Independent tuning of acoustic and mechanical properties of phantoms for biomedical applications of ultrasound

In this work the preparation of tissue mimicking materials (TMMs) with independently tunable acoustic and elastic properties is reported. Although a large number of hydrogel, synthetic polymer, polysaccharides or other natural based materials have been proposed and used for the realization of TMMs, both for diagnostic and therapeutic applications of ultrasounds, up to today, simulation of acoustic properties was often performed using solid particles, reducing dramatically the transparency and inevitably affecting the homogeneity and the elastic properties of the TMM. By means of concentrated salts solutions and different polysaccharides, an easy method to prepare these TMMs have been developed. This approach would lead to obtain homogenous TMMs with Young modulus ranging over 3 orders of magnitude, i.e. from 2 to 1500 kPa, with independently tunable attenuation properties. An accurate mechanical and acoustic characterization of these TMMs have been performed. Finally, by means of a preliminary trials on protein denaturation induced by a high focused ultrasound transducer in a transparent TMMs with different attenuation values, the mechanism underlying on the formation and propagation of lesion has been investigated. Obtained results suggest that this 'chemical' approach would strongly support in vitro investigations on the open issues related to diagnostic and therapeutic application of ultrasounds

Shadows of Relic Neutrino Masses and Spectra on Highest Energy GZK Cosmic Rays

The Ultra High Energy (UHE) neutrino scattering onto relic cosmic neutrinos in galactic and local halos offers an unique way to overcome GZK cut-off. The UHE nu secondary of UHE photo-pion decays may escape the GZK cut-off and travel on cosmic distances hitting local light relic neutrinos clustered in dark halos. The Z resonant production and the competitive W^+W^-, ZZ pair production define a characteristic imprint on hadronic consequent UHECR spectra. This imprint keeps memory both of the primary UHE nu spectra as well as of the possible relic neutrino masses values, energy spectra and relic densities. Such an hadronic showering imprint should reflect into spectra morphology of cosmic rays near and above GZK 10^{19}-10^{21}eV cut-off energies. A possible neutrino degenerate masses at eVs or a more complex and significant neutrino mass split below or near Super-Kamiokande \triangle m_{\nu_{SK}}= 0.1 eV masses might be reflected after each corresponding Z peak showering, into new twin unexpected UHECR flux modulation behind GZK energies: E_{p} sim 3(frac{triangle m_{\nu_{SK}}}/m_{\nu}10^{21}),eV. Other shadowsof lightest, nearly massless, neutrinos m_{nu_{2K} simeq 0.001eV simeq kT_{\nu}, their lowest relic temperatures, energies and densities might be also reflected at even higher energies edges near Grand Unification: E_{p} \sim 2.2(m_{\nu_{2K}/E_{\nu}})10^{23}, eV .Comment: 14 pages, 6 Figures,Invited Talk Heidelberg DARK 200

Charophytes for description and monitoring of inland waters in Sicily

The island of Sicily, in the center of the Mediterranean basin, is a well-known biodiversity hotspot (M\ue9dail & Qu\ue9zel, 1997). Unfortunately, the knowledge of its charophyte flora is absolutely unsatisfactory. The few available data derive from some scattered phytosociological works and some articles published more than 100 years ago. According to the last national synthesis (Bazzichelli & Abdelahad, 2009) a total of 19 Charophytes species should occur in the island, distributed in 4 genera: Chara L. (11), Nitella Agardh (5), Tolypella (A. Braun) A. Braun (2) and Lamprothamnium J. Groves (1). However an updated list of the species occurring in the island, together with their distributions, is currently lacking. It is noteworthy that, owing to this lack of local knowledge about charophytes, information currently available on these habitats occurring in the sites of the Natura 2000 network in Sicily is absolutely insufficient. We think that the group deserves a better knowledge, both for taxonomic, biogeographic and \u201cpure\u201d science, and for \u201capplied\u201d aspects connected with water quality and biodiversity conservation, also according to important European Directives (2000/60/CE and 92/43/EEC, respectively). So our work started, gathering data and making preliminary surveys. During the preliminary investigations, charophytes have been found in both freshwater and brackish waters, from 0 to 1400 m a.s.l. In particular, Chara vulgaris L. and Lamprothamnium papulosum (Wallr.) J. Groves have been identified in different coastal seasonally flooded habitats, referred to the priority habitat \u201c1150* coastal lagoons\u201d according to the mentioned 92/43 Directive. Chara contraria A. Braun ex K\ufctz. has been identified in springs and streams, referred to the habitat \u201c3140 Hard oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara spp.\u201d. Other species have been found in other habitat types, such as the priority habitat \u201c3170* Mediterranean temporary ponds\u201d. M\ue9dail and Qu\ue9zel (1997). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 84: 112 127. Bazzichelli and Abdelahad (2009). Flora analitica delle Caroficee. Sapienza Universit\ue0 di Roma - Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare

