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The 2023 Conference on Magnetism and Magnetic Materials (MMM) was held from October 30–November 3 at the Dallas Hyatt Regency, at the base of the iconic Reunion Tower. There, 703 on-site attendees from 37 different countries discussed cutting-edge research in fundamental and applied magnetism, made new connections, and met old friends and colleagues at one of the first primarily in-person conferences in our field since the major disruptions of the pandemic era. The format of the conference was primarily in-person, with supporting online content that included recordings of the most popular programs and presentations, made available after the conference (including all symposia, the tutorial, and selected other special content). All presenters had the option to contribute online content, as did 96 participants who did not travel to the venue and elected to present virtual posters. Attendees enjoyed a vibrant celebration of the magnetism research community that included a Texas-sized welcome reception, tutorials on machine learning in magnetism, seven symposia, a lively exhibit hall that hosted poster sessions and bierstuben, a full roster of special events, coffee breaks to facilitate active scientific discussions, and of course, excellent technical presentations. These technical presentations, organized into 45 oral sessions, 23 in-person poster sessions, and 17 virtual poster sessions, were selected by a Program Committee of 57 members, capably coordinated by three Program Chairs: Hendrik Ohldag (ALS-LBNL), Karin Leistner (TU Chemnitz), and Takahiro Moriyama (Nagoya University). These three Program Chairs worked seamlessly and tirelessly over many months to make the central mission of MMM a huge success. The Program Committee selected seven symposia from nominations provided by the magnetism community: “Frontier Topics in Antiferromagnetism: Altermagnetism and Topology,” “Rare Earth Spintronics,” “Recent Advances in Cavity Magnonics,” “Emerging Topics in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions: Altermagnetism, Probabilistic Computing and Energy Efficient Switching,” “Orbitronics: From Orbital Currents Created by Charge Currents to Creation by Light or RF Excitation,” “Imaging Magnetic Textures at the Nanoscale,” and finally “Magnetization Dynamics in Two-Dimensional van der Waals Magnets.” These symposia highlighted a wide range of exciting new areas for magnetism, and were part of a total of 101 invited talks, 28% of which were presented by women. The contributed program was selected by the Program Committee from more than 900 submitted abstracts.

The MDHHgermany registry was initiated to characterize the “real-life” situation of affected individuals with Darier’s disease (DD; Morbus Darier, MD) and Hailey-Hailey disease (HH), including their treatment and healthcare. To gain deeper insights into medical care of patients with DD, various aspects such as demographics, subjective symptoms, patient satisfaction with medical care, past and current therapies were explored. Patients with diagnosed DD were included. Subjective symptoms such as itch, pain and burning sensation were assessed. Individual therapy goals were recorded and patients assessed previous/current therapies along with satisfaction of medical care and treatment. A total of 55 patients were recruited; 47 patients were eligible for the analysis. Pruritus was rated the most bothersome symptom. Some 42.6% had not received systemic treatment so far or systemic therapies were rated ineffective (32.6%). Most commonly oral retinoids were prescribed, followed by corticosteroids. Patient satisfaction with medical care and treatment proved to be mediocre. This “real-life” data show an alarming unmet need regarding patients’ satisfaction with medical care and treatment, evidenced by the reported lack of disease control. Further studies and interventions are needed to improve the spectrum of available therapies. MDHHgermany provides a foundational platform for future clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and pathophysiological analyses.

Vitamin B6 deficiency has been linked to cognitive impairment in human brain disorders for decades. Still, the molecular mechanisms linking vitamin B6 to these pathologies remain poorly understood, and whether vitamin B6 supplementation improves cognition is unclear as well. Pyridoxal 5’-phosphate phosphatase (PDXP), an enzyme that controls levels of pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP), the co-enzymatically active form of vitamin B6, may represent an alternative therapeutic entry point into vitamin B6-associated pathologies. However, pharmacological PDXP inhibitors to test this concept are lacking. We now identify a PDXP and age-dependent decline of PLP levels in the murine hippocampus that provides a rationale for the development of PDXP inhibitors. Using a combination of small-molecule screening, protein crystallography, and biolayer interferometry, we discover, visualize, and analyze 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) as a direct and potent PDXP inhibitor. 7,8-DHF binds and reversibly inhibits PDXP with low micromolar affinity and sub-micromolar potency. In mouse hippocampal neurons, 7,8-DHF increases PLP in a PDXP-dependent manner. These findings validate PDXP as a druggable target. Of note, 7,8-DHF is a well-studied molecule in brain disorder models, although its mechanism of action is actively debated. Our discovery of 7,8-DHF as a PDXP inhibitor offers novel mechanistic insights into the controversy surrounding 7,8-DHF-mediated effects in the brain.

