In an Indian oncology setting, between August and December 2021, 56 patients, developed Burkholderia cenocepacia bacteremia. An investigation revealed a contaminated batch of the antiemetic drug palonosetron. The outbreak was terminated by withdrawing the culprit batch and the findings were reported promptly to regulatory authorities.

Background: The success of repeat surgery for recurrent trigeminal neuralgia (TN)—with microvascular decompression (MVD), percutaneous rhizotomy (PR), or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)—is not well-studied. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on repeat surgery recurrent TN, focusing on the durability of pain relief and relative efficacy of MVD, PR, and SRS. Methods: A PRISMA systematic review of Medline/Embase/Pubmed identified studies of adults with unilateral idiopathic TN undergoing repeat surgery. The primary outcome of complete pain relief (CPR) at last follow-up was analyzed with a multivariate mixed-effects meta-analysis of proportions. Results: Seventy-eight studies met criteria; 61 were included in meta-analyses, containing 29/14/25 cohorts with 900/684/1353 patients undergoing MVD/PR/SRS respectively (mean age 64.7 years, 41% males). Initial CPR was 69% (74%/85%/52%). CPR at mean 39.7 month follow-up (38.3/38.8/41.0) was 48% (59%/60%/34%). Initial CPR for both MVD (CPR: 0.78 [0.70-0.85]) and PR (CPR: 0.93 [0.83-0.98]) was superior to SRS (CPR: 0.48 [0.35-0.61]). At follow-up, MVD (0.45 [0.32-0.58]) and PR (0.45 [0.30-0.60]) trended towards superior CPR versus SRS (0.25 [0.15-0.37]). Conclusions: Half of recurrent TN patients achieve good pain control 3 years after repeat surgery. MVD/PR showed superior initial pain relief and likely better long-term relief. These findings can inform surgical decision-making in this challenging population.

Background: Diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) tractography is commonly used in neurosurgical practice, but is largely limited to the preoperative setting. This is due primarily to image degradation caused by susceptibility artifact when conventional single-shot (SS) echo-planar imaging DTI is acquired for open cranial, surgical position intraoperative DTI (iDTI). A novel, artifact-resistant, readout-segmented (RS) DTI has not yet been evaluated in the intraoperative MRI (iMRI) environment. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of RS-DTI versus SS-DTI for intraoperative white matter imaging. Methods: Pre- and intraoperative 3T, T1-weighted and DTI (RS-iDTI and SS-iDTI) in 22 adults undergoing intraaxial iMRI resections (low-grade glioma: 14, 64%; high-grade glioma: 7, 32%; cortical dysplasia: 1). Regional susceptibility artifact, anatomical deviation relative to T1WI, and tractographic output were compared between iDTI sequences. Results: RS-iDTI resulted in less regional susceptibility artifact and mean anatomic deviation (RS-iDTI: 2.7±0.2 mm versus SS-iDTI 7.5±0.4 mm; p<0.0001). Tractographic failure occurred in 8/22 (36%) patients for SS-iDTI whereas RS-iDTI permitted successful reconstruction in 4 of these 8. Maximal tractographic differences between DTI sequences were substantial (mean 9.7±5.7 mm). Conclusions: Readout-segmented EPI enables higher quality and more accurate DTI for surgically relevant tractography of major white matter tracts in intraoperative, open cranium, neurosurgical applications at 3T.

