Vegetarian architecture. Case studies on building and nature

What is “good” architecture? This seemingly simple question is connected to a wide range of criteria—just like the radical quest for “good” food, which has produced a wealth of insights over the past few decades. Vegetarian Architecture showcases buildings based on simple technology, good craftsmanship, and careful choice of local and natural materials, as well as local development initiatives which demonstrate excellence in building quality, landscape restoration, and community revitalisation. The selection of case studies is broad and definitely unconventional: it encompasses Europe and Japan, and privileges lesser-known authors, unobtrusive works, and marginal localities where radically fresh attitudes have been able to develop

Simplified Quantum Process Characterization by Specialised Neural Networks

Characterization of quantum objects based on previous knowledge is a valuable approach, especially as it leads to routine procedures for real-life components. To this end, Machine Learning algorithms have demonstrated to successfully operate in presence of noise. However, there might be instances in which unknown parasitic effects occur in tandem with the sought one we aim at characterizing. Here we show that the accurate design of a two-stage neural network can account for these class of disturbances as well, applying our technique to the characterization of several quantum channels. We demonstrate that a stable and reliable characterization is achievable by training the network only with simulated data. The obtained results show the viability of this approach as an effective tool based on a completely new paradigm for the employment of NNs in the quantum domain

The Probabilistic Random Forest applied to the selection of quasar candidates in the QUBRICS Survey

The number of known, bright ($i2.5$) QSOs in the Southern Hemisphere is considerably lower than the corresponding number in the Northern Hemisphere due to the lack of multi-wavelength surveys at $\delta<0$. Recent works, such as the QUBRICS survey, successfully identified new, high-redshift QSOs in the South by means of a machine learning approach applied on a large photometric dataset. Building on the success of QUBRICS, we present a new QSO selection method based on the Probabilistic Random Forest (PRF), an improvement of the classic Random Forest algorithm. The PRF takes into account measurement errors, treating input data as probability distribution functions: this allows us to obtain better accuracy and a robust predictive model. We applied the PRF to the same photometric dataset used in QUBRICS, based on the SkyMapper DR1, Gaia DR2, 2MASS, WISE and GALEX databases. The resulting candidate list includes $626$ sources with $i<18$. We estimate for our proposed algorithm a completeness of $\sim84\%$ and a purity of $\sim78\%$ on the test datasets. Preliminary spectroscopic campaigns allowed us to observe 41 candidates, of which 29 turned out to be $z>2.5$ QSOs. The performances of the PRF, currently comparable to those of the CCA, are expected to improve as the number of high-z QSOs available for the training sample grows: results are however already promising, despite this being one of the first applications of this method to an astrophysical context.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 12 pages, 11 figures, 4 table

Characterizing multisegment foot kinematics during gait in diabetic foot patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of diabetes mellitus has reached epidemic proportions, this condition may result in multiple and chronic invalidating long term complications. Among these, the diabetic foot, is determined by the simultaneous presence of both peripheral neuropathy and vasculopathy that alter the biomechanics of the foot with the formation of callosity and ulcerations. To diagnose and treat the diabetic foot is crucial to understand the foot complex kinematics. Most of gait analysis protocols represent the entire foot as a rigid body connected to the shank. Nevertheless the existing multisegment models cannot completely decipher the impairments associated with the diabetic foot.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A four segment foot and ankle model for assessing the kinematics of the diabetic foot was developed. Ten normal subjects and 10 diabetics gait patterns were collected and major sources of variability were tested. Repeatability analysis was performed both on a normal and on a diabetic subject. Direct skin marker placement was chosen in correspondence of 13 anatomical landmarks and an optoelectronic system was used to collect the data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Joint rotation normative bands (mean plus/minus one standard deviation) were generated using the data of the control group. Three representative strides per subject were selected. The repeatability analysis on normal and pathological subjects results have been compared with literature and found comparable. Normal and pathological gait have been compared and showed major statistically significant differences in the forefoot and midfoot dorsi-plantarflexion.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Even though various biomechanical models have been developed so far to study the properties and behaviour of the foot, the present study focuses on developing a methodology for the functional assessment of the foot-ankle complex and for the definition of a functional model of the diabetic neuropathic foot. It is, of course, important to evaluate the major sources of variation (true variation in the subject's gait and artefacts from the measurement procedure). The repeatability of the protocol was therefore examined, and results showed the suitability of this method both on normal and pathological subjects. Comparison between normal and pathological kinematics analysis confirmed the validity of a similar approach in order to assess neuropathics biomechanics impairment.</p

Multifractal fluctuations in the survival probability of an open quantum system

We predict a multifractal behaviour of transport in the deep quantum regime for the opened $\delta-$kicked rotor model. Our analysis focuses on intermediate and large scale correlations in the transport signal and generalizes previously found parametric {\em mono}-fractal fluctuations in the quantum survival probability on small scales.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables. Physica A, accepted 200

Can quantum fractal fluctuations be observed in an atom-optics kicked rotor experiment?

We investigate the parametric fluctuations in the quantum survival probability of an open version of the delta-kicked rotor model in the deep quantum regime. Spectral arguments [Guarneri I and Terraneo M 2001 Phys. Rev. E vol. 65 015203(R)] predict the existence of parametric fractal fluctuations owing to the strong dynamical localisation of the eigenstates of the kicked rotor. We discuss the possibility of observing such dynamically-induced fractality in the quantum survival probability as a function of the kicking period for the atom-optics realisation of the kicked rotor. The influence of the atoms' initial momentum distribution is studied as well as the dependence of the expected fractal dimension on finite-size effects of the experiment, such as finite detection windows and short measurement times. Our results show that clear signatures of fractality could be observed in experiments with cold atoms subjected to periodically flashed optical lattices, which offer an excellent control on interaction times and the initial atomic ensemble.Comment: 18 pp, 7 figs., 1 tabl

Spectroscopy of QUBRICS quasar candidates: 1672 new redshifts and a Golden Sample for the Sandage Test of the Redshift Drift

The QUBRICS (QUasars as BRIght beacons for Cosmology in the Southern hemisphere) survey aims at constructing a sample of the brightest quasars with z>~2.5, observable with facilities in the Southern Hemisphere. QUBRICS makes use of the available optical and IR wide-field surveys in the South and of Machine Learning techniques to produce thousands of bright quasar candidates of which only a few hundred have been confirmed with follow-up spectroscopy. Taking advantage of the recent Gaia Data Release 3, which contains 220 million low-resolution spectra, and of a newly developed spectral energy distribution fitting technique, designed to combine the photometric information with the Gaia spectroscopy, it has been possible to measure 1672 new secure redshifts of QUBRICS candidates, with a typical uncertainty $\sigma_z = 0.02$. This significant progress of QUBRICS brings it closer to (one of) its primary goals: providing a sample of bright quasars at redshift 2.5 < z < 5 to perform the Sandage test of the cosmological redshift drift. A Golden Sample of seven quasars is presented that makes it possible to carry out this experiment in about 1500 hours of observation in 25 years, using the ANDES spectrograph at the 39m ELT, a significant improvement with respect to previous estimates.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Utility of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio to identify long-term survivors among HCC patients treated with sorafenib

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