Theory of tunneling spectroscopy of normal metal/ferromagnet/spin-triplet superconductor junctions

We study the tunneling conductance of a ballistic normal metal / ferromagnet / spin-triplet superconductor junction using the extended Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk formalism as a model for a $c$-axis oriented Au / SrRuO$_{3}$ / Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$ junction. We compare chiral $p$-wave (CPW) and helical $p$-wave (HPW) pair potentials, combined with ferromagnet magnetization directions parallel and perpendicular to the interface. For fixed $\theta_{M}$, where $\theta_{M}$ is a direction of magnetization in the ferromagnet measured from the $c$-axis, the tunneling conductance of CPW and HPW clearly show different voltage dependencies. It is found that the cases where the $d$-vector is perpendicular to the magnetization direction (CPW with $\theta_{M} = \pi/2$ and HPW with $\theta_{M} = 0$) are identical. The obtained results serve as a guide to determine the pairing symmetry of the spin-triplet superconductor Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures. There is also a supplementary (not uploaded

Surgical Site Infections at Donor and Recipient Sites in Patients with Iliac Crest Harvesting For Autologous Bone Grafting - A Pilot Evaluation

Surgeons harvest the iliac crest for bone grafting. The epidemiology of surgical site infections (SSI) associated with this procedure at the donor, or recipient site, is unknown. We perform a retrospective pilot evaluation of adult patients undergoing first-time orthopedic surgery at the Balgrist University Hospital between 2014-2019. We excluded patients with infection at the index surgery, diabetic foot surgeries, superficial SSIs, and revision surgeries. We included 20,088 episodes of primary orthopedic surgery, of which 467 with iliac crest bone sampling (467/20,088; 2%). Only two iliac sites (2/467; 0.4%) become infected. In contrast, surgeries with iliac crest sampling yielded more SSIs at the recipient site than those without (1.9% vs. 0.8%; χ2-test; p<0.01). These patients equally revealed more co-morbidities such as a longer duration of surgery (median 127 vs. 79 minutes), when compared to the general orthopedic population. In multivariate logistic regression analysis with the outcome “ SSI at the recipient site”, the iliac harvesting was independently associated with deep SSIs requiring surgical revision (odds ratio 2.1; 95% confidence interval 1.1-4.2). In our pilot evaluation with 20,088 primary orthopedic surgeries, the SSI risk of the iliac harvest site was low. In contrast, surgeries with supplementary iliac crest harvesting revealed a higher SSI risk than the general orthopedic population, potentially due to a mix of local independent risks of grafting together with a prolonged surgery time. Keywords : Autologous bone grafting; Deep surgical site infections; Epidemiology; Iliac crest harvesting; Revision surger

Resilience of the Dutch HPV-based cervical screening programme during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives: Organisation of a screening programme influences programme resilience to a disruption as COVID-19. Due to COVID-19, the Dutch human papillomavirus–based cervical screening programme was temporarily suspended. Afterwards, multiple measures have been taken to catch-up participation. This study aimed to investigate programme resilience by examining the effect of COVID-19 and programme measures taken on participation in cervical screening. Study design: Observational cohort study. Methods: Data from the national screening registry and Dutch nationwide pathology databank (Palga) were used on invitations and follow-up in 2018/2019 (pre-COVID) and 2020 (COVID). Sending invitations, reminders and self-sampling kits were suspended from March to July 2020. Main outcome measures include distribution of participant characteristics (age, region and screening history), participation rates by age and region, time between invitation and participation (i.e. response time) and self-sampling use per month. Results: Participation rate was significantly lower in 2020 (49.8%) compared to 2018/19 (56.8%, P &lt; 0.001), in all ages and regions. Compared to 2018/19, participation rates decreased most in women invited from January to March 2020 (−6.7%, −9.1% and −10.4%, respectively). From August, participation rates started to recover (difference between −0.8% and −2.7%). Median response time was longer in February and March (2020: 143 and 173 days; 2018/19: 53 and 55 days) and comparable from July onwards (median difference 0–6 days). Self-sampling use was higher in 2020 (16.3%) compared to 2018/19 (7.6%). Conclusions: The pandemic impacted participation rates in the Dutch cervical screening programme, especially of women invited before the programme pause. Implementation of self-sampling in national cervical screening programmes could increase participation rates and could serve as an alternative screening method in times of exceptional health care circumstances, such as a pandemic. Due to the well-organised programme and measures taken to catch-up participation, the impact of COVID-19 on the screening programme remained small.</p

Corrigendum to "A new approach to mapping permafrost and change incorporating uncertainties in ground conditions and climate projections" published in The Cryosphere, 8, 2177&ndash;2194, 2014

No abstract available

The Influence of Hepatic Steatosis and Fibrosis on Postoperative Outcomes After Major Liver Resection of Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Background: Surgical resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is associated with high operative risks. Impaired liver regeneration in patients with pre-existing liver disease may contribute to posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) and postoperative mortality. This study aimed to determine the incidence of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis and their association with PHLF and 90-day postoperative mortality in pCCA patients. Methods: Patients who underwent a major liver resection for pCCA were included in the study between 2000 and 2021 from three tertiary referral hospitals. Histopathologic assessment of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis was performed. The primary outcomes were PHLF and 90-day mortality. Results: Of the 401 included patients, steatosis was absent in 334 patients (83.3%), mild in 58 patients (14.5%) and moderate to severe in 9 patients (2.2%). There was no fibrosis in 92 patients (23.1%), periportal fibrosis in 150 patients (37.6%), septal fibrosis in 123 patients (30.8%), and biliary cirrhosis in 34 patients (8.5%). Steatosis (≥ 5%) was not associated with PHLF (odds ratio [OR] 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69–2.68) or 90-day mortality (OR 1.22; 95% CI 0.62–2.39). Neither was fibrosis (i.e., periportal, septal, or biliary cirrhosis) associated with PHLF (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.41–1.41) or 90-day mortality (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.33–1.06). The independent risk factors for PHLF were preoperative cholangitis (OR 2.38; 95% CI 1. 36–4.17) and future liver remnant smaller than 40% (OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.31–4.38). The independent risk factors for 90-day mortality were age of 65 years or older (OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.36–4.23) and preoperative cholangitis (OR 2.25; 95% CI 1.30–3.87). Conclusion: In this study, no association could be demonstrated between hepatic steatosis or fibrosis and postoperative outcomes after resection of pCCA.</p

