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Coombs-Negative Haemolytic Anaemia, Direct Hyperbilirubinaemia and Splenomegaly: A Rare Amalgam
Get PDFIntroduction: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is notorious for its varied presentation in adults. Reactivation of EBV can occur at any time and is often due to weakened cellular immunity. Case description: Here we report the case of a young woman with no previous medical history who presented with cholestatic hepatitis, Coombs-negative haemolytic anaemia and splenomegaly. Due to the initial disjointed picture with no other localizing symptoms, she underwent extensive work-up for the same. Discussion: EBV has been associated with many malignancies, autoimmune diseases and chronic fatigue syndrome. EBV causes elevated liver enzymes; however, cholestatic hepatitis is exceedingly rare, with only a few cases reported. Haemolytic anaemia is a common complication of EBV infection and is often Coombs positive. Conclusion: EBV testing should be considered before more invasive and expensive work-up in a patient presenting with multi-systemic abnormalities
Foix-Chavany-Marie Syndrome as a Manifestation of Unilateral Opercular Stroke
Get PDFIntroduction: Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome (FCMS) is a type of pseudobulbar palsy that affects facio-pharyngo-glosso-masticatory muscles. Materials and Methods: A 62-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department after 9 hours of acute dysarthria and dysphagia. MRI showed restricted diffusion in the right operculum on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). No thrombolytic therapy was given. The patient had a history of mechanical aortic valve replacement under anticoagulation with a vitamin K antagonist. Work-up demonstrated suboptimal levels of INR. Due to severe dysphagia during hospitalization, a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) was performed. Results: The patient was discharged 5 days later, with a modified Rankin scale (mRs) score of 3, and secondary stroke prevention. He had achieved an excellent functional outcome (mRs 1) at 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: Our patient had a satisfactory recovery due to prompt diagnosis, secondary stroke prevention, and compliance with treatment
Design, development and realization of the calorimeter for the HERD experiment
No full textThe High Energy cosmic-Radiation Detection (HERD) facility is a China-led international space mission that will start its operation on board the future China’s Space Station around 2025. The experiment aims to accomplish with a single instrument important scientific goals in a wide range of research fields, including cosmic-ray physics, gamma-ray astronomy and dark-matter search. These
achievements will be possible thanks to its novel design, based on a 3D, homogeneous, isotropic and finely segmented calorimeter. In this paper we describe the calorimeter of the HERD experiment, from its basic idea to the optimization of the geometry, the development of the hardware, and the estimation of the expected performances
Study of a coronal mass ejection-driven shock in the low solar corona
No full textThe characterization of coronal shock waves driven by energetic coronal mass ejections (CMEs) is an important topic in solar physics. In this work, we explore how the analysis of simultaneous data obtained from both extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and radio observations can be successfully used to investigate the physics of CME-driven shocks in the low solar corona. In particular, we analyzed
EUV and radio observations of an eruption that propagated above the solar limb on 2014 October 30 and was accompanied by a type-II radio burst, which represents the signature of a coronal shock wave. The analysis of the combined EUV and radio data allowed us to unravel the controversial origin of band-splitting in type-II radio
bursts. Moreover, we obtained estimates of important plasma parameters, such as the density compression ratio and the plasma temperature. Finally, the geometry of the CME/shock event was recovered through data-driven 3D modelling
Reconstruction of truncated images for PeVatron searches with the Cherenkov Telescope Array
No full textThe Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will be the future groundbased gamma-ray observatory using the imaging atmospheric Cherenkov technique. One of CTA’s key science projects is the search for galactic PeVatrons, extreme
sources of accelerating cosmic particles. CTA’s sensitivity in the multi-TeV region is crucial for this goal. A dedicated reconstruction of the telescopes’ truncated images has been implemented in the CTA reconstruction pipeline in order to optimize CTA’s
sensitivity at very high energies (E > 10 TeV). First results are presented together with perspectives for PeVatron searches with CTA-North array
