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Ventricular assist device (VAD) driveline exit site infection is a common complication. 3D scaffolds manufactured with highly homogeneous pores via melt electro-writing (MEW) may generate an improved skin-driveline interface which permits cellular in-growth and creates a barrier to prevent bacterial migration along the driveline tissue tunnel. This study investigated skin integration on segments of Heartmate 3 driveline: smooth polyurethane, velour, and on a custom MEW scaffold in a small animal model. Drivelines with surfaces consisting of smooth polyurethane, velour bonded to smooth polyurethane, and smooth polyurethane with a MEW scaffold sleeve were implanted percutaneously in the dorsum of 42 rats. Each rat was implanted with 2 pieces of driveline of 2 cm in length. Skin integration was assessed after 7 and 14 days. Macroscopically, velour and MEW scaffold surfaces were anchored at the driveline-skin interface while smooth polyurethane samples were not attached. The histology analyses showed epidermal migration throughout the thickness of the velour and MEW scaffold groups. Evident tissue growth around single MEW scaffold fibers resulted in full coverage of the pores, while areas of compacted fibers were apparent in the velour group. Tissue ingrowth was significantly higher in the MEW group compared to the velour group after 7 (p < 0.0001) and 14 days (p < 0.0001). Marsupialization was observed in the smooth polyurethane samples. Mechanical pull-out forces were similar between velour and MEW scaffold groups at 7 and 14 days (p > 0.05). Velour and MEW scaffolds promoted epidermal integration while smooth polyurethane drivelines did not. Fine control of MEW scaffold structure production resulted in full cellular coverage and may reduce driveline infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients undergoing allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) are required to strictly adhere to immunosuppressive medications to avoid rejection and infective complications. Since medication adherence is among the most important modifiable behaviors to achieve better outcomes, the aims of this study were to measure the baseline and longitudinal trends of medication adherence and investigate the psychological factors associated with medication adherence in allo-HSCT patients. This was a single-center, longitudinal study of patients who underwent allo-HSCT to treat hematological malignancies at the University hospital of Florence (Italy). Adherence was measured with the Immunosuppressive Medication Self-Management Scale; psychological factors (i.e., beliefs about medicines and health locus of control) were measured with the Beliefs About Medicines Questionnaire and Multidimensional Health locus of Control Scale. Data were collected 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after discharge. A mixed effects model was performed after adjusting for demographic characteristics. 50 adult patients were included in this study. Adherence to immunosuppressant was optimal and increased significantly 3 months after bone marrow transplantation (B = 0.23, p = 0.041). Patients with lower concerns about immunosuppressive medications were more likely to be adherent (B = 0.02, p = 0.040), while those having beliefs that their disease was due to external factors were less likely to be adherent (B = −0.02, p = 0.026) than their counterparts. These results underline the importance of psychological factors in affecting adherence to immunosuppressants of allo-HSCT patients. Healthcare providers and researchers should target medication beliefs and reorient locus of control with appropriate interventions, in order to improve adherence. • Medication adherence is one of the most important modifiable behaviors to achieve better health outcomes. • Patients withhematological cancer undergoing allogeneic transplant need to strictly adhere to immunosuppressant regimens. • Patients with lower concerns about immunosuppressive medications are more likely to be adherent than their counterparts. • Patients believing their hematological disease is due to external factors are less likely to adhere than their counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2011, a new mec A gene homolog, named mec C gene, was found in isolates from both humans and animals. The discovery of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carrying the mec C gene has caused speculations about the origin, epidemiology, and impact of these isolates. The objective of this work is to perform a meta-analysis on the prevalence of mec C MRSA, based on previously published results. Meta-analysis showed that the overall pooled prevalence is 0.009% (95% confidence interval = 0.05–0.013) and that there was evidence of heterogeneity ( P < 0.01, I 2 = 97%). In conclusion, the very low reported prevalence provides an important baseline to monitor the epidemiology of this emerging form of MRSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses how the nerve growth factor prevents the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in dopaminergic PC12 cells. Parkinson's disease-related neurotoxin; Regulation of the expression of the antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase (HO)-1; Pharmacological induction of HO-1 expression.

