Laser-driven proton acceleration with nanostructured targets

Laser-driven particle acceleration has become a growing field of research, in particular for its numerous interesting applications. One of the most common proton acceleration mechanism that is obtained on typically available multi-hundred TW laser systems is based on the irradiation of thin solid metal foils by the intense laser, generating the proton acceleration on its rear target surface. The e_ciency of this acceleration scheme strongly depends on the type of target used. Improving the acceleration mechanism, i.e. enhancing parameters such as maximum proton energy, laminarity, e_ciency, monocromaticy, and number of accelerated particles, is heavily depending on the laser-to-target absorption, where obviously cheap and easy to implement targets are best candidates. In this work, we present nanostructured targets that are able to increase the absorption of light compared to what can be achieved with a classical solid (non-nanostructured) target and are produced with a method that is much simpler and cheaper than conventional lithographic processes. Several layers of gold nanoparticles were deposited on solid targets (aluminum, Mylar and multiwalled carbon nanotube buckypaper) and allow for an increased photon absorption. This ultimately permits to increase the laser-to-particle energy transfer, and thus to enhance the yield in proton production. Experimental characterization results on the nanostructured _lms are presented (UV-Vis spectroscopy and AFM), along with preliminary experimental proton spectra obtained at the JLF-TITAN laser facility at LLNL

Isolation of Escherichia coli O157 in pigs at slaughter in Northern Italy

A study of VTEC 0157 intestinal carriage was performed in pigs at slaughter, carrying out surveys respectively in the Veneto and the Lombardia regions of Italy within a common research project. The study was conducted for 15 months, starting in June 2002. As a minimum, a sample size of 300 samples was defined for each survey, assuming an expected prevalence of 1%, C.l. 95%, accuracy 5% One gram samples of Intestinal content from the distal gut were tested for E. coli O157 using an isolation method based on immunomagnetic separation. In the survey performed in the Veneto region, all the 397 samples collected from pigs of 132 farms tested negative for VTEC O157, but one E. coli O157 harbouring the eae gene only was isolated. In the survey performed in the Lombardia region, VTEC 0157 was detected in 3 (0.63%, 95% C I 0.12- 1.81) of the 480 sampled p1gs from 3 (2.80%, 95% C.l. 0.58- 7.97) of the 107 farms of origin. Therefore in the study a total of 877 pigs were tested in 15 slaughters of two regions, with a prevalence of 0.34% 95% C.l. 0.07- 0 99) of positive pigs from 1.26% (95% C. I. 0.25- 3.62) of the herds. In one of the positive farms also cattle were reared with pigs, even if housed separately, and in a follow-up investigation VTEC 0157 strains sharing more than 96% homology with the pig strain were found in cattle

Industrial air pollution and mortality in the Taranto area, Southern Italy: A difference-in-differences approach.

Background: A large steel plant close to the urban area of Taranto (Italy) has been operating since the sixties. Several studies conducted in the past reported an excess of mortality and morbidity from various diseases at the town level, possibly due to air pollution from the plant. However, the relationship between air pollutants emitted from the industry and adverse health outcomes has been controversial. We applied a variant of the "difference-in-differences" (DID) approach to examine the relationship between temporal changes in exposure to industrial PM10 from the plant and changes in cause-specific mortality rates at area unit level. Methods: We examined a dynamic cohort of all subjects (321,356 individuals) resident in the Taranto area in 1998–2010 and followed them up for mortality till 2014. In this work, we included only deaths occurring on 2008–2014. We observed a total of 15,303 natural deaths in the cohort and age-specific annual death rates were computed for each area unit (11 areas in total). PM10 and NO2 concentrations measured at air quality monitoring stations and the results of a dispersion model were used to estimate annual average population weighted exposures to PM10 of industrial origin for each year, area unit and age class. Changes in exposures and in mortality were analyzed using Poisson regression. Results: We estimated an increased risk in natural mortality (1.86%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.06, 3.83%) per 1 μg/m3 annual change of industrial PM10, mainly driven by respiratory causes (8.74%, 95% CI: 1.50, 16.51%). The associations were statistically significant only in the elderly (65+ years). Conclusions: The DID approach is intuitively simple and reduces confounding by design. Under the multiple assumptions of this approach, the study indicates an effect of industrial PM10 on natural mortality, especially in the elderly population. Keywords: Air pollution, Mortality, PM10, Steel industry, Confounding, Difference-in-difference

Elotuzumab plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: a multicenter, retrospective real-world experience with 200 cases outside of controlled clinical trials