An extended hybrid magnetohydrodynamics gyrokinetic model for numerical simulation of shear Alfv\'en waves in burning plasmas

Adopting the theoretical framework for the generalized fishbonelike dispersion relation, an extended hybrid magnetohydrodynamics gyrokinetic simulation model has been derived analytically by taking into account both thermal ion compressibility and diamagnetic effects in addition to energetic particle kinetic behaviors. The extended model has been used for implementing an eXtended version of Hybrid Magnetohydrodynamics Gyrokinetic Code (XHMGC) to study thermal ion kinetic effects on Alfv\'enic modes driven by energetic particles, such as kinetic beta induced Alfv\'en eigenmodes in tokamak fusion plasmas

Ulipristal acetate before in vitro fertilization: Efficacy in infertile women with submucous fibroids

Background: The presence of submucous fibroids strongly impacts on IVF results, therefore, these patients should be considered for surgical or medical treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the role of Ulipristal acetate (UPA), a selective progesterone receptor modulator, in restoring uterine cavity deformation due to submucous fibroids, in infertile patients attempting an IVF treatment. The secondary study outcome was to evaluate the impact of preconception UPA treatment on rate of biochemical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth compared to a control group without fibroids. Methods: Infertile patients with submucosal fibroid (Type 1 and Type 2 according to FIGO classification) were enrolled in the study as fibroids group and received 1 to 3 treatment cycles of UPA, according to their response, as reflected by fibroid volume reduction and restoration of normal uterine cavity. Patients in control group were randomly selected from a general IVF cohort by a ratio of 2:1 with fibroids group, matched by age, BMI, type and cause of infertility and antral follicle count. The impact of UPA on fibroids volume reduction was evaluated. IVF outcome was compared between groups. Results: Twenty-six patients underwent UPA treatment revealed a mean volume reduction of their fibroids of 41%. A total of 15 (57.6%) biochemical pregnancy were obtained, resulting in 13 (50%) ongoing pregnancy and 9 (34.6%) healthy babies were already delivered. Similar results were obtained in control group. Conclusion: Restoration of normal uterine cavity by UPA treatment prior to IVF treatment avoids surgery and establishes a pregnancy rate comparable to a control group without fibroids

Improved constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity for the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe 5-yr data

We present new constraints on the non-linear coupling parameter fnl with the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) data. We use an updated method based on the spherical Mexican hat wavelet (SMHW) which provides improved constraints on the fnl parameter. This paper is a continuation of a previous work by Curto et al. where several third order statistics based on the SMHW were considered. In this paper, we use all the possible third order statistics computed from the wavelet coefficient maps evaluated at 12 angular scales. The scales are logarithmically distributed from 6.9 arcmin to 500 arcmin. Our analysis indicates that fnl is constrained to -18 < fnl < +80 at 95% confidence level (CL) for the combined V+W WMAP map. This value has been corrected by the presence of undetected point sources, which adds a positive contribution of Delta_fnl = 6 +- 5. Our result excludes at ~99% CL the best-fitting value fnl=87 reported by Yadav & Wandelt. We have also constrained fnl for the Q, V and W frequency bands separately, finding compatibility with zero at 95 % CL for the Q and V bands but not for the W band. We have performed some further tests to understand the cause of this deviation which indicate that systematics associated to the W radiometers could be responsible for this result. Finally we have performed a Galactic North-South analysis for fnl. We have not found any asymmetry, i.e. the best-fitting fnl for the northern pixels is compatible with the best-fitting fnl for the southern pixels.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication in Ap

