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1,042 results on '"D’Amone, A."'

1. Highly Sensitive Ratiometric Fluorescent Fiber Matrixes for Oxygen Sensing with Micrometer-Spatial Resolution

Author

Grasso, Giuliana, Onesto, Valentina, Forciniti, Stefania, Amone, Eliana D, Colella, Francesco, Pierantoni, Lara, Fama, Valeria, Gigli, Giuseppe, Reis, Rui L., Oliveira, Joaquim M., and del Mercato, Loretta L.

Subjects
Physics - Biological Physics
Abstract

Oxygen (O2)-sensing matrices are promising tools for the live monitoring of extracellular O2 consumption levels in long-term cell cultures. In this study, ratiometric O2-sensing membranes were prepared by electrospinning, an easy, low-cost, scalable, and robust method for fabricating nanofibers. Poly({\epsilon}-caprolactone) and poly(dimethyl)siloxane polymers were blended with tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) dichloride, which was used as the O2-sensing probe, and rhodamine B isothiocyanate, which was used as the reference dye. The functionalized scaffolds were morphologically characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and their physicochemical profiles were obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and water contact angle measurement. The sensing capabilities were investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy, performing photobleaching, reversibility, and calibration curve studies toward different dissolved O2 (DO) concentrations. Electrospun sensing nanofibers showed a high response to changes in DO concentrations in the physiological-pathological range from 0.5 to 20% and good stability under ratiometric imaging. In addition, the sensing systems were highly biocompatible for cell growth promoting adhesiveness and growth of three cancer cell lines, namely metastatic melanoma cell line SK-MEL2, breast cancer cell line MCF-7, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line Panc-1, thus recreating a suitable biological environment in vitro. These O2-sensing biomaterials can potentially measure alterations in cell metabolism caused by changes in ambient O2 content during drug testing/validation and tissue regeneration processes., Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures

Published
2024
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3. Anomalous intraosseous venous drainage with bone edema and periosteal reaction: A rare entity to be aware of

Author

Francesca Maria Martina, Giulia D'Amone, Vincenzo Cirimele, Bruno Beomonte Zobel, and Carlo A. Mallio

Subjects
Pretibial varices, Anomalous intraosseous venous drainage, Bone marrow edema, Periosteal reaction, Musculoskeletal radiology, Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine, R895-920
Abstract

Varicose veins are associated with conditions that impair venous return, such as pregnancy, physical inactivity, valve failure and post-thrombotic syndrome. We report the case of a 50-year-old female patient with history of intermittent calf pain, worsening with prolonged standing posture. She had no previous medical history of either lower extremity trauma or infection. Physical examination showed medial pretibial soft tissue swelling. CT and MRI showed images suggestive of anomalous intraosseous venous drainage with associated bone edema and periosteal reaction. Knowledge of this rare entity is fundamental for proper patient management.

Published
2024
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5. Secure Remote (Home) Electronic Exam Systems: Features, Challenges, and Development of an Offline Model

Author

Clement Amone Keyamo, Onashoga Saidat Adebukola, and Abimbola Adebisi Baale

Subjects
Education (General), L7-991, Electronic computers. Computer science, QA75.5-76.95
Abstract

The development of e-assessment systems that can meet acceptable standards in the education industry is a present focus of researchers in the distance learning area. Cheating and impersonation in online examinations are two common challenges that have spawned diverse solutions that are usually based on continuous authentication and monitoring principles and technologies. Most of the solutions are focused on centralized e-proctoring schemes that depend massively on state-of the-art internet connectivity. However, many users of these systems, especially in the developing countries, have limited internet services. This is a major barrier to effective remote e-assessment of learners as many of these solutions fail with failing internet services. To resolve this challenge, this paper describes a Secure Offline Continuous Authentication and Monitoring(SOCAM) model for remote e-assessment.

Published
2024
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6. Prehospital Emergency Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey of First-Aid Preparedness Among Layperson First Responders in Northern Uganda

Author

Opiro K, Amone D, Sikoti M, Wokorach A, Okot J, and Bongomin F

Subjects
first aid, laypersons, prehospital emergency care., Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid, RC86-88.9
Abstract

Keneth Opiro,1 Derrick Amone,1 Margret Sikoti,2 Amos Wokorach,1 Jerom Okot,1 Felix Bongomin1 1Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda; 2Department of Nursing, St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, Gulu, UgandaCorrespondence: Keneth Opiro, Email opiroken@yahoo.co.ukBackground: Uganda has a high incidence of road traffic accidents and high mortality rates, yet lacks a mature prehospital emergency care system. Our study addresses this gap by assessing the experiences, training, and confidence in providing first aid (FA) among diverse layperson first responders in Northern Uganda, expanding beyond previous research, which was limited to Central Uganda and specific occupational groups.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among layperson first responders of various occupations in Gulu City, Acholi sub-region, Uganda. Data on socio-demographics, training, experiences, knowledge, and confidence in FA were collected.Results: We included 396 participants, of whom 81.6% (n=323) were male, 47.0.6% (n=186) were aged 21– 30 years, 59.3% (n=235) had obtained a secondary level of education, 23.7% (n=94) were commercial motorcyclists, and 45.7% (n=181) had work experience of > 5 years. The majority (85.4%, n=338) had witnessed acute illness/trauma. Accidents/bleeding were the most commonly witnessed cases (68.6%, n=232), followed by burn injuries (10.1%, n=34). Most participants (52.3%, n=207) had attended FA training. Only 20.5% (n=81) had obtained an above-average score (≥ 70%). The majority (67.9%, n=269) were confident in providing FA. Lack of knowledge and skills (61.4%, n=78), fear of taking health risks (18.9%, n=24), and legal implications (7.1%, n=9) were the major reasons for not being willing to confidently give FA. Factors associated with above-average knowledge were tertiary education and being confident in providing FA, while training in FA and prior experience in giving FA were associated with confidence in giving FA.Conclusion: In this study, laypeople in Northern Uganda exhibited a high level of FA training. However, low confidence in providing FA is attributed to inadequate knowledge, fear of health risks, and legal concerns. Therefore, future efforts should focus on assessing FA practices in diverse regions and promoting formal FA training.Keywords: first aid, laypeople, prehospital emergency care

Published
2024

7. Safety and immunogenicity of an acellular pertussis vaccine containing genetically detoxified pertussis toxin administered to pregnant women living with and without HIV and their newborns (WoMANPOWER): a randomised controlled trial in Uganda

Author

Nakabembe, Eve, Greenland, Melanie, Amaral, Kyle, Abu-Raya, Bahaa, Amone, Alexander, Andrews, Nick, Cantrell, Liberty, Lesne, Elodie, Gorringe, Andrew, Halkerston, Rachel, Mcstraw, Nikki, Dixon, Louisa, Hunter, Olivia F, Heath, Paul T, Imede, Esther, Kyohere, Mary, Musoke, Philippa, Nakimuli, Annettee, Sekikubo, Musa, Taylor, Stephen, Tusubira, Valerie, Sadarangani, Manish, and Le Doare, Kirsty

Published
2025
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8. HIV genotypic resistance among pregnant women initiating ART in Uganda: a baseline evaluation of participants in the Option B+ clinical trial

Author

Amone, Alexander, Wavamunno, Priscilla, Gabagaya, Grace, Rukundo, Gordon, Namale-Matovu, Joyce, Malamba, Samuel S, Lubega, Irene, Homsy, Jaco, King, Rachel, Nakabiito, Clemensia, Nolan, Monica, Fowler, Mary Glenn, and Musoke, Philippa

Subjects
Medical Microbiology, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Clinical Research, Infectious Diseases, Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities, HIV/AIDS, Antimicrobial Resistance, Development of treatments and therapeutic interventions, 5.1 Pharmaceuticals, Reproductive health and childbirth, Infection, Good Health and Well Being, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Anti-HIV Agents, Drug Resistance, Viral, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, Mutation, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious, Prenatal Care, Uganda, Viral Load, Clinical Sciences, Tropical Medicine, Clinical sciences, Health services and systems, Public health
Abstract

BackgroundPre-treatment HIV drug resistance is a threat to elimination of mother to child HIV transmission and could lead to virological failure among HIV-positive pregnant women. We analysed genotypic HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) of baseline samples of participants enrolled in the Option B+ clinical trial in Uganda.MethodsHIV-infected pregnant women attending antenatal care were enrolled from Uganda's National Referral Hospital (Mulago) and Mityana District general hospital and surrounding health centers (HCs). Genotypic HIV testing was performed on blood samples from the first 135 enrolled women out of a subset of 136 participants (25%) who had a baseline VL>1000 copies/mL as one sample failed to amplify.Results159/540 (29.4%) had a VL < 1000 copies/ml and 381/540 (70.6%) had a VL >1,000 copies/ml. Of the women with VL>1000 copies/ml, 32 (23.7%) had resistance mutations including 29/135 (21.5%) NNRTI mutations, 6/135 (4.4%) NRTI mutations and 3/135 (2.2%) had both NNRTI and NRTI mutations. The most common NNRTI resistance mutations were: K103KN (5), K103N (5), V179T (4) and E138A (4).ConclusionsOne quarter of the HIV-infected pregnant women in this trial at baseline had NNRTI genotypic resistance mutations. Our findings support new WHO guidelines for first-line ART that were changed to dolutegravir-based regimens.

Published
2022

9. Co-loading of doxorubicin and iron oxide nanocubes in polycaprolactone fibers for combining Magneto-Thermal and chemotherapeutic effects on cancer cells

Author

Serio, Francesca, Silvestri, Niccolò, Avugadda, Sahitya Kumar, Nucci, Giulia E. P., Nitti, Simone, Onesto, Valentina, Catalano, Federico, D'Amone, Eliana, Gigli, Giuseppe, del Mercato, Loretta L., and Pellegrino, Teresa

Subjects
Physics - Medical Physics, Condensed Matter - Materials Science
Abstract

Among the strategies to fight cancer, multi-therapeutic approaches are considered as a wise choice to put in place multiple weapons to suppress tumors. In this work, to combine chemotherapeutic effects to magnetic hyperthermia when using biocompatible scaffolds, we have established an electrospinning method to produce nanofibers of polycaprolactone loaded with magnetic nanoparticles as heat mediators to be selectively activated under alternating magnetic field and doxorubicin as a chemotherapeutic drug. Production of the fibers was investigated with iron oxide nanoparticles of peculiar cubic shape (at 15 and 23 nm in cube edges) as they provide benchmark heat performance under clinical magnetic hyperthermia conditions. With 23 nm nanocubes when included into the fibers, an arrangement in chains was obtained. This linear configuration of magnetic nanoparticles resemble that of the magnetosomes, produced by magnetotactic bacteria, and our magnetic fibers exhibited remarkable heating effects as the magnetosomes. Magnetic fiber scaffolds showed excellent biocompatibility on fibroblast cells when missing the chemotherapeutic agent and when not exposed to magnetic hyperthermia as shown by viability assays. On the contrary, the fibers containing both magnetic nanocubes and doxorubicin showed significant cytotoxic effects on cervical cancer cells following the exposure to magnetic hyperthermia. Notably, these tests were conducted at magnetic hyperthermia field conditions of clinical use. As here shown, on the doxorubicin sensitive cervical cancer cells, the combination of heat damage by magnetic hyperthermia with enhanced diffusion of doxorubicin at therapeutic temperature are responsible for a more effective oncotherapy., Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures

Published
2022
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11. Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Sudan virus in Uganda, 2022: a descriptive epidemiological study

Author

Bosa, Henry Kyobe, Komakech, Allan, Gonahasa, Doreen Nsiimire, Bulage, Lilian, Kyamwine, Irene Byakatonda, Okethwangu, Denis, Kayiwa, Joshua, Nelson, Lisa J, Boore, Amy L, Nabatanzi, Sandra, Nsibambi, Thomas, Ntale, Jonathan, Mwangi, Christina, Fitzmaurice, Arthur G, Biribawa, Claire, Sande, Enos, Ojwang, Joseph, Choi, Mary, Lo, Terrence, Malefant, Jason, Shoemaker, Trevor, Montgomery, Joel M, Cossaboom, Caitlin M, Eggers, Carrie, Klena, John D, Whitmer, Shannon, Osinubi, Modupe O, Sadigh, Katrin S, Vosburgh, Waverly, Worrell, Mary-Claire, Fuller, James A, Lubwama, Bernard, Nabukenya, Immaculate, Okello, Paul Edward, Katana, Elizabeth Babirye, Morukileng, Job, Nansikombi, Hildah Tendo, Mbaka, Paul, Atuhaire, Immaculate, Asio, Alice, Elayeete, Sarah, Nsubuga, Edirisa Junior, Masanja, Veronica, Migamba, Stella Martha, Mwine, Patience, Nakamya, Petranilla, Nampeera, Rose, Kwiringira, Andrew, Komugisha, Mariam, Kibwika, Brian, Ssemanda, Innocent, Nuwamanya, Yasiini, Kamukama, Adams, Aanyu, Dorothy, Kizza, Dominic, Senyange, Shaban, Bakainaga, Andrew Niwagaba, Bwire, Godfrey, Ocom, Felix, Wetaka, Milton Makoba, Kyazze, Simon, Kisakye, Anita, Lamorde, Mohammed, Nakiire, Lydia, Ahabwe, Peter Babigumira, Mirembe, Bernadette Basuta, Muwanguzi, Esther Namukose, Ochien, Emmanuel, Komakech, Innocent, Nankya, Annet Martha, Byakika, Sarah, Nakinsinge, Anne, Okello, Daniel Ayen, Zalwango, Sarah K, Senyonga, Muzafalu, Okware, Solome, Bahatungire, Rony Reginald, Kimuli, Ivan, Rubangakene, Moses, Mafigiri, Richardson, Bulwadda, Daniel, Aujo, Deborah, Isabirye, Herbert Kiirya, Semanda, Judith Nanyondo, Kibanga, John-Baptist, Bbuye, Mudarshir, Baryamujura, Jovan, Akello, Grace, Balinandi, Stephen, Njuguna, Charles, Chimbaru, Alex, Bodo, Bongomin, Akera, Tonny, Kabagambe, Philimon, Natseri, Nasan, Mulei, Sophia, Nyakarahuka, Luke, Baluku, Jimmy, Kyondo, Jackson, Tumusiime, Alex, Lutwama, Julius Julian, Kaleebu, Pontiano, Masiira, Ben, Aliddeki, Dativa, Buhuguru, Remmy, Kasumba, Hakeem, Sendikadiwa, Bosco Vito, Kabanda, Joseph, Jacob, Shevin T, Fletcher, Tom E, Fischer II, William A, Youkee, Daniel, Lado, Marta, Lang, Hans-Joerg, Mugisha, Nathan Kenya, Namusisi, Olivia, Toliva, Bernard Opar, Mwaka, Savio, Nsereko, Christopher, Lukoya, Charles Okot, Ngabirano, Annet Alenyo, Waniaye, John- Baptist, Mwanga, Michael, Amone, Jackson, Apiyo, Paska, Kabanda, Richard, Mugerwa, Ibrahim, Ssewanyana, Isaac, Nabadda, Susan, Kabami, Zainah, Ario, Alex R, Harris, Julie R, Ninsiima, Mackline, Ahirirwe, Sherry R, Ocero, Jane R Aceng, Atwine, Diana, Mwebesa, Henry G, Kyabayinze, Daniel J, Muruta, Allan N, Kagirita, Atek, Tegegn, Yonas, Nanyunja, Miriam, Kizito, Saudah N, Kadobera, Daniel, Kwesiga, Benon, Gidudu, Samuel, Migisha, Richard, Makumbi, Issa, Eurien, Daniel, Elyanu, Peter J, Ndyabakira, Alex, Naiga, Helen Nelly, Zalwango, Jane F, Agaba, Brian, Kawungezi, Peter C, Zalwango, Marie G, King, Patrick, Simbwa, Brenda N, Akunzirwe, Rebecca, Wanyana, Mercy W, Zavuga, Robert, and Kiggundu, Thomas

