Deep learning for laser beam imprinting

Methods of ablation imprints in solid targets are widely used to characterize focused X-ray laser beams due to a remarkable dynamic range and resolving power. A detailed description of intense beam profiles is especially important in high-energy-density physics aiming at nonlinear phenomena. Complex interaction experiments require an enormous number of imprints to be created under all desired conditions making the analysis demanding and requiring a huge amount of human work. Here, for the first time, we present ablation imprinting methods assisted by deep learning approaches. Employing a multi-layer convolutional neural network (U-Net) trained on thousands of manually annotated ablation imprints in poly(methyl methacrylate), we characterize a focused beam of beamline FL24/FLASH2 at the Free-electron laser in Hamburg. The performance of the neural network is subject to a thorough benchmark test and comparison with experienced human analysts. Methods presented in this Paper pave the way towards a virtual analyst automatically processing experimental data from start to end.

Epidemiology and impact of frailty in patients with atrial fibrillation in Europe

BACKGROUND

Frailty is a medical syndrome characterised by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors. Data regarding the relationship between frailty and atrial fibrillation (AF) are still inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to perform a comprehensive evaluation of frailty in a large European cohort of AF patients.

METHODS

A 40-item frailty index (FI) was built according to the accumulation of deficits model in the AF patients enrolled in the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry. Association of baseline characteristics, clinical management, quality of life, healthcare resources use and risk of outcomes with frailty was examined.

RESULTS

Among 10,177 patients [mean age (standard deviation) 69.0 (11.4) years, 4,103 (40.3%) females], 6,066 (59.6%) were pre-frail and 2,172 (21.3%) were frail, whereas only 1,939 (19.1%) were considered robust. Baseline thromboembolic and bleeding risks were independently associated with increasing FI. Frail patients with AF were less likely to be treated with oral anticoagulants (OACs) (odds ratio 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.89), especially with non-vitamin K antagonist OACs and managed with a rhythm control strategy, compared with robust patients. Increasing frailty was associated with a higher risk for all outcomes examined, with a non-linear exponential relationship. The use of OAC was associated with a lower risk of outcomes, except in patients with very/extremely high frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort of AF patients, there was a high burden of frailty, influencing clinical management and risk of adverse outcomes. The clinical benefit of OAC is maintained in patients with high frailty, but not in very high/extremely frail ones.

Critical links between biodiversity and health in wild bee conservation

Wild bee populations are declining due to human activities, such as land use change, which strongly affect the composition and diversity of available plants and food sources. The chemical composition of food (i.e., nutrition) in turn determines the health, resilience, and fitness of bees. For pollinators, however, the term 'health' is recent and is subject to debate, as is the interaction between nutrition and wild bee health. We define bee health as a multidimensional concept in a novel integrative framework linking bee biological traits (physiology, stoichiometry, and disease) and environmental factors (floral diversity and nutritional landscapes). Linking information on tolerated nutritional niches and health in different bee species will allow us to better predict their distribution and responses to environmental change, and thus support wild pollinator conservation.

Evidence of a Resonant Structure in the e^{+}e^{-}→π^{+}D^{0}D^{*-} Cross Section between 4.05 and 4.60 GeV

The cross section of the process e^{+}e^{-}→π^{+}D^{0}D^{*-} for center-of-mass energies from 4.05 to 4.60 GeV is measured precisely using data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring. Two enhancements are clearly visible in the cross section around 4.23 and 4.40 GeV. Using several models to describe the dressed cross section yields stable parameters for the first enhancement, which has a mass of 4228.6±4.1±6.3  MeV/c^{2} and a width of 77.0±6.8±6.3  MeV, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones are systematic. Our resonant mass is consistent with previous observations of the Y(4220) state and the theoretical prediction of a DD[over ¯]_{1}(2420) molecule. This result is the first observation of Y(4220) associated with an open-charm final state. Fits with three resonance functions with additional Y(4260), Y(4320), Y(4360), ψ(4415), or a new resonance do not show significant contributions from either of these resonances. The second enhancement is not from a single known resonance. It could contain contributions from ψ(4415) and other resonances, and a detailed amplitude analysis is required to better understand this enhancement.

