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Background: Because patients infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have been reported to be older than patients infected with influenza virus, the more frequent incidence of complications in RSV-infected patients may be age-related. This study compared clinical characteristics and outcomes in hospitalized adults infected with RSV with findings in age- and sex-matched adults infected with influenza virus. Methods: The medical records of hospitalized adult patients infected with RSV or influenza virus at two university hospitals from 2013 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Virus infection was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Each RSV-infected patient was matched by age and sex with two influenza virus-infected patients, and their clinical symptoms, laboratory parameters and hospital courses were compared. Results: The study cohort consisted of 552 patients, 184 infected with RSV and 368 infected with influenza virus. Fever (71.2% vs. 79.9%, p =.022) and cough (70.1% vs. 80.4%, p =.007) were significantly less frequent in the RSV than in the influenza group, whereas white blood cell counts (9132/mm3 vs. 7616/mm3, p <.001) and C-reactive protein concentrations (10.25 vs. 8.88 mg/dL, p =.029) were significantly higher in the RSV group. The frequency of oxygen therapy was higher (60.3% vs. 48.6%, p =.010) and hospital stay was longer (8 vs. 6 days, p =.003) in RSV than in influenza virus-infected patients. Conclusions: Clinical symptoms were less frequent, but disease was more severe, in hospitalized adult patients infected with RSV than in age- and sex-matched patients infected with influenza. Greater attention should be paid to diagnosing and preventing RSV infection in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-oxide thin-film semiconductors have been highlighted as next-generation space semiconductors owing to their excellent radiation hardness based on their dimensional advantages of very low thickness and insensitivity to crystal structure. However, thin-film transistors (TFTs) do not exhibit intrinsic radiation hardness owing to the chemical reactions at the interface exposed to ambient air. In this study, significantly enhanced radiation hardness of Al2O3-passivated ZnO TFTs against high-energy protons with energies of up to 100 MeV is obtained owing to the passivation layer blocking interactions with external reactants, thereby maintaining the chemical stability of the thin-film semiconductor. These results highlight the potential of passivated metal-oxide thin films for developing reliable radiation-hardened semiconductor devices that can be used in harsh space environments. In addition, the relationship between low-frequency noise and defects due to oxygen vacancies was revealed, which can be utilized to improve device reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Recently, sarcopenia has been linked to unfavorable outcomes in various surgical procedures, including lung cancer surgery. This study aimed to investigate the impact of respiratory sarcopenia (RS) on postoperative and long-term outcomes in elderly patients undergoing lung cancer surgery. Methods: This retrospective study included patients aged 70 years and older who underwent lobectomy with curative intent for lung cancer between 2017 and 2019. RS was defined as having values below the median for both the L3 skeletal muscle index, measured from preoperative PET-CT images, and peak expiratory flow (PEF). An inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) approach was applied to balance covariates between the RS and non-RS groups. Baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes were compared between groups using t-tests and chi-square tests. Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to compare overall and recurrence-free survival. Multivariable logistic regression analysis incorporating IPTW weights was performed to assess the impact of RS on respiratory complications. Results: A total of 509 patients were included, of whom 123 (24.2%) had RS. After IPTW adjustment, baseline characteristics, including pulmonary function, were similar between the RS and non-RS groups. All patients underwent lobectomy, with 78.8% of the RS group and 80.9% of the non-RS group undergoing minimally invasive surgery. The RS group had a significantly higher rate of respiratory complications compared to the non-RS group (14.5% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.041). