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Resume Introduction La tuberculose sevissait-elle en Egypte Ancienne, il y a plus de cinq millenaires ? Etat des connaissances Certains papyrus medicaux paraissent l’evoquer. Les medecins de pharaon semblent avoir remarque certaines de ses manifestations cliniques, comme la toux, l’adenite cervicale, ou l’abces froid. Dans l’iconographie egyptienne, certains individus sont representes avec leur gibbosite. Une simple cyphose est possible mais on pourrait aussi evoquer un mal de Pott. La paleopathologie descriptive, nee avec le XX e siecle, a permis d’identifier des lesions pulmonaires et surtout des atteintes osteo-articulaires notamment vertebrales compatibles avec la tuberculose. Perspectives La biologie moleculaire represente un apport decisif au diagnostic de la tuberculose. La paleobiologie moleculaire, son application aux tissus anciens, semble realisable et prometteuse. La presence du genome du bacille de Koch a pu etre confirmee grâce a la PCR sur pres d’un tiers des momies egyptiennes etudiees recemment. Le spoligotypage est une methode rapide de genotypage du complexe Mycobacterium . Cette methode va permettre de preciser l’arbre phylogenique de Mycobacterium tuberculosis en ancienne Egypte. Conclusions La tuberculose a tres certainement affecte l’Egypte ancienne et a concouru a la brievete de l’esperance de vie des habitants de la vallee du Nil.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be guided to form new myocardium by transplantation into the normal or infarcted heart, and to assess the influence of hESC-derived cardiomyocytes (hESCMs) on cardiac function in a rat model of myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: Undifferentiated hESCs (0.5–1×10 6 ), human embryoid bodies (hEBs) (4–8 days; 0.5–1×10 6 ), 0.1 mm pieces of embryonic stem-derived beating myocardial tissue, and phosphate-buffered saline (control) were injected into the normal or infarcted myocardium of athymic nude rats (n = 58) by direct injection into the muscle or into preimplanted three-dimensional alginate scaffold. By 2–4 weeks after transplantation, heart sections were examined to detect the human cells and differentiation with fluorescent in situ hybridisation, using DNA probes specific for human sex chromosomes and HLA-DR or HLA-ABC immunostaining. Results: Microscopic examination showed transplanted human cells in the normal, and to a lesser extent in the infarcted myocardium (7/7 vs 2/6; p Conclusions: Undifferentiated hESCs and hEBs are not directed to form new myocardium after transplantation into normal or infarcted heart and may create teratoma. Nevertheless, this study shows that hESC-derived cardiomyocyte transplantation can attenuate post-MI scar thinning and left ventricular dysfunction.

Numerous applications of ambient Mass Spectrometry (MS) have been demonstrated over the past decade. They promoted the emergence of various micro-sampling techniques such as Laser Ablation/Droplet Capture (LADC). LADC consists in the ablation of analytes from a surface and their subsequent capture in a solvent droplet which can then be analyzed by MS. LADC is thus generally performed in the UV or IR range, using a wavelength at which analytes or the matrix absorb. In this work, we explore the potential of visible range LADC (532 nm) as a micro-sampling technology for large-scale proteomics analyses. We demonstrate that biomolecule analyses using 532 nm LADC are possible, despite the low absorbance of biomolecules at this wavelength. This is due to the preponderance of an indirect substrate-mediated ablation mechanism at low laser energy which contrasts with the conventional direct ablation driven by sample absorption. Using our custom LADC system and taking advantage of this substrate-mediated ablation mechanism, we were able to perform large-scale proteomic analyses of micro-sampled tissue sections and demonstrated the possible identification of proteins with relevant biological functions. Consequently, the 532 nm LADC technique offers a new tool for biological and clinical applications.

