The impact of low-mode symmetry on inertial fusion energy output in the burning plasma state

Indirect Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion Experiments on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have achieved a burning plasma state with neutron yields exceeding 170 kJ, roughly 3 times the prior record and a necessary stage for igniting plasmas. The results are achieved despite multiple sources of degradations that lead to high variability in performance. Results shown here, for the first time, include an empirical correction factor for mode-2 asymmetry in the burning plasma regime in addition to previously determined corrections for radiative mix and mode-1. Analysis shows that including these three corrections alone accounts for the measured fusion performance variability in the two highest performing experimental campaigns on the NIF to within error. Here we quantify the performance sensitivity to mode-2 symmetry in the burning plasma regime and apply the results, in the form of an empirical correction to a 1D performance model. Furthermore, we find the sensitivity to mode-2 determined through a series of integrated 2D radiation hydrodynamic simulations to be consistent with the experimentally determined sensitivity only when including alpha-heating.

Transcription-induced active forces suppress chromatin motion

The organization of interphase chromosomes in a number of species is starting to emerge thanks to advances in a variety of experimental techniques. However, much less is known about the dynamics, especially in the functional states of chromatin. Some experiments have shown that the motility of individual loci in human interphase chromosome decreases during transcription and increases upon inhibiting transcription. This is a counterintuitive finding because it is thought that the active mechanical force (F) on the order of ten piconewtons, generated by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) that is presumably transmitted to the gene-rich region of the chromatin, would render it more open, thus enhancing the mobility. We developed a minimal active copolymer model for interphase chromosomes to investigate how F affects the dynamical properties of chromatin. The movements of the loci in the gene-rich region are suppressed in an intermediate range of F and are enhanced at small F values, which has also been observed in experiments. In the intermediate F, the bond length between consecutive loci increases, becoming commensurate with the distance at the minimum of the attractive interaction between nonbonded loci. This results in a transient disorder-to-order transition, leading to a decreased mobility during transcription. Strikingly, the F-dependent change in the locus dynamics preserves the organization of the chromosome at [Formula: see text]. Transient ordering of the loci, which is not found in the polymers with random epigenetic profiles, in the gene-rich region might be a plausible mechanism for nucleating a dynamic network involving transcription factors, RNAPII, and chromatin.

Hidden magnetism uncovered in a charge ordered bilayer kagome material ScV6Sn6

Charge ordered kagome lattices have been demonstrated to be intriguing platforms for studying the intertwining of topology, correlation, and magnetism. The recently discovered charge ordered kagome material ScV6Sn6 does not feature a magnetic groundstate or excitations, thus it is often regarded as a conventional paramagnet. Here, using advanced muon-spin rotation spectroscopy, we uncover an unexpected hidden magnetism of the charge order. We observe an enhancement of the internal field width sensed by the muon ensemble, which takes place within the charge ordered state. More importantly, the muon spin relaxation rate below the charge ordering temperature is substantially enhanced by applying an external magnetic field. Taken together with the hidden magnetism found in AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb, Cs) and FeGe kagome systems, our results suggest ubiqitous time-reversal symmetry-breaking in charge ordered kagome lattices.

Phylogenomics illuminates the phylogeny of flower weevils (Curculioninae) and reveals ten independent origins of brood-site pollination mutualism in true weevils

Weevils are an unusually species-rich group of phytophagous insects for which there is increasing evidence of frequent involvement in brood-site pollination. This study examines phylogenetic patterns in the emergence of brood-site pollination mutualism among one of the most speciose beetle groups, the flower weevils (subfamily Curculioninae). We analysed a novel phylogenomic dataset consisting of 214 nuclear loci for 202 weevil species, with a sampling that mainly includes flower weevils as well as representatives of all major lineages of true weevils (Curculionidae). Our phylogenomic analyses establish a uniquely comprehensive phylogenetic framework for Curculioninae and provide new insights into the relationships among lineages of true weevils. Based on this phylogeny, statistical reconstruction of ancestral character states revealed at least 10 independent origins of brood-site pollination in higher weevils through transitions from ancestral associations with reproductive structures in the larval stage. Broadly, our results illuminate the unexpected frequency with which true weevils-typically specialized phytophages and hence antagonists of plants-have evolved mutualistic interactions of ecological significance that are key to both weevil and plant evolutionary fitness and thus a component of their deeply intertwined macroevolutionary success.

