Weak Lensing from Space I: Instrumentation and Survey Strategy

A wide field space-based imaging telescope is necessary to fully exploit the technique of observing dark matter via weak gravitational lensing. This first paper in a three part series outlines the survey strategies and relevant instrumental parameters for such a mission. As a concrete example of hardware design, we consider the proposed Supernova/Acceleration Probe (SNAP). Using SNAP engineering models, we quantify the major contributions to this telescope's Point Spread Function (PSF). These PSF contributions are relevant to any similar wide field space telescope. We further show that the PSF of SNAP or a similar telescope will be smaller than current ground-based PSFs, and more isotropic and stable over time than the PSF of the Hubble Space Telescope. We outline survey strategies for two different regimes - a ``wide'' 300 square degree survey and a ``deep'' 15 square degree survey that will accomplish various weak lensing goals including statistical studies and dark matter mapping.Comment: 25 pages, 8 figures, 1 table, replaced with Published Versio

Hybrid areas of work between employment and self-employment : emerging challenges and future research directions

The growth of non-standard employment relations has created one of the major challenges in terms of workers\u2019 rights as well as collective representation in European societies. Among non-standard employment relations, so-called \u201csolo self-employed\u201d\u2014self-employed workers without employees\u2014are challenging the very foundations of our labor markets, that is to say the opposition between employers and employees, fostering the development of emerging \u201chybrid\u201d areas of work. The heterogeneity of the solo self-employed is difficult to capture from official statistics, which are still based on traditional classifications, and questions also the legal categories that qualify these workers. Moreover, the fact that solo self-employed workers do not form a homogenous group, and are diverse in terms of their activities, interests and needs, calls for changes in the way trade unions, employer organizations, and new freelancer associations develop collective actions, claims-making activities, and strategies of organizing. With the aim to achieve an in-depth understanding of the increasingly extensive and populated categories of the solo self-employed, this contribution aims at reconstructing the state of the art within different fields of study, such as employment relations, labor law, industrial relations and social movements, and at offering some possible future research directions

Constraint degree in revision total knee replacement: a registry study on 1432 patients

Purpose: Total knee replacement (TKR) failure represents a hard challenge for knee surgeons. TKR failure can be managed in revision with different constraint, related with soft and bone knee damages. The choice of the right constraint for every failure cause represents a not summarized entity. The purpose of this study is identifying distribution of different constraints in revision TKR (rTKR) for failure cause and the overall survival. Methods: A registry study based on the Emilia Romagna Register of the Orthopaedic Prosthetic Implants (called RIPO) was performed with a selection of 1432 implants, in the period between 2000 and 2019. Selection implants including primary surgery constraint, failure cause and constraint revision for every patient, and divided for constraint degrees used during procedures (Cruciate Retaining-CR, Posterior Stabilized-PS, Condylar Constrained Knee-CCK, Hinged). Results: The most common cause of primary TKR failure was aseptic loosening (51,45%), followed by septic loosening (29,12%). Each type of failure was managed with different constraint, the most used was CCK in the most of failure causes, such as to manage aseptic and septic loosening in CR and PS failure. Overall survival of TKA revisions has been calculated at 5 and 10 years for each constraint, with a range of 75.1-90.0% at 5 years and 75.1-87.5% at 10 years. Conclusion: Constraint degree in rTKR is typically higher than primary, CCK is the most used constraint in revision surgery with an overall survival of 87.5% at 10 years

Total knee replacements using rotating hinge implants in polio patients: clinical and functional outcomes

Little evidences are available in the literature concerning the outcomes of total knee replacement (TKR) in poliomyelitis patients with severe knee deformities or degeneration. Encouraging results have been reported concerning the use of constrained implants, i.e., rotating hinge knee prosthesis (RHK), compared to less constrained ones. The purpose of this paper is to report our experience with rotating hinge total knee replacement, using only RHK prosthesis, to determine functional results, complications, and survival of TKR in poliomyelitis patients. We performed a retrospective chart review of 14 patients with a history of knee osteoarthritis following poliomyelitis that underwent primary TKR, for a total of 15 surgical procedure (one bilateral case). Preoperative and postoperative clinical measurements have been conducted for all patients using the Knee Society Score (KSS). Hip-knee angle, recurvatum knee angle, and Insall-Salvati index were evaluated with full weight-bearing panoramic view X-ray preoperatively and postoperatively. The 2-year postoperative clinical KSS significantly improved from the preoperative scores. The average clinical KSS improved from 32,9 (range 3-48) preoperatively to 77,4 (range 60-88) postoperatively (P value < 0.005). The average functional KSS improved from 32,5 (range 10-60) preoperatively to 59,4 (range 30-95) postoperatively (P value < 0.005). TKR is a successful treatment in improving knee function and patient's quality of life. Using constrained implants, especially rotating hinge implants in polio patients with a quadriceps muscle weakness, could be a good alternative to maintain a physiological kinematics and reducing the revision rate due to knee instability

Improving procedural fidelity of behavioural interventions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A systematic review

Background: Despite its importance within behavioural intervention, it remains unclear how best to achieve high procedural fidelity. This paper reviewed studies on improving procedural fidelity of behavioural interventions for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Method: A systematic literature search was conducted, which identified 20 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Data were extracted on study design, participant characteristics, intervention, target behaviours, effect sizes, maintenance, generalisation, and social validity. A quality rating was also applied. Results: A total of 100 participants took part in the included studies. Most participants were teachers working with children in school settings. There was a significant positive correlation between level of procedural fidelity and client outcomes. Feedback was the most commonly employed intervention to improve procedural fidelity. Conclusions: More research should be conducted in environments with high levels of variability such as community homes to determine how to reach and maintain high levels of procedural fidelity