Published
2024
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13. An Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of TAMIXAM®, Based on Hyaluronic Acid and Tamarind Seed Extract, for Esophageal Mucosal Protection from Acid Insult

Author

Marisa Francesca Motta, Giuseppe Pulitano, Antonino Bagnulo, Giampaolo Buriani, Umberto Di Maio, Fabio Amone, Vincenzo Nobile, and Rocco Malivindi

Subjects
gastroesophageal reflux disease, hyaluronic acid, barrier effect, Medicine, Diseases of the digestive system. Gastroenterology, RC799-869
Abstract

TAMIXAM® is a novel technology that combines hyaluronic acid and tamarind seed extract in its formulation. It is designed to protect the esophageal mucosa by creating a barrier through its filmogenic properties. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technology through mucoadhesion tests, a cell viability assay, TEER measurements, and morphological analysis on reconstructed esophageal mucosa exposed to 10% hydrochloric acid before and after treatment. The mucoadhesion test highlighted the synergistic bioadhesive effect of the technology’s components. Cell viability assays revealed the substantial mucoprotective and barrier effects of the technology, preserving tissue viability when applied before exposure to acid insult. A morphological analysis illustrated TAMIXAM®’s efficacy in countering acid-induced damage, reducing erosion, necrosis, and tissue degeneration compared to the positive control, both pre- and post-acid insult. An evaluation of epithelial integrity through TEER measurements indicated a minimal reduction in tissues treated with the invention before acid exposure, demonstrating its ability to maintain epithelial integrity in the presence of an acid insult. However, this effect was less pronounced in tissues treated with the technology after the acid insult, implying a potential partial recovery of epithelial integrity. Furthermore, comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies supported the safety profile of the invention. In conclusion, TAMIXAM® emerged as a compelling solution, providing enhanced mechanical action to maintain epithelial balance and shield the esophageal mucosa from acid-induced damage.

Published
2024
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14. Chronic graft thrombosis after en bloc resection of inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma. A case report

Author

Giulia D'Amone, MD, Vincenzo Cirimele, MD, Silvia Maria Rossi, MD, Alessandro Ciolli, MD, Maria Teresa Bitonti, MD, Massimo Stiffi, MD, Milena Ricci, MD, Dalila Baldazzi, MD, Ugo Ferrari, MD, Bruno Beomonte Zobel, MD, and Eliodoro Faiella, MD

Subjects
Leiomyosarcoma, Inferior vena cava, Thrombosis, CT, Imaging, Treatment, Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine, R895-920
Abstract

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare malignant tumor originating from smooth muscle cells. Primary leiomyosarcomas arising from vessels’ walls are extremely rare (2%), with LMS of inferior vena cava being the most frequent subtype. We present the case of a 45-year-old man with a past medical history of resected leiomyosarcoma of the right calf, presenting with a follow-up CT showing a retroperitoneal mass arising from the inferior vena cava, which proved to be IVC leiomyosarcoma at histopathology. The patient underwent surgical resection of the mass with prosthetic reconstruction of the IVC. Three days after surgery he developed complete thrombosis of IVC graft which persisted at 3-months follow-up imaging and was treated with pharmacological therapy. Although there are many references reporting the association between LMS of the inferior vena cava and postoperative deep vein thrombosis, to our knowledge there are no reports currently available regarding complete thrombosis of IVC vascular graft after surgical resection of IVC LMS.

Published
2024
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15. Highly sensitive fluorescent pH microsensor based on the ratiometric dye pyranine immobilized on silica microparticles

Author

Chandra, Anil, Prasad, Saumya, Iuele, Helena, Colella, Francesco, Rizzo, Riccardo, D'Amone, Eliana, Gigli, Giuseppe, and del Mercato, Loretta L.

Subjects
Physics - Chemical Physics, Condensed Matter - Materials Science
Abstract

Pyranine (HPTS) is a remarkably interesting pH sensitive dye that has been used for plenty of applications. Its high quantum yield and extremely sensitive ratiometric fluorescence against pH change makes it a very favorable for pH sensing applications and development of pH nano/microsensors. However, its strong negative charge and lack of easily modifiable functional groups makes it difficult to be used with charged substrates such as silica. This study reports a noncovalent HPTS immobilization methodology on silica microparticles that considers the retention of pH sensitivity as well as long term stability of the pH microsensors. The study emphasizes on importance of surface charge for governing the sensitivity of the immobilized HPTS dye molecules on silica microparticles. Importance of methodology of immobilization that preserves the sensitivity as well as stability of the microsensors is also assessed., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 1 table

Published
2021
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16. Measurement of the cosmic ray helium energy spectrum from 70 GeV to 80 TeV with the DAMPE space mission

Author

Alemanno, F., An, Q., Azzarello, P., Barbato, F. C. T., Bernardini, P., Bi, X. J., Cai, M. S., Catanzani, E., Chang, J., Chen, D. Y., Chen, J. L., Chen, Z. F., Cui, M. Y., Cui, T. S., Cui, Y. X., Dai, H. T., D'Amone, A., De Benedittis, A., De Mitri, I., de Palma, F., Deliyergiyev, M., Di Santo, M., Dong, T. K., Dong, Z. X., Donvito, G., Droz, D., Duan, J. L., Duan, K. K., D'Urso, D., Fan, R. R., Fan, Y. Z., Fang, K., Fang, F., Feng, C. Q., Feng, L., Fusco, P., Gao, M., Gargano, F., Gong, K., Gong, Y. Z., Guo, D. Y., Guo, J. H., Guo, X. L., Han, S. X., Hu, Y. M., Huang, G. S., Huang, X. Y., Huang, Y. Y., Ionica, M., Jiang, W., Kong, J., Kotenko, A., Kyratzis, D., Lei, S. J., Li, S., Li, W. L., Li, X., Li, X. Q., Liang, Y. M., Liu, C. M., Liu, H., Liu, J., Liu, S. B., Liu, W. Q., Liu, Y., Loparco, F., Luo, C. N., Ma, M., Ma, P. X., Ma, T., Ma, X. Y., Marsella, G., Mazziotta, M. N., Mo, D., Niu, X. Y., Pan, X., Parenti, A., Peng, W. X., Peng, X. Y., Perrina, C., Qiao, R., Rao, J. N., Ruina, A., Salinas, M. M., Shang, G. Z., Shen, W. H., Shen, Z. Q., Shen, Z. T., Silveri, L., Song, J. X., Stolpovskiy, M., Su, H., Su, M., Sun, Z. Y., Surdo, A., Teng, X. J., Tykhonov, A., Wang, H., Wang, J. Z., Wang, L. G., Wang, S., Wang, X. L., Wang, Y., Wang, Y. F., Wang, Y. Z., Wang, Z. M., Wei, D. M., Wei, J. J., Wei, Y. F., Wen, S. C., Wu, D., Wu, J., Wu, L. B., Wu, S. S., Wu, X., Xia, Z. Q., Xu, H. T., Xu, Z. H., Xu, Z. L., Xu, Z. Z., Xue, G. F., Yang, H. B., Yang, P., Yang, Y. Q., Yao, H. J., Yu, Y. H., Yuan, G. W., Yuan, Q., Yue, C., Zang, J. J., Zhang, F., Zhang, S. X., Zhang, W. Z., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y. J., Zhang, Y. L., Zhang, Y. P., Zhang, Y. Q., Zhang, Z., Zhang, Z. Y., Zhao, C., Zhao, H. Y., Zhao, X. F., Zhou, C. Y., and Zhu, Y.

Subjects
Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena, High Energy Physics - Experiment
Abstract

The measurement of the energy spectrum of cosmic ray helium nuclei from 70 GeV to 80 TeV using 4.5 years of data recorded by the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) is reported in this work. A hardening of the spectrum is observed at an energy of about 1.3 TeV, similar to previous observations. In addition, a spectral softening at about 34 TeV is revealed for the first time with large statistics and well controlled systematic uncertainties, with an overall significance of $4.3\sigma$. The DAMPE spectral measurements of both cosmic protons and helium nuclei suggest a particle charge dependent softening energy, although with current uncertainties a dependence on the number of nucleons cannot be ruled out., Comment: 11 pages, 13 figures, published in Phys. Rev. Lett. Add one more digit for first three columns in Table S2

Published
2021
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17. Citrus bergamia Extract, a Natural Approach for Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism Management: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Author

Amelia Spina, Fabio Amone, Vincenzo Zaccaria, Violetta Insolia, Anna Perri, Danilo Lofaro, Francesco Puoci, and Vincenzo Nobile

Subjects
flavonoids, cholesterol, lipid management, cardiovascular disease, clinical trial, Chemical technology, TP1-1185
Abstract

Strategies for controlling cholesterol and lipid metabolism, including the use of food supplements, are part of the non-pharmacological intervention to ameliorate cardiovascular health. To demonstrate the efficacy of a standardized flavonoids (150 mg/day) extract from Citrus bergamia on cholesterol and lipid management, a placebo-controlled clinical trial on 64 subjects with high cholesterol was carried out. The total study duration was 4 months, with intermediate checkpoints at 1-month intervals. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol, total cholesterol (TC) levels, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), and paraoxonase activity (PON1) were measured as primary endpoints (efficacy evaluation), while weight, blood pressure, hepatic and renal function blood markers were measured as secondary endpoints (safety evaluation). After 4 months, both TC and LDL-C significantly decreased by 8.8% and 11.5%, respectively, along with a 5.5% increase in HDL-C which was trending towards significance. In addition, ox-LDL was significantly reduced by 2.0%, while PON1 was significantly increased by 6.5%. The secondary endpoints were not changed during the study, demonstrating a good tolerability of the test product. Our findings demonstrate the efficacy of the extract as a natural approach for cholesterol and lipid metabolism management.

Published
2024
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18. Early trajectories of virological and immunological biomarkers and clinical outcomes in patients admitted to hospital for COVID-19: an international, prospective cohort study

