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The article reviews a theatrical opera production "Die Zauberin" (The Sorceress) by Vasily Barkhatov held in Frankfurt, Germany in 2022.

The article discusses Mexico's upcoming presidential elections, focusing on the likelihood of the country being governed by a woman for the first time, with Claudia Sheinbaum emerging as the frontrunner, amidst challenges posed by the legacy of the incumbent President Andrés Manuel López Obrado.

Schwer verletze Patienten benötigen nach Ende der Akutbehandlung eine qualifizierte und lückenlose Rehabilitation. Diese postakute Rehabilitation (Phase C) stellt hohe Anforderungen an die Rehabilitationseinrichtung bezüglich personeller, sachlicher, organisatorischer und räumlicher Voraussetzungen.

The industrial production of tungsten powder is carried out by the reduction of tungsten oxide powder via hydrogen. In this process, the size of the W particles is limited to particle sizes larger than 100 nm. To get below this limit, alternative processes are needed. In the current work, the possibility of preparing W powder below 100 nm via a vapour phase reduction of volatile WO2(OH)2by hydrogen was investigated. The process consists of two stages. In the first stag,e WO2(OH)2is formed by reacting WO3with water vapour at temperatures of 1000–1100 °C. In the second stage, WO2(OH)2is reduced by hydrogen at about 1000 °C to form metallic tungsten. The influence of process parameters such as furnace temperature, humidity and gas flow on the WO2(OH)2evaporation and formation of tungsten powder was investigated. The characterization of the resulting powders was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). By optimization of the reaction conditions, powder with a metallic tungsten content of about 70 at% besides tungsten oxides was produced with metal particle sizes down to 5 nm. Further optimization should lead to a high tungsten content and a high product yield. Due to the small particle size, applications in catalysis might be possible, although an industrial realization of the process seems unrealistic at moment.

Objectives: To evaluate the quantitative impact of drusen and hyperreflective foci (HRF) volumes on mesopic retinal sensitivity in non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: In a standardized follow-up scheme of every three months, retinal sensitivity of patients with early or intermediate AMD was assessed by microperimetry using a custom pattern of 45 stimuli (Nidek MP-3, Gamagori, Japan). Eyes were consecutively scanned using Spectralis SD-OCT (20° × 20°, 1024 × 97 × 496). Fundus photographs obtained by the MP-3 allowed to map the stimuli locations onto the corresponding OCT scans. The volume and mean thickness of drusen and HRF within a circle of 240 µm centred at each stimulus point was determined using automated AI-based image segmentation algorithms. Results: 8055 individual stimuli from 179 visits from 51 eyes of 35 consecutive patients were matched with the respective OCT images in a point-to-point manner. The patients mean age was 76.85 ± 6.6 years. Mean retinal sensitivity at baseline was 25.7 dB. 73.47% of all MP-spots covered drusen area and 2.02% of MP-spots covered HRF. A negative association between retinal sensitivity and the volume of underlying drusen (p< 0.001, Estimate −0.991 db/µm3) and HRF volume (p= 0.002, Estimate -5.230 db/µm3) was found. During observation time, no eye showed conversion to advanced AMD. Conclusion: A direct correlation between drusen and lower sensitivity of the overlying photoreceptors can be observed. For HRF, a small but significant correlation was shown, which is compromised by their small size. Biomarker quantification using AI-methods allows to determine the impact of sub-clinical features in the progression of AMD.

To identify disease activity and effects of intravitreal pegcetacoplan treatment on the topographic progression of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration quantified in spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) by automated deep learning assessment.

PurposeWhereas most human genes encode multiple mRNA isoforms with distinct function, clinical workflows for assessing this heterogeneity are not readily available. This is a substantial shortcoming, considering that up to 25% of disease-causing gene variants are suspected of disrupting mRNA splicing or mRNA abundance. Long-read sequencing can readily portray mRNA isoform diversity, but its sensitivity is relatively low due to insufficient transcriptome penetration.MethodsWe developed and applied capture-based target enrichment from patient RNA samples combined with Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing for the analysis of 123 hereditary cancer transcripts (capture and ultradeep long-read RNA sequencing (CAPLRseq)).ResultsValidating CAPLRseq, we confirmed 17 cases of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer/Lynch syndrome based on the demonstration of splicing defects and loss of allele expression of mismatch repair genes MLH1, PMS2, MSH2and MSH6. Using CAPLRseq, we reclassified two variants of uncertain significance in MSH6and PMS2as either likely pathogenic or benign.ConclusionOur data show that CAPLRseq is an automatable and adaptable workflow for effective transcriptome-based identification of disease variants in a clinical diagnostic setting.

