bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Controlled imprisonment of wave packet and flat bands in a fractal geometry
Authors: Nandy Atanu
Published: January 2021

The explicit construction of non-dispersive flat band modes and the tunability of has been reported for a hierarchical 3-simplex fractal geometry. A single band tight-binding Hamiltonian defined for the deterministic self-similar non-translationally invariant network can give rise to a countably infinity of such self localized eigenstates for which the wave packet gets trapped inside a characteristic cluster of atomic sites. An analytical prescription to detect those dispersionless states has been demonstrated elaborately. The states are localized over clusters of increasing sizes, displaying the existence of a multitude of localization areas. The onset of localization can, in principle, be ‘delayed’ in space by an appropriate choice of the energy of the electron. The tunability of those states leads to the controlled decay of wave function envelope. The impact of perturbation on the bound states has also been discussed. The analogous wave guide model has also been discussed.
Raman-assisted optical frequency combs generated in a silica microsphere in two whispering gallery mode families
Authors: Andrianov A V , Anashkina E A
Published: January 2021

Optical frequency combs (OFCs) generated in microresonators with whispering gallery modes are attractive for different applications and basic science. The effects associated with Raman nonlinearity are constantly being discovered and investigated experimentally and theoretically expanding the capabilities of microresonator OFCs. Here we obtain experimentally Raman-assisted nested OFCs in two different mode families with soliton-like (sech2-shape) spectral envelopes for each mode family in a silica microsphere. By comparing the experimental frequencies of spectral harmonics with the calculated eigenfrequencies we verified that the generated OFC with a larger bandwidth corresponds to the fundamental TE mode family, and the OFC with a smaller bandwidth to the TM mode family. We report the regime when the pump wavelength (without an OFC nearby) is in the normal dispersion region and Raman-assisted OFCs are generated in the anomalous dispersion region.
Histological assessment of a chronically implanted cylindrically-shaped, polymer-based neural probe in the monkey
Authors: Gerbella M , Borra E , Pothof F , Lanzilotto M , Livi A , Fogassi L , Paul O , Orban G A , Ruther P , Bonini L
Published: January 2021

Objective. Previous studies demonstrated the possibility to fabricate stereo-electroencephalography probes with high channel count and great design freedom, which incorporate macro-electrodes as well as micro-electrodes offering potential benefits for the pre-surgical evaluation of drug resistant epileptic patients. These new polyimide probes allowed to record local field potentials, multi- and single-unit activity (SUA) in the macaque monkey as early as 1 h after implantation, and yielded stable SUA for up to 26 d after implantation. The findings opened new perspectives for investigating mechanisms underlying focal epilepsy and its treatment, but before moving to possible human application, safety data are needed. In the present study we evaluate the tissue response of this new neural interface by assessing post-mortem the reaction of brain tissue along and around the probe implantation site. Approach. Three probes were implanted, independently, in the brain of one monkey (Macaca mulatta) at different times. We used specific immunostaining methods for visualizing neuronal cells and astrocytes, for measuring the extent of damage caused by the probe and for relating it with the implantation time. Main results. The size of the region where neurons cannot be detected did not exceed the size of the probe, indicating that a complete loss of neuronal cells is only present where the probe was physically positioned in the brain. Furthermore, around the probe shank, we observed a slightly reduced number of neurons within a radius of 50 µm and a modest increase in the number of astrocytes within 100 µm. Significance. In the light of previous electrophysiological findings, the present data suggest the potential usefulness and safety of this probe for human applications.
The two particle–hole pairs contribution to the dynamic correlation functions of quantum integrable models
Authors: Panfil Miłosz
Published: January 2021

We consider the problem of computing dynamic correlation functions of quantum integrable models employing the thermodynamic form-factor approach. Specifically, we focus on correlations of local operators that conserve the number of particles and consider the two-particle–hole contribution to their two-point functions. With the method developed being generally applicable to any finite energy and entropy state, our primary focus is on the thermal states. To exemplify this approach, we chose the Lieb–Liniger model and study the leading contribution from two-particle–hole excitations at small momenta to the dynamic density–density correlation function. We also consider analogous contributions to two-point functions of higher local conserved densities and currents present in integrable theories.
Tensor decomposition for link prediction in temporal directed networks*
Authors: Zhang Ting , Zhang Kun , Lv Laishui , Li Xun , Fang Yue
Published: January 2021

Link prediction is a challenging research topic that comes along with the prevalence of network data analysis. Compared with traditional link prediction, determining future links in temporal directed networks is more complicated. In this paper, we introduce a novel link prediction method based on non-negative tensor factorization that takes into account the link direction and temporal information. In the proposed method, the temporal directed networks are modeled as a fourth-order tensor, which considers the temporal correlation coefficient of adjacent snapshots. We obtain link information by the factor matrices of tensor decomposition and score node pairs related to the link information. We give the interpretation and prove the convergence of the proposed method. Experiments are conducted on several temporal directed networks. The experimental results show that compared to several well-known link prediction methods, the proposed method improves the performance of link prediction. It is mainly because we use structural and temporal information effectively.
Advances in engineering of low molecular weight hydrogels for chemotherapeutic applications
Authors: Pal Sanjay , Mehta Devashish , Dasgupta Ujjaini , Bajaj Avinash
Published: January 2021