Author

Sahner, David, Tierney, John, Vogel, Susan E., Herpin, Betsey R., Smolskis, Mary C., McKay, Laura A., Cahill, Kelly, Crew, Page, Sardana, Ratna, Raim, Sharon Segal, Hensely, Lisa, Lorenzo, Johsua, Mock, Rebecca, Zuckerman, Judith, Atri, Negin, Miller, Mark, Vallee, David, Chung, Lucy, Kang, Nayon, Barrett, Kevin, Adam, Stacey J., Read, Sarah, Draghia-Akli, Ruxandra, Currier, Judy, Hughes, Eric, Harrigan, Rachel H., Amos, Laura, Carlsen, Amy, Carter, Anita, Collins, Gary, Davis, Bionca, Denning, Eileen, DuChene, Alain, Eckroth, Kate, Engen, Nicole, Frase, Alex, Gandits, Greg, Grund, Birgit, Harrison, Merrie, Hurlbut, Nancy, Kaiser, Payton, Koopmeiners, Joseph, Larson, Gregg, Meger, Sue, Mistry, Shweta Sharma, Murray, Thomas, Nelson, Ray, Quan, Kien, Quan, Siu Fun, Reilly, Cavan, Siegel, Lianne, Thompson, Greg, Vock, David, Walski, Jamie, Gelijns, Annetine C., Moskowitz, Alan J., Bagiella, Emilia, Moquete, Ellen, O'Sullivan, Karen, Marks, Mary E., Accardi, Evan, Kinzel, Emily, Burris, Sarah, Bedoya, Gabriela, Gupta, Lola, Overbey, Jessica R., Santos, Milerva, Gillinov, Marc A., Miller, Marissa A., Taddei-Peters, Wendy C., Fenton, Kathleen, Sandkovsky, Uriel, Gottlieb, Robert L., Mack, Michael, Berhe, Mezgebe, Haley, Clinton, Dishner, Emma, Bettacchi, Christopher, Golden, Kevin, Duhaime, Erin, Ryan, Madison, Tallmadge, Catherine, Estrada, Lorie, Jones, Felecia, Villa, Samatha, Wang, Samatha, Robert, Raven, Coleman, Tanquinisha, Clariday, Laura, Baker, Rebecca, Hurutado-Rodriguez, Mariana, Iram, Nazia, Fresnedo, Michelle, Davis, Allyson, Leonard, Kiara, Ramierez, Noelia, Thammavong, Jon, Duque, Krizia, Turner, Emma, Fisher, Tammy, Robinson, Dianna, Ransom, Desirae, Maldonado, Nicholas, Lusk, Erica, Killian, Aaron, Palacious, Adriana, Solis, Edilia, Jerrow, Janet, Watts, Matthew, Whitacre, Heather, Cothran, Elizabeth, Smith, Peter K., Barkauskas, Christina E., Vekstein, Andrew M., Ko, Emily R., Dreyer, Grace R., Stafford, Neil, Brooks, Megan, Der, Tatyana, Witte, Marie, Gamarallage, Ruwan, Franzone, John, Ivey, Noel, Lumsden, Rebecca H., Mosaly, Nilima, Mourad, Ahmaad, Holland, Thomas L., Motta, Mary, Lane, Kathleen, McGowan, Lauren M., Stout, Jennifer, Aloor, Heather, Bragg, Kennesha M., Toledo, Barvina, McLendon-Arvik, Beth, Bussadori, Barbara, Hollister, Beth A., Griffin, Michelle, Giangiacomo, Dana M., Rodriguez, Vicente, Bokhart, Gordon, Eichman, Sharon M., Parrino, Patrick E., Spindel, Stephen, Bansal, Aditya, Baumgarten, Katherine, Hand, Johnathan, Vonderhaar, Derek, Nossaman, Bobby, Sylvia Laudun, Ames, DeAnna, Broussard, Shane, Hernandez, Nilmo, Isaac, Geralyn, Dinh, Huan, Zheng, Yiling, Tran, Sonny, McDaniel, Hunter, Crovetto, Nicolle, Perin, Emerson, Costello, Briana, Manian, Prasad, Sohail, M. Rizwan, Postalian, Alexander, Hinsu, Punit, Watson, Carolyn, Chen, James, Fink, Melyssa, Sturgis, Lydia, Walker, Kim, Mahon, Kim, Parenti, Jennifer, Kappenman, Casey, Knight, Aryn, Sturek, Jeffrey M., Barros, Andrew, Enfield, Kyle B., Kadl, Alexandra, Green, China J., Simon, Rachel M., Fox, Ashley, Thornton, Kara, Adams, Amy, Badhwar, Vinay, Sharma, Sunil, Peppers, Briana, McCarthy, Paul, Krupica, Troy, Sarwari, Arif, Reece, Rebecca, Fornaresico, Lisa, Glaze, Chad, Evans, Raquel, Di, Fang, Carlson, Shawn, Aucremanne, Tanja, Tennant, Connie, Sutton, Lisa Giblin, Buterbaugh, Sabrina, Williams, Roger, Bunner, Robin, Traverse, Jay H., Rhame, Frank, Huelster, Joshua, Kethireddy, Rajesh, Davies, Irena, Salamanca, Julianne, Majeski, Christine, Skelton, Paige, Zarambo, Maria, Sarafolean, Andrea, Bowdish, Michael E., Borok, Zea, Wald-Dickler, Noah, Hutcheon, Douglass, Towfighi, Amytis, Lee, Mary, Lewis, Meghan R., Spellberg, Brad, Sher, Linda, Sharma, Aniket, Olds, Anna P., Justino, Chris, Loxano, Edward, Romero, Chris, Leong, Janet, Rodina, Valentina, Quesada, Christine, Hamilton, Luke, Escobar, Jose, Leshnower, Brad, Bender, William, Sharifpour, Milad, Miller, Jeffrey, Farrington, Woodrow, Baio, Kim T., McBride, Mary, Fielding, Michele, Mathewson, Sonya, Porte, Kristina, Maton, Missy, Ponder, Chari, Haley, Elisabeth, Spainhour, Christine, Rogers, Susan, Tyler, Derrick, Madathil, Ronson J., Rabin, Joseph, Levine, Andrea, Saharia, Kapil, Tabatabai, Ali, Lau, Christine, Gammie, James S., Peguero, Maya-Loren, McKernan, Kimberly, Audette, Mathew, Fleischmann, Emily, Akbari, Kreshta, Lee, Myounghee, Chi, Andrew, Salehi, Hanna, Pariser, Alan, Nyguyen, Phuong Tran, Moore, Jessica, Gee, Adrienne, Vincent, Shelika, Zuckerman, Richard A., Iribarne, Alexander, Metzler, Sara, Shipman, Samantha, Johnson, Haley, Newton, Crystallee, Parr, Doug, Miller, Leslie, Schelle, Beth, McLean, Sherry, Rothbaum, Howard R., Alvarez, Michael S., Kalan, Shivam P., Germann, Heather H., Hendershot, Jennifer, Moroney, Karen, Herring, Karen, Cook, Sharri, Paul, Pam, Walker-Ignasiak, Rebecca, North, Crystal, Oldmixon, Cathryn, Ringwood, Nancy, Muzikansky, Ariela, Morse, Richard, Fitzgerald, Laura, Morin, Haley D., Brower, Roy G., Reineck, Lora A., Bienstock, Karen, Steingrub, Jay H., Hou, Peter K., Steingrub, Jay S., Tidswell, Mark A., Kozikowski, Lori-Ann, Kardos, Cynthia, DeSouza, Leslie, Romain, Sarah, Thornton-Thompson, Sherell, Talmor, Daniel, Shapiro, Nathan, Andromidas, Konstantinos, Banner-Goodspeed, Valerie, Bolstad, Michael, Boyle, Katherine L., Cabrera, Payton, deVilla, Arnaldo, Ellis, Joshua C., Grafals, Ana, Hayes, Sharon, Higgins, Conor, Kurt, Lisa, Kurtzman, Nicholas, Redman, Kimberly, Rosseto, Elinita, Scaffidi, Douglas, Filbin, Michael R., Hibbert, Kathryn A., Parry, Blair, Margolin, Justin, Hillis, Brooklynn, Hamer, Rhonda, Brait, Kelsey, Beakes, Caroline, McKaig, Brenna, Kugener, Eleonore, Jones, Alan E., Galbraith, James, Nandi, Utsav, Peacock, Rebekah, Hendey, Gregory, Kangelaris, Kirsten, Ashktorab, Kimia, Gropper, Rachel, Agrawal, Anika, Yee, Kimberley J., Jauregui, Alejandra E., Zhuo, Hanjing, Almasri, Eyad, Fayed, Mohamed, Hubel, Kinsley A., Hughes, Alyssa R., Garcia, Rebekah L., Lim, George W., Chang, Steven Y., Lin, Michael Y., Vargas, Julia, Sihota, Hena, Beutler, Rebecca, Agarwal, Trisha, Wilson, Jennifer G., Vojnik, Rosemary, Perez, Cynthia, McDowell, Jordan H., Roque, Jonasel, Wang, Henry, Huebinger, Ryan M., Patel, Bela, Vidales, Elizabeth, Albertson, Timothy, Hardy, Erin, Harper, Richart, Moss, Marc A., Baduashvili, Amiran, Chauhan, Lakshmi, Douin, David J., Martinez, Flora, Finck, Lani L., Bastman, Jill, Howell, Michelle, Higgins, Carrie, McKeehan, Jeffrey, Finigan, Jay, Stubenrauch, Peter, Janssen, William J., Griesmer, Christine, VerBurg, Olivia, Hyzy, Robert C., Park, Pauline K., Nelson, Kristine, McSparron, Jake I., Co, Ivan N., Wang, Bonnie R., Jimenez, Jose, Olbrich, Norman, McDonough, Kelli, Jia, Shijing, Hanna, Sinan, Gong, Michelle N., Richardson, Lynne D., Nair, Rahul, Lopez, Brenda, Amosu, Omowunmi, Offor, Obiageli, Tzehaie, Hiwet, Nkemdirim, William, Boujid, Sabah, Mosier, Jarrod M., Hypes, Cameron, Campbell, Elizabeth Salvagio, Bixby, Billie, Gilson, Boris, Lopez, Anitza, Bime, Christian, Parthasarathy, Sairam, Cano, Ariana M., Hite, R. Duncan, Terndrup, Thomas E., Wiedemann, Herbert P., Hudock, Kristin, Tanzeem, Hammad, More, Harshada, Martinkovic, Jamie, Sellers, Susan, Houston, Judy, Burns, Mary, Kiran, Simra, Roads, Tammy, Kennedy, Sarah, Duggal, Abhijit, Thiruchelvam, Nirosshan, Ashok, Kiran, King, Alexander H., Mehkri, Omar, Dugar, Siddharth, Sahoo, Debasis, Yealy, Donald M., Angus, Derek C., Weissman, Alexandra J., Vita, Tina M., Berryman, Emily, Hough, Catherine L., Khan, Akram, Krol, Olivia F., Mills, Emmanuel, Kinjal, Mistry, Briceno, Genesis, Reddy, Raju, Hubel, Kinsley, Jouzestani, Milad K., McDougal, Madeline, Deshmukh, Rupali, Johnston, Nicholas J., Robinson, Bryce H., Gundel, Staphanie J., Katsandres, Sarah C., Chen, Peter, Torbati, Sam S., Parimon, Tanyalak, Caudill, Antonina, Mattison, Brittany, Jackman, Susan E., Chen, Po-En, Bayoumi, Emad, Ojukwu, Cristabelle, Fine, Devin, Weissberg, Gwendolyn, Isip, Katherine, Choi-Kuaea, Yunhee, Mehdikhani, Shaunt, Dar, Tahir B., Fleury Augustin, Nsole Biteghe, Tran, Dana, Dukov, Jennifer Emilow, Matusov, Yuri, Choe, June, Hindoyan, Niree A., Wynter, Timothy, Pascual, Ethan, Clapham, Gregg J., Herrera, Lisa, Caudill, Antonia, O’Mahony, D. Shane, Nyatsatsang, Sonam T., Wilson, David M., Wallick, Julie A., Duven, Alexandria M., Fletcher, Dakota D., Miller, Chadwick, Files, D. Clark, Gibbs, Kevin W., Flores, Lori S., LaRose, Mary E., Landreth, Leigha D., Palacios, D. Rafael, Parks, Lisa, Hicks, Madeline, Goodwin, Andrew J., Kilb, Edward F., Lematty, Caitlan T., Patti, Kerilyn, Grady, Abigail, Rasberry, April, Morris, Peter E., Sturgill, Jamie L., Cassity, Evan P., Dhar, Sanjay, Montgomery-Yates, Ashley A., Pasha, Sarah N., Mayer, Kirby P., Pharm.D., Brittany Bissel, Trott, Terren, Rehman, Shahnaz, de Wit, Marjolein, Mason, Jessica, Bledsoe, Joseph, Knowlton, Kirk U., Brown, Samuel, Lanspa, Michael, Leither, Lindsey, Pelton, Ithan, Armbruster, Brent P., Montgomery, Quinn, Kumar, Naresh, Fergus, Melissa, Imel, Karah, Palmer, Ghazal, Webb, Brandon, Klippel, Carolyn, Jensen, Hannah, Duckworth, Sarah, Gray, Andrew, Burke, Tyler, Knox, Dan, Lumpkin, Jenna, Aston, Valerie T., Applegate, Darrin, Serezlic, Erna, Brown, Katie, Merril, Mardee, Harris, Estelle S., Middleton, Elizabeth A., Barrios, Macy A.G., Greer, Jorden, Schmidt, Amber D., Webb, Melissa K., Paine, Roert, Callahan, Sean J., Waddoups, Lindsey J., Yamane, Misty B., Self, Wesley H., Rice, Todd W., Casey, Jonathan D., Johnson, Jakea, Gray, Christopher, Hays, Margaret, Roth, Megan, Menon, Vidya, Kasubhai, Moiz, Pillai, Anjana, Daniel, Jean, Sittler, Daniel, Kanna, Balavenkatesh, Jilani, Nargis, Amaro, Francisco, Santana, Jessica, Lyakovestsky, Aleksandr, Madhoun, Issa, Desroches, Louis Marie, Amadon, Nicole, Bahr, Alaa, Ezzat, Imaan, Guerrero, Maryanne, Padilla, Joane, Fullmer, Jessie, Singh, Inderpreet, Ali Shah, Syed Hamad, Narang, Rajeev, Mock, Polly, Shadle, Melissa, Hernandez, Brenda, Welch, Kevin, Payne, Andrea, Ertl, Gabriela, Canario, Daniel, Barrientos, Isabel, Goss, Danielle, DeVries, Mattie, Folowosele, Ibidolapo, Garner, Dorothy, Gomez, Mariana, Price, Justin, Bansal, Ekta, Wong, Jim, Faulhaber, Jason, Fazili, Tasaduq, Yeary, Brian, Ndolo, Ruth, Bryant, Christina, Smigeil, Bridgette, Robinson, Philip, Najjar, Rana, Jones, Patrice, Nguyen, Julie, Chin, Christina, Taha, Hassan, Najm, Salah, Smith, Christopher, Moore, Jason, Nassar, Talal, Gallinger, Nick, Christian, Amy, Mauer, D’Amber, Phipps, Ashley, Waters, Michael, Zepeda, Karla, Coslet, Jordan, Landazuri, Rosalynn, Pineda, Jacob, Uribe, Nicole, Garcia, Jose Ruiz, Barbabosa, Cecilia, Sandler, Kaitlyn, Overcash, J. Scott, Marquez, Adrienna, Chu, Hanh, Lee, Kia, Quillin, Kimberly, Garcia, Andrea, Lew, Pauline, Rogers, Ralph, Shehadeh, Fadi, Mylona, Evangelia K., Kaczynski, Matthew, Tran, Quynh-Lam, Benitez, Gregorio, Mishra, Biswajit, Felix, Lewis Oscar, Vafea, Maria Tsikala, Atalla, Eleftheria, Davies, Robin, Hedili, Salma, Monkeberg, Maria Andrea, Tabler, Sandra, Harrington, Britt, Meegada, Sreenath, Koripalli, Venkata Sandeep, Muddana, Prithvi, Jain, Lakshay, Undavalli, Chaitanya, Kavya, Parasa, Ibiwoye, Mofoluwaso, Akilo, Hameed, Lovette, Bryce D., Wylie, Jamie-Crystal, Smith, Diana M., Poon, Kenneth, Eckardt, Paula, Heysu, Rubio-Gomez, Sundararaman, Nithya, Alaby, Doris, Sareli, Candice, Sánchez, Adriana, Popielski, Laura, Kambo, Amy, Viens, Kimberley, Turner, Melissa, Vjecha, Michael J., Weintrob, Amy, Brar, Indira, Markowitz, Norman, Pastor, Erika, Corpuz, Roweena, Alangaden, George, McKinnon, John, Ramesh, Mayur, Herc, Erica, Yared, Nicholas, Lanfranco, Odaliz Abreu, Rivers, Emanuel, Swiderek, Jennifer, Gupta, Ariella Hodari, Pabla, Pardeep, Eliya, Sonia, Jazrawi, Jehan, Delor, Jeremy, Desai, Mona, Cook, Aaron, Jaehne, Anja Kathrina, Gill, Jasreen Kaur, Renaud, Sheri, Sarveswaran, Siva, Gardner, Edward, Scott, James, Bianchini, Monica, Melvin, Casey, Kim, Gina, Wyles, David, Kamis, Kevin, Miller, Rachel, Douglas, Ivor, Haukoos, Jason, Hicks, Carrie, Lazarte, Susana, Marines-Price, Rubria, Osuji, Alice, Agbor Agbor, Barbine