bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ion acceleration with an ultra-intense two-frequency laser tweezer
Authors: Wan Y , Andriyash I A , Pai C H , Hua J F , Zhang C J , Li F , Wu Y P , Nie Z , Mori W B , Lu W , Malka V , Joshi C
Published: April 2020

Ultra-intense lasers produce and manipulate plasmas, allowing to locally generate extremely high static and electromagnetic fields. This study presents a concept of an ultra-intense optical tweezer, where two counter-propagating circularly polarized intense lasers of different frequencies collide on a nano-foil. Interfering inside the foil, lasers produce a beat wave, which traps and moves plasma electrons as a thin sheet with an optically controlled velocity. The electron displacement creates a plasma micro-capacitor with an extremely strong electrostatic field, that efficiently generates narrow-energy-spread ion beams from the multi-species targets, e.g. protons from the hydrocarbon foils. The proposed ion accelerator concept is explored theoretically and demonstrated numerically with the multi-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.
Mechanical properties and microstructure of longitudinal submerged arc welded joint of a new C–Mn steel sheet cladding fine grained ferrite in surface layer for a long distance transport pipeline
Authors: Fan J W , Luo J , Gao J J , Bo F H , Ren Q , Lin H X , Geng H B
Published: April 2020

A new type of C–Mn pipeline steel plates with the ult5ra-fine grained ferrite in surface layer and the fine-grained ferrite in the central layer has been developed successfully. In order to manufacture the long distance oil pipelines using this new ultra-fine grain pipeline steel sheet, the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joints by the Longitudinal Submerged Arc Welding (LSAW), especially the impact toughness, need to be evaluated. Tensile tests, impact tests, are used to study the mechanical properties in this paper according the Chinese National standards. The metallographic technique and SEM are adapted to analyze the microstructure and impact fracture morphology of the LSAW joint. The research results show that the HAZ near the fusion line is a weak part of impact toughness of LSAW joint. However, the base metal is of the fine-grained and ultra-fine grained microstructure itself, and the heat treatment effects between the post-process welding seam and pre-process welding seam on the multi-layer and multi-pass submerged arc welding process, the impact toughness of the HAZ is greatly improved. The whole welded joint is better than the performance of ordinary pipeline steel, which is satisfied with the welding performance requirements of steel sheet engineering application, and can be used in long distance pipeline manufacturing projects.
A novel approach for the production and characterisation of aluminium–alumina hybrid metal matrix composites
Authors: R Thiraviam , V Ravisankar , K Pradeep Kumar , R Thanigaivelan , R Arunachalam
Published: April 2020

In this study, aluminium–alumina hybrid metal matrix composites were developed using stir–squeeze casting with ultrasonic stirring. Scrap aluminium alloy wheels (SAAWs) were used as the matrix material, with 1, 2, and 3 wt% of nanosized alumina ((Al2O3)n) particles as well as 4, 5.5, and 7 wt% of microsized alumina ((Al2O3)m) particles as reinforcement components. An experimental study was conducted using the Taguchi method with an L9 orthogonal array, and the multiobjective optimisation based on ratio analysis technique was used for optimisation. The effects of different ratios of nanosized and microsized alumina particles as well as ultrasonic parameters, namely amplitude and pulse time, on the microstructure and mechanical properties were evaluated and compared. Pin-on-disc wear tests were conducted in the dry condition under uniform load to determine the influence of nanosized and microsized alumina on the wear behaviour. The results revealed that SAAWs reinforced with 1 wt% of nanosized alumina particles and 5.5 wt% of microsized alumina particles and having an amplitude of 100% and pulse on-time of 180 s exhibited lower porosity and metal loss (wear) as well as higher hardness, tensile strength, and compressive strength than other composites.
Should Lawyers Be Loyal To Clients, the Law, or Both?
Authors: Wendel W Bradley
Published: April 2020

Loyalty is a central ideal in both legal ethics and fiduciary law, but recent theoretical approaches to legal ethics also emphasize the connection between the legal profession and the rule of law or democratic self-government. In order for lawyers to perform the role of securing relationships of mutual respect among citizens of a political community, the requirement of single-minded, partisan loyalty to clients may need to be relaxed. Fidelity to law may be in tension with fidelity to clients. This paper considers Daniel Markovits’s strong conception of loyalty and his argument that it follows from necessary conditions for democratic legitimacy. Markovits contends that partisan advocacy is necessary to transform the attitudes of citizens in a way that causes them to internalize the community’s scheme of legal rights and duties as the product of collective authorship by all affected citizens. In that sense, citizens can be said to internalize the requirements of the community’s law. The paper then defends a more modest internalist approach to legal legitimacy and authority, in which giving a legal justification for some action necessarily means committing oneself to a practical stance toward the law that assumes one’s membership in a political community and accepts the community’s laws as reasons for action.
Optimal Bayesian estimation for random dot product graphs
Authors: Xie Fangzheng , Xu Yanxun
Published: April 2020

