Emergent localized states at the interface of a twofold PT\mathcal{PT}-symmetric lattice

We consider the role of non-triviality resulting from a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian that conserves twofold PT-symmetry assembled by interconnections between a PT-symmetric lattice and its time reversal partner. Twofold PT-symmetry in the lattice produces additional surface exceptional points that play the role of new critical points, along with the bulk exceptional point. We show that there are two distinct regimes possessing symmetry-protected localized states, of which localization lengths are robust against external gain and loss. The states are demonstrated by numerical calculation of a quasi-1D ladder lattice and a 2D bilayered square lattice.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

The safety and efficacy of laparoscopic retrograde appendicectomy, base-to-tip approach

BackgroundLaparoscopic appendicectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures worldwide. There is limited evidence evaluating the role and safety of laparoscopic retrograde appendicectomy (LRA), base to tip approach, compared to standard laparoscopic antegrade appendicectomy (LAA), tip to base approach. This study aims to assess the safety of LRA compared to LAA in terms of intra-abdominal collection (IAC) rate and using Sunshine Appendicitis Grading System (SAGS).MethodsRecords of two-hundred and seventy-three patients undergoing laparoscopic appendicectomy by LAA and LRA approaches were analysed. The severity of appendicitis was rated using a standardised Sunshine Appendicitis Grading System (SAGS) score intra-operatively. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of an intra-abdominal collection, and secondary measures were procedure time, post-operative length of stay and other complications.ResultsOf the two-hundred and seventy-three patients, there were two patients who developed an intra-abdominal collection. Both patients were in the LAA group with SAGS IV scores. Between SAGS IV patients, Chi-squared p value of 0.6691. Therefore, there was no statically significant difference in the intra-abdominal collection (IAC) rate between LAA and LRA groups from this study.ConclusionsThe current study has shown that laparoscopic retrograde appendicectomy (LRA) does not increase risk of intra-abdominal collection compared to laparoscopic antegrade appendicectomy (LAA) within the limit of this study

What is Store Window Creativity? The Effect of Store Window Creativity on Window Attitude and Intention to Visit a Store

The current research attempts to investigate the multi-dimensional structure of creativity in store window displays based on originality and relevance and its effect on customer responses

Clinical significance of left atrial anatomic abnormalities identified by cardiac computed tomography

Purpose: The clinical significance of newly identified left atrial anatomic abnormalities (LAAA)— accessory appendages, diverticula, septal pouches—by multidetector CT (MDCT) remains unclear. Similar anatomical outpouchings, i.e., the left atrial appendage, have been associated with cardioembolisms and arrhythmia. To test the hypothesis that LAAA are also associated with increased risk of these events, we performed a retrospective analysis to examine the association of LAAA in patients undergoing CT with embolic events and arrhythmia. Methods: 242 patients (mean age 56 SD 12 years, 41% female) were selected who had CT coronary angiography performed with 64-row MDCT between 2007 and 2012 if complete clinical history records were available. CT images were independently reviewed for the presence of LAAA. Association of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or transient ischemic attack (TIA), atrial fibrillation, and palpitations to LAAA was calculated using odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and Fisher’s exact test. Results: After adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes via multiple logistic regression, patients with accessory appendages are more likely to have reported palpitations (OR: 1.80; CI: 1.03 - 3.16). Patients with diverticula and septal pouches are significantly older than those without these abnormalities (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). Septal pouches are associated with diabetes (OR: 2.29; 95%CI: 1.15 - 4.54). Conclusions: Accessory left atrial appendages are associated with palpitations. Patients with septal pouches and diverticula are significantly older than those patients without these anatomic abnormalities, suggesting age dependency of these findings. None of these anatomic abnormalities were associated with thromboembolic events after adjustment for potentially confounding comorbidities

Establishment of feeder-free culture system for human induced pluripotent stem cell on DAS nanocrystalline graphene

The maintenance of undifferentiated human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) under xeno-free condition requires the use of human feeder cells or extracellular matrix (ECM) coating. However, human-derived sources may cause human pathogen contamination by viral or non-viral agents to the patients. Here we demonstrate feeder-free and xeno-free culture system for hPSC expansion using diffusion assisted synthesis-grown nanocrystalline graphene (DAS-NG), a synthetic non-biological nanomaterial which completely rule out the concern of human pathogen contamination. DAS-NG exhibited advanced biocompatibilities including surface nanoroughness, oxygen containing functional groups and hydrophilicity. hPSC cultured on DAS-NG could maintain pluripotency in vitro and in vivo, and especially cell adhesion-related gene expression profile was comparable to those of cultured on feeders, while hPSC cultured without DAS-NG differentiated spontaneously with high expression of somatic cell-enriched adhesion genes. This feeder-free and xeno-free culture method using DAS-NG will facilitate the generation of clinical-grade hPSC.ope

