Simple hydrological models, such as the Seasonal Water Yield Model developed by the Natural Capital Project (InVEST SWYM), are attractive as data requirements are relatively easy to satisfy. However, ...simple models may produce unrealistic results when the underlying hydrological processes are inadequately described. We used the variation in performance of the InVEST SWYM across watersheds to identify correlates of poorly modeled outcomes of InVEST SWYM. We grouped 749 watersheds from across North America into five bioclimatic regions using nine environmental variables. For each region, we compared the predicted flow patterns to actual flow conditions over a 15-year period. The correlation between the modeled and actual flows was highly dispersed and relatively poor, with 92% of r2 values less than 0.5 and 42% less than 0.1. We linked cryospheric variables to model performance in the bioclimatic region with the poorest model performance (the Low elevation Boreal Sub-humid region—LeBSh). After incorporating cryospheric conditions into the InVEST SWYM, predictions improved significantly in 30% of the LeBSh watersheds. We provide a relatively straightforward approach for identifying processes that simple hydrological models may not consider or which need further attention or refinement.
Mandibular prognathism (MP) is a recognizable phenotype associated with dentoskeletal class III malocclusion. MP is a complex genetic trait, although familial recurrence also suggests the ...contribution of single inherited variations. To date, the genetic causes of MP have been investigated using linkage analysis or association studies in pooled families. Here for the first time, next-generation sequencing was used to study a single family with a large number of MP-affected members and to identify MP-related candidate genes. A 6-generation kindred with MP segregating as an autosomal dominant character was recruited. To identify family members affected by MP, a standard cephalometric procedure was used. In 5 MP subjects separated by the largest number of meioses, whole-exome sequencing was performed. Five promising missense gene variants (BMP3, ANXA2, FLNB, HOXA2, and ARHGAP21) associated with MP were selected and genotyped in most other family members. In this family, MP seemed to consist of 2 distinct genetic branches. Interestingly, the Gly1121Ser variant in the ARHGAP21 gene was found to be shared by all MP individuals in the larger branch of the family with nearly complete penetrance. This variant is rare in the Caucasian population (frequency 0.00034) and is predicted as damaging by all bioinformatic algorithms. ARHGAP21 protein strengthens cell-cell adhesions and may be regulated by bone morphogenetic factors, thus influencing mandibular growth. Further studies in both animal models and human patients are required to clarify the significance of this association.
Lectins, or carbohydrate binding proteins, recognize specific oligosaccharide structures on glycoproteins and glycolipids. Several families of animal lectins have been identified; for some of these ...lectins, functions such as leukocyte adhesion and microbial opsonization have been described. The galectins are a family of lectins found in species ranging from sponges and nematodes to humans. Members of the galectin family have been proposed to mediate cell adhesion, to regulate cell growth, and to trigger or inhibit apoptosis. The expression pattern of different galectins changes during development, and this pattern is also altered at sites of inflammation and in breast, colon, prostate, and thyroid carcinomas. In addition, the level of expression of some galectins by tumor cells has been shown to be correlated with metastatic potential. The mechanisms by which galectins exert these diverse effects remain largely unknown. Some glycoprotein counterreceptors recognized by certain galectins have been identified; this is an important first step in understanding the cell-type specific effects of different galectins. This review discusses the way in which the modulation of galectin activity may affect strategies for treatment of a variety of human diseases, including autoimmunity and cancer.
Background
A systematic review assessing autologous versus alloplastic bone for secondary alveolar bone grafting in patients with cleft lip and palate was published in 2011 and included only one ...randomized controlled trial comparing traditional iliac bone graft to recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rh-BMP2).
Objectives
To perform a systematic review with meta-analysis on the use of secondary alveolar bone grafting (autologous bone and rh-BMP2 graft) in order to improve bone volume and height in patients with cleft lip and palate.
