Constraining statistical-model parameters using fusion and spallation reactions

Peer reviewe

Validation of an automated spectrophotometric method to dose SO2 in vinegar

Sulfur dioxide and sulfites are considered allergens, and their levels in food are regulated by law. The method used to dose free and total sulfites in vinegar is the Ripper method which consists of a direct titration with iodine using starch as an indicator. The Ripper method involves long and elaborate processes, requires excellent operator skills, and has long analysis times. This work validated an enzymatic method performed by an automatized spectroscopic apparatus. Method linearity, applicability range, minimum detection limit, the limit of quantification, and repeatability were demonstrated. Therefore, the enzymatic method performed by an automatized spectroscopic apparatus can be used to detect SO2 in vinegar

A comparison of 0.375% ropivacaine psoas compartment block and 2% prilocaine spinal anaesthesia in dogs undergoing tibial plateau levelling osteotomy

BACKGROUND: In dogs undergoing routine elective orthopaedic surgeries carried out as same-day surgeries regional anaesthetic techniques (RATs) should aim to produce analgesia but minimising the postoperative motor dysfunction. Our objective was to compare the perioperative analgesic effects and the time to motor recovery between spinal anaesthesia (SA) with hyperbaric solution of prilocaine 2% (mg = 4 x [0.3 × BW (kg) + 0.05 × SCL (cm)]) and morphine (0.03 mg/kg) and combined ultrasound (US) and electro stimulator-guided psoas compartment and ischiatic nerve block (PB) with ropivacaine 0.375% (0.45 mL/kg). Dogs undergoing tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) were randomly assigned to receive either SA or PB. Procedural failure, perioperative rescue analgesia, motor block recovery and complications were recorded. RESULTS: Procedural failure rate (PFR) was 19% (7 out of 36) for SA and 9% (3 out of 32) for PB (p = 0.31). Intraoperative rescue analgesia was administered to 6/29 (21%) SA group dogs and in 15/29 (52%) PB group dogs, respectively (p = 0.03). At 3 h after RAT, percentage of dogs with complete block recovery was 25/29 (86%) and 25/29 (86%) in group SA and PB, respectively (p = 1). Two cases of pruritus and one case of urinary retention were recorded in the SA group. Residual ischiatic nerve block was noted at 12 h after RAT in 2/15 (13%) of dogs in group PB; it completely resolved 24 h after RAT. CONCLUSIONS: SA with prilocaine 2% and PB with ropivacaine 0.37% were found suitable for dogs undergoing same-day TPLO surgery. Pruritus and urinary retention in SA and residual block in both groups might occasionally delay the time of discharge. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-022-03277-6

INCL Intra-Nuclear Cascade and ABLA De-excitation Models in GEANT4

peer reviewe

New potentialities of the Liège intranuclear cascade (INCL) model for reactions induced by nucleons and light charged particles

The new version (INCL4.6) of the Li`ege intranuclear cascade (INC) model for the description of spallation reactions is presented in detail. Compared to the standard version (INCL4.2), it incorporates several new features, the most important of which are: (i) the inclusion of cluster production through a dynamical phase space coalescence model, (ii) the Coulomb deflection for entering and outgoing charged particles, (iii) the improvement of the treatment of Pauli blocking and of soft collisions, (iv) the introduction of experimental threshold values for the emission of particles, (v) the improvement of pion dynamics, (vi) a detailed procedure for the treatment of light-cluster induced reactions taking care of the effects of binding energy of the nucleons inside the incident cluster and of the possible fusion reaction at low energy. Performances of the new model concerning nucleon-induced reactions are illustrated. Whenever necessary, the INCL4.6 model is coupled to the ABLA07 deexcitation model and the respective merits of the two models are then tentatively disentangled. Good agreement is generally obtained in the 200 MeV-2 GeV range. Below 200 MeV and down to a few tens of MeV, the total reaction cross section is well reproduced and differential cross sections are reasonably well described. The model is also tested for light-ion induced reactions at low energy, below 100 MeV incident energy per nucleon. Beyond presenting the update of the INCL4.2 model, attention has been paid to applications of the new model to three topics for which some particular aspects are discussed for the first time: production of clusters heavier than alpha particles, longitudinal residue recoil velocity and its fluctuations, total reaction cross section and the residue production cross sections for low energy incident light ions.Comment: 29 pages, 26 figure