Nationwide treatment and outcomes of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Background: Most data on the treatment and outcomes of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) derives from expert centers. This study aimed to investigate the treatment and outcomes of all patients diagnosed with iCCA in a nationwide cohort. Methods: Data on all patients diagnosed with iCCA between 2010 and 2018 were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Results: In total, 1747 patients diagnosed with iCCA were included. Resection was performed in 292 patients (17%), 548 patients (31%) underwent palliative systemic treatment, and 867 patients (50%) best supportive care (BSC). The OS median and 1-, and 3-year OS were after resection: 37.5 months (31.0–44.0), 79.2%, and 51.6%,; with systemic therapy, 10.0 months (9.2–10.8), 38.4%, and 5.1%, and with BSC 2.2 months (2.0–2.5), 10.4%, and 1.3% respectively. The resection rate for patients who first presented in academic centers was 33% (96/292) compared to 13% (195/1454) in non-academic centers (P &lt; 0.001). Discussion: Half of almost 1750 patients with iCCA over an 8 year period did not receive any treatment with a 1-year OS of 10.4%. Three-year survival was about 50% after resection, while long-term survival was rare after palliative treatment. The resection rate was higher in academic centers compared to non-academic centers

Unveiling unconventional magnetism at the surface of Sr2RuO4.

Materials with strongly correlated electrons often exhibit interesting physical properties. An example of these materials is the layered oxide perovskite Sr2RuO4, which has been intensively investigated due to its unusual properties. Whilst the debate on the symmetry of the superconducting state in Sr2RuO4 is still ongoing, a deeper understanding of the Sr2RuO4 normal state appears crucial as this is the background in which electron pairing occurs. Here, by using low-energy muon spin spectroscopy we discover the existence of surface magnetism in Sr2RuO4 in its normal state. We detect static weak dipolar fields yet manifesting at an onset temperature higher than 50 K. We ascribe this unconventional magnetism to orbital loop currents forming at the reconstructed Sr2RuO4 surface. Our observations set a reference for the discovery of the same magnetic phase in other materials and unveil an electronic ordering mechanism that can influence electron pairing with broken time reversal symmetry

In vitro digestion and lactase treatment influence uptake of quercetin and quercetin glucoside by the Caco-2 cell monolayer

BACKGROUND: Quercetin and quercetin glycosides are widely consumed flavonoids found in many fruits and vegetables. These compounds have a wide range of potential health benefits, and understanding the bioavailability of flavonoids from foods is becoming increasingly important. METHODS: This study combined an in vitro digestion, a lactase treatment and the Caco-2 cell model to examine quercetin and quercetin glucoside uptake from shallot and apple homogenates. RESULTS: The in vitro digestion alone significantly decreased quercetin aglycone recovery from the shallot digestate (p < 0.05), but had no significant effect on quercetin-3-glucoside recovery (p > 0.05). Digestion increased the Caco-2 cell uptake of shallot quercetin-4'-glucoside by 2-fold when compared to the non-digested shallot. Despite the loss of quercetin from the digested shallot, the bioavailability of quercetin aglycone to the Caco-2 cells was the same in both the digested and non-digested shallot. Treatment with lactase increased quercetin recovery from the shallot digestate nearly 10-fold and decreased quercetin-4'-glucoside recovery by more than 100-fold (p < 0.05), but had no effect on quercetin recovery from apple digestates. Lactase treatment also increased shallot quercetin bioavailability to the Caco-2 cells approximately 14-fold, and decreased shallot quercetin-4'-glucoside bioavailability 23-fold (p < 0.05). These Caco-2 cells had lactase activity similar to that expressed by a lactose intolerant human. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in quercetin uptake following treatment with lactase suggests that dietary supplementation with lactase may increase quercetin bioavailability in lactose intolerant humans. Combining the digestion, the lactase treatment and the Caco-2 cell culture model may provide a reliable in vitro model for examining flavonoid glucoside bioavailability from foods

Antioxidant Activity of a Mediterranean Food Product: “Fig Syrup”

In this work, the efficacy of fig syrup, a Mediterranean fig derivative, as a nutraceutical supplement, was demonstrated. Fig syrup is a fruit concentrate used as a common ingredient in the preparation of typical foods, and particularly in cakes. In vitro assays were performed to determine the amount of nutraceutical ingredients, such as phenolic compounds (3.92 mg equivalent of gallic acid per g) and flavonoids (0.35 mg equivalent of catechin per g), while HPLC analyses provided specific information about the composition of antioxidants in the syrup. Furthermore, total antioxidant activity, scavenging properties against DPPH and peroxyl radicals, and the anticholinesterase activity, clearly showed the efficacy of the syrup in preventing damage induced by free radicals and, thus, the applicability of this food derivative as a nutraceutical supplement