Direct evidence that twisted flux tube emergence creates solar active regions

The magnetic nature of the formation of solar active regions lies at the heart of understanding solar activity and, in particular, solar eruptions. A widespread model, used in many theoretical studies, simulations and the interpretation of observations, is that the basic structure of an active region is created by the emergence of a large tube of pre-twisted magnetic field. Despite plausible reasons and the availability of various proxies suggesting the accuracy of this model, there has not yet been a methodology that can clearly and directly identify the emergence of large pre-twisted magnetic flux tubes. Here, we present a clear signature of the emergence of pre-twisted magnetic flux tubes by investigating a robust topological quantity, called magnetic winding, in solar observations. This quantity detects the emerging magnetic topology despite the significant deformation experienced by the emerging magnetic field. Magnetic winding complements existing measures, such as magnetic helicity, by providing distinct information about field line topology, thus allowing for the direct identification of emerging twisted magnetic flux tubes.

Photocatalytic degradation of swine wastewater on aqueous TiO2 suspensions: optimization and modeling via Box-Behnken design

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising technology to treat many industrial wastewaters. To date, this potential has not been proven with wastewaters from agricultural origins, such as swine wastewater. In this work, the photocatalytic degradation of swine wastewater was studied by applying a response surface methodology based on the Box-Behnken design. The interactive effects of the variation of factors such as photocatalyst dosage (X₁), wastewater concentration (X₂), and irradiation time (X₃) were analyzed to identify the optimal operating conditions for COD reduction. A second-order polynomial accurately represented organics degradation with a high adjusted R-squared (0.9666). The main effects of factor X₂ and the quadratic effects of factors X₂ and X₃ were the most significant for COD reduction. The optimal conditions for COD degradation were 1.16 g L⁻¹ for photocatalyst dosage, 1.68% for wastewater concentration, and irradiation time of 9.2 h. These results have been validated in a confirmation experiment and COD removal reached 91.7% (98.1 % predicted). Based on the Langmuir—Hinshelwood model, the reaction rate constant was 3.9×10⁻³ min⁻¹. Besides, FTIR analysis indicated that Aeroxide® TiO₂ reusability may be possible, especially for low wastewater concentrations. Heterogeneous photocatalysis can be applied as a technology for the integrated treatment of industrial wastewaters resulting from swine production.

Exploitation of technological variability among wild non-Saccharomyces yeasts to select mixed starters for the production of low alcohol wines

Increase of the sugar content in grape must, and consequently, alcohol levels in wine are some of the principal problems affecting the winemaking industry. High alcohol content can compromise wine quality, creating sensory imbalances, as well as decreasing the perception of some flavors. The technological approaches proposed at this aim, although allowing achievement of the purpose, can determine negative influence on quality of wine. A promising strategy is based on the use of specific microorganisms, such as selected yeast strains, mainly non-Saccharomyces, able to convert grape must sugars towards secondary metabolites rather than ethanol. This study aims at screening of wild non-Saccharomyces strains in order to identify those suitable for the use in mixed starter for the production of wine with reduced alcohol content and, at the same time, with improved aromatic characteristics.

Pre-Processing MALDI/TOF Mass Spectra by Using Geena 2

Geena 2 is a tool for filtering, averaging, and aligning MALDI/TOF mass spectra, designed to assist scientists in the analysis of high volumes of data and support them for comparative studies. Three web interfaces are available with different levels of complexity. In this manuscript, we explain how to use Geena 2 with these three interfaces to perform analyses of one's own data. Two support protocols showing how to check the example input file and how to create an input file with own data are also presented. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Immunosuppressive Acidic Protein (Iap) and Ca 125 Assays in Detection of Human Ovarian Cancer: Preliminary Results

Serum levels of the immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) and CA-125 were measured in 45 patients with ovarian tumors (30 malignant and 15 benign) before surgery. Concentrations of both markers were slightly increased in benign forms but still within the upper limit for controls.

The sensitivity of IAP in detecting ovarian cancer was higher than CA-125 (83.4% versus 76.7%). Five false negatives were observed in IAP assay and seven for CA-125. Parallel determination of both markers, however, improved the diagnostic accuracy up to 90.0% of the total malignant cases. Combined measurements of circulating IAP and CA-125 are therefore recommended in the detection of ovarian cancers.

