Community-acquired antimicrobial resistance among Syrian refugees and the local population in Türkiye.
The long-standing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pandemic has proven difficult to resolve and is becoming more complex, especially in the context of increasing forced migration, with little evidence around patterns of AMR in migrant communities. This study aimed to determine the frequency in the carriage of common types of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria between Syrian refugees and the local communities in Türkiye: extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). We collected nasal swabs and stool samples from the study participants, the local community members, and refugees, between September 2020 and March 2021. We screened clinical samples for the presence of ESBL, MRSA and VRE. Antimicrobial-resistant bacterial isolates were tested by phenotypic analysis to determine the AMR status. The study included a total of 3960 participants: 1453 individuals in the local community (36.2%) and 2525 Syrian refugees (63.8%). Overall, a significantly greater proportion of refugees (6.7%) carried MRSA compared to the local community (3.2%) (P < 0.001). The ESBL-positivity rate was 17.9% in Syrian refugees and 14.3% in the local community (P = 0.041). Carbapenemase activity was detected in three isolates from Syrian refugees. No VRE was detected in Syrian refugees or the local community. This large, community-based study on the frequency and the distribution of AMR among Syrian refugees and the local population is the first study in Türkiye.


Beneath and beyond the "formulations on the two principles of mental functioning": Freud and Jung.
This paper discusses Freud's classic contribution "Formulations on the Two Principles of Mental Functioning" in the historical context of the Freud-Jung relationship, covertly represented by an obscure dream with Freud's interpretation. Freud added the dream and its interpretation to a previous unpublished version of the paper Freud's analysis of his conflicts with Jung (and earlier with Fliess) particularly regarding parricide and plagiarism, contributed to the incipient psychoanalytic theory of aggression. The paper further explores psycho-biographical issues in the life and work of Freud, exemplified in the latent content of this classic paper The pleasure and reality principles are re-examined within contemporary psychoanalytic theory.


cDNA cloning of human myeloperoxidase: decrease in myeloperoxidase mRNA upon induction of HL-60 cells.
Myeloperoxidase (MPO), the most abundant neutrophil protein, is a bacteriocidal component of the primary granules and a critical marker in distinguishing acute myelogenous leukemia from acute lymphoid leukemia. A cDNA clone for human MPO was isolated by immunologic screening of human hematopoietic lambda gt11 expression vector libraries with specific anti-MPO antibody. The identity of the cDNA clone was confirmed by finding that epitope-selected antibody against this clone recognizes purified MPO and MPO in human promyelocytic (HL-60) cell lysates by immunoblot analysis, and that hybrid selection of HL-60 mRNA with this cDNA clone and translation in vitro results in the synthesis of an 80-kDa protein recognized by the anti-MPO antiserum. RNA blot analysis with this MPO cDNA clone detects hybridization to two polyadenylylated transcripts of approximately 3.6 and approximately 2.9 kilobases in HL-60 cells. No hybridization is detected to human placenta mRNA. Upon induction of HL-60 cells to differentiate by incubation for 4 days with dimethyl sulfoxide, a drastic decrease in the hybridization intensity of these two bands is seen. This is consistent with previous data suggesting a decrease in MPO synthesis upon such induction of these cells. The MPO cDNA should be useful for further molecular and genetic characterization of MPO and its expression and biosynthesis in normal and leukemic granulocytic differentiation.


Patient Satisfaction with Quality of Primary Care Health services-findings from India.
Patient satisfaction is an essential indicator for measuring the quality of care. This study assessed patients' satisfaction with primary care services across different public health care system levels. The study was a cross-sectional study conducted across three states in India. We adopted a multi-stage stratified random sampling technique to select the districts(n-13) and facilities (n-55). A total of 4650 patients' exit interviews were conducted. Linear regression and analysis of variance was used to test the association. Analyses was performed using Stata software (version 15.0). Patients visiting the primary facilities were more satisfied within the different domains of quality indicators that is, technical, communication, safety and cleanliness, and cost of services. The highest differences were observed on behaviour of other staff (Reg Coefficient 4.1 ± 0.8) and cleanliness of the ward (Reg Coefficient 4.0 ± 0.9). Significant negative association was observed in patient's satisfaction in the state of Kerala with an increase in age and education level. Our study suggests higher satisfaction at primary care facilities as compared to secondary and tertiary level facilities in the three states. Development of standardized tool and specific research on patient experience and its relation to the quality of care is needed in low- and middle-income countries.


Clinical course of alcohol dependence in African Americans.
The sequence and progression of alcohol related life events were investigated in a sample of African Americans and compared with findings from a predominantly Caucasian sample. Alcohol dependent participants were recruited from treatment facilities. Participants completed the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism to assess the physical, psychological and social manifestations of alcoholism and related disorders. The sequence and mean age of appearance of alcohol-related life events were similar for this sample of African-American men and women. While there were similarities in the progression of alcohol related life problems between the African American and the Caucasian samples, the frequency of symptom endorsement for most problems was significantly higher in the Caucasian sample. Identifying ethnic differences in the clinical course of alcohol dependence may be of importance in developing treatment plans and assist in the development of culturally sensitive intervention and prevention programs.


Differential Effect of Azetidine Substitution in Firefly Luciferin Analogues.
Replacing an N,N-dimethylamino group in a classical fluorophore with a four membered azetidine ring provides an improved luminescence quantum yield. Herein, we extended this strategy to bioluminescent firefly luciferin analogues and evaluated its general validity. For this purpose, four types of luciferin cores were employed, and a total of eight analogues were evaluated. Among these analogues, unexpectedly, only the benzothiazole core analogue benefited from an azetidine substitution and showed enhanced bioluminescence. In addition, fluorescence measurements revealed that an azetidine substitution improved the fluorescence quantum yield by 2.3-times compared to a N,N-dimethylamino group. These findings clarify the differential effects of azetidine substituents in luciferins and present one possible strategy for enhancing photon output in benzothiazole type luciferins through a synthetic approach.


Individual Monitoring and Occupational Dose Record Management in China: History, Current Status and Perspectives.
This review paper presents an overview of individual monitoring, as well as the national dose register and dose record management of radiation workers in China. Progress has recently been made on the individual monitoring of radiation workers. A critical analysis of current status and problems in individual monitoring is also presented and necessary future research on individual monitoring, such as the monitoring technology in the form of the ring dosimeters and eye lens dosimeters, is suggested.


Database derived from an electronic medical record-based surveillance network of US emergency department patients with acute respiratory illness.
For surveillance of episodic illness, the emergency department (ED) represents one of the largest interfaces for generalizable data about segments of the US public experiencing a need for unscheduled care. This protocol manuscript describes the development and operation of a national network linking symptom, clinical, laboratory and disposition data that provides a public database dedicated to the surveillance of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in EDs. The Respiratory Virus Laboratory Emergency Department Network Surveillance (RESP-LENS) network includes 26 academic investigators, from 24 sites, with 91 hospitals, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to survey viral infections. All data originate from electronic medical records (EMRs) accessed by structured query language (SQL) coding. Each Tuesday, data are imported into the standard data form for ARI visits that occurred the prior week (termed the index file); outcomes at 30 days and ED volume are also recorded. Up to 325 data fields can be populated for each case. Data are transferred from sites into an encrypted Google Cloud Platform, then programmatically checked for compliance, parsed, and aggregated into a central database housed on a second cloud platform prior to transfer to CDC. As of August, 2023, the network has reported data on over 870,000 ARI cases selected from approximately 5.2 million ED encounters. Post-contracting challenges to network execution have included local shifts in testing policies and platforms, delays in ICD-10 coding to detect ARI cases, and site-level personnel turnover. The network is addressing these challenges and is poised to begin streaming weekly data for dissemination. The RESP-LENS network provides a weekly updated database that is a public health resource to survey the epidemiology, viral causes, and outcomes of ED patients with acute respiratory infections.


Social Determination of the Health of Families from Two Neighborhoods in Medellín, Colombia.
To understand the health process, from the approach of the social determination of health in two neighborhoods in Medellín - Colombia, to contribute to the care of people, families, and collectives in their multidimensional reality. Qualitative research from the ethnographic perspective, approaching the general dimension with documentary analysis of social policies and community documents, the particular dimension through focal groups and interviews to community leaders, and the singular dimension with the family visit. Families and collectives live within a sociocultural setting of resistance, overshadowed by moments of flight and displacement derived from violence, with scant participation in city plans and programs and with structural problems of economic and political exclusion. They constructed the territory as space and shelter in the weave that protects and violates them, with processes from uprooting to rooting. The families have maintained protective processes, like family participation in decision making, knowledge on health care, among others, and destructive processes, like informal labor and job instability, without spaces for recreation and with limitations in transportation, in access to health programs and in obtaining food. The health of the families has been determined by historical exclusion to work to obtain resources for a minimum vital subsistence, which is why they suffer social vulnerability due to few opportunities for development; they have lived a transformation process of the territory with resistance, solidarity, and construction of social networks.


An Approach for 3D Modeling of the Regular Relief Surface Topography Formed by a Ball Burnishing Process Using 2D Images and Measured Profilograms.
Advanced in the present paper is an innovative approach for three-dimensional modeling of the regular relief topography formed via a ball burnishing process. The proposed methodology involves capturing a greyscale image of and profile measuring the surface topography in two perpendicular directions using a stylus method. A specially developed algorithm further identifies the best match between the measured profile segment and a row or column from the captured topography image by carrying out a signal correlation assessment based on an appropriate similarity metric. To ensure accurate scaling, the image pixel grey levels are scaled with a factor calculated as being the larger ratio between the ultimate heights of the measured profilograms and the more perfectly matched image row/column. Nine different similarity metrics were tested to determine the best performing model. The developed approach was evaluated for eight distinct types of fully and partially regular reliefs, and the results reveal that the best-scaled 3D topography models are produced for the fully regular reliefs with much greater heights. Following a thorough analysis of the results obtained, at the end of the paper, we draw some conclusions and discuss potential future work.