Research on theranostic radioisotope production at the Bern medical cyclotron
No full textThe production of medical radioisotopes for theranostics is essential for nuclear medicine developments. A research program is ongoing at the 18 MeV Bern medical cyclotron, where a solid target station is in operation together with
a 6.5 m Beam Transfer Line (BTL) ending in a separate bunker. To irradiate compressed powder pellets, novel target coins were conceived and realized together with methods to assess the beam energy and the production cross-sections. The activity at the end of the beam (EOB) is measured with a 1 cm3 CdZnTe detector. An ultra-compact active irradiation system based on a novel focusing and steering magnet and two-dimensional beam detectors is under development. Results on 43Sc, 44Sc, 47Sc, 61Cu, 64Cu, 68Ga, 155Tb, 165Er and 165Tm production are presented
Bubble formation in van der Waals crystals: A platform for fundamental studies
No full textvan der Waals (vdW) crystals have attracted great interest for the exceptional electronic, optical, chemical, and mechanical properties they reveal in their two-dimensional (2D) form. Furthermore, they are extremely flexible, so that they can be subjected to high strains. Here, we show how micro-scale mechanical deformations in these materials represent an ideal platform to study their fundamental
properties. More specifically, we exploit the capability of hydrogen-ion irradiation to induce the formation of 1-layer-thick micro-bubbles, and we also show that their
formation can be spatially controlled by litographic approches. These bubbles both modify the opto-electronical properties of the crystal and represent a unique system
to study its mechano-elastic and adhesive properties
Magnetic phases in A2Cr3As3 alkaline-based materials
No full textWe investigate the magnetism in the recently discovered quasi-one dimensional superconductors A2Cr3As3 (A=Na, K, Rb or Cs). Since the pressure can be an important tuning parameter that allows to move from the magnetic to the
superconducting phase, as found in other chromium-based materials, such as CrAs, here we analyze the role played by the pressure, isotropic or anisotropic, to modify the magnetic properties of these materials. The results we get clarify and shed light on the subtle interplay between magnetism and structural properties of A2Cr3As3 compounds
Architetti e Artisti nella Diaspora Italiana in America Latina. Arquitectos y Artistas en la Diáspora Italiana en Latinoamérica
No full textThe work, the result of an international research project that sees the collaboration of scholars from Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina,
Colombia, Brazil, Spain and Italy, is the result of an important dialogue of scientific diplomacy that explains and illustrates, through the
biographies of many Italian architects and artists, projects that are often the result of complex compromises but from which they are generated extraordinary cultural heritage. An innovative perspective that has also made it possible to give light to many important stories of Italians that so far have not had the good fortune of being able to be appreciated, even if their works have had important meanings in the territories in which they developed. This commitment of scientific diplomacy is therefore dedicated to all Italians in the world who have
done but which also continue to make great projects but whose exploration continues because there is still so much to discover, to know and to be enhanced. Now we invite you to read this book and enjoy its contents. Enjoy the reading
Analysis of lunar craters: A PLS path among impact physics, craterization simulations and image processing
No full textThis contribution concerns the training course that the Astrophysics Group of the University of Salento proposed to the students of the Piano Lauree Scientifiche for the school year 2019–2020. Since the first edition of the Piano Lauree
Scientifiche - Fisica of the University of Salento, the proposal of the Astrophysics Laboratory has been varied and every year different topics have been addressed,
developing new methodologies for a more attractive teaching and a better education guidance. Arousing great interest from students, this year the proposal of the Astrophysics Group was dedicated to Planetology with a direct laboratory experience focused on the simulation and analysis of impact craters. After an introduction on the minor bodies of the Solar System and on the impact crater physics, the students digitally processed images of the Moon’s surface with a dedicated software, obtained the necessary information for the subsequent calculation of the involved physical parameters, and finally processed the results, comparing them with those reported in the literatur