A new nano-engineered hierarchical membrane for concurrent removal of surfactant and oil from oil-in-water nanoemulsion.
Surfactant stabilized oil-in-water nanoemulsions pose a severe threat to both the environment and human health. Recent development of membrane filtration technology has enabled efficient oil removal from oil/water nanoemulsion, however, the concurrent removal of surfactant and oil remains unsolved because the existing filtration membranes still suffer from low surfactant removal rate and serious surfactant-induced fouling issue. In this study, to realize the concurrent removal of surfactant and oil from nanoemulsion, a novel hierarchically-structured membrane is designed with a nanostructured selective layer on top of a microstructured support layer. The physical and chemical properties of the overall membrane, including wettability, surface roughness, electric charge, thickness and structures, are delicately tailored through a nano-engineered fabrication process, that is, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet assisted phase inversion coupled with surface functionalization. Compared with the membrane fabricated by conventional phase inversion, this novel membrane has four times higher water flux, significantly higher rejections of both oil (~99.9%) and surfactant (as high as 93.5%), and two thirds lower fouling ratio when treating surfactant stabilized oil-in-water nanoemulsion. Due to its excellent performances and facile fabrication process, this nano-engineered membrane is expected to have wide practical applications in the oil/water separation fields of environmental protection and water purification.


Anxiety and Startle Phenotypes in Glrb Spastic and Glra1 Spasmodic Mouse Mutants.
A GWAS study recently demonstrated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human GLRB gene of individuals with a prevalence for agoraphobia. GLRB encodes the glycine receptor (GlyRs) β subunit. The identified SNPs are localized within the gene flanking regions (3' and 5' UTRs) and intronic regions. It was suggested that these nucleotide polymorphisms modify GlyRs expression and phenotypic behavior in humans contributing to an anxiety phenotype as a mild form of hyperekplexia. Hyperekplexia is a human neuromotor disorder with massive startle phenotypes due to mutations in genes encoding GlyRs subunits. GLRA1 mutations have been more commonly observed than GLRB mutations. If an anxiety phenotype contributes to the hyperekplexia disease pattern has not been investigated yet. Here, we compared two mouse models harboring either a mutation in the murine Glra1 or Glrb gene with regard to anxiety and startle phenotypes. Homozygous spasmodic animals carrying a Glra1 point mutation (alanine 52 to serine) displayed abnormally enhanced startle responses. Moreover, spasmodic mice exhibited significant changes in fear-related behaviors (freezing, rearing and time spent on back) analyzed during the startle paradigm, even in a neutral context. Spastic mice exhibit reduced expression levels of the full-length GlyRs β subunit due to aberrant splicing of the Glrb gene. Heterozygous animals appear normal without an obvious behavioral phenotype and thus might reflect the human situation analyzed in the GWAS study on agoraphobia and startle. In contrast to spasmodic mice, heterozygous spastic animals revealed no startle phenotype in a neutral as well as a conditioning context. Other mechanisms such as a modulatory function of the GlyRs β subunit within glycinergic circuits in neuronal networks important for fear and fear-related behavior may exist. Possibly, in human additional changes in fear and fear-related circuits either due to gene-gene interactions e.g., with GLRA1 genes or epigenetic factors are necessary to create the agoraphobia and in particular the startle phenotype.


[Allergic enteropathy. Intestinally-mediated fungus allergy].
This article reports on a 53-year-old woman suffering from recurrent diarrhea since 1980 who, in November 1988, was admitted to the Medical Department of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg with four to eight loose to liquid stools a day. Since January 1988, in addition to abdominal symptoms, including meteorism and recurrent abdominal pain, intermittent bouts of fever of up to 40 degrees C lasting six to eight hours and frequently occurring in the evening, had been noted. The patient's symptoms improved at weekends and during the holidays. Since 1977, she had been employed at a cheese counter, selling cheese. Noteworthy findings were an eosinophilia of 6% and, with the prick skin test, weakly positive reactions induced by two moulds with no increased total IgE and negative IgE RAST for diverse foods and moulds. An in vitro histamine-releasing test performed on colonic mucosal particles obtained at colonoscopy, a sensitization of the mucosa to moulds was demonstrated, and the patient was then given the mast cell stabilizing agent DNCG. This treatment cleared the symptoms, and she put on weight. In vitro tests on colonic biopsy material repeated in 1989 revealed a significant reduction in the release of histamine in response to the anti-allergic treatment.


Substitution of Percutaneous Ethanol Injection with a Low Molecular Weight Peptide Gel Mimicking Chemoembolization for Cancer Therapy.
In order to avoid the instability and quick separation between emulsifier and drug in the interventional chemoembolization, an injectable low molecular weight peptide gel (LMWG) was prepared to localize ethanol and chemotherapeutic for in situ synergistic therapy. The formation mechanism, rheological property and morphology of the LMWG were investigated by NMR, UV-vis, MS and SEM. The interaction between gelator and anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was evaluated by fluorescence spectroscopy and its contribution on drug loading properties was demonstrated. The gel was non-toxic to both 3T3 fibroblasts and 4T1 breast cancer cells. DOX as well as ethanol were encapsulated in the gel and injected in breast cancer bearing mice with low drug dose (2.5 mg/kg body weight). The LMWG surrounded tumors act as a depot for ethanol release and release DOX to induce the apoptosis of cancer cells. With the combination of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) and chemotherapy, the DOX loaded LMWG exhibited great significance in necrosis of tumor tissue and exciting tumor inhibition efficiency.


beta(3)-Integrin cytoplasmic binding proteins.
Integrins are cell-surface adhesion receptors that play an important role in mediating numerous physiological processes,including inflammation, migration, adhesion, and proliferation. Integrin regulation by events within the cell has been termed "inside-out " signaling; this is a capacity that is unique to integrin receptors. As is typical of other cell-surface receptors, integrins can also transduce signals from outside the cell into the cytoplasm on binding extracellular ligands ("outside-in signaling "). Integrins are composed of an alpha and a beta subunit, which form a heterodimer. The beta(3)-integrin family consists of alpha(IIb)beta(3)-found on platelets and megakaryocytes, and the more widely distributed alpha(v)beta(3). beta Subunits consist of a large extracellular domain, a single transmembrane segment, and a relatively short cytoplasmic tail. The cytoplasmic domains do not contain intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, and therefore signaling occurs primarily via recruitment of intracellular signaling molecules. Integrins form transmembrane connections, and the interactions between integrin cytoplasmic domains, intracellular factors (cytoplasmic proteins and intracellular signaling pathways), and membrane-anchored proteins play an important role in integrin-mediated events. There are at least 21 proteins that associate with integrin beta tails to regulate cell motility, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In this review, we will focus on 10 of these proteins and their function in integrin-mediated events.


The experiences of international nursing students in a baccalaureate nursing program.
International students, especially those with English as a second language (ESL), can have difficulty adjusting to university life in the United States and successfully completing the demands of a nursing program. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of international nursing students in a baccalaureate nursing program. Eight female Nigerian nursing students aged 25 to 48 who had been in the United States from 5 to 20 years were interviewed. Most (75 per cent) had some prior college experience, but only two had a baccalaureate degree. The data was analyzed by using a multifunctional computer software program and three themes emerged: social isolation, resolved attitudes, and persistence despite perceived obstacles. Factors contributing to each theme explained how these students progressed from their social isolation to their resolved attitudes. Their progression was marked by an acceptance of antagonistic attitudes found in the program and their development of persistence despite perceived obstacles. Their persistence was the impetus to achieve their overall goal of graduating from the program. Implications for nursing faculty include assisting these students through social and academic transitions and nursing administrators' provision of fiscal and support resources to facilitate effective integration of international students into the nursing program and the community.


The effect of the pulse-delay cure technique on residual strain in composites.
Polymerization-induced shrinkage of composites leads to residual stress in the final restoration. For composites with a high modulus of elasticity, the level of stress can have significant clinical consequences, including crack formation in the enamel or microscopic separations at the preparation/restoration interface. The pulse-delay cure technique cures composites by providing low-energy pulse initially (e.g., 200 mW/cm2 for 3 seconds), followed by a waiting period of 3 to 5 minutes for strain relief, during which the composite can be finished and polished. The final cure is obtained by exposure to a high-intensity light source of 500 mW/cm2 for the recommended time. In vitro data obtained by strain gauges show that the pulse-delay cure technique can reduce residual strain in the composite by as much as 34%.


CD8 T-cells are not essential for the induction of "low-dose" oral tolerance.
To examine whether CD8 T-cells are essential for the induction of "low-dose" oral tolerance, we tested animals deficient in CD8 T-cells, i.e., Lewis rats in which CD8 cells were eliminated by injections of specific antibodies and beta 2m(-/-) mice in which the CD8 cells are scarce and poorly functional. Oral tolerance was induced in the rats by repeated feedings with the uveitogenic retinal S-antigen, while in the mice the fed antigen was ovalbumin. Feeding reduced in both species the specific cellular immune response, measured by the lymphocyte proliferation assay. In the rats, this treatment also inhibited the development of the inflammatory eye disease, experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis. In addition, the levels of specific antibodies in the fed animals were moderately lower than those in their controls. Both the CD8-depleted rats and the beta 2m(-/-) mice resembled their normal controls in demonstrating reduced immune responses following feeding with the corresponding antigen. This observation thus indicates that CD8 T-cells are not essential for the induction of low-dose oral tolerance.


