bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The interaction of the ITER first wall with magnetic perturbations
Authors: Boozer Allen H
Published: February 2021

Mitigation of the multiple risks associated with disruptions and runaway electrons in tokamaks involves competing demands. Success requires that each risk be understood sufficiently that appropriate compromises can be made. Here the focus is on the interaction of short timescale magnetic-perturbations with the structure in ITER that is closest to the plasma, blanket modules covered by separated beryllium tiles. The effect of this tiled surface on the perturbations and on the forces on structures is subtle. Indeterminacy can be introduced by tile-to-tile shorting. A determinate subtlety is introduced because electrically separated tiles can act as a conducting surface for magnetic perturbations that have a normal component to the surface. A practical method for including this determinate subtlety into plasma simulations is developed. The shorter the timescales and the greater the localization, particularly in the toroidal direction, the more important the magnetic effects of the tiles become.
Research of Reliability Allocation Based on Gray Theory
Authors: Qian Y , Jiang C , Su L
Published: February 2021

A comprehensive reliability allocation method, which is applicable to the cases of lack of data in design stage, as well as the complexity of the influence factors and uncertainty of expert evaluation, is presented based on the gray system theory. The key of this method is to modify the weights of influence factors which are associated with expert scoring data by gray correlation analysis before reliability indices are assigned linearly to each subsystem. Based on gray evaluation with 4 levels, the application of this method is illustrated with the reliability allocation of a rotary machine under the consideration that complexity, technical level, importance and environment condition are chosen as influence factors. Compared with the actual faults statistics results, the validity and feasibility of the method is verified.
Multi-objective Dynamic Scheduling of Circuit Repair Based on Improved NSGA-II
Authors: Liu Y , Jia J , Zhang Z Q , Jin F
Published: February 2021

To deal with the problem of tight wartime repair time, heavy repair task, and complicated constraints during wartime, the multi-objective dynamic scheduling study of circuit repair equipment maintenance task scheduling was carried out. The military problem of equipment maintenance task scheduling for circuit repair under complex constraints was proposed. Considering the uncertainty of the repair status of the equipment to be repaired, the constraints such as repair time window, non-traversal, and variety of repair capability were introduced on the basis of the repair capability and the repair time limit. A multi-objective dynamic scheduling model that takes the total number of repaired equipment, the sum of equipment importance degree, and the total time of secondary operations as the scheduling target.is established. An improved multi-objective genetic algorithm based on NSGA-II is designed to solve the model, and the rationality and effectiveness of the model and algorithm are verified through example simulation and analysis.
Optimization method of mechanical and electrical product quality consistency based on renewable cost contribution rate
Authors: Zhai G F , Liu X H , Deng J
Published: February 2021

Uncertainty in the manufacturing process is the main factor affecting the quality consistency and application reliability of electromechanical products. How to improve the quality consistency of their batches through tolerance design technology has been the focus of domestic and foreign electromechanical product manufacturers. Although the traditional tolerance design method can improve the consistency of batch products, from the perspective of engineering applications, this optimization method may not be optimal, and it will cause unnecessary cost waste. In order to improve the quality consistency to the optimization goal and control the cost increase to the minimum, this paper proposes a tolerance design method based on the renewable cost contribution rate, which comprehensively considers the improvement of consistency when the tolerance values decrease and costs increase in a non-linear form, and tolerance optimization strategies are formulated. Finally, by applying it to the quality optimization of electromechanical products, the correctness of the proposed method is verified.
A heuristic for a special kind of multi-type component assignment problem
Authors: Shi Y , Guan Z , Qiu S
Published: February 2021

The multi-type component assignment problem (MCAP) is to assign more than one type of components to positions in the system to maximize system reliability. This paper proposes a two-stage Birnbaum importance-based local search heuristic to address a special kind of MCAP where positions in the system can accept up to two types of components. To evaluate the performance of the heuristic, comprehensive simulation experiments are conducted across different types of systems. The results demonstrate the heuristic’s efficiency and applicability. It shows that the Birnbaum importance is also promising in solving MCAPs.
Adoption of a Bayesian Network for the Operational Reliability Analysis of Aircraft Systems
Authors: Pan Wei-Huang , Feng Yun-Wen , Lu Cheng , Xue Xiao-Feng
Published: February 2021

To assess and analyze the operational reliability of aircraft systems, an aircraft system Bayesian network (ASBN) method is proposed with the functional and logical coupling relationship of aircraft components, which integrates the characteristics of components related to aircraft operation, is built for analyzing the operational reliability under considering the effect of stochastic features. The aircraft system operating reliability is first assessed by forward inference of ASBN. And the most likely failure component or subsystem under the appearance of different failure condition severity categories are identified. The results show that the aircraft system operating reliability is not as high as the reliability of its components; the most likely failure component or subsystem are those tightly connected to other components or subsystems. The efforts of this paper provide a useful way for deriving operational reliability analysis of complex systems.
Testability Modelling and Optimization Technology of Ship Electrical Equipment Based on Multi-Signal Flow Diagram
Authors: Di Peng , Cheng Yang , Pan Sun , Xiaotong Fang , Weiqiang Zhan , Gang Yang
Published: February 2021

