Integration of microbubbles with biomaterials in tissue engineering for pharmaceutical purposes.
Tissue engineering with the aid of biomaterials is a novel and promising knowledge aiming at improving human life expectancy. Besides, microbubbles are increasingly employed in biomedical applications due to their capability as a reservoir of therapeutic agents and oxygen molecules. In the present study, Microbubbles as the backbone of the research are produced as one of the potent devices in tissue engineering approaches, including drug delivery, wound healing, 3D printing, and scaffolding. It was shown that microbubbles are capable of promoting oxygen penetration and boosting the wound healing process by supplying adequate oxygen. Microbubbles also demonstrated their strength and potency in advancing drug delivery systems by reinforcing mass transfer phenomena. Furthermore, microbubbles developed the mechanical and biological characteristics of engineered scaffolds by manipulating the pores. Increasing cell survival, the biological activity of cells, angiogenesis, cell migration, and also nutrient diffusion into the inner layers of the scaffold were other achievements by microbubbles. In conclusion, the interest of biomedical communities in simultaneous usage of microbubbles and biomaterials under tissue engineering approaches experiences remarkable growth in Pharmaceutical studies.


A homogeneous immunoassay for the mycotoxin T-2 utilizing liposomes, monoclonal antibodies, and complement.
The trichothecene mycotoxin T-2 is a fungal metabolite known to contaminate agricultural products and cause intoxication of humans and animals. We have developed a homogeneous competition inhibition assay for T-2 mycotoxin based on complement-mediated lysis of liposomes. The T-2 mycotoxin was converted to an acid chloride derivative, subsequently coupled to the amino group of phosphatidylethanolamine, and incorporated with the phospholipid into unilamellar liposomes. Carboxyfluorescein, which is self-quenched at high concentrations, was entrapped in the liposomes as a release marker. We used a monoclonal IgG1 antibody specific for T-2 mycotoxin and a polyclonal anti-mouse Ig as a secondary antibody since the anti-T-2 IgG1 does not activate complement. In the absence of free T-2, the liposomes were lysed within 30 min after the addition of complement, releasing carboxyfluorescein into the surrounding buffer. In the presence of free T-2 toxin, the binding of antibodies to the liposomes was reduced, causing a corresponding decrease in lysis. This assay proved to be sensitive to T-2 toxin levels as low as 2 ng, which is 10-fold more sensitive than the present enzyme immunoassay using the same antibodies.


Cytotoxic effects of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy on keratinocytes in vitro.
Previous work has shown that cutaneous microbial species associated with skin conditions of microbial aetiology are susceptible to killing by photodynamic therapy (PDT) using visible light and methylene blue. Antimicrobial PDT (APDT) in vivo would require a therapeutic regimen where bacteria could be killed without damaging adjacent tissue. To study keratinocyte killing in vitro using APDT. We used a combination of methylene blue (100 microg mL(-1)) and visible light (42 mW cm(-2)), previously used for microbial killing, to study cytotoxic effects on keratinocytes. Kill rates and subsequent D-values were determined against a human keratinocyte cell line (H103) using trypan blue and neutral red dye viability tests. The kill rates for keratinocytes were exponential over the 90- and 180-min period of the experiment for neutral red and trypan blue, respectively. The corresponding D-values were shown to be 198 and 205 min using trypan blue exclusion and neutral red uptake viability tests, respectively. The kill rates for keratinocytes were 18-200-fold slower than those previously determined for cutaneous microbial species, suggesting that in vivo, APDT sufficient to reduce microbes by seven log cycles would have little cytotoxic effect on keratinocytes. This approach may offer a safe alternative to conventional antimicrobial treatment.


Placental pathology in asphyxiated newborns meeting the criteria for therapeutic hypothermia.
We sought to describe placental findings in asphyxiated term newborns meeting therapeutic hypothermia criteria and to assess whether histopathologic correlation exists between these placental lesions and the severity of later brain injury. We conducted a prospective cohort study of the placentas of asphyxiated newborns, in whom later brain injury was defined by magnetic resonance imaging. A total of 23 newborns were enrolled. Eighty-seven percent of their placentas had an abnormality on the fetal side of the placenta, including umbilical cord lesions (39%), chorioamnionitis (35%) with fetal vasculitis (22%), chorionic plate meconium (30%), and fetal thrombotic vasculopathy (26%). A total of 48% displayed placental growth restriction. Chorioamnionitis with fetal vasculitis and chorionic plate meconium were significantly associated with brain injury (P = .03). Placental growth restriction appears to significantly offer protection against the development of these injuries (P = .03). Therapeutic hypothermia may not be effective in asphyxiated newborns whose placentas show evidence of chorioamnionitis with fetal vasculitis and chorionic plate meconium.


Sertoli and Leydig cell numbers and gonadotropin receptors in rat testis from birth to puberty.
In testes of rats from 2 to 60 days of age, we examined the number of Sertoli cells (SC) and Leydig cells (LC) as well as the binding of radioiodinated gonadotropins to frozen sections and homogenates. The number of SC per testis increased only during the first 2 postnatal weeks, whereas that of LC was stable up to days 7-10 and increased thereafter. The uptake of 125I-labelled human follicle-stimulating hormone (125I-FSH) to frozen sections was confined to sex cords or seminiferous tubules, while that of 125I-labelled human choriogonadotropin (125I-hCG) matched the distribution of LC in the interstitium. High affinity receptors for FSH and hCG were found in homogenates at all stages studied. The number of FSH receptors per testis increased steadily, whereas that of hCG receptors was low until days 7-10 and rose afterwards. Thus, SC in rat testis appear to proliferate in the presence of fetal LC during the first 2 postnatal weeks and to differentiate concomitantly with the emergence of the adult LC generation after day 10. The complement of FSH receptors in SC remains constant as they proliferate and increases after day 21 as they differentiate. The hCG receptor number is relatively fixed in each LC generation, being higher in adult compared to fetal LC.


Mothering.
One can conclude that mothering as an essential component of family life will not be abolished. Attention to the skill and personal dimensions of the mothering role will insure the maintenance and growth of this valuable institution. The time has come for nurses to design strategies that liberate mothers from a restrictive position while promoting effective mothering, personal growth, and societal change.


An insight into the regulation of mce4 operon of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
The mce4 operon is reported to be involved in cholesterol utilization and intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). The regulatory mechanism of this important operon was unknown so far. Here we report detection of the promoter region and regulatory factors of the mce4 operon. The in silico analyzed putative promoter region was cloned in promoter selection vector and promoter strength was measured by O-Nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranosidase (ONPG) assay. The transcription start site was determined by 5' Rapid amplification of C terminal end (5'RACE). Surface stress, hypoxia and presence of cholesterol, were found to be stimulatory for mce4 operon promoter induction. Pull down assay coupled with 2D gel electrophoresis resolved many proteins; few prominent spots were processed for identification. MALDI TOF-TOF identified proteins of M. tuberculosis which supported the regulatory function of the identified promoter region and cholesterol utilization of mce4 operon. Since mce4 operon is involved in cholesterol utilization and intracellular survival of M. tuberculosis in the later phase of infection, identification of the promoter sequence as reported in the present communication may facilitate development of effective inhibitors to regulate expression of mce4 operon which may prove to be a good drug target to prevent latency in tuberculosis.


Cloning, expression and chitin-binding activity of two peritrophin-like protein genes in the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura.
Insect midgut secretes a semi-permeable peritrophic membrane (PM), which plays important roles in protecting the midgut and helping with food digestion. The lepidopteran larvae produce type 1 PM, which is degraded when insects develop into the metamorphic stages. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. In the present study, two peritrophin-like proteins (peritrophin-57 and 37) were identified from the midgut expression sequence tag library and transcriptome of the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura. The temporal and spatial expression patterns and responses to the induction of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and starvation were examined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction according to their common sequence region. The chitin-binding activity was also studied using a competitor, calcofluor. The open reading frames are 1 554 and 1 020 bp, respectively. They shared four highly conserved peritrophin-A domains and were expressed only in the midgut rather than in the other tissues, including fat body, epidermis, Malpighian tube and hemolymph. Their transcriptional expression could only be detected at the larval stages rather than in eggs, prepupae, pupae and adults. The purified protein of peritrophin-37 bound to chitin in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that the two proteins are peritrophins, the structural components of PM. In addition, the messenger RNA levels of the two peritrophins were significantly down-regulated by 20E injection, whereas feeding/starvation had no effect on the expression. These findings suggest that the increase of 20E titer may be an important factor which controls the degradation of PM during metamorphosis.


Short-term hyperoxia does not exert immunologic effects during experimental murine and human endotoxemia.
Oxygen therapy to maintain tissue oxygenation is one of the cornerstones of critical care. Therefore, hyperoxia is often encountered in critically ill patients. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that hyperoxia may affect outcome, although mechanisms are unclear. Immunologic effects might be involved, as hyperoxia was shown to attenuate inflammation and organ damage in preclinical models. However, it remains unclear whether these observations can be ascribed to direct immunosuppressive effects of hyperoxia or to preserved tissue oxygenation. In contrast to these putative anti-inflammatory effects, hyperoxia may elicit an inflammatory response and organ damage in itself, known as oxygen toxicity. Here, we demonstrate that, in the absence of systemic inflammation, short-term hyperoxia (100% O2 for 2.5 hours in mice and 3.5 hours in humans) does not result in increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in both mice and healthy volunteers. Furthermore, we show that, compared with room air, hyperoxia does not affect the systemic inflammatory response elicited by administration of bacterial endotoxin in mice and man. Finally, neutrophil phagocytosis and ROS generation are unaffected by short-term hyperoxia. Our results indicate that hyperoxia does not exert direct anti-inflammatory effects and temper expectations of using it as an immunomodulatory treatment strategy.


