Evolution of E2 transition strength in deformed hafnium isotopes from new measurements on 172^{172}Hf, 174^{174}Hf, and 176^{176}Hf

The available data for E2 transition strengths in the region between neutron-deficient Hf and Pt isotopes are far from complete. More and precise data are needed to enhance the picture of structure evolution in this region and to test state-of-the-art nuclear models. In a simple model, the maximum collectivity is expected at the middle of the major shell. However, for actual nuclei, this picture may no longer be the case, and one should use a more realistic nuclear-structure model. We address this point by studying the spectroscopy of Hf. We remeasure the 2^+_1 half-lives of 172,174,176Hf, for which there is some disagreement in the literature. The main goal is to measure, for the first time, the half-lives of higher-lying states of the rotational band. The new results are compared to a theoretical calculation for absolute transition strengths. The half-lives were measured using \gamma-\gamma and conversion-electron-\gamma delayed coincidences with the fast timing method. For the determination of half-lives in the picosecond region, the generalized centroid difference method was applied. For the theoretical calculation of the spectroscopic properties, the interacting boson model is employed, whose Hamiltonian is determined based on microscopic energy-density functional calculations. The measured 2^+_1 half-lives disagree with results from earlier \gamma-\gamma fast timing measurements, but are in agreement with data from Coulomb excitation experiments and other methods. Half-lives of the 4^+_1 and 6^+_1 states were measured, as well as a lower limit for the 8^+_1 states. We show the importance of the mass-dependence of effective boson charge in the description of E2 transition rates in chains of nuclei. It encourages further studies of the microscopic origin of this mass dependence. New data on transition rates in nuclei from neighboring isotopic chains could support these studies.Comment: 16 pages, 16 figures, 7 tables; Abstract shortened due to character limi

Helicobacter pylori infection as a risk factor for diabetes: A meta-analysis of case-control studies

Background: There are several studies with varied and mixed results about the possible relationship between H. pylori and diabetes. Therefore, this current meta-analysis performed to determine the association between H. pylori infection and the risk of diabetes mellitus. Methods: A systematic literature searches of international databases, including Medline (PubMed), Web of Sciences, Scopus, EMBASE, and CINHAL (January 1990-March 2019) was conducted to identify studies investigating the relationship between H. pylori infection and diabetes mellitus. Only case-control studies were analyzed using odds ratio (OR) with 95 confidence intervals (CIs). Stratified and subgroup analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity between studies and assess effects of study quality. Logarithm and standard error logarithm odds ratio (OR) were also used for meta-analysis. Results: A total of 41 studies involving 9559 individuals (case; 4327 and control; 5232) were analyzed. The pooled estimate of the association between H. pylori infection with diabetes was OR = 1.27 (95 CI 1.11 to 1.45, P = 0.0001, I2 = 86.6). The effect of H. pylori infection on diabetes mellitus (both types), type 1 and type 2 diabetes was 1.17 (95 CI 0.94 to 1.45), 1.19 (95 CI 0.98 to 1.45), and 1.43 (95 CI 1.11 to 1.85) respectively. Subgroup analysis by the geographical regions showed in Asian population risk of the effect of H. pylori infection on diabetes was slightly higher than other population, Conclusion: In overall a positive association between H. pylori infection and diabetes mellitus was found. © 2020 The Author(s)

Impact of infectious comorbidity and overall time of hospitalization in total outpatient management of acute myeloid leukemia patients following venetoclax and hypomethylating agents

Venetoclax (VEN) and hypomethylating agent (HMAs) regimens are emerging as the standard of care for unfit for chemotherapy acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, but the safety and feasibility of a total outpatient management have not been fully investigated. Fifty-nine AML patients with active disease received VEN and HMAs. Nineteen out of 59 (32.2%) patients received the first cycle as inpatients, whereas 40/59 (67.8%) patients were treated in the outpatient setting. No significant differences were observed with regard to incidence of adverse events (AEs), including tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), and the 30-day and 60-day mortality was comparable. Notably, an infectious prophylaxis inspired to that adopted during intensive chemotherapy resulted in a low infection rate with a reduced bacterial infections incidence in out- versus hospitalized patients (p <.0001). The overall time of hospitalization was significantly shorter in patients who received a total outpatient treatment as compared to those who received the first cycle as inpatients (5.9 vs. 39.7 days, p <.0001). Despite the adopted differences in treatment management, the efficacy was similar. These data indicate that a total outpatient management of VEN and HMAs is feasible in AML patients without negatively impacting on treatment efficacy and may yield pharmacoeconomic and quality-of-life benefits

