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A diagnostic system for measuring the effective charge in the versatile experiment spherical torus (VEST) has been developed. The system utilizes a toroidal array to observe the plasma radius on the low magnetic field side, providing a spatially resolved Zeff. The target wavelength of visible bremsstrahlung (VB) was carefully selected to avoid contamination by line emissions. The detector signal was calibrated using a halogen light source and an integrating sphere to obtain an absolute value of the radiative power from each chord. The local emissivity profile was reconstructed from the line-integrated VB emission using the Abel inversion method. Reconstruction tests were performed on various shapes of phantom profiles to effectively reconstruct the local emissivity from the measurements. We found that the initial measurements of the multi-channel VB system were consistent with the results of other independent measurements, supporting the validity of the new measurements. Finally, we obtained the initial result of Zeff in the VEST., (© 2024 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.)

Polarons-fermionic charge carriers bearing a strong companion lattice deformation-exhibit a natural tendency for self-localization due to the recursive interaction between electrons and the lattice. While polarons are ubiquitous in insulators, how they evolve in transitions to metallic and superconducting states in quantum materials remains an open question. Here, we use resonant inelastic x-ray scattering to track the electron-lattice coupling in the colossal magneto-resistive bi-layer manganite La_{1.2}Sr_{1.8}Mn_{2}O_{7} across its metal-to-insulator transition. The response in the insulating high-temperature state features harmonic emissions of a dispersionless oxygen phonon at small energy transfer. Upon cooling into the metallic state, we observe a drastic redistribution of spectral weight from the region of these harmonic emissions to a broad high energy continuum. In concert with theoretical calculations, we show that this evolution implies a shift in electron-lattice coupling from static to dynamic lattice distortions that leads to a distinct polaronic ground state in the low temperature metallic phase-a dynamic polaron liquid.

Background: Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) has become one of the most common causes of cicatricial alopecia worldwide. However, there is a lack of clear aetiology and robust clinical trial evidence for the efficacy and safety of agents currently used for treatment., Objectives: To enable data to be collected worldwide on FFA using common criteria and assessment methods., Methods: A multicentre, international group of experts in hair loss was convened by email to create consensus recommendations for clinical trials. Consensus was defined at > 90% agreement on each recommended part of these guidelines., Results: Standardized diagnostic criteria, severity rating, staging, and investigator and patient assessment of scalp hair loss and other clinical features of FFA were created., Conclusions: These guidelines should allow the collection of reliable aggregate data on FFA and advance efforts in both clinical and basic research to close knowledge gaps in this condition., (© 2021 British Association of Dermatologists.)

The discovery of superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates brings us tantalizingly close to a material class that mirrors the cuprate superconductors. We measured the magnetic excitations in these nickelates using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at the Ni L 3 -edge. Undoped NdNiO 2 possesses a branch of dispersive excitations with a bandwidth of approximately 200 milli-electron volts, which is reminiscent of the spin wave of strongly coupled, antiferromagnetically aligned spins on a square lattice. The substantial damping of these modes indicates the importance of coupling to rare-earth itinerant electrons. Upon doping, the spectral weight and energy decrease slightly, whereas the modes become overdamped. Our results highlight the role of Mottness in infinite-layer nickelates., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.)

Time-resolved resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) is one of the developing techniques enabled by the advent of X-ray free electron laser (FEL). It is important to evaluate how the FEL jitter, which is inherent in the self-amplified spontaneous emission process, influences the RIXS measurement. Here, we use a microchannel plate (MCP) based Timepix soft X-ray detector to conduct a time-resolved RIXS measurement at the Ti L 3 -edge on a charge-density-wave material TiSe 2 . The fast parallel Timepix readout and single photon sensitivity enable pulse-by-pulse data acquisition and analysis. Due to the FEL jitter, low detection efficiency of spectrometer, and low quantum yield of RIXS process, we find that less than 2% of the X-ray FEL pulses produce signals, preventing acquiring sufficient data statistics while maintaining temporal and energy resolution in this measurement. These limitations can be mitigated by using future X-ray FELs with high repetition rates, approaching MHz such as the European XFEL in Germany and LCLS-II in the USA, as well as by utilizing advanced detectors, such as the prototype used in this study.

Experiments using a THz pump and an X-ray probe at an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) facility like the Linac Coherent Light Source II (LCLS II) require frequency-tunable (3 to 20 THz), narrow bandwidth (∼10%), carrier-envelope-phase-stable THz pulses that produce high fields (>1 MV cm -1 ) at the repetition rate of the X-rays and are well synchronized with them. In this paper, a two-bunch scheme to generate THz radiation at LCLS II is studied: the first bunch produces THz radiation in an electromagnet wiggler immediately following the LCLS II undulator that produces X-rays from the second bunch. The initial time delay between the two bunches is optimized to compensate for the path difference in THz transport. The two-bunch beam dynamics, the THz wiggler and radiation are described, as well as the transport system bringing the THz pulses from the wiggler to the experimental hall., (open access.)

The search continues for nickel oxide-based materials with electronic properties similar to cuprate high-temperature superconductors 1-10 . The recent discovery of superconductivity in the doped infinite-layer nickelate NdNiO 2 (refs. 11,12 ) has strengthened these efforts. Here, we use X-ray spectroscopy and density functional theory to show that the electronic structure of LaNiO 2 and NdNiO 2 , while similar to the cuprates, includes significant distinctions. Unlike cuprates, the rare-earth spacer layer in the infinite-layer nickelate supports a weakly interacting three-dimensional 5d metallic state, which hybridizes with a quasi-two-dimensional, strongly correlated state with [Formula: see text] symmetry in the NiO 2 layers. Thus, the infinite-layer nickelate can be regarded as a sibling of the rare-earth intermetallics 13-15 , which are well known for heavy fermion behaviour, where the NiO 2 correlated layers play an analogous role to the 4f states in rare-earth heavy fermion compounds. This Kondo- or Anderson-lattice-like 'oxide-intermetallic' replaces the Mott insulator as the reference state from which superconductivity emerges upon doping.