Chemotherapy is the primary option for the treatment of cancer, inflammation, and infectious diseases. Conventional drug delivery poses solubility and bioavailability challenges, systemic toxicity, non-specific targeting, and poor accumulation of chemotherapeutic drugs at the desired site. Nanotechnology has led to the development of various nanomaterials that have decreased the toxicity and increased the accumulation of drugs at the target site. Systemic administration of nanomaterials causes burst release and non-specific targeting of chemotherapeutics, leading to off-target organ toxicity. Drug delivery based on low molecular weight hydrogels (LMWHs) provides a suitable alternative for drug delivery due to their ability to entrap chemotherapeutic drugs. Injectable and biodegradable LMWHs allow the administration of chemotherapeutics with minimal invasion, allow the sustained release of chemotherapeutic drugs for long periods, and reduce the challenges of immunogenicity and low drug entrapment efficiency. Herein, we summarize the advances in the engineering of LMWHs for controlled and prolonged delivery of chemotherapeutics for cancer, infectious diseases, and inflammatory disorders.
Behavior of solitary waves of coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations subjected to complex external periodic potentials with odd-

PT

symmetry
Authors: Charalampidis Efstathios G , Cooper Fred , Dawson John F , Khare Avinash , Saxena Avadh
Published: January 2021

We discuss the response of both moving and trapped solitary wave solutions of a two-component nonlinear Schrödinger system in 1 + 1 dimensions to an odd-

PT

external periodic complex potential. The dynamical behavior of perturbed solitary waves is explored by conducting numerical simulations of the nonlinear system and using a collective coordinate variational approximation. We present case examples corresponding to choices of parameter values and initial conditions involved therein. The results of the collective coordinate approximation are compared against numerical simulations where we observe qualitatively good agreement between the two. Unlike the case for a single-component solitary wave in a complex periodic

PT

-symmetric potential, the collective coordinate equations do not have a small oscillation regime, and initially the height of the two components changes in opposite directions often causing instability. We find that the dynamic stability criteria we have used in the one-component case are a good indicator for the onset of dynamic instabilities in the present setup.
The best approximation of a given qubit state with the limited pure-state set
Authors: Zhang Li-qiang , Yu Deng-hui , Yu Chang-shui
Published: January 2021

The preparation of quantum states lies at the foundation in the quantum information processing. The convex mixing of some existing quantum states is one of the effective candidate. In this paper, we mainly study how a target quantum state can be optimally prepared by not more than three given pure states. The analytic optimal distance based on the fidelity is found. We also show that the preparation with more than four states can be essentially converted to the case with not more than four states, which can be similarly solved as the case with three states. The validity is illustrated by the comparison of our analytical and numerical results.
Enhancing islet transplantation using a biocompatible collagen-PDMS bioscaffold enriched with dexamethasone-microplates
Authors: Primavera Rosita , Razavi Mehdi , Kevadiya Bhavesh D , Wang Jing , Vykunta Akshara , Di Mascolo Daniele , Decuzzi Paolo , Thakor Avnesh S
Published: January 2021

Islet transplantation is a promising approach to enable type 1 diabetic patients to attain glycemic control independent of insulin injections. However, up to 60% of islets are lost immediately following transplantation. To improve this outcome, islets can be transplanted within bioscaffolds, however, synthetic bioscaffolds induce an intense inflammatory reaction which can have detrimental effects on islet function and survival. In the present study, we first improved the biocompatibility of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) bioscaffolds by coating them with collagen. To reduce the inflammatory response to PDMS bioscaffolds, we then enriched the bioscaffolds with dexamethasone-loaded microplates (DEX-μScaffolds). These DEX-microplates have the ability to release DEX in a sustained manner over 7 weeks within a therapeutic range that does not affect the glucose responsiveness of the islets but which minimizes inflammation in the surrounding microenvironment. The bioscaffold showed excellent mechanical properties that enabled it to resist pore collapse thereby helping to facilitate islet seeding and its handling for implantation, and subsequent engraftment, within the epididymal fat pad (EFP). Following the transplantation of islets into the EFP of diabetic mice using DEX-μScaffolds there was a return in basal blood glucose to normal values by day 4, with normoglycemia maintained for 30 d. Furthermore, these animals demonstrated a normal dynamic response to glucose challenges with histological evidence showing reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and fibrotic tissue surrounding DEX-μScaffolds at the transplantation site. In contrast, diabetic animals transplanted with either islets alone or islets in bioscaffolds without DEX microplates were not able to regain glycemic control during basal conditions with overall poor islet function. Taken together, our data show that coating PDMS bioscaffolds with collagen, and enriching them with DEX-microplates, significantly prolongs and enhances islet function and survival.
Minimizing 4DCBCT imaging dose and scan time with Respiratory Motion Guided 4DCBCT: a pre-clinical investigation
Authors: Reynolds Tess , Lim Praise , Keall Paul J , O’Brien Ricky
Published: January 2021

