Homodyne versus photon-counting quantum trajectories for dissipative Kerr resonators with two-photon driving

We investigate two different kinds of quantum trajectories for a nonlinear photon resonator subject to two-photon pumping, a configuration recently studied for the generation of photonic Schroedinger cat states. In the absence of feedback control and in the strong-driving limit, the steady-state density matrix is a statistical mixture of two states with equal weight. While along a single photon-counting trajectory the systems intermittently switches between an odd and an even cat state, we show that upon homodyne detection the situation is different. Indeed, homodyne quantum trajectories reveal switches between coherent states of opposite phase.Comment: To appear on Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics, Quantum Gases and Quantum Coherence; 8 pages, 2 composed figures (5 panels

A ruptured gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the small intestine: a case report

The management of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GISTs) has evolved rapidly since imatinib was introduced. Surgery remains the first-line treatment for localised, primary GIST, but the risk for local or metastatic relapse of disease is very high. Prognostic assessment is a critical part of developing a treatment strategy. Perforation or rupture of a GIST to the abdominal cavity has a very high risk for recurrence. We described the case of a 51-year-old man with a haemoperitoneum caused by a ruptured primary GIST of the small intestine. After complete surgical resection, imatinib given for two years as adjuvant therapy achieved no disease progression after prolonged follow-up

Vertically resolved precipitation intensity retrieved through a synergy between the ground-based NASA MPLNET lidar network measurements, surface disdrometer datasets and an analytical model solution

In this paper, we illustrate a new, simple and complementary ground-based methodology to retrieve the vertically resolved atmospheric precipitation intensity through a synergy between measurements from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Micropulse Lidar network (MPLNET), an analytical model solution and ground-based disdrometer measurements. The presented results are obtained at two mid-latitude MPLNET permanent observational sites, located respectively at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA, and at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. The methodology is suitable to be applied to existing and/or future lidar/ceilometer networks with the main objective of either providing near real-time (3 h latency) rainfall intensity measurements and/or to validate satellite missions, especially for critical light precipitation (< 3 mm h-1).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Case report: Senescence as mechanism of resistance to Pembrolizumab in a Lymphoma patient who failed CD19-Targeted CAR-T cell therapy

BackgroundT cells engineered to target CD19 antigen on neoplastic B cells represent the most striking example of CAR-T cell therapy. The success rate of this therapy is affected by several limitations: target antigen loss, and/or acquisition of a senescent/exhausted phenotype by CAR and non-CAR T cells. Case presentationWe report on a patient affected by refractory Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma who was resistant to CAR T-cell therapy and to two cycles post CAR-T of pembrolizumab (PBZ) due to the evolution into a B-cell Hodgkin-like lymphoma. Owing to the CD30 expression and the Hodgkin-like phenotype, the patient was ultimately treated with Brentuximab-Vedotin and finally underwent remission. Upon PBZ treatment, 100% of circulating CAR-T+ cells showed a persistent CD8(+) senescent/exhausted phenotype, while an increase in the percentage of senescent cells was found in the non-CAR CD8(+) T cells compartment. ConclusionsPBZ is not able to reinvigorate exhausted CAR(+) T cells and to confer durable clinical response. We hypothesize that the phenomenon is due to the senescent phenotype of CAR(+) T cells, which did not allow PBZ-induced reactivation and proliferative rescue. The phenomenon, together with the loss of CAR-T target CD19 and the shift of non-CAR CD8(+) T cells towards a senescent phenotype likely contributed to set up an immune landscape with poor antitumor capacity

Evolving trends in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 waves. The ACIE appy II study

Background: In 2020, ACIE Appy study showed that COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) worldwide, with an increased rate of non-operative management (NOM) strategies and a trend toward open surgery due to concern of virus transmission by laparoscopy and controversial recommendations on this issue. The aim of this study was to survey again the same group of surgeons to assess if any difference in management attitudes of AA had occurred in the later stages of the outbreak. Methods: From August 15 to September 30, 2021, an online questionnaire was sent to all 709 participants of the ACIE Appy study. The questionnaire included questions on personal protective equipment (PPE), local policies and screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection, NOM, surgical approach and disease presentations in 2021. The results were compared with the results from the previous study. Results: A total of 476 answers were collected (response rate 67.1%). Screening policies were significatively improved with most patients screened regardless of symptoms (89.5% vs. 37.4%) with PCR and antigenic test as the preferred test (74.1% vs. 26.3%). More patients tested positive before surgery and commercial systems were the preferred ones to filter smoke plumes during laparoscopy. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was the first option in the treatment of AA, with a declined use of NOM. Conclusion: Management of AA has improved in the last waves of pandemic. Increased evidence regarding SARS-COV-2 infection along with a timely healthcare systems response has been translated into tailored attitudes and a better care for patients with AA worldwide

