Perturbative BF theory

We consider a superrenormalisable gauge theory of topological type, in which the structure group is equal to the inhomogeneous group ISU(2). The generating functional of the correlation functions of the gauge fields is derived and its connection with the generating functional of the Chern-Simons theory is discussed. The complete renormalisation of this model defined in R3 is presented. The structure of the ISU(2) conjugacy classes is determined. Gauge invariant observables are defined by means of appropriately normalised traces of ISU(2) holonomies associated with oriented, framed and coloured knots. The perturbative evaluation of the Wilson lines expectation values is investigated and the up-to-third-order contributions to the perturbative expansion of the observables, which correspond to knot invariants, are produced. The general dependence of the knot observables on the framing is worked out

Patient organ and effective dose estimation in CT: comparison of four software applications

Background: Radiation dose in computed tomography (CT) has become a topic of high interest due to the increasing numbers of CT examinations performed worldwide. Hence, dose tracking and organ dose calculation software are increasingly used. We evaluated the organ dose variability associated with the use of different software applications or calculation methods. Methods: We tested four commercial software applications on CT protocols actually in use in our hospital: CT-Expo, NCICT, NCICTX, and Virtual Dose. We compared dose coefficients, estimated organ doses and effective doses obtained by the four software applications by varying exposure parameters. Our results were also compared with estimates reported by the software authors. Results: All four software applications showed dependence on tube voltage and volume CT dose index, while only CT-Expo was also dependent on other exposure parameters, in particular scanner model and pitch caused a variability till 50%. We found a disagreement between our results and those reported by the software authors (up to 600%), mainly due to a different extent of examined body regions. The relative range of the comparison of the four software applications was within 35% for most organs inside the scan region, but increased over the 100% for organs partially irradiated and outside the scan region. For effective doses, this variability was less evident (ranging from 9 to 36%). Conclusions: The two main sources of organ dose variability were the software application used and the scan region set. Dose estimate must be related to the process used for its calculation

Textiles, basketry and cordage from the Early Neolithic settlement of La Marmotta, Lazio

Archaeological investigation of Circum-Alpine lake, or pile, dwellings has afforded unprecedented insight into Neolithic and Bronze Age societies. The discovery in 1989 of a submerged settlement near Rome added an early (eighth millennium BP) geographical outlier to this distribution. Two decades of excavation at La Marmotta have identified more than a dozen dwellings and an enormous assemblage of organic remains. Here, the authors present an overview of the textiles, basketry and cordage recovered, and the tools used to manufacture them. The assemblage paints a more complete picture of the technological expertise of Neolithic societies and their ability to exploit and process plant materials to produce a wide range of crafts

One sea but many routes to Sail. The early maritime dispersal of Neolithic crops from the Aegean to the western Mediterranean.

This paper explores the first maritime westward expansion of crops across the Adriatic and the northern coast of the western Mediterranean. Starting in Greece at c.6500 cal BC and following the coastline to the Andalusian region of Spain to c.4500 cal BC, the presence of the main cereal, pulse, oil and fibre crops are recorded from 122 sites. Patterns in the distribution of crops are explored through ubiquity scores, correspondence analysis and Simpson's diversity index. Our findings reveal changes in the frequencies of crops as farming regimes developed in Europe, and show how different crops followed unique trajectories. Fluctuations in the diversity of the crop spectrum between defined areas are also evident, and may serve to illustrate how founder effects can explain some of the patterns evident in large-scale spatio-temporal evaluations. Within the broader westward expansion of farming, regionalism and multi-directional maritime networks described through archaeological materials are also visible in the botanical records

The impact of psychological distress on weight regain in post-bariatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: A latent profile analysis

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global health crisis disrupting healthcare delivery for people with severe obesity who have undergone bariatric surgery. This study examined the role of psychological distress during the first Italian COVID-19 lockdown in predicting post-operative outcomes in post-bariatric patients reaching the end of the 12-18 months follow-up during the lockdown. By using a person-centered approach, groups of patients with different psychological distress profiles were identified. We hypothesized that compared to post-bariatric patients with low psychological distress, post-bariatric patients with high psychological distress will be more at risk of weight regain. Methods: A total of 67 patients (71.6% female, Mage = 45.9) participated in this observational retrospective cohort study. Patients' anthropometric data were gathered from medical records while the weight at the end of the lockdown through phone interviews. Psychological distress, operationalized with anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbances, was assessed by an online self-report questionnaire. Results: Significant differences were highlighted in the high and low psychological distressed group in weight changes, F(1,58) = 5.2, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.3. Specifically, compared to post-bariatric patients in the low psychological distress group, those in the high psychological distressed group reported weight regained (95% CI = 1.0, 2.6). Conclusion: Results highlight the need to target post-bariatric patients with high psychological distress who are at risk for weight regain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions mitigating psychological distress and obesogenic behaviors during future pandemics or in post-COVID times are needed in vulnerable post-bariatric patients reporting high psychological distress