The application of telemedicine in the follow-up of lung transplantation in a patient with cystic fibrosis

The Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Unit of Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù in Rome (Italy) has more than 25 years of experience in diagnosis and treatment of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) related diseases. The CF Unit actively collaborates with the Transplantation Division for the follow-up of patients with CF who undergo lung transplantation, performed in our Unit since 1991. We present the case of a 19 year-old girl with CF, with severe respiratory failure for which it was subjected to two lung transplant. During the follow-up the remote monitoring has allowed the identification of an early episode of pulmonary relapse and graft-versus-host reaction even before the onset of symptoms, allowing an effective intervention and a complete recovery of lung function.

Contributed Review: Review of thermal methods for space charge measurement

The space charge accumulation phenomenon has garnered great interest over the last two decades because of the increased use of direct current in high voltage electrical systems. In this context, a significant relevance has been achieved by the thermal methods, used for solid dielectrics. This paper presents a review of this non-destructive measurement system used for the measurement of space charge. The thermal pulse method, the thermal step method, and the laser intensity modulation method are described. For each configuration, the principle of operation, the thicknesses analyzed, and the spatial resolution are described, reporting also the main related applications.

New Directions in the Use of Carbon as Vascular Graft Material

Carbon has been used to improve the thromboresistance of synthetic vascular prostheses, and for this pur pose, dacron grafts have been coated with carbon. Owing to the contradic tory results reported in the literature, a new kind of vascular conduit, ex clusively textured from carbon fi bers, has been developed. The pres ent research study was undertaken to compare carbon and expanded poly tetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) grafts when used as vascular substitutes. Fifty-six experimental animals were divided into four equal groups and underwent substitution of segments of infrarenal aorta or inferior vena cava (IVC), through use of either carbon or e-PTFE grafts. Prosthetic segments were removed fifteen sec onds, or sixty minutes, or seven, fif teen, thirty, sixty, or one hundred twenty days after implantation. Spec imens were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Cumu lative patency rates, calculated by the life-table method at 120 days after surgery, were 72% for aortic carbon grafts, 41 % for aortic e-PTFE grafts, and 0% for both carbon and e-PTFE grafts implanted on the IVC. Carbon conduits performed significantly bet ter than e-PTFE conduits when used as small-caliber arterial substitutes (p < 0.05). Fifteen seconds after blood contact, the inner surface of carbon prostheses, regardless of the implantation site, was covered with a thin proteinaceous layer, whereas e- PTFE grafts appeared almost com pletely free from hematic deposits.

One hour after implantation, a red thrombus was found to overlay the luminal surface of both carbon and e- PTFE prostheses. This layer ap peared to be thicker on the e-PTFE grafts than on the carbon grafts and thicker on the venous grafts than on the arterial. The endothelialization process of the blood-prosthesis inter face seemed to be slightly more rapid on the carbon than on the e-PTFE aortic grafts. In conclusion, this new carbon graft would appear to possess promising specifications, making it suitable for small-caliber arterial (but not venous) replacement.

Predicting survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transarterial chemoembolisation

BACKGROUND

Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is first-line treatment in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and rescue treatment after failure of radical treatments in early stage HCC. Prognostic tools for HCC using time-fixed Cox models may be unreliable in patients treated with TACE because time-varying predictors interact.

AIM

To explore time-dependent variables as survival predictors in patients with HCC receiving TACE as first-line or second-line treatment.

METHODS

Eighty four consecutive patients with HCC (mean age 68; male gender 62%; Child-Pugh class: A n=73, B n=11; Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer class: A n=44, B n=24, C n=16) treated with TACE were enrolled. Clinical, laboratory and radiological follow-up data were collected from the time of first treatment. Time-fixed and time-dependent Cox analyses were done.

RESULTS

Overall survival rates were 89.6% (95% CI 82.5-97.2) at 12months, 58.8% (95% CI 46.2-74.9) at 24, 35.4% (95% CI 22.3-56.1) at 36 and 17.2% (95% CI 7.0-41.7) at 48months. Performance status (P<0.001), number of nodules (P<0.016) and prior therapy (P=0.017) were the only variables strongly linked to survival by time-fixed Cox model. Performance status (P<0.001), prior therapy (P=0.005), number of treatments (P=0.013), complete response after TACE (P=0.005) and bilirubin level (P<0.001) were associated with survival using a time-dependent Cox model.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival after TACE is influenced most by performance status, complete response and bilirubin. Compared with the time-fixed models, a time-dependent Cox model has the potential to estimate a more precise prognosis in HCC patients treated with TACE.

