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The paired kidneys play a significant role in the human body due to the multitude of physiological tasks. Complex biochemical processes keep the sensitive electrolyte and water balance stable and thus ensure the organism's ability to adapt to exogenous and endogenous factors, which is essential for survival. The drug class of diuretics includes substances with very differing pharmacological characteristics. The functioning of the nephron is therefore indispensable for a deeper understanding of the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and side effect profile of diuretics. In the treatment of acute heart failure with pulmonary congestion, certain diuretics represent an important therapeutic option to counteract hypervolemia and thus an increase in preload. According to current data, diuretics have no proven benefits in the treatment or prevention of acute kidney injury but they can counteract hypervolemia and under certain conditions even reduce the use of renal replacement procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The enriched shergottite Northwest Africa (NWA) 6963 has been classified as a gabbroic shergottite due to its coarse-grained groundmass-forming minerals [1,2]. Fine-grained Si-rich mesostasis occurs interstitial to the groundmass minerals [1]. Such Si-rich mesostasis is common in enriched shergotites, however, it is disputed whether the mesostasis was formed by impact [3] or by magmatic processes [1,4,5]. To our knowledge no crystallization age has so far been published for NWA 6963. We use LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb measurements of minerals within the Si-rich mesostasis and of late-stage magmatic merrillite within the coarse-grained groundmass to derive U-Pb ages for both, Si-rich mesostasis and coarse-grained merrillite. The ages provide a crystallization age for NWA 6963 and can be used to address the question of Si-rich mesostasis formation. Methods: Isotope analyses were performed at the Frankfurt Isotope and Element Research Center (FIERCE). We used a Thermo Scientific Neptune Plus multi collector ICP-MS, coupled to a RESOlution 193nm ArF Excimer (CompexPro 102, Coherent) laser ablation system equipped with an S-155 two-volume ablation cell (Laurin Technic, Australia). Reference materials were NIST SRM-614, USGS basaltic glass GSC-G, Durango apatite, Mudtank zircon, and Diamantina apatite (Minas Gerais). The JEOL Hyperprobe JXA-8530F Plus field emission electron microprobe at the Goethe-Universtiät Frankfurt was used for qualitative WDS and EDS mappings, and quantitative WDS element analyses. Small mesostasis grains were measured with an acceleration voltage of 10 kV, and larger groundmass grains (merrillite) with 15 kV. The beam current was set to 20 nA. A focused spot (<100 nm) was used for mesostasis grains, except for feldspar, which was measured with a defocused spot of 8 µm in diameter. Merrillite was measured with spot sizes between 1 and 10 µm. Results: The fine-grained, Si-rich mesostasis mainly consists of silica and feldspar intergrowths (tens of micrometers in grain size) with the small accessory phases tranquillityite, Cl-apatite, pyroxene, Fe-Ti oxide, iron sulfide and baddeleyite (micrometers to tens of micrometers in grain size). We mainly used tranquillityite, next to Clapatite, baddeleyite and feldspar for U-Pb dating. The U-Pb age derived for Si-rich mesostasis minerals is 172.4 ±6.1 Ma (2s, MSWD = 0.61, n = 30). Merrillite is observed with or without apatite intergrowths or rims and with grain sizes up to 1000 µm. The grains contain melt inclusions, appearing either as small (1-11 µm), circular inclusions aligned in linear arrays parallel to the long axis - or as larger circular (up to 30 µm in diameter) or elongated (up to 120 µm in length) melt inclusions. U-Pb dating was performed on 11 merrillite grains (20 spots) avoiding intergrown apatite, as confirmed by BSE images and EPMA-measuerements next to each ablation spot. The derived U-Pb age for merrilte is 178.3 ±10.6 Ma (2s, MSWD = 0.68, n = 20). Discussion and Conclusion: We interpret the U-Pb age of the Si-rich mesostasis as the age of magmatic crystallization. This age is indistinguishable from the U-Pb age derived from merrillite, and both are in agreement with published crystallization ages for enriched shergottites [6,7]. Different ages for the late-stage magmatic merrillite and Si-rich mesostasis would be expected, if the latter was formed during impact-induced melting, and we found no evidence that merrillite was produced by shock [8]. Thus, our results are in favour of a late-stage magmatic formation of the Si-rich mesostasis in NWA 6963 [1] and possibly also for Si-rich mesostas in other enriched shergottites. The contrast in grain sizes between late-stage merrillite and Si-rich mesostasis implies an abrupt change in cooling rates, perhaps related to the transport of the magma from a deep-seated crustal chamber into the shallow Martian subsurface [2]. A crystallization age for NWA 6963 can be given with 173.9 ±5.3 Ma (weighted mean of the two derived ages, 2s). Our results imply that Si-rich melts on Mars were produced until at least that time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon storage in harvested wood products (HWPs) is seen as a measure to mitigate climate change. The increased use of long-life wood products, however, should be thoroughly analysed before being promoted as a climate mitigation strategy. The national carbon pool of HWPs is very dynamic, due to changing patterns of wood product consumption and trade. Carbon accounting models are a common tool for estimating and projecting carbon pools. The purpose of this study is to analyse and find the relevant features of existing models that are related to the carbon pool in HWPs. From the many existing models, we have selected several representative models. We have analysed these selected models in depth by looking at their features, components and application. The models have variable features, depending on their scope and the modelling objectives. Significant modelling components for assessing the climate change mitigation potential of wood products are often missing. For example, the material substitution effect in the construction sector is rarely quantified, even if it would result in a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, we propose modelling components for a scenario-based model capable of using country-specific data for major groups