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Introduction and Objectives: Large primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high mortality rate and a variety of treatments. Surgery and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) are important treatments. Which could be better remain debatable. The objective of the study is to compare the long-term overall survival of surgical resection (SR) and the use of TACE in patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We assessed clinical trials through PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up to March 2022. Two researchers independently screened articles, extracted data, and assessed the study quality according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses)guidelines. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). The secondary outcomes were OS after propensity scores matching (PSM) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: A total of 14 studies, including 3609 patients, were enrolled in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis indicated a significant improvement in the 1-year OS, 3-year OS, and 5-year OS favoring SR over TACE (OR = 2.19, 95% CI 1,60–3.00; OR = 3.47, 95% CI 2.47–4.88; OR = 2.72, 95% CI 2.03–3.64, p 0.05). The pooled outcome indicated that 1-year OS, 3-year OS, and 5-year OS after PSM were higher in the SR group than in the TACE group (p

Strontium (Sr) has become an increasing global threat for both environment and human health due to its radioactive isotope, Sr-90 which can be found in the nuclear-contaminated soils and water. Although excessive Sr has been known to be toxic to plant growth and development, the molecular mechanisms underlying plant response to Sr stress, especially on the transcription level, remains largely unknown. To date, there is no published genome-wide transcriptome data available for the plant responses to Sr toxicity. Therefore, we aimed to gain insight on the molecular events occurring in plants in Sr toxicity condition by comparing the genome-wide gene expression profiles between control and Sr-treated plants using RNA-seq analysis. A total of 842 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in response to Sr stress compared to the control. Based on the analysis of DEGs using Gene Ontology (GO), DEGs were significantly enriched in the GO terms of response to salicylic acid (SA), response to jasmonic acid (JA), and defense response to bacterium. In addition, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs were mainly involved in metabolic processes including phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, which is known as a precursor of JA biosynthesis. Furthermore, MapMan analysis revealed that a number of genes related to the biotic stress such as pathogenesis-related protein (PR) genes were highly up-regulated under Sr stress. Taken together, this study revealed that JA biosynthesis and/or signaling might be associated with plant response to Sr stress, and play important roles to maintain proper growth and development under Sr stress.

Trace in situ nanocrystals crystallized from metallic glasses as innovative microstructure manipulation agents were proposed to manipulate the multilevel microstructure configuration of eutectic Al–Si13.0–Cu5.0–Mg0.6 alloy. And the manipulation effect by nanocrystals for different times was compared with Sr, nanocrystals + Sr and Ni alloying. The calculations indicated that NiTi nanocrystals had an ideal mismatch with α-Al and silicon; thus, nanocrystals can stimulate their nucleation and hinder their growth. Sr and Ni alloying were found to only refine the silicon phases, but nanocrystals refined both α-Al and silicon phases. Moreover, the inhibition of nanocrystals and Sr was verified. After the manipulation by nanocrystals for 20 min, the optimum microstructure configuration and mechanical properties were realized. The results showed that the size of α-Al was reduced by 86.7%, and the size and aspect ratio of eutectic silicon were decreased by 27.7% and 50.0% compared with that of the unmanipulated alloy. Primary silicon was distributed more evenly and reduced in number. In addition, the size of Al2Cu and Mg2Si was decreased by 57.7% and 90.6%. Accordingly, a prominent microstructure configuration comprised of refined α-Al, silicon phases and precipitations was established successfully via nanocrystals. Moreover, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and fracture strain (FS) were increased by 17.8% and 73.3% compared with that of the unmanipulated alloy at ambient temperature, and the yield strength (σ0.2) and UTS were increased by 21.5% and 14.4% at 250 °C. The specific strengthening mechanisms were revealed, as well. Therefore, in situ nanocrystals have great application potential and developmental value.

In the current investigation, a multi response optimization technique based on Taguchi method coupled with Grey relational analysis is planned for wire-EDM operations on ballistic grade aluminium alloy for armour applications. Experiments have been performed with four machining variables: pulse-on time, pulse-off time, peak current and spark voltage. Experimentation has been planned as per Taguchi technique. Three performance characteristics namely material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (SR) and gap current (GC) have been chosen for this study. Results showed that pulse-on time, peak current and spark voltage were significant variables to Grey relational grade. Variation of performance measures with process variables was modelled by using response surface method. The confirmation tests have also been performed to validate the results obtained by Grey relational analysis and found that great improvement with 6% error is achieved.

Bimetallic catalysts, containing 5 wt% Ni + 5 wt% Co supported on γ-Al2O3 combined with different amounts of Sr promoter ranging from 0 to 1 wt%, for dry reforming reaction were prepared by the impregnation method. The dry reforming reaction was carried out at atmospheric pressure using CO2/CH4/N2 feed ratio of 17/17/2, F/W = 60 mL/min gcat and reaction temperature range of 500–700 °C. The performance of the developed catalyst was evaluated by estimating the CH4 and CO2 conversions, and by performing a long run stability test. The fresh and spent catalysts were characterized by BET, TGA, TPD, TPR, and TPO. The bimetallic catalysts provided higher activity than the monometallic-catalysts. When the bimetallic was promoted with Sr, the activity decreased slightly however, the stability enhanced. The best stability, estimated by the deactivation factor, and less carbon deposition, measured by TGA, were obtained when 5Ni5CoSr0.75 catalyst was used.

