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This work investigated the effect of a porous and flexible barrier and undulating bottom on wave attenuation in a two-layer stratified fluid under the action of oblique wave incidence, using small amplitude and structural response theory. Two sets of problems with porous and flexible barriers in the absence and presence of impervious sea-wall are discussed. Two different barrier configurations, called bottom-standing and surface-piercing, were considered. The Fourier method, least-square approximation method, and mild-slope approximation method were used to tackle the physical problem. The study reveals an optimal mooring angle to prevent its deformation by surface and interfacial waves. The dissipation of interfacial waves by bottom-standing and surface-piercing barriers exhibits an inverse pattern. Comparatively longer bottoms are insensitive to the interfacial wave-induced forces on the barrier when the depth ratio changes. The contribution of inertial effects in barrier porosity is seen to be critical in protecting existing offshore structures or sea-wall. The sea-wall can be protected using bottom-standing and surface-piercing barriers in a situation of higher surface and interfacial wave energies, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this retrospective study was to assess safety and comparative clinical effectiveness of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) and robot-assisted inguinal hernia repair (RIHR) from multi-institutional experience in Taiwan. Methods: Medical records from a total of eight hospitals were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Patients primarily diagnosed of inguinal hernia, recurrent inguinal hernia or incarceration groin hernia patients who either underwent laparoscopic or robot-assisted inguinal hernia repair between January 2018 and December 2022 were included in the study. Baseline characteristics, intra-operative and post-operative results were analyzed. To compare two cohorts, overlap weighting was employed to balance the significant inter-group differences. We also conducted subgroup analyses by state of a hernia (primary or recurrent/incarceration) and laterality (unilateral or bilateral) that indicated complexity of surgery. Results: A total of 1,080 patients who underwent minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair from 8 hospitals across Taiwan were collected. Following the application of inclusion criteria, there were 279 patients received RIHR and 763 patients received LIHR. In the baseline analysis, RIHR was more often performed in recurrent/incarceration (RIHR 18.6% vs LIHR 10.3%, p = 0.001) and bilateral cases (RIHR 81.4 vs LIHR 58.3, p < 0.001). Suturing was dominant mesh fixation method in RIHR (RIHR 81% vs LIHR 35.8%, p < 0.001). More overweight patients were treated with RIHR (RIHR 58.8% vs LIHR 48.9%, p = 0.006). After overlap weighting, there were no significant difference in intraoperative and post-operative complications between RIHR and LIHR. Reoperation and prescription rates of pain medication (opioid) were significantly lower in RIHR than LIHR in overall group comparison (reoperation: RIHR 0% vs. LIHR 2.9%, p = 0.016) (Opioid prescription: RIHR 3.34 mg vs LIHR 10.82 mg, p = 0.001) while operation time was significantly longer in RIHR (OR time: RIHR 155.27 min vs LIHR 95.30 min, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This real-world experience suggested that RIHR is a safe, and feasible option with comparable intra-operative and post-operative outcomes to LHIR. In our study, RIHR showed technical advantages in more complicated hernia cases with yielding to lower reoperation rates, and less opioid use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a hybrid multi-objective meta-heuristics and possibilistic intuitionistic fuzzy c-means (PIFCM) algorithms for cluster analysis. The PIFCM algorithms combine Atanassov's intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) with possibilistic fuzzy c-means (PFCM) algorithms. In this study, three metaheuristic algorithms are used to improve the clustering results, specifically a genetic algorithm (GA), a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, and a gradient evolution (GE) algorithm. Therefore, three clustering algorithms are proposed, including multi-objective GA-based PIFCM (MOGA–PIFCM), multi-objective PSO-based PIFCM (MOPSO–PIFCM), and multi-objective GE-based PIFCM (MOGE–PIFCM). Their performance results are compared with those of other clustering algorithms, such as intuitionistic fuzzy c-means (IFCM) algorithm, possibilistic intuitionistic fuzzy c-means (PIFCM) algorithm, single-objective GA–PIFCM algorithm, single-objective PSO–PIFCM algorithm, and single-objective GE–PIFCM algorithm using 15 benchmark datasets. Adjusted Rand Index and accuracy measures are employed as performance indices for comparison. Experiment results shows that the MOGE–PIFCM obtains better solutions than the other clustering algorithms in terms of all performance validation indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A series of experiment were conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing a part of soybean meal (SBM) at 6% of broiler diets with fermented soybean meal (FSBM) obtained by single or two-stage fermentation by measuring growth performance, antioxidant activity in the jejunum and distal intestinal microflora. Methods: Soybean meal samples were prepared by single-stage fermentation using Bacillus velezensis (Bv) (FSBMB), or Lactobacillus spp. (as commercial control) (FSBML). Additional SBM sample was prepared by two-stage fermentation using Bv and subsequently using Lactobacillus brevis ATCC 367 (Lb) (FSBMB+L). Enzyme activity, chemical composition, trichloroethanoic acid-nitrogen solubility index (TCA-NSI) and antioxidant activity were measured. Then, in an in vivo study, 320 Ross308 broilers were divided into four groups with ad libitum supply of feed and water. Four groups were fed either a corn-soybean meal diet (SBM), or one of fermented SBM diets (FSBMB+L, FSBMB, and FSBML). Growth, serum characteristics, microflora, and the mRNA expression of selected genes were measured. Results: Compared to SBM, FSBMB+L contained lower galacto-oligosaccharide, allergic protein, and trypsin inhibitor, and higher TCA-NSI by about three times (p<0.05). Reducing power and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging ability correlated positively with the TCA-NSI content in FSBM. Growth performances were not significantly different among four groups. In jejunum of 35-day-old broilers, partial replacement of SBM by FSBMB+L increased the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase (CAT), and the FSBMB group had the highest catalase activity (p<0.05). Partial replacement of SBM by FSBM increased relative mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) (p<0.05); however, FSBMB+L increased CAT mRNA level to 5 times of the control (p<0.05). Conclusion: Using Bv- and Lb-processed SBM through two-stage fermentation to partially replace 6% of diets will improve the gut's antioxidant activity under commercial breeding in broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We report the outcomes of cisplatin‐ineligible HNSCC patients treated with definitive chemoradiation and concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel. Materials and Methods: We included consecutive HNSCC patients treated from 2013 to 2021 that received definitive chemoradiation with carboplatin and paclitaxel. Locoregional recurrences (LRR) and distant metastases (DM) were estimated using cumulative incidence functions. Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan–Meier methods. Results: Sixty‐five patients were identified with median age of 71 years (range 44–85). Median radiation dose was 70 Gy and the median doses of carboplatin and paclitaxel were AUC 1 and 40 mg/m2, respectively. At a median follow‐up of 29 (range 5–91) months, the 2‐year rates of LRR, DM, PFS, and OS were 8.8%, 9.4%, 72.2%, and 88.7%, respectively. In total, there were 5 LRR, 7 DM, and 12 deaths. Conclusions: Chemoradiation with carboplatin and paclitaxel is an excellent option for cisplatin‐ineligible HNSCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hysterectomy is the most common gynaecological surgery, performed mainly for benign uterine pathologies in women. Studies have suggested that hysterectomy is associated with osteoarthritis (OA); however, the association remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between hysterectomy and the risk of OA. We performed a population-based nested case–control study using the National Health Insurance programme database from 2000 to 2016 in Taiwan. All medical conditions for each case and control were categorized using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) and ICD-10. A multiple conditional logistic regression model was applied to analyse the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between hysterectomy and OA. Our analyses included 16 592 patients with OA and 66 368 matched controls. After adjustment for possible confounders, hysterectomy had a significant association with OA (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.09–1.30), especially knee OA (aOR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.13–1.38). Furthermore, women who received oestrogen therapy (ET) alone and patients who underwent hysterectomy without ET showed a greater risk of OA development compared to women who did not receive ET (aOR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.07–1.23, and aOR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.08–1.31, respectively). Our findings indicate that hysterectomy is associated with OA, especially knee OA. We also found that women who received ET alone and patients who underwent hysterectomy without ET had an increased risk of OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results from deep 21 cm H  i mapping of two nearby Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies (BCDGs), W1016+3754 and W2326+0608, using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). These BCDGs are bright in mid-infrared data and undergoing active star formation. With the GMRT observations, we investigate the role of cold neutral gas as the fuel resource of the current intensive star formation activity. Star formation in these galaxies is likely to be due to the infall of H  i gas triggered by gravitational perturbation from nearby galaxies. The BCDG W2326+0608 and nearby galaxy SDSS J232603.86+060835.8 share a common H  i envelope. We find star formation takes place in the high H  i column density gas (≳1021 cm−2) regions for both BCDGs. The recent starburst and infall of metal-free gas have kept the metallicity low for the BCDG W1016+3754. The metallicity for W2326+0608 is higher, possibly due to tidal interaction with the nearby galaxy SDSS J232603.86+060835.8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Anatomic changes during head and neck radiotherapy can impact dose delivery, necessitate adaptive replanning, and indicate patient‐specific response to treatment. We have developed an automated system to track these changes through longitudinal MRI scans to aid identification and clinical intervention. The purpose of this article is to describe this tracking system and present results from an initial cohort of patients. Materials and Methods: The Automated Watchdog in Adaptive Radiotherapy Environment (AWARE) was developed to process longitudinal MRI data for radiotherapy patients. AWARE automatically identifies and collects weekly scans, propagates radiotherapy planning structures, computes structure changes over time, and reports important trends to the clinical team. AWARE also incorporates manual structure review and revision from clinical experts and dynamically updates tracking statistics when necessary. AWARE was applied to patients receiving weekly T2‐weighted MRI scans during head and neck radiotherapy. Changes in nodal gross tumor volume (GTV) and parotid gland delineations were tracked over time to assess changes during treatment and identify early indicators of treatment response. Results: N = 91 patients were tracked and analyzed in this study. Nodal GTVs and parotids both shrunk considerably throughout treatment (−9.7 ± 7.7% and −3.7 ± 3.3% per week, respectively). Ipsilateral parotids shrunk significantly faster than contralateral (−4.3 ± 3.1% vs. −2.9 ± 3.3% per week, p = 0.005) and increased in distance from GTVs over time (+2.7 ± 7.2% per week, p < 1 × 10−5). Automatic structure propagations agreed well with manual revisions (Dice = 0.88 ± 0.09 for parotids and 0.80 ± 0.15 for GTVs), but for GTVs the agreement degraded 4–5 weeks after the start of treatment. Changes in GTV volume observed by AWARE as early as one week into treatment were predictive of large changes later in the course (AUC = 0.79). Conclusion: AWARE automatically identified longitudinal changes in GTV and parotid volumes during radiotherapy. Results suggest that this system may be useful for identifying rapidly responding patients as early as one week into treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a multielement antenna, we have performed measurements of the angular dependence of propagating magnetostatic spin waves in a thin yttrium iron garnet film, both in-plane and out-of-plane, and compared the measurements with existing theoretical models. For most magnetic field directions, theory and experiments agree reasonably well. However, there is a range of magnetic field directions where differences between theory and experiment become large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report experiments which characterize spin wave propagation in a thin (111) yttrium iron garnet film for arbitrary angles between the in-plane magnetic field and the mode wavevectors. By measuring the magnetic field evolution of the phase of the wave traveling across the film, we deduce the frequency dependence of the wavevector, the dispersion relation, from which the mode velocity follows. Additionally, we observe multiple nodes in the regime of the propagating Damon-Eshbach mode; these arise from avoided crossings associated with the higher, exchange split, standing wave modes along the film normal, the positions of which correlate with the direct absorption measurements of their positions. This information allows a determination of the exchange parameter. Using this technique, we examine the nonreciprocity in spin wave propagation that results from an adjacent metal layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the United States is oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), and its incidence has been rising since the turn of the century. Because of substantial long‐term morbidities with chemoradiation and the favorable prognosis of HPV‐positive OPC, identifying the optimal deintensification strategy for this group has been a keystone of academic head‐and‐neck surgery, radiation oncology, and medical oncology for over the past decade. However, the first generation of randomized chemotherapy deintensification trials failed to change the standard of care, triggering concern over the feasibility of de‐escalation. National database studies estimate that up to one third of patients receive nonstandard de‐escalated treatments, which have subspecialty‐specific nuances. A synthesis of the multidisciplinary deintensification data and current treatment standards is important for the oncology community to reinforce best practices and ensure optimal patient outcomes. In this review, the authors present a summary and comparison of prospective HPV‐positive OPC de‐escalation trials. Chemotherapy attenuation compromises outcomes without reducing toxicity. Limited data comparing transoral robotic surgery (TORS) with radiation raise concern over toxicity and outcomes with TORS. There are promising data to support de‐escalating adjuvant therapy after TORS, but consensus on treatment indications is needed. Encouraging radiation deintensification strategies have been reported (upfront dose reduction and induction chemotherapy‐based patient selection), but level I evidence is years away. Ultimately, stage and HPV status may be insufficient to guide de‐escalation. The future of deintensification may lie in incorporating intratreatment response assessments to harness the powers of personalized medicine and integrate real‐time surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A promising accelerator light source mechanism called steady-state microbunching (SSMB) is being actively studied. With the combination of strong coherent radiation from microbunching and high repetition rate of a storage ring, high-average-power narrow-band radiation can be anticipated from an SSMB storage ring, with wavelengths ranging from THz to soft X-ray. Such a novel light source could provide new opportunities for accelerator photon science like high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and industrial applications like extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. In this paper, a theoretical and numerical study of the average and statistical properties of coherent radiation from SSMB are presented. The results show that 1 kW average-power quasi-continuous-wave EUV radiation can be obtained from an SSMB ring provided that an average current of 1 A and a microbunch train with bunch length of 3 nm can be formed at the radiator which is assumed to be an undulator. Together with the narrow-band feature, the EUV photon flux can reach 6 × 1015 photons s-1 within a 0.1 meV energy bandwidth, which is three orders of magnitude higher than that in a conventional synchrotron source and is appealing for fundamental condensed matter physics and other research. In this theoretical investigation, we have generalized the definition and derivation of the transverse form factor of an electron beam which can quantify the impact of its transverse size on coherent radiation. In particular, it has been shown that the narrow-band feature of SSMB radiation is strongly correlated with the finite transverse electron beam size. Considering the pointlike nature of electrons and quantum nature of radiation, the coherent radiation fluctuates from microbunch to microbunch, or for a single microbunch from turn to turn. Some important results concerning the statistical properties of SSMB radiation are presented, with a brief discussion on its potential applications, for example the beam diagnostics. The presented work is of value for the development of SSMB to better serve potential synchrotron radiation users. In addition, this also sheds light on understanding the radiation characteristics of free-electron lasers, coherent harmonic generation, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We apply a heterogeneous graph convolution network (GCN) combined with a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) denoted by GCNMLP to explore the potential side effects of drugs. Here the SIDER, OFFSIDERS, and FAERS are used as the datasets. We integrate the drug information with similar characteristics from the datasets of known drugs and side effect networks. The heterogeneous graph networks explore the potential side effects of drugs by inferring the relationship between similar drugs and related side effects. This novel in silico method will shorten the time spent in uncovering the unseen side effects within routine drug prescriptions while highlighting the relevance of exploring drug mechanisms from well-documented drugs. In our experiments, we inquire about the drugs Vancomycin, Amlodipine, Cisplatin, and Glimepiride from a trained model, where the parameters are acquired from the dataset SIDER after training. Our results show that the performance of the GCNMLP on these three datasets is superior to the non-negative matrix factorization method (NMF) and some well-known machine learning methods with respect to various evaluation scales. Moreover, new side effects of drugs can be obtained using the GCNMLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterization of shear moduli of composite lamina by existing methods such as rail shear test, Arcan shear test, Iosipescu shear test, etc. has their disadvantages. Developing a simple and efficient method for characterizing the shear moduli of the composite lamina is the objective of this work. A composite specimen of unidirectional laminate clamped and suspended from one end and with a rod weight attached horizontally at the lower end was tested simply by twisting and releasing as a torsional pendulum. By measuring the period of the twisting oscillation, the shear modulus of the laminae can then be calculated via a theoretical relationship. Experiments were conducted on specimens with different widths and rod weights with different lengths. Data of period were fitted simultaneously, and the shear modulus was obtained with less than 4% errors in comparison with that offered by the material manufacturer. The sensitivities of the shear moduli to the measured period are discussed and evaluated. This work presents the technique of the torsional pendulum, a very simple and efficient technique for measuring the shear modulus of the composite lamina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Genetic factors link psychiatric disorders, particularly major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Additionally, maternal SLE is a risk factor for long-term developmental problems, particularly learning disabilities, attention disorders, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and speech disorders, in children. Aim We aimed to determine whether first-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with SLE have increased risks of SLE and major psychiatric disorders. Design and methods Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we recruited 40 462 FDRs of patients with SLE as well as 161 848 matched controls. The risks of major psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, OCD, MDD, ASD and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), were assessed. Results The FDRs of patients with SLE had higher risks of SLE (reported as the adjusted relative risk and 95% confidence interval: 14.54; 12.19–17.34), MDD (1.23; 1.12–1.34), ADHD (1.60; 1.55–1.65), OCD (1.41; 1.14–1.74) and bipolar disorder (1.18; 1.01–1.38) compared with controls. Specifically, male FDRs of patients with SLE had higher risks of SLE and bipolar disorder, whereas female FDRs of patients with SLE had higher risks of MDD and OCD. Differences in the familial relationship (i.e. parents, children, siblings and twins) were consistently associated with higher risks of these disorders compared with controls. Conclusions The FDRs of patients with SLE had higher risks of SLE, MDD, ADHD, OCD and bipolar disorder than the controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport and transformation of urban air pollutants are among the major factors driving the changes in the atmospheric composition in the downwind rural/remote areas of a megacity. Here, we assess the impacts of urban air pollution in a subtropical forest through characterization of the organic markers in submicron aerosol particles. The aerosol samples were collected and analyzed using TD-PTR-ToF-MS, where 163 ions were detected. The concentration of these extracted ions accounts for 83% of the mass of submicron organic aerosols, which are accordingly characterized by a median formula of C7H10O2. Molecular speciation indicates that urban and biomass burning pollution contributed substantially to the budget of organic aerosols, which were enhanced particularly by the liquid water content and acidity of the aerosols. Our results evidence that the footprint of urban air pollution was extended to its downwind forested areas and caused changes in the concentration and composition of submicron aerosols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleic acid-based vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are effective in the general population. However, it is unknown whether this is true in Asian patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) who have received various combinations of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). We designed a large prospective observational study recruiting 228 patients with ARDs in a tertiary rheumatology centre in Taiwan. Altogether, 142 received biological or targeted synthetic DMARDs and 86 received only conventional synthetic (cs) DMARDs. Serum levels of immunoglobulin G antibody against SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins were measured 2–6 weeks after COVID-19 vaccination with mRNA-1273 (Moderna®) or ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford/AstraZeneca®). The immunomodulatory therapies were not modified before or after vaccination. Overall, 194 patients (85.09%) exhibited antibodies (758.33 ± 808.43 ng/mL) but 34 patients did not (103.24 ± 41.08 ng/mL). Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis had significantly lower humoral responses to COVID-19 vaccination than those with other ARDs (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in immunogenicity among patients on different csDMARD treatments. Compared to patients treated with only csDMARDs, those on rituximab or abatacept therapy had significantly lower immune response to the vaccination (p = 0.008 and p = 0.035, respectively). Patients who were treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor-α or interleukin-6 inhibitor exhibited higher titres of vaccination antibodies than those treated with direct lymphocyte inhibitors. mRNA-1273 and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccines were immunogenic in the majority of ARD patients. Rituximab and abatacept were associated with significantly diminished COVID-19 vaccination immunogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of surface ruptures is key to understanding the earthquake occurrence of faults especially in the absence of historical events. We present a detailed analysis of geomorphic displacements along the Dzhungarian Fault, which straddles the border of China and Kazakhstan. We use digital elevation models derived from structure‐from‐motion analysis of Pléiades satellite imagery and drone imagery from specific field sites to measure surface offsets. We provide direct age constraints from alluvial terraces displaced by faulting and indirect dating from morphological analysis of the scarps. We find that the southern 250 km of the fault likely ruptured in a single event in the last 4,000 years, with displacements of 10–15 m, and potentially up to 20 m at one site. We infer that this Dzhungarian rupture is likely linked with a previously identified paleo‐earthquake rupture on the Lepsy Fault through a system of splays in the intervening highlands. Though there are remaining uncertainties regarding consistency in age constraints between the two fault ruptures, most of the sites along the two faults are consistent with a most recent event 2,000–4,000 years ago. Rupture on the Dzhungarian Fault alone is likely to have exceeded Mw 8, and the combined Lepsy‐Dzhungarian rupture scenario may have been up to Mw 8.4. Despite being at the upper end of known or inferred continental earthquake magnitudes, our proposed scenario combining the 375 km of the Dzhungarian and Lepsy ruptures yields a slip‐to‐length ratio consistent with global averages and so do other historical intracontinental earthquakes in Central Asia. Plain Language Summary: Numerous large, destructive earthquakes have occurred on faults inside the continents in recent centuries. However, comparing to plate‐boundary faults, the behaviors of intracontinental faults are not well understood. We undertake a detailed survey of the surface ruptures along the Dzhungarian Fault, one of the major faults in Central Asia. We map and analyze high‐resolution satellite and drone imagery. We identify fresh surface ruptures distributed along the southern 250 km of the Dzhungarian Fault. We suggest that these ruptures were produced in a single event which probably caused displacements of up to ∼20 m and no <6 m. We also present evidence that the Dzhungarian Fault and its neighboring Lepsy Fault may have ruptured together. Using their combined length, we calculate a slip‐to‐length ratio which lies within the expected range instead of an unusually high ratio mentioned previously. Our age constraints indicate the most recent event for the two fault ruptures occurred 2,000–4,000 years ago. We estimate the potential maximum earthquake magnitudes to be Mw 8.2 for the Dzhungarian Fault rupturing alone and Mw 8.4 for the combined rupture of the Lepsy‐Dzhungarian Faults. This second scenario would be one of the largest magnitudes ever inferred for a continental earthquake. Key Points: We present evidence for a large paleo‐earthquake on a major intracontinental strike‐slip fault from analysis of high‐resolution imageryThe Dzhungarian and Lepsy Faults might have ruptured together in a single event (up to Mw 8.4) with fault slip of up to ∼20 m at one siteA compilation of intracontinental earthquakes shows these faults follow the global earthquake scaling relationships of slip and length [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present systematic measurements of the frequency‐dependent complex dielectric permittivity of lunar regolith analogue samples with increasing amounts of the mineral ilmenite along with Bayesian model fits using a one‐pole Cole‐Cole model. We use these results to calculate a lower bound for the attenuation of radar signals in dB/m based on ilmenite content. We compare our measurement results with previous efforts to use Earth‐based radar maps to calculate the effect of ilmenite on radar attenuation and find that they are in agreement. We also revisit the ilmenite‐dependent loss tangent relationships of Carrier III et al. (1991) and demonstrate the significant frequency‐dependent effect of ilmenite content on signal attenuation as well as the effect of minor variations in loss tangent for depth‐to‐feature determinations. The results presented here are the first systematic laboratory measurements investigating the effect of ilmenite on radar attenuation and show future promise for the application of dielectric spectroscopy, or the identification of materials based on their electromagnetic properties in the radar and microwave range. Plain Language Summary: We measure and model the electrical parameters that are responsible for absorbing and reflecting radar signals in powdered rocks that have a similar composition to the surface of the Moon. We show that knowing the abundance of the mineral ilmenite is important for knowing how much of the signal gets absorbed. We also show that the frequency (or wavelength) of the signal is important. We do this by measuring samples with more and more ilmenite at different frequencies. We find that adding more ilmenite causes the material to absorb more signal. By knowing how much more signal at specific frequencies gets absorbed with increasing ilmenite, we can better understand both the surface and below the surface of the Moon using radar data. For example, if we see in radar data that something might be buried beneath the surface of the Moon, we can use this information to try to find out how deep it is. Key Points: We present systematic measurement results of the frequency‐dependent complex permittivity of ilmenite‐bearing lunar regolith analogsWe make our measurements over a broad range of frequencies between 100 MHz and 8.5 GHzThese results provide new frequency‐dependent constraints on the attenuation of radar in the lunar regolith [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo parameter estimation technique to determine frequency‐dependent complex dielectric permittivity and permeability of powdered planetary regolith analog materials from coaxial transmission line measurements. The technique uses either a flat (non‐dispersive) or a generalized dielectric response model to simultaneously determine the complex permittivity and permeability from measured scattering parameters. By exploring the parameter space, the technique reduces