Testing Backpropagation Neural Network Approach in Interpolating Missing Daily Precipitation

Abstract

This study proposes a method, backpropagation (BP) neural network, for interpolating missing values in daily precipitation time series. Firstly, the BP neural network is adopted to interpolate missing daily rainfall data at three selected stations in Yantai, Shandong, China. Then, the temporal and spatial variations in precipitation extremes across Shandong are analyzed by utilizing the complete daily rainfall dataset derived from accurate propagation at 24 meteorological stations. The results show that the long-term trends in five selected extreme precipitation indices calculated from interpolated daily rainfall data are generally consistent with those from original nonmissing values. And the spatial patterns of trends in precipitation extremes also show better performance for BP neural network approach in interpolating missing daily rainfall gaps. Those suggest that this BP neural network algorithm can obtain a good fit in terms of space-time variability of regional precipitation extremes, in case that the correlation coefficients between the target stations with missing values and reference stations with complete daily rainfall dataset are relatively large. These findings could be crucial for investigating regional frequency of heavy rainfall and water resource management.

http://ift.tt/2hGL5gz

Very Early Systemic Sclerosis and Pre-systemic Sclerosis: Definition, Recognition, Clinical Relevance and Future Directions

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The approach to systemic sclerosis (SSc) has changed over the years with an increasing focus on the very early diagnosis of the disease. The terminology identifying patients in the early phase of SSc has been significantly confusing in the last three decades. The purpose of this article is to analyze how the concept of "very early SSc" has evolved over the years, which is the role of an early diagnosis and how early treat patients.

Recent Findings

Several attempts have been made over time, to create more sensitive and specific classification criteria to include the largest number of SSc patients, also in the earliest phase. An algorythm for the very early diagnosis of SSc was identified, diagnostic preliminary criteria proposed, and new 2013 ACR/EULAR SSc classification criteria published, including new items and adding emphasis to the vasculopathic manifestations. True biomarkers that could predict the disease evolution are still missing.

Summary

Treat or not to treat patients in the earliest phases still remain a dilemma. For the moment, the only feasible clinical strategy in very early SSc remains a tight follow up program to detect in "real time" the early internal organ involvement which may allow an aggressive therapeutic agenda.

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The Duality of Economic Issues With Medication Non-adherence in Patients With Inflammatory Arthritis

Abstract

Purpose of Review

In this review, we synthesize current data on non-adherence across inflammatory arthritides and explore (1) the effects of economic factors on non-adherence and (2) the impacts of non-adherence on economic outcomes.

Recent Findings

Recent evidence demonstrates medication non-adherence rates as high as 74% in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 90% in gout, 50% in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), 75% in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 82% in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Summary

The effects of socioeconomic factors have been studied most in RA and SLE but with inconsistent findings. Nonetheless, the evidence points to having prescription coverage and costs of treatment as important factors in RA and education as an important factor in SLE. Limited data in AS and gout, and no studies of the effects of socioeconomic factors in PsA, show knowledge gaps for future research. Finally, there is a dearth of data with respect to the impacts of non-adherence on economic outcomes.

http://ift.tt/2fH0rkQ

Carbon-based coating containing ultrafine MoO 2 nanoparticles as an integrated anode for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Copper-supported MoO₂-C composite as an integrated anode with excellent battery performance was synthesized by a facile knife coating technique followed by heat treatment in a vacuum. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermal analysis, nitrogen adsorption and desorption analysis, field emission scanning microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show the MoO₂-C composite coating is comprised of a porous carbon matrix with a pore size of 1–3 nm and ultrafine MoO₂ nanoparticles with a size of 5–10 nm encapsulated inside, the coating is tightly attached on the surface of copper foil, and the interface between them is free of cracks. Stable PAN-DMF-H₂O system containing ammonium molybdate suitable for knife coating technique and the MoO₂-C composite with ultrafine MoO₂ nanoparticles encapsulated in the carbon matrix can be prepared through controlling amount of added ammonium molybdate solution. The copper-supported MoO₂-C composite coating can be directly utilized as the integrated anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). It delivers a capacity of 814 mA h g⁻¹ at a current density of 100 mA g⁻¹ after 100 cycles without apparent capacity fading. Furthermore, with increase of current densities to 200, 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 mA g⁻¹, it exhibits average capacities of 809, 697, 568, 383, and 188 mA h g⁻¹. Its outstanding electrochemical performance is attributed to combined merits of integrated anode and structure with ultrafine MoO₂ nanoparticles embedded in the porous carbon matrix.

http://ift.tt/2yOFjxH

Non-cytotoxic poly(amino acid) with excellent thermo-sensitivity from L -lysine and L -aspartic acid as a hydrophobic drug carrier

Abstract

The thermo-sensitive poly(amino acid)s have aroused great concern due to their good biocompatibility, chirality and multi-functional groups. In this investigation, a group of poly(L-lysine ester -co- N-propionyl-L-aspartic acid)s (PLPA) with excellent thermo-sensitivity and non-cytotoxicity have been successfully synthesized by the polycondensation between α/ε-amino groups of L-lysine and α/γ-carboxyls from L-aspartic acid. The structure and properties of PLPA including monomers are characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, UV, DSC, GPC, SEM, Contact angle measurement, CCK-8 Cell Counting Kit assess and Confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM). Among four designed PLPAs, only PLPAs possessing methyl/ethyl in the ester moiety show a reversible lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 21.3–36.2 °C, very close to body temperature. The thermo-sensitivity of PLPAs is strongly affected by the polymer structure, its molecular weight and concentration. The contact angle measurement clearly reveals the effect of pendant groups and temperature on the hydrophlilicity/hydrophobicity of PLPAs. Furthermore, the viability of HeLa cells in 0.01–100 μg/mL PLPA solution is found to be in a range of 90–102% after 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation, indicating its no cytotoxicity. PLPA can facilely form a spherical nano-scale particle with core-shell structure via its thermo-sensitivity. CLSM observations manifest that the curcumin-loaded PLPA particles clearly internalize into the cellular inside. Overall, this noncytotoxic PLPA with excellent thermo-sensitivity is expected to be a promising material in the biomedical fields such as a hydrophobic drug carrier.

http://ift.tt/2kdSJzQ

Visible and infrared image registration based on region features and edginess

Abstract

Visible and infrared image registration is required for multi-sensor fusion and cooperative processing. However, traditional single-sensor image registration methods are generally not feasible as multi-sensor images are often loosely related and show different properties in imaging. This paper presents a coarse-to-fine procedure for registering visible and infrared images based on stable region features and edginess. Zernike moments are used to describe salient region features for a coarse registration, and an entropy optimal process based on edginess is used to refine the registration to achieve a more accurate result. Experiments show that the proposed method provides more robust and accurate registration than the existing methods.

http://ift.tt/2wpgyq7

Mobile Apps identification based on network flows

Abstract

Network operators and mobile carriers are facing serious security challenges caused by an increasing number of services provided by smartphone Apps. For example, Android OS has more than 1 million Apps in stores. Hence, network administrators tend to adopt strict policies to secure their infrastructure. The aim of this study is to propose an efficient framework that has a classification component based on traffic analysis of Android Apps. The framework differs from other proposed studies by focusing on identifying Apps traffic from a network perspective without introducing any overhead on subscribers smartphones. Additionally, it involves a technique for pre-processing network flows generated by Apps to acquire a set of features that are used to build an identification model using machine learning algorithms. The classification model is built using classification ensembles. A group of chosen users contribute in training the classification model, which learns the normal behavior of selected Apps. Eventually, the model should be able to detect abnormal behavior of similar Apps across the network. A 93.78% classification accuracy is achieved with a low false positive rate under 0.5%. In addition, the framework is able to detect abnormal flows of unknown classes by implementing an outlier detection mechanism and reported a 94% accuracy.

http://ift.tt/2xR6DNO

Hybrid Control Scheme of a Hydraulically Actuated Lower Extremity Exoskeleton for Load-Carrying

Abstract

In this paper, a lower extremity exoskeleton is developed to help human beings walk and carry heavy loads. The exoskeleton is actuated by a pump-based hydraulic actuation system. The hydraulic actuation system has a high speed on/off valve and a unidirectional cylinder with embedded springs on the cylinder rod. The hybrid control scheme, including two modes, i.e., position control and following control, is proposed to drive the exoskeleton system. The position control mode is employed to support the carrying load in the stance phase. The following control mode is used to shut down the DC motor to disable the pump and open the relief valve in the swing phase. In the position control, an online Gaussian process regression algorithm is proposed to estimate the human gait trajectory using the human robot interaction signals. A general position control strategy, i.e., proportion integration differentiation (PID), is utilized to control the exoskeleton to shadow the estimated human gait trajectory. In the following control, the operator can lead the mechanical legs with the help of embedded springs on the cylinder rod. Experiments are performed on the healthy human subject, who walks on the level ground at natural speed. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid control strategy is suitable for the pump-based hydraulically actuated lower extremity exoskeleton.

http://ift.tt/2kb6v6v

How Deep Might Myoblasts Sense: The Effect of Substrate Stiffness and Thickness on the Behavior of Myoblasts

Abstract

Mechanical characters of extracellular matrix, such as the stiffness and thickness, have been shown to impact an abundance of cellular processes, including cell spreading, adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. In this study, we used polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films of variable thickness and stiffness to investigate the impact on skeletal muscles cell (C2C12 cells) behavior, in more detail. Furthermore, we utilized, for the first time, a heat sensitive material, poly-[N-isopropylacrylamide], in the process of film thickness measurement to obtain more complete films. Results confirmed that C2C12 cells grow better on stiff substrates. Also, our research demonstrated that film thickness has an influence on C2C12 cells attachment and growth. Specifically, when the elastic modulus of the substrate was 5 kPa, cells seeded on thin gels (h < 38 μm) were found to establish large, well-organized and well-spread focal adhesions. In addition, an increase in proliferation can be observed when the gels were 18 μm or thinner. The differentiation of C2C12 cells was also influenced by gel thickness. Myotubes formed on thick PDMS films (h > 38 μm) were generally differentiated by single myoblasts. When growing on thinner gels, myotubes appeared more elongated and multinuclear. Moreover, sarcomeres began to form when cells were seeded on substrates of 38 μm (or less). However, when the elastic modulus was 1.72 MPa, altering the thickness of the PDMS films had no significant impact on spreading, adhesion or proliferation. In short, we conclude that C2C12 cells are able to sense the underlay when growing on a stiff or a thin (h < 38 μm) substrate, which is reflected in their development.