Strontium (Sr) has become an increasing global threat for both environment and human health due to its radioactive isotope, Sr-90 which can be found in the nuclear-contaminated soils and water. Although excessive Sr has been known to be toxic to plant growth and development, the molecular mechanisms underlying plant response to Sr stress, especially on the transcription level, remains largely unknown. To date, there is no published genome-wide transcriptome data available for the plant responses to Sr toxicity. Therefore, we aimed to gain insight on the molecular events occurring in plants in Sr toxicity condition by comparing the genome-wide gene expression profiles between control and Sr-treated plants using RNA-seq analysis. A total of 842 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in response to Sr stress compared to the control. Based on the analysis of DEGs using Gene Ontology (GO), DEGs were significantly enriched in the GO terms of response to salicylic acid (SA), response to jasmonic acid (JA), and defense response to bacterium. In addition, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs were mainly involved in metabolic processes including phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, which is known as a precursor of JA biosynthesis. Furthermore, MapMan analysis revealed that a number of genes related to the biotic stress such as pathogenesis-related protein (PR) genes were highly up-regulated under Sr stress. Taken together, this study revealed that JA biosynthesis and/or signaling might be associated with plant response to Sr stress, and play important roles to maintain proper growth and development under Sr stress., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

One of the main problems that remain in the implant industry is poor osseointegration due to bioinertness of implants. In order to promote bioactivity, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and strontium (Sr) were incorporated into a TiO 2 porous layer produced by micro-arc oxidation. Ca and P as bioactive elements are already well reported in the literature, however, the knowledge of the effect of Sr is still limited. In the present work, the effect of various amounts of Sr was evaluated and the morphology, chemical composition and crystal structure of the oxide layer were investigated. Furthermore, in vitro studies were carried out using human osteoblast-like cells. The oxide layer formed showed a triplex structure, where higher incorporation of Sr increased Ca/P ratio, amount of rutile and promoted the formation of SrTiO 3 compound. Biological tests revealed that lower concentrations of Sr did not compromise initial cell adhesion neither viability and interestingly improved mineralization. However, higher concentration of Sr (and consequent higher amount of rutile) showed to induce collagen secretion but with compromised mineralization, possibly due to a delayed mineralization process or induced precipitation of deficient hydroxyapatite. Ca-P-TiO 2 porous layer with less concentration of Sr seems to be an ideal candidate for bone implants., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The inherent biological inertness of Ti substrates is a general challenge in orthopedic and dental clinical application. In this study, the strontium-containing phase change lysozyme coating was prepared on titanium via a supramolecular self-assembly method for accelerating osseointegration. Successful preparation of the Sr-incorporated lysozyme nanofilm onto the Ti substrate (Ti-Ly-Sr) was proved by tests of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Contact angle (CA). Furthermore, the results of cell morphology observation, cell viability assay, alkaline phosphatase staining and quantitative analysis showed that Ti-Ly-Sr substrate enhanced early adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays confirmed that Ti-Ly-Sr enhanced the expression of osteogenic related genes (BMP2, OPG, Runx2 and COL-1) of BMSCs at the molecular level. Moreover, Micro-CT and histological analysis proved that the strontium-incorporated lysozyme nanofilm modified Ti implants had significant capability of new bone formation in vivo after implantation for 4 weeks. We anticipate that the present system would provide a facile and effective means for surface modification of Ti-based implants. Relevant ideas and techniques in this study will contribute to the development of new implant devices., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To investigate the migration behavior of Sr (strontium) in granite, a rough-walled single fracture of granite was prepared with the self-built rock splitting apparatus. Surface roughness angle and hydraulic aperture of the fracture were measured by 3D laser scanning and fluid flow experiment, respectively. The sorption and desorption breakthrough experiments of Sr in the single fracture were conducted at different flow rates and initial concentrates of Sr, and the important transport parameters were derived by fitting the BTCs and DPCs. The results suggested that the sorption of Sr onto the fracture surface was a linear and reversible ion-exchange process, unaffected by the variation of flow rate and initial concentrate of Sr., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Stable isotopes of cesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr) as well as their radioactive isotopes are of serious environmental concern. The pollution of the biosphere, particularly soil and water has received considerable attention for removal of these contaminants in recent years. Arabidopsis halleri (A. halleri) is a hyperaccumulator plant species able to take up large amounts of several metals into its above ground organs without showing significant signs of toxicity. Therefore, we investigated responses, metal accumulation and element distribution in roots and leaves of A. halleri after treatment with stable Cs and Sr. Plants were hydroponically grown in different concentrations of cesium sulfate (between 0.002 and 20 mM) and strontium nitrate (between 0.001 and 100 mM). Uptake of Cs and Sr into leaves was analyzed from extracts by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Although internal concentration of Cs and Sr increased with rising external concentrations, the amount of accumulated metal in relation to available metal decreased. Therefore, the potential of the plant to effectively transfer metals from growth medium to leaves occurred at low and moderate concentrations, whereas after that when the concentration of metal increased further the transfer factors were decreased. A. halleri accumulated Sr more efficiently than Cs. The transfer factors were higher for Sr (up to 184) than for Cs (up to 16). The results indicate positive correlation of Cs and Sr accumulation to K and Ca transport to leaves. The toxicity of Cs and Sr was assessed by measuring photosynthetic efficiency and growth parameters. In leaves, Cs and Sr affected the chlorophyll fluorescence at their low and high concentrations. Significant reduction of plant growth (dry weight of roots and leaves) was observed at Sr concentrations >0.01 mM. Cs-treated plants exhibited only decreased length of leaves at concentrations>0.02 mM. The distribution of the elements within the different tissues of leaves and roots was investigated by using Energy Dispersive X-Ray microanalysis (EDX) with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). EDX revealed that Cs and Sr were accumulated differently in root and leaf tissues. The hydroponic experiment showed a potential for A. halleri to treat hotspots with radioactive Cs and Sr., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this study, differences in the chemical compositions of rebated excise duty diesel oil samples that were caused by fuel laundering were investigated. Two possible laundering pathways were simulated using either reduction or adsorption agents in model samples that were spiked with Solvent Yellow 124 and Solvent Red 19. The samples were characterized by their chromatographic fingerprints, which were recorded using gas chromatography coupled with a nitrogen chemiluminescence detector. The collections of fingerprints were further analyzed by discriminant partial least squares and the models with the optimal complexities presented the correct discrimination rates in the range of 69.1%-99.6%, respectively. The most informative fingerprint sections that were associated with the investigated differences were identified using the variable importance in projection, selectivity ratio and uninformative variable elimination methods. The reduced multivariate discriminant models presented a relatively high performance with the correct classification rates in the range of 74.9%-99.8%, respectively. O-toluidine and 2,5-diaminotoluene were identified as