Very Large Telescope Observations of the peculiar globular cluster NGC6712. Discovery of a UV, H-alpha excess star in the core

We present results from multi-band observations in the central region of the cluster NGC6712 with the ESO-Very Large Telescope. Using high resolution images we have identified three UV-excess stars. In particular two of them are within the cluster core, a few arcsec apart: the first object is star "S" which previous studies identified as the best candidate to the optical counterpart to the luminous X-ray source detected in this cluster. The other UV object shows clearcut H-alpha emission and, for this reason, is an additional promising interacting binary candidate (a quiescent LMXB or a CV). The presence of two unrelated interacting binary systems a few arcsec apart in the core of this low-density cluster is somewhat surprising and supports the hypothesis that the (internal) dynamical history of the cluster and/or the (external) interaction with the Galaxy might play a fundamental role in the formation of these peculiar objects.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures. ApJL in pres

A bibliometric review of financial market integration literature

We undertake a meta-literature review on the topic of financial market integration (FMI), covering 260 articles from 1981 to 2021. Our review consists of quantitative analysis of bibliometric citations concomitant with qualitative analysis of content, towards a goal of identifying primary research streams and proposing directions for future research. We identify five research groups: (1) portfolio diversification with financial market integration; (2) general equity market integration; (3) financial market linkage with respect to crises and events; (4) time-varying financial market integration; and (5) co-movements and spillovers between commodities and financial markets; as well as present a wide array of future research directions. We conduct an extensive review of FMI literature, answering several questions: (1) What is the domain of FMI research?; (2) What are the influential aspects of top journals and authors, and the characteristics of the most studied topics?; (3) What are the past and current key research streams in FMI literature?; and (4) What are the substantial future relevant research questions to explore regarding FMI? Given the ongoing attention on financial market integration by both academicians and policy makers, our results should be of great interest

A first case description of adrenal gland tumour in a lion (Panthera leo): tomographic and clinico-pathological findings

An 8-year-old male lion with progressive lack of secondary sex characteristics, dysorexia and weight loss was referred to our Institution. The patient was anaesthetized to undergo general clinical evaluation, hematologic, serum biochemical and hormonal profile, FIV/FeLV tests. Total body computed tomography, abdominal ultrasonography and fine-needle aspirates of the liver and left adrenal lesion were performed. Imaging findings showed the presence of a neoplastic lesion on the left adrenal gland and generalized hepatopathy. Blood tests reported an estradiol concentration of 462 ng/dl. To our knowledge, this is the first description of an adrenal mass in a lion associated with secondary feminization

VLT Observations of the Peculiar Globular Cluster NGC6712, III: The Evolved Stellar Population

We present extensive UBVR photometry of the Galactic globular cluster (GGC) NGC6712 obtained with the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) which reach down to two magnitudes below the main sequence turn-off and allows us for the first time to determine the age of this cluster. By using the apparent luminosity of the zero age horizontal branch (ZAHB), $V_{ZAHB}=16.32\pm0.05$ and the stellar main sequence (MS) turn--off (TO) magnitude $V_{TO}=19.82\pm0.10$, we obtain $\Delta V_{TO}^{HB}=3.5\pm0.1$ (a value fully compatible with that derived for other clusters) which suggests that, at an age of $\sim 12$ Gyr, NGC 6712 is coeval with other GGC of similar metallicity. We derive interstellar reddening by comparing the position and morphology of the red giant branch (RGB) with a wide variety of reference clusters and find $E(B-V)=0.33\pm0.05$, a value significantly lower than had been determined previously. Assuming this value for the reddening, we determine a true distance modulus of $(m-M)_0 = 14.55$, corresponding to a distance of $\sim 8$ kpc. We find a population of 108 candidate blue straggler stars (BSS), surprisingly large when compared with the typical BSS content of other low concentration clusters. Moreover, we detect a very bright blue star in the core of NGC6712 that might be a post-AGB star. These results, combined with those already presented in two companion papers, strongly support the hypothesis that NGC6712 was, at some early epoch of its history, much more massive and concentrated. The continued interaction with the bulge and the disk of the Galaxy has driven it toward dissolution, and what we now observe is nothing but the {\it remnant} core of a cluster that once was probably one of the most massive in the Galaxy.Comment: 31 pages, 12 figures, Astronomical Journal in pres

Randomised controlled trials for evaluating the prescribing impact of information meetings led by pharmacists and of new information formats, in General Practice in Italy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Suboptimal translation of valid and relevant information in clinical practice is a problem for all health systems. Lack of information independent from commercial influences, limited efforts to actively implement evidence-based information and its limited comprehensibility are important determinants of this gap and may influence an excessive variability in physicians' prescriptions. This is quite noticeable in Italy, where the philosophy and methods of Evidence-Based Medicine still enjoy limited diffusion among practitioners. Academic detailing and pharmacist outreach visits are interventions of proven efficacy to make independent and evidence-based information available to physicians; this approach and its feasibility have not yet been tested on a large scale and, moreover, they have never been formally tested in Italy.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>Two RCTs are planned:</p> <p>1) a two-arm cluster RCT, carried out in Emilia-Romagna and Friuli Venezia Giulia, will evaluate the effectiveness of small group meetings, randomising about 150 Primary Care Groups (corresponding to about 2000 GPs) to pharmacist outreach visits on two different topics. Physicians' prescriptions (expressed as DDD per 1000 inhabitants/day), knowledge and attitudes (evaluated through the answers to a specific questionnaire) will be compared for target drugs in the two groups (receiving/not receiving each topic).</p> <p>2) A three-arm RCT, carried out in Sardinia, will evaluate both the effectiveness of one-to-one meetings (one pharmacist visiting one physician per time) and of a 'new' information format (compared to information already available) on changing physicians' prescription of specific drugs. About 900 single GPs will be randomised into three groups: physicians receiving a visit supported by "traditional" information material, those receiving a visit with "new" information material on the same topic and those not receiving any visit/material.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The two proposed RCTs aim to evaluate the organisational feasibility and barriers to the implementation of independent information programs led by NHS pharmacists. The objective to assess a 10 or 15% decreases in the prescription of the targeted drugs is quite ambitious in such 'natural' settings, which will be minimally altered by the interventions themselves; this in spite of the quite large sample sizes used comparing to other studies of these kind. Complex interventions like these are not easy to evaluate, given the many different variables into play. Anyway, the pragmatic nature of the two RCTs appears to be also one of their major strengths, helping to provide a deeper insight on what is possible to achieve – in terms of independent information – in a National Health System, with special reference to Italy.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ISRCTN05866587 (cluster RCT) and ISRCTN28525676 (single GPs RCT)</p

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Photospheric radius expansion X-ray bursts as standard candles

We examined the maximum bolometric peak luminosities during type I X-ray bursts from the persistent or transient luminous X-ray sources in globular clusters. We show that for about two thirds of the sources the maximum peak luminosities during photospheric radius expansion X-ray bursts extend to a critical value of (3.79+/-0.15)x10^{38} erg/s, assuming the total X-ray burst emission is entirely due to black-body radiation and the recorded maximum luminosity is the actual peak luminosity. This empirical critical luminosity is consistent with the Eddington luminosity limit for hydrogen poor material. Since the critical luminosity is more or less always reached during photospheric radius expansion X-ray bursts (except for one source), such bursts may be regarded as empirical standard candles. However, because significant deviations do occur, our standard candle is only accurate to within 15%. We re-evaluated the distances to the twelve globular clusters in which the X-ray bursters reside.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A, 20 pages, 7 figure