Search

Purpose: We have re-evaluated the anatomical arguments that underlie the division of the spinal visceral outflow into sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions. Methodology: Using a systematic literature search, we mapped the location of catecholaminergic neurons throughout the mammalian peripheral nervous system. Subsequently, a narrative method was employed to characterize segment-dependent differences in the location of preganglionic cell bodies and the composition of white and gray rami communicantes. Results and Conclusion: One hundred seventy studies were included in the systematic review, providing information on 389 anatomical structures. Catecholaminergic nerve fibers are present in most spinal and all cranial nerves and ganglia, including those that are known for their parasympathetic function. Along the entire spinal autonomic outflow pathways, proximal and distal catecholaminergic cell bodies are common in the head, thoracic, and abdominal and pelvic region, which invalidates the "short-versus-long preganglionic neuron" argument. Contrary to the classically confined outflow levels T1-L2 and S2-S4, preganglionic neurons have been found in the resulting lumbar gap. Preganglionic cell bodies that are located in the intermediolateral zone of the thoracolumbar spinal cord gradually nest more ventrally within the ventral motor nuclei at the lumbar and sacral levels, and their fibers bypass the white ramus communicans and sympathetic trunk to emerge directly from the spinal roots. Bypassing the sympathetic trunk, therefore, is not exclusive for the sacral outflow. We conclude that the autonomic outflow displays a conserved architecture along the entire spinal axis, and that the perceived differences in the anatomy of the autonomic thoracolumbar and sacral outflow are quantitative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic light schemes (TLSs) are commonly used to mitigate induced seismicity caused by subsurface fluid injection. Verdon and Bommer (J Seismol 25:301–326, 2021a) investigated the validity of the implicit assumptions that underpin the successful functioning of TLSs. In particular, they examined the extent to which magnitude jumps (sudden increases in event magnitudes from any preceding seismicity) and trailing events (continued increases in seismicity levels after the end of injection) took place in hydraulic fracturing (HF) induced seismicity sequences. Other technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), wastewater disposal (WWD) and natural gas storage (NGS) involve the gradual but long-term injection of large fluid volumes at low pressure. Hence, we might expect to see a different spatial and temporal evolution of magnitudes for seismicity induced by low-pressure, long-term (LPLT) injections compared to HF. In this study, we compile cases of LPLT injection-induced seismicity in order to examine their temporal evolution. We examine the occurrence of magnitude jumps, trailing events and onset times for seismicity after the initiation of injection. We find that few LPLT injections have produced trailing events, and that magnitude jumps are typically below 1.5 magnitude units. The timescale of event occurrence (relative to the onset of injection) is highly variable, likely reflecting site-specific conditions. For long-term injection, we observe a trend for the largest events to occur within the earlier part of each sequence, with magnitudes then stabilising, or even reducing, as injection continues. Finally, we evaluate the performance of the next record breaking event (NRBE) model as a method for forecasting induced event magnitudes, finding that this method performs reasonably well in most cases, but that in some cases the largest event significantly exceeds this model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this synthesis article, I discuss the meaning of active citizenship for European nature conservation based on an integrative study of existing literature. Four main knowledge gaps are addressed: (1) a lack of overview on the scope and characteristics of active citizenship across Europe; (2) a lack of systematic evidence on its impacts; (3) a lack of congruence in democratic debates related to active citizenship; and (4) the governance implications of active citizenship in context of these knowledge gaps. Empirical research shows that active citizenship is driven by a wide range of motivations and manifests in various forms. Although most active citizenship is small in scale, when added together all these groups of citizens have become a societal force to be reckoned with. Locally, active citizenship often provides important benefits to people and nature and also enriches the democratic system. However, active citizenship does not always align with policy frameworks and ecological networks and also leads to tensions between representative and direct forms of democracy. For these reasons, active citizenship should be considered as additive to other forms of governance in European nature conservation. In this, a polycentric and collaborative approach to green space governance can help authorities in achieving their own policy objectives while stimulating active citizenship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, animal tests are being used to confirm the potency and lack of toxicity of toxoid vaccines. In a consistency approach, animal tests could be replaced if production consistency (compared to known good products) can be proven in a panel of in vitro assays. By mimicking the in vivo antigen processing in a simplified in vitro approach, it may be possible to distinguish aberrant products from good products. To demonstrate this, heat-exposed diphtheria toxoid was subjected to partial digestion by cathepsin S (an endoprotease involved in antigen processing), and the peptide formation/degradation kinetics were mapped for various heated toxoids. To overcome the limitations associated with the very large number of samples, we used common reference-based tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling. Instead of using one label per condition with direct comparison between the set of labels, we compared multiple labeled samples to a common reference (a pooled sample containing an aliquot of each condition). In this method, the number of samples is not limited by the number of unique TMT labels. This TMT multiplexing strategy allows for a 15-fold reduction of analysis time while retaining the reliability advantage of TMT labeling over label-free quantification. The formation of the most important peptides could be followed over time and compared among several conditions. The changes in enzymatic degradation kinetics of diphtheria toxoid revealed several suitable candidate peptides for use in a quality control assay that can distinguish structurally aberrant diphtheria toxoid from compliant toxoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymatic degradation of protein antigens by endo-lysosomal proteases in antigen-presenting cells is crucial for achieving cellular immunity. Structural changes caused by vaccine production process steps, such as formaldehyde inactivation, could affect the sensitivity of the antigen to lysosomal proteases. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the formaldehyde detoxification process on the enzymatic proteolysis of antigens by studying model proteins. Bovine serum albumin, β-lactoglobulin A and cytochrome c were treated with various concentrations of isotopically labelled formaldehyde and glycine, and subjected to proteolytic digestion by cathepsin S, an important endo-lysosomal endoprotease. Degradation products were analysed by mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography. The most abundant modification sites were identified by their characteristic MS doublets. Unexpectedly, all studied proteins showed faster proteolytic degradation upon treatment with higher formaldehyde concentrations. This effect was observed both in the absence and presence of glycine, an often-used excipient during inactivation to prevent intermolecular crosslinking. Overall, subjecting proteins to formaldehyde or formaldehyde/glycine treatment results in changes in proteolysis rates, leading to an enhanced degradation speed. This accelerated degradation could have consequences for the immunogenicity and the efficacy of vaccine products containing formaldehyde-inactivated antigens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overall rate constants for the removal of N2(A,v) by O2 and O were measured at 298 K in a rapidly pumped flow reactor using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection of N2(A,v) by excitation in the