Measurement of Compton Scattering at MAMI for the Extraction of the Electric and Magnetic Polarizabilities of the Proton.

A precise measurement of the differential cross sections dσ/dΩ and the linearly polarized photon beam asymmetry Σ_{3} for Compton scattering on the proton below pion threshold has been performed with a tagged photon beam and almost 4π detector at the Mainz Microtron. The incident photons were produced by the recently upgraded Glasgow-Mainz photon tagging facility and impinged on a cryogenic liquid hydrogen target, with the scattered photons detected in the Crystal Ball/TAPS setup. Using the highest statistics Compton scattering data ever measured on the proton along with two effective field theories (both covariant baryon and heavy-baryon) and one fixed-t dispersion relation model, constraining the fits with the Baldin sum rule, we have obtained the proton electric and magnetic polarizabilities with unprecedented precision: α_{E1}=10.99±0.16±0.47±0.17±0.34, ß_{M1}=3.14±0.21±0.24±0.20±0.35; in units of 10^{-4} fm^{3} where the errors are statistical, systematic, spin polarizability dependent, and model dependent.

[Management of critically ill nontrauma patients in a nonuniversity emergency department]. / Nichttraumatologisches Schockraummanagement in einer nichtuniversitären Notaufnahme.

Purpose: Today there exists only limited knowledge regarding the care of critically ill nontrauma (CINT) patients in the resuscitation room (RR) in Germany. The goal of this observational study was to describe the management of CINT patients in the RR of a nonuniversity emergency department. Methods: Data of adult nontrauma patients in the RR were prospectively collected in this study from 26 January 2019 to 18 May 2021 using the OBSERvE­2 evaluation protocol. Results: In all, 213 patients were included in the study (age: 70 ± 15 years, 55% male; admission to the RR by emergency medical service 93%). 28% were brought in after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Leading admission causes were C (47%) and B problems (39%). Diagnoses at the end of RR treatment were 30% pulmonary and 26% cardiovascular diseases without myocardial infarction as well as pulmonary embolism (8% and 5%, respectively). Measures performed were airway protection (20%), invasive (46%) and noninvasive ventilation (25%), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (13%), catecholamine therapy (34%), emergency ultrasound (62%). The initial treatment lasted for 41 ± 22 min. Computed tomography was subsequently performed in 51%. On average 4-5 persons were involved in the treatment during the RR period. In total, 9% of the patients died during RR treatment and 40% in the hospital. Conclusion: Patients in a nonuniversity nontrauma RR are resource-intensive and have a high in-hospital lethality. RR care can be completed within 60 min. In order to achieve better comparability between patient populations of different locations, it is necessary to uniformly define admission criteria for the nontrauma resuscitation room.

Cross motor innervation of the hypoglossal nerve-a pilot study of predictors for successful opening of the soft palate.

PURPOSE: Selective hypoglossal nerve stimulation has proven to be a successful treatment option in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate if there is a cross-innervation of the hypoglossal nerve in humans and if patients with this phenotype show a different response to hypoglossal nerve stimulation compared to those with ipsilateral-only innervation METHODS: Nineteen patients who previously received a selective hypoglossal nerve stimulation system (Inspire Medical Systems, Golden Valley, USA) were implanted with a nerve integrity system placing electrodes on both sides of the tongue. Tongue motions were recorded one and two months after surgery from transoral and transnasal views. Polysomnography (PSG) was also performed at two months. Electromyogram (EMG) signals and tongue motions after activation were compared with PSG findings. RESULTS: Cross-innervation showed significant correlation with bilateral tongue movement and bilateral tongue base opening, which were associated with better PSG outcomes. CONCLUSION: Cross motor innervation of the hypoglossal nerve occurs in approximately 50% of humans, which is associated with a positive effect on PSG outcomes. Bilateral stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve may be a solution for non-responding patients with pronounced collapse at the soft palate during drug-induced sleep endoscopy.