Development of examination objectives based on nursing competency for the Korean Nursing Licensing Examination: a validity study
This study aimed to develop the examination objectives based on nursing competency of the Korean Nursing Licensing Examination. This is a validity study to develop the examination objectives based on nursing competency. Data were collected in December 2021. We reviewed the literature related to changing nurse roles and on the learning objectives for the Korea Medical Licensing Examination and other health personnel licensing examinations. Thereafter, we created a draft of the nursing problems list for examination objectives based on the literature review, and the content validity was evaluated by experts. A final draft of the examination objectives is presented and discussed. A total of 4 domains, 12 classes, and 85 nursing problems for the Korean Nursing Licensing Examination were developed. They included the essentials of objectives, related factors, evaluation goals, related activity statements, related clients, related settings, and specific outcomes. This study developed a draft of the examination objectives based on clinical competency that were related to the clinical situations of nurses and comprised appropriate test items for the licensing examination. Above results may be able to provide fundamental data for item development that reflects future nursing practices.


Elucidating biofouling over thermal and spatial gradients in seawater membrane distillation in hot climatic conditions.
Biofouling is a hurdle of seawater desalination that increases water costs and energy consumption. In membrane distillation (MD), biofouling development is complicated due to the temperature effect that adversely affects microbial growth. Given the high relevance of MD to regions with abundant warm seawater, it is essential to explore the biofouling propensity of microbial communities with higher tolerance to elevated temperature conditions. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the spatial and temporal biofilm distribution and associated membrane fouling during direct contact MD (DCMD) of the Red Sea water. We found that structure and composition of the biofilm layer played a significant role in the extent of permeate flux decline, and biofilms that built up at 45°C had lower bacterial concentration but higher extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content as compared to biofilms that formed at 55 °C and 65°C. Pore wetting and bacterial passage to the permeate side were initially observed but slowed down as operating time increased. Intact cells in biofilms dominated over the damaged cells at any tested condition emphasizing the high adaptivity of the Red Sea microbial communities to elevated feed temperatures. A comparison of microbial abundance revealed a difference in bacterial distribution between the feed and biofilm samples. A shift in the biofilm microbial community and colonization of the membrane surface with thermophilic bacteria with the feed temperature increase was observed. The results of this study improve our understanding of biofouling propensity in MD that utilizes temperature-resilient feed waters.


[Outcome of patients with adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia between 2000 and 2013: experience from single center].
To compare the outcomes of patients with adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) over the last 14 years by taking 2006 as the demarcation point. From January 2000 to December 2013, 477 consecutive hospitalized patients with adult ALL were retrospectively analyzed, including 276 (57.9%) with Ph negative B-ALL (Ph⁻-B-ALL) B-ALL, 69 (14.5%) with T-ALL and 132 (27.7%) with Ph positive ALL (Ph⁺-ALL); 111 (23.3%) before 2006 and 366 (76.7%) after 2006. Among 435 patients who achieved complete remission (CR), 248 (57.0%) received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and 187 remained on chemotherapy. With a median follow-up period of 19 months in all patients and 35 months in living patients, overall CR rate was 92.0%. Of 435 CR patients, the cumulative incidences of 5-year relapse, disease-free survival( DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 42.5%, 46.2% and 47.6%, respectively. Compared with the patients hospitalized before 2006: ① the Ph+-ALL patients hospitalized after 2006 achieved a higher overall CR rate (P=0.036). There was no difference for CR rates of Ph--B-ALL and T-ALL patients between before and after 2006. ②The CR patients hospitalized after 2006 had higher 5-year DFS and OS rates (P=0.001; P < 0.001), including higher 5-year OS rate in Ph⁻-B-ALL patients (P=0.046), and higher 5-year DFS and OS rates in both T-ALL (P=0.013; P=0.036) and Ph⁺-ALL patients (P=0.003; P < 0.001) , especially in those Ph⁺-ALL patients who received imatinib from the beginning of the induction chemotherapy (P < 0.001; P < 0.001) ③The patients who received allo-HSCT after 2006 had higher 5-year DFS and OS rates (P=0.001; P < 0.001), but there was no difference for the outcomes in those who remained on chemotherapy before and after 2006. After 2006, Ph⁺-ALL patients who received imatinib from the beginning of the induction chemotherapy had the highest 5-year DFS and OS rates compared with Ph⁻-B-ALL and T-ALL patients (P=0.009; P=0.001) . Multivariate analysis showed that allo-HSCT and imatinib were two important factors affecting the outcomes of ALL patients. The outcomes of ALL patients improved significantly over the last 14 years, especially in Ph⁺-ALL ones.


Diet and prostate cancer prevention.
To evaluate the present human-based evidence that diet is related to the risk and outcome of prostate cancer. Review of major case-control and cohort studies, and experimental trials evaluating the effect of diet or dietary constituents on the risk of prostate cancer. Although non-experimental studies have suggested several dimensions of diet and several dietary components as related to risk and outcome of prostate cancer, the results of these studies are inconsistent. There is limited evidence that a diet that emphasizes plant products is associated with diminished risk of prostate cancer and of aggressive prostate cancer. The non-experimental epidemiologic evidence that has now accrued justifies trials of dietary intervention for those at elevated risk of prostate cancer.


Pathological Findings in the Testes of COVID-19 Patients: Clinical Implications.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), involves multiple organs. Testicular involvement is largely unknown. To determine the pathological changes and whether SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in the testes of deceased COVID-19 patients. Postmortem examination of the testes from 12 COVID-19 patients was performed using light and electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry for lymphocytic and histiocytic markers. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the virus in testicular tissue. Seminiferous tubular injury was assessed as none, mild, moderate, or severe according to the extent of tubular damage. Leydig cells in the interstitium were counted in ten 400× microscopy fields. Microscopically, Sertoli cells showed swelling, vacuolation and cytoplasmic rarefaction, detachment from tubular basement membranes, and loss and sloughing into lumens of the intratubular cell mass. Two, five, and four of 11 cases showed mild, moderate, and severe injury, respectively. The mean number of Leydig cells in COVID-19 testes was significantly lower than in the control group (2.2 vs 7.8, p < 0.001). In the interstitium there was edema and mild inflammatory infiltrates composed of T lymphocytes and histiocytes. Transmission EM did not identify viral particles in three cases. RT-PCR detected the virus in one of 12 cases. Testes from COVID-19 patients exhibited significant seminiferous tubular injury, reduced Leydig cells, and mild lymphocytic inflammation. We found no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the testes in the majority (90%) of the cases by RT-PCR, and in none by electron microscopy. These findings can provide evidence-based guidance for sperm donation and inform management strategies to mitigate the risk of testicular injury during the COVID-19 disease course. We examined the testes of deceased COVID-19 patients. We found significant damage to the testicular parenchyma. However, virus was not detected in testes in the majority of cases.


Molecular spectroscopic study of river nile sediment in the greater cairo region.
The greater Cairo region is the most populated area in Egypt. The aquatic environment of the Nile River in this area is being affected by industrial activities. The study of the molecular structure of sediment may provide a good trace for such changes. Both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and density functional theory (DFT) were used to study the effect of industrial waste disposal south of Cairo on the molecular structure of Nile River sediment. Four seasonal samples were collected from six sites covering 75 km along the Nile River. Grain sizes of 200 microm, 125 microm, 65 microm, and 32 microm, respectively, were examined. The results indicate that hydrated aluminum hydroxide controls the distribution of organic matter in the different grain sizes. Furthermore, the hydration of phenol may take place in grain sizes lower than 200 microm, which is indicated by the OH stretching at 3550 cm(-1) and verified by the obtained model. The formation of metal carboxylate bonds at 1638 cm(-1) (asymmetric) and 1382 cm(-1) (symmetric) indicate the possible interaction between heavy metals and other organic structures, mainly humic substances.


Anti-tumor activity and cytotoxicity in vitro of novel 4,5-dialkylimidazolium surfactants.
Natural monoalkylated imidazolium derivatives exhibit significant anti-tumor activity as well as general cytotoxicity. In the present study, we used a series of newly synthesized imidazolium derivatives bearing two alkyl chains in the backbone of the imidazolium core in 4- and 5-position and either dimethyl- or dibenzyl-substituents at 1- and 3-position. Their anti-tumor activity and cytotoxicity were determined in vitro using the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. The tumor cell line C6 from rat glioma, the non-tumor MDCK cell line (Madin-Darby canine kidney) as well as the mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line (NIH3T3) were used as cellular targets. Surface activity measurements were performed leading to the determination of their critical micelle concentration (CMC) of these new lipid analogues to evaluate the molecular mechanism of the observed cellular effects. We found that 4,5-dialkylation of the imidazole ring enhances the anti-tumor activity compared to simple 1-alkylated imidazoles. The corresponding C7 homologues are found to be the most potent compounds. Furthermore dibenzyl-substituted imidazolium surfactants exhibit higher surface activity and increased toxicity against tumor cells compared to dimethyl-substituted imidazolium surfactants. In summary the dibenzyl-derivative carrying the two C7 chains was found to exhibit a drastically increased anti-tumor activity especially compared to so far known monoalkylated species.


Acanthamoeba keratitis: a clinicopathologic case report and review of the literature.
The immune response elicited by corneal Acanthamoeba infection remains incompletely understood. The infected cornea removed from a patient with Acanthamoeba keratitis during therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Heavy infiltration of neutrophils and, to a lesser extent, macrophages was observed throughout the cornea with both cell types in direct apposition to Acanthamoeba parasites. While T and B cells were identified in the corneal stroma, none were seen in direct proximity to Acanthamoeba parasites. Natural killer (NK) cells were absent from the cornea. These results demonstrate that neutrophils and macrophages of the innate immune system predominate in the host response against Acanthamoeba infection of the human cornea, confirming the relevance of animal models of Acanthamoeba keratitis that recapitulate these findings. Lymphocytes appear to be excluded from regions of the cornea containing Acanthamoeba parasites, despite the presence of a corneal lymphocytic response in this case, suggesting inhibition of lymphocyte chemotaxis toward the parasite.


