Showing papers by "University of Cagliari published in 2006"
TL;DR: The double pulsar system PSR J0737-3039A/B is a good candidate for testing Einstein's theory of general relativity and alternative theories of gravity in the strong field regime.
Abstract: The double pulsar system PSR J0737-3039A/B is unique in that both neutron stars are detectable as radio pulsars. They are also known to have much higher mean orbital velocities and accelerations than those of other binary pulsars. The system is therefore a good candidate for testing Einstein's theory of general relativity and alternative theories of gravity in the strong-field regime. We report on precision timing observations taken over the 2.5 years since its discovery and present four independent strong-field tests of general relativity. These tests use the theory-independent mass ratio of the two stars. By measuring relativistic corrections to the Keplerian description of the orbital motion, we find that the “post-Keplerian” parameter s agrees with the value predicted by general relativity within an uncertainty of 0.05%, the most precise test yet obtained. We also show that the transverse velocity of the system's center of mass is extremely small. Combined with the system's location near the Sun, this result suggests that future tests of gravitational theories with the double pulsar will supersede the best current solar system tests. It also implies that the second-born pulsar may not have formed through the core collapse of a helium star, as is usually assumed.
842 citations
TL;DR: A search for radio sources that vary on much shorter timescales, finding eleven objects characterized by single, dispersed bursts having durations between 2 and 30 ms, suggesting origins in rotating neutron stars.
Abstract: A previously unknown population of superdense neutron stars has been identified. Termed RRATs, for rotating radio transients, their radio emissions vary on very short timescales, with bursts of 2 to 30 milliseconds occurring at intervals of 4 minutes to 3 hours. Eleven such objects have been found so far but their ephemeral nature suggests that there are many more in our Galaxy that remain unseen. This discovery implies a several-fold increase in the estimated radio-pulsar population, currently about 100,000. The radio sky is relatively unexplored for transient signals1, although the potential of radio-transient searches is high. This was demonstrated recently by the discovery of a previously unknown type of source2,3, varying on timescales of minutes to hours. Here we report a search for radio sources that vary on much shorter timescales. We found eleven objects characterized by single, dispersed bursts having durations between 2 and 30 ms. The average time intervals between bursts range from 4 min to 3 h with radio emission typically detectable for 4 s, and the rate of change of the pulse period has been measured for three of them; for one source, we have inferred a high magnetic field strength of 5 × 1013 G. This suggests that the new population is related to other classes of isolated neutron stars observed at X-ray and γ-ray wavelengths4.
644 citations
Goethe University Frankfurt1, Community College of Rhode Island2, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich3, Erasmus University Rotterdam4, Boston Children's Hospital5, University of Cagliari6, Eppendorf (Germany)7, Charité8, New York Academy of Medicine9, University College London10, Charles University in Prague11, University of Catania12, University of Milano-Bicocca13, French Institute of Health and Medical Research14
TL;DR: The precise localization of genomic breakpoints within the MLL gene and the involved translocation partner genes (TPGs) was determined and several new TPGs were identified and two new MLL rearrangements are now characterized at the molecular level.
Abstract: Chromosomal rearrangements of the human MLL gene are a hallmark for aggressive (high-risk) pediatric, adult and therapy-associated acute leukemias. These patients need to be identified in order to subject these patients to appropriate therapy regimen. A recently developed long-distance inverse PCR method was applied to genomic DNA isolated from individual acute leukemia patients in order to identify chromosomal rearrangements of the human MLL gene. We present data of the molecular characterization of 414 samples obtained from 272 pediatric and 142 adult leukemia patients. The precise localization of genomic breakpoints within the MLL gene and the involved translocation partner genes (TPGs) was determined and several new TPGs were identified. The combined data of our study and published data revealed a total of 87 different MLL rearrangements of which 51 TPGs are now characterized at the molecular level. Interestingly, the four most frequently found TPGs (AF4, AF9, ENL and AF10) encode nuclear proteins that are part of a protein network involved in histone H3K79 methylation. Thus, translocations of the MLL gene, by itself coding for a histone H3K4 methyltransferase, are presumably not randomly chosen, rather functionally selected.
