Real-Time Information-Variable Invisible Barcode Comprising Freely Deformable Infrared-Emitting Yarns.
Barcodes are utilized for product information management in shops, offices, hospitals, passenger facilities, and factories because they enable substantial amounts of data to be processed quickly and accurately. However, a limited amount of information can be loaded on the currently used monochrome barcodes that are based on thin-film coatings. Therefore, these barcodes require constant replacement with new barcodes to update the information; furthermore, they cannot be applied to textile products. This study demonstrated the performance of wearable invisible infrared (IR)-emitting barcodes by using twisted yarns that comprised five highly elastic/conductive spandex fibers. The barcode information can be actively updated via the selective IR emission from specific yarns of the barcode by controlling the applied voltage to the IR-emitting yarns. Therefore, the IR barcode required a relatively small number of bars to express a higher volume of information compared to the existing monochrome barcodes. Because the emitted IR light from the yarns was invisible to the human eye and was only recognized by an IR camera, the information-variable IR-emitting yarn-based barcode exhibited an aesthetic design and was composed of a sustainable fabric-type material that could be easily applied to clothes, bags, and shoes. It is expected that the fabricated barcode will be widely utilized as wearable invisible barcodes, whose information will remain invisible to humans and can be updated in real time to ensure information fluidity.


The cancer burden attributable to biologic agents.
A review of cohort and case-control studies that attempt to quantify the proportion of cancer cases diagnosed in the United States and throughout the world that may be attributed to biologic or infectious agents. Epidemiologic studies published primarily since the year 2000 are summarized that estimate population attributable fractions based on consensus estimates of relative risk and of the exposure prevalence to putative oncogenic infectious agents in representative populations. The proportion of incident cancers attributable to infectious agents diagnosed in low- and middle-income countries, comprising more than 80% of the world's population, has been estimated to vary from 20% to 30%, in contrast to a range of 5% or less to 10% in the United States and other highly industrialized populations. More than 90% of the global cancer cases attributed to infectious agents have been caused by hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human papillomaviruses, and the gram-negative bacterium, Helicobacter pylori. Epidemiologic and pathologic studies that use molecular diagnostic probes and immunologic and biochemical assays have described the substantial impact of infectious agents on global cancer incidence. These compelling observations have stimulated the development of effective hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus vaccines and the rationale for eradication of Helicobacter pylori.


Drag coefficient estimates from coasting bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus.
The drag coefficient bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus was estimated from coasting deceleration as (mean ± SD) 0.0154 ± 0.0070 at a Reynolds number of 41,000 ± 14,000. This was within the coasting range in other species and lower than values obtained from dead drag measurements in this species and others. Low momentum losses during coasting may allow its use during intermittent propulsion to modulate power output or maximize energy economy.


Community crime, poverty, and proportion of Black residents influence police descriptions of adolescents.
Our study examined officers' attitudes and perceptions of adolescents in general (and challenges in policing adolescents) and the degree to which community variables affect those perceptions. Our examinations of officers' descriptions of adolescents and challenges in policing adolescents were exploratory. We hypothesized that community characteristics would significantly influence officers' perceptions of adolescents, such that working in more impoverished, higher crime, and more proportionally Black communities would be associated with more negative perceptions of adolescents. Data were obtained from 1,112 active law enforcement officers representing 30 police agencies/departments across the United States. Participating officers completed a survey about adolescents and challenges in policing adolescents. Publicly available data sets were used to measure select community and police agency/departmental characteristics. We examined qualitative data using an inductive methodological approach. Police officers' descriptions of adolescents were significantly more negative than positive. Negativity was observed in the relative frequency of negative versus positive comments about adolescents as well as the use of inherently problematic descriptors. Police officers working in more impoverished, higher crime, and more proportionally Black communities displayed significantly more problematic attitudes and significantly fewer positive attitudes compared with those in less proportionally Black communities. The findings related to race were partially-but not completely-explained by other community variables. Officers' negative descriptors, their occasional use of inherently problematic terms, and the intensification of those tendencies when working in communities with more poverty, higher crime, and a larger proportion of Black residents suggest an urgent need for intervention to help officers better understand youth. Training that would help police officers better understand youth, recognize developmental influences, and see each youth individually rather than as a representative of a group could help officers interact more supportively with youth, be less likely to inadvertently create confrontation, and more effectively de-escalate situations involving distressed or activated youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).


Airway Management and Clinical Outcomes in External Laryngeal Trauma: A Case Series.
External laryngeal trauma is a rare but potentially fatal event that presents several management challenges. This retrospective observational case series conducted at a level-1 trauma center over a 12-year period consists of 62 cases of acute external laryngeal trauma. Patient demographics, mode and mechanisms of injury, presenting signs and symptoms, initial imaging results, airway management, time to surgical management, and 6-month outcomes including airway status, deglutition status, and voice quality were investigated. No difference was found in mortality or 6-month outcomes between patients requiring surgical repair and/or tracheostomy versus patients with less severe injuries managed conservatively.


Luminance mechanisms in green organic light-emitting devices fabricated utilizing tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum/4,7-diphenyl-1, 10-phenanthroline multiple heterostructures acting as an electron transport layer.
The electrical and the optical properties in green organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) fabricated utilizing tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq3)/4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BPhen) multiple heterostructures acting as an electron transport layer (ETL) were investigated. The operating voltage of the OLEDs with a multiple heterostructure ETL increased with increasing the number of the Alq3/BPhen heterostructures because more electrons were accumulated at the Alq3/BPhen heterointerfaces. The number of the leakage holes existing in the multiple heterostructure ETL of the OLEDs at a low voltage range slightly increased due to an increase of the internal electric field generated from the accumulated electrons at the Alq3/BPhen heterointerface. The luminance efficiency of the OLEDs with a multiple heterostructure ETL at a high voltage range became stabilized because the increase of the number of the heterointerface decreased the quantity of electrons accumulated at each heterointerface.


Relationship of the use of adjunctive pharmacological agents to symptoms and level of function in schizophrenia.
Adjunctive pharmacological agents are extensively used in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of the use of adjunctive agents, the extent to which their use conforms with Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) recommendations for adjunctive pharmacological treatment and the relationship of conformance with treatment recommendations to demographic and clinical variables and to symptoms and level of function. Outpatients with schizophrenia (N=344) underwent an extensive interview, and their medical records were reviewed. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics, medications, and role functioning were collected. More than two-thirds of the outpatients received antiparkinsonian agents, and 50% received an adjunctive agent other than an antiparkinsonian agent. Fifty-four (15.7%) outpatients received two or more non-anti-parkinsonian adjunctive agents. Rates of conformance with the PORT treatment recommendations for the use of adjunctive agents ranged from 49% to 65%, depending on the type of agent. Ethnicity and diagnosis were the only two patient characteristics that were consistently related to conformance with PORT treatment recommendations. The treatment recommendation for adjunctive mood stabilizers was the only recommendation for which conformance was related to multiple measures of patients' symptoms and level of function. Adjunctive agents are widely used in the pharmacological treatment of patients with schizophrenia, but there is a limited relationship between use of these agents in conformance with treatment recommendations and measures of symptoms and level of function. Longitudinal, prospective studies are needed to demonstrate the clinical utility of adjunctive agents.


Developing effective management for the general nursing service.
Directors of nursing services and their colleagues in the new units created by NHS restructuring face major challenges in developing effective management for the general nursing service. Emerging ideas within the profession on the organization of nursing work, severe pressures arising from financial constraints at a time of growing health care needs, and restructuring itself each demand a carefully planned response. Beginning from the basic management cycle involved in implementing the nursing process, this paper offers a redefinition of the main functions of nursing management as a whole in meeting these challenges and provides a check-list for reviewing existing management practice. The use of this check-list is then illustrated by a case study in one health district. In this example, managers sought external assistance in planning a programme of action to strengthen nursing leadership. Similar efforts elsewhere are likely to rely mainly on a range of self-help methods. This paper is intended to provide a tool for designing and implementing these local strategies of management development.


Tumor-associated macrophages in nanomaterial-based anti-tumor therapy: as target spots or delivery platforms.
Targeting tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) has emerged as a promising approach in cancer therapy. This article provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in the field of nanomedicines targeting TAMs. According to the crucial role of TAMs in tumor progression, strategies to inhibit macrophage recruitment, suppress TAM survival, and transform TAM phenotypes are discussed as potential therapeutic avenues. To enhance the targeting capacity of nanomedicines, various approaches such as the use of ligands, immunoglobulins, and short peptides are explored. The utilization of live programmed macrophages, macrophage cell membrane-coated nanoparticles and macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles as drug delivery platforms is also highlighted, offering improved biocompatibility and prolonged circulation time. However, challenges remain in achieving precise targeting and controlled drug release. The heterogeneity of TAMs and the variability of surface markers pose hurdles in achieving specific recognition. Furthermore, the safety and clinical applicability of these nanomedicines requires further investigation. In conclusion, nanomedicines targeting TAMs hold great promise in cancer therapy, offering enhanced specificity and reduced side effects. Addressing the existing limitations and expanding our understanding of TAM biology will pave the way for the successful translation of these nano-therapies into clinical practice.


