Multifractal Conductance Fluctuations of Helical Edge States.

Two-dimensional topological insulators are characterized by the bulk gap and one-dimensional helical states running along the edges. The theory predicts the topological protection of the helical transport from coherent backscattering. However, the unexpected deviations of the conductance from the quantized value and localization of the helical modes are generally observed in long samples. Moreover, at millikelvin temperatures significant mesoscopic fluctuations are developed as a function of the electron energy. Here we report the results of an experimental study of the transport in a HgTe quantum well with an inverted energy spectrum that reveal a multifractality of the conductance fluctuations in the helical edge state dominated transport regime. We attribute observed multifractality to mesoscopic fluctuations of the electron wave function or local density of states at the spin quantum Hall transition. We have shown that the mesoscopic two-dimensional topological insulator provides a highly tunable experimental system in which to explore the physics of the Anderson transition between topological states.

Dynamic light scattering biosensing based on analyte-induced inhibition of nanoparticle aggregation.

A new approach to direct quantitative detection of small molecules (haptens) by dynamic light scattering biosensing is presented. The proposed technique implements a homogeneous competitive immunoassay and is based on optical detection of specific inhibition of nanoparticle aggregation induced by the analyte in a sample. The technique performance was tested both in buffer and milk for detection of chloramphenicol - antibiotic relevant to food safety diagnostics. Good specificity, sensitivity (LOD in milk is 2.4 ng/ml), precision (4.0 ± 1.2%), ruggedness (8.3%), and 96% recovery in conjunction with a record wide dynamic range (3 orders of magnitude) of the nanosensing technique were demonstrated. Such characteristics complemented by the assay simplicity (no washing step) and a short assay time make the approach attractive for application as an analytical platform for point-of-care and field-oriented diagnostics. Graphical abstract.

[Therapeutic approaches to the Rational Use of trip-le combination therapy with a fixed combination of amlodipine, indapamide and perindopril arginine (TRIPLE COMBINATION) in patients with hypertension who do not control blood pressure on conventional treatment. (Description and main results of the TRIO program)].

Aim To study tactics of outpatient physicians in choosing the treatment when the previous double antihypertensive therapy (AHT) fails and to analyze the effectivity of an amlodipine/indapamide/perindopril arginine triple combination (TC).Material and methods The program included 1252 patients with arterial hypertension (AH); the TC group consisted of 992 (79.23 %) patients (38.3 % males; age, 61.6 [55.0; 67.9]); the control group included 260 (20.77 %) patients (37.7 % males; age, 60.6 [53.3; 67.4]). The main inclusion criteria were essential AH, age 18-79 years, insufficient response to previous AHT (clinical systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140-179 mm Hg). The study duration was three months. The following parameters were evaluated: dynamics of clinical and ambulatory BP (BP self-monitoring (BPSM); frequency of achieving the first goal of <140 / 90 mm Hg and the goal of <130 / 80 mm Hg); and changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and quality of life (QoL). Responses to TC were analyzed in groups with different ranges of increased baseline SBP in patients with AH and diabetes mellitus (DM)/impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), overweight or obesity, and chronic kidney disease (CKD, reduced estimated GFR (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2). Safety was evaluated based on records of adverse events (AEs).Results The TC group had a more severe condition at baseline by clinical parameters and history and had higher baseline BP, which made difficult the intergroup comparison. Nevertheless at three months, the decrease in clinical SBP was more pronounced in the TC group (from 162.1  to 126.8 mm Hg, Δ=35.7  mm Hg) than in the control group (from 157.8 to 128.4  mm Hg, Δ=29.4  mm Hg). 87.8% of patients in the TC group and 81.9 % (р=0.012) in the control group achieved the first BP goal of <140 / 90 mm Hg; 34.3% and 28.2% of patients, respectively, achieved the BP goal of <130 / 80 mm Hg (р=0.055). The more effective SBP control in the TC group was associated with a pronounced BP decrease with higher BP values at baseline, which was also confirmed by an analysis in subgroups with SBP 140-160, 160-180, and >180 mm Hg. The TC treatment was associated with a pronounced antihypertensive effect with respect of BPSM values, improved QoL, and renal function. Significant decreases in BP and achievement of BP goals by a vast majority of patients receiving TC were also observed in subgroups with DM or IGT, overweight and/or obesity, and CKD. AEs were observed during the treatment only in 8 patients (0.64 %), which confirmed good tolerability and high safety of the therapy.Conclusion The study results demonstrated a therapeutic effect of the amlodipine/indapamide/perindopril arginine fixed-dose combination (Triplixam®). This effect was evident as control of clinical BP with any baseline BP level, including different ranges of increased SBP, in AH combined with DM, IGT, obesity, and CKD, which offers advantages over a subjective choice of AHT. TC improved BPSM values, QoL indexes, provided nephroprotection, and was well tolerated.

