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In Arctic ecosystems, increasing temperatures are driving the expansion of nitrogen (N) fixing shrubs across tundra landscapes. The implications of this expansion to the biogeochemistry of Arctic ecosystems are of critical importance and more work is needed to better understand the form, availability, and transportation potential of N from these shrubs across a variety of Arctic landscapes. To gain insights into the processes controlling N within a permafrost hillslope system, the spatiotemporal variability of nitrate (NO3-) and its environmental controls were investigated at an alder (Alnus viridis spp. fruticosa) dominated permafrost tundra landscape in the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, USA. Soil pore water was collected from locations within alder shrubland growing along a well-drained hillslope and was compared to soil pore water collected from locations outside (upslope, downslope, and between) the alder shrubland. Soil pore water collected within alder shrubland had an average NO3-N (nitrogen from nitrate) concentration of 4.27±8.02 mg L−1 and differed significantly from locations outside alder shrubland (0.23±0.83 mg L−1; p). Temporal variation in NO3-N within and downslope of alder shrubland co-occurred with precipitation events where NO3- that accumulated in the soil was likely flushed downslope during rainfall. These findings have important implications for nutrient availability and mobility in N-limited permafrost systems that are experiencing shrub expansion in response to a warming Arctic.

In Arctic ecosystems, increasing temperatures are driving the expansion of nitrogen (N) fixing shrubs across tundra landscapes. The implications of this expansion to the biogeochemistry of Arctic ecosystems is of critical importance, yet many details about the form, location, and availability of N from these shrubs remain unknown. To address this knowledge gap, the spatiotemporal variability of nitrate (NO3−) and its environmental and edaphic controls were investigated at an alder (Alnus viridis spp. fruticosa) dominated permafrost tundra landscape in the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, USA. Soil pore water was collected from locations within alder shrubland growing along a well-drained hillslope and compared to soil pore water collected from locations outside (upslope, downslope, and between) the alder shrubland. δ15N and δ18O of soil pore water were consistent with the predicted range of NO3− produced through microbial degradation of N-rich alder shrub organic matter. Soil pore water collected within alder shrubland had an average NO3− concentration of (4.27 ± 8.02 mg L−1) and differed significantly from locations outside alder shrubland (0.23 ± 0.83 mg L−1; p 3− within and downslope of alder shrubland corresponded to precipitation events, where NO3− accumulated in the soil was flushed downslope during rainfall. Enrichment of both δ15N and δ18O isotopes at wetter downslope locations indicate that denitrification buffered the mobility and spatial extent of NO3−. These findings have important implications for nutrient production and mobility in N-limited permafrost systems that are experiencing shrub expansion in response to a warming Arctic.

The aggregation properties of two peptide–porphyrin conjugates were investigated by optical spectroscopy and microscopy imaging with nanometer resolution. Specifically, a tetraphenylporphyrin platform was functionalized by (L)-magainin, a 23-residue long antimicrobial peptide, and by a (L)-magainin analogue differing from the parent peptide by a single residue substitution,i.e.i.e.an Alavs.Phe replacement in the position 5 of the peptide chain. Spectroscopic and microscopy results show that this single-site substitution has a small effect on the secondary structure attained by the two peptide analogues, but deeply affects the morphology of the mesoscopic structures deposited on hydrophilic mica from methanol/water solutions. In particular, only the Ala-substituted peptide-porphyrin conjugate was shown to be able to form micrometric fibrils, coating homogeneously a hydrophilic mica surface. These results pave the way for potential applications of porphyrin-peptide compounds in localized photodynamic therapy and for designing solid-state stereoselective sensors.