Identification of African swine fever virus-like elements in the soft tick genome provides insights into the virus' evolution.

BACKGROUND: African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a most devastating pathogen affecting swine. In 2007, ASFV was introduced into Eastern Europe where it continuously circulates and recently reached Western Europe and Asia, leading to a socio-economic crisis of global proportion. In Africa, where ASFV was first described in 1921, it is transmitted between warthogs and soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros in a so-called sylvatic cycle. However, analyses into this virus' evolution are aggravated by the absence of any closely related viruses. Even ancient endogenous viral elements, viral sequences integrated into a host's genome many thousand years ago that have proven extremely valuable to analyse virus evolution, remain to be identified. Therefore, the evolution of ASFV, the only known DNA virus transmitted by arthropods, remains a mystery. RESULTS: For the identification of ASFV-like sequences, we sequenced DNA from different recent Ornithodoros tick species, e.g. O. moubata and O. porcinus, O. moubata tick cells and also 100-year-old O. moubata and O. porcinus ticks using high-throughput sequencing. We used BLAST analyses for the identification of ASFV-like sequences and further analysed the data through phylogenetic reconstruction and molecular clock analyses. In addition, we performed tick infection experiments as well as additional small RNA sequencing of O. moubata and O. porcinus soft ticks. CONCLUSION: Here, we show that soft ticks of the Ornithodoros moubata group, the natural arthropod vector of ASFV, harbour African swine fever virus-like integrated (ASFLI) elements corresponding to up to 10% (over 20 kb) of the ASFV genome. Through orthologous dating and molecular clock analyses, we provide data suggesting that integration could have occurred over 1.47 million years ago. Furthermore, we provide data showing ASFLI-element specific siRNA and piRNA in ticks and tick cells allowing for speculations on a possible role of ASFLI-elements in RNA interference-based protection against ASFV in ticks. We suggest that these elements, shaped through many years of co-evolution, could be part of an evolutionary virus-vector 'arms race', a finding that has not only high impact on our understanding of the co-evolution of viruses with their hosts but also provides a glimpse into the evolution of ASFV.

Single π 0 production off neutrons bound in deuteron with linearly polarized photons.

The quasifree γ → d → π 0 n ( p ) photon beam asymmetry, Σ , has been measured at photon energies, E γ , from 390 to 610 MeV, corresponding to center of mass energy from 1.271 to 1.424 GeV, for the first time. The data were collected in the A2 hall of the MAMI electron beam facility with the Crystal Ball and TAPS calorimeters covering pion center-of-mass angles from 49 ∘ to 148 ∘ . In this kinematic region, polarization observables are sensitive to contributions from the Δ ( 1232 ) and N(1440) resonances. The extracted values of Σ have been compared to predictions based on partial-wave analyses (PWAs) of the existing pion photoproduction database. Our comparison includes the SAID, MAID and Bonn-Gatchina analyses; while a revised SAID fit, including the new Σ measurements, has also been performed. In addition, isospin symmetry is examined as a way to predict π 0 n photoproduction observables, based on fits to published data in the channels π 0 p , π + n and π - p .

Helicity-Dependent Cross Sections for the Photoproduction of π

The double-polarization observable E and helicity-dependent cross sections σ_{1/2}, σ_{3/2} have been measured for the photoproduction of π^{0} pairs off quasifree protons and neutrons at the Mainz MAMI accelerator with the Crystal Ball/TAPS setup. A circularly polarized photon beam was produced by bremsstrahlung from longitudinally polarized electrons and impinged on a longitudinally polarized deuterated butanol target. The reaction products were detected with an almost 4π covering calorimeter. The results reveal for the first time the helicity- and isospin-dependent structure of the γN→Nπ^{0}π^{0} reaction. They are compared to predictions from reaction models in view of nucleon resonance contributions and also to a refit of one model that predicted results for the proton and for the neutron target. The comparison of the prediction and the refit demonstrates the large impact of the new data.