http://ift.tt/2xNqrRz

Computer Aided Diagnosis Based Hand Thermal Image Analysis: A Potential Tool for the Evaluation of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential of the thermogram in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis and to compare the implementation of k-means algorithm and fuzzy c means algorithm using a computer aided diagnostic tool for classification of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and normal based on the feature extracted from the segmented thermal image. The skin surface temperature measurement, thermal image segmentation based on k-means and fuzzy c-means algorithm and the feature extraction were used in this study. The average skin surface temperature measured at the second meta carpo-phalangeal (MCP) and MCP3 in RA patients (35.40 ± 0.6 °C and 35.52 ± 0.7 °C, respectively) were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than those measured in normal subjects (33.66 ± 0.2 °C and 33.74 ± 0.2 °C, respectively). The mean difference in temperature between RA patients and healthy controls in the MCP2 and MCP3 region was found to be 1.74 and 1.78 °C respectively. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve depicted a sensitivity of 86.6% and specificity of 79% achieved in the MCP region of the hand thermal image. Thermal image segmentation using the k-means algorithm provided better segmentation results compared to the fuzzy c-means algorithm in diagnosing the disease. Therefore, the computer aided diagnostic based thermography method could be used as a validated quantification method for interpreting and evaluating arthritis.

http://ift.tt/2kbHEzs

Assessment of Carrot Callus as Biofactories of an Atherosclerosis Oral Vaccine Prototype

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a pathology leading to cardiovascular diseases with high epidemiologic impact; thus, new therapies are required to fight this global health issue. Immunotherapy is a feasible approach to treat atherosclerosis and given that genetically engineered plants are attractive hosts for vaccine development; we previously proved that the plant cell is able to synthesize a chimeric protein called CTB:p210:CETPe, which is composed of the cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) as immunogenic carrier and target epitopes from the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP_461–476) and apolipoprotein B100 (p210). Since CTB:p210:CETPe was expressed in tobacco at sufficient levels to evoke humoral responses in mice, its expression in carrot was explored in the present study looking to develop a vaccine in a safe host amenable for oral delivery; avoiding the purification requirement. Carrot cell lines expressing CTB:p210:CETPe were developed, showing accumulation levels up to 6.1 µg/g dry weight. An immunoblot analysis revealed that the carrot-made protein is antigenic and an oral mice immunization scheme led to evidence on the immunogenic activity of this protein; revealing its capability of inducing serum IgG responses against p210 and CETP epitopes. This study represents a step forward in the development of an attractive oral low-cost vaccine to treat atherosclerosis.

http://ift.tt/2wqj9A9

Preferences of Patients and Pharmacists with Regard to the Management of Drug–Drug Interactions: A Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis

Abstract

Introduction

The management of drug–drug interactions (DDIs) is a complex process in which risk–benefit assessments should be combined with the patient's perspective.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine patients' and pharmacists' preferences regarding DDI management.

Methods

We conducted a choice-based conjoint survey about a fictitious DDI concerning the combination of a cardiovascular drug and an antibiotic for pneumonia. Patients and pharmacists had to choose 12 times between two management options. The options were described by five attributes, including risk, benefit and practical consequences. Each attribute could have two different levels, which were varied over the choice tasks. Latent class analysis was used to identify potential classes of respondents with distinct patterns of similar preferences.

Results

In total, 298 patients and 178 pharmacists completed the questionnaire. The latent class model for both patients and pharmacists resulted in three classes. For patients, in one class the most importance was attached to avoiding switch of medication (class probability 20%), in a second class to fewer adverse events (41%), and in a third class to blood sampling (39%). For pharmacists, again one class attached the highest importance to avoiding switch of medication (31%). The other classes gave priority to curing pneumonia (31%) and avoiding blood sampling (38%).

Conclusion

The results showed diverging preferences regarding DDI management among both patients and pharmacists. Different groups attached different value to risk and benefit versus practical considerations. Awareness of existing variability in preferences among and between pharmacists and patients is a step towards shared decision making in DDI management.

http://ift.tt/2x4YqkX

Investigation of the Mechanical Behavior of Polyester Meshes for Abdominal Surgery: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Due to the high cost of synthetic surgical meshes, sterilized non-medical-grade nets are being used for hernia repair in less developed countries, even if a prior in vitro evaluation of their mechanical behavior is still lacking. In this work, two multifilament polyester nets, with material composition, pore size and fiber diameter similar to surgical meshes, are studied. The mechanical properties are compared with the ones of a standard surgical mesh made of a monofilament polyester fiber. Uniaxial tensile tests are performed to evaluate the mechanical behavior, investigating specific aspects as the effect of sample size and strain rate. Mechanical tests highlight an anisotropic behavior in both industrial nets, with stiffness largely depending on test direction. The surgical mesh exhibits a linear anisotropic response, with a different stiffening behavior and a lower degree of anisotropy than industrial nets. Therefore, a different global mechanical response may be expected in vivo. This investigation of the mechanical properties of polyester industrial nets provides a preliminary support to their use for abdominal surgery, even though a different mechanical response is found respect to surgical mesh due to their different structural conformation.

http://ift.tt/2xNDfYi

Clinicopathological study of a dimorphic variant of breast carcinoma

Abstract

Background

Dimorphic cells have abundant clear cytoplasm similar to myoepithelial cells, and the nuclei are identical to those in adjacent malignant columnar epithelial cells. A dimorphic variant of a breast carcinoma involves a neoplastic proliferation of epithelial cells including dimorphic cells.

Methods

The subjects were patients with primary breast carcinoma, who underwent surgical resection at the Hospital of Dokkyo Medical University between 2000 and 2016, and were reviewed and diagnosed with a dimorphic variant of breast carcinoma.

Results

Dimorphic ICs typically showed a low-grade tumor and Hormonal receptor (HR) (estrogen and/or progesterone)+/HER2− subtype. Age, mean tumor size, status of nodal metastasis, stage and disease-free survival and overall survival did not differ between dimorphic and non-dimorphic ICs. The dimorphic cells were negative for p63 and cytokeratin 5/6 and 14 in most cases. In contrast, dimorphic cells were positive for HR, androgen receptor, and showed marked membrane-associated staining for E-cadherin and cytoplasmic staining for gross cystic disease fluid protein 15.

Conclusions

The morphological features of dimorphic cells may be confused with cells of other origins if the features of the dimorphic cells are not recognized. However, the typical morphological architecture of this carcinoma and expression of immunohistochemical markers support the diagnosis.

http://ift.tt/2x4OQyI

Application of Ultrasound Image Tracking Algorithm for Real-Time Diaphragmatic Excursion Measurement

Abstract

Many studies use ultrasound for diaphragmatic excursion (DE) evaluation. The calculation of DE value requires recording the diaphragm movement, freezing the ultrasound image, recalling video and measuring target distance which is time consuming. We aimed at using an ultrasound image tracking algorithm (UITA) to trace diaphragm movement and reveal DE values in real time. We tested UITA with 40 young volunteers under four respiration conditions: standing with quiet breathing (SQB), supine with quiet breathing (SuQB), standing with deep breathing (SDB), and supine with deep breathing (SuDB). The value of DE during SQB, SuQB, SDB, and SuDB was 24.5 ± 10.2, 31.9 ± 10.5, 68.9 ± 15.9, and 98.1 ± 27.4 mm, respectively. We found displacement of diaphragm can be translated to waveforms like spirometry graphs with real-time DE value. DE decreased about 30% in the standing position than in the supine position. Quiet breathing or deep breathing had similar effect on the percent decrease of DE. Further studies are needed to validate this tracking algorithm as a clinical tool in patients with the diaphragm dysfunction.

http://ift.tt/2fZ8pCy

Acetazolamide as Add-on Diuretic Therapy in Exacerbations of Chronic Heart Failure: a Pilot Study

Abstract

Background

Congestion is the main cause of morbidity in patients with heart failure. Treatment of fluid overload is often challenging in everyday clinical practice.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the diuretic effect of acetazolamide in patients with exacerbations of chronic heart failure, in addition to their stable diuretic therapy.

Methods

This was a single-center, unblinded study. Patients hospitalized with chronic heart failure exacerbations, with left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) < 50% and signs of volume overload, with a stable dose of diuretics anticipated by the attending physician over the next 4 days, were considered eligible for the study. On day 1, patients were randomized to receive acetazolamide orally, once daily (dose-adjusted to body weight) or no treatment (control group) as add-on diuretic therapy, on days 2 and 3. Diuresis, natriuresis, fluid balance, and symptoms were assessed daily, up to day 4.

Results

Twenty patients (mean ± standard deviation age 72 ± 11.6 years; 85% men; mean EF 33.8 ± 11.4%; mean N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide 8064 ± 5593 pg/mL; mean intravenous furosemide dose 105 ± 55 mg) were enrolled. Diuresis, natriuresis, fluid balance, and symptoms were stable on days 1–4 in the control group. An increase in diuresis and natriuresis, and a greater change in fluid balance after administration of acetazolamide, were observed in patients randomized to acetazolamide. On day 4, there was a significant difference in fluid balance between the acetazolamide and control groups (−666 ± 1194 mL vs. +332 ± 705 mL; p = 0.035), and dyspnea was lower in patients receiving acetazolamide (visual scale, p < 0.001; 5-point Likert scale, 1.444 vs. 2.222; p = 0.04)

Conclusions

In this pilot study, the addition of acetazolamide to the background diuretic regimen in patients with chronic heart failure exacerbations produced an additional diuretic effect and alleviation of dyspnea.

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A Comparison of Adverse Drug Reaction Profiles in Patients on Antiretroviral and Antitubercular Treatment in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Introduction

Few studies describe the adverse drug event profiles in patients simultaneously receiving antiretroviral and anti-tubercular medicines in resource-limited countries.

Objectives

To describe and compare the adverse drug reaction profiles in patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy only (HAART), HAART and isoniazid preventive therapy (HHART), and HAART and antitubercular treatment (ATTHAART).

Methods

We analysed individual case safety reports (ICSRs) for patients on antiretroviral therapy and antitubercular treatment submitted to the national pharmacovigilance centre during the targeted spontaneous reporting (TSR) programme from 1 September 2012 through 31 August 2016. All reports considered certain, probable or possible were included in the analysis.