[Combined application of physiotherapy and acupuncture in patients with knee osteoarthrosis]. / Sochetannoe primenenie fizioterapii i igloukalyvaniia v lechenii patsientov s osteoartrozom kolennykh sustavov.

RATIONALE: Osteoarthrosis (OA) is one of the most common heterogeneous diseases. OA treatment is stopping the pain syndrome with the help of medical methods. Currently, there are no comprehensive programs, including a combination of physiotherapy and acupuncture, in the treatment of OA. AIM: The scientific justification and development of a comprehensive treatment for patients with OA of the knee joints (OAKJ) using transdermal electropharmstimulation (TEFS) and acupuncture in microacupuncture zones of the hand and foot. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 210 patients with OAKJ who underwent outpatient treatment at LLC 'Sanatorium 'Zelenaya Roscha'', Republic of Bashkortostan (Ufa) in 2014-2017. Patients were divided into 3 groups at random. The groups were comparable by medical and demographic characteristics (gender, age), average duration and stage of the disease, and body mass index. The 1st group (comparison group) included 70 patients who were prescribed TEFS with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, combined with traditional drug treatment. In the 2nd group (main group) - 70 patients who underwent TEFS with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in combination with acupuncture in the microacupuncture zones of the hand and foot, as well as traditional drug therapy. In the 3rd group (control group) - 70 patients who received only drug therapy with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug of 15 mg/day. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated on the 4th, 7th, 11th, 11th and 12-15th days of treatment based on the timing of the relief of the pain syndrome, the dynamics of the clinical presentation of the disease, the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, the McGill pain questionnaire, tensoalgometry, electromyography of the thigh muscles, as well as changes in blood microcirculation in the knee joints on the 1st - 5th day of treatment. RESULTS: It was found that the combined use of TEFS and acupuncture in the microacupuncture zones of the hand and foot in patients with OAKJ relieves pain earlier than in the patients of the control group and the comparison group, and also leads to an increase in tensoalgometry, a decrease in VAS pain, and a decrease in the number of words-descriptors and sums of ranks, normalization of the amplitude of electric potentials and the frequency of muscle contractions of the thigh muscles, improvement of microcirculation of blood of the knee joints faster. CONCLUSION: The obtained results indicate the high efficiency of the combined use of TEFS and acupuncture in the microacupuncture zones of the hand and foot in the treatment of patients with OAKJ.

Prenatal antimicrobial use and early-childhood body mass index.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Growing evidence suggests that antibiotic use is associated with childhood body mass index (BMI), potentially via mechanisms mediated by gut microbiome alterations. Less is known on the potential role of prenatal antimicrobial use in offspring obesity risk. We examined whether prenatal antibiotic or antifungal use was associated with BMI at the age of 2 years in 527 birth cohort participants. METHODS/SUBJECTS: Antimicrobial use was obtained from the prenatal medical record. Height and weight were measured at the age of 2 years. Overweight/obesity was defined as a BMI ⩾85th percentile. RESULTS: A total of 303 (57.5%) women used antibiotics and 101 (19.2%) used antifungals during pregnancy. Prenatal antifungal use was not associated with child BMI at the age of 2 years. In the fully adjusted model, prenatal antibiotic use was associated with a 0.20±0.10 (P=0.046) higher mean BMI Z-score at the age of 2 years. Associations between prenatal antibiotic use and childhood BMI varied by trimester of exposure, with first or second-trimester exposure more strongly associated with larger BMI at the age of 2 years for both BMI Z-score (interaction P=0.032) and overweight/obesity (interaction P=0.098) after covariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal antibiotic, but not antifungal, use is associated with larger BMI at the age of 2 years; associations were stronger for antibiotic exposures in earlier trimesters. Future studies examining whether these associations are due to alterations in the maternal and/or infant microbiome are necessary. Children who are overweight at the age of 2 years are at higher risk for being overweight as they age; prenatal antibiotic use is a potentially modifiable exposure that could reduce childhood obesity.

Dog introduction alters the home dust microbiota.

