Recent uci_postprints items

Observation of a Bc*+ Meson with the ATLAS Detector

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The first observation of a new meson state decaying into and a photon is presented using a dataset of collisions at a center-of-mass energy collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of . The mesons are reconstructed from a three-muon final state from decays, along with photons reconstructed via conversions to electron-positron pairs in the detector material. The new state is observed with a significance that exceeds 8 standard deviations. The mass difference between the new meson state and the ground-state meson is measured to be . This corresponds to a mass for the observed state of , where the last uncertainty is due to the precision of the best knowledge of the meson mass. The low mass difference value matches the theory expectations for the lowest vector state of the system, the meson.

The dynamics of introgression and parallel adaptation across North American Vitis species

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hybridization between species can contribute to parallel adaptive events. However, the prevalence of introgression is rarely measured across multiple species, meaning that it is rarely integrated with landscape-scale processes or connected to adaptive repeatability. Here we analyzed whole-genome resequencing data from 639 accessions representing 48 Vitis species. Vitis is notable for the domesticated grapevine (Vitis vinifera), multiple economically important North American species, and as an example of a temperate adaptive radiation. We reconstructed individual- and species-level phylogenetic frameworks for the genus and performed population genetic analyses for 19 species. The analyses uncovered widespread evidence of introgression, comprising ~14% of the average Vitis genome. Introgression was associated with the geographic distribution between species, and highly admixed individuals were more frequently found near ecological niche margins. Genetic...

Baryon Acoustic Oscillations from the C iv Forest with DESI DR2

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We present a measurement of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) in the cross correlation of triply ionized carbon (C iv) absorption with the positions of quasars (QSO) and emission-line galaxies (ELGs). We use quasars and ELGs from the second data release (DR2) of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument survey. Our data sample consists of 2.5 million quasars, 3.1 million ELGs, and the C iv absorption is measured along the line of sight of 1.5 million high-redshift quasars with z > 1.3. We measure the isotropic BAO signal at 4.2σ for the C IV×QSO cross correlation. This translates into a 3.0% precision measurement of the ratio of the isotropic distance scale, DV, and the sound horizon at the drag epoch, rd, with DV/rd(zeff = 1.92) = 30.3 ± 0.9. We make the first detection of the BAO feature in the C IV×ELG cross-correlation at a significance of 2.5σ and find DV/rd(zeff = 1.47) = 24.6 ± 1.0.

Search for anomalies in vector-boson fusion production of the Higgs boson in H(→ γγ)jj events using 164 fb−1 of pp collision data collected at s=13.6 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article details two studies of Higgs boson properties using the vector-boson fusion production mode and the γγjj final state. Both efforts are based on a data sample corresponding to 164 fb−1 of s=13.6$$ \sqrt{s}=13.6 $$ TeV proton-proton collisions recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The first study employs matrix-element-based optimal observables to constrain CP-odd couplings beyond the Standard Model within the Standard Model Effective Field Theory framework, expressed in the Warsaw basis. The second study exploits angular distributions to probe the Higgs boson’s couplings to longitudinally and transversely polarised W and Z bosons in the production of the Higgs boson. To maximise the sensitivity, the constraints of the CP-odd couplings are combined with those from a previous analysis performed in γγjj events in a data sample of proton-proton collisions at s=13$$ \sqrt{s}=13 $$ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb−1. A significant...

Combination of ATLAS and CMS Searches for Higgs Boson Pair Production at s=13 TeV

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This Letter presents a combination of searches for Higgs boson pair ( ) production performed by the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations using proton-proton collision datasets recorded at during the Large Hadron Collider Run 2, corresponding to integrated luminosities ranging between 126 and . The upper limit at the 95% confidence level on the total signal strength, defined as the ratio of the measured cross section to the standard model (SM) prediction, corresponds to 2.5, with an expected value of 1.7 (2.8) assuming the absence (presence) of the SM signal. The strength of the signal is measured to be relative to the SM prediction. The observed significance is found to be 1.1 standard deviations whereas 1.3 are expected for the SM signal. Constraints are set on the Higgs boson trilinear self-coupling and on the couplings of two Higgs bosons to two vector bosons, both normalized to the SM predictions and denoted as and , respectively. The observed individual constraints at the...

Measurement of coincident photon-initiated processes in ultra-peripheral Pb+Pb collisions with the ATLAS detector

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Lorentz-contracted electromagnetic fields of the ions in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions generate intense quasi-real photon fluxes. These lead to photon-induced interactions that are observed in ultra-peripheral collisions (UPCs), such as vector meson and lepton-pair production. The high photon flux also enables the occurrence of multiple photon-induced processes in a single collision. Presented is the first measurement of the coincident production of γ γ → μ + μ − and γ + A → ρ 0 + A in UPC Pb+Pb collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 5.02 TeV and 5.36 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The coincident ρ 0 is identified via its decay into a π + π − pair, with the selected π + π − sample also containing the non-resonant continuum contribution. The rate of the coincident process relative to the exclusive γ γ → μ + μ − process is measured differentially in intervals of forward event activity, quantified by the Zero Degree Calorimeters. The relative...

Approaches for preventing healthcare-associated infections: go long or go wide?

Fri, 9 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Approaches for preventing healthcare-associated infections: go long or go wide?

Tearing stable stationary ITER baseline operation in DIII-D

Fri, 9 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We present a tearing stable, stationary and reproducible operating solution for DIII-D plasmas characterized by the ITER baseline scenario normalized parameter set and shape. In these plasmas low differential rotation ( Δ f 1 , 2 ) between the core and edge is identified as the single root cause of the onset of the primary limiting instability, the 2,1 Neoclassical Tearing Mode (NTM), while a group of other examined parameters have a much weaker impact on the stability. Explanation is offered by drift kinetic simulations, which show a six-fold reduction in the NTM onset threshold due to diminished stabilizing ion polarization currents when the seed island drift frequency ceases in the local plasma frame. Based on the experimental observation and the explanation provided by the theory, a new discharge program is developed to sustain Δ f 1 , 2 by modifying the edge neoclassical potential through neutral gas fueling. This method enables stationary ITER baseline operation free of...

