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Involuntary commitment hearings have been conducted utilizing videoconferencing technology for several years. There is limited information available in the published psychiatric literature pertaining to the use of this technology for commitment proceedings. The University of North Carolina Hospitals adopted a remote videoconferencing (tele-hearing) format for its civil commitment proceedings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this provided us with the opportunity to investigate the use of such an arrangement. In this article, we review the use of videoconferencing for commitment hearings. We also review select case law related to the utilization of this technology for commitment hearings, which reveals that the courts have not been in full agreement about the legality of a virtual commitment tele-hearing format. Given that the general use of virtual platforms has expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and many individuals and organizations are gaining confidence in operating this technology, more institutions may decide to shift to a virtual commitment scheme or make a commitment tele-hearing format permanent after the pandemic.

In this short paper, some analytical results found in “Double-diffusive Soret convection phenomenon in porous media: effect of Vadasz inertia term” by F. Capone, R. De Luca, M. Vitiello, Ricerche Mat. 68, 581–595 (2019), are recalled in order to better explore the dynamic of thermosolutal convection in a horizontal porous layer with the influence of Vadasz and Soret terms.

Background It has been demonstrated that IL-17A is able to induce GC insensitivity. Although several studies have reported the role of IL-17 in GC insensitivity the mechanism underlying remains still largely unclear. Objectives To understand the effects of interleukin-17 (IL-17) on the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β-HSDs) in the two main classes of monocytes, CD14 and CD16. Methods Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 5 healthy donors and were sorted into CD14 and CD16 subpopulations using cell sorting. Effect of IL-17 on 11β-HSD1 enzyme activity was measured in terms of conversion of cortisone to cortisol in sorted and unsorted monocytes using Homogeneous Time-Resolved Fluorescence (HTRF). The direct involvement of 11β-HSD1 in the conversion of cortisone to cortisol was confirmed using carbenoxolone, an inhibitor of 11β-HSD1. Results Monocytes showed a concentration-dependent decrease in the 11β-HSD1 enzyme activity when incubated with increasing concentrations of IL-17. CD14 and CD16 cells stimulated similarly with IL-17 showed a significant difference in the enzyme activity between the untreated and stimulated cells in all treatment groups. However, a dose dependent decrease was observed only in case of CD14 cells. Both unsorted monocytes and monocyte sub-populations showed a significant decrease in the concentration of cortisol measured when co-incubated with carbenoxolone, indicative of the direct involvement of 11β-HSD1 enzyme in the conversion of cortisone to cortisol. Conclusions The results of this study showed that IL-17 induced GC insensitivity might be dependent on the reduced 11β-HSD1 enzyme activity in inflammatory conditions. We showed that the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17 causes a significant decrease in the 11β-HSD1 enzyme activity. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Magnetic films were produced by ultrashort pulsed laser deposition (uPLD) using a rotating multitarget of terfenol-D (nominal composition: Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe2) and iron. The composite films obtained have a nanoparticle morphology typical of material produced by the uPLD technique, where each particle retains the stoichiometry of the parent target material. The co-deposition allows the production of (Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe2)(100-x)Fe-x films, where x can range from 0% to 100%. Unlike films obtained by standard nanosecond PLD, pure terfenol-D layers (x = 0) are amorphous, while the addition of iron induces the formation of Fe crystalline nanoparticles inside an amorphous nanogranular matrix of terfenol-D. The magnetic properties depend on the nanoparticle morphology and more strictly on the fraction of iron particles. In particular, it was demonstrated that the exchange interaction between hard magnetic terfenol-D nanoparticles and iron nanoparticles is active in the uPLD films, giving a cumulative magnetic response resulting from an averaging of the properties of the two component phases.

Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser ablation of silicon has been investigated by Langmuir probe and time-gated optical emission spectroscopy. The measured spectra show the presence of a fast ion population preceding the main plume core of slow ions and neutrals produced by a thermal ablation mechanism. By analyzing the fluence thresholds for the emission of the two ion populations, we provide clear experimental evidence that fast ions are ejected non-thermally from the sample surface as a result of the Si surface supercritical state induced by the intense ultrashort laser pulse irradiation.