We propose and prove the optimality of a Bayesian approach for estimating the latent positions in random dot product graphs, which we call posterior spectral embedding. Unlike classical spectral-based adjacency, or Laplacian spectral embedding, posterior spectral embedding is a fully likelihood-based graph estimation method that takes advantage of the Bernoulli likelihood information of the observed adjacency matrix. We develop a minimax lower bound for estimating the latent positions, and show that posterior spectral embedding achieves this lower bound in the following two senses: it both results in a minimax-optimal posterior contraction rate and yields a point estimator achieving the minimax risk asymptotically. The convergence results are subsequently applied to clustering in stochastic block models with positive semidefinite block probability matrices, strengthening an existing result concerning the number of misclustered vertices. We also study a spectral-based Gaussian spectral embedding as a natural Bayesian analogue of adjacency spectral embedding, but the resulting posterior contraction rate is suboptimal by an extra logarithmic factor. The practical performance of the proposed methodology is illustrated through extensive synthetic examples and the analysis of Wikipedia graph data.
The upper airway volume effects produced by Hyrax, Hybrid-Hyrax, and Keles keyless expanders: a single-centre randomized controlled trial
Authors: Cheung Gordon C , Dalci Oyku , Mustac Simone , Papageorgiou Spyridon N , Hammond Shanya , Darendeliler M Ali , Papadopoulou Alexandra K
Published: April 2020

Objective

To assess upper airway volume changes after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) with three different expanders.

Trial design

Three-arm parallel randomized clinical trial.

Methods

Sixty-six patients, 10–16 years old, in permanent dentition, with maxillary transverse deficiency were recruited and assigned with block randomization (1:1:1 ratio) and allocation concealment to three groups of 22 patients each (Hyrax, Hybrid-Hyrax, and Keles keyless expander). The primary outcome (overall upper airway volume change) and secondary outcomes (volume changes in the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx) were blindly assessed on the initial (T0) and final (T1, 6 months at appliance removal) cone beam computed tomography. Differences across groups were assessed with crude or adjusted for confounders (gender, age, growth stage, skeletal pattern, baseline airway volume, and amount of expansion) linear regression models.

Results

Fifty-one patients were analysed (19, 19, and 13 in the Hyrax, Hybrid-Hyrax, and Keles groups). Maxillary expansion resulted in considerable increases in total airway volume in the Hybrid-Hyrax group (+5902.1 mm3) and less in the Hyrax group (+2537.9 mm3) or the Keles group (+3001.4 mm3). However, treatment-induced changes for the primary and all secondary outcomes were of small magnitude and no significant difference was seen among the three expanderes in the total airway volume in either crude or adjusted analyses (P > 0.05 in all instances). Finally, among pre-peak patients (CVM 1–3), the Hybrid-Hyrax expander was associated with significantly greater increases in total airway volume compared to the Hyrax expander (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

RME resulted in relatively small increases in total upper airway volume and its separate compartments, with mostly no statistically significant differences across the Hyrax, Hybrid-Hyrax, and Keles groups.

Limitations

Significantly greater attrition was found in the Keles group due to appliance failure. The current trial might possibly be under-powered to detect differences between groups, if such exist.

Harms

Keles expanders blocked during activations and required substitution for completion of treatment.

Protocol

The protocol was not published before trial commencement.

Registration

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12617001136392).
Ethnic Classroom Composition and Minority Language Use among Classmates: Do Peers Matter for Students’ Language Achievement?
Authors: Seuring Julian , Rjosk Camilla , Stanat Petra
Published: April 2020

This article examines the relationship between ethnic classroom composition and students’ language-related achievement. We investigate whether minority language use among classmates accounts for effects of ethnic composition on minority students’ German reading comprehension and their proficiency in the minority languages Russian and Turkish. We employ multilevel models using cross-sectional data from a sample of ninth-grade students participating in the German National Educational Panel Study. Our findings indicate that students’ minority language background rather than their ethnic origin accounts for ethnic composition effects. We find a negative relationship between the ethno-lingual classroom composition and students’ German reading comprehension, but the association is small and limited to minority students. Moreover, the ethno-lingual classroom composition is positively correlated with minority language proficiency, specifically among Turkish-speaking students. These associations are substantially reduced after controlling for students’ minority language use with their classmates, indicating that a higher proportion of minority language students in a classroom provides additional opportunities for acquiring or maintaining higher levels of proficiency in the minority language. Overall, the ethnic classroom composition does not appear to substantially reinforce existing inequalities between minority and majority students.
Sexual health services in community pharmacy for women on opioid substitution treatment: a qualitative study
Authors: Medina-Perucha Laura , Scott Jenny , Chapman Sarah , Barnett Julie , Dack Charlotte , Family Hannah
Published: April 2020

Background

Women on opioid substitution treatment (WOST) are at heightened risk for the sexual transmission of sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses. This study aimed to explore the opportunities to promote their sexual health in community pharmacies in UK.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 WOST and 14 community pharmacists (CPs). A focus group was run with three CPs. Participants were recruited in drug services and a service for sex workers (WOST), and in CP. Data collection took place between October 2016 and September 2017. Data were analyzed using Framework Analysis and directed Content Analysis.

