Ray-based description of normal mode amplitudes in a range-dependent waveguide

An analogue of the geometrical optics for description of the modal structure of a wave field in a range-dependent waveguide is considered. In the scope of this approach the mode amplitude is expressed through solutions of the ray equations. This analytical description accounts for mode coupling and remains valid in a nonadiabatic environment. It has been used to investigate the applicability condition of the adiabatic approximation. An applicability criterion is formulated as a restriction on variations of the action variable of the ray.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

MYC amplification in subtypes of breast cancers in African American women

BACKGROUND: MYC overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in breast tumors (BCa). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of MYC amplification and associated markers in BCa tumors from African American (AA) women and determine the associations between MYC amplification and clinico-pathological characteristics. METHODS: We analyzed 70 cases of well characterized archival breast ductal carcinoma specimens from AA women for MYC oncogene amplification. Utilizing immune histochemical analysis estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and (HER2/neu), were assessed. Cases were Luminal A (ER or PR+, Ki-67 \u3c 14%), Luminal B (ER or PR+, Ki-67 = \u3e 14% or ER or PR+ HER2+), HER2 (ER-, PR-, HER2+), and Triple Negative (ER-, PR-, HER2-) with basal-like phenotype. The relationship between MYC amplification and prognostic clinico-pathological characteristics was determined using chi square and logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: Sixty-five (97%) of the tumors showed MYC gene amplification (MYC: CEP8 \u3e 1). Statistically significant associations were found between MYC amplification and HER2-amplified BCa, and Luminal B subtypes of BCa (p \u3c 0.0001), stage (p \u3c 0.001), metastasis (p \u3c 0.001), and positive lymph node status (p = 0.039). MYC amplification was associated with HER2 status (p = 0.01) and tumor size (p = 0.01). High MYC amplification was seen in grade III carcinomas (MYC: CEP8 = 2.42), pre-menopausal women (MYC: CEP8 = 2.49), PR-negative status (MYC: CEP8 = 2.42), and ER-positive status (MYC: CEP8 = 2.4). CONCLUSIONS: HER2 positive BCas in AA women are likely to exhibit MYC amplification. High amplification ratios suggest that MYC drives HER2 amplification, especially in HER2 positive, Luminal B, and subtypes of BCa

Predictors of clinical outcome following transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a prospective cohort study

Objective In recent years, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the treatment of choice for patients with symptomatic aortic valve stenosis considered to be at increased or high surgical risk. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of postoperative adverse events in older adults undergoing TAVI.Methods A prospective observational cohort study of patients who were referred to a geriatric outpatient clinic for a geriatric assessment prior to TAVI was conducted. The outcomes were mortality and hospital readmission within 3 months of TAVI and the occurrence of major postoperative complications during hospitalisation according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. These three outcomes were also combined to a composite outcome. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of the outcomes and composite outcome of adverse events.Results This cohort included 490 patients who underwent TAVI (mean age 80.7 +/- 6.2 years, 47.3% male). Within 3 months of TAVI, 19 (3.9%) patients died and 46 (9.4%) patients experienced a hospital readmission. A total of 177 (36.1%) patients experienced one or more major complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification during hospitalisation and 193 patients (39.4%) experienced the composite outcome of adverse events. In multivariate analyses, cognitive impairment was identified as an independent predictor of major postoperative complications (OR 2.16; 95% CI 1.14 to 4.19) and the composite outcome of adverse events (OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.21 to 4.79). No association was found between the other variables and the separate outcomes and composite outcome.Conclusion Cognitive impairment is associated with postoperative adverse events in older patients undergoing TAVI. Therefore, it is important to screen for cognitive impairment prior to TAVI and it is recommended to include this in current TAVI guidelines

Transcatheter heart valve selection and permanent pacemaker implantation in patients with pre-existent right bundle branch block