Protective effects of necrostatin-1 on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rat heart.
Background: Doxorubicin (Dox) is one of the most effective antineoplastic drugs which has severe cardiotoxic effects, limiting its clinical usage. Though the exact mechanism of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is yet to be elucidated, it is shown that production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increases oxidative stress and leads to cardiomyocyte apoptosis and necroptosis which is also defined as a programmed cell death.Purpose: In the present study, we investigate the effects of necrostatin-1 (Nec-1)-an inhibitor of receptor interaction proteins 1 (RIP1) and necroptosis-on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.Research Design: Hearts were isolated and perfused by the Langendorff system in all four groups. Perfusion pressure (PP), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and heart rate per minute (HR), LV (dP/dt) max, and LV (dP/dt) min which shows cardiac contractility and relaxation were recorded.Results: Results showed that PP significantly increased with Dox treatment and significantly decreased with Nec-1 treatment, while HR, LVDP, LV (dP/dt) max, and LV (dP/dt) min values significantly decreased with the Dox-treated group and significantly increased with Nec-1 treatment. Also with Nec-1 treatment, gene expression levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 significantly increased and pro-apoptotic protein Bax, apoptotic marker caspase-3, and Nox-2 significantly decreased compared to the Dox-treated group. In heart tissues, MDA levels were significantly increased with Dox and decreased with Nec-1 treatment. These results were supported by the histological analysis indicated that Nec-1 reduced doxorubicin-induced cellular injury.Conclusions: In conclusion, our data indicate that Nec-1 ameliorates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by reducing oxidative stress injury and attenuating apoptosis and necroptosis.


Diagnosing aneurysmal and unicameral bone cysts with magnetic resonance imaging.
The differential between aneurysmal bone cysts and unicameral bone cysts usually is clear clinically and radiographically. Occasionally there are cases in which the diagnosis is not clear. Because natural history and treatment are different, the ability to distinguish between these two entities before surgery is important. The authors reviewed, in a blinded fashion, the preoperative magnetic resonance images to investigate criteria that could be used to differentiate between the two lesions. All patients had operative or pathologic confirmation of an aneurysmal bone cyst or unicameral bone cyst. The authors analyzed the preoperative magnetic resonance images of 14 patients with diagnostically difficult bone cysts (eight children with unicameral bone cysts and six children with aneurysmal bone cysts) and correlated these findings with diagnosis after biopsy or cyst aspiration and contrast injection. The presence of a double density fluid level within the lesion strongly indicated that the lesion was an aneurysmal bone cyst, rather than a unicameral bone cyst. Other criteria that suggested the lesion was an aneurysmal bone cyst were the presence of septations within the lesion and signal characteristics of low intensity on T1 images and high intensity on T2 images. The authors identified a way of helping to differentiate between aneurysmal bone cysts and unicameral bone cysts on magnetic resonance images. Double density fluid level, septation, and low signal on T1 images and high signal on T2 images strongly suggest the bone cyst in question is an aneurysmal bone cyst, rather than a unicameral bone cyst. This may be helpful before surgery for the child who has a cystic lesion for which radiographic features do not allow a clear differentiation of unicameral bone cyst from aneurysmal bone cyst.


Steady-state kinetics of the schistosomal hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase.
Schistosomiasis is a trematode infection of some 200 million people. The hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase) of the major etiologic agent, Schistosoma mansoni, has been proposed as a potential target for antischistosomal chemotherapy [Dovey, H. F., McKerrow, J. H., & Wang, C. C. (1984) Mol. Biochem. Parasitol, 11, 157-167]. The steady-state kinetic mechanism for the schistosomal HGPRTase has been determined by including both hypoxanthine and guanine in the forward and reverse reactions under identical conditions. Double-reciprocal plots of initial velocity versus the concentration of one substrate, at a series of fixed concentrations of the other, give groups of intersecting straight lines indicating a sequential mechanism for the schistosomal HGPRTase-catalyzed reactions. In product inhibition studies, the results show that magnesium pyrophosphate (MgPPi) is a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to dimagnesium phosphoribose pyrophosphate (Mg2PRPP), hypoxanthine, and guanine. Also, magnesium inosine monophosphate (MgIMP) and magnesium guanosine monophosphate (MgGMP) are noncompetitive inhibitors with respect to hypoxanthine or guanine, respectively, but are competitive inhibitors to Mg2PRPP. Furthermore, Mg2PRPP is a competitive inhibitor with respect to MgIMP and MgGMP but is a non-competitive inhibitor to MgPPi. The minimum kinetic model which fits the experimental data is an ordered bi-bi mechanism, where the substrates bind to the enzyme in a defined order (first Mg2PRPP followed by the purine bases), while products are released in sequence (first MgPPi followed by MgIMP or MgGMP).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Penial morphology in three species of Brazilian tuco-tucos, Ctenomys torquatus, C. minutus, and C. flamarioni (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae).
The present study analyses the glans penis and baculum morphology of three Brazilian tuco-tucos, Ctenomys torquatus Lichtenstein, 1830, Ctenomys minutus Nehring, 1887 and Ctenomys flamarioni Travi, 1981, in order to identify possible variations and understand some more about this taxonomically complex group. We used fixed penis from 15 previously listed adult specimens. For a more detailed baculum analysis, the penis underwent dissection and diaphanisation, whereas to analyse the glans penis surface we used Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Results showed striking differences in baculum morphology among the three species. While C. minutus have a particular V-shaped proximal baculum tip, C. flamarioni baculum is thin throughout the shaft with rounded proximal and distal tips. Ctenomys torquatus have a shorter and larger baculum, similar to what has previously been described for the species. Glans penis surface microstructure analyses also revealed inter-specific differences, with penial spines varying in shape, size and, especially density. Although C. torquatus has a relatively small penis, it has the largest penial spine density, which suggests a more complex penial ornamentation in this species.


Lateral crural steal and lateral crural overlay: an objective evaluation.
To assess objectively the effect of 2 cartilage-modifying techniques, lateral crural steal (LCS) and lateral crural overlay (LCO), on the degree of nasal tip projection and rotation. A prospective trial using computer imaging techniques for assessment. Half of the patients were seen at a university hospital and the other half at a private practice. A selected series of 30 patients seeking rhinoplasty mainly for nasal tip repositioning. Only patients with no history of previous nasal operations were included. All patients were operated on using an external rhinoplasty approach. Only 1 of the 2 techniques was adopted for each patient. The technique selected depended purely on clinical judgment. The nasofacial angle and the Goode ratio were used to assess tip projection, and the nasolabial angle and rotation angle were used to assess tip rotation. The use of the LCS technique resulted in an increase in both nasal tip projection and rotation, but the use of the LCO technique resulted in an increase in tip rotation and a decrease in tip projection (P<.001). Additionally, the LCO technique resulted in significantly higher degrees of rotation than the LCS technique (P<.001). The LCS procedure is indicated when a moderate increase in nasal tip projection and rotation is desired. The LCO technique is useful in patients where severe underrotation is associated with overprojection.


Ecological concern as a factor in the optimal attenuation of diverse stressor sources in a stream.
The use of an objective function based on fuzzy ecological effect expectation in a genetic optimisation algorithm to obtain site or situation specific stressor attenuation values for the management of diverse stressors emanating from several sources is investigated. The approach is based on the premise that both regulator and regulatee are able to formulate their goals in fuzzy terms. In the case of the regulator the goals will be formulated in terms of acceptability of levels of ecological concern (a fuzzy analogy to ecological risk). In the case of the regulatee it will be formulated in terms of acceptability of the level of attenuation, which is also the control variable. A hypothetical catchment is used to illustrate the principle.


Isolated Bone Marrow Non-Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Preceding RUNX1-Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Case Report and Literature Review.
The prevalence of concomitant myeloid neoplasms was recently reported to be unexpectedly high among adults without non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis (non-LCH); however, the coexistence of non-LCH with RUNX1 genetic aberration has not been reported previously. Herein, we report a 23-year-old woman with severe pancytopenia diagnosed with non-LCH following presentation with pancytopenia and marrow examination showing histiocytosis positive for CD45, CD68, CD136, and lysozyme but negative for CD1a, langerin, and S100. Whole-exome sequencing showed RUNX1 mutation and NF1 mutation. In the ensuing 6 months, she developed hepatosplenomegaly, and repeat bone marrow evaluation was diagnostic of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Repeat mutational analysis showed again presence of RUNX1 mutation. She underwent induction therapy but died of septic shock. The demonstration of RUNX1 mutation in both non-LCH and AML bone marrow specimens at differing time points is suggestive of a biologic association of both distinct disease entities.


Different Babesia canis isolates, different diseases.
Using surface immunofluorescence isolate-specific antigens were detected on the membrane of erythrocytes infected with Babesia parasites. In addition, the strains reacted differently with Plasmagel in that the European isolate (B.c. canis) could be purified on Plasmagel effectively, whereas infected erythrocytes of the South-African isolate (B.c. rossi) could not. Experimental infection of dogs with Babesia canis isolates from geographically different areas revealed different pathology. The European isolate obtained from France exhibited transient parasitaemia, usually below 1%, associated with low PCV values and congestion of internal organs. Clinical disease was correlated with an effect on the coagulation system, and not with peripheral parasitaemia. Infection of dogs with South-African-derived isolate induced high parasitaemia usually much higher than 1%, which required chemotherapeutic treatment. In these animals clinical disease was correlated with peripheral parasitaemia and not with parameters of the coagulation system. The results show that the etiology of disease caused by these isolates of B.c. canis and B.c. rossi is different. This might have implications for the development of vaccines against these infections.


Breast Cancer in Latinas: A Focus on Intrinsic Subtypes Distribution.
Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women worldwide. It is classified into intrinsic subtypes characterized by different molecular profiles and prognosis. The prevalence of the different intrinsic subtypes varies between population groups. IHC surrogates based on the expression of the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 have been widely used to study the distribution of intrinsic subtypes in non-Hispanic whites and African Americans, but data are limited for Hispanic/Latina women. Similarly, most studies analyzing gene expression profiles only include women of European descent. This review focuses on studies that describe the distribution of breast cancer subtypes in Hispanic/Latina women and highlights the need for more research in this population. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(1); 3-10. ©2017 AACR.


