Variational benchmarks for quantum many-body problems.

The continued development of computational approaches to many-body ground-state problems in physics and chemistry calls for a consistent way to assess its overall progress. In this work, we introduce a metric of variational accuracy, the V-score, obtained from the variational energy and its variance. We provide an extensive curated dataset of variational calculations of many-body quantum systems, identifying cases where state-of-the-art numerical approaches show limited accuracy and future algorithms or computational platforms, such as quantum computing, could provide improved accuracy.

Activation priming and cytokine polyfunctionality modulate the enhanced functionality of low-affinity CD19 CAR T cells.

We recently described a low-affinity second-generation CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) CAT that showed enhanced expansion, cytotoxicity, and antitumor efficacy compared with the high-affinity (FMC63-based) CAR used in tisagenlecleucel, in preclinical models. Furthermore, CAT demonstrated an excellent toxicity profile, enhanced in vivo expansion, and long-term persistence in a phase 1 clinical study. To understand the molecular mechanisms behind these properties of CAT CAR T cells, we performed a systematic in vitro characterization of the transcriptomic (RNA sequencing) and protein (cytometry by time of flight) changes occurring in T cells expressing low-affinity vs high-affinity CD19 CARs following stimulation with CD19-expressing cells.

Low-Energy Excitations of Skyrmion Crystals in a Centrosymmetric Kondo-Lattice Magnet: Decoupled Spin-Charge Excitations and Nonreciprocity.

We theoretically study spin and charge excitations of skyrmion crystals stabilized by conduction-electron-mediated magnetic interactions via spin-charge coupling in a centrosymmetric Kondo-lattice model by large-scale spin-dynamics simulations combined with the kernel polynomial method. We reveal clear segregation of spin and charge excitation channels and nonreciprocal nature of the spin excitations governed by the Fermi-surface geometry, which are unique to the skyrmion crystals in centrosymmetric itinerant hosts and can be a source of novel physical phenomena.

Taming Cell-to-Cell Heterogeneity in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia With Machine Learning.

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is a phenotypically and genetically heterogenous blood cancer characterised by very poor prognosis, with disease relapse being the primary cause of treatment failure. AML heterogeneity arise from different genetic and non-genetic sources, including its proposed hierarchical structure, with leukemic stem cells (LSCs) and progenitors giving origin to a variety of more mature leukemic subsets. Recent advances in single-cell molecular and phenotypic profiling have highlighted the intra and inter-patient heterogeneous nature of AML, which has so far limited the success of cell-based immunotherapy approaches against single targets.

Sensing gastric cancer via point-of-care sensor breath analyzer.

Background: Detection of disease by means of volatile organic compounds from breath samples using sensors is an attractive approach to fast, noninvasive and inexpensive diagnostics. However, these techniques are still limited to applications within the laboratory settings. Here, we report on the development and use of a fast, portable, and IoT-connected point-of-care device (so-called, SniffPhone) to detect and classify gastric cancer to potentially provide new qualitative solutions for cancer screening.

Isolated bladder exstrophy in prenatal diagnosis.

Purpose: Isolated classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) is the most common variant of the bladder-exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC). The BEEC represents a spectrum ranging from isolated epispadias over CBE to the most severe form, cloacal exstrophy. We report on a series of 12 cases with CBE diagnosed prenatally and illustrate the spectrum of prenatal ultrasound findings with comparison to prior published reports on this entity.

Severe Vaginal Burns in a 5-Year-Old Girl Due to an Alkaline Battery in the Vagina.

Background: The ingestion or insertion of alkaline batteries in the body can cause severe damage to hollow organs. We report here a case of severe vaginal burns in a young patient caused by an alkaline battery.

Case: A 5-year-old girl presented to our outpatient department with pelvic pain and vaginal discharge.

Analyte detection with Cu-BTC metal-organic framework thin films by means of mass-sensitive and work-function-based readout.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) constitute a new generation of porous crystalline materials, which have recently come into focus as analyte-specific active elements in thin-film sensor devices. Cu-BTC--also known as HKUST-1--is one of the most theoretically and experimentally investigated members of the MOF family. Its capability to selectively adsorb different gas molecules renders this material a promising candidate for applications in chemical gas and vapor sensing.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurement with a handheld device.

A sensing system for fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement is presented, which is characterized by a compact setup and a cost potential to be made available for the patient at home. The sensing is based on the work function measurement of a phthalocyanine-type sensing material, which is shown to be sufficiently sensitive for NO(2) in the ppb range. The transducer used to measure the work function is a field effect transistor with a suspended gate electrode.

Pulsed gate sweep strategies for hysteresis reduction in carbon nanotube transistors for low concentration NO(2) gas detection.

Carbon-nanotube-based field effect transistors (CNFETs) have been employed as highly sensitive chemical sensors. Often used as the sensor output signal, the gate threshold voltage (V(th)) is subject to concentration-dependent shifts upon exposure to target analytes. However, an unambiguous determination of the intrinsic V(th) is usually hampered by substantial hysteresis in CNFET gate characteristics.

[Stroke etiology and long-term need of care in ischemic stroke patients].

About 80 % of all strokes are of ischemic origin. Among these the Trial of ORG 10 172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification denotes five the etiological categories: large-artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, small-artery occlusion, strokes of undetermined etiology and strokes of other determined etiology, which are based on imaging and diagnostic findings. The object of research is the distribution of these TOAST categories in a demographically defined population and their impact on the need of care.

