Hadronic stars and strange quark stars could coexist within the so-called two-families scenario. In this respect, hadronic matter and strange quark matter correspond to two distinct equilibrium phases described by two different equations of state. We perform here the first detailed Bayesian analysis that makes use of astrophysical and laboratory data in order to constrain the equations of state adopted within the two-families scenario for hadronic and strange quark matter. In particular, in hadronic matter we consider the possible formation of hyperons and delta resonances (beside nucleons) within a class of non linear relativistic mean field models and in quark matter we consider the possible formation of a color-superconducting phase within a bag-like model. Results of the analysis indicate that, while at present both scenarios remain compatible with the data, the comparison of the Bayesian evidences shows a preference for the two-families scenario relative to our purely hadronic one-family baseline. Evaluating whether the data similarly favor the two-families scenario over a one-family model that includes hybrid stars is left to future work. The strength of this preference depends on the adopted dataset: it is moderate when only the most conservative astrophysical constraints are used, and becomes strong once the small-radius object PSR J0614–3329, the light and compact object HESS J1731–347, and the heavy-ion-collision flow data are included. Specifically, the two-families framework naturally relieves the tension between the intermediate-density softness of the equation of state required by small-radius objects, and the high-density stiffness needed to support massive pulsars. Ultimately, future detections of even more massive compact objects, very compact ordinary-mass objects, or precise measurements of two distinct masses with the same radius, would particularly strengthen the preference for two distinct compact-star families.
Hypercritical fallback accretion can advect the surface magnetic field of a newborn neutron star into the newly accreted outer layers. Before this material joins the solid crust and enters the Hall-Ohmic regime, part of it may remain hot, dense, and liquid. This short-lived fluid stage may support turbulent magnetic amplification. We test whether a small-scale dynamo (SSD) can be activated under thermodynamic conditions of the liquid post-hypercritical layer. We quantify the associated growth rates, amplification factors, and saturation levels, adopting a matter density ρ0=1010 g cm−3 and a temperature T0=2×109 K. We perform six local 3D resistive MHD simulations with flash 4.7 in a (100 m)3 periodic domain with externally forced subsonic turbulence. The reference model uses the Helmholtz equation of state (EOS) and neutrino cooling. Three runs with a 1283 mesh resolution vary the magnetic Reynolds number (Rm ∼ 700–3700), two control runs isolate the effect of the EOS and neutrino cooling, and one 2563 resolution run tests the robustness of the reference case. For Rm ∼ 700–3700, the magnetic field grows exponentially from B0=1012 G and saturates at Bsat ∼ 3–7 × 1013 G within millisecond timescales. The saturated magnetic energy remains sub-equipartition, with a magnetic-to-kinetic energy ratio fsat=Emag/Ekin≈0.2–0.3, consistent with an SSD behavior at magnetic Prandtl number Pm ∼ 1. The results of the 1283 and 2563 reference runs agree to within a few percent. Neutrino cooling does not affect the dynamics over the simulated time, and the choice of EOS changes the dynamo metrics only weakly in the subsonic regime explored here. These simulations show that a forced local SSD can operate efficiently in a liquid post-hypercritical accretion layer. Further simulations in a stratified, decaying post-fallback flow over the lifetime and energy reservoir of the inherited turbulence are needed for assessing the global model of magnetic reemergence and amplification.
The 16th Acromegaly Consensus Conference in September 2024 updated recommendations on diagnosis and treatment of acromegaly comorbidities. Since the 2020 acromegaly comorbidity management guideline was published, new evidence has emerged on novel and known comorbidities and new treatment approaches. Forty-three experts in the management of acromegaly reviewed the current literature and assessed changes in clinical practice standards and management. Current outcome goals were considered and updated, with a focus on the impact of current and emerging treatments of these comorbidities. Participants assessed factors that determine pharmacological choices, as well as use of specific agents in the management of the most relevant acromegaly comorbidities. We present consensus recommendations highlighting optimization of evidence-based acromegaly comorbidities management.
Coastal wetlands play a crucial role because of their wide range of ecosystem services, including coastal protection, carbon sequestration and biodiversity support. However, these environments are increasingly threatened by land reclamation, sea-level rise and sediment supply reductions, leading to widespread degradation. Managed realignment has emerged as a nature-based solution, allowing tidal processes to restore coastal wetland function. While extensively studied in natural settings, the evolution of restored intertidal flats remains poorly understood. This study examines sediment deposition, vertical accretion and morphological evolution in three human-induced intertidal flats across different tidal environments: Barbamarco Lagoon (microtidal, Italy), Perkpolder (macrotidal, The Netherlands) and Converse (hypertidal, Canada). The analyses followed the same procedure in all environments and were achieved through the use of sediment traps and digital elevation models, integrated with river and tidal records. Results indicate that during the early years of development, managed realignment sites experience rapid accretion in unusual locations of the intertidal flats (e.g. inside channels) and high erosion of artificial structures (e.g. creeks, inlets). This morphological instability influences sediment redistribution and intertidal flat evolution, potentially leading to self-cannibalisation, where erosion of the artificial structures feed the system itself. These findings highlight the importance of long-term monitoring to assess the sustainability of restored intertidal flats and improve predictions of their development. Future research should focus on how coastal wetland design influences long-term evolution and how sediment supply, tidal range and human interventions shape their resilience in the face of climate change.
In this work, we report the design and synthesis of two new organic D-A-π-A dyes endowed with a common benzothiadiazole-dithienosilole (BTD-DTS) central core, and their evaluation as anodic sensitizers in dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (DS-PEC) aimed at molecular hydrogen generation. Both dyes possess a cyanoacrylic acid as acceptor/anchoring group, but present two distinct donor groups bearing substituents of different hydrophilicity. Preliminary density functional theory (DFT) computational investigations indicated that the dyes presented the correct electronic structure and energy levels alignment for their desired application in devices. The compounds were then prepared by means of a concise synthetic sequence featuring a microwave-assisted Stille-Migita cross-coupling as the key step. Following their full spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization, the dyes were then employed to sensitize the nanocrystalline TiO2- or SnO2-based photoanodes of three-electrode DS-PECs, and the corresponding performances in terms of photocurrent production and hydrogen generation, as well as electrode stability, were assessed under several different conditions.
