Topological insight into the non-Arrhenius mode hopping of semiconductor ring lasers

We investigate both theoretically and experimentally the stochastic switching between two counter-propagating lasing modes of a semiconductor ring laser. Experimentally, the residence time distribution cannot be described by a simple one parameter Arrhenius exponential law and reveals the presence of two different mode-hop scenarios with distinct time scales. In order to elucidate the origin of these two time scales, we propose a topological approach based on a two-dimensional dynamical system.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Adiponectin levels are reduced in children born small for gestational age and are inversely related to postnatal catch-up growth

Adiponectin is an adipocytokine with insulin-sensitizing and antiatherogenic properties. Reduced concentrations of adiponectin precede the onset of type 2 diabetes and the development of atherosclerosis. Our aim was to quantify adiponectin concentrations in small for gestational age (SGA) children. Fifty-one SGA children, 24 obese, and 17 short-normal children with birth weight appropriate for gestational age (short-AGA) were studied. The statures of the SGA children were corrected for their midparental height and subdivided into two groups according to their corrected height: catch-up growth group, children with corrected height of 0 z-score or greater (n = 17); and noncatch-up growth group, subjects with corrected height less than 0 z-score (n = 34). SGA children showed adiponectin levels significantly lower than short-normal children (35.2 +/- 3.5 vs. 80.4 +/- 26.6 mug/ml; P < 0.0001) and obese children (77.5 +/- 39.4 μg/ml; P < 0.0001). Catch-up growth children showed adiponectin levels significantly lower than noncatch-up growth subjects (29.4 +/- 10.3 vs. 38.1 +/- 11.5 mug/ml; P = 0.01). Adiponectin concentrations were inversely related to height z-score, corrected stature, weight, and body mass index and were positively related to birth weight. Our results suggest that adiponectin levels are reduced in SGA children and are even lower in those with postnatal catch-up growth. Whether this finding implies a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis remains to be established

The role of the multidisciplinary evaluation of interstitial lung diseases: Systematic literature review of the current evidence and future perspectives

The opportunity of a multidisciplinary evaluation for the diagnosis of interstitial pneumonias highlighted a major change in the diagnostic approach to diffuse lung disease. The new American Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society, Japanese Respiratory Society, and Latin American Thoracic Society guidelines for the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have reinforced this assumption and have underlined that the exclusion of connective tissue disease related lung involvement is mandatory, with obvious clinical and therapeutic impact. The multidisciplinary team discussion consists in amoment of interaction among the radiologist, pathologist and pulmonologist, also including the rheumatologist when considered necessary, to improve diagnostic agreement and optimize the definition of those cases in which pulmonary involvement may represent the first or prominent manifestation of an autoimmune systemic disease. Moreover, the proposal of classification criteria for interstitial lung disease with autoimmune features (IPAF) represents an effort to define lung involvement in clinically undefined autoimmune conditions. The complexity of autoimmune diseases, and in particular the lack of classification criteria defined for pathologies such as anti-synthetase syndrome, makes the involvement of the rheumatologist essential for the correct interpretation of the autoimmune element and for the application of classification criteria, that could replace clinical pictures initially interpreted as IPAF in defined autoimmune disease, minimizing the risk of misdiagnosis. The aim of this review was to evaluate the available evidence about the efficiency and efficacy of different multidisciplinary team approaches, in order to standardize the professional figures and the core set procedures that should be necessary for a correct approach in diagnosing patients with interstitial lung disease