Research has largely reported that dog exposure is associated with reduced allergic disease risk. Responsible mechanism(s) are not understood. The goal was to investigate whether introducing a dog into the home changes the home dust microbiota. Families without dogs or cats planning to adopt a dog and those who were not were recruited. Dust samples were collected from the homes at recruitment and 12 months later. Microbiota composition and taxa (V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene) were compared between homes that did and did not adopt a dog. A total of 91 dust samples from 54 families (27 each, dog and no dog; 17 dog and 20 no dog homes with paired samples) were analyzed. A significant dog effect was seen across time in both unweighted UniFrac and Canberra metrics (both P = .008), indicating dog introduction may result in rapid establishment of rarer and phylogenetically related taxa. A significant dog-time interaction was seen in both weighted UniFrac (P < .001) and Bray-Curtis (P = .002) metrics, suggesting that while there may not initially be large relative abundance shifts following dog introduction, differences can be seen within a year. Therefore, dog introduction into the home has both immediate effects and effects that emerge over time.

What we do and do not know about women and kidney diseases; Questions unanswered and answers unquestioned: Reflection on World Kidney Day and International Woman's Day.

Chronic kidney disease affects approximately 10% of the world's adult population: it is within the top 20 causes of death worldwide, and its impact on patients and their families can be devastating. World Kidney Day and International Women's Day in 2018 coincide, thus offering an opportunity to reflect on the importance of women's health and specifically their kidney health, on the community, and the next generations, as well as to strive to be more curious about the unique aspects of kidney disease in women so that we may apply those learnings more broadly. Girls and women, who make up approximately 50% of the world's population, are important contributors to society and their families. Gender differences continue to exist around the world in access to education, medical care, and participation in clinical studies. Pregnancy is a unique state for women, offering an opportunity for diagnosis of kidney disease, but also a state where acute and chronic kidney diseases may manifest, and which may impact future generations with respect to kidney health. There are various autoimmune and other conditions that are more likely to impact women with profound consequences for child bearing, and on the fetus. Women have different complications on dialysis than men, and are more likely to be donors than recipients of kidney transplants.  In this editorial, we focus on what we do and do not know about women, kidney health, and kidney disease, and what we might learn in the future to improve outcomes worldwide.

[What we do and do not know about women and kidney diseases; Questions unanswered and answers unquestioned: Reflection on World Kidney Day and International Woman's Day].

On behalf of the World Kidney Day Steering Committee Chronic kidney disease affects approximately 10% of the world's adult population: it is within the top 20 causes of death worldwide, and its impact on patients and their families can be devastating. World Kidney Day and International Women's Day in 2018 coincide, thus offering an opportunity to reflect on the importance of women's health and specifically their kidney health, on the community, and the next generations, as well as to strive to be more curious about the unique aspects of kidney disease in women so that we may apply those learnings more broadly. Girls and women, who make up approximately 50% of the world's population, are important contributors to society and their families. Gender differences continue to exist around the world in access to education, medical care, and participation in clinical studies. Pregnancy is a unique state for women, offering an opportunity for diagnosis of kidney disease, but also a state where acute and chronic kidney diseases may manifest, and which may impact future generations with respect to kidney health. There are various autoimmune and other conditions that are more likely to impact women with profound consequences for child bearing, and on the fetus. Women have different complications on dialysis than men, and are more likely to be donors than recipients of kidney transplants. In this editorial, we focus on what we do and do not know about women, kidney health, and kidney disease, and what we might learn in the future to improve outcomes worldwide.

Polygenic risk assessment reveals pleiotropy between sarcoidosis and inflammatory disorders in the context of genetic ancestry.

Sarcoidosis is a complex disease of unknown etiology characterized by the presence of granulomatous inflammation. Though various immune system pathways have been implicated in disease, the relationship between the genetic determinants of sarcoidosis and other inflammatory disorders has not been characterized. Herein, we examined the degree of genetic pleiotropy common to sarcoidosis and other inflammatory disorders to identify shared pathways and disease systems pertinent to sarcoidosis onset. To achieve this, we quantify the association of common variant polygenic risk scores from nine complex inflammatory disorders with sarcoidosis risk. Enrichment analyses of genes implicated in pleiotropic associations were further used to elucidate candidate pathways. In European-Americans, we identify significant pleiotropy between risk of sarcoidosis and risk of asthma (R2=2.03%; P=8.89 × 10-9), celiac disease (R2=2.03%; P=8.21 × 10-9), primary biliary cirrhosis (R2=2.43%; P=2.01 × 10-10) and rheumatoid arthritis (R2=4.32%; P=2.50 × 10-17). These associations validate in African Americans only after accounting for the proportion of genome-wide European ancestry, where we demonstrate similar effects of polygenic risk for African-Americans with the highest levels of European ancestry. Variants and genes implicated in European-American pleiotropic associations were enriched for pathways involving interleukin-12, interleukin-27 and cell adhesion molecules, corroborating the hypothesized immunopathogenesis of disease.

