We present a systematic study of the time and band-resolved scintillation in xenon-based time projection chambers (TPCs), performed simultaneously for the primary (S1) and secondary (S2) components ...in a small, purity-controlled, setup. We explore a range of conditions of general academic interest, focusing on those of relevance to contemporary TPCs: pressure range 1–10 bar, pressure-reduced electric fields of 0–100 V/cm/bar in the drift region (S1) and up to the proportional scintillation regime in the multiplication region (S2), and wavelength bands 145–250/250–400/400–600 nm, for both
α
and
β
particles. Attention is paid to the possibility of non-conventional scintillation mechanisms such as the 3rd continuum emission, recombination light from
β
-electrons at high pressure (for S1), emission from high-lying excited states and neutral bremsstrahlung (for S2). Time constants and, specially, scintillation yields have been obtained as a function of electric field and pressure, the latter aided by Geant4 simulations.
Abstract
Dehydration of the oceanic subducting slab promotes the formation of magmatic arcs, intra-slab intermediate-depth seismicity, and hydration of the overlying mantle wedge. However, the ...complex permeability structure of the overriding plate controls the magma and fluid migration and their accumulation at shallower depths. In this regard, mapping the inner structure of the overriding crust and mantle is crucial to understand the magmatic and hydrological processes in subduction zones. We integrate 3-D P-wave,
$$V_p/V_s$$
V
p
/
V
s
, and electrical resistivity tomographic models of the northern Chilean subduction zone to map the magmatic and fluids derived from the subducting oceanic Nazca plate. Results show a continental crust relatively thick (50–65 km) characterized by a lower zone of high
$$V_p$$
V
p
values (7.2–7.6 km/s), which is interpreted as the presence of plutonic rocks. The mantle lithospheric wedge is weakly hydrated (
$$V_p/V_s$$
V
p
/
V
s
= 1.75–1.8) while the forearc continental crust is traversed by regions of reduced electrical resistivity values (
$$< 10^2$$
<
10
2
$$\Omega m$$
Ω
m
) interpreted as zones of relatively high permeability/fracturing and fluid content. These regions spatially correlate with upper plate trans-lithospheric deformation zones. Ascending melts accumulate preferentially in the back-arc, whereas hydrothermal systems form trenchward of the volcanic arc. The results highlight the complex permeability structure of the upper South American plate.
We performed a time-resolved spectroscopic study of the VUV/UV scintillation of gaseous argon as a function of pressure and electric field, by means of a wavelength sensitive detector operated with ...different radioactive sources. Our work conveys new evidence of distinctive features of the argon light which are in contrast with the general assumption that, for particle detection purposes, the scintillation can be considered to be largely monochromatic at 128 nm (second continuum). The wavelength and time-resolved analysis of the photon emission reveal that the dominant component of the argon scintillation during the first tens of ns is in the range 160, 325 nm. This light is consistent with the third continuum emission from highly charged argon ions/molecules. This component of the scintillation is field-independent up to 25 V/cm/bar and shows a very mild dependence with pressure in the range 1, 16 bar. The dynamics of the second continuum emission is dominated by the excimer formation time, whose variation as a function of pressure has been measured. Additionally, the time and pressure-dependent features of electron-ion recombination, in the second continuum band, have been measured. This study opens new paths toward a novel particle identification technique based on the spectral information of the noble-elements scintillation light.
...it is used to determine the extent of the peritoneal disease (measured according to Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Index -PCI-) and look for findings of unresectability, determining the patient's ...possible eligibility for cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with or without hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. ...is used to determine the onco-surgical strategy with peritoneal metastases of gynaecological origin, being laparoscopy useful to choose whether the patient could be a candidate for primary cytoreduction or for interval surgery. ...it could be used to obtain biological samples for anatomopathological diagnosis if other less-invasive procedures fail.1–4 Crucially, patients who are not eligible for complete cytoreduction are unlikely to benefit from cytoreductive surgery with or without HIPEC. ...this procedure helps in avoiding unnecessary nontherapeutic laparotomies, which can lead to morbidity and negatively impact a patient's quality of life.
Background Anaphylaxis after Hymenoptera sting has been described in patients with mastocytosis. Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is a safe and effective way to treat patients with Hymenoptera anaphylaxis, ...but few studies have addressed its usefulness in patients with systemic mastocytosis. Objective To study the effectiveness and safety of VIT in patients with systemic mastocytosis having anaphylaxis after Hymenoptera sting. Methods A total of 21 mastocytosis patients—4 women (19%) and 17 men (81%) with a median age of 50 years (range, 29-74 years)—with Hymenoptera sting anaphylaxis who were treated with VIT and followed for a median of 52 months (range, 2-250 months) were studied. Results In 18 of 21 patients—16 of them lacking skin involvement—anaphylaxis was the presenting symptom. Six patients (29%) experienced adverse reactions during VIT, 3 during initiation and 3 during maintenance. Twelve patients (57%) were restung while undergoing VIT; 9 (75%) presented local reactions and 3 (25%) systemic reactions, 1 of which required intubation. The Hymenoptera specific IgE decreased from 4.15 kU/L (range, 0.44-100 kU/L) before immunotherapy to 1.2 kU/L (range, 0.34-69.4 kU/L) after 4 years ( P < .003). Conclusion Venom immunotherapy is effective to treat IgE-mediated Hymenoptera anaphylaxis in patients with mastocytosis. Its use is recommended despite a relatively high risk of adverse reactions during the build-up phase because it provides protection from anaphylaxis in around 3/4 of the patients.
