Erratum: Emittance Preservation in an Aberration-Free Active Plasma Lens [Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 194801 (2018)].

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.194801.

Emittance Preservation in an Aberration-Free Active Plasma Lens.

Active plasma lensing is a compact technology for strong focusing of charged particle beams, which has gained considerable interest for use in novel accelerator schemes. While providing kT/m focusing gradients, active plasma lenses can have aberrations caused by a radially nonuniform plasma temperature profile, leading to degradation of the beam quality. We present the first direct measurement of this aberration, consistent with theory, and show that it can be fully suppressed by changing from a light gas species (helium) to a heavier gas species (argon). Based on this result, we demonstrate emittance preservation for an electron beam focused by an argon-filled active plasma lens.

The anion study: effect of different crystalloid solutions on acid base balance, physiology, and survival in a rodent model of acute isovolaemic haemodilution.

BACKGROUND: Commercially available crystalloid solutions used for volume replacement do not exactly match the balance of electrolytes found in plasma. Large volume administration may lead to electrolyte imbalance and potential harm. We hypothesised that haemodilution using solutions containing different anions would result in diverse biochemical effects, particularly on acid-base status, and different outcomes. METHODS: Anaesthetised, fluid-resuscitated, male Wistar rats underwent isovolaemic haemodilution by removal of 10% blood volume every 15 min, followed by replacement with one of three crystalloid solutions based on acetate, lactate, or chloride. Fluids were administered in a protocolised manner to achieve euvolaemia based on echocardiography-derived left ventrical volumetric measures. Removed blood was sampled for plasma ions, acid-base status, haemoglobin, and glucose. This cycle was repeated at 15-min intervals until death. The primary endpoint was change in plasma bicarbonate within each fluid group. Secondary endpoints included time to death and cardiac function. RESULTS: During haemodilution, chloride-treated rats showed significantly greater decreases in plasma bicarbonate and strong ion difference levels compared with acetate- and lactate-treated rats. Time to death, total volume of fluid administered: chloride group 56 (3) ml, lactate group 62 (3) ml, and acetate group 65 (3) ml; haemodynamic and tissue oxygenation changes were, however, similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: With progressive haemodilution, resuscitation with a chloride-based solution induced more acidosis compared with lactate- and acetate-based solutions, but outcomes were similar. No short-term impact was seen from hyperchloraemia in this model.

Protection of cerebral microcirculation, mitochondrial function, and electrocortical activity by small-volume resuscitation with terlipressin in a rat model of haemorrhagic shock.

BACKGROUND: During early treatment of haemorrhagic shock, cerebral perfusion pressure can be restored by small-volume resuscitation with vasopressors. Whether this therapy is improved with additional fluid remains unknown. We assessed the value of terlipressin and lactated Ringer's solution (LR) on early recovery of microcirculation, tissue oxygenation, and mitochondrial and electrophysiological function in the rat cerebral cortex. METHODS: Animals treated with LR replacing three times (3LR) the volume bled (n=26), terlipressin (n=27), terlipressin plus 1LR (n=26), 2LR (n=16), or 3LR (n=15) were compared with untreated (n=36) and sham-operated rats (n=17). In vivo confocal microscopy was used to assess cortical capillary perfusion, changes in tissue oxygen concentration, and mitochondrial membrane potential and redox state. Electrophysiological function was assessed by cortical somatosensory evoked potentials, spinal cord dorsum potential, and peripheral electromyography. RESULTS: Compared with sham treatment, haemorrhagic shock reduced the mean (SD) area of perfused vessels [82% (sd 10%) vs 38% (12%); P<0.001] and impaired oxygen concentration, mitochondrial redox state [99% (4%) vs 59% (15%) of baseline; P<0.001], and somatosensory evoked potentials [97% (13%) vs 27% (19%) of baseline]. Administration of terlipressin plus 1LR or 2LR was able to recover these measures, but terlipressin plus 3LR or 3LR alone were not as effective. Spinal cord dorsum potential was preserved in all groups, but no therapy protected electromyographic function. CONCLUSIONS: Resuscitation from haemorrhagic shock using terlipressin with small-volume LR was superior to high-volume LR, with regard to cerebral microcirculation, and mitochondrial and electrophysiological functions.