Background: External ventricular drain (EVD) insertion is a common neurosurgical procedure performed in patients with life-threatening conditions, but can be associated with complications. The objectives of this study are to evaluate data on national practice patterns and complications rates in order to optimize clinical care Methods: The Canadian Neurosurgery Research Collaborative conducted a prospective multi-centre registry of patients undergoing EVD insertions at Canadian residency programs Results: In this interim analysis, 4 sites had recruited 46 patients (mean age: 53.9 years, male:female 2:1). Most EVD insertions occurred outside of the operating theatre, using free-hand technique, and performed by junior neurosurgery residents (R1-R3). The catheter tip was in the ipsilateral frontal horn or body of the lateral ventricle in 76% of cases. Suboptimally placed catheters did not have higher rates of short-term occlusion. EVD-related hemorrhage occurred in 6.5% (3/45) with only 1 symptomatic patient. EVD-related infection occurred in 13% (6/46) at a mean of 6 days and was associated with longer duration of CSF drainage (P=0.039; OR: 1.13) Conclusions: Interim results indicate rates of EVD-related complications may be higher than previously thought. This study will continue to recruit patients to confirm these findings and determine specific risk factors associated with them

Background: Surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) can be highly effective, but durability of pain relief varies and factors influencing surgical failure are poorly understood. We hypothesized that structural brain differences—assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—might distinguish surgical responders from early non-responders. Methods: We retrospectively identified 35 TN patients treated surgically from 2005-2017 with high-resolution, -pre-operative MRI scans adequate for quantitative structural analysis. Patients were classified as non-responders if, within 12-months after surgery, they: 1) underwent or were offered another surgical procedure; or 2) reported persistent, inadequately-controlled pain. Volumes of pain-relevant subcortical structures (amygdala, thalamus, and hippocampus) were measured on T1-weighted MRI scans using an automated approach (FSL-FIRST). Results: Surgical responders had significantly larger hippocampi bilaterally compared to early non-responders. Thalamus and amygdala volumes did not differ between groups. Conclusions: Pre-operative differences in brain structure, notably in the hippocampus, may predict durability of response to surgery in patients with TN.

Contaminated surfaces are a suspected source for dissemination of the globally emerging pathogen Candida auris. In laboratory testing, sporicidal and improved hydrogen peroxide disinfectants were highly effective against C. auris, C. glabrata, and C. albicans. The widely used quaternary ammonium disinfectants exhibited relatively poor activity against all of the Candida species.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:1240–1243

Background: The Canadian Neurosurgery Research Collaborative (CNRC) is a trainee-led multi-centre collaboration made up of representatives from 12 of 14 neurosurgical centres with residency programs. To demonstrate the potential of this collaborative network, we gathered administrative operative data from each centre in order to provide a snapshot of the operative landscape in Canadian neurosurgery. Methods: Residents from each training program provided adult neurosurgical operative data for the 2014 calendar year, including the number of surgeries in the subcategories cranial, spinal, and peripheral nerve. Because some residency programs have surgeries distributed among more than one hospital, we calculated mean case load per residency program and per hospital. Results: Interim results from 6 neurosurgery residency programs are presented (with data from other programs forthcoming). Overall, there were on average 2,352 operative cases per residency program (n=6) and 1,176 operative cases per adult hospital (n=12). Among 5 programs with more detailed operative data, the mean numbers of cranial, spinal, peripheral nerve, and miscellaneous surgeries per residency program were 757 (47%), 487 (30%), 47 (3%), and 319 (20%) respectively. Conclusions: We show as a proof-of-concept that a trainee-led nation-wide research collaborative can generate meaningful data in a Canadian context.

Background: It remains difficult to predict which patients will experience ongoing seizures or neuropsychological deficits following Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) surgery. MRI allows measurement of brain structures, such as the contralateral (non-resected) hippocampus (cHC) after TLE surgery. Preliminary evidence suggests that the cHC atrophies following surgery, however, the time course of this atrophy, relation to cognitive deficits and seizure outcome remains unclear. Methods: T1-weighted MR imaging and hippocampal volumetry in 26 TLE patients pre- and post-TLE surgery (and 12 controls) as: 1) two-scan group (TSG) (pre- and post-operatively at 5.4 years) and 2) longitudinal group (LG; pre- and on post-operatively on day 1,2,3,6,60,120 and at an average 2.4 years. Seizure outcome and pre- and post-operative neuropsychological assessment was performed. Results: The TSG had significant atrophy by 12% of the unresected cHC (p<0.0001) most pronounced (27%) in the hippocampal body alone. The LG revealed that this atrophy occured rapidly over the first week (1.3%/day; 3%/day cHC body). Significantly greater cHC atrophy was observed in those with ongoing seizures versus the seizure free (p=0.048). Conclusions: Significant cHC atrophy following TLE surgery that begins immediately, progresses over the first week, and remains signficantly depressed. The severity postoperative cHC atrophy may represent an early biomarker of the propensity for delayed seizure recurrence.