Tchamba, Petersen, Tianna, Kamel, Dena, Hansen, Laura, Garcia, Angie, Cha, Christine, Mozaffari, Azadeh, Hernandez, Rosa, Cutrell, James, Kim, Mina, DellaValle, Natalie, Gonzales, Sonia, Somboonwit, Charurut, Oxner, Asa, Guerra, Lucy, Hayes, Michael, Nguyen, Thi, Tran, Thanh, Pinto, Avenette, Hatlen, Timothy, Anderson, Betty, Zepeda-Gutierrez, Ana, Martin, Dannae, Temblador, Cindi, Cuenca, Avon, Tanoviceanu, Roxanne, Prieto, Martha, Guerrero, Mario, Daar, Eric, Correa, Ramiro, Hartnell, Gabe, Wortmann, Glenn, Doshi, Saumil, Moriarty, Theresa, Gonzales, Melissa, Garman, Kristin, Baker, Jason V., Frosch, Anne, Goldsmith, Rachael, Driver, Brian, Frank, Christine, Leviton, Tzivia, Prekker, Matthew, Jibrell, Hodan, Lo, Melanie, Klaphake, Jonathan, Mackedanz, Shari, Ngo, Linh, Garcia-Myers, Kelly, Kunisaki, Ken M., Wendt, Chris, Melzer, Anne, Wetherbee, Erin, Drekonja, Dimitri, Pragman, Alexa, Hamel, Aimee, Thielen, Abbie, Hassler, Miranda, Walquist, Mary, Augenbraun, Michael, George, Jensen, Demeo, Lynette, Mishko, Motria, Thomas, Lorraine, Tatem, Luis, Dehovitz, Jack, Abassi, Mahsa, Leuck, Anne-Marie, Rao, Via, Pullen, Matthew, Luke, Darlette, LaBar, Derek, Christiansen, Theresa, Howard, Diondra, Biswas, Kousick, Harrington, Cristin, Garcia, Amanda, Bremer, Tammy, Burke, Tara, Koker, Brittany, Davis-Karim, Anne, Pittman, David, Vasudeva, Shikha S., Johnstone, Jaylynn R., Agnetti, Kate, Davis, Ruby, Trautner, Barbara, Hines-Munson, Casey, Van, John, Dillon, Laura, Wang, Yiqun, Nagy-Agren, Stephanie, Vasudeva, Shikha, Ochalek, Tracy, Caldwell, Erin, Humerickhouse, Edward, Boone, David, McGraw, William, Looney, David J., Mehta, Sanjay R., Johns, Scott Thompson, St. John, Melissa, Raceles, Jacqueline, Sear, Emily, Funk, Stephen, Cesarini, Rosa, Fang, Michelle, Nicalo, Keith, Drake, Wonder, Jones, Beatrice, Holtman, Teresa, Nguyen, Hien H., Maniar, Archana, Johnson, Eric A., Nguyen, Lam, Tran, Michelle T., Barrett, Thomas W., Johnston, Tera, Huggins, John T., Beiko, Tatsiana Y., Hughes, Heather Y., McManigle, William C., Tanner, Nichole T., Washburn, Ronald G., Ardelt, Magdalena, Tuohy, Patricia A., Mixson, Jennifer L., Hinton, Charles G., Thornley, Nicola, Allen, Heather, Elam, Shannon, Boatman, Barry, Baber, Brittany J., Ryant, Rudell, Roller, Brentin, Nguyen, Chinh, Mikail, Amani Morgan, Research, Marivic Hansen, Lichtenberger, Paola, Baracco, Gio, Ramos, Carol, Bjork, Lauren, Sueiro, Melyssa, Tien, Phyllis, Freasier, Heather, Buck, Theresa, Nekach, Hafida, Holodniy, Mark, Chary, Aarthi, Lu, Kan, Peters, Theresa, Lopez, Jessica, Tan, Susanna Yu, Lee, Robert H., Asghar, Aliya, Karyn Isip, Tasadduq Karim, Le, Katherine, Nguyen, Thao, Wong, Shinn, Raben, Dorthe, Murray, Daniel D., Jensen, Tomas O., Peters, Lars, Aagaard, Bitten, Nielsen, Charlotte B., Krapp, Katharina, Nykjær, Bente Rosdahl, Olsson, Christina, Kanne, Katja Lisa, Grevsen, Anne Louise, Joensen, Zillah Maria, Bruun, Tina, Bojesen, Ane, Woldbye, Frederik, Normand, Nick E., Esman, Frederik V.L., Benfield, Thomas, Clausen, Clara Lundetoft, Hovmand, Nichlas, Israelsen, Simone Bastrup, Iversen, Katrine, Leding, Caecilie, Pedersen, Karen Brorup, Thorlacius-Ussing, Louise, Tinggaard, Michaela, Tingsgard, Sandra, Krohn-Dehli, Louise, Pedersen, Dorthe, Villadsen, Signe, Staehr Jensen, Jens-Ulrik, Overgaard, Rikke, Rastoder, Ema, Heerfordt, Christian, Hedsund, Caroline, Ronn, Christian Phillip, Kamstrup, Peter Thobias, Hogsberg, Dorthe Sandbaek, Bergsoe, Christina, Søborg, Christian, Hissabu, Nuria M.S., Arp, Bodil C., Ostergaard, Lars, Staerke, Nina Breinholt, Yehdego, Yordanos, Sondergaard, Ane, Johansen, Isik S., Pedersen, Andreas Arnholdt, Knudtzen, Fredrikke C., Larsen, Lykke, Hertz, Mathias A., Fabricius, Thilde, Holden, Inge K., Lindvig, Susan O., Helleberg, Marie, Gerstoft, Jan, Kirk, Ole, Jensen, Tomas Ostergaard, Madsen, Birgitte Lindegaard, Pedersen, Thomas Ingemann, Harboe, Zitta Barrella, Roge, Birgit Thorup, Hansen, Thomas Michael, Glesner, Matilde Kanstrup, Lofberg, Sandra Valborg, Nielsen, Ariella Denize, Leicht von Huth, Sebastian, Nielsen, Henrik, Thisted, Rikke Krog, Petersen, Kristine Toft, Juhl, Maria Ruwald, Podlekareva, Daria, Johnsen, Stine, Andreassen, Helle Frost, Pedersen, Lars, Clara Ellinor Lindnér, Cecilia Ebba, Wiese, Lothar, Knudsen, Lene Surland, Skrøder Nytofte, Nikolaj Julian, Havmøller, Signe Ravn, Expósito, Maria, Badillo, José, Martínez, Ana, Abad, Elena, Chamorro, Ana, Figuerola, Ariadna, Mateu, Lourdes, España, Sergio, Lucero, Maria Constanza, Santos, José Ramón, Lladós, Gemma, Lopez, Cristina, Carabias, Lydia, Molina-Morant, Daniel, Loste, Cora, Bracke, Carmen, Siles, Adrian, Fernández-Cruz, Eduardo, Di Natale, Marisa, Padure, Sergiu, Gomez, Jimena, Ausin, Cristina, Cervilla, Eva, Balastegui, Héctor, Sainz, Carmen Rodríguez, Lopez, Paco, Carbone, Javier, Escobar, Mariam, Balerdi, Leire, Legarda, Almudena, Roldan, Montserrat, Letona, Laura, Muñoz, José, Camprubí, Daniel, Arribas, Jose R., Sánchez, Rocio Montejano, Díaz-Pollán, Beatriz, Stewart, Stefan Mark, Garcia, Irene, Borobia, Alberto, Mora-Rillo, Marta, Estrada, Vicente, Cabello, Noemi, Nuñez-Orantos, M.J., Sagastagoitia, I., Homen, J.R., Orviz, E., Montalvá, Adrián Sánchez, Espinosa-Pereiro, Juan, Bosch-Nicolau, Pau, Salvador, Fernando, Burgos, Joaquin, Morales-Rull, Jose Luis, Moreno Pena, Anna Maria, Acosta, Cristina, Solé-Felip, Cristina, Horcajada, Juan P., Sendra, Elena, Castañeda, Silvia, López-Montesinos, Inmaculada, Gómez-Junyent, Joan, Gonzáles, Carlota Gudiol, Cuervo, Guilermo, Pujol, Miquel, Carratalà, Jordi, Videla, Sebastià, Günthard, Huldrych, Braun, Dominique L., West, Emily, M’Rabeth-Bensalah, Khadija, Eichinger, Mareile L., Grüttner-Durmaz, Manuela, Grube, Christina, Zink, Veronika, pharmacist, Goes pharmacist, Josefine, Fätkenheuer, Gerd, Malin, Jakob J., Tsertsvadze, Tengiz, Abutidze, Akaki, Chkhartishvili, Nikoloz, Metchurtchlishvili, Revaz, Endeladze, Marina, Paciorek, Marcin, Bursa, Dominik, Krogulec, Dominika, Pulik, Piotr, Ignatowska, Anna, Horban, Andrzej, Bakowska, Elzbieta, Kowaska, Justyna, Bednarska, Agnieszka, Jurek, Natalia, Skrzat-Klapaczynska, Agata, Bienkowski, Carlo, Hackiewicz, Malgorzata, Makowiecki, Michal, Platowski, Antoni, Fishchuk, Roman, Kobrynska, Olena, Levandovska, Khrystyna, Kirieieva, Ivanna, Kuziuk, Mykhailo, Naucler, Pontus, Perlhamre, Emma, Mazouch, Lotta, Kelleher, Anthony, Polizzotto, Mark, Carey, Catherine, Chang, Christina C., Hough, Sally, Virachit, Sophie, Davidson, Sarah, Bice, Daniel J., Ognenovska, Katherine, Cabrera, Gesalit, Flynn, Ruth, Young, Barnaby E., Chia, Po Ying, Lee, Tau Hong, Lin, Ray J., Lye, David C., Ong, Sean W.X., Puah, Ser Hon, Yeo, Tsin Wen, Diong, Shiau Hui, Ongko, Juwinda, Yeo, He Ping, Eriobu, Nnakelu, Kwaghe, Vivian, Zaiyad, Habib, Idoko, Godwin, Uche, Blessing, Selvamuthu, Poongulali, Kumarasamy, Nagalingeswaran, Beulah, Faith Ester, Govindarajan, Narayan, Mariyappan, Kowsalya, Losso, Marcelo H., Abela, Cecilia, Moretto, Renzo, Belloc, Carlos G., Ludueña, Jael, Amar, Josefina, Toibaro, Javier, Macias, Laura Moreno, Fernandez, Lucia, Frare, Pablo S., Chaio, Sebastian R., Pachioli, Valeria, Timpano, Stella M., Sanchez, Marisa del Lujan, de Paz Sierra, Mariana, Stanek, Vanina, Belloso, Waldo, Cilenti, Flavia L., Valentini, Ricardo N., Stryjewski, Martin E., Locatelli, Nicolas, Soler Riera, Maria C., Salgado, Clara, Baeck, Ines M., Di Castelnuovo, Valentina, Zarza, Stella M., Hudson, Fleur, Parmar, Mahesh K.B., Goodman, Anna L., Dphil, Badrock, Jonathan, Gregory, Adam, Goodall, Katharine, Harris, Nicola, Wyncoll, James, Bhagani, S., Rodger, A., Luntiel, A., Patterson, C., Morales, J., Witele, E., Preston, A.-M., Nandani, A., Price, D.A., Hanrath, Aiden, Nell, Jeremy, Patel, Bijal, Hays, Carole, Jones, Geraldine, Davidson, Jade, Bawa, T., Mathews, M., Mazzella, A., Bisnauthsing, K., Aguilar-Jimenez, L., Borchini, F., Hammett, S., Touloumi, Giota, Pantazis, Nikos, Gioukari, Vicky, Souliou, Tania, Antoniadou, A., Protopapas, K., Kavatha, D., Grigoropoulou, S., Oikonomopoulo, C., Moschopoulos, C., Koulouris, N.G., Tzimopoulos, K., Koromilias, A., Argyraki, K., Lourida, P., Bakakos, P., Kalomenidis, I., Vlachakos, V., Barmparessou, Z., Balis, E., Zakynthinos, S., Sigala, I., Gianniou, N., Dima, E., Magkouta, S., Synolaki, E., Konstanta, S., Vlachou, M., Stathopoulou, P., Panagopoulos, P., Petrakis, V., Papazoglou, D., Tompaidou, E., Isaakidou, E., Poulakou, G., Rapti, V., Leontis, K., Nitsotolis, T., Athanasiou, K., Syrigos, K., Kyriakoulis, K., Trontzas, I., Arfara-Melanini, M., Kolonis, V., Kityo, Cissy, Mugerwa, Henry, Kiweewa, Francis, Kimuli, Ivan, Lukaakome, Joseph, Nsereko, Christoher, Lubega, Gloria, Kibirige, Moses, Nakahima, William, Wangi, Deus, Aguti, Evelyne, Generous, Lilian, Massa, Rosemary, Nalaki, Margaret, Magala, Felix, Nabaggala, Phiona Kaweesi, Kidega, Robert, Faith, Oryem Daizy, Florence, Apio, Emmanuel, Ocung, Beacham, Mugoonyi Paul, Geoffrey, Amone, Nakiboneka, Dridah, Apiyo, Paska, Kirenga, Bruce, Atukunda, Angella, Muttamba, Winters, Remmy, Kyeyume, Segawa, Ivan, Pheona, Nsubuga, Kigere, David, Mbabazi, Queen Lailah, Boersalino, Ledra, Nyakoolo, Grace, Fred, Aniongo, Alupo, Alice, Ebong, Doryn, Monday, Edson, Nalubwama, Ritah Norah, Kainja, Milton, Ambrose, Munu, Kwehayo, Vanon, Nalubega, Mary Grace, Ongoli, Augustine, Obbo, Stephen, Sebudde, Nicholus, Alaba, Jeniffer, Magombe, Geoffrey, Tino, Harriet, Obonya, Emmanuel, Lutaakome, Joseph, Kitonsa, Jonathan, Onyango, Martin, Naboth, Tukamwesiga, Naluyinda, Hadijah, Nanyunja, Regina, Irene, Muttiibwa, Jane, Biira, Wimfred, Kyobejja, Leonard, Ssemazzi, Deus, Tkiinomuhisha, Babra, Namasaba, Taire, Paul, Nabankema, Evelyn, Ogavu, Joseph, Mugerwa, Oscar, Okoth, Ivan, Mwebaze, Raymond, Mugabi, Timothy, Makhoba, Anthony, Arikiriza, Phiona, Theresa, Nabuuma, Nakayima, Hope, Frank, Kisuule, Ramgi, Patrícia, Pereira, Kássia, Osinusi, Anu, Cao, Huyen, Klekotka, Paul, Price, Karen, Nirula, Ajay, Osei, Suzette, Tipple, Craig, Wills, Angela, Peppercorn, Amanda, Watson, Helen, Gupta, Rajesh, Alexander, Elizabeth, Mogalian, Erik, Lin, Leo, Ding, Xiao, Margolis, David, Yan, Li, Girardet, Jean-Luc, Ma, Ji, Hong, Zhi, Zhu, Quing, Seegobin, Seth, Gibbs, Michael, Latchman, Mickel, Hasior, Katarzyna, Bouquet, Jerome, Wei, Jianxin, Streicher, Katie, Schmelzer, Albert, Brooks, Dennis, Butcher, Jonny, Tonev, Dimitar, Arbetter, Douglas, Damstetter, Philippe, Legenne, Philippe, Stumpp, Michael, Goncalves, Susana, Ramanathan, Krishnan, Chandra, Richa, Baseler, Beth, Teitelbaum, Marc, Schechner, Adam, Holley, H. Preston, Jankelevich, Shirley, Becker, Nancy, Dolney, Suzanne, Hissey, Debbie, Simpson, Shelly, Kim, Mi Ha, Beeler, Joy, Harmon, Liam, Asomah, Mabel, Jato, Yvonne, Stottlemyer, April, Tang, Olivia, Vanderpuye, Sharon, Yeon, Lindsey, Buehn, Molly, Eccard-Koons, Vanessa, Frary, Sadie, MacDonald, Leah, Cash, Jennifer, Hoopengardner, Lisa, Linton, Jessica, Schaffhauser, Marylu, Nelson, Michaela, Spinelli-Nadzam, Mary, Proffitt, Calvin, Lee, Christopher, Engel, Theresa, Fontaine, Laura, Osborne, C.K., Hohn, Matt, Galcik, Michael, Thompson, DeeDee, Kopka, Stacey, Shelley, Denise M., Mendez, Gregg, Brown, Shawn, Albert, Sara, Balde, Abby, Baracz, Michelle, Bielica, Mona, Billouin-Frazier, Shere, Choudary, Jay, Dixon, Mary, Eyler, Carolyn, Frye, Leanne, Gertz, Jensen, Giebeig, Lisa, Gulati, Neelam, Hankinson, Liz, Hogarty, Debi, Huber, Lynda, Krauss, Gary, Lake, Eileen, Manandhar, Meryan, Rudzinski, Erin, Sandrus, Jen, Suders, Connie, Natarajan, Ven, Rupert, Adam W., Baseler, Michael, Lynam, Danielle, Imamichi, Tom, Laverdure, Sylvain, McCormack, Ashley, Paudel, Sharada, Cook, Kyndal, Haupt, Kendra, Khan, Ayub, Hazen, Allison, Badralmaa, Yunden, Smith, Kenneth, Patel, Bhakti, Kubernac, Amanda, Kubernac, Robert, Hoover, Marie L., Solomon, Courtney, Rashid, Marium, Murphy, Joseph, Brown, Craig, DuChateau, Nadine, Ellis, Sadie, Flosi, Adam, Fox, Lisa, Johnson, Les, Nelson, Rich, Stojanovic, Jelena, Treagus, Amy, Wenner, Christine, Williams, Richard, Jensen, Tomas O, Murray, Thomas A, Grandits, Greg A, Jain, Mamta K, Shaw-Saliba, Kathryn, Matthay, Michael A, Baker, Jason V, Dewar, Robin L, Goodman, Anna L, Hatlen, Timothy J, Highbarger, Helene C, Lallemand, Perrine, Leshnower, Bradley G, Looney, David, Moschopoulos, Charalampos D, Murray, Daniel D, Mylonakis, Eleftherios, Rehman, M Tauseef, Rupert, Adam, Stevens, Randy, Turville, Stuart, Wick, Katherine, Lundgren, Jens, and Ko, Emily R

