Showing papers by "University of Udine published in 2020"
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23 Feb 2020
TL;DR: The ATLAS detector as installed in its experimental cavern at point 1 at CERN is described in this paper, where a brief overview of the expected performance of the detector when the Large Hadron Collider begins operation is also presented.
Abstract: The ATLAS detector as installed in its experimental cavern at point 1 at CERN is described in this paper. A brief overview of the expected performance of the detector when the Large Hadron Collider begins operation is also presented.
3,111 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a new model that predicts the course of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to help plan an effective control strategy, including social distancing, testing and contact tracing.
Abstract: In Italy, 128,948 confirmed cases and 15,887 deaths of people who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were registered as of 5 April 2020. Ending the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic requires implementation of multiple population-wide strategies, including social distancing, testing and contact tracing. We propose a new model that predicts the course of the epidemic to help plan an effective control strategy. The model considers eight stages of infection: susceptible (S), infected (I), diagnosed (D), ailing (A), recognized (R), threatened (T), healed (H) and extinct (E), collectively termed SIDARTHE. Our SIDARTHE model discriminates between infected individuals depending on whether they have been diagnosed and on the severity of their symptoms. The distinction between diagnosed and non-diagnosed individuals is important because the former are typically isolated and hence less likely to spread the infection. This delineation also helps to explain misperceptions of the case fatality rate and of the epidemic spread. We compare simulation results with real data on the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy, and we model possible scenarios of implementation of countermeasures. Our results demonstrate that restrictive social-distancing measures will need to be combined with widespread testing and contact tracing to end the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
1,432 citations
University of Sydney1, University of Michigan2, Duke University3, University of Alabama at Birmingham4, University of Pittsburgh5, University of Florida6, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention7, University of Münster8, University of Udine9, Ankara University10, University of Wisconsin-Madison11, Paris Diderot University12, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences13, University of Paris14, University of Lausanne15, Brown University16, Istituto Giannina Gaslini17, Carlos III Health Institute18, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences19, National Institutes of Health20, University of Pennsylvania21, St George's, University of London22, Heidelberg University23, University of Copenhagen24, University College London25, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center26, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven27, Goethe University Frankfurt28, University of Würzburg29, Johns Hopkins University30, Monash University31, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro32, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart33, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio34, Masaryk University35, RMIT University36, Radboud University Nijmegen37, University of Melbourne38, Stanford University39, University of California, Davis40, Georgia Regents University41, Cornell University42, University of Aberdeen43, University Hospital of Wales44
TL;DR: These updated definitions of IFDs should prove applicable in clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiologic research of a broader range of patients at high-risk.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) remain important causes of morbidity and mortality. The consensus definitions of the Infectious Diseases Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group have been of immense value to researchers who conduct clinical trials of antifungals, assess diagnostic tests, and undertake epidemiologic studies. However, their utility has not extended beyond patients with cancer or recipients of stem cell or solid organ transplants. With newer diagnostic techniques available, it was clear that an update of these definitions was essential. METHODS: To achieve this, 10 working groups looked closely at imaging, laboratory diagnosis, and special populations at risk of IFD. A final version of the manuscript was agreed upon after the groups' findings were presented at a scientific symposium and after a 3-month period for public comment. There were several rounds of discussion before a final version of the manuscript was approved. RESULTS: There is no change in the classifications of "proven," "probable," and "possible" IFD, although the definition of "probable" has been expanded and the scope of the category "possible" has been diminished. The category of proven IFD can apply to any patient, regardless of whether the patient is immunocompromised. The probable and possible categories are proposed for immunocompromised patients only, except for endemic mycoses. CONCLUSIONS: These updated definitions of IFDs should prove applicable in clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiologic research of a broader range of patients at high-risk.
1,211 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reported the observation of a compact binary coalescence involving a 222 −243 M ⊙ black hole and a compact object with a mass of 250 −267 M ⋆ (all measurements quoted at the 90% credible level) The gravitational-wave signal, GW190814, was observed during LIGO's and Virgo's third observing run on 2019 August 14 at 21:10:39 UTC and has a signal-to-noise ratio of 25 in the three-detector network.
