Real-time-dynamics quantum simulation of (1+1)-dimensional lattice QED with Rydberg atoms

We show how to implement a Rydberg-atom quantum simulator to study the nonequilibrium dynamics of an Abelian (1+1)-dimensional lattice gauge theory. The implementation locally codifies the degrees of freedom of a Z3 gauge field, once the matter field is integrated out by means of the Gauss local symmetries. The quantum simulator scheme is based on currently available technology and thus is scalable to considerable lattice sizes. It allows, within experimentally reachable regimes, us to explore different string dynamics and to infer information about the Schwinger U(1) model

Two-Dimensional Quantum-Link Lattice Quantum Electrodynamics at Finite Density

We present an unconstrained tree-tensor-network approach to the study of lattice gauge theories in two spatial dimensions, showing how to perform numerical simulations of theories in the presence of fermionic matter and four-body magnetic terms, at zero and finite density, with periodic and open boundary conditions. We exploit the quantum-link representation of the gauge fields and demonstrate that a fermionic rishon representation of the quantum links allows us to efficiently handle the fermionic matter while finite densities are naturally enclosed in the tensor network description. We explicitly perform calculations for quantum electrodynamics in the spin-one quantum-link representation on lattice sizes of up to 16 716 sites, detecting and characterizing different quantum regimes. In particular, at finite density, we detect signatures of a phase separation as a function of the bare mass values at different filling densities. The presented approach can be extended straightforwardly to three spatial dimensions

Subjective versus objective measure of physical activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the convergent validity of the physical activity questionnaire for children (PAQ-C)

This study aimed to highlight the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as assessed by accelerometer devices and the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) to estimate the convergent validity of the questionnaire. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were applied by collecting pertinent studies (PubMed,Web of Science, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS) from 1997 until November 2020. The relationship between PAQ-C and MVPA scores was estimated considering correlation coefficients such as the effect size. Fisher\u2019s transformation was used to convert each correlation coefficient into an approximately normal distribution. The pooled correlations between PAQ-C and MVPA scores were measured by r values after converting the Fisher\u2019s z values back into correlation coefficients for presentation. A total of 13 studies were included in the meta-analysis, and a random effects model was adopted. The pooled correlation between PAQ-C and MVPA scores was significant but with a moderate effect size (r = 0.34 [0.29, 0.39], Z = 15.00, p < 0.001). No heterogeneity among the studies was observed (I2 < 25%). In conclusion, the results highlighted a moderate relationship (around 0.30\u20130.40) between PAQ-C and accelerometer measurements. These results suggested to concurrently administer both tools to reach a more comprehensive description of children\u2019s PA, in terms of quality and quantity

C-Met/miR-130b axis as novel mechanism and biomarker for castration resistance state acquisition

Although a significant subset of prostate tumors remain indolent during the entire life, the advanced forms are still one of the leading cause of cancer-related death. There are not reliable markers distinguishing indolent from aggressive forms. Here we highlighted a new molecular circuitry involving microRNA and coding genes promoting cancer progression and castration resistance. Our preclinical and clinical data demonstrated that c-Met activation increases miR-130b levels, inhibits androgen receptor expression, promotes cancer spreading and resistance to hormone ablation therapy. The relevance of these findings was confirmed on patients' samples and by in silico analysis on an independent patient cohort from Taylor's platform. Data suggest c-Met/miR-130b axis as a new prognostic marker for patients' risk assessment and as an indicator of therapy resistance. Our results propose new biomarkers for therapy decision-making in all phases of the pathology. Data may help identify high-risk patients to be treated with adjuvant therapy together with alternative cure for castration-resistant forms while facilitating the identification of possible patients candidates for anti-Met therapy. In addition, we demonstrated that it is possible to evaluate Met/miR-130b axis expression in exosomes isolated from peripheral blood of surgery candidates and advanced patients offering a new non-invasive tool for active surveillance and therapy monitoring

abdominal emergency surgery in patients over 90 years old is it worthwhile an italian multicenter retrospective study

Unlike other surgical fields, such as cardiac surgery, where many trials have been made about safety, feasibility and outcome of surgical procedures in the elderly, there is lack of literature about emergency abdominal surgery in very old patients, especially in people over 90 years of age. The available data reported survival of about 50% one year after the operation. The aim of the study is to determine the survival rate two years after emergency abdominal surgery in a nonagenarian population and to identify any demographic and surgical parameters that could predict a poor outcome in this type of patient. The study was a retrospective multicenter trial. Patient inclusion criteria were: age 90 years old or older, urgent abdominal surgery. The medical charts reviewed and data collected were: gender, age, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score and comorbidities, diagnosis, time elapsed between arrival to the Emergency Room and admission to the Operatory Room, surgical procedures, open versus laparoscopic procedure, type of anesthesia and outcomes with hospital length of stay. Phone call follow-up was performed for patient discharged alive and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate survival. We identified 72 (20 males and 52 females) nonagenarian patients who underwent abdominal emergency surgery at 6 Italian hospitals (Parma, Bergamo, Bologna, Brescia, Chiari, Adria). Mean age was 92.5 years [range 90-100, standard deviation (SD) 2.6], median ASA score was 3 (range 2-5, mean 3.32) and only 7 patients were without comorbidities. Mean hospital length of stay was 13 days (range 1-60, SD 11.52); 56 patients (77.7%) were discharged alive; 2 years survival rate was 23% [mean follow-up=10 months (range 1-27)]. Among all the parameters analyzed, only ASA score was significantly correlated with survival. Neither the presence of malignancy nor the absence of comorbidities seems to correlate with survival. Nonagenarian patients undergoing emergent abdominal surgical procedures have a high overall in-hospital mortality rate (23%) and a low 2 years survival rate (51.4%). Except for ASA score, there are no other factors predicting poor outcome. Based on the present study emergency abdominal surgery in frail patients over 90 years of age has to be carefully evaluated: only 1 out 5 patients will be alive after 2 years

