Joint Observation of the Galactic Center with MAGIC and CTA-LST-1

MAGIC is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs), designed to detect very-high-energy gamma rays, and is operating in stereoscopic mode since 2009 at the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos in La Palma, Spain. In 2018, the prototype IACT of the Large-Sized Telescope (LST-1) for the Cherenkov Telescope Array, a next-generation ground-based gamma-ray observatory, was inaugurated at the same site, at a distance of approximately 100 meters from the MAGIC telescopes. Using joint observations between MAGIC and LST-1, we developed a dedicated analysis pipeline and established the threefold telescope system via software, achieving the highest sensitivity in the northern hemisphere. Based on this enhanced performance, MAGIC and LST-1 have been jointly and regularly observing the Galactic Center, a region of paramount importance and complexity for IACTs. In particular, the gamma-ray emission from the dynamical center of the Milky Way is under debate. Although previous measurements suggested that a supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* plays a primary role, its radiation mechanism remains unclear, mainly due to limited angular resolution and sensitivity. The enhanced sensitivity in our novel approach is thus expected to provide new insights into the question. We here present the current status of the data analysis for the Galactic Center joint MAGIC and LST-1 observations

GPS O GALILEO: QUALE SARA' IL FUTURO DELLA NAVIGAZIONE AEREA?

La necessità di conoscere la propria posizione in ogni punto della superficie terrestre ed in ogni istante ha spinto fin dall’antichità naviganti e studiosi a cercare metodi sempre più accurati e precisi per la determinazione della posizione. Agli arbori della navigazione marittima venivano utilizzate le stelle per orientarsi in mezzo al mare, grazie ad uno strumento chiamato Sestante. Questo metodo, però, non poteva essere utilizzato in ogni momento della giornata e bisognava avere un cielo limpido che permettesse di vedere gli astri, quindi è nata la necessità di sviluppare nuovi sistemi più affidabili. Con l’avvento della tecnologia spaziale, nel corso del ‘900, sono nati i primi progetti per utilizzare i satelliti come strumenti per la determinazione della posizione. Dopo vari tentativi sono stati sviluppati due sistemi molto all’avanguardia dalle due Superpotenze del XX secolo, USA e Russia: il GPS (Global Positioning System) e il GLONASS (Global'naja Navigacionnaja Sputnikovaja Sistema. GLObal NAvigation Satellite System). Entrambi questi sistemi hanno copertura globale e si sono dimostrati molto efficienti fin dall’inizio. Dopo tanti anni di monopolizzazione di questo settore da parte di USA e Russia, però, l’Unione Europea ha deciso di mettersi in gioco e progettare un proprio sistema di posizionamento globale, in modo da diventare indipendente in tale ambito. Questa idea è nata soprattutto perché i sistemi precedentemente citati sono tutt’ora sotto il controllo di organismi militari e, da un momento all’altro, le due Potenze potrebbero decidere di interrompere la fornitura del servizio in alcune aree del globo, con conseguenze critiche per i Pesi esclusi. Il progetto europeo prende il nome di Galileo e la sua realizzazione è stata fortemente voluta dalla maggior parte dei Paesi dell’Unione. La caratteristica peculiare di tale sistema, che lo differenzia dagli altri, è la gestione affidata ad organismi civili, ma offre anche importanti vantaggi che analizzeremo nel corso della trattazione, per esempio una maggiore affidabilità e precisione. Nonostante i numerosi aspetti positivi del suo sviluppo, non sono mancate delle opposizioni, specialmente da parte degli Stati Uniti, che non volevano vedersi togliere la sovranità in questo campo. L’ Europa, però, non ha desistito e alla fine è riuscita a dare vita al nuovo sistema e a renderlo disponibile a partire dal 2016. I campi di applicazione dei sistemi di radionavigazione sono veramente tanti e toccano numerosi settori come i trasporti, la giustizia, la sanità, ecc. Negli ultimi anni, inoltre, la vita quotidiana è diventata sempre più movimentata, grazie anche alla globalizzazione, che ha indotto l’aumento sostanziale dei trasporti via mare, via terra e via aerea. Quindi, al giorno d’oggi sarebbe impensabile un mondo senza sistemi che permettano di conoscere la propria posizione in maniera estremamente precisa e, dato che ormai si sono raggiunti livelli di precisione elevatissimi, questi sistemi vengono adoperati quotidianamente anche dalla Forze Armate per svolgere qualunque tipo di missione. In particolar modo la Marina Militare Italiana ne fa un largo uso in quanto opera su quattro fronti: mare, terra, aria e abissi, quindi necessita di strumenti molto affidabili per poter effettuare manovre e operazioni a volte molto difficili e che richiedono una precisione e una coordinazione inimmaginabili. Tutti gli assetti della MMI dispongono di sistemi di radionavigazione di ultima generazione e questo è un requisito essenziale in quanto spesso si trova ad operare con mezzi che permettono di estendere il controllo anche a molte miglia di distanza dall’ unità navale, ovvero gli aeromobili e gli elicotteri. Questi mezzi necessitano di mantenere un contatto costante con la nave cui appartengono, ma ancora più importante è sapere in quale punto si trova, considerata la vastità dei mari. Aerei ed elicotteri oggi dispongono di tecnologie all’avanguardia, ma il futuro si prospetta molto più tecnologico e rivoluzionario, infatti, negli ultimi anni sono stati impiegati sempre più i droni, velivoli controllati da remoto che permettono di svolgere quasi tutte le missioni svolte dai classici aeromobili, con la sostanziale differenza che non vi sono persone a bordo e quindi si ha un livello di sicurezza estremamente più elevato. Anche questi mezzi necessitano di avere a bordo strumenti in grado di fornire la posizione, anzi a bordo di questi velivoli devono essere installati i sistemi più accurati e affidabili presenti sul mercato in quanto l’operatore è in un posto diverso e non ha la visuale diretta del luogo in cui si trova il drone

