What is the probability that a random integral quadratic form in nn variables has an integral zero?

We show that the density of quadratic forms in $n$ variables over $\mathbb Z_p$ that are isotropic is a rational function of $p$, where the rational function is independent of $p$, and we determine this rational function explicitly. When real quadratic forms in $n$ variables are distributed according to the Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble (GOE) of random matrix theory, we determine explicitly the probability that a random such real quadratic form is isotropic (i.e., indefinite). As a consequence, for each $n$, we determine an exact expression for the probability that a random integral quadratic form in $n$ variables is isotropic (i.e., has a nontrivial zero over $\mathbb Z$), when these integral quadratic forms are chosen according to the GOE distribution. In particular, we find an exact expression for the probability that a random integral quaternary quadratic form has an integral zero; numerically, this probability is approximately $98.3\%$.Comment: 17 pages. This article supercedes arXiv:1311.554

Familial hypercholesterolemia in cardiac rehabilitation: a new field of interest

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a frequently undiagnosed genetic disease characterized by substantial elevations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The prevalence of heterozygous FH (HeFH) in the general population is 1:500 inhabitants, while the prevalence of homozygous FH (HoFH) is 1:1,000,000. If FH is not identified and aggressively treated at an early age, affected individuals have a 20-fold increased lifetime risk of coronary heart disease compared with the general population. This narrative review provide a concise overview of recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of adults and children with FH, and discuss the utility of considering FH as a comorbidity at the entry of cardiac rehabilitation programme

Photoluminescence, photoabsorption and photoemission studies of hydrazone thin film used as hole transporting material in OLEDs

A fotoluminescência de filmes finos de 1-(3-metilfenil)-1,2,3,4-tetrahidroquinolina-6-carboxialdeído-1,1’-difenilhidrazona foi monitorada em função da irradiação com luz UV. A intensidade da emissão decresce exponencialmente com o tempo de exposição, sugerindo degradação das amostras. Com o objetivo de investigar os mecanismos de degradação e determinar a estrutura eletrônica desse material orgânico usado com sucesso como camada transportadora de buracos na fabricação de diodos orgânicos emissores de luz (OLEDs), foram empregadas as técnicas de fotoabsorção e de fotoemissão nas bordas 1s do carbono e do nitrogênio bem como na banda de valência. A influência da luz solar foi simulada usando radiação síncrotron não-monocromática. Após exposição, todos os espectros apresentam um decréscimo nos sinais de fotoabsorção e de fotoemissão, que é menos acentuado na borda do carbono, apresentando, entretanto, um decréscimo drástico na borda do nitrogênio e na região de valência. O estudo sugere que a perda de nitrogênio é a principal causa para a quebra do sistema π, levando, dessa forma, à falha do dispositivo fabricado com esse composto.Photoluminescence (PL) emission of 1-(3-methylphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-6-carboxyaldehyde-1,1’-diphenylhydrazone (MTCD) thin films was monitored as a function of UV irradiation, and it was found to decrease exponentially with the exposure time. In order to gain insight into the degradation mechanisms and evaluate the electronic structure of this organic material used with good results as hole transporting layer (HTL) in the fabrication of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), synchrotron radiation-based photoabsorption and photoemission techniques at the carbon and nitrogen 1s edges as well as at the valence band were employed. The influence of sunlight was simulated using non-monochromatized synchrotron radiation. After exposure all the spectra show a decrease of the photoabsorption and photoemission signals, however, while it is less accentuated at the carbon edge, at the nitrogen edge and at the valence region it decreases drastically. The loss of nitrogen is suggested to be the main step in the disruption of the π system, leading to the failure of the devices fabricated with this compound as hole transporting layer

On the complexity of the boundary layer structure and aerosol vertical distribution in the coastal Mediterranean regions: a case study

The planetary boundary layer structure in the coastal areas, and particularly in complex orography regions such as the Mediterranean, is extremely intricate. In this study, we show the evolution of the planetary boundary layer based on in situ airborne measurements and ground-based remote sensing observations carried out during the MORE (Marine Ozone and Radiation Experiment) campaign in June 2010. The campaign was held in a rural coastal Mediterranean region in Southern Italy. The study focuses on the observations made on 17 June. Vertical profiles of meteorological parameters and aerosol size distribution were measured during two flights: in the morning and in the afternoon. Airborne observations were combined with ground-based LIDAR, SODAR, microwave and visible radiometer measurements, allowing a detailed description of the atmospheric vertical structure. The analysis was complemented with data from a regional atmospheric model run with horizontal resolutions of 12, 4 and 1 km, respectively; back-trajectories were calculated at these spatial resolutions. The observations show the simultaneous occurrence of dust transport, descent of mid-tropospheric air and sea breeze circulation on 17 June. Local pollution effects on the aerosol distribution, and a possible event of new particles formation were also observed. A large variability in the thermodynamical structure and aerosol distribution in the flight region, extending by approximately 30km along the coast, was found. Within this complex, environment-relevant differences in the back-trajectories calculated at different spatial resolutions are found, suggesting that the description of several dynamical processes, and in particular the sea breeze circulation, requires high-resolution meteorological analyses. The study also shows that the integration of different observational techniques is needed to describe these complex conditions; in particular, the availability of flights and their timing with respect to the occurring phenomena are crucial

