Cross-architecture tuning of silicon and SiGe-based quantum devices using machine learning.

The potential of Si and SiGe-based devices for the scaling of quantum circuits is tainted by device variability. Each device needs to be tuned to operation conditions and each device realisation requires a different tuning protocol. We demonstrate that it is possible to automate the tuning of a 4-gate Si FinFET, a 5-gate GeSi nanowire and a 7-gate Ge/SiGe heterostructure double quantum dot device from scratch with the same algorithm. We achieve tuning times of 30, 10, and 92 min, respectively. The algorithm also provides insight into the parameter space landscape for each of these devices, allowing for the characterization of the regions where double quantum dot regimes are found. These results show that overarching solutions for the tuning of quantum devices are enabled by machine learning.

Relationship between skeletal muscle function, body composition, and weight loss in patients with advanced pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancers.

BACKGROUND: Muscle function and its correlation with body composition and weight loss have not been studied deeply in pancreas and gastrointestinal cancers. This research aims to determine the skeletal muscle function and its relationship with body compartments, significant weight loss, and performance status (ECOG) 0-2 in a population with advanced digestive cancers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed to determine the relationship between muscular function, weight loss, and body composition. Patients with advanced digestive adenocarcinomas were evaluated. Muscle strength was examined by hand grip technique and body composition by bioimpedance analysis. Values of hemoglobin and albumin were measured in plasma. RESULTS: A sample of 81 patients was included. They had adenocarcinoma of stomach (n = 9), pancreas (n = 28), or colorectum (n = 44). With regard to skeletal muscle function, sub-maximal strength increased when percentage of weight loss decreased (p = 0.002) or when any of the following variables increased: skeletal muscle (p < 0.001), waist-hip ratio (p < 0.001), body surface area (p < 0.001), and body mass index (p = 0.001). According to multivariate analysis of these variables, only percentage of weight loss and skeletal muscle remained statistically significant. Endurance had no correlation with any of the variables. Higher weight loss was found in tumors of the upper tract (stomach and pancreas) in comparison with those of the lower tract (colorectal) (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In advanced digestive cancer, sub-maximal strength correlated inversely with weight loss and directly with skeletal muscle such as in lung and head and neck cancers. On the other hand, endurance had no correlation with any of the variables considered.

Análisis retrospectivo de pacientes con cáncer gástrico localmente avanzado o metastásico en Argentina / Retrospective analysis of patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer in Argentina

OBJETIVO Describir las características clínicas, los patrones de tratamiento y los costos asociados en pacientes con cáncer gástrico localmente avanzado o metastásico en Argentina, en los sectores público y privado. MÉTODOS Una cohorte histórica de pacientes que recibieron tratamiento de quimioterapia de primera línea (análogo de platino y/o una fluoropirimidina) y fueron seguidos durante al menos tres meses después de la última administración de un agente citotóxico de primera línea fueron elegibles. Se extrajeron los datos a través de un cuestionario estructurado a partir de los registros médicos de cuatro hospitales argentinos. Las estimaciones de los costos de tratamiento también se calcularon utilizando los costos unitarios de los hospitales participantes. RESULTADOS Entre los 101 pacientes, más de tres cuartas partes (79,2%) eran hombres, 41,6% fueron diagnosticados con enfermedad metastásica en estadio IV, la edad media fue de 57,7 años y el 27,7% tenían antecedentes de tabaquismo. Antes del diagnóstico de cáncer gástrico metastásico, el 42,4% de los pacientes habían recibido gastrectomía total. El 97% de los pacientes recibió una terapia doble o triplete, de los cuales el tratamiento más frecuente fue la epirubicina en combinación con oxaliplatino y capecitabina (38%), seguida de capecitabina + oxaliplatino (29%). Alrededor del 36% de los pacientes respondieron al tratamiento de primera línea (respuesta completa y parcial). Del 76,2% de los pacientes que siguieron un tratamiento de segunda línea, al 37,7% todavía se les administró un análogo de platino y/o fluoropirimidina. Durante el período de seguimiento, el 50% de los pacientes progresó y el 32,8% tenía enfermedad estable. La terapia de apoyo consistió principalmente en visitas ambulatorias después de la última línea de quimioterapia (16,8%), radioterapia paliativa (16,8%) y cirugía (30,7%). Se observaron diferencias significativas entre los costos de los hospitales públicos y privado. CONCLUSIONES Comprender los patrones de tratamiento en pacientes con cáncer gástrico localmente avanzado o metastásico puede ayudar a abordar las necesidades médicas no satisfechas para un mejor manejo del paciente y la mejora de sus resultados clínicos en Argentina.

