Enhanced coupling of material properties offers new fundamental insights and routes to multifunctional devices. In this context 5d oxides provide new paradigms of cooperative interactions that drive ...novel emergent behaviour. This is exemplified in osmates that host metal-insulator transitions where magnetic order appears intimately entwined. Here we consider such a material, the 5d perovskite NaOsO3, and observe a coupling between spin and phonon manifested in a frequency shift of 40 cm(-1), the largest measured in any material. The anomalous modes are shown to involve solely Os-O interactions and magnetism is revealed as the driving microscopic mechanism for the phonon renormalization. The magnitude of the coupling in NaOsO3 is primarily due to a property common to all 5d materials: the large spatial extent of the ion. This allows magnetism to couple to phonons on an unprecedented scale and in general offers multiple new routes to enhanced coupled phenomena in 5d materials.
Two experiments (Exp.) were conducted to evaluate effects of a lysophospholipid-based bio-emulsifier (LPL) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and energy utilization of broilers as well as ...the return on investment (ROI). In Exp. 1, 392 chicks were housed in battery cages in a completely randomized design with 8 treatments and 7 replicates of 7 birds each from d 0 to 21 posthatch. In Exp. 2, 1,400 chicks were allocated in floor pens and fed the same 8 treatments, with 7 replicates and 25 birds each from d 0 to 43 posthatch. Treatments consisted of 6 degummed soybean oil-based diets: positive control (PC1); PC1 formulated with 500 g/ton LPL (PC1+LPL on top); PC1 formulated with 60 kcal LPL matrix (PC1+LPL60); PC1 formulated with 100 kcal LPL matrix (PC1+LPL100); and two negative controls NC-60 and NC-100 with reductions of 60 and 100 kcal/kg ME, respectively. Two other diets were formulated with acid soybean oil: positive control (PC2) and PC2 formulated with 60 kcal LPL matrix (PC2+LPL60). In Exp. 1, performance was evaluated from d 0 to 21, ME and ileal digestibility of DM, CP and energy were determined on d 21. In Exp. 2, growth performance was evaluated from d 0 to 42, and on d 43 carcass and abdominal fat yields were calculated. There were no effects of soybean oil sources in any parameter. Inclusion of LPL increased (P < 0.05) BW gain and ileal digestibility of DM, fat and CP. Broilers fed the PC1+LPL on top diet had increased (P < 0.05) performance, ileal digestibility and energy utilization as well as decreased abdominal fat compared to NC-60 or NC-100. The use of LPL on top had a ROI of 8:1 vs. PC1, considering the gains in revenue of the slaughtered broilers in relation to the investment with LPL in feed. In conclusion, a lysophospholipid-based bio-emulsifier increased performance, digestibility and return on investment of broilers fed standard or reformulated diets.
Highlights • Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is theorized to be a key factor pathological worry. • The effect of CBT on IU and worry was examined over the course of CBT. • Changes in IU mediated ...subsequent changes in worry.
Issue Title: The Hinode (Solar-B) Mission / Edited by Takashi Sakurai see e-mail The EUV Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) on Hinode will observe solar corona and upper transition region emission lines in ...the wavelength ranges 170-210 Å and 250-290 Å. The line centroid positions and profile widths will allow plasma velocities and turbulent or non-thermal line broadenings to be measured. We will derive local plasma temperatures and densities from the line intensities. The spectra will allow accurate determination of differential emission measure and element abundances within a variety of corona and transition region structures. These powerful spectroscopic diagnostics will allow identification and characterization of magnetic reconnection and wave propagation processes in the upper solar atmosphere. We will also directly study the detailed evolution and heating of coronal loops. The EIS instrument incorporates a unique two element, normal incidence design. The optics are coated with optimized multilayer coatings. We have selected highly efficient, backside-illuminated, thinned CCDs. These design features result in an instrument that has significantly greater effective area than previous orbiting EUV spectrographs with typical active region 2-5 s exposure times in the brightest lines. EIS can scan a field of 6×8.5 arcmin with spatial and velocity scales of 1 arcsec and 25 kms^sup -1^ per pixel. The instrument design, its absolute calibration, and performance are described in detail in this paper. EIS will be used along with the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) and the X-ray Telescope (XRT) for a wide range of studies of the solar atmosphere. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Summary
Background
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most frequent types of cancer constituting a significant public health burden. Prevention strategies focus on limiting ultraviolet (UV) ...exposure during leisure time. However, the relative impact of occupational and nonoccupational UV exposure for SCC occurrence is unclear.
