Double-degenerate Fermi mixtures of 6^6Li and 53^{53}Cr atoms

We report on the realization of a novel degenerate mixture of ultracold fermionic lithium and chromium atoms. Based on an all-optical approach, with an overall duty-cycle of about 13 seconds, we produce large and degenerate samples of more than 2$\times 10^5$ $^6$Li atoms and $10^5$ $^{53}$Cr atoms, with both species exhibiting normalized temperatures of about $T/T_{F}$=0.25. Additionally, through the exploitation of a crossed bichromatic optical dipole trap, we can controllably vary the density and degree of degeneracy of the two components almost independently, and widely tune the lithium-to-chromium density ratio. Our $^{6}$Li-$^{53}$Cr Fermi mixture opens the way to the investigation of a variety of exotic few- and many-body regimes of quantum matter, and it appears as an optimally-suited system to realize ultracold paramagnetic polar molecules, characterized by both electric and magnetic dipole moments. Ultimately, our strategy also provides an efficient pathway to produce dipolar Fermi gases, or spin-mixtures, of ultracold $^{53}$Cr atoms.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Green line hospital-territory study: A single-blind randomized clinical trial for evaluation of technological challenges of continuous wireless monitoring in internal medicine, preliminary results

Background: Wireless vital parameter continuous monitoring (WVPCM) after discharge is compared to regular monitoring to provide data on the clinical-economic impact of complex patients (CPs) discharged from Internal Medicine Units of Ospedale dei Castelli, Lazio. Primary outcome: Major complications (MC) reduction. Secondary outcomes: Patients who reached discharge criteria within the 7th day from admission; difference in MC incidence at the conclusion of the standard telemonitoring/clinical monitoring phase, 5 and 30 days after discharge; and conditions predisposing to MC occurrence. Methods: Open label randomized controlled trial with wearable wireless system that creates alerts on portable devices. Continuous glycemic monitoring is performed for patients with diabetes mellitus. Results: There were 110 patients enrolled (mean age: 76.2 years). Comorbidity: Cumulative Illness Rating Scale CIRS-CI (comorbidities index): 3.93, CIRS SI (severity index): 1.93. About 19% scored a BRASS (Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score) ≥20 indicating need for discharge planning requiring step-down care. Globally, 48% of patients in the control group had major complications (27 out of 56 patients), in contrast to 22% in the intervention group (12 out of 54 patients). Conclusions: Since WVPCM detects early complications during the post-discharge CPs monitoring, it increases safety and reduces inappropriate access to the Emergency Room, preventing avoidable re-hospitalizations

Selective Cholinergic Depletion in Medial Septum Leads to Impaired Long Term Potentiation and Glutamatergic Synaptic Currents in the Hippocampus

Cholinergic depletion in the medial septum (MS) is associated with impaired hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. Here we investigated whether long term potentiation (LTP) and synaptic currents, mediated by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the CA1 hippocampal region, are affected following cholinergic lesions of the MS. Stereotaxic intra-medioseptal infusions of a selective immunotoxin, 192-saporin, against cholinergic neurons or sterile saline were made in adult rats. Four days after infusions, hippocampal slices were made and LTP, whole cell, and single channel (AMPA or NMDA receptor) currents were recorded. Results demonstrated impairment in the induction and expression of LTP in lesioned rats. Lesioned rats also showed decreases in synaptic currents from CA1 pyramidal cells and synaptosomal single channels of AMPA and NMDA receptors. Our results suggest that MS cholinergic afferents modulate LTP and glutamatergic currents in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, providing a potential synaptic mechanism for the learning and memory deficits observed in the rodent model of selective MS cholinergic lesioning

Onset and Progression of Behavioral and Molecular Phenotypes in a Novel Congenic R6/2 Line Exhibiting Intergenerational CAG Repeat Stability