Epidemiology of injuries in water board sports: Trauma versus overuse injury

BACKGROUND: Surfing is an increasingly popular sport in the world, but it is not sufficiently investigated in terms of epidemiology of injuries and possible prevention strategies. Moreover, there are different surfing disciplines, with specific characteristics and therefore different potential risks of injury. The aim of this study was to look at the injuries of recreational surfers in an italian cohort, distinguishing between trauma and overuse lesions and putting in evidence any difference between specific water board sports. MeThodS: The design is that of a retrospective observational study. an online survey was distributed to a group of italian surfers that are members of a surfing association. The survey comprised: demographic data, surfing information such as number of sessions per year and years of experience, and surfing injuries story. The sample size consisted of 126 recreational surfers who practiced four different types of surfing: surf, kitesurf, windsurf and stand-up paddle. RESULTS: The incidence of trauma was significantly higher than the incidence of overuse lesions in all four water board sports evaluated (e.g. in surf, 81% for trauma vs. 27% for overuse, with a difference of 55%

Ultrasonography for Injecting (Around) the Lateral Epicondyle: EURO-MUSCULUS/USPRM Perspective

Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is a very common and painful condition seen in the daily practice of musculoskeletal physicians. Ultrasound-guided (USG) injections are commonly performed to manage the pain, promote the healing phase, and plan a tailored rehabilitation treatment. In this aspect, several techniques were described to target specific pain generators i the lateral elbow. Likewise, the aim of this manuscript was to extensively review those USG techniques together with the patients’ pertinent clinical/sonographic features. The authors believe that this literature summary could also be refined as a practical, ready-to-use guide for planning the USG interventions of the lateral elbow in clinical practice

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy on muscle tissue: the effects on healthy athletes

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on muscle rheological and functional properties in a population of young athletes. Thirty-two football and basketball players were recruited and randomized into two groups. The athletes underwent three sessions of therapy administered every five days to the thigh muscles. The treatment consisted of ESWT (electromagnetic generator, Energy Flux Density=0.03 mJ/mm2) or a placebo treatment bilaterally on the quadricep and femoral bicep muscles. Monitoring was carried out at recruitment (T0), at the end of treatment (15 days, T1) and at 30 days (T2) with myometric evaluation (measuring elasticity, stiffness and muscular tone) and electromiography exam (recording the Motor Unit Amplitude Potential values). The results showed a significant increase in the treated athletes in the elasticity (lateral vastus muscle, p=0.007), in muscular tone (femoral rectus, p=0.031) and in muscular recruitment (the lateral vastus, p<0.005; medial vastus muscle, p=0.055). These results could represent a translational interpretation of the known biological effect on connective tissue: an increase in blood flow, oxygenation, metabolic process activation and proliferative effect. The effects found may represent the justification for verifying the usefulness of using of shockwave therapy to reduce muscular fatigue and improve performance during the sport season

