Ideal Family Size and Fertility in Egypt: An Overview of Recent Trends

Egypt is already the most populous Arab country in the world with 93 million citizens in 2016 which may grow to about 120 million by 2030 if the same level of fertility continues. This paper aims to offer an overview of the evolution over time of the ideal number of children in Egypt, assessing previous researches and giving a particular emphasis on most recent data on such topic. In a context of raising fertility, whose causes are still unknown, we test the persistence of a high ideal number of children among younger cohorts

Optical and plasmonic properties of twisted bilayer graphene: Impact of interlayer tunneling asymmetry and ground-state charge inhomogeneity

We present a theoretical study of the local optical conductivity, plasmon spectra, and thermoelectric properties of twisted bilayer graphene (TBG) at different filling factors and twist angles $\theta$. Our calculations are based on the electronic band structures obtained from a continuum model that has two tunable parameters, $u_0$ and $u_1$, which parametrize the intra-sublattice inter-layer and inter-sublattice inter-layer tunneling rate, respectively. In this Article we focus on two key aspects: i) we study the dependence of our results on the value of $u_0$, exploring the whole range $0\leq u_0\leq u_1$; ii) we take into account effects arising from the intrinsic charge density inhomogeneity present in TBG, by calculating the band structures within the self-consistent Hartree approximation. At zero filling factor, i.e. at the charge neutrality point, the optical conductivity is quite sensitive to the value of $u_0$ and twist angle, whereas the charge inhomogeneity brings about only modest corrections. On the other hand, away from zero filling, static screening dominates and the optical conductivity is appreciably affected by the charge inhomogeneity, the largest effects being seen on the intra-band contribution to it. These findings are also reflected by the plasmonic spectra. We compare our results with existing ones in the literature, where effects i) and ii) above have not been studied systematically. As natural byproducts of our calculations, we obtain the Drude weight and Seebeck coefficient. The former displays an enhanced particle-hole asymmetry stemming from the inhomogeneous ground-state charge distribution. The latter is shown to display a broad sign-changing feature even at low temperatures ($\approx 5~{\rm K}$) due to the reduced slope of the bands, as compared to those of single-layer graphene.Comment: 28 pages, 16 figures, 6 appendice

Failure of conductance quantization in two-dimensional topological insulators due to non-magnetic impurities

Despite topological protection and the absence of magnetic impurities, two-dimensional topological insulators display quantized conductance only in surprisingly short channels, which can be as short as 100 nm for atomically thin materials. We show that the combined action of short-range nonmagnetic impurities located near the edges and on site electron-electron interactions effectively creates noncollinear magnetic scatterers, and, hence, results in strong backscattering. The mechanism causes deviations from quantization even at zero temperature and for a modest strength of electron-electron interactions. Our theory provides a straightforward conceptual framework to explain experimental results, especially those in atomically thin crystals, plagued with short-range edge disorder.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, 5 appendice

Not only a problem of fatigue and sleepiness: Changes in psychomotor performance in Italian nurses across 8-h rapidly rotating shifts

Although many studies have detailed the consequences of shift work in nurses concerning health, fatigue, sleepiness, or medical errors, no study has been carried out trying to disentangle the contribution of sleepiness and fatigue associated to shift work from the attentional performance. The aim of this pilot study is (A) to investigate the effects of an 8-h rapidly rotating shift on fatigue and sleepiness among staff nurses and (B) how these factors affect their psychomotor performance. Fourteen nurses were selected for a within-subject cross-sectional study according to this sequence of shifts: morning–afternoon–night, which were compared as function of tiredness, sleepiness, and performance at the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT). Subsequently, a within-subject Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) evaluated if the observed differences between shifts persist when the contribution of sleepiness is controlled. Our results clearly indicate that night shifts are associated with significant greater sleepiness and tiredness, and worsened performance at the PVT. As hypothesized, ANCOVA showed that these differences disappear when the contribution of sleepiness is controlled. Results point to a lower psychomotor performance in night compared to day shifts that depends on sleepiness. Hence, interventions to minimize the consequences of the night shift should consider a reduction of sleepiness

Pulsed homodyne Gaussian quantum tomography with low detection efficiency

Pulsed homodyne quantum tomography usually requires a high detection efficiency limiting its applicability in quantum optics. Here, it is shown that the presence of low detection efficiency ($<50\%$) does not prevent the tomographic reconstruction of quantum states of light, specifically, of Gaussian type. This result is obtained by applying the so-called "minimax" adaptive reconstruction of the Wigner function to pulsed homodyne detection. In particular, we prove, by both numerical and real experiments, that an effective discrimination of different Gaussian quantum states can be achieved. Our finding paves the way to a more extensive use of quantum tomographic methods, even in physical situations in which high detection efficiency is unattainable

