Measurement of the cosmic charged particle rate at sea level in the latitude range 35∘ ÷ 82∘ N with the PolarquEEEst experiment

After its successful campaign of measurements beyond the Polar Arctic Circle, the PolarquEEEst experiment measured the cosmic charged particle rate at sea level in a latitude interval between 35∘ N and 82∘ N. In this paper, these measurements are described and the corresponding results are discussed

Fetal and infant origins of asthma

Previous studies have suggested that asthma, like other common diseases, has at least part of its origin early in life. Low birth weight has been shown to be associated with increased risks of asthma, chronic obstructive airway disease, and impaired lung function in adults, and increased risks of respiratory symptoms in early childhood. The developmental plasticity hypothesis suggests that the associations between low birth weight and diseases in later life are explained by adaptation mechanisms in fetal life and infancy in response to various adverse exposures. Various pathways leading from adverse fetal and infant exposures to growth adaptations and respiratory health outcomes have been studied, including fetal and early infant growth patterns, maternal smoking and diet, children’s diet, respiratory tract infections and acetaminophen use, and genetic susceptibility. Still, the specific adverse exposures in fetal and early postnatal life leading to respiratory disease in adult life are not yet fully understood. Current studies suggest that both environmental and genetic factors in various periods of life, and their epigenetic mechanisms may underlie the complex associations of low birth weight with respiratory disease in later life. New well-designed epidemiological studies are needed to identify the specific underlying mechanisms. This review is focused on specific adverse fetal and infant growth patterns and exposures, genetic susceptibility, possible respiratory adaptations and perspectives for new studies

Expression analysis of asthma candidate genes during human and murine lung development

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Little is known about the role of most asthma susceptibility genes during human lung development. Genetic determinants for normal lung development are not only important early in life, but also for later lung function.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To investigate the role of expression patterns of well-defined asthma susceptibility genes during human and murine lung development. We hypothesized that genes influencing normal airways development would be over-represented by genes associated with asthma.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Asthma genes were first identified via comprehensive search of the current literature. Next, we analyzed their expression patterns in the developing human lung during the pseudoglandular (gestational age, 7-16 weeks) and canalicular (17-26 weeks) stages of development, and in the complete developing lung time series of 3 mouse strains: A/J, SW, C57BL6.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In total, 96 genes with association to asthma in at least two human populations were identified in the literature. Overall, there was no significant over-representation of the asthma genes among genes differentially expressed during lung development, although trends were seen in the human (Odds ratio, OR 1.22, confidence interval, CI 0.90-1.62) and C57BL6 mouse (OR 1.41, CI 0.92-2.11) data. However, differential expression of some asthma genes was consistent in both developing human and murine lung, e.g. <it>NOD1, EDN1, CCL5, RORA </it>and <it>HLA-G</it>. Among the asthma genes identified in genome wide association studies, <it>ROBO1</it>, <it>RORA, HLA-DQB1, IL2RB </it>and <it>PDE10A </it>were differentially expressed during human lung development.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data provide insight about the role of asthma susceptibility genes during lung development and suggest common mechanisms underlying lung morphogenesis and pathogenesis of respiratory diseases.</p

Cardiac resynchronization therapy when no lateral pacing option exists: vectorcardiographic guided non-lateral left ventricular lead placement predicts acute hemodynamic response

Aims A difficult cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantation scenario emerges when no lateral pacing option exists. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of biventricular pacing (BIVP) on vectorcardiographic parameters in patients with a non-lateral left ventricular (LV) lead position. We hypothesized that perimeter and area reduction for both the QRS complex and T-wave would predict acute CRT response.Methods and results Twenty-six patients (14 ischaemic) with a mean age of 63 +/- 10 years and standard CRT indication underwent device implantation with continuous LV pressure registration. The LV lead was placed in either an anterior or apical position. Biventricular pacing was performed at a rate 10% above intrinsic rhythm with acute CRT response defined as LV Delta dP/dt(max) &gt;10%. Using this criterion 12 patients were identified as acute CRT responders (responders: 16.7 +/- 4.8% vs. non-responders: 1.9 +/- 5.3%, P&lt;0.001). Vectorcardiographic assessment of the QRS complex and T-wave were performed at baseline and under BIVP. Based on the observed changes in three-dimensional area and perimeter, Delta QRS-area (responders: -46.7 +/- 39.6% vs. non-responders: 1.1 +/- 50.9%, P=0.006) was considered as the preferred parameter. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified -40% as the optimal cut-off value (sensitivity 67% and specificity 93%) for prediction of acute CRT response (AUC = 0.81, P &lt; 0.01). A significant correlation was observed between LV Delta dP/dt(max) and Delta QRS-area (R-2 =0.37, P=0.001).Conclusion Delta QRS-area is correlated to LV Delta dP/dt(max) and predicts acute CRT response in patients with a non-lateral LV lead position. Assessment of Delta QRS-area might be a useful tool for patient specific LV lead placement when no lateral pacing option exists