Background-Right bundle branch block is an established predictor for new conduction disturbances and need for a permanent pacemaker (PPM) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The aim of the study was to evaluate the absolute rates of transcatheter aortic valve replacement related PPM implantations in patients with pre-existent right bundle branch block and categorize for different transcatheter heart valves. Methods and Results-We pooled data on 306 transcatheter aortic valve replacement patients from 4 high-volume centers in Europe and selected those with right bundle branch block at baseline without a previously implanted PPM. Logistic regression was used to evaluate whether PPM rate differed among transcatheter heart valves after adjustment for confounders. Mean age was 83±7 years and 63% were male. Median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 6.3 (interquartile range, 4.1-10.2). The following transcatheter valve designs were used: Medtronic CoreValve (n=130; Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN); Edwards Sapien XT (ES-XT; n=124) and Edwards Sapien 3 (ES-3; n=32; Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA); and Boston Scientific Lotus (n=20; Boston Scientific Corporation, Marlborough, MA). Overall permanent pacemaker implantation rate post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement was 41%, and per valve design: 75% with Lotus, 46% with CoreValve, 32% with ES-XT, and 34% with ES-3. The indication for PPM implantation was total atrioventricular block in 98% of the cases. Lotus was associated with a higher PPM rate than all other valves. PPM rate did not differ between ES-XT and ES-3. Ventricular paced rhythm at 30-day and 1-year follow-up was present in 81% at 89%, respectively. Conclusions-Right bundle branch block at baseline is associated with a high incidence of PPM implantation for all transcatheter heart valves. PPM rate was highest for Lotus and lowest for ES-XT and ES-3. Pacemaker dependency remained high during followup

Fusarium wilt incidence and common bean yield according to the preceding crop and the soil tillage system

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of preceding crops and tillage systems on the incidence of Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) yield. The cultivar BRS Valente was cultivated under center‑pivot irrigation in the winter seasons of 2003, 2004 and 2005, after several preceding crops established in the summer seasons. Preceding crops included the legumes Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea), Stylosanthes guianensis, and Crotalaria spectabilis; the grasses Pennisetum glaucum (millet), Sorghum bicolor (forage sorghum), Panicum maximum, and Urochloa brizantha; and a consortium of maize (Zea mays) and U. brizantha (Santa Fé system). Experiments followed a strip‑plot design, with four replicates. Fusarium wilt incidence was higher in the no‑tillage system. Higher disease incidences corresponded to lower bean yields in 2003 and 2004. Previous summer cropping with U. brizantha, U. brizantha + maize consortium, and millet showed the lowest disease incidence. Therefore, the choice of preceding crops must be taken into account for managing Fusarium wilt on irrigated common bean crops in the Brazilian Cerrado