Time-, spin-, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with a 1-MHz 10.7-eV pulse laser

We describe a setup of time-, spin-, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (tr-SARPES) employing a 10.7 eV (λ = 115.6 nm) pulse laser at a 1 MHz repetition rate as a probe photon source. This equipment effectively combines the technologies of a high-power Yb:fiber laser, ultraviolet-driven harmonic generation in Xe gas, and a SARPES apparatus equipped with very-low-energy-electron-diffraction spin detectors. A high repetition rate (1 MHz) of the probe laser allows experiments with the photoemission space-charge effects significantly reduced, despite a high flux of 1013 photons/s on the sample. The relatively high photon energy (10.7 eV) also brings the capability of observing a wide momentum range that covers the entire Brillouin zone of many materials while ensuring high momentum resolution. The experimental setup overcomes the low efficiency of spin-resolved measurements, which gets even more severe for the pump-probed unoccupied states, and affords the opportunity to investigate ultrafast electron and spin dynamics of modern quantum materials with energy and time resolutions of 25 meV and 360 fs, respectively.

Entropic Contribution of ACE2 Glycans to RBD Binding

The spike protein in the virus SARS-CoV-2 (the causative agent of COVID-19) recognizes the host cell by binding to the peptidase domain (PD) of the extracellular enzyme Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2). A variety of carbohydrates could be attached to the six asparagines in the PD, resulting in a heterogeneous population of ACE2 glycoforms. Experiments have shown that the binding affinity of glycosylated and deglycosylated ACE2 to the virus is virtually identical. In most cases, the reduction in glycan size correlates with stronger binding, which suggests that volume exclusion, and hence entropic forces, determine the binding affinity. Here, we quantitatively test the entropy-based hypothesis by developing a lattice model for the complex between ACE2 and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD). Glycans are treated as branched polymers with only volume exclusion, which we justify using all atom molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water. We show that the experimentally measured changes in the ACE2-RBD dissociation constants for a variety of engineered ACE2 glycoforms are in reasonable agreement with our theory, thus supporting our hypothesis. However, a quantitative recovery of all the experimental data could require weak attractive interactions.

Role of Kidney Stones in Renal Pelvis Flow

Ureteroscopy is a commonly performed medical procedure to treat stones in the kidney and ureter using a ureteroscope. Throughout the procedure, saline is irrigated through the scope to aid visibility and wash-out debris from stone fragmentation. The key challenge that this research addresses is to build a fundamental understanding of the interaction between the kidney stones/stone fragments and the flow dynamics in the renal pelvis flow. We examine the time-dependent flow dynamics inside an idealized renal pelvis in the context of a surgical procedure for kidney stone removal. Here, we examine the time-dependent evolution of these vortical flow structures in three dimensions, and incorporate the presence of rigid kidney stones. We perform direct numerical simulations, solving the transient Navier-Stokes equations in a spherical domain. Our numerical predictions for the flow dynamics in the absence of stones are validated with available experimental and numerical data, and the governing parameters and flow regimes are chosen carefully in order to satisfy several clinical constraints. The results shed light on the crucial role of flow circulation in the renal cavity and its effect on the trajectories of rigid stones. We demonstrate that stones can either be washed out of the cavity along with the fluid, or be trapped in the cavity via their interaction with vortical flow structures. Additionally, we study the effect of multiple stones in the flow field within the cavity in terms of the kinetic energy, entrapped fluid volume, and the clearance rate of a passive tracer modeled via an advection-diffusion equation. We demonstrate that the flow in the presence of stones features a higher vorticity production within the cavity compared with the stone-free cases.

Quantifying the Molecular Polarization Response of Liquid Water Interfaces at Heterogeneously Charged Surfaces

The hydration shells of proteins mediate interactions, such as small molecule binding, that are vital to their biological function or in some cases their dysfunction. However, even when the structure of a protein is known, the properties of its hydration environment cannot be easily predicted due to the complex interplay between protein surface heterogeneity and the collective structure of water's hydrogen bonding network. This manuscript presents a theoretical study of the influence of surface charge heterogeneity on the polarization response of the liquid water interface. We focus our attention on classical point charge models of water, where the polarization response is limited to molecular reorientation. We introduce a new computational method for analyzing simulation data that is capable of quantifying water's collective polarization response and determining the effective surface charge distribution of hydrated surfaces over atomistic length scales. To illustrate the utility of this method, we present the results of molecular dynamics simulations of liquid water in contact with a heterogeneous model surface and the CheY protein.

