Impact parameter dependence of the electronic energy loss of fast cluster projectiles

Electronic energy loss of molecular clusters as a function of impact parameter is less understood than atomic energy loss. Vicinage effects due to mutual interference between cluster fragments play a key role in the determination of the cluster electronic energy loss. In this work, we describe a molecular extension of the perturbative convolution approximation PCA energy loss model, namely MPCA molecular PCA , which yields remarkable agreement with first order Born semiclassical approximation SCA results. The physical inputs of the model are the oscillators strengths of the target atoms and the projectile electron density. A very good agreement is obtained with time consuming full first order calculations for bare incident molecular clusters for several angles between cluster axis and velocity directio

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in pediatric rheumatology: an European perspective

To analyse the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in children with rheumatic diseases, treated at a paediatric rheumatology centre in Italy

Search for short time phase effects in the electronic damage evolution A case study with silicon

This work focusses on the production and decay properties of inner shell vacancies and valence band excitations induced by swift highly charged ions interacting with amorphous and crystalline Si. High resolution electron spectra have been taken for fast heavy ions at 1.78 5 MeV u as well as for electrons of similar velocity incident on atomically clean Si targets of well defined phase. Various Augerelectron structures are analyzed concerning their width, their intensity and exact peak position. All measured peaks show a small shift towards lower energy when the charge of the projectile is increased. This finding is an indication for a nuclear track potential inside the ion track. A detailed analysis of the Auger electron spectra for amorphous Si and crystalline Si 111 7 x 7 points to a small but significant phase effect in the short time dynamics of ion track

Ground- and excited-state scattering potentials for the stopping of protons in an electron gas

The self-consistent electron–ion potential V(r) is calculated for H+ ions in an electron gas system as a function of the projectile energy to model the electronic stopping power for conduction-band electrons. The results show different self-consistent potentials at low projectile-energies, related to different degrees of excitation of the electron cloud surrounding the intruder ion. This behavior can explain the abrupt change of velocity dependent screening-length of the potential found by the use of the extended Friedel sum rule and the possible breakdown of the standard free electron gas model for the electronic stopping at low projectile energies. A dynamical interpolation of V(r) is proposed and used to calculate the stopping power for H+ interacting with the valence electrons of Al. The results are in good agreement with the TDDFT benchmark calculations as well as with experimental dat

The influence of the Coulomb explosion on the energy loss of H2 and H molecules channeling along the Si lt;100 gt; direction

In this work we have measured the contribution of the Coulomb explosion to the electronic stopping power of molecular hydrogen ions H 2 and H 3 channeling along the Si h100i direction. We have used a SIMOX target, consisting of crystalline Si h100i with a buried layer of SiO2. The measurements of the energy loss of H , H 2 and H 3 have been carried out using the standard channeling Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. The energy loss has been measured around the Si h100i channel at a fixed energy per nucleon 150 keV amu as a function of the tilt and azimuthal angles. The present results show the effect of Coulomb explosion, which enlarges the protons traversal energy and consequently the channeling energy loss. This heating effect due to H 3 ions is about two times larger than H 2 molecules and amounts to about 5 of the total stopping powe

Impiego di zolfo e polisolfuro contro la ticchiolatura del melo

Inorganic fungicides such as sulphur, lime sulphur and copper are used for apple diseases control since long time, but recently they became the backbone of disease control in organic farming. Taking advantage of the experience acquired in the organic apple production, innovative formulations of these active ingredients, such as Thiopron, Poltiglia Disperss, as well as traditional ones like Polisenio, could be used more than at present, even in integrated production. This approach will contribute to overcome present and probable future restrictions on the use of synthetic fungicides. In a field experiment conducted in Trentino region (Italy) the efficacy and phytotoxicity of these inorganic fungicides was evaluated. Results show that these products can be efficiently used to control apple scab infection and oidium. Lime sulphur is particular effective when applied on wet vegetation within 300 degree hours from the beginning of the infection. No phytotoxic effect was detected on fruits. A control strategy that integrates these inorganic fungicides with synthetic active ingredients is possible and it will permit to reduce the dependence as well as the resistance selection pressure of synthetic fungicide

