0000000000115144
AUTHOR
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About entangled networks of worm-like micelles: a rejected hypothesis
We report new results from small-angle neutron scattering on d(1 2)-cyclohexane/lecithin/water micellar solutions performed as a function of the water content (w(o)), temperature (T) and dispersed phase volume fraction (phi). The data from dilute samples are interpretable in terms of the existence of giant cylindrical reverse micelles and are well fit with a core-shell model (that provides the micelle structure and dimensions) with values of 28 and 45 Angstrom for the inner core and the outer shell radii, almost independent on temperature and concentration. Such a result could appear consistent with the current idea that worm-like micelles are living polymers. On the contrary, the appearanc…
Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Abstract: Background Health system planning requires careful assessment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemiology, but data for morbidity and mortality of this disease are scarce or non-existent in many countries. We estimated the global, regional, and national burden of CKD, as well as the burden of cardiovascular disease and gout attributable to impaired kidney function, for the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017. We use the term CKD to refer to the morbidity and mortality that can be directly attributed to all stages of CKD, and we use the term impaired kidney function to refer to the additional risk of CKD from cardiovascular disease and gout. Methods Th…
Incoherent quasi-elastic neutron scattering in isomeric alcohols
Abstract Incoherent quasi-elastic neutron scattering (IQENS) data on liquid isomeric alcohols normal-pentanol (n-PeOH) and 2-methyl-2-butanol (2M-2BuOH) and on their mixture are presented. The diffusive motion of protons, as a function of temperature, is analyzed in the framework of the random jump diffusion model. The temperature dependence of the parameters obtained confirms the more “fragile” behaviour of the more sterically hindered 2M-2BuOH with respect to that of the linear n-PeOH.
Small-angle neutron scattering from lecithin reverse micelles
Abstract We report new results of small-angle neutron scattering from cyclohexane- d 12 /lecithin/water micellar solutions, performed as a function of the water content, w 0 , the temperature, T and the dispersed-phase volume fraction, ф. The data from dilute samples can be interpreted in terms of the existence of giant cylindrical reverse micelles, in good agreement with the current idea of an unlimited micellar growth with ф. In contrast, the appearance of a sharp interference maximum at high concentrations ( ф > 0.15 ) suggests that the current hypothesis of a gel structure interpreted as a random network of entangled micelles can be assumed to be incorrect, and that there must be some c…
A semi-automatic approach for epicardial adipose tissue segmentation and quantification on cardiac CT scans
Abstract Many studies have shown that epicardial fat is associated with a higher risk of heart diseases. Accurate epicardial adipose tissue quantification is still an open research issue. Considering that manual approaches are generally user-dependent and time-consuming, computer-assisted tools can considerably improve the result repeatability as well as reduce the time required for performing an accurate segmentation. Unfortunately, fully automatic strategies might not always identify the Region of Interest (ROI) correctly. Moreover, they could require user interaction for handling unexpected events. This paper proposes a semi-automatic method for Epicardial Fat Volume (EFV) segmentation a…
Current research in biotechnology: Exploring the biotech forefront
Abstract Biotechnology is an evolving research field that covers a broad range of topics. Here we aimed to evaluate the latest research literature, to identify prominent research themes, major contributors in terms of institutions, countries/regions, and journals. The Web of Science Core Collection online database was searched to retrieve biotechnology articles published since 2017. In total, 12,351 publications were identified and analyzed. Over 8500 institutions contributed to these biotechnology publications, with the top 5 most productive ones scattered over France, China, the United States of America, Spain, and Brazil. Over 140 countries/regions contributed to the biotechnology resear…
Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome caused by a new SIL1 frameshift mutation
no abstract available
Synthesis and spectroscopic investigations (IR, NMR and Mössbauer) of tin(IV) and organotin(IV) derivatives of bis(pyrazol-1-yl) alkanes: X-ray crystal structures of bis(4-methylpyrazol-1-yl) methane and its dimethyltin(IV) dichloride adduct
A series of 1:1 adducts of the type [(L)R(n)SnX(4-n)] . zH(2)O (L = bis(4-methylpyrazol-1-yl)methane (L(4)), bis(3,4,5-trimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane (L(T)), 1,2-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)ethane (L(A)) or 1,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)ethane (L(B)); R = Me, Et, Bu or Ph; X = I, Br or Cl; n = 0, 1 or 2; z = 1, 1.5 or 2), and the likely polynuclear [(L(A))(5)(SnCl4)(4)] . (H2O)(5) and [(L(B))(2)(SnCl4)(3)] . 1/2[Et(2)O] have been characterized in the solid state and in solution by analyses, spectral (IR, Mossbauer, and H-1, C-13 and Sn-119 NMR) data and conductivity measurements. When L(T) reacts with SnCl4, cleavage of a carbon (sp(3))-nitrogen bond was observed and the adduct [(3,4,5-trimethylpyra…
