Ultrastructural characterization of Pleistophora macrozoarcidis Nigerelli 1946 (Microsporidia) infecting the ocean pout Macrozoarces americanus (Perciformes, Zoarcidae) from the gulf of Maine, MA, USA

Abstract

Pleistophora macrozoarcidis a microsporidian parasite infecting the muscle tissue of the ocean pout Macrozoarces americanus collected from the Gulf of Maine of the Atlantic Ocean, MA, USA, was morphologically described on the basis of ultrastructural features. Infection was detected as opaque white or rusty brown lesions scattered throughout the musculature of the fish mainly in the region anterior to anus. Transmission electron microscopy showed that in individual parasitized muscle cells, the infection progresses within parasite formed vesicles which are in direct contact with muscle cell elements. The earliest observed parasitic stages are the globular multinucleated proliferative cells or plasmodia limited by a highly tortuous plasmalemma with intervesicular finger-like digitations projecting into the parasite cytoplasm. These cells divided through the invagination of the plasmalemma and the amorphous coat producing daughter-cells. Fine electron-dense secretion is deposited on the plasmalemma that causes its thickening which is a sign of commencement of the sporogonic phase. This phase is carried out by cytokinesis of the sporonts and results in the formation of sporoblasts and finally spores. Mature spore has a thin electron-dense exospore, a thick electron-lucent endospore, and the plasma membrane which encloses the spore contents. A single nucleus is centrally located with the posterior region containing a posterior vacuole. The majority of spores have 7–13 coils in 1–2 rows, and a small group of spores had about 23 coils forming two rows. Events of polar filament extrusion for penetration of uninfected cells were studied. The polaroplast membranes were expanded and occupy most of the length of the spore. The coils are dislocated from the sides of the spore to throughout the entire sporoplasm. The polar filament everts and extrudes through the polar cap with a sufficient force to pierce adjacent sporophorous vesicle walls. After eversion, the polar filament is referred to as a polar tubule, as it forms a tube through which the sporoplasm travels. It pierces anything in its path and deposits the sporoplasm at a new location to begin another infective cycle.

http://ift.tt/2cAdTCC

Phytosterol Esterification is Markedly Decreased in Preterm Infants Receiving Routine Parenteral Nutrition

Abstract

Several studies reported the association between total plasma phytosterol concentrations and the parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis (PNAC). To date, no data are available on phytosterol esterification in animals and in humans during parenteral nutrition (PN). We measured free and esterified sterols (cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, and sitosterol) plasma concentrations during PN in 16 preterm infants (500–1249 g of birth weight; Preterm-PN), in 11 term infants (Term-PN) and in 12 adults (Adult-PN). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used for measurements. Plasma concentrations of free cholesterol (Free-CHO), free phytosterols (Free-PHY) and esterified phytosterols (Ester-PHY) were not different among the three PN groups. Esterified cholesterol (Ester-CHO) was statistically lower in Preterm-PN than Adult-PN. Preterm-PN had significantly higher Free-CHO/Ester-CHO and Free-PHY/Ester-PHY ratios than Adult-PN (Free-CHO/Ester-CHO: 1.1 ± 0.7 vs. 0.6 ± 0.2; Free-PHY/Ester-PHY: 4.1 ± 2.6 vs. 1.3 ± 0.8; *P < 0.05). Free-CHO/Ester-CHO and Free-PHY/Ester-PHY ratios of Term-PN (Free-CHO/Ester-CHO: 1.1 ± 0.4; Free-PHY/Ester-PHY: 2.9 ± 1.7) were not different from either Preterm-PN or from Adult-PN. Plasma Free-CHO/Ester-CHO and Free-PHY/Ester-PHY were unchanged after 24 h on fat-free PN both in Preterm-PN and in Adult-PN. Free-PHY/Ester-PHY did not correlate with phytosterol intake in Preterm-PN. Free-PHY/Ester-PHY of Preterm-PN was positively correlated with the Free-CHO/Ester-CHO and negatively correlated with gestational age and birth weight. In conclusion, PHY were esterified to a lesser extent than CHO in all study groups; the esterification was markedly decreased in Preterm-PN compared to Adult-PN. The clinical consequences of these findings warrant further investigations.

