Magnetic properties of the strongly interacting matter

We study the magnetic properties of the strongly interacting matter using Lattice QCD simulations. The QCD medium shows a paramagnetic behavior in the range of temperatures 100–400 MeV, with a sharp increase of the magnetic susceptibility above the deconfinement temperature. We expect a significant magnetic contribution to the pressure of the system in non-central heavy-ion collisions

CHIRON - A Fiber Fed Spectrometer for Precise Radial Velocities

The CHIRON optical high-resolution echelle spectrometer was commissioned at the 1.5m telescope at CTIO in 2011. The instrument was designed for high throughput and stability, with the goal of monitoring radial velocities of bright stars with high precision and high cadence for the discovery of low-mass exoplanets. Spectral resolution of R=79,000 is attained when using a slicer with a total (including telescope and detector) efficiency of 6% or higher, while a resolution of R=136,000 is available for bright stars. A fixed spectral range of 415 to 880 nm is covered. The echelle grating is housed in a vacuum enclosure and the instrument temperature is stabilized to +-0.2deg. Stable illumination is provided by an octagonal multimode fiber with excellent light-scrambling properties. An iodine cell is used for wavelength calibration. We describe the main optics, fiber feed, detector, exposure-meter, and other aspects of the instrument, as well as the observing procedure and data reduction.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures. Accepted by PAS

Anisotropy of the QQ potential in a magnetic field

We study how the static quark-antiquark potential for Nf = 2+1 QCD at the physical point gets modified by the presence of a constant and uniform magnetic field. We observe an anisotropy to appear in the potential: it gets steeper in the directions transverse to the magnetic field than in the longitudinal one. By comparing to the case with zero magnetic field, we show that the string tension increases (decreases) in the perpendicular (parallel) direction, while the absolute value of the Coulomb coupling and the Sommer parameter show the opposite behavior

Experimental results of a national technical assessment procedure on commercial FRP for structural strengthening: wet-lay-up systems

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Arsenic trioxide (ATO) and MEK1 inhibition synergize to induce apoptosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells

Recent studies suggest that components of the prosurvival signal transduction pathways involving the Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase ( MAPK) can confer an aggressive, apoptosis-resistant phenotype to leukemia cells. In this study, we report that acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells exploit the Ras-MAPK activation pathway to phosphorylate at Ser112 and to inactivate the proapoptotic protein Bad, delaying arsenic trioxide (ATO)-induced apoptosis. Both in APL cell line NB4 and in APL primary blasts, the inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and Bad phosphorylation by MEK1 inhibitors enhanced apoptosis in ATO-treated cells. We isolated an arsenic-resistant NB4 subline (NB4-As-R), which showed stronger ERK1/2 activity (2.7-fold increase) and Bad phosphorylation (2.4-fold increase) compared to parental NB4 cells in response to ATO treatment. Upon ATO exposure, both NB4 and NB4-As-R cell lines doubled protein levels of the death antagonist Bcl-xL, but the amount of free Bcl-xL that did not heterodimerize with Bad was 1.8-fold greater in NB4-As-R than in the parental line. MEK1 inhibitors dephosphorylated Bad and inhibited the ATO-induced increase of Bcl-xL, overcoming ATO resistance in NB4-As-R. These results may provide a rationale to develop combined or sequential MEK1 inhibitors plus ATO therapy in this clinical setting

Residual Strength and Durability of Glass fiber FRCM and CRM Systems Aged in Alkaline Environments

Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) and Composite Reinforced Mortar (CRM) systems are used as Externally Bonded Reinforcements (EBR) in civil and historical construction. These materials are made by fibrous reinforcement, in forms of dry (FRCM) or cured (CRM) meshes embedded in a cementitious/hydraulic lime matrix. At present, this technology is considered very promising in the field of structural strengthening, retrofitting and repair existing structures. This is true especially in those cases of masonry and historical buildings, due to the specific criteria of conservation and compatibility with the substrate that need to be fulfilled. These materials, in fact, results more compatible with masonry substrate because of the inorganic matrix, instead of polymeric resin used for the well-known FRP systems (Fiber Reinforced Polymers). The recent use of these new materials in civil engineering needs appropriate and complete guidelines, that regard not only the design aspects but also the durability features. This paper presents the results of a large experimental program focused on the durability of FRCM and CRM systems and their single components, in different alkaline environments. For the whole experimental campaign, the samples have been immersed into three different alkaline solutions, for four exposure times (500, 1000, 2000 and 3000 hrs). In addition, in order to study the different accelerating effects due to temperature, three different temperatures were maintained during the ageing periods: 23°C, 40°C and 70°C. The results about the mechanical characterization of residual properties are discussed in order to highlight the influence of alkaline environments on the mechanical properties of single elements and the whole strengthening systems that were tested herein