The project integrates diversified expertises in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, biocatalysis, materials, engineering and environmental sciences. The objective is the development of sustainable procedures to recover wool wax and lanolin from waste wool. In parallel, ecofriendly physical, chemical and/or biocatalytic methods are devised to exploit these products, recoverable from an abundant discarded biomass such as waste wool, as a source of fatty acids (FAs) and ?-hydroxy fatty acids (?-HFAs), which are highly-value derivatives of FAs. Lanolin has a high content of both ?-HFAs and FAs esters. Therefore, the aim of the project is to conjugate the production of useful and valuable chemicals with the valorization of a biomass, otherwise to be disposed of. It is to be underlined that waste wool is unavoidably joined to sheep farming and its management costs. Waste wool scouring would become profitable if further valorization of lanolin could be associated to the uses of washed low-quality coarse wools. Preliminary results of waste wool treatment and of FAs and ?-HFAs obtainment are presented.

El autor describe brevemente las manifestaciones clínicas y el diagnóstico del síndrome post-apendicectomia. Se añaden algunas consideraciones acerca de la patogenia de la tiflitis parcelar y de la tifloatomia que parecen ser cuadros más directamente atribuíbles a la falta del apéndice. Se sugiere que el déficit de 5 hidroxitriptamina puede probablemente ser de importancia en la aparición del síndrome.

As one of the main working modes, the energy recovered with regenerative braking system provides an effective approach so as to greatly improve fuel economy of hybrid electric bus. However, it is still a challenging issue to ensure braking stability while maximizing braking energy recovery. To solve this problem, an efficient energy recovery control strategy is proposed based on the modified nonlinear model predictive control method. Firstly, combined with the characteristics of the compound braking process of single-shaft parallel hybrid electric bus, a 7 degrees of freedom model of the vehicle longitudinal dynamics is built. Secondly, considering nonlinear characteristic of the vehicle model and the efficiency of regenerative braking system, the particle swarm optimization algorithm within the modified nonlinear model predictive control is adopted to optimize the torque distribution between regenerative braking system and pneumatic braking system at the wheels. So as to reduce the computational time of modified nonlinear model predictive control, a nearest point method is employed during the braking process. Finally, the simulation and hardware-in-loop test are carried out on road conditions with different tire–road adhesion coefficients, and the proposed control strategy is verified by comparing it with the conventional control method employed in the baseline vehicle controller. The simulation and hardware-in-loop test results show that the proposed strategy can ensure vehicle safety during emergency braking situation and improve the recovery energy almost 17% compared with the conventional rule-based strategy in the general braking situation. Therefore, the proposed control strategy might offer a theoretical reference for the design of the actual braking controller in engineering practice.

Characterizing the mobility of uranium and vanadium in groundwater with a hydraulic connection to surface water is important to inform the best management practices of former mill tailing sites. In this study, the recharge of river water to the unsaturated and saturated zones of a uranium-contaminated alluvial aquifer was simulated in a series of forced-gradient single- and multi-well injection-extraction tests. The injection fluid (river water) was traced with natural and artificial tracers that included halides, fluorobenzoates, lithium, and naphthalene sulfonate to characterize the potential mass transport mechanisms of uranium and vanadium. The extraction fluid (river water/groundwater mixture) was analyzed for the tracers, uranium, and vanadium. The results from the tracers indicated that matrix diffusion was likely negligible over the spatiotemporal scales of the tests as evident by nearly identical breakthrough curves of the halides and fluorobenzoates. In contrast, the breakthrough curves of lithium and naphthalene sulfonate indicated that sorption by cation exchange and sorption to organic matter, respectively, were potential mass transport mechanisms of uranium and vanadium. Uranium was mobilized in the saturated zone containing gypsum (gypsum-rich zone), the vadose zone (vadose-rich zone), and the saturated zone containing organic carbon (organic-rich zone) whereas vanadium was mobilized only in the saturated gypsum-rich zone. The mechanisms responsible for the mobilization of uranium and vanadium were likely dissolution of uranium- and vanadium-bearing minerals and/or desorption from the gypsum-rich zone, flushing of uranium from the vadose-rich zone, and desorption of uranium from the organic-rich zone due to the natural contrast in the geochemistry between the river water and groundwater. The experimental design of this study was unique in that it employed the use of multiple natural and artificial tracers coupled with a direct injection of native river water to groundwater. These results demonstrated that natural recharge and flooding events at former mill tailing sites can mobilize uranium, and possibly vanadium, and contribute to persistent levels of groundwater contamination.