http://ift.tt/2d74eTB

Intelligent data analysis approaches to churn as a business problem: a survey

Abstract

Globalization processes and market deregulation policies are rapidly changing the competitive environments of many economic sectors. The appearance of new competitors and technologies leads to an increase in competition and, with it, a growing preoccupation among service-providing companies with creating stronger customer bonds. In this context, anticipating the customer's intention to abandon the provider, a phenomenon known as churn, becomes a competitive advantage. Such anticipation can be the result of the correct application of information-based knowledge extraction in the form of business analytics. In particular, the use of intelligent data analysis, or data mining, for the analysis of market surveyed information can be of great assistance to churn management. In this paper, we provide a detailed survey of recent applications of business analytics to churn, with a focus on computational intelligence methods. This is preceded by an in-depth discussion of churn within the context of customer continuity management. The survey is structured according to the stages identified as basic for the building of the predictive models of churn, as well as according to the different types of predictive methods employed and the business areas of their application.

http://ift.tt/2cXa7Ul

Fast affinity propagation clustering based on incomplete similarity matrix

Abstract

Affinity propagation (AP) is a recently proposed clustering algorithm, which has been successful used in a lot of practical problems. Although effective in finding meaningful clustering solutions, a key disadvantage of AP is its efficiency, which has become the bottleneck when applying AP for large-scale problems. In the literature, most of the methods proposed to improve the efficiency of AP are based on implementing the message-passing on a sparse similarity matrix, while neither the decline in effectiveness nor the improvement in efficiency is theoretically analyzed. In this paper, we propose a two-stage fast affinity propagation (FastAP) algorithm. Different from previous work, the scale of the similarity matrix is first compressed by selecting only potential exemplars, then further reduced by sparseness according to k nearest neighbors. More importantly, we provide theoretical analysis, based on which the improvement of efficiency in our method is controllable with guaranteed clustering performance. In experiments, two synthetic data sets, seven publicly available data sets, and two real-world streaming data sets are used to evaluate the proposed method. The results demonstrate that FastAP can achieve comparable clustering performances with the original AP algorithm, while the computational efficiency has been improved with a several-fold speed-up on small data sets and a dozens-of-fold on larger-scale data sets.

http://ift.tt/2dnoGyP

Statistical optimization for enhanced yields of probiotic Bacillus coagulans and its phage resistant mutants followed by kinetic modelling of the process

Probiotics are microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer health benefits to the host. A leading pharmaceutical company producing Bacillus coagulans as a probiotic was facing the problem o...

http://ift.tt/2cOAbAd

Outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth disease caused by coxsackievirus A6 in a Juku in Fengtai District, Beijing, China, 2015

An outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) that occurred in a Juku in Fengtai District, Beijing, China, in 2015 was monitored by the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. Epidem...

http://ift.tt/2dc2wmT

Isolation and identification of flavonoids components from Pteris vittata L.

Pteris vittata L. is rich in flavonoids which exhibit different bioactivities. In order to investigate the flavonoids components of P. vittata L., extracts of the plant were isolated b...

http://ift.tt/2cOzYx6

Educational workshops with graduates of the University of Cape Town Karl Storz Head and Neck Surgery Fellowship Program: a model for collaboration in outreach to developing countries

The University of Cape Town Karl Storz Head and Neck Surgery Fellowship is the only head and neck surgery fellowship in Sub-Saharan Africa. This article briefly describes this fellowship and outlines the exper...

http://ift.tt/2dc23kg

Sunt verba rerum: the pragmatic life of words

Pragmatics is not about language as such, viewed in isolation, but about words as they are being used. And words are never things, pure objects; words have their history and lives: their story is the story of ...