Reports of spatial patterns of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'-infected asymptomatic citrus trees and 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) are rare, as are published relationships between huanglongbing (HLB), ACP, and weather. Here, spatial patterns of 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive asymptomatic and symptomatic trees were determined every half year in a small grove over 2.5 years, and of HLB-symptomatic trees and ('Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive) ACP populations every month in two commercial groves for 1 year. Spread of symptomatic trees followed that of asymptomatic 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive trees with <6 months' delay. 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive asymptomatic and symptomatic fronts moved at 2.5 to 3.6 m month -1 . No spatial relationship was detected between ACP populations and HLB-infected trees. HLB incidence and 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive ACP dynamics were tentatively positively correlated with monthly rainfall data and, to a lesser extent, with average minimum temperature.

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB), associated with 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (Las), disseminated by Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), has devastated citrus in Florida since 2005. Data on HLB occurrence were stored in databases (2005 to 2012). Cumulative HLB-positive citrus blocks were subjected to kernel density analysis and kriging. Relative disease incidence per county was calculated by dividing HLB numbers by relative tree numbers and maximum incidence. Spatiotemporal HLB distributions were correlated with weather. Relative HLB incidence correlated positively with rainfall. The focus expansion rate was 1626 m month -1 , similar to that in Brazil. Relative HLB incidence in counties with primarily large groves increased at a lower rate (0.24 year -1 ) than in counties with smaller groves in hotspot areas (0.67 year -1 ), confirming reports that large-scale HLB management may slow epidemic progress.

High-temperature copper oxide superconductors consist of stacked CuO 2 planes, with electronic band structures and magnetic excitations that are primarily two-dimensional 1,2 , but with superconducting coherence that is three-dimensional. This dichotomy highlights the importance of out-of-plane charge dynamics, which has been found to be incoherent in the normal state 3,4 within the limited range of momenta accessible by optics. Here we use resonant inelastic X-ray scattering to explore the charge dynamics across all three dimensions of the Brillouin zone. Polarization analysis of recently discovered collective excitations (modes) in electron-doped copper oxides 5-7 reveals their charge origin, that is, without mixing with magnetic components 5-7 . The excitations disperse along both the in-plane and out-of-plane directions, revealing its three-dimensional nature. The periodicity of the out-of-plane dispersion corresponds to the distance between neighbouring CuO 2 planes rather than to the crystallographic c-axis lattice constant, suggesting that the interplane Coulomb interaction is responsible for the coherent out-of-plane charge dynamics. The observed properties are hallmarks of the long-sought 'acoustic plasmon', which is a branch of distinct charge collective modes predicted for layered systems 8-12 and argued to play a substantial part in mediating high-temperature superconductivity 10-12 .

The incidence of atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) was 2.95% among 6644 hip and femoral fractures. Independent risk factors included the use of bisphosphonates (BPs), osteopenia or osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, increased femoral curvatures, and thicker femoral cortices. Patients with AFFs and BP treatment were more likely to have problematic healing than those with typical femoral fractures (TFFs) and no BP treatment., Introduction: To determine the incidence and risk factors of atypical femoral fractures (AFFs), we performed a multicenter case-control study. We also investigated the effects of bisphosphonates (BPs) on AFF healing., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiographs of 6644 hip and femoral fractures of patients from eight tertiary referral hospitals. All the radiographs were reviewed to distinguish AFFs from TFFs. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors, and interaction analyses were used to investigate the effects of BPs on fracture healing., Results: The incidence of AFFs among 6644 hip and femoral fractures was 2.95% (90 subtrochanter and 106 femoral shaft fractures). All patients were females with a mean age of 72 years, and 75.5% were exposed to BPs for an average duration of 5.2 years (range, 1-17 years). The use of BPs was significantly associated with AFFs (p < 0.001, odds ratio = 25.65; 95% confidence interval = 10.74-61.28). Other independent risk factors for AFFs included osteopenia or osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, increased anterior and lateral femoral curvatures, and thicker lateral femoral cortex at the shaft level. Interaction analyses showed that patients with AFFs using BPs had a significantly higher risk of problematic fracture healing than those with TFFs and no BP treatment., Conclusions: The incidence of AFFs among 6644 hip and femoral fractures was 2.95%. Osteopenia or osteoporosis, use of BPs, rheumatoid arthritis, increased anterior and lateral femoral curvatures, and thicker lateral femoral cortex were independent risk factors for the development of AFFs. Patients with AFFs and BP treatment were more likely to have problematic fracture healing than those with TFFs and no BP treatment.

