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1
Yin, Henry H. "How Basal Ganglia Outputs Generate Behavior." Advances in Neuroscience 2014 (November 18, 2014): 1–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/768313.
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The basal ganglia (BG) are a collection of subcortical nuclei critical for voluntary behavior. According to the standard model, the output projections from the BG tonically inhibit downstream motor centers and prevent behavior. A pause in the BG output opens the gate for behavior, allowing the initiation of actions. Hypokinetic neurological symptoms, such as inability to initiate actions in Parkinson’s disease, are explained by excessively high firing rates of the BG output neurons. This model, widely taught in textbooks, is contradicted by recent electrophysiological results, which are reviewed here. In addition, I also introduce a new model, based on the insight that behavior is a product of closed loop negative feedback control using internal reference signals rather than sensorimotor transformations. The nervous system is shown to be a functional hierarchy comprising independent controllers occupying different levels, each level controlling specific variables derived from its perceptual inputs. The BG represent the level of transition control in this hierarchy, sending reference signals specifying the succession of body orientations and configurations. This new model not only explains the major symptoms in movement disorders but also generates a number of testable predictions.
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Nir-Cohen, Gal, Yoav Kessler, and Tobias Egner. "Neural Substrates of Working Memory Updating." Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 32, no. 12 (December 2020): 2285–302. http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01625.
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Working memory (WM) needs to protect current content from interference and simultaneously be amenable to rapid updating with newly relevant information. An influential model suggests these opposing requirements are met via a BG–thalamus gating mechanism that allows for selective updating of PFC WM representations. A large neuroimaging literature supports the general involvement of PFC, BG, and thalamus, as well as posterior parietal cortex, in WM. However, the specific functional contributions of these regions to key subprocesses of WM updating, namely, gate opening, content substitution, and gate closing, are still unknown, as common WM tasks conflate these processes. We therefore combined fMRI with the reference-back task, specifically designed to tease apart these subprocesses. Participants compared externally presented face stimuli to a reference face held in WM, while alternating between updating and maintaining this reference, resulting in opening versus closing the gate to WM. Gate opening and substitution processes were associated with strong BG, thalamic, and frontoparietal activation, but intriguingly, the same activity profile was observed for sensory cortex supporting task stimulus processing (i.e., the fusiform face area). In contrast, gate closing was not reliably associated with any of these regions. These findings provide new support for the involvement of the BG in gate opening, as suggested by the gating model, but qualify the model's assumptions by demonstrating that gate closing does not seem to depend on the BG and that gate opening also involves task-relevant sensory cortex.
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Pardo, Scott, Rimma M. Shaginian, and David A. Simmons. "Accuracy Beyond ISO: Introducing a New Method for Distinguishing Differences Between Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems Meeting ISO 15197:2013 Accuracy Requirements." Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology 12, no. 3 (March 15, 2018): 650–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1932296818762509.
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Background: Diabetes treatment is intended to maintain near-normal glycemic levels. Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) allows patients to track their BG levels compared with glycemic targets and is associated with improved health outcomes. Because of the importance of SMBG, it is essential that results are accurate to prevent errors in nutritional intake and drug dosing. This study presents a new methodology to evaluate the accuracy of BG monitoring systems (BGMSs). Methods: Sensitivity analyses were performed using real and simulated BGMS data to compute probabilities that, for any BG value, the BGMS result would be within prescribed error bounds and confidence limits compared with laboratory reference values. Multiple BG value ranges were used. Results: Probability curves were created using data from 3 simulated BGMSs and anonymized data from 3 real-world BGMSs. Accuracy probability curves from capillary fingertip blood samples (actual clinical data) showed that all 3 real-world BGMSs met EN ISO 15197:2015 accuracy criteria, since 99.63%, 99.63%, and 99.81% of results from the 3 BGMSs were within ±15 mg/dL or ±15% of reference for BG <100 mg/dL and ≥100 mg/dL, respectively. However, there was identifiable variability between BGMSs if BG was <70 mg/dL; one BGMS showed further reductions in accuracy if BG was <50 mg/dL. Conclusions: Probability curves highlight the importance of BGMS accuracy to help achieve optimal glycemic control while avoiding hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. This may be especially significant in very low BG ranges where small errors in BGMS measurements can have substantial impacts on patient-related outcomes, including hypoglycemia risk.
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Yin, Henry H. "The Basal Ganglia in Action." Neuroscientist 23, no. 3 (June 15, 2016): 299–313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1073858416654115.
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The basal ganglia (BG) are the major subcortical nuclei in the brain. Disorders implicating the BG are characterized by diverse symptoms, but it remains unclear what these symptoms have in common or how they can be explained by changes in the BG circuits. This review summarizes recent findings that not only question traditional assumptions about the role of the BG in movement but also elucidate general computations performed by these circuits. To explain these findings, a new conceptual framework is introduced for understanding the role of the BG in behavior. According to this framework, the cortico-BG networks implement transition control in an extended hierarchy of closed loop negative feedback control systems. The transition control model provides a solution to the posture/movement problem, by postulating that BG outputs send descending signals to alter the reference states of downstream position control systems for orientation and body configuration. It also explains major neurological symptoms associated with BG pathology as a result of changes in system parameters such as multiplicative gain and damping.
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Khan, Muhammad, Keith Broadbent, Mike Morris, David Ewins, and Franklin Joseph. "System Accuracy Evaluation of the GlucoRx Nexus Voice TD-4280 Blood Glucose Monitoring System." Disease Markers 2014 (2014): 1–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/602586.
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Use of blood glucose (BG) meters in the self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) significantly lowers the risk of diabetic complications. With several BG meters now commercially available, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ensures that each BG meter conforms to a set degree of accuracy. Although adherence to ISO guidelines is a prerequisite for commercialization in Europe, several BG meters claim to meet the ISO guidelines yet fail to do so on internal validation. We conducted a study to determine whether the accuracy of the GlucoRx Nexus TD-4280 meter, utilized by our department for its cost-effectiveness, complied with ISO guidelines. 105 patients requiring laboratory blood glucose analysis were randomly selected and reference measurements were determined by the UniCel DxC 800 clinical system. Overall the BG meter failed to adhere to the ≥95% accuracy criterion required by both the 15197:2003 (overall accuracy 92.4%) and 15197:2013 protocol (overall accuracy 86.7%). Inaccurate meters have an inherent risk of over- and/or underestimating the true BG concentration, thereby risking patients to incorrect therapeutic interventions. Our study demonstrates the importance of internally validating the accuracy of BG meters to ensure that its accuracy is accepted by standardized guidelines.
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Torjman, Marc C., Michael E. Goldberg, Jeffrey J. Littman, Robert A. Hirsh, and Richard P. Dellinger. "Pilot Evaluation of a Prototype Critical Care Blood Glucose Monitor in Normal Volunteers." Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology 3, no. 6 (November 2009): 1233–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/193229680900300602.
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Background: Availability of a highly accurate in-hospital automated blood glucose (BG) monitor could facilitate implementation of intensive insulin therapy protocols through effective titration of insulin therapy, improved BG control, and avoidance of hypoglycemia. We evaluated a functional prototype BG monitor designed to perform frequent automated blood sampling for glucose monitoring. Methods: Sixteen healthy adult volunteer subjects had intravenous catheter insertions in a forearm or hand vein and were studied for 8 hours. The prototype monitor consisted of an autosampling unit with a precise computer-controlled reversible syringe pump and a glucose analytical section. BG was referenced against a Yellow Springs Instrument (YSI) laboratory analyzer. Sampling errors for automated blood draws were assessed by calculating the percent of failed draws, and BG data were analyzed using the Bland and Altman technique. Results: Out of 498 total sample draws, unsuccessful draws were categorized as follow: 11 (2.2%) were due to autosampler technical problems, 21 (4.2%) were due to catheter-related failures, and 37 (7.4%) were BG meter errors confirmed by a glucometer-generated error code. Blood draw difficulties or failures related to the catheter site (e.g., catheter occlusion or vein collapse) occurred in 6/15 (40%) subjects. Mean BG bias versus YSI was 0.20 ± 12.6 mg/dl, and mean absolute relative difference was 10.4%. Conclusions: Automated phlebotomy can be performed in healthy subjects using this prototype BG monitor. The BG measurement technology had suboptimal accuracy based on a YSI reference. A more accurate BG point-of-care testing meter and strip technology have been incorporated into the future version of this monitor. Development of such a monitor could alleviate the burden of frequent BG testing and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia in patients on insulin therapy.
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Demircik, Filiz, Valeria Kirsch, Sanja Ramljak, Mario Vogg, Anke H. Pfützner, and Andreas Pfützner. "Laboratory Evaluation of Linearity, Repeatability, and Hematocrit Interference With an Internet-Enabled Blood Glucose Meter." Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology 13, no. 3 (April 11, 2019): 514–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1932296819841357.
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Background: In recent clinical trials, use of the MyGlucoHealth blood glucose meter (BGM) and electronic diary was associated with an unusual reporting pattern of glycemic data and hypoglycemic events. Therefore, the performance of representative BGMs used by the patients was investigated to assess repeatability, linearity, and hematocrit interference in accordance with regulatory guidelines. Method: Ten devices and 6 strip lots were selected using standard randomization and repeatability procedures. Venous heparinized blood was drawn from healthy subjects, immediately aliquoted and adjusted to 5 target blood glucose (BG) ranges for the repeatability and 11 BG concentrations for the linearity tests. For the hematocrit interference test, each sample within 5 target BG ranges was split into 5 aliquots and adjusted to hematocrit levels across the acceptance range. YSI 2300 STAT Plus was used as the laboratory reference method in all experiments. Results: Measurement repeatability or precision was acceptable across the target BG ranges for all devices and strip lots with coefficient of variation (CV) between 3.4-9.7% (mean: 5.7%). Linearity was shown by a correlation coefficient of .991; however, a positive bias was seen for BG <100 mg/dL (86% measurements did not meet ISO15197:2015 acceptance criteria). Significant hematocrit interference (up to 20%) was observed for BG >100 mg/dL (ISO15197:2015 acceptance criteria: ±10%), while the results were acceptable for BG <100 mg/dL. Conclusions: The BGM met repeatability requirements but demonstrated a significant measurement bias in the low BG range. In addition, it failed the ISO15197:2015 criteria for hematocrit interference.
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Hu, Mingming, Yanhe Zhang, Fang Xie, Gang Li, Jianjun Li, Wei Si, Siguo Liu, et al. "Protection of Piglets by a Haemophilus parasuis Ghost Vaccine against Homologous Challenge." Clinical and Vaccine Immunology 20, no. 6 (March 27, 2013): 795–802. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/cvi.00676-12.
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ABSTRACTCommercial bacterins for Glässer's disease are widely used for the prevention of this disease caused byHaemophilus parasuis; however, the protective efficacy varies depending on the strain and serovar. Bacterial ghosts (BGs) are empty bacterial envelopes that, unlike classic bacterins, suffer no denaturing steps during their production. These properties may lead to superior protection. In this study, a BG vaccine generated from theHaemophilus parasuisserovar 5 reference strain Nagasaki was prepared and used to inoculate piglets. The efficacy of the BG vaccine was evaluated by clinical, bacteriological, serological, and postmortem examinations. Inactivated bacterin (IB) and a placebo control (PC) were compared with the BG vaccine in this study. The results showed that the piglets inoculated with the BG vaccine developed higher antibody activity and higher gamma interferon and interleukin 4 levels than those vaccinated with IB or those in the PC group after primary and secondary exposure to the antigens and challenge. CD4+T lymphocyte levels were observed to increase following secondary immunization more in the BG-vaccinated group than in the IB (P< 0.05) and PC (P< 0.05) groups. CD8+T lymphocyte levels increased dramatically in all three groups after challenge, and the differences between groups were all significant (P< 0.05). There were fewer tissue lesions and lower bacterial loads in the tissue homogenates in the BG group after challenge. The results suggest that higher CD4+T lymphocyte levels and both CD4+major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted Th1-type and Th2-type immune responses in the BG group are relevant for protection.
