bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ask me anything: Deji Akinwande
Authors: Commissariat Tushna
Published: November 2020

Deji Akinwande is a professor at the University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on 2D materials, nanoelectronics and nanotechnology, pioneering device innovations from lab towards applications. He is a co-inventor of a high-frequency chip-to-chip interconnect and an electrically small antenna for bio-electronics.
Electrical transport properties and impedance analysis of Au/ZnO nanorods/ITO heterojunction device
Authors: Guruprasad Kuppuswamy , Marappan Gobinath , Elangovan Surya , Velappa Jayaraman Surya , Kamala Bharathi K , Venugopal Gunasekaran , Di Natale Corrado , Sivalingam Yuvaraj
Published: November 2020

Our work involves the growth of well aligned vertical nanorods of ZnO on transparent indium doped tin oxide (ITO) conductive substrate and fabrication of Au/ZnO Nanorods/ITO Heterojunction device. The observation of non-ideal diode current density-voltage (J-V) characteristics of the device has been evaluated with various conduction mechanisms [Ohmic, space-charge limited conduction (SCLC)]. The charge carrier mobility is estimated to be ∼0.05 cm2/Vs. The presence of deep level defects in the ZnO nanorods is accountable for these two different transport mechanisms and it is backed by photoluminescence, distinctly. The estimated density of deep trap states is ntrap ∼ 5.76 × 1013 cm−3. The charge carrier density and built-in potential of this device are obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The average work function of vertical ZnO nanorods is found out to be ∼4.93 eV. Henceforth, our results explain the charge transport mechanism which plays a key role in optoelectronic based devices for various applications.
Spatial allocation without spatial recruitment in bumblebees
Authors: Incorvaia Darren C , Hintze Arend , Dyer Fred C
Published: November 2020

Any foraging animal is expected to allocate its efforts among resource patches that vary in quality across time and space. For social insects, this problem is shifted to the colony level: the task of allocating foraging workers to the best patches currently available. To deal with this task, honeybees rely upon differential recruitment via the dance language, while some ants use differential recruitment on odor trails. Bumblebees, close relatives of honeybees, should also benefit from optimizing spatial allocation but lack any targeted recruitment system. How bumblebees solve this problem is thus of immense interest to evolutionary biologists studying collective behavior. It has been thought that bumblebees could solve the spatial allocation problem by relying on the summed individual decisions of foragers, who occasionally sample and shift to alternative resources. We use field experiments to test the hypothesis that bumblebees augment individual exploration with social information. Specifically, we provide behavioral evidence that, when higher-concentration sucrose arrives at the nest, employed foragers abandon their patches to begin searching for the better option; they are more likely to accept novel resources if they match the quality of the sucrose solution experienced in the nest. We explored this strategy further by building an agent-based model of bumblebee foraging. This model supports the hypothesis that using social information to inform search decisions is advantageous over individual search alone. Our results show that bumblebees use a collective foraging strategy built on social modulation of individual decisions, providing further insight into the evolution of collective behavior.
Treed distributed lag nonlinear models
Authors: Mork Daniel , Wilson Ander
Published: November 2020

In studies of maternal exposure to air pollution, a children’s health outcome is regressed on exposures observed during pregnancy. The distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) is a statistical method commonly implemented to estimate an exposure–time–response function when it is postulated the exposure effect is nonlinear. Previous implementations of the DLNM estimate an exposure–time–response surface parameterized with a bivariate basis expansion. However, basis functions such as splines assume smoothness across the entire exposure–time–response surface, which may be unrealistic in settings where the exposure is associated with the outcome only in a specific time window. We propose a framework for estimating the DLNM based on Bayesian additive regression trees. Our method operates using a set of regression trees that each assume piecewise constant relationships across the exposure–time space. In a simulation, we show that our model outperforms spline-based models when the exposure–time surface is not smooth, while both methods perform similarly in settings where the true surface is smooth. Importantly, the proposed approach is lower variance and more precisely identifies critical windows during which exposure is associated with a future health outcome. We apply our method to estimate the association between maternal exposures to PM$_{2.5}$ and birth weight in a Colorado, USA birth cohort.
A synopsis of the androgynous species ofCarexsubgenusVignea(Cyperaceae) in South America
Authors: Jiménez-Mejías Pedro , Martín-Bravo Santiago , Márquez-Corro José Ignacio , Donadío Sabina , Roalson Eric H , Naczi Robert F C
Published: November 2020

