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Two-neutrino double β decay can create an irremovable background even in high energy resolution detectors searching for neutrinoless double β decay due to random coincidence of 2 ν 2 β events in the case of poor time resolution. Some possibilities for suppressing this background in cryogenic scintillating bolometers are discussed. It is shown that the present bolometric detector technologies enable one to control this form of background at the level required to explore the inverted hierarchy of the neutrino mass pattern, including the case of bolometers searching for the neutrinoless double β decay of 100 Mo, which is characterized by a relatively short two-neutrino double β decay half-life.

Random coincidence of events (particularly from two neutrino double beta decay) could be one of the main sources of background in the search for neutrinoless double beta decay with cryogenic bolometers due to their poor time resolution. Pulse-shape discrimination by using front edge analysis, mean-time and χ 2 methods were applied to discriminate randomly coinciding events in ZnMoO 4 cryogenic scintillating bolometers. These events can be effectively rejected at the level of 99 % by the analysis of the heat signals with rise-time of about 14 ms and signal-to-noise ratio of 900, and at the level of 92 % by the analysis of the light signals with rise-time of about 3 ms and signal-to-noise ratio of 30, under the requirement to detect 95 % of single events. These rejection efficiencies are compatible with extremely low background levels in the region of interest of neutrinoless double beta decay of 100 Mo for enriched ZnMoO 4 detectors, of the order of 10 - 4  counts/(y keV kg). Pulse-shape parameters have been chosen on the basis of the performance of a real massive ZnMoO 4 scintillating bolometer. Importance of the signal-to-noise ratio, correct finding of the signal start and choice of an appropriate sampling frequency are discussed.

Background The impact of marital status on cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains controversial in the general population. Aim The present investigation sought to delineate the association between marital status and long-term major non-fatal and fatal CVD, along with all-cause mortality within the scope of the RIFLE project (Risk Factors and Life Expectancy). Methods We examined the incidences of CVD, including cerebrovascular accidents and coronary heart disease (CHD), as well as all-cause mortality. In total, 47,167 individuals (46% female, average age 50 ± 9 years) were included in the analysis. Marital status at inception was categorized into married (inclusive of married or cohabitating) versus unmarried cohorts (including widowed, separated, divorced, or single individuals). Results Compared to their married counterparts, unmarried subjects demonstrated a heightened risk for CVD in both females and males. Throughout a median follow-up span of 7.4 years (interquartile range from 6 to 9 years), married participants, adjusting for standard risk factors, exhibited reduced mortality rates attributed to CHD [hazard ratio (HR) 0.54 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33–0.86)) and all causes (HR 0.75 (95% CI 0.62–0.91)] within the aggregate population; this reduction persisted for both CHD-specific [HR 0.39 (95% CI 0.51–0.90)]and all-cause mortality [HR 0.68 (95% CI 0.51–0.90)], independent of traditional risk factors in women. No associations were evident between matrimonial status and any measured outcomes in males. Conclusions Within primary care settings, marital status should be considered a potential correlate of long-term CHD and overall mortality risks, especially among women.

Healthy Stadia (HS) is a European public health pilotprogram started in 2007 to support sports stadia in promoting the health of people who work and visit sports stadia, as well as inhabitants of the surrounding communities. The aim of this study is to describe the process evaluation of the program, from its beginning in July 2007 to December 2009, in order to assess the feasibility and sustainability of an HS network across Europe. The program involved nine associate partners involved in the coordination of activities at a local level, in the recruitment of stadia, in the development of specific program tasks and in the dissemination of the program at a national level. The activities of associate partners were evaluated through structured questionnaires administered every 6 months. The questionnaire response rate from associate partners was 77.8% for the first and third evaluations and 88.9% for the second and fourth evaluations. According to the evaluation’s results, several good practices such as alcohol prevention policies and those supporting people with disabilities were implemented in stadia over the course of the program. Conversely, practices supporting mental health and green transport were generally not achieved. The implemented activities mainly involved staff and visitors. Lack of human and economic resources, especially toward the end of the program, was considered the principal challenge for program development. In conclusion, the process evaluation presented the feasibility of the HS program and the development of health promoting practices in sport stadia over time.

In the field of fundamental particle physics, the neutrino has become more and more important in the last few years, since the discovery of its mass. In particular, the ultimate nature of the neutrino (if it is a Dirac or a Majorana particle) plays a crucial role not only in neutrino physics, but also in the overall framework of fundamental particle interactions and in cosmology. The only way to disentangle its ultimate nature is to search for the neutrinoless double beta decay. The idea of LUCIFER is to combine the bolometric technique proposed for the CUORE experiment with the bolometric light detection technique used in cryogenic dark matter experiments. The bolometric technique allows an extremely good energy resolution while its combination with the scintillation detection offers an ultimate tool for background rejection. The goal of LUCIFER is not only to build a background-free small-scale experiment but also to directly prove the potentiality of this technique. Preliminary tests on several detectors containing different interesting DBD emitters have clearly demonstrated the excellent background rejection capabilities that arise from the simultaneous, independent, double readout of heat and scintillation light.