Current conventional 4D Cone Beam Computed Tomography (4DCBCT) imaging is hampered by inconsistent patient breathing that leads to long scan times, reduced image quality and high imaging dose. To address these limitations, Respiratory Motion Guided 4D cone beam computed tomography (RMG-4DCBCT) uses mathematical optimization to adapt the gantry rotation speed and projection acquisition rate in real-time in response to changes in the patient’s breathing rate. Here, RMG-4DCBCT is implemented on an Elekta Synergy linear accelerator to determine the minimum achievable imaging dose. 8 patient-measured breathing traces were programmed into a 1D motion stage supporting a 3D-printed anthropomorphic thorax phantom. The respiratory phase and current gantry position were calculated in real-time with the RMG-4DCBCT software, which in turn modulated the gantry rotation speed and suppressed projection acquisition. Specifically, the effect of acquiring 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 projections/respiratory phase bin RMG scans on scan time and image quality was assessed. Reconstructed image quality was assessed via the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and the Edge Response Width (ERW) metrics. The performance of the system in terms of gantry control accuracy was also assessed via an analysis of the angular separation between adjacent projections. The median CNR increased linearly from 5.90 (20 projections/bin) to 8.39 (40 projections/bin). The ERW did not significantly change from 1.08 mm (20 projections/bin) to 1.07 mm (40 projections/bin), indicating the sharpness is not dependent on the total number of projections acquired. Scan times increased with increasing total projections and slower breathing rates. Across all 40 RMG-4DCBCT scans performed, the average difference in the acquired and desired angular separation between projections was 0.64°. RMG-4DCBCT provides the opportunity to enable fast low-dose 4DCBCT (∼70 s, 200 projections), without compromising on current clinical image quality.
Alcohol Consumption, HDL-Cholesterol and Incidence of Colon and Rectal Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study Including 250,010 Participants
Authors: Tverdal Aage , Høiseth Gudrun , Magnus Per , Næss Øyvind , Selmer Randi , Knudsen Gun Peggy , Mørland Jørg
Published: January 2021

Aims

Alcohol consumption has been linked to colorectal cancer (CRC) and also to the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (HDL-C). HDL-C has been associated with the incidence of CRC. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between self-reported alcohol consumption, HDL-C and incidence of CRC, separately for the two sites.

Methods

Altogether, 250,010 participants in Norwegian surveys have been followed-up for an average of 18 years with respect to a first-time outcome of colon or rectal cancer. During follow-up, 3023 and 1439 colon and rectal cancers were registered.

Results

For men, the HR per 1 drink per day was 1.05 with 95% confidence interval (0.98–1.12) for colon and 1.08 (1.02–1.15) for rectal cancer. The corresponding figures for women were 1.03 (0.97–1.10) and 1.05 (1.00–1.10). There was a positive association between alcohol consumption and HDL-C. HDL-C was inversely associated with colon cancer in men (0.74 (0.62–0.89) per 1 mmol/l) and positively associated with rectal cancer, although not statistically significant (1.15 (0.92–1.44). A robust regression that assigned weights to each observation and exclusion of weights ≤ 0.1 increased the HRs per 1 drink per day and decreased the HR per 1 mmol/l for colon cancer. The associations with rectal cancer remained unchanged.

Conclusion

Our results support a positive association between alcohol consumption and colon and rectal cancer, most pronounced for rectal cancer. Considering the positive relation between alcohol consumption and HDL-C, the inverse association between HDL-C and colon cancer in men remains unsettled.
Pandemic posters
Authors:   The ECN committee, O'Brien Aine , Boubert Douglas , Bowman Dominic , Richards Fred , Maunder Megan
Published: January 2021

The RAS Early Career Network announces the winners of its 2020 poster exhibition
End of an era
Authors: Gunn Alastair
Published: January 2021

Alastair Gunn looks back at the scientific and cultural legacy of an iconic instrument: the 305m Arecibo radio telescope
The curse of clouds
Authors: Barstow Joanna K
Published: January 2021

Joanna K Barstow explores spectroscopic observations of transiting exoplanets, modelling their atmospheric clouds, and the forthcoming era of hot exoplanet research with the James Webb Space Telescope
AlignGraph2: similar genome-assisted reassembly pipeline for PacBio long reads
Authors: Huang Shien , He Xinyu , Wang Guohua , Bao Ergude
Published: January 2021

