Insight on Hole-Hole Interaction and Magnetic Order from Dichroic Auger-Photoelectron Coincidence Spectra

The absence of sharp structures in the core-valence-valence Auger line shapes of partially filled bands has severely limited the use of electron spectroscopy in magnetic crystals and other correlated materials. Here by a novel interplay of experimental and theoretical techniques we achieve a combined understanding of the Photoelectron, Auger %$M_{23}M_{45}M_{45}$ and Auger-Photoelectron Coincidence Spectra (APECS) of CoO. This is a prototype antiferromagnetic material in which the recently discovered Dichroic Effect in Angle Resolved (DEAR) APECS reveals a complex pattern in the strongly correlated Auger line shape. A calculation of the \textit{unrelaxed} spectral features explains the pattern in detail, labeling the final states by the total spin. The present theoretical analysis shows that the dichroic effect arises from a spin-dependence of the angular distribution of the photoelectron-Auger electron pair detected in coincidence, and from the selective power of the dichroic technique in assigning different weights to the various spin components. Since the spin-dependence of the angular distribution exists in the antiferromagnetic state but vanishes at the N\'eel temperature, the DEAR-APECS technique detects the phase transition from its local effects, thus providing a unique tool to observe and understand magnetic correlations in such circumstances, where the usual methods (neutron diffraction, specific heat measurements) are not applicable.Comment: Accepted by: Physical Review Letter

On the notion of sequentially Cohen-Macaulay modules

In this survey paper we first present the main properties of sequentially Cohen-Macaulay modules. Some basic examples are provided to help the reader with quickly getting acquainted with this topic. We then discuss two generalizations of the notion of sequential Cohen-Macaulayness which are inspired by a theorem of J\"urgen Herzog and the third author

Association of regional bioelectrical phase angle with physical performance: a pilot study in elite rowers

Background. This study aimed to examine the association between regional Phase Angle (PhA) and physical performance in athletes where the use of specific body segments is required.Methods. Sixteen elite-level rowers (13 male aged 17.6 +/- 2.1 yr; 3 female aged 21.0 +/- 4.4 yr) participated in this investigation. Raw bioimpedance parameters were obtained with a phase-sensitive 50 kHz bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device and fat-free mass, percentage of fat mass (FM%), and arms and legs lean soft tissue (ALST and LLST, respectively) were estimated using specific BIA-equation developed for athletes. The time (2000t) and the mean power (MP) expressed during the 2000 m test performed on a rowing ergometer were measured.Results. The major findings of the study were that upper hemisome PhA (UPhA) were more strongly related with 2000t (R2 = 0.35, p = 0.015) and MP (R2 = 0.40, p = 0.009) than whole-body PhA. Additionally, not only UPhA maintained a significant relationship with 2000t (p = 0.001) and MP (p = 0.001), even after adjustment for the co-variables sex, ALST, and FM%, but the explained variance increased to R2 = 0.72 and R2 = 0.78, respectively.Conclusions. These results suggest that the regional PhA might be used as a tool for evaluating performance related parameters in sports where specific body segments are involved, preferring it to the whole-body measured value

Use of Scanner Data to Analyze the Table Wine Demand in the Italian Major Retailing Trade

ABSTRACT While the utilization of scanner data for food demand analyses has become increasingly popular in the United States, few food demand studies, and in particular none on table wine, have been conducted using scanner data in Italy+ This paper presents a first attempt to estimate a demand system for selected brands of red tetra-packaged, plastic packaged, and bag-in-box table wine using scanner data providing new and useful insights into the marketing of Italian wine+ Price and expenditure elasticities of Italian red table wine demand drawn from a linear almost ideal demand system are provided+ Results suggest a partially loyal market of table wine, showing a tendency to substitution across brands and a degree of competition among the leading brands+ @EconLit citations: Q110, Q130#

Reduced GABA Content in the Motor Thalamus during Effective Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN), in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, is a well established therapeutic option, but its mechanisms of action are only partially known. In our previous study, the clinical transitions from OFF- to ON-state were not correlated with significant changes of GABA content inside GPi or substantia nigra reticulata. Here, biochemical effects of STN-DBS have been assessed in putamen (PUT), internal pallidus (GPi), and inside the antero-ventral thalamus (VA), the key station receiving pallidothalamic fibers. In 10 advanced PD patients undergoing surgery, microdialysis samples were collected before and during STN-DBS. cGMP, an index of glutamatergic transmission, was measured in GPi and PUT by radioimmunoassay, whereas GABA from VA was measured by HPLC. During clinically effective STN-DBS, we found a significant decrease in GABA extracellular concentrations in VA (−30%). Simultaneously, cGMP extracellular concentrations were enhanced in PUT (+200%) and GPi (+481%). These findings support a thalamic dis-inhibition, in turn re-establishing a more physiological corticostriatal transmission, as the source of motor improvement. They indirectly confirm the relevance of patterning (instead of mere changes of excitability) and suggest that a rigid interpretation of the standard model, at least when it indicates the hyperactive indirect pathway as key feature of hypokinetic signs, is unlikely to be correct. Finally, given the demonstration of a key role of VA in inducing clinical relief, locally administration of drugs modulating GABA transmission in thalamic nuclei could become an innovative therapeutic strategy

An unusual case of bowel obstruction in emergency surgery: The heterotopic mesenteric ossification

The heterotopic mesenteric ossification, also known as myositis ossificans, is a rare form of heterotopic ossification, a metaplastic phenomenon where new bone is formed in the mesenteric base, generally after abdominal trauma (surgical or other). The pathophysiology of heterotopic mesenteric ossification is unknown; clinical presentation is not specific, with vague abdominal symptoms, uncertain radiological findings, and often regular laboratory exams. No consensus exists on the best possible approach, although it might well be both medical and surgical. We reviewed the clinical history of a 28-year-old man with a recent motor vehicle accident who was admitted to our surgical unit with symptoms consistent with a small bowel obstruction; after surgery, a diagnosis of myositis ossificans was surprisingly made

Molecular insights into cell toxicity of a novel familial amyloidogenic variant of β2-microglobulin

The first genetic variant of β(2)‐microglobulin (b2M) associated with a familial form of systemic amyloidosis has been recently described. The mutated protein, carrying a substitution of Asp at position 76 with an Asn (D76N b2M), exhibits a strongly enhanced amyloidogenic tendency to aggregate with respect to the wild‐type protein. In this study, we characterized the D76N b2M aggregation path and performed an unprecedented analysis of the biochemical mechanisms underlying aggregate cytotoxicity. We showed that, contrarily to what expected from other amyloid studies, early aggregates of the mutant are not the most toxic species, despite their higher surface hydrophobicity. By modulating ganglioside GM1 content in cell membrane or synthetic lipid bilayers, we confirmed the pivotal role of this lipid as aggregate recruiter favouring their cytotoxicity. We finally observed that the aggregates bind to the cell membrane inducing an alteration of its elasticity (with possible functional unbalance and cytotoxicity) in GM1‐enriched domains only, thus establishing a link between aggregate‐membrane contact and cell damage