Increased Risk of Atherosclerosis in Patients with Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Recent studies demonstrated that its pathogenesis is related with enhanced oxidative stress (protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation) and alterations in the circulating lipid profile. Alterations of lipid metabolism (including the reduction in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and apolipoprotein A1 concentrations) induce plasma membrane, bronchial and lung capillary endothelial cell damage in sarcoidosis patients. Dyslipidemia is associated with increased oxidative stress, diminished overall antioxidative protection and increased risk for atherosclerosis. Very recently increased cardiovascular biomarkers (in particular alterations of lipoprotein A and d-dimer concentrations) were observed in sarcoidosis patients, mainly in those with a high risk of atherosclerosis. Chitotriosidase, a biomarker of sarcoidosis activity and macrophage activation, is increased in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with sarcoidosis as well as in patients with atherosclerosis. Lipidomics and other recent methodologies allowed the discovery of proteins involved in lipid metabolism and sarcoidosis pathogenesis, such as serum amyloid A, a biomarker of sarcoidosis activity, involved in innate immune response, inflammation and apolipoprotein metabolism. In this review lipid metabolism alteration and atherosclerosis risk in sarcoidosis patients were discussed in order to contribute to this novel and interesting research topic

Safety and efficacy of natalizumab in children with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the effect of natalizumab in the treatment of subjects with active multiple sclerosis (MS) treated before the age of 18 years. METHODS: Nineteen pediatric subjects with MS (mean age 14.6 +/- 2.2 years, mean number of attacks 5.2 +/- 1.9 during the pretreatment phase of 27.7 +/- 19.7 months, median pretreatment Expanded Disability Status Scale score [EDSS] 2.5, range 1.0-5.0) were treated with natalizumab at the dose of 300 mg every 28 days. After treatment initiation, patients were reassessed clinically every month; brain MRI was performed at baseline and every 6 months. RESULTS: Patients received a median number of 15 infusions (range 6-26). A transient reversible worsening of preexisting symptoms occurred in 1 subject during and following the first infusion. All the patients remained relapse-free during the whole follow-up. The median EDSS decreased from 2.5 to 2.0 at the last visit (p < 0.001). EDSS remained stable in 5 cases, decreased by at least 0.5 point in 6 cases, and decreased by at least 1 point in 8 cases. At baseline, the mean number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions was 4.1 (range 1-20). During the follow-up, no gadolinium-enhancing lesions were detected (p = 0.008); 3 patients developed new T2-visible lesions at month 6 scan but the overall number of T2 lesions remained stable during the subsequent follow-up. Transient and mild side effects occurred in 8 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Natalizumab was well-tolerated in all subjects. A strong suppression of disease activity was observed in all subjects during the follow-up. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class IV evidence that natalizumab, 300 mg IV once every 28 days, decreased EDSS scores in pediatric patients with MS over a mean treatment period of 15.2 months

Effects of Bariatric Surgery on COVID-19: a Multicentric Study from a High Incidence Area

Introduction: The favorable effects of bariatric surgery (BS) on overall pulmonary function and obesity-related comorbidities could influence SARS-CoV-2 clinical expression. This has been investigated comparing COVID-19 incidence and clinical course between a cohort of patients submitted to BS and a cohort of candidates for BS during the spring outbreak in Italy. Materials and Methods: From April to August 2020, 594 patients from 6 major bariatric centers in Emilia-Romagna were administered an 87-item telephonic questionnaire. Demographics, COVID-19 incidence, suggestive symptoms, and clinical outcome parameters of operated patients and candidates to BS were compared. The incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 was assessed including the clinical definition of probable case, according to World Health Organization criteria. Results: Three hundred fifty-three operated patients (Op) and 169 candidates for BS (C) were finally included in the statistical analysis. While COVID-19 incidence confirmed by laboratory tests was similar in the two groups (5.7% vs 5.9%), lower incidence of most of COVID-19-related symptoms, such as anosmia (p: 0.046), dysgeusia (p: 0.049), fever with rapid onset (p: 0.046) were recorded among Op patients, resulting in a lower rate of probable cases (14.4% vs 23.7%; p: 0.009). Hospitalization was more frequent in C patients (2.4% vs 0.3%, p: 0.02). One death in each group was reported (0.3% vs 0.6%). Previous pneumonia and malignancies resulted to be associated with symptomatic COVID-19 at univariate and multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Patients submitted to BS seem to develop less severe SARS-CoV-2 infection than subjects suffering from obesity