Abstract: We report the observation of a compact binary coalescence involving a 222–243 M ⊙ black hole and a compact object with a mass of 250–267 M ⊙ (all measurements quoted at the 90% credible level) The gravitational-wave signal, GW190814, was observed during LIGO's and Virgo's third observing run on 2019 August 14 at 21:10:39 UTC and has a signal-to-noise ratio of 25 in the three-detector network The source was localized to 185 deg2 at a distance of ${241}_{-45}^{+41}$ Mpc; no electromagnetic counterpart has been confirmed to date The source has the most unequal mass ratio yet measured with gravitational waves, ${0112}_{-0009}^{+0008}$, and its secondary component is either the lightest black hole or the heaviest neutron star ever discovered in a double compact-object system The dimensionless spin of the primary black hole is tightly constrained to ≤007 Tests of general relativity reveal no measurable deviations from the theory, and its prediction of higher-multipole emission is confirmed at high confidence We estimate a merger rate density of 1–23 Gpc−3 yr−1 for the new class of binary coalescence sources that GW190814 represents Astrophysical models predict that binaries with mass ratios similar to this event can form through several channels, but are unlikely to have formed in globular clusters However, the combination of mass ratio, component masses, and the inferred merger rate for this event challenges all current models of the formation and mass distribution of compact-object binaries
913 citations
TL;DR: It is inferred that the primary black hole mass lies within the gap produced by (pulsational) pair-instability supernova processes, with only a 0.32% probability of being below 65 M⊙, which can be considered an intermediate mass black hole (IMBH).
Abstract: On May 21, 2019 at 03:02:29 UTC Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo observed a short duration gravitational-wave signal, GW190521, with a three-detector network signal-to-noise ratio of 14.7, and an estimated false-alarm rate of 1 in 4900 yr using a search sensitive to generic transients. If GW190521 is from a quasicircular binary inspiral, then the detected signal is consistent with the merger of two black holes with masses of 85_{-14}^{+21} M_{⊙} and 66_{-18}^{+17} M_{⊙} (90% credible intervals). We infer that the primary black hole mass lies within the gap produced by (pulsational) pair-instability supernova processes, with only a 0.32% probability of being below 65 M_{⊙}. We calculate the mass of the remnant to be 142_{-16}^{+28} M_{⊙}, which can be considered an intermediate mass black hole (IMBH). The luminosity distance of the source is 5.3_{-2.6}^{+2.4} Gpc, corresponding to a redshift of 0.82_{-0.34}^{+0.28}. The inferred rate of mergers similar to GW190521 is 0.13_{-0.11}^{+0.30} Gpc^{-3} yr^{-1}.
876 citations
01 Aug 2020
TL;DR: Assessment of the role of tocilizumab in reducing the risk of invasive mechanical ventilation and death in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia who received standard of care treatment found it to be associated with a reduced risk.
Abstract: Summary Background No therapy is approved for COVID-19 pneumonia The aim of this study was to assess the role of tocilizumab in reducing the risk of invasive mechanical ventilation and death in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia who received standard of care treatment Methods This retrospective, observational cohort study included adults (≥18 years) with severe COVID-19 pneumonia who were admitted to tertiary care centres in Bologna and Reggio Emilia, Italy, between Feb 21 and March 24, 2020, and a tertiary care centre in Modena, Italy, between Feb 21 and April 30, 2020 All patients were treated with the standard of care (ie, supplemental oxygen, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, antiretrovirals, and low molecular weight heparin), and a non-randomly selected subset of patients also received tocilizumab Tocilizumab was given either intravenously at 8 mg/kg bodyweight (up to a maximum of 800 mg) in two infusions, 12 h apart, or subcutaneously at 162 mg administered in two simultaneous doses, one in each thigh (ie, 324 mg in total), when the intravenous formulation was unavailable The primary endpoint was a composite of invasive mechanical ventilation or death Treatment groups were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis after adjusting for sex, age, recruiting centre, duration of symptoms, and baseline Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score Findings Of 1351 patients admitted, 544 (40%) had severe COVID-19 pneumonia and were included in the study 57 (16%) of 365 patients in the standard care group needed mechanical ventilation, compared with 33 (18%) of 179 patients treated with tocilizumab (p=0·41; 16 [18%] of 88 patients treated intravenously and 17 [19%] of 91 patients treated subcutaneously) 73 (20%) patients in the standard care group died, compared with 13 (7%; p Interpretation Treatment with tocilizumab, whether administered intravenously or subcutaneously, might reduce the risk of invasive mechanical ventilation or death in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia Funding None
775 citations
TL;DR: A motivation and brief review of the ongoing effort to port Quantum ESPRESSO onto heterogeneous architectures based on hardware accelerators, which will overcome the energy constraints that are currently hindering the way toward exascale computing are presented.
