A room-temperature alternating current susceptometer - Data analysis, calibration, and test

An AC susceptometer operating in the range of 10 Hz to 100 kHz and at room temperature is designed, built, calibrated and used to characterize the magnetic behaviour of coated magnetic nanoparticles. Other weakly magnetic materials (in amounts of some millilitres) can be analyzed as well. The setup makes use of a DAQ-based acquisition system in order to determine the amplitude and the phase of the sample magnetization as a function of the frequency of the driving magnetic field, which is powered by a digital waveform generator. A specific acquisition strategy makes the response directly proportional to the sample susceptibility, taking advantage of the differential nature of the coil assembly. A calibration method based on conductive samples is developed.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, 19 ref

Laser driven self-assembly of shape-controlled potassium nanoparticles in porous glass

We observe growth of shape-controlled potassium nanoparticles inside a random network of glass nanopores, exposed to low-power laser radiation. Visible laser light plays a dual role: it increases the desorption probability of potassium atoms from the inner glass walls and induces the self-assembly of metastable metallic nanoparticles along the nanopores. By probing the sample transparency and the atomic light-induced desorption flux into the vapour phase, the dynamics of both cluster formation/evaporation and atomic photo-desorption processes are characterized. Results indicate that laser light not only increases the number of nanoparticles embedded in the glass matrix but also influences their structural properties. By properly choosing the laser frequency and the illumination time, we demonstrate that it is possible to tailor the nanoparticles'shape distribution. Furthermore, a deep connection between the macroscopic behaviour of atomic desorption and light-assisted cluster formation is observed. Our results suggest new perspectives for the study of atom/surface interaction as well as an effective tool for the light-controlled reversible growth of nanostructures.Comment: 14 pages,6 figures, http://iopscience.iop.org/1612-202X/11/8/085902

A new class of sum rules for products of Bessel functions

In this paper we derive a new class of sum rules for products of the Bessel functions of first kind. Using standard algebraic manipulations we extend some of the well known properties of $J_n$. Some physical applications of the results are also discussed. A comparison with the Newberger[J. Math. Phys. \textbf{23} (1982) 1278] sum rules is performed on a typical example.Comment: Published in Journal of Mathematical Physics, 9 pages, no picture

Stroboscopic Laser Diagnostics for Detection of Ordering in One-Dimensional Ion beam

A novel diagnostic method for detecting ordering in one-dimensional ion beams is presented. The ions are excited by a pulsed laser at two different positions along the beam and fluorescence is observed by a group of four photomultipliers. Correlation in fluorescence signals is firm indication that the ion beam has an ordered structure.Comment: 7 pages, REVTEX, fig3 uuencoded, figs 1-2 available upon request from [email protected], to appear in Phys. Rev.

Improved and standardized method for assessing years lived with disability after burns and its application to estimate the non-fatal burden of disease of burn injuries in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands

Background: Burden of disease estimates are an important resource in public health. Currently, robust estimates are not available for the burn population. Our objectives are to adapt a refined methodology (INTEGRIS method) to burns and to apply this new INTEGRIS-burns method to estimate, and compare, the burden of disease of burn injuries in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands. Methods: Existing European and Western-Australian health-related quality of life (HRQL) datasets were combined to derive disability weights for three homogenous burn injury groups based on percentage total body surface area (%TBSA) burned. Subsequently, incidence data from Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands from 2010 to 2017 were used to compute annual non-fatal burden of disease estimates for each of these three countries. Non-fatal burden of disease was measured by years lived with disability (YLD). Results: The combined dataset included 7159 HRQL (EQ-5D-3 L) outcomes from 3401 patients. Disability weights ranged from 0.046 (subgroup  24 months post-burn) to 0.497 (subgroup > 20% TBSA burned 0–1 months post-burn). In 2017 the non-fatal burden of disease of burns for the three countries (YLDs/100,000 inhabitants) was 281 for Australia, 279 for New Zealand and 133 for the Netherlands. Conclusions: This project established a method for more precise estimates of the YLDs of burns, as it is the only method adapted to the nature of burn injuries and their recovery. Compared to previous used methods, the INTEGRIS-burns method includes improved disability weights based on severity categorization of burn patients; a better substantiated proportion of patients with lifelong disability based; and, the application of burn specific recovery timeframes. Information derived from the adapted method can be used as input for health decision making at both the national and international level. Future studies should investigate whether the application is valid in low- and middle- income countries