Fabrication of THz corrugated wakefield structure and its high power test

We present overall process for developing terahertz (THz) corrugated structure and its beam-based measurement results. 0.2-THz corrugated structures were fabricated by die stamping method as the first step demonstration towards GW THz radiation source and GV/m THz wakefield accelerator. 150-[Formula: see text]m thick disks were produced from an OFHC (C10100) foil by stamping. Two types of disks were stacked alternately to form 46 mm structure with [Formula: see text] 170 corrugations. Custom assembly was designed to provide diffusion bonding with a high precision alignment of disks. The compliance of the fabricated structure have been verified through beam-based wakefield measurement at Argonne Wakefield Accelerator Facility. Both measured longitudinal and transverse wakefield showed good agreement with simulated wakefields. Measured peak gradients, 9.4 MV/m/nC for a long single bunch and 35.4 MV/m/nC for a four bunch trains, showed good agreement with the simulation.

Exploratory use of romosozumab for osteoporosis in a patient with Hajdu-Cheney syndrome: a case report

Hajdu-Cheney syndrome (HCS) is an inherited skeletal disorder caused by mutations in the Notch homolog protein 2 gene (NOTCH2). Treatment of this rare disease is challenging because there are no established guidelines worldwide. Previous case reports using bisphosphonates, denosumab, or teriparatide suggested that curative treatment for HCS did not exist yet in terms of preventing the disease progression. Therefore, the efficacy of romosozumab for osteoporosis in patients with HCS needs to be evaluated. Herein, we report the case of a 43-year-old woman who had progressive acro-osteolysis and repeated fractures since the age of 29 years. Next-generation sequencing confirmed HCS with a mutation at nucleotide 6758G>A, leading to Trp2253Ter replacement in NOTCH2. Romosozumab treatment was initiated because she had already received bisphosphonate for more than 10 years at other hospitals. After 1 year of romosozumab treatment, the bone mineral density (BMD) increased by 10.2%, 6.3%, and 1.3%, with Z scores of -2.9, -1.6, and -1.2 at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip, respectively. In addition, C-telopeptide was suppressed by 26.4% (0.121 to 0.089 ng/mL), and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide increased by 18.7% (25.2 to 29.9 ng/mL). This was the first report of romosozumab treatment in patient with osteoporosis and HCS in Korea. One year of romosozumab treatment provided substantial gains in BMD with maintaining the last acro-osteolytic status without deteriorating, representing a possible treatment option for HCS.

Suicide Trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and the International COVID-19 Suicide Prevention Research Collaboration

Introduction

There was and still is much speculation about the COVID-19 pandemic impact on suicide rates. We aimed to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates around the world.

Methods

We sourced real-time suicide data from countries or countries areas through a systematic internet search (official websites of Ministries of health, police agencies, and government-run statistics agencies or equivalents), recourse to our networks (e.g. ICSPRC) and the published literature (a living systematic review). We used an interrupted time-series analysis to model the trend in monthly suicides before COVID-19 in each country or country area, comparing the expected number of suicides derived from the model with the observed number of suicides in the early months of the pandemic (from April 1 to July 31, 2020, in the primary analysis). We have now updated this work to cover the first 15 months of the pandemic and stratified analyses by age and sex and method. We will present findings from the new updated data (35 countries) at the conference.

Results

Initially we sourced data from 21 countries (16 high-income and five upper-middle-income countries). Rate ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs based on the observed versus expected numbers of suicides showed no evidence of a significant increase in risk of suicide since the pandemic began in any country or area. There was statistical evidence of a decrease in suicide compared with the expected number in 12 countries or areas.

Conclusions

This was the first study to examine suicides occurring in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple countries. Early on high-income and upper-middle-income countries, suicide numbers remained largely unchanged or declined compared with the expected levels based on the pre-pandemic period. We need to remain vigilant and be poised to respond as the longer-term mental health and economic effects of the pandemic unfold. We will present updated findings with more recent data.

Scintillation light detection in the 6-m drift-length ProtoDUNE Dual Phase liquid argon TPC

DUNE is a dual-site experiment for long-baseline neutrino oscillation studies, neutrino astrophysics and nucleon decay searches. ProtoDUNE Dual Phase (DP) is a 6  ×  6  ×  6 m 3 liquid argon time-projection-chamber (LArTPC) that recorded cosmic-muon data at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2019-2020 as a prototype of the DUNE Far Detector. Charged particles propagating through the LArTPC produce ionization and scintillation light. The scintillation light signal in these detectors can provide the trigger for non-beam events. In addition, it adds precise timing capabilities and improves the calorimetry measurements. In ProtoDUNE-DP, scintillation and electroluminescence light produced by cosmic muons in the LArTPC is collected by photomultiplier tubes placed up to 7 m away from the ionizing track. In this paper, the ProtoDUNE-DP photon detection system performance is evaluated with a particular focus on the different wavelength shifters, such as PEN and TPB, and the use of Xe-doped LAr, considering its future use in giant LArTPCs. The scintillation light production and propagation processes are analyzed and a comparison of simulation to data is performed, improving understanding of the liquid argon properties.

