120 MeV swift Au9+ion induced phase transition in ZrO2: monoclinic to tetragonal and cubic to tetragonal structure.

This study reports the effect of 120 MeV swift Au9+ion irradiation on the structures of monoclinic, tetragonal and cubic ZrO2, probed through x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Three phases of ZrO2were prepared using the solution combustion method. The tetragonal and cubic phases of ZrO2were stabilized at room temperature by adding 6% and 10% of yttrium ions, respectively. Both the XRD and Raman results confirm the partial phase transition from monoclinic to tetragonal, which was approximately 74%. Tetragonal ZrO2is stable under 120 MeV Au9+ion irradiation. Interestingly, a phase transition from cubic to tetragonal ZrO2was observed under 120 MeV Au9+ion irradiation. The roles of transient temperature, defects and strain in the lattice induced by swift heavy ions are discussed. This study reveals the structural stability of different phases of ZrO2under swift heavy ion irradiation and should be helpful in choosing potential hosts for various applications such as inert fuel matrix inside the core of nuclear reactors, oxygen sensors and accelerators, and radiation shielding.

'When the bedbugs come, that's another problem': exploring the lived experiences of bedbug infestations among low-income older adults and service providers who support them.

AIMS: Older adults in low-income housing communities are more vulnerable to bedbug infestations. Prior research, however, has predominately focused on the effectiveness of integrated pest-management strategies, with little attention given to the lived experiences of tenants struggling with infestations. We used a qualitative approach to explore what it is like to live with and treat bedbug infestations from the perspectives of low-income older adults and service providers. METHODS: Participants included low-income older adults (n = 58) and service providers (n = 58) who offer supports directly in the buildings. Semi-structured qualitative interviews and focus groups were used to explore the challenges of preparing and treating units for bedbugs, and examine how bedbugs impact access to support services. RESULTS: Bedbugs were a widespread issue, and underlying physical, mental, social, and financial challenges made it difficult for older tenants to prepare their units and access treatment. Tenants also faced bedbug stigma from community services, as many were unwilling to provide services in infested units. Although some service providers utilized strategies to minimize exposure, many were concerned these strategies created additional stigma. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight an urgent need to increase public health funding to support older adults with the costs of bedbug elimination and to enhance pest-management strategies through partnerships with health and social service agencies to improve outcomes for older adults.

International links between Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine serotype 4 sequence type (ST) 801 in Northern European shipyard outbreaks of invasive pneumococcal disease.

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal disease outbreaks of vaccine preventable serotype 4 sequence type (ST)801 in shipyards have been reported in several countries. We aimed to use genomics to establish any international links between them. METHODS: Sequence data from ST801-related outbreak isolates from Norway (n = 17), Finland (n = 11) and Northern Ireland (n = 2) were combined with invasive pneumococcal disease surveillance from the respective countries, and ST801-related genomes from an international collection (n = 41 of > 40,000), totalling 106 genomes. Raw data were mapped and recombination excluded before phylogenetic dating. RESULTS: Outbreak isolates were relatively diverse, with up to 100 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and a common ancestor estimated around the year 2000. However, 19 Norwegian and Finnish isolates were nearly indistinguishable (0-2 SNPs) with the common ancestor dated around 2017. CONCLUSION: The total diversity of ST801 within the outbreaks could not be explained by recent transmission alone, suggesting that harsh environmental and associated living conditions reported in the shipyards may facilitate invasion of colonising pneumococci. However, near identical strains in the Norwegian and Finnish outbreaks does suggest that transmission between international shipyards also contributed to those outbreaks. This indicates the need for improved preventative measures in this working population including pneumococcal vaccination.

Role of Ni substitution on structural, magnetic and electronic properties of epitaxial CoCr2O4 spinel thin films.

