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Scattering events with compact objects are expected in the primordial black hole (PBH) cold dark matter (CDM) scenario due to close encounters between stars and PBH in the dense environments of dwarf spheroidals. We develop a Bayesian framework to search for correlations among Milky Way stellar trajectories and those of globular clusters and dwarf galaxies in the halo, and other nearby galaxies. We apply the method to a selection of hypervelocity stars (HVS) and globular clusters from Gaia DR2 catalog, and known nearby (mostly dwarf) galaxies with full phase-space and size measurements. We report positive evidence for trajectory intersection $\sim$20-40 Myr ago of up to 2 stars, depending on priors, with the Sagittarius dwarf Spheroidal (dSph) galaxy when assuming Marchetti et al. (2019) distance estimates. We verify that the result is compatible with their evolutionary status, setting a lower bound for the stellar age of $\sim$100 Myr. However, such scattering events are not confirmed when assuming Anders et al. (2019) distance estimates. We discuss shortcomings related to present data quality and future prospects for detection of HVS with the full Gaia catalog and Sagittarius dSph., Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures; v2: use different HVS selection, accepted by MNRAS

Laser Texturing and Laser Engraving of free form surfaces are interesting alternative to EDM and micro milling in the fabrication of moulds and dies. The material removal rate of this process is typically very low and the maximum working area is limited by the maximum travel range of the galvanometric scanning head and also by the maximum deflection of the scanner or the surface curvature. As a consequence, in order to manufacture large or free form surfaces, a set of placements of the scanning head respect to the work piece must be calculated and controlled by the CNC. The number of these placements can be quite high due the small amount of material removed in each of them and the non-operative time spent to move the scanning head can be relevant compared to the overall time. In this work a method based on the solution of the Traveling Salesman Problem is proposed with the aim to optimise the number of displacements of the scanning head and generally in order to reduce the number of movement of the numerically controlled axes. The method that takes into account both the architecture and the dynamic characteristics of a 5 axis CNC system was implemented in the CALM (Computer Aided Laser Manufacturing) software used to program the laser path for part texturing and applied in industrial cases.

Mn(III)-tetrakis(2,4,6-trimethyl-3,5-dihalogenophenyl)porphyrins 5-7 (halogen = Cl, Br, I) have been synthesized and their catalytic activity has been tested in HOCl/ClO− alkene epoxidations. These porphyrins are characterized by structural separation of the two parameters governing chemical stability towards the oxidants: the steric protection of both the metal centre and of the meso positions of the porphyrin ring; and the electron-withdrawing effect of substitutents (methyl groups and halogen atoms in the o,o′ and m,m′ positions, respectively, of the meso-aromatic rings). The stability of 5–7 towards oxidative degradation is similar to that of Mn(III)-tetrakis(2,6–dichlorophenyl)porphyrin (1). Catalytic activities of the porphyrins 5-7 and 1 are optimized under quite different conditions. This behaviour can be explained in terms of mono- (K1) and bis-coordination (β2) constants of porphyrins 1, 5 and 6 with the axial ligand, 1-hexylimidazole, which account for the concentration of the mono-ligated species Mn(P)L and of the free ligand at the equilibrium.

Mn(II1)tetraarylporphyrins bearing either a heterocyclic nitrogen base as axial ligand or a carboxylic group, or both, covalently bonded to the porphyrin through a single flexible chain, are cfficient biomimetic oxygenation catalysts, specific for the activation of aqueous NaOCl andlor of diluted H202. Their basic frame is that of the robust tetra(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin (TDCIPP). Mn(II1)-bis porphyrins in which two porphyrin moieties derived from TDCIPP are connected by a rigid spacer have also been synthesized. In the presence of a bidentate lipophilic imidazole ligand they give inclusion complexes with a very high binding constant. Thcy are also very efficient oxygenation catalysts. On thc contrary, othcr metalloporphinoids (benzo- and am-porphyrins, lipophilic phthaltxyanincs) are vcry poor and unstable catalysts.

The main purpose of the SYRMEP (SYnchrotron Radiation for MEdical Physics) research team is the investigation and development of innovative techniques for medical imaging. A dedicated beamline has been built at ELETTRA to evaluate the effectiveness of synchrotron-based techniques in medical radiology with particular interest to mammography, and more in general, to the imaging of biological and biomedical samples, either in planar or tomographic set-ups. Taking advantage of the high intensity and high spatial coherence of Synchrotron Radiation (SR), phase sensitive techniques such as Phase Contrast (PhC) and Diffraction Enhanced Imaging (DEI) can be applied. After successful studies carried out on test objects and in vitro samples, the research in mammography is aiming at in vivo clinical trials. For this purpose, the layout of the SYRMEP beamline has been substantially modified and the safety system has been completely redesigned to guarantee the compliance with current radiation protection guidelines. In the present paper, the main characteristics of the beamline and an overview of the results obtained in different contexts of biomedical imaging are presented. Moreover, the status of the project for clinical mammography is outlined.