Signatures of the d

We report a measurement of the spin polarization of the recoiling neutron in deuterium photodisintegration, utilizing a new large acceptance polarimeter within the Crystal Ball at MAMI. The measured photon energy range of 300-700 MeV provides the first measurement of recoil neutron polarization at photon energies where the quark substructure of the deuteron plays a role, thereby providing important new constraints on photodisintegration mechanisms. A very high neutron polarization in a narrow structure centered around E_{γ}∼570 MeV is observed, which is inconsistent with current theoretical predictions employing nucleon resonance degrees of freedom. A Legendre polynomial decomposition suggests this behavior could be related to the excitation of the d^{*}(2380) hexaquark.

Erratum: Refractive Index of Silicon at γ Ray Energies [Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 184802 (2012)].

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.184802.

Hill equation and Hatze's muscle activation dynamics complement each other: enhanced pharmacological and physiological interpretability of modelled activity-pCa curves.

In pharmacology, particularly receptor theory, the drug dose-effect relation of bio-active substances is frequently described by a sigmoidal function formulated by A.V. Hill. In biomechanics and muscle physiology then again, H. Hatze had elaborated a mathematical model for the stimulation- and length-dependent dynamics of the calcium-induced activation of mammalian skeletal muscle. Here, we prove that muscular activity-pCa curves described by the Hill equation and the equilibrium state predicted by Hatze's activation dynamics are equivalent. Thus, the exponent introduced by Hatze can be directly identified with its counterpart in the Hill equation, by which the former model gains further physiological interpretability. Conversely, the Hill constant can now be interpreted as a function of the fibre length, generally allowing for advanced Hill plots based on model ideas. We derive and examine the complementary relation of both model approaches, highlight the benefits of mutually viewing one approach from the perspective of the other, and address the physiology behind sigmoidal curves.

Decision Support for the Capacity Management of Bronchoscopy Devices: Optimizing the Cost-Efficient Mix of Reusable and Single-Use Devices Through Mathematical Modeling.

BACKGROUND: Increasing costs of material resources challenge hospitals to stay profitable. Particularly in anesthesia departments and intensive care units, bronchoscopes are used for various indications. Inefficient management of single- and multiple-use systems can influence the hospitals' material costs substantially. Using mathematical modeling, we developed a strategic decision support tool to determine the optimum mix of disposable and reusable bronchoscopy devices in the setting of an intensive care unit. METHODS: A mathematical model with the objective to minimize costs in relation to demand constraints for bronchoscopy devices was formulated. The stochastic model decides whether single-use, multi-use, or a strategically chosen mix of both device types should be used. A decision support tool was developed in which parameters for uncertain demand such as mean, standard deviation, and a reliability parameter can be inserted. Furthermore, reprocessing costs per procedure, procurement, and maintenance costs for devices can be parameterized. RESULTS: Our experiments show for which demand pattern and reliability measure, it is efficient to only use reusable or disposable devices and under which circumstances the combination of both device types is beneficial. CONCLUSIONS: To determine the optimum mix of single-use and reusable bronchoscopy devices effectively and efficiently, managers can enter their hospital-specific parameters such as demand and prices into the decision support tool.The software can be downloaded at: https://github.com/drdanielgartner/bronchomix/.

Insight into the Narrow Structure in η Photoproduction on the Neutron from Helicity-Dependent Cross Sections.

The double polarization observable E and the helicity dependent cross sections σ_{1/2} and σ_{3/2} were measured for η photoproduction from quasifree protons and neutrons. The circularly polarized tagged photon beam of the A2 experiment at the Mainz MAMI accelerator was used in combination with a longitudinally polarized deuterated butanol target. The almost 4π detector setup of the Crystal Ball and TAPS is ideally suited to detect the recoil nucleons and the decay photons from η→2γ and η→3π^{0}. The results show that the narrow structure previously observed in η photoproduction from the neutron is only apparent in σ_{1/2} and hence, most likely related to a spin-1/2 amplitude. Nucleon resonances that contribute to this partial wave in η production are only N 1/2^{-} (S_{11}) and N 1/2^{+} (P_{11}). Furthermore, the extracted Legendre coefficients of the angular distributions for σ_{1/2} are in good agreement with recent reaction model predictions assuming a narrow resonance in the P_{11} wave as the origin of this structure.