A biomechanical evaluation of resistance: fundamental concepts for training and sports performance.
Newton's second law of motion describes the acceleration of an object as being directly proportional to the magnitude of the net force, in the same direction as the net force and inversely proportional to its mass (a = F/m). With respect to linear motion, mass is also a numerical representation of an object's inertia, or its resistance to change in its state of motion and directly proportional to the magnitude of an object's momentum at any given velocity. To change an object's momentum, thereby increasing or decreasing its velocity, a proportional impulse must be generated. All motion is governed by these relationships, independent of the exercise being performed or the movement type being used; however, the degree to which this governance affects the associated kinematics, kinetics and muscle activity is dependent on the resistance type. Researchers have suggested that to facilitate the greatest improvements to athletic performance, the resistance-training programme employed by an athlete must be adapted to meet the specific demands of their sport. Therefore, it is conceivable that one mechanical stimulus, or resistance type, may not be appropriate for all applications. Although an excellent means of increasing maximal strength and the rate of force development, free-weight or mass-based training may not be the most conducive means to elicit velocity-specific adaptations. Attempts have been made to combat the inherent flaws of free weights, via accommodating and variable resistance-training devices; however, such approaches are not without problems that are specific to their mechanics. More recently, pneumatic-resistance devices (variable) have been introduced as a mechanical stimulus whereby the body mass of the athlete represents the only inertia that must be overcome to initiate movement, thus potentially affording the opportunity to develop velocity-specific power. However, there is no empirical evidence to support such a contention. Future research should place further emphasis on understanding the mechanical advantages/disadvantages inherent to the resistance types being used during training, so as to elicit the greatest improvements in athletic performance.


Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity as a Moderator of Relationship Functioning After Sexual Assault.
Sexual assault is unfortunately common, especially among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. Yet, the associations of such victimization have not yet been extensively established in the areas of sexual identity and romantic relationship functioning. Accordingly, the present study examined the associations between lifetime sexual assault, LGB identity, and romantic relationship functioning in a sample of 336 LGB individuals. A history of sexual assault was associated with attachment anxiety and several sexual identity components (i.e., higher levels of acceptance concerns, identity uncertainty, internalized homonegativity, and identity superiority). Furthermore, an association of sexual assault and attachment avoidance was moderated by internalized homonegativity. Finally, a more secure LGB identity was associated with healthier romantic relationship functioning. Collectively, these findings are applicable to services for LGB sexual assault victims, suggesting the incorporation of treatment that bolsters LGB identity and couple functioning. Limitations and future directions are discussed.


[Results of radiation therapy for limited small-cell lung cancer].
Results of radiotherapy were reviewed in 68 patients with limited small-cell lung cancer from the aspect of local control. Thirty-one patients achieved CR (46%), while the other 31 remained at PR. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 57%, 28%, 21%, and 16%, respectively, for 15 months in MST. Thirty-six patients developed local recurrence (53%) and 46 had distant metastasis (68%). The thirty-one patients with CR had a 43% 2-year-survival rate and 23 months in MST. The remaining 37 patients (PR + NC) had respective figures of 13% and 13 months (p < 0.025). There was no statistically significant difference between radiation dose and local thoracic failure among the patients. Of the 31 patients with CR, 28 had achieved CR at 45Gy (17 received 55Gy or more, and 11 less than 55Gy). In the former, the local control rate, 2-year-survival and MST were 94%, 53% and 44 months, while in the latter these were 45%, 27% and 17 months, respectively. Thirty-five patients were irradiated by the shrinking field technique according to tumor reduction; however, this technique did not influence the treatment results. To obtain better results, it is first necessary to achieve CR at initial chemo-radiotherapy. As to irradiation, randomized trials between 50Gy and 60Gy would require patients with CR at 45Gy.


Vitamins K1 and K2: The Emerging Group of Vitamins Required for Human Health.
To review the evidence for the use of vitamin K supplementation in clinical conditions such as osteoporosis, vascular calcification, arthritis, cancer, renal calculi, diabetes, and warfarin therapy. PubMed was searched for articles on vitamin K (K1 and K2) along with books and conference proceedings and health conditions listed above. Level I and II evidence supports the use of vitamins K1 and K2 in osteoporosis and Level II evidence supports vitamin K2 in prevention of coronary calcification and cardiovascular disease. Evidence is insufficient for use in diabetes, arthritis, renal calculi, and cancer. Vitamin K2 may be a useful adjunct for the treatment of osteoporosis, along with vitamin D and calcium, rivaling bisphosphonate therapy without toxicity. It may also significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular health by reducing vascular calcification. Vitamin K2 appears promising in the areas of diabetes, cancer, and osteoarthritis. Vitamin K use in warfarin therapy is safe and may improve INR control, although a dosage adjustment is required. Vitamin K supplementation may be useful for a number of chronic conditions that are afflicting North Americans as the population ages. Supplementation may be required for bone and cardiovascular health.


[Case report--postoperative continuous intraarterial infusion of small doses of 5-FU successfully controlled residual tumor and liver metastasis of stage IV gastric cancer].
A sixty-eight-year-old man was operated on for Stage IV gastric cancer with total gastrectomy and D3 lymph node dissection. The right gastric artery was filled with tumor thrombosis, but tumor tissue was left on the cut stump. Intraoperative ultrasonic liver scanning revealed the suspected metastatic images. Mitomycin C 20 mg dissolved in glue was then pasted at the artery cut stump. Although intraarterial infusion of adriamycin 20 mg, systemic methotrexate + 5-FU alternative therapy and daily medication of UFT-E 400 mg were administered, liver metastasis developed in follow-up CT scans 6 months later. Since 9 months after operation,continuous intraarterial infusion of 5-FU 250 mg/24 hours for 7 days was given biweekly, and was repeated 44 times for the next 27 months. This chemotherapeutic modality purged the liver metastasis. The patient has now survived 7 years 3 months with no therapy.


Bibliometric analysis of robotic surgery research in breast cancer conducted between 2008 and 2022.
To carry out a bibliometric analysis of robotic surgery research in the field of breast cancer conducted between 2008 and 2022 and to evaluate the status and trends in the field. A systematic search was undertaken in the Web of Science (WoS) for published articles related to surgical robots and breast cancer. R and VOSviewer software were used to carry out a quantitative analysis to explore the trend of annual publication volume and the cooperative relationship between countries, institutions, authors, and keywords. A total of 177 publications were retrieved, 79.66% of which were published from 2016 to 2022, and most were conducted in the United States (US), China, and South Korea. Articles from the US had the most frequent international cooperation. A tally of institutional publications showed that Yonsei University (YONSEI UNIV; Korea) had produced the most publications. The author with the most published papers was Lee of YONSEI UNIV. The most accepted journal was the Asian Journal of Surgery. Keyword co-occurrence analysis showed that current research hotspots were mainly focused on nipple-conserving mastectomy and breast reconstruction, and breast-conserving and nipple-conserving mastectomy may be future research hotspots. The annual incidence of robotic surgery and breast cancer is gradually increasing. The predominant countries conducting research in this field include the US, China, and South Korea, and the institutions are mainly distributed in universities and hospitals. Nipple-conserving mastectomy and breast reconstruction may be the current research hotspots, and breast-conserving mastectomy and minimally invasive surgery may represent hot research areas in the future. These findings may help scholars who are committed to the application of surgical robots to breast cancer to better understand the current research status and trends.


Biotic and abiotic anaerobic transformations of trichloroethene and cis-1,2-dichloroethene in fractured sandstone.
A fractured sandstone aquifer at an industrial site in southern California is contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) and cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) to depths in excess of 244 m. Field monitoring data suggest that TCE is undergoing reduction to cis-DCE and that additional attenuation is occurring. However, vinyl chloride (VC) and ethene have not been detected in significant amounts, so that if transformation is occurring, a process other than reductive dechlorination must be responsible. The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of biotic and abiotic transformation processes at this site for TCE, cis-DCE, and VC. Anaerobic microcosms were constructed with site groundwater and sandstone core samples. 14C-labeled compounds were used to detect transformation products (e.g., CO2 and soluble products) that are not readily identifiable by headspace analysis. The microcosms confirmed the occurrence of biotic reduction of TCE to cis-DCE, driven by electron donor in the groundwater and/or sandstone. VC and ethene were not detected. Following incubation periods up to 22 months, the distribution of 14C indicated statistically significant transformation of [14C]TCE and [14C]cis-DCE in live microcosms, to as high as 10% 14CO2 from TCE and 20% 14CO2 from cis-DCE. In autoclaved microcosms, significant transformation of [14C]TCE and [14C]cis-DCE also occurred; although some 14CO2 accumulated, the predominant 14C product was soluble and could not be stripped by N2 from an acidic solution (referred to as nonstrippable residue, or NSR). Characterization of the NSR by high-performance liquid and ion chromatography identified glycolate, acetate, and formate as significant components. These results suggest that a combination of abiotic and biotic transformation processes is responsible for attenuation of TCE and cis-DCE in the fractured sandstone aquifer. Tracking the distribution of 14C during the microcosm study was essential for observing these phenomena.


Mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/starch composites compatibilized by maleic anhydride.
Blending poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with wheat starch compatibized by maleic anhydride (MA) was performed with a lab-scale co-extruder. An initiator, 2,5-bis(tert-butylperoxy)-2,5 dimethylhexane (L101), was used to improve compatability among PLA, starch and MA. Interfacial adhesion between PLA and starch was significantly improved. Mechanical properties increased markedly compared to the virgin composites of PLA/starch. The PLA/starch composites at a constant ratio of 55/45 compatibilized by 1% MA and initiated by 10% L101 (MA basis) resulted in the highest tensile strength and elongation.


PET-directed therapy in Hodgkin lymphoma: Ready for prime time?
Advances in chemotherapy and radiation therapy have allowed the vast majority of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma to be cured, but some of these patients develop treatment-related complications, including second malignancies, cardiovascular disease, and thyroid disease. Efforts to decrease exposure of patients to more chemotherapy or radiation therapy than is necessary to cure their disease have led to a trend toward shortened treatment regimens in patients with low-risk disease. Predicting which patients will relapse, and therefore might benefit from a more intense treatment regimen, has been a clinical challenge. PET has emerged as a useful modality in the diagnosis and management of Hodgkin lymphoma, and has been studied as a potential tool to help the oncologist to utilize the optimal chemotherapy and radiation therapy regimen for each patient.


[Waking and sleeping E.E.G. in normal babies before 6 months of age (author's transl)].
In 44 children aged from 1 week to 6 months, 70 polygraph records were performed. The day tracings were carried out in the nursery in the child's normal environment. They lasted from 1 to 3 sleep cycles. As well as classical EEG developmental data, some new or rarely described in the literature data are pointed out. The onset of sleep is frequently difficult to define precisely. EEG slowing sometimes begin the eye open. Up to 12 weeks, the mode of onset of sleep (defined by the sole criterion of rapide eye movements) is variable: some babies fall asleep in active (AS), the other in quiet sleep (QS). After 12 weeks of age, all children fall asleep in quiet sleep. The early appearance on the median line of the fiqures characteristic of stages of maturity is striking. Vertex sharp waves and spindles appear in QS from 3 weeks with marked interindividual variation. The rhythmic vertex-occipital sharp figures ("saw-tooth" waves) of AS appear after 5 weeks and become well defined from 11 weeks. Several weeks later these characteristic figures spread to the central and posterior areas of the two hemispheres. Quiet sleep and active sleep in babies before 6 months of age are not similar to the slow wave and paradoxical sleep of the adult. Some behavioural parameters, such as body and eye movements permit to oppose the 2 states of sleep as they do in adult. On the contrary, the EEG morphology and certain other variables present some differences compared to the adult.


Lamotrigine associated with exacerbation or de novo myoclonus in idiopathic generalized epilepsies.
Five patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGE) treated with lamotrigine (LTG) experienced exacerbation or de novo appearance of myoclonic jerks (MJ). In three patients, LTG exacerbated MJ in a dose-dependent manner with early aggravation during titration. MJ disappeared when LTG dose was decreased by 25 to 50%. In two patients, LTG exacerbated MJ in a delayed but more severe manner, with myoclonic status that only ceased after LTG withdrawal.


Total knee replacements in a patient with the Morquio syndrome.
The Morquio syndrome is a rare disorder which presents with a number of musculoskeletal problems. The literature describing total knee replacement in these patients is sparse. We describe the management of a patient with bilateral instability and pain in the knees using bilateral constrained knee replacements, and followed up for five years with pre- and postoperative knee scores. We highlight the difficulties encountered and discuss the end results.


Efficacy and safety of breast radiothermometry in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions.
The aim of this study is to research the contribution of radiothermometry (RTM) to the characterization of breast masses, the differentiation of malignant-benign masses and diagnosis of early stage breast cancer. This prospective study comprised 182 cases of patients diagnosed with a breast mass and a control group of 55 cases: a total of 237. When histopathology is accepted as the gold standard among diagnostic methods, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive-negative predictive value for RTM were 90.9%, 20.8%, 61.2% and 62.5%, respectively. Consistency was 0.129. When compared with mammography the same values for RTM examination are 87%, 81.4%, 58% and 95.5%. Consistency was 0.582. Evaluating with respect to size of the mass accepting mammography as the gold standard, RTM examination had sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for masses 2 cm and above of 88.9%, 83.3%, 88.9% and 83.3%. Consistency was 0.722. The consistency of RTM for lesion diagnosis in BI-RADS II breast structure is higher than the consistency of mammography. Identification of lesions in the breast and presence of microcalcification by RTM shows that it is more trustworthy compared to mammography. When compared with mammography the validity results for RTM show there is a good level of conformity between the two methods. When evaluated based on the area below the ROC cure and compared to mammography, RTM is sufficiently successful at evaluating positive and negative cases.


Pituitary tuberculosis.
Tuberculous involvement of pituitary is extremely rare and is usually not suspected while dealing with pituitary adenomas, even in patients with history of systemic tuberculosis. We report a case of pituitary tuberculoma in a patient who was undergoing treatment for prostatic tuberculosis. Although diagnosis of sellar tuberculomas is difficult on clinical and radiological examinations, pituitary tuberculomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of suprasellar masses, especially in developing countries as the condition is potentially curable with antituberculous treatment.


A linear programming approach for placement of applicants to academic programs.
This paper reports a linear programming approach for placement of applicants to study programs developed and implemented at the college of Business & Economics, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The approach is estimated to significantly streamline the placement decision process at the college by reducing required man hour as well as the time it takes to announce placement decisions. Compared to the previous manual system where only one or two placement criteria were considered, the new approach allows the college's management to easily incorporate additional placement criteria, if needed. Comparison of our approach against manually constructed placement decisions based on actual data for the 2012/13 academic year suggested that about 93 percent of the placements from our model concur with the actual placement decisions. For the remaining 7 percent of placements, however, the actual placements made by the manual system display inconsistencies of decisions judged against the very criteria intended to guide placement decisions by the college's program management office. Overall, the new approach proves to be a significant improvement over the manual system in terms of efficiency of the placement process and the quality of placement decisions.


The role of Candida spp. contamination and efficacy of camphorated oil in skin care of incontinent associated dermatitis patients.
Candida albicans is the most prevalent human fungal commensal organism and is reported to be the most frequent aetiological factor responsible for infection associated with incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). The aim of the study was to investigate the Candida spp. colonisation and efficacy of camphorated oil in the skin care of the patients with incontinence-associated dermatitis. In patients of the study group (n=104), a local application of camphorated oil was used to clean and protect their skin from urine and/or faeces. In 30 patients of the control group routine wet wipes 3 in 1 or a combination of cleansing foam with protective cream were used. Pre-treatment (day 1) and post-treatment (day 30±1) study evaluations included detailed description of eruption, assessment by evaluation tools, and mycological culture for Candida spp. from sites with fungal-appearing rash. Fungal-appearing rash was found in almost a half (51.0%) of patients at pre-treatment examination and in less than one-third (31.7%) of the patients after the course of application of camphorated oil. Candida spp. was cultivated in 39 (37.5%) patients. Fungal-appearing rash was approved by mycological culture in 56.6%. In patients with urine incontinence, Candida spp. negative cases (43.3%) were significantly prevalent over Candida spp. positive (22.1%). At post-treatment, this prevalence become more noticeable, accordingly obtaining 62.5% of negative and 2.9% of positive results. In patients with double incontinence, Candida spp. negative cases (19.2%) were almost equal to the number of Candida spp. positive (15.4%). After a course of study treatment, Candida spp. negative cases (26.0%) significantly overpassed Candida spp. positive level (8.7%). At an early and moderate grade of IAD Candida spp. negative cases were prevalent, but at severe grade did not differ from the number of positive mycology cultures. The topical use of camphorated oil in skin care of the incontinence-associated dermatitis significantly decreases the severity of disease, reduces fungal appearing rash and Candida spp. colonisation. Camphorated oil was superior to routine products in the controlling of yeast colonisation of the skin in incontinence-associated dermatitis, especially in cases with double incontinence.


Interactive modulation of renal myogenic autoregulation by nitric oxide and endothelin acting through ET-B receptors.
In rats, nitric oxide modulates renal autoregulation in steady-state experiments and the myogenic mechanism in dynamic studies. Interactive modulation of autoregulation by nitric oxide and endothelin-1, predominantly involving endothelin B receptors, has been reported although it remains unclear whether the interaction is synergistic or obligatory or whether it affects the myogenic component of autoregulation. Nonselective inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (L(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl-ester; l-NAME) with endothelin A and B selective receptor antagonists BQ-123 and BQ-788, all infused into the renal artery, plus time series analysis were used to test the interactive actions of nitric oxide and endothelin on renal vascular conductance and on autoregulation. Nonselective endothelin receptor antagonism blunted the constrictor response to subsequent l-NAME but had no effect on previously established l-NAME-induced vasoconstriction. BQ-123 did not affect conductance and caused only minor reduction in myogenic autoregulatory efficiency. Responses to BQ-123 and l-NAME were additive and not interactive. BQ-788 and l-NAME each caused strong vasoconstriction alone and in the presence of the other, indicating that coupling between nitric oxide- and endothelin B-mediated events is not obligatory. l-NAME augmented myogenic autoregulation, and subsequent BQ-788 did not alter this response. However, BQ-788 infused alone also enhanced myogenic autoregulation but resulted in significant impairment of myogenic autoregulation by subsequent l-NAME. Thus the interaction between nitric oxide and endothelin is clearly nonadditive and, because it is asymmetrical, cannot be explained simply by convergence on a common signal pathway. Instead one must postulate some degree of hierarchical organization and that nitric oxide acts downstream to endothelin B activation.