Results

A total of 1076 ICSRs were included in the analysis. Most of the reports were from the HAART only group (n = 882; 82.0%), followed by patients on HHART (n = 132; 12.3%), and ATTHAART (n = 62; 5.7%). The ATTHAART (35.5%) and HHAART (34.1%) had a higher frequency of hepatic disorders than the HAART group (5.0%) (p < 0.0001). A higher frequency of rash was reported in the HHAART (35.6%) and HAART groups (29.4%) than the ATTHAART group (14.5%) (p = 0.011). Peripheral neuropathy occurred more frequently in the ATTHAART group (19.3%) than other groups (p = 0.001) while Stevens-Johnson syndrome (14.7%; p < 0.001), gynaecomastia (18.2%; p < 0.001), and lipodystrophy (4.5%; p = 0.012) occurred more frequently in the HAART group. The HHAART group was associated with a higher frequency of psychosis (4.5%; p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Antiretroviral therapy was associated with a higher frequency of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, gynaecomastia, and lipodystrophy. Co-administration of antiretroviral and antitubercular medicines was associated with a higher frequency of drug-induced liver injury and peripheral neuropathy. Similarly, co-administration of isoniazid preventive therapy and antiretroviral drugs was associated with a higher risk for psychosis. There is a need to carefully manage TB/HIV co-infected patients, due to the higher risk of adverse drug reactions which may lead to poor treatment adherence and outcomes.

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Lipid Metabolism is Closely Associated with Normal Testicular Growth Based on Global Transcriptome Profiles in Normal and Underdeveloped Testis of Obese Zucker ( fa/fa ) Rats

Abstract

Zucker (fa/fa) obese rats often have non-identical and differently sized paired testes, leaving one testis underdeveloped. Our earlier study found that the underdeveloped testes, > 30% smaller than the normal ones, have a selective decrease in docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-6), a dominant fatty acid in the testes. This study was conducted to examine global testicular transcriptome profile in underdeveloped testes relative to developed ones using Rat Gene 2.0 ST Array (Affymetrix, USA). Testes were obtained from 14-week-old, sexually mature male obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. Out of the 1790 transcripts differentially expressed, 1108 and 682 were over-expressed in the underdeveloped and normal testis, respectively (fold change ≥ 2 and P < 0.05). The ingenuity pathway analysis indicated that transcripts that were under-expressed in the underdeveloped testis, relative to the normal testes, are involved in triacylglycerol biosynthesis, sphingomyelin metabolism and phosphatidylglycerol biosynthesis. Transcripts that were over-expressed in underdeveloped testes, relative to normal testis, are involved in the production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species, and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 mediated oxidative stress responses. These data indicate that genes involved in lipid metabolism and oxidative stress play a crucial role in testicular growth and the maintenance of testical health.

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Pregabalin Use Among Users of Illicit Drugs: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Southern Germany

Abstract

Background

The antiepileptic drug pregabalin is one of the best-selling pharmaceutical products worldwide. There are increasing concerns about its potential for misuse and dependence especially among patients with former or current substance use disorders (SUDs).

Objective

Our objective was to clarify the extent and pattern of pregabalin use as well as motives and predictors in this population.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study with patients on a detoxification ward for illicit drugs at the Center for Psychiatry, Südwürttemberg, Ravensburg in southern Germany from August 2012 until July 2013. We used an extensive questionnaire, part of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition) Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) and urine samples.

Results

Of the 253 participating patients, 56% had used pregabalin at least once. Of these, 92% had acquired it at least in part from illegal sources. The main motives for the use of pregabalin were the attenuation of opioid withdrawal symptoms, the augmentation of other psychotropic substances, and the psychotropic effects of pregabalin itself. Predictors for pregabalin use were opioid and sedative use as well as younger age. The criteria of dependency according to DSM-IV was met by 11% of pregabalin users and 13% of urine samples were positive for pregabalin.

Conclusions

Use of pregabalin is common among users of illicit drugs in large parts of southern Germany, with motives for use, acquisition, and mode of use suggesting misuse. The mode of use, especially intake of high doses and concomitant use of other drugs, poses a serious risk to this population, including the development of dependency.

http://ift.tt/2x3ohhW

The role of simultaneous abdominal surgery and wound classification in ventriculoperitoneal shunt complication

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate whether simultaneous abdominal surgery or wound contamination at the time of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement are associated with increased shunt complications.

Methods

Pediatric patients who underwent VP shunt placement were identified using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric database. VP shunt complication rates were compared between patients who underwent simultaneous abdominal surgeries at the time of VP shunt placement vs those who did not and between those with clean/clean-contaminated and contaminated/dirty wound classifications. Adjusted analysis was performed using 1:5 case–control matching.

Results

Among 2715 patients who underwent VP shunt placement, 21 had simultaneous abdominal procedures and were matched with 105 control patients. No significant difference was found in overall (34.3 vs 14.3%, p = 0.07), infectious (8.6 vs 4.8%, p = 1.000), or non-infectious (25.7 vs 9.5%, p = 0.156) shunt complications in the simultaneous vs non-simultaneous group, respectively. In a separate analysis of wound classification, 12 patients with contaminated/dirty wounds were matched with 60 patients with clean/clean-contaminated wounds. The rates of shunt infections for clean/clean-contaminated and contaminated/dirty cases were 10.0 and 16.7%, respectively (p = 0.613).

Conclusion

In our matched case–control study, neither simultaneous abdominal surgery nor wound contamination at the time of VP shunt placement demonstrated significant increased risk of 30-day post-operative complication.

http://ift.tt/2yfmc2N

Deciphering signature of selection affecting beef quality traits in Angus cattle

Abstract

Artificial selection towards a desired phenotype/trait has modified the genomes of livestock dramatically that generated breeds that greatly differ in morphology, production and environmental adaptation traits. Angus cattle are among the famous cattle breeds developed for superior beef quality. This paper aimed at exploring genomic regions under selection in Angus cattle that are associated with meat quality traits and other associated phenotypes. The whole genome of 10 Angus cattle was compared with 11 Hanwoo (A-H) and 9 Jersey (A-J) cattle breeds using a cross-population composite likelihood ratio (XP-CLR) statistical method. The top 1% of the empirical distribution was taken as significant and annotated using UMD3.1. As a result, 255 and 210 genes were revealed under selection from A–H and A–J comparisons, respectively. The WebGestalt gene ontology analysis resulted in sixteen (A–H) and five (A–J) significantly enriched KEGG pathways. Several pathways associated with meat quality traits (insulin signaling, type II diabetes mellitus pathway, focal adhesion pathway, and ECM-receptor interaction), and feeding efficiency (olfactory transduction, tight junction, and metabolic pathways) were enriched. Genes affecting beef quality traits (e.g., FABP3, FTO, DGAT2, ACS, ACAA2, CPE, TNNI1), stature and body size (e.g., PLAG1, LYN, CHCHD7, RPS20), fertility and dystocia (e.g., ESR1, RPS20, PPP2R1A, GHRL, PLAG1), feeding efficiency (e.g., PIK3CD, DNAJC28, DNAJC3, GHRL, PLAG1), coat color (e.g., MC1-R) and genetic disorders (e.g., ITGB6, PLAG1) were found to be under positive selection in Angus cattle. The study identified genes and pathways that are related to meat quality traits and other phenotypes of Angus cattle. The findings in this study, after validation using additional or independent dataset, will provide useful information for the study of Angus cattle in particular and beef cattle in general.

http://ift.tt/2fAn7zf

Functional outcome and economic burden of operative management of patellar fractures: the pivotal role of onerous implants

Abstract

Objectives

The complication rate following operative treatment of patellar fractures remains high and is associated with a poor functional outcome. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate our functional outcome of patellar fracture osteosynthesis and define strategies to improve the outcome. The healthcare costs and utilization were calculated.

Methods

All demographic, clinical, radiographic variables and hospital-related costs of 111 patients with 113 surgically treated patellar fractures between January 2005 and December 2014 were analyzed. Fractures were grouped as either simple or complex. Functional outcome was assessed using Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS).

Results

There were 67 simple fractures (59.3%) and 46 complex fractures (40.7%). The overall complication rate was 48.7%, including 19.5% implant-related complications. In 69 patients (61.1%), implants were removed. The outcome was rather poor, with considerable impairment in all KOOS subscales with the knee-related quality of life rated worst (median 62.5, IQR 37.5–81.25). Poor outcome correlated significantly with complex patellar fractures and extensive tension-band constructs.

Conclusions

The operative treatment of patellar fractures was associated with a high complication rate, functional impairment and reduced quality of life. Complex patellar fractures and extensive tension-band constructs were identified as the main determinants of poor outcome and increased economic burden due to higher reinterventions rates. Strategies to reduce complications and improve outcome should focus on less onerous implants.

http://ift.tt/2x4gNXc

Understanding Perspectives of African American Medicaid-Insured Women on the Process of Perinatal Care: An Opportunity for Systems Improvement

Abstract

Objectives To address disparities in adverse birth outcomes, communities are challenged to improve the quality of health services and foster systems integration. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of Medicaid-insured women about their experiences of perinatal care (PNC) across a continuum of clinical and community-based services. Methods Three focus groups (N = 21) were conducted and thematic analysis methods were used to identify basic and global themes about experiences of care. Women were recruited through a  local Federal Healthy Start (HS) program in Michigan  that targets services to African American women. Results Four basic themes were identified: (1) Pursuit of PNC; (2) Experiences of traditional PNC; (3) Enhanced prenatal and postnatal care; and (4) Women's health: A missed opportunity. Two global themes were also identified: (1) Communication with providers, and (2) Perceived socio-economic and racial bias. Many women experienced difficulties engaging in early care, getting more help, and understanding and communicating with their providers, with some reporting socio-economic and racial bias in care. Delays in PNC limited early access to HS and enhanced prenatal care (EPC) programs with little evidence of supportive transitions to primary care. Notably, women's narratives revealed few connections among clinical and community-based services. Conclusions The process of participating in PNC and community-based programs is challenging for women, especially for those with multiple health problems and living in difficult life circumstances. PNC, HS and other EPC programs could partner to streamline processes, improve the content and process of care, and enhance engagement in services.

http://ift.tt/2hCU0zO

Effects of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin on nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Background/Aims

Early and intensive atorvastatin treatment can decrease nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (nsVT) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The objective of this study was to compare the effects of hydrophilic rosuvastatin and lipophilic atorvastatin on nsVT in STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

The data from a cohort of patients undergoing primary PCI at Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital from January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016 were analyzed. The patients were divided into the rosuvastatin group and the atorvastatin group based on which kind of statins that they had received. The endpoint of the study was the occurrence of nsVT on either electrocardiogram monitoring or Holter monitoring.