Background and Objective: Growth factors are frequently incorporated into scaffolds to promote periodontal regeneration but many currently used scaffolds do not encourage cell migration towards the dentogingival junction. We examined the proliferation and migration of human gingival fibroblasts in a novel, physically robust, collagen-Vicryl™ membrane loaded with fibronectin (FN) and/or insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I). Biocompatibility of the membranes was evaluated in rat dorsal skin., Material and Methods: Chemotaxis was examined in Boyden chambers and cell migration by confocal imaging of membranes, which were fabricated from rat tail type I collagen with embedded Vicryl knitted mesh, IGF-I (50, 100 ng/mL) and FN (10 μg/mL). Membranes (Vicryl alone, collagen+Vicryl, collagen+Vicryl+IGF-I, collagen+Vicryl+FN') were implanted subcutaneously in 8 rats and were evaluated by histomorphometry after 7 and 14 days., Results: IGF-I (50 or 100 ng/mL) promoted chemotaxis compared with vehicle controls (P = .02, P = .001, respectively). IGF-I did not affect cell proliferation. Incorporation of FN retarded time-dependent release of IGF-I from collagen gels. Three dimensional confocal microscopy imaging of cell migration through collagen+Vicryl membranes showed enhanced migration in the IGF+FN group compared to all other groups at 8, 10 and 14 days (P < .05). In a rat skin model, implanted membranes were surrounded by thin collagen capsules and mild inflammatory infiltrates., Conclusion: Incorporation of FN into IGF-I-loaded collagen+Vicryl membranes reduced IGF release from collagen and increased the migration of human gingival fibroblasts. The new membrane may promote healing and reformation of the dentogingival junction., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a hair follicle-specific autoimmune disorder. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with various autoimmune disorders for its immunomodulatory effects. However, in previous studies, there had been inconsistent association found between AA and vitamin D deficiency., Objective: To demonstrate the differences of the mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and prevalence of vitamin D deficiency between AA patients and non-AA population., Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies on AA and serum vitamin D levels and/or prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was performed searching MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases., Results: In all, 14 studies including a total of 1255 AA subjects and 784 non-AA control were analysed. The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was significantly lower in AA subjects (-8.52 ng/dL; 95% confidential interval; -5.50 to -11.53). The AA subjects had higher odds of vitamin D deficiency (odds ratio of 3.89; 2.02 to 7.49, mean prevalence of 73.8%; 59.1 to 84.6%). However, it was difficult to find clear correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and extent of hair loss in AA subjects., Conclusion: The AA subjects had lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level, and vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent compared to non-AA controls. Hence, vitamin D deficiency should be assessed in AA patients. Furthermore, nutritional supplementation of vitamin D or topical vitamin D analogues can be considered for AA patients with vitamin D deficiency. The limitation of this study is the highly heterogeneity of the included studies., (© 2018 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Study Question: Are the concentrations of five criteria air pollutants associated with probabilities of biochemical pregnancy loss and intrauterine pregnancy in women?, Summary Answer: Increased concentrations of ambient particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and after embryo transfer were associated with a decreased probability of intrauterine pregnancy., What Is Known Already: Exposure to high ambient air pollution was suggested to be associated with low fertility and high early pregnancy loss in women., Study Design, Size, Duration: Using a retrospective cohort study design, we analysed 6621 cycles of 4581 patients who underwent one or more fresh IVF cycles at a fertility centre from January 2006 to December 2014, and lived in Seoul at the time of IVF treatment., Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: To estimate patients' individual exposure to air pollution, we computed averages of hourly concentrations of five air pollutants including PM10, NO2, CO, sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) measured at 40 regulatory monitoring sites in Seoul for each of the four exposure periods: period 1 (start of COS to oocyte retrieval), period 2 (oocyte retrieval to embryo transfer), period 3 (embryo transfer to hCG test), and period 4 (start of COS to hCG test). Hazard ratios (HRs) from the time-varying Cox-proportional hazards model were used to estimate probabilities of biochemical pregnancy loss and intrauterine pregnancy for an interquartile range (IQR) increase in each air pollutant concentration during each period, after adjusting for individual characteristics. We tested the robustness of the result using generalised linear mixed model, accounting for within-woman correlation., Main Results and the Role of Chance: Mean age of the women was 35 years. Average BMI was 20.9 kg/m2 and the study population underwent 1.4 IVF cycles on average. Cumulative pregnancy rate in multiple IVF cycles was 51.3% per person. Survival analysis showed that air pollution during periods 1 and 3 was generally associated with IVF outcomes. Increased NO2 (adjusted HR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.87, 0.99) and CO (0.94, 95% CI: 0.89, 1.00) during period 1 were associated with decreased probability of intrauterine pregnancy. PM10 (0.92, 95% CI: 0.85, 0.99), NO2 (0.93, 95% CI = 0.86, 1.00) and CO (0.93, 95% CI: 0.87, 1.00) levels during period 3 were also inversely associated with intrauterine pregnancy. Both PM10 (1.17, 95% CI: 1.04 1.33) and NO2 (1.18, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.34) during period 3 showed positive associations with biochemical pregnancy loss., Limitations, Reasons for Caution: The district-specific ambient air pollution treated as an individual exposure may not represent the actual level of each woman's exposure to air pollution. Smoking, working status, parity or gravidity of women, and semen analysis data were not included in the analysis., Wider Implications of the Findings: This study provided evidence of an association between increased ambient concentrations of PM10, NO2 and CO and reduced probabilities for achieving intrauterine pregnancy using multiple IVF cycle data. Specifically, our results indicated that lower intrauterine pregnancy rates in IVF cycles may be linked to ambient air pollution during COS and the post-transfer period., Study Funding/competing Interest(s): This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (2013 R1A6A3A04059017, 2016 R1D1A1B03933410 and 2018 R1A2B6004608) and the National Cancer Center of Korea (NCC-1810220-01). The authors report no conflicts of interest., Trial Registration Number: N/A.