Two-year follow-up of patients with septic shock presenting with low HDL: the effect upon acute kidney injury, death and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is associated with decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. HDL has anti-inflammatory properties, and the use of Apo A-I mimetic peptides is associated with renal function improvement in animal models of sepsis. However, it is not known whether decreased HDL level results in impaired renal function in human sepsis. We investigated whether low levels of HDL conferred an increased risk of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) or long-term decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after sepsis. METHODS: HDL concentration (mg dL-1 ) was measured in plasma samples from 180 patients with septic shock at admission to the Emergency Department (ED). We divided the patients using median HDL as a cut-off value and assessed the frequency of sepsis-associated AKI and long-term decreased eGFR after sepsis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Patients with low HDL had a significantly greater frequency of KDIGO 2 or 3 sepsis-associated AKI [39/90 (43.3%) vs. 12/90 (13.3%), P < 0.001] and decreased long-term eGFR [24/58 (41.4%) vs. 11/57 (19.3%), P = 0.018] compared to those with high HDL. The adjusted OR for sepsis-associated AKI and decreased eGFR after sepsis in the lower HDL group was 2.80 (95% CI 1.08-7.25, P = 0.033) and 5.45 (95% CI 1.57-18.93, P = 0.008), respectively. CONCLUSION: Low HDL levels during sepsis are associated with increased risk of sepsis-associated AKI, and/or subsequent decreased eGFR. These results suggest that HDL may be involved and/or may be a marker of kidney injury during and after sepsis.

PAI-1 gain-of-function genotype, factors increasing PAI-1 levels, and airway obstruction: The GALA II Cohort.

BACKGROUND: PAI-1 gain-of-function variants promote airway fibrosis and are associated with asthma and with worse lung function in subjects with asthma. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether the association of a gain-of-function polymorphism in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) with airway obstruction is modified by asthma status, and whether any genotype effect persists after accounting for common exposures that increase PAI-1 level. METHODS: We studied 2070 Latino children (8-21y) with genotypic and pulmonary function data from the GALA II cohort. We estimated the relationship of the PAI-1 risk allele with FEV1/FVC by multivariate linear regression, stratified by asthma status. We examined the association of the polymorphism with asthma and airway obstruction within asthmatics via multivariate logistic regression. We replicated associations in the SAPPHIRE cohort of African Americans (n=1056). Secondary analysis included the effect of the at-risk polymorphism on postbronchodilator lung function. RESULTS: There was an interaction between asthma status and the PAI-1 polymorphism on FEV1 /FVC (P=.03). The gain-of-function variants, genotypes (AA/AG), were associated with lower FEV1 /FVC in subjects with asthma (ß=-1.25, CI: -2.14,-0.35, P=.006), but not in controls. Subjects with asthma and the AA/AG genotypes had a 5% decrease in FEV1 /FVC (P<.001). In asthmatics, the risk genotype (AA/AG) was associated with a 39% increase in risk of clinically relevant airway obstruction (OR=1.39, CI: 1.01, 1.92, P=.04). These associations persisted after exclusion of factors that increase PAI-1 including tobacco exposure and obesity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The decrease in the FEV1 /FVC ratio associated with the risk genotype was modified by asthma status. The genotype increased the odds of airway obstruction by 75% within asthmatics only. As exposures known to increase PAI-1 levels did not mitigate this association, PAI-1 may contribute to airway obstruction in the context of chronic asthmatic airway inflammation.

[Retrospective analysis of dental trauma among soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces].

