Swift/XRT- NuSTAR spectra of type 1 AGN]{Swift/XRT- NuSTAR spectra of type 1 AGN: confirming INTEGRAL results on the high energy cut-off

We present the 0.5 - 78 keV spectral analysis of 18 broad line AGN belonging to the INTEGRAL complete sample. Using simultaneous Swift-XRT and NuSTAR observations and employing a simple phenomenological model to fit the data, we measure with a good constraint the high energy cut-off in 13 sources, while we place lower limits on 5 objects. We found a mean high-energy cut-off of 111 keV (standard deviation = 45 keV) for the whole sample, in perfect agreement with what found in our previous work using non simultaneous observations and with what recently published using NuSTAR data. This work suggests that simultaneity of the observations in the soft and hard X-ray band is important but not always essential, especially if flux and spectral variability are properly accounted for. A lesser agreement is found when we compare our cut-off measurements with the ones obtained by Ricci et al. (2017) using Swift-BAT high energy data, finding that their values are systematically higher than ours. We have investigated whether a linear correlation exists between photon index and the cut-off and found a weak one, probably to be ascribed to the non perfect modelling of the soft part of the spectra, due to the poor statistical quality of the 2-10 keV X-ray data. No correlation is also found between the Eddington ratio and the cut-off, suggesting that only using high statistical quality broad-band spectra is it possible to verify the theoretical predictions and study the physical characteristics of the hot corona and its geometry.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ

2nd EFAST Workshop, Reliable Testing of Seismic Performance

The EFAST project consisted of a design study of a new major seismic testing facility in Europe that will be comparable with important testing installations that are now working or under construction in Japan, U.S.A., China and Taiwan. The presentations by invited experts during the 2nd EFAST Workshop, which was held by the end of the project, emphasized the basic idea that experiments are necessary because reliable engineering cannot still rely only on numerical predictions. The relation between the experimental research and the improvements of the buildings codes in the last decades has also suggested that a consistent experimental activity is fundamental for properly understanding and predicting the real behaviour of complex structural elements. Today in many fields, as in the assessment of nuclear facilities for example, more reliability is required in order to increase the safety, which leads to a newer impulse for experimental testing of components, subsystems, soil-structure interaction effects and so on. The necessity and characteristics of the available testing methods was reviewed with up-to-date examples and studies on aspects such as shaking table, pseudo-dynamic and hybrid testing methods, centrifuge facilities, scale models, soil-structure interaction, control strategies and performance. Within the EFAST design study as it was presented, several solutions are proposed for the future experimental facility, among which the reference one is a laboratory composed, mainly, of a high performance shaking table array and a reaction structure where both traditional (pseudo-static/dynamic) and innovative testing techniques (e.g. real time hybrid testing) can be applied and combined. These shaking tables can be moved in the trench and can be also rigidly coupled between them, if necessary. A large SDOF shaking table for geotechnical studies is also foreseen in such solution. The discussion of the different solutions covered aspects such as costs (including safety, maintenance and operation), demand of experiments, flexibility and performance among others.JRC.G.5-European laboratory for structural assessmen

Preliminary Report to ESFRI Roadmap for the new Research Infrastructure EFAST

The present report provides information useful for the preparation of the application of the new Research Infrastructure EFAST to the ESFRI roadmap. A brief introduction about the EFAST project and the ESFRI open the document. Two sections follow: the first one is devoted to identify the main need in Earthquake Engineering, the second one deals with the current and future testing technologies all around the world. The proposed concept of the EFAST testing facility is then described and the main strategic values are illustrated. Economic aspects about its realisation and the positive fall down on European economy are also discussed. A section dedicated to the impact of EFAST on the scientific community and, more generally, on the whole society conclude the report.JRC.G.5-European laboratory for structural assessmen

“Otras voces, otros ámbitos”: los sujetos y su entorno. Nuevas perspectivas de la historia sociocultural

Este libro recoge las aportaciones de los investigadores presentadas al IV Encuentro de Jóvenes Investigadores en Historia Contemporánea que tuvo lugar en Valencia en septiembre de 2013

Unmet needs in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis―insights from patient chart review in five European countries