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that male sex (odds ratio = 15.2, p < 0.01) and lower DLCO (odds ratio = 0.96, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with respiratory complications, whereas RS did not show a significant association (p = 0.05). No significant differences were found in overall survival (p = 0.11) or recurrence-free survival (p = 0.51) between the groups. Conclusions: In this study, RS had a limited impact on both postoperative and long-term outcomes in elderly patients undergoing lung cancer surgery. These findings suggest that other factors, such as DLCO and male sex, may play a more prominent role in predicting respiratory complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a simultaneous multislice technique can measure dynamic vascular elasticity over time. However, conventional k-space undersampling can cause signal interference, owing to vertical projection between blood vessels within the same hemisphere. Here, we proposed a radial projection method that can reduce signal interference between the blood vessels and aimed to verify the theoretical and practical effects of this method. A dataset from the internal and common carotid arteries (ICA and CCA) was used for both projection methods. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was calculated using the ICA and CCA time series, and the methods were compared using the mean absolute error of PWV. The feasibility of the radial projection method in an actual MRI environment was also evaluated. PWVs of the radial projection method were statistically indistinguishable from the ground truth. And the radial projection method was less sensitive to background noise levels and showed similar results to the ground truth. This method could effectively avoid signal interference between vessels and was feasible for use in real MRI environments, maintaining high temporal resolution even with fewer sampling timepoints. Therefore, it can contribute to the early diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases through accurate and dynamic PWV measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detailed anisotropic dispersion of the low-temperature, low-energy magnetic excitations of the candidate spin-triplet superconductor UTe2 is revealed using inelastic neutron scattering. The magnetic excitations emerge from the Brillouin zone boundary at the high symmetry Y and T points and disperse along the crystallographic b ̂ -axis. In applied magnetic fields to at least μ0H = 11 T along the c ̂ − axis , the magnetism is found to be field-independent in the (hk0) plane. The scattering intensity is consistent with that expected from U3+/U4+ f-electron spins with preferential orientation along the crystallographic a ̂ -axis, and a fluctuating magnetic moment of μeff=1.7(5) μB. We propose interband spin excitons arising from f-electron hybridization as a possible origin of the magnetic excitations in UTe2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The mechanism by which coronavirus-defective viral genomes (DVGs) affect coronavirus and host cells during infection remains unclear. A variety of DVGs with different RNA structures can be synthesized from coronavirus-infected cells, and these DVGs can also encode proteins. Consequently, in the present study, we first dissected the effects of individual DVGs on the synthesis of IFNβ and ISG15 mRNAs at the RNA, protein and combined levels, and then examined whether different coronavirus-DVGs have different effects on the synthesis of IFNβ and ISG15 mRNAs and coronavirus replication both individually and collectively under different infection conditions. Methods To dissect the effects of individual DVGs on the synthesis of IFNβ and ISG15 mRNAs at the RNA, protein and combined levels, DVG 2.2 and DVG 5.1, which were previously identified in coronavirus-infected cells, and their mutants were constructed followed by transfection. Western blot and RT‒qPCR were used to detect the synthesis of protein and to quantify the synthesis of IFNβ and ISG15 mRNAs, respectively. To examined whether different coronavirus-DVGs have different effects on the synthesis of IFNβ and ISG15 mRNAs and coronavirus replication both individually and collectively under different infection conditions, different naturally occurring DVGs were selected and constructed followed by transfection after or before coronavirus infection and by RT‒qPCR and hemagglutination assay. Results These results suggested that (i) coronavirus-DVGs at the RNA, protein and combined levels have different effects on the synthesis of IFNβ and ISG15 mRNAs, (ii) coronavirus-DVGs can inhibit coronavirus replication at least partly through interferon signaling and (iii) different DVGs have different effects on the synthesis of IFNβ and ISG15 mRNAs and coronavirus replication both individually and collectively under different infection conditions. Conclusions Coronavirus replication can be regulated by diverse coronavirus-derived DVGs at least partly through innate immunity. Such regulation may contribute to the pathogenesis of coronavirus. The DVG populations in coronavirus-infected cells with the ability to inhibit coronavirus replication are expected to be potential resources for the identification of antivirals at the level of RNA, protein or in combination, and the methods used in the current study can be used as a platform for this purpose.

