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We present a novel method combining anodic aluminum oxide template synthesis and nanolithography to selectively deposit vertically patterned magnetic nanowires on a Si substrate. With this approach we fabricated three-dimensional nanowire-based spin valve devices without the need of complex etching processes or additional spacer coating. Through this method, we successfully obtained NiCu/Cu multilayered nanowire arrays with a controlled sequence along the long axis of the nanowires. Both magnetic switching and excitation phenomena driven by spin-polarized currents were clearly demonstrated in our NiCu/Cu multilayered nanowires. Moreover, the critical currents for switching and excitation were observed to be modulated in an oscillatory manner by the magnetic field in the nanowire-based devices. We present a toy model to qualitatively explain these observations.

Abstract Background The introduction of ultrasound (US) courses into medical undergraduate courses is usually met with a particularly high level of student motivation. The reasons for this are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that contribute to undergraduate medical students’ motivation to learn US skills. Understanding what motivates students to learn US will inform the efforts of faculty to foster students’ motivation to learn. Methods We carried out in-depth semi-structured one-to-one interviews with medical students participating in an optional US course at two Swiss universities. The interview guide consisted of 10 main questions. The content was informed by experts in the field of medical education and US, as well as by a literature review of motivation theories for learning, in particular by self-determination theory (SDT). SDT was used to guide the development of the interview guide and to reflect on the resulting themes in the discussion section. The interview guide was piloted with two medical students. The interviews lasted an average of 45 min and were audio recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results Fourteen undergraduate medical students in their preclinical (year 3) and clinical studies (years 4 and 5) elaborated on a wide range of reasons for their high motivation to learn US. They were motivated for US training because of the positive nimbus of the US modality, emphasising the advantages of visualisation. Students acknowledged the potential professional benefits of learning US and described it as a fun, exciting group activity. Conclusions The four themes we found in our analysis can all be related to the three universal needs described in SDT. The strong focus on the visual aspect and the positive nimbus of the modality goes beyond that and reflects the visuo-centric Zeitgeist, which claims the superiority of visual information over other data. Educators should be aware that motivation to learn is affected by the Zeitgeist and ensuing preconceptions, such as the perception of the positive nimbus surrounding a topic. Other key elements that can be implemented to motivate students are just-in-time feedback, enabling group experiences and creating awareness of the clinical relevance of learning content.

As famed quantum physicist W. Pauli once said, "The surface was invented by the devil". The nonequilibrium state of particles forming the surface, and the presence of dangling bonds transform the surfaces into a 2D reactor with high physical and chemical reactivity. When two such active surfaces are matched, their interface becomes even more reactive, giving rise to novel properties or enhanced performance. For this reason, much effort is applied to design nanoengineered interfacial systems for applications spanning all facets of human life. This review article discusses recent, mostly within two years, progress in the design of complex, sophisticated carbon‐based interfacial material systems for energy and photonics applications, with the aim to emphasize some of the most interesting and important examples of such systems. Differences in the processes that take place on flat and 3D (curved) surfaces are discussed, with the view of guiding the design and construction of complex functional interfaces, focusing on several points that are of particular importance to the ongoing development of advanced interfacial material systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparing rectal endometriosis treatment with HIFU and surgery in terms of symptoms at 6 months and treatments-related morbidity. Comparative retrospective, bicentric study in 2 endometriosis reference centers. Patients operated by HIFU or laparoscopic resection in the operating room under anesthesia. 120 patients, including 60 patients in each arm, were treated and followed for 6 months. Endo-rectal HIFU treatment versus laparoscopic surgery of rectal endometriosis nodule. Patients' symptomatology was assessed with questionnaires prior to receiving treatment then again 6 months later using questionnaires: gynecological and digestive symptoms (VAS), health status (MOSSF-36), fecal incontinence (WEXNER), constipation (KESS) and overall sexual health (FSFI). We also assessed the morbidity of both treatments according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. 120 patients, 60 in each group, received HIFU or rectal surgery. Rectal nodules characteristics were comparable in both groups. In the HIFU and surgery groups, Clavien-Dindo grade 2 and 3 complication rates were respectively 3.3% vs. 21.7% (p=0.002) and 0% vs. 10% (p=0.01). Hospitalization duration was also significantly shorter for HIFU group (1 day vs. 3 days, p<0.001). In the HIFU group, significative improvement was observed in acute pelvic pain/dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, diarrhea, rectal spasms, pain during bowel movement and urinary urgency. In the surgical arm, significative improvement was observed in acute pelvic pain/dysmenorrhea, diarrhea, rectal spasms and pain during bowel movement. In both groups, we can witness an improvement in FSFI, KESS and WEXNER scores and health status at 6 months. HIFU treatment enables significant reduction in the risk of postoperative complications while allowing at least similar symptoms and quality of life outcomes and could be used as an alternative to surgical treatment for suitable patients. Long-term complications and relapse risks require further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Representation of the environment by hippocampal populations is known to drift even within a familiar environment, which could reflect gradual changes in single-cell activity or result from averaging across discrete switches of single neurons. Disambiguating these possibilities is crucial, as they each imply distinct mechanisms. Leveraging change point detection and model comparison, we find that CA1 population vectors decorrelate gradually within a session. In contrast, individual neurons exhibit predominantly step-like emergence and disappearance of place fields or sustained changes in within-field firing. The changes are not restricted to particular parts of the maze or trials and do not require apparent behavioral changes. The same place fields emerge, disappear, and reappear across days, suggesting that the hippocampus reuses pre-existing assemblies, rather than forming new fields de novo. Our results suggest an internally driven perpetual step-like reorganization of the neuronal assemblies.

