Extending Functional kriging to a multivariate context

Environmental data usually have a spatio-temporal structure; pollutant concentrations, for example, are recorded along time and space. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) represent a suitable tool to model spatial and/or temporal trends of this kind of data, that can be treated as functional, although they are collected as discrete observations. Frequently, the attention is focused on the prediction of a single pollutant at an unmonitored site and, at this aim, we extend kriging for functional data to a multivariate context by exploiting the correlation with the other pollutants. In particular, we propose two procedures: the first one (FKED) combines the regression of a variable (pollutant), of primary interest on the other variables, with functional kriging of the regression residuals; the second one (FCK) is based on linear unbiased prediction of spatially correlated multivariate random processes. The performance of the two proposed procedures is assessed by cross validation; data recorded during a year (2011) from the monitoring network of the state of California (USA) are considered

GAMs and functional kriging for air quality data

Data having spatio-temporal structure are often observed in environmental sciences. They may be considered as discrete observations from curves along time and/or space and treated as functional. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) represent a useful tool for modelling, for example, as pollutant concentrations describing their spatial and/or temporal trends.Usually, the prediction of a curve at an unmonitored site is necessary and, with this aim, we extend kriging for functional data to a multivariate context. Moreover, even if we are interested only in predicting a single pollutant, such as PM10, the estimation can be improved exploiting its correlation with the other pollutants. Cross validation is used to test the performance of the proposed procedure

Antipsychotics in treatment-resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: which antipsychotic, which dose and how long antipsychotic addition should be maintained

Objectives: Treatment-resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) patients are defined as those who undergo adequate trials of first-line therapies without achieving a satisfactory response. First line treatments for OCD include both serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Because of the high number of OCD patients not responding to first-line treatments (40-60%) and considering the even greater prevalence rate of residual symptoms and significant impairment shown in patients previously described as \u201cclinical responders\u201d, the question of the proper treatment of resistant OCD is a clinically meaningful and a practical issue for psychiatrists. Antipsychotic augmentation proved to be an effective strategy for resistant OCD. However, there are unresolved questions concerning which antipsychotic is effective (or more effective) and how antipsychotics should be used in terms of doses and duration of treatment. The purpose of this study is to systematically review available studies on antipsychotic augmentation for treatment-resistant OCD, in order to guide the practical choice. Materials and methods: We searched on PubMed, Psychnet and Cochrane Libraries from inception to January 2016. Articles published in English and related to the use of antipsychotics in OCD were considered. We evaluated meta-analyses, systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials of adult patients with treatment-resistant OCD. Results: Antipsychotic augmentation is an evidence-based option for treatmentresistant OCD, with a response rate of approximately 50% within the first 4-to6 weeks. Aripiprazole (10-15\ua0mg/day) and risperidone (0.5-2\ua0mg/day) are effective, olanzapine (10\ua0mg/day) is possibly effective. Haloperidol addition is also a viable option, particularly in patients with comorbid tic disorders. Given results of studies performed to date quetiapine should be regarded as non-effective. Preliminary results from open label studies suggest that antipsychotic augmentation, once effective, should be maintained in order to maintain remission. Conclusions: Not all antipsychotics are effective as add-on treatments in resistant OCD. Characteristics of patients and side effects generally associated with each different antipsychotic may guide the practical choice. Further research is required concerning the comparative effectiveness among antipsychotics, the optimal target dose and the ideal duration of antipsychotic addition. In our opinion, antipsychotic augmentation in patients who responded to this treatment should be maintained in order to prevent relapses. However, clinicians must remember patients\u2019 exposure to the common and serious adverse effects associated with long-term antipsychotic administration, especially metabolic disturbances

Radio ejection in the evolution of X-ray binaries: the bridge between low mass X-ray binaries and millisecond pulsars

We present a scenario for the spin-up and evolution of binary millisecond pulsars. This can explain the observational properties of the recently discovered binary millisecond pulsar PSR J1740-5340, with orbital period 32.5 hrs, in the Globular Cluster NGC 6397. The optical counterpart of this system is a star as luminous as the cluster turnoff stars, but with a lower Teff (a larger radius) which we model with a star of initial mass compatible with the masses evolving in the cluster (~0.85 Msun). This star has suffered Roche lobe overflow while evolving off the main sequence, spinning up the neutron star to the present period of 3.65 ms. There are evidences that at present, Roche lobe overflow is still going on. Indeed Roche lobe deformation of the mass losing component is necessary to be compatible with the optical light curve. The presence of matter around the system is also consistent with the long lasting irregular radio eclipses seen in the system. We propose that this system is presently in a phase of `radio-ejection' mass loss. The radio-ejection phase can be initiated only if the system is subject to intermittency in the mass transfer during the spin-up phase. In fact, when the system is detached the pulsar radio emission is not quenched, and may be able to prevent further mass accretion due to the action of the pulsar pressure at the inner Lagrangian point.Comment: 6 pages, including 3 figures. To appear in the proceedings of the XXII Moriond Astrophysics Meeting "The Gamma-Ray Universe" (Les Arcs, March 9-16, 2002), eds. A. Goldwurm, D. Neumann, and J. Tran Thanh Van, The Gioi Publishers (Vietnam

