The detection of high-mass aliphatics in petroleum by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry.
The development of simplified procedures for isolating high-mass alkanes present in crude oils is described. The new procedures, which bypass the sample recovery step with hot toluene in the conventional alkane-isolation procedure, also provide an effective sample preparation route, prior to analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Urea-alkane adducts are formed by mixing sample and urea solutions on chromatographic paper or silica-coated plates. Unreacted hydrocarbons are removed by developing the plates with chloroform. In a second development with water, adducts are broken up in situ and the liberated urea removed, leaving bands of isolated alkanes behind. For MALDI-MS, strips of paper/plates, carrying the isolated alkanes, are fixed on metal target plates. The samples are treated with matrix (AgNO(3)) and analysed by MALDI-MS. The observed signal represents silver ion adducts of the isolated alkanes. Silver appears to work without much fragmentation and to generate whole silver adduct ions. Much improved MALDI-MS detection sensitivity and a wider range of masses was observed when samples were ablated from paper/plate surfaces, than by ablation from bulk samples spread over a smooth surface--the conventional method. Chromatographic paper gave better resolution and a broader range of masses than silica-coated plates. The analytical sequences have been confirmed using standard alkanes (C(20)-C(60)) and Polywax. The proposed procedures enhanced the sensitivity and detection range of the MS analysis. The method was useful in detecting n-alkanes to m/z 1500 (C(100)) and required relatively small quantities of sample and reagents. It provides a promising qualitative analysis route for the rapid isolation and reliable determination of alkanes in crude oils.


Water extract of goji berries improves neuroinflammation induced by a high-fat and high-fructose diet based on the bile acid-mediated gut-brain axis pathway.
The high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFD) is a common diet in westernized societies, which worsens disturbances in gut microbiota and bile acid (BA) metabolism. Herein, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of the water extract of Lycium barbarum fruits (LBE) on gut microbiota and BA metabolism in mice with HFFD-induced neuroinflammation. The results showed that supplementation of LBE for 14 weeks remarkably ameliorated weight gain and insulin resistance and suppressed microglial activation and neural neuroinflammation induced by HFFD. The results of Morris water maze and Y-maze tests demonstrated that LBE attenuated HFFD-induced cognitive impairment. Moreover, LBE elevated hepatic BA biosynthesis and excretion of BAs and increased elimination of BAs via the feces. Notably, LBE supplementation resulted in the enrichment of tauroursodeoxycholic acid in the cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, the 16S rDNA sequencing results showed that LBE could modulate the structure of gut microbiota, and in the meantime decrease the relative abundance of Clostridium_XlVa, which is associated with BA homeostasis. Additionally, LBE exerted neuroprotective effects involving the increment of Lactococcus, known as a potentially beneficial bacterium. These results demonstrated that LBE could ameliorate neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in HFFD-induced mice through the gut-liver-brain axis, which might be due to the regulation of BA homeostasis and gut microbiota in mice.


Rapidly Responsive and Flexible Chiral Nematic Cellulose Nanocrystal Composites as Multifunctional Rewritable Photonic Papers with Eco-Friendly Inks.
Rapidly responsive and flexible photonic papers are manufactured by coassembly of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) latex for fully taking advantage of the chiral nematic structure of CNCs and the flexibility of WPU elastomer. The resulting CNC/WPU composite papers exhibit not only tunable iridescent colors by adjusting the helical pitch size, but also instant optical responses to water and wet gas, ascribed to the easy chain movement of the elastomeric WPU that does not restrict the fast water absorption-induced swelling of CNCs. By choosing water or NaCl aqueous solutions as inks, the colorful patterns on the CNC/WPU photonic paper can be made temporary, durable, or even disguisable. In addition, the photonic paper is simultaneously rewritable for all these three types of patterns, and the disguisable patterns, which are invisible at normal times and show up under stimuli, exhibit a quick reveal conversion just by exhaling on the paper. The rewritability, rapid responsibility, easy fabrication, and the eco-friendly nature of the inks make the flexible photonic paper/ink combination highly promising in sensors, displays, and photonic circuits.


3-D Nonlinear Acoustic Inverse Scattering: Algorithm and Quantitative Results.
We describe a novel 3-D ultrasound technology, the quantitative transmission ultrasound system and algorithm to image a pendent breast in a water bath. Quantitative accuracy is verified using phantoms. Morphological accuracy is verified using cadaveric breast and in vivo images, and spatial resolution is estimated. This paper generalizes an earlier 2-D algorithm to a full 3-D inversion algorithm and shows the importance of such a 3-D algorithm for artifact suppression as compared with the 2-D algorithm. The resultant high-resolution ultrasound images, along with quantitative information regarding tissue speed of sound/stiffness, provide a more accurate depiction of the breast anatomy and lesions, contributing to improved breast care.


Idiopathic pruritus in psychiatric inpatients: an explorative study.
Pruritus is an annoying physical symptom, frequently related to mental states. Dermatologic treatment commonly includes psychotropic medications. This study aimed to investigate idiopathic pruritus (IP) in psychiatric patients, its demographic characteristics and its relationship to psychiatric diagnoses, psychosocial stress, medication use, drug use and psychological characteristics. The study population included 100 psychiatric inpatients. Study data were acquired by means of structured patient interview using standardized questionnaires. IP was experienced by 42% of the subjects, 34% of the men and 58% of the women (P=.03). The presence of IP was found to be related to psychosocial stress with a prevalence of 48.5% among those without adequate social support and 29.5% among those with adequate social support (P=.02) and with a prevalence of 48.5% of those without regular employment and 16.7% among subjects who were employed (P=.01). A trend of reduced prevalence of IP (14%) was found among patients treated with tricyclic antidepressants compared with 48% of those treated with other antidepressants (P=.09). No significant correlation was found with other medications or psychiatric diagnoses. IP was found in 76% of regular users of opioids. IP was more frequent in patients with higher scores on the anger-trait measure (P=.02) and on the angry temperament measure (P=.02) and ruminative catastrophization (P=.04). The high incidence of itching among psychiatric inpatients necessitates awareness of the treating psychiatrist to this potential discomfort. Examination, diagnosis and treatment when needed can relieve the physical symptoms, which may also have an emotional effect on the patient.


Two-miRNA classifiers differentiate mutation-negative follicular thyroid carcinomas and follicular thyroid adenomas in fine needle aspirations with high specificity.
Diagnosis of thyroid by fine needle aspiration is challenging for the "indeterminate" category and can be supported by molecular testing. We set out to identify miRNA markers that could be used in a diagnostic setting to improve the discrimination of mutation-negative indeterminate fine needle aspirations. miRNA high-throughput sequencing was performed for freshly frozen tissue samples of 19 RAS and PAX8/PPARG mutation-negative follicular thyroid carcinomas, and 23 RAS and PAX8/PPARG mutation-negative follicular adenomas. Differentially expressed miRNAs were validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in a set of 44 fine needle aspiration samples representing 24 follicular thyroid carcinomas and 20 follicular adenomas. Twenty-six miRNAs characterized by a significant differential expression between follicular thyroid carcinomas and follicular adenomas were identified. Nevertheless, since no single miRNA had satisfactory predictive power, classifiers comprising two differentially expressed miRNAs were designed with the aim to improve the classification. Six two-miRNA classifiers were established and quantitative polymerase chain reaction validated in fine needle aspiration samples. Four out of six classifiers were characterized by a high specificity (≥94 %). The best two-miRNA classifier (miR-484/miR-148b-3p) identified thyroid malignancy with a sensitivity of 89 % and a specificity of 87 %. The high-throughput sequencing allowed the identification of subtle differences in the miRNA expression profiles of follicular thyroid carcinomas and follicular adenomas. While none of the differentially expressed miRNAs could be used as a stand-alone malignancy marker, the validation results for two-miRNA classifiers in an independent set of fine needle aspirations are very promising. The ultimate evaluation of these classifiers for their capability of discriminating mutation-negative indeterminate fine needle aspirations will require the evaluation of a sufficiently large number of fine needle aspirations with histological confirmation.


Cardiac herniation and lung torsion following heart and lung transplantation.
A 45-year-old male heart-lung transplant recipient reported reduced exercise tolerance two months post-transplant. Spirometry, right heart pressures, bronchoscopy, trans-bronchial and endomyocardial biopsy were normal. Investigations demonstrated posterior and leftwards herniation of the heart through the posterior pericardial window created during the transplant operation with secondary 90 degrees forward twist of the left lung. This phenomenon generated mild functional narrowing of the left pulmonary artery demonstrable on magnetic resonance imaging. Cardiac herniation with lung torsion is a rare finding post heart-lung transplantation and usually manifests in the early postoperative period with haemodynamic compromise, requiring immediate correction. Our case demonstrates that heart graft herniation and secondary partial lung torsion can occur in the chronic phase without catastrophic consequences.


The Lung Microbiome, Immunity, and the Pathogenesis of Chronic Lung Disease.
The development of culture-independent techniques for microbiological analysis has uncovered the previously unappreciated complexity of the bacterial microbiome at various anatomic sites. The microbiome of the lung has relatively less bacterial biomass when compared with the lower gastrointestinal tract yet displays considerable diversity. The composition of the lung microbiome is determined by elimination, immigration, and relative growth within its communities. Chronic lung disease alters these factors. Many forms of chronic lung disease demonstrate exacerbations that drive disease progression and are poorly understood. Mounting evidence supports ways in which microbiota dysbiosis can influence host defense and immunity, and in turn may contribute to disease exacerbations. Thus, the key to understanding the pathogenesis of chronic lung disease may reside in deciphering the complex interactions between the host, pathogen, and resident microbiota during stable disease and exacerbations. In this brief review we discuss new insights into these labyrinthine relationships.


