Dynamics of magnetization at infinite temperature in a Heisenberg spin chain

Understanding universal aspects of quantum dynamics is an unresolved problem in statistical mechanics. In particular, the spin dynamics of the one-dimensional Heisenberg model were conjectured as to belong to the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) universality class based on the scaling of the infinite-temperature spin-spin correlation function. In a chain of 46 superconducting qubits, we studied the probability distribution of the magnetization transferred across the chain's center, [Formula: see text]. The first two moments of [Formula: see text] show superdiffusive behavior, a hallmark of KPZ universality. However, the third and fourth moments ruled out the KPZ conjecture and allow for evaluating other theories. Our results highlight the importance of studying higher moments in determining dynamic universality classes and provide insights into universal behavior in quantum systems.

Stable quantum-correlated many-body states through engineered dissipation

Engineered dissipative reservoirs have the potential to steer many-body quantum systems toward correlated steady states useful for quantum simulation of high-temperature superconductivity or quantum magnetism. Using up to 49 superconducting qubits, we prepared low-energy states of the transverse-field Ising model through coupling to dissipative auxiliary qubits. In one dimension, we observed long-range quantum correlations and a ground-state fidelity of 0.86 for 18 qubits at the critical point. In two dimensions, we found mutual information that extends beyond nearest neighbors. Lastly, by coupling the system to auxiliaries emulating reservoirs with different chemical potentials, we explored transport in the quantum Heisenberg model. Our results establish engineered dissipation as a scalable alternative to unitary evolution for preparing entangled many-body states on noisy quantum processors.

Compositionally Sequenced Interfacial Layers for High-Energy Li-Metal Batteries

Electrolyte additives with multiple functions enable the interfacial engineering of Li-metal batteries (LMBs). Owing to their unique reduction behavior, additives exhibit a high potential for electrode surface modification that increases the reversibility of Li-metal anodes by enabling the development of a hierarchical solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). This study confirms that an adequately designed SEI facilitates the homogeneous supply of Li+ , nonlocalized Li deposition, and low electrolyte degradation in LMBs while enduring the volume fluctuation of Li-metal anodes on cycling. An in-depth analysis of interfacial engineering mechanisms reveals that multilayered SEI structures comprising mechanically robust LiF-rich species, electron-rich P-O species, and elastic polymeric species enabled the stable charge and discharge of LMBs. The polymeric outer SEI layer in the as-fabricated multilayered SEI could accommodate the volume fluctuation of Li-metal anodes, significantly enhancing the cycling stability Li||LiNi0.8 Co0.1 Mn0.1 O2 full cells with an electrolyte amount of 3.6 g Ah-1 and an areal capacity of 3.2 mAh cm-2 . Therefore, this study confirms the ability of interfacial layers formed by electrolyte additives and fluorinated solvents to advance the performance of LMBs and can open new frontiers in the fabrication of high-performance LMBs through electrolyte-formulation engineering.

Piezoelectrically and Topographically Engineered Scaffolds for Accelerating Bone Regeneration

Bone regeneration remains a critical concern across diverse medical disciplines, because it is a complex process that requires a combinatorial approach involving the integration of mechanical, electrical, and biological stimuli to emulate the native cellular microenvironment. In this context, piezoelectric scaffolds have attracted considerable interest owing to their remarkable ability to generate electric fields in response to dynamic forces. Nonetheless, the application of such scaffolds in bone tissue engineering has been limited by the lack of a scaffold that can simultaneously provide both the intricate electromechanical environment and the biocompatibility of the native bone tissue. Here, we present a pioneering biomimetic scaffold that combines the unique properties of piezoelectric and topographical enhancement with the inherent osteogenic abilities of hydroxyapatite (HAp). Notably, the novelty of this work lies in the incorporation of HAp into polyvinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoro ethylene in a freestanding form, leveraging its natural osteogenic potential within a piezoelectric framework. Through comprehensive in vitro and in vivo investigations, we demonstrate the remarkable potential of these scaffolds to accelerate bone regeneration. Moreover, we demonstrate and propose three pivotal mechanisms─(i) electrical, (ii) topographical, and (iii) paracrine─that collectively contribute to the facilitated bone healing process. Our findings present a synergistically derived biomimetic scaffold design with wide-ranging prospects for bone regeneration as well as various regenerative medicine applications.

Switchable tribology of ferroelectrics

Switchable tribological properties of ferroelectrics offer an alternative route to visualize and control ferroelectric domains. Here, we observe the switchable friction and wear behavior of ferroelectrics using a nanoscale scanning probe-down domains have lower friction coefficients and show slower wear rates than up domains and can be used as smart masks. This asymmetry is enabled by flexoelectrically coupled polarization in the up and down domains under a sufficiently high contact force. Moreover, we determine that this polarization-sensitive tribological asymmetry is widely applicable across various ferroelectrics with different chemical compositions and crystalline symmetry. Finally, using this switchable tribology and multi-pass patterning with a domain-based dynamic smart mask, we demonstrate three-dimensional nanostructuring exploiting the asymmetric wear rates of up and down domains, which can, furthermore, be scaled up to technologically relevant (mm-cm) size. These findings demonstrate that ferroelectrics are electrically tunable tribological materials at the nanoscale for versatile applications.

Weekly vs. Bolus Cisplatin Concurrent with Definitive Radiotherapy for Squamous Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The optimal schedule for cisplatin delivered concurrently with definitive radiation for squamous carcinoma of the head and neck remains controversial. Randomized data in the postoperative setting is mixed, and definitive studies are ongoing. Meanwhile, multiple trials have already compared cetuximab to cisplatin in the definitive setting. Across these trials, the cetuximab dosing was identical, but cisplatin dosing was variable and can be categorized as weekly (40 mg/m2 q1 week) or bolus (100 mg/m2 q3 weeks). We indirectly compared these two cisplatin schedules by performing a network meta-analysis of cetuximab trials.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We performed a PRISMA-concordant systematic review to identify randomized controlled trials comparing cisplatin to cetuximab for patients with non-metastatic squamous carcinoma of the head and neck treated with definitive radiation therapy. Trials of primary surgery, incorporating induction therapy, or mixing other therapeutics were excluded. The analysis was pre-registered with the Open Science Foundation. Individual patient survival data was extracted from the published overall survival curves using a digitizer, and outcomes were validated against published point-estimates and hazard ratios. A random effects Cox regression was used to perform the individual-patient analysis using a one-step approach under a frequentist framework. Random effects were applied to model heterogeneity in the baseline hazard function and treatment effect. Models were adjusted by HPV and smoking status, which were trial-level covariates. Alternative endpoints (DFS, LRF, DM, etc.) were analyzed qualitatively. IRB approval was not required.