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Charidimou, Andreas, Gregoire Boulouis, Marco Pasi, Eitan Auriel, Ellis S. van Etten, Kellen Haley, Alison Ayres, et al. "MRI-visible perivascular spaces in cerebral amyloid angiopathy and hypertensive arteriopathy." Neurology 88, no. 12 (February 22, 2017): 1157–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000003746.
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Objective:To assess MRI-visible enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) burden and different topographical patterns (in the centrum semiovale [CSO] and basal ganglia [BG]) in 2 common microangiopathies: cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and hypertensive arteriopathy (HA).Methods:Consecutive patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) from a prospective MRI cohort were included. Small vessel disease MRI markers, including cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), cortical superficial siderosis (cSS), and white matter hyperintensities (WMH), were rated. CSO-EPVS/BG-EPVS were assessed on a validated 4-point visual rating scale (0 = no EPVS, 1 = <10, 2 = 11–20, 3 = 21–40, and 4 = >40 EPVS). We tested associations of predefined high-degree (score >2) CSO-EPVS and BG-EPVS with other MRI markers in multivariable logistic regression. We subsequently evaluated associations with CSO-EPVS predominance (i.e., CSO-EPVS > BG-EPVS) and BG-EPVS predominance pattern (i.e., BG-EPVS > CSO-EPVS) in adjusted multinomial logistic regression (reference group, BG-EPVS = CSO-EPVS).Results:We included 315 patients with CAA-ICH and 137 with HA-ICH. High-degree CSO-EPVS prevalence was greater in CAA-related ICH vs HA-related ICH (43.8% vs 17.5%, p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression, high-degree CSO-EPVS was associated with lobar CMB (odds ratio [OR] 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–1.61, p = 0.003) and cSS (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.30–3.32, p = 0.002). Deep CMBs (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.75–4.64, p < 0.0001) and higher WMH volume (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.04, p = 0.010) were predictors of high-degree BG-EPVS. A CSO-EPVS–predominant pattern was more common in CAA-ICH than in HA-ICH (75.9% vs 39.4%, respectively, p < 0.0001). CSO-PVS predominance was associated with lobar CMB burden and cSS, while BG-EPVS predominance was associated with HA-ICH and WMH volumes.Conclusions:Different patterns of MRI-visible EPVS provide insights into the dominant underlying microangiopathy type in patients with spontaneous ICH.
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Junco, S., A. Donaire, A. Achir, C. Sueur, and G. Dauphin-Tanguy. "Non-linear control of a series direct current motor via flatness and decomposition in the bond graph domain." Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part I: Journal of Systems and Control Engineering 219, no. 3 (May 1, 2005): 215–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1243/095965105x9542.
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A bond graph (BG) based methodology for non-linear control system synthesis is presented through its application to a speed-tracking problem stated on a series direct current motor. After a global flatness analysis of the motor BG model, a two-loop cascade control structure is decided and developed on the basis of a physical system decomposition in electrical, mechanical, and coupling submodels. Each loop of the cascade tracks a reference for a flat output that is local to a subsystem of the decomposition. Bond graph techniques are given for the three main components of the design methodology: system decomposition, flatness analysis, and tracking controller design. Theoretical and practical properties of the resulting control system are discussed, and its performance is demonstrated through simulation experiments. The methodology is applicable to the broader class of non-linear BG models where input-output system inversion is well defined.
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Achir, A., C. Sueur, and G. Dauphin-Tanguy. "Bond Graph and Flatness-Based Control of a Salient Permanent Magnetic Synchronous Motor." Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part I: Journal of Systems and Control Engineering 219, no. 7 (November 1, 2005): 461–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1243/095965105x33545.
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This paper deals with flatness-based control of a salient permanent-magnet synchronous motor in the bond graph (BG) domain. It develops two main points. The first proposes and develops a new flat outputs identification procedure valid for multiple-input non-linear BG models without elements in derivative causality assignment. This procedure exploits a variational (tangent) BG model obtained by using Kähler differentials. The second deals with control design based on physical system decomposition into electrical, mechanical, and coupling submodels. Each loop of the decomposition tracks a reference for the local flat output of the corresponding subsystem. This decomposition enables the designing of a control block for each submodel by means of system inversion using the concept of bicausality. Then, the resulting blocks are concatenated in order to build the global controller. Finally, the global stability of the feedback system for both cases (known and unknown load torques) is tested and the control scheme is assessed through simulations in order to illustrate the performances of the method.
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Yao, Wei, and Stefanie Thomas. "Deep Learning-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging Image Feature Analysis for Pathological Classification of Brain Glioma." Scientific Programming 2021 (May 31, 2021): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6778009.
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To explore the application value of MRI in the diagnosis of brain glioma (BG), in the study, a deep learning-based multimodal feature fusion model was established, which was then applied in BG classification. 60 BG patients who came to our hospital for treatment were selected as research subjects. They all accepted the MRI scan and the enhanced scan, and the MRI results were compared with the pathological results. The results showed that the sensitivity of the algorithm was above 90%, and the sensitivity to diagnose grade IV glioma was as high as 98.28%; the specificity was above 78%, and the specificity to diagnose grade IV glioma was as high as 95.85%; the detection accuracy was above 95%. The relative fractional anisotropy (rFA) values of the tumor body were smaller than those of peritumoral edema in both the high-grade group and low-grade group, and the difference was notable P < 0.05 ; the relative apparent diffusion coefficients (rADC) values of the peritumoral edema were greater than those of tumor bodies of the same grade in both the high-grade group and the low-grade group, and the difference was notable P < 0.05 ; notable differences were noted in the rADC values of tumor bodies between the high-grade group and the low-grade group P < 0.05 and in the rADC values of the glioma peritumoral edema between the high-grade group and the low-grade group P < 0.05 . In summary, MRI based on deep learning raises the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy to diagnose BG and can more accurately classify BG pathologically, providing reference for clinical treatment of BG.
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Skeie, Svein, Carmen Perich, Carmen Ricos, Agnes Araczki, Andrea R. Horvath, Wytze P. Oosterhuis, Tanya Bubner, et al. "Postanalytical External Quality Assessment of Blood Glucose and Hemoglobin A1c: An International Survey." Clinical Chemistry 51, no. 7 (July 1, 2005): 1145–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2005.048488.
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Abstract Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is diagnosed and monitored worldwide by blood glucose (BG) and glycohemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing, respectively. Methods for quality assessment of clinician interpretations of changes in these laboratory results have been developed. This study uses survey responses from general practitioners (GPs) in different countries to investigate possible differences in interpretation of results, as well as the feasibility of performing international postanalytical external quality assessment surveys (P-EQAS). Methods: GPs recruited from 7 countries received questionnaires requesting interpretation of changes in a potentially diagnostic capillary BG result and an HbA1c value obtained during monitoring of a patient with type 2 DM. GPs were asked to estimate clinically significant differences between 2 consecutive laboratory results [critical difference (CD)/reference change value] for both BG and HbA1c. The CDs reported by GPs were used to calculate the analytical variation (CVa), which was taken as the quality specification for analytical imprecision. Participants received national benchmarking feedback reports after the survey. Results: The study included responses from 2538 GPs. CDs in BG results showed the same pattern and were comparable among countries. Calculated median CVa values would be possible to attain at 80% confidence but not at the conventional 95% confidence. For HbA1c, the same pattern was shown across countries, but with lower changes considered true when HbA1c increased than when it decreased. Despite the consistent pattern, variations among GPs were considerable in all countries. Conclusions: Assessments of CDs for BG and HbA1c were similar internationally, and quality specifications for these analytes based on clinicians’ opinions are therefore interchangeable among countries. International P-EQAS may contribute to a more rational use of laboratory services and clinical guidelines.
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Acciaroli, Giada, Mattia Zanon, Andrea Facchinetti, Andreas Caduff, and Giovanni Sparacino. "Retrospective Continuous-Time Blood Glucose Estimation in Free Living Conditions with a Non-Invasive Multisensor Device." Sensors 19, no. 17 (August 24, 2019): 3677. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s19173677.
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Even if still at an early stage of development, non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring (NI-CGM) sensors represent a promising technology for optimizing diabetes therapy. Recent studies showed that the Multisensor provides useful information about glucose dynamics with a mean absolute relative difference (MARD) of 35.4% in a fully prospective setting. Here we propose a method that, exploiting the same Multisensor measurements, but in a retrospective setting, achieves a much better accuracy. Data acquired by the Multisensor during a long-term study are retrospectively processed following a two-step procedure. First, the raw data are transformed to a blood glucose (BG) estimate by a multiple linear regression model. Then, an enhancing module is applied in cascade to the regression model to improve the accuracy of the glucose estimation by retrofitting available BG references through a time-varying linear model. MARD between the retrospectively reconstructed BG time-series and reference values is 20%. Here, 94% of values fall in zone A or B of the Clarke Error Grid. The proposed algorithm achieved a level of accuracy that could make this device a potential complementary tool for diabetes management and also for guiding prediabetic or nondiabetic users through life-style changes.
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Mocarelli, P., P. Brambilla, L. Colombo, A. Marocchi, C. Crespi, P. Tramacere, and A. Mondonico. "A new method for D-glucaric acid excretion measurement that is suitable for automated instruments." Clinical Chemistry 34, no. 11 (November 1, 1988): 2283–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/34.11.2283.
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Abstract Urinary excretion of D-glucaric acid (uGA) is an index of type II hepatic microsomal enzyme induction, indirectly revealing possible organic effects of some drugs and environmental pollutants. However, its determination is often cumbersome. We suggest a new, fast microanalytical method for uGA determination in which beta-glucuronidase (BG; EC 3.2.1.31) activity inhibition produced by uGA-derived 1,4-D-glucarolactone is measured. With use of purified BG, the method is suitable for centrifugal analyzers, allowing assay of greater than 100 samples per day. Moreover, the method measures uGA more accurately than other enzymatic methods based on BG inhibition. The within-day CV ranges from 7.9% to 4.6% (uGA 31.55-121.31 mumol/L); the between-day CV ranges from 11.5% to 5.0% (uGA 26.09-124.10 mumol/L). The detection limit is 6.0 mumol/L. The standard curve is linear from 10 to 200 mumol/L. Mean analytical recovery is 100%. Comparison with the method of Simmons et al. (Clin Chim Acta 1974;51:47-51) gave a correlation of r = 0.978, y = 1.40x-2.81. Reference intervals were established in a healthy population sample of 369 people (165 under 14 y), and uGA, expressed in micromoles per gram of creatinine, was higher in women than in girls or in males.
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Li, Bo, Youqi Li, Jiayi Wang, and Xiaoguang Qiu. "QOLP-01. THE DISCREPANCY IN GROWTH PROBLEMS BETWEEN PATIENTS WITH INTRACRANIAL GERM CELL TUMOURS ORIGINATING FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS." Neuro-Oncology 21, Supplement_6 (November 2019): vi197. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noz175.821.