The effect of holes in long-lasting insecticidal nets on malaria in Malawi: results from a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are a cornerstone of malaria prevention. Holes develop in LLINs over time and compromise their physical integrity, but how holes affect malaria transmission risk is not well known. METHODS: After a nationwide mass LLIN distribution in July 2012, a study was conducted to assess the relationship between LLIN damage and malaria. From March to September 2013, febrile children ages 6-59 months who consistently slept under LLINs (every night for 2 weeks before illness onset) were enrolled in a case-control study at Machinga District Hospital outpatient department. Cases were positive for Plasmodium falciparum asexual parasites by microscopy while controls were negative. Digital photographs of participants' LLINs were analysed using an image-processing programme to measure holes. Total hole area was classified by quartiles and according to the World Health Organization's proportionate hole index (pHI) cut-offs [< 79 cm2 (good), 80-789 cm2 (damaged), and > 790 cm2 (too torn)]. Number of holes by location and size, and total hole area, were compared between case and control LLINs using non-parametric analyses and logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 248 LLINs analysed, 97 (39%) were from cases. Overall, 86% of LLINs had at least one hole. The median number of holes of any size was 9 [interquartile range (IQR) 3, 22], and most holes were located in the lower halves of the nets [median 7 (IQR 2, 16)]. There were no differences in number or location of holes between LLINs used by cases and controls. The median total hole area was 10 cm2 (IQR 2, 125) for control LLINs and 8 cm2 (IQR 2, 47) for case LLINs (p = 0.10). Based on pHI, 109 (72%) control LLINs and 83 (86%) case LLINs were in "good" condition. Multivariable modeling showed no association between total hole area and malaria, controlling for child age, caregiver education, and iron versus thatched roof houses. CONCLUSIONS: LLIN holes were not associated with increased odds of malaria in this study. However, most of the LLINs were in relatively good condition 1 year after distribution. Future studies should examine associations between LLIN holes and malaria risk with more damaged nets.

In Vivo Imaging of Flavoprotein Fluorescence During Hypoxia Reveals the Importance of Direct Arterial Oxygen Supply to Cerebral Cortex Tissue.

Live imaging of mitochondrial function is crucial to understand the important role played by these organelles in a wide range of diseases. The mitochondrial redox potential is a particularly informative measure of mitochondrial function, and can be monitored using the endogenous green fluorescence of oxidized mitochondrial flavoproteins. Here, we have observed flavoprotein fluorescence in the exposed murine cerebral cortex in vivo using confocal imaging; the mitochondrial origin of the signal was confirmed using agents known to manipulate mitochondrial redox potential. The effects of cerebral oxygenation on flavoprotein fluorescence were determined by manipulating the inspired oxygen concentration. We report that flavoprotein fluorescence is sensitive to reductions in cortical oxygenation, such that reductions in inspired oxygen resulted in loss of flavoprotein fluorescence with the exception of a preserved 'halo' of signal in periarterial regions. The findings are consistent with reports that arteries play an important role in supplying oxygen directly to tissue in the cerebral cortex, maintaining mitochondrial function.

The effectiveness of long-lasting, insecticide-treated nets in a setting of pyrethroid resistance: a case-control study among febrile children 6 to 59 months of age in Machinga District, Malawi.

BACKGROUND: The escalating level of mosquito resistance to pyrethroid insecticides threatens the effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) for malaria control in Malawi. An evaluation of the effectiveness of ITNs for preventing malaria in children aged 6-59 months old, after 1 year of mass distribution of LLINs was conducted in Machinga District, Malawi, an area of moderate pyrethroid resistance. METHODS: A facility-based, case-control study among children 6-59 months was conducted in an area of pyrethroid resistance between March and September 2013 in Machinga District. Cases and controls were children with fever who sought care from the same hospital and tested positive and negative, respectively, for malaria parasites by microscopy. RESULTS: A high proportion of both cases (354 of 404 or 87.6 %) and controls (660 of 778 or 84.8 %) slept under an ITN the night before the survey. In univariable logistic regression, older age (24-59 months versus 6-23 months, p < 0.001), sleeping on the floor versus a mattress (p < 0.001), and open versus closed house eaves (p = 0.001) were associated with increased odds of malaria, whilst secondary education of the caretaker, having windows on multiple walls, and being in the least poor wealth quintile (p < 0.001 for each) reduced the odds of malaria; ITN use was not associated with malaria (p = 0.181). In multivariable analysis, older age (p < 0.001) and secondary education of the caregiver (p = 0.011) were the only factors significantly associated with malaria. CONCLUSION: This study did not find a significant personal protective effect of ITNs. However, high use of ITNs in the community and recent findings of lower malaria incidence in ITN users compared to bed net non-users from a cohort study in the same area suggest that ITNs provide community protection to both users and non-users alike in this area.