631 citations
TL;DR: The ALICE Collaboration as mentioned in this paper is a general-purpose heavy-ion experiment designed to study the physics of strongly interacting matter and the quark-gluon plasma in nucleus-nucleus collisions at the LHC.
Abstract: ALICE is a general-purpose heavy-ion experiment designed to study the physics of strongly interacting matter and the quark–gluon plasma in nucleus–nucleus collisions at the LHC. It currently involves more than 900 physicists and senior engineers, from both the nuclear and high-energy physics sectors, from over 90 institutions in about 30 countries.The ALICE detector is designed to cope with the highest particle multiplicities above those anticipated for Pb–Pb collisions (dNch/dy up to 8000) and it will be operational at the start-up of the LHC. In addition to heavy systems, the ALICE Collaboration will study collisions of lower-mass ions, which are a means of varying the energy density, and protons (both pp and pA), which primarily provide reference data for the nucleus–nucleus collisions. In addition, the pp data will allow for a number of genuine pp physics studies.The detailed design of the different detector systems has been laid down in a number of Technical Design Reports issued between mid-1998 and the end of 2004. The experiment is currently under construction and will be ready for data taking with both proton and heavy-ion beams at the start-up of the LHC.Since the comprehensive information on detector and physics performance was last published in the ALICE Technical Proposal in 1996, the detector, as well as simulation, reconstruction and analysis software have undergone significant development. The Physics Performance Report (PPR) provides an updated and comprehensive summary of the performance of the various ALICE subsystems, including updates to the Technical Design Reports, as appropriate.The PPR is divided into two volumes. Volume I, published in 2004 (CERN/LHCC 2003-049, ALICE Collaboration 2004 J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys. 30 1517–1763), contains in four chapters a short theoretical overview and an extensive reference list concerning the physics topics of interest to ALICE, the experimental conditions at the LHC, a short summary and update of the subsystem designs, and a description of the offline framework and Monte Carlo event generators.The present volume, Volume II, contains the majority of the information relevant to the physics performance in proton–proton, proton–nucleus, and nucleus–nucleus collisions. Following an introductory overview, Chapter 5 describes the combined detector performance and the event reconstruction procedures, based on detailed simulations of the individual subsystems. Chapter 6 describes the analysis and physics reach for a representative sample of physics observables, from global event characteristics to hard processes.
587 citations
TL;DR: Risks of completed and attempted suicide were consistently lower, by approximately 80%, during treatment of bipolar and other major affective disorder patients with lithium for an average of 18 months, and these benefits were sustained in randomized as well as open clinical trials.
Abstract: Objectives: To update and extend comparisons of rates of suicides and suicide attempts among patients with major affective disorders with versus without long-term lithium treatment.
Methods: Broad searching yielded 45 studies providing rates of suicidal acts during lithium treatment, including 34 also providing rates without lithium treatment. We scored study quality, tested between-study variance, and examined suicidal rates on versus off lithium by meta-analytic methods to determine risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results: In 31 studies suitable for meta-analysis, involving a total of 85,229 person-years of risk-exposure, the overall risk of suicides and attempts was five times less among lithium-treated subjects than among those not treated with lithium (RR = 4.91, 95% CI 3.82–6.31, p < 0.0001). Similar effects were found with other meta-analytic methods, as well as for completed versus attempted suicide, and for bipolar versus major mood disorder patients. Studies with higher quality ratings, including randomized, controlled trials, involved shorter exposures with somewhat lesser lithium superiority. Omitting one very large study or those involving lithium-discontinuation had little effect on the results. The incidence-ratio of attempts-to-suicides increased 2.5 times with lithium-treatment, indicating reduced lethality of suicidal acts. There was no indication of bias toward reporting positive findings, nor were outcomes significantly influenced by publication-year or study size.
Conclusions: Risks of completed and attempted suicide were consistently lower, by approximately 80%, during treatment of bipolar and other major affective disorder patients with lithium for an average of 18 months. These benefits were sustained in randomized as well as open clinical trials.
511 citations
TL;DR: The Parkes 20 cm multibeam survey of the Galactic plane was used in this paper to estimate the number of radio pulsars in the inner Galaxy and the birth rate of the radio population.
