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.

#ReadyToplay: hamstring injuries in women's football - a two-season prospective cohort study in the Norwegian women's premier league.

In this two-season prospective cohort study (2020-2021), we aimed to describe the characteristics, clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of hamstring injuries in the Norwegian women's premier league. Hamstring injuries were examined by team physiotherapists using a standardised clinical examination and injury form. Injury location and severity (modified Peetrons classification) were graded based on MRI by two independent radiologists. Fifty-three hamstring injuries were clinically examined, 31 of these with MRI. Hamstring injuries caused 8 days (median) lost from football (interquartile range: 3-15 days, range: 0-188 days), most were non-contact and occurred during sprinting. Gradual-onset (53%) and sudden-onset injuries (47%) were evenly distributed. The injuries examined with MRI were classified as grade 0 (52%), grade 1 (16%) or grade 2 (29%). One proximal tendinopathy case was not graded. Grade 2 injuries caused more time loss than grade 0 (19 ± 8 vs. 7 ± 7 days, p = 0.002). Of injuries with MRI changes, 60% were in the m. biceps femoris, mainly the muscle-tendon junction, and 40% in the m. semimembranosus, most in the proximal tendon. Compared to previous findings from men's football, a higher proportion of hamstring injuries in women's football had a gradual onset and involved the m. semimembranosus, particularly its proximal tendon.

Behavioural digital biomarkers enable real-time monitoring of patient-reported outcomes: a substudy of the multicenter, prospective observational SafeHeart study.

INTRODUCTION: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) serve multiple purposes, including shared decision-making and patient communication, treatment monitoring and health-technology assessment. Patient monitoring using PROMs is constrained by recall and non-response bias, respondent burden and missing data. We evaluated the potential of behavioural digital biomarkers obtained from a wearable accelerometer to achieve personalised predictions of PROMs. METHODS: Data from the multicenter, prospective SafeHeart study conducted at Amsterdam University Medical Center in the Netherlands and Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark, was used. The study enrolled patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) between May 2021 and September 2022 who then wore wearable devices with raw acceleration output to capture digital biomarkers reflecting physical behaviour. To collect PROMs, patients received the KCCQ and EQ5D-5 L questionnaire at two instances; baseline and after 6 months. Multivariable Tobit regression models were used to explore associations between digital biomarkers and PROMs, specifically whether digital biomarkers could enable PROM prediction. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 303 patients (mean age 62.9 ± 10.9 years, 81.2% male). Digital biomarkers showed significant correlations to patient-reported physical and social limitations, severity and frequency of symptoms and quality of life. Prospective validation of the Tobit models indicated moderate correlations between the observed and predicted scores for KCCQ (concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) = 0.49, mean difference: 1.07 points) and EQ5D-5 L (CCC = 0.38, mean difference 0.02 points). CONCLUSION: Wearable digital biomarkers correlate with PROMs, and may be leveraged for real-time prediction. These findings hold promise for monitoring of PROMs through wearable accelerometers.

[Tinnitus following treatment with ultrasonic scaler]. / Tinnitus na behandeling met ultrasone scaler.

A 51-year-old woman was referred to a periodontology practice for treatment of advanced generalized periodontitis stage IV, grade C. When the dental hygienist treated the distal surface of tooth 17 with the ultrasonic scaler, the patient indicated she heard a painful, high tone. The dental hygienist immediately stopped the treatment. At a subsequent attempt to treat the same distal surface, the patient heard a painful, high tone again. After two weeks, the high tone had not disappeared. The patient was referred to an ENT specialist. He confirmed the diagnosis: tinnitus in the right ear. Pharmacological treatment with prednisone did not produce a positive result. Ultrasonic treatment of periodontitis is generally considered safe. However, in exceptional cases, sudden deafness and/or tinnitus can occur. In the event of such complaints, it is recommended not to wait, but to refer the patient to an ENT specialist immediately.

Improved separation and quantification method for microplastic analysis in sediment: A fine-grained matrix from Arctic Greenland.

Microplastic analysis requires effective separation and purification methods, which greatly depend on the matrix and target particle size. Microplastics-sediment extraction usually involves intermediate steps, increasing processing time and particle loss, particularly for particles <100 µm. Here, we propose an improved separation and quantification method for fine-grained sediment that minimizes microplastic loss by reducing intermediate steps. First, the sample is treated with CH3COOH, KOH and NaClO, and only transferred for the density separation (ZnCl2). The extraction efficiency, visually evaluated on spiked samples, was higher than 90% for particles >100 µm and 83% for 63-75 µm particles. This indicates that a sequential extraction method reduces the risk of particle loss, particularly of the small size fraction. Comparatively, the extraction of ABS particles (20-100 µm) was low (30%) but the recovery, assessed via µFTIR, was higher (55%). Additionally, the proposed method can be adapted to other sediment types and environmental matrices.