RESULTS

Five randomized trials were identified, including 1,678 patients. Bolus cisplatin was delivered to 572 patients in 2 trials, and weekly to 271 in 3 trials. The risk of bias was low. Relative to cetuximab, both bolus and weekly cisplatin reduced the risk of death (adjusted HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.46-0.87, p = 0.004 & HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.37-0.86, p = 0.008 respectively). No interaction was identified between regimen and HPV or smoking status. Between-study heterogeneity (δ2) was 0.148 and treatment effect heterogeneity (τ2) was small (<0.0002). There was no statistical difference in OS between bolus vs. weekly regimens (weekly vs. bolus HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.53-1.52, p = 0.345). This Cox model therefore suggested that on average, the absolute difference in 5-year OS is <1.5% between the two regimens, which was not statistically significant. Secondary endpoints and toxicity were not obviously different by regimen, qualitatively.

CONCLUSION

Using cetuximab as a common reference, there was no significant difference in survival between weekly and bolus cisplatin schedules.

Measurement-induced entanglement and teleportation on a noisy quantum processor

Measurement has a special role in quantum theory1: by collapsing the wavefunction, it can enable phenomena such as teleportation2 and thereby alter the 'arrow of time' that constrains unitary evolution. When integrated in many-body dynamics, measurements can lead to emergent patterns of quantum information in space-time3-10 that go beyond the established paradigms for characterizing phases, either in or out of equilibrium11-13. For present-day noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) processors14, the experimental realization of such physics can be problematic because of hardware limitations and the stochastic nature of quantum measurement. Here we address these experimental challenges and study measurement-induced quantum information phases on up to 70 superconducting qubits. By leveraging the interchangeability of space and time, we use a duality mapping9,15-17 to avoid mid-circuit measurement and access different manifestations of the underlying phases, from entanglement scaling3,4 to measurement-induced teleportation18. We obtain finite-sized signatures of a phase transition with a decoding protocol that correlates the experimental measurement with classical simulation data. The phases display remarkably different sensitivity to noise, and we use this disparity to turn an inherent hardware limitation into a useful diagnostic. Our work demonstrates an approach to realizing measurement-induced physics at scales that are at the limits of current NISQ processors.

Prospective Characterization of Circulating Tumor Cell Kinetics in Patients with Localized Lung Cancer Treated with Radiotherapy or Chemoradiotherapy with Definitive Intent

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To characterize circulating tumor cell (CTC) kinetics in response to definitive therapy in patients with local or locoregional lung cancer and identify CTC kinetic profiles associated with favorable disease response versus progression.

MATERIALS/METHODS

In this single-institution prospective correlative biomarker study, we enrolled patients receiving definitive intent radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy for non-metastatic lung cancer. Blood specimens were collected prior to RT (baseline), during RT and at follow up visits up to 24 months post RT. Subsequent lines of therapy were administered per standard of care. CTCs were captured and enumerated using a previously reported nanotechnology-based assay functionalized with aEpCAM, aHER-2, and aEGFR to facilitate biomimetic cell rolling and dendrimer-mediated multivalent binding. Disease status was assessed per RECIST 1.1 criteria. CTC kinetics and absolute values were analyzed to identify patterns associated with disease control versus progression.

RESULTS

We enrolled 24 patients with median follow up of 8 months corresponding to 114 CTC measurements. Seven patients (30%) had biopsy proven disease, while 17 (70%) were diagnosed based on clinical and radiographic features alone. Nineteen patients (79%) received stereotactic body radiation therapy. Median baseline CTC count was 12.6 CTCs/ml (range 0-290) and post RT decreased to median 4 CTCs/ml (0-42.7). For 95% of patients, a favorable kinetic profile (defined as stable CTC count, decreased CTC count or <24 CTCs/ml corresponding to the 80th percentile) during radiotherapy or at the time of first follow up corresponded to local control of the irradiated lesion. Five patients (20%) experienced disease progression within the follow up period. In the two patients with local progression of the irradiated lesion, the CTC count rose >10 fold prior to or at the time of radiographic detection of progression. In the three patients with systemic progression, CTC count rose 1.46-5.8-fold at the time of progression. Notably, four of the five patients with disease progression did not have initial biopsy confirmation of disease but did experience a CTC elevation at the time of progression.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggests CTCs may serve as a biomarker for response to therapy in patients being treated with RT with definitive intent for early stage or locally advanced lung cancer. This finding is of importance given important limitations in obtaining pathologic confirmation of disease in select patients and challenges distinguishing disease progression versus benign post radiotherapy radiographic changes. Further studies are needed to characterize the predictive and prognostic value of circulating biomarker levels and kinetics in lung cancer.

Childhood-Onset Lupus Nephritis in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry: Short-Term Kidney Status and Variation in Care

OBJECTIVE

The goal was to characterize short-term kidney status and describe variation in early care utilization in a multicenter cohort of patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) and nephritis.

METHODS

We analyzed previously collected prospective data from North American patients with cSLE with kidney biopsy-proven nephritis enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry from March 2017 through December 2019. We determined the proportion of patients with abnormal kidney status at the most recent registry visit and applied generalized linear mixed models to identify associated factors. We also calculated frequency of medication use, both during induction and ever recorded.

RESULTS

We identified 222 patients with kidney biopsy-proven nephritis, with 64% class III/IV nephritis on initial biopsy. At the most recent registry visit at median (interquartile range) of 17 (8-29) months from initial kidney biopsy, 58 of 106 patients (55%) with available data had abnormal kidney status. This finding was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.88, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.21-12.46) and age at cSLE diagnosis (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.01-1.49). Patients with class IV nephritis were more likely than class III to receive cyclophosphamide and rituximab during induction. There was substantial variation in mycophenolate, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab ever use patterns across rheumatology centers.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort with predominately class III/IV nephritis, male sex and older age at cSLE diagnosis were associated with abnormal short-term kidney status. We also observed substantial variation in contemporary medication use for pediatric lupus nephritis between pediatric rheumatology centers. Additional studies are needed to better understand the impact of this variation on long-term kidney outcomes.

Scalable Solution Phase Synthesis of 2D Siloxene via a Two-Step Interlayer Expansion Process

Two-dimensional (2D) siloxene is attracting considerable research interest recently principally owing to its inherent compatibility with silicon-based semiconductor technology. -The synthesis of siloxene has been mostly limited to multilayered structures using traditional topochemical reaction procedures. Herein, we report high-yield synthesis of single to few-layer siloxene nanosheets by developing a two-step interlayer expansion and subsequent liquid phase exfoliation procedure. Our protocol enables high-yield production of few-layer siloxene nanosheets with a lateral dimension of up to 4 μm and thickness ranging from 0.8 to 4.8 nm, corresponding to single to a few layers, well stabilized in water. The atomically flat nature of exfoliated siloxene can be exploited for the construction of 2D/2D heterostructure membranes via typical solution processing. We demonstrate highly ordered graphene/siloxene heterostructure films with synergistic mechanical and electrical properties, which deliver noticeably high device capacitance when assembled into a coin cell symmetric supercapacitor device structures. Additionally, we demonstrate that the mechanically flexible exfoliated siloxene-graphene heterostructure enables its direct use in flexible and wearable supercapacitor applications.

