On the use of COSMO/SkyMed data and Weather Models for interferometric DEM generation

AbstractThis work experiments the potentialities of COSMO/SkyMed (CSK) data in providing interferometric Digital Elevation Model (DEM). We processed a stack of CSK data for measuring with meter accuracy the ground elevation on the available coherent targets, and used these values to check the accuracy of DEMs derived from 5 tandem-like CSK pairs. In order to suppress the atmospheric signal we experimented a classical spatial filtering of the differential phase as well as the use of numerical weather prediction (NWP) model RAMS. Tandem-like pairs with normal baselines higher than 300 m allows to derive DEMs fulfilling the HRTI Level 3 specifications on the relative vertical accuracy, while the use of NWP models still seems unfeasible especially for X-band

A semi-coherent analysis method to search for continuous gravitational waves emitted by ultra-light boson clouds around spinning black holes

As a consequence of superradiant instability induced in Kerr black holes, ultra-light boson clouds can be a source of persistent gravitational waves, potentially detectable by current and future gravitational-wave detectors. These signals have been predicted to be nearly monochromatic, with a small steady frequency increase (spin-up), but given the several assumptions and simplifications done at theoretical level, it is wise to consider, from the data analysis point of view, a broader class of gravitational signals in which the phase (or the frequency) slightly wander in time. Also other types of sources, e.g. neutron stars in which a torque balance equilibrium exists between matter accretion and emission of persistent gravitational waves, would fit in this category. In this paper we present a robust and computationally cheap analysis pipeline devoted to the search of such kind of signals. We provide a full characterization of the method, through both a theoretical sensitivity estimation and through the analysis of syntethic data in which simulated signals have been injected. The search setup for both all-sky searches and higher sensitivity directed searches is discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figure

EFFECTS OF RECLAIMED ASPHALT, WAX ADDITIVE, AND COMPACTION TEMPERATURE ON CHARACTERISTICS AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POROUS ASPHALT

This paper describes physical and mechanical properties of porous asphalt mixtures with various RAP amount (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%) containing one WMA additive (organic wax). The samples were prepared using the Marshall compactor at two different temperatures (125 °C, 145 °C) by fabricating six series of porous mixtures. Air void content, particle loss, stiffness modulus, indirect tensile strength, and indirect tensile strength ratio were measured and the effects of RAP, wax, and compaction temperatures were evaluated, considering the results of statistical analyses. Based on the performed tests, it has been concluded that high RAP contents (30%) in WMA-RAP PAs result in decreased porosity, permeability, and moisture resistance, and in increased cohesiveness, stiffness, and indirect tensile strength compared to the reference PAs. On the other hand, for low RAP contents (10%), WMA-RAP PAs show lower cohesiveness and indirect tensile strength, at the same time demonstrating an increase in porosity, permeability, moisture resistance, and stiffness. Reduced compaction temperatures (125 °C) particularly affect the cracking resistance

A method to search for long duration gravitational wave transients from isolated neutron stars using the generalized FrequencyHough

We describe a method to detect gravitational waves lasting $O(hours-days)$ emitted by young, isolated neutron stars, such as those that could form after a supernova or a binary neutron star merger, using advanced LIGO/Virgo data. The method is based on a generalization of the FrequencyHough (FH), a pipeline that performs hierarchical searches for continuous gravitational waves by mapping points in the time/frequency plane of the detector to lines in the frequency/spindown plane of the source. We show that signals whose spindowns are related to their frequencies by a power law can be transformed to coordinates where the behavior of these signals is always linear, and can therefore be searched for by the FH. We estimate the sensitivity of our search across different braking indices, and describe the portion of the parameter space we could explore in a search using varying fast Fourier Transform (FFT) lengths.Comment: 15 figure

Modelling of tribo-electrostatic separation for industrial by-products recycling

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Open Surgery for Sportsman’s Hernia a Retrospective Study

