Critical exponents in Ising spin glasses

We determine accurate values of ordering temperatures and critical exponents for Ising Spin Glass transitions in dimension 4, using a combination of finite size scaling and non-equilibrium scaling techniques. We find that the exponents $\eta$ and $z$ vary with the form of the interaction distribution, indicating non-universality at Ising spin glass transitions. These results confirm conclusions drawn from numerical data for dimension 3.Comment: 6 pages, RevTeX (or Latex, etc), 10 figures, Submitted to PR

Update on acute bone and joint infections in paediatrics: A narrative review on the most recent evidence-based recommendations and appropriate antinfective therapy

Acute bone and joint infections (BJIs) in children may clinically occur as osteomyelitis (OM) or septic arthritis (SA). In clinical practice, one-third of cases present a combination of both conditions. BJIs are usually caused by the haematogenous dissemination of septic emboli carried to the terminal blood vessels of bone and joints from distant infectious processes during transient bacteraemia. Early diagnosis is the cornerstone for the successful management of BJI, but it is still a challenge for paediatricians, particularly due to its nonspecific clinical presentation and to the poor specificity of the laboratory and imaging first-line tests that are available in emergency departments. Moreover, microbiological diagnosis is often difficult to achieve with common blood cultures, and further investigations require invasive procedures. The aim of this narrative review is to provide the most recent evidence-based recommendations on appropriate antinfective therapy in BJI in children. We conducted a review of recent literature by examining the MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) database using the search engines PubMed and Google Scholar. The keywords used were “osteomyelitis”, OR “bone infection”, OR “septic arthritis”, AND “p(a)ediatric” OR “children”. When BJI diagnosis is clinically suspected or radiologically confirmed, empiric antibiotic therapy should be started as soon as possible. The choice of empiric antimicrobial therapy is based on the most likely causative pathogens according to patient age, immunisation status, underlying disease, and other clinical and epidemiological considerations, including the local prevalence of virulent pathogens, antibiotic bioavailability and bone penetration. Empiric antibiotic treatment consists of a short intravenous cycle based on anti-staphylococcal penicillin or a cephalosporin in children aged over 3 months with the addition of gentamicin in infants aged under 3 months. An oral regimen may be an option depending on the bioavailability of antibiotic chosen and clinical and laboratory data. Strict clinical and laboratory follow-up should be scheduled for the following 3–5 weeks. Further studies on the optimal therapeutic approach are needed in order to understand the best first-line regimen, the utility of biomarkers for the definition of therapy duration and treatment of complications

Championing Gender Fluidity in Luxury Fashion: A Case Study on Gucci under Alessandro Michele’s Creative Direction

This research aims to explore the contributions of luxury fashion brands in fostering a discourse on gender identity. Taking Gucci as its primary point of inquiry, the study dissects how one of the industry’s iconic brands has navigated gender fluidity in its campaigns and outreach under the avant-garde and audacious vision of its former creative director Alessandro Michele. This investigation delves deep into Gucci’s multifaceted dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), unraveling its strategic undertakings to champion gender inclusivity. The aim is to uncover the depth, significance, and potential ripple effects of Gucci’s stance in setting a precedent for the broader luxury fashion domain

Update on viral infections involving the central nervous system in pediatric patients

Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are mainly caused by viruses, and these infections can be life-threatening in pediatric patients. Although the prognosis of CNS infections is often favorable, mortality and long-term sequelae can occur. The aims of this narrative review were to describe the specific microbiological and clinical features of the most frequent pathogens and to provide an update on the diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies for viral CNS infections in children. A literature analysis showed that the most common pathogens worldwide are enteroviruses, arboviruses, parechoviruses, and herpesviruses, with variable prevalence rates in different countries. Lumbar puncture (LP) should be performed as soon as possible when CNS infection is suspected, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples should always be sent for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Due to the lack of specific therapies, the management of viral CNS infections is mainly based on supportive care, and empiric treatment against herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection should be started as soon as possible. Some researchers have questioned the role of acyclovir as an empiric antiviral in older children due to the low incidence of HSV infection in this population and observed that HSV encephalitis may be clinically recognizable beyond neonatal age. However, the real benefit-risk ratio of selective approaches is unclear, and further studies are needed to define appropriate indications for empiric acyclovir. Research is needed to find specific therapies for emerging pathogens. Moreover, the appropriate timing of monitoring neurological development, performing neuroimaging evaluations and investigating the effectiveness of rehabilitation during follow-up should be evaluated with long-term studies