Abstract: Quantum ESPRESSO is an open-source distribution of computer codes for quantum-mechanical materials modeling, based on density-functional theory, pseudopotentials, and plane waves, and renowned for its performance on a wide range of hardware architectures, from laptops to massively parallel computers, as well as for the breadth of its applications. In this paper, we present a motivation and brief review of the ongoing effort to port Quantum ESPRESSO onto heterogeneous architectures based on hardware accelerators, which will overcome the energy constraints that are currently hindering the way toward exascale computing.
543 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reported the observation of gravitational waves from a binary-black-hole coalescence during the first two weeks of LIGO and Virgo's third observing run.
Abstract: We report the observation of gravitational waves from a binary-black-hole coalescence during the first two weeks of LIGO’s and Virgo’s third observing run. The signal was recorded on April 12, 2019 at 05∶30∶44 UTC with a network signal-to-noise ratio of 19. The binary is different from observations during the first two observing runs most notably due to its asymmetric masses: a ∼30 M⊙ black hole merged with a ∼8 M⊙ black hole companion. The more massive black hole rotated with a dimensionless spin magnitude between 0.22 and 0.60 (90% probability). Asymmetric systems are predicted to emit gravitational waves with stronger contributions from higher multipoles, and indeed we find strong evidence for gravitational radiation beyond the leading quadrupolar order in the observed signal. A suite of tests performed on GW190412 indicates consistency with Einstein’s general theory of relativity. While the mass ratio of this system differs from all previous detections, we show that it is consistent with the population model of stellar binary black holes inferred from the first two observing runs.
507 citations
University of Insubria1, University of Pavia2, University of Eastern Piedmont3, University of Bologna4, University of Verona5, Humanitas University6, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico7, University of Milan8, University of Genoa9, University of Catania10, University of Parma11, University of Pisa12, University of Turin13, University of Perugia14, Sapienza University of Rome15, University of Padua16, University of Brescia17, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia18, University of Siena19, University of Udine20, Università Campus Bio-Medico21, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart22
TL;DR: This study adds to the evidence that patients with haematological malignancies have worse outcomes and the general Italian population with COVID-19 has high mortality, by calculating standardised mortality ratios between observed death in the study cohort and expected death by applying stratum-specific mortality rates.
408 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that children with SARS-CoV-2 infection may have a less severe pattern of disease in comparison to adults and larger epidemiological and clinical cohort studies are needed to better understand possible implications of COVID-19 infection in children.
Abstract: A recent outbreak of a novel Coronavirus responsible for a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading globally. The aim of this study was to systematically review main clinical characteristics and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections in pediatric age. An electronic search was conducted in PubMed database. Papers published between 1 January and 1 May 2020 including children aged 0–18 years were selected. Sixty-two studies and three reviews were included, with a total sample size of 7480 children (2428/4660 males, 52.1%; weighted mean age 7.6 years). Patients showed mainly mild (608/1432, 42.5%) and moderate (567/1432, 39.6%) signs of the infection. About 2% of children were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. The most commonly described symptoms were fever (51.6%) and cough (47.3%). Laboratory findings were often unremarkable. Children underwent a chest CT scan in 73.9% of all cases, and 32.7% resulted normal. Overall, the estimated mortality was 0.08%. A higher proportion of newborns was severely ill (12%) and dyspnea was the most common reported sign (40%). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 affects children less severely than adults. Laboratory and radiology findings are mainly nonspecific. Larger epidemiological and clinical cohort studies are needed to better understand possible implications of COVID-19 infection in children.