231 Hospital-Onset Sepsis as a Potential Quality Metric: Risk Adjustment for Facility-Level Benchmarking

Fri, 9 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: vSNFs are known reservoirs of MDROs. However, data are lacking on how MDRO carriage may differ between residents in ventilator-capable (vBed) and non-ventilator-capable (non-vBed) areas within vSNFs. Methods: We conducted two point-prevalence MDRO sweeps in two vSNFs (Facility A: 44 vBeds/55 non-vBeds; Facility B: 31 vBeds/167 non-vBeds) from May-June 2025. All occupied beds were sampled except for Facility B’s non-vBeds which randomly sampled 50 beds due to size. Sampling involved hands, axilla/groin and peri-rectal areas cultured for MRSA, ESBL, VRE, C. auris, CRAB, and CRE, plus bilateral nares swabs cultured for MRSA and C. auris. Descriptive statistics summarized overall and MDRO-specific prevalence across body sites, with differences between vBed and non-vBed residents evaluated using t-tests and chi-square tests. Results: Overall MDRO prevalence was higher in vBeds (83.9%, 115/137) than non-vBeds (73.2%, 145/198; p=0.029) although the rank order of carriage...

MHD, disruptions and control physics: Chapter 4 of the special issue: on the path to tokamak burning plasma operation

Fri, 9 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In this chapter, we review the progress in MHD stability, disruptions and control in magnetic fusion research that has occurred over the past (more than) one and a half decades since the publication by Hender et al in 2007 on the same topic as part of the update of ITER Physics Basis. During this period, remarkable progress has been achieved in the understanding of the basic physics and overall control of MHD instabilities through a wide spectrum of dedicated experiments, theory and modeling. The sawtooth activities are probably today one of the best understood of MHD events and very robust control schemes have been developed for reliable operation of tokamaks through core heating. Similarly, significant improvements have been achieved in understanding and control of neoclassical tearing modes, resistive wall modes or locked modes and their control through ECCD or error field control. The field of disruption prediction through application of artificial intelligence, machine learning...

Evaluation of a machine learning system for genomic antimicrobial susceptibility determination on a clinically representative test set

Fri, 9 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Next-generation sequencing is anticipated to transform infectious disease treatment by enabling faster diagnosis, yet a clinical-grade method for genomic AST determination is still lacking. We assessed the accuracy of Keynome gAST, a k-mer based machine learning system for genomic AST, on 956 clinical bacterial isolates. We compared 7,801 predictions of susceptible (S), intermediate (I), and resistant (R) across 97 species-drug combinations against phenotypic AST results. Across the full data set, the Keynome gAST Qualified panel achieved a categorical agreement of 96.9% with very major and major error rates of 1.4% and 0.8%, respectively. At the level of individual species-drug combinations with sufficient data to assess, performance was comparable to the aggregate, with median categorical agreement of 97.4%. We also compared the performance of Keynome gAST to ResFinder, a simple resistance marker approach, in distinguishing susceptible vs non-susceptible...

Overview of Large Helical Device experiments of basic plasma physics for solving crucial issues in reaching burning plasma conditions

Fri, 9 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Recently, experiments on basic plasma physics issues for solving future problems in fusion energy have been performed on a Large Helical Device. There are several problems to be solved in future devices for fusion energy. Emerging issues in burning plasma are: alpha-channeling (ion heating by alpha particles), turbulence and transport in electron dominant heating helium ash exhaust, reduction of the divertor heat load. To solve these problems, understanding the basic plasma physics of (1) wave–particle interaction through (inverse) Landau damping, (2) characteristics of electron-scale (high-k) turbulence, (3) ion mixing and the isotope effect, and (4) turbulence spreading and detachment, is necessary. This overview discusses the experimental studies on these issues and turbulent transport in multi-ion plasma and other issues in the appendix.

240 Attributing Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic Use After Pediatric Solid Organ Transplantation to Culture Evaluation, Surgical Infection, and Re

Fri, 9 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: vSNFs are known for exceedingly high MDRO prevalence, raising questions about the role of environmental contamination and persistence in this healthcare setting. Methods: Environmental sampling was conducted May-June 2025 in two vSNFs. High-touch objects in common areas (mobile/shower equipment, staff breakrooms, dining rooms, rehabilitation gyms) and resident rooms were swabbed using spongesicles, homogenized in trypticase soy broth, incubated 18-24 hours, and cultured for MRSA, VRE, ESBL, C. auris, CRAB, and CRE. On the same day, resident carriage of the same organisms was assessed at nares, hands, axilla/groin, and peri?rectal sites. All ventilator-capable (vBed) and non-vBed occupied beds were sampled except for one facility’s non-vBeds, which randomly sampled 50 beds due to size. The proportion of positive common area objects was compared with MDRO carriage prevalence using two-sample tests of proportions. Within resident rooms, object contamination was compared...

Threomer Inhibition of S1−ACE2 Binding

Fri, 9 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract The interaction between the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S1) and human ACE2 receptor is essential for viral entry into host epithelial cells and a key target for drug discovery. Here, we describe the evolution of a threomer, a base-modified version of threose nucleic acid (TNA), that binds to the S1 protein and inhibits its interaction with ACE2. The aptamer was isolated by in vitro selection using a DNA display strategy that linked each TNA molecule to its encoding double-stranded DNA template. Following iterative cycles of selection and amplification, lead candidates were identified by parallelized screening of individual variants in hydrogel particles. The top-performing hit exhibits low nanomolar affinity to the S1 protein and inhibits formation of the S1−ACE2 complex. Together, this work establishes threomers as an emerging platform for inhibiting protein−protein interactions in therapeutic targets.