http://ift.tt/2cOySBk

Graphene oxide reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol) composite fibers via template-oriented crystallization

Abstract

Here, a high breaking strength and high initial modulus fibers comprised of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and graphene oxide (GO) were fabricated via simple method of solution blending and wet-spinning. The structure and properties of these fibers were studied in details using two-dimensional X-ray diffractions, differential scanning calorimetry, one-dimensional X-ray diffractions, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile test. Compared with pure PVA fiber, a 43 % improvement of breaking strength and an 81 % improvement of initial modulus were achieved by addition of 0.1 wt% of GO, and the results indicated that crystallization and orientation of GO/PVA composite fibers were both increased. GO could not only promote PVA chains ordered arrangement for increasing crystallization, but also act as a template for polymer amorphous orientation via the interactions between PVA and GO in the process of hot drawing and heat setting, which were responsible for the significant improvement in the mechanical properties of GO/PVA composite fibers.

Graphical abstract

GO could not only promote PVA chains ordered arrangement for increasing crystallization, but also act as a template for PVA amorphous orientation in the process of hot drawing. The amorphous orientation degree and the crystallization degree of PVA fibers were increased by adding GO.

http://ift.tt/2d7aEnj

Two cases of lung herniation treated by surgery or observation

Abstract

Lung herniation is rare. We describe two cases; one cured by surgery, and the other observed without surgery. A 61-year-old man underwent minimally invasive cardiac surgery for mitral valve plasty. Four weeks postoperatively, chest computed tomography (CT) revealed exacerbating lung herniation and emergency surgery was performed. A 75-year-old man with metastatic tumor underwent partial resection of the left lower lobe through a 10-cm access window. Three months postoperatively, follow-up chest CT revealed prolapse of a small part of the upper lobe at the site of incision. However, he remained asymptomatic and was observed on an outpatient basis.

http://ift.tt/2ctVGZ6

A rare case: bioprosthetic tricuspid valvuloplasty dramatically improved hepatic encephalopathy

Abstract

A 51-year-old woman was diagnosed as severe stenosed tricuspid bioprosthetic valve. She had developed an encephalopathy due to elevated serum ammonia concentration caused by congestive hepatic failure. Re-tricuspid valve replacement was deemed too risky, and balloon bioprosthetic valvuloplasty was instead planned. This procedure was successfully performed using a standard mitral valvuloplasty protocol. The 30-mm INOUE-BALLOON was inflated five times. The mean pressure gradient across the bioprosthetic valve decreased from 7.8 to 3.5 mmHg, and the tricuspid valve orifice area increased from 1.09 to 3.13 cm², without worsening of the tricuspid valve regurgitation. Finally, her hepatic encephalopathy was dramatically improved.

http://ift.tt/2d6M704

Trans-aortic endoscopic ventricular thrombectomy in a patient with HIT and concomitant Aortic and ventricular thromboses

Abstract

Dual aortic and ventricular thrombi are rare following myocardial infraction. We report the case of a 56-year-old man who initially denied primary percutaneous coronary intervention as a result of psychological phobia. Initial pharmacological management by thrombolysis and heparin was followed by multiple arterial thromboses including those of the left ventricle and right iliac artery with a subsequent diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia. Ensuing surgical management revealed the unanticipated finding of an additional aortic sinus thrombosis that was excised. The left ventricular thrombus was removed endoscopically to prevent ventricular incisions. This case emphasizes the technical advantages of video-endoscopic management of intracardiac thrombi and highlights the unexpected nature of multiple thromboses associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia.

http://ift.tt/2ctVZTz

A persistent tracheocutaneous fistula closed with two hinged skin flaps and rib cartilage interpositional grafting