Non-Abelian braiding of graph vertices in a superconducting processor

Indistinguishability of particles is a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics¹. For all elementary and quasiparticles observed to date-including fermions, bosons and Abelian anyons-this principle guarantees that the braiding of identical particles leaves the system unchanged^2,3. However, in two spatial dimensions, an intriguing possibility exists: braiding of non-Abelian anyons causes rotations in a space of topologically degenerate wavefunctions^4-8. Hence, it can change the observables of the system without violating the principle of indistinguishability. Despite the well-developed mathematical description of non-Abelian anyons and numerous theoretical proposals^9-22, the experimental observation of their exchange statistics has remained elusive for decades. Controllable many-body quantum states generated on quantum processors offer another path for exploring these fundamental phenomena. Whereas efforts on conventional solid-state platforms typically involve Hamiltonian dynamics of quasiparticles, superconducting quantum processors allow for directly manipulating the many-body wavefunction by means of unitary gates. Building on predictions that stabilizer codes can host projective non-Abelian Ising anyons^9,10, we implement a generalized stabilizer code and unitary protocol²³ to create and braid them. This allows us to experimentally verify the fusion rules of the anyons and braid them to realize their statistics. We then study the prospect of using the anyons for quantum computation and use braiding to create an entangled state of anyons encoding three logical qubits. Our work provides new insights about non-Abelian braiding and, through the future inclusion of error correction to achieve topological protection, could open a path towards fault-tolerant quantum computing.

PEg TRAnsfer Workflow recognition challenge report: Do multimodal data improve recognition?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

In order to be context-aware, computer-assisted surgical systems require accurate, real-time automatic surgical workflow recognition. In the past several years, surgical video has been the most commonly-used modality for surgical workflow recognition. But with the democratization of robot-assisted surgery, new modalities, such as kinematics, are now accessible. Some previous methods use these new modalities as input for their models, but their added value has rarely been studied. This paper presents the design and results of the "PEg TRAnsfer Workflow recognition" (PETRAW) challenge with the objective of developing surgical workflow recognition methods based on one or more modalities and studying their added value.

METHODS

The PETRAW challenge included a data set of 150 peg transfer sequences performed on a virtual simulator. This data set included videos, kinematic data, semantic segmentation data, and annotations, which described the workflow at three levels of granularity: phase, step, and activity. Five tasks were proposed to the participants: three were related to the recognition at all granularities simultaneously using a single modality, and two addressed the recognition using multiple modalities. The mean application-dependent balanced accuracy (AD-Accuracy) was used as an evaluation metric to take into account class balance and is more clinically relevant than a frame-by-frame score.

RESULTS

Seven teams participated in at least one task with four participating in every task. The best results were obtained by combining video and kinematic data (AD-Accuracy of between 93% and 90% for the four teams that participated in all tasks).

CONCLUSION

The improvement of surgical workflow recognition methods using multiple modalities compared with unimodal methods was significant for all teams. However, the longer execution time required for video/kinematic-based methods(compared to only kinematic-based methods) must be considered. Indeed, one must ask if it is wise to increase computing time by 2000 to 20,000% only to increase accuracy by 3%. The PETRAW data set is publicly available at www.synapse.org/PETRAW to encourage further research in surgical workflow recognition.

Correlating Nanoscale Structures with Electrochemical Properties of Solid Electrolyte Interphases in Solid-State Battery Electrodes

Here, we investigate the nonlinear relationship between the content of solid electrolytes in composite electrodes and the irreversible capacity via the degree of nanoscale uniformity of the surface morphology and chemical composition of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. Using electrochemical strain microscopy (ESM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), changes of the chemical composition and morphology (Li and F distribution) in SEI layers on the electrodes as a function of solid electrolyte contents are analyzed. As a result, we find that the solid electrolyte content affects the variation of the SEI layer thickness and chemical distributions of Li and F ions in the SEI layer, which, in turn, influence the Coulombic efficiency. This correlation determines the composition of the composite electrode surface that can maximize the physical and chemical uniformity of the solid electrolyte on the electrode, which is a key parameter to increase electrochemical performance in solid-state batteries.

A high-fidelity quantum matter-link between ion-trap microchip modules

System scalability is fundamental for large-scale quantum computers (QCs) and is being pursued over a variety of hardware platforms. For QCs based on trapped ions, architectures such as the quantum charge-coupled device (QCCD) are used to scale the number of qubits on a single device. However, the number of ions that can be hosted on a single quantum computing module is limited by the size of the chip being used. Therefore, a modular approach is of critical importance and requires quantum connections between individual modules. Here, we present the demonstration of a quantum matter-link in which ion qubits are transferred between adjacent QC modules. Ion transport between adjacent modules is realised at a rate of 2424 s^-1 and with an infidelity associated with ion loss during transport below 7 × 10^-8. Furthermore, we show that the link does not measurably impact the phase coherence of the qubit. The quantum matter-link constitutes a practical mechanism for the interconnection of QCCD devices. Our work will facilitate the implementation of modular QCs capable of fault-tolerant utility-scale quantum computation.

Boosted Heterogeneous Catalysis by Surface-Accumulated Excess Electrons of Non-Oxidized Bare Copper Nanoparticles on Electride Support

Engineering active sites of metal nanoparticle-based heterogeneous catalysts is one of the most prerequisite approaches for the efficient production of chemicals, but the limited active sites and undesired oxidation on the metal nanoparticles still remain as key challenges. Here, it is reported that the negatively charged surface of copper nanoparticles on the 2D [Ca₂ N]⁺ ∙e^- electride provides the unrestricted active sites for catalytic selective sulfenylation of indoles and azaindoles with diaryl disulfides. Substantial electron transfer from the electride support to copper nanoparticles via electronic metal-support interactions results in the accumulation of excess electrons at the surface of copper nanoparticles. Moreover, the surface-accumulated excess electrons prohibit the oxidation of copper nanoparticle, thereby maintaining the metallic surface in a negatively charged state and activating both (aza)indoles and disulfides under mild conditions in the absence of any further additives. This study defines the role of excess electrons on the nanoparticle-based heterogeneous catalyst that can be rationalized in versatile systems.

