Experimental Detection of Quantum Channels

We demonstrate experimentally the possibility of efficiently detecting properties of quantum channels and quantum gates. The optimal detection scheme is first achieved for non entanglement breaking channels of the depolarizing form and is based on the generation and detection of polarized entangled photons. We then demonstrate channel detection for non separable maps by considering the CNOT gate and employing two-photon hyperentangled states.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure

Per-fraction planning to enhance optimization degrees of freedom compared to the conventional single-plan approach

Objective. In conventional radiotherapy, a single treatment plan is generated pre-treatment, and delivered in daily fractions. In this study, we propose to generate different treatment plans for all fractions (‘Per-fraction’ planning) to reduce cumulative organs at risk (OAR) doses. Per-fraction planning was compared to the ‘Conventional’ single-plan approach for non-coplanar 4 × 9.5 Gy prostate stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Approach. An in-house application for fully automated, non-coplanar multi-criterial treatment planning with integrated beam angle and fluence optimization was used for plan generations. For the Conventional approach, a single 12-beam non-coplanar IMRT plan with individualized beam angles was generated for each of the 20 included patients. In Per-fraction planning, four fraction plans were generated for each patient. For each fraction, a different set of patient-specific 12-beam configurations could be automatically selected. Per-fraction plans were sequentially generated by adding dose to already generated fraction plan(s). For each fraction, the cumulative- and fraction dose were simultaneously optimized, allowing some minor constraint violations in fraction doses, but not in cumulative. Main results. In the Per-fraction approach, on average 32.9 ± 3.1 [29;39] unique beams per patient were used. PTV doses in the separate Per-fraction plans were acceptable and highly similar to those in Conventional plans, while also fulfilling all OAR hard constraints. When comparing total cumulative doses, Per-fraction planning showed improved bladder sparing for all patients with reductions in Dmean of 22.6% (p = 0.0001) and in D1cc of 2.0% (p = 0.0001), reductions in patient volumes receiving 30% and 50% of the prescribed dose of 54.7% and 6.3%, respectively, and a 3.1% lower rectum Dmean (p = 0.007). Rectum D1cc was 4.1% higher (p = 0.0001) and Urethra dose was similar. Significance. In this proof-of-concept paper, Per-fraction planning resulted in several dose improvements in healthy tissues compared to the Conventional single-plan approach, for similar PTV dose. By keeping the number of beams per fraction the same as in Conventional planning, reported dosimetric improvements could be obtained without increase in fraction durations. Further research is needed to explore the full potential of the Per-fraction planning approach.</p

First report of Stephanitis lauri Rietschel, 2014 (Heteroptera, Tingidae) in Italy

The first report of Stephanitis lauri Rietschel, 2014 (Heteroptera, Tingidae) in Tuscany and Liguria (Italy). The species has been observed in Pisa (Pisa, Tuscany) and Piano di Vezzano (La Spezia, Liguria) on bay laurel plants. S. lauri has been firstly described in Greece and it was recorded in Cote d’Azur (France) in 2017

Automated Treatment Planning and Non-coplanar Beam Angles in Radiotherapy

Automation of the treatment plan generation in radiotherapy showed to play a key role in patient care. It can highly improve plan quality, reduce planner influence, increase standardization and easily generate a high numb

The Rapid Identification of Anoplophora chinensis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) From Adult, Larval, and Frass Samples Using TaqMan Probe Assay

A molecular diagnostic method using TaqMan probe qPCR is presented for the identification of Anoplophora chinensis (Förster) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from whole body insects (adults and larvae) and frass samples stored under different conditions. The results showed a perfect amplification of DNA from all samples; the repeatability and reproducibility of the protocol were very good, with standard deviations of inter-run and intrarun variability less than or equal to 0.5. The assay allowed to discern all A. chinensis samples from those of the other non-target wood-borer species, with 100% correspondence to the homologous sequences. No amplification or cross reactions were observed with A. glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), which is the most related species among those tested. The protocol was validated by an internal blind panel test which showed a good correspondence between the results obtained by different operators in the same lab. The analytical sensitivity for the lab frass with the Probe qPCR, namely the lowest amount of A. chinensis DNA that can be detected (LoD), was 0.64 pg/μl with a Cq of 34.87. The use of indirect evidence for the identification of a pest is an important feature of the method, which could be crucial to detect the presence of wood-boring insects. This diagnostic tool can help prevent the introduction of A. chinensis into new environments or delimit existing outbreak areas thanks to indirect frass diagnosis

Allosteric Modulation of Beta1 Integrin Function Induces Lung Tissue Repair

The cellular cytoskeleton, adhesion receptors, extracellular matrix composition, and their spatial distribution are together fundamental in a cell's balanced mechanical sensing of its environment. We show that, in lung injury, extracellular matrix-integrin interactions are altered and this leads to signalling alteration and mechanical missensing. The missensing, secondary to matrix alteration and cell surface receptor alterations, leads to increased cellular stiffness, injury, and death. We have identified a monoclonal antibody against β1 integrin which caused matrix remodelling and enhancement of cell survival. The antibody acts as an allosteric dual agonist/antagonist modulator of β1 integrin. Intriguingly, this antibody reversed both functional and structural tissue injury in an animal model of degenerative disease in lung