the dependence on good initial model parameters required by typical optimization methods. The technique can be used with either two‐port measurements or shorted measurements, where an additional one‐port shorted sample is measured. We find the technique is able to accurately determine electromagnetic parameters of low‐loss, high dielectric, and magnetic materials. The technique is also robust to half‐wavelength resonances in the sample as well as the presence of higher order modes. Plain Language Summary: We propose a method to find the electrical and magnetic parameters responsible for absorbing and reflecting radar signals in powdered rocks. This is useful because we find powdered rock material on the surfaces of most rocky planetary bodies. Since radar is often used to look at planetary bodies in the solar system, it is important to understand how different types of powdered rocks affect radar signals. Other methods like ours already exist to measure these types of parameters but we are proposing one that doesn't need a good guess of the right answer to work. We measure three types of powders to see if our method works: Powders that don't absorb much radar signal, a powder that absorbs a lot of signal and is not magnetic, and a powder that absorbs a lot of signal that is magnetic. We find that our method works for all of these types of powdered rocks. Key Points: We present methods to determine the frequency‐dependent complex permittivity and permeability of powdered geologic materialsWe use a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo parameter estimation methodWe measure low‐loss, high‐loss, and magnetic materials between 100 MHz and 8.5 GHz [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we evaluate the reporting of other common symptoms using PRO and clinician-reported data in POLARIX. B Introduction: b The safety profiles of novel agents are mainly based on clinician-reported adverse events (AEs) from clinical trials. [Extracted from the article]

B Introduction: b Novel Trem2 SP + sp (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2) and Arg1 SP + sp (arginase 1) regulatory myeloid cells (Mreg) that lead to the dysfunction of CD8 SP + sp T cells and facilitate tumor growth were recently discovered in a murine cancer model by Yonatan Katzenelenbogen et al. L sb = 0.005); patients with aggressive subtypes (including grade-3B FL) had significantly higher percentages of circulating Mreg cells than patients with indolent subtypes (1.89% vs. 0.93%, I P i = 0.023). Prognostic values of circulating TREM2+ and ARG1+ Mreg cells in adults with treatment-naïve diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. [Extracted from the article]

Films of L11-type CoPt/NiFe exchange springs were grown with different NiFe (Permalloy) layer thickness (tNiFe=0-10 nm). X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the characteristic peak position of NiFe(111) is not affected by the CoPt-layer-confirming the absence of any inter-diffusion between the CoPt and NiFe layers. Magnetic studies indicate that the magnetization orientation of NiFe layer can be tuned through varying tNiFe and the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of L11-type CoPt/NiFe films cannot sustain for tNiFe larger than 3.0 nm due to the existence of exchange interaction at the interface of L11-CoPt and NiFe layers. Magnetic force microscopy analysis on the as-grown samples shows the changes in morphology from maze-like domains with good contrast to hazy domains when tNiFe≥3.0 nm. The three-dimensional micro-magnetic simulation results demonstrate that the magnetization orientation in NiFe layer is not uniform, which continuously increases from the interface to the top of NiFe layer. Furthermore, the tilt angle of the topmost NiFe layers can be changed over a very wide range from a small number to about 75° by varying tNiFe from 1 to 10 nm. It is worth noting that there is an abrupt change in the magnetization direction at the interface, for all the tNiFe investigated. The results of present study demonstrate that the tunable tilted exchange springs can be realized with L11-type CoPt/NiFe bilayers for future applications in three-axis magnetic sensors or advanced spintronic devices demanding inclined magnetic anisotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on VLT/FORS2 imaging polarimetry observations in the R Special band of WISE J011601.41â€"050504.0 (W0116â€"0505), a heavily obscured hyperluminous quasar at z = 3.173 classified as a Hot Dust-obscured Galaxy (Hot DOG) based on its mid-IR colors. Recently, Assef et al. identified W0116â€"0505 as having excess rest-frame optical/UV emission and concluded that this excess emission is most likely scattered light from the heavily obscured AGN. We find that the broadband rest-frame UV flux is strongly linearly polarized (10.8% ± 1.9%, with a polarization angle of 74° ± 9°), confirming this conclusion. We analyze these observations in the context of a simple model based on scattering either by free electrons or by optically thin dust, assuming a classical dust torus with polar openings. Both can replicate the degree of polarization and the luminosity of the scattered component for a range of geometries and column densities, but we argue that optically thin dust in the ISM is the more likely scenario. We also explore the possibility that the scattering medium corresponds to an outflow recently identified for W0116â€"0505. This is a feasible option if the outflow component is biconical with most of the scattering occurring at the base of the receding outflow. In this scenario, the quasar would still be obscured even if viewed face-on but might appear as a reddened type 1 quasar once the outflow has expanded. We discuss a possible connection between blue-excess Hot DOGs, extremely red quasars, reddened type 1 quasars, and unreddened quasars that depends on a combination of evolution and viewing geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyporheic exchange in streams is critical to ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling along river corridors, especially for slowly moving or small stream systems. The transient storage model (TSM) has been widely used for modeling of hyporheic exchange. TSM calibration, for hyporheic exchange, is typically used to estimate four parameters, including the mass exchange rate coefficient, the dispersion coefficient, stream cross‐sectional area, and hyporheic zone cross‐sectional area. Prior studies have raised concerns regarding the non‐uniqueness of the inverse problem for the TSM, that is, the occurrence of different parameter vectors resulting in TSM solution that reproduces the observed in‐stream tracer break through curve (BTC) with the same error. This leads to practical non‐identifiability in determining the unknown parameter vector values even when global‐optimal values exist, and the parameter optimization becomes practically non‐unique. To address this problem, we applied the simulated annealing method to calibrate the TSM to BTCs, because it is less susceptible to local minima‐induced non‐identifiability. A hypothetical (or synthetic) tracer test data set with known parameters was developed to demonstrate the capability of the simulated annealing method to find the global minimum parameter vector, and it identified the "hypothetically‐true" global minimum parameter vector even with input data that were modified with up to 10% noise without increasing the number of iterations required for convergence. The simulated annealing TSM was then calibrated using two in‐stream tracer tests conducted in East Fork Poplar Creek, Tennessee. Simulated annealing was determined to be appropriate for quantifying the TSM parameter vector because of its search capability for the global minimum parameter vector. Plain Language Summary: Hyporheic exchange is critical for biogeochemical and ecological processes in river corridors, and in‐stream tracer testing and modeling are commonly used for exchange characterization. Non‐uniqueness of inverse modeling parameter