15,852 research outputs found
The footprint of large scale cosmic structure on the ultra-high energy cosmic ray distribution
Current experiments collecting high statistics in ultra-high energy cosmic
rays (UHECRs) are opening a new window on the universe. In this work we discuss
a large scale structure model for the UHECR origin which evaluates the expected
anisotropy in the UHECR arrival distribution starting from a given astronomical
catalogue of the local universe. The model takes into account the main
selection effects in the catalogue and the UHECR propagation effects. By
applying this method to the IRAS PSCz catalogue, we derive the minimum
statistics needed to significatively reject the hypothesis that UHECRs trace
the baryonic distribution in the universe, in particular providing a forecast
for the Auger experiment.Comment: 21 pages, 14 figures. Reference added, minor changes, matches
published versio
Body image distortions following spinal cord injury
Background: Following spinal cord injury (SCI) or anaesthesia, people may continue to experience feelings of the size, shape, and posture of their body, suggesting that the conscious body image is not fully determined by immediate sensory signals. How this body image is affected by changes in sensory inputs from, and motor outputs to the body remains unclear.
Methods: We tested paraplegic and tetraplegic SCI patients on a task that yields quantitative measures of body image. Participants were presented with an anchoring stimulus on a computer screen and told to imagine that the displayed body part was part of a standing mirror image of themselves. They then identified the position on the screen, relative to the anchor, where each of several parts of their body would be located. Veridical body dimensions were identified based on measurements and photographs of participants.
Results: Compared to age-matched controls, paraplegic and tetraplegic patients alike perceived their torso and limbs as elongated relative to their body width. No effects of lesion level were found.
Conclusions: The common distortions in body image across patient groups, despite differing SCI levels, imply that a body image may be maintained despite chronic sensory and motor loss. Systematic alterations in body image follow SCI, though our results suggest these may reflect prolonged changes in body posture and wheelchair use, rather than loss of specific sensorimotor pathways. These findings provide new insight into how the body image is maintained, and may prove useful in treatments that intervene to manipulate the body image
NICU Infants & SNHL: Experience of a western Sicily tertiary care centre
Introduction: The variability of symptoms and signs caused by central nervous system (CNS) lesions make multiple sclerosis difficult to recognize,Introduction: This study adds the evaluation of the independent etiologic factors that may play a role in the development of SNHL in a NICU population. We compared neonatal intensive care unit NICU infants with sensorineural hearing loss SNHL to age and gender matched normal hearing NICU controls. Materials and methods: 284 consecutive NICU infants positive to the presence of risk indicators associated with permanent congenital, delayed-onset, or progressive hearing loss underwent to global audiological assessment. The following risk factors were researched, making a distinction between prenatal and perinatal risk factors: in the first group, family history of permanent childhood hearing impairment, consanguinity, pregnant maternal infection and drugs exposition during pregnancy; in the second group, premature birth, respiratory distress, hyperbilirubinemia requiring exchange tranfusion, very low birth weight, cranio-facial abnormality, perinatal infections, ototoxic drugs administration, acidosis, hyponatremia, head trauma. Results: The analysis of the auditory deficit for infants according to numbers of risk factors showed mean values of: 78 + 28.08 dB nHL for infants positive to two risk factors; 75.71 + 30.30 dB nHL in cases positive to three risk factors; 96.66 + 34.46 dB nHL for four risk factors and 85 + 35 dB nHL in case of >5 risk factors. Conclusion: NICU infants have greater chances of developing SNHL, because of the presence of multiple risk factors; in fact, as the number of coexisting risk factors increases, the prevalence rate of SNHL also increases (r=0.81)
Gravitational wave scintillation by a stellar cluster
The diffraction effects on gravitational waves propagating through a stellar
cluster are analyzed in the relevant approximation of Fresnel diffraction
limit. We find that a gravitational wave scintillation effect - similar to the
radio source scintillation effect - comes out naturally, implying that the
gravitational wave intensity changes in a characteristic way as the observer
moves.Comment: 9 pages, in press in IJMP
CoQ10 and vitamin A supplementation support voice rehabilitation. A double-blind, randomized, controlled, three-period cross-over pilot study
Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of an adjuvant therapy (CoQ10 in its watersoluble form and vitamin A) in supporting voice rehabilitation in a large group of patients with muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). Study Design: Twelve-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled, three-period crossover pilot study. The primary endpoint was the change in the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) over the 12-week study period. Secondary endpoints were the changes in the subcomponents of DSI, including MPT, F0-high, I-low, and jitter. Exploratory endpoints were the changes in the Shimmer and in Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Methods: Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to two counter-balanced arms. Group A (ADJ-PLA) patients were administered QTer 300 mg and Vit A acetate 500.000 Ul/g 1 mg twice daily for a 4-week intervention period, followed by a 4-week period of wash-out, and then were submitted to a last 4-week period of placebo. Patients in Group B (PLB-ADJ) were given the treatment period in reverse order. Both groups received a 45-min voice therapy in a group format once a day for 4 weeks during the first and the second active periods. The therapy was held during the wash-out period. Results: The analysis of main time effect indicated a trend toward recovery of vocal function regardless of group assignment. A significant time by group effect was found on DSI [F = 3.4 (2.5, 80.5), p = 0.03], F0-high [F = 4.5 (2.6, 82.9), p = 0.008] and Shimmer [F = 3.6 (1.5, 46.9), p = 0.048], under CoQ10 and Vit A treatment, with a small effect size. There was no significant time by group effect on the other study measures, namely MPT, I-low, VHI. Conclusions: A trend toward recovery of vocal function was observed in all the patients, likely due to voice rehabilitation. The improvement of DSI was greater under CoQ10 and Vitamin treatment, indicating a more pronounced improvement of vocal quality under adjuvant therapy. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Rome, Italy Rif. 3069/13.02.2014
The GAP-TPC
Several experiments have been conducted worldwide, with the goal of observing
low-energy nuclear recoils induced by WIMPs scattering off target nuclei in
ultra-sensitive, low-background detectors. In the last few decades noble liquid
detectors designed to search for dark matter in the form of WIMPs have been
extremely successful in improving their sensitivities and setting the best
limits. One of the crucial problems to be faced for the development of large
size (multi ton-scale) liquid argon experiments is the lack of reliable and low
background cryogenic PMTs: their intrinsic radioactivity, cost, and borderline
performance at 87 K rule them out as a possible candidate for photosensors. We
propose a brand new concept of liquid argon-based detector for direct dark
matter search: the Geiger-mode Avalanche Photodiode Time Projection Chamber
(GAP-TPC) optimized in terms of residual radioactivity of the photosensors,
energy and spatial resolution, light and charge collection efficiencyComment: 7 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication on JINS
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