of HWPs that would allow improved assessments of the climate change mitigation potential of alternative forest resource utilisation scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose the first Search for Dark Sector at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory, site of Sirius, a fourth-generation storage ring. We show that UVX, Sirius predecessor, can be a promising dark sector detector, SeDS, with unprecedented sensitivity. The search is based on a 1 - 3 GeV positron beam impinging on a thick target leading the e + e - → γ A ′ reaction, followed by a missing mass spectrum event reconstruction. We show that SeDS has the potential to probe dark photons with masses up to 55 MeV and kinetic coupling down to ϵ 2 ∼ 10 - 12 . Therefore, such experiment would constitute the best dark photon probe worldwide in the 10 - 55 MeV mass range, being able to probe an unexplored region of parameter space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathological and clinical studies implicate antibody-dependent mechanisms in the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. We tested this hypothesis directly by investigating the ability of patient-derived immunoglobulins to mediate demyelination and axonal injury in vitro. Using a myelinating culture system, we developed a sensitive and reproducible bioassay to detect and quantify these effects and applied this to investigate the pathogenic potential of immunoglobulin G preparations obtained from patients with multiple sclerosis (n = 37), other neurological diseases (n = 10) and healthy control donors (n = 13). This identified complement-dependent demyelinating immunoglobulin G responses in approximately 30% of patients with multiple sclerosis, which in two cases was accompanied by significant complement-dependent antibody mediated axonal loss. No pathogenic immunoglobulin G responses were detected in patients with other neurological disease or healthy controls, indicating that the presence of these demyelinating/axopathic autoantibodies is specific for a subset of patients with multiple sclerosis. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed immunoglobulin G preparations with demyelinating activity contained antibodies that specifically decorated the surface of myelinating oligodendrocytes and their contiguous myelin sheaths. No other binding was observed indicating that the response is restricted to autoantigens expressed by terminally differentiated myelinating oligodendrocytes. In conclusion, our study identifies axopathic and/or demyelinating autoantibody responses in a subset of patients with multiple sclerosis. This observation underlines the mechanistic heterogeneity of multiple sclerosis and provides a rational explanation why some patients benefit from antibody depleting treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Handball is one of the top four athletic games with highest injury risks. The jump shot is the most accomplished goal shot technique and the lower extremities are mostly injured. As a basis for ankle sprain simulation, the aim of this study was to extend the ankle region of an existing musculoskeletal full-body model through incorporation of three prominent lateral ankle ligaments: ligamentum fibulotalare anterius (LFTA), ligamentum fibulotalare posterius (LFTP), ligamentum fibulocalcaneare (LFC). The specific objective was to calculate and visualise ligament force scenarios during the jumping and landing phases of controlled jump shots. Recorded kinematic data of performed jump shots and the corresponding ground reaction forces were used to perform inverse dynamics. The calculated peak force of the LFTA (107N) was found at maximum plantarflexion and of the LFTP (150N) at maximum dorsiflexion. The peak force of the LFC (190N) was observed at maximum dorsiflexion combined with maximum eversion. Within the performed jump shots, the LFTA showed a peak force (59N to 69N) during maximum plantarflexion in the final moment of the lift off. During landing, the force developed by the LFTA reached its peak value (61N to 70N) at the first contact with the floor. After that, the LFTP developed a peak force (70N to 118N). This model allows the calculation of forces in lateral ankle ligaments. The information obtained in this study can serve as a basis for future research on ankle sprain and ankle sprain simulation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Due to the emerging importance of sustainable use of natural resources, and policies requiring actions towards sustainable development, there is a demand for methodologies and tools that are able to address these new challenges. In this paper, an approach to assess sustainability impacts of alternative production chains of the forest sector is presented. The approach, which is designed for both public and private decision-makers, describes the forest sector as a set of processes by which forest resources are used to (1) produce biomass which is routed through different value-adding production chains and converted to products and (2) provide other ecosystem services. It is suggested that each production process included in a production chain will be characterised by a set of indicators covering environmental, economic and social aspects of sustainable development. The approach is demonstrated by a numerical example, in which the indicator values are determined based on the volume of wood material flowing through the processes. Sustainability impacts of policy scenarios or technological changes result from changing from one production chain to another; the impacts accumulate along the production chains. Combined cost-benefit and multi-criteria analyses are proposed to evaluate overall impacts and to compare alternative chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the first part of this paper we give an elementary proof of the fact that if an infinite matrix A, which is invertible as a bounded operator on ℓ2, can be uniformly approximated by banded matrices, then so can the inverse of A. We give explicit formulas for the banded approximations of A-1 as well as bounds on their accuracy and speed of convergence in terms of their bandwidth. We then use these results to prove that the so-called Wiener algebra is inverse closed. In the second part of the paper we apply these results to covariance matrices Σ of Gaussian processes and study mixing and beta mixing of processes in terms of properties of Σ. Finally, we note some applications of our results to statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Deadwood is a key indicator for assessing policy and management impacts on forest biodiversity. We developed an approach to include deadwood in the large-scale European Forest Information Scenario (EFISCEN) model and analysed impacts of intensifying forest biomass removal on the amount and type of deadwood in forests of 24 European Union member states. In EFISCEN, deadwood consists of standing and downed deadwood, resulting from mortality, and stem residues from felling activities. To include deadwood in EFISCEN we developed mortality functions and re-estimated the model''s increment functions. Further, we modelled the development of standing deadwood. Decomposition of downed deadwood and stem residues was modelled through the soil model YASSO. We used the extended model to analyse the impacts of a baseline scenario (no policy changes, a moderate increase in wood removals and no extraction of residues) and a bio-energy scenario (an increase of wood and residue removals to the maximum potential) on deadwood in 2030. In our baseline scenario the average amount of deadwood was 12.3tonha−1 in 2005 and increased by 6.4% in 2030. Intensified biomass removal could fully counteract this development and lead to a reduction of 5.5% in 2030 below the levels in 2005. The type of deadwood changed as well; residue removal led to a general decrease in the amount of smaller deadwood fractions (i.e. stem residues). Further, if felling levels are increased as in our bio-energy scenario, a decrease can be expected in the amount of standing deadwood and of large-diameter deadwood. We conclude that without additional management measures to protect deadwood, intensification of biomass removal could negatively affect deadwood-dependent species, which constitute an important part of biodiversity in European forests. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To understand the mechanisms of remyelination and the reasons for regeneration failure is one of the major challenges in multiple sclerosis research. This requires a good knowledge and reliable analysis of experimental models. This work was undertaken to characterize the pattern of myelin protein expression during experimental remyelination. Acute demyelination of the corpus callosum was induced by feeding of 0.3% cuprizone for 6 weeks, followed by a 10-week remyelination period. We used a combination of Luxol fast blue (LFB) myelin staining, electron microscopy (EM) and immunohistochemistry for the myelin proteins 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′ phosphodiesterase (CNPase), myelin basic protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). Early remyelination was detected by the re-expression of CNPase, MBP and PLP as early as 4 days. MOG, as a marker for late differentiation of oligodendrocytes, was not detectable until 2 weeks of remyelination. EM data correlated well with the LFB myelin staining and myelin protein expression, with 50% of the axons being rapidly remyelinated within 2 weeks. While particularly MBP but also PLP and CNPase are re-expressed very early before significant remyelination is observed by EM, the late marker MOG shows a lag behind the remyelination detected by EM. The presented data indicate that immunohistochemistry for various myelin proteins expressed early and late during myelin formation is a suitable and reliable method to follow remyelination in the cuprizone model. Furthermore, investigation of early remyelination confirms that the intrinsic repair programme is very fast and switched on within days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular phylogenies based on chloroplast gene rps4 sequences and nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences have been generated to investigate relationships among species and putative segregates in Plagiochila (Plagiochilaceae), the largest genus of leafy liverworts. About a fourth of the ca. 450 accepted binomials of Plagiochilaceae are included in these phylogenetic analyses, several represented by multiple accessions. A clade with Chiastocaulon, Pedinophyllum, and Plagiochilion is placed sister to a clade with numerous accessions of Plagiochila. Plagiochila pleurata and P. fruticella are resolved sister to the remainder of Plagiochilaceae and transferred to the new Australasian genus Proskauera which differs from all other Plagiochilaceae by the occurrence of spherical leaf papillae. The historical biogeography of Plagiochilaceae is explored based on the reconstructions of the phylogeny, biogeographic patterns and diversification time estimates. The results indicate that the current distribution of Plagiochilaceae cannot be explained exclusively by Gondwanan vicariance. A more feasible explanation of the range is a combination of short distance dispersal, rare long distance dispersal events, extinction, recolonization and diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a long time,Plagiochila(sect.Arrectae)punctata(Taylor) Taylor has been treated as an endemic of Atlantic Europe. Studies of larger specimen sets demonstrated that the species is widespread in mountainous regions of the Neotropics where it is known under several names includingP. stoloniferaLindenb.&Gottsche,P. choachinaGottsche andP. patzschkeiSteph. In tropical AfricaP. punctatais established asPlagiochila subalpinaSteph., nom. illeg. The sporophyte ofP. punctatais described for the first time, based on material from Costa Rica. A maximum likelihood analysis of a nrITS sequence alignment with sequences ofP. sects.Fuscoluteae(outgroup),Arrectae, andRutilantesas well as ofP. rubescens(Lehm.