Data sources
An electronic search was conducted via PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CONTROL) via Cochrane Library, EMBASE via Ovid, and LILAC for studies published between January 2008 and September 2018. The systematic review registration number at PROSPERO was 42018085858.
Eligibility criteria
Only RCTs were included. Inclusion criteria were patients with the diagnosis of unilateral cleft lip and palate older than 5 years of age, radiographic evaluation (CT and/or CBCT) of the cleft area, and at least a 6-month follow-up.
Main outcome measures
Bone formation and bone height by radiographic CT evaluation (preoperatively, after 6 months and after 1 year of follow-up) and length of hospital stay were assessed.
Results
Four studies met strict inclusion criteria. Autologous bone graft showed statistically significant higher bone formation after 6-month follow-up (MD − 14.410; 95% CI − 22.392 to − 6.428;
p
= 0.000). No statistically significant difference was noted after a 1-year follow-up (MD 6.227; 95% CI − 15.967 to 28.422;
p
= 0.582). No statistically significant difference in bone height was noted after 6-month (MD − 18.737; 95% CI − 43.560 to 6.087;
p
= 0.139) and 1-year follow-up (MD − 4.401; 95% CI − 30.636 to 21.834;
p
= 0.742). Patients who underwent rh-BMP2 graft had a statistically significant reduced hospital stay (MD − 1.146; 95% CI − 2.147 to − 0.145;
p
= 0.025).
Limitations
The main limitation is the high risk of bias among included studies.
Conclusion
Autologous bone and rh-BMP2 graft showed a similar effectiveness in maxillary alveolar reconstruction in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate assessing bone graft volume and height although rh-BMP2 graft showed a relative shorter length of hospital stay (high uncertainty level).
We have previously shown that the intact nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) lacks preference for Lo domains when reconstituted in a sphingomyelin (SM), cholesterol (Chol) and POPC (1:1:1) model ...system (Bermúdez V, Antollini SS, Fernández-Nievas GA, Aveldaño MI, Barrantes FJ. J. Lipid Res. 2010; 51: 2629–2641). Here, we have furthered our studies by characterizing the influence of different lipid host compositions on the distribution of purified AChR reconstituted in two model systems (POPC:Chol, 1:1 and POPC:Chol:SM, 1:1:1), involving a) different SM species (porcine brain SM (bSM), 16:0-SM, 18:0-SM or 24:1-SM); or b) induced transbilayer asymmetry, resulting from enrichment in bSM in the external hemilayer. AChR distribution was evaluated by fluorescence resonance energy transfer efficiency between the AChR intrinsic fluorescence and Laurdan or dehydroergosterol fluorescence, and by analyzing the distribution of AChR in detergent-resistant and detergent-soluble fractions (1% Triton X-100, 4 °C). bSM-induced transbilayer asymmetry or the presence of 16:0-SM and/or 18:0-SM (unlike bSM or 24:1-SM) resulted in the preferential partitioning of AChR in Lo domains, suggesting that the localization of AChR in ordered domains strongly depends on the characteristics of the host lipid membrane, and in particular on the sphingolipid composition and transbilayer asymmetry.
Display omitted
•16:0-sphingomyelin favors acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in liquid-ordered domains.•18:0-sphingomyelin also favors AChR in liquid-ordered (Lo) domains.•Neither brain nor 24:1 sphingomyelins promote a preference of Lo domains.•Induction of asymmetry in symmetric models promotes AChR preference of Lo domains.•Intrinsic membrane factors modify AChR's preference for localizing in Lo domains.
SEC III protocol: Early treatment of dentoskeletal Class III malocclusions. The early treatment of dentoskeletal Class III malocclusion is one of the more challenging situations for orthodontists, ...mainly for the uncertainty of stable long-term results due to the interaction of both environmental and genetic aetiological factors. Several interceptive protocols have been proposed during the past decades. The SEC III protocol includes two occlusal acrylic Splints combined with Class III elastics and chin cup. The protocol was proposed to facilitate Class III dentoskeletal correction by eliminating the intercuspation and the tongue thrust with clockwise mandibular rotation and minimal dentoalveolar compensation. The main difference with all the other appliances is the vertical control, which is crucial in difficult cases such as hyperdivergent Class III malocclusions.
