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The Karukéra spur is an easternmost submerged rise of the Lesser Antilles fore-arc in the Guadeloupe archipelago, culminating about 4000 m above the fore-arc basin 150 km west of the deformation front. The analysis of 3500 km 2D high-resolution multichannel seismic reflection and multibeam bathymetric data, and the study of 14 core samples, allow for the first time to reconstruct its sedimentary anatomy and tectonic evolution. Seven seismic units (U S1 to U S7 ) are evidenced, organised into four major depositional sequences separated by erosional surfaces. Units U S1 to U S4 thicken to the south-southeast on the spur. The sedimentary deposits rest upon a deeply eroded metamorphic basement of the Caribbean Plate as in La Désirade Island. Sequence 1 (units U S1 and U S2 ) remains unknown in its lower part because it does not outcrop. Its upper part comprises early Miocene shallow water carbonates. Sequence S2 (Unit U S3 ) only comprises an upper Miocene transgressive systems tract deposited into basinal environment. It is bounded by major erosional surfaces SB2 and SB3. Sequence 3 (U S4 to U S6 ) is Zanclean to Pleistocene. It is dominantly composed of shallow water, reefal deposits. Sequence 4 corresponds to recent deposits. The Karukéra spur experienced three main extensional episodes with alternations between uplift and subsidence periods. Uplifts are responsible for emersions and erosions. Subsidence severely drowned shallow water deposits. The first extensional episode led to the formation of horsts and grabens in the basement, prior to early Miocene deposits. The second extensional episode occurred during upper Miocene, in accordance with data in surrounding islands. The third tectonic episode developed since Calabrian. Noticeable is the constant reactivation of N130°–N150°, N150°–N180° and N40° trending faults since early Miocene and the neoformation of E–W trending faults since Calabrian. Our results suggest that at the latitude of Guadeloupean archipelago the Lesser Antilles subduction zone is an erosional margin because of the successive sweepings of the Santa Lucia then Tiburon Ridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is becoming increasingly apparent that beta cell dysfunction resulting in abnormal insulin secretion is the essential element in the progression of patients from a state of impaired glucose tolerance to frank type 2 diabetes (Del Prato, 2003; Del Prato and Tiengo, 2001). Although extensive studies have examined the molecular, cellular and physiologic mechanisms of insulin granule biogenesis, sorting, and exocytosis the precise mechanisms controlling these processes and their dysregulation in the developed of diabetes remains an area of important investigation. We now know that insulin biogenesis initiates with the synthesis of preproinsulin in rough endoplastic reticulum and conversion of preproinsulin to proinsulin. Proinsulin begins to be packaged in the Trans-Golgi Network and is sorting into immature secretory granules. These immature granules become acidic via ATP-dependent proton pump and proinsulin undergoes proteolytic cleavage resulting the formation of insulin and C-peptide. During the granule maturation process, insulin is crystallized with zinc and calcium in the form of dense-core granules and unwanted cargo and membrane proteins undergo selective retrograde trafficking to either the constitutive trafficking pathway for secretion or to degradative pathways. The newly formed mature dense-core insulin granules populate two different intracellular pools, the readily releasable pools (RRP) and the reserved pool. These two distinct populations are thought to be responsible for the biphasic nature of insulin release in which the RRP granules are associated with the plasma membrane and undergo an acute calcium-dependent release accounting for first phase insulin secretion. In contrast, second phase insulin secretion requires the trafficking of the reserved granule pool to the plasma membrane. The initial trigger for insulin granule fusion with the plasma membrane is a rise in intracellular calcium and in the case of glucose stimulation results from increased production of ATP, closure of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel and cellular depolarization. In turn, this opens voltage-dependent calcium channels allowing increased influx of extracellular calcium. Calcium is thought to bind to members of the fusion regulatory proteins synaptogamin that functionally repressors the fusion inhibitory protein complexin. Both complexin and synaptogamin interact as well as several other regulatory proteins interact with the core fusion machinery composed of the Q- or t-SNARE proteins syntaxin 1 and SNAP25 in the plasma membrane that assembles with the R- or v-SNARE protein VAMP2 in insulin granules. In this chapter we will review the current progress of insulin granule biogenesis, sorting, trafficking, exocytosis and signaling pathways that comprise the molecular basis of glucose-dependent insulin secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To perform the procedure of Laparoendoscopic Single-Site surgery (LESS) for infrarenal para-aortic nodal dissection and demonstrate the feasibility and safety of infrarenal para-aortic lymphadenectomy via LESS A 59-year old female who has no special past history presented an university and tertiary care hospital with abnormal uterus bleeding after menopause. The bimanual examination was no special. The laboratory test was