Background: Two antifibrotic drugs, pirfenidone and nintedanib, are approved by the European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In this analysis, treatment patterns of European patients with IPF were investigated to understand antifibrotic prescribing and identify unmet needs in IPF treatment practice. Methods: Between February and March 2016, respiratory physicians from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK participated in an online questionnaire designed to collect information on IPF treatment patterns in patients under their care. Patients were categorized as treated (received approved antifibrotics) or untreated (did not receive approved antifibrotics, but may have received other unapproved therapies). Classification of IPF diagnosis (confirmed/suspected) and severity ('mild'/'moderate'/'severe') for each patient was based on the individual physician's report. Patients' perspectives were not recorded in this study. Results: In total, 290 physicians responded to the questionnaire. Overall, 54% of patients with IPF did not receive treatment with an approved antifibrotic. More patients had a confirmed IPF diagnosis in the treated (84%) versus the untreated (51%) population. Of patients with a confirmed diagnosis, 40% did not receive treatment. The treated population was younger than the untreated population (67 vs 70 years, respectively; p = 0.01), with more frequent multidisciplinary team evaluation (83% vs 57%, respectively; p = 0.01). A higher proportion of untreated patients had forced vital capacity > 80% at diagnosis versus treated patients. Of patients with 'mild' IPF, 71% did not receive an approved antifibrotic versus 41% and 60% of patients with 'moderate' and 'severe' IPF, respectively. Conclusions: Despite the availability of antifibrotic therapies, many European patients with confirmed IPF do not receive approved antifibrotic treatment. Importantly, there appears to be a reluctance to treat patients with 'mild' or 'stable' disease, and instead adopt a 'watch and wait' approach. More education is required to address diagnostic uncertainty, poor understanding of IPF and its treatments, and issues of treatment access. There is a need to increase physician awareness of the benefits associated with antifibrotic treatment across the spectrum of IPF severity

EFAST Inquiry

This report contains a detailed description of the inquiry activities conducted in the framework of the EFAST project. EFAST (Design Study of a European Facility for Advanced Seismic Testing) is a joint project financed by the European Commission that foresees the study of all the aspects regarding the design of a major testing facility in Europe that would complement and collaborate with the existing ones. This study aims at identifying the current and future needs in the field, and proposes the concept of a facility using the best available testing technologies. As a preliminary step, it is very important to know the actual testing capabilities all around the world and the needs of the earthquake community, especially in Europe. The inquiry targeted three different kinds of entities: 1. seismic testing laboratories; 2. nuclear energy and chemical industry industries; 3. construction companies. Three different sets of questions and three lists of contact persons were prepared. Each contact received a personal link to access to the inquiry to be completed directly on the web. The inquiry form was very user friendly and could be completed in several step, then submitted to the database. The data were imported into a spreadsheet and analysed. Each question is here reported and the obtained answers are elaborated into graphics. The aggregation and interpretation of the obtained answers suggested some conclusions. For Seismic testing laboratories we obtained that, as regards the maximum weight, length, width and height, often the upper values are for Reaction Walls (RW) facilities and the lower values for Shaking Tables (ST) facilities. Only some facilities cannot perform tests in the transversal and the vertical direction. In spite of the available capabilities, most of the times the tested specimens are light, small in length and height and tested with small displacements amplitude. Even if there is a wide possibility for multi-axial tests, only a few tests were performed in the past with vertical or lateral displacements. Asynchronous multiple-support excitation, multidirectional excitation, substructuring techniques, inter-facility distributed testing and telepresence are not yet common practices even if there are some laboratories which have already started to apply them. Looking at the nuclear energy, chemical and construction companies, it comes that the seismic risk is very important for most of the respondents, probably also because most of the interviewed are directly involved in seismic activities. There is a high demand for large scale tests, but only a few ones were performed in the last years. ST is more used for equipments than for main structures. PSD is more used for main structures than for equipments. The main problem is cost, but also the lack in the current capability of the testing facilities is a reason why seismic testing is not used more often. Maybe there is also a lack of accessibility. Interviewed said that tests should have the dual role of improving the research and to serve as demonstrative projects.JRC.G.5-European laboratory for structural assessmen

Interaction between Sulfate and Selenate in Tetraploid Wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) Genotypes