Results

CPs could play a role in promoting sexual health among WOST. Sexual health screening, treatment and condom supply were suggested as potential ways of delivering pharmacy-based sexual health services. These services should be actively offered to WOST, delivered in a private space and free of cost. We identified several challenges to overcome in order to design and implement sexual health services for WOST in community pharmacies.

Conclusions

This study highlights the potentially key role CPs can have promoting sexual health and addressing health inequities among WOST. Improvements in pharmacists’ training are required in order to address stigma towards WOST, and promote trust and positive rapport. Structural changes are also needed to broaden the services available for this group of women and improve their access to healthcare.
Intestinal Enterococcus abundance correlates inversely with excessive weight gain and increased plasma leptin in breastfed infants
Authors: Laursen Martin Frederik , Larsson Melanie Wange , Lind Mads Vendelbo , Larnkjær Anni , Mølgaard Christian , Michaelsen Kim F , Bahl Martin Iain , Licht Tine Rask
Published: April 2020

Epidemiological evidence indicates that breastfeeding provides protection against development of overweight/obesity. Nonetheless, a small subgroup of infants undergo excessive weight gain during exclusive breastfeeding, a phenomenon that remains unexplained. Breast milk contains both gut-seeding microbes and substrates for microbial growth in the gut of infants, and a large body of evidence suggests a role for gut microbes in host metabolism. Based on the recently established SKOT III cohort, we investigated the role of the infant gut microbiota in excessive infant weight gain during breastfeeding, including 30 exclusively breastfed infants, 13 of which exhibited excessive weight gain and 17 controls which exhibited normal weight gain during infancy. Infants undergoing excessive weight gain during breastfeeding had a reduced abundance of gut Enterococcus as compared with that observed in the controls. Within the complete cohort, Enterococcus abundance correlated inversely with age/gender-adjusted body-weight, body-mass index and waist circumference, body fat and levels of plasma leptin. The reduced abundance of Enterococcus in infants with excessive weight gain was coupled to a lower content of Enterococcus in breast milk samples of their mothers than seen for mothers in the control group. Together, this suggests that lack of breast milk-derived gut-seeding Enterococci may contribute to excessive weight gain in breastfed infants.
Spent mushroom substrate for a second cultivation cycle of Pleurotus mushrooms and dephenolization of agro-industrial wastewaters
Authors: Economou Christina N , Philippoussis Antonios N , Diamantopoulou Panagiota A
Published: April 2020

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) of Pleurotus ostreatus was supplemented with wheat bran and soybean flour and used as substrate for a new cultivation cycle of the oyster mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus pulmonarius. The bioconversion efficiency of mushrooms produced over substrate (BE%) used and the chemical composition of sporophores were evaluated. The concentration of mycelial mass, crude exopolysaccharide content and laccase enzyme activity were also determined at the supplemented SMS before inoculation, at 50% and 100% of colonization stages in the new cultivation and in the final re-utilized SMS. The laccase enzyme was extracted to examine SMS potential for the dephenolization of olive mill and winery wastewaters. Results showed that both Pleurotus species exhibited BE over 185%, demonstrating this bioprocess could represent a promising strategy to convert SMS into nutritional food. Data also indicate the strong positive impact that SMS could have in the solid wastes’ management and agribusiness enhancement.
‘That Ever-Blurry Line Between Us and the Criminals’: African Noir and the Ambiguity of Justice in Mũkoma Wa Ngũgĩ’s Black Star Nairobi and Leye Adenle’s When Trouble Sleeps
Authors: Naidu Sam
Published: April 2020

This article, which focuses on African noir as a variety of neo-noir literature, begins by outlining the intertextual and intercultural relationships between classic noir and African noir. Thereafter, the postcolonial, postmodernist and transnational elements of African noir are described utilizing Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ’s novel Black Star Nairobi (2013) and Leye Adenle’s When Trouble Sleeps (2018) as exemplars. Arguing that African noir draws on various genres and discourses, the article demonstrates how issues of socio-political justice, ontological and existential dilemmas, aesthetic concerns and the epistemological quest are rendered as ambiguous and murky. Based on a close reading of Black Star Nairobi and When Trouble Sleeps, the article concludes that the predominant chiaroscuro effect of African noir is not so much a ‘dark’ sensibility as one of abstruseness and poignant Afro-pessimism.
Patient Inventory: a quality improvement method
Authors: Knudsen Søren Valgreen , Hermansen Sabina Bay , Holmskov Jens , Johnsen Søren Paaske , Mainz Jan
Published: April 2020