Cubic spinel CoCr2O4 has recently attained attention due to its multiferroic properties. However, the Co site substitution effect on the structural and magnetic properties has rarely been studied in thin film form. In this work, the structural and magnetic properties of Co1-x Ni x Cr2O4 (x= 0, 0.5) epitaxial thin films deposited on MgAl2O4 (100) and MgO (100) substrates to manipulate the nature of strain in the films using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique are presented. The epitaxial nature of the films was manifested through x-ray diffraction (XRD), reciprocal space mapping (RSM) and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) measurements. Raman measurements revealed a disappearance of characteristic A 1 g and F 2 g modes of the CoCr2O4 with increase in the Ni content. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) studies show a modification of the surface morphology upon Ni substitution. Magnetic measurements disclose that the ferrimagnetic Curie temperature (T C) of the CoCr2O4 in thin film grown on MgAl2O4 (100) and MgO (100) substrates were found to be 100.6 ± 0.5 K and 93.8 ± 0.2 K, respectively. With Ni substitution the T C values were found to be enhanced to 104.5 ± 0.4 K for MgAl2O4 (100) and 108.5 ± 0.6 K for MgO (100) substrates. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) suggests Cr3+ oxidation states in the films, while Co ions are present in a mixed Co2+/Co3+ oxidation state. The substitution of Ni at Co site significantly modifies the line shape of the core level as well as the valence band. Ni ions are also found to be in a mixed 2+/3+ oxidation state. O 1s core level display asymmetry related to possible defects like oxygen vacancies in the films.

The use of next-generation sequencing for the determination of rare blood group genotypes.

OBJECTIVES: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the determination of rare blood group genotypes was tested in 72 individuals from different ethnicities. BACKGROUND: Traditional serological-based antigen detection methods, as well as genotyping based on specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or single nucleotide variants (SNVs), are limited to detecting only a limited number of known antigens or alleles. NGS methods do not have this limitation. METHODS: NGS using Ion torrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM) was performed with a customised Ampliseq panel targeting 15 different blood group systems on 72 blood donors of various ethnicities (Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern and Black). RESULTS: Blood group genotypes for 70 of 72 samples could be obtained for 15 blood group systems in one step using the NGS assay and, for common SNPs, are consistent with previously determined genotypes using commercial SNP assays. However, particularly for the Kidd, Duffy and Lutheran blood group systems, several SNVs were detected by the NGS assay that revealed additional coding information compared to other methods. Furthermore, the NGS assay allowed for the detection of genotypes related to VEL, Knops, Gerbich, Globoside, P1PK and Landsteiner-Wiener blood group systems. CONCLUSIONS: The NGS assay enables a comprehensive genotype analysis of many blood group systems and is capable of detecting common and rare alleles, including alleles not currently detected by commercial assays.

Dysregulation of methionine metabolism in multiple sclerosis.

We report a significant reduction in plasma methionine concentrations in relapse remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients compared to controls. In vivo studies demonstrate that changes in peripheral methionine levels in mice can regulate histone H3 methylation and expression of DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) centrally, in the cerebral cortex. Therefore, we propose that decreases in circulating methionine represent one of the earliest manifestations of dysregulated methionine metabolism in MS with potential impacts on both histone H3 and DNA methylation in the central nervous system.

The Xp10 Bacteriophage Protein P7 Inhibits Transcription by the Major and Major Variant Forms of the Host RNA Polymerase via a Common Mechanism.

The σ factor is a functionally obligatory subunit of the bacterial transcription machinery, the RNA polymerase. Bacteriophage-encoded small proteins that either modulate or inhibit the bacterial RNAP to allow the temporal regulation of bacteriophage gene expression often target the activity of the major bacterial σ factor, σ70. Previously, we showed that during Xanthomonas oryzae phage Xp10 infection, the phage protein P7 inhibits the host RNAP by preventing the productive engagement with the promoter and simultaneously displaces the σ70 factor from the RNAP. In this study, we demonstrate that P7 also inhibits the productive engagement of the bacterial RNAP containing the major variant bacterial σ factor, σ54, with its cognate promoter. The results suggest for the first time that the major variant form of the host RNAP can also be targeted by bacteriophage-encoded transcription regulatory proteins. Since the major and major variant σ factor interacting surfaces in the RNAP substantially overlap, but different regions of σ70 and σ54 are used for binding to the RNAP, our results further underscore the importance of the σ-RNAP interface in bacterial RNAP function and regulation and potentially for intervention by antibacterials.

Zernike expansion of pupil filters: optimization of the signal concentration factor.