In the present study we report on the use of speed congenics to generate a C57BL/6J congenic line of HD-model R6/2 mice carrying 110 CAG repeats, which uniquely exhibits minimal intergenerational instability. We also report the first identification of the R6/2 transgene insertion site. The relatively stable line of 110 CAG R6/2 mice was characterized for the onset of behavioral impairments in motor, cognitive and psychiatric-related phenotypes as well as the progression of disease-related impairments from 4 to 10 weeks of age. 110Q mice exhibited many of the phenotypes commonly associated with the R6/2 model including reduced activity and impairments in rotarod performance. The onset of many of the phenotypes occurred around 6 weeks and was progressive across age. In addition, some phenotypes were observed in mice as early as 4 weeks of age. The present study also reports the onset and progression of changes in several molecular phenotypes in the novel R6/2 mice and the association of these changes with behavioral symptom onset and progression. Data from TR-FRET suggest an association of mutant protein state changes (soluble versus aggregated) in disease onset and progression

Exploring Ultracold Collisions in Li 6 - Cr 53 Fermi Mixtures: Feshbach Resonances and Scattering Properties of a Novel Alkali-Transition Metal System

International audienceWe investigate ultracold collisions in a novel mixture of Li6 and Cr53 fermionic atoms, discovering more than 50 interspecies Feshbach resonances via loss spectroscopy. Building a full coupled-channel model, we unambiguously characterize the Li6-Cr53 scattering properties and yield predictions for other isotopic pairs. In particular, we identify various Feshbach resonances that enable the controlled tuning of elastic s- and p-wave Li6-Cr53 interactions. Our studies thus make lithium-chromium mixtures emerge as optimally suited platforms for the experimental search of elusive few- and many-body regimes of highly correlated fermionic matter, and for the realization of a new class of ultracold polar molecules possessing both electric and magnetic dipole moments. © 2022 American Physical Society

Device therapy for the major complications detection and early treatment of patients with natural and iatrogenic comorbidities admitted to internal medicine wards

Background Whith advances in devices miniaturization and wireless technologies, wereable “on body” ECG patch devices are unobtrusive and easy to use. Continuous ECG monitoring in the short term is indicated in patients who, due to age, comorbidities and polytherapy, are at greater risk of arrhythmias. Since 2017, a randomized-open label study is being conducted at the admission of acute patients in Internal Medicine Unit for 72 hours with continuous monitoring of vital parameters and the 5 leads-ECG (VP-ECG CM) trace by the mean of a tele-cardiology program. Purpose Objective of this study is to perform a cost-effectiveness evaluation of the VP-ECG CM program in inpatient settings. Methods Data were used in order to evaluate costs, the program effectiveness and the QALY gains using wireless monitoring compared to nurses traditional one. Costs were estimated by mean of the identification, measuring and valorization of the resources uptake. Cost drivers included: time spent by personnel, cost of the device, consumables, medical treatments, diagnostic exams and complications. The perspective of the Italian National Health Service was adopted. The incremental analysis was performed in order to present the cost per complication avoided and the cost per QALY gained. Net monetary benefit was also calculated. Either a deterministic and probabilistic analysis were performed by means of a bootstrap simulation allowing for re-sampling. A cost-effectiveness-acceptability curve was estimated, considering a cost-effectiveness threshold of €35,000/QALY. Results On 143 patients, arrhythmias and acute coronary syndrome were detected 4.3% in the experimental arm and 1.9% in the control arm, whilst 29,5% major complications were detected in the experimental arm vs 43.5% in the control and reduction in the number of sudden deaths (16% control and 9.3% experimental). Time spent by nurses in the control arm (58 minutes/day/patient) was the most relevant cost driver and allowed a saving ranging €54–90/patient. This saving overwhelmed the costs for the equipment whilst the other costs remained unchanged, thus allowing for the VP-ECG CM to be dominant versus the standard of care. One way and multiway sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of our results with p-value 0,05 involved in the bootstrap presenting dominance of the VP-ECG CM. Conclusions Notwithstanding the concerns of a loss of control in patient management, telemedicine (digital health infrastructure and driver) could perform healthcare transformation enabling physicians to increase the volume of patients seen, reduce the time to diagnosis, improve efficiency and efficacy of disease management, and reduce unnecessary clinic visits and hospital admissions. The miniaturized technologies can improve patient adherence, and the detection, characterization and monitoring of cardiac arrhythmias – readily digitalized markers and phenotypes of cardiovascular disease