Tailoring the intrinsic magneto-electronic, mechanical, thermo-physical and thermoelectric response of cobalt-based Heusler alloys: an ab initio insight.
We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the fundamental properties of CoHfSi and CoHfGe half-Heusler alloys using density functional theory simulations implemented in Wien2k. To begin, structural optimization revealed that both alloys effectively adopt a cubic C1b structure, with Y1 as the dominant ferromagnetic phase. Electronic properties were computed using various approximation schemes, including the Generalized Gradient Approximation and the modified Becke-Johnson potential. The examination of electronic band structures and their accompanying density of states using the modified Becke-Johnson functional approach unveiled their half-metallic nature. In this context, the spin-up channel exhibited semiconductor behaviour, while the spin-down channel displayed metallic characteristics. Additionally, the spin-splitting observed in their resulting band structures contributed to a net magnetism within their lattice structure, making them promising candidates for spintronic applications. We also scrutinized Seebeck coefficients, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and power factor to gain a better understanding of their thermoelectric properties.


Prediction of slaughterhouse workers' RULA scores and knife edge using low-cost inertial measurement sensor units and machine learning algorithms.
The high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) has been a concern in the meat-processing industry, owing to the manual nature of the work and the high upper-limb and neck exposure to movements that can lead to WRMSD. The ability to perform an accurate and fast assessment of WRMSDs remains a challenge in industrial environments. Most assessment methodologies rely on standard survey-based methods, which are time- and labor-intensive. In this paper, we present an application of inertial measurement units (IMUs) to measure human activity, and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to perform task classification and ergonomic assessments in workplace settings. We present the results obtained by using simple low-cost IMUs worn on slaughterhouse worker wrists to capture information on their movements. We describe the use of this information to detect the risk factors of the wrists/hands that can lead to WRMSDs. The results indicate that by using low-cost IMU-based sensors on the wrists of slaughterhouse workers, we can accurately classify the sharpness of the knife and predict the worker RULA score.


Cilostazol: an antiplatelet agent for the neurointerventionist?
Antiplatelet agents are essential for the successful management of patients undergoing a variety of neurointerventional procedures. The most commonly used anti-platelet agents are aspirin, clopidogrel and prasugrel. However, there exist an alternative class of anti-platelet agent that may prove useful for neurointerventionists. In particular a drug called cilostazol may have numerous added advantages above and beyond its antiplatelet effect that may be valuable for our patients. In this short review we aim to highlight some of these potential advantages.


Loss of heterozygosity at 19p13.2 and 2q21 in tumours from familial clusters of non-medullary thyroid carcinoma.
Linkage studies have identified susceptibility loci for familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC), with and without cell oxyphilia, at chromosomal regions 19p13.2 and 2q21. There are few genetic analyses of FNMTC tumours reported at the present time and the eventual gene involved was not identified yet. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at these loci in the tumours from familial clusters of NMTC. We have analysed LOH in 14 tumours from 9 two-case familial clusters of NMTC. Using paired blood (normal) and tumour DNA samples, we have genotyped ten microsatellite and one SNP markers throughout 19p13.2 and fourteen microsatellite markers at 2q21. Overall, eight (57%) and two (14%) out of the fourteen tumours analysed exhibited LOH at 19p13.2 and 2q21, respectively. In two families (22%), LOH for the same markers was demonstrable in the tumours of the two members of the same family. In one family (11%) LOH was demonstrable at both loci analysed. In four two-case familial clusters (44%), LOH at the 19p13.2 locus was found in only one of the tumour cases analysed. Detailed haplotype analysis showed that, in two families (22%), the pattern of LOH in tumours was consistent with selective retention of the haplotype shared by affected members. In the remaining cases, it was consistent with random allelic losses. In conclusion, we report the finding of LOH at the 19p13.2 and 2q21 loci in tumours from familial clusters of NMTC, providing evidence that inactivation of putative genes in these regions, acting as tumour-suppressors, may be involved in the development of tumours in the context of FNMTC.


Temporal stability of auditory event-related potentials in healthy individuals and patients with traumatic brain injury.
Historically, cognitive event-related potentials (ERPs) have received limited acceptance for clinical use due to lack of evidence for their reliability. However, recent advances in computer technology and artifact rejection methods have greatly enhanced the fidelity of ERP measurements. The present study examined the test-retest reliability of ERP measurement by using current data processing methods. We assessed the temporal stability of the most commonly used ERP paradigm, auditory pure-tone "odd ball" detection, and compared it with other commonly used clinical measures reported in the literature. Auditory ERPs were collected in 19 healthy subjects and 7 patients with traumatic brain injury at two time points, 2 days to 2 months apart. Test-retest reliability was calculated for four ERP components: N1, MMN (mismatch negativity), P3, and N4. In healthy subjects, temporal stabilities of these four commonly studied ERP components' amplitude measurements were moderate to high, with intraclass correlations ranging from 0.6 to 0.8. In contrast, in patients with traumatic brain injury, ERPs were stable only for the N1 component (intraclass correlation = 0.7).


Personality type influence the gestational weight gain.
Pregnancy is frequently followed by the development of obesity. Aside from psychological factors, hormonal changes influence weight gain in pregnant women. We attempted to assess the potential association between personality type and the extent of gestational weight gain. The study group involved 773 women after term delivery (age 26.3 ± 3.9 years, body mass before pregnancy 61.2 ± 11.1 kg). Weight gain during pregnancy was calculated by using self-reported body mass prior to and during the 38th week of pregnancy. Personality type was assessed using the Polish version of the Framingham Type A Behavior Patterns Questionnaire (adapted by Juczynski). Two hundred forty-six (31.8%) study subjects represented type A personalities, 272 (35.2%) type B and 255 (33.0%) an indirect type. Gestational weight gain was related to the behavior patterns questionnaire score and age. In women <30 years with type A personality, the weight gain was higher than in women with type B behavior of the same age. In women >30, the gestational weight gain was larger for type B personalities. Type A personality and increased urgency in younger pregnant women increases the risk of developing obesity during pregnancy in women below 30 years old. A higher level of competitiveness demonstrates a risk factor of excessive weight gain during pregnancy regardless of age.


Hepatitis B and C reactivation with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors: synopsis and interpretation of screening and prophylaxis recommendations.
Information on reactivation of chronic viral hepatitis infection in patients who are candidates for tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors (TNFi) is in a constant state of flux. We retrieved the most updated guidelines (in English) of prominent rheumatological and gastroenterological professional socienties for the mangement of chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the context of treatment with TNFi. Subsequently, the major areas of uncertainty and absence of consensus in the guidelines were located and a secondary search for additional studies addressing those areas was performed. Based on our search we formulated a personal interpretation applicable to health care settings with virological laboratories capable of performing viral load measurements, and health systems that can support use of potent nucleoside/tide analogues in well-defined patient populations.


Breast and cervical cancer screening of poor, elderly, black women: clinical results and implications. Harlem Study Team.
Our objective is to describe the clinical findings from a nurse-practitioner-based breast and cervical cancer screening program for poor, elderly, black women. We designed a cross-sectional descriptive study set at an urban public hospital medical clinic. All women 65 years of age and older were eligible to be screened. We measured these main outcomes: rates of participation, abnormal tests, and neoplasia. Women were offered screening during a routine visit. Of 689 women, 491 (71%) participated. Mammography was completed by 66% of women; one had stage 1 cancer, and 76% were negative. Among the women (24%) with abnormal mammograms, the overwhelming majority were diagnosed with benign lesions. For ten of 450 women completing Papanicolaou (Pap) smears, results were suspicious or positive for malignancy, for a prevalence rate of 22.2/1,000 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 8.6/1,000 to 35.8/1,000). Three were subsequently designated falsely positive; five had confirmed cervical neoplasia; and two had other reproductive malignancies. Two women with negative smears also had neoplasia: one with vulvar cancer and one with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and cervical neoplasia, for a total of six cervical neoplasias. Interestingly, one-fifth of women with a hysterectomy had an intact cervix, including one with cervical neoplasia. Nearly one-third of women with abnormal Paps or mammograms failed to complete follow-up. Success of screening programs for the elderly will depend on the risk group targeted, careful examination, degree of sensitivity and specificity of the tests, and acceptability of follow-up diagnosis and treatment.


The Role of Quality Control in Targeted Next-generation Sequencing Library Preparation.
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is getting routinely used in the diagnosis of hereditary diseases, such as human cardiomyopathies. Hence, it is of utter importance to secure high quality sequencing data, enabling the identification of disease-relevant mutations or the conclusion of negative test results. During the process of sample preparation, each protocol for target enrichment library preparation has its own requirements for quality control (QC); however, there is little evidence on the actual impact of these guidelines on resulting data quality. In this study, we analyzed the impact of QC during the diverse library preparation steps of Agilent SureSelect XT target enrichment and Illumina sequencing. We quantified the parameters for a cohort of around 600 samples, which include starting amount of DNA, amount of sheared DNA, smallest and largest fragment size of the starting DNA; amount of DNA after the pre-PCR, and smallest and largest fragment size of the resulting DNA; as well as the amount of the final library, the corresponding smallest and largest fragment size, and the number of detected variants. Intriguingly, there is a high tolerance for variations in all QC steps, meaning that within the boundaries proposed in the current study, a considerable variance at each step of QC can be well tolerated without compromising NGS quality.


G-CSF-producing Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma Adjacent to the Ascending Colon and in the Right Iliopsoas Muscle: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is a soft tissue sarcoma, occurring most commonly on the lower extremities. We herein report a rare case of primary UPS adjacent to the ascending colon and in the right iliopsoas muscle. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed large masses, and the patient experienced a high-grade fever, leukocytosis, elevated serum C-reactive protein level, and hematopoietic activation on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography. This inflammatory reaction was caused by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor secreted by tumor cells. Surgical resection was performed, and the inflammatory reaction disappeared immediately. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy and survived one year after the operation without evidence of recurrence.