Formation of robust bound states of interacting microwave photons

Systems of correlated particles appear in many fields of modern science and represent some of the most intractable computational problems in nature. The computational challenge in these systems arises when interactions become comparable to other energy scales, which makes the state of each particle depend on all other particles1. The lack of general solutions for the three-body problem and acceptable theory for strongly correlated electrons shows that our understanding of correlated systems fades when the particle number or the interaction strength increases. One of the hallmarks of interacting systems is the formation of multiparticle bound states2-9. Here we develop a high-fidelity parameterizable fSim gate and implement the periodic quantum circuit of the spin-½ XXZ model in a ring of 24 superconducting qubits. We study the propagation of these excitations and observe their bound nature for up to five photons. We devise a phase-sensitive method for constructing the few-body spectrum of the bound states and extract their pseudo-charge by introducing a synthetic flux. By introducing interactions between the ring and additional qubits, we observe an unexpected resilience of the bound states to integrability breaking. This finding goes against the idea that bound states in non-integrable systems are unstable when their energies overlap with the continuum spectrum. Our work provides experimental evidence for bound states of interacting photons and discovers their stability beyond the integrability limit.

Intraarticular steroids as DMARD-sparing agents for juvenile idiopathic arthritis flares: Analysis of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry

BACKGROUND

Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who achieve a drug free remission often experience a flare of their disease requiring either intraarticular steroids (IAS) or systemic treatment with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). IAS offer an opportunity to recapture disease control and avoid exposure to side effects from systemic immunosuppression. We examined a cohort of patients treated with IAS after drug free remission and report the probability of restarting systemic treatment within 12 months.

METHODS

We analyzed a cohort of patients from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry who received IAS for a flare after a period of drug free remission. Historical factors and clinical characteristics and of the patients including data obtained at the time of treatment were analyzed.

RESULTS

We identified 46 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Of those with follow up data available 49% had restarted systemic treatment 6 months after IAS injection and 70% had restarted systemic treatment at 12 months. The proportion of patients with prior use of a biologic DMARD was the only factor that differed between patients who restarted systemic treatment those who did not, both at 6 months (79% vs 35%, p < 0.01) and 12 months (81% vs 33%, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

While IAS are an option for all patients who flare after drug free remission, it may not prevent the need to restart systemic treatment. Prior use of a biologic DMARD may predict lack of success for IAS. Those who previously received methotrexate only, on the other hand, are excellent candidates for IAS.

Early on-treatment tumor growth rate (EOT-TGR) determines treatment outcomes of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with programmed cell death protein 1 axis inhibitor

BACKGROUND

Tumor growth rate (TGR), denoted as percentage change in tumor size per month, is a well-established indicator of tumor growth kinetics. The predictive value of early on-treatment TGR (EOT-TGR) for immunotherapy remains unclear. We sought to establish and validate the association of EOT-TGR with treatment outcomes in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) undergoing anti-PD-1/PD-L1 (programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1) therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This bicenter retrospective cohort study included a training cohort, a contemporaneously treated internal validation cohort, and an external validation cohort. Computed tomography images were retrieved to calculate EOT-TGR, denoted as tumor burden change per month during a period between baseline and the first imaging evaluation after immunotherapy. Kaplan-Meier methodology and Cox regression analysis were conducted for survival analyses.

RESULTS

In the pooled cohort (n = 172), 125 patients (72.7%) were males; median age at diagnosis was 58 (range 28-79) years. Based on the training cohort, we determined the optimal cut-off value for EOT-TGR as 10.4%/month. Higher EOT-TGR was significantly associated with inferior overall survival [OS; hazard ratio (HR) 2.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47-5.83; P = 0.002], worse progression-free survival (PFS; HR 2.44, 95% CI 1.46-4.08; P = 0.001), and lower objective response rate (3.3% versus 20.9%; P = 0.040) and durable clinical benefit rate (6.7% versus 41.9%; P = 0.001). Results were reproducible in the two validation cohorts for OS and PFS. Among 43 patients who had a best response of progressive disease in the training cohort, those with high EOT-TGR had worse OS (HR 2.64; P = 0.041) and were more likely to progress due to target lesions at the first tumor evaluation (85.2% versus 0.0%; P <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher EOT-TGR was associated with inferior OS and immunotherapeutic response in patients with aNSCLC undergoing anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. This easy-to-calculate radiologic biomarker may help evaluate the abilities of immunotherapy to prolong survival and assist in tailoring patients' management.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.govNCT04722406; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04722406.

Noise-resilient edge modes on a chain of superconducting qubits

Inherent symmetry of a quantum system may protect its otherwise fragile states. Leveraging such protection requires testing its robustness against uncontrolled environmental interactions. Using 47 superconducting qubits, we implement the one-dimensional kicked Ising model, which exhibits nonlocal Majorana edge modes (MEMs) with ℤ 2 parity symmetry. We find that any multiqubit Pauli operator overlapping with the MEMs exhibits a uniform late-time decay rate comparable to single-qubit relaxation rates, irrespective of its size or composition. This characteristic allows us to accurately reconstruct the exponentially localized spatial profiles of the MEMs. Furthermore, the MEMs are found to be resilient against certain symmetry-breaking noise owing to a prethermalization mechanism. Our work elucidates the complex interplay between noise and symmetry-protected edge modes in a solid-state environment.

Nanoscale Visualization of the Electron Conduction Channel in the SiO/Graphite Composite Anode

Conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) is widely used to determine the electronic conductivity of a sample surface with nanoscale spatial resolution. However, the origin of possible artifacts has not been widely researched, hindering the accurate and reliable interpretation of C-AFM imaging results. Herein, artifact-free C-AFM is used to observe the electron conduction channels in Si-based composite anodes. The origin of a typical C-AFM artifact induced by surface morphology is investigated using a relevant statistical method that enables visualization of the contribution of artifacts in each C-AFM image. The artifact is suppressed by polishing the sample surface using a cooling cross-section polisher, which is confirmed by Pearson correlation analysis. The artifact-free C-AFM image was used to compare the current signals (before and after cycling) from two different composite anodes comprising single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and carbon black as conductive additives. The relationship between the electrical degradation and morphological evolution of the active materials depending on the conductive additive is discussed to explain the improved electrical and electrochemical properties of the electrode containing SWCNTs.

POS1247 THE EFFECT OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE AGENTS ON ANTIBODY FORMATION AFTER COVID-19 VACCINATION IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Background

There is still controversy about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination and its extent in lowering immunogenicity of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients. The guideline in whether immunosuppressive agents need to be discontinued before the vaccination is continuously updated because it is considered to lower immunogenicity. Furthermore, there is great discussion on the effectiveness of the COVID-19 booster vaccine and interest in antibody generation in different types of vaccine, as in South Korea there are many patients who were prescribed the mRNA booster vaccine after two doses of ChAdOx1-S nCoV-19 vaccine.

Objectives

Thus, we investigated the differences of antibody production between patients who received only two doses of ChAdOx1-S nCoV-19 and those who received the mRNA booster vaccine. Also, antibody production under different types of immunosuppressive agents was analyzed.