Background: The goals of evidence-based neurosurgery are to improve surgical outcomes, reduce complications, and provide an objective basis for altering practice. The need for higher quality studies, typically prospective and multicentre, has been growing especially in light of the evolving complexity of neurosurgical interventions and heterogeneity of patient populations. In the United Kingdom (UK), trainee-led research collaboratives have been established to tackle this problem. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the potential role for a resident-led research collaborative in neurosurgery in Canada based on the UK experience. Methods: A literature review of trainee-led collaboratives was conducted utilizing PubMed and Medline. Identified articles were reviewed for study quality and clinical relevance to explore the potential benefits of collaboratives. Results: In the UK, 27 collaboratives have been established in various specialties by trainees. Some published high quality trials with implications on their clinical fields. Evidence suggests that such endeavors improves trainees’ research skills and may help cultivate a research culture tailored towards clinical trials. Conclusions: Given the growing evidence for research collaboratives in the UK, we propose launching the Canadian Neurosurgery Research Collaborative (CNRC) which currently represents 12 out of 14 neurosurgery programs in Canada, and planning its first multicenter prospective study.

The Upper Dharmaram Formation (Lower Jurassic, Sinemurian) of India has yielded three sauropodomorph dinosaurs, two new taxa and an indeterminate one. Lamplughsaura dharmaramensis n. gen. and sp., represented by several partial skeletons, is a heavily built quadrupedal form (body length ~10 m). Autapomorphies include teeth with strongly emarginated distal edge; caudal cervical neural spines bearing a vertically oriented ligamentous furrow on cranial and caudal surfaces and a transversely expanded spine table; caudal neural spines bearing a craniodorsally directed spur (proximal caudal vertebrae) or a large process (midcaudal vertebrae); caudal neural spines shorter than transverse processes so former lost first in passing along tail; and a plesiomorphy that is the nontrenchant form of manual ungual I. The Indian dinosaurs were coded for two recent datamatrices for basal sauropodomorphs. The results of this preliminary analysis indicate that Lamplughsaura is either a basal Sauropoda or, less likely, based on Templeton's test, a stem sauropodomorph. The second large form, represented by the proximal half of a femur, is a sauropodomorph that is more derived than Saturnalia (Brazil) and Thecodontosaurus (Great Britain) from the Upper Triassic. This is also true for the smaller (body length ~4 m as adult) Pradhania gracilis n. gen. and sp. which lies outside of the Sauropoda + Plateosauria clade, so it is definitely a stem sauropodomorph. Pradhania is known from fragmentary material; an autapomorphy is the very prominent medial longitudinal ridge on the maxilla.

Background: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy is associated with bilateral gray (GM) and white matter (WM) loss. After surgical treatment progressive bilateral temporal and extra-temporal WM change occur, however, less is known regarding post-operative GM change. We set out to measure contralateral hippocampal volume (CHV) following TLS. Methods: 1.5T-3D-1mm-isotropic-MPRAGE scans in 26 TLE patients and 3 controls in two groups: longitudinal (n=10)(imaged POD1,2,3,6,60,120 and >360d) and single post-operative scan (n=16). Manual volumetry protocols. Results: We find significant CHV atrophy at delayed scan relative to baseline (mean atrophy 26.8%). In the longitudinal group there is significant and progressive atrophy from baseline to POD4-8 (72.6+/-6.5%), POD60-360 (69.7+/-12.3%) and >360 (58.5+/-10.6%). No significant atrophy in either the control group HV or contralateral CV over time. No significant difference in mean HV at the most delayed exam for surgery type (p=0.13) or side (p=0.24). Conclusions: We find a statistically significant CHV atrophy following surgery which is progressive over time. Our longitudinal within-subject design describes the time course and extent more fully than previous work. Caudate analysis indicates that early CHV atrophy is not due to global atrophy following brain surgery but rather may be due to deafferentation and deefferentation. Finally, we find no significant difference in atrophy when analyzed by surgical approach or surgical side.