Objectives
To investigate the association between occupational and nonoccupational UV exposure for SCC in a multicentre population‐based case–control study hypothesizing that high occupational UV exposure increases the risk of SCC.
Methods
Consecutive patients with incident SCC (n = 632) were recruited from a German national dermatology network. Population‐based controls (n = 996) without history of skin cancer were recruited from corresponding residents’ registration offices and propensity score matched to cases. Lifetime UV exposure, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were assessed by trained physicians. Occupational and nonoccupational UV exposure doses were estimated by masked investigators using established reference values. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed using conditional logistic regression adjusting for relevant confounders.
Results
Total solar UV exposure was significantly associated with increased SCC. The OR for high (> 90th percentile) vs. low (< 40th percentile) and high vs, moderate (40–59th percentile) occupational UV exposure was 1·95 (95% CI 1·19–3·18) and 2·44 (95% CI 1·47–4·06) for SCC. Adjusting for occupational UV exposure, nonoccupational UV exposure was not significantly related to SCC incidence. Dose–response relationships were observed for occupational but not for nonoccupational solar UV exposure.
Conclusions
Solar occupational UV exposure is a major determinant of incident SCC. Our findings indicate that prevention strategies should be further expanded to the occupational setting.
What's already known about this topic?
Ultraviolet (UV) exposure is the most important risk factor for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Public health strategies mainly focus on UV‐exposure prevention in nonoccupational settings.
Epidemiological studies indicated an elevated risk of SCC in outdoor workers compared with indoor workers.
The relative impact of occupational and nonoccupational UV exposure concerning SCC risk is unclear.
What does this study add?
This population‐based case–control study was the first to apply validated UV‐exposure assessment instruments to discriminate occupational vs. nonoccupational lifetime doses.
High occupational UV exposure (> 90th percentile) is associated with a twofold increased risk for cutaneous SCC, whereas high nonoccupational UV exposure did not appear to be an independent risk factor for SCC.
Prevention strategies need to be further expanded in occupational settings to tackle the burden of SCC.
Linked Comment: von Schuckmann. Br J Dermatol 2018; 178:325–326.
Plain language summary available online
Colistin is used against multi-drug resistant pathogens, yet resistance emerges through dissemination of plasmid-mediated genes (mcr) or chromosomal mutation of genes involved in lipopolysaccharide ...synthesis (i.e. mgrB, phoPQ, pmrCAB). Phenotypic susceptibility testing is challenging due to poor diffusion of colistin in agar media, leading to an underestimation of resistance. Performance of five phenotypic approaches was compared in the context of different molecular mechanisms of resistance. We evaluated Vitek 2® (bioMérieux, AST N242), Colistin MIC Test Strip (Liofilchem Diagnostici), UMIC (Biocentric), and Rapid Polymyxin™ NP test (ELITechGroup) against the standard broth microdilution (BMD) method. We used whole genome sequencing (WGS) to infer molecular resistance mechanisms. We analysed 97 Enterobacterales and non-fermenting bacterial isolates, largely clinical isolates collected up to 2018. Data was analysed by comparing susceptibility categories (susceptible or resistant) and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). Susceptibility category concordance is the percentage of test results sharing the same category to BMD. MIC concordance was calculated similarly but considering ±1 MIC titre error range. We determined genomic diversity by core genome multi locus sequencing typing (cgMLST) and identified putative antimicrobial resistance genes using NCBI and CARD databases, and manual annotation.
Of 97 isolates, 54 (56%) were resistant with standard BMD. Highest susceptibility category concordance was achieved by Rapid Polymyxin™ NP (98.8%) followed by UMIC (97.9%), Colistin E-test MIC strip (96.9%) and Vitek 2® (95.6%). Highest MIC concordance was achieved by UMIC (80.4%), followed by Vitek 2® (72.5%) and Colistin E-test MIC strip (62.9%). Among resistant isolates, 23/54 (43%) were intrinsically resistant to colistin, whereas 31/54 (57%) isolates had acquired colistin resistance. Of these, mcr-1 was detected in four isolates and mcr-2 in one isolate. Non-synonymous mutations in mgrB, phoQ, pmrA, pmrB, and pmrC genes were encountered in Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter bereziniae resistant isolates. Mutations found in mgrB and pmrB were only identified in isolates exhibiting MICs of ≥16 mg/L.