Sportsman’s hernia is a painful syndrome in the inguinal area occurring in patients who play sports at an amatorial or professional level. Pain arises during sport, and sometimes persists after activity, representing an obstacle to sport resumption. A laparoscopic/endoscopic approach is proposed by many authors for treatment of the inguinal wall defect. Aim of this study is to assess the open technique in terms of safety and effectiveness, in order to obtain the benefit of an open treatment in an outpatient management. From October 2017 to July 2019, 34 patients underwent surgery for groin pain syndrome. All cases exhibited a bulging of the inguinal posterior wall. 14 patients were treated with Lichtenstein technique with transversalis fascia plication and placement of a polypropylene mesh fixed with fibrin glue. In 20 cases, a polypropylene mesh was placed in the preperitoneal space. The procedure was performed in day surgery facilities. Early or late postoperative complications did not occur in both groups. All patients returned to sport, in 32 cases with complete pain relief, whereas 2 patients experienced mild residual pain. The average value of return to sport was 34.11 ± 8.44 days. The average value of return to play was 53.82 ± 11.69 days. With regard to postoperative pain, no substantial differences between the two techniques were detected, and good results in terms of the resumption of sport were ensured in both groups. Surgical treatment for sportsman’s hernia should be considered only after the failure of conservative treatment. The open technique is safe and allows a rapid postoperative recovery

Pediatric ultrasound-guided dorsal penile nerve block and sedation in spontaneous breathing: a prospective observational study

Background: Worldwide, one of the most common surgical procedures in the pediatric population is circumcision. There is no consent on the best anesthesiologic approach. This study aimed to investigate ultrasound-guided dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB) plus sedation in spontaneous breathing as a time-saving, safe, effective, and opioid-sparing technique. Aims: The primary outcome was the assessment of the time from the end of surgery and the discharge to the post-anesthesia care unit. Secondary outcomes were to evaluate the cumulative dosages of opioids, differences in pain levels between the two groups, and complications at the awakening, 4 h and 72 h after surgery, respectively. Methods: This was a prospective study with a retrospective control group, approved by the Friuli–Venezia Giulia Ethics Committee. Children in the intervention group received an ultrasound-guided DPNB under sedation and spontaneous breathing. With the probe positioned transversally at the base of the penis using an in-plane approach with a modified technique, local anesthetic was injected under the deep fascia of the penis. Results: We recruited 70 children who underwent circumcision at the University Hospital of Udine, Italy, from 1 January 2016 to 1 October 2021: 35 children in the ultrasound-guided DPNB group and 35 children in the control group. Children who received ultrasound-guided DPNB had a statistically significant lower time to discharge from the operating room, did not require mechanical ventilation, maintained spontaneous breathing at all times, received fewer opioids, had lower mean intraoperative arterial pressures, and lower pain levels immediately after surgery. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided DPNB associated with sedation and spontaneous breathing is a time-saving, opioid-sparing, safe, and effective strategy for the management of intraoperative and postoperative pain in children undergoing circumcision. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT04475458, 17 July 2020)

Integrative genomic analysis reveals distinct transcriptional and genetic features associated with chromosome 13 deletion in multiple myeloma

Background and Objectives The chromosome 13 deletion (Delta(13)) is one of the most frequent chromosomal alterations in multiple myeloma (MM). Delta(13) is associated with an unfavorable prognosis, although there is increasing agreement that its prognostic relevance must be related to the ploidy status and the presence of different chromosomal translocations. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptional features of Delta(13) in MM.Design and Methods Highly purified plasma cells from 80 newly diagnosed MM patients were characterized by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and high-density oligonucleotide microarray for gene expression profiling and chromosomal alterations.Results We identified 67 differentially expressed genes in the patients with and without the chromosome 13 deletion, all of which were downregulated in the cases with Delta(13): 44 mapped along the whole chromosome 13, seven on chromosome 11 and three on chromosome 19. Functional analyses of the selected genes indicated their involvement in protein biosynthesis, ubiquitination and transcriptional regulation. An integrative genomic approach based on regional analyses of the gene expression data identified distinct chromosomal regions whose global expression modulation could differentiate Delta(13)-positive cases, in particular the upregulation of 1q21-1q42 and the downregulation of 19p and almost the entire chromosome 11. FISH analyses confirmed the close relationship between Delta(13)-positivity and the presence of extra copies of 1q21-1q42 (p=6x10(-4)) or the absence of chromosome 11 and 19 trisomy (p=5x10(-4)).Interpretation and Conclusions Our results indicate that distinct types of chromosomal aberrations are closely related to the transcriptional profiles of Delta(13)-positive cases, suggesting that the contribution of Delta(13) to the malignancy should be considered together with associated abnormalities

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