The identification of Favella ehrenbergii, a marine planktonic ciliate, has largely been based on its lorica features. This approach is potentially problematic given the polymorphic lorica during ...this organism's life cycle. We isolated a population of F. ehrenbergii from the coastal waters of Incheon, Korea, and revealed its infraciliature using the protargol staining method. Phylogenetic analysis based on small subunit rRNA gene sequences was also performed. Results showed that this population possessed 16 collar membranelles (CM) and about 100 somatic kineties. These features are highly conserved, even in later dividers. As such, the number of CM and somatic kineties can be used as key characteristics for identification of Favella species.
This study sought to demonstrate the feasibility of estimating the source strength during implantation in brachytherapy. The requirement for measuring the strengths of the linked sources was ...investigated. The utilized sources were (125)I with air kerma strengths of 8.38-8.63 U (μGy m(2) h(-1)). Measurements were performed with a plastic scintillator (80 mm × 50 mm × 20 mm in thickness). For a source-to-source distance of 10.5 mm and at source speeds of up to 200 mm s(-1), a counting time of 10 ms and a detector-to-needle distance of 5 mm were found to be the appropriate measurement conditions. The combined standard uncertainty (CSU) with the coverage factor of 1 (k = 1) was ∼15% when using a grid to decrease the interference by the neighboring sources. Without the grid, the CSU (k = 1) was ∼5%, and an 8% overestimation due to the neighboring sources was found to potentially cause additional uncertainty. In order to improve the accuracy in estimating source strength, it is recommended that the measurment conditions should be optimized by considering the tradeoff between the overestimation due to the neighboring sources and the intensity of the measured value, which influences the random error.
Ricinus communis agglutinin I (RCA120) is considered a versatile tool for the detection of galactose-containing oligosaccharides. However, possible contamination by the highly toxic isolectin 'ricin' ...has become a critical issue for RCA120's continued use. From a practical viewpoint, it is necessary to find an effective substitute for RCA120. For this purpose, we examined by means of frontal affinity chromatography over 100 lectins which have similar sugar-binding specificities to that of RCA120. It was found that Erythrina cristagalli lectin (ECL) showed the closest similarity to RCA120. Both lectins prefer Galβ1-4GlcNAc (type II) to Galβ1-3GlcNAc (type I) structures, with increased affinity for highly branched N-acetyllactosamine-containing N-glycans. Their binding strength significantly decreased following modification of the 3-OH, 4-OH and 6-OH of the galactose moiety of the disaccharide, as well as the 3-OH of its N-acetylglucosamine residue. Several differences were also observed in the affinity of the two lectins for various other ligands, as well as effects of bisecting GlcNAc and terminal sialylation. Although six other Erythrina-derived lectins have been reported with different amino acid sequences, all showed quite similar profiles to that of ECL, and thus, to RCA120. Erythrina lectins can therefore serve as effective substitutes for RCA120, taking the above differences into consideration.
A bioactive glass–ceramic scaffold was fabricated, in which two interlaced three‐dimensional (3‐D) glass–ceramic walls could serve as active surfaces for the formation of a bond to bone. For its ...fabrication, a 3‐D graphite network acting as a template was prepared using the rapid prototyping method, and then uniformly dip coated with a melt‐derived glass slurry. The resultant sample was heat treated at 900° or 1000°C for 5 h to remove the graphite network and densify the glass–ceramic walls. The fabricated sample exhibited an ultra‐high porosity (∼95%), high compressive strength (0.2±0.03 MPa), as well as a tightly controlled pore structure. In addition, this sample had a high surface area owing to its unique structure, which was expected to enhance the rate of bone growth.
Galactose moiety as the hepatocyte anchorage was covalently coupled with chitosan for the development of synthetic extracellular matrix. Hepatocytes adhesion to galactosylated chitosan (GC)-coated ...polystyrene (PS) dish became as high as 94.7% after 2
h incubation whereas the hepatocytes adhesion to chitosan-coated PS dish was 69.1%, indication of galactose-specific recognition between GC molecules and asialoglycoprotein receptors of hepatocytes. The DNA synthesis of the hepatocytes adhered to GC-coated dish was increased in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) at low concentration of GC (0.05
μg/ml) whereas the DNA synthesis of the hepatocytes adhered to GC-coated dish was decreased in the presence of EGF at high concentration of GC (5
μg/ml). The spreading shapes of the hepatocytes adhered to the surface in the presence of EGF at low concentration of GC (0.05
μg/ml) were enhanced than in the absence of EGF. The hepatocytes adhered to the surface at high concentration of GC (5
μg/ml) showed round shapes and exhibited many spheroid formation after 24
h in the presence of EGF.
BACKGROUNDMasseteric muscle hypertrophy is an uncommon condition represented as a swelling of the masseter muscle. Recent reports have demonstrated the successful use of botulinum in the treatment of ...masseteric hypertrophy.
