The first search for variable stars in the open cluster NGC 6253 and its surrounding field

This work presents the first high-precision variability survey in the field of the intermediate-age, metal--rich open cluster NGC 6253. Clusters of this type are benchmarks for stellar evolution models. Continuous photometric monitoring of the cluster and its surrounding field was performed over a time span of ten nights using the Wide Field Imager mounted at the ESO-MPI 2.2m telescope. High-quality timeseries, each composed of about 800 datapoints, were obtained for 250,000 stars using ISIS and DAOPHOT packages. Candidate members were selected by using the colour-magnitude diagrams and period-luminosity-colour relations. Membership probabilities based on the proper motions were also used. The membership of all the variables discovered within a radius of 8 arcmin from the centre is discussed by comparing the incidence of the classes in the cluster direction and in the surrounding field. We discovered 595 variables and we also characterized most of them providing their variability classes, periods, and amplitudes. The sample is complete for short periods: we classified 20 pulsating variables, 225 contact systems, 99 eclipsing systems (22 Beta Lyr type, 59 Beta Per type, 18 RS CVn type), and 77 rotational variables. The time-baseline hampered the precise characterization of 173 variables with periods longer than 4-5 days. Moreover, we found a cataclysmic system undergoing an outburst of about 2.5 mag. We propose a list of 35 variable stars (8 contact systems, 2 eclipsing systems, 15 rotational variables, 9 long-period variables and the cataclysmic variable) as probable members of NGC 6253.Comment: Astronomy and Astrophysics, in press. Extended version with tables and light curve

Frail Biological Basis with Promising Future Perspectives

AbstractThe concept of surgical margins was born a long time ago but still lacks a univocal and sound understanding. The current biological rationale behind the recommendations on margins management relies on two pillars: (1) the observation that groups of cancer cells can leave the macroscopic tumor and disseminate throughout adjacent tissues with different degrees of aggressiveness; (2) the belief that removal of all (or most of) cancer cells can cure the patient. However, this background is undermined by some pieces of evidence. For instance, it has been proven that tissues surrounding cancer often bear precancerous traits, which means that cutting through non-cancerous tissues does not equate to cut through healthy tissues. The head and neck exquisitely poses a number of challenges in the achievement of negative margins, with special reference to anatomical complexity, high density in relevant structures, and unique histological heterogeneity of cancers. Currently, intraoperative margins evaluation relies on surgeons' sight, palpation, ability to map tumor extension on imaging, and knowledge of anatomy, with some optical imaging technologies aiding the delineation of the mucosal margins of excision. Frozen sections are currently used to intraoperatively evaluate margins, yet with debate on whether and how this practice should be performed. Future perspectives on improvement of margins control are threefold: research is oriented towards refinements of understanding of cancers local progression, implementation of technologies to intraoperatively render tumor extension, and employment of optical imaging modalities capable of detecting foci of residual tumor in the surgical bed

Awareness, values and attitudes of user generated content website users and non-users towards privacy in Europe : a quantitative study

The analyses and results in this document are based on an online survey regarding the awareness, values and attitudes of user generated content (UGC) website users towards privacy. This study was undertaken as part of the CONSENT project. This document highlights the overall findings from the study; other reports focusing on individual countries are available for each of the countries listed in the table below.CONSENT Consumer Sentiment regarding privacy on user generated content (UGC) services in the digital economy (G.A. 244643). The project was co-financed by the European Union within the Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013).peer-reviewe

Consumer sentiment regarding privacy on user generated content (UGC) services in the digital economy