An update on the H blood group system.
This update of the H blood group system (Scharberg EA, Olsen C, Bugert P. The H blood group system. Immunohematology 2016;32:112-8) reports 11 new FUT1 null alleles: 8 causative for the H- phenotype (Bombay phenotype, Oh), 3 in para-Bombay cases, and 5 new FUT1 alleles causative for a weak H phenotype (para-Bombay, H+w). The H blood group system (International Society of Blood Transfusion system 18) consists of a single antigen (H) defined by a terminal fucose residue found on red blood cells (RBCs) and in secretions. The H antigen is synthesized on the RBC surface by the FUT1 gene product fucosyltransferase 1. On epithelial cells and in body fluids, the H antigen is synthesized by the FUT2 gene product fucosyltransferase 2.


Abundance and diversity of bacteria in oxygen minimum drinking water reservoir sediments studied by quantitative PCR and pyrosequencing.
Reservoir sediment is one of the most stressful environments for microorganisms due to periodically oxygen minimum conditions. In this study, the abundance and composition of bacteria associated with sediments from three drinking water reservoirs (Zhoucun, ZCR; Shibianyu, SBYR; and Jinpen, JPR) were investigated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and 16S rRNA-based 454 pyrosequencing. The results of physico-chemical analysis of sediments showed that the organic matter and total nitrogen were significantly higher in ZCR as compared to JPR (P < 0.01). The bacterial abundance was 9.13 × 10(6), 1.14 × 10(7), and 6.35 × 10(6) copies/ng DNA in sediments of SBYR, ZCR, and JPR, respectively (P < 0.01). The pyrosequencing revealed a total of 9,673 operational taxonomic units, which were affiliated with 17 phyla. The dominant phylum was Firmicutes (56.83%) in JPR; whereas, the dominance of Proteobacteria was observed in SBYR with 40.38% and ZCR with 39.56%. The Shannon-Wiener diversity (H') was high in ZCR; whereas, Chao 1 richness was high in SBYR. The dominant genera were Clostridium with 42.15% and Bacillus with 20.44% in JPR. Meanwhile, Dechloromonas with 14.80% and Smithella with 7.20% were dominated in ZCR, and Bacillus with 45.45% and Acinetobacter with 5.15% in SBYR. The heat map profiles and redundancy analysis indicated substantial differences in sediment bacterial community composition among three reservoirs. Moreover, it appears from the results that physico-chemical variables of sediments including pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorous played key roles in shaping the bacterial community diversity. The results obtained from this study will broaden our understanding on the bacterial community structure of sediments in oxygen minimum and stressful freshwater environments.


[Acquisition of resistance to anticancer agents by overproduction of target enzymes].
Antimetabolic anticancer agents possess their own target enzymes: that of methotrexate is dihydrofolate reductase; 5-fluorouracil and ZD1604, thymidylate synthase; hydroxyurea, ribonucleotide reductase; 2'-deoxycoformycin, adenosine deaminase; N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate, aspartate transcarbamylase. Overproduction of each target enzyme has been observed with various animal and human cell lines which acquired resistance to all these agents. These facts suggest that this is a common mechanism for resistance to these agents. Most of these resistant cells showed amplification of the corresponding genes in double minute chromosome or homogeneously stained region of the chromosome. The relation between the degree of resistance and those of enzyme overproduction, the expression and amplification of the gene coding for each enzyme protein in various resistant cell lines are demonstrated and discussed.


Neonatal Birth Trauma: Analysis of Yearly Trends, Risk Factors, and Outcomes.
To evaluate the trends, proportions, risk factors, resource utilization, and outcomes of neonatal birth trauma in the US. This cross-sectional study of in-hospital births used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 2006-2014. We divided the cases by type of birth trauma: scalp injuries and major birth trauma. Linear regression for yearly trends and logistic regression were used for risk factors and outcomes. A generalized linear model was used, with a Poisson distribution for the length of stay and a gamma distribution for total spending charges. A total of 982 033 weighted records with neonatal birth trauma were found. The prevalence rate increased by 23% from (from 25.3 to 31.1 per 1000 hospital births). Scalp injuries composed 80% of all birth traumas and increased yearly from 19.87 to 26.46 per 1000 hospital births. Major birth trauma decreased from 5.44 to 4.67 per 1000 hospital births due to decreased clavicular fractures, brachial plexus injuries, and intracranial hemorrhage. There were significant differences in demographics and risk factors between the 2 groups. Compared with scalp injuries, major birth trauma was associated with higher odds of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, seizures, need for mechanical ventilation, meconium aspiration, and sepsis. Length of stay was increased by 56%, and total charges were almost doubled for major birth trauma. Neonatal birth trauma increased over the study period secondary to scalp injuries. Major birth trauma constitutes a significant health burden. Scalp injuries are also associated with increased morbidity and might be markers of brain injury in some cases.


Flanking sequence determination and event-specific detection of genetically modified wheat B73-6-1.
In order to establish a specific identification method for genetically modified (GM) wheat, exogenous insert DNA and flanking sequence between exogenous fragment and recombinant chromosome of GM wheat B73-6-1 were successfully acquired by means of conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thermal asymmetric interlaced (TAIL)-PCR strategies. Newly acquired exogenous fragment covered the full-length sequence of transformed genes such as transformed plasmid and corresponding functional genes including marker uidA, herbicide-resistant bar, ubiquitin promoter, and high-molecular-weight gluten subunit. The flanking sequence between insert DNA revealed high similarity with Triticum turgidum A gene (GenBank: AY494981.1). A specific PCR detection method for GM wheat B73-6-1 was established on the basis of primers designed according to the flanking sequence. This specific PCR method was validated by GM wheat, GM corn, GM soybean, GM rice, and non-GM wheat. The specifically amplified target band was observed only in GM wheat B73-6-1. This method is of high specificity, high reproducibility, rapid identification, and excellent accuracy for the identification of GM wheat B73-6-1.


Chemical reactivations of inactivated acetylcholinesterase after 2-PAM therapy in fenitrothion-poisoned rat and rabbit.
We investigated the reactivation of inactivated acetylcholinesterase (AChE) after 2-PAM therapy in acute fenitrothion poisonings of two species of rat and rabbit. By single treatment with 2-PAM carried out immediately after fenitrothion administration, the significant reactivations of inactivated AChE in red blood cell (RBC) and brain as well as inactivated cholinesterase (ChE) in plasma were observed at 2 h after administration of 20 mg/kg fenitrothion in rat, while these reactivations became less in rats severely poisoned with 500 mg/kg fenitrothion. Although these significant reactivations disappeared 6 h after the single treatment with 2-PAM, the repeated treatments with 2-PAM induced the prolongation of the reactivations of inactivated AChEs and ChE. These results suggest that 2-PAM would be more effective to light poisoning with fenitrothion, and that the repetition of 2-PAM treatment would be very important to obtain the sufficient antidotal actions. In rabbits as well as rats, the considerable reactivations of inactivated AChEs in RBC and brain and inactivated ChE in plasma were observed by the single treatment with 2-PAM in fenitrothion poisoning. These reactivations in brain AChE indicate that 2-PAM can penetrate the blood brain barrier of both rat and rabbit, despite its quaternary character.


The origin and fate of osteoclasts.
Despite intensive and ingenious investigation, the origins and ultimate fate of the osteoclast remain shrouded in mystery. This brief review evaluates some of the recent experimental approaches used in the study of the osteoclast, especially whether they form from intra- or extra-skeletal progenitor cells, whether from the same osteoprogenitor cell as the osteoblast, and whether, once formed, they may modulate to osteoblasts. That osteoprogenitor cells can, and do, become osteoclasts is well founded, as is the conclusion that such progenitor cells originate as blood-borne, extra-skeletal cells. Evidence that sessile, intra-skeletal, progenitor cells can form osteoclasts is less direct. There is good evidence that osteoclasts both shed and take-up nuclei, but no direct evidence that nuclear shedding is accompanied by death of the osteoclast, and no direct evidence for the fate of the shed nuclei. Whether the same osteoprogenitor cell can produce either an osteoblast or an osteoclast also remains an open question.


A PCR assay for discriminating Neisseria gonorrhoeaebeta-lactamase-producing plasmids.
Oligonucleotide primers were developed for use in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to differentiate three related, epidemic beta-lactamase-producing plasmids of Neisseria gonorrhoeae-the Asia-(7426 bp), Africa-(5599 bp) and Toronto-(5154 bp) type plasmids. One-hundred and two N. gonorrhoeae isolates with different plasmid profiles were tested-16 isolates carried the Asia plasmid, 41 isolates contained the Africa plasmid, 16 isolates contained the Toronto plasmid and 29 isolates contained no beta-lactamase-producing plasmids. Most (101/102) isolates also carried the gonococcal cryptic plasmid, while 27/102 and 44/102 isolates carried either the transfer plasmid or the tet M-containing plasmids, respectively. The assay was 100% sensitive and specific for identifying the correct plasmid type. This assay is useful for rapidly detecting the presence of gonococcal beta-lactamase-producing plasmids in clinical samples and discriminating them for epidemiological typing.


Pulmonary circulation demonstration using an isolated rat lung model.
We have developed a pulmonary circulation laboratory exercise that effectively illustrates basic concepts typically taught in a graduate physiology curriculum. The demonstration uses an isolated, perfused rat lung model to delineate the mechanisms by which pulmonary vascular resistance can be altered either passively or in an active manner by contraction or relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. The exercise further offers an opportunity to closely observe an experimental preparation commonly used to study the pulmonary circulation and allows students the opportunity to interpret the resulting physiological data. Student evaluations indicate that the demonstration was received with enthusiasm and provides an effective teaching tool for reinforcing concepts in pulmonary vascular physiology.


Chronic granulomatous disease of childhood. An unusual case of infection with Aspergillus nidulans var. echinulatus.
Aspergillus nidulans var. echinulatus was the sole agent cultured from the left lung, a paraspinal abscess, left ribs, and thoracic vertebral bodies from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease. Hyphal elements were present in histologic sections of lung, vertebral bodies, and infected ribs along with granuloma formation. The patient was treated with two debridement procedures and insertion of a Harrington rod followed by a long course of amphotericin B, flucytosine, and daily white blood cell transfusions.


