1,736 research outputs found
Cytokine release syndrome in COVID-19 patients, a new scenario for an old concern. The fragile balance between infections and autoimmunity
On 7 January 2020, researchers isolated and sequenced in China from patients with severe pneumonitis a novel coronavirus, then called SARS-CoV-2, which rapidly spread worldwide, becoming a global health emergency. Typical manifestations consist of flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, and dyspnea. However, in about 20% of patients, the infection progresses to severe interstitial pneumonia and can induce an uncontrolled host-immune response, leading to a life-threatening condition called cytokine release syndrome (CRS). CRS represents an emergency scenario of a frequent challenge, which is the complex and interwoven link between infections and autoimmunity. Indeed, treatment of CRS involves the use of both antivirals to control the underlying infection and immunosuppressive agents to dampen the aberrant pro-inflammatory response of the host. Several trials, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of immunosuppressants commonly used in rheumatic diseases, are ongoing in patients with COVID-19 and CRS, some of which are achieving promising results. However, such a use should follow a multidisciplinary approach, be accompanied by close monitoring, be tailored to patient’s clinical and serological features, and be initiated at the right time to reach the best results. Autoimmune patients receiving immunosuppressants could be prone to SARS-CoV-2 infections; however, suspension of the ongoing therapy is contraindicated to avoid disease flares and a consequent increase in the infection risk
Light charged Higgs boson production at the Large Hadron electron Collider
We study the production of a light charged Higgs boson at the future Large
Hadron electron Collider (LHeC), through the process
considering both decay channels and in the final state. We analyse these processes in the context of the
2-Higgs Doublet Model Type III (2HDM-III) and assess the LHeC sensitivity to
such signals against a variety of both reducible and irreducible
backgrounds. We confirm that prospects for detection in the 2HDM-III are
excellent assuming standard collider energy and luminosity conditions.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures. Accepted in Physical Review
Structure of Supergiant Shells in the Large Magellanic Cloud
Nine supergiant shells (SGSs) have been identified in the Large Magellanic
Cloud (LMC) based on H-alpha images, and twenty-three SGSs have been reported
based on HI 21-cm line observations, but these sets do not always identify the
same structures. We have examined the physical structure of the optically
identified SGSs using HI channel maps and P-V diagrams to analyze the gas
kinematics. There is good evidence for seven of the nine optically identified
SGSs to be true shells. Of these seven H-alpha SGSs, four are the ionized inner
walls of HI SGSs, while three are an ionized portion of a larger and more
complex HI structure. All of the H-alpha SGSs are identified as such because
they have OB associations along the periphery or in the center, with younger OB
associations more often found along the periphery. After roughly 12 Myrs, if no
new OB associations have been formed a SGS will cease to be identifiable at
visible wavelengths. Thus, the presence and location of ionizing sources is the
main distinction between shells seen only in HI and those also seen in H-alpha.
Based on our analysis, H-alpha observations alone cannot unambiguously identify
SGSs, especially in distant galaxies.Comment: 26 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journal Supplemen
The impact of influencer marketing and instagrammers on consumer purchase intentions and brand attitude
In the last few years, we have noticed the emergence of influencer marketing (Lanz,
Goldenberg, Shapira, and Stahl, 2019; Sokolova and Kefi, 2019), specifically of how some
of this arising-stars in the social media spectrum have become sources of advice for other
consumers, resulting in opinion leaders for the brands they advocate (Casaló, Flavián, and
Ibáñez-Sánchez, 2018). As this trend is expected to continue in the near future, the
current research focuses in one of the fastest-growing social media platforms - Instagram
- (De Veirman, Cauberghe, and Hudders, 2017; Sheldon, Rauschnabel, Antony, and Car,
2017) to understand how Instagrammers and their posts have an impact on consumer’s
purchase decisions for the young-adult audiences. Additionally, this study also aims to
understand if this content creation influences consumer’s brand attitude (Faircloth,
Capella, and Alford, 2016), that is, in the consumer’s opinion about a product or service of
a specific brand.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Gravitational wave astronomy with the SKA
On a time scale of years to decades, gravitational wave (GW) astronomy will
become a reality. Low frequency (nanoHz) GWs are detectable through long-term
timing observations of the most stable pulsars. Radio observatories worldwide
are currently carrying out observing programmes to detect GWs, with data sets
being shared through the International Pulsar Timing Array project. One of the
most likely sources of low frequency GWs are supermassive black hole binaries
(SMBHBs), detectable as a background due to a large number of binaries, or as
continuous or burst emission from individual sources. No GW signal has yet been
detected, but stringent constraints are already being placed on galaxy
evolution models. The SKA will bring this research to fruition.
In this chapter, we describe how timing observations using SKA1 will
contribute to detecting GWs, or can confirm a detection if a first signal
already has been identified when SKA1 commences observations. We describe how
SKA observations will identify the source(s) of a GW signal, search for
anisotropies in the background, improve models of galaxy evolution, test
theories of gravity, and characterise the early inspiral phase of a SMBHB
system.
We describe the impact of the large number of millisecond pulsars to be
discovered by the SKA; and the observing cadence, observation durations, and
instrumentation required to reach the necessary sensitivity. We describe the
noise processes that will influence the achievable precision with the SKA. We
assume a long-term timing programme using the SKA1-MID array and consider the
implications of modifications to the current design. We describe the possible
benefits from observations using SKA1-LOW. Finally, we describe GW detection
prospects with SKA1 and SKA2, and end with a description of the expectations of
GW astronomy.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, to be published in: "Advancing Astrophysics with
the Square Kilometre Array", Proceedings of Science, PoS(AASKA14)03
Familial translocation t(5;11)(q32;q23) resulting in Jacobsen syndrome and distal trisomy 5q31 in a female patient
A detailed clinical analysis of the patient’s condition was performed. The chromosomes were studied through the GTG-banding analysis and FISH withCri-du-Chat Region Probe - LSI EGR1, LSI D5S23, D5S72
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