Linear electronics for Si-detectors and its energy calibration for use in heavy ion experiments

Abstract The design and implementation of linear electronics based on small-size, low-power charge preamplifiers and shaping amplifiers, used in connection with Si-detector telescopes employed in heavy ion experiments, are presented. Bench tests and "under beam" performances are discussed. In particular, the energy calibration and the linearity test of the overall system (Si-detector and linear and digital conversion electronics) has been performed with a procedure which avoids the pulse height defect problems connected with the detection of heavy ions. The procedure, basically, consists of using bursts of MeV protons, releasing up to GeV energies inside the detector, with low ionization density

Road traffic pollution and childhood leukemia: a nationwide case-control study in Italy

Background The association of childhood leukemia with traffic pollution was considered in a number of studies from 1989 onwards, with results not entirely consistent and little information regarding subtypes. Aim of the study We used the data of the Italian SETIL case-control on childhood leukemia to explore the risk by leukemia subtypes associated to exposure to vehicular traffic. Methods We included in the analyses 648 cases of childhood leukemia (565 Acute lymphoblastic–ALL and 80 Acute non lymphoblastic-AnLL) and 980 controls. Information on traffic exposure was collected from questionnaire interviews and from the geocoding of house addresses, for all periods of life of the children. Results We observed an increase in risk for AnLL, and at a lower extent for ALL, with indicators of exposure to traffic pollutants. In particular, the risk was associated to the report of closeness of the house to traffic lights and to the passage of trucks (OR: 1.76; 95% CI 1.03–3.01 for ALL and 6.35; 95% CI 2.59–15.6 for AnLL). The association was shown also in the analyses limited to AML and in the stratified analyses and in respect to the house in different period of life. Conclusions Results from the SETIL study provide some support to the association of traffic related exposure and risk for AnLL, but at a lesser extent for ALL. Our conclusion highlights the need for leukemia type specific analyses in future studies. Results support the need of controlling exposure from traffic pollution, even if knowledge is not complete

Erratum to nodal management and upstaging of disease. Initial results from the Italian VATS Lobectomy Registry

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2017.06.12.]

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements

Epicardial fat and atrial fibrillation: the perils of atrial failure

reserved6si: Obesity is a heterogeneous condition, characterized by different phenotypes and for which the classical assessment with body mass index may underestimate the real impact on cardiovascular (CV) disease burden. An epidemiological link between obesity and atrial fibrillation (AF) has been clearly demonstrated and becomes even more tight when ectopic (i.e. epicardial) fat deposition is considered. Due to anatomical and functional features, a tight paracrine cross-talk exists between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and myocardium, including the left atrium (LA). Alongside-and even without-mechanical atrial stretch, the dysfunctional EAT may determine a pro-inflammatory environment in the surrounding myocardial tissue. This evidence has provided a new intriguing pathophysiological link with AF, which in turn is no longer considered a single entity but rather the final stage of atrial remodelling. This maladaptive process would indeed include structural, electric, and autonomic derangement that ultimately leads to overt disease. Here, we update how dysfunctional EAT would orchestrate LA remodelling. Maladaptive changes sustained by dysfunctional EAT are driven by a pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic secretome that alters the sinoatrial microenvironment. Structural (e.g. fibro-fatty infiltration) and cellular (e.g. mitochondrial uncoupling, sarcoplasmic reticulum fragmentation, and cellular protein quantity/localization) changes then determine an electrophysiological remodelling that also involves the autonomic nervous system. Finally, we summarize how EAT dysfunction may fit with the standard guidelines for AF. Lastly, we focus on the potential benefit of weight loss and different classes of CV drugs on EAT dysfunction, LA remodelling, and ultimately AF onset and recurrence.mixedPoggi, Andrea Lorenzo; Gaborit, Bénédicte; Schindler, Thomas Hellmut; Liberale, Luca; Montecucco, Fabrizio; Carbone, FedericoPoggi, Andrea Lorenzo; Gaborit, Bénédicte; Schindler, Thomas Hellmut; Liberale, Luca; Montecucco, Fabrizio; Carbone, Federic

