Cellulose is a major constituent of papers made from plant fibers and combustible component of non-food energy crops. An ideal reference for scientists in natural and synthetic polymer research, this ...book applies basic biology as well as polymer and sugar chemistry to the study of cellulose. It provides key requirements for understanding the complex structure and biosynthesis of cellulose and its dissolution into new solvents. Cellulose Science and Technologyalso clarifies the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose leading to simple sugars that can be fermented into bioethanol. It examines the bacteria capable of breaking down cellulose and the derivatives that result from the process.
A full-thickness rotator cuff tear (FTRCT) is defined as a complete tear of one of the four rotator cuff muscle tendons (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis or teres minor). This condition ...can lead to pain and reduced function. However, not all FTRCT are symptomatic. A better understanding of the characteristics that lead some individuals with FTRCT to experience pain is fundamental to improve strategies used to manage this condition. This level II descriptive study aimed to explore potential sociodemographic, anatomical, psychosocial, pain sensitivity, biomechanical and neuromuscular variables that may differ between individuals with symptomatic FTRCT and age-matched individuals with asymptomatic shoulders.
In this cross-sectional observational study, adults aged 50 to 80 years of age, either with symptomatic FTRCT or no shoulder pain, were recruited via convenience sampling. Participants filled out questionnaires on sociodemographic and psychosocial variables. Then, various tests were performed, including pain pressure threshold, shoulder range of motion, shoulder muscle strength, shoulder ultrasound and radiologic examination, and sensorimotor functions testing. Each variable was compared between groups using univariate analyses (independent
-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, exact probability Fisher tests). Significance was set at 0.05.
FTRCT (n = 30) and Control (n = 30) groups were comparable in terms of sex, age, and number of comorbidities. The symptomatic FTRCT group showed a higher proportion of smokers (
= .026) and more participants indicated consuming alcohol or drugs more than they meant to (
= .010). The FTRCT group had a significantly higher prevalence of glenohumeral osteophytes (48% vs. 17%;
= .012). Participants in the FTRCT group were significantly more stressed (
= .04), anxious (
= .003) and depressed (
= .002). The FTRCT group also showed significantly higher levels of pain catastrophisation (
< .001) and sleep disturbance (
< .001). The FTRCT group showed significantly lower range of motion for flexion (
< .001), and external rotation at 0° (
< .001) and 90° (
< .001) of abduction. Isometric strength in both abduction and external rotation were weaker (
= .005) for the FTRCT group.
Sociodemographic, anatomical, psychosocial and biomechanical variables showed statistically significant differences between the FTRCT and Control groups.
Highlights • Movement error detection threshold in the direction of plantar flexion was 5.31° ± 2.12° at T1 and 5.00° ± 1.63° at T2. • Test-retest reliability was good (ICC = 0.70; CI95% 0.45-0.85). ...• SEBT’s PM direction and detection threshold were strongly correlated (r = −0.76).
In the mouse embryo, transcriptional activation begins during S/G2 phase of the first cell cycle when paternal and maternal chromatin are still in separate nuclear entities within the same cytoplasm. ...At this time, the male pronucleus exhibits greater transcriptional activity than the female pronucleus. Since acetylation of histones in the nucleosome octamer exerts a regulatory influence on gene expression, we investigated changes in histone acetylation during the remodeling of paternal and maternal chromatin from sperm entry through to minor genome activation and mitosis. We found (1) neither mature sperm nor metaphase II maternal chromatin stained for hyperacetylated histone H4; (2) immediately following fertilization, hyperacetylated H4 was associated with paternal but not maternal chromatin while, in parthenogenetically activated oocytes, maternal chromatin became hyperacetylated; (3) in zygotes, differential levels and patterns of hyperacetylated H4 between male and female pronuclei persisted throughout most of G1 with histone deacetylases and acetyltransferases already active at this time; (4) when transcriptional differences are observed in S/G2, male and female pronuclei have equivalent levels of H4 hyperacetylation and DNA replication was not required to attain this equivalence and (5) in contrast to the lack of H4 hyperacetylation on gametic chromatin, chromosomes at the first mitosis showed distinct banding patterns of H4 hyperacetylation. These results suggest that sperm chromatin initially out-competes maternal chromatin for the pool of hyperacetylated H4 in the oocyte, that hyperacetylated H4 participates in the process of histone-protamine exchange in the zygote, and that differences in H4 acetylation in male and female pronuclei during G1 are translated across DNA replication to transcriptional differences in S/G2. Prior to fertilization, neither paternal nor maternal chromatin show memory of H4 hyperacetylation patterns but, by the end of the first cell cycle, before major zygotic genome activation at the 2-cell stage, chromosomes already show hyperacetylated H4 banding patterns.