Age-dependent occurrence of protective anti-Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite antibodies in a holoendemic area of Liberia.
Antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites were detected in children aged 6 months to 9 years, and in adults, in a holendemic village near Yekepa, Liberia, by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the recombinant circumsporozoite protein R32tet32 or by inhibition of sporozoite invasion (ISI) of hepatoma cells. Both assays were significantly correlated with each other and showed that anti-sporozoite antibodies increase with age. ISI was more sensitive than ELISA and demonstrated significantly increased anti-sporozoite antibodies at age 5-6 years, when young children show partial clinical resistance to malaria. These results suggest that anti-sporozoite antibodies, as measured by ISI, may contribute to protection against malaria.


The relationship between properties of plant-based biochars and sorption of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) in soil model systems.
Plant based biochars are proposed as soil amendments to immobilize potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs), such as Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) and aid in soil restoration. However, the sorption capacity of biochar for these elements can vary widely depending on biochar nature and metal properties. Currently, there is no clear methodology to pre-screen biochars for their suitability as adsorbents for these elements. Therefore, to facilitate biochar selection for application in soil restoration, this study explored the relationships between the physico-chemical properties of five plant-based biochars and their capacity to immobilize Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II). Batch experiments using synthetic soil pore water were used to assess the sorption of these elements. The sorption isotherms described by the Hill model indicated that PTE sorption capacity followed the order Pb(II) > Cd(II) >Zn(II) regardless of biochar type in mono-element systems. Preferential sorption of Pb(II) limited the immobilization of Cd(II) and Zn(II) in multi-element systems. ATR-FTIR and SEM-EDX spectroscopy studies indicated that Cd(II) and Pb(II) sorption was mediated by complexation with carboxylic groups, cation-π interactions and precipitation with phosphates and silicates, while Zn(II) sorption occurred mainly by complexation with phenolic groups and precipitation with phosphates. A high correlation (>0.8) between Electrical Conductivity, Cation Exchange Capacity, pH and sorption capacity was identified for all metals tested, highlighting the electrostatic nature of the sorption mechanisms involved. Biochars derived from herbaceous feedstock were better candidates for remediation of soil polluted with Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II), rather than wood-derived biochar. Overall, this study provides evidence of the direct relationship between specific properties of plant-based biochars (pH and EC) and their suitability as adsorbents for some PTEs in soil systems.


Effects of ecological restoration projects on changes in land cover: A case study on the Loess Plateau in China.
Changes in land cover have become key components of global environmental change and represent the impact of human activity. To better understand the fundamental processes of land transition characteristics before and after the implementation of ecological programmes, we determined the dominant systematic changes in land cover in Yongshou, a hilly-gully region on the Loess Plateau. This was achieved by performing an in-depth analysis of a cross-tabulation matrix and a modified spatial dynamic degree model. Our results indicated that (1) forest land and cultivated land were the most important land cover types in Yongshou and their persistence would greatly affect the landscape pattern of the entire region; (2) the most significant changing signals in the study area during the periods 1992-2000 and 2000-2013 were from immature forest land to forest land, cultivated land to orchards and orchards to construction land; and (3) the region that experienced the most changes during 1992-2000 was the densely populated county seat of Yongshou; however, from 2000-2013, the region of most changes was Changning, a town located in the northcentral region of Yongshou. These findings reveal the main characteristics of the land cover changes in this region and provide insight into the processes underlying these changes.


Type 2 respiratory failure secondary to left hemidiaphragmatic paralysis.
This case describes an uncommon presentation of type 2 respiratory failure secondary to left hemidiaphragmatic paralysis. Emphasis is on the multitude of possible causes of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis and how to manage such a presentation. https://bit.ly/3Mcd2XI.


Common non-hormone binding component in non-transformed chick oviduct receptors of four steroid hormones.
Steroid hormones produce a response in target cells by binding to hormone-specific soluble receptors, which undergo a transformational change, leading to their interaction with chromatin and to modified gene expression. In a previous paper, we described a monoclonal antibody, BF4, that specifically recognizes and binds the non-transformed '8S' form of chicken oviduct progesterone receptor (8S-PR). We now show that BF4 does not form an immune complex with the 4S transformed form of 3H-progestin-labelled progesterone receptor, but does interact with the 8S non-transformed forms of the oestrogen, androgen and glucocorticosteroid receptors. Our results suggest that the antigenic determinant recognized by BF4 is present on a non-hormone binding unit, which we identify as a polypeptide of molecular weight (MW) 90,000 in the case of the progesterone receptor, and that this unit is common to other 8S non-transformed chicken steroid receptors.


Proton MR spectroscopy in the evaluation of cerebral metabolism in patients with fibromyalgia: comparison with healthy controls and correlation with symptom severity.
Widespread pain sensitivity in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) suggests a central nervous system (CNS)-processing problem. Therefore, it is conceivable that metabolic alterations exist in pain-processing brain regions of people with FM compared with healthy controls (HC) and that such metabolic data could correlate with clinical symptoms. The purpose of this study was to test these hypotheses using proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MR spectroscopy). There were 21 patients with FM and 27 HC who underwent conventional structural MR imaging and additional 2D-chemical shift imaging (CSI) MR-spectroscopy sequences. For the 2D-CSI spectroscopy, larger volumes of interest (VOIs) were centered at the level of the basal ganglia and the supraventricular white matter. Within these larger areas, 16 smaller voxels were placed in a number of regions previously implicated in pain processing. N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine(Cr), choline (Cho)/Cr and NAA/Cho ratios were calculated for each voxel. Subjects underwent clinical and experimental pain assessment. Mean metabolite ratios and ratio variability for each region were analyzed by using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Correlations between clinical symptoms and metabolite ratios were assessed. Cho/Cr variability in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was significantly different in the 2 groups; a significant correlation between Cho/Cr in this location and clinical pain was present in the FM group. Evoked pain threshold correlated significantly with NAA/Cho ratios in the left insula and left basal ganglia. Our data suggest that there are baseline differences in the variability of brain metabolite relative concentrations between patients with FM and HC, especially in the right DLPFC. Furthermore, there are significant correlations between metabolite ratios and clinical and experimental pain parameters in patients with FM.


[Duodenal tube test and hepatic ultrasound in extrahepatic biliary atresia diagnosis: A four-case series].
Liver and biliary tree scintigraphy and magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) have taken the place of the duodenal tube test (DTT) in the study of cholestatic jaundice due to extrahepatic biliary atresia (EBA). The usefulness of DTT associated with abdominal ultrasound (AUS) in the diagnosis of EBA was demonstrated in 4 patients presenting with cholestatic jaundice that underwent DTT and AUS; one of them also had MRC. DTT was negative for bile in the 4 patients; AUS did not identify the gallbladder or showed it as small and irregular, or detected a fibrous cord; MRC identified a choledochal cyst but no associated EBA; surgery and pathology study documented EBA in all 4 patients. DTT associated with AUS demonstrated the absence of bile in the duodenum and gallbladder abnormality, respectively, leading to surgical exploration within 24 to 48 hours.


Profile of urinary incontinent elderly in long-term care institutions.
This article presents a profile of incontinent elderly in long-term care institutions. One hundred thirty-three frail elderly women were recruited from seven nursing homes in central Pennsylvania for a three-year clinical trial to test the effectiveness of a behavioral therapy on urinary incontinence. All of the patients had more than one medical diagnosis. Eighty percent had cardiorespiratory conditions; the most prevalent diagnoses were cardiovascular diseases. Eighty percent had one or more neurological diseases, including "organic brain syndrome" (47%) and senile dementia (30%); 44% had arthritis/rheumatism. Half of the patients showed severe cognitive impairment; only 12% showed no cognitive impairment. Sixty-three percent were totally dependent; 68% used wheelchairs, 61% were chairbound; 50% had impairments in vision, one-third in hearing, and 14% in speech. Normal bladder capacity, absence of detrusor instability, and satisfactory bladder emptying, as evidenced by low residual urines, was found in 41% of the patients, suggesting that incontinence in this elderly group may not be a primary bladder problem, but rather that mental and physical disabilities may be a more important underlying cause of incontinence in these patients. An important finding in this study is that 34% of the patients had detrusor instability. It is theoretically possible that pharmacologic therapy with anticholinergic agents or imipramine could improve incontinence in this group. Five percent were found to have large residual urine volumes in association with high-capacity bladders suggesting overflow incontinence as the cause of their daily leakage. Pelvic relaxation and stress leakage was far less common in this elderly group of nursing home patients than in young and middle-aged women.


Inhibition of the Jun N-terminal protein kinase pathway by SHIP-1, a lipid phosphatase that interacts with the adaptor molecule Dok-3.
Dok-3 is a Dok-related adaptor expressed in B cells and macrophages. Previously, we reported that Dok-3 is an inhibitor of B-cell activation in A20 B cells and that it associates with SHIP-1, a 5' inositol-specific lipid phosphatase, as well as Csk, a negative regulator of Src kinases. Here, we demonstrate that Dok-3 suppresses B-cell activation by way of its interaction with SHIP-1, rather than Csk. Our biochemical analyses showed that the Dok-3-SHIP-1 complex acts by selectively inhibiting the B-cell receptor (BCR)-evoked activation of the Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) cascade without affecting overall protein tyrosine phosphorylation or activation of previously described SHIP-1 targets like Btk and Akt/PKB. Studies of B cells derived from SHIP-1-deficient mice showed that BCR-triggered activation of JNK is enhanced in the absence of SHIP-1, implying that the Dok-3-SHIP-1 complex (or a related mechanism) is a physiological negative regulator of the JNK cascade in normal B cells. Together, these data elucidate the mechanism by which Dok-3 inhibits B-cell activation. Furthermore, they provide evidence that SHIP-1 can be a negative regulator of JNK signaling in B cells.