Genotyping at the CSN1S1 locus by PCR-RFLP and AS-PCR in a Neapolitan Goat Population

The goat CSN1S1 gene has for many years been an excellent model for demonstrating that most of the variability observed in the as1-casein content in goat’s milk is due to the presence of autosomal alleles at a single structural locus. Until now, about 17 alleles associated to at least four levels of as1-casein expression in milk have been described at the CSN1S1 locus in the domestic goat (Capra hircus). The great importance of goat as1-casein polymorphism is due to its qualitative as well as quantitative implications. In the present work five PCR protocols (PCR-RFLPs, AS-PCR) were set up for rapid genotyping of B1, B2*, B3, B4 and C CSN1S1 alleles, until nowdetectable only by milk electrophoresis. Application of these protocols, together with previously described methods to identify CSN1S1 01, E, M, F, N and A* (CSN1S1 A, G, I, H) alleles, allow us to define, at DNA level, the genetic structure of the autochthonous goat reared in the province of Naples for the highest number of possible alleles at this locus. Monitoring of CSN1S1 variability in the Neapolitan goat population indicates a high frequency of low (F, 0.368) and null (N, 0.227) alleles

Molecular cloning, promoter analysis and SNP identification of Italian Nicastrese and Saanen lactoferrin gene

Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding glycoprotein found in exocrine secretions including milk. High levels of lactoferrin may have a role in the prevention of microbial infection of the mammary gland. In this report we sequenced and characterized goat lactoferrin cDNA and its promoter region in two different breeds of goat. The complete cDNA comprised 2356 nucleotides, including 38bp at the 5'-UTR and 194bp at the 3'-UTR. The open reading frame is 2127bp long and it encodes a mature protein of 689 aminoacids. A total of 19 nucleotide differences, 11 of them being responsible for 8 aminoacid changes, were identified through the comparison with French, Korean and Tibetan goat lactoferrin cDNAs. About 1700bp of the lactoferrin gene promoter were sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed a non-canonical TATA box, multiple SP1/GC elements, and other putative binding sites for transcription factors, such as NF-kappaB, STAT3 and AP2. Two SNPs were identified, one of which would seem to create a new putative AP2 consensus sequence. The presence of an additional AP2 binding site could be associated with quantitative differences of such protein fraction, which could enhance all the activities related to such protein, and improve mammary gland defence against bacterial infections

Incidence of thyroid disorders in systemic sclerosis: results from a longitudinal follow-up

Context: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease of unknown etiology, and several studies reported its association with thyroid autoimmune disorders. No study has evaluated longitudinally the incidence of new cases of thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction in patients with SSc. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of new cases of clinical and subclinical thyroid dysfunction in a wide group of women with SSc vs an age- and sex-matched control group from the same geographic area. Design and Patients or Other Participants: After exclusion of sclerodermic patients with thyroid dysfunction (n = 55) at the initial evaluation, the appearance of new cases of thyroid disorders was evaluated in 179 patients and 179 matched control subjects, with similar iodine intake (median follow-up 73 months in patients with SSc vs 94 months in control subjects). Results: A high incidence (P < .05) of new cases of hypothyroidism, thyroid dysfunction, anti-thyroperoxidase antibody positivity, and appearance of a hypoechoic thyroid pattern in sclerodermic patients (15.5, 21, 11, and 14.6 of 1000 patients per year; respectively) vs that in control subjects was shown. A logistic regression analysis showed that in patients with SSc, the appearance of hypothyroidism was related to a borderline high initial TSH level, anti-thyroperoxidase antibody positivity, and a hypoechoic and small thyroid. Conclusions: Our study shows a high incidence of new cases of hypothyroidism and thyroid dysfunction in female sclerodermic patients. Female sclerodermic patients, who are at high risk (a borderline high [even if in the normal range] TSH value, anti-thyroperoxidase antibody positivity, and a hypoechoic and small thyroid) should have periodic thyroid function follow-up