Hybrid quantum optomechanical systems
interface a macroscopic mechanical degree of freedom with a single two-level system such as a single spin
, a superconducting qubit
or a single optical emitter
. ...Recently, hybrid systems operating in the microwave domain have witnessed impressive progress
. Concurrently, only a few experimental approaches have successfully addressed hybrid systems in the optical domain, demonstrating that macroscopic motion can modulate the two-level system transition energy
. However, the reciprocal effect, corresponding to the backaction of a single quantum system on a macroscopic mechanical resonator, has remained elusive. In contrast to an optical cavity, a two-level system operates with no more than a single energy quantum. Hence, it requires a much stronger hybrid coupling rate compared to cavity optomechanical systems
. Here, we build on the large strain coupling between an oscillating microwire and a single embedded quantum dot
. We resonantly drive the quantum dot's exciton using a laser modulated at the mechanical frequency. State-dependent strain then results in a time-dependent mechanical force that actuates microwire motion. This force is almost three orders of magnitude larger than the radiation pressure produced by the photon flux interacting with the quantum dot. In principle, the state-dependent force could constitute a strategy to coherently encode the quantum dot quantum state onto a mechanical degree of freedom
.
Conservation and development are intricately linked. The international donor community has long provided aid to tropical countries in an effort to alleviate poverty and conserve biodiversity. While ...hundreds of millions of $ have been invested in over 500 environmental-based projects in Madagascar during the period covered by a series of National Environmental Action Plans (1993-2008) and the protected areas network has expanded threefold, deforestation remains unchecked and none of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) established for 2000-2015 were likely be met. Efforts to achieve sustainable development had failed to reduce poverty or deliver progress toward any of the MDGs. Cross-sectorial policy adjustments are needed that (i) enable and catalyze Madagascar's capacities rather than deepening dependency on external actors such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and donor countries, and that (ii) deliver improvements to the livelihoods and wellbeing of the country's rural poor.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Bone biopsy (BB) performed by a surgeon or an interventional radiologist is recommended for suspicion of osteomyelitis underlying diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). To facilitate its practice, we developed a ...procedure allowing bedside blind bone biopsy (B4) by a diabetologist.
We conducted a three-step observational study consisting of a feasibility and safety phase (phase 1) to assess the success and side effects of B4, a validity phase (phase 2) to compare DFU outcomes between positive (B4+) and negative (B4-) bone cultures, and a performance phase (phase 3) to compare B4 with the conventional surgical or radiological procedure basic bone biopsy (B3). Primary end points were the presence of bone tissue (phase 1) and complete DFU healing with exclusive medical treatment at 12 months (phases 2 and 3).
In phase 1, 37 consecutive patients with clinical and/or radiological suspicion of DFU osteomyelitis underwent B4. Bone tissue was collected in all patients with few side effects. In phase 2, a B4+ bone culture was found in 40 of 79 (50.6%) participants. Among B4+ patients, complete wound healing after treatment was 57.5%. No statistical difference was observed with patients with B4- bone culture not treated with antibiotics (71.8%,
= 0.18). In phase 3, the proportion of patients with positive BB was lower in B4 (40 of 79, 50.6%) than in B3 (34 of 44, 77.3%,
< 0.01). However, complete healing was similar (64.6% vs. 54.6%,
= 0.28). No difference in rate of culture contamination was observed.
B4 is a simple, safe, and efficient procedure for the diagnosis of DFU osteomyelitis with a similar proportion of healing to conventional BB.
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