Mice are a common animal model for studies of aqueous humor dynamics and outflow physiology. The anatomy of the conventional outflow pathway in mice is similar to that of humans with a continuous Schlemm's canal and lamellated trabecular meshwork.1 Like primates, mice possess a ciliary muscle that forms tendinous connections to the elastic fiber net of the trabecular meshwork and the inner wall endothelium of Schlemm's canal.2 Compounds that affect outflow facility in humans, including pilocarpine,2,3 TGF-β2,4,5 latanoprost6–8 prostaglandin EP4 receptor agonist,9–11 and sphingosine 1-phosphate,11,12 similarly affect outflow facility in mice. Recently, mice have been used to validate novel compounds that increase outflow facility based on hits from screening assays of cellular contractility.13 Numerous investigators have measured outflow facility in mice.2,5,6,8,11,14–26 However, on account of the small dimensions of the mouse eye and the low flow rates involved, there is greater potential for physical factors to influence ocular perfusion measurements in mice compared with larger species. For example, evaporation from the surface of the eye, which is more pronounced in smaller eyes that have a larger surface to volume ratio, may lead to dehydration of the corneoscleral shell and artifactually increase the apparent outflow rate. Importantly, this effect would manifest as a pressure-independent outflow during perfusion. Posterior bowing of the iris, known as anterior chamber (AC) deepening, artificially increases outflow facility by applying traction to the trabecular meshwork.27,28 Anterior chamber deepening typically occurs during ocular perfusion via the AC, when the pressure in the AC exceeds that in the posterior chamber (PC). The pressure difference causes the iris–lens channel to collapse like a 1-way valve, preventing pressure equilibration across the iris. Anterior chamber deepening can be prevented by perfusion via the PC, by creating a fluidic shunt across the iris,29 or by iridectomy.30 Note that AC deepening is not synonymous with ‘AC depth,' which represents the distance between the posterior cornea and anterior lens. Because mice have a relatively large crystalline lens, it has been proposed that AC deepening may be negligible in mice,18 but this has not been specifically examined. To address these gaps in knowledge, this study examined the influence of hydration and AC deepening on pressure-dependent and pressure-independent outflow in enucleated mouse eyes. We also examined the effect of temperature that could account for up to 40% variation in apparent outflow facility due to changes in water viscosity between room and physiological temperature.

Most existing measures of oral health focus solely on negative oral health, illness, and deficiencies and ignore positive oral health. In an attempt to commence exploration of this challenging field, an innovative instrument was developed, the “Positive Oral Health and Well-Being” (POHW) index. This study aimed to validate this instrument and to explore an initial model of the pathway between oral health attributes and positive oral health. A cross-sectional, multicenter study (Israel, USA, and Germany), was conducted. Our conceptual model suggests that positive oral health attributes, which integrate with positive unawareness or positive awareness on the one hand and with positive perception on the other hand, may result via appropriate oral health behavior on positive oral health. The 17-item self-administered index was built on a theoretical concept by four experts from Israel and Germany. Reliability, factor, and correlation analyses were performed. For external correlations and to measure construct validity of the instrument, we utilized the oral health impact profile-14, self-perceived oral impairment, life satisfaction, self-perceived well-being, sociodemographic and behavioral data, and oral health status indices. Four hundred and seventy participants took part in our three-center study. The combined data set reliability analyses detected two items which were not contributing to the index reliability. Thus, we tested a 15-item construct, and a Cronbach’s α value of 0.933 was revealed. Primary factor analysis of the whole sample indicated three subconstructs which could explain 60 % of variance. Correlation analyses demonstrated that the POHW and OHIP-14 were strongly and negatively associated. The POHW correlated strongly and positively with general well-being, moderately with life satisfaction, and weakly with the perceived importance of regular dental checkups. It correlated moderately and negatively with perceived oral impairment, and marginally and negatively with dental caries experience (DMFT) and periodontal health status (CPI) scores. When DMFT and CPI clinical measurements were categorized, a higher score of POHW was revealed for better oral health. Our study introduced a new instrument with good reliability and sound correlations with external measures. This instrument is the first to allow measurability of positive instead of impaired oral health. We utilized subjective–psychological and functional–social measures. The current results indicate that by further exploring our conceptual model, POHW may be of importance for identifying patients with good and poor oral health, and building an effective and inexpensive strategy for prevention, by being able to evaluate the effect of interventions in a standardized way.

International audience; A number of international benchmarks were devoted to revealing the capability of CFD codes to predict the temporal evolution of the concentration and velocity fields of the nuclear reactor containment atmosphere in the course of severe accidents. In the most recent OECD/NEA international benchmark exercise on containment flows, a stably-stratified helium-air layer was eroded by a free turbulent jet coming from below. Velocity and helium concentration fields were measured in the course of the experiment. The results of the benchmark have shown that a correct prediction of the temporal development of the concentration field does not necessarily mean that the velocity field was resolved accurately as well. This can suggest that a wrongly predicted velocity field can compensate an erroneously modeled mass transport, still leading to a relatively correct concentration field.This work examines numerically the temporal evolution of the velocity and concentration fields for the conditions of an international benchmark exercise on containment flows performed in PANDA facility at PSI, Switzerland. A number of preliminary separate effect studies are performed on the way to choosing the final modeling scheme. It is shown that $k$-$\omega$ SST models significantly overestimate the mixing rates, whereas the standard $k$-$\epsilon$ model overestimates the spreading of the jet and its center-line velocity decay rate. A good compromise seems to be found in modification of the $C_{1 \epsilon}$ constant of the $k$-$\epsilon$ model allowing to simulate erosion of the stratified layer by round jets more reliably.