Abstract

Persistent tracheal fistula after tracheostomy decannulation is a recognized sequel to long-term tracheostomy use, causing important morbidity including difficult to vocalization and control of air secretions, recurrent pulmonary infections, and cosmetic and social problems. Herein, we reported a new method for closure of persistent tracheocutaneous fistula with rib cartilages. Compared to other techniques previously reported, the variations of our strategy were the use of temporary metal-covered tracheal stent and the hinged turnover skin bi-flaps reinforced with rib cartilage grafts. Rib cartilages were useful in order to reconstruct the trachea and prevent stenosis. Since it become difficult to obtain the maintenance of the trachea stability until healing of suture was well established, a covered metallic stent was also inserted to avoid flap collapse. The stent was removed 3 months later. Six months follow-up showed normal tracheal patency.

http://ift.tt/2d6Nyf0

Gas-Phase Analysis of the Complex of Fibroblast GrowthFactor 1 with Heparan Sulfate: A Traveling Wave Ion Mobility Spectrometry (TWIMS) and Molecular Modeling Study

Abstract

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) regulate several cellular developmental processes by interacting with cell surface heparan proteoglycans and transmembrane cell surface receptors (FGFR). The interaction of FGF with heparan sulfate (HS) is known to induce protein oligomerization, increase the affinity of FGF towards its receptor FGFR, promoting the formation of the HS–FGF–FGFR signaling complex. Although the role of HS in the signaling pathways is well recognized, the details of FGF oligomerization and formation of the ternary signaling complex are still not clear, with several conflicting models proposed in literature. Here, we examine the effect of size and sulfation pattern of HS upon FGF1 oligomerization, binding stoichiometry and conformational stability, through a combination of ion mobility (IM) and theoretical modeling approaches. Ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IMMS) of FGF1 in the presence of several HS fragments ranging from tetrasaccharide (dp4) to dodecasaccharide (dp12) in length was performed. A comparison of the binding stoichiometry of variably sulfated dp4 HS to FGF1 confirmed the significance of the previously known high-affinity binding motif in FGF1 dimerization, and demonstrated that certain tetrasaccharide-length fragments are also capable of inducing dimerization of FGF1. The degree of oligomerization was found to increase in the presence of dp12 HS, and a general lack of specificity for longer HS was observed. Additionally, collision cross-sections (CCSs) of several FGF1–HS complexes were calculated, and were found to be in close agreement with experimental results. Based on the (CCSs) a number of plausible binding modes of 2:1 and 3:1 FGF1–HS are proposed.

Graphical Abstract

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Calcipotriol/Betamethasone Dipropionate Foam: A Review in Plaque Psoriasis

Abstract

Calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate foam (Enstilar^®) is a once-daily synthetic vitamin D₃ analogue and synthetic corticosteroid fixed-dose combination foam formulation that is indicated for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis in adults. In randomized, multicentre trials, treatment with calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate foam for 4 weeks resulted in greater proportions of patients achieving treatment success [of the body (i.e. trunk and/or limbs), as assessed by a physician] compared with 4 weeks' treatment with the foam vehicle, individual components as foam, or calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate fixed-dose combination as an ointment, or 8 weeks' treatment with the fixed-dose combination as a topical suspension. Treatment with calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate foam resulted in significantly lower modified psoriasis area and severity index scores and, where assessed, greater improvements from baseline to week 4 in itch-related sleep loss and health-related quality of life than its comparators; results were mixed for patient-assessed improvements in itch. Overall, adverse events were mostly mild or moderate in severity, and the most commonly reported treatment-related adverse events were application-site events. Notably, there were no reports of clinically relevant effects on calcium homeostasis or the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate foam is a useful new option for patients with plaque psoriasis.

http://ift.tt/2crCBSg

Complete resection for pleomorphic lung cancer with a high serum IL-6 level: a case report

Abstract

Background

Pleomorphic lung cancer cells have been reported to produce cytokines, resulting in systemic reactions. Recently, the autonomous production of hematopoietic cytokines (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF], granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF], and interleukin-6 [IL-6]) was observed in some of these patients.