Related strains of African swine fever virus with different virulence: genome comparison and analysis.

Two strains of African swine fever virus (ASFV), the high-virulence Lisboa60 (L60) and the low-virulence NH/P68 (NHV), which have previously been used in effective immunization/protection studies, were sequenced. Both were isolated in Portugal during the 11-year period after the introduction of ASFV to the European Continent in 1957. The predicted proteins coded by both strains were compared, and where differences were found these were also compared to other strains of known virulence. This highlighted several genes with significant alterations in low-virulence strains of ASFV that may constitute virulence factors, several of which are still uncharacterized regarding their function. Phylogenetic analysis grouped L60 and NHV closest to other P72 genotype I ASFV strains from Europe and West Africa, consistent with the assumed West African origin of all European strains. Interestingly, a relatively lower genomic identity exists between L60 and NHV, both isolated in a similar geographical location 8 years apart, than with other European and west African strains isolated subsequently and in more distant locations. This may reflect the intensive passage in tissue culture, during the early 1960s, of a Portuguese isolate to obtain an attenuated vaccine, which may have led to NHV. This study contributes to a better understanding of the evolution of ASFV, and defines additional potential virulence genes for future studies of pathogenesis towards the development of effective vaccines.

Electrical transport properties of Ge-doped GaN nanowires.

The conductivity and charge carrier concentration of single GaN nanowires (NWs) doped with different concentrations of Ge were determined by four-point resistivity and temperature-dependent Seebeck coefficient measurements. We observed high carrier concentrations ranging from 9.1 × 10(18) to 5.5 × 10(19) cm(-3), well above the Mott density of 1.6 × 10(18) cm(-3), and conductivities up to 625 S cm(-1) almost independent of the NW diameter. The weak temperature dependence of the conductivity between 2 and 10 K could be assigned to the formation of an impurity band. For the sample with the highest conductivity metallic behaviour was found, indicated by a positive temperature coefficient of the resistivity. The near band edge emission analyzed by micro-photoluminescence spectroscopy showed only a small increase of the peak width up to 70 meV and no spectral shift for carrier concentrations up to 5.5 × 10(19) cm(-3). The latter was attributed to the simultaneous influence of band filling, band gap renormalization, and strain.

Cause and effect oriented sewer degradation evaluation to support scheduled inspection planning.

Managing the subsurface urban infrastructure, while facing limited budgets, is one of the main challenges wastewater utilities currently face. In this context targeted planning of inspection and maintenance measures plays a crucial role. This paper introduces a cause and effect oriented sewer degradation evaluation approach to support decisions on inspection frequencies and priorities. Therefore, the application of logistic regression models, to predict the probability of failure categories as an alternative to the prediction of sewer condition classes, was introduced. We assume that analysing the negative effects resulting from different failure categories in extension to a condition class-based planning approach offers new possibilities for targeted inspection planning. In addition, a cross validation process was described to allow for a more accurate prediction of sewer degradation. The described approach was applied to an Austrian sewer system. The results show that the failure category-based regression models perform better than the conventional condition class-oriented models. The results of the failure category predictions are presented with respect to negative effects the failure may have on the hydraulic performance of the system. Finally, suggestions are given for how this performance-oriented sewer section evaluation can support scheduled inspection planning.

Three viruses of the bovine respiratory disease complex apply different strategies to initiate infection.

Bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is the major cause of serious respiratory tract infections in calves. The disease is multifactorial, with either stress or reduced immunity allowing several pathogens to emerge. We investigated the susceptibility of bovine airway epithelial cells (BAEC) to infection by the three major viruses associated with the BRDC: bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) and bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3). For this purpose, two culture systems for well-differentiated BAEC were used: the air-liquid interface (ALI) system, where filter-grown BAEC differentiate into a pseudostratified respiratory epithelium and precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) where BAEC are maintained in the original tissue organisation. Comparative infection studies demonstrated that entry and release of BPIV3 occurred specifically via the apical membrane with ciliated cells being the major target cells. By contrast, airway epithelial cells were largely resistant to infection by BHV-1. When the epithelial barrier was abolished by opening tight junctions or by injuring the cell monolayer, BHV-1 infected mainly basal cells. Respiratory epithelial cells were also refractory to infection by BRSV. However, this virus infected neither differentiated epithelial cells nor basal cells when the integrity of the epithelial barrier was destroyed. In contrast to cells of the airway epithelium, subepithelial cells were susceptible to infection by BRSV. Altogether, these results indicate that the three viruses of the same disease complex follow different strategies to interact with the airway epithelium. Possible entry mechanisms are discussed.

A novel bromodeoxyuridine-resistant wild boar lung cell line facilitates generation of African swine fever virus recombinants.

Manipulation of African swine fever virus (ASFV) genomes, in particular those from field strains, is still a challenge. We have shown recently that generation of a green-fluorescent-protein-expressing, thymidine-kinase-negative (TK-) mutant of the low-pathogenic African swine fever virus field strain NHV was supported by a TK- Vero cell line. Since NHV, like other ASFV field strains, does not replicate well in Vero cells, a bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)- resistant cell line derived from wild boar lung (WSL) cells, named WSL-Bu, was selected. WSL cells were used because they are suitable for productive replication of NHV and other ASFV field strains. Here, we show that WSL-Bu cells enable positive selection of both TK- and TK+ ASFV recombinants, which allows for novel strategies for construction of ASFV mutants. We further demonstrate for a low-pathogenic ASFV strain that TK expression is required for infectious replication in macrophages infected at low multiplicity and that vaccinia TK fully complements ASFV TK in this respect.

Continuous magnetic resonance perfusion imaging acquisition during systemic thrombolysis in acute stroke.

BACKGROUND: Early recanalization and increase in collateral blood supply are powerful predictors of favourable outcome in acute ischaemic stroke. The factors contributing to the heterogeneous response to intravenous thrombolysis therapy in individual patients, however, are not fully understood. The on-going single-centre 'MR perfusion imaging during thrombolysis' study uses repetitive arterial spin labelling (ASL) measurements to characterize the haemodynamic processes in acute stroke during therapy. The first milestone was to develop an appropriate infrastructure for thrombolysis in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner without time delay and ensuring optimal patient safety and care. METHODS: Between February and December 2011, 16 patients with acute neurological symptoms suggestive of hemispheric stroke within 4.5 h after symptom onset were included. In addition to clinical data, we documented the time from onset to arrival at the hospital, start and duration of MRI examination, start of thrombolytic therapy, and complications. The decision to thrombolyse was made after a routine stroke MRI protocol. During the 60-min systemic thrombolysis, repetitive ASL perfusion imaging was acquired, providing non-invasive information on cerebral perfusion. Continuous ECG monitoring, pulse oximetry, blood pressure measurements every 5 min, and short neurological assessments every 15 min were performed in every patient. RESULTS: The median initial NIHSS score of the patients presenting with a mean of 84 min after onset was 4 (range 2-18). MRI examination was initiated within a mean of 45 min after arrival at the hospital. Five patients identified as stroke mimics were not treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), and in 1 case with basilar artery occlusion bridging therapy was performed outside the scanner. In the remaining 10 patients, rt-PA therapy was started in the scanner directly after decision making on the basis of clinical information and baseline MRI. The mean door-to-needle time was 60 min (range 44-115) including approximately 10 min needed for acquiring informed consent. While 4 patients required antihypertensive treatment, no relevant complications were encountered. CONCLUSIONS: Fast and safe medical care in patients during systemic thrombolysis in the MRI scanner is feasible. Despite the process of obtaining informed consent, with a dedicated and experienced stroke team the door-to-needle time can be kept in a range recommended by current guidelines. Continuous real-time information about the dynamics of cerebral perfusion from ASL perfusion in acute stroke patients undergoing thrombolysis may provide additional information for the understanding of the events following acute arterial obstruction and its course.

