Understanding the time-dependent relationship between the Sun's variability and cosmic rays (GCR) is essential for developing predictive models of energetic radiation in space. When traveling inside ...the heliosphere, GCRs are affected by magnetic turbulence and solar wind disturbances which result in the so-called solar modulation effect. To investigate this phenomenon, we have performed a data-driven analysis of the temporal dependence of the GCR flux over the solar cycle. With a global statistical inference of GCR data collected in space by AMS-02 and PAMELA on monthly basis, we have determined the rigidity and time dependence of the GCR diffusion mean free path. Here we present our results for GCR protons, we discuss their interpretation in terms of basic processes of particle transport and their relations with the dynamics of the heliospheric plasma.
To report the use of an aortic endograft to treat a ruptured false aneurysm at the anastomosis of an aortofemoral bypass graft.
A 68-year-old man with a 30-year-old aorto-right femoral bypass and ...multiple comorbidities was admitted to the hospital complaining of acute abdominal pain. Imaging identified a 60-mm ruptured aortic false aneurysm with associated retroperitoneal hematoma, a 9-cm right femoral false aneurysm, and a calcified 23-mm left common iliac aneurysm. Two slightly overlapping Vanguard straight stent-grafts were implanted in the aorta and left common iliac artery in an emergency procedure owing to the patient's high surgical risk. The anastomotic false aneurysm and the bypass were excluded. A left-to-right femorofemoral bypass was performed to re-establish flow to the right femoral artery with ligation of the external iliac artery. The patient recovered uneventfully. He remained well with a successful repair until his death of a myocardial infarction 6 months after the procedure.
Endovascular grafting can be used successfully for the urgent treatment of aortic false aneurysm rupture.
A method consisting in an ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A50 and an affinity chromatography on Oxamate-hexyl-Sepharose for the purification of monkey and human LDH isoenzyme 5 is ...presented. Analytical isoelectric focusing reveals minor variants in the monkey LDH isoenzyme 5. This material has been used to produce an antiserum from rabbits which recognizes all the human LDH isoenzymes containing the M subunit, without cross-reacting with LDH1.
This intercontinental study aimed to study gram-negative rod (GNR) resistance in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
GNR bacteremias occurring during 6 months post-HSCT (February 2014-May ...2015) were prospectively collected, and analyzed for rates and risk factors for resistance to fluoroquinolones, noncarbapenem anti-Pseudomonas β-lactams (noncarbapenems), carbapenems, and multidrug resistance.
Sixty-five HSCT centers from 25 countries in Europe, Australia, and Asia reported data on 655 GNR episodes and 704 pathogens in 591 patients (Enterobacteriaceae, 73%; nonfermentative rods, 24%; and 3% others). Half of GNRs were fluoroquinolone and noncarbapenem resistant; 18.5% carbapenem resistant; 35.2% multidrug resistant. The total resistance rates were higher in allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) vs autologous HSCT (auto-HSCT) patients (P < .001) but similar in community-acquired infections. Noncarbapenem resistance and multidrug resistance were higher in auto-HSCT patients in centers providing vs not providing fluoroquinolone prophylaxis (P < .01). Resistance rates were higher in southeast vs northwest Europe and similar in children and adults, excluding higher fluoroquinolone- and β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor resistance rates in allo-HSCT adults. Non-Klebsiella Enterobacteriaceae were rarely carbapenem resistant. Multivariable analysis revealed resistance risk factors in allo-HSCT patients: fluoroquinolone resistance: adult, prolonged neutropenia, breakthrough on fluoroquinolones; noncarbapenem resistance: hospital-acquired infection, breakthrough on noncarbapenems or other antibiotics (excluding fluoroquinolones, noncarbapenems, carbapenems), donor type; carbapenem resistance: breakthrough on carbapenem, longer hospitalization, intensive care unit, previous other antibiotic therapy; multidrug resistance: longer hospitalization, breakthrough on β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors, and carbapenems. Inappropriate empiric therapy and mortality were significantly more common in infections caused by resistant bacteria.
Our data question the recommendation for fluoroquinolone prophylaxis and call for reassessment of local empiric antibiotic protocols. Knowledge of pathogen-specific resistance enables early appropriate empiric therapy. Monitoring of resistance is crucial.
NCT02257931.
Systematic and timely documentation of triggered (i.e. event) landslides is fundamental to build extensive datasets worldwide that may help define and/or validate trends in response to climate ...change. More in general, preparation of landslide inventories is a crucial activity since it provides the basic data for any subsequent analysis. In this work we present an event landslide inventory map (E-LIM) that was prepared through a systematic reconnaissance field survey in about 1 month after an extreme rainfall event hit an area of about 5000 km
in the Marche-Umbria regions (central Italy). The inventory reports evidence of 1687 triggered landslides in an area of ~550 km
. All slope failures were classified according to type of movement and involved material, and documented with field pictures, wherever possible. The database of the inventory described in this paper as well as the collection of selected field pictures associated with each feature is publicly available at figshare.
•Carbon nanotube reinforced concretes were characterized in microwave bands.•Shielding effectiveness was evaluated by reverberation chamber system.•Frequency selective absorber made of reinforced ...concretes was designed.•Particle swarm optimization algorithm was used in the absorber design.
Carbon nanotube reinforced concrete composites (RCC) were characterized in microwave bands currently employed in wireless telecommunication systems. Dielectric permittivity was retrieved by waveguide method and adopted to compute shielding effectiveness of RCC structures having different thickness/filler content. The shielding was also evaluated by reverberation chamber set up; theoretical calculations and measured values are in close agreement, thus testifying to the procedure reliability. Finally, a frequency selective absorber made of RCC layers was designed with the aid of a numerical optimization tool (particle swarm algorithm); the discussion of results is supported by a finite element method analysis of the layered structure.
There is evidence that an inflammatory microenvironment is associated with the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa), although the determinants of intrinsic inflammation in PCa cells ...are not completely understood. Here we investigated whether expression of intrinsic microsomal PGE synthase-1 (mPGES-1) enhanced aggressiveness of PCa cells and might be critical for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated tumour progression. In PCa, overexpression of EGFR promotes metastatic invasion and correlates with a high Gleason score, while prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has been reported to modulate oncogenic EGFR-driven oncogenicity. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that mPGES-1 in human prostate tissues is correlated with EGFR expression in advanced tumours. In DU145 and PC-3 cell lines expressing mPGES-1 (mPGES-1(SC) cells), we demonstrate that silencing or 'knock down' of mPGES-1 (mPGES-1(KD)) or pharmacological inhibition by MF63 strongly attenuates overall oncogenic drive. Indeed, mPGES-1(SC) cells express stem-cell-like features (high CD44, β1-integrin, Nanog and Oct4 and low CD24 and α6-integrin) as well as mesenchymal transition markers (high vimentin, high fibronectin, low E-cadherin). They also show increased capacity to survive irrespective of anchorage condition, and overexpress EGFR compared to mPGES-1(KD) cells. mPGES-1 expression correlates with increased in vivo tumour growth and metastasis. Although EGFR inhibition reduces mPGES-1(SC) and mPGES-1(KD) cell xenograft tumour growth, we show that mPGES-1/PGE2 signalling sensitizes tumour cells to EGFR inhibitors. We propose mPGES-1 as a possible new marker of tumour aggressiveness in PCa.
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