Providing high quality care requires that patient care pathways are organized according to the needs of the patient. The organization of high-quality integrated patient care requires methods to assess ‘appropriateness’ of the care pathways to identify challenges in delivering the right procedure, for the right person at the right time and setting and with the most appropriate use of resources. There is a need for methods to assess appropriateness that can easily be implemented in daily clinical practice. The Patient Inventory method is such a method. Patient Inventory is a special type of audit that provides a ‘snapshot’ of the patient population in an entire hospital, a ward or another clinical unit. It maps the bed occupancy situation, as well as coordination, continuity and communication associated with the individual patient pathway. The aim is to identify inappropriate or wasteful events and to facilitate reflections on the underlying causes. These reflections are used to identify focus areas for quality improvement efforts. The method answers the question: ‘Is it the right patient in the right place at the right time, and is the correct pathway for the patient organized with the most appropriate use of resources?’ The aim of this method paper is to describe the background, definitions and methodologies for Patient Inventory, to offer a practical guidance for application of the method and to describe the current experiences with the method.
Tangled up in Blue: The Effect of UN Peacekeeping on Nonviolent Protests in Post–Civil War Countries
Authors: Belgioioso Margherita , Salvatore Jessica Di , Pinckney Jonathan
Published: April 2020

Do peacekeeping missions facilitate nonviolent political contention in post–civil war countries? The nonviolent expression of political grievances is a crucial part of the post–civil war peace-building process but is understudied thus far. We claim that the presence of peacekeepers significantly contributes to establishing a secure environment for nonviolent political contention, particularly nonviolent public protest. In addition, we claim that peacekeeping missions with personnel from countries with robust civil societies are more likely to promote nonviolent political contention because of prior socialization to civic engagement and bottom-top political participation. This is particularly true for UN police personnel (UNPOL), who both train local police forces and have the most direct interaction with protesters. We test our hypotheses using a newly crafted dataset on nonviolent protests in post–civil war countries and peacekeeping missions’ presence, size, and home-country composition. We find that peacekeeping missions’ presence significantly increases nonviolent protests in post–civil war country-years. This effect is largely explained by the presence of UNPOL from countries with strong civil societies. Our findings have important implications for our understanding of post–civil war political revitalization and policy implications for the composition of peacekeeping missions.
Understanding Users’ Engagement and Responses in 3D Virtual Reality: The Influence of Presence on User Value
Authors: Pengnate Supavich (Fone) , Riggins Frederick J , Zhang Limin
Published: April 2020

Virtual reality (VR) provides new opportunities for businesses to gain competitive advantages by enabling them to innovatively engage customers. Based on presence theory, this study aims to test the influences of two major components of presence, social presence and spatial presence, on users’ perceptions of hedonic value, utilitarian value and engagement in the VR environment. An experiment was conducted on two conditions of a VR application (low vs. high social presence) to test the hypotheses proposed in the research model. The results reveal that social presence and spatial presence can improve the hedonic value of VR. However, inconsistent with previous studies, our findings reveal a negative relationship between spatial presence and engagement. Theoretical and practical implications and future research directions are subsequently discussed.
A Selective and Sensitive Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Quantitation of Synthetic Musks in Human Serum
Authors: Katuri Guru Prasad , Fan Xinghua , Siddique Shabana , Kubwabo Cariton , Kosarac Ivana , Harris Shelley A , Foster Warren G
Published: April 2020

Background

Synthetic musk compounds are widely used as fragrances in many consumer products; however, information on human exposure and health effects is limited. Also, analytical methods for their quantification in biological matrices are limited.

Objective

In this study, an integrated method was developed and validated for the analysis of selected synthetic musk compounds in human serum.

Method

The method is based on liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), sample clean-up by solid-phase extraction (SPE), and separation and detection by gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS).

Results

The method demonstrated good recoveries (86–105%) and high sensitivity, with low method detection limits (MDLs) ranging from 0.04 to 0.17 µg/L. The method was applied to the analysis of 10 synthetic musk compounds in 40 serum samples collected from Canadian women aged 20–44 years (20 individual samples collected in 2014 and 20 pooled samples collected in 2006). The most commonly detected compound was Galaxolide (HHCB), with median concentrations of 0.59 µg/L in samples collected in 2006, and 0.34 µg/L for samples collected in 2014. Musk ketone (MK) was not detected in any of the samples collected in 2006, but was detected in 60% of the samples collected in 2014 with a median concentration of 0.29 µg/L. Tonalide (AHTN) was detected in only one sample above its MDL (0.12 µg/L).