first positive system of N2, B(3πg)←A(3Σ+u). O atoms were generated in microwave discharges of pure O2 prepared by thermal decomposition of KMnO4. Measured rate constants for N2(A,v)+O2 increased from 2.5×10-12(v=0) to 5.7×10-12 cm3 s-1(v=3). For N2(A,v)+O(3P), they were an order of magnitude larger, rising from 3.5×10-11(v=(0) to 5.2×10-11 cm3 s-1(v=3). They are compared with previous work and discussed in terms of the likely molecular interaction that they represent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a “Whole-of-Society” approach is needed to initiate transitions to a nature-positive society. Many look at civil society to initiate and accelerate such transitions. In this article, we investigate strategies from Civil Society Actors (CSAs) to contribute to transformative change, with specific focus on Tiny Forests and Beach Clean-Ups in the Netherlands. Results show that CSAs have a clear Theory of Change to achieve their goals, and act upon that vision through assembling power and resources, developing policy-relevant environmental knowledge, mobilising public support and media coverage and initiating innovative sustainable practices. Adopting mosaic governance approaches, CSAs strategically position themselves in social and institutional networks, connecting professionals and citizens for political leverage. However, our findings show that the step from local impact towards transition remains a large one and the contribution of CSAs should be valued as emergent, co-produced and part of a broader transition movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclophellitol and cyclophellitol aziridine are potent and irreversible inhibitors of retaining β‐glucosidases. They preferentially adopt a 4H3 half‐chair conformation, thereby mimicking the substrate‐transition‐state conformation characteristic of retaining β‐glucosidases. As a consequence, both compounds bind tightly to the enzyme active site, and attack of the catalytic nucleophile onto the epoxide/aziridine results in enzyme deactivation. Replacement of the epoxide oxygen in cyclophellitol by a (substituted) carbon yielded carba‐cyclophellitols, a conceptually new class of inhibitors of retaining β‐glucosidases, as we demonstrated in a recent communication. In this paper, in‐depth synthetic studies of this class of compounds are described, and the preparation of a comprehensive set of structurally and configurationally new carba‐cyclophellitols is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In prior work we demonstrated that patient-rated physician empathy was the strongest driver of patient satisfaction after a visit to an orthopaedic hand surgeon. Data from the primary care setting suggest a positive association between physician empathy and clinical outcomes, including symptoms of the common cold. It is possible that an empathic encounter could make immediate and measureable changes in a patient's mindset, symptoms, and functional limitations.Questions/purposes: (1) Comparing patients who rated their physicians as perfectly empathic with those who did not, is there a difference in pre- to postvisit change in Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Upper Extremity Function scores? (2) Do patients who gave their physicians perfectly empathic ratings have a greater decrease in pre- to postvisit change in Pain Intensity, PROMIS Pain Interference, and PROMIS Depression scores?Methods: Between September 2015 and February 2016, based on the clinic patient flow, 134 new patients were asked to participate in this study. Eight patients were in a rush to leave the surgeon's office, which left us with a final cohort of 126 patients. Directly before and directly after the appointment with their physician, patients were asked to complete three PROMIS Computerized Adaptive Tests (CAT; Upper Extremity Function, Pain Interference, and Depression) as well as an ordinal rating of pain intensity. After the visit, participants were asked to rate their physician using the Consultation And Relational Empathy (CARE) measure. Based on prior experience, we dichotomized the CARE score anticipating a substantial skew: 54 patients (43%) rated their physician perfectly empathic.Results: Between patients who rated physicians as perfectly empathic and those who did not, there was no difference in the pre- to postvisit change in PROMIS Upper Extremity Function CAT score (perfect empathy: 0.84 ± 2.94; less than perfect empathy: -0.23 ± 3.12; mean difference: 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.31 to 0.77; p = 0.054). There was a small decrease in Pain Intensity (perfect empathy: -0.96 ± 2.08; less than perfect empathy: -0.33 ± 1.03; mean difference: -0.60; 95% CI, -0.88 to -0.32; p = 0.028). There were no differences in PROMIS Pain Interference score (perfect empathy: -1.33 ± 2.85; less than perfect empathy: -1.37 ± 3.12; mean difference: -1.35; 95% CI, -1.88 to -0.83; p = 0.959) or PROMIS Depression scores (perfect empathy: -1.51 ± 4.02; less than perfect empathy : -1.21 ± 3.83; mean difference: -1.34; 95% CI, -2.03 to -0.65; p = 0.663).Conclusions: A single visit with a surgeon rated perfectly empathic is not associated with change in upper extremity-specific limitations or coping mechanisms or a noticeable change in pain scores during the visit, as these differences were below the minimum clinically important difference. Future research should address the influence of empathy on patient-reported outcomes and physician empathy over time in contrast to a single office visit.Level Of Evidence: Level II, prognostic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Design Patients Measurements Results Conclusions To report our experience with 18F‐fluoro‐ethyl‐tyrosine (FET) positron emission tomography‐computed tomography (PET‐CT) co‐registered with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (FET‐PET/MRICR) in the care trajectory for persistent acromegaly.Prospective case series.Ten patients with insufficiently controlled acromegaly referred to our team to evaluate surgical options.FET‐PET/MRICR was used to support decision‐making if MRI alone and multidisciplinary team evaluation did not provide sufficient clarity to proceed to surgery.FET‐PET/MRICR showed suspicious (para)sellar tracer uptake in all patients. In five patients FET‐PET/MRICR was fully concordant with conventional MRI, and in one patient partially concordant. FET‐PET/MRICR identified suggestive new foci in four other patients. Surgical re‐exploration was performed in nine patients (aimed at total resection (6), debulking (2), diagnosis (1)), and one patient underwent radiation therapy. In 7 of 9 (78%) operated patients FET‐PET/MRICR findings were confirmed intraoperatively, and in six (67%) also histologically. IGF‐1 decreased significantly in eight patients (89%). All patients showed clinical improvement. Complete biochemical remission was achieved in three patients (50% of procedures in which total resection was anticipated feasible). Biochemistry improved in five and was unchanged in one patient. No permanent complications occurred. At six months, optimal outcome (preoperative intended goal achieved without permanent complications) was achieved in six (67%) patients and an intermediate outcome (goal not achieved, but no complications) in the other three patients.In patients with persisting acromegaly without a clear surgical target on MRI, FET‐PET/MRICR is a new tracer to provide additional information to aid decision‐making by the multidisciplinary pituitary team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this comprehensive review is to summarize recent literature on associations between periodontitis and neurodegenerative diseases, explore the bidirectionality and provide insights into the plausible pathogenesis. For this purpose, systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, Medline and EMBASE were considered. Out of 33 retrieved papers, 6 articles complying with the inclusion criteria were selected and discussed. Additional relevant papers for bidirectionality and pathogenesis were included. Results show an association between periodontitis and Alzheimer's disease, with odds ratios of 3 to 5. A bidirectional relationship is suspected. For Parkinson's disease (PD), current evidence for an association appears to be weak, although poor oral health and PD seem to be correlated. A huge knowledge gap was identified. The plausible mechanistic link for the association between periodontitis and neurodegenerative diseases is the interplay between periodontal inflammation and neuroinflammation. Three pathways are hypothesized in the literature, i.e., humoral, neuronal and cellular, with a clear role of periodontal pathogens, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis. Age, gender, race, smoking, alcohol intake, nutrition, physical activity, socioeconomic status, stress, medical comorbidities and genetics were identified as common risk factors for periodontitis and neurodegenerative diseases. Future research with main emphasis on the collaboration between neurologists and dentists is encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conformational analysis of glycosidases affords a route to their specific inhibition through transition-state mimicry. Inspired by the rapid reaction rates of cyclophellitol and cyclophellitol aziridineboth covalent retaining β-glucosidase inhibitorswe postulated that the corresponding carba "cyclopropyl" analogue would be a potent retaining β-glucosidase inhibitor for those enzymes reacting through the 4H3 transition-state conformation. Ab initio metadynamics simulations of the conformational free energy landscape for the cyclopropyl inhibitors show a strong bias for the 4H3 conformation, and carba-cyclophellitol, with an N-(4-azidobutyl)carboxamide moiety, proved to be a potent inhibitor (K i = 8.2 nM) of the Thermotoga maritima TmGH1 β-glucosidase. 