Amplitude pupil filters for optimizing the signal concentration factor for a point spread function of given transverse and/or axial widths are derived. The pupil is expanded in a basis of Zernike polynomials. It is shown that the pupil that maximizes the signal concentration factor for a given transverse gain has a quadratically varying amplitude profile, as was shown in a previous paper, while the pupil that maximizes the signal concentration factor for a given axial gain has a quartic amplitude profile.

Socioeconomic deprivation and inpatient complication rates following mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery.

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic deprivation is known to influence the presentation of patients with breast cancer and their subsequent treatments, but its relationship with surgical outcomes has not been investigated. A national prospective cohort study was undertaken to examine the effect of deprivation on the outcomes of mastectomy with or without immediate breast reconstruction. METHODS: Data were collected on patient case mix, operative procedures and inpatient complications following mastectomy with or without immediate breast reconstruction in the English National Health Service between 1 January 2008 and 31 March 2009. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between patients' level of (regional) deprivation and the likelihood of local (mastectomy site, flap, flap donor and implant) and distant or systemic complications, after adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Of 13,689 patients who had a mastectomy, 2849 (20.8 per cent) underwent immediate reconstruction. In total, 1819 women (13.3 per cent) experienced inpatient complications. The proportion with complications increased from 11.2 per cent among the least deprived quintile (Q1) to 16.1 per cent in the most deprived (Q5). Complication rates were higher among smokers, the obese and those with poorer performance status, but were not affected by age, tumour type or Nottingham Prognostic Index. Adjustment for patient-related factors only marginally reduced the association between deprivation and complication incidence, to 11.4 per cent in Q1 and 15.4 per cent in Q5. Further adjustment for length of hospital stay, hospital case volume and immediate reconstruction rate had minimal effect. CONCLUSION: Rates of postoperative complications after mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery were higher among women from more deprived backgrounds.

Optimization of pupil filters for maximal signal concentration factor.

A new optimization for a continuously varying amplitude pupil filter that maximizes the signal concentration factor for a given transverse gain is derived. The filter has a simple parabolic amplitude transmittance, and is an example of a Sonine filter. The connection between different definitions of gain factor is discussed.

An explosive outbreak of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype-8 infection in a highly vaccinated residential care home, England, summer 2012.

In August 2012, an explosive outbreak of severe lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) due to Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype-8 occurred in a highly vaccinated elderly institutionalized population in England. Fifteen of 23 residents developed LRTI over 4 days (attack rate 65%); 11 had confirmed S. pneumoniae serotype-8 disease, and two died. Following amoxicillin chemoprophylaxis and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) re-vaccination no further cases occurred in the following 2 months. No association was found between being an outbreak-associated case and age (P = 0.36), underlying comorbidities [relative risk (RR) 0.84 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34-2.09], or prior receipt of PPV (RR 1.4, 95% CI 0.60-3.33). However, the median number of years since PPV was significantly higher for cases (n = 15, 10.2 years, range 7.3-17.9 years) than non-cases (n = 8, 7.2 years, range 6.8-12.8 years) (P = 0.045), provided evidence of waning immunity. Alternative vaccination strategies should be considered to prevent future S. pneumoniae outbreaks in institutionalized elderly populations.

Focusing of vortex beams: Lommel treatment.

Focusing of vortex beams by a lens with circular aperture in the paraxial scalar Debye regime is analyzed. The amplitude in the focal region can be expressed naturally in terms of higher order Lommel functions of two variables. Using recurrence relationships, these can then be expressed in terms of low-order Lommel functions. The phase variation in the focal region is investigated, showing some interesting behavior of the Gouy phase anomaly.

Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction formula in k space.

An angular spectrum representation in three dimensions is used to develop three-dimensional Fourier forms of the first and second Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction formulae and the Kirchhoff diffraction formula. For forward-propagating waves, these reduce to three-dimensional Fourier representations for diffraction in the forward half-space.

Background mortality rates for recovering populations of Acropora cytherea in the Chagos Archipelago, central Indian Ocean.