A randomised trial comparing 0.02% mitomycin C and limbal conjunctival autograft after excision of primary pterygium.
Mitomycin C (MMC) and limbal conjunctival autograft (LCAU) are two known useful adjuvants in the prevention of pterygial recurrence. This study was conducted to compare the outcome of these two treatments. Prospective study on consecutive cases of primary pterygium (February 2001 to March 2002) randomised into two adjuvant groups: (1) intraoperative 0.02% MMC for 5 minutes or (2) LCAU. Patients were followed for recurrence (defined as fibrovascular tissue invading the cornea >1.5mm) and complications for a period of one year. 115 eyes in 114 patients who completed the study were randomised to receive MMC (n = 63) and LCAU (n = 52). There were 10 recurrences (15.9%) in the MMC group and only one recurrence (1.9%) in the LCAU group. There was a statistically significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups (p = 0.04). There were a total of three conjunctival cysts, three symblephara, one granuloma, and one dellen. No other visually significant complications were encountered in either group. Although LCAU resulted in better one year success rates, it is technically more difficult and inapplicable in cases with previous limbal disturbance. Simple excision followed by MMC or LCAU are both safe and acceptable adjuvants for pterygium excision. Choice of adjuvant should be carefully made based on assessment of recurrence risk, local practices, and surgeon's expertise.


Piped water supply interruptions and acute diarrhea among under-five children in Addis Ababa slums, Ethiopia: A matched case-control study.
The problem of intermittent piped water supplies that exists in low- and middle-income countries is particularly severe in the slums of sub-Saharan Africa. However, little is known about whether there is deterioration of the microbiological quality of the intermittent piped water supply at a household level and whether it is a factor in reducing or increasing the occurrence of acute diarrhea among under-five children in slums of Addis Ababa. This study aimed to determine the association of intermittent piped water supplies and point-of-use (POU) contamination of household stored water by Escherichia coli (E. coli) with acute diarrhea among under-five children in slums of Addis Ababa. A community-based matched case-control study was conducted from November to December, 2014. Cases were defined as under-five children with acute diarrhea during the two weeks before the survey. Controls were matched by age and neighborhood with cases by individual matching. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and E. coli analysis of water from piped water supplies and household stored water. A five-tube method of Most Probable Number (MPN)/100 ml standard procedure was used for E. coli analysis. Multivariable conditional logistic regression with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used for data analysis by controlling potential confounding effects of selected socio-demographic characteristics. During the two weeks before the survey, 87.9% of case households and 51.0% of control households had an intermittent piped water supply for an average of 4.3 days and 3.9 days, respectively. POU contamination of household stored water by E. coli was found in 83.3% of the case households, and 52.1% of the control households. In a fully adjusted model, a periodically intermittent piped water supply (adjusted matched odds ratio (adjusted mOR) = 4.8; 95% CI: 1.3-17.8), POU water contamination in household stored water by E. coli (adjusted mOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.1-10.1), water retrieved from water storage containers using handle-less vessels (adjusted mOR = 16.3; 95% CI: 4.4-60.1), and water retrieved by interchangeably using vessels both with and without handle (adjusted mOR = 5.4; 95% CI: 1.1-29.1) were independently associated with acute diarrhea. We conclude that provision of continuously available piped water supplies and education of caregivers about proper water retrieval methods of household stored water can effectively reduce POU contamination of water at the household level and thereby reduce acute diarrhea among under-five children in slums of Addis Ababa. Promotion of household water treatment is also highly encouraged until the City's water authority is able to deliver continuously available piped water supplies.


Multisystemic Impairments in 93 Chinese Patients With Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1.
Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant neuromuscular disease characterized by muscle weakness and multisystemic impairments, which significantly impact the quality of life. There is currently an increasing consensus on the necessity of a multidisciplinary assessment in patients with DM1, to improve the management of the disease. Methods: To analyze the prevalence and pairwise relationships between various organs involved, we performed a retrospective study by reviewing demographic and clinical information of DM1 patients including age, disease duration, clinical history, muscular impairment rating scale score (MIRS), results of blood biochemistry, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, and ophthalmologic examination. Results: Ninety three DM1 patients (60 males and 33 females), aged 34.7 ± 12.6 (mean ± standard deviation) years were recruited. Of which, two congenital cases were of maternal and paternal inheritance, respectively. In the other 91 patients, cataract was found in 44.1% of patients, followed by hypogonadism (40.8%), frontal balding (40.7%), and cardiac abnormalities (34.5%). Thyroid dysfunction and insulin insensitivity were relatively uncommon. Age (p < 0.001) is independently correlated with cataract, and MIRS correlates positively with cardiac abnormalities (p = 0.005) and frontal balding (p = 0.015). Male patients more frequently had frontal balding (Risk ratio, 3.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.493-10.611) compared with female patients. Male patients with cataract presented more frequent cardiac abnormalities (Risk ratio, 4.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.055-18.358) compared with non-cataract male patients. Hypogonadism in male patients was characterized as decreased testosterone level, accompanied by elevated levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. Conclusions: In Chinese patients with DM1, we conclude that (1) cataract, hypogonadism, frontal balding and cardiac abnormalities are frequently observed; (2) age is an independent indicator to cataract and MIRS is the only predictor for cardiac abnormalities and frontal balding; (3) a positive correlation between ophthalmologic and cardiac impairments in male patients is found; (4) endocrine abnormalities show diverse manifestations and hormone tests are recommended; (5) particular attention should be given to patients with older age and higher MIRS score.


Antinociceptive activity of standardized extract of Bacopa monnieri in different pain models of zebrafish.
Bacopa monnieri L. (Scrophulariaceae) is commonly known as Brahmi and traditionally used as a neuroprotective herbal medicine. Recently, Bacopa monnieri exhibited significant therapeutic activity against animal model of neuropathic pain. However, the therapeutic potential of methanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri in experimental animal model is yet to establish. The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-nociceptive potential of standardized methanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri in experimental adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) model of pain. The methanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri (BME) was standardized to bacoside-A using chromatographic method. Subsequently, BME (0.75, 1.25 and 5.0 mg/ml) was evaluated for anti-nociceptive activity using adult zebrafish model. Standardized BME showed antioxidant effect through radical quenching activity in in vitro study. BME at 1.25 mg/ml significantly decreased the nociceptive effect induced by different noxious agents like acetic acid where as BME at 2.5 mg/ml exhibited significant antinociceptive activity against glutamate, formalin, capsaicin, cinnamaldehyde when compared to control and sham group animals. BME exerted antinociceptive activity in adult zebrafish. It could be presumed that BME may involve glutamatergic receptor, ASIC and TRP channel activity in its anti-nociceptive effect. BME could be considered as a potential therapeutic option in the management of pain.


A risk of waiting: the weekly incidence of hypertensive disorders and associated maternal and neonatal morbidity in low-risk term pregnancies.
Elective induction of labor (eIOL) prior to 39 weeks' gestation is discouraged because of presumed fetal benefits. However, few data exist on the maternal risks of expectant management. To date, no study has evaluated the maternal risk of developing a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy with expectant management of a low-risk gravid at term. We sought to evaluate the development of hypertensive disorders in term low-risk expectantly managed patients. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study from 19 US hospitals, from 2002 to 2008 (Safe Labor Consortium) including all nonanomalous, cephalic, singleton pregnancies at 37-41 weeks. Women with a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, or planned cesarean delivery or from centers with incomplete hypertensive data were excluded. Women with eIOL in each week were compared with women managed expectantly until the next week of gestation or beyond. The primary outcome was the frequency of hypertensive complications. Of 114,651 low-risk deliveries, 12,772 (11.1%) had eIOL. The cohort was 49.2% nulliparous, 51.1% white, and obese (mean body mass index 30.2 kg/m(2)). The risk of developing any hypertension in expectantly managed women was 4.1% after 37 weeks, 3.5% after 38 weeks, 3.2% after 39 weeks, and 2.6% after 40 weeks. Compared with eIOL, women with hypertensive disorders had significantly higher rates of cesarean delivery and maternal morbidities (intensive care unit admission or death, third- or fourth-degree lacerations, maternal infections, and bleeding complications) at each week of gestation and the composite neonatal morbidity at 38 and 39 weeks of gestation. For women at low risk expectantly managed at term, there is a risk of developing hypertensive complications for each additional week of pregnancy, with associated increases in maternal and neonatal morbidities.


Population Genetic Structure and Species Status of Asiatic Toads (Bufo gargarizans) in Western China.
We investigated the population genetic structure of Asiatic toads (Bufo gargarizans) from the mountains of western China to determine their species status, using genotypic data of ten microsatellite DNA loci and DNA sequences from one mitochondrial gene. A total of 197 samples from eight sites were examined, which cover a large range of elevations (559-3457 m), as well as all three traditionally defined species (or subspecies). AMOVA did not reveal any particularly large among-groups structure, whether the sites were grouped by drainage, elevation, region, or species (subspecies). Individual assignment tests placed all samples into two genetic clusters, which largely corresponded to their geographic locations. An isolation-by-distance pattern was also detected when an outlier population (site 3) was excluded. Furthermore, a mitochondrial gene tree revealed deep divergence among haplotypes, sometimes within the same site. The clade patterns were partially associated with geographic distribution but had no resemblance to the traditional 2- or 3-species classification. Overall, these toad populations harbor a large amount of genetic diversity and have very high population differentiation, but taken together the evidence suggests that all populations belong to a single species. Our results are consistent with most previous molecular studies, and we recommend using Bufo gargarizans to represent all Asiatic toad populations from western China without subspecies division.