Multipole polaron in the devil's staircase of CeSb

Rare-earth intermetallic compounds exhibit rich phenomena induced by the interplay between localized f orbitals and conduction electrons. However, since the energy scale of the crystal-electric-field splitting is only a few millielectronvolts, the nature of the mobile electrons accompanied by collective crystal-electric-field excitations has not been unveiled. Here, we examine the low-energy electronic structures of CeSb through the anomalous magnetostructural transitions below the Néel temperature, ~17 K, termed the 'devil's staircase', using laser angle-resolved photoemission, Raman and neutron scattering spectroscopies. We report another type of electron-boson coupling between mobile electrons and quadrupole crystal-electric-field excitations of the 4f orbitals, which renormalizes the Sb 5p band prominently, yielding a kink at a very low energy (~7 meV). This coupling strength is strong and exhibits anomalous step-like enhancement during the devil's staircase transition, unveiling a new type of quasiparticle, named the 'multipole polaron', comprising a mobile electron dressed with a cloud of the quadrupole crystal-electric-field polarization.

Single-shot measurement of longitudinal phase space beam profile in an electron storage ring

A novel scheme to measure the longitudinal emittance and phase space profile in an electron storage ring by using correlations between time and the vertical coordinate, and between energy and the horizontal coordinate, is proposed. This longitudinal profile measurement scheme will help to demonstrate recent results of advanced studies for manipulating the longitudinal beam profile and for investigating beam instability in an electron storage ring.

Optimal application of compressive palatal stents following mesiodens removal in pediatric patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

There is no scientific evidence supporting the choice of a palatal stent in patients who underwent removal of an impacted supernumerary tooth. We aimed to investigate the effects of palatal stents in patients who underwent supernumerary tooth removal through a palatal approach and to suggest the optimal stent thickness and material.

Material and Methods

We recruited 144 patients who underwent extraction of a supernumerary tooth between the maxillary anterior teeth. Subjects were assigned to a control group (CG) or one of four compressive palatal stent groups (CPSGs) classified by the thickness and material of the thermoplastic acrylic stent used. Palatal gingival swelling and objective indices (healing, oral hygiene, gingival, and plaque) were evaluated before surgery and on postoperative days (PODs) 3, 7, and 14; pain/discomfort and the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) were assessed as subjective indices of the effects of the stent.

Results

The CPSGs showed faster healing than did the CG on PODs 7 (P<0.001) and 14 (P=0.043); swelling was measured by 1.64±0.88 mm and 4.52±0.39 mm, respectively. Although swelling was least in the 4-mm hard group (0.92±0.33 mm), the difference compared with that in the 2-mm hard group (1.01±0.18 mm) was not significant (P=0.077). The CPSGs showed better COHIP (P<0.001-0.036) and pain scores (P<0.001) than did the CG on PODs 1-3.

Conclusions

Compressive palatal stents reduce discomfort by decreasing pain and alleviating swelling. Although a stent is effective regardless of its thickness and material, 2-mm hard stents maximized such positive effects with minimal discomfort.

Key words:Supernumerary tooth, tooth Extraction, postoperative care, oral Health, pediatric dentistry.

Discovery of mesoscopic nematicity wave in iron-based superconductors

[Figure: see text].

Transverse bunch-by-bunch feedback system for time-resolved experiments at PLS-II

A description of the upgraded bunch-by-bunch feedback system for time-resolved experiments at Pohang Light Source II (PLS-II) is provided. The bunch-by-bunch feedback system has been upgraded to increase the single-bunch current in the hybrid fill pattern of the PLS-II facility. The project is part of the SPring-8 and PLS-II collaboration. The main features of the upgrade are to employ a single 500 MHz analog-to-digital converter (ADC) instead of the previous four 125 MHz interleaved ADCs for 500 MHz rate, to replace a single-loop two-dimensional feedback with two independent one-dimensional feedback loops, to implement the tune measurement function with a single bunch, and mainly to implement single-bunch and stretcher control. The realization of a 400 mA hybrid fill pattern including a 10 mA single bunch demonstrates the precision of the upgraded bunch-by-bunch feedback system.

