Elettra is one of the first 3rd-generation storage rings, recently upgraded to routinely operate in top-up mode at both 2.0 and 2.4 GeV. The facility hosts four dedicated beamlines for ...crystallography, two open to the users and two under construction, and expected to be ready for public use in 2015. In service since 1994, XRD1 is a general-purpose diffraction beamline. The light source for this wide (4–21 keV) energy range beamline is a permanent magnet wiggler. XRD1 covers experiments ranging from grazing incidence X-ray diffraction to macromolecular crystallography, from industrial applications of powder diffraction to X-ray phasing with long wavelengths. The bending magnet powder diffraction beamline MCX has been open to users since 2009, with a focus on microstructural investigations and studies under non-ambient conditions. A superconducting wiggler delivers a high photon flux to a new fully automated beamline dedicated to macromolecular crystallography and to a branch beamline hosting a high-pressure powder X-ray diffraction station (both currently under construction). Users of the latter experimental station will have access to a specialized sample preparation laboratory, shared with the SISSI infrared beamline. A high throughput crystallization platform equipped with an imaging system for the remote viewing, evaluation and scoring of the macromolecular crystallization experiments has also been established and is open to the user community.
The Cosmic Ray Cube is a portable tracking device conceived for outreach activities allowing a direct scientific experience for secondary school students. In the context of the PTOLEMY project, the ...detector was used to measure the differential muon flux inside the bunker of Monte Soratte, a suitable location at about 50 km north of Rome (Italy). Its simple operation was crucial to finalise the measurements, carried out during the Covid-19 lockdown in a site devoid of scientific equipment. The fine scanning of the differential muon rate highlights the details of the mountain above the bunker providing a map of the thickness of the rock which surrounds the detector. The result shows a muon flux at the Soratte hypogeum of about two orders of magnitude lower than the one observed on the surface.
Linalool is a monoterpene compound reported to be a major component of essential oils in various aromatic species. Several linalool-producing species are used in traditional medical systems. Among ...these is Aeolanthus suaveolens G. Dom (Labiatae) which is used as an anticonvulsant in the Brazilian Amazon. Psychopharmacologicalin vivo evaluation of linalool showed that this compound has dose-dependent marked sedative effects at the central nervous system (CNS), including hypnotic, anticonvulsant and hypothermic properties. It has been suggested that these neurochemical effects might be ascribed to the local anaesthetic activity of linalool. The present study reports an inhibitory effect of linalool on the acetylcholine (ACh) release and on the channel open time in the mouse neuromuscular junction. These findings could provide a rational basis to confirm the traditional medical use of linalool-producing plant species. Indeed, our data demonstrate some interactions in the modulation of the ACh release at the mouse neuromuscular junction, which are well correlated with the suggested molecular mechanisms. Linalool induced a reduction of the ACh-evoked release. The possibility that this effect could be ascribed to some interaction with pre-synaptic function is noteworthy. Moreover, the inhibitory effect induced on the kinetics of the miniature end-plate current decay demonstrates a local anaesthetic action, either on the voltage or on the receptor-activated channels.
Macromolecular arrays containing Zn-diethynylporphyrin coordinated to platinum tethers were studied using near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy at the N K-edge. Porphin ...(Pf), 2,8,12,18-tetraethyl-5,15-diethynyl-3,7,13,17-tetramethylporphyrin (PfNH) and 2,8,12,18-tetraethyl-5,15-diethynyl-3,7,13,17-tetramethylporphyrinatozinc(II) (Zn-Pf2), have been taken as experimental models. The resonances assignment is supported by static-exchange (STEX) calculations for the porphin (Pf) and Zn-porphin (Zn-Pf1) molecules. By calculation, four π* resonances occur for porphin (Pf) and two for Zn-Pf1. Experimentally we detect four resonances for porphin and PfNH, and two for the Zn-complexed ones. They can be assigned to core excitations to a couple of energy split π* orbitals for each not equivalent N atom. Our calculations justify the observed low π* intensity as due to an extended delocalization of the π* orbitals. The NEXAFS investigations on platinum complex/Zn-porphyrinato assembled macrosystems (i.e. Pt-ZnPf1, Pt-ZnPf2 and Pt-ZnPf3) show the influence of the Pt tethers bound to the porphyrin through the ethynyl moiety on the electronic structure of the tetrapyrrolic cycle.