In the last few years many studies have been done on the characterization of the phase evolution, during martensitic transformation of shape memory alloys (SMAs). From the experimental point of view this topic has many difficulties. Detailed information is needed on the very small modifications locally induced by the transforming interface and, at the same time, on the phase evolution in the sample as a whole. Microscopic techniques give detailed information on local interfaces, twinning and self- accommodation structures, but in order to develop a complete description of the link between the microscopic and macroscopic levels, proper techniques must be identified and verified which can describe the intermediate level. In this paper we report on the application of Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI) in the study of the phase evolution during pseudoelastic transformation in NiTiCu shape memory alloys. PCI is a quite novel technique, which gives image information linked to very small differences in the density of the material under analysis. The method has some clear advantages when compared with common microscopic tech- niques: (a) no special preparation of the sample is needed, (b) the investigated area is very large, (c) it allows the setting up of complex experimental apparatus. In order to perform stress-strain tests on NiTiCu samples, an "ad-hoc" experimental set-up was prepared. With this, control of different parameters and data acquisition during tests were ensured by dedicated soft- ware, developed in the LabVIEW language, while images of the sample were acquired.

A combined Ultra Small Angle X-ray Scattering and Diffraction Enhanced Imaging system was developed and installed at the 6.2 bending magnet beam line at the Sincrotrone Trieste, Italy. This imaging technique uses X-rays in the energy range between 9 keV and 35 keV and provides significant volume-averaged information. It forms images from angle-filtered X-rays that are scattered by the electron density variations in the sample. Encouraging preliminary measurements on articular cartilage reveal that this imaging technique might be sensitive to features that are normally invisible using other X-ray methods.

Pelvic laparoscopic lymphadenectomy should be the most reliable method for lymphatic staging of bladder cancer. Endoscopic nodal exploration procedures have already proved to be valid alternatives to conventional lymphadenectomy as a minimally invasive technique with lower morbidity. The Authors present a new protocol for bladder-sparing treatment of locally invasive transitional cell carcinoma and discuss the feasibility of laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy as a staging procedure.

Sedation for children doing diagnostic or operative pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy (PE) procedures is performed differently over the world and no consensus is yet agreed on the best paediatric endoscopy sedation (PES). Some centres do not use any sedation, especially in infants, most centre use some form of sedation: conscious sedation, deep sedation and general anaesthesia. We review sedation drugs and describe our centre protocol on 188 consecutive PE: oral premedication with flunitrazepam (0.05 mg/kg/dose) at least 30 min before procedure, petidine (1 mg/kg) followed by increasing boluses of midazolam (0.05 mg/kg up to a maximal 0.2 mg/kg or 5 mg) were given i.v. to obtain a conscious sedation. All PE could be performed and ended safely, PES resulted satisfactory in approximately 65% of patient having conscious sedation. SaO290% was observed in 2% of cases, one child had a respiratory depression after PE that resolved with flumanezil. Endoscopy and sedation was always performed by the PE team in the immediate vicinity of anaesthesiologists at work. PE can be safely performed with conscious sedation. Basic and advanced resuscitation skills are needed for the PE team who wish to perform both endoscopic and sedation procedures.

The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between urinary cytology, traditional indexes of malignancy of bladder carcinoma and DNA-ploidy (diploid, near-diploid, aneuploid).52 specimens of bladder cancers (transitional cell carcinoma) were obtained from 46 patients at TURB and from 6 patients at radical cystectomy. In every specimen the nuclear content of DNA was investigated using the cytofluorimetric method. Cells were processed in standard fashion for flow cytometry with propidium iodide staining; cellular suspension was obtained mechanically. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were used as diploid standard. Bladder cytology was performed in every patient.A relationship between DNA-ploidy and histological malignancy was observed. The largest portion of near-diploid neoplasm was observed in stage T1, grade G2 malignancies. In some cases negative bladder cytology occurred together with aneuploid DNA content, whilst in other cases positive bladder cytology occurred together with diploid DNA content. In consequence there is not always a relationship between bladder cytology and DNA-ploidy.Since observed correlations may point out some neoplasms with particular biological behaviour, follow-up of near-diploid malignancies is of great interest.