A tracer test was conducted in a geothermal reservoir using a cation-exchanging tracer to interrogate flow pathway surface area to volume ratios and a thermally-degrading tracer to interrogate average flow pathway temperatures. The test interpretations are used to predict when thermal drawdown will occur at a production well due to injecting cooler spent geothermal water into an injection well. The cation-exchanging tracer provides constraints on the timing of thermal drawdown, and the thermally-degrading tracer provides constraints on the magnitude of thermal drawdown. Uncertainties associated with the method, including assumptions made about flow pathway geometry, are discussed.

Las malformaciones arteriovenosas (malformaciones A-V) de alto flujo en la cavidad oral no son una patología frecuente, existen pocos datos publicados sobre su tratamiento y sigue siendo muy controvertido debido a la alta tasa de complicaciones vitales que conlleva y la alta tasa de recurrencia. El único tratamiento curativo es la resección radical, con las consecuencias no sólo vitales, sino también desfigurativas que supone. Presentamos un caso de malformación A-V congénita en región submandibular, suelo de boca derecho y lengua, que tras varios episodios de dolor y aumento de tamaño, sin realizar ninguna medida agresiva, en el último control se observa trombosis espontánea de la misma. En este caso, la evolución con un tratamiento expectante sin cirugía, ha sido la trombosis con mejoría clínica, sin presentar nuevo episodio de aumento de tamaño, ni sangrado doce meses después, a pesar de seguir con una lesión de gran tamaño en el suelo de la boca. he high-flow arteriovenous malformations (A-V malformations) in oral cavity are not a common disease, there are few published data on treatment and it remains highly controversial because of the high rate of vital complications and the high rate of recurrence. The only curative treatment is radical resection, with not only vital consequences but also the disfigurement involved. We present a case of congenital A-V malformation in right submandibular region, floor of the mouth and tongue. After several episodes of pain and enlargement, in the last control without any aggressive action, the lesion presented spontaneous thrombosis. In this case, despite following with a large lesion on the floor mouth, the evolution with an expectant non-surgical treatment has been the thrombosis with clinical improvement, without presenting new episode of enlargement, nor bleeding twelve months later.

Resumen Objetivo El tratamiento de la incontinencia urinaria femenina ha sufrido una revolucion en los ultimos anos por la aparicion en el mercado de las cintillas suburetrales. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar 2 tecnicas quirurgicas para el tratamiento de la incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo: Monarc™ (cintilla suburetral transobturadora) y MiniArc® (mini-cintilla suburetral de incision unica). Material y metodos Estudio retrospectivo observacional comparativo desde enero de 2005 hasta diciembre de 2011 con 317 mujeres diagnosticadas de incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo. Doscientas catorce fueron tratadas con la cintilla suburetral transobturadora Monarc™ y 103 con la mini-cintilla MiniArc®. Los resultados han sido tratados con el programa informatico SPSS v 15 y el nivel de significacion estadistica ha sido p ≤ 0,005. Resultados Los 2 grupos de pacientes son homogeneos en cuanto a la edad, el numero de partos, la presencia de incontinencia urinaria de urgencia o histerectomia previa. Diferencias significativas en estancia hospitalaria, tiempo quirurgico y complicaciones precoces a favor del Miniarc®, pero no en las tardias donde no hay diferencias significativas globales. El 84% de las pacientes tratadas con la cintilla transobturadora Monarc™ estan curadas frente al 72% en las que colocamos un MiniArc® con diferencia significativa. Conclusion Debemos realizar un mayor numero de estudios de alta calidad de caracter prospectivo y aleatorizados, con mayor numero de pacientes y tiempo de seguimiento para confirmar o rechazar la diferencia que hemos encontrado en la tasa de exito a favor de cintilla suburetral transobturador Monarc™.