Adult cystic fibrosis care in the 21st century

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive inherited disease of Caucasian populations. As a result of a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies there has been a dramatic increase in the life expectancy of patients with CF in the last decades and 50% of patients are now adults. This review will focus on the disease in adults and the provision of appropriate care. The complex care required to improve the survival and quality of life in the adult patients can best be provided in a dedicated adult cystic fibrosis unit. These units currently exist in many European countries, but more are needed in Italy

Tetracyclines in COVID-19 patients quarantined at home: Literature evidence supporting real-world data from a multicenter observational study targeting inflammatory and infectious dermatoses

Tetracyclines (TetraC) are widely used in dermatology for both inflammatory and infectious dermatoses; recently both in vivo and in vitro studies started to suggest also a potential antiviral effect. During COVID-19 outbreak, several dermatological patients contracted SARS-CoV-2 experiencing only mild symptoms, but no protocol were approved. A multicenter prospective observational study that enrolled COVID-19 patients visited with teledermatology and undergoing TetraC was performed. About 38 adult outpatients (M/F: 20/18, age 42.6 years [21-67]) were enrolled. During the TetraC treatment, symptoms resolved in all patients within 10 days. Remarkably, ageusia and anosmia disappeared in the first week of TetraC treatment. TetraC seem a promising drug to treat COVID-19 outpatients with mild symptoms

Exhaled nitric oxide in patients with PiZZ Phenotype-related α 1-anti-trypsin deficiency

AbstractThere is no report of exhaled NO (eNO) in subjects with different phenotypes ofα1 -anti-trypsin (AAT) deficiency.Exhaled nitric oxide was evaluated by means of single-breath chemiluminescence analysis (fractional exhaled concentration at the plateau level [plFENO]) in 40 patients with AAT deficiency. Patients were divided according to the protease inhibitor (Pi) phenotype: PiMZ/MS, n=25; PiSZ n=6; PiZZ, n=9. Nineteen healthy subjects served as controls. Levels of eNO in PiZZ patients were also compared with those of subjects, without AAT deficiency (PiMM), matched for diagnosis, sex, age, smoking habit and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1). In AAT deficiency subjects airway hyper-responsiveness to methacholine (PD20FEV1) was also assessed.plFENOwas significantly lower in the PiZZ group (4·5±1·4 ppb) than in matched PiMM subjects (8·2±3·8 ppb), in healthy controls (9·3±2·8 ppb) and in patients of other phenotypes. Dynamic lung volumes and DLCOwere significantly lower in PiZZ than in other AAT-deficient patients. Bronchial hyper-responsiveness was not different among AAT phenotypes.These results suggest that eNO may be significantly reduced in PiZZ as compared to healthy control subjects and to AAT subjects with other phenotypes, independent of the level of airway obstruction. Whether, at least potentially, eNO may be considered as an early marker of lung involvement in AAT deficiency must be confirmed with studies on larger number of subjects

Typical and atypical COVID-19 computed tomography findings

In December 2019 a novel coronavirus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was identified and the disease associated was named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Fever, cough, myalgia, fatigue associated to dyspnea represent most common clinical symptoms of the disease. The reference standard for diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection is real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction test applied on respiratory tract specimens. Despite of lower specificity, chest computed tomography (CT), as reported in manifold scientific studies, showed high sensitivity, therefore it may help in the early detection, management and follow-up of COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients affected by COVID-19 pneumonia usually showed on chest CT some typical features, such as: Bilateral ground glass opacities characterized by multilobe involvement with posterior and peripheral distribution; parenchymal consolidations with or without air bronchogram; interlobular septal thickening; crazy paving pattern, represented by interlobular and intralobular septal thickening surrounded by ground-glass opacities; subsegmental pulmonary vessels enlargement (> 3 mm). Halo sign, reversed halo sign, cavitation and pleural or pericardial effusion represent some of atypical findings of COVID-19 pneumonia. On the other hand lymphadenopathy's and bronchiectasis' frequency is unclear, indeed conflicting data emerged in literature. Radiologists play a key role in recognition of high suspicious findings of COVID-19 on chest CT, both typical and atypical ones. Thus, the aim of this review is to illustrate typical and atypical CT findings of COVID-19