The first multicentric approach to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment in Italy started in the early 1970s when the Associazione Italiana di Ematologia ed Oncologia Pediatrica ...(AIEOP) was founded. Since then the AIEOP has conducted nationwide chemotherapy protocols. Results obtained in three different periods (1982-1986, 1987-1990, 1991-1995) are reported here. Treatment schedules have been characterized by a progressive intensification of systemic therapy and by a progressive substitution of protracted intrathecal therapy for cranial irradiation as central nervous system (CNS) preventive therapy. In the third period cranial radiotherapy (CRT) has been administered only to patients at high risk of relapse or with CNS involvement at diagnosis (about 15% of the overall population). A progressive improvement of therapeutic results, with a steady reduction of isolated CNS relapse rates have been obtained in the three periods considered here. The AIEOP experience shows that CRT can be safely omitted in non-high risk patients, unless they are T-ALL patients with WBC count at the diagnosis > or =100,000/mm3, and that intensification of treatment allows the improvement of overall results with a reduction of the impact of NCI prognostic criteria. Over the years, AIEOP has also continued to foster active cooperation at an international level. In the ongoing AIEOP ALL 2000 study, conducted in cooperation with the BFM group, patients are stratified according to the presence of translocations t(9;22) and t(4;11) and to treatment response (either initial steroid therapy or induction) or minimal residual disease). This cooperation will allow an adequate recruitment of patients to answer relevant randomized questions in the context of a study in which patients are stratified according to minimal residual disease findings.
Thin films of MgO are grown by CVD, with a high growth rate, on Si(001) and quartz substrates in the temperature range 400–550 °C, using bis(methylcyclopentadienyl)magnesium Mg(CH3‐C5H4)2 as the ...precursor. The films obtained are investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and optical absorption, in order to investigate the interrelations between film properties and processing conditions. Cubic phase MgO (periclase) films, characterized by a low carbon contamination and a granular surface morphology, are obtained.
Magnesium oxide thin films are grown by MOCVD in the temperature range 400–550 °C using bis(methylcyclopentadienyl)magnesium as precursor, which yields a high growth rate (up to 50 nm/min at 450 °C). The films, characterized by XRD, XPS and AFM analyses, contain the cubic MgO phase (periclase), with carbon contamination limited to the outermost layers and a granular surface morphology with low roughness values.
The adsorption dynamics and geometry of phenylacetylene (PA) on Cu(1
0
0) was investigated by means of X-ray photoemission (XPS), near edge X-ray absorption (NEXAFS) spectroscopies and by quantum ...chemical calculations. The clean metal surface was exposed to PA vapors and the C1s core level spectrum evolution was monitored by means of time-resolved XPS measurements. Photoemission (C1s) and absorption (C K-edge) spectra were recorded both in monolayer and multilayer regimes; polarization-dependent NEXAFS investigations were carried out on the PA monolayer at room temperature. The experimental results have been interpreted with the help of quantum chemical calculations: density functional theory (DFT) plane-wave based calculations for the optimization of the interaction geometry of PA on a two layered (1
0
0)-slab of Cu atoms using periodic boundary conditions and ab initio simulation of the XPS spectrum for a small cluster including PA in the optimized adsorbate geometry and the two Cu atoms more directly involved in the adsorption.
Abstract
We measure the impact introducing a of 10% co-payment component on hospitalisation costs for Palestine refugees from Lebanon in public and private hospitals. This ex-post analysis provides a ...detailed insight on the direction and magnitude of the policy impact in terms of demand and supply for healthcare.
The data was collected by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and include episode level information from all public, private and Red Crescent Hospitals in Lebanon, between April 2016 and October 2017. This is a complete population episode level dataset with information from before and after the policy change. We use multinomial logit, negative binomial and linear models to estimate the policy impact on demand by type of hospital, average length of stay and treatment costs for the patient and the provider.
After the new policy was implemented patients were 18% more likely to choose a (free-of-charge) PRCS hospital for secondary care, instead of a Private or Public hospital, where the co-payment was introduced. This impact was stronger for episodes with longer stays, which are also the more severe and more expensive cases. Average length of stay decreased in general for all hospitals and we could not find a statistically significant impact on costs for the provider nor the patient.
We find evidence that the introduction of co-payments is hospital costs led to a shift in demand, but it is not clear to what extent the hospitals receiving this demand shift were prepared for having more patients than before, also because these are typically of less quality then the others. Regarding costs, there is no evidence that the provider managed to contain costs with the new policy, as the demand adapted to the changes. Our findings provide important information on hospitalisation expenses and the consequences of a policy change from a lessons learned perspective that should be taken into account for future policy decision making.
Key messages
We show that in a context of poverty, the introduction of payment for specific hospital types can be efficient for shifting demand, but has doubtable impact on costs containment for the provider. The co-payment policy can have a negative impact on patients' health since after its implementation demand increased at free-of-charge hospitals, which typically have less resources to treat patients.
A joint X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) investigation of the adsorption of phenylacetylene (PA, C
6H
5
C
CH) on the surface of Rh(1
0
0) ...single crystal was carried out by evaporating PA on the clean metal surface in the monolayer and multilayer regimes.
The experimental results indicate that the interaction of the PA molecule with the Rh(1
0
0) surface involves mainly the two carbon atoms of the alkyne moiety; the binding of the alkyne group to the metal surface produces the opening of the triple bond. A comparison with the results obtained for PA adsorption on the surface of Pt (1
1
1) and Cu (1
0
0) is also discussed.
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