Local Magnetic Inhomogeneities in Lightly Doped BaFe2_2As2_2

We report $^{75}$As NMR measurements in BaFe$_2$As$_2$ doped with Ni. Like Co, Ni doping suppresses the antiferromagnetic and structural phase transitions and gives rise to superconductivity for sufficiently large Ni doping. The spin lattice relaxation rate diverges at $T_N$, with a critical exponent consistent with 3D ordering of local moments. In the ordered state the spectra quickly broaden inhomogeneously with doping. We extract the average size of the ordered moment as a function of doping, and show that a model in which the order remains commensurate but with local amplitude variations in the vicinity of the dopant fully explains our observations.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

POSSIBLE ROLE OF CRY1 AND CRY2 IN ORAL CARCINOGENESIS

Aim. Dysfunction of the circadian clock is involved in tumorigenesis, and altered expression of some clock genes has been found in cancer patients. It has been shown recently that the occurrence, development, prognosis, and treatment of cancer are closely related to the abnormal expression of certain circadian-clock genes. CRY1 and CRY2 circadian-clock gene plays an important role in the regulation of many normal hysiological rhythms. This proteins act as light-independent inhibitors of CLOCK-BMAL1 components of the circadian clock. It has been revealed recently that abnormal expression of CRY1 and CRY2 correlate closely with the occurrence and development of many cancers. However, the expression and significance of this proteins in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression levels of CRY1 and CRY2 in oral cancer. Materials and methods. CRY1 and CRY2 expression in cancerous and peritumoral tissues (when it was present) from 27 patients with OSCC was detected by immunohistochemistry techniques. Of all samples were received medical records (age, sex, grading, TNM, site of localization of the tumor). Immunohistochemistry was then performed on two sections for each of 27 sample mounted on poly-Llysine-coated glass slides to evaluate respectively the expression of CRY1 and CRY2.Results. In this study, out of the 27 cases, 11 were +/- positive in tumor area for CRY1 (most of which are well (differentiated), while out of 23 cases in which we evaluated the peritumoral tissue present in the section, 18 were positive. Also in the cases of positive tumor, almost always cytoplasmic, the CRY1 appears to be more strongly positive in dysplastic areas or even more in healthy epithelium, with a negative regulation in the areas most undifferentiated. As for the CRY2, out of the 27 cases analyzed, 17 were positive in the tumor area while about 23 cases in which we evaluated in peritumoral tissue present in the sections, 20 cases were positive. In tumor epithelium were found positivity also medium / high, present in tumors of different degree of differentiation, in some cases in other nuclear or cytoplasmic and nuclear/cytoplasmic, but when present the CRY2 is expressed, in most cases, in a manner similar or more intensely in peritumoral dysplastic epithelium. In the case of CRY2, there were no positivity in healthy epithelium (when present), but only in dysplastic epithelium. In addition, the positivity observed especially in peritumoral epithelium were present in states intermediate/surface. Conclusions. In conclusion, abnormal expression levels of CRY1 and CRY2 in OSCC tissue compared to healthy or dysplastic tissue may be related to the process of tumorigenesis. Further research focusing on these genes may, from the perspective of biological rhythms, provide novel ideas and methods for a better understanding of the occurrence and development of tumors, and for treatment of oral cancer

NMR evidence for inhomogeneous glassy behavior driven by nematic fluctuations in iron arsenide superconductors

We present $^{75}$As nuclear magnetic resonance spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation rate data in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ and Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Cu$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ as a function of temperature, doping and magnetic field. The relaxation curves exhibit a broad distribution of relaxation rates, consistent with inhomogeneous glassy behavior up to 100 K. The doping and temperature response of the width of the dynamical heterogeneity is similar to that of the nematic susceptibility measured by elastoresistance measurements. We argue that quenched random fields which couple to the nematic order give rise to a nematic glass that is reflected in the spin dynamics.Comment: Accepted to Physical Review