This is the first work of a series of thorough studies into the taxonomy and systematics of Carex in South America. Here, we present the systematic placement, biogeographic insights, taxonomic accounts, formal typifications and summarized distributions for the 24 species of Carex subgenus Vignea with androgynous spikes in the continent. We performed a phylogenetic study using the barcode markers ETS, ITS and matK to check the placement of 22 of these species on a previous tree with > 1000 Carex spp. We examined > 600 specimens from 38 herbaria and conducted an exhaustive nomenclatural survey consulting all pertinent literature. South American androgynous species of subgenus Vignea are grouped in seven distinct lineages, corresponding with the same number of inferred colonizations. Most groups seem to have colonized South America during the Plio-Pleistocene, except for species of section Bracteosae, a local radiation that dates back to the Late Miocene. All colonizations by native species seem to have originated from North America. The two putatively introduced taxa are western Palaearctic species. An identification key is provided for the studied species. We make 19 new typifications and a new species (Carex pedicularis) is described.
Spatiotemporal features of β-γ phase-amplitude coupling in Parkinson’s disease derived from scalp EEG
Authors: Gong Ruxue , Wegscheider Mirko , Mühlberg Christoph , Gast Richard , Fricke Christopher , Rumpf Jost-Julian , Nikulin Vadim V , Knösche Thomas R , Classen Joseph
Published: November 2020

Abnormal phase-amplitude coupling between β and broadband-γ activities has been identified in recordings from the cortex or scalp of patients with Parkinson’s disease. While enhanced phase-amplitude coupling has been proposed as a biomarker of Parkinson’s disease, the neuronal mechanisms underlying the abnormal coupling and its relationship to motor impairments in Parkinson’s disease remain unclear. To address these issues, we performed an in-depth analysis of high-density EEG recordings at rest in 19 patients with Parkinson’s disease and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. EEG signals were projected onto the individual cortical surfaces using source reconstruction techniques and separated into spatiotemporal components using independent component analysis. Compared to healthy controls, phase-amplitude coupling of Parkinson’s disease patients was enhanced in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, premotor cortex, primary motor cortex and somatosensory cortex, the difference being statistically significant in the hemisphere contralateral to the clinically more affected side. β and γ signals involved in generating abnormal phase-amplitude coupling were not strictly phase-phase coupled, ruling out that phase-amplitude coupling merely reflects the abnormal activity of a single oscillator in a recurrent network. We found important differences for couplings between the β and γ signals from identical components as opposed to those from different components (originating from distinct spatial locations). While both couplings were abnormally enhanced in patients, only the latter were correlated with clinical motor severity as indexed by part III of the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. Correlations with parkinsonian motor symptoms of such inter-component couplings were found in premotor, primary motor and somatosensory cortex, but not in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, suggesting motor domain specificity. The topography of phase-amplitude coupling demonstrated profound differences in patients compared to controls. These findings suggest, first, that enhanced phase-amplitude coupling in Parkinson’s disease patients originates from the coupling between distinct neural networks in several brain regions involved in motor control. Because these regions included the somatosensory cortex, abnormal phase-amplitude coupling is not exclusively tied to the hyperdirect tract connecting cortical regions monosynaptically with the subthalamic nucleus. Second, only the coupling between β and γ signals from different components appears to have pathophysiological significance, suggesting that therapeutic approaches breaking the abnormal lateral coupling between neuronal circuits may be more promising than targeting phase-amplitude coupling per se.
Facilitating Water electrolysers for electricity-grid services in Europe through establishing standardized testing protocols
Authors: You Shi , Reissner Regine , Imboden Christoph , Bourasseau Cyril , Marcuello Pablo , Greenhalgh Daniel , Green Ben , Abadía Laura , Gil Vanesa , Bornstein Marius , Zong Yi , Chen Xu , Træholt Chresten
Published: November 2020

Electrolysers, which convert electricity into hydrogen, have the potential to offer a variety of electrical-grid services, therefore facilitating the integration of intermittent renewables into electrical grids. Among various activities that aim to unlock this hidden value, the 3-year European Union project QualyGridS launched in 2017 aims to establish standardized testing protocols for electrolysers to perform electricity-grid services. This paper shares experience and intermediate results of QualyGridS with respect to the testing protocols, test benches and testing results. The results of this work facilitate mutual understanding between the electricity industry and the hydrogen industry, support further development of the cross-sector testing standards, guide the design and selection of grid-service-oriented electrolyser applications and foster the transition towards a fossil-free-energy future based on high shares of hydrogen and other renewable solutions.
Sulphite measurement and its influence on Hg behaviour in wet-limestone flue-gas desulphurization
Authors: Masoomi Ida , Bruttel Sophia , Schmid Marc Oliver , Scheffknecht Günter
Published: November 2020

The most abundant and typical reducing agent for oxidized mercury in the slurry of wet flue-gas desulphurization (FGD) is the absorbed sulphur dioxide (SO2), which is present as different species of bisulphite or sulphite, depending on the pH of the slurry. In this study, two different measurement principles for continuous sulphite measurement in the slurry of lab-scale FGD were investigated to check their feasibility to be implemented in a wet FGD. The first method is based on light absorbance at the characteristic wavelength of sulphite measurement using a spectrophotometer and, in the second method, sulphite is measured as sulphur dioxide using a gas sensor. In addition, the correlation of sulphite concentration and mercury (Hg) in the slurry can be shown by measuring sulphite semi-continuously. It was concluded that using a spectrophotometer leads to distorted results. In contrast, measuring sulphite as SO2 in the gas phase proved to be more selective. The implementation of the measurement technique in the lab-scale FGD showed promising results for sulphite measurement. Thus, the correlation of Hg and sulphite concentration could be shown at different synthetic slurries containing different halides. Using a slurry without halides demonstrated the ambivalent influence of sulphite in reactions involving Hg, in which sulphite acts as a ligand for Hg complexes as well as a reducing agent, depending on the existing concentration. However, in the presence of halides, the role of sulphite was less significant.
Phenotyping the shoulder patient based on ultrasound-detected pathologies: a cross-sectional study in general practice
Authors: Verdonk Debra L , Spigt Mark , Lima Passos Valéria , Klemann-Harings Steffie E J M , Ottenheijm Ramon P G
Published: November 2020