Radioprotection of hemopoiesis conferred by Acanthopanax senticosus Harms (Shigoka) administered before or after irradiation.
Acanthopanax senticosus Harms (Shigoka) extract has been observed to have radioprotective effects on hemopoiesis of irradiated mice (CBA/olac) when administered before or after irradiation by 60Co. The mechanisms of action were explored by studying the following parameters: 1) survival after lethal doses of irradiation; 2) recovery of spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S); 3) protective effect on endogenous CFU-S; and 4) effect on self-renewal of CFU-S. 1) The 30-day mortality due to bone marrow failure after irradiation was significantly reduced in Shigoka-treated mice. The maximum effect of the extract (80% survival) at a dose of 5 mg was observed when given intraperitoneally 24 h before a lethal dose of irradiation (9.5 Gy) and it was still effective when administered as late as 12 h after irradiation (30% survival). The radioprotective effect of Shigoka extract given before irradiation was not due to an increase in the total number of CFU-S but probably due to quiescent CFU-S that entered DNA synthesis (S-phase) 24 h after the injection of Shigoka extract. 2) Recovery of CFU-S in mice given the extract within 15 min after 4.75 Gy of whole body irradiation was also enhanced, especially in the spleen. The number of CFU-S in the bone marrow 24 h after irradiation showed a marked decrease. It returned to normal values in the bone marrow at day 11 in Shigoka-treated mice and at day 15 in nontreated irradiated mice. CFU-S in the spleen recovered more rapidly with an overshoot from days 7 to 21 in the Shigoka-treated mice, whereas in control irradiated mice it did not reach the normal value until day 21. 3) Nine days after sublethal doses of irradiation (7.0 Gy) the number of endogenous spleen colonies (endogenous CFU-S) was highest in mice given the extract 24 h before irradiation. The extract administered as late as 24 h after irradiation also resulted in an increase of the endogenous CFU-S. 4) The number of CFU-S in each 9-day endogenous CFU-S was 73.9 +/- 7.2 per nodule in treated mice and 0.2 +/- 0.1 per nodule in irradiated control mice, which suggests increased self-renewal of CFU-S in Shigoka-treated groups. These results suggest that the radioprotection conferred by Shigoka extract results from enhanced stimulation of CFU-S not only toward proliferation but also toward CFU-S self-renewal. These two phenomena could explain the protective effects of Shigoka extract administered even after irradiation.


Persistence of psychiatric disorders in a cohort of HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa: a 6-month follow-up study.
Psychiatric disorders in HIV/AIDS are common, emerging soon after diagnosis or during the subsequent course of illness. However, there are few prospective studies on the rates of psychiatric disorders in HIV/AIDS, particularly in the context of the developing world. Sixty-five patients with recently diagnosed HIV were interviewed on presentation to a hospital-based HIV clinic and then 6 months later. On both interviews, the patients were assessed using the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview, the Carver Brief COPE, and the Sheehan Disability Scale. Exposure to negative life events and risk behaviors was also evaluated. The overall prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the follow-up period remained high (56% of patients had at least one psychiatric disorder at baseline, and 48% of patients had at least one psychiatric disorder at 6 months). Depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were the most prevalent disorders at both baseline (34.9% and 14.8%) and follow-up (26% and 20%), respectively. More than half of all patients with depression at baseline improved (16 of 29; 55.1%). However, there was a new onset of both depression (4 of 49; 8.1%) and PTSD (12 of 17; 70.5%) on follow-up. In univariate analysis, depression on follow-up was significantly associated with: (a) disability in work/social/family functioning, (b) greater number of negative life events, and (c) a decline in CD4 lymphocyte count. Univariate analysis also revealed that a diagnosis of PTSD on follow-up was significantly associated with (a) a longer duration of infection and (b) baseline disability in work/social/family functioning. However, in multivariate analysis, only disability scores predicted the diagnoses of major depression and PTSD on follow-up assessment. Persistence of risky sexual behaviour was also noted, with a significantly higher number of participants reporting nonuse of condom on follow-up. There appeared to be a shift from maladaptive coping behaviors to more adaptive coping behaviors over the 6-month period. The rate of psychiatric disorders in HIV/AIDS patients was consistent over time. These findings emphasize the importance of regular evaluation for psychiatric disorders in HIV/AIDS patients, not only at the commencement of treatment but also during subsequent follow-up visits.


Non-equilibrium thermodynamics as a tool to compute temperature at the catalyst surface.
The surface temperature is computed for a heterogeneous catalytic reaction model, namely the oxidation of carbon monoxide on platinum. The surface temperature was found using non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory, a theory which provides the proper dependencies between heat and mass fluxes and the reaction rate. The theory predicts a possible coupling between the reaction rate and the thermal driving force and can help extend classical reaction kinetics. In the absence of direct measurements, we explore the coupling numerically. The results are able to capture experimental data reported in the literature, and give new insights into why Arrhenius plots may turn out to be non-linear.


A prospective, observational study of soluble FLT-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in sepsis.
Prior murine and human studies suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) contributes to endothelial cell activation and severity of illness in sepsis. Furthermore, circulating levels of soluble VEGF receptor 1 (sFLT) levels were found to increase as part of the early response to sepsis in mice. The objective of the study was to evaluate the blood levels of free VEGF-A and sFLT in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with suspected infection and to assess the relationship of these levels with severity of illness and inflammation. It was a prospective, observational study initiated in the ED of an urban, tertiary care, university hospital. Inclusion criteria were (1) ED patients aged 18 years or older and (2) clinical suspicion of infection. Eighty-three patients were enrolled in the study. The major findings were that (1) the mean VEGF and sFLT levels were increasingly higher across the following groups: noninfected control patients, infected patients without shock, and septic shock patients; (2) initial and 24-h VEGF levels had a significant correlation with the presence of septic shock at 24 h; (3) initial and 24-h sFLT levels correlated with Acute Physiology Age Chronic Health Evaluation II and Sepsis-related Organ/Failure Assessment scores initially and at 24 h; and (4) VEGF and sFLT levels correlated with inflammatory cascade activation. This is the first report of sFLT as a potential new marker of severity in patients with sepsis. Vascular endothelial cell growth factor and its signaling axis are important in the endothelial cell response to sepsis, and further elucidation of these mechanisms may lead to advances in future diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities.


Intraoral electrostimulator for xerostomia relief: a long-term, multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled, clinical trial.
A previous sham-controlled multinational study demonstrated the short-term efficacy and safety for xerostomia treatment of an intraoral device that delivers electrostimulation to the lingual nerve. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that those beneficial effects would be sustained over an 11-month period. The device was tested on a mixed sample of 94 patients with xerostomia in an open-label, uncontrolled, prospective multicenter trial. Statutory outcome assessments were done at 5th, 8th, and 11th months and analyzed by multiple comparisons. Improvements achieved at month 5 from baseline were sustained throughout the follow-up period for the primary outcome, xerostomia severity, and the secondary outcomes resting whole salivary flow rate, xerostomia frequency, oral discomfort, and difficulties in speech, swallowing, and sleeping. No significant side effects were detected. The beneficial effects of a removable intraoral electrostimulating device were sustained for an 11-month period.


Genotyping-by-Sequencing-Based Genetic Analysis of African Rice Cultivars and Association Mapping of Blast Resistance Genes Against Magnaporthe oryzae Populations in Africa.
Understanding the genetic diversity of rice germplasm is important for the sustainable use of genetic materials in rice breeding and production. Africa is rich in rice genetic resources that can be utilized to boost rice productivity on the continent. A major constraint to rice production in Africa is rice blast, caused by the hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. In this report, we present the results of a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS)-based diversity analysis of 190 African rice cultivars and an association mapping of blast resistance (R) genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs). The 190 African cultivars were clustered into three groups based on the 184K single nucleotide polymorphisms generated by GBS. We inoculated the rice cultivars with six African M. oryzae isolates. Association mapping identified 25 genomic regions associated with blast resistance (RABRs) in the rice genome. Moreover, PCR analysis indicated that RABR_23 is associated with the Pi-ta gene on chromosome 12. Our study demonstrates that the combination of GBS-based genetic diversity population analysis and association mapping is effective in identifying rice blast R genes/QTLs that contribute to resistance against African populations of M. oryzae. The identified markers linked to the RABRs and 14 highly resistant cultivars in this study will be useful for rice breeding in Africa.


Placement of solid screws with cannulated precision.
Cannulated screws can be inserted in a precise manner with minimal damage to surrounding structures but lack the mechanical strength of solid screws. Our method allows the insertion of a solid screw with the precision of the cannulated technique. With the use of equipment from a variety of operative sets from one manufacturer, a "custom" equipment set can be developed. This "custom" equipment set allows the surgeon to benefit from the strength of solid screws while preserving the precision of a cannulated system.


Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography Imaging in a Rabbit Model of Emphysema Reveals Ongoing Apoptosis In Vivo.
Evaluation of lung disease is limited by the inability to visualize ongoing pathological processes. Molecular imaging that targets cellular processes related to disease pathogenesis has the potential to assess disease activity over time to allow intervention before lung destruction. Because apoptosis is a critical component of lung damage in emphysema, a functional imaging approach was taken to determine if targeting apoptosis in a smoke exposure model would allow the quantification of early lung damage in vivo. Rabbits were exposed to cigarette smoke for 4 or 16 weeks and underwent single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography scanning using technetium-99m-rhAnnexin V-128. Imaging results were correlated with ex vivo tissue analysis to validate the presence of lung destruction and apoptosis. Lung computed tomography scans of long-term smoke-exposed rabbits exhibit anatomical similarities to human emphysema, with increased lung volumes compared with controls. Morphometry on lung tissue confirmed increased mean linear intercept and destructive index at 16 weeks of smoke exposure and compliance measurements documented physiological changes of emphysema. Tissue and lavage analysis displayed the hallmarks of smoke exposure, including increased tissue cellularity and protease activity. Technetium-99m-rhAnnexin V-128 single-photon emission computed tomography signal was increased after smoke exposure at 4 and 16 weeks, with confirmation of increased apoptosis through terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining and increased tissue neutral sphingomyelinase activity in the tissue. These studies not only describe a novel emphysema model for use with future therapeutic applications, but, most importantly, also characterize a promising imaging modality that identifies ongoing destructive cellular processes within the lung.


