Distinguishing between dark-matter interactions with gravitational-wave detectors

Ground-based gravitational-wave interferometers could directly probe the existence of ultralight dark matter ($\mathcal{O}(10^{-14}-10^{-11})$ eV/$c^2$) that couples to standard-model particles in the detectors. Recently, many techniques have been developed to extract a variety of potential dark-matter signals from noisy gravitational-wave data; however, little effort has gone into ways to distinguish between types of dark matter that could directly interact with the interferometers. In this work, we employ the Wiener filter to follow-up candidate dark-matter interaction signals. The filter captures the stochastic nature of these signals, and, in simulations, successfully identifies which type of dark matter interacts with the interferometers. We apply the Wiener filter to outliers that remained in the LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA search for dark photons in data from the most recent observing (O3), and show that they are consistent with noise disturbances. Our proof-of-concept analysis demonstrates that the Wiener filter can be a powerful technique to confirm or deny the presence of dark-matter interaction signals in gravitational-wave data, and distinguish between scalar and vector dark-matter interactions.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure

SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM X S. PENNELLII INTROGRESSION LINES WERE USEFUL TO CHARACTERISE THE IONOME OF TOMATO FRUIT

In the frame of "GenoPom" PON-MIUR project, we have began a study of tomato ionome in order to identify the contribution of specific chromosome and part of them on the ionome. For this purpose, we have analysed by ICP-MS plants of an introgression line (IL) population derived from the cross between Solanum lycopersicum cv. M82 and S. pennellii (Eshed and Zamir, 1995) grown under controlled environmental conditions.we report results derived from tomato whole fruits ionome analysis of 30 IL, covering all 12 tomato chromosomes, along with the recurrent parent cv. M82. Among several detected elements, the following ones have firstly been analysed: Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn and Se. Each element concentration data were referred to cv. M82

The moderating role of depressive symptoms in the association between heart rate variability and cognitive performance in cardiac patients

Introduction: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is strongly associated with cognitive impairment, which is a core feature of depression, highly prevalent in patients with CHD. Interestingly, patients with CHD and individuals with depression display reduced heart rate variability (HRV), which proxies a complex network integrating autonomic and attentional systems. This study investigated the moderating role of depressive symptoms in the relation between reduced HRV and cognitive performance in patients with CHD. Method: The sample included 274 patients with CHD (mean [standard deviation] age = 62 [9.5] years; 13 % women) admitted to cardiac rehabilitation units. Visual attention and task switching were assessed through the Trail Making Test (TMT). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Resting electrocardiographic recordings were collected to compute HRV indices. Results: Patients with more severe depressive symptoms displayed an inverse association between HRV and cognitive performance (TMT-A: b = -0.08, p = .022; TMTB: b = -0.07, p = .042), whereas patients with milder depressive symptoms showed no significant association (TMT-A: b = -0.00, p = .90; TMTB: b = -0.02, p = .44). Conclusions: Depressive symptoms may strengthen the relation between reduced HRV and poorer cognitive performance in cardiac patients. The presence of depressive symptoms may signal the dysfunction of a network subserving autonomic and cognitive function

NMR Profiling of Exhaled Breath Condensate Defines Different Metabolic Phenotypes of Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

Nuclear-magnetic-resonance (NMR) profiling of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) provides insights into the pathophysiology of bronchiectasis by identifying specific biomarkers. We evaluated whether NMR-based metabolomics discriminates the EBC-derived metabolic phenotypes ("metabotypes") of 41 patients with non-cystic fibrosis (nCF) bronchiectasis of various etiology [24 subjects with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD); 17 patients with bronchiectasis not associated with PCD (nCF/nPCD)], who were compared to 17 healthy subjects (HS). NMR was used for EBC profiling, and Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures with partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used as a classifier. The results were validated by using the EBC from 17 PCD patients not included in the primary analysis. Different statistical models were built, which compared nCF/nPCD and HS, PCD and HS, all classes (nCF/nPCD-PCD-HS), and, finally, PCD and nCF/nPCD. In the PCD-nCF/nPCD model, four statistically significant metabolites were able to discriminate between the two groups, with only a minor reduction of the quality parameters. In particular, for nCF/nPCD, acetone/acetoin and methanol increased by 21% and 18%, respectively. In PCD patients, ethanol and lactate increased by 25% and 28%, respectively. They are all related to lung inflammation as methanol is found in the exhaled breath of lung cancer patients, acetone/acetoin produce toxic ROS that damage lung tissue in CF, and lactate is observed in acute inflammation. Interestingly, a high concentration of ethanol hampers cilia beating and can be associated with the genetic defect of PCD. Model validation with 17 PCD samples not included in the primary analysis correctly predicted all samples. Our results indicate that NMR of EBC discriminates nCF/nPCD and PCD bronchiectasis patients from HS, and patients with nCF/nPCD from those with PCD. The metabolites responsible for between-group separation identified specific metabotypes, which characterize bronchiectasis of a different etiology