Community-Engaged Respondent-Driven Sampling: The California Pacific Islander Well-Being and COVID-19 Economic Survey, 2024.

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Objectives. To describe how community engagement combined with respondent-driven sampling (RDS) enabled timely documentation of the mental health and socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 on California's Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) adult population. Methods. The California Pacific Islander Well-Being and COVID-19 Economic Survey (CAPIWAVES) was a collaboration between NHPI community-based organizations and academic researchers who sampled 929 NHPI adults in California from January to May 2024. The initial respondents were composed of a convenience sample of 58 CHamoru, Fijian, Marshallese, Native Hawaiian, Sāmoan, and Tongan respondents in Northern, Central, and Southern California, who referred up to 4 others. Results. Compared with the American Community Survey, CAPIWAVES RDS estimates differed. We reported initial data findings to NHPI community members in June 2024 in an online webinar. In April 2025, we released a report with the analyzed...

X-ray constraints on dark photon tridents

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dark photons that are sufficiently light and/or weakly interacting represent a compelling vision of dark matter. Dark photon decay into three photons, which we call the dark photon trident, can be the dominant channel when the dark photon mass falls below the electron pair threshold and can produce a significant flux of x rays. We use 16 years of data from Interrnational Gamma-Ray Astro Physics Laboratory (INTEGRAL)/Spectrometer of INTEGRAL (SPI) to constrain sub-MeV dark photon decay, producing new worlds-best constraints on the kinetic mixing parameter for dark photon masses between 90 and 1022 keV, and comment on the potential for future x-ray observatories to discover the trident decay process.

Indirect searches for dark photon-photon tridents in celestial objects

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We model and constrain the unique indirect detection signature produced by dark matter particles that annihilate through a U(1) gauge symmetry into dark photons that subsequently decay into three-photon final states. We focus on scenarios where the dark photon is long-lived, and show that γ-ray probes of celestial objects can set strong constraints on the dark matter/baryon scattering cross section that in many cases surpass the power of current direct detection constraints, and in some cases even peer into the neutrino fog.

Primordial black holes and their mass spectra: The effects of mergers and accretion within stasis cosmologies

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A variety of processes in the very early Universe can give rise to a population of primordial black holes (PBHs) with an extended mass spectrum. For certain mass spectra of this sort, it has been shown that the evaporation of these PBHs into radiation can drive the universe toward an epoch of cosmological stasis which can persist for a significant number of e-folds of cosmological expansion. However, in general, the initial mass spectrum which characterizes a population of PBHs at the time of production can subsequently be distorted by processes such as mergers and accretion. In this paper, we examine the effects that these processes have on the spectra that lead to a PBH-induced stasis. Within such stasis models, we find that mergers have only a negligible effect on these spectra within the regime of interest for stasis. We likewise find that the effect of accretion is negligible in many cases of interest. However, we find that the effect of accretion on the PBH mass spectrum...

Publisher Erratum: t-channel dark matter models – a whitepaper

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the article “t-channel dark matter models – a whitepaper” published in EPJC, the name of one of the authors was incorrectly modified to Francesco D’Amico. The correct name is Francesco D’Eramo. The original article has been corrected. The publisher apologizes for the inconvenience caused.

Developmental changes in memory structure and precision alter the use of retrieved episodes during decisions for reward

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Most widely studied option evaluation strategies rely on knowledge accumulated across repeated experiences. But how should options be evaluated in unfamiliar environments, in which knowledge is sparse? In these situations, how do decision makers make efficient use of limited past experience to guide their choices? One possible strategy is episodic sampling, in which a decision maker retrieves a small number of past decisions from memory to estimate the value of present options. By virtue of their age, children and adolescents have less experience than adults, making episodic sampling a particularly useful strategy for them. At the same time, the effectiveness of episodic sampling derives from memory's precision and context sensitivity-properties that continue to develop into adolescence and young adulthood. This tension raises a key question: are developmental differences in episodic memory associated with differences in episodic sampling? To address this question, 106 participants,...

Angular gausslets

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Gausslets are one of the few basis constructions for electronic structure that combine locality, orthonormality, variable resolution, and an accurate diagonal approximation for the electron-electron interaction, but the original construction is tied to one dimension. Radial gausslets extended this idea to atoms while leaving the angular degrees of freedom in spherical harmonics, so the atomic interaction remained only partially diagonal in the combined basis. Here, we introduce generalized gausslets on the sphere and combine them shell by shell with radial gausslets to form an atom-centered basis in which the electron-electron interaction takes a two-index integral-diagonal form. The angular basis starts from localized spherical Gaussians and uses injection to make a low-ℓ spherical-harmonic subspace exact. Tests of the kinetic spectrum, low-ℓ Coulomb matrix elements, spherium, first-row Hartree-Fock calculations, and He exact diagonalization show systematic convergence with increasing...

Analysis of Major Joint Dosimetry Based on a Standardized Contouring Method Among Patients With Extremity Soft-Tissue Sarcoma

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION: Contemporary radiation treatment planning for extremity soft tissue sarcoma incorporates major joint space dose constraints. However, interpretation of historical dosimetric data and implementation of constraints is limited by the absence of standardized contouring guidelines. METHODS: Guidelines were developed for the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee joints using anatomic references and input from sarcoma radiation oncologists, a musculoskeletal radiologist, and orthopedic oncologists. These guidelines were retrospectively applied to patients with extremity sarcoma treated with combined surgery and radiation at a single academic institution. Dosimetric parameters were computed and CTCAE v6 grading was used to evaluate for joint stiffness and arthralgia. Dose-toxicity relationships were evaluated using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing and logistic regression with receiver operator curve analysis. RESULTS: Of 97 patients treated with pre- or post-operative radiation, 61 (62.9%)...

