Somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos exhibit extensive epigenetic abnormalities, including aberrant methylation and abnormal imprinted gene expression. In this study, a thorough analysis of X ...chromosome inactivation (XCI) was performed in both preimplantation and postimplantation nuclear transfer embryos. Cloned blastocysts reactivated the inactive somatic X chromosome, possibly in a gradient fashion. Analysis of XCI by Xist RNA and Eed protein localization revealed heterogeneity within cloned embryos, with some cells successfully inactivating an X chromosome and others failing to do so. Additionally, a significant proportion of cells contained more than two X chromosomes, which correlated with an increased incidence of tetraploidy. Imprinted XCI, normally found in preimplantation embryos and extraembryonic tissues, was not observed in blastocysts or placentae from later stage clones, although fetuses recapitulated the
Xce effect. We conclude that, although SCNT embryos can reactivate, count, and inactivate X chromosomes, they are not able to regulate XCI consistently. These results illustrate the heterogeneity of epigenetic changes found in cloned embryos.
The Geant4 photonuclear process is benchmarked by comparing it with experimental data to verify the ability of the Geant4 toolkit to simulate the photo-induced reaction on deformed nuclei in the ...Giant Dipole Resonance (GDR) region. The simulation results are compared with experimental data of the deformed nuclei (153Eu, 160Gd, 165Ho, and 186W) targets in terms of both the average neutron energies and the photonuclear cross-sections. The agreement between the calculated results of the Geant4 photonuclear process model and the experimental measurements is analyzed.
Imaging of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Magee, Andrea L; Montner, Steven M; Husain, Aliya ...
The Radiologic clinics of North America,
11/2016, Letnik:
54, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The management of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) depends on early identification of the disease process, which is complicated by its nonspecific clinical presentation in addition to variable and ...diverse laboratory and radiologic findings. HP is the result of exposure and sensitization to myriad aerosolized antigens. HP develops in the minority of antigenic exposures, and conversely has been documented in patients with no identifiable exposure, complicating the diagnostic algorithm significantly. Prompt diagnosis and early intervention are critical in slowing the progression of irreversible parenchymal damage, and additionally in preserving the quality of life of affected patients.
The use of an acid phosphate binder in place of a commercial silica colloid binder in the fabrication of an alumina fiber membrane was found to result in improved creep resistance (as tested under ...compression at 600 and 800
°C), increased flexural strength (as tested up to 800
°C), increased storage modulus and damping capacity (as tested up to 500
°C), and decreased thermal conductivity (as tested at 600 and 800
°C), in addition to the previously reported increased permeability and compressive strength at room temperature.
D. C. Chung, S. C. Niranjan, J. W. Clark Jr, A. Bidani, W. E. Johnston, J. B. Zwischenberger and D. L. Traber
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston 77251, USA.
A ...mathematical model describing the dynamic interaction between the left
and the right ventricle over the complete cardiac cycle is presented. The
pericardium-bound left and right ventricles are represented as two coupled
chambers consisting of the left and right free walls and the
interventricular septum. Time-varying pressure-volume relationships
characterize the component compliances, and the interaction of these
components produces the globally observed ventricular pump properties
(total chamber pressure and volume). The model 1) permits the simulation of
passive (diastolic) and active (systolic) ventricular interaction, 2)
provides temporal profiles of hemodynamic variables (e.g., ventricular
pressures, volumes, and flow) that agree well with reported observations,
and 3) can be used to examine the effect of the pericardium on ventricular
interaction and ventricular mechanics. It can be reduced to equivalency
with models previously reported by invoking simplifying assumptions.
Furthermore, model-generated "dynamic interaction gains" are employed to
quantify the mode and degree of ventricular interaction. The model also
yields qualitative predictions of septal and free wall displacements
similar to those detected experimentally via M-mode echocardiography. Such
analogies may be extended easily to the study of pathophysiological states
via appropriate modifications to 1) the pressure-volume characteristics of
the component walls (and/or pericardium) and/or 2) the specific time course
of activation of the ventricular free wall or the septum. A limited number
of examples are included to demonstrate the utility of the model, which may
be used as an adjunct to new experimental investigations into ventricular
interaction.
Sociologists often react with hostility to explanations that evoke biology, and some critics of the discipline contend that this "biophobia" undermines the credibility of sociology and makes it seem ...increasingly irrelevant in larger public debates. The negative reactions are many times diffuse and undiscerning of the different endeavors lumped together whenever one speaks broadly of biological (or "biosocial") explanations. We seek to introduce greater awareness of these distinctions with a review organized in terms of some of the distinct ways that the biological can be asserted to be relevant to the conduct of social inquiry. The review has three sections. First, we discuss assertions of the relevance of the human evolutionary past for understanding the character of human nature, for which evolutionary psychology currently receives the most attention. Second, we consider the work of behavioral genetics and the assertion of the relevance of genetic differences between persons for understanding differences in behaviors and outcomes. Third, we consider assertions of the relevance of particular proximate bioindicators for understanding how the biological and social interact, focusing particularly on studies of testosterone and the prospects of developments in neuroscientific measurement. We do not believe that developments in these fields will force sociologists to acquire considerable biological expertise to pursue questions central to the discipline, but we do advocate further efforts from biologically minded sociologists to articulate understandings of the relationship between sociology and biology that will continue to push us past the commonplace view that biological and sociological explanations are inevitably opposed.