Objective The treatment of female stress urinary incontinence has undergone a revolution in recent years due the emergence on the market of suburethral slings. The aim of this study is to compare two surgical techniques for treating stress urinary incontinence: Monarc™ (transobturator suburethral sling) and MiniArc ® (single-incision suburethral mini-sling). Materials and methods Comparative, retrospective, observational study from January 2005 to December 2011 on 317 women diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence. Of these, 214 were treated with the Monarc™ transobturator suburethral sling, and 103 were treated with the MiniArc ® mini-sling. The results were treated with SPSS v.15 software, and the statistical significance was p ≤ .005. Results The two patients groups were homogeneous in terms of age, number of births, presence of urgency urinary incontinence and prior hysterectomy. There were significant differences in hospital stay, surgical time and early complications in favor of the MiniArc ® , technique, but overall there were no significant differences in the late complications. Some 84% of the patients treated with the Monarc™ transobturator sling were cured compared with the 72% of patients in whom we implanted a MiniArc ® , a difference that was statistically significant. Conclusion We need to perform more high-quality, prospective and randomized studies with larger number of patients and longer follow-up times to confirm or disprove the difference that we found in the success rate for the Monarc™ transobturator suburethral sling.

High-explosive compounds including hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) were used extensively in weapons research and testing at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Liquid effluents containing RDX were released to an outfall pond that flowed to Canon de Valle at LANL's Technical Area 16 (TA-16), resulting in the contamination of the alluvial, intermediate and regional groundwater bodies. Monitoring of groundwater within Canon de Valle has shown persistent RDX in the intermediate perched zone located between 225 and 311 m below ground surface. Monitoring data also show detectable levels of RDX putative anaerobic degradation products. Batch and column experiments were conducted to determine the extent of adsorption-desorption and transport of RDX and its degradation products (MNX, DNX, and TNX) in major rock types that are within the RDX plume. All experiments were performed in the dark using water obtained from a well located at the center of the plume, which is fairly oxic and has a neutral pH of 7.5. Retardation factors and partitioning coefficient (Kd) values for RDX were calculated from batch experiments. Additionally, retardation factors and Kd values for RDX and its degradation products were calibrated from column experiments using a one-dimensional transport model with equilibrium sorption (linear isotherm). Results from the column and batch experiments showed little to no sorption of RDX to the aquifer materials tested, with retardation factors ranging from 1.0 to 1.8 and Kd values varying from 0 to 0.70 L/kg. Results also showed no measurable differences between the transport properties of RDX and its degradation products.

Hexahydro‐1,3,5‐trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazine (RDX) is a high explosive released to the environment as a result of weapons manufacturing and testing worldwide. At Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Technical Area (TA) 16 260 Outfall discharged high‐explosives‐bearing water from a high‐explosives‐machining facility to Cañon de Valle during 1951 through 1996. These discharges served as a primary source of high‐explosives and inorganic‐element contamination in the area. Data indicate that springs, surface water, alluvial groundwater, and perched‐intermediate groundwater contain explosive compounds, including RDX (hexahydro‐1,3,5‐trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazine); HMX (octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine); and TNT (2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene). RDX has been detected in the regional aquifer in several wells, and a corrective measures evaluation is planned to identify remedial alternatives to protect the regional aquifer. Perched‐intermediate groundwater at Technical Area 16 is present at depths from 650 ft to 1200 ft bgs. In this study, we examined the microbial diversity in a monitoring well completed in perched‐intermediate groundwater contaminated by RDX, and examined the response of the microbial population to biostimulation under varying geochemical conditions. Results show that the groundwater microbiome was dominated by Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. A total of 1,605 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in 96 bacterial genera were identified. Rhodococcus was the most abundant genus (30.6%) and a total of 46 OTUs were annotated as Rhodococcus. One OTU comprising 25.2% of total sequences was closely related to a RDX ‐degrading strain R. erythropolis HS4. A less abundant OTU from the Pseudomonas family closely related to RDX‐degrading strain P. putida II‐B was also present. Biostimulation significantly enriched Proteobacteria but decreased/eliminated the population of Actinobacteria. Consistent with RDX degradation, the OTU closely related to the RDX‐degrading P. putida strain II‐B was specifically enriched in the RDX‐degrading samples. Analysis of the accumulation of RDX‐degradation products reveals that during active RDX degradation, there is a transient increase in the concentration of the degradation products MNX, DNX, TNX, and NDAB. The accumulation of these degradation products suggests that RDX is degraded via sequential reduction of the nitro functional groups followed by abiotic ring‐cleavage. The results suggest that strict anaerobic conditions are needed to stimulate RDX degradation under the TA‐16 site‐specific conditions.