Effects of antipsychotics on cognitive functions: an ERP study in healthy controls

Introduction

Clinical studies on cognitive effects of second generation antipsychotics produced disappointing findings probably due to the heterogeneity of the clinical populations under investigation, as well as to poor sensitivity of neurocognitive indices. Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) provide a functional measure of electrical brain activity time-locked to discrete stages of information processing. They have been widely used as putative biological markers of cognitive abnormalities in schizophrenia and represent useful indices in the investigation of the cognitive effects of psychotropic drugs.

Objectives

The present study investigated the effect of risperidone, haloperidol and placebo on N1 and P3 in male healthy subjects.

Methods

ERPs were recorded during a three-tone oddball task in which target, standard and rare-nontarget tones were randomly presented. Subjects had to press a button when hearing a target tone. Amplitude and topography of the ERP component maps at peak latencies were compared across conditions. If a significant drug effect was obtained, changes in the cortical sources of the corresponding ERP component were analyzed using Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA).

Results

The amplitude of N1 for attended stimuli and of P3 for rare-nontargets (P3a) was significantly increased only by risperidone. No significant change was observed in overall topographic features and in LORETA cortical sources of the same components. No significant drug effect was demonstrated for the latency of all the investigated components and for P3b amplitude.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that risperidone has a favorable effect on early attention processes and automatic attention allocation.

Mesostructure of the Exoskeleton of the Lobster Homarus Americanus

The exoskeleton of the lobsterHomarus americanusis a multiphase bio-composite which consists of a fibrous organic matrix (crystalline α-chitin and various types of non-crystalline proteins) and embedded biominerals (mainly calcite). In this study we present experimental data about the microscopic and mesoscopic structure of this material.

Decreased periprosthetic bone loss in patients treated with clodronate: a 1-year randomized controlled study

The efficacy of clodronate to reduce bone loss around uncemented stems after total hip arthroplasty(THA) was evaluated. Ninety-one patients operated with uncemented THA were randomized to receive either intramuscular clodronate at a dose of 100 mg weekly for 12 months or no treatment. Periprosthetic and contralateral bone mineral density (BMD) scans were performed and biochemical markers of bone turnover measured at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. At month 12, with the exception of Gruen zones 4 and 5, patients treated with clodronate showed less bone loss at all zones, reaching statistical significance (P\0.05) in Gruen zones 2 and 6 (difference of 6.6 and 5.9%, respectively). Analysis of data according to gender revealed sex-related differences in bone loss and efficacy of treatment. After 12 months, the difference in bone loss between treated and untreated women in five out of seven Gruen zones ranged from 6.2 to 13.3% (SS at zones 2 and 6), whereas comparison between treated and untreated men showed no BMD differences in all zones(P[0.05). Median percent changes in serum levels of markers of bone metabolism by gender were consistent with BMD changes. A 1-year treatment with intramuscular clodronate determined a significant reduction of bone loss after THA. This was mainly attributed to its greater efficacy in the female population, which is at higher risk for bone loss. This observation suggests the need for the characterization of high-risk subjects as potential candidates for prevention strategies.

Biological diversity of Saccharomyces yeasts of spontaneously fermenting wines in four wine regions: comparative genotypic and phenotypic analysis

Combination of molecular genetic analysis (karyotyping, PCR-RFLP of MET2, the ITS1-ITS2 region and the NTS region) and physiological examination (melibiose and mannitol utilization, sugar-, ethanol- and copper tolerance, killer activity, fermentation vigor and production of metabolites) of yeasts isolated from spontaneously fermenting wines in four wine regions revealed very high diversity in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae populations. Practically each S. cerevisiae isolate showed a unique pattern of properties. Although the strains originating from the same wine were quite similar in certain traits, they showed diversity in other properties. These results indicate that alcoholic fermentation in grape wines is performed by highly diverse yeast consortia rather than by one or two dominating strains. The less frequent Saccharomyces uvarum strains were less diverse, showed lower karyotype variability, were Mel(+), Man(+), more sensitive to 60% sugar, and ethanol or copper in the medium. They produced less acetic acid and fermented better at 14 degrees C than most of the S. cerevisiae isolates, but certain S. cerevisiae strains showed comparably high fermentation rates at this temperature, indicating that it is not a general rule that S. uvarum ferments better than S. cerevisiae at low temperatures. The segregation of certain traits (melibiose utilization, mannitol utilization and copper resistance) in both species indicates that the genomes can easily change during vegetative propagation. The higher diversity among the S. cerevisiae isolates suggests that the S. cerevisiae genome may be more flexible than the S. uvarum genome and may allow more efficient adaptation to the continuously changing environment in the fermenting wine.

