Highlights on HIV eradication in 2013

Almost 20 years after the introduction of HAART, scientific community, doctors and patients are still struggling with the absence of effective strategies aimed at eradicating HIV infection, or at preventing it through a vaccin

Characterization of a Double Mesospheric Bore Over Europe

Observations of a pair of mesospheric bore disturbances that propagated through the nighttime mesosphere over Europe are presented. The observations were made at the Padua Observatory, Asiago (45.9\ub0N, 11.5\ub0E), by the Boston University all-sky imager on 11 March 2013. The bores appeared over the northwest horizon, approximately 30 min apart, and propagated toward the southeast. Using additional satellite and radar data, we present evidence indicating the bores originated in the mesosphere from a single, larger-scale mesospheric disturbance propagating through the mesopause region. Furthermore, the large-scale mesospheric disturbance appeared to be associated with an intense weather disturbance that moved southeastward over the United Kingdom and western Europe during 10 and 11 March

Safety and tolerability of etravirine (ETR; TMC125) in hepatitis B and/or C co-infected patients in DUET-1 and DUET-2: pooled 48-week results

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The Breast-Q assessment: Sant'Andrea experience

Despite in the last 20 years breast surgery has become less mutilating, mastectomy is indicated in approximately 30% of cases, not only for large invasive carcinoma, but also for multicentric tumors and intraductal diffuse carcinomas. The nipple loss is experienced by the patients like a mutilation; we achieved a significant improvement of the aesthetic result performing Nipplesparing mastectomy (NSM), joined with reconstruction techniques. This approach has a positive impact on psychology and quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer patients. To evaluate these important aspects, we retrospectively applied the BREAST-Q questioner to 101 patients underwent a NSM. BREAST-Q is an instrument designed by the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center, MSKCC (NY), to assess outcomes among women undergoing different types of breast surgery: we chose reconstruction module that is comprised of two domains: patient satisfaction and QOL. There are six subthemes (physical, psychosocial and sexual well-being patient, satisfaction with breast, satisfaction with overall outcomes and satisfaction with care). From December 2003 to September 2013 we performed 157 NSMs with immediate breast reconstruction on a court of 117 patients. Selection criteria included women with preoperative diagnosis of breast cancer, tumor at least 1 cm from nipple- areola complex (NAC) without nipple discharge or NAC retraction. The median follow-up was 40 months with an age range between 19 and 72 y. We recorded 2 deaths for breast cancer, with a overall survival of 97% and a rate of local recurrence of 8.5% (10 cases). Our follow-up program included medical interview, examination of routine clinical and imaging findings, and collecting information by the BREAST-Q survey. 101 patients agreed the questioner. Our results confirm that BREAST-Q is an useful to evaluate QOL and obtain a more tailored surgery. Patients are very interested to a chance of explaining their point of view or suggesting improvements or propose grievances to the surgical equipe. This is a preliminary report, even if findings are tell now encouraging: the definitive results need greater casemix and longer follow-up. We are already satisfied about the contribution of our Breast Unit.Despite in the last 20 years breast surgery has become less mutilating, mastectomy is indicated in approximately 30% of cases, not only for large invasive carcinoma, but also for multicentric tumors and intraductal diffuse carcinomas. The nipple loss is experienced by the patients like a mutilation; we achieved a significant improvement of the aesthetic result performing Nipplesparing mastectomy (NSM), joined with reconstruction techniques. This approach has a positive impact on psychology and quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer patients. To evaluate these important aspects, we retrospectively applied the BREAST-Q questioner to 101 patients underwent a NSM. BREAST-Q is an instrument designed by the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center, MSKCC (NY), to assess outcomes among women undergoing different types of breast surgery: we chose reconstruction module that is comprised of two domains: patient satisfaction and QOL. There are six subthemes (physical, psychosocial and sexual well-being patient, satisfaction with breast, satisfaction with overall outcomes and satisfaction with care). From December 2003 to September 2013 we performed 157 NSMs with immediate breast reconstruction on a court of 117 patients. Selection criteria included women with preoperative diagnosis of breast cancer, tumor at least 1 cm from nipple- areola complex (NAC) without nipple discharge or NAC retraction. The median follow-up was 40 months with an age range between 19 and 72 y. We recorded 2 deaths for breast cancer, with a overall survival of 97% and a rate of local recurrence of 8.5% (10 cases). Our follow-up program included medical interview, examination of routine clinical and imaging findings, and collecting information by the BREAST-Q survey. 101 patients agreed the questioner. Our results confirm that BREAST-Q is an useful to evaluate QOL and obtain a more tailored surgery. Patients are very interested to a chance of explaining their point of view or suggesting improvements or propose grievances to the surgical equipe. This is a preliminary report, even if findings are tell now encouraging: the definitive results need greater casemix and longer follow-up. We are already satisfied about the contribution of our Breast Unit

