Zero mode in the time-dependent symmetry breaking of λϕ4\lambda\phi^4 theory

We apply the quartic exponential variational approximation to the symmetry breaking phenomena of scalar field in three and four dimensions. We calculate effective potential and effective action for the time-dependent system by separating the zero mode from other non-zero modes of the scalar field and treating the zero mode quantum mechanically. It is shown that the quantum mechanical properties of the zero mode play a non-trivial role in the symmetry breaking of the scalar $\lambda \phi^4$ theory.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Guidelines for Tailored Chemical Functionalization of Graphene

Graphene oxide (GO) has been synthesized by the Hummers method with modification of experimental condition by different research groups, but there is no guideline to prepare tailored GO for targeted applications. In this research, we suggest a guideline for tailor-fittable functionalization of graphene on the basis of the scope of our previous report on the two-step oxidation of GO. We describe a detailed procedure for synthesis of GO, effects of degree of step I oxidation on characteristics of GO and comparing them with effects of degree of step II oxidation. Characteristic changes of GO occurring during step I oxidation and those occurring during step II oxidation are different in species of oxygen functional groups, interlayer spacing, thermal stability, size distribution, and yield of GO. On the basis of the results, three types of tailor-fitted GO for a fiber, transparent conducting film, and hydrogen storage material are synthesized by controlling the degree of step I and step II oxidation. Compared to the reference GO synthesized by conventional modified Hummers method, the tailor-fitted GO showed 33.5%, 117%, and 104% enhanced performance in strength of the fiber, figure of merits of transparent conducting film, and hydrogen storage, respectively. Our results show that the performance of GO based application is significantly influenced by the synthesis condition of GO, and optimized performance of the applications can be obtained by the tailor-fitted functionalization of GO. We anticipate that this study would be helpful for a variety of researches, both synthesis and application of GO

Clinical features and outcomes of gastric variceal bleeding: retrospective Korean multicenter data

Background/AimsWhile gastric variceal bleeding (GVB) is not as prevalent as esophageal variceal bleeding, it is reportedly more serious, with high failure rates of the initial hemostasis (>30%), and has a worse prognosis than esophageal variceal bleeding. However, there is limited information regarding hemostasis and the prognosis for GVB. The aim of this study was to determine retrospectively the clinical outcomes of GVB in a multicenter study in Korea.MethodsThe data of 1,308 episodes of GVB (males:females=1062:246, age=55.0±11.0 years, mean±SD) were collected from 24 referral hospital centers in South Korea between March 2003 and December 2008. The rates of initial hemostasis failure, rebleeding, and mortality within 5 days and 6 weeks of the index bleed were evaluated.ResultsThe initial hemostasis failed in 6.1% of the patients, and this was associated with the Child-Pugh score [odds ratio (OR)=1.619; P<0.001] and the treatment modality: endoscopic variceal ligation, endoscopic variceal obturation, and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration vs. endoscopic sclerotherapy, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and balloon tamponade (OR=0.221, P<0.001). Rebleeding developed in 11.5% of the patients, and was significantly associated with Child-Pugh score (OR=1.159, P<0.001) and treatment modality (OR=0.619, P=0.026). The GVB-associated mortality was 10.3%; mortality in these cases was associated with Child-Pugh score (OR=1.795, P<0.001) and the treatment modality for the initial hemostasis (OR=0.467, P=0.001).ConclusionsThe clinical outcome for GVB was better for the present cohort than in previous reports. Initial hemostasis failure, rebleeding, and mortality due to GVB were universally associated with the severity of liver cirrhosis

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Imaging Findings of Nodular Fasciitis in Breast including Artificial Intelligence Mammography and Shear Wave Elastography: A Case Report