This study quantified background rates of mortality for Acropora cytherea in the Chagos Archipelago. Despite low levels of anthropogenic disturbance, 27.5% (149/541) of A. cytherea colonies exhibited some level of partial mortality, and 9.0% (49/541) of colonies had recent injuries. A total of 15.3% of the overall surface area of physically intact A. cytherea colonies was dead. Observed mortality was partly attributable to overtopping and/or self-shading among colonies. There were also low-densities of Acanthaster planci apparent at some study sites. However, most of the recent mortality recorded was associated with isolated infestations of the coral crab, Cymo melanodactylus. A. cytherea is a relatively fast growing coral and these levels of mortality may be biologically unimportant. However, few studies have measured background rates of coral mortality, especially in the absence of direct human disturbances. These data are important for assessing the impacts of increasing disturbances, especially in projecting likely recovery.

Reoperation rates after breast conserving surgery for breast cancer among women in England: retrospective study of hospital episode statistics.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether rate of reoperation after breast conserving surgery is associated with patients' characteristics and investigate whether reoperation rates vary among English NHS trusts. DESIGN: Cohort study using patient level data from hospital episode statistics. SETTING: English NHS trusts. PARTICIPANTS: Adult women who had breast conserving surgery between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2008. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Reoperation rates after primary breast conserving surgery within 3 months, adjusted using logistic regression for tumour type, age, comorbidity, and socioeconomic deprivation. Tumours were grouped by whether a carcinoma in situ component was coded at the time of the primary breast conserving surgery. RESULTS: 55,297 women had primary breast conserving surgery in 156 NHS trusts during the three year period. 11,032 (20.0%, 95% confidence interval 19.6% to 20.3%) women had at least one reoperation. 10,212 (18.5%, 18.2% to 18.8%) had one reoperation only; of these, 5943 (10.7%, 10.5% to 11.0%) had another breast conserving procedure and 4269 (7.7%, 7.5% to 7.9%) had a mastectomy. Of the 45,793 women with isolated invasive disease, 8229 (18.0%) had at least one reoperation. In comparison, 2803 (29.5%) of the 9504 women with carcinoma in situ had at least one reoperation (adjusted odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.8 to 2.0). Substantial differences were found in the adjusted reoperation rates among the NHS trusts (10th and 90th centiles 12.2% and 30.2%). CONCLUSION: One in five women who had breast conserving surgery in England had a reoperation. Reoperation was nearly twice as likely when the tumour had a carcinoma in situ component coded. Women should be informed of this reoperation risk when deciding on the type of surgical treatment of their breast cancer.

Reefs and islands of the Chagos Archipelago, Indian Ocean: why it is the world's largest no-take marine protected area.

The Chagos Archipelago was designated a no-take marine protected area (MPA) in 2010; it covers 550 000 km2, with more than 60 000 km2 shallow limestone platform and reefs. This has doubled the global cover of such MPAs.It contains 25-50% of the Indian Ocean reef area remaining in excellent condition, as well as the world's largest contiguous undamaged reef area. It has suffered from warming episodes, but after the most severe mortality event of 1998, coral cover was restored after 10 years.Coral reef fishes are orders of magnitude more abundant than in other Indian Ocean locations, regardless of whether the latter are fished or protected.Coral diseases are extremely low, and no invasive marine species are known.Genetically, Chagos marine species are part of the Western Indian Ocean, and Chagos serves as a 'stepping-stone' in the ocean.The no-take MPA extends to the 200 nm boundary, and. includes 86 unfished seamounts and 243 deep knolls as well as encompassing important pelagic species.On the larger islands, native plants, coconut crabs, bird and turtle colonies were largely destroyed in plantation times, but several smaller islands are in relatively undamaged state.There are now 10 'important bird areas', coconut crab density is high and numbers of green and hawksbill turtles are recovering.Diego Garcia atoll contains a military facility; this atoll contains one Ramsar site and several 'strict nature reserves'. Pollutant monitoring shows it to be the least polluted inhabited atoll in the world. Today, strict environmental regulations are enforced.Shoreline erosion is significant in many places. Its economic cost in the inhabited part of Diego Garcia is very high, but all islands are vulnerable.Chagos is ideally situated for several monitoring programmes, and use is increasingly being made of the archipelago for this purpose.

Direct calculation of a three-dimensional diffracted field.