&Lindenb.) Lindenb. results in a tree with well bootstrap supportedArrectaeandRutilantesclades. ITS sequences ofPlagiochila punctatafrom the Comoros and Zaire are placed in an unsupported monophyletic lineage together withP. punctatasequences from the British Isles and Ecuador. The species is nested in a robust clade withP. spinulosa(Dicks.) Dumort. andP. strictaLindenb. The weak genetic separation of these three species indicates a recent diversification; the disjunct ranges may be the result of long range dispersal events.Plagiochila rubescensfrom southern South America is placed sister toP. sect.Arrectae. The latter section possibly originated from southern South American ancestors, diversified in tropical America after the uplift of the Andes and reached the Holarctics and tropical Africa by long range dispersal of diaspores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical behaviour of long discontinuous glass fibre (LGF) reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites filled with talc or calcium carbonate fillers was studied. Sample specimens were processed by injection moulding, after which tensile and impact properties were analysed. In addition, scanning electron microscopy was used to analyse the morphology of the fracture surfaces. The results showed that the use of talc as a hybrid filler in LGF reinforced PP leads to a better tensile strength and toughness than in a corresponding hybrid composite based on calcium carbonate. Furthermore, it was observed that the matrix had a dominant role at low fibre content, whereas at high fibre loading, the effect of fibres was more evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future long baseline neutrino oscillation (LBL) setups are discussed and the remarkable potential for very precise measurements of mass splittings, mixing angles, MSW effects, the sign of Δm² and leptonic CP violation is shown. Furthermore we discuss the sensitivity improvements which can be obatined by combining the planned JHFSuperkamiokande and the proposed NuMI off-axis experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a detailed quantitative discussion of the measurement of the leptonic mixing angle sin22θ13 with a future reactor neutrino oscillation experiment consisting of a near and far detector. We perform a thorough analysis of the impact of various systematical errors and compare the resulting physics potential to the one of planned first-generation superbeam experiments. Furthermore, we investigate the complementarity of both types of experiments. We find that, under realistic assumptions, a determination of sin22θ13 down to 10−2 is possible with reactor experiments. They are thus highly competitive to first-generation superbeams and may be able to test sin22θ13 on shorter timescales. In addition, we find that the combination of a KamLAND-size reactor experiment with one or two superbeams could substantially improve the ability to access the neutrino mass hierarchy or the leptonic CP phase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We discuss synergies in the combination of the first-generation JHF to Super-Kamiokande and NuMI off-axis superbeam experiments. With synergies we mean effects which go beyond simply adding the statistics of the two experiments. As a first important result, we do not observe interesting synergy effects in the combination of the two experiments as they are planned right now. However, we find that with minor modifications, such as a different NuMI baseline or a partial antineutrino running, one could do much richer physics with both experiments combined. Specifically, we demonstrate that one could, depending on the value of the solar mass squared difference, either measure the sign of the atmospheric mass squared difference or CP violation already with the initial stage experiments. Our main results are presented in a way that can be easily interpreted in terms of the forthcoming KamLAND result. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We compare the physics potential of planned superbeams with the one of neutrino factories. Therefore, the experimental setups as well as the most relevant uncertainties and errors are considered on the same footing as much as possible. We use an improved analysis including the full parameter correlations, as well as statistical, systematical, and degeneracy errors. Especially, degeneracies have so far not been taken into account in a numerical analysis. We furthermore include external input, such as improved knowledge of the solar oscillation parameters from the KamLAND experiment. This allows us to determine the limiting uncertainties in all cases. For a specific comparison, we choose two representatives of each class: for the superbeam, we take the first conceivable setup, namely, the JHF to SuperKamiokande experiment, as well as, on a longer time scale, the JHF to HyperKamiokande experiment. For the neutrino factory, we choose an initially conceivable setup and an advanced machine. We determine the potential to measure the small mixing angle sin22θ13, the sign of Δm231, and the leptonic CP phase δCP, which also implies that we compare the limitations of the different setups. We find interesting results, such as the complete loss of the sensitivity to the sign of Δm231 due to degeneracies in many cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Background Fusion of tumour cells with dendritic cells (DC) is a powerful new technology to increase tumour vaccine immunogenicity. The aim of this study was to compare fusion protocols with syngenic DCs with respect to the efficiency of polyethylen-glycol-(PEG) and electric pulse-mediated fusions for induction of protective anti-tumour immune responses. As a model we chose a low immunogenic and metastatic murine mammary carcinoma cell line, which mimics clinically relevant tumour features. Methods FACS-staining, chromium release assay, therapeutic immunization, adoptive transfer. Results We show that the parental line with low cell surface expression of MHC molecules as well as a lacZ transfectant becomes highly immunogenic upon fusion with DCs. This was true for PEG- as well as for electro-fused cells. Immunization with products of DCs and tumour cells cocultivated for 16 h without the fusing agent PEG also caused induction of profound anti-tumour immunity, while this was not the case when using parental tumour cells or their lacZ transfectants as vaccines. Immune protection against the parental tumour cells after vaccination with fused cells was long-lasting and could be transferred via immune spleen cells into immuno-incompetent nude (nu/nu) mice. Conclusion Fusion products of DA3hi mammary carcinoma cells and DCs produced by an electric pulse were similar to those produced by PEG fusion with regard to vaccine potency in prophylactic antitumour immunization assays in vivo . Therefore, both techniques seem to be promising for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apatite is present as an accessory phase in many meteorites and is often formed as a secondary product of aqueous alteration. Its propensity to incorporate rare earth elements (REE) results in apatite usually being the main REE‐bearing phase in hydrously altered meteorites. Asteroid Ryugu is thought to have experienced pervasive aqueous alteration and material collected from the surface of Ryugu is expected to provide insight into asteroidal aqueous