We have experimentally observed that nanoparticles emission is a peculiar feature of matter removal during ultrashort (fs) laser pulse irradiation of silicon followed by vacuum expansion. Time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy has been used to characterize the plume expansion dynamics, while atomic force microscopy analysis of silicon nanoparticles deposited after 100 fs laser ablation has shown an average particle size of ≈ 7 nm, with a pretty narrow size distribution. This is in agreement with the predictions of recent theoretical models on the mechanisms underlying ablation of solids in this ultrashort temporal regime. Finally, a phenomenological model of nanoparticles cooling during their vacuum expansion has allowed us to single out radiative cooling as the most effective cooling mechanism in the late stage of plume expansion.

We have used the technique of femtosecond (fs) laser ablation in a vacuum to produce films of nickel nanoparticles. A peculiarity of this fs laser deposition is the significant shape and orientation anisotropy of the nanoparticles, which are oblate ellipsoids with the major axis parallel to the deposition substrate. The deposited films present unique magnetic properties, and, in specific conditions, very high remanence ratios (up to 0.7) accompanied with relatively low values of saturation and coercive fields can be obtained. We have interpreted these results in terms of the mentioned anisotropies, and of the occurrence of a thermally induced in-plane tensile stress, which is a function of the nanoparticles size.

We demonstrate that femtosecond laser ablation of silicon targets in vacuum is a viable route to the generation and deposition of nanoparticles with radii of ≈5–10 nm. The nanoparticles dynamics during expansion has been analyzed through their structureless continuum optical emission, while atoms and ions, also present in the plume, have been identified by their characteristic emission lines. Atomic force microscopy analysis of the material deposited at room temperature has allowed the characterization of the nanoparticles size distribution. Taking into account the emissivity of small particles we show that the continuum emission is a blackbody-like radiation from the nanoparticles. Our results suggest that nanoclusters are generated as a result of relaxation processes of the extreme material state reached by the irradiated target surface, in agreement with recently published theoretical studies.

Ultrashort pulsed laser ablation in vacuum of different targets was performed in order to investigate the possibility of producing nanoparticles with controlled size and shape. A systematic morphology characterization of deposited products was performed for nickel and silicon as a function of laser pulse intensity and wavelength, at a fixed pulse repetition rate. The nanoparticles were investigated by atomic force microscopy, and clear trends for their size and shape anisotropy were evidenced. The best conditions to obtain nanosized particles of oblate ellipsoidal shape, with the minor axis below 10 nm, were determined in the case of nickel targets. Our results show that ultrashort pulse laser deposition can be considered as an interesting technique for the tailoring of nanogranular films with the desired particles dimension and shape, according to the peculiar properties required in specific applications. Moreover, the preliminary features are very promising from the point of view of the production of magnetoresistive films with specific anisotropy. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We report on the demonstration of Terahertz (THz) broadband detectors based on field effect transistors exploiting tapered semiconductor nanowires. The intrinsic asymmetry provided by the nanowires geometry allows to achieve responsivity values as high as 55 V/W (2.5 mA/W) and a noise-equivalent-power of 3 x 10(-10) W/Hz(1/2) independent of the specific gate voltage applied. The possibility to reduce the number of terminals required to the source and drain contacts only and the technological feasibility of multi-pixel arrays are promising for the realization of compact and integrated THz matrix array detection systems. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Combined measurements of ion probe and optical emission spectroscopy have been employed to investigate the propagation of LaMnO 3 ablation plasma in oxygen background gas. The expansion dynamics as a function of the background pressure shows a transition from a free-plume, at low pressures, to a shock-wave-like expansion, at larger pressures. Plume splitting is observed in a pressure range which depends on the distance from the target surface. The distance-related pressure dependencies for the different expansion regimes have been rationalized in the frame of a simple model of plume propagation into the background gas.

