Recent results on heavy-ion induced reactions of interest for neutrinoless double beta decay at INFN-LNS

Abstract. The possibility to use a special class of heavy-ion induced direct reactions, such as double charge exchange reactions, is discussed in view of their application to extract information that may be helpful to determinate the nuclear matrix elements entering in the expression of neutrinoless double beta decay halflife. The methodology of the experimental campaign presently running at INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud is reported and the experimental challenges characterizing such activity are describe

Structural elucidation of phototransformation products of azimsulfuron in water

The photodegradation of the sulfonylurea herbicide azimsulfuron, N-[[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-amino]carbonyl]-1-methyl-4-(2-methyl-2H-tetrazole-5-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-sulfonamide (AZS), was studied in water at different wavelengths and in the presence of photocatalysts. AZS was rapidly degraded by UV light, affording three photoproducts. The main product, accounting for about 70% of photodegraded herbicide, was identified as 6-amino-5-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)methylamino]-1,5,6,8-tetrahydro-7-oxa-8ì6-tia-1,2,5,6-tetraza-azulen-4-one (ADTA) by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. With simulated sunlight irradiation, the reaction was slower and 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidine (DPA) and 1-methyl-4-(2-methyl-2H-tetrazole-5-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-sulfonamide (MPS), arising from a photohydrolytic cleavage of the sulfonylurea bridge, were the only byproducts observed. The reactions followed first-order kinetics. The addition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) did not modify significantly the AZS photodegradation rate. The presence of Fe2O3 accelerated more than twice the reaction rate affording two major products, DPA and MPS, together with minor amounts of N-[[(5-hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]-1-methyl-4-(2-methyl-2H-tetrazole-5-yl)-1Hpyrazole-5-sulfonamide (AZS-OH). The greatest degradation rate was detected in the presence of TiO2. Only the photohydroxylation product AZS-OH was observed, which was transformed rapidly into oxalic acid

Valutazione della componente pro-aritmica indotta da cellule staminali mesenchimali mediante identificazione di diversi potenziale d’azione in cardiomiociti in un modello sperimentale di infarto miocardico: dati preliminari

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Identificazione di differenti potenziali d'azione nei cardiomiociti in un modello sperimentale di infarto miocardico: valutazione della componente pro-aritmica indotta da cellule staminali mesenchimali.

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Study, fabrication and test of a special cooling system for targets submitted to intense ion beams

In Nuclear Physics, the cross-section measurement of rare reactions requires very intense beams, which deposit large amount of heat inside the target. Sometimes, the target material chosen for a given reaction has poor thermal properties; therefore, the heat produced by the beam inside the target must be eciently dissipated. In the present work, the use of High Orientated Pyrolytic Graphite as a support for the target is proposed. Its high thermal conductivity allows to quickly transfer the heat to the cold sample holder. The case of the NUMEN project, which will use very intense ion beams on thin targets, is considered. The temperature distribution inside both the target and the graphite has been calculated for several materials. A numerical technique, based on a MATLAB code, was tested in some analytical cases and then used to evaluate the time and spatial distribution of the temperature in the system. The rst target prototypes have been produced and then characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope analysis

Totally Laparoscopic Right Colectomy: Theoretical and Practical Advantages over the Laparo-assisted Approach

Background: Because of its less evident advantages regarding patient recovery, the laparoscopic approach for right colectomy initially gained less popularity than for left colectomy. The improvement in intracorporeal anastomotic techniques and the consequent switch from a laparo-assisted (LA) to a totally laparoscopic (TL) intervention seems to have overcome the initial concerns, giving rise to widespread use of such a procedure. By comparing the LA and the TL approach, our study was aimed at verifying the possible advantages of the more recent technique, also focussing on some technical implications for the surgeon. Methods: We prospectively collected and matched data from 27 consecutive laparo -assisted right colectomies (LARC) and 28 consecutive totally laparoscopic procedures (TLRC). Clinical, biochemical, pathological and cosmetic parameters were examined. Operating times were recorded and fractioned, in order to evaluate the learning curve for the different phases of the procedure. Results: LA and TL groups were homogeneous for demographic and pathological features. We had no mortality, and surgical complication rates were similar (3.6% vs. 3.7%). The TLRC group presented a significantly shorter laparotomy (4.8 cm vs. 7.2 cm, p=0.002), while no significant difference was recorded for outcome parameters. Operating time for carrying out anastomosis (TA) was significantly longer for the TL group (55.6 min vs. 20.6 min, p<0.0001). A rapid decrease in TA throughout the series attests to a short learning curve for intracorporeal ileo-transverse anastomosis. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to demonstrate the possible clinical advantages of TLRC over the LA approach. The cosmetic benefit for patients along with the safety and the prospective usefulness for surgeons (practice in intracorporeal suturing techniques) would seem to justify an inclination towards this technical development