Results

A total of 301 patients were enrolled in the study (rosuvastatin group: n = 103; atorvastatin group: n = 198). The baseline and procedural characteristics were similar between the two groups, except that total ischemic time in the rosuvastatin group was markedly longer than that in the atorvastatin group (8 (5–16) h vs. 6 (4–12) h; P = 0.001). The administration of rosuvastatin was significantly associated with lower occurrence of nsVT than that of atorvastatin (9.71 vs. 19.70%; P = 0.026). Multivariable logistic regression analysis suggested that the independent predictors of nsVT included rosuvastatin (odds ratio (OR) 0.397, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.176–0.894), current smoking (OR 2.307, 95% CI 1.011–5.262), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (OR 1.060, 95% CI 1.023–1.098).

Conclusions

The effects of rosuvastatin on nsVT might be better than that of atorvastatin in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

http://ift.tt/2kauuCP

Long-Term Evaluation of Acidic Atmospheric Deposition on Soils and Soil Solution Chemistry in the Daniel Boone National Forest, USA

Abstract

Combustion of fossil fuels has contributed to many environmental problems including acid deposition. The Clean Air Act (CAA) was created to reduce ecological problems by cutting emissions of sulfur and nitrogen. Reduced emissions and rainfall concentrations of acidic ions have been observed since the enactment of the CAA, but soils continue to receive some acid inputs. Many soils sensitive to acid deposition are found to have low pH, a loss of base cations, and a shift in the mineral phase controlling the activity of Al³⁺ and/or SO₄²⁻. If inputs continue, soil may be depleted of base cations and saturated with Al and could cause low forest productivity. Soil samples and soil solutions from pan lysimeters were taken on ridge-tops in the Daniel Boone National Forest to evaluate potential impacts of acid deposition recently and in the future. Sample results were compared to historical data from identical locations. Physicochemical characteristics of the soils revealed that sites were very low in base saturation and pH and high in exchangeable acidity, illustrating change since previously sampled. Soil solution data indicated that sites periodically received high acid inputs leading to saturation of Al in soils and the formation of Al-hydroxy-sulfate minerals. Given these conditions, long-term changes in soil chemistry from acid deposition are acknowledged.

http://ift.tt/2yz9LuR

Fatty Acid Composition and Contents of Seven Commercial Fish Species of Genus Coregonus from Russian Subarctic Water Bodies

Abstract

In several Russian northern lakes and rivers, Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis, least cisco C. sardinella, peled C. peled, tugun C. tugun, broad whitefish C. nasus, whitefish C. lavaretus and vendace C. albula were sampled in periods of officially permitted commercial fishery. Special attention was paid to contents (mg g⁻¹ of wet weight) of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in muscle tissues (filets), which are essential for human nutrition. The highest values of EPA + DHA content in semi-anadromous fish and freshwater fish were recorded for C. autumnalis from the Yenisei River, 17.60 mg g⁻¹ wet weight, and for C. lavaretus from the Sobachye Lake, 16.61 mg g⁻¹ wet weight, respectively. Intra-genus variations of EPA + DHA contents of Coregonus species were from 1.87 to 17.60 mg g⁻¹ wet weight. Since the congeneric species were genetically close to each other, the variations in EPA and DHA contents were thought to be caused primarily by ecological factors: migrational capability, type of feeding and trophic status of aquatic ecosystems. In general, the majority of studied species appeared to be of a high nutritive value for humans, although unfavorable environmental conditions could considerably diminish this value.

http://ift.tt/2fyyPuf

Projected reductions in climatic suitability for vulnerable British birds

Abstract

Projections of species' distributions in future climates can aid adaptive conservation strategies. Although presence-absence or presence-only data have been extensively used for this purpose, modelling changes in spatial patterns of abundance provides a more sensitive tool for estimating species' vulnerabilities to climate impacts. We used abundance data from citizen science bird surveys in the UK and France to predict spatial patterns of future climatic suitability throughout Great Britain for 124 breeding bird species. We project that climatic suitability of Great Britain will increase for 44% of species and decline for 9% of species by 2080. Of the latter group, most are already red-listed for their severe long-term population declines. If our suitability projections translate into population changes, by 2080, conservation listing status will worsen for 10 species and improve for 28 species. Projected changes in climatic suitability translate into net gains of species abundance in northern and western areas and high turnover in community composition throughout Britain, particularly under medium- and high-emission scenarios. In conclusion, community-wide projections of changes in climatic suitability based on abundance indicate that bird assemblages throughout Great Britain will be impacted by climate change and that species already of concern are likely to be impacted hardest. Of the species projected to benefit, the ability of currently red-listed species to respond positively to climate without other interventions is unclear.

http://ift.tt/2yNOXRe

Documentation of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy and Care Quality for PTSD in the Department of Veterans Affairs

Abstract

This study measured the prevalence of evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) templated notes in VA and tested the hypothesis that template use would be associated with care quality for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Across 130 facilities, an average of 3.6% of patients with a PTSD diagnosis received at least one EBP template in 2015. Among patients receiving psychotherapy for PTSD, an average of 8.5% received an EBP template. In adjusted models, facility-level EBP template use was associated with a greater proportion of PTSD-diagnosed patients treated in specialty clinics, greater facility-level rates of diagnostic assessment, and greater facility-level rates of psychotherapy adequacy.

http://ift.tt/2yzTyFD

Low-voltage coagulation, polyglycolic acid sheets, and fibrin glue to control air leaks in lung surgery

Abstract

Objective

We evaluated the efficacy of low-voltage coagulation (LVC) with polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets (Neoveil, GUNZE Ltd., Japan) and fibrin glue to control intraoperative alveolar air leaks after lung surgery.

Methods

We included 176 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomies. When alveolar air leak was confirmed after lung resection, we applied LVC system to the pleural defect followed by layers of PGA sheets and fibrin glue (n = 40). We then analyzed postoperative air leaks (rate of occurrence and duration time).

Results

73% of patients (29/40 cases) experienced no postoperative air leaks. Although 11 patients experienced air leaks after surgery, there were no prolonged air leaks (>7 days) (resolution time, 3.5 ± 1.4 days; range, 2–6 days). Two patients required drainage for late-onset air leaks, but their conditions improved without further treatment. There were no further adverse events.

Conclusions

The use of LVC with PGA sheets and fibrin glue following pulmonary resection efficiently prevented both intraoperative air leaks and prolonged air leaks after lung surgery.

http://ift.tt/2fApqCw

Imprinted gene expression in maize starchy endosperm and aleurone tissues of reciprocal F1 hybrids at a defined developmental stage

Abstract

Imprinted gene expression in flowering plants predominantly occurs in the triploid endosperm of developing seed. However, endosperm is composed of distinct tissue types. For example, the maize (Zea mays) endosperm is constituted by two major tissues, starchy endosperm and aleurone. Previous studies in imprinted gene expression have generally assumed that the different tissues constituting endosperm would behavior the same, and hence have not examined them separately. Here, to examine parental-specific expression of imprinted genes in different parts of the seed, eight previously reported maize protein-coding imprinted genes were selected, and analyzed by cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) coupled with Sanger sequencing for transcripts from the various seed tissues collected at 18 days after pollination (DAP). The studied tissues included seed coat, embryo, starchy endosperm and aleurone, which were collected from a pair of reciprocal F1 hybrids produced by crossing inbred lines B73 and Mo17. Six of these eight analyzed imprinted genes showed the same imprinted expression pattern between the starchy endosperm and aleurone, but two showed imprinted expression only in the starchy endosperm. Comparison of the expression pattern of 20 selected imprinted genes in multiple seed tissues and vegetative tissues indicated that the majority (~ 75%) of these imprinted genes exhibited seed-specific or endosperm-specific expression. Our results also uncovered that imprinted genes have a high propensity to be alternatively spliced via intron retention in the developing embryo compared with the other tissues.

http://ift.tt/2xF7bq5

Clinical interpretation of copy number variants in the human genome

Abstract

Molecular methods, by which copy number variants (CNVs) detection is available, have been gradually introduced into routine diagnostics over the last 15 years. Despite this, some CNVs continue to be a huge challenge when it comes to clinical interpretation. CNVs are an important source of normal and pathogenic variants, but, in many cases, their impact on human health depends on factors that are not yet known. Therefore, perception of their clinical consequences can change over time, as our knowledge grows. This review summarises guidelines that facilitate correct classification of identified changes and discusses difficulties with the interpretation of rare, small CNVs.

http://ift.tt/2xMEmHO

The efficacy of platelet-rich plasma gel in MRSA-related surgical wound infection treatment: an experimental study in an animal model

Abstract

Introduction

The wound healing properties of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel have been documented in many studies. PRP gel has also become a promising agent for treating surgical site infections. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial activity and wound healing effectiveness of PRP in an animal model of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus (MRSA N315)-contaminated superficial soft tissue wounds.

Materials and methods

Subcutaneous wounds in Wistar Albino male rats were created by making two cm midline incisions followed by inoculation of microorganisms. Study groups comprised of Sham (no treatment), PRP alone, MRSA alone, MRSA + PRP, MRSA + Vancomycin, and MRSA + Vancomycin + PRP groups. We inoculated 0.1 mL (3 × 10⁸ CFU/mL) of MRSA in contaminated groups. After 8 days, all rats were killed, wounds were excised and subjected to histopathologic examination, and MRSA counts were determined.

Results

MRSA counts in MRSA, MRSA + PRP, MRSA + Vancomycin and MRSA + Vancomycin + PRP groups were 5.1 × 10⁶ (SD ± 0.4) CFU/mL, 4.3 × 10⁶ (SD ± 0.7) CFU/mL, 2.3 × 10⁶ (SD ± 0.3) CFU/mL, 1.1 × 10⁶ (SD ± 0.4) CFU/mL, respectively. The inflammation scores of MRSA + PRP, MRSA + Vancomycin, and MRSA + Vancomycin + PRP groups were significantly lower than the MRSA group. MRSA + Vancomycin + PRP group inflammation score was significantly lower than the MRSA + PRP group.

