First narrow-band search for continuous gravitational waves from known pulsars in advanced detector data

Spinning neutron stars asymmetric with respect to their rotation axis are potential sources of continuous gravitational waves for ground-based interferometric detectors. In the case of known pulsars a fully coherent search, based on matched filtering, which uses the position and rotational parameters obtained from electromagnetic observations, can be carried out. Matched filtering maximizes the signalto- noise (SNR) ratio, but a large sensitivity loss is expected in case of even a very small mismatch between the assumed and the true signal parameters. For this reason, narrow-band analysis methods have been developed, allowing a fully coherent search for gravitational waves from known pulsars over a fraction of a hertz and several spin-down values. In this paper we describe a narrow-band search of 11 pulsars using data from Advanced LIGO’s first observing run. Although we have found several initial outliers, further studies show no significant evidence for the presence of a gravitational wave signal. Finally, we have placed upper limits on the signal strain amplitude lower than the spin-down limit for 5 of the 11 targets over the bands searched; in the case of J1813-1749 the spin-down limit has been beaten for the first time. For an additional 3 targets, the median upper limit across the search bands is below the spin-down limit. This is the most sensitive narrow-band search for continuous gravitational waves carried out so far

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

Resampling technique to correct for the Doppler effect in a search for gravitational waves

The frequency of any gravitational-wave signal received from a spinning neutron star will appear Doppler-shifted by the Earth's rotation and orbital motion. This frequency shift must be compensated to recover the signal energy as a spectral monochromatic peak with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Generally the correction depends on the source's position in the sky, spin, and spin-down rate. Here we propose a method of applying a single correction to the data which is valid for all the emission frequencies at a fixed position in the sky and for a given spin-down rate. We advance or retard the antenna proper time by removing (or repeating) single samples of the digitized output signal to keep the effective receiver and source clocks in accurate synchronization. The method, which requires just a few lines of code and little computational effort, appears to be very effective for "semitargeted" searches, where the source direction is known but the emission frequency is not

Metastatic malignant soft tissue myoepithelioma: a case report showing complete response after locoregional and systemic therapy.

We report on the case of a 61-year-old man with a soft tissue malignant myoepithelioma of the second toe of the right foot. After removal of the primary tumor, the patient developed in-transit metastases of the limb that we later treated with limb perfusion, using extracorporeal circulation with complete response. Following the appearance of lymph node metastases, the patient underwent inguinal, iliac and obturator lymphadenectomy. Subsequent pelvis metastases were treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with complete response. Currently, after 3 years, the patient is alive and no evidence of any residual disease is apparent

Finite state machine controls for a source of optical squeezed vacuum

In this paper we present a software, developed in the distributed control system environment of the Virgo gravitational-wave detector, for the management of a highly automated optical bench. The bench is extensively used for the research and development of squeezed states of light generation in order to mitigate the quantum noise in the next generations of interferometric gravitational-wave detectors. The software is developed using Finite-State Machines, recently implemented as a new feature of damping-adv Software Development Kit. It has been studied for its ease of use and stability of operation and thus offers a high duty-cycle of operation. Much attention has been drawn to ensure the software scalability and integration with the existing Data AcQuisition and control infrastructure of the Virgo detector

Electronic hardware and software development for the Advanced Virgo EPR squeezer

In this paper, we introduce the work on hardware and software built to manage the optical bench which hosts the optical squeezer source at the Virgo site in Cascina. In the past, the ex-perimental setup implemented frequency-independent squeezing and it will be soon recon gured in order to implement frequency-dependent squeezing via EPR entanglement for Virgo gravitational-wave detector. Furthermore we introduce an idea of automation for this prototypic subsystem in order to deliver a compact and robust apparatus which does not require surveillance of an operator

EPR experiment for a broadband quantum noise reduction in gravitational wave detectors

Squeezed states of light contribute to the reduction of quantum noise in gravitational-wave interferometers. This result, predicted by Caves in 1981, has been demonstrated by the main gravitational-wave detectors. The injection of phase-squeezed light only decreases quantum shot noise uctuations, improving the detector sensitivity in high-frequency band; the corresponding anti-squeezing, indeed, induces radiation pressure noise, increasing quantum noise in low-frequency band. This becomes important for near detector generation, where current low frequency noises, that cover the radiation pressure noise, will be reduced. To face this problem, the use of frequency dependent squeezing, obtained using a long external lter cavity, is planned. An alternative method, based on EPR experiment, can be used for the same purpose. It has the advantage to avoid further complex infrastructures required for the lter cavity. We propose a table-top experiment to test the broadband quantum noise reduction that can be obtained injecting entangled beams through the interferometer dark port. The conceptual design and the possible implementation in a small-scale suspended interferometer will be presented

Effect of centre volume on pathological outcomes and postoperative complications after surgery for colorectal cancer: results of a multicentre national study

Background: The association between volume, complications and pathological outcomes is still under debate regarding colorectal cancer surgery. The aim of the study was to assess the association between centre volume and severe complications, mortality, less-than-radical oncologic surgery, and indications for neoadjuvant therapy.Methods: Retrospective analysis of 16,883 colorectal cancer cases from 80 centres (2018-2021). Outcomes: 30-day mortality; Clavien-Dindo grade >2 complications; removal of >= 12 lymph nodes; non-radical resection; neoadjuvant therapy. Quartiles of hospital volumes were classified as LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH, and VERY HIGH. Independent predictors, both overall and for rectal cancer, were evaluated using logistic regression including age, gender, AJCC stage and cancer site.Results: LOW-volume centres reported a higher rate of severe postoperative complications (OR 1.50, 95% c.i. 1.15-1.096, P = 0.003). The rate of >= 12 lymph nodes removed in LOW-volume (OR 0.68, 95% c.i. 0.56-0.85, P = 12 lymph nodes removed was lower in LOW-volume than in VERY HIGH-volume centres (OR 0.57, 95% c.i. 0.41-0.80, P = 0.001). A lower rate of neoadjuvant chemoradiation was associated with HIGH (OR 0.66, 95% c.i. 0.56-0.77, P < 0.001), MEDIUM (OR 0.75, 95% c.i. 0.60-0.92, P = 0.006), and LOW (OR 0.70, 95% c.i. 0.52-0.94, P = 0.019) volume centres (vs. VERY HIGH).Conclusion: Colorectal cancer surgery in low-volume centres is at higher risk of suboptimal management, poor postoperative outcomes, and less-than-adequate oncologic resections. Centralisation of rectal cancer cases should be taken into consideration to optimise the outcomes