Virus species polemics: 14 senior virologists oppose a proposed change to the ICTV definition of virus species.

The Executive Committee of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) has recently decided to modify the current definition of virus species (Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature Rule 3.21) and will soon ask the full ICTV membership (189 voting members) to ratify the proposed controversial change. In this discussion paper, 14 senior virologists, including six Life members of the ICTV, compare the present and proposed new definition and recommend that the existing definition of virus species should be retained. Since the pros and cons of the proposal posted on the ICTV website are not widely consulted, the arguments are summarized here in order to reach a wider audience.

Reports of deaths are an exaggeration: all-cause and NAA-test-conditional mortality in Germany during the SARS-CoV-2 era.

Counts of SARS-CoV-2-related deaths have been key numbers for justifying severe political, social and economical measures imposed by authorities world-wide. A particular focus thereby was the concomitant excess mortality (EM), i.e. fatalities above the expected all-cause mortality (AM). Recent studies, inter alia by the WHO, estimated the SARS-CoV-2-related EM in Germany between 2020 and 2021 as high as 200 000. In this study, we attempt to scrutinize these numbers by putting them into the context of German AM since the year 2000. We propose two straightforward, age-cohort-dependent models to estimate German AM for the 'Corona pandemic' years, as well as the corresponding flu seasons, out of historic data. For Germany, we find overall negative EM of about -18 500 persons for the year 2020, and a minor positive EM of about 7000 for 2021, unveiling that officially reported EM counts are an exaggeration. In 2022, the EM count is about 41 200. Further, based on NAA-test-positive related death counts, we are able to estimate how many Germans have died due to rather than with CoViD-19; an analysis not provided by the appropriate authority, the RKI. Through 2020 and 2021 combined, our due estimate is at no more than 59 500. Varying NAA test strategies heavily obscured SARS-CoV-2-related EM, particularly within the second year of the proclaimed pandemic. We compensated changes in test strategies by assuming that age-cohort-specific NAA-conditional mortality rates during the first pandemic year reflected SARS-CoV-2-characteristic constants.

Differentiating multi-MeV, multi-ion spectra with CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors.

The development of high intensity petawatt lasers has created new possibilities for ion acceleration and nuclear fusion using solid targets. In such laser-matter interaction, multiple ion species are accelerated with broad spectra up to hundreds of MeV. To measure ion yields and for species identification, CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors are frequently used. However, these detectors are limited in their applicability for multi-ion spectra differentiation as standard image recognition algorithms can lead to a misinterpretation of data, there is no unique relation between track diameter and particle energy, and there are overlapping pit diameter relationships for multiple particle species. In this report, we address these issues by first developing an algorithm to overcome user bias during image processing. Second, we use calibration of the detector response for protons, carbon and helium ions (alpha particles) from 0.1 to above 10 MeV and measurements of statistical energy loss fluctuations in a forward-fitting procedure utilizing multiple, differently filtered CR-39, altogether enabling high-sensitivity, multi-species particle spectroscopy. To validate this capability, we show that inferred CR-39 spectra match Thomson parabola ion spectrometer data from the same experiment. Filtered CR-39 spectrometers were used to detect, within a background of ~ 2 × 1011 sr-1 J-1 protons and carbons, (1.3 ± 0.7) × 108 sr-1 J-1 alpha particles from laser-driven proton-boron fusion reactions.