Published
2024
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20. A synergic approach to enhance long term culture and manipulation of MiaPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer spheroids

Author

Cavo, Marta, Cave, Donatella Delle, D'Amone, Eliana, Gigli, Giuseppe, Lonardo, Enza, and del Mercato, Loretta L.

Subjects
Quantitative Biology - Tissues and Organs
Abstract

Tumour spheroids have the potential to be used as preclinical chemosensitivity assays. However, the production of three dimensional (3D) tumour spheroids remains challenging as not all tumour cell lines form spheroids with regular morphologies and spheroid transfer often induces disaggregation. In the field of pancreatic cancer, the MiaPaCa-2 cell line is an interesting model for research but it is known for its difficulty to form stable spheroids; also, when formed, spheroids from this cell line are weak and arduous to manage and to harvest for further analyses such as multiple staining and imaging. In this work, we compared different methods (i.e. hanging drop, round bottom wells and Matrigel embedding, each of them with or without methylcellulose in the media) to evaluate which one allowed to better overpass these limitations. Morphometric analysis indicated that hanging drop in presence of methylcellulose leaded to well-organized spheroids; interestingly, quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis reflected the morphometric characterization, indicating that same spheroids expressed the highest values of CD44, VIMENTIN, TGF beta1 and Ki67. In addition, we investigated the generation of MiaPaCa-2 spheroids when cultured on substrates of different hydrophobicity, in order to minimize the area in contact with the culture media and to further improve spheroid formation., Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures. Scientific Reports, 2020

Published
2021
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21. Electrospun nanofibers in cancer research: from engineering of in vitro 3D cancer models to therapy

Author

Cavo, Marta, Serio, Francesca, Kale, Narendra R., D'Amone, Eliana, Gigli, Giuseppe, and del Mercato, Loretta L.

Subjects
Physics - Biological Physics, Quantitative Biology - Tissues and Organs
Abstract

Electrospinning is historically related to tissue engineering due to its ability to produce nano-/microscale fibrous materials with mechanical and functional properties that are extremely similar to those of the extracellular matrix of living tissues. The general interest in electrospun fibrous matrices has recently expanded to cancer research both as scaffolds for in vitro cancer modelling and as patches for in vivo therapeutic delivery. In this review, we examine electrospinning by providing a brief description of the process and overview of most materials used in this process, discussing the effect of changing the process parameters on fiber conformations and assemblies. Then, we describe two different applications of electrospinning in service of cancer research: firstly, as three-dimensional (3D) fibrous materials for generating in vitro pre-clinical cancer models; and secondly, as patches encapsulating anticancer agents for in vivo delivery., Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures

Published
2021
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22. Optical and magnetic resonance imaging approaches for investigating the tumour microenvironment: state-of-the-art review and future trends

Author

Prasad, S., Chandra, A., Cavo, M., Parasido, E., Fricke, S., Lee, Y., D'Amone, E., Gigli, G., Albanese, C., Rodriguez, O., and del Mercato, L. L.

Subjects
Physics - Medical Physics
Abstract

The tumour microenvironment (TME) strongly influences tumorigenesis and metastasis. Two of the most characterized properties of the TME are acidosis and hypoxia, both of which are considered hallmarks of tumours as well as critical factors in response to anticancer treatments. Currently, various imaging approaches exist to measure acidosis and hypoxia in the TME, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography and optical imaging. In this review, we will focus on the latest fluorescent-based methods for optical sensing of cell metabolism and MRI as diagnostic imaging tools applied both in vitro and in vivo. The primary emphasis will be on describing the current and future uses of systems that can measure intra- and extra-cellular pH and oxygen changes at high spatial and temporal resolution. In addition, the suitability of these approaches for mapping tumour heterogeneity, and assessing response or failure to therapeutics will also be covered., Comment: 36 pages, 13 figures

Published
2021
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23. Liver abscess after endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty: A case report

Author

Vincenzo Cirimele, Giulia D'Amone, Daniele Vertulli, Giuseppe Spagnolo, Matteo Pileri, Edoardo Montanari, Eliodoro Faiella, and Bruno Beomonte Zobel

Subjects
Liver abscess, Endoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, Emergency radiology, Computed tomography, Liver imaging, Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine, R895-920
Abstract

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of obesity. The procedure is generally safe and well-tolerated, but major adverse events occur in up to 3% of patients. Perigastric abscess is a potential complication caused by postprocedural gastric leak. To the best of our knowledge, no cases of hepatic abscess (HA) following endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty have been reported, while HA is a well-known complication of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. We report the case of a patient who developed a liver abscess 2 weeks after endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty. The patient improved with administration of intravenous antibiotics and endoscopic drainage.

Published
2023
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24. A rare cause of right-upper quadrant abdominal pain: Epiploic appendagitis of the hepatic flexure

Author

Vincenzo Cirimele, MD, Giulia D'Amone, MD, Milena Ricci, MD, Rebecca Casati, MD, Raffaele Ragone, MD, Adriano Redi, MD, and Eliodoro Faiella, MD

Subjects
Epiploic appendagitis, Ultrasound, Acute abdomen, Emergency radiology, Computed tomography, Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine, R895-920
Abstract

Epiploic appendagitis (EA) is an uncommon cause of acute abdominal pain that may mimic other causes of acute abdomen. Epiploic appendages are outpouching of fat tissue located on the external wall of the colon, being more numerous in the descending and sigmoid colon that account for up to 80% of EA cases.We present the case of a 59-year-old woman with right upper quadrant pain. Abdominal ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography suggested the diagnosis of epiploic appendagitis of the right colonic flexure.Our case highlights the fact that epiploic appendagitis may occur in unusual locations and must be included in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain, in order to avoid unnecessary medical and surgical treatment.

Published
2023
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25. Isolated rupture of renal pelvis after blunt chest trauma: First description of a case

Author

Vincenzo Cirimele, MD, Giulia D'Amone, MD, Ilenia Celli, MD, Gabriele Campana, MD, Diab Dirawe, MD, Michele Pillitteri, MD, Gloria Perillo, MD, Eliodoro Faiella, MD, Bruno Beomonte Zobel, MD, and Carlo Augusto Mallio, MD, PhD

Subjects
Renal pelvis rupture, Chest trauma, CT, Emergency, Imaging, Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine, R895-920
Abstract

Isolated post-traumatic rupture of renal pelvis (IPTRRP) is an extremely rare condition and only a few cases following blunt abdominal trauma have been reported in the literature.To our knowledge, no cases of IPTRRP following blunt chest trauma have been reported.We present the case of an 84-year-old woman who was admitted to our Emergency Department due to persistent left flank pain that started after she had fallen to the ground 4 days before, with blunt trauma on her chest.CT showed a rupture of the left renal pelvis with contrast extravasation, associated with multiple rib fractures. No renal and other parenchymal injuries were detected.The patient was managed conservatively with the implantation of a ureteral stent and discharged in good clinical conditions.Our case shows the first description that IPTRRP might be an uncommon but possible complication of blunt chest trauma and must be included in the differential diagnosis.