To investigate the therapeutic effect of intravitreal pegcetacoplan on the inhibition of photoreceptor (PR) loss and thinning in geographic atrophy (GA) on conventional spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) imaging by deep learning–based automated PR quantification.

Silica films represent a unique two-dimensional film system, exhibiting both crystalline and vitreous forms. While much scientific work has focused on the atomic-scale features of this film system, mesoscale structures can play an important role for understanding confined space reactions and other applications of silica films. Here, we report on mesoscale structures in silica films grown under ultrahigh vacuum and examined with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Silica films can exhibit coexisting phases of monolayer, zigzag, and bilayer structures. Both holes in the film structure and atomic-scale substrate steps are observed to influence these coexisting phases. In particular, film regions bordering holes in silica bilayer films exhibit vitreous character, even in regions where the majority film structure is crystalline. At high coverages mixed zigzag and bilayer phases are observed at step edges, while at lower coverages silica phases with lower silicon densities are observed more prevalently near step edges. The STM images reveal that silica films exhibit rich structural diversity at the mesoscale.

The electrochemical behaviour of magnesium and different wrought alloys, AZ31, AE42, LAE442, and ZEK100, with and without heat treatment, was examined with the Mini-cell System by linear sweep voltammetry in 0.5 wt.% and 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The corrosion damage was characterised by scanning electron microscopy. Magnesium and the different alloys exhibited strong differences in their electrochemical behaviour. Alloying with aluminium increases the corrosion resistance. However, the magnitude of this improvement depends on uniform sizes and distributions of the Al-rich phases. Similarly, the influence of the heat treatment on the corrosion resistance depends on the produced distribution of precipitates. Magnesium and its alloys corrode quite rapidly in comparison with other metals, and there is pronounced hydrogen development. The latter increased with increasing NaCl concentration, although no great differences in the corrosion in both concentrations were observed, except on pure magnesium and ZEK100.

The electrochemical behaviour of magnesium and different wrought alloys, AZ31, AE42, LAE442, and ZEK100, with and without heat treatment, was examined with the Mini-cell System by linear sweep voltammetry in 0.5 wt.% and 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The corrosion damage was characterised by scanning electron microscopy. Magnesium and the different alloys exhibited strong differences in their electrochemical behaviour. Alloying with aluminium increases the corrosion resistance. However, the magnitude of this improvement depends on uniform sizes and distributions of the Al-rich phases. Similarly, the influence of the heat treatment on the corrosion resistance depends on the produced distribution of precipitates. Magnesium and its alloys corrode quite rapidly in comparison with other metals, and there is pronounced hydrogen development. The latter increased with increasing NaCl concentration, although no great differences in the corrosion in both concentrations were observed, except on pure magnesium and ZEK100.

PurposeApproximately 20% of patients with clinical familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) remain unsolved after molecular genetic analysis of the APCand other polyposis genes, suggesting additional pathomechanisms.MethodsWe applied multidimensional genomic analysis employing chromosomal microarray profiling, optical mapping, long-read genome and RNA sequencing combined with FISH and standard PCR of genomic and complementary DNA to decode a patient with an attenuated FAP that had remained unsolved by Sanger sequencing and multigene panel next-generation sequencing for years.ResultsWe identified a complex 3.9 Mb rearrangement involving 14 fragments from chromosome 5q22.1q22.3 of which three were lost, 1 reinserted into chromosome 5 and 10 inserted into chromosome 10q21.3 in a seemingly random order and orientation thus fulfilling the major criteria of chromothripsis. The rearrangement separates APCpromoter 1B from the coding ORF (open reading frame) thus leading to allele-specific downregulation of APCmRNA. The rearrangement also involves three additional genes implicated in the APC–Axin–GSK3B–β-catenin signalling pathway.ConclusionsBased on comprehensive genomic analysis, we propose that constitutional chromothripsis dampening APCexpression, possibly modified by additional APC–Axin–GSK3B–β-catenin pathway disruptions, underlies the patient’s clinical phenotype. The combinatorial approach we deployed provides a powerful tool set for deciphering unsolved familial polyposis and potentially other tumour syndromes and monogenic diseases.

