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Below the Néel temperature, TN ∼ 220 K, at least two nano-scale antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases coexist in the polar polymorph of the BiFe0.5Sc0.5O3 perovskite; one of these phases is a weak ferromagnetic. Non-uniform structure distortions induced by high-pressure synthesis lead to competing AFM orders and a nano-scale spontaneous magnetic phase separated state of the compound. Interface exchange coupling between the AFM domains and the weak ferromagnetic domains causes unidirectional anisotropy of magnetization, resulting in the exchange bias (EB) effect. The EB field, HEB, and the coercive field strongly depend on temperature and the strength of the cooling magnetic field. HEB increases with an increase in the cooling magnetic field and reaches a maximum value of about 1 kOe at 5 K. The exchange field vanishes above TN with the disappearance of long-range magnetic ordering. The effect is promising for applications in electronics as it is large enough and as it is tunable by temperature and the magnetic field applied during cooling.

A general characteristics of a car hydraulic braking system (CHBS) is presented in this publication. A graphical model of properties-component objects is developed for the above-mentioned system. Moreover, four mathematical models in terms of logic, the set theory and the Boolean algebra of Boolean functions are developed. The examination is ended with a general model of the CHBS for n - Boolean variables and the construction and mathematical-technical interpretation of this model is presented.

We study the geometry and topology of certain moduli spaces of stable bundles of (arbitrary) even rank on a hyperelliptic Riemann surface, by using a description involving twistor spaces. We show that there are interesting relations to the quaternionic geometry of real grassmannians.

Chez les races caprines saisonnées, les méthodes d’amélioration de production et de conservation de semence doivent prendre en considération l’influence de l’environnement et en particulier de la photopériode. Par la fonction qu’elle exerce sur la régulation du développement gonadique, celle-ci contribue indirectement au contrôle du comportement sexuel et de la production de sperme, tant du point de vue quantitatif que qualitatif. L’utilisation de traitements photopériodiques constitue donc un outil efficace pour augmenter la production des doses de sperme destinées à l’insémination artificielle durant la carrière de reproducteur du bouc. Afin d’optimiser la production et la qualité de la semence, une sélection préalable des mâles est cependant nécessaire. Un problème spécifique dans la conservation de la semence de bouc est l’effet délétère du plasma séminal sur la viabilité des spermatozoïdes après congélation / décongélation, principalement lorsqu’ils sont dilués dans des milieux à base de lait ou de jaune d’œuf. La protéine responsable de cet effet est une enzyme sécrétée par les glandes bulbo-uréthrales appartenant à la famille des lipases pancréatiques et qui possède une double activité lipasique et phospholipasique. La conservation de la semence à l’état liquide, peu coûteuse, est un complément à la cryconservation pour développer l’insémination artificielle à grande échelle. Mais la diminution de la fécondance après 12 heures de conservation est un frein à l’utilisation de cette technique. Les méthodes de congélation disponibles actuellement diffèrent sur plusieurs aspects. Les plus efficaces incluent le lavage de la semence pour éliminer le plasma séminal dès la collecte.

/min grade at pressure 0.6 Mpa. The essence of the method and results of investigations of different factors on tightness tests procedure are presented in the work.

The main effort of the laser-driven ion acceleration community is aimed at improving particle beam features (in terms of final maximum energy, particle charge, and beam divergence) and to demonstrate reliable approaches for use for multidisciplinary applications. An ion acceleration target area based on unique laser capabilities is available at ELI-Beamlines (Extreme Light Infrastructure) in the Czech Republic; it is called ELIMAIA (ELI Multidisciplinary Applications of laser-Ion Acceleration) and aims to provide stable and characterized beams of particles accelerated by high-power lasers to offer them to the user community for interdisciplinary studies. The ELIMAIA section dedicated to ion focusing, selection, characterization, and irradiation is named ELIMED (ELI MEDical and multidisciplinary applications). Thanks to ELIMED, very high-dose-rate (around Gy/min) controlled proton and ion beams, with energy levels ranging from 5 to 250 MeV, will be transported to an in-air section dedicated to absolute and relative dosimetry of the laser-generated ions. A transmission dual-gap air ionization chamber will allow an on-line, non-destructive characterization of the ion dose at the user sample irradiation point. The uncertainty in the final dose released onto the sample is expected to be well below 5%. An ELIMED radiobiology pilot experiment is scheduled for 2021, during which in-vitro cell irradiations will be carried out with well-controlled proton beams. In this work, the status of the ELIMED/ELIMAIA beamline will be described along with a complete definition of the main dosimetric systems and of their calibrations carried out at conventional accelerators.