Measurement of the Absolute Branching Fraction of the Inclusive Semileptonic Λ_{c}^{+} Decay

Using a data sample of e^{+}e^{-} collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 567  pb^{-1} collected at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=4.6  GeV with the BESIII detector, we measure the absolute branching fraction of the inclusive semileptonic Λ_{c}^{+} decay with a double-tag method. We obtain B(Λ_{c}^{+}→Xe^{+}ν_{e})=(3.95±0.34±0.09)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. Using the known Λ_{c}^{+} lifetime and the charge-averaged semileptonic decay width of nonstrange charmed mesons (D^{0} and D^{+}), we obtain the ratio of the inclusive semileptonic decay widths Γ(Λ_{c}^{+}→Xe^{+}ν_{e})/Γ[over ¯](D→Xe^{+}ν_{e})=1.26±0.12.

Measurement of the Branching Fraction For the Semileptonic Decay D^{0(+)}→π^{-(0)}μ^{+}ν_{μ} and Test of Lepton Flavor Universality

Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93  fb^{-1} taken at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector operated at the BEPCII collider, we perform an analysis of the semileptonic decays D^{0(+)}→π^{-(0)}μ^{+}ν_{μ}. The branching fractions of D^{0}→π^{-}μ^{+}ν_{μ} and D^{+}→π^{0}μ^{+}ν_{μ} are measured to be (0.272±0.008_{stat}±0.006_{syst})% and (0.350±0.011_{stat}±0.010_{syst})%, respectively, where the former is of much improved precision compared to previous results and the latter is determined for the first time. Using these results along with previous BESIII measurements of D^{0(+)}→π^{-(0)}e^{+}ν_{e}, we calculate the branching fraction ratios to be R^{0}≡B_{D^{0}→π^{-}μ^{+}ν_{μ}}/B_{D^{0}→π^{-}e^{+}ν_{e}}=0.922±0.030_{stat}±0.022_{syst} and R^{+}≡B_{D^{+}→π^{0}μ^{+}ν_{μ}}/B_{D^{+}→π^{0}e^{+}ν_{e}}=0.964±0.037_{stat}±0.026_{syst}, which are compatible with the theoretical expectation of lepton flavor universality within 1.7σ and 0.5σ, respectively. We also examine the branching fraction ratios in different four-momentum transfer square regions, and find no significant deviations from the standard model predictions.

Measurement of the Absolute Branching Fraction of the Inclusive Decay Λ_{c}^{+}→Λ+X

Based on an e^{+}e^{-} collision data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 567  pb^{-1} taken at the center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=4.6  GeV with the BESIII detector, we measure the absolute branching fraction of the inclusive decay Λ_{c}^{+}→Λ+X to be B(Λ_{c}^{+}→Λ+X)=(38.2_{-2.2}^{+2.8}±0.9)% using the double-tag method, where X refers to any possible final state particles. In addition, we search for direct CP violation in the charge asymmetry of this inclusive decay for the first time, and obtain A_{CP}≡[B(Λ_{c}^{+}→Λ+X)-B(Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-}→Λ[over ¯]+X)]/[B(Λ_{c}^{+}→Λ+X)+B(Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-}→Λ[over ¯]+X)]=(2.1_{-6.6}^{+7.0}±1.6)%, a statistically limited result with no evidence of CP violation.

Observation of a_{0}^{0}(980)-f_{0}(980) Mixing

We report the first observation of a_{0}^{0}(980)-f_{0}(980) mixing in the decays of J/ψ→ϕf_{0}(980)→ϕa_{0}^{0}(980)→ϕηπ^{0} and χ_{c1}→a_{0}^{0}(980)π^{0}→f_{0}(980)π^{0}→π^{+}π^{-}π^{0}, using data samples of 1.31×10^{9}  J/ψ events and 4.48×10^{8}  ψ(3686) events accumulated with the BESIII detector. The signals of f_{0}(980)→a_{0}^{0}(980) and a_{0}^{0}(980)→f_{0}(980) mixing are observed at levels of statistical significance of 7.4σ and 5.5σ, respectively. The corresponding branching fractions and mixing intensities are measured and the constraint regions on the coupling constants, g_{a_{0}K^{+}K^{-}} and g_{f_{0}K^{+}K^{-}}, are estimated. The results improve the understanding of the nature of a_{0}^{0}(980) and f_{0}(980).