AB0760 HIGH SERUM IGA LEVELS HAVE LIMITED CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN PATIENTS WITH IGG4-RELATED DISEASE DIAGNOSED BY EXPERTS

Background:

While the diagnostic and classification criteria for IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) have been recently developed [1-3], it is known that, without appropriate exclusions, some non-IgG4-RDs may meet these criteria. In particular, hyper IL-6 syndromes, including Castleman disease, can be misdiagnosed as IgG4-RD. Some clinical findings, including elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) or IgA, have been suggested to be useful for differentiating hyper IL-6 syndromes from IgG4-RD [4]. However, since few clinical studies have focused on IgG4-RD with high serum IgA levels, its clinical significance has not been well known.

Objectives:

This study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of high serum IgA levels in patients with IgG4-RD.

Methods:

We retrospectively investigated the clinical features of 170 patients with IgG4-RD on the basis of the presence or absence of elevated serum IgA levels (>410 mg/dL) at the time of diagnosis. The diagnosis of IgG4-RD was made by experts on the basis of the fulfillment of the comprehensive diagnostic criteria and/or each organ-specific diagnostic criteria.

Results:

Elevated serum IgA levels were observed in 18 patients (10.6%). In the patients with elevated serum IgA levels, serum CRP levels were higher (1.14 ± 1.18 vs. 0.31 ± 0.63 mg/dL, p=0.003) and the prevalence of relapse during the clinical course was lower (5.6% vs. 27.6%, p=0.046) than in those without elevated serum IgA levels. However, there were no significant differences in the other clinical features including the number of involved organs (2.4 ± 1.3 vs. 2.8 ± 1.6, p=0.443) and inclusion scores of the ACR/EULAR classification criteria (32 ± 14 vs. 36 ± 17, p=0.374). To evaluate the influence of serum IgA elevation on relapse, we performed Cox regression analysis, which showed that the elevated serum IgA levels had no significant association with lower incidence of relapse but a tendency of it (hazard ratio 0.997, 95% confidence interval 0.994-1.000, p=0.055) during the clinical course. In addition, a prompt improvement in the IgG4-RD responder index [5] during the clinical course was seen in the patients with serum IgA elevation, suggesting a similar good response to glucocorticoids as in those without it.

Conclusion:

The findings of the present study suggest that IgG4-RD patients with high serum IgA levels can be diagnosed and treated in the same way as those without it, although they may be characterized by mild serum CRP elevation.

References:

[1]Wallace ZS et al. The 2019 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for IgG4-related disease. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79:77-87.

[2]Umehara H et al. The 2020 Revised Comprehensive Diagnostic (RCD) Criteria for IgG4-RD. Mod Rheumatol. 2020 Dec 4:1-14. doi: 10.1080/14397595.2020.1859710. Online ahead of print.

[3]Umehara H et al. Current approach to the diagnosis of IgG4-related disease - Combination of comprehensive diagnostic and organ - specific criteria. Mod Rheumatol. 2017;27:381-91.

[4]Sato Y et al. Systemic IgG4-related lymphadenopathy: A clinical and pathologic comparison to multicentric Castleman’s disease. Mod Pathol.2009;22:589-99.

[5]Carruthers MN et al. Development of an IgG4-RD Responder Index. Int J Rheumatol. 2012;2012:259408.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

POS1348 MORTALITY AND ITS RELATED FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH IGG4-RELATED DISEASE: A JAPANESE SINGLE-CENTER STUDY

Background:

In recent years, IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) has become a widely recognized disorder. However, mortality and its related factors in this disease are not well known.

Objectives:

This study aimed to clarify mortality and its related factors in patients with IgG4-RD.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with IgG4-RD diagnosed by experts based on fulfillment of the Japanese comprehensive diagnostic criteria and/or the 2019 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for IgG4-RD at a single center in Japan. Using the collected data, we calculated the crude mortality rate and the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) using national Japan mortality statistics and investigated the cause of death. We performed Cox regression analyses to assess mortality-related factors.

Results:

A total of 179 patients with IgG4-RD were included: 124 were male (69.3%); the median age was 68 years (interquartile range [IQR] 60-75 years); and the median follow-up from diagnosis was 47 months (IQR 17-84). Ten patients (5.6%) in our cohort died during the follow-up period. Five died of malignancy, one of respiratory failure, two of infectious pneumonia, one of sudden cardiac event, and one of suspected aortic aneurysmal rupture. The crude mortality rate was 11.1 per 1,000 person-years. According to national Japan mortality statistics, 11.6 age- and sex-matched deaths were expected to occur within the follow-up period, resulting in a SMR of 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41-1.59). Univariate Cox regression analyses indicated that the number of affected organs at diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] 1.45, 95% CI 1.02-2.05), serum creatinine levels at diagnosis (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.06-3.12), and the presence of malignancy during the clinical course (HR 3.93, 95% CI 1.10-14.02) had a significant impact on the time to death, whereas the other factors including age at diagnosis and serum C-reactive protein and IgG4 levels at diagnosis did not.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that the mortality rate of patients with IgG4-RD does not significantly differ from that of the Japanese general population. Multi-organ involvement and renal dysfunction at diagnosis as well as malignancy during the clinical course may be associated with higher mortality. An appropriate clinical evaluation for the early detection of these risk factors is required at first diagnosis and during long-term follow-up.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Prospects for beyond the Standard Model physics searches at the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment: DUNE Collaboration