With the development of ship power systems, the degree of integration, complexity and automation of ship generators has increased significantly, which places higher requirements on its testability. The marine generator is a complex electromechanical system with multiple disciplines including electricity, magnetism, force, heat, and mechanics. Its main features include: various types of fault modes, a wide range of faults, and many types of fault features. Therefore, compared with electronic products, the testability modelling and optimization methods of marine generators are very different. First of all, this paper sorts out 11 typical failure modes of marine generators. Then, analyse the failure characteristics of each failure mode and set up 17 test points initially. Based on this, a multi-signal flow graph model is constructed, and the test point is optimized based on the correlation model. By comparing and analysing the test point optimization results, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified.
Analysis of the anti-vibration qualified rate of relay considering manual debugging process
Authors: Ye Xuerong , Wang Yue , Tan Jun , Tang Wei , Zhai Guofu , Li Wenwen , Yuan Ruiming
Published: February 2021

As an important switching device, the relay’s mechanical resistance has been receiving much attention. However, the manual debugging process has an important impact on it. This article starts with the analysis of manual debugging factors that affect the anti-vibration qualification rate. The quality characteristic parameters of the debugging process and their thresholds that affect its anti-vibration qualification rate are obtained by designing contrast tests. Secondly, the object’s qualitative characteristic parameters and debugging parameters are constructed by a approximate calculation model based on the virtual prototype. Finally, the impact of manual debugging process on product quality characteristics is analyzed. And suggestions on the parameters to be controlled by manual debugging are given. The adjustors strictly control the parameters of the debugging process according to the above suggestions. And the current qualification rate of the product has been greatly improved. It shows that the research on the manual debugging process based on the anti-vibration qualification rate is great significant.
A novel tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME)-on-Chip mimics three dimensional neutrophil-tumor dynamics and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)-mediated collective tumor invasion
Authors: Surendran Vikram , Rutledge Dylan , Colmon Ramair , Chandrasekaran Arvind
Published: February 2021

Neutrophils are the most abundant type of leukocytes in the blood, traditionally regarded as the first immune responders to infections and inflammations. In the context of tumors, neutrophils have been shown to possess both tumor-promoting and tumor-limiting properties. A better understanding of the inter-cellular dynamics between the neutrophils and aggregated tumors could possibly shed light on the different modalities of neutrophil involvement in tumor progression. To study in-vitro the interactional dynamics of neutrophils and growing tumor aggregates, in this work, we engineered a novel, microfluidics-integrated, three-dimensional (3D) tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME)-on-Chip device, and we investigated the effect of neutrophils on the inception of collective 3D invasion of ovarian tumor cells. Herein, tumor spheroids generated and cultured on hydrogel based multi-microwell plates, and embedded within collagen matrix of defined thickness, were magnetically hybrid-integrated with a 3D bioprinting enabled microfluidic system fabricated on a porous membrane and carrying neutrophils. This setting recreated a typical TIME in-vitro to model dynamic neutrophil migration and 3D tumor invasion. Using this device, we observed that neutrophils respond to the growing tumor spheroids through both chemotaxis and generation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The formation of NETs stimulated the reciprocation of tumor cells from their aggregated state to collectively invade into the surrounding collagen matrix, in a manner more significant compared to their response to known tumor-derived stimulants such as transforming growth factor and Interleukin- 8. This effect was reversed by drug-induced inhibition of NETs formation, suggesting that induction of NETs by cancer cells could be a pro-migratory tumor behavior. Further, we additionally report a previously unidentified, location-dictated mechanism of NETosis, in which NETs formation within the stromal extracellular collagen matrix around the spheroids, and not tumor-contacted NETs, is important for the induction of collective invasion of the ovarian tumor cells, thus providing a rationale for new anti-tumor therapeutics research.
Quantum spatial correlations imaging through thick scattering media: experiments and comparison with simulations of the biphoton wave function
Authors: Soro Gnatiessoro , Lantz Eric , Mosset Alexis , Devaux Fabrice
Published: February 2021

We first extend our recent experiments of spatial quantum correlations imaging through thin scattering media to the case where two phase scattering plates placed respectively in the image and the Fourier planes of the biphoton source, mimics a thick scattering medium. Spatial correlations between twin photons are still detected at the quantum level but no more in the form of two-photon speckle-like patterns. However, we show that spatial entanglement of very-high dimensionality can be retrieved through thick scattering media with moderate losses and without any fair sampling assumption in the space and time domains. Second, a numerical simulation of the biphoton wave function is developed and applied to our experimental situation, with a good agreement.
Chlorin e6-1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran polymer hybrid nanoparticles for singlet oxygen-detection photodynamic abaltion
Authors: Wang Xiao-Hui , Wei Xiao-Fei , Liu Jin-Hua , Yang Wei , Liu Yuan-An , Cheng Kun , He Xiao-Ying , Fu Xiu-Li , Zhang Yu , Zhang Hong-Xin
Published: February 2021