Neurogenic inflammation and lowering of interstitial fluid pressure in rat trachea is inhibited by alpha-trinositol.
The effect of alpha-trinositol (D-myoinositol-1,2,6-triphosphate) on edema formation and capillary permeability in neurogenically induced inflammatory edema was investigated in rat trachea. Interstitial fluid pressure (Pif) was studied, since increased negativity of Pif contributes to edema formation in this situation. alpha-Trinositol was used because it inhibits edema formation, capillary leakage, and increased negativity of Pif in burn-injured skin. Pif was measured with sharpened glass capillaries (3 to 7 microns) connected to a servocontrolled counterpressure system after circulatory arrest (induced by intracardiac injection of saturated potassium chloride in pentobarbital anesthesia). This was done in order to avoid the edema formation associated with inflammatory reactions, which will raise interstitial fluid volume and Pif, causing the underestimation of an increased negativity of Pif. Neurogenic inflammation induced by electrical-field stimulation of the left vagal nerve (10 V, 20 Hz, 0.5 ms) lowered Pif from -1.4 +/- 0.6 mm Hg to -8.4 +/- 2.1 mm Hg (p < 0.01). Corresponding numbers after the intravenous administration of alpha-trinositol (40 mg/kg) before stimulation were -1.2 +/- 0.4 and -1.4 +/- 0.4 mm Hg, respectively (p > 0.05). Another series of animals with intact circulation was used to study the effect of vagal nerve stimulation and alpha-trinositol on edema formation (total tissue water and extravascular 51Cr-ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid-[EDTA] space) and albumin extravasation. These parameters increased significantly after vagal nerve stimulation, while intravenous alpha-trinositol (40 and 120 mg/kg), as given above, significantly attenuated this increase. Thus, alpha-trinositol prevented a lowering of Pif and the edema formation accompanying neurogenic inflammation in rat trachea.


Quantification of vitamin C requirements for juvenile shrimp (Penaeus monodon) using polyphosphorylated L-ascorbic acid.
The vitamin C requirements of marine shrimp (Penaeus monodon) for optimal growth were evaluated in a 15-wk feeding trial using polyphosphorylated L-ascorbic acid (C2PP), a stable derivative of L-ascorbic acid (C1). Juvenile shrimp (0.55 +/- 0.01 g) were fed purified diets containing graded levels (0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg diet) of supplemental C2PP or a high dosage of C1 (2500 mg/kg diet). Their weight gain, survival, feed efficiency and C1 storage in hepatopancreas and muscle were used to quantify the requirements. The growth of the shrimp fed the unsupplemented diet was significantly lower than those of the supplemented groups except the 100 mg C2PP/kg diet group. The C1 concentrations in muscle and hepatopancreas were greatest in shrimp fed 200 or 400 C2PP mg/kg diet. The dietary level required for juvenile P. monodon was found to be 209 mg/kg diet, based on the broken-line model analysis of weight gain, and was 220 mg/kg diet and 210 mg/kg diet, based on the analyses of C1 concentrations of hepatopancreas and muscle, respectively. Shrimp fed unsupplemented diet showed a significantly higher mortality than the supplemented groups. Most of the shrimp in the unsupplemented group that died suffered incomplete molting. No other overt deficiency sign was observed in any group.


Efficacy of adjuvant cytokine-induced killer cell immunotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer after radical resection.
Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery is the standard treatment modality for stage III and part of stage II or stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate remains unsatisfactory. Thus, developing combination therapies is essential to improve the prognosis of patients with CRC. The present study aimed to determine the effect of a sequential combination of cytokine-induced killer cell (CIK) infusion and chemotherapy for patients with CRC. 122 patients with CRC treated with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were retrospectively included in this study. Among them, 62 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy only (control group), while the other 60 patients, with similar demographic and clinical characteristics, received adjuvant chemotherapy and sequential CIK cell immunotherapy (CIK group). Survival analysis showed significantly improved disease free survival (DFS) and OS rates in the CIK group compared with the control group (log-rank test, P = .0024; P = .008, respectively). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that sequential CIK cell treatment was an independent prognostic factor for patients' DFS and OS. Subgroup analyses showed that sequential CIK cell treatment significantly improved the DFS and OS of patients with high-risk T4 stage and insufficient chemotherapy duration. In conclusion, these data indicate that sequential adjuvant CIK cell treatment combined with chemotherapy is an effective therapeutic strategy to prevent disease recurrence and prolong survival of patients with CRC, particularly for patients with high-risk T4 stage and insufficient chemotherapy duration.


Acute measles in patients with and without neurological involvement: distribution of measles virus antigen and RNA.
Using peroxidase immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to localize viral antigen and RNA, we studied autopsy tissues from 20 cases of acute fatal human measles (including seven patients with acute encephalomyelitis) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 16 patients with acute, nonfatal measles. In immunologically normal patients, virus was detected in five of nine who died five days or less after the onset of rash but in none of 11 who died later. Virus was localized to epithelial cells of lung, gut, bile duct, bladder, and skin and to lymphoid organs. Neither viral antigen nor RNA was detected in brain sections from 14 patients, including seven with acute encephalomyelitis and four with virus identified in other tissues, a finding supporting an indirect pathogenesis of post-measles encephalomyelitis. These data show that measles virus replicates in cells previously not recognized to be involved (capillary endothelium of lymph node and thymus, Hassall's corpuscles, and hepatic duct epithelium) and that invasion of the brain parenchyma during acute measles is uncommon.


The Relationship Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Coronary Plaque: A Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography Study.
Coronary artery disease continues to be the most important cause of morbidity and mortality. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between the presence of coronary plaques and OSA and between coronary plaque burden and the severity of OSA according to plaque type. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 214 consecutive patients who were divided into four groups of 43 patients (age: 52.3 ± 6.4 years) without OSA, 51 patients (age: 53.9 ± 6.7 years) with mild OSA, 40 patients (age: 55.2 ± 5.9 years) with moderate OSA, and 80 patients (age: 54.9 ± 7.2 years) with severe OSA according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). We performed coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) and evaluated plaque positivity, the presence of non-calcified/mixed plaques, and total stenosis score for each group. The prevalence of non-calcified/mixed plaques was three times higher in the severe OSA (41.3%) group and two times higher in the moderate OSA (30.0%) group compared to the patients without OSA (14.0%). When the four groups were examined in terms of plaque burden, the total stenosis score was found to increase with the presence and severity of OSA (0.27 ± 0.85, 1.07 ± 2.44, 1.75 ± 2.85, and 2.55 ± 3.96 respectively, p = 0.001). In addition, AHI and age were independent predictors of the presence of non-calcified/mixed plaques (p < 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively). The presence of coronary artery plaques, especially non-calcified/mixed plaques, and coronary artery stenosis as measured by CCTA was significantly associated with the severity of sleep-disordered breathing in symptomatic patients at low to intermediate risk of coronary artery disease. Prospective studies are needed to establish the relationship between plaque burden and OSA.


[Sacral neuromodulation. Long-term results].
Sacral neuromodulation involves electrical stimulation of afferent nerve roots to restore the balance between inhibitory and excitatory reflexes who improve the functional activity of the pelvic floor. With benefits in patients with fecal incontinence, constipation and chronic anorectal pain. Objective. The aim of this study is present the results obtained with sacral neuromodulation for the treatment of patients with fecal incontinence, severe and intractable chronic constipation and chronic anorectal pain. Patients and methods. 33 patients had indication for transitory electrical sacral stimulation, 25 patients performed transitory electrical stimulation for fecal incontinence, 5 with refractary constipation and 3 with chronic anorectal pain. In cases of fecal incontinence, the patients performed previous anorectal manometry and ultrasonography examination of anal sphincters. When the constipation is the indication, we performed stimulation in patients with severe and refractary constipation like step before total colectomy. In cases of chronic anorectal pain, the electrical transitory test was performed according to our treatment algorithm for management of functional anorectal pain. In all cases, if the patients had satisfactory results after 2 weeks period the definitive implant was placed. Results. Mean follow-up was 69 months (range 6-130). Definitve implant was placed for treatment of fecal incontinence in 23 patients with a decrease in fecal incontinence scores in 98%, with an average success rate of 66% (range: 45-92). In cases of constipation, 3 definitive implants were placed, the mean follow-up was 77 months (range: 51-96) with a success rate between 50%-80% as measured by bowel frequency. We performed definitive electrical stimulation in 3 patients wit chronic and intractable anorectal pain. Response rates as measured by visual analog scale were between 40%-70%. Conclusions. Sacral neuromodulation is an area in constant growth, with more indications. The success depends on the correct indication and the patients need to be treated with other therapeutic options before sacral neuromodulation.


Geometry of the left ventricular outflow tract in fixed subaortic stenosis and intact ventricular septum: an echocardiographic study in children and adults.
We compared the echocardiographic geometry of the preoperative and postoperative left ventricular outflow tract in children and adults with isolated fixed subaortic stenosis with age- and weight-matched controls to elucidate whether the geometry can be modified when surgical intervention is performed at a younger age. The mitral-aortic valve distance, aortic valve diameter, aorto-left ventricular septal angle, degree of aortic valve dextroposition, aortic valve-subaortic stenosis distance, width of left ventricular outflow tract, left ventricle wall thickness, and septal thickness were determined preoperatively and postoperatively in 21 patients and 21 controls. The measurements were indexed to body surface area. Patients were divided into 3 age groups: group 1 comprised 9 patients aged 1 to 10 years, group 2 comprised 8 patients aged 11 to 20 years, and group 3 comprised 4 patients aged 21 years or more. Compared with controls, patients had a significantly wider mitral-aortic separation (group 1, P = .003; group 2, P = .02), a steeper aortoseptal angle (group 1, P = .02; group 3, P = .03), a smaller left ventricular outflow tract width (group 1, P = .003; group 2, P = .01), a marked aortic valve dextroposition (groups 1 and 3), an increased left ventricle wall thickness (group 1, P = .03), and an increased septal thickness (group 1, P = .01). There was a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative values in aortoseptal angle and left ventricular outflow tract width in patients up to 10 years of age (P = .02 and P = .01, respectively). Hearts with isolated subaortic stenosis have abnormal left ventricular outflow tract geometry that postoperatively showed changes in left ventricular outflow tract width and aortoseptal angle. Compared with controls, the aortoseptal angle does not "normalize" when surgery is performed in older patients, suggesting that left ventricular outflow tract geometry may be remodeled in younger patients.