3-D structural analysis and comparison with unreacted epoxides show that this compound indeed binds in the 4H3 conformation, suggesting that conformational strain induced through a cyclopropyl unit may add to the armory of tight-binding inhibitor designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) UL16 gene is conserved throughout the Herpesviridae and encodes a poorly understood tegument protein. The HSV-1 UL16 protein forms complexes with several viral proteins, including UL11, gE, VP22, and UL21. We previously demonstrated that HSV-2 UL21 was essential for virus propagation due to the failure of DNA-containing capsids (C capsids) to exit the nucleus. We hypothesized that if a UL16/UL21 complex was required for nuclear egress, HSV-2 lacking UL16 would have a phenotype similar to that of HSV-2 lacking UL21. Deletion of HSV-2 UL16 (Δ16) resulted in a 950-fold reduction in virus propagation in mouse L cell fibroblasts and a 200-fold reduction in virus propagation in Vero cells that was fully reversed upon the repair of Δ16 (Δ16R) and partially reversed by infecting UL16-expressing cells with Δ16. The kinetics of viral gene expression in cells infected with Δ16 were indistinguishable from those of cells infected with Δ16R or the parental virus. Additionally, similar numbers of capsids were isolated from the nuclei of cells infected with Δ16 and the parental virus. However, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridization experiments, and fluorescent capsid localization assays all indicated a reduction in the ability of Δ16 C capsids to exit the nucleus of infected cells. Taken together, these data indicate that, like UL21, UL16 is critical for HSV-2 propagation and suggest that the UL16 and UL21 proteins may function together to facilitate the nuclear egress of capsids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis and evaluation as activity-based probes (ABPs) of three configurationally distinct, fluorescent N-alkyl cyclophellitol aziridine isosteres for profiling GH1 β-glucosidase (GBA), GH27 α-galactosidase (GLA) and GH29 α-fucosidase (FUCA) is described. In comparison with the corresponding acyl aziridine ABPs reported previously, the alkyl aziridine ABPs are synthesized easily and are more stable in mild acidic and basic media, and are thus easier to handle. The β-glucose-configured alkyl aziridine ABP proves equally effective in labeling GBA as its N-acyl counterpart, whereas the N-acyl aziridines targeting GLA and FUCA outperform their N-alkyl counterparts. Alkyl aziridines can therefore be an attractive alternative in retaining glycosidase ABP design, but in targeting a new retaining glycosidase both N-alkyl and N-acyl aziridines are best considered at the onset of a new study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE) is an autoimmune disease. Its incidence in the UK is approximately 1 per 10 000. Cutaneous involvement, encompassing acute, subacute and chronic disease, occurs in over two-thirds of cases, and can often be the first clue to diagnosis. We describe a highly unusual case of SLE occurring after prodromal idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura ( ITP) and presenting with skin lesions more typical of malignant atrophic papulosis, a rare and often fatal vasculopathy. Such a combination of rare features emphasizes the potential for complexity in this multisystem disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participatory planning is becoming increasingly integral to governance. Numerous planning innovations are developed which aim to increase democratic legitimacy and improve decision making. This paper critically reflects on a typical Dutch innovation: the area committee. Based on two individual case studies, we investigate whether area committees realise democratic legitimacy in existing planning practices. Analytically, we focus on four democratic goods: inclusiveness, popular control, considered judgement and transparency. Based on the interdependencies between area committees and government structures we discuss the potential and dilemmas for the area committee to contribute to the democratic legitimacy of environmental policy and rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous study, it was observed that cells infected with herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) failed to accumulate stress granules (SGs) in response to oxidative stress induced by arsenite treatment. As a follow-up to this observation, we demonstrate here that disruption of arsenite-induced SG formation by HSV-2 is mediated by a virion component. Through studies on SG formation in cells infected with HSV-2 strains carrying defective forms of UL41, the gene that encodes vhs, we identify vhs as a virion component required for this disruption. Cells infected with HSV-2 strains producing defective forms of vhs form SGs spontaneously late in infection. In addition to core SG components, these spontaneous SGs contain the viral immediate early protein ICP27 as well as the viral serine/threonine kinase Us3. As part of these studies, we reexamined the frameshift mutation known to reside within the UL41 gene of HSV-2 strain HG52. We demonstrate that this mutation is unstable and can rapidly revert to restore wild-type UL41 following low-multiplicity passaging. Identification of the involvement of virion-associated vhs in the disruption of SG formation will enable mechanistic studies on how HSV-2 is able to counteract antiviral stress responses early in infection. In addition, the ability of Us3 to localize to stress granules may indicate novel roles for this viral kinase in the regulation of translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclophellitol and cyclophellitol aziridine are potent and irreversible mechanism-based inhibitors of retaining β-glucosidases. Alterations in the configuration of these compounds can lead to irreversible inhibition of different classes of retaining glycosidases. We have recently reported on the design of a set of α-galactopyranose-configured cyclophellitol and cyclophellitol aziridine derivatives that inhibit human retaining α-galactosidases. Moreover, we have shown that fluorescently labeled derivatives enable the activity-based profiling of these enzymes in vitro. In this report we describe in detail the synthetic strategies that were used to obtain these epoxide- and aziridine-based probes. In addition, we describe the parallel synthesis of a set of β-galactopyranose-configured cyclophellitol isomers as putative inhibitors of retaining β-galactosidases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that pregnancy rates after fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) in beef heifers and cows may be improved by delaying insemination of females that have not expressed estrus before FTAI. In Exp. 1, estrus was synchronized for 931 heifers across 3 locations using the 14-d CIDR-PG protocol (controlled internal drug-release [CIDR] insert [1.38 gm progesterone] on d 0 with removal of CIDR insert on d 14; 25 mg PGF2a 16 d after CIDR insert removal on d 30; and 100 pg GnRH on d 33, 66 h after PGF2a). Estrous detection aids (Estrotect) were applied at PGF2a on d 30, and estrous expression was recorded at GnRH on d 33. Heifers within each location were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments based on weight and reproductive tract score (RTS): 1) FTAI (concurrent with GnRH, 66 h after PGF2a) regardless of estrous expression or 2) FTAI for heifers