Abstract: We present the discovery and follow-up observations of 142 pulsars found in the Parkes 20-cm multibeam pulsar survey of the Galactic plane. These new discoveries bring the total number of pulsars found by the survey to 742. In addition to tabulating spin and astrometric parameters, along with pulse width and flux density information, we present orbital characteristics for 13 binary pulsars which form part of the new sample. Combining these results from another recent Parkes multibeam survey at high Galactic latitudes, we have a sample of 1008 normal pulsars which we use to carry out a determination of their Galactic distribution and birth rate. We infer a total Galactic population of 30 000 ± 1100 potentially detectable pulsars (i.e. those beaming towards us) having 1.4-GHz luminosities above 0.1 mJy kpc 2 . Adopting the Tauris & Manchester beaming model, this translates to a total of 155 000 ± 6000 active radio pulsars in the Galaxy above this luminosity limit. Using a pulsar current analysis, we derive the birth rate of this population to be 1.4 ± 0.2 pulsars per century. An important conclusion from our work is that the inferred radial density function of pulsars depends strongly on the assumed distribution of free electrons in the Galaxy. As a result, any analyses using the most recent electron model of Cordes & Lazio predict a dearth of pulsars in the inner Galaxy. We show that this model can also bias the inferred pulsar scaleheight with respect to the Galactic plane. Combining our results with other Parkes multibeam surveys we find that the population is best described by an exponential distribution with a scaleheight of 330 pc. Surveys underway at Parkes and Arecibo are expected to improve the knowledge of the radial distribution outside the solar circle, and to discover several hundred new pulsars in the inner Galaxy.
491 citations
TL;DR: A compilation of the Marine Isotope Substage (MIS 5.5) sites spanning the coastline of Italy allows a picture of the vertical displacement pattern affecting the Central Mediterranean coasts since the Late Pleistocene to be drawn.
447 citations
TL;DR: A prime example of translational neuroscience is reviewed, through which antagonism of A2A receptors has now entered the arena of clinical trials with realistic prospects for advancing PD therapeutics.
421 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the performance of the Small BAseline Subset (SBAS) approach that is a Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR) algorithm allowing the generation of mean deformation velocity maps and displacement time series from a data set of subsequently acquired SAR images is investigated.
377 citations
TL;DR: F essential oil yields decreased from the beginning to the end of the flowering stage, whereas L yields remained constant during the year, and fenchone, limonene, and myrtenal appeared to be the more effective on the inhibition of R. solani growth.
Abstract: Essential oils from the stems/leaves (L) and flowers (F) of Lavandula stoechas L. ssp. stoechas growing wild in southern Sardinia (Italy) were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector and ion trap mass spectrometry. The major compound was fenchone, accounting for, on average, 52.60% in L and 66.20% in F, followed by camphor (13.13% versus 27.08%, in L and F, respectively). F essential oil yields (volume per dry weight) decreased from the beginning to the end of the flowering stage, whereas L yields remained constant during the year. The nine main compounds derived from two different subpathways, A and B. The compounds that belong to the same subpathway showed a similar behavior during the year. The essential oils were tested for their antifungal activity using the paper disk diffusion method. The essential oils tested were effective on the inactivation of Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum and less effective against Aspergillus flavus....
371 citations
University of Göttingen1, University of Dundee2, University of London3, University of Cagliari4, King's College London5, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven6, University of Cologne7, State University of New York Upstate Medical University8, University of Amsterdam9, University of Zurich10, University of Southampton11
TL;DR: A systematic review of published and unpublished data on the use of long-acting medications in ADHD and hyperkinetic disorder is reported, giving effect sizes and numbers-to-treat for extended-release stimulant preparations and atomoxetine (ATX).
Abstract: A systematic review of published and unpublished data on the use of long-acting medications in ADHD and hyperkinetic disorder is reported, giving effect sizes and numbers-to-treat for extended-release stimulant preparations and atomoxetine (ATX). A panel of experts from several European countries used the review to make recommendations about the use of these drugs in practice, and conclusions are reported: (1) Long-acting preparations should be available and used; (2) They should not replace short-acting drugs (which will be the initial treatment for many children for reasons of cost and flexibility of dosing). Individual clinical choice is needed. (3) Both ATX and extended-release preparations of stimulants should be available. The choice will depend upon the circumstances, and detailed recommendations are made.