Published
2023
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26. Prevalence of undetectable and suppressed viral load in HIV-infected pregnant women initiating Option B+ in Uganda: an observational study nested within a randomized controlled trial

Author

Gabagaya, Grace, Rukundo, Gordon, Amone, Alexander, Wavamunno, Priscilla, Namale-Matovu, Joyce, Lubega, Irene, Nakabiito, Clemensia, Namukwaya, Zikulah, Nolan, Monica, Malamba, Samuel S, King, Rachel, Homsy, Jaco, Fowler, Mary Glenn, and Musoke, Philippa

Subjects
Medical Microbiology, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Pediatric, Mental Health, Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Research Initiative, Clinical Research, HIV/AIDS, Pediatric AIDS, Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities, Infection, Good Health and Well Being, Anti-HIV Agents, Female, HIV Infections, Humans, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious, Pregnant Women, Prevalence, Uganda, Viral Load, HIV, Viral load, Viral or virological suppression, HIV transmission, Option B plus, Antiretroviral therapy, Option B+, Microbiology, Clinical sciences, Medical microbiology, Public health
Abstract

BackgroundViral load (VL) testing is key in monitoring adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and documenting HIV treatment response. As per HIV treatment guidelines in Uganda, the first VL test is recommended 6 months after initiation of ART. Undetectable VL (uVL) at ART initiation may be helpful in detecting elite controllers in the absence of previous ART use. We investigated viral suppression at ART initiation among a cohort of HIV-positive pregnant women enrolled in the Friends for Life Circles (FLC) for Option B+ randomized controlled trial (RCT).MethodsPregnant women ≥ 18 years of age testing positive for HIV at their first antenatal care visit and starting on ART Option B+ as per the National PMTCT Program guidelines were enrolled into the FLC for Option B+ RCT in urban Kampala and rural Mityana districts of Uganda. Each participant had whole blood samples collected at enrolment to assess baseline VL. Plasma HIV-1 RNA was quantified using COBAS Ampliprep /COBAS Taqman. Baseline VL below 400 RNA copies/ml was considered as viral suppression while baseline VL below 20 RNA copies/ml was considered uVL.ResultsThe mean duration from the date of ART initiation to time of sample collection for baseline VL assessment was 4.4 days (SD 3.6). Of the 532 HIV-positive pregnant women enrolled in the FLC for Option B+ study and newly starting Option B+ without a self-reported history of prior ART use, 29 (5.5%) had uVL and 113 (21.4%) had suppressed VL at baseline. There was no association between participants' age, gravidity, marital status, mean monthly income, educational level, disclosure of HIV status to partner, and uVL or viral suppression at baseline. However, non-disclosure of HIV status to any other person was associated with decreased odds of viral suppression at baseline (OR 0.640; 0.416-0.982).ConclusionTwenty-one percent of HIV-positive Ugandan pregnant women initiating ART (Option B+) showed virological suppression at baseline and were presumed to be "elite controllers" or to have misreported being ART-naive. Further studies are needed to better understand the biologic mechanisms of elite controllers among pregnant women as well as to differentiate elite controllers from concealed ART use. Trial Registration The trial was registered as NCT02515370 (04/08/2015) on Clinicaltrials.gov.

Published
2021

29. Leveraging Virtualization Technology in Teaching Cyber Security Courses in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Clement Amone Keyamo, Patrick Ogholuwarami Ejeh, and Daniel Osamwonyi Iyoha

Subjects
cyber security, education, teaching-learning process, virtualization technology, virtual machine., Education (General), L7-991, Electronic computers. Computer science, QA75.5-76.95
Abstract

Teaching and learning can be effective and enjoyable if the course is well-packaged and presented. This was the experience of students and teachers participating in our hands-on Cyber Security course. Effective teaching of Cyber Security requires practical demonstration of attack patterns and their related countermeasures. This implies that outstanding and modern laboratories must be in place to teach and learn the necessary principles and practices effectively. Unfortunately, newly established universities in Sub-Saharan Africa need more funds for establishing and maintaining such laboratories. However, several researchers have shown that virtualization technology (VT) can enhance available but limited physical computing laboratories as an alternative to complex physical laboratories with huge procurement costs. This paper proposes an ad hoc and mobile laboratory for teaching practical principles in Cyber Security. The report aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of virtualization technology in teaching Cyber Security in newly established universities in Sub-Saharan Africa with zero to minimal computer laboratory infrastructure.

Published
2023
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30. Standardized Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Extract Improves Short- and Long-Term Cognitive Performances in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Trial

Author

Fabio Amone, Amelia Spina, Anna Perri, Danilo Lofaro, Vincenzo Zaccaria, Violetta Insolia, Chiara Lirangi, Francesco Puoci, and Vincenzo Nobile

Subjects
polyphenols, cognitive function, selective attention, clinical trial, Chemical technology, TP1-1185
Abstract

Cognitive decline, a common consequence of aging, detrimentally affects independence, physical activity, and social interactions. This decline encompasses various cognitive functions, including processing speed, memory, language, and executive functioning. This trial aimed to investigate, with a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on 96 healthy older adults, the efficacy of once-daily 250 mg of a standardized grape (Vitis vinifera L.) juice extract (Cognigrape®) in improving short- and long-term cognitive functions. The results revealed significant improvements across multiple cognitive domains, notably immediate and delayed memory, visuospatial abilities, language, and attention, with improvements occurring within just 14 days, which continued to improve after 84 days of supplementation. The extract exhibited statistically significant enhancements in the Mini-Mental State Evaluation (MMSE), assessment of neuropsychological status (RBANS), “Esame Neuropsicologico Breve 2 (ENB-2), and Modified Bells Test (MBT) scores, with the latter test revealing a significant improvement in selective attention within just 90 min of the first dose. These positive results highlight the potential this natural grape extract has on improving cognitive function both acutely and chronically in a healthy aging population, which in turn supports a longer health span, at least cognitively.

Published
2024
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31. Enhanced peer-group strategies to support the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission leads to increased retention in care in Uganda: A randomized controlled trial.

Author

Alexander Amone, Grace Gabagaya, Priscilla Wavamunno, Gordon Rukundo, Joyce Namale-Matovu, Samuel S Malamba, Irene Lubega, Jaco Homsy, Rachel King, Clemensia Nakabiito, Zikulah Namukwaya, Mary Glenn Fowler, and Philippa Musoke

Subjects
Medicine, Science
Abstract

IntroductionDespite the scale-up of Option B+, long-term retention of women in HIV care during pregnancy and the postpartum period remains an important challenge. We compared adherence to clinic appointments and antiretroviral therapy (ART) at 6 weeks, 6, and and 24 months postpartum among pregnant women living with HIV and initiating Option B+. Women were randomized to a peer group support, community-based drug distribution and income-generating intervention called "Friends for Life Circles" (FLCs) versus the standard of care (SOC). Our secondary outcome was infant HIV status and HIV-free survival at 6 weeks and 18 months postpartum.MethodsBetween 16 May 2016 and 12 September 2017, 540 ART-naïve pregnant women living with HIV at urban and rural health facilities in Uganda were enrolled in the study at any gestational age. Participants were randomized 1:1 to the unblinded FLC intervention or SOC at enrolment and assessed for adherence to the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) clinic appointments at 6 weeks, 12, and 24 months postpartum, self-reported adherence to ART at 6 weeks, 6 and 24 months postpartum and supported by plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load (VL) measured at the same time points, retention in care through the end of study, and HIV status and HIV-free survival of infants at 18 months postpartum. The FLC groups were formed during pregnancy within 4 months of enrollment and held monthly meetings in their communites, and were followed up until the last group participant reached 24 months post delivery. We used Log-rank and Chi-Square p-values to test the equality of Kaplan-Meier survival probabilities and hazard rates (HR) for failure to retain in care for any reason by study arm.ResultsThere was no significant difference in adherence to PMTCT clinic visits or to ART or in median viral loads between FLC and SOC arms at any follow-up time points. Retention in care through the end of study was high in both arms but significantly higher among participants randomized to FLC (86.7%) compared to SOC (79.3%), p = 0.022. The adjusted HR of visit dropout was 2.4 times greater among participants randomized to SOC compared to FLC (aHR = 2.363, 95% CI: 1.199-4.656, p = 0.013). Median VL remained < 400 copies/ml in both arms at 6 weeks, 6, and 24 months postpartum. Eight of the 431 infants tested at 18 months were HIV positive (1.9%), however, this was not statistically different among mothers enrolled in the FLC arm compared to those in the SOC arm. At 18 months, HIV-free survival of children born to mothers in the FLC arm was significantly higher than that of children born to mothers in the SOC arm.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that programmatic interventions that provide group support, community-based ART distribution, and income-generation activities may contribute to retention in PMTCT care, HIV-free survival of children born to women living with HIV, and ultimately, to the elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission (EMTCT).Trial registrationNCT02515370 (04/08/2015) on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Published
2024
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32. Pregnant women, their male partners and health care providers’ perceptions of HIV self-testing in Kampala, Uganda: Implications for integration in prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs and scale-up

Author

Rujumba, Joseph, Homsy, Jaco, Mbazzi, Femke Bannink, Namukwaya, Zikulah, Amone, Alexander, Rukundo, Gordon, Katabira, Elly, Byamugisha, Josaphat, Fowler, Mary Glenn, and King, Rachel L

Subjects
Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Midwifery, Public Health, Health Sciences, Reproductive Medicine, HIV/AIDS, Infectious Diseases, Health Services, Clinical Research, Behavioral and Social Science, Pediatric AIDS, Pediatric, Mental Health, Prevention, 7.1 Individual care needs, Management of diseases and conditions, Infection, Reproductive health and childbirth, Good Health and Well Being, Adult, Female, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Health Personnel, Humans, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, Male, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious, Self-Testing, Sexual Partners, Uganda, General Science & Technology
Abstract

BackgroundHIV status awareness is critical for HIV prevention and care but HIV testing rates remain low in Uganda, especially among men. One suggested approach to increase access and utilisation of HIV testing services is HIV self-testing. We explored perceptions of pregnant and lactating women and their male partners who attended antenatal care, and health care providers in a government hospital in Kampala, Uganda, about HIV self-testing for initial or repeat testing for women and their partners during pregnancy and postpartum We draw implications for scaling-up this new testing approach in Uganda.MethodsThis was a qualitative study conducted at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, between April and December 2017. We conducted in-depth interviews with five pregnant or lactating women and their five male partners; five focus group discussions (two with women, two with health workers and one with male partners of women attending antenatal care) and five key informant interviews with health workers providing prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) services. Data were analysed using content thematic approach.ResultsThere was limited awareness about HIV self-testing especially among pregnant or lactating women and their male partners. Study participants mentioned that HIV self-testing would enable people to know their HIV status faster, they thought the approach would be cost- and time-saving compared to health facility-based HIV testing, improve confidentiality and reduce stigma for those who test HIV positive. They expressed however, a general fear that HIV self-testing would lead to harm to self and others in case one tested HIV positive, including suicide, violence among couples, intentional transmission of HIV, and limited linkage to care due to lack of counselling. The likely misinterpretation of HIV test results especially among those with no or limited education, and possible coercion exerted by male partners on their wives were other potential concerns raised about the use of HIV self-testing.ConclusionsThere was limited knowledge about HIV self-testing among pregnant and lactating women, their partners and health workers. While the self-testing modality was perceived to be critical for helping people, especially those in casual and distant relationships, to know their HIV status and that of their partners, most study participants believed that HIV self-testing could potentially result in a multitude of negative outcomes in the absence of pre- and post-test counselling. Successful scale-up and integration of self-testing in HIV programs requires community education, provision of information materials and making self-test kits accessible and affordable, especially in rural areas.

Published
2021

34. Measurement of the cosmic-ray proton spectrum from 40 GeV to 100 TeV with the DAMPE satellite

Author

An, Q., Asfandiyarov, R., Azzarello, P., Bernardini, P., Bi, X. J., Cai, M. S., Chang, J., Chen, D. Y., Chen, H. F., Chen, J. L., Chen, W., Cui, M. Y., Cui, T. S., Dai, H. T., D'Amone, A., De Benedittis, A., De Mitri, I., Di Santo, M., Ding, M., Dong, T. K., Dong, Y. F., Dong, Z. X., Donvito, G., Droz, D., Duan, J. L., Duan, K. K., D'Urso, D., Fan, R. R., Fan, Y. Z., Fang, F., Feng, C. Q., Feng, L., Fusco, P., Gallo, V., Gan, F. J., Gao, M., Gargano, F., Gong, K., Gong, Y. Z., Guo, D. Y., Guo, J. H., Guo, X. L., Han, S. X., Hu, Y. M., Huang, G. S., Huang, X. Y., Huang, Y. Y., Ionica, M., Jiang, W., Jin, X., Kong, J., Lei, S. J., Li, S., Li, W. L., Li, X., Li, X. Q., Li, Y., Liang, Y. F., Liang, Y. M., Liao, N. H., Liu, C. M., Liu, H., Liu, J., Liu, S. B., Liu, W. Q., Liu, Y., Loparco, F., Luo, C. N., Ma, M., Ma, P. X., Ma, S. Y., Ma, T., Ma, X. Y., Marsella, G., Mazziotta, M. N., Mo, D., Niu, X. Y., Pan, X., Peng, W. X., Peng, X. Y., Qiao, R., Rao, J. N., Salinas, M. M., Shang, G. Z., Shen, W. H., Shen, Z. Q., Shen, Z. T., Song, J. X., Su, H., Su, M., Sun, Z. Y., Surdo, A., Teng, X. J., Tykhonov, A., Vitillo, S., Wang, C., Wang, H., Wang, H. Y., Wang, J. Z., Wang, L. G., Wang, Q., Wang, S., Wang, X. H., Wang, X. L., Wang, Y. F., Wang, Y. P., Wang, Y. Z., Wang, Z. M., Wei, D. M., Wei, J. J., Wei, Y. F., Wen, S. C., Wu, D., Wu, J., Wu, L. B., Wu, S. S., Wu, X., Xi, K., Xia, Z. Q., Xu, H. T., Xu, Z. H., Xu, Z. L., Xu, Z. Z., Xue, G. F., Yang, H. B., Yang, P., Yang, Y. Q., Yang, Z. L., Yao, H. J., Yu, Y. H., Yuan, Q., Yue, C., Zang, J. J., Zhang, F., Zhang, J. Y., Zhang, J. Z., Zhang, P. F., Zhang, S. X., Zhang, W. Z., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y. J., Zhang, Y. L., Zhang, Y. P., Zhang, Y. Q., Zhang, Z., Zhang, Z. Y., Zhao, H., Zhao, H. Y., Zhao, X. F., Zhou, C. Y., Zhou, Y., Zhu, X., Zhu, Y., and Zimmer, S.