Dual channel self-oscillating optical magnetometer

We report on a two-channel magnetometer based on nonlinear magneto-optical rotation in a Cs glass cell with buffer gas. The Cs atoms are optically pumped and probed by free running diode lasers tuned to the D$_2$ line. A wide frequency modulation of the pump laser is used to produce both synchronous Zeeman optical pumping and hyperfine repumping. The magnetometer works in an unshielded environment and spurious signal from distant magnetic sources is rejected by means of differential measurement. In this regime the magnetometer simultaneously gives the magnetic field modulus and the field difference. Rejection of the common-mode noise allows for high-resolution magnetometry with a sensitivity of \pthz{2}. This sensitivity, in conjunction with long-term stability and a large bandwidth, makes possible to detect water proton magnetization and its free induction decay in a measurement volume of 5 cm$^3$Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures. Improved version (v2). Accepted for publicatio

Navigating a global pandemic crisis through marketing agility: evidence from Italian B2B firms

Purpose This study aims to explore the impact of marketing agility on the business-to-business (B2B) firms' capacity to address unexpected events such as the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, examining how they reshape their strategies during the different stages of a crisis. Design/methodology/approach This study follows a theory-building approach and performs an in-depth exploratory multiple-case study in the context of 16 Italian firms operating in the B2B sector. Findings The study develops an event-sequence-based framework and illustrates how agile marketing strategies empower B2B firms to cope with a crisis across three crucial moments: the event phase, the response management phase and the investigation phase. Originality/value This paper contributes to a better understanding of marketing agility in the context of crisis management by showing the agile marketing strategies that B2B firms adopt during the different stages of a crisis. This work provides a useful foundation to assist managers in coping with market uncertainty. It suggests practical guidelines to make more informed strategic and operational marketing decisions, increasing a firm's capacity to act in today's fast-moving, complex times

Long-term outcomes in corticosteroid-refractory Graves' orbitopathy treated with tocilizumab.

Up to 20% of patients with moderate to severe Graves' orbitopathy (GO) do not respond to high-dose glucocorticoids (GC). A few studies, including a randomized trial, have demonstrated the efficacy of interleukin-6 (IL-6) blockade with tocilizumab (TCZ) in GC-refractory GO. However, data on predictors of response to TCZ and long-term outcomes are lacking. Observational single-center study on ten consecutive patients treated with TCZ for GC-refractory GO, between 2016 and 2020. Median (interquartile range) follow-up was 24 (12-36) months. Inflammation and exophthalmos improved dramatically in all patients within months after starting TCZ. Mean Clinical Activity Score decreased from 4.80 ± 1.13 to 0.70 ± 0.82 points at 6 months (mean change: -4.10 ± 1.52; p < .0001). Proptosis improved from 23.2 ± 2.1 to 20.6 ± 2.0 mm at 6 months (mean change: -2.9 ± 1.4 mm; p < .0001). Diplopia resolved in 7 patients. Thyroid receptor antibodies decreased markedly during TCZ treatment. Baseline serum IL-6 levels did not predict clinical response. TCZ was well-tolerated. During follow-up, 3 patients were diagnosed with cancer (breast cancer in 2 and urothelial cancer in 1). TCZ was rapidly effective and well-tolerated in our patients with GC-refractory GO. Four patients experienced mild/moderate adverse events as neutropenia, hyperlipidemia, and infections; nearly a third developed cancer during the follow-up. The increased incidence observed could be explained by the high prevalence of smokers, that are at higher risk for Graves' orbitopathy and solid malignancies as breast cancer. Thus, regular cancer screening could be proposed to this vulnerable population receiving high doses of immunosuppressants

NRF2-driven miR-125B1 and miR-29B1 transcriptional regulation controls a novel anti-apoptotic miRNA regulatory network for AML survival

Transcription factor NRF2 is an important regulator of oxidative stress. It is involved in cancer progression, and has abnormal constitutive expression in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Posttranscriptional regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs) can affect the malignant phenotype of AML cells. In this study, we identified and characterised NRF2-regulated miRNAs in AML. An miRNA array identified miRNA expression level changes in response to NRF2 knockdown in AML cells. Further analysis of miRNAs concomitantly regulated by knockdown of the NRF2 inhibitor KEAP1 revealed the major candidate NRF2-mediated miRNAs in AML. We identified miR-125B to be upregulated and miR-29B to be downregulated by NRF2 in AML. Subsequent bioinformatic analysis identified putative NRF2 binding sites upstream of the miR-125B1 coding region and downstream of the mir-29B1 coding region. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses showed that NRF2 binds to these antioxidant response elements (AREs) located in the 5′ untranslated regions of miR-125B and miR-29B. Finally, primary AML samples transfected with anti-miR-125B antagomiR or miR-29B mimic showed increased cell death responsiveness either alone or co-treated with standard AML chemotherapy. In summary, we find that NRF2 regulation of miR-125B and miR-29B acts to promote leukaemic cell survival, and their manipulation enhances AML responsiveness towards cytotoxic chemotherapeutics