Characterization of the SECIS binding protein 2 complex required for the co-translational insertion of selenocysteine in mammals.
Selenocysteine is incorporated into at least 25 human proteins by a complex mechanism that is a unique modification of canonical translation elongation. Selenocysteine incorporation requires the concerted action of a kink-turn structural RNA (SECIS) element in the 3' untranslated region of each selenoprotein mRNA, a selenocysteine-specific translation elongation factor (eEFSec) and a SECIS binding protein (SBP2). Here, we analyze the molecular context in which SBP2 functions. Contrary to previous findings, a combination of gel filtration chromatography and co-purification studies demonstrates that SBP2 does not self-associate. However, SBP2 is found to be quantitatively associated with ribosomes. Interestingly, a wild-type but not mutant SECIS element is able to effectively compete with the SBP2 ribosome interaction, indicating that SBP2 cannot simultaneously interact with the ribosome and the SECIS element. This data also supports the hypothesis that SBP2 interacts with one or more kink turns on 28S rRNA. Based on these results, we propose a revised model for selenocysteine incorporation where SBP2 remains ribosome bound except during selenocysteine delivery to the ribosomal A-site.


Idiopathic acute fatty liver of pregnancy.
A maternal survivor of idiopathic fatty liver, with the characteristic histological appearance on liver biopsy, is reported. Profound hypoglycaemia was the major complication in this patient and it is suggested that more attention should be given to the blood glucose in this disease. The consideration of future pregnancy in this patient is discussed.


Detection of post-menopausal women with low bone mineral density and elevated biochemical markers of bone turnover by panoramic radiographs.
The detection of an eroded mandibular cortex on panoramic radiographs and questionnaire-based screening tools show similar diagnostic efficacies for identifying osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. We evaluated whether both tools also have similar diagnostic performances in identifying women with osteoporosis and elevated biochemical markers of bone turnover who have a high risk of fracture. Urinary N-telopeptide cross-links of type I collagen (NTx) (corrected for creatinine) and serum levels of total non-bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured in 99 post-menopausal women aged 44-70 years (mean +/- standard deviation (SD), 54.6 +/- 5.2 years) who underwent bone mineral density (BMD) assessment and panoramic radiography. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine and femoral neck using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The Female Osteoporosis Self-assessment Tool for Asia (FOSTA), which is based on age and weight, was used as the questionnaire-based screening tool. Osteoporosis was defined as a BMD T-score of -2.5 or less at either the lumbar spine or the femoral neck. Urinary NTx and serum ALP were significantly associated with cortical erosion, but not with the FOSTA. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve for identifying participants with osteoporosis were 0.784 for FOSTA and 0.827 for the detection of cortical erosion, and for identifying participants with osteoporosis and elevated urinary NTx they were 0.700 for FOSTA and 0.807 for the detection of cortical erosion. Our results suggest that panoramic radiography is superior to questionnaire-based screening for identifying women who are at high risk of fracture.


Key biological mechanisms involved in high-LET radiation therapies with a focus on DNA damage and repair.
DNA damage and repair studies are at the core of the radiation biology field and represent also the fundamental principles informing radiation therapy (RT). DNA damage levels are a function of radiation dose, whereas the type of damage and biological effects such as DNA damage complexity, depend on radiation quality that is linear energy transfer (LET). Both levels and types of DNA damage determine cell fate, which can include necrosis, apoptosis, senescence or autophagy. Herein, we present an overview of current RT modalities in the light of DNA damage and repair with emphasis on medium to high-LET radiation. Proton radiation is discussed along with its new adaptation of FLASH RT. RT based on α-particles includes brachytherapy and nuclear-RT, that is proton-boron capture therapy (PBCT) and boron-neutron capture therapy (BNCT). We also discuss carbon ion therapy along with combinatorial immune-based therapies and high-LET RT. For each RT modality, we summarise relevant DNA damage studies. Finally, we provide an update of the role of DNA repair in high-LET RT and we explore the biological responses triggered by differential LET and dose.


Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of a methanol extract from bulbs of Scilla scilloides.
The extract from bulbs of Scilla scilloides exhibited inhibitory effects in lipoxygenase and hyaluronidase assays and various oxidation models in vitro. Incubating the cells in the presence of this extract ameliorated t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cytotoxicity from 27% to 57% in a macrophage model. The results may indicate the potential role of S. scilloides for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects.


A simple method of intraoperative autotransfusion.
A new method of intraoperative blood collection and autotransfusion can be incorporated into an available suction system. It combines systemic heparinization with immediate extracorporeal citrate phosphate dextrose anticoagulation. Analysis of the autologous blood collected and its recipients indicates that it is safe. The preservation of platelets, coagulation factors and erythrocyte oxygen carrying capacity is better in this autologous blood than in homologous banked units. Potential problems of autotransfusion exist, but they are minimized when this system is used.


Room temperature phosphorescence of Mn(ii) and Zn(ii) coordination polymers for photoelectron response applications.
Room temperature phosphorescence of Mn(ii) and Zn(ii) based coordination polymers (Mn-CP and Zn-CP) with a different mechanism was confirmed by experiments and theory calculations. The Mn-CP exhibits high photoelectron response performance while Zn-CP can generate frequency tunable alternating current when the period of on-off illumination is changed.


Justice at the millennium, a decade later: a meta-analytic test of social exchange and affect-based perspectives.
Although a flurry of meta-analyses summarized the justice literature at the turn of the millennium, interest in the topic has surged in the decade since. In particular, the past decade has witnessed the rise of social exchange theory as the dominant lens for examining reactions to justice, and the emergence of affect as a complementary lens for understanding such reactions. The purpose of this meta-analytic review was to test direct, mediating, and moderating hypotheses that were inspired by those 2 perspectives, to gauge their adequacy as theoretical guides for justice research. Drawing on a review of 493 independent samples, our findings revealed a number of insights that were not included in prior meta-analyses. With respect to social exchange theory, our results revealed that the significant relationships between justice and both task performance and citizenship behavior were mediated by indicators of social exchange quality (trust, organizational commitment, perceived organizational support, and leader-member exchange), though such mediation was not apparent for counterproductive behavior. The strength of those relationships did not vary according to whether the focus of the justice matched the target of the performance behavior, contrary to popular assumptions in the literature, or according to whether justice was referenced to a specific event or a more general entity. With respect to affect, our results showed that justice-performance relationships were mediated by positive and negative affect, with the relevant affect dimension varying across justice and performance variables. Our discussion of these findings focuses on the merit in integrating the social exchange and affect lenses in future research.


Delta-Aminolevulinic acid synthase from chick embryo liver mitochondria. I. Purification and some properties.
The purification of hepatic delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase (EC 188.8.131.52) was accomplished from chick embryo liver mitochondria, which had been treated with the combination of drugs, 2-allylisopropylacetamide and 1,4-dihydro-3,5-dicarbethoxycollidine to produce a high starting level of enzyme activity. After extraction from the mitochondria by sonication, the enzyme was purified to a final specific activity of over 10,000 nmol of aminolevulinate formed/30 min/mg of protein/37 degrees, using the techniques of Sephadex chromatography, ammonium sulfate fractionation, affinity chromatography for pyridoxal phosphate, and preparative isoelectric focusing. An isoelectric point of 7.0 and a molecular weight of 87,000 were obtained for the native enzyme. The subunit molecular weight of 49,000, obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, suggested it was a dimer. The enzyme was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate and N-ethylmaleimide, stimulated by cations and exhibited an ultraviolet absorption spectrum characteristic of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate enzymes with absorption maxima at 325 and 420 nm.


Photodynamic therapy of transitional cell carcinoma multicellular tumor spheroids with hypericin.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the sensitivity of the bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) to hypericin PDT in a 3-D system using multicellular tumor spheroids. The photodynamic response in RT-112 human bladder TCC spheroids was also compared to 2-D cultured monolayer cells. Following a 2-4 h incubation with 8-30 microM hypericin, spheroids or monolayer cells were irradiated at the light dose of 12 J/cm2, delivered at a fluence rate of 10-100 mW/cm2. The PDT effects were evaluated using a clonogenic assay. The results show that compared with the cells in a monolayer, cells in spheroids were dramatically less sensitive to hypericin PDT (<2000-fold). Studies of fluorescence microphotographs of centrally cut frozen sections of hypericin-exposed spheroids showed a gradient in hypericin concentration from the peripheral to the central region of the spheroid. Although it can be suggested that heterogeneity of drug uptake might be responsible for the observed resistance of spheroid to hypericin PDT, hypericin sensitized spheroids that were dissociated prior to light irradiation were as sensitive as the monolayer cells to hypericin PDT, suggesting that other factors such as oxygen depletion might be responsible for the resistance of spheroids to hypericin PDT.


Inhibitory effects of cyanide on mechanical and electrical activities in the circular muscle of gastric antrum of guinea-pig stomach.
Effects of cyanide (CN) on spontaneous mechanical and electrical activities were studied in the circular muscle of the guinea-pig gastric antrum. CN (0.05-0.5 mM) inhibited both mechanical and electrical activities, but the inhibition was stronger in the former than the latter (slow wave). When glucose was removed for more than 30 min, slow wave was also blocked by CN. It is likely that ATP necessary for the generation of spontaneous activity can be supplied through either glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation. CN slightly depolarized the membrane and the inhibition by CN was not affected by glibenclamide, a blocking agent of ATP-regulated K+ channel, suggesting that this channel is not activated by CN treatment. Basal level of intracellular Ca2+ measured with fura-2 tended to increase during the mechanical inhibition by CN. This was also clearly demonstrated in excess (60 mM) K+ solution. These results suggest that intracellular Ca2+ regulation is impaired and that there is uncoupling between intracellular Ca2+ and tension development in the presence of CN.


