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 (10–100 keV) x rays or to reach the 1–100 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 G×I 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

High levels of trim5a are associated with xenophagy in hiv‐1‐infected long‐term nonprogressors

Autophagy is a lysosomal‐dependent 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 HIV‐1 is a critical target of autoph-agy that plays a role in HIV‐1 replication and disease progression. In a special subset of HIV‐1‐infected patients that spontaneously and durably maintain extremely low viral replication, namely, long‐term nonprogressors (LTNP), the resistance to HIV‐1‐induced 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 HIV‐1 has been identified, namely, tripartite motif protein 5α (TRIM5α). In vitro data demonstrated that TRIM5α directly recognizes HIV‐1 and targets it for autophagic destruction, thus protecting cells against HIV‐1 in-fection. In this paper, we analyzed the involvement of this factor in the control of HIV‐1 infection through autophagy, in vivo, in LTNP. The results obtained showed significantly higher levels of TRIM5α expression in cells from LTNP with respect to HIV‐1‐infected normal progressor patients. Interestingly, the colocalization of TRIM5α and HIV‐1 proteins in autophagic vacuoles in LTNP cells suggested the participation of TRIM5α in the autophagy containment of HIV‐1 in LTNP. Al-together, our results point to a protective role of TRIM5α in the successful control of the chronic viral infection in HIV‐1‐controllers through the autophagy mechanism. In our opinion, these findings could be relevant in fighting against HIV‐1 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. – OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to describe the “hot points” 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

Silicon strip detectors for two-dimensional soft X-ray imaging at normal incidence

A simple prototype system for static two-dimensional soft X-ray imaging using silicon microstrip detectors irradiated at normal incidence is presented. Radiation sensors consist of single-sided silicon detectors made from 300 mum thick wafers, read by RX64 ASICs. Data acquisition and control is performed by a Windows PC workstation running dedicated LabVIEW routines, connected to the sensors through a PCI-DIO-96 interface. Two-dimensional images are obtained by scanning a lead collimator with a thin slit perpendicular to the strip axis, along the whole detector size; the several strip profiles (slices) taken at each position are then put together to form a planar image. Preliminary results are presented, illustrating the high-resolution imaging capabilities of the system with soft X-rays. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Physician Attitudes and Perceptions of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM): A Multicentre Italian Study

Purpose: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) interventions are widely used by patients with chronic disorders, including cancer, and may interact with cancer treatment. Physicians are often unaware of this, probably due to poor patient-physician communication on CAM. The purpose of this study was to evaluate physicians' knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns regarding CAM in a survey conducted in Italy. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 438 physicians (11 Italian hospitals) who predominantly treat patients with chronic disease, to collect personal and professional data and information on attitudes toward CAM and its possible role in Conventional Medicine (CM). Results: Of the 438 participants, most were specialists in oncology (18%), internal medicine (17%), surgery (15%), and radiotherapy (11%). Most worked at university (44%) or research hospitals (31%). Forty-two percent of participants believed that CAM could have an integrative role within CM. Oncologists were the physicians who were best informed on CAM (58%). Physicians working at research institutes or university hospitals had a greater knowledge of CAM than those employed at general hospitals (p &lt; 0.0001), and those who were also involved in research activity had a greater knowledge of CAM than those who were not (p &lt; 0.003). Length of work experience was significantly related to CAM knowledge. Moreover, 55% of participants suggest CAM interventions to their patients and 44% discuss CAM with them. The best-known interventions were acupuncture, Aloe vera and high-dose vitamin C. Conclusion: CAM use by patients with chronic disease and/or cancer has become a topical issue for the scientific community and for physicians. Knowing the reasons that prompt these patients to use CAM and guiding them in their decisions would improve treatment and outcomes and also benefit healthcare systems. Our findings contribute to a greater understanding of CAM knowledge, attitudes, and practice among Italian physicians. Further research is needed to identify the more effective CAM treatments and to work toward an integrated healthcare model