Case presentation

We herein report a case of complete resection of right pleomorphic lung cancer producing IL-6. The patient had a high-grade fever before surgery, and a blood examination showed high IL-6 and CRP levels in the serum. After surgery, the patient no longer had a fever, and the elevated serum IL-6 levels had dropped to values less than those before the operation. Immunohistochemically, the carcinoma cells were faintly or focally positive for IL-6 and negative for G-CSF.

Conclusions

The symptoms in the present case were dramatically improved by surgery. In addition, an immunohistochemical examination showed that the cancer cells were positive for IL-6.

http://ift.tt/2d7e6yi

Sedation choices and mortality: a well-defined tandem?

http://ift.tt/2dh9BCR

Finer gauge of cutting but not pencil-point needles correlate with lower incidence of post-dural puncture headache: a meta-regression analysis

Abstract

Purpose

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a well-known neurological outcome caused by leakage of cerebrospinal fluid during neuraxial anesthesia. Studies aimed at assessing the efficacy of finer gauged spinal needles to reduce the incidence of PDPH have produced conflicting results. We have therefore examined the effect of the gauge of cutting needles and pencil-point needles, separately, on the incidence of PDPH.

Methods

The PubMed, EMBASE and Google Scholar databases were searched for randomized studies which compared PDPH incidence in a head-to-head analysis of individual needle gauges of similar needle designs (cutting and pencil-point). A meta-regression analysis was performed taking into account various covariates, such as needle gauge and design, mean age of patient population, surgery type, percentage of males and females in study population and year of publication.

Results

Of the 22 studies (n = 5631) included in the analysis, 12 (n = 3148) and ten (n = 2483) compared different gauges of cutting needles and pencil-point needles, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, meta-regression analysis was performed for all studies that randomly compared individual needle gauges of similar needle design. Whereas the incidence of PDPH inversely correlated with gauge in cutting needles (β = −1.36 % per gauge, P = 0.037), no relationship was noted in pencil-point needles (β = −0.32 % per gauge, P = 0.114). Female gender was the only covariate that reached a statistically significant correlation with the incidence of PDPH in both models.

Conclusions

A significant relationship between needle gauge and subsequent rate of PDPH was noted in cutting needles, but not pencil-point needles.

http://ift.tt/2crAyhf

Controlling tip of nasotracheal tube under video laryngoscopy

http://ift.tt/2dh9Pdj

A novel mouthpiece prevents bite injuries caused by intraoperative transcranial electric motor-evoked potential monitoring

Abstract

Purpose

Intraoperative transcranial motor-evoked potential monitoring causes contraction of the masseter muscles, which may cause injuries to the oral cavity and damage to the orotracheal tube. We developed a mouthpiece made from vinyl-silicone impression material to prevent these injuries. The purpose of this study was to examine its efficacy and safety.

Methods

Twenty-two patients undergoing spinal surgery under transcranial motor-evoked potential monitoring were fitted with bespoke vinyl-silicone mouthpieces by dentists before surgery. On induction of general anesthesia and orotracheal intubation, the mouthpiece was attached to the upper and lower dental arches. A lateral cervical X-ray was taken at the end of surgery to examine the condition of the orotracheal tube. The incidence of endotracheal tube deformation was compared with an historic control group of 20 patients in whom a conventional gauze bite block had been previously used before induction of the mouthpiece. The oral cavity was examined by a dentist the day before surgery and 3 days postoperatively, and intraoral injuries were recorded.

Results

No endotracheal tube deformation was found in 22 patients fitted with the new mouthpiece. The incidence of tube deformation (none of 22 patients, 0 %) was significantly lower than in those who had been fitted with the gauze bite block (9 of 20 patients, 45.0 %; p < 0.001). Application of the mouthpiece resulted in no tongue or tooth injuries.