Effect of family structure and TPH2 G-703T on the stability of dysregulation profile throughout adolescence
Abstract Background Two different polymorphisms (TPH2 G-703T and 5-HTTLPR) involved in the serotonergic pathway have been reported to play a role, both alone and in interaction with the environment, in early and adult emotion regulation. As most of these studies are cross-sectional, we know little about the impact of these polymorphisms over time, particularly during adolescence. Methods Because we were interested in the effects of these polymorphisms and environment (i.e., family structure) at different time-points on the emotional dysregulation profile, we performed a path analysis model in a general adolescent population sample of a five-year follow-up study. Results We found a high stab…
Relaxation phenomena in mixed isomeric alcohols by Mandelstam-Brillouin scattering
Mandelstam-Brillouin scattering data in mixed isomeric alcohols n-pentanol (nPe-OH) and 2-methyl-2-butanol (2Me-2BuOH) are presented. The hypersonic velocity and normalized absorption are measured as a function of the scattering angle, in the temperature range from - 15-degrees-C to + 45-degrees-C, and as a function of n-PeOH molar fraction going from the pure n-PeOH to the pure 2Me-2BuOH. The experimental results confirm the existence of a shear relaxation phenomenon in the GHz region, that has been previously detected in pure liquids. The temperature dependence of the relaxation time tau-s and of the shear modulus G-infinity evaluated within viscoelastic liquid models, support the existen…
Secondary Minerals From Italian Sulfuric Acid Caves
Italy is a country hosting a large number of hypogenic sulfuric acid (SAS) speleogenesis caves, mostly located along the Apennine chain, but also in Campania (along the coastline of Capo Palinuro), Apulia (along the coastline of Santa Cesarea Terme) and Sicily. Besides the typical morphologies related to their special geochemical origin (cupolas, replacement pockets, bubble trails, etc), these caves often host abundant secondary mineral deposits, mainly gypsum, being the result of the interaction between the sulfuric acid and the carbonate host rock. Native sulfur deposits are also well visible on the ceiling and roof, and peculiar sulfuric acid minerals such as jarosite, alunite, and other…
A novel framework for MR image segmentation and quantification by using MedGA
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Image segmentation represents one of the most challenging issues in medical image analysis to distinguish among different adjacent tissues in a body part. In this context, appropriate image pre-processing tools can improve the result accuracy achieved by computer-assisted segmentation methods. Taking into consideration images with a bimodal intensity distribution, image binarization can be used to classify the input pictorial data into two classes, given a threshold intensity value. Unfortunately, adaptive thresholding techniques for two-class segmentation work properly only for images characterized by bimodal histograms. We aim at overcoming these limitations and…
Mesonic and Non-Mesonic Weak Decay of Hypernuclei with FINUDA
Abstract The FINUDA experiment performed a systematic study of both mesonic and non-mesonic weak decay of p - shell Λ-hypernuclei. Recent results on the mesonic decay rates and the non-mesonic decay ratios are illustrated and briefly discussed.
RIBES, la rete italiana delle banche del germoplasma: i primi 10 anni di attività per la conservazione ex situ della flora spontanea.
Il lavoro presenta le attività di RIBES, la rete italiana delle banche del germoplasma, relativamente ai primi 10 anni di azioni di conservazione della biodiversità vegetale su scala nazionale.
New results on mesonic weak decay of p-shell Lambda-hypernuclei
The FINUDA experiment performed a systematic study of the charged mesonic weak decay channel of $p$-shell $\Lambda$-hypernuclei. Negatively charged pion spectra from mesonic decay were measured with magnetic analysis for the first time for ${^{7}_{\Lambda}Li}$, ${^{9}_{\Lambda}Be}$, ${^{11}_{\Lambda}B}$ and ${^{15}_{\Lambda}N}$. The shape of the $\pi^{-}$ spectra was interpreted through a comparison with pion distorted wave calculations that take into account the structure of both hypernucleus and daughter nucleus. Branching ratios $\Gamma_{\pi^{-}}/\Gamma_{tot}$ were derived from the measured spectra and converted to $\pi^{-}$ decay rates $\Gamma_{\pi^{-}}$ by means of known or extrapolate…
A BRIEF ANATOMO-SURGICAL DISSECTION GUIDE TO HUMAN NECK: RESULTS OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF PALERMO AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
The aim of this article is to show methods for dissection of the neck. In the summer of 2017 a group of students of the University of Palermo that have already passed the exam of Human Anatomy took a 4 weeks dissection course at the University of Malta. The students were provided with a dissection kit, video recording equipment and cameras for taking pictures. They dissected the skin, the subcutaneous tissue, the muscular bundles, the muscles, the vascular and nervous bundles, the nerves, the larynx, the trachea and the esophagus. This paper presents the results of the dissection course and a small and simple guide to young students and medical doctors who want to learn the bases of neck di…