Conclusions

This is the first study in Canada to report levels of synthetic musks in human. The data generated from this study has been used in risk screening assessment by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada.
Harm as a Necessary Component of the Concept of Medical Disorder: Reply to Muckler and Taylor
Authors: Wakefield Jerome C , Conrad Jordan A
Published: April 2020

Wakefield’s harmful dysfunction analysis asserts that the concept of medical disorder includes a naturalistic component of dysfunction (failure of biologically designed functioning) and a value (harm) component, both of which are required for disorder attributions. Muckler and Taylor, defending a purely naturalist, value-free understanding of disorder, argue that harm is not necessary for disorder. They provide three examples of dysfunctions that, they claim, are considered disorders but are entirely harmless: mild mononucleosis, cowpox that prevents smallpox, and minor perceptual deficits. They also reject the proposal that dysfunctions need only be typically harmful to qualify as disorders. We argue that the proposed counterexamples are, in fact, considered harmful; thus, they fail to disconfirm the harm requirement: incapacity for exertion is inherently harmful, whether or not exertion occurs, cowpox is directly harmful irrespective of indirect benefits, and colorblindness and anosmia are considered harmful by those who consider them disorders. We also defend the typicality qualifier as viably addressing some apparently harmless disorders and argue that a dysfunction’s harmfulness is best understood in dispositional terms.
Comparative Evaluation of MIRONAUT-AM and CLSI broth microdilution method for antifungal susceptibility testing of Aspergillus species against four commonly used antifungals
Authors: Nuh Ali , Ramadan Newara , Schelenz Silke , Armstrong-James Darius
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate a colorimetric method, MIRONAUT-AM, for determining susceptibility testing of anidulafungin, amphotericin, voriconazole, and itraconazole by comparing the minimum inhibitory (effective) concentrations (MICs/MECs) obtained by this method to those generated by the reference Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) broth microdilution method. In sum, 78 clinical isolates of Aspergillus species, nine of them non-wild type (non-WT) with itraconazole MIC ranging from 2 mg/l to >16 mg/l, were tested against above antifungals. A. fumigatus ATCC 204305 was used as a reference strain, and test was performed in accordance with slightly modified yeast susceptibility testing instruction of the manufacture; conidia suspension inoculum and alamarBlue concentration were optimized. These same isolates were referred to Bristol Mycology reference laboratory and tested by CLSI method. The MICs and MECs generated by the two methods were compared using concordance analysis. MIRONAUT-AM showed significant concordance (P < .0001) with CLSI method, and overall agreement was high (≥90%). In addition, MIRONAUT-AM produced echinocandin MECs results within 18–24 hours incubation time and correctly detected all non-WT isolates except one isolate. This colorimetric method is very promising and appears to be a suitable alternative susceptibility testing method to labor intensive broth microdilution reference method for Aspergillus species.
Aerosol characterization using satellite remote sensing of light pollution sources at night
Authors: Kocifaj Miroslav , Bará Salvador
Published: April 2020

A demanding challenge in atmospheric research is the night-time characterization of aerosols using passive techniques, that is, by extracting information from scattered light that has not been emitted by the observer. Satellite observations of artificial night-time lights have been used to retrieve some basic integral parameters, like the aerosol optical depth. However, a thorough analysis of the scattering processes allows one to obtain substantially more detailed information on aerosol properties. In this letter, we demonstrate a practicable approach for determining the aerosol particle size number distribution function in the air column, based on the measurement of the angular radiance distribution of the scattered light emitted by night-time lights of cities and towns, recorded from low Earth orbit. The method is self-calibrating and does not require the knowledge of the absolute city emissions. The input radiance data are readily available from several spaceborne platforms, like the VIIRS-DNB radiometer onboard the Suomi-NPP satellite.
A New Analysis of Archaea–Bacteria Domain Separation: Variable Phylogenetic Distance and the Tempo of Early Evolution
Authors: Berkemer Sarah J , McGlynn Shawn E
Published: April 2020

Comparative genomics and molecular phylogenetics are foundational for understanding biological evolution. Although many studies have been made with the aim of understanding the genomic contents of early life, uncertainty remains. A study by Weiss et al. (Weiss MC, Sousa FL, Mrnjavac N, Neukirchen S, Roettger M, Nelson-Sathi S, Martin WF. 2016. The physiology and habitat of the last universal common ancestor. Nat Microbiol. 1(9):16116.) identified a number of protein families in the last universal common ancestor of archaea and bacteria (LUCA) which were not found in previous works. Here, we report new research that suggests the clustering approaches used in this previous study undersampled protein families, resulting in incomplete phylogenetic trees which do not reflect protein family evolution. Phylogenetic analysis of protein families which include more sequence homologs rejects a simple LUCA hypothesis based on phylogenetic separation of the bacterial and archaeal domains for a majority of the previously identified LUCA proteins (∼82%). To supplement limitations of phylogenetic inference derived from incompletely populated orthologous groups and to test the hypothesis of a period of rapid evolution preceding the separation of the domains, we compared phylogenetic distances both within and between domains, for thousands of orthologous groups. We find a substantial diversity of interdomain versus intradomain branch lengths, even among protein families which exhibit a single domain separating branch and are thought to be associated with the LUCA. Additionally, phylogenetic trees with long interdomain branches relative to intradomain branches are enriched in information categories of protein families in comparison to those associated with metabolic functions. These results provide a new view of protein family evolution and temper claims about the phenotype and habitat of the LUCA.
A systematic review and meta-analysis examining the effects of cannabis and its derivatives in adults with malignant CNS tumors
Authors: Rodriguez-Almaraz Jesus-Eduardo , Chang Susan , Clarke Jennifer , Oberheim-Bush Nancy Ann , Taylor Jennie , Buerki Robin , Berger Mitchel , Zablotska Lydia , Lobach Iryna , Butowski Nicholas
Published: April 2020