[Placental site trophoblastic tumor with atypical choriocarcinoma. Case Report].
The placental site trophoblastic tumor is the second rarest tumor of trophoblastic disease, with less than 300 cases reported. Clinical presentation it's a diagnostic challenge, it has an unpredictable malignant potential, and it can develop choriocarcinoma and even have simultaneous presentation. We present the case of a 34 year old woman with chronic transvaginal bleeding since her last cesarean (five months ago), with histologic diagnosis of placental site trophoblastic tumor and inmuno- histoquimic report of choriocarcinoma, this early diagnosis improves her survival prognostic. placental site trophoblastic tumor and their evolution to choriocarcinoma have a low rate but it's possible. That it's the reason why complete diagnosis with biopsy, histologic and inmunohistoquimic report is mandatory to improve therapeutic.


The Impact of Fractional Flow Reserve on Revascularization.
Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is recommended by society guidelines for assessment of the hemodynamic significance of intermediate coronary lesions when non-invasive evidence of myocardial ischemia is unavailable. However, the prevalence of FFR usage in current practice and how FFR values impact revascularization decisions are not well known. At a single-center Veterans Administration Hospital, all subjects referred for coronary angiography for any indication from the period from May 2012 until January 2014 were prospectively entered into a database. FFR was measured in all intermediate coronary lesions (30-70% stenosis). Based on the FFR results, the lesions were categorized into 3 different groups: FFR > 0.80 (non-ischemic), FFR 0.75-0.80 (gray zone), and FFR < 0.75 (ischemic). A total of 1482 cardiac catheterizations were performed during the study period. FFR was performed in 347 (23%) of these procedures. The total numbers of intermediate coronary lesions evaluated with FFR were 429. The mean FFR value was 0.79 (median = 0.80; interquartile range 0.64-0.96). Among 211 non-ischemic lesions, revascularization was deferred in 201 (95%). In the gray-zone group (73 lesions), 35 (48%) lesions were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), 11 (15%) lesions were referred for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG), and 27 (37%) lesions were treated medically. In the ischemic group (145 lesions), 82 (57%) lesions were treated with PCI, 41 (28%) lesions were referred for CABG, and 22 (15%) lesions were treated medically. At a Veterans Administration Hospital, FFR was performed in approximately one out of four total catheterizations. FFR documented lack of ischemia in about half of the intermediate coronary lesions, and thus reduced the need for many revascularization procedures.


Outcome of treatment of 160 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the neck staged N3a.
One hundred sixty patients with N3a neck disease were studied to evaluate the overall treatment outcome. Of these, 54 received palliative radiotherapy and 106 patients were treated with treated with curative intent. Twenty patients (19%) died of intercurrent disease (13 at less than 2 years), and 13 of 93 patients followed for 2 or more years are alive with no evidence of disease. Thus, 73 patients died directly from cancer, with metastatic disease being the leading cause of death. Almost one third of the patients failed to complete treatment.


Negative-pressure wound therapy: a snapshot of the evidence.
Topical negative pressure (TNP) is a mode of therapy used to encourage wound healing. It can be used as a primary treatment for chronic/complex wounds or as an adjunct to surgery. Based on the evidence to date, the clinical effectiveness of negative-pressure therapy is still unclear. Although case reports and retrospective studies have demonstrated enhanced wound healing in acute/traumatic wounds, chronic wounds, infected wounds, wounds secondary to diabetes mellitus, sternal wounds and lower limb wounds, there are very few randomised controlled trials, with unclear results. The evidence is lacking for the use of TNP therapy for other indications to enhance wound healing such as patients with decubitus ulcers, diabetes and peripheral vascular disease and to improve skin graft take. There have been, as yet, no quality-of-life studies available for negative-pressure therapy. Despite this, the usage of TNP has increased. This review provides an overview of clinical studies using TNP and proposes avenues for further research to elucidate the exact mechanism of TNP, in addition to large randomised controlled clinical trials of patients undergoing this therapy.


The effect of transportation on the immune status of Bos indicus steers.
This study investigated the effect of 72 h of road transport on the immune status of Bos indicus steers (n = 10; age = 15 to 18 mo). Total and differential leukocyte numbers and lymphocyte function were determined at 2 d before transport (-48 h), immediately after 72 h of transport (72 h), and 6 d after transport (216 h). Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, interferon-gamma production, and tetanus-toxoid specific antibody levels were determined. Total leukocyte and eosinophil numbers showed a transient decrease at 72 h (immediately after transport; P < 0.05) and returned to baseline values by 6 d after transport. Lymphocyte numbers and antibody titers were unaffected by transportation. The PHA-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation decreased (P < 0.05) at 72 h and returned to baseline levels 6 d after transport. This study demonstrated that transportation of mature Bos indicus steers caused transient decreases in leukocyte numbers and lymphocyte function, although all measures recovered by 6 d after transport. Therefore, Bos indicus cattle may be vulnerable to infection during this period.


Hydrogel-Based Smart Contact Lens for Highly Sensitive Wireless Intraocular Pressure Monitoring.
Real-time intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring plays a crucial role in glaucoma diagnosis and treatment. The wireless smart contact lens based on a flexible inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) sensor is chip-free and battery-free, demonstrating excellent application potential for physiological signal monitoring. To promote the use of LCR contact lenses for clinical IOP monitoring, reliable, comfortable contact lens materials should be used and excellent sensitivity needs to be realized. Here, we propose a method for producing hydrogel-based smart contact lenses for wireless IOP monitoring that uses the conformal stacking technique, solving the problems of swelling of the hydrogel and spherical integration of the pyramid-microstructured dielectric elastomer. The IOP of the in vitro porcine eye is successfully monitored owing to the high sensitivity of the spherical pyramid-microstructured capacitive pressure sensor and the hydrogel substrate. In addition, a glasses-integrated impedance-matching tunable reader for remote signal measurement is realized by enhancing the signal amplitude and increasing the reading distance, improving the portability of the signal measurement equipment. With the above improved designs, the wireless contact lens system has application potential for clinical IOP monitoring and shows substantial promise for next-generation daily ocular health management.


Production of the butyrylcholinesterase knockout mouse.
The butyrylcholinesterase (BChE [EC 184.108.40.206]) knockout mouse is a model for BChE deficiency in humans. The existence of genetic variants of human BChE was discovered after a new muscle relaxant, succinylcholine, was introduced into the practice of medicine in the late 1950s. People with the atypical variant were unable to breathe for 2 h after receiving a dose intended to paralyze for 3-5 min (Kalow and Gunn, 1957, 1959). The atypical variant was later found to have a single-amino-acid mutation at Asp-70 (McGuire et al., 1989), which decreased the affinity of BChE for all positively charged compounds. Though the atypical BChE mutant is the one most commonly encountered in cases of succinylcholine apnea, an additional 58 mutations in the BChE coding sequence have been reported. The frequency of BChE mutations in the American population is known (Lockridge, 1990). One person out of 25 carries one atypical allele (D70G), whereas 1 out of 2500 is homozygous for D70G. The most frequent mutation, A539T, is carried by 1 person out of every 4 and is found in homozygous form in 1 person out of 69 (Bartels et al., 1992). The homozygous A539T form is associated with a 33% decrease in plasma BChE activity. Some people have no detectable BChE activity in plasma, owing to a mutation that truncates the protein, or inactivates it. The frequency of silent BChE is 1 out of 160 for carriers, and 1 out of 110,000 for homozygotes. The BChE knockout mice are models for silent BChE in humans. The literature contains no documentation of the health of people with silent BChE, other than to say they are healthy. We know nothing about their life expectancy, fertility, risk of cognitive impairment, risk of heart disease, or susceptibility to toxins. The BChE knockout mouse will allow us to test the hypothesis that the function of BChE is to detoxify poisons and will allow us to test the role of BChE in other physiological functions.


Microscopic calculation of the sticking force for nanodrops on an inclined surface.
A two-dimensional nanodrop on a vertical rough solid surface is examined using a nonlocal density functional theory in the presence of gravity. The roughness is modeled either as a chemical inhomogeneity of the solid or as a result of the decoration with pillars of a smooth homogeneous surface. From the obtained fluid density distribution, the sticking force, which opposes the drop motion along an inclined surface, and the contact angles on the lower and upper leading edges of the drop are calculated. On the basis of these results, it is shown that the macroscopically derived equation for a drop in equilibrium on an inclined surface is also applicable to nanodrops. The liquid-vapor surface tension involved in this equation was calculated for various specific cases, and the values obtained are of the same order of magnitude as those obtained in macroscopic experiments.


[Evaluation of inpatient psychotherapeutic-dermatologic treatment of neurodermatitis patients].
In a psychosomatic clinic an in-patient therapy-model for psychosomatic skin disorders was developed, conjoining psychoanalytic oriented psychotherapy with dermatologic standard therapy. The effects of this therapy are evaluated with standardized questionnaires in 40 patients with atopic dermatitis. Whereas changes concerning symptoms and depression occur in the course of the in-patient treatment, other personality changes cannot be found out before one-year follow-up questioning. All together the results of this study indicate that the combined treatment technique proves to be satisfactory.


