bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transfusion-Associated Acute Lung Injury following Donor Granulocyte Transfusion in Two Pediatric Patients
Authors: Arslan Didar , Yildizdas Dincer , Horoz Ozden Ozgur , Aslan Nagehan , Leblebisatan Goksel
Published: August 2019

Transfusion-associated acute lung injury (TRALI) is one of the complications seen due to transfusion. Hypoxemia and bilateral pulmonary infiltration in posteroanterior chest roentgenogram is seen in all cases during transfusion or within the first 6 hours; fever, hypotension, and pink frothy bleeding from endotracheal tube may also be seen. It can be seen following the administration of any blood product. The management strategies for TRALI include withholding the transfusion, positive pressure breathing support, and diuretics. There are few reported cases of TRALI occurring following donor granulocyte transfusion (DGT). In this article, we discuss two cases of TRALI following DGT transfusion.
Computed Tomography-Guided Transfissural Coil Localization of Lung Nodules
Authors: Xia Feng-Fei , Shi Yi-Bing , Wang Tao , Fu Yu-Fei
Published: August 2019

Background The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and clinical effectiveness of preoperative computed tomography (CT)-guided transfissural coil localization (TFCL) of subfissural lung nodules.

Methods Five patients with lung nodules who underwent CT-guided TFCL before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery between November 2015 and December 2018 were included. Technical success rates of TFCL and wedge resection were assessed, as well complications and pathological results.

Results The technical success rate of TFCL was 100%. Two patients experienced parenchymal hemorrhage around the needle path, and two patients experienced asymptomatic pneumothorax after TFCL. The technical success rate of the wedge resection of lung nodules was also 100%. The pathological diagnoses of the five nodules were minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (n = 3), adenocarcinoma in situ (n = 1), and inflammatory nodule (n = 1).

Conclusion CT-guided TFCL is a safe and effective method for the preoperative localization of subfissural lung nodules.
Cavity and contact matching effects in plasma wave terahertz detectors
Authors: Kovalchuk Anatoly , Kovalchuk Marina , Khmyrova Irina , Shapoval Sergei
Published: August 2019

In terahertz (THz) detectors, based on the excitation of electron plasma oscillations in the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel, the incident electromagnetic wave is repeatedly reflected between the metal-coated back surface of the GaAs substrate and top surface of the detector. Under certain conditions, a standing terahertz (THz) wave can be established. Placement of the 2DEG in the antinode of the standing wave can result in strong absorption of the detecting THz radiation as we confirmed by analytical calculations and experimental measurements of frequency dependences of THz reflection and absorption coefficients. Effects of the metal bus connecting the fingers of the grating-gate and thickness of the GaAs substrate on the performance of the THz detector were studied as well. It was demonstrated that the spatial separation of the gate fingers from bus metallization by the mesa resistor resulted in the enhanced photoresponse of the detector.
Modeling and design of an overlapped-flexure hinge for joule balance
Authors: Wang Dawei , Liu Yongmeng , Bai Yang , Li Zhengkun , Tan Jiubin
Published: August 2019

In the joule balance experiment, the electromagnetic force and the gravity of the test mass should be aligned along the vertical direction precisely; otherwise, an alignment error will be introduced into the redefinition of the kilogram and the realization of the standard mass. In order to decouple and align those forces, a flexure hinge with an overlapped structure is proposed. The proposed overlapped-flexure hinge contains two flexure hinges, namely, the outer flexure hinge and the inner flexure hinge. The outer flexure hinge is connected to the suspension coil to bear the electromagnetic force, while the inner flexure hinge is connected to the test pan to bear the gravity of the test mass. As the mechanical structure ensures the above hinges coaxial and identical, this hinge can decouple the above-mentioned forces adequately and align these forces along the same vertical line. In this paper, a theoretical compliance model is first established based on Castigliano’s second theorem to precisely design the flexure hinge. Second, the key dimension parameters of the overlapped-flexure hinge are designed to satisfy the requirements of the joule balance. Third, finite element analysis simulations and experiments are carried out to validate the performances of the hinge. Finally, in the joule balance experiment, the alignment uncertainty between the electromagnetic force and the gravity of the test mass is proved to be less than 50 ppb by using this overlapped-flexure hinge.
Poisson ratio and bulk lattice constant of (Sr0.25La0.75)CrO3 from strained epitaxial thin films
Authors: Han Dong , Bouras Mohamed , Botella Claude , Benamrouche Aziz , Canut Bruno , Grenet Geneviève , Saint-Girons Guillaume , Bachelet Romain
Published: August 2019

About 30 nm thick (001)-oriented (Sr0.25La0.75)CrO3 (SLCO) epitaxial thin films were grown by solid-source oxide molecular beam epitaxy on four different single-crystalline cubic or pseudocubic (001)-oriented oxide substrates, LaAlO3, (LaAlO3)0.3(Sr2AlTaO6)0.7, SrTiO3, and DyScO3, which result in lattice mismatch ranging from –2% to +1.7%. All the films are of high-quality, flat, and strained by the substrates. By assessing the evolution of the out-of-plane lattice parameter as a function of the in-plane lattice parameter of the samples, we determine both the Poisson ratio (ν = 0.32) and the bulk lattice constant (ab = 3.876 Å) of SLCO. The Poisson ratio significantly differs from LaCrO3 (ν = 0.23), and the (SrxLa1−x)CrO3 solid solution appears to obey structural Vegard's law. Since SLCO is the only one p-type transparent conductive oxide of perovskite structure and has promising thermoelectric properties, integrating SLCO in heterostructures and devices is, therefore, of paramount importance, which confers on our results their strong interest. Besides, the method used here can be straightforwardly applied to other complex oxides.
Multilevel HfO2-based RRAM devices for low-power neuromorphic networks
Authors: Milo V. , Zambelli C. , Olivo P. , Pérez E. , K. Mahadevaiah M. , G. Ossorio O. , Wenger Ch. , Ielmini D.
Published: August 2019