We present an approach to calculating the complex amplitude of a three-dimensional (3D) diffracted light field in the paraxial approximation based on a 3D Fourier transform. Starting from the Huygens-Fresnel principle, the method is first developed for the computation of the light distribution around the focus of an apertured spherical wave. The method, with modification, is then extended to treat the 3D diffraction of an aperture with an arbitrary transmittance function.

Tolerability and safety of novel half milliliter formulation of glatiramer acetate for subcutaneous injection: an open-label, multicenter, randomized comparative study.

Daily glatiramer acetate (GA) 20 mg/1.0 mL is a first-line treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). To reduce the occurrence of injection pain and local injection site reactions (LISRs), a reduced volume formulation of GA was developed. This study compared pain and LISRs after injecting the marketed and the novel formulations. RRMS patients currently injecting GA participated in this multicenter, randomized, crossover comparative study. All patients administered once-daily subcutaneous injections of GA 20 mg/1.0 mL (marketed formulation) or GA 20 mg/0.5 mL (reduced volume formulation) for 14 days. Patients were crossed-over to the alternate treatment for an additional 14 days. Using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), patients recorded in daily diaries the severity of injection pain immediately and 5 min post-injection, and the presence and severity of LISRs (swelling, redness, itching, lump) within 5 min and 24 h post-injection. VAS pain scores were ranked significantly lower immediately and 5 min after GA 20 mg/0.5 mL injections (p < 0.0001). Although LISRs were rare for both preparations, the severity of reactions ranked significantly lower and fewer symptoms occurred within 5 min and 24 h of using the reduced volume formulation (p < 0.0001). GA injected subcutaneously in a reduced volume formulation is a more tolerable option.

Regional variation in use of immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy for breast cancer in England.

AIMS: English national guidelines recommend that breast reconstruction is made available to women with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy. We examined the use of immediate reconstruction (IR) across English Cancer Networks, who are responsible for the regional organisation of cancer services and ensuring equitable access to treatment. METHODS: We analysed Hospital Episodes Statistics data for all women with breast cancer who underwent mastectomy in the English NHS between April 2006 and February 2009. IR rates were calculated for the 30 Networks. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust the rates for patient age, comorbidity, ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation. RESULTS: Of 44 837 mastectomy patients, 7375 (16.5%) underwent IR. The IR rate was highest in women under 50 years (32.7%) and lowest in women aged 70 years or over (1.5%), and was lower in women with more comorbidities. Unadjusted IR rates varied from 8.4% to 31.9% among the 30 Networks (p<0.001). Adjusting for their patient characteristics did not appreciably reduce Network-level variation, with adjusted IR rates still ranging from 8.0% to 29.4% (p<0.001). The risk-model also suggested that non-white women and those from more deprived areas were less likely to undergo immediate reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial regional variation in immediate reconstruction use in England that is not explained by the characteristics of the local patient population. English Cancer Networks should act to reduce this variation. They should also examine why rates of reconstruction differ between particular patient groups.

Pneumococcal serotypes causing pediatric meningitis in Turkey: application of a new technology in the investigation of cases negative by conventional culture.

The surveillance of serotypes causing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) provides further insight into the pathogenesis of pneumococcal disease and is important in order to track vaccine impact. Although the Quellung reaction has been accepted as the standard method for serotyping, prior antibiotic use causes a gap in studies based on bacterial culture. A total of 31 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples found to be positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the ply gene during an active surveillance were tested in a Bio-Plex multiplex antigen detection assay capable of detecting 14 serotypes/groups (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F/A, 8, 9V, 14, 18, 19A, 19F, and 23F). Twenty-seven CSF samples could be serotyped. The most common serotypes were serotypes 5 (n = 7), 19F (n = 5), 1 (n = 3), and 23F (n = 3). Theoretical coverage rates by the heptavalent (PCV7), 10-valent (PCV10), and 13-valent (PCV13) pneumococcal conjugate vaccines for bacterial meningitis were 48.1, 85.2, and 92.3%, respectively, for all age groups and 71.4, 85.7, and 100.0%, respectively, for those under 2 years of age. We propose that antigen detection assay used in conjunction with a PCR assay can be effectively applied in CSF samples to detect the pneumococcal serotypes, especially when the patient may have already been treated and, therefore, the cultures would be negative.