Dynamic reorganization of vortex matter into partially disordered lattices

We report structural evidence of dynamic reorganization in vortex matter in clean NbSe$_2$ by joint small angle neutron scattering and ac-susceptibility measurements. The application of oscillatory forces in a transitional region near the order-disorder transition results in robust bulk vortex lattice configurations with an intermediate degree of disorder. These dynamically-originated configurations correlate with intermediate pinning responses previously observed, resolving a long standing debate regarding the origin of such responses.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures. To be published in Physical Review Letter

Revision of type and non-type material assigned to the genus Orthocladius by Goetghebuer (1940–1950), deposited in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Selected type and non-type material belonging to the genus Orthocladius van der Wulp, 1874 (Diptera: Chironomidae) sensu G OETGHEBUER (1940\u20131950), deposited in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), originally comprising specimens dry pinned or stored in isinglass, were mounted on microscope slides and re-examined. Other chironomids present in the RBINS collection belonging to other genera were also examined. Fifty slides were prepared and identified to species, or to generic level when the condition of the specimens did not allow species identification. The following types, representing taxa formerly considered as nomina dubia, were examined and the concerned species are stated here as valid: Georthocladius collarti (Goetghebuer, 1941) comb. nov., Georthocladius scaturiginis (Goetghebuer, 1940) comb. nov., Lapposmittia succinea (Goetghebuer, 1942) comb. nov., Orthocladius (Euorthocladius) tolleti Goetghebuer, 1944 (new subgenus placement), Orthocladius (Orthocladius) timoni Goetghebuer & Timon-David, 1939, Pseudorthocladius hockaiensis (Goetghebuer, 1933). Orthocladius (Orthocladius) mitisi Goetghebuer, 1938, previously stated as junior synonym of Orthocladius (Orthocladius) glabripennis (Goetghebuer, 1921), is reinstated as valid species. The following new synonyms are proposed: Georthocladius (Georthocladius) collarti = Parachaetocladius retezati Albu, 1972: 19, syn. nov.; Cricotopus (Paratrichocladius) rufiventris (Meigen, 1830) = Orthocladius franzi Goetghebuer, 1949, syn. nov.; Cricotopus (Paratricho-cladius) skirwithensis Edwards, 1929 = Orthocladius nigritus Goetghebuer, 1938, syn. nov. = Paratrichocladius spiesi Ashe & O\u2019Connor, 2012; Hydrobaenus distylus (Potthast, 1914) = Orthocladius antennalis Goetghebuer, 1944, syn. nov. Lecto-types of Orthocladius collarti Goetghebuer, 1941, Orthocladius antennalis Goetghebuer, 1944, Orthocladius timoni Goetghebuer & Timon-David, 1939, and Orthocladius hockaiensis Goetghebuer, 1933 are designated. Non-type material assigned to Orthocladius was also mounted on slides and identified. Although a list of the non-Orthocladius taxa is also provided, no taxonomic changes are proposed for the latter

Correlated vortex pinning in slightly orthorhombic twinned Ba(Fe1−xCox)2As2 single crystals: Possible shift of the vortex-glass/liquid transition

The interest in twin-boundary (TB) planes as a source of vortex pinning has been recently renewed with the discovery of the new iron-arsenide pnictide superconductors. In the family of compounds Ba(Fe1−xCox )2As2 a structural transition from a tetragonal to orthorhombic lattice takes place for compounds with xxcr) there is no twinning and we find good agreement with the expected scaling function under uncorrelated disorder, with small anisotropy values similar to those reported in the literature. We show that in the orthorhombic samples (xFil: Marziali Bermudez, Mariano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Pasquini, Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Bud´ko, S.L.. University of Iowa; Estados UnidosFil: Canfield, P.C.. University of Iowa; Estados Unido

Effect of sugars on Chlamydia trachomatis infectivity

Background. Previous works suggest that sugars can have a beneficial effect on C. trachomatis (CT) survival and virulence. In this study, we investigated the effect of different sugars on CT infectivity, elucidating some of the molecular mechanisms behind CT-sugar interaction. Methods. CT infectivity was investigated on HeLa cells after 2 hour-incubation of elementary bodies (EBs) with glucose, sucrose, or mannitol solutions (0.5, 2.5, 5.0 mM). The effect of sugars on EB membrane fluidity was investigated by fluorescence anisotropy measurement, whereas the changes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure were examined by cytofluorimetric analysis. By means of a Western blot, we explored the phosphorylation state of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) in HeLa cells infected with EBs pre-incubated with sugars. Results. All sugar solutions significantly increased CT infectivity on epithelial cells, acting directly on the EB structure. Sugars induced a significant increase of EB membrane fluidity, leading to changes in LPS membrane exposure. Especially after incubation with sucrose and mannitol, EBs led to a higher FAK phosphorylation, enhancing the activation of anti-apoptotic and proliferative signals in the host cells. Conclusions. Sugars can increase CT infectivity and virulence, by modulating the expression/exposure of chlamydial membrane ligands. Further in-depth studies are needed to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved

Mosaic structure of the penA gene in the oropharynx of men who have sex with men negative for gonorrhoea

The oropharynx represents a crucial site for the emergence of multi-drug resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The mosaic penA alleles, associated with decreased susceptibility to cephalosporins, have emerged by DNA recombination with partial penA genes, particularly those from commensal pharyngeal Neisseria species. Here, we investigated the prevalence of the mosaic structure of the penA gene in the oropharynx of men who have sex with men testing negative for pharyngeal gonorrhoea. From January 2016 to June 2018, 351 gonorrhoea-negative men who have sex with men attending a sexually transmitted infection clinic in Italy were enrolled. Pharyngeal swabs underwent a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of the mosaic penA gene. In case of positivity, PCR products were sequenced and searched against several sequences of Neisseria strains. Overall, 31 patients (8.8%) were found positive for the presence of the mosaic penA gene. The positivity was significantly associated with previous cases of pharyngeal gonorrhoea (relative risk [RR]: 3.56, 95% confidence interval 1.44\u20138.80) and with recent exposure to beta-lactams (RR: 4.29, 95% confidence interval 2.20\u20138.38). All penA-positive samples showed a high relatedness (90\u201399%) with mosaic-positive Neisseria strains. Our data underline that commensal Neisseria species of the oropharynx may be a significant reservoir for genetic material conferring antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae

Evaluation of basal ganglia haemodynamic changes with perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Parkinson's disease

The aim of our study was to assess the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of basal ganglia and thalami in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) using perfusion–weighted magnetic resonance imaging (PW–MRI)

Introduction into Italy of Gryon pennsylvanicum (Ashmead), an egg parasitoid of the alien invasive bug Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann

Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heteroptera, Coreidae), a Nearctic species, was accidentally introduced into Northern Italy in the late 1990s, from where it has spread throughout Europe. The bug causes abortion of immature cones of Pinus pinea L., with economic impact on the pine-nut industry. As part of a pest control research program, the egg parasitoid Gryon pennsylvanicum Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae) was collected from British Columbia, Canada, and legally introduced to a quarantine climatic chamber in Florence, Italy. The egg parasitoid will be tested against native non target heteropterans, an environmental impact assessment will be conducted, and a mass rearing method will be developed if appropriate. The ultimate goal is to release G. pennsylvanicum into Italian P. pinea forests for classical biological control of L. occidentalis

Differences in client and therapist views of the working alliance in drug treatment

Background - There is growing evidence that the therapeutic alliance is one of the most consistent predictors of retention and outcomes in drug treatment. Recent psychotherapy research has indicated that there is a lack of agreement between client, therapist and observer ratings of the therapeutic alliance; however, the clinical implications of this lack of consensus have not been explored. Aims - The aims of the study are to (1) explore the extent to which, in drug treatment, clients and counsellors agree in their perceptions of their alliance, and (2) investigate whether the degree of disagreement between clients and counsellors is related to retention in treatment. Methods - The study recruited 187 clients starting residential rehabilitation treatment for drug misuse in three UK services. Client and counsellor ratings of the therapeutic alliance (using the WAI-S) were obtained during weeks 1-12. Retention was in this study defined as remaining in treatment for at least 12 weeks. Results - Client and counsellor ratings of the alliance were only weakly related (correlations ranging from r = 0.07 to 0.42) and tended to become more dissimilar over the first 12 weeks in treatment. However, whether or not clients and counsellors agreed on the quality of their relationship did not influence whether clients were retained in treatment. Conclusions - The low consensus between client and counsellor views of the alliance found in this and other studies highlights the need for drug counsellors to attend closely to their clients' perceptions of the alliance and to seek regular feedback from clients regarding their feelings about their therapeutic relationship

Differences between Proximal versus Distal Intraorbital Optic Nerve Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging Properties in Glaucoma Patients

Purpose. To analyze in vivo the diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) properties of the intraorbital optic nerve at two different levels: Proximal to the optic nerve head (ONH) and distal to the ONH at the level of the orbital apex in glaucoma patients. Methods. Twenty-four patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were examined. The categorization into early and severe glaucoma was performed by Hodapp's classification. Fifteen healthy individuals served as controls. DT-MRI was performed with a 3T-MR unit. Results. At early stage mean diffusivity (MD) values were higher at the proximal site with respect to the distal site. On the contrary, a decrease in fractional anisotropy (FA) was observed only relative to patient stage, independent of optic nerve site. Moreover, at early disease stage an increase in overall diffusivities, was evident at the proximal site, whereas at the distal site a decrease of the largest diffusivity and an increase in both the intermediate and smallest diffusivities were observed. FA and MD measured at the proximal site, had, respectively, the highest sensitivity and specificity in discriminating between healthy and glaucomatous eyes. Conclusions. Our study represents the first attempt to evaluate in vivo fiber integrity changes along the optic nerve with DT-MRI. Optic nerve degeneration appears to be a process that affects differently the proximal and the distal segments of the optic nerve. The complementary high sensitivity of FA with the high specificity of MD at the proximal site may provide reliable indexes for the identification of glaucomatous patients at early stages