Effects of marine n-3 fatty acids on circulating levels of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with chronic heart failure

Inflammatory markers as circulating soluble cellular adhesion molecules (sCAMs) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) are elevated in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and may constitute an increased risk of adverse outcome. Marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( n-3 PUFA) may have anti-inflammatory effect and reduce levels of sCAMs (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), vascular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), P-selectin) and hsCRP. In a randomized, controlled trial, 138 patients with NYHA class II-III CHF were allocated to receive a daily supplement of 0.9 g of n-3 PUFA or olive oil for 24 weeks. After supplementation, no significant changes occurred in sCAMs or hsCRP after adjusting for possible confounders. However, a significant reduction was observed in sP-selectin in patients receiving n-3 PUFA, but this result was only of borderline significance in a between-group analysis. In conclusion, a daily supplement with 0.9 g of n-3 PUFA does not significantly affect plasma levels of sCAMs or hs-CRP in patients with CHF. n-3 PUFA may reduce sP-selectin, indicating a possible effect on platelet (and endothelial) activation. The results also indicate that the low dose of n-3 PUFA used in many intervention trials does not have deleterious effects on sCAMs or hsCRP.

[A case of Kaposi's sarcoma in the rapamycin era]

We report a case of Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient who received a double kidney transplant in 2005. Immunosuppression was induced with rapamycin and antilymphocyte serum while maintenance therapy consisted of rapamycin, corticosteroids and mycophenolic acid. The patient developed delayed graft function but no rejection. In November 2006 and March 2007 two graft biopsies were taken because of a significant rise in serum creatinine; they revealed chronic allograft nephropathy and polyomavirus infection. Meanwhile a skin biopsy of the leg was performed to determine the nature of a discolored lesion. The morphohistological diagnosis was Kaposi's sarcoma. For this reason rapamycin was stopped and steroid treatment gradually reduced. Specific therapy with doxorubicin was started; radiological and endoscopic examination excluded disseminated disease while serological tests were positive for antibodies to HHV-8, a virus known to cause Kaposi's sarcoma. Unfortunately, withdrawal of antirejection therapy caused loss of the graft, so the patient had to start dialysis. In this report we stress the possible development of malignancy in transplanted patients who are given rapamycin. Rapamycin is known to be an antirejection drug and to have antineoplastic activity; the major risk of malignancy is probably related to immunosuppression rather than the type of drugs used to obtain it.

Antibiotic effects on SO4(2-) uptake in human erythrocytes

The erythrocyte is a cell highly exposed to oxygen pressure that, in turn, provokes oxidative stress involving loss of SH-groups, cell shrinkage by activation of K(+)-Cl(-) cotransport (KCC) and membrane destabilization which plays an important role in the premature haemolysis of red blood cells (RBCs). Oxidative stress provoked by chemicals frequently occurs in human erythrocytes. The aim of this study was to test whether the antibiotics alter the redox state and investigate their influences on band 3 protein that is involved in the facilitated electro neutral exchange of Cl(-) for HCO(3)(-) across the membrane of mammalian erythrocytes. Normal erythrocytes were treated with some antibiotics and thiol oxidizing agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and tested for sulphate uptake, K(+) efflux and for glutathione (GSH) concentration as an index of oxidative stress. The rate constant of SO(4)(=) uptake measured in erythrocytes treated with antibiotics as well as NEM was decreased with respect to control cells as a result of band 3 SH-groups oxidation or the stress-induced K(+)-Cl(-) symport-mediated cell shrinkage. In fact, this hypothesis was verified by increased K(+) efflux and decreased GSH values measured in treated erythrocytes compared to controls.

X-ray flares in early GRB afterglows

The Swift X-ray Telescope (XRT) has discovered that flares are quite common in early X-ray afterglows of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), being observed in roughly 50% of afterglows with prompt follow-up observations. The flares range in fluence from a few per cent to approximately 100% of the fluence of the prompt emission (the GRB). Repetitive flares are seen, with more than four successive flares detected by the XRT in some afterglows. The rise and fall times of the flares are typically considerably smaller than the time since the burst. These characteristics suggest that the flares are related to the prompt emission mechanism, but at lower photon energies. We conclude that the most likely cause of these flares is late-time activity of the GRB central engine.