Cultural similarities and differences in social inference: Evidence from behavioral predictions and lay theories of behavior

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/91937/1/cultural_similarities_differences.pd

Development of a high-density piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer array based on patterned aluminum nitride thin film

This study presents the fabrication and characterization of a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (pMUT; radius: 40 μm) using a patterned aluminum nitride (AlN) thin film as the active piezoelectric material. A 20 x 20 array of pMUTs using a 1 μm thick AlN thin film was designed and fabricated on a 2 x 2 mm2 footprint for a high fill factor. Based on the electrical impedance and phase of the pMUT array, the electromechanical coefficient was ~1.7% at the average resonant frequency of 2.82 MHz in air. Dynamic displacement of the pMUT surface was characterized by scanning laser Doppler vibrometry. The pressure output while immersed in water was 19.79 kPa when calculated based on the peak displacement at the resonant frequency. The proposed AlN pMUT array has potential applications in biomedical sensing for healthcare, medical imaging, and biometrics. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.1

Nasal commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis enhances interferon-λ-dependent immunity against influenza virus

Background Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the most abundant colonizers of healthy human mucosa including that in the respiratory tract. As the respiratory microbiome has been linked to host immune responses, this study sought to determine the role of nasal mucosa-associated S. epidermidis in innate immune responses against the influenza A virus (IAV). S. epidermidis strains were isolated from nasal mucus samples of healthy individuals. The effects of these mucosa-derived commensal strains on interferon (IFN)-dependent innate immunity and IAV infection dynamics were tested in vitro using normal human nasal epithelial (NHNE) cells and human turbinate mucosa. The effects of S. epidermidis on antiviral immunity were also tested in vivo using an acute IAV infection mouse model. Results Exposure of NHNE cells to nasal mucosa-derived S. epidermidis increased IFN-λ mRNA and secreted protein levels in the absence of viral stimulation. In the context of IAV infection, NHNE exposure to S. epidermidis prevented an increase in the viral burden, as revealed by IAV PA mRNA abundance, IAV nucleoprotein levels, and viral titers. S. epidermidis also enhanced transcription of IFN-stimulated genes independently of Toll-like receptor 2 and further induced IFN-λ production in IAV-infected cells by promoting phosphorylation of interferon regulatory factor 7. In a murine infection model, S. epidermidis prevented the spread of IAV to the lungs by stimulating IFN-λ innate immunity and suppressing IAV replication in the nasal mucosa. Conclusion The human nasal commensal S. epidermidis mediates front-line antiviral protection against IAV infection through modulation of IFN-λ-dependent innate immune mechanisms in the nasal mucosa, thereby demonstrating the role of host-bacterial commensalism in shaping human antiviral responses.This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Kim et al. Microbiome (2019) 7:80 Page 10 of 12 Education (2016R1D1A1B01014116 to H.J.K.) and (2017M3A9F3041233 to S.S.Y.). This research was supported by a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HI18C1337 to H.J.K), and the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (NRF-2014M3A9D5A01073865 to J.Y.C

The Efficacy of Ketogenic Diet for Specific Genetic Mutation in Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy

Objectives: Pathogenic mutations in developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) are increasingly being discovered. However, little has been known about effective targeted treatments for this rare disorder. Here, we assessed the efficacy of ketogenic diet (KD) according to the genes responsible for DEE.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the data from 333 patients who underwent a targeted next-generation sequencing panel for DEE, 155 of whom had tried KD. Patients showing ≥90% seizure reduction from baseline were considered responders. The KD efficacy was examined at 3, 6, and 12 months after initiation. Patients were divided into those with an identified pathogenic mutation (n = 73) and those without (n = 82). The KD efficacy in patients with each identified pathogenic mutation was compared with that in patients without identified genetic mutations.Results: The responder rate to KD in the patients with identified pathogenic mutations (n = 73) was 52.1, 49.3, and 43.8% at 3, 6, and 12 months after initiation, respectively. Patients with mutations in SCN1A (n = 18, responder rate = 77.8%, p = 0.001), KCNQ2 (n = 6, responder rate = 83.3%, p = 0.022), STXBP1 (n = 4, responder rate = 100.0%, p = 0.015), and SCN2A (n = 3, responder rate = 100.0%, p = 0.041) showed significantly better responses to KD than patients without identified genetic mutations. Patients with CDKL5 encephalopathy (n = 10, responder rate = 0.0%, p = 0.031) showed significantly less-favorable responses to KD.Conclusions: The responder rate to KD remained consistent after KD in DEE patients with specific pathogenic mutations. KD is effective in patients with DEE with genetic etiology, especially in patients with SCN1A, KCNQ2, STXBP1, and SCN2A mutations, but is less effective in patients with CDKL5 mutations. Therefore, identifying the causative gene can help predict the efficacy of KD in patients with DEE