Contigs assembled from the third-generation sequencing long reads are usually more complete than the second-generation short reads. However, the current algorithms still have difficulty in assembling the long reads into the ideal complete and accurate genome, or the theoretical best result [1]. To improve the long read contigs and with more and more fully sequenced genomes available, it could still be possible to use the similar genome-assisted reassembly method [2], which was initially proposed for the short reads making use of a closely related genome (similar genome) to the sequencing genome (target genome). The method aligns the contigs and reads to the similar genome, and then extends and refines the aligned contigs with the aligned reads. Here, we introduce AlignGraph2, a similar genome-assisted reassembly pipeline for the PacBio long reads. The AlignGraph2 pipeline is the second version of AlignGraph algorithm proposed by us but completely redesigned, can be inputted with either error-prone or HiFi long reads, and contains four novel algorithms: similarity-aware alignment algorithm and alignment filtration algorithm for alignment of the long reads and preassembled contigs to the similar genome, and reassembly algorithm and weight-adjusted consensus algorithm for extension and refinement of the preassembled contigs. In our performance tests on both error-prone and HiFi long reads, AlignGraph2 can align 5.7–27.2% more long reads and 7.3–56.0% more bases than some current alignment algorithm and is more efficient or comparable to the others. For contigs assembled with various de novo algorithms and aligned to similar genomes (aligned contigs), AlignGraph2 can extend 8.7–94.7% of them (extendable contigs), and obtain contigs of 7.0–249.6% larger N50 value and 5.2–87.7% smaller number of indels per 100 kbp (extended contigs). With genomes of decreased similarities, AlignGraph2 also has relatively stable performance. The AlignGraph2 software can be downloaded for free from this site: https://github.com/huangs001/AlignGraph2.
Metabolomic differences in blastocoel and uterine fluids collected in vivo by ultrasound biomicroscopy on rabbit embryos†
Authors: Calderari Sophie , Daniel Nathalie , Mourier Eve , Richard Christophe , Dahirel Michele , Lager Franck , Marchiol Carmen , Renault Gilles , Gatien Julie , Nadal-Desbarats Lydie , Chavatte-Palmer Pascale , Duranthon Véronique
Published: January 2021

The success of embryo development and implantation depends in part on the environment in which the embryo evolves. However, the composition of the uterine fluid surrounding the embryo in the peri-implantation period remains poorly studied. In this work, we aimed to develop a new strategy to visualize, collect, and analyze both blastocoelic liquid and juxta-embryonic uterine fluid from in vivo peri-implantation rabbit embryos. Using high-resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy, embryos were observed as fluid-filled anechoic vesicles, some of which were surrounded by a thin layer of uterine fluid. Ultrasound-guided puncture and aspiration of both the blastocoelic fluid contained in the embryo and the uterine fluid in the vicinity of the embryo were performed. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, altogether 24 metabolites were identified and quantified, of which 21 were detected in both fluids with a higher concentration in the uterus compared to the blastocoel. In contrast, pyruvate was detected at a higher concentration in blastocoelic compared to uterine fluid. Two acidic amino acids, glutamate and aspartate, were not detected in uterine fluid in contrast to blastocoelic fluid, suggesting a local regulation of uterine fluid composition. To our knowledge, this is the first report of simultaneous analysis of blastocoelic and uterine fluids collected in vivo at the time of implantation in mammals, shedding new insight for understanding the relationship between the embryo and its local environment at this critical period of development.
Significant decline in the prevalence of Barrett’s esophagus among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease
Authors: Hamade Nour , Weng Gong , Desai Madhav , Chandrasekar Viveksandeep Thoguluva , Dasari Chandrashekhar , Kennedy Kevin , Sharma Prateek
Published: January 2021

Barrett’s esophagus (BE), a premalignant condition for the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), is a consequence of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Although the incidence of EAC is increasing, a similar trend for BE is not clear. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of newly diagnosed BE over time in a cohort of patients presenting with GERD symptoms.

Information was prospectively collected between 1998 and 2015 for patients presenting to the endoscopy unit at a tertiary referral center for their index upper endoscopy for evaluation of GERD symptoms. Patients were asked to complete a validated GERD questionnaire that documents the onset of GERD symptoms (heartburn and acid regurgitation) and grades the frequency and severity of symptoms experienced. Demographic information, body mass index (BMI), and use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acid suppression therapy if any, smoking, family history, and endoscopic findings: erosive esophagitis, BE, and hiatal hernia were recorded. Patients evaluated during 1998–2003 (control) were compared with those presented in subsequent years (3-year cohorts) using chi-square test, and a multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate independent predictors.

A total of 1109 patients were included in the analysis: mean age 56.9 years (standard deviation [SD] 12.8), 83% Caucasian, 93% male, and mean BMI 29.8 (SD 5.5). Overall, 226 (20.3%) patients were diagnosed with BE, with a mean BE length of 2.1 cm (SD 2.6). There was a significant decrease in the prevalence of BE over time from 24.3% in 1998–2003 to 13.5% in 2013–2015 (P = 0.002). During the same time period, a significant increasing trend in proton pump inhibitor (PPI) (41.7%; 1998–2003 vs. 80.2%; 2013–2015) (P < 0.001) and aspirin (ASA) use (23.7%; 1998–2003 vs. 25.9%; 2013–2015) (P = 0.034) was noted. There was also a significant reduction in cigarette smoking. In a multivariable logistic regression model for predicting the presence of newly diagnosed BE, there was a significant effect of timeframe even after adjusting for confounding variables.