Training and recognition with neural networks generally require high throughput, high energy efficiency, and scalable circuits to enable artificial intelligence tasks to be operated at the edge, i.e., in battery-powered portable devices and other limited-energy environments. In this scenario, scalable resistive memories have been proposed as artificial synapses thanks to their scalability, reconfigurability, and high-energy efficiency, and thanks to the ability to perform analog computation by physical laws in hardware. In this work, we study the material, device, and architecture aspects of resistive switching memory (RRAM) devices for implementing a 2-layer neural network for pattern recognition. First, various RRAM processes are screened in view of the device window, analog storage, and reliability. Then, synaptic weights are stored with 5-level precision in a 4 kbit array of RRAM devices to classify the Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology (MNIST) dataset. Finally, classification performance of a 2-layer neural network is tested before and after an annealing experiment by using experimental values of conductance stored into the array, and a simulation-based analysis of inference accuracy for arrays of increasing size is presented. Our work supports material-based development of RRAM synapses for novel neural networks with high accuracy and low-power consumption.
Growth behavior, work function, and band gap tuning of nanocrystalline LiMn2O4 thin films
Authors: Paulraj Vivek , Swami Bhavya , Kamala Bharathi K.
Published: August 2019

We report on the effect of growth (TS) and annealing (Ta) temperatures on structural, morphological, work function mapping, and bandgap properties of nanocrystalline LiMn2O4 thin films grown by the radio frequency sputtering technique. Phase formation in the target material and thin films is confirmed from the presence of all the allowed Raman active modes (A1g + Eg + 3F2g) corresponding to the spinel LiMn2O4 structure. With increasing TS and Ta, the grain size of LiMn2O4 thin films increases exponentially and the activation energy associated with the thermally activated grain growth is observed to be 0.22 eV. The average work function of the LiMn2O4 nanocrystalline thin film grown on stainless steel at 573 K is found to be 5.63 eV. Upon increasing TS and Ta from RT to 973 K, the bandgap increases linearly from 0.58 eV to 1.05 eV and then decreases to 0.89 eV when Ta is 1073 K. The bandgap of LiMn2O4 thin films can be tuned by changing the grain size and the amount of defects present in the films.
Nanoscale spin-wave wake-up receiver
Authors: Wang Q. , Brächer T. , Mohseni M. , Hillebrands B. , Vasyuchka V. I. , Chumak A. V. , Pirro P.
Published: August 2019

We present the concept of a passive spin-wave device which is able to distinguish different radio frequency pulse trains and validate its functionality using micromagnetic simulations. The information is coded in the phase of the individual pulses which are transformed into spin-wave packets. The device splits every incoming packet into two arms, one of which is coupled to a magnonic ring which introduces a well-defined time delay and phase shift. Since the time delay is matched to the pulse repetition rate, adjacent packets interfere in a combiner, which makes it possible to distinguish simple pulse train patterns by the readout of the time-integrated spin-wave intensity in the output. Due to its passive construction, this device may serve as an energy-efficient wake-up receiver used to activate the main receiver circuit in power critical internet of things applications.
Enhancement of spin–orbit torque via interfacial hydrogen and oxygen ion manipulation
Authors: Peng W. L. , Zhang J. Y. , Feng G. N. , Xu X. L. , Yang C. , Jia Y. L. , Yu G. H.
Published: August 2019

We report a large enhancement of spin–orbit torque (SOT) in perpendicular Ta/CoFeB/MgO multilayers with interfacial H+ and O2– ion manipulations. By controlling both H+ and O2– ions at the CoFeB/MgO interface, the switching current density (Jc) is almost half of that for the single O2– ion manipulated sample. Through harmonic measurements, we have found that both dampinglike effective field HD and fieldlike effective field HF are increased for the H+ and O2– ion manipulated samples. Interfacial structural results indicate that the H+ and O2– ion manipulations modulate the interfacial chemistry at the CoFeB/MgO interface, which suppresses the spin reflection and improves the spin absorption in the CoFeB layer. Our results can effectively improve the SOT and provide an effective way to modulate SOT.
Effect of invasive probes on measurement of magneto-transport in macroscopic samples: A gallium nitride case study
Authors: Jain A. K. , Chakraborti H. , Joshi B. P. , Pal B. , Monish M. , Shivaprasad S. M. , Dhar S. , Das Gupta K.
Published: August 2019