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Abstract BACKGROUND Growth problems are common in patients with intracranial germ cell tumours. However, the characteristics were not fully profiled, especially when stratified by orientation. Thus, we conducted this study. METHODS Patients newly diagnosed, ≤19 years, with confirmed pathology or tumour markers elevation were included. Patients with bifocal lesions or lost to follow-up were excluded. WHO AnthroPlus software, which was developed for the global application of the WHO Reference 2007 to monitor growth in children aged 5–19 years, was used. Based on age, sex, and height, the Z-scores of height(ZSOH) were calculated. A ZSOH< -1 indicates a slower physical development than that in peers, while a ZSOH >1 indicates faster growth than peers. RESULTS Among the 200 included patients, 75 had primary lesions originating from the sellar/suprasellar region(S/SS), 73 from the pineal gland(PG), and 52 from the basal ganglia/thalamus region(BG/T). At initial diagnosis, the median ZSOH in S/SS was -0.66(-3.76–3.05), which was significantly lower than that in PG(0.76,-2.23–5.19) and BG/T(0.64,-3.05–5.32)(p=0.001). However, the difference in ZSOH between PG and BG/T was comparable(p=0.61). In patients with S/SS who had paired data(n=36), the median ZSOH decreased from -0.22(-3.76–3.05) at diagnosis to -1.01(-3.42–1.89) at the last follow-up(p=0.001). The median ZSOHs in PG(n=38) and BG/T(n=28) remained in the normal range at last follow-up although the changes were statistically significant(p< 0.001). Linear regression analysis showed that, in S/SS, age at diagnosis(β=0.115,p=0.033), sex(β=1.337,p=0.002), radiotherapy dose(β=-0.061,p=0.007), and number of chemotherapy cycles(β=-0.177,p=0.038) were correlated with changes in median ZSOH. In BG/T, only the radiotherapy dose(β=-0.064,p=0.041) and number of chemotherapy cycles(β=-0.551,p=0.026) were correlated. However, none of the above were validated in PG. CONCLUSIONS Compared to intracranial germ cell tumours in the PG or BG/T, the growth problems in S/SS was more prominent and aggravated after treatments, especially in those with younger age, female sex, higher radiotherapy dose, and more chemotherapy cycles.
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Marczewski, M., M. Jurczyk, P. Pecyna, M. Ratajczak, M. Gajecka, and M. U. Jurczyk. "The Effect of 45S5 Bioglass and Ag, Cu, or Zn Addition on the Crystal Structure, Properties, and Antibacterial Effect of Bulk Ti23Zr25Nb Biocomposites." Metals 10, no. 9 (August 19, 2020): 1115. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/met10091115.
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In the present study, the crystal structure, microstructure, mechanical, corrosion properties, and wettability of bulk Ti23Zr25Nb-x45S5 Bioglass (x = 0, 3, 6, 9 wt.%) and Ti23Zr25Nb—9 wt.% 45S5 Bioglass composites with the addition of 1 wt.% Ag, Cu, or Zn were synthesized and their properties studied. The hardness of these biomaterials is at least two times higher and the elastic modulus lower in comparison to commercial purity (CP) microcrystalline α-Ti. The mechanically alloyed Ti23Zr25Nb—9 wt.% 45S5 Bioglass composite was more corrosion resistant in Ringer’s solution than the bulk Ti23Zr25Nb alloy. Surface wettability measurements revealed the higher surface hydrophilicity of the bulk synthesized composites. The antibacterial activity of Ti23Zr25Nb-based composites containing silver, copper, or zinc against reference strain Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 was studied. In vitro bacterial adhesion indicated a significantly reduced number of S. mutans on the bulk Ti23Zr25Nb-BG-Ag (or Cu, Zn) plate surfaces in comparison to the microcrystalline Ti plate surface. Ultrafine-grained Ti23Zr25Nb-BG-Ag (or Cu, Zn) biomaterials can be considered to be the next generation of dental implants.
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Rudolf, Ivo, Silvie Šikutová, Oldřich Šebesta, Jan Mendel, Igor Malenovský, Helge Kampen, Jolyon Medlock, and Francis Schaffner. "Overwintering of Culex modestus and Other Mosquito Species in a Reedbed Ecosystem, Including Arbovirus Findings." Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 36, no. 4 (December 1, 2020): 257–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.2987/20-6949.1.
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ABSTRACT The overwintering strategy of the mosquito Culex modestus, an important West Nile virus (WNV) vector in Europe, was explored under field conditions in reedbed (Phragmites australis) ecosystems in early 2019. A total of 30 Cx. modestus females were found in a BG-Sentinel trap placed in a plastic greenhouse as well as in a reference BG-Sentinel trap placed under the open sky, both set up within the reedbeds and inspected every 2–3 days from February 27 to April 10, 2019. Moreover, 186 females of Cx. pipiens, 3 females of Anopheles hyrcanus, and 3 females of Culiseta annulata were trapped in the monitored time span. While all Cx. modestus females tested negative for the presence of WNV and other arboviruses circulating in Central Europe, we confirmed WNV lineage 2 and Ťahyna virus infection in several pools of the collected Cx. pipiens, demonstrating arbovirus overwintering. This pilot study highlights the need for large-scale monitoring activities covering different regions to identify the overwintering strategy of both mosquito-borne viruses and their vectors in Central Europe.
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Soltani, Amin, and Brendan C. O’Kelly. "Reappraisal of the ASTM/AASHTO Standard Rolling Device Method for Plastic Limit Determination of Fine-Grained Soils." Geosciences 11, no. 6 (June 6, 2021): 247. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11060247.
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Given its apparent limitations, various attempts have been made to develop alternative testing approaches to the standardized rolling-thread plastic limit (PLRT) method (for fine-grained soils), targeting higher degrees of repeatability and reproducibility. Among these, device-rolling techniques, including the method described in ASTM D4318/AASHTO T90 standards, based on original work by Bobrowski and Griekspoor (BG) and which follows the same basic principles as the standard thread-rolling (by hand) test, have been highly underrated by some researchers. To better understand the true potentials and/or limitations of the BG method for soil plasticity determination (i.e., PLBG), this paper presents a critical reappraisal of the PLRT–PLBG relationship using a comprehensive statistical analysis performed on a large and diverse database of 60 PLRT–PLBG test pairs. It is demonstrated that for a given fine-grained soil, the BG and RT methods produce essentially similar PL values. The 95% lower and upper (water content) statistical agreement limits between PLBG and PLRT were, respectively, obtained as −5.03% and +4.51%, and both deemed “statistically insignificant” when compared to the inductively-defined reference limit of ±8% (i.e., the highest possible difference in PLRT based on its repeatability, as reported in the literature). Furthermore, the likelihoods of PLBG underestimating and overestimating PLRT were 50% and 40%, respectively; debunking the notion presented by some researchers that the BG method generally tends to greatly underestimate PLRT. It is also shown that the degree of underestimation/overestimation does not systematically change with changes in basic soil properties; suggesting that the differences between PLBG and PLRT are most likely random in nature. Compared to PLRT, the likelihood of achieving consistent soil classifications employing PLBG (along with the liquid limit) was shown to be 98%, with the identified discrepancies being cases that plot relatively close to the A-Line. As such, PLBG can be used with confidence for soil classification purposes.
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Song, Yongjia, Hengshan Hu, and John W. Rudnicki. "Deriving Biot-Gassmann relationship by inclusion-based method." GEOPHYSICS 81, no. 6 (November 2016): D657—D667. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/geo2015-0432.1.
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The quasi-static theory of poroelasticity presented by Biot and Gassmann provides a relationship between the drained and undrained elastic constants of an isotropic fluid-saturated porous material in terms of the porosity of the material, bulk modulus of the solid grains, and bulk modulus of the pore fluid. We have developed an alternative approach to derive the Biot-Gassmann (BG) relationship while including the effects of the pore microstructure. First, the Eshelby transformation is used to express the local inclusion/pore strain tensor in terms of the applied strain tensor and reference material elastic properties by the superposition of a void strain and a perturbation term due to induced inclusion stress. Second, the inclusion strain expression and Hill’s average principles are combined with the Mori-Tanaka/Kuster-Toksöz scheme to obtain inclusion-stress-dependent effective elastic moduli of porous materials. For an isolated pore system, the effective modulus tensor corresponds to the original Mori-Tanaka/Kuster-Toksöz’s expression. Although for communicating pore system, it is proven to satisfy the BG relation. In the second case, the deformation is assumed to occur so slowly that the infiltrating fluid mass has sufficient time to diffuse between material elements and, consequently, the pore fluid pressure is equilibrated within the whole pore system. It is noteworthy that we arrive at a BG relationship without applying reciprocity theorem and that the porous material effective strain is defined from Hill’s principles instead of solid phase average strain. A potential application of the stress-independent effective modulus is to help develop a dynamical modulus model of rock physics for a specific pore microstructure.
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Desmurget, M., and R. S. Turner. "Testing Basal Ganglia Motor Functions Through Reversible Inactivations in the Posterior Internal Globus Pallidus." Journal of Neurophysiology 99, no. 3 (March 2008): 1057–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.01010.2007.
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To test current hypotheses on the contribution of the basal ganglia (BG) to motor control, we examined the effects of muscimol-induced inactivations in the skeletomotor region of the internal globus pallidus (sGPi) on visually directed reaching. Injections were made in two monkeys trained to perform four out-and-back reaching movements in quick succession toward four randomly selected target locations. Following sGPi inactivations the following occurred. 1) Peak velocity and acceleration were decreased in nearly all sessions, whereas movement duration lengthened inconsistently. 2) Reaction times were unaffected on average, although minor changes were observed in several individual sessions. 3) Outward reaches showed a substantial hypometria that correlated closely with bradykinesia, but directional accuracy was unaffected. 4) Endpoint accuracy was preserved for the slow visually guided return movements. 5) No impairments were found in the rapid chaining of out-and-back movements, in the selection or initiation of four independent reaches in quick succession or in the quick on-line correction of initially misdirected reaches. 6) Inactivation-induced reductions in the magnitude of movement-related muscle activity (EMG) correlated with the severity of slowing and hypometria. There was no evidence for inactivation-induced alterations in the relative timing of EMG bursts, excessive cocontraction, or impaired suppression of antagonist EMG. Therefore disconnecting the BG motor pathway consistently produced bradykinesia and hypometria, but seldom affected movement initiation time, feedback-mediated guidance, the capacity to produce iterative reaches, or the ability to abruptly reverse movement direction. These results are discussed with reference to the idea that the BG motor loop may regulate energetic expenditures during movement (i.e., movement “vigor”).
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Haimberger, Leopold, Christina Tavolato, and Stefan Sperka. "Toward Elimination of the Warm Bias in Historic Radiosonde Temperature Records—Some New Results from a Comprehensive Intercomparison of Upper-Air Data." Journal of Climate 21, no. 18 (September 15, 2008): 4587–606. http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/2008jcli1929.1.
