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Despite knowledge of the interaction between climate change factors significant uncertainty exists concerning the individual and interactive effects of elevated carbon dioxide (eCO 2) and elevated temperature (eT) on the soil microbiome and function. Here we examine the individual and interactive effects of eCO 2 and eT on tree growth, soil respiration (R soil), biomass, structural and functional composition of microbial community, nitrogen (N) mineralisation and N availability in a whole tree chamber experiment. Eucalyptus globulus plants were grown from seedling to ca. 10 m tall for 15 months in a nutrient-poor sandy soil under ambient and elevated (+ 240 ppm) atmospheric CO 2 concentrations combined with ambient or elevated temperatures (+ 3 °C) in a full factorial design. Plant growth was strongly stimulated under eCO 2 , but eT had little impact on any measured plant property. In contrast, R soil was not consistently affected by eCO 2 or eT, but correlated strongly with root and leaf biomass. The response of N-mineralisation and nutrient availability to eCO 2 and eT varied across time, and available N correlated strongly with plant height. Further, the C:N ratio of the microbial biomass and leaves were both higher under eCeT treatment. However, these functional measures were not significantly linked to either structural or functional diversity of the soil microbiome. Taken together, these results suggest that in this low-nutrient soil, belowground processes are principally driven by aboveground productivity. Our work provides novel insight into mechanisms underlying above- and belowground response to climate change, and the potential to sequester C in a low-nutrient status soil under future climatic conditions may be limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endovascular intervention has become the first-line treatment of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) or aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). However, open abdominal aortic repair remains a valuable treatment option for patients who are younger, those with unfavorable anatomy, and patients for whom endovascular intervention has failed. The cohort of patients undergoing open repair has become highly selected; nevertheless, updated outcomes or patient selection recommendations have been unavailable. In the present study, we explored and compared the characteristics and postoperative outcomes of patients who had undergone open abdominal aortic repair from 2009 to 2018. Patients who had undergone open AAA (n = 9481) or AIOD (n = 9257) repair were collected from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. The primary outcome was the 30-day mortality. The secondary outcomes included 30-day return to the operating room, total operative time, total hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Unmatched and matched differences between the two groups and changes over time were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to assess the risk factors predicting for 30-day mortality. After propensity matching (n = 4980), those in the AIOD group had had a higher 30-day mortality rate (5.1% vs 4.1%; P =.021), a higher incidence of wound complications (7.4% vs 5.1%; P <.0001) and an increased 30-day return to the operating room (14.2% vs 9.1%; P <.0001). More open AIOD cases (P =.02) and fewer open AAA cases (P =.04) had been treated in the second half of the decade than in the first. The factors associated with an increased odds of 30-day mortality included advanced age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥III, functional dependence, blood transfusion <72 hours before surgery, weight loss in previous 6 months, and a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. From 2009 to 2018, the number of open AAA repairs decreased and the proportion of open abdominal AIOD cases increased. Open AIOD surgery was associated with higher 30-day mortality, increased return to the operating room, and increased wound complications vs open AAA repair. Multiple risk factors increased the odds for perioperative mortality. Thus, open abdominal aortic repair should be selectively applied to patients with fewer risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Central nervous system aspergillosis has increased dramatically in recent years. Most patients are immunocompromised and infected from a primary site, usually the lungs or paranasal sinuses, from where the organism spreads to the central nervous system. We report the case of a 7-year-old immunocompetent girl who presented with high-grade fever with chills and developed hemiplegia with facial palsy. Imaging showed multiple, confluent, infiltrative ring enhancing lesions in the right cerebral hemisphere associated with perilesional edema and mass effect. On craniotomy, the lesion was an abscess, which was drained. Histological examination of the abscess wall showed aspergillus hyphae. The patient died 12 days after surgical drainage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new family of ferroelectric compounds with Ba2−x Na1+x Li x Nb5O15 composition (0≤ x ≤1) and tetragonal tungsten–bronze structure is processed for the first time. This new family of materials derived from Ba2NaNb5O15 compound was processed by classical solid-state reaction and by mechanosynthesis. The powders prepared by these two routes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (at room and high temperature), differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscopy. The results confirm the formation of the solid solution in the whole range of composition. The influence of Li addition on the dielectric permittivity and losses and on the ferro-paraelectric transition temperature is also studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Soil stores more carbon (C) than plants and atmosphere combined and it is vulnerable to increased microbial respiration under projected global changes including land-use change and future climate scenarios (mainly elevated temperature). Land-use change is known to have a direct impact on soil organic C and soil respiration (Rs) but the mechanisms that drive these changes remain debatable. Similarly, recent studies and simulation models predict that Rs will respond positively to projected climate warming. However, there are significant uncertainties in the magnitude and mechanisms of this feedback response of Rs to global change. To identify the mechanisms of Rs response to land-use change and climate warming, we first investigated Rs from different land use types. Soil respiration was estimated seasonally from four different Scottish land uses: moorland, birch woodland, grassland and pine forest (n = 24). Our results demonstrated that despite a dramatic loss of total C and nitrogen (N) in the soils under birch trees, the Rs in the birch woodland was similar to that of the moorland and pine forest, with Rs in the grassland being significantly higher. The microbial community structure, estimated by Multiplex Terminal-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (MT-RFLP) and 