A strongly interacting gas of two-electron fermions at an orbital Feshbach resonance

We report on the experimental observation of a strongly interacting gas of ultracold two-electron fermions with orbital degree of freedom and magnetically tunable interactions. This realization has been enabled by the demonstration of a novel kind of Feshbach resonance occurring in the scattering of two 173Yb atoms in different nuclear and electronic states. The strongly interacting regime at resonance is evidenced by the observation of anisotropic hydrodynamic expansion of the two-orbital Fermi gas. These results pave the way towards the realization of new quantum states of matter with strongly correlated fermions with orbital degree of freedom.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Markov Chain Beam Randomization: a study of the impact of PLANCK beam measurement errors on cosmological parameter estimation

We introduce a new method to propagate uncertainties in the beam shapes used to measure the cosmic microwave background to cosmological parameters determined from those measurements. The method, which we call Markov Chain Beam Randomization, MCBR, randomly samples from a set of templates or functions that describe the beam uncertainties. The method is much faster than direct numerical integration over systematic `nuisance' parameters, and is not restricted to simple, idealized cases as is analytic marginalization. It does not assume the data are normally distributed, and does not require Gaussian priors on the specific systematic uncertainties. We show that MCBR properly accounts for and provides the marginalized errors of the parameters. The method can be generalized and used to propagate any systematic uncertainties for which a set of templates is available. We apply the method to the Planck satellite, and consider future experiments. Beam measurement errors should have a small effect on cosmological parameters as long as the beam fitting is performed after removal of 1/f noise.Comment: 17 pages, 23 figures, revised version with improved explanation of the MCBR and overall wording. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (to appear in the Planck pre-launch special issue

Mucopexy-recto anal lifting: a standardized minimally invasive method of managing symptomatic hemorrhoids, with an innovative suturing technique and the HemorPex System®

BACKGROUND: Conservative surgery of hemorrhoidal disease is less painful than traditional hemorrhoidectomy, and mucopexy has less risk of serious postoperative complications than stapled hemorrhoidopexy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a standardized, modified hemorrhoidopexy, named Mucopexy-Recto Anal Lifting (MuRAL) with the HemorPex System (HPS) in patients with symptomatic III and IV degree hemorrhoids. METHODS: Patients were enrolled from May 2013 to Dec 2015 and operated on with the MuRAL technique, based on arterial ligation and mucopexy at 6 locations, using a standardized clockwise/anti-clockwise rotation sequence of the HPS anoscope. Follow-up controls were carried out by independent observers, as follows: a digital exploration 3 weeks after the intervention, digital exploration plus proctoscopy at 3 and 12 months and repeated at a 12 months interval. Patients who did not strictly follow the postoperative controls were excluded from the study. Primary outcome measurement was the recurrence rate. Secondary measurements were: operative time, hospital stay, postoperative pain, postoperative symptoms and satisfaction score. RESULTS: We operated on 126 patients (72 males, mean age 53.9, range 29-83): 87 (69.6%) with III degree and 39 with IV degree hemorrhoids; 13 patients had a MuRAL as a revisional procedure of a previous operation for hemorrhoids. Mean duration of follow-up was 554 days (range 281-1219). Four patients were excluded from the study. One-year recurrence rate was 4.1%. The mean duration of the intervention was 29.5 minutes (range 23-60) and 92 patients (73%) were discharged during the same day of the operation. Pain VAS Score in the first, second and third postoperative day was 3.9, 2.5, and 1.9, respectively. Twenty-two patients (18%), all submitted to spinal anesthesia, had postoperative acute urinary retention. Fecal urgency, observed in 18.8% of patients at the first control, disappeared within one year after the operation. Mean time to return to normal activity was 8 days (range 5 -10). The patient satisfaction scores at one-year follow up were 31.1% excellent, 57.4% good, 7.4% fairly good and 4.1% poor. In patients with III degree hemorrhoids operative time was significantly shorter, postoperative pain better and transient fecal urgency lower than in IV degree patients. In our experience the standardization of MuRAL operation with HPS, turned out to be a safe and effective minimally invasive approach in managing symptomatic III and IV degree hemorrhoids, avoiding the risk of severe complications, with the possibility to perform a redo-MuRAL in the event of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In our series up to 88% of the patients reported a good, or excellent one-year satisfaction score. Further comparative randomized studies with longer follow-up period are needed