Abstract. Background:. Despite the recent emphasis on promoting international collaborations within orthopaedic surgery, criteria for determining the strengths of such partnerships has not been established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate orthopaedic experts' perceptions of the most valuable characteristics of international academic partnerships. Methods:. This study was conducted using a modified Delphi methodology. Experts were identified through the Consortium of Orthopaedic Academic Traumatologists (COACT). Responses were collected from February to September 2022. Three rounds of surveys listing possible topics on a 5-point Likert scale were used to develop consensus among a group of experts. Consensus criteria for topic inclusion in the final scale was determined as a rating of “strongly agree” or “agree” by ≥70% of the participants in the third survey. Results:. The Round 1 survey was distributed to 96 invited participants within the COACT network, of which 50 experts (52.1%) completed the first survey. Consensus was reached on 54 topics organized into the following 5 categories: Research, Advocacy/Leadership, Training/Surgical Skills, Education/Knowledge Exchange, and Sustainability and Safety (RATES Criteria). Conclusions:. Determining the most valuable characteristics of successful international academic partnerships can lead to more sustainable, mutually beneficial collaborations. The criteria identified in this study can provide the foundation for developing new partnerships and assessing existing ones.

Summary: Our fundamental understanding of the physico-mechanical forces that drive the size and shape changes of the cranium during ontogeny are limited. Biomechanical models based on finite element method present a huge opportunity to address this critical gap in our knowledge. Here, we describe a validated computational framework to predict normal craniofacial growth. Our results demonstrated that this approach is capable of predicting the growth of calvaria, face, and skull base. We highlighted the crucial role of skull base in antero-posterior growth of the face and also demonstrated the contribution of the maxillary expansion to the dorsoventral growth of the face and its interplay with the orbits. These findings highlight the importance of physical interactions of different components of the craniofacial system. The computational framework described here serves as a powerful tool to study fundamental questions in developmental biology and to advance treatment of conditions affecting the craniofacial system such as craniosynostosis.