PATOGENICIDADE DE ESPÉCIES DE Macrophomina COLETADAS DE PLANTAS DANINHAS EM FEIJÃO-CAUPI

[PT] A podridão de carvão causada por Macrophomina phaseolina é uma das principais doenças do feijão-caupi, causando perdas substanciais para os produtores. Na região semiárida do Brasil, o feijão-caupi é uma das alternativas utilizadas para rotação de culturas durante a entressafra do melão. Isso favorece a multiplicação de Macrophomina, uma vez que ambas as culturas são hospedeiras desse patógeno. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a patogenicidade em caupi de Macrophomina phaseolina e M. pseudophaseolina em caupi. Isolados de Macrophomina spp. obtidos das raízes de Trianthema portulacastrum e Boerhavia diffusa, espécies de plantas daninhas prevalentes em áreas de produção de melão no Nordeste brasileiro foram utilizadas neste estudo. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação. Plantas de feijão-caupi 'Paulistinha' foram inoculados com 30 isolados de M. phaseolina, 30 isolados de M. pseudophaseolina e um isolado de referência de M. phaseolina obtido de raízes de feijão-caupi. Todos os isolados de Macrophomina foram patogênicos ao feijão-caupi, não havendo diferenças estatísticas entre as duas espécies de Macrophomina em relação à incidência e severidade da doença. Além disso, 65,2 e 100,0% dos isolados de M. phaseolina, e 56,2 e 92,8% dos isolados de M. pseudophaseolina, obtidos de T. portulacastrum e B. diffusa, respectivamente, foram tão severos ao feijão-caupi quanto o isolado de referência. Esses resultados enfatizam a necessidade de estabelecer práticas de manejo visando o controle de T. portucalastrum e B. diffusa nas áreas de produção de feijão-caupi, pois podem atuar como fontes de inóculo e sobrevivência para Macrophomina spp.[EN] Charcoal rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina is a major cowpea disease causing substantial losses to growers. In the semi-arid region of Brazil, cowpea is one of the most widely used alternatives for crop rotation during the off-season of melon. This favors Macrophomina multiplication because both crops are hosts of this pathogen. The objective of this study was to verify the pathogenicity of Macrophomina phaseolina and M. pseudophaseolina on cowpea. The Macrophomina spp. isolates used were obtained from the roots of Trianthema portulacastrum and Boerhavia diffusa, weed species prevalent in melon production areas in North-east Brazilian The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse. Cowpea plants cv. Paulistinha' were inoculated with 30 M. phaseolina isolates, 30 M. pseudophaseolina isolates and a reference isolate of H. phaseolina obtained from cowpea roots. All Macrophomina isolates were able to cause disease on cowpea and there were no statistical differences between both Macrophomina species regarding disease incidence and severity. Moreover, 65.2 and 100.0% of the M. phaseolina isolates, and 56.2 and 92.8% of the M. pseudophaseolina isolates, obtained from T. portulacastrum and B. diffusa, respectively, were as severe to cowpea as the M. phaseolina reference isolate from cowpea. These results emphasize the need to establish management practices aiming to control T. portucalastrum and B. diffusa from cowpea production areas, as they can act as potential sources of inoculum and survival for Macrophomina spp.This study was partially financed by the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior -Brazil (CAPES) -Finance Code 001 and by the Conselho Nacional de desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq).Sales Jr., R.; Nogueira, A.; Mitsa Paiva Negreiros, A.; Rodrigues, T.; De Queiroz, M.; Armengol Fortí, J. (2020). PATHOGENICITY OF Macrophomina SPECIES COLLECTED FROM WEEDS IN COWPEA. Revista Caatinga. 33(2):395-401. https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252020v33n212rcS395401332Ambrósio, M. M. Q., Dantas, A. C. A., Martínez-Perez, E., Medeiros, A. C., Nunes, G. H. S., & Picó, M. B. (2015). Screening a variable germplasm collection of Cucumis melo L. for seedling resistance to Macrophomina phaseolina. Euphytica, 206(2), 287-300. doi:10.1007/s10681-015-1452-xFreitas, F. C. L., Medeiros, V. F. L. P., Grangeiro, L. C., Silva, M. G. O., Nascimento, P. G. M. L., & Nunes, G. H. (2009). Interferência de plantas daninhas na cultura do feijão-caupi. Planta Daninha, 27(2), 241-247. doi:10.1590/s0100-83582009000200005Gomes-Silva, F., Almeida, C. M. A., Silva, A. G., Leão, M. P. C., Silva, K. P., Oliveira, L. G., … Lima, V. L. M. (2017). Genetic Diversity of Isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina Associated with Cowpea from Brazil Semi-Arid Region. Journal of Agricultural Science, 9(11), 112. doi:10.5539/jas.v9n11p112Gupta, G. K., Sharma, S. K., & Ramteke, R. (2012). Biology, Epidemiology and Management of the Pathogenic Fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid with Special Reference to Charcoal Rot of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill). Journal of Phytopathology, 160(4), 167-180. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0434.2012.01884.xKaur, S., Dhillon, G. S., Brar, S. K., Vallad, G. E., Chand, R., & Chauhan, V. B. (2012). Emerging phytopathogenMacrophomina phaseolina: biology, economic importance and current diagnostic trends. Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 38(2), 136-151. doi:10.3109/1040841x.2011.640977Machado, A. R., Pinho, D. B., Soares, D. J., Gomes, A. A. M., & Pereira, O. L. (2018). Bayesian analyses of five gene regions reveal a new phylogenetic species of Macrophomina associated with charcoal rot on oilseed crops in Brazil. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 153(1), 89-100. doi:10.1007/s10658-018-1545-1Mbaye, N., Mame, P. S., Ndiaga, C., & Ibrahima, N. (2015). Is the recently described Macrophomina pseudophaseolina pathogenically different from Macrophomina phaseolina? African Journal of Microbiology Research, 9(45), 2232-2238. doi:10.5897/ajmr2015.7742Negreiros, A. M. P., Sales Júnior, R., León, M., Melo, N. J., Michereff, S. J., Ambrósio, M. M., … Armengol, J. (2019). Identification and pathogenicity of Macrophomina species collected from weeds in melon fields in Northeastern Brazil. Journal of Phytopathology, 167(6), 326-337. doi:10.1111/jph.12801Negreiros, A. M. P., Júnior, R. S., Rodrigues, A. P. M. S., León, M., & Armengol, J. (2019). Prevalent weeds collected from cucurbit fields in Northeastern Brazil reveal new species diversity in the genusMonosporascus. Annals of Applied Biology, 174(3), 349-363. doi:10.1111/aab.12493Ramos, H. M. M., Bastos, E. A., Andrade Júnior, A. S. de, & Marouelli, W. A. (2012). Estratégias ótimas de irrigação do feijão‑caupi para produção de grãos verdes. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, 47(4), 576-583. doi:10.1590/s0100-204x2012000400014Reis, E. M., Boaretto, C., & Danelli, A. L. D. (2014). Macrophomina phaseolina: density and longevity of microsclerotia in soybean root tissues and free on the soil, and competitive saprophytic ability. Summa Phytopathologica, 40(2), 128-133. doi:10.1590/0100-5405/1921Rocha, M. de M., Carvalho, K. J. M. de, Freire Filho, F. R., Lopes, Â. C. de A., Gomes, R. L. F., & Sousa, I. da S. (2009). Controle genético do comprimento do pedúnculo em feijão-caupi. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, 44(3), 270-275. doi:10.1590/s0100-204x2009000300008Sales Junior, R., Oliveira, O. F. de, Medeiros, É. V. de, Guimarães, I. M., Correia, K. C., & Michereff, S. J. (2012). Ervas daninhas como hospedeiras alternativas de patógenos causadores do colapso do meloeiro. Revista Ciência Agronômica, 43(1), 195-198. doi:10.1590/s1806-66902012000100024Sales Júnior, R., Rodrigues, A. P. M. dos S., Negreiros, A. M. P., Ambrósio, M. M. de Q., Barboza, H. da S., & Beltrán, R. (2019). WEEDS AS POTENTIAL HOSTS FOR FUNGAL ROOT PATHOGENS OF WATERMELON. Revista Caatinga, 32(1), 1-6. doi:10.1590/1983-21252019v32n101rcFrancisco, de A. S. e S., & Carlos, A. V. de A. (2016). The Assistat Software Version 7.7 and its use in the analysis of experimental data. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 11(39), 3733-3740. doi:10.5897/ajar2016.11522Silva, M. G. O. da, Freitas, F. C. L. de, Negreiros, M. Z. de, Mesquita, H. C. de, Santana, F. A. O. de, & Lima, M. F. P. de. (2013). Manejo de plantas daninhas na cultura da melancia nos sistemas de plantio direto e convencional. Horticultura Brasileira, 31(3), 494-499. doi:10.1590/s0102-05362013000300025Zhao, L., Cai, J., He, W., & Zhang, Y. (2019). Macrophomina vaccinii sp. nov. causing blueberry stem blight in China. MycoKeys, 55, 1-14. doi:10.3897/mycokeys.55.3501