AI is a viable alternative to high throughput screening: a 318-target study

: High throughput screening (HTS) is routinely used to identify bioactive small molecules. This requires physical compounds, which limits coverage of accessible chemical space. Computational approaches combined with vast on-demand chemical libraries can access far greater chemical space, provided that the predictive accuracy is sufficient to identify useful molecules. Through the largest and most diverse virtual HTS campaign reported to date, comprising 318 individual projects, we demonstrate that our AtomNet® convolutional neural network successfully finds novel hits across every major therapeutic area and protein class. We address historical limitations of computational screening by demonstrating success for target proteins without known binders, high-quality X-ray crystal structures, or manual cherry-picking of compounds. We show that the molecules selected by the AtomNet® model are novel drug-like scaffolds rather than minor modifications to known bioactive compounds. Our empirical results suggest that computational methods can substantially replace HTS as the first step of small-molecule drug discovery

CISBAT 2017

Substituting existing windows for highly insulated glazing systems in Norwegian residential buildings may have a strong impact during the winter season due to the reduction of daylight availability. This paper investigates the consequences on the energy demand for space heating and electricity use for lighting of substituting existing windows with new windows and adding insulation in three apartment buildings located in Trondheim, Norway. The buildings were respectively built before the 1900s, in the first decade of the 1900s, and in the 1960s. The initial U-value of the external facades ranges from 0.96 to 0.26 W/m2K, and is lowered to 0.15 W/m2K after the renovation process. The U-value of the existing windows ranges from 1.6 to 2.8 W/m2K. The new windows have a U-value of 1.1 and 0.6 W/m2K. Scenarios are modelled to simulate the use patterns of artificial lighting in the apartments, based on occupancy schedules and required illuminance thresholdspublishedVersio

Aerogel vs. argon insulation in windows: A greenhouse gas emissions analysis

The scope of this study is a comprehensive analysis of the greenhouse gas emissions from the partial substitution of triple-glazing units with argon gas (U-value of 0.79 W/m2 K) with double-glazing units with either monolithic aerogel (U-value of 0.65 W/m2 K) or granular aerogel (U-value of 0.31 W/m2d K). A residential building located near Oslo and fully upgraded with passive house solutions is used as a case study for this analysis. A cradle-to-site analysis is performed on the facade components. Two replacement schedules and three window-to-wall ratios are used to evaluate the differences in total emissions. Sensitivity analyses based on increasing the fraction of the aerogel glazing, varying the greenhouse gas emissions of the aerogel production, and changing the service life of the aerogel glazing are also performed. Results show that both the options with windows with aerogel are effective in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of the total window-to-wall ratio and the replacement schedule used. By increasing the share of the aerogel glazing, the savings in emissions increase from 5% to 9%. The sensitivity analysis shows that the greenhouse gas emissions from the production of aerogel should be at least 8 times higher than those currently reported to totally counterbalance the achieved energy savingsAcknowledgments. This work has been written within the Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings (ZEB). The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the ZEB partners and the Research Council of Norway. Thanks to Anne Grete Hestnes for her helpful comments.acceptedVersio

Comfort Assessment of Two nZEBs in Norway

This work presents the results of a survey and measurement campaign carried on in two wooden buildings in Trondeim, Norway. These are one tower in a student accommodation complex, the Moholt Allmenning, constituted by five CLT towers of 9 floors each, and a mixed CLT-and-timber-frame educational building, the Haukåsen kindergarten. Both buildings comply with the Norwegian Passive house standard and the kindergarten complies with the BREAAM certification as well. Questionnaires focussing on the buildings' users thermal, acoustic, and visual comfort, and on the IAQ were submitted. Measurements of the indoor operative temperature and CO2 levels were performed. The measurements showed that both buildings are in the NS 15251 Class I with regards to the thermal environment, in both summer and winter. The questionnaires that the perceived dissatisfaction is somewhat higher than that assessed in the measurements, leading to a lower rating, especially in the student housing. One of the most reported issue in the student housing was the noise level, which resulted in 28% of student dissatisfied.publishedVersio