Nodular fasciitis is a benign fibroblastic proliferation rarely reported in the breast. We report the case of a 55-year-old woman who presented with imaging findings that resembled a malignancy. Mammography revealed an isodense nodule with partially indistinct margin in the right breast, showing the abnormality score 75% on artificial intelligence. Ultrasonography revealed an oval hypoechoic nodule with microlobulated margin, echogenic halo, increased blood flow, and soft elasticity. After core needle biopsy and excision, nodular fasciitis was diagnosed. Although nodular fasciitis of the breast is rare, it may mimic malignancy; therefore, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis to prevent unnecessary intervention

Preoperative diagnostic categories of fine needle aspiration cytology for histologically proven thyroid follicular adenoma and carcinoma, and Hurthle cell adenoma and carcinoma: Analysis of cause of under- or misdiagnoses.

Cytologic diagnosis of thyroid follicular adenoma and carcinoma, and Hurthle cell adenoma and carcinoma (FACHAC) is challenging due to cytomorphologic features that overlap with other follicular-patterned lesions. This study was designed to analyze diagnostic categories (DCs) of preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of histologically proven thyroid FACHACs to evaluate under- or misdiagnoses in FNAC and elucidate potential causes for such phenomena. A total of 104 thyroid nodules with preoperative FNAC which were diagnosed as FACHAC in resection specimens were included in this study. Of these, 66 cases had also undergone thyroid core needle biopsy (CNB); FNAC and CNB DCs were compared in these cases. Various cytologic and histologic parameters were compared between the nodules with different FNAC DCs. After a review of FNAC slides, DCs were re-assigned in 20 (19.2%) out of the 104 cases. Of the 66 cases with CNB diagnoses which were mostly classified as lower DCs in FNAC, 31 (47.0%) were diagnosed as suspicious for a follicular neoplasm in CNB. Cases which were underdiagnosed in FNACs were associated with lower cellularity, predominant macrofollicular pattern, absence of microfollicles arranged in trabecular pattern, and absence of transgressing vessels in cytology smears. High cellularity, microfollicles arranged in trabecular pattern, nucleolar prominence, and large cell dysplasia were more frequently found in malignancy than in benign neoplasm. In conclusion, thyroid FACHACs seem to be under- and misdiagnosed in preoperative FNAC. Innate characteristics of the nodules were associated with under-diagnosis as well as the quality of the FNAC specimens. Certain cytomorphologic features can be helpful in differentiating malignancy among FACHACs

Elucidating the callus-to-shoot-forming mechanism in Capsicum annuum ‘Dempsey’ through comparative transcriptome analyses

Abstract Background The formation of shoots plays a pivotal role in plant organogenesis and productivity. Despite its significance, the underlying molecular mechanism of de novo regeneration has not been extensively elucidated in Capsicum annuum ‘Dempsey’, a bell pepper cultivar. To address this, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis focusing on the differential expression in C. annuum ‘Dempsey’ shoot, callus, and leaf tissue. We further investigated phytohormone-related biological processes and their interacting genes in the C. annuum ‘Dempsey’ transcriptome based on comparative transcriptomic analysis across five species. Results We provided a comprehensive view of the gene networks regulating shoot formation on the callus, revealing a strong involvement of hypoxia responses and oxidative stress. Our comparative transcriptome analysis revealed a significant conservation in the increase of gene expression patterns related to auxin and defense mechanisms in both callus and shoot tissues. Consequently, hypoxia response and defense mechanism emerged as critical regulators in callus and shoot formation in C. annuum ‘Dempsey’. Current transcriptome data also indicated a substantial decline in gene expression linked to photosynthesis within regenerative tissues, implying a deactivation of the regulatory system governing photosynthesis in C. annuum ‘Dempsey’. Conclusion Coupled with defense mechanisms, we thus considered spatial redistribution of auxin to play a critical role in the shoot morphogenesis via primordia outgrowth. Our findings shed light on shoot formation mechanisms in C. annuum ‘Dempsey’ explants, important information for regeneration programs, and have broader implications for precise molecular breeding in recalcitrant crops