AIM To assess patient and disease characteristics, treatment patterns and associated costs in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer in Argentina, in the public and private sectors. METHODS A historic cohort of patients who had received first-line chemotherapy treatment (platinum analog and/or a fluoropyrimidine) and were followed-up for at least three months after the last administration of a first-line cytotoxic agent were eligible. Case-report forms were prepared based on medical records from four Argentinian hospitals. Estimates of treatment costs were also calculated using the unit costs of the participating hospitals. RESULTS Of 101 patients, more than three quarters (79.2%) were male, 41.6% were diagnosed with metastatic stage IV disease (mean age, 57.7years), and 27.7 % had a smoking history. Before locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer diagnosis, 42.4% of the patients had received total gastrectomy. Ninety-seven percent of the patients received a doublet or triplet therapy, of which epirubicin in combination with oxaliplatin and capecitabine was the most common treatment (38%), followed by capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (29%). Around 36% of the patients responded to first-line treatment (complete and partial response). Out of the 76.2% of the patients who followed a second-line treatment, 37.7% were still administered a platinum analog and/or fluoropyrimidine. During the reported follow-up period, 50% of the patients progressed, and 32.8% had stable disease. The best supportive care consisted mostly of outpatient visits after last-line therapy (16.8%), palliative radiotherapy (16.8%), and surgery (30.7%). We observed significant differences between public and private hospital costs. CONCLUSIONS Understanding treatment patterns in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer may help address unmet medical needs for better patient management and improvement of their clinical outcome in Argentina.

Morphology and dynamics of tumor cell colonies propagating in epidermal growth factor supplemented media.

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays a key role in physiological and pathological processes. This work reports on the influence of EGF concentration (c EGF) on the modulation of individual cell phenotype and cell colony kinetics with the aim of perturbing the colony front roughness fluctuations. For this purpose, HeLa cell colonies that remain confluent along the whole expansion process with initial quasi-radial geometry and different initial cell populations, as well as colonies with initial quasi-linear geometry and large cell population, are employed. Cell size and morphology as well as its adhesive characteristics depend on c EGF. Quasi-radial colonies (QRC) expansion kinetics in EGF-containing medium exhibits a complex behavior. Namely, at the first stages of growth, the average QRC radius evolution can be described by a t 1/2 diffusion term coupled with exponential growth kinetics up to a critical time, and afterwards a growth regime approaching constant velocity. The extension of each regime depends on c EGF and colony history. In the presence of EGF, the initial expansion of quasi-linear colonies (QLCs) also exhibits morphological changes at both the cell and the colony levels. In these cases, the cell density at the colony border region becomes smaller than in the absence of EGF and consequently, the extension of the effective rim where cell duplication and motility contribute to the colony expansion increases. QLC front displacement velocity increases with c EGF up to a maximum value in the 2-10 ng ml-1 range. Individual cell velocity is increased by EGF, and an enhancement in both the persistence and the ballistic characteristics of cell trajectories can be distinguished. For an intermediate c EGF, collective cell displacements contribute to the roughening of the colony contours. This global dynamics becomes compatible with the standard Kardar-Parisi-Zhang growth model, although a faster colony roughness saturation in EGF-containing medium than in the control medium is observed.

[Loiasis. Approach to a form of ocular parasitosis]. / Loiasis. Aproximación a una forma de parasitosis ocular.

CASE REPORT: We present the case of a man from Cameroon who was referred because of the presence of a worm in both eyes, intermittently, over a five-year period. Slit-lamp examination revealed a creeping worm under the conjunctiva. Its surgical removal enabled microbiologic confirmation of a mature form of Loa-Loa. DISCUSSION: Loiasis is a parasitic disease endemic in Africa. Because of the increase of African emigration to Spain, the possibility of this condition must be considered in Spain.

Accreditation experience of radioisotope metrology laboratory of Argentina.

This work presents the experience developed by the Radioisotope Metrology Laboratory (LMR), of the Argentine National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), as result of the accreditation process of the Quality System by ISO 17025 Standard. Considering the LMR as a calibration laboratory, services of secondary activity determinations and calibration of activimeters used in Nuclear Medicine were accredited. A peer review of the (alpha/beta)-gamma coincidence system was also carried out. This work shows in detail the structure of the quality system, the results of the accrediting audit and gives the number of non-conformities detected and of observations made which have all been resolved.

