The landscape of QCD axion models

We review the landscape of QCD axion models. Theoretical constructions that extend the window for the axion mass and couplings beyond conventional regions are highlighted and classified. Bounds from cosmology, astrophysics and experimental searches are reexamined and updated.Comment: Review article for Physics Reports, 151 pages. Few typos and signs corrected. Matches journal versio

Role of sustainability attributes and price in determining consumers' fruit perceived value

This work analyses consumers' behaviour and attitudes toward products characterised by a reduced environmental impact in terms of carbon footprint (CF). Value perception was measured using a contingent valuation approach, asking consumers to state their willingness to accept (WTA) monetary compensation for a product exchange offer, particularly fruit characterised by a higher CF in place of fruit characterised by a lower CF. Field experiments were conducted to determine consumers WTA as well as factors affecting the choice. Consumers were hypothetically endowed with a punnet of fruit produced with innovative, low CF farming methods and were offered to exchange it with a punnet of regular fruit. Variables representing consumer fruit consumption habits, consumer attitude and concern towards the environment, and socio-demographics were chosen to represent factors that motivate consumers' value perception of environmentally-friendly fruit. The scale of green consumption values (GCVs) was used to model consumer concern towards the environment. Results showed that demographics affect the perceived value of fruit characterised by a lower CF and that consumers' preference for lower CF products is associated with fruit consumption habits and environmental concerns. At the same time, a positive relationship with CF levels needs further investigation

Consumer attitudes and value perception for fruit with a lower carbon footprint

This work analyses consumers' attitudes for products characterised by a reduced environmental impact on carbon footprint (CF). Value perception was measured using a contingent valuation approach, asking consumers to state their willingness to accept (WTA) monetary compensation for a product exchange offer. Consumers were hypothetically endowed with a punnet of fruit produced with innovative, low CF farming methods and was offered to exchange it with a punnet of regular fruit. Results showed that demographics affect the value associated with fruit with a lower CF and that consumers' preference for lower CF products is associated with fruit consumption habits and environmental concern. At the same time, a positive relationship with CF levels needs further investigation

Solar axions cannot explain the XENON1T excess

We argue that the interpretation in terms of solar axions of the recent XENON1T excess is not tenable when confronted with astrophysical observations of stellar evolution. We discuss the reasons why the emission of a flux of solar axions sufficiently intense to explain the anomalous data would radically alter the distribution of certain type of stars in the color-magnitude diagram in first place, and would also clash with a certain number of other astrophysical observables. Quantitatively, the significance of the discrepancy ranges from $3.3\sigma$ for the rate of period change of pulsating White Dwarfs, and exceedes $19\sigma$ for the $R$-parameter and for $M_{I,{\rm TRGB}}$.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Version accepted for publication on PR

Size resolved aerosol respiratory doses in a Mediterranean urban area: From PM10 to ultrafine particles

In the framework of the 2017 "carbonaceous aerosol in Rome and Environs" (CARE) experiment, particle number size distributions have been continuously measured on February 2017 in downtown Rome. These data have been used to estimate, through MPPD model, size and time resolved particle mass, surface area and number doses deposited into the respiratory system. Dosimetry estimates are presented for PM10, PM2.5, PM1 and Ultrafine Particles (UFPs), in relation to the aerosol sources peculiar to the Mediterranean basin and to the atmospheric conditions. Particular emphasis is focused on UFPs and their fraction deposited on the olfactory bulb, in view of their possible translocation to the brain. The site of PM10 deposition within the respiratory system considerably changes, depending on the aerosol sources and then on its different size distributions. On making associations between health endpoints and aerosol mass concentrations, the relevant coarse and fine fractions would be more properly adopted, because they have different sources, different capability of penetrating deep into the respiratory system and different toxicological implications. The separation between them should be set at 1ʵm, rather than at 2.5ʵm, because the fine fraction is considerably less affected by the contribution of the natural sources. Mass dose is a suitable metric to describe coarse aerosol events but gives a poor representation of combustion aerosol. This fraction of particles, made of UFPs and of accumulation mode particles (mainly with size below 0.2ʵm), is of high health relevance. It elicited the highest oxidative activity in the CARE experiment and is properly described by the particle surface area and by the number metrics. Such metrics are even more relevant for the UFP doses deposited on the olfactory bulb, in consideration of the role recognized to oxidative stress in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Such metrics would be more appropriate, rather than PMx mass concentrations, to correlate neurodegenerative pathologies with aerosol pollution