Conclusion

A novel mouthpiece reduced the incidence of damage to the endotracheal tube caused by intraoperative transcranial motor-evoked potential monitoring.

http://ift.tt/2crA1M9

Acute left ventricle failure on induction of anesthesia: a case report of reverse stress cardiomyopathy—presentation, diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a less common variant of classic TCM that presents within a different patient profile and with its own hemodynamic considerations. A 46-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for laryngoscopy and possible balloon dilatation for tracheal stenosis under general anesthesia. One year prior to this admission, the patient was admitted after a motor vehicle accident with subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and fracture of the eighth thoracic vertebra. She underwent uneventful anesthesia for thoracic spine surgery and tracheostomy to help her wean from the ventilator during that admission. Since her previous admission, she developed posttraumatic anxiety and depression (a neuropsychiatric disorder triggered by subdural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage) and was treated with antianxiety and antidepressant medication. At this admission, the patient developed acute left ventricle failure on induction of anesthesia secondary to reverse TCM. We report a case of reverse TCM, where posttraumatic emotional stress of a neuropsychiatric disorder combined with physical stress from anesthesia and laryngoscopy triggered TCM in a patient with previous uneventful anesthesia 1 year earlier.

http://ift.tt/2dh9yHb

Chemical stability and osteogenic activity of plasma-sprayed boron-modified calcium silicate-based coatings

Abstract

In recent years, CaSiO₃ bio-ceramic coatings have attracted great attention because of their good bioactivity. However, their high degradation rates in physiological environment restrict their practical applications. In this work, boron-modified CaSiO₃ ceramic (Ca₁₁Si₄B₂O₂₂, B-CS) coating was developed on Ti substrates by plasma-spraying technique attempting to obtain enhanced chemical stability and osteogenic activity. The B-CS coating possessed significantly increased chemical stability due to the introduction of boron and consequently the modified crystal structure, while maintaining good bioactivity. Scanning electron microscope and immunofluorescence studies showed that better cellular adhesion and extinctive filopodia-like processes were observed on the B-CS coating. Compared with the pure CaSiO₃ (CS) coating, the B-CS coating promoted MC3T3-E1 cells attachment and proliferation. In addition, enhanced collagen I (COL-I) secretion, alkaline phosphatase activity, and extracellular matrix mineralization levels were detected from the B-CS coating. According to RT-PCR results, notable up-regulation expressions of mineralized tissue-related genes, such as runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin, and bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) were observed on the B-CS coating compared with the CS coating. The above results suggested that Ca₁₁Si₄B₂O₂₂ coatings possess excellent osteogenic activity and might be a promising candidate for orthopedic applications.

http://ift.tt/2d4MvKk

How Does Cholecystectomy Influence Recurrence of Idiopathic Acute Pancreatitis?

Abstract

Background

Idiopathic acute pancreatitis is diagnosed in approximately 10–30 % of cases of acute pancreatitis. While there is evidence to suggest that the cause in many of these patients is microlithiasis, this fact has not been translated into a resource efficient treatment strategy that is proven to reduce recurrence rates. The aim of this study was to examine the value of prophylactic cholecystectomy following an episode of acute pancreatitis in patients with no history of alcohol abuse and no stones found on ultrasound.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 2236 patients who presented to a regional Australian hospital. Patients were included when diagnosed with acute pancreatitis with no confirmed cause. Recurrence of acute pancreatitis was compared between those that did and did not undergo cholecystectomy.

Results

One hundred ninety-five consecutive patients met the study definition of "idiopathic" acute pancreatitis. 33.8 % (66/195) underwent cholecystectomy. The patients who had cholecystectomy had a recurrence rate of 19.7 % (13/66) whereas, of those managed expectantly, 42.8 % (68/159) had at least one recurrence of acute pancreatitis (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Following an episode of acute pancreatitis with no identifiable cause, in patients fit for surgery, cholecystectomy should be considered to reduce the risk of recurrent episodes of pancreatitis.

http://ift.tt/2cNSEgk

Energies, Vol. 9, Pages 771: Feedback Linearization Controller for a Wind Energy Power System