A dual-functional nanosysterm is developed by means of Chlorin e6 (Ce6) as photosensitizer and 1,3-Diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) as fluorescent singlet oxygen (1O2) probe. Under 660 nm laser irradiation, Ce6 exhibites efficient 1O2 generation, and subsequently the production of 1O2 is assessed by the ratiometric fluorescence of PFO and DPBF under one-photon and two-photon excitation mode. The nanoparticles with excellent biocompatibility can be internalized into Hela cells and applied for tumor treatment. For intracellular PDT, the nanoparticles perform a high phototoxicity, while the PDT proccess can be evaluated in time by monitoring fluorescence signals of DPBF. This theranostic nanosysterm provides a facile strategy to fabricate 1O2-detection PDT, which can realize accurate and efficient photodynamic therapy based on singlet oxygen detection.
Hydrodynamic lubrication analysis of water-lubricated bearings with partial microgroove considering wall slip
Authors: Feng Wei , Han Yanfeng , Xiang Guo , Wang Jiaxu
Published: February 2021

In the present works, the Reynolds equation considering the partial wall slip is used to study the hydrodynamic lubrication performance of Partial Microgroove Water-lubricated Bearings (PMWB). Based on the developed model, the hydrodynamic performances of partial microgroove water-lubricated bearings with three microgroove distributions are systematically compared. The results show that herringbone-groove bearing yields the maximum load capacity, followed by spiral-groove bearings and straight-groove bearings. Furthermore, numerical results also show that wall slip can enhance the load capacity for all three partial microgroove distributions. In addition, the effects of the groove depth and the groove angle, eccentricity ratio and slip arrangement on the lubrication performance of the microgroove bearings are studied. The simulation results indicate that the eccentricity ratio significantly affects the lubrication performance of partial microgroove water-lubricated bearings considering wall slip, while the groove depth and the angle only slightly affect the lubrication performance. Moreover, the slip arrangement is less sensitive to the depth and angle of groove than eccentricity ratio. The parametric study demonstrates that the load capacity of PMWB will decline at a relatively large eccentricity ratio.
Investigation of the experiment and simulation on TiH2 powder packing by a novel irregular 3D model
Authors: Zhang Bing , Liu Shaopeng , Xia Jing , Chen Yungui , Tang Yongbai
Published: February 2021

Density and porosity have an important influence on powder metallurgy products, and it is feasible to predict the tap density of powder by simulating the packing of powder. Analysis models of spherical and simple geometric have been developed to predict the packing density of the powder. In this study, a novel particle model with complex three-dimensional (3D) morphology was established to simulate the packing process of titanium hydride powder with binary particle size distribution. The results have indicated that when the particle size ratio and the volume ratio of fine powder to coarse powder were 1:3 and 1:1, respectively, the sintered sample reaches its optimum sintered density of 99.24%. Compared with these samples sintered by single-scale powder, the size and distribution of residual pores reduced significantly with the application of mixed powders, which is beneficial to the mechanical properties of powder metallurgy products.
Synthesis and optical properties of GdVO4: Eu3+ phosphor
Authors: Thakur Himani , Singh Rajesh Kumar , Gathania Arvind K
Published: February 2021

In the present work, we have synthesized GdVO4 doped Eu3+ using a facile sol-gel method and analysed the effect of concentration variation and annealing temperature on the optical properties. Tetragonal (I41/amd) zircon type crystal structure of the material was confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) study. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra were recorded with an ultraviolet (UV) excitation of wavelength 325 nm. GdVO4 doped Eu3+ (1 mol%) gives prominent red emission. This optimized sample was annealed at different temperature and as annealing temperature raises, the crystallinity of the material increases resulting in the improved emission intensity. The emission spectra of this phosphor exhibit intense peaks at wavelengths 593 nm (orange) and 618 nm (red) which corresponds to 5D0-7F1, 5D0 -7F2 transitions of Eu3+ ions. 5D0 -7F2, the electric dipole transition is dominant indicating that Eu3+ ions situated at a non-centrosymmetric site in the crystal structure. GdVO4: Eu3+(1 mol%) annealed at 800 °C gives eminent red emission which can be further used as the potential candidate for bioimaging, lighting, temperature sensing and display devices.
De novopurine biosynthesis is a major driver of chemoresistance in glioblastoma
Authors: Shireman Jack M , Atashi Fatemeh , Lee Gina , Ali Eunus S , Saathoff Miranda R , Park Cheol H , Savchuk Sol , Baisiwala Shivani , Miska Jason , Lesniak Maciej S , James C David , Stupp Roger , Kumthekar Priya , Horbinski Craig M , Ben-Sahra Issam , Ahmed Atique U
Published: February 2021