旨在探究不同产地山桐子果实成分及油脂品质的差异性，对7个不同产地山桐子果实的基本成分及其油脂的品质指标进行测定，通过层次聚类分析对山桐子品质指标进行差异性分析，通过主成分分析对山桐子特征品质指标进行综合评价。结果表明：不同产地山桐子果实的含油率以及蛋白质、灰分、粗纤维、总糖、总酚、总黄酮含量存在一定差异；不同产地山桐子油的脂肪酸组成无显著差异，脂肪酸含量存在一定差异，但均为亚油酸含量最高（69.92%~74.96%），陕西汉中和云南威信的不饱和脂肪酸含量较高；陕西汉中山桐子油的角鲨烯、维生素E含量最高，分别为170.95、266.12 mg/100 g；四川泸州山桐子油的β-谷甾醇含量(472.42 mg/100 g)最高；四川绵阳山桐子油的总酚含量(28.45 mg/100 g)最高；贵州榕江山桐子油的磷脂含量(4.29 mg/100 g)最高；聚类分析结果显示，陕西汉中、四川泸州、云南威信、贵州仁怀山桐子为一类，贵州贵阳、贵州榕江、四川绵阳山桐子为一类；主成分分析结果显示，陕西汉中山桐子综合得分最高，云南威信的次之。综上，产地是影响山桐子品质的因素之一。 In order to explore the difference of fruit composition and oil quality of Idesia polycarpa Maxim from different geographic regions, the quality indexes of fruit and oil of Idesia polycarpa Maxim from 7 different geographic regions were determined, the differential analysis of quality indexes of Idesia polycarpa Maxim were analyzed by hierarchical cluster analysis, and the quality of Idesia polycarpa Maxim from different geographic regions was evaluated comprehensively by principal component analysis. The results showed that there were certain degree of differences in contents of oil, protein, ash, crude fiber, total sugar, total phenol and total flavone in fruit of Idesia polycarpa Maxim from different geographic regions. There was no significant difference in fatty acid composition of Idesia polycarpa Maxim oil from different geographic regions, with some difference in fatty acid content, but the content of linoleic acid was the highest (69.92%-74.96%), and the content of unsaturated fatty acid was higher in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province and Weixin, Yunnan Province. The contents of squalene and vitamin E in Idesia polycarpa Maxim oil from Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province were the highest (170.95, 266.12 mg/100 g, respectively), and the content of β-sitosterol in Idesia polycarpa Maxim oil from Luzhou,Sichuan Province was the highest (472.42 mg/100 g). Idesia polycarpa Maxim oil from Mianyang, Sichuan Province had the highest total phenol content (28.45 mg/100 g). The highest phospholipid content (4.29 mg/100 g) was found in Idesia polycarpa Maxim oil from Rongjiang, Guizhou Province. The cluster analysis results showed that the Idesia polycarpa Maxim from Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, Weixin, Yunnan Province and Renhuai, Guizhou Province were in one category, the Idesia polycarpa Maxim from Guiyang, Guizhou Province, Rongjiang, Guizhou Province and Mianyang, Sichuan Province were in another category. The results of principal component analysis showed that the Idesia polycarpa Maxim in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province had the highest comprehensive evaluation score, followed by Weixin, Yunnan Province. To sum up, the geographic region is one of the factors affecting the quality of Idesia polycarpa Maxim.

Backgrounds/aims: In recent years, many minimally invasive techniques have been introduced to reduce the number of ports in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), offering benefits such as reduced postoperative pain and improved cosmetic outcomes. ArtiSential ® is a new multi-degree-of-freedom articulating laparoscopic instrument that incorporates the ergonomic features of robotic surgery, potentially overcoming the spatial limitations of laparoscopic surgery. ArtiSential ® LC can be performed using only two ports. This study aims to compare the surgical outcomes of ArtiSential ® LC with those of single-fulcrum LC., Methods: This retrospective study compared ArtiSential ® LC and single-fulcrum LC among LCs performed for gallbladder (GB) stones at the same center, analyzing the basic characteristics of patients; intraoperative outcomes, such as operative time, estimated blood loss, and intraoperative GB rupture; and postoperative outcomes, such as length of hospital stay, incidence of postoperative complications, and postoperative pain., Results: A total of 88 and 63 patients underwent ArtiSential ® LC and single-fulcrum LC for GB stones, respectively. Analysis showed that ArtiSential ® LC resulted in significantly fewer cases of surgeries longer than 60 minutes (30 vs. 35 min, p = 0.009) and intraoperative GB ruptures (2 vs. 10, p = 0.007). In terms of postoperative outcomes, ArtiSential ® LC showed better results in the respective visual analog scale (VAS) scores immediately after surgery (2.59 vs. 3.73, p < 0.001), and before discharge (1.44 vs. 2.02, p = 0.01)., Conclusions: ArtiSential ® LC showed better results in terms of surgical outcomes, especially postoperative pain. Thus, ArtiSential ® LC is considered the better option for patients, compared to single-fulcrum LC.