Physiological changes during awake immobility–related brain states remain one of the great unexplored behavioral states. Controlling periods of awake immobility is challenging because restraining the animal is stressful and is accompanied by altered physiological states. Here, we describe the ThermoMaze, a behavioral paradigm that allows for the collection of large amounts of physiological data while the animal rests at distinct experimenter-determined locations. We found that the paradigm generated long periods of immobility and did not alter the brain temperature. We combined the ThermoMaze with electrophysiology recordings in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and found a location-specific distribution of sharp-wave ripple events. We describe the construction of the ThermoMaze with the intention that it helps enable large-scale data recordings on immobility-related brain states.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: This research aimed to investigate the self-directed learning (SDL) habits of Swiss general practitioners from the German-speaking part of Switzerland, understanding how they acquire new knowledge, exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these habits and identifying optimisation strategies for their future self-directed learning. METHODS: We employed a qualitative study design, conducting semi-structured interviews with 16 general practitioners from 30 May 2022 to 06 July 2022. Thematic analysis based on a mixed deductive/inductive approach was used to gain insight into the learning activities and self-directed learning practices of the practitioners. RESULTS: The interviewed general practitioners demonstrated a versatile approach to self-directed learning, where peer communication emerged as the most predominant learning method. It is noteworthy that the younger generation in particular showed a strong inclination for peer learning and is well prepared for the integration of advanced digital solutions for peer communication. Furthermore, a significant shift was observed in media-based self-directed learning, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital platforms and repositories for practical learning were mentioned as educational mainstays by many interviewees, reflecting a profound technological shift observed over the past 25 years and especially since the pandemic. The primary motivation for pursuing new knowledge remains patient care, although personal development and staying up-to-date with medical and technological advancements are also key motivators. Although the pandemic has undeniably accelerated the transition towards digital learning, it has also brought with it challenges such as information overload and technical difficulties. There was an evident decline in formal learning venues and physical presence during the pandemic, yet the reported value of in-person interactions remains high. Suggestions for optimising self-directed learning included enhancing digital offerings, fostering stronger peer networks and integrating more practical content. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has catalysed a transformation in the self-directed learning practices of general practitioners in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, underlining the importance of a balanced approach between digital and traditional learning methods. As the digital realm of self-directed learning grows, it is essential to address existing challenges and capitalise on potential advantages. Both individual networking efforts like general practitioner quality circles and initiatives from official authorities like informal self-test opportunities can play pivotal roles in refining self-directed learning practices. The findings from this study offer valuable insights for enhancing learning resources and environments that align with general practitioners’ needs and preferences. Future research should investigate the ongoing impact of advanced digital technologies on self-directed learning to understand the evolving landscape in a post-pandemic world.

Introduction. Immunoablative therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is one of the possible disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In this case series, we would like to present six patients with MS, who underwent AHSCT as the first-line DMT. Case reports. Six MS patients with a rapid progression of disability with or without relapses underwent AHSCT as the first-line DMT at the University Hospital Ostrava between 2018 and 2021. The conditioning regimens for AHSCT used were a medium-intensity regime BEAM (Carmustine, Etoposid, Cytarabin, Melphalan) and low-intensity regime based on Cyclophosphamide. Four out of six patients showed some disability progression after AHSCT, so the rapid progression of MS was just slowed down by AHSCT. One patient developed activity on magnetic resonance imaging three months after AHSCT, and two experienced mild relapses during the follow-up period. None of our patients developed grade 4 non-hematological toxicity; all infections were mild. In one patient, an allergic reaction probably to dimethyl sulfoxide was observed. Conclusion. Our case series of 6 patients shows that AHSCT is a promising therapeutic approach to slow down the rapid progression of clinical disability in MS patients with a good safety profile.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Allium fistulosum seeds stored under different conditions. Optimized seed storage conditions are essential to maintain seed viability, otherwise accumulation of ROS-induced oxidative damage can lead to seed aging. The A. fistulosum seed lots used in this study have been selected based on their breeding background and reproduction site. Seed samples were stored up to 22 months under six different conditions of temperature (25, 10, and 7.5 °C) and relative humidity (RH) (25% and 45% RH). A germination test and ROS quantification assay were performed on the samples collected after 12 and 22 months of storage, respectively. Within a time-window of 10 months, the tested seed lots evidenced a decrease in the germination rate associated with increased ROS levels. Correlation analysis also showed that ROS production was influenced by genotype. The reported data showed that ROS accumulation was dependent on the storage condition and genotype. Some of the tested seed lots appeared to be prone to ROS accumulation, independent of storage conditions. On the other hand, specific condition storages (25 °C, 25% RH; 25 °C, 45% RH; 10 °C, 25% RH; 7.5 °C, 25% RH) resulted in a lower impact on seed aging.

Abstract With Wilson quarks, on-shell O(a) improvement of the lattice QCD action is achieved by including the Sheikholeslami-Wohlert term and two further operators of mass dimension 5, which amount to a mass-dependent rescaling of the bare parameters. We here focus on the rescaled bare coupling, g ~ 0 2 = g 0 2 1 + b g a m q $$ {\tilde{g}}_0^2={g}_0^2\left(1+{b}_{\textrm{g}}a{m}_{\textrm{q}}\right) $$ , and the determination of b g g 0 2 $$ {b}_{\textrm{g}}\left({g}_0^2\right) $$ which is currently only known to 1-loop order of perturbation theory. We derive suitable improvement conditions in the chiral limit and in a finite space-time volume and evaluate these for different gluonic observables, both with and without the gradient flow. The choice of β-values and the line of constant physics are motivated by the ALPHA collaboration’s decoupling strategy to determine α s (m Z ) [1]. However, the improvement conditions and some insight into systematic effects may prove useful in other contexts, too.