Detecting planets around stars in nearby galaxies

The only way to detect planets around stars at distances of several kpc is by (photometric or astrometric) microlensing observations. In this paper, we show that the capability of photometric microlensing extends to the detection of signals caused by planets around stars in nearby galaxies (e.g. M31) and that there is no other method that can achieve this. Due to the large crowding, microlensing experiments towards M31 can only observe the high-magnification part of a lensing light curve. Therefore, the dominating channel for microlensing signals by planets is in distortions near the peak of high-magnification events as discussed by Griest and Safizadeh. We calculate the probability to detect planetary anomalies for microlensing experiments towards M31 and find that jupiter-like planets around stars in M31 can be detected. Though the characterization of the planet(s) involved in this signal will be difficult, the absence of such signals can yield strong constraints on the abundance of jupiter-like planets.Comment: 16 LaTex Pages, including 1 Postscript Figures, submitted to A&A; title changed, one more author added, completely revised version: central point is detecting planet in nearby galaxies and one more technique is taken into consideratio

The galactic center black hole as a possible retro-lens for the S2 orbiting star

Holz & Wheeler (\cite{hw}) have recently proposed that a Schwarzschild black hole may act as a retro-lens which, if illuminated by a powerful light source, deflects light ray paths to large bending angles and a series of luminous arcs (or rings in the case of aligned objects) centered on the black hole may form. Obviously, the most convenient geometry to get retro-lensing images would be that of a very bright star close to a massive black hole, say the putative $\sim 4\times 10^6$ M$_{\odot}$ black hole at the galactic center. Recent observations of the galactic center region in the $K$-band have revealed the presence of a very bright main sequence star (labelled S2) with mass $\sim 15$ M$_{\odot}$ orbiting at close distance (130-1900 AU) from Sgr A$^*$. The relatively vicinity of S2 to the central massive black hole may offer a unique laboratory to test the formation of retro-lensing images. The next generation of space-based telescopes in the $K$-band (like NGST) may have high enough limiting magnitude necessary to observe such retro-lensing images.Comment: 4 pages, 2 Postscript figures, accepted for pubblications on Astronomy and Astrophysic

Inflammatory markers as prognostic factors of survival in patients affected by hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolization

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a good choice for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment when surgery and liver transplantation are not feasible. Few studies reported the value of prognostic factors influencing survival after chemoembolization. In this study, we evaluated whether preoperative inflammatory factors such as neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratio affected our patient survival when affected by hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated a total of 72 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma that underwent TACE. We enrolled patients with different etiopathogeneses of hepatitis and histologically proven HCC not suitable for surgery. The overall study population was dichotomized in two groups according to the median NLR value and was analyzed also according to other prognostic factors. Results. The global median overall survival (OS) was 28 months. The OS in patients with high NLR was statistically significantly shorter than that in patients with low NLR. The following pretreatment variables were significantly associated with the OS in univariate analyses: age, Child-Pugh score, BCLC stage, INR, and NLR. Pretreated high NLR was an independently unfavorable factor for OS. Conclusion. NLR could be considered a good prognostic factor of survival useful to stratify patients that could benefit from TACE treatment

Atrioventricular canal defect and genetic syndromes: the unifying role of sonic hedgehog

The atrioventricular canal defect (AVCD) is a congenital heart defect (CHD) frequently associated with extracardiac anomalies (75%). Previous observations from a personal series of patients with AVCD and "polydactyly syndromes" showed that the distinct morphology and combination of AVCD features in some of these syndromes is reminiscent of the cardiac phenotype found in heterotaxy, a malformation complex previously associated with functional cilia abnormalities and aberrant Hedgehog (Hh) signaling. Hh signaling coordinates multiple aspects of left-right lateralization and cardiovascular growth. Being active at the venous pole the secondary heart field (SHF) is essential for normal development of dorsal mesenchymal protrusion and AVCD formation and septation. Experimental data show that perturbations of different components of the Hh pathway can lead to developmental errors presenting with partially overlapping manifestations and AVCD as a common denominator. We review the potential role of Hh signaling in the pathogenesis of AVCD in different genetic disorders. AVCD can be viewed as part of a "developmental field," according to the concept that malformations can be due to defects in signal transduction cascades or pathways, as morphogenetic units which may be altered by Mendelian mutations, aneuploidies, and environmental causes

Nuevos registro de plantas hospedadoras para el salivazo Notozulia entreriana (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) con nuevos aportes sobre su ocurrencia en diversas zonas ecológicas de la Argentina

Fil: Foieri, Alvaro. PROIMI Biotecnología. División Control Biológico. Tucumán; Argentina.Fil: Virla, Eduardo G.. Instituto de Entomología. Fundación Miguel Lillo. San Miguel de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Marino de Remes Lenicov, Ana María. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentin

Slott-Agape Project

SLOTT-AGAPE (Systematic Lensing Observation at Toppo Telescope - Andromeda Gravitational Amplification Pixel Lensing Experiment) is a new collaboration project among international partners from England, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland that intends to perform microlensing observation by using M31 as target. The MACHOs search is made thanks to the pixel lensing technique.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, proceeding of XLIII Congresso della Societa' Astronomica Italiana, Napoli, 4-8 Maggio, 199

A Visual Inspection System for Rail Detection and Tracking in Real Time Railway Maintenance

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Omineca Miner, January, 02, 1915

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Immature platelet fraction (IPF) represents the quote of younger and larger sized circulating platelets, a potential marker of platelet reactivity and major cardiovascular events. We aimed to assess the relationship between IPF levels and the prevalence and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients undergoing coronary angiography. METHODS: A cohort of consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography in a single centre were included. Significant CAD was defined as at least 1 vessel stenosis >50%, while severe CAD was defined as left main and/or three-vessel disease. IPF levels were measured at admission by routine blood cells count (A Sysmex XE-2100). RESULTS: We included 1789 patients, divided according to quartiles values of IPF. IPF levels were directly related to active smoke (p = 0.02), and non-acute coronary syndrome as indication to angiography (p < 0.001), higher levels of haemoglobin and uric acid (p < 0.001, respectively) and lower platelet count (p = 0.003). Angiographic features did not significantly differ according to quartiles values of IPF, but for a lower degree of TIMI flow in patients with a higher percentage of reticulated platelets (p = 0.01) and a higher rate of lesions involving bifurcations (p = 0.05). IPF levels did not affect the prevalence of CAD (77% vs. 82.2% vs. 79.1% vs. 75.6%, p = 0.34, adjusted OR [95% CI] = 0.93 [0.82-1.05], p = 0.22), nor of severe left main/three-vessel CAD (28.5% vs. 34.4% vs. 32.2% vs. 33.1%, p = 0.27; adjusted OR [95% CI] = 0.99 [0.90-1.1], p = 0.88). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that among patients undergoing coronary angiography, the immature platelet fraction (IPF) is not associated with the prevalence and extent of coronary artery disease, and, therefore, should not be overlooked as a marker of coronary atherosclerosis