Beta decay studies and search for octupole deformation in the A ∼ 225 Po-Fr nuclei

In the landscape of nuclear shapes, dominated by reflection-symmetric forms leading to either spherical or axially deformed arrangements, the occurrence of asymmetric pear-like nuclei has long been searched for. Evidence for static octupole deformation has only been found in selective areas of the nuclear chart, in the mass regions A ∼ 222 and A ∼ 146, the so-called “Islands of Octupole Deformation” (IOD). This paper is focused on β decay studies in the Po-Fr nuclei in the 220 ≤ A ≤ 230 island of octupole deformation exploiting the FRS+DESPEC setup at GSI in Spring 2021. The experimental setup and the analysis techniques employed to perform this study are here shown and discussed, together with preliminary results from the on-going analysis.

Efficiency statistics at all times: Carnot limit at finite power

We derive the statistics of the efficiency under the assumption that thermodynamic fluxes fluctuate with normal law, parametrizing it in terms of time, macroscopic efficiency, and a coupling parameter ζ. It has a peculiar behavior: no moments, one sub-, and one super-Carnot maxima corresponding to reverse operating regimes (engine or pump), the most probable efficiency decreasing in time. The limit ζ→0 where the Carnot bound can be saturated gives rise to two extreme situations, one where the machine works at its macroscopic efficiency, with Carnot limit corresponding to no entropy production, and one where for a transient time scaling like 1/ζ microscopic fluctuations are enhanced in such a way that the most probable efficiency approaches the Carnot limit at finite entropy production.

The effects of equine peripheral blood stem cells on cutaneous wound healing: a clinical evaluation in four horses

Stem-cell therapy represents a promising strategy for the treatment of challenging pathologies, such as large, infected wounds that are unresponsive to conventional therapies. The present study describes the clinical application of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) for the treatment of four adult Warmblood horses with naturally occurring wounds, which were unresponsive to conventional therapies for at least 3 months. A visual assessment was performed, and a number of wound-healing parameters (granulation tissue, crust formation and scar formation) were evaluated. In all cases, tissue overgrowth was visible within 4 weeks after PBSC injection, followed by the formation of crusts and small scars in the centre of the wound, with hair regeneration at the edges. In conclusion, this is the first report of PBSC therapy of skin wounds in horses, and it produced a positive visual and clinical outcome.

Blood derived stem cells: an ameliorative therapy in veterinary ophthalmology

Stem cell technology has evoked considerable excitement among people interested in the welfare of animals, as it has suggested the potential availability of new tools for several pathologies, including eye disease, which in many cases is considered incurable. One such example is ulcerative keratitis, which is very frequent in horses. Because some of these corneal ulcers can be very severe, progress rapidly and, therefore, can be a possible cause of vision loss, it is important to diagnose them at an early stage and administer an appropriate treatment, which can be medical, surgical, or a combination of both. The therapeutic strategy should eradicate the infection in order to reduce or stop destruction of the cornea. In addition, it should support the corneal structures and control the uveal reaction, and the pain associated with it, in order to minimize scarring. In this study, we address how stem cells derived from peripheral blood can be used also in ophthalmological pathologies. Our results demonstrate that this treatment protocol improved eye disease in four horse cases, including corneal ulcers and one case of retinal detachment. In all cases, we detected a decrease in the intense inflammatory reaction as well as the restoration of the epithelial surface of the central cornea.

A new clinical approach: use of blood-derived stem cells (BDSCs) for superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in horses

AIMS

In this study, we present an innovative therapy using stem cells that were obtained from the peripheral blood of racehorses affected by uninduced superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries.

MAIN METHODS

Blood-derived stem cells (BDSCs) were generated from the blood samples of three horses in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). The racehorses received a single autologous BDSC treatment, which resulted in the successful repair of the tendons injuries.

KEY FINDINGS

The results demonstrated that the BDSCs injection into the damaged tendon stimulated the regeneration of normal tissue. Furthermore, a relationship may exist between the speed and the quality of new tissue formation and the welfare and management of the treated animals.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study demonstrates that stem cell technology offers new tools for tissue repair that in many cases is considered incurable, and provides additional evidence that BDScs injections increase the speed and quality of the regeneration process in different animal tissues.