estimation is a concern for the transient storage model (TSM) for hyporheic exchange as gradient‐based parameter estimation methods tend to get trapped in local minima of the difference between observation and model results, which limits our ability to locate global minimum parameters that provide the closest match between model and data. We used a hypothetical (or synthetic) tracer test data set with known parameters to test simulated annealing as an alternative inverse modeling approach, which was also compared to the results of the commonly used TSM code, OTIS‐P, a modified version of one‐dimensional transport with inflow and storage (OTIS) code, couples the solution of the governing equation of OTIS with a nonlinear regression package (Runkel, 1998a). The simulated annealing method identified the "hypothetically‐true" global minimum parameter vector even with variations in initial guesses of the parameter vector values and input observation data that were modified to include up to 10% noise to account for experimental error. The simulated annealing inverse TSM was also able to identify reasonable/comparable parameters for two tracer tests conducted in East Fork Poplar Creek, Tennessee, which suggests that simulated annealing is a reasonable approach for TSM inverse modeling. Key Points: Simulated annealing with random initial guesses was able to identify correct parameter values for synthetic case with known parameter vectorAcceptable parameter estimation (without increased iteration requirement) for Transient Storage Model (TSM) even with 5 and 10% noise was addedSimulated annealing method was successfully applied with random initial guesses of the parameter vector for model calibration of two in‐stream tracer test data sets [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dispersive sweep of fast radio bursts (FRBs) has been used to probe the ionized baryon content of the intergalactic medium1, which is assumed to dominate the total extragalactic dispersion. Although the host-galaxy contributions to the dispersion measure appear to be small for most FRBs2, in at least one case there is evidence for an extreme magneto-ionic local environment3,4 and a compact persistent radio source5. Here we report the detection and localization of the repeating FRB 20190520B, which is co-located with a compact, persistent radio source and associated with a dwarf host galaxy of high specific-star-formation rate at a redshift of 0.241 ± 0.001. The estimated host-galaxy dispersion measure of approximately 903 − 111 + 72 parsecs per cubic centimetre, which is nearly an order of magnitude higher than the average of FRB host galaxies2,6, far exceeds the dispersion-measure contribution of the intergalactic medium. Caution is thus warranted in inferring redshifts for FRBs without accurate host-galaxy identifications.A repeating fast radio burst co-located with a persistent radio source and associated with a dwarf host galaxy of a high star-formation rate has been detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work studied the effect of mixed glass frit on the colloid state in the Cu sintering process, which defines the Cu granular network structure for the Cu grain growth stage in the isothermal sintering step. The softening points of the B2O3-Bi2O3 and SiO2-ZnO-B2O3 glass frits were 450°C and 650°C, respectively, which resulted in a two-step liquid sintering process. In the colloid state of the two-step liquid sintering process, the proper interfacial energy between the molten B2O3-Bi2O3 glass, Cu particles, and SiO2-ZnO-B2O3 solid phase was developed to disperse all phases in the sintering Cu paste. The Cu grain size distribution was very uniform and formed a continuous Cu granular network structure, which was suitable for the subsequent Cu grain growth in the isothermal sintering process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved method for characterizing the magnetic anisotropy of films with cubic symmetry is described and is applied to an yttrium iron garnet (111) film. Analysis of the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectra performed both in-plane and out-of-plane from 0.7 to 8 GHz yielded the magnetic anisotropy constants as well as the saturation magnetization. The field at which FMR is observed turns out to be quite sensitive to anisotropy constants (by more than a factor ten) in the low frequency (<2 GHz) regime, and when the orientation of the magnetic field is nearly normal to the sample plane; the restoring force on the magnetization arising from the magnetocrystalline anisotropy fields is then comparable to that from the external field, thereby allowing the anisotropy constants to be determined with greater accuracy. In this region, unusual dynamical behaviors are observed such as multiple resonances and a switching of FMR resonance with only a 1° change in field orientation at 0.7 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous studies and guidelines suggest an outcome detriment from radiation treatment breaks (rTBs) and the need for compensatory dosing in patients with head and neck cancer. Methods: In a consecutive cohort of 521 patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), we investigated the impact of rTBs and prolongation of overall treatment time (OTT) on OS, DFS, LRC, and cancer recurrence using competing risk and multivariate analyses. Results: Neither OTT prolongation by ≤2 days nor rTBs of ≤3 days were associated with detriments to clinical outcomes. Consecutive breaks of ≥3 days were also not significantly associated with detriment to clinical outcomes. There was significantly increased competing mortality in those with longer breaks. Conclusions: In OPSCC patients treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy, there is no significant association between disease failure and total rTBs of ≤3 consecutive or scattered days. Further investigation is needed for longer breaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, FeMn was introduced as an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer to couple with a singlelayered Co49Pt51 alloy thin film, and it was compared with a Co49Pt51/IrMn bilayer system in exchange bias (EB) effect, to explore the mechanism of spontaneous perpendicular exchange bias (PEB), which has been recently observed in CoPt/IrMn bilayers. Bilayers of CoPt/IrMn and CoPt/ FeMn were prepared under the same conditions by sputtering at room temperature without any inducing field. Although PEB was observed in as-grown CoPt/FeMn bilayers, the loop shape and PEB behavior were found to exhibit different characteristics from those of CoPt/IrMn bilayers. The CoPt (5 nm)/FeMn (10 nm) bilayer has a sheared loop that is similar to a double-shifted loop and a much lower squareness ratio (SQR=0.52) and exchange bias field (He=180 Oe) than the CoPt (5 nm)/IrMn (10 nm) system, which has a rectangular loop shape and a high SQR of 0.97 and large He of 290 Oe. The two systems present entirely different dependences of PEB on the thickness of the AFM layer. CoPt/IrMn exhibits behavior that is typical of most EB systems, but for CoPt/ FeMn, this dependence is more complicated with an unusual peak at an AFM layer thickness of 10 nm. Based on the dissimilar loop shapes and dependences of PEB on AFM thickness, the mechanisms of the spontaneously established PEB in these two systems are considered to differ. Investigations of cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy revealed no apparent difference between the interfacial microstructures of the two systems. X-ray diffraction studies demonstrated the <111> texture of both systems. Therefore, different interfacial spin configurations may be responsible for the dissimilar PEB behaviors in these two FM/AFM bilayer systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We herein explore the possibility of obtaining tunable tilted magnetic anisotropy in ordered-CoPt (5nm)/NiFe(tNiFe) bilayers through modifying their exchange spring behavior by inserting Pt and Ru-spacers. The tuning process of tilt angle magnetization of NiFe-layer