Vocalizations of female frogs contain nonlinear characteristics and individual signatures.
Anuran vocalization is sexually dimorphic, with males doing the bulk of vocalizing. Female vocalization is rare and has been observed in a handful of species, including the concave-eared torrent frog (Odorrana tormota). Females O. tormota have been reported to emit moderate-level calls to attract males. In contrast to males, female's vocal signals show no evidence of nonlinear phenomena (NLP). However, with females emitting calls so infrequently that this conclusion must be considered tentative in light of the limited supporting data. The present study was undertaken to test the hypotheses that their vocalizations: 1. may not be purely linear, 2. may contain individual signatures, similar to their male counterparts. We recorded 671 calls from six captive gravid females and found that their vocalizations are as complex as male calls, with numerous calls exhibiting complex upward/downward frequency modulations, and 39% of female calls containing at least one component of the NLP, i.e., subharmonics, deterministic chaos, frequency jump, or biphonation. Furthermore, females in captivity tend to call in bouts throughout the day and night, and the call rate varies hourly with a maximum of >10 calls per minute matching the maximum call rate in males. Similar to males, female vocalizations carry individual signatures, and all sound parameters analyzed differ significantly between individuals. This represents the first report ever showing that vocalizations of female anurans: 1. contain NLP, 2. carry individual signatures. Presence of signatures in both the male and female vocalizations opens up the possibility for males (and females) to distinguish individual frogs in both sexes acoustically, and thus their sound communication ability may be more advanced than previously thought.


Association of the virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori and gastric mucosal interleukin-17/23 mRNA expression in dyspeptic patients.
The molecular pathways that control Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-associated inflammatory reaction are complex, but locally induced cytokines and virulence factors seem to have a major role in maintaining the ongoing inflammation. Therefore this study was aimed to evaluate the association of the virulence factors of Hp and gastric mucosal interleukin-17/23 mRNA expression in dyspeptic patients. Mucosal IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA expression in H. pylori infected and non-infected gastric biopsies were determined by real-time RT-PCR. Virulence factors, vac-A and cag-A were evaluated using PCR. There was no significant difference in mucosal IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA expression between H. pylori infected and non-infected patients. Their expression in mucosa did not correlate with chronic gastritis and chronic active gastritis. IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA expression in mucosa of patients with vacA m1 were significantly higher than those observed in patients with vacA m2. The severity of polymorphonuclear infiltration and chronic active gastritis was higher in cag-A positive than cag-A negative patients. H. pylori infections carrying the vacA m1 allele have higher IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA and the current study suggests that the virulence factor vacA allele's m1 are important for the severe gastric inflammation.


Factors related to mortality in inferior vena cava injuries. A 5 year experience.
Forty-nine patients sustaining Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) injuries, during a 5 year period were retrospectively analyzed in order to assess those factors related to early deaths. Mean age was 32 and 45 were male. GSW was the most frequent mechanism of injury (59.2%), followed by SW (28.6%) and blunt trauma (12.2%). There were 4 injuries in the supra diaphragmatic IVC, 14 retrohepatic, 16 suprarenal and the remaining 15 were in the infrarenal portion of the IVC. Twenty patients were in shock and 8 were unstable on admission. The liver was the most frequently injured organ in association with IVC and there were also 7 concomitant abdominal vascular injuries. Venorrhaphy was performed in 28 patients, IVC ligature in 5, intracaval shunt in 3 and in the remaining 13, only temporary hemostasis was attempted. Mortality rate was 100% in supra diaphragmatic injuries, 71.4% in retrohepatic, 68.8% in suprarenal and 33% in infrarenal injuries. There was a significant difference when comparing mortality rate in stable against shock or unstable patients on admission (p < 0.001), as well as in those with diaphragmatic IVC injuries compared with all other injury sites together (p < 0.05). Hemodynamic instability on admission was the most important cause of early deaths, and all patients with concomitant abdominal vascular injuries also died.


Fuzzy concepts in a fuzzy hierarchy: varieties of anger.
This article argues that the concept of anger is not well characterized from the classical perspective. Instead, its membership is graded, its borders are fuzzy, and its subcategories fail to form a true class-inclusion hierarchy. Ss rated potential anger subcategories (fury, jealousy, annoyance, etc.) and remembered instances of their own anger as varying in degree of membership in anger. Degree of membership (prototypicality) predicted each subcategory's availability from memory given the category name, reaction time to verify its status as a subcategory, and its substitutability within naturally generated sentences about anger. Two predictions of a true class-inclusion hierarchy failed: that Ss would agree in adjudicating the membership of potential subcategories of anger and that all instances of a subcategory of anger would also be instances of anger. As an alternative to the classical view, emotion concepts are hypothesized to vary in their degree of breadth and overlap and to be mentally represented as scripts that allow different instantiations in different contexts.


Mechanical behaviour of pressed and sintered CP Ti and Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy obtained from master alloy addition powder.
The Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy was obtained using the blending elemental approach with a master alloy and elemental titanium powders. Both the elemental titanium and the Ti-6Al-7Nb powders were characterised using X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis and dilatometry. The powders were processed using the conventional powder metallurgy route that includes uniaxial pressing and sintering. The trend of the relative density with the sintering temperature and the microstructural evolution of the materials sintered at different temperatures were analysed using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. A minimum sintering temperature of 1200°C has to be used to ensure the homogenisation of the alloying elements and to obtain a pore structure composed of spherical pores. The sintered samples achieve relative density values that are typical for powder metallurgy titanium and no intermetallic phases were detected. Mechanical properties comparable to those specified for wrought Ti-6Al-7Nb medical devices are normally obtained. Therefore, the produced materials are promising candidates for load bearing applications as implant materials.


NAD+ in Alzheimer's Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Systematic Therapeutic Evidence Obtained in vivo.
Mitochondria in neurons generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to provide the necessary energy required for constant activity. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a vital intermediate metabolite involved in cellular bioenergetics, ATP production, mitochondrial homeostasis, and adaptive stress responses. Exploration of the biological functions of NAD+ has been gaining momentum, providing many crucial insights into the pathophysiology of age-associated functional decline and diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we systematically review the key roles of NAD+ precursors and related metabolites in AD models and show how NAD+ affects the pathological hallmarks of AD and the potential mechanisms of action. Advances in understanding the molecular roles of NAD+-based neuronal resilience will result in novel approaches for the treatment of AD and set the stage for determining whether the results of exciting preclinical trials can be translated into the clinic to improve AD patients' phenotypes.


How clients "change emotion with emotion": A programme of research on emotional processing.
This paper reviews a body of research that has examined Pascual-Leone and Greenberg's sequential model of emotional processing or used its accompanying measure (the Classification of Affective Meaning States). Research from 24 studies using a plurality of methods examined process-outcome relationships from micro to macro levels of observation and builds support for emotional transformation as a possible causal mechanism of change in psychotherapy. A pooled sample of 310 clinical and 130 sub-clinical cases have been studied, reflecting the process of 7 different treatment approaches in addressing over 5 different presenting clinical problems (including depression, anxiety, relational trauma, and personality disorders). The initial findings on this model support the hypothesis that emotional transformation occurs in specific canonical sequences and these show large effects in the prediction of positive treatment outcomes. This model is the first in the field of psychotherapy to show how non-linear temporal patterns of moment-by-moment process relate to the unfolding of increasingly larger changes to create good psychotherapy treatment outcomes. Finally, clinical application of the model is also considered as a template for case formulations focused on emotion. Clinical or methodological significance of this article: This review article examines research on a specific model of emotional processing. (i) Experiencing certain key emotions during psychotherapy seems to predict good treatment outcomes, at both the session and treatment levels. (ii) There is also evidence to suggest that these productive emotional experiences unfold in an ordered pattern. Moreover, (iii) support for this way of understanding emotional processing comes from a number of very different treatment approaches and for several kinds of major disorders.


A retrospective analysis of pancreas operations in children.
Operative intervention for pediatric pancreas diseases is rare. Our goal is to gain a better understanding of the indications and outcomes relating to pancreas surgery in children. We hypothesized that these operations are safe and effective in this population. With IRB approval, we performed a retrospective review of data of pediatric patients (<18 years) who underwent pancreas operations at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas from January 2005 to December 2018. These procedures included distal, central and total pancreatectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, and lateral pancreatojejunostomy. Demographics, surgical indication, and operative and postoperative outcomes were examined. Forty-six children underwent 47 pancreas operations. Pancreatic mass was the most common indication for resection (n=28, 60%), followed by traumatic injury (n=10, 21%) and chronic pancreatitis (n=8, 17%). The overall complication rate was 0.55 (range, 0-3) complications per procedure, including 4 pancreatic leaks. The overall unexpected hospital visit rate (emergency department and readmissions) was 0.76 (range, 0-6) visits per patient. There were no mortalities. While pancreas operations are rare procedures in children, our data demonstrate clear indications in this population with an associated low complication rate. This retrospective series highlights the role of pancreas resection in children.


Therapy-relevant aberrant expression of MRP3 and BCRP mRNA in TCC-/SCC-bladder cancer tissue of untreated patients.
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a critical factor, which results in suboptimal outcomes in cancer chemotherapy. One principal mechanism of MDR is the increased expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Of these, multidrug resistance-associated protein 3 (MRP3) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) confer MDR when overexpressed in cancer cell lines. We measured the mRNA expression of MRP3 and BCRP in primary untreated bladder cancer specimens using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) in comparison to normal bladder tissue. The MRP3 and BCRP expression in the two major histotypes of bladder cancer; transitional cell carcinoma (TCC; urothelial type of bladder cancer) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 'Schistosoma-induced' bladder cancer) were compared. Furthermore, the association between MRP3 and BCRP expression and tumor grade and stage were investigated. MRP3 mRNA expression in bladder cancer specimens was increased ~13-fold on average compared to normal bladder tissue (n=36, P<0.0001). BCRP mRNA expression was decreased in bladder cancer specimens to ~1/5 on average, compared to normal bladder tissue (n=38, P<0.0001). TCC showed significantly increased MRP3 mRNA expression compared to SCC of the bladder (P<0.0001). BCRP mRNA expression was similar in TCC and SCC of the bladder (P=0.1072). The increased MRP3 mRNA expression was not related to bladder tumor grade (P=0.3465) but was, however, significantly higher in superficial than in invasive bladder tumors (P=0.0173). The decreased expression of BCRP was not related to bladder tumor grade (P=0.1808) or stage (P=0.8016). The current data show that bladder cancer is associated with perturbed expression of MRP3 and BCRP. Representing drug resistance factors, determining the expression of these transporters in native tumors may be predictive of the outcome of chemotherapy based-treatment of bladder cancer.