Background

Shoulder complaints arise from a single pathology or a combination of different underlying pathologies that are hard to differentiate in general practice. Subgroups of pathologies have been identified on the basis of ultrasound imaging that might affect treatment outcomes.

Objective

Our aim was to validate the existence of different subgroups of patients with shoulder complaints, based on ultrasound-detected pathology, and compare clinical features among them. Profiling shoulder patients into distinct shoulder pathology phenotypes could help designing tailored treatment trials.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study in general practice. Data were extracted from 840 first visit patient records at a single diagnostic centre in the Netherlands. Exclusion criteria were age <18 years and previous shoulder surgery. Latent class analysis was used to uncover cross-combinations of ultrasound detected pathologies, yielding subgroups of shoulder patients. The uncovered subgroups were compared for demographic and clinical characteristics.

Results

We uncovered four distinct subgroups of patients with shoulder complaints: (i) Frozen shoulder group (11%), (ii) Limited pathology group (44%), (iii) Degenerative pathology group (31%) and (iv) Calcifying tendinopathy group (15%). Group comparisons showed significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics among subgroups, consistent with the literature.

Conclusion

In a general practice population, we uncovered four different phenotypes of shoulder patients on the basis of ultrasound detected pathology. These phenotypes can be used designing tailored treatment trials in patients with shoulder complaints.
Fungal community structure and seasonal trajectories respond similarly to fire across pyrophilic ecosystems
Authors: Hopkins Jacob R , Semenova-Nelsen Tatiana , Sikes Benjamin A
Published: November 2020

Fire alters microbial community composition, and is expected to increase in frequency due to climate change. Testing whether microbes in different ecosystems will respond similarly to increased fire disturbance is difficult though, because fires are often unpredictable and hard to manage. Fire recurrent or pyrophilic ecosystems, however, may be useful models for testing the effects of frequent disturbance on microbes. We hypothesized that across pyrophilic ecosystems, fire would drive similar alterations to fungal communities, including altering seasonal community dynamics. We tested fire's effects on fungal communities in two pyrophilic ecosystems, a longleaf pine savanna and tallgrass prairie. Fire caused similar fungal community shifts, including (i) driving immediate changes that favored taxa able to survive fire and take advantage of post-fire environments and (ii) altering seasonal trajectories due to fire-associated changes to soil nutrient availability. This suggests that fire has predictable effects on fungal community structure and intra-annual community dynamics in pyrophilic ecosystems, and that these changes could significantly alter fungal function. Parallel fire responses in these key microbes may also suggest that recurrent fires drive convergent changes across ecosystems, including less fire-frequented systems that may start burning more often due to climate change.
Identification and Characterization of Base-Substitution Mutations in the Macronuclear Genome of the CiliateTetrahymena thermophila
Authors: Wang Guangying , Fu Lu , Xiong Jie , Mochizuki Kazufumi , Fu Yunxin , Miao Wei
Published: November 2020

Polyploidy can provide adaptive advantages and drive evolution. Amitotic division of the polyploid macronucleus (MAC) in ciliates acts as a nonsexual genetic mechanism to enhance adaptation to stress conditions and thus provides a unique model to investigate the evolutionary role of polyploidy. Mutation is the primary source of the variation responsible for evolution and adaptation; however, to date, de novo mutations that occur in ciliate MAC genomes during these processes have not been characterized and their biological impacts are undefined. Here, we carried out long-term evolution experiments to directly explore de novo MAC mutations and their molecular features in the model ciliate, Tetrahymena thermophila. A simple but effective method was established to detect base-substitution mutations in evolving populations whereas filtering out most of the false positive base-substitutions caused by repetitive sequences and the programmed genome rearrangements. The detected mutations were rigorously validated using the MassARRAY system. Validated mutations showed a strong G/C→A/T bias, consistent with observations in other species. Moreover, a progressive increase in growth rate of the evolving populations suggested that some of these mutations might be responsible for cell fitness. The established mutation identification and validation methods will be an invaluable resource to make ciliates an important model system to study the role of polyploidy in evolution.
Monopole Floer Homology, Eigenform Multiplicities, and the Seifert–Weber Dodecahedral Space
Authors: Lin Francesco , Lipnowski Michael
Published: November 2020