Acrometastasis en tejidos blandos de la mano: Una forma de manifestación infrecuente del cáncer de pulmón. Revisión de la literatura / Achrometastasis in the soft tissues of the hand: A rare presentation of lung carcinoma. Review of the literature

Se describe un caso reciente de acrometástasis en partes blandas de mano y se realiza la primera revisión bibliográfica de esta excepcional presentación de las acrometástasis. Se trata de un varón de 74 años, fumador de 20 cigarrillos por día desde los 18 años, que consultó por una lesión exofítica sangrante en cara dorsolateral del índice izquierdo. Se realizó biopsia y extirpación del 2º eje del dedo (rayo). La radiografía fue normal y la anatomía patológica confirmó una metástasis de carcinoma espinocelular diferenciado con indemnidad ósea. En el estudio clínico se descubrió un carcinoma pulmonar que luego se complicó con una fístula esofago-traqueal tratada mediante un stent. Falleció un mes después en su domicilio por una hematemesis, 12 meses posteriores a la primera consulta. La acrometástasis fue la primera manifestación de una neoplasia y se produjo en los tejidos blandos de la mano, una forma muy rara de presentación. Las metástasis en los huesos de las manos y pies son raras. La incidencia en mano es de 0,25-0,60 porciento entre los tumores que dan metástasis óseas. Las acrometástasis en tejidos blandos son aún más raras y se han comunicado muy pocos casos. El comportamiento biológico de las metástasis pulmonares en los huesos y su extrema rareza no han sido dilucidados. En general ocurren durante la diseminación terminal de las neoplasias e indican un mal pronóstico. El tiempo promedio de sobrevida es habitualmente menor de un año. Ocasionalmente pueden ser la forma de presentación de un blastoma. Los tumores más frecuentemente producen estas lesiones son los de pulmón, riñón, mama y colon. Los tumores no carcinomatosos son causa excepcional de estas lesiones. A pesar de su rareza, estas acrometástasis pueden ser importantes por dos motivos: primero, pueden ser la primera manifestación de una neoplasia oculta. segundo, su sintomatología puede ser confundida y se demora el diagnóstico. Pueden simular enfermedades inflamatorias o enfermedades subungueales benignas. La biopsia convencional asegura el diagnóstico. La amputación quirúrgica suele ser el mejor tratamiento paliativo y la radioterapia puede a veces ser efectiva

[Ocular decompression retinopathy after trabeculectomy]. / Retinopatía por descompresión ocular tras la trabeculectomía.

PURPOSE: Two cases of ocular decompression retinopathy associated with glaucoma filtering surgery are described. CONCLUSIONS: Both patients were young males, intraocular pressures were 35 and 40 mm Hg before surgery. The retinal haemorrhages resolved, and in the only case where it was possible to estimate the visual acuity, it had improved significantly. In the few cases that were reported, most involve young males with markedly high intraocular pressures before surgery and occasionally myopic.

[Emergency colonoscopy in lower intestinal occlusion]. / La coloscopie en urgence au cours des occlusions intestinales basses.

From March 1980 to June 1983, 23 patients presenting with clinical and or radiological manifestations of colonic obstruction and with uncertainty as to medical/surgical possibilities of management, underwent emergency colonoscopy in the intensive care unit of our Digestive Disease Department. The investigations were conducted without preparation (enema) or premedication, using an ordinary colonoscope. The endoscopic examination led to correct diagnosis in 21 patients out of 23 (91.3 p. 100). The main causes of occlusion were: colonic or rectal cancer (11 cases), Ogilvie's syndrome (6 cases), volvulus of the sigmoid colon (3 cases). Endoscopy contributed to treatment in eight patients with good results in six. It was unsatisfactory in two cases of volvulus of the sigmoid colon which recurred. In two instances complications occurred which were attributable to the method: one pneumoperitoneum without frank perforation and a transtumoral perforation in a case of sigmoid cancer, discovered at laparotomy. No septic complication or mortality resulted from endoscopy. Colonoscopy under normal conditions should not be advocated systematically, but can be used as a method of investigation and possibly of therapy in selected cases of colonic obstruction admitted into intensive care units.