The results of our study indicate that there has been a steady and significant decline in the prevalence of BE in GERD patients over the last 2 decades. During this same time period, there has been an accompanying increase in the use of PPI, aspirin therapy, and a reduction in smoking, all modifiable risk factors potentially contributing to the decreasing prevalence of BE. Whether this decreasing prevalence of BE will lead to a reduction in EAC remains to be seen.
Social networks, adoption of improved variety and household welfare: evidence from Ghana
Authors: Abdul Mumin Yazeed , Abdulai Awudu
Published: January 2021

In this study, we examine the effects of own and peer adoption of improved soybean variety on household yields and food and nutrient consumption, using observational data from Ghana. We employ the marginal treatment effect approach to account for treatment effect heterogeneity across households and a number of identification strategies to capture social network effects. Our empirical results show that households with higher unobserved gains are more likely to adopt because of their worse outcomes when not adopting. We also find strong peer adoption effect on own yield, only when the household is also adopting, and on food and nutrient consumption when not adopting. However, the peer adoption effect on consumption attenuates when the household adopts the improved variety. Furthermore, our findings reveal that adoption tends to equalise households in terms of observed and unobserved gains on consumption and can thus serve as a mechanism for promoting food security and nutrition in this area.
Draft Genome Assemblies and Annotations of Agrypnia vestita Walker, and Hesperophylax magnus Banks Reveal Substantial Repetitive Element Expansion in Tube Case-Making Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera)
Authors: Olsen Lindsey K , Heckenhauer Jacqueline , Sproul John S , Dikow Rebecca B , Gonzalez Vanessa L , Kweskin Matthew P , Taylor Adam M , Wilson Seth B , Stewart Russell J , Zhou Xin , Holzenthal Ralph , Pauls Steffen U , Frandsen Paul B
Published: January 2021

Trichoptera (caddisflies) play an essential role in freshwater ecosystems; for instance, larvae process organic material from the water and are food for a variety of predators. Knowledge on the genomic diversity of caddisflies can facilitate comparative and phylogenetic studies thereby allowing scientists to better understand the evolutionary history of caddisflies. Although Trichoptera are the most diverse aquatic insect order, they remain poorly represented in terms of genomic resources. To date, all long-read based genomes have been sequenced from individuals in the retreat-making suborder, Annulipalpia, leaving ∼275 Ma of evolution without high-quality genomic resources. Here, we report the first long-read based de novo genome assemblies of two tube case-making Trichoptera from the suborder Integripalpia, Agrypnia vestita Walker and Hesperophylax magnus Banks. We find that these tube case-making caddisflies have genome sizes that are at least 3-fold larger than those of currently sequenced annulipalpian genomes and that this pattern is at least partly driven by major expansion of repetitive elements. In H. magnus, long interspersed nuclear elements alone exceed the entire genome size of some annulipalpian counterparts suggesting that caddisflies have high potential as a model for understanding genome size evolution in diverse insect lineages.
Shallow seismic structure beneath the continental China revealed byP-wave polarization, Rayleigh wave ellipticity and receiver function
Authors: Xiao Xiao , Cheng Shihua , Wu Jianping , Wang Weilai , Sun Li , Wang Xiaoxin , Wen Lianxing
Published: January 2021

We construct a high-resolution shallow 3-D seismic model in the top 10 km of the upper crust in the continental China, with constraints of P polarization, Rayleigh wave ellipticity and receiver function obtained from records of 3848 seismic stations. Our 3-D seismic model has a spatial resolution of 0.6–1.2° in the north–south seismic belt and the trans-north China orogen, and 1–2° in the rest of the continental China (except the Tarim basin and the southwest Tibet). The seismic model exhibits low velocity anomalies of deposits in major sedimentary basins and high velocity anomalies of crustal bedrocks in young orogenic belts and old tectonic blocks. The inferred sediment thickness maps display thick deposits in major sedimentary basins, some compacted sediments in the intermontane basins in young orogenic belts and little sediments in old tectonic blocks. We also discuss compaction effects of the sediments and implications of tectonic history and geological evolution of the major basins in the continental China based on the inferred seismic models. This study provides an effective mean of seismic imaging through joint inversion of various seismic constraints and establishes a framework of seismic data sharing for future studies in the seismological community in a first step of developing a China Seismological Reference Model.
What is the optimal level of suction on digital chest drainage devices following pulmonary lobectomy?
Authors: Sørensen Marlene Fromm , Holbek Bo Laksáfoss , Petersen René Horsleben , Christensen Thomas Decker
Published: January 2021

A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: what is the optimal level of suction on digital chest drainage devices following pulmonary lobectomy? Altogether 367 papers were found using the reported search, of which 4 randomized controlled trials using digital chest drainage devices represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. The new digital drainage systems enhance early mobilization as recommended in the enhanced recovery after surgery programme. There is, however, no consensus on the optimal level of suction to apply after pulmonary lobectomy. This is especially the case for digital drainage devices. Surgeon preference will likely continue to guide practice, until the evidence gives clear-cut recommendations. According to the current data, a low suction reduces total fluid drainage and perhaps air leak duration compared to higher suction levels in both video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and open pulmonary lobectomies using digital drainage devices, although the evidence is not overwhelming.
Union Freedoms in the Armed Forces: Still a Taboo?
Authors: Falsone Maurizio
Published: January 2021