Extending i2b2 into a framework for semantic abstraction of EHR to facilitate rapid development and portability of Health IT applications.
The wide gap between a care provider's conceptualization of electronic health record (EHR) and the structures for electronic health record (EHR) data storage and transmission, presents a multitude of obstacles for development of innovative Health IT applications. While developers model the EHR view of the clinicians at one end, they work with a different data view to construct health IT applications. Although there has been considerable progress to bridge this gap by evolution of developer friendly standards and tools for terminology mapping and data warehousing, there is a need for a simplified framework to facilitate development of interoperable applications. To this end, we propose a framework for creating a layer of semantic abstraction on the EHR and describe preliminary work on the implementation of this framework for management of hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Our goal is to facilitate the rapid development and portability of Health IT applications.


[Hypoclorous acid modifies rat liver and heart enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway and antioxidative defence in vitro].
Hypoclorous acid is an effective biological oxidant produced by activated neutrophils. HOCl plays a role of the major inflammation mediator in mammalian tissues. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms of hypochlorous acid-induced modification of antioxidant enzymes, which defence the cell under oxidative stress, and enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway, which supply reducing equivalents in the cell. HOCl (100-1000 microM) in vitro inhibited considerably in a dose-dependent manner the activity of the enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway in the rat liver postmitochondrial fraction. HOCI at a concentration of 100 nmol/mg protein inhibited transketolase activity by 65 +/- 5%, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase--by 50 +/- 5% and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase--by 55 +/- 5%. The activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase slightly decreased. On the contrary, in the rat heart postmitochondrial fraction HOCl (100-1000 microM) inhibited considerably catalase, increased glutathione peroxidase activity and decreased significantly the activity of the key enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway. The inhibition of the pentose phosphate pathway enzymes was accompanied by oxidation of intracellular reduced glutathione, oxidative protein modification (protein carbonyl group accumulation, mixed protein-glutathione disulphides and chloramine formation), and membrane lipid peroxidation. The sensitivity of rat heart cell components to oxidative damage by HOCl was higher in comparison with that of the liver.


Cigarette smoking and socio-economic indicators as determinants of body fatness in three Southern Chinese communities of China.
Obesity is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. This study describes cigarette smoking and the socio-demographic differences of body fatness in three sub-ethnic distinctive communities in Guangdong Province, China. In this study, 935 adult Chinese (Chauzhou - 203 men and 111 women; Meixian - 169 men and 140 women; Xinhui - 194 men and 118 women) were randomly sampled from three communities. A standard protocol was used to measure stature, body weight, waist and hip circumferences. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR) were calculated as measures of total body fatness and abdominal body fatness, respectively. The questionnaire was self-administered and demographic and lifestyle factors were assessed. WHR was positively related to age in men (p=0.0001) and in women (p=0.0001) while BMI was associated with age only in women (p=0.0001). In women, WHR was significantly related to education levels after adjusting for age and BMI (p=0.0300). In men, BMI differed by educational level, after adjusting for age and WHR (p=0.0329). BMI was significantly associated with occupational status in men, after adjusting for age and WHR (p=0.0004). Gross household income was significantly associated with WHR in men, after adjusting for age and BMI (p=0.0469). Male smokers had a significantly lower mean BMI than the non-smokers, after adjusting for age and WHR (p=0.0037). Marital status was not related to body fatness measurements after adjusting for age and WHR. The differences in body fatness in Chinese living in Southern China can not be totally explained by educational level, occupational status, marital status, gross household income and cigarette smoking, particularly in women. Age was the only consistent predictor of abdominal body fatness in both men and women and also of total body fatness in women.


Hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling: cellular and molecular mechanisms.
Chronic hypoxic exposure induces changes in the structure of pulmonary arteries, as well as in the biochemical and functional phenotypes of each of the vascular cell types, from the hilum of the lung to the most peripheral vessels in the alveolar wall. The magnitude and the specific profile of the changes depend on the species, sex, and the developmental stage at which the exposure to hypoxia occurred. Further, hypoxia-induced changes are site specific, such that the remodeling process in the large vessels differs from that in the smallest vessels. The cellular and molecular mechanisms vary and depend on the cellular composition of vessels at particular sites along the longitudinal axis of the pulmonary vasculature, as well as on local environmental factors. Each of the resident vascular cell types (ie, endothelial, smooth muscle, adventitial fibroblast) undergo site- and time-dependent alterations in proliferation, matrix protein production, expression of growth factors, cytokines, and receptors, and each resident cell type plays a specific role in the overall remodeling response. In addition, hypoxic exposure induces an inflammatory response within the vessel wall, and the recruited circulating progenitor cells contribute significantly to the structural remodeling and persistent vasoconstriction of the pulmonary circulation. The possibility exists that the lung or lung vessels also contain resident progenitor cells that participate in the remodeling process. Thus the hypoxia-induced remodeling of the pulmonary circulation is a highly complex process where numerous interactive events must be taken into account as we search for newer, more effective therapeutic interventions. This review provides perspectives on each of the aforementioned areas.


Structural identification by mass spectrometry of oxidized phospholipids in minimally oxidized low density lipoprotein that induce monocyte/endothelial interactions and evidence for their presence in vivo.
Entry of monocytes into the vessel wall is an important event in atherogenesis. Previous studies from our laboratory suggest that oxidized arachidonic acid-containing phospholipids present in mildly oxidized low density lipoproteins (MM-LDL) can activate endothelial cells to bind monocytes. In this study, biologically active oxidized arachidonic acid-containing phospholipids were produced by autoxidation of 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (Ox-PAPC) and analyzed by liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in conjuction with biochemical derivatization techniques. We have now determined the molecular structure of two of three molecules present in MM-LDL and Ox-PAPC that induce monocyte-endothelial interactions. These lipids were identified as 1-palmitoyl-2-(5-oxovaleryl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (m/z 594.3) and 1-palmitoyl-2-glutaryl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (m/z 610.2). These two molecules were produced by unambiguous total synthesis and found to be identical by analytical techniques and bioactivity assays to those present in MM-LDL and Ox-PAPC. Evidence for the importance of all three oxidized phospholipids in vivo was suggested by their presence in fatty streak lesions from cholesterol-fed rabbits and by their immunoreactivity with natural antibodies present in ApoE null mice. Overall, these studies suggest that specific oxidized derivatives of arachidonic acid-containing phospholipids may be important initiators of atherogenesis.


Galacto-oligosaccharide synthesis from lactose solution or skim milk using the β-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans.
The synthesis of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) catalyzed by a novel commercial preparation of β-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans (Biolactase) was studied, and the products were characterized by MS and NMR. Using 400 g/L lactose and 1.5 enzyme units per milliliter, the maximum GOS yield, measured by HPAEC-PAD analysis, was 165 g/L (41% w/w of total carbohydrates in the mixture). The major transgalactosylation products were the trisaccharide Gal-β(1→4)-Gal-β(1→4)-Glc and the tetrasaccharide Gal-β(1→4)-Gal-β(1→4)-Gal-β(1→4)-Glc. The GOS yield increased to 198 g/L (49.4% w/w of total carbohydrates) using a higher enzyme concentration (15 U/mL), which minimized the enzyme inactivation under reaction conditions. Using skim milk (with a lactose concentration of 46 g/L), the enzyme also displayed transgalactosylation activity: maximum GOS yield accounted for 15.4% (7.1 g/L), which was obtained at 50% lactose conversion.


Neutrino intergalactic communication, metal life, and viruses: Part 1 quo vadis ex machina.
At one spectrum extreme, Astrobiology conjectures that for exoplanets with Goldilocks conditions, terrestrial-like life is inevitable. Moreover, it is envisaged that via panspermia, terrestrial-like life and its precursors are transferred among galaxies, stars, and within solar systems via transiting comets, asteroids, and planetoids. In addition, expelled stars, which have solar systems, it is inferred, transfer life as well. However, at the other extreme, we propose a paradigm shift that on some planets, subject to non- Goldilocks conditions, metal machine life could arise, ab initio, and evolve viruses, intelligence, and civilizations, conjointly. Accordingly, intelligent mechanized civilizations could readily and efficiently commence space exploration. Furthermore, as a counter paradigm shift, such civilizations could experiment and produce non-metallic life, based on carbon and other non-metal elements, under suitable conditions, related to Goldilocks life. Even a single example of validated interstellar or intergalactic communication received on the Earth would support the existence of life elsewhere. However, the communication platform should not be restricted to electromagnetic radiation. Other platforms should be included as well - one such example, which would require sophisticated technology, is neutrino communication. This is the case for any advanced civilization, be it metal-machine based, biological-based, and carbon-based. In sum, civilizations based on machine life, would be highly productive due to the longevity and hardiness of machine life. However, significant caveats are raised in this brief report, because possibly dissimilar psychologies and intelligence may lead to conflicts between metal machine life and biological life, inter-paradigm conflict.