expressing estrus and delayed AI (20 h after GnRH) for heifers failing to express estrus. Heifers assigned to treatment 2 achieved a higher AI pregnancy rate than heifers assigned to treatment 1 (54 versus 46%; P = 0.01). The observed increase in AI pregnancy rate is attributed to the delayed AI of non-estrous heifers in treatment 2, as AI pregnancy rates for non-estrous heifers were significantly higher for treatment 2 (49 versus 34%; P = 0.02), while AI pregnancy rates of estrous heifers did not differ by treatment (P = 0.24). In Exp. 2, estrus was synchronized for 951 mature, suckled cows across 9 locations using the 7-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol (100 pg GnRH + CIDR insert [1.38 gm progesterone] on d 0; 25 mg PGF2a at CIDR insert removal on d 7; and 100 pg GnRH on d 10, 66 h after CIDR insert removal). Estrus detection aids (Estrotect) were applied at PGF2q and CIDR insert removal on d 7, and estrous expression was recorded at GnRH on d 10. Cows within each location were assigned to 1 of 2 treatments based on age, days postpartum, and BCS: 1) FTAI (concurrent with GnRH, 66 h after PGF., ) regardless of estrous expression or 2) FTAI for cows expressing estrus and delayed AI (20 h after GnRH) for cows failing to express estrus. No significant effect of treatment was found on AI pregnancy rate (P = 0.76). In summary, FTAI pregnancy rates in heifers can be improved through a strategy of "split-time" AI. However, a statistically significant increase was not observed in the pregnancy rates of mature suckled cows when using a similar strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysosomal degradation of glycosphingolipids is mediated by the consecutive action of several glycosidases. Malfunctioning of one of these hydrolases can lead to a lysosomal storage disorder such as Fabry disease, which is caused by a deficiency in a-galactosidase A Herein we describe the development of potent and selective activity-based probes that target retaining α-galactosidases. The fluorescently labeled aziridine-based probes 3 and 4 inhibit the two human retaining α-galactosidases αGal A and αGal B covalently and with high affinity. Moreover, they enable the visualization of the endogenous activity of both a-galactosidases in cell extracts, thereby providing a means to study the presence and location of active enzyme levels in different cell types, such as healthy cells versus those derived from Fabry patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that delayed insemination of nonestrous cows would increase pregnancy rates when using sex-sorted semen in conjunction with fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI). Estrus was synchronized for 656 suckled beef cows with the 7-d CO-Synch + controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocol (100 μg GnRH + CIDR [1.38 g progesterone] on d 0, 25 mg PGF2α at CIDR removal on d 7, and 100 μg GnRH on d 10, 66 h after CIDR removal). Estrus detection aids (Estrotect) were applied at PGF2α and CIDR removal on d 7, and estrous expression was recorded at GnRH on d 10. Cows were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: 1) FTAI (concurrent with GnRH, 66 h after CIDR removal) with conventional semen regardless of estrous expression, 2) FTAI with sex-sorted semen regardless of estrous expression, or 3) FTAI with sex-sorted semen for cows having expressed estrus and delayed AI 20 h after final GnRH for cows failing to express estrus. A treatment x estrous expression interaction was found (P < 0.0001). Higher pregnancy rates (P < 0.0001) were achieved with conventional semen (Treatment 1 ; 77%) than with sex-sorted semen (Treatments 2 and 3; 51 and 42%, respectively) among cows that expressed estrus. However, among cows that failed to express estrus, delayed insemination with sex-sorted semen yielded higher (P < 0.0001) pregnancy rates than with sex-sorted semen at the standard time (Treatments 2 and 3; 3 versus 36%, respectively). Furthermore, among cows that failed to express estrus, FTAI pregnancy rates when using sex-sorted semen at the delayed time (36%) were comparable (P = 0.9) to those achieved using conventional semen at the standard time (Treatment 1 ; 37%). These results indicate that delaying AI of nonestrous cows by 20 h from the standard FTAI improves pregnancy rates when sex-sorted semen is used with FTAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment compared 2 long-term controlled internal drug release (CIDR)-based protocols to synchronize estrus before fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) in postpartum beef cows. Cows were assigned to treatments by age, BCS, and days post-partum. Cows assigned to the 14-to 19-dCIDR-PGF2α protocol (n = 196) received CIDR inserts (1.38 g pro-gesterone [P4]) from d 0 to 14 and PGF2α (25 mg, i.m.) 19 d after CIDR removal on d 33. Cows assigned to the 14-to-16-d CIDR-PGF2α protocol (n = 195) received CIDR inserts from d 3 to 17andPGF2α 16 d after CIDR removal on d 33. Cows were artificially inseminated on d 36, 72 h after PGF2α, with GnRH (100 μg, i.m.) at FTAI. Cows were exposed for natural service 14 d after FTAI for 75 d. Blood samples for P4 were collected at d -10 and 0 to determine pretreatment estrous cyclicity status and again at PGF2α. Blood samples for estradiol (E2) were collected at PGF2α and FTAI. HeatWatch estrus detection transmitters were used from CIDR removal until FTAI to determine onset of estrus after CIDR removal and PGF2α. Dominant follicle diameter was determined at PGF2α and FTAI. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 70 d after FTAI and confirmed at d 140 of gestation. Estrous response after CIDR removal was similar between treatments. Cows in both treatments had similar size dominant follicles on d 33 at PGF2α and d 36 at FTAI. Progesterone at PGF2⓪ was greater (P = 0.03) for 14-to-16-d compared to 14-to-19-d treated cows. Mean concentrations of E2 at PGF2Q were similar between treatments but were greater (P = 0.01) at FTAI for 14-to-16-d compared to 14-to-19-d treated cows. Estrous response after PGF2α was greater {P <0.01) for 14-to-19-d compared to 14-to-16-d treated cows (47.4 vs. 29.7%, respectively). Pregnancy rate resulting from FTAI was affected by the treatment x age group interaction (P = 0.08). Pregnancy rate after FTAI among cows >4 yr tended to be greater (P = 0.06) for 14-to-19-d compared to the 14-to-16-d treated cows, suggesting that the 14-to-19-d schedule works better for older age cows compared with the 14-to-16-d schedule. Final pregnancy rates were similar between the 2 treatments. In summary, these data indicate that a range in intervals from CIDR removal to PGF2n may be feasible when using long-term CIDR-based protocols in cows and raise questions that warrant further study regarding the benefits of extending this interval based on cow age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis is a common problem in South Africa, and provides a number of challenges for the anaesthetist. Patients may present in a variety of ways. Constitutional and pulmonary symptoms are the most common. These may impact on fitness for surgery and choice of anaesthesia. Tuberculosis treatment has the potential for a number of significant drug interactions. These are primarily mediated through induction of the cytochrome P450 enzyme system by rifampicin. Guidelines for the prevention of tuberculosis in the theatre environment need to be followed to avoid placing staff and other patients in danger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breslow thickness, patient age and ulceration are the three most valuable clinical and pathological predictors of melanoma survival. A readily available reliable online tool that accurately considers these and other predictors could be valuable for clinicians managing melanoma patients. Objective: To compare online melanoma survival prediction tools that request user input on clinical and pathological features. Methods: Search engines were used to identify available predictive nomograms. For each, clinical and pathological predictors were compared. Results: Three tools were identified. The American Joint Committee on Cancer tool inappropriately rated thin tumours as higher risk than intermediate tumours. The University of Louisville tool was found to have six shortcomings: a requirement for sentinel node biopsy, unavailable input of thin melanoma or patients over 70 years of age and less reliable hazard ratio calculations for age, ulceration and tumour thickness. The LifeMath.net tool was found to appropriately consider tumour thickness, ulceration, age, sex, site and tumour subtype in predicting survival. Limitations: The authors did not