Magnesium as biodegradable biomaterial could serve as bone augmentation material in implant dentistry. The knowledge about the predictability of the biodegradation process is essential as this process needs to go hand in hand with the formation of new bone to gradually replace the augmentation material. Therefore, this work aimed to assess if the electrochemistry (EC) measurements of the corrosion process correlate with the surface features at various time points during the surface degradation, in order to describe the degradation process of Mg and Mg alloys more reliably, under the assumption that differences in EC behavior can be detected and related to specific patterns on the surface.

The German Hodgkin Study Group's HD18 trial established the safety and efficacy of PET-guided eBEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone in escalated doses) for the treatment of advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma. However, because of a protocol amendment during the enrolment period (June 1, 2011) that changed standard treatment from eight to six cycles, the results of the HD18 trial have been partially immature. We report a prespecified 5-year follow-up analysis of the completed HD18 trial.

The article talks about the biographical portrait of a controversial Georg Etscheit about the conductor and environmentalist Enoch zu Guttenberg. It mentions that Guttenberg was active in many areas such as economic redevelopment of the ailing family business with ecological features, two marriages with offspring and numerous relationships, respected and uncomfortable political figure, militant fighter and warning in matters of environmental protection.

Introduction Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) with speech therapy might improve recovery from post-stroke aphasia. This three-armed sham-controlled blinded prospective proof-of-concept study tested 1 Hz subthreshold repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and 2-mA cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) on the right pars triangularis in subacute post-stroke aphasia.Patients and methods Sixty-three patients with left middle cerebral artery infarcts were recruited in five hospitals (Canada/United States/Germany, 01–2014/03–2018) and randomized to receive rTMS (N= 20), ctDCS (N= 24) or sham stimulation (N= 19) with ST for 10 days. Primary outcome variables were Z-score changes in naming, semantic fluency and comprehension tests and adverse event frequency. Secondary outcome variable was the percent change in the Unified Aphasia Score. Intention-to-treat analyses tested between-group effects at days 1 and 30 post-treatment with a pre-planned subgroup analysis for lesion location (affecting Broca’s area or not).Results Naming was significantly improved by rTMS (median = 1.91/interquartile range = 0.77/p =.01) at 30 days versus ctDCS (median = 1.11/interquartile range = 1.51) and sham stimulation (median = 1.02/interquartile range = 1.71). All other primary results were non-significant. The rTMS effect was driven by the patient subgroup with intact Broca’s area where NIBS tended to improve UnAS (median = 33.2%/interquartile range = 46.7%/p =.062) versus sham stimulation (median = 12.5%/interquartile range = 7.9%) at day 30. Conversely, in patients with infarcted Broca’s area, UnAS tended to improve more with sham stimulation (median = 75.0%/interquartile range = 86.9%/p =.053) versus NIBS (median = 12.7%/interquartile range = 31.7). Conclusion:We found a delayed positive effect of low-frequency rTMS targeting the right pars triangularis on the recovery of naming performance in subacute post-stroke aphasia. This intervention may be beneficial only in patients with morphologically intact Broca’s area.

IMPORTANCE: Large amounts of optical coherence tomographic (OCT) data of diabetic macular edema (DME) are acquired, but many morphologic features have yet to be identified and quantified. OBJECTIVE: To examine the volumetric change of intraretinal fluid (IRF) and subretinal fluid (SRF) in DME during anti–vascular endothelial growth factor treatment using deep learning algorithms. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial, the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (protocol T), assessed 6945 spectral-domain OCT volume scans of 570 eyes from 570 study participants with DME. The original trial was performed from August 21, 2012, to October 18, 2018. This analysis was performed from December 7, 2017, to January 15, 2020. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were treated according to a predefined, standardized protocol with aflibercept, ranibizumab, or bevacizumab with or without deferred laser. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The association of treatment with IRF and SRF volumes and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) during 12 months using deep learning algorithms. RESULTS: Among the 570 study participants (302 [53%] male; 369 [65%] white; mean [SD] age, 43.4 [12.6] years), the mean fluid volumes in the central 3 mm were 448.6 nL (95% CI, 412.3-485.0 nL) of IRF and 36.9 nL (95% CI, 27.0-46.7 nL) of SRF at baseline and 161.2 nL (95% CI, 135.1-187.4 nL) of IRF and 4.4 nL (95% CI, 1.7-7.1 nL) of SRF at 12 months. The presence of SRF at baseline was associated with a worse baseline BCVA Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) score of 63.2 (95% CI, 60.2-66.1) (approximate Snellen equivalent of 20/63 [95% CI, 20/50-20/63]) in eyes with SRF vs 66.9 (95% CI, 65.7-68.1) (approximate Snellen equivalent, 20/50 [95% CI, 20/40-20/50]) without SRF (P < .001) and a greater gain in ETDRS score (0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.8) every 4 weeks during follow-up in eyes with SRF at baseline vs 0.4 (95% CI, 0.3-0.5) in eyes without SRF at baseline (P = .02) when adjusted for baseline BCVA. Aflibercept was associated with greater reduction of IRF volume compared with bevacizumab after the first injection (difference, 79.8 nL; 95% CI, 5.3-162.5 nL; P < .001) and every 4 weeks thereafter (difference, 10.4 nL; 95% CI, 0.7-20.0 nL; P = .004). Ranibizumab was associated with a greater reduction of IRF after the first injection compared with bevacizumab (difference, 75.2 nL; 95% CI, 1.4-154.7 nL; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Automated segmentation of fluid in DME revealed that the presence of SRF was associated with lower baseline BCVA but with good response to anti–vascular endothelial growth factor therapy. These automated spectral-domain OCT analyses may be used clinically to assess anatomical change during therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01627249.

