Surface-based GPU-friendly geometry modeling for detector simulation

In a context where the high-energy physics community strives to enhance software to handle increased data throughput, detector simulation is evolving to take advantage of new performance opportunities. Given the intricacy of particle transport simulation, recent advancements, such as adapting to accelerator hardware, require a significant research and development effort. The feasibility of porting complex particle transport codes to GPUs has been already demonstrated by parallelizing the processing of tracks undergoing electromagnetic interactions. However, the GPU workflow presents distinct performance bottlenecks compared to the CPU workflow, owing to differences in parallelism models and hardware capabilities. Notably, the geometry component in this workflow has emerged as the primary bottleneck that needs addressing to enhance GPU-based simulations. The current CUDA-aware geometry is a 3D-solid modeler featuring substantial warp divergence, primarily due to the varying complexity of the supported 3D primitive solid shapes. We present the outcomes of a one-year endeavor to create a bounded surface model that can seamlessly map the navigation capabilities of the existing solidbased geometry, with a focus on improving GPU efficiency. Our implementation aims to simplify low-level algorithms to reduce warp divergence, while simultaneously eliminating other sources of GPU inefficiency, such as recursive and virtual function calls, and ensuring code portability

2q32 microdeletion syndrome in a patient from the western Amazon

Introduction: Interstitial deletions involving the 2q31q32 region are recognized as a clinical disorder involving several manifestations, such as intellectual disability, growth retardation, behavioral disorders, and facial dysmorphologies. The reduced number of reports of patients affected by this syndrome contributes to the difficulty of making genotypephenotype correlations. Case report: Patient with inversion of the long arm of chromosome 2 [46, XX,inv(2 (q21q33)]. On physical examination, he had a prominent forehead, epicanthus, low nasal bridge, long nasolabial philtrum and thin upper lip. Neurological examination showed hypotonia. Discussion: A correct chromosomal interpretation can identify the microdeletion syndrome and rule out or confirm possible differential diagnoses, highlighting the need and importance of recognizing and documenting cases.Introdução: As deleções intersticiais envolvendo a região 2q31q32 são reconhecidas como um transtorno clínico, envolvendo diversas manifestações como deficiência intelectual, retardo no crescimento, distúrbios comportamentais e dismorfologias faciais. Os números reduzidos de relatos de pacientes acometidos por essa síndrome contribui para que as correlações genótipos-fenótipos sejam difíceis de se fazer. Relato de caso: Paciente com inversão do braço longo do cromossomo 2 [46, XX,inv(2)(q21q33)]. Apresentou ao exame físico dismorfológico fronte proeminente, epicanto, ponte nasal baixa, filtro nasolabial longo e lábio superior fino. Ao exame neurológico, apresentava hipotonia. Discussão: Uma correta interpretação cromossômica pode não só identificar a síndrome de microdeleção como também, descartar ou confirmar possíveis diagnósticos diferenciais, deixando evidente a necessidade e a importância de se reconhecer e documentar os casos

Detector Simulation Challenges for Future Accelerator Experiments

Detector simulation is a key component for studies on prospective future high-energy colliders, the design, optimization, testing and operation of particle physics experiments, and the analysis of the data collected to perform physics measurements. This review starts from the current state of the art technology applied to detector simulation in high-energy physics and elaborates on the evolution of software tools developed to address the challenges posed by future accelerator programs beyond the HL-LHC era, into the 2030–2050 period. New accelerator, detector, and computing technologies set the stage for an exercise in how detector simulation will serve the needs of the high-energy physics programs of the mid 21st century, and its potential impact on other research domains