normal, exceptionally, the CA-125 level of 181.6 U/ml (normal <35 U/ml) and CA19-9 level of 1228.4 U/ml (normal 30.9 < U/ml). The MRI revealed a 3.6 × 3.3 × 2.2 cm uneven enhancement mass at the left uterus cornua with invasion more than half of the myometrium. The pathology was well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma by D&C. The clinical diagnose was endometrial carcinoma with deep myometrium invasion (high-risk) The comprehensive staging surgery was performed by an experienced gynecologist via LESS approach. The comprehensive staging surgery was successfully completed, and the video mainly show the para-aortic lymph nodes dissection up to level of left renal vein. The operation time of the para-aortic lymphadenectomy was 100 min. There were no intra- and post-operative complications. The histopathology was well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma with deep myometrium invasion but the bilateral adnexa, the 17 pelvic nodes and the 18 para-aortic nodes were negative. The FIGO stage was IB The para-aortic lymphadenectomy up to the level of infrarenal vein is feasible via LESS. The LESS approach can provide easier access to the upper abdominal regions comparing with traditional laparoscopy and facilitate the high level para-aortic lymphadenectomy, with the advantage of faster recovery, shorter hospital day, lesser postoperative pain and incisional mobility and better cosmetic result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the first ever investigation aimed at accurate numerical modelling of the behavior of hybrid fibre reinforced polymer (FRP)-timber laminated (HFT) Cee section columns under axial compression. Existing numerical modelling approaches for modelling thin-walled structural members, such as modelling using composite laminate shell elements, orthotropic laminate shell elements with experimentally obtained properties, were found to either over-predict or under-predict the stiffness and capacity depending on the approach used. Existing modelling approaches fail to accurately capture the effects of possible interlaminar slips under combined flexural and axial loading. A new modelling approach using ABAQUS subroutine UGENS was proposed incorporating both in-plane stiffness matrix and bending stiffness matrix simultaneously, forming the general section stiffness matrix. Failure initiation criteria and a damage evolution law were incorporated in the subroutine to derive the damaged section stiffness matrix. The predictions from the proposed numerical model showed much improved agreement with the test results. • Existing numerical approaches for modelling laminated structures were found to be inadequate for modelling HFT Cee sections columns. • Both axial and bending properties are important in modelling the behaviour of HFT Cee section columns. • A numerical model considering different membrane and bending stiffnesses was developed to predict the behaviour of the HFT Cee section columns. • Proposed numerical model was found to accurately capture the behaviour of HFT Cee section columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research studied the effects of l -methionine (l -Met) on growth performance, carcass quality, feather traits, and small intestinal morphology of Pekin ducks compared with conventional dl -methionine (dl -Met). A total of 1080, 1-day-old male Pekin ducks were randomly allotted to 9 groups with 6 replicate pens of 20 birds each. During the starter phase (1 to 14 d), ducks were fed a basal diet (Met, 0.30%) or that supplemented with dl -Met or l -Met at 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, or 0.20% of feed. During the grower phase (15 to 35 d), ducks were fed a basal diet (Met, 0.24%) or that supplemented with dl - Met or l -Met at 0.04, 0.08, 0.12, or 0.16% of feed. Compared with ducks fed the basal diet, supplementation with either dl - Met or l -Met increased the body weight (BW) of ducks at days 14 and 35, increased average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI), decreased F:G at the starter phase, and increased ADG over the whole 35-d period (P < 0.05). The efficacy of l -Met compared to dl - Met was 140.1% for 14-d BW, 137.6% for ADG and 121.0% for F:G for days 1 to 14. Ducks fed diets supplemented with l -Met had greater proportion of leg muscle, higher than in ducks provided with dl - Met (P < 0.05). The breast muscle proportion was enhanced with dl - Met rather than l - Met supplementation (P < 0.01). The back feathers score and fourth primary wing feather length were increased with dl - Met or l -Met supplementation (P < 0.01), and there was increased efficacy of l -Met relative to dl - Met for back feathers score (153.1%). Dietary dl - Met or l - Met supplementation increased villus height of ileal mucosa of ducks at days 14 and 35 (P < 0.01). Overall, dietary l -Met or dl - Met supplementation affected the growth performance of ducks during the starter phase, and improved the feather traits and small intestinal morphology. The efficacy of l -Met to dl - Met ranged from 120 to 140% for growth performance of young ducks (1 to 14 d) and was 153% for the feather traits of ducks (35 d). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: Soft tissue sarcomas are uncommon, but relatively aggressive tumours. Although surgical resection remains the primary therapeutic modality for all localised tumours, brachytherapy combined with function-preserving excision is a popular treatment for extremity soft tissue sarcomas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of interstitial permanent brachytherapy using I125 seeds in patients undergoing the combined modality in the management of soft tissue sarcomas at our institution. Materials and methods: Between January 2007 and January 2012, 110 adult patients aged 18–86 years (median = 44 years) with extremity soft tissue sarcomas and who underwent interstitial permanent brachytherapy as part of the local treatment were included in this study. Treatment included wide local excision of the tumour and brachytherapy using a permanent I125 implantation. Complications were assessed in terms of wound complication and peripheral nerve damage. Results: After a median follow-up of 43.7 months, the local control, disease-free survival and overall survival for the entire cohort studied were 74, 54 and 77%, respectively. The actual rates of wound complications requiring reoperation and nerve damage were 4.5 and 1.8%, respectively. Conclusions: We conclude that interstitial permanent brachytherapy with I125 after function-preserving surgery results in a satisfactory outcome in patients with extremity soft tissue sarcomas and the complication rate is low. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objectives: : This paper fabricated a cost-effective dsDNA-coupled plate (dcPlate) and applied it to measure the abundance and DNA-binding activity of a DNA-binding protein (DBP). Design and Methods: : The dcPlate was manufactured by covalently immobilizing an amino-modified oligonucleotide in wells of the plate coated with N-oxysuccinimide esters. The dcPlate was applied to measure the abundance of DNA-binding activity of a DBP in the same four steps, including protein incubation, primary antibody binding, enzyme-linked secondary antibody binding, and colorimetric development. Results: : The detections of three purified DBPs including NF-κB, AP1 and SP1, and HeLa cell nuclear extract and assays of DNA-binding activity of NF-κB p50 to five various DNA sequences demonstrated that dcPlate can be used to measure the abundance of DBPs quantitatively and assay DNA-binding activity of DBPs in high throughputs format. Conclusions: : The homemade cost-effective dcPlate provides a simple and versatile platform for studying DBPs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the present study, a total of 1550 raw cow milk samples were collected from Southern, Northern, Northeast, and Western regions of China during the four seasons from 2013 to 2015. Samples were analyzed for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In 2013, AFM1 was detected in 21% of 366 raw cow milk samples with levels ranging between 0.01 and 0.24 μg/L. In 11.7% of samples, AFM1 levels were >0.05 μg/L, which is the legal limit in the European Union. The mean and median of positive samples were 0.069 ± 0.052 μg/L and 0.056 μg/L, respectively. In 2014, AFM1 was detected in 28.5% of 624 raw cow milk samples, with levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.25 μg/L. Of these samples, 7.7% had AFM1 levels exceeding 0.05 μg/L, with a mean of 0.042 ± 0.039 μg/L and median of 0.028 μg/L. AFMI was detected in 14.1% of 560 raw cow milk samples in 2015, with levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.144 μg/L. In 1.8% of these samples, AFM1 levels were above 0.05 μg/L, with a mean of 0.026 ± 0.024 μg/L and median of 0.017 μg/L. Our results demonstrate that AFM1 levels of the samples did not exceed the legal limit of 0.5 μg/L in China, the United States, and Codex Alimentarius Commission. Geographically, AFM1 contamination was more predominant in raw cow milk samples from Southern China than in those from other regions, with a higher number of samples containing AFM1 levels above 0.05 μg/L in 2013, 2014, and 2015. AFM1 levels were higher in autumn than in the other seasons during the entire study period. According to our survey, AFM1 contamination has been well-controlled in China during recent years; however, some samples still exceeded the European Union (EU) legal limit. Better prevention and management of aflatoxins in both feed and milk should be considered especially in Southern regions of China and in autumn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Baishouwu' is an appellative name of dried root tubers from three Asclepiadaceae plants: Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight, Cynanchum bungei Decne and Cynoctonum wilfordii Maxim. In order to establish the pharmacological basis for the ethnomedicinal use of Baishouwu in gastric disorders, this study examined the effects of ethanol extracts and fractions from root tubers of Cynanchum auriculatum, Cynanchum bungei and Cynoctonum wilfordii on ethanol-, indomethacin-induced gastric lesions and histamine-induced gastric acid secretion in rats. Plant materials were collected from various areas of China. Oral administration of ethanol extract and chloroform fraction of Cynoctonum wilfordii collected from Changbai Cordillera at doses of 150 and 68mg/kg, respectively, significantly inhibited the development of ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions and also caused significant decrease of gastric acid secretion after histamine-induced gastric lesion. Oral administrations of ethanol extract and chloroform fraction of Cynanchum auriculatum collected from Binhai at the doses of 300 and 69mg/kg, respectively, significantly inhibited ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions. This study demonstrates the gastroprotective property of Baishouwu for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.