Freely flowing currents and electric field expulsion in viscous electronics

Electronic fluids bring into hydrodynamics a new setting: equipotential flow sources embedded inside the fluid. Here we show that nonlocal relation between current and electric field due to momentum-conserving inter-particle collisions leads to a total or partial field expulsion from such flows. That results in freely flowing currents in the bulk and boundary jump in electric potential at current-injecting electrodes. We derive the appropriate boundary conditions, analyze current distribution in free flows, discuss how the field expulsion depends upon geometry of the electrode, and link the phenomenon to breakdown of conformal invariance.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Neutrinoless double-beta decay with massive scalar emission

Searches for neutrino-less double-beta decay ($0\nu2\beta$) place an important constraint on models where light fields beyond the Standard Model participate in the neutrino mass mechanism. While $0\nu2\beta$ experimental collaborations often consider various massless majoron models, including various forms of majoron couplings and multi-majoron final-state processes, none of these searches considered the scenario where the "majoron" $\phi$ is not massless, $m_\phi\sim$~MeV, of the same order as the $Q$-value of the $0\nu2\beta$ reaction. We consider this parameter region and estimate $0\nu2\beta\phi$ constraints for $m_\phi$ of order MeV. The constraints are affected not only by kinematical phase space suppression but also by a change in the signal to background ratio characterizing the search. As a result, $0\nu2\beta\phi$ constraints for $m_\phi>0$ diminish significantly below the reaction threshold. This has phenomenological implications, which we illustrate focusing on high-energy neutrino telescopes. Our results motivate a dedicated analysis by $0\nu2\beta$ collaborations, analogous to the dedicated analyses targeting massless majoron models.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures. v2: added App.A w/ phase space integrals, a few added comments, match journal versio

Resistance Measurement of GEM's in Low Pressure

During measurements the GEM's were installed inside of a vacuum chamber with a pressure of 1:65 10^-6 mbar. The resistance was measured separately for every GEM. High voltage was applied to the anode while the cathode was grounded. Applying a voltage of 750V caused a discharge, then during all the following measurements a voltage of 500V and 200V was alternately applied

Intra-operative identification of a temporal bone fracture line during cochlear implant surgery: a case report

Abstract Background Temporal bone fractures are divided into otic capsule sparing and otic capsule involving fractures. In the latter, hearing loss, facial nerve paralysis, cerebrospinal fluid leak and meningitis have been reported to occur. The impact of hearing loss can be devastating, especially when occurring in children, with significant risk to speech development and sound localization. In the event of hearing loss, early rehabilitation is therefore of paramount importance. Identification of an intra-operative fracture line with available images and the outcome of such cases has not been reported. Case presentation We present the case of a 31-month-old male with an otic capsule involving temporal bone fracture, who presented with ipsilateral profound hearing loss. After all required work-up had been performed, he was admitted for a cochlear implant insertion. Per- operatively, a clear fracture line was seen at the round window niche, but a normal insertion was performed despite the anticipated potential ossification at the fracture line. The dreaded complications of cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea or non-auditory stimulation post-implant did not occur. The peculiarity of this case was its rarity, which was demonstrated by clear images that showed the fracture line on preoperative imaging and intraoperatively. Conclusion Cochlear implantation in the presence of a visible fracture line is feasible and the surgical procedure must not be aborted at its discovery. In these cases, post-operative bacterial meningitis can occur and should be treated aggressively with systemic antibiotics to avoid contralateral ossification of the labyrinth due to labyrinthitis

Is There an Added Neonatal Risk in Vacuum-Assisted Deliveries with Nuchal Cord?