have access to the base data used to compile various prediction tools. Conclusion: The LifeMath.net prediction tool is the most reliable for clinicians in counselling patients with newly diagnosed primary cutaneous melanoma regarding their survival prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the influence of growth temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) on seed quality in terms of seed composition, subsequent seedling emergence and early seedling vigour is important under present and future climates. The objective of this study was to determine the combined effects of elevated temperature and CO2 during seed-filling of parent plants on seed composition, subsequent seedling emergence and seedling vigour of red kidney bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris). Plants of cultivar ‘Montcalm’, were grown at daytime maximum/nighttime minimum sinusoidal temperature regimes of 28/18 and 34/24 °C at ambient CO2 (350 μmol mol−1) and at elevated CO2 (700 μmol mol−1) from emergence to maturity. Seed size and seed composition at maturity and subsequent per cent emergence, early seedling vigour (rate of development) and seedling dry matter production were measured. Elevated CO2 did not influence seed composition, emergence, or seedling vigour of seeds produced either at 28/18 or 34/24 °C. Seed produced at 34/24 °C had smaller seed size, decreased glucose concentration, but significantly increased concentrations of sucrose and raffinose compared to 28/18 °C. Elevated growth temperatures during seed production decreased the subsequent per cent emergence and seedling vigour of the seeds and seedling dry matter production of seed produced either at ambient or elevated CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Redesigning Care initiative at Flinders Medical Centre aimed to improve access to timely, consistent, quality care. This led to the creation of an Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) where all patients are assessed by the Allied Health team on admission. This study aimed to: (i) determine the nutritional status of patients admitted to the AAU using the scored Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA); and (ii) determine the association between nutritional status and length of stay (LOS). Methods A prospective, observational study was conducted in 64 patients (mean age 79.9 ± 11 years, 76% female). Nutritional status was assessed within 48 h of admission and LOS data were collected prospectively. Results According to PG-SGA global rating, 53% ( n = 34) of patients were malnourished. There was a weak association between PG-SGA score and LOS ( r = 0.250, P = 0.046). The malnourished patients had a longer LOS by 1 day compared to well-nourished patients, and while this did not reach statistical significance ( Z = −0.988, P = 0.323), it has implications for health care costs. LOS overall was short at a median of 4.5 days (range 1–24). Conclusions A significant proportion of patients admitted to the AAU is malnourished. There was a trend for these patients to have a longer LOS, indicating a critical need for nutritional management; however LOS as a whole was short. While nutrition support in hospital is useful in reinforcing dietary education, the short LOS emphasized the importance of discharge education and follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a combined analytical, computational, and experimental study of the key parameters for selecting affordable materials and designing for thermal comfort in passive solar buildings. The heat transfer across the walls of buildings is modeled using a simple heat diffusion model. In this way, the passive heat storage from the sun (passive solar) and the heat load from internal heat sources are stored in the walls of buildings that provide internal cooling during the day and internal heating at night. The simple analytical model of heat diffusion is used to identify the merit indices for the optimization of affordable passive solar performance. The time dependence of wall/internal temperature is then simulated using a simple finite difference model. The results from the analytical model and finite difference model are validated by conducting temperature measurements in two affordable housing complexes in Egypt. The implications of the results are then discussed for the design of thermal comfort in affordable housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For wheat, the optimum time to apply fungicide to control disease on a given leaf layer is usually at, or shortly after, full leaf emergence. Data from field experiments on barley were used to investigate whether the same relationship was applicable to control of leaf blotch on barley. Replicated plots of winter barley were sown in the autumns of 1991, 1992 and 1993 at sites in southwest England with high risk of Rhynchosporium secalis infection. Single fungicide treatments at four doses (0·25, 0·5, 0·75 or 1·0 times the label rate) were applied at one of eight different spray times, starting in mid-March in each year, with intervals of 10–11 days between spray timings. Disease was assessed every 10–11 days and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values were used to construct fungicide dose by spray time response surfaces for each of the upper four leaves, for each year. Spray timings shortly before leaf emergence were found to minimize the AUDPC for each year and leaf layer, and also the effective dose (the dose required to achieve a specified level of control), similar to wheat. Fungicide treatments on barley were effective for a longer period before leaf emergence than afterwards, probably because treatments before emergence of the target leaf reduced inoculum production on leaves below. This partly explains why fungicides tend to be applied earlier in the growth of barley compared with wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A function was derived to predict fungicide efficacy when more than one application of a single active ingredient is made to a crop, given parameters describing the dose–response curves of the component single-spray applications. In the function, a second application is considered to act on that proportion of the total pathogen population which was uncontrollable at the time of the first application (represented by the lower asymptote of the dose–response curve for the first treatment), plus any additional part of the population which survived the first application as a result of a finite dose being applied. Data to estimate the single-spray dose–response curve parameters and validate predictions of two-spray programme efficacy were obtained from separate subsets of treatments in four field experiments. A systemic fungicide spray was applied to wheat at a range of doses, at one or both of two times ( t1 and t2), in all dose combinations. Observed values of the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) for septoria leaf blotch ( Mycosphaerella graminicola) were used to construct response surfaces of dose at t1 by dose at t2 for each culm leaf layer. Parameters were estimated from single-spray and zero-dose treatment data only. The model predicted a high proportion ( R2 = 71–95%) of the variation in efficacy of the two-spray programmes. AUDPC isobols showed that the dose required at t2 was inversely related to the dose at t1, but the slope of the relationship varied with the relative timings of t1 and t2 in relation to culm leaf emergence. Isobols were curved, so the effective dose – the total dose required to achieve a given level of disease suppression – was lower when administered as two applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advances in oncological practice have reduced the number of major amputations performed for soft-tissue sarcoma, but this remains a valuable, if infrequent, option for both curative and palliative indications. Methods: A review of patients and case-notes was carried out from the prospective sarcoma database at the Royal Marsden Hospital. Results: Over a 10-year interval, 40 major amputations (18 forequarter, 17 hindquarter and five through hip) were performed, predominantly for disease recurring after previous limb-conserving surgery (31 of 40). A wide variety of soft-tissue sarcoma subtypes was seen; they were often large (more than 10 cm; 18 of 40) or multifocal (six), usually high grade (25), and frequently proximal or involving neurovascular structures such that limb salvage was precluded. Median range age of the patients was 59 (17-87) years. The operative 30-day mortality rate was zero. Hospital stay was a median of 10.5 days for forequarter amputation, and 19 days for hindquarter and