TNFα expressed on the surface of microparticles modulates endothelial cell fate in rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a high prevalence of atherosclerosis. Recently increased levels of microparticles (MPs) have been reported in patients with RA. MPs could represent a link between autoimmunity and endothelial dysfunction by expressing tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), a key cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of RA, altering endothelial apoptosis and autophagy. The aim of this study was to investigate TNFα expression on MPs and its relationship with endothelial cell fate. Methods: MPs were purified from peripheral blood from 20 healthy controls (HC) and from 20 patients with RA, before (time (T)0) and after (T4) 4-month treatment with etanercept (ETA). Surface expression of TNFα was performed by flow cytometry analysis. EA.hy926 cells, an immortalized endothelial cell line, were treated with RA-MPs purified at T0 and at T4 and also, with RA-MPs in vitro treated with ETA. Apoptosis and autophagy were then evaluated. Results: RA-MPs purified at T0 expressed TNFα on their surface and this expression significantly decreased at T4. Moreover, at T0 RA-MPs, significantly increased both apoptosis and autophagy levels on endothelial cells, in a dose-dependent manner. RA-MPs did not significantly change these parameters after 4 months of in vivo treatment with ETA. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that MPs isolated from patients with RA exert a pathological effect on endothelial cells by TNFα expressed on their surface. In vivo and in vitro treatment with ETA modulates this effect, suggesting anti-TNF therapy protects against endothelial damage in patients with RA

Monte Carlo study of clinical treatment conditions provided by NOVAC 11 IOERT accelerator

LAUREA MAGISTRALELe tecniche radioterapiche si dimostrano oggigiorno un ottimo strumento nella cura dei tumori. Tra queste si distingue la IOERT (Intra Operative Electron Radiotherapy Treatment) che prevede l’erogazione di un fascio di elettroni attraverso acceleratori lineari mobili. Attraverso quest’ultimi è possibile eseguire il trattamento direttamente in sala operatoria, dando la possibilità di utilizzare, oltre che ai devices come il bolo per l’applicatore e i corpetti radioprotezionistici, anche i dischi sottocutanei di schermatura dalle radiazioni. Quest’ultimi hanno il compito di proteggere i tessuti sani sottostanti il target. Obbiettivo di questa tesi è quello di eseguire una caratterizzazione dosimetrica delle condizioni cliniche di un trattamento eseguito con l’acceleratore lineare Novac-11 attraverso un approccio Monte Carlo. In primo luogo, si è validato il codice Monte Carlo attraverso le misure sperimentali eseguite presso l’ospedale ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII (Bergamo) nell’ambito della caratterizzazione del LINAC Novac-11 per un trattamento con un’energia nominale di 10 MeV e con tre differenti applicatori circolari da 10 cm, 6 cm e 5 cm di diametro. Successivamente si sono studiate le variazioni dosimetriche indotte dalla presenza dei dischi sottocutanei di schermatura dalle radiazioni lungo l’asse del fascio. In particolare si sono studiati i due dischi doppio strato utilizzati presso l’ospedale ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII (Bergamo): uno in alluminio-piombo, l’altro in PEEK-acciaio. Il primo risparmia sempre almeno il 99% della dose ai tessuti sani, ma presenta un importante fenomeno di backscattering che può imporre regioni di isodose superiori al 105% della dose prescritta. Il secondo, al contrario, presenta un fenomeno di backscattering molto più modesto, che non varia la condizione clinica, ma per target superficiali si osserva un’attenuazione della dose trasmessa di solo circa l’80%. Si è poi studiato l’effetto della presenza del bolo per applicatore. Da un punto di vista dosimetrico l’effetto principale è quello di imporre una translazione rigida verso la superficie della curva di dose in profondità. Infine, si è osservata la quantità di dose che giunge alla cute del paziente circostante l’applicatore. Questa è pari circa 2%-3% della dose massima erogata durante il trattamento. L’utilizzo dei corpetti radioprotezionistici risparmia alla cute circa il 25% di dose.Nowadays radiotherapy techniques prove to be an excellent tool in the treatment of tumors. Among these, IOERT (Intra Operative Electron Radiotherapy Treatment) stands out, which involves the delivery of a beam of electrons through mobile linear accelerators. Through the latter it is possible to perform the treatment directly in the operating room, giving the possibility to use, in addition to the devices such as bolus and radiation protection vests, also radiation shielding disks. These latter have the task of protecting the healthy tissues posterior to the target. The goal of this thesis is to perform a dosimetric characterization of clinical treatment conditions provided by the Novac-11 accelerator through a Monte Carlo approach. First of all, the Monte Carlo code was validated through the experimental measurements performed at the ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII (Bergamo) hospital in the context of the characterization of the Novac-11 LINAC for a delivery with a nominal energy of 10 MeV and with three different circular applicators of 10 cm, 6 cm and 5 cm in diameter. Subsequently, the dosimetric variations induced by the presence of radiation shielding disks along the beam axis were studied. In particular, the two double-layer disks used at the ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII (Bergamo) hospital were studied: one in aluminum-lead, the other in PEEK-steel. The first one always saves at least 99% of the dose to healthy tissues but has an important backscattering phenomenon that can impose isodose regions higher than 105% of the prescribed dose. The second, on the contrary, has a much more modest backscattering phenomenon, which does not vary the clinical condition, but for superficial targets it is observed an attenuation of transmitted dose of just about 80%. The effect of the presence of an applicator bolus was then studied. From a dosimetric point of view, its main effect is to impose a rigid translation of the dose profile to shallower depth. Finally, the amount of dose that reaches the patient's skin surrounding the applicator was observed. This is approximately 2% -3% of the maximum dose delivered during treatment. The use of radiation protection vests saves the skin about 25% of the dose

