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Quantum networks play a crucial role in distributed quantum information processing, enabling the establishment of entanglement and quantum communication among distant nodes. Fundamentally, networks with independent sources allow for new forms of nonlocality, beyond the paradigmatic Bell’s theorem. Here we implement the simplest of such networks—the bilocality scenario—in an urban network connecting different buildings with a fully scalable and hybrid approach. Two independent sources using different technologies—a quantum dot and a nonlinear crystal—are used to share a photonic entangled state among three nodes connected through a 270 m free-space channel and fiber links. By violating a suitable nonlinear Bell inequality, we demonstrate the nonlocal behavior of the correlations among the nodes of the network. Our results pave the way towards the realization of more complex networks and the implementation of quantum communication protocols in an urban environment, leveraging the capabilities of hybrid photonic technologies.

The evolution of sexual dimorphism (SD) is driven by intricate interplays between sexual and natural selection. When it comes to SD variation within populations, however, environmental factors play a major role. Sexually selected traits are expected to be strongly dependent on individual body condition, which is influenced by the local environment that individuals experience. As a consequence, the degree of SD may also depend on resource availability. Here, we investigated the potential drivers of SD expression at two sexually dimorphic morphometric traits, body size (snout vent length) and head shape (head geometric morphometrics), in the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus). We assessed the existence of condition- and context-dependent SD across ten islands of the Aeolian archipelago (southern Italy), at within- and among-population scales. We observed strong geographical variation of SD among islands, and tested three potential SD predictors related to resource availability (individual body condition, ecosystem productivity, temperature). Body condition and ecosystem productivity were the main drivers of body size SD variation, and body condition was also the main driver for head shape SD. Our results highlight that the expression of SD in the Italian wall lizard is both condition- and context-dependent. These results are congruent at within- and among-populations scales highlighting that spatial multi-scale analysis represents a useful approach to understand patterns of SD expression.

ResumenEl desarrollo de la resonancia magnética ha producido nuevos tipos de imágenes que pueden ser de utilidad en pacientes con manifestaciones visuales.Las imágenes estructurales potenciadas en T1 pueden ser procesadas, mediante diferentes tipos de software, para la obtención de nuevas imágenes que permiten separar distintas estructuras (segmentación), realizar estudios volumétricos cerebrales (volumetría) y medir el grosor de la corteza en distintas áreas, independiente de la complejidad de la superficie cerebral (espesor cortical). Además es posible “deformar” los cerebros para realizar estudios comparativos con poblaciones normales (normalización).Las imágenes de difusión muestran la movilidad de las moléculas de agua al interior del cerebro, información que utilizamos para reconstruir los tractos neuronales principales (tractografía) y para dimensionar indirectamente la conectividad de distintas áreas (difusión multidireccional).Mediante resonancia magnética funcional es posible localizar las áreas elocuentes cerebrales (resonancia magnética funcional convencional) o representar la conexión funcional de un área cerebral específica (resonancia magnética resting state).SummaryThe development of MRI has led new types of images that can be useful in patients with visual manifestations.T1 structural images can be processed by different software to obtain new images for partitioning different neurological structures (segmentation), to do brain volumetric studies (volumetry) and to measure the cortical thickness in an independent way of the complexity of the brain surface (cortical thickness). It is also possible to “warp” the brains for comparative studies with normal populations (normalization).Diffusion images shows the mobility of water molecules in the brain that is used to reconstruct the main neural tracts (tractography) and to measure indirectly the connectivity of different areas (multidirectional diffusion).Functional magnetic resonance imaging can identify eloquent brain areas (tipical functional magnetic resonance) or represent the intrinsic connectivity of specific brain areas (resting state fMRI).