• Optimum supply chain management under the carbon-trade policy is addressed. • Cooperation among different companies leads to economic and environmental benefits. • Cooperative game theory ensures the stability of cooperation (grand coalition). • CO 2 price evolution, predicted by ARIMA models, affects the supply chain behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Background: b In the past axillary lymph node dissection has been the gold standard method to stage pathological axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer (BC) and to control regional disease. For the identification of the LSN, the use of Indocyanine Green (ICG) and its retrieval through Hyper Eye Medical System (HEMS) was compared to the standard technique used at our Center, Tecnezio99(TC99) and GAMMA PROBE. The LSN was found by TC99 method preceded by lymphatic scintigraphy about 18 h before surgery, while the ICG inoculation was performed during surgery. [Extracted from the article]

This paper aims to provide an improvement in the modeling of supply chain designs by incorporating correlated uncertainty among multiple parameters, resulting in a more resilient design. A new methodology to generate forecasts for historically correlated time series, regardless of their underlying probability distributions, is presented and applied to generate scenarios for energy and carbon prices, which historically proved to be correlated. These scenarios are then used in a stochastic computation to obtain a three-echelon supply chain design in Europe maximizing the economic performance. The emissions were monetarized through the incorporation of the European Union cap-and-trade emissions trading system into the model. The social impact of the supply chain network is measured in terms of the direct, indirect and induced jobs it creates, which are proportional to the economic performance. By combining the developed methodology with data mining algorithms, a reduction in the number of required scenarios by more than 90% was achieved. The numerical case study moreover shows that the stochastic design ensures an average reduction of emissions by more than 3 ktons compared to the use of a deterministic approach. In comparison, the computation of a stochastic supply chain design without parameter correlation takes 5 times longer. [Display omitted] • Method to generate correlated time series regardless of probability distribution. • Exploit correlation to reduce number of scenarios leading to robust network design. • Characterization of 2 correlated uncertain parameters with only around 100 scenarios. • Stochastic simulation reduces 3 ktons of CO2-eq. without losing economic performance. • Considering correlated uncertainty leads to reduction in emissions and runtime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) were successfully synthesized and attached on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate by two different methods: from solution reduction process by using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as reducing agent in the presence of poly(N-vinilpyrrolidone) (PVP) as protective and stabilizing agents and by polyol process under ethylene glycol EG as a solvent. The results indicated that the samples prepared in aqueous solution show the occurrence of face-centered cubic metallic nickel nanoparticles with a medium diameter of ∼31nm and good size dispersion compared to the preparation in EG that revealed large size ∼150nm. The dynamics of the nanoparticle''s growth in the solvents and comparison with optical absorption is presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new strategy derived from seed-mediated growth was applied to attach and grow dense and uniform silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films deposited on glass substrate. This approach allowed obtaining narrower nanoparticle''s size distribution and a much denser attachment compared with the classical seed-mediated growth method. Adjusting growth time permitted preparing relatively small and uniform Ag nanoparticles of less than 40nm in size. The size, density and the regularity of AgNPs were found to be slightly affected by the nature of ITO substrate, which thus affects the plasmon absorbance spectra. The observed differences are attributed to the cavities existing between large grains and sub-grains of ITO thin films. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract The present work describes a taxonomic trait able to determine sex in pandalid shrimps of the genus Plesionika and an indicator of functional maturity in females. This structure is described as formed by two teeth with abundant setae present in all males of the nine Plesionika species examined. This morphological trait has been ignored across the taxonomy in pandalids. Thoracic teeth were located on the 7th thoracic sternite. Each species presents a characteristic trait of this structure, although P. williamsi has a particular pair of thoracic teeth compared with their congeners. This structure could be used as a tool in the systematics of this genus. Sex determination through thoracic teeth shall represent a faster alternative to the classical appendix masculina sexing method. Functional maturity of females is linked to the fading of immature thoracic teeth. The observation of living specimens in tanks has allowed for the finding that males of P. narval and P. edwardsii actively seek (search for) females and use their third pair of multi-articulate legs to locate the teeth of the thoracic region, which implicates these structures in the activity of "pure searchers" to locate mature females. Thoracic teeth open a new window to different fields of research, such as taxonomy, systematics, and sexual behaviour, and are a tool to determine the first maturity of the Plesionika species. Highlights • Thoracic teeth are able to determine sex in pandalid shrimps of the genus Plesionika. • This morphological trait has been ignored across the taxonomy in pandalids. • Each Plesionika species presents a characteristic trait in male thoracic teeth. • Maturity of Plesionika females is linked to the fading of immature thoracic teeth. • Thoracic teeth are a tool to determine the first maturity of the Plesionika species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We studied by real-time PCR cyclin D1 and thymidylate synthase (TS) mRNA in plasma as possible markers of clinical outcome in breast cancer. We observed poor outcome in patients with presence of cyclin D1 mRNA in good-prognosis groups, such as negative vascular invasion. Presence of both markers was associated with non-response to treatment after relapse. In patients treated with tamoxifen, a trend to significant relation between poor outcome and cyclin D1 mRNA was found. Cyclin D1 mRNA in plasma could identify patients with poor overall survival in good-prognosis groups and patients non-responsive to tamoxifen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Urbanization is occurring at an explosive rate, and many cities, especially in low-income countries, are struggling to control growth and stop the development of unplanned communities. This research investigates the in-home environmental health risks associated with planned and unplanned growth in peri-urban communities (neighborhoods) of a rapidly growing city in Northern México. Surveys were conducted during home visits to 98 households in a planned community and 202 households in unplanned communities of comparable, though slightly higher, socio-economic status. To assess the differences for the two types of communities, multiple risk factors were measured and compared. Results showed that households in both planned and unplanned communities were vulnerable to poor environmental health conditions, but more risk factors and negative health outcomes were associated with unplanned communities. Some of the obvious benefits of living in a planned community included better-constructed homes and water and sewer connections. Other study results indicated that households in the planned community reported fewer cases of respiratory problems (P=0.039) and dizziness (P=0.009). They were also less likely to store insecticides and other chemicals inappropriately in their home (P&#60;0.001). Providing adequate housing infrastructure appears to provide a number of important benefits to health and behavior beyond the simple provision of additional amenities in the home. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway elicits a survival signal against multiple apoptotic insults. In addition, phase II enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protect cells against diverse toxins and oxidative stress. In this work, we describe a link between these defense systems at the level of transcriptional regulation of the antioxidant enzyme HO-1. The herb-derived phenol carnosol induced HO-1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Luciferase reporter assays indicated that carnosol targeted the mouse ho1 promoter at two enhancer regions comprising the antioxidant response elements (AREs). Moreover, carnosol increased the nuclear levels of Nrf2, a transcription factor governing AREs. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and luciferase reporter assays with a dominantnegative Nrf2 mutant indicated that carnosol increased the binding of Nrf2 to ARE and induced Nrf2-dependent activation of the ho1 promoter. While investigating the signaling pathways responsible for HO-1 induction, we observed that carnosol activated the ERK, p38, and JNK pathways as well as the survival pathway driven by PI3K. Inhibition of PI3K reduced the increase in Nrf2 protein levels and activation of the ho1 promoter. Expression of active PI3K-CAAX (where A is aliphatic amino acid) was sufficient to activate AREs. The use of dominant-negative mutants of protein kinase Cζ and Akt1, two kinases downstream from PI3K, demonstrated a requirement for active Akt1, but not protein kinase Cζ. Moreover, the long-term antioxidant effect of carnosol was partially blocked by PI3K or HO-1 inhibitors, further demonstrating that carnosol attenuates oxidative stress through a pathway that involves PI3K and HO-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]