Precision Measurement of the e^{+}e^{-}→Λ_{c}^{+}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-} Cross Section Near Threshold

The cross section of the e^{+}e^{-}→Λ_{c}^{+}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-} process is measured with unprecedented precision using data collected with the BESIII detector at sqrt[s]=4574.5, 4580.0, 4590.0 and 4599.5 MeV. The nonzero cross section near the Λ_{c}^{+}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-} production threshold is cleared. At center-of-mass energies sqrt[s]=4574.5 and 4599.5 MeV, the higher statistics data enable us to measure the Λ_{c} polar angle distributions. From these, the Λ_{c} electric over magnetic form-factor ratios (|G_{E}/G_{M}|) are measured for the first time. They are found to be 1.14±0.14±0.07 and 1.23±0.05±0.03, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic.

Dispersity control of linear poly(glycidyl ether)s by slow monomer addition

In this communication we demonstrate that the extent of dispersity of poly(allyl glycidyl ether) and poly(ethoxy ethyl glycidyl ether) can be reduced by slow monomer addition with potassium tert-butoxide as initiator and THF as solvent at 45 °C.

Dual setting α-tricalcium phosphate cements

An extension of the application of calcium phosphate cements (CPC) to load-bearing defects, e.g. in vertebroplasty, would require less brittle cements with an increased fracture toughness. Here we report the modification of CPC made of alpha-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) with 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), which is polymerised during setting to obtain a mechanically stable polymer-ceramic composite with interpenetrating organic and inorganic networks. The cement liquid was modified by the addition of 30-70 % HEMA and ammoniumpersulfate/tetramethylethylendiamine as initiator. Modification of α-TCP cement paste with HEMA decreased the setting time from 14 min to 3-8 min depending on the initiator concentration. The 4-point bending strength was increased from 9 MPa to more than 14 MPa when using 50 % HEMA, while the bending modulus decreased from 18 GPa to approx. 4 GPa. The addition of ≥50 % HEMA reduced the brittle fracture behaviour of the cements and resulted in an increase of the work of fracture by more than an order of magnitude. X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that the degree of transformation of α-TCP to calcium deficient hydroxyapatite was lower for polymer modified cements (82 % for polymer free cement and 55 % for 70 % HEMA) after 24 h setting, while the polymerisation of HEMA in the cement liquid was quantitative according to FT-IR spectroscopy. This work demonstrated the feasibility of producing fracture resistant dual-setting calcium phosphate cements by adding water soluble polymerisable monomers to the liquid cement phase, which may be suitable for an application in load-bearing bone defects.

Acquisition and Transmissibility of U.S. Soybean dwarf virus Isolates by the Soybean Aphid, Aphis glycines

Soybean dwarf virus (SbDV) exists as several distinct strains based on symptomatology, vector specificity, and host range. Originally characterized Japanese isolates of SbDV were specifically transmitted by Aulacorthum solani. More recently, additional Japanese isolates and endemic U.S. isolates have been shown to be transmitted by several different aphid species. The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines, the only aphid that colonizes soybean, has been shown to be a very inefficient vector of some SbDV isolates from Japan and the United States. Transmission experiments have shown that the soybean aphid can transmit certain isolates of SbDV from soybean to soybean and clover species and from clover to clover and soybean with long acquisition and inoculation access periods. Although transmission of SbDV by the soybean aphid is very inefficient, the large soybean aphid populations that develop on soybean may have epidemiological potential to produce serious SbDV-induced yield losses.