Reliability of LoSCAT score for activity and tissue damage assessment in a large cohort of patients with Juvenile Localized Scleroderma

none5noObjectives: To assess reliability of the two indexes of Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT), the modified Localized Scleroderma Skin Severity Index (mLoSSI) and the Localized Scleroderma Skin Damage Index (LoSDI), when applied by clinicians with different experience in scoring and managing patients with JLS. Secondary aim was to compare LoSCAT and infrared thermography (IRT) in monitoring lesions over time. Methods: Consecutive children with Juvenile Localized Scleroderma (JLS) were blindly evaluated by three examiners with different experience in Paediatric Rheumatology and with no experience in LoSCAT use. At each visit, patients were assessed by LoSCAT and IRT. Sensitivity to change of LoSCAT and IRT was assessed in a group of patients 3-6 months later. Inter-rater reliability was assessed by Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and variance analysis (ANOVA). Findings: Forty-seven patients (129 lesions) entered the study, and 26 (79 lesions) were re-evaluated with same modality after 4.5 (SD 1.5) months. mLoSSI showed excellent inter-rater reliability expressed by ICC 0.965 confirmed by ANOVA. Similarly, inter-rater reliability for LoSDI was good (ICC = 0.774) but worse concordance among examiners was observed. A comparable improvement of mLoSSI in all anatomic sites was noted by all examiners in 79 lesions examined in two subsequent visits and was consistent with thermography. Conclusions: Different clinical experience in JLS did not influence clinical judgement in mLoSSI which showed excellent concordance, whereas LoSDI is less precise in damage assessment and not completely reliable in monitoring skin changes. Infrared thermography confirms to be a helpful tool for detecting disease activity and reliable in monitoring lesions over time.noneAgazzi A.; Fadanelli G.; Vittadello F.; Zulian F.; Martini G.Agazzi, A.; Fadanelli, G.; Vittadello, F.; Zulian, F.; Martini, G

Impact-parameter dependence of the electronic energy loss of fast cluster projectiles

Abstract Electronic energy loss of molecular clusters as a function of impact-parameter is less understood than atomic energy loss. Vicinage effects due to mutual interference between cluster fragments play a key role in the determination of the cluster electronic energy loss. In this work, we describe a molecular extension of the perturbative convolution approximation (PCA) energy loss model, namely MPCA (molecular PCA), which yields remarkable agreement with first-order Born semiclassical approximation (SCA) results. The physical inputs of the model are the oscillators strengths of the target atoms and the projectile electron density. A very good agreement is obtained with time consuming full first-order calculations for bare incident molecular clusters for several angles between cluster axis and velocity direction

Methotrexate in Linear Scleroderma: Long-Term Efficacy in Fifty Children From a Single Pediatric Rheumatology Center

Objective: To study disease course and long-term outcome in children with linear scleroderma (SSc) treated with methotrexate (MTX) since diagnosis. Methods: The present study was retrospective and cross-sectional and included consecutive children with linear SSc who were treated with MTX for >1 year and were followed up for at least 2 years. Disease course was analyzed by the number of relapses and treatment changes. Relapse-free survival was examined by Kaplan-Meier analysis, comparing patients with linear SSc and those with other juvenile localized scleroderma (JLS) disease subtypes. Disease activity and damage were assessed by the Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool and thermography. Results: Fifty patients with a mean follow-up duration of 7.8 years and a mean MTX treatment duration of 3.1 years were included. Sixteen percent of patients did not respond to the first course of MTX, and 16% had at least 1 flare. Complete remission was observed in 18.2% of patients who were followed up for 2–5 years, in 80.0% of patients followed up for 10 years, and in 87.5% of patients followed up for >10 years. No significant difference in relapse-free survival between patients with linear SSc and in 17 patients with other JLS disease subtypes was observed. Tissue damage was mild in 42% of patients, moderate in 32%, and severe in 26%. The correlations between severity of tissue damage and linear SSc subtype, disease duration, relapses, and remission were not significant. The relationships between treatment duration and disease relapses (P < 0.05) and severity of tissue damage (P < 0.005) were significant. Conclusion: Most patients with linear SSc who are treated with MTX achieve complete and long-lasting remission. Overall aesthetic and functional sequelae are moderate, most likely because tissue damage is established early and treatment likely stabilizes the damage. Early diagnosis and MTX treatment, as well as long-term monitoring, are crucial to improve outcome and promptly identify flares