Evaluation of parenchymal thyroid diseases with multiparametric ultrasonography.
Differential diagnosis of parenchymal thyroid diseases by gray-scale ultrasound is quite difficult for a radiologist as the findings are very similar to each other. In this study we aimed to assess some quantitative spectral Doppler parameters, resistivity index (RI), acceleration time (AT), and quantitative elastography [shear wave velocity (SWV)] together to show their reliability for differential diagnosis of parenchymal thyroid diseases. We retrospectively reviewed findings of 227 patients (179 females, 48 males) that underwent spectral Doppler ultrasound and acoustic radiation force impulse between October 2013 and March 2016. Ages of the patients were between 18 and 74 years (39.52 ± 12.67). Based on clinical and laboratory findings, patients were divided into five groups (N: Normal, EH: Early Hashimoto, H: Late Hashimoto, M: Nodular Thyroid Disease, HM: Hashimoto + Nodular Thyroid Disease). Detailed statistical analyses were done on parameters such as age, gender, volume information, and RI, AT (ms), SWV (m/s). No significant effect of gender or volume on the differentiation of disease pattern (Chi-square test: P = 0.306, Kruskal-Wallis test: P = 0.290) was found in this study. RI (0.41 ± 0.06) and SWV values (1.19 ± 0.18 m/s) were the lowest. AT values (>55 ms) were the highest in EH group (area under the curve: 0.913). Existence of H decreased RI and SWV values, while it extended AT in a different thyroid disease. Thyroid parenchymal diseases could be classified and differentiated from each other by measuring RI, AT, and SWV values quantitatively. So, in suspicious cases, these parameters could be a reliable asset for differential diagnosis.


Rendez-vous in the oviduct: implications for superovulation and embryo transfer.
The meeting between the maternal and paternal gametes is dependant upon a number of complicated processes. On the maternal side it involves maturation of the oocytes under the influence on both peripheral and follicular endocrine factors. Deviations in the normal pattern of maturation will lead to ovulation of inferior oocytes. On the paternal side the transport of spermatozoa in the female genital tract following mating is an area of great importance. The establishment of the sperm reservoir in the isthmus is dependant upon a number of factors (intracellular calcium concentrations, oligo-saccharides, change in estradiol: progesterone ratio in the afferent blood supply). Alterations of the normal micro-environment may disturb both binding, release and transport as a whole. The process of fertilization occurs in the ampullar region of the oviduct and it involves several well tuned steps: binding to the zona pellucida where the acrosome reaction takes place, penetration, fusion between the oolemma and the sperm plasma membrane, activation with the release of the cortical granules, decondensation of the sperm chromatin, pronucleus formation and finally syngamy where the two pronuclei fuses. The egg will experience the first cleavage shortly thereafter. Superovulation may disturb a number of these processes including oocyte maturation (arrest at MI) and sperm and zygote transport in the oviduct caused by the deviant endocrine environment, thus leading to a higher incidence of lack of fertilization and poor embryos quality.


Viability of hypothermic preserved muscle determined by gene expression levels.
We report a muscle viability index (MVI) that reflects mRNA degradation. The viability of hypothermically preserved (48C) rat skeletal muscle was evaluated using this MVI. To evaluate the hypothermic ischaemic insult of the muscle, 21 hind limbs of Fischer rats (three subgroups of seven limbs each) were hypothermically preserved for 1h, 3h and 6h, before harvesting the tibialis anterior muscle. To investigate reperfusion injury after hypothermic preservation, an additional 28 limbs were transplanted to recipient Fischer rats after hypothermic ischaemia for either 3h or 6h. The transplanted muscles were harvested on either day 3 or day 7 after transplantation. Seven fresh muscles were also harvested, and used as controls. In the 3h ischaemia group, the MVIs of both the hypothermic-ischaemia and the ischaemia-reperfusion subgroups were comparable to the controls. Likewise, there were no significant differences between the controls and the 6h hypothermic ischaemia and ischaemia-reperfusion subgroups. These results show that muscle viability is maintained with hypothermic preservation of up to 6h, and after reperfusion. Therefore, in clinical replantations the amputated extremity should be preserved under hypothermic conditions from the time of injury to the time of surgery.


A novel view on an old drug, 5-fluorouracil: an unexpected RNA modifier with intriguing impact on cancer cell fate.
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a chemotherapeutic drug widely used to treat patients with solid tumours, such as colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death and half of patients experience tumour recurrence. Used for over 60 years, 5-FU was long thought to exert its cytotoxic effects by altering DNA metabolism. However, 5-FU mode of action is more complex than previously anticipated since 5-FU is an extrinsic source of RNA modifications through its ability to be incorporated into most classes of RNA. In particular, a recent report highlighted that, by its integration into the most abundant RNA, namely ribosomal RNA (rRNA), 5-FU creates fluorinated active ribosomes and induces translational reprogramming. Here, we review the historical knowledge of 5-FU mode of action and discuss progress in the field of 5-FU-induced RNA modifications. The case of rRNA, the essential component of ribosome and translational activity, and the plasticity of which was recently associated with cancer, is highlighted. We propose that translational reprogramming, induced by 5-FU integration in ribosomes, contributes to 5-FU-driven cell plasticity and ultimately to relapse.


An account of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Nigeria: implications and lessons learnt.
The 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak remains unprecedented both in the number of cases, deaths and geographic scope. The first case of EVD was confirmed in Lagos Nigeria on 23 July 2014 and spread to involve 19 laboratory-confirmed EVD cases. The EVD cases were not limited to Lagos State as Rivers State recorded 2 confirmed cases of EVD with 1 out of the 2 dying. Swift implementation of public health measures were sufficient to forestall a country -wide spread of this dreaded disease. This exploratory formative research describes the events of the Nigeria Ebola crisis in 2014. This research was implemented through key informant in-depth interviews involving 15 stakeholders in the EVD outbreak in Nigeria by a team of two or three interviewers. Most of the interviews were conducted face-to-face at the various offices of the respondents and others were via the telephone. The interviews which lasted an hour on average were conducted in English, digitally recorded and notes were also taken. This study elucidated the public health response to the Ebola outbreak led by Lagos State Government in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health. The principal strategy was an incident management approach which saw them identify and successfully follow up 894 contacts. The infected EVD cases were quarantined and treated. The Nigerian private sector and international organizations made significant contributions to the control efforts. Public health enlightenment programmes using multimodal communication strategies were rapidly deployed. Water and sanitary facilities were provided in many public schools in Lagos. The 2014 Ebola outbreak in Nigeria was effectively controlled using the incident management approach with massive support provided by the private sector and international community. Eight of the confirmed cases of EVD in Nigeria eventually died (case fatality rate of 42.1%) and twelve were nursed back to good health. On October 20 2014 Nigeria was declared fee of EVD by the World Health Organization. The Nigerian EVD experience provides valuable insights to guide reforms of African health systems in preparation for future infectious diseases outbreaks.


Diet and lifestyle impact the development and progression of Alzheimer's dementia.
Dementia is a growing public health concern, with an estimated prevalence of 57 million adults worldwide. Alzheimer's disease (AD) accounts for 60-80% of the cases. Clinical trials testing potential drugs and neuroprotective agents have proven futile, and currently approved drugs only provide symptomatic benefits. Emerging epidemiological and clinical studies suggest that lifestyle changes, including diet and physical activity, offer an alternative therapeutic route for slowing and preventing cognitive decline and dementia. Age is the single most common risk factor for dementia, and it is associated with slowing cellular bioenergetics and metabolic processes. Therefore, a nutrient-rich diet is critical for optimal brain health. Furthermore, type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a risk factor for AD, and diets that reduce the risk of T2D may confer neuroprotection. Foods predominant in Mediterranean, MIND, and DASH diets, including fruits, leafy green vegetables, fish, nuts, and olive oil, may prevent or slow cognitive decline. The mechanisms by which these nutrients promote brain health, however, are not yet completely understood. Other dietary approaches and eating regimes, including ketogenic and intermittent fasting, are also emerging as beneficial for brain health. This review summarizes the pathophysiology, associated risk factors, and the potential neuroprotective pathways activated by several diets and eating regimes that have shown promising results in promoting brain health and preventing dementia.


Fourier analysis of effects of varying pressure waveforms in electrical lung analogs.
Six voltage waveforms were devised to simulate pressure curves of varying configuration for use in artificial ventilation. These waveforms were subjected to Fourier analysis and terms of the resulting series applied to a simple two-branch resistive-capacitive circuit intended to represent a lung analog using computer simulation. Current (analogous to flow) and charge (analogous to volume) in each branch could be graphically displayed. Differences among the waveforms in such attributes as efficiency, inspiratory work, volume introduced per unit of mean pressure applied, and relative volume distribution between the two branches could be demonstrated. All waveforms were capable of delivering a predetermined volume to the circuit with adjustment of their peak pressure (voltage). It was not possible to designate any of the waveforms as "superior" since advantage in one attribute, such as efficiency, was accompanied by deficiencies in other characteristics such as uneven volume distribution. Despite obvious severe limitations on physiological interpretations of such data, Fourier analysis of respiratory waveforms appears to be a useful teaching, illustrative, and exploratory method.


Criteria for Efficient Photocatalytic Water Splitting Revealed by Studying Carrier Dynamics in a Model Al-doped SrTiO3 Photocatalyst.
Overall water splitting (OWS) using semiconductor photocatalysts is a promising method for solar fuel production. Achieving a high quantum efficiency is one of the most important prerequisites for photocatalysts to realize high solar-to-fuel efficiency. In a recent study (Nature 2020, 58, 411-414), a quantum efficiency of almost 100 % has been achieved in an aluminum-doped strontium titanate (SrTiO3 : Al) photocatalyst. Herein, using the SrTiO3 : Al as a model photocatalyst, we reveal the criteria for efficient photocatalytic water splitting by investigating the carrier dynamics through a comprehensive photoluminescence study. It is found that the Al doping suppresses the generation of Ti3+ recombination centers in SrTiO3 , the surface band bending facilitates charge separation, and the in situ photo-deposited Rh/Cr2 O3 and CoOOH co-catalysts render efficient charge extraction. By suppressing photocarrier recombination and establishing a facile charge separation and extraction mechanism, high quantum efficiency can be achieved even on photocatalysts with a very short (sub-ns) intrinsic photocarrier lifetime, challenging the belief that a long carrier lifetime is a fundamental requirement. Our findings could provide guidance on the design of OWS photocatalysts toward more efficient solar-to-fuel conversion.