TL;DR: The genetics of the SNP and its association with autoimmunity, the function of the phosphatase in signaling, the biochemistry of the disease-predisposing allele, and the possible mechanisms by which PTPN22 contributes to the development of human disease are reviewed.
National Institutes of Health1, University of California, Berkeley2, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust3, University of British Columbia4, University of York5, University of Cagliari6, International Agency for Research on Cancer7, Yale University8, University of California, San Francisco9, University of Sydney10, University of Southern California11, University of Leeds12, Mayo Clinic13, University of Verona14, University of Bristol15, University of Washington16, Wayne State University17
TL;DR: Common polymorphisms in TNF and IL10, key cytokines for the inflammatory response and Th1/Th2 balance, could be susceptibility loci for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Abstract: Summary Background Common genetic variants in immune and inflammatory response genes can affect the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We aimed to test this hypothesis using previously unpublished data from eight European, Canadian, and US case-control studies of the International Lymphoma Epidemiology Consortium (InterLymph). Methods We selected 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms for analysis, on the basis of previous functional or association data, in nine genes that have important roles in lymphoid development, Th1/Th2 balance, and proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory pathways ( IL1A, IL1RN, IL1B, IL2, IL6, IL10, TNF, LTA, and CARD15 ). Genotype data for one or more single-nucleotide polymorphisms were available for 3586 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and for 4018 controls, and were assessed in a pooled analysis by use of a random-effects logistic regression model. Findings The tumour necrosis factor ( TNF ) −308G→A polymorphism was associated with increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (p for trend=0·005), particularly for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the main histological subtype (odds ratio 1·29 [95% CI 1·10–1·51] for GA and 1·65 [1·16–2·34] for AA, p for trend (IL10) −3575T→A polymorphism was also associated with increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (p for trend=0·02), again particularly for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (p for trend=0·006). For individuals homozygous for the TNF −308A allele and carrying at least one IL10 −3575A allele, risk of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma doubled (2·13 [1·37–3·32], p=0·00083). Interpretation Common polymorphisms in TNF and IL10, key cytokines for the inflammatory response and Th1/Th2 balance, could be susceptibility loci for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Moreover, our results underscore the importance of consortia for investigating the genetic basis of chronic diseases like cancer.
TL;DR: A significant excess of pairs is observed above the yield expected from neutral meson decays at the CERN SPS, and the resulting mass spectrum is consistent with a dominant contribution from pi+pi- -->rho -->mu+mu- annihilation.
Abstract: We report on a precision measurement of low-mass muon pairs in 158 AGeV indium-indium collisions at the CERN SPS. A significant excess of pairs is observed above the yield expected from neutral meson decays. The unprecedented sample size of 360 000 dimuons and the good mass resolution of about 2% allow us to isolate the excess by subtraction of the decay sources. The shape of the resulting mass spectrum is consistent with a dominant contribution from pi+pi--->rho-->µ+µ- annihilation. The associated space-time averaged rho spectral function shows a strong broadening, but essentially no shift in mass. This may rule out theoretical models linking hadron masses directly to the chiral condensate.
TL;DR: In this paper, the Parkes 20 cm multibeam survey of the Galactic plane was used to estimate the number of pulsars in the inner Galaxy and the birth rate of these pulsars.
Abstract: [ABRIDGED] We present the discovery and follow-up observations of 142 pulsars found in the Parkes 20-cm multibeam pulsar survey of the Galactic plane. These new discoveries bring the total number of pulsars found by the survey to 742. In addition to tabulating spin and astrometric parameters, along with pulse width and flux density information, we present orbital characteristics for 13 binary pulsars which form part of the new sample. Combining these results from another recent Parkes multibeam survey at high Galactic latitudes, we have a sample of 1008 normal pulsars which we use to carry out a determination of their Galactic distribution and birth rate. We infer a total Galactic population of 30000 +/- 1100 potentially detectable pulsars (i.e. those beaming towards us) having 1.4-GHz luminosities above 0.1 mJy kpc squared. Using a pulsar current analysis, we derive the birth rate of this population to be 1.4 +/- 0.2 pulsars per century. An important conclusion from our work is that the inferred radial density function of pulsars depends strongly on the assumed distribution of free electrons in the Galaxy. As a result, any analyses using the most recent electron model of Cordes & Lazio predict a dearth of pulsars in the inner Galaxy. We show that this model can also bias the inferred pulsar scale height with respect to the Galactic plane. Combining our results with other Parkes multibeam surveys we find that the population is best described by an exponential distribution with a scale height of 330 pc.