Backgrounds/aims: Balancing surgical risks and benefits is crucial for managing non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PNETs). Despite high postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) rates, studies on postoperative complications of sporadic NFPNETs are scarce. Thus, this study aimed to investigate postoperative complications and identify risk factors for POPF., Methods: A retrospective review of 166 NF-PNET surgeries performed at Severance Hospital between February 2000 and August 2023 was conducted., Results: Age > 65 years and higher American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) grade were not significantly correlated with severe complications (odds ratio [OR]: 1.10, p = 0.871 and OR: 1.47, p = 0.491, respectively). Surgical procedures included enucleation (13.9%), distal pancreatectomy (50.0%), central pancreatectomy (4.8%), pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) (26.5%), and total pancreatectomy (4.8%). Severe complications occurred in 12.05% of surgeries. The overall incidence of all POPFs including biochemical leaks was 53%, while clinically relevant POPF (grade B or C) occurred in 7.8% of patients. Logistic regression showed that PD (OR: 3.94, p = 0.092) tended to be risk factor for POPF and that diameter of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) ≤ 3 mm was a significant risk factor for POPF (OR: 0.22, p = 0.008). A pancreas thickness (PT)/MPD ratio > 4.47 on preoperative computed tomography predicted all POPFs in PD patients (OR: 11.70, p = 0.001)., Conclusions: Age and comorbidities had no significant impact on surgical outcomes. PD was associated with higher serious complications and POPF rates. The PT/MPD ratio is a valuable preoperative tool for predicting POPF risk in PD patients.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is continuously evolving, such that JN.1 and its subvariants, including KP.2, KP.3, and LB.1, are now predominant variants globally. JN.1 is derived from BA.2.86, which harbors more than 30 mutations in the spike protein compared with those of XBB and BA.2, and it carries an additional L455S mutation. Given the rapid evolution of these variants, assessing the neutralization capacity of current JN.1 lineage vaccines against prevalent variants, such as KP.3, is critical. Phylogenetic trees using spike protein sequences and antigenic cartography based on neutralization results reveal that JN.1 lineage variants are antigenically distant from previously circulating variants. Moreover, JN.1 subvariants showed inadequate neutralization titers compared with other variants against XBB.1.5-containing vaccine in mice. Immunization with vaccines targeting the JN.1, KP.2, KP.3, and LB.1 variants demonstrated significant neutralizing activity against predominant variants in mice. These results highlight the importance of vaccine development to keep pace with the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants and the need for updated vaccines targeting the JN.1 variant., (© 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

AdCLD-CoV19-1, a chimeric adenovirus-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine, was previously reported to elicit robust antibody responses in mice and non-human primates after a single dose. In this study, we conducted a systems serology analysis to investigate changes in humoral immune responses induced by varying doses of the AdCLD-CoV19-1 vaccine in a phase I clinical trial. Serum samples from participants receiving either a low or a high dose of the vaccine were analyzed for antibody features against prototype SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) domains (full-length S, S1, S2, and receptor binding domain), as well as Fc receptor binding and effector functions. While both low- and high-dose vaccines induced robust humoral immune responses following vaccination, the quality of antibody features differed between the dose groups. Notably, while no significant difference was observed between the groups in the induction of most S1-specific antibody