Novel calcium-gelled, alginate-pectin beverage reduced energy intake in nondieting overweight and obese women: interactions with dietary restraint status.

Background: Foods containing strong-gelling fibers may provide a safe and efficacious strategy for reducing food intake by stimulating endogenous satiety signaling.

Objective: A novel, 2-part beverage, consisting of alginate-pectin and calcium components, that forms a stable, fibrous gel in the stomach was tested to determine its effects on subjective satiety and food intake in overweight and obese women.

Design: The investigation was a within-subjects, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

A high-glycemic meal pattern elicited increased subjective appetite sensations in overweight and obese women.

We examined the effects of variations in postprandial glycemia and insulinemia on subjective satiety in overweight and obese women. We altered the ingestion rate of a glucose beverage to model the postprandial effects of high- and low-glycemic meals. Fourteen women were tested in a within-subjects' design with two conditions: (1) Rapid, with a large glucose beverage consumed with breakfast and lunch and (2) Slow, with the same volume of glucose beverage consumed in eight portions (one with each meal, and the remaining seven at 20-min intervals after each meal).

Demonstration of new technology MEMS and liquid crystal adaptive optics on bright astronomical objects and satellites.

We present here results using two novel adaptive optic elements, an electro-static membrane mirror, and a dual frequency nematic liquid crystal. These devices have the advantage of low cost, low power consumption, and compact size. Possible applications of the devices are astronomical adaptive optics, laser beam control, laser cavity mode control, and real time holography.

[Computer-supported tissue characterization in musculoskeletal ultrasonography].

A new diagnostic system combining conventional gray-scale ultrasonography (US) and computer-assisted texture analysis of sonograms makes it possible to differentiate more easily between specific neuromuscular diseases. The first step involves myosonography with strictly standardized US. In a group of 72 patients with histologically and molecular-genetically confirmed diagnosis 63 patients (88%) were diagnosed by conventional US as having Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, hereditary sensomotor neuropathy or inflammatory myopathy.

[Enzyme immunoassays for the quantification of human gamma-gamma-enolase (NSE)].

A direct two-site binding assay on the basis of antibodies from sheep for the quantification of human gamma-gamma enolase is described. The antibody was produced by immunization with human NSE coupled to horse spleen ferritin. The assay shows two feature: a decreased reactivity with NSE from rat and NSE from human serum in spite of 100% recovery of purified human brain NSE.

Concentration of hypoxanthine in both cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue increases under intensive hypoxia only.

The relationships between the concentrations of glycogen, glucose, lactate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and hypoxanthine in the brain tissue, and the hypoxanthine and lactate concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and blood were examined after exposure of rats to hypoxia. The animals (1 and 10 days old) were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia for 1-12 h, pO2 11.3 kPa (mild), pO2 8.

The relationship of hypoxia to hypoxanthine concentration during pregnancy and delivery.

The concentration of hypoxanthine in plasma was suggested as an indicator of hypoxic conditions in newborns. We examined the concentration of hypoxanthine in maternal venous as well as in umbilical cord blood during pregnancy and during and after labor. The concentration of hypoxanthine in the cubital venous blood of nonpregnant healthy women and in healthy pregnant women and in women with complicated pregnancies was the similar.

Influence of a perinatal hypoxia on the carbonic anhydrase activity in different brain regions of the rat.

Homogenates of striatum, hippocampus and cerebral cortex of the rat brain were investigated for carbonic anhydrase activities. During ontogeny the enzyme activities increase with proceeding gliogenesis. At the 5th postnatal day (PD) prenatal hypoxia (17th day of gestation (GD)--birth) is followed by a 4-fold increase of carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity in the hippocampus.

The relations between erythrocytic and CNS parameters following postnatal hypobaric hypoxia of the rat.

In the present paper the relations between selected erythrocytic criteria and alterations of biochemical brain parameters following hypoxia were investigated in order to find out the relevance of erythrocytic criteria for the diagnosis of hypoxia-induced alterations of the CNS during development. Newborn Wistar rats (n = 80) with their mother were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia, pO2 = 11.3 kPa, from day 2-10 of life, daily for 11 h.

Effects of piracetam on brain development in newborn rats exposed to hypoxia.

Perinatal hypoxia is one of the main causes of disturbances of the function of the CNS during childhood. In this study the protective effect of the nootropic drug piracetam (oxo-2-pyrrolidinyl-1)-2-acetamide was tested. One-day-old Wistar rats were exposed together with their mothers to hypoxia up to the 10th day of life (11 h daily, pO2 = 9.

Hypoxanthine levels in amniotic fluid: an indicator of fetal hypoxia?

During hypoxia there is an increased formation of hypoxanthine from the consumption of ATP; simultaneously the oxidation into uric acid is decreased. The purpose of this study was to determine possible correlations between hypoxanthine concentrations in the amniotic fluid and states of fetal hypoxia. We obtained 83 amniotic fluid samples from 68 patients during pregnancy or delivery.

[Effect of hypoxia on the relationship of density and maturity of erythrocytes of newborn, young and adult rats].

Adult male, juvenile and pregnant rats were exposed to repeated hypoxia 8 h daily for 3-9 days in a low pressure chamber (altitude of 5000 m, pO2 = 11.3 kPa and 6000 m, respectively, pO2 = 9.89 kPa).