through-hip amputation. Local recurrence occurred in ten patients, six of whom had concurrent distant metastases. Twenty-seven patients were alive (20 disease free) at a median follow-up of 12 months, nine of whom were alive without evidence of disease beyond 2 years. Ten patients died after a median of 7.5 months; three survived more than 2 years. Conclusion: Major amputation is a useful procedure in carefully selected patients with soft-tissue sarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent focus on islet transplantation as primary therapy for type 1 diabetes has heightened interest in the reversal of type 1 diabetes in preclinical models using minimal immunosuppression. Here, we demonstrated in a preclinical rhesus model a consistent reversal of all measured glycemic patterns of streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes. The model used single-donor islet transplantation with induction of operational tolerance. The term "operational tolerance" is used to indicate durable survival of single-donor major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-mismatched islet allografts without maintenance immunosuppressive therapy and without rejection or loss of functional islet mass or insulin secretory reserve. In this operational tolerance model, all immunosuppression was discontinued after day 14 posttransplant, and recipients recovered with excellent health. The operational tolerance induction protocol combined peritransplant anti-CD3 immunotoxin to deplete T-cells and 15-deoxyspergualin to arrest proinflammatory cytokine production and maturation of dendritic cells. T-cell deficiency was specific but temporary, in that T-cell-dependent responses in long-term survivors recovered to normal, and there was no evidence of increased susceptibility to infection. Anti-donor mixed lymphocyte reaction responses were positive in the long-term survivors, but all showed clear evidence of systemic T-helper 2 deviation, suggesting that an immunoregulatory rather than a deletional process underlies this operational tolerance model. This study provides the first evidence that operational tolerance can protect MHC nonhuman primate islets from rejection as well as loss of functional islet mass. Such an approach has potential to optimize individual recipient recovery from diabetes as well as permitting more widespread islet transplantation with the limited supply of donor islets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of melanoma is increasing in the UK and a significant number of patients are still presenting with primary lesions of poor prognosis. As a consequence there is likely to be an increasing number of patients with lymph node metastases for whom the appropriate extent of groin dissection remains controversial. This review summarizes the evidence to enable surgeons to make an informed decision about the management of patients with melanoma metastases to the groin lymph nodes. Methods: A Medline search was performed to identify all English language articles about melanoma containing the words lymphadenectomy, lymph nodes, inguinal or lymphoedema. Eighty-seven relevant articles were selected from 3904 abstracts retrieved; 34 were related directly to the aim of this review. Results: There are no randomized controlled trials comparing the outcome of combined inguinal and pelvic lymph node dissection (CLND) and superficial inguinal lymph node dissection (SLND). Excision of pelvic lymph node metastases is reported to yield a 5-year survival rate of 0–35 per cent. Recurrence within the pelvis occurs in 9–18 per cent of patients after SLND and in less than 5 per cent after CLND. Morbidity following either CLND or SLND is poorly reported. Major long-term lymphoedema limiting patient activity affects 6–20 per cent of patients after groin dissection. Cloquet’s node was demonstrated in one study to be a useful predictor of pelvic lymph node involvement. Patients may be selected for pelvic node dissection on the basis of clinical findings, the results of pelvic computed tomography and the status of Cloquet’s node. Conclusion: The controversy surrounding the appropriate management of cytologically positive inguinal nodes in melanoma can be resolved only by a prospective randomized trial comparing CLND with SLND. Morbidity and local disease control must be measured as outcomes in addition to disease-free and overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This summary describes the psychiatric assessment of infants and toddlers (0-36 months) and supports the growth of infant and toddler psychiatry, a rapidly developing field. Infants and toddlers are brought to clinical attention because of concerns about emotional, behavioral, relational, or developmental difficulties. It is axiomatic that the infant or toddler must be understood evaluated and treated within the context of the family. A perspective that is developmental relational, and multidimensional and that borrows from the knowledge of multiple disciplines is essential. Collaborative efforts support the urgent need and incomparable opportunity to understand and to intervene early and preventively with young children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These practice parameters describe the psychiatric assessment of infants and toddlers (0-36 months) and support the growth of infant and toddler psychiatry, a rapidly developing field. Infants and toddlers are brought to clinical attention because of concerns about emotional, behavioral, relational, or developmental difficulties. It is axiomatic that the infant or toddler must be understood, evaluated, and treated within the context of the family. A perspective that is developmental, relational, and multidimensional and that borrows from the knowledge of multiple disciplines is essential. Collaborative efforts support the urgent need and incomparable opportunity to understand and to intervene early and preventively with young children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A site that was contaminated with JP-4 jet fuel was characterized microbiologically to assess the feasibility of nitrate-enhanced bioremediation. The results of microcosm studies indicated that the mean pseudo zero-order rate constants for alkylbenzene biodegradation and NO[SUB3,SUP-]-N removal were 1.2 and 2.4 mg L[SUP-1] per day, respectively. Several alkylbenzenes were removed to a greater extent in samples contaminated with residual JP-4 than in unexposed samples and samples downgradient of the spill; benzene was recalcitrant in all samples. Numbers of total heterotrophs, JP-4-degraders, oligotrophs, total denitrifiers, denitrifiers growing in the presence of JP-4, estimates of cell number by analysis of phospholipid fatty acids, direct counts and aerobic and anaerobic protozoa were determined; however, numbers of microorganisms were not reliable predictors of alkylbenzene biodegradation activity. The presence of aerobic and anaerobic protozoa suggests that protozoa may be active under a variety of different electron acceptor conditions. The results of the characterization study indicated that the site was amenable to nitrate-enhanced bioremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapeutic cancer vaccines trigger CD4 + and CD8 + T cell responses capable of established tumor eradication. Current platforms include DNA, mRNA and synthetic long peptide (SLP) vaccines, all aiming at robust T cell responses. SLPs linked to the Amplivant® adjuvant (Amplivant-SLP) have shown effective delivery to dendritic cells, resulting in improved immunogenicity in mice. We have now tested virosomes as a delivery vehicle for SLPs. Virosomes are nanoparticles made from influenza virus membranes and have been used as vaccines for a variety of antigens. Amplivant-SLP virosomes induced the expansion of more antigen-specific CD8 + T memory cells in ex vivo experiments with human PBMCs than Amplivant-SLP conjugates alone. The immune response could be further improved by including the adjuvants QS-21 and 3D-PHAD in the virosomal membrane. In these experiments, the SLPs were anchored in the membrane through the hydrophobic Amplivant adjuvant. In a therapeutic mouse model of HPV16 E6/E7+ cancer, mice were vaccinated with virosomes loaded with either Amplivant-conjugated SLPs or lipid-coupled SLPs. Vaccination with both types of virosomes significantly improved the control of tumor outgrowth, leading to elimination of the tumors in about half the animals for the best combinations of adjuvants and to their survival beyond 100 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented about the effectiveness of therapeutic shoulder arthroscopy in patients with clotting disorders.