Subjects
Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Abstract

The precise measurement of the spectrum of protons, the most abundant component of the cosmic radiation, is necessary to understand the source and acceleration of cosmic rays in the Milky Way. This work reports the measurement of the cosmic ray proton fluxes with kinetic energies from 40 GeV to 100 TeV, with two and a half years of data recorded by the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE). This is the first time an experiment directly measures the cosmic ray protons up to ~100 TeV with a high statistics. The measured spectrum confirms the spectral hardening found by previous experiments and reveals a softening at ~13.6 TeV, with the spectral index changing from ~2.60 to ~2.85. Our result suggests the existence of a new spectral feature of cosmic rays at energies lower than the so-called knee, and sheds new light on the origin of Galactic cosmic rays., Comment: 37 pages, 5 figures, published in Science Advances

Published
2019
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35. The on-orbit calibration of DArk Matter Particle Explorer

Author

Ambrosi, G., An, Q., Asfandiyarov, R., Azzarello, P., Bernardini, P., Cai, M. S., Caragiulo, M., Chang, J., Chen, D. Y., Chen, H. F., Chen, J. L., Chen, W., Cui, M. Y., Cui, T. S., Dai, H. T., D'Amone, A., De Benedittis, A., De Mitri, I., Ding, M., Di Santo, M., Dong, J. N., Dong, T. K., Dong, Y. F., Dong, Z. X., Droz, D., Duan, K. K., Duan, J. L., D'Urso, D., Fan, R. R., Fan, Y. Z., Fang, F., Feng, C. Q., Feng, L., Fusco, P., Gallo, V., Gan, F. J., Gao, M., Gao, S. S., Gargano, F., Garrappa, S., Gong, K., Gong, Y. Z., Guo, J. H., Hu, Y. M., Huang, G. S., Huang, Y. Y., Ionica, M., Jiang, D., Jiang, W., Jin, X., Kong, J., Lei, S. J., Li, S., Li, X., Li, W. L., Li, Y., Liang, Y. F., Liang, Y. M., Liao, N. H., Liu, C. M., Liu, H., Liu, J., Liu, S. B., Liu, W. Q., Liu, Y., Loparco, F., Ma, M., Ma, P. X., Ma, S. Y., Ma, T., Ma, X. Q., Ma, X. Y., Marsella, G., Mazziotta, M. N., Mo, D., Niu, X. Y., Pan, X., Peng, X. Y., Peng, W. X., Qiao, R., Rao, J. N., Salinas, M. M., Shang, G. Z., Shen, W. H., Shen, Z. Q., Shen, Z. T., Song, J. X., Su, H., Su, M., Sun, Z. Y., Surdo, A., Teng, X. J., Tian, X. B., Tykhonov, A., Vitillo, S., Wang, C., Wang, H., Wang, H. Y., Wang, J. Z., Wang, L. G., Wang, Q., Wang, S., Wang, X. H., Wang, X. L., Wang, Y. F., Wang, Y. P., Wang, Y. Z., Wang, Z. M., Wen, S. C., Wei, D. M., Wei, J. J., Wei, Y. F., Wu, D., Wu, J., Wu, L. B., Wu, S. S., Wu, X., Xi, K., Xia, Z. Q., Xin, Y. L., Xu, H. T., Xu, Z. H., Xu, Z. L., Xu, Z. Z., Xue, G. F., Yang, H. B., Yang, P., Yang, Y. Q., Yang, Z. L., Yao, H. J., Yu, Y. H., Yuan, Q., Yue, C., Zang, J. J., Zhang, D. L., Zhang, F., Zhang, J. B., Zhang, J. Y., Zhang, J. Z., Zhang, L., Zhang, P. F., Zhang, S. X., Zhang, W. Z., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y. J., Zhang, Y. Q., Zhang, Y. L., Zhang, Y. P., Zhang, Z., Zhang, Z. Y., Zhao, H., Zhao, H. Y., Zhao, X. F., Zhou, C. Y., Zhou, Y., Zhu, X., Zhu, Y., and Zimmer, S.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena, High Energy Physics - Experiment
Abstract

The DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE), a satellite-based cosmic ray and gamma-ray detector, was launched on December 17, 2015, and began its on-orbit operation on December 24, 2015. In this work we document the on-orbit calibration procedures used by DAMPE and report the calibration results of the Plastic Scintillator strip Detector (PSD), the Silicon-Tungsten tracKer-converter (STK), the BGO imaging calorimeter (BGO), and the Neutron Detector (NUD). The results are obtained using Galactic cosmic rays, bright known GeV gamma-ray sources, and charge injection into the front-end electronics of each sub-detector. The determination of the boundary of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), the measurement of the live time, and the alignments of the detectors are also introduced. The calibration results demonstrate the stability of the detectors in almost two years of the on-orbit operation.

Published
2019
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36. [Repeat] testing and counseling is one of the key [services] that the government should continue providing: participants perceptions on extended repeat HIV testing and enhanced counseling (ERHTEC) for primary HIV prevention in pregnant and lactating women in the PRIMAL study, Uganda.

Author

Bannink Mbazzi, Femke, Namukwaya, Zikulah, Amone, Alexander, Ojok, Francis, Etima, Juliane, Byamugisha, Josaphat, Katabira, Elly, Fowler, Mary, Homsy, Jaco, and King, Rachel

Subjects
Acceptability, Africa, Counselling, Feasibility, HIV, Postpartum, Pregnancy, Prevention, Repeat testing, Uganda, Adolescent, Adult, Breast Feeding, Counseling, Female, Government Programs, HIV Infections, Humans, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, Mass Screening, Middle Aged, Perception, Postpartum Period, Pregnancy, Prenatal Care, Risk Reduction Behavior, Sex Education, Sexual Behavior, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Socioeconomic Factors, Uganda, Young Adult
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Primary HIV Prevention among Pregnant and Lactating Ugandan Women (PRIMAL) randomized controlled trial aimed to assess an enhanced counseling strategy linked to extended postpartum repeat HIV testing and enhanced counseling among 820 HIV-negative pregnant and lactating women aged 18-49 years and 410 of their male partners to address the first pillar of the WHO Global Strategy for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV transmission (PMTCT). This paper presents findings of qualitative studies aimed at evaluating participants and service providers perceptions on the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention and at understanding the effects of the intervention on risk reduction, couple communication, and emotional support from womens partners. METHODS: PRIMAL Study participants were enrolled from two antenatal care clinics and randomized 1:1 to an intervention or control arm. Both arms received repeat sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV testing at enrolment, labor and delivery, and at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months postpartum. The intervention consisted of enhanced quarterly counseling on HIV risk reduction, couple communication, family planning and nutrition delivered by study counselors through up to 24 months post-partum. Control participants received repeat standard post-test counseling. Qualitative data were collected from intervention women participants, counsellors and midwives at baseline, midline and end of the study through 18 focus group discussions and 44 key informant interviews. Data analysis followed a thematic approach using framework analysis and a matrix-based system for organizing, reducing, and synthesizing data. RESULTS: At baseline, FGD participants mentioned multiple sexual partners and lack of condom use as the main risks for pregnant and lactating women to acquire HIV. The main reasons for having multiple sexual partners were 1) the cultural practice not to have sex in the late pre-natal and early post-natal period; 2) increased sexual desire during pregnancy; 3) alcohol abuse; 4) poverty; and 5) conflict in couples. Consistent condom use at baseline was limited due to lack of knowledge and low acceptance of condom use in couples. The majority of intervention participants enrolled as couples felt enhanced counselling improved understanding, faithfulness, mutual support and appreciation within their couple. Another benefit mentioned by participants was improvement of couple communication and negotiation, as well as daily decision-making around sexual needs, family planning and condom use. Participants stressed the importance of providing counselling services to all couples. CONCLUSION: This study shows that enhanced individual and couple counselling linked to extended repeat HIV and STI testing and focusing on HIV prevention, couple communication, family planning and nutrition is a feasible and acceptable intervention that could enhance risk reduction programs among pregnant and lactating women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov registration number NCT01882998, date of registration 21st June 2013.

Published
2020

38. A case of portal biliopathy in a young patient with portal cavernoma secondary to neonatal umbilical vein catheterization

Author

Vincenzo Cirimele, MD, Giulia D'Amone, MD, and Carlo Cosimo Quattrocchi, MD, PhD

Subjects
Portal cavernoma, Biliary disease, Bile duct diseases, Cholestasis in children, Portal vein obstruction, Interventional endoscopy, Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine, R895-920
Abstract

Portal biliopathy (PB) refers to biliary obstruction caused by cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV). CTPV occurs most frequently in patients with liver cirrhosis or malignancy. Less common causes include congenital malformations and neonatal umbilical vein cannulation. We present a case of portal biliopathy in a 28-year-old man with CTPV secondary to umbilical vein catheterization in neonatal age. The case illustrates portal biliopathy as a late complication of neonatal invasive procedures and highlights the importance of a multimodality imaging approach to achieve a prompt diagnosis.

Published
2023
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39. Inter-Ethnic Conflicts, Counter Raids and Widowhood in North-Eastern Uganda

Author

Charles Amone, Joseph Okware, and Zebrone Wangoa

Subjects
cattle rustling, ethnic conflicts, karamojong widows, widow inheritance, Ethnology. Social and cultural anthropology, GN301-674
Abstract

North-Eastern Uganda is a semi-arid region where inter-ethnic conflicts, cattle raids and violence are common. The nomadic Karamojong are the inhabitants of this region. A typical Karamojong man is socially defined by the number of his wives and cattle. As cattle, sheep, goats and camels are required for the payment of the bridal price, a Karamojong man spends most of his time raiding them in order to acquire more wives. Often, many warriors die in those raids, leaving behind young widows who, by age-old tradition, have to be inherited by the husband’s brother or clan mate. This article discusses the centrality of women, widows and widowhood in the inter-ethnic conflicts, raids and counter- raids that have characterized north-eastern Uganda for centuries. Using a qualitative approach involving key informant’s interviews, we analyzed the series of socio-cultural practices and customary laws that many Karamojong women and widows are subjected to during their struggles for basic needs, human rights, and dignity. The interviews were conducted from March to August 2021 in Karenga, Nakapiripirit and Amudat Districts of Karamoja, and in the suburbs of Mbale and Kampala Cities where a number of Karamojong women now live.

Published
2023
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40. Search for gamma-ray emission from the Sun during solar minimum with the ARGO-YBJ experiment

Author

Bartoli, B., Bernardini, P., Bi, X. J., Cao, Z., Catalanotti, S., Chen, S. Z., Chen, T. L., Cui, S. W., Dai, B. Z., D'Amone, A., Danzengluobu, De Mitri, I., Piazzoli, B. D'Ettorre, Di Girolamo, T., Di Sciascio, G., Feng, C. F., Feng, Zhaoyang, Feng, Zhenyong, Gao, W., Gou, Q. B., Guo, Y. Q., He, H. H., Hu, Haibing, Hu, Hongbo, Iacovacci, M., Iuppa, R., Jia, H. Y., Labaciren, Li, H. J., Li, Z., Liu, C., Liu, J., Liu, M. Y., Lu, H., Ma, L. L., Ma, X. ., Mancarella, G., Mari, S. M., Marsella, G., Mastroianni, S., Montini, P., Ning, C. C., Perrone, L., Pistilli, P., Salvini, P., Santonico, R., Shen, P. R., Sheng, X. D., Shi, F., Surdo, A., Tan, Y. H., Vallania, P., Vernetto, S., Vigorito, C., Wang, H., Wu, C. Y., Wu, H. R., Xue, L., Yang, Q. Y., Yang, X. C., Yao, Z. G., Yuan, A. F., Zha, M., Zhang, H. M., Zhang, L., Zhang, X. Y., Zhang, Y., Zhao, J., Zhaxiciren, Zhaxisangzhu, Zhou, X. X., Zhu, F. R., and Zhu, Q. Q.

Subjects
Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Abstract

The hadronic interaction of cosmic rays with solar atmosphere can produce high energy gamma rays. The gamma-ray luminosity is correlated both with the flux of primary cosmic rays and the intensity of the solar magnetic field. The gamma rays below 200 GeV have been observed by $Fermi$ without any evident energy cutoff. The bright gamma-ray flux above 100 GeV has been detected only during solar minimum. The only available data in TeV range come from the HAWC observations, however outside the solar minimum. The ARGO-YBJ dataset has been used to search for sub-TeV/TeV gamma rays from the Sun during the solar minimum from 2008 to 2010, the same time period covered by the Fermi data. A suitable model containing the Sun shadow, solar disk emission and inverse-Compton emission has been developed, and the chi-square minimization method was used to quantitatively estimate the disk gamma-ray signal. The result shows that no significant gamma-ray signal is detected and upper limits to the gamma-ray flux at 0.3$-$7 TeV are set at 95\% confidence level. In the low energy range these limits are consistent with the extrapolation of the Fermi-LAT measurements taken during solar minimum and are compatible with a softening of the gamma-ray spectrum below 1 TeV. They provide also an experimental upper bound to any solar disk emission at TeV energies. Models of dark matter annihilation via long-lived mediators predicting gamma-ray fluxes > $10^{-7}$ GeV $cm^{-2}$ $s^{-1}$ below 1 TeV are ruled out by the ARGO-YBJ limits.

