Ion produced cometary organic crust

For several years many experimental results have been obtained on the chemical and physical changes induced by ion and electron irradiation of materials with a view to their Astrophysical relevance. Among the studied effects, one of particular interest is the formation of an organic refractory residue left over after ion irradiation and warming-up at room temperature. We call this residue IPHAC (ion produced hydrogenated amorphous carbon). Although 'in situ' infrared spectroscopy points out the formation of new molecular species during bombardment at low temperature, it is not clear if IPHAC is already formed or if its formation is triggered by temperature increase during warming-up of the irradiated target. Since Raman Spectroscopy is a technique particularly suitable for the analysis of carbonaceous materials, we have thought and build-up an experimental apparatus to obtain Raman Spectra of frozen hydrocarbons during ion irradiation. The present experimental results point out clearly to the formation of IPHAC already at low T and low energy deposition (approximately equal to a few eV/C-atom)

Statins and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Dear Editor, In April 9 issue, van den Berg et al1 report interesting results on the indication for lipid‐lowering treatment in a large cohort with suspected non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) within the population‐based Lifelines Cohort Study. Fatty liver index (FLI) ≥60 was used as a proxy of NAFLD and the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) to identify the NAFLD patients with suspected advanced fibrosis. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk was established by the 2016 European society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society (ESC/EAS) Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidemias.2 Subjects with FLI ≥ 60 (suspected NAFLD) had an increased 10‐ year predicted cardiovascular risk compared to those with FLI < 60 with an approximately 2 times higher need for statin therapy based on CVD risk prediction and their LDL cholesterol level. Subjects with a FLI ≥ 60 were more likely to be classified with type 2 diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), history of CVD and impaired renal function. Interestingly, estimated 10‐year very high cardiovascular risk was approximately 4 times higher in subjects with a NFS > 0.676 compared to those with the absence of advanced fibrosis. Finally, indication for statin treatment was positively associated with a FLI ≥ 60 after controlling for age, sex, current smoking, impaired renal function, and the presence of MetS and its individual components. The above results have an even greater relevance if we consider that all the subjects who were already on statin therapy were subtracted from the analysis. These findings may have an important clinical relevance and emphasize the need for effective treatment with statins in patients with NAFLD. Indeed, accumulating evidence suggests that CVD, rather than liver disease, dictates the outcomes in NAFLD.3 Besides, in most subjects NAFLD constitutes the hepatic component of MetS and numerous patients have atherogenic dyslipidemia. This study further supports the results of a previous study by our group where under prescription of statins in patients with NAFLD was observed.4 In fact, mild liver enzyme elevation remains a concern and despite its proven efficacy and safety,5 statin administration is sometimes limited by the worry about related side effects. Indeed, there is a tendency of general physicians to discourage statin use in patients with baseline elevation of serum liver enzymes and/ or to discontinue medication when minor alterations were appreciated. Of note, in our study, statin under‐use was high also in patients at very high CV risk such as those with a previous CV event. This study by van den Berg et al further stresses the issue of under prescription of statins in people with NAFLD and indication for treatment, based on CV risk class and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol target according to ESC/EAS guidelines

Note sull'evoluzione del diritto internazionale privato in chiave europea

National sovereignties have been eroded in the last decades. Domestic systems of conflict of laws are no exceptions. While contributing with some remarks on certain evolving processes that are affecting the private international law systems, this paper notes that within the EU \u2013 however fragmentary its legislation in the field of civil justice may be \u2013 the erosion of national competences follows as a matter of course. It then argues that the EU points to setting up a common space in which inter alia fundamental rights and mutual recognition play a major role. Thus, a supranational system of private international law is gradually being forged with the aim to ensure the continuity of legal relationships duly created in a Member State. As a result, domestic systems of private international law are deemed to become complementary in character. Their conceptualization as a kind of inter-local rules, the application of which cannot raise obstacles to the continuity principle, appears logically conceivable

«Occultis se notis et insignibus noscunt…» (Min. Fel. 9,1): der modius auf den römischen Loculusplatten

In diesem Beitrag sind wir den Darstellungen des Scheffells als Sinnbild, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der jenigen, die auf Loculusplatten vorkommen, nachgegangen.This article examines the representations of the modius as a symbol, with special consideration for those appearings on loculus’s slabs

Scheda di dimissione infermieristica in una Unità Operativa di Cardiochirurgia Pediatrica: uno strumento per facilitare il trasferimento tra le diverse realtà di cura o a domicilio

Nella mia realtà lavorativa, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, rispetto all’accoglienza e alla dimissione sono emerse delle criticità. Questi percorsi sono caratterizzati da iniziative frammentarie e non sistematiche, da una gestione discrezionale da parte del singolo operatore e da una dimissione infermieristica verbale e non strutturata. Emerge, quindi la necessità di iniziare un “Nuovo Percorso”. L'accoglienza come biglietto da visita che le strutture presentano all'utente e la Dimissione pianificata con l’implementazione della Scheda di dimissione Infermieristica (SDI). Il progetto prevede la condivisione di uno schema comunicativo (opuscoli, incontri programmati ), di un supporto di conoscenze e di un supporto psicologico ai pazienti con continuità assistenziale; prevede di fornire suggerimenti psico- educativi di immediata applicabilità, di fornire riferimenti utili per la convalescenza a casa, e di definire un set di informazioni cliniche ed assistenziali tra "chi invia e chi accoglie". Il progetto è stato realizzato da maggio ad agosto 2014, è stato sviluppato un database per l’analisi dei risultati. È stata elaborata e condivisa la SDI cartacea; è stata fatta un indagine conoscitiva, in Regione, sulla presenza o meno della SDI. Sono stati contattati i Dirigenti Infermieristici e le altre Cardiochirurgie Pediatriche Italiane. Le risposte non sono state soddisfacenti perché molti non hanno risposto all’intervista, criticità probabilmente legata al periodo estivo che, sempre, si presenta di difficile gestione. La diffusione in Azienda dovrà essere completata, comunque i primi risultati sono garanti di una risposta positiva. In futuro l’obiettivo potrebbe essere una SDI unica, almeno Regionale derivata dall’esperienza e dai bisogni dei vari Centri Toscani, che troveranno, nell’unico strumento in uso, un utile e valido aiuto a garanzia di un percorso e di una continuità assistenziale ormai molto complessa