Background: Vagus nerve (VN) stimulation is currently evaluated as a novel approach to treat immune‐mediated disorders. The optimal stimulation parameters, however, largely depend on the VN composition potentially impacting on its clinical translation. Hence, we evaluated whether morphological differences exist between the cervical and abdominal VNs across different species. Materials and methods: The cervical and abdominal VNs of mouse, pig, and humans were stained for major basic protein and neurofilament F to identify the percentage and size of myelinated and non‐myelinated fibers. Results: The percentage of myelinated fibers was comparable between species, but was higher in the cervical VN compared with the abdominal VN. The cervical VN contained 54 ± 4%, 47 ± 7%, and 54 ± 7% myelinated fibers in mouse, pig, and humans, respectively. The myelinated fibers consisted of small‐diameter (mouse: 71%, pig: 80%, and humans: 63%), medium‐diameter (mouse: 21%, pig: 18%, and humans: 33%), and large‐diameter fibers (mouse: 7%, pig: 2%, and humans: 4%). The abdominal VN predominantly contained unmyelinated fibers (mouse: 93%, pig: 90%, and humans: 94%). The myelinated fibers mainly consisted of small‐diameter fibers (mouse: 99%, pig: 85%, and humans: 74%) and fewer medium‐diameter (mouse: 1%, pig: 13%, and humans: 23%) and large‐diameter fibers (mouse: 0%, pig: 2%, and humans: 3%). Conclusion: The VN composition was largely similar with respect to myelinated and unmyelinated fibers in the species studied. Human and porcine VNs had a comparable diameter and similar amounts of fibrous tissue and contained multiple fascicles, implying that the porcine VN may be suitable to optimize stimulation parameters for clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response of mature beef cows following a recently developed long-term estrus synchronization protocol was characterized in reference to a short-term protocol commonly used in commercial production. Mature beef cows (n = 480) across four locations were assigned based on age and days postpartum to either the 9-d CIDR-PG protocol [25 mg prostaglandin F2α (PG) and insertion of a 1.38 g progesterone insert (CIDR) on Day -28; 25 mg PG and CIDR removal on Day -19; and 25 mg PG on Day -3] or the 7-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol [100 μg gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and CIDR insertion on Day -10; 25 mg PG and CIDR removal on Day -3]. On Day -3, estrus detection aids (Estrotect®) were applied, and a subset of cows (n = 203) were fitted with radiotelemetric, pressure-sensitive devices (HeatWatch®) to characterize timing of estrus onset. Split-time artificial insemination (AI) was performed on Day 0 or 1 based on timing of estrus expression, with cows failing to express estrus by Day 1 administered 100 μg GnRH at AI. In Locations 1, 2, and 3, blood samples were collected for radioimmunoassay on Day -38 and Day -28 to determine pretreatment estrous cyclicity status based on serum progesterone concentrations. Additional blood samples were collected at PG administration and at AI for determination of serum estradiol concentrations. Transrectal ovarian ultrasound was performed at PG administration and AI for a subset of cows (n = 154) to assess ovarian follicle size. Response following the 9-d CIDR-PG protocol differed (P < 0.05) from the 7-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol with respect to mean interval from PG to estrus onset (71.2 ± 1.3 h versus 56.5 ± 1.6 h), variance in interval to estrus, ovulatory follicle size at AI (13.7 ± 0.2 mm versus 14.6 ± 0.2), and serum estradiol concentrations at AI (6.9 ± 0.3 pg/ml versus 6.0 ± 0.3 pg/ml). Similar pregnancy rates to AI were obtained among cows following the 7-d CO-Synch + CIDR (66%; 163/247) and 9-d CIDR-PG (70%; 163/233) treatments. In summary, when compared among mature beef cows to the 7-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol, the 9-d CIDR-PG protocol resulted in later timing and enhanced synchrony of estrus expression, greater serum estradiol concentrations and smaller follicle size at AI, and similar pregnancy rates following AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communicating fibres between the phrenic nerve and sympathetic nervous system may exist, but have not been characterized histologically and immunohistochemically, even though increased sympathetic activity due to phrenic nerve stimulation for central sleep apnoea may entail morbidity and mortality. We, therefore, conducted a histological study of the phrenic nerve to establish the presence of catecholaminergic fibres throughout their course. The entire phrenic nerves of 35 formalin-fixed human cadavers were analysed morphometrically and immunohistochemically. Furthermore, the right abdominal phrenic nerve was serially sectioned and reconstructed. The phrenic nerve contained 3 ± 2 fascicles in the neck that merged to form a single fascicle in the thorax and split again into 3 ± 3 fascicles above the diaphragm. All phrenic nerves contained catecholaminergic fibres, which were distributed homogenously or present as distinct areas within a fascicle or as separate fascicles. The phrenicoabdominal branch of the right phrenic nerve is a branch of the celiac plexus and, therefore, better termed the “phrenic branch of the celiac plexus”. The wall of the inferior caval vein in the diaphragm contained longitudinal strands of myocardium and atrial natriuretic peptide-positive paraganglia (“caval bodies”) that where innervated by the right phrenic nerve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is now identified as a far less accurate method of predicting melanoma survival and selecting patients for adjuvant drug therapy. 3 Moody JA, Ali RF, Carbone AC, Singh S, Hardwicke JT. Complications of sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma - a systematic review of the literature. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, aluminium-silicon7-magnesium alloy was reinforced with carbide ceramics (silicon carbide and boron carbide) and coke microparticles. The composite samples (S1, S2, and S3) with 4%, 8%, and 12% by weight of silicon carbide and boron carbide microparticles and 8% by weight of coke micro particles respectively, were prepared through the ultrasonic assisted melt-stir casting route. It was observed from the literature that only a few research works reported the cumulative effect of adding these micro-particulate reinforcements within aluminium-silicon7-magnesium alloy. The microstructural evaluation revealed uniform dispersion of particulate reinforcements. Area energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy scan results proved the presence of the reinforcement particles as heterogeneous phases at distinct zones. The samples undergone tensile tests failed under the brittle fracture mode. The ultimate tensile strength of the composites improved by about 27.4%, the % elongation improved by about 6.8%, and Vickers microhardness dropped 1.9% to the maximum. Dimples were observed in the fracture morphology analysis and it was mainly due to the mixed ductility of the sample S2. An abrasive wear mechanism was observed in the worn-out sample S2. The wear rate decreased significantly with an increase in weight fraction of the reinforcements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two long-term estrus synchronization protocols were evaluated among Bos indicus-influenced and Bos taurus beef heifers on the basis of estrous response and pregnancy rate resulting from fixedtime artificial insemination (FTAI). Estrus was synchronized for 1139 heifers in three locations, and heifers were assigned to one of two treatments within each location based on reproductive tract score (RTS; 1-5 scale). Heifers assigned to the 14-d CIDRPG protocol received a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) insert (1.38 g progesterone) on Day 0 with removal on Day 14, administration of prostaglandin F2α (PG; 25 mg im) on Day 30, and administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH; 100 µg im) concurrent with FTAI 66 h after PG. Heifers assigned to the 9-d CIDR-PG protocol were administered PG concurrent with CIDR insertion on Day 5, PG concurrent with CIDR removal on Day 14, PG on Day 30, and GnRH concurrent with FTAI 66 h after PG. Estrus detection aids were applied