features, the high-dose group exhibited higher levels of antibodies and a stronger Fc receptor binding response specific to the S2 antigen. Moreover, univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the high-dose vaccine induced higher levels of S2-specific antibodies binding to FcγR2A and FcγR3B, closely associated with antibody-dependent neutrophil phagocytosis (ADNP). Further analysis using the Omicron BA.2 variant demonstrated that the high-dose group maintained significantly higher levels of IgG and FcγR3B binding to the S2 antigen and exhibited a significantly higher ADNP response for the S2 antigen compared with the low-dose group. These findings underscore the importance of considering diverse humoral immune responses when evaluating vaccine efficacy and provide insights for optimizing adenovirus vector-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses.IMPORTANCEOptimization of vaccine dose is crucial for eliciting effective immune responses. In addition to neutralizing antibodies, non-neutralizing antibodies that mediate Fc-dependent effector functions play a key role in protection against various infectious diseases, including coronavirus disease 2019. Using a systems serology approach, we demonstrated significant dose-dependent differences in the humoral immune responses induced by the AdCLD-CoV19-1 chimeric adenovirus-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine, particularly against the SARS-CoV-2 spike 2 domain. These findings highlight the importance of assessing not only neutralizing antibody titers but also the quality and functionality of antibody responses when evaluating vaccine efficacy., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a life-threatening infection commonly observed in immunocompromised patients, necessitating prompt diagnosis and treatment. This review evaluates the diagnostic performance of various tests used for PJP diagnosis through a comprehensive literature review. Additionally, we propose a diagnostic algorithm tailored to non-human immunodeficiency virus immunocompromised patients, considering the specific characteristics of current medical resources in Korea., (© 2025 by The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases, Korean Society for Antimicrobial Therapy, The Korean Society for AIDS, and Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.)

Selecting the optimal surgical treatment for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy significantly affects symptom improvement, postoperative prognosis, and quality of life. Proper patient selection and precise surgical execution are crucial for achieving successful outcomes, considering the favorable natural course of cervical radiculopathy. Several factors must be considered, including the number of affected segments, spinal alignment, kyphosis degree, stiffness, and surgeon expertise, when determining the surgical approach for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. An anterior approach is commonly used in cases that involve fewer than three segments with mild kyphosis, whereas posterior laminoplasty or anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) are effective for cases with more than three segments with maintained lordosis. Both the degree of stiffness and spinal cord compression need to be considered for cases with kyphotic deformity. ACDF may be suitable when anterior structures are the primary source of compression and mild kyphosis is present. The decision between laminoplasty or laminectomy and fusion depends on the kyphosis degree for multilevel compression with kyphosis. An evaluation of cervical rigidity is required for severe kyphosis, and posterior laminectomy and fusion may be effective for flexible kyphosis, whereas a staged posterior-anterior-posterior approach may be required for rigid kyphosis to address both deformity and neural compression. This review summarizes recent research and presents illustrative cases of optimal surgical decision-making for various cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and myelopathy presentations.

