Experimental quantum reading with photon counting

The final goal of quantum hypothesis testing is to achieve quantum advantage over all possible classical strategies. In the protocol of quantum reading, this is achieved for information retrieval from an optical memory, whose generic cell stores a bit of information in two possible lossy channels. We show, theoretically and experimentally, that quantum advantage is obtained by practical photon-counting measurements combined with a simple maximum-likelihood decision. In particular, we show that this receiver combined with an entangled two-mode squeezed vacuum source is able to outperform any strategy based on statistical mixtures of coherent states for the same mean number of input photons. Our experimental findings demonstrate that quantum entanglement and simple optics are able to enhance the readout of digital data, paving the way to real applications of quantum reading and with potential applications for any other model that is based on the binary discrimination of bosonic loss

Il dosaggio del lattato in neonati con distensione addominale come fattore prognostico di sindrome da compartimento addominale

L'ipertensione intraaddominale (IAH) e la risultante sindrome da compartimento addominale (ACS), caratterizzata da incremento della pressione >20 mmHg e insufficienza d’organo o multiorgano, sono state descritte in neonati con patologie addominali chirurgiche. La gestione effettiva e preventiva dell'IAH è associata a minore morbidità. In uno studio retrospettivo abbiamo analizzato 20 neonati con distensione addominale persistente per individuare fattori predittivi di IAH ed ACS. Il Gold-Standard della misurazione dell'IAH è la misurazione pressoria intravescicale ancora non standardizzata c/o le UTIN. Per definire l'IAH abbiamo quindi utilizzato il monitoraggio della saturazione di ossigeno (SpO2) prossimale e distale rispetto all’addome e 2 segni di compromissione d’organo (oliguria, ipotensione, insufficienza respiratoria, acidosi metabolica). Abbiamo riscontrato un rischio tendenzialmente elevato di disfunzione multiorgano e decesso in neonati di età gestazionale maggiore (p=0,09) e con una causa congenita di ACS (p<0,05), e in neonati in correzione con bicarbonati (p=0,05). Alti valori di lattato già al ricovero correlano con un deficit di basi maggiore nelle fasi avanzate di ACS (p<0,05) e con una distensione tardiva (p<0,05) associata, a sua volta, a valori di lattato più elevati nelle fasi di distensione ed acidosi (p<0,05) rispetto alla distensione precoce. Il lattato alla distensione è tendenzialmente più alto in chi avrà eventi più gravi (p=0,06) pur non correlando con il decesso (p=0,2). Solo nella fase successiva di acidosi i valori di lattato sono predittivi di decesso (p<0,05). In nessuna fase sono state riscontrate correlazioni con l’insufficienza respiratoria. L’unico fattore predittivo per un decorso sfavorevole è l’insulto tissutale perfusionale precoce misurato tramite il lattato che tuttavia non correla con il decesso perché probabilmente neonati, soprattutto con difetti della parete addominale, possono sopportare pressioni intraaddominali più elevate senza andare incontro ad insufficienza multiorgano. Al contrario sembra che neonati con ACS secondaria o con età gestazionale maggiore tollerino meno l’IAH sviluppando ACS a pressioni più basse poichè gli spazi intraaddominali sono già definiti

Predictive Factors of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome in Neonatal Age

In the pediatric population, abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a known complication of abdominal wall defect repair. However, there are only few reports on ACS in newborns and only a proposal of critical intra-abdominal pressure value (IAP) in term newborns, absent in preterm newborns. Although the prevalent clinical sign is tense abdominal distension, it may be difficult to distinguish ACS from pathologies that will not require decompression. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors for ACS and therefore morbidity or mortality indicators. We reviewed newborns presenting with tense abdominal distension and end organ failure. Anamnestic, clinical, laboratory, and instrumental investigations were analyzed to extrapolate predictors. Outcomes were compared with a control group. The incidence of ACS in our neonatal intensive care unit was 5% in the overall population of babies, 16% in tracheal-ventilated newborns, and 57% in infants with abdominal wall defects. We found that, with onset of acidosis or high gastric residuals, the lactate values will be predictive for mortality. We can also suggest paying particular attention to high lactate values just at the onset of distension, in infants with more advanced gestational age, with previously surgical repair, to determine early surgical intervention independently of a specific IAP measurement

An expeditious low-cost method for the acoustic characterization of seabeds in a Mediterranean coastal protected area