399 citations
TL;DR: The GW190521 signal is consistent with a binary black hole (BBH) merger source at redshift 0.13-0.30 Gpc-3 yr-1.8 as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The gravitational-wave signal GW190521 is consistent with a binary black hole (BBH) merger source at redshift 0.8 with unusually high component masses, 85-14+21 M o˙ and 66-18+17 M o˙, compared to previously reported events, and shows mild evidence for spin-induced orbital precession. The primary falls in the mass gap predicted by (pulsational) pair-instability supernova theory, in the approximate range 65-120 M o˙. The probability that at least one of the black holes in GW190521 is in that range is 99.0%. The final mass of the merger (142-16+28 M o˙) classifies it as an intermediate-mass black hole. Under the assumption of a quasi-circular BBH coalescence, we detail the physical properties of GW190521's source binary and its post-merger remnant, including component masses and spin vectors. Three different waveform models, as well as direct comparison to numerical solutions of general relativity, yield consistent estimates of these properties. Tests of strong-field general relativity targeting the merger-ringdown stages of the coalescence indicate consistency of the observed signal with theoretical predictions. We estimate the merger rate of similar systems to be 0.13-0.11+0.30 Gpc-3 yr-1. We discuss the astrophysical implications of GW190521 for stellar collapse and for the possible formation of black holes in the pair-instability mass gap through various channels: via (multiple) stellar coalescences, or via hierarchical mergers of lower-mass black holes in star clusters or in active galactic nuclei. We find it to be unlikely that GW190521 is a strongly lensed signal of a lower-mass black hole binary merger. We also discuss more exotic possible sources for GW190521, including a highly eccentric black hole binary, or a primordial black hole binary.
TL;DR: To assess current trajectories towards the GPW13 UHC billion target—1 billion more people benefiting from UHC by 2023—the authors estimated additional population equivalents with UHC effective coverage from 2018 to 2023, and quantified frontiers of U HC effective coverage performance on the basis of pooled health spending per capita.
TL;DR: This study approaches the issue through an analysis of almost 100 definitions of Industry 4.0 and related concepts, broken down into its underlying technological and non-technological definitional elements.
TL;DR: In this article, a search for the electroweak production of charginos and sleptons decaying into final states with two electrons or muons is presented, based on 139.fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at
Abstract: A search for the electroweak production of charginos and sleptons decaying into final states with two electrons or muons is presented. The analysis is based on 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton–proton collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at $\sqrt{s}=13$ $\text {TeV}$. Three R-parity-conserving scenarios where the lightest neutralino is the lightest supersymmetric particle are considered: the production of chargino pairs with decays via either W bosons or sleptons, and the direct production of slepton pairs. The analysis is optimised for the first of these scenarios, but the results are also interpreted in the others. No significant deviations from the Standard Model expectations are observed and limits at 95% confidence level are set on the masses of relevant supersymmetric particles in each of the scenarios. For a massless lightest neutralino, masses up to 420 $\text {Ge}\text {V}$ are excluded for the production of the lightest-chargino pairs assuming W-boson-mediated decays and up to 1 $\text {TeV}$ for slepton-mediated decays, whereas for slepton-pair production masses up to 700 $\text {Ge}\text {V}$ are excluded assuming three generations of mass-degenerate sleptons.
University of São Paulo1, University of Antioquia2, Fox Chase Cancer Center3, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital4, Utrecht University5, University of Udine6, Radboud University Nijmegen7, University of Helsinki8, Karolinska Institutet9, International Agency for Research on Cancer10, University of Michigan11, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust12, Institut Gustave Roussy13, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven14, University of Edinburgh15, University of Milan16, Beaumont Hospital17, University of Oviedo18, University of Florida19, Tata Memorial Hospital20, University of Hong Kong21
TL;DR: The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) is a highly contagious zoonosis produced by SARS‐CoV‐2 that is spread human‐to‐human by respiratory secretions that was declared by the WHO as a public health emergency.
