Many-core applications to online track reconstruction in HEP experiments

Interest in parallel architectures applied to real time selections is growing in High Energy Physics (HEP) experiments. In this paper we describe performance measurements of Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) and Intel Many Integrated Core architecture (MIC) when applied to a typical HEP online task: the selection of events based on the trajectories of charged particles. We use as benchmark a scaled-up version of the algorithm used at CDF experiment at Tevatron for online track reconstruction - the SVT algorithm - as a realistic test-case for low-latency trigger systems using new computing architectures for LHC experiment. We examine the complexity/performance trade-off in porting existing serial algorithms to many-core devices. Measurements of both data processing and data transfer latency are shown, considering different I/O strategies to/from the parallel devices.Comment: Proceedings for the 20th International Conference on Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics (CHEP); missing acks adde

First LHCb measurement with data from the LHC Run 2

LHCb has recently introduced a novel real-time detector alignment and calibration strategy for the Run 2. Data collected at the start of each LHC fill are processed in few minutes and used to update the alignment. On the other hand, the calibration constants will be evaluated for each run of data taking. An increase in the CPU and disk capacity of the event filter farm, combined with improvements to the reconstruction software, allow for efficient, exclusive selections already in the first stage of the High Level Trigger (HLT1), while the second stage, HLT2, performs complete, offline-quality, event reconstruction. In Run 2, LHCb will collect the largest data sample of charm mesons ever recorded. Novel data processing and analysis techniques are required to maximise the physics potential of this data sample with the available computing resources, taking into account data preservation constraints. In this write-up, we describe the full analysis chain used to obtain important results analysing the data collected in proton-proton collisions in 2015, such as the J/ψ and open charm production cross-sections, and consider the further steps required to obtain real-time results after the LHCb upgrade

Cutaneous manifestations in celiac disease

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune gluten-dependent enteropathy characterized by atrophy of intestinal villi that improves after gluten-free diet (GFD). CD is often associated with extra-intestinal manifestations; among them, several skin diseases are described in CD patients. The present review reports all CD-associated skin manifestations described in the literature and tries to analyze the possible mechanisms involved in this association. The opportunity to evaluate the possible presence of CD in patients affected by skin disorders is discussed

“Hard to say, hard to understand, hard to live”: possible associations between neurologic language impairments and suicide risk

In clinical practice, patients with language impairments often exhibit suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal behavior (SB, covering the entire range from suicide attempts, SA, to completed suicides). However, only few studies exist regarding this subject. We conducted a mini-review on the possible associations between neurologic language impairment (on the motor, comprehension, and semantic sides) and SI/SB. Based on the literature review, we hypothesized that language impairments exacerbate psychiatric comorbidities, which, in turn, aggravate language impairments. Patients trapped in this vicious cycle can develop SI/SB. The so-called “affective prosody” provides some relevant insights concerning the interaction between the different language levels and the world of emotions. This hypothesis is illustrated in a clinical case that we reported, consisting of the case of a 74-year old woman who was admitted to a psychiatric emergency department (ED) after a failed SA. Having suffered an ischemic stroke two years earlier, she suffered from incomplete Broca’s aphasia and dysprosody. She also presented with generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms. We observed that her language impairments were both aggravated by the exacerbations of her anxiety and depressive symptoms. In this patient, who had deficits on the motor side, these exacerbations were triggered by her inability to express herself, her emotional status, and suffering. SI was fluctuant, and—one year after the SA—she completed suicide. Further studies are needed to ascertain possible reciprocal and interacting associations between language impairments, psychiatric comorbidities, and SI/SB. They could enable clinicians to better understand their patient’s specific suffering, as brought on by language impairment, and contribute to the refining of suicide risk detection in this sub-group of affected patients

Mixed Depression: A Mini-Review to Guide Clinical Practice and Future Research Developments

The debate on mixed states (MS) has been intense for decades. However, several points remain controversial from a nosographic, diagnostic, and therapeutic point of view. The different perspectives that have emerged over the years have turned into a large, but heterogeneous, literature body. The present review aims to summarize the evidence on MS, with a particular focus on mixed depression (MxD), in order to provide a guide for clinicians and encourage the development of future research on the topic. First, we review the history of MS, focusing on their different interpretations and categorizations over the centuries. In this section, we also report alternative models to traditional nosography. Second, we describe the main clinical features of MxD and list the most reliable assessment tools. Finally, we summarize the recommendations provided by the main international guidelines for the treatment of MxD. Our review highlights that the different conceptualizations of MS and MxD, the variability of clinical pictures, and the heterogeneous response to pharmacological treatment make MxD a real challenge for clinicians. Further studies are needed to better characterize the phenotypes of patients with MxD to help clinicians in the management of this delicate condition

Functional infrared imaging of paroxysmal ischemic events in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon.

The use of thermal infrared (IR) imaging together with the study of the thermal recovery from a controlled cold challenge has been proposed in the diagnosis and follow-up of therapeutic response of Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP) and Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). The controlled cold challenge test usually performed during IR investigations may induce a RP in patients with the latter condition. In our Institution we routinely perform capillaroscopy and thermal IR to follow-up SSc patients. In this paper, we describe the thermal recovery patterns shown by two SSc patients (a 40 year-old male with diffuse variant of SSc and a 71 year-old female with a limited variant of SSc) who presented ischemic and paroxysmal RP attack while recovering from the routine controlled cold challenge test. During RP attack, the cutaneous temperature of some fingers continued to decrease for some minutes even after the cessation of the cold stress. To the best of our knowledge, to date, no literature report has documented the thermal behaviour of SSc patients' fingers which occasionally present ischemic and paroxysmal response. Triggering of ischemic RP attack appears to not rely only on morphological and structural finger impairment, but also upon other aspects, like the emotional attitude of the subject and the possible discomfort experienced with the proceeding of the functional cold stress test

The Relationship Between Bullying Victimization and Perpetration and Non-suicidal Self-injury: A Systematic Review

Experience of bullying may be a significant risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). This study had three aims: to systematically investigate the association between bullying and NSSI, analyze the possible mechanisms underlying the two phenomena, and evaluate any differences between bullying victimization and bullying perpetration with respect to NSSI. A systematic search about the association between bullying victimization and perpetration and NSSI was conducted using specific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct). The following keywords were used in all database searches: "bullying" AND "NSSI" OR "peer victimization" and NSSI. The searches in PubMed, Scopus and Science Direct revealed a total of 88 articles about bullying or peer victimization and NSSI. However, only 29 met our inclusion criteria and were used for the present review. Overall, all studies examined victimization; four studies also evaluated the effects of perpetration and one included bully-victims. According to the main findings, both being a victim of bullying and perpetrating bullying may increase the risk of adverse psychological outcomes in terms of NSSI and suicidality in the short and the long run. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review to systematically evaluate the relation between bullying victimization/perpetration and NSSI. The main results support a positive association. Future research should evaluate the possible role of specific mediators/moderators of the association between experience of bullying and NSSI