Objective: To determine: (a) whether the components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) cluster more frequently than predicted by chance alone and (b) whether increased risk for MetS is associated also with values of each component below, but close to the cutoff points defining MetS. Research design and methods: Anthropometrical and biochemical measurements were performed and a dietary questionnaire was filled-in in 1833 randomly selected non-diabetic subjects, 916 men and 917 women, 20-74 years old, in nine centres in five Mediterranean countries. The prevalence of MetS and of possible combinations of its individual components was measured. The expected frequencies of the above combinations were calculated according to the mathematical formula of probabilities. Results: The overall prevalence of MetS was 27.2%, but varied greatly among countries, from 5.8% in Algeria to 37.3% in Greece. The observed prevalence of each combination diagnostic of MetS was higher than the expected by chance. Thus, the observed overall prevalence of MetS was also higher than the expected, 27.2 vs 24.0%, P=0.03. Furthermore, for each individual component (except high-density lipoprotein), as values in the normal range, approached the cutoff point, the risk of having MetS (i.e. clustering of the other components) increased significantly (odds ratio 2.2-4.6, P<0.001). Conclusions: The MetS is not related to the Mediterranean type of diet and its prevalence varies greatly among five Mediterranean countries. The clustering of the components defining the MetS is not due to chance and moreover even 'high normal' levels of each component confer increased risk for the syndrome.

The LUMINEU project aims at developing a pilot double beta decay experiment using scintillating bolometers based on ZnMoO 4 crystals enriched in 100 Mo . In the next months regular deliveries of large-mass ZnMoO 4 crystals are expected from the Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry (Novosibirsk, Russia). It is therefore crucial for the LUMINEU program to test systematically and in real time these samples in terms of bolometric properties, light yield and internal radioactive contamination. In this paper we describe an aboveground cryogenic facility based on a dilution refrigerator coupled to a pulse-tube cooler capable performing these measurements. A 23.8 g ZnMoO 4 crystal was fully characterised in this setup. We show also that macro-bolometers can be operated with high signal-to-noise ratio in liquid-free dilution refrigerators.

The LUMINEU project aims at developing a pilot double beta decay experiment using scintillating bolometers based on ZnMoO \\(_4\\) crystals enriched in \\(100}\\hbox {Mo}\\) . In the next months regular deliveries of large-mass \\(\\hbox {ZnMoO}_4\\) crystals are expected from the Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry (Novosibirsk, Russia). It is therefore crucial for the LUMINEU program to test systematically and in real time these samples in terms of bolometric properties, light yield and internal radioactive contamination. In this paper we describe an aboveground cryogenic facility based on a dilution refrigerator coupled to a pulse-tube cooler capable performing these measurements. A 23.8 g \\(\\hbox {ZnMoO}_4\\) crystal was fully characterised in this setup. We show also that macro-bolometers can be operated with high signal-to-noise ratio in liquid-free dilution refrigerators.

Power electronic switches have been considered for load switching ever since their invention. This is because semiconductor switches enable fast, arc-less, reliable and maintenance-free switching. The main disadvantages in relation to conventional switches, however, are their sensitivity to transients, high on-state losses and the presence of leakage current. The advantages of both types of switches can be exploited by combining the semiconductor and the mechanical switch and thereby their disadvantages, arc formation and regular maintenance, can also be eliminated. For hybrid switches (HS), both zero voltage switching (ZVS) and zero current switching (ZCS) are frequently used. A new hybrid switching topology has been developed where both ZVS and ZCS techniques are applied to the mechanical switch. The 'symbiosis' between these solid-state switching techniques and a mechanical switch eliminates several of the disadvantages, resulting in a more reliable direct current (DC) HS that requires less maintenance. The first turn-off measurement from a prototype that has been developed for a 3-kV DC grid is presented.

The aim of this study was to compare the nutritional habits of Type 2 diabetic patients among Mediterranean countries and also with those of their background population and with the nutritional recommendations of the Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group. We did a cross-sectional study of 1833 non-diabetic subjects and 1895 patients with Type 2 diabetes, in nine centres in six Mediterranean countries. A dietary questionnaire validated against the 3-Day Diet Diary was used. In diabetic patients the contribution of proteins, carbohydrates and fat to the energy intake varied greatly among centres, ranging from 17.6% to 21.0% for protein, from 37.7% to 53.0% for carbohydrates and from 27.2% to 40.8% for fat, following in every centre the trends of the non-diabetic population. Furthermore, diabetic patients compared to the corresponding background population had: (i). lower energy intake, (ii). lower carbohydrate and higher protein contribution to the energy intake, (iii). higher prevalence of obesity, ranging from 9 to 50%. The adherence to the nutritional recommendations for proteins, carbohydrate and fat was very low ranging from 1.4 to 23.6%, and still decreased when fibre was also considered. In diabetic patients of the Mediterranean area: (i). dietary habits vary greatly among countries, according to the same trends of the background population; (ii). the prevalence of obesity is much lower than the 80% reported for patients with diabetes in Western countries; (iii). Carbohydrate intake is decreased with a complementary increase of protein and fat consumption, resulting to a poor compliance with the nutritional recommendations.