Fermi-surface collapse and dynamical scaling near a quantum critical point

Quantum criticality arises when a macroscopic phase of matter undergoes a continuous transformation at zero temperature. While the collective fluctuations at quantum-critical points are being increasingly recognized as playing an important role in a wide range of quantum materials, the nature of the underlying quantum-critical excitations remains poorly understood. Here we report in-depth measurements of the Hall effect in the heavy-fermion metal YbRh2Si2, a prototypical system for quantum criticality. We isolate a rapid crossover of the isothermal Hall coefficient clearly connected to the quantum-critical point from a smooth background contribution; the latter exists away from the quantum-critical point and is detectable through our studies only over a wide range of magnetic field. Importantly, the width of the critical crossover is proportional to temperature, which violates the predictions of conventional theory and is instead consistent with an energy over temperature, E/T, scaling of the quantum-critical single-electron fluctuation spectrum. Our results provide evidence that the quantum-dynamical scaling and a critical Kondo breakdown simultaneously operate in the same material. Correspondingly, we infer that macroscopic scale-invariant fluctuations emerge from the microscopic many-body excitations associated with a collapsing Fermi-surface. This insight is expected to be relevant to the unconventional finite-temperature behavior in a broad range of strongly correlated quantum systems.Comment: 5 pages, plus supporting materia

Risk Factors for the Occurrence of Feather Pecking in Non-Beak-Trimmed Pullets and Laying Hens on Commercial Farms

Severe feather pecking (SFP) is a behavioral disorder, for which there are multifactorial reasons. Various aspects of pullet and laying-hen husbandry—including housing conditions, management, feeding, and genetics—must be considered, to prevent negative outcomes, such as severe plumage damage, skin injuries, and high mortality rates due to SFP. The aim of this study was to identify housing and management factors in the occurrence of feather pecking, so as to reduce the risk of this behavioral disorder in non-beak-trimmed laying hens on commercial farms with aviaries. Beak trimming may reduce the extent of plumage damage, but it does not prevent feather pecking and cannibalism. Thirty non-beak-trimmed flocks (16 in the first, and 14 in the second laying period) were investigated on 16 commercial farms in Germany. Each flock was visited twice during rearing, and three times during the laying period. During each visit, individual plumage and integument scoring were performed, and data were collected, regarding the housing and management conditions of the flocks. To analyze the influence of management and housing on the plumage condition of the rearing and laying flocks, models were calculated, using univariate multifactorial analysis. In the rearing period, high stocking density and poor litter quality were significant risk factors in plumage damage due to SFP. In the laying period, a lack of free range, poor litter quality, insufficient enrichment, and plumage damage during rearing were significant risk factors for the development of SFP. An individual risk analysis of pullet and layer farms is therefore strongly recommended, to prevent outbreaks of SFP and cannibalism, especially in non-beak-trimmed birds

Distinct expression patterns of VEGFR 1-3 in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: supporting clinical relevance, but not a prognostic factor

Introduction: Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) are an increasing tumor entity. Since many patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, treatment is still challenging and dependent on many tumor and patient specific factors. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to elucidate the expression rates and the prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) 1-3 in GEP-NENs. A potential association to immune checkpoint markers was further investigated. Material and Methods: The expression levels of VEGFR 1-3 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and correlated with the expression of the checkpoint markers PD-1 and PD-L1. Furthermore, the tumor samples of 249 GEP-NEN patients were studied and correlated with overall survival rates and clinicopathological features. Kaplan–Meier analyses and the log rank test were used for survival analyses. Categorical variables were compared by the χ2 test. Results: The most common primary tumor site was the small intestine (50.6%), followed by the pancreas (25.7%). VEGFR 1 was highly expressed in 59%, VEGFR 2 in 6.4%, and VEGFR 3 in 61.8% of the analyzed samples. The expression of VEGFR 1-3 was not significantly associated with survival rates. Pancreatic NENs had the highest expression of VEGFR 1 and 3 in 80% of the cases. VEGFR 1-3 positivity correlated with the expression levels of immune checkpoint markers. Discussion: VEGFR 1-3 show a distinct expression pattern in different subgroups of neuroendocrine neoplasias indicating a conceivable target. Moreover, there was a substantial association between VEGFRs andimmune checkpoint markers. Taken together, anti-VEGFR therapy represents a promising therapeutic approach in GEP-NEN patients and should be addressed in future studies