The Rapid Polymyxin™ NP test showed highest categorical concordance and the UMIC test provided MIC values with high concordance to BMD. We found colistin resistance in diverse species occurred predominantly through spontaneous chromosomal mutation rather than plasmid-mediated resistance.
A two-fold risk increase to develop basal cell carcinoma was seen in outdoor workers exposed to high solar UV radiation compared to controls. However, there is an ongoing discussion whether ...histopathological subtype, tumor localization and Fitzpatrick phototype may influence the risk estimates.
To evaluate the influence of histological subtype, tumor localization and Fitzpatrick phototype on the risk to develop basal cell carcinoma in highly UV-exposed cases and controls compared to those with moderate or low solar UV exposure.
Six hundred forty-three participants suffering from incident basal cell carcinoma in commonly sun-exposed anatomic sites (capillitium, face, lip, neck, dorsum of the hands, forearms outside, décolleté) of a population-based, case-control, multicenter study performed from 2013 to 2015 in Germany were matched to controls without skin cancer. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted stratified for histological subtype, phototype 1/2 and 3/4. Dose-response curves adjusted for age, age
, sex, phototype and non-occupational UV exposure were calculated.
Participants with high versus no (OR 2.08; 95% CI 1.24-3.50;
= 0.006) or versus moderate (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.15-3.65;
= 0.015) occupational UV exposure showed a more than two-fold significantly increased risk to develop BCC in commonly UV-exposed body sites. Multivariate regression analysis did not show an influence of phototype or histological subtype on risk estimates. The restriction of the analysis to BCC cases in commonly sun-exposed body sites did not influence the risk estimates. The occupational UV dosage leading to a 2-fold increased basal cell carcinoma risk was 6126 standard erythema doses.
The risk to develop basal cell carcinoma in highly occupationally UV-exposed skin was doubled consistently, independent of histological subtype, tumor localization and Fitzpatrick phototype.
HIV-1 Nef has been demonstrated to be integral for viral persistence, infectivity, and the acceleration of disease pathogenesis (AIDS) in humans. Nef has also been detected in the plasma of ...HIV-infected individuals and is released from infected cells. The form in which Nef is released from infected cells is unknown. However, Nef is a myristoylated protein and has been shown to interact with the intracellular vesicular trafficking network. Here we show that Nef is released in CD45-containing microvesicles. This microvesicular Nef (mvNef) is detected in the plasma of HIV-infected individuals at relatively high concentrations (10 ng/ml). It is also present in tissue culture supernatants of Jurkat cells infected with HIV(MN). Interestingly, plasma mvNef levels in HIV(+) patients did not significantly correlate with viral load or CD4 count. Microvesicular Nef levels persisted in the plasma of HIV-infected individuals despite the use of antiretroviral therapy, even in individuals with undetectable viral loads. Using cell lines, we found Nef microvesicles induce apoptosis in Jurkat T-lymphocytes but had no observed effect on the U937 monocytic cell line. Given the large amount of mvNef present in the plasma of HIV-infected individuals, the apoptotic effect of mvNef on T cells, and the observed functions of extracellular soluble Nef in vitro, it seems likely that in vivo mvNef may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of AIDS.
The compound BMAA (β-N-methylamino-L-alanine) has been postulated to play a significant role in four serious neurological human diseases: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex ...(ALS/PDC) found on Guam, and ALS, Parkinsonism, and dementia that occur globally. ALS/PDC with symptoms of all three diseases first came to the attention of the scientific community during and after World War II. It was initially associated with cycad flour used for food because BMAA is a product of symbiotic cycad root-dwelling cyanobacteria. Human consumption of flying foxes that fed on cycad seeds was later suggested as a source of BMAA on Guam and a cause of ALS/PDC. Subsequently, the hypothesis was expanded to include a causative role for BMAA in other neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD) through exposures attributed to proximity to freshwaters and/or consumption of seafood due to its purported production by most species of cyanobacteria. The hypothesis that BMAA is the critical factor in the genesis of these neurodegenerative diseases received considerable attention in the medical, scientific, and public arenas. This review examines the history of ALS/PDC and the BMAA-human disease hypotheses; similarities and differences between ALS/PDC and the other diseases with similar symptomologies; the relationship of ALS/PDC to other similar diseases, studies of BMAA-mediated effects in lab animals, inconsistencies and data gaps in the hypothesis; and other compounds and agents that were suggested as the cause of ALS/PDC on Guam. The review concludes that the hypothesis of a causal BMAA neurodegenerative disease relationship is not supported by existing data.
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