We report a B-mode power spectrum measurement from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization anisotropy observations made using the SPTpol instrument on the South Pole Telescope. This work ...uses 500 deg2 of SPTpol data, a five-fold increase over the last SPTpol B-mode release. As a result, the bandpower uncertainties have been reduced by more than a factor of two, and the measurement extends to lower multipoles: 52 < ℓ < 2301 . Data from both 95 and 150 GHz are used, allowing for three cross-spectra: 95 GHz × 95 GHz , 95 GHz × 150 GHz , and 150 GHz × 150 GHz . B -mode power is detected at very high significance; we find P ( B B < 0 ) = 5.8 × 10−71, corresponding to a 18.1σ detection of power. With a prior on the galactic dust from Planck, WMAP and BICEP2/Keck observations, the SPTpol B-mode data can be used to set an upper limit on the tensor-to-scalar ratio, r < 0.44 at 95% confidence (the expected 1σ constraint on r given the measurement uncertainties is 0.22). We find the measured B-mode power is consistent with the Planck best-fit Λ CDM model predictions. Scaling the predicted lensing B-mode power in this model by a factor Alens, the data prefer Alens = 1.17 ± 0.13 . These data are currently the most precise measurements of B-mode power at ℓ > 320.
Determining functional recovery in adult patients with traumatic pan-brachial plexus injury (pBPI) is hampered by the fact that most outcome measures are collected in the clinical setting and may not ...reflect arm use in the real world. This study's objectives were to demonstrate the feasibility of using wearable motion sensor technology to quantify spontaneous arm movement in adult patients with pBPI after surgical reconstruction and report the time and intensity with which the affected arm was used.
Twenty-nine patients with pBPI who underwent surgical reconstruction at least 2 years prior were included in this study. Study participants wore an accelerometer on bilateral arms for 7 days. The vector time (VT) and magnitude with which each arm moved were collected and divided by the same values collected from the uninjured arm to generate a ratio (VT and vector magnitude VM, respectively) to quantify differences between the arms. Correlations between VT, VM, and patient demographic and physician-elicited clinical measures were calculated. Patients were enrolled at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Taiwan, and data analysis was performed at the University of Michigan.
Twelve patients had pan-avulsion injuries, and 17 patients had C5 rupture with C6-T1 avulsion injuries. All underwent nerve reconstruction with contralateral C7 or ipsilateral C5 nerve roots as donors. At mean 7.3 years after surgery, the mean VT ratio was 0.54 ± 0.13 and the mean VM ratio was 0.30 ± 0.13. Both VT and VM ratios were significantly correlated with patient employment and movements at the elbow and forearm.
Wearable motion detection technology can capture spontaneous, real-world movements of the arm in patients who have undergone surgical reconstruction for pBPI. Despite severe injuries, these patients are able to use their affected arm 50% of the time and with 30% of the intensity of their unaffected arm, which is positively correlated with return to work after injury. These data support the use of surgical reconstruction for pBPI.
Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films were deposited on soda lime glass substrates by pulsed laser deposition at various deposition temperatures. Without experiencing the sulfurization process, the single phase ...Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film was deposited with no secondary phases. The grain size increased with increasing deposition temperature. The grain size at the highest temperature was approximately double than that at the lowest temperature. All Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films had a Cu-rich and S-poor state and there was a compositional change at high deposition temperature. Secondary ion mass spectrometry showed that Na ions from soda lime glass diffuse into the Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film. These Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films deposited at 300°C exhibited good crystallinity, large particle size and ideal energy band gap (Eg=1.52eV), which meets the critical requirements for the thin film solar cell performance.
•Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition.•Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films have single structure without sulfurization process.•Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films deposited at 300°C exhibited energy band gap (Eg=1.52eV)
Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) are suggested as a vital strategy to address antimicrobial resistance.
To examine the current status of ASPs in Korean hospitals, to identify problems and ...challenges for the implementation of proper ASPs, and to provide a reference for developing more effective ASP policies.