Abstract: The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly contagious zoonosis produced by SARS-CoV-2 that is spread human-to-human by respiratory secretions. It was declared by the WHO as a public health emergency. The most susceptible populations, needing mechanical ventilation, are the elderly and people with associated comorbidities. There is an important risk of contagion for anesthetists, dentists, head and neck surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons, ophthalmologists, and otolaryngologists. Health workers represent between 3.8% and 20% of the infected population; some 15% will develop severe complaints and among them, many will lose their lives. A large number of patients do not have overt signs and symptoms (fever/respiratory), yet pose a real risk to surgeons (who should know this fact and must therefore apply respiratory protective strategies for all patients they encounter). All interventions that have the potential to aerosolize aerodigestive secretions should be avoided or used only when mandatory. Health workers who are: pregnant, over 55 to 65 years of age, with a history of chronic diseases (uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and all clinical scenarios where immunosuppression is feasible, including that induced to treat chronic inflammatory conditions and organ transplants) should avoid the clinical attention of a potentially infected patient. Health care facilities should prioritize urgent and emergency visits and procedures until the present condition stabilizes; truly elective care should cease and discussed on a case-by-case basis for patients with cancer. For those who are working with COVID-19 infected patients' isolation is compulsory in the following settings: (a) unprotected close contact with COVID-19 pneumonia patients; (b) onset of fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other symptoms (gastrointestinal complaints, anosmia, and dysgeusia have been reported in a minority of cases). For any care or intervention in the upper aerodigestive tract region, irrespective of the setting and a confirmed diagnosis (eg, rhinoscopy or flexible laryngoscopy in the outpatient setting and tracheostomy or rigid endoscopy under anesthesia), it is strongly recommended that all health care personnel wear personal protective equipment such as N95, gown, cap, eye protection, and gloves. The procedures described are essential in trying to maintain safety of health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, otolaryngologists, head and neck, and maxillofacial surgeons are per se exposed to the greatest risk of infection while caring for COVID-19 positive subjects, and their protection should be considered a priority in the present circumstances.
TL;DR: Both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke can complicate the course of COVI-19 infection, and stroke developed mostly in patients with severe pneumonia and multiorgan failure, liver enzymes and LDH were markedly increased in all cases, and the outcome was poor.
Abstract: Italy is one of the most affected countries by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The responsible pathogen is named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The clinical spectrum ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia, leading to intensive care unit admission. Evidence of cerebrovascular complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 is limited. We herein report six patients who developed acute stroke during COVID-19 infection. A retrospective case series of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal swabs, who developed clinical and neuroimaging evidence of acute stroke during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Six patients were identified (5 men); median age was 69 years (range 57–82). Stroke subtypes were ischemic (4, 67%) and hemorrhagic (2, 33%). All patients but one had pre-existing vascular risk factors. One patient developed encephalopathy prior to stroke, characterized by focal seizures and behavioral abnormalities. COVID-19-related pneumonia was severe (i.e., requiring critical care support) in 5/6 cases (83%). Liver enzyme alteration and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) elevation were registered in all cases. Four patients (67%) manifested acute kidney failure prior to stroke. Four patients (67%) had abnormal coagulation tests. The outcome was poor in the majority of the patients: five died (83%) and the remaining one (17%) remained severely neurologically affected (mRS: 4). Both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke can complicate the course of COVI-19 infection. In our series, stroke developed mostly in patients with severe pneumonia and multiorgan failure, liver enzymes and LDH were markedly increased in all cases, and the outcome was poor.
TL;DR: The French Minister of Health tweeted: ‘The intake of anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, cortisone, ...) could be a factor in worsening the infection’, and the University Hospital of Vaud in Lausanne considered the news as authentic and correct.
Abstract: Saturday 14 March, while the pandemic due to SARSCoV-2 spread widely in Europe, the French Minister of Health, Oliver Véran tweeted: ‘The intake of anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, cortisone, ...) could be a factor in worsening the infection. If you have a fever, take acetaminophen. If you are already taking anti-inflammatory drugs or in doubt, ask your doctor for advice’ [1]. As the hours go by, the tweet garnered the consent of more and more ‘followers’, and, 3 days later, the ‘re-tweets’ were over 40 000. The University Hospital of Vaud in Lausanne – among others – considered the news as authentic and correct, so claims: ‘For the current state of knowledge, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, etc.) is not recommended in case of influenza-like illness possibly caused by COVID-19. Paracetamol is recommended in the event of fever requiring treatment’. In the transmission of the news, one of the ‘accused’ classes of drugs was exonerated (e.g. any reference to cortisone disappeared). At the same time, the preference given to paracetamol became quite a strong recommendation [2]. The British Medical Journal also felt compelled to relaunch the news, reporting some expert opinions on this matter [3].
TL;DR: In this paper, the trigger algorithms and selection were optimized to control the rates while retaining a high efficiency for physics analyses at the ATLAS experiment to cope with a fourfold increase of peak LHC luminosity from 2015 to 2018 (Run 2), and a similar increase in the number of interactions per beam-crossing to about 60.