We develop deformation theory for abelian invariant complex structures on a nilmanifold, and prove that in this case the invariance property is preserved by the Kuranishi process. A purely algebraic condition characterizes the deformations leading again to abelian structures, and we prove that such deformations are unobstructed. Various examples illustrate the resulting theory, and the behavior possible in three complex dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are many nonpharmacological pain management services available to hospitalized youth; however, not all youth are offered these services. Lack of knowledge about resources, difficulty with the referral process, and lack of understanding about nonpharmacological pain management services and when to refer patients are among the main reasons for lack of utilization. Quality improvement (QI) initiatives have grown within hospital settings and can serve to create change in fast-paced environments. Methods: The current QI project aimed to pilot an educational program to increase the use of nonpharmacological pain management interventions. Staff located on one floor of a pediatric hospital on the East Coast were selected because of the wide range of patient presentations and likelihood that these youth may present with pain during the hospitalization. Following several incremental changes and multiple PDSA cycles, utilization of nonpharmacological pain management services was assessed. Results: Education only did not result in increases in nonpharmacological pain management services ordered. A best practice alert for nursing staff, implemented within the electronic medical record, led to a 50% increase in services ordered. Conclusions: These results suggest that to improve use of nonpharmacological pain management strategies, hospital systems may need to consider more than education.

The post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is a complex condition. While there are emerging studies on its effects in adults, there is scarce research regarding the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection among youth. Several researchers have likened long-haul COVID-19 to chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). In adults, the prognosis for these diagnoses is less promising than that in youth; however, there is currently very little information available on the presentation of youth with PASC. A better understanding of the specific symptom presentation for youth diagnosed with PASC is necessary. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted collecting demographic data, COVID-19 symptoms and disease progression, and vaccination status. Additional data on referrals to a PASC treatment program and appointments attended were collected. Overall, data suggested that youth present with less severe PASC symptoms than adults, and the role of vaccination is unclear. These youth are often not referred to treatment programs. More exploration is necessary to continue to build an understanding of how best to aid youth diagnosed with PASC.

Vps34 is a lipid kinase conserved from yeast to humans and involved in in intracellular vesicular trafficking and autophagy. Here Bilanges et al. show that inhibition of this kinase in mice improves glucose tolerance and diet-induced steatosis by modulating mitochondrial respiration and metabolism.

Youth with chronic pain and youth who have experienced stressors are at risk for poor outcomes; however, little is known about the intersection of pain and stressors. This study aims to understand the prevalence of stressors among youth with chronic pain and the relationship between stressors and pain-related outcomes. Seven hundred and seventy youth with chronic pain aged 8–18 (Mage = 14.15 years, 70% female) reported pain characteristics, stressors, anxiety, disability, and quality of life. Most participants (82%) endorsed at least one stressor. A greater number of stressors was significantly related to greater anxiety and disability, and lower levels of quality of life. School stressors were significantly associated with functional disability; family, school, and peer stressors were significantly associated with anxiety and quality of life. Stressors are common in youth with chronic pain, and the presence of stressors is related to greater functional impairment. The results of this preliminary study using semi-structured clinical interviews suggest the importance of developing a validated measure that encompasses a wide variety of stressors for youth with pain. Future research on patient-reported stressors, relative intensity, and impact are needed.

Recurrent pain is a common experience in childhood and adolescence and can result in significant disability in youth, including poor quality of life, school absences, and reduced social activities. Evidence has linked adolescent risk and resilience factors with treatment outcomes. However, less research has focused on examining risk and resilience factors that may influence or predict adolescents’ compliance to treatment within an interdisciplinary pediatric chronic pain management program. Participants included 64 adolescents (M = 15.00 ± 1.69 years); 85.9% female, 84.4% Caucasian who presented to an initial evaluation in an interdisciplinary pediatric pain management program with their caregiver. Youth completed a series of questionnaires at the initial evaluation targeting pain acceptance, self-efficacy, pain catastrophizing, parental responses, pain intensity, and functional disability. Treatment compliance was measured at 3 and 6 months post-intake. Findings indicated that higher levels of adolescent-reported self-efficacy predict decreased treatment session attendance, whereas lower levels of acceptance and parental encouragement/monitoring of symptoms predict increased treatment compliance overall. Several adolescent-reported risk factors were associated with increased functional impairment among this sample. Results highlight the unique importance of risk and resilience factors within the developmental context of adolescence, while also emphasizing the need for further investigation of other relevant influences towards treatment compliance and functional impairment.

In contrast to the class I phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks), the organismal roles of the kinase activity of the class II PI3Ks are less clear. Here, we report that class II PI3K-C2β kinase-dead mice are viable and healthy but display an unanticipated enhanced insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, as well as protection against high-fat-diet-induced liver steatosis. Despite having a broad tissue distribution, systemic PI3K-C2β inhibition selectively enhances insulin signaling only in metabolic tissues. In a primary hepatocyte model, basal PI3P lipid levels are reduced by 60% upon PI3K-C2β inhibition. This results in an expansion of the very early APPL1-positive endosomal compartment and altered insulin receptor trafficking, correlating with an amplification of insulin-induced, class I PI3K-dependent Akt signaling, without impacting MAPK activity. These data reveal PI3K-C2β as a critical regulator of endosomal trafficking, specifically in insulin signaling, and identify PI3K-C2β as a potential drug target for insulin sensitization.