OBJECTIVE: Determination of the incidence, types and causes of traumatic dental incidents (TDIs) among Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. STUDY DESIGN: Dental trauma reports from all active IDF dental clinics between the years 2000-2010 were analyzed. A total of 1671 dental trauma reports were classified according to the incidence, causes and etiologies of the injuries, the number and type of traumatized teeth, and the types of dental injuries. Statistical associations between the number of trauma cases and gender, type of training of the soldier, and the month during which the injury occurred were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of dental injuries was 19.65 cases/10,000 soldiers/year. In basic training bases, 75.49 dental trauma cases/10,000 soldiers/year were found in comparison to 14.28 cases in all other bases. Male soldiers were 4.24 times more prone to dental injuries than female soldiers. Significantly more trauma cases occurred during the months of January and August (rate ratio 1.39 and 1.33 respectively), and significantly fewer cases occurred in July (rate ratio 0.59). The most frequent circumstances of TDIs were military training and work related injuries (29.5% and 15% respectively). The etiology of 56.3% of the injuries was trauma from blunt objects that are not a weapon. Of the injuries, 34.9% occurred as a result of trauma from the personal weapon of the soldier. Most trauma cases involved one or two injured teeth (73.2% and 20.1% respectively). Of the trauma cases, 33.8% involved the right maxillary central incisor and 32.5% involved the left maxillary central incisor. There was no significant difference between injuries on the right or left side. The most frequent type of dental injury was a crown fracture (72.8%). CONCLUSION: The risk factors for dental trauma found in this study were male soldiers during basic training in the months of January and August. Most TDIs resulted from blunt objects including personal weapons. Crown fracture was the most frequent type of injury.

Lung cancer risk test trial: study design, participant baseline characteristics, bronchoscopy safety, and establishment of a biospecimen repository.

BACKGROUND: The Lung Cancer Risk Test (LCRT) trial is a prospective cohort study comparing lung cancer incidence among persons with a positive or negative value for the LCRT, a 15 gene test measured in normal bronchial epithelial cells (NBEC). The purpose of this article is to describe the study design, primary endpoint, and safety; baseline characteristics of enrolled individuals; and establishment of a bio-specimen repository. METHODS/DESIGN: Eligible participants were aged 50-90 years, current or former smokers with 20 pack-years or more cigarette smoking history, free of lung cancer, and willing to undergo bronchoscopic brush biopsy for NBEC sample collection. NBEC, peripheral blood samples, baseline CT, and medical and demographic data were collected from each subject. DISCUSSION: Over a two-year span (2010-2012), 403 subjects were enrolled at 12 sites. At baseline 384 subjects remained in study and mean age and smoking history were 62.9 years and 50.4 pack-years respectively, with 34% current smokers. Obstructive lung disease (FEV1/FVC <0.7) was present in 157 (54%). No severe adverse events were associated with bronchoscopic brushing. An NBEC and matched peripheral blood bio-specimen repository was established. The demographic composition of the enrolled group is representative of the population for which the LCRT is intended. Specifically, based on baseline population characteristics we expect lung cancer incidence in this cohort to be representative of the population eligible for low-dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening. Collection of NBEC by bronchial brush biopsy/bronchoscopy was safe and well-tolerated in this population. These findings support the feasibility of testing LCRT clinical utility in this prospective study. If validated, the LCRT has the potential to significantly narrow the population of individuals requiring annual low-dose helical CT screening for early detection of lung cancer and delay the onset of screening for individuals with results indicating low lung cancer risk. For these individuals, the small risk incurred by undergoing once in a lifetime bronchoscopic sample collection for LCRT may be offset by a reduction in their CT-related risks. The LCRT biospecimen repository will enable additional studies of genetic basis for COPD and/or lung cancer risk. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The LCRT Study, NCT 01130285, was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov on May 24, 2010.

[Root anatomy and root canal morphology of mandibular canines in Israeli population].

INTRODUCTION: Furcated root and root canal separation are anatomic variations of mandibular canines. Other studies found that up to 20% of mandibular canines have root canal separation and up to 6.8% are bifurcated teeth. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of two-rooted mandibular canines and the root canal morphology of mandibular canines. METHODS: A total of 1,020 Israeli patients' cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were screened and evaluated. A total of 1,981 mandibular canines were examined and the prevalence of furcated mandibular canines and root canal separation was recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of furcated mandibular canines and root canal separation in mandibular canines were 1.9% and 10.3% respectively. The bilateral prevalence of furcated mandibular canines was 22.5%. Statistically significant difference was detected by the side of occurrence (left vs right side, p < 0.05) and by gender in right mandibular canine (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: the prevalence of furcated roots and root canal separation in mandibular canines was not frequent. Clinicians should be aware of the special characteristic of those anatomic variations.

[Prolonged prevention of venous thromboembolic complications (VTECS): who is it indicated for and how should it be carried out?].