potential markers of diesel oil counterfeiting by laundering through a reduction agent., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Strontium is a metal broadly distributed in oceanic waters, where its concentrations follow gradients mainly driven by oceanographic and biological factors. Studies on terrestrial vertebrates show that Sr can accumulate in mammalian hair in amounts mainly related to the external environment, a property that has been scarcely investigated in aquatic mammals. Cetaceans are marine mammals whose skin is generally hairless, but the species belonging to the mysticete group feed through a filtering apparatus made of keratinous baleen plates that, like hair, grow continuously. During their annual latitudinal migrations, mysticetes cross water masses with variable chemo-physical characteristics that may be reflected in these tissues. In the present study, baleen plates were sampled from 10 fin whales obtained from NW Spain (N = 5) and SW Iceland (N = 5) to investigate Sr concentrations along the plates growth axis. Samples were taken longitudinally at regular 1 cm-intervals on each plate. Sr concentrations, determined through mass spectrometry, ranged from 5 to 40 mg kg -1 and increased from proximal to distal positions along plates. These results suggest a progressive adsorption of Sr on the plate surface, a process that also occurs in mammalian hair. Increasing trends were similar in the two regions but overall concentrations were significantly higher in NW Spain, reflecting different Sr baseline concentrations in the two areas and indicating isolation between the two whale populations. Some oscillations in Sr longitudinal trends were also detected, likely indicating that whales migrate across water masses with different Sr baselines. These results suggest that Sr concentrations in keratinous tissues of marine mammals can be used as ecological tracers of their migrations and habitat use., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study firstly aims to assess the field performances of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and silicone rubber (SR) samplers for the monitoring of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in water regarding the uptake, the sampling rate (R S ) estimated by using performance reference compounds (PRCs) and the time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations. The second aim is to evaluate the efficiency of these samplers to investigate PCB sources (localization and imputation steps) using methods with and without PRCs to correct for the impact of water velocity on the uptake. Samplers spiked with PRCs were deployed in the outfalls of two PCB sources and at 8 river sites situated upstream and downstream of the outfalls. After 6weeks, the uptake of PCBs in the linear phase was equivalent in LDPE and SR but 5 times lower in LDPE for PCBs approaching equilibrium. PRC-based R S and water velocity (0.08 to 1.21ms -1 ) were well correlated in river (LDPE: R 2 =0.91, SR: R 2 =0.96) but not in outfalls (higher turbulences and potential release of PRCs to air). TWA concentrations obtained with SR were slightly higher than those obtained with LDPE (factor 1.4 to 2.6 in river) likely because of uncertainty in sampler-water partition coefficient values. Concentrations obtained through filtration and extraction of water samples (203L) were 1.6 and 5.1 times higher than TWA concentrations obtained with SR and LDPE samplers, respectively. PCB sources could efficiently be localized when PRCs were used (increases of PCB loads in river) but the impact of high differences of water velocity was overcorrected (leading sometimes to false positives and negatives). Increases of PCB loads in the river could not be entirely imputed to the investigated sources (underestimation of PCBs contributing to the load increases). A method without PRCs (relationship between uptake and water velocity) appeared to be a good complementary method for LDPE., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Essential element like Zn or Sr is known to play an important role in bone remodeling process. In this study, we have used the sol-gel process to synthesize the Zn (2%) and Sr (5%) doped 64S bioglasses (BGs, 64SiO2-5P2O5-31CaO, mol.%), alone and co-doped. The synthesized glasses were characterized by XRD, FTIR and STEM. For biological evaluation, the effects of Zn and Sr incorporation on the in vitro bioactivity of the synthesized BGs were studied using the simulated body fluid (SBF) soaking. The proliferation and differentiation (ALP, OCN) of rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on these BGs were studied using CCK-8 and ELISA analyses. The results indicated that Zn had been uniformly incorporated into the bioglass, and demonstrated a stimulating effect on apatite-like layer formation, MSC proliferation and differentiation. On the other hand, most of Sr appeared to form a secondary crystal phase with extremely high solubility in SBF, showing an enhancing effect only in MSC differentiation but not in proliferation, as well as an inhibitory effect on apatite-like layer formation. The different dissolution behaviors of Sr and Zn ions seemed to have a strong correlation with the different apatite-like layer formation capabilities and the cellular responses of Zn and Sr containing BGs., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Caffeine causes a diverse range of pharmacological effects that are time- and concentration-dependent and reversible. The detailed mechanisms of caffeine in tumor suppression via tumor suppressor protein p53 remain unclear. The isoforms of p53 are physiological proteins that are expressed in normal cells and generated via alternative promoters, splicing sites and/or translational initiation sites. In this study, we investigated how caffeine modulated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via the expression of various alternatively spliced p53 isoforms. Caffeine reduced p53α expression and induced the expression of p53β, which contains an alternatively spliced p53 C-terminus. In HeLa cells, the expression levels of many serine/arginine-rich splicing factors, including serine/arginine-rich splicing factors 2 and 3, were altered by caffeine. Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 was a promising candidate for the serine/arginine-rich splicing factors responsible for the alternative splicing of p53 in response to caffeine treatment. In addition to p53-dependent functions, multiple target genes of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 suggest that caffeine can regulate epithelial-mesenchymal-transition and hypoxic conditions to inhibit the survival of tumor cells. In summary, our data provide a new pathway of caffeine-modulated tumor suppression via the alternative splicing of the target genes of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) often requires extensive and/or repeat radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedures., Objective: The Tailored Treatment of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (TTOP-AF) study assessed the effectiveness and safety of the phased RF system in a randomized controlled comparison of medical therapy against phased RF ablation for the management of persistent and long-standing persistent AF., Methods: Patients who had failed at least 1 antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) were randomized (2:1) to ablation management (AM) or medical management (MM). AM patients were allowed up to 2 ablations. Index and retreatment procedures consisted of pulmonary vein isolation and ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms. MM patients received AAD changes and/or cardioversion. The primary end points of the TTOP-AF study included chronic effectiveness and safety at 6 months and acute safety within 7 days of ablation., Results: At 6 months, a greater proportion of AM patients achieved effectiveness off AAD (77 of 138 [55.8%]) compared to MM patients (19 of 72 [26.4%]) (P < .0001). Acutely, 92.8% (128/138) of the procedures were successful while 12.3% (17/138) experienced a serious procedure and/or device-related adverse event. The predefined acute safety end point was not met. The proportion of patients with chronic safety events did not differ significantly between groups., Conclusions: Catheter ablation of persistent/long-standing persistent AF with the phased RF ablation system is effective with greater reduction of AF compared with MM. More intense anticoagulation strategies, careful attention to catheter placement relative to the pulmonary vein ostia, and elimination of electrode interaction are expected to reduce the risk of stroke, pulmonary vein stenosis, and asymptomatic cerebral emboli., (© 2014 Heart Rhythm Society Published by Heart Rhythm Society All rights reserved.)