This paper deals with the control of a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based variable speed wind turbine power system. A system of eight ordinary differential equations is used to model the wind energy conversion system. The generator has a wound rotor type with back-to-back three-phase power converter bridges between its rotor and the grid; it is modeled using the direct-quadrature rotating reference frame with aligned stator flux. An input-state feedback linearization controller is proposed for the wind energy power system. The controller guarantees that the states of the system track the desired states. Simulation results are presented to validate the proposed control scheme. Moreover, further simulation results are shown to investigate the robustness of the proposed control scheme to changes in some of the parameters of the system.

http://ift.tt/2cyaWCH

Remote Sensing, Vol. 8, Pages 790: A Case Study of Land-Surface-Temperature Impact from Large-Scale Deployment of Wind Farms in China from Guazhou

The wind industry in China has experienced a rapid expansion of capacity after 2009, especially in northwestern China, where the China's first 10 GW-level wind power project is located. Based on the analysis from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (LST) data for period of 2005–2012, the potential LST impacts from the large-scale wind farms in northwestern China's Guazhou are investigated in this paper. It shows the noticeable nighttime warming trends on LST over the wind farm areas relative to the nearby non-wind-farm regions in Guazhou and that the nighttime LST warming is strongest in summer (0.51 °C/8 years), followed by autumn (0.48 °C/8 years) and weakest in winter (0.38 °C/8 years) with no warming trend observed in spring. Meanwhile, the quantitative comparison results firstly indicate that the nighttime LST warming from wind farm areas are less than those from the urban areas in this work.

http://ift.tt/2d2emux

Remote Sensing, Vol. 8, Pages 791: Mapping Indigenous Settlement Topography in the Caribbean Using Drones

The archaeology of Amerindian settlements in the Caribbean has mostly been identified through scatters of artefacts; predominantly conglomerations of shells, ceramics and lithics. While archaeological material may not always be visible on the surface, particular settlement patterns may be identifiable by a topography created through cultural action: earthen mounds interchanging with mostly circular flattened areas. In northern Hispaniola, recent foot surveys have identified more than 200 pre-colonial sites of which several have been mapped in high resolution. In addition, three settlements with topographical characteristics have been extensively excavated, confirming that the mounds and flattened areas may have had a cultural connotation in this region. Without the availability of high resolution LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data, a photogrammetric approach using UAS (unmanned aircraft system, commonly known as drones) can fill the knowledge gap on a local scale, providing fast and reliable data collection and precise results. After photogrammetric processing, digital clearance of vegetation, and extraction of the georeferenced DEM (digital elevation model) and orthophoto, filters and enhancements provide an opportunity to visualize the results in GIS. The outcome provides an overview of site size, and distribution of mounds and flattened areas. Measurement of the topographic changes in a variety of past settlements defines likely zones of habitat, and provides clues on the actual dimensions and density of living space. Understanding the relation of the mounds and adjacent flat areas within their environment allows a discussion on how, and for what purpose, the settlement was founded at a particular location, and provides clues about its spatial organization.

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Genes, Vol. 7, Pages 71: Making Sense of the Tangle: Insights into Chromatin Folding and Gene Regulation

Proximity ligation assays such as circularized chromosome conformation capture and high-throughput chromosome capture assays have shed light on the structural organization of the interphase genome. Functional topologically associating domains (TADs) that constitute the building blocks of genomic organization are disrupted and reconstructed during the cell cycle. Epigenetic memory, as well as the sequence of chromosomes, regulate TAD reconstitution. Sub-TAD domains that are invariant across cell types have been identified, and contacts between these domains, rather than looping, are speculated to drive chromatin folding. Replication domains are established simultaneously with TADs during the cell cycle and the two correlate well in terms of characteristic features, such as lamin association and histone modifications. CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) and cohesin cooperate across different cell types to regulate genes and genome organization. CTCF elements that demarcate TAD boundaries are commonly disrupted in cancer and promote oncogene activation. Chromatin looping facilitates interactions between distant promoters and enhancers, and the resulting enhanceosome complex promotes gene expression. Deciphering the chromatin tangle requires comprehensive integrative analyses of DNA- and protein-dependent factors that regulate genomic organization.