Abstract: Electron and photon triggers covering transverse energies from 5 GeV to several TeV are essential for the ATLAS experiment to record signals for a wide variety of physics: from Standard Model processes to searches for new phenomena in both proton–proton and heavy-ion collisions. To cope with a fourfold increase of peak LHC luminosity from 2015 to 2018 (Run 2), to 2.1×1034cm-2s-1, and a similar increase in the number of interactions per beam-crossing to about 60, trigger algorithms and selections were optimised to control the rates while retaining a high efficiency for physics analyses. For proton–proton collisions, the single-electron trigger efficiency relative to a single-electron offline selection is at least 75% for an offline electron of 31 GeV, and rises to 96% at 60 GeV; the trigger efficiency of a 25 GeV leg of the primary diphoton trigger relative to a tight offline photon selection is more than 96% for an offline photon of 30 GeV. For heavy-ion collisions, the primary electron and photon trigger efficiencies relative to the corresponding standard offline selections are at least 84% and 95%, respectively, at 5 GeV above the corresponding trigger threshold.
TL;DR: A search for heavy neutral Higgs bosons is performed using the LHC Run 2 data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb^{-1} of proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector.
Abstract: A search for heavy neutral Higgs bosons is performed using the LHC Run 2 data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb^{-1} of proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector. The search for heavy resonances is performed over the mass range 0.2-2.5 TeV for the τ^{+}τ^{-} decay with at least one τ-lepton decaying into final states with hadrons. The data are in good agreement with the background prediction of the standard model. In the M_{h}^{125} scenario of the minimal supersymmetric standard model, values of tanβ>8 and tanβ>21 are excluded at the 95% confidence level for neutral Higgs boson masses of 1.0 and 1.5 TeV, respectively, where tanβ is the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the two Higgs doublets.
TL;DR: Use of LU has helped in clinical decision making and reduced the use of both chest x‐rays and computed tomography (CT) in patients with suspected or documented COVID‐19 infection.
Abstract: Lung ultrasound (LU) has rapidly become a tool for assessment of patients stricken by the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Over the past two and a half months (January, February, and first half of March 2020) we have used this modality for identification of lung involvement along with pulmonary severity in patients with suspected or documented COVID-19 infection. Use of LU has helped us in clinical decision making and reduced the use of both chest x-rays and computed tomography (CT).
University of Ljubljana1, University of Birmingham2, Czech Technical University in Prague3, Linköping University4, Vienna University of Technology5, Austrian Institute of Technology6, ETH Zurich7, Beijing Institute of Technology8, Carnegie Mellon University9, University of Isfahan10, Autonomous University of Madrid11, National Technical University12, Eskişehir Osmangazi University13, Dalian University of Technology14, Chinese Academy of Sciences15, Tamkang University16, University of Udine17, Southeast University18, Uppsala University19, Stony Brook University20, Sichuan University21, Indian Institutes of Technology22, Yazd University23, University of Science and Technology of China24, Microsoft25, Jiangnan University26, University of Alberta27, Samsung28, University of Surrey29, Korea University30, Renmin University of China31, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology32, University of Oxford33, KAIST34, Sharif University of Technology35, Fuzhou University36, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China37
TL;DR: A significant novelty is introduction of a new VOT short-term tracking evaluation methodology, and introduction of segmentation ground truth in the VOT-ST2020 challenge – bounding boxes will no longer be used in theVDT challenges.
Abstract: The Visual Object Tracking challenge VOT2020 is the eighth annual tracker benchmarking activity organized by the VOT initiative. Results of 58 trackers are presented; many are state-of-the-art trackers published at major computer vision conferences or in journals in the recent years. The VOT2020 challenge was composed of five sub-challenges focusing on different tracking domains: (i) VOT-ST2020 challenge focused on short-term tracking in RGB, (ii) VOT-RT2020 challenge focused on “real-time” short-term tracking in RGB, (iii) VOT-LT2020 focused on long-term tracking namely coping with target disappearance and reappearance, (iv) VOT-RGBT2020 challenge focused on short-term tracking in RGB and thermal imagery and (v) VOT-RGBD2020 challenge focused on long-term tracking in RGB and depth imagery. Only the VOT-ST2020 datasets were refreshed. A significant novelty is introduction of a new VOT short-term tracking evaluation methodology, and introduction of segmentation ground truth in the VOT-ST2020 challenge – bounding boxes will no longer be used in the VOT-ST challenges. A new VOT Python toolkit that implements all these novelites was introduced. Performance of the tested trackers typically by far exceeds standard baselines. The source code for most of the trackers is publicly available from the VOT page. The dataset, the evaluation kit and the results are publicly available at the challenge website (http://votchallenge.net).