Discussion

All treatment groups were effective in wound healing and decreasing the MRSA counts. MRSA + PRP combined created identical inflammation scores to the PRP group. More in vivo studies are required to corroborate these findings.

http://ift.tt/2x3O2i9

Preliminary identification of key miRNAs, signaling pathways, and genes associated with Hirschsprung’s disease by analysis of tissue microRNA expression profiles

Abstract

Background

Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a congenital gut motility disorder of infants, and if left untreated, it is fatal to the affected infants. This study aimed to identify key microRNAs (miRNAs), signaling pathways and genes involved in the pathogenesis of HSCR.

Methods

The miRNA microarray dataset GSE77296 was downloaded. Nine colon tissue samples were available: six from HSCR patients and three matched control samples. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified after data preprocessing. Target genes of the selected upregulated and downregulated DEMs were predicted. In addition, functional enrichment analyses for the selected DEMs and target genes were conducted. Finally, interaction networks between the DEMs and target genes were constructed.

Results

A total of 162 DEMs (73 upregulated and 89 downregulated) were obtained. A total of 2511 DEM-target gene pairs for the 40 selected DEMs were identified, including 1645 pairs for the upregulated DEMs and 866 pairs for the downregulated DEMs. The upregulated DEM miR-141-3p and down-regulated DEM miR-30a-3p were identified as key miRNAs by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment and network analyses. Besides, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that pathways in cancer and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway were key pathways. The key genes frizzled class receptor 3 (FZD3) and docking protein 6 (DOK6) were obtained through the DEM-target gene interaction networks.

Conclusion

Two key miRNAs (miR-141-3p and miR-30a-3p), the MAPK signaling pathway and two key genes (FZD3 and DOK6) were implicated in the pathogenesis of HSCR.

http://ift.tt/2x3FxyY

A micro-mechanical device for in-situ stretching of single cells cultured on it

Abstract

Cells are constantly exposed to a variety of mechanical perturbations and their response to these stimuli plays a vital role in their proper functioning. Here, we present a micro-mechanical device for providing a mechanical stimulus to cells cultured on it and observing the change in the deformation of the nucleus of the cell. Our device has the provision to stretch, in situ, single cells by different amounts through a single actuation based on their points of adhesion on the device. The device consists of folded beams that deform as in an accordion, which is actuated using a probe attached to an XYZ positioner. The device is microfabricated on glass coverslips using SU-8, which is transparent and allows for the visual measurement of the nucleus through high-magnification imaging during stretching. Many devices can be accommodated on a single coverslip and can be actuated independently. Growing cells on the device do not need any specialized technique: it is easily achieved by seeding cells at low density directly on the coverslip. Furthermore, the single-mask microfabrication process developed for the mechanism permits a range of stiffness by changing only one mask or the thickness of the structural layer. We demonstrate the utility of the device by culturing NIH 3T3 fibroblasts on the devices, stretching them in situ, and measuring the deformation of their nuclei using fluorescence imaging.

http://ift.tt/2fA77gM

Effects of aspirin and clopidogrel on neural stem cells

Abstract

Cerebral infarction causes severe morbidity and mortality. Most patients with cerebral infarction should take antiplatelet drugs daily, so the effects of those drugs on the regeneration of the brain need to be investigated. Aspirin and clopidogrel are the most widely used antiplatelet drugs for the prevention of ischemic stroke. We investigated the effects of aspirin and clopidogrel on neural stem cells (NSCs). NSCs were dissociated from fetal rat cortex and cultured with basic fibroblast growth factor and N2 medium. To measure the effects of aspirin and clopidogrel on NSCs, NSCs were treated with several concentrations of aspirin, clopidogrel bisulfate, and clopidogrel resinate for 24 h. After the treatment, we measured cell viability by cell counting kit-8, MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, trypan blue staining, flow cytometry, and lactate dehydrogenase assay. To evaluate their effects on NSC proliferation, we performed BrdU cell proliferation assay and colony-forming unit assay. We compared the intracellular protein level in the NSCs treated with aspirin and two types of clopidogrel, by proteomics analysis. Various viability tests showed that clopidogrel resinate and clopidogrel bisulfate did not affect the viability and proliferation of NSCs whereas aspirin decreased them even at low concentrations which are clinically relevant. Moreover, through the proteomics, it was confirmed that the toxicity of aspirin to NSCs might be associated with the alteration of several intracellular proteins. Taken together, these results suggest that clopidogrel resinate and clopidogrel bisulfate are safe but aspirin could be toxic to NSCs. Therefore, when these antiplatelet agents are prescribed over the long-term, the finding that aspirin could be toxic to NSCs should be considered.

http://ift.tt/2x3o7ag

Innovative use of contegra valved conduit in left iliocaval stent thrombosis

Abstract

Thrombosis of an iliofemoral vein accounts for 25% of all lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and is associated with an increased risk of pulmonary embolism (PE), limb malperfusion, and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Endothelial injury, hypercoagulability and stasis constitute Virchow's triad of thrombogenesis. Common predisposing conditions include the postoperative state, prolonged immobility (e.g., travel, hospitalization), malignancy, pregnancy, and inherited hypercoagulable conditions. Long-term complications of DVT include persistent lower extremity edema, venous claudication, hyperpigmentation, and ulceration—collectively called as PTS and are associated with a reduced quality of life with increased health care expenses. The indications for open surgical revascularization are rare and usually reserved for patients whose symptoms are refractory to anticoagulation and endovascular treatment. Here, we report a successful decompression of severe venous edema of left lower limb post left iliocaval stent thrombosis in a 50-year-old female patient. We used two contegra valved conduits which were sutured end to end with each other in the same direction as a bypass graft. Proximal end of the conduit was anastomosed to left common femoral vein and the distal end to the distal inferior vena cava (IVC). It provided prompt and effective venous outflow with complete resolution of the venous edema of left lower limb. computed tomography (CT) venogram done after 3 months of surgery showed patent contegra valved conduit with thrombosed iliocaval stent.

http://ift.tt/2kaDCaC

Citizens show strong support for climate policy, but are they also willing to pay?

Abstract

To what extent citizens are willing not only to support ambitious climate policy but also willing to pay for such policy remains subject to debate. Our analysis addresses three issues in this regard: whether, as is widely assumed but not empirically established, willingness to support (WTS) is higher than willingness to pay (WTP); whether the determinants of the two are similar; and what accounts for within-subject similarity between WTS and WTP. We address these issues based on data from an original nationally representative survey (N = 2500) on forest conservation in Brazil, arguably the key climate policy issue in the country. The findings reveal that WTP is much lower than WTS. The determinants differ to some extent as well, regarding the effects of age, gender, and trust in government. The analysis also provides insights into factors influencing how much WTS and WTP line up within individuals, with respect to age, education, political ideology, salience of the deforestation issue, and trust in government. Our findings provide a more nuanced picture of how strong public support for climate change policy is and a starting point for more targeted climate policy communication.

http://ift.tt/2woGiD5

Investigations of Strain Fields in 3D Hydrogels Under Dynamic Confined Loading

Abstract

Hydrogels are common scaffolds used to maintain chondrocyte phenotype in culture for mechanobiology and tissue engineering studies. However, the internal strain field and the zone-specific deformation patterns of chondrocytes within hydrogels under dynamic compressive strain have not been well characterized. In this study, we characterized the strain fields within the surface, middle and bottom zones of 3-dimensional collagen and agarose hydrogel constructs, in response to 5 and 15% applied compressive strain. Hydrogel microstructure and chondrocyte deformation were also analysed and compared to uncompressed conditions using scanning electron microscopy. We observed that there are inhomogeneous strain distributions in both collagen and agarose hydrogel constructs. In collagen gels, we observed that the microstructure varied greatly between uncompressed gels to gels with 5% applied compression. The percentage porosity in the surface zone of the gel decreased significantly upon initial application of 5% compression, but remained unchanged when compressed further to 15%. In agarose gels, only the cells in the middle zone of the gel deformed significantly under compression while cells in the other zones underwent deformation that was not statistically significant. These findings indicate that deformation of chondrocytes seeded hydrogels under compression is both inhomogeneous and location-dependent. Therefore, it is important to consider these inhomogeneities in order to accurately understand how mechanical stimuli may affect chondrocyte behaviour.

http://ift.tt/2xE32mo

A novel magnetic core-shell nanocomposite Fe 3 O 4 @chitosan@ZnO for the green synthesis of 2-benzimidazoles

Abstract

A novel magnetic core-shell nanocomposite Fe₃O₄@Chitosan@ZnO was successfully prepared by in situ chemical precipitation method. It has a clear core-shell structure with magnetic Fe₃O₄ (about 160 nm in diameter) as core, chitosan as the inner shell, and ZnO as the outer shell, as demonstrated by the transmission electron microscopy and the related elemental mapping. Moreover, this nanocomposite has high magnetization (43.6 emu g⁻¹) so that it can be easily separated from the reaction mixture within 4 s by an external magnetic field. The introduction of the natural chitosan shell, instead of the conventional SiO₂ shell, and its combination with the active ZnO ensures this novel nanocomposite green character and good catalytic performance in the synthesis of 2-benzimidazoles with moderate to excellent isolated yields at room temperature. Notably, it can be recycled seven times without appreciable loss of its initial catalytic activity, demonstrating its good stability and making it an attractive candidate for the green synthesis of 2-benzimidazoles.

Graphical abstract

A novel magnetic core-shell nanocomposite exhibited high activity and good stability in the green synthesis of 2-benzimidazoles under mild reaction conditions.

http://ift.tt/2yzluJL

CoMn 2 O 4 -supported functionalized carbon nanotube: efficient catalyst for oxygen reduction in microbial fuel cells

Abstract

Recently, the synthesis of nonprecious metal catalysts with low cost and high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) efficiency is paid much attention in field of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Transition metal oxides (AMn₂O₄, A = Co、Ni, and Zn) supported on carbon materials such as graphene and carbon nanotube exhibit stronger electroconductivity and more active sites comparing to bare AMn₂O₄. Herein, we demonstrate an easy operating Hummer's method to functionalize carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) in order to achieve effective loading of CoMn₂O₄ nanoparticles, named CoMn₂O₄/PDDA-CNTs (CMODT). After solvothermal treatment, nanoscale CoMn₂O₄ particles (~ 80 nm) were successfully attached on the noncovalent functionalized carbon nanotube. Results show that such composites possess an outstanding electrocatalytic activity towards ORR comparable to the commercial Pt/C catalyst in neutral media. Electrochemical detections as cyclic voltammogram (CV) and rotating ring-disk electrode tests (RRDE) showed that the potential of oxygen reduction peak of 30% CMODT was at − 0.3 V (vs Ag/AgCl), onset potential was at + 0.4 V. Among them, 30% CMODT composite appeared the best candidate of oxygen reduction via 3.9 electron transfer pathway. When 30% CMODT composite was utilized as cathode catalyst in air cathode MFC, the reactor obtained 1020 mW m⁻² of the highest maximum power density and 0.781 V of open circuit voltage. The excellent activity and low cost (0.2 $ g⁻¹) of the hybrid materials demonstrate the potential of transition metal oxide/carbon as effective cathode ORR catalyst for microbial fuel cells.

