Λ{\Lambda}-enhanced grey molasses on the D2D_2 transition of Rubidium-87 atoms

Laser cooling based on dark states, i.e. states decoupled from light, has proven to be effective to increase the phase-space density of cold trapped atoms. Dark-states cooling requires open atomic transitions, in contrast to the ordinary laser cooling used for example in magneto-optical traps (MOTs), which operate on closed atomic transitions. For alkali atoms, dark-states cooling is therefore commonly operated on the $D_1$ transition $n S_{1/2}\rightarrow n P_{1/2}$. We show that, for $^{87}\text{Rb}$, thanks to the large hyperfine structure separations the use of this transition is not strictly necessary and that $"$quasi-dark state$"$ cooling is efficient also on the $D_2$ line, $5 S_{1/2}\rightarrow 5 P_{3/2}$. We report temperatures as low as $(4.0\pm 0.3)\,\mu$K and an increase of almost an order of magnitude in the phase space density with respect to ordinary laser sub-Doppler cooling

Multiphysical behaviour of shales

The involvement of shales in new energy-related fields such as the extraction of gas shale and shales oil, the deep geothermal energy capture, the sequestration of CO2 and the nuclear waste geological storage, has raised a new and growing interest in the geomechanical behaviour of the material. In this context, fundamental issues come along with the complex multiphysical conditions in which the geomaterial is found where temperature, chemistry and unsaturated conditions play a major role. As a consequence the study of the coupled thermo-hydro-chemo-mechanical (THCM) behaviour of shales is strongly sought. This lecture introduces the most recent advances in the experimental testing and modelling of the THCM behaviour of shales. Such testing under complex multiphysical conditions come along with the need to develop advanced experimental tools and techniques to reproduce the extreme multiphysical conditions experienced by shales in the context of the latest engineering developments. The lecture addresses the devices developed and methodologies established to study the water retention properties of shales and gas shales, the water and gas transport properties, the 1D volumetric behaviour, the thermo-mechanical couplings, the impact of the pore water composition on the mechanical response and the unsaturated behaviour of shales. A workflow established for the analysis of the water retention behaviour of shales in non-isochoric conditions is introduced; the method allows for the determination of the main drying and wetting paths and of the volume change response upon total suction variations (Ferrari et al. 2014)

A Dual-Species Bose-Einstein Condensate with Attractive Interspecies Interactions

We report on the production of a 41 K- 87 Rb dual-species Bose\u2013Einstein condensate with tunable interspecies interaction and we study the mixture in the attractive regime; i.e., for negative values of the interspecies scattering length a 12 . The binary condensate is prepared in the ground state and confined in a pure optical trap. We exploit Feshbach resonances for tuning the value of a 12 . After compensating the gravitational sag between the two species with a magnetic field gradient, we drive the mixture into the attractive regime. We let the system evolve both in free space and in an optical waveguide. In both geometries, for strong attractive interactions, we observe the formation of self-bound states, recognizable as quantum droplets. Our findings prove that robust, long-lived droplet states can be realized in attractive two-species mixtures, despite the two atomic components possibly experiencing different potentials

Quantum Breathing of an Impurity in a One-dimensional Bath of Interacting Bosons

By means of time-dependent density-matrix renormalization-group (TDMRG) we are able to follow the real-time dynamics of a single impurity embedded in a one-dimensional bath of interacting bosons. We focus on the impurity breathing mode, which is found to be well-described by a single oscillation frequency and a damping rate. If the impurity is very weakly coupled to the bath, a Luttinger-liquid description is valid and the impurity suffers an Abraham-Lorentz radiation-reaction friction. For a large portion of the explored parameter space, the TDMRG results fall well beyond the Luttinger-liquid paradigm.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, main text and supplementary material merged in a single PRB style documen

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus with mitral regurgitation and impairment of functional capacity: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Mitral annular calcification is a common echocardiographic finding, especially in the elderly. Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus, however, is a relatively rare variant, having an echocardiographic prevalence of 0.6% in patients with mitral annular calcification. Caseous calcification needs to be differentiated from infected mitral annular calcification, mitral annular abscess and tumours. It is not malignant, and medical therapy with clinical follow-up is the therapeutic option. Surgery should be reserved for co-existent mitral valve dysfunction.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 69-year-old woman, in whom caseous calcification of the mitral annulus was found at transthoracic echocardiography. Cardiac surgery was performed because of significant mitral regurgitation and impairment of functional capacity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus needs to be considered and confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography since there is potential for diagnostic confusion or misdiagnosis. This lesion appears to have a benign prognosis but, when associated with mitral valve dysfunction, cardiac surgery appears to be the best therapeutic option.</p

An isolated anterior mitral leaflet cleft: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The anterior mitral leaflet cleft is an unusual congenital lesion most often encountered in association with other congenital heart defects. The isolated anterior leaflet cleft is quite a rare anomaly and is usually cause of mitral valve regurgitation. The importance of the lesion is that it is often correctable. When feasible, cleft suture and, eventually, annuloplasty are preferable to valve replacement. Echocardiography is the first choice technique in the evaluation of mitral valve disease, providing useful information about valve anatomy and hemodynamic parameters.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present a case of an isolated anterior mitral leaflet cleft producing moderate-severe mitral regurgitation correctly identified by echocardiography and successfully surgically corrected.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Isolated cleft is a rare aberration, that has to be known in order to be diagnosed. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography is the most useful non invasive technique for cleft diagnosis and to indicate the right surgical correction.</p

First national analysis of severe obesity hospitalizations in Italy: insights from discharge card database

BackgroundObesity is associated with numerous severe diseases necessitating intensive healthcare for diagnosis and treatment. Most patients with obesity, especially in its severe form, require at least one hospitalization. However, few studies in Italy have assessed the burden of obesity on the National Health System. This study aims to routinely estimate the ‘disease burden’ by analyzing hospital admissions related to severe obesity.SubjectsWe analyzed the medical records of the Italian national hospital discharge database, including all patients older than 18 years discharged with the diagnosis of ‘severe obesity’.’ We included patients who underwent bariatric surgery, even without an explicit obesity code, such as laparoscopic restrictive gastric procedures, other stomach operations, and high gastric bypass. Special focus was given to those who underwent abdominal reshaping surgery. The cross-sectional survey PASSI in Italy served as an additional data source to estimate. The phenomenon was described using appropriate indicators, including rates and ratios between rates. Linear regression was employed to analyze trends in standardized rates over time.ResultsBetween 2014 and 2021, a total of 243,325 patients were discharged with a severe obesity code in Italy. Among these patients, 36.8% underwent at least one bariatric surgery procedure. We investigated the types of bariatric surgery procedures performed. The most frequent procedure was “other operations on the stomach,” where sleeve gastrectomy is included which also appears to be steadily increasing during the study period together with the gastric bypass, while the gastric bondage is decreasing over time.ConclusionThese findings underscore the significant burden of severe obesity on Italy’s healthcare system, a burden that is progressively increasing. The growing utilization of bariatric surgery suggests an escalating trend toward adopting drastic solutions to combat this health issue