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Abstract The apparent cooling trend in observed global mean temperature series from radiosonde records relative to Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) radiances has been a long-standing problem in upper-air climatology. It is very likely caused by a warm bias of radiosonde temperatures in the 1980s, which has been reduced over time with better instrumentation and correction software. The warm bias in the MSU-equivalent lower stratospheric (LS) layer is estimated as 0.6 ± 0.3 K in the global mean and as 1.0 ± 0.3 K in the tropical (20°S–20°N) mean. These estimates are based on comparisons of unadjusted radiosonde data, not only with MSU data but also with background forecast (BG) temperature time series from the 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) and with two new homogenized radiosonde datasets. One of the radiosonde datasets [Radiosonde Observation Correction using Reanalyses (RAOBCORE) version 1.4] employs the BG as reference for homogenization, which is not strictly independent of MSU data. The second radiosonde dataset uses the dates of the breakpoints detected by RAOBCORE as metadata for homogenization. However, it relies only on homogeneous segments of neighboring radiosonde data for break-size estimation. Therefore, adjustments are independent of satellite data. Both of the new adjusted radiosonde time series are in better agreement with satellite data than comparable published radiosonde datasets, not only for zonal means but also at most single stations. A robust warming maximum of 0.2–0.3K (10 yr)−1 for the 1979–2006 period in the tropical upper troposphere could be found in both homogenized radiosonde datasets. The maximum is consistent with mean temperatures of a thick layer in the upper troposphere and upper stratosphere (TS), derived from M3U3 radiances. Inferred from these results is that it is possible to detect and remove most of the mean warm bias from the radiosonde records, and thus most of the trend discrepancy compared to MSU LS and TS temperature products. The comprehensive intercomparison also suggests that the BG is temporally quite homogeneous after 1986. Only in the early 1980s could some inhomogeneities in the BG be detected and quantified.
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Staiger, Henning, and Andreas Matzarakis. "Accuracy of Mean Radiant Temperature Derived from Active and Passive Radiometry." Atmosphere 11, no. 8 (July 30, 2020): 805. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/atmos11080805.
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The concept of the mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) allows the study of radiative exchanges between a human and its environment. It presupposes that the radiant effects on the person of the actual environment, which is generally heterogeneous, and the virtual environment, which is defined as homogeneous, are identical. ISO 7726 specifies the required accuracy in Tmrt as input of rational thermal indices, outdoors ±5 (K). Tmrt accounts for the radiant heat absorbed by skin/clothing from the shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) spectral bands. Most of the radiant components are isotropic. However, there are anisotropic SW components; namely the direct irradiance and under clear or partly obstructed skies a significant circumsolar fraction (fcs) in the diffuse irradiance. Both originate from the close proximity of the solar disk. This study highlights the effect of fcs on Tmrt. In the scope of human biometeorology a standing body posture is standard. For unidirectional irradiances its radiant cross-section varies dependent on the solar altitude. Active radiometry in deriving Tmrt is based on measured irradiances. One method is the Klima-Michel-Modell (KMM) that uses readily available measurements from standard meteorologically radiant observations. KMM references Fanger’s area projection factors that are derived from precise measurements of real humans. Thus, KMM serves as reference in evaluation of further methods. One is the six-directional instrument (Tmrt,r,6−Dir). Slightly simplifying a standing human, it represents a subject as a rectangular solid. Tmrt,r,6−Dir is derived based on measured irradiances incident on the vertical and horizontal planes. In passive radiometry the energy balance equation of a black globe thermometer is solved that leads to Tmrt,Tg,BG. fcs significantly impacts Tmrt with noticeably reduced values for high and increased for low solar altitudes. Hence, accounting for fcs is essential for the accuracy of Tmrt. For KMM an extension to an existing algorithm is provided in order to include fcs into the Tmrt calculation that results in Tmrt,r,KMM. For Tmrt,r,6−Dir the radiant cross-section of the solid depends to a minor extent on its azimuth relative to the solar azimuth. As a result Tmrt,r,6−Dir slightly scatters compared to Tmrt,r,KMM. However, it remains within ±2 (K). Tmrt,Tg,BG compared to Tmrt,r,KMM complies only at night with the ISO 7726 bin of ±5 K. Tmrt,Tg,BG significantly overestimates Tmrt,r,KMM during the daytime, because of its greater SW absorptance compared to skin/clothing and to a smaller extent because the standing posture is represented by a sphere. Particularly in sunny conditions, Tmrt,Tg,BG is subject to considerable variance. Thus, outdoors during the daytime, Tmrt,Tg,BG is unable to serve as an appropriate input for the calculation of rational-based thermal indices.
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García-Conesa, María-Teresa, Elena Philippou, Christos Pafilas, Marika Massaro, Stefano Quarta, Vanda Andrade, Rui Jorge, et al. "Exploring the Validity of the 14-Item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS): A Cross-National Study in Seven European Countries around the Mediterranean Region." Nutrients 12, no. 10 (September 27, 2020): 2960. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu12102960.
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This study provides comprehensive validation of the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (14-MEDAS) in an adult population from Greece (GR), Portugal (PT), Italy (IT), Spain (SP), Cyprus (CY), Republic of North Macedonia (NMK), and Bulgaria (BG). A moderate association between the 14-MEDAS and the reference food diary was estimated for the entire population (Pearson r = 0.573, p-value < 0.001; Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) = 0.692, p-value < 0.001) with the strongest correlation found in GR, followed by PT, IT, SP, and CY. These results were supported by kappa statistics in GR, PT, IT, and SP with ≥50% of food items exhibiting a fair or better agreement. Bland–Altman analyses showed an overestimation of the 14-MEDAS score in the whole population (0.79 ± 1.81, 95%Confidence Interval (CI) 0.61, 0.96), but this value was variable across countries, with GR, NMK, and BG exhibiting the lowest bias. Taking all analyses together, the validation achieved slightly better results in the Mediterranean countries but a definitive validation ranking order was not evident. Considering growing evidence of the shift from Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence and of the importance of culture in making food choices it is crucial that we further improve validation protocols with specific applications to measure and compare MD adherence across countries and to relate it to the health status of a specific population.
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Traughber, Zac, Fei He, and Maria R. C. de Godoy. "PSVI-24 Immunological Effects of a Purified 1,3/1,6 β-glucan Supplementation in Retorted Canine Diets." Journal of Animal Science 98, Supplement_4 (November 3, 2020): 313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.558.
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Abstract Yeast cell wall products are common functional ingredients capable of “priming” the immune system, specifically in reference to vaccine efficacy. Twenty-four adult, female Beagles were used in a completely randomized design. Three retorted diets were used: control diet (CON), CON plus β-glucan top-dressed daily upon time of feeding (C+B), and CON plus retorted β-glucan included in diet formulation (BG). Following a 7 d adaptation to CON, dogs were fed their respective treatment diets for 42 d and were challenged with an oral Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine on d 14 with blood collections on d 0, 21, 28, and 42. The objectives of the present study were 1) to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of a yeast β-1,3/1,6 glucan (150 ppm) on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of macronutrients, fecal microbiota, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC; T-cells, B-cells, and monocytes) of adult dogs and, 2) to test the effects of retorting on the efficacy of these β-glucans. All diets were well-accepted by all dogs. ATTD of both dry matter and crude protein were greater (P < 0.05) for BG than CON and with greater (P < 0.05) energy digestibility for BG than both B+G and CON. Additionally, fecal short-chain and branched-chain fatty acids, ammonia, indole and phenol concentrations did not differ among treatments. No significant treatment by time interactions among treatment groups were observed for any analyzed PBMC. These data suggest that a 150 ppm inclusion of this yeast-derived β-glucan had no detrimental effects on ATTD, fecal characteristics and metabolites, nor any analyzed PBMC; however, due to the absence of differences in immune parameters among treatments, the effect of retorting on the efficacy of this product cannot confidently be assessed with these findings. Higher doses of yeast-derived β-glucan might be needed to elicit an immunological modulation in healthy adult dogs.
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Fiume, Elisa, Gianpaolo Serino, Cristina Bignardi, Enrica Verné, and Francesco Baino. "Sintering Behavior of a Six-Oxide Silicate Bioactive Glass for Scaffold Manufacturing." Applied Sciences 10, no. 22 (November 22, 2020): 8279. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app10228279.
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The intrinsic brittleness of bioactive glasses (BGs) is one of the main barriers to the widespread use of three-dimensional porous BG-derived bone grafts (scaffolds) in clinical practice. Among all the available strategies for improving the mechanical properties of BG-based scaffolds, strut densification upon sintering treatments at high temperatures represents a relatively easy approach, but its implementation might lead to undesired and poorly predictable decrease in porosity, mass transport properties and bioactivity resulting from densification and devitrification phenomena occurring in the material upon heating. The aim of the present work was to investigate the sinter-crystallization of a highly bioactive SiO2-P2O5-CaO–MgO–Na2O–K2O glass (47.5B composition) in reference to its suitability for the fabrication of bonelike foams. The thermal behavior of 47.5B glass particles was investigated upon sintering at different temperatures in the range of 600–850 °C by means of combined thermal analyses (differential thermal analysis (DTA) and hot-stage microscopy (HSM)). Then, XRD measurements were carried out to identify crystalline phases developed upon sintering. Finally, porous scaffolds were produced by a foam replica method in order to evaluate the effect of the sintering temperature on the mechanical properties under compression loading conditions. Assessing a relationship between mechanical properties and sintering temperature, or in other words between scaffold performance and fabrication process, is a key step towards the rationale design of optimized scaffolds for tissue repair.
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Litwińczuk, Zygmunt, Joanna Barłowska, Alicja Matwijczuk, and Jan Słomiany. "Changes in Milk Yield and Quality During Lactation in Polish Red and White-Backed Cows Included in the Genetic Resources Conservation Programme in Comparison with the Simmental Breed." Annals of Animal Science 16, no. 3 (July 1, 2016): 871–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2015-0095.
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AbstractMilk yield and quality was assessed in cows raised on low-input farms (traditional feeding), i.e. two breeds covered by genetic resources conservation (RP and BG) and the SM breed. The reference group was PHF HO cows from an intensive milk production system (PMR feeding). A total of 1,212 milk samples were collected from three periods of lactation: I (up to 120 days), II (121–200) and II (over 200). The milk was analysed for content of fat, protein, casein, lactose, dry matter, non-fat dry matter and the protein-to-fat ratio, coagulation time, heat stability and the percentage of fat globules in different size ranges. Fatty acid profile and cholesterol content were determined in a representative number of 180 milk samples. Daily yield in the native breeds in the third phase of lactation was 9.6 and 8.7 kg, which was slightly over 55% of their yield in phase I, compared to 66% in the SM and 73.4% in the reference group (PHF HO). The increase in fat and protein (including casein) in the milk during lactation was much higher in the native breeds, so its energy value in phase II of lactation was 11% higher in the BG cows and 9% higher in RP, but only 4% higher in the SM with regard to phase I of lactation. The milk fat from the Polish Red cows had the highest proportion of PUFA in each phase of lactation, including CLA, and the highest PUFA/SFA ratio. Over the course of lactation the percentage of large fat globules in the milk decreased, particularly in the native breeds (P≤0.01), while in the SM the differences were much smaller and statistically insignificant. Lactation persistency in both native breeds raised in a low-input system was worse than in the SM, but the increase in basic components during lactation was markedly higher, while that of cholesterol was lower.
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Hameeda, Mir, Angelo Plastino, Mario Carlos Rocca, and Javier Zamora. "Classical Partition Function for Non-Relativistic Gravity." Axioms 10, no. 2 (June 16, 2021): 121. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/axioms10020121.