Magnetic resonance imaging of the cirrhotic liver in the era of gadoxetic acid

Gadoxetic acid improves detection and characterization of focal liver lesions in cirrhotic patients and can estimate liver function in patients undergoing liver resection. The purpose of this article is to describe the optimal gadoxetic acid study protocol for the liver, the unique characteristics of gadoxetic acid, the differences between gadoxetic acid and extra-cellular gadolium chelates, and the differences in phases of enhancement between cirrhotic and normal liver using gadoxetic acid. We also discuss how to obtain and recognize an adequate hepatobiliary phase

Fattori di rischio per la sicurezza e il benessere degli operatori del settore della IV gamma

L\u2019evoluzione degli stili di vita e delle abitudini alimentari rivolgono sempre di pi\uf9 l\u2019attenzione a produzioni di \u201calto valore aggiunto\u201d quali i prodotti di IV gamma che uniscono ad elevati livelli qualitativi e di salubrit\ue0 una indubbia praticit\ue0 e notevole risparmio di tempo. Con il termine \u201cIV gamma\u201d si intendono i prodotti ortofrutticoli freschi, mondati delle parti non utilizzabili, tagliati, lavati, asciugati, imballati in buste o vaschette di plastica, venduti in banco refrigerato e pronti all\u2019uso da parte dei consumatori. L\u2019elevato livello qualitativo delle produzioni di IV gamma \ue8 garantito da tecnologie che riducono al minimo i processi ossidativi e la proliferazione dei microrganismi presenti sul prodotto, soprattutto attraverso l\u2019impiego dell\u2019atmosfera modificata e della refrigerazione. Ed \ue8 proprio l\u2019impiego di basse temperature uno dei fattori chiave che garantisce la qualit\ue0 di questi prodotti: il mantenimento del freddo durante l\u2019intero ciclo di produzione rallenta l\u2019attivit\ue0 dei microrganismi e preserva dal deterioramento i tessuti vegetali. L\u2019uso di basse temperature nelle celle di stoccaggio e nei locali di lavorazione determina per\uf2 condizioni di lavoro non confortevoli. In tale contesto si pone l'obiettivo del presente lavoro che mira a caratterizzare le condizioni ambientali in cui operano gli addetti della IV gamma, individuando i fattori di rischio pi\uf9 rilevanti per la loro salute e sicurezza. Dallo studio \ue8 emerso che i rischi lavorativi prevalenti sono dovuti a movimenti ripetitivi degli arti superiori, posture fisse (in piedi) mantenute per tempi prolungati e condizioni microclimatiche sfavorevoli oltre alla possibilit\ue0 di infortunarsi derivante da uso di strumenti taglienti, frequenza delle manipolazioni, presenza di pavimenti bagnati ed inadeguata illuminazione delle postazioni di lavoro

La progettazione integrata applicata a tre cantine del nord Italia

Il presente lavoro \ue8 stato condotto su 3 aziende vinicole del nord Italia con differenti dimensioni produttive. L\u2019obiettivo dello studio \ue8 evidenziare eventuali errori progettuali edilizio-impiantisitici del settore enologico. Questo approccio di analisi integrata ha messo in luce le incongruenze tra le varie componenti del sistema produttivo. Le problematiche ricorrenti sono: layout non funzionali, elevata rumorosit\ue0 nel reparto di imbottigliamento e continui sbalzi termici per il personale

Influence of environmental conditions and building structure on food quality : A survey of hand-crafted dairies in Northern Italy

The present study investigated several small dairies, located in mountain areas of Northern Italy, with the aim to identify critical factors that are frequently neglected despite their potentially decisive role in improving hygiene standards of dairy processing and work safety. The results highlighted the structural and procedural aspects involved in sanitary requirements of traditional dairy production. Our analysis has made it clear that processing environment is often inadequately protected from external contamination, and design and realisation of buildings is not suitable for food processing requirements. For example, the main critical points for food safety in relation to building structure are indoor layout of a dairy, and coating materials for floors and walls that, although smooth and washable, do not withstand chemical attack, environmental conditions, and mechanical stress. From a procedural point of view, cleaning operations are not carried out thoroughly, and working practices are hygienically deficien