With the aim of gathering temporal trends on bacterial epidemiology and resistance from multiple laboratories in China, the CHINET surveillance system was organized in 2005. Antimicrobial ...susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using the Kirby-Bauer method or automated systems. Results were analyzed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) 2014 definitions. Between 2005 and 2014, the number of bacterial isolates ranged between 22 774 and 84 572 annually. Rates of extended-spectrum β-lactamase production among Escherichia coli isolates were stable, between 51.7 and 55.8%. Resistance of E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin/tazobactam and cefoperazone/sulbactam decreased with time. Carbapenem resistance among K. pneumoniae isolates increased from 2.4 to 13.4%. Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains against all of antimicrobial agents tested including imipenem and meropenem decreased with time. On the contrary, resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii strains to carbapenems increased from 31 to 66.7%. A marked decrease of methicillin resistance from 69% in 2005 to 44.6% in 2014 was observed for Staphylococcus aureus. Carbapenem resistance rates in K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii in China are high. Our results indicate the importance of bacterial surveillance studies.
Prognostic systems for myelodysplasia rely on clinical factors, but particular genetic lesions can influence relapse rate, overall survival, and nonrelapse-related mortality as well as the choice of ...conditioning regimen for hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.
The myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is clinically and biologically heterogeneous. In children and young adults, MDS can arise in the context of congenital mutations that cause bone marrow failure syndromes or inherited predisposition to myeloid cancers.
1
Therapy-related MDS develops as a late complication in patients with previous exposure to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both.
2
In most patients, however, primary MDS arises in the absence of an identified exposure, prodromal bone marrow failure syndrome, or inherited predisposition.
Although allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation is the only curative therapy for MDS, mortality after transplantation is high, with deaths attributable to relapsed disease and to . . .
The material class of rare earth nickelates with high Ni3+ oxidation state is generating continued interest due to the occurrence of a metal-insulator transition with charge order and the appearance ...of non-collinear magnetic phases within this insulating regime. The recent theoretical prediction for superconductivity in LaNiO3 thin films has also triggered intensive research efforts. LaNiO3 seems to be the only rare earth nickelate that stays metallic and paramagnetic down to lowest temperatures. So far, centimeter-sized impurity-free single crystal growth has not been reported for the rare earth nickelates material class since elevated oxygen pressures are required for their synthesis. Here, we report on the successful growth of centimeter-sized LaNiO3 single crystals by the floating zone technique at oxygen pressures of up to 150 bar. Our crystals are essentially free from Ni2+ impurities and exhibit metallic properties together with an unexpected but clear antiferromagnetic transition.
The mechanism of superconductivity in cuprates remains one of the big challenges of condensed matter physics. High-Tc
cuprates crystallize into a layered perovskite structure featuring copper oxygen ...octahedral coordination. Due to the Jahn Teller effect in combination with the strong static Coulomb interaction, the octahedra in high-Tc
cuprates are elongated along the c axis, leading to a 3dx²-y² orbital at the top of the band structure wherein the doped holes reside. This scenario gives rise to 2D characteristics in high-Tc
cuprates that favor d-wave pairing symmetry. Here, we report superconductivity in a cuprate Ba₂CuO4-y, wherein the local octahedron is in a very exceptional compressed version. The Ba₂CuO4-y compound was synthesized at high pressure at high temperatures and shows bulk superconductivity with critical temperature (Tc
) above 70 K at ambient conditions. This superconducting transition temperature is more than 30 K higher than the Tc
for the isostructural counterparts based on classical La₂CuO₄. X-ray absorption measurements indicate the heavily doped nature of the Ba₂CuO4-y superconductor. In compressed octahedron, the 3d3z²-r² orbital will be lifted above the 3dx²-y² orbital, leading to significant 3D nature in addition to the conventional 3dx²-y² orbital. This work sheds important light on advancing our comprehensive understanding of the superconducting mechanism of high Tc
in cuprate materials.