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) will be a powerful tool for a variety of physics topics. The high-intensity proton beams provide a large neutrino flux, sampled by a near detector system consisting of a combination of capable precision detectors, and by the massive far detector system located deep underground. This configuration sets up DUNE as a machine for discovery, as it enables opportunities not only to perform precision neutrino measurements that may uncover deviations from the present three-flavor mixing paradigm, but also to discover new particles and unveil new interactions and symmetries beyond those predicted in the Standard Model (SM). Of the many potential beyond the Standard Model (BSM) topics DUNE will probe, this paper presents a selection of studies quantifying DUNE's sensitivities to sterile neutrino mixing, heavy neutral leptons, non-standard interactions, CPT symmetry violation, Lorentz invariance violation, neutrino trident production, dark matter from both beam induced and cosmogenic sources, baryon number violation, and other new physics topics that complement those at high-energy colliders and significantly extend the present reach.

An automated approach to determine antibody endpoint titers for COVID-19 by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

While a variety of therapeutic options continue to emerge for COVID-19 treatment, convalescent plasma (CP) has been used as a possible treatment option early in the pandemic. One of the most significant challenges with CP therapy, however, both when defining its efficacy and implementing its approach clinically, is accurately and efficiently characterizing an otherwise heterogenous therapeutic treatment. Given current limitations, our goal is to leverage a SARS antibody testing platform with a newly developed automated endpoint titer analysis program to rapidly define SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in CP donors and hospitalized patients. A newly developed antibody detection platform was used to perform a serial dilution enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgM, and IgA SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Data were then analyzed using commercially available software, GraphPad Prism, or a newly developed program developed in Python called TiterScape, to analyze endpoint titers. Endpoint titer calculations and analysis times were then compared between the two analysis approaches. Serial dilution analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels revealed a high level of heterogeneity between individuals. Commercial platform analysis required significant time for manual data input and extrapolated endpoint titer values when the last serial dilution was above the endpoint cutoff, occasionally producing erroneously high results. By contrast, TiterScape processed 1008 samples for endpoint titer results in roughly 14 minutes compared with the 8 hours required for the commercial software program analysis. Equally important, results generated by TiterScape and Prism were highly similar, with differences averaging 1.26 ± 0.2 percent (mean ± SD). The pandemic has created unprecedented challenges when seeking to accurately test large numbers of individuals for SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels with a rapid turnaround time. ELISA platforms capable of serial dilution analysis coupled with a highly flexible software interface may provide a useful tool when seeking to define endpoint titers in a high-throughput manner. Immunohematology 2021;37:33-43. While a variety of therapeutic options continue to emerge for COVID-19 treatment, convalescent plasma (CP) has been used as a possible treatment option early in the pandemic. One of the most significant challenges with CP therapy, however, both when defining its efficacy and implementing its approach clinically, is accurately and efficiently characterizing an otherwise heterogenous therapeutic treatment. Given current limitations, our goal is to leverage a SARS antibody testing platform with a newly developed automated endpoint titer analysis program to rapidly define SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in CP donors and hospitalized patients. A newly developed antibody detection platform was used to perform a serial dilution enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgM, and IgA SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Data were then analyzed using commercially available software, GraphPad Prism, or a newly developed program developed in Python called TiterScape, to analyze endpoint titers. Endpoint titer calculations and analysis times were then compared between the two analysis approaches. Serial dilution analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels revealed a high level of heterogeneity between individuals. Commercial platform analysis required significant time for manual data input and extrapolated endpoint titer values when the last serial dilution was above the endpoint cutoff, occasionally producing erroneously high results. By contrast, TiterScape processed 1008 samples for endpoint titer results in roughly 14 minutes compared with the 8 hours required for the commercial software program analysis. Equally important, results generated by TiterScape and Prism were highly similar, with differences averaging 1.26 ± 0.2 percent (mean ± SD). The pandemic has created unprecedented challenges when seeking to accurately test large numbers of individuals for SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels with a rapid turnaround time. ELISA platforms capable of serial dilution analysis coupled with a highly flexible software interface may provide a useful tool when seeking to define endpoint titers in a high-throughput manner. Immunohematology 2021;37:33–43.