Improved "optical highlighter" probes derived from discosoma red fluorescent protein.
The tetrameric red fluorescent protein, DsRed, undergoes a rapid red to green color change evoked by short wavelength (lambda < 760 nm) femtosecond irradiation--a phenomenon that underpins the application of DsRed as an "optical highlighter" probe for tracking live cells, organelles, and fusion proteins. This color change results from selective bleaching of the "mature" red-emitting species of DsRed and an enhancement of emission from the "immature" green species, likely caused by dequenching of fluorescence resonance energy transfer occurring within the protein tetramer. Here, we have examined the role of residues known to influence the rate and completeness of chromophore maturation on the cellular and biophysical properties of DsRed mutants. Surprisingly, a single amino acid mutation (N42Q) with increased basal green emission yet rapid chromophore maturation displayed a multiphoton-evoked color change that was brighter, more consistent, more vivid, and easier to evoke than DsRed, despite the larger proportion of green chromophores. Rapidly maturing mutants with more complete chromophore maturation, exhibited little color change and increased resistance to multiphoton bleaching. We describe improved optical and cell biological properties for two DsRed-derived variants which we showcase in photolabeling studies, and discuss these data in terms of implications for fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based probes.


Bat community response to intensification of biomass production for bioenergy across the southeastern United States.
Human demand for food, fiber, and space is accelerating the rate of change of land cover and land use. Much of the world now consists of a matrix of natural forests, managed forests, agricultural cropland, and urbanized plots. Expansion of domestic energy production efforts in the United States is one driver predicted to influence future land-use and land management practices across large spatial scales. Favorable growing conditions make the southeastern United States an ideal location for producing a large portion of the country's renewable bioenergy. We investigated patterns of bat occurrence in two bioenergy feedstocks commonly grown in this region (corn, Zea mays, and pine, Pinus taeda and P. elliottii). We also evaluated potential impacts of the three major pathways of woody biomass extraction (residue removal following clearcut harvest, short-rotation energy plantations, and mid-rotation forest thinning) to bat occurrence through a priori land-use contrasts. We acoustically sampled bat vocalizations at 84 sites in the Southeastern Plains and Southern Coastal Plains of the southeastern United States across three years. We found that mid-rotation thinning resulted in positive effects on bat occurrence, and potential conversion of unmanaged (reference) forest to managed forest for timber and/or bioenergy harvest resulted in negative effects on bat occurrence when effects were averaged across all species. The effects of short-rotation energy plantations, removal of logging residues from plantation clearcuts, and corn were equivocal for all bat species examined. Our results suggest that accelerated production of biomass for energy production through either corn or intensively managed pine forests is not likely to have an adverse effect on bat communities, so long as existing older unmanaged forests are not converted to managed bioenergy or timber plantations. Beyond bioenergy crop production, mid-rotation thinning of even-aged pine stands intended for timber production, increases to the duration of plantation rotations to promote older forest stands, arranging forest stands and crop fields to maximize edge habitat, and maintaining unmanaged forests could benefit bat communities by augmenting roosting and foraging opportunities.


[Treatment of vulvo-vaginal candidiasis with econazole (author's transl)].
In 2103 women with vulvo-vaginal candidiasis proved by culture, econazole (an antimycotic drug, also effective against gram-positive bacteria) was administered as vaginal cream (1077 patients) or in ovules (1026 patients). The cure rate for each method was about 90% one week after the end of treatment. Although each of the methods of administration contained the same amount of effective substance, the cure rate four weeks after end of treatment was higher for the ovules (90.3%) than the vaginal cream (86.5%).


Chronic dosing with mirtazapine does not produce sedation in rats.
Sedation/somnolence are major side effects of pharmacotherapies for depression, and negatively affect long-term treatment compliance in depressed patients. Use of mirtazapine (MIR), an atypical antidepressant approved for the treatment of moderate to severe depression with comorbid anxiety disorders, is associated with significant sedation/somnolence, especially in short-term therapy. Nonetheless, studies with human subjects suggest that MIR-induced sedation is transient, especially when high and repeated doses are used. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of acute and chronic administration of different doses of MIR on sedation in the rat. Assessment of sedation was carried out behaviorally using the rotarod, spontaneous locomotor activity, and fixed-bar tests. A 15-mg/kg dose of MIR induced sedative effects for up to 60 minutes, whereas 30 mg/kg or more produced sedation within minutes and only in the first few days of administration. These results suggest that 30 mg/kg is a safe, well-tolerated dose of MIR which generates only temporary sedative effects.


Genetics and pharmacogenetics of mood disorders.
Genetic research in Psychiatry is viewed by clinicians with both hope and curiosity sometimes mixed with disillusionment. Indeed, in the last 30 years many results have not been confirmed and clinical applications are still missing. However recent findings suggest that we are at the beginning of a new era. A set of variants within neuroplasticity and inflammation genes have been identified as a valid basis for both bipolar disorder and major depression. Similarly, a set of genes has been identified as a liability factor for response and tolerability to antidepressants and the first clinical applications are already in the market. However, some caution should be applied until definite findings are available.


Simple chiral derivatization protocols for 1H NMR and 19F NMR spectroscopic analysis of the enantiopurity of chiral diols.
Two practically simple chiral derivatization protocols for determining the enantiopurity of chiral diols by (1)H NMR and (19)F NMR spectroscopic analysis are described, involving treatment of the diol with 2-formylphenylboronic acid and alpha-methyl-4-fluorobenzylamine, or its derivatization with 4-fluoro-2-formylphenylboronic acid and alpha-methyl-benzylamine. Both approaches afford mixtures of imino-boronate esters whose diastereomeric ratio may be measured by (1)H NMR or (19)F NMR spectroscopy, the value of which is an accurate reflection of the enantiopurity of the parent diol.


Brood reduction via intra-clutch variation in testosterone--an experimental test in the great tit.
In birds, yolk androgen concentrations in eggs can increase or decrease over the laying sequence and common hypotheses hold that this serves to favour the competitive ability of either first- or last-hatched chicks depending on the prevailing conditions, and thus promote brood reduction or maintenance of original brood size respectively. Intra-clutch variation of testosterone can shift relative competitive ability of siblings and hence competitive dynamics. In a natural population of great tits, we experimentally investigated the effects and function of maternal testosterone on offspring phenotype in relation to the laying position of the egg in a context of hatching asynchrony. To this end, we created three types of clutches where either the first three or the last three eggs of a clutch were injected with testosterone (T) dissolved in sesame oil, and the remaining eggs with sesame oil only, or where all eggs of a clutch were injected with sesame oil. Increased levels of yolk T in the last-laid eggs resulted in the last-hatched chicks being significantly lighter and smaller than their siblings, while increased levels of T in the first-laid eggs had no direct effect on the first-hatched chicks, but an indirect negative effect on their siblings. Our results suggest that females can potentially adjust offspring phenotype by modulating, over the laying sequence, the amounts of T deposited in the eggs. These results are in contradiction, however, with current hypotheses and previous findings, which suggest that under good conditions higher levels of maternally derived T in the last-laid eggs should mitigate the negative effects of hatching asynchrony.


cAMP signalling in mushroom bodies modulates temperature preference behaviour in Drosophila.
Homoiotherms, for example mammals, regulate their body temperature with physiological responses such as a change of metabolic rate and sweating. In contrast, the body temperature of poikilotherms, for example Drosophila, is the result of heat exchange with the surrounding environment as a result of the large ratio of surface area to volume of their bodies. Accordingly, these animals must instinctively move to places with an environmental temperature as close as possible to their genetically determined desired temperature. The temperature that Drosophila instinctively prefers has a function equivalent to the 'set point' temperature in mammals. Although various temperature-gated TRP channels have been discovered, molecular and cellular components in Drosophila brain responsible for determining the desired temperature remain unknown. We identified these components by performing a large-scale genetic screen of temperature preference behaviour (TPB) in Drosophila. In parallel, we mapped areas of the Drosophila brain controlling TPB by targeted inactivation of neurons with tetanus toxin and a potassium channel (Kir2.1) driven with various brain-specific GAL4s. Here we show that mushroom bodies (MBs) and the cyclic AMP-cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA) pathway are essential for controlling TPB. Furthermore, targeted expression of cAMP-PKA pathway components in only the MB was sufficient to rescue abnormal TPB of the corresponding mutants. Preferred temperatures were affected by the level of cAMP and PKA activity in the MBs in various PKA pathway mutants.


Proximate basis of the covariation between a melanin-based female ornament and offspring quality.
In contradiction to sexual selection theory, several studies showed that although the expression of melanin-based ornaments is usually under strong genetic control and weakly sensitive to the environment and body condition, they can signal individual quality. Covariation between a melanin-based ornament and phenotypic quality may result from pleiotropic effects of genes involved in the production of melanin pigments. Two categories of genes responsible for variation in melanin production may be relevant, namely those that trigger melanin production (yes or no response) and those that determine the amount of pigments produced. To investigate which of these two hypotheses is the most likely, I reanalysed data collected from barn owls ( Tyto alba). The underparts of this bird vary from immaculate to heavily marked with black spots of varying size. Published cross-fostering experiments have shown that the proportion of the plumage surface covered with black spots, a eumelanin composite trait so-called "plumage spottiness", in females positively covaries with offspring humoral immunocompetence, and negatively with offspring parasite resistance (i.show $132#e. the ability to reduce fecundity of ectoparasites) and fluctuating asymmetry of wing feathers. However, it is unclear which component of plumage spottiness causes these relationships, namely genes responsible for variation in number of spots or in spot diameter. Number of spots reflects variation in the expression of genes triggering the switch from no eumelanin production to production, whereas spot diameter reflects variation in the expression of genes determining the amount of eumelanin produced per spot. In the present study, multiple regression analyses, performed on the same data sets, showed that humoral immunocompetence, parasite resistance and wing fluctuating asymmetry of cross-fostered offspring covary with spot diameter measured in their genetic mother, but not with number of spots. This suggests that genes responsible for variation in the quantity of eumelanin produced per spot are responsible for covariation between a melanin ornament and individual attributes. In contrast, genes responsible for variation in number of black spots may not play a significant role. Covariation between a eumelanin female trait and offspring quality may therefore be due to an indirect effect of melanin production.