We show that the Seifert–Weber dodecahedral space $\textsf{SW}$ is a monopole Floer homology $L$-space. The proof relies on our approach to study Floer homology using hyperbolic geometry. Although $\textsf{SW}$ is significantly larger than previous manifolds studied with this technique, we overcome computational complexity issues inherent to our method by exploiting the many symmetries of $\textsf{SW}$. In particular, we prove that small eigenvalues on coexact $1$-forms on $\textsf{SW}$ have large multiplicity.
Characterization and outcome of invasive infections due toPaecilomyces variotii: analysis of patients from the FungiScope® registry and literature reports
Authors: Sprute Rosanne , Salmanton-García Jon , Sal Ertan , Malaj Xhorxha , Falces-Romero Iker , Hatvani Lóránt , Heinemann Melina , Klimko Nikolai , López-Soria Leyre , Meletiadis Joseph , Shruti Malik , Steinmann Joerg , Seidel Danila , Cornely Oliver A , Stemler Jannik
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To provide a basis for clinical management decisions in Paecilomyces variotii infection.

Methods

Unpublished cases of invasive P. variotii infection from the FungiScope® registry and all cases reported in the literature were analysed.

Results

We identified 59 cases with P. variotii infection. Main baseline factors were presence of indwelling devices in 29 cases (49.2%), particularly peritoneal catheters (33.9%) and prosthetic heart valves (10.2%), haematological or oncological diseases in 19 (32.2%), major surgery in 11 (18.6%), and diabetes mellitus in 10 cases (16.9%). The most prevalent infection sites were peritoneum (n = 20, 33.3%) and lungs (n = 16, 27.1%). Pain and fever were frequent (n = 35, 59.3% and n = 33, 55.9%, respectively). Diagnosis was established by culture in 58 cases (98.3%). P. variotii caused breakthrough infection in 8 patients. Systemic antifungals were given in 52 patients (88.1%). Amphotericin B was administered in 39, itraconazole in 15, and posaconazole in 8 patients. Clinical isolates were frequently resistant to voriconazole, whereas the above-mentioned antifungals showed good in vitro activity. Infections of the blood and CNS caused high mortality. Overall mortality was 28.8% and death was attributed to P. variotii in 10 cases.

Conclusions

P. variotii causes life-threatening infections, especially in immunocompromised and critically ill patients with indwelling devices. Patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis are at particular risk. Multidisciplinary management is paramount, including molecular techniques for diagnosis and treatment with efficacious systemic antifungals. Amphotericin B, itraconazole and posaconazole are regarded as treatments of choice. Combination with flucytosine may be considered. Surgical debridement and removal of indwelling devices facilitate favourable outcome.
Global distribution, dissemination and overexpression of potent multidrug efflux pump RE-CmeABC in Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Yao Hong , Zhao Wenbo , Jiao Dian , Schwarz Stefan , Zhang Rongmin , Li Xin-Sheng , Du Xiang-Dang
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To investigate the global distribution, dissemination and overexpression of RE-CmeABC in Campylobacter jejuni.

Methods

WGS information for 433 RE-cmeABC-positive C. jejuni isolates (including 18 isolates sequenced in this study and 415 isolates from GenBank) was used for the generation of minimum-spanning trees with STs. WGS information for 95 representative RE-cmeABC-positive C. jejuni isolates was used for phylogenetic analysis. RT–PCR was conducted to evaluate the association between inverted repeat (IR) sequence diversity in the RE-CmeABC promoter region and RE-cmeABC gene expression.

Results

WGS analysis revealed the global distribution of RE-cmeABC among C. jejuni from more than 10 countries. MLST results indicated that various STs were involved in the dissemination of RE-cmeABC, with ST2109 being the most predominant ST. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the close relationship between RE-cmeABC-carrying C. jejuni isolates from poultry and humans. The IR polymorphism in the RE-CmeABC promoter region is associated with the overexpression of RE-cmeABC, which was demonstrated experimentally by RT–PCR.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, our analysis represents the first view of the global distribution of RE-CmeABC, which is horizontally transferable and diffused regionally in a clonal manner. The close relationship of RE-cmeABC-positive C. jejuni from poultry and humans supports the potential of these isolates for zoonotic transmission. Overexpressed RE-CmeABC in C. jejuni will increase the fitness of the corresponding bacteria and be of advantage under antimicrobial selection.
The Economics of Burn Injuries Among Children Aged 0 to 4 Years in British Columbia
Authors: Beaulieu Emilie , Zheng Alex , Rajabali Fahra , MacDougall Frances , Pike Ian
Published: November 2020