Brazil's protected areas under threat Silveira, F A O; Ferreira, M C; Perillo, L N ...
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
08/2018, Letnik:
361, Številka:
6401
Journal Article
Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) is an electrochemical sensing technique that can be used for neurochemical sensing with high spatiotemporal resolution. Carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) are ...traditionally used as FSCV sensors. However, CFMEs are prone to electrochemical fouling caused by oxidative byproducts of repeated serotonin (5-HT) exposure, which makes them less suitable as chronic 5-HT sensors. Our team is developing a boron-doped diamond microelectrode (BDDME) that has previously been shown to be relatively resistant to fouling caused by protein adsorption (biofouling). We sought to determine if this BDDME exhibits resistance to electrochemical fouling, which we explored on electrodes fabricated with either femtosecond laser cutting or physical cleaving. We recorded the oxidation current response after 25 repeated injections of 5-HT in a flow-injection cell and compared the current drop from the first with the last injection. The 5-HT responses were compared with dopamine (DA), a neurochemical that is known to produce minimal fouling oxidative byproducts and has a stable repeated response. Physical cleaving of the BDDME yielded a reduction in fouling due to 5-HT compared with the CFME and the femtosecond laser cut BDDME. However, the femtosecond laser cut BDDME exhibited a large increase in sensitivity over the cleaved BDDME. An extended stability analysis was conducted for all device types following 5-HT fouling tests. This analysis demonstrated an improvement in the long-term stability of boron-doped diamond over CFMEs, as well as a diminishing sensitivity of the laser-cut BDDME over time. This work reports the electrochemical fouling performance of the BDDME when it is repeatedly exposed to DA or 5-HT, which informs the development of a chronic, diamond-based electrochemical sensor for long-term neurotransmitter measurements in vivo.
Galectin-1, a member of the family of beta-galactoside binding proteins, has growth regulatory and immunomodulatory activities. We report here that galectin-1, expressed by stromal cells in human ...thymus and lymph nodes, is present at sites of cell death by apoptosis during normal T-cell development and maturation. Galectin-1 induced apoptosis of activated human T cells and human T leukaemia cell lines. Resting T cells also bound galectin-1, but did not undergo apoptosis. Human endothelial cells that expressed galectin-1 induced apoptosis of bound T cells. Galectin-1-induced apoptosis required expression of CD45, and was decreased when N-glycan elongation was blocked by treatment of the cells by swainsonine, whereas inhibition of O-glycan elongation potentiated the apoptotic effect of galectin-1. Induction of apoptosis by an endogenous mammalian lectin represents a new mechanism for regulating the immune response.
Abstract
Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) are a prompt, high energy, very intense natural emission of gamma rays from Earth’s atmosphere. Consisting of an upward sub-millisecond bursts of gamma ...rays (energy up to one hundred MeV), TGFs are mostly generated in powerful thunderstorms by lightnings. Given their production mechanism, several TGF counterparts can be detected too (mostly radio waves, electron beams and neutrons from photo-production). To investigate the X- and gamma-ray components, the ideal experiment is a space-borne instrument, operating at Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and featuring a fast detector response, possibly with spectral abilities. The CubeSat space mission LIGHT-1, launched in December 21st, 2021 and deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on February 3rd, 2022, has been tailored around such physics requirements and it represents the technological demonstrator of possible larger missions to detect and localize TGF events. LIGHT-1 will help in making advancements in the TGF current knowledge: TGF occurring rates, average ignition altitude, production mechanism and effects on daily life on Earth are yet to be fully modeled and understood. In this paper the main characteristics of LIGHT-1 mission and the first preliminary flight data are reported.
PDF
