Approaching the motional ground state of a 10-kg object.

The motion of a mechanical object, even a human-sized object, should be governed by the rules of quantum mechanics. Coaxing them into a quantum state is, however, difficult because the thermal environment masks any quantum signature of the object's motion. The thermal environment also masks the effects of proposed modifications of quantum mechanics at large mass scales. We prepared the center-of-mass motion of a 10-kilogram mechanical oscillator in a state with an average phonon occupation of 10.8. The reduction in temperature, from room temperature to 77 nanokelvin, is commensurate with an 11 orders-of-magnitude suppression of quantum back-action by feedback and a 13 orders-of-magnitude increase in the mass of an object prepared close to its motional ground state. Our approach will enable the possibility of probing gravity on massive quantum systems.

Impact of Sepsis Flow Chip, a novelty fast microbiology method, in the treatment of bacteremia caused by Gram-negative bacilli.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the information provided by the new Sepsis Chip Flow system (SFC) and other fast microbiological techniques on the selection of the appropriate antimicrobial treatment by the clinical researchers of an antimicrobial stewardship team. METHODS: Two experienced clinical researchers performed the theoretical exercise of independently selecting the treatment for patients diagnosed by bacteremia due to bacilli gram negative (BGN). At first, the clinicians had only available the clinical characteristics of 74 real patients. Sequentially, information regarding the Gram stain, MALDI-TOF, and SFC from Vitro were provided. Initially, the researchers prescribed an antimicrobial therapy based on the clinical data, later these data were complementing with information from microbiological techniques, and the clinicians made their decisions again. RESULTS: The data provided by the Gram stain reduced the number of patients prescribed with combined treatments (for clinician 1, from 23 to 7, and for clinician 2, from 28 to 12), but the use of carbapenems remained constant. In line with this, the data obtained by the MALDI-TOF also decreased the combined treatment, and the use of carbapenems remained unchanged. By contrast, the data on antimicrobial resistance provided by the SFC reduced the carbapenems treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From the theoretical model the Gram stain and the MALDI-TOF results achieved a reduction in the combined treatment. However, the new system tested (SFC), due to the resistance mechanism data provided, not only reduced the combined treatment, it also decreased the prescription of the carbapenems.

Frequency-Dependent Squeezing for Advanced LIGO.

The first detection of gravitational waves by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in 2015 launched the era of gravitational-wave astronomy. The quest for gravitational-wave signals from objects that are fainter or farther away impels technological advances to realize ever more sensitive detectors. Since 2019, one advanced technique, the injection of squeezed states of light, is being used to improve the shot-noise limit to the sensitivity of the Advanced LIGO detectors, at frequencies above ∼50 Hz. Below this frequency, quantum backaction, in the form of radiation pressure induced motion of the mirrors, degrades the sensitivity. To simultaneously reduce shot noise at high frequencies and quantum radiation pressure noise at low frequencies requires a quantum noise filter cavity with low optical losses to rotate the squeezed quadrature as a function of frequency. We report on the observation of frequency-dependent squeezed quadrature rotation with rotation frequency of 30 Hz, using a 16-m-long filter cavity. A novel control scheme is developed for this frequency-dependent squeezed vacuum source, and the results presented here demonstrate that a low-loss filter cavity can achieve the squeezed quadrature rotation necessary for the next planned upgrade to Advanced LIGO, known as "A+."

Quantum-Enhanced Advanced LIGO Detectors in the Era of Gravitational-Wave Astronomy.

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) has been directly detecting gravitational waves from compact binary mergers since 2015. We report on the first use of squeezed vacuum states in the direct measurement of gravitational waves with the Advanced LIGO H1 and L1 detectors. This achievement is the culmination of decades of research to implement squeezed states in gravitational-wave detectors. During the ongoing O3 observation run, squeezed states are improving the sensitivity of the LIGO interferometers to signals above 50 Hz by up to 3 dB, thereby increasing the expected detection rate by 40% (H1) and 50% (L1).

