Solar noble gases in the Angrite parent body – Evidence from volcanic volatiles trapped in D'Orbigny glass

We compare the noble gases in D'Orbigny glass and bulk. The glass was formed after the bulk silicates and contains interior solar noble gases that may originate from early volcanic activity on the angrite parent body, trapped upon fast cooling

The pre-atmospheric size of Martian meteorites

The pre-atmospheric size of martian meteorites was calculated based on 80Kr produced by epithermal secondary cosmic-ray produced neutrons of 30-300 eV energy. For seven meteorites we obtained minimum radii of 22-27 cm, corresponding to 150-270 kg

The Effects of Sleep Restriction on Biological, Psychological, and Neurocognitive Measures of Health

Chronic sleep restriction impacts a significant proportion of the population, even though health is optimized following a minimum of seven hours of sleep. A preponderance of the literature examining the effects of sleep loss focuses on males and total sleep deprivation. Sleep restriction paradigms provide more ecological validity, as they are more consistent with sleep loss characterized in epidemiological studies. Moreover, enhancing the understanding of sleep loss among women, who are generally the gender most likely to encounter negative health as a result of poor sleep quality, is crucial. Thus, this investigation aimed to examine sleep restriction amongst a female sample. Group assignment was determined on the basis of objective and subjective measures of sleep collected in the baseline phase. Participants were then placed in the Naturally Sleep Restricted (NSR) group (n = 11), or the Experimentally Sleep Restricted (ESR) group (n = 9). The ESR group was assessed on Day 1 and Day 7 (i.e., prior to and following sleep restriction). We hypothesized that following sleep restriction, the ESR group would exhibit decrements in biological, psychological, and neurocognitive functioning. We further hypothesized that relative to the ESR group at Day 1, the NSR group would exhibit reduced functioning. However, we hypothesized that the NSR participants would fare better compared to the ESR group at Day 7. Results indicated that following sleep restriction, the ESR group exhibited elevated IL-1β, anxiety, tension, and fatigue and a decrease in depression, anger, and reaction time. The NSR group evidenced elevated IL-6 relative to the ESR group at Day 1. Finally, relative to the NSR group, the ESR group at Day 7 exhibited elevated anxiety, tension, fatigue, confusion, and correct non-matches on a measure of working memory. Further, the ESR group at Day 7 evidenced lower levels of depression and anger relative to the NSR group. Generally, results indicate that volitional sleep restriction (NSR) produces a different constellation of outcomes relative to non-volitional sleep restriction (ESR). Future research should examine these variables with a larger sample size and over a longer period of sleep restriction in order to assess further changes in functioning

Towards a better classification of unclear eruptive variables: the cases of V2492 Cyg, V350 Cep, and ASASSN-15qi

Eruptive variables are young stars that show episodic variations of brightness: EXors/FUors variations are commonly associated with enhanced accretion outbursts occurring at intermittent cadence of months/years (EXors) and decades/centuries (FUors). Variations that can be ascribed to a variable extinction along their line of sight are instead classified as UXors. We aim at investigating the long-term photometric behaviour of three sources classified as eruptive variables. We present data from the archival plates of the Asiago Observatory relative to the fields where the targets are located. For the sake of completeness we have also analysed the Harvard plates of the same regions that cover a much longer historical period, albeit at a lower sensitivity, however we are only able to provide upper limits. A total of 273 Asiago plates were investigated, providing a total of more than 200 magnitudes for the three stars, which cover a period of about 34 yr between 1958 and 1991. We have compared our data with more recently collected literature data. Our plates analysis of V2492 Cyg provides historical upper limits that seem not to be compatible with the level of the activity monitored during the last decade. Therefore, recently observed accretion phenomena could be associated with the outbursting episodes, more than repetitive obscuration. While a pure extinction does not seem the only mechanism responsible for the ASASSN-15qi fluctuations, it can account quite reasonably for the recent V350 Cep variations.Comment: 12 pages, accepted by A&

Characterization of the noble gases and CRE age of the D'Orbigny angrite

Introduction: The D’Orbigny angrite, a 16.55 kg stone, was found 1979 in Argentina [1]. Mineralogy and chemistry of this meteorite were characterized in detail [2-6]. A Pb-U-Th age of 4.559 Ga was obtained for pyroxenes by Jagoutz et al. [7]. Here we report results on the noble gas isotopic composition and, in particular, on the cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) age of D’Orbigny