Guidance on Noncorticosteroid Systemic Immunomodulatory Therapy in Noninfectious Uveitis : Fundamentals Of Care for UveitiS (FOCUS) Initiative

Supplemental material available at www.aaojournal.org. Supported by AbbVie, Inc., and the Fundamentals of Care for Uveitis Initiative National Faculty. This manuscript was developed subsequent to an AbbVie-sponsored literature review of noninfectious, nonanterior uveitis. The meeting was conducted to understand the available literature regarding the management of patients with noninfectious, nonanterior uveitis. The program involved a total of 139 experts from 28 countries, who were selected for participation by AbbVie. However, AbbVie was not involved in the development of the manuscript. The authors maintained complete control over the content and this manuscript reflects the opinions of the authors. AbbVie selected the discussion participants and reviewed the final manuscript draft for scientific accuracy, but the authors determined the final content. All authors made substantial contributions to the article or critically revised it for important intellectual content and approved the final manuscript. AbbVie provided funding to invited participants, including honoraria for their attendance at the meetings. Travel to and from the meetings was reimbursed. No payments were made to the authors for the development of this manuscript. Dhinakaran Sambandan, PhD, and Shula Sarner, PhD, of Lucid Partners, Burleighfield House, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, provided medical writing and editorial support to the authors in the development of this manuscript; financial support for these services was provided by AbbVie. AbbVie reviewed the manuscript, but was not involved in the methodology, data collection and analysis, or completion of this manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Identification of high-spin proton configurations in Ba 136 and Ba 137

19 pags., 11 figs., 3 tabs.The high-spin structures of Ba136 and Ba137 are investigated after multinucleon-transfer (MNT) and fusion-evaporation reactions. Ba136 is populated in a Xe136+U238 MNT reaction employing the high-resolution Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy, and in two Be9+Te130 fusion-evaporation reactions using the High-efficiency Observatory for γ-Ray Unique Spectroscopy (HORUS) at the FN tandem accelerator of the University of Cologne, Germany. Furthermore, both isotopes are populated in an elusive reaction channel in the B11+Te130 fusion-evaporation reaction utilizing the HORUS γ-ray array. The level scheme above the Jπ=10+ isomer in Ba136 is revised and extended up to an excitation energy of approximately 5.5 MeV. From the results of angular-correlation measurements, the Ex=3707- and Ex=4920-keV states are identified as the bandheads of positive- and negative-parity cascades. While the high-spin regimes of both Te132 and Xe134 are characterized by high-energy 12+→10+ transitions, the Ba136E2 ground-state band is interrupted by negative-parity states only a few hundred keV above the Jπ=10+ isomer. Furthermore, spins are established for several hitherto unassigned high-spin states in Ba137. The new results close a gap along the high-spin structure of N<82 Ba isotopes. Experimental results are compared to large-scale shell-model calculations employing the GCN50:82, Realistic SM, PQM130, and SN100PN interactions. The calculations suggest that the bandheads of the positive-parity bands in both isotopes are predominantly of proton character.Furthermore, we express our thanks to Dr. E. Teruya and Dr. N. Yoshinaga from Saitama University, Japan, for providing the results of their shellmodel calculation with the PQM130 interaction. The research leading to these results has received funding from the German BMBF under Contracts No. 05P15PKFN9 TP1 and No. 05P18PKFN9 TP1, from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2013 under Grant Agreement No. 262010 - ENSAR, from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación under Contract No. FPA2011-29854- C04, from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under Contract No. FPA2014-57196-C5, and from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). L.K. and A.V. thank the Bonn-Cologne Graduate School of Physics and Astronomy (BCGS) for financial support. One of the authors (A. Gadea) has been supported by the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain, under Grant No. PROMETEOII/2014/019, and EU under the FEDER program