Light-chain cardiac amyloidosis: a case report of extraordinary sustained pathological response to cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone combined therapy

Background: Heart involvement represents the most ominous prognostic factor in light-chain amyloidosis (AL), often foreclosing curative therapies such as high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Heart transplantation (HTx) may be considered before ASCT in rigorously selected cases of advanced AL cardiac amyloidosis (CA). In ASCT-ineligible patients, chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone combined (CyBorD) regimen, even at low-dose, is feasible and effective in obtaining hematological and organ response. Case Summary: A previously healthy 50-year-old woman presented with severely symptomatic new-onset heart with preserved ejection fraction, significant cardiac hypertrophy, and an 'apical sparing' pattern. Bone marrow and abdominal fat biopsy revealed AL amyloidosis due to a smouldering micromolecular lambda-type myeloma with severe cardiac involvement, and the patient was judged a good candidate to HTx followed by ASCT. Despite fragile conditions, she tolerated a full course of low-dose combination therapy with bortezomib and was withdrawn from HTx list because of unexpected persistent complete hematologic response and major cardiac improvement. Disease remission was achieved in the long term (>3 years). Discussion: We report a case of exceptional persistent hematologic and cardiac response after CyBorD therapy in a patient with advanced AL-CA who left the transplantation lists (both HTx and ASCT). In ASCT-ineligible patients, chemotherapy with CyBorD regimen, even at low-dose, can lead to durable remission of the disease with excellent cardiac response

Effect of Rearing Temperature on Growth and Microbiota Composition of Hermetia illucens

The potential utilization of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) as food or feed is interesting due to the nutritive value and the sustainability of the rearing process. In the present study, larvae and prepupae of H. illucens were reared at 20, 27, and 33 °C, to determine whether temperature affects the whole insect microbiota, described using microbiological risk assessment techniques and 16S rRNA gene survey. The larvae efficiently grew across the tested temperatures. Higher temperatures promoted faster larval development and greater final biomass but also higher mortality. Viable Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, coagulase-positive staphylococci, Listeriaceae, and Salmonella were detected in prepupae. Campylobacter and Listeriaceae counts got higher with the increasing temperature. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis, the microbiota of larvae was dominated by Providencia (&gt;60%) and other Proteobateria (mainly Klebsiella) and evolved to a more complex composition in prepupae, with a bloom of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Bacilli, while Providencia was still present as the main component. Prepupae largely shared the microbiota with the frass where it was reared, except for few lowly represented taxa. The rearing temperature was negatively associated with the amount of Providencia, and positively associated with a variety of other genera, such as Alcaligenes, Pseudogracilibacillus, Bacillus, Proteus, Enterococcus, Pediococcus, Bordetella, Pseudomonas, and Kerstersia. With respect to the microbiological risk assessment, attention should be paid to abundant genera, such as Bacillus, Myroides, Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella, which encompass species described as opportunistic pathogens, bearing drug resistances or causing severe morbidity

Current Transition Practice for Primary Immunodeficiencies and Autoinflammatory Diseases in Europe: a RITA-ERN Survey

Autoinflammatory diseases; Primary immunodeficiencies; TransitionEnfermedades autoinflamatorias; Inmunodeficiencias primarias; TransiciónMalalties autoinflamatòries; Immunodeficiències primàries; TransicióBackground Due to the absence of curative treatments for inborn errors of immunity (IEI), children born with IEI require long-term follow-up for disease manifestations and related complications that occur over the lifespan. Effective transition from pediatric to adult services is known to significantly improve adherence to treatment and long-term outcomes. It is currently not known what transition services are available for young people with IEI in Europe. Objective To understand the prevalence and practice of transition services in Europe for young people with IEI, encompassing both primary immunodeficiencies (PID) and systemic autoinflammatory disorders (AID). Methods A survey was generated by the European Reference Network on immunodeficiency, autoinflammatory, and autoimmune diseases Transition Working Group and electronically circulated, through professional networks, to pediatric centers across Europe looking after children with IEI. Results Seventy-six responses were received from 52 centers, in 45 cities across 17 different countries. All services transitioned patients to adult services, mainly to specialist PID or AID centers, typically transferring up to ten patients to adult care each year. The transition process started at a median age of 16–18 years with transfer to the adult center occurring at a median age of 18–20 years. 75% of PID and 68% of AID centers held at least one joint appointment with pediatric and adult services prior to the transfer of care. Approximately 75% of PID and AID services reported having a defined transition process, but few centers reported national disease-specific transition guidelines to refer to. Conclusions Transition services for children with IEI in Europe are available in many countries but lack standardized guidelines to promote best practice.This study was supported by the ERN-RITA