484 research outputs found
Generation of primary photons through inverse Compton scattering using a Monte Carlo simulation code
Photon sources based on inverse Compton scattering, namely, the interaction between relativistic electrons and laser photons, are emerging as quasimonochromatic energy-tunable sources either as compact alternatives to synchrotron facilities for the production of low-energy (10â100 keV) x rays or to reach the 1â100 MeV photon energy range, which is inaccessible at synchrotrons. Different interaction layouts are possible for electron and laser beams, and several applications are being studied, ranging from fundamental research in nuclear physics to advanced x-ray imaging in the biomedical field, depending on the radiation energy range, intensity, and bandwidth. Regardless of the specific application, a reliable tool for the simulation of the radiation produced is essential for the design, the commissioning, and, subsequently, the study and optimization of this kind of source. Different computational tools have been developed for this task, based on both a purely analytical treatment and Monte Carlo simulation codes. Each of these tools has strengths and weaknesses. Here, we present a novel Monte Carlo code based on GEANT4 for the simulation of inverse Compton scattering in the linear regime. The code produces results in agreement with CAIN, one of the most used Monte Carlo tools, for a wide range of interaction conditions at a computational time reduced by 2 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the developed tool can be easily embedded in a GEANT4 user application for the tracking of photons generated through inverse Compton scattering in a given experimental setup
A new method to identify subclasses among AGB stars using Gaia and 2MASS photometry
Aims: We explore the wealth of high quality photometric data provided by data
release 2 of the Gaia mission for long period variables (LPVs) in the Large
Magellanic Cloud. Our goal is to identify stars of various types and masses
along the Asymptotic Giant Branch.
Methods: For this endeavour, we developed a new multi-band approach combining
Wesenheit functions W_{RP,BP-RP} and W_{K_s,J-K_s} in the Gaia BP, RP and 2MASS
J, K_s spectral ranges, respectively, and use a new diagram
(W_{RP,BP-RP}-W_{K_s,J-K_s}) versus K_s to distinguish between different kinds
of stars in our sample of LPVs. We used stellar population synthesis models to
validate our approach.
Results:We demonstrate the ability of the new diagram to discriminate between
O-rich and C-rich objects, and to identify low-mass, intermediate-mass and
massive O-rich red giants, as well as extreme C-rich stars. Stellar evolution
and population synthesis models guide the interpretation of the results,
highlighting the diagnostic power of the new tool to discriminate between
stellar initial masses, chemical properties and evolutionary stages.Comment: accepted for publication in A&A Letters; 7 figures, 2 appendice
Virulence of Moroccan f. Revealed by International Differential Barley Genotypes
Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt), causing net blotch in barley, is an important and frequently isolated leaf pathogen across the globe. The virulence spectrum of Ptt from North Africa including Morocco is poorly understood. Sixteen barley genotypes were challenged, at seedling stage, with 15 Ptt isolates that were collected from different agroecological zones of Morocco. The experiment was conducted in a factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The ANOVA revealed highly significant (P < 0.001) effects of genotype (G), isolate (I) and GĂI interaction explaining 23.2, 62.5, and 13.9% of the variation, respectively. Therefore, the current study revealed highly diverse virulence pattern of Moroccan isolates. Furthermore, the results indicated that minor virulence of Ptt isolates dominated over virulence interaction. In addition, Taffa (6-rowed) and Aglou (2 rowed), had the highest level of resistance to Ptt, while Coast and Rabat071 were the most susceptible genotypes. Pt2, Pt7, Pt8 and Pt4 were being the most virulent isolates, while Pt10 and Pt11 were the least virulent isolates. The emergence of the new Ptt pathotypes, which were highly virulent to durable resistance in Rabat071 posed a risk of breaking down the currently deployed resistance to net blotch in Morocco. A careful evaluation and selection of Ptt isolates based on minor virulence pattern to barley genotypes is essential for successful barley breeding program for resistance to net blotch in Morocco
Size Matters: Microservices Research and Applications
In this chapter we offer an overview of microservices providing the
introductory information that a reader should know before continuing reading
this book. We introduce the idea of microservices and we discuss some of the
current research challenges and real-life software applications where the
microservice paradigm play a key role. We have identified a set of areas where
both researcher and developer can propose new ideas and technical solutions.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1706.0735
Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cancer patients. An italian multicenter survey
INTRODUCTION:
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) include a wide range of products (herbs, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics) and medical practices, developed outside of the mainstream Western medicine. Patients with cancer are more likely to resort to CAM first or then in their disease history; the potential side effects as well as the costs of such practices are largely underestimated.
PATIENTS AND METHOD:
We conducted a descriptive survey in five Italian hospitals involving 468 patients with different malignancies. The survey consisted of a forty-two question questionnaire, patients were eligible if they were Italian-speaking and receiving an anticancer treatment at the time of the survey or had received an anticancer treatment no more than three years before participating in the survey.