was systematically investigated by varying the Pt or Ru thickness (tPt or tRu) from 0 to 8nm at different thicknesses of NiFe (tNiFe=1.5, 4.0, and 6.0nm). Polar magneto-optic Kerr effect (p-MOKE) studies reveal that the bilayers grown in absence of spacers exhibit almost a rectangular hysteresis loop. With the insertion of Pt-spacer, the loop becomes more and more tilted as tPt increases; whereas, in the case of Ru-spacer, the nature of the loops is not simply changing in one direction. The estimated SQR⊥ (=θr/θs) values from the p-MOKE loops are found to monotonically decrease with increasing tPt when tPt ⩽ 4nm. In contrast, in the case of Ru-spacer, an oscillatory behavior for the SQR⊥ values is apparent when tRu ⩽ 4nm. As a result, an oscillatory tilted angle of NiFe spin configuration was obtained in the case of Ru-spacer; while a decoupling effect was prominent for the Pt-spacer. The results of present study reveal that the insertion of Pt and Ru-spacers as an appropriate means for realizing tunable tilted magnetic anisotropy in the CoPt/NiFe exchange springs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Occult inguinal hernias (IH) predispose peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients to the symptomatic IH formation after starting PD, which may cause complications. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the benefit/risk profile of routine laparoscopic examination for occult IH (RLEOH) with a synchronous repair in patients receiving PD catheter placement. Methods: 432 patients were enrolled in this study. Patients with an internal hernia sac at all sizes were deemed to have occult IH. We retrospectively reviewed data including demographic characteristics and operative details. We also measured incidence rates of symptomatic IH, metachronous IH repair, and catheter survival over a follow-up period after starting PD. Results: These patients were classified into the RLEOH group (n = 365) and the non-RLEOH group (n = 67). The RLEOH group was subdivided into occult IH with a synchronous repair (n = 17; the subgroup A), no occult IH (n = 339; the subgroup B), and occult IH without a synchronous repair (n = 9; the subgroup C). The incidence rates of symptomatic IH developed after staring PD in subgroups A, B, and C were 0, 5.6, and 22.2%, respectively, whereas that in the non-RLEOH group was 13.4%. The RLEOH group had a reduced hazard ratio for metachronous IH repair compared with the non-RLEOH group (HR = 0.426; 95% CI 0.195–0.930, p = 0.032). None of our patients suffered from herniorrhaphy-related complications. Conclusion: RLEOH with a synchronous repair during PD catheter insertion confers clinical benefits in reducing the risk of developing IH after starting PD and the need for a metachronous repair. This is a safe and reasonable approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations are prognostic in many cancers and have been observed in human papillomavirus (HPV)–negative head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). However, the role of TERT promoter mutations in HPV-negative HNSCCs remains poorly understood in these cancers, which have increased risk for locoregional failure (LRF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients who were diagnosed with HNSCC between July 1, 2004, and October 12, 2017, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and whose tumors underwent next-generation sequencing using the MSK-IMPACT panel. Patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were excluded. Cumulative incidence of LRF, patterns of failure, and overall survival were measured. RESULTS: We identified 117 patients with SCC of the oral cavity (OSCC), larynx, hypopharynx, or HPV-negative oropharynx whose tumors underwent next-generation sequencing. Sequencing was performed on 95 tumors that were obtained after recurrence and 22 that were obtained before recurrence. TERT promoter mutations were enriched in OSCC compared with laryngopharyngeal cancers (81.1% v 7.0%; P <.001), which was the largest genetic difference between these anatomic disease subsites. TERT promoter mutations were associated with LRF in OSCCs (Gray's test, P <.001) and in the overall cohort (Gray's test, P <.001). On multivariate analysis, TERT promoter mutations were associated with an increased risk for LRF (subdistribution hazard ratio, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.47 to 5.42; P =.0019), independent of oral cavity primary site and TP53 mutation status. CONCLUSION: TERT promoter status is associated with the cumulative incidence of LRF and patterns of failure. TERT promoter mutations may define a subset of OSCCs with unique pathogenesis that is associated with an increased risk of LRF. Validation in prospective cohorts is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We examined the characteristics of breast cancer patients with oligometastases (OM) treated with stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) to identify factors associated with local progression, distant metastasis progression, time to subsequent therapy, progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a single‐institution database of patients treated with radiotherapy between 2008 and 2018 and identified 79 patients who received SABR to OM. Twenty‐seven patients had genetic testing of metastatic tumors using an institutional targeted sequencing platform. Kaplan–Meier analysis, Cox regression, and competing risk models were used to compare clinical and genetic correlates with outcomes. Results: Median follow‐up was 50 months (IQR: 29–66) with 67% of patients alive at the last follow‐up. Of the 65% of patients who progressed, 82% progressed outside of the radiation field, 18% experienced local failure, and 80% had oligoprogression. Median OS was 86 months (IQR: 29–66), and PFS was 33 months (IQR: 10–38). Less than 5 years from diagnosis to SABR and triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) were associated with worse OS. Advanced T stage, any prior chemotherapy, and TNBC were associated with worse PFS. Alterations in CEBPB, RB1, TBX3, PTEN, and CDK4 were associated with worse survival outcomes. Conclusion: Long‐term systemic disease control and survival can be achieved with SABR for oligometastatic breast cancer. Hormone receptor‐positive patients with a long disease interval from initial diagnosis and limited systemic progression history may be ideal for SABR to all sites of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐dose (HD) cisplatin remains the standard of care with chemoradiation for locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). Cooperative group trials mandate bolus‐HD (100 mg/m2 × 1 day, every 3 weeks) cisplatin administration at the beginning of the week to optimize radiosensitization—a requirement which may be unnecessary. This analysis evaluates the impact of chemotherapy administration day of week (DOW) on outcomes. We also report our institutional experience with an alternate dosing schedule, split‐HD (50 mg/m2 × 2 days, every 3 weeks). We retrospectively reviewed 435 definitive chemoradiation OPC patients from 10 December 2001 to 23 December 2014. Those receiving non‐HD cisplatin regimens or induction chemotherapy were excluded. Data collected included DOW, dosing schedule (bolus‐HD vs split‐HD), smoking, total cumulative dose (TCD), stage, Karnofsky Performance Status, human papillomavirus status and creatinine (baseline, peak and posttreatment baseline). Local failure (LF), regional failure (RF), locoregional failure (LRF), distant metastasis (DM), any failure (AF, either LRF or DM) and overall survival (OS) were calculated from radiation therapy start. Median follow‐up was 8.0 years (1.8 months‐17.0 years). DOW, dosing schedule and TCD were not associated with any outcomes in univariable or multivariable regression models. There was no statistically significant difference in creatinine or association with TCD in split‐HD vs bolus‐HD. There was no statistically significant association between DOW and outcomes, suggesting that cisplatin could be administered