Murraya paniculata and Related Species as Potential Hosts and Inoculum Reservoirs of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus', Causal Agent of Huanglongbing

Huanglongbing (HLB), considered to be the most serious insect-vectored bacterial disease of citrus, is transmitted in nature by the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri and the African citrus psyllid Trioza erytreae. D. citri was discovered in southern Florida in 1998 and the HLB disease in 2005. Both have become established throughout citrus-producing areas of Florida. Murraya species are widely grown in southern Florida as ornamental hedges and are readily colonized by D. citri vectors. Colonies of D. citri, isolates of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' from Taiwan and Florida, and the Murraya species were established in the BSL-3 biosecurity facility at Fort Detrick. In controlled inoculation experiments, D. citri transmitted 'Ca. L. asiaticus' into M. paniculata (34/36 plants) and M. exotica (22/23 plants), but not into Bergera (Murraya) koenigii. Disease symptoms rarely developed in Murraya plants; however, positive infections were determined by conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Back-inoculations of 'Ca. L. asiaticus' from M. paniculata to Madam Vinous sweet orange resulted in disease development in 25% of the inoculated plants. Considerable variability was observed in infection rates, titer, and persistence of 'Ca. L. asiaticus' in infected Murraya.

Factors limiting the species richness of bees in Saharan Africa

There is a severe shortage of knowledge of bee biogeography. Some former studies have highlighted a link between bee diversity and xeric ecosystems, but we know practically nothing of the macro-ecological factors driving bee diversity. The present study aims to analyse the main macro-ecological factors driving bee species-richness in the Saharan region. Our dataset includes 25,000+ records for localities in Africa, between 37 degrees and 10 degrees N. Maps and GIS were used to get a first overview of the distribution of the studied taxa. Partial least squares analysis (PLS) was used to study the impact of a set of ecological factors on the bee species richness (SR). The mapping highlighted the clustering of the highest bee SR values in some parts of the Saharan area (e.g. Maghreb, western Africa). In Central Sahara, there is an obvious topological coincidence of the high SR, the local mountain chains and the inland waters. The PLS helped to quantify the relationships between bee SR and a set of eco-climatic variables. It also highlighted a residual variance not explained by the considered descriptors. Our results recover the tight link between bee SR and xeric ecosystems. They also suggest that, within these ecosystems, bee SR is driven by an optimum of the energy-water balance (on which adjustment is allowed by the above gradients).

Colloidal silver nanoparticle gradient layer prepared by drying between two walls of different wettability

A one-dimensional silver (Ag) nanoparticle gradient layer is prepared from an aqueous colloidal solution upon a polystyrene (PS) coated silicon (Si) substrate. For preparation two walls of different wettability are used. The 40 nm PS-layer exhibits a locally constant film thickness due to the strong roughness correlation with the underlying Si-substrate and is less wettable as compared to the glass plate placed above. The Ag nanoparticles have a triangular prism-like shape. The structural characterization of the obtained complex gradient formed by drying is performed with microbeam grazing incidence small-angle x-ray scattering based on compound refractive lenses. Due to the adsorption from aqueous solution in the selective geometry a double gradient type structure defined by two areas with characteristic lateral lengths and a cross-over regime between both is observed.

Assessment of body composition in dialysis patients by arm bioimpedance compared to MRI and 40K measurements

This study used multi-frequency bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) of the arm and whole body to estimate muscle mass (MM) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in 31 hemodialysis (HD) patients comparing these results with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and body potassium ((40)K) as gold standards. Total body and arm MM (MM(MRI)) and SAT (SAT(MRI)) were measured by MRI. All measurements were made before dialysis treatment. Regression models with the arm (aBIS) and whole body (wBIS) resistances were established. Correlations between gold standards and the BIS model were high for the arm SAT (r(2) = 0.93, standard error of estimate (SEE) = 3.6 kg), and whole body SAT (r(2) = 0.92, SEE = 3.5 kg), and for arm MM (r(2) = 0.84, SEE = 2.28 kg) and whole body MM (r(2) = 0.86, SEE = 2.28 kg). Total body MM and SAT can be accurately predicted by arm BIS models with advantages of convenience and portability, and it should be useful to assess nutritional status in HD patients.