Glioblastoma is a primary brain cancer with a near 100% recurrence rate. Upon recurrence, the tumour is resistant to all conventional therapies, and because of this, 5-year survival is dismal. One of the major drivers of this high recurrence rate is the ability of glioblastoma cells to adapt to complex changes within the tumour microenvironment. To elucidate this adaptation's molecular mechanisms, specifically during temozolomide chemotherapy, we used chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing and gene expression analysis. We identified a molecular circuit in which the expression of ciliary protein ADP-ribosylation factor-like protein 13B (ARL13B) is epigenetically regulated to promote adaptation to chemotherapy. Immuno-precipitation combined with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry binding partner analysis revealed that that ARL13B interacts with the purine biosynthetic enzyme inosine-5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2). Further, radioisotope tracing revealed that this interaction functions as a negative regulator for purine salvaging. Inhibition of the ARL13B-IMPDH2 interaction enhances temozolomide-induced DNA damage by forcing glioblastoma cells to rely on the purine salvage pathway. Targeting the ARLI3B-IMPDH2 circuit can be achieved using the Food and Drug Administration-approved drug, mycophenolate mofetil, which can block IMPDH2 activity and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of temozolomide. Our results suggest and support clinical evaluation of MMF in combination with temozolomide treatment in glioma patients.
A Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Novel Susceptibility loci in Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Casares-Marfil Desiré , Strauss Mariana , Bosch-Nicolau Pau , Lo Presti María Silvina , Molina Israel , Chevillard Christophe , Cunha-Neto Edecio , Sabino Ester , Ribeiro Antonio Luiz P , González Clara Isabel , Martín Javier , Acosta-Herrera Marialbert
Published: February 2021

Background

Chagas disease is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and is endemic from Latin American countries. The goal of our study was to identify novel genetic loci associated with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy development in Chagas disease patients from different Latin American populations.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional, nested case-control study including 3 sample collections from Colombia, Argentina, and Bolivia. Samples were genotyped to conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS). These results were meta-analyzed with summary statistic data from Brazil, gathering a total of 3413 Chagas disease patients. To identify the functional impact of the associated variant and its proxies, we performed an in silico analysis of this region.

Results

The meta-analysis revealed a novel genome-wide statistically significant association with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy development in rs2458298 (OR = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.87–0.94, P-value = 3.27 × 10-08), nearby the SAC3D1 gene. In addition, further in silico analyses displayed functional relationships between the associated variant and the SNX15, BAFT2, and FERMT3 genes, related to cardiovascular traits.

Conclusions

Our findings support the role of the host genetic factors in the susceptibility to the development of the chronic cardiac form of this neglected disease.
Palace versus City: Wilhelm II's Terrace Project,1892–1901
Authors: Klahr Douglas
Published: February 2021

Through archival research covering ministerial letters, parliamentary records and legal texts, this article reconstructs an unprecedented delimitation of royal property ownership that occurred near the end of the 450-year Hohenzollern dynasty in Berlin. The property owner was Wilhelm II, whose proposed terrace project alongside the Berliner Schloss raised issues regarding building line, pavement, street paving and the land beneath the street. A series of legal arguments between the Kaiser’s Oberhofmarschall and Prussian ministers of state resolved these matters, but not before this modest building project had produced concerns within Berlin’s city assembly and the Prussian House of Representatives about threats to ministerial accountability, a tenet of the Prussian Constitution.
Dissemination of carbapenem resistance and plasmids encoding carbapenemases in Gram-negative bacteria isolated in India
Authors: Manohar Prasanth , Leptihn Sebastian , Lopes Bruno S , Nachimuthu Ramesh
Published: February 2021

Background

Carbapenem resistance in Gram-negative bacteria is an ongoing public health problem of global dimensions leaving very few treatment options for infected patients.

Objectives

To study the dissemination of plasmid-borne carbapenemase genes in Gram-negative bacteria from a diagnostic centre in Tamil Nadu, India.

Methods

A total of 151 non-repetitive isolates belonging to 10 genera were collected between January 2015 and December 2016 from a diagnostic centre in Tamil Nadu. The isolates included Escherichia coli (n = 57), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 45), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 10), Salmonella Typhi (n = 8), Enterobacter cloacae (n = 8), Acinetobacter baumannii (n = 7), Serratia marcescens (n = 5), Achromobacter xylosoxidans (n = 5), Proteus mirabilis (n = 5), Klebsiella oxytoca (n = 5) and Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (n = 1).

Results

Of the 151 isolates, 71% (n = 107) and 68% (n = 103) were found to be resistant to meropenem and imipenem, respectively. The most prevalent β-lactamase gene was blaNDM-1 (n = 22), followed by blaOXA-181 (n = 21), blaGES-1 (n = 11), blaOXA-51 (n = 9), blaGES-9 (n = 8), blaOXA-23 (n = 7) and blaIMP-1 (n = 3). We also observed blaOXA-23 in E. coli (n = 4), and three K. pneumoniae were positive for both, blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-51. Plasmid incompatibility (inc/rep) typing results showed that the resistance genes (n = 11) were present in the isolates carrying plasmid-types IncX, IncA/C, IncFIA-FIB and IncFIIA. The plasmid-borne resistance genes in E. coli and K. pneumoniae were transferred to susceptible E. coli AB1157.