Osteochondral impaction of the posterior acetabular surface without cortical fracture of any wall or column: an undescribed pattern of acetabular injury

Surgical treatment of a unusual acetabular fracture is described. This fracture was characterized by impaction and breaking down of the posterior articular surface and comminution of lamina quadrilatera lower portion, without cortical fracture of both columns. The fracture was treated surgically through the Kocher–Langenbeck approach. A small hole was created in the acetabulum posterior wall, the impacted fragment was reduced, and the bone defect was filled with autologous bone from the greater trochanter. A plate was shaped in order to fix both bone graft and fractured fragment

Biomarker phenotyping drives clinical management in axillary sentinel node: A retrospective study on women with primary breast cancer in 2002

The current study examined if cancer biomarker phenotyping could predict the clinical/pathological status of axillary nodes in women with primary breast cancer. Primary breast cancers from 2002 were analyzed for tumor size, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), Ki.67MIB expression and Her2/neu amplification. Relationships between the clinical and pathological status of the axilla and the biological subtypes classification were analyzed using univariate, multivariate and regression tree analysis. A total of 65% of women with axillary nodes clinically involved had complete axillary node dissection (ALND) while 705 women with clinically negative axillary underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), 18.5% of the latter had at least one pathologically SLNB involved node. Multivariate analysis revealed that the Luminal A subtype was significantly associated (OR 0.62; P<10-9) with clinical negative axilla while HER2pos/not Luminal was associated with clinical positivity (OR 1.71; P<0.01). No significant association between biological subtypes and SLNB status was demonstrated. Regression tree analysis revealed that subgroups with significantly different probability of SLNB status were separated according to tumor size and PgR values. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that biomarker breast cancer phenotyping is significantly associated with clinical status of axillary nodes but not with pathological involvement of nodes at SLNB. Regression tree analysis could represent a valid attempt to individualize some patients subgroups candidate to different surgical axilla approaches

Spectrum of germline pathogenic variants in brca1/2 genes in the apulian southern italy population: Geographic distribution and evidence for targeted genetic testing

BRCA1/2-associated hereditary breast and ovarian cancer is the most common form of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and occurs in all ethnicities and racial populations. Different BRCA1/BRCA2 pathogenic variants (PVs) have been reported with a wide variety among populations. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed prevalence and geographic distribution of pathogenic germline BRCA1/2 variants in families from Apulia in southern Italy and evaluated the genotype–phenotype correlations. Data were collected from Oncogenetic Services present in Apulian hospitals and a shared database was built containing Apulian native probands (n = 2026) that had undergone genetic testing from 2004 to 2019. PVs were detected in 499 of 2026 (24.6%) probands and 68.5% of them (342 of 499) were in the BRCA1 gene. We found 65 different PVs in BRCA1 and 46 in BRCA2. There were 10 most recurrent PVs and their geographical distribution appears to be significantly specific for each province. We have assumed that these PVs are related to the historical and geopolitical changes that occurred in Apulia over time and/or to a “founder effect”. Broader knowledge of BRCA1/2 prevalence and recurring PVs in specific geographic areas could help establish more flexible genetic testing strategies that may enhance our ability to detect high-risk subjects

Measurement of the angular correlation between the two gamma rays emitted in the radioactive decays of a 60^{60}Co source with two NaI(Tl) scintillator

We implemented a didactic experiment to study the angular correlation between the two gamma rays emitted in typical $^{60}$Co radioactive decays. We used two NaI(Tl) scintillators, already available in our laboratory, and a low-activity $^{60}$Co source. The detectors were mounted on two rails, with the source at their center. The first rail was fixed, while the second could be rotated around the source. We performed several measurements by changing the angle between the two scintillators in the range from $90^\circ$ to $180^\circ$. Dedicated background runs were also performed, removing the source from the experimental setup. We found that the signal rate increases with the angular separation between the two scintillators, with small discrepancies from the theoretical expectations.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figure

Italian report on RARE epilepsies (i-RARE): A consensus on multidisciplinarity

Objective: Rare and complex epilepsies encompass a diverse range of disorders characterized by seizures. We aimed to establish a consensus on key issues related to these conditions through collaboration among experienced neurologists, neuropediatricians, and patient advocacy representatives. Methods: Employing a modified Delphi method, a scientific board comprising 20 physicians and 4 patient advocacy representatives synthesized existing literature with their expertise to formulate statements on contentious topics. A final 32-member expert panel, representing diverse regions of Italy, validated these statements through a two-round voting process, with consensus defined as an average score ≥7. Results: Sixteen statements reached a consensus, emphasizing the necessity for epidemiological studies to ascertain the true prevalence of rare epilepsies. Etiology emerged as a crucial factor influencing therapeutic strategies and outcome prediction, with particular concern regarding prolonged and tonic–clonic seizures. The importance of early implementation of specific drugs and non-pharmacological interventions in the treatment algorithm for developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) was underscored. Multidisciplinary care involving experts with diverse skills was deemed essential, emphasizing non-seizure outcomes in adolescence and adulthood. Significance: This national consensus underscores the imperative for personalized, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary management of rare epilepsies/DEEs. It advocates for increased research, particularly in epidemiology and therapeutic approaches, to inform clinical decision-making and healthcare policies, ultimately enhancing patients' outcomes. Plain Language Summary: The modified Delphi method is broadly used to evaluate debated topics. In this work, we sought the consensus on integrated and social care in epilepsy management. Both representatives of high-level epilepsy centers and patients' caregivers were directly involved