Methods

From October 14, 2021 to January 21, 2022 at a tertiary referral center, two patient groups diagnosed with RA were studied prospectively; one group that completed 1st and 2nd doses of ChAdOx1-S nCoV-19 vaccine, second group that completed mRNA booster vaccine as well as two doses of ChAdOx1-S nCoV-19 vaccine. SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing on the semiquantitative anti-SARS-CoV-2 S enzyme immunoassay was done, and differences in antibody titers were analyzed in patients who received different immunosuppressive agents such as csDMARD, TNF inhibitor, JAK inhibitor, Tocilizumab, Abatacept and Corticosteroid. Statistical analysis with a multivariate logistic regression model was performed.

Results

In a total of 261 patients, 153 patients had completed two doses of ChAdOx1-S nCoV-19, 108 patients had completed third mRNA booster vaccine. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD antibody positive rate (titer>0.8U/mL) was 97%(149/153) and 99%(107/108) respectively, and only 5 patients showed negative result. In the aspect of high antibody titer(>250U/mL), which is the upper limit of the RBD antibody immunoassay, the result showed rate of 31% (47/153) in the non-booster group and 94%(102/108) in the booster group respectively.

Among the different immunosuppressive agents and other clinical aspects, multivariate analysis revealed that corticosteroid use (OR 0.91; 95% CI: 0.86-0.98), older age(OR 4.33; 95% CI: 1.34-13.91), and male gender(OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.16-0.75) were significantly associated with low rate of high antibody titer.

Furthermore, out of 14 patients who underwent antibody test twice before and after the mRNA booster vaccine, other than four patients who already showed high titer of >250U/mL before the mRNA booster vaccine, 10 patients showed an increase in titer after the booster vaccine and 7 patients were acquired high titer of >250U/mL.

Figure 1.

Anti-SARS-CoV RBD antibody titer of two groups

Table 1.

Analysis of immunosuppressive agents and other clinical aspects for high antibody titer(>250U/mL) after two doses of ChAdOx1-S nCoV-19

Univariate analysisMultivariate analysisParameterOR95% CIp valueOR95% CIp valueClinical features Age0.9170.860-0.9780.0080.9170.857-0.9810.012 Sex3.6741.206-11.1910.0224.3301.348-13.9120.014 DAS 281.1440.670-1.9500.622 Duration0.9300.830-1.0430.214Medications csDMARD1.2730.639-2.5331.273 TNF inhibitor2.2110.795-6.1450.128 JAK inhibitor0.6650.275-1.6070.365 Abatacept0.3680.038-3.6020.391 Tocilizumab1.2640.438-3.6480.665 Corticosteroid0.4720.235-0.9490.0350.3490.163-0.7480.007Medication dose Methotrexate0.9930.919-1.0720.855 Corticosteroid0.8490.719-1.0030.054

Conclusion

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD antibody positive rate was 97% or more regardless of the mRNA booster vaccination. However, patients who received the mRNA booster vaccine after two doses of ChAdOx1-S nCoV-19 vaccine showed high antibody titer (>250U/mL) three times more than those who did not receive the booster shot.

Our findings also showed that corticosteroid use, old age, and male gender is significantly associated with low rate of acquiring high antibody titer.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB0476 PREDICTIVE FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS IN PATIENTS WITH IMMUNE THROMBOCYTOPENIA

Background

Patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) have a risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We sought to examine the clinical characteristics of patients with primary ITP who later developed SLE, and identified the risk factors for the development of SLE.

Objectives

We retrospectively examined patients who were diagnosed with primary ITP at a tertiary hospital between August 2001 and November 2019. We compared the clinical characteristics according to the development of SLE. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with the development of SLE.

Methods

Of 130 patients with primary ITP, 10 (7.7%) were later diagnosed with SLE during follow-up (median, 30 months [IQR, 15.5–105]). The presence of skin bleeding, organ bleeding, lymphopenia, anemia, and positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer (> 1:160) were more common among patients who later developed SLE than did those who did not develop SLE. Multivariate analysis showed that young age (< 40 years; odds ratio [OR], 8.359 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.230–56.793]; p = 0.033), organ bleeding (OR, 18.349 [95% CI, 2.771–121.517]; p = 0.003), and ANA positivity (>1:160; OR, 7.692 [95% CI, 1.482–39.910]; p = 0.015) were significantly associated with the development of SLE.

Results

Young age (< 40 years), organ bleeding, and ANA positivity (> 1:160) were risk factors for the development of SLE in patients with primary ITP.

Conclusion

These results suggest that continued follow-up for the detection of SLE development is needed for patients with ITP, particularly those with young age, ANA positivity, or organ bleeding.

References

[1]Zhu, Fang-Xiao, et al. “Risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a population-based cohort study.” Annals of the rheumatic diseases 79.6 (2020): 793-799.

Table 1.

Factors associated with the development of SLE in patients with primary ITP

UnivariateMultivariateOR95% CIP valueOR95% CIP valueYoung agea5.4441.332–22.2500.0188.3591.230–56.7930.033Female4.3330.530–35.4220.17BMI0.8730.717–1.0700.20Skin bleeding8.4191.034–68.5330.046Mucosa bleeding1.2500.247–6.3300.79Organ bleeding14.8643.633–60.815< 0.00118.3492.771–121.5170.003Platelet counts0.9110.828–1.0020.06ANA positivityb16.5003.984–68.341< 0.0017.6921.482–39.9100.015Neutropeniac2.1110.229–19.4990.51Lymphopeniad4.8461.189–19.7590.028Anemiae10.1182.044–50.0910.005

SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus, ITP: immune thrombocytopenia, BMI: body mass index, ANA: antinuclear antibody, OR: odds ratio, CI: confidence interval.

aYoung age = age < 40 years

bANA positivity ≥ 1:160

cNeutropenia = Absolute neutrophil count < 1500 μL

dLymphopenia = Absolute lymphocyte count < 1500 μL

eAnemia = Hemoglobin < 12 g/dL

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB0456 DISEASE FLARE OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS IN PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE ON DIALYSIS

Background

The systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) generally declines after the initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT); this is known as the “burn out” phenomenon that possibly occurs due to the suppression of cellular and humoral immunity in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) state and elimination of disease pathogenic factor by dialysis [1-4]. However, several studies showed that SLE flares could occur even during RRT [5-8]. Nevertheless, the details of disease flares of SLE in patients under dialysis have not been studied yet.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the clinical features, risk factors, and treatment details of SLE patients experiencing disease flare under RRT.