Aim: Pregnant women have been recommended to take FA daily to prevent birth defects in the brain and spinal cord. We previously showed that folic acid (FA) exerts an anti-angiogenic activity. As angiogenesis is important for endometrial reorganization and embryonic development, there should be some mechanisms to allow the pregnant mother and the foetus to escape from the FA-induced anti-angiogenesis. This study was designed to investigate the effect of female sex hormones on the FA-induced anti-angiogenic activity., Methods: The protein levels and protein-protein interaction were examined by Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation assay respectively. The cell proliferation and migration were examined by MTT assay and wound healing assay respectively. The in vivo angiogenesis was evaluated by Matrigel angiogenesis assay., Results: In human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVEC), FA receptor (FR) formed a complex with progesterone receptor (PR), oestradiol receptor (ER) and cSrc. Pregnancy levels of progesterone (P4) or oestradiol (E2) prevented FA-induced inhibitions of proliferation and migration in HUVEC. Both E2 and P4 prevented the FA-induced anti-angiogenesis in vivo. Moreover, cotreatment with FA and P4 or E2 inhibited the signalling pathways involved in FA-induced inhibitions of proliferation and migration in HUVEC., Conclusion: Female sex hormones interrupt the FA-induced anti-angiogenic action through receptor-receptor interaction., (© 2017 Scandinavian Physiological Society. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Cell extensions are critical structures that enable matrix remodeling in wound healing and cancer invasion but the regulation of their formation is not well-defined. We searched for new proteins that mediated cell extension formation over collagen by tandem mass tagged mass spectrometry analysis of purified extensions in 3T3 fibroblasts. Unexpectedly, importin-5, ENH isoform 1b (PDLIM5) and 26 S protease regulatory subunit 6B (PSMC4) were more abundant (> 10-fold) in membrane-penetrating cell extensions than cell bodies, which was confirmed by immunostaining and immunoblotting and also observed in human gingival fibroblasts. After siRNA knockdown of these proteins and plating cells on grid-supported floating collagen gels for 6 h, formation of cell extensions and collagen remodeling were examined. Knockdown of importin-5 reduced collagen compaction (1.9-fold), pericellular collagen degradation (~ 1.8-fold) and number of cell extensions (~ 69%). Knockdown of PSMC4 reduced collagen compaction (~ 1.5-fold), pericellular collagen degradation (~ 1.7-fold) and number of cell extensions (~ 42%). Knockdown of PDLIM5 reduced collagen compaction (~ 1.6-fold) and number of cell extensions (~ 21%). Inhibition of the TGF-β RI kinase, Smad3 or ROCK-II signaling pathways reduced the abundance of PDLIM5 in cell extensions but PSMC4 and importin-5 were reduced only by Smad3 or ROCK-II inhibitors. We conclude that these novel proteins are required for cell extension formation and their recruitment into extensions involves the Smad3 and ROCK signaling pathways., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We introduce the Clouds Above the United States and Errors at the Surface (CAUSES) project with its aim of better understanding the physical processes leading to warm screen temperature biases over the American Midwest in many numerical models. In this first of four companion papers, 11 different models, from nine institutes, perform a series of 5 day hindcasts, each initialized from reanalyses. After describing the common experimental protocol and detailing each model configuration, a gridded temperature data set is derived from observations and used to show that all the models have a warm bias over parts of the Midwest. Additionally, a strong diurnal cycle in the screen temperature bias is found in most models. In some models the bias is largest around midday, while in others it is largest during the night. At the Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains (SGP) site, the model biases are shown to extend several kilometers into the atmosphere. Finally, to provide context for the companion papers, in which observations from the SGP site are used to evaluate the different processes contributing to errors there, it is shown that there are numerous locations across the Midwest where the diurnal cycle of the error is highly correlated with the diurnal cycle of the error at SGP. This suggests that conclusions drawn from detailed evaluation of models using instruments located at SGP will be representative of errors that are prevalent over a larger spatial scale.

In vivo T-cell depletion using anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is widely used in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for prophylaxis of GvHD. We investigated the influence of thymoglobulin dose (an ATG) on GvHD following matched sibling donor (MSD) HSCT with a busulfan and fludarabine preparative regimen. Medical records of 180 patients who received MSD HSCT with a conditioning regimen of busulfan, fludarabine, and ATG (BuFluATG) were reviewed retrospectively. The median age was 53 years (range 18-68). Initial diagnoses were acute myeloid leukemia (73.3%) and myelodysplastic syndrome (26.7%). Forty-four and 68 patients (24.4 and 37.7%) experienced acute and chronic GvHD of any grade, respectively. High-dose (⩾4.5 mg/kg) ATG was independently associated with decreased risk of acute GvHD (hazard ratio=0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.84, P=0.019) compared to low-dose ATG (<4.5 mg/kg). Although ATG dose was associated with the risk of acute GvHD, it was not associated with the risk of chronic GvHD in our study. A higher dose (⩾4.5 mg/kg) of ATG decreases the risk of acute GvHD but had no significant impact on disease-free survival in MSD HSCT patients conditioned with BuFluATG. The optimal dose of ATG should be further investigated in a large prospective study context.

The interactions that lead to the emergence of superconductivity in iron-based materials remain a subject of debate. It has been suggested that electron-electron correlations enhance electron-phonon coupling in iron selenide (FeSe) and related pnictides, but direct experimental verification has been lacking. Here we show that the electron-phonon coupling strength in FeSe can be quantified by combining two time-domain experiments into a "coherent lock-in" measurement in the terahertz regime. X-ray diffraction tracks the light-induced femtosecond coherent lattice motion at a single phonon frequency, and photoemission monitors the subsequent coherent changes in the electronic band structure. Comparison with theory reveals a strong enhancement of the coupling strength in FeSe owing to correlation effects. Given that the electron-phonon coupling affects superconductivity exponentially, this enhancement highlights the importance of the cooperative interplay between electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions., (Copyright © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science.)