alteration processes without influence by terrestrial weathering. Morphologies and mineral associations of apatite grains from five rock fragments collected from the asteroid Ryugu by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft were examined and their REE concentrations were measured by synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence (SXRF) spectroscopy. The main minerals associated with apatite are dolomite, magnetite, and pyrrhotite. Grain boundary corrosion of the interfaces between apatite assemblages and the surrounding matrix suggest that paragenetic formation on the asteroid was followed by a later episode of hydrous alteration. Light REE (LREE) concentration levels recorded at 20–150 times those of bulk CI levels together with a steady increase from LREE toward enrichment of medium REE (MREE, up to Er) at 50–400 times bulk CI levels may suggest postgenetic removal of LREE from Ryugu apatite grains by late‐stage circulation of a hydrothermal fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses processes used to make polluted ground water safe to drink. Use of photocatalytic detoxification as an alternative method for clean-up of polluted water; Information on photocatalytic activity of the titanium dioxide powders; Details on the study.

• Stable oscillations due to interactions of non-linear and linear controllers can occur. • The Harmonic Balance Method allows to identify such interactions. • Method applicable to regulated distribution transformers and voltage controllers. • Two criteria are defined, guaranteeing that no interactions can occur. The increase of decentralized power generation in low voltage grids imposes new challenges on the conventional operating strategies for electrical grids, as power transmission used to predominantly pass from high voltage levels to low voltage levels. Distributed generation in low voltage grids lead to unprecedented voltage limit violations, which can efficiently be solved by implementing new control systems e.g. regulated distribution transformers (RDT) or local voltage control (e.g. Q(V)). Both correspond to closed-loop control systems and thus, are prone to stability issues and possible interactions with other control elements. Furthermore, the nonlinear characteristics of RDTs complicate the systems' stability analysis. This paper introduces the harmonic balance method as an approach to characterize the nonlinear behavior of an RDT and assess the system stability as well as possible interactions with other linear controllers in the electrical grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction of neutrino masses, mixing angles and leptonic CP violation at neutrino factories requires a careful treatment of parameter correlations. Including the uncertainties of all involved parameters and statistical errors we find previously ignored correlations in the multidimensional parameter space, leading to modifications in the physics reach, which amount in some cases to one order of magnitude. The parameter correlations are especially important for the largest possible values of Δm221, where the θ13 sensitivity limit are considerably reduced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Point-contact p-type high-purity germanium detectors (PPC HPGe) are particularly suited for detection of sub-keV nuclear recoils from coherent elastic scattering of neutrinos or light dark matter particles. While these particles are expected to interact homogeneously in the entire detector volume, specific classes of external background radiation preferably deposit their energy close to the semi-active detector surface, in which diffusion processes dominate that subsequently lead to slower rising pulses compared to the ones from the fully active bulk volume. Dedicated studies of their shape are therefore highly beneficial for the understanding and the rejection of these unwanted events. This article reports about the development of a data-driven pulse shape discrimination (PSD) method for the four 1 kg size PPC HPGe detectors of the Conus experiment in the keV and sub-keV regime down to 210 eV ee. The impact of the electronic noise at such low energies is carefully examined. It is shown that for an acceptance of 90% of the faster signal-like pulses from the bulk volume, approx. 50% of the surface events can be rejected at the energy threshold and that their contribution is fully suppressed above 800 eV ee. Applied to the Conus background data, such a PSD rejection cut allows to achieve an overall (15 - 25) % reduction of the total background budget. The new method allows to improve the sensitivity of future Conus analyses and to refine the corresponding background model in the sub-keV energy region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Investigation of the efficacy and mode of action of the Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 in a rat model of unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL). Methods 24 SD rats were included in the study and underwent a left-sided UL by transtympanic injection of bupivacaine/p-arsanilic acid. 8 rats each were randomized into groups receiving either control food only (Ctrl./Ctrl.); or control food prior to UL and EGb 761 supplemented food 15 after UL (Ctrl./EGb 761); or EGb 761 supplemented food 6 weeks prior and 15 days after UL (EGb 761/EGb 761). Vestibular behavioural testing including clinical scoring for nystagmus and postural imbalance as well as semi-automated analysis of locomotion in the open field was done on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 15 after UL. In addition, sequential whole-brain [18F]-FDG- μ PET was performed before and on days 1, 3, 7, 15 after UL to measure cerebral glucose metabolism over time. Results After UL all animals exhibited severe signs of vestibular imbalance. A significantly stronger amelioration of nystagmus and postural imbalance scores was identified on days 1, 3, 5, 7 after UL in the EGb 761/EGb 761 group compared to the Ctrl./Ctrl. group ( p  < 0.05). Accordingly, locomotion speed in the open field was higher on day 7 in the EGb 761/EGb 761 group ( p  < 0.05). Improvement of symptoms was, to a lesser extent, also found when comparing the Ctrl./EGb 761 and Ctrl./Ctrl. group (reduced nystagmus score on days 1, 2, 5 and postural score at days 1, 5, 7 after UL). Measurements of the regional cerebral glucose metabolism (rCGM) by serial μ PET revealed a gradual increase of rCGM in the hippocampal formation and decrease in the cerebellum in the EGb 