Background & Aims: Papillary neoplasms of the biliary tree, including intraductal papillary neoplasms (IPN) and intracholecystic papillary neoplasms (ICPN), are recognized as precancerous lesions. However, the genetic characteristics underlying sequential carcinogenesis remain unclear., Methods: Whole-exome sequencing was performed on 166 neoplasms (33 intrahepatic IPNs, 44 extrahepatic IPNs, and 89 ICPNs), and 41 associated carcinomas. Nine available cases were also subjected to spatial transcriptomic analysis., Results: Mutations in the MAPK (48%), genomic integrity maintenance (42%), and Wnt/β-catenin (33%) pathways were prevalent in intrahepatic IPNs, extrahepatic IPNs, and ICPNs, respectively. KRAS mutations were enriched in intrahepatic IPN (42%, P<0.001), whereas SMAD4 mutations were enriched in extrahepatic IPN (21%, P=0.005). ICPNs frequently exhibit CTNNB1 mutations, particularly in low-grade lesions. Mutational signature analysis revealed that SBS1 and SBS5 signatures were homogeneously enriched in intrahepatic IPN, in contrast to the heterogeneous distribution of SBS1, SBS2, SBS5, SBS13, SBS7b, and SBS23 in extrahepatic IPN and ICPN. Copy number aberrations gradually increased from low- to high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and eventually to carcinoma. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 89% of carcinomas were derived from IPN/ICPN through sequential carcinogenesis, with the majority sharing driver mutations between IPN/ICPN and carcinoma. Furthermore, multifocal, independent carcinogenesis events were observed in IPNs/ICPNs, resulting in mutationally distinct carcinoma lesions. Carcinogenesis of IPN/ICPN occurs in multiple subclones through mutational accumulation and transcriptomic alterations that affect vascular development, cell morphogenesis, extracellular matrix organization, and growth factor response., Conclusions: With the largest IPN/ICPN cohort reported to date, our study provides a genome- and spatial transcriptome-level portrait of sequential carcinogenesis and differences in the anatomical location of biliary papillary neoplasms., Impact and Implications: Biliary tract cancer is a fatal malignancy. However, its genome-level sequential carcinogenesis from intraepithelial neoplasia to carcinoma has not yet been evaluated in a sufficiently large cohort. Papillary lesions of the bile duct and gallbladder are collectively termed intraductal papillary neoplasms (IPN) of the bile duct and intracholecystic papillary neoplasms (ICPN), respectively. They are primarily diagnosed based on histopathological studies. This study provides a comprehensive mutational and spatial transcriptomic landscape of papillary neoplasms of the bile duct and gallbladder. The results of this study offer insights into the mechanism of sequential carcinogenesis in papillary biliary tract tumors, pathology-genomics correlation, and potential therapeutic targets., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2025 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study aimed to compare long-term clinical outcomes of percutaneous needle biopsy (PCNB) versus surgical biopsy in patients with peripheral, small-sized clinical stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with computed tomography (CT)-defined visceral pleural invasion (VPI)., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent surgery for NSCLC with CT-defined VPI between 2010 and 2017. We excluded patients with non-peripheral NSCLC, or cancers > 3 cm. Propensity score matching was carried out to adjust for confounding variables. The primary endpoint was ipsilateral pleural recurrence-free survival, while secondary endpoints included overall survival and recurrence-free survival., Results: Of the 1671 patients with peripheral, small-sized clinical stage 1 NSCLC with CT-defined VPI, 805 underwent PCNB, and 866 had a surgical biopsy. Propensity score matching assigned 562 patients to each group. Before matching, the PCNB group demonstrated worse baseline characteristics, including older age, higher smoking history, and more adverse pathological findings. After matching, the 5-year recurrence-free survival for ipsilateral pleural recurrence (98.6% vs. 96.0%, p = 0.002) and overall survival (93.8% vs. 90.2%, p = 0.003) were significantly higher in the surgical biopsy group compared with the PCNB group. Multivariable analysis revealed that PCNB significantly increased the risks of all-cause mortality and various recurrences before and after matching., Conclusions: Compared with surgery biopsy, PCNB was associated with higher risks of all-cause mortality and recurrences, including ipsilateral pleural recurrence. PCNB should be considered with caution in cases of peripheral stage 1 NSCLC where CT-defined VPI is suspected., (© 2024 The Author(s). Thoracic Cancer published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

The detailed anisotropic dispersion of the low-temperature, low-energy magnetic excitations of the candidate spin-triplet superconductor UTe 2 is revealed using inelastic neutron scattering. The magnetic excitations emerge from the Brillouin zone boundary at the high symmetry Y and T points and disperse along the crystallographic b ^ -axis. In applied magnetic fields to at least μ 0 H = 11 T along the c ^ - axis , the magnetism is found to be field-independent in the ( h k 0) plane. The scattering intensity is consistent with that expected from U 3+ /U 4+   f -electron spins with preferential orientation along the crystallographic a ^ -axis, and a fluctuating magnetic moment of μ e f f =1.7(5) μ B . We propose interband spin excitons arising from f -electron hybridization as a possible origin of the magnetic excitations in UTe 2 ., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests., (© This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply 2025.)