Background

Primary CNS tumors constitute a heterogeneous group of neoplasms that share a considerable morbidity and mortality rate. To help control tumor growth and clinical outcomes (overall survival, progression-free survival, quality of life) symptoms, patients often resort to alternative therapies, including the use of cannabis. Despite rapidly growing popularity, cannabis and its impact on patients with primary malignant CNS tumors is understudied.

Methods

To shed light on the lack of scientific evidence in this field, in November 2018 we conducted a search and examination of cannabis in neuro-oncology in major journal databases and bibliographies of selected articles, and through abstracts of annual meetings using prespecified criteria in line with the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines.

Results

We identified 45 publications, of which 9 were selected. Five studies were included. Publication dates ranged from 2004 to 2018 and included varying histologies of primary brain tumors. The average survival at 1 year was 56.09% (95% CI: 48.28-63.9). There was no difference in risk ratio (RR) for death at 1 year between groups (RR: 1.069 [95% CI: 0.139-8.25]). We found strong evidence of heterogeneity (Q = 74.0%; P = .021). We found no statistical evidence of publication bias (P = .117; SD = 1.91).

Conclusions

There was limited moderate-quality evidence that supports the use of cannabinoids as adjuvant to the standard of care in the treatment of brain and CNS tumors. There was very low-quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with adult-onset gliomas. Further prospective clinical trials are necessary to adequately evaluate the impact of cannabinoids on CNS tumors, specifically on survival and quality of life.
Papillary tumor of the pineal region: a single-center experience
Authors: Boßelmann Christian Malte , Gepfner-Tuma Irina , Schittenhelm Jens , Brendle Cornelia , Honegger Juergen , Tabatabai Ghazaleh
Published: April 2020

Papillary tumor of the pineal region (PTPR) is a rare entity. Its clinical presentation is diverse, and establishing an accurate and timely diagnosis may be challenging. Treatment recommendations are based on the evidence level of case series. Recently, several key advances have been made for immunohistochemical characterization, molecular diagnostics, and neurosurgical treatment of PTPR. Here, we describe our single-center experience.
The Long-term Effectiveness of the Automatic Position-Adaptive System in Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Retrospective Comparative Study with a Two-Year Follow-up
Authors: Kim Eun kyoung , Lee Chang-soon , Yoo Yongjae , Park Jin-Woo , Kim Jung Soo , Kim Youngwon , Moon Jee Youn , Kim Yong-Chul
Published: April 2020

Objective

To compare the nonadaptive manual system with the position-adaptive system in subjects with permanent spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implantation over a two-year follow-up period.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Tertiary university-based national hospital.

Subjects

Patients who underwent permanent SCS implantation procedures.

Methods

Patients were divided into an adaptive group and a nonadaptive group according to the type of implanted SCS device. The primary outcome was the change (%) in pain intensity from baseline between the adaptive and nonadaptive groups at 24 months after SCS implantation. The secondary outcomes were comparisons of detailed clinical variables such as the scores of patient pain and satisfaction during the two-year follow-up after SCS therapy. Further, the number of subjects with SCS removal or revision within two years after SCS implantation was investigated.

Results

Of 187 patients with permanent SCS implantation, 85 in the nonadaptive group and 64 in the position-adaptive group were finally analyzed. The reduction in pain intensity at 24 months was higher in the adaptive group (−38.6%) than in the nonadaptive group (−30.8%, P = 0.05). Similarly, patient satisfaction with the SCS treatment at 24 months was superior in the adaptive group than in the nonadaptive group (85.7% vs 67.5% were satisfied in each group, respectively, P = 0.024). During the two years, 5.3% of patients (N = 10) underwent SCS removal and 7.0% (N = 13) underwent revision procedures.

Conclusions

There was a trend of a sustained reduction in pain intensity as well as improvement in patient satisfaction at two-year follow-up in the position-adaptive system, suggesting long-term benefit over the nonadaptive manual system during SCS treatment.
Role of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolation in patients with non-CF bronchiectasis
Authors: Marra R , Sgalla G , Richeldi L , Conte E G , Hill A T
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a bacteria whose role in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis has been previously studied; little is known about its role in non-CF bronchiectasis.

Materials and methods

Aim of our study is to investigate the risk factors for S. maltophilia acquisition and its clinical impact on bronchiectasis patients. A retrospective observational cohort study enrolling patients attending the Bronchiectasis Clinic at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. A total of 167 bronchiectasis patients undergoing intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy were selected and divided according to single or chronic S. maltophilia isolation in sputum. The risk factors and prognostic impact were studied.