Evaluation of adverse plaque characteristics in coronary computed tomography angiography using combined near infrared spectroscopy

Background/Introduction

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has developed rapidly, enabling the evaluation of coronary stenosis as well as plaque characteristics. However, it is not clear whether the adverse plaque characteristics found in CCTA are really vulnerable plaques. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is able to quantify cholesterol within coronary arteries by the lipid core burden index (LCBI).

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine whether positive remodeling (PR), low attenuated plaque (LAP) and spotty calcificaiton (SC) found in CCTA have high LCBI values in NIRS.

Methods

The study was single center, prospective, and cross-sectional. A total of 84 patients who underwent NIRS during percutaneous coronary intervention after CCTA imaging for coronary artery disease were studied. PR, LAP and SC were identified in the plaques visible on CCTA, and LCBI and maxLCBI (4mm) were measured by NIRS on the same plaque.

Results

In the presence of PR and LAP in the plaque, the maxLCBI (4mm) [PR: 468±161 vs. 319±214, p=0.032, LAP: 475±178 vs. 278±191, p=0.006] and LCBI [PR: 190±74 vs. 132±104, p=0.044, LAP: 182±96 vs. 124±93, p=0.038] values were significantly higher than those in the plaque without PR and LAP. However, with and without SC, there was no significant difference between the maxLCBI (4mm) [474±181 vs. 336±208] and LCBI [183±77 vs. 142±102, p=0.127] values.

Conclusion

Among the adverse plaque characteristics found in CCTA, PR and LAP were clearly correlated with maxLCBI (4mm) and LCBI measured by NIRS, but SC was less correlated.

APC vs. LCBI

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Investigation of the damping wiggler effect and application on the PAL fourth-generation storage ring

An investigation of the damping wiggler effect to reduce the emittance in the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL), a fourth-generation storage ring (4GSR) that uses a multi-bend achromat, is presented. A 4GSR lattice which has reduced emittance and increased dynamic aperture to amplify the synergy with two existing light sources (PLS-II and PAL-XFEL) at PAL is described.

Serum pooling for rapid expansion of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing capacity

Objectives

Examine possible pooling strategies designed to expand SARS-CoV-2 serological testing capacity.

Methods

Negative pools were assessed to determine optimal optical density (OD) cutoffs, followed by spiking weak or strong positive samples to assess initial assay performance. Samples were then randomly subjected to pool and individual testing approaches.

Results

Single positive specimens consistently converted pools of 5, 10, or 20 into positive outcomes. However, weaker IgG-positive samples failed to similarly convert pools of 50 to a positive result. In contrast, a stronger individual positive sample converted all pools tested into positive outcomes. Finally, examination of 150 samples configured into pools of 5, 10, 20 or 50 accurately predicted the presence of positive or negative specimens within each pool.

Conclusions

These results suggest that pooling strategies may allow expansion of serological testing capacity. While limitations exist, such strategies may aid in large-scale epidemiological screening or identification of optimal convalescent plasma donors.

Nature of the Dirac gap modulation and surface magnetic interaction in axion antiferromagnetic topological insulator [Formula: see text]

Modification of the gap at the Dirac point (DP) in axion antiferromagnetic topological insulator [Formula: see text] and its electronic and spin structure have been studied by angle- and spin-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) under laser excitation at various temperatures (9-35 K), light polarizations and photon energies. We have distinguished both large (60-70 meV) and reduced ([Formula: see text]) gaps at the DP in the ARPES dispersions, which remain open above the Neél temperature ([Formula: see text]). We propose that the gap above [Formula: see text] remains open due to a short-range magnetic field generated by chiral spin fluctuations. Spin-resolved ARPES, XMCD and circular dichroism ARPES measurements show a surface ferromagnetic ordering for the "large gap" sample and apparently significantly reduced effective magnetic moment for the "reduced gap" sample. These observations can be explained by a shift of the Dirac cone (DC) state localization towards the second Mn layer due to structural disturbance and surface relaxation effects, where DC state is influenced by compensated opposite magnetic moments. As we have shown by means of ab-initio calculations surface structural modification can result in a significant modulation of the DP gap.