Immune reconstitution after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation and its influence on respiratory infections.
Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation has evolved as the best therapeutic option for many patients with hematologic malignancy, and it is becoming more common as a treatment for metabolic and autoimmune disorders. The conditioning regimen given before transplantation virtually eliminates all pre-existing immunity, and the resulting immune deficits leave the host susceptible to a variety of respiratory infections, many of which carry significant morbidity and mortality. These deficits resolve over time with re-constitution of the immune system. However, the major arms of the immune response mature along different, but predictable, patterns depending on the underlying disorder, the source of stem cells used, and the presence of complications such as graft-versus-host disease. The immune deficit present at specific times posttransplant can assist in determining the most likely organisms to cause infection. This article outlines the recovery of immunity posttransplant, the most common pulmonary infectious complications, the noninfectious complications that mimic infection, and outlines appropriate preventive strategies in this group of markedly immunosuppressed patients.


Invasion of cranial nerves and brain stem by herpes simplex virus inoculated into the mouse tongue.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) of a highly or slightly neuropathogenetic strain was inoculated into the tongues of mice. After appropriate survival times, the animals were killed and portions of the facial and trigeminal nerves as well as the brain stem were examined with virus isolation and immunocytochemistry for the presence of HSV. Both virus strains were demonstrated in the geniculate and trigeminal ganglia and in the CNS portion of the facial and trigeminal nerves, as well as in various brain stem areas including the trigeminal tract and nucleus, the facial and hypoglossal nuclei, and nuclei in the reticular formation. The results indicate that HSV is transported to the CNS by efferent and afferent axons of the tongue and subsequently via transneuronal passage to various brain stem nuclei. These findings provide an anatomic basis for a putative relationship between HSV and cranial nerve dysfunction.


Characterization of an intermediate in the folding pathway of phosphoglycerate kinase: chemical reactivity of genetically introduced cysteinyl residues during the folding process.
The unfolding-refolding kinetics of yeast phosphoglycerate kinase were studied using the chemical reactivity of genetically introduced cysteinyl residues as conformational probes and far-ultraviolet circular dichroism. A unique internal cysteinyl residue was introduced in several mutants at selected positions in the N- and C-domains. The cysteinyl residues were at positions 97 (the unique cysteinyl residue of the wild-type enzyme), 183 in the N-domain, 285 and 324 in the C-domain. A similar strategy has been used to study the unfolding-refolding transition under equilibrium conditions [Ballery et al. (1990) Protein Eng. 3, 199-204]. Except for the mutant C97A,A183C, whose cysteinyl residue is located at the domain interface, three labeling phases were observed during the refolding process, indicating the presence of three species, the unfolded, intermediate, and folded proteins. The comparison of the data obtained following the accessibility of the thiol group to 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) and ellipticity at 218 nm indicated that all mutants have the same folding pathway and allowed us to characterize the intermediate. In this species, each domain appeared to have a high content of secondary structure but a flexible tertiary structure; this intermediate, which had the characteristics of a molten globule, remained in fluctuating equilibrium with a widely unfolded form. The same folding intermediate was detected for mutant C97A,A183C; however, the cysteinyl residue being totally accessible to the reagent, it is likely that in this intermediate the interdomain interactions are not established. Domain pairing and formation of the native tertiary structure occur simultaneously in the slow phase of refolding. The validity and limitations of the methodology are discussed.


An insight into thermal properties of BC3-graphene hetero-nanosheets: a molecular dynamics study.
Simulation of thermal properties of graphene hetero-nanosheets is a key step in understanding their performance in nano-electronics where thermal loads and shocks are highly likely. Herein we combine graphene and boron-carbide nanosheets (BC3N) heterogeneous structures to obtain BC3N-graphene hetero-nanosheet (BC3GrHs) as a model semiconductor with tunable properties. Poor thermal properties of such heterostructures would curb their long-term practice. BC3GrHs may be imperfect with grain boundaries comprising non-hexagonal rings, heptagons, and pentagons as topological defects. Therefore, a realistic picture of the thermal properties of BC3GrHs necessitates consideration of grain boundaries of heptagon-pentagon defect pairs. Herein thermal properties of BC3GrHs with various defects were evaluated applying molecular dynamic (MD) simulation. First, temperature profiles along BC3GrHs interface with symmetric and asymmetric pentagon-heptagon pairs at 300 K, ΔT = 40 K, and zero strain were compared. Next, the effect of temperature, strain, and temperature gradient (ΔT) on Kaptiza resistance (interfacial thermal resistance at the grain boundary) was visualized. It was found that Kapitza resistance increases upon an increase of defect density in the grain boundary. Besides, among symmetric grain boundaries, 5-7-6-6 and 5-7-5-7 defect pairs showed the lowest (2 × 10-10 m2 K W-1) and highest (4.9 × 10-10 m2 K W-1) values of Kapitza resistance, respectively. Regarding parameters affecting Kapitza resistance, increased temperature and strain caused the rise and drop in Kaptiza thermal resistance, respectively. However, lengthier nanosheets had lower Kapitza thermal resistance. Moreover, changes in temperature gradient had a negligible effect on the Kapitza resistance.


Osteoporotic skull lesions in moose at Isle Royale National Park.
Osteoporotic lesions were evaluated in the skulls of moose (Alces alces) collected in Isle Royale National Park, Michigan (USA), from 1958 to 1994. Circular lesions which penetrated the outer table of the skull were distributed over the frontal and nasal bones asymmetrically in both sexes. About 32% of skulls recovered had some porotic lesions with slightly greater prevalence among males.


The melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor (MC1-R) gene as a tool in evolutionary studies of artiodactyles.
The complete coding region of the melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor (MC1-R) gene was characterized in species belonging to the two families Bovidae and Cervidae; cattle (Bos taurus), sheep (Ovis aries), goat (Capra hircus), muskox (Ovibos moschatus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), moose (Alces alces), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama). This well conserved gene is a central regulator of mammalian coat colour. Examination of the interspecies variability revealed a 5.3-6.8% divergence between the Cervidae and Bovidae families, whereas the divergence within the families were 1.0-3.1% and 1.2-4.6%, respectively. Complete identity was found when two subspecies of reindeer, Eurasian tundra reindeer (R.t. tarandus) and Svalbard reindeer (R.t. platvrhynehus), were analyzed. An rooted phylogenetic tree based on Bovidae and Cervidae MC1-R DNA sequences was in complete agreement with current taxonomy, and was supported by bootstrapping analysis. Due to different frequencies of silent vs. replacement mutations, the amino acid based phylogenetic tree contains several dissimilarities when compared to the DNA based phylogenetic tree.


Comparison of analytical methods for the detection of central nervous system tissue in ground beef.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is most likely transmitted by the consumption of central nervous system tissue of infected cows. The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity or limits of detection of two central nervous system tissue detection assays (glial fibrillary acidic protein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and neuron-specific enolase Western blotting assay) in by-products and ground beef. By-products including brain, spinal cord, and ileum were collected from the slaughterhouse and used for analyses with ELISA and Western blotting assays. Beef samples were prepared by mixing ground beef with different amounts of spinal cord tissue (0, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.1%) and were analyzed using the two central nervous system tissue detection methods. Both analytical assays were applicable in detecting central nervous system tissue in ground beef. However, the ELISA method was considered superior because of its ease of use, high sensitivity, and rapidity as compared with the Western blot method.


Four-component domino strategy for the combinatorial synthesis of novel 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-6-amines.
An efficient one-pot four-component domino protocol for the combinatorial synthesis of novel 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-6-amines has been achieved. This transformation presumably occurs via cyclization-Knoevenagel condensation-Michael addition-tautomerism-intramolecular O-cyclization-elimination sequence of reactions. The significant features of this reaction include expedient one-pot process, short reaction time, no column chromatographic purification, excellent yield, and readily available starting materials.


Nmethyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) induces papillary thyroid tumours which lack ras gene mutations in the hermaphroditic fish Rivulus marmoratus.
To investigate the patterns of alkylating agent-induced tumour formation, 40 fish (Rivulus marmoratus) were exposed to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) at 50 ppm in 10 mM Hepes-buffered synthetic seawater for 2 h. Tumour incidence 4 months after exposure was approximately 95%, and mainly papillary thyroid tumours were induced. For elucidating the molecular event in Rivulus papillary thyroid carcinogenesis, we first analysed for ras gene mutations based on the known ability of MNU to induce point mutations. The amplified R. Marmoratus Ha-and Ki-ras gene exon 1 and 2 regions were checked along with confirming the presence and expression patterns of the DNA repair gene O(6)-methylguanine alkyltransferase (O(6)-MT) and other oncogenes (c-src, c-fos, and c-myc). Ha- and Ki-ras genes from 38 tumour samples were tested for point mutations with direct sequencing but were not found to contain mutations. In this report, based on the lack of Ha- and Ki-ras gene mutations in papillary thyroid tumour induction in R. Marmoratus, we suggest that Ha- and Ki-ras gene-independent pathways such as ret/PTC rearrangements and other activations are involved in Rivulus papillary thyroid carcinogenesis. Teratogenesis Carcinog. Mutagen. 20:1-9, 2000.