Ex situ analyses of substances extracted from flames provide useful albeit mostly qualitative information on the formation process of soot and on the impact of exhausts on the environment. An experimental setup based on the coupling of laser desorption, laser ionization and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LD/LI/ToF-MS) is presented in past works as an alternative means to more traditional techniques like gas chromatography (GC) to characterize the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content of soot. In this paper, we go one step further in the understanding of the laser desorption/laser ionization dynamics and propose a combined experimental/simulation approach: we estimate the limit of detection of LD/LI/ToF-MS as low as [0.2, 2.8] fmol per laser pulse and we make quantitative predictions on the concentration of PAHs desorbed from soot. In particular, external calibration with model samples where PAHs are adsorbed on black carbon at known concentrations allows us to link the concentration of PAHs desorbed and detected by photoionization ToF-MS to the concentration of PAHs adsorbed on soot. The comparison of data obtained from the analysis of flame sampled soot with standard commercial GC-MS run in parallel validates the approach and defines limits and potentialities of both techniques.

Purpose: To determine the sensitivity of spectral domain ocular coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and fundus auto fluorescence (FAF) images as a screening test to detect early changes in the retina prior to the onset of chloroquine retinopathy. Method: The study was conducted using patients taking chloroquine (CQ), referred by the Rheumatology Department to the Ophthalmology Department at Tygerberg Academic Hospital. Group A consisted of 59 patients on CQ for less than 5 years, and Group B consisted of 53 patients on CQ for more than 5 years. A 200 × 200 macula thickness map, 5-line raster SD-OCT on a Carl Zeiss Meditec Cirrus HD-OCT and FAF images on a Carl Zeiss Meditec Visucam 500 were recorded for 223 eyes. Images were reviewed independently, and then those of Groups A and B compared. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between Groups A and B. The criteria included the internal limiting membrane and the retinal pigment epithelium (ILM-RPE) thickness, interdigitation zone integrity ( p = 0.891, df = 1, χ ² = 0.1876), ellipsoid zone integrity ( p = 0.095, df = 2, χ ² = 4.699) and FAF image irregularities ( p = 0.479, df = 1, χ ²= 4995978). Conclusion: The inclusion of SD-OCT and FAF as objective tests into the prescribed screening guidelines does not appear to simplify the detection of subclinical injury in patients on chloroquine treatment.

The present study deals with transient thermal management using phase change materials (PCMs). These materials can absorb large amounts of heat without significant rise of their temperature during the melting process. This effect is attractive for passive thermal management, particularly where the device is intended to operate in a periodic regime, or where the relatively short stages of high power dissipation are followed by long stand-by periods without a considerable power release. Heat transfer in PCMs, which have low thermal conductivity, can be enhanced by fins that enlarge the heat transfer area. However, when the PCM melts, a layer of liquid is growing at the fins creating an increasing thermal resistance that impedes the process. The present work aims to demonstrate that performance of a latent-heat thermal management unit may be considerably affected by achieving a so-called close-contact melting (CCM), which occurs when the solid phase is approaching a heated surface, and only a thin liquid layer is separating between the two. Although CCM was extensively studied in the past, its possible role in finned systems has been revealed only recently by our group. In particular, it depends heavily on the specific configuration of the fins. In the present work, close-contact melting is modeled analytically for a geometry which includes two symmetrically inclined fins. A quasi-steady approach is used for calculating the rate of melting based on the force and energy balances. The results are expressed in terms of the time-dependent melt fraction and Nusselt number, showing their explicit dependence on the Stefan and Fourier numbers. Moreover, the approach used in the present study may be applied to other geometries in which the heated surface is not horizontal or where there are a number of heated surfaces or fins.

Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is a common, age-related, systemic fibrillinopathy. It greatly increases risk of exfoliation glaucoma (XFG), a major worldwide cause of irreversible blindness. Coding variants in the lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) gene are strongly associated with XFS in all studied populations, but a functional role for these variants has not been established. To identify additional candidate functional variants, we sequenced the entire LOXL1 genomic locus (∼40 kb) in 50 indigenous, black South African XFS cases and 50 matched controls. The variants with the strongest evidence of association were located in a well-defined 7-kb region bounded by the 3'-end of exon 1 and the adjacent region of intron 1 of LOXL1. We replicated this finding in US Caucasian (91 cases/1031 controls), German (771 cases/1365 controls) and Japanese (1484 cases/1188 controls) populations. The region of peak association lies upstream of LOXL1-AS1, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) encoded on the opposite strand of LOXL1. We show that this region contains a promoter and, importantly, that the strongly associated XFS risk alleles in the South African population are functional variants that significantly modulate the activity of this promoter. LOXL1-AS1 expression is also significantly altered in response to oxidative stress in human lens epithelial cells and in response to cyclic mechanical stress in human Schlemm's canal endothelial cells. Taken together, these findings support a functional role for the LOXL1-AS1 lncRNA in cellular stress response and suggest that dysregulation of its expression by genetic risk variants plays a key role in XFS pathogenesis.

Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is the most common recognizable cause of open-angle glaucoma worldwide. To better understand the etiology of XFS, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 1,484 cases and 1,188 controls from Japan and followed up the most significant findings in a further 6,901 cases and 20,727 controls from 17 countries across 6 continents. We discovered a genome-wide significant association between a new locus (CACNA1A rs4926244) and increased susceptibility to XFS (odds ratio (OR) = 1.16, P = 3.36 × 10(-11)). Although we also confirmed overwhelming association at the LOXL1 locus, the key SNP marker (LOXL1 rs4886776) demonstrated allelic reversal depending on the ancestry group (Japanese: OR(A allele) = 9.87, P = 2.13 × 10(-217); non-Japanese: OR(A allele) = 0.49, P = 2.35 × 10(-31)). Our findings represent the first genetic locus outside of LOXL1 surpassing genome-wide significance for XFS and provide insight into the biology and pathogenesis of the disease.

We present an overview of IR laser resonant desorption (LRD) studies with special focus on recent developments by our group. The resonant character of the laser desorption process mediated by O–H, C–H, and N–H vibrational modes in the 3 µm spectral range has been investigated on ice, PAH and ammonia samples, respectively. The desorption of cryogenic binary mixtures is also presented. An interesting wavelength-selective effect has been found by comparative IR/visible or IR/IR irradiation studies. At higher fluences and/or analyte concentration values a loss of selectivity occurs, with extensive co-desorption of both components and clustering phenomena. Insights on the desorption mechanisms involved are presented through an ejecta velocity distribution study. Finally, possible technological and analytical potentialities are discussed, in the fields of IR-MALDI, LRD depth profiling, pulsed laser cleaning and selective analysis of complex samples.

The objective of this work is to study the feasibility of temperature moderation inside a room using a phase-change material (PCM) which is stored in storage units. A real-size room which is at temperature conditions typical in a desert region in summer is considered. The idea is to use a phase change material which could melt during the day hours, absorbing heat from the room, while at night it solidifies due to a low night temperature. The heat from the room air to a PCM unit is free or forced-convected. The numerical model includes the transient heat conduction inside the walls/ceiling, free/forced convection of air, and radiation inside the room. The processes inside the PCM are modeled by the effective heat capacity (EHC) method. The PCM is assumed to melt and solidify within a certain temperature range, which represents the true situation for most commercial-grade phase-change materials. The numerical calculations are performed for the transient temperature fields inside the three-dimensional room, including PCM in the units, walls/ceiling, and the interior of the room. The boundary conditions for the room are chosen according to the experimental data which were obtained in previous works. The basic conservation equations of continuity, momentum, and energy are solved numerically, using the FLUENT 6.1 software. The numerical simulations are performed for at least one full 24-hcycle. Effect of different parameters on the behavior of the system is discussed, including the mass of the PCM and radiation effects inside the room. The night cooling by free and forced convection is analyzed. It is shown that a complete 24-hcycle is feasible in a properly designed configuration with a suitable PCM.