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Serum fasting GLP-1 and GLP-2 associate with intestinal adaptation in pediatric onset intestinal failure

Clinical Nutrition

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Distribution of disease phase, treatment prescription and severe liver disease among 1598 patients with chronic hepatitis B in the Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study, 2006-2013

Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

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Comparison of short-term clinical outcomes between transanal and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for the treatment of mid and low rectal cancer: A meta-analysis

European Journal of Surgical Oncology

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Risk factors for postoperative pancreatic fistula: Analysis of 539 successive cases of pancreaticoduodenectomy

World Journal of Gastroenterology

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A comparison of trends in operative approach and postoperative outcomes for colorectal cancer surgery

Journal of Surgical Research

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A multicenter study of blood component transfusion in patients with liver cirrhosis in China: Patient characteristics, transfusion practice, and outcomes

Digestive and Liver Diseases

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Trends in utilization of neoadjuvant therapy and short-term outcomes in resected pancreatic cancer

The American Journal of Surgery

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Hepatitis B virus polymerase localizes to the mitochondria, and its terminal protein domain contains the mitochondrial targeting signal

Journal of Virology

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Factors influencing failure to rescue after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A NSQIP perspective

Journal of Surgical Research

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Respiratory symptoms, sleep-disordered breathing and biomarkers in nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux

Respiratory Research

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Post-operative delirium is associated with increased ICU and hospital length of stays following liver transplantation

Journal of Surgical Research

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Different risk factors for infection with Giardia lamblia assemblages A and B in children attending day-care centres

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases

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Second-generation vs. conventional corticosteroids for induction of remission in ulcerative colitis

Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

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Bilirubin isomer distribution in jaundiced neonates during phototherapy with LED light centered at 497?nm (turquoise) vs. 459?nm (blue)

Pediatric Research

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Incretin-based therapy and risk of pancreatic cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Diabetes Therapy

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Surgical treatment and prognosis of gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms: A single-center experience

BMC Gastroenterology

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Prevention of DNA damage in Barrett’s esophageal cells exposed to acidic bile salts

Carcinogenesis

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Randomized clinical trial of chewing gum after laparoscopic colorectal resection

British Journal of Surgery

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Mutational landscape of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma and its clinicopathological significance

Histopathology

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Carbapenem resistance in clonally distinct clinical strains of vibrio fluvialis isolated from diarrheal samples

Emerging Infectious Diseases

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Role of laser irradiation in direct pulp capping procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

A variety of materials are available to treat exposed dental pulp by direct pulp capping. The healing response of the pulp is crucial to form a dentin bridge and seal off the exposed pulp. Studies have used lasers to stimulate the exposed pulp to form tertiary dentin. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the evidence on the effects of laser irradiation as an adjunctive therapy to stimulate healing after pulp exposure. A systematic literature search was conducted up to April 2016. A structured search using the keywords "Direct pulp capping," "Lasers," "Calcium hydroxide pulp capping," and "Resin pulp capping" was performed. Initially, 34 potentially relevant articles were identified. After removal of duplicates and screening by title, abstract, and full text when necessary, nine studies were included. Studies were assessed for bias and data were synthetized using a random-effects meta-analysis model. Six studies were clinical, and three were preclinical animal trials; the follow-up period ranged from 2 weeks to 54 months. More than two thirds of the included studies showed that laser therapy used as an adjunct for direct pulp capping was more effective in maintaining pulp vitality than conventional therapy alone. Meta-analysis showed that the success rate in the laser treatment group was significantly higher than the control group (log odds ratio = 1.737; 95 % confidence interval, 1.304–2.171). Lasers treatment of exposed pulps can improve the outcome of direct pulp capping procedures; a number of confounding factors may have influenced the outcomes of the included studies.

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