Tomography of photon-number resolving continuous-output detectors

We report a comprehensive approach to analysing continuous-output photon detectors. We employ principal component analysis to maximise the information extracted, followed by a novel noise-tolerant parameterised approach to the tomography of PNRDs. We further propose a measure for rigorously quantifying a detector's photon-number-resolving capability. Our approach applies to all detectors with continuous-output signals. We illustrate our methods by applying them to experimental data obtained from a transition-edge sensor (TES) detector.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, also includes supplementary informatio

The relationship between sigmoidal intramucosal pH and intestinal arterial occlusion during aortic reconstructive surgery

Objectives:To investigate the effects of perioperative occlusion of intestinal arteries on clinical outcome and changes in sigmoidal intramuscular pH (pHi). To determine the value of sigmoidal pHi measurement in predicting ischaemic colitis after aortic reconstructive surgery.Design:Prospective, non-selective, open study.Materials:Forty patients undergoing elective aortic infrarenal surgery were monitored with pHi. Pre- and postoperative digital venous subtraction angiography was combined with operative data to evaluate perioperative occlusion of intestinal arteries.Results:All patients had a significant (p < 0.05) drop in pHi after aortic clamping which returned to baseline 2–4 h after declamping. None of the patients had clinical signs of ischaemic colitis postoperatively. All patients had angiographically proven, patent superior mesenteric arteries pre- and postoperatively. Patients were divided into three groups: patients with no changes in intestinal arteries (n = 13), patients with perioperative occlusion of the inferior mesenteric artery (n = 22) and patients with perioperative occlusion of the inferior mesenteric and one or both iliac arteries (n = 5); there were no significant differences in pHi values between the groups.Conclusions:Return of the sigmoidal pHi to baseline values within 6–12 h after declamping probably predicts a postoperative course without ischaemic colitis. Perioperative occlusion of the inferior mesenteric artery alone, or in combination with occlusion of one or both internal iliac arteries, does not cause ischaemic colitis in patients whose sigmoidal pHi rises after declamping

Detection-Loophole-Free Test of Quantum Nonlocality, and Applications

We present a source of entangled photons that violates a Bell inequality free of the "fair-sampling" assumption, by over 7 standard deviations. This violation is the first experiment with photons to close the detection loophole, and we demonstrate enough "efficiency" overhead to eventually perform a fully loophole-free test of local realism. The entanglement quality is verified by maximally violating additional Bell tests, testing the upper limit of quantum correlations. Finally, we use the source to generate secure private quantum random numbers at rates over 4 orders of magnitude beyond previous experiments.Comment: Main text: 5 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Supplementary Information: 7 pages, 2 figure

Topoisomerase I inhibitors: the relevance of prolonged exposure for present clinical development.

Topoisomerase I inhibitors constitute a new class of anti-cancer agents. Recently, topotecan and irinotecan were registered for clinical use in ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer respectively. Cytotoxicity of topoisomerase I inhibitors is S-phase specific, and in vitro and in vivo studies have suggested that, for efficacy, prolonged exposure might be more important than short-term exposure to high concentration. Clinical development of those topoisomerase I inhibitors that have reached this stage is also focused on schedules aiming to achieve prolonged exposure. In this review, we summarize all published preclinical studies on this topic for topoisomerase I inhibitors in clinical development, namely 20-S-camptothecin, 9-nitro-camptothecin, 9-amino-camptothecin, topotecan, irinotecan and GI147211. In addition, preliminary data on clinical studies concerning this topic are also reviewed. The data suggest that prolonged exposure may indeed be relevant for anti-tumour activity. However, the optimal schedule is yet to be determined. Finally, clinical data are yet too immature to draw definitive conclusions

Spatially resolved ultrafast precessional magnetization reversal

Spatially resolved measurements of quasi-ballistic precessional magnetic switching in a microstructure are presented. Crossing current wires allow detailed study of the precessional switching induced by coincident longitudinal and transverse magnetic field pulses. Though the response is initially spatially uniform, dephasing occurs leading to nonuniformity and transient demagnetization. This nonuniformity comes in spite of a novel method for suppression of end domains in remanence. The results have implications for the reliability of ballistic precessional switching in magnetic devices.Comment: 17 pages (including 4 figures), submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

AML-MO: Clinical entity or waste basket for immature blastic leukemias? A description of 14 patients

In the period from August 1991 to August 1994, the Dutch Slide Review Committee of Adult Leukemias classified 14 leukemias as AML-M0. We reviewed the clinical characteristics and response to therapy of these patients. Eight patients were male. Patients' age ranged from 7 to 77 years (medium age 62 years). There was a striking homogeneity in morphological appearance of the blasts, being small to medium-sized round cells with often an eccentric nucleus with fine chromatin, several distinct nucleoli, and a high nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio. In addition to myeloid-associated markers such as CD13 and CD33, the blasts of all patients were positive for CD34 and HLA-DR, pointing to their immature differentiation stage. TdT was present in the blasts of 71%, CD7 was positive in the blasts of 42% of the patients. No consistent cytogenetic abnormalities were found. With respect to the treatment outcome, four patients achieved a complete remission after remission-induction treatment. The median survival was 4.5 months. Our present study shows AML-M0 to be an immature leukemia, uniform in morphology and immunological phenotype, with no consistent cytogenetic phenotype and with a poor clinical outcome

Impaired planning in Parkinson's disease is reflected by reduced brain activation and connectivity

Contains fulltext : 159315.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)13 p