Probing magnetic anisotropy and spin-reorientation transition in 3D antiferromagnet, Ho0.5_{0.5}Dy0.5_{0.5}FeO3∣_{3}\vertPt using spin Hall magnetoresistance

Orthoferrites ($RE$FeO$_{3}$) containing rare-earth ($RE$) elements are 3D antiferromagnets (AFM) that exhibit characteristic weak ferromagnetism originating due to slight canting of the spin moments and display a rich variety of spin reorientation transitions in the magnetic field ($H$)-temperature ($T$) parameter space. We present spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) studies on a $b$-plate ($ac$-plane) of crystalline Ho$_{0.5}$Dy$_{0.5}$FeO$_{3}|$Pt (HDFO$|$Pt) hybrid at various $T$ in the range, 11 to 300 K. In the room temperature $\Gamma_4(G_x, A_y, F_z)$ phase, the switching between two degenerate domains, $\Gamma_4(+G_x, +F_z)$ and $\Gamma_4(-G_x, -F_z)$ occurs at fields above a critical value, $H_{\text{c}} \approx 713$ Oe. Under $H > H_{\text{c}}$, the angular dependence of SMR ($\alpha$-scan) in the $\Gamma_4(G_x, A_y, F_z)$ phase yielded a highly skewed curve with a sharp change (sign-reversal) along with a rotational hysteresis around $a$-axis. This hysteresis decreases with an increase in $H$. Notably, at $H < H_{\text{c}}$, the $\alpha$-scan measurements on the single domain, $\Gamma_4(\pm G_x, \pm F_z)$ exhibited an anomalous sinusoidal signal of periodicity 360 deg. Low-$T$ SMR curves ($H$ = 2.4 kOe), showed a systematic narrowing of the hysteresis (down to 150 K) and a gradual reduction in the skewness (150 to 52 K), suggesting weakening of the anisotropy possibly due to the $T$-evolution of Fe-$RE$ exchange coupling. Below 25 K, the SMR modulation showed an abrupt change around the $c$-axis, marking the presence of $\Gamma_2(F_x,C_y,G_z)$ phase. We have employed a simple Hamiltonian and computed SMR to examine the observed skewed SMR modulation. In summary, SMR is found to be an effective tool to probe magnetic anisotropy as well as a spin reorientation in HDFO. Our spin-transport study highlights the potential of HDFO for future AFM spintronic devices.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

How to salvage a salvage endoprosthesis.

Custom-made endoprostheses can be linked to existing well-fixed implants in the treatment of complex periprosthetic femoral fractures. By adopting this salvage approach, secure implants can be retained in favour of patients undergoing more tissue disruptive procedures such as total femoral replacements. In this piece, we present a unique case illustrating a salvage strategy for treating a failed cement-linked salvage endoprosthesis, a complex scenario which to our knowledge has never before been reported

Multiorgan MRI findings after hospitalisation with COVID-19 in the UK (C-MORE): a prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study