The morphological analysis of olive fruits, leaves and endocarps may represent an efficient tool for the characterization and discrimination of varieties and the establishment of phenotypic relationships among them. In recent years, much attention has been focused on the application of DNA molecular markers due to their high capacity to efficiently and reliably discriminate cultivars. Here, we present a semi-automatic method of detecting various morphological parameters based on image analysis tools. A number of morphological parameters have been used to characterize olive germplasm collections from different countries. To date, for the morphological analysis of olives, old fashioned manual techniques (e.g. using screw gauge, gridded paper, etc.) have been used, or other unsuitable methods/softwares for handling the problem, due to the imposition of some prerequisites (e.g. color of the images background, position of the object, etc.). The novelty and the significance of our methodology lies in the fact that it is the first integrated methodology that provides automated morphological analysis of fruits, leaves and endocarps, without pre-processing manual tasks (cutting the fruits, etc.) or imposing prerequisites, after a manual binarised of the initial image. The underlying methodology is based on robust mathematical descriptors that can provide more accurate,rapid and consistent results regarding the shape description. In addition, the objective of this work is to serve as a useful further step in the development of computer-based techniques which can describe the whole morphology of crop species.

En el presente trabajo, se describe a Tricholeiperia peruensis n. sp. (Nematoda, Molineidae) en base a 25 especímenes colectados del intestino de 5 murciélagos de la especie Lophostoma silvicolum occidentalis de la localidad de Angostura, distrito Pampas de Hospital, departamento de Tumbes, Perú. La nueva especie se caracteriza por la morfología de la vesícula cefálica en forma de capuchón con escotaduras, por el tamaño y forma de las espículas cuyo extremo distal de la rama externa se divide en dos, de las cuales la rama interna sufre una nueva división; por la disposición de las costillas de la bolsa copulatríz donde, entre otros detalles, las antero y postero-ventrales están separadas y las externo-dorsales nacen cerca de la parte media del tronco dorsal y son gruesas., In the present work, Tricholeiperia peruensis. n sp. (Nematoda, Molineidae) is described on the basis of 25 collected specimens from 5 bat intestines of the Lophostoma silvicolum occidentalis species from Angostura, district of Pampas de Hospital, department of Tumbes, Peru. The new species is characterized by the morphology of the cephalic vesicle in the form of hood with recesses, for the size and form of spikes whose distal end of the external branch is divided in 2 from which the internal branch undergoes a new division; by the disposition of the ribs of the copulatory apparatus where, among others details, the pre- and post ventral ribs are separated and the external-dorsal ribs begin near the half of the dorsal trunk and are heavy.