PDGF mediates TGFβ-induced migration during development of the spinous process.
Mechanisms mediating closure of the dorsal vertebrae are not clear. Previously, we showed that deletion of TGFβ type II receptor (Tgfbr2) in sclerotome in mice results in failure in the formation of the spinous process, mimicking spina bifida occulta, a common malformation in humans. In this study, we aimed to determine whether missing dorsal structures in Tgfbr2 mutant mice were due to defects in mesenchymal migration and to clarify mechanism of TGFβ-mediated migration. First, we showed that gross alterations in dorsal vertebrae were apparent by E16.5days in Tgfbr2 mutants. In addition, histological staining showed that the mesenchyme adjacent to the developing cartilage was thin compared to controls likely due to reduced proliferation and migration of these cells. Next, we used a chemotaxis migration assay to show that TGFβ promotes migration in mixed cultures of embryonic sclerotome and associated mesenchyme. TGFβ stimulated expression of PDGF ligands and receptors in the cultures and intact PDGF signaling was required for TGFβ-mediated migration. Since PDGF ligands are expressed in the sclerotome-derived cartilage where Tgfbr2 is deleted and the receptors are predominantly expressed in the adjacent mesenchyme, we propose that TGFβ acts on the sclerotome to regulate expression of PDGF ligands, which then act on the associated mesenchyme in a paracrine fashion to mediate proliferation, migration and subsequent differentiation of the adjacent sclerotome.


Secreted beta-galactosidase from a Flavobacterium sp. isolated from a low-temperature environment.
The bacterial strain Flavobacterium sp. 4214 isolated from Greenland was found to express beta-galactosidase (EC 220.127.116.11) at temperatures below 25 degrees C. A chromosomal library of Flavobacterium sp. 4214 was constructed in Escherichia coli, and the gene gal4214-1 encoding a beta-galactosidase of 1,046 amino acids (114.3 kDa) belonging to glycosyl hydrolase family 2 was isolated. This was the only gene encoding beta-galactosidase activity that was identified in the chromosomal library. Expression levels in both Flavobacterium sp. 4214 and in initial recombinant E. coli strains were insufficient for biochemical characterization. However, a combination of T7 promoter expression and introduction of an E. coli host that complemented rare transfer RNA genes yielded 15 mg of beta-galactosidase per liter of culture. Gal4214-1-His protein was found to be active in monomeric conformation. The protein was secreted from the cytoplasm, probably through an N-terminal signaling sequence. The Gal4214-1-His protein was found to have optimum activity at a temperature of 42 degrees C, but with short-term stability at temperatures above 25 degrees C.


Clinical and cytogenetic analysis of human anemias from Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir state.
Anemias are the blood disorders characterized by reduction in the number of circulating red blood cells, the amount of hemoglobin, or the volume of packed red cells in blood. Chromosomal aberrations have often been reported from the bone marrow as well as cultured lymphocytes of the anemic patients. The aims of the study were to find out the commonest type of anemia occurring in the population of Jammu, India and to find out the chromosomal changes involved in the disorder. Present study has been carried out on the bone marrow samples from 53 clinically diagnosed anemic patients. Cytogenetic study was carried out on slides prepared from these samples. Noncytogenetic factors like age, sex, religion, blood groups, family history of anemia, socioeconomic status, etc. have also been included in the study. Megaloblastic anemia was found to be the commonest type of anemia. Centromere stretching, chromatid breaks, gaps, and elongation of chromosomes were recorded in patients with megaloblastic anemia and combined deficiency anemia. However, structural changes and numerical changes were totally absent. The commonest anemia among the people of Jammu region is megaloblastic anemia and its prevalence is increasing every year. Also, megaloblastic anemia is always associated with reversible cytogenetic changes.


Reassessing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Versus Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Brief Updated Analytical Report (2015-2017).
In this analysis, we aimed to systematically compare percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) in terms of adverse outcomes utilizing data from a recent (2015-2017) population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). An electronic search of recent studies (2015-2017) was carried out using 'diabetes mellitus,' 'coronary artery bypass surgery,' and 'percutaneous coronary intervention' as the main search terms. Uncomplicated T2DM patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), left main CAD, and multi-vessel disease were included. RevMan software (version 5.3) was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Among a total of 13,114 T2DM patients, CABG and PCI patients did not differ significantly in their rates of mortality (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.61-1.31; P = 0.57) and cardiac death (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.78-1.30; P = 0.98). However, rates of major adverse events, repeat revascularization, and myocardial infarction were significantly higher in the PCI group. Stroke rates did not significantly differ between the two groups. Mortality (1-5 years) did not significantly differ between the CABG and PCI patients with T2DM. However, rates of other major adverse events were significantly higher in the PCI patients, suggesting that CABG is more advantageous than PCI in patients with T2DM.


Alkene synthesis through transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling of N-tosylhydrazones.
In this chapter, alkene synthesis based on the reaction of N-tosylhydrazones is described. The reactivity of tosylhydrazones is determined by either the acidity of α-proton and hydrazone proton or the electropositivity of the carbon of C=N bond. This leads to diverse reactivities and a series of N-tosylhydrazone-based olefination methodologies. Both non-catalytic and transition metal-catalyzed olefinations from N-tosylhydrazones are introduced in this chapter. Most of the transition metal-catalyzed reactions proceed via metal carbene transformations. The synthesis of alkenes through Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of N-tosylhydrazones is particularly attractive and will be discussed in detail.


Comparison of quality of life in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease undergoing haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and conservative management in Johannesburg, South Africa: a cross-sectional, descriptive study.
Mental health and quality of life are under-appreciated clinical targets which affect patient and modality survival. Lack of dialysis availability in the resource-constrained public health sector in South Africa results in assignment to treatment modalities without regard to effects on these parameters. We assessed the effect of dialysis modality, demographic and laboratory parameters on mental health and quality of life measurements. Size-matched cohorts were recruited from patients on haemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), and patients on conservative management (CM) between September 2020 and March 2021. Responses to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form 36 (KDQOL-SF36) questionnaires and demographic and baseline laboratory parameters were compared between modalities. Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate independent effect of baseline characteristics on HADS and KDQOL-SF36 scores between treatment groups where significant difference was observed. Anxiety, depression, and reduced KDQOL measures were widespread amongst respondents. Dialyzed patients reported higher anxiety and depression scores than those on CM (p = 0.040 and p = 0.028). Physical composite (PCS), role-physical (RP), vitality (VS), and emotional well-being (EWB) KDQOL-SF36 scores were poorer in dialyzed patients (p < 0.001 for all). PCS (p = 0.005), pain (p = 0.030), vitality (p = 0.005), and social functioning KDQOL scores were poorer in PD compared to HD; HADS anxiety (p < 0.001) and KDQOL-SF36 EWB scores (p < 0.001) were better in PD. PD patients were more likely to be employed (p = 0.008). Increasing haemoglobin concentration reduced anxiety (p < 0.001) and depression scores (p = 0.004), and improved PCS (p < 0.001), and pain scores (p < 0.001). Higher serum albumin improved PCS (p < 0.001) and vitality (p < 0.001) scores. Advanced chronic kidney disease increases anxiety and depression and limits quality of life. PD improves mental health and emotional wellbeing and preserves the ability to undertake economic activity but limits social functioning and causes greater physical discomfort. Targeting haemoglobin may ameliorate modality effects on mental health and quality of life.


Cue reactivity and effects of cue exposure in abstinent posttreatment drug users.
After 12 months of inpatient treatment, 16 opiate-addicted patients were exposed to drug-related stimuli. The results of this study indicate that cue reactivity in opiate-addicted subjects is still present after 12 months of intensive inpatient treatment. After exposing subjects to drug-related stimuli, there is an increase in craving, feelings of depression, and anger. Because posttreatment subjects are likely to be confronted with these stimuli following discharge, a reduction of this reactivity is desirable. In the present study, cue reactivity (feelings of depression, anger, tension, craving, and physical symptoms) reduced after protocolized cue exposure treatment. This effect maintained for at least 6 weeks after the last cue exposure session.


Compensation of vestibular symptoms in hemilabyrinthectomized guinea pigs. Role of the sensorimotor activation.
The effect of sensorimotor activation on compensatory rate of vestibular asymmetries after unilateral labyrinthectomy was analyzed in guinea pigs. An intensified sensorimotor activation was obtained by putting in water the animals immediately after the appearance of hemilabyrinthectomy (HL) symptoms. The water-maintained group exhibited a faster dampening of vestibular disturbances in comparison with control animals. Both ocular and postural asymmetries declined to about 50% of peak values after 2-3 h from HL, while in control group the same extent of recovery was achieved in 4-6 h from HL. It is concluded that the generalized activation of the ascending spinal pathways carrying exteroceptive and proprioceptive information to the vestibular nuclei represents a favourable condition for the regainment of ocular and postural balance impaired by HL.


Strawberry-DS: Dataset of annotated strawberry fruits images with various developmental stages.
Strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa) is one of the most popular fruits cultivated around the world. That is owing to its unique flavor and nutritious properties in addition to the wide usage utility in fresh or processed condition. Strawberry fruits also have a significant economic importance around the world with strong potential as an export commodity. As a matter of fact, investigation and assessment of various strawberry fruit characteristics at different developmental stages is crucial for candidate cultivars selection in fruit plantation as well as fruit yield prediction. Strawberry fruits developmental stage is conventionally applied visually based on expert knowledge, which is a time and labor exhaustive process. Thus, this paper presents a dataset, namely Strawberry-DS (Strawberry-Developmental Stages) dataset, consisting of strawberry fruits (Festival CV type) expert-annotated images at various developmental stages. Data collection was performed on site during the period between January and March from a greenhouse located in the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC) at the Agricultural Research Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation in Giza, Egypt. The dataset comprises 247 high-resolution RGB (.jpg) images annotated manually, using Roboflow Annotate annotation tool with reference to ground truth Region of Interest (RoI), and presented in YOLO (.txt files) format. The presented Strawberry-DS dataset can be generally used for developing various automated models of strawberry fruits detection, fruits maturity stage classification, as well as visual counting, through taking into account the visual features such as shape, color, size, and texture of strawberry fruits. Strawberry-DS is freely available at: https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/z6dtfdpzz8/1.