Introduction: The multiorgan impact of moderate to severe coronavirus infections in the post-acute phase is still poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate the excess burden of multiorgan abnormalities after hospitalisation with COVID-19, evaluate their determinants, and explore associations with patient-related outcome measures. Methods: In a prospective, UK-wide, multicentre MRI follow-up study (C-MORE), adults (aged ≥18 years) discharged from hospital following COVID-19 who were included in Tier 2 of the Post-hospitalisation COVID-19 study (PHOSP-COVID) and contemporary controls with no evidence of previous COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibody negative) underwent multiorgan MRI (lungs, heart, brain, liver, and kidneys) with quantitative and qualitative assessment of images and clinical adjudication when relevant. Individuals with end-stage renal failure or contraindications to MRI were excluded. Participants also underwent detailed recording of symptoms, and physiological and biochemical tests. The primary outcome was the excess burden of multiorgan abnormalities (two or more organs) relative to controls, with further adjustments for potential confounders. The C-MORE study is ongoing and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04510025. Findings: Of 2710 participants in Tier 2 of PHOSP-COVID, 531 were recruited across 13 UK-wide C-MORE sites. After exclusions, 259 C-MORE patients (mean age 57 years [SD 12]; 158 [61%] male and 101 [39%] female) who were discharged from hospital with PCR-confirmed or clinically diagnosed COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and Nov 1, 2021, and 52 non-COVID-19 controls from the community (mean age 49 years [SD 14]; 30 [58%] male and 22 [42%] female) were included in the analysis. Patients were assessed at a median of 5·0 months (IQR 4·2–6·3) after hospital discharge. Compared with non-COVID-19 controls, patients were older, living with more obesity, and had more comorbidities. Multiorgan abnormalities on MRI were more frequent in patients than in controls (157 [61%] of 259 vs 14 [27%] of 52; p&lt;0·0001) and independently associated with COVID-19 status (odds ratio [OR] 2·9 [95% CI 1·5–5·8]; padjusted=0·0023) after adjusting for relevant confounders. Compared with controls, patients were more likely to have MRI evidence of lung abnormalities (p=0·0001; parenchymal abnormalities), brain abnormalities (p&lt;0·0001; more white matter hyperintensities and regional brain volume reduction), and kidney abnormalities (p=0·014; lower medullary T1 and loss of corticomedullary differentiation), whereas cardiac and liver MRI abnormalities were similar between patients and controls. Patients with multiorgan abnormalities were older (difference in mean age 7 years [95% CI 4–10]; mean age of 59·8 years [SD 11·7] with multiorgan abnormalities vs mean age of 52·8 years [11·9] without multiorgan abnormalities; p&lt;0·0001), more likely to have three or more comorbidities (OR 2·47 [1·32–4·82]; padjusted=0·0059), and more likely to have a more severe acute infection (acute CRP &gt;5mg/L, OR 3·55 [1·23–11·88]; padjusted=0·025) than those without multiorgan abnormalities. Presence of lung MRI abnormalities was associated with a two-fold higher risk of chest tightness, and multiorgan MRI abnormalities were associated with severe and very severe persistent physical and mental health impairment (PHOSP-COVID symptom clusters) after hospitalisation. Interpretation: After hospitalisation for COVID-19, people are at risk of multiorgan abnormalities in the medium term. Our findings emphasise the need for proactive multidisciplinary care pathways, with the potential for imaging to guide surveillance frequency and therapeutic stratification

Characterization of small geometry LDD MOSFETs with non-pinned flat band voltage

552-557A semi-empirical model to analyze the <span style="font-size: 13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";="" mso-fareast-font-family:hiddenhorzocr"="" lang="EN-IN">small geometry (short and narrow) effects in LDD MOSEFTs incorporating the dependence of flatband voltage on channel length and width is developed. The analysis includes the short channel, narrow width, LDD and DIBL effects. An expression for threshold voltage based on the effective charge contained in the channel is obtained and the results so obtained are in good agreement with the experimental data. If noise is also evaluated incorporating the voltage drop in n ¯ region and charge induced due to flatband voltage, which matches well with experimental data. </span

Analysis of the Topology of Vibrio cholerae NorM and Identification of Amino Acid Residues Involved in Norfloxacin Resistance

NorM, a putative efflux pump of Vibrio cholerae, is a member of the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion family of transporters. We demonstrate that NorM confers resistance to norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and ethidium bromide. Inactivation of norM rendered V. cholerae hypersensitive towards these fluoroquinolones. Multiple sequence alignment of members of its family identified several regions of high sequence conservation. The topology of NorM was determined using β-lactamase and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase fusions. The amino acid residues G(184), K(185), G(187), P(189), E(190), G(192), and G(195) in the periplasmic loops and L(381), R(382), G(383), Y(384), K(385), and D(386) in the cytoplasmic loops, as well as all the acidic and cysteine residues of NorM, were mutated. Mutants G184V, G184W, K185I, P189S, E190K, and E190A lost the norfloxacin resistance-imparting phenotype characteristic of NorM. Mutants E124V, D155V, G187V, G187R, C196S, Y384H, Y384S, and Y384F exhibited partial resistance to norfloxacin. Mutants with replacements of G(184) or G(187) by A, K(185) by R, and E(190) by D retained the norfloxacin resistance phenotype of NorM. Analysis of the accumulation of norfloxacin in intact cells of Escherichia coli expressing NorM or its mutants in the presence or absence of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone supported the results obtained through susceptibility testing and argued in favor of NorM-mediated efflux as the determining factor in norfloxacin susceptibility in the genetically manipulated strains. Taken together, these results suggested that E(124), D(155), G(184), K(185), G(187), P(189), E(190), C(196), and Y(384) are likely involved in NorM-dependent norfloxacin efflux. Except for D(155), C(196), and Y(384), all of these residues are located in periplasmic loops