Summary Cerebral infarction that affects young women is extremely serious, despite its low incidence, with mortality rates of nearly 20%. In the case of a pregnant woman it is a serious injury at as time of maximum personal and family development. Although theoretically cerebral apoplexy has very varied aethiopathological causes there are many young women in whom the principal cause is never found. The clinical neurological investigation needs to be supported by radiological diagnostic techniques to make an initial diagnosis between ischaemic or haemorrhage pathology. Cranial tomography will be indicated by the same criteria as in non pregnant patients, without threatening embryonic or foetal viability. The dosage of radiation used does not endanger foetal well-being, and it should help us try to predict maternal prognosis and to establish the most appropriate therapy.

A simple derivation of the effects of vessels is given which demonstrates a concentration dependence not been previously shown. Probe pressure effects on in vivo vascular parameters of the uterine cervix are assessed.

Tissue vasculature is altered when cancer develops. Consequently, noninvasive methods of monitoring blood vessel size, density, and oxygenation would be valuable. Simple spectroscopy employing fiber optic probes to measure backscattering can potentially determine hemoglobin parameters. However, heterogeneity of blood distribution, the dependence of the tissue-volume-sampled on scattering and absorption, and the potential compression of tissue all hinder the accurate determination of hemoglobin parameters. We address each of these issues. A simple derivation of a correction factor for the absorption coefficient, μa, is presented. This correction factor depends not only on the vessel size, as others have shown, but also on the density of blood vessels. Monte Carlo simulations were used to determine the dependence of an effective pathlength of light through tissue which is parameterized as a ninth-order polynomial function of μa. The hemoglobin bands of backscattering spectra of cervical tissue are fit using these expressions to obtain effective blood vessel size and density, tissue hemoglobin concentration, and oxygenation. Hemoglobin concentration and vessel density were found to depend on the pressure applied during in vivo acquisition of the spectra. It is also shown that determined vessel size depends on the blood hemoglobin concentration used.

The treatment of female stress urinary incontinence has undergone a revolution in recent years due the emergence on the market of suburethral slings. The aim of this study is to compare two surgical techniques for treating stress urinary incontinence: Monarc™ (transobturator suburethral sling) and MiniArc(®) (single-incision suburethral mini-sling).Comparative, retrospective, observational study from January 2005 to December 2011 on 317 women diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence. Of these, 214 were treated with the Monarc™ transobturator suburethral sling, and 103 were treated with the MiniArc(®) mini-sling. The results were treated with SPSS v.15 software, and the statistical significance was P≤.005.The two patients groups were homogeneous in terms of age, number of births, presence of urgency urinary incontinence and prior hysterectomy. There were significant differences in hospital stay, surgical time and early complications in favour of the MiniArc(®), technique, but overall there were no significant differences in the late complications. Some 84% of the patients treated with the Monarc™ transobturator sling were cured compared with the 72% of patients in whom we implanted a MiniArc(®), a difference that was statistically significant.We need to perform more high-quality, prospective and randomised studies with larger numbers of patients and longer follow-up times to confirm or disprove the difference that we found in the success rate for the Monarc™ transobturator suburethral sling.

Acetic acid has been used for decades as an aid for the detection of precancerous cervical lesions, and the use of acetic acid is being investigated in several other tissues. Nonetheless, the mechanism of acetowhitening is unclear. This work tests some of the hypotheses in the literature and measures changes in light scattering specific to the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Wide angle side scattering from both the nucleus and the cytoplasm increases with acetic application to tumorigenic cells, with the increase in nuclear scattering being greater. In one cell line, the changes in nuclear scattering are likely due to an increase in number or scattering efficiency of scattering centers smaller than the wavelength of excitation light. There are likely several cellular changes that cause acetowhitening and the cellular changes may differ with cell type. These results should lead to a better understanding of acetowhitening and potentially the development of adjunct techniques to improve the utility of acetic acid application. For the well-studied case of cervical tissue, acetowhitening has been shown to be sensitive, but not specific for oncogenic changes needing treatment.

We have collected in vivo spectroscopy data of cervical lesions from two separate locations. The data are analyzed to determine spectroscopic and colposcopic accuracy as compared to the gold standard of pathology.