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We considered the canonical gravitational partition function Z associated to the classical Boltzmann–Gibbs (BG) distribution e−βHZ. It is popularly thought that it cannot be built up because the integral involved in constructing Z diverges at the origin. Contrariwise, it was shown in (Physica A 497 (2018) 310), by appeal to sophisticated mathematics developed in the second half of the last century, that this is not so. Z can indeed be computed by recourse to (A) the analytical extension treatments of Gradshteyn and Rizhik and Guelfand and Shilov, that permit tackling some divergent integrals and (B) the dimensional regularization approach. Only one special instance was discussed in the above reference. In this work, we obtain the classical partition function for Newton’s gravity in the four cases that immediately come to mind.
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Rahman, Sonia, MAH Mostofa Jamal, Anzana Parvin, Md Mahfuz-Al-Mamun, and M. Rezuanul Islam. "Antidiabetic activity of Centella asiatica (L.) urbana in alloxan induced Type 1 diabetic model rats." Journal of Bio-Science 19 (December 19, 2012): 23–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbs.v19i0.12996.
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Context: Diabetes mellitus is becoming a major burden upon healthcare facilities in all affected countries. Current therapies used for diabetics have side effects, so the current shift to the use of herbal preparations may be more effective, relatively low cost, less side effect and low toxicity. Objective: The present research was made to investigate the potential antidiabetic activity of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. in alloxen induced diabetics. Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into 6 groups and C. asiatica was administered containing 50, 100 and 200 mg/kgbwt powder, respectively in 1ml water orally in group A, B and C rats. Metformin (150 mg/kgbwt) used as a reference standard drug. Blood glucose (BG), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) were estimated from the serum by using standard kits. Results: C. asiatica juice had shown significant lowered the blood glucose levels in all groups. In addition, body weight, organ (liver, kidney, heart and pancreas) weight, food intake, water intake were also examined in all treated groups and compared against diabetic control group. After 22 days daily administration of C. asiatica, diabetic treated rats showed improvement in body weight, water intake as compared to diabetic control rats. In alloxan induced diabetic rats the maximum reduction in BG, TG, TC, HDL, LDL, SGOT and SGPT were observed at a dose level of 50 mg/kgbwt. Conclusion: The present data indicates that C. asiatica juice possesses potential as an antidiabetic action. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbs.v19i0.12996 J. bio-sci. 19: 23-27, 2011
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Abhayawickrama, Buddini, Dikkumburage Gimhani, Nisha Kottearachchi, Venura Herath, Dileepa Liyanage, and Prasad Senadheera. "In Silico Identification of QTL-Based Polymorphic Genes as Salt-Responsive Potential Candidates through Mapping with Two Reference Genomes in Rice." Plants 9, no. 2 (February 11, 2020): 233. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants9020233.
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Recent advances in next generation sequencing have created opportunities to directly identify genetic loci and candidate genes for abiotic stress responses in plants. With the objective of identifying candidate genes within the previously identified QTL-hotspots, the whole genomes of two divergent cultivars for salt responses, namely At 354 and Bg 352, were re-sequenced using Illumina Hiseq 2500 100PE platform and mapped to Nipponbare and R498 genomes. The sequencing results revealed approximately 2.4 million SNPs and 0.2 million InDels with reference to Nipponbare while 1.3 million and 0.07 million with reference to R498 in two parents. In total, 32,914 genes were reported across all rice chromosomes of this study. Gene mining within QTL hotspots revealed 1236 genes, out of which 106 genes were related to abiotic stress. In addition, 27 abiotic stress-related genes were identified in non-QTL regions. Altogether, 32 genes were identified as potential genes containing polymorphic non-synonymous SNPs or InDels between two parents. Out of 10 genes detected with InDels, tolerant haplotypes of Os01g0581400, Os10g0107000, Os11g0655900, Os12g0622500, and Os12g0624200 were found in the known salinity tolerant donor varieties. Our findings on different haplotypes would be useful in developing resilient rice varieties for abiotic stress by haplotype-based breeding studies.
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Sun, Bomin, Tony Reale, Steven Schroeder, Michael Pettey, and Ryan Smith. "On the Accuracy of Vaisala RS41 versus RS92 Upper-Air Temperature Observations." Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology 36, no. 4 (April 2019): 635–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/jtech-d-18-0081.1.
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AbstractThe accuracy of Vaisala RS92 versus RS41 global radiosonde soundings, emphasizing stratospheric temperature, is assessed from January 2015 to June 2017 using ~311 500 RS92 and ~65 800 RS41 profiles and three different reference data sources. First, numerical weather prediction (NWP) model outputs are used as a transfer medium to produce relative RS92 and RS41 comparisons by analyzing observation minus NWP model background (OB–BG) and observation minus analysis (OB–AN) differences using the NOAA Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR; both comparisons) and the operational European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model (OB–AN comparison only). Second, GPS radio occultation (GPSRO) dry temperature profiles are directly compared with radiosondes, using GPSRO data from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) and EUMETSAT Radio Occultation Meteorology (ROM) Satellite Application Facility (SAF). Third, dual launches (RS92 and RS41 suspended from the same balloon) at five sites allow direct assessments. Comparisons of RS92 versus RS41 from all reference data sources are basically consistent. These two sondes agree well with global average temperature differences <0.1–0.2 K in the lower stratosphere from 51.5 to 26.1 hPa based on global stations and the dual launches. RS41 appears to be less sensitive than RS92 to changes in solar elevation angle. This study indicates that nighttime RS92 and RS41 radiosonde temperature biases are negligible, but infers a stratospheric cold bias (<0.5 K) in the CFSR and ECMWF model data.
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West, Timothy O., Luc Berthouze, David M. Halliday, Vladimir Litvak, Andrew Sharott, Peter J. Magill, and Simon F. Farmer. "Propagation of beta/gamma rhythms in the cortico-basal ganglia circuits of the parkinsonian rat." Journal of Neurophysiology 119, no. 5 (May 1, 2018): 1608–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00629.2017.
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Much of the motor impairment associated with Parkinson’s disease is thought to arise from pathological activity in the networks formed by the basal ganglia (BG) and motor cortex. To evaluate several hypotheses proposed to explain the emergence of pathological oscillations in parkinsonism, we investigated changes to the directed connectivity in BG networks following dopamine depletion. We recorded local field potentials (LFPs) in the cortex and basal ganglia of rats rendered parkinsonian by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and in dopamine-intact controls. We performed systematic analyses of the networks using a novel tool for estimation of directed interactions (nonparametric directionality, NPD). We used a “conditioned” version of the NPD analysis that reveals the dependence of the correlation between two signals on a third reference signal. We find evidence of the dopamine dependency of both low-beta (14–20 Hz) and high-beta/low-gamma (20–40 Hz) directed network interactions. Notably, 6-OHDA lesions were associated with enhancement of the cortical “hyperdirect” connection to the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and its feedback to the cortex and striatum. We find that pathological beta synchronization resulting from 6-OHDA lesioning is widely distributed across the network and cannot be located to any individual structure. Furthermore, we provide evidence that high-beta/gamma oscillations propagate through the striatum in a pathway that is independent of STN. Rhythms at high beta/gamma show susceptibility to conditioning that indicates a hierarchical organization compared with those at low beta. These results further inform our understanding of the substrates for pathological rhythms in salient brain networks in parkinsonism. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We present a novel analysis of electrophysiological recordings in the cortico-basal ganglia network with the aim of evaluating several hypotheses concerning the origins of abnormal brain rhythms associated with Parkinson’s disease. We present evidence for changes in the directed connections within the network following chronic dopamine depletion in rodents. These findings speak to the plausibility of a “short-circuiting” of the network that gives rise to the conditions from which pathological synchronization may arise.
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Tomczyk, Paweł, Mirosław Wiatkowski, and Łukasz Gruss. "Application of Macrophytes to the Assessment and Classification of Ecological Status above and below the Barrage with Hydroelectric Buildings." Water 11, no. 5 (May 16, 2019): 1028. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w11051028.
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The key goal of the Water Framework Directive is to achieve a good ecological status in water bodies. The ecological status is mainly determined by the biological elements, which are a very good indicator of the changes taking place in water environments. Thus, this article focuses on the analysis of different methods of assessment of the ecological status of water bodies based on macrophytes used in selected countries in the European Union (the Macrophyte Index for Rivers (MMOR)—Poland; the Mean Trophic Rank (MTR)—Ireland; the Trophic Index of Macrophytes (TIM)—Bavaria, Germany; the Bulgarian Reference Index of Macrophytes (RI-BG)—Bulgaria). Three research sections have been selected for research on the river Ślęza: The reference section, the section above the barrage and the section below the barrage. The analysis carried out revealed considerable similarity between the results obtained by all these methods—the differences were at most by one class of ecological status (and the analysis of sums of Wilcoxon’s ranks revealed that there were no differences between the results obtained using different methods, i.e., p = 0.860). With respect to surface waters, investigation of biological elements is important because it allows one to retrace the past and foresee the future based on the past and present trends in the changes occurring in the species diversity and structure of not only macrophytes, but also other groups of organisms. Further action is required that would determine the scope of influence of barrages with hydroelectric buildings on the environment (in the case of the investigated barrage this influence is negative).
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Niwa, Yukie. "Action mechanism of Chinese herbs, BG-102, 103 and 104. With special reference to their effects on membrane phospholipid enzyme activities of human leukocytes and oxygen radicals generated." Ensho 7, no. 4 (1987): 367–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.2492/jsir1981.7.367.
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Xiao, R., N. Takegawa, M. Zheng, Y. Kondo, Y. Miyazaki, T. Miyakawa, M. Hu, et al. "Characterization and source apportionment of submicron aerosol with aerosol mass spectrometer during the PRIDE-PRD 2006 campaign." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions 11, no. 1 (January 19, 2011): 1891–937. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acpd-11-1891-2011.
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Abstract. Size-resolved chemical compositions of non-refractory submicron aerosol were measured using an Aerodyne quadrupole aerosol mass spectrometer (Q-AMS) at the rural site Back Garden (BG), located ~50 km northwest of Guangzhou in July 2006. This paper characterized the submicron aerosol particles of regional air pollution in Pearl River Delta (PRD) in the Southern China. Organics and sulfate dominated the submicron aerosol compositions, with average mass concentrations of 11.8±8.4 μg m−3 and 13.5±8.7 μg m−3, respectively. Unlike other air masses, the air masses originated from Southeast-South and passing through the PRD urban areas exhibited distinct bimodal size distribution characteristics for both organics and sulfate: the first mode peaked at vacuum aerodynamic diameters (Dva)~200 nm and the second mode occurred at Dva from 300–700 nm. With the information from AMS, it was found from this study that the first mode of organics in PRD regional air masses was contributed by both secondary organic aerosol formation and combustion-related emissions, which is different from most findings in other urban areas (first mode of organics primarily from combustion-related emissions). The analysis of AMS mass spectra data by positive matrix factorization (PMF) model identified three sources of submicron organic aerosol including hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA), low volatility oxygenated organic aerosol (LV-OOA) and semi-volatile oxygenated organic aerosol (SV-OOA). The strong correlation between HOA and EC indicated primary combustion emissions as the major source of HOA while a close correlation between SV-OOA and semi-volatile secondary species nitrate as well as between LV-OOA and nonvolatile secondary species sulfate suggested secondary aerosol formation as the major source of SV-OOA and LV-OOA at the BG site. However, LV-OOA was more aged than SV-OOA as its spectra was highly correlated with the reference spectra of fulvic acid, an indicator of aged and oxygenated aerosol. The origin of HOA and OOA (the sum of LV-OOA and SV-OOA) has been further confirmed by the statistics that primary organic carbon (POC) and secondary organic carbon (SOC), estimated by the EC tracer method, were closely correlated with HOA and OOA, respectively. The results of the EC tracer method and of the PMF model revealed that primary organic aerosol (POA) constituted ~34–47% of OA mass and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) constituted ~53–66% of regional organic aerosol in PRD during summer reason. The presence of abundant SOA was consistent with water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) results (accounting for ~60% of OC on average) by Miyazaki et al. (2009) for the same campaign. OOA correlated well with WSOC at the BG site, indicating that most OOA were water soluble. More specifically, approximately 86% of LV-OOA and 61% of SV-OOA were estimated as water soluble species on the basis of carbon content comparison.