Erratum to: New high precision measurements of the cosmic charged particle rate beyond the Arctic Circle with the PolarquEEEst experiment

none78siIn the original version of this article (Eur. Phys. J. C (2020) 80:665, https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-020-8213-2) the names of four authors were missing in the author list: L. Perasso, O. Pinazza, C. Pinto and S. Pisano.restrictedAbbrescia M.; Avanzini C.; Arlandoo M.; Balbi G.; Baldini L.; Ferroli R.B.; Batignani G.; Battaglieri M.; Boi S.; Cavazza D.; Bossini E.; Carnesecchi F.; Cicalo C.; Cifarelli L.; Coccetti F.; Coccia E.; Corvaglia A.; De Gruttola D.; De Pasquale S.; Fabbri F.; Falchieri D.; Flammini A.; Galante L.; Garbini M.; Gemme G.; Gnesi I.; Gramstad E.; Grazzi S.; Haland E.S.; Hatzifotiadou D.; La Rocca P.; Liu Z.; Lombardo L.; Mandaglio G.; Margotti A.; Maron G.; Mazziotta M.N.; Meneghini S.; Millerjord S.A.; Mulliri A.; Nania R.; Noferini F.; Nozzoli F.; Ould-Saada F.; Palmonari F.; Panareo M.; Panetta M.P.; Paoletti R.; Parvis M.; Pellegrino C.; Perasso L.; Pinazza O.; Pinto C.; Pisano S.; Riggi F.; Righini G.; Ripoli C.; Rizzi M.; Sartorelli G.; Scapparone E.; Schioppa M.; Scioli G.; Scribano A.; Selvi M.; Serri G.; Squarcia S.; Taiuti M.; Terreni G.; Torromeo G.; Travaglini R.; Trifiro A.; Trimarchi M.; Veri C.; Vistoli C.; Votano L.; Williams M.C.S.; Zichichi A.; Zuyeuski R.Abbrescia, M.; Avanzini, C.; Arlandoo, M.; Balbi, G.; Baldini, L.; Ferroli, R. B.; Batignani, G.; Battaglieri, M.; Boi, S.; Cavazza, D.; Bossini, E.; Carnesecchi, F.; Cicalo, C.; Cifarelli, L.; Coccetti, F.; Coccia, E.; Corvaglia, A.; De Gruttola, D.; De Pasquale, S.; Fabbri, F.; Falchieri, D.; Flammini, A.; Galante, L.; Garbini, M.; Gemme, G.; Gnesi, I.; Gramstad, E.; Grazzi, S.; Haland, E. S.; Hatzifotiadou, D.; La Rocca, P.; Liu, Z.; Lombardo, L.; Mandaglio, G.; Margotti, A.; Maron, G.; Mazziotta, M. N.; Meneghini, S.; Millerjord, S. A.; Mulliri, A.; Nania, R.; Noferini, F.; Nozzoli, F.; Ould-Saada, F.; Palmonari, F.; Panareo, M.; Panetta, M. P.; Paoletti, R.; Parvis, M.; Pellegrino, C.; Perasso, L.; Pinazza, O.; Pinto, C.; Pisano, S.; Riggi, F.; Righini, G.; Ripoli, C.; Rizzi, M.; Sartorelli, G.; Scapparone, E.; Schioppa, M.; Scioli, G.; Scribano, A.; Selvi, M.; Serri, G.; Squarcia, S.; Taiuti, M.; Terreni, G.; Torromeo, G.; Travaglini, R.; Trifiro, A.; Trimarchi, M.; Veri, C.; Vistoli, C.; Votano, L.; Williams, M. C. S.; Zichichi, A.; Zuyeuski, R

New high precision measurements of the cosmic charged particle rate beyond the Arctic Circle with the PolarquEEEst experiment

The goal of the PolarquEEEst experiment was to measure the cosmic charged particle rate at latitudes greater than 66∘ N, where no systematic and accurate measurements at sea level have ever been performed. A latitude range well above the Arctic Circle was explored on board of a sailboat, up to the unprecedented northernmost value of 82 ∘07 ′ N. In this paper a description of the experimental set-up is reported, then the procedures for calibration and data analysis are described in detail. The results show that the rate measured in this latitude range stays constant within a novel accuracy of ± 1 %

Observation of Rayleigh-Lamb waves generated by the 2022 Hunga-Tonga volcanic eruption with the POLA detectors at Ny-Ålesund

The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga volcano in the South Pacific Ocean on January 15, 2022, at about 4:15 UTC, generated a violent explosion, which created atmospheric pressure disturbances in the form of Rayleigh-Lamb waves detected all over the globe. Here we discuss the observation of the Hunga-Tonga shock-wave performed at the Ny-Ålesund Research Station on the Spitsbergen island, by the detectors of the PolarquEEEst experiment and their ancillary sensors. Online pressure data as well as the results of dedicated offline analysis are presented and discussed in details. Results include wave arrival times, wave amplitude measurements and wave velocity calculation. We observed five passages of the shock wave with a significance larger than 3 $\sigma$ and an amplitude up to 1 hPa. The average propagation velocity resulted to be (308 ± 0.6) m/s. Possible effects of the atmospheric pressure variation associated with the shock-wave multiple passages on the cosmic-ray rate at ground level are also investigated. We did not find any significant evidence of this effect