The thermal QCD transition with two flavours of twisted mass fermions

We investigate the thermal QCD transition with two flavors of maximally twisted mass fermions for a set of pion masses, 300 MeV \textless $m_\pi$ \textless 500 MeV, and lattice spacings $a$ \textless 0.09 fm. We determine the pseudo-critical temperatures and discuss their extrapolation to the chiral limit using scaling forms for different universality classes, as well as the scaling form for the magnetic equation of state. For all pion masses considered we find resonable consistency with O(4) scaling plus leading corrections. However, a true distinction between the O(4) scenario and a first order scenario in the chiral limit requires lighter pions than are currently in use in simulations of Wilson fermions.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figure

Adverse events in thyroid surgery: observational study in three surgical units with high volume/year

Background: Thyroid surgery, performed for benign or malignant pathologies, is one of the most frequently performed procedures and its frequency has even been increasing in recent years. Postoperative bleeding, recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy, associated to dysphonia, dysphagia, dyspnea, and hypoparathyroidism represent the most fearful and common complications. We conducted a multicenter, observational study of retrospectively collected data in three high-volume referral centers, enrolling all patients undergone to thyroid surgery between January 2016 and December 2017 in Parma University Hospital, Cagliari University Hospital and Ferrara University Hospital. Materials: Patients were divided into five groups, differentiated thyroid carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma, non-toxic benign pathology, hyperfunctioning benign pathology and NIFTP (Non-invasive Follicular Thyroid neoplasm with Papillary-like nuclear features). A follow up at 7 and 30 days was executed, evaluating the onset of paresthesia, dysphonia and dysphagia. A 6-month follow-up was conducted in cases of early complications. Results: Totally, 1252 patients were eligible for the study: 907 female and 345 male, with a female to male ratio of 2.6:1 and an average age of 53.428. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 1022 cases, lobectomy in 230. After 6 months we recorded paresthesia in 0.5%, dysphonia in 1.8% and dysphagia in 0.5%. Conclusion: Our study confirms once again that a share of morbidity escapes the possibilities of prediction and control by the operator, depending on patient anamnestic, pathological or anatomical factors

Analisi dei parametri emogasanalitici e dell'equilibrio acido-base nell'operato toracico

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Motivazione lavorativa e stress del caregiver formale in RSA

Il benessere del caregiver ha un notevol impatto nella gestione del soggetto anziano ricoverato in strutture di lungodegenza.Un questionario anonimo somministrato 51 caregiver formali valutando il livello di stress. I risultati permetternno di valutare quali problematiche possono ridurre lo stress e miglirare l'assistenzaObjective. Well-being of professional caregivers has a profound impact on the management of elderly patients in nursing homes. Aim of this paper is to investigate how potentially stressful situations affect workers of facilities for dependent patients. Methods. Fifty-one professional caregivers (15 SRN and 36 NA), of three small institutions of the Fondazione Istituto Sacra Famiglia in Cesano Boscone (MI) Italy, were involved in the study. Data were collected according to the privacy norms and using an anonymous questionnaire including socio-demographic information, the Nursing Stress Scale and the Rosemberg' Self-esteem Scale. Work loads were quantified using the Barthel Index and the NeuroPsychiatric Inventory. Student's t-test, ANOVA and Bonferroni's post hoc test were used for statistical analysis. Results. The average level of perceived stress is not high (NSS mean score 37,5 \ub1 13,4), and is directly related to work loads, to death management and to lack of support; the highest stress levels are registered in the Alzheimers' Unit. Self-esteem score is rather high (RSS score 57,1 \ub1 8,6), but significantly lower in the group working with mentally impaired patients (p < 0,001). Professional caregi-vers with children show a lower vulnerability to stress and towards conflicts in the working environment, paralleled by a higher self-esteem compared to their colleagues without children. Conclusions. The knowledge of stress determinants can help planning preventive interventions and strategies in order to avoid stress and promote better living conditions for both caregivers and patients in nursing homes