Small changes in electrical conductance of quasi-2 dimensional samples often need to be measured at low temperatures, T∼1K and lower. Care needs to be taken to minimize self-heating due to the excitation current itself and the possibility of any unexpected source of variation of the electrochemical potential around the contacts need to be understood. It is not only the low resistance of the ohmic contacts but also their “noninvasive” character that must be ensured. While the importance of the “noninvasiveness” of the voltage probes is well appreciated for mesoscopic devices—it turns out that these considerations continue to remain important even in macroscopic samples that are a few millimeters in size. We have done low temperature measurements on different types of gallium nitride samples with contacts made of pure indium (popularly called indium dots), which have a superconducting transition and contacts made of Ti/Au, which remain nonsuperconducting. We show that there are qualitative differences in the measured four-terminal resistance in the two cases. Obviously, correct conclusions about phase relaxation times, localization lengths, etc., will require ensuring that there are no effects arising from the “invasiveness” of the probes.
Influence of the polarization anisotropy on the linewidth enhancement factor and reflection sensitivity of 1.55-
μ
m InP-based InAs quantum dash lasers
Authors: Dong B. , Duan J. , Shang C. , Huang H. , Sawadogo A. B. , Jung D. , Wan Y. , Bowers J. E. , Grillot F.
Published: August 2019

This work investigates the effect of the polarization anisotropy on the linewidth enhancement factor and the reflection sensitivity of InAs/InP quantum dash semiconductor lasers. The results show that the small linewidth enhancement factor and high stability against external optical feedback are obtained for nanostructures oriented perpendicular to the cavity axis as opposed to those oriented parallel to the cavity axis. Effective simulations on the critical feedback level of these two lasers are also in agreement with experimental results. Such anisotropy is attributed to the polarization dependence of the transition matrix element in these quantum nanostructures.
Microwave-assisted switching in CoCrPt granular medium under continuous microwave fields
Authors: Kikuchi Nobuaki , Sato Katsunari , Kikuchi Shun , Okamoto Satoshi , Shimatsu Takehito , Kitakami Osamu , Osawa Hitoshi , Suzuki Motohiro
Published: August 2019

We have fabricated a device for microwave-assisted switching (MAS) experiments with perpendicularly magnetized CoCrPt-SiO2 granular film with anisotropy field Hk = 18.8 kOe. The device was carefully designed to be able to apply a microwave field of 0.95 kOe in amplitude continuously, allowing direct evaluation of microwave-assisted switching properties of the medium without any assumptions about time-dependent switching behavior. The coercivity of CoCrPt-SiO2 medium linearly decreases with increasing microwave frequency, and the maximum coercivity reduction ratio reaches 80% for hrf = 0.95 kOe at frf = 25 GHz after subtracting the effect of temperature rise due to microwave field application. The linear slope of coercivity against the frequency becomes steeper with increasing microwave field amplitude, which is a unique frequency and amplitude dependencies in granular media. Correlation length obtained by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism microscopy measurement decreases by applying a microwave field with higher frequency, suggesting that the magnetic clustering dimensions of the medium possibly depend on microwave frequency during microwave-assisted switching.
Effects of the host conduction band energy on the electronic band structure of ZnCdTeO dilute oxide alloys
Authors: Welna M. , Janicki Ł , Linhart W. M. , Tanaka T. , Yu K. M. , Kudrawiec R. , Walukiewicz W.
Published: August 2019

Interband optical transitions in highly mismatched ZnTe1−xOx and Zn1−yCdyTe1−xOx alloys with Cd content y = 0.1 and 0.32 and oxygen content x < 0.016 grown on ZnTe substrates were studied by photoreflectance (PR) and photoluminescence (PL) in a broad temperature range. The incorporation of oxygen into a Zn(Cd)Te matrix results in a splitting of the conduction band (CB) into two E− and E+ subbands forming a semiconductor with an intermediate band. In ZnTeO, only the E− band could be probed by PR and there was no PL signal. An addition of Cd atoms to form a ZnCdTeO quaternary alloy significantly improves the optical quality as evidenced by an emergence of an E+ related transition in the PR spectra and the appearance of a PL emission related to the E− band visible up to 260 K. Moreover, for Cd content above 25%, a change in the E− band character is observed from localized O-like to CB-like. The analysis of a PR signal shows a strong reduction of the temperature dependence of the energy gap of Zn(Cd)TeO alloys compared to ZnTe. The temperature related reduction of the bandgap shift with increasing O content is well explained by the band anticrossing interaction between the temperature dependent conduction band of the host Zn(Cd)Te matrix and the temperature independent energy of highly localized O states.
Effect of boron sources on the growth of boron arsenide single crystals by chemical vapor transport
Authors: Gamage Geethal Amila , Sun Haoran , Ziyaee Hamidreza , Tian Fei , Ren Zhifeng
Published: August 2019

Since the first-principles calculations were reported, which indicate that zinc blende boron arsenide (BAs) has an unusually high room-temperature thermal conductivity, close to that of diamond, extensive theoretical and experimental effort has been dedicated to research on BAs. Although great achievements have been made recently in growing large single crystals demonstrating room-temperature thermal conductivity reaching 1300 W m−1 K−1, further optimization of the crystal quality has been stunted because of the purity of the boron source and contamination of the quartz tube. Here, we focus on the effects of different boron sources on the final BAs products synthesized via the chemical vapor transport method. We find that, compared to the reported methods that produce good BAs crystals from high-purity boron, using BAs crystals as the source material may contribute to further improvement. We believe that the current research can provide crucial support for further development of the BAs single-crystal growth techniques.
Opportunities and challenges for magnetoelectric devices
Authors: Hu Jia-Mian , Nan Ce-Wen
Published: August 2019