Graphical abstract

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http://ift.tt/2yfg62k

Enterocutaneous fistulas: a primer for radiologists with emphasis on CT and MRI

Abstract

Enterocutaneous fistulas (ECFs) represent abnormal communications between the gastrointestinal tract and the skin. Nowadays, the majority (~80%) of ECFs develops secondary to abdominal surgeries; alternative, less common causes include chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease, tumours, and radiation enteritis in descending order of frequency. These rare disorders require thorough patient assessment and multidisciplinary management to limit the associated morbidity and mortality. This pictorial review includes an overview of causes, clinical manifestations, complications and management of ECFs. Afterwards, the imaging appearances, differential diagnoses, and therapeutic options of post-surgical, IBD-related, and malignant ECFs are presented with case examples. Most of the emphasis is placed on the current pivotal role of CT and MRI, which comprehensively depict ECFs providing cross-sectional information on the underlying postsurgical, neoplastic, infectious, or inflammatory conditions. Radiographic fistulography remains a valid technique, which rapidly depicts the ECF anatomy and confirms communication with the bowel. The aim of this paper is to increase radiologists' familiarity with ECF imaging, thus allowing an appropriate choice between medical, interventional, or surgical treatment, ultimately resulting in higher likelihood of therapeutic success.

Teaching Points

• Enterocutaneous fistulas may complicate abdominal surgery, sometimes Crohn's disease and tumours.

• The high associated morbidity and mortality result from sepsis, malnutrition and metabolic imbalance.

• The multidisciplinary management of ECFs requires thorough imaging for correct therapeutic choice.

• Radiographic fistulography rapidly depicts fistulas and communicating bowel loops in real-time.

• Multidetector CT and MRI provide cross-sectional information on fistulas and underlying diseases.

http://ift.tt/2ydLGO0

Melt processing of biodegradable poly(lactic acid)/functionalized chitosan nanocomposite films: mechanical modeling with improved oxygen barrier and thermal properties

Abstract

The present work demonstrates about the formulation of functionalized chitosan (CH-g-OLLA) through the transformation of hydrophilic nature of chitosan into hydrophobic by grafting with oligo(L-lactic acid) (OLLA). The developed CH-g-OLLA is easily soluble in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix, which provides an opportunity towards producing industrially viable nanocomposite films for stringent food packaging and beverages applications. The grafting of OLLA chains is confirmed at NH₂ group of chitosan through the presence of two new peaks at 4.2 and 5.1 ppm in ¹H–NMR spectra. Various parameters like yield (%), grafting efficiency (%) and percent grafting (%) are calculated as ~51.6, ~40 and ~150%, respectively. Functionalized chitosan has been utilized as nano-filler in PLA matrix to fabricate PLA/CH-g-OLLA nanocomposite films which have compounded successfully by co-rotating twin screw compounder cum cast film extrusion technique (distinctly advantageous over conventional solution casting) at bench scale as well as semi-pilot scale and further demonstrated for its application in the area of food packaging with tailored oxygen barrier properties. Uniform dispersion of spherical aggregates of functionalized chitosan is observed in PLA/CH-g-OLLA nanocomposite films using TEM analysis. A significant reduction up to ~11 °C in glass transition temperature of PLA is observed by adding 5 wt% of nano-filler as a result of plasticization effect, which is an essential property in designing of flexible packages. Mechanical modeling of extruded PLA/CH-g-OLLA films has been performed to compare the experimental values with theoretical results using various mathematical models in which modified foam model, Nielsen model and modified Mitsuishi model demonstrate the best match for Young's modulus (±0.08), tensile strength (±0.06) and percentage elongation (±0.03), respectively. This may be a significant contribution towards commercialization of such formulation where elegant melt extrusion process of PLA with functionalized chitosan is capable of reducing oxygen permeability up to ~10 folds due to a drastic reduction (~96%) in oxygen solubility.

http://ift.tt/2xMO1Ov

Fabrication of hydrophilic and hydrophobic site on polypropylene nonwoven for removal of bisphenol a from water: explorations on adsorption behaviors, mechanisms and configurational influence

Abstract

In this study, hydrophilic and hydrophobic site was fabricated onto the surface of polypropylene (PP) nonwoven for removal of bisphenol A (BPA). The adsorption behaviors as well as the adsorption driving forces were systematically analyzed. It is revealed that the amphiphilic PP nonwoven (PP-g-GMA-OA) had strong affinity towards BPA molecules and the predominant driving forces were hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding. The hydrophobic site acted as adsorption site to provide hydrophobic interaction. The hydrophilic site accelerated the diffusion and adsorption process. In addition, the detailed connections between grated layer configuration and adsorption behaviors were observed and systematically elucidated. To ascertain the configurational transformation of grafted layer on PP surface, a microparticle grafting experiment was designed based on stimuli-responsive material measurement and the results indicated that the grafted layer had extended and contracted configuration with the variety of pH. Surface zeta potential measurement revealed that the configurarational transformation was mainly controlled by electrostatic interaction. On the basis of specially designed adsorption isotherm experiment, it is observed that extended configuration could offer more sites and slightly increased the adsorption capacity compared with contracted configuration.

http://ift.tt/2fA40pl

Research on methanol permeation of proton exchange membranes with incorporating ionic liquids

Abstract

Methanol permeation and conductivity of membrane materials are important factors to evaluate the feasibility of application as proton exchange membranes (PEMs) in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The methanol permeation values of these composite membranes based on ionic liquids of trifluoroacetic propylamine (TFAPA) and the disubstituted imidazolium cations with different anions were summarized, and the methanol permeation behaviors were investigated in this work. Although these polymer/ionic liquid composite membranes displayed satisfactory conductivities, the relative selectivity values of conductivity to methanol permeability were lower than the value of Nafion^® membrane. Moreover, polymerized ionic liquids (PILs) membranes showed the strong ability to hinder methanol permeation with a value around 10⁻¹¹ cm²/s at 10 M methanol solution. The maximum relative selectivity value reached (2.23–1.76) × 10⁶ S·s/cm³ for PVC-MIMCl membrane, which was near two orders of magnitude higher than the reported 2.47 × 10⁴ S·s/cm³ for Nafion-117 membrane at 2 M methanol solution.

Graphical abstract

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http://ift.tt/2xMdnfm

Comparative study of the organisation and phenotypes of bladder interstitial cells in human, mouse and rat

Abstract

With most research on interstitial cells (IC) in the bladder being conducted on animal models, it remains unclear whether all structural and functional data on IC from animal models can be translated to the human context. This prompted us to compare the structural and immunohistochemical properties of IC in bladders from mouse, rat and human. Tissue samples were obtained from the bladder dome and subsequently processed for immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. The ultrastructural properties of IC were compared by means of electron microscopy and IC were additionally characterized with single/double immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence. Our results reveal a similar organization of the IC network in the upper lamina propria (ULP), the deep lamina propria (DLP) and the detrusor muscle in human, rat and mouse bladders. Furthermore, despite several similarities in IC phenotypes, we also found several obvious inter-species differences in IC, especially in the ULP. Most remarkably in this respect, ULP IC in human bladder predominantly displayed a myoid phenotype with abundant presence of contractile micro-filaments, while those in rat and mouse bladders showed a fibroblast phenotype. In conclusion, the organization of ULP IC, DLP IC and detrusor IC is comparable in human, rat and mouse bladders, although several obvious inter-species differences in IC phenotypes were found. The present data show that translating research data on IC in laboratory animals to the human setting should be carried out with caution.

http://ift.tt/2yyCYGd

Suitability of Test Chambers for Analyzing Air Pollutant Removal by Plants and Assessing Potential Indoor Air Purification

Abstract

A unique test chamber system, which enables experiments with plants under highly controlled environmental conditions, was used to examine the pollutant removal efficiency of plants. For this purpose, the removal of two different volatile organic compounds (VOC) (toluene, 2-ethylhexanol) from the air by aerial plant parts of two common indoor plant species (Dieffenbachia maculata and Spathiphyllum wallisii) was monitored. While the control over environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity, CO₂ content, and light condition) worked very well in all experiments, control experiments with the empty chamber revealed high losses of VOC, especially 2-ethylhexanol, over the test duration of 48 h. Nonetheless, compared to the empty chamber, a significantly stronger and more rapid decline in the toluene as well as in the 2-ethylhexanol concentrations was observed when plants were present in the chamber. Interestingly, almost the same VOC removal as by aerial plant parts could be achieved by potting soil without plants. A comparative literature survey revealed substantial heterogeneity in previous results concerning the VOC removal efficiency of plants. This can be mainly attributed to a high diversity in experimental setup. The experimental setup used in the current study offers an excellent opportunity to examine also plant physiological responses to pollutant exposure (or other stressors) under highly controlled conditions. For the analysis of VOC removal under typical indoor conditions, to obtain data for the assessment of realistic VOC removal efficiencies by plants in rooms and offices, a guideline would be helpful to achieve more coherent findings in this field of research.

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Phenotype comparison confirms ZMYND11 as a critical gene for 10p15.3 microdeletion syndrome

Abstract

Proper epigenetic regulation processes are crucial in the normal development of the human brain. An ever-increasing group of neurodevelopmental disorders due to derangements of epigenetic regulation involve both microdeletion and monogenic syndromes. Some of these syndromes have overlapping clinical phenotypes due to haploinsufficiency-sensitive genes involved in microdeletions. It was shown recently that the ZMYND11 gene has important functions in epigenetic regulation as an unconventional transcription co-repressor of highly expressed genes, possibly acting in the repression of cryptic transcription from gene bodies. The aim of our study was to compare the clinical phenotypes of patients with 10p15.3 deletions with the phenotypes of patients with loss-of-function ZMYND11 mutations. The results of our study further confirm that the ZMYND11 gene is the critical gene for the clinical phenotype of 10p15.3 microdeletion involving the terminal ~4 Mb of chromosome 10p. In addition, accumulating clinical data allow for further characterisation of this syndrome, including neurodevelopmental disorder, characteristic dysmorphic features and some other more frequent symptoms, such as behavioural disturbances, hypotonia, seizures, low birth weight, short stature in those older than 10 years of age, genitourinary malformations and recurrent infections.