Retinoids and their receptors in modulation of differentiation, development, and prevention of head and neck cancers.
Retinoids suppress oral premalignant lesions (OPLs) and decrease the incidence of second primary tumors in head and neck (HN) cancer patients. The optimal clinical use of retinoids depends on the understanding of the mechanism by which they suppress carcinogenesis. It is thought that retinoids restore normal cell growth and differentiation by means of nuclear retinoic acid (RA) receptors (RAR alpha, beta, and gamma) and retinoid X receptors (RXR alpha, beta, and gamma). We used cultured HNSCC cell lines and surgical specimens from normal oral mucosa and from premalignant oral lesions and HN squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) to understand fundamental aspects of retinoids mode of action. RA inhibited the growth and suppressed the aberrant squamous cell differentiation in the majority of HNSCC cell lines examined. Four cell lines expressed mRNAs for RAR alpha, RAR beta, RAR gamma, and RXR alpha. RA treatment increased the levels of the three RAR mRNAs in most of the cell lines but had no effect on the RXR mRNAs. An inverse relationship has been established between the level of RAR beta and squamous differentiation markers. The expression of retrovirally transduced RAR beta in a HNSCC cell line, which did not express RAR beta constitutively, showed a 1,000-fold increase in sensitivity to the suppression of squamous cell differentiation by RA. The expression of retrovirally transduced RAR gamma sense rendered the cells more sensitive, and expression of retrovirally transduced RAR gamma anti-sense made them less sensitive to growth inhibition by RA than parental cells. These results indicate that RAR beta may mediate suppression of squamous differentiation, whereas RAR gamma may mediate the growth inhibition. RAR alpha, RAR beta, RAR gamma, RXR alpha, and RXR beta mRNAs were detected by in situ hybridization in specimens from normal oral mucosa, and all but RAR-beta were also expressed in most of the adjacent normal, hyperplastic, dysplastic, and malignant HN tissues. In contrast, RAR beta mRNA was detected in only 70% of adjacent normal and hyperplastic HN lesions, and its expression was decreased further to 56% of dysplastic lesions and to 35% of SCCs. Likewise, RAR beta was expressed in only 40% of OPLs. Treatment of OPLs with 13-cis-RA increased RAR beta expression from 40% to 90% of the cases. The increase in RAR beta level was associated with clinical response. These results show that selective loss of RAR beta mRNA expression occurs in the early stages of carcinogenesis and may be involved in HN cancer development; and demonstrate that RAR beta is induced by 13-cis-RA in humans.


GABAA Receptors in Astrocytes Are Targets for Commonly Used Intravenous and Inhalational General Anesthetic Drugs.
Background: Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs) occur commonly in older patients after anesthesia and surgery. Treating astrocytes with general anesthetic drugs stimulates the release of soluble factors that increase the cell-surface expression and function of GABAA receptors in neurons. Such crosstalk may contribute to PNDs; however, the receptor targets in astrocytes for anesthetic drugs have not been identified. GABAA receptors, which are the major targets of general anesthetic drugs in neurons, are also expressed in astrocytes, raising the possibility that these drugs act on GABAA receptors in astrocytes to trigger the release of soluble factors. To date, no study has directly examined the sensitivity of GABAA receptors in astrocytes to general anesthetic drugs that are frequently used in clinical practice. Thus, the goal of this study was to determine whether the function of GABAA receptors in astrocytes was modulated by the intravenous anesthetic etomidate and the inhaled anesthetic sevoflurane. Methods: Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings were performed in astrocytes in the stratum radiatum of the CA1 region of hippocampal slices isolated from C57BL/6 male mice. Astrocytes were identified by their morphologic and electrophysiologic properties. Focal puff application of GABA (300 μM) was applied with a Picospritzer system to evoke GABA responses. Currents were studied before and during the application of the non-competitive GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin (0.5 mM), or etomidate (100 μM) or sevoflurane (532 μM). Results: GABA consistently evoked inward currents that were inhibited by picrotoxin. Etomidate increased the amplitude of the peak current by 35.0 ± 24.4% and prolonged the decay time by 27.2 ± 24.3% (n = 7, P < 0.05). Sevoflurane prolonged current decay by 28.3 ± 23.1% (n = 7, P < 0.05) but did not alter the peak amplitude. Etomidate and sevoflurane increased charge transfer (area) by 71.2 ± 45.9% and 51.8 ± 48.9% (n = 7, P < 0.05), respectively. Conclusion: The function of astrocytic GABAA receptors in the hippocampus was increased by etomidate and sevoflurane. Future studies will determine whether these general anesthetic drugs act on astrocytic GABAA receptors to stimulate the release of soluble factors that may contribute to PNDs.


The bias flow nitrogen washout technique for measuring the functional residual capacity in infants. ERS/ATS Task Force on Standards for Infant Respiratory Function Testing.
The functional residual capacity (FRC) is the most commonly measured static lung volume in infants. It is important for interpreting volume-dependent pulmonary mechanics, e.g. airway resistance, and defining normal lung growth. The bias flow nitrogen washout technique is widely used for measuring FRC because the dead space and circuit resistance are low, making it suitable for small or sick infants. Moreover, data acquisition and calculation are easily programmed for a personal computer. The aim of this paper is to provide recommendations pertaining to equipment requirements, study procedures and reporting of data for functional residual capacity measurements. While measuring the functional residual capacity is regarded as physiologically and clinically important, the accuracy of the measurement is undoubtedly equally important. Hence, the paper also emphasizes factors influencing the accuracy of functional residual capacity measurements independent of equipment requirements. These recommendations represent the "State of the Art" in 2000.


Spouse's participation in perinatal care: a qualitative study.
Pregnancy is one of the most important periods of any woman's life, wherein the support of her relatives, especially her spouse, enables her to tolerate the difficulties with good memories. However, in Iran, there are very few studies on the participation of spouses in the perinatal period. Therefore, the present study aimed to explain the concept of spouse participation in perinatal care. This is a qualitative study that was carried out in 2018 on spouse participation in perinatal care in Qom, Iran. Purposive sampling from pregnant or postpartum women, spouses, midwifery care providers, and key informants was performed according to study inclusion criteria. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out until the data saturation was met. Also, the data analysis was performed based on a conventional content analysis approach according to Graneheim & Lundman steps using MAXQDA software (v.10). Five Guba and Lincoln criteria were applied to ensure the trustworthiness of data. Fifty-three final codes were classified into 18 sub-categories, 7 categories, and 3 themes including empathy (emotional and cognitive understanding), accountability (supporting, position management, compassion), and consequences (help improvement of family function, improvement of maternal-neonatal health). Based on the findings of this study, the concept of men's participation in this period has been defined as a set of empathic and responsive behaviors that can lead to improvement of the family function and mother and baby health.


Differences in the biological stress responses of two cattle breeds to walking up to mountain pastures in the Pyrenees.
The aim of this experiment was to study the biological responses of Pirenaica and Parda Alpina cows (2-4 years old, n = 32) and their calves (2-4 months old, n = 32) to the physical exercise of climbing to mountain pastures in spring. These two breeds have a different sensitivity to stress-induced myopathy, the Pirenaica calves being highly sensitive. The animals walked 14 km with an elevation increase of 600 m, in approximately 3 h. Blood samples were obtained the day before, immediately after the move to the mountain pastures and the following day. The plasma cortisol levels in Pirenaica cows were significantly higher than in Parda Alpina cows under basal conditions, but disappeared in later samples. There were also significant differences in the hematological parameters. Under basal conditions, the red blood cell counts, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin content of blood were higher in Parda Alpina than in Pirenaica cows, but calves of both breeds did not differ. On the other hand, the calves of both breeds were more sensitive than their dams to the exercise, as shown by the large increase in white blood cell counts with a reversal of the lymphocytes:neutrophils ratio, a consequence of cortisol secretion. In calves the largest differences were observed in the muscle enzyme activity levels measured in serum (creatin kinase, lactic dehydrogenase, aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase), which were always higher in the Pirenaica calves both under basal conditions and after exercise. These biological changes reflected the sensitivity of Pirenaica calves to muscular problems when they walk up to the pasture. It was concluded that genetic factors and age might play essential roles in the neuroendocrine and metabolic adaptation to this unusual physical exercise.


[Molecular mechanisms of biotoxicity of homocysteine--facts and hypotheses].
In the article, the main pathways of homocysteine metabolism are described, i.e. transsulfuration to cysteine and glutathione, as well as remethylation to methionine. Furthermore, formation of homocysteine thiolactone through editing mechanism with methionyl t-RNA syntethase and unusual reactivity of thiolactone against lysine epsilonNH2 groups of proteins as well as calcium dependent enzymatic hydrolysis of thiolactone are discussed. The effects of oxidative stress related to homocysteine are also reviewed. Finally, possible links of homocysteine to NO and arginine metabolism are discussed, including ADMA (N(G),N(G)-dimethylarginine). The links between metabolism of homocysteine, adenosine and other nucleosides are emphasized. In conclusion, the N-homocysteilation of proteins with thiolactone changing enormously their properties seems to be the main reason of biotoxicity of homocysteine during atherosclerosis and other diseases.


Is age and not antiretroviral therapy the strongest risk factor for chronic pain in HIV-infected population?
Chronic pain in HIV-infected patients on effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) limits patients' normal functioning both somatically and psychologically. The current state of knowledge on the topic is insufficient, with the underlying causes of this pain unexplained. Therefore we analyzed the frequency and factors associated with chronic pain in HIV-infected patients on ART. We conducted a prospective, survey study, including consecutive HIV-infected patients under specialist care at the HIV Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital for Infectious Disease in Warsaw between February 2014 and December 2016. During their routine visit all patients who agreed to participate in the study were surveyed using a study questionnaire. For all patients reporting any pain the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) form and Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions form (DN4) were completed. Data on history and current ART and laboratory measurements were obtained from electronical database. Chi-squared and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for group comparison. The potential factors associated with chronic pain were identified via logistic regression models. In total 196 HIV-infected patients were included in the study, 57 (29,1%) of them reported chronic pain. The reported pain was mostly (75%) limited to a single area of the body. In univariable logistic regression model the odds of chronic pain were significantly higher with increasing age (OR 1.36 [95%CI:1.17-1.58]), time under specialist care (OR 2.25 [95%CI:1.42-35.7]), time on ART (OR2.96 [95%CI:1.60-5.49]), previous ART with zidovudine (OR 2.00[95%CI:1.06-1.55]) and previous treatment with ddI, ddC or d4T (OR4.13 [95%CI:1.92-8.91]). Homosexual route of HIV infection as compared to injecting drug use was decreasing the odds of chronic pain (OR0.33 [95%CI: 014-0.75]). In multivariable analyses, adjusting for all above the only factor associated with chronic pain was age (OR1.28 [95%CI:1.06-1.55]). The prevalence of chronic pain in the studied population of HIV-infected Polish patients was high. The only risk factor for chronic pain identified was age. With ageing HIV population it is therefore imperative to develop cooperation protocols for specialist HIV treatment clinics, pain treatment clinics, and rehabilitation units.


Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Detection of miRNA-21 Using a Zinc Finger Protein Specific to DNA-RNA Hybrids.
Both high sensitivity and high specificity are crucial for detection of miRNAs that have emerged as important clinical biomarkers. Just Another Zinc finger proteins (JAZ, ZNF346) bind preferably (but nonsequence-specifically) to DNA-RNA hybrids over single-stranded RNAs, single-stranded DNAs, and double-stranded DNAs. We present an ultrasensitive and highly specific electrochemical method for miRNA-21 detection based on the selective binding of JAZ to the DNA-RNA hybrid formed between a DNA capture probe and a target miRNA-21. This enables us to use chemically stable DNA as a capture probe instead of RNA as well as to apply a standard sandwich-type assay format to miRNA detection. High signal amplification is obtained by (i) enzymatic amplification by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) coupled with (ii) electrochemical-chemical-chemical (ECC) redox cycling involving an ALP product (hydroquinone). Low nonspecific adsorption of ALP-conjugated JAZ is obtained using a polymeric self-assembled-monolayer-modified and casein-treated indium-tin oxide electrode. The detection method can discriminate between target miRNA-21 and nontarget nucleic acids (DNA-DNA hybrid, single-stranded DNA, miRNA-125b, miRNA-155, single-base mismatched miRNA, and three-base mismatched miRNA). The detection limits for miRNA-21 in buffer and 10-fold diluted serum are approximately 2 and 30 fM, respectively, indicating that the detection method is ultrasensitive. This detection method can be readily extended to multiplex detection of miRNAs with only one ALP-conjugated JAZ probe due to its nonsequence-specific binding character. We also believe that the method could offer a promising solution for point-of-care testing of miRNAs in body fluids.


Neuronal differentiation of Neuro 2a cells by lactacystin and its partial inhibition by the protein phosphatase inhibitors calyculin A and okadaic acid.
Lactacystin (1.3 microM), a metabolite from an actinomycete, induced the formation of bipolar projections at both sides of the cell body of Neuro 2a cells 1 day after treatment and networks at and after 3 days and enhanced acetylcholinesterase activity (a marker of neuronal differentiation). Thus, the neuronal differentiation was characterized both morphologically and functionally. The experiments with various inhibitors of protein kinases and phosphatases revealed that the protein phosphatase inhibitors calyculin A (0.5 nM) and okadaic acid (0.6 nM) inhibit the formation of bipolar projections at 1 day, but does not inhibit the network formation at and after 3 days.


Characterization of a Polyphosphoinositide Phospholipase C from the Plasma Membrane of Avena sativa.
A phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C activity was identified in oat root (Avena sativa, cv Victory) plasma membranes purified by separation in an aqueous two-phase polymer system. The enzyme is highly active toward inositol phospholipids but only minimally active toward phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. Activity approaches maximal levels at 200 micromolar phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP) and is highly dependent on calcium; it is inhibited by 1 millimolar EGTA and is activated by calcium with an apparent activation constant of 2 micromolar. At 10 micromolar calcium and 200 micromolar inositol phospholipid, the enzyme is specific for phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) and PIP, which are hydrolyzed at 10 and 4 times, respectively, the rate of phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis. The principle water soluble products of hydrolysis, as determined by high performance liquid chromatography, are inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate from PIP(2), inositol 1,4-bisphosphate from PIP, and inositol phosphate from PI.


Ultra-Violet Electroluminescence of ZnO Nanorods/MEH-PPV Heterojunctions by Optimizing Their Thickness and Using AZO as a Transparent Conductive Electrode.
In this paper, a series of ITO/ZnO/ZnO nanorods/MEH-PPV/Al were prepared with different thicknesses of MEH-PPV that were changed from 15, 10 to 7 nm. The electric field in the devices was analyzed. An increase in the electric field on ZnO made hole injection easy and the electrons tunnel fast through thinner MEH-PPV to ZnO. This made the carriers prefer to recombine inside the ZnO layer, and the emission of ZnO was predominant under direct current (DC) bias. Furthermore, another device was fabricated with the structure of AZO (Al-doped ZnO)/ZnO/ZnO nanorods/MEH-PPV/Al. Ultra-violet (UV) electroluminescence (EL) at 387 nm from ZnO band edge emission was realized under DC bias. The turn-on voltage of the devices having AZO as the electrode is lower than that of ITO, and the EL power is enhanced. This work also studies the effect of inserting LiF underneath the Al electrode and above the layer of MEH-PPV. The LiF film inserted caused an obvious decrease in turn-on voltage of the devices and a pronounced increase in the EL power. The mechanism of electroluminescence enhancement is also discussed.


Equilibrium denaturation studies of the Escherichia coli factor for inversion stimulation: implications for in vivo function.
The Factor for Inversion Stimulation (FIS) is a dimeric DNA binding protein found in enteric bacteria that is involved in various cellular processes, including stimulation of certain specialized DNA recombination events and transcription regulation of a large number of genes. The intracellular FIS concentration, when cells are grown in rich media, varies dramatically during the early logarithmic growth phase. Its broad range of concentrations could potentially affect the nature of its quaternary structure, which in turn, could affect its ability to function in vivo. Thus, we examined the stability of FIS homodimers under a wide range of concentrations relevant to in vivo expression levels. Its urea-induced equilibrium denaturation was monitored by far- and near-UV circular dichroism (CD), tyrosine fluorescence, and tyrosine fluorescence anisotropy. The denaturation transitions obtained were concentration-dependent and showed similar midpoints (C(m)) and m values, suggesting a two-state denaturation process involving the native dimer and unfolded monomers (N(2) <--> 2U). The DeltaG(H(2)O) for the unfolding of FIS determined from global and individual curve fitting was 14.2 kcal/mole. At concentrations <9 microM, the FIS dimer began to dissociate, as noted by the change in CD signal and size-exclusion high-pressure liquid chromatography retention times and peak width. The estimated dimer dissociation constant based on the CD and size-exclusion chromatography data is in the micromolar range, resulting in a DeltaG(H(2)O) of at least 5 kcal/mole less than that calculated from the urea denaturation data. This discrepancy suggests a deviation from a two-state denaturation model, perhaps due to a marginally stable monomeric intermediate. These observations have implications for the stability and function of FIS in vivo.


Validity of the responses to self-administered questionnaires as compared with the responses to interviews using a structured questionnaire.
A comparison of responses obtained in interviews using a structured questionnaire and those obtained using a self-administered questionnaire about parental history of liver diseases and personal smoking and drinking habits was made to evaluate whether the self-administered questionnaire is an effective means for collecting information on these variables in place of an interview. The subjects used in the present analyses were 46 male hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases and 46 hospital controls who were interviewed between January, 1996 and January, 1997 for HCC cases and between January, 1996 and April, 1997 for hospital controls. Ages at start or stop of smoking and drinking were grouped into four categories as categorical variables. The cumulative number of cigarettes and cumulative alcohol consumption were also grouped into four categories. Generally speaking, the degree of agreement was substantially high for both categorical and continuous variables, particularly for parental history of liver diseases, and smoking (ICC = 0.929 and 0.912 for cases and controls, respectively) and drinking (ICC = 0.899 and 0.882, respectively) habits that are originally nominal categorical variables. On the other hand, the cumulative number of cigarettes (ICC = 0.928 and 0.716, respectively) and the cumulative alcohol consumption (ICC = 0.761 and 0.825, respectively) seemed to have a lower degree of agreement than other variables. For these variables, there was a tendency for the self-administered questionnaire to produce larger values compared with the interview. Therefore, the self-administered questionnaire seemed to be an effective means for collecting information on categorical variables, while the interview using a structured questionnaire seemed to be preferable to the self-administered questionnaire with regard to the lifetime exposure to cigarettes and alcohol.


Inhibition of shivering increases core temperature afterdrop and attenuates rewarming in hypothermic humans.
During severe hypothermia, shivering is absent. To simulate severe hypothermia, shivering in eight mildly hypothermic subjects was inhibited with meperidine (1.5 mg/kg). Subjects were cooled twice (meperidine and control trials) in 8 degrees C water to a core temperature of 35.9 +/- 0.5 (SD) degrees C, dried, and then placed in sleeping bags. Meperidine caused a 3.2-fold increase in core temperature afterdrop (1.1 +/- 0.6 vs. 0.4 +/- 0.2 degree C), a 4.3-fold increase in afterdrop duration (89.4 +/- 31.4 vs. 20.9 +/- 5.7 min), and a 37% decrease in rewarming rate (1.2 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.9 degrees C/h). Meperidine inhibited overt shivering. Oxygen consumption, minute ventilation, and heart rate decreased after meperidine injection but subsequently returned toward preinjection values after 45 min postimmersion. This was likely due to the increased thermoregulatory drive with the greater afterdrop and the short half-life of meperidine. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of shivering heat production in attenuating the postcooling afterdrop of core temperature and potentiating core rewarming. The meperidine protocol may be valuable for comparing the efficacy of various hypothermia rewarming methods in the absence of shivering.


[Outcome of photodynamic therapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration with good visual acuity].
To evaluate visual outcome one year after photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) showing good visual acuity (VA). One hundred and thirteen patients with AMD who received PDT therapy were recruited for this study. The study subjects were divided into two groups : those having a better visual acuity than 0.6 (n = 34), and those with VA worse than 0.5 (n = 79). All patients were examined by corrected visual acuity, fundus biomicroscopy, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) before, 1 month, 3 months, and 12 months after PDT. Visual acuity at 12 months was either at baseline visual acuity or improved in 82% of the better vision group. Foveal retinal thickness was significantly reduced with PDT in both the better vision and the worse vision groups (p = 0.04, 0.008, respectively). The greatest linear dimension (GLD) was significantly associated with significant vision decline among baseline factors (p = 0.049)such as gender and age. PDT is an effective adjunct for AMD patients even when they have good baseline vision. To perform PDT safely for AMD in patients with good vision, both larger GLD and retinal pigment epithelial detachment have to be considered as a risk factor.


