2,452 research outputs found
New needs for menopausal women during covid-19 pandemic. A physician-based investigation
It was evaluated whether the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the manifestation of menopausal symptoms. In a web interview, 143 physicians, experts on the menopause, were asked to rate their perceived prevalence of hot flush, sleep disorder, sexual disturbance, anxiety and depression as ‘rare’, ‘seldom’, ‘frequent’ and ‘very frequent’ in patients they managed prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to physicians, there was no major change in the prevalence of hot flush, sleep disorder and sexual disturbance but prevalence of anxiety (39-8% vs 75.5%; p < 0.0001) and depressive (35.6% vs 72.0%; p < 0.0001) symptoms increased during COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic has changed the composite picture of menopausal symptoms, challenging physicians to adjust their therapeutic approach to the new need. Approaches capable to treat vasomotor symptoms but also highly effective on mood disturbance should be preferred
(Ti,Sn) solid solution-based gas sensors for new monitoring of hydraulic oil degradation
The proper operation of a fluid power system in terms of efficiency and reliability is directly related to the fluid state; therefore, the monitoring of fluid ageing in real time is fundamental to prevent machine failures. For this aim, an innovative methodology based on fluid vapor analysis through metal oxide (shortened: MOX) gas sensors has been developed. Two apparatuses were designed and realized: (i) a dedicated test bench to fast-age the fluid under controlled conditions; (ii) a laboratory MOX sensor system to test the headspace of the aged fluid samples. To prepare the set of MOX gas sensors suitable to detect the analytes’ concentrations in the fluid headspace, different functional materials were synthesized in the form of nanopowders, characterizing them by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The powders were deposited through screen-printing technology, realizing thick-film gas sensors on which dynamical responses in the presence of the fluid headspace were obtained. It resulted that gas sensors based on solid solution TixSn1–xO2 with x = 0.9 and 0.5 offered the best responses toward the fluid headspace with lower response and recovery times. Furthermore, a decrease in the responses (for all sensors) with fluid ageing was observed
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Complement Activation in Patients With Probable Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Ability to Predict Progression to American College of Rheumatology-Classified Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the frequency of cell-bound complement activation products (CB-CAPs) as a marker of complement activation in patients with suspected systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the usefulness of this biomarker as a predictor of the evolution of probable SLE into SLE as classified by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria.MethodsPatients in whom SLE was suspected by lupus experts and who fulfilled 3 ACR classification criteria for SLE (probable SLE) were enrolled, along with patients with established SLE as classified by both the ACR and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria, patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and patients with other rheumatic diseases. Individual CB-CAPs were measured by flow cytometry, and positivity rates were compared to those of commonly assessed biomarkers, including serum complement proteins (C3 and C4) and autoantibodies. The frequency of a positive multianalyte assay panel (MAP), which includes CB-CAPs, was also evaluated. Probable SLE cases were followed up prospectively.ResultsThe 92 patients with probable SLE were diagnosed more recently than the 53 patients with established SLE, and their use of antirheumatic medications was lower. At the enrollment visit, more patients with probable SLE were positive for CB-CAPs (28%) or MAP (40%) than had low complement levels (9%) (P = 0.0001 for each). In probable SLE, MAP scores of >0.8 at enrollment predicted fulfillment of a fourth ACR criterion within 18 months (hazard ratio 3.11, P < 0.01).ConclusionComplement activation occurs in some patients with probable SLE and can be detected with higher frequency by evaluating CB-CAPs and MAP than by assessing traditional serum complement protein levels. A MAP score above 0.8 predicts transition to classifiable SLE according to ACR criteria
The Th17 axis in psoriatic disease : pathogenetic and therapeutic implications