Protein expression parallels thermal tolerance and ecologic changes in the diversification of a diving beetle species complex.

Physiological changes associated with evolutionary and ecological processes such as diversification, range expansion or speciation are still incompletely understood, especially for non-model species. Here we study differences in protein expression in response to temperature in a western Mediterranean diving beetle species complex, using two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis with one Moroccan and one Iberian population each of Agabus ramblae and Agabus brunneus. We identified proteins with significant expression differences after thermal treatments comparing them with a reference EST library generated from one of the species of the complex (A. ramblae). The colonisation during the Middle Pleistocene of the Iberian peninsula by A. ramblae, where maximum temperatures and seasonality are lower than in the ancestral north African range, was associated with changes in the response to 27 °C in proteins related to energy metabolism. The subsequent speciation of A. brunneus from within populations of Iberian A. ramblae was associated with changes in the expression of several stress-related proteins (mostly chaperons) when exposed to 4 °C. These changes are in agreement with the known tolerance to lower temperatures of A. brunneus, which occupies a larger geographical area with a wider range of climatic conditions. In both cases, protein expression changes paralleled the evolution of thermal tolerance and the climatic conditions experienced by the species. However, although the colonisation of the Iberian peninsula did not result in morphological change, the speciation process of A. brunneus within Iberia involved genetic isolation and substantial differences in male genitalia and body size and shape.

High potential of symbiotic interactions between native mycorrhizal fungi and the exotic tree Eucalyptus camaldulensis for phytostabilization of metal-contaminated arid soils.

Waste dumps generated by mining activities contain heavy metals that are dispersed into areas leading to significant environmental contamination. The objectives of this study were (i) to survey native plants and their associated AM fungal communities from waste soils in a Moroccan mine site and (ii) to follow Eucalyptus growth in soil collected from the waste-mine. AM spores from native plant species were collected from the mining site and the surrounding uncontaminated areas were multiplied and inoculated onto Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The results showed that (i) the native plant species recorded in the waste did not show an active metal uptake, (ii) the selected native plant species are associated with AM mycorrhizal fungi and (iii) the use of AM fungi adapted to these drastic conditions can improve the growth of the fast-growing tree, E. camaldulensis and its tolerance to high soil Cu content. In conclusion, it is suggested that in order to define efficient low-cost phytostabilization processes, the use of native resources (i.e., mixtures of native mycorrhizal fungi) in combination with fast-growing tree species such as Eucalyptus, could be used to optimize the establishment of a permanent cover plant in contaminated areas.

Emergence of KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Uruguay: infection control and molecular characterization.

We describe the first outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-KP), the infection control measures adopted and the shift in resistance patterns of isolates during antibiotic treatment. The ST258 KPC-KP strain exhibited a multiresistant antibiotic phenotype including co-resistance to gentamycin, colistin and tigecycline intermediate susceptibility. Isolates before and after treatment had different behaviour concerning their antibiotic susceptibility and the population analysis profile study. A progressive increase in the aminoglycosides (acquiring amicacin resistance) and ß-lactam MICs, and a decreased susceptibility to fosfomycin was observed throughout the administration of combined antimicrobial regimens including meropenem. A high meropenem resistance KPC-KP homogeneous population (MIC 256 Jg/mL), could arise from the meropenem heterogeneous low-level resistance KPC-KP population (MIC 8 Jg/mL), by the selective pressure of the prolonged meropenem therapy. The kpc gene was inserted in a Tn4401 isoform a, and no transconjugants were detected. The core measures adopted were successful to prevent evolution towards resistance dissemination.

Differing courses of genetic evolution of Bradyrhizobium inoculants as revealed by long-term molecular tracing in Acacia mangium plantations.