We performed a retrospective study of 1868 consecutive unrelated donors to predict the risk factors related to general discomfort, limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) and intention of a second donation in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) donation. General discomfort and limitations in ADLs were assessed by numerical measurement (scores of 0-10) and donor's intention of a second donation by yes or no reply. The post-donation questionnaires were completed within 48 h after HSC collection and at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 4 months thereafter. Predictors of general discomfort included female sex (P<0.0001), bone marrow (BM) collection (P<0.0001) or PBSC collection through a central line (CL; P=0.0349), 2-day collection (P=0.0150) and negative or undetermined intention of a second donation on day 1 (P<0.0001). Predictors of limitations in ADLs included age group of 30-39 years (P=0.0046), female sex (P<0.0001), BM collection (P<0.0001) or PBSC collection through a CL (P<0.0001) and negative or undetermined intention of a second donation on day 1 (P<0.0001). The only predictor of positive intention of a second donation was male sex (P=0.0007). Age, sex and collection method and period should be considered risk factors when unrelated HSC donation is performed.

The existence of charge-density-wave (CDW) correlations in cuprate superconductors has now been established. However, the nature of the CDW ground state has remained uncertain because disorder and the presence of superconductivity typically limit the CDW correlation lengths to only a dozen unit cells or less. Here we explore the field-induced 3D CDW correlations in extremely pure detwinned crystals of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 2 (YBCO) ortho-II and ortho-VIII at magnetic fields in excess of the resistive upper critical field ([Formula: see text]) where superconductivity is heavily suppressed. We observe that the 3D CDW is unidirectional and possesses a long in-plane correlation length as well as significant correlations between neighboring CuO 2 planes. It is significant that we observe only a single sharply defined transition at a critical field proportional to [Formula: see text], given that the field range used in this investigation overlaps with other high-field experiments including quantum oscillation measurements. The correlation volume is at least two to three orders of magnitude larger than that of the zero-field CDW. This is by far the largest CDW correlation volume observed in any cuprate crystal and so is presumably representative of the high-field ground state of an "ideal" disorder-free cuprate., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Extensive portomesenteric venous thrombus preventing restoration of adequate portal venous flow used to be considered a contraindication to liver transplantation. The subject was a 49-year-old male with hepatitis B cirrhosis and extensive thrombosis of portal, splenic, and superior mesenteric veins, and two large collateral vessels; one dilated and tortuous inferior to the pancreaticoduodenal vein and relevant to splanchnic venous return and the other a dilated coronary vein relevant to splenic venous return. During operation, the portal vein was anastomosed to these large collateral vessels using cryopreserved iliac vein. In conclusion, portal reconstruction with large collateral vessels in living-donor liver transplantation could be used selectively for patients with extensive portomesenteric venous thrombosis., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We report a time-resolved study of the ultrafast dynamics of the magnetic moments formed by the [Formula: see text] states in Sr2IrO4 by directly probing the localized iridium 5d magnetic state through resonant x-ray diffraction. Using optical pump-hard x-ray probe measurements, two relaxation time scales were determined: a fast fluence-independent relaxation is found to take place on a time scale of 1.5 ps, followed by a slower relaxation on a time scale of 500 ps-1.5 ns.

Introduction: Open disclosure is poorly understood in Malaysia but is an ethical and professional responsibility. The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) the perception of parents regarding the severity of medical error in relation to medication use or diagnosis; (2) the preference of parents for information following the medical error and its relation to severity; and (3) the preference of parents with regards to disciplinary action, reporting, and legal action., Methods: We translated and contextualised a questionnaire developed from a previous study. The questionnaire consisted of four case vignettes that described the following: medication error with a lifelong complication; diagnostic error with a lifelong complication; diagnostic error without lifelong effect; and medication error without lifelong effect. Each case vignette was followed by a series of questions examining the subject's perception on the above areas. We also determined the content validity of the questionnaire. We invited parents of Malaysian children admitted to the paediatric wards of Tuanku Jaafar Hospital to participate in the study., Results: One hundred and twenty-three parents participated in the study. The majority of parents wanted to be told regarding the event. As the severity of the case vignettes increased, the desire for information, remedial action, acknowledgement of responsibility, compensation, punishment, legal action, and reporting to a higher agency also increased. The findings did not have strong evidence of a relationship with subject's demographics., Conclusion: This study gives insights into previously unexplored perspectives and preferences of parents in Malaysia regarding open disclosure. It also highlights the opportunity for more research in this area with potentially broad applications.