Magnetoelectric effect enables controlling magnetism with an electric field or controlling polarization remotely with a magnetic field, without involving any driving electric currents. Since its discovery in the 1960s, the magnetoelectric effect has constantly been inspiring new fundamental science and the development of fascinating device concepts. This perspective is focused on two types of magnetoelectric devices: an ultralow-heat-dissipation spin memory/logic and a magnetoelectric magnetic field sensor. For each device, the paper first overviews the potential market needs, then discusses several key device attributes and outstanding challenges. An outlook for the development of other magnetoelectric devices is also provided.
On mean-field theories of dynamics in supercooled liquids
Authors: Baity-Jesi Marco , Reichman David R.
Published: August 2019

We develop a hybrid numerical approach to extract the exact memory function K(t) of a tagged particle in three-dimensional glass-forming liquids. We compare the behavior of the exact memory function to two mean-field approaches, namely, the standard mode-coupling theory and a recently proposed ansatz for the memory function that forms the basis of a new derivation of the exact form of K(t) for a fluid with short-ranged interactions in infinite dimensions. Each of the mean-field functions qualitatively and quantitatively share traits with the exact K(t), although several important quantitative differences are manifest.
Humidity responsive single-layered film fabricated by hydrophilic titanium oxide nanotubes
Authors: Lee Minki , Han Gyuhyeon , Lee Jinkee
Published: August 2019

We fabricated a humidity responsive film comprising a bundle of titanium oxide tubes, which changes its curvature corresponding to the relative humidity. The mechanism of changing the curvature of the film can be explained by adsorption, condensation, and evaporation of water molecules within the film. During adsorption, a liquid bridge is formed because of the growth of a water layer between tubes, thus contracting the tubes. When vapor pressure exceeds the equilibrium vapor pressure, condensation occurs at the meniscus of the liquid bridge, thus expanding the gap between tubes. We obtained the adsorption and desorption isotherms for the humidity responsive film by determining physical adsorption. Additionally, we demonstrated the varying motions of the humidity sensing film when a water droplet was applied on the surface. The sensor could distinguish between saturated and oversaturated humidity conditions, such as fog and rain, respectively, which is not possible using resistive humidity sensors. This humidity responsive film can be applied to environmental monitoring systems and possibly even to energy harvesting systems.
3D auxetic lattice materials for anomalous elastic wave polarization
Authors: Patil Ganesh U. , Shedge Aditya B. , Matlack Kathryn H.
Published: August 2019

Elastic bulk materials support longitudinal and transverse waves such that the former travels faster in most cases. Anomalous polarization is the case when a transverse wave travels faster, allowing us to engineer the wave propagation via wave steering, scattering control, and mode conversion, which has critical applications in vibration mitigation and ultrasonic imaging. However, realizable materials that exhibit anomalous polarization are rarely found in nature, and architected materials that exhibit this property have only been demonstrated in 2D. In this article, we present 3D auxetic periodic lattice materials that support anomalous wave polarization. Through finite element analysis, we show that these lattices can switch between normal and anomalous behavior via simple geometry changes. We confirm the elasticity condition and qualitatively discuss the guidelines to design lattice materials that support anomalous polarization along a specific wave propagation direction. We show the ability to control the anomalous wave propagation direction by modifying the lattice geometry. Further, we numerically demonstrate mode conservation, deceleration, and acceleration of an incident wave using a material that exhibits anomalous wave polarization. These demonstrations show the potential application of such materials in nondestructive evaluation and medical imaging.
AI neural networks gets a new memory chip
Authors: Mandel Savannah
Published: August 2019

Scientists work to speed up artificial intelligence neural networks with the material development of resistive switching memory synapses.
Self-reactive and polyreactive B cells are generated and selected in the germinal center during γ-herpesvirus infection
Authors: Sakakibara Shuhei , Yasui Teruhito , Jinzai Hideyuki , O’Donnell Kristy , Tsai Chao-Yuan , Minamitani Takeharu , Takeda Kazuya , Belz Gabrielle T , Tarlinton David M , Kikutani Hitoshi
Published: August 2019

Immune responses against certain viruses are accompanied by auto-antibody production although the origin of these infection-associated auto-antibodies is unclear. Here, we report that murine γ-herpesvirus 68 (MHV68)-induced auto-antibodies are derived from polyreactive B cells in the germinal center (GC) through the activity of short-lived plasmablasts. The analysis of recombinant antibodies from MHV68-infected mice revealed that about 40% of IgG+ GC B cells were self-reactive, with about half of them being polyreactive. On the other hand, virion-reactive clones accounted for only a minor proportion of IgG+ GC B cells, half of which also reacted with self-antigens. The self-reactivity of most polyreactive clones was dependent on somatic hypermutation (SHM), but this was dispensable for the reactivity of virus mono-specific clones. Furthermore, both virus-mono-specific and polyreactive clones were selected to differentiate to B220lo CD138+ plasma cells (PCs). However, the representation of GC-derived polyreactive clones was reduced and that of virus-mono-specific clones was markedly increased in terminally differentiated PCs as compared to transient plasmablasts. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that, during acute MHV68 infection, self-reactive B cells are generated through SHM and selected for further differentiation to short-lived plasmablasts but not terminally differentiated PCs.
Rational Remedies: The Role of Opinion Clarity in the Inter-American Human Rights System
Authors: Staton Jeffrey K , Romero Alexia
Published: August 2019