A part of the project entitled SEVENTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME - Specific programme: ‘Cooperation’ Work programme topic - SSH-2009-3.2.1: Changes in consumption and consumer marketsThis document presents the Malta results of a study undertaken as part of the CONSENT project. Analyses and results are based on an online survey regarding the awareness, values and attitudes of user generated content (UGC) website users towards privacy. The questionnaire consisted of 75 questions and was available online in several European languages, including Maltese, between July and December 2011. For the dissemination of links to this online questionnaire in Malta, a mix of national media and University of Malta channels were used, ranging from banner ads on various media platforms and a media release to personalised emails and a special edition of the University’s Campus e-newsletter. The Malta sample consists of 618 respondents (7.2% of the total sample), of which 39% male and 61% female, with an average age of 29 and 80% tertiary education. With 84% UGC users (total sample 90%), 11.08 mean years of internet usage (total sample 10.67) and 95.4% using the internet at home every day or almost every day (total sample 93%), it is a considered a sample of predominantly experienced internet users. This level of experience is confirmed by the Maltese respondents’ awareness and behavior regarding the handling of technical details: 70% are aware of “cookies” (total sample 65%), though less than 2 out of three respondents actually ever disabled them (Malta 64%, total sample 68%).peer-reviewe

Liver injury, SARS-COV-2 infection and COVID-19: What physicians should really know?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which in males, especially in advanced age, can sometimes evolve into acute respiratory distress syndrome. In addition, mild to moderate alterations in liver function tests (LFTs) have been reported in the worst affected patients. Our review aims to analyse data on the incidence and prognostic value of LFT alterations, the underlying mechanisms and the management of pre-existing liver disease in COVID-19 affected patients

Ruprecht 147: a paradigm of dissolving star cluster

We employed recent Gaia/DR2 data to investigate the dynamical status of the nearby (300 pc), old (2.5 Gyr) open cluster Ruprecht~147. We found prominent leading and trailing tails of stars along the cluster orbit, which demonstrates that Ruprecht~147 is losing stars at fast pace. Star counts indicate the cluster has a core radius of 33.3 arcmin, and a tidal radius of 137.5 arcmin. The cluster also possesses an extended corona, which cannot be reproduced by a simple King model. We computed the present-day cluster mass using its luminosity and mass function, and derived an estimate of 234$\pm$52 $M_{\odot}$. We also estimated the cluster original mass using available recipes extracted from N-body simulations obtaining a mass at birth of 50000$\pm$6500 $M_{\odot}$. Therefore dynamical mass loss, mostly caused by tidal interaction with the Milky Way, reduced the cluster mass by about 99\%. We then conclude that Ruprecht~147 is rapidly dissolving into the general Galactic disc.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure, in press in the Astronomical Journa

Awareness, values and attitudes of user generated content website users and non-users towards privacy in Austria : a quantitative study

This research was carried out as part of CONSENT (Consumer sentiment regarding privacy on user generated content (UGC) services in the digital economy) a project that was funded by the European Union under the Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013), Grant Agreement Number 244643.This document presents the Austrian results of a study undertaken as part of the CONSENT project. Analyses and results are based on an online survey regarding the awareness, values and attitudes of user generated content (UGC) website users towards privacy. The questionnaire consisted of 75 questions and was available online in several European languages, including German, between July and December 2011. The Austrian sample consists of 131 respondents (1.5% of the total sample), of which 62.1% male and 37.9% female, with an average age of 31 and 63.2% tertiary education. With 85% UGC users (total sample 90%), 13.04 mean years of internet usage (total sample 10.67) and 86.9% using the internet at home every day or almost every day (total sample 93%), it is considered a sample of predominantly experienced, frequent internet users who are very likely to also be UGC users.This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 285582.peer-reviewe

Awareness, values and attitudes of user generated content website users and non-users towards privacy in Austria : a quantitative study

This research was carried out as part of CONSENT (Consumer sentiment regarding privacy on user generated content (UGC) services in the digital economy) a project that was funded by the European Union under the Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013), Grant Agreement Number 244643.This document presents the Austrian results of a study undertaken as part of the CONSENT project. Analyses and results are based on an online survey regarding the awareness, values and attitudes of user generated content (UGC) website users towards privacy. The questionnaire consisted of 75 questions and was available online in several European languages, including German, between July and December 2011. The Austrian sample consists of 131 respondents (1.5% of the total sample), of which 62.1% male and 37.9% female, with an average age of 31 and 63.2% tertiary education. With 85% UGC users (total sample 90%), 13.04 mean years of internet usage (total sample 10.67) and 86.9% using the internet at home every day or almost every day (total sample 93%), it is considered a sample of predominantly experienced, frequent internet users who are very likely to also be UGC users.This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 285582.peer-reviewe