3,228 research outputs found

    The fate of high-redshift massive compact galaxies

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    Massive high-redshift quiescent compact galaxies (nicknamed red nuggets) have been traditionally connected to present-day elliptical galaxies, often overlooking the relationships that they may have with other galaxy types. We use large bulge–disc decomposition catalogues based on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to check the hypothesis that red nuggets have survived as compact cores embedded inside the haloes or discs of present-day massive galaxies. In this study, we designate a compact core as the bulge component that satisfies a prescribed compactness criterion. Photometric and dynamic mass–size and mass–density relations are used to show that, in the inner regions of galaxies at z ∼ 0.1, there are abundant compact cores matching the peculiar properties of the red nuggets, an abundance comparable to that of red nuggets at z ∼ 1.5. Furthermore, the morphology distribution of the present-day galaxies hosting compact cores is used to demonstrate that, in addition to the standard channel connecting red nuggets with elliptical galaxies, a comparable fraction of red nuggets might have ended up embedded in discs. This result generalizes the inside-out formation scenario; present-day massive galaxies can begin as dense spheroidal cores (red nuggets), around which either a spheroidal halo or a disc is formed later

    Andreev reflection in the fractional quantum Hall effect

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    We study the reflection of electrons and quasiparticles on point-contact interfaces between fractional quantum Hall (FQH) states and normal metals (leads), as well as interfaces between two FQH states with mismatched filling fractions. We classify the processes taking place at the interface in the strong coupling limit. In this regime a set of quasiparticles can decay into quasiholes on the FQH side and charge excitations on the other side of the junction. This process is analogous to an Andreev reflection in normal-metal/superconductor (N-S) interfaces.Comment: 10 pages, 5 embedded EPS figures. Final version as published in Phys. Rev. B 56, 2012 (1997

    The archaeological record from gruta El Manzano and their implicances for Nodpatagonia archaeology

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    En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de los análisis realizados sobre los materiales del sitio arqueológico Gruta de El Manzano, localizado sobre el río Grande, en el Departamento de Malargüe, al sur de la provincia de Mendoza. Utilizando la información generada, se discuten aspectos de la funcionalidad del sitio, los cambios a través del tiempo y se destaca su importancia para la discusión de los temas de la arqueología del norte de Patagonia. Los recientes fechados radiocarbónicos ubican al inicio de las ocupaciones en más de 8.000 años AP y confirman la existencia del hiatus regional para el Holoceno medio. Los materiales analizados muestran importantes cambios en las tendencias de los mismos, especialmente hacia la segunda mitad del Holoceno tardío, donde los diferentes indicadores sugieren diferencias en relación a la movilidad, el uso de la fauna, los recursos vegetales y la incorporación de tecnología cerámica.In this paper we present the results of the analysis carried out with the materials from Gruta de El Manzano archaeological site, located beside Grande River, in Malargüe, southern Mendoza province. Using the new information, we discuss the site function, changes trough time, and remark his importance for the northern Patagonia discussion. The last radiocarbon data place the beginning of the occupation in more than 8.000 years BP and confirm the existence of the mid Holocene regional hiatus. The analiced materials shows important changes in their tendencies, especially during the second half of the late Holocene, were different lines of evidencies suggest changes in relation to the mobility, the use of animal and plant resources and the incorporation of pottery technology.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

    The archaeological record from gruta El Manzano and their implicances for Nodpatagonia archaeology

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    En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de los análisis realizados sobre los materiales del sitio arqueológico Gruta de El Manzano, localizado sobre el río Grande, en el Departamento de Malargüe, al sur de la provincia de Mendoza. Utilizando la información generada, se discuten aspectos de la funcionalidad del sitio, los cambios a través del tiempo y se destaca su importancia para la discusión de los temas de la arqueología del norte de Patagonia. Los recientes fechados radiocarbónicos ubican al inicio de las ocupaciones en más de 8.000 años AP y confirman la existencia del hiatus regional para el Holoceno medio. Los materiales analizados muestran importantes cambios en las tendencias de los mismos, especialmente hacia la segunda mitad del Holoceno tardío, donde los diferentes indicadores sugieren diferencias en relación a la movilidad, el uso de la fauna, los recursos vegetales y la incorporación de tecnología cerámica.In this paper we present the results of the analysis carried out with the materials from Gruta de El Manzano archaeological site, located beside Grande River, in Malargüe, southern Mendoza province. Using the new information, we discuss the site function, changes trough time, and remark his importance for the northern Patagonia discussion. The last radiocarbon data place the beginning of the occupation in more than 8.000 years BP and confirm the existence of the mid Holocene regional hiatus. The analiced materials shows important changes in their tendencies, especially during the second half of the late Holocene, were different lines of evidencies suggest changes in relation to the mobility, the use of animal and plant resources and the incorporation of pottery technology.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