International courts have far-from-perfect records of compliance. States routinely delay the implementation of policy changes necessary to come into line with international obligations. Some judicial orders are simply ignored in their entirety. Yet judicial orders aimed at potentially recalcitrant states often vaguely express what is required and thus create conditions for delay and defiance. This article leverages a detailed public monitoring system for decisions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to evaluate a model of judicial opinion writing that connects the informational challenges associated with effectuating significant policy change to the language that judges adopt in their orders and, ultimately, to the reactions of states. Our results suggest that uncertainty about how precisely to bring about a policy change influences compliance by reducing the clarity of judicial orders. Flexibility in language permits judges to tradeoff maximal pressure for compliance for the ability to leverage local knowledge about how to bring a state in line with its international obligations. From this perspective, noncompliant outcomes are not necessarily a clear signal of weak judicial institutions, but, instead, they are a natural piece of the process by which judges manage difficult policy-making tasks.
Moxibustion-Induced Burns in a Burn Unit in Northeast China: An 8-Year Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Zhao Jing-Chun , Shi Kai , Xue Yan , Hong Lei , Yu Jia-Ao
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this paper was to analyze the characteristics of burns caused by moxibustion. A retrospective survey of the medical records of patients was performed on patients who visited our center from January 2009 to January 2017, treating for burns caused by moxibustion. Data were extracted and evaluated, including demographics, site and extent of burns, type and treatment duration of moxibustion, practitioners, and cost. A total of 82 consecutive patients treated for moxibustion-induced burns were included. The average patient age was 42.4 years, with the male to female ratio of 1.2:1. Burns caused by direct and indirect moxibustion were 7 and 75 cases, respectively. Averagely, moxibustion was performed 3.6 times a week for 3.7 weeks and lasts for 16.2 minutes each treatment. The average distance for indirect moxibustion was 3.4 cm (ranged from 2 to 5 cm) away from the acupoints. First-degree and superficial partial thickness burns, deep partial thickness burns, and full thickness burns were present in 16, 59, and 7 cases, respectively. Most of the burns were minor burns, with diameter less than 2 cm (69 cases). The most common sites were the lower extremities (46 cases), followed by abdomen (29 cases) and upper extremities (5 cases). The average cost for inpatients and outpatients was 5 164 and 2 192 RMB, respectively. Majority of moxibustion-induced burns are minor burns, and there is a high probability of the burn being deep if it occurs in the lower extremities.
Fireworks and Seafood Boils: The Epidemiology of Burns in Louisiana
Authors: Johnson Dylan M , White Levi J , Gilstrap Jameson , Short Tracee C
Published: August 2019

Epidemiological trends provide a means for targeting efforts in burn prevention. There have been but few regional-specific studies concerning burns in the southern United States. This study describes burn injury trends experienced by a single burn center in Louisiana. We also investigate the temporal relationships of several activities informally known for having a high risk for burn injury among local providers. Data were retrospectively extracted from the records of all patients treated for burn injuries at the regional burn center from 2012 to 2018 in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Demographical data and burn injury characteristics were noted. A total of 6,498 patients were included (1,593 inpatient, 4,905 outpatient). The most common burn etiologies were scald and flame, with flame being associated with more severe injuries. Overall incidence was disproportionally high in males and children less than 4 years of age. Total incidence was highest in Caucasians, though African Americans held the highest annual incidence rate specific to this population. The most common situation at the time of burn injury involved the consumption or preparation of food or beverages. Significant variation was observed in the rates of different injury situations throughout the year. Notably, burns related to seafood, heating, and firework activity occurred more often during crawfish season, colder months, and the months of January and July, respectively. In addition to establishing preliminary trends, these data may be useful in guiding the development of future evidence-based prevention efforts to target the most detrimental burn injuries in this population.
The Wake and the Work of Culture: Memorialization Practices in Post-Katrina Black Feminist Poetics
Authors: Pinto Samantha , Pereyra Jewel
Published: August 2019

Hurricane Katrina has come to represent a nexus of natural, infrastructural, and ethical failures that forced a moment and perhaps an era of public reckoning with the ongoing processes of black disenfranchisement from US state protections and rights. Poetry about Katrina both promises and is asked bear witness to this spectacular, violent show of force and to manage public and political appetites for recognition and remembrance through its ability to merge the material and the abstract in linguistic form. This cultural imperative stands as both opportunity and limit for black artists and poets, as they are expected to weigh in exclusively on the fates of black life, historical and present, and are frequently only given accolades and earn readership when they accede to this demand to represent the spectacle of Blackness in pain. In this article, we consider the Katrina-focused work of two prominent African American women poets, Claudia Rankine and Natasha Trethewey, arguing that they engage in innovative practices of poetic memorialization, performing black feminist “wake work” in their insistence on the long-standing, porous boundaries between black life and death, black expressive creation and precarity, and black material history and the present. Their work in Citizen: An American Lyric (2014) and in Beyond Katrina: A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (2010) refashions the perverse poetic “opportunity” of Katrina as a moment to reframe black life and black cultural production both through and beyond the immediate temporality of disaster.
Superconductivity in chromium nitrides Pr3Cr10-xN11 with strong electron correlations
Authors: Wu Wei , Liu Kai , Li Yanjie , Yu Zhenhai , Wu Desheng , Shao Yuting , Na Shihang , Li Gang , Huang Ruizhen , Xiang Tao , Luo Jianlin
Published: August 2019