Conclusions

This study highlights the prevalence of carbapenem resistance and the acquisition of plasmid-borne carbapenemase genes in Gram-negative bacteria isolated at this centre.
WblA, a global regulator of antibiotic biosynthesis in Streptomyces
Authors: Nah Hee-Ju , Park Jihee , Choi Sisun , Kim Eung-Soo
Published: February 2021

Streptomyces species are soil-dwelling bacteria that produce vast numbers of pharmaceutically valuable secondary metabolites (SMs), such as antibiotics, immunosuppressants, antiviral, and anticancer drugs. On the other hand, the biosynthesis of most SMs remains very low due to tightly controlled regulatory networks. Both global and pathway-specific regulators are involved in the regulation of a specific SM biosynthesis in various Streptomyces species. Over the past few decades, many of these regulators have been identified and new ones are still being discovered. Among them, a global regulator of SM biosynthesis named WblA was identified in several Streptomyces species. The identification and understanding of the WblAs have greatly contributed to increasing the productivity of several Streptomyces SMs. This review summarizes the characteristics and applications on WblAs reported to date, which were found in various Streptomyces species and other actinobacteria.
Psychosocial Issues in Genomic Testing, Including Genomic Testing for Targeted Therapies
Authors: Best Megan
Published: February 2021

Psychosocial issues in genomic testing are an emerging area of investigation. As the growth in understanding of the molecular basis of cancer leads to a new way of characterizing cancer, a different therapeutic landscape has developed for both physicians and patients. Two types of genomic testing are currently used in clinical oncology. Molecular tumor profiling (somatic testing) involves testing tumor tissue with the aim of identifying targeted treatment or to guide therapy. Germline genomic sequencing (germline testing) is used to identify increased cancer risk to personalize preventative strategies. In addition to the obvious benefits of the technology, the results of genomic testing can bring challenges. Results can be complex, and the uncertainty they create is potentially a source of significant psychological stress. The growing use of testing for germline variants can generate solicited and unsolicited hereditary genetic (risk) information that could have medical, psychological, financial, and social consequences for patients and their family members and a considerable impact on their quality of life.
Lung Cancer
Authors: Davies Marianne
Published: February 2021

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Most patients are diagnosed with late-stage disease. Ninety percent of lung cancer cases can be attributed to tobacco smoking. Smoking cessation efforts have led to reductions in cancer-related deaths. Early screening can help to diagnose patients at earlier stages with improved outcomes. Lung cancer patients suffer the highest symptom burden and psychological distress above other cancers. Symptom burden is due to late-stage disease and treatment side effects. Psychological distress, anxiety, and depression are influenced by internal and external stigma. These lead to the negative impact on quality of life for lung cancer patients as well as family caregivers. Lung cancer–specific tools have been developed to assist in the screening and identification of distress, stigma, and quality-of-life metrics for lung cancer patients. Several organizations have formed to support the educational and psychological needs of lung cancer patients. Early assessment of symptom and psychological distress and integration of palliative care services can improve the quality of life of patients with lung cancer.
Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Nelson Ashley M. , Rapoport Chelsea S. , Traeger Lara , Greer Joseph A.
Published: February 2021

The focus of this chapter is on the clinical manifestation of anxiety disorders in patients diagnosed with cancer. We review the prevalence and correlates, presenting characteristics, assessment methods and recommendations, and evidence-based pharmacologic and psychosocial treatments of anxiety in this population. Cancer-related considerations that may impact care and treatment planning are highlighted. Close collaboration between oncology and mental health clinicians as well as between the patient and their multidisciplinary team is essential for developing a patient-centered approach for managing anxiety, improving quality of life, and supporting participation in cancer care. The chapter concludes with discussion of key directions for future research on anxiety disorders in the oncology setting.
Treatment Decision Making
Authors: Marziliano Allison , Diefenbach Michael A.
Published: February 2021

This chapter focuses on the different facets of treatment decision making that have been empirically derived and are part of the peer-reviewed literature. These facets are approaches of treatment decision making (i.e. exploration and uptake of shared decision making, the current gold standard of treatment decision making); optimal treatment decision making (i.e. barriers and facilitators to engaging in optimal treatment decision making); support for treatment decision making (i.e. decision tools, nomograms, and seeking guidance on the Internet); the psychosocial state of patients following treatment decisions; and considerations related to studying treatment decision making (i.e. racial/ethnic disparities, cultural differences in decision making). Areas in which research is lacking or nonexistent (i.e. ensuring the patient understands the goals of treatment before making a treatment decision) are also highlighted as directions for future research.
Psychiatric Disorders in Pediatric Psycho-Oncology
Authors: Kearney Julia A. , MacGregor Meredith E. , Pao Maryland
Published: February 2021