In vivo study of brain metabolism in galactosemia by 1H and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
In order to further evaluate different hypotheses concerning brain metabolism in galactosemia, six adult patients aged 18-29 years with classical galactosemia under dietary treatment underwent localized 1H and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in addition to conventional T1- and T2-weighted MRI. Galactose-1-phosphate levels in erythrocytes were 1.1-3.7 mg/dl, plasma concentrations of galactitol ranged from 8.4-14.2 mumol/l. Imaging revealed abnormal peripheral myelination in five and enlargement of lateral ventricles in two patients. Brain galactitol in parieto-occipital white matter was below detectability of 1H MRS leading to the assumption that brain concentrations of the free metabolite was well below 1 mmol/kg. Signal intensities of free myo-inositol, which was postulated to be indicative of changes in the second messenger pathway, were within the normal range. MRS data revealed a normal energy status of the brain. In summary 1H and 31P MRS indicated normal metabolite concentrations as compared to healthy controls.


Demineralized bone matrix combined with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 promotes osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and suppresses the activation of T lymphocytes in vitro.
Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) can promote osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs), and CTLA4-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells possess immunoregulatory effects. In the present study, we aimed to construct a new tissue engineering bone using demineralized bone matrix and CTLA4 protein, designated as DBM-CTLA4 (+). The effects of DBM-CTLA4 (+) on the osteogenic differentiation of hBMMSCs and T lymphocyte activation were evaluated through in vitro experiments. The cumulative release of CTLA4 from DBM-CTLA4 (+) was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. DBM-CTLA4 (+) was co-cultured in a Transwell chamber with either phytohemagglutinin-treated hBMMSCs or human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs). Osteogenic differentiation of hBMMSCs was assessed by calcium deposition, ALP activity, and the protein levels of COL1A1, RUNX2, BMP2, and OPN. T lymphocyte activity was assessed by measuring the protein levels of IL-2, L-17, HLA-DRA1, IFN-γ, and RANKL. Our results showed that the cumulative release rates of CTLA4 at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days were 12.6% ± 1.4%, 30.2% ± 2.3%, 49.8% ± 3.8%, and 60.5% ± 2.7%, respectively. Compared to the negative control, DBM-CTLA4 (+) promoted the proliferation of hBMMSCs, and enhanced calcium deposition, ALP activity, and protein levels of COL1A1, RUNX2, BMP2, and OPN. Moreover, DBM-CTLA4 (+) decreased the levels of IL-2, IL-17, HLA-DR, IFN-γ, and RANKL in hPBMCs treated with phytohemagglutinin. In conclusion, DBM-CTLA4 (+) promoted proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hBMMSCs and suppressed T lymphocyte activation.


Pauci-immune Glomerulonephritis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
Glomerulonephritis (GN) in lupus is generally an immune complex glomerulonephritis from the deposition of immunoglobulin and complements. Pauci-immune GN is the most common cause of rapidly progressive GN and is frequently associated with an anti-nuclear cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). We report a patient with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus who presented with worsening proteinuria and was subsequently diagnosed with pauci-immune GN on renal biopsy, in the absence of ANCA.


Aggregation of fuzzy views of a large number of stakeholders for multi-objective flood management decision-making.
Flood management decision-making problems are often associated with multiple objectives and multiple stakeholders. The challenge remains on how to obtain the diversified opinions of a large number of stakeholders where uncertainty plays a major role. In response to this challenge, a methodology has been proposed to capture the views of multiple stakeholders using fuzzy set theory and fuzzy logic. Three possible forms of individual stakeholders' input, scale (crisp), linguistic (fuzzy), and conditional (fuzzy), are analyzed to obtain the aggregated input by using Fuzzy Expected Value. The methodology is applied to flood management in the Red River Basin, Manitoba, Canada. The outputs derived from the three different input types show good correlation. Thus, the proposed methodology shows alternative ways of soliciting the opinion of a large number of stakeholders and aggregating those opinions for use in multi-objective decision making.


The truth about alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.
The alveolar variant of rhabdomyosarcoma continues to be underdiagnosed by pathologists. Yet, the correct recognition of this subtype can be of significant import to the oncologist for specifics of patient treatment. This review discusses the important aspects of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma and hopefully can be of some help in the proper diagnosis of this tumor.


Intracranial Meningioma in Patients Age <35 Years: Evolution of the Disease in the Era of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.
Intracranial meningiomas are most common among patients in their fifth to seventh decade of life and rare in children and young adults. They constitute 1.5% of all neoplasms in patients age <20 years, but account for 13.5% of all neoplasms in patients age 20-34 years. They are often associated with hereditary or familial syndromes in children and young adults, and tend to be of high grade. Here we describe the histopathological subtypes of intracranial meningioma between human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive patients and the general population with intracranial meningiomas 35 years old and younger. Data were collected from all consecutive patients age ≤35 years diagnosed with intracranial meningioma between May 2003 and May 2015. Age was categorized as <20 years, 21-30 years, and >30 years. Histopathological grade was classified according to the 2000 World Health Organization (WHO) grading system as grade I, II, or III. Patients were grouped into an HIV-1-seropositive group and the general population, presumed seronegative. WHO grade II/III meningioma represented high-grade meningioma. HIV-1-seropositive status was associated with increased risk of the development of high-grade (WHO grade II/III) meningioma (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-8.09; P = 0.04) compared with the general population of patients with meningiomas. No significant associations were found between WHO grade and age, sex, ethnicity/race, or location. Intracranial meningiomas in young HIV-1-positive patients tend to be of high grade; therefore, conservative or noninvasive therapies should be offered with caution and only after tissue diagnosis has confirmed benign WHO grade.


Predicting health literacy among English-as-a-second-Language older Chinese immigrant women to Canada: comprehension of colon cancer prevention information.
Inadequate health literacy has been identified as a barrier to the utilization of health-care services, including cancer screening. This study examined predictors of health literacy among 106 older Chinese immigrant women to Canada and how colon cancer information presented in their first versus second language affected health literacy skill. Only 38.7% of the women had adequate health literacy based on Short Test of Functional Health Literacy for Adults, and 54.3% had adequate comprehension of the colon cancer information. Comprehension of the cancer information was significantly lower among women who received the information in English compared with those who received the information in Chinese. Age, acculturation, self-reported proficiency reading English, and education were significant predictors of health literacy but varied depending on the measure of health literacy used and language of the information. Presentation of cancer prevention information in one's first rather than second language improves health literacy but does not eliminate comprehension difficulties for older ESL Chinese immigrants.


Molecular characterization of the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) synthase from Ralstonia eutropha: in vitro evolution, site-specific mutagenesis and development of a PHB synthase protein model.
A threading model of the Ralstonia eutropha polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase was developed based on the homology to the Burkholderia glumae lipase, whose structure has been resolved by X-ray analysis. The lid-like structure in the model was discussed. In this study, various R. eutropha PHA synthase mutants were generated employing random as well as site-specific mutagenesis. Four permissive mutants (double and triple mutations) were obtained from single gene shuffling, which showed reduced activity and whose mutation sites mapped at variable surface-exposed positions. Six site-specific mutations were generated in order to identify amino acid residues which might be involved in substrate specificity. Replacement of residues T323 (I/S) and C438 (G), respectively, which are located in the core structure of the PHA synthase model, abolished PHA synthase activity. Replacement of the two amino acid residues Y445 (F) and L446 (K), respectively, which are located at the surface of the protein model and adjacent to W425, resulted in reduced activity without changing substrate specificity and indicating a functional role of these residues. The E267K mutant exhibited only slightly reduced activity with a surface-exposed mutation site. Four site-specific deletions were generated to evaluate the role of the C-terminus and variant amino acid sequence regions, which link highly conserved regions. Deleted regions were D281-D290, A372-C382, E578-A589 and V585-A589 and the respective PHA synthases showed no detectable activity, indicating an essential role of the variable C-terminus and the linking regions between conserved blocks 2 and 3 as well as 3 and 4. Moreover, the N-terminal part of the class II PHA synthase (PhaC(Pa)) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the C-terminal part of the class I PHA synthase (PhaC(Re)) from R. eutropha were fused, respectively, resulting in three fusion proteins with no detectable in vivo activity. However, the fusion protein F1 (PhaC(Pa)-1-265-PhaC(Re)-289-589) showed 13% of wild type in vitro activity with the fusion point located at a surface-exposed loop region.


Felodipine, a new vasodilating drug: blood pressure, cardiac, renal, and humoral effects in hypertensive patients.
We studied the antihypertensive action of felodipine, a new dihydropyridine vasodilator interfering with intracellular calcium mechanisms, in 11 patients with essential hypertension whose supine blood pressure averaged 181/109 mm Hg after 5 days of placebo administration. Felodipine, 12.5 mg t.i.d., for 3 days, caused a marked reduction (-39/-19 mm Hg) of supine systolic and diastolic pressures. Doses of 25 and 50 mg t.i.d., for three consecutive days, caused only a slight further reduction of blood pressure. At the highest dose tested all patients had their supine blood pressure brought down to values below 150 mm Hg systolic and 90 mm Hg diastolic at all six daily measurements. The antihypertensive effect was of the same magnitude when the patients lay supine or stood upright. Lowering of blood pressure was accompanied by tachycardia, which was quite moderate after the 12.5 mg t.i.d. dose, but more conspicuous with the two higher doses. There was some increase in plasma renin activity and in plasma aldosterone. A significant decrease in renal sodium and water excretion occurred only during administration of the highest dose of 50 mg t.i.d., when reduction in blood pressure was pronounced and there were reflex increases in plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone.