OBJECTIVEThis study was a prospective trial to evaluate the effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A (Botox) in the treatment of masseteric muscle hypertrophy according to doses of 10, 20, and 30 U.
MATERIALS AND METHODSTwenty-two patients were referred to the dermatologic clinic for the management of masseteric muscle hypertrophy. Ultrasonographic measurements of the thickness of the masseter muscle were performed, and clinical photographs were taken before treatment and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9 months after the treatment.
RESULTSThe median values of percentage reduction of muscle mass were 10.3%, 16.5%, 23.7%, 24.7%, 21.6%, 16.5% in the 10 U group; 11.9%, 18.8%, 24.8%, 27.7%, 26.7%, and 21.8% in the 20 U group; and 12.0%, 19.4%, 25.0%, 27.8%, 37.8%, and 24.1% in the 30 U group.
CONCLUSIONThe adequate dose of botulinum toxin type A for treatment of masseteric muscle hypertrophy should be above 20 U. The effect of botulinum toxin type A is maintained for at least 9 months as the treatment of masseteric muscle hypertrophy.
The morphology and infraciliature of two stichotrichid ciliates, Gastrostyla pulchra (Perejaslawzewa 1886) Kahl, 1932 and Hemigastrostyla enigmatica (Dragesco and Dragesco-Kernéis 1986) Song & ...Wilbert, 1997 , collected from marine and brackish sediments, were investigated by using living observations and protargol impregnations. Both 18S and 28S rRNA genes of these two species were sequenced. The 18S rDNA show high similarities (98.4%-99.7%) among populations of each species. There is about 94% similarity in 18S rDNA genes between G. pulchra and Gastrostyla steinii, the type species of the genus, which has been confirmed to be an oxytrichid by previous studies. In the phylogenetic trees of 18S, 28S, and combined 18S and 28S rDNA, both G. pulchra and H. enigmatica are consistently placed outside the well-established oxytrichid clade. Based on our analyses and previous ontogenetic data, we conclude that these two species may represent some lower groups in the subclass Stichotrichia, and that G. pulchra should represent a new genus, Protogastrostyla n. g. This new genus, which is morphologically similar to Gastrostyla, differs in its morphogenesis: the apical part of the old AZM is retained combining with the newly built membranelles that develop from the proter's oral primordium; the primary primordia of the dorsal kinety; and marginal primordia commence de novo without a definite contribution from the old structure.
Background
The prognostic impact of occluded culprit arteries in non‐ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients beyond 12 months has not been investigated.
Objectives
The impact of occluded ...culprit arteries on a composite of cardiac death (CD), recurrent nonfatal MI (RMI), and target vessel revascularization (TVR) in patients who presented with NSTEMI was investigated during a 48‐month follow‐up using propensity‐score (PS) matching.
Methods
A total of 2,878 NSTEMI patients in the COREA‐AMI (COnvergent REgistry of cAtholic and chonnAm university for Acute MI) Registry were classified according to the angiographic flow of culprit arteries (occlusion OC, n = 1,070; nonocclusion, n = 1,808). After PS matching, the incidence of the primary end‐point, a composite of CD, RMI, and TVR was compared.
Results
The median follow‐up duration was 47.3 months (IQR 32.7–66.2). In the PS‐matched population, the 48‐month cumulative rates of the primary end‐point (27.5% vs. 17.9%, P < 0.001) and each event were higher in the OC group (CD: 9.0% vs. 5.4%, RMI: 16.3% vs. 9.4%, TVR: 10.5% vs. 5.6%, respectively, P < 0.05). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, occluded culprit arteries showed the significant statistical impact on the primary end‐point (HR 1.689 1.385–2.059, P < 0.001) and each event (CD: 1.736 1.218–2.475, RMI: 1.918 1.468–2.505, TVR: 2.042 1.453–2.869, respectively, P < 0.05). Furthermore, in the 12‐month landmark analysis, occluded culprit arteries were still associated with higher risk of primary end‐point beyond 12 months (P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Occluded culprit arteries were independently associated with the higher risk of CD, RMI, and TVR in NSTEMI patients during the 48‐month follow‐up. (J Interven Cardiol 2014;27:12–20)
A new bidirectional switch and snubber circuit are proposed for medium-voltage AC/AC converters. The proposed switch can be constructed using 2-in-1 insulated-gate bipolar transistor and 2-in-1 diode ...modules, and can reduce the voltage stress of the switching device by series connection. The proposed snubber configuration is very simple and can regenerate absorbed energy. On the other hand, timing errors in the switching between the series-connected switches cause a voltage imbalance in the snubber circuit. Therefore, a simple method is proposed for reducing the voltage imbalance that uses one voltage sensor for each switch circuit. This proposed method controls the snubber voltages by adjusting the switch timings. Furthermore, application of the proposed switch circuit to a matrix converter is discussed and is confirmed by experiment.
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