoic, pentanoic acids and hydrocarbons increased, while phenol decreased. Conclusions: The novel formulation of B. longum BB536 and L. rhamnosus HN001 with B6 vitamin improves symptoms and severity of disease, restores intestinal permeability and gut microbiota in IBS patients
Inclisiran in lipid management: A Literature overview and future perspectives
Primary and secondary prevention protocols aim at reducing the plasma levels of lipids - with particular reference to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) plasma concentrations – in order to improve the overall survival and reduce the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events. The use of statins has been widely considered as the first-line approach in lipids management as they can dramatically impact on the cardiovascular risk profile of individuals. The introduction of ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors overcame the adverse effects of statins and ameliorate the achievement of the target lipids levels. Indeed, advances in therapies promote the use of specific molecules – i.e. short strands of RNA named small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) – to suppress the transcription of genes related to lipids metabolism. Recently, the inclisiran has been developed: this is a siRNA able to block the mRNA of the PCSK9 gene. About 50% reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels have been observed in randomized controlled trials with inclisiran. The aim of this review was to summarize the literature regarding inclisiran and its possible role in the general management of patients with lipid disorders and/or in primary/secondary prevention protocols
Evaluation of different test-day milk recording protocols by wood’s model application for the estimation of dairy goat milk and milk constituent yield
Goats have important social and economic roles in many countries because of their ability to survive and be productive in marginal areas. The overarching aim of this study was to compare the application of Wood’s model to different test-day milk recording protocols for estimation of total milk, fat, and protein yield in dairy goats. A total of 465 goats were used (Garganica, 78; Girgentana, 81; Jonica, 76; Maltese, 77; Red Mediterranean, 76; Saanen, 77). Milk yield was recorded every 15 days throughout lactation of 210 days, for a total of 14 collection days, during both morning and afternoon milking sessions. Milk samples were collected and analyzed for protein and fat. The fat-corrected milk was standardized at 35g fat/kg of milk. Wood models showed high R2 values, and thus good fitting, in all the considered breeds. Wood model applied to first, second, fourth, and sixth month recordings (C) and ICAR estimation showed total milk yield very close to Wood’s model applied to all 14 recordings (A) (p > 0.38). Differently, Wood’s model applied to the first, second, third, and fourth month recording (B) estimation showed great differences (p < 0.01). This could be applied for farms that had the necessity to synchronize flock groups for kidding in order to produce kid meat. In farms that apply the estrus induction and/or synchronization for kidding, it would be possible to perform only four test-day milk recordings and to apply the Wood’s model on them in order to obtain the estimation of total milk, fat, and protein yield during lactation for animals inscribed, or to be inscribed, to the genealogical book
- …