Influence of projection effects on the observed differential rotation rate in the UV corona

Following previous investigations by Giordano and Mancuso [1] and Mancuso and Giordano [2, 3] on the differential rotation of the solar corona as obtained through the analysis of the intensity time series of the O VI 1032 Ang. spectral line observed by the UVCS/SOHO telescope during solar cycle 23, we analysed the possible influence of projection effects of extended coronal structures on the observed differential rotation rate in the ultraviolet corona. Through a simple geometrical model, we found that, especially at higher latitudes, the differential rotation may be less rigid than observed, since features at higher latitudes could be actually linked to much lower coronal structures due to projection effects. At solar maximum, the latitudinal rigidity of the UV corona, with respect to the differential rotating photosphere, has thus to be considered as an upper limit of the possible rigidity. At solar minimum and near the equatorial region throughout the solar cycle, projection effects are negligible.Comment: In press on Journal of Advanced Researc

Bariatric and Post-Bariatric Surgery: from Metabolic Surgery to Plastic Surgery Indications

Background: Controversy exists concerning indications and outcomes of major bariatric surgery procedures. Massive weight loss after bariatric surgery leads to excess skin with functional and aesthetic impairments. The aim of this study was to investigate the major bariatric surgery procedures and their outcomes in two specific subgroups of morbidly obese patients, ≥55-year-olds and the superobese. Further aims were to evaluate whether the preoperative weight loss correlates with laparoscopic gastric bypass complications. The prevalence and impact of excess skin and the desire for body contouring after bariatric surgery were also studied. Patients and Methods: Data from patients who underwent Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB) and Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB) at Vaasa Central Hospital were collected and postoperative outcomes were evaluated according to the BMI, age and preoperative weight loss. Patients who had undergone bariatric surgery procedures were asked to complete a questionnaire to estimate any impairment due to redundant skin and to analyse each patient’s desire for body contouring by area. Results: No significant difference was found in operative time, hospital stay, or overall early postoperative morbidity between LAGB and LRYGB. Mean excess weight loss percents (EWL%) at 6 and 12 months after LRYGB were significantly higher. A significant difference was found in operative time favouring patients 55 years. No significant difference was detected in overall postoperative morbidity rates. A significant difference was found in operative time and hospital stay favouring all patients who lost weight preoperatively. Most patients reported problems with redundant skin, especially on the abdomen, upper arms and rear/buttocks, which impaired daily physical activity in half of them. Excess skin was significantly associated with female gender, weight loss and ΔBMI. Patients with a WL >20 kg, ΔBMI ≥10 kg/m2 and an EWL % > 50 showed a significantly surplus skin discomfort (p < 0.001). Most patients desired body contouring surgery, with high or very high desire for waist/abdomen (62.2%), upper arm (37.6%), chest/breast (28.3%), and rear/buttock (35.6%) contouring. Conclusions: LRYGB is effective and safe in superobese (BMI >50) and elderly (>55 years) patients. A preoperative weight loss >5% is recommended to improve the outcomes and reduce complications. A WL >20 kg, ΔBMI ≥10 kg/m2 and an EWL % > 50 are associated with a higher functional discomfort due to redundant skin and to a stronger desire for body contouring plastic surgery.Tausta ja tavoitteet: Lihavuuskirurgian indikaatiot ja kirurgiset menetelmät erityisryhmillä, kuten iäkkäillä (> 55 vuotta) ja ylilihavilla (BMI> 50) eivät ole vakiintuneet. Voimakas laihtuminen lihavuuskirurgian jälkeen voi johtaa vartalon epämuotoisuutta aiheuttaviin ihopoimuihin. Nämä ihopoimut voivat aiheuttaa toiminnallisia ja esteettisiä haittoja. Tämän tutkimuskokonaisuuden tavoitteena oli tutkia lihavuuskirurgian menetelmiä ja arvioida ylimääräisten ihopoimujen yleisyyttä ja niiden vaikutusta potilaaseen sekä potilaan halua vartalon muotoa korjaavaan leikkaukseen lihavuuskirurgian jälkeen. Potilaat ja menetelmät: Tutkimuksessa verrattiin kahden tavallisimman laihdutusleikkaustyypin (LAGB - Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding ja LRYGB - Laparoscopic Roux-En-Y gastric bypass) leikkaustuloksia. Tulokset korreloitiin body mass indexiin (BMI), ikään ja pre-operatiiviseen laihtumiseen. Lihavuuskirurgian läpikäyneet potilaat täyttivät kyselylomakkeen, jossa arvioitiin roikkuvan ihopoimun aiheuttamaa haittaa sekä kyseltiin potilaiden halua vartalon muotoa korjaaviin toimenpiteisiin. Tulokset: Leikkausmenetelmien vertailussa ei todettu merkittävää eroa leikkauksen kestossa, sairaalassaoloajassa tai postoperatiivisten komplikaatioiden määrässä. EWL % (mean excess weigth loss %) oli kuitenkin merkittävästi suurempi LRYGB ryhmässä 6:n ja 12:n kuukauden kuluttua leikkauksesta. Leikkausaika oli merkittävästi lyhempi alle 55-vuotiailla potilailla ja leikkauksen aikaiset komplikaatiot olivat merkittävästi yleisempiä yli 55-vuotiailla potilailla. Merkittävää eroa ei kuitenkaan tullut esille post-operatiivisessa sairastavuudessa. Leikkauksen kesto ja sairaalassaolo lyhenivät merkittävästi potilailla, jotka pystyivat pudottamaan painoaan > 5 % painostaan ennen leikkausta. Suurin osa potilaista ilmoitti kokevansa ongelmia ihopoimujen vuoksi, etenkin vatsan, olkavarsien ja pakaroiden alueilla. Ihopoimut vaikeuttivat päivittäisiä toimintoja puolella potilaista. Roikkuva ihopoimu korreloi naissukupuolen, laihtumisen määrän ja ΔBMW:n (body mass index difference) kanssa. Potilaat, joilla WL (weigth loss) > 20 kg, ΔBMI ≥ 10 kg/m2 ja EWL% > 50 oli merkittävästi ongelmia ihopoimusta (p <0,001). Suuri osa potilaista halusi vartalon muotoa korjaavia toimenpiteitä, nimenomaan vatsan (62,2%), olkavarsien (37,6%), rintojen (28,3%), ja pakaroiden (35,6%) alueille. Päätelmät: LRYGB on tehokas ja turvallinen ylilihaville ja ikääntyneille (> 55 vuotta) potilaille. Laihtuminen ennen lihavuuskirurgista leikkausta > 5% painosta on suositeltavaa, jotta tulokset paranevat ja komplikaatiot vähenevät. WL >20 kg, ΔBMI ≥ 10 kg/m2 ja EWL% >50 liittyvät merkittävään toiminnalliseen haittaan roikkuvan ihopoimun vuoksi ja lisääntyneeseen haluun postbariatrista vartalon muovausleikkauksista.Siirretty Doriast