This article addresses unionisation in the armed forces, an issue which has recently attracted the attention of the courts, most prominently in Europe. First, the article focuses on the organisational profiles of military structure, discussing the relationships between the exercise of union freedoms and the necessity of preserving the chain of command, the readiness of troops and their political neutrality. It concludes that some recent evolutions in military organisation have contributed to the pressure to unionise the military. Therefore, this article focuses on the legal perspective to clarify the role of international law in this issue. To this end, international treaties and courts’ or authoritative bodies’ interpretations of them are collected, analysed and compared. The article then confirms that several arguments developed in the European judicial context can be reasonably applied outside Europe, in accordance with similar or identical clauses enshrined in all international treaties addressing the issue of military unionisation. International law thus leaves room for interpretations whereby restrictions on military unionisation should not go so far as to ban union freedoms altogether. Finally, this article considers the risks inherent in military unionisation and suggests possible approaches that will facilitate a homogeneous balance between union rights and the general interests at stake.
Measurement and monitoring patient safety in prehospital care: a systematic review
Authors: O’connor Paul , O’malley Roisin , Oglesby Anne-Marie , Lambe Kathryn , Lydon Sinéad
Published: January 2021

Background

Prehospital care is potentially hazardous with the possibility for patients to experience an adverse event. However, as compared to secondary care, little is known about how patient safety is managed in prehospital care settings.

Objectives

The objectives of this systematic review were to identify and classify the methods of measuring and monitoring patient safety that have been used in prehospital care using the five dimensions of the Measuring and Monitoring Safety (MMS) framework and use this classification to identify where there are safety ‘blind spots’ and make recommendations for how these deficits could be addressed.

Methods

Searches were conducted in January 2020, with no limit on publication year, using Medline, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Web of Science and Academic Search. Reference lists of included studies and existing related reviews were also screened. English-language, peer-reviewed studies concerned with measuring and monitoring safety in prehospital care were included. Two researchers independently extracted data from studies and applied a quality appraisal tool (the Quality Assessment Tool for Studies with Diverse Designs).

Results

A total of 5301 studies were screened, with 52 included in the review. A total of 73% (38/52) of the studies assessed past harm, 25% (13/52) the reliability of safety critical processes, 1.9% (1/52) sensitivity to operations, 38.5% (20/52) anticipation and preparedness and 5.8% (3/52) integration and learning. A total of 67 methods for measuring and monitoring safety were used across the included studies. Of these methods, 38.8% (26/67) were surveys, 29.9% (20/67) were patient records reviews, 14.9% (10/67) were incident reporting systems, 11.9% (8/67) were interviews or focus groups and 4.5% (3/67) were checklists.

Conclusions

There is no single method of measuring and monitoring safety in prehospital care. Arguably, most safety monitoring systems have evolved, rather than been designed. This leads to safety blind spots in which information is lacking, as well as to redundancy and duplication of effort. It is suggested that the findings from this systematic review, informed by the MMS framework, can provide a structure for critically thinking about how safety is being measured and monitored in prehospital care. This will support the design of a safety surveillance system that provides a comprehensive understanding of what is being done well, where improvements should be made and whether safety interventions have had the desired effect.
Technological knowledge spaces and the resilience of European regions
Authors: Rocchetta Silvia , Mina Andrea , Lee Changjun , Kogler Dieter F
Published: January 2021

Regional knowledge spaces are heterogeneous, and the structure of these knowledge spaces can play a significant role in shaping regional economic performances during economic downturns. This article explores the relationship between a region’s technological profile and its resilience to exogenous shocks. To identify the determinants of regional economic resilience, we perform panel analyses of EU 15 NUTS II level data covering the years before and after the 2008 financial crisis. The most significant results are that, beyond pure diversification effects, regions endowed with technologically coherent capabilities adapted better in times of economic downturn, and that resilience is influenced by a region’s capacity to generate new growth paths. These findings deepen our understanding of the evolution of regional economies and have relevant implications for the design of appropriate regional development policy instruments.
From conquest to co-existence: Burhān al-Dīn al-Marghīnānī’s (d. 593/1197) re-interpretation of jihād
Authors: Soufi Youcef L
Published: January 2021

Current scholarship on the legal doctrine of jihād presents classical Sunni jurists after the second/eighth century as uniformly championing continual imperial conquest. In this article, I suggest that this sweeping claim for a uniform doctrine neglects what is distinctive in the argumentation of individual juristic thinkers. I trace the genealogy of of Burhān al-Dīn al-Marghīnānī’s (d. 593/1197) theory of jihād in order to show how he radically reinterpreted the doctrine of Ḥanafī school. He introduced the novel approach that jihād need not to be equated with its outward, formal meaning (al-jihād ṣūratan) of military combat. Rather, beyond that outward sense, jihād also had a deeper meaning (al-jihād maʿnan) based on its purpose or function within international relations. For Marghīnānī, part of this function was the preservation of life, freedom, and property. He was thus able to argue that, so long as they secured these ends, peace treaties fulfilled the deeper meaning of jihad. Marghīnānī’s ideas enabled a shift in Ḥanafī thought whereby jurists after him associated jihād with the realization of benefit (maṣlaḥa) for Muslim society. Rather than advocate the obligation of continual conquest, these jurists accepted that decision-making about war and peace should be determined by pragmatic considerations of social interest.
Impacts of Timber Harvest on Communities of Small Mammals, Ticks, and Tick-Borne Pathogens in a High-Risk Landscape in Northern California
Authors: López-Pérez Andres M , Plourde Benjamin , Smith Katie , Rubino Francesca , Pascoe Emily , Smith Olivia , Foley Janet
Published: January 2021