Exploration of superconductivity in Cr-based compounds has attracted considerable interest because only a few Cr-based superconductors (CrAs, A2Cr3As3 and ACr3As3 (A = K, Rb, Cs, Na)) have been discovered so far and they show an unconventional pairing mechanism. We report the discovery of bulk superconductivity at 5.25 K in chromium nitride in Pr3Cr10-xN11 with a cubic lattice structure. A relatively large upper critical field of Hc2(0) ∼ 12.6 T is determined, which is larger than the estimated Pauli-paramagnetic pair-breaking magnetic field. The material has a large electronic specific-heat coefficient of 170 mJ K−2 mol−1—about 10 times larger than that estimated by the electronic structure calculation, which suggests that correlations between 3d electrons are very strong in Pr3Cr10-xN11, and thus quantum fluctuations might be involved. Electronic structure calculations show that the density of states at the Fermi energy are contributed predominantly by Cr 3d electrons, implying that the superconductivity results mainly from the condensation of Cr 3d electrons. Pr3Cr10-xN11 represents a rare example of possible unconventional superconductivity emerging in a 3D system with strong electron correlations. Nevertheless, clarification of the specific pairing symmetry needs more investigation.
Fecal Transplant in Children With Clostridioides difficile Gives Sustained Reduction in Antimicrobial Resistance and Potential Pathogen Burden
Authors: Hourigan Suchitra K , Ahn Michelle , Gibson Keylie M , Pérez-Losada Marcos , Felix Grace , Weidner Melissa , Leibowitz Ian , Niederhuber John E , Sears Cynthia L , Crandall Keith A , Oliva-Hemker Maria
Published: August 2019

Background

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) treats Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Little is known regarding the changes in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes and potential pathogen burden that occur in pediatric recipients of FMT. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in AMR genes, potential pathogens, species, and functional pathways with FMT in children.

Methods

Nine children with recurrent CDI underwent FMT. Stool was collected from donor and recipient pre-FMT and longitudinally post-FMT for up to 24 weeks. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed. Reads were analyzed using PathoScope 2.0.

Results

All children had resolution of CDI. AMR genes decreased post-FMT (P < .001), with a sustained decrease in multidrug resistance genes (P < .001). Tetracycline resistance genes increased post-FMT (P < .001). Very low levels of potential pathogens were identified in donors and recipients, with an overall decrease post-FMT (P < .001). Prevotella sp. 109 expanded in all recipients post-FMT, and no recipients had any clinical infection. Alpha diversity was lower in recipients vs donors pre-FMT (P < .001), with an increase post-FMT (P ≤ .002) that was sustained. Beta diversity differed significantly in pre- vs post-FMT recipient samples (P < .001). Bacterial species Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bacteroides ovatus showed higher abundance in donors than recipients (P = .008 and P = .040, respectively), with expansion post-FMT. Biosynthetic pathways predominated in the donor and increased in the recipient post-FMT.

Conclusions

FMT for CDI in children decreases AMR genes and potential pathogens and changes microbiota composition and function. However, acquisition of certain AMR genes post-FMT combined with low levels of potential pathogens found in donors suggests that further study is warranted regarding screening donors using metagenomics sequencing before FMT.
Safety and Immunogenicity of Sabin Strain Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine Compared With Salk Strain Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine, in Different Sequential Schedules With Bivalent Oral Poliovirus Vaccine: Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Clinical Trials in China
Authors: Hu Yuemei , Xu Kangwei , Han Weixiao , Chu Kai , Jiang Deyu , Wang Jianfeng , Tian Xiaohui , Ying Zhifang , Zhang Ying , Li Changgui , Zhu Fengcai
Published: August 2019

Background

A new Sabin strain inactivated poliovirus vaccine (sIPV) proved to be immunogenic and safe in all IPV primary immunization in the previous study, with the corresponding profiles in sequential immunizations unclear.

Methods

Two clinical trials on the “IPV + 2 bivalent oral polio vaccine (2bOPV)” (Trial A) and “2IPV + bOPV” (Trial B) vaccination were conducted. Both clinical trials were randomized, controlled, double-blinded, noninferiority trials, and wild-strain IPV (wIPV) was adopted as the control vaccine. In each clinical trial, 240 healthy infants were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive sequential vaccinations containing sIPV or wIPV. Immunogenicity and safety were assessed using per-protocol and safety populations, respectively.

Results

For Trial A, the seroconversion rates in the experimental and control groups were 100% and 99.1%, respectively, against type 1; both 100.0% against type 3. For Trial B, the seroconversion rates in experimental and control groups were 99.2% and 100.0%, respectively, against type 1; both 100% against type 3. No serious adverse events related to vaccines were reported.

Conclusions

The new sIPV demonstrated an immunogenicity noninferior to that of the wIPV and a good safety profile in sequential vaccination with bOPV.