Xenon Anesthesia Improves Respiratory Gas Exchanges in Morbidly Obese Patients

Background. Xenon-in-oxygen is a high density gas mixture and may improve PaO2/FiO2 ratio in morbidly obese patients uniforming distribution of ventilation during anesthesia. Methods. We compared xenon versus sevoflurane anesthesia in twenty adult morbidly obese patients (BMI > 35) candidate for roux-en-Y laparoscopic gastric bypass and assessed PaO2/FiO2 ratio at baseline, at 15 min from induction of anaesthesia and every 60 min during surgery. Differences in intraoperative and postoperative data including heart rate, systolic and diastolic pressure, oxygen saturation, plateau pressure, eyes opening and extubation time, Aldrete score on arrival to the PACU were compared by the Mann-Whitney test and were considered as secondary aims. Moreover the occurrence of side effects and postoperative analgesic demand were assessed. Results. In xenon group PaO2-FiO2 ratio was significantly higher after 60 min and 120 min from induction of anesthesia; heart rate and overall remifentanil consumption were lower; the eyes opening time and the extubation time were shorter; morphine consumption at 72 hours was lower; postoperative nausea was more common. Conclusions. Xenon anesthesia improved PaO2/FiO2 ratio and maintained its distinctive rapid recovery times and cardiovascular stability. A reduction of opioid consumption during and after surgery and an increased incidence of PONV were also observed in xenon group

A dual mode breath sampler for the collection of the end-tidal and dead space fractions

This work presents a breath sampler prototype automatically collecting end-tidal (single and multiple breaths) or dead space air fractions (multiple breaths). This result is achieved by real time measurements of the CO2 partial pressure and airflow during the expiratory and inspiratory phases. Suitable algorithms, used to control a solenoid valve, guarantee that a Nalophan® bag is filled with the selected breath fraction even if the subject under test hyperventilates. The breath sampler has low pressure drop (< 0.5 kPa) and uses inert or disposable components to avoid bacteriological risk for the patients and contamination of the breath samples. A fully customisable software interface allows a real time control of the hardware and software status. The performances of the breath sampler were evaluated by comparing a) the CO2 partial pressure calculated during the sampling with the CO2 pressure measured off-line within the Nalophan® bag; b) the concentrations of four selected volatile organic compounds in dead space, end-tidal and mixed breath fractions.Results showed negligible deviations between calculated and off-line CO2 pressure values and the distributions of the selected compounds into dead space, end-tidal and mixed breath fractions were in agreement with their chemical-physical properties

Sweat Rate Monitoring During Maximal Exercise in Healthy Soccer Players: A Close Relationship with Anaerobic Threshold

Purpose: Sweating is a homeostatic phenomenon regulated by both thermal and non-thermal factors during exercise. There are no evidences whether anaerobic metabolism induced during isotonic maximal exercise can modify sweating rate. Aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between sweating and the anaerobic threshold (AT). Methods: The sweat rate in thirteen soccer players was measured by a sensor providing a continuous monitoring of sweating, whereas the anaerobic threshold was assessed with ergospirometry during maximal isotonic stress test. During stress test, cardio respiratory, metabolic and galvanic skin response (GSR) were also monitored. Results: At AT, stroke volume, heart rate and systolic blood pressure significantly increased (p<0.001), as well as GSR (p=0.04). Sweat rate abruptly increased at AT compared with rest (p<0.001). AT-to-rest changes in sweating rate were associated with concomitant changes in VO2 max (r=0.82, p<0.001), heart rate (r=0.73, p=0.04) and GSR (r=0.79, p=0.001). Conclusion: We suggest that aerobic-to-anaerobic switch is associated with a sudden increase in sweating likely induced by sympathetic activation. Considering the role of hydration in preserving the health status and optimizing the physical performance, we believe that this finding may have relevant practical implication in particular in soccer, which is characterized by an alternation of aerobic and anaerobic phases