Tenendo presente la natura interattiva e multidimensionale del processo di integrazione degli immigrati nella società di arrivo, in questo articolo si è cercato di indagare con i dati di censimento le dimensioni di ordine strutturale e socio-economico di tale fenomeno, aspetti che comunque sarebbero difficilmente investigabili su scala nazionale attraverso dati di altre fonti. L’analisi descrittiva viene condotta utilizzando come categoria interpretativa fondamentale la distinzione tra stranieri e acquisiti e, nell’ambito dei primi, facendo ricorso ad un’ulteriore articolazione tra nati in Italia e nati all’estero, distinguendo questi ultimi per durata della presenza. La condizione familiare, la situazione abitativa e l’inserimento lavorativo vengono esaminati attraverso indicatori elementari costruiti distintamente per nazionalità, nonché facendo ricorso a tecniche di analisi multi-dimensionale dei dati. Alcuni dei risultati emersi stimolano ulteriori quesiti o comunque evidenziano quanto sia difficile pervenire ad un quadro d’insieme univoco. In particolare, c’è da chiedersi se il netto vantaggio in termini di integrazione rilevato per gli acquisiti sia da interpretare come l’esito di un processo di integrazione ben riuscito o sia invece connesso alle difficoltà di acquisizione della cittadinanza nel contesto italiano. Inoltre, non sempre la stabilizzazione della presenza si coniuga con il conseguimento di migliori condizioni di vita e di lavoro. Ciò vale anche con riferimento ai diversi aspetti di una stessa dimensione: la stabilità lavorativa, ad esempio, si pone spesso in alternativa ad un’occupazione adeguata al proprio titolo di studio. *** Keeping in mind the interactive and multi-dimensional nature of the integration process of immigrants in the societies of destination, this article has tried to investigate with the data of the census the structural and socio-economic dimensions of this phenomenon. The descriptive analysis is conducted employing as fundamental interpretative category the distinction between foreigners and naturalized citizens. Regarding the foreigners there is a further articulation between those born in Italy and those born abroad, distinguishing the latter according to the length of presence. The family conditions, living situation and labour insertion are examined by means of elementary indicators that are distinctively constructed by nationality, as well as resorting to techniques of multi-dimensional analysis of the data. Some of the results that have emerged stimulate further questions and point out, in any case, how difficult it is to attain a univocal overall framework. In particular, one must ask if the clear advantage in terms of integration detected among the naturalized citizens must be interpreted as the result of a successful process of integration or it is related to the difficulty of acquiring the citizenship in the Italian context. Moreover, the stabilization of presence is not always accompanied by the attainment of better life and labour conditions. This works also with reference to the different aspects of the same dimension: for example, labour stability is often placed in alternative to an occupation adequate to one’s educational qualifications. ***

The propagation of LaMnO3 laser ablation plume in oxygen background has been investigated using fast photography of overall visible plume emission and time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy. The plume expansion was studied with ambient oxygen pressures ranging from vacuum level to 100 Pa. Free-expansion, splitting, sharpening and stopping of the plume were observed at different pressures and time delays after the laser pulse. Time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy showed that oxides are mainly formed through reaction of the atomic species ablated from the target with oxygen in the gas-phase. These reactions mainly affect the content of lanthanum oxide in the plume, while emission of manganese oxide is barely observed in all the range of pressure investigated. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A new technique based on ultrashort laser ablation of solid targets in vacuum was used to synthesize films of individual nanocrystals of magnetic atoms (Fe and Ni). Laser pulses of 300 fs at 527 nm were used to produce a plume mainly constituted of nanoparticles of the target materials. After vacuum expansion, the plume was deposited on substrates at room temperature to produce approximate to 1 mu m thick films. Atomic force microscopy and x-ray diffraction analyses of the deposited samples have demonstrated the possibility of producing films constituted of high quality, individual nanocrystals of the atomic targets, with an average size of approximate to 20 nm, and a narrow size distribution. The ultrashort laser ablation and vacuum deposition proved to be a very versatile and simple technique for obtaining nanocrystal films of different materials.