Microcirculatory dysfunction and resuscitation: why, when, and how.

Cardiovascular resuscitation is a cornerstone of critical care practice. Experimental advances have increased our understanding of the role of the microcirculation in shock states and the development of multi-organ failure. Strategies that target the microcirculation in such conditions, while theoretically appealing, have not yet been shown to impact upon clinical outcomes. This review outlines the current understanding of microcirculatory dysfunction in septic, cardiogenic, and hypovolaemic shock and outlines available treatments and strategies with reference to their effects upon the microcirculation.

Pooled PCR testing strategy and prevalence estimation of submicroscopic infections using Bayesian latent class models in pregnant women receiving intermittent preventive treatment at Machinga District Hospital, Malawi, 2010.

BACKGROUND: Low malaria parasite densities in pregnancy are a diagnostic challenge. PCR provides high sensitivity and specificity in detecting low density of parasites, but cost and technical requirements limit its application in resources-limited settings. Pooling samples for PCR detection was explored to estimate prevalence of submicroscopic malaria infection in pregnant women at delivery. Previous work uses gold-standard based methods to calculate sensitivity and specificity of tests, creating a challenge when newer methodologies are substantially more sensitive than the gold standard. Thus prevalence was estimated using Bayesian latent class models (LCMs) in this study. METHODS: Nested PCR (nPCR) for the 18S rRNA gene subunit of Plasmodium falciparum was conducted to detect malaria infection in microscopy-negative Malawian women on IPTp. Two-step sample pooling used dried blood spot samples (DBSs) collected from placenta or periphery at delivery. Results from nPCR and histology as well as previously published data were used to construct LCMs to estimate assay sensitivity and specificity. Theoretical confidence intervals for prevalence of infection were calculated for two-step and one-step pooling strategies. RESULTS: Of 617 microscopy-negative Malawian women, 39 (6.3%) were identified as actively infected by histology while 52 (8.4%) were positive by nPCR. One hundred forty (22.7%) individuals had past infection assessed by histology. With histology as a reference, 72% of women in the active infection group, 7.1% in the past infection group and 3.2% in histology-negative group were nPCR positive. Using latent class models without a gold standard, histology had a median sensitivity of 49.7% and specificity of 97.6% for active infection while PCR had a median sensitivity of 96.0% and specificity of 99.1%. The true prevalence of active infection was estimated at 8.0% (CI: 5.8-10.5%) from PCR. PCR also had similar sensitivity for detecting either peripheral or placental malaria for submicroscopic infections. One-step pooling would give similar confidence intervals for pool sizes less than 20 while reducing the number of tests performed. CONCLUSIONS: Pooled nPCR testing was a sensitive and resource-efficient strategy and LCMs provided precise prevalence estimates of submicroscopic infections. Compared to two-step pooling, one-step pooling could provide similar prevalence estimates at population levels with many fewer tests required.

Component reductions in oxygen delivery generate variable haemodynamic and stress hormone responses.

BACKGROUND: In clinical practice, global oxygen delivery (DO2) is often considered as a whole; however pathological and adaptive responses after a decrease in individual constituents of the DO2 equation (cardiac output, haemoglobin, oxyhaemoglobin saturation) are likely to be diverse. We hypothesized that an equivalent decrease in DO2 after reductions in each separate component of the equation would result in different haemodynamic, tissue oxygenation, and stress hormonal responses. METHODS: Anaesthetized, fluid-resuscitated male Wistar rats were subjected to circulatory, anaemic, or hypoxic hypoxia (by haemorrhage, isovolaemic haemodilution, and breathing a hypoxic gas mix, respectively), produced either rapidly over 5 min or graded over 30 min, to a targeted 50% decrease in global oxygen delivery. Sham-operated animals acted as controls. Measurements were made of haemodynamics, skeletal muscle tissue oxygen tension, blood gas analysis, and circulating stress hormone levels. RESULTS: Whereas haemorrhage generated the largest decrease in cardiac output, and the greatest stress hormone response, haemodilution had the most marked effect on arterial pressure. In contrast, rapid hypoxaemia produced a minor impact on global haemodynamics yet induced the greatest decrease in regional oxygenation. A greater degree of hyperlactataemia was observed with graded insults compared with those administered rapidly. CONCLUSIONS: Decreasing global oxygen delivery, achieved by targeted reductions in its separate components, induces varying circulatory, tissue oxygen tension, and stress hormone responses. We conclude that not all oxygen delivery is the same; this disparity should be emphasized in classical teaching and re-evaluated in patient management.