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis represent two paradigmatic conditions characterized by chronic inflammation and possibly autoimmunity, despite the absence of known serum autoantibodies. The two diseases, albeit strongly correlated from clinical, genetic, and epidemiogical standpoints, manifest significant differences in terms of etiology and pathogenetic mechanisms. Nonetheless, Th17 cells appear crucial to both diseases, and IL23 is the cytokine involved in determining the fate of naive CD4+ cells to differentiate into a pathogenic phenotype. This basic experimental observation led to a clear understanding of the immune dysfunction causing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis but, more importantly, also led to new therapeutic approaches. In recent years, monoclonal antibodies directed to IL12/IL23 (ustekinumab) or IL17 (secukinumab, ixekizumab, brodalumab) are being investigated or have proven to be beneficial for patients with psoriatic disease, thus further supporting the view that Th17 cells play a pivotal role in disease onset and perpetuation. These most recent reports indeed represent significant developments that may allow overcoming the TNF\u3b1 pathway as the major therapeutic target in chronic inflammation
Magnetic field structure in single late-type giants: The effectively single giant V390 Aur
We have studied the active giant V390 Aur using spectropolarimetry to obtain
direct and simultaneous measurements of the magnetic field and the activity
indicators in order to get a precise insight of its activity. We used the
spectropolarimeter NARVAL at the Bernard Lyot Telescope (Observatoire du Pic du
Midi, France) to obtain a series of Stokes I and Stokes V profiles. The Least
Square deconvolution (LSD) technique was applied to detect the Zeeman signature
of the magnetic field in each of our 13 observations and to measure its
longitudinal component. We could also monitor the CaII K & H and IR triplet, as
well as the H_alpha lines which are activity indicators. In order to
reconstruct the magnetic field geometry of V390 Aur, we applied the Zeeman
Doppler Imaging (ZDI) inversion method and present a map for the magnetic
field. Based on the obtained spectra, we also refined the fundamental
parameters of the star and the Li abundance. The ZDI revealed a structure in
the radial magnetic field consisting of a polar magnetic spot of positive
polarity and several negative spots at lower latitude. A high latitude belt is
present on the azimuthal field map, indicative of a toroidal field close to the
surface. It was found that the photometric period cannot fit the behaviour of
the activity indicators formed in the chromosphere. Their behaviour suggests
slower rotation compared to the photosphere, but our dataset is too short to be
able to estimate the exact periods for them.Accepted for publication in A&A All
these results can be explained in terms of an \alpha-\omega dynamo operation,
taking into account the stellar structure and rotation properties of V390 Aur
that we study using up to-date stellar models computed at solar metallicity.
The calculated Rossby number also points to a very efficient dynamoComment: To appear in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 8 pages, 5 figure
A third cluster of red supergiants in the vicinity of the massive cluster RSGC3
Recent studies have shown that the area around the massive, obscured cluster
RSGC3 may harbour several clusters of red supergiants. In this paper, we
analyse a clump of photometrically selected red supergiant candidates 20' south
of RSGC3 in order to confirm the existence of another of these clusters. Using
medium-resolution infrared spectroscopy around 2.27 microns, we derived
spectral types and velocities along the line of sight for the selected
candidates, confirming their nature and possible association. We find a compact
clump of eight red supergiants and four other candidates at some distance, all
of them spectroscopically confirmed red supergiants. The majority of these
objects must form an open cluster, which we name Alicante 10. Because of the
high reddening and strong field contamination, the cluster sequence is not
clearly seen in 2MASS or GPS-UKIDSS. From the observed sources, we derive
E(J-Ks)=2.6 and d~6 kpc. Although the cluster is smaller than RSGC3, it has an
initial mass in excess of 10000 solar masses, and it seems to be part of the
RSGC3 complex. With the new members this association already has 35
spectroscopically confirmed red supergiants, confirming its place as one of the
most active sites of recent stellar formation in the Galaxy.Comment: Accepted for publication on A&
Effectiveness of flow obstructions in enhancing electro-osmotic flow