IMPORTANCE: The morphologic changes and their pathognomonic distribution in progressing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are not well understood. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the pathognomonic distribution and time course of morphologic patterns in AMD and to quantify changes distinctive for progression to macular neovascularization (MNV) and macular atrophy (MA). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study included optical coherence tomography (OCT) volumes from study participants with early or intermediate AMD in the fellow eye in the HARBOR (A Study of Ranibizumab Administered Monthly or on an As-needed Basis in Patients With Subfoveal Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration) trial. Patients underwent imaging monthly for 2 years (July 1, 2009, to August 31, 2012) following a standardized protocol. Data analysis was performed from June 1, 2018, to January 21, 2020. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: To obtain topographic correspondence between patients and over time, all scans were mapped into a joint reference frame. The time of progression to MNV and MA was established, and drusen volumes and hyperreflective foci (HRF) volumes were automatically segmented in 3 dimensions using validated artificial intelligence algorithms. Topographically resolved population means of these markers were constructed by averaging quantified drusen and HRF maps in the patient subgroups. RESULTS: Of 1097 patients enrolled in HARBOR, 518 (mean [SD] age, 78.1 [8.2] years; 309 [59.7%] female) had early or intermediate AMD in the fellow eye at baseline. During the 24-month follow-up period, 135 (26%) eyes developed MNV, 50 eyes (10%) developed MA, and 333 (64%) eyes did not progress to advanced AMD. Drusen and HRF had distinct topographic patterns. Mean drusen thickness at the fovea was 29.6 μm (95% CI, 20.2-39.0 μm) for eyes progressing to MNV, 17.2 μm (95% CI, 9.8-24.6 μm) for eyes progressing to MA, and 17.1 μm (95% CI, 12.5-21.7 μm) for eyes without disease progression. At 0.5-mm eccentricity, mean drusen thickness was 25.8 μm (95% CI, 19.1-32.5 μm) for eyes progressing to MNV, 21.7 μm (95% CI, 14.6-28.8 μm) for eyes progressing to MA, and 14.4 μm (95% CI, 11.2-17.6 μm) for eyes without disease progression. The mean HRF thickness at the foveal center was 0.072 μm (95% CI, 0-0.152 μm) for eyes progressing to MNV, 0.059 μm (95% CI, 0-0.126 μm) for eyes progressing to MA, and 0.044 μm (95% CI, 0.007-0.081) for eyes without disease progression. At 0.5-mm eccentricity, the largest mean HRF thickness was seen in eyes progressing to MA (0.227 μm; 95% CI, 0.104-0.349 μm) followed by eyes progressing to MNV (0.161 μm; 95% CI, 0.101-0.221 μm) and eyes without disease progression (0.085 μm; 95% CI, 0.058-0.112 μm). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this study, drusen and HRF represented imaging biomarkers of disease progression in AMD, demonstrating distinct topographic patterns over time that differed between eyes progressing to MNV, eyes progressing to MA, or eyes without disease progression. Automated localization and precise quantification of these factors may help to develop reliable methods of predicting future disease progression.

The article presents the discussion on young and talented soprano recently gained recognition for launching her own line of cosmetics. Topics include showing light on the role of marketing and public relations (PR) in shaping her trajectory; and intriguing revelation of her cosmetics venture on a popular online platform.

