Quasiparticle light elements and quantum condensates in nuclear matter

Nuclei in dense matter are influenced by the medium. In the cluster mean field approximation, an effective Schr\"odinger equation for the $A$-particle cluster is obtained accounting for the effects of the surrounding medium, such as self-energy and Pauli blocking. Similar to the single-baryon states (free neutrons and protons), the light elements ($2 \le A \le 4$, internal quantum state $\nu$) are treated as quasiparticles with energies $E_{A,\nu}(P; T, n_n,n_p)$ that depend on the center of mass momentum $\vec P$, the temperature $T$, and the total densities $n_n,n_p$ of neutrons and protons, respectively. We consider the composition and thermodynamic properties of nuclear matter at low densities. At low temperatures, quartetting is expected to occur. Consequences for different physical properties of nuclear matter and finite nuclei are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, 2 table

What Impact Does Accreditation Have on Workplaces? A Qualitative Study to Explore the Perceptions of Healthcare Professionals About the Process of Accreditation

Aim: This study seeks to explore the emerging psychosocial risks of healthcare accreditation in workplaces and to understandhealthcare professionals’ perceptions about work demands and the unexpected consequences such accreditation had placed uponthem.Methods: Twenty-seven semi-structured interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted with a variety of healthcareprofessionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals. The study was conducted in three publichospitals and a network of primary healthcare centers in the United Arab Emirates. Interviews and focus group discussions weretranscribed and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.Results: The results have shown that a number of psychosocial risks were prevalent during the course of accreditation. Healthcareprofessionals faced increased work demands during such a process including increased working hours, increased working pace,perceived time pressure, and conflicted information. Such demands were perceived to influence their health and their families andpatients’ care. In contrast, teamwork and co-worker support were vital to mitigate the effect of such demands.Implications: This study has identified emerging risks during the process of accreditation. Findings show that the process ofaccreditation increases work-related risks before the inspection visit. These findings have significant implications in understatingthe way accreditation processes increase psychosocial risks; they also consolidate the idea that appropriate systems and supportfor HCPs should be a priority when planning for accreditation

Front Office as a Green Hotel Practice at Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the readiness of the Front Office Department towards a green hotel through the implementation of green practice at the Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport. Research methods: This research data collection method was carried out by observation, interviews, literature study and documentation. The data analysis technique uses descriptive qualitative analysis to determine whether the implication of green practice at Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport has gone to a green hotel or not. Findings:The results show that 90% of green practice has been implemented in the Front Office Department of Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport where of the 3 green practice indicators with a total of 10 sub-indicators, 9 of them have been implemented and 1 has not been implemented in the Front Office Department at Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport is on the green action indicator with sub-indicators doing recycling. Implication: The Front Office Department at Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport is almost eligible to support Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport to become a green hotel

HST color-magnitude diagrams of 74 galactic globular clusters in the HST F439W and F555W bands

We present the complete photometric database and the color-magnitude diagrams for 74 Galactic globular clusters observed with the HST/WFPC2 camera in the F439W and F555W bands. A detailed discussion of the various reduction steps is also presented, and of the procedures to transform instrumental magnitudes into both the HST F439W and F555W flight system and the standard Johnson B and V systems. We also describe the artificial star experiments which have been performed to derive the star count completeness in all the relevant branches of the color magnitude diagram. The entire photometric database and the completeness function will be made available on the Web immediately after the publication of the present paper.Comment: 21 pages, 77 figures. High resolution version of this paper can be retrived at http://dipastro.pd.astro.it/globular

F-Actin Binding Regions on the Androgen Receptor and Huntingtin Increase Aggregation and Alter Aggregate Characteristics

Protein aggregation is associated with neurodegeneration. Polyglutamine expansion diseases such as spinobulbar muscular atrophy and Huntington disease feature proteins that are destabilized by an expanded polyglutamine tract in their N-termini. It has previously been reported that intracellular aggregation of these target proteins, the androgen receptor (AR) and huntingtin (Htt), is modulated by actin-regulatory pathways. Sequences that flank the polyglutamine tract of AR and Htt might influence protein aggregation and toxicity through protein-protein interactions, but this has not been studied in detail. Here we have evaluated an N-terminal 127 amino acid fragment of AR and Htt exon 1. The first 50 amino acids of ARN127 and the first 14 amino acids of Htt exon 1 mediate binding to filamentous actin in vitro. Deletion of these actin-binding regions renders the polyglutamine-expanded forms of ARN127 and Htt exon 1 less aggregation-prone, and increases the SDS-solubility of aggregates that do form. These regions thus appear to alter the aggregation frequency and type of polyglutamine-induced aggregation. These findings highlight the importance of flanking sequences in determining the propensity of unstable proteins to misfold

Expression of a catalytically inactive mutant form of glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4) confers a dominant-negative effect in male fertility.