Methods

The medical records of SLE patients who received dialysis at two tertiary referral hospitals in Seoul and Ulsan, South Korea were reviewed. All patients in this study were either clinically or histologically diagnosed with LN

Results

Of a total of 121 patients with SLE on dialysis, 96 (79.3%) were on hemodialysis (HD) and 25 (20.6%) were on peritoneal dialysis (PD). During a median follow-up of 45 months (IQR, 23–120) after the initiation of dialysis, 32 (26.4%) patients experienced SLE flare (HD, n = 25; PD, n = 7). The most common features of SLE flare were hematologic (40.6%) and constitutional manifestations (40.6%). Treatments for disease flares were based on corticosteroids, and 11 (34.3%) patients required additional immunosuppressants including cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil. There was no case of severe adverse events related to medication. non-renal SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score before dialysis initiation (HR 1.235; 95% CI, 1.122–1.359; P = 0.001) was a significant risk factor for disease flare during dialysis.

Table 1.

Multivariable analysis of factors associated with SLE flare under dialysis

Hazard ratio95% CIP-valueNon-renal SLEDAI at the initiation of dialysis1.2351.122–1.3590.001Hematologic manifestation prior to dialysis1.2560.690–2.8260.150Cumulative amount of steroid during 1 year prior to the initiation of dialysis1.0400.995–1.0870.086Dialysis modality: hemodialysis0.7660.262–2.2430.630

Conclusion

More than one-quarter of SLE patients experienced disease flare during dialysis, which most commonly had hematologic manifestations. Continued follow-up and appropriate treatments including immunosuppressants should be considered for patients with SLE under dialysis.

References

[1]Coplon NS, Diskin CJ, Petersen J, Swenson RS. The Long-Term Clinical Course of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in End-Stage Renal Disease. New England Journal of Medicine 1983;308:186-90.

[2]Lee P-T, Fang H-C, Chen C-L, Chiou Y-H, Chou K-J, Chung H-M. Poor prognosis of end-stage renal disease in systemic lupus erythematosus: a cohort of Chinese patients. Lupus 2003;12:827-32.

[3]Pahl MV, Gollapudi S, Sepassi L, Gollapudi P, Elahimehr R, Vaziri ND. Effect of end-stage renal disease on B-lymphocyte subpopulations, IL-7, BAFF and BAFF receptor expression. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2010;25:205-12.

[4]Ribeiro FM, Fabris CL, Bendet I, Lugon JR. Survival of lupus patients on dialysis: a Brazilian cohort. Rheumatology 2013;52:494-500.

[5]Okano K, Yumura W, Nitta K et al. Analysis of Lupus Activity in End-Stage Renal Disease Treated by Hemodialysis. Internal Medicine 2001;40:598-602.

[6]Barrera-Vargas A, Quintanar-Martínez M, Merayo-Chalico J, Alcocer-Varela J, Gómez-Martín D. Risk factors for systemic lupus erythematosus flares in patients with end-stage renal disease: a case–control study. Rheumatology 2015:kev349.

[7]Cucchiari D, Graziani G, Ponticelli C. The dialysis scenario in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2014;29:1507-13.

[8]Kang S-H, Chung B-H, Choi S-R et al. Comparison of Clinical Outcomes by Different Renal Replacement Therapy in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease Secondary to Lupus Nephritis. The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine 2011;26:60.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB1273 MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION SYNDROME IN RHEUMATIC DISEASE: CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PROGNOSIS OF 20 PATIENTS

Background

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a hyperinflammatory condition that is known to be secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in patients with rheumatic disease.

Objectives

The aim of study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations and outcomes in patients with MAS with rheumatic disease.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of 20 adult patients who were diagnosed with MAS from 2012 to 2020. MAS was classified according to the HLH-2004 criteria. Patients’ information, including clinical features, laboratory findings, and treatment regimens, was collected, and the overall survival rate was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

Twenty patients (18 women, 35.6 ± 18.3 years) who met the HLH-2004 criteria also fulfilled the 2016 EULAR/ACR/PRINTO classification criteria for MAS, and HScore was higher than 169 (median, 238.5). Fourteen patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 6 patients with adult-onset Still’s disease were included. All patients were treated initially with corticosteroids, and 16 patients required additional immunosuppressants. The overall survival at 3 and 6 months was 75.2% and 64.3%. In survivors, renal impairment was less common (23.1% versus 42.9%, p = 0.007), the levels of AST (202.0 versus 72.0 IU/L, p = 0.006) and LDH (1144.0 versus 343.0IU/L, p = 0.001), and platelet count (90.0 versus 46.0 × 109/L, p = 0.016) were higher in compared to non-survivors. Nine patients had opportunistic infections, five of whom died during admission.

Conclusion

The mortality of patients with MAS remains high. Renal impairment, levels of AST and LDH, and platelet count might be associated with prognosis.

Table 1.

Treatments and management characteristics of patients with MAS

No.Age/sexDiseaseDisease duration (months)1st Treatment (corticosteroids)2nd Treatment3rd TreatmentCombined infectionAlive/dead119/FSLE11 mg/kgIVIG + PPTCZ, RTXBacteremiaDead220/MSLE01 mg/kg---Alive320/FAOSD11 mg/kgVP16--Alive422/FSLE1100 mgIVIG + PP-PneumoniaDead522/FAOSD0500 mgIVIG--Alive623/FSLE1821 mg/kg---Alive723/FSLE411 mg/kg---Alive830/FSLE1461 mg/kgIVIGCsA-Alive932/FSLE1271 mg/kgIVIG + PPCsA, TCZPneumoniaAlive1035/FAOSD01 mg/kgCsA-Viral infectionAlive1137/FSLE651 mg/kgCsA, VP16-BacteremiaAlive1238/FSLE01 mg/kgIVIG + PPRTX-Dead1340/FAOSD00.5 mg/kgCsA--Alive1443/FSLE601 mg/kgIVIG + PPTCZ, RTX, CsA,PCP,DeadVP16, IFXViral infection1549/FSLE01 mg/kgCYC-BacteremiaAlive1651/FAOSD01 mg/kg---Alive1757/FSLE01 mg/kgIVIG + PPCsA, VP16Fungal infectionDead1861/FSLE21 mg/kgIVIG + PPTCZ-Dead1968/FSLE21 mg/kgIVIG + PPCsAFungal infectionAlive2070/MAOSD01 mg/kgIVIG + PPCsA, VP16Fungal infectionDead

SLE: Systemic lupus erythematosus, IVIG: Intravenous immunoglobulin, PP: Plasmapheresis, TCZ: Tocilizumab, RTX: Rituximab, AOSD: Adult-onset still’s disease, VP16: Etoposide, PCP: Pneumocystis pneumonia, CsA: Cyclosporin, IFX: Infliximab, MCTD: Mixed connective tissue disease.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0762 LONG-TERM RENAL OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS WITH NON-PROLIFERATIVE LUPUS NEPHRITIS

Background

Although proliferative (class III or IV) lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common finding in the classification of LN, pure membranous (class V) or mesangial (class I or II) LN can occur as a form of LN. Even though non-proliferative LN (class I, II, or V) is a less severe form with good outcomes, data on long-term renal prognosis are limited.

