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Controlled BZO Nanorod Growth and Improved Flux Pinning in YBCO Films Grown on Vicinal STO Substrates
Get PDFThe present study systematically investigates the impact of strain-induced defects on the anisotropy of the critical current density across wide temperature and magnetic field ranges. We focus on 0-10 wt % BaZrO3 (BZO)-doped YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) thin films that are deposited on SrTiO3 substrates with a 5° surface miscut. Our findings highlight the crucial role played by these vicinal substrates in governing the growth of BZO nanorods within the YBCO films. Interestingly, we observe that the miscutinduced surface step-edge terraces serve as preferred nucleation sites for BZO, resulting in controlled nanorod growth and a significant enhancement in both the self-field and in-field critical current densities. Furthermore, we note that the optimal BZO content for effective flux pinning varies considerably depending on the applied temperature, magnetic field, and its orientation. These findings hold significant implications for the design and development of high-performance superconducting materials. The primary objective in such endeavors is to construct an optimal flux pinning structure that can achieve a high critical current density at relatively high magnetic fields.</p
Organomercury oligonucleotide-polydopamine nanoparticle assemblies discriminate between target sequences by Hg(ii)-mediated base pairing
No full text A fluorescently tagged oligonucleotide hybridization probe incorporating a single 5-mercuricytosine residue was synthesized and found to adsorb on polydopamine nanoparticles much more strongly than its unmetallated counterpart. Hybridization with target sequences led to release of the probe from the nanoparticle to varying degrees depending on the nucleobase opposite to 5-mercuricytosine. </p
Contribution of bedrock structures to the bedrock surface topography and groundwater flow systems within deep glaciofluvial aquifers in Kurikka, Western Finland
Get PDFOne of the key challenges related to glaciofluvial aquifers is understanding how the underlying bedrock structures and the associated bedrock surface topography contributed to the deposition of the glaciofluvial sediments and the generation of groundwater flow pathways. In this study from Western Finland, we present a new digital elevation model of the Precambrian crystalline bedrock surface buried up to 100 m beneath the glaciofluvial sediments along the Kurikka depression. We link bedrock topography to structural anisotropy using additional data from rock outcrops, boreholes and gravity data. Brittle deformation zones are seen in the bedrock-digital elevation model (DEM) as sharp breaks in the rock surface. These vertical fracture zones contributed to the development of interlinked elongate bedrock depressions and delimit rock blocks with different elevations. A narrow, zigzagging trench, with a stepped floor, follows WNW-ESE and NE-SW oriented fracture zones and forms a major hydraulic connection between two major parts of the aquifer. Furthermore, the conductive fracture zones are conduits which connect the shallow glacifluvial aquifer system to deep groundwater in the bedrock. Understanding bedrock structures and buried topography is critical for successful groundwater modelling in crystalline, fractured bedrock
Screening for Mutations in Isolated Central Hypothyroidism Reveals a Novel Mutation in Insulin Receptor Substrate 4
Get PDFBackground: Central hypothyroidism (CeH) is a rare condition affecting approximately 1:16 000- 100 000 individuals. Congenital forms can harm normal development if not detected and treated promptly. Clinical and biochemical diagnosis, especially of isolated CeH, can be challenging. Cases are not usually detected in neonatal screening, which, in most countries, is focused on detection of the more prevalent primary hypothyroidism. Until now, five genetic causes for isolated CeH have been identified. Here we aimed to identify the genetic cause in two brothers with impaired growth diagnosed with CeH at the age of 5 years. We further evaluated the candidate gene variants in a large genetic database.MethodsClinical and biochemical characterization together with targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to identify the genetic cause in a family of two brothers presenting with CeH. Screening of insulin receptor substrate 4 (IRS4) variants was carried out in the FinnGen database.Results: A novel monoallelic frameshift mutation c.1712_1713insT, p.Gly572Trp fs*32 in the X-linked IRS4 gene was identified by NGS analysis in both affected males and confirmed using Sanger sequencing. Their mother was an unaffected carrier. In addition to the declined growth at presentation, central hypothyroidism and blunted TRH test, no other phenotypic alterations were found. Diagnostic tests included head MRI, thyroid imaging, bone age, and laboratory tests for thyroid autoantibodies, glucose, insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Examination of the IRS4 locus in FinnGen (R5) database revealed the strongest associations to a rare Finnish haplotype associated with thyroid disorders (p = 1.3e-7) and hypothyroidism (p = 8.3e-7).ConclusionsHere, we identified a novel frameshift mutation in an X-linked IRS4 gene in two brothers with isolated CeH. Furthermore, we demonstrate an association of IRS4 gene locus to a general thyroid disease risk in the FinnGen database. Our findings confirm the role of IRS4 in isolated central hypothyroidism</p
Acquiring the Art of Conducting: Deliberate Practice as Part of Professional Learning