Results

Single isolation was independently associated with lower baseline % predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s [odds ratio (OR) 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.970–1.044; P = 0.025] and with less radiological involvement (OR 0.379; 95% CI 0.175–0.819; P = 0.01). Chronic isolation was associated with the number of IV antibiotic courses in the year before and after the first isolation (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.053–1.398; P = 0.007) and with the absence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization (OR 0.207; 95% CI 0.056–0.764; P = 0.02). In the chronic isolation group, there were more exacerbations and more need of IV antibiotics in the year after the first isolation.

Conclusions

Poor lung function is the main independent risk factor for single isolation of S. maltophilia. For chronic colonization, the main independent risk factor is the number of IV antibiotic courses and the absence of P. aeruginosa chronic colonization. Only when chronically present, S. maltophilia had a clinical impact with more exacerbations.
Subcortico-Cortical Functional Connectivity in the Fetal Brain: A Cognitive Development Blueprint
Authors: Canini Matteo , Cavoretto Paolo , Scifo Paola , Pozzoni Mirko , Petrini Alessandro , Iadanza Antonella , Pontesilli Silvia , Scotti Roberta , Candiani Massimo , Falini Andrea , Baldoli Cristina , Della Rosa Pasquale A
Published: April 2020

Recent evidence has shown that patterns of cortico-cortical functional synchronization are consistently traceable by the end of the third trimester of pregnancy. The involvement of subcortical structures in early functional and cognitive development has never been explicitly investigated, notwithstanding their pivotal role in different cognitive processes. We address this issue by exploring subcortico-cortical functional connectivity at rest in a group of normally developing fetuses between the 25th and 32nd weeks of gestation. Results show significant functional coupling between subcortical nuclei and cortical networks related to: (i) sensorimotor processing, (ii) decision making, and (iii) learning capabilities. This functional maturation framework unearths a Cognitive Development Blueprint, according to which grounding cognitive skills are planned to develop with higher ontogenetic priority. Specifically, our evidence suggests that a newborn already possesses the ability to: (i) perceive the world and interact with it, (ii) create salient representations for the selection of adaptive behaviors, and (iii) store, retrieve, and evaluate the outcomes of interactions, in order to gradually improve adaptation to the extrauterine environment.
Algibacter pacificus sp. nov., isolated from a deep-sea seamount
Authors: Liu Jie , Cai Sheng-Dong , Wang Yu-Jing , Wang Qian , Zhang De-Chao
Published: April 2020

The Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, yellow-pigmented and facultative anaerobic bacterial strain, designated H164T, was isolated from seawater collected from the Caroline Seamounts in the Pacific Ocean. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain H164T was related to the genus

Algibacter

and had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to

Algibacter wandonensis

WS-MY22T (97.4 %). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The predominant menaquinone was MK-6. The polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain H164T was 33.2 mol%. The values of in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (isDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) between strain H164T and

A. wandonensis

KCTC 32381T were 26.10 and 81.88 %. The isDDH and ANI values between strain H164T and

Algibacter lectus

DSM 15365T were 25.40 and 81.79 %. Combined data from phenotypic, phylogenetic, isDDH and ANI analyses demonstrated that strain H164T represents a novel species of the genus

Algibacter

, for which we propose the name Algibacter pacificus sp. nov. (type strain H164T=KCTC 72432T=CGMCC 1.17117T).
All ANIs are not created equal: implications for prokaryotic species boundaries and integration of ANIs into polyphasic taxonomy
Authors: Palmer Marike , Steenkamp Emma T. , Blom Jochen , Hedlund Brian P. , Venter Stephanus N.
Published: April 2020

In prokaryotic taxonomy, a set of criteria is commonly used to delineate species. These criteria are generally based on cohesion at the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genomic levels. One such criterion shown to have promise in the genomic era is average nucleotide identity (ANI), which provides an average measure of similarity across homologous regions shared by a pair of genomes. However, despite the popularity and relative ease of using this metric, ANI has undergone numerous refinements, with variations in genome fragmentation, homologue detection parameters and search algorithms. To test the robustness of a 95–96 % species cut-off range across all the commonly used ANI approaches, seven different methods were used to calculate ANI values for intra- and interspecies datasets representing three classes in the

Proteobacteria

. As a reference point, these methods were all compared to the widely used blast-based ANI (i.e. ANIb as implemented in JSpecies), and regression analyses were performed to investigate the correlation of these methods to ANIb with more than 130000 individual data points. From these analyses, it was clear that ANI methods did not provide consistent results regarding the conspecificity of isolates. Most of the methods investigated did not correlate perfectly with ANIb, particularly between 90 and 100% identity, which includes the proposed species boundary. There was also a difference in the correlation of methods for the different taxon sets. Our study thus suggests that the specific approach employed needs to be considered when ANI is used to delineate prokaryotic species. We furthermore suggest that one would first need to determine an appropriate cut-off value for a specific taxon set, based on the intraspecific diversity of that group, before conclusions on conspecificity of isolates can be made, and that the resulting species hypotheses be confirmed with analyses based on evolutionary history as part of the polyphasic approach to taxonomy.
Pseudomonas hydrolytica sp. nov., multiple polymer-degrading bacteria isolated from soil in China
Authors: Zhou Shuang , Wang Yan , Xia Hongmei , Liu Dongbo , Chen Shan , Li Fan
Published: April 2020