Photometric observations of comet 81P/Wild 2 during the 2010 perihelion passage

Context. The Jupiter-family comet 81P/Wild 2, target of the NASA Stardust mission, is very important in the context of the studies of pristine objects in the solar system. First, it was only recently deflected into the present orbit, having spent at least 300 yr at higher heliocentric distance prior to the orbital change in 1974. It is therefore likely that the comet experienced a recent activation with consequent low alteration of its original material. Second, it is the only comet whose coma material was brought back to Earth for laboratory analysis. We observed the object between 2010 February 9 and September 9 for a total of 11 nights during the 2010 perihelion passage. Aims. The goals of the campaign were the characterization of the comet's dust activity and the comparison with previous apparitions to derive hints on the secular behavior of the object. Methods. Broadband R-and I-images were acquired using three instruments: ALFOSC, CAMELOT, and TCP. The first one is mounted at the Nordic Optical Telescope on La Palma, while the second and the third are mounted at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias 0.82-m telescope on Tenerife. We analyzed the presence and variability of dust structures in the coma with image-enhancing techniques, the radial profile of the dust brightness, and we measured the dust production rate and the dust reddening. Results. We found evidence of a long-lasting sunward fan and anti-solar tail activity throughout all our observations up to a heliocentric distance of 2.42 AU. Afρ measurements suggest a pre-perihelion peak of the activity, caused by a seasonal effect, plus two post-perihelion outbursts. Both spatial and Afρ radial profiles indicate a steady-state coma at nucleocentric distances greater than ~1000-2000 km. The color analysis reveals a moderately reddened dust with a 6-9%/1000 reddening, consistent with the current picture of cometary dust. The second outburst emitted dust with lower reddening. Conclusions. The comparison with previous perihelion passages points toward a recurrent main activity always driven by the same areas on the nucleus, producing dust with similar characteristics and in similar coma structures in different years. Our Afρ measurement at the longest heliocentric distance suggests the comet was less dust-productive in 2010, pointing toward a possible secular aging of the object and its activity. The change of dust colors during the unusual second outburst suggests that an internal part of the nucleus has different physical properties compared with those that produce the recurrent main activity, pointing toward a heterogeneous comet. © ESO, 2012

Multiaxial Kitagawa analysis of A356-T6

Experimental Kitagawa analysis has been performed on A356-T6 containing natural and artificial defects. Results are obtained with a load ratio of R = -1 for three different loadings: tension, torsion and combined tension-torsion. The critical defect size determined is 400 \pm 100 \mum in A356-T6 under multiaxial loading. Below this value, the microstructure governs the endurance limit mainly through Secondary Dendrite Arm Spacing (SDAS). Four theoretical approaches are used to simulate the endurance limit characterized by a Kitagawa relationship are compared: Murakami relationships [Y Murakami, Metal Fatigue: Effects of Small Defects and Nonmetallic Inclusions, Elsevier, 2002.], defect-crack equivalency via Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM), the Critical Distance Method (CDM) proposed by Susmel and Taylor [L. Susmel, D. Taylor. Eng. Fract. Mech. 75 (2008) 15.] and the gradient approach proposed by Nadot [Y. Nadot, T. ~Billaudeau. Eng. Fract. Mech. 73 (2006) 1.]. It is shown that the CDM and gradient methods are accurate; however fatigue data for three loading conditions is necessary to allow accurate identification of an endurance limit.Comment: 27 pages, 11 figure

Dasabuvir and Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir with or without Ribavirin in Patients with HIV-HCV Coinfection. Real Life Interim Analysis of an Italian Multicentre Compassionate Use Program

Background and Aims: An HCV cure is now possible in a large proportion of HIV-HCV patient. We present real life results of a compassionate use program promoted by SIMIT (Infectious and Tropical Diseases Italian Society) of Dasabuvir and Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir ± Ribavirin for 12 weeks in 213 HIV-HCV genotype 1 patients. Data on efficacy and tolerability of this strategy in HIV patients have been reported until now only in 43 non cirrhotic HIV subjects

Influence of Bed Roughness on Flow and Turbulence Structure Around a Partially-Buried, Isolated Freshwater Mussel

The present study uses eddy-resolving numerical simulations to investigate how bed roughness affects flow and turbulence structure around an isolated, partially-buried mussel (Unio elongatulus) aligned with the incoming flow. The rough-bed simulations resolve the flow past the exposed part of a gravel bed, whose surface is obtained from a laboratory experiment that also provides some additional data for validation of the numerical model. Results are also discussed for the limiting case of a horizontal smooth bed. Additionally, the effects of varying the level of burial of the mussel inside the substrate and the discharge through the two mussel siphons are investigated via a set of simulations in which the ratio between the median diameter of the (gravel) particles forming the rough bed, d50, and the height of the exposed part of the mussel, h, varies between 0.10 and 0.22. The increase of the bed roughness is associated with a strong amplification of the turbulence kinetic energy in the near-wake region. Increasing the bed roughness and/or reducing h intensifies the interactions of the eddies generated by the bed particles with the base and tip vortices induced by the active filtering and by the mussel shell, respectively, which, in turn, induces a more rapid dissipation of these vortices. Increasing the bed roughness also reduces the strength of the main downwelling flow region forming in the wake. The strong downwelling near the symmetry plane is the main reason why the symmetric wake shedding mode dominates in the smooth bed simulations with negligible active filtering. By contrast, the anti-symmetric wake shedding mode dominates in the simulations conduced with a high value of the bed roughness. The mean streamwise drag force coefficient for the emerged part of the shell and the dilution of the excurrent siphon jet increase with increasing bed roughness

Salmonella and antimicrobial resistance in an animal-based agriculture river system.

The aim of this study was to examine the Salmonella serovars and antimicrobial resistance within an animal-based agriculture river system. The study area consisted of a 1,345 ha sub-basin at the upper Pinhal River catchment. Pinhal River is located in Concordia, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The sub-basin is a typical agricultural watershed. Salmonella was isolated from 241 samples (62%), resulting in 324 isolates. The most number of Salmonella sp. occurred in samples from sites associated with high stoking density animal unit per hectare area. It was possible to demonstrate the variability of serovars in the study area; 30 different serovars were found and at least 11 of them by monitoring the site. Among 180 isolates submitted to an antimicrobial susceptibility test, 50.5% were susceptible to all 21 antimicrobials tested, and 54 different profiles were found. In the current study 49.5% of the tested isolates were resistant in at least one antimicrobial, and multi-resistance occurred in 18% of isolates. Conduct studies that evaluate the detection of antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms of public interest and in surface water sources of catchments characterized by intensive animal production will assist communities, society and governments in decision-making