This experiment was conducted to study the long-term effect of soil management treatments on crop yields, sustainability yield indices (SYI) and soil fertility in rainfed semi-arid tropical Alfisol at Hayathnagar Research Farm, Hyderabad, India, during the period 1995 to 2009. The experiment was conducted in a split–split plot design with conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) as main factors, surface application of sorghum stover @ 2 t ha−1 (SS), fresh Gliricidia loppings @ 2 t ha−1 (GL) and ‘no’ residue (NR) as sub-factors and levels of N viz. 0 (N0), 30 (N30), 60 (N60) and 90 (N90) kg N ha−1 as sub–sub factors in a castor–sorghum two-year rotation. On an average, CT maintained 30.4 and 57.0% higher grain yields of sorghum and castor, respectively, over MT. Between two residues, GL performed well in both the crops. The highest yields of sorghum (1425 kg ha−1) and castor (876 kg ha−1) were recorded at 90 kg N ha−1. CT maintained higher SYI of 0.44 compared to MT (0.38) and higher agronomic efficiency (AE) of 13.5 and 6.76 kg grain kg−1 N for sorghum and castor crop, respectively. Use of crop residue as mulch had an advantage in increasing the yield of both the crops with increase in rainfall under CT even without N application (control), probably by making the soil more receptive to water infiltration, better moisture storage and by reducing the evaporative losses. Using response functions, the optimum fertilizer N requirement was also computed for a given set of tillage and residue combinations. The revised optimum fertilizer N doses for sorghum and castor varied from 45 to 56 kg ha−1 and 46 to 74 kg ha−1, respectively, under different tillage and residue combinations and could be recommended depending upon the soil management practices.

The beginning of dinosaur evolution is currently known based on a handful of highly informative Gondwanan outcrops of Ischigualastian age (late Carnian–early Norian). The richest Triassic dinosaur records of the southern continents are those of South America and South Africa, with taxonomically diverse faunas, whereas faunas from India and central Africa are more poorly known. Here, the known diversity of Gondwanan Triassic dinosaurs is increased with new specimens from central India, which allow a more comprehensive characterisation of these dinosaur assemblages. Five dinosauriform specimens are reported from the probable late Norian–earliest Rhaetian Upper Maleri Formation, including two new sauropodomorph species, the non-plateosaurian Nambalia roychowdhurii and the plateosaurian Jaklapallisaurus asymmetrica, a guaibasaurid and two basal dinosauriforms. The Lower Dharmaram Formation, probably latest Norian–Rhaetian in age, includes basal sauropodomorph and neotheropod remains, providing the second record of a Triassic Gondwanan neotheropod. The currently available evidence suggests that the oldest known Gondwanan dinosaur assemblages (Ischigualastian) were not homogeneous, but more diverse in South America than in India. In addition, the Upper Maleri and Lower Dharmaram dinosaur assemblages resemble purported coeval South American and European beds in the presence of basal sauropodomorphs. Accordingly, the current available evidence of the Triassic beds of the Pranhita–Godavari Basin suggests that dinosaurs increased in diversity and abundance during the late Norian to Rhaetian in this region of Gondwana.

In this paper, an efficient method for computing the Jacobian matrix for robot manipulators on a single processor computer is developed. Compared with the existing methods, the number of required numerical operations is considerably smaller, making the proposed technique the fastest, or the least expensive, one for any general N degrees-of-freedom manipulator.