Histometric demonstration of periastrocytic fibronectin loss during herpes simplex virus infection.
Since Herpes simplex virus-type 1 (HSV-1) is liable to induce modifications and/or loss of immunoreactive fibronectin (FN) in cultured cells, our present goal was to determine whether such loss is attributable to FN binding impairment rather than cell detachment secondary to viral cytopathic effect. For this purpose, we resorted herein to an histometric approach for statistical evaluation of FN pattern in the course of HSV-1 infection of astroglial cell monolayers. The length of FN positive fibers was calculated by means of their tracing on a digitizer tablet; in the same field, cell nucleus count was performed. Recorded data allowed the calculation of an index as the ratio of the length of FN positive fibers over cell nucleus number. On comparing the indices between infected and control cultures, matricial FN loss was found in the former at 48 h post-inoculation, accompanied by cell fusion and retraction, though without cell detachment. A significant loss of FN was thus demonstrated as an event prior to severe cytopathic effect induced by viral infection.


Attitudes toward beef and vegetarians in Argentina, Brazil, France, and the USA.
Meat is both the most favored and most tabooed food in the world. In the developed world, there is a tension between its high nutritional density, preferred taste, and high status on the one hand, and concerns about weight, degenerative diseases, the ethics of killing animals, and the environmental cost of meat production on the other hand. The present study investigated attitudes toward beef, and toward vegetarians, among college students in Argentina, Brazil, France, and the USA. Across countries, men were more pro-beef, in free associations, liking, craving, and frequency of consumption. By country, Brazil and Argentina were generally the most positive, followed by France and then the United States. Ambivalence to beef was higher in women, and highest in Brazil. Only Brazilian and American women reported frequent negative associations to beef (e.g. "disgusting", "fatty"). Overall, most students had positive attitudes to beef, and the attitude to vegetarians was generally neutral. America and Brazilian women showed some admiration for vegetarians, while only French men and women had negative attitudes to vegetarians. In spite of frequent negative ethical, health, and weight concerns, in the majority of the sample, liking for and consumption of beef was maintained at a high level.


Automatic identification and morphological comparison of bivalve and brachiopod fossils based on deep learning.
Fossil identification is an essential and fundamental task for conducting palaeontological research. Because the manual identification of fossils requires extensive experience and is time-consuming, automatic identification methods are proposed. However, these studies are limited to a few or dozens of species, which is hardly adequate for the needs of research. This study enabled the automatic identification of hundreds of species based on a newly established fossil dataset. An available "bivalve and brachiopod fossil image dataset" (BBFID, containing >16,000 "image-label" data pairs, taxonomic determination completed) was created. The bivalves and brachiopods contained in BBFID are closely related in morphology, ecology and evolution that have long attracted the interest of researchers. We achieved >80% identification accuracy at 22 genera and ∼64% accuracy at 343 species using EfficientNetV2s architecture. The intermediate output of the model was extracted and downscaled to obtain the morphological feature space of fossils using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE). We found a distinctive boundary between the morphological feature points of bivalves and brachiopods in fossil morphological feature distribution maps. This study provides a possible method for studying the morphological evolution of fossil clades using computer vision in the future.


3alpha,5alpha-THP mediates progestins' effects to protect against adrenalectomy-induced cell death in the dentate gyrus of female and male rats.
Progestins have neuroprotective effects in several in vitro models of neurodegeneration and in vivo in seizure models. The extent to which progesterone's in vivo protective effects may generalize to models not involving seizure processes and whether progesterone's protective effects are modulated by its metabolites have not been comprehensively investigated. The present experiments investigated the effects of progesterone and its metabolites, dihydryoprogesterone (DHP) and 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP), to protect the hippocampus from damage induced by adrenalectomy (ADX). In Experiments 1 and 2, progesterone, DHP, or 3alpha,5alpha-THP administration (1 mg/kg sc) to female (Experiment 1) or male (Experiment 2) rats similarly reduced the total number of ADX-induced pyknotic cells in the dentate gyrus compared with vehicle administration. In Experiment 3, blocking progesterone's metabolism to 3alpha,5alpha-THP with coadministration of a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride (10 mg/kg sc), in female rats attenuated progesterone's protective effects on cell death in the dentate gyrus. Together, these data suggest that progestins can protect against ADX-induced cell death and that the actions of the progesterone metabolite, 3alpha,5alpha-THP, may underlie these effects.


Preliminary results of entire pleural intensity-modulated radiotherapy in a neoadjuvant setting for resectable malignant mesothelioma.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the multimodality treatment with neoadjuvant intensitymodulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for resectable clinical T1-3N0-1M0 malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). A total of eleven patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy between March 2016 and June 2018 were reviewed. Patients received 25 Gy in 5 fractions to entire ipsilateral hemithorax with helical tomotherapy. All of patients were men with a median age of 56 years. Epithelioid subtype was found in 10 patients. All patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with pemetrexed-cisplatin regimen. Ten patients (90.9%) completed 25 Gy/5 fractions and one (9.0%) completed 20 Gy/4 fractions of radiotherapy. IMRT was well tolerated with only one acute grade 3 radiation pneumonitis. Surgery was performed 1 week (median, 8 days; range, 1 to 15 days) after completing IMRT. Extrapleural pneumonectomy was performed in 4 patients (36.3%), extended pleurectomy/decortication in 2 (18.2%) and pleurectomy/decortications in 5 (63.6%). There was no grade 3+ surgical complication except two deaths after EPP in 1 month. Based on operative findings and pathologic staging, adjuvant chemotherapy was delivered in 7 patients (63.6%), and 2 (18.2%) were decided to add adjuvant radiotherapy. After a median follow-up of 14.6 months (range, 2.8 to 30 months), there were 3 local recurrence (33.3%) and 1 distant metastasis (11.1%). Neoadjuvant entire pleural IMRT can be delivered with a favorable radiation complication. An optimal strategy has to be made in resectable MPM patients who would benefit from neoadjuvant radiation and surgery. Further studies are needed to look at long-term outcomes.


Social media trust predicts lower COVID-19 vaccination rates and higher excess mortality over 2 years.
Trust plays a crucial role in implementing public health interventions against the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the prospective associations of interpersonal, institutional, and media trust with vaccination rates and excess mortality over time in two multinational studies. In study 1, we investigated the country-level relationships between interpersonal trust, vaccination rates, and excess mortality across 54 countries. Interpersonal trust at the country level was calculated by aggregating data of 80,317 participants from the World Values Survey in 2017-20. Data on vaccination rates and excess mortality were obtained from the World Health Organization. Our findings indicated that higher levels of interpersonal trust were linked to higher vaccination rates and lower excess mortality rates in both 2020 and 2021. In study 2, we collected data from 18,171 adults in 35 countries/societies, stratified by age, gender, and region of residence. At the country/society level, interpersonal trust and trust in local healthcare facilities, local healthcare services, and healthcare professionals were associated with higher vaccination rates and lower excess mortality, whereas social media trust was associated with lower vaccination rates and higher excess mortality across three time points over 2 years. Our findings are robust when controlling for country-level covariates of the government stringency index, population density, and medical resources (i.e. critical care beds) in both studies.


Age-associated degeneration of backward masking task performance: evidence of declining temporal resolution abilities in normal listeners.
A backward masking paradigm was employed to investigate temporal resolution capabilities in normal-hearing subjects of increasing chronological age. Results have documented: (1) a 2-, 4-, 8-, and 11-fold decibel magnitude difference for averaged psychoacoustic functions when comparing data obtained from young adults to those of elderly listeners; (2) that backward masking function slopes become significantly steeper with age, especially at very short interstimulus intervals; (3) a significant interaction between age and target frequency; (4) a linear age-associated decrement in presumed temporal resolution abilities, and (5) no significant target frequency difference nor any ear differences existed. Both end organ and central nervous system mechanisms were considered in explaining these findings.


Hemodynamic and oxygen transport effects of prostaglandin E1 in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome.
The hemodynamic and oxygen transport effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1, Prostin -VR), in increasing doses from 1 to 30 ng/kg X min were evaluated in 5 severely ill surgical patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This agent produced marked reductions in pulmonary arterial and venous pressures, and increases in cardiac output and oxygen transport. Improvement in PaO2 occurred several hours after these effects. The data indicate that this agent may be a useful adjunctive therapy for ARDS.


[Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy: FDG-PET/CT documented partial remission after treatment with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine].
Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman disease) is a very rare disease belonging to a group of histiocytoses (more precisely non-Langerhans cell histiocytoses). Rosai-Dorfman disease is characterised by the presence of atypical histiocytic cells in the sinuses of lymph nodes or in the extranodal lymphoid tissue, absorbing lymphocytes and plasma cells. The structure and function of the absorbed cells is not impaired and they can leave histiocytes as viable cells. This effect is called emperipolesis, whereas ingestion of cells with their destruction is called phagocytosis. In our text we describe a patient with this disease located, characteristically, in supraclavicular lymph nodes, but also in mediastinal lymph nodes. Along with lymphadenopathy skin alterations appeared which were both clinically and histologically described as eczema dermatitis. At the same time as lymphadenopathy also strong headaches started which the patient had never suffered before. Within the first-line treatment prednisone was administered, but no effect was achieved. 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine in 5 mg/m2 s. c. dose was used in the second-line treatment, for 5 successive days in monthly intervals. There were four cycles of this treatment administered overall. Therapy was tolerated without any manifestations of toxicity. Already after the 1st cycle skin alterations as well as headaches entirely disappeared. To assess the effect of treatment the PET/CT examination with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET/CT) was made. After 4 cycles of treatment the mediastinal lymph nodes diminished to a physiological size and the accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose in them was assessed as physiological. Lymphadenopathy in the neck area also significantly diminished by 50-75 % and the accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose was reduced as well, though it did not reach the norm. Therefore we evaluate the effect of treatment as a partial remission with complete disappearance of skin alterations and headaches. The cause of the eczema and headaches has not been clarified, however considering the same time of their arising and then disappearance after the application of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine the causal connection with Rosai-Dorfman disease is likely. Castlemans disease - lenalidomide - Rosai-Dorfman disease - rituximab - sinus lymphadenopathy with massive lymphadenopathy - thalidomide - 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine.