Plasma properties from the multi-wavelength analysis of the November 1st 2003 CME/shock event

The analysis of the spectral properties and dynamic evolution of a CME/shock event observed on November 1st 2003 in white-light by the LASCO coronagraph and in the ultraviolet by the UVCS instrument operating aboard SOHO, has been performed to compute the properties of some important plasma parameters in the middle corona below about 2 solar radii. Simultaneous observations obtained with the MLSO/Mk4 white-light coronagraph, providing both the early evolution of the CME expansion in the corona and the pre-shock electron density profile along the CME front, were also used to study this event. By combining the above information with the analysis of the metric type II radio emission detected by ground-based radio spectrographs, we finally derive estimates of the values of the local Alfv\'en speed and magnetic field strength in the solar corona.Comment: In press Journal of Advanced Research, Cairo University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.

Coronal Rotation at Solar Minimum from UV Observations

UVCS/SOHO observations have been analyzed to reconstruct intensity time series of the O VI 1032 A and H 11216 A spectral lines at different coronal heliolatitudes from 1.5 to 3.0 solar radii from Sun center. Evidence was found for coronal differential rotation that differs significantly from that of the photospheric plasma. The study of the latitudinal variation shows that the UV corona decelerates toward the photospheric rates from the equator up to the poleward boundary 2 of the midlatitude streamers, reaching a peak of 28.16+/-0.20 days around +30 from the equator at 1.5 solar radii, while a less evident peak is observed in the northern hemisphere. This result suggests a real north-south rotational asymmetry as a consequence of different activity and weak coupling between the magnetic fields of the two hemispheres. The study of the radial rotation profiles shows that the corona is rotating almost rigidly with height

Removal of excess skin after massive weight loss: challenges and solutions

The advent of bariatric surgery has led to a subspecialty in plastic surgery for skin and fat contouring which remain after massive weight loss. The author discusses the preoperative assessment, surgical treatment plan, postoperative management, possible complications, and benefits of postbariatric surgery. Preoperative planning includes medical history and patient assessment. Surgical procedures for brachioplasty, upper back lift, breast reshaping, abdominoplasty, panniculectomy, lower back lift, and thigh lift are discussed. Indications, postoperative complications, and benefits are also discussed. The best candidates for postbariatric plastic surgery are those who have achieved weight loss stability with a BMI of 32 or less and who have adequate nutrition in order to heal the surgical excisions. Abdominal and truncal deformity are the most common presenting complaints in massive weight loss patients, and the procedure of choice to address this region is a body lift. Postoperative care focuses on patient safety, prioritizing in deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis and seroma prevention. Postbariatric body contouring aims to correct the deformity due to the excess of skin after massive weight loss and to restore a sense of normalcy.</p