any day. Split‐HD had no observed differences in outcomes, renal toxicity or TCD compared to bolus‐HD cisplatin. Our data suggest that there is some flexibility of when and how to give HD cisplatin compared to clinical trial mandates. What's new? Head and neck cancer trials mandate bolus high‐dose cisplatin administration early in the week to optimize radiosensitization—a requirement which warrants further evaluation. This large retrospective analysis found no association between the day‐of‐week of cisplatin administration and local, regional, or any failure, distant metastasis, or overall survival. Furthermore, splitting the administration of high‐dose cisplatin over two days yielded no significant difference in outcomes, renal toxicity, or cumulative dose. Altogether, the data suggest some flexibility in the administration of high‐dose cisplatin during chemoradiation therapy, potentially maximizing the convenience, compliance, and tolerability of the gold‐standard chemotherapy in locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations are prognostic in many cancers and have been observed in human papillomavirus (HPV)–negative head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). However, the role of TERT promoter mutations in HPV-negative HNSCCs remains poorly understood in these cancers, which have increased risk for locoregional failure (LRF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients who were diagnosed with HNSCC between July 1, 2004, and October 12, 2017, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and whose tumors underwent next-generation sequencing using the MSK-IMPACT panel. Patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were excluded. Cumulative incidence of LRF, patterns of failure, and overall survival were measured. RESULTS: We identified 117 patients with SCC of the oral cavity (OSCC), larynx, hypopharynx, or HPV-negative oropharynx whose tumors underwent next-generation sequencing. Sequencing was performed on 95 tumors that were obtained after recurrence and 22 that were obtained before recurrence. TERT promoter mutations were enriched in OSCC compared with laryngopharyngeal cancers (81.1% v 7.0%; P <.001), which was the largest genetic difference between these anatomic disease subsites. TERT promoter mutations were associated with LRF in OSCCs (Gray's test, P <.001) and in the overall cohort (Gray's test, P <.001). On multivariate analysis, TERT promoter mutations were associated with an increased risk for LRF (subdistribution hazard ratio, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.47 to 5.42; P =.0019), independent of oral cavity primary site and TP53 mutation status. CONCLUSION: TERT promoter status is associated with the cumulative incidence of LRF and patterns of failure. TERT promoter mutations may define a subset of OSCCs with unique pathogenesis that is associated with an increased risk of LRF. Validation in prospective cohorts is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In this study, we aimed to isolate and evaluate the efficacy of Bacillus velezensis as a probiotic and to assess its activity towards pigeons infected with pigeon circovirus (PiCV). Methods and Results: Bacillus velezensis, isolated from pigeon faeces, was orally administered to pigeons for 60 days. After pigeons were challenged with PiCV, the PiCV viral load and expression of indicator genes for innate immunity were detected in spleen tissue and faeces of pigeons. Bacillus velezensis significantly reduced the PiCV viral load in the faeces and spleen of pigeons 5 days post‐challenge (dpc). The mRNA expression levels of treated pigeons showed that interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ), myxovirus resistance 1 (Mx1), and signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) genes were upregulated, whereas no expression of interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) was detected. Moreover, toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2) and 4 (TLR4) were significantly upregulated in probiotic‐treated pigeons (P < 0·05). Conclusions: This is the first report showing that probiotic supplementation can effectively enhance the T‐helper type 1 immune response and decrease the PiCV viral loads in pigeons. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study proposes that the administration of a probiotic strain, B. velezensis, to pigeons can protect against PiCV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the anisotropic stress dependent magnetic and phonon behaviors in self-assembled CoFe2O4-PbTiO3 (CFO-PTO) nanostructures deposited on SrRuO3 buffered SrTiO3 substrates of various thickness. The increased vertical compressed stress with increasing thickness enhances the vertical magnetic anisotropy of CFO while gradually reducing the vertical polarization of PTO. By applying the magnetic-field dependent Raman scattering, the CFO-A1g and T2g(1) phonon frequencies shift oppositely because of the magnetostriction. Moreover, the PTO-A1 mode intensities anomalously enhance and the A1 and E mode frequencies, respectively, increase and decrease, which prove the existence of the stress-mediated magnetoelectric (ME) effect. This study shows that the ME transmission process is dominated by interfacial stress, which is critical for enhancing the ME efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) has dosimetric advantages compared to photon radiation therapy for the treatment of major salivary gland tumors (MSGTs). Methods: Patients with non‐metastatic MSGTs treated at a single proton therapy center from October 2013 to October 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Sixty‐eight patients with MSGTs were included and the most common site and histology were the parotid gland (75.0%) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (22.1%), respectively. The 3‐year rates of locoregional control, progression‐free survival, and overall survival were 95.1% (95% CI: 89.9%‐100.0%), 80.7% (70.2%‐92.7%), and 96.1% (95% CI: 90.9%‐100.0%), respectively. Conclusion: In a large cohort of MSGTs treated with PBRT, the rates of locoregional control were high in short‐term follow‐up and treatment was well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present near-IR photometry and spectroscopy of 30 extremely luminous radio and mid-IR-selected galaxies. With bolometric luminosities exceeding ∼1013  |$\rm {L_{\odot }}$| and redshifts ranging from z = 0.880 to 2.853, we use Very Large Telescope instruments X-shooter and Infrared Spectrometer and Array Camera to investigate this unique population of galaxies. Broad multicomponent emission lines are detected in 18 galaxies and we measure the near-IR lines |$\rm {H\,\rm {\beta }}$|⁠ , |$\rm{[O\,{\small III}]}\, \rm {\lambda }\rm {\lambda }4959,5007$|⁠ , and |$\rm {H\,\rm {\alpha }}$| in 6, 15, and 13 galaxies, respectively, with 10 |$\rm {Ly\,\alpha }$| and 5 C  iv lines additionally detected in the UVB arm. We use the broad |$\rm{[O\,{\small III}]}\, \rm {\lambda }5007$| emission lines as a proxy for the bolometric active galactic nucleus luminosity, and derive lower limits to supermassive black hole masses of 107.9–109.4 M⊙ with expectations of corresponding host masses of 1010.4–1012.0 M⊙. We measure |$\rm {\lambda }_{Edd}$| > 1 for eight of these sources at a 2σ significance. Near-IR photometry and SED fitting are used to compare stellar masses directly. We detect both Balmer lines in five galaxies and use these to infer a mean visual extinction of AV = 2.68 mag. Due to non-detections and uncertainties in our |${\rm H}\, \beta$| emission line measurements, we simulate a broad |${\rm H}\, \beta$| line of FWHM = 1480  |$\rm {kms^{-1}}$| to estimate extinction for all sources with measured |${\rm H}\, \alpha$| emission. We then use this to infer a mean AV = 3.62 mag, demonstrating the highly obscured nature of these galaxies, with the consequence of increasing our estimates of black hole masses by a 0.5 orders of magnitude in the most extreme and obscured cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]