Diagnostic and prognostic potential of the proteomic profiling of serum-derived extracellular vesicles in prostate cancer

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo represent an intriguing source of cancer biomarkers for developing robust and sensitive molecular tests by liquid biopsy. Prostate cancer (PCa) is still one of the most frequent and deadly tumor in men and analysis of EVs from biological fluids of PCa patients has proven the feasibility and the unprecedented potential of such an approach. Here, we exploited an antibody-based proteomic technology, i.e. the Reverse-Phase Protein microArrays (RPPA), to measure key antigens and activated signaling in EVs isolated from sera of PCa patients. Notably, we found tumor-specific protein profiles associated with clinical settings as well as candidate markers for EV-based tumor diagnosis. Among others, PD-L1, ERG, Integrin-β5, Survivin, TGF-β, phosphorylated-TSC2 as well as partners of the MAP-kinase and mTOR pathways emerged as differentially expressed endpoints in tumor-derived EVs. In addition, the retrospective analysis of EVs from a 15-year follow-up cohort generated a protein signature with prognostic significance. Our results confirm that serum-derived EV cargo may be exploited to improve the current diagnostic procedures while providing potential prognostic and predictive information. The approach proposed here has been already applied to tumor entities other than PCa, thus proving its value in translational medicine and paving the way to innovative, clinically meaningful tools

Impact of gastrointestinal side effects on patients’ reported quality of life trajectories after radiotherapy for prostate cancer: Data from the prospective, observational pros-it CNR study

Radiotherapy (RT) represents an important therapeutic option for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. The aim of the current study is to examine trajectories in patients’ reported quality of life (QoL) aspects related to bowel function and bother, considering data from the PROState cancer monitoring in ITaly from the National Research Council (Pros-IT CNR) study, analyzed with growth mixture models. Data for patients who underwent RT, either associated or not associated with androgen deprivation therapy, were considered. QoL outcomes were assessed over a 2-year period from the diagnosis, using the Italian version of the University of California Los Angeles-Prostate Cancer Index (Italian-UCLA-PCI). Three trajectories were identified for the bowel function; having three or more comorbidities and the use of 3D-CRT technique for RT were associated with the worst trajectory (OR = 3.80, 95% CI 2.04–7.08; OR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.22–3.87, respectively). Two trajectories were identified for the bowel bother scores; diabetes and the non-Image guided RT method were associated with being in the worst bowel bother trajectory group (OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.06–2.67; OR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.70–3.86, respectively). The findings from this study suggest that the absence of comorbidities and the use of intensity modulated RT techniques with image guidance are related with a better tolerance to RT in terms of bowel side effects

Measurement of inclusive and differential cross sections for single top quark production in association with a W boson in proton-proton collisions at s \sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

Measurements of the inclusive and normalised differential cross sections are presented for the production of single top quarks in association with a W boson in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data used were recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC during 2016-2018, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$. Events containing one electron and one muon in the final state are analysed. For the inclusive measurement, a multivariate discriminant, exploiting the kinematic properties of the events is used to separate the signal from the dominant $t\bar{t}$ background. A cross section of 79.2 ± 0.9 (stat) $^{+7.7}_{−8.0}$ (syst) ± 1.2 (lumi) pb is obtained, consistent with the predictions of the standard model. For the differential measurements, a fiducial region is defined according to the detector acceptance, and the requirement of exactly one jet coming from the fragmentation of a bottom quark. The resulting distributions are unfolded to particle level and agree with the predictions at next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics

Search for long-lived particles decaying to a pair of muons in proton-proton collisions at s \sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

An inclusive search for long-lived exotic particles decaying to a pair of muons is presented. The search uses data collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in proton-proton collisions at s√ = 13 TeV in 2016 and 2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 97.6 fb−1. The experimental signature is a pair of oppositely charged muons originating from a common secondary vertex spatially separated from the pp interaction point by distances ranging from several hundred μm to several meters. The results are interpreted in the frameworks of the hidden Abelian Higgs model, in which the Higgs boson decays to a pair of long-lived dark photons ZD, and of a simplified model, in which long-lived particles are produced in decays of an exotic heavy neutral scalar boson. For the hidden Abelian Higgs model with m(ZD) greater than 20 GeV and less than half the mass of the Higgs boson, they provide the best limits to date on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson to dark photons for cτ(ZD) (varying with m(ZD)) between 0.03 and ≈0.5 mm, and above ≈0.5 m. Our results also yield the best constraints on long-lived particles with masses larger than 10 GeV produced in decays of an exotic scalar boson heavier than the Higgs boson and decaying to a pair of muons

Observation of the Rare Decay of the η Meson to Four Muons

A search for the rare η→μ+μ−μ+μ− double-Dalitz decay is performed using a sample of proton-proton collisions, collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC with high-rate muon triggers during 2017 and 2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101  fb−1. A signal having a statistical significance well in excess of 5 standard deviations is observed. Using the η→μ+μ− decay as normalization, the branching fraction B(η→μ+μ−μ+μ−)=[5.0±0.8(stat)±0.7(syst)±0.7(B2μ)]×10−9 is measured, where the last term is the uncertainty in the normalization channel branching fraction. This work achieves an improved precision of over 5 orders of magnitude compared to previous results, leading to the first measurement of this branching fraction, which is found to agree with theoretical predictions