Introducing nitrogen-fixing bacteria as an inoculum in association with legume crops is a common practice in agriculture. However, the question of the evolution of these introduced microorganisms remains crucial, both in terms of microbial ecology and agronomy. We explored this question by analyzing the genetic and symbiotic evolution of two Bradyrhizobium strains inoculated on Acacia mangium in Malaysia and Senegal 15 and 5 years, respectively, after their introduction. Based on typing of several loci, we showed that these two strains, although closely related and originally sampled in Australia, evolved differently. One strain was recovered in soil with the same five loci as the original isolate, whereas the symbiotic cluster of the other strain was detected with no trace of the three housekeeping genes of the original inoculum. Moreover, the nitrogen fixation efficiency was variable among these isolates (either recombinant or not), with significantly high, low, or similar efficiencies compared to the two original strains and no significant difference between recombinant and nonrecombinant isolates. These data suggested that 15 years after their introduction, nitrogen-fixing bacteria remain in the soil but that closely related inoculant strains may not evolve in the same way, either genetically or symbiotically. In a context of increasing agronomical use of microbial inoculants (for biological control, nitrogen fixation, or plant growth promotion), this result feeds the debate on the consequences associated with such practices.

Genetic diversity of symbiotic Bradyrhizobium elkanii populations recovered from inoculated and non-inoculated Acacia mangium field trials in Brazil.

Acacia mangium is a legume tree native to Australasia. Since the eighties, it has been introduced into many tropical countries, especially in a context of industrial plantations. Many field trials have been set up to test the effects of controlled inoculation with selected symbiotic bacteria versus natural colonization with indigenous strains. In the introduction areas, A. mangium trees spontaneously nodulate with local and often ineffective bacteria. When inoculated, the persistence of inoculants and possible genetic recombination with local strains remain to be explored. The aim of this study was to describe the genetic diversity of bacteria spontaneously nodulating A. mangium in Brazil and to evaluate the persistence of selected strains used as inoculants. Three different sites, several hundred kilometers apart, were studied, with inoculated and non-inoculated plots in two of them. Seventy-nine strains were isolated from nodules and sequenced on three housekeeping genes (glnII, dnaK and recA) and one symbiotic gene (nodA). All but one of the strains belonged to the Bradyrhizobium elkanii species. A single case of housekeeping gene transfer was detected among the 79 strains, suggesting an extremely low rate of recombination within B. elkanii, whereas the nodulation gene nodA was found to be frequently transferred. The fate of the inoculant strains varied depending on the site, with a complete disappearance in one case, and persistence in another. We compared our results with the sister species Bradyrhizobium japonicum, both in terms of population genetics and inoculant strain destiny.

The exotic legume tree species Acacia holosericea alters microbial soil functionalities and the structure of the arbuscular mycorrhizal community.

The response of microbial functional diversity as well as its resistance to stress or disturbances caused by the introduction of an exotic tree species, Acacia holosericea, ectomycorrhized or not with Pisolithus albus, was examined. The results show that this ectomycorrhizal fungus promotes drastically the growth of this fast-growing tree species in field conditions after 7 years of plantation. Compared to the crop soil surrounding the A. holosericea plantation, this exotic tree species, associated or not with the ectomycorrhizal symbiont, induced strong modifications in soil microbial functionalities (assessed by measuring the patterns of in situ catabolic potential of microbial communities) and reduced soil resistance in response to increasing stress or disturbance (salinity, temperature, and freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles). In addition, A. holosericea strongly modified the structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus communities. These results show clearly that exotic plants may be responsible for important changes in soil microbiota affecting the structure and functions of microbial communities.

Improvement of Cupressus atlantica Gaussen growth by inoculation with native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

AIMS: The study aimed to determine whether inoculation with native arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi could improve survival and growth of seedlings in degraded soils of Morocco. METHODS AND RESULTS: Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of Cupressus atlantica trees in the N'Fis valley (Haut Atlas, Morocco). AM spores were extracted from the soil, identified and this mixture of native AM fungi was propagated on maize for 12 weeks on a sterilized soil to enrich the fungal inoculum. Then C. atlantica seedlings were inoculated with and without (control) mycorrhizal maize roots, cultured in glasshouse conditions and further, transplanted into the field. The experiment was a randomized block design with one factor and three replication blocks. The results showed that a high AM fungal diversity was associated with C. atlantica; native AM fungi inoculation was very effective on the growth of C. atlantica seedlings in glasshouse conditions and this plant growth stimulation was maintained for 1 year after outplanting. CONCLUSIONS: Inoculation of C. atlantica with AM fungi increased growth and survival in greenhouse and field. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The data indicate that use of native species of AM fungi may accelerate reforestation of degraded soils. Further studies have to be performed to determine the persistence of these mycorrhizae for a longer period of plantation and to measure the effects of this microbial inoculation on soil biofunctioning.