In order to understand the physics of radiation-induced proton density decay in thin SiO/sub 2/ films, we performed ab initio Hartree-Fock calculations of the potential energy curves for the interaction between model oxide clusters and H in two charge states. The calculated results led to two separate proposed mechanisms for proton density decay in thin SiO/sub 2/ films: (1) electronic excitation involving hot phonon levels of the ground electronic state at low photon-energy radiation and (2) electron capture by protons at high photon-energy radiation. The proposed mechanisms qualitatively explain recent experimental observations.

By studying the fs laser produced plume of different materials we show experimentally that the process of matter removal during ultrashort (fs) laser pulse irradiation followed by vacuum expansion is characterized by a number of general features, whichever the nature of the target material. In particular, fs laser ablation of solid targets at laser intensities of the order of ${10}^{12}\ensuremath{-}{10}^{13}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{W}∕{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, inevitably leads to the generation of nanoparticles of that material. This has been evidenced by atomic force microscopy analysis of less than one layer deposits showing that the produced nanoparticles have mean radii generally in the range 5--25 nm, with pretty narrow size distributions. These results are in very good agreement with the physical description and numerical predictions of recently published theoretical analyses of fs ablation processes.

We report on the generation of Ni nanoparticles and the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles films by 100 femtosecond (fs) Ti:sapphire laser ablation in vacuum. The nanoparticles sizes have been studied by atomic force microscopy, showing a mean size of approximate to 40 nm. Vibrating sample magnetometry analysis has been performed to characterize magnetic properties of the deposited nanoparticles layers. The hysteresys loops clearly indicate that the Ni nanoparticles film behaves as a system of isolated magnetic particles. Our results evidence the potentiality of fs laser ablation, in vacuum, for the generation of nanoparticles and the deposition of nanoparticles films of magnetic materials.

The properties of laser ablated plumes produced in high vacuum by 100 fs Ti:sapphire pulses from a gold solid target were studied. Optical emission spectroscopy showed that the plume was formed by both atomic and non-atomic species in the whole investigated laser intensity range (1012–1013 W/cm2), while atomic force microscopy analysis of deposits carried out at room temperature revealed the nanometric size of the non-atomic component, with a mean particle radius of tens of nanometers.

The expansion dynamics and kinetics of the plasma produced by excimer laser irradiation of MgB2 in Ar background gas has been studied by space-and time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy. The experimental results show that there is a distance-related pressure threshold above which the expansion dynamics changes from a free expansion to a shock wave regime, causing both a considerable increase of the fraction of excited Mg atoms and a simultaneous reduction of their kinetic flux energy. The analysis of the results within the framework of a model describing the plume expansion into an ambient gas indicates that the shock wave formation leads to plume heating, thus, influencing its excitation/ionisation kinetics. The production of a plume whose particles are characterised by a lower flux kinetic energy and a higher degree of internal energy can be particularly useful for MgB2 thin film deposition at lower substrate temperature, due to the high volatility of Mg. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

We have used time and space-resolved optical emission spectroscopy to study the expansion dynamics of the plasma generated by pulsed laser ablation of solid targets of the recently discovered superconducting MgB2 into a background Ar gas at different pressures. Our analysis clearly indicates that, above a fixed pressure, plasma propagation into Ar leads to both the formation of a shock wave, which causes a considerable increase of the fraction of excited Mg atoms, and the simultaneous reduction of the kinetic flux energy of the ablated atoms. These results have then been analyzed in the framework of a simplified gas dynamic approach for the description of free-plume self-similar expansion and of a point-blast-wave model to account for the interaction of the plume with the Ar ambient gas, thus obtaining full support and a sound physical interpretation of our experimental observations. Finally, we have related our conclusions to the general problem of the optimization of the thin-film deposition of laser-ablated materials, with particular emphasis given to the specific case of MgB2, which is of great, present interest.