Correction: Conformational features of 4-(N)-squalenoyl-gemcitabine in solution: a combined NMR and molecular dynamics investigation

Correction for 'Conformational features of 4-(N)-squalenoyl-gemcitabine in solution: a combined NMR and molecular dynamics investigation' by Ceruti Maurizio et al., New J. Chem., 2015, 39, 3484–3496

Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of Eligibility Criteria for CAR-T Cell Therapy

Patients (pts) with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) refractory to second-line therapy or relapsed after an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) have a very poor clinical outcome with a median overall survival (OS) of 5 and 8-10 months, respectively. Autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CD19 CAR) T cells have been associated with sustained complete remissions and long-term survivals in a large proportion of pts with R/R DLBCL by the two pivotal clinical trials Zuma1 and Juliet. This has led to the rapid approval by FDA and then by EMA of CAR-T cells for the third-line treatment of R/R DLBCL. Despite being a potentially revolutionary treatment for pts with advanced disease, the costs are much greater than any previously approved cancer therapy and this may become a substantial economic challenge for the health care system. The definition of inclusion and exclusion criteria capable of identifying more precisely pts who can successfully undergo CAR-T cell therapy, minimizing the severity of the toxicity, still remains a matter of discussion. Moreover, some eligible pts run the risk of becoming ineligible because of poor disease control. Indeed, one of the major obstacles to the successful use of CAR-T cells is the 4-5 week period so far required for the manufacturing and transfer of CAR-T cells. To address this issue, we have examined data of R/R DLBCL pts managed between 2010 and 2018 at our Center in order to: 1) better identify the characteristics and outcome of a cohort of R/R DLBCL pts potentially eligible, according to the approval criteria, for CAR-T cell therapy; 2) define factors influencing CAR-T cell eligibility; 3) make a realistic estimate of pts eligible for CAR-T cells. In this retrospective real-life cohort of R/R DLBCLs, 82/480 pts (17%) were R/R tosecond-line treatment including ASCT. Considering Juliet's inclusion/exclusion criteria for CAR-T cell therapy, only 50 pts (10.4%) would be eligible for CAR-T cells. Our analysis suggests that elevated LDH plus ECOG ≥2 have to be considered the two most significant features of very rapid disease progression. These variables should be taken in account in order to better select DLBCL pts potentially eligible to CAR-T therapy

Clinical management of endoscopically resected pT1 colorectal cancer

Background Implementation of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs increases endoscopic resection of polyps with early invasive CRC (pT1). Risk of lymph node metastasis often leads to additional surgery, but despite guidelines, correct management remains unclear. Our aim that are diagnosed and treated endoscopically and this number is expected to increase [1,2].Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing endoscopic resection of pT1 CRC from 2006 to 2016. Clinical, endoscopic, surgical treatment, and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. Lesions were categorized according to endoscopic/histological risk-factors into low and high risk groups. Comorbidities were classified according to the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Surgical referral for each group was computed, and dissociation from current European CRC screening guidelines recorded. Multivariate analysis for factors affecting the post-endoscopic surgery referral was performed.Results Seventy-two patients with endoscopically resected pT1-CRC were included. Overall, 20 (27.7%) and 52 (72.3%) were classified as low and high risk, respectively. In the low risk group, 11 (55%) were referred to surgery, representing over-treatment compared with current guidelines. In the high risk group, nonsurgical endoscopic surveillance was performed in 20 (38.5%) cases, representing potential under-treatment. After a median follow-up of 30 (6-130) months, no patients developed tumor recurrence. At multivariate analysis, age (OR 1.21, 95 %CI 1.02 -1.42; P = 0.02) and CCI (OR 1.67, 95 %CI 1.12 -3.14; P= 0.04) were independent predictors for subsequent surgery.Conclusions A substantial rate of inappropriate post-endoscopic treatment of pT1-CRC was observed when compared with current guidelines. This was apparently related to an overestimation of patient-related factors rather than endoscopically or histologically related factors