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGPosidonia oceanica meadows are ecosystem engineers which, despite their ecological relevance, are experiencing habitat fragmentation and area decrease. Cartography and information on the ecological status of these habitats is key to an effective maritime spatial planning and management for habitat conservation. In this work we apply an acoustic methodology to map benthic habitats (substrate and vegetation) in an archipelago of the Natura 2000 Network close to the coast of Murcia (SE Spain) where dense and sparse areas of P. oceanica, and patches of Cymodocea nodosa appear over a sandy and had bottom. The methodology uses dual frequency information (200 kHz and 38 kHz) acquired with a single-beam echosounder to develop a bathymetry, and performs sea bottom and vegetation supervised classifications, using video and scuba diver observations as groundtruthing data. Sea bottom was classified from acoustic features of the first and second 200 kHz echoes into 5 substrate classes using a random forest classifier: sand, fine sand, coarse sand, hard bottoms and hard bottoms with sandy patches. The vegetation was classified from features extracted from the "above-bottom" part of the echo (height and backscattering intensity) in both frequencies, resulting also in a 5 class classification: C. nodosa meadows, dense P. oceanica meadows, dispersed P. oceanica meadows, dense P. oceanica with sand patches, and no-vegetation; according to the random-forest Gini index, 38 kHz features were the most informational variables for this classification. The validation accuracies of both classifications were 85% (substrates) and 70% (vegetation), close to accuracies reported in the literature when using a similar number of classes. The results of this article (including bathymetric, and substrate and vegetation thematic maps), together with the acoustic methodology described and used, are contributions that can improve the continuous monitoring of Mediterranean seagrasses

Science and Film-making

The essay reviews the literature, mostly historical, on the relationship between science and film-making, with a focus on the science documentary. It then discusses the circumstances of the emergence of the wildlife making-of documentary genre. The thesis examined here is that since the early days of cinema, film-making has evolved from being subordinate to science, to being an equal partner in the production of knowledge, controlled by non-scientists

Characterization of the defective interaction between a subset of natural killer cells and dendritic cells in HIV-1 infection

In this study, we demonstrate that the in vitro interactions between a CD56neg/CD16pos (CD56neg) subset of natural killer (NK) cells and autologous dendritic cells (DCs) from HIV-1–infected viremic but not aviremic individuals are markedly impaired and likely interfere with the development of an effective immune response. Among the defective interactions are abnormalities in the process of reciprocal NK–DC activation and maturation as well as a defect in the NK cell–mediated editing or elimination of immature DCs (iDCs). Notably, the lysis of mature DCs (mDCs) by autologous NK cells was highly impaired even after the complete masking of major histocompatibility complex I molecules, suggesting that the defective elimination of autologous iDCs is at the level of activating NK cell receptors. In this regard, the markedly impaired expression/secretion and function of NKp30 and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, particularly among the CD56neg NK cell subset, largely accounts for the highly defective NK cell–mediated lysis of autologous iDCs. Moreover, mDCs generated from HIV-1 viremic but not aviremic patients are substantially impaired in their ability to secrete interleukin (IL)-10 and -12 and to prime the proliferation of neighboring autologous NK cells, which, in turn, fail to secrete adequate amounts of interferon-γ

Growth Trajectory and Adult Height in Children with Nonclassical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Background: Children with nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH) often present increased growth velocity secondary to elevation of adrenal androgens that accelerates bone maturation and might compromise adult height (AH). Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze prognostic factors affecting growth trajectory (GT) and AH in children with NCCAH. Methods: The study was a retrospective, multicentric study. The study population consisted of 192 children with a confirmed molecular diagnosis of NCCAH, followed by pediatric endocrinology centers from diagnosis up to AH. Clinical records were collected and analyzed. AH (standard deviation score; SDS), pubertal growth (PG) (cm), GT from diagnosis to AH (SDS), and AH adjusted to target height (TH) (AH-TH SDS) were evaluated as outcome indicators using stepwise linear regression models. Results: The stepwise linear regression analysis showed that AH and AH-TH were significantly related to chronological age (CA) (p = 0.008 and 0.016), bone age (BA)/CA ratio (p = 0.004 and 0.001), height (H) (p &lt; 0.001 for both parameters) at NCCAH diagnosis, and TH (p = 0.013 and &lt;0.001). PG was higher in males than in females (22.59 ± 5.74 vs. 20.72 ± 17.4 cm, p = 0.002), as physiologically observed, and was positively related to height (p = 0.027), negatively to BMI (p = 0.001) and BA/CA ratio (p = 0.001) at NCCAH diagnosis. Gender, genotype, biochemical data, and hydrocortisone treatment did not significantly impair height outcomes of these NCCAH children. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that AH and GT of NCCAH patients are mainly affected by the severity of phenotype (CA, BA/CA ratio, and H) at the time of diagnosis. © 2020 S. Karger AG. All rights reserved