The article discusses British conductor Simon Rattle has conducted the BR Symphony Orchestra in music viva concerts. It mentions Ondrej Adámek has composed his search for God "Where are you?" on behalf of musica viva des Bavarian Radio and the London Symphony Orchestra with funding from Ernst von Siemens Music foundation.

The search for osteoinductive as well as osteoconductive materials has led to the novel idea of using titanium in bone augmentations of the alveolar crest. Due to its excellent biocompatibility and favorable osteogenic properties, highly porous TiO2granules has been proposed as a promising material for non-resorbable synthetic bone grafts in the restoration of large bone defects, and for bone augmentation in dental applications.

The detailed structure of silica and germania films supported on Ru(0001) metal substrates are compared to each other. Surface science techniques together with density functional theory calculations have been used to gain insights into the atomic arrangement of these prominent glass-forming materials. The monolayer films of these materials both show predominantly crystalline hexagonal lattices with characteristic domain boundary structures. For the germania monolayer films a large variety of ring elements within domain boundaries have been observed. Density functional calculations predict stronger interaction with the metal substrate for bilayer germania as compared to bilayer silica films. Scanning tunneling microscopy images with atomically resolved structural features have given access to silica and germania bilayer film structures. Both bilayer films form characteristic amorphous ring structures. However, the germania bilayer films appear to be more corrugated, pointing to a stronger interaction with the metal support thus giving rise to slightly different connectivity rules.

Background/aimsTo characterise neuroretinal atrophy in retinal vein occlusion (RVO).MethodsWe included patients with central/branch RVO (CRVO=196, BRVO=107) who received ranibizumab according to a standardised protocol for 6 months. Retinal atrophy was defined as the presence of an area of retinal thickness (RT) <260 µm outside the foveal centre. Moreover, the thickness of three distinct retinal layer compartments was computed as follows: (1) retinal nerve fibre layer to ganglion cell layer, (2) inner plexiform layer (IPL) to outer nuclear layer (ONL) and (3) inner segment/outer segment junction to retinal pigment epithelium. To characterise atrophy further, we assessed perfusion status on fluorescein angiography and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and compared these between eyes with/without atrophy.Results23 patients with CRVO and 11 patients with BRVO demonstrated retinal atrophy, presenting as sharply demarcated retinal thinning confined to a macular quadrant. The mean RT in the atrophic quadrant at month 6 was 249±26 µm (CRVO) and 244±29 µm (BRVO). Individual layer analysis revealed pronounced thinning in the IPL to ONL compartment. Change in BCVA at 6 months was similar between the groups (BRVO, +15 vs +18 letters; CRVO, +14 vs +18 letters).ConclusionsIn this exploratory analysis, we describe the characteristics of neuroretinal atrophy in RVO eyes with resolved macular oedema after ranibizumab therapy. Our analysis shows significant, predominantly retinal thinning in the IPL to ONL compartment in focal macular areas in 11% of patients with RVO. Eyes with retinal atrophy did not show poorer BCVA outcomes.

Dose-dense induction with the S-HAM regimen was compared to standard double induction therapy in adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia. Patients were centrally randomized (1:1) between S-HAM (2nd chemotherapy cycle starting on day 8 = “dose-dense”) and double induction with TAD-HAM or HAM(-HAM) (2nd cycle starting on day 21 = “standard”). 387 evaluable patients were randomly assigned to S-HAM (N= 203) and to standard double induction (N= 184). The primary endpoint overall response rate (ORR) consisting of complete remission (CR) and incomplete remission (CRi) was not significantly different (P= 0.202) between S-HAM (77%) and double induction (72%). The median overall survival was 35 months after S-HAM and 25 months after double induction (P= 0.323). Duration of critical leukopenia was significantly reduced after S-HAM (median 29 days) versus double induction (median 44 days)—P< 0.001. This translated into a significantly shortened duration of hospitalization after S-HAM (median 37 days) as compared to standard induction (median 49 days)—P< 0.001. In conclusion, dose-dense induction therapy with the S-HAM regimen shows favorable trends but no significant differences in ORR and OS compared to standard double induction. S-HAM significantly shortens critical leukopenia and the duration of hospitalization by 2 weeks.

The article discusses Mexican political challenges including the United States-Mexico- Canada Agreement trade treaty, minimum wage increases, and military policy in light of the election of president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.