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Stars are fuelled by the fusion of hydrogen into helium via two processes: the "pp chain" and the "CNO cycle." Neutrinos emitted in the core of the Sun are the only direct probe for the investigation of such processes. The Borexino experiment has performed a complete spectroscopy of the neutrinos from the "pp chain," and has recently reported the first experimental evidence of neutrinos from the CNO cycle, never observed before, being this process subdominant in the Sun (about 1% of the solar energy). This experimental evidence of the CNO neutrinos was obtained using the highly radiopure large-volume liquid-scintillator detector of Borexino. Advances in the thermal stabilization of the detector over the last five years enabled us to exploit a method to constrain the rate of Bi-210 contaminating the scintillator, the main background for such a measurement. Since the CNO cycle is dominant in massive starts, this result proves the evidence of the primary mechanism for the stellar conversion of hydrogen into helium in the Universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we combined remote sensing data and in situ observations to explore the potential habitats of macroalgae at Libukang Island, Indonesia. High-resolution satellite images from the GeoEye-1 were used to estimate and to map the geomorphological structures together with macroalgal species in the study area. Seasonal variations of percentage cover and biomass of macroalgae associated with substrates were investigated in May and November 2014, and June 2015, using quadrats as sampling unit. A total of nine common genera were found in the study area with three dominant genera: Sargassum, Padina, and Turbinaria. Most of macroalgae was observed in the eastern part of the Island, on several substrate types and particular oceanographic conditions (wave and current). Mean biomasses of Sargassum and Padina were high in May (1189.6 ± 455 and 166.7 ± 15.4 g DW.m−2, respectively), while the biomass of Turbinaria was high in November (3245 ± 599.8 g DW.m−2). The map accuracy of image classification for all typology substrates was 74.19%. Overall, approximately 62.3% of the total study area can be considered as potential for natural macroalgae habitats. Spectral response characteristic of shallow water substrates at study area based on GeoEye-1 is also presented. The results of this study exhibit a potential utilization of natural macroalgae in the study area, and provide information for a possible diversification of the use of macroalgae in Indonesia. The method could be useful for habitat management and future biomonitoring in the study area or other similar areas in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of in situ measurements, hydrodynamical modeling, and satellite imagery processing presents a complete tool to improve seaweed culture management. This study measured the evolution of carrageenan content during 1-year period and estimated the biomass of Kappaphycus alvarezii at a bay scale in Malasoro Bay, Indonesia. It allowed the determination of the carrageenan stock at the scale of the bay. The carrageenan content was assessed from different parts, i.e., basal and apical, of the thallus. The biomass from T (beginning of the cultivation) to T (harvesting time) was determined at two seasons. Satellite image processing was performed to estimate the biomass at bay scale using parcels resulting from a semi-automatic delineation process. As no long-term in situ environmental data existed in the study area, a 3D hydrodynamical model (Model for Application at Regional Scale 3D) was implemented to obtain high-frequency salinity, water temperature, and currents. The high carrageenan yield was obtained from April to September 2015 (54-63%) when temperature ranged from 25 to 30 °C, salinity range from 33.8 to 34.8 psu, and precipitation below 0.5 mm. The biomass at bay scale was estimated at 2590 t with the highest carrageenan stock at 1.8 t ha in May 2015. The carrageenan yields and quality obtained in this study fulfilled the specification recommended for industry, and the cultivation of K. alvarezii can be carried out at optimal environmental conditions on April-September. The comprehensive approaches used in this study provide information for carrageenan stock and seaweed culture management as an important economic activity to support Indonesian coastal communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ten percentage of all ankle fractures sustain an associated syndesmotic injury. TightRope is a relatively new technique for syndesmosis fixation, characterized by a non-absorbable FibreWire held tight between two cortical metal buttons. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results obtained with the use of this device.Methods: From January 2011 to December 2015, 54 patients with ankle diastases were treated. Eighteen patients were excluded from the study. Fractures of the fibula or tibia requiring fixation were internally fixed using standard AO techniques. Preoperative and the most recent postoperative ankle radiographs were reassessed for measurements of the tibiofibular clear space (TFCS), medial clear space (MCS) and tibiofibular overlap (TFO). Clinical outcomes were assessed at the time of follow-up using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, a self-administered Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) score and patients satisfaction.Results: The mean follow-up was 28, 64 months. Mean values for MCS, TFCS and TFO were 1.51-1.53 and 0.25 cm, respectively. The mean AOFAS score was 93.11, and the mean FADI score was 130.11. Twenty-nine (80.6 %) patients reported their outcome as excellent or very good.Conclusions: TightRope technique can achieve flexible fixation of the syndesmosis and permit full range of motion of the tibiofibular joint. Patients can start rehabilitation exercise at an early stage after operation. The results of this study indicate that TightRope fixation is a valid option for syndesmotic injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is still debated whether chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) plays a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) development, many patients underwent endovascular treatment (ET) of CCSVI. The objective of the study is to evaluate the outcome and safety of ET in Italian MS patients. Italian MS centers that are part of the Italian MS Study Group were all invited to participate to this retrospective study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect detailed clinical data before and after the ET. Data from 462 patients were collected in 33 centers. ET consisted of balloon dilatation (93 % of cases) or stent application. The mean follow-up duration after ET was 31 weeks. Mean EDSS remained unchanged after ET (5.2 vs. 4.9), 144 relapses occurred in 98/462 cases (21 %), mainly in RR-MS patients. Fifteen severe adverse events were recorded in 3.2 % of cases. Given the risk of severe adverse events and the lack of objective beneficial effects, our findings