A questionnaire based on the ‘Seven Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs’ from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was developed, modified from the previous questionnaire on ASPs in Korea, 2015. ASP-participating physicians such as infectious disease specialists (IDSs), paediatric IDSs, and directors of infection control departments were targeted. Only one ASP-associated physician per hospital participated in the survey.
The survey response rate was 88.4% (84/95). The median number of medical personnel participating in ASPs was 3 (interquartile range (IQR): 1–5), most of whom were IDS (median: 2; IQR: 1–2). Only 6.0% (5/84) of hospitals had full-time workers for ASPs. Whereas restrictive measures for designated antimicrobials were widely implemented among Korean hospitals (88.1%, 74/84), the proportion of hospitals with interventions for inappropriate long-term antimicrobial use and a conversion strategy from parenteral to oral antimicrobial administration was only 9.5% (8/84) and 1.2% (1/84), respectively. Lack of time, personnel, and appropriate compensation was perceived as the major barrier to establishing an ASP in Korean hospitals.
ASPs in Korean hospitals were primarily carried out by one or two IDSs, and programmes mostly comprised restrictive measures for designated antimicrobials. National-level support to implement appropriate ASPs in Korean hospitals is necessary.
Summary
Tongue function can affect both the oral and pharyngeal stages of the swallowing process, and proper tongue strength is vital for safe oropharyngeal swallowing. This trial investigated the ...effect of tongue‐to‐palate resistance training (TPRT) on tongue strength and oropharyngeal swallowing function in stroke with dysphagia patients. This trial was performed using a 4‐week, two‐group, pre–post‐design. Participants were allocated to the experimental group (n = 18) or the control group (n = 17). The experimental group performed TPRT for 4 weeks (5 days per week) and traditional dysphagia therapy, whereas the control group performed traditional dysphagia therapy on the same schedule. Tongue strength was measured using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument. Swallowing function was measured using the videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS) and penetration–aspiration scale (PAS) based on a videofluoroscopic swallowing study. Experimental group showed more improved in the tongue strength (both anterior and posterior regions, P = 0·009, 0·015). In addition, the experimental group showed more improved scores on the oral and pharyngeal phase of VDS (P = 0·029, 0·007), but not on the PAS (P = 0·471), compared with the control group. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of TPRT in increasing tongue muscle strength and improving swallowing function in patients with post‐stroke dysphagia. Therefore, we recommend TPRT as an easy and simple rehabilitation strategy for improving swallowing in patients with dysphagia.
Epitaxial oxide interfaces with broken translational symmetry have emerged as a central paradigm behind the novel behaviors of oxide superlattices. Here, we use scanning transmission electron ...microscopy to demonstrate a direct, quantitative unit-cell-by-unit-cell mapping of lattice parameters and oxygen octahedral rotations across the BiFeO3-La0.7 Sr0.3 MnO3 interface to elucidate how the change of crystal symmetry is accommodated. Combined with low-loss electron energy loss spectroscopy imaging, we demonstrate a mesoscopic antiferrodistortive phase transition near the interface in BiFeO3 and elucidate associated changes in electronic properties in a thin layer directly adjacent to the interface.
A cardiogenic embolus could reach the posterior circulation through the right vertebral artery because of a relatively larger diameter in cases of left vertebral artery hypoplasia. Hence, we ...investigated whether left vertebral artery hypoplasia is associated with cardiac embolisms with atrial fibrillation in the posterior circulation and its functional outcomes.
In this monocentric retrospective study, patients with acute cardioembolic stroke with atrial fibrillation were enrolled and underwent CT or neck MRA, which visualized the aortic arch and subclavian arteries. The laterality and size of vertebral artery hypoplasia were recorded. Posterior circulation stroke, basilar artery occlusion, and the functional outcomes after 3 months were investigated.