Children under the age of 5 years have the highest rate of hospitalization and mortality from burns. Studies of costs associated with pediatric burns have included a limited number of patients and focused on inpatient and complication costs, limiting our understanding of the full economic burden of pediatric burns. This study aimed to develop a costing model for burn injuries among children to estimate the economic burden of child burns in British Columbia, Canada. Costs of services and resources used by children aged 0 to 4 years old who were treated at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) between January 1, 2014 and March 15, 2018 for a burn injury were estimated and summed, using a micro-costing approach. The average cost of burn injuries per percentage of total body surface area (%TBSA) was then applied to the number of 0 to 4 years old children treated for a burn injury across British Columbia between January 1 and December 31, 2016. Based on 342 included children, a 1–5%, 6–10%, 11–20%, and >20% burn, respectively cost an average of $3338.80, $13,460.00, $20,228.80, and $109,881.00 to society. The societal cost of child burns in BC in 2016 totaled $2,711,255.01. In conclusion, pediatric burn injuries place an important, yet preventable economic burden on society. Preventing even a small number of severe pediatric burns or multiple small burns may have considerable economic impacts on society and allow for the reallocation of healthcare funds toward other clinical priorities.
Contact Burns From Central Heating Radiators in Adults—An Increasing Problem in an Aging Population
Authors: Whittam Alexander , Stone Matthew , Anwar Mohammad Umair
Published: November 2020

The primary method of heating residential dwellings in the developed world is through central heating radiators. These appliances are a major risk factor for contact burns, especially in individuals at the extremes of age. This article presents our findings of radiator contact burns in adults treated at a regional burns service during a 6-year period. We identified a total of 116 patients and 60% were male. The mean age was 58 (range 16–97), 71% had at least one comorbidity, with a mean of 1.88 comorbidities for each patient (range 0–8). The mean TBSA was 1.7% (range 0.1–8). Thirty-three patients (26%) required at least one operation with the average number of procedures being 1.45 (range 1–4). The mean length of stay was 16 days (range 0–98) compared to 7.5 days for all admitted patients across the same period. Four patients died within 30 days of their injury, 7 within 90 days, and 16 had died within 1 year of their injury. There have been previous smaller studies looking at contact burns from radiators in both adult and pediatric populations, demonstrating a bi-modal distribution at the extremes of age. This study is the largest of its kind looking specifically at an adult population and demonstrates that these injuries tend to occur in a population with a number of other comorbidities. These patients often required prolonged hospital care.
Differential expression of SlKLUH controlling fruit and seed weight is associated with changes in lipid metabolism and photosynthesis-related genes
Authors: Li Qiang , Chakrabarti Manohar , Taitano Nathan K , Okazaki Yozo , Saito Kazuki , Al-Abdallat Ayed M , van der Knaap Esther
Published: November 2020

The sizes of plant organs such as fruit and seed are crucial yield components. Tomato KLUH underlies the locus fw3.2, an important regulator of fruit and seed weight. However, the mechanism by which the expression levels of KLUH affect organ size is poorly understood. We found that higher expression of SlKLUH increased cell proliferation in the pericarp within 5 d post-anthesis in tomato near-isogenic lines. Differential gene expression analyses showed that lower expression of SlKLUH was associated with increased expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism. Lipidomic analysis revealed that repression of SlKLUH mainly increased the contents of certain non-phosphorus glycerolipids and phospholipids and decreased the contents of four unknown lipids. Co-expression network analyses revealed that lipid metabolism was possibly associated with but not directly controlled by SlKLUH, and that this gene instead controls photosynthesis-related processes. In addition, many transcription factors putatively involved in the KLUH pathway were identified. Collectively, we show that SlKLUH regulates fruit and seed weight which is associated with altered lipid metabolism. The results expand our understanding of fruit and seed weight regulation and offer a valuable resource for functional studies of candidate genes putatively involved in regulation of organ size in tomato and other crops.
Temperature-specific vsiRNA confers RNAi-mediated viral resistance at elevated temperature in Capsicum annuum
Authors: Kim Yunsik , Kim Young Jin , Paek Kyung-Hee
Published: November 2020

Resistance (R) gene-mediated resistance is a robust and efficient antiviral immune system in the plants. Thus, when R-mediated resistance was suppressed at elevated temperatures, resistance towards viruses was expected to be completely collapsed. Nonetheless, the multiplication of Tobacco mosaic virus pathotype P0 (TMV-P0) was inhibited, and TMV-P0 particles were only occasionally present in the systemic leaves of pepper plants (Capsicum annuum). RNAi-mediated RNA silencing is a well-known antiviral immune mechanism. At elevated temperatures, RNAi-mediated antiviral resistance was induced and virus-derived siRNAs (vsiRNAs) were dramatically increased. Through sRNA-sequencing (sRNA-Seq) analysis, we revealed that vsiRNAs derived from TMV-P0 were greatly increased. Intriguingly, virus-infected plants could select the temperature-specific vsiRNAs for antiviral resistance from the amplified vsiRNAs at elevated temperatures. Pre-application of these temperature-specific vsiRNAs endowed antiviral resistance of the plants. Therefore, plants sustain antiviral resistance by activating RNAi-mediated resistance, based on temperature-specific vsiRNAs at elevated temperatures.
Periodic Mixing of Magmas Recorded by Oscillatory Zoning of the Clinopyroxene Macrocrysts from an Ultrapotassic Lamprophyre Dyke
Authors: Xing Chang-Ming , Wang Christina Yan
Published: November 2020