confirm that at present ET should not be recommended to patients with MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antimycotic activity of fatty acids has long been known, and their presence in human skin and sweat appears to protect the host against superficial mycoses. Undecanoic acid is a medium-chain fatty acid that has been used in the treatment of dermatophytoses in humans. In this study, we selected one Trichophyton rubrum undecanoic acid-resistant strain that showed a marked reduction in its capacity to grow on human nail fragments, which correlated with the reduced activity of secreted keratinolytic proteases. Moreover, the susceptibility of T. rubrum to undecanoic acid is also dependent on the carbon source utilized by both control and resistant strains. The growth of the control strain was strongly inhibited by undecanoic acid in Sabouraud medium or in cultures supplemented with low-fat milk, whereas it was ineffective when the cultures were supplemented with Tween 20 or keratin as the carbon source, suggesting that nutrient conditions are crucial in establishing a susceptibility to antifungal drugs, which is helpful for the isolation and characterization of resistant strains, and in the screening for new antifungal drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kulcsszavak (angolul, ha nem azonos az elozovel) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE:: Referring to the alexithymia construct and Bruch's clinical observations, this study investigated the ability to decode nonverbal signs of emotion in obese boys and girls, and their mothers. METHOD:: A group of 10 boys and 11 girls with obesity and their mothers, and a control group were tested. Both mothers and children were asked to recognize a set of 32 brief film sequences interpreted by four actors expressing four emotions (anger, sadness, fear, happiness) with two intensity levels. Each sequence was presented first without sound, second without video, and finally with video and sound. RESULTS:: As expected, boys and girls suffering from obesity and their mothers showed a reduced ability to decode visual and verbal signs of emotion compared to the control group. DISCUSSION:: This result may be interpreted in accordance with the alexithymia construct, and suggests the importance of developing therapeutic strategies to face alexithymic characteristics in obese children and their mothers.International Journal of Obesity (2003) 27, 191–195. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.802228 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare inherited immunodeficiency disease that leads to severe recurrent infections. CGD is caused by defects in the phagocyte NADPH oxidase, a multiprotein enzyme that reduces oxygen to superoxide, a precursor of microbicidal oxidants. Less than 6% of CGD patients have an autosomal recessive form of the disease caused by mutations in NCF-2. This gene encodes p67- phox, a cytosolic oxidase subunit that associates with membrane-bound flavocytochrome b 558 and regulates electron transfer. We studied six patients from five families with p67- phox deficiency and identified seven different mutant alleles. Patients from three of the kindreds were homozygous for their respective mutation, although the parents of only one family were known to be related. Five of the mutations have not previously been identified: (1) a missense mutation (383C→T) in exon 5, (2) a nonsense mutation (196C→T) in exon 3, (3) a missense mutation (230G→A) in exon 3, (4) a nonsense mutation (298C→T) in exon 4, and (5) a dinucleotide deletion (835–836 AC) from exon 9. Phagocytes from each of the patients analyzed failed to generate a measurable respiratory burst and had no detectable p67- phox protein. Our results further demonstrate that there is great heterogeneity among the mutations in p67- phox-deficient CGD patients, with no evidence for mutational hot-spots or a founder effect. Our data also support the hypothesis that the stability of p67- phox is particularly sensitive to missense mutations that cause amino acid substitutions within its N-terminal domain. In contrast, mutations predicting single amino acid changes elsewhere in the protein generally represent benign polymorphisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mutation of the ctsA locus of Aspergillus nidulans affects both the radial growth and conidiation of the mould when grown in the presence of citrate. The ctsA locus was allocated to linkage group IV but it recombines freely with inoB2 and pyroA4 (which are also in linkage group IV). It is recessive in heterozygous diploids. A possible role for this gene in maintaining membrane integrity is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Woolly hair and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis is an infrequent autosomal recessive ectodermal disorder that may be associated with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (Naxos disease) or dilated cardiomyopathy. We report the sporadic occurrence of the aforementioned skin-hair anomalies in a patient with physical findings compatible with Noonan's syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomyopathyan association heretofore not described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine accuracy of procalcitonin concentrations for diagnosing nosocomial infections in critically ill neonates.Design: Case-control study.Setting: Neonatal intensive care unit of a teaching hospital.Patients: Twenty-three neonates with nosocomial infection. Four controls matched for duration of hospital stay and birth date were chosen for each case patient.Measurements and Results: PCT concentrations were measured by the LUMItest procalcitonin kit at onset of signs of infection and after recovery. Range of PCT concentrations (ng/ml) was 2.0 to 249.1 in case patients and 0.08 to 1.0 in controls (sensitivity and specificity, 100%). PCT values returned to normal (<1.0 ng/ml) by day 3 to 7 of appropriate antibiotic therapy.Conclusions: Measurement of PCT concentrations may be useful for early diagnosis and monitoring of infectious complications in neonates during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline phosphatase, excreted by Neurospora crassa preg and purified to apparent homogeneity by 7.5% PAGE, did not show DNAase activity and removed the terminal 5′-phosphate group from plasmid Bluescript M13 linearized with EcoRI. The preg strain may therefore replace other sources of alkaline phosphatase for use in dephosphorylating linearized plasmidial DNA in cloning experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nihB gene of Aspergillus nidulans was found to confer sensitivity to elevated concentrations of nitrite, compact morphology and absence of conidiation. The nihB locus was allocated to linkage group II and was recessive in heterozygous diploids. When the nihB1 mutant was grown on a mixture of nitrite plus NH its sensitivity to nitrite was unchanged. A possible role for this gene in nitrite transport and/or the maintenance of membrane integrity is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]