ResumenLa técnica híbrida PET/CT ha sido utilizada en el estudio inicial y seguimiento de neoplasia malignas, con óptima relación costo/beneficio.El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la aparición de neoplasias no sospechadas en pacientes que se realizaron un PET/CT de cuerpo entero en nuestro Servicio.MétodoSe revisaron 354 PET/CT realizados entre enero de 2009 y enero de 2010, registrándose aquellos exámenes de cuerpo entero que detectaron una neoplasia no sospechada, que no tenía relación con la indicación del examen.ResultadosSe pesquisaron 11 neoplasias no sospechadas en 11 pacientes que fueron derivados para estudio de otra patología, 9 de ellos con otro cáncer en etapificación o seguimiento.Los tumores pesquisados fueron Ca pulmonar (2), Ca tiroides (2), meningioma (2), Ca páncreas (1), Ca colon (1), TMPI Páncreas (1), Ca endometrio (1), y Ca mama (1).La ocurrencia de neoplasia detectada incidentalmente en la población total fue de 4,4% (11/252 excluyendo PET/CT por control de tratamiento), y en la población oncológica de 4,2 % (9/216 excluyendo pacientes no oncológicos y PET/CT controles).En conclusión, el PET/CT es de gran utilidad en el estudio inicial y seguimiento de pacientes oncológicos, permitiendo además pesquisar un segundo tumor primario.SummaryPET/CT has been in the initial study follow-up of malignant tumors, shown optimal cost/benefit relation.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of unexpected malignancies in patients who realize a PET/CT whole-body scan.MethodologyA total of 354 PET/CT scans were done from January 2009 to January 2010. The scans in which an unexpected malignancy was detected, that unrelated to the primary indication of exam, were recorded.ResultsEleven unexpected neoplasm were discovered in 11 patients, 9 of them with a known cancer in initial staging or follow-up.Tumors encountered were lung cancer (2), thyroid cancer (2), meningioma (2), pancreatic cancer (1), colon cancer (1), IPTM of the pancreas (1), endometrial cancer (1), and breast cancer (1).The occurrence of incidentally neoplasm in total group was 4,4 % (11/252 excluding follow-up PET/CT scans 4,2% in oncologic population (9/216 excluding non oncologic patients and follow-up scans).In conclusion, PET/CT is a very helpful imaging procedure in the initial study and follow up of oncologic patients, allowing to detect a second primary malignancy.

Berries of Vitis vinifera L. cv Shiraz can undergo weight loss during later stages of ripening. Existing published views on how weight loss occurs are based on changes in capacity of the vascular system to import water during development (McCarthy and Coombe, Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, 5, 17-21, 1999). One important element of these views is the proposed cessation of water flow through the xylem after veraison. We have now measured the water flow into berries of Shiraz and Chardonnay as they develop using the pressure probe and the high pressure flow meter (HPFM). The pressure probe connected to the pedicel of individual berries provided measurements of single berry hydraulic conductance. By systematic excision of tissue segments of the berry and pedicel we determined where in the pathway hydraulic conductance changed during development. The HPFM was used on whole bunches showing that berries (including pedicels) represent parallel high hydraulic resistances and that the hydraulic resistance of the bunch axis was rather small. The hydraulic conductance per berry could be determined from excision experiments. There was close agreement between the pressure probe and HPFM measurements. Both showed a ten-fold reduction in hydraulic conductance of whole berries from veraison to full ripeness. Shiraz had hydraulic conductances that were 2- to 5-fold higher than those for Chardonnay. Shiraz maintained a higher hydraulic conductance past 90 days after flowering than Chardonnay. The decrease in hydraulic conductance occurred in both the distal and proximal parts of the berry for both varieties. The pressure probe also provided measurements of the xylem pressure that non-transpiring berries could develop. These pressures were -0.2 to -0.1 MPa until veraison and increased to zero when the juice osmotic potential reached about -3 MPa in Chardonnay and -4 MPa in Shiraz. The results suggest values of the reflection coefficient of the osmotic barrier around the xylem vessels of about 0.1-0.2 at veraison decreasing to 0 at harvest. It is suggested that in addition to changes in xylem anatomy, aquaporins in berry membranes may play a role in regulating hydraulic conductance. Water movement from the berry back to the parent vine via the xylem (backflow) may be an important component of berry weight loss in Shiraz, particularly if the phloem ceases functioning at high osmotic potentials near maximum weight. Backflow could account for a weight loss of 43 mg per day in Shiraz berries for a relatively small gradient of 0.1 MPa.