An accurate prognostic staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative hepatectomy.
The aim of this study was to develop an accurate predictive system for prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after hepatectomy. We pooled data of clinicopathological features of 234 HCC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy. On the basis of the pooled data, we established a simple predictive staging system (PS score) scored by the mathematical product of tumor number and size, and degree of liver function. We compared the prognostic abilities of the PS score (score 0-3) with those of six well-known clinical staging systems. Then, we found that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in both disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between patients with different PS scores (PS score 0 vs. 1; PS score 1 vs. 2), and there was a significant difference in DFS, but not OS, between patients with PS score 2 and those with PS score 3. Moreover, the PS score had smaller values of the Akaike information criterion for both DFS and OS than any of the six well-known clinical staging systems. These results suggest that the PS score serves as a simple, accurate predictor for the prognosis of HCC patients after hepatectomy.


Isolated Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Site Metastasis From Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is a relatively uncommon malignancy due to the human papillomavirus or environmental factors such as excessive alcohol or tobacco use. Its most common metastatic locations are the lungs, bone, and liver. We are reporting a much more exceedingly rare site, a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) site. HNSCC metastases and recurrences are commonly seen; however, they present complex challenges to manage successfully. Our presenting patient had an initial diagnosis of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and then developed an isolated metachronous metastatic tumor at the site of his gastrostomy tract approximately one year later.


Research Progress on Microbial Community Succession in the Postmortem Interval Estimation.
The postmortem interval (PMI) estimation is a key and difficult point in the practice of forensic medicine, and forensic scientists at home and abroad have been searching for objective, quantifiable and accurate methods of PMI estimation. With the development and combination of high-throughput sequencing technology and artificial intelligence technology, the establishment of PMI model based on the succession of the microbial community on corpses has become a research focus in the field of forensic medicine. This paper reviews the technical methods, research applications and influencing factors of microbial community in PMI estimation explored by using high-throughput sequencing technology, to provide a reference for the related research on the use of microbial community to estimate PMI.


Arabidopsis thaliana Remorins Interact with SnRK1 and Play a Role in Susceptibility to Beet Curly Top Virus and Beet Severe Curly Top Virus.
Remorins, a family of plant-specific proteins containing a variable N-terminal region and conserved C-terminal domain, play a role in various biotic and abiotic stresses, including host-microbe interactions. However, their functions remain to be completely elucidated, especially for the Arabidopsis thaliana remorin group 4 (AtREM4). To elucidate the role of remorins in Arabidopsis, we first showed that AtREM4s have typical molecular characteristics of the remorins, such as induction by various types of biotic and abiotic stresses, localization in plasma membrane and homo- and hetero-oligomeric interaction. Next, we showed that their loss-of-function mutants displayed reduced susceptibility to geminiviruses, Beet Curly Top Virus and Beet Severe Curly Top Virus, while overexpressors enhanced susceptibility. Moreover, we found that they interacted with SnRK1, which phosphorylated AtREM4.1, and were degraded by the 26S proteasome pathway. These results suggest that AtREM4s may be involved in the SnRK1-mediated signaling pathway and play a role as positive regulators of the cell cycle during geminivirus infection.


Efficient inference of bacterial strain trees from genome-scale multilocus data.
In bacterial evolution, inferring a strain tree, which is the evolutionary history of different strains of the same bacterium, plays a major role in analyzing and understanding the evolution of strongly isolated populations, population divergence and various evolutionary events, such as horizontal gene transfer and homologous recombination. Inferring a strain tree from multilocus data of these strains is exceptionally hard since, at this scale of evolution, processes such as homologous recombination result in a very high degree of gene tree incongruence. In this article we present a novel computational method for inferring the strain tree despite massive gene tree incongruence caused by homologous recombination. Our method operates in three phases, where in phase I a set of candidate strain-tree topologies is computed using the maximal cliques concept, in phase II divergence times for each of the topologies are estimated using mixed integer linear programming (MILP) and in phase III the optimal tree (or trees) is selected based on an optimality criterion. We have analyzed 1898 genes from nine strains of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, and identified a fully resolved (binary) strain tree with estimated divergence times, despite the high degrees of sequence identity at the nucleotide level and gene tree incongruence. Our method's efficiency makes it particularly suitable for analysis of genome-scale datasets, including those of strongly isolated populations which are usually very challenging to analyze. We have implemented the algorithms in the PhyloNet software package, which is available publicly at http://bioinfo.cs.rice.edu/phylonet/.


Patent ductus arteriosus and respiratory outcome in premature infants.
A persistent ductus arteriosus is a common event in preterm infants. The systemic-to-pulmonary shunting that occurs as the pulmonary vascular resistance decreases after birth can have significant cardiovascular and respiratory consequences. Acute pulmonary effects include pulmonary edema and hemorrhage, worsened lung mechanics and deterioration in gas exchange with hypoxemia and hypercapnia. The increased pulmonary blood flow can also produce damage to the capillary endothelium and trigger an inflammatory cascade. This, plus the need for longer and more aggressive mechanical ventilation, can explain the association between patent ductus arteriosus and an increased risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely premature infants.


T-bet and eomesodermin play critical roles in directing T cell differentiation to Th1 versus Th17.
Th1 and Th17 cells are crucial in immune regulation and autoimmune disease development. By adding Stat6 deficiency to T-bet deficiency, and thus negating effects from elevated levels of IL-4/Stat6/GATA3 Th2 signals in T-bet-deficient cells, we investigated the signals important for Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation and their role in colitis development. The data reveal that Eomesodermin compensates T-bet deficiency for IFN-gamma and Th1 development. However, without T-bet, IFN-gamma production and Th1 differentiation are susceptible to inhibition by IL-6 and TGFbeta. As a result, Th17 development is strongly favored, the threshold for TGFbeta requirement is lowered, and IL-6 drives Th17 differentiation, elucidating a critical role for T-bet in directing T cell differentiation to Th1 vs Th17. In contrast to IL-6 plus TGFbeta-driven Th17, IL-6-driven Th17 cells do not express IL-10 and they induce a more intense colitis. Naive CD4 T cells deficient in Stat6 and T-bet also induce a Th17-dominant colitis development in vivo. Our data provide new insights into the choice between Th1 and Th17 development and their roles in autoimmunity.


A new species of Chorisquilla Manning, 1969 (Stomatopoda: Protosquillidae) from Korea and Japan with redescription of C. mehtae Erdmann Manning, 1998.
A new species of protosquillid mantis shrimp is described from the coastal waters of Korea and Japan. Chorisquilla orientalis n. sp. is distinguished from congeners by the combination of deep grooves and pits on the dorsal surface of abdominal somite 5, 8-14 spines on lateral margin of the telson, numerous minute dorsal spines on the telson and abdominal somite 6, and large, pyriform submedian bosses on the telson preceded by a small rounded boss. Chorisquilla orientalis is morphologically closest to C. mehtae Erdmann Manning, 1998, from Indonesia, but differs chiefly in the dorsal ornamentation of abdominal somite 6 and the telson and reaches a considerably larger size. Chorisquilla orientalis n. sp. shows developmental changes from juvenile to adult in the shape of the ocular scales and anterior margin of lateral plates of carapace, and in the number of lateral spines on telson. Also, C. mehtae Erdmann Manning, 1998, which, to date has not been adequately illustrated, is redescribed and figured. A key to the Korean gonodactyloids is presented.


Prevalence of antibodies against the hepatitis C virus among voluntary blood donors at a makkah hospital.
One thousand four hundred and thirty nine voluntary blood donors attending the blood transfusion department at Al Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah were screened for antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) by second generation enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). A total of 52 donors (3.6%) were anti-HCV positive. Anti-HCV was detected in 1.7% of the Saudi donors as compared to 6.9% among Non-Saudi donors. Scrutiny of the data revealed a higher rate of anti-HCV in the age-group of above 40 years than in the other age groups. Further, when Non-Saudi blood donors were analysed according to their nationalities, Egyptian donors showed a prevalence of 27.2% of anti-HCV followed by Pakistanis (1.9%), Bangladeshis (1.9%), Yemenis (1.5%) and other nationalities (0.5%). When blood samples from 92 patients on maintenance hemodialysis were tested for anti-HCV, 75 (81.5%) patients were found positive for anti-HCV. We conclude that the prevalence of anti-HCV among blood donors in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia is high and routine screening for anti-HCV should be conducted for all blood donors before they are accepted for donation.


Mercury-platinum tunneling junctions incorporating supramolecular host-guest assemblies.
Molecular junctions incorporating monolayers of surface-active cyclodextrins have been formed by bringing macroscopic platinum and mercury electrodes together. Monolayers of the host di-6A,6B-deoxy-6-(4-pyridylmethyl)amino-gamma-cyclodextrin (CD) have been formed on platinum electrodes and backfilled with 1-nonanethiol. Significantly, the tunneling current for bilayer junctions in which the mercury surface is modified with a C16 alkane thiol depends markedly on the nature of the CD guest. Junctions where nonconjugated guests, such as adamantane, are included in the CD show an order of magnitude lower current than junctions incorporating the conjugated guest C60. Moreover, monolayer junctions of CD backfilled with 1-nonanethiol exhibit potential-dependent currents in the presence of CD guest molecule [Co(biptpy)2](2+) but not for [Co(tpy)2](2+), which is structurally analogous but cannot associate with CD. Significantly, unlike bilayer systems, when only one electrode is modified, mechanical pressure is required to form a stable tunneling junction and these junctions cannot be formed and separated reversibly.