For patients and families affected by pediatric cancer, distress is often part of a larger picture of adjustment and resiliency. Pediatric psychosocial oncology clinicians should be proficient in recognizing clinically significant psychiatric symptoms, syndromes and disorders, in order to differentiate these from normal distress and adjustment. Access to child and adolescent psychiatric expertise is an essential component of care for children with cancer and their families. It is feasible and important to differentiate psychiatric syndromes from normal trajectories of adjustment to a life-threatening diagnosis. The chapter reviews psychiatric presentations in children, and youth with cancer and treatment considerations, with a focus on the role of the pediatric consultation-liaison/psycho-oncology psychiatrist on a multidisciplinary team.
A historical perspective on neurological and neuropsychiatric definitions
Authors: Berrios German E , Marková Ivana S
Published: February 2021

Taking a historical epistemological perspective, this chapter explores how neurology and neuropsychiatry were constructed. As a medical specialism developing in the 19th century, neurology resulted from the convergence of: (1) the term ‘neurology’; (2) a set of concepts; and (3) a list of disorders. Such a convergence was facilitated by changes in the manner in which the concepts of neuroses, central nervous system, and lesion were to be defined after 1860. Neuropsychiatry carries a less stable epistemology. Underpinned by the foundational claim that mental diseases are diseases of the brain, its meaning has changed pari passu with redefinitions of the concepts such as mind, mental symptom, cause, and meaning. In the UK, there is no agreed definition of neuropsychiatry either and hence what is currently known as ‘organic/biological psychiatry’ and the claim that psychiatry is just a subregion of neurology cannot be considered as coterminous.
Overview of common designs, measures of effect, and biases in neuroepidemiological studies
Authors: Bennett Derrick A
Published: February 2021

As there are now vast amounts of neurological research being published each year the ability to assimilate, critically appraise, and apply research findings has become essential. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the most commonly employed epidemiological study designs that are used in research on neurological disorders. The chapter discusses both descriptive and analytical epidemiological study designs and outlines what sorts of research questions are most appropriate for these types of design. A brief overview of the design and analysis of randomized controlled trials and the ability of observational and experimental epidemiology to assess causality is outlined. The chapter also summarizes for each study design: (1) the most appropriate effect size metric; (2) the biases that may occur and how to minimize the impact of these biases. Good and complete reporting of research findings is of paramount importance in order to translate evidence into practice.
Epidemiology of essential tremor
Authors: Louis Elan D
Published: February 2021

This chapter on essential tremor (ET) summarizes the current state of knowledge about the epidemiology of this chronic, progressive neurological disease. Case definition is particularly challenging in ET for a variety of reasons and there are several additional methodological considerations that complicate studies of the epidemiology of ET. The adjusted annual incidence rate of ET among persons >65 years old is 616/100,000. The crude prevalence of ET (all ages) is 0.4%, and among persons 60–65 and older, is 6.3%. Risk factors for ET include age and family history of ET. Several other potential risk factors have been studied, including environmental toxins (lead) and dietary exposures (harmane, ethanol). Cigarette smoking may be protective. The search for ET genes is ongoing. Collectively, the data suggest that the LINGO1 SNP rs9652490 confers a modest risk for ET. The identification of such environmental risk factors and susceptibility genes for ET is vitally important.
Epidemiology of bacterial and parasitic infections of the central nervous system
Authors: Newton Charles R
Published: February 2021

This chapter looks at the epidemiology of bacterial and parasitic infections of the central nervous system (CNS). Bacteria and parasites are important infections of the CNS, but the epidemiology has changed significantly over the last few decades with the introduction of vaccines; appearance of organisms resistant to antimicrobial and anti-parasitic drugs; increase in number of immunocompromised people from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and oncological conditions; and increased movement of people throughout the world. The CNS infections present with a multitude of symptoms and signs, which often overlap, making case definitions for epidemiological studies difficult. The main syndromes of CNS infections are meningitis, encephalitis, epilepsy, and paralysis. Most bacteria gain access to the CNS via blood, although scalp, ear, and oropharyngeal infections are possible routes of infection. The chapter then discusses acute bacterial meningitis, brain abscesses, ventriculitis, tuberculosis meningitis, malaria, cysticercosis, onchocerciasis, sparganosis, and paragonimiasis.
The coronary microcirculation and coronary microvascular dysfunction
Authors: Herscovici Romana , Noel Bairey Merz C.
Published: February 2021

The role of revascularization in the treatment of obstructive coronary artery disease is well established, and its impact on improving survival has been proven. Nevertheless, patients with signs and symptoms considered of cardiac origin but with no obstructive coronary artery disease on coronary angiography are increasingly seen. Initially described as a ‘paradox’ or cardiac syndrome X and subsequently defined as microvascular angina, angina-like chest pain and evidence of ischaemia with non-obstructive coronary artery disease, is the consequence of altered coronary microvascular response to various stimuli despite non-obstructed epicardial vessels.
Cardiac computed tomography
Authors: Liao Steve L.
Published: February 2021