Summary: Temperature is increasing globally, and vector-borne diseases are particularly responsive to such increases. While it is known that temperature influences mosquito life history traits, transmission models have not historically considered population-specific effects of temperature. We assessed the interaction between Culex pipiens population and temperature in New York State (NYS) and utilized novel empirical data to inform predictive models of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission. Genetically and regionally distinct populations from NYS were reared at various temperatures, and life history traits were monitored and used to inform trait-based models. Variation in Cx. pipiens life history traits and population-dependent thermal responses account for a predicted 2.9°C difference in peak transmission that is reflected in regional differences in WNV prevalence. We additionally identified genetic signatures that may contribute to distinct thermal responses. Together, these data demonstrate how population variation contributes to significant geographic variability in arbovirus transmission with changing climates.

Background: There are a variety of possible contraceptives available. While medical advice is an important resource for selecting the individual contraceptive, previous research has shown that the Internet has become an increasingly important source of health care information. Objectives: This study aims to identify key trends in contraception-related web searches in Germany and thus allows conclusions about preferences and unmet needs with regard to pregnancy prevention. Design: Longitudinal retrospective study. Methods: Google Ads Keyword Planner was used to identify contraception-related keywords and their search volume in Germany and all federal states between 2018 and 2021. The keywords were categorized based on gender, hormonal/non-hormonal, and different contraceptive methods. Search volume and categories were analyzed for temporal trends, regional differences, and underlying socioeconomic variables. Results: The 1481 contraception-related keywords corresponded to 15,081,760 searches. In total, a 56% increase in searches/100,000 inhabitants was observed. Highest mean search volume was observed in categories “woman,” “woman/non-hormonal” and “woman/non-hormonal/barrier,” respectively, and in the federal state Hamburg, while the lowest was seen in North Rhine-Westphalia. Conclusion: The increase in search volume reflects a high interest in contraception, particularly in non-hormonal female methods. This stands in contrast to the limited number of effective non-hormonal contraceptives available and points to an unmet need. In addition, the low search volume for male contraceptives demonstrates gender-specific responsibilities regarding family planning in German society.

Objectives To investigate the impact of disease activity and treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) on all-cause mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and prevalent interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).Methods Patients with RA-ILD were selected from the biologics register Rheumatoid Arthritis: Observation of Biologic Therapy (RABBIT). Using time-varying Cox regression, the association between clinical measures and mortality was investigated. The impact of DMARDs was analysed by (1) Cox regression considering cumulative exposure (ie, treatment months divided by total months) and (2) time-varying Cox regression as main approach (treatment exposures at monthly level).Results Out of 15 566 participants, 381 were identified as RA-ILD cases with 1258 person-years of observation and 2.6 years median length of follow-up. Ninety-seven patients (25.5%) died and 34 (35.1%) of these were not receiving DMARD therapy at the time of death. Higher inflammatory biomarkers but not swollen and tender joint count were significantly associated with mortality. Compared with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), non-TNFi biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) exhibited adjusted HRs (aHRs) for mortality below 1, lacking statistical significance. This finding was stable in various sensitivity analyses. Joint aHR for non-TNFi biologics and JAKi versus TNFi was 0.56 (95% CI 0.33 to 0.97). Receiving no DMARD treatment was associated with a twofold higher mortality risk compared with receiving any DMARD treatment, aHR 2.03 (95% CI 1.23 to 3.35).Conclusions Inflammatory biomarkers and absence of DMARD treatment were associated with increased risk of mortality in patients with RA-ILD. Non-TNFi bDMARDs may confer enhanced therapeutic benefits in patients with RA-ILD.

This proceedings article presents actionable research targets on the basis of the presentations and discussions at the 2nd Curing Coma National Institutes of Health (NIH) symposium held from May 3 to May 5, 2021. Here, we summarize the background, research priorities, panel discussions, and deliverables discussed during the symposium across six major domains related to disorders of consciousness. The six domains include (1) Biology of Coma, (2) Coma Database, (3) Neuroprognostication, (4) Care of Comatose Patients, (5) Early Clinical Trials, and (6) Long-term Recovery. Following the 1st Curing Coma NIH virtual symposium held on September 9 to September 10, 2020, six workgroups, each consisting of field experts in respective domains, were formed and tasked with identifying gaps and developing key priorities and deliverables to advance the mission of the Curing Coma Campaign. The highly interactive and inspiring presentations and panel discussions during the 3-day virtual NIH symposium identified several action items for the Curing Coma Campaign mission, which we summarize in this article.