Ultrapotassic rocks are volumetrically minor, but widely distributed in different geological settings. Extensive studies have concerned mantle melting processes that generated these rocks. However, crustal processes that they may have involved are poorly known. In this paper, we describe complex oscillatory zoning patterns of clinopyroxene (Cpx) macrocrysts from an ultrapotassic lamprophyre dyke in the Kyrgyz North Tianshan orogen. These macrocrysts commonly have a corroded or patchy-zoned core surrounded by a mantle with distinct oscillatory zoning, which is, in turn, surrounded by a euhedral rim. The oscillatory zoning of the mantle is composed of alternating coarse and fine layers with a clear resorption surface, or closely packed layers with a straight or wavy boundary in back-scattered electron images. High-amplitude oscillation of Mg#, Ti, Al, Cr and Sr across the layers of the mantle is attributed to magma mixing. Low-amplitude, high-frequency oscillation of Mg# across the closely packed layers was probably developed as a result of kinetic effects or crystal movement under thermal and chemical gradients. In addition, cryptic sector zoning of some macrocrysts clearly shows a Si- and Mg-rich hourglass sector and an Al- and Ti-rich prism sector. The sector zoning indicates crystallization of these macrocrysts under low degrees of undercooling, and the presence of concentric Cr-rich and Cr-poor layers within the same grain indicates that the growth process was disrupted by multiple magma recharging events. The cores of the macrocrysts have Mg# with three distinctive ranges: <84–90 (Core I), 74–84 (Core II) and 60–70 (Core III). The mantles have Mg# ranging from 64 to 90 without a distinct gap. The rims have a narrow range of Mg# from 76 to 80. The cores and mantles with high Mg# (≥85) have variable La/Yb from 1·8 to 5·0 and Dy/Yb from 2·3 to 4·6. The macrocrysts overall have variable 87Sr/86Sr from 0·7072 to 0·7084. Highly variable trace elements and 87Sr/86Sr within a single grain indicate that both primary and evolved magmas with different compositions were periodically recharged into the crustal magma reservoirs. Modelling results reveal that the melts in equilibrium with the Cpx macrocrysts may have been derived from the magma reservoirs at three different depths equivalent to crystallization pressures of ∼5·4, ∼3·3 and ∼1·6 kbar, respectively, making up a transcrustal magmatic system. The Cpx-laden melts in deep magma reservoirs may have been frequently transported to shallower reservoirs. Magma mixing in the shallower reservoirs led to heterogeneous magmas with different cooling rates and chemical compositions. Early crystallized Cpx crystals were overprinted with diverse zoning patterns during overgrowth and accumulation. Thus, the complex zoning patterns and compositions of the Cpx macrocrysts have important implications for a transcrustal magmatic system in the formation of ultrapotassic rocks.
What are the duties of an outgoing trustee?
Authors: Alexander Stephen , Edwards Michael
Published: November 2020

The recent case of Geneva Trust Company SA v D and Ors [2020] JRC 104 has served to shed interesting new light on the duties of outgoing trustees regarding disclosure of documents and information (in other words, trust records) by a retiring trustee to a new trustee. The general principles of Jersey law in this area are relatively well-defined, as per the Trusts (Jersey) Law 1984 (the Trusts Law) and a not inconsiderable body of case law derived from the Royal Court in Jersey as well as of the courts of England and Wales. However, it is useful to both professional trustees and legal practitioners alike when the Court provides further elucidation. The Geneva Trust Company case centred around the transfer of trust records for the D Discretionary Trust (the DDT) from the former trustee, Geneva Trust Company SA (formerly known as Rawlinson & Hunter Trustees SA) (the Former Trustee) to the current joint trustees, Fort Trustees Limited and Balchan Management Limited (collectively, the Current Trustees).
Engaging Patients in Integrated Behavioral Health and Primary Care
Authors: Chang Yu-Ping , Casucci Sabrina , Roma Nicole , Dermen Kurt , Barrick Christopher
Published: November 2020

Integrating behavioral health into primary care can increase patient access to treatments for behavioral health disorders, especially in rural areas. The first step of integrated care implementations is the need to identify at-risk patients and effectively communicate patient screening results to the care team. The use of technology can facilitate patient screening and incorporate screening data into electronic health records. This paper describes the development of a tablet-based screening system to facilitate behavioral health integration in a rural primary care clinic, discusses the preliminary impact of digital screening on workflows, and provides recommendations for the use of technology for screening. A tablet-based assessment was developed to screen patients for behavioral health concerns and was implemented within a rural primary care clinic. The system was created using the Visual Signature Capture system, which integrates directly with the electronic health record. Following the initial assessment, patients are screened as frequently as every 30 days with a mini-screen assessment, consisting of multiple screening tools for mental health and substance use. The tablet-based screening system had a positive impact on clinician workflows and the overall effectiveness of clinic operations. This system supports providers in addressing the behavioral health needs of patients that often go unrecognized in primary care.
Acute Rehabilitation in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Report of Physical Therapy Perspectives From the Front Line
Authors: Sweeney Greg , Herbsman Jodi , Chan Wendy , Chae Helen , Fischer Mary , Laverty Patricia , Pierre Alicia , Finley William , Corcoran John R.
Published: November 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) or COVID-19 has grown to become a global pandemic. Although much has been learned about the virus, the complete impact is still not fully understood. This highly infectious pathogen can cause multiple complications in infected individuals, leading to impairments and functional limitations. To date, there has been limited literature available to describe the rehabilitation needs of patients with COVID-19. New York City (NYC) was initially identified as the United States epicenter, where various health system faced unique considerations when managing patients with COVID-19. The purpose of this article was to share the clinical perspectives of the acute physical therapy (PT) team working in one of the large health system in NYC. The report will describe the role PT played in the evaluation, assessment, and treatment of patients with COVID-19 as they navigated the acute hospital setting.
Surgical Management of Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma: A Review of Current Clinical Considerations and Surgical Outcomes
Authors: Gillmann Kevin , Meduri Enrico , Niegowski Laëtitia J. , Mermoud André
Published: November 2020