Summary. Objectives. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a thin layer of flowable composite on microleakage in Class II direct packable composite resin restorations on young permanent teeth in vitro. Methods. Twenty sound human premolars and molars extracted for orthodontic reasons were selected for this study. The teeth were randomly assigned into two groups of 10 teeth each (groups A and B). Class II cavities were prepared as uniformly as possible in the mesial and distal aspects of each tooth. The gingival margin extended apically approximately 0·5 mm beyond the cemento-enamel junction, in the dentin. Cavities in group A were restored with packable composite and Alert®/Flow-it® flowable composite, while groups B cavities were restored with Pyramid®/Aeliteflo®. The control cavities in groups A1 and B1 were restored with only packable composite. The teeth were immersed in 2% methylene blue solution for 24 h to allow dye penetration into possible existing gaps between the tooth substance and the restorative material. All teeth were subjected to thermocycling. Results. The dye penetration ranged between 6·6 and 7·2 mm. No significant difference was found between the control and the experimental groups. Conclusion. The use of flowable composite resin as intermediate material does not reduce microleakage.

Spatiotemporal patterns of dorsal root–evoked potentials were studied in transverse slices of the rat spinal cord by monitoring optical signals from a voltage-sensitive dye with multiple-photodiode optic camera. Typically, dorsal root stimulation generated two basic waveforms of voltage images: dual-component images consisting of fast, spike-like signal followed by a slow signal in the dorsal horn, and small, slow signals in the ventral horn. To qualitatively relate the optical signals to membrane potentials, whole cell recordings were combined with measurements of light absorption in the area around the soma. The slow optical signals correlated closely with subthreshold postsynaptic potentials in all regions of the cord. The spike-like component was not associated with postsynaptic action potentials, suggesting that the fast signal was generated by presynaptic action potentials. Firing in a single neuron could not be detected optically, implying that local voltage images originated from synchronously activated neuronal ensembles. Blocking glutamatergic synaptic transmission inhibited excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and significantly reduced the slow optical signals, indicating that they were mediated by glutamatergic synapses. Suppressing glycine-mediated inhibition increased the amplitude of both optical signals and EPSPs, while blocking GABAA receptor–mediated synapses, increased the amplitude and time course of EPSPs and prolonged the duration of voltage images in larger areas of the slice. The close correlation between evoked EPSPs and their respective local voltage images shows the advantage of the high temporal resolution optical system in measuring both the spatiotemporal dynamics of segmental network excitation and integrated potentials of neuronal ensembles at identified sites.

Background In patients with transient azoospermia, few sperm may be found in the ejaculate. We investigated the outcome of ICSI in patients with transient azoospermia. Methods Records of patients with transient azoospermia referred during a 42 month period were reviewed. If only immotile sperm were found, the sample was incubated with 30% human serum albumin (HSA) before motility re-assessment. If still immotile, mechanical assessment of sperm viability was utilized. Study groups were: (A) motile sperm; (B) motility achieved by HSA; (C) no motility, but viability assessed by a mechanical technique; and (D) control group with sperm counts from 1 to 5 x 10(6)/ml. There were 57 couples (cycles) in the study group and 43 couples (cycles) in the control group. Results Age, days of stimulation and endometrial thickness were comparable among groups. In 29.8% of the cycles, only immotile sperm were found. Fertilization and cleavage rates were higher in groups A and D than in groups B and C. Clinical pregnancy rate/cycle and live birth rate/cycle were not different among groups. No congenital malformations were found in newborns. Conclusion Fertilization and cleavage rates were lower in patients with initially immotile sperm compared with those with initially motile sperm and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia patients. Clinical pregnancy and viable pregnancy rates were not statistically different among groups, although when only immotile sperm were present both clinical pregnancy and live birth rate were lower in comparison with cycles with motile sperm.

Practically every corporation that is connected to the Internet has at least one firewall, and often many more. However, the protection that these firewalls provide is only as good as the policy they are configured to implement. Therefore, testing, auditing, or reverse-engineering existing firewall configurations are important components of every corporation’s network security practice. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Firewall configuration files are written in notoriously hard to read languages, using vendor-specific GUIs. A tool that is sorely missing in the arsenal of firewall administrators and auditors is one that allows them to analyze the policy on a firewall.To alleviate some of these difficulties, we designed and implemented two generations of novel firewall analysis tools, which allow the administrator to easily discover and test the global firewall policy. Our tools use a minimal description of the network topology, and directly parse the various vendor-specific low-level configuration files. A key feature of our tools is that they are passive: no packets are sent, and the analysis is performed offline, on a machine that is separate from the firewall itself. A typical question our tools can answer is “from which machines can our DMZ be reached, and with which services?.” Thus, our tools complement existing vulnerability analyzers and port scanners, as they can be used before a policy is actually deployed, and they operate on a more understandable level of abstraction. This paper describes the design and architecture of these tools, their evolution from a research prototype to a commercial product, and the lessons we have learned along the way.