Cryostructuring of Polymeric Systems. 49. Unexpected "Kosmotropic-Like" Impact of Organic Chaotropes on Freeze⁻Thaw-Induced Gelation of PVA in DMSO.
Urea (URE) and guanidine hydrochloride (GHC) possessing strong chaotropic properties in aqueous media were added to DMSO solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to be gelled via freeze⁻thaw processing. Unexpectedly, it turned out that in the case of the PVA cryotropic gel formation in DMSO medium, the URE and GHC additives caused the opposite effects to those observed in water, i.e., the formation of the PVA cryogels (PVACGs) was strengthened rather than inhibited. Our studies of this phenomenon showed that such "kosmotropic-like" effects were more pronounced for the PVACGs that were formed in DMSO in the presence of URE additives, with the effects being concentration-dependent. The additives also caused significant changes in the macroporous morphology of the cryogels; the commonly observed trend was a decrease in the structural regularity of the additive-containing samples compared to the additive-free gel sample. The viscosity measurements revealed consistent changes in the intrinsic viscosity, Huggins constant, and the excess activation heat of the viscosity caused by the additives. The results obtained evidently point to the urea-induced decrease in the solvation ability of DMSO with respect to PVA. As a result, this effect can be the key factor that is responsible for strengthening the structure formation upon the freeze⁻thaw gelation of this polymer in DMSO additionally containing additives such as urea, which is capable of competing with PVA for the solvent.


Carotenoid production and phenotypic variation in Azospirillum brasilense.
We assessed the occurrence of phenotypic variation in Azospirillum brasilense strains Sp7, Cd, Sp245, Az39 and phv2 during growth in rich media, screening for variants altered in colony pigmentation or extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production. Previous studies showed that EPS-overproducing variants of Sp7 appear frequently following starvation or growth in minimal medium. In contrast, no such variants were detected during growth in rich media in the tested strains except for few variants of phv2. Regarding alteration in colony pigmentation (from pink to white in strain Cd and from white to pink in the others), strain Sp7 showed a relatively high frequency of variation (0.009-0.026%). Strain Cd showed a lower frequency of alteration in pigmentation (0-0.008%), and this type of variation was not detected in the other strains. In A. brasilense, carotenoid synthesis is controlled by two RpoE sigma factors and their cognate ChrR anti-sigma factors, the latter acting as negative regulators of carotenoid synthesis. Here, all tested (n = 28) pink variants of Sp7 carried mutations in one of the anti-sigma factor genes, chrR1. Our findings indicate that, in A. brasilense, phenotypic variation is strain- and environment-dependent and support the central role of ChrR1 in regulation of carotenoid production.


Thin lead sheets in the decorative features in Pavia Charterhouse.
The facade of the church of the Pavia Charterhouse, built at the end of the 15th century, shows outstanding decorative features made of different stone materials, such as marbles, breccias and sandstones. Magnificent ornamental elements are made of thin lead sheets, and some marble slabs are inlaid with them. Metal elements are shaped in complex geometric and phytomorphic design, to form a Greek fret in black contrasting with the white Carrara marble. Lead pins were fixed to the back of the thin lead sheets with the aim of attaching the metal elements to the marble; in so doing the pins and the lead sheets constitute a single piece of metal. In some areas, lead elements have been lost, and they have been substituted with a black plaster, matching the colour of the metal. To the authors' knowledge, this kind of decorative technique is rare, and confirms the refinement of Renaissance Lombard architecture. This work reports on the results of an extensive survey of the white, orange and yellowish layers, which are present on the external surface of the lead. The thin lead sheets have been characterized and their state of conservation has been studied with the aid of Optical Microscopy, SEM-EDS, FTIR and Raman analyses. Lead sulphate, lead carbonates and oxides have been identified as decay products.


Atomically Smooth Gold Microflake-Enabled Fiber-Tip Fabry-Perot Interferometer for Temperature and Pressure Sensing.
Fiber-tip sensors based on the Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) are one of the most widely used devices for temperature and pressure measurements in space-confined scenarios. However, the deposited metal films with a polycrystalline structure tend to form microcracks under strain, which can undermine the optical quality factor and thus sensing performance of these fiber-tip sensors. Here, we demonstrate an atomically smooth gold microflake (GMF)-enabled fiber-tip FPI sensor with a Q factor as high as 628. Benefiting from the high reflectivity and flexibility of GMFs and the elasticity of the PDMS spacer, the fiber-tip FPI can maintain stable sensing performance under large deformation. For temperature sensing, the fiber-tip sensor exhibits a linear response to the temperature in the range 28-40 °C with a sensitivity as high as 1.74 nm °C-1. To realize linear and sensitive pressure sensing, we design and fabricate a PDMS clamped-beam structure on the fiber tip using a soft lithography technique, achieving a sensitivity of 11.48 nm kPa-1. Moreover, simultaneous measurement of the temperature and pressure is also demonstrated using the wavelength demodulation method. The simple and cost-effective fabrication of the clamped beam and the transferable GMFs allow for the facile integration of high-quality FP cavities on fiber tips, opening new opportunities for developing optical sensors with miniaturized sizes.


New insights on Celtic migration in Hungary and Italy through the analysis of non-metric dental traits.
The Iron Age is characterized by an extended interweaving of movements by Celts in Europe. Several waves of Celts from Western and Central Europe migrated southeast and west from the core area of the La Téne culture (between Bourgogne and Bohemia). Through the analysis of non-metric dental traits, this work aims to understand the biological relationship among Celtic groups arrived in Italy and the Carpathian Basin, as well as between local populations and Celtic newcomers. A total of 10 non-metric dental traits were analyzed to evaluate biological affinities among Celts (Sopron-Krautacker and Pilismarót-Basaharc) and Scythians-related populations from Hungary (Tápiószele), Celts from continental Europe (Switzerland and Austria), two Iron Age Etruscan-Celtic sites from northern Italy (Monterenzio Vecchio and Monte Bibele), 13 Iron Age central-southern Italic necropolises, and the northern Italian Bronze Age necropolis of Scalvinetto. Strontium isotopes were measured on individuals from the necropolis of Monte Bibele to infer their local or non-local origin. Results highlight the existence of statistically significant differences between Celts and autochthonous Italian groups. Celtic groups from Hungary and Italy (i.e., non-local individuals of Monterenzio Vecchio and Monte Bibele) share a similar biological background, supporting the historical records mentioning a common origin for Celts migrated to the eastern and southern borders of today's Europe. The presence of a supposed Steppean ancestry both in Celts from Hungary and Celts from northern Italy corroborates the hypothesis of the existence of a westward migration of individuals and genes from the Steppe towards northern Italy during the Bronze and Iron Age, which contributed to the biological variability of pre-Celtic and later Celtic populations, respectively. Conversely, individuals from central-southern Italy show an autochthonous pre-Iron Age background. Lastly, this work supports the existence of Celtic migratory routes in northern Italy, as shown by biological and cultural admixture between Celts and Italics living together.


Validation of 4D Flow based relative pressure maps in aortic flows.
While the clinical gold standard for pressure difference measurements is invasive catheterization, 4D Flow MRI is a promising tool for enabling a non-invasive quantification, by linking highly spatially resolved velocity measurements with pressure differences via the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. In this work we provide a validation and comparison with phantom and clinical patient data of pressure difference maps estimators. We compare the classical Pressure Poisson Estimator (PPE) and the new Stokes Estimator (STE) against catheter pressure measurements under a variety of stenosis severities and flow intensities. Specifically, we use several 4D Flow data sets of realistic aortic phantoms with different anatomic and hemodynamic severities and two patients with aortic coarctation. The phantom data sets are enriched by subsampling to lower resolutions, modification of the segmentation and addition of synthetic noise, in order to study the sensitivity of the pressure difference estimators to these factors. Overall, the STE method yields more accurate results than the PPE method compared to catheterization data. The superiority of the STE becomes more evident at increasing Reynolds numbers with a better capacity of capturing pressure gradients in strongly convective flow regimes. The results indicate an improved robustness of the STE method with respect to variation in lumen segmentation. However, with heuristic removal of the wall-voxels, the PPE can reach a comparable accuracy for lower Reynolds' numbers.


The quality of recovery on discharge from hospital, a comparison between patients undergoing hip and knee replacement - a European study.
To describe and compare the quality of recovery on discharge from hospital among patients undergoing elective hip or knee replacement. The study will also attempt to identify any predicting factors. Arthroplasty is commonly used for an increasing population of patients with osteoarthritis, and the recovery process starts directly after surgery. Today's shorter hospital stay may be a challenge for the patients during the early period of recovery. It is therefore important to identify factors associated with quality of recovery at discharge from hospital. A descriptive, comparative study including 12 hospitals in 5 European countries; Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Iceland and Sweden. Consecutively included patients responded on: health-related quality of life, and emotions before surgery and at hospital discharge; quality of recovery, patient satisfaction and fulfilment of knowledge expectations. Related factors and associations were analysed separately for each kind of arthroplasty. In total, 865 patients were included (hip n = 413, knee n = 452). In the dimension of pain, patients undergoing hip replacement had significantly better quality of recovery compared to those undergoing knee replacement. Both patient groups experienced negative emotions before surgery that were related to poorer quality of recovery. Fulfilment of knowledge expectations has a limited effect on quality of recovery. Greater satisfaction with care predicted better quality of recovery. Negative preoperative emotions were related to poorer quality of recovery. For both kinds of arthroplasty, greater satisfaction with care was associated with better quality of recovery. The result emphasises the need to detect patients in need of support in their preparation and recovery process, taking into account the perspective of their emotional state.