Introduction:

Pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) is the most common cause of secondary open-angle glaucoma worldwide. It is more aggressive and often more resistant to conventional treatments than primary open-angle glaucoma, yet there is currently no clear consensus on best management practices. This review explores current literature on PEXG to assess the safety and efficacy of currently available surgical techniques, and discusses clinical considerations on the diagnosis and management of the disease.

Methods:

A PubMed and Google Scholar search identified 2271 articles. These were reviewed to exclude irrelevant or duplicate data. A total of 47 studies reporting specifically on PEXG were retained and analyzed.

Review:

One of the most significant ophthalmic consequences of pseudoexfoliative (PEX) syndrome is the compromising of the blood-aqueous barrier resulting in the leakage of inflammatory cytokines and extracellular matrix material into the anterior chamber. Considering the high risk of developing PEXG and the aggressive nature of this type of glaucoma, accurate and timely diagnosis of PEX is critical. Therefore, systematic attentive examination for PEX deposits is crucial. Patients diagnosed with PEX need frequent glaucoma assessments. Patient information is key to improving compliance. Gonioscopy and diurnal tension curves or 24-hour intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring are integral part of the diagnostic work-up and risk-assessment of PEXG. Because of the lability of IOP in PEX, clinical decisions on the basis of single IOP measurements should be avoided. Cataract extraction was shown to provide persistent IOP-lowering effect in the order of 10% in PEXG. A number of other surgical options may offer wider IOP reduction, and both XEN 45 gel stents and angle-based glaucoma procedures were suggested to achieve better outcomes in PEXG than in primary open-angle glaucoma. Yet, more significant IOP reductions may be achieved with filtering surgery or glaucoma drainage device. Same day postoperative IOP monitoring is recommended to treat the frequent IOP spikes following surgery, and more aggressive anti-inflammatory therapy may reduce the rates of postoperative adverse events in PEXG.

Conclusion:

Specific studies of the surgical management of PEXG remain scarce in the medical literature, and more long-term and comparative studies are warranted to define more robust recommendations.
Stratification of patients based on the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory: development and validation of a new algorithm
Authors: Bouhassira Didier , Branders Samuel , Attal Nadine , Fernandes Ana Mercia , Demolle Dominique , Barbour Julio , Ciampi de Andrade Daniel , Pereira Alvaro
Published: November 2020

The personalization of neuropathic pain treatment could be improved by identifying specific sensory phenotypes (ie, specific combinations of symptoms and signs) predictive of the response to different classes of drugs. A simple and reliable phenotyping method is required for such a strategy. We investigated the utility of an algorithm for stratifying patients into clusters corresponding to specific combinations of neuropathic symptoms assessed with the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI). Consistent with previous results, we first confirmed, in a cohort of 628 patients, the existence of a structure consisting of 3 clusters of patients characterized by higher NPSI scores for: pinpointed pain (cluster 1), evoked pain (cluster 2), or deep pain (cluster 3). From these analyses, we derived a specific algorithm for assigning each patient to one of these 3 clusters. We then assessed the clinical relevance of this algorithm for predicting treatment response, through post hoc analyses of 2 previous controlled trials of the effects of subcutaneous injections of botulinum toxin A. Each of the 97 patients with neuropathic pain included in these studies was individually allocated to one cluster, by applying the algorithm to their baseline NPSI responses. We found significant effects of botulinum toxin A relative to placebo in clusters 2 and 3, but not in cluster 1, suggesting that this approach was, indeed, relevant. Finally, we developed and performed a preliminary validation of a web-based version of the NPSI and algorithm for the stratification of patients in both research and daily practice.
Changes in Appetite During the Heart Failure Trajectory and Association With Fatigue, Depressive Symptoms, and Quality of Life
Authors: Andreae Christina , van der Wal Martje H.L. , van Veldhuisen Dirk J. , Yang Bei , Strömberg Anna , Jaarsma Tiny
Published: November 2020

Background

Decreased appetite can contribute to malnutrition in patients with heart failure (HF). Little is known about the trajectory of appetite over time in patients with HF and the factors associated with decreased appetite after discharge from the hospital.