454 pyrosequencing, was significantly different under each land use type. A strong correlation of Rs with soil properties (pH, inorganic N, C:N ratio and moisture) and with microbial community structure was identified. To test the impact of elevated temperature on Rs and to identify potential microbial mechanisms, we performed laboratory incubation studies. Soils from different land uses were incubated at 7 °C (mean annual temperature (MAT) in Scotland) and 10 °C (MAT + 3 °C) with and without the presence of a labile ( 13 C-glucose) and recalcitrant ( 13 C-lignin) form of C to identify the active groups of microbes and to determine the role of substrate availability on feedback response. The warming treatment induced an increase in Rs rates in all soils. The magnitude of the Rs response to warming was modulated by the land use types, and the Rs was more prominent in soils with high C contents. The addition of glucose substantially increased both total and rate of Rs compared to no substrate- and lignin-amended soils, providing evidence of labile C depletion as a mechanism for the thermal response of Rs. The warming treatment did not impact the composition of the active or total microbial community as revealed by phospholipid fatty acid-stable isotope probing (PLFA-SIP), MT-RFLP and 454 pyrosequencing. Our results showed that the microbial metabolic activity was higher under warming treatment suggesting that a positive feedback of Rs to increased temperature is mediated by changes in substrate availability and microbial metabolic rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Various substituted 1,5-diarylpyrazol-3-one derivatives were synthesized and screened for analgesic, anti-inflammatory activities, ulcerogenic potential and for their ability to release nitric oxide. Most compounds exhibited significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. It was interesting to note that out of ten compounds, 7j (59.64%) was found to have anti-inflammatory activity greater than the standard drug Indomethacin (57.89%), whereas compound 7b (57.89%) was found to be equipotent to that of standard, Indomethacin. The pharmacological studies suggested that the presence of 4-nitro and 2-methoxy on phenyl ring at C5 of pyrazole has a significant anti-inflammatory activity and 4-chloro substitution on same phenyl ring was found to have decreased activity. However only a phenyl substituted derivative was found to have most potent activity. Compound 7j containing plane phenyl at C5 of pyrazole was found to have significant analgesic activity (56.86%) in acetic acid induced writhing model. Compounds 7d and 7i having 4-chloro substituted phenyl ring showed least analgesic activity (10.78%) and (6.86%) respectively. The compounds also showed significantly reduced GI-ulcerogenicity and gastroprotective results in histopathological studies i.e. they were found to be causing no mucosal injury. All the synthesized compounds were found to exhibit significant nitric oxide releasing activity, in both in vitro and in vivo models. Molecular docking studies served to be an important tool for the study of binding of compounds with that of a COX-2 enzyme. The results of the docking studies were found to endorse the result of experimental work. Thus, the rationale used to design the NCEs was found to produce the promising results as anticipated. Therefore it can be said that the strategy employed can serve as an important tool in future for the design and development of novel therapeutic agents of various categories too. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of 4-(morpholin-4-yl)-N′-(arylidene)benzohydrazides were synthesized using appropriate synthetic route. Antimycobacterial activity of the synthesized compounds (5a–5j) was carried out and percentage reduction in relative light units (RLU) was calculated using luciferase reporter phages (LRP) assay. Percentage reduction in relative light units (RLU) for isoniazid was also calculated. The test compounds showed significant antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and clinical isolates: S, H, R, and E resistant M. tuberculosis, when tested in vitro. Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) investigation with 2D-QSAR analysis was applied to find a correlation between different experimental or calculated physicochemical parameters of the compounds studied and 3D-QSAR analysis and to indicate the exact steric and electronic requirements in the ranges at various positions around pharmacophore. In general Schiff bases exhibit antimycobacterial activity and morpholine ring is important for antimicrobial activity. So we have synthesized 10 different 4-(morpholin-4-yl)-N′-(arylidene)benzohydrazides. The structures of new compounds were characterized by TLC, FTIR, 1H NMR, mass spectral data and elemental analysis. Amongst the compounds tested 5d and 5c were found to be the most potent, while 5i, 5e, and 5j were found to have an average activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv and 5a, 5f, 5h, 5g, and 5b were found to have a greater activity against clinical isolates: S, H, R, and E resistant M. tuberculosis as compared to M. tuberculosis H37Rv. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Eight derivatives of general formula 2-(2-(4-(3-((5-substituted methylene)-4-oxo-2-(phenylimino)thiazolidin-3-yl)-2-hydroxypropylamino)benzoyl)hydrazinyl)-2-oxoethyl nitrate were synthesized and tested for electrocardiographic, antiarrhythmic, vasorelaxing and antihypertensive activity as well as for in-vitro nitric oxide (NO) releasing ability. Compound 8b 2-(2-(4-(3-(5-benzyliden-4-oxo-2-(phenylimino)thiazolidin-3-yl)-2-hydroxypropylamino)benzoyl)hydrazinyl)-2-oxoethyl nitrate, was the most potent in this series. The pharmacological results suggested that the antiarrhythmic effects of these compounds were related to their adrenolytic properties which are believed to be due to the presence of the 5-(substituted)methylen-2-(phenylimino)thiazolidin-4-one moiety with less bulky, electron donating substituent on the phenyl ring at 5th position of the thiazolidin-4-one. In conclusion, most of the synthesized compounds were significantly potent as antiarrhythmic and antihypertensive; this might be due to the presence of different pharmacopores which might act at different locations with different mode of action. Further insights of the same can be obtained by doing investigation at receptor level. The potency of compounds 8a–8h were promising enough to continue further experiments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study compared the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation in a group of 34 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia with a control group of 747 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass and standard cardioplegia. A trend toward a lower incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation was found in the group that underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (n = 0.06). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]