During early embryogenesis, the cardiovascular system is the first system to be established and is initiated by a process involving the hypoblastic cells of the primitive endoderm. Human embryonic stem (hES) cells provide a model to investigate the early developmental stages of this system. When removed from their feeder layer, hESC create embryoid bodies (EB) which, when plated, develop areas of beating cells in 21.5% of the EB. These spontaneously contracting cells were demonstrated using histology, immunostaining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), to possess morphological and molecular characteristics consistent with cardiomyocytic phenotypes. In addition, the expression pattern of specific cardiomyocytic genes in human EB (hEB) was demonstrated and analyzed for the first time. GATA-4 is the first gene to be expressed in 6-day-old EB. Alpha cardiac actin and atrial natriuretic factor are expressed in older hEB at 10 and 20 days, respectively. Light chain ventricular myosin (MLC-2V) was expressed only in EB with beating areas and its expression increased with time. Alpha heavy chain myosin (alpha-MHC) expression declined in the pulsating hEB with time, in contrast to events in EB derived from mice. We conclude that human embryonic stem cells can provide a useful tool for research on embryogenesis in general and cardiovascular development in particular.

The present technical note continues the study of induced air flow inside structures as an effective means for ventilation of enclosed spaces. The air flow is caused by natural convection in a heated duct which absorbs solar irradiation outside the building. Experimental studies have been performed in a real-size mobile home. The experiments included temperature and velocity measurements. Three-dimensional computer simulations have been performed using a standard k-e turbulence model. The results indicate that effective ventilation by the proposed method can be obtained in a properly designed structure, even at low absorbed heat fluxes.

During early human embryonic development, blood vessels are stimulated to grow, branch, and invade developing tissues and organs. Pluripotent human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are endowed with the capacity to differentiate into cells of blood and lymphatic vessels. The present study aimed to follow vasculogenesis during the early stages of developing human vasculature and to examine whether human neovasculogenesis within teratomas generated in SCID mice from hESCs follows a similar course and can be used as a model for the development of human vasculature. Markers and gene profiling of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells of blood and lymphatic vessels were used to follow neovasculogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in early developing human embryos (4-8 weeks) and in teratomas generated from hESCs. The involvement of vascular smooth muscle cells in the early stages of developing human embryonic blood vessels is demonstrated, as well as the remodeling kinetics of the developing human embryonic blood and lymphatic vasculature. In teratomas, human vascular cells were demonstrated to be associated with developing blood vessels. Processes of intensive remodeling of blood vessels during the early stages of human development are indicated by the upregulation of angiogenic factors and specific structural proteins. At the same time, evidence for lymphatic sprouting and moderate activation of lymphangiogenesis is demonstrated during these developmental stages. In the teratomas induced by hESCs, human angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are relatively insignificant. The main source of blood vessels developing within the teratomas is provided by the murine host. We conclude that the teratoma model has only limited value as a model to study human neovasculogenesis and that other in vitro methods for spontaneous and guided differentiation of hESCs may prove more useful.

Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be instigated through the formation of embryo-like aggregates in suspension, termed human embryoid bodies (hEBs). Controlling cell aggregation and agglomeration during hEBs formation has a profound effect on the extent of cell proliferation and differentiation. In a previous work, we showed that control over hEBs formation and differentiation can be achieved via cultivation of hESC suspensions in a rotating bioreactor system. We now report that hEBs can be generated directly from hESC suspensions within three-dimensional (3D) porous alginate scaffolds. The confining environments of the alginate scaffold pores enabled efficient formation of hEBs with a relatively high degree of cell proliferation and differentiation; encouraged round, small-sized hEBs; and induced vasculogenesis in the forming hEBs to a greater extent than in static or rotating cultures. We therefore conclude that differentiation of hEBs can be induced and directed by physical constraints in addition to chemical cues.