3D Imaging for Hindfoot Alignment: A Comparative Study between MRI and Weight Bearing CT

CATEGORY: Hindfoot; Other INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Hindfoot malalignment is a common finding in multiple foot and ankle pathologies. In clinical practice, it is usually quantified through traditional weight bearing radiographs or, more recently, through cone beam weight bearing CT (CB- WBCT), which overcomes issues related to two-dimensional imaging. Interestingly, a few studies have suggested that hindfoot alignment can also be accurately assessed using non-weight bearing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of this study was to compare measurements of hindfoot alignment on non-weight bearing ankle MRI and CB-WBCT and to establish if there was any correlation. METHODS: In this Level III retrospective comparative study, a database review identified 51 feet in 47 patients (27 males, 20 females; mean age of 45 (range 13-79)) which had both CB-WBCT and MRI scans on the same day as part of standard care at our specialist tertiary referral Foot and Ankle Unit. Hindfoot alignment was assessed by independent Consultant Musculoskeletal specialists. The foot ankle offset (FAO), calcaneal offset (CO) and hindfoot alignment angle (HA) were assessed on CB-WBCT using dedicated software. The tibiocalcaneal angle (TCA) and calcaneofibular ligament angle (CFLA) were assessed on non-weight bearing MRI. Pearson correlation was used to evaluate the correlation between these measurements. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant positive correlation between TCA on non-weight bearing MRI and each measurement on CB-WBCT (Pearson correlation for TCA and FAO: 0.42, p=0.003; for TCA and CO: 0.46, p=0.001; and for TCA and HA: 0.40, p=0.005).We also demonstrated a moderate-to-low negative but significant correlation between CFLA and CO (Pearson correlation: -0.35; p=0.03). Conversely, the negative correlation between CFL and FAO (Pearson correlation: -0.29; p=0.07) and CFL with HA (Pearson correlation: -0.26; p=0.11) did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Weight bearing three-dimensional imaging has shown high degrees of accuracy and reproducibility for hindfoot alignment. The significant correlation between TCA on non-weight bearing MRI and hindfoot alignment measurements on CB- WBCT suggests that TCA should be reported during routine ankle MRI in order to put into context some of the soft-tissue findings. The CFLA shows a less significant negative correlation

3D imaging for hindfoot alignment assessment: a comparative study between non-weight-bearing MRI and weight-bearing CT

The authors compared measurements of hindfoot alignment on MR imaging with weight-bearing CT (WB-CT) to establish the degree of correlation. Forty-seven feet in 44 patients had weight-bearing CT and MRI studies performed on the same day

Laccase in Biorefinery of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Biorefinery has emerged in recent years as an alternative to petrorefinery, as biofuels have all the potential to replace fossil fuels for the sustainable development of human society. From this aspect, lignocellulosic biomasses are the most important, since these are the most abundant ubiquitous most raw material on earth, which can be converted into biofuels such as bioethanol, biobutanol, biohydrogen, biogas, etc. There are several strategies for conversion, such as biochemical, thermochemical, and microbial conversions of biomasses to biofuels; however, each of the strategies has its own consequences. Enzymatic conversion of biomasses into sugars, and thereby into bioethanol, is considered as the most sustainable way. However, biomass recalcitrance to enzymatic hydrolysis is the biggest challenge, as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin are intricately attached to each other making their separation a tedious task. Pretreatment is necessary to partially remove or change the form of lignin to make cellulose and hemicellulose accessible to enzymes. Most of the pretreatment methods are designed to target lignin, as it is the major component responsible for recalcitrance nature of biomasses. Laccase is a versatile lignin-degrading or lignin-modifying enzyme which is secreted by filamentous fungi and bacteria, and is reported for the biological pretreatment of biomasses, which is the most sustainable way of pretreatment. However, the rate of the reaction is extremely slow making it less attractive. This article will give an insight into the biorefinery of biomasses, with the special significance to laccase