Responses of soil microbial catabolic diversity to arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation and soil disinfection.

Although it is usually admitted that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are key components in soil bio-functioning, little is known on the response of microbial functional diversity to AM inoculation. The aims of the present study were to determine the influence of Glomus intraradices inoculum densities on plant growth and soil microflora functional diversity in autoclaved soil or non-disinfected soil. Microbial diversity of soil treatments was assessed by measuring the patterns of in situ catabolic potential of microbial communities. The soil disinfection increased sorghum growth, but lowered catabolic evenness (4.8) compared to that recorded in the non-disinfected soil (6.5). G. intraradices inoculation induced a higher plant growth in the autoclaved soil than in the non-disinfected soil. This AM effect was positively related to inoculum density. Catabolic evenness and richness were positively correlated with the number of inoculated AM propagules in the autoclaved soil, but negatively correlated in the non-disinfected soil. In addition, after soil disinfection and AM inoculation, these microbial functionality indicators had higher values than in the autoclaved or in the non-disinfected soil without AM inoculation. These results are discussed in relation to the ecological influence of AM inoculation, with selected fungal strains and their associated microflora on native soil microbial activity.

Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis enhanced the efficiency of inoculation with two Bradyrhizobium strains and Acacia holosericea growth.

Two strains of Bradyrhizobium sp., Aust 13C and Aust 11C, were dually or singly inoculated with an ectomycorrhizal fungus, Pisolithus albus to assess the interactions between ectomycorrhizal symbiosis and the nodulation process in glasshouse conditions. Sequencing of strains Aust 13C and Aust 11C confirmed their previous placement in the genus Bradyrhizobium. After 4 months' culture, the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis promoted plant growth and the nodulation process of both Bradyrhizobium strains, singly or dually inoculated. PCR/RFLP analysis of the nodules randomly collected in each treatment with Aust 13C and/or Aust 11C: (1) showed that all the nodules exhibited the same patterns as those of the Bradyrhizobium strains, and (2) did not detect contaminant rhizobia. When both Bradyrhizobium isolates were inoculated together, but without P. albus IR100, Aust 11C was recorded in 13% of the treated nodules compared to 87% for Aust 13C, whereas Aust 11C and Aust 13C were represented in 20 and 80% of the treated nodules, respectively, in the ectomycorrhizal treatment. Therefore Aust 13C had a high competitive ability and a great persistence in soil. The presence of the fungus did not significantly influence the frequencies of each Bradyrhizobium sp. root nodules. Although the mechanisms remain unknown, these results showed that the ectomycorrhizal and biological nitrogen-fixing symbioses were very dependent on each other. From a practical point of view, the role of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is of great importance to N2 fixation and, consequently, these kinds of symbiosis must be associated in any controlled inoculation.

[Diagnostic utility of radiography in head trauma: a critical review of the literature]. / Utilidad diagnóstica de la radiografía en el traumatismo craneal. Una revisión crítica de la bibliografía.