Membrane proteins, although constituting about one-third of all proteins encoded by the genomes of living organisms, are still strongly underrepresented in the database of 3D protein structures, which reflects the big challenge posed by this class of proteins. Novel and fundamental insights into the structure, function, assembly and interaction with lipids of membrane proteins are continuously revealed by structural biologists employing electron and x-ray approaches. To date, two structural motifs, -helices and -sheets, have been found in membrane proteins and interestingly these two structural motives correlate with the location: while -helical bundles are most often found in the receptors and ion channels of plasma and endoplasmic reticulum membranes, -barrels are restricted to the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, the mitochondrial membrane and chloroplasts and represent the structural motif used by several microbial toxins to form cytotoxic transmembrane channels. The -barrel, while being a rigid and stable motif is a versatile scaffold, having a wide variation in the size of the barrel, in the mechanism to open or close the gate and to impose selectivity on substrates. The difficulty in obtaining crystals suitable for high-resolution studies of outer membrane proteins has resulted in their under-representation in the Protein data Bank [1]. Even if the number of x-ray structures of integral membrane proteins has greatly increased in recent years, only a few of them provide information at a molecular level on how proteins interact with lipids that surround them in the membrane. The detailed mechanism of protein lipid interactions is of fundamental importance for understanding membrane protein folding, membrane adsorption, insertion and function in lipid bilayers. Both specific and aspecific interactions with lipids may participate in protein folding and assembly.

Background TNFα inhibitors (TNFαI) exert positive effects on disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Bone involvement is a major determinant of functional impairment in this disease. Objectives Here we investigated the short-term effects of TNFαI therapy on bone metabolism and density. Methods We studied 54 patients with RA starting a TNFI biologic drug, in whom any factor known to interfere with bone metabolism was excluded or rigorously accounted for. We measured at baseline and after 6 month therapy bone turnover markers (BTM): N-propeptide of type I collagen (P1NP), and bone alkaline phosphates (bAP) for bone formation and serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) for bone resorption. We also evaluated bone mineral density (BMD) at hip and lumbar by dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Results All bone markers rose significantly and these changes were not dependent on steroids dosage; a significant decrease in femoral neck BMD was also observed (see Table). Conclusions These results indicate that TNFαI therapy in RA over 6 months is associated with an early increase in bone turnover and a decline in hip BMD. Disclosure of Interest None declared

The analytic solution to the problem of time-dependent non-homogeneous heat equation is derived for a temporally pulsed and spatially non-homogeneous source term. For pulsed pumping with an inverse repetition rate much less than system thermal relaxation time, the problem of heat flow in a laser medium is typically studied within the approximation of time-independent heat equation. When the condition fails, due for instance to a short relaxation time or to a low repetition rate, transient analysis of thermal effects becomes necessary. Moreover the time-independent formalism fails in predicting both the focusing properties of the active material and any beam bending inside the resonator, while the transient analysis of thermal effects allows to finely predict the temperature distribution and to still apply, locally, the matrix formalism. In the paper we apply the formalism to a double side pumped Er:Yb glass slab laser with a non symmetric cooling scheme at several repetition rates. By evaluating the temporal evolution of the local temperature in the slab cross section, the difference with the stationary spatial temperature distribution turns out to be not negligible at repetition rates below 10 Hz. We observe that the lack of symmetry in the temperature profile reduces thermal focusing effects, but leads to a dynamic drift of mode laser axis which can make unstable the resonator cavity. We validated the model by comparing the theoretical values of slab focal length and of modal axis drift with experimental measurements at several repetition rates, proving also that the thermal focusing becomes a secondary effect in comparison with modal axis drift at increasing repetition rates.

Following the recent introduction of an express provision in the Italian legislation regarding the adaptation of existing buildings with energy requirements, it becomes necessary to consider the applicability of the new devices related to renewable energy sources of the historical buildings and more generally the dynamics of modifiability of the existing. This is discovered through a guided reading that part of the territory and reach the cell construction and is expressed in the dialectic mutation and conservation, tradition and innovation. By defining the index of modifiability is achieved an objective parameter for assessment of the restoration project, although this will always be connected to logic evaluation, taking into account the sensitivity of the individual.