A polarized synchrotron template for CMBP experiments after WMAP data

We build template maps for the polarized Galactic--synchrotron emission on large angular scales (FWHM =~7$^\circ$), in the 20-90 GHz microwave range, by using WMAP data. The method, presented in a recent work, requires a synchrotron total intensity survey and the {\it polarization horizon} to model the polarized intensity and a starlight polarization map to model polarization angles. The basic template is obtained directly at 23 GHz with about 94% sky--coverage by using the synchrotron map released by the WMAP team. Extrapolations to 32, 60 and 90 GHz are performed by computing a synchrotron spectral index map, which strongly reduces previous uncertainties in passing from low (1.4 GHz) to microwave frequencies. Differing from low frequency data, none of our templates presents relevant structures out of the Galactic Plane. Our map at 90 GHz suggests that the synchrotron emission at high Galactic latitudes is low enough to allow a robust detection of the $E$--mode component of the cosmological signal on large--scale, even in models with low--reionization ($\tau = 0.05$). Detection of the weaker $B$--mode on the largest scales ($\ell < 10$) might be jeopardized unless the value $\tau = 0.17$ found by WMAP is confirmed, and $T/S > 0.1$. For lower levels of the gravitational--wave background the $B$--mode seems to be accessible only at the $\ell \sim 100$ peak and in selected low--synchrotron emission areas.Comment: 13 pages, 14 figures, accepted for pubblications by MNRAS. For a version with full resolution color figures see http://sp0rt.bo.iasf.cnr.it:8080/Docs/Public/papers.ph

Redshift-Distance Survey of Early-Type Galaxies. IV. Dipoles of the Velocity Field

We use the recently completed redshift-distance survey of nearby early-type galaxies (ENEAR) to measure the dipole component of the peculiar velocity field to a depth of cz ~ 6000 km/s. The sample consists of 1145 galaxies brighter than m_B=14.5 and cz < 7000 km/s, uniformly distributed over the whole sky, and 129 fainter cluster galaxies within the same volume. Most of the Dn-sigma distances were obtained from new spectroscopic and photometric observations conducted by this project, ensuring the homogeneity of the data over the whole sky. These 1274 galaxies are objectively assigned to 696 objects -- 282 groups/clusters and 414 isolated galaxies. We find that within a volume of radius ~ 6000 km/s, the best-fitting bulk flow has an amplitude of |vbulk| =220 +/- 42 km/s in the CMB restframe, pointing towards l=304 +/- 16 degrees, b=25 +/- 11 degrees. The error in the amplitude includes statistical, sampling and possible systematic errors. This solution is in excellent agreement with that obtained by the SFI Tully-Fisher survey. Our results suggest that most of the motion of the Local Group is due to fluctuations within 6000 km/s, in contrast to recent claims of large amplitude bulk motions on larger scales.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, ApJL, accepted (updated results; matches accepted version

Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization and reionization: constraining models with a double reionization

Neutral hydrogen around high-z QSO and an optical depth tau ~ 0.17 can be reconciled if reionization is more complex than a single transition at z ~ 6-8. Tracing its details could shed a new light on the first sources of radiation. Here we discuss how far such details can be inspected through planned experiments on CMB large-scale anisotropy and polarization, by simulating an actual data analysis. By considering a set of double reionization histories of Cen (2003) type, a relevant class of models not yet considered by previous works, we confirm that large angle experiments rival high resolution ones in reconstructing the reionization history. We also confirm that reionization histories, studied with the prior of a single and sharp reionization, yield a biased tau, showing that this bias is generic. We further find a monotonic trend in the bias for the models that we consider, and propose an explanation of the trend, as well as the overall bias. We also show that in long-lived experiments such a trend can be used to discriminate between single and double reionization patterns.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figures. Substantial rewriting, replaced with accepted version. To be published in A&

Avaliação do crescimento de videiras irrigadas utilizando um polímero hidrorretentor de umidade em diferentes lâminas de irrigação.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de um polímero hidrorretentor de umidade em diferentes lâminas de irrigação por microaspersão sobre o crescimento de videiras irrigadas no submédio São Francisco.bitstream/CNPS/11840/1/circ132002avalcrescvideiras.pd

Lixiviação de nutrientes em uma área cultivada com meloeiro irrigado.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da fertirrigação na cultura do meloeiro, irrigado de forma localizada em um solo arenoso, sobre a lixiviação de nutrientes no perfil do solo. As profundidades de amostragem: solo foram: 0 a 20; 20 a 40 e 40 a 60 cm. As amostras foram coletadas em quatro períodos durante o desenvolvimento da cultura, sempre antes da fertirrigação e 1, 2 e 3 dias após a fertirrigação. Determinou-se pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, acidez potencial e soma de bases, capacidade de troca de cations e saturação por bases. Os resultados mostraram aumentos nos teores de P, Ca e Mg nas camadas abaixo de 20 cm. Os teores de pH, K, H+Al, e V pouco variaram ao longo das camadas estudadas. Tendo sido observados efeitos da fertirrigação no aumento dos teores de K. Os resultados mostram uma tendência de melhoria da fertilidade nas camadas abaixo dos 20 cm em função do uso da fertirrigação