NGS-guided precision oncology in metastatic breast and gynecological cancer: first experiences at the CCC Munich LMU

PURPOSE Comprehensive genomic profiling identifying actionable molecular alterations aims to enable personalized treatment for cancer patients. The purpose of this analysis was to retrospectively assess the impact of personalized recommendations made by a multidisciplinary tumor board (MTB) on the outcome of patients with breast or gynecological cancers, who had progressed under standard treatment. Here, first experiences of our Comprehensive Cancer Center Molecular Tumor Board are reported. METHODS All patients were part of a prospective local registry. 95 patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer or gynecological malignancies underwent extended molecular profiling. From May 2017 through March 2019, the MTB reviewed all clinical cases considering tumor profile and evaluated molecular alterations regarding further diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations. RESULTS 95 patients with metastatic breast or gynecological cancers were discussed in the MTB (68% breast cancer, 20% ovarian cancer, 5% cervical cancer, 3% endometrial cancer and 4% others). Genes with highest mutation rate were PIK3CA and ERBB2. Overall, 34 patients (36%) received a biomarker-based targeted therapy recommendation. Therapeutic recommendations were implemented in nine cases; four patients experienced clinical benefit with a partial response or disease stabilization lasting over 4~months. CONCLUSION In the setting of a multidisciplinary molecular tumor board, a small but clinically meaningful group of breast and gynecological cancer patients benefits from comprehensive genomic profiling. Broad and successful implementation of precision medicine is complicated by patient referral at late stage disease and limited access to targeted agents and early clinical trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER 284-10 (03.05.2018)

PENGARUH PENGGUNAAN HIDROLISAT TEPUNG BULU AYAM DALAM RANSUM TERHADAP KECERNAAN BAHAN KERING DAN BAHAN ORGANIK SERTA KONSENTRASI AMONIA CAIRAN RUMEN KAMBING KACANG JANTAN

Sumber protein bagi ternak ruminansia di dalam abomasum berasal dari protein mikrobia dan protein pakan yang lolos degradasi rumen (by pass protein). Hidrolisat tepung bulu ayam (HBA) berpotensi digunakan untuk pakan ternak ruminansia, karena kandungan protein kasar yang tinggi dan mengandung protein yang tahan terhadap perombakan oleh mikrobia rumen (rumen undegradable protein/RUP), tetapi mampu diurai secara enzimatis pada saluran pencernaan pasca rumen. Penggunaan protein yang tahan degradasi rumen tetap harus mempertimbangkan kecukupan asupan protein bagi mikrobia dalam rumen yang optimal untuk didegradasi menjadi amonia, agar tidak mengganggu stabilitas lingkungan rumen untuk sintesis mikrobia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh penggunaan pakan HBA dalam ransum terhadap kecernaan bahan kering, kecernaan bahan organik, konsentrasi amonia cairan rumen kambing kacang jantan. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan selama delapan minggu, mulai tanggal 14 Oktober sampai 9 Desember 2007, di kandang milik peternak yang berlokasi di dukuh Watutebok, desa Potronayan, kecamatan Nogosari, Kabupaten Boyolali. Materi penelitian ini menggunakan Kambing Kacang Jantan sebanyak 12 ekor dengan bobot badan rata-rata 15,98 ± 0,96 kg. Ransum yang diberikan terdiri dari jerami padi fermentasi (JPF), konsentrat, dan hidrolisat tepung bulu ayam (HBA). Rancangan percobaan yang digunakan adalah Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) pola searah dengan empat macam perlakuan (P0, P1, P2, P3), setiap perlakuan terdiri dari tiga ulangan dengan setiap ulangan terdiri dari satu ekor Kambing Kacang Jantan. Ransum yang diberikan untuk P0 (sebagai kontrol) terdiri dari 40 % JPF dan 60 % konsentrat (tersusun dari 51 % BC 132, 9 % bungkil kedelai, 0 % HBA); P1 dengan 40 % JPF dan 60 % konsentrat (52 % BC 132, 6 % bungkil kedelai, 2 % HBA); P2 dengan 40 % JPF dan 60 % konsentrat (53 % BC 132, 3 % bungkil kedelai, 4 % HBA); P3 dengan 40 % JPF dan 60 % konsentrat (54 % BC 132, 0 % bungkil kedelai + 6 % HBA). Peubah yang diamati adalah konsumsi bahan kering, konsumsi bahan organik, kecernaan bahan kering, kecernaan bahan organik, konsentrasi amonia dan derajat keasaman/pH cairan rumen. Data hasil penelitian dari keseluruhan peubah setelah dihitung dengan analisis variansi menunjukkan pengaruh yang berbeda tidak nyata (P≥0,05). Rerata data hasil penelitian dari P0, P1, P2, P3 berturut-turut untuk konsumsi bahan kering 679,54; 635,53; 652,79; 606,45 (g/ekor/hari); konsumsi bahan organik 557,93; 518,41; 534,98; 497,54 (g/ekor/hari); kecernaan bahan kering 52,57; 47,27; 49,24; 51,65 persen; kecernaan bahan organik 62,43; 56,32; 59,58; 64,11 persen; konsentrasi amonia 5,22; 5,22; 4,80; 5,04 (mM); derajat keasaman/pH 7,00; 7,03; 6,97; 7,05. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini adalah penggunaan hidrolisat tepung bulu ayam (HBA) untuk kambing kacang jantan dengan level pemberian hingga 6 persen dari total ransum tidak meningkatkan kecernaan bahan kering dan bahan organik tetapi pH dan konsentrasi amonia tetap pada kondisi yang optimal untuk proses fermentasi mikrobia dalam rumen. Kata kunci : kambing kacang jantan, hidrolisat tepung bulu ayam, bungkil kedela