Síndrome de microdeleção 2q32 em paciente da Amazônia ocidental

Introdução: As deleções intersticiais envolvendo a região 2q31q32 são reconhecidas como um transtorno clínico, envolvendo diversas manifestações como deficiência intelectual, retardo no crescimento, distúrbios comportamentais e dismorfologias faciais. Os números reduzidos de relatos de pacientes acometidos por essa síndrome contribui para que as correlações genótipos-fenótipos sejam difíceis de se fazer. Relato de caso: Paciente com inversão do braço longo do cromossomo 2 [46, XX,inv(2)(q21q33)]. Apresentou ao exame físico dismorfológico fronte proeminente, epicanto, ponte nasal baixa, filtro nasolabial longo e lábio superior fino. Ao exame neurológico, apresentava hipotonia. Discussão: Uma correta interpretação cromossômica pode não só identificar a síndrome de microdeleção como também, descartar ou confirmar possíveis diagnósticos diferenciais, deixando evidente a necessidade e a importância de se reconhecer e documentar os casos

The Burden of NAFLD and Its Characteristics in a Nationwide Population with Type 2 Diabetes

Objective. We studied the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its clinical correlates in a population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods. Clinical data of 94,577 T2DM patients were retrieved from 160 diabetes clinics in Italy in a standardized format and centrally analyzed anonymously. After exclusion of 5967 cases (high or uncertain alcohol intake), in 38,880 the Fatty Liver Index (FLI) was used as a proxy for the diagnosis of NAFLD. Factors associated with FLI assessed NAFLD (FLI-NAFLD) were evaluated through multivariate analysis. Results. FLI-NAFLD was present in 59.6% of patients. Compared to non-NAFLD, FLI-NAFLD was associated with impairment in renal function, higher albumin excretion, HbA1c and blood pressure, lower HDL cholesterol, and poorer quality of care. ALT was within normal limits in 73.6% of FLI-NAFLD patients (45.6% if the updated reference values were used). The prevalence of FLI-NAFLD did not differ if the whole sample (94,577 cases) was examined, irrespective of alcohol intake. Conclusions. FLI-NAFLD was present in the majority of T2DM patients of our sample and metabolic derangement, not alcohol consumption, was mainly associated with the disease. FLI-NAFLD patients have a worse metabolic profile. ALT levels are not predictive of NAFLD

Baclofen for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis: 10 Years After the First Evidence

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic and relapsing condition characterized by harmful alcohol intake and behavioral-cognitive changes. AUD is the most common cause of liver disease in the Western world. Alcohol abstinence is the cornerstone of therapy in alcoholic patients affected with liver disease. Medical recommendations, brief motivational interventions and psychosocial approach are essential pieces of the treatment for these patients; however, their efficacy alone may not be enough to achieve total alcohol abstinence. The addition of pharmacological treatment could improve clinical outcomes in AUD patients. Moreover, pharmacological treatments for AUD are limited in patients with advanced liver disease, since impaired liver function affects drugs metabolism and could increase the risk of drugs-related hepatotoxicity. At present, only baclofen has been tested in RCTs in patients with advanced liver disease. This medication was effective to reduce alcohol intake, to promote alcohol abstinence and to prevent relapse in AUD patients affected by liver cirrhosis. In addition, the drug showed a safe profile in these patients. In this review, clinical studies about efficacy and safety of baclofen administration in patients with AUD and advanced liver disease will be reviewed. Open question about the most appropriate dose of the drug, duration of the treatment and need of additional studies will also be discussed

Colorectal surgery in Italy during the Covid19 outbreak: a survey from the iCral study group

Background The COVID19 pandemic had a deep impact on healthcare facilities in Italy, with profound reorganization of surgical activities. The Italian ColoRectal Anastomotic Leakage (iCral) study group collecting 43 Italian surgical centers experienced in colorectal surgery from multiple regions performed a quick survey to make a snapshot of the current situation. Methods A 25-items questionnaire was sent to the 43 principal investigators of the iCral study group, with questions regard- ing qualitative and quantitative aspects of the surgical activity before and after the COVID19 outbreak. Results Two-thirds of the centers were involved in the treatment of COVID19 cases. Intensive care units (ICU) beds were partially or totally reallocated for the treatment of COVID19 cases in 72% of the hospitals. Elective colorectal surgery for malignancy was stopped or delayed in nearly 30% of the centers, with less than 20% of them still scheduling elective colo- rectal resections for frail and comorbid patients needing postoperative ICU care. A significant reduction of the number of colorectal resections during the time span from January to March 2020 was recorded, with significant delay in treatment in more than 50% of the centers. Discussion Our survey confirms that COVID19 outbreak is severely affecting the activity of colorectal surgery centers partici- pating to iCral study group. This could impact the activity of surgical centers for many months after the end of the emergency