Epicardial fat and atrial fibrillation: the perils of atrial failure

International audienceAbstract Obesity is a heterogeneous condition, characterized by different phenotypes and for which the classical assessment with body mass index may underestimate the real impact on cardiovascular (CV) disease burden. An epidemiological link between obesity and atrial fibrillation (AF) has been clearly demonstrated and becomes even more tight when ectopic (i.e. epicardial) fat deposition is considered. Due to anatomical and functional features, a tight paracrine cross-talk exists between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and myocardium, including the left atrium (LA). Alongside—and even without—mechanical atrial stretch, the dysfunctional EAT may determine a pro-inflammatory environment in the surrounding myocardial tissue. This evidence has provided a new intriguing pathophysiological link with AF, which in turn is no longer considered a single entity but rather the final stage of atrial remodelling. This maladaptive process would indeed include structural, electric, and autonomic derangement that ultimately leads to overt disease. Here, we update how dysfunctional EAT would orchestrate LA remodelling. Maladaptive changes sustained by dysfunctional EAT are driven by a pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic secretome that alters the sinoatrial microenvironment. Structural (e.g. fibro-fatty infiltration) and cellular (e.g. mitochondrial uncoupling, sarcoplasmic reticulum fragmentation, and cellular protein quantity/localization) changes then determine an electrophysiological remodelling that also involves the autonomic nervous system. Finally, we summarize how EAT dysfunction may fit with the standard guidelines for AF. Lastly, we focus on the potential benefit of weight loss and different classes of CV drugs on EAT dysfunction, LA remodelling, and ultimately AF onset and recurrence

Noninvasive proportional assist ventilation and pressure support ventilation during arm elevation in patients with chronic respiratory failure. A preliminary, physiologic study

SummaryBackgroundIt has been shown that upper limbs activity increases the respiratory workload in patients with chronic respiratory failure (CRF). The object of the present study was to investigate whether, in these patients: (i) noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) could sustain the inspiratory muscles to meet the greater ventilatory demand during upper limbs activity with the arm elevation test (AE); (ii) proportional assist ventilation (PAV) might be superior to pressure support ventilation (PSV) during AE, because of its potential more adaptable response to sudden changes in the ventilatory pattern.MethodsThe study was performed in the pulmonary function laboratory of the Pulmonary Division in Verona General Hospital, Verona, Italy. We studied 8 male patients with CRF due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Each patient received 2 treatment in random order with a crossover design: spontaneous breathing (SB), SB with AE, either PSV or PAV without and with AE, SB without and with AE, either PSV or PAV without and with AE. We measured: lung function tests, lung mechanics, ventilatory pattern and diaphragmatic effort (pressure time product, PTPdi).Results(i) AE increases minute ventilation (+14%) and PTPdi (+64%); (ii) ventilatory support, both with PSV and PAV unloads the diaphragm both at rest (PTPdi −77% and −54%, respectively) and during arm elevation (PTPdi −54% and −44%, respectively).ConclusionsPAV and PSV unloads the diaphragm in patients with CRF due to COPD both during SB and AE; PAV can be more efficient than PSV in assisting the diaphragm during AE in producing a greater level of minute ventilation for a similar rise in PTPdi compared to PSV. Noninvasive ventilatory support should be considered in rehabilitation programs for training of upper limbs activity

The attitude towards organ donation: Differences between students of medicine and nursing. A preliminary study at Unizkm - Catholic University “Our Lady of Good Counsel” of Tirana

Background A favourable attitude towards organ donation and transplantation is fundamental among health professionals to promote consent, especially in a young healthcare system like Albania. Objective To analyse the differences in the attitude towards organ donation and transplantation and the influencing factors among medical doctors- and nurses-to-be. Methods and design The article is based on an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. The population includes medical and nursing students of the Catholic University of Good Counsel - Unizkm of Tirana, Albania. Results 389 out of 401 students took part in the investigation, of whom 324 enrolled in the Medicine undergraduate program and 65 in the Nursing undergraduate program. Medical doctors-to-be showed higher awareness about the issue of donation than their colleagues from Nursing, and they were more engaged in discussion with other parties. Conclusion The preliminary results of our pilot study highlight the need to organise more training on the topic of organ donation and transplantation among clinical students, especially those studying Nursing