Low Back Pain and Radiofrequency Denervation of Facet Joint: Beyond Pain Control—A Video Recording

Abstract Chronic low back pain is often due to L5S1 instability resulting in facet joint syndrome. Patients suffering from low back pain may also have a gait pattern characterized by a reduced speed and a shorter, asymmetrical step in order to reduce pain. This case is of a patient with L5S1 instability that occurred after L1 to L5 lumbar stabilization who was treated with radiofrequency (RF) denervation of the medial branch of L5S1 bilaterally. RF ablation outcome was tested by comparing its impact on pain, function, quality of life, and on gait pattern, before and 1 month after the procedure. To objectify the impact of a good pain control on gait, a video recording was performed (see Video 1)

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy on muscle tissue: the effects on healthy athletes

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on muscle rheological and functional properties in a population of young athletes. Thirty-two football and basketball players were recruited and randomized into two groups. The athletes underwent three sessions of therapy administered every five days to the thigh muscles. The treatment consisted of ESWT (electromagnetic generator, Energy Flux Density=0.03 mJ/mm2) or a placebo treatment bilaterally on the quadricep and femoral bicep muscles. Monitoring was carried out at recruitment (T0), at the end of treatment (15 days, T1) and at 30 days (T2) with myometric evaluation (measuring elasticity, stiffness and muscular tone) and electromiography exam (recording the Motor Unit Amplitude Potential values). The results showed a significant increase in the treated athletes in the elasticity (lateral vastus muscle, p=0.007), in muscular tone (femoral rectus, p=0.031) and in muscular recruitment (the lateral vastus, p<0.005; medial vastus muscle, p=0.055). These results could represent a translational interpretation of the known biological effect on connective tissue: an increase in blood flow, oxygenation, metabolic process activation and proliferative effect. The effects found may represent the justification for verifying the usefulness of using of shockwave therapy to reduce muscular fatigue and improve performance during the sport season

Effect of SGLT2 Inhibitors on Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation in Diabetic Kidney Disease: Results From the CREDENCE Trial and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic kidney disease with reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate or elevated albuminuria increases risk for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. This study assessed the effects of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on stroke and atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL) from CREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes With Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation) and a meta-analysis of large cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) of SGLT2i in type 2 diabetes mellitus.METHODS: CREDENCE randomized 4401 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease to canagliflozin or placebo. Post hoc, we estimated effects on fatal or nonfatal stroke, stroke subtypes, and intermediate markers of stroke risk including AF/AFL. Stroke and AF/AFL data from 3 other completed large CVOTs and CREDENCE were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis.RESULTS: In CREDENCE, 142 participants experienced a stroke during follow-up (10.9/1000 patient-years with canagliflozin, 14.2/1000 patient-years with placebo; hazard ratio [HR], 0.77 [95% CI, 0.55-1.08]). Effects by stroke subtypes were: ischemic (HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.61-1.28]; n=111), hemorrhagic (HR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.19-1.32]; n=18), and undetermined (HR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.20-1.46]; n=17). There was no clear effect on AF/AFL (HR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.53-1.10]; n=115). The overall effects in the 4 CVOTs combined were: total stroke (HRpooled, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.82-1.12]), ischemic stroke (HRpooled, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.89-1.14]), hemorrhagic stroke (HRpooled, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.30-0.83]), undetermined stroke (HRpooled, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.49-1.51]), and AF/AFL (HRpooled, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.71-0.93]). There was evidence that SGLT2i effects on total stroke varied by baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (P=0.01), with protection in the lowest estimated glomerular filtration rate (<45 mL/min/1.73 m2]) subgroup (HRpooled, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.31-0.79]).CONCLUSIONS: Although we found no clear effect of SGLT2i on total stroke in CREDENCE or across trials combined, there was some evidence of benefit in preventing hemorrhagic stroke and AF/AFL, as well as total stroke for those with lowest estimated glomerular filtration rate. Future research should focus on confirming these data and exploring potential mechanisms. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02065791