INTRODUCTION: The indication of distinct imaging studies in pediatric head trauma, and especially the use of skull radiography, is controversial. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of skull radiography in the management of head trauma in pediatric patients. To do this, we aimed to determine the predictive value of this procedure in detecting intracranial injuries, independently of patients' symptoms and clinical examination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a review of the medical literature (MEDLINE) and of other resources available for searching biomedical information. Studies limited to pediatric patients (0-18 years old) that provided information on the diagnostic utility of skull radiography in head injury were selected. The source and characteristics of the populations studied and potential design limitations were taken into account. RESULTS: Twelve original studies were selected, three of which were performed in children younger than two years old. Differences were found in the origin of the sample populations, the prevalence of intracranial injury and skull fracture, the severity of the trauma included, and in the criteria for performing imaging tests. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the limited comparability of the articles, the usefulness of skull radiography was difficult to assess. Although the use of this technique is accepted in some circumstances in patients younger than two years old, the data obtained assign little value to the systematic use of radiography to assess head trauma in pediatric patients. Head computed tomography is indicated when symptoms or signs of possible neurological injury are present.

Utilidad diagnóstica de la radiografía en el traumatismo craneal. Una revisión crítica de la bibliografía / Diagnostic utility of radiography in head trauma: a critical review of the literature

Introducción La indicación de las distintas pruebas de imagen en el traumatismo craneoencefálico (TCE) pediátrico, y en especial la radiografía de cráneo, es motivo de controversia. Objetivo: Evaluar efectividad de la radiografía en el manejo del TCE en edad pediátrica. Para ello se tratará de determinar su valor predictivo en la detección de lesiones intracraneales, independientemente de la sintomatología y la exploración clínica del paciente. Material y métodos: Tras realizar una revisión de la literatura médica (MEDLINE), y otros recursos de búsqueda disponibles en internet, se seleccionaron los trabajos limitados a edad pediátrica (0-18 años) que aportaran información sobre el rendimiento diagnóstico de la radiografía de cráneo en el TCE. Se recogieron el origen y las características de la población en estudio, y las posibles limitaciones de diseño. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 12 trabajos originales, tres de los cuales se referían a menores de 2 años. Se encontraron diferencias en el origen de las poblaciones muestrales, prevalencia de lesión intracraneal y fractura de cráneo, gravedad de los traumatismos incluidos, y en los criterios de realización de pruebas de imagen. Conclusiones: La escasa comparabilidad entre los artículos dificulta la evaluación del rendimiento de la radiografía de cráneo. Aunque se admite su utilización ante algunas circunstancias en el grupo de menores de 2 años, los datos obtenidos confieren un escaso valor a la realización sistemática de radiografía en la valoración del traumatismo craneal en edad pediátrica. La tomografía computarizada constituye la prueba de referencia ante la presencia de síntomas o signos de posible lesión neurológica (AU)

[Ethnic difference in attendance at emergency departments. An approximation to the gypsy reality]. / Diferencia étnica en la actividad asistencial de urgencias. Aproximación a la realidad gitana.

BACKGROUND: Demand for emergency services is increasing, especially among children from non-Caucasian ethnic groups. OBJECTIVES: To objectify this observation and to determine the healthcare and social differences between the gypsy and Caucasian populations. METHODS: We performed a descriptive, observational study in the Pediatric Emergency Unit of a tertiary care hospital. Systematic sampling was performed and 420 children were selected. Data on age, sex, compliance with primary healthcare preventive programs, reason for attendance, type of healthcare center, diagnosis and familial characteristics were collected through a questionnaire. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 24 months. The percentage of patients of gypsy race was 16.4 %. Most of the gypsy population (68.1 %) attended small, local healthcare centers compared with 34.8 % of the Caucasian population (p 0.0001). Only 58 % of the gypsy children were taken to healthcare centers for regular check-ups compared with 96.7 % of the non-gypsy population (p 0.0001). The percentage of gypsy children who had never being vaccinated was 18.8 %. There were no such cases among the non-gypsy population (p 0.0001). The percentage of gypsy children visiting the emergency unit who were hospitalized was 11.6 % compared with 1.9 % of non-gypsy children. Illiteracy rates were 30.4 % and 15.9 % in gypsy mothers and fathers, respectively, compared with 0.6 % and 0.3 % in non-gypsy mothers and fathers, respectively (p 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals significant differences between the gypsy and Caucasian pediatric populations in terms of healthcare and identifies a group at high health risk.