at CIDR removal and PG to evaluate estrous response. Mean RTS differed (P < 0.0001) based on biological type, with higher rates of estrous cyclicity (RTS 4 and 5) among Bos taurus heifers (72%) than Bos indicus-influenced heifers (27%). The proportion of heifers expressing estrus following CIDR removal was greater (P = 0.01) among heifers assigned to the 14-d CIDR-PG (88%) compared to the 9-d CIDR-PG protocol (83%). Estrous response following CIDR removal was higher (P < 0.0001) among Bos taurus (95%) compared to Bos indicus-influenced (75%) heifers. Rate of estrous response prior to FTAI did not differ based on treatment but was higher (P < 0.0001) among Bos taurus heifers (60%) than Bos indicus-influenced heifers (45%). However, biological type did not affect estrous response when RTS was included in the model, as RTS affected (P < 0.0001) the rate of estrous response at CIDR removal and prior to FTAI. Heifers that expressed estrus prior to AI achieved higher (P < 0.0001) AI pregnancy rates than heifers failing to express estrus. Pregnancy rates to FTAI did not differ significantly based on treatment in either biological type. Higher rates of estrous cyclicity among Bos taurus heifers resulted in higher FTAI pregnancy rates among Bos taurus (51%) compared to Bos indicus-influenced heifers (39%). However, pregnancy rates of respective RTS did not differ based on biological type. In summary, long-term CIDR-based protocols provide a simple, effective method of estrus synchronization in Bos indicus-influenced and Bos taurus beef heifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two long-term estrus synchronization protocols were evaluated among Bos indicus-influenced and Bos taurus beef heifers on the basis of estrous response and pregnancy rate resulting from fixedtime artificial insemination (FTAI). Estrus was synchronized for 1139 heifers in three locations, and heifers were assigned to one of two treatments within each location based on reproductive tract score (RTS; 1-5 scale). Heifers assigned to the 14-d CIDRPG protocol received a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) insert (1.38 g progesterone) on Day 0 with removal on Day 14, administration of prostaglandin F2α (PG; 25 mg im) on Day 30, and administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH; 100 μg im) concurrent with FTAI 66 h after PG. Heifers assigned to the 9-d CIDR-PG protocol were administered PG concurrent with CIDR insertion on Day 5, PG concurrent with CIDR removal on Day 14, PG on Day 30, and GnRH concurrent with FTAI 66 h after PG. Estrus detection aids were applied at CIDR removal and PG to evaluate estrous response. Mean RTS differed (P < 0.0001) based on biological type, with higher rates of estrous cyclicity (RTS 4 and 5) among Bos taurus heifers (72%) than Bos indicus-influenced heifers (27%). The proportion of heifers expressing estrus following CIDR removal was greater (P = 0.01) among heifers assigned to the 14-d CIDR-PG (88%) compared to the 9-d CIDR-PG protocol (83%). Estrous response following CIDR removal was higher (P < 0.0001) among Bos taurus (95%) compared to Bos indicus-influenced (75%) heifers. Rate of estrous response prior to FTAI did not differ based on treatment but was higher (P < 0.0001) among Bos taurus heifers (60%) than Bos indicus-influenced heifers (45%). However, biological type did not affect estrous response when RTS was included in the model, as RTS affected (P < 0.0001) the rate of estrous response at CIDR removal and prior to FTAI. Heifers that expressed estrus prior to AI achieved higher (P < 0.0001) AI pregnancy rates than heifers failing to express estrus. Pregnancy rates to FTAI did not differ significantly based on treatment in either biological type. Higher rates of estrous cyclicity among Bos taurus heifers resulted in higher FTAI pregnancy rates among Bos taurus (51%) compared to Bos indicus-influenced heifers (39%). However, pregnancy rates of respective RTS did not differ based on biological type. In summary, long-term CIDR-based protocols provide a simple, effective method of estrus synchronization in Bos indicus-influenced and Bos taurus beef heifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Extremity soft-tissue sarcomas comprise a range of distinct histological subtypes. This study aimed to characterize the patterns of disease relapse in patients undergoing resection of primary extremity soft-tissue sarcoma. Methods All patients who had resection of primary extremity soft-tissue sarcoma at the Royal Marsden Hospital between January 2004 and January 2014 were identified from an institutional database. Results In the period examined, 556 patients underwent resection. The most common histological subtypes were undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (169 patients, 30·4 per cent), well differentiated liposarcoma (63, 11·3 per cent), myxoid liposarcoma (62, 11·2 per cent), myxofibrosarcoma (54, 9·7 per cent) and leiomyosarcoma (39, 7·0 per cent). Local recurrence-free survival ( LRFS) did not differ significantly between histological subtypes ( P = 0·222). Distant metastasis-free survival ( DMFS) and disease-specific survival ( DSS) were found to differ significantly between subtypes ( P < 0·001 for both DMFS and DSS), with the worst outcomes in patients with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (5-year survival rate: 56·8 (95 per cent c.i. 52·5 to 61·1) per cent for DMFS; 60·1 (55·6 to 64·6) per cent for DSS). However, on multivariable analysis, histological subtype was not found to be independently prognostic for LRFS, DMFS or DSS. Metastatic disease developed in 149 patients, with the lungs being the most common site of first metastasis (120 patients, 80·5 per cent). The site of first metastasis differed between subtypes, with extrapulmonary metastases predominant in myxoid liposarcoma (11 of 13 patients; P < 0·001). Conclusion Although histological subtype was not found to be an independent prognostic factor for oncological outcomes, the site of first metastasis differed significantly between subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclophellitol and cyclophellitol-aziridine are potent, mechanism-based and irreversible retaining β-glucosidase inhibitors. We have become interested in these configurational β-glucoside analogues as they proved to be a highly suitable starting point for the development of activity-based glycosidase probes. In this review, we provide an overview of the cyclophellitol-aziridine synthesis reported in the literature. Two conceptually different strategies for the introduction of the aziridine moiety have been used, one starting from the inverted epoxide and one with intramolecular iodocyclisation from a homo-allylic alcohol as the key step. These are discussed in this microreview, and their application in the synthesis of configurational and functional cyclophellitol-aziridine isomers is presented as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). It states that abdominal swelling and discomfort are the usual symptoms of the disease which has probably less than 250 new diagnoses per year in Great Britain. It says that the benefits of limiting RPS treatment to a few experienced multidisciplinary units will reflect favorably on training and research.

Presented is an ambiguity function analysis of Digital Radio Mondiale signals in the HF band to demonstrate their suitability for HF passive bistatic radar. The ambiguities and interference floor are studied for different integration times. It is shown that interference floors of -40 dB are achieved with a 5 s integration time and that the ambiguity function properties are virtually independent of broadcast content, resulting in a very useful illuminator of opportunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article related to sentinel node biopsy in melanoma that was published in a previous issue of the journal.

The article argues that, in the absence of a survival advantage, prognostic accuracy and effective adjuvant therapy, the indications for sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in cutaneous melanoma should be reviewed. SNB should be performed only within the context of national or international randomized controlled trials. SNB in the head and neck calls for special attention because of the complex lymphatic and vascular drainage at this site.