Publisher Correction: A weak topological insulator state in quasi-one-dimensional bismuth iodide

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Water Dynamics Around Proteins: T- and R-States of Hemoglobin and Melittin

The water dynamics, as characterized by the local hydrophobicity (LH), is investigated for tetrameric hemoglobin (Hb) and dimeric melittin. For the T₀ to R₀ transition in Hb, it is found that LH provides additional molecular-level insight into the Perutz mechanism, i.e., the breaking and formation of salt bridges at the α₁/β₂ and α₂/β₁ interface is accompanied by changes in LH. For Hb in cubic water boxes with 90 and 120 Å edge length it is observed that following a decrease in LH as a consequence of reduced water density or change of water orientation at the protein/water interface the α/β interfaces are destabilized; this is a hallmark of the Perutz stereochemical model for the T to R transition in Hb. The present work thus provides a dynamical view of the classical structural model relevant to the molecular foundations of Hb function. For dimeric melittin, earlier results by Cheng and Rossky [ Nature 1998, 392, 696-699] are confirmed and interpreted on the basis of LH from simulations in which the protein structure is frozen. For the flexible melittin dimer, the changes in the local hydration can be as much as 30% greater than for the rigid dimer, reflecting the fact that protein and water dynamics are coupled.

Demonstration of a ring-FEL as an EUV lithography tool

This paper presents the required structure and function of a ring-FEL as a radiation source for extreme ultraviolet radiation lithography (EUVL). A 100 m-long straight section that conducts an extremely low emittance beam from a fourth-generation storage ring can increase the average power at 13.5 nm wavelength to up to 1 kW without degrading the beam in the rest of the ring. Here, simulation results for a ring-FEL as a EUVL source are described.

Devil's staircase transition of the electronic structures in CeSb

Solids with competing interactions often undergo complex phase transitions with a variety of long-periodic modulations. Among such transition, devil's staircase is the most complex phenomenon, and for it, CeSb is the most famous material, where a number of the distinct phases with long-periodic magnetostructures sequentially appear below the Néel temperature. An evolution of the low-energy electronic structure going through the devil's staircase is of special interest, which has, however, been elusive so far despite 40 years of intense research. Here, we use bulk-sensitive angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and reveal the devil's staircase transition of the electronic structures. The magnetic reconstruction dramatically alters the band dispersions at each transition. Moreover, we find that the well-defined band picture largely collapses around the Fermi energy under the long-periodic modulation of the transitional phase, while it recovers at the transition into the lowest-temperature ground state. Our data provide the first direct evidence for a significant reorganization of the electronic structures and spectral functions occurring during the devil's staircase.

Palliative care and symptom relief for people affected by multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines palliative care as the prevention and relief of the physical, psychological, social and spiritual suffering of adults and children with life-threatening illnesses and psycho-social support for their families. Palliative care and symptom relief (PCSR) also addresses suffering in nonlife-threatening situations such as after cure. PCSR should never be considered a substitute for tuberculosis (TB) prevention and treatment, but should be accessible by everyone in need. PCSR can reduce suffering and improve quality of life of patients with end-stage chronic illnesses while reducing costs for health care systems and providing financial risk protection for patients' families. It also may help enable patients to adhere to long and noxious treatments and thereby reduce mortality and help protect public health. Basic PCSR can be taught easily to TB specialists as well as primary care clinicians and delivered in hospitals, clinics or patients' homes combined with infection control. For these reasons, integration of PCSR into multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) treatment programs is medically and morally imperative. We propose an essential package of PCSR for people with M/XDR-TB that includes a set of safe, effective and inexpensive medicines and equipment, social supports for patients and caregivers living in extreme poverty, and necessary human resources. The package aligns with WHO guidance on programmatic management of drug-resistant (DR) TB and should be universally accessible by people affected by M/XDR-TB. We also describe the ethical practice of PCSR for people with M/XDR-TB and identify needed areas of research in PCSR for people with M/XDR-TB.

Radial Spin Texture in Elemental Tellurium with Chiral Crystal Structure

The chiral crystal is characterized by a lack of mirror symmetry and inversion center, resulting in the inequivalent right- and left-handed structures. In the noncentrosymmetric crystal structure, the spin and momentum of electrons are expected to be locked in the reciprocal space with the help of the spin-orbit interaction. To reveal the spin textures of chiral crystals, we investigate the spin and electronic structure in a p-type semiconductor, elemental tellurium, with the simplest chiral structure by using spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our data demonstrate that the highest valence band crossing the Fermi level has a spin component parallel to the electron momentum around the Brillouin zone corners. Significantly, we have also confirmed that the spin polarization is reversed in the crystal with the opposite chirality. The results indicate that the spin textures of the right- and left-handed chiral crystals are hedgehoglike, leading to unconventional magnetoelectric effects and nonreciprocal phenomena.