This retrospective cohort study assessed the association between nuchal cord and adverse outcomes during vacuum-assisted delivery (VAD). Women with singleton pregnancies, 34–41-weeks gestation, who underwent VAD, from 2014 to 2020 were included. The primary outcome was umbilical cord pH ≤ 7.1. Secondary outcomes were neonatal intensive care unit admission, Apgar scores, pH p = 0.001) and higher maternal BMI (23.6 ± 4.3 vs. 23.1 ± 5, p = 0.017). Nuchal cord was associated with higher rates of induction (207 (19.5%) vs. 431 (16%), p = 0.009) and lower birthweights (3185 ± 413 vs. 3223 ± 436 g, p = 0.013). The main indication for VAD in 830 (80.7%) of the nuchal cord group was non-reassuring fetal heart rate (NRFHR) vs. 1989 (75.6%) controls (p = 0.004). The second stage was shorter in the nuchal cord group (128 ± 81 vs. 141 ± 80 min, p < 0.001). Multivariate regression found nulliparity, induction and birthweight as independent risk factors for nuchal cord VAD. Although induction and NRFHR rates were higher in VAD with nuchal cord, the rate of umbilical cord acidemia was not

What we learned from extended culture of ‘rejected’ day-3 cleavage stage embryos: a prospective cohort study

Abstract Background To test whether poor quality day-3 embryos can undergo successful blastulation and implantation. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted. Whether or not a good quality embryo was transferred on day-3, poor quality (rejected) embryos were further cultured and followed. The clinical outcome of each embryo was assessed. Results A total of 694 rejected embryos (from 205 patients) were included, with a blastulation rate of 21.2% (147 embryos) compared to 64.2% general blastulation rate reported by our laboratory (P < 0.01). In a multivariate logistic regression model, only their grade on day-3 significantly affected blastulation (P = 0.01). A total of 97 embryos attained eligibility for fresh transfer or cryopreservation, only 6 of which resulted from a day-3 embryo scored < 2. Of these, 52 were transferred, resulting in 21 pregnancies (16 clinical and 5 chemical). In summary, 694 cultured embryos yielded 16 clinical pregnancies; a 2.3% clinical pregnancy rate. Conclusions Low score day-3 embryos can result in successful blastulation and clinical pregnancies. However, the normal blastulation rate is poor

Design of Novel Aminoglycoside Derivatives with Enhanced Suppression of Diseases-Causing Nonsense Mutations

New pseudotrisaccharide derivatives of aminoglycosides that exploit additional interaction on the shallow groove face of the decoding-site rRNA of eukaryotic ribosome were designed, synthesized and biologically evaluated. Novel lead structures (<b>6</b> and <b>7</b> with an additional 7′-OH), exhibiting enhanced specificity to eukaryotic cytoplasmic ribosome, and superior nonsense mutation suppression activity than those of gentamicin, were discovered. The comparative benefit of new leads was demonstrated in four different nonsense DNA-constructs underling the genetic diseases cystic fibrosis, Usher syndrome, and Hurler syndrome

Can 17 hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) decrease preterm deliveries in patients with a history of PMC or pPROM?

BackgroundA history of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is a significant risk factor for recurrence. Intra-muscular-7α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) has been the preventive treatment of choice until the recent "Prolong study" that reported no benefit.ObjectiveTo determine the benefit of (17P) treatment in preventing reoccurrence of sPTB, by evaluating two presenting symptoms of the first sPTB: premature contractions (PMC) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM).Study designThis retrospective study included 342 women with a previous singleton sPTB followed by a subsequent pregnancy. sPTB were either due to PMC (n = 145) or pPROM (n = 197). During the subsequent pregnancy, 90 (26.3%) patients received 250 mg 17P IM. Each presenting symptom-PMC or pPROM-was evaluated within itself comparing treated vs. untreated groups. Data were analyzed using t-test, Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression analysis was also performed.ResultsPatients treated with 17P in the subsequent pregnancy had delivered earlier in the previous pregnancy (33.4w vs. 35.3w in the PMC group, and 34.1w vs. 35.7w in the pPROM group, pConclusions17P might delay preterm delivery in patients with a previous sPTB on an individual level (prolongation of the pregnancy for each patient compared to her previous delivery). Therefore, our results imply that 17P can decrease potential premature delivery complications for patients with a previous sPTB due to PMC or pPROM