Detector simulation challenges for future accelerator experiments

Detector simulation is a key component for studies on prospective future high-energy colliders, the design, optimization, testing and operation of particle physics experiments, and the analysis of the data collected to perform physics measurements. This review starts from the current state of the art technology applied to detector simulation in high-energy physics and elaborates on the evolution of software tools developed to address the challenges posed by future accelerator programs beyond the HL-LHC era, into the 2030–2050 period. New accelerator, detector, and computing technologies set the stage for an exercise in how detector simulation will serve the needs of the high-energy physics programs of the mid 21st century, and its potential impact on other research domains

Bowel preparation for elective colorectal resection: multi-treatment machine learning analysis on 6241 cases from a prospective Italian cohort

background current evidence concerning bowel preparation before elective colorectal surgery is still controversial. this study aimed to compare the incidence of anastomotic leakage (AL), surgical site infections (SSIs), and overall morbidity (any adverse event, OM) after elective colorectal surgery using four different types of bowel preparation. methods a prospective database gathered among 78 Italian surgical centers in two prospective studies, including 6241 patients who underwent elective colorectal resection with anastomosis for malignant or benign disease, was re-analyzed through a multi-treatment machine-learning model considering no bowel preparation (NBP; No. = 3742; 60.0%) as the reference treatment arm, compared to oral antibiotics alone (oA; No. = 406; 6.5%), mechanical bowel preparation alone (MBP; No. = 1486; 23.8%), or in combination with oAB (MoABP; No. = 607; 9.7%). twenty covariates related to biometric data, surgical procedures, perioperative management, and hospital/center data potentially affecting outcomes were included and balanced into the model. the primary endpoints were AL, SSIs, and OM. all the results were reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). results compared to NBP, MBP showed significantly higher AL risk (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.23-2.71; p = .003) and OM risk (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.10-1.72; p = .005), no significant differences for all the endpoints were recorded in the oA group, whereas MoABP showed a significantly reduced SSI risk (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.25-0.79; p = .008). conclusions MoABP significantly reduced the SSI risk after elective colorectal surgery, therefore representing a valid alternative to NBP

Length of stay after colorectal surgery in Italy: the gap between “fit for” and “actual” discharge in a prospective cohort of 4529 cases

Background: It is common to observe a gap between the day on which the discharge criteria are reached and the actual day of discharge after colorectal surgery. The aim of this study is to understand the reasons for this difference and its clinical impact on the overall length of stay (LOS). Methods: All patients enrolled in the prospective iCral3 study were analyzed regarding any difference and reason between the "fit for discharge" (FFD) and "actual discharge" (AD) dates. The association between the gap and the LOS in the whole population was then assessed through a multivariate regression model including other confounding variables. Results: The analysis included 4529 patients, with a median [IQR] LOS of 6 [4-8] days. The median [IQR] LOS was 6 [4-8] days in the no-gap group (3,910 patients, 86.3%), significantly lower (p < .001) than 7 [6-10] days in the gap group (619 patients, 13.7%). Among the gap reasons, the "need for postoperative rehabilitation" compared to "not willing to return home" and "social constraints" was associated with the longest LOS (9 [6.0-12.5] days, p < 0.001 vs other reasons). The existence of the gap independently determined a 2.3-day lengthening of LOS. Conclusions: Among other factors, the gap between FFD and AD had an independent impact on LOS. The most frequent reasons for this gap were "not willing to return home" and "social constraint", while the "need for postoperative rehabilitation" had the greater clinical impact