Identifying protein kinase inhibitors using an assay based on inhibition of aerial hyphae formation in Streptomyces.
We have identified a strain of Streptomyces in which aerial hyphae formation appears to be especially sensitive to inhibition by protein kinase inhibitors. Using this assay, a number of bacterial cultures have been screened and novel inhibitors of eukaryotic protein kinases have been identified. Since M. tuberculosis possesses multiple eukaryotic-like protein kinase genes, we tested the active kinase inhibitors for the inhibition of mycobacterial growth and obtained several potent compounds. This identifies a new biochemical class of antimycobacterial agents.


Interferometer-type structures for guided atoms.
We experimentally demonstrate interferometer-type guiding structures for neutral atoms based on dipole potentials created by microfabricated optical systems. As a central element we use an array of atom waveguides being formed by focusing a red-detuned laser beam with an array of cylindrical microlenses. Combining two of these arrays, we realize X-shaped beam splitters and more complex systems like the geometries for Mach-Zehnder and Michelson-type interferometers for atoms.


The effect of "end to side" portacaval anastomosis on regeneration ability of white rat liver.
The study evaluated the effect of portacaval anastomosis on the regeneration ability of the liver after partial hepatectomy in rat. The regeneration of liver was evaluated using the following tests: deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, the activity of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) and the concentration of DNA and RNA in subcellular fractions of liver obtained by differential centrifugation. The results indicate the harmful effect of the portacaval shunting on the liver proliferation, which was near 50% decreased and the peak of the regeneration was delayed for about 12 hours. The most significant changes were observed in the nuclear and cytoplasmic fraction. In addition, high mortality ratio was found in the animals with portacaval anastomosis followed by partial hepatectomy.


[Schistosomiasis in school children in the Bandafassi region of East Senegal].
This epidemiological study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of intestinal and urinary schistosomiasis in children from 6 to 14 years old in the district of Bandafassi of east Senegal. The stools of 505 children from 10 villages were examined. In addition water holes that might serve as biotopes for the intermediate host snails, i.e., Biomphalaria sp. and Bulinus sp., were located and tested. Findings demonstrated the existence of permanent foci of S. mansoni deep within the bush of the Bandafassi district. Sporadic distribution of praziquantel has been effective but not sufficient to eradicate permanent S. mansoni foci in test sites.


Examination of Food Insecurity, Socio-Demographic, Psychosocial, and Physical Factors among Residents in Public Housing.
Understanding associations between psychosocial and physical factors among those who experience food insecurity could help design effective food insecurity programs for improved cardiovascular health among low-income populations. We examined differences in psychosocial and physical factors between those who were food secure compared with food insecure among public housing residents. Data were from the baseline survey of a randomized controlled trial of a weight management intervention in Boston, Massachusetts from 2016-2017. Food insecurity and psychosocial and physical factors, including perceived stress, personal problems, social support, and physical symptoms, were measured via interviewer-administered screeners. Mean age of the sample (N=102) was 46.5 years (SD=11.9). The majority were Hispanic (67%), female (88%), with ≤high school degree (62%). Nearly half were food insecure (48%). For psychosocial variables, those who were food insecure had higher ratings of perceived stress (adjusted mean difference 3.39, 95% CI:2.00,4.79), a higher number of personal problems (adjusted mean difference 1.85, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.51), and lower social support (adjusted mean difference -0.70, 95% CI:-1.30,-0.11) compared with those who were food secure. For physical variables, those who were food insecure had higher odds of reporting negative physical symptoms (aOR 4.92, 95% CI:1.84,13.16). Among this sample of public housing residents, food insecurity was associated with higher stress, more personal problems, higher experiences of physical symptoms, and lower social support.


Cognitive performance in Rett syndrome girls: a pilot study using eyetracking technology.
Rett syndrome (RS) is a pervasive developmental disorder with cognitive and neuromotor impairments (including loss of handiness and loss of communicative skills). To verify whether girls with RS use their gaze intentionally, by observing their performance in three cognitive tasks: (1) verbal instruction condition (look at picture X), (2) recognition and matching of pictures (look at the one that is the same), and (3) categorization of pictures (look at the one that is similar). Seven girls diagnosed with RS according to DSM-IV criteria were studied. Eyegaze technology was used to record the girls' eye movements' responses to visual stimulation. The comparison of fixation time on the alternatives revealed a higher percentage (62.4%) of correct alternatives (chi(2) = 76.31; P = 0.000). Of the seven children assessed, only one did not present predominance of fixations on the correct alternatives in any one of the tasks. One did well in all tasks. Six responded correctly to all verbal instructions. The rate of correct answers suggests that there is measurable and intentional gaze in RS girls and it can be used as a path to explore their cognitive performance.


[Sensory and psychoemotional productivity in the type I diabetes mellitus].
Depressive psychosis with anxiety or without it is the most spread disorder among the patients with diabetes mellitus. According to our investigations the depression was found in 36.6% of cases of patients with the I type diabetes mellitus which affects negatively their mental working ability. Based on the mentioned above we aimed to study a sensory and psychoemotional productivity of patients with the type I diabetes mellitus for their further purposeful treatment. Thirty patients with the type I diabetes mellitus were observed and divided into two groups -- 19 -- without and 11 with a depression. Sensor and motor reaction was studied by means of Landolt's rings in computerized mode. A deterioration of the patients' mental working ability while resolving the simple sensor and motor task is expressed as the increased quantity of missed reactions on the light stimulus and chaotic character of the reaction time histograms that is stipulated by the diminished ability to concentrate attention be carrying out a monotonous work. Psychoemotional test has proved our conclusion drawn by means of sensor-motor task, but the analysis of the reaction time histograms allows suggesting that given contingent of patients fulfill the task of the various conditions of resolving easier then the monotonous one.


Dubai syndrome in Karachi.
This is an attempt to study the effects of migration of earning member (to Gulf States) on the family, specially children left behind. Twenty five families who sought psychiatric help for one of their members were included. A control group (of non-migrant family) attending the out-patient's department was selected for comparison. The wife and children left behind experienced considerable emotional hardship. Twenty two families (88%) reported statistically significant recent maladjustment in 35 children (30%) as compared to control group of twelve families (48%) in 15 children (10%). Undoubtedly the major brunt is faced by the wives but the damage done to children is much less appreciated. This study identifies the current disturbance but the future effects on the personality of other children could manifest much later.


Health outcomes of patients with chronic disease managed with a healthcare kiosk in primary care: protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial.
The rising prevalence of chronic disease is leading to an increase in the demand for primary care services and a shortage of primary care physicians globally. Addressing these challenges calls for innovations in the healthcare delivery model with greater use of healthcare technology tools. We previously examined the feasibility of using an automated healthcare kiosk for the management of patients with stable chronic disease in the primary care setting. The aim of this follow-up study is to evaluate the health outcomes of patients with chronic disease who are on kiosk management compared with patients who are on routine management by nurse clinicians. The pilot study will be a two-armed randomised controlled trial of 120 patients with well-controlled chronic disease on 4-monthly follow-up visits over a 12-month period. Patients with prior diagnoses of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and/or diabetes will be included in the study and will be randomly assigned to intervention or control groups to receive kiosk or nurse management, respectively. The main primary outcome measure is the overall chronic disease control of the patients. Other primary outcome measures are the blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels for patients without diabetes, and blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and haemoglobin A1c levels for patients with diabetes. Secondary outcome measures are visit duration, patient satisfaction with the management process, health-related quality of life and the occurrence of any adverse event. Data will be captured longitudinally at baseline, 4 months, 8 months and 12 months, and will be analysed using multiple regression models. The study has been approved by the Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) Centralised Institutional Review Board (2017/2715). Findings of the study will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. NCT03274089; Pre-results.


Immunization of rats reduces nicotine distribution to brain.
The effect of active immunization against nicotine on the initial distribution of nicotine to brain was studied in anesthetized rats. Animals received nicotine 0.03 mg/kg nicotine (equivalent to the nicotine dose absorbed by a human smoking two cigarettes) as a rapid injection in the jugular vein. In control animals, the arterial serum nicotine concentration initially exceeded the venous concentration 4.6-fold, similar to the initial arteriovenous difference produced by cigarette smoking in humans. Animals immunized with the nicotine analog CMUNic maintained this arteriovenous gradient, but with both arterial and venous nicotine concentrations several times higher than in controls. The arterial nicotine concentration was higher in immunized animals even at the first (7.5 s) sampling time. The brain nicotine concentration at 3 min was 36% lower in the immunized animals. The time course of nicotine distribution to brain was studied in a second group of animals. Brain nicotine concentration was reduced in rats immunized with CMUNic over the entire 6-min sampling period immediately following nicotine dosing (mean reduction 38%). A reduction was found at the earliest sampling time (30 s) and was maximal at 1 min (48%). Nicotine protein binding in serum was markedly increased in animals immunized with CMUNic compared to controls (91.2 versus 10.9%), and the unbound nicotine concentration in serum was lower (10.0 versus 13.4 ng/ml). The reduction in brain nicotine concentration correlated with antibody affinity for nicotine, and the percentage of nicotine bound in serum. These data demonstrate that nicotine-specific antibodies produced by active immunization rapidly bind nicotine in arterial blood, reduce the unbound nicotine concentration, and reduce the early distribution of nicotine to brain. Effects were observed using a clinically relevant nicotine dose and route of administration. These data suggest that the use of immunization to modify the behavioral effects of nicotine may be possible.