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Expression profiling of microRNAs in human bone tissue from postmenopausal women

Abstract

Bone tissue is composed of several cell types, which express their own microRNAs (miRNAs) that will play a role in cell function. The set of total miRNAs expressed in all cell types configures the specific signature of the bone tissue in one physiological condition. The aim of this study was to explore the miRNA expression profile of bone tissue from postmenopausal women. Tissue was obtained from trabecular bone and was analyzed in fresh conditions (n = 6). Primary osteoblasts were also obtained from trabecular bone (n = 4) and human osteoclasts were obtained from monocyte precursors after in vitro differentiation (n = 5). MicroRNA expression profiling was obtained for each sample by microarray and a global miRNA analysis was performed combining the data acquired in all the microarray experiments. From the 641 miRNAs detected in bone tissue samples, 346 (54%) were present in osteoblasts and/or osteoclasts. The other 46% were not identified in any of the bone cells analyzed. Intersection of osteoblast and osteoclast arrays identified 101 miRNAs shared by both cell types, which accounts for 30–40% of miRNAs detected in these cells. In osteoblasts, 266 miRNAs were detected, of which 243 (91%) were also present in the total bone array, representing 38% of all bone miRNAs. In osteoclasts, 340 miRNAs were detected, of which 196 (58%) were also present in the bone tissue array, representing 31% of all miRNAs detected in total bone. These analyses provide an overview of miRNAs expressed in bone tissue, broadening our knowledge in the microRNA field.

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Second lung malignancy and Richter syndrome in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: case report and literature review

Abstract

Background

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most frequent lymphoproliferative disease. Transformation into Richter disease and occurrence of second malignancies involving the lungs are rare complications. The hallmarks of any thoracic involvement are still unknown.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 56-year-old male patient, with history of tobacco smoking, who presented with recurrent hemoptysis, fatigue and weight loss. Physical examination was normal except a slightly enlarged supraclavicular lymph node. Chest x-ray revealed a mediastinal widening due to enlarged paratracheal nodes and a left parahilar infiltrate. Blood tests showed a hyperlymphocytosis and a biological inflammatory syndrome. CT scan showed bilateral mediastinal and axillary lymphadenopathy, as well as left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy, with a left upper lobe alveolar attenuation and a solitary contralateral pulmonary nodule. Examination of Virchow's node and bone marrow biopsies confirmed metastasis of a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, as well as chronic lymphocytic leukemia with Richter's transformation. The clinical course was unfavorable since the first days of therapy as the patient passed away in a matter of a few days.

Conclusions

Steady surveillance of CLL patients and systematic screening for second solid tumors, particularly lung cancer, and Richter's transformation seem to be relevant more than ever. Early diagnosis might help us understand the pathways leading to these complications and adapt therapy.

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Bioinformatic prediction and analysis of glucolipid metabolic regulation by miR-34a in Megalobrama amblycephala

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the target genes and regulatory function of miR-34a in Megalobrama amblycephala using second-generation high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic tools. Functional enrichment analysis was performed by gene ontology. MiR-34a and target gene expression levels were measured in M. amblycephala fed normal and high-carbohydrate diets. The results revealed that miR-34a was highly conserved in several species, and miR-34a of M. amblycephala has a close evolutionary relationship to that of zebrafish and common carp. miRanda, TargetScan, RNAhybrid predicted 5,185, 6,282 and 2,168 target genes, respectively, and 645 target genes were in common. According to annotation information, the target genes were enriched in phosphate metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, Golgi vesicle transport, cell division, and other biological processes (P < 0.05). Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that these target genes were mainly enriched in alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, VEGF signaling pathway, Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway, GnRH signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway (P < 0.05). The regulatory role of miR-34a was more significant in the liver than in the brain of M. amblycephala. MiR-34a regulates glucose lipid homeostasis induced by high glucose diets by upregulating hepatic PI3K/Akt, FOXO, and TOR signaling pathways.

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Cloning and analysis of the molecularly characterized chitinase genes of Daphnia carinata and Simocephalus vetulus

Abstract

Daphniidae plays an important role in maintaining the integrity and sustainability of food chains of freshwater ecosystems. However, studies on the intact genes of chitinase in Daphniidae have not been carried out till date. In this study, we obtained the full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) from Daphnia carinata and Simocephalus vetulus, members of the Family Daphniidae, by rapid amplification of cDNA ends and polymerase chain reaction. The two cDNAs were named DcChi and SvChi, respectively. The result showed that DcChi and SvChi were 1404 and 1319 bp in length and they encoded 383 and 382 amino acids, respectively. Based on their cDNA sequences, the genomic structures of the two chitinases were characterized. Sequence analysis revealed that DcChi was composed of three exons and two introns, while SvChi had four exons and three introns. Based on the presence of conserved catalytic domain sequences, the two chitinases could be clustered within the same phylogenetic group. Homology analysis showed that the two deduced proteins had a high similarity (65–88%) to those from published species in Family Daphniidae and a low similarity to those from the species in Class Malacostraca Subclass Copepoda (38–42%) and those from the species in Class Insecta Order Diptera (33–38%). Based on the results of multiple alignments of chitinases, we designed peptides that were specific to chitinases from the Family Daphniidae. The quantitative real time PCR analysis indicated that the transcript level of the chitinase gene increased with the growth of the two species.

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Pharmacological and Non-pharmacological Treatments for Stroke Prevention in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with significant risk of stroke and other thromboembolic events, which can be effectively prevented using oral anticoagulation (OAC) with either vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) or non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs) dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, or edoxaban. Until recently, VKAs were the only available means for OAC treatment. NOACs had similar efficacy and were safer than or as safe as warfarin with respect to reduced rates of hemorrhagic stroke or other intracranial bleeding in the respective pivotal randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of stroke prevention in non-valvular AF patients. Increasing "real-world" evidence on NOACs broadly confirms the results of the RCTs. However, individual patient characteristics including renal function, age, or prior bleeding should be taken into account when choosing the OAC with best risk–benefit profile. In patients ineligible for OACs, surgical or interventional stroke prevention strategies should be considered. In patients undergoing cardiac surgery for other reasons, the left atrial appendage excision, ligation, or amputation may be the best option. Importantly, residual stumps or insufficient ligation may result in even higher stroke risk than without intervention. Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion, although requiring minimally invasive access, failed to demonstrate reduced ischemic stroke events compared to warfarin. In this review article, we summarize current treatment options and discuss the strengths and major limitations of the therapies for stroke risk reduction in patients with AF.

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Multiple Sclerosis: Unprecedented Progress But Significant Challenges Ahead

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Renal protection in thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery

Abstract

It is indisputable that open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair remains a highly complex and sophisticated surgical intervention. Despite advancements in the imaging modality, evolution of our understanding of the pathology afflicting the aorta, intraoperative brain and spinal cord monitoring, intraoperative organ protection, postoperative critical care and organ support, monitoring and the close follow-up of affected patients, this type of surgery remains a challenge to the surgeon and the patient. In this review, we will illustrate the recent evidence on renal protection and prediction during TAAA.

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Current management of long-term survivors of biliary atresia: over 40 years of experience in a single center and review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction

Owing to several therapeutic advancements, more patients with biliary atresia now survive into adulthood while retaining their native liver. However, the optimal strategy for long-term management of such patients remains unclear.

Methods

Aiming to establish the current management strategies, we reviewed previous reports of long-term outcome of BA who underwent surgery at our institution as well as the relevant literature, focusing particularly on the treatment of late complications.

Results

Approximately 30–40% of long-term survivors of biliary atresia who retain their native liver exhibit late sequelae such as cholangitis and portal hypertension. Early and appropriate intervention with Kasai portoenterostomy is essential for ensuring long-term survival with good quality of life. In our hospital, the current standard for Kasai portoenterostomy involves dissecting the fibrous remnants along the porta hepatis, just on the level of the liver capsule. Cholangitis is an important late complication in biliary atresia, and the possibility of mechanical obstruction of the biliary drainage route or deformity of the intrahepatic bile ducts with or without gallstones should be thoroughly evaluated in patients with intractable cholangitis. Regarding portal hypertension, appropriate interventions such as endoscopic variceal treatment and partial splenic embolization are considered to provide good quality of life when hepatic function is preserved.

Conclusion

Appropriate therapeutic management is strongly recommended in selected patients with late complications.

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Nature is the best source of anti-inflammatory drugs: indexing natural products for their anti-inflammatory bioactivity

Abstract

Objectives

The aim was to index natural products for less expensive preventive or curative anti-inflammatory therapeutic drugs.

Materials

A set of 441 anti-inflammatory drugs representing the active domain and 2892 natural products representing the inactive domain was used to construct a predictive model for bioactivity-indexing purposes.

Method

The model for indexing the natural products for potential anti-inflammatory activity was constructed using the iterative stochastic elimination algorithm (ISE). ISE is capable of differentiating between active and inactive anti-inflammatory molecules.

Results

By applying the prediction model to a mix set of (active/inactive) substances, we managed to capture 38% of the anti-inflammatory drugs in the top 1% of the screened set of chemicals, yielding enrichment factor of 38. Ten natural products that scored highly as potential anti-inflammatory drug candidates are disclosed. Searching the PubMed revealed that only three molecules (Moupinamide, Capsaicin, and Hypaphorine) out of the ten were tested and reported as anti-inflammatory. The other seven phytochemicals await evaluation for their anti-inflammatory activity in wet lab.