    Nomenclature for renal replacement therapy and blood purification techniques in critically ill patients: practical applications

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    This article reports the conclusions of the second part of a consensus expert conference on the nomenclature of renal replacement therapy (RRT) techniques currently utilized to manage acute kidney injury and other organ dysfunction syndromes in critically ill patients. A multidisciplinary approach was taken to achieve harmonization of definitions, components, techniques, and operations of the extracorporeal therapies. The article describes the RRT techniques in detail with the relevant technology, procedures, and phases of treatment and key aspects of volume management/fluid balance in critically ill patients. In addition, the article describes recent developments in other extracorporeal therapies, including therapeutic plasma exchange, multiple organ support therapy, liver support, lung support, and blood purification in sepsis. This is a consensus report on nomenclature harmonization in extracorporeal blood purification therapies, such as hemofiltration, plasma exchange, multiple organ support therapies, and blood purification in sepsis

    Role of continuous glucose monitoring in diabetic patients at high cardiovascular risk. an expert-based multidisciplinary delphi consensus

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    Background: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) shows in more detail the glycaemic pattern of diabetic subjects and provides several new parameters (“glucometrics”) to assess patients’ glycaemia and consensually guide treatment. A better control of glucose levels might result in improvement of clinical outcome and reduce disease complications. This study aimed to gather an expert consensus on the clinical and prognostic use of CGM in diabetic patients at high cardiovascular risk or with heart disease. Methods: A list of 22 statements concerning type of patients who can benefit from CGM, prognostic impact of CGM in diabetic patients with heart disease, CGM use during acute cardiovascular events and educational issues of CGM were developed. Using a two-round Delphi methodology, the survey was distributed online to 42 Italian experts (21 diabetologists and 21 cardiologists) who rated their level of agreement with each statement on a 5-point Likert scale. Consensus was predefined as more than 66% of the panel agreeing/disagreeing with any given statement. Results: Forty experts (95%) answered the survey. Every statement achieved a positive consensus. In particular, the panel expressed the feeling that CGM can be prognostically relevant for every diabetic patient (70%) and that is clinically useful also in the management of those with type 2 diabetes not treated with insulin (87.5%). The assessment of time in range (TIR), glycaemic variability (GV) and hypoglycaemic/hyperglycaemic episodes were considered relevant in the management of diabetic patients with heart disease (92.5% for TIR, 95% for GV, 97.5% for time spent in hypoglycaemia) and can improve the prognosis of those with ischaemic heart disease (100% for hypoglycaemia, 90% for hyperglycaemia) or with heart failure (87.5% for hypoglycaemia, 85% for TIR, 87.5% for GV). The experts retained that CGM can be used and can impact the short- and long-term prognosis during an acute cardiovascular event. Lastly, CGM has a recognized educational role for diabetic subjects. Conclusions: According to this Delphi consensus, the clinical and prognostic use of CGM in diabetic patients at high cardiovascular risk is promising and deserves dedicated studies to confirm the experts’ feeling

    Long-term effectiveness of natalizumab in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: A propensity-matched study