Purpose: Monte Carlo simulations are crucial for calculating magnetic field correction factors kB for the dosimetry in external magnetic fields. As in Monte Carlo codes the charged particle transport is performed in straight condensed history (CH) steps, the curved trajectories of these particles in the presence of external magnetic fields can only be approximated. In this study, the charged particle transport in presence of a strong magnetic field B→ was investigated using the Fano cavity test. The test was performed in an ionization chamber and a diode detector, showing how the step size restrictions must be adjusted to perform a consistent charged particle transport within all geometrical regions. Methods: Monte Carlo simulations of the charged particle transport in a magnetic field of 1.5 T were performed using the EGSnrc code system including an additional EMF-macro for the transport of charged particle in electro-magnetic fields. Detailed models of an ionization chamber and a diode detector were placed in a water phantom and irradiated with a so called Fano source, which is a monoenergetic, isotropic electron source, where the number of emitted particles is proportional to the local density. Results: The results of the Fano cavity test strongly depend on the energy of charged particles and the density within the given geometry. By adjusting the maximal length of the charged particle steps, it was possible to calculate the deposited dose in the investigated regions with high accuracy (

Purpose: To employ the microDiamond and the microSilicon detector (mDD and mSD, both PTW-Freiburg, Germany) to determine the dose rate around a HDR 192Ir brachytherapy source (model mHDR-v2r, Elekta AB, Sweden).Methods: The detectors were calibrated with a 60Co beam at the PTW Calibration Laboratory. Measurements around the 192Ir source were performed inside a PTW MP3 water phantom. The detectors were placed at selected points of measurement at radial distances r, ranging from 0.5 to 10 cm, keeping the polar angle θ = 90°. Additional measurements were performed with the mSD at fixed distances r = 1, 3 and 5 cm, with θ varying from 0 to 150°, 0 to 166°, and 0 to 168°, respectively. The corresponding mDD readings were already available from a previous work (Rossi et al., 2020). The beam quality correction factor of both detectors, as well as a phantom effect correction factor to account for the difference between the experimental geometry and that assumed in the TG-43 formalism, were determined using the Monte Carlo (MC) toolkit EGSnrc. The beam quality correction factor was factorized into energy dependence and volume-averaging correction factors. Using the abovementioned MC-based factors, the dose rate to water at the different points of measurement in TG-43 conditions was obtained from the measured readings, and was compared to the dose rate calculated according to the TG-43 formalism.Results: The beam quality correction factor was considerably closer to unity for the mDD than for the mSD. The energy dependence of the mDD showed a very weak radial dependence, similar to the previous findings showing a weak angular dependence as well (Rossi et al., 2020). Conversely, the energy dependence of the mSD decreased significantly with increasing distances, and also showed a considerably more pronounced angular dependence, especially for the smallest angles. The volume-averaging showed a similar radial dependence for both detectors: the correction had a maximal impact at 0.5 cm and then approached unity for larger distances, as expected. Concerning the angular dependence, the correction for the mSD was also similar to the one previously determined for the mDD (Rossi et al., 2020): a maximal impact was observed at θ = 0°, with values tending to unity for larger angles. In general, the volume-averaging was less pronounced for the mSD due to the smaller sensitive volume radius. After the application of the MC-based factors, differences between mDD dose rate measurements and TG-43 dose rate calculations ranged from −2.6% to +4.3%, with an absolute average difference of 1.0%. For the mSD, the differences ranged from −3.1% to +5.2%, with an absolute average difference of 1.0%. For both detectors, all differences but one were within the combined uncertainty (k = 2). The differences of the mSD from the mDD ranged from −3.9% to +2.6%, with the vast majority of them being within the combined uncertainty (k = 2). For θ ≠ 0°, the mDD was able to provide sufficiently accurate results even without the application of the MC-based beam quality correction factor, with differences to the TG-43 dose rate calculations from −1.9% to +3.4%, always within the combined uncertainty (k = 2).Conclusion: The mDD and the mSD showed consistent results and appear to be well suitable for measuring the dose rate around HDR 192Ir brachytherapy sources. MC characterization of the detectors response is needed to determine the beam quality correction factor and to account for energy dependence and/or volume-averaging, especially for the mSD. Our findings support the employment of the mDD and mSD for source QA, TPS verification and TG-43 parameters determination.