Biomolecule recognition using piezoresistive nanomechanical force probes

Highly sensitive sensors are one of the enabling technologies for the biomarker detection in early stage diagnosis of pathologies. We have developed a self-sensing nanomechanical force probe able for detecting the unbinding of single couples of biomolecular partners in nearly physiological conditions. The embedding of a piezoresistive transducer into a nanomechanical cantilever enabled high force measurement capability with sub 10-pN resolution. Here, we present the design, microfabrication, optimization, and complete characterization of the sensor. The exceptional electromechanical performance obtained allowed us to detect biorecognition specific events underlying the biotin-avidin complex formation, by integrating the sensor in a commercial atomic force microscope.This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through projects NANOSELECT-CSD2007-00041(Consolider-Ingenio 2010) and TEC2011-23600, by the European Union through the COST ACTION TD1002 and partly supported by the PRIN-MIUR Project No. 2009 WPZM4S and by AIRC (Grant IG10412.)Peer reviewe

Wine Routes and Sustainable Social Organization within Local Tourist Supply: Case Studies of Two Italian Regions

The paper is aimed at investigating wine companies’ perceptions and attitudes towards the role of wine routes as an actual tool to improve their tourist attractiveness and sustainable tourism on a territorial level. Through a comparative approach, some wineries from the Italian regions of Abruzzo and Tuscany have been surveyed and in-depth-interviews to key local stakeholders have been conducted. The aim of the survey is to investigate the companies’ perception about wine tourists’ characteristics and wine route management. Through a multivariate analysis, the reasons behind wineries’ satisfaction/discontent have been analyzed. The findings identify a close relation between the complexity of the services offered, the companies’ involvement in the wine routes management and their satisfaction about the results obtained. The more complex the services are, the more satisfied the companies. The comparative analysis of the strengths and weaknesses pointed out by the wineries’ keepers has allowed some general considerations about the tools to use for the improvement of wine routes management. In a broader sense, the wineries’ direct involvement both in investment and in governance appears to be key in the success of the routes as a model for local tourism development

Glycated Hemoglobin and the Risk of Sternal Wound Infection After Adult Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Increased glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) has been shown to increase the riskof mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke after cardiac surgery, whereasits impact on the development of sternal wound infection (SWI) is less clear.A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate theimpact of preoperative HbA1c levels on the occurrence of SWI after adultcardiac surgery. Fourteen studies including 17,609 patients fulfilled theinclusion criteria and were included in this analysis. Diagnostic test meta-analysis of studies evaluating baseline HbA1c cut-off values ranging from6% to 7% DCCT units (4253 mmol/mol IFCC units) showed that the diag-nostic odds ratio for deep SWI was 3.02 (95% confidence interval [CI]2.104.35), while the diagnostic odds ratio for any SWI was 2.81 (95% CI2.023.93). Binary meta-analysis confirmed that baseline HbA1c cut-off val-ues ranging from 6% to 7% increased the risk for deep SWI (pooled inci-dence 2.7% vs 0.8%, risk ratio [RR] 3.01, 95% CI 2.323.90,I20%). Sixstudies included only diabetics and their pooled RR for deep SWI was 2.94(1.595.45,I20%). Nine studies evaluated an HbA1c cut-off value of 7%and their RR for deep SWI was 3.22 (95% CI 2.384.37,I20%). The RR forany SWI was 2.92 (95% CI 2.423.53,I20%). This pooled analysis showedthat the risk of SWI is substantially increased when preoperative HbA1c lev-els are over 67%. Future studies should evaluate whether postponing sur-gery for optimization of the glycemic control can reduce the risk of SWI inpatients with increased levels of HbA1c.Semin Thoracic Surg&&:&&&&© 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rightsreserved.Keywords:Glycated hemoglobin, Glycosylated hemoglobin, HbA1c,Sternal wound infection, Cardiac surgery, Coronary artery bypass grafting</p

Differential Rotation of the Ultraviolet Corona at Solar Maximum

Synoptic observations of the O VI 1032 A spectral line from the UltraViolet Coronagraph Spectrometer (UVCS) telescope on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) have been analyzed in order to establish the rotational characteristics of the solar corona in the time interval from 1999 March 18 to 2002 December 31, corresponding to the maximum phase of solar cycle 23. By using autocorrelation analysis techniques, we determined the latitude and time dependence of the coronal rotation rate at a heliocentric distance of 1.6 R ☉ from the solar equator up to about 15° from the poles. Although the equatorial rotation rate is initially consistent with the coronal synodic rotation period (~27.5 days) inferred in a previous study by Giordano & Mancuso around solar minimum, a systematic and substantial acceleration is observed to occur during the second part of the year 2000, with the equatorial coronal synodic rotation period settling to an average value of 25.7 days in the time interval extending from 2001 August to 2002 April, corresponding to a ~7% increase in coronal rotation rate. It is shown that the coronal magnetic structures rotate much faster at all latitudes, and less differentially, than the underlying small-scale magnetic structures linked to the photospheric plasma. The rotation rate of sunspots is however compatible, at least within ~20° from the solar equator, with the one estimated in the middle corona