Transverse-coherence properties of the free-electron-laser FLASH at DESY

A general theoretical approach based on the decomposition of statistical fields into a sum of independently propagating transverse modes was used for the analysis of the coherence properties of the new free-electron laser source FLASH operated at 13.7 nm wavelength. The analysis shows that several transverse modes are contributing to the total radiation field of FLASH. The results of theoretical calculations are compared with measurements using Young's double-slit experiment. The coherence lengths in the horizontal and in the vertical directions 20 m downstream from the source are estimated at 300 and 250 microm, respectively.

Multistep ionization of argon clusters in intense femtosecond extreme ultraviolet pulses

The interaction of intense extreme ultraviolet femtosecond laser pulses (lambda = 32.8 nm) from the FLASH free electron laser (FEL) with clusters has been investigated by means of photoelectron spectroscopy and modeled by Monte Carlo simulations. For laser intensities up to 5x10(13) W/cm(2), we find that the cluster ionization process is a sequence of direct electron emission events in a developing Coulomb field. A nanoplasma is formed only at the highest investigated power densities where ionization is frustrated due to the deep cluster potential. In contrast with earlier studies in the IR and vacuum ultraviolet spectral regime, we find no evidence for electron emission from plasma heating processes.

Soft x-ray laser spectroscopy on trapped highly charged ions at FLASH

In a proof-of-principle experiment, we demonstrate high-resolution resonant laser excitation in the soft x-ray region at 48.6 eV of the 2 (2)S(1/2) to 2 (2)P(1/2) transition of Li-like Fe23+ ions trapped in an electron beam ion trap by using ultrabrilliant light from Free Electron Laser in Hamburg (FLASH). High precision spectroscopic studies of highly charged ions at this and upcoming x-ray lasers with an expected accuracy gain up to a factor of a thousand, become possible with our technique, thus potentially yielding fundamental insights, e.g., into basic aspects of QED.

Spectroscopic characterization of vacuum ultraviolet free electron laser pulses

Because of the stochastic nature of self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE), it is crucial to measure for single pulses the spectral characteristics of ultrashort pulses from the vacuum ultraviolet free electron laser (FLASH) at DESY, Germany. To meet this particular challenge, we have employed both photon and photoelectron spectroscopy. Each FEL pulse is composed of an intense and spectrally complex fundamental, centered at a photon energy of about 38.5 eV, with a bandwidth of 0.5% accompanied by higher harmonics, each carrying an intensity of typically 0.3 to 0.6% of that of the fundamental. The correlation between the harmonics and the fundamental is in remarkable agreement with a simple statistical model of SASE FEL radiation.

ESPEN Guidelines on Enteral Nutrition: Adult Renal Failure

Enteral nutrition (EN) by means of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) and tube feeding (TF) offers the possibility of increasing or ensuring nutrient intake in cases where normal food intake is inadequate. These guidelines are intended to give evidence-based recommendations for the use of ONS and TF in nephrology patients. They were developed by an interdisciplinary expert group in accordance with officially accepted standards and are based on all relevant publications since 1985. They were discussed and accepted in a consensus conference. Because of the nutritional impact of renal diseases, EN is widely used in nephrology practice. Patients with acute renal failure (ARF) and critical illness are characterized by a highly catabolic state and need depurative techniques inducing massive nutrient loss. EN by TF is the preferred route for nutritional support in these patients. EN by means of ONS is the preferred way of refeeding for depleted conservatively treated chronic renal failure patients and dialysis patients. Undernutrition is an independent factor of survival in dialysis patients. ONS was shown to improve nutritional status in this setting. An increase in survival has been recently reported when nutritional status was improved by ONS.