This study included 407 patients; the patients with left vertebral artery hypoplasia experienced a higher rate of posterior circulation stroke (19 versus 73; 42.2% versus 20.2%;
= .001) and basilar artery occlusion (5 versus 10; 11.1% versus 2.8%;
= .005) than the patients without left vertebral artery hypoplasia. Multivariate analysis revealed that left vertebral artery hypoplasia showed an association with lower odds of achieving a good functional outcome 3 months after the stroke (OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.9;
= .027).
Patients with cardioembolic stroke and left vertebral artery hypoplasia had posterior circulation stroke, basilar artery occlusion, and poor functional outcomes after 3 months.
Introduction/Aims
Anatomic representation suggests that a median sensory nerve conduction study recording the thumb (median D1 NCS) may effectively assess upper neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP). ...We sought to determine the feasibility of technique, establish reference data, and assess its ability to: (a) identify focal upper plexus lesions; and (b) identify C6 root avulsion. In a secondary analysis, we explored the association between absence/presence of motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) during needle electromyography (EMG) of the deltoid and biceps brachii muscles and C6 avulsion status.
Methods
A retrospective chart review was performed of surgical patients with severe upper NBPP who ultimately underwent surgical reconstruction (between 2017 and 2020). Median D1 sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude ranges were determined in affected and contralateral limbs and analyzed by C6 root avulsion status. Also, presence/absence of MUAPs during EMG of the deltoid and biceps brachii was compared between C6 avulsion patients and controls.
Results
Thirty‐eight patients were included in our analysis. A median D1 NCS study was readily performed, showing a contralateral limb mean amplitude of 27.42 μV (range, 3.8‐54.7 μV). Most patients had a low ipsilateral median D1 SNAP amplitude, regardless of C6 avulsion status. Detectable MUAPs in either deltoid or biceps brachii on EMG were atypical in C6 root avulsion.
Discussion
The median D1 NCS identifies upper NBPP, but does not distinguish C6 avulsions from post‐ganglionic lesions, likely due to the frequent co‐occurrence of post‐ganglionic axonal disruption. The presence of MUAPs on deltoid/biceps brachii EMG suggests C6 avulsion is unlikely.
See Editorial on pages 3‐5 in this issue.
As a size‐selective molecular sieve, the coordination polymer formed from cobalt and pyridine‐2,4‐dicarboxylic acid (CUK‐1, see figure) shows unprecedented selectivity for O2 and preferential ...selectivity for CO2 over CH4. The present sorption results encourage the development of new adsorbent materials that may find use in the production of high‐purity gas products. This work demonstrates that CUK‐1 can be utilized, for the first time, in the separation of light gases via gas chromatography.
A developed consortium-GR, consisting of
Proteus vulgaris NCIM-2027 (PV) and
Micrococcus glutamicus NCIM-2168 (MG), completely decolorized an azo dye Scarlet R under static anoxic condition with an ...average decolorization rate of 16,666
μg
h
−1; which is much faster than that of the pure cultures (PV, 3571
μg
h
−1; MG, 2500
μg
h
−1). Consortium-GR gave best decolorization performance with nearly complete mineralization of Scarlet R (over 90% TOC and COD reduction) within 3
h, much shorter relative to the individual strains. Induction in the riboflavin reductase and NADH–DCIP reductase was observed in the consortium, suggesting the involvement of these enzymes during the fast decolorization process. The FTIR and GC–MS analysis showed that 1,4-benzenediamine was formed during decolorization/degradation of Scarlet R by consortium-GR. Phytotoxicity studies revealed no toxicity of the biodegraded products of Scarlet R by consortium-GR. In addition, consortium-GR applied for mixture of industrial dyes showed 88% decolorization under static condition with significant reduction in TOC (62%) and COD (68%) within 72
h, suggesting potential application of this microbial consortium in bioremediation of dye-containing wastewater.
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