This paper presents alternative models for forecasting the demand for bills and coins of different denominations. When compared to the models often used, the root mean squared forecasting error is substantially reduced. The paper also develops a new framework to formulate the printing and minting programs by using density forecasts along with information on technological constraints and preferences of the policy maker.

Background: PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography) is widely used in nodal and metastatic staging of lung cancer patients. Aim: To analyze PET/CT detection of metastatic disease in patients with lung cancer. Material and Methods: We reviewed retrospectively F18Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans performed between December 2008 and December 2013. We selected 143 patients aged 30 to 92 years (63% males) with confirmed lung cancer referred for staging, with no previous treatment. We reviewed whole body PET/CT and brain magnetic resonance images. SUVmax (Standardized Uptake Value maximum) of primary pulmonary lesion, hilar/mediastinal nodes, and distant metastases were calculated. Results: Histological types encountered were adenocarcinoma in 55%, squamous-cell in 15%, small-cell in 8%, large-cell in 6% and adeno-squamous in 2%. In 22 cases (15%) histology was not available. Nodal involvement was observed in 60% of patients (44% hilar and 48% mediastinal). Skip metastases (mediastinal involvement without hilum involvement) were encountered in 17% of cases, and were significantly more common among high uptake lung tumors (p < 0.01). Best SUVmax cut-off for node involvement was 4.4 for hilum and 4.0 for mediastinum (sensibility: 86.4%, specificity: 99.8%). Sixty six patients (46.2%) showed distant metastases on PET/CT. The most common metastases were osseous in 22%, adrenal in 16%, hepatic in14%, pulmonary in 14% and cerebral in 12%. PET/CT detected a second unexpected synchronic cancer in eight patients (6%). Conclusions: PET/CT is accurate for nodal staging using an uptake index as SUVmax. Distant metastases are common, especially in bone, adrenal glands and liver.

PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography) is widely used in nodal and metastatic staging of lung cancer patients.To analyze PET/CT detection of metastatic disease in patients with lung cancer.We reviewed retrospectively F18Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans performed between December 2008 and December 2013. We selected 143 patients aged 30 to 92 years (63% males) with confirmed lung cancer referred for staging, with no previous treatment. We reviewed whole body PET/CT and brain magnetic resonance images. SUVmax (Standardized Uptake Value maximum) of primary pulmonary lesion, hilar/mediastinal nodes, and distant metastases were calculated.Histological types encountered were adenocarcinoma in 55%, squamous-cell in 15%, small-cell in 8%, large-cell in 6% and adeno-squamous in 2%. In 22 cases (15%) histology was not available. Nodal involvement was observed in 60% of patients (44% hilar and 48% mediastinal). Skip metastases (mediastinal involvement without hilum involvement) were encountered in 17% of cases, and were significantly more common among high uptake lung tumors (p0.01). Best SUVmax cut-off for node involvement was 4.4 for hilum and 4.0 for mediastinum (sensibility: 86.4%, specificity: 99.8%). Sixty six patients (46.2%) showed distant metastases on PET/CT. The most common metastases were osseous in 22%, adrenal in 16%, hepatic in14%, pulmonary in 14% and cerebral in 12%. PET/CT detected a second unexpected synchronic cancer in eight patients (6%).PET/CT is accurate for nodal staging using an uptake index as SUVmax. Distant metastases are common, especially in bone, adrenal glands and liver.

This paper presents alternative models for forecasting the demand for bills and coins of different denominations. When compared to the models often used, the root mean squared forecasting error is reduced by as much as a factor of 15. The paper also develops a new framework to formulate the printing and minting programs by using density forecasts along with information on technological constraints and preferences of the policy maker.