Objectives

This study investigated the long-term outcomes and prognostic factors in non-proliferative LN.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who were diagnosed with LN class I, II, V or II+IV by kidney biopsy between 1997 and 2021 at a tertiary referral center. Clinical and laboratory data were compared between patients with and without poor renal outcomes. Poor renal outcome was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or death due to renal cause. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed with the Cox proportional hazard model to identify the factors associated with poor renal outcomes.

Results

We included 71 patients with non-proliferative LN (4: class I; 17: class II; 48: class V, 17; 2: class II+V). Median follow-up duration was 103 months (interquartile range 27–185) and the overall rate of poor renal outcomes at last follow-up was 29% (21/71), including end-stage renal disease (n=2) and renal death (n=1).

Univariate analysis indicated that older age (HR 1.05; 95% CI: 1.00–1.09), low eGFR (HR 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95–0.99) and failure to reach complete remission at 6 months (HR 0.332; 95% CI: 0.12–0.92) were significantly associated with poor renal outcomes. Multivariate analysis revealed that low eGFR at 6 months (HR 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95–0.99) was significantly associated with poor renal outcomes.

Figure 1.

Renal outcomes at last follow up

eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate (ml/min/1.73m2)

Table 1.

Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses of the factor associated with poor renal outcomes

ParameterUnivariate analysisMultivariate analysisHR95% CIp valueHR95% CIp valueClinical features Age1.0461.003-1.0910.0361.0020.960-1.0470.921 Sex1.6540.375-7.2980.506 SLEDAI1.0360.965-1.1120.327 Extra renal SLEDAI1.0380.971-1.110.272Renal profiles eGFR at LN diagnosis0.9930.976-1.0110.456 Proteinuria at LN diagnosis1.0001.000-1.0000.444 > 1g/24 hours0.6690.243-1.8410.437  > 3g/24 hours0.6240.229-1.6990.356 eGFR at 6M0.9670.948-0.9860.0010.9680.948-0.9880.002 eGFR at 12M0.9640.947-0.9810.000 Complete remission at 6M0.3320.119-0.9240.0350.5530.179-1.7070.303 Complete remission at 12M0.6670.232-1.9140.451 Transformation1.2460.423-0.7010.692Laboratory data Anti-dsDNA1.0010.999-1.0030.196 C31.0201.000-1.0410.051 C41.0270.969-1.0890.367 Albumin1.1800.661-2.1090.576ClassificationaClass I0.8020.102-6.3030.834Class II1.2980.412-4.0880.656Class V0.8870.308-2.5570.824Class II+V0.0480.000-16850.837Medicationsb ACEi/ARB1.6520.603-4.5280.329 Hydroxychloroquine1.3260.414-4.2420.635 Corticosteroid1.1860.154-9.1080.870 CNI2.4390.464-12.8240.292 MMF3.7880.959-14.9650.057  　 AZA0.5890.133-2.6110.486

a LN classifications were based on the International Society of Pathology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) classification.

b Medications maintained at least one year since Lupus Nephritis diagnosis.

HR, hazard ratio; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval; SLEDAI, systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; LN, lupus nephritis; anti-dsDNA, anti-double strand DNA; C3/C4; complement 3/4; ACEi, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; CNI, carcineurin inhibitor; MMF, mycophenolate mofetil; AZA, azathioprine.

Conclusion

Poor renal outcomes occurred in approximately 30% of patients with non-proliferative LN (class I, II or V) after long-term follow-up.

Our findings suggest that more active management may be needed for non-proliferative LN, particularly in patients with low eGFR at 6 months.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Large-Area Uniform 1-nm-Level Amorphous Carbon Layers from 3D Conformal Polymer Brushes. A "Next-Generation" Cu Diffusion Barrier?

A reliable method for preparing a conformal amorphous carbon (a-C) layer with a thickness of 1-nm-level, is tested as a possible Cu diffusion barrier layer for next-generation ultrahigh-density semiconductor device miniaturization. A polystyrene brush of uniform thickness is grafted onto 4-inch SiO₂ /Si wafer substrates with "self-limiting" chemistry favoring such a uniform layer. UV crosslinking and subsequent carbonization transforms this polymer film into an ultrathin a-C layer without pinholes or hillocks. The uniform coating of nonplanar regions or surfaces is also possible. The Cu diffusion "blocking ability" is evaluated by time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) tests using a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor structure. A 0.82 nm-thick a-C barrier gives TDDB lifetimes 3.3× longer than that obtained using the conventional 1.0 nm-thick TaN_x diffusion barrier. In addition, this exceptionally uniform ultrathin polymer and a-C film layers hold promise for selective ion permeable membranes, electrically and thermally insulating films in electronics, slits of angstrom-scale thickness, and, when appropriately functionalized, as a robust ultrathin coating with many other potential applications.

Social determinants of health influence disease activity and functional disability in Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

BACKGROUND

Social determinants of health (SDH) greatly influence outcomes during the first year of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis, a disease similar to polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA). We investigated the correlation of community poverty level and other SDH with the persistence of moderate to severe disease activity and functional disability over the first year of treatment in pJIA patients enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry.

METHODS

In this cohort study, unadjusted and adjusted generalized linear mixed effects models analyzed the effect of community poverty and other SDH on disease activity, using the clinical Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score-10, and disability, using the Child Health Assessment Questionnaire, measured at baseline, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

One thousand six hundred eighty-four patients were identified. High community poverty (≥20% living below the federal poverty level) was associated with increased odds of functional disability (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.28-2.60) but was not statistically significant after adjustment (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 0.81-1.86) and was not associated with increased disease activity. Non-white race/ethnicity was associated with higher disease activity (aOR 2.48, 95% CI: 1.41-4.36). Lower self-reported household income was associated with higher disease activity and persistent functional disability. Public insurance (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.06-2.29) and low family education (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.14-3.12) was associated with persistent functional disability.

CONCLUSION

High community poverty level was associated with persistent functional disability in unadjusted analysis but not with persistent moderate to high disease activity. Race/ethnicity and other SDH were associated with persistent disease activity and functional disability.

Non-oxidized bare copper nanoparticles with surface excess electrons in air

Copper (Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) have received extensive interest owing to their advantageous properties compared with their bulk counterparts. Although the natural oxidation of Cu NPs can be alleviated by passivating the surfaces with additional moieties, obtaining non-oxidized bare Cu NPs in air remains challenging. Here we report that bare Cu NPs with surface excess electrons retain their non-oxidized state over several months in ambient air. Cu NPs grown on an electride support with excellent electron transfer ability are encapsulated by the surface-accumulated excess electrons, exhibiting an ultralow work function of ~3.2 eV. Atomic-scale structural and chemical analyses confirm the absence of Cu oxide moiety at the outermost surface of air-exposed bare Cu NPs. Theoretical energetics clarify that the surface-accumulated excess electrons suppress the oxygen adsorption and consequently prohibit the infiltration of oxygen into the Cu lattice, provoking the endothermic reaction for oxidation process. Our results will further stimulate the practical use of metal NPs in versatile applications.