Semantic category word search impairment in schizophrenia.
Mechanisms of lexical retrieval within natural semantic categories are investigated in patients with schizophrenia. We predicted and found that schizophrenics show lexical retrieval impairments on word search tasks. Experiments are described in which subjects either scan through word lists for single target items (simple search), or search for members of a semantic category (semantic search). Two groups of subjects are employed: medicated schizophrenics, and a comparison group with similar age and premorbid intelligence. A significant between-group difference is reported (for both speed and accuracy) in semantic category search but not in simple search. It is known that many schizophrenic patients have word finding difficulties (Frith, 1992; Frith et al., 1991). Our results support the claim that in some schizophrenics at least, selective lexical-semantic parallel processing deficits may underlie word finding aberrations. It is possible that such dysfunctions reflect weakened connection strengths between units making up a lexical-semantic field (as characterised by proximity to a prototype).


P025 The Impact of Non-Remission on Costs and Resource Use In Patients With Crohn's Disease: Targeted Literature Review.
The incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) has been rising globally. Patients with CD are at an increased risk of mortality compared to general population. The goal of treatment for CD is clinical remission based on clinical, endoscopic, and biological parameters. There has been introduction of new treatments in recent years. A review was conducted to assess the impact of non-remission on cost and resource use in patients with CD. Literature search of English language publications from 2015-2021 was conducted in Embase® and MEDLINE®. Real world studies meeting predefined review criteria were included and data were extracted in pre-defined extraction form. The review retrieved 1384 records; 24 fulfilled eligibility criteria. The definition of remission varied across the included studies. In most studies (66.67%), remission was defined using Crohn's disease activity index and/or Harvey-Bradshaw Index. Among included evidence, 21 studies reported proportion of non-remitters undergoing surgery, 11 studies reported the data for hospitalizations and 2 studies reported cost of treatment for non-remitters. Proportion of non-remitters requiring hospitalizations ranged from 6.7% to 30.6%. Univariate analysis suggested that deep remission was significantly associated with lower hazards for being hospitalized (HR: 0.18 [95%CI: 0.08, 0.25]); suggesting a significantly higher risk of hospitalization in non-remitters. In a study, the mean duration of cumulative hospital stays was significantly higher in patients with a pathological MRI (19.7 ± 7.4 days) compared to patients in deep remission (0.75 ± 0.52 days, p < 0.05). The proportion of non-remitters undergoing surgery ranged from 1.5% to 57%. The proportion of patients undergoing surgery were high in non-remitters compared to remitters. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was needed in 4.1% non-remitters and repeat surgery in 3.5% non-remitters. In a study, surgery was required by 11.6% patients with no healing (due to refractory strictures, penetrating complications, and severe refractory disease) and 11.5% patients presenting with mucosal healing (due to structuring and penetrating complications), while no patient with transmural healing required surgery. Non-remission led to higher total costs, especially in patients undergoing surgery or dependent on in-hospital administrated drugs. The costs were 4 to 6 times higher in patients in an active period and 19 times higher for patients requiring surgery compared to patients in remission. Adjusted total indirect cost among participants with disease remission was reduced by 60% compared to patients with active disease (€243.44 per patient per month, p < 0.001). The number of consultations in the last month, monthly consultation cost, current treatment cost, amount of benefits from public organisations, and self-reported expenses on all categories were significantly higher in non-remitters compared to patients in remission. This targeted review found in general that not being able to achieve/maintain remission has an impact on the economic outcomes of patients with CD. Non-remission in patients with CD was associated with an increased number of hospitalizations and surgeries. The cost of treatment for non-remitters was significantly higher than patients in remission. None of the studies presented data for patients who respond to treatment but are not able to achieve remission. Further research is warranted in these patients.


Evaluation of an automated image analysis system for counting human tumor colonies.
The Omnicon FAS II image analysis system was applied to counting tumor colonies grown in a soft agar human tumor clonogenic assay with a detailed protocol designed to assess the instrument's sensitivity, specificity, precision, and accuracy. Comparisons of technician and instrument counts were done on a blinded basis. Sensitivity studies (which used metal microspheres) yielded a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.999 between technicians and the counter. A field-by-field analysis of the instrument's specificity for identifying individual objects correctly as tumor colonies rather than artifacts (as identified by the technician) was excellent (r = 0.95). In the precision studies (determined with repeated automated counting of the same samples for five days), the median coefficient of variation was less than 7%. Accuracy was evaluated on cultures of fresh biopsies from 30 human cancers obtained for drug sensitivity testing as well as on a series of tumor cell lines. The correlation between the mean number of colonies counted by the technicians and by the colony counter was greater than 0.91. Similar comparisons of mean percent survival of tumor colony-forming cells after drug exposure between technician and machine were also quite acceptable (r = 0.85). We conclude that the colony counter provided sufficient reliability to be applied to counting human tumor colonies grown in vitro. In addition, the colony counter performed the Petri dish counts ten times faster than experienced technicians and without associated operator fatigue.


Safety of long-term electrical peripheral nerve stimulation: review of the state of the art.
Electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves is used in a variety of applications such as restoring motor function in paralyzed limbs, and more recently, as means to provide intuitive sensory feedback in limb prostheses. However, literature on the safety requirements for stimulation is scarce, particularly for chronic applications. Some aspects of nerve interfacing such as the effect of stimulation parameters on electrochemical processes and charge limitations have been reviewed, but often only for applications in the central nervous system. This review focuses on the safety of electrical stimulation of peripheral nerve in humans. We analyzed early animal studies evaluating damage thresholds, as well as more recent investigations in humans. Safety requirements were divided into two main categories: passive and active safety. We made the distinction between short-term (< 30 days) and chronic (> 30 days) applications, as well as between electrode preservation (biostability) and body tissue healthy survival (harmlessness). In addition, transferability of experimental results between different tissues and species was considered. At present, extraneural electrodes have shown superior long-term stability in comparison to intraneural electrodes. Safety limitations on pulse amplitude (and consequently, charge injection) are dependent on geometrical factors such as electrode placement, size, and proximity to the stimulated fiber. In contrast, other parameters such as stimulation frequency and percentage of effective stimulation time are more generally applicable. Currently, chronic stimulation at frequencies below 30 Hz and percentages of effective stimulation time below 50% is considered safe, but more precise data drawn from large databases are necessary. Unfortunately, stimulation protocols are not systematically documented in the literature, which limits the feasibility of meta-analysis and impedes the generalization of conclusions. We therefore propose a standardized list of parameters necessary to define electrical stimulation and allow future studies to contribute to meta-analyses. The safety of chronic continuous peripheral nerve stimulation at frequencies higher than 30 Hz has yet to be documented. Precise parameter values leading to stimulation-induced depression of neuronal excitability (SIDNE) and neuronal damage, as well as the transition between the two, are still lacking. At present, neural damage mechanisms through electrical stimulation remain obscure.


Genetic sex determination assays in 53 mammalian species: Literature analysis and guidelines for reporting standardization.
Erstwhile, sex was determined by observation, which is not always feasible. Nowadays, genetic methods are prevailing due to their accuracy, simplicity, low costs, and time-efficiency. However, there is no comprehensive review enabling overview and development of the field. The studies are heterogeneous, lacking a standardized reporting strategy. Therefore, our aim was to collect genetic sexing assays for mammals and assemble them in a catalogue with unified terminology. Publications were extracted from online databases using key words such as sexing and molecular. The collected data were supplemented with species and gene IDs and the type of sex-specific sequence variant (SSSV). We developed a catalogue and graphic presentation of diagnostic tests for molecular sex determination of mammals, based on 58 papers published from 2/1991 to 10/2016. The catalogue consists of five categories: species, genes, SSSVs, methods, and references. Based on the analysis of published literature, we propose minimal requirements for reporting, consisting of: species scientific name and ID, genetic sequence with name and ID, SSSV, methodology, genomic coordinates (e.g., restriction sites, SSSVs), amplification system, and description of detected amplicon and controls. The present study summarizes vast knowledge that has up to now been scattered across databases, representing the first step toward standardization regarding molecular sexing, enabling a better overview of existing tests and facilitating planned designs of novel tests. The project is ongoing; collecting additional publications, optimizing field development, and standardizing data presentation are needed.


Cognition and BDNF levels in prediabetes and diabetes: A mediation analysis of a cross-sectional study.
Clinical and epidemiological studies suggest links between dementias and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The underlying mechanisms of diabetes-related cognitive impairment are largely unknown. This study aims to investigate the role of BDNF in cognitive impairment in prediabetes and T2DM. The study included 68 patients with prediabetes (preDM), 96 patients with T2DM, and 65 healthy controls. The cognitive function of the patients was evaluated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test and serum BDNF levels were measured by Elisa. The MoCA scores and BDNF levels were compared between diabetes groups after adjusting for age, gender, and education using ANCOVA. The role of BDNF in the diabetes-related cognitive impairment was investigated through mediation analysis. Patients with T2DM had significantly lower cognitive performance, particularly in memory. Diabetes was found to be a predictor of both cognitive impairment and BDNF levels. A significant increase in serum BDNF levels was observed in patients with T2DM. However, the mediator role of BDNF in the pathology of cognitive impairment in diabetes was not determined. Cognitive impairment is prevalent in patients with T2DM and should be included in routine screening for complications. The results of the mediation analysis suggest that although BDNF is a biomarker affected by T2DM and cognition, it does not play a mediator role between cognitive impairment and diabetes.