Conspiracy thinking and the long historical shadow of Romanticism on authoritarian politics.
Similar effect sizes have been reported for the effects of conspiracy, pseudoscientific, and paranormal beliefs on authoritarian attitudes, which points to a conceptual problem at the heart of the conspiracy literature, namely lack of clarity as to what uniquely defines conspiracy beliefs and whether those unique elements contribute distinctly to authoritarian ideologies. To our knowledge, this is the first study to test empirically the predictive power of variance unique to each construct against covariance shared among these constructs when predicting authoritarian and anti-democratic attitudes. Online survey was administered to 314 participants in 2021 that included a battery of demographic and psychological measures. Hierarchical factor models were used to isolate unique variance from shared covariance among responses to items representing conspiracy, paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs. Structural equation models were used to test their unique and shared effects on authoritarian and anti-democratic attitudes. We found that our combined measurement model of paranormal thinking, conspiracism, and pseudoscience exhibited exceptional model fit, and that each construct was strongly predictive of both SDO and RWA (r = 0.73-0.86). Once the shared covariance was partitioned into a higher order factor, the residual uniqueness in each first order factors was either negatively related or unrelated to authoritarian and anti-democratic attitudes. Moreover, the higher order factor explained the gross majority of variance in conspiracy (R2 = 0.81) paranormal (R2 = 0.81) and pseudoscientific (R2 = 0.95) beliefs and was a far stronger predictor (β = 0.85, p < 0.01) of anti-democratic attitudes than political partisanship (β = 0.17, p < 0.01). Strong partisan identifiers of both parties showed much higher romanticism scores than party moderates. When predicting authoritarian and anti-democratic attitudes, we found no empirically unique contributions of conspiracy beliefs. Instead, we found that a shared factor, representing a 'romantic' mindset was the main predictor of authoritarian and anti-democratic attitudes. This finding potentially explains failures of interventions in stopping the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theory researchers should refocus on the shared features that conspiracy thinking has with other unwarranted epistemic beliefs to better understand how to halt the spread of misinformation, conspiracy thinking, anti-science attitudes, and even global authoritarianism.


Loss of Function of Scavenger Receptor SCAV-5 Protects C. elegans Against Pathogenic Bacteria.
Scavenger receptors play a critical role in innate immunity by acting as the pattern-recognition receptors. There are six class B scavenger receptors homologs in C. elegans. However, it remains unclear whether they are required for host defense against bacterial pathogens. Here, we show that, of the six SCAV proteins, only loss of function scav-5 protect C. elegans against pathogenic bacteria S. typhimurium SL1344 and P. aeruginosa PA14 by different mechanism. scav-5 mutants are resistant to S. typhimurium SL1344 due to dietary restriction. While scav-5 acts upstream of or in parallel to tir-1 in conserved PMK-1 p38 MAPK pathway to upregulate the innate immune response to defend worms against P. aeruginosa PA14. This is the first demonstration of a role for SCAV-5 in host defense against pathogenic bacteria. Our results provide an important basis for further elucidating the underlying molecular mechanism by which scav-5 regulates innate immune responses.


Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate: innovations and future applications.
We present a critical evaluation of the use of ultrasound for prostate disease examination in urological practice, and provide perspectives on ultrasound applications that may become important for the future evaluation of prostate problems. Based on an evaluation of clinical data in cases suspicious for prostatic malignancy, we addressed the apparent shortcomings of transrectal ultrasound for accurately diagnosing prostate cancer. Future applications presented in the literature were noted. Evaluating the ultrasound data in cases suspicious for malignancy indicated that imaging has little advantage over digital rectal examination for detecting malignant areas. The new applications of ultrasound that hold great promise for use in the urology clinic include the injection of contrast agents to obtain information on blood supply, temperature estimation for the noninvasive assessment of temperature distributions during heat treatment and a therapeutic application for local treatment of prostate cancer. While differential diagnosis with ultrasound appears to result in disappointing sensitivity and specificity values, its use in volume measurement and biopsy guidance is unquestioned. The development of new applications may improve the clinical value of ultrasound in urological practice. The application of ultrasound contrast agents for the detection and clinical staging of prostate cancer is especially promising. Future research will indicate whether the promise evolves in clinical applications.


Long-term effects of acute ischemia and reperfusion injury.
Ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury plays a major role in delayed graft function and long-term changes after kidney transplantation. By using different therapeutic strategies to prevent I/R injury in rat models of kidney transplantation we studied relationships between inflammatory cell arrival and adhesion molecule expression. In other rat models for acute renal failure we investigated the effect of up-regulation of protective genes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) on infiltrating cells, showing that infiltrating cells also contribute to beneficial effects. In order to gain more insight into the complex mechanisms of long-term changes after kidney transplantation, we started a protocol biopsy program to study histologic changes 6, 12, and 26 weeks after transplantation. The following article clarifies some of the complex mechanisms contributing to long-term changes caused by I/R injury.


Visceral adipose tissue area measurement at a single level: can it represent visceral adipose tissue volume?
Measurement of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) needs to be accurate and sensitive to change for risk monitoring. The purpose of this study is to determine the CT slice location where VAT area can best reflect changes in VAT volume and body weight. 60 plain abdominal CT images from 30 males [mean age (range) 51 (41-68) years, mean body weight (range) 71.1 (101.9-50.9) kg] who underwent workplace screenings twice within a 1-year interval were evaluated. Automatically calculated and manually corrected areas of the VAT of various scan levels using "freeform curve" region of interest on CT were recorded and compared with body weight changes. The strongest correlations of VAT area with VAT volume and body weight changes were shown in a slice 3 cm above the lower margin of L3 with r values of 0.853 and 0.902, respectively. VAT area measurement at a single level 3 cm above the lower margin of the L3 vertebra is feasible and can reflect changes in VAT volume and body weight. Advances in knowledge: As VAT area at a CT slice 3cm above the lower margin of L3 can best reflect interval changes in VAT volume and body weight, VAT area measurement should be selected at this location.


Modeling combined transport of water and test macromolecules across the glomerular capillary barrier: dynamics of the permselectivity.
The structure, function, and composition of the basement membrane of the glomerular capillaries of the mammalian kidney have been extensively studied, in light of the membrane's important physiological role in glomerular filtration of macromolecules and of its frequent involvement in renal diseases. An analytical mathematical model, based on the fiber matrix theory, was developed to describe the dynamics of the permselective function of the glomerular capillary barrier using mainly its hemodynamic and morphometric variables. The glomerular basement membrane was represented as a homogeneous three-dimensional meshwork of fibers of uniform length (L(f)), radius (R(f)), and packing density (N(fv)) and characterized by a local Darcy permeability (a measure of the intrinsic hydraulic conductance of the glomerular basement membrane). The model was appropriate for simulating in vivo fractional clearance data of neutral test macromolecules from an experimental rat model. We believe that the L(f) and R(f) best-fit numerical values, characterizing a glomerular basement membrane geometrical arrangement, may represent diagnostic measures for renal function in health and disease. That is, these parameters may signify new insights for the diagnosis of some human nephropathies and possibly may explain the beneficial effects and/or sites of action of some pharmacological modifiers (e.g., angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors).


How postharvest variables in the pulse value chain affect nutrient digestibility and bioaccessibility.
Pulses are increasingly being put forward as part of healthy diets because they are rich in protein, (slowly digestible) starch, dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins. In pulses, nutrients are bioencapsulated by a cell wall, which mostly survives cooking followed by mechanical disintegration (e.g., mastication). In this review, we describe how different steps in the postharvest pulse value chain affect starch and protein digestion and the mineral bioaccessibility of pulses by influencing both their nutritional composition and structural integrity. Processing conditions that influence structural characteristics, and thus potentially the starch and protein digestive properties of (fresh and hard-to-cook [HTC]) pulses, have been reported in literature and are summarized in this review. The effect of thermal treatment on the pulse microstructure seems highly dependent on pulse type-specific cell wall properties and postharvest storage, which requires further investigation. In contrast to starch and protein digestion, the bioaccessibility of minerals is not dependent on the integrity of the pulse (cellular) tissue, but is affected by the presence of mineral antinutrients (chelators). Although pulses have a high overall mineral content, the presence of mineral antinutrients makes them rather poorly accessible for absorption. The negative effect of HTC on mineral bioaccessibility cannot be counteracted by thermal processing. This review also summarizes lessons learned on the use of pulses for the preparation of foods, from the traditional use of raw-milled pulse flours, to purified pulse ingredients (e.g., protein), to more innovative pulse ingredients in which cellular arrangement and bioencapsulation of macronutrients are (partially) preserved.


Ion wave formation during ultracold plasma expansion.
We present the results of a direct simulation of the expansion of a two-component ultracold plasma for various numbers of particles, densities, and electron temperatures. A description of the expansion process common to all plasma parameters is given. After the escape of fast electrons from the plasma cloud, the excess positive charge is localized at the outer boundary, in a narrow layer. This layer has a characteristic front shape with a sharp drop in the charge concentration. The charged layer retains the remaining electrons during the entire expansion process. As the plasma expands, the speed of movement of the charged layer becomes constant and significantly exceeds the sonic speed of ions. In addition, the dependence of the radial velocity of ions on the radius acquires a self-similar character long before the final stage of expansion. Based on the calculation results, equations and self-similar solutions are obtained. General dependencies on plasma parameters are determined, which are compared with experimental data.