The mammalian striatin family consists of three proteins, striatin, S/G2 nuclear autoantigen, and zinedin. Striatin family members have no intrinsic catalytic activity, but rather function as scaffolding proteins. Remarkably, they organize multiple diverse, large signaling complexes that participate in a variety of cellular processes. Moreover, they appear to be regulatory/targeting subunits for the major eukaryotic serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A. In addition, striatin family members associate with germinal center kinase III kinases as well as other novel components, earning these assemblies the name striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complexes. Recently, there has been a great increase in functional and mechanistic studies aimed at identifying and understanding the roles of STRIPAK and STRIPAK-like complexes in cellular processes of multiple organisms. These studies have identified novel STRIPAK and STRIPAK-like complexes and have explored their roles in specific signaling pathways. Together, the results of these studies have sparked increased interest in striatin family complexes because they have revealed roles in signaling, cell cycle control, apoptosis, vesicular trafficking, Golgi assembly, cell polarity, cell migration, neural and vascular development, and cardiac function. Moreover, STRIPAK complexes have been connected to clinical conditions, including cardiac disease, diabetes, autism, and cerebral cavernous malformation. In this review, we discuss the expression, localization, and protein domain structure of striatin family members. Then we consider the diverse complexes these proteins and their homologs form in various organisms, emphasizing what is known regarding function and regulation. Finally, we explore possible roles of striatin family complexes in disease, especially cerebral cavernous malformation., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mating between relatives usually decreases genetic quality of progeny as deleterious recessive alleles are expressed in inbred individuals. Inbreeding degrades sperm traits but its effects on sperm storage and fate within females are currently unknown. We quantified the relationship between the degrees of inbreeding relevant to natural populations (f=0, 0.25 and 0.50) and the number of sperm inseminated and stored, sperm swimming speed, long-term sperm viability while in storage, pattern of sperm precedence, mating latency, and offspring viability of female Drosophila melanogaster. The use of transgenic flies that have either red or green fluorescent sperm heads allowed us to distinguish two ejaculates in the female reproductive tract and facilitated quantification of sperm storage and use traits. We found no inbreeding depression in either long- or short-term sperm storage ability. The most inbred females exhibited significantly longer mating latency, which could be explained by males preferring to mate with outbred females. On the other hand, as no evidence for cryptic male choice in the form of ejaculate tailoring of sperm number was found, the most inbred females might just be less eager to mate. We also found no evidence that the degree of maternal inbreeding influenced offspring viability. Comparison with a contemporaneous study of male inbreeding consequences for ejaculate quality suggests that inbreeding depression is more severe in males than in females in our study population., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The regions of Durham and York in Ontario, Canada have partnered to construct an energy-from-waste (EFW) thermal treatment facility as part of a long term strategy for the management of their municipal solid waste. In this paper we present the results of a comprehensive ecological risk assessment (ERA) for this planned facility, based on baseline sampling and site specific modeling to predict facility-related emissions, which was subsequently accepted by regulatory authorities. Emissions were estimated for both the approved initial operating design capacity of the facility (140,000 tonnes per year) and the maximum design capacity (400,000 tonnes per year). In general, calculated ecological hazard quotients (EHQs) and screening ratios (SRs) for receptors did not exceed the benchmark value (1.0). The only exceedances noted were generally due to existing baseline media concentrations, which did not differ from those expected for similar unimpacted sites in Ontario. This suggests that these exceedances reflect conservative assumptions applied in the risk assessment rather than actual potential risk. However, under predicted upset conditions at 400,000 tonnes per year (i.e., facility start-up, shutdown, and loss of air pollution control), a potential unacceptable risk was estimated for freshwater receptors with respect to benzo(g,h,i)perylene (SR=1.1), which could not be attributed to baseline conditions. Although this slight exceedance reflects a conservative worst-case scenario (upset conditions coinciding with worst-case meteorological conditions), further investigation of potential ecological risk should be performed if this facility is expanded to the maximum operating capacity in the future., (© 2013.)