Diferencia étnica en la actividad asistencial de urgencias. Aproximación a la realidad gitana / Ethnic differences in attendance at emergency departments. An approximation of gypsy reality

Existe un incremento de la presión asistencial en los servicios de urgencias y se percibe una importante afluencia de niños de otras etnias. Objetivos Comprobar esta percepción y conocer las características sanitarias, sociales y asistenciales de la etnia gitana frente a la población caucásica. Métodos Estudio observacional descriptivo realizado en un servicio de urgencias pediátricas de un hospital terciario. Se seleccionó una muestra poblacional significativa (n = 420) por muestreo sistemático. Se recogieron mediante cuestionario las variables edad, sexo, adhesión a los programas preventivos de atención primaria, justificación de la consulta, diagnóstico y características familiares. Resultados La mediana de edad fue 24 meses. Pertenecían a la etnia gitana el 16,4% y eran mayoritariamente atendidos en ambulatorios (68,1% frente al 34,8% de los caucásicos) (p < 0,0001). Acudían a las revisiones del programa de niño sano el 58% de los niños gitanos frente al 96,7% del resto (p < 0,0001). El 18,8% de los niños gitanos no habían recibido ninguna vacuna, no encontrando ningún niño caucásico en esta situación (p < 0,0001). Ingresaron el 11,6% de los niños gitanos que consultaron frente al 1,9% de los caucásicos. En cuanto a los padres, el 30,4% de las madres y el 15,9% de los padres gitanos eran analfabetos, frente al 0,6% de las madres y el 0,3% de los padres caucásicos (p < 0,0001). Conclusiones El estudio pone en evidencia las diferencias sanitarias entre la población infantil gitana y la caucásica, identificando un grupo de alto riesgo sanitario (AU)

Aproximación al entorno social y sanitario de la población infantil atendida en un servicio de urgencias y factores relacionados con su mal uso / Approach to social and health care characteristics of the children who attend a pediatric emergency unit

Objetivos: Conocer las características socio-sanitarias de la población infantil atendida en nuestro servicio, y la existencia de factores determinantes en su mal uso. Diseño: Estudio observacional prospectivo. Emplazamiento y participantes: Urgencias pediátricas de un hospital terciario. Sobre una muestra de 420 niños recogimos variables socio-sanitarias relacionadas con el uso inadecuado. Mediciones y resultados: El 59,8 por ciento de los niños eran varones y el 39 por ciento mujeres. En el 90 por ciento de los casos la distancia kilométrica del domicilio al centro era inferior a 10 kilómetros. Acudieron sin ser remitidos por un médico el 82,6 por ciento. Encontramos deficiencias en el estado de vacunación en el 10 por ciento de los niños. Los niños cuyos domicilios estaban a más de 10 kilómetros del hospital suponían un 10 por ciento del total, perteneciendo a éstos el 29,1 por ciento de las consultas justificadas. Asimismo, el 33,5 por ciento de las consultas justificadas fueron realizadas por niños controlados en centros de salud. Conclusiones: El grueso de la patología atendida es banal, corroborado por la escasa petición de pruebas complementarias, y los principales diagnósticos al alta. Entre los factores implicados con el mal uso de las Urgencias hemos encontrado relación significativa (p< 0,0001) con el tipo de asistencia primaria prestada y la distancia kilométrica (AU)

Haemodynamic changes during retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma.

Surgical removal of phaeochromocytoma may be accompanied by acute cardiovascular changes. We report the haemodynamic changes in seven patients with retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma. Transient hypertension (systolic pressure (SBP) > 160 mm Hg) was observed in all patients during manipulation of the tumour, in two patients during pneumoretroperitoneum insufflation, and in one patient during intubation. Small doses of nicardipine were sufficient to control these episodes of hypertension. Transient hypotension (SBP < 100 mm Hg) was observed in two patients during exsufflation and in one patient during repositioning to the lateral position. Our observations suggest that this approach provides relative haemodynamic stability, especially during pneumoretroperitoneum insufflation.