Experimental based experiences with the introduction of a water safety plan for a multi-located university clinic and its efficacy according to WHO recommendations

BACKGROUND: Due to the high number of immunosuppressed and other predisposed patients hospitals have to control and ensure the microbiological water quality. The origin for the occurrence of pathogenic microorganisms in water pipes is the formation of biofilm. METHODS: For the permanent control of water safety a water safety plan (WSP) was realized as recommended by the WHO following the principle "search and destroy". The WSP is based on an established HACCP concept due to the special focus. The most important measures include the concept for sample taking depending on patient risk. 3 different categories) are distinguished: risk area1 (high infection risk), risk 2 (moderate infection risk), and risk area 3 (not increased infection risk). Additionally to the threshold value of the German law for the quality of drinking water (TrinkwV) three more limiting values were defined (warning, alert, and worst case) for immediate risk adapted reaction. Additional attention has to be focussed on lavatory sinks, which are an open bacterial reservoir. Therefore continuous disinfecting siphons were installed as part of the WSP in high risk areas. If extended technical equipment is not available, especially for immunocompromised patients the following measures are easy to realize: boiled (or sun exposed) water for nursing procedures as well alimentary use, no showering. RESULTS: Comparing data over 3 years the microbial water quality was significantly improved resulting in no new case of nosocomial Legionella pneumoniae and decrease in neonatal sepsis. CONCLUSION: According to average situations with highly contaminated water system the management must be defined with implementation of water task force, immediate providing of special equipment, information of patients and staff and control of the water quality, an example for successful decontamination of the hospital within 24 hours is given

Allele-Specific Impairment of GJB2 Expression by GJB6 Deletion del(GJB6-D13S1854)

Mutations in the GJB2 gene, which encodes connexin 26, are a frequent cause of congenital non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss. Two large deletions, del(GJB6-D13S1830) and del(GJB6-D13S1854), which truncate GJB6 (connexin 30), cause hearing loss in individuals homozygous, or compound heterozygous for these deletions or one such deletion and a mutation in GJB2. Recently, we have demonstrated that the del(GJB6-D13S1830) deletion contributes to hearing loss due to an allele-specific lack of GJB2 mRNA expression and not as a result of digenic inheritance, as was postulated earlier. In the current study we investigated the smaller del(GJB6-D13S1854) deletion, which disrupts the expression of GJB2 at the transcriptional level in a manner similar to the more common del(GJB6-D13S1830) deletion. Interestingly, in the presence of this deletion, GJB2 expression remains minimally but reproducibly present. The relative allele-specific expression of GJB2 was assessed by reverse-transcriptase PCR and restriction digestions in three probands who were compound heterozygous for a GJB2 mutation and del(GJB6-D13S1854). Each individual carried a different sequence variant in GJB2. All three individuals expressed the mutated GJB2 allele in trans with del(GJB6-D13S1854), but expression of the GJB2 allele in cis with the deletion was almost absent. Our study clearly corroborates the hypothesis that the del(GJB6-D13S1854), similar to the larger and more common del(GJB6-D13S1830), removes (a) putative cis-regulatory element(s) upstream of GJB6 and narrows down the region of location

Impact of a silver layer on the membrane of tap water filters on the microbiological quality of filtered water

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bacteria in the hospital's drinking water system represent a risk for the acquisition of a nosocomial infection in the severely immunocompromised host. Terminal tap water filters may be used to prevent nosocomial Legionnaires' disease. We present data from water samples using an improved kind of tap water filters.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a blinded study on an intermediate care unit of the thoracic surgery department, a modified type of the Germlyser water filter (Aqua-Free Membrane Technology) with a newly-introduced silver layer on the filtration membrane was compared to its preceding type without such a layer on 15 water outlets. We determined growth of <it>Legionella</it>, other pathogenic bacteria, and the total heterotrophic plate count in unfiltered water and filtered water samples after filter usage intervals of 1 through 4 weeks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 299 water samples were tested. Twenty-nine of the 60 unfiltered water samples contained <it>Legionella </it>of various serogroups (baseline value). In contrast, all samples filtered by the original water filter and all but one of the water samples filtered by the modified filter type remained <it>Legionella</it>-free. No other pathogenic bacteria were detected in any filtered sample. The total plate count in water samples increased during use of both kinds of filters over time. However, for the first 7 days of use, there were significantly fewer water samples containing >100 CFU per mL when using the new filter device compared with the older filters or taps with no filter. No advantage was seen thereafter.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The use of this type of terminal water filter is an appropriate method to protect immunocompromised patients from water-borne pathogens such as <it>Legionella</it>.</p