Dental therapy before and after radiotherapy–an evaluation on patients with head and neck malignancies

The present investigation evaluates the dental care situation of patients with head and neck cancer before and after radiotherapy. The situations of these patients in 1993 and 2005 were compared to detect similarities, differences and developments. In the years 1993 and 2005, 37 and 36 patients, respectively, with head and neck cancer treated by the local departments of otorhinolaryngology and of radiotherapy were examined consecutively according to their aftercare appointments. Time points of radiotherapy treatment of the patients evaluated in 1993 varied from 1984 to 1993. The patients evaluated in 2005 had received radiotherapy between 1998 and 2005. Therefore the applied radiotherapeutic regimen differed not only between the two groups of patients, but also within each group. The information for these investigations was provided anonymously. It was evaluated with descriptive statistics. The evaluation of the data shows distinct differences with respect to preventive and therapeutic dental care measures. In 2005, 35 out of 36 patients (97.2%) had a dental consultation before radiotherapy (1993, 65%). All 27 dentate patients (100%) obtained a splint for fluoride application (1993, none). 29% fewer edentulous patients were seen than in 1993. The number of teeth destroyed decreased from 19.2% (1993) to 7.8% in 2005. Mycoses due to Candida spp. and chronic failures in wound healing were rare (5.5%). In the course of the 12 years, prophylactic measures, such as the application of splints for fluoride treatment, were intensified. However, concepts for the dental care of patients undergoing radiotherapy, especially following the radiation, should be widened to avoid ruined teeth and long delayed wound healings