ZnO colloidal nanocrystals have been synthesized using two different approaches and characterized by HRTEM, EDS, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. ZnO nanocrystals synthesized from zinc alkoxy alkyl precursors in the MeIm/H2O coordinating solvent showed only visible surface-defect related emission in their PL spectra. No band-to-band UV emission was observed after ZnS coating of those ZnO nanocrystals. In contrast, a strong band-to-band UV emission dominated PL spectra of ZnO nanocrystals synthesized through wet-chemical acid-catalyzed esterification of zinc acetate.

The effects of 137Cs gamma irradiation on photoluminescence properties, such as spectra, light output, and lifetime, of several types of colloidal nanocrystals have been investigated. Irradiation-induced damage testing was performed on CdSe/ZnS, LaF3:Eu, LaF3:Ce, ZnO, and PbI2 nanocrystals synthesized on a Schlenk line using appropriate solvents and precursors. Optical degradation of the nanocrystals was evaluated based on the measured dependence of their photoluminescence intensity on the irradiation dose. Radiation hardness varies significantly between various nanocrystalline material systems.

The chemical and morphological properties of a sol-derived layered perovskite compound, Kca2Nb3O10 (KCN), are presented. Development of this compound is motivated by its use as an interphase fiber-coating material for ceramic matrix composites (CMC's). In such systems, this material is to be placed between the fiber and matrix to control crack propagation in the vicinity of the fiber, thereby enhancing toughness. Comparative analyses are performed between known bulk specimens of KCN and the sol-derived product using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The suitability of the sol-derived KCN for CMC applications is demonstrated through microstructure and chemical composition similar to that of the known bulk KCN samples.

The hardnesses and elastic moduli of aluminum nitride (AIN) and titanium nitride (TiN) sub-micron thin films pulsed laser deposited (PLD) on silicon (111) were measured using nanoindentation based on a continuous stiffness measurement (CSM) technique. Thin film thicknesses, based on profile measurements of simultaneously grown step samples, are 210 nm and 180 nm with surface roughnesses of 12 nm and 2 nm for AlN and TiN, respectively. X-ray diffraction showed AlN as a highly textured polycrystalline AlN wurzite structure with a (0001) orientation and TiN as a cubic structure with a (111) orientation. The CSM technique provided hardness and elastic modulus as a function of depth. Finite element modeling (FEM) aided in determining the optimum indenter contact depth at which the thin films behaved as a semi-infinite solid with negligible substrate induced artifacts. Hardnesses of these AlN and TiN thin films were, determined analytically, 25 GPa and 33 GPa, as compared to FEM results of 24 GPa and 30 GPa, respectively. The elastic moduli measured 320 GPa and 370 GPa for these AlN and TiN thin films, respectively.

Nd2-xPrxCo14B intermetallics crystallize in tetragonal form isostructural to Nd2Fe14B. Structural and magnetic properties of the polycrystalline materials have been determined. Room temperature magnetic measurements indicate that these intermetallics exhibit uniaxial anisotropy throughout the entire composition range. Substitution of praseodymium in Nd2-xPrxCo14B significantly enhances the anisotropy field both at 78 K and at room temperature. Magnetization versus temperature plots show spin reorientation TSR2 at 546 K for Nd2Co14B and at 668 K for Pr2Co14B. TSR2 increases linearly with composition x. The 3d sublattice anisotropy which seeks the tetragonal plane appears to dominate above these temperatures. In addition to the above, low temperature magnetic measurements demonstrate the spin reorientation in Nd2Co14B and Nd1.9Pr0.1Co14B. Further additions of praseodymium strengthen the axial anisotropy at temperatures down to 4.2 K. Effect of competing crystal field interactions and the consequences of praseodymium substitution that result in considerable increase in anisotropy field in these quaternaries are discussed.