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Xiao, R., N. Takegawa, M. Zheng, Y. Kondo, Y. Miyazaki, T. Miyakawa, M. Hu, et al. "Characterization and source apportionment of submicron aerosol with aerosol mass spectrometer during the PRIDE-PRD 2006 campaign." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 11, no. 14 (July 18, 2011): 6911–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-6911-2011.
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Abstract. Size-resolved chemical compositions of non-refractory submicron aerosol were measured using an Aerodyne quadrupole aerosol mass spectrometer (Q-AMS) at the rural site Back Garden (BG), located ~50 km northwest of Guangzhou in July 2006. This paper characterized the submicron aerosol particles of regional air pollution in Pearl River Delta (PRD) in the southern China. Organics and sulfate dominated the submicron aerosol compositions, with average mass concentrations of 11.8 ± 8.4 μg m−3 and 13.5 ± 8.7 μg m−3, respectively. Unlike other air masses, the air masses originated from Southeast-South and passing through the PRD urban areas exhibited distinct bimodal size distribution characteristics for both organics and sulfate: the first mode peaked at vacuum aerodynamic diameters (Dva) ∼200 nm and the second mode occurred at Dva from 300–700 nm. With the information from AMS, it was found from this study that the first mode of organics in PRD regional air masses was contributed by both secondary organic aerosol formation and combustion-related emissions, which is different from most findings in other urban areas (first mode of organics primarily from combustion-related emissions). The analysis of AMS mass spectra data by positive matrix factorization (PMF) model identified three sources of submicron organic aerosol including hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA), low volatility oxygenated organic aerosol (LV-OOA) and semi-volatile oxygenated organic aerosol (SV-OOA). The strong correlation between HOA and EC indicated primary combustion emissions as the major source of HOA while a close correlation between SV-OOA and semi-volatile secondary species nitrate as well as between LV-OOA and nonvolatile secondary species sulfate suggested secondary aerosol formation as the major source of SV-OOA and LV-OOA at the BG site. However, LV-OOA was more aged than SV-OOA as its spectra was highly correlated with the reference spectra of fulvic acid, an indicator of aged and oxygenated aerosol. The origin of HOA and OOA (the sum of LV-OOA and SV-OOA) has been further confirmed by the statistics that primary organic carbon (POC) and secondary organic carbon (SOC), estimated by the EC tracer method, were closely correlated with HOA and OOA, respectively. The results of the EC tracer method and of the PMF model revealed that primary organic aerosol (POA) constituted ~34–47 % of OA mass and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) constituted ~53–66 % of regional organic aerosol in PRD during summer season. The presence of abundant SOA was consistent with water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) results (accounting for ~60 % of OC on average) by Miyazaki et al. (2009) for the same campaign. OOA correlated well with WSOC at the BG site, indicating that most OOA were water soluble. More specifically, approximately 86 % of LV-OOA and 61 % of SV-OOA were estimated as water soluble species on the basis of carbon content comparison.
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Iflaifel, M., R. H. M. Lim, C. Crowley, F. Greco, and R. Iedema. "Exploring the Use of Variable Rate Intravenous Insulin Infusion in Hospital: A Hierarchical Task Analysis." International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 29, Supplement_1 (March 26, 2021): i7—i8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ijpp/riab016.009.
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Abstract Introduction Variable rate intravenous insulin infusion (VRIII) is a cornerstone treatment for controlling elevated blood glucose (BG) in inpatients who are missing meals, and/or have a critical illness. VRIII can cause serious harm to patients if used incorrectly. Traditional approaches to improving safety have focused on identifying errors, then finding solutions to prevent future recurrence. Such approaches fail to fully take into account the complex adaptive nature of healthcare systems, which cannot be controlled solely by standards or procedures. The Resilient Health Care (RHC) approach proposes that understanding the variability in healthcare practitioners’ everyday work e.g. a physical and cognitive activity directed toward achieving a specific goal, is key to enhancing patient safety (1). There are a considerable number of studies on using RHC to enhance safety, however, no studies to date have researched resilience in the use of VRIII. Aim This study sought to comprehensively understand, within a RHC framework, how VRIIIs are used in the clinical environment. Methods A qualitative observational study was conducted in a Vascular Surgery Unit. A purposive sample of two inpatients and all healthcare practitioners caring for VRIII aspects for these patients were recruited. The researcher video-recorded healthcare practitioners while prescribing, administering and monitoring VRIII. The video data were then transcribed and inductively coded to construct a deep understanding of the use of VRIII. A hierarchical task analysis (HTA) which is a core human factors approach (2) was used to represent the actual task for the use of VRIII. Results Twenty-two hours of video recordings of 10 healthcare practitioners were used to develop the final HTA with a top-level goal of controlling elevated BG using VRIII. The HTA clearly illustrated the complexity of using VRIIIs by highlighting more than 100 practical activities to achieve the goal. The observed challenges were mainly related to lack of knowledge e.g. the co-prescription of appropriate concurrent IV fluids, and system and technology problems e.g. the need for frequent BG monitoring. The analysis of the video data identified various strategies that healthcare practitioners used to respond to variability in work including knowledge, standardising practice e.g. the using of ready-to administer insulin infusions, and context-dependent adaptations including asking available colleagues to countersign administration and assigning the monitoring task to other staff when the nurses were busy. Most of the observed adaptations had positive outcomes in terms of patient care delivery. Conclusion This study was the first to have explored how ‘work is done’ in reference to the use of VRIII using HTA. The study was limited by time, the Covid-19 pandemic and number of participants. However, the developed HTA provided detailed tasks and, by highlighting when and how adaptations were used, systematically presented the process as it was actually done. Future work will focus on using the data from this study to model RHC in the use of VRIII in a way that allows the study site to better enhance patient safety. References 1. Hollnagel E, Braithwaite J, Wears R. Delivering Resilient Health Care. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge 2019. 2. Stanton NA, Salmon PM, Rafferty LA, et al. Human Factors Methods: A Practical Guide for Engineering and Design. 2nd ed. England: Ashgate 2013.
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Napoli, Angela, Laura Sciacca, Basilio Pintaudi, Andrea Tumminia, Maria Grazia Dalfrà, Camilla Festa, Gloria Formoso, et al. "Screening of postpartum diabetes in women with gestational diabetes: high-risk subgroups and areas for improvements—the STRONG observational study." Acta Diabetologica 58, no. 9 (April 12, 2021): 1187–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00592-021-01707-9.
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Abstract Aims To assess the proportion of women with gestational diabetes (GDM) by performing postpartum Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and to identify GDM phenotypes at high-risk of postpartum dysglycemia (PPD). Methods Observational, retrospective, multicenter study involving consecutive GDM women. Recursive partitioning (RECPAM) analysis was used to identify distinct and homogeneous subgroups of women at different PPD risk. Results From a sample of 2,736 women, OGTT was performed in 941 (34.4%) women, of whom 217 (23.0%) developed PPD. Insulin-treated women having family history of diabetes represented the subgroup with the highest PPD risk (OR 5.57, 95% CI 3.60–8.63) compared to the reference class (women on diet with pre-pregnancy BMI < = 28.1 kg/m2). Insulin-treated women without family diabetes history and women on diet with pre-pregnancy BMI > 28.1 kg/m2 showed a two-fold PPD risk. Previous GDM and socioeconomic status represent additional predictors. Fasting more than post-prandial glycemia plays a predictive role, with values of 81–87 mg/dl (4.5–4.8 mmol/l) (lower than the current diagnostic GDM threshold) being associated with PPD risk. Conclusions Increasing compliance to postpartum OGTT to prevent/delay PPD is a priority. Easily available characteristics identify subgroups of women more likely to benefit from preventive strategies. Fasting BG values during pregnancy lower than those usually considered deserve attention.
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Nowak-Gottl, Ulrike, Moritz Lambers, Sabine Thedieck, Daniela Manner, Rolf M. Mesters, Ralf Junker, and Monika Stoll. "Impact of Reduced Von Willebrand Factor-Cleaving Protease [ADAMTS13] In Pediatric Stroke: A Nested Case-Control Study." Blood 116, no. 21 (November 19, 2010): 805. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.v116.21.805.805.
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Abstract Abstract 805 Background: The interaction of von Willebrand factor [VWF] and its cleaving protease ADAMTS13 for preventing thrombosis in the microvasculature has been well described in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura [TTP]. Recently it has been hypothesized that ADAMTS13 may protect the brain from ischemia by regulating VWF-platelet interaction after reperfusion, and that lower levels are associated with cardiovascular disease in young adults. Pediatric stroke is known as a multifactorial disease: Apart from various underlying mechanisms inherited genetic traits and intra-arterial thrombus formation constitute as major risk factors. The aim of the present nested case-control study was to determine the role of reduced ADAMTS13 levels in pediatric stroke. Methods: 208 pediatric patients with confirmed stroke (6 months to 18 years) and 128 population-based control children were investigated. Patients with liver disease, sepsis or antiphospholipid antibodies were excluded. ADAMTS13 activity [AC] and antigen [Ag] levels [kit: Technoclone, Vienna, Austria] have been evaluated 6 to 12 months after first stroke onset. Non-parametric statistics was performed for descriptive analysis [median (min-max) values] and inter-group comparisons [Mann-Whitney U test]. Correlation analysis was performed using Spearman rank correlation analysis. A p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. First: Age-dependent percentiles were calculated from the control cohort and the number of patients and controls <10th percentiles were compared to those >10th percentiles. Second: ADAMTS13 levels were distributed into quartiles. The number of patients versus controls in the lowest quartile [1st: 16–86%] was compared to the 2nd [87-101%], 3rd [102-112%] and 4th [113-156%] quartile using a multivariate statistical model [logistic regression] adjusted for VWF, factor VIIIC, blood group [BG] and age. Results are shown as odds ratios/95% confidence intervals [OR/CI]. Results: ADAMTS13 AC levels beyond the acute stroke onset were significantly lower in patients compared to controls [98% (16-143) vs. 103% (60-156), p=0.03], and 46 of 208 patients [22%] showed values <10th percentiles compared with 5 of 123 controls [4%: p<0.001]. The corresponding adjusted OR/CI was 7.13/2.7-19.0. In the quartile comparison adjusted for VWF, FVIIIC, BG and age the following OR/CIs were calculated: 1st vs. 2nd [2.17/1.04-4.53], 1st vs. 3rd [2.35/1.11-4.94] and 1st vs. 4th [2.45/1.15-5.22]. In addition, moderate positive correlations were found between ADAMTS13 AC and i) ADAMTS13 Ag [rho=0.30; p<0.001], ii), BG [rho=0.18; p=0.002] and iii) age [rho=0.16; p=0.004], but not between ADAMTS13 and VWF, or FVIIIC. VWF AG levels were higher in patients compared to controls [112 (34-453) vs.104% (50-451)] without reaching statistical significance [p=0.65]. Platelet count in patients and controls was within the normal age-dependent reference range. Conclusions: Compared to healthy control children pediatric stroke survivors showed significantly reduced ADAMTS13 activities with a corresponding OR of 7.13 [percentile comparison] and 2.3 [quartile comparison]. Our findings support the concept that ADAMTS13 deficiency is associated in the pathogenesis of non TTP-dependent microangiopathy in cerebro- and cardiovascular diseases. To elucidate if this deficiency state in children with stroke beyond the acute disease onset is congenital or acquired further investigations are ongoing. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
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WIRES, K. C., W. D. ZEBCHUK, and G. C. TOPP. "PORE VOLUME CHANGES IN A STRUCTURED SILT-LOAM SOIL DURING DRYING." Canadian Journal of Soil Science 67, no. 4 (November 1, 1987): 905–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjss87-086.