Psychosocial aspects and perspectives of adult-onset type 1 diabetes: A systematic scoping review.

AIM: To map existing research on psychosocial aspects of adult-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D), including psychosocial health status, ways psychosocial aspects may affect management of T1D in everyday life, and interventions targeting management of adult-onset T1D. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycInfo. Search results were screened with predefined eligibility criteria, followed by data extraction of the included studies. Charted data were summarized in narrative and tabular form. RESULTS: We included 10 reports describing nine studies from the 7302 identified in the search. All studies were conducted in Europe. Participant characteristics were missing in several studies. Five of the nine studies incorporated psychosocial aspects as the main aim of the study. Limited information on psychosocial aspects was available in the remaining studies. We identified three overarching themes related to psychosocial aspects: (1) the impact of the diagnosis on everyday life, (2) the influence of psychosocial health on metabolic levels and adaptation, and (3) provision of self-management support. CONCLUSIONS: Research focussing on psychosocial aspects of the adult-onset population is scarce. Future research should involve participants across the adult life age span and from a wider geographical area. Sociodemographic information should be collected to explore different perspectives. Further exploration of suitable outcome measures considering adults' limited experience of living with the condition is needed. This would help to better understand how psychosocial aspects may affect management of T1D in everyday life and thus enable healthcare professionals to provide appropriate support to adults with new-onset T1D.

Cell size and actin architecture determine force generation in optogenetically activated cells.

Adherent cells use actomyosin contractility to generate mechanical force and to sense the physical properties of their environment, with dramatic consequences for migration, division, differentiation, and fate. However, the organization of the actomyosin system within cells is highly variable, with its assembly and function being controlled by small GTPases from the Rho family. To understand better how activation of these regulators translates into cell-scale force generation in the context of different physical environments, here we combine recent advances in non-neuronal optogenetics with micropatterning and traction force microscopy on soft elastic substrates. We find that, after whole-cell RhoA activation by the CRY2/CIBN optogenetic system with a short pulse of 100 ms, single cells contract on a minute timescale in proportion to their original traction force, before returning to their original tension setpoint with near perfect precision, on a longer timescale of several minutes. To decouple the biochemical and mechanical elements of this response, we introduce a mathematical model that is parametrized by fits to the dynamics of the substrate deformation energy. We find that the RhoA response builds up quickly on a timescale of 20 s, but decays slowly on a timescale of 50 s. The larger the cells and the more polarized their actin cytoskeleton, the more substrate deformation energy is generated. RhoA activation starts to saturate if optogenetic pulse length exceeds 50 ms, revealing the intrinsic limits of biochemical activation. Together our results suggest that adherent cells establish tensional homeostasis by the RhoA system, but that the setpoint and the dynamics around it are strongly determined by cell size and the architecture of the actin cytoskeleton, which both are controlled by the extracellular environment.

Imagined eating - An investigation of priming and sensory-specific satiety.

While obesity remains a pressing issue, the wider population continues to be exposed to more digital food content than ever before. Much research has demonstrated the priming effect of visual food content, i.e., exposure to food cues increasing appetite and food intake. In contrast, some recent research points out that repeated imagined consumption can facilitate satiate and decrease food intake. Such findings have been suggested as potential remedies to excessive food cue exposure. However, the practically limitless variety of digital food content available today may undermine satiation attempts. The present work aims to replicate and extend prior findings by introducing a within-subjects baseline comparison, disentangling general and (sensory-) specific eating desires, as well as considering the moderating influence of visual and flavour stimulus variety. Three online studies (n = 1149 total) manipulated food colour and flavour variety and reproducibly revealed a non-linear dose-response pattern of imagined eating: 3 repetitions primed, while 30 repetitions satiated. Priming appeared to be specific to the taste of the exposed stimulus, and satiation, contrary to prior literature, appeared to be more general. Neither colour nor flavour variety reliably moderated any of the responses. Therefore, the results suggest that a more pronounced variety may be required to alter imagery-induced satiation.

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.

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 [Formula: see text] 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.

Rapid flocculation and settling of positively buoyant microplastic and fine-grained sediment in natural seawater.

Interactions between microplastic (MP) and fine-grained suspended sediment in natural waters are important for the environmental fate of plastic particles. Estuaries are transitional areas between freshwater and open marine systems and are recognized as important accumulation zones for MPs. However, there is a knowledge gap on the processes driving the sedimentation of MPs in estuaries, especially with regard to positively buoyant MPs. Here we show from settling tube experiments that positively buoyant and non-spherical MP HDPE particles in different size-fractions (63-500 µm) and concentrations (1 and 5 mg l-1) rapidly flocculate and settle with natural fine-grained sediment in natural seawater. Our results demonstrate that flocculation is a key process for the vertical transport of MP in estuaries. The implication is that land-based sources of positively buoyant HDPE MP transported by rivers will likely settle and accumulate in estuarine environments and thereby increase the concentration of MP in the benthic zone.