Patient Age, Sex, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Phenotype Associate With Course of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an orphan hepatobiliary disorder associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to estimate the risk of disease progression based on distinct clinical phenotypes in a large international cohort of patients with PSC. METHODS: We performed a retrospective outcome analysis of patients diagnosed with PSC from 1980 through 2010 at 37 centers in Europe, North America, and Australia. For each patient, we collected data on sex, clinician-reported age at and date of PSC and IBD diagnoses, phenotypes of IBD and PSC, and date and indication of IBD-related surgeries. The primary and secondary endpoints were liver transplantation or death (LTD) and hepatopancreatobiliary malignancy, respectively. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to determine the effects of individual covariates on rates of clinical events, with time-to-event analysis ascertained through Kaplan-Meier estimates. RESULTS: Of the 7121 patients in the cohort, 2616 met the primary endpoint (median time to event of 14.5 years) and 721 developed hepatopancreatobiliary malignancy. The most common malignancy was cholangiocarcinoma (n = 594); patients of advanced age at diagnosis had an increased incidence compared with younger patients (incidence rate: 1.2 per 100 patient-years for patients younger than 20 years old, 6.0 per 100 patient-years for patients 21-30 years old, 9.0 per 100 patient-years for patients 31-40 years old, 14.0 per 100 patient-years for patients 4150 years old, 15.2 per 100 patient-years for patients 51-60 years old, and 21.0 per 100 patient-years for patients older than 60 years). Of all patients with PSC studied, 65.5% were men, 89.8% had classical or large-duct disease, and 70.0% developed IBD at some point. Assessing the development of IBD as a time-dependent covariate, Crohn's disease and no IBD (both vs ulcerative colitis) were associated with a lower risk of LTD (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.62; PPeer reviewe

Beiträge zum 28. Darmstädter Geotechnik-Kolloquium am 09. März 2022

Themenschwerpunkte: 1. Modell- und Feldversuche 2. Digitalisierung und künstliche Intelligenz in der Geotechnik 3. Nationale und internationale Großprojekte 4. Normung und Rechtliche

Digitalisierung beruflicher Lern- und Arbeitsprozesse. Impulse aus der Bauwirtschaft und anderen gewerblich-technischen Sektoren

Der Sammelband stellt aktuelle Ansätze zum digital unterstützten beruflichen Lernen dar. Die Beiträge geben Einblicke in die dynamische Entwicklung der Schnittstellen von Erwerbsarbeit und beruflicher Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung im Kontext der Digitalisierung Arbeits- und Lernmitteln. Der Band schließt damit an die 2019 ebenfalls im Universitätsverlag der Technischen Universität Berlin erschienene Publikation „Berufsbildung am Bau digital“ (hrsg. von Bernd Mahrin und Johannes Meyser) an. Das erste Kapitel erörtert grundsätzliche didaktische Fragen zu digital unterstütztem Lernen und Arbeiten einschließlich der Rahmenbedingungen. Im zweiten Kapitel schließen sich Beiträge zur Kapazitätsentwicklung, zu Standards und zu digitalen Werkzeugen an. Das dritte Kapitel widmet sich konkreten Einzellösungen mit starkem Praxisbezug und hohem Transferpotenzial zum digitalisierten Arbeiten und Lernen im Bausektor und im Metallbereich. Das abschließende vierte Kapitel präsentiert übergreifend nutzbare und frei zugängliche Online-Angebote wie einen Medienpool für Bildungszwecke, eine Lernmedien-Datenbank und ein hybrides Lernsystem mit virtuellem 3D-Gebäudemodell. Das Buch ist entstanden im Rahmen des durch das Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung und den Europäischen Sozialfonds geförderten Projektes DigiBAU – Digitales Bauberufliches Lernen und Arbeiten. (DIPF/Orig.)The anthology presents current approaches to digitally supported professional learning. The articles provide insights into the dynamic development of the interfaces between gainful employment and vocational training and further education in the context of digitization of work and learning aids. The volume is thus connected to the publication “Berufsbildung am Bau digital” (edited by Bernd Mahrin and Johannes Meyser), which was published in 2019 by the University Press of the Technische Universität Berlin. The first chapter discusses fundamental didactic questions about digitally supported learning and working, including the framework conditions. The second chapter picks contributions on capacity development, standards, and digital tools out as central themes. The third chapter is dedicated to concrete specific solutions with strong practical relevance and high transfer potential for digitized work and learning in the construction sector and in the metal sector. The final fourth chapter presents comprehensive and freely accessible online offers such as a media pool for educational purposes, a learning media database and a hybrid learning system with a virtual 3D building model. The book was created as part of the DigiBAU project - digital vocational learning and working in the field of construction - funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the European Social Fund. (DIPF/Orig.