Global overview of the management of acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic (CHOLECOVID study)

Background: This study provides a global overview of the management of patients with acute cholecystitis during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: CHOLECOVID is an international, multicentre, observational comparative study of patients admitted to hospital with acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on management were collected for a 2-month study interval coincident with the WHO declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and compared with an equivalent pre-pandemic time interval. Mediation analysis examined the influence of SARS-COV-2 infection on 30-day mortality. Results: This study collected data on 9783 patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to 247 hospitals across the world. The pandemic was associated with reduced availability of surgical workforce and operating facilities globally, a significant shift to worse severity of disease, and increased use of conservative management. There was a reduction (both absolute and proportionate) in the number of patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 3095 patients (56.2 per cent) pre-pandemic to 1998 patients (46.2 per cent) during the pandemic but there was no difference in 30-day all-cause mortality after cholecystectomy comparing the pre-pandemic interval with the pandemic (13 patients (0.4 per cent) pre-pandemic to 13 patients (0.6 per cent) pandemic; P = 0.355). In mediation analysis, an admission with acute cholecystitis during the pandemic was associated with a non-significant increased risk of death (OR 1.29, 95 per cent c.i. 0.93 to 1.79, P = 0.121). Conclusion: CHOLECOVID provides a unique overview of the treatment of patients with cholecystitis across the globe during the first months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The study highlights the need for system resilience in retention of elective surgical activity. Cholecystectomy was associated with a low risk of mortality and deferral of treatment results in an increase in avoidable morbidity that represents the non-COVID cost of this pandemic