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient of fundamental importance to human health and the main Se source is from plant-derived foods. Plants mainly take up Se as selenate (SeO42−), through the root sulfate transport system, because of their chemical similarity. The aims of this study were (1) to characterize the interaction between Se and S during the root uptake process, by measuring the expression of genes coding for high-affinity sulfate transporters and (2) to explore the possibility of increasing plant capability to take up Se by modulating S availability in the growth medium. We selected different tetraploid wheat genotypes as model plants, including a modern genotype, Svevo (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum), and three ancient Khorasan wheats, Kamut, Turanicum 21, and Etrusco (Triticum turgidum ssp. turanicum). The plants were cultivated hydroponically for 20 days in the presence of two sulfate levels, adequate (S = 1.2 mM) and limiting (L = 0.06 mM), and three selenate levels (0, 10, 50 μM). Our findings clearly showed the differential expression of genes encoding the two high-affinity transporters (TdSultr1.1 and TdSultr1.3), which are involved in the primary uptake of sulfate from the rhizosphere. Interestingly, Se accumulation in shoots was higher when S was limited in the nutrient solution

Impatto dell'epidemia di COVID-19 sulla salute mentale degli infermieri di Terapia Intensiva. Uno studio multicentrico Italiano

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate variations in ICU nurses ' mental health status over the COVID-19 outbreak by quantifying the extent of symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD over time. Methods: This study was an Italian multicenter prospective cohort study assessing caseness of anxiety, depression and PTSD at 6 and 12 months from the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. Results: A total of 359 nurses, 233 (64.9%) were males and 126 (35.1%) were females were enrolled. At 6 months the caseness prevalence for anxiety, depression and PTSD were 31.3%, 32.1% and 18.7% respectively. At 12 months the caseness prevalence for anxiety, depression and PTSD were 34.8%, 36.4% and 24.1 % respectively. No statistically significant increase between 6 and 12 months was recorded for the caseness prevalence anxiety (p= .29) and depression (p= .19). However, an increase for the caseness prevalence PTSD at 12 months was observed (p= .049). The significant risk factors for the 221 patients with at least one disorders were age 31-40 (RR= 1.44, IC= 1.25-1.89; p < .001), female gender (RR= 1.31, IC= 1.02-1.51; p=. 042) and had 0-5 years of professional experience (RR= 1.36, IC= 1.02-1.63; p = .031). Conclusion: The results of our study may provide support for the implementation of some interventions for well-being in COVID-19 outbreak condition. Key words: Anxiety, Depression, Post-Traumatic stress disorder, Covid-19, Nurses, Mental health.Scopo: Lo scopo di questo studio era valutare le variazioni dello stato di salute mentale degli infermieri in terapia intensiva durante l'epidemia di COVID-19 quantificando l'entità dei sintomi di depressione, ansia e PTSD nel tempo. Metodi: Si tratta di uno studio di coorte prospettico multicentrico italiano che ha valutato la presenza di di ansia, depressione e PTSD a 6 e 12 mesi dall'inizio dell'epidemia di COVID-19. Risultati: Sono stati arruolati un totale di 359 infermieri, 233 (64.9%) uomini e 126 (35.1%) donne. A 6 mesi dall’inizio della pandemia, la prevalenza di disturbi di ansia, depressione e disturbo da stress post-traumatico era rispettivamente del 31.3%, 32.1% e 18.7%. A 12 mesi la prevalenza per ansia, depressione e PTSD era rispettivamente del 34.8%, 36.4% e 24.1%. Nessun aumento statisticamente significativo tra 6 e 12 mesi è stato registrato per l’ansia (p = .29) o la depressione (p = .19). Tuttavia, è stato osservato un aumento del disturbo da stress post-traumatico a 12 mesi (p = .049). I fattori di rischio significativi per i 221 pazienti con almeno un disturbo, erano un età di 31-40 (RR = 1.44, IC = 1.25-1.89; p < .001), sesso femminile (RR = 1.31, IC = 1.02-1.51; p = .042) e avere un esperienza professionale di 0-5 anni (RR = 1.36, IC = 1.02-1.63; p = .031). Conclusioni: I risultati del nostro studio possono fornire supporto per l'implementazione di alcuni interventi per il benessere lavorativo nella condizione di epidemia di COVID-19. Parole chiave: Ansia, depressione, disturbo da stress post-traumatico, Coronavirus, Infermieri, salute mentale

Research highlights from the 2018 ERS International Congress: interstitial lung diseases

This article reviews a selection of the scientific presentations on interstitial lung disease (ILD)/diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) that were made at the 2018 European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress in Paris. A number of advances in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of these disorders were presented and discussed by clinicians and researchers. The research topics span over all four groups of ERS Assembly 12: Interstitial Lung Diseases (Group 12.01: Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias; Group 12.02: ILD/DPLD of known origin; Group 12.03: Sarcoidosis and other granulomatous ILD/DPLD; Group 12.04: Rare ILD/DPLD)