The awareness of the impact of human activities in society and environment is known as "Social Responsibility" (SR). It has been a topic of growing interest in many enterprises since the fifties of the past Century, and its implementation/assessment is nowadays supported by international standards. There is a tendency to amplify its scope of application to other areas of the human activities, such as Research, Development and Innovation (R + D + I). In this paper, a model of quantitative assessment of Social Responsibility in Environmental Science and Technology (SR EST) is described in detail. This model is based on well established written standards as the EFQM Excellence model and the ISO 26000:2010 Guidance on SR. The definition of five hierarchies of indicators, the transformation of qualitative information into quantitative data and the dual procedure of self-evaluation and external evaluation are the milestones of the proposed model, which can be applied to Environmental Research Centres and institutions. In addition, a simplified model that facilitates its implementation is presented in the article., (© 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Recent studies described an "ultrafast" scanning method based on spatiotemporal (SPEN) principles. SPEN demonstrates numerous potential advantages over EPI-based alternatives, at no additional expense in experimental complexity. An important aspect that SPEN still needs to achieve for providing a competitive ultrafast MRI acquisition alternative, entails exploiting parallel imaging algorithms without compromising its proven capabilities. The present work introduces a combination of multi-band frequency-swept pulses simultaneously encoding multiple, partial fields-of-view, together with a new algorithm merging a Super-Resolved SPEN image reconstruction and SENSE multiple-receiving methods. This approach enables one to reduce both the excitation and acquisition times of sub-second SPEN acquisitions by the customary acceleration factor R, without compromises in either the method's spatial resolution, SAR deposition, or capability to operate in multi-slice mode. The performance of these new single-shot imaging sequences and their ancillary algorithms were explored and corroborated on phantoms and human volunteers at 3 T. The gains of the parallelized approach were particularly evident when dealing with heterogeneous systems subject to major T2/T2* effects, as is the case upon single-scan imaging near tissue/air interfaces., (© 2013.)

Background: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) serve as a potential unlimited ex vivo source of cardiomyocytes for disease modeling, cardiotoxicity screening, drug discovery, and cell-based therapies. Despite the fundamental importance of Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release in excitation-contraction coupling, the mechanistic basis of Ca(2+) handling of hESC-derived ventricular cardiomyocytes (VCMs) remains elusive., Objectives: To study Ca(2+) sparks as unitary events of Ca(2+) handling for mechanistic insights., Methods: To avoid ambiguities owing to the heterogeneous nature, we experimented with hESC-VCMs, purified on the basis of zeocin resistance and signature ventricular action potential after LV-MLC2v-tdTomato-T2A-Zeo transduction., Results: Ca(2+) sparks that were sensitive to inhibitors of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid) and ryanodine receptor (RyR; ryanodine, tetracaine) but not inositol trisphosphate receptors (xestospongin C and 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate) could be recorded. In a permeabilization model, we further showed that RyRs could be sensitized by Ca(2+). Increasing external Ca(2+) dramatically escalated the basal Ca(2+) and spark frequency. Furthermore, RyR-mediated Ca(2+) release sensitized nearby RyRs, leading to compound Ca(2+) sparks. Depolarization or L-type Ca(2+) channel agonist (FPL 64176 and Bay K8644) pretreatment induced an extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent cytosolic Ca(2+) increase and reduced the sarcoplasmic reticulum content. By contrast, removal of external Na(+) or the addition of the Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger inhibitor (KB-R7943 and SN-6) had no effect, suggesting that the Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger is not involved in triggering sparks. Inhibition of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone promoted Ca(2+) waves., Conclusion: Taken collectively, our findings provide the first lines of direct evidence that hESC-VCMs have functional Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release. However, the sarcoplasmic reticulum is leaky and without a mature terminating mechanism in early development., (© 2013 Heart Rhythm Society Published by Heart Rhythm Society All rights reserved.)

Background: Cocaine-related deaths are continuously rising and its overdose is often associated with lethal cardiotoxic effects., Methods and Results: Our approach, employing isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and light scattering in parallel, has confirmed the significant affinity of human cardiac calsequestrin (CASQ2) for cocaine. Calsequestrin (CASQ) is a major Ca(2+)-storage protein within the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of both cardiac and skeletal muscles. CASQ acts as a Ca(2+) buffer and Ca(2+)-channel regulator through its unique Ca(2+)-dependent oligomerization. Equilibrium dialysis and atomic absorption spectroscopy experiments illustrated the perturbational effect of cocaine on CASQ2 polymerization, resulting in substantial reduction of its Ca(2+)-binding capacity. We also confirmed the accumulation of cocaine in rat heart tissue and the substantial effects cocaine has on cultured C2C12 cells. The same experiments were performed with methamphetamine as a control, which displayed neither affinity for CASQ2 nor any significant effects on its function. Since cocaine did not have any direct effect on the Ca(2+)-release channel judging from our single channel recordings, these studies provide new insights into how cocaine may interfere with the normal E-C coupling mechanism with lethal arrhythmogenic consequences., Conclusion: We propose that cocaine accumulates in SR through its affinity for CASQ2 and affects both SR Ca(2+) storage and release by altering the normal CASQ2 Ca(2+)-dependent polymerization. By this mechanism, cocaine use could produce serious cardiac problems, especially in people who have genetically-impaired CASQ2, defects in other E-C coupling components, or compromised cocaine metabolism and clearance., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) is a hemimetabolous insect that is emerging as a model organism for the study of neural and molecular mechanisms of behavioral traits. However, research strategies have been limited by a lack of genetic manipulation techniques that target the nervous system of the cricket. The development of a new method for efficient gene delivery into cricket brains, using in vivo electroporation, is described here. Plasmid DNA, which contained an enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) gene, under the control of a G. bimaculatus actin (Gb'-act) promoter, was injected into adult cricket brains. Injection was followed by electroporation at a sufficient voltage. Expression of eGFP was observed within the brain tissue. Localized gene expression, targeted to specific regions of the brain, was also achieved using a combination of local DNA injection and fine arrangement of the electroporation electrodes. Further studies using this technique will lead to a better understanding of the neural and molecular mechanisms that underlie cricket behaviors., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the self-renewal and differentiation of dental epithelial stem cells (DESCs) that support the unlimited growth potential of mouse incisors is critical for developing novel tooth regenerative therapies and unraveling the pathogenesis of odontogenic tumors. However, analysis of DESC properties and regulation has been limited by the lack of an in vitro assay system and well-documented DESC markers. Here, we describe an in vitro sphere culture system to isolate the DESCs from postnatal mouse incisor cervical loops (CLs) where the DESCs are thought to reside. The dissociated cells from CLs were able to expand and form spheres for multiple generations in the culture system. Lineage tracing indicated that DESC within the spheres were epithelial in origin as evident by lineage tracing. Upon stimulation, the sphere cells differentiated into cytokeratin 14- and amelogenin-expressing and mineral material-producing cells. Compared to the CL tissue, sphere cells expressed high levels of expression of Sca-1, CD49f (also designated as integrin α6), and CD44. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses of mouse incisor CL cells further showed that the CD49f(Bright) population was enriched in sphere-forming cells. In addition, the CD49f(Bright) population includes both slow-cycling and Lgr5(+) DESCs. The in vitro sphere culture system and identification of CD49f(Bright) as a DESC marker provide a novel platform for enriching DESCs, interrogating how maintenance, cell fate determination, and differentiation of DESCs are regulated, and developing tooth regenerative therapies., (© 2013.)