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Shrinkage and volumetric water content of undisturbed soil cores 150 mm diam. × 100 mm high from four horizons of a silt-loam, Orthic Humic Gleysol were monitored throughout a drying cycle from saturation to oven dryness. Drying from saturation to − 100 kPa was by desorption apparatus. Subsequently the cores were subjected to controlled air drying and finally oven drying. The volume change, relative to the volume at saturation, of each core was monitored at 20 different water contents on the desorption curve, by measuring the X, Y and Z positions of 92 pins inserted in the top of each core. Total shrinkage values expressed as percentages of the cores' saturated volumes were Ap −23.4%, Bg −7.0%, BCg −11.8% and Cg −12.9%. The influence of soil structure on soil shrinkage was analyzed and the results were inconclusive because there appeared to be a complex interaction between ped size and the scale of measurement for shrinkage. Water loss during drying was partitioned between that replaced by air and that associated with pore volume reduction. For the Ap horizon from 0 to 1500 kPa, the proportions were 62% and 38% respectively. The results show clearly the dependence of soil bulk density and porosity on water potential and reinforce the contention that for comparison purposes bulk density and porosity must be expressed at a reference water content or potential. Key words: Shrinkage, pore volume, bulk density, undisturbed samples
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Litwińczuk, Zygmunt, Joanna Barłowska, Witold Chabuz, and Aneta Brodziak. "Nutritional Value and Technological Suitability of Milk from Cows of Three Polish Breeds Included in the Genetic Resources Conservation Programme." Annals of Animal Science 12, no. 3 (May 1, 2012): 423–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10220-012-0036-0.
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Nutritional Value and Technological Suitability of Milk from Cows of Three Polish Breeds Included in the Genetic Resources Conservation ProgrammeThe study included milk obtained from cows of three native cattle breeds, i.e. White-backed (BG), Polish Red (RP) and Polish Black-and-White (ZB) kept under conventional conditions. The reference group consisted of milk from Polish Holstein-Friesian cows (PHF) maintained in the intensive system and milk from Simmental cows (SM) kept under conventional conditions. The following parameters were determined in 976 samples of milk: content of fat, protein, casein, lactose and solids; acidity (pH value); heat stability; rennet coagulation time; content of α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, serum albumin, lactoferrin and lysozyme. Additionally, a certain proportion of samples was investigated for fatty acid profile and content of macro- and microelements. Cows of native breeds produced milk of higher nutritional value (higher content of whey proteins and polyunsaturated fatty acids, including CLA) and more suitable for processing as compared to PHF cows. Milk from cows of the Polish Red breed was the most valuable in terms of these parameters, which can be associated with a distinctive phylogenetic origin of this breed. The favourable parameters in regard to the nutritional value and technological suitability of milk obtained from analysed population of cows of 3 breeds included in the programme of genetic resources conservation are therefore an important reason of validity for subsequent implementation of this programme.
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Pruszynski, Catherine A., Tanise Stenn, Carolina Acevedo, Andrea L. Leal, and Nathan D. Burkett-Cadena. "Human Blood Feeding by Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Florida Keys and a Review of the Literature." Journal of Medical Entomology 57, no. 5 (May 24, 2020): 1640–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaa083.
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Abstract Aedes aegypti L. is considered to have a proclivity for feeding on human blood even when other hosts are available. However, few studies have demonstrated host use by this mosquito in the continental United States, where local transmission of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses has been recently documented. This study investigated the bloodmeal sources of female Ae. aegypti in the subtropical city of Key West and the surrounding county in Florida with the goal of identifying preferred hosts. Blood-engorged Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were collected from BG Sentinel traps used as part of a routine surveillance program in the Florida Keys (Monroe County, Florida). Bloodmeal samples were analyzed using PCR assays, sequencing, and comparison with reference sequences in GenBank. Aedes aegypti females from Key West fed predominantly on humans (79.6%) and did not differ statistically from females collected from the rest of the Florida Keys (69.5%). Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), considered a host generalist, was collected and analyzed from the same sites for comparative purposes. Females of Cx. quinquefasciatus fed predominantly (70.7%) on birds and nonhuman mammals in the Florida Keys, corroborating the validity of molecular assay breadth and demonstrating that given the same group of available hosts Ae. aegypti selects humans. Our results indicated that Ae. aegypti has a high rate of human-biting in a subtropical area within the United States, supporting its role in recent local transmission of dengue and other viruses.
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Pfützner, Andreas, Filiz Demircik, Valeria Kirsch, Johannes Pfützner, Stephanie Strobl, Mina Hanna, Jan Spatz, and Anke H. Pfützner. "System Accuracy Assessment of a Blood Glucose Meter With Wireless Internet Access Associated With Unusual Hypoglycemia Patterns in Clinical Trials." Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology 13, no. 3 (April 11, 2019): 507–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1932296819841353.
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Background: In recent randomized clinical trials, an unusual reporting pattern of glycemic data and hypoglycemic events potentially related to an internet enabled blood glucose meter (MyGlucoHealth, BGM) was observed. Therefore, this clinical study was conducted to evaluate the system accuracy of the BGM in accordance with the ISO15197:2015 guidelines with additional data collection. Methods: To investigate system accuracy, 10 of 3088 devices and 6 of 23 strip lots, used in the trials, were selected by a randomization procedure and a standard repeatability assessment. YSI 2300 STAT Plus was used as the standard reference method. The samples were distributed as per the ISO15197:2015 recommendations with 20 additional samples in the hypoglycemic range. Each sample was tested with 6 devices and 6 strip lots with double determinations. Results: Overall, 121 subjects with blood glucose values 26-423 mg/dL were analyzed, resulting in 1452 data points. In all, 186/1452 readings (12.8%) did not meet the ISO acceptance criteria. Data evaluated according to the FDA guidelines showed that 336/1452 (23.1%) readings did not meet the acceptance criteria. A clear bias toward elevated values was observed for BG <100 mg/dL (MARD: 11.0%). Conclusions: The results show that the BGM, although approved according to standard regulatory guidelines, did not meet the level of analytical accuracy required for clinical treatment decisions according to ISO 15197:2015 and FDA requirements. In general, caution should be exercised before selection of BGMs for patients and in clinical trials.
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Baumstark, Annette, Nina Jendrike, Ulrike Kamecke, Christina Liebing, Stefan Pleus, and Guido Freckmann. "Measurement accuracy of two professional-use systems for point-of-care testing of blood glucose." Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM) 58, no. 3 (February 25, 2020): 445–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2019-0549.
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AbstractBackgroundThe professional-use systems HemoCue® Glucose 201+ (HC201+) and HemoCue® Glucose 201 RT (HC201RT) are widely used for point-of-care testing (POCT) of blood glucose (BG). HC201RT utilizes unit-use microcuvettes which can be stored at room temperature, whereas HC201+ microcuvettes have to be stored at <8 °C. In this study, system accuracy of HC201+ and HC201RT was evaluated using capillary and venous blood samples.MethodsFor each system, two reagent system lots were evaluated within a period of 2 years based on testing procedures of ISO 15197:2013, a standard applicable for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) systems. For each reagent system lot, the investigation was performed by using 100 capillary and 95 to 99 venous blood samples. Comparison measurements were performed with a hexokinase laboratory method. Accuracy criteria of ISO 15197:2013 and POCT12-A3 were applied. In addition, bias was analyzed according to Bland and Altman, and error grid analysis was performed.ResultsWhen measuring capillary samples, both systems fulfilled accuracy requirements of ISO 15197:2013 and POCT12-A3 with the investigated reagent system lots. When measuring venous samples, only HC201+ fulfilled these requirements. Bias between HC201+ and reference measurements was more consistent over venous and capillary samples and microcuvette lots than for HC201RT. Error grid analysis showed that clinical actions might have been different depending on which system was used.ConclusionsIn this study, HC201+ showed a high level of accuracy irrespective of the sample type (capillary or venous). In contrast, HC201RT measurement results were markedly affected by the type of sample.
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SOUSA, HEIRIANE MARTINS, AMANDA RIBEIRO CORREA, BÁRBARA DE MOTTA SILVA, SUZANA DA SILVA OLIVEIRA, DANIELA TIAGO DA SILVA CAMPOS, and FLÁVIO JESUS WRUCK. "DYNAMICS OF SOIL MICROBIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES IN INTEGRATED CROP-LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS IN THE CERRADO-AMAZONÔNIA ECOTONE1." Revista Caatinga 33, no. 1 (March 2020): 9–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252020v33n102rc.
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ABSTRACT The combination of grain and livestock production in integrated Crop-Livestock systems (iCLs) provide the opportunity to increase yields, improve soil attributes and ensure the sustainability of the agricultural system. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of seven land use systems on their microbiota. Five iCL systems were implemented in 2005 in Santa Carmem, MT, Brazil, with different rotating crops: iCL A (soybean/maize, preceded by two years with pasture), iCL B (rice/maize, preceded by two years with soybean/intercropped pasture), iCL C (soybean/maize, preceded by three years with pasture), iCL D (pasture/maize, preceded by five soybean/maize or millet intercropped with pasture) and iCL E (pasture/maize, preceded by three years with pasture). These were compared with two reference systems: a conventional soybean/maize succession system (CC) and native forest (NF). Soils were collected (0.00-0.20 m) and the population dynamics of fungi, bacteria, actinobacteria and cellulolytic microorganisms were evaluated over the course of two years (2012 and 2013). Likewise, carbon stocks of microbial biomass (CBM); metabolic quotient (qCO2); basal respiration (RB); acid (AP) and alkaline (ALP) phosphatases; β-glycosidase (BG) and urease of soil were assessed. The iCLs systems improved the performance of soil microbiota compared to the conventional system. The rotation of legume and grasses preceded by pasture in iCL A and C, increased the total fungi, bacteria, actinobacteria, enzymatic activity and CBM stocks. This fact contributed to an increased efficiency in environmental performance and added greater sustainability to the system.
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Yan, Rengna, Huiqin Li, Xiaocen Kong, Xiaofang Zhai, Maoyuan Chen, Yixuan Sun, Lei Ye, Xiaofei Su, and Jianhua Ma. "The Accuracy and Precision of the Continuously Stored Data from Flash Glucose Monitoring System in Type 2 Diabetes Patients during Standard Meal Tolerance Test." International Journal of Endocrinology 2020 (January 4, 2020): 1–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/5947680.