The present paper explores experimentally induced ventilation of a one-story detached real-size building. The building is a small well-insulated manufactured home. It is located at the Northern edge of the Negev desert in Israel. The flow of air inside the building is induced by a hot element heated by solar radiation. This element is a horizontal metal sheet mounted above the roof of the building and forming a duct connected to the inner space of the building. Heated air flows out of the duct while fresh air is sucked into the manufactured home from the surroundings. An extensive experimental study was based on continuous temperature monitoring performed inside and outside the building in summer. Velocity measurements inside the building were performed, as well. Typical experimental runs took from 12 h to a few days. The results show that effective induced ventilation has been achieved, and the air temperature inside the structure typically followed the ambient temperature. In contrast, when the manufactured home had no openings, the temperature inside it was considerably higher than the ambient, especially during the afternoon hours.

The phenomenon that rural residents and people with low incomes lag behind in Internet access is known as the "digital divide." This problem is particularly acute in developing countries, where most of the world's population lives. Bridging this digital divide, especially by attempting to increase the accessibility of broadband connectivity, can be challenging. The improvement of wide-area connectivity is constrained by factors such as how quickly we can dig ditches to bury fibers in the ground; and the cost of furnishing "last-mile" wiring can be prohibitively high.In this paper, we explore the use of digital storage media transported by the postal system as a general digital communication mechanism. While some companies have used the postal system to deliver software and movies, none of them has turned the postal system into a truly generic digital communication medium supporting a wide variety of applications. We call such a generic system a Postmanet . Compared to traditional wide-area connectivity options, the Postmanet has several important advantages, including wide global reach, great bandwidth potential and low cost.Manually preparing mobile storage devices for shipment may appear deceptively simple, but with many applications, communicating parties and messages, manual management becomes infeasible, and systems support at several levels becomes necessary. We explore the simultaneous exploitation of the Internet and the Postmanet, so we can combine their latency and bandwidth advantages to enable sophisticated bandwidth-intensive applications.

Induced passive ventilation was studied in a small field structure, about 60cm×30cm×85cm in size, heated by solar irradiation. The structure has three stories, connected by a vertical duct, which in turn is connected to a horizontal duct above the upper level of the structure. The outer walls of these two ducts are metal sheets painted on the outside with black matte paint and covered by glass sheets. The other outer walls and inner partitions of the structure are made of cardboard attached to a metal frame. Additional elements included in some experiments were a water tank, used for heat storage, and a chimney for enhancing air flow. The structure orientation was with its vertical metal sheet facing south-west. Experimental study, based on temperature and velocity measurement, and computer simulations, using the FLUENT software, were performed. During a typical experiment, the structure has been exposed to the sun for a full day in July through November. The ports of the system were either opened in the morning, or kept closed until about 13:45-14:00 and then opened. The results of the study indicate that effective ventilation has been achieved: the calculated rates of air change inside the stories were rather high, and the mean air temperatures were only about 1-2°C above the ambient in its lower stories and 2-3°C above the ambient in the upper story. Detailed comparison of the experimental and numerical results is presented and discussed.

The heart was regarded in Ancient Egypt as the organic motor of the body and also the seat of intelligence, an important religious and spiritual symbol. It was considered as one of the eight parts of human body. Counter to other organs it had to be kept carefully intact in the mummy to ensure its eternal life. In Ancient Egypt, the concept of heart included three constituents: heart-haty, heart-ib, and the spiritual seat of intelligence, emotion and memory. The hieroglyphs representing the heart early in the first dynasty were drawn with eight vessels attached to it. Egyptian doctors have elaborated an original conception of cardiovascular physiology which endured 30 centuries.

summary Storage solution is used in in vitro experimental studies to prevent dehydration of teeth collected immediately after extraction and to prevent bacterial and fungal growth in the storage media. The chemical nature of the storing agent may affect the tooth structure and material properties at the tested interface. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of 0·1% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as a new storage solution and to assess the possible effect of 0·1% thymol on microleakage and bond strength. Forty extracted human teeth were collected from 10 different dental clinics. Immediately after extraction, the teeth were randomly divided and immersed in four different storage solutions. Two test solutions of 0·1% CPC (group C) and 0·1% thymol (group T) were compared with phosphate-buffered saline (Group S – positive control) and to 3% H2O2 (group H – negative control). Bond strength test and dye penetration evaluation were then carried out. The findings suggest that the use of 0·1% CPC as storage solution does not affect bond strength to enamel. However, it may increase dye penetration at the cervical margin. The effect of 0·1% thymol on shear bond strength and dye penetration is similar to the effect of phosphate-buffered saline.