A short rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative strain that can degrade multiple polymers was isolated from forest soil in China and designated as DSWY01T. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that this isolate shared high similarities withPseudomonas alcaliphilaNBRC 102411T(99.3 %),Pseudomonas mendocinaNBRC 14162T(99.2%) andPseudomonas oleovoransNBRC 13583T(99.0%). The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence and multilocus sequence analysis (recA,gyrB,nuoD,glnSandrpoD) indicated that strain DSWY01Tbelongs to the genusPseudomonasand is a member of theP. oleovoransgroup in an independent branch. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization between the genome of strain DSWY01Tand the genomes of other species (ANIb 77.72–89.65 %; GGDC 15.50–31.10 %) showed that the isolate represents a novel species. The DNA G+C content of strain DSWY01Twas 63.67 mol%, and the major cellular fatty acids (>15 %) were a mixture of C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6cand C16 : 0. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and two unidentified lipids, and the major quinone was CQ-10. The morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of the isolate were then compared with those of reference type strains. The isolate differed considerably from its closest relatives and is representative of a novel species ofPseudomonas, for which the namePseudomonas hydrolyticasp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DSWY01T(=DSM 106702T=CCTCC AB 2018053T).
Glycomyces albidus sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from rhizosphere soil of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Qian Lulu , Duan Liping , Lin Jiaying , Yang Yanming , Song Jia , Wang Xiangjing , Zhao Junwei , Xiang Wensheng
Published: April 2020

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain NEAU-7082T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and characterized by using a polyphasic approach. Morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics confirmed the affiliation of strain NEAU-7082T to the genus

Glycomyces

. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain NEAU-7082T belonged to the genus

Glycomyces

and was closely related to

Glycomyces mayteni

JCM 16217T (99.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity),

Glycomyces sambucus

DSM 45047T (98.4 %),

Glycomyces scopariae

DSM 44968T (98.3 %),

Glycomyces paridis

DSM 102295T (98.1 %),

Glycomyces artemisiae

NBRC 109773T (98.0 %) and

Glycomyces dulcitolivorans

DSM 105121T (97.9 %). Phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain formed a stable clade with

G. mayteni

JCM 16217T and clustered with

G. sambucus

DSM 45047T,

G. scopariae

DSM 44968T,

G. artemisiae

NBRC 109773T and

G. dulcitolivorans

DSM 105121T in the genus

Glycomyces

. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the whole-cell hydrolysates were glucose and xylose. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), glycolipid (GL), phosphatidylinositol mannoside (PIM) and an unidentified lipid (UL). The menaquinones were MK-11(H4), MK-11 and MK-10. Major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. These chemotaxonomic data substantiated the affiliation of strain NEAU-7082T to the genus

Glycomyces

. The DNA G+C content was 71.3 mol%. A combination of DNA–DNA hybridization results and some phenotypic characteristics demonstrated that strain NEAU-7082T could be distinguished from its closest relatives. Therefore, strain NEAU-7082T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Glycomyces

, for which the name Glycomyces albidus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-7082T (=CCTCC AA 2019045T=JCM 33458T).
TRENDS IN ACCESS TO WATER AND SANITATION IN MALAWI: PROGRESS AND INEQUALITIES (1992-2017)
Authors: Cassivi Alexandra , Tilley Elizabeth , Waygood E.O.D. , Dorea Caetano
Published: April 2020

Billions of people globally gained access to improved drinking water sources and sanitation in the last decades, following effort towards the Millennium Development Goals. Global progress remains a general indicator as it is unclear if access is equitable across groups of the population. Agenda 2030 calling for “leaving no one behind”, there is a need to focus on the variations of access in different groups of the population, especially in the context of least developed countries including Malawi. We analyzed data from Demographic Health Survey (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) to describe emerging trends on progress and inequalities in water supply and sanitation services over a 25-year period (1992 - 2017) and to identify the most vulnerable population in Malawi. Data were disaggregated with geographic and socio-economic characteristics including regions, urban and rural areas, wealth and education level. Analysis of available data revealed progress in access to water and sanitation among all groups of the population. The largest progress is generally observed in the groups that were further behind at the baseline year, which likely reflects good targeting in interventions/improvements to reduce the gap in the population. Overall, results demonstrated that some segments of the population - foremost poorest Southern rural populations - still have limited access to water and are forced to practise open defecation. Finally, we suggest to include standardized indicators that address safely managed drinking water and sanitation services in future surveys and studies to increase accuracy of national estimates.