Ex vivo restimulation of human PBMC expands a CD3+CD4-CD8- γδ+ T cell population that can confound the evaluation of CD4 and CD8 T cell responses to vaccination.

The measurement of vaccine-induced humoral and CD4(+) and CD8(+) cellular immune responses represents an important correlate of vaccine efficacy. Accurate and reliable assays evaluating such responses are therefore critical during the clinical development phase of vaccines. T cells play a pivotal role both in coordinating the adaptive and innate immune responses and as effectors. During the assessment of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in subjects participating in a large-scale influenza vaccine trial, we identified the expansion of an IFN-γ-producing CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) γδ (+) T cell population in the peripheral blood of 90/610 (15%) healthy subjects. The appearance of CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) γδ (+) T cells in the blood of subjects was transient and found to be independent of the study cohort, vaccine group, subject gender and ethnicity, and ex vivo restimulation conditions. Although the function of this population and relevance to vaccination are unclear, their inclusion in the total vaccine-specific T-cell response has the potential to confound data interpretation. It is thus recommended that when evaluating the induction of IFN-γ-producing CD4(+) and CD8(+) immune responses following vaccination, the CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) γδ (+) T cells are either excluded or separately enumerated from the overall frequency determination.

Microvascular and macrovascular flow are uncoupled in early polymicrobial sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular dysfunction is considered to play an important pathophysiological role in sepsis. We addressed the hypothesis that macrovascular and microvascular flow are uncoupled in early sepsis, using a rodent model with well-characterized haemodynamic and biochemical markers of severity and subsequent mortality. METHODS: Male Wistar rats received either an intraperitoneal injection of faecal slurry (sepsis, n=14) or sterile saline (sham, n=6). Identical i.v. fluid resuscitation regimens were administered 2 h later through tethered lines while conscious. At 6 h post-sepsis and in sham-operated controls, sidestream dark-field microvascular imaging of the left vastus lateralis muscle and transthoracic echocardiography were undertaken, again under anaesthesia. Non-operated rats (naive; n=5) served as negative controls. Mild and severe sepsis were defined a priori, based on the established predictive relationship between stroke volume and mortality in this model. RESULTS: Compared with sham-operated animals, there was a 19 (12-19)% and 62 (54-66)% decline in cardiac output in mild (n=8) and severe sepsis (n=6), respectively [median (inter-quartile range), P<0.0001]. Blinded assessment of microvascular imaging revealed that the microvascular flow index (MFI) was impaired in sepsis and in sham-operated controls (P<0.01), regardless of the degree of reduction in stroke volume and cardiac output. The MFI heterogeneity index revealed that only naive rats displayed a normal microvascular flow pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Microvascular flow is impaired during early sepsis and uncoupled from macrovascular function. The severity of macrovascular/cardiovascular compromise in early sepsis is not reflected by microvascular changes. Furthermore, surgery alone causes significant microvascular derangement, highlighting the importance of appropriate control subjects when using this technique.

Pharmacological optimization of tissue perfusion.

After fluid resuscitation, vasoactive drug treatment represents the major cornerstone for correcting any major impairment of the circulation. However, debate still rages as to the choice of agent, dose, timing, targets, and monitoring modalities that should optimally be used to benefit the patient yet, at the same time, minimize harm. This review highlights these areas and some new pharmacological agents that broaden our therapeutic options.

Phonon-plasmon coupled modes in GaN.

The phonon lifetime in GaN is known to exhibit a dependence on electron density. Recent noise measurements have also shown the lifetime to be temperature dependent. The source of these dependences is the coupling of the phonon and plasmon populations through the dielectric function. The effect of this anharmonicity is illustrated by comparing the frequency and wavevector dependent coupled-mode momentum relaxation rate with the phonon momentum relaxation rate obtained by Callen. A simple model that includes the anharmonic interaction and phonon migration yields phonon lifetimes depending on both electron density and temperature.

Benign mucous membrane pemphigoid of the upper aero-digestive tract: rare paraneoplastic syndrome presentation in renal cell carcinoma.