761/EGb 761 > Ctrl./EGb 761 > Ctrl./Ctrl. group on days 1, 3, 15 after UL ( p  < 0.005). Conclusion EGb 761 improves central vestibular compensation in rats after unilateral inner ear damage compared to control treatment and modulates cerebral plasticity in hippocampal and cerebellar networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the long-term outcomes of individuals with long-chain 3-hydroxy-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) and mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP) deficiency, which are disorders included in newborn screening programs. The study found that while neonatal screening and early treatment improved survival rates, they did not reliably prevent long-term complications such as metabolic decompensations, cardiomyopathy, myopathy, hepatopathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy. Hospitalization rates were also high. The authors emphasize the need for better therapeutic strategies and disease-altering treatments for individuals with LCHAD/MTP deficiency. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the interstitial cells of cajal (ICC) in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary. It reports on two cases of ovarian mature cystic teratoma in two women. Both resected specimens revealed typical dermoid cysts lined by epidermis with skin appendages, aggregates of seromucous glands, conjunctivaltype epithelium and bronchial derivatives.

On June 21st, a Mw6.2 earthquake struck the Afghan‐Pakistan‐border‐region, situated within the India‐Asia collision. Thousand thirty‐nine deaths were reported, making the earthquake the deadliest of 2022. We investigate the event's rupture processes by combining seismological and geodetic observations, aiming to understand what made it that fatal. Our Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar‐constrained slip‐model and regional moment‐tensor inversion, confirmed through field observations, reveal a sinistral rupture with maximum slip of 1.8 m at 5 km depth on a N20°E striking, sub‐vertical fault. We suggest that not only external factors (event‐time, building stock) but fault‐specific factors made the event excessively destructive. Surface rupture was favored by the rock foliation, coinciding with the fault strike. The distribution of Peak‐Ground‐Velocity was governed by the sub‐vertical fault. Maximum slip was large compared to other events globally and might have resulted in peak‐frequencies coinciding with resonance‐frequencies of the local buildings and demonstrates the devastating impact of moderate‐size earthquakes. Plain Language Summary: The June 2022 devastating M6.2 Afghanistan earthquake has caused a high depth toll, making it the deadliest earthquake of 2022. This is notable and partly intriguing as the earthquake size is much smaller than other events that happened in 2022. Therefore, we combine a range of geophysical, geodetic and geological methods to understand how exactly the subsurface ruptured during the earthquake. We suggest that it was a combination of the local circumstances (the event time, as it hit at night time, and the building stock) and the geometry of the rupture surface together with the local geology that made this event particularly deadly. More generally, this study shows the excessive hazard and impact caused by moderate‐size earthquakes. Key Points: We combine Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, moment tensor inversion, field mapping and Peak‐Ground‐Velocity (PGV) simulations to investigate the rupture processesThe event had a sinistral rupture with maximum slip of 1.8 m at 5 km depth on a N20°E striking, sub‐vertical faultCoincidence of large slip, fault geometry and alignment of rock foliation with strike enhanced PGV and the destructiveness of the event [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise modeling of the de-excitation of Gd isotopes is of great interest for experimental studies of neutrinos using Gd-loaded organic liquid scintillators. The FIFRELIN code was recently used within the purposes of the STEREO experiment for the modeling of the Gd de-excitation after neutron capture in order to achieve a good control of the detection efficiency. In this work, we report on the recent additions in the FIFRELIN de-excitation model with the purpose of enhancing further the de-excitation description. Experimental transition intensities from the EGAF database are now included in the FIFRELIN cascades, in order to improve the description of the higher energy part of the spectrum. Furthermore, the angular correlations between γ rays are now implemented in FIFRELIN, to account for the relative anisotropies between them. In addition, conversion electrons are now treated more precisely in the whole spectrum range, while the subsequent emission of X rays is also accounted for. The impact of the aforementioned improvements in FIFRELIN is tested by simulating neutron captures in various positions inside the STEREO detector. A repository of up-to-date FIFRELIN simulations of the Gd isotopes is made available for the community, with the possibility of expanding for other isotopes which can be suitable for different applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CONUS experiment is searching for coherent elastic neutrino nucleus scattering of reactor anti-neutrinos with four low-energy threshold point-contact high-purity germanium spectrometers. Excellent background suppression within the region of interest below 1 keV (ionization energy) is absolutely necessary to enable signal detection. The collected data also make it possible to set limits on various models regarding beyond the standard model physics. These analyses benefit as well from the low background level of ∼ 10 d - 1 kg - 1 below 1 keV and at higher energies. The low background level is achieved by employing a compact shell-like shield that was adapted to the most relevant background sources at the shallow depth location of the experiment: environmental gamma radiation and muon-induced secondaries. Overall, the compact CONUS shield including the active anticoincidence muon-veto reduces the background by more than four orders of magnitude. The remaining background is described with validated Monte Carlo simulations which include the detector response. It is the first time that a full background decomposition in germanium operated at a reactor site has been achieved. Next to the remaining muon-induced background, 210 Pb within the shield and cryostat end caps, cosmogenic activation