Persistent magnetic coherence in magnets

When excited, the magnetization in a magnet precesses around the field in an anticlockwise manner on a timescale governed by viscous magnetization damping, after which any information carried by the initial actuation seems to be lost. This damping appears to be a fundamental bottleneck for the use of magnets in information processing. However, here we demonstrate the recall of the magnetization-precession phase after times that exceed the damping timescale by two orders of magnitude using dedicated two-colour microwave pump-probe experiments for a Y3Fe5O12 microstructured film. Time-resolved magnetization state tomography confirms the persistent magnetic coherence by revealing a double-exponential decay of magnetization correlation. We attribute persistent magnetic coherence to a feedback effect, that is, coherent coupling of the uniform precession with long-lived excitations at the minima of the spin-wave dispersion relation. Our finding liberates magnetic systems from the strong damping in nanostructures that has limited their use in coherent information storage and processing.

The association between Diet Quality Index-International score and risk of diminished ovarian reserve: a case-control study

Introduction

Although limited evidence exists on the beneficial reproductive effects of diet quality indices, the association is still largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the association between Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) and antral follicle count (AFC) and serum antimullerian hormone (AMH) as precise and sensitive markers of ovarian reserve and to assess the risk of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in women seeking fertility treatments.

Methods

In a case-control study, 370 women (120 women with DOR and 250 women with normal ovarian reserve as controls), matched by age and body mass index (BMI), were recruited. Dietary intake was obtained using a validated 80-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The quality of diets was assessed using DQI-I, which included four major dietary components: variety (0-20 points), adequacy (0-40 points), moderation (0-30 points), and overall balance (0-10 points). DQI-I score was categorized by quartiles based on the distribution of controls. AFC, serum AMH and anthropometric indices were measured. Logistic regression models were used to estimate multivariable odds ratio (OR) of DOR across quartiles of DQI-I score.

Results

Increased adherence to DQI-I was associated with higher AFC in women with DOR. After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds of DOR decreased with increasing DQI-I score (0.39; 95% CI: 0.18-0.86).

Conclusion

Greater adherence to DQI-I, as a food and nutrient-based quality index, may decrease the risk of DOR and improve the ovarian reserve in women already diagnosed with DOR. Our findings, though, need to be verified through prospective studies and clinical trials.

The efficacy of curcumin-piperine co-supplementation on clinical symptoms, duration, severity, and inflammatory factors in COVID-19 outpatients: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 pandemic has made the disease a major global problem by creating a significant burden on health, economic, and social status. To date, there are no effective and approved medications for this disease. Curcumin as an anti-inflammatory agent can have a positive effect on the control of COVID-19 complications. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of curcumin-piperine supplementation on clinical symptoms, duration, severity, and inflammatory factors in patients with COVID-19.

METHODS

Forty-six outpatients with COVID-19 disease were randomly allocated to receive two capsules of curcumin-piperine; each capsule contained 500 mg curcumin plus 5 mg piperine or placebo for 14 days.

RESULTS

Mean changes in complete blood count, liver enzymes, blood glucose levels, lipid parameters, kidney function, and c-reactive protein (CRP) were not significantly different between the two groups. There was a significant improvement in health status, including dry cough, sputum cough, ague, sore throat, weakness, muscular pain, headache, and dyspnea at week 2 in both curcumin-piperine and placebo groups (P value < 0.05); however, the improvement in weakness was more in the curcumin-piperine group than with placebo group (P value 025).

CONCLUSION

The present study results showed that curcumin-piperine co-supplementation in outpatients with COVID-19 could significantly reduce weakness. However, in this study, curcumin-piperine co-supplementation could not significantly affect the other indices, including biochemical and clinical indices.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20121216011763N46 . 2020-10-31.

Pharyngeal airway changes in pre-pubertal children with Class II malocclusion after Fränkel-2 treatment

AIM

To evaluate two-dimensional changes in pharyngeal airway dimensions in pre-pubertal children with a Class II malocclusion treated with a Fr&#228;nkel-2 appliance compared to a matched non-treated control sample.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Lateral cephalograms obtained from 28 consecutively treated pre-pubertal children before (T0) and after (T1) a one-year Fr&#228;nkel-2 treatment were analysed. Fr&#228;nkel-2 appliance was used for at least 18 hr/day during 12 months. The control group was matched as closely as possible. All the cases presented normal facial growth pattern. Sagittal and vertical cephalometric measurements assessing maxillary and mandibular skeletal positions, as well as sagittal pharyngeal airway dimensions, were calculated. Intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated in order to determine reliability. Differences based on age for all the outcome variables at T0 were compared with an independent t-test. A MANOVA was used thereafter to determine if any factors and their interactions were associated with changes in the outcome variables. Differences between T1 and T0 were evaluated with either a t-student test or a Mann Whitney U test.

RESULTS

At T0 differences between groups were noted for several variables. These differences were considered during the follow-up statistical analysis. Changes between groups after treatment (T1-T0) were noted for SNB, PNS to Ba, McNamara Low and Middle to S (increase in treatment group), and ANB and AD1 to Ba (decrease in treatment group).

CONCLUSIONS

Some pharyngeal two-dimensional airway dimensions changed in Class II malocclusion pre-pubertal patients during a one-year treatment with Fr&#228;nkel-2 appliances.