Tropospheric attenuation prediction for future millimeter wave terrestrial systems: Estimating statistics and extremes.
Tropospheric attenuations can be significant in the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency bands; hence, accurate prediction modeling of tropospheric attenuation is important for reliable mmWave communication. Several models have been established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), yet estimation accuracy is limited due to the large spatial scales used for model input parameters. In this paper, we address this and apply local precipitation data to analyze tropospheric attenuation statistics and compare to results when using ITU regional input rain data. Specifically, tropospheric attenuation is predicted via simulations using the ITU method at 30, 60, and 90 GHz in four distinct geographic locations with different climate types. From our simulations, we gather statistics for annual average rain attenuation, worst month rain attenuation, and rain attenuation per decade. Our results indicate that when using local measured rain data, for 1 km link distance, mean rain event attenuation increases from 0.5 to 2 dB. Local rain data yield larger attenuations at essentially all percentages of time not exceeded (essentially corresponding to all probability values): for example, for 0.1% of time not exceeded, in Columbia, SC, rain attenuation for 30 GHz frequency increases to 9 dB with local rain data, compared to 5 dB with ITU's regional data, corresponding to rain rates of 38.2 and 17.5 mm/h, respectively; at the same probability and location, the 90 GHz attenuation increases by 10 dB, from 10 to 20 dB when local rain data are used. Fog attenuations are also appreciable, reaching 8 dB for the 90 GHz frequency. Moreover, for the example locations, peak rain attenuations have increased at a rate of approximately 2 dB/decade over the past 50 years. Our results indicate that actual tropospheric attenuations may be substantially larger than that predicted by the ITU model when using regional rain rate data.


miRNA-146a in rheumatoid arthritis: a new therapeutic strategy.
Evaluation of: Nakasa T, Shibuya H, Nagata Y, Niimoto T, Ochi M: The inhibitory effect of microRNA-146a expression on bone destruction in collagen-induced arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 63(6), 1582-1590 (2011). miRNA-146a (miR-146a) has been shown to play an important role in the negative regulation of inflammatory innate immune responses, and is differentially expressed in a number of human diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. However, evidence for the potential therapeutic use of miR-146a in human disease has been lacking. The current paper demonstrates the potential therapeutic application of miR-146a for rheumatoid arthritis by demonstrating the inhibitory effect of miR-146a on osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Moreover, using a collagen-induced arthritis mouse model, they were able to demonstrate that intravenous administration of double-stranded miR-146a resulted in the suppression of cartilage and bone destruction, despite relatively unaffected immune cell infiltration of the synovium and inflammatory cytokine expression.


Compromised JMJD6 Histone Demethylase Activity Affects VHL Gene Repression in Preeclampsia.
The von Hippel Lindau (VHL) protein is a key executor of the cellular hypoxic response that is compromised in preeclampsia, a serious disorder complicating 5% to 7% of pregnancies. To date, the mechanisms controlling VHL gene expression in the human placenta remain elusive. We examined VHL epigenetic regulation in normal pregnancy and in preeclampsia, a pathology characterized by placental hypoxia. Placentae were obtained from early-onset preeclampsia (n = 56; <34 weeks of gestation) and late-onset preeclampsia (n = 19; ≥34 weeks of gestation). Placentae from healthy normotensive age-matched preterm control (n = 43) and term control (n = 23) pregnancies were included as controls. We measured the activity of Jumonji domain containing protein 6 (JMJD6), a ferrous iron (Fe2+)- and oxygen-dependent histone demethylase, and examined its function in the epigenetic control of VHL. JMJD6 regulates VHL gene expression in the human placenta. VHL downregulation in preeclampsia is dependent on decreased JMJD6 demethylase activity due to hypoxia and reduced Fe2+ bioavailability. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed decreased association of JMJD6 and its histone targets with the VHL promoter. Findings in preeclampsia were corroborated in a murine model of pharmacological hypoxia using FG-4592. Placentae from FG-4592-treated mice exhibited reduced VHL levels, accompanied by placental morphological alterations and reduced pup weights. Notably, Fe2+ supplementation rescued JMJD6 histone demethylase activity in histone from E-PE and FG-4592-treated mice. Our study uncovers epigenetic regulation of VHL and its functional consequences for altered oxygen and iron homeostasis in preeclampsia.


Li12 P3 N9 with Non-Condensed [P3 N9 ]12- -Rings and its High-Pressure Polymorph Li4 PN3 with Infinite Chains of PN4 -Tetrahedra.
Li12 P3 N9 was synthesized by solid-state reaction of Li3 N and P3 N5 at 790 °C. It is made up of non-condensed [P3 N9 ]12- dreier-rings of PN4 -tetrahedra. The corresponding high-pressure polymorph, Li4 PN3 , was synthesized under high-pressure/high-temperature conditions from Li12 P3 N9 or LiPN2 and Li7 PN4 at 6 or 7 GPa, respectively, using the multianvil technique. Li4 PN3 is the first lithium catena-nitridophosphate and contains PN3 zweier-chains of corner sharing PN4 -tetrahedra. To confirm the structure elucidated from single-crystal X-ray data, Rietveld refinement, 6 Li, 7 Li, and 31 P solid-state NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and EDX measurements were carried out. To examine the phase transition of Li12 P3 N9 to Li4 PN3 at 6 GPa and to corroborate the latter as the corresponding high-pressure polymorph, DFT calculations were conducted. Electronic band gap and electron localization function (ELF) calculations were carried out to elucidate the electronic properties and bonding behavior of both polymorphs.


SARS-CoV-2 Genome Analysis of Japanese Travelers in Nile River Cruise.
Japan has reported 26 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) linked to cruise tours on the River Nile in Egypt between March 5 and 15, 2020. Here, we characterized the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome of isolates from 10 travelers who returned from Egypt and from patients possibly associated with these travelers. We performed haplotype network analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolates using genome-wide single-nucleotide variations. Our analysis identified two potential Egypt-related clusters from these imported cases, and these clusters were related to globally detected viruses in different countries.


Can a simple test of visual-motor skill predict the performance of microsurgeons?
A new test of manual dexterity and a test of spatial ability were administered to 37 participants of a microsurgery training course. Performance on microsurgical tasks undertaken by the trainees to assess their surgical skill correlated significantly (rho = -0.54, P < or = 0.01) with manual dexterity and (rho = 0.36, P < or = 0.05) spatial ability. The first of these findings is contrary to those of studies concerned with general surgery whereas the second confirms the results of reported research. Explanation for the results is given in terms of the specific nature of microsurgical skill compared with general surgery.


Opsonic activity of sera and blister fluid from severely burned patients evaluated by a chemiluminescence method.
Burn wound sepsis is the most common and severe complication in the patients with severe burn. To know the systemic and local defect in immunity of burned patients, we measured the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) response of normal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) upon exposure to zymosan particles, bacteria or Candida albicans that were opsonized with any of patient's serum, blister fluid of burn wound or pooled normal serum (blood type AB). Sera from patients exhibited lower opsonic activities than those of pooled normal serum in the early postburn days. The levels of serum immunoglobulins, complement components and plasma fibronectin were found to correlate well with opsonin-index (OI), which was determined based on the CL response data obtained during the course of infusion therapy with fresh frozen plasma. Furthermore, patient's blister fluid showed much lower opsonic activity against bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa than patient's own serum. These results indicate that blister fluid is also not effective to opsonize bacteria because of the marked depression of the levels of immunoglobulins and complement components. Destruction of the skin barrier by thermal injury and impairment of systemic or local humoral immunity may predispose these patients to burn wound sepsis.


Holistic atlases of functional networks and interactions reveal reciprocal organizational architecture of cortical function.
For decades, it has been largely unknown to what extent multiple functional networks spatially overlap/interact with each other and jointly realize the total cortical function. Here, by developing novel sparse representation of whole-brain fMRI signals and by using the recently publicly released large-scale Human Connectome Project high-quality fMRI data, we show that a number of reproducible and robust functional networks, including both task-evoked and resting state networks, are simultaneously distributed in distant neuroanatomic areas and substantially spatially overlapping with each other, thus forming an initial collection of holistic atlases of functional networks and interactions (HAFNIs). More interestingly, the HAFNIs revealed two distinct patterns of highly overlapped regions and highly specialized regions and exhibited that these two patterns of areas are reciprocally localized, revealing a novel organizational principle of cortical function.


Aggregation of enzymatically modified Streptococcus mitis indicating involvement of lectin-ligand type interaction.
The aggregation properties of Streptococcus mitis ATCC 903 cells modified by treatment with heat or different enzymes was investigated. Bacteria that had the ability to aggregate spontaneously lost this capacity by treatment with proteolytic enzymes, beta-galactosidase or heat. Cells subjected to different types of modification were mixed in various proportions and their aggregation properties were recorded. To discriminate between the two kinds of cells in the suspension, one partner in the aggregation reaction was labelled with 14C-palmitic acid. Bacteria treated with beta-galactosidase co-aggregated with spontaneously aggregating cells (not modified) and with cells treated with heat. Heat-treated cells co-aggregated with spontaneously aggregating cells and with cells treated with beta galactosidase. Cells treated with trypsin did not co-aggregate either with spontaneously aggregating cells or cells treated with heat or beta-galactosidase. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that two surface components are required for specific aggregation of S. mitis cells. We suggest that both components are degraded or released from the bacterial surface by treatment with trypsin (and other proteolytic enzymes) as shown by the inability of these cells to take part in any co-aggregation with spontaneously aggregating cells. Treatment with beta-galactosidase degrades a carbohydrate receptor constituting the terminal part of a glycoprotein. Heat treatment inactivates a protein lectin. The fact that heat-treated bacteria and bacteria treated with beta-galactosidase aggregate when mixed supports the assumption that two components take part in the aggregation reaction.


Affective and restorative valences for three environmental categories.
The present study evaluated images of environments in three categories with different affective and restorative valences through two computerized assessments. A non-verbal computerized response scale and the Mexican Scale of Environmental Restoration Perception were employed. 104 students assessed the affective qualities of 117 images (47 natural, 37 urban with nature, and 33 built-up without nature) according to pleasure and activation dimensions. Then 96 students assessed 54 images with high and low valence for their restorative quality. Natural images were found to generate positive affective reactions of liking and activation and high restorative quality. Affective responses to urban with nature environments tended to be positive with moderate restorative quality. Built-up without nature environments were perceived as less pleasant and had low restorative quality. However, among built-up without nature environments, some settings with striking architectural qualities evoked positive affective valences.


