252 research outputs found
The Optical Frequency Comb as a One-Way Quantum Computer
In the one-way model of quantum computing, quantum algorithms are implemented
using only measurements on an entangled initial state. Much of the hard work is
done up-front when creating this universal resource, known as a cluster state,
on which the measurements are made. Here we detail a new proposal for a
scalable method of creating cluster states using only a single multimode
optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The method generates a continuous-variable
cluster state that is universal for quantum computation and encoded in the
quadratures of the optical frequency comb of the OPO. This work expands on the
presentation in Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 130501 (2008).Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures. v2 corrects minor error in published versio
Consistent Video Filtering for Camera Arrays
International audienceVisual formats have advanced beyond single-view images and videos: 3D movies are commonplace, researchers have developed multi-view navigation systems, and VR is helping to push light field cameras to mass market. However, editing tools for these media are still nascent, and even simple filtering operations like color correction or stylization are problematic: naively applying image filters per frame or per view rarely produces satisfying results due to time and space inconsistencies. Our method preserves and stabilizes filter effects while being agnostic to the inner working of the filter. It captures filter effects in the gradient domain, then uses \emph{input} frame gradients as a reference to impose temporal and spatial consistency. Our least-squares formulation adds minimal overhead compared to naive data processing. Further, when filter cost is high, we introduce a filter transfer strategy that reduces the number of per-frame filtering computations by an order of magnitude, with only a small reduction in visual quality. We demonstrate our algorithm on several camera array formats including stereo videos, light fields, and wide baselines
Therapy of clinical stage IIA and IIB seminoma: a systematic review
Purpose
The optimal treatment for clinical stage (CS) IIA/IIB seminomas is still controversial. We evaluated current treatment options.
Methods
A systematic review was performed. Only randomized clinical trials and comparative studies published from January 2010 until February 2021 were included. Search items included: seminoma, CS IIA, CS IIB and therapy. Outcome parameters were relapse rate (RR), relapse-free (RFS), overall and cancer-specific survival (OS, CSS). Additionally, acute and long-term side effects including secondary malignancies (SMs) were analyzed.
Results
Seven comparative studies (one prospective and six retrospective) were identified with a total of 5049 patients (CS IIA: 2840, CS IIB: 2209). The applied treatment modalities were radiotherapy (RT) (n = 3049; CS IIA: 1888, CSIIB: 1006, unknown: 155) and chemotherapy (CT) or no RT (n = 2000; CS IIA: 797, CS IIB: 1074, unknown: 129). In CS IIA, RRs ranged from 0% to 4.8% for RT and 0% for CT. Concerning CS IIB RRs of 9.5%–21.1% for RT and of 0%–14.2% for CT have been reported. 5-year OS ranged from 90 to 100%. Only two studies reported on treatment-related toxicities.
Conclusions
RT and CT are the most commonly applied treatments in CS IIA/B seminoma. In CS IIA seminomas, RRs after RT and CT are similar. However, in CS IIB, CT seems to be more effective. Survival rates of CS IIA/B seminomas are excellent. Consequently, long-term toxicities and SMs are important survivorship issues. Alternative treatment approaches, e.g., retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) or dose-reduced sequential CT/RT are currently under prospective investigation
To reverse engineer an entire nervous system
There are many theories of how behavior may be controlled by neurons. Testing
and refining these theories would be greatly facilitated if we could correctly
simulate an entire nervous system so we could replicate the brain dynamics in
response to any stimuli or contexts. Besides, simulating a nervous system is in
itself one of the big dreams in systems neuroscience. However, doing so
requires us to identify how each neuron's output depends on its inputs, a
process we call reverse engineering. Current efforts at this focus on the
mammalian nervous system, but these brains are mind-bogglingly complex,
allowing only recordings of tiny subsystems. Here we argue that the time is
ripe for systems neuroscience to embark on a concerted effort to reverse
engineer a smaller system and that Caenorhabditis elegans is the ideal
candidate system as the established optophysiology techniques can capture and
control each neuron's activity and scale to hundreds of thousands of
experiments. Data across populations and behaviors can be combined because
across individuals the nervous system is largely conserved in form and
function. Modern machine-learning-based modeling should then enable a
simulation of C. elegans' impressive breadth of brain states and behaviors. The
ability to reverse engineer an entire nervous system will benefit the design of
artificial intelligence systems and all of systems neuroscience, enabling
fundamental insights as well as new approaches for investigations of
progressively larger nervous systems.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figures, opinion pape
Rahmenkonzept der Universitäten des Landes Baden-Württemberg für das High-Performance Computing (HPC) und Data-Intensive Computing (DIC) für den Zeitraum 2025 bis 2032
Digitale Infrastrukturen und darauf aufsetzende Dienste bilden inzwischen in fast allen Fachgebieten
das Rückgrat wissenschaftlicher Forschung. Deshalb muss die strategische Zielsetzung eines HPCKonzepts klare Antworten auf eine Vielzahl von Problemstellungen finden. Dazu zählen die stetige
Zunahme digitaler Workflows, bedingt beispielsweise durch die Verbesserung des Instrumentariums
in den Naturwissenschaften, neue Forschungsansätze in den Digital Humanities, die Verfeinerung der
Auflösung in bildgebenden Verfahren, aber auch der zunehmende Einsatz Künstlicher Intelligenz in
immer breiteren Anwendungsfeldern. Öffentlich geförderte und betriebene
Forschungsinfrastrukturen sind hier von entscheidender Bedeutung. Föderierte Strukturen erzeugen
Synergien und haben klare strategische Vorteile gegenüber vereinzelten Insellösungen, insbesondere
im Bereich High-Performance-Computing/Data Intensive Computing (HPC-DIC). Daher mĂĽssen sie im
Interesse der Nutzenden auf der lange etablierten Basis verlässlich, zukunftssicher und nachhaltig
weiterentwickelt werden. Im Sinne des Wissenschafts- und Wirtschaftsstandorts Baden-WĂĽrttemberg
sollen sie eine fĂĽr Menschen gemachte Digitalisierung voranbringen, moderne technische
Entwicklungen mitgestalten, zusätzliche Kreativität freisetzen, und nicht zuletzt die breite Verteilung
von Kompetenzen unterstĂĽtzen. Basierend auf internationalen Standards sind digitale Dienste auf
allen Ebenen (lokal, regional, national und international) geeignet zu vernetzen. Um den Standort
Baden-WĂĽrttemberg weiter attraktiv fĂĽr Forscher, Entwickler und Dienstleister auszubauen, ist dies
eine unverzichtbare Voraussetzung. Die Hochschulen im Land mĂĽssen sich im Hinblick auf die
Anwerbung von IT-Fachkräften zu einem begehrten Arbeitgeber weiterentwickeln
Single cell derived mRNA signals across human kidney tumors.