Objective

The aims of this study were to investigate changes in appetite over time and explore how fatigue, depressive symptoms, and quality of life are associated with decreased appetite.

Methods

Data from the multicenter randomized Coordinating study evaluating Outcomes of Advising and Counseling in Heart Failure were used. Logistic regression and mixed-effects logistic regression were used to investigate changes in appetite over time and to explore the relationship between appetite and fatigue, depressive symptoms, and quality of life.

Results

A total of 734 patients with HF (mean age, 69 years) were included. Decreased appetite was present at all follow-up measurements; however, decreased appetite was significantly lower at the 1-month (odds ratio [OR], 0.43; confidence interval [CI], 0.29–0.63), 6-month (OR, 0.31; CI, 0.20–0.47), 12-month (OR, 0.22; CI, 0.14–0.34), and 18-month (OR, 0.24; CI, 0.15–0.37) follow-ups compared with baseline. Decreased appetite was associated with fatigue (OR, 3.09; CI, 1.98–4.84), depressive symptoms (OR, 1.76; CI, 1.35–2.29), and low quality of life (OR, 1.01; CI, 1.01–1.02) across all measurement points adjusted for covariates.

Conclusions

Appetite improved after discharge; however, at all time points, at least 22% of patients reported decreased appetite. Fatigue, depressive symptoms, and low quality of life are factors associated with decreased appetite. Decreased appetite is a long-standing problem in that it does not disappear spontaneously after an acute HF deterioration.
Telehealth Physical Therapy as an Innovative Clinical Education Model With Positive Patient Impact: A Case Report in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hong Sarah M. , Olson-Kellogg Becky J. , North Sara E. , Davis Jackson L. , Staker Justin L.
Published: November 2020

Background and Purpose.

The potential benefits of telehealth physical therapy on patient access and outcomes have been explored in previous research. However, little is known regarding its role in physical therapist education and its impact on patient quality of life during a public health crisis. The purpose of this case report is to illustrate the twofold benefit of telehealth physical therapy as (1) a novel clinical education model that emphasizes adaptive learning and develops innovative physical therapists and, (2) a flexible care delivery model that has the potential to positively affect patient satisfaction and outcomes.

Case Description.

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, students and faculty in the University of Minnesota Division of Physical Therapy education program rapidly established an innovative pro bono telehealth physical therapy clinic (TeleMNPT) in response to limited access to outpatient clinics for both patient physical therapy service provision and student physical therapist clinical education needs. This case report details the use of TeleMNPT services by a patient presenting with vertigo and the role telehealth played in facilitating student clinical learning while also improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

Outcomes.

The telehealth format offered challenges and benefits in student clinical education, including promotion of adaptive learning and role modeling, and produced positive functional outcomes and symptom reduction in the patient.

Discussion and Conclusion.

New insights were formed regarding telehealth's potential contributions to the development of future physical therapists and the profession's approach to serving patients. This case report serves as a stepping stone for examining the potential role telehealth can play as both a mode of care and as an educational tool.
Is urinary β2-microglobulin a reliable marker for assessment of renal tubular dysfunction in chronic hepatitis B patients receiving tenofovir therapy?
Authors: Atef Mira , Zayed Naglaa , Salama Rabab , Abdel Alem Shereen , Yousof Hanaa , Saber Mohammad , Hamed Mai , Yosry Ayman
Published: November 2020

Background and aim

Urinary β2-microglobulin (β2-M) is a marker for renal tubular dysfunction. The current study aimed to assess urinary β2-M as a reliable marker for early prediction of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-related nephrotoxicity among hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients.

Methods

Forty-two HBV patients who were a candidate for TDF therapy or have recently started it (for less than 6 months) were enrolled and subjected to demographic, clinical, laboratory assessment, abdominal ultrasound and transient elastography. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the Cockcroft–Gault equation. Also, urinary β2-M was measured by the ELISA method within 6 months after the introduction of TDF treatment and 6 months later.

Results

Mean age was 41.8 (9.55) years, 27 were males and 59.5% of patients have elevated urinary β2-M after 6 months follow-up of TDF therapy. Urinary β2-M was 0.07 ± 0.07 μg/ml at baseline and insignificantly increased up to 0.09 ± 0.08 μg/ml after 6 months follow-up. Despite the insignificant increase in serum creatinine from 0.85 ± 0.23 mg/dl at baseline to 0.9 ± 0.21 mg/dl after 6 months and the insignificant decrease in eGFR from 126.2 ± 39.72 ml/min at baseline and 117.64 ± 42.23 ml/min at 6 months follow-up. No correlation was found between the changes in urinary β2-M and the changes in other renal function indices at baseline and 6 months follow-up.

Conclusions

Short-term TDF therapy is associated with nonsignificant changes either in eGFR or urinary β2-M; these changes are not clinically relevant that indicates disease progression. Therefore, the suitability of urinary β2-M as a screening tool for tenofovir induced tubular dysfunction should be further.