The publication contains a review of present-day positions on prolonged prevention of venous thromboembolic complications. This is followed by considering the role of risk factors, probabilistic value of prognostic scales, as well as reflecting the provisions of the recent Russian and international consensus documents concerned. Careful consideration is given to the major possible parameters a physician could be guided by in real clinical practice while choosing and deciding upon appropriate terms of prevention. Also shown are possibilities of using novel oral anticoagulants in practical implementation of such regimens.

Living and deceased organ donation should be financially neutral acts.

The supply of organs­particularly kidneys­donated by living and deceased donors falls short of the number of patients added annually to transplant waiting lists in the United States. To remedy this problem, a number of prominent physicians, ethicists, economists and others have mounted a campaign to suspend the prohibitions in the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 (NOTA) on the buying and selling of organs. The argument that providing financial benefits would incentivize enough people to part with a kidney (or a portion of a liver) to clear the waiting lists is flawed. This commentary marshals arguments against the claim that the shortage of donor organs would best be overcome by providing financial incentives for donation. We can increase the number of organs available for transplantation by removing all financial disincentives that deter unpaid living or deceased kidney donation. These disincentives include a range of burdens, such as the costs of travel and lodging for medical evaluation and surgery, lost wages, and the expense of dependent care during the period of organ removal and recuperation. Organ donation should remain an act that is financially neutral for donors, neither imposing financial burdens nor enriching them monetarily.

Microwave-Induced Magneto-Oscillations and Signatures of Zero-Resistance States in Phonon-Drag Voltage in Two-Dimensional Electron Systems.

We observe the phonon-drag voltage oscillations correlating with the resistance oscillations under microwave irradiation in a two-dimensional electron gas in perpendicular magnetic field. This phenomenon is explained by the influence of dissipative resistivity modified by microwaves on the phonon-drag voltage perpendicular to the phonon flux. When the lowest-order resistance minima evolve into zero-resistance states, the phonon-drag voltage demonstrates sharp features suggesting that current domains associated with these states can exist in the absence of external dc driving.

Persistence of a two-dimensional topological insulator state in wide HgTe quantum wells.

Our experimental studies of electron transport in wide (14 nm) HgTe quantum wells confirm the persistence of a two-dimensional topological insulator state reported previously for narrower wells, where it was justified theoretically. Comparison of local and nonlocal resistance measurements indicate edge state transport in the samples of about 1 mm size at temperatures below 1 K. Temperature dependence of the resistances suggests an insulating gap of the order of a few meV. In samples with sizes smaller than 10 µm a quasiballistic transport via the edge states is observed.

Exonic versus intronic SNPs: contrasting roles in revealing the population genetic differentiation of a widespread bird species.

Recent years have seen considerable progress in applying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to population genetics studies. However, relatively few have attempted to use them to study the genetic differentiation of wild bird populations and none have examined possible differences of exonic and intronic SNPs in these studies. Here, using 144 SNPs, we examined population genetic differentiation in the saker falcon (Falco cherrug) across Eurasia. The position of each SNP was verified using the recently sequenced saker genome with 108 SNPs positioned within the introns of 10 fragments and 36 SNPs in the exons of six genes, comprising MHC, MC1R and four others. In contrast to intronic SNPs, both Bayesian clustering and principal component analyses using exonic SNPs consistently revealed two genetic clusters, within which the least admixed individuals were found in Europe/central Asia and Qinghai (China), respectively. Pairwise D analysis for exonic SNPs showed that the two populations were significantly differentiated and between the two clusters the frequencies of five SNP markers were inferred to be influenced by selection. Central Eurasian populations clustered in as intermediate between the two main groups, consistent with their geographic position. But the westernmost populations of central Europe showed evidence of demographic isolation. Our work highlights the importance of functional exonic SNPs for studying population genetic pattern in a widespread avian species.

Susceptibility of multiresistant gram-negative bacteria to fosfomycin and performance of different susceptibility testing methods.

Fosfomycin may be a treatment option for multiresistant Gram-negative bacteria. This study compared susceptibility methods using 94 multiresistant clinical isolates. With agar dilution (AD), susceptibilities were 81%, 7%, 96%, and 100% (CLSI) and 0%, 0%, 96%, and 30% (EUCAST), respectively, for Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter spp. Categorical agreement between Etest and AD for Enterobacteriaceae and A. baumannii was ≥80%. Disk diffusion was adequate only for Enterobacter. CLSI criteria for urine may be adequate for systemic infections.