Realizing topologically ordered states on a quantum processor

[Figure: see text].

Reducing Time to Discovery: Materials and Molecular Modeling, Imaging, Informatics, and Integration

Multiscale and multimodal imaging of material structures and properties provides solid ground on which materials theory and design can flourish. Recently, KAIST announced 10 flagship research fields, which include KAIST Materials Revolution: Materials and Molecular Modeling, Imaging, Informatics and Integration (M3I3). The M3I3 initiative aims to reduce the time for the discovery, design and development of materials based on elucidating multiscale processing-structure-property relationship and materials hierarchy, which are to be quantified and understood through a combination of machine learning and scientific insights. In this review, we begin by introducing recent progress on related initiatives around the globe, such as the Materials Genome Initiative (U.S.), Materials Informatics (U.S.), the Materials Project (U.S.), the Open Quantum Materials Database (U.S.), Materials Research by Information Integration Initiative (Japan), Novel Materials Discovery (E.U.), the NOMAD repository (E.U.), Materials Scientific Data Sharing Network (China), Vom Materials Zur Innovation (Germany), and Creative Materials Discovery (Korea), and discuss the role of multiscale materials and molecular imaging combined with machine learning in realizing the vision of M3I3. Specifically, microscopies using photons, electrons, and physical probes will be revisited with a focus on the multiscale structural hierarchy, as well as structure-property relationships. Additionally, data mining from the literature combined with machine learning will be shown to be more efficient in finding the future direction of materials structures with improved properties than the classical approach. Examples of materials for applications in energy and information will be reviewed and discussed. A case study on the development of a Ni-Co-Mn cathode materials illustrates M3I3's approach to creating libraries of multiscale structure-property-processing relationships. We end with a future outlook toward recent developments in the field of M3I3.

Removing leakage-induced correlated errors in superconducting quantum error correction

Quantum computing can become scalable through error correction, but logical error rates only decrease with system size when physical errors are sufficiently uncorrelated. During computation, unused high energy levels of the qubits can become excited, creating leakage states that are long-lived and mobile. Particularly for superconducting transmon qubits, this leakage opens a path to errors that are correlated in space and time. Here, we report a reset protocol that returns a qubit to the ground state from all relevant higher level states. We test its performance with the bit-flip stabilizer code, a simplified version of the surface code for quantum error correction. We investigate the accumulation and dynamics of leakage during error correction. Using this protocol, we find lower rates of logical errors and an improved scaling and stability of error suppression with increasing qubit number. This demonstration provides a key step on the path towards scalable quantum computing.

Testing the causal mechanism of the peninsular effect in passerine birds from South Korea

The peninsular effect is a geographical phenomenon that explains patterns of species richness. Given that spatial variation in species richness along a peninsular may be driven by multiple processes, we aimed to identify the sources of latitudinal patterns in passerine species richness and test hypotheses regarding (1) recent deterministic processes (climate, primary productivity, forest area, and habitat diversity), (2) anthropogenic processes (habitat fragmentation), and (3) stochastic processes (migration influence) in the Korean peninsula. We used the distribution data of 147 passerine species from 2006 to 2012. Single regression between passerine species richness and latitude supported the existence of the peninsular effect. Mean temperature increased with decreasing latitude, as did habitat diversity but leaf area index and forest area decline. However, mean temperature and forest area only influenced passerine species richness. Although habitat diversity influenced passerine species richness, it was counter to the expectations associated with peninsular effect. The number of habitat patches decreased as latitude increased but it had no effect on passerine species richness. Ratio of migrant species richness showed no significant relationship with leaf area index, forest area, and habitat diversity. However, the ratio of migrant species richness increased with decreasing mean temperature and that contributed to the increase in passerine species. Overall, our finding indicate that the observed species richness pattern in peninsulas with the tip pointing south (in the northern hemisphere) counter to the global latitudinal gradient. These results were caused by the peninsular effect associated with complex mechanism that interact with climate, habitat area, and migrant species inflow.

Pre-Transplant Marital Status and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Outcomes

Background

Evidence about the impact of marital status before hematopoietic cell transplantation (hct) on outcomes after hct is conflicting.

Methods

We identified patients 40 years of age and older within the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research registry who underwent hct between January 2008 and December 2015. Marital status before hct was declared as one of: married or living with a partner, single (never married), separated or divorced, and widowed. We performed a multivariable analysis to determine the association of marital status with outcomes after hct.

Results

We identified 10,226 allogeneic and 5714 autologous hct cases with, respectively, a median follow-up of 37 months (range: 1-102 months) and 40 months (range: 1-106 months). No association between marital status and overall survival was observed in either the allogeneic (p = 0.58) or autologous (p = 0.17) setting. However, marital status was associated with grades 2-4 acute graft-versus-host disease (gvhd), p < 0.001, and chronic gvhd, p = 0.04. The risk of grades 2-4 acute gvhd was increased in separated compared with married patients [hazard ratio (hr): 1.13; 95% confidence interval (ci): 1.03 to 1.24], and single patients had a reduced risk of grades 2-4 acute gvhd (hr: 0.87; 95% ci: 0.77 to 0.98). The risk of chronic gvhd was lower in widowed compared with married patients (hr: 0.82; 95% ci: 0.67 to 0.99).

Conclusions

Overall survival after hct is not influenced by marital status, but associations were evident between marital status and grades 2-4 acute and chronic gvhd. To better appreciate the effects of marital status and social support, future research should consider using validated scales to measure social support and patient and caregiver reports of caregiver commitment, and to assess health-related quality of life together with health care utilization.

Pseudo wastewater treatment by combining adsorption and phytoaccumulation on the Acrostichum aureum Linn. plant/activated carbon system

In this study, the pseudo wastewater containing Zn, Fe, Cu ions was clean-up by a combination of physical adsorption onto activated carbon medium and phytoaccumulation using Acrostichum aureum Linn. plants. The adsorption capability of the activated carbon for the Fe, Cu, and Zn ions was 3.05, 3.72, and 2.85 mg·g - 1, respectively, at the saturation. The phytoaccumulation performance was proved by analyzing the individual residual ash collected after pyrolysis up to 1000 °C of the leaf, stem, and root of the plants. Thermal analyses of thermogravimetry data showed that the weight of the residual ash of the phytoremediated leaf, stem, and root of the plants was 37.0, 19.0, and 65.7 wt.%, respectively. Energy-dispersive X - ray spectroscopy determined the amount of Fe element in the residual ash of phytoremediated root is 7.05 wt.%, while that of the initial root is 1.18 wt.%. Conclusively, it can be proved that combining physical and biological processes is feasible to treat wastewater containing metal ions.