Aliskiren, an Oral Renin Inhibitor, Provides Dose-Dependent Efficacy and Sustained 24 Hour Blood Pressure Control in Patients With Hypertension Byung-Hee Oh, Jerry Mitchell, James R. Herron, Jenny ...Chung, Mahmudul Khan, Deborah L. Keefe The efficacy of the novel renin inhibitor aliskiren was investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study in 672 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension. Patients were randomized to receive aliskiren 150, 300, or 600 mg or placebo once daily for 8 weeks. Aliskiren 150, 300, and 600 mg significantly reduced office blood pressure by 13.0/10.3, 14.7/11.1, and 15.8/12.5 mm Hg (systolic/diastolic), respectively, compared with 3.8/4.9 mm Hg with placebo (p < 0.0001). The blood-pressure-lowering effect of aliskiren persisted for up to 2 weeks after treatment withdrawal. Aliskiren was well tolerated. Aliskiren provides significant antihypertensive efficacy with no rebound effects on blood pressure after treatment withdrawal.
Cement pastes containing latex (20–30% by weight of cement), methylcellulose (0.4–0.8% by weight of cement) and silica fume (15% by weight of cement, either as received or acid treated) were compared ...in terms of the dynamic flexural mechanical properties, as expressed by the loss tangent (damping capacity), storage modulus and loss modulus at 0.2–2 Hz (loading frequency) and 30–150 °C. Treated silica fume and latex are by far the most effective admixtures for enhancing the loss tangent (up to 0.18, an increase of up to 390%). Silica fume (whether as received or treated) is the most effective admixture for enhancing the storage modulus (up to 15 GPa). Latex tends to give a high loss modulus (up to 0.18 GPa) at 2 Hz; silica fume tends to give a high loss modulus (up to 2.2 GPa, an increase of up to 2200%) at 0.2 Hz.
The relative dielectric constant of cement paste at 10 kHz–1 MHz is decreased by silica fume addition (from 29 to 21 at 10 kHz) and by steel fiber addition (from 29 to 20 at 10 kHz), due to the ...volume occupied by these admixtures in place of cement. It is increased by latex addition (from 29 to 35 at 10 kHz) and by carbon fiber addition (from 21 to 54 for silica fume cement at 10 kHz) due to the interface between cement and these admixtures. Increasing the carbon fiber content beyond the percolation threshold decreases the relative dielectric constant (from 54 to 49 at 10 kHz).
Background Previous intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) studies have demonstrated modest-to-no benefit and did not include a nationwide sample of hospitals representative of broad thyroidectomy ...practices. This national study was designed to compare vocal cord paralysis (VCP) rates between thyroidectomy with IONM and without monitoring (conventional). Study Design We performed a retrospective analysis of 243,527 thyroidectomies during 2008 to 2011 using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Results Use of IONM increased yearly throughout the study period (2.6% 2008, 5.6% 2009, 6.1% 2010, 6.9% 2011) and during this time, VCP rates in the IONM group initially increased year-over-year (0.9% 2008, 2.4% 2009, 2.5% 2010, 1.4% 2011). In unadjusted analyses, IONM was associated with significantly higher VCP rates (conventional 1.4% vs IONM 1.9%, p < 0.001). After propensity score matching, IONM remained associated with higher VCP rates in partial thyroidectomy and lower VCP rates for total thyroidectomy with neck dissection. Hospital-level analysis revealed that VCP rates were not explained by differential laryngoscopy rates, decreasing the likelihood of ascertainment bias. Additionally, for hospitals in which IONM was applied to more than 50% of thyroidectomies, lower VCP rates were observed (1.1%) compared with hospitals that applied IONM to less than 50% (1.6%, p = 0.016). Higher hospital volume correlated with lower VCP rates in both groups (<75, 75 to 299, >300 thyroidectomies/year: IONM, 2.1%, 1.7%, 1.7%; conventional, 1.5%, 1.3%, 1.0%, respectively). Conclusions According to this study, IONM has not been broadly adopted into practice. Overall, IONM was associated with a higher rate of VCP even after correction for numerous confounders. In particular, low institutional use of IONM and use in partial thyroidectomies are associated with higher rates of VCP. Further studies are warranted to support the broader application of IONM in patients where benefit can be reliably achieved.
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