Desmosomes are dynamic junctions between cells that maintain the structural integrity of skin and heart tissues by withstanding shear forces. Mutations in component genes cause life-threatening conditions including arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, and desmosomal proteins are targeted by pathogenic autoantibodies in skin blistering diseases such as pemphigus. Here, we review a set of newly discovered pathogenic alterations and discuss the structural repercussions of debilitating mutations on desmosomal proteins. The architectures of native desmosomal assemblies have been visualized by cryo-electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography, and the network of protein domain interactions is becoming apparent. Plakophilin and desmoplakin mutations have been discovered to alter binding interfaces, structures, and stabilities of folded domains that have been resolved by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. The flexibility within desmoplakin has been revealed by small-angle X-ray scattering and fluorescence assays, explaining how mechanical stresses are accommodated. These studies have shown that the structural and functional consequences of desmosomal mutations can now begin to be understood at multiple levels of spatial and temporal resolution. This review discusses the recent structural insights and raises the possibility of using modeling for mechanism-based diagnosis of how deleterious mutations alter the integrity of solid tissues., (© 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The thymus provides the microenvironment in which thymocytes develop into mature T-cells, and interactions with thymic stromal cells are thought to provide the necessary signals for thymocyte maturation. Recognition of self-MHC by T-cells is a basic requirement for mature T-cell functions, and those thymocytes that do not recognize or respond too strongly to the peptide-loaded self-MHC molecules found in the thymus undergo apoptosis. As a result, 95% of the thymocytes produced will die and be subsequently cleared by macrophages. This review describes a complex crosstalk between developing thymocytes and engulfing macrophages which is mediated by retinoids produced by engulfing macrophages. The interaction results in the harmonization of the rate of cell death of dying double positive cells with their clearance and replacement, and in promotion of the differentiation of the selected cells in the thymus., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The elements of human hair record specific information about an individual's health, diet, and surrounding environment. Strontium isotope ratios of human hair have attracted interest as they potentially record an individual's environment. Yet, separating the external environmental signals from the internal dietary indicators has remained a challenge. Here, we examined the effects of five different hair-cleaning methodologies to determine the extent that internal and external strontium signals can be isolated from human hair. In the first study of its kind, we employed an in-line strontium purification methodology and a multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer to obtain high-precision strontium isotope ratio of human hair and of leachates of the different washing treatments. We found that the different applications of an individual treatment removed a consistent amount of strontium from hair and that replicate analyses showed each treatment altered the strontium isotope ratios of hair consistently. A mass-balance approach was applied to demonstrate that strontium was quantitatively removed and was accounted for in either the treated hair or the leachate. We observed that strontium isotope ratio varied as a function of treatment aggressiveness so as to suggest that there was a fine-scale structuring of strontium within hair (transverse cross-sectional variations); these variations existed as differences in strontium concentrations and isotope ratios. As a result, the Sr isotope ratio of hair and hair leachates treated with the most aggressive cleaning methods reflected the isotope ratios of the interior and total exterior strontium signatures, respectively. The results of this study indicate that external environmental strontium signals can be distinguished from the internal signals and therefore permit the application of strontium isotope ratios of modern human hair for geospatial applications., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The xenoestrogen bisphenol A (2,2-bis-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propane, BPA) is a known endocrine-disrupting chemical used in the fabrication of plastics, resins and flame retardants, that can be found throughout the environment and in numerous every day products. Human exposure to this chemical is extensive and generally occurs via oral route because it leaches from the food and beverage containers that contain it. Although most of the effects related to BPA exposure have been linked to the activation of the estrogen receptor (ER), the mechanisms of the interaction of BPA with protein targets different from ER are still unknown. Therefore, the objective of this work was to use a bioinformatics approach to identify possible new targets for BPA. Docking studies were performed between the optimized structure of BPA and 271 proteins related to different biochemical processes, as selected by text-mining. Refinement docking experiments and conformational analyses were carried out using LigandScout 3.0 for the proteins selected through the affinity ranking (lower than -8.0kcal/mol). Several proteins including ERR gamma (-9.9kcal/mol), and dual specificity protein kinases CLK-4 (-9.5kcal/mol), CLK-1 (-9.1kcal/mol) and CLK-2 (-9.0kcal/mol) presented great in silico binding affinities for BPA. The interactions between those proteins and BPA were mostly hydrophobic with the presence of some hydrogen bonds formed by leucine and asparagine residues. Therefore, this study suggests that this endocrine disruptor may have other targets different from the ER., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether altered calreticulin expression and distribution contribute to the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with valvular heart disease (VHD)., Background: AF affects electrophysiological and structural changes that exacerbate AF. Atrial remodeling reportedly underlies AF generation, but the precise mechanism of atrial remodeling in AF remains unclear., Methods: Right and left atrial specimens were obtained from 68 patients undergoing valve replacement surgery. The patients were divided into sinus rhythm (SR; n=25), paroxysmal AF (PaAF; n=11), and persistent AF (PeAF; AF lasting >6 months; n=32) groups. Calreticulin, integrin-α5, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) mRNA and protein expression were measured. We also performed immunoprecipitation for calreticulin with either calcineurin B or integrin-α5., Results: Calreticulin, integrin-α5, and TGF-β1 mRNA and protein expression were increased in the AF groups, especially in the left atrium in patients with mitral valve disease. Calreticulin interacted with both calcineurin B and integrin-α5. Integrin-α5 expression correlated with TGF-β1 expression, while calreticulin expression correlated with integrin-α5 and TGF-β1 expression. Despite similar cardiac function classifications, calreticulin expression was greater in the PeAF group than in the SR group., Conclusions: Calreticulin, integrin-α5, and TGF-β1 expression was increased in atrial tissue in patients with AF and was related to AF type, suggesting that calreticulin is involved in the pathogenesis of AF in VHD patients., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: New hybrid approaches for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, combining surgical and percutaneous procedures, are emerging to enhance the long-term success rate of these 2 procedures severally considered. Recent guidelines underline the need for long-term follow-up to really assess the efficacy of AF ablation., Methods: From 2000 to 2002, 33 patients with long-standing persistent AF and valvular heart disease underwent valve surgery and cryoablation (pulmonary veins isolation and mitral isthmus and roof line lesions). The surgically created ablation scheme was validated with electroanatomic mapping and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation was performed in case of lesion incompleteness., Results: In 19 of 33 patients (58%) the electroanatomic mapping showed a complete lesion scheme, which increased to 79% (26 of 33) with the addition of radiofrequency ablation. At the mean follow-up of 10.7 ± 3.1 years, 73% (24 of 33) of patients were in sinus rhythm (SR), whereas 27% had permanent AF. At the end of follow-up 81% of patients with a complete lesion scheme were in SR, while 43% with an incomplete one maintained SR (p = 0.048)., Conclusions: In patients with long-standing persistent AF and valvular heart disease, the hybrid approach with surgical cryoablation consisting of pulmonary veins isolation and left atrial linear lesions combined with transcatheter radiofrequency ablation was highly effective in maintaining SR for a very long-term follow-up. Electrophysiological evaluation, to validate the transmurality of the surgical lesions and to complete the lesion scheme applying radiofrequency energy, improved the long-term efficacy., (Copyright © 2013 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

High levels of the novel inflammatory marker YKL-40 have been demonstrated in inflammatory environments and in remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Both are key components in atrial wall remodeling in atrial fibrillation (AF). We studied the relation between rhythm outcome after electrical cardioversion (ECV) for persistent AF and serum levels of YKL-40. A secondary point of interest was a potential effect of the angiotensin receptor blocker candesartan on YKL-40 levels. In the Candesartan in the Prevention of Relapsing Atrial Fibrillation (CAPRAF) study, 171 patients with persistent AF were randomized to receive candesartan 8mg once daily or placebo for 3-6 weeks before ECV and candesartan 16mg once daily or placebo for 6 months after ECV. Serum levels of YKL-40 were measured in fasting blood samples collected at baseline and at end of the study. Mean age was 64±11 years, and 39 (22.8%) were women. Sinus rhythm was maintained for 6 months after ECV in 41 (23.9%). Baseline levels of YKL-40 were significantly correlated to age (Spearmans rho; rs=0.442; p<0.001), CHA2DS2-VASc(1) score (rs=0.256; p<0.001) and left atrial diameter (rs=0.185; p=0.017). By use of Kaplan-Meier quartile analysis of baseline YKL-40 levels, no relation between YKL-40 levels and risk of AF recurrence was found. End of study YKL-40 levels were unchanged from baseline, both in patients with AF recurrence and those maintaining sinus rhythm for 6 months. Treatment with candesartan had no influence on serum YKL-40 levels., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterised by the increased excitability of motoneurons and heterogeneous loss of axons. The heterogeneous nature of the disease process among fibres may show variability of excitability in ALS., Methods: Multiple nerve excitability tests were performed in 28 ALS patients and 23 control subjects, by tracking at the varying threshold levels (10%, 20%, 40% and 60% of maximum amplitudes)., Results: In normal controls, excitability measures at low target levels have the following characteristics compared to those at high target levels: longer strength-duration time constant, greater threshold reduction during depolarising currents and smaller threshold increase to hyperpolarising currents. ALS patients had less clear amplitude dependency of the parameters than the controls, indicating variability of axonal excitability. Three ALS patients demonstrated greater target-amplitude-dependent threshold changes in threshold electrotonus than controls, suggesting selective axonal hyperexcitability., Conclusions: Some of the ALS patients had variable axonal excitability at different target amplitudes, suggesting preferential hyperexcitability in the axons with low target amplitude levels., Significance: Variable membrane potentials of motor axons in ALS may be assessed by recording excitability testing at different target amplitude levels., (Copyright © 2013 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ca(2+) influx via L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels supports the plateau phase of ventricular action potentials and is the trigger for excitation-contraction (EC) coupling in the myocardium. Rad, a member of the RGK (Rem, Rem2, Rad, Gem/Kir) family of monomeric G proteins, regulates ventricular action potential duration and EC coupling gain through its ability to inhibit cardiac L-type channel activity. In this study, we have investigated the potential dysfunction of a naturally occurring Rad variant (Q66P) that has been associated with congestive heart failure in humans. Specifically, we have tested whether Rad Q66P limits, or even eliminates, the inhibitory actions of Rad on CaV1.2 and CaV1.3, the two L-type channel isoforms known to be expressed in the heart. We have found that mouse Rad Q65P (the murine equivalent of human Rad Q66P) inhibits L-type currents conducted by CaV1.2 or CaV1.3 channels as potently as wild-type Rad (>95% inhibition of both channels). In addition, Rad Q65P attenuates the gating movement of both channels as effectively as wild-type Rad, indicating that the Q65P substitution does not differentially impair any of the three described modes of L-type channel inhibition by RGK proteins. Thus, we conclude that if Rad Q66P contributes to cardiomyopathy, it does so via a mechanism that is not related to its ability to inhibit L-type channel-dependent processes per se. However, our results do not rule out the possibility that decreased expression, mistargeting or altered regulation of Rad Q66P may reduce the RGK protein's efficacy in vivo., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The study examined the associations of 32 chemical constituents of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM₂.