Exploring the photothermo-catalytic performance of brookite tio2-ceo2 composites

The thermocatalytic, photocatalytic and photothermo-catalytic oxidation of some volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 2-propanol, ethanol and toluene, was investigated over brookite TiO2-CeO2 composites. The multi-catalytic approach based on the synergistic effect between solar photocatalysis and thermocatalysis led to the considerable decrease in the conversion temperatures of the organic compounds. In particular, in the photothermo-catalytic runs, for the most active samples (TiO2-3 wt% CeO2 and TiO2-5 wt% CeO2). the temperature at which 90% of VOC conversion occurred was about 60◦ C, 40◦ C and 20◦ C lower than in the thermocatalytic tests for 2-propanol, ethanol and toluene, respectively. Furthermore. the addition of cerium oxide to brookite TiO2 favored the total oxidation to CO2 already in the photocatalytic tests at room temperature. The presence of small amounts of cerium oxide allowed to obtain efficient brookite-based composites facilitating the space charge separation and increasing the lifetime of the photogenerated holes and electrons as confirmed by the characterization measurements. The possibility to concurrently utilize the photocatalytic properties of brookite and the redox properties of CeO2, both activated in the photothermal tests, is an attractive approach easily applicable to purify air from VOCs

Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXX. Sonographic assessment of the painful knee

The knee joint is a frequent focus of attention for rheumatologists when assessing patients presenting to a clinic and may represent underlying intra-articular inflammatory pathology or involvement of the surrounding soft tissues. This study describes the correlation between clinical and ultrasound findings in patients presenting with a variety of rheumatic disorders and knee pain. US imaging provides for a sensitive and detailed identification of different intra-and peri-articular pathology responsible for knee pain

Cosmic ray processing of N2-containing interstellar ice analogues at dark cloud conditions

N2 is believed to lock considerable part of nitrogen elemental budget and, therefore, to be one of the most abundant ice constituent in cold dark clouds. This laboratory-based research utilizes high energetic processing of N2 containing interstellar ice analogues using 200 keV H+ and He+ ions that mimics cosmic ray processing of the interstellar icy grains. It aims to investigate the formation of (iso)cyanates and cyanides in the ice mantles at the conditions typical for cold dark clouds and prestellar cores. Investigation of cosmic ray processing as a chemical trigger mechanism is explained by the high stability of N2 molecules that are chemically inert in most of the atom- and radical-addition reactions and cannot be efficiently dissociated by cosmic ray induced UV-field. Two sets of experiments are performed to closer address solid-state chemistry occurring in two distinct layers of the ice formed at different stages of dark cloud evolution, i.e. `H2O-rich' and `CO-rich' ice layers. Formation of HNCO and OCN- is discussed in all of the performed experiments. Corresponding kinetic curves for HNCO and OCN- are obtained. Furthermore, a feature around 2092 cm-1 assigned to the contributions of 13CO, CN-, and HCN is analysed. The kinetic curves for the combined HCN/CN- abundance are derived. In turn, normalized formation yields are evaluated by interpolation of the obtained results to the low irradiation doses relevant to dark cloud stage. The obtained values can be used to interpret future observations towards cold dark clouds using James Webb Space Telescope

Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXXVII. Sonographic assessment of the hip in ankylosing spondylitis patients

Objectives. TO investigate the prevalence of ultrasound (US) detectable inflammation in hips of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the relationship between US and measures of disease activity and severity. Methods. Consecutive patients with AS attending the rheumatology units involved in this study were enrolled. Clinical and demographical data were recorded. US examination of bilateral hips was performed at the same time, evaluating anterior longitudinal scan to search for synovial hypertrophy (SH), joint effusion (JE) or power Doppler (PD) positive synovitis. Results. A total of 56 patients were included, median age (interquartile range, IQR) 49 (39, 59.5), median disease duration 98 (72, 204) months, 80.3% were treated with TNF-alpha inhibitors, median BASDAI 2.65 (1.96, 3.95), 30.3% had hip tenderness. US JE was found in 26.7% of patients, US SH in 16%, no patient had detectable PD. The concordance between clinical findings and US abnormalities was moderate, with a kappa of 0.44. Patients with detectable US abnormalities had higher median visual analogue,scale (VAS) pain and C-reactive protein (CRP), while there was 170 significant association with other measures of disease activity and disability. In the subgroup of patients with no hip tenderness, US alterations were still significantly related to higher CRP levels, while in patients with hip tenderness and no US abnormalities CRP was not higher than in the asymptomatic patients. Conclusions. US assessment of hip joint in AS patients can be considered of value, as suggested by the correlation with relevant clinical and laboratory measures. In asymptomatic patients, US examination might provide further information on subclinical involvement