Timber harvest may impact tick-borne disease by affecting small mammal and tick community structures. We assessed tick and small mammal populations in older second-growth redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl) habitat at two harvested sites in Santa Cruz County, California, where local risk of tick-borne disease is high and determined the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks. After single-tree removal harvest in 2014, there was a modest reduction in canopy, primarily toward the end of the study. Harvested sites showed strong reductions in California mouse (Peromyscus californicus, (Gambel)) captures 2-yr after harvest, resolving such that treatments and controls were comparable by the end of the study. Following harvest, treated sites experienced a transient decreased tick infestation while control plots experienced an increase. Ixodes angustus (Neumann) infestation probability on harvested plots decreased immediately after harvest, increasing with time but remaining lower than control plots, whereas I. pacificus (Cooley and Kohls) prevalence was higher shortly after the harvest on harvested plots, and continued to increase. Mean abundance of ticks on vegetation increased on control plots. We detected Borrelia burgdorferi ((Johnson et al.) Baranton) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum ((Foggie 1949) Dumler) in 3.8 and 3.1% of ticks on rodents, but no differences were associated with harvest. Impacts of forest harvest on tick-borne disease depend on removal practice and intensity, whether or not hosts are habitat specialists, and whether or not ticks are host specialists.
Established Population of the Gulf Coast Tick, Amblyomma maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae), Infected with Rickettsia parkeri (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), in Connecticut
Authors: Molaei Goudarz , Little Eliza A H , Khalil Noelle , Ayres Bryan N , Nicholson William L , Paddock Christopher D
Published: January 2021

We identified an established population of the Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum Koch) infected with Rickettsia parkeri in Connecticut, representing the northernmost range limit of this medically relevant tick species. Our finding highlights the importance of tick surveillance and public health challenges posed by geographic expansion of tick vectors and their pathogens.
‘Do Like You Did in Aleppo’: Negotiating Space and Place Among Syrian Musicians in Istanbul
Authors: Habash Dunya
Published: January 2021

The experiences of displaced musicians and the socio-cultural practices connected to them are marginalized in the study of refugee movements—especially new ones like the Syrian refugee crisis—subordinated to explorations of economic and political structures affecting refugee mobility, structural integration into host communities and emergency settings like the refugee camp. Concurrently, explorations of identity, sentiments of belonging and the reimagining of homeland are common theoretical frameworks applied across the literature. I argue that studying the resettlement experience of refugee musicians can offer a fresh perspective on how identity, belonging and homemaking are renegotiated in displacement. I explore this argument through a particular case study of displaced Syrian musicians in Istanbul because of its transformation into a new cultural center for Syrians in Turkey. Through ethnographic fieldwork conducted with Syrian musicians in Istanbul during the summer of 2018, I reflect on how the unique experience of musicians can illuminate various conceptual frameworks related to agency, space and place.
Genetic diversity of Pneumocystis jirovecii isolates among Turkish population based on mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA and dihydropteroate synthase gene typing
Authors: Gurbuz Ceren Erguden , Delibas Songul Bayram , Alpaydin Aylin Ozgen , Sayiner Ayca Arzu , Ozkoc Soykan
Published: January 2021

Pneumocystis jirovecii (P. jirovecii) is an atypical fungus that can cause severe interstitial pneumonia in immunocompromised patients. In this study, mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA (mtLSU-rRNA) and dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene polymorphism in P. jirovecii isolates were investigated in Western Turkey's Izmir province and its surroundings. For this purpose, a total of 157 P. jirovecii isolates obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage samples of hospitalized cases and lung tissue samples of autopsy cases who died outside hospital were examined. Genotypes were identified by direct sequencing of mtLSU-rRNA restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the DHPS gene amplicons. The mtLSU-rRNA analysis revealed that genotype 2 was the most common genotype with 58%. The following genotypes were genotype 3 (13%), genotype 1 (11.6%) and genotype 4 (5.1%), while genotype 5 (0.7%) was detected in only one autopsy case. In addition, 16 (11.6%) cases had dual or triple different genotypes (mixed infection). It was observed that the genotype distribution was not affected by characteristics such as age, gender and immune status. However, the predominance of genotype 2 in solid organ tumors and the predominance of mixed infection in patients with chronic pulmonary disease were statistically significant. On the other hand, DHPS gene amplification was positive in 137 (87.3%) of 157 samples. While no mutation was observed in 135 samples, the association of wild-type and 57th codon mutation was detected in two hospitalized cases (1.5%). In this study, important epidemiological data on the distribution of mtLSU-rRNA genotypes were obtained. Also the existence of DHPS gene mutations associated with potential drug resistance in our community was shown for the first time. Further studies are needed to evaluate the possible effects of genotypes on the prognosis of the disease to help with the clinician's treatment decisions.