Passive ventilation and heating in a multi-storey structure, by natural convection in a heated vertical duct were studied. Experimental study and computer simulations were first performed in a scaled-down laboratory model, divided into three levels, and connected by a duct, in which an electrically heated plate was used. The experiments included temperature and velocity measurements at each inner space, and inside the duct. The results obtained from the simulations and supported by the measurements, indicated that effective ventilation and heating, by the proposed method, were achievable in the laboratory structure. For a real-size structure of a five-storey building, which has a duct heated by solar irradiation, computer simulations were performed. Temperature fields and average temperatures were obtained at all levels of the building. The results have shown that even at low solar irradiation fluxes ventilation was achieved in summer, and heating in winter. The study has demonstrated that the proposed method is operable and feasible.

Recently we have shown that acute ethanol (EtOH) exposure suppresses dorsal root-evoked synaptic potentials in spinal motoneurons. To examine the synaptic mechanisms underlying the reduced excitatory activity, EtOH actions on properties of action potential-independent miniature excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs and mIPSCs) were studied in spinal motoneurons of newborn rats. Properties of mEPSCs generated by activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and non-NMDA receptors and of mIPSCs mediated by glycine and γ-aminobutyric acid-A receptors (GlyR and GABAAR) were examined during acute exposure to 70 and 200 mM EtOH. In the presence of 70 mM EtOH, the frequency of NMDAR- and non-NMDAR-mediated mEPSCs decreased to 53 ± 5 and 45 ± 7% (means ± SE) of control values, respectively. In contrast, the frequency of GlyR- and GABAAR-mediated mIPSCs increased to 138 ± 15 and 167 ± 23% of control, respectively. Based on the quantal theory of transmitter release, changes in the frequency of miniature currents are correlated with changes in transmitter release, suggesting that EtOH decreased presynaptic glutamate release and increased the release of both glycine and GABA. EtOH did not change the amplitude or rise and decay times of either mEPSCs or mIPSCs, indicating that the presynaptic changes were not associated with changes in the properties of postsynaptic receptors/channels. Acute exposure to 200 mM EtOH increased mIPSC frequency two- to threefold, significantly higher than the increase induced by 70 mM EtOH. However, the decrease in mEPSC frequency was similar to that observed in 70 mM EtOH. Those findings implied that the regulatory effect of EtOH on glycine and GABA release was dose-dependent. Exposure to the higher EtOH concentration had opposite actions on mEPSC and mIPSC amplitudes: it attenuated the amplitude of NMDAR- and non-NMDAR-mediated mEPSCs to ∼80% of control and increased GlyR- and GABAAR-mediated mIPSC amplitude by ∼20%. EtOH-induced changes in the amplitude of postsynaptic currents were not associated with changes in their basic kinetic properties. Our data suggested that in spinal networks of newborn rats, EtOH was more effective in modulating the release of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters than changing the properties of their receptors/channels.

This study deals with natural-convection heat transfer from a vertical electrically heated plate, which is symmetrically placed in a chimney of variable height. The heated plate serves as a thermal pump for ventilation of a symmetrical enclosure beneath the chimney. In order to provide a comprehensive picture of the phenomena, three main approaches are used in parallel: temperature and velocity measurements, flow visualization, and numerical simulation. Temperature measurements are done by thermocouples distributed inside the plate and through the chimney. Velocity measurements are performed by means of a precise anemometer. Visualization is performed using smoke of incense sticks, with video recording and consequent image processing. Computer simulations of unsteady flow and temperature fields are performed in 3D and compared with measurements and visualization, with special attention paid to velocity fluctuations. Analysis is presented on the dependence of the temperature distribution on the flow field. The air flow rate on the heating plate in the chimney increases with the chimney height and is adequately predicted by the numerical simulation of the system.

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects 5-10% of children in the US. Practice guidelines for management of ADHD include the use of standardized rating scales (RS) to monitor treatment. However, many subspecialty providers, including Developmental and Behavioral Pediatricians (DBP), do not use a standardized approach for follow-up management. Phase 1 of this project found that our DBP division’s new visits were more likely to include documentation of parent rating scale (PRS) and teacher rating scale (TRS) data (56% and 47%) than follow-up visits (8% and 22%). Clinicians requested RS for the next visit …

International audience; Yes