This paper reports a new class of thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes incorporated with covalent organic frameworks (COFs) nanoparticles in the polyamide skin layer and having enhanced solvent ...(ethanol) permeation flux and high solute rejection for organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN). These OSN membranes were prepared via interfacial polymerization of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) and trimesoyl chloride with the presence of COFs nanoparticles in the MPD aqueous solution, followed by chemical crosslinking and solvent activation. The prepared TFN membranes exhibited an improved surface hydrophilicity and a decreased skin layer thickness, which leading to a 46.7% increment in the ethanol permeance (up to 79.8 L m−2 h−1 MPa−1) compared to those COFs-free membranes, as well as an increased Rhodamine B (479 Da) rejection (up to 99.4%). Moreover, our prepared TFN OSN membranes exhibited an excellent solvent resistance after being statically immersed in N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at ambient temperature over 100 days, and after being consecutively cross-flow filtrated using Rose Bengal/DMF solution at ambient temperature over 7 days, both with no significant changes in the separation performance. Furthermore, they showed only minor decrease in flux and rejection after being statically immersed in DMF at 80 °C over 14 days, which provides a strong potential in OSN applications.
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•COFs-incorporated TFN membranes are fabricated via IP, crosslinking, and activation.•COFs are covalently bonded within the PA skin layer and help to maintain stability.•The TFN membrane surface is more hydrophilic and rougher than the COF-free membrane.•COFs loading enhances ethanol permeance by up to 46.7% without affecting rejection.•The TFN OSN membranes exhibit a promising long-term solvent resistance.
Structured diffuse auroras are often observed near magnetic local noon (MLN), but their generation mechanisms are poorly understood. We have found that two types of structured diffuse auroras with ...obviously different dynamical properties often coexist near MLN. One type usually drifts from low to high latitude with higher speed and shows pulsation. The other type is always adjacent to the discrete aurora oval and drifts together with nearby discrete aurora with much lower speed. Using coordinated observations from MMS and ground all‐sky imagers, we found that the two types of diffuse auroras are well correlated with number density increase of O+ (from the ionosphere) and of He2+ (from magnetosheath) ions, respectively. These observations indicate that mangetosheath particles penetrated into the magnetosphere also can play an important role for producing the dayside diffuse aurora. In addition, for the first time, electron cyclotron harmonic waves are observed associated with dayside diffuse aurora.
Key Points
Two types of structured diffuse auroras observed near magnetic local noon with obviously different dynamical properties are identified
Types 1 and 2 are associated with number density increase of O+ from the magnetosphere and of He2+ from the magnetosheath, respectively
For the first time, ECH waves, but no whistler mode chorus waves, were observed associated with dayside diffuse auroras
Summary
Background Pulsed‐dye laser (PDL)‐mediated photothermolysis is the current standard treatment for port‐wine stain (PWS) birthmarks. Vascular‐targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) might be an ...alternative for the treatment of PWS.
Objectives To compare clinical outcomes of PDT and PDL treatment of PWS.
Methods Two adjacent flat areas of PWS lesions were selected from each of 15 patients (two male and 13 female; age 11–36 years) and randomly assigned to either single‐session PDL or PDT. PDL was delivered using a 585‐nm pulsed laser. PDT was carried out with a combination of haematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) and a low‐power copper vapour laser (510·6 and 578·2 nm). Clinical outcomes were evaluated colorimetrically and visually during follow‐up.
Results A total of nine red PWS lesions and six purple PWS lesions were treated. For red PWS, colorimetric assessment showed that the blanching rates of PDL and PDT at 2 months ranged from −11% to 24% and 22% to 55%, respectively. For purple PWS, blanching rates of PDL and PDT ranged from 8% to 33% and 30% to 45%, respectively. Overall, there was a significant difference between the blanching effect of single‐session PDL treatment and a single‐session PDT treatment.
Conclusions This side‐by‐side comparison demonstrates that PDT is at least as effective as PDL and, in some cases, superior. The true value of PDT for the treatment of PWS deserves further investigation.
What’s already known about this topic?
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To date, several Chinese studies of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for port‐wine stains (PWS) indicate that this therapeutic modality is effective and safe for the treatment of PWS of all colour and in all ages.
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Our retrospective study suggested that PDT is as effective as pulsed‐dye laser (PDL) treatment for pink PWS and more effective than PDL for purple PWS.
What does this study add?
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This is the first side‐by‐side and quantitative comparison of PDL and PDT.
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The findings reported here confirm that PDT is at least as effective and safe as PDL, if not superior to, for the treatment of red and purple flat PWS.
The recent borderline El Niño events of 2014/2015 and 2018/2019 provided operational centers with unique challenges because of the apparent absence of typical coupling between the tropical atmosphere ...and ocean before onset. The mismatch between atmosphere and ocean raises questions about its causes and predictability. Here we analyze observational data since 1979 to show that a sea surface temperature pattern characterized by an anomalous gradient in the western and central equatorial Pacific played a critical role in inhibiting the expected onset of central tropical Pacific deep convection during these events. This sea surface temperature pattern, which produces an atmospheric response that opposes the response to elevated eastern Pacific sea surface temperatures, has become more prevalent over the past 40 years.
