Tailoring correlations of the local density of states in disordered photonic materials

We present experimental evidence for the different mechanisms driving the fluctuations of the local density of states (LDOS) in disordered photonic systems. We establish a clear link between the microscopic structure of the material and the frequency correlation function of LDOS accessed by a near-field hyperspectral imaging technique. We show, in particular, that short- and long-range frequency correlations of LDOS are controlled by different physical processes (multiple or single scattering processes, respectively) that can be---to some extent---manipulated independently. We also demonstrate that the single scattering contribution to LDOS fluctuations is sensitive to subwavelength features of the material and, in particular, to the correlation length of its dielectric function. Our work paves a way towards a complete control of statistical properties of disordered photonic systems, allowing for designing materials with predefined correlations of LDOS.Comment: 5+9 pages, 5+6 figures. Fixed confusion of references between the main text and the supplemental material in version

The Impacts of a Reading-to-Dog Programme on Attending and Reading of Nine Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Poor knowledge is available on the effectiveness of reading to dogs in educational settings, particularly in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In this study, we test the hypothesis that reading to a dog improves propensity towards books and motivation to read after the end of the programme, as well as reading and cognitive skills in children with ASD. The study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial, consisting of testing and re-testing after a 10 sessions reading programme with and without the presence of a dog. Nine Children with ASD (6-11 years old) were randomly assigned to a control (CG, reading without a dog, n. 4) or experimental group (EG, reading to a dog, n. 5). Children's attendance at reading sessions was recorded at each session. Parents' perceptions were evaluated at the end of the programme to detect changes in children's attitudes and motivation toward reading. Psychologist-administered validated reading (Cornoldi's MT2 reading test; test of reading comprehension, TORC; metaphonological competence test, MCF) and cognitive tests (Wechsler intelligence scale for children Wisc IV, Vineland) to all children, at baseline and at the end of the reading programme. Compared with CG children, children in the EG group participated more frequently in the reading sessions, and they were reported to be more motivated readers at home after the programme. However, there were no differences on reading and cognitive tests' scores either within each group of children or between groups. Further studies are warranted in order to understand whether and how incorporating dogs into a reading programme is beneficial to Children with ASD at the socio-emotional and cognitive level

Non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve.

Surgical damage to the inferior laryngeal nerve is one of the most feared complications of thyroid surgery. Prevention of surgical injuries requires systematic, early exposure of the inferior laryngeal nerve. A detailed knowledge of anatomical variations is necessary. Non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve is a rare anomaly on the right side and is exceptional on the left. Whereas the typical course of the inferior laryngeal nerve is due to the embryological development of the aortic arch and supra-aortic vessels, non-recurrence is associated with a vascular anomaly such as a right retro-oesophageal subclavian artery. The nervous anomaly on the left side is possible only with the occurrence of cardiac dextroposition (situs viscerum inversus) and a left retro-oesophageal subclavian artery. The situation is more dangerous when a non-recurrent branch of the inferior laryngeal nerve is associated with a recurrent branch. This anomaly does not appear to be associated with a vascular anomaly in all cases. The authors describe three cases of right non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve observed and one recent case of combined non-recurrent and recurrent nerve, highlighting the anatomical and surgical features of this anomaly

Equilibrium selection under changes in endowments: a geometric approach

In this paper we propose a geometric approach to the selection of the equilibrium price. After a perturbation of the parameters, the new price is selected thorough the composition of two maps: the projection on the linearization of the equilibrium manifold, a method that underlies econometric modeling, and the exponential map, that associates a tangent vector with a geodesic on the manifold. As a corollary of our main result, we prove the equivalence between zero curvature and uniqueness of equilibrium in the case of an arbitrary number of goods and two consumers, thus extending the previous result by Loi and Matta (2018).(c) 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

The choice of the intervention in the surgical treatment of nontoxic diffuse multinodular goiter

The choice between sub-total (STT) and total (TT) thyroidectomy in surgical management of multinodular goitre should be based on the disease pathophysiology and the critical review of short and long-term results of these treatments. In order to make a comparative evaluation the authors carried out a retrospective analysis on a series of patients operated from 1970 to 1993 and on the results of a 16.3 years mean follow-up. Of 551 patients operated on the thyroid gland, 389 (70.6%) affected by multinodular goitre were considered. 340 were female and 49 male (39 years medium age). 341 (87.6%) underwent STT and 48 (12.4%) TT. Post-operative opotherapy was adjusted according to hormonal assays. Post-operative vocal cord motility and calcemia were assessed. A routine endocrinological follow-up protocol has been carried out on all patients since 1980. Transitory vocal cord palsy and hypocalcemia were significantly more frequent in TT, while permanent damage was not. Of 40 TT (complete 5 years mean follow-up, 97.5% of the patients reached euthyroidism with replacement therapy. Of 189 STT (complete 16.3 years mean follow-up), 61.4% of the patients received opotherapy. A recurrent goitre was ascertained in 39.1% of the total (73.3% in the patients not receiving opotherapy) and operated in 16.2% of the cases. According to the authors their results support the choice of TT as it matches the rationale of surgical treatment of multinodular non-toxic goitre based on the pathophysiology of the disease. Moreover it allows easy achievement of euthyroidism avoiding goitre relapse and subsequently re-operation, with an incidence of permanent recurrent nerve palsy and hypoparathyroidism not significantly different from that after STT

One-stage treatment of obstructing colorectal cancer.

Large bowel obstruction is due to colorectal carcinoma in 90% of cases. The optimal management of obstructing left colonic carcinoma is still a controversial matter. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the indications for one-stage treatment of obstructing colorectal cancer. Over the period from January 1998 to June 2001, 17 patients were operated on in our department for obstructing colorectal cancer. Twelve patients underwent a one-stage emergency operation by immediate anastomosis without diversion, while five patients were managed palliatively. We performed resection and primary anastomosis following intraoperative irrigation in obstructing sigmoid cancer lacking colonic wall lesions, while subtotal colectomy was carried out in cases of massively distended colon with ischaemic lesions and in patients with good anal continence. Colostomy treatment was indicated only in high-risk patients with unresectable lesions. The authors believe that, in cases of obstructing left colorectal cancer, an experienced, skilled surgeon can perform one-stage resection and anastomosis on patients in good general condition. On the other hand, a defunctioning colostomy may be ideal for surgeons with little experience in colorectal surgery and in patients with a very poor prognosis

Laparoscopic management of nonparasitic splenic cysts.

Non-parasitic cysts are an infrequent disease of the spleen. Most likely congenital in their origin, epithelial splenic cysts require surgical treatment if enlarged or symptomatic. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the laparoscopic technique in the management of splenomegaly due to cystic disease. From July 2001 to September 2002 4 patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy in our department for symptomatic enlarged non-parasitic splenic cysts. Cystic lesions were evaluated by ultrasonography, CT scan and magnetic resonance of the abdomen. The choice of total laparoscopic splenectomy according to the "hanged spleen" procedure was conditioned by the technical difficulty of performing conservative treatment due to the site of the upper pole of the enlarged lesions, adherent to the diaphragm in 3 cases, and by the presence of multiple trabeculated splenic cysts in 1 case. Laparoscopy was always completed and all patients obtained relief of their symptoms. When conservative treatment such as partial splenectomy or decapsulation may jeopardize the good outcome of the operation, the management of nonparasitic splenic cysts can be successfully achieved by total laparoscopic splenectomy