Typical Gibbs configurations for the 1d Random Field Ising Model with long range interaction

We study a one--dimensional Ising spin systems with ferromagnetic, long--range interaction decaying as n^{-2+\a}, \a \in [0,\frac 12], in the presence of external random fields. We assume that the random fields are given by a collection of symmetric, independent, identically distributed real random variables, gaussian or subgaussian with variance $\theta$. We show that for temperature and variance of the randomness small enough, with an overwhelming probability with respect to the random fields, the typical configurations, within volumes centered at the origin whose size grow faster than any power of $\th^{-1}$, % {\bf around the origin} are intervals of $+$ spins followed by intervals of $-$ spins whose typical length is \simeq \th^{-\frac{2}{(1-2\a)}} for 0\le \a<1/2 and $\simeq e^{\frac 1 {\th^{2}}}$ for \a=1/2

Immersive VR for upper-extremity rehabilitation in patients with neurological disorders: a scoping review

Background: Neurological disorders, such as stroke and chronic pain syndromes, profoundly impact independence and quality of life, especially when affecting upper extremity (UE) function. While conventional physical therapy has shown effectiveness in providing some neural recovery in affected individuals, there remains a need for improved interventions. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising technology-based approach for neurorehabilitation to make the patient’s experience more enjoyable. Among VR-based rehabilitation paradigms, those based on fully immersive systems with headsets have gained significant attention due to their potential to enhance patient’s engagement. Methods: This scoping review aims to investigate the current state of research on the use of immersive VR for UE rehabilitation in individuals with neurological diseases, highlighting benefits and limitations. We identified thirteen relevant studies through comprehensive searches in Scopus, PubMed, and IEEE Xplore databases. Eligible studies incorporated immersive VR for UE rehabilitation in patients with neurological disorders and evaluated participants’ neurological and motor functions before and after the intervention using clinical assessments. Results: Most of the included studies reported improvements in the participants rehabilitation outcomes, suggesting that immersive VR represents a valuable tool for UE rehabilitation in individuals with neurological disorders. In addition, immersive VR-based interventions hold the potential for personalized and intensive training within a telerehabilitation framework. However, further studies with better design are needed for true comparison with traditional therapy. Also, the potential side effects associated with VR head-mounted displays, such as dizziness and nausea, warrant careful consideration in the development and implementation of VR-based rehabilitation programs. Conclusion: This review provides valuable insights into the application of immersive VR in UE rehabilitation, offering the foundation for future research and clinical practice. By leveraging immersive VR’s potential, researchers and rehabilitation specialists can design more tailored and patient-centric rehabilitation strategies, ultimately improving the functional outcome and enhancing the quality of life of individuals with neurological diseases

Additively manufactured CuCrZr alloy: improvement of mechanical properties by heat treatment

CuCrZr alloy plays a fundamental role for the production of critical components because it is characterized by good thermal and electrical conductivity and by high mechanical strength after precipitation hardening treatment. In the framework of a wider research on the mechanical behaviour of additively manufactured CuCrZr alloy, this study focuses on the effects of heat treatment parameters on the alloy strength. The additive manufacturing process, characterized by very high cooling rates, determines the formation, in the as-built condition, of a supersaturated solid solution. The results obtained reveal that aging temperature and time are critical parameters for improving the mechanical behaviour of CuCrZr alloy which behaves differently than the alloy produced through the use of traditional techniques

Single Miller Class III recession treatment in the anterior maxilla

Introduction: Miller’s Class III gingival recession represents a challenging condition with a low predictability in order to obtain successful outcomes. The purpose of this case report is to document the management of an isolated Class III gingival recession (Rec) with Coronally Advanced Flap in combination with Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft. Presentation of the case: A 45 years-old female with a 2 mm Rec associated with interproximal attachment loss at the upper left canine requested a dental cosmetic treatment for this area. A bilaminar technique was performed in order to solve the aesthetic impairment. Results at short (1 year) and long term (10 years) are reported. Discussion: At 1-year follow up a complete root coverage with no interproximal attachment loss was observed, with an increased amount of keratinized tissue width and thickness. Optimal aesthetic outcome was accomplished with complete patient satisfaction. However, at 10-year follow-up 1mm Rec on mesio-buccal and buccal sites associated to a non-carious cervical lesion (NCCL) were noticed, associated with a bruxism pattern in combination with a relapse of traumatic brushing technique and vigorous use of interdental brushes. At this time, reinstruction to the appropriate domiciliary oral hygiene procedures and a composite restoration were performed in order to solve the clinical condition. Conclusion: At 1-year follow-up Rec associated to attachment loss and NCCL can be successfully managed by means of bilaminar technique and conservative restorations. However, a careful assessment of prognostic factors must be considered in order to achieve successful treatment outcomes in the long-term

Cirrus clouds in convective outflow during the HIBISCUS campaign

International audienceLight-weight microlidar measurements were taken on-board a stratospheric balloon during the HIBISCUS 2004 campaign, held in Bauru, Brazil (22 S, 49 W). Tropical cirrus observations showed high mesoscale variability in optical and microphysical properties. The cirrus clouds were observed throughout the flight between 12 and 15 km height. It was found that the clouds were composed of different layers, characterized by a marked variability in height, thickness and optical properties. Trajectory analysis and mesoscale transport simulations clearly revealed that the clouds had formed in the outflow of a large and persistent convective region, while the observed optical properties and cloud structure variability could be linked to different residence times of convective-processed air in the upper troposphere. Mesoscale simulations were able to reproduce the supersaturation due to recent outflow, while it was necessary to consider the presence of other formation processes than convective hydration for cirrus forming in aged detrained anvils