The significance of insecure and disorganized attachment for children's internalizing symptoms: a meta-analytic study.
This meta-analytic review examines the association between attachment and internalizing symptomatology during childhood, and compares the strength of this association with that for externalizing symptomatology. Based on 42 independent samples (N = 4,614), the association between insecurity and internalizing symptoms was small, yet significant (d = 0.15, CI 0.06~0.25) and not moderated by assessment age of internalizing problems. Avoidance, but not resistance (d = 0.03, CI -0.11~0.17) or disorganization (d = 0.08, CI -0.06~0.22), was significantly associated with internalizing symptoms (d = 0.17, CI 0.03~0.31). Insecurity and disorganization were more strongly associated with externalizing than internalizing symptoms. Discussion focuses on the significance of attachment for the development of internalizing versus externalizing symptomatology.


Epidemiological trends and survival outcomes for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the head and neck region.
Given the rarity of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) of the head and neck, the incidence and prognosis specific to this region are poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to determine epidemiology, clinicopathological characteristics, and prognostic factors of patients with DFSP of the head and neck region, using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. A cohort analysis was performed for primary head and neck DFSP reported to the SEER database between 2000 and 2018. Overall survival was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis while Cox regression modeling was used to examine predictive factors. A total of 681 cases were reported to the SEER database between 2000 and 2018. Incidence rates decreased over time. Overall survival was 94%, and disease-specific survival was 99% at 5 years. Cases of head and neck DFSP were found to occur more frequently in males. There was no difference in incidence rates between White patients and Black patients. Age ≥ 60 years old, tumor size, and living location were the most significant predictors of overall survival. This analysis of DFSP of the head and neck demonstrates a downward trend in incidence, higher age-standardized incidence in males, and similar race-based incidences, which differs from data reported on DFSP of other anatomic locations.


Ultra-Narrowband Blue Multi-Resonance Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Materials.
Ultra-narrowband blue multi-resonance-induced thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) materials (V-DABNA and V-DABNA-F), consisting of three DABNA subunits possessing phenyl or 2,6-difluorophenyl substituents on the peripheral nitrogen atoms are synthesized by one-shot triple borylation. Benefiting from the inductive effect of fluorine atoms, the emission maximum of V-DABNA-F (464 nm) is blueshifted from that of the parent V-DABNA (481 nm), while maintaining a small full width at half maximum (FWHM, 16 nm) and a high rate constant for reverse intersystem crossing (6.5 × 105 s-1 ). The organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) using V-DABNA and V-DABNA-F as emitters are fabricated by vapor deposition and exhibit blue emission at 483 and 468 nm with small FWHMs of 17 and 15 nm, corresponding to Commission Internationale d'Éclairage coordinates of (0.09, 0.27) and (0.12, 0.10), respectively. Both devices achieve high external quantum efficiencies of 26.2% and 26.6% at the maximum with minimum efficiency roll-offs of 0.9% and 3.2%, respectively, even at 1000 cd m-2 , which are record-setting values for blue MR-TADF OLEDs.


Poly-dopamine, poly-levodopa, and poly-norepinephrine coatings: Comparison of physico-chemical and biological properties with focus on the application for blood-contacting devices.
Thanks to its simplicity, versatility, and secondary reactivity, dopamine self-polymerized coatings (pDA) have been widely used in surface modification of biomaterials, but the limitation in secondary molecular grafting and the high roughness restrain their application in some special scenarios. Therefore, some other catecholamine coatings analog to pDA have attracted more and more attention, including the smoother poly-norepinephrine coating (pNE), and the poly-levodopa coating (pLD) containing additional carboxyl groups. However, the lack of a systematic comparison of the properties, especially the biological properties of the above three catecholamine coatings, makes it difficult to give a guiding opinion on the application scenarios of different coatings. Herein, we systematically studied the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the three catecholamine coatings, and explored the feasibility of their application for the modification of biomaterials, especially cardiovascular materials. Among them, the pDA coating was the roughest, with the largest amount of amino and phenolic hydroxyl groups for molecule grafting, and induced the strongest platelet adhesion and activation. The pLD coating was the thinnest and most hydrophilic but triggered the strongest inflammatory response. The pNE coating was the smoothest, with the best hemocompatibility and histocompatibility, and with the strongest cell selectivity of promoting the proliferation of endothelial cells while inhibiting the proliferation of smooth muscle cells. To sum up, the pNE coating may be a better choice for the surface modification of cardiovascular materials, especially those for vascular stents and grafts, but it is still not widely recognized.


Renal functional reserve in live related kidney donors.
Renal function in 12 live kidney donors who had donated a kidney to a relative 3 to 10 years previously was studied. No clinically significant impairment of renal function was observed in the group. A significant rise in creatinine clearance (P = less than 0.01) occurred after a meat-protein load. When compared with 12 healthy controls with two kidneys, there was no significant difference in the percentage change in clearance after the meat load. In both groups there was an inverse correlation between the percentage change in creatinine clearance and the baseline creatinine clearance (P = less than 0.01), with no significant difference in the regression lines of the two groups. In conclusion, it appears that the single kidney responds appropriately to a meat-protein load and that there is no evidence from this study to suggest that hyperfiltration damaged the remaining kidney.


Short-term follow-up pilot study of sole middle meningeal artery embolization for chronic subdural hematoma: influence of internal architecture on the radiological outcomes.
To identify prognostic factors with emphasis on chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) architecture that determines short-term outcome of middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE). Consecutive CSDH patients treated by MMAE (November 2019 and March 2022) were retrospectively analyzed. Four architectures were analyzed: homogeneous, laminar, separated, and trabecular types. Predictor variables from baseline CT were correlated with radiological endpoint (≥ 50% of hematoma volume reduction), time to reach the endpoint, and rate of volume reduction. Study included 50 patients with 56 CSDHs (median age [first quartile, Q1; third quartile, Q3] 70.5 [60, 78.3] years; 36 were men). Separated type reached the endpoint at a lower rate on both bivariate (p = 0.02) and multivariate Cox model (0.034). Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that the median [Q1, Q3] time for 50% of the hematomas to reach the endpoint was 5 [4, 8], 4 [3, 5], 15 [15, 15], and 11 [4, 19] weeks for homogeneous, laminar, separated, and trabecular types, respectively. Linear mixed-effect model demonstrated a significant variation in the slope of hematoma volume reduction that was - 4.16 (95% confidence interval [CI] - 5.4, - 2.9), - 6.7 (95% CI - 8.35, - 5.1), - 2.03 (95% CI - 4.14, 0.08), and - 5.06 (95% CI - 6.8, - 3.32) ml per week for homogeneous, laminar, separated, and trabecular subtypes, respectively. Separated CSDH is a poor prognostic type in achieving radiological endpoint and a slower rate of volume reduction. While, homogeneous and laminar types reached the endpoint faster than separated and trabecular types on short-term follow-up.


Effect of turgor pressure on water permeability of Allium cepa epidermis cell membranes.
Using onion epidermis layer a very accurate method for measuring the permeability of epidermis cells to water was standardized. In this method a 1.4 cm diameter epidermis disc was soaked in tritiated water (50 micronCi/ml) for about 1 hr. Next the disc was mounted in a specially designed elution chamber where it was held flat and washed on the noncuticular side with ordinary water. A constant flow rate, high enough to minimize unstirred layer effect, was used. Permeability was calculated in the usual way after separating different exponentials from the efflux curve of tritiated water. Turgor pressure of the cell was regulated by soaking thedisc in mannitol solutions containing tritiated water and washing it in the chamber with same concentration mannitol solution containing no radioactivity. Water permeability values were found to decrease less than 8% when the turgor pressure was decreased from 8 atm (full turgor) to zero. Turgor pressure had no significant effect on the water permeability of onion epidermal cells. Our results are contradictory to the findings of Zimmerman and Steudle (1974, J Membrane Biol. 16:331) but aresimilar to the findings of Tazawa and Kamiya (1966, Aust J. Biol. Sci. 19:399) and Kiyosawa and Tazawa (1972, Protoplasma 74:257).


Development and Validation of a Model for Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgical Instrument Recognition Using Convolutional Neural Network-Based Instance Segmentation and Videos of Laparoscopic Procedures.
Deep learning-based automatic surgical instrument recognition is an indispensable technology for surgical research and development. However, pixel-level recognition with high accuracy is required to make it suitable for surgical automation. To develop a deep learning model that can simultaneously recognize 8 types of surgical instruments frequently used in laparoscopic colorectal operations and evaluate its recognition performance. This quality improvement study was conducted at a single institution with a multi-institutional data set. Laparoscopic colorectal surgical videos recorded between April 1, 2009, and December 31, 2021, were included in the video data set. Deep learning-based instance segmentation, an image recognition approach that recognizes each object individually and pixel by pixel instead of roughly enclosing with a bounding box, was performed for 8 types of surgical instruments. Average precision, calculated from the area under the precision-recall curve, was used as an evaluation metric. The average precision represents the number of instances of true-positive, false-positive, and false-negative results, and the mean average precision value for 8 types of surgical instruments was calculated. Five-fold cross-validation was used as the validation method. The annotation data set was split into 5 segments, of which 4 were used for training and the remainder for validation. The data set was split at the per-case level instead of the per-frame level; thus, the images extracted from an intraoperative video in the training set never appeared in the validation set. Validation was performed for all 5 validation sets, and the average mean average precision was calculated. In total, 337 laparoscopic colorectal surgical videos were used. Pixel-by-pixel annotation was manually performed for 81 760 labels on 38 628 static images, constituting the annotation data set. The mean average precisions of the instance segmentation for surgical instruments were 90.9% for 3 instruments, 90.3% for 4 instruments, 91.6% for 6 instruments, and 91.8% for 8 instruments. A deep learning-based instance segmentation model that simultaneously recognizes 8 types of surgical instruments with high accuracy was successfully developed. The accuracy was maintained even when the number of types of surgical instruments increased. This model can be applied to surgical innovations, such as intraoperative navigation and surgical automation.


[Intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) vs intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in patients with repeated ICSI failure].
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is highly effective for the control of male factor infertility. The sperm selected for ICSI may have structural abnormalities undetectable to 400x as nuclear vacuoles, decreasing rates of pregnancy and implantation. Recent studies show that with intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI), at higher magnification (> 6,600x), increases pregnancy and implantation rates in patients with repeated failure to ICSI. To compare the results of the injection of selected motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME) for IMSI, instead of the use of ICSI in patients with repeated failure to ICSI. Prospective, observational cohort study. Since February 1, 2010 was administered IMSI to couples with at least two failed cycles of ICSI, and analyzed the first 30 cycles in patients under 38 years of good ovarian reserve. This study group was compared with the last 30 cycles of ICSI performed before that date, in patients with similar clinical characteristics. The IMSI was performed with a magnification of 7,676 increases for evaluation and sperm selection. The groups had similar clinical characteristics. The pregnancy rate with IMSI was better than with ICSI (63 vs. 50%), the difference was not significant for the size of the sample, although the trend is clear and clinically significant in favor to IMSI. The implantation rate with IMSI (44.8%) showed statistically significant differences vs. ICSI (29.7%). No significant differences in abortion rates. IMSI significantly improves the implantation rate in patients with repeated failure to ICSI.


Regulation of human chorionic somatomammotropin gene expression in rat pituitary tumour cells.
A gene (hCS-1) coding for human chorionic somatomammotropin (hCS) was introduced stably into rat anterior pituitary tumour (GC) cells. These cells were treated with hormones, growth and other factors implicated in hCS production in the placenta. Levels of hCS-1 gene mRNA and hCS release were increased by thyroid hormone, dexamethasone, a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) analogue (8-bromo-cAMP), and phorbol ester, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). No significant response to insulin, medium glucose levels, epidermal growth factor or insulin-like growth factor II was observed. A hybrid gene containing the 5'-flanking sequences from the intact hCS-1 gene was also stably introduced into GC cells. These cells were tested to determine the contribution made by 5'-flanking DNA on the responses observed with the intact gene. Although expression of this hybrid gene was stimulated by thyroid hormone, no response to 8-bromo-cAMP or PMA was observed. These data suggest that sequences downstream of the transcription initiation site might play an important role in hCS gene expression and regulation.


Theory of concentration dependence in drag reduction by polymers and of the maximum drag reduction asymptote.
A simple model of the effect of polymer concentration on the amount of drag reduction in turbulence is presented, simulated, and analyzed. The qualitative phase diagram of drag coefficient versus Reynolds number (Re) is recaptured in this model, including the theoretically elusive onset of drag reduction and the maximum drag reduction (MDR) asymptote. The Re-dependent drag and the MDR are analytically explained, and the dependence of the amount of drag on material parameters is rationalized.


Bench test assessment of mainstream capnography during high frequency oscillatory ventilation.
To assess the feasibility, stability and predictability of pCO2 measurement (PETCO2) using a main stream capnograph in a high frequency oscillatory ventilation circuit. A commercially available capnograph was mounted into a high frequency oscillatory ventilator patient circuit, adjustable CO2 flow was introduced into an artificial lung and the output of the CO2 sensor assessed under varying ventilator settings. Influence of oxygen content, pressures, heat and moisture were recorded. A linear relationship between CO2 flow rate and PETCO2 was found. Varying ventilator settings influenced the measurements, but the results for PETCO2 remained within a range of 1.5 mmHg above or under then mean measurement value. Measurements remained stable despite humidification, heat, pressure amplitudes or mean airway pressure changes. From this bench test, we conclude it is feasible to measure PETCO2 using a main stream capnograph during high frequency oscillatory conditions, these measurements were stable during the experiment. Changes in CO2 production or output can be detected. The system may prove to be of clinical value, but further in vivo measurements are warranted.


Factors associated with electroencephalographic and clinical remission of benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.
Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is strongly related to age, both to age at the time of seizure onset and to age at remission. However, the age of remission varies. The present study analyzed factors associated with remission of BECTS. Sixty-nine children with BECTS were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-eight (55.1%) were boys and 31 (44.9%) were girls. Mean age at seizure onset was 86.36 ± 24.55 months (range: 41-151 months). The mean age at the time of EEG improvement or remission was 138.31 ± 19.71 months. Of the 69 patients, 36 (52.2%) exhibited electroencephalography (EEG) improvement or remission before age 11.5 years, whereas 33 (47.8%) showed later improvement or remission. The two groups differed significantly in age at seizure onset. When patients were divided into groups using an age cutoff for last seizure of 9 years, the two groups differed significantly in age at seizure onset. The most important predictor of early BECTS remission is age at seizure onset.


Biomechanical analysis of press-extension technique on degenerative lumbar with disc herniation and staggered facet joint.
This study investigates the effect of a new Chinese massage technique named "press-extension" on degenerative lumbar with disc herniation and facet joint dislocation, and provides a biomechanical explanation of this massage technique. Self-developed biomechanical software was used to establish a normal L1-S1 lumbar 3D FE model, which integrated the spine CT and MRI data-based anatomical structure. Then graphic technique is utilized to build a degenerative lumbar FE model with disc herniation and facet joint dislocation. According to the actual press-extension experiments, mechanic parameters are collected to set boundary condition for FE analysis. The result demonstrated that press-extension techniques bring the annuli fibrosi obvious induction effect, making the central nucleus pulposus forward close, increasing the pressure in front part. Study concludes that finite element modelling for lumbar spine is suitable for the analysis of press-extension technique impact on lumbar intervertebral disc biomechanics, to provide the basis for the disease mechanism of intervertebral disc herniation using press-extension technique.


Effect of spilled diluted bitumen on chemical air-water exchange in boreal lake limnocorrals.
Following spills into water, petroleum oils can spread widely and produce surface slicks. Resulting slicks may impede volatilization and possibly increase chemical persistence in water. While the influence of oil films on chemical air-water exchange has been examined through theoretical and laboratory studies, field studies have not been conducted to assess the relevance of these effects following actual oil spill events. Here we evaluated the effect of diluted bitumen (dilbit) experimentally spilled in limnocorrals installed in a boreal lake on the volatilization of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a non-reactive volatile tracer gas. Dilbit spills were monitored over 70 days and SF6 was introduced twice (after 7 and 48 days) to evaluate the influence of spilled dilbit on the loss of SF6 from water. Volatilization rate constants of SF6 (kVOL) significantly decreased by up to 80% with increasing total dilbit spill cover. Using a theoretical equation, decreases in kVOL were largely explained by a reduction in open water area where chemical exchange across the air-water interface occurs. Apparent effects of the slick on SF6 mass transfer were estimated to be smaller by comparison (20%).To account for this reduction in volatilization, oil spill fate models should include a correction to consider the impact of spill cover on the air-water exchange of organic chemicals.


Isotope-induced partial localization of core electrons in the homonuclear molecule N2.
Because of inversion symmetry and particle exchange, all constituents of homonuclear diatomic molecules are in a quantum mechanically non-local coherent state; this includes the nuclei and deep-lying core electrons. Hence, the molecular photoemission can be regarded as a natural double-slit experiment: coherent electron emission originates from two identical sites, and should give rise to characteristic interference patterns. However, the quantum coherence is obscured if the two possible symmetry states of the electronic wavefunction ('gerade' and 'ungerade') are degenerate; the sum of the two exactly resembles the distinguishable, incoherent emission from two localized core sites. Here we observe the coherence of core electrons in N(2) through a direct measurement of the interference exhibited in their emission. We also explore the gradual transition to a symmetry-broken system of localized electrons by comparing different isotope-substituted species--a phenomenon analogous to the acquisition of partial 'which-way' information in macroscopic double-slit experiments.


Methylations of 70,000-Da heat shock proteins in 3T3 cells: alterations by arsenite treatment, by different stages of growth and by virus transformation.
We have characterized the basic amino acid methylation of three members of the 70,000-Da heat shock protein superfamily, hsp68, hsc70, and BiP, in Balb/c 3T3 cells. It appears that a lysyl residue is the only methylation site in BiP and that both lysyl and arginyl residues are methylated in hsp68 and hsc70. In all cases, epsilon-N-trimethyllysine is the predominant methyllysine species. Both NG-monomethylarginine and NG,NG-dimethylarginine are identified as the methylarginine species. The stoichiometry of the methylation is indirectly determined by using the amount of actin methylation as a reference. Three, four, and four methyl groups are incorporated into lysyl residues of hsp68, hsc70, and BiP, respectively. The level of lysyl methylation in hsc70 remains unchanged under different growth conditions. On the other hand, the arginyl methylation in hsc70 varies considerably. In confluent Balb/c 3T3 cells, there are 1.8 and 1.3 methyl groups in dimethylarginine and monomethyl-arginine, respectively. In nonconfluent cells, the amount of monomethylarginine is similar to that in confluent cells, but dimethylarginine is not detectable. Furthermore, in both confluent and nonconfluent cells, the level of monomethylarginine is reduced 5- to 10-fold after arsenite treatment. However, in 3T3 cells transformed by Rous sarcoma virus (SR-RSV 3T3 cells), the level of arginine methylation is constitutively lower and cannot be reduced further by arsenite.


The human urinary gastric inhibitor displays blood-group activity.
The human urinary glycoprotein with gastric antisecretory activity displays a marked blood-group activity corresponding to the blood-group of the subject examined. Several studies exclude the possibility that the activity is due to contaminants.