Published
2019
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42. In-flight performance of the DAMPE silicon tracker

Author

Tykhonov, A., Ambrosi, G., Asfandiyarov, R., Azzarello, P., Bernardini, P., Bertucci, B., Bolognini, A., Cadoux, F., D'Amone, A., De Benedittis, A., De Mitri, I., Di Santo, M., Dong, Y. F., Duranti, M., D'Urso, D., Fan, R. R., Fusco, P., Gallo, V., Gao, M., Gargano, F., Garrappa, S., Gong, K., Ionica, M., La Marra, D., Loparco, F., Marsella, G., Mazziotta, M. N., Peng, W. X., Qiao, R., Salinas, M. M., Surdo, A., Vagelli, V., Vitillo, S., Wang, H. Y., Wang, J. Z., Wang, Z. M., Wu, D., Wu, X., Zhang, F., Zhang, J. Y., Zhao, H., and Zimmer, S.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
Abstract

DAMPE (DArk Matter Particle Explorer) is a spaceborne high-energy cosmic ray and gamma-ray detector, successfully launched in December 2015. It is designed to probe astroparticle physics in the broad energy range from few GeV to 100 TeV. The scientific goals of DAMPE include the identification of possible signatures of Dark Matter annihilation or decay, the study of the origin and propagation mechanisms of cosmic-ray particles, and gamma-ray astronomy. DAMPE consists of four sub-detectors: a plastic scintillator strip detector, a Silicon-Tungsten tracKer-converter (STK), a BGO calorimeter and a neutron detector. The STK is composed of six double layers of single-sided silicon micro-strip detectors interleaved with three layers of tungsten for photon conversions into electron-positron pairs. The STK is a crucial component of DAMPE, allowing to determine the direction of incoming photons, to reconstruct tracks of cosmic rays and to estimate their absolute charge (Z). We present the in-flight performance of the STK based on two years of in-flight DAMPE data, which includes the noise behavior, signal response, thermal and mechanical stability, alignment and position resolution.

Published
2018
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43. Galactic Cosmic-Ray Anisotropy in the Northern hemisphere from the ARGO-YBJ Experiment during 2008-2012

Author

Bartoli, B., Bernardini, P., Bi, X. J., Cao, Z., Catalanotti, S., Chen, S. Z., Chen, T. L., Cui, S. W., Dai, B. Z., D'Amone, A., Danzengluobu, De Mitri, I., Piazzoli, B. D'Ettorre, Di Girolamo, T., Di Sciascio, G., Feng, C. F., Feng, Z. Y., Gao, W., Gou, Q. B., Guo, Y. Q., He, H. H., Hu, Haibing, Hu, Hongbo, Iacovacci, M., Iuppa, R., Jia, H. Y., Labaciren, Li, H. J., Liu, C., Liu, J., Liu, M. Y., Lu, H., Ma, L. L., Ma, X. H., Mancarella, G., Mari, S. M., Marsella, G., Mastroianni, S., Montini, P., Ning, C. C., Perrone, L., Pistilli, P., Ruffolo, D., Salvini, P., Santonico, R., Shen, P. R., Sheng, X. D., Shi, F., Surdo, A., Tan, Y. H., Vallania, P., Vernetto, S., Vigorito, C., Wang, H., Wu, C. Y., Wu, H. R., Xue, L., Yang, Q. Y., Yang, X. C., Yao, Z. G., Yuan, A. F., Zha, M., Zhang, H. M., Zhang, L., Zhang, X. Y., Zhang, Y., Zhao, J., Zhaxiciren, Zhaxisangzhu, Zhou, X. X., Zhu, F. R., and Zhu, Q. Q.

Subjects
Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Abstract

This paper reports on the observation of the sidereal large-scale anisotropy of cosmic rays using data collected by the ARGO-YBJ experiment over 5 years (2008$-$2012). This analysis extends previous work limited to the period from 2008 January to 2009 December,near the minimum of solar activity between cycles 23 and 24.With the new data sample the period of solar cycle 24 from near minimum to maximum is investigated. A new method is used to improve the energy reconstruction, allowing us to cover a much wider energy range, from 4 to 520 TeV. Below 100 TeV, the anisotropy is dominated by two wide regions, the so-called "tail-in" and "loss-cone" features. At higher energies, a dramatic change of the morphology is confirmed. The yearly time dependence of the anisotropy is investigated. Finally, no noticeable variation of cosmic-ray anisotropy with solar activity is observed for a median energy of 7 TeV.

Published
2018
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45. Measurement of the cosmic ray proton spectrum from 40 GeV to 100 TeV with the DAMPE satellite.

Author

DAMPE Collaboration, An, Q, Asfandiyarov, R, Azzarello, P, Bernardini, P, Bi, XJ, Cai, MS, Chang, J, Chen, DY, Chen, HF, Chen, JL, Chen, W, Cui, MY, Cui, TS, Dai, HT, D'Amone, A, De Benedittis, A, De Mitri, I, Di Santo, M, Ding, M, Dong, TK, Dong, YF, Dong, ZX, Donvito, G, Droz, D, Duan, JL, Duan, KK, D'Urso, D, Fan, RR, Fan, YZ, Fang, F, Feng, CQ, Feng, L, Fusco, P, Gallo, V, Gan, FJ, Gao, M, Gargano, F, Gong, K, Gong, YZ, Guo, DY, Guo, JH, Guo, XL, Han, SX, Hu, YM, Huang, GS, Huang, XY, Huang, YY, Ionica, M, Jiang, W, Jin, X, Kong, J, Lei, SJ, Li, S, Li, WL, Li, X, Li, XQ, Li, Y, Liang, YF, Liang, YM, Liao, NH, Liu, CM, Liu, H, Liu, J, Liu, SB, Liu, WQ, Liu, Y, Loparco, F, Luo, CN, Ma, M, Ma, PX, Ma, SY, Ma, T, Ma, XY, Marsella, G, Mazziotta, MN, Mo, D, Niu, XY, Pan, X, Peng, WX, Peng, XY, Qiao, R, Rao, JN, Salinas, MM, Shang, GZ, Shen, WH, Shen, ZQ, Shen, ZT, Song, JX, Su, H, Su, M, Sun, ZY, Surdo, A, Teng, XJ, Tykhonov, A, Vitillo, S, Wang, C, Wang, H, Wang, HY, and Wang, JZ

Subjects
DAMPE Collaboration, astro-ph.HE
Abstract

The precise measurement of the spectrum of protons, the most abundant component of the cosmic radiation, is necessary to understand the source and acceleration of cosmic rays in the Milky Way. This work reports the measurement of the cosmic ray proton fluxes with kinetic energies from 40 GeV to 100 TeV, with 2 1/2 years of data recorded by the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE). This is the first time that an experiment directly measures the cosmic ray protons up to ~100 TeV with high statistics. The measured spectrum confirms the spectral hardening at ~300 GeV found by previous experiments and reveals a softening at ~13.6 TeV, with the spectral index changing from ~2.60 to ~2.85. Our result suggests the existence of a new spectral feature of cosmic rays at energies lower than the so-called knee and sheds new light on the origin of Galactic cosmic rays.

Published
2019

46. Measurement of the cosmic ray proton spectrum from 40 GeV to 100 TeV with the DAMPE satellite

Author

Collaboration, DAMPE, An, Q, Asfandiyarov, R, Azzarello, P, Bernardini, P, Bi, XJ, Cai, MS, Chang, J, Chen, DY, Chen, HF, Chen, JL, Chen, W, Cui, MY, Cui, TS, Dai, HT, D’Amone, A, De Benedittis, A, De Mitri, I, Di Santo, M, Ding, M, Dong, TK, Dong, YF, Dong, ZX, Donvito, G, Droz, D, Duan, JL, Duan, KK, D’Urso, D, Fan, RR, Fan, YZ, Fang, F, Feng, CQ, Feng, L, Fusco, P, Gallo, V, Gan, FJ, Gao, M, Gargano, F, Gong, K, Gong, YZ, Guo, DY, Guo, JH, Guo, XL, Han, SX, Hu, YM, Huang, GS, Huang, XY, Huang, YY, Ionica, M, Jiang, W, Jin, X, Kong, J, Lei, SJ, Li, S, Li, WL, Li, X, Li, XQ, Li, Y, Liang, YF, Liang, YM, Liao, NH, Liu, CM, Liu, H, Liu, J, Liu, SB, Liu, WQ, Liu, Y, Loparco, F, Luo, CN, Ma, M, X., P, Y., S, Ma, T, Y., X, Marsella, G, Mazziotta, MN, Mo, D, Niu, XY, Pan, X, Peng, WX, Peng, XY, Qiao, R, Rao, JN, Salinas, MM, Shang, GZ, Shen, WH, Shen, ZQ, Shen, ZT, Song, JX, Su, H, Su, M, Sun, ZY, Surdo, A, Teng, XJ, Tykhonov, A, Vitillo, S, Wang, C, Wang, H, Wang, HY, and Wang, JZ

Subjects
Nuclear and Plasma Physics, Particle and High Energy Physics, Physical Sciences, DAMPE Collaboration, astro-ph.HE
Abstract

The precise measurement of the spectrum of protons, the most abundant component of the cosmic radiation, is necessary to understand the source and acceleration of cosmic rays in the Milky Way. This work reports the measurement of the cosmic ray proton fluxes with kinetic energies from 40 GeV to 100 TeV, with 2 1/2 years of data recorded by the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE). This is the first time that an experiment directly measures the cosmic ray protons up to ~100 TeV with high statistics. The measured spectrum confirms the spectral hardening at ~300 GeV found by previous experiments and reveals a softening at ~13.6 TeV, with the spectral index changing from ~2.60 to ~2.85. Our result suggests the existence of a new spectral feature of cosmic rays at energies lower than the so-called knee and sheds new light on the origin of Galactic cosmic rays.

Published
2019

47. Infection Prevention and Control Initiatives to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Transmission of SARS-CoV-2, East Africa

Author

Danica J. Gomes, Carmen Hazim, Jacqueline Safstrom, Carolyn Herzig, Ulzii Luvsansharav, Cori Dennison, Yakob Ahmed, Evelyn Wesangula, Joseph Hokororo, Jackson Amone, Berhanu Tekle, George Owiso, Rita Mutayoba, Mohammed Lamorde, Evelyn Akello, Getachew Kassa, Beniam Feleke, Linus Ndegwa, Kokuhumbya Kazaura, Diriisa Musisi, Anand Date, Benjamin J. Park, and Elizabeth Bancroft

Subjects
COVID-19, infection prevention and control initiatives, coronavirus disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2, coronaviruses, Medicine, Infectious and parasitic diseases, RC109-216
Abstract

The coronavirus disease pandemic has highlighted the need to establish and maintain strong infection prevention and control (IPC) practices, not only to prevent healthcare-associated transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to healthcare workers and patients but also to prevent disruptions of essential healthcare services. In East Africa, where basic IPC capacity in healthcare facilities is limited, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supported rapid IPC capacity building in healthcare facilities in 4 target countries: Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. CDC supported IPC capacity-building initiatives at the healthcare facility and national levels according to each country’s specific needs, priorities, available resources, and existing IPC capacity and systems. In addition, CDC established a multicountry learning network to strengthen hospital level IPC, with an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning. We present an overview of the key strategies used to strengthen IPC in these countries and lessons learned from implementation.

Published
2022
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49. Impact of antimalarial resistance and COVID-19 pandemic on malaria care among pregnant women in Northern Uganda (ERASE): protocol of a prospective observational study

Author

Francesco Vladimiro Segala, Francesco Di Gennaro, Jerry Ictho, Mariangela L’Episcopia, Emmanuel Onapa, Claudia Marotta, Elda De Vita, James Amone, Valentina Iacobelli, Joseph Ogwang, Giovanni Dall’Oglio, Benedict Ngole, Rita Murri, Lameck Olal, Massimo Fantoni, Samuel Okori, Giovanni Putoto, Carlo Severini, Peter Lochoro, and Annalisa Saracino

Subjects
Malaria in pregnancy, COVID-19, Antimalarial resistance, Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, Artemisinin derivatives, Infectious and parasitic diseases, RC109-216
Abstract

Abstract Background Uganda accounts for 5% of all malaria cases and deaths reported globally and, in endemic countries, pregnancy is a risk factor for both acquisition of P. falciparum infection and development of severe malaria. In recent years, malaria control has been threatened by COVID-19 pandemic and by the emergence, in Northern Uganda, of both resistance to artemisinin derivatives and to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Methods In this facility-based, prospective, observational study, pregnant women will be recruited at antenatal-care visits and followed-up until delivery. Collected data will explore the incidence of asymptomatic parasitemia and malaria-related outcomes, as well as the attitudes towards malaria prevention, administration of intermittent preventive treatment, healthcare seeking behavior and use of insecticide-treated nets. A subpopulation of women diagnosed with malaria will be recruited and their blood samples will be analyzed for detection of genetic markers of resistance to artemisinin derivatives and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Also, to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on malaria care among pregnant women, a retrospective, interrupted-time series will be conducted on at the study sites for the period January 2018 to December 2021. Discussion The present study will explore the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on incidence of malaria and malaria-related adverse outcomes, along with the prevalence of resistance to artemisinin derivatives and to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. To our knowledge, this is the first study aiming to explore the combined effect of these factors on a cohort of pregnant women. Trial registration: This study has been registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov public website on 26th April, 2022. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05348746.

Published
2022
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50. Neurocysticercosis in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, a Diagnostic Challenge from Oyam District, Uganda

Author

Francesco Vladimiro Segala, Elda De Vita, James Amone, Daniel Ongaro, Ritah Nassali, Bonny Oceng, Samuel Okori, Giovanni Putoto, Peter Lochoro, Jerry Ictho, Massimo Fantoni, Annalisa Saracino, and Francesco Di Gennaro

Subjects
Uganda, neurocysticercosis, zoonosis, LMIC, Tenia solium, computed tomography, Other systems of medicine, RZ201-999
Abstract

Background: In countries where Taenia solium is endemic, neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the leading identified cause of seizures, accounting for nearly 30% of all epilepsy cases and up to 2.8 million of Disability Adjusted Life Years. Diagnosis of this condition, however, is strictly reliant on either MRI or CT scan, which are poorly available in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), creating challenges for proper case management and the acquisition of precise neuroepidemiologic data that may guide program and policy development. Methods: Here, we report the case of a 73-year-old woman admitted in a rural hospital in Northern Uganda, who presented with seizures and a progressive inability to walk. She was then diagnosed with NCC after a brain CT scan. Conclusions: This case study represents a rare example of the detection of NCC in a rural district hospital, thus suggesting the potential feasibility of a CT-scan guided diagnostic approach in low resource settings.

Published
2022
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