Lay abstract

Pneumocystis jirovecii (P. jirovecii) is an atypical fungus that can cause life-threatening pneumonia in immunocompromised patients. In this study, we investigated the mtLSU-rRNA and DHPS gene polymorphisms in P. jirovecii isolates from both hospital and autopsy cases.
A precise asteroseismic age and metallicity for HD 139614: a pre-main-sequence star with a protoplanetary disc in Upper Centaurus–Lupus
Authors: Murphy Simon J , Joyce Meridith , Bedding Timothy R , White Timothy R , Kama Mihkel
Published: January 2021

HD 139614 is known to be a ∼14-Myr-old, possibly pre-main-sequence star in the Sco-Cen OB association in the Upper Centaurus-Lupus subgroup, with a slightly warped circumstellar disc containing ring structures hinting at one or more planets. The star’s chemical abundance pattern is metal-deficient except for volatile elements, which places it in the λ Boo class and suggests it has recently accreted gas-rich but dust-poor material. We identify seven dipole and four radial pulsation modes among its δ Sct pulsations using the TESS light curve and an échelle diagram. Precision modelling with the mesa stellar evolution and gyre stellar oscillation programs confirms it is on the pre-main sequence. Asteroseismic, grid-based modelling suggests an age of 10.75 ± 0.77 Myr, a mass of 1.52 ± 0.02 M ⊙, and a global metal abundance of Z = 0.0100 ± 0.0010. This represents the first asteroseismic determination of the bulk metallicity of a λ Boo star. The precise age and metallicity offer a benchmark for age estimates in Upper Centaurus–Lupus, and for understanding disc retention and planet formation around intermediate-mass stars.
Relativistic Bondi accretion for stiff equations of state
Authors: Richards Chloe B , Baumgarte Thomas W , Shapiro Stuart L
Published: January 2021

We revisit Bondi accretion – steady-state, adiabatic, spherical gas flow on to a Schwarzschild black hole at rest in an asymptotically homogeneous medium – for stiff polytropic equations of state (EOSs) with adiabatic indices Γ > 5/3. A general relativistic treatment is required to determine their accretion rates, for which we provide exact expressions. We discuss several qualitative differences between results for soft and stiff EOSs – including the appearance of a minimum steady-state accretion rate for EOSs with Γ ≥ 5/3 – and explore limiting cases in order to examine these differences. As an example, we highlight results for Γ = 2, which is often used in numerical simulations to model the EOS of neutron stars. We also discuss a special case with this index, the ultrarelativistic ‘causal’ EOS, P = ρ. The latter serves as a useful limit for the still undetermined neutron star EOS above nuclear density. The results are useful, for example, to estimate the accretion rate on to a mini-black hole residing at the centre of a neutron star.
A Single-Arm, Open-Label, Pilot, and Feasibility Study of a High Nicotine Strength E-Cigarette Intervention for Smoking Cessation or Reduction for People With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Who Smoke Cigarettes
Authors: Caponnetto Pasquale , DiPiazza Jennifer , Kim Jason , Maglia Marilena , Polosa Riccardo
Published: January 2021

Introduction

An estimated 60%–90% of people with schizophrenia smoke, compared with 15%–24% of the general population, exacerbating the already high morbidity and mortality rates observed in this population.

Aims and Methods

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using a new-generation high strength nicotine e-cigarette to modify smoking behavior in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who smoke cigarettes. A single-arm pilot study was conducted with 40 adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who smoked and did not intend to reduce or quit smoking. Participants were given a 12-week supply of a JUUL e-cigarette loaded with a 5% nicotine pod. The primary outcome was smoking cessation at week 12. Additional outcomes included: smoking reduction, continuous abstinence at week 24, adoption rate, adherence to the e-cigarette, feasibility, acceptability, and subjective effects.

Results

Sixteen (40%) participants quit by the end of 12 weeks. For the whole sample, we observed an overall, sustained 50% reduction in smoking or smoking abstinence in 37/40 (92.5%) of participants and an overall 75% reduction in median cigarettes per day from 25 to six was observed by the end of the 12 weeks (p < .001).

Conclusions

A high strength nicotine e-cigarette has the potential to help people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders to quit or reduce smoking. Further research with a larger sample and a comparator group is needed. The results provide useful information and direction to augment the existing body of knowledge on smoking cessation for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Implications

Considering that most people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders continue smoking, alternative and efficient interventions to reduce or prevent morbidity and mortality are urgently needed. This study showed that adults who smoke and were not motivated to quit, when provided a new-generation e-cigarette with high nicotine content, demonstrated substantially decreased cigarette consumption without causing significant side effects. Although not specifically measured in this study, nicotine absorption in new-generation devices has been shown to be consistently superior compared with the first generation of e-cigarette devices, and this may help explain the lower quit rates in studies using earlier generation devices.