Kinetic change of spinal cord compression on flexion-extension magnetic resonance imaging in cervical spine.
We aimed to determine the changes in cervical canal diameters and spinal cord compression at each level from C2-3 to C7-T1 in flexion and extension positions and to study the use of flexion-extension magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We also aimed to assess the changes in the length of the spinal cord in flexion and extension positions of the cervical spine. Flexion-extension MRI scans were performed consecutively on sixty-six patients with neck pain with/without neurogenic symptoms of the cervical spine. All patients were treated conservatively. We investigated the length of the cervical spinal cord (LSC), length of the cervical spinal anterior column (LAC), length of the cervical spinal posterior column (LPC), spinal canal diameter, and severity of cord compression in flexion, neutral, and extension positions. At each intervertebral level (from C2-3 to C7-T1), the average spinal canal diameter showed significant decrease from flexion to extension positions (P < 0.05). The average LSC, LAC, and LPC were decreased on extension of the neck compared with flexion (P < 0.05). Higher stages were found in extension position than in flexion position with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The use of flexion-extension MRI may demonstrate true pathology that contributes in the pathogenesis of cervical degenerative disease (CDD). Higher stages in spinal cord compression were found in extension position than in flexion position. However, higher stages in spinal cord compression in extension position did not necessarily cause severe myelopathy. This finding is an important evidence for conservative therapy on patient neck position education.


Adherence of Escherichia coli in pathogenesis of endometritis and effects of estradiol examined by scanning electron microscopy.
Escherichia coli was inoculated into the uterine lumen of ovariectomized rats, and the endometrial surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Adherence of E. coli to the epithelium and destruction of the surface leading to purulent endometritis were noticed. When rats were treated previously with estradiol, adherence of E. coli was not detected.


The development of pulmonary surfactant lipids in a neonatal marsupial and the rat.
The composition of pulmonary surfactant during development was compared in a marsupial, the tammar wallaby, and the rat. For both species phospholipid fatty acid and neutral lipid fatty acid composition is similar, and phosphatidylcholine was the principal phospholipid at each age group. The relative amount of each phospholipid class significantly changed with time in both species but the extent of these changes did not vary between species. The neutral lipid component of surfactant varied significantly between the marsupial and eutherian, with higher levels of free cholesterol observed in the former. Overall the lipid composition of pulmonary surfactant in the developing wallaby is similar to that seen in eutherians with the exception being the level of free cholesterol.


Efficiency and mechanism on photocatalytic degradation of fluoranthene in soil by Z-scheme g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 photocatalyst under simulated sunlight.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil have potential harm on human health. However, remediation of PAH-contaminated soils through photocatalytic technology remains a challenge. Therefore, the photocatalyst g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 was synthesized and applied to photocatalytic degradation of fluoranthene in soil. The physicochemical properties of g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 and various degradation parameters, such as catalyst dosage, the ratio of water/soil, and initial pH, were investigated in detail. In soil slurry reaction system (water/soil=10:1, w/w), the optimal degradation efficiency on fluoranthene was 88.7% after simulated sunlight irradiation for 12 h (contaminated soil=2 g, initial fluoranthene concentration=36 mg/kg, catalyst dosage=5%, and pH=6.8), and the photocatalytic degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The degradation efficiency of g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 was higher compared with P25. Degradation mechanism analysis showed that •O2- and h+ are the main active species in photocatalytic degradation process of fluoranthene by g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3. Coupling g-C3N4 and α-Fe2O3 enhances the interfacial charge transport capacity via Z-scheme charge transfer route and inhibits the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes of g-C3N4 and α-Fe2O3, then significantly improves the production of active species and photocatalytic activity. Results showed that photocatalytic treatment of soil by g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 is an effective strategy for remediation of soils contaminated by PAHs.


[Dependence of rigor tension developed by skinned rabbit psoas fibers on the ionic strength of solution].
The magnitude of isometric tension developed by a bundle of skinned rabbit psoas fibers when it is transferred from relaxing to rigor solution strongly depends on the ionic strength value of the bathing rigor solution. Upon elevation of the ionic strength from 0.04 to 0.34 the rigor tension declines about 2.3 times.


Partition of DDE in synthetic and native membranes determined by ultraviolet derivative spectroscopy.
Partition coefficients of DDE (2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene) were determined, in model and native membranes, as a function of temperature, lipid chain length, cholesterol content and DDE concentration, by means of second derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometry. DDE incorporation increases with the temperature, since the partition values in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), at 24, 30 and 37 degrees C, are 5722 +/- 138, 10356 +/- 763 and 14006 +/- 740, respectively. The insecticide incorporates better into bilayers of DMPC as compared with DPPC (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine). The partition decreases from 10355 +/- 763 in DMPC to 6432 +/- 613 in DPPC, at temperatures 5-7 degrees C above the midpoint of their transitions. The addition of cholesterol to fluid membranes of DMPC depresses the partition of DDE. In agreement with the results in models of synthetic lipids, the partition of DDE into native membranes increases with the temperature and decreases with the intrinsic cholesterol. It is concluded that a fluid membrane favors the accumulation of DDE.


Potential assistive technology preferences of informal caregivers of people with disability.
Preferences of informal caregivers of people with neurocognitive disorders for technological solutions are important in user- centered design approaches. It is crucial to take into consideration the needs and preferences of users when developing new technology to facilitate their uptake. The objective of this study was to determine caregiver preferences for potential technological solutions to help address their needs and compare technology preferences of caregivers who provide care to those with and without neurocognitive disorders (NCD). This was a quantitative descriptive study. We surveyed informal caregivers of older adults with disability in Canada. Participants were asked to answer questions about their preferences for 10 potential technological solutions that could be developed to make caregiving easier. Data from 125 respondents (72 caregivers of people with NCD and 53 caregivers of people with non-NCD-related disabilities) were analyzed. Generally, caregivers preferred web-based solutions as these were among the first five choices for both groups combined. However, there were some differences in the order of preference of potential solutions in both groups. Informal caregivers of people with NCD preferred web-based solutions to help address their needs.


Impact of post-colposcopy management on women's long-term worries: results from the UK population-based TOMBOLA trial.
Effective cervical screening reduces cancer incidence and mortality. However, these benefits may be accompanied by some harms, potentially including, adverse psychological impacts. Studies suggest women may have concerns about various specific issues, such as cervical cancer. To compare worries about cervical cancer, future fertility, having sex, and general health between women managed by alternative policies at colposcopy. Multicentre individually-randomised controlled trial, nested within the National Health Service Cervical Screening Programmes. UK. 1515 women, aged 20-59 years, with low-grade cytology who attended colposcopy during February 2001-October 2002, were randomised to immediate loop excision or punch biopsies with recall for treatment if cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)2/3 was confirmed. Women completed questionnaires at recruitment and after 12, 18, 24 and 30 months. Outcomes were prevalence of worries at each time-point (point prevalence) and at any time-point during follow-up (12-30 months; cumulative prevalence). Primary analysis was by intention-to-treat (ITT); secondary per-protocol analysis compared groups according to management received among women with an abnormal transformation zone. Cumulative prevalence of worries was: cervical cancer 40%; having sex 26%, future fertility 24%, and general health 60%. In ITT analyses, there were no statistically significant differences between management arms in cumulative or point prevalence of any of the worries. In per-protocol analyses, between-group differences were significant only for future fertility; cumulative prevalence was highest in women who underwent punch biopsies and treatment. There is no difference in the prevalence of specific worries in women randomised to alternative post-colposcopy management policies. 34841617.


Axial muscle activation provides stabilization against perturbations while running.
Incidence of traumatic brain injury is an important hazard in sports and recreation. Unexpected (blind-sided) impacts with other players, obstacles, and the ground can be particularly dangerous. We believe this is partially due to the lack of muscular activation which would have otherwise provided protective bracing. In this study participants were asked to run on the treadmill while undergoing perturbations applied at the waist which pulled participants in the fore-aft and lateral directions. To determine the effect of unexpected impacts, participants were given a directional audio-visual warning 0.5 s prior to the perturbation in half of the trials and were unwarned in the other half of the trials. Perturbations were given during the start of the stance phase and during the start of the flight phase to examine two distinct points within the locomotor cycle. Muscle activity was monitored in axial muscles before, during, and after the perturbations were given. We hypothesized that the presence of a warning would allow for voluntary axial muscle activity prior to and during perturbations that would provide bracing of the body, and decreased displacement and acceleration of the head compared to unwarned perturbations. Our results indicate that when a warning is given prior to perturbation, the body was displaced significantly less, and the linear acceleration of the head was also significantly lessened in response to some perturbations. The perturbations given in this study caused significant increases in axial muscle activity compared to activity present during control running. We found evidence that cervical and abdominal muscles increased activity in response to the warning and that typically the warned trials displayed a lower reflexive muscle activity response. Additionally, we found a stronger effect of the warnings on muscle activity within the perturbations given during flight phase than those given at stance phase. Results from this study support the hypothesis that knowledge regarding an impending perturbation is used by the neuromuscular system to activate relevant core musculature and provide bracing to the athlete.


Match and mismatch between objective and subjective improvements in upper limb function after stroke.
To identify stroke patients showing a match between an objectively meaningful improvement in upper-limb motor capacity and subjectively meaningful improvement in upper-limb performance after stroke, as well as determinants of matching and non-matching. Changes in upper-limb capacity in 39 stroke patients were measured over 17 weeks using the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). Subjective change was measured with the Stroke Impact Scale Hand domain (SIS-Hand) and the Motor Activity Log (MAL). Patients showing a match between objective and subjective improvements (matchers) and patients showing a mismatch (non-matchers) were identified. Subsequently, determinants for the matchers were modeled using a logistic regression analysis. A significant association was found between improvements on the ARAT and MAL (p = 0.011), but not for improvements on the ARAT and SIS-Hand. For the ARAT and SIS-Hand level of education and mood significantly improved the model. The probability of a match between objective and subjective outcomes in lower-educated patients with a positive mood was estimated to be 0.83, whereas in higher-educated patients with a negative mood it was estimated to be 0.07. Mismatches between objective and subjective outcomes are relevant for practitioners evaluating rehabilitation goals, and for defining outcome variables in future upper limb rehabilitation trials. Implications for Rehabilitation In upper limb rehabilitation after stroke, a match between capacity and self-perception outcome measures is not self-evident. Regarding these potential mismatches, practitioners and patients should consider carefully which goals to set, and how to evaluate upper limb rehabilitation after stroke; preferably with capacity measures and self-perception measures combined.