Multistep inference across the human lifespan can be improved with individualized memory interventions

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: Effective goal-directed decision making relies on memory and planning-processes that are known to decline with age. We tested the hypothesis that these declines stem from a common mechanism by focusing on mnemonic discrimination, a measure of memory precision that shows unique vulnerability to age-related decline. METHODS: We used a latent learning task that measures the ability to learn and make judgments about associations among interconnected stimuli, assessing performance across the adult life span. This task allows us to measure multistep inference judgments that reflect how individuals organize relational structure, previously shown to capture the internal model-construction processes that support model-based planning. In Experiment 1, we examined relationships between judgment performance and memory precision. In Experiment 2, we tested whether a "blocked" learning schedule designed to reduce memory interference by separating overlapping objects could improve...

Quantum stabilization of unexpected ordered phases on the honeycomb lattice

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We demonstrate the versatility, simplicity, and power of the minimally augmented spin-wave theory in studying phase diagrams of the quantum spin models in which unexpected magnetically ordered phases occur or the existing ones expand beyond their classical stability regions. We use this method to obtain approximate phase diagrams of the two paradigmatic spin-12 models on the honeycomb lattice: the J1-J3 ferro-antiferromagnetic and J1-J2 antiferromagnetic XXZ models. For the J1-J3 case, various combinations of the XXZ anisotropies are analyzed. In a dramatic deviation from their classical phase diagrams, which host significant regions of the noncollinear spiral phases, quantum fluctuations stabilize several unconventional collinear phases and significantly extend conventional ones to completely supersede spiral states. These results are in close agreement with the available density-matrix renormalization group calculations. The applicability of this approach to the other models...

Discrete Autoregressive Switching Processes with Cumulative Shrinkage Priors for Graphical Modeling of Time Series Data

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We propose a flexible Bayesian approach for sparse Gaussian graphical modeling of multivariate time series. We account for temporal correlation in the data by assuming that observations are characterized by an underlying and unobserved hidden discrete autoregressive process. We assume multivariate Gaussian emission distributions and capture spatial dependencies by modeling the state-specific precision matrices via graphical horseshoe priors. We characterize the mixing probabilities of the hidden process via a cumulative shrinkage prior that accommodates zero-inflated parameters for non-active components, and further incorporate a sparsity-inducing Dirichlet prior to estimate the effective number of states from the data. For posterior inference, we develop a sampling procedure that allows estimation of the number of discrete autoregressive lags and the number of states, and that cleverly avoids having to deal with the changing dimensions of the parameter space. We thoroughly investigate...

Research Priorities for Robust Climate Assessments in the United States

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract Scientific assessments play a critical role in synthesizing evidence to support evidence-based decision-making in many sectors and topics. For climate change, large-scale assessments like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA) reports help many different users—from national government to local governments, Indigenous Peoples and communities, the private sector, the social sector, and the scientific community itself—navigate the complex field of climate risks, impacts, and integrated solutions. While cocreation with users is essential to developing actionable assessments, this paper lays the groundwork for future processes by identifying many advancing and emerging areas of relevant knowledge ready for assessment or additional near-term research. Drawing on the expertise of many scholars who were formerly tasked with producing the Sixth NCA and authors of other national or subnational climate assessment reports,...

Research Priorities for Robust Climate Assessments in the United States

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract Scientific assessments play a critical role in synthesizing evidence to support evidence‐based decision‐making in many sectors and topics. For climate change, large‐scale assessments like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the United States (U.S.) National Climate Assessment (NCA) reports help many different users—from national government to local governments, Indigenous Peoples and communities, the private sector, the social sector, and the scientific community itself—navigate the complex field of climate risks, impacts, and integrated solutions. While co‐creation with users is essential to developing actionable assessments, this paper lays the groundwork for future processes by identifying many advancing and emerging areas of relevant knowledge ready for assessment or additional near‐term research. Drawing on the expertise of many scholars who were formerly tasked with producing the Sixth NCA and authors of other national or sub‐national climate...

Structure Inference in Complex Environments Improves From Childhood to Adulthood

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Early in development, children can infer latent structure in the world from sparse and ambiguous evidence. Through a process known as structure learning, they extract statistical regularities, construct causal models from those regularities, and use those models to arbitrate between exploiting known options and exploring novel alternatives. In turn, each decision and its outcomes refine the model that produced them. Despite the clear reciprocal relationship between structure learning and decision-making in the real world, developmental research has largely examined these processes separately. To address this gap, we compared how children, adolescents, and adults behaved in a patch-foraging task designed to reveal how structure learning shapes exploratory decisions in a richly structured, dynamic environment. We found that younger participants left patches sooner than adults, enabling them to explore the environment more broadly within the fixed time window of the study. Computational...

Sparsity and memory constraints interact with training sequence to bias learning of associative maps

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cognitive maps support inference and planning by representing associations between experiences encoded in memory. These map-like representations are thought to carry information not only about directly observed links but also about longer paths. The ability to make judgments based on multi-step associations varies with one's experience in an environment and with changes in memory abilities across the lifespan. However, it remains unclear exactly how representations of associative structure are influenced by learning curricula and memory constraints. Prior studies have suggested a tradeoff: memory representations can either be more integrated to improve inference, or more separated to recall distinct direct associations. Whether overlapping associations are experienced nearby in time (interleaved) or spaced apart (blocked) can bias memory representations toward integration or separation. However, key recent findings about how blocked versus interleaved experience bias integration...

Serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and prevalent heart disease: cross-sectional analysis of the multi-site study

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Previous research investigating exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their association with heart disease has found conflicting results, with recent studies reporting null or inverse associations. We estimated associations between serum PFAS and prevalent heart disease in a large, cross-sectional, multi-site study of adults residing in communities in the United States with historic PFAS drinking water contamination. Participants were recruited from communities in eight states (2019–2023), where they completed questionnaires and provided blood samples. PFAS concentrations were measured in serum. Four PFAS detected in > 70% of participants were modeled as continuous variables, and three less-frequently detected PFAS were modeled as binary variables (above/below the limit of detection). Logistic regression models estimated associations between each PFAS and prevalent heart disease based on self-report, adjusting for demographics, smoking and alcohol consumption,...

Blind ignorance or rational inattention? On the history and future of metabolic considerations for cognitive models.

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We build upon Haueis and Colaço's account in two ways. First, we argue that the backgrounding of metabolism was a pragmatic response to a data granularity problem faced by traditional cognitive modelers. Then, we suggest that equivalence demonstrations offer a promising pathway for incrementally introducing metabolic considerations into extant modeling practice.

Dynamics and thermodynamics of the S = 5/2 almost Heisenberg triangular lattice antiferromagnet K2Mn(SeO3)2

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We report calorimetric, magnetic, and neutron scattering studies on an S = 5/2, nearly Heisenberg triangularlattice antiferromagnet K2Mn(SeO3)2 with weak XXZ easy-axis anisotropy. Multiple magnetic phases are identified, including a noncollinear Y phase in zero field, a field-induced collinear m = 1/3 magnetization plateau, and a high-field V phase. In the Y phase, the magnetic excitation spectrum exhibits both single-magnon excitations and an extended high-energy continuum. Both features are well described by nonlinear spin wave theory. In the field-induced phases, complex effects of the spectrum renormalization even for large S = 5/2 material are clearly detectable. These results underscore the essential role of magnon-magnon interactions in the dynamics of large-S Heisenberg spin systems on a triangular lattice.

Repurposing a machine QA platform for medical physics residency management

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Medical physics residency programs require reliable systems for organizing rotation files, documenting educational activities, recording competency sign-offs, and monitoring resident progression. Current residency standards from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Programs (CAMPEP) require clearly defined training schedules, rotation objectives, resident progress evaluation, and regular documentation of trainee development. Many programs continue to rely on static documents, spreadsheets, or multiple disconnected platforms, which may create version-control problems, increase administrative burden, and reduce transparency. Prior reports have described dedicated educational-management software (Typhon Group and MedHub) for this purpose, but these require separate licensing and onboarding. RadMachine (Radformation, Inc., New York, NY) is widely used in radiation oncology departments for machine quality assurance (QA) management; repurposing...

Phylodynamic analysis reveals disparate transmission dynamics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-complex lineages in Botswana

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tuberculosis epidemics have traditionally been conceptualized as arising from a single uniform pathogen. However, Mycobacterium tuberculosis-complex (Mtbc), the pathogen causing tuberculosis in humans, encompasses multiple lineages exhibiting genetic and phenotypic diversity that may be responsible for heterogeneity in TB transmission. We analysed a population-based dataset of 1,354 Mtbc whole-genome sequences collected over four years in Botswana, a country with high HIV and tuberculosis burden. We identified Lineage 4 (L4) as the most prevalent (87.4%), followed by L1 (6.4%), L2 (5.3%), and L3 (0.9%). Within L4, multiple sublineages were identified, with L4.3.4 being the predominant sublineage. Phylodynamic analysis revealed L4.3.4 expanded steadily from late 1800s to early 2000s. Conversely, L1, L4.4, and L4.3.2 showed population trajectories closely aligned with the HIV epidemic. Meanwhile, L2 saw rapid expansion throughout most of the 20^th century but declined...

Association Between Medical Cannabis Use and Substance Use Disorder in Patients with Dysuria: A Propensity-Score Matched Cohort Study Using Federated Network of Global Real-World Data

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background/Objectives: To evaluate whether medical cannabis (MC) use following dysuria diagnosis is associated with increased risk of developing substance use disorder (SUD), given rising cannabis prescriptions for urologic symptoms and concerns about long-term consequences. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX Research Network, a federated electronic health record database with over 120 million patients. Adult patients newly diagnosed with dysuria between 2003 and 2024 were identified and stratified by subsequent cannabis exposure. MC users were defined by a cannabis-related diagnostic code within 90 days of dysuria diagnosis. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed 1:1 by age, sex, and race. The primary outcome was a new diagnosis of SUD (cannabis, opioid, or cocaine use disorders) within 12 months. Secondary analysis included Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival estimates over 5 years. Risk ratios (RR), odds ratios (OR), and hazard ratios (HR) were...

Non-invasive Reversible Software-based Electron FLASH Irradiation Configuration of a Linear Accelerator in Clinical Use

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Configuring clinical linear accelerators (linacs) for ultra-high-dose-rate (UHDR) electron experiments typically requires invasive hardware manipulation and/or irreversible modifications, limiting broader implementation. This work reports a reversible and noninvasive UHDR electron configuration of a clinical TrueBeam linac that enables switching between preclinical UHDR and conventional (CONV) clinical treatment modes through software settings, without accessing the linac interior. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Built-in service mode software was used to configure the UHDR mode with settings typical of a standard megavoltage photon beam. Using service mode, the photon target and monitor chambers were retracted. An unused low-energy electron scattering foil was loaded. An external AC current transformer for beam control and monitoring was mounted on the accessory tray, with an ionization chamber placed downstream in solid water to monitor exit dose. Dose profiles were measured...