Background: Everolimus, an oral mTOR inhibitor, has single-agent activity against relapsed lymphomas. Thus, we carried out a phase II study of everolimus in combination with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) as a first-line treatment for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) based on our phase I study results., Patients and Methods: Participants (n = 30) received CHOP with 5 mg everolimus per day from day 1 to 14 every 21 days for a total of six cycles. The primary end point was the overall response rate (ORR), which included complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) to this regimen. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of phosphatase and tensin homology (PTEN) and phosphorylated S6 kinase (pS6K) as a response., Results: The objective response rate was 90% with CR (n = 17) and PR (n = 10). The CR rate was different among subtypes; angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL, n = 3) had a CR whereas PTCL-not-otherwise specified and ALK-negative anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) patients showed 63% (12/19) and 29% (2/7) of CR rate, respectively. This difference in CR rate among subtypes was associated with PTEN loss because PTEN loss was not seen in AITL but 33% of ALCL patients. The most common toxicity was hematological, with 80% of patients experiencing at least one event of grade 3/4 neutropenia, and 60% of patients had grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia., Conclusion: The everolimus plus CHOP was effective for PTCL patients, and its efficacy might be related with the preservation of PTEN., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Measurements of spin excitations are essential for an understanding of spin-mediated pairing for superconductivity; and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) provides a considerable opportunity to probe high-energy spin excitations. However, whether RIXS correctly measures the collective spin excitations of doped superconducting cuprates remains under debate. Here we demonstrate distinct Raman- and fluorescence-like RIXS excitations of Bi1.5Pb0.6Sr1.54CaCu2O(8+δ). Combining photon-energy and momentum dependent RIXS measurements with theoretical calculations using exact diagonalization provides conclusive evidence that the Raman-like RIXS excitations correspond to collective spin excitations, which are magnons in the undoped Mott insulators and evolve into paramagnons in doped superconducting compounds. In contrast, the fluorescence-like shifts are due primarily to the continuum of particle-hole excitations in the charge channel. Our results show that under the proper experimental conditions RIXS indeed can be used to probe paramagnons in doped high-Tc cuprate superconductors.

Charge density wave (CDW) correlations have been shown to universally exist in cuprate superconductors. However, their nature at high fields inferred from nuclear magnetic resonance is distinct from that measured with x-ray scattering at zero and low fields. We combined a pulsed magnet with an x-ray free-electron laser to characterize the CDW in YBa2Cu3O6.67 via x-ray scattering in fields of up to 28 tesla. While the zero-field CDW order, which develops at temperatures below ~150 kelvin, is essentially two dimensional, at lower temperature and beyond 15 tesla, another three-dimensionally ordered CDW emerges. The field-induced CDW appears around the zero-field superconducting transition temperature; in contrast, the incommensurate in-plane ordering vector is field-independent. This implies that the two forms of CDW and high-temperature superconductivity are intimately linked., (Copyright © 2015, American Association for the Advancement of Science.)

Monosomal karyotype (MK) defined by either ⩾2 autosomal monosomies or single monosomy with at least one additional structural chromosomal abnormality is associated with a dismal prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It was detected in 174 of 3041 AML patients in South Korean Registry. A total of 119 patients who had received induction therapy were finally analyzed to evaluate the predictive factors for a positive prognosis. On multivariate analysis, single monosomy, the absence of abn(17p), ⩾10% of cells with normal metaphase and the achievement of a complete remission (CR) after induction therapy were significant factors for more favorable outcomes. Especially, single monosomy remained as a significantly independent prognostic factor for superior survival in both patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in CR and who did not. Allo-HSCT in CR improved overall survival significantly only in patients with a single monosomy. Our results suggest that MK-AML may be biologically different according to the karyotypic subtype and that allo-HSCT in CR should be strongly recommended to patients with a single monosomy. For other patients, more prudent treatment strategies should be examined. Furthermore, the biological mechanism by which a single monosomy influences survival should be investigated.

Migrating cells sense variations of stiffness in connective tissue matrices but how cells detect and respond to stiffness orientation is not defined. We examined cell extension formation on collagen with underlying support (vertical stiffness gradient) or on collagen laterally supported by nylon (lateral stiffness gradient). At 6 h after plating, cells plated on laterally-supported collagen exhibited >2-fold more abundant and ~2-fold longer cell extensions than cells plated on collagen with underlying support. We examined whether p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) influences extension formation that is dependent on the orientation of support. At 6 h after plating on collagen with underlying support, wild-type cell extensions were 40% shorter than PAK1 knockdown cells. In contrast, on laterally-supported collagen, wild-type cell extensions were 2-fold longer than PAK1 knockdown cells. In cells plated on laterally-supported collagen, there were ~2-fold reductions of collagen fiber alignment and compaction in PAK1 knockdown cells compared with wild-type cells. PAK1 knockdown did not affect collagen fiber alignment or compaction by cells plated on collagen with underlying support. Wild-type cells with lateral support of collagen exhibited 3-fold increases of phospho-myosin staining at 6h, which was 2-fold lower in PAK1 knockdown cells. In contrast, cells on collagen with underlying support showed no increase of phospho-myosin staining at any times. PAK1 knockdown did not affect α2 or β1 integrin expression or function. We conclude that PAK1 is involved in the ability of cells to sense the orientation of stiffness in collagen substrates and generate contractile forces that affect cell extension formation., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Static strain in complex oxide heterostructures has been extensively used to engineer electronic and magnetic properties at equilibrium. In the same spirit, deformations of the crystal lattice with light may be used to achieve functional control across heterointerfaces dynamically. Here, by exciting large-amplitude infrared-active vibrations in a LaAlO3 substrate we induce magnetic order melting in a NdNiO3 film across a heterointerface. Femtosecond resonant soft X-ray diffraction is used to determine the spatiotemporal evolution of the magnetic disordering. We observe a magnetic melt front that propagates from the substrate interface into the film, at a speed that suggests electronically driven motion. Light control and ultrafast phase front propagation at heterointerfaces may lead to new opportunities in optomagnetism, for example by driving domain wall motion to transport information across suitably designed devices.