Conclusion

The proposed anti-inflammatory model can be utilized for the virtual screening of large chemical databases and for indexing natural products for potential anti-inflammatory activity.

http://ift.tt/2hwIxli

Size controlled ultrafine CeO 2 nanoparticles produced by the microwave assisted route and their antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Cerium oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) have a wide range of biological and biomedical applications. This work describes a new methodology for producing ultrafine, highly uniform NPs with controlled sizes using the chemical microwave assisted route. The size of CeO₂-NPs decreased from 10 to 5 nm by increasing the molar ratio of cerium nitrate Ce(NO₃)₃.(6H₂O) to that of hexamethylenetetramine (C₆H₁₂N) from 1:20 to 20:20. Detailed information about their structural characterization was obtained from the XRD, UV-visible, photoluminescence, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, TEM and AFM. These CeO₂-NPs were tested as antimicrobial agent against Gram-negative (Escherichia.coli), Gram-positive (Bacillus.subtilis) bacteria and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The obtained results showed significant inhibition of these strain even at low concentration of CeO₂-NPs. The CeO₂-NPs with the molar ratio 5:20 had the most effective inhibition against E.coli (~70%) at a concentration of 20 µL. The CeO₂-NPs with the ratio 12:20 were found to be the most effective against B.subtilis (inhibition ~68%). On the other hand, CeO₂-NPs synthesized with the 20:20 molar ratio caused the highest inhibition for S. cerevisiae (~60%). It is observed that at higher NPs concentration (i.e., >20 µL) the inhibition of these strains decreased. The antimicrobial activity may be attributed to the penetrating power of CeO₂-NPs size beside the generated oxygen species radicals that caused inhibition of bacterial growth.

Graphical abstract

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Optimal Control of Screw In-pipe Inspection Robot with Controllable Pitch Rate

Abstract

A Steerable in-pipe inspection robot is designed in this paper and its optimal control based on linear quadratic regulator (LQR) approach is performed subject to input minimization. In-pipe inspection robots are necessary mobile robots in order to investigate the pipelines. Most of the in-pipe inspection robots are limited to move with a constant pitch rate. An in pipe inspection robot is proposed in this paper which is based on screw locomotion and its steering angle is also controllable in order to handle the pitch rate of the movement and bypass the probable obstacles. Since the proposed robot is multivariable with more than one controlling input, minimizing its control inputs are extremely useful. The goal of this paper is to extract the dynamic model of the mentioned steerable screw in-pipe inspection robot and controlling it within a predefined trajectory in an optimal way. The proper mechanism is designed and its related kinematics and kinetics are derived. Afterwards the objective function is defined based on minimizing the controlling input and maximizing the accuracy of movement. The nonlinear state space is linearized around its operating point and optimization is implemented using Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR). The efficiency of the designed robot and controller and the optimality of its controlling procedure are investigated by the aid of MATLAB simulation and comparative analysis. It is proved that the designed robot is able to move with controllable pitch rate and acceptable accuracy while the obstacles can be avoided and the energy consumption is optimized. At the end the validity of modeling and simulation in MATLAB is also verified by modeling the robot in ADAMS and comparing the results.

http://ift.tt/2xFlnyQ

Kinematic Analysis, Prototypation and Control of a Novel Gripper for Dexterous Applications

Abstract

Speed and flexibility are the primary concerns to whom a well designed industrial gripper should target. The first one leads to unquestionable pros in terms of production, while the second one to the ability of grasping and manipulating several payloads. However, these qualities are opposed to each other in terms of design requirements: speed requires a structure built of rigid bodies, flexibility would have to be favoured by the use of soft materials. As a common target, the human hand represents the most interesting inspiration source in this field, due to its natural dexterity and ability to perform in-hand manipulations. Thus, many bio-inspired or bio-mimicked grippers have been developed in the last decades with the final aim of replicating the terrific capabilities offered by the human hand. In such panorama, this paper presents the kinematic synthesis of a novel, modular, reconfigurable gripper, which is capable to manipulate a plurality of objects, being dexterous at the same time. Instead of using soft materials to achieve in-hand manipulation, the authors focused to use mechanisms to address the problem. The concept of manipulation is firstly evaluated in a multibody software environment, then a physical prototype was developed, and the necessary control laws were derived. Several experiments were conducted to test the effectiveness of the proposed structure. Results in terms of accuracy and repeatability are shown, and also the ability to address the three major tasks of grasp, in-hand manipulation and release with appropriate posture have been demonstrated.

http://ift.tt/2xFHbKL

A New Difficulty Index for Teleoperated Robots Driving through Obstacles

Abstract

Teleoperation allows humans to reach environments that would otherwise be too difficult or dangerous. The distance between the human operator and remote robot introduces a number of issues that can negatively impact system performance including degraded and delayed information exchange between the robot and human. Some operation scenarios and environments can tolerate these degraded conditions, while others cannot. However, little work has been done to investigate how factors such as communication delay, automation, and environment characteristics interact to affect teleoperation system performance. This paper presents results from a user study analyzing the effects of teleoperation factors including communication delay, autonomous assistance, and environment layout on user performance. A mobile robot driving task is considered in which subjects drive a robot to a goal location around obstacles as quickly (minimize time) and safely (avoid collisions) as possible. An environment difficulty index (ID) is defined in the paper and is shown to be able to predict the average time it takes for the human to drive the robot to a goal location with different obstacle configurations. The ID is also shown to predict the path chosen by the human better than travel time along that path.

http://ift.tt/2wW9xMQ

A Highly-Maneuverable Demining Autonomous Robot: an Over-Actuated Design

Abstract

Based on the well-known advantages of using an over-actuated mechanism for robots, this research proposes a holonomic highly-maneuverable autonomous robot design for demining service applications. The proposed approach provides an interesting compromise between the design requirements of the demining robot applications and the over-actuated autonomous robots. The robot body is mainly divided into two parts: the first part provides the robot with its required locomotion and it consists of a driving/steering subsystem with four driving wheels (4WD), four steering mechanisms (4SW), and a passive suspension subsystem. The second part is a manipulator with three degrees of freedom that is designed based on two parallelogram mechanisms. The proposed design insures many advantages over existing designs, including stability, maneuverability, autonomous navigation, and simplicity of the control effort constraints. The robot model and its corresponding stability analysis were conducted and simulated in order to evaluate the motion of the robot over different environments rough terrains and slanted surfaces. Moreover, a prototype of the proposed robot was developed and built and different types of sensors were used in order to help it take precise actuation decisions for navigation and control. The prototype was experimentally tested for different scenarios and environments in order to validate the proposed design. The testing results demonstrated decent performance of the robot in autonomous navigation and in localizing the detected objects.

http://ift.tt/2xFJvBr

All-Cause and Drug-Related Medical Events Associated with Overuse of Gabapentin and/or Opioid Medications: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of a Commercially Insured US Population

Abstract

Introduction

Overuse of gabapentin and/or opioids occurs in a small percentage of patients at > 3-fold labeled dosages. Gabapentin may potentiate opioid effects.

Objective

The aim was to assess patient harm, defined as use of inpatient hospital (IPH) or emergency department (ED) services, associated with overuse of gabapentin with or without concomitant overuse of opioids.

Data source

Data were sourced from the Truven Health MarketScan^® Commercial Claims and Encounters database, for the years 2013–2015.

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria were two or more claims (billed encounters) and ≥120 days of treatment with gabapentin and/or opioids.

Methods

Cohort identification was based on daily-dosage thresholds of 50 morphine-milligram equivalents and 3600 mg of gabapentin in a 12-month follow-up: (1) no overuse; (2) mild overuse (two or more claims or two or fewer calendar quarters over threshold); and (3) sustained overuse (three or more over-threshold calendar quarters). IPH and ED use were measured for 6 months after the first overuse date (cohorts 2 and 3) or a randomly assigned date (cohort 1). Logistic regression analyses controlled for pre-treatment IPH/ED utilization, indication, addiction diagnosis, concomitant sedative/hypnotic use, and demographics.

Results

All-cause and drug-related IPH/ED utilization increased monotonically with degree of overuse, particularly of more than one medication. Sustained overuse of gabapentin multiplied odds of all-cause IPH by 1.366 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.055–1.769], drug-related IPH by 1.440 (95% CI 1.010–2.053), and IPH/ED for altered mental status (e.g., euphoria, anxiety) by 1.864 (95% CI 1.324–2.624). Sustained overuse of both medications quadrupled odds of all-cause IPH, drug-related IPH, and IPH/ED for altered mental status or respiratory depression.

Conclusion

Despite modest effects of gabapentin overuse alone, overuse of gabapentin with opioids may increase risk of harm and health-service utilization, supporting calls to make gabapentin a controlled substance in the USA.

http://ift.tt/2wWgy0g

An extended analysis of memory hierarchies for efficient implementations of image processing applications

Abstract

Through continued miniaturization of electronic devices embedded smart cameras are steadily becoming more and more important. The reduction of the camera size increases the spectrum of applications. In industrial applications the range of smart cameras spans from quality monitoring and position tracking to the calibration of production machines. In non-professional applications a distinct boom in action cameras combined with fused sensor information can be observed. However, all of these applications have a common bottleneck: the memory architecture. Most image processing applications are memory-bound tasks. Thus, the amount of time for transferring data with image processing applications decisively affects the application's entire processing time. Different memory access patterns require different memory configurations and hierarchies. An insufficient match between the image processing application and the memory architecture leads to a poor performance in the image processing system. This can lead to longer processing times, and larger energy consumption rates. This work introduces new methods of classifying image processing applications by using their memory access pattern for mapping on memory architectures. Our work combines a simulation framework the heterogenous memory simulator with a analytical framework the memory analyzer to find bottlenecks inside the image processing application and aids in finding a suitable, application-specific memory configuration in terms of processing time and energy consumption.

http://ift.tt/2xFkFBv

Prevalence of correct anti-Xa levels in renally impaired patients who are on therapeutic nadroparin

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Does diverting ileostomy improve the outcome in children with tuberculous small bowel obstruction requiring surgical intervention?

Abstract

Introduction

Abdominal tuberculosis is fairly common in children. The most common clinical presentation is bowel obstruction. Depending upon the presentation, the intestinal obstruction can be either managed conservatively or by operative intervention. There are various options in patients who undergo operative treatment. This study was undertaken to analyze the results of operative intervention with and without ileostomy.

Materials and methods

This is a retrospective study carried out over a period of 10 years on 32 children who were operated for small bowel obstruction due to abdominal tuberculosis. The patients were divided into two groups (A: with ileostomy and B: without ileostomy). The relevant data and the defined outcome measures were statistically analyzed.

Results

A total of 32 children with tuberculous bowel obstruction requiring surgical intervention were studied. The patient of group A had mean duration of postoperative ileus for 2.55 days, restoration of enteral feeding within mean period of 3.55 days and had a primary hospital stay for a mean period of 9.0 days. These outcomes when compared with group B patients were statistically significant.

Conclusion

In children with bowel obstruction due to tuberculosis, diverting ileostomy decreases the morbidity by allowing early return of enteral motility, early institution of feeding and first-line ATT and decreasing the primary hospital stay.

http://ift.tt/2wW0VWw