Asthma and allergies in schoolchildren: data from the European SINPHONIE study.

Asthma and allergies are the most frequent chronic diseases among children. We have assessed the prevalence of asthma and allergies in European schoolchildren who participated in the SINPHONIE (Schools Indoor Pollution and Health-Observatory Network in Europe) project, accounting for geographical differences.We analysed questionnaires from parents and guardians of 4,899 schoolchildren aged 6-14 from 54 cities in 23 European countries in 2011-2012.

Health status of Italian children living close to cultivations sprayed with pesticides.

Pesticides are used to control pests, but they are toxic and may severely harm children's health. We assessed health outcomes in Italian children living close to cultivations sprayed with pesticides.In 2011-2012, 2,367 schoolchildren (6-14 years) living in eight Italian cities participated in the Indoor-School observational study.

Assessing external exposome by implementing an Environmental Data Management System using Open Data.

Due to the increasing importance of exposome in environmental epidemiology, feasibility and usefulness of an Environmental Data Management System (EDMS) using Open Data was evaluated. The EDMS includes data from 10 European cities (Celje (Slovenia), Łódź (Poland), Manchester (UK), Palermo (Italy), Paris (France), Porto (Portugal), Regensburg (Germany), Reus (Spain), Rijeka (Croatia), Thessaloniki (Greece)) about external non-specific and specific exposome factors at the city or country level (2017-2020). Findings showed that the highest values of life expectancy were in Reus females (86 years) and Palermo males (81 years).

Strongly Interacting Photons in 2D Waveguide QED.

One-dimensional confinement in waveguide quantum electrodynamics (QED) plays a crucial role to enhance light-matter interactions and to induce a strong quantum nonlinear optical response. In two or higher-dimensional settings, this response is reduced since photons can be emitted within a larger phase space, opening the question whether strong photon-photon interaction can be still achieved. In this study, we positively answer this question for the case of a 2D square array of atoms coupled to the light confined into a two-dimensional waveguide.

Symptom control and health-related quality of life in allergic rhinitis with and without comorbid asthma: A multicentre European study.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a major non-communicable disease that affects the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. However, data on HRQoL and symptom control in AR patients with comorbid asthma (AR + asthma) are lacking.

Methods: In this multicentre, cross-sectional study, patients with AR were screened and administered questionnaires of demographic characteristics and health conditions (symptoms/diagnosis of AR and asthma, disease severity level, and allergic conditions).

Entanglement of Formation of Mixed Many-Body Quantum States via Tree Tensor Operators.

We present a numerical strategy to efficiently estimate bipartite entanglement measures, and in particular the entanglement of formation, for many-body quantum systems on a lattice. Our approach exploits the tree tensor operator tensor network Ansatz, a positive loopless representation for density matrices which, as we demonstrate, efficiently encodes information on bipartite entanglement, enabling the upscaling of entanglement estimation. Employing this technique, we observe a finite-size scaling law for the entanglement of formation in 1D critical lattice models at finite temperature for up to 128 spins, extending to mixed states the scaling law for the entanglement entropy.

Loop-free tensor networks for high-energy physics.

This brief review introduces the reader to tensor network methods, a powerful theoretical and numerical paradigm spawning from condensed matter physics and quantum information science and increasingly exploited in different fields of research, from artificial intelligence to quantum chemistry. Here, we specialize our presentation on the application of loop-free tensor network methods to the study of high-energy physics problems and, in particular, to the study of lattice gauge theories where tensor networks can be applied in regimes where Monte Carlo methods are hindered by the sign problem. This article is part of the theme issue 'Quantum technologies in particle physics'.

Lattice quantum electrodynamics in (3+1)-dimensions at finite density with tensor networks.

Gauge theories are of paramount importance in our understanding of fundamental constituents of matter and their interactions. However, the complete characterization of their phase diagrams and the full understanding of non-perturbative effects are still debated, especially at finite charge density, mostly due to the sign-problem affecting Monte Carlo numerical simulations. Here, we report the Tensor Network simulation of a three dimensional lattice gauge theory in the Hamiltonian formulation including dynamical matter: Using this sign-problem-free method, we simulate the ground states of a compact Quantum Electrodynamics at zero and finite charge densities, and address fundamental questions such as the characterization of collective phases of the model, the presence of a confining phase at large gauge coupling, and the study of charge-screening effects.

Author Correction: Self-verifying variational quantum simulation of lattice models.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Variational Spin-Squeezing Algorithms on Programmable Quantum Sensors.

Arrays of atoms trapped in optical tweezers combine features of programmable analog quantum simulators with atomic quantum sensors. Here we propose variational quantum algorithms, tailored for tweezer arrays as programmable quantum sensors, capable of generating entangled states on demand for precision metrology. The scheme is designed to generate metrological enhancement by optimizing it in a feedback loop on the quantum device itself, thus preparing the best entangled states given the available quantum resources.

Self-verifying variational quantum simulation of lattice models.

