A conformal field theory description of magnetic flux fractionalization in Josephson junction ladders

We show how the recently proposed effective theory for a Quantum Hall system at "paired states" filling v=1 (Mod. Phys. Lett. A 15 (2000) 1679; Nucl. Phys. B641 (2002) 547), the twisted model (TM), well adapts to describe the phenomenology of Josephson Junction ladders (JJL) in the presence of defects. In particular it is shown how naturally the phenomenon of flux fractionalization takes place in such a description and its relation with the discrete symmetries present in the TM. Furthermore we focus on closed geometries, which enable us to analyze the topological properties of the ground state of the system in relation to the presence of half flux quanta.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figure, Latex, revised versio

Non-diagonal open spin-1/2 XXZ quantum chains by separation of variables: Complete spectrum and matrix elements of some quasi-local operators

The integrable quantum models, associated to the transfer matrices of the 6-vertex reflection algebra for spin 1/2 representations, are studied in this paper. In the framework of Sklyanin's quantum separation of variables (SOV), we provide the complete characterization of the eigenvalues and eigenstates of the transfer matrix and the proof of the simplicity of the transfer matrix spectrum. Moreover, we use these integrable quantum models as further key examples for which to develop a method in the SOV framework to compute matrix elements of local operators. This method has been introduced first in [1] and then used also in [2], it is based on the resolution of the quantum inverse problem (i.e. the reconstruction of all local operators in terms of the quantum separate variables) plus the computation of the action of separate covectors on separate vectors. In particular, for these integrable quantum models, which in the homogeneous limit reproduce the open spin-1/2 XXZ quantum chains with non-diagonal boundary conditions, we have obtained the SOV-reconstructions for a class of quasi-local operators and determinant formulae for the covector-vector actions. As consequence of these findings we provide one determinant formulae for the matrix elements of this class of reconstructed quasi-local operators on transfer matrix eigenstates.Comment: 40 pages. Minor modifications in the text and some notations and some more reference adde

Form factors of descendant operators in the massive Lee-Yang model

The form factors of the descendant operators in the massive Lee-Yang model are determined up to level 7. This is first done by exploiting the conserved quantities of the integrable theory to generate the solutions for the descendants starting from the lowest non-trivial solutions in each operator family. We then show that the operator space generated in this way, which is isomorphic to the conformal one, coincides, level by level, with that implied by the $S$-matrix through the form factor bootstrap. The solutions we determine satisfy asymptotic conditions carrying the information about the level that we conjecture to hold for all the operators of the model.Comment: 23 page

The management of non-culprit coronary lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome

About 50% of patients diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction have multivessel disease on coronary angiography. Recent evidence has shown that a staged percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) strategy of non-culprit lesions, achieving complete revascularization, significantly reduces the rate of recurrent cardiovascular events compared with a PCI strategy limited to culprit lesion. Although functional evaluation of intermediate coronary stenoses by functional flow reserve (FFR) or instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) is widely used to detect residual myocardial ischaemia, the reliability of the study of non-culprit lesions in the acute phase of heart attack is controversial. On the other hand, the excess of new events in patients with acute coronary syndrome in whom PCI was deferred on the basis of FFR/iFR compared to patients with stable CAD could be due to both an inadequate functional evaluation and an intrinsic higher risk, related to the presence of untreated vulnerable plaques. In this context, intra-coronary imaging has shown that the presence of vulnerability features in non-culprit plaques is associated with an increased rate of ischaemic recurrence

Heterogeneous response to immunotherapy in a patient with tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma assessed by18f-fdg pet/ct

Tonsillar carcinoma is the second most common malignancy of the head and neck region, with Squamous Cell Carcinoma (TSCC) as the most common histological type (>90%). For the advanced stage of TSCC, radiotherapy with or without platinum-based chemotherapy is the only therapeutic option. Immuno-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), in particular Nivolumab, considerably improves clinical management of these patients, but the response can be unpredictable. Difficulties can be encountered in evaluating response to immunotherapy, especially with morphological imaging, which can show an atypical response, such as pseudo-progression, leading to a premature discontinuation. Conversely, metabolic imaging can guide a more properly therapeutic decision. We present a case of a 71-year-old man affected by TSCC, treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and Nivolumab as the last line of treatment. Pre-and post-immunotherapy18F-FDG PET/CT showed an impressive response, avoiding early drug discontinuation and ensuring better management of this patient

The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in endometrial adenocarcinoma: a review of the literature and recent advances

Purpose: To provide a substantial coverage on the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in endometrial cancer (EC), and identify the key issues which make its use recommended with both low level of evidence and low strength of recommendation in accordance with the last consensus conference. Methods: A comprehensive literature computer search was performed on PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases up to June 2020. Included studies had to focus on 18F-FDG PET/CT in EC, with regard to staging, follow-up and prognostic value. Review guidelines, systematic review, meta-analyses and original papers were included. Results: The 18F-FDG PET/CT is affected by suboptimal soft tissue differentiation, with sensitivity and specificity in tumor staging ranged from 77 to 85% and 79 to 96%. The sensitivity and the specificity of 18F-FDG PET/CT performed at staging for lymph node metastases ranged from 63 to 73% and 96 to 97%. For distant metastases, sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDG PET/CT performed at staging ranged from 63 to 80% and 93 to 96%. After treatment, better performance emerged for EC recurrent with sensitivity ranged from 92 to 98% and specificity ranged from 89 to 94%. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and metabolic volumetric parameters, such as total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV), resulted to be significantly related to prognosis. Conclusion: Despite evidence-based data about the diagnostic performance are increasing, the low sensitivity represents the main limitation of 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging utilization for the detection of primary tumor and lymph node metastases. Better performances were observed for distant metastasis and EC recurrence. Further randomized prospective studies are needed to increase both the low level of evidence and low strength of recommendation for using 18F-FDG PET/CT in EC. Promising results emerged from PET/MRI

Rationale, experimental data, and emerging clinical evidence on early and preventive use of levosimendan in patients with ventricular dysfunction

Acute ventricular dysfunction (AVD) is a complex condition with substantial morbidity and mortality, still featuring unique therapeutic challenges. Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer and ATP-dependent potassium channel opener that was developed as an inodilating drug for the treatment of acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Differently from other more widely used inotropic agents, levosimendan has some exclusive characteristics, in terms of mechanisms of action, pharmacodynamic profile, and haemodynamic effects. This may have important clinical implications. In particular, in patients with AVD or in patients with pre-existing severe ventricular impairment undergoing planned myocardial stress, the administration of levosimendan before the onset of overt symptoms or before cardiovascular therapeutic procedures may have the potential to bridge the patient through the critical phase. In this review, we will focus on the rationale, the existing experimental data, and the emerging clinical experience supporting an early, even preventive use of levosimendan in severe ventricular dysfunction, beyond its recognized indications