TL;DR: Deferasirox showed a plasma elimination half-life of 8-16 hours, supporting its once-daily administration, and was well tolerated and showed similar efficacy to DFO 40 mg/kg in terms of decreases in LIC.
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Iron accumulation is an inevitable consequence of chronic blood transfusions and results in serious complications in the absence of chelation treatment to remove excess iron. Deferoxamine (Desferal, DFO) reduces morbidity and mortality although the administration schedule of slow, parenteral infusions several days each week limits compliance and negatively affects long-term outcome. Deferasirox (Exjade, ICL670) is an oral chelator with high iron-binding potency and selectivity. In a phase II study, the tolerability and efficacy of deferasirox were compared with those of DFO in 71 adults with transfusional hemosiderosis. DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive once-daily deferasirox (10 or 20 mg/kg; n=24 in both groups) or DFO (40 mg/kg, 5 days/week; n=23) for 48 weeks. Results. Both treatments were well tolerated and no patient discontinued deferasirox due to drug-related adverse events. The reported frequency of transient, mild to moderate gastrointestinal disturbances was higher in the deferasirox group than in the DFO group, but these disturbances settled spontaneously without dose interruption in all patients. Decreases in liver iron concentration (LIC) were comparable in the deferasirox 20 mg/kg/day and DFO groups; baseline values of 8.5 and 7.9 mg Fe/g dw fell to 6.6 and 5.9 mg Fe/g dw, respectively, by week 48. Deferasirox showed a plasma elimination half-life of 8-16 hours, supporting its once-daily administration. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Deferasirox at daily doses of 10 or 20 mg/kg was well tolerated and, at 20 mg/kg, showed similar efficacy to DFO 40 mg/kg in terms of decreases in LIC.
TL;DR: Results showed that tretinoin cutaneous delivery is strongly affected by vesicle composition and thermodynamic activity of the drug, and small, negatively charged niosomal formulations, which are saturated with tretinin, have shown to give higher cutaneous drug retention than both liposomes and commercial formulation.
TL;DR: A SAR image-registration procedure, based on the use of external measures which allows obtaining a very accurate alignment of SAR images, and which may achieve high accuracy even in critical areas, such as steep topography regions.
Abstract: Accurate subpixel registration of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is an issue that is again growing interest since its initial developments related to two-pass interferometry. Recent progress in coherent (multichannel) SAR processing raises the need for accurate registration of data takes acquired with large baseline spans, high temporal coverage, and with different frequency and/or operational modes. In this paper, we discuss a SAR image-registration procedure, based on the use of external measures which allows obtaining a very accurate alignment of SAR images. The presented technique makes use of a digital elevation model and of the precise information about the acquisition flight tracks, to compute the warping functions that map the position of each pixel in the different takes, thus avoiding any approximation. The resulting algorithm is simple, robust, precise, and very efficient; as a matter of fact, it may achieve high accuracy even in critical areas, such as steep topography regions. Moreover, the availability of an analytical and exact model allows performing a detailed sensitivity analysis that can be useful in evaluating the applicability of this technique even to future high-precision satellite systems. Extensive testing, carried out on several real European Remote Sensing and ENVISAT datasets, clearly shows the effectiveness of such algorithm in registering critical SAR images
TL;DR: The extent of paediatric unlicensed/off label use is higher in neonatal and paediatric intensive care units and oncology wards, compared with primary care, and future research should be directed towards the identification of individual drugs that cause serious adverse drug reactions and lack product information.