A trial of detecting impending access-graft failure by simplified weekly flow monitoring

Access graft failure is a major problem in hemodialysis. Monitoring the flow through the access so that impending failure can be detected and prevented seems reasonable, but recent clinical trials have failed to show any benefit of such monitoring. Described here are plans for a clinical trial of a new flow monitoring procedure that measures access flow weekly instead of monthly and, being performed before dialysis, avoids the dialysis-induced changes in graft flow that may have affected earlier trials. The planned trial is to be carried out in two stages, the first to establish the sensitivity and specificity of the new method, and the second (if the results of the first stage warrant it) a controlled trial comparing access-costs and hospitalization days between a monitored group and a matched standard care control group. It is hoped that this trial of the new method will establish it as an effective means of extending access-graft life.

Gonadal protection from radiation by GnRH antagonist or recombinant human FSH: a controlled trial in a male nonhuman primate (Macaca fascicularis)

Chemotherapy and radiation often damage spermatogenesis irreversibly in oncological patients and various approaches to gonadal protection have been tested with equivocal results. In rats, hormonal protection of spermatogenesis can be achieved by blocking gonadotropin secretion. However, whether the same mechanisms can effect gonadal protection in primates remains questionable. To clarify this Issue we conducted a placebo-controlled trial in a preclinical animal model using macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Twenty adult male monkeys (five in each group) were randomized to receive either recombinant human FSH, GnRH antagonist or saline injections (two groups) for 36 days. On day 29 all groups except one saline-treated control group were exposed to a single testicular irradiation of 4 Gy. Every 2 weeks before, during and after the treatment, ejaculates, body weight, testicular Volume and hormones were analyzed until day 539. In addition, repeated testicular biopsies were performed. Testicular Volume and inhibin B decreased significantly in all irradiated groups compared with baseline and with the non-irradiated control group, followed by a gradual recovery of these parameters, which was, especially at the earlier time points, significantly better in the FSH-treated group compared with both other irradiated groups. Irradiation caused a drastic decrease of sperm parameters in all groups, followed by a partial recovery of sperm parameters, which was significantly slower in the early phases of recovery in the GnRH antagonist group compared with the vehicle group. Testicular histology showed a significant depletion on study day 261 in all irradiated animals. In conclusion, in clear contrast to rodent studies, GnRH antagonist treatment did not provide gonadal protection in this primate model. FSH treatment resulted in slightly better recovery of spermatogenesis, which appears to be of no or only little clinical relevance.

The tobacco bZIP transcription factor BZI-1 binds to G-box elements in the promoters of phenylpropanoid pathway genes in vitro, but it is not involved in their regulation in vivo

Screening of a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cDNA library resulted in the isolation of a clone encoding the bZIP transcription factor BZI-1. With respect to amino acid sequence, conservation of protein domains, genomic exon-intron structure and expression pattern, BZI-1 is closely related to CPRF2, OHP1/2, BLZ1 and REB, a group of bZIP proteins which have been described in a number of dicot and monocot species. BZI-1 exhibits the characteristics of a transcription factor. It binds to G-box and C-box cis-elements in vitro, it is localised in the nucleus, and the N-terminal region of BZI-1 functions as an activation domain in both yeast and plant cells. Since BZI-1-related transcription factors have been isolated from dicots by in vitro binding to G-box elements in the chalcone synthase ( CHS) promoter, it has been suggested that phenylpropanoid pathway genes, such as CHS and PAL (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase), are targets of these proteins in vivo. However, after infection with Pseudomonas syringae or Tobacco Mosaic Virus, no changes in pathogen-induced PAL expression were observed in transgenic plants expressing increased levels of BZI-1 or a dominant negative form of the protein, BZI-1-DeltaN. In contrast to the tissue-specific expression of CHS and PAL, BZI-1 was found to be ubiquitously expressed in tobacco plants. Furthermore, no changes in the tissue-specific expression of PAL or CHS were observed in plants that were transgenic for BZI-1-DeltaN. Expression of a VP16-BZI-1 fusion protein would be expected to result in constitutive activation of the BZI-1 target genes. However, tetracycline-dependent expression of a VP16-BZI-1 protein in tobacco plants did not result in activation of CHS or PAL. On the basis of these data, we conclude that the phenylpropanoid pathway genes analysed are not targets of BZI-1 in vivo. Thus, the pattern of in vitro DNA binding of transcription factors need not always reflect their in vivo function.