Omentum flap as a spacer before carbon ion radiotherapy for gynecological recurrences. A technical note

Re-irradiation of pelvic recurrent gynecological cancer is a challenge due to the proximity of high-radiation-sensitive organs, such as the bowel and the urinary tract. Hadrontherapy for re-irradiation emerges as a safe and effective treatment with a mild rate of morbidity of surrounding normal tissue. To improve the dose to the tumor, a prophylactic displacement of organs at risk is needed, and a multidisciplinary approach is recommended. In this technical note, we report a surgical technique of omentum spacer placement for patients enrolled for carbon ion radiotherapy as re-irradiation for recurrent gynecological tumors. (C) 2022 Societe franc , aise de radiotherapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved

In vitro and in vivo inhibition of breast cancer cell growth by targeting the Hedgehog/GLI pathway with SMO (GDC-0449) or GLI (GANT-61) inhibitors.

Aberrant Hedgehog (Hh)/glioma-associated oncogene (GLI) signaling has been implicated in cancer progression. Here, we analyzed GLI1, Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and NF-κB expression in 51 breast cancer (ductal carcinoma) tissues using immunohistochemistry. We found a positive correlation between nuclear GLI1 expression and tumor grade in ductal carcinoma cases. Cytoplasmic Shh staining significantly correlated with a lower tumor grade. Next, the in vitro effects of two Hh signaling pathway inhibitors on breast cancer cell lines were evaluated using the Smoothened (SMO) antagonist GDC-0449 and the direct GLI1 inhibitor GANT-61. GDC-0449 and GANT-61 exhibited the following effects: a) inhibited breast cancer cell survival; b) induced apoptosis; c) inhibited Hh pathway activity by decreasing the mRNA expression levels of GLI1 and Ptch and inhibiting the nuclear translocation of GLI1; d) increased/decreased EGFR and ErbB2 protein expression, reduced p21- Ras and ERK1/ERK2 MAPK activities and inhibited AKT activation; and e) decreased the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. However, GANT-61 exerted these effects more effectively than GDC-0449. The in vivo antitumor activities of GDC-0449 and GANT- 61 were analyzed in BALB/c mice that were subcutaneously inoculated with mouse breast cancer (TUBO) cells. GDC-0449 and GANT-61 suppressed tumor growth of TUBO cells in BALB/c mice to different extents. These findings suggest that targeting the Hh pathway using antagonists that act downstream of SMO is a more efficient strategy than using antagonists that act upstream of SMO for interrupting Hh signaling in breast cancer

Impact of the treatment of periodontitis on systemic health and quality of life: A systematic review

AIM: To investigate the effect of treatment of periodontitis on systemic health outcomes, pregnancy complications, and associated quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Systematic electronic searches were conducted to identify randomized controlled trials with minimum 6-month follow-up and reporting on the outcomes of interest. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed as deemed suitable. RESULTS: Meta-analyses confirmed reductions of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) [0.56 mg/L, 95% confidence interval (CI) (−0.88, −0.25), p < .001]; interleukin (IL)-6 [0.48 pg/ml, 95% CI (−0.88, −0.08), p = .020], and plasma glucose [1.33 mmol/l, 95% CI (−2.41, −0.24), p = .016], and increase of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) [0.31%, 95% CI (0.07, 0.55), p = .012] and diastolic blood pressure [0.29 mmHg, 95% CI (0.10, 0.49), p = .003] 6 months after the treatment of periodontitis. A significant effect on preterm deliveries (<37 weeks) was observed [0.77 risk ratio, 95% CI (0.60, 0.98), p = .036]. Limited evidence was reported on quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes in the included studies. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of periodontitis results in systemic health improvements including improvement in cardiometabolic risk, reduction in systemic inflammation and the occurrence of preterm deliveries. Further research is however warranted to confirm whether these changes are sustained over time. Further, appropriate QoL outcomes should be included in the study designs of future clinical trials

Elemental analysis of histological specimens: A method to unmask nano asbestos fibers

There is recent mounting evidence that nanoparticles may have enhanced toxicological potential in comparison to the same material in the bulk form. The aim of this study was to develop a new method for unmask asbestos nanofibers from Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded tissue. There is an increasing amount of evidence that nanoparticles may enhance toxicological potential in comparison to the same material in the bulk form. The aim of this study was to develop a new method to unmask asbestos nanofibers from Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissue. For the first time, in this study we applied Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis through transmission electron microscopy to demonstrate the presence of asbestos nanofibers in histological specimens of patients with possible occupational exposure to asbestos. The diagnostic protocol was applied to 10 randomly selected lung cancer patients with no history of previous asbestos exposure. We detected asbestos nanofibers in close contact with lung cancer cells in two lung cancer patients with previous possible occupational exposure to asbestos. We were also able to identify the specific asbestos iso-type, which in one of the cases was the same rare variety used in the workplace of the affected patient. By contrast, asbestos nanofibers were not detected in lung cancer patients with no history of occupational asbestos exposure. The proposed technique can represent a potential useful tool for linking the disease to previous workplace exposure in uncertain cases. Furthermore, Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissues stored in the pathology departments might be re-evaluated for possible etiological attribution to asbestos in the case of plausible exposure. Since diseases acquired through occupational exposure to asbestos are generally covered by workers' insurance in most countries, the application of the protocol used in this study may have also relevant social and economic implications