Abstract: This review aims to give an updated overview of the worldwide situation of off-label and unlicensed drug use in the paediatric field, also taking into account the safety of this kind of treatment. A Medline and Embase search was performed between 1990 and 2006 and a total of 52 studies were identified and included in the systematic review. From the authors' analysis of the literature, the extent of paediatric unlicensed/off label use is higher in neonatal and paediatric intensive care units and oncology wards, compared with primary care. Moreover, among the nine studies reporting the contribution of an off-label/unlicensed drug use to the occurrence of adverse events, the percentage of unlicensed and/or off-label prescriptions involved in an adverse drug reaction ranged between 23 and 60%. To ensure that children are not exposed to unnecessary risks, controlled clinical trials are required. In addition, future research should be directed towards the identification of individual drugs that cause serious adverse drug reactions and lack product information.
TL;DR: The results showed that networks trained with pre-processed data performed better than networks trained on undecomposed, noisy raw signals, and the best results were obtained using the data partitioning technique.
Abstract: The evaluation of surface water resources is a necessary input to solving water management problems. Neural network models have been trained to predict monthly runoff for the Tirso basin, located in Sardinia (Italy) at the S. Chiara section. Monthly time series data were available for 69 years and are characterized by non-stationarity and seasonal irregularity, which is typical of a Mediterranean weather regime. This paper investigates the effects of data preprocessing on model performance using continuous and discrete wavelet transforms and data partitioning. The results showed that networks trained with pre-processed data performed better than networks trained on undecomposed, noisy raw signals. In particular, the best results were obtained using the data partitioning technique.
TL;DR: In this paper, a new locus for familial sleep-related focal epilepsy on chromosome 8p12.3-8q12.4 was identified, which is associated with mutations of the α4 and β2 subunits of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.
Abstract: Sleep has traditionally been recognized as a precipitating factor for some forms of epilepsy, although differential diagnosis between some seizure types and parasomnias may be difficult. Autosomal dominant frontal lobe epilepsy is characterized by nocturnal seizures with hyperkinetic automatisms and poorly organized stereotyped movements and has been associated with mutations of the α4 and β2 subunits of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. We performed a clinical and molecular genetic study of a large pedigree segregating sleep-related epilepsy in which seizures are associated with fear sensation, tongue movements, and nocturnal wandering, closely resembling nightmares and sleep walking. We identified a new genetic locus for familial sleep-related focal epilepsy on chromosome 8p12.3-8q12.3. By sequencing the positional candidate neuronal cholinergic receptor α2 subunit gene (CHRNA2), we detected a heterozygous missense mutation, I279N, in the first transmembrane domain that is crucial for receptor function. Whole-cell recordings of transiently transfected HEK293 cells expressing either the mutant or the wild-type receptor showed that the new CHRNA2 mutation markedly increases the receptor sensitivity to acetylcholine, therefore indicating that the nicotinic α2 subunit alteration is the underlying cause. CHRNA2 is the third neuronal cholinergic receptor gene to be associated with familial sleep-related epilepsies. Compared with the CHRNA4 and CHRNB2 mutations reported elsewhere, CHRNA2 mutations cause a more complex and finalized ictal behavior.
TL;DR: This report deals with the efforts to identify the optimal amino acid sequence that evokes a complex behavioral syndrome and with the preliminary attempts to localize the site of action of these polypeptides.
Abstract: Our experiments began several years ago as a by-product of studies on the mechanism of the eosinopenic action of ACTH. The results of previous experiments convinced us that the eosinopenia caused by ACTH stemmed from its action on hypothalamic structures which had been shown to control the blood eosinophils.l-O To test this working hypothesis we injected dogs intracisternally (i.c.) with a commercial preparation of ACTH. We not only found that the eosinopenic action of ACTH was more pronounced after intracisternal than after intravenous injection,'O but we were fortunate to observe a complex behavioral syndrome, unfamiliar to us, which warranted further investigation." Most of the dogs given ACTH i.c. exhibit apparently normal behavior for about half an hour. Thereafter all animals become apathetic and exhibit diffuse muscular tremors which, a t this time, are more marked in the limbs. The rhythm of respiratory activity assumes a peculiar characteristic which will be described in more detail. The dogs are drowsy, yawn frequently and after about one hour they start to stretch in the way they usually do when they awake from physiological sleep (FIGURE 1). The intervals between successive stretching acts become shorter and shorter until a stretching act begins immediately after the preceding one (stretching crisis). Despite this peculiar behavior the dogs seem to remain in contact with the environment, as they are responsive to calls and perform normal activities without fear or aggressiveness. Occasionally some animals exhibit sialorrhea. The stretching activity persists approximately 24 to 72 hours according to the amovnt of ACTH injected and terminates with complete reintegration of normal behavior. Even when given chronically i.c., crude ACTH preparations are devoid of toxicity and on successive administrations they maintain the same degree of activity. This report deals with our efforts to identify the optimal amino acid sequence that evokes such a syndrome and with our preliminary attempts to localize the site of action of these polypeptides.