In spite of the improvement of surgical techniques used alone or in combination with preoperative radiation therapy, more than 50% of the patients with infiltrating transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder die of distant metastases. Systemic antiblastic polychemotherapy has been reported to achieve a complete remission rate of approximately 30% in patients with infiltrating bladder TCC, although there are still doubts relative to the duration of such complete remissions. This study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of a preoperative chemo- and radiotherapeutic treatment modality and the possibility of performing preservative surgery. Thirty-seven patients with bladder TCC stage T2-T4, N0, M0, have been subjected to neoadjuvant chemotherapy according to the "Rescue M-VEC" scheme of methotrexate 30 mg/m2 +folinic acid 15 mg. after 24 hours on days 1, 15, 22; vinblastine 3 mg/m2 on days 1, 15, 22; epidoxorubicin 30 mg/m2 on day 1 and cisplatin 70 mg/m2 on day 1. The course was repeated from day 29. After 2 "Rescue M-VEC" courses, the patients received pelvic cobalt tele-therapy (CTT) combined with cisplatin 24 mg/m2/week. The patients were then restaged. Those with complete remission (CR) received consolidation radiotherapeutic boost combined with cisplatin 24 mg/m2/week, avoiding radical cystectomy. Such treatment was also given to patients with significant partial remission (PR) who had undergone TUR or partial cystectomy. In all the remaining cases we carried out radical cystectomy. We obtained 45.7% CR, 31.4% PR and 22.8% were non-responders (NR), of 35 patients who were evaluable at restaging. Only 9 radical cystectomies were performed in this series. The overall survival rate was 80.6% at a mean follow-up of 18.1 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Renal adenocarcinoma can present with a wide range of symptoms and clinical signs and among them pain is the more frequent. As a matter of fact, it can also assume the features of a reno-ureteral colic. This kind of symptom, however, is more frequently combined with macro-hematuria and seldom presents alone, even in the initial phases of the clinical course. In this case, and if it assumes the features of strong and irrepressible pain, it can probably be related to sudden and remarkable hematic harvest in subcapsular space or, owing to its breach, in perirenal space. Besides the benign neoplastic pathology (angiomyolipoma) or the malignant one, the spontaneous subcapsular or perirenal hematoma may be due to several other etiopathogenetic factors, the most significant being arteriopathy (poliarteritis, aneurysms), phlogosis and hemocoagulopathy. The present case has prompted the authors to underscore the importance and the meaning of isolated algetic lumbar symptomatology in the diagnosis of complicated renal neoplasia. After a critical review of the literature on the modes of presentation of algetic symptomatology in renal adenocarcinoma, particularly spontaneous subcapsular hematoma, the authors report on a 53 year-old male patient who consulted because of a sudden irrepressible pain in his left flank, which could be only partially mitigated by stronger analgetics. Examinations urgently carried out (abdominal ultrasound, urography, pelviabdominal computed tomography) made it possible to diagnose a widespread secondary spontaneous subcapsular hematoma with left-sided solid renal neoplasia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The nickel-catalyzed cyanation of aromatic halides under phase-transfer conditions is reported. Both liquid—liquid and solid—liquid techniques have been used, the former giving better yields and a higher catalyst turnover. The method provides a convenient and versatile route to aromatic nitriles.

Different approaches have been utilized to give a geotechnical image of the “land”. It is the authors' belief that cartographical mapping might not be the best way to represent geotechnical characteristics of areas, therefore they have chosen numerical representation by means of a 64 K-bytes minicomputer. The input data are three-thousand borings carried out in the Venetia region (North-East Italy) of which the boring-log data and the mechanical characteristics of soils belong to the archive of the Institute of Marine Constructions and Geotechnique of the University of Padua. Such input stored in the mass memory of the computer are retrieved when necessary. The method consists in the choice of an “area” containing zones of which geotechnical information is needed. For this purpose these areas are defined on a videographic display by means of two geographical coordinates which are the central point of a rectangular space with constant side-ratio. The extension of the area is defined by a scale factor; at this point all the borings existing within the area are displayed as bright dots on the screen. When stratigraphical and geotechnical information is wanted the borings of interest must be selected by a graphic input. The procedure is interactive and even an unskilled operator may utilize the programmes.

A total of 44 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy for treatment of localized renal cell carcinoma between 1977 and 1981 were reviewed. After the operation, specimens of neoplastic tissue were sent to the pathologist for steroid hormone receptor determination and patients were prophylactically given medroxypro-gesterone acetate (MPA) at high doses. When receptor assessment was related to the outcome of a complete 5-year follow-up, a statistically significant correlation was found between the absence of androgen receptor and longer survival, whereas no prognostic significance could be attributed to estrogen, progesterone, or cortisol receptors. Thus the hypothesis might be raised that androgen receptor could be a reliable prognostic indicator for a prophylactic postoperative therapy with MPA in renal cell carcinoma.

The rates of the base-catalysed H–D exchange in endo- and exo-2-methoxycarbonylnorbornene and in endo- and exo-2-phenylsulphonylnorbornene have been measured. In the first two compounds the exchanges occur α to the methoxycarbonyl group; in the second two compounds α to the phenylsulphonyl group. The rates are slightly lower in the esters than in the sulphones, in accordance with the pKa values of simple carboxylic esters and alkyl sulphones. In the disubstituted norbornenes, methyl cis-endo- and cis-exo-3-phenylsulphonyl-bicyclo[2,2,1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylates, there is isotopic exchange only at the position α to the methoxycarbonyl group, and inversion of the latter, endo→exo and exo→endo respectively; the exchange and inversion rates are identical. The trans-isomers remain unchanged in the reaction conditions of the cis-isomers. The results have been compared with those obtained in the case of the corresponding disubstituted norbornene acids. They are consistent with a pyramidal structure (sp3-hybridisation), and not with a planar structure (sp2-p-hybridisation) of α-sulphonyl carbanions in the norbornene system.