Background: KRAS mutations are common and clearly contribute to malignant progression. The frequency of NRAS mutations and their relationship to clinical, pathologic, and molecular features remains unclear., Methods: We evaluated 130 colorectal tumors for mutations in KRAS and NRAS gene. We tested for mutations in codons 61 and 146 of KRAS and codons 12, 13, 59, 61 and 146 of NRAS. Mutation status was determined by targeted dideoxy sequencing., Results: Among the analyzed primary tumors, 36.2% had KRAS mutation. Of the 83 KRAS codon 12 and 13 wild-type patients, 7.2% had KRAS codon 61, 146 or NRAS. 40.7% harbored any RAS mutation., Conclusion: The frequency of other RAS (NRAS and KRAS exon 3, 4) activating mutations in colorectal cancers is relatively low in Korean colorectal cancer patients.

Ultrafast light pulses can modify electronic properties of quantum materials by perturbing the underlying, intertwined degrees of freedom. In particular, iron-based superconductors exhibit a strong coupling among electronic nematic fluctuations, spins and the lattice, serving as a playground for ultrafast manipulation. Here we use time-resolved X-ray scattering to measure the lattice dynamics of photoexcited BaFe2As2. On optical excitation, no signature of an ultrafast change of the crystal symmetry is observed, but the lattice oscillates rapidly in time due to the coherent excitation of an A1g mode that modulates the Fe-As-Fe bond angle. We directly quantify the coherent lattice dynamics and show that even a small photoinduced lattice distortion can induce notable changes in the electronic and magnetic properties. Our analysis implies that transient structural modification can be an effective tool for manipulating the electronic properties of multi-orbital systems, where electronic instabilities are sensitive to the orbital character of bands.

The anti-transplant rejection drug cyclosporin A (CsA) causes loss of collagen homeostasis in rapidly remodeling connective tissues, such as human gingiva. As a result of CsA treatment, collagen degradation by fibroblasts is inhibited, which leads to a net increase of tissue collagen and gingival overgrowth. Since fibrillar collagen is the primary ligand for the discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1), we hypothesized that CsA perturbs DDR1-associated functions that affect collagen homeostasis. For these experiments, human fibroblasts obtained from gingival explants or mouse 3T3 fibroblasts (wild type, over-expressing DDR1 or DDR1 knockdown) or mouse GD25 cells (expressing DDR1 but null for β1 integrin), were treated with vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide) or with CsA. The effect of CsA on cell binding to collagen was examined by flow cytometry; cell-mediated collagen remodeling was analyzed with contraction, compaction and migration assays. We found that CsA inhibited cell binding to collagen, internalization of collagen, contraction of collagen gels and cell migration over collagen in a DDR1-dependent manner. CsA also enhanced collagen compaction around cell extensions. Treatment with CsA strongly reduced surface levels of β1 integrins in wild type and DDR1 over-expressing 3T3 cells but did not affect β1 integrin activation or focal adhesion formation. We conclude that CsA inhibition of collagen remodeling is mediated through its effects on both DDR1 and cell surface levels of the β1 integrin., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Eukaryotic cells respond to various types of stresses caused by changes in the extracellular environment. Intracellular factors, such as the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), also cause stress and activate the unfolded protein response (UPR), which induces the expression of chaperones and proteins involved in the recovery process. However, if the stress is excessive or sustained, and ER function cannot be restored, the UPR triggers apoptosis, thereby removing the affected cell. It is now apparent that ER stress is also a potent trigger for autophagy, a self-degradative process that has an adaptive function. This review surveys the intersection of ER stress and autophagy and highlights the potential therapeutic implications thereof.

We investigated the impact of rice prolamin extract (RPE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor (NF)-κB signalling in intestinal epithelial cells and macrophages, and determined the therapeutic efficacy of RPE in acute murine colitis. The effect of RPE on LPS-induced NF-κB signalling and proinflammatory gene expression was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, immunofluorescence and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The in-vivo efficacy of RPE was assessed in mice with 3% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Apoptotic and cellular proliferative activities were evaluated by immunostaining with cleaved caspase-3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibodies. RPE inhibited LPS-induced expression of monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and LPS-induced NF-κB signalling in intestinal epithelial cells and macrophages. RPE-fed, DSS-exposed mice showed less weight loss, longer colon length and lower histological score compared to control diet-fed, DSS-exposed mice. Immunostaining analysis revealed a significant decrease of cleaved caspase-3 positive cells in RPE-fed, DSS-exposed mice compared to DSS-exposed mice. Also, the number of PCNA-positive cells within intact colonic crypts decreased significantly in RPE-fed, DSS-exposed mice compared to control diet-fed, DSS-exposed mice. DSS-induced NF-κB signalling was inhibited by RPE. RPE ameliorates intestinal inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB activation and modulating intestinal apoptosis and cell proliferation in an acute murine colitis., (© 2014 British Society for Immunology.)

This study aimed to develop viable enzymes for bioconversion of resveratrol-glucoside into resveratrol. Out of 13 bacterial strains tested, Lactobacillus kimchi JB301 could completely convert polydatin into resveratrol. The purified enzyme had an optimum temperature of 30-40°C and optimum pH of pH 5.0 against polydatin. This enzyme showed high substrate specificities towards different substrates in the following order: isorhaponticin>>polydatin>>mulberroside A>oxyresveratrol-3-O-glucoside. Additionally, it rarely hydrolyzed astringin and desoxyrhaponticin. Based on these catalytic specificities, we suggest this enzyme be named stilbene glucoside-specific β-glucosidase. Furthermore, polydatin extracts from Polygonum cuspidatum were successfully converted to resveratrol with a high yield (of over 99%). Stilbene glucoside-specific β-glucosidase is the first enzyme isolated from lactic acid bacteria capable of bio-converting various stilbene glucosides into stilbene., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We report femtosecond resonant soft x-ray diffraction measurements of the dynamics of the charge order and of the crystal lattice in nonsuperconducting, stripe-ordered La1.875Ba0.125CuO4. Excitation of the in-plane Cu-O stretching phonon with a midinfrared pulse has been previously shown to induce a transient superconducting state in the closely related compound La1.675Eu0.2Sr0.125CuO4. In La1.875Ba0.125CuO4, we find that the charge stripe order melts promptly on a subpicosecond time scale. Surprisingly, the low temperature tetragonal (LTT) distortion is only weakly reduced, reacting on significantly longer time scales that do not correlate with light-induced superconductivity. This experiment suggests that charge modulations alone, and not the LTT distortion, prevent superconductivity in equilibrium.