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Background. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the continuously stored data from the Abbott FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring (FGM) system in Chinese diabetes patients during standard meal tests when glucose concentrations were rapidly changing. Subjects and Methods. Interstitial glucose levels were monitored for 14 days in 26 insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes using the FGM system. Standard meal tests were conducted to induce large glucose swings. Venous blood glucose (VBG) was tested at 0, 30, 60, and 120 min after standard meal tests in one middle day of the first and second weeks, respectively. The corresponding sensor glucose values were obtained from interpolating continuously stored data points. Assessment of accuracy was according to recent consensus recommendations with median absolute relative difference (MARD) and Clarke and Parkes error grid analysis (CEG and PEG). Results. Among 208 paired sensor-reference values, 100% were falling within zones A and B of the Clarke and Parkes error grid analysis. The overall MARD was 10.7% (SD, 7.8%). Weighted least squares regression analysis resulted in high agreement between the FGM sensor glucose and VBG readings. The overall MTT results showed that FGM was lower than actual VBG, with MAD of 22.1 mg/dL (1.2 mmol/L). At VBG rates of change of -1 to 0, 0 to 1, 1 to 2, and 2 to 3 mg/dl/min, MARD results were 11.4% (SD, 8.7%), 9.4% (SD, 6.5%), 9.9% (SD, 7.5%), and 9.5% (SD, 7.7%). At rapidly changing VBG concentrations (>3 mg/dl/min), MARD increased to 19.0%, which was significantly higher than slow changing BG groups. Conclusions. Continuously stored interstitial glucose measurements with the FGM system were found to be acceptable to evaluate VBG in terms of clinical decision during standard meal tests. The continuously stored data from the FGM system appeared to underestimate venous glucose and performed less well during rapid glucose changes.
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Rosen, M., and A. Hedenstrom. "Gliding flight in a jackdaw: a wind tunnel study." Journal of Experimental Biology 204, no. 6 (March 15, 2001): 1153–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.204.6.1153.
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We examined the gliding flight performance of a jackdaw Corvus monedula in a wind tunnel. The jackdaw was able to glide steadily at speeds between 6 and 11 m s(−1). The bird changed its wingspan and wing area over this speed range, and we measured the so-called glide super-polar, which is the envelope of fixed-wing glide polars over a range of forward speeds and sinking speeds. The glide super-polar was an inverted U-shape with a minimum sinking speed (V(ms)) at 7.4 m s(−1) and a speed for best glide (V(bg)) at 8.3 m s(−)). At the minimum sinking speed, the associated vertical sinking speed was 0.62 m s(−1). The relationship between the ratio of lift to drag (L:D) and airspeed showed an inverted U-shape with a maximum of 12.6 at 8.5 m s(−1). Wingspan decreased linearly with speed over the whole speed range investigated. The tail was spread extensively at low and moderate speeds; at speeds between 6 and 9 m s(−1), the tail area decreased linearly with speed, and at speeds above 9 m s(−1) the tail was fully furled. Reynolds number calculated with the mean chord as the reference length ranged from 38 000 to 76 000 over the speed range 6–11 m s(−1). Comparisons of the jackdaw flight performance were made with existing theory of gliding flight. We also re-analysed data on span ratios with respect to speed in two other bird species previously studied in wind tunnels. These data indicate that an equation for calculating the span ratio, which minimises the sum of induced and profile drag, does not predict the actual span ratios observed in these birds. We derive an alternative equation on the basis of the observed span ratios for calculating wingspan and wing area with respect to forward speed in gliding birds from information about body mass, maximum wingspan, maximum wing area and maximum coefficient of lift. These alternative equations can be used in combination with any model of gliding flight where wing area and wingspan are considered to calculate sinking rate with respect to forward speed.
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van Groen, BD, C. Bi, R. Gaedigk, V. Staggs, D. Tibboel, SN de Wildt, and JS Leeder. "P102 Alternative splicing of the SLCO1B1 transporter in paediatric liver." Archives of Disease in Childhood 104, no. 6 (May 17, 2019): e60.1-e60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2019-esdppp.140.
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BackgroundAlternative mRNA transcripts occur in >90% of human genes and may be triggered by developmental signals. The hepatic transporter OATP1B1 (gene name SLCO1B1) traffics substrates across the hepatic membrane, and shows age-related changes in protein expression. We aimed to predict novel isoforms of OATP1B1 by studying alternative splicing of SLCO1B1 in human paediatric post-mortem liver tissue, and the relationship of their mRNA expression with age.Methods mRNA expression of SLCO1B1 transcripts was determined using RNA sequencing (HISAT2/StringTie). Novel mRNA transcripts were considered of relevance when (1) the expression was >5% of the annotated isoform, (2) it was a SLCO1B7 and SCLO1B1 hybrid transcript, or (3) when the expression was associated with age. The software packages ORF-finder, TMpred and TOPO2 were used to predict the protein sequence and structure of the novel isoforms. Relationship of expression with age was studied with the Kruskal-Wallis test for age groups (fetal, 0–1.5 year, 1.5–6 year, 6–12 year and 12–18 year) and with Spearman correlation tests for age on continuous scale.ResultsIn 97 hepatic post-mortem tissues (gestational age median 16.4 [range 14.7–41.3] weeks, postnatal age 0.36 [0 - 17] years) 27 novel mRNA transcripts were detected. Of these, 13 were relevant: 2 isoforms are predicted to translate into amino acid sequences similar to the annotated isoform for OATP1B1, 9 isoforms may translate into truncated versions, and the expression of 8 isoforms was associated with age. None of the isoforms had an ORF that covered the SLCO1B7 region.ConclusionWe showed that novel SLCO1B1 mRNA isoforms potentially translate into OATP1B1 protein with unknown function, and that alternative splicing may well be a regulatory mechanism for SLCO1B1 expression during development. This data provides a better understanding of age-related changes in the expression of OATP1B1, and, with that, potentially improves prediction of disposition of endogenous and exogenous substrates.Disclosure(s)BG was supported, in part, by the Ter Meulen fund 2018 provided by the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Brain and Tissue Bank for Developmental Disorders at the University of Maryland is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) contract HHSN275200900011C, reference number, N01-HD-9-0011 and the Liver Tissue Cell Distribution System is funded by NIH contract number N01-DK-7-0004/HHSN267200700004C.
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Josic, D., M. Starovic, S. Stojanovic, T. Popovic, N. Dolovac, J. Zdravkovic, and S. Pavlovic. "First Report of Group 16SrXII-A Phytoplasma Causing Stolbur Disease in Saponaria officinalis Plants in Serbia." Plant Disease 97, no. 3 (March 2013): 420. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/pdis-09-12-0885-pdn.
Full textAbstract:
Saponaria officinalis L. (Caryophyllaceae; also known as bouncingbet or soapwort) is a perennial medicinal plant important for the pharmaceutical industry and used as an expectorant, alterative, laxative, and ointment for some skin diseases and arthritic conditions. S. officinalis plants with typical symptoms (23% in 2011 and 47% in 2012) of phytoplasma infection were observed in Pancevo plantation, Serbia. The symptoms appeared in May with leaves changing color from green to brown with severe reddening and necrosis. Severely diseased plants died. The infected plants had a significant reduction in biomass and quality. To investigate the presence of phytoplasma, total DNA was extracted from 10 symptomatic and four asymptomatic plants by a CTAB method. The nested PCR was carried out using phytoplasma-specific primer set P1/16S-SR followed by R16F2n/R16R2, targeting the 16S rRNA gene sequence of 1.5 and 1.2 kb in length, respectively. The amplicons of expected size were obtained from the symptomatic plants, but not from the asymptomatic plants. To obtain restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns, the R16F2n/R2 amplicons were digested with AluI, TruI1, HpaII, and HhaI endonucleases. The resulting patterns indicated that seven plants were infected by a Stolbur phytoplasma belonging to the 16SrXII-A subgroup, since it had the identical RFLP pattern as the STOL reference strain. The 1.2 kb nested PCR products of representative isolate Sap7 were purified using PCR purification kit (Fermentas, Vilnius, Lithuania) according to the recommended protocol and sequenced using facilities of IMGGI SeqService, Belgrade, Serbia. The obtained sequence was deposited in the NCBI database (GenBank Accession No. JX866951). The phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene sequence from Sap7 had a sequence identity of 97% with GenBank accessions GQ273961.1 (‘Euonymus japonicus’ phytoplasma), JX311953.1 (Candidatus Phytoplasma solani clone 5043), JQ412100.1 (Iranian alfalfa phytoplasma M21), and JN561702.1 (‘Convolvulus arvensis’ stolbur phytoplasma clone P1/P7-Conv2/2010-Bg). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a natural infection of S. officinalis by 16SrXII-A subgroup (Stolbur) phytoplasma in Serbia. As cited by Lee et al. (1), the 16SrI-M subgroup phytoplasma in S. officinalis sample was already detected in Lithuania by Valiunas (2). The identification of phytoplasma in the Pancevo plantation caused the intensification of our biological control tests and efforts to reduce the ecological and economic impacts of these phytoplasmas. References: (1) I. M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 54:1037, 2004. (2) D. Valiunas. PhD thesis, Institute of Botany, Vilnius, Lithuania, 2003.
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Totomirova, Tzvetelina, and Mila Arnaudova. "HbA1c Is Not Potent Glucose Control Assessment Tool in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Treated With Insulin." Journal of the Endocrine Society 5, Supplement_1 (May 1, 2021): A470. http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvab048.960.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is used for defining of glucose control in diabetic patients nevertheless its insufficiency to present overall control in some specific cases. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) is usually used for adjustment of insulin doses but the derived data are helpful for exact glucose control. We assess the potency of HbAc for defining of real glucose control in subgroup of type 2 diabetes patients treated with different insulin regimens. We studied 54 diabetic patients (33 men, 21 women; age 60.23±5.99 years, disease duration 12.64±5.02 years) - 33 with type 2 diabetes on pre-mixed insulin, 21 with type 2 on multiple insulin injection (MII). Patients performed multiple daily blood glucose measurements of fasting and prandial blood glucose for three months period. HbA1c was measured and CGM by using iProTM for seven days was performed at the end of this period. In pre-mixed insulin treated group and in intensified regimen group, moderate positive correlation was found between HbA1c and mean blood glucose derived from CGM (7.64±1.40% and 7.69±1.23%, respectively 7.64±1.48mmol/l and 7.60±1.30mmol/l), with r1=0.642 (p<0.01) and r2=0.570 (p<0.05). Even lower was correlation between HbA1c and time-in-range (r1=0.431 and r2 =0.401). There were no correlations between HbA1c and percentage of time spent below the target and number of hypoglycemic episodes in each group. Same trend of correlations was found comparing HbA1c and mean BG level in eight-point profile. Based on HbA1c assessment 36.36% of patients on premixed insulin, 19.05% of type 2 patients on MII were with good control. After estimation of results from SMBG these percentage were respectively 28.14% and 12.11%. CGM defined 27.27% of patients on premixed insulin, 13.80% of type 2 patients on MII as well controlled. We conclude that in insulin treated type 2 patients HbA1c gives relative information about overall control with no precise presenting of glucose fluctuations and out-of-range values of blood glucose with no information about hypoglycemic episodes. Nevertheless, short observed period CGM data could give much information that is comparable to three months blood glucose measurement and could replace the use of HbA1c for assessment of overall control. Reference: (1) Chehregosha H, et al. Diabetes Ther. 2019; 10, 853–863 (2) Beyond A1c Writing Group. Diab Care. 2018; 41: e92-e94 (3) Hirsch I et al. Diabetes Tech Ther 2017, 19 (3): S38-S48