Our laboratory has reported previously spontaneous acceptance of class II-matched, single haplotype (but not 2 haplotype), class I-mismatched renal allografts in miniature swine. All class II-mismatched animals rejected acutely regardless of class I matching. We have also demonstrated recently that a short course of high dose (10 mg/kg/day for 12 days) CsA uniformly induces donor-specific tolerance to 2-haplotype, class I-mismatched renal allografts. The survival of 2-haplotype, fully MHC mismatched renal allografts was prolonged by the same treatment, but tolerance was not induced, as all animals rejected eventually. We have now tested this short course of immunosuppressive therapy for its effect on renal allografts mismatched selectively for 2 haplotypes at class II. We have observed long-term graft survival in 5 of 7 animals under these conditions. Each of the 5 acceptor animals was demonstrated to be specifically tolerant by its response either to donor-matched skin grafts or to a second donor-matched kidney transplant without further immunosuppression. These data suggest the existence of a common pathway for induction of specific transplantation tolerance to MHC antigens when these antigens are recognized on vascular endothelium under conditions of altered cytokine production. They also suggest that tolerance induction under these conditions requires matching for either class I or class II antigens, which may have implications for the mechanism by which peripheral tolerance is induced, as well as practical implications for the extension of these results to potential clinical practice.

Xenotransplantation could potentially overcome the organ shortage that currently limits the field of transplantation. Because of their breeding characteristics as well as their size and physiologic similarities to humans, we have chosen miniature swine as possible xenograft donors, and are currently attempting to develop a means of using mixed xenogeneic chimerism as an approach to tolerance induction in swine-to-primate species combinations. One major barrier to organ grafting from pig to man is the presence in human serum of preformed natural antibodies (NAb) reacting with antigens expressed on porcine endothelial cells and causing hyperacute rejection. Previous experiments performed in our laboratory have shown that both humoral and cellular tolerance can be induced in a concordant xenogeneic species combination (rat-->mouse) using donor bone marrow infusion following conditioning with a nonmyeloablative regimen. Induction of chimerism in these animals was associated with a marked reduction in the level of IgM natural antibodies that recognize rat bone marrow cells. A similar approach could also lead to humoral and cellular tolerance induction in the swine-->human species combination, permitting transplantation of vascularized organs from the swine donor. To determine the potential of bone marrow transplantation to induce a state of "natural antibody tolerance," it was essential to determine whether or not all human NAb target antigens expressed on swine EC are also expressed on cells derived from swine bone marrow. We have addressed this question by evaluating the ability of various swine bone marrow-derived cells to absorb human IgM and IgG NAb that bind to swine EC. Our results demonstrate that swine bone marrow cells and their progeny can absorb almost all IgM NAb that bind to swine EC, as detected by flow cytometric and ELISA assays. Specificity of absorption was demonstrated, as total serum IgM levels declined only minimally after absorption on swine BMC and to an extent comparable to that observed following absorption with human cells, which did not deplete swine EC-binding NAb. Human IgG binding to swine EC was also completely absorbed by swine BMC. These results suggest that a state of "NAb tolerance" could be induced by successful swine marrow engraftment in man. Furthermore, swine PBL, platelets, and EC were able to absorb most IgM NAb that bound to swine BMC, suggesting that absorption using antigen from any of these tissues might facilitate marrow engraftment, and hence tolerance induction, in this species combination.

Type I cryoglobulinemia, a condition associated with lymphoproliferative disorders, is caused by monoclonal immunoglobulins that precipitate at low temperatures. It mostly involves the skin and pathology study shows no signs of vasculitis. Management is usually based on immunosuppressive drugs associated with plasmapheresis for severe disease. The use of rituximab has recently been described for resistant cases. We present an unusual case of long-standing type I cryoglobulinemia associated with a monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance. The patient developed extremely severe skin lesions with histological signs of vasculitis. The patient died due to the onset of noncutaneous manifestations of the cryoglobulinemia and complications of the immunosuppressive treatment.

The present invention relates generally to and more specifically it relates to a method for delivery of molecules into intracellular targets for therapeuthic scopes.