A catalog of known Galactic K-M stars of class I, candidate RSGs, in Gaia DR2

We investigate individual distances and luminosities of a sample of 889 nearby candidate red supergiants with reliable parallaxes (plx/plxerr > 4 and RUWE < 2.7) from Gaia DR2. The sample was extracted from the historical compilation of spectroscopically derived spectral types by Skiff (2014), and consists of K-M stars that are listed with class I at least once. The sample includes well-known red supergiants from Humphreys (1978), Elias et al. (1985), Jura and Kleinmann (1990), and Levesque et al. (2005). Infrared and optical measurements from the 2MASS, CIO, MSX, WISE, MIPSGAL, GLIMPSE, and NOMAD catalogs allow us to estimate the stellar bolometric magnitudes. We analyze the stars in the luminosity versus effective temperature plane and confirm that 43 sources are highly-probably red supergiants with Mbol<-7.1 mag. 43% of the sample is made of stars with masses > 7 Msun. Another 30% of the sample consists of giant stars.Comment: 14 pages, 7 Figures, accepted by ApJ. See https://somethingaboutrsgstars.wordpress.com/ or http://staff.ustc.edu.cn/~messine

Methods and compositions for stimulating T-lymphocytes

Disclosed are methods, compositions, antibodies, and therapeutic kits for use in stimulating cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and generating immune responses against epitopes of protooncogenes. Novel peptides are described which have been shown to stimulate cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, and act as antigens in generation of oncogenic epitope-recognizing antibodies. Methods are disclosed for use in treating various proliferative disorders, and diagnosing HER-2/neu-containing cells; also disclosed are therapeutic kits useful in the treatment of cancer and production of potential anti-cancer vaccines.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Non-Gaussian states by conditional measurements

We address realistic schemes for the generation of non-Gaussian states of light based on conditional intensity measurements performed on correlated bipartite states. We consider both quantum and classically correlated states and different kind of detection, comparing the resulting non Gaussianity parameters upon varying the input energy and the detection efficiency. We find that quantum correlations generally lead to higher non Gaussianity, at least in the low energy regime. An experimental implementation feasible with current technology is also suggested.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Foeniculum vulgare Essential Oils: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities

The essential oils from Foeniculum vulgare commercial aerial parts and fruits were isolated by hydrodistillation, with different distillation times (30 min, I h, 2 h and 3 h), and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The antioxidant ability was estimated using four distinct methods. Antibacterial activity was determined by the agar diffusion method. Remarkable differences, and worrying from the quality and safety point of view, were detected in the essential oils. trans-Anethole (31-36%), alpha-pinene (14-20%) and limonene (11-13%) were the main components of the essentials oil isolated from F. vulgare dried aerial parts, whereas methyl chavicol (= estragole) (79-88%) was dominant in the fruit oils. With the DPPH method the plant oils showed better antioxidant activity than the fruits oils. With the TBARS method and at higher concentrations, fennel essential oils showed a pro-oxidant activity. None of the oils showed a hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity >50%, but they showed an ability to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase. The essential oils showed a very low antimicrobial activity. In general, the essential oils isolated during 2 h were as effective, from the biological activity point of view, as those isolated during 3 h.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Indian nurses in Italy: a qualitative study of their professional and social integration

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the lived subjective experiences of immigrant Indian nurses in Italy and specifically their professional and social integration. BACKGROUND: To study the worldwide, nursing flux is a health priority in the globalised world. The growth in migration trends among nurses, not only from Philippines or India, has proliferated in recent years. The research on nurses' mobility for Southern European countries is underexplored, and in Italy, the out-migration flows of Indian nurses were never analysed. DESIGN: Qualitative methodological approach. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews (n = 20) were completed with Indian clinical nurses working in Italy for more than one year mainly in private organisations. A purposive sampling technique was used for recruitment. The data were then content-analysed using an inductive method. RESULTS: The findings were categorised into four themes: (1) aspects of professional integration and working experience, (2) intra- and interprofessional relationships and perceptions of the IPASVI Regulatory Nursing Board, (3) initial nursing education and continuous professional development and (4) perceptions of social integration. CONCLUSION: The results show that for Indian nurses in Italy emigration is important to gain opportunities to expand economic and social privileges as well as escape from historical assumptions of stigma associated with nursing work, especially for women. However, these conclusions have to be seen in wider socio-cultural complexities that are at the basis of transnational fluxes (Prescott &amp; Nichter ). RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The research offers an insight into the complicated reasons for Indian nurses out-migration to Italy. Without comprehending the interwoven textures of the political and social relations that are continually constructed and re-constructed among different nations, it is difficult to understand nurses out-migration and consequently have a better and safer collaborative teamwork in the host countries