TL;DR: In this paper, the surface properties of the preconditioned materials were investigated for the photocatalytic degradation of phenol under UV-illumination using Raman spectroscopy and XPS, LEIS and 1H MAS-NMR.
Abstract: TiO2 materials prepared by sol–gel method and then impregnated with sulfuric acid and further calcined at different temperatures show high photon efficiencies for the photocatalytic degradation of phenol under UV-illumination. Best photocatalyst was obtained after calcination around 700 °C, giving specific activities (i.e. per m2) significantly higher than those exhibited by similarly prepared non-sulfated TiO2 or by pure Degussa P25. Structural analysis of these new materials by XRD, TG–DTG and Raman spectroscopy shows that once calcined at 700 °C the material was a well-crystallized, high surface area and sulfate-free 90% anatase. Surface characterization in this work by XPS, LEIS and 1H MAS-NMR confirms a complete loss of the sulfate and OH-groups, and a low XPS O/Ti-atomic ratio with the O(1s) peak shifted to higher binding energies (1.7 versus 2 ± 0.1 and 530.4 eV versus 529.8 eV, respectively, against the reference materials). This indicates the existence of oxygen vacancies, which give a broad band at 400–600 nm in the reflectance spectra. However, LEIS spectra show an O/Ti composition at the topmost exposed atomic surface layer similar to that of TiO2 reference materials. Adsorption microcalorimetry of pyridine gives a profile of acid sites quite similar to those found for reference anatase samples, what discards the presence of superacid sites as the origin of its enhanced UV-photoefficiency. A mechanism is proposed, on the basis of earlier results in the literature for acidic TiO2 surfaces, to explain the nature of these materials. We also try to correlate the contribution of the oxygen vacancies within the anatase sub-surface layers to the high photon UV-efficiency of the system and, likely, to an enhanced vis-photoactivity of these materials.
TL;DR: In vitro release experiments showed that SLN were able to reduce the rapid evaporation of essential oil if compared with the reference emulsions, and obtained results showed that the studied SLN formulations are suitable carriers in agriculture.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to formulate a new delivery system for ecological pesticides by the incorporation of Artemisia arborescens L essential oil into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). Two different SLN formulations were prepared following the high-pressure homogenization technique using Compritol 888 ATO as lipid and Poloxamer 188 or Miranol Ultra C32 as surfactants. The SLN formulation particle size was determined using Photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and laser diffraction analysis (LD). The change of particle charge was studied by zeta potential (ZP) measurements, while the melting and recrystallization behavior was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In vitro release studies of the essential oil were performed at 35°C. Data showed a high physical stability for both formulations at various storage temperatures during 2 months of investigation. In particular, average diameter of Artemisia arborescens L essential oil-loaded SLN did not vary during storage and increased slightly after spraying the SLN dispersions. In vitro release experiments showed that SLN were able to reduce the rapid evaporation of essential oil if compared with the reference emulsions. Therefore, obtained results showed that the studied SLN formulations are suitable carriers in agriculture.
TL;DR: Switching to anastrozole after the first 2-3 years of treatment was confirmed to improve event-free and relapse-free survival of postmenopausal, node-positive, ER-positive early breast cancer patients already receiving adjuvant tamoxifen.
TL;DR: A role of anandamide in the regulation of emotion is supported and the an andamide transport system is pointed to as a potential target for anxiolytic drugs.
TL;DR: The imminent clinical availability of coreceptor‐targeted viral entry inhibitors raises new hope for bridging the gap towards a definitive cure of HIV infection.