Autoimmune syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) following urethral sling placement: A case report

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A 39-year-old woman developed debilitating systemic symptoms following the placement of a synthetic mid-urethral sling for stress urinary incontinence. Previously in good health, she experienced sepsis and adrenal crisis immediately postoperatively, followed by persistent symptoms including fatigue, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), neuropathic pain, cognitive dysfunction, autonomic instability, and recurrent infections. Despite extensive multispecialty evaluations, no definitive diagnosis was initially reached. Laboratory testing later revealed positive ANA and mild immune dysregulation. Given her complex autoimmune history, strong family predisposition, and the temporal association with mesh implantation, her presentation was suspected to be consistent with autoimmune syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA). She elected to undergo surgical removal of the synthetic sling with placement of an autologous rectus fascia pubovaginal sling. Postoperatively, the patient...

Early origin of the human seminal plasma proteome during vertebrate evolution

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Seminal Fluid Proteins (SFPs)-encoding genes are rapidly evolving at the sequence level and often considered prone to frequent phylogenetic turnover. One mechanism underlying such rapid turnover is the lineage-restricted origin of new SFP genes, which results in a complement of phylogenetically young genes. Recent advances in genome resources and comparative genomics now enable more comprehensive cross-taxa analyses, providing improved estimates of the timing of gene origin during evolution. Using these resources alongside proteomic data from human seminal plasma, we traced the evolutionary origins of 646 putative human SFP genes. We find that most SFPs trace back to the bony vertebrate (Eutelostomi) radiation. These ancient SFP genes are more pleiotropic than younger ones, which are enriched in immunity-related functions and regulate proteolytic activity, particularly peptidase inhibitors. Together, these results underscore that the human proteome components of the seminal plasma...

Urinary Undiversion Reconstruction After Bilateral Long-Segment Ureteral Transection During Pelvic Surgery: A Case Report

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Bilateral long-segment ureteral transection during colorectal surgery is an exceptionally rare and complex complication that demands immediate multidisciplinary management. When primary reimplantation is unfeasible, urinary diversion may serve as a temporizing measure to preserve renal function and stabilize the patient until definitive reconstruction becomes feasible. We report the case of a 43-year-old male who sustained bilateral ureteral transection exceeding ten centimeters during laparoscopic sigmoid resection for an obstructing colonic mass. Given the high, proximal level of injury, direct ureteroneocystostomy with or without Boari flap was not possible, and the patient underwent immediate urinary diversion with an ileal conduit using Bricker ureteroenteric anastomoses. The postoperative course was complicated by a colocutaneous fistula and ventral hernia, which were managed conservatively. After a period of eighteen months, comprehensive reassessment demonstrated preserved...

Supporting neutrality and non-conformity: tensions in how Southern California mothers enact gender-neutral parenting strategies

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Scholars have demonstrated how parents are important agents of gender socialization for children, often funneling children into gender conformity. Less work has considered how families today challenge traditional gender ideologies in their parenting practices. Using data from 22 in-depth interviews with mothers in Southern California, this study examines how mothers understand and enact strategies of gender-neutral parenting, a collection of parenting strategies that challenge traditional gender norms. This research finds that mothers’ gender ideologies and parenting behaviours were in tension, as they simultaneously avoided the label of gender-neutral parenting while enacting aspects of this parenting style. As part of this tension, mothers – motivated by ideas about gender equality and bodily autonomy – socialized their children into gender via two distinct strategies. First, mothers minimized gender differences by treating girls and boys equally and using gender-neutral language....

Voltage-sensor conformational microenvironments encode isoform-selective ion channel activation.

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Isoform-selective opening of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels is desirable for its therapeutic potential yet mechanistically little-understood. Rosemary leaf metabolite carnosic acid (CA) is a high-efficacy opener of the neuronal Kv7.3 channel but exerts minimal effects on Kv7.2 or Kv7.2/3 heteromers. Here, using alanine-scanning mutagenesis, electrophysiology, radioligand binding, and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we found that CA achieves high-efficacy activation of Kv7.3 by binding at the extracellular cap of the voltage-sensing domain (VSD), independent of the canonical retigabine pore binding site. Kv7.3 samples a binding-competent VSD conformation absent in Kv7.2, characterized by an expanded extracellular pocket and a favorable electrostatic environment. Central to this mechanism, Kv7.3-L226 functions as a hydrophobic latch that tunes the energetic landscape of the voltage sensor to control ligand efficacy. Unexpectedly, CA potentiates Kv7.2/3 activation...

Dynamism and evolvability in nucleic acid enzymes

Mon, 5 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Protein dynamism and evolvability are key parameters linking enzyme flexibility to adaptive potential, yet how these concepts apply to nucleic acid enzymes remains largely unexplored. Here, we propose that threose nucleic acid (TNA), a genetic polymer that is more conformationally restricted than DNA, may be evolutionarily constrained by its preorganized backbone. RNA-cleavage profiles comparing the well-known 10-23 DNA enzyme (DNAzyme) with two in vitro selected TNA enzymes (threozymes) reveal striking differences in their temperature dependence. While the DNAzyme catalyzed reaction is optimal at 37 °C and weakly active at 50 °C, threozymes display the opposite trend, suggesting that TNA catalysis must overcome a higher free-energy barrier than DNA catalysis. Consistent with this view, the reaction becomes less temperature dependent for threozymes that operate with more flexible active sites. Together, these findings highlight the importance of backbone structure as a critical...