[Risks of fine needle puncture--results of a survey in West Germany(German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine survey)].
The rate of complications in fine needle puncture was ascertained by an inquiry conducted among the members of the German Association of Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM). 337 complications had been registered in a total of 66,397 punctures, corresponding to a percentage of only 0.51%. 294 of these were mild, i.e. not requiring therapy (0.44%), 38 severe (0.057%) and 5 complications were fatal and resulted in death (0.0075%). Differences were slight in respect of the frequency of complications with reference to puncture technique and type of needle employed. Most complications were seen in fine needle puncture for obtaining histological material (0.67%) (cutting biopsy needles), compared with 0.54% in therapeutic puncture and 0.46% for obtaining cytological material. Among the puncture techniques, the use of a puncture transducer resulted in more complications (0.72%) compared with sonographically guided puncture (0.59%) and puncture in full view with 0.43%. Punctures with/fatal outcome had been conducted in 4 out 5 cases with so-called cutting biopsy needles. Results are identical with those obtained in the U.S.A. on a comparative basis. Compared with punctures with so-called coarse needles, fine needle puncture results in fewer complications on account of the smaller needle caliber. As with every intensive method, however, complications must be taken into account even with fine needle puncture.


Leucocyte counts in the healthy English Thoroughbred in training.
Total and differential leucocyte counts have been determined by electronic counting techniques in 474, two-to-four-year-old healthy Thoroughbreds in training. The ranges of values observed (particular those for neutrophils and lymphocytes) were narrower than previously described. Absolute and percentage lymphocyte values were significantly decreased with advancing age causing a relative increase in percentage neutrophils. The fall in absolute lymphocyte numbers was the main cause for a significant decrease in total leucocytes with age. Frequency plots for each variable showed that, with the exception of the eosinophil count, data from other leucocyte cell types following either a normal or lognormal distribution.


The effect of a critical pathway on patients' outcomes after carotid endarterectomy.
In 1996, an integrated plan of care was implemented to improve quality of care for patients undergoing elective carotid endarterectomy. Goals were to reduce length of stay, costs, number of preoperative and intensive care unit admissions, and use of diagnostic procedures yet maintain good outcomes. To determine whether use of the integrated plan of care met the goals. Data on financial and process outcomes, use of angiographic diagnostic procedures, and demographics were retrieved from the hospital's database for all patients who had elective carotid endarterectomy without cerebral infarction. A total of 783 patients met inclusion criteria: 129 before implementation of the plan of care, 66 during the 6-month transition, and 588 after implementation. Preoperative angiography was done in 32% of patients before implementation, 11% during the transition, and 4% after implementation. Percentages of patients admitted to the intensive care unit were 77% before implementation, 24% during transition, and 9% after implementation. Mean lengths of stay were 2.93 days before implementation, 2.12 days during transition, and 1.68 days after implementation. Costs per case were $7798 before implementation, $5750 during transition, and $5387 after implementation. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences between groups in total length of stay (P = .001), preoperative length of stay (P<.001), and costs (P<.001). Use of the integrated plan of care reduced length of stay, costs, admissions to intensive care units, and use of cerebral angiography. Use of the plan improved resource utilization while maintaining quality of care.


Determining climate effects on US total agricultural productivity.
The sensitivity of agricultural productivity to climate has not been sufficiently quantified. The total factor productivity (TFP) of the US agricultural economy has grown continuously for over half a century, with most of the growth typically attributed to technical change. Many studies have examined the effects of local climate on partial productivity measures such as crop yields and economic returns, but these measures cannot account for national-level impacts. Quantifying the relationships between TFP and climate is critical to understanding whether current US agricultural productivity growth will continue into the future. We analyze correlations between regional climate variations and national TFP changes, identify key climate indices, and build a multivariate regression model predicting the growth of agricultural TFP based on a physical understanding of its historical relationship with climate. We show that temperature and precipitation in distinct agricultural regions and seasons explain ∼70% of variations in TFP growth during 1981-2010. To date, the aggregate effects of these regional climate trends on TFP have been outweighed by improvements in technology. Should these relationships continue, however, the projected climate changes could cause TFP to drop by an average 2.84 to 4.34% per year under medium to high emissions scenarios. As a result, TFP could fall to pre-1980 levels by 2050 even when accounting for present rates of innovation. Our analysis provides an empirical foundation for integrated assessment by linking regional climate effects to national economic outcomes, offering a more objective resource for policy making.


Identification of radical scavengers in sweet grass (Hierochloe odorata).
Extracts from aerial parts of sweet grass (Hierochloe odorata) were active DPPH free radical scavengers. The active compounds were detected in extract fractions using HPLC with on-line radical scavenging detection. After multistep fractionation of the extract, two new natural products possessing radical scavenging activity were isolated, and their structures were elucidated by NMR and MS. They were identified as 5,8-dihydroxybenzopyranone and 5-hydroxy-8-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-benzopyranone. Activities of the compounds isolated were tested by DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays, and compared with the known natural antioxidant rosmarinic acid and Trolox.


Self-Powered Multiparameter Health Sensor.
Wearable health sensors are about to change our health system. While several technological improvements have been presented to enhance performance and energy-efficiency, battery runtime is still a critical concern for practical use of wearable biomedical sensor systems. The runtime limitation is directly related to the battery size, which is another concern regarding practicality and customer acceptance. We introduced ULPSEK-Ultra-Low-Power Sensor Evaluation Kit-for evaluation of biomedical sensors and monitoring applications (http://ulpsek.com). ULPSEK includes a multiparameter sensor measuring and processing electrocardiogram, respiration, motion, body temperature, and photoplethysmography. Instead of a battery, ULPSEK is powered using an efficient body heat harvester. The harvester produced 171 W on average, which was sufficient to power the sensor below 25 C ambient temperature. We present design issues regarding the power supply and the power distribution network of the ULPSEK sensor platform. Due to the security aspect of self-powered health sensors, we suggest a hybrid solution consisting of a battery charged by a harvester.


Social interactions elicit rapid shifts in functional connectivity in the social decision-making network of zebrafish.
According to the social decision-making (SDM) network hypothesis, SDM is encoded in a network of forebrain and midbrain structures in a distributed and dynamic fashion, such that the expression of a given social behaviour is better reflected by the overall profile of activation across the different loci rather than by the activity of a single node. This proposal has the implicit assumption that SDM relies on integration across brain regions, rather than on regional specialization. Here we tested the occurrence of functional localization and of functional connectivity in the SDM network. For this purpose we used zebrafish to map different social behaviour states into patterns of neuronal activity, as indicated by the expression of the immediate early genes c-fos and egr-1, across the SDM network. The results did not support functional localization, as some loci had similar patterns of activity associated with different social behaviour states, and showed socially driven changes in functional connectivity. Thus, this study provides functional support to the SDM network hypothesis and suggests that the neural context in which a given node of the network is operating (i.e. the state of its interconnected areas) is central to its functional relevance.


Hippocampal atrophy correlates with the severity of cognitive decline.
The aim of this study is to compare the results of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, particularly the decline in hippocampal volume, of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with healthy age-matched controls, to examine the reliability of hippocampal volumetry in the early diagnosis of AD and the correlation of the severity of hippocampal atrophy with the severity of cognitive decline. Twenty-six AD, 22 MCI and 15 normal cognitive status (NCS) patients were scanned with a 3 Tesla MR scanner. Hippocampus volumes were detected manually by Osiris 4.18. Multivariate regression analysis, which was performed to adjust the covariate effects of education, age, gender, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, showed that hippocampal atrophy was correlated with AD and MCI for right hippocampus; AD, MCI and age for left hippocampus independent of other parameters. A second regression analysis revealed that MMSE was correlated with hippocampal volume. Hippocampal volumetry can be used in early diagnosis of cognitive impairment, as well as grading cognitive decline.


Liposomes decorated with Apo2L/TRAIL overcome chemoresistance of human hematologic tumor cells.
Human Apo2-ligand/TRAIL is a member of the TNF cytokine superfamily capable of inducing apoptosis on tumor cells while sparing normal cells. Besides its antitumor activity, Apo2L/TRAIL is also implicated in immune regulation. Apo2L/TRAIL is stored inside activated T cells in cytoplasmic multivesicular bodies and is physiologically released to the extracellular medium inserted in the internal membrane vesicles, known as exosomes. In this study we have generated artificial lipid vesicles coated with bioactive Apo2L/TRAIL, which resemble natural exosomes, to analyze their apoptosis-inducing ability on cell lines from hematological tumors. We have tethered Apo2L/TRAIL to lipid vesicles by using a novel Ni(2+)-(N-5-amino-1-carboxylpentyl)-iminodiacetic acid, NTA)-containing liposomal system. This lipidic framework (LUVs-Apo2L/TRAIL) greatly improves Apo2L/TRAIL activity, decreasing by around 14-fold the LC50 on the T-cell leukemia Jurkat. This increase in bioactivity correlated with the greater ability of LUVs-Apo2L/TRAIL to induce caspase-3 activation and is probably due to the increase in local concentration of Apo2L/TRAIL, improving its receptor cross-linking efficiency. More important, liposome-bound Apo2L/TRAIL overcame the resistance to soluble recombinant Apo2L/TRAIL exhibited by tumor cell mutants overexpressing Bcl-xL or by a Bax and Bak-defective Jurkat cell mutant (Jurkat-shBak) and are also effective against other hematologic tumor cells. Jurkat-Bcl-xL and Jurkat-shBak cells are resistant to most chemotherapeutic drugs currently used in cancer treatment, and their sensitivity to LUVs-Apo2L/TRAIL could have potential clinical applications.