GPU-accelerated Monte Carlo simulation of electron and photon interactions for radiotherapy applications.

. The Monte Carlo simulation software is a valuable tool in radiation therapy, in particular to achieve the needed accuracy in the dose evaluation for the treatment plans optimisation. The current challenge in this field is the time reduction to open the way to many clinical applications for which the computational time is an issue.

Local inequalities of the COVID-19 crisis.

This paper assesses the pandemic's impact on Italian local economies with the newly developed machine learning control method for counterfactual building. Our results document that the economic effects of the COVID-19 shock vary dramatically across the Italian territory and are spatially uncorrelated with the epidemiological pattern of the first wave. The largest employment losses occurred in areas characterized by high exposure to social aggregation risks and pre-existing labor market fragilities.

Local mortality estimates during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.

Unlabelled: Estimates of the real death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic have proven to be problematic in many countries, Italy being no exception. Mortality estimates at the local level are even more uncertain as they require stringent conditions, such as granularity and accuracy of the data at hand, which are rarely met. The "official" approach adopted by public institutions to estimate the "excess mortality" during the pandemic draws on a comparison between observed all-cause mortality data for 2020 and averages of mortality figures in the past years for the same period.

When did coronavirus arrive in Europe?

The first cluster of coronavirus cases in Europe was officially detected on 21st February 2020 in Northern Italy, even if recent evidence showed sporadic first cases in Europe since the end of 2019. In this study, we have tested the presence of coronavirus in Italy and, even more importantly, we have assessed whether the virus had already spread sooner than 21st February. We use a counterfactual approach and certified daily data on the number of deaths (deaths from any cause, not only related to coronavirus) at the municipality level.

Pentalogy of Cantrell with ectopia cordis totalis, total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, and tetralogy of Fallot: a case report and review of the literature.

Pentalogy of Cantrell is a rare condition with a varied expression and a high mortality. We present a patient with the classic pentad (type 1), but with a previously undescribed constellation of cardiac manifestations including ectopia cordis totalis, total anomalous pulmonary venous return, and tetralogy of Fallot. This case reminds us of the challenges associated with the management of various forms of this condition.