Clinical trial numbers

NCT:03822754; NCT:03822767.
Diagnosis and initial management in psoriatic arthritis: a qualitative study with patients
Authors: Dures Emma , Bowen Clive , Brooke Mel , Lord Jane , Tillett William , McHugh Neil , Hewlett Sarah
Published: August 2019

Objectives

PsA is an inflammatory condition that can cause pain, fatigue, swelling and joint stiffness. The consequences include impaired physical function, a high psychosocial burden, reduced quality of life and work disability. The presenting symptoms can be non-specific and varied, leading to delays in diagnosis or referral to specialist teams. The aim of this study was to explore patients' experiences of being diagnosed and the initial management of PsA.

Methods

The study used a qualitative design, with data collected in one-to-one, face-to-face semi-structured interviews.

Results

Fifteen newly diagnosed patients (<24 months) from three hospital sites in the southwest of England participated. Interviews were transcribed, anonymized and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The following two main themes with sub-themes represent the data: symptom onset to specialist care: ‘it was the blind leading the blind’ (making sense of symptoms; mis-diagnosis and missed opportunities; and fast and easy access to expertise); and diagnosis as a turning point: ‘having somebody say you've got something wrong with you, I was euphoric’ (validation and reassurance; weighing up treatment options; taking on self-management; and acknowledging loss and change).

Conclusion

Participants were already dealing with functional limitations and were highly distressed and anxious by the time they received their diagnosis. Physical and mental outcomes could be improved by the implementation of existing psoriasis management guidelines and strategies for earlier referral from primary care to rheumatology and by the development of guidelines on educational, self-management and psychological support provision soon after diagnosis.
High rate of indeterminate results of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube test, third generation, in patients with systemic vasculitis
Authors: Rousset Stella , Treiner Emmanuel , Moulis Guillaume , Pugnet Grégory , Astudillo Léonardo , Paricaud Kim , Puissant-Lubrano Bénédicte , Arlet Philippe , Blancher Antoine , Sailler Laurent
Published: August 2019

Objectives

To describe the frequency of QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube test® (QFT-GIT) indeterminate results due to no response to phytohaemagglutinin A stimulation in the control tube in vasculitis patients prior to immunosuppressant therapy; and to compare it with other groups of patients.

Methods

This was a single-centre, retrospective study. Patients and controls were included between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2015. We assessed the rate of indeterminate results of the QFT-GIT in 38 patients with systemic vasculitis prior to any corticosteroid or immunosuppressant therapy, compared with 40 non-vasculitis patients with biological inflammatory syndrome, and 310 non-immunosuppressed patients matched for gender and age.

Results

Indeterminate results due to no response to phytohaemagglutinin A were more frequent in vasculitis patients (21.1%) compared with non-vasculitis patients with biological inflammatory syndrome (7.5%) (Fisher's exact test: P = 0.11) and to anonymized controls (7%) (P = 0.009). Responses to phytohaemagglutinin A were significantly lower in vasculitis patients compared with other groups (Kruskal–Wallis test: P < 0.0001) and compared with non-vasculitis patients with biological inflammatory syndrome (P = 0.0015). The multivariable analysis identified as independent predictors of an indeterminate result of the QFT-GIT: the presence of systemic vasculitis (odds ratio 9.64 [1.14–81.3], P = 0.037) and a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (odds ratio 1.70 [1.21–2.37], P = 0.002). One patient with an indeterminate result of QFT-GIT developed active tuberculosis after one year of corticosteroid therapy for giant cell arteritis.

Conclusion

Our results question the reliability of QFT-GIT to rule out latent tuberculosis in vasculitis patients at diagnosis, prior to immunosuppressant therapy.
Neurological Effects in the Offspring After Switching From Tobacco Cigarettes to E-Cigarettes During Pregnancy in a Mouse Model
Authors: Nguyen Tara , Li Gerard E , Chen Hui , Cranfield Charles G , McGrath Kristine C , Gorrie Catherine A
Published: August 2019

Maternal smoking is currently a public health concern and has been associated with a number of complications in the offspring. E-cigarettes are gaining popularity as a “safer” alternative to tobacco cigarettes during pregnancy, however, there are a limited number of studies to suggest that it is actually “safe.” Balb/C female mice were exposed to ambient air (n = 8; Sham), or tobacco cigarette smoke (n = 8; SE) before gestation, during gestation and lactation. A third group was exposed to cigarette smoke before gestation followed by e-cigarette aerosols during gestation and lactation (n = 8; Switch). Male offspring (12-week old, n = 10–14/group) underwent behavioral assessments to investigate short-term memory, anxiety, and activity using the novel object recognition and elevated plus maze tests. Brains were collected at postnatal day (P)1, P20, and Week 13 for global DNA methylation, epigenetic gene expression, and neuronal cell counts. The offspring from mothers switching to e-cigarettes exhibited no change in exploration/activity but showed a decrease in global DNA methylation, Aurora Kinase (Aurk) A and AurkB gene expression and a reduction in neuronal cell numbers in the cornu ammonis 1 region of the dorsal hippocampus compared with the SE group. Continuous tobacco cigarette smoke exposure during pregnancy resulted in marked neurological deficits in the offspring. Switching to e-cigarettes during pregnancy reduced these neurological deficits compared with cigarette smoke exposure. However, neurological changes were still observed, so we therefore conclude that e-cigarette use during pregnancy is not advised.
Transitional Hypoglycaemia Management in Small for Gestational Age Neonates with Sucrose Enriched Expressed Breastmilk in Resource Poor Setting
Authors: Bora Reeta , Deori Sumon
Published: August 2019

Aim

To find out if oral sucrose is as efficacious as intravenous dextrose (IVDx) in treating hypoglycaemia in small for gestational age (SGA) neonates and to compare risk of feed intolerance (FI) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in oral therapy with IVDx therapy.