Deposition and in-situ translocation of microplastics in floodplain soils.

The microplastic (MP) contamination of oceans, freshwaters, and soils has become one of the major challenges within the Anthropocene. MP is transported in large quantities through river systems from land to sea and is deposited in river sediments and floodplains. As part of the river system, floodplains and their soils are known for their sink function with respect to sediments, nutrients, and pollutants. However, the questions remain: To what extend does this deposition occur in floodplain soils? Which spatial distribution of MP accumulations, resulting from possible environmental drivers, can be found? The present study analyzes the spatial distribution of large (L-MP, 2000-1000 µm) and medium (M-MP, 1000-500 µm) MP particles in floodplain soils of the Lahn River (Germany). Based on a geospatial sampling concept, the MP contents in floodplain soils are investigated down to a depth of 2 m through a combined method approach, including MP analyses, soil surveys, properties, and sediment dating. The analysis of the plastic particles was carried out by density separation, visual fluorescence identification, and ATR-FTIR analysis. In addition, grain-size analyses and 210Pb and 137Cs dating were performed to reconstruct the MP deposition conditions. The results prove a more frequent accumulation of MP in upper floodplain soils (0-50 cm) deposited by flood dynamics since the 1960s than in subsoils. The first MP detection to a depth of 2 m and below recent (>1960) sediment accumulation indicates in-situ vertical transfer of mobile MP particles through natural processes (e.g., preferential flow, bioturbation). Furthermore, the role of MP as a potential marker of the Anthropocene is assessed. This study advances our understanding of the deposition and relocation of MP at the aquatic-terrestrial interface.

Implementation of Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA): Patient characteristics and staff experiences.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to describe the implementation of Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) by characteristics of patients receiving NAVA and by staff-experienced opportunities and barriers. METHODS: Design. A retrospective review of hospital records of mechanically ventilated patients over two time periods after implementation, as well as a questionnaire survey and interviews with staff. SETTING: A secondary Danish ICU. PARTICIPANTS: ICU patients, nurses, and intensivists. INTERVENTION: Implementation of NAVA, which included theoretical education, bedside training, and frequent updates. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Evaluation of NAVA implementation measured by characteristics of patients receiving NAVA and staff experiences with NAVA. RESULTS: A total of 311 patients were included. Hereof 43 (27%) and 68 (44%) patients, respectively, had recieved NAVA. The patients receiving NAVA had higher severity scores and more hours on ventilators. A total of 35 nurses (76%) and 16 physicians (64%) completed the questionnaire. Most clinicians found, to a high (43%) or very high (41%) degree, that NAVA was an effective therapy option. Furthermore, 77% did not experience any barriers regarding NAVA therapy. The main advantages experienced with NAVA were increased patient comfort, respiratory synchrony with the ventilator, and improved opportunities for monitoring patient respiratory performance. The main disadvantage was the need for additional theoretical and practical knowledge. CONCLUSION: Despite staff experience of NAVA as a beneficial treatment option, more than half of the patients did not receive NAVA treatment two years after the start of its implementation. Implementation of a therapy which is substantially different to earlier practices is complicated.

Modeling-based bone formation transforms trabeculae to cortical bone in the sclerotic areas in Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome. A case study of two females with LEMD3 variants.

Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant condition caused by pathogenic variants in LEMD3 and characterized by connective tissue nevi and sclerotic bone abnormalities known as osteopoikilosis. The bone phenotype in Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome including osteopoikilosis remains unclear. We investigated bone turnover markers, pelvis and crura X-rays; lumbar spine and femoral neck DXA; bone activity by NaF-PET/CT, bone structure by µCT and dynamic histomorphometry in adults with Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome. Two women aged 25 and 47 years with a BMI of 30 and 32 kg/m2, respectively, were included in the investigation. Bone turnover markers were within normal range. aBMD Z-scores were comparable to that of controls in the lumbar spine and increased at the hip. Radiographies exposed spotted areas in crura and pelvis, and NaF-PET/CT exposed abnormal pattern of irregular shaped NaF uptake in the entire skeleton. In both biopsies, µCT showed trabecular structure comparable to that of controls with stellate shaped sclerotic noduli within the cavity and on the endocortex. Histomorphometric analyses of the sclerotic lesions revealed compact lamellar bone with a normal bone remodeling rate, but partly replaced by modeling-based bone formation. Woven bone was not observed in the nodules. Therefore, while bone turnover and BMD were largely within normal reference range in patients with the Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome, osteosclerotic lesions appear to emerge due to modeling-based bone formation with secondary bone remodeling. These observations indicate that LEMD3 may be important for the activation of bone lining cells leading to modeling-based bone formation.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase SMURF1 regulates cell-fate specification and outflow tract septation during mammalian heart development.

Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor 1 (SMURF1) is a HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligase that plays a critical role in vertebrate development by regulating planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling and convergent extension (CE). Here we show that SMURF1 is involved in mammalian heart development. We find that SMURF1 is highly expressed in outflow tract cushion mesenchyme and Smurf1-/- mouse embryos show delayed outflow tract septation. SMURF1 is expressed in smooth muscle cells of the coronary arteries and great vessels. Thickness of the aortic smooth muscle cell layer is reduced in Smurf1-/- mouse embryos. We show that SMURF1 is a negative regulator of cardiomyogenesis and a positive regulator of smooth muscle cell and cardiac fibroblast differentiation, indicating that SMURF1 is important for cell-type specification during heart development. Finally, we provide evidence that SMURF1 localizes at the primary cilium where it may regulate bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, which controls the initial phase of cardiomyocyte differentiation. In summary, our results demonstrate that SMURF1 is a critical regulator of outflow tract septation and cell-type specification during heart development, and that these effects may in part be mediated via control of cilium-associated BMP signaling.

Immune tolerance induction: What have we learned over time?

Development of inhibitory antibodies to infused factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates continues to be the most serious complication of haemophilia A management. Induction of immune tolerance by administering high doses of FVIII concentrate (antigen) and prothrombin complex concentrates to control bleeding was originated in the 1970s in Bonn, Germany, by Dr Hans-Hermann Brackmann, and became known as the Bonn protocol. ITI transformed the life of the index patient, who was 19 years of age when he began treatment, and dramatically improved the medical landscape for all patients with haemophilia and inhibitors. Over the past 40 years, variations to the Bonn protocol have been proposed. All protocols are effective although some are better suited than others for use in certain situations. The specific molecular defect in FVIII and the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) type of an individual with haemophilia are major codependent determinants to inhibitor development. Given the range of potential molecular defects and the staggering number of potential HLA types, it is likely that treatment arms of randomized studies in haemophilia represent highly diverse populations, which reduces the power of a study to demonstrate differences between treatments. Although available clinical guidelines and consensus recommendations for ITI therapy are not always in complete agreement, collectively the guidelines provide a reasonable level of guidance for administering ITI therapy under different clinical scenarios. Several studies of ITI therapy are ongoing with the aim of clarifying unresolved issues in haemophilia management including the role of von Willebrand factor in inhibitor eradication.

Reciprocal associations of pain and post-traumatic stress symptoms after whiplash injury: A longitudinal, cross-lagged study.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of the current study were to investigate (1) the longitudinal, reciprocal associations between pain and post-traumatic stress symptoms as proposed by the mutual maintenance model, and (2)  to assess the predictive value of the three clusters of post-traumatic stress, where the model revealed that post-traumatic stress symptoms maintained pain in a consecutive cohort of whiplash-injured. METHODS: Participants (n = 253; 66.4% women) were people with WAD grades I-III following motor vehicle crashes in Australia. Pain and post-traumatic stress symptoms were assessed by questionnaires over the course of a year (at baseline (<4 weeks), 3, 6 and 12 months post-injury). The objectives were tested using auto-regressive cross-lagged modelling and two additional structural equation models. RESULTS: The analyses revealed that post-traumatic stress symptoms at baseline predicted an increase in pain between baseline and 3 months and that post-traumatic stress symptoms at 6 months predicted an increase in pain between 6 and 12 months, beyond the stability of pain over time. Furthermore, hyperarousal at baseline significantly predicted pain at 3 months and hyperarousal at 6 months significantly predicted pain at 12 months with 16 and 23% explained variance, respectively. [Correction added on 2 March 2018 after first online publication: the explained variance for hyperarousal symptoms at 6 months was previously given incorrectly and has been corrected to 23% in this version.] CONCLUSIONS: The results point to a temporal main effect of post-traumatic stress symptoms on pain over and above the stability of pain itself within the first 3 months post-injury and again in the chronic phase from 6 to 12 months with hyperarousal symptoms driving these effects. From 3 to 6 months, there was a slip in the maintenance patterns with no cross-lagged effects. SIGNIFICANCE: Investigating mutual maintenance of pain and PTSS in whiplash, the present study found evidence suggesting a maintaining effect of PTSS on pain within the first 3 months post-injury and from 6 to 12 months driven by hyperarousal, highlighting the importance of addressing PTSS.