Abstract: The unexpected encounter, 10 years ago, between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the chemokine system has dramatically advanced our understanding of the pathogenesis of AIDS, opening new perspectives for the development of effective prophylactic and therapeutic measures. To initiate infection, the HIV-1 external envelope glycoprotein, gp120, sequentially interacts with two cellular receptors, CD4 and a chemokine receptor (or coreceptor) like CCR5 or CXCR4. This peculiar two-stage receptor-interaction strategy allows gp120 to maintain the highly conserved coreceptor-binding site in a cryptic conformation, protected from neutralizing antibodies. The differential use of CCR5 and CXCR4 defines three HIV-1 biological variants (R5, R5X4, X4), which vary in their prevalence during the disease course. The evolutionary choice of HIV-1 to exploit chemokine receptors as cellular entry gateways has turned their chemokine ligands into endogenous antiviral factors that variably modulate viral transmission, disease progression and vaccine responses. Likewise, the natural history of HIV-1 infection is influenced by specific polymorphisms of chemokine and chemokine-receptor genes. The imminent clinical availability of coreceptor-targeted viral entry inhibitors raises new hope for bridging the gap towards a definitive cure of HIV infection.
TL;DR: The major metabolites identified were an O-methylated derivative of HT, glucuronides of HT and TYR and a novel glutathionylated conjugate of HT.
Abstract: We have conducted a detailed investigation into the absorption, metabolism and microflora-dependent transformation of hydroxytyrosol (HT), tyrosol (TYR) and their conjugated forms, such as oleuropein (OL). Conjugated forms underwent rapid hydrolysis under gastric conditions, resulting in significant increases in the amount of free HT and TYR entering the small intestine. Both HT and TYR transferred across human Caco-2 cell monolayers and rat segments of jejunum and ileum and were subject to classic phase I/II biotransformation. The major metabolites identified were an O-methylated derivative of HT, glucuronides of HT and TYR and a novel glutathionylated conjugate of HT. In contrast, there was no absorption of OL in either model. However, OL was rapidly degraded by the colonic microflora resulting in the formation of HT. Our study provides additional information regarding the breakdown of complex olive oil polyphenols in the GI tract, in particular the stomach and the large intestine.
05 Nov 2006
TL;DR: This work presents a floorplan aware design method that considers the wiring complexity of the NoC during the topology synthesis process, and incorporates mechanisms to prevent deadlocks during routing, which is critical for proper operation of NoCs.
Abstract: With increasing communication demands of processor and memory cores in systems on chips (SoCs), scalable networks on chips (NoCs) are needed to interconnect the cores. For the use of NoCs to be feasible in today's industrial designs, a custom-tailored, application-specific NoC that satisfies the design objectives and constraints of the targeted application domain is required. In this work, we present a design methodology that automates the synthesis of such application-specific NoC architectures. We present a floorplan aware design method that considers the wiring complexity of the NoC during the topology synthesis process. This leads to detecting timing violations on the NoC links early in the design cycle and to have accurate power estimations of the interconnect. We incorporate mechanisms to prevent deadlocks during routing, which is critical for proper operation of NoCs. We integrate the NoC synthesis method with an existing design flow, automating NoC synthesis, generation, simulation and physical design processes. We also present ways to ensure design convergence across the levels. Experiments on several SoC benchmarks are presented, which show that the synthesized topologies provide a large reduction in network power consumption (2.78 times on average) and improvement in performance (1.59 times on average) over the best mesh and mesh-based custom topologies. An actual layout of a multimedia SoC with the NoC designed using our methodology is presented, which shows that the designed NoC supports the required frequency of operation (close to 900 MHz) without any timing violations. We could design the NoC from input specifications to layout in 4 hours, a process that usually takes several weeks
TL;DR: In this paper, a novel solid-state sensor for charge detection in biomolecular processes is proposed, which is compatible with a standard CMOS process, thus allowing fully electronic readout and large scale of integration of biosensors on a single chip.
Abstract: A novel, solid-state sensor for charge detection in biomolecular processes is proposed. The device, called charge-modulated field-effect transistor, is compatible with a standard CMOS process, thus allowing fully electronic readout and large scale of integration of biosensors on a single chip. The detection mechanism is based on the field-effect modulation induced by electric charge changes related to the bioprocess. A model of the device was developed, to provide a manageable relationship between its output and geometric, design and process parameters. Extensive two- and three-dimensional simulations of the proposed structure validated the model and the working principle.