Modern healthcare systems are increasingly organized according to diagnosis-specific clinical pathways and treatment protocols. At the same time, the number of patients with complex problems and needs that do not fit the single-diagnosis approach is rising, contributing to a high prevalence of diagnostic errors. In this article, we focus on the risk of diagnostic errors arising from missed or incomplete diagnosis and assessment of older adult patients’ care needs in the first hours of acute hospitalizations in EDs. This focus is important for improving patient safety, as clinical decisions made in EDs impact patient safety in the subsequent steps of the process, thereby potentially causing new risks to arise. Based on our discussion of clinical decision-making and diagnostic errors in the acute care context, we propose a more comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to improvements in patient safety that integrates organizational and clinical research and examines where, when, how, and why risks to patient safety arise in and across different clinical–organizational contexts.

Helicoverpa armigera is among the most problematic agricultural pests worldwide due to its polyphagy and ability to evolve pesticide resistance. Molecular detection methods for H. armigera have been developed to track its spread, as such methods allow for rapid and accurate differentiation from the native sibling species H. zea. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is a preferred method for bulk screening due to its accuracy and tolerance to PCR inhibitors; however, real-time PCR is less expensive and more widely available in molecular labs. Improvements to DNA extraction yield, purity, and throughput are crucial for real-time PCR assay optimization. Bulk DNA extractions have recently been improved to where real-time PCR sensitivity can equal that of ddPCR, but these new methods require significant time and specialized equipment. In this study, we improve upon previously published bulk DNA extraction methods by reducing bench time and materials. Our results indicate that the addition of caffeine and RNase A improves DNA extraction, resulting in lower Cq values during real-time PCR while reducing the processing time and cost per specimen. Such improvements will enable the use of high throughput screening methods across multiple platforms to improve the probability of detection of H. armigera.

Background: Individuals with developmental language disorder or Williams syndrome are reported to use more gestures than individuals with typical development. However, these two groups differ considerably in visuospatial and language skills, two skills that are hypothesized to shape gesture rate. Aims: We first examined whether children with both developmental language disorder and children Williams syndrome do indeed use more gestures. Our second aim was to disentangle the role of vocabulary and visuospatial skills in the use of supplementary gestures (i.e., containing unique information). To account for participant heterogeneity, analyses included both group comparisons and vocabulary and visuospatial skills at an individual level. As a third aim, the role of visuospatial skills was further examined in relation to gestures containing spatial content. Methods & Procedures: In a cross-sectional group design, three participant groups watched and then retold a cartoon--children with typical development (n = 25), children with developmental language disorder (n = 25) and children/young people with Williams syndrome (n = 14). Their narrations were transcribed and hand gestures were coded based on gesture-speech integration (redundant, adds information to particular lexical items, gives information that is entirely absent from speech) and spatial content. Participants' expressive vocabulary and visuospatial skills were measured. Outcomes & Results: Between-group comparisons showed that individuals with developmental language disorder or Williams syndrome did indeed use more gestures. Poisson loglinear modelling demonstrated that a relative higher use of supplementary gestures was determined by lower expressive vocabulary skills. Neither the group distinction nor visuospatial skills shaped the supplementary gesture rate nor spatial gesture rate. Conclusions & Implications: Regardless of neurodevelopmental condition or typical development, a higher use of supplementary gestures was influenced by expressive vocabulary skills. Children with lower vocabulary skills spontaneously capitalized on the multimodality of communication to express constituents that were not present in their verbal speech. This finding is a promising starting point for future gesture intervention studies examining whether implicit modelling of gesture use can encourage gestures even more in these children and if this allows them to achieve higher linguistic complexity. On a methodological note, the observed intra-group skill variability demonstrates that group comparisons need to be complemented with correlational measures accounting for skills at an individual level.

Little is known about the process of tracking the activity and days-to-productivity of new research faculty in pediatric academic medical centers in the United States. The purpose of this study was to design a quantitative technique for measuring the startup journey and academic productivity of new research faculty at an established research academic medical center. Three measures, (1) engagement, (2) efficiency, and (3) publication, were used to identify the total number of days that it takes for a new research faculty member to move from the discovery phase (value-consumed) into the engagement phase (value-created) after accepting a new position. General findings were that the typical research faculty member hired from 2014 to 2018 at Children's Mercy was male, submitted his first research project within the first three months of employment and averaged one new research submission per year. He would collaborate on a publication as a co-author within the first six months of employment, his first primary author publication would be published near his first employment anniversary, and he would average 2.9 publications per year in the first few years. The current study hopes to fill a gap in existing literature regarding the best practices for tracking, reporting and comparing the startup journey and academic productivity of new research faculty in pediatric academic medical centers.