The NUMEN Project: An Update of the Facility Toward the Future Experimental Campaigns

International audienceThe goal of NUMEN project is to access experimentally driven information on Nuclear Matrix Elements (NME) involved in the neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ) by accurate measurements of the cross sections of heavy-ion induced double charge-exchange reactions. In particular, the (18O, 18Ne) and (20Ne, 20O) reactions are adopted as tools for β+β+ and β-β- decays, respectively. The experiments are performed at INFN - Laboratory Nazionali del Sud (LNS) in Catania using the Superconducting Cyclotron to accelerate the beams and the MAGNEX magnetic spectrometer to detect the reaction products. The measured cross sections are very low, limiting the present exploration to few selected isotopes of interest in the context of typically low-yield experimental runs. In order to make feasible a systematic study of all the candidate nuclei, a major upgrade of the LNS facility is foreseen to increase the experimental yield by more than two orders of magnitude. To this purpose, frontier technologies are being developed for both the accelerator and the detection systems. An update description of the NUMEN project is presented here, focusing on recent achievements from the R&D activity

"Delirium Day": A nationwide point prevalence study of delirium in older hospitalized patients using an easy standardized diagnostic tool

Background: To date, delirium prevalence in adult acute hospital populations has been estimated generally from pooled findings of single-center studies and/or among specific patient populations. Furthermore, the number of participants in these studies has not exceeded a few hundred. To overcome these limitations, we have determined, in a multicenter study, the prevalence of delirium over a single day among a large population of patients admitted to acute and rehabilitation hospital wards in Italy. Methods: This is a point prevalence study (called "Delirium Day") including 1867 older patients (aged 65 years or more) across 108 acute and 12 rehabilitation wards in Italian hospitals. Delirium was assessed on the same day in all patients using the 4AT, a validated and briefly administered tool which does not require training. We also collected data regarding motoric subtypes of delirium, functional and nutritional status, dementia, comorbidity, medications, feeding tubes, peripheral venous and urinary catheters, and physical restraints. Results: The mean sample age was 82.0 ± 7.5 years (58 % female). Overall, 429 patients (22.9 %) had delirium. Hypoactive was the commonest subtype (132/344 patients, 38.5 %), followed by mixed, hyperactive, and nonmotoric delirium. The prevalence was highest in Neurology (28.5 %) and Geriatrics (24.7 %), lowest in Rehabilitation (14.0 %), and intermediate in Orthopedic (20.6 %) and Internal Medicine wards (21.4 %). In a multivariable logistic regression, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.05), Activities of Daily Living dependence (OR 1.19, 95 % CI 1.12-1.27), dementia (OR 3.25, 95 % CI 2.41-4.38), malnutrition (OR 2.01, 95 % CI 1.29-3.14), and use of antipsychotics (OR 2.03, 95 % CI 1.45-2.82), feeding tubes (OR 2.51, 95 % CI 1.11-5.66), peripheral venous catheters (OR 1.41, 95 % CI 1.06-1.87), urinary catheters (OR 1.73, 95 % CI 1.30-2.29), and physical restraints (OR 1.84, 95 % CI 1.40-2.40) were associated with delirium. Admission to Neurology wards was also associated with delirium (OR 2.00, 95 % CI 1.29-3.14), while admission to other settings was not. Conclusions: Delirium occurred in more than one out of five patients in acute and rehabilitation hospital wards. Prevalence was highest in Neurology and lowest in Rehabilitation divisions. The "Delirium Day" project might become a useful method to assess delirium across hospital settings and a benchmarking platform for future surveys