In the ELOQUENT-3 trial, the combination of elotuzumab, pomalidomide and dexamethasone (EloPd) proved a superior clinical benefit over Pd with a manageable toxicity profile, leading to its approval in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), who had received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor (PI). We report here a real-world experience of 200 RRMMs treated with EloPd in 35 Italian centers outside of clinical trials. In our dataset, the median number of prior lines of therapy was 2, with 51% of cases undergoing autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) and 73% exposed to daratumumab. After a median follow-up of 9 months, 126 patients stopped EloPd, most of them (88.9%) because of disease progression. The overall response rate (ORR) was 55.4%, in line with the pivotal trial results. Regarding adverse events, our cohort experienced a toxicity profile similar to the ELOQUENT-3 trial, with no significant differences between younger (<70 years) and older patients. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7 months, shorter than that observed in the ELOQUENT-3, probably due to the different clinical characteristics of the two cohorts. Interestingly, the ISS stage III (HR:2.55) was associated with worse PFS. Finally, our series's median overall survival (OS) was shorter than that observed in the ELOQUENT-3 trial (17.5 versus 29.8 months). In conclusion, our real-world study confirms EloPd as a safe and possible therapeutic choice for RRMM who received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a PI

High Temperatures Impact on the Durability of Natural Stones: An Assessment by Means of Ultrasound Pulse Velocity Measurements

It is common knowledge that wildfires are one of the most severe threats to cultural heritage sites, especially in conditions of climate change. This work discusses the results from tests which were performed in order to study the effects of fire on the strength and cohesion of natural building stones. Particularly, the Italian natural building stones of Istria, Carrara and Lecce were studied, because of their extensive use in the construction and decoration of important cultural heritage sites of the Italian peninsula. One of the most common methods to simulate the fire event is by exposing the specimens on increased temperatures within ovens. In this study, specimens of the three above mentioned lithotypes are exposed to the different high temperatures of 300 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C and 900 °C in an oven for 6 h. The changes induced by thermal shock were assessed, by measuring ultrasound pulse velocity (US) before and after treatment. It was observed that the increase of the exposure temperature led to a reduction of ultrasound pulse velocity for all the specimens’ lithotypes. However, ultrasound pulse velocity decreased to different levels of the initial value for each lithotype per temperature interval. Thus, Istria stone demonstrated the greater reduction of ultrasound pulse velocity in the temperature interval of 300 °C–400 °C, Carrara marble in the temperature range of 400 °C–600 °C and Lecce stone in the temperature interval of 600 °C–900 °C, where it collapsed and lost completely its cohesion. It is concluded that Lecce stone after exposing to high temperatures presented the highest deterioration among the investigated lithotypes

Isolation of Escherichia coli O157 in pigs at slaughter in Northern Italy

A study of VTEC 0157 intestinal carriage was performed in pigs at slaughter, carrying out surveys respectively in the Veneto and the Lombardia regions of Italy within a common research project. The study was conducted for 15 months, starting in June 2002. As a minimum, a sample size of 300 samples was defined for each survey, assuming an expected prevalence of 1%, C.l. 95%, accuracy 5% One gram samples of Intestinal content from the distal gut were tested for E. coli O157 using an isolation method based on immunomagnetic separation. In the survey performed in the Veneto region, all the 397 samples collected from pigs of 132 farms tested negative for VTEC O157, but one E. coli O157 harbouring the eae gene only was isolated. In the survey performed in the Lombardia region, VTEC 0157 was detected in 3 (0.63%, 95% C I 0.12- 1.81) of the 480 sampled p1gs from 3 (2.80%, 95% C.l. 0.58- 7.97) of the 107 farms of origin. Therefore in the study a total of 877 pigs were tested in 15 slaughters of two regions, with a prevalence of 0.34% 95% C.l. 0.07- 0 99) of positive pigs from 1.26% (95% C. I. 0.25- 3.62) of the herds. In one of the positive farms also cattle were reared with pigs, even if housed separately, and in a follow-up investigation VTEC 0157 strains sharing more than 96% homology with the pig strain were found in cattle.</p

An assessment of the taxonomic status of the Mediterranean endemic genus Acrodiscus Zanardini (Halymeniales, Rhodophyta)

Acrodiscus Zanardini is a poorly known monotypic endemic Mediterranean genus based on A. vidovichii (Menegh.) Zanardini. Rarely reported, its reproductive structures have remained undocumented, leaving its exact taxonomic position uncertain. Solely on the basis of its vegetative structure, Zanardini provisionally placed it in the family Cryptonemiaceae of the order Cryptonemiales (currently the Halymeniaceae of the Halymeniales), although he was uncertain as to whether the new genus actually belonged to that family or should instead be included in the Gigartinaceae of the Gigartinales (where Meneghini had originally placed it). In the present study we have extensively sampled A. vidovichii and documented its vegetative and tetrasporangial features. As well, we provide molecularsequence data (COI-5P, rbcL, LSU) that indicate its phylogenetic affinities. We confirm Acrodiscus as a member of the Halymeniaceae and its status as an independent genus. Searches of several institutional herbaria have allowed us to locate and lectotypify Meneghini’s Chondrus? vidovichii by the discovery of his original material now held at the Herbarium Horti Pisani (Pisa, Italy)