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    treatment options for secondary progressive MS (SPMS) are limited, especially considering that the new drugs recently approved are licensed for actively relapsing patients. we aimed to compare the disability progression in a real-world cohort of SPMS patients treated with natalizumab (NTZ) or interferon beta-1b (IFNb-1b). this multicenter retrospective enrolled patients with a diagnosis of SPMS according to 2014 Lublin criteria, who received NTZ or IFNb-1b for at least 48 months between the 1st june 2012 and the 15th may 2018 ​at 33 Italian MS centers contributing to the Italian MS registry NTZ or IFNb-1b. confirmed expanded disability status scale worsening (CEW) and progression independent of relapse (PIRA) were evaluated. In order to correct for non-randomization, a propensity score matching of the groups was performed. out of 5206 MS patients identified at the time of data extraction, 421 SPMS patients treated with NTZ (224 [53.2%] females, mean age 45.3 ​± ​25.4 years) and 353 with IFNb-1b (133 [37.8%] females, mean age 48.5 ​± ​19.8 years) were enrolled. after applying the matching procedure, 102 patients were retained in the NTZ group and 98 in the IFNb-2b group. the proportion of patients who reached the 48-month 1-point CEW was significantly higher in IFNb-1b compared to NTZ group (58.2% versus 30.4%, p ​= ​0.01). the proportion of patients who developed PIRA at 48 months were significantly higher in IFNb-1b compared to NTZ (72.4% versus 40.2%, p ​= ​0.01). EDSS before treatment initiation and SPMS duration were risk factors for disability progression in terms of PIRA (HR 2.54, 25%CI 1.67-5.7; p ​= ​0.006 and HR 2.04, 25%CI 1.22-3.35; p ​= ​0.01, respectively). patients treated with IFNb-1b were 1.64 times more to likely to develop PIRA (HR 1.64, 25%CI 1.04-4.87; p ​= ​0.001). treatment with NTZ in SPMS patients showed more favorable disability outcomes compared to IFNb-1b with beneficial effects over 48 months

    Lung adenocarcinoma originates from retrovirus infection of proliferating type 2 pneumocytes during pulmonary post-natal development or tissue repair

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    Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) is a unique oncogenic virus with distinctive biological properties. JSRV is the only virus causing a naturally occurring lung cancer (ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma, OPA) and possessing a major structural protein that functions as a dominant oncoprotein. Lung cancer is the major cause of death among cancer patients. OPA can be an extremely useful animal model in order to identify the cells originating lung adenocarcinoma and to study the early events of pulmonary carcinogenesis. In this study, we demonstrated that lung adenocarcinoma in sheep originates from infection and transformation of proliferating type 2 pneumocytes (termed here lung alveolar proliferating cells, LAPCs). We excluded that OPA originates from a bronchioalveolar stem cell, or from mature post-mitotic type 2 pneumocytes or from either proliferating or non-proliferating Clara cells. We show that young animals possess abundant LAPCs and are highly susceptible to JSRV infection and transformation. On the contrary, healthy adult sheep, which are normally resistant to experimental OPA induction, exhibit a relatively low number of LAPCs and are resistant to JSRV infection of the respiratory epithelium. Importantly, induction of lung injury increased dramatically the number of LAPCs in adult sheep and rendered these animals fully susceptible to JSRV infection and transformation. Furthermore, we show that JSRV preferentially infects actively dividing cell in vitro. Overall, our study provides unique insights into pulmonary biology and carcinogenesis and suggests that JSRV and its host have reached an evolutionary equilibrium in which productive infection (and transformation) can occur only in cells that are scarce for most of the lifespan of the sheep. Our data also indicate that, at least in this model, inflammation can predispose to retroviral infection and cancer

    YY1 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis and metastasis-free survival in patients suffering osteosarcoma

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The polycomb transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) overexpression can be causally implicated in experimental tumor growth and metastasization. To date, there is no clinical evidence of YY1 involvement in outcome of patients with osteosarcoma. Prognosis of osteosarcoma is still severe and only few patients survive beyond five years. We performed a prospective immunohistochemistry analysis to correlate YY1 immunostaining with metastatic development and survival in a selected homogeneous group of patients with osteosarcoma.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied 41 patients suffering from osteosarcoma (stage II-IVa). Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazard regression to evaluate the correlation between YY1 expression and both metastasis development and mortality.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>YY1 protein is not usually present in normal bone; in contrast, a high number of patients (61%) showed a high score of YY1 positive cells (51-100%) and 39% had a low score (10-50% positive cells). No statistical difference was found in histology, anatomic sites, or response to chemotherapy between the two degrees of YY1 expression. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the highest score of YY1 expression was predictive of both low metastasis-free survival (HR = 4.690, 95%CI = 1.079-20.396; p = 0.039) and poor overall survival (HR = 8.353, 95%CI = 1.863-37.451 p = 0.006) regardless of the effects of covariates such as age, gender, histology and chemonecrosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Overexpression of YY1 in primary site of osteosarcoma is associated with the occurrence of metastasis and poor clinical outcome.</p
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