Osteosarcopenia and type 2 diabetes mellitus in post-menopausal women: a case-control study

Background Osteosarcopenia has been defined as the concomitance of low bone density (osteopenia/osteoporosis) and sarcopenia. Osteoporosis is characterized by alterations in bone microarchitecture and decrease of bone mineral density (BMD), whereas sarcopenia is the progressive decrease of both muscle mass and function that increase the risk of falls. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with poor bone strength and muscle wasting. Objective The aim of this study is to analyze the association between osteosarcopenia and T2DM in post-menopausal women (PMW). Methods We performed an age matched case-control study (1:2 ratio), considering as cases PMW affected by T2DM, and PMW without T2DM as control group. For all patients a DXA evaluation to investigate bone density and body composition measures were performed. Moreover, we carried out muscle strength and performance assessments. Outcome measures were femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD T-scores, appendicular lean mass (ALM), handgrip strength and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Data from both groups were analyzed and compared. Results Thirty-six PMW (12 T2DM vs 24 non-T2DM) were recruited. The frequency of osteosarcopenia was significantly higher in the T2DM group compared to controls (50% vs 17%; OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.05 to 23.79, p = 0.043). Handgrip strength was significantly lower in the T2DM group (10.09 ± 4.02 kg vs 18.40 ± 6.83 kg; p = 0.001). Conclusions Post-menopausal women with T2DM have a 5 times higher risk to have osteosarcopenia compared to non-diabetic ones. Further studies on larger cohorts are required to confirm these findings

Non-motor impairments affect walking kinematics in Parkinson disease patients: A cross-sectional study

Background: In patients with Parkinson disease (PD), severe postural and gait impairments are rarely observed in early stage of disease and non-motor symptoms (NMS) are often overlooked. Objective: This observational study aimed to characterize the impact of non-motor impairments on walking kinematics in early stages PD patients, and to assess the differences of gait parameters and NMS between PD patients with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Twenty-six patients with Modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale score≤2 were evaluated for NMS using Kings Parkinson's Pain Scale, Parkinson Fatigue Severity scale, Parkinson Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Epworth Sleepiness Scale, kinematic parameters through an inertial sensor and cognitive performance by a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Results: Fatigue had a moderate negative correlation with step cadence, and a moderate to strong positive correlation with gait duration, Timed Up and Go (TUG) and TUG Dual Task (p < 0.01). Pain showed positive moderate correlation with gait duration (p < 0.01). Twelve patients resulted affected by MCI and reported significantly worse scores in gait duration, pain and fatigue (p < 0.05). According to cognitive z scores, PD-MCI group showed a moderate negative correlation between visuospatial abilities and fatigue (p < 0.05). Conclusions: NMS significantly affect walking kinematics whereas a limited role of cognitive status on motor performance occur in the early PD stages

Ionome variations in tomato Introgressed Lines (Solanum Pennellii x S. Lycopersicum cv. M82) following metal treatements shed new light on food health.

A tomato introgression line population that combines single chromosomal segments introgressed from the wild, green fruited species Solanum pennelli in the background of the domesticated tomato, S. lycopersicum cv. M82, was used in this study. Results shed light both on the metal accumulation of ILs tomato plants and on theirs ionome modifications