and airborne radon are the most relevant background sources. The reactor-correlated background is negligible within the shield. The validated background model, together with the parameterization of the noise, is used as input to the likelihood analyses of the various physics cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study is to assess the suitability of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for the precise compositional analysis of μm-thick hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbonitride films (a-SiCN:H) which were deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). A first principles data evaluation based on photoionisation cross-sections, electron inelastic mean free paths (IMFPs), angular asymmetry factors and the spectrometer transmission function was performed to determine atomic ratios from XPS peak intensities. The spectrometer transmission function was determined using the so-called bias method. For comparison, the elemental composition in a-SiCN:H films was measured by elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The atomic ratios of Si, C and N obtained by reference-free XPS agree very well with ERDA elemental composition data (mean deviation 4.7%). Thus, not only the first principles analysis works well, but also sputtering with 2.3 keV Ar + ions at large angles of incidence (scanned beam under 75° to surface normal) made the true a-SiCN:H bulk composition accessible. In addition, the bulk plasmon energy loss in a-SiCN:H was found to change systematically with film composition and it may be used to estimate the hydrogen content in these films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the measurement of the ionization quenching factor in germanium for nuclear recoil energies in the keV range. Precise knowledge of this factor in this energy range is highly relevant for coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering and low mass dark matter searches with germanium-based detectors. Nuclear recoils were produced in a thin high-purity germanium target with a very low energy threshold via irradiation using monoenergetic neutron beams. The energy dependence of the ionization quenching factor was directly measured via kinematically constrained coincidences with surrounding liquid scintillator based neutron detectors. The systematic uncertainties of the measurements are discussed in detail. With measured quenching factors between 0.16 and 0.23 in the 0.4 keV nr to 6.3 keV nr energy range, the data are compatible with the Lindhard theory with a parameter k of 0.162 ± 0.004 (stat + sys). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report first constraints on electromagnetic properties of neutrinos from neutrino-electron scattering using data obtained from the CONUS germanium detectors, i.e. an upper limit on the effective neutrino magnetic moment and an upper limit on the effective neutrino millicharge. The electron antineutrinos are emitted from the 3.9 GW th reactor core of the Brokdorf Nuclear Power Plant in Germany. The CONUS low-background detectors are positioned at a distance of 17.1 m from the reactor core center. The analyzed data set includes 689.1 kg d collected during reactor ON periods and 131.0 kg d collected during reactor OFF periods in the energy range of. With the current statistics, we are able to determine an upper limit on the effective neutrino magnetic moment of μ ν < 7.5 · 10 - 11 μ B at 90% confidence level. No neutrino signal in this channel or in the CE ν NS channel has been observed at a nuclear power plant so far. From this first magnetic moment limit we can derive an upper bound on the neutrino millicharge of | q ν | < 3.3 · 10 - 12 e 0 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photocatalytic activities of several TiO{sub}2{end} materials have been compared studying the degradation of an aliphatic and an aromatic model compound under optimized experimental conditions (e.g., c(TiO{sub}2{end}), pH of the solution). For dichloroacetic acid (DCA) anew anatase catalyst, i.e., Hombikat UV100, yielded significantly higher photonic efficiencies (zeta=15%) than almost all the other materials, especially in comparison to rutiles. For 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) the discrepancies were relatively small and the degradation was generally slower (zeta<1%); in this case the formation of intermediates has to be considered, too. While for DCA the addition of CuNO{sub}3{end} (1--10mM) or a platinization of the catalyst lead to a significant raise in zeta, this had almost no effect on the degradation of 4-CP. For this model compound zeta could be accelerated strongly by the addition of bromate (3mM KbrO{sub}3{end}); the photocatalytic nature of the process could be demonstrated. The addition of other oxidants hadno beneficial effect, in some cases an inhibition was observed. The stability and long time activity of standard and platinized TiO{sub}2{end} materials could be demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurements of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) experiments have opened up the possibility to constrain neutrino physics beyond the standard model of elementary particle physics. Furthermore, by considering neutrino-electron scattering in the keV-energy region, it is possible to set additional limits on new physics processes. Here, we present constraints that are derived from Conus germanium data on beyond the standard model (BSM) processes like tensor and vector non-standard interactions (NSIs) in the neutrino-quark sector, as well as light vector and scalar mediators. Thanks to the realized low background levels in the Conus experiment at ionization energies below 1 keV, we are able to set the world's best limits on tensor NSIs from CEνNS and constrain the scale of corresponding new physics to lie above 360 GeV. For vector NSIs, the derived limits strongly depend on the assumed ionization quenching factor within the detector material, since small quenching factors largely suppress potential signals for both, the expected standard model CEνNS process and the vector NSIs. Furthermore, competitive limits on scalar and vector mediators are obtained from the CEνNS channel at reactor-site which allow to probe coupling constants as low as 5 ∙ 10−5 of low mediator masses, assuming the currently favored quenching factor regime. The consideration of neutrino-electron scatterings allows to set even stronger constraints for mediator masses below ∼ 1 MeV and ∼ 10 MeV for scalar and vector mediators, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze leptogenesis in gauge extensions of the Standard Model with keV sterile neutrino dark matter. We find that both the observed dark matter abundance and the correct baryon asymmetry of the Universe can simultaneously emerge in these models. Both the dark matter abundance and the leptogenesis are controlled by the out-of-equilibrium decays of the same heavy right-handed neutrino. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The standard treatment of poisoning by organophosphorus (OP) nerve agents with atropine and oximes is not sufficiently effective against all types of nerve agents. Alternative therapeutic strategies are required and bispyridinium non-oximes, acting as nicotinic antagonists, were identified as promising compounds. A previous study showed that the di(methanesulfonate) salt of the bispyridinium compound MB327 could restore soman-impaired neuromuscular function in vitro and improve survival of sarin, soman and tabun poisoned guinea pigs in vivo. Here, by using the indirect field stimulation technique, the ability of MB327 to counteract soman-impaired neuromuscular transmission was investigated in human intercostal muscle and rat diaphragm preparations. MB327 restored muscle force in a concentration-dependent manner in both species without reactivating soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase. The therapeutic effect of MB327 could be washed out, indicating a direct effect at the nicotinic receptor level. Also the ability of MB327 to restore respiratory muscle function could be demonstrated for the first time in rat and human tissue. In combination with previous in vitro and in vivo findings MB327 may be considered a promising compound for the treatment of nerve agent poisoning and further studies are needed to identify optimized drug combinations, concentrations and dosing intervals to provide an effective therapy for OP poisoning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is an efficacious treatment for immune-mediated neuropathies like Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (CIDP), and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). In the pathogenesis of immune-mediated neuropathies chemokines and their receptors play a crucial role. Using flow cytometry we examined whether IVIg modulates chemokine expression repertoires of T cells and monocytes. The expression of inflammatory chemokine receptors CCR1, CCR2, CCR4, CCR5, CCR6 and CXCR3 was investigated on circulating T-cell subsets, and CCR1, CCR2 and CCR5 on circulating monocytes before and after IVIg treatment in patients with immune-mediated neuropathies (MMN, n = 7; GBS, n = 1; CIDP, n = 2). Furthermore, the homing potential of T cells was analyzed by the expression of CCR7, a chemokine receptor known to be utilized by mature T cells to recirculate into secondary lymphoid organs. In contrast to studies in chronic heart failure, no differences in expression patterns before and after IVIg treatment of any of the investigated chemokine receptors were found. Furthermore, the proportion of CD45RO-positive CD4+ or CD8+ T-cell subsets was not changed by IVIg treatment. Thus, we concluded that modulation of the expression of chemokine receptors on circulating leukocytes by IVIg is not a mode of action in immune-mediated neuropathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the measurement of the 235U-induced antineutrino spectrum shape by the Stereo experiment. 43 000 antineutrinos have been detected at about 10 m from the highly enriched core of the ILL reactor during 118 full days equivalent at nominal power. The measured inverse beta decay spectrum is unfolded to provide a pure 235U spectrum in antineutrino energy. A careful study of the unfolding procedure, including a cross-validation by an independent framework, has shown that no major biases are introduced by the method. A significant local distortion is found with respect to predictions around Eν ≃ 5.3 MeV. A Gaussian fit of this local excess leads to an amplitude of A = 12.1 ± 3.4% (3.5σ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense fluxes of reactor antineutrinos offer a unique possibility to probe the fully coherent character of elastic neutrino scattering off atomic nuclei. In this regard, detectors face the challenge to register tiny recoil energies of a few keV at the maximum. The Conus experiment was installed in 17.1 m distance from the reactor core of the nuclear power plant in Brokdorf, Germany, and was designed to detect this neutrino interaction channel by using four 1 kg-sized point contact germanium detectors with sub-keV energy thresholds. This report describes the unique specifications addressed to the design, the research and development, and the final production of these detectors. It demonstrates their excellent electronic performance obtained during commissioning under laboratory conditions as well as during the first 2 years of operation at the reactor site which started on April 1, 2018. It highlights the long-term stability of different detector parameters and the achieved background levels of the germanium detectors inside the Conus shield setup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectral shape of reactor antineutrinos measured in recent experiments shows anomalies in comparison to neutrino reference spectra. New precision measurements of the reactor neutrino spectra as well as more complete input in nuclear data bases are needed to resolve the observed discrepancies between models and experimental results. This article proposes the combination of experiments at reactors which are highly enriched in U 235 with commercial reactors with typically lower enrichment to gain new insights into the origin of the anomalous neutrino spectrum. The presented method clarifies, if the spectral anomaly is either solely or not at all related to the predicted U 235 spectrum. Considering the current improvements of the energy scale uncertainty of present-day experiments, a significance of three sigma and above can be reached. As an example, we discuss the option of a direct comparison of the measured shape in the currently running Double Chooz near detector and the upcoming Stereo experiment. A quantitative feasibility study emphasizes that a precise understanding of the energy scale systematics is a crucial prerequisite in recent and next generation experiments investigating the spectral anomaly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]