Monophasic and Biphasic Electrical Stimulation Induces a Precardiac Differentiation in Progenitor Cells Isolated from Human Heart

Electrical stimulation (ES) of cells has been shown to induce a variety of responses, such as cytoskeleton rearrangements, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. In this study, we have investigated whether monophasic and biphasic pulsed ES could exert any effect on the proliferation and differentiation of human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) isolated from human heart fragments. Cells were cultured under continuous exposure to monophasic or biphasic ES with fixed cycles for 1 or 3 days. Results indicate that neither stimulation protocol affected cell viability, while the cell shape became more elongated and reoriented more perpendicular to the electric field direction. Moreover, the biphasic ES clearly induced the upregulation of early cardiac transcription factors, MEF2D, GATA-4, and Nkx2.5, as well as the de novo expression of the late cardiac sarcomeric proteins, troponin T, cardiac alpha actinin, and SERCA 2a. Both treatments increased the expression of connexin 43 and its relocation to the cell membrane, but biphasic ES was faster and more effective. Finally, when hCPCs were exposed to both monophasic and biphasic ES, they expressed de novo the mRNA of the voltage-dependent calcium channel Cav 3.1(α(1G)) subunit, which is peculiar of the developing heart. Taken together, these results show that ES alone is able to set the conditions for early differentiation of adult hCPCs toward a cardiac phenotype

Studies and projects for the archaeological park of the Nuraghe s’Urachi (Sardinia, Italy). From knowledge for heritage conservation to project for the community

This piece of research regards the archaeological area of the Nuraghe s'Urachi in San Vero Milis (OR- Sardinia, Italy). The site is probably one of the most significant and complex testimonies of the so-called "Nuragic civilization" in Sardinia (18th–11th century BC). Among the approximately eight thou-sand currently surviving "nuraghi”, the s'Urachi complex stands out for its pivotal role in the vast and important network of territorial relations that characterized central-western Sardinia during the Archaic period. Its crucial role in terms of its political, economic, social, and military importance is displayed by its considerable size. Today only seven of the ten perimetral towers are still visible, and of the cen-tral tower — originally over twenty-five meters high — only the base remains. However, from an ar-chaeological point of view, the Nuraghe still constitutes one of the most interesting artifacts of the re-gion. As part of a renewed collective interest in Nuragic sites, the area of the excavations of s'Urachi is a candidate to host a new archaeological park whose formal and organizational characters are still to be defined (section 1.1). In August 2021, a workshop was organized and promoted as part of Accademia Adrianea in Rome Master's degree program on Architecture and Archaeology. The workshop focused on the site to envision four possible scenarios (section 2.1) for implementing and stimulating the preserva-tion and conservation processes, as well as to enhance the archaeological area in accord with the munic-ipal administration and the local community. The process of rediscovery, participation, sharing, and fi-nal "reappropriation" of this heritage's tangible and intangible value represents one of the fundamental objectives this article intends to outline