Hybrid classical-quantum algorithms aim to variationally solve optimization problems using a feedback loop between a classical computer and a quantum co-processor, while benefiting from quantum resources. Here we present experiments that demonstrate self-verifying, hybrid, variational quantum simulation of lattice models in condensed matter and high-energy physics. In contrast to analogue quantum simulation, this approach forgoes the requirement of realizing the targeted Hamiltonian directly in the laboratory, thus enabling the study of a wide variety of previously intractable target models.

Quantum Kibble-Zurek mechanism and critical dynamics on a programmable Rydberg simulator.

Quantum phase transitions (QPTs) involve transformations between different states of matter that are driven by quantum fluctuations. These fluctuations play a dominant part in the quantum critical region surrounding the transition point, where the dynamics is governed by the universal properties associated with the QPT. Although time-dependent phenomena associated with classical, thermally driven phase transitions have been extensively studied in systems ranging from the early Universe to Bose-Einstein condensates, understanding critical real-time dynamics in isolated, non-equilibrium quantum systems remains a challenge.

Prescriptive adherence to GINA guidelines and asthma control: An Italian cross sectional study in general practice.

Background: Although general practitioners (GPs) are frequently the first healthcare professionals whom asthma patients refer to for their symptoms, few studies have explored the extent of adherence to guidelines for asthma management based on data provided directly by GPs. Aims of the present study were to assess drug prescriptions for asthma by GPs and to evaluate prescriptive adherence to GINA guidelines (GL) and its relationship with disease control in real life.

Methods: 995 asthmatic patients (45% males, mean age 43.

Positive Tensor Network Approach for Simulating Open Quantum Many-Body Systems.

Open quantum many-body systems play an important role in quantum optics and condensed matter physics, and capture phenomena like transport, the interplay between Hamiltonian and incoherent dynamics, and topological order generated by dissipation. We introduce a versatile and practical method to numerically simulate one-dimensional open quantum many-body dynamics using tensor networks. It is based on representing mixed quantum states in a locally purified form, which guarantees that positivity is preserved at all times.

Crossover from Classical to Quantum Kibble-Zurek Scaling.

The Kibble-Zurek (KZ) hypothesis identifies the relevant time scales in out-of-equilibrium dynamics of critical systems employing concepts valid at equilibrium: It predicts the scaling of the defect formation immediately after quenches across classical and quantum phase transitions as a function of the quench speed. Here, we study the crossover between the scaling dictated by a slow quench, which is ruled by the critical properties of the quantum phase transition, and the excitations due to a faster quench, where the dynamics is often well described by the classical model. We estimate the value of the quench rate that separates the two regimes and support our argument using numerical simulations of the out-of-equilibrium many-body dynamics.

Respiratory symptoms/diseases prevalence is still increasing: a 25-yr population study.

Background: Few epidemiological surveys on general population samples estimated changes in prevalence of respiratory symptoms/diseases over a long time interval; our study aims to quantify the temporal changes in the prevalence rates of asthma, allergic rhinitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) after 25 years from baseline.

Methods: A general population sample participated in 3 cross-sectional surveys carried out in Central Italy (Pisa) in 1985-88 (n = 3865), 1991-93 (n = 2841), 2009-11 (n = 1620). 2276 (47%) subjects participated in at least 1 survey, 1723 (35.

Short-time spin dynamics in strongly correlated few-fermion systems.

The nonequilibrium spin dynamics of a one-dimensional system of repulsively interacting fermions is studied by means of density-matrix renormalization group simulations. We focus on the short-time decay of the oscillation amplitudes of the centers of mass of spin-up and spin-down fermions. Because of many body effects, the decay is found to evolve from quadratic to linear in time, and eventually back to quadratic as the strength of the interaction increases.

The ARGA study with Italian general practitioners: prescriptions for allergic rhinitis and adherence to ARIA guidelines.

Background: General practitioners (GPs) are the healthcare professionals to whom patients with rhinitis firstly refer for their symptoms.

Objective: In the present study, we assessed drug prescriptions for allergic rhinitis (AR) and evaluated prescriptive adherence to ARIA treatment guidelines.

Methods: Data on 1379 AR patients were collected by 107 Italian GPs.

The ARGA study with general practitioners: impact of medical education on asthma/rhinitis management.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of a medical education course (MEC) on the behaviour of general practitioners (GPs) to treat asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods: Data on 1820 patients (mean age 41 yrs ± 17 yrs) with asthma or AR were collected by 107 Italian GPs: 50% attended a MEC and 50% didn't (group B). The adherence for AR and asthma treatment was evaluated according to ARIA and GINA guidelines (GL).

An expression system for the single-step production of recombinant human amidated calcitonin.

Amidating mouse pituitary cells (AtT-20) have been engineered to secrete human calcitonin (hCT) in the fully active amidated form, without the need of additional enzymatic or chemical modifications. The 141-residue human calcitonin precursor has first been cloned in the eucaryotic expression vector pRc/RSV, and the resulting plasmid pRc/RSV/hCT introduced in AtT-20 cells. After transfection, 122 independent clones resistant to G-418 were selected and screened for calcitonin production using a competitive ELISA specifically designed to detect the amidated form of calcitonin.