Tumor cells may share some patterns of gene expression with their cell of origin, providing clues into the differentiation state and origin of cancer. Here, we study the differentiation state and cellular origin of 1300 childhood and adult kidney tumors. Using single cell mRNA reference maps of normal tissues, we quantify reference "cellular signals" in each tumor. Quantifying global differentiation, we find that childhood tumors exhibit fetal cellular signals, replacing the presumption of "fetalness" with a quantitative measure of immaturity. By contrast, in adult cancers our assessment refutes the suggestion of dedifferentiation towards a fetal state in most cases. We find an intimate connection between developmental mesenchymal populations and childhood renal tumors. We demonstrate the diagnostic potential of our approach with a case study of a cryptic renal tumor. Our findings provide a cellular definition of human renal tumors through an approach that is broadly applicable to human cancer
Single cell derived mRNA signals across human kidney tumors.
Funder: Department of HealthTumor cells may share some patterns of gene expression with their cell of origin, providing clues into the differentiation state and origin of cancer. Here, we study the differentiation state and cellular origin of 1300 childhood and adult kidney tumors. Using single cell mRNA reference maps of normal tissues, we quantify reference "cellular signals" in each tumor. Quantifying global differentiation, we find that childhood tumors exhibit fetal cellular signals, replacing the presumption of "fetalness" with a quantitative measure of immaturity. By contrast, in adult cancers our assessment refutes the suggestion of dedifferentiation towards a fetal state in most cases. We find an intimate connection between developmental mesenchymal populations and childhood renal tumors. We demonstrate the diagnostic potential of our approach with a case study of a cryptic renal tumor. Our findings provide a cellular definition of human renal tumors through an approach that is broadly applicable to human cancer
Interventions to promote or maintain physical activity during and after the transition to retirement: an evidence synthesis
Background: It has been argued that transition points in life, such as the approach towards and early years of retirement, present key opportunities for interventions to improve the health of the population. Interventions that may change or preserve activity levels around the time of retirement have the potential to provide benefits in terms of increased health and well-being for people in later life. Research has highlighted health inequalities in health statuses in the retired population and in response to interventions. Objective: We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-synthesis of the types and effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity among people around the time of retirement. We also aimed to identify factors that may underpin the effectiveness or acceptability of interventions, and how issues of health inequalities may be addressed. Data sources: The following electronic databases were searched: (1) MEDLINE; (2) Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts; (3) The Cochrane Library (including The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Health Technology Assessment Database); (4) Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; (5) Science Citation Index; (6) Social Science Citation Index; (7) PsycINFO; (8) Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre; (9) SPORTDiscus; (10) Social Policy and Practice; (11) Health Management Information Consortium; and (12) Sociological Abstracts. We also searched for grey literature, checked reference lists of included papers and screened other reviews. Review methods: A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative literature was carried out between February 2014 and April 2015. The searches aimed to identify, first, evidence of effectiveness of interventions for older adults at the point of transition to retirement and, second, data relating to perceptions of barriers and facilitators to intervention effectiveness. A meta-synthesis of the two types of evidence was also carried out to provide further interpretation of the review findings. Results: A systematic search of the literature identified a large number of potentially relevant studies. Of these, 103 studies examining the effectiveness of interventions and 55 qualitative papers met the criteria for inclusion. A review of the effectiveness literature indicated a dearth of studies that investigate interventions that specifically examine the transition to retirement. More general studies in older adults indicated that a range of interventions might be effective for people around retirement age. The qualitative literature indicated the importance of considering the appeal and enjoyment, and social aspects, of interventions. Although there were a range of different measures in use, many were self-reported and few studies included an evaluation of sedentary time. A meta-synthesis across the data types indicated that elements reported as significant by participants did not always feature in the interventions. Limitations: Owing to the lack of evidence relating to the retirement transition, we examined the literature relating to older adults. The applicability of these data to people around retirement age may need consideration. Conclusions: Although the retirement transition is considered a significant point of life change, only a small volume of literature has reported interventions specifically in this period. The included literature suggests that interventions should take account of views and preferences of the target population and evaluate effectiveness by measuring meaningful outcomes and using a control group design. Study registration: This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42014007446. Funding: The National Institute for Health Research Public Health Research programme
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