On the binarity of the classical Cepheid X Sgr from interferometric observations

Optical-infrared interferometry can provide direct geometrical measurements of the radii of Cepheids and/or reveal unknown binary companions of these stars. Such information is of great importance for a proper calibration of Period-Luminosity relations and for determining binary fraction among Cepheids. We observed the Cepheid X Sgr with VLTI/AMBER in order to confirm or disprove the presence of the hypothesized binary companion and to directly measure the mean stellar radius, possibly detecting its variation along the pulsation cycle. From AMBER observations in MR mode we performed a binary model fitting on the closure phase and a limb-darkened model fitting on the visibility. Our analysis indicates the presence of a point-like companion at a separation of 10.7 mas and 5.6 magK fainter than the primary, whose flux and position are sharply constrained by the data. The radius pulsation is not detected, whereas the average limb-darkened diameter results to be 1.48+/-0.08 mas, corresponding to 53+/-3 R_sun at a distance of 333.3 pc.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, research not

Association between diverticulosis and colonic neoplastic lesions in individuals with a positive faecal immunochemical test

Background The association between diverticulosis and colonic neoplastic lesions has been suggested, but data in literature are conflicting. This study aimed to investigate such a relationship in patients participating in a colorectal cancer screening program who underwent high-quality colonoscopy.Methods Data from consecutive individuals 50-75 years of age with a positive faecal immunological test were considered. Diverticulosis was categorised as present or absent. The prevalence of neoplastic lesions (adenoma, advanced adenoma, and cancer) between individuals with and those without diverticula was compared. A multivariate analysis was performed.Results Overall, data from 970 consecutive individuals were evaluated, and diverticulosis was detected in 354 (36.5%) cases. At least one adenoma was detected in 490 (50.5%) people, at least one advanced adenoma in 264 (27.2%), multiple adenoma in 71 (7.3%), whilst a cancer was diagnosed in 48 (4.9%) cases. At univariate analysis, the adenoma detection rate in patients with diverticula was significantly higher than in controls (55.9% vs 47.4%; p=0.011). At multivariate analysis, presence of diverticulosis was an independent risk factor for both adenoma detection rate (OR=1.58; 95% CI=1.14-2.18; p=0.006) and advanced adenoma (OR=1.57; 95% CI=1.10-2.24; p=0.013), but not for colorectal cancer.Conclusions In a colorectal screening setting, the adenoma detection rate was significantly higher in individuals with diverticulosis than in controls

The 2016-2017 peak luminosity of the pre-main sequence variable V2492 Cyg

V2492 Cyg is a young pre-main sequence star presenting repetitive brightness variations of significant amplitude (Delta R > 5 mag) whose physical origin has been ascribed to both extinction (UXor-type) and accretion (EXor-type) variability, although their mutual proportion has not been clarified yet. Recently, V2492 Cyg has reached a level of brightness ever registered in the period of its documented activity. Optical and near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy have been obtained in October 2016 and between March and July 2017. The source has remained bright until the end of May 2017, then it started to rapidly fade since the beginning of June at a rate of about 0.08 mag/day. On mid-July 2017 the source has reached the same low-brightness level as two years before. Extinction and mass accretion rate were derived by means of the luminosity of the brightest lines, in particular Halpha and Hbeta. A couple of optical high-resolution spectra are also presented to derive information on the gas kinematics. Visual extinction variations do not exceed a few magnitudes, while the mass accretion rate is estimated to vary from less than 10^-8 up to a few 10^-7 M_sun/yr. This latter is comparable to that estimated on the previous high-state in 2010, likely occurred under more severe extinction conditions. The combined analysis of the optical and near-infrared (NIR) observations extends to the present event the original suggestion that the V2492 Cyg variability is a combination of changing extinction and accretion.Comment: Accepted by A&

KINEMATICS OF THE TRUNK AND THE SPINE DURING UNRESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED SQUATS – A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS

The aim of the study was the assessment and comparison of trunk kinematics during restricted (knee not beyond toes) and unrestricted squats. Eight repetitions of restricted and unrestricted squats with 0, 25% and 50% bodyweight loading using a barbell were assessed with a 12 camera motion analysis system. A trunk marker set was developed and applied that allowed the measurement of the 3D kinematics of the trunk, divided into three segments (lumbar, thoracic and upper trunk) and the analysis of the sagittal curvature (lumbar and thoracic spine). The preliminary results of four subjects showed a larger range of sagittal motion between lumbar and pelvic segments for the restricted compared to the unrestricted squat. The lumbar curvature straightened with increasing load. The unrestricted execution seems to lead to higher stresses in the lower back