Gynecologic symptoms and the influence on reproductive life in 386 women with hypermobility type ehlers-danlos syndrome: a cohort study.
Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), is probably the most common disease among heritable connective tissue disorders. It affects women more than men and causes symptoms in multiple organs. It is associated with chronic pain, skin fragility and abnormal bleeding. These characteristics may hamper reproductive life. We conducted a study to evaluate the gynecologic and obstetric outcomes in women with hEDS. We also explored a possible hormonal modulation of the hEDS symptoms. The gynecologic and obstetric history of 386 consecutive women diagnosed with hEDS was collected by a standardized questionnaire and a medical consultation performed by a senior gynecologist in an expert centre for hEDS between May 2012 and December 2014. We observed a high frequency of gynecologic complaints, specifically: menorrhagia (76 %), dysmenorrhea (72 %) and dyspareunia (43 %). Endometriosis was not highly prevalent in this population. The obstetric outcomes were similar to those of the general French population for deliveries by cesarean section (14.6 %) and premature births (6.2 %) but the incidence of multiple spontaneous abortion (13 %) and spontaneous abortion (28 %) were significantly higher. A subset of women were sensitive to hormonal fluctuations with more severe symptoms occurring during puberty, prior to menstruation, during the postpartum period as well as on oral contraception. Increased awareness of the gynecological symptomatology in women with hEDS can help discriminate between endometriosis and thus prevent useless, and potentially dangerous, surgery. This study also suggests that hormonal modulation may be an appropriate treatment for a subset of women with hEDS.


Expression of neu protein, epidermal growth factor receptor, and transforming growth factor alpha in breast cancer. Correlation with clinicopathologic parameters.
The major objectives of this study were twofold: to determine 1) if growth factors or growth factor receptors were expressed similarly or differently in a clinically well-characterized group of breast cancer patients and 2) if these phenotypic characteristics were associated with any of the commonly used prognostic parameters. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue from 51 node-positive breast cancer patients were analyzed for the expression of neu, epidermal growth factor-receptor (EGF-R), and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) using immunoperoxidase staining. Positive membranous staining for neu was observed in 15 (29%) tumors. Over-expression of neu was observed in high-grade, estrogen-receptor-negative tumors (P less than 0.05). Epidermal growth factor receptor was expressed in 22 (43%) of the tumors analyzed and found to a greater degree in estrogen-receptor-negative and high-grade tumors (P less than 0.025). A significant correlation between neu and EGF-R expression was also noted. Tumors expressing membranous staining of neu had a greater than 70% chance of expressing EGF-R (P less than 0.01). Expression of TGF alpha was found in 68% of tumors and TGF alpha was detected in grade 1 and 2 tumor to a greater degree than EGF-R. The authors conclude that assaying tumors for these antigens may give additional phenotypic characteristics that can give further insight into the biology of breast cancer.


Prematurity has no impact on the quality of parents' sleep 6 months after birth.
Due to the stress that is classically associated with the premature birth of a child, these parents may be prone to sleep disorders. The aim of this study was to compare sleep quality of preterm infants' parents with that of term infants' parents. Prospective observational cohort study conducted at the University Hospital of Brest between January 2019 and January 2021. The primary outcome criterion was the score obtained by the parents on the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) 6 months after their child's birth. Each parent was recruited in the days following their child's birth and completed the PSQI online. Overall, 316 parents were included. The median gestational age at birth was 34.3 (31.6-35.5) weeks in the preterm infant group and 39.7 (38.6-40.7) weeks in the term infant group. Of the 948 expected questionnaires, 771 were completed and collected. On average, 59% of the parents obtained a PSQI global score >5. Six months after birth, no differences were reported between parents of preterm and full-term infants. This study did not reveal any difference between sleep quality of preterm infants' parents and term infants' parents.


Three-dimensional structure of poliovirus receptor bound to poliovirus.
Poliovirus initiates infection by binding to its cellular receptor (Pvr). We have studied this interaction by using cryoelectron microscopy to determine the structure, at 21-A resolution, of poliovirus complexed with a soluble form of its receptor (sPvr). This density map aided construction of a homology-based model of sPvr and, in conjunction with the known crystal structure of the virus, allowed delineation of the binding site. The virion does not change significantly in structure on binding sPvr in short incubations at 4 degrees C. We infer that the binding configuration visualized represents the initial interaction that is followed by structural changes in the virion as infection proceeds. sPvr is segmented into three well-defined Ig-like domains. The two domains closest to the virion (domains 1 and 2) are aligned and rigidly connected, whereas domain 3 diverges at an angle of approximately 60 degrees. Two nodules of density on domain 2 are identified as glycosylation sites. Domain 1 penetrates the "canyon" that surrounds the 5-fold protrusion on the capsid surface, and its binding site involves all three major capsid proteins. The inferred pattern of virus-sPvr interactions accounts for most mutations that affect the binding of Pvr to poliovirus.


A meta-analysis of smoking prevention programs after adjustment for errors in the unit of analysis.
This article presents the results of a meta-analysis designed to test the prevailing view that we largely understand why adolescents start to smoke and how to delay it. This view has developed even though none of the major reviews of the last 12 years has adjusted for the important methodological problems that all of those reviews identified as common in the published literature. School-based smoking prevention programs based on peer or social-type programs, published between 1974 and 1991, were included in this meta-analysis. Treatment characteristics were used to predict an effect size after adjustment for study design and population characteristics, and in particular, after a post hoc correction for errors in the original unit of analysis. The results suggest that the average effect for peer or social-type programs is likely to be quite limited in magnitude, and that the reduction in smoking may be only 0.10 standard deviation units, or perhaps 5%. Even under optimal conditions, the reduction in smoking may be only 0.50 to 0.75 standard deviation units, or perhaps 20%-30%.


Usefulness of delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging for detecting cardiac rupture caused by small myocardial infarction in a case of cardiac tamponade.
Delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) has excellent spatial resolution and compared with other cardiac imaging techniques it can detect a small myocardial infarction (MI) or a subendocardial infarction. A 76-year-old man was admitted for loss of consciousness because of cardiac tamponade. The cause of tamponade was unknown, but electrocardiography and blood test suggested a recent MI. The removal of 100 ml bloody fluid by immediate pericardiocentesis normalized his hemodynamics, and he regained consciousness. Neither echocardiography nor scintigraphy could determine the location of the MI or rupture, but DE-MRI clearly demonstrated a transmural enhancement in a very narrow range of the lateral wall of the left ventricle. Coronary angiography revealed a severely stenotic lesion in the obtuse marginal branch of the left circumflex artery. DE-MRI is a powerful tool for diagnosing small MI that are undetectable with other imaging. Therefore, DE-MRI should be applied in cases with cardiac tamponade by unknown causes.


Dropout from computer-based interventions for children and adolescents with chronic health conditions.
Dropout is a frequent problem in face-to-face psychological interventions. However, little is known regarding dropout in computer-based interventions (CBIs). It is important to understand the extent to which children and adolescents drop out of CBIs, so we can ensure that more people complete the programmes to gain maximum benefit. A systematic review of current research on dropout from CBIs identified 15 studies. Dropout rate ranged from 0 per cent to 54 per cent with a median of 15 per cent. There is a need for more rigorous investigation of the extent of, and reasons for, dropout from CBIs with children and adolescents with chronic health conditions.


A case of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid withdrawal syndrome during alcohol addiction treatment: utility of diazepam administration.
Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is an emerging drug for alcoholism therapy. We present a case of GHB withdrawal syndrome secondary to GHB addiction during alcoholism treatment. A complete disappearance of drug withdrawal syndrome was achieved with oral diazepam and the symptoms resolved without sequelae. GHB has been used for alcoholism therapy for only a few years now, but the trend is increasing, and other cases similar to this one are foreseeable. This risk could be higher in some countries in which GHB use is increasing not for alcoholism therapy, but for its euphoric and anabolic effects. The present experience indicates that administration of benzodiazepines would seem to be sufficient to achieve total regression of the withdrawal syndrome in a short time, at least if recognized early.


Second natural history study of congenital heart defects. Results of treatment of patients with pulmonary valvar stenosis.
From 1958 to 1969, 592 patients (mostly children) with pulmonary stenosis were admitted to the First Natural History Study of Congenital Heart Defects (NHS-1) after cardiac catheterization. Most with gradients < 50 mm Hg were managed medically; most with gradients > or = 80 mm Hg had pulmonary valvotomy. Among these with gradients of 50-79 mm Hg, some were managed medically, and some were managed surgically. Most had a second cardiac catheterization at conclusion of NHS-1. More than 15 years had elapsed since NHS-1, and most of the cohort are adults. This report (Second Natural History Study) addresses the long-term results of medical and surgical management. Of the original cohort of 592 patients, 580 were alive at completion of NHS-1. New data were obtained on 464 (78.4%) of the original cohort. Probability of 25-year survival was 95.7%. Probability of survival was less (80%) in a subgroup of patients entering NHS-1 > 12 years old with cardiomegaly. Less than 20% of patients managed medically during NHS-1 subsequently required a valvotomy. Only 4% of operated patients required a second operation. Bacterial endocarditis occurred rarely. Ninety-seven percent were in New York Heart Association class I. There was a small but higher-than-normal prevalence of serious arrhythmias. Most patients, whether medically or surgically managed, had low Doppler maximum gradients. Final clinical status was excellent or good in 83%. Probability of survival is similar to that of the general population, and the vast majority of patients are asymptomatic. If valvotomy or valvuloplasty is required in a child, reoperation is rarely necessary. Patients with gradients < 25 mm Hg do not experience an increase in gradient. Patients with a gradient > or = 50 mm Hg should have valvotomy or valvuloplasty. Choice of management of patients with gradients of 40-49 mm Hg remains debatable.


ACOG committee opinion number 304, November 2004. Prenatal and perinatal human immunodeficiency virus testing: expanded recommendations.
Early identification and treatment of all pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the best way to prevent neonatal disease. Pregnant women universally should be tested for HIV infection with patient notification as part of the routine battery of prenatal blood tests unless they decline the test (ie, opt-out approach). Repeat testing in the third trimester and rapid HIV testing at labor and delivery are additional strategies to further reduce the rate of perinatal HIV transmission. The Committee on Obstetric Practice makes the following recommendations: follow an opt-out prenatal HIV testing approach where legally possible; repeat offer of HIV testing in the third trimester to women in areas with high HIV prevalence, women known to be at high risk for HIV infection, and women who declined testing earlier in pregnancy, as allowed by state laws and regulations; use conventional HIV testing for women who are candidates for third-trimester testing; use rapid HIV testing in labor for women with undocumented HIV status; and if a rapid HIV test result is positive, initiate antiretroviral prophylaxis (with consent) without waiting for the results of the confirmatory test.