The selenoenzyme Gpx4 is essential for early embryogenesis and cell viability for its unique function to prevent phospholipid oxidation. Recently, the cytosolic form of Gpx4 was identified as an upstream regulator of a novel form of non-apoptotic cell death, called ferroptosis, whereas the mitochondrial isoform of Gpx4 (mGpx4) was previously shown to be crucial for male fertility. Here, we generated and analyzed mice with targeted mutation of the active site selenocysteine (Sec) of Gpx4 (Gpx4_U46S). Mice homozygous for Gpx4_U46S died at the same embryonic stage (E7.5) as Gpx4-/- embryos as expected. Surprisingly, male mice heterozygous for Gpx4_U46S presented subfertility. Subfertility was manifested in a reduced number of litters from heterozygous breedings and an impairment of spermatozoa to fertilize oocytes in vitro. Morphologically, sperm isolated from heterozygous Gpx4_U46S mice revealed many structural abnormalities particularly in the spermatozoan midpiece due to improper oxidation and polymerization of sperm capsular proteins and malformation of the mitochondrial capsule surrounding and stabilizing sperm mitochondria. These findings are reminiscent of sperm isolated from selenium-deprived rodents or from mice specifically lacking mGpx4. Due to a strongly facilitated incorporation of Ser in the polypeptide chain as compared to Sec at the UGA codon, expression of the catalytically inactive Gpx4_U46S was found to be strongly increased. Since the stability of the mitochondrial capsule of mature spermatozoa depends on the moonlighting function of Gpx4 both as an enzyme oxidizing capsular protein thiols and being a structural protein, tightly controlled expression of functional Gpx4 emerges being key for full male fertility

GEOMATIC TECHNIQUES FOR THE OPTIMIZATION OF SKI RESOURCES

Climate change is already affecting the entire world, with extreme weather conditions such as drought, heat waves, heavy rain, floods and landslides becoming more frequent, including Europe. In according to Paris agreement and relative European announcement of Carbon neutrality (by 2050), the saving of water and energy supplies is a fundamental aspect in the management of resources in production, sports, hospitality facilities and so on. Some methodologies for the optimization of the consumption of natural resources are required. This article describes an activity aimed at measuring, monitoring and analysing the thickness of the snowpack on the ski slopes during the winter season to permit a sustainable approach of snowmaking in alpine ski areas . The authors propose a methodology based on the integration of multitemporal surface (ground/snow) survey by Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) and low cost GNSS receivers mounted on snow groomers for a RTK (Real Time Kinematic) solution. To obtain a complete snow surface digital models with poor detailed images on ski slopes, some pre-processing techniques have been analysed to locally improve contrast and details with a local high pass filtering. The methodology has been employed in two study areas (Limone Piemonte, Prato Nevoso) located in the province of Cuneo, in the southern alpine area of Piedmont

Reduced motor planning underlying inhibition of prepotent responses in children with ADHD

To flexibly regulate their behavior, children’s ability to inhibit prepotent responses arises from cognitive and motor mechanisms that have an intertwined developmental trajectory. Subtle differences in planning and control can contribute to impulsive behaviors, which are common in Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and difficult to be assessed and trained. We adapted a Go/No-Go task and employed a portable, low-cost kinematic sensor to explore the different strategies used by children with ADHD or typical development to provide a prepotent response (dominant condition) or inhibit the prepotent and select an alternative one (non-dominant condition). Although no group difference emerged on accuracy levels, the kinematic analysis of correct responses revealed that, unlike neurotypical children, those with ADHD did not show increased motor planning in non-dominant compared to dominant trials. Future studies should investigate whether motor control could help children with ADHD compensate for planning difficulties. This strategy might make inhibition harder in naturalistic situations that involve complex actions. Combining cognitive and kinematic measures is a potential innovative method for assessment and intervention of subtle differences in executive processes such as inhibition, going deeper than is possible based on accuracy outcomes alone

GEOMATIC TECHNIQUES FOR THE OPTIMIZATION OF SKI RESOURCES

Abstract. Climate change is already affecting the entire world, with extreme weather conditions such as drought, heat waves, heavy rain, floods and landslides becoming more frequent, including Europe. In according to Paris agreement and relative European announcement of Carbon neutrality (by 2050), the saving of water and energy supplies is a fundamental aspect in the management of resources in production, sports, hospitality facilities and so on. Some methodologies for the optimization of the consumption of natural resources are required. This article describes an activity aimed at measuring, monitoring and analysing the thickness of the snowpack on the ski slopes during the winter season to permit a sustainable approach of snowmaking in alpine ski areas . The authors propose a methodology based on the integration of multitemporal surface (ground/snow) survey by Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) and low cost GNSS receivers mounted on snow groomers for a RTK (Real Time Kinematic) solution. To obtain a complete snow surface digital models with poor detailed images on ski slopes, some pre-processing techniques have been analysed to locally improve contrast and details with a local high pass filtering. The methodology has been employed in two study areas (Limone Piemonte, Prato Nevoso) located in the province of Cuneo, in the southern alpine area of Piedmont

Dust remobilization in fusion plasmas under steady state conditions

The first combined experimental and theoretical studies of dust remobilization by plasma forces are reported. The main theoretical aspects of remobilization in fusion devices under steady state conditions are analyzed. In particular, the dominant role of adhesive forces is highlighted and generic remobilization conditions - direct lift-up, sliding, rolling - are formulated. A novel experimental technique is proposed, based on controlled adhesion of dust grains on tungsten samples combined with detailed mapping of the dust deposition profile prior and post plasma exposure. Proof-of-principle experiments in the TEXTOR tokamak and the EXTRAP-T2R reversed-field pinch are presented. The versatile environment of the linear device Pilot-PSI allowed for experiments with different magnetic field topologies and varying plasma conditions that were complemented with camera observations.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, 3 table