Starquakes in millisecond pulsars and gravitational waves emission

So far, only transient Gravitational waves (GWs) produced by catastrophic events of extra-galactic origin have been detected. However, it is generally believed that there should be also continuous sources of GWs within our galaxy, such as accreting neutron stars (NSs). In fact, in accreting NSs, centrifugal forces can be so strong to break the neutron star crust (causing a starquake), thus producing a quadrupole moment responsible for the continuous emission of GWs. At equilibrium, the angular momentum gained by accretion and lost via GWs emission should balance each other, stopping the stellar spin-up. We hereinafter investigate the above physical picture within the framework of a Newtonian model describing compressible, non-magnetized, and self-gravitating NSs. In particular, we calculate the rotational frequency need to break the stellar crust of an accreting pulsar and we estimate the upper limit for the ellipticity due to this event. Depending on the equation of state (EoS) and on the mass of the star, we calculated that the starquake-induced ellipticity ranges from $10^{-9}$ to $10^{-5}$. The corresponding equilibrium frequency that we find is in good agreement with observations and, for all the scenarios, it is below the observational limit frequency of $716.36$ Hz. Finally, we also discuss possible observational constraints on the ellipticity upper limit of accreting pulsars.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure

The role of elective and emergency cesarean delivery in maternal postpartum anhedonia, anxiety, and depression.

Objective: To compare levels of anhedonia, anxiety, and depression in women following elective and emergency cesarean delivery. Methods: An observational study was conducted between January 1, 2015, and May 31, 2017, among Italian women who delivered healthy neonates at term at the Policlinico Abano Terme, Italy, by vaginal, elective cesarean delivery (ElCD) or emergency cesarean (EmCD) delivery. The women completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), including specific factors within each category, 2 days postdelivery to measure postpartum depressive symptomatology. Results: Of the 2234 women enrolled in the study, 1702 (76.2%) had a vaginal delivery and 532 (23.8%) a cesarean delivery, of which 264 (11.8%) were emergency and 268 (12.0%) were elective. Mean EPDS scores (P=0.075) and the number of women with EPDS scores >12 (P=0.718) were comparable among the delivery groups. However, mean anxiety factor scores were significantly higher in the ElCD group (P=0.031), and conversely, mean anhedonia factor scores were significantly higher in the EmCD group (P=0.001). Conclusion: Postpartum depressive symptomatology of women who have had a cesarean delivery was characterized by higher levels of anxiety after ElCD and by higher levels of anhedonia after EmCD

Gestational weight gain and eating-related disorders

This prospective cohort study took place at the Division of Perinatal Medicine of Policlinico Abano Terme, Italy, from January to November 2018. In the second day postpartum, 463 healthy at term puerperae, 122 (26.35%) with inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG), 210 (45.46%) with adequate GWG, and 131 (28.29%) with excessive GWG, were studied by EAT-26, through distinguishing three factors: ‘Dieting’, ‘Bulimia and food preoccupation’, and ‘Oral control’. EAT-26 Global score increased from inadequate, to adequate, and excessive GWG puerperae, resulting significantly higher in excessive GWG group (p = .0029, Anova’s). In addition, among EAT-26 subscales ‘Dieting’ scores significantly increased from inadequate, to adequate, and to excessive GWG category women, resulting significantly higher in excessive GWG group (p = .006, Anova’s). It was found that excessive GWG is a warning indicator of unhealthy eating and ‘Dieting’ disorders. This relationship highlights the potential for interventions directed towards psychosocial support to have salutary effects upon GWG. Excessive gestational weight gain across an uncomplicated pregnancy is a warning indicator of unhealthy eating and dieting disorders.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Pregnancy represents a time of rapid trimester-specific changes in body weight and size. What do the results of this study add? Excessive gestational weight gain is a warning indicator of unhealthy eating and dieting disorders. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This relationship highlights the potential for interventions directed towards psychosocial support to have salutary effects upon gestational weight gain