GRB Observed by IBIS/PICsIT in the MeV Energy Range

We present the preliminary results of a systematic search for GRB and other transients in the publicly available data for the IBIS/PICsIT (0.2-10 MeV) detector on board INTEGRAL. Lightcurves in 2-8 energy bands with time resolution from 1 to 62.5 ms have been collected and an analysis of spectral and temporal characteristics has been performed. This is the nucleus of a forthcoming first catalog of GRB observed by PICsIT.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Poster presented at COSPAR 2008. Advaces in Space Research, accepted for publicatio

Evaluation of a combination of alfaxalone and methadone, with or without midazolam, for premedication in healthy dogs

Introduction: The study objective was to evaluate sedative and physiologic effects of midazolam associated with a combination of methadone and alfaxalone for IM premedication in dogs. Methods: Sixteen healthy dogs of various breeds, weighing 5–12 kg, classified ASA status I-II, randomly received a combination of 0.5 mg kg−1 of methadone and 1 mg kg−1 of alfaxalone with (MMA) or without (MA) 0.5 mg kg−1 of midazolam by IM injection. Quality of sedation was assessed at 10, 15, 20 and 25 minutes post-injection, by an observer blinded to treatment. Cardiovascular, respiratory variables and additional intravenous alfaxalone required for endotracheal intubation were recorded. Data were analyzed with mixed-effect linear model on rank or Mann-Whitney rank-sum test (p≤0.05). Results: There was no significant difference over time in heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, SpO2 and temperature between MA and MMA premedication. Sedation increased over time (p < 0.01), however dogs premedicated with MMA appeared significantly less sedated than dogs premedicated with MA at 15 (p=0.02), 20 (p=0.02) and 25 minutes (p=0.01) post-injection. This was substantiated by the fact that dogs premedicated with MMA were almost four times more likely to show delirium than those premedicated with MA (OR 3.95, CI 0.69-7.21, p=0.02). The amount of alfaxalone needed for intubation did not differ between treatments (p=0.92). Conclusion: Results suggest that adding midazolam to an IM combination of methadone and alfaxalone does not improve sedation scores or amount of agent needed for intubation in healthy dogs

Ethylene-propene copolymerization. Monomer reactivity and reaction mechanism

The relative reactivity of ethylene and propene in the first insertion steps of Ziegler-Natta copolymerization has been evaluated by analyzing via 13CNMR the %enriched end groups of copolymer fractionsofdifferentstereoregularity. Somepossibleinferencesconcerningreactionmechanismarereported

Editorial. The sustainability challenge. New perspectives on the use of microbial approaches and their impact on food and feed

Building a more resilient food chain, reducing food loss and waste, improving food production practices and increasing plant-based food consumption are some of the fundamental actions suggested in The Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations Member States in 20151. The objective of this special issue was to explore how the use of microorganisms as direct or indirect sources of transformation could contribute to these sustainability practices. In this context, the following strategies have been presented: (i) valorization of side-streams and underutilized food resources via fermentation, (ii) improvement of the efficiency of bioprocesses for the food and feed industry, and (iii) understanding and applying the microbiome as a resource to improve the agro-food system

High Time for Conservation: Adding the Environment to the Debate on Marijuana Liberalization

The liberalization of marijuana policies, including the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana, is sweeping the United States and other countries. Marijuana cultivation can have significant negative collateral effects on the environment that are often unknown or overlooked. Focusing on the state of California, where by some estimates 60% -- 70% of the marijuana consumed in the United States is grown, we argue that (a) the environmental harm caused by marijuana cultivation merits a direct policy response, (b) current approaches to governing the environmental effects are inadequate, and (c) neglecting discussion of the environmental impacts of cultivation when shaping future marijuana use and possession policies represents a missed opportunity to reduce, regulate, and mitigate environmental harm

The Higgs boson in the MSSM in light of the LHC

We investigate the expectations for the light Higgs signal in the MSSM in different search channels at the LHC. After taking into account dark matter and flavor constraints in the MSSM with eleven free parameters, we show that the light Higgs signal in the $gamma\gamma$ channel is expected to be at most at the level of the SM Higgs, while the $h\rightarrow b\bar{b}$ from W fusion and/or the $h \rightarrow\tau\bar\tau$ can be enhanced. For the main discovery mode, we show that a strong suppression of the signal occurs in two different cases: low $M_A$ or large invisible width. A more modest suppression is associated with the effect of light supersymmetric particles. Looking for such modification of the Higgs properties and searching for supersymmetric partners and pseudoscalar Higgs offer two complementary probes of supersymmetry.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure

Adsorption features of various inorganic materials for the drug removal from water and synthetic urine medium: A multi-technique time-resolved in situ investigation

Pharmaceutical active compounds, including hundreds of different substances, are counted among the emerging contaminants in waterbodies, whose presence raises a growing concern for the ecosystem. Drugs are metabolized and excreted mainly through urine as an unchanged active ingredient or in the form of metabolites. These emerging contaminants are not effectively removed with the technologies currently in use, making them a relevant environmental problem. This study proposes the treatment of urine and water at the source that can allow an easier removal of dissolved drugs and metabolites. The treatment of synthetic urine, with dissolved ibuprofen as a model compound, by adsorption, using various classes of inorganic materials, such as clays, hierarchical zeolites and ordered mesoporous silica (MCM-41), is presented. A multi-technique approach involving X-ray powder diffraction, solid-state NMR, UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopies was employed to investigate the adsorption process in inorganic adsorbents. Moreover, the uptake, the ensuing competition, the efficiency and selectivity as well as the packing of the model compound in ordered mesoporous silica during the incipient wetness impregnation process were all thoroughly monitored by a novel approach, involving combined complementary time-resolved in situ1 H and13 C MAS NMR spectroscopy as well as X-ray powder diffraction