Molekularbiologie, Grundlagenforschung und Diagnose des Morbus Hirschsprung

The proto-oncogene RET is the major gene responsible for Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR), with RET mutations also implied in different pathologies. A variety of mutations of the RET proto-oncogene have been detected in HSCR patients. Special attention should be paid to rare patients who carry mutations of one of the critical cysteine residues of these exons, known to predispose to MEN2A. In these cases, HSCR can be associated with the development of neuroendocrine tumors such as medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or MEN2A, for which a prophylactic thyroidectomy is advisable in the presence of a tumor causing RET mutation. In combined MEN2A/HSCR families, RET gene testing, tumor screening and prophylactic thyroidectomy are indicated as in MEN2A. The multigenic origin of HSCR and the absence of a "standard" RET mutation associated with HSCR currently make a routine molecular diagnosis impossible.

A short course of pegylated interferon-alpha in acute HCV hepatitis

Acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection evolves to chronicity in 50-84% cases. Treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) was repeatedly found to provide sustained cure rates higher than that in chronic HCV infection, but the optimal treatment strategy has not yet been defined. In a multicentre open-label study, we investigated the therapeutic performance of a short course of pegylated (peg) IFN-alpha in patients with acute HCV hepatitis. Peg IFN-alpha2b, 1.0-1.5 micro g/kg weekly, was administered for 12 weeks. Forty-six patients were enrolled; 26 of them were intravenous drug users. Eleven patients had jaundice. Treatment was started within 1-90 days from the peak alanine aminotransferase. Treatment was well tolerated with a single dropout (2%). Thirty-three of 46 patients (72%) had a sustained virological response (SVR) after a 6 months post-treatment follow-up, 8 (17%) relapsed after treatment and 4 were nonresponders (9%). A lower peak viraemia, receiving at least 1.2 micro g/kg of peg IFN-alpha, and a negative HCV-RNA at week 4 and week 12 were predictors of SVR. Thus, in patients with early (week 4) viral response, a short course of peg IFN-alpha at a weekly dose >1.2 micro g/kg, may be a valuable option for the treatment of acute HCV hepatitis.

Cowper's glands and ducts: radiological findings in children

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to describe the radiological features of simple or dilated (syringocele) Cowper's ducts in a large paediatric population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Voiding cystourethrography procedures performed during the past 24 years were evaluated taking into special account urethral morphology. The procedures were performed to study all sorts of possible urinary affections.

RESULTS

A total of 1,676 male children (age: newborn to 18 years) underwent 2,340 voiding cystourethrographies. Opacification of Cowper's ducts was observed in nine children (0.53%) - in six (0.35%) as a thin, radiopaque image running parallel to the inferior edge of the membranous-bulbar urethra and in three (0.18%) as a dilated structure (syringocele); this was a source of significant voiding problems.

CONCLUSIONS

Opacification of Cowper's ducts - even if rare - has to be recognised as a possible anatomical finding during voiding cystourethrography in paediatric patients. An accessory finding devoid of pathological meaning in most cases, it can, however, be a possible cause of voiding disorders in some instances.

The association of GRB 060218 with a supernova and the evolution of the shock wave

Although the link between long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and supernovae has been established, hitherto there have been no observations of the beginning of a supernova explosion and its intimate link to a GRB. In particular, we do not know how the jet that defines a gamma-ray burst emerges from the star's surface, nor how a GRB progenitor explodes. Here we report observations of the relatively nearby GRB 060218 (ref. 5) and its connection to supernova SN 2006aj (ref. 6). In addition to the classical non-thermal emission, GRB 060218 shows a thermal component in its X-ray spectrum, which cools and shifts into the optical/ultraviolet band as time passes. We interpret these features as arising from the break-out of a shock wave driven by a mildly relativistic shell into the dense wind surrounding the progenitor. We have caught a supernova in the act of exploding, directly observing the shock break-out, which indicates that the GRB progenitor was a Wolf-Rayet star.

Network integration of data and analysis of oncology interest

The Human Genome Project has deeply transformed biology and the field has since then expanded to the management, processing, analysis and visualization of large quantities of data from genomics, proteomics, medicinal chemistry and drug screening. This huge amount of data and the heterogeneity of software tools that are used implies the adoption on a very large scale of new, flexible tools that can enable researchers to integrate data and analysis on the network. ICT technology standards and tools, like Web Services and related languages, and workflow management systems, can support the creation and deployment of such systems. While a number of Web Services are appearing and personal workflow management systems are also being more and more offered to researchers, a reference portal enabling the vast majority of unskilled researchers to take profit from these new technologies is still lacking. In this paper, we introduce the rationale for the creation of such a portal and present the architecture and some preliminary results for the development of a portal for the enactment of workflows of interest in oncology.