Conidae and Terebridae (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda) from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Philippines.
Six species of Conidae and seven species of Terebridae are reported from the Plio-Pleistocene "Cabarruyan" fauna of Pangasinan, the Philippines. Eleven species are identified; these species all occur in the Recent Indo-Pacific fauna and seven of these are previously known from the fossil record as well. The species composition of this fauna shows little overlap with other fossil assemblages, except with the Fijian fossil assemblage. This is attributed to a lack of knowledge on Indo-pacific fossil faunas as well as to the relatively deep water setting (200-300 m) of this fauna. More research is needed to determine why the Fijian assemblage is relatively similar.


Testosterone replacement therapy induces spermatogenesis and partially restores fertility in luteinizing hormone receptor knockout mice.
Testosterone (T) is essential for spermatogenesis, fertility, and maintenance of the male phenotype. We analyzed in hypogonadal LH receptor knockout (LuRKO) male mice whether T treatment can restore their phenotype, spermatogenesis, and fertility. In LuRKO mice, spermatogenesis is arrested at round spermatids, adult-type Leydig cells are absent, T production is dramatically decreased, the animals are cryptorchid, and their accessory sex organs are atrophic. T replacement therapy from 21 d of life for 60 or 120 d in LuRKO mice induced a male phenotype macroscopically indistinguishable from that of wild-type littermates as well as full spermatogenesis and testicular descent. Thus, the absence of LH-dependent prepubertal androgen priming is not necessary for subsequent maturation of the male phenotype. Conspicuously, some abnormalities remained in epididymal histology after T treatment despite normal expression of several epididymis-specific genes in caput epididymis. The mice displayed normal mating behavior, although at lower frequency than wild-type controls. The spermatozoa were able to fertilize oocytes, but their impaired passage from epididymis to uterus was apparent. The mice remained subfertile, because only 9% of all breedings resulted in pregnancy, and only two of 13 mice (15%) were fertile. Moreover, inflammation in epididymides and prostate was found in many T-treated LuRKO mice, which probably impaired sperm transport and contributed to their high rate of subfertility. In conclusion, T replacement initiated prepubertally only partially restores the fertility of LuRKO mice, even though most features of the male phenotype recover. Full fertility may require higher and/or earlier postnatal T exposure or production of other Leydig cell factors lacking in this model.


Retaining graduates of non-metropolitan medical schools for practice in the local area: the importance of locally based postgraduate training pathways in Australia and Canada.
The objective of this study was to identify commonalities between one regionally based medical school in Australia and one in Canada regarding the association between postgraduate training location and a doctor's practice location once fully qualified in a medical specialty. Data were obtained using a cross-sectional survey of graduates of the James Cook University (JCU) medical school, Queensland, Australia, who had completed advanced training to become a specialist (a 'Fellow') in that field (response rate = 60%, 197 of 326). Medical education, postgraduate training and practice data were obtained for 400 of 409 (98%) fully licensed doctors who completed undergraduate medical education or postgraduate training or both at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), Ontario, Canada. Binary logistic regression used postgraduate training location to predict practice in the school's service region (northern Australia or northern Ontario). Separate analyses were conducted for medical discipline groupings of general/family practitioner, general specialist and subspecialist (JCU only). For JCU graduates, significant associations were found between training in a northern Australian hospital at least once during postgraduate training and current (2018) northern Australian practice for all three discipline subgroups: family practitioner (p<0.001; prevalence odds ratio (POR)=30.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.7-135.0), general specialist (p=0.002; POR=30.3; 95%CI: 3.3-273.4) and subspecialist (p=0.027; POR=6.5; 95%CI: 1.2-34.0). Overall, 38% (56/149) of JCU graduates who had completed a Fellowship were currently practising in northern Australia. For NOSM-trained doctors, a significant positive effect of training location on practice location was detected for family practice doctors but not for general specialist doctors. Family practitioners who completed their undergraduate medical education at NOSM and their postgraduate training in northern Ontario had a statistically significant (p<0.001) POR of 36.6 (95%CI: 16.9-79.2) of practising in northern Ontario (115/125) versus other regions, whereas those who completed only their postgraduate training in northern Ontario (46/85) had a statistically significant (p<0.001) POR of 3.7 (95%CI: 2.1-6.8) relative to doctors who only completed their undergraduate medical education at NOSM (28/117). Overall, 30% (22/73) of NOSM's general speciality graduates currently practise in northern Ontario. The findings support increasing medical graduate training numbers in rural underserved regions, specifically locating full specialty training programs in regional and rural centres in a 'flipped training' model, whereby specialty trainees are based in rural or regional clinical settings with some rotations to the cities. In these circumstances, the doctors would see their regional or rural centre as 'home base' with the city rotations as necessary to complete their training requirements while preparing to practise near where they train.


The Seismic Performance of New Self-Centering Beam-Column Joints of Conventional Island Main Buildings in Nuclear Power Plants.
In order to improve the deformation energy consumption and self-centering ability of reinforced concrete (RC) frame beam-column joints for main buildings of conventional islands in nuclear power plants, a new type of self-centering joint equipped with super-elastic shape memory alloy (SMA) bars and a steel plate as kernel components in the core area of the joint is proposed in this study. Four 1/5-scale frame joints were designed and manufactured, including two contrast joints (a normal reinforced concrete joint and a concrete joint that replaces steel bars with SMA bars) and two new model joints with different SMA reinforcement ratios. Subsequently, the residual deformation, energy dissipation capacity, stiffness degradation and self-centering performance of the novel frame joints were studied through a low-frequency cyclic loading test. Finally, based on the OpenSees finite element software platform, an effective numerical model of the new joint was established and verified. On this basis, varying two main parameters, the SMA reinforcement ratio and the axial compression ratio, a simulation was systematically conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed joint in seismic performance. The results show that replacing ordinary steel bars in the beam with SMA bars not only greatly reduces the bearing capacity and stiffness of the joint, but also makes the failure mode of the joint brittle. The construction of a new type of joint with consideration of the SMA reinforcement and the steel plate can improve the bearing capacity, delay the stiffness degradation and improve the ductility and self-centering capability of the joints. Within a certain range, increasing the ratio of the SMA bars can further improve the ultimate bearing capacity and energy dissipation capacity of the new joint. Increasing or decreasing the axial compression ratio of column ends has little effect on the overall seismic performance of new joints.


Volatilization and degradation of soil-applied dimethylselenide.
Dimethylselenide (DMSe) is a highly volatile gas that is produced by indigenous microorganisms in seleniferous soils and sediments; however, little is known about the soil conditions that affect the persistence of DMSe and its transport to the atmosphere. In this study we investigated the effect of moisture content, temperature, and organic amendments on the degradation of soil-applied DMSe. The degradation of DMSe was entirely a result of biological mechanisms, but changes in temperature (20-40 degrees C) and soil moisture content (30-70% of the maximum water holding capacity) had little influence on the degradation rate. In contrast, amending soil with either 1% casein or gluten (by weight) had an inhibitory effect on the degradation of DMSe. After 18 d, 2.1 times more DMSe was present in the casein-amended soil and 2.6 times more DMSe was present in the gluten-amended soil. The transport of DMSe in packed soil columns was also investigated. Increasing the depth to soil surface was found to significantly decrease the amount of DMSe transported to the air. After 6 d, 57% of DMSe injected 10 cm below the soil surface was volatilized. At an injection depth of 20 cm the cumulative emissions were reduced by 38% and at 30 cm the cumulative emissions were reduced by 51%. In columns containing 1% casein or gluten in the top 5 cm of soil the cumulative loss of DMSe was about 9% higher than in unamended soil. Increasing our understanding of the soil conditions that influence the gaseous diffusion of DMSe should help in determining the feasibility of using Se volatilization as a remediation technique.


Deep Transfer Learning Based Classification Model for COVID-19 Disease.
The COVID-19 infection is increasing at a rapid rate, with the availability of limited number of testing kits. Therefore, the development of COVID-19 testing kits is still an open area of research. Recently, many studies have shown that chest Computed Tomography (CT) images can be used for COVID-19 testing, as chest CT images show a bilateral change in COVID-19 infected patients. However, the classification of COVID-19 patients from chest CT images is not an easy task as predicting the bilateral change is defined as an ill-posed problem. Therefore, in this paper, a deep transfer learning technique is used to classify COVID-19 infected patients. Additionally, a top-2 smooth loss function with cost-sensitive attributes is also utilized to handle noisy and imbalanced COVID-19 dataset kind of problems. Experimental results reveal that the proposed deep transfer learning-based COVID-19 classification model provides efficient results as compared to the other supervised learning models.


Special Smiles: Sports Dentistry and the Special Needs Athlete.
There is a need to expand dental services to underserved populations, such as athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This review introduces dentists to this need by sharing the direction taken by the Special Smiles program of Special Olympics and addressing the need to educate special needs athletes on prevention and care of sports-related mouth injuries.


The effects of extraoral porcelain polishing sequences on surface roughness and color of feldspathic porcelain.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface properties and color of porcelain modified by extraoral polishing sequences. Six different surface treatment regimens (diamond burs, self-glaze, overglaze, reglaze, Pearl Surface polishing system, and Diamond Twist SCL) were applied to 60 porcelain disks (n = 10 per group). Profilometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used for the determination of surface roughness (Ra); color changes (deltaE*) were investigated by spectrophotometry. Statistical comparisons were made using analysis of variance, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the Pearson correlation coefficient test. Surface treatments significantly affected Ra values (P < .001) but had no effect on color (P > .05). AFM findings were consistent with Ra values. Color did not appear to be correlated with surface roughness (P > .05). The findings concluded that the Pearl Surface system helps to decrease chairside time and may be used as an alternative to overglazing.