Spectroscopic definition of the ferroxidase site in M ferritin: comparison of binuclear substrate vs cofactor active sites.
Maxi ferritins, 24 subunit protein nanocages, are essential in humans, plants, bacteria, and other animals for the concentration and storage of iron as hydrated ferric oxide, while minimizing free radical generation or use by pathogens. Formation of the precursors to these ferric oxides is catalyzed at a nonheme biferrous substrate site, which has some parallels with the cofactor sites in other biferrous enzymes. A combination of circular dichroism (CD), magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), and variable-temperature, variable-field MCD (VTVH MCD) has been used to probe Fe(II) binding to the substrate active site in frog M ferritin. These data determined that the active site within each subunit consists of two inequivalent five-coordinate (5C) ferrous centers that are weakly antiferromagnetically coupled, consistent with a mu-1,3 carboxylate bridge. The active site ligand set is unusual and likely includes a terminal water bound to each Fe(II) center. The Fe(II) ions bind to the active sites in a concerted manner, and cooperativity among the sites in each subunit is observed, potentially providing a mechanism for the control of ferritin iron loading. Differences in geometric and electronic structure--including a weak ligand field, availability of two water ligands at the biferrous substrate site, and the single carboxylate bridge in ferritin--coincide with the divergent reaction pathways observed between this substrate site and the previously studied cofactor active sites.


Delayed gastric emptying is associated with pylorus-preserving but not classical Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy: a review of the literature and critical reappraisal of the implicated pathomechanism.
Pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) is nowadays considered the treatment of choice for periampullary tumors, namely carcinoma of the head, neck, or uncinate process of the pancreas, the ampulla of Vater, distal common bile duct or carcinoma of the peri-Vaterian duodenum. Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) comprises one of the most troublesome complications of this procedure. A search of the literature using Pubmed/Medline was performed to identify clinical trials examining the incidence rate of DGE following standard Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) vs PPPD. Additionally we performed a thorough in-depth analysis of the implicated pathomechanism underlying the occurrence of DGE after PPPD. In contrast to early studies, the majority of recently performed clinical trials demonstrated no significant association between the occurrence of DGE with either PD or PPPD. PD and PPPD procedures are equally effective operations regarding the postoperative occurrence of DGE. Further randomized trials are required to investigate the efficacy of a recently reported (but not yet tested in large-scale studies) modification, that is, PPPD with antecolic duodenojejunostomy.


The role of poison control centres in the protection of public health: changes and perspective.
After the World War II, poison centres (PC) were created with the goal of improving the care of poisoned patients and prevention. Four decades later, they are still recognised for their traditional activities, but they are faced to new challenges. The development of numerous toxicological databases on CDROM or on the Internet has changed the needs of health professionals to call a PC, reducing the number of enquiries but increasing the need of expertise. The general concern about the cost-effective utilisation of the scarce health care resources will enhance the role of PCs in the reduction of unnecessary referral to emergency departments. Health authorities require the implementation of continuous surveillance system of chemical-related events and a real-time alerting procedure concerning terrorism attacks, child health and other serious events. But, to be able to achieve these new roles, PCs need to change the way they collect, validate, and analyse the information from cases and they must develop real-time capacity of detecting an unusual event. It has been recognised that PCs were in a unique position to monitor patterns, incidence and severity of exposures and to detect new trends. They could contribute to the accuracy of risk assessment documentation and help to identify the priority list of chemicals that need to be assessed or reassessed. But, in the perspective of using PCs' data for global risk assessment and public health, the main challenge is the development of international harmonization of human poisoning data collection to allow their comparability. In the future, PCs will continue to have a leading role to play in the health protection of the population. Therefore, of particular importance is their mobilisation to stabilise the traditional activities, to initiate new activities, to acquire new skills in toxicology, methodology and quality assurance, to recruit and to train new staff and to find adequate funding to sustain and expand their operations.


Effect of lateral hypothalamic lesion on brown adipose tissue of Zucker lean and obese rats.
Acute (10-day) lateral hypothalamic (LH) lesion induced a reduction of food intake in both lean and obese Zucker rats which averaged about 50% over the course of the first 10 days. The aphagia associated with a fall in body weight in both genotypes which was greater than their respective pair-fed controls, indicating a change in energetic efficiency. The reduced level of BAT protein, mitochondria and GDP binding observed in the obese rat was restored after LH lesion, suggesting the reestablishment of a normal sympathetic drive to the tissue. The markedly lower plasma insulin concentration in the LH lesioned obese rat is consistent with a reduction in parasympathetic activity in these animals. Food restriction in the sham lean rat reduced BAT protein content and mitochondrial GDP binding, whereas no such changes were observed in the food restricted obese rat. This demonstrates the insensitivity of the obese rat to dietary signals and may imply that LH lesion restores diet-induced BAT thermogenesis in the obese rat.


Microvascular endothelial cells engulf myelin debris and promote macrophage recruitment and fibrosis after neural injury.
The clearance of damaged myelin sheaths is critical to ensure functional recovery from neural injury. Here we show a previously unidentified role for microvessels and their lining endothelial cells in engulfing myelin debris in spinal cord injury (SCI) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We demonstrate that IgG opsonization of myelin debris is required for its effective engulfment by endothelial cells and that the autophagy-lysosome pathway is crucial for degradation of engulfed myelin debris. We further show that endothelial cells exert critical functions beyond myelin clearance to promote progression of demyelination disorders by regulating macrophage infiltration, pathologic angiogenesis and fibrosis in both SCI and EAE. Unexpectedly, myelin debris engulfment induces endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, a process that confers upon endothelial cells the ability to stimulate the endothelial-derived production of fibrotic components. Overall, our study demonstrates that the processing of myelin debris through the autophagy-lysosome pathway promotes inflammation and angiogenesis and may contribute to fibrotic scar formation.


Preparation of drug-immobilized anti-adhesion agent using visible light-curable alginate derivative containing furfuryl group.
This study demonstrated the anti-adhesion and wound healing effect of a visible light curable anti-adhesion agent using an alginate derivative modified with a furfuryl moiety. Visible light-curable furfuryl alginate (F-Alg) was prepared in conjugation with alginate and furfurylamine by an amide coupling reaction, and the conjugated F-Alg was characterized by 1H NMR analysis. The cytotoxicity, cell adhesion, and cell permeability of the F-Alg were evaluated for use in anti-adhesion applications. Drug immobilization and protein release were assessed to verify whether the alginate derivatives and drugs were photo-immobilized. In in vivo anti-adhesion testing, the new anti-adhesion agent prepared in this study acted as a physical protective layer by forming a biofilm on the surgical site. Additionally, along with gradual decomposition of the photo-crosslinked alginate derivative, the immobilized drug was released, and additional effects such as accelerated wound healing are expected. Thus, visible light-curable F-Alg has good application potential as an anti-adhesion agent.


Evolutionary patterns of archaea predominant in acidic environment.
Archaea of the order Thermoplasmatales are widely distributed in natural acidic areas and are amongst the most acidophilic prokaryotic organisms known so far. These organisms are difficult to culture, with currently only six genera validly published since the discovery of Thermoplasma acidophilum in 1970. Moreover, known great diversity of uncultured Thermoplasmatales represents microbial dark matter and underlines the necessity of efforts in cultivation and study of these archaea. Organisms from the order Thermoplasmatales affiliated with the so-called "alphabet-plasmas", and collectively dubbed "E-plasma", were the focus of this study. These archaea were found predominantly in the hyperacidic site PM4 of Parys Mountain, Wales, UK, making up to 58% of total metagenomic reads. However, these archaea escaped all cultivation attempts. Their genome-based metabolism revealed its peptidolytic potential, in line with the physiology of the previously studied Thermoplasmatales isolates. Analyses of the genome and evolutionary history reconstruction have shown both the gain and loss of genes, that may have contributed to the success of the "E-plasma" in hyperacidic environment compared to their community neighbours. Notable genes among them are involved in the following molecular processes: signal transduction, stress response and glyoxylate shunt, as well as multiple copies of genes associated with various cellular functions; from energy production and conversion, replication, recombination, and repair, to cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis and archaella production. History events reconstruction shows that these genes, acquired by putative common ancestors, may determine the evolutionary and functional divergences of "E-plasma", which is much more developed than other representatives of the order Thermoplasmatales. In addition, the ancestral hereditary reconstruction strongly indicates the placement of Thermogymnomonas acidicola close to the root of the Thermoplasmatales. This study has analysed the metagenome-assembled genome of "E-plasma", which denotes the basis of their predominance in Parys Mountain environmental microbiome, their global ubiquity, and points into the right direction of further cultivation attempts. The results suggest distinct evolutionary trajectories of organisms comprising the order Thermoplasmatales, which is important for the understanding of their evolution and lifestyle.


Abundance, diversity and temporal activity of adult Culicoides spp. associated with cattle in West Bengal, India.
Relative abundance, species composition and temporal activity of Culicoides midges were studied for a period of 2 years (2012-2014) using suction ultra violet light traps at two sites located in the agriculture heartland of West Bengal, India. Surveillance in close proximity to cattle recorded predominance of five species with C oxystoma and C. peregrinus as the most dominant species followed by C. fulvus, C. innoxius and C. anophelis. The temporal activity of midges was investigated for seven consecutive nights at one site in August-September, 2012 and the predominant species was Culicoides oxystoma followed by Culicoides peregrinus. All of the species exhibited crepuscular activity with their flight activity increasing from dusk to dawn. Engorged adults constituted dominant age group in collections. Studies on population ecology of the adults midges are of considerable importance predicting for the epidemicity of midge-borne diseases in cattle.