Investigating the Kidney–Gut–Brain Axis in CKD: Uremic Toxins and Brain Microhemorrhages

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Alterations of gut microbiota are common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and contribute to increased uremic toxins including indoxyl sulfate (IS), p-cresyl sulfate (pCS) and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which are linked to cerebrovascular disease risk. This study examined the kidney-gut-brain axis in CKD mice and in dialysis patients. Male and female mice with adenine-induced CKD were fed a high-amino-acid (HAA) diet to increase precursors of gut-derived uremic toxins. A subgroup of mice received antibiotics in drinking water to suppress gut microbiota and evaluate its role in toxin generation. Behavior tests, gut microbiome composition and brain histology for cerebral microhemorrhages were analyzed. CKD mice had higher serum levels of creatinine, cystatin C and gut-derived toxins, a 2.5-fold increase in brain microhemorrhages, and decreased locomotor activity. The HAA diet significantly increased serum TMAO but not IS and pCS, and all three toxins were reduced by antibiotic...

Abstract DP134: Ischemic Demyelination Induced by Aged Erythrocytes

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: White matter hyperintensities of aging (leukoaraiosis), frequently seen on MRI, have an etiology that remains obscure. The underlying neuropathology of these lesions includes prominent demyelination, thought to be due to ischemic injury. We studied the potential contribution of erythrocytes (RBC) to the pathogenesis of ischemic demyelination using a mouse model in which RBC are biochemically aged and rigidified by treatment with the oxidative stressor tert-butyl-hydroperoxide (t-BHP). Methods: Tie2-GFP mice were injected with t-BHP-treated RBC and compared with mice injected with PBS-treated RBC. After 4 hours or 24 hours circulation, mice were perfused with PBS and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde. Brain samples were collected and processed for immunofluorescence and single-cell spatial transcriptomics. Adjacent sections were examined under confocal microscope to evaluate RBC attachments and then aligned with sections for analysis of transcriptomics. Aligning histology...

Spatial frequency domain imaging of the oculofacial region in control patients

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) is a wide-field optical imaging modality that applies patterned illumination at multiple center wavelengths (470 to 851nm) to quantify the properties of subsurface tissue in vivo. Imaging of the periocular region will guide diagnostic and therapeutic decision making in inflammatory and infiltrative conditions by quantifying parameters such as tissue oxygen saturation and hemoglobin concentration. We previously used a fabricated tissue simulating facial phantom to study the geometric impact of complex ocular adnexal anatomy inherent to the periocular region and identified robust and accurate regions of interest (ROI) by which to image patients. Twenty-five control patients were imaged under an approved IRB protocol using the Reflect RS™ (Modulim, Inc., Irvine, CA) to measure calibrated diffuse reflectance images over a 15 x 20cm 2 field of view, with a spatial resolution of ~0.5mm. “En face” and “side profile” views were captured along established...

Design study for an energy-efficient MeV-ranged photon-beam facility

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The efficient use of energy resources for scientific research is a challenging and timely topic, in particular for scientific fields that require particle accelerator facilities, such as particle or nuclear physics. Accelerator facilities capable of providing high electron beam currents with minimum emittance to ultra-relativistic energies are needed for the production of intense, MeV-ranged, quasi-monochromatic photon beams for photonuclear research and nuclear photonics applications. This contribution presents a design for such an electron accelerator which is capable of recycling most of the kinetic energy of the ultra-relativistic electrons by beam deceleration after a quasi destruction-free usage, thereby lowering significantly the electrical power consumption footprint of operating the accelerator without compromising beam delivery performance. We provide for the first time a technically quantitative design for a thrice-recirculating, superconducting energy-recovery LINAC...

Unsupervised clustering FLIM-phasor from multifunctionalized nanoparticles in living cancer cells

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the present work, we developed a data-driven algorithm for the automated segmentation of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) images, enhancing the analysis of multifunctionalized nanoparticles (NPs) within living cancer cells. FLIM, a powerful microscopy technique, generates images that capture the fluorescence lifetime across a sample at the pixel level, revealing critical details about the molecular environment. Traditionally, FLIM image analysis has relied on manual segmentation with the phasor plot approach, a graphical representation of FLIM data in aGandScoordinate system, which is susceptible to user bias and inconsistency. Here, we present an automated and free of user-biased thresholding and segmentation algorithm that streamlines with clustering techniques to automatically identify phasor-clusters in the phasor plot space, reducing user dependency and providing a reproducible strategy under tested conditions image segmentation. We demonstrate...

Analysis of an exawatt-class laser architecture based on chirped pulse juxtaposed with beam amplification

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract An exawatt-class peak-power laser architecture, based on a single, large-aperture Nd:mixed-glass amplifier combined with a technique called chirped pulse juxtaposed with beam amplification (CPJBA) is proposed to significantly extend laser capabilities beyond the present 10 PW state-of-the-art for ultra-high-intensity lasers. CPJBA utilizes a space–time coupled chirped-beam pulse to enhance the temporal compression of a fixed-aperture grating pair in a novel six-grating compressor arrangement. With this, an appropriately structured, 20-ns stretched pulse can be compressed to a transform limit of 100 fs using a maximum grating aperture of 2 m. This enables the extraction of 25 kJ of energy from a single, large-aperture Nd:glass beamline while staying below the B-integral threshold. This paper presents the numerical modeling of the various novel sub-systems required for this exawatt-class laser architecture. In particular, the unique spatial and temporal pulse distortions...