WAVE-CUSUM: Improving CUSUM performance in network anomaly detection by means of wavelet analysis

n/

Mucopexy-Recto Anal Lifting (MuRAL) in managing obstructed defecation syndrome associated with prolapsed hemorrhoids and rectocele : preliminary results

Purpose: Treatment of rectocele associated with prolapsed hemorrhoids is a debated topic. Transanal stapling achieved good midterm results in patients with symptoms of obstructed defecation, nevertheless a number of severe complications have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new endorectal manual technique in patients with obstructed defecation due to the combination of muco-hemorrhoidal prolapse and rectocele. Methods: Patients enrolled after preoperative obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) score, defecography and anoscopy were submitted to the novel Mucopexy-Recto Anal Lifting (MuRAL) combined with a modified Block procedure, and followed up by independent observers with digital exploration 3 weeks postoperatively, and digital exploration plus anoscopy at 3, 6, and 12 months. Operative time, hospital stay, numerating rating scale (NRS), ODS, satisfaction scores, and recurrence rate were recorded. Results: Mean operative time was 35.7 minutes. Fifty-six patients completed 1-year follow-up: 7.1% had acute urinary retention, NRS score was < 3 from the third postoperative day, mean time of daily activity resumption was 12 days, none had persistent fecal urgency, 82% declared excellent/good satisfaction score, significant improvement of 6- and 12-month ODS score, no recurrence of rectocele, and 7.1% recurrence of prolapsed hemorrhoids were observed. Conclusion: MuRAL associated with modified Block technique gave no severe complications and resulted in a safe and effective approach to symptomatic rectocele associated with muco-rectal prolapse. Further randomized studies, larger series, and longer follow-up are needed. [Ann Surg Treat Res 2020;98(5):277-282

Charge density waves enhance the electronic noise of manganites

The transport and noise properties of Pr_{0.7}Ca_{0.3}MnO_{3} epitaxial thin films in the temperature range from room temperature to 160 K are reported. It is shown that both the broadband 1/f noise properties and the dependence of resistance on electric field are consistent with the idea of a collective electrical transport, as in the classical model of sliding charge density waves. On the other hand, the observations cannot be reconciled with standard models of charge ordering and charge melting. Methodologically, it is proposed to consider noise-spectra analysis as a unique tool for the identification of the transport mechanism in such highly correlated systems. On the basis of the results, the electrical transport is envisaged as one of the most effective ways to understand the nature of the insulating, charge-modulated ground states in manganites.Comment: 6 two-column pages, 5 figure

ReLock: a resilient two-phase locking RESTful transaction model

Service composition and supporting transactions across composed services are among the major challenges characterizing service-oriented computing. REpresentational State Transfer (REST) is one of the approaches used for implementing Web services that is gaining momentum thanks to its features making it suitable for cloud computing and microservices-based contexts. This paper introduces ReLock, a resilient RESTful transaction model introducing general purpose transactions on RESTful services by a layered approach and a two-phase locking mechanism not requesting any change to the RESTful services involved in a transaction

The role of religiousness on substance-use disorder treatment outcomes: a comparison of black and white adolescents

This study compares 41 Black and 124 White adolescents at intake and discharge from a residential treatment program for substance-use disorders. Study data were obtained as part of a larger study (N = 195) that sought to assess the relationship of helping behavior and addiction recovery. This post-hoc analysis aims to identify cultural strengths that may be associated with recovery from substance-use disorders among Black adolescents. Using regression analyses and controlling for the severity of substance use and background variables that distinguish racial groups, religious practices and behaviors at intake were examined. Specifically, Black youth and White youth were compared on treatment outcomes, including alcohol or drug use during treatment, drug craving, 12-Step work, and 12-Step helping. The burden of health and socioeconomic disparities at intake did not disproportionately disfavor Black adolescents. Outcomes related to 12-Step measures were similar between Black and White youth. White adolescents reported higher craving scores at discharge, and Black adolescents were more likely to use drugs during treatment. High levels of religiousness at treatment intake were linked to greater 12-Step work and greater 12-Step helping at discharge. High levels of religiousness at intake were not related to drug use during treatment or to craving scores at discharge. The relationship between intake levels of religiousness and treatment-related outcomes did not differ by race.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3437261/Accepted manuscrip