Methods

Eighty SGA haemodynamically stable hypoglycaemic [blood sugar (BS) < 40 mg/dl] neonates of ≥32 to ≤36 week gestational age were randomized to receive oral sugar enriched expressed breastmilk (EBM; Group A) or IV dextrose therapy (Group B; 40 in each group) in similar calculated doses. BS at 6 h after treatment, incidence of recurrence of hypoglycaemia, FI and NEC were compared.

Results

Mean BS level at 6 h after treatment in oral supplementation group was 63.53 ± 22.12 mg/dl [3.52 ± 1.22 mmol/l (IQR 49.2–82 mg/dl, 2.7–4.5 mmol/l) vs. 71.28 ± 31.76 mg/dl [3.96 ± 1.76 mmol/l (IQR 48.5–73 mg/dl, 2.69–4 mmol/l) in IVDx group, p = 0.209. Relative risk (RR) of recurrence of hypoglycaemia in oral vs. IV treatment was 1.5 with 95% CI 0.4578–4.9151. Incidence of FI (p = 0.49, RR 1, 95%CI 0.3–3.1) and NEC (p = 0.4, RR 0.2, 95%CI 0.01–4.2) was comparable

Conclusion

In resource poor setting in haemodynamically stable hypoglycaemic SGA neonates, EBM enriched with calculated dose of sucrose given orally maintains euglycaemia (BS 40–125mg/dl, 2.2–6.9 mmol/l) without increased incidence of FI and NEC. This method also prevents lactational failure.
Occurrence and Distribution of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes on Muscadine Grapes in Georgia and North Carolina
Authors: Jagdale Ganpati B. , Severns Paul M. , Brannen Phillip M. , Cline William O.
Published: August 2019

Muscadine grape, Vitis rotundifolia, is native to the southeastern United States, but Georgia (GA) and North Carolina (NC) are the largest North American producers. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) have become a significant factor affecting the health, quality, production, and maintenance of bunch grapes (V. labrusca, V. vinifera), but little is known about muscadine PPNs. A systematic survey was conducted of PPNs infesting eight and 11 muscadine grape vineyards in GA and NC in August and October 2018, respectively. The most frequently detected PPNs across all samples from both states were Helicotylenchus (90%), Mesocriconema (72%), and Xiphinema (58%). However, 5 Hemicycliophora and 710 Scutellonema nematodes/100 cm3 of soil were found only in GA, whereas only 1 Belonolaimus nematode/100 cm3 of soil was found only in NC. Ordination of the nematode communities from the samples collected in GA and NC yielded groupings that aligned with the state of origin. Multivariate tests for group membership indicated that several genera were statistically associated with either NC or GA muscadines, and the PPN communities distinctly differed between states. Because muscadine grapes do not have established nematode thresholds, it is not known whether these nematode species are negatively impacting mature grapes.
Development and Application of a Real-Time Reverse-Transcription PCR and Droplet Digital PCR Assays for the Direct Detection of Potato mop top virus in Soil
Authors: Pandey Binod , Mallik Ipsita , Gudmestad Neil C.
Published: August 2019

Potato mop top virus (PMTV) is a continuing threat to potato production throughout the world. It has the potential to persist in the soil for long periods in the sporosori of its vector Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea, which is as an important source for PMTV infection and dissemination. In this study, we used real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and reverse-transcription droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) assays of the total RNA extracted directly from the soil to develop a simple, fast, and sensitive method to detect PMTV in soil samples using a specific primer with high efficiency despite a minimal amount of viral RNA. The designed primers are resilient in the presence of various PCR inhibitors in the soil when RNA is extracted. Both assays detected PMTV in all soil types used and supported the detection of <10 PMTV copies µl−1 in the RNA sample. With qRT-PCR, detection was linear, with amplification efficiencies ranging from 93.3 to 105.3% for silt loam, loamy sand, sand, and sandy loam in various experiments with R2 > 0.99. Furthermore, the RT-ddPCR assay also demonstrated a high degree of linearity (R2 > 0.99 and P < 0.0001) with the RNA extracted from the soil samples representing different textures and physiochemical characteristics that were artificially spiked with infested S. subterranea f. sp. subterranea sporosori. Additionally, both assays successfully detected PMTV in different types of naturally infested soil with PMTV carrying S. subterranea f. sp. subterranea sporosori levels ranging from 6.2 × 102 g−1 to 1.2 × 106 g−1 in soils with pH ranging from 4.9 to 7.5 and organic matter ranging from 0.9 to 5.1%, demonstrating the potential to detect PMTV in a wide variety of soils. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the development of real-time PCR and ddPCR methods for the direct detection of a soilborne virus in soil.