Plain Language Summary
The El Niño–Southern Oscillation, a naturally occurring climate pattern that impacts most of the planet, develops through interactions between the tropical atmosphere and ocean. During the development of recent borderline El Niño episodes in 2014 and 2018, however, the tropical atmosphere failed to behave in a typical manner despite conducive oceanic conditions, providing forecasters with challenges in classifying the events and in forecasting their future development and global impacts. A key question is whether forecasters could have anticipated the atypical tropical atmospheric pattern or if it was the result of chaotic weather variability that could not have been forecast with much advance warning. Here we analyze 40 years of observational data and find that a sea surface temperature pattern in the western and central equatorial Pacific offsets the typical El Niño impacts during these events. This sea surface temperature pattern has become more prevalent over the past 40 years, which indicates a recent tendency for El Niño tropical atmospheric conditions to be weaker relative to past episodes. The identification of this characteristic sea surface temperature pattern provides hope that forecasters may be able to anticipate when it may reinforce or offset the atmospheric conditions associated with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation.
Key Points
Tropical Pacific zonal sea surface temperature gradients modulate tropical atmospheric patterns traditionally associated with El Niño
An anomalously strong tropical Pacific zonal sea surface temperature gradient delayed the occurrence of recent weak El Niño events
The zonal sea surface temperature gradient and associated atmospheric variables have strengthened significantly since 1979
The South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) refers to a region where the strength of the magnetic field is notably weaker compared to a dipole field. While previous studies have primarily focused on its effects ...on the inner radiation belt, this study investigates its impact on the aurora system. By analyzing 2 years' worth of data obtained by the Fengyun‐3E/ACMag instrument, we discover that magnetic fluctuations within the auroral oval are significantly weaker in the longitude sector corresponding to the SAA, as compared to those outside this area. This characteristic remains permanent and independent of seasons and geomagnetic activities. Additional investigation using Defense Meteorological Satellite Program/Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager (DMSP/SSUSI) observations reveals a similar phenomenon in the auroral intensity. Therefore, our results demonstrate that the SAA substantially weakens the aurora system, shedding new light on the effects of magnetic anomalies on planetary auroras and magnetosphere‐ionosphere‐thermosphere coupling.
Plain Language Summary
The South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) is a unique location on Earth where the magnetic field is weaker than normal. This region has drawn a lot of attention because its weakened magnetic field brings the inner Van Allen radiation belt unusually close to the Earth's surface, which poses a threat to satellites passing through it. Here, we uncovered another interesting aspect of the SAA: its impact on the aurora system. To investigate this, we first examined 2 years' worth of data from the ACMag instruments on the Fengyun‐3E satellite, which orbits the Earth at an altitude of 836 km in a dawn‐dusk, Sun‐synchronous orbit. Our findings reveal that the magnetic fluctuations within the southern auroral oval are significantly weaker in the region that aligns with the SAA. This weakening effect is consistently present, regardless of the season or the level of geomagnetic activity. To reinforce our results, we also analyzed auroral intensity from the Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager (SSUSI) instrument on the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite, and it corroborated the same weakening trend in this data set. In conclusion, our observations demonstrate that the SAA has a substantial impact on weakening the aurora system. This discovery deepens our understanding of how magnetic anomalies can influence planetary auroras.
Key Points
The effects of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) on the terrestrial aurora system are examined using multiple instruments
Observations reveal a substantial weakening of auroral magnetic fluctuations and auroral intensity in the SAA longitude sector
The results indicate considering magnetic anomalies like the SAA is essential for comprehensively understanding planetary aurora systems
Abstract
We present a flip-flop dual-component model to treat quantum dynamics of relativistic particles with a rest mass and investigate the matter waves’ phase and amplitude modulations due to ...Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. Their matter waves behave like a traveling Gaussian-shaped wave packet accompanied by a guiding pilot wave, and the phase modulations result in mass oscillations. These effects are more prominent for light-weighted elementary particles, such as neutrinos and electrons. This mechanism is solely due to the uncertainty principle and has nothing to do with the flavor-mixing of neutrinos. Simulations using neutrinos and electrons are presented, which indicate an oscillation period on the order of ps. This study primarily focuses on the predicted mass oscillations induced by the uncertainty principle. A slit-type interference experiment using neutrinos and electrons from reactors is proposed to test the predicted behaviors.
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