Multiband superconductivity in the correlated electron filled skutterudite system Pr(1-x)Ce(x)Pt4Ge12

Studies of superconductivity in multiband correlated electronic systems has become one of the central topics in condensed matter/materials physics. In this paper, we present the results of thermodynamic measurements on the superconducting filled skutterudite system Pr$_{1-x}$Ce$_x$Pt$_4$Ge$_{12}$ ($0 \leq x \leq 0.2$) to investigate how substitution of Ce at Pr sites affects superconductivity. We find that an increase in Ce concentration leads to a suppression of the superconducting transition temperature from $T_{c}\sim 7.9$ K for $x=0$ to $T_c\sim 0.6$ K for $x=0.14$. Our analysis of the specific heat data for $x\leq 0.07$ reveals that superconductivity must develop in at least two bands: the superconducting order parameter has nodes on one Fermi pocket and remains fully gapped on the other. Both the nodal and nodeless gap values decrease, with the nodal gap being suppressed more strongly, with Ce substitution. Ultimately, the higher Ce concentration samples ($x>0.07$) display a nodeless gap only.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Multi-aspect analysis of ureteral access sheath usage in retrograde intrarenal surgery: A RIRSearch group study

Objective: To evaluate the effect of ureteral access sheath (UAS) use and calibration change on stone-free rate and complications of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). Methods: Data from 568 patients undergoing RIRS for kidney or upper ureteral stones were retrospectively included. Firstly, patients were compared after 1:1 propensity score matching, according to UAS usage during RIRS (UAS used [+] 87 and UAS non-used [?] 87 patients). Then all UAS+ patients (n=481) were subdivided according to UAS calibration: 9.5–11.5 Fr, 10–12 Fr, 11–13 Fr, and 13–15 Fr. Primary outcomes of the study were the success and complications of RIRS. Results: Stone-free rate of UAS+ patients (86.2%) was significantly higher than UAS? patients (70.1%) after propensity score matching (p=0.01). Stone-free rate increased with higher caliber UAS (9.5–11.5 Fr: 66.7%; 10–12 Fr: 87.3%; 11–13 Fr: 91.3%; 13–15 Fr: 100%; p<0.0001). Postoperative complications of UAS+ patients (11.5%) were significantly lower than UAS? patients (27.6%) (p=0.01). Complications (8.7%) with 9.5–11.5 Fr UAS was lower than thicker UAS (17.3%) but was not statistically significant (p=0.08). UAS usage was an independent factor predicting stone-free status or peri- and post-operative complications (odds ratio [OR] 3.654, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.314–10.162; OR 4.443, 95% CI 1.350–14.552; OR 4.107, 95% CI 1.366–12.344, respectively). Conclusion: Use of UAS in RIRS may increase stone-free rates, which also increase with higher caliber UAS. UAS usage may reduce complications; however, complications seemingly increase with higher UAS calibration. © 2022 Editorial Office of Asian Journal of Urolog

A variational approach to waveform design for synthetic aperture imaging

Abstract. We derive an optimal transmit waveform for filtered backprojectionbased synthetic-aperture imaging. The waveform is optimal in terms of minimising the mean square error (MSE) in the resulting image. Our optimization is performed in two steps: First, we consider the minimum-mean-square-error (MMSE) for an arbitrary but fixed waveform, and derive the corresponding filter for the filtered backprojection reconstruction. Second, the MMSE is further reduced by finding an optimal transmit waveform. The transmit waveform is derived for stochastic models of the scattering objects of interest (targets), other scattering objects (clutter), and additive noise. We express the waveform in terms of spatial spectra for the random fields associated with target and clutter, and the spectrum for the noise process. This approach results in a constraint that involves only the amplitude of the Fourier transform of the transmit waveform. Therefore, considerable flexibility is left for incorporating additional requirements, such as minimal variation of transmit amplitude and phase-coding

4,5-Bis(2,4-di-tert-butyl­phen­oxy)phthalonitrile

In the title compound, C36H44N2O2, the dihedral angles between the phthalonitrile ring and the two di-tert-butyl­benzene rings are 68.134 (8) and 70.637 (11)°. The two nitrile groups are almost coplanar with the phthalonitrile ring except for one of the N atoms which deviates from the plane by 0.125 (4) Å. One of the tert-butyl groups is disordered over two orientations, with refined occupancies of 0.814 (6) and 0.186 (6). Intra­molecular C—H⋯O inter­actions stabilize the molecular structure. The crystal packing is stabilized by inter­molecular C—H⋯N inter­actions

Clinical spectrum of early onset “Mediterranean” (homozygous p.P131L mutation) mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is an autosomal recessive mitochondrial disorder characterized by cumulative and progressive gastrointestinal and neurological findings. This retrospective observational study, aimed to explore the time of presentation, diagnosis and clinical follow-up of 13 patients with a confirmed MNGIE disease of Mediterranean origin. The mean age of symptom onset was 7 years (6 months−21 years) and the average diagnosis age was 15.4 years ±8.4. Four of 13 patients (30%) died before 30 years at the mean age of 19.7 years ±6.8. Cachexia and gastrointestinal symptoms were observed in all patients (100%). The mean body mass index standard deviation score at diagnosis was 4.8 ± 2.8. At least three subocclusive episodes were presented in patients who died in last year of their life. The main neurological symptom found in most patients was peripheral neuropathy (92%). Ten patients (77%) had leukoencephalopathy and the remaining three patients without were under 10 years of age. The new homozygous “Mediterranean” TYMP mutation, p.P131L (c.392 C > T) was associated with an early presentation and poor prognosis in nine patients (69%) from five separates families. Based on the observations from this Mediterranean MNGIE cohort, we propose that the unexplained abdominal pain combined with cachexia is an indicator of MNGIE. High-platelet counts and nerve conduction studies may be supportive laboratory findings and the frequent subocclusive episodes could be a negative prognostic factor for mortality. Finally, the homozygous p.P131L (c.392 C > T) mutation could be associated with rapid progressive disease with poor prognosis

METIS research advances towards the 5G mobile and wireless system definition

[EN] The Mobile and wireless communications Enablers for the Twenty-twenty Information Society (METIS) project is laying the foundations of Fifth Generation (5G) mobile and wireless communication system putting together the point of view of vendors, operators, vertical players, and academia. METIS envisions a 5G system concept that efficiently integrates new applications developed in the METIS horizontal topics and evolved versions of existing services and systems. This article provides a first view on the METIS system concept, highlights the main features including architecture, and addresses the challenges while discussing perspectives for the further research work.Part of this work has been performed in the framework of the FP7 project ICT-317669 METIS, which is partly funded by the European Commission. The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of their colleagues in METIS with special thanks to Petar Popovski, Peter Fertl, David Gozalvez-Serrano, Andreas Hoglund, Zexian Li, and Krystian Pawlak. Also thanks to Josef Eichinger and Malte Schellmann for the fruitful discussions during the revision of this article.Monserrat Del Río, JF.; Mange, G.; Braun, V.; Tullberg, H.; Zimmermann, G.; Bulakci, O. (2015). METIS research advances towards the 5G mobile and wireless system definition. 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