Rapid technological advances have allowed for the application of computed tomography imaging for the evaluation of the heart. Cardiac computed tomography scanning is now a standard method to investigate the anatomical structure of the heart and, most commonly, the coronary vasculature, given the prevalence of coronary artery disease and its associated morbidity and mortality. Due to the heart’s constant motion and the relatively small luminal diameters of the coronary arteries, scanning the heart and coronaries by computed tomography presents unique challenges for image acquisition normally not encountered when imaging other anatomical areas.
Composite grafts
Authors: Tatoulis James , Buxton Brian F.
Published: February 2021

Composite grafts should be within the repertoire of every coronary surgeon. Validated in the early 1990s, they are used to accomplish multiple or total arterial revascularization, which achieves the best coronary revascularization results, either with two internal thoracic arteries or by a combination of an internal thoracic artery and a radial artery.
Fluid assessment and associated treatment
Authors: Baid Heather
Published: February 2021

This chapter explores the normal anatomy of the intravascular, interstitial, and intercellular fluid compartments, the mechanism of normal fluid homeostasis and compensatory mechanisms. The common causes of fluid deficit and fluid excess are highlighted alongside the role of fluid assessment and replacement using intravenous therapy using fluids or blood products. This also discussed with reference to the nurse’s role in evaluating fluid status. Finally, there is also a useful section on the metabolic emergencies of diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar syndrome.
Assessment and care of the patient with sepsis
Authors: Barrett Kevin
Published: February 2021

There has been considerable recent focus on sepsis in both the clinical arena and within the general public to raise awareness of the importance of early recognition of this potentially life-threatening condition. The early recognition of sepsis by ward nurses can both reduce progression of this lethal disease and improve survival for patients in hospital. This chapter focuses on definitions of sepsis and septic shock, physiological changes associated with inflammatory and cardiovascular responses to sepsis, and a clinical assessment framework to guide practice. There is also a discussion of the use of scoring systems and how to escalate support mechanisms for patients with sepsis and septic shock.
Palliative and end-of-life care
Authors: Sampson Elizabeth , Harrison Dening Karen
Published: February 2021

Our ageing population and changes in cause of death mean that increasing number of people will die in old age. In many countries, older people have had poor access to good-quality end-of-life care. Many will develop multiple comorbidities associated with age—dementia, mental health problems, and general frailty. Palliative care is an approach that aims to relieve suffering and take account of a person’s physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs as they near the end of life. Advanced dementia is now being perceived as a ‘terminal illness’. Interventions such as antibiotics and enteral tube feeding remain in use despite little evidence that they improve quality of life or other outcomes. A person-centred approach from a multi-disciplinary team is vital in providing good-quality end-of-life care in a range of settings. The acknowledgement of anticipatory grief and provision of bereavement support are vital for some family carers.
Ear, nose, and throat
Authors: Steventon Nicholas
Published: February 2021

This chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties explores the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialty. It outlines examination in the ENT in general and investigates each area in depth. The ear is explored including hearing tests, painful ears (otalgia), discharging ears, otitis media, and fluid in the middle ear. Deafness in childhood and adults is discussed, as well as tinnitus, acoustic neuroma, noise-induced hearing loss, and vertigo. The nose is explored, including the paranasal sinuses, nasal injury, foreign bodies, and nosebleed. The throat is investigated, including sore throat, stridor, hoarseness (dysphonia), dysphagia, cancer, palsy, neck lumps, and salivary glands. Dentistry for doctors is also explored.
Trauma
Authors: Clutton Juliet
Published: February 2021

This chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties explores trauma. It looks at describing an X-ray and whether a patient needs an X-ray or computed tomography scan. It discusses management and complications of fractures as well as complex regional pain syndromes. It explores trauma to the arm, shoulder, elbow, and forearm, as well as distal radial and ulnar fractures, and hand fractures and injuries. It reviews proximal femoral fractures and hip fractures in the elderly, as well as injuries to the knee, and ankle and foot strains and fractures. It describes injuries to the face, neck, and eye, as well as nerve injury, including testing peripheral nerve motor functions, dermatomes and peripheral nerves, nerve compression and syndromes, injuries to the brachial plexus, and spinal cord injury.
Doctors’ health & performance
Authors: Baldwin Andrew , Myers Gil
Published: February 2021

This chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties explores the subject of doctors’ health and performance. It discusses doctors’ mental health and how to look after it, and how to manage stress and recognize and avoid burnout. It investigates resilience, difficulties encountered by trainees, manipulative patients, and boundary setting. It explores the concept of being a good doctor, appraisal, revalidation, clinical governance, and managing uncertainty and risk, as well as organizations that can help, and an overview of some useful apps.
Returning migrants
Authors: Ventriglio Antonio , Kelly Matthew , Bhugra Dinesh
Published: February 2021