Guidance on noncorticosteroid systemic immunomodulatory therapy in noninfectious uveitis: fundamentals of care for uveitis (focus) initiative

Topic: An international, expert-led consensus initiative to develop systematic, evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of noninfectious uveitis in the era of biologics. Clinical Relevance: The availability of biologic agents for the treatment of human eye disease has altered practice patterns for the management of noninfectious uveitis. Current guidelines are insufficient to assure optimal use of noncorticosteroid systemic immunomodulatory agents. Methods: An international expert steering committee comprising 9 uveitis specialists (including both ophthalmologists and rheumatologists) identified clinical questions and, together with 6 bibliographic fellows trained in uveitis, conducted a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol systematic reviewof the literature (English language studies from January 1996 through June 2016; Medline [OVID], the Central Cochrane library, EMBASE,CINAHL,SCOPUS,BIOSIS, andWeb of Science). Publications included randomized controlled trials, prospective and retrospective studies with sufficient follow-up, case series with 15 cases or more, peer-reviewed articles, and hand-searched conference abstracts from key conferences. The proposed statements were circulated among 130 international uveitis experts for review.Atotal of 44 globally representativegroupmembersmet in late 2016 to refine these guidelines using a modified Delphi technique and assigned Oxford levels of evidence. Results: In total, 10 questions were addressed resulting in 21 evidence-based guidance statements covering the following topics: when to start noncorticosteroid immunomodulatory therapy, including both biologic and nonbiologic agents; what data to collect before treatment; when to modify or withdraw treatment; how to select agents based on individual efficacy and safety profiles; and evidence in specific uveitic conditions. Shared decision-making, communication among providers and safety monitoring also were addressed as part of the recommendations. Pharmacoeconomic considerations were not addressed. Conclusions: Consensus guidelines were developed based on published literature, expert opinion, and practical experience to bridge the gap between clinical needs and medical evidence to support the treatment of patients with noninfectious uveitis with noncorticosteroid immunomodulatory agents

Terahertz communications for 5G and beyond

A brief discussion about the exclusive properties and applications of terahertz technology is provided in this chapter. The frequency spectrum terahertz (THz) is also discussed. The applications of terahertz in the field of sensors and terahertz for communications are covered. State-of-the-art literature starting from the early to the latest research conducted is provided and analyzed in terms of the performance of terahertz systems. Terahertz, known as Tera waves or T-waves rather than submillimeter wave, has approximately a fraction of a wavelength less than 30 μm. T-wave is heavily used in sensing and imaging applications, and has no ionization hazards and is an excellent candidate frequency band to defeat the multipaths interference problems for pulse communications. The lower quantum energy of T-waves identifies its potential applications toward near-field imaging, telecommunications, spectroscopy, and sensing, including medical diagnoses and security screening. Identification of DNA signatures including complex real-time molecular dynamics through dielectric resonance is a good example of terahertz spectroscopy instruments nowadays. This concluding chapter will not only address the practical applications of terahertz communications, but also identify the research challenges that lie ahead in terms of terahertz antenna desig

Research of working area development parameters in conditions of deep steep deposit finalizing

Отримано формули розрахунку об’єму запасів корисних копалин в приконтурній та глибинній зоні. Встановлено характер впливу параметрів доробки глибоких крутоспадних родовищ відкритим способом на доцільне положення поточних та проектних контурів кар’єру. Встановлено, що найменший середній коефіцієнт розкриву досягається при мінімальному значенні суми обсягів корисної копалини приконтурної зони лежачого і висячого боків покладу в проектному положенні. Найменший поточний коефіцієнт розкриву досягається при мінімальному значенні суми обсягів корисної копалини приконтурної зони лежачого і висячого боків покладу, а також робочого борту кар'єру в поточному положенні