University of Bologna1, Ankara University2, Sapienza University of Rome3, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens4, Erasmus University Rotterdam5, VU University Medical Center6, University of Turin7, University of Catania8, University of Udine9, University of Milan10, Charles University in Prague11, Radboud University Nijmegen12, University of Perugia13, Aarhus University Hospital14, Albert Schweitzer Hospital15, Maastricht University16, University of Ostrava17, Leiden University Medical Center18, Kantonsspital St. Gallen19, Norwegian University of Science and Technology20, University of Copenhagen21, Utrecht University22, Instituto Português de Oncologia Francisco Gentil23, Monash University24
TL;DR: Progressive progression-free survival was significantly improved with autologous HSCT compared with VMP and bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP) as intensification therapy, and bORTezomIB-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (VRD) consolidation therapy with no consolidation.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors systematically reviewed the literature on corruption in international business (137 articles) for the last 17 years between 1992 and 2019 and identified seven research streams in this growing literature: (1) the legislation against corruption, (2) the determinants of corruption, combating corruption, 4) the effect of corruption on firms, 5) the political environment and corruption, 6) corruption as a challenge to existing theories of management, and 7) the impact of corruption in foreign direct investment and trade.
TL;DR: The authors suggest that postponing adjuvant chemotherapy or elective surgery for less aggressive cancers should be considered and that the increased risk for personal protection provisions should be emphasized for patients with cancer or cancer survivors.
TL;DR: Higher inflammatory markers, more infections and worse outcomes characterized ventilated TOCI cases compared to ward based TOCi, which suggests that therapy time in anti-cytokine randomized trials will be key.
TL;DR: The various controversies and possible developments of the current staging and grading criteria of OSCC are briefly discussed in this update together with possible applications of artificial intelligence in the context of screening and risk stratification.
TL;DR: In this paper, a simple model for the time evolution of droplet/aerosol concentration is presented based on a theoretical analysis of the relevant physical processes, which can be used to study a wide variety of scenarios involving breathing, talking, coughing and sneezing and in a number of environmental conditions, as humid or dry atmosphere, confined or open environment.
University of Turin1, University of Perugia2, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart3, University of Padua4, Tuscia University5, University of Catania6, University of Foggia7, University of Florence8, University of Naples Federico II9, University of Milan10, University of Insubria11, University of Udine12, University of Camerino13
TL;DR: Insects and fishery- and aquaculture by-products represent optimal alternative protein sources that can be considered as feed functional ingredients with beneficial properties that depend on the insect species, rearing system adopted, and the substrate used for their growth.
Abstract: This paper reviews current knowledge on two feedstuffs, that is, insect meal and fish by-products, as alternatives to conventional animal protein sources. After an introductory part that highlights...
TL;DR: It is suggested that COVID-19 may have a non-negligible rate of severe presentations in selected pediatric populations with a relatively high rates of comorbidities.
Abstract: Detailed data on clinical presentations and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in Europe are still lacking. In this descriptive study, we report on 130 children with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosed by 28 centers (mostly hospitals), in 10 regions in Italy, during the first months of the pandemic. Among these, 67 (51.5%) had a relative with COVID-19 while 34 (26.2%) had comorbidities, with the most frequent being respiratory, cardiac, or neuromuscular chronic diseases. Overall, 98 (75.4%) had an asymptomatic or mild disease, 11 (8.5%) had moderate disease, 11 (8.5%) had a severe disease, and 9 (6.9%) had a critical presentation with infants below 6 months having significantly increased risk of critical disease severity (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 29.1). Seventy-five (57.7%) children were hospitalized, 15 (11.5%) needed some respiratory support, and nine (6.9%) were treated in an intensive care unit. All recovered. Conclusion:This descriptive case series of children with COVID-19, mostly encompassing of cases enrolled at hospital level, suggest that COVID-19 may have a non-negligible rate of severe presentations in selected pediatric populations with a relatively high rates of comorbidities. More studies are needed to further understand the presentation and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in children with special needs.