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica has been deemed a potentially important threat to patients in critical care areas because of its multidrug-resistant phenotype and its ability to adapt to various environments. This review considers the incidence, factors which predispose to, and clinical features of, E. meningoseptica sepsis, along with antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of clinical E. meningoseptica isolates and reportedly successful measures for the prevention and control of infections caused by this bacterium. The English-language literature from the PubMed database was reviewed. The incidence of E. meningoseptica bacteraemia has increased over the last decade. Patients at high risk of E. meningoseptica infection include preterm children, the immunocompromised and those exposed to antibiotics in critical care units. Vancomycin, rifampicin, newer fluoroquinolones, piperacillin-tazobactam, minocycline and possibly tigecycline are preferred empirical choices for E. meningoseptica infection according to in-vitro susceptibility data. Combination therapy has been used for infections not responding to single agents. Saline, lipid, and chlorhexidine gluconate solutions as well as contaminated sinks have been implicated as sources of infection following outbreak investigations. In addition to reinforcement of standard infection control measures, actions that have successfully terminated E. meningoseptica outbreaks include pre-emptive contact isolation, systematic investigations to identify the source of the bacterium and thorough cleaning of equipment and environmental surfaces. As the clinical complexity and incidence of E. meningoseptica infections increase, there is a need for heightened awareness of the potential for this bacterium to cause outbreaks. This will permit timely initiation of active surveillance for infected/colonized patients as well as investigations to identify the likely source of the bacterium, which will, in turn, allow implementation of appropriate infection control measures., (Copyright © 2014 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Multiferroics have attracted strong interest for potential applications where electric fields control magnetic order. The ultimate speed of control via magnetoelectric coupling, however, remains largely unexplored. Here, we report an experiment in which we drove spin dynamics in multiferroic TbMnO3 with an intense few-cycle terahertz (THz) light pulse tuned to resonance with an electromagnon, an electric-dipole active spin excitation. We observed the resulting spin motion using time-resolved resonant soft x-ray diffraction. Our results show that it is possible to directly manipulate atomic-scale magnetic structures with the electric field of light on a sub-picosecond time scale.

As the oldest known magnetic material, magnetite (Fe3O4) has fascinated mankind for millennia. As the first oxide in which a relationship between electrical conductivity and fluctuating/localized electronic order was shown, magnetite represents a model system for understanding correlated oxides in general. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism of the insulator-metal, or Verwey, transition has long remained inaccessible. Recently, three-Fe-site lattice distortions called trimerons were identified as the characteristic building blocks of the low-temperature insulating electronically ordered phase. Here we investigate the Verwey transition with pump-probe X-ray diffraction and optical reflectivity techniques, and show how trimerons become mobile across the insulator-metal transition. We find this to be a two-step process. After an initial 300 fs destruction of individual trimerons, phase separation occurs on a 1.5±0.2 ps timescale to yield residual insulating and metallic regions. This work establishes the speed limit for switching in future oxide electronics.

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), or pattern hair loss, is a common disorder in both Asian men and women. There are several guidelines for the treatment of AGA which are suitable for Caucasian patients; however, each of these has some limitations. Furthermore, in comparison with Caucasian patients, Asian patients with AGA have different types of hair loss and family histories which may alter the treatment response. There is currently no published AGA guideline for Asian patients., Objectives: The Asian Consensus Committee for Androgenetic Alopecia aimed to develop an algorithmic guideline, based on the basic and specific (BASP) classification, for the treatment of AGA especially in Asian patients., Methods: The committee collaborated extensively on reviewing available literature on AGA treatment in order to formulate an algorithmic guideline on AGA management., Results: Previously published guidelines based on pre-existing classifications of AGA cannot easily classify the patterns of AGA that are more frequently seen in Asians. The BASP classification not only facilitates the development of a unified and simplified algorithm, but also overcomes the disadvantages of previously reported classification systems., Conclusions: The proposed treatment guideline for AGA based on the BASP classification may be useful for dermatologists in their approach to treating Asian patients with AGA in clinical practice. Ideally, clinicians should try to utilize this guideline consistently in their practice to monitor treatment response with the goal of enhancing successful outcomes. This will help boost patients' confidence and self-esteem, thus improving patient' compliance with the prescribed treatments., (© 2012 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology © 2012 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory gynaecological disease. Problems associated with endometriosis include dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia and infertility. We evaluated the omega-3 and fatty acid profiles in erythrocytes and tissues in patients with endometriosis (n = 10) or a functional ovarian cyst (n = 12), using a food frequency questionnaire that included questions about 117 food items typical of Korean meals. Erythrocyte levels of 20:5n3 and 22:6n3, the omega-3 index, and n-3 PUFA were significantly higher, and the n-6:n-3 ratio was significantly lower in the endometriosis group than in the functional ovarian cyst group. The functional ovarian cyst group consumed significantly more fruit than the group with endometriosis.