₅) with pulmonary function in a panel of 21 college students. Study subjects relocated from a suburban area to an urban area with changing ambient air pollution levels and contents in Beijing, China, and provided daily morning/evening peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV₂₁) measurements over 6 months in three study periods. There were significant reductions in evening PEF and morning/evening FEV₂₁ associated with various air pollutants and PM₂.₅ constituents. Four PM₂.₅ constituents (copper, cadmium, arsenic and stannum) were found to be most consistently associated with the reductions in these pulmonary function measures. These findings provide clues for the respiratory effects of specific particulate chemical constituents in the context of urban air pollution., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gel electrophoresis, particularly one- (1DE) and two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE), remain among the most widely used top-down methods for resolving and analysing proteomes. Detection of the resulting protein maps relies on staining (i.e. colloidal coomassie blue (CCB) or SYPRO Ruby (SR), in addition to many others). Fluorescent in-gel protein stains are generally preferred for higher sensitivity, reduced background, and wider dynamic range. Although traditionally used for densitometry, CBB has fluorescent properties. Indeed, infrared detection of CCB stained protein was comparable to SR, with BioSafe (Bio-Rad) and the Neuhoff formulation (NCCB) identified as potentially superior to SR; a minor sensitivity issue encountered in gel-resolved proteomes; might have been due to the unified staining protocol used. Here the staining protocol for both CCB formulations was optimised, yielding improved selectivity without affecting sensitivity; the resulting linear dynamic range was similar for BioSafe and NCCB and somewhat better than SR. 2D gel-based analyses of mouse brain and Arabidopsis thaliana (leaf) proteomes indicated markedly superior spot detection using the NCCB formulation. Thus more sensitive, quantitative in-gel protein analyses can be achieved using NCCB, at a fraction of the cost., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The optimal ablation technique for persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear. Both linear lesion (LL) and ganglionated plexus (GP) ablation have been used in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), but no direct comparison of the 2 methods exists., Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the comparative safety and efficacy of 2 different ablation strategies-PVI+LL vs PVI+GP ablation -in patients with persistent or long-standing persistent AF., Methods: Two hundred sixty-four consecutive patients with persistent/long-standing persistent AF were randomly assigned to 2 different ablation schemes: PVI+LL (n = 132) and PVI+GP (n = 132) ablation. Consistent sinus rhythm (SR) off antiarrhythmic drug was assessed after follow-up of at least 3 years with the use of an implanted monitoring device., Results: All procedural end points were acutely achieved. At 12 months after a single procedure, 47% of the patients treated with PVI+LL were in SR compared to 54% of the patients treated with PVI+GP (P = .29). At 3 years, 34% of the patients with PVI+LL and 49% of the patients with PVI+GP maintained SR (P = .035). Atrial flutter was more frequent in the PVI+LL group than in PVI+GP group (18% vs 6%; P = .002). After a second procedure in 78 patients of the PVI+LL group and 55 patients of the PVI+GP group, the long-term overall success rate was 52% and 68%, respectively (P = .006)., Conclusions: PVI+GP ablation confers superior clinical results with less ablation-related left atrial flutter and reduced AF recurrence compared to PVI+LL ablation at 3 years of follow-up., (© 2013 Heart Rhythm Society. All rights reserved.)

Background: Successful termination of atrial fibrillation (AF) during catheter ablation (CA) is associated with arrhythmia-free follow-up. Preablation factors such as mean atrial fibrillation cycle length (AFCL) predict the likelihood of AF termination during ablation but recurring patterns and AFCL stability have not been evaluated., Objective: To investigate novel predictors of acute and postoperative ablation outcomes from intracardiac electrograms: (1) recurring AFCL patterns and (2) localization index (LI) of the instantaneous fibrillatory rate distribution., Methods: Sixty-two patients with AF (32 paroxysmal AF; 45 men; age 57 ± 10 years) referred for CA were enrolled. One-minute electrogram was recorded from coronary sinus (CS; 5 bipoles) and right atrial appendage (HRA; 2 bipoles). Atrial activations were detected automatically to derive the AFCL and instantaneous fibrillatory rate (inverse of AFCL) time series. Recurring AFCL patterns were quantified by using recurrence plot indices (RPIs): percentage determinism, entropy of determinism, and maximum diagonal length. AFCL stability was determined by using the LI. The CA outcome predictivity of individual indices was assessed., Results: Patients with terminated atrial fibrillation (T-AF) had higher RPI (P < .05 in CS7-8) and LI than did those with nonterminated atrial fibrillation (P < .005 in CS3-4; P < .05 in CS5-6, CS7-8, and HRA). Patients free of arrhythmia after 3-month follow-up had higher RPI and LI (all P < .05 in CS7-8). All indices except percentage determinism predicted T-AF in CS7-8 (area under the curve [AUC] ≥ 0.71; odds ratio [OR] ≥ 4.50; P < .05). The median AFCL and LI predicted T-AF in HRAD (AUC ≥ 0.75; OR ≥ 7.76; P < .05). The RPI and LI predicted 3-month follow-up in CS7-8 (AUC ≥ 0.68; OR ≥ 4.17; P < .05)., Conclusions: AFCL recurrence and stability indices could be used in selecting patients more likely to benefit from CA., (Copyright © 2013 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hafnia alvei strain PCM 2670 is a clinical isolate from a patient with chronic reproductive tract infection. The novel structure of the semi-rough lipopolysaccharide was established with the use of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry as well as immunochemical techniques. According to the mass spectrometry data, heptose in the oligosaccharide is partially substituted by glycine. H. alvei PCM 2670 core structure encompasses the common core of H. alvei which is modified with two additional galactose units. [formula see text] The 6-substituted galactose is the O-antigen repeating unit substitution residue. The repeating unit consists of five monosaccharide residues and has the following structure: →2)-β-Galp-(1→6)-α-Glcp-(1→6)-αGlcpNAc3OAc-(1→4)-α-GalpA-(1→3)-β-GlcpNAc6OAc-(1→6)-core., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)