RESULTS:
Of our patients, 48.9% said they use or have recently used CAM. The univariate analysis showed that female gender, high education, receiving treatment in a highly specialized institute and receiving chemotherapy are associated with CAM use; at the multivariate analysis high education (Odds Ratio, (OR): 1.96 95% Confidence Interval, CI, 1.27-3.05) and receiving treatment in a specialized cancer center (OR: 2.75 95% CI, 1.53-4.94) were confirmed as risk factors for CAM use.
CONCLUSION:
Roughly half of our patients receiving treatment for cancer use CAM. It is necessary that health professional explore the use of CAM with their cancer patients, educate them about potentially beneficial therapies in light of the limited available evidence of effectiveness, and work towards an integrated model of health-care provision
Thymosin beta-4 prenatal administration improves fetal development and halts side effects due to preterm delivery
Objective: Thymosin beta 4 (TB4) is the most abundant member of the beta-thymosin family in humans. The main physiological role of TB4 is the regulation of actin polymerization. TB4 is also involved in angiogenesis, cell survival, cell migration and fetal development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of TB4 as a fetal growth promoter when administered during pregnancy.
Materials and methods: Our protocols have been carried out in full conformity with the rules and guidelines expected for this kind of trial. 10 pregnant mice received the same injection regimen. Only 6 of these 10 are part of this experiment because they were pregnant. At 10:00 a.m. on day E14 and E17 of gestation mice were weighed and treated with an intraperitoneal injection of TB4 (Regene RX, Rockville, MD, USA; 6 mg/kg in PBS).
Results: The mothers treated with TB4 for two days precisely E14 and E17, showed a higher cranio-caudal length when compared to control newborns. At histology, maternal TB4 treatment was associated with more advanced development of lungs, heart, kidney, cerebral cortex and notochord.
Conclusions: Our study shows that TB4 administration during gestation may act as a powerful fetal growth promoter, by accelerating the development of newborn organs and tissues
High levels of trim5a are associated with xenophagy in hivâ1âinfected longâterm nonprogressors
Autophagy is a lysosomalâdependent degradative mechanism essential in maintaining cellular homeostasis, but it is also considered an ancient form of innate eukaryotic fighting against invading microorganisms. Mounting evidence has shown that HIVâ1 is a critical target of autoph-agy that plays a role in HIVâ1 replication and disease progression. In a special subset of HIVâ1âinfected patients that spontaneously and durably maintain extremely low viral replication, namely, longâterm nonprogressors (LTNP), the resistance to HIVâ1âinduced pathogenesis is ac-companied, in vivo, by a significant increase in the autophagic activity in peripheral blood mon-onuclear cells. Recently, a new player in the battle of autophagy against HIVâ1 has been identified, namely, tripartite motif protein 5α (TRIM5α). In vitro data demonstrated that TRIM5α directly recognizes HIVâ1 and targets it for autophagic destruction, thus protecting cells against HIVâ1 in-fection. In this paper, we analyzed the involvement of this factor in the control of HIVâ1 infection through autophagy, in vivo, in LTNP. The results obtained showed significantly higher levels of TRIM5α expression in cells from LTNP with respect to HIVâ1âinfected normal progressor patients. Interestingly, the colocalization of TRIM5α and HIVâ1 proteins in autophagic vacuoles in LTNP cells suggested the participation of TRIM5α in the autophagy containment of HIVâ1 in LTNP. Al-together, our results point to a protective role of TRIM5α in the successful control of the chronic viral infection in HIVâ1âcontrollers through the autophagy mechanism. In our opinion, these findings could be relevant in fighting against HIVâ1 disease, because autophagy inducers might be employed in combination with antiretroviral drugs
Oral human papilloma virus infection: an overview of clinical-laboratory diagnosis and treatment
Abstract. â OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to describe the âhot pointsâ of current clinical governance for oral HPV comprising the use of new diagnostic molecular procedures, namely, Pyrosequencing and Next Generation Sequencing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data on oral HPV was collected through two levels of research. First for all, we used the canonical medical search engines, PubMed, and Medline, followed by the study of current commercial tools for HPV diagnosis, particularly within commercial companies involved in the molecular procedures for HPV detecting and genotyping. RESULTS: Different medical procedures are now described and used throughout the world in HPV diagnosis and treatment. However, the laboratory methods are often validated and used for genital infections, and, in these cases, data are missing in the literature as regards the clinical approach for oral lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Dental care units are often the front line for a clinical evaluation of a possible HPV lesion in the oral cavity, which means that correct clinical governance could avoid a viral neoplastic progression of this disease with great advantages for the patient. In this case, the problem is due to the difficulty in lesion recognition but also and more especially the absence of correct laboratory diagnosis and subsequent treatment in the clinical course
- âŠ