Temperature Increase Dependence on Ultrasound Attenuation Coefficient in Innovative Tissue-mimicking Materials

Although high intensity focused ultrasound beams (HIFU) have found rapid agreement in clinical environment as a tool for non invasive surgical ablation and controlled destruction of cancer cells, some aspects related to the interaction of ultrasonic waves with tissues, such as the conversion of acoustic energy into heat, are not thoroughly understood. In this work, innovative tissue- mimicking materials (TMMs), based on Agar and zinc acetate, have been used to conduct investigations in order to determine a relation between the sample attenuation coefficient and its temperature increase measured in the focus region when exposed to an HIFU beam. An empirical relation has been deduced establishing useful basis for further processes of validations of numerical models to be adopted for customizing therapeutic treatments

Comparison of protein carbonyl (Pco), paraoxonase-1 (pon1) and c-reactive protein (crp) as diagnostic and prognostic markers of septic inflammation in dogs

Reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers of sepsis are lacking, but essential in veterinary medicine. We aimed to assess the accuracy of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), protein carbonyls (PCO) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) in differentiating dogs with sepsis from those with sterile inflammation and healthy ones, and predict the outcome in septic dogs. These analytes were retrospectively evaluated at admission in 92 dogs classified into healthy, septic and polytraumatized. Groups were compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by a Mann–Whitney U test to assess differences between survivors and non-survivors. Correlation between analytes was assessed using the Spearman’s test, and their discriminating power was assessed through a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. PON1 and CRP were, respectively, significantly lower and higher in dogs with sepsis compared with polytraumatized and clinically healthy dogs (p &lt; 0.001 for both the analytes), and also in dogs with trauma compared with healthy dogs (p = 0.011 and p = 0.017, respectively). PCO were significantly increased in septic (p &lt; 0.001) and polytraumatized (p &lt; 0.005) as compared with healthy dogs. PON1 and CRP were, respectively, significantly lower and higher in dogs that died compared with survivors (p &lt; 0.001 for both analytes). Ultimately, evaluation of CRP and PON1 at admission seems a reliable support to diagnose sepsis and predict outcomes

Concomitant infections with canine parvovirus type 2 and intracellular tick-borne pathogens in two puppy dogs

In this report the concomitant infection with canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), Hepatozoon canis and Ehrlichia canis in two puppy dogs from Southern Italy is described. Dogs were referred to a veterinary university hospital for the acute onset of lethargy and gastrointestinal signs. A complete clinical and clinicopathological evaluation was carried out and the multiple infection was confirmed by microscopic detection of inclusion bodies in peripheral blood smear, rapid immunoenzymatic tests, indirect fluorescent antibody tests, and molecular assays. Sequence analysis revealed that the CPV-2 identified belonged to the 2c variant and had amino acid residues in the predicted VP2 protein typical of "Asian-like" strains widespread in Asia and occasionally reported in Romania, Nigeria and Italy, particularly in the region of Sicily. Numerous monocytes were infected by both H. canis gamonts and E. canis morulae, suggesting that this co-infection is not accidental and that E. canis preferably infects those cells parasitized by H. canis. The clinical presentation of these animals was severe but supportive cares associated with early etiological therapy allowed a good prognosis. Movement of puppies from geographic areas where vector-borne pathogens are endemic must be carefully evaluated and core vaccinations and ectoparasite prevention treatments must be rigorously adopted