Peach allergy is highly prevalent in the Mediterranean area; it is persistent and potentially severe, and therefore a prime target for immunotherapy. We aimed to study the efficacy and safety of ...sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with a peach extract quantified in mass units for Pru p 3, the peach lipid transfer protein. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (DBPC) clinical trial. The main efficacy outcome was the change in the response to a DBPC food challenge (DBPCFC) with peach. Secondary efficacy outcomes were the changes in skin prick test (SPT), and in specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgG₄ to Pru p 3. Tolerance was assessed with a careful recording of adverse events. After 6 months of SLIT, the active group tolerated a significantly higher amount of peach (three- to ninefold), presented a significant decrease (5.3 times) in SPT, and a significant increase in IgE and IgG₄ to Pru p 3. No significant changes were observed within the placebo group. Statistically significant inter-group differences were only observed in the SPT and IgG₄ responses. No serious adverse events were reported. Systemic reactions were mild, and observed with a similar frequency in both groups. Local reactions were significantly more frequent in the active group (three times) and 95% of them restricted to the oral cavity. In this first exploratory clinical trial, SLIT for peach allergy seems to be a promising therapeutic option that could modify the clinical reactivity of the patients to peach intake and the underlying immunological response with a good tolerance.
Understanding the spatial and temporal frameworks of species diversification is fundamental in evolutionary biology. Assessing the geographic origin and dispersal history of highly diverse lineages ...of rapid diversification can be hindered by the lack of appropriately sampled, resolved, and strongly supported phylogenetic contexts. The use of currently available cost-efficient sequencing strategies allows for the generation of a substantial amount of sequence data for dense taxonomic samplings, which together with well-curated geographic information and biogeographic models allow us to formally test the mode and tempo of dispersal events occurring in quick succession. Here, we assess the spatial and temporal frameworks for the origin and dispersal history of the expanded clade K, a highly diverse
subgenus
(Bromeliaceae, Poales) lineage hypothesized to have undergone a rapid radiation across the Neotropics. We assembled full plastomes from Hyb-Seq data for a dense taxon sampling of the expanded clade K plus a careful selection of outgroup species and used them to estimate a time- calibrated phylogenetic framework. This dated phylogenetic hypothesis was then used to perform biogeographic model tests and ancestral area reconstructions based on a comprehensive compilation of geographic information. The expanded clade K colonized North and Central America, specifically the Mexican transition zone and the Mesoamerican dominion, by long-distance dispersal from South America at least 4.86 Mya, when most of the Mexican highlands were already formed. Several dispersal events occurred subsequently northward to the southern Nearctic region, eastward to the Caribbean, and southward to the Pacific dominion during the last 2.8 Mya, a period characterized by pronounced climate fluctuations, derived from glacial-interglacial climate oscillations, and substantial volcanic activity, mainly in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Our taxon sampling design allowed us to calibrate for the first time several nodes, not only within the expanded clade K focal group but also in other Tillandsioideae lineages. We expect that this dated phylogenetic framework will facilitate future macroevolutionary studies and provide reference age estimates to perform secondary calibrations for other Tillandsioideae lineages.
Prediabetes and old age are both high risk factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), while obesity is one of the most important factors triggering the disease. Nutritional interventions are the ...most effective tool for preventing T2D, as they improve different biochemical and anthropometric outcomes and growth-promoting/inhibiting gut microbiota populations. However, to date there are no specific dietary recommendations to stop the development of T2D in elderly groups, for whom hypocaloric diets and other commonly used weight-loss programs could be considered dangerous. The objective of our study, thus, was to understand the impact of dietary patterns on T2D risk as related to gut microbiota profile in obese and non-obese elderly prediabetic subjects.
A cross-sectional study was performed in 182 subjects ≥65 years old with prediabetes, divided into obese (OB) or non-obese (NOB) subgroups, and their risk of developing T2D was measured according to FINDRISK score and biochemical parameters. Also, clusters into different dietary patterns in each group by PCA analysis was related with gut microbiota, which was analyzed from stool samples by qPCR. The creation of clusters was used to re-evaluate T2D risk.
OB was at higher risk of developing T2D and showed worse metabolic outcomes. Unhealthier and healthier dietary pattern clusters were observed for both OB (OB-6 and OB-5 respectively) and NOB (NOB-2 and NOB-3 respectively) groups. Results obtained from the gut microbiota showed that only Prevotella was higher in NOB, but when comparisons were made between clusters, a clear relation with dietary pattern was observed; showing in healthier dietary clusters a decrease in Prevotella, an increase of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and an increase in lactic acid bacteria. T2D risk was greater in the obese group between unhealthier dietary clusters. No difference between healthier dietary clusters was observed.
A healthy dietary pattern and the growth-promoting beneficial and growth-inhibiting disadvantageous gut microbiota populations linked to it provide protection against the development of T2D in an obese population with advanced age and preDM.
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