Get PDFResearch was and still is involved in the controversial issue about innate talent or extensive practice as the determinants of excellent performance in a range of domains. This study aims to contribute by presenting an analysis of practice activities in a domain that appears to be particularly suitable-orchestral conducting. Most conductors usually attain expertise in instrument playing prior to commencing conducting studies. Twenty-seven students of German study programs of orchestral conducting (approximately 18.7% of the population) responded to a questionnaire about their practice activities in conducting programs and their instrumental experiences. Descriptive results show the wealth of prestudy experiences conducting students have. A clear influence on practice activities cannot be stated. During study, students rated conducting-specific practice activities as more demanding and devoted more time to them than to general music practice activities. Therefore, conducting-specific practice activities might have been practiced more deliberately than general music practice activities
Biomarker‐adapted treatment in high‐risk large B‐cell lymphoma
Get PDFSurvival rates for patients with high-risk large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), particularly those with biological risk factors, remain inadequate. We conducted a biomarker-driven phase II trial involving 123 high-risk patients aged 18–64 with LBCL. Based on their biological risk profiles, patients received either R-CHOEP-14 (without risk factors) or DA-EPOCH-R-based regimens (with risk factors). Biological high-risk factors included C-MYC translocation, C-MYC and BCL2 co-translocation, 17p/TP53 deletion, co-expression of MYC and BCL2, and P53 and/or CD5 immunopositivity. Additionally, we evaluated circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) kinetics during therapy. Sixty-one patients (50%) were classified into biologically high-risk group. Three-year failure-free survival and overall survival rates for the entire study population were 79% and 88%, respectively. DA-EPOCH-R did not improve survival compared to our previous trial, where patients with the same biological risk factor criteria received R-CHOEP-14-based therapy. High pretreatment ctDNA levels, 17p/TP53 deletion, and TP53 mutations were associated with worse outcomes. In contrast, ctDNA negativity at the end of therapy (EOT) was indicative of a cure and effectively addressed false residual PET positivity. The findings demonstrate promising survival for high-risk LBCL patients, aside from those with TP53 aberrations, high ctDNA levels, and/or EOT ctDNA positivity
Can visualization alleviate dichotomous thinking Effects of visual representations on the cliff effect
Get PDFCommon reporting styles for statistical results in scientific articles,
such as \pvalues\ and confidence intervals (CI), have been reported to
be prone to dichotomous interpretations, especially with respect to the
null hypothesis significance testing framework. For example when the
p-value is small enough or the CIs of the mean effects of a studied drug
and a placebo are not overlapping, scientists tend to claim significant
differences while often disregarding the magnitudes and absolute
differences in the effect sizes. This type of reasoning has been shown
to be potentially harmful to science. Techniques relying on the visual
estimation of the strength of evidence have been recommended to reduce
such dichotomous interpretations but their effectiveness has also been
challenged. We ran two experiments on researchers with expertise in
statistical analysis to compare several alternative representations of
confidence intervals and used Bayesian multilevel models to estimate the
effects of the representation styles on differences in researchers'
subjective confidence in the results. We also asked the respondents'
opinions and preferences in representation styles. Our results suggest
that adding visual information to classic CI representation can decrease
the tendency towards dichotomous interpretations measured as the cliff
effect: the sudden drop in confidence around p-value 0.05 compared with
classic CI visualization and textual representation of the CI with
p-values. All data and analyses are publicly available at
https://github.com/helske/statvis.</p
Koettu yksinäisyys Suomessa 2016-2022
Get PDFKoronarajoitukset vähensivät ihmisten välistä kanssakäymistä, mikä on nostanut esiin huolen etenkin nuorten ja ikääntyneiden yksinäisyyden lisääntymisestä. Artikkelissa yksinäisyyden kokemusta tarkastellaan ennen koronapandemiaa, pandemian toisen aallon aikana ja pandemian jo taannuttua. Tulosten mukaan yksinäisyyden kokemus on lisääntynyt kaikissa tarkastelluissa väestöryhmissä vuosien 2016 ja 2022 välillä. Yksinäisyys on monialainen ja yhteiskunnan sektorit poikkileikkaava ilmiö, jonka torjumiseen tähtäävät toimenpiteet siiloutuvat helposti eri toimijoille ja hallinnon aloille. Yksinäisyyden ehkäisemiseen tarvittaisiinkin kansallista ohjausta sekä julkisen ja kolmannen sektorin yhteispeliä.</p
Safety hazards in patient seclusion events in psychiatric care: A video observation study
Get PDFIntroduction: Seclusion is used to maintain safety in psychiatric care. There is still a lack of knowledge on potential safety hazards related to seclusion practices.Aim: To identify safety hazards that might jeopardize the safety of patients and staff in seclusion events in psychiatric hospital care.Method: A descriptive design with non-participant video observation was used. The data consisted of 36 video recordings, analysed with inductive thematic analysis.Results: Safety hazards were related to patient and staff actions. Patient actions included aggressive behaviour, precarious movements, escaping, falling, contamination and preventing visibility. Staff actions included leaving hazardous items in a seclusion room, unsafe administration of medication, unsecured use of restraints and precarious movements and postures.Discussion: This is the first observational study to identify safety hazards in seclusion, which may jeopardize the safety of patients and staff. These hazards were related to the actions of patients and staff. Implications for Practice Being better aware of possible safety hazards could help prevent adverse events during patient seclusion events. It is therefore necessary that nursing staff are aware of how their actions might impact their safety and the safety of the patients. Video observation is a useful method for identifying safety hazards. However, its use requires effort to safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of those included in the videos.</p