Although it is often not known what proportion of migrants return to their countries of origin, it can be hypothesized that as their reasons for return vary, the stresses on return will also vary. In addition, it is possible that their social support and social capital will have changed in their absence, which may affect their social support and social capital. The research on return migration is somewhat limited, but some studies indicate that levels of stress in returning migrants are high and can lead to the development of psychiatric disorders. In order to function well, they will have to review and re-establish their social contacts, as well as their social context. The clinical care and health services need to be aware of the mental and physical health needs of such individuals and appropriate interventions need to be in place.
The Foliar Microbiome Suggests that Fungal and Bacterial Agents May be Involved in the Beech Leaf Disease Pathosystem
Authors: Ewing Carrie J. , Slot Jason , Benítez María-Soledad , Rosa Cristina , Malacrinò Antonino , Bennett Alison , Bonello Enrico
Published: February 2021

Beech leaf disease (BLD) is a recently discovered disease that is causing severe damage to American beech (Fagus grandifolia) in northeastern North America. The recently described nematode Litylenchus crenatae subsp. mccannii was detected in BLD-affected foliage and may be associated with the disease. However, speculation on the direct role of the nematode in infection still remains. In this study, we profiled the microbial communities associated with asymptomatic, symptomatic, and naïve (control) American beech foliage by using a high-throughput sequence-based metabarcoding analysis of fungi, bacteria, phytoplasmas, and nematodes. We then used both a differential abundance analysis and indicator species analysis as well as several diversity metrics to try and discover microbes associated only with symptomatic foliage. To do so, we amplified the organism-specific phylogenetic informative regions of the 16S, 18S, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 regions using Illumina MiSeq. Our results detected the amplicon sequence variant (ASV) associated with the nematode L. crenatae subsp. mccannii but in all symptom types. However, four ASVs associated with the bacterial genera Wolbachia, Erwinia, Paenibacillus, and Pseudomonas and one ASV associated with the fungal genus Paraphaeosphaeria were detected only in symptomatic samples. In addition, we identified significant differences based on symptom type in both the α- and β-diversity indices for the bacterial and fungal communities. These results suggest that L. crenatae subsp. mccannii may not be fully responsible for BLD but, rather, that other microbes may be contributing to the syndrome, including the putative nematode endosymbiont Wolbachia sp.
High-Quality Genome Resource of Clonostachys rosea Strain CanS41 by Oxford Nanopore Long-Read Sequencing
Authors: Wang Haoming , Dong Yongrong , Liao Weixue , Zhang Xin , Wang Qinhu , Li Guoqing , Xu Jin-Rong , Liu Huiquan
Published: February 2021

Clonostachys rosea is a necrotrophic mycoparasitic fungus with excellent biological control ability against numerous fungal plant pathogens. Here, we performed genomic sequencing of C. rosea strain CanS41 using Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology. We generated a high-quality genome assembly (>99.99% accuracy), which comprised 26 contigs containing 60.68 Mb sequences with a GC content of 48.55% and a repeat content of 8.38%. The N50 contig length is 3.02 Mb. In total, 20,818 protein-coding genes were identified and functionally annotated. Genes encoding secreted proteins and carbohydrate-active enzymes as well as secondary metabolic gene clusters were also identified and analyzed. In summary, the high-quality genome assembly and gene annotation provided here will allow further exploration of biological functions and enhance biological control ability of C. rosea.
Aerophototrophica crusticola gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from desert biocrusts
Authors: Tang Kai , Yang Li-Hua , Chen Yu-Ping , Tao Yu , Feng Fu-Ying , Meng Jian-Yu
Published: February 2021

A pink-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic bacterial strain MIMtkB3T, was isolated from moss crusts in Hunshandake desert of China. Cells grew at 15–45 °C (optimum of 28 °C), at pH of 6.0–8.5 (optimum of 7.0) and with 0–1.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum of 0 %). The strain could biosynthesize the green-coloured pigment bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl a). The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10, while C18 : 1 ω7c and C18 : 1 2OH were the major fatty acids. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminophospholipid, one unidentified phospholipid, three unidentified glycolipid and one unidentified lipid were the major polar lipids. Strain MIMtkB3T was most closely related to

Oleisolibacter albus

NAU-10T,

Niveispirillum fermenti

CC-LY736T, and

Rhodocista centenaria

SW of the family

Rhodospirillaceae

with 16S rRNA gene similarities of 93.09, 92.02 and 91.73%, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content calculated on complete genome sequencing was 69.3 mol%. The average nucleotide identity between strain MIMtkB3T and its closely related type strains in

Rhodospirillaceae

was below 77.96 % and digital DNA–DNA hybridization lower than 24.70 %. Full light utilization pathway of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria was identified in the genome. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain MIMtkB3T represents a novel genus of the family

Rhodospirillaceae

, for which the name Aerophototrophica crusticola gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MIMtkB3T (=KCTC 42633T=MCCC 1K00570T).