In this paper the influence of obstructions on micro-channel electroosmotic flow is investigated for the first time. To carry out such a study, regular obstructions are introduced into micro-channels and flow rates are numerically calculated. The effect of channel width on flow rates is analysed on both free and obstructed channels. The solid material considered for channel walls and obstructions is silicon and the electrolyte is de-ionised water. The parameters studied include channel width, obstruction size and effective porosity of the channel. The effective porosity is varied between 0.4 and 0.8 depending on other chosen parameters. The results clearly demonstrate that, under the analysed conditions, introduction of obstructions into channels wider than100 micro meters enhances the flow rate induced by electro-osmosis
Global Properties of the Rich Cluster ABCG 209 at z~0.2. Spectroscopic and Photometric Catalogue
This paper is aimed at giving an overview of the global properties of the
rich cluster of galaxies ABCG 209. This is achieved by complementing the
already available data with new medium resolution spectroscopy and NIR
photometry which allow us to i) analyse in detail the cluster dynamics,
distinguishing among galaxies belonging to different substructures and deriving
their individual velocity distributions, using a total sample of 148 galaxies
in the cluster region, of which 134 belonging to the cluster; ii) derive the
cluster NIR luminosity function; iii) study the Kormendy relation and the
photometric plane of cluster early-type galaxies (ETGs). Finally we provide an
extensive photometric (optical and NIR) and spectroscopic dataset for such a
complex system to be used in further analyses investigating the nature,
formation and evolution of rich clusters of galaxies. The observational
scenario confirms that ABCG 209 is presently undergoing strong dynamical
evolution with the merging of two or more subclumps. This interpretation is
also supported by the detection of a radio halo (Giovannini et al. 2006)
suggesting that there is a recent or ongoing merging. Cluster ETGs follow a
Kormendy relation whose slope is consistent with previous studies both at
optical and NIR wavelengths. We investigate the origin of the intrinsic scatter
of the photometric plane due to trends of stellar populations, using line
indices as indicators of age, metallicity and alpha/Fe enhancement. We find
that the chemical evolution of galaxies could be responsible for the intrinsic
dispersion of the Photometric Plane.Comment: 39 pages, 17 figures, MNRAS in pres
Cell-bound complement activation products associate with lupus severity in SLE.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between lupus severity and cell-bound complement activation products (CB-CAPs) or low complement proteins C3 and C4.
METHODS: All subjects (n=495) fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for SLE. Abnormal CB-CAPs (erythrocyte-bound C4d or B-lymphocyte-bound C4d levels \u3e99th percentile of healthy) and complement proteins C3 and C4 were determined using flow cytometry and turbidimetry, respectively. Lupus severity was estimated using the Lupus Severity Index (LSI). Statistical analysis consisted of multivariable linear regression and groups comparisons.
RESULTS: Abnormal CB-CAPs were more prevalent than low complement values irrespective of LSI levels (62% vs 38%, respectively, p
CONCLUSION: Abnormalities in complement activation as measured by CB-CAPs are associated with increased LSI
The VIRMOS deep imaging survey: III. ESO/WFI deep U-band imaging of the 0226-04 deep field
In this paper we describe the U-band imaging of the F02 deep field, one of
the fields in the VIRMOS Deep Imaging Survey. The observations were done at the
ESO/MPG 2.2m telescope at La Silla (Chile) using the 8k x 8k Wide-Field Imager
(WFI). The field is centered at alpha(J2000)=02h 26m 00s and
delta(J2000)=-04deg 30' 00", the total covered area is 0.9 deg**2 and the
limiting magnitude (50% completeness) is U(AB) ~ 25.4 mag. Reduction steps,
including astrometry, photometry and catalogue extraction, are first discussed.
The achieved astrometric accuracy (RMS) is ~ 0.2" with reference to the I-band
catalog and ~ 0.07" internally (estimated from overlapping sources in different
exposures). The photometric accuracy including uncertainties from photometric
calibration, is < 0.1 mag. Various tests are then performed as a quality
assessment of the data. They include: (i) the color distribution of stars and
galaxies in the field, done together with the BVRI data available from the
VIMOS survey; (ii) the comparison with previous published results of U-band
magnitude-number counts of galaxies.Comment: 10 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication on Astronomy and
Astrophysic
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