Structured light for laser-plasma ion lensing

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are used to demonstrate a lens-like focusing effect of ions accelerated from parabolically shaped laser pulses interacting with planar hydrogen foils. An ultrashort, multipetawatt shaped laser pulse with a peak intensity of 1.7× 1022 W/cm2 accelerates 35% of the target within the focal spot area into a high energy, high density, focused ion beam through radiation-pressure acceleration. At single-petawatt laser powers, with a peak intensity of 6×1020 W/cm2, a pulse with a parabolic pulse front generated from the phase of a stepped concentric echelon is shown to collimate ions accelerated from a planar target. The high-power pulse demonstrates the capability of next-generation laser systems for creating high-energy density focused ions, while the lower power pulse highlights the potential of current petawatt-class lasers for producing collimated and dense ions compared to standard Gaussian pulses. The requirements for creating parabolically...

BPS2026 – ESPRESSO: Spatiotemporal omics based on organelle phenotyping reveals dynamic cell state transitions

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BPS2026 – ESPRESSO: Spatiotemporal omics based on organelle phenotyping reveals dynamic cell state transitions

Triple-Transgenic Model of Alzheimer’s Disease with Plaques and Tangles: Intracellular Aβ and Synaptic Dysfunction

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

(Neuron, Vol. 39, 409–421; July 31, 2003) The authors wish to correct an error in Figure 1C of the above article. In the published version, the tau protein panel was inadvertently duplicated in place of the APP protein panel. As a result, the tau western blot data appear twice in the original figure, while the APP western blot data are absent. The corrected Figure 1C now shows APP (top panel) and tau (bottom panel) western blot results across the different founder lines, as originally intended. The updated quantification is shown in Figure 1D. Based on these results, we selected the B1 line as the founder line to derive and characterize further. The corrected figure accurately represents the experimental results that were obtained. This correction does not affect the conclusions or interpretation of the study. The corrected Figure 1 appears below. The authors apologize for this error and any confusion it may have caused. (Figure presented)

An Optimized Bioluminescent Lantern for RNA Imaging

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A complete understanding of RNA dynamics requires methods to continuously image transcripts in living systems. We recently developed a panel of bioluminescent tools for multiplexed RNA detection, comprising luciferase fragments fused to RNA-binding proteins (RNA lanterns). The RNA lanterns assembled a light-emitting luciferase upon binding unique, structured RNA tags. Different colors of emission were produced via bioluminescence resonance energy transfer to fluorescent protein fusions. In this work, we systematically optimized the RNA lantern platform for enhanced performance in live cells. A luciferase-fluorescent protein linkage was identified that enabled improved energy transfer and enhanced photon outputs. The RNA lantern was further optimized for selective recognition of structured RNA tags. The new RNA lantern-tag combination is orthogonal to existing probes and enabled the first demonstration of three-color bioluminescent RNA visualization in live cells. Overall, this...

441: WHITE MATTER DISEASE CORRELATES WITH AGE AND INTENSIVE CARE OUTCOMES IN MODERATE-TO-SEVERE TBI

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

441: WHITE MATTER DISEASE CORRELATES WITH AGE AND INTENSIVE CARE OUTCOMES IN MODERATE-TO-SEVERE TBI

Antipsychotic Practice Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Moderate-to-severe TBI (P10-7.005)

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Antipsychotic Practice Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Moderate-to-severe TBI (P10-7.005)

Spectral broadening and compression of picosecond pulses in air using a multi-pass cell.

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We report the spectral broadening and post-compression of picosecond pulses using a multi-pass cell (MPC) operating in air. A 2 m-long bi-concave cavity with 41 reflections and 96.4% transmission was designed and implemented, optimized for the compression of 5.5 ps, 4.5 mJ pulses from a Yb:YAG laser operating at 1030 nm. A 19.3-fold spectral broadening was obtained, increasing the bandwidth from 0.3 nm to 5.8 nm, which enabled pulse compression down to 547 fs with a symmetric temporal profile close to the transform limit. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using open-air MPCs for high-energy picosecond pulse post-compression, without the need for sealed chambers, while preserving high mode quality and transmission. Scaling to pulse higher energy is discussed.

CKD and Cerebral Microbleeds: Pathophysiologic Insights and Implications for Nephrology.

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

CKD is an increasing global health burden and is a recognized risk factor for vascular injury. Cerebral microbleeds (CMB), a radiologic marker of microvascular hemorrhage in the brain, are more prevalent in CKD and are predictive of stroke and cognitive decline. This review integrates evidence from epidemiologic studies, neuropathologic investigations, and experimental models to elucidate the mechanistic links between CKD and CMB. Key pathways include uremic toxin-induced endothelial injury, vascular calcification, and BP variability. These abnormalities weaken microvascular integrity and accelerate vascular remodeling, ultimately promoting microvascular rupture and CMB formation. Evidence indicates that CKD is an independent risk factor for CMB formation, even after adjustment for conventional vascular risk factors. Recognizing CKD-related CMB as a significant cerebrovascular complication has important implications for prevention of stroke and cognitive decline. Incorporating...

Post-Ischemic Inhibition of the Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uniporter with Ru265 Protects in Ex Vivo and In Vivo Models of Cerebral Ischemia.

Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Brain ischemia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the aging population, yet no effective neuroprotective interventions currently exist. This therapeutic gap stems from two key challenges: the inability to deliver neuroprotective drugs before reperfusion and limited understanding of post-reperfusion events leading to delayed neurodegeneration. Zn2+ is an important contributor to ischemic brain injury, with mitochondrial Zn2+ uptake playing a central role in its neurotoxic effects. Ongoing Zn2+ accumulation occurs through the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) in selectively vulnerable CA1 neurons after transient ischemia, contributing to delayed mitochondrial dysfunction. We previously demonstrated that post-ischemic administration of the non-selective MCU antagonist, ruthenium red attenuated neuronal damage in both an ex vivo oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) mouse brain slice model and in an in vivo rat cardiac arrest (CA) model. In the present study, we test post-ischemic...

Charged-hadron suppression in Pb+Pb and Xe+Xe collisions measured with the ATLAS detector