Benign mucous membrane pemphigoid is a rare autoimmune disorder affecting the upper aero-digestive tract and conjunctivae. This is a case presentation of benign mucous membrane pemphigoid affecting the oral mucosa, pharynx, oesophagus and larynx, leading to cicatricial lesions in the pharynx and larynx, causing dysphagia, hoarseness and stridor. The alternative forms of management for laryngeal scarring due to this disease are explained. The patient was later diagnosed with advanced renal cell carcinoma, raising the possibility of cicatricial pemphigoid manifesting as a paraneoplastic syndrome of underlying renal cell carcinoma.

A compact, low cost Marx bank for generating capillary discharge plasmas.

We describe in detail a low power Compact Marx Bank (CMB) circuit that can provide 20 kV, 500 A pulses of approximately 100-200 ns duration. One application is the generation of capillary discharge plasmas of density ≈1018 cm-3 used in laser plasma accelerators. The CMB is triggered with a high speed solid state switch and gives a high voltage output pulse with a ns scale rise time into a 50 Ω load (coaxial cable) with <4 ns voltage jitter. Its small size (10 cm × 25 cm × 5 cm) means that it can be placed right next to the capillary discharge in the target chamber to avoid the need to impedance match. The electrical energy required per discharge is <1 J, and the CMB can be run at shot repetition rates of ≳1 Hz. This low power requirement means that the circuit can easily be powered by a small lead acid battery and, therefore, can be floated relative to laboratory earth. The CMB is readily scalable and pulses >45 kV are demonstrated in air discharges.

Hearts deficient in both Mfn1 and Mfn2 are protected against acute myocardial infarction.

Mitochondria alter their shape by undergoing cycles of fusion and fission. Changes in mitochondrial morphology impact on the cellular response to stress, and their interactions with other organelles such as the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Inhibiting mitochondrial fission can protect the heart against acute ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the role of the mitochondrial fusion proteins, Mfn1 and Mfn2, in the response of the adult heart to acute I/R injury is not clear, and is investigated in this study. To determine the effect of combined Mfn1/Mfn2 ablation on the susceptibility to acute myocardial I/R injury, cardiac-specific ablation of both Mfn1 and Mfn2 (DKO) was initiated in mice aged 4-6 weeks, leading to knockout of both these proteins in 8-10-week-old animals. This resulted in fragmented mitochondria (electron microscopy), decreased mitochondrial respiratory function (respirometry), and impaired myocardial contractile function (echocardiography). In DKO mice subjected to in vivo regional myocardial ischemia (30 min) followed by 24 h reperfusion, myocardial infarct size (IS, expressed as a % of the area-at-risk) was reduced by 46% compared with wild-type (WT) hearts. In addition, mitochondria from DKO animals had decreased MPTP opening susceptibility (assessed by Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial swelling), compared with WT hearts. Mfn2 is a key mediator of mitochondrial/SR tethering, and accordingly, the loss of Mfn2 in DKO hearts reduced the number of interactions measured between these organelles (quantified by proximal ligation assay), attenuated mitochondrial calcium overload (Rhod2 confocal microscopy), and decreased reactive oxygen species production (DCF confocal microscopy) in response to acute I/R injury. No differences in isolated mitochondrial ROS emissions (Amplex Red) were detected in response to Ca(2+) and Antimycin A, further implicating disruption of mitochondria/SR tethering as the protective mechanism. In summary, despite apparent mitochondrial dysfunction, hearts deficient in both Mfn1 and Mfn2 are protected against acute myocardial infarction due to impaired mitochondria/SR tethering.

Pulmonary strongyloidiasis and lung abscess.

We report a case of lung abscess associated with pulmonary strongyloidiasis which occurred in an asthmatic patient three years after migrating to Australia from Burma where strongyloidiasis is endemic. Thiabendazole was effective in eradicating the Strongyloides infection.

A comparison of two methods for identifying surgical site infections following orthopaedic surgery.

Many infection control practitioners (ICPs) dedicate a significant amount of time and resources to surveillance of surgical site infections (SSIs). Alternative surveillance methods need to be explored to reflect the changes to the healthcare system and the increasing economic constraints placed on infection control units. This study was undertaken to compare two methods of identifying SSIs in orthopaedic surgery. Surveillance data collected routinely by ICPs was compared with data obtained from the International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) coding in the medical record. Concordant results between the two methods were obtained. The use of ICD-9-CM coding, as stored in hospital patient administration system databases, has the ability to enhance routine surgical site surveillance programmes. These systems can be used as the basis for screening large data sets for SSIs and identifying where SSIs resulted in patient re-admission. A reduction in the duplication of data and time spent by the ICP on the collection of information for surveillance purposes can be achieved.