Besides the wide use of engineered nanomaterials (NMs) in technical products, their applications are not only increasing in biotechnology and biomedicine, but also in the environmental field. While ...the physico-chemical properties and behaviour of NMs can be characterized accurately under idealized conditions, this is no longer the case in complex physiological or natural environments. Herein, proteins and other biomolecules rapidly bind to NMs, forming a protein/biomolecule corona that critically affects the NMs' (patho)biological and technical identities. As the corona impacts the in vitro and/or in vivo NM applications in humans and ecosystems, a mechanistic understanding of its relevance and of the biophysical forces regulating corona formation is mandatory. Based on recent insights, we here critically review and present an updated concept of corona formation and evolution. We comment on how corona signatures may be linked to effects at the nano-bio interface in physiological and environmental systems. In order to comprehensively analyse corona profiles and to mechanistically understand the coronas' biological/ecological impact, we present a tiered multidisciplinary approach. To stimulate progress in this field, we introduce the potential impact of the corona for NM-microbiome-(human)host interactions and the novel concept of 'nanologicals', i.e., the nanomaterial-specific targeting of molecular machines. We conclude by discussing the relevant challenges that still need to be resolved in this field.
Parameter estimation is of fundamental importance in areas from atomic spectroscopy and atomic clocks to gravitational wave detection. Entangled probes provide a significant precision gain over ...classical strategies in the absence of noise. However, recent results seem to indicate that any small amount of realistic noise restricts the advantage of quantum strategies to an improvement by at most a multiplicative constant. Here, we identify a relevant scenario in which one can overcome this restriction and attain superclassical precision scaling even in the presence of uncorrelated noise. We show that precision can be significantly enhanced when the noise is concentrated along some spatial direction, while the Hamiltonian governing the evolution which depends on the parameter to be estimated can be engineered to point along a different direction. In the case of perpendicular orientation, we find superclassical scaling and identify a state which achieves the optimum.
The purpose of this article is to report the author’s technique for using patient-specific distractors for customized distraction osteogenesis of the mandible in patients with Pierre Robin sequence ...and upper airway obstruction. The advantages of virtual planning and patient-specific plates in other aspects of craniomaxillofacial surgery, such as orthognathic and reconstructive surgery, have been reported previously. Similar to patient-specific plates, the theorized advantages of patient-specific distractors in infants with Robin sequence and upper airway obstruction include increased accuracy, decreased operating time, and less morbidity to vital anatomic structures such as the inferior alveolar nerve and developing tooth buds. This technique is novel in using patient-specific distractors in the craniomaxillofacial skeleton.
The possibility of inducing resistance to the two-spotted spider mite,
Tetranychus urticae
Koch, in ‘Gala’ apple trees growing under optimal fertilization or nitrogen-deficiency conditions was ...investigated. The effects of jasmonic acid (JA) at 1.5 and 2.5 mM, and acibenzolar-
S
-methyl (benzothiadiazole, BTH) at 0.5 and 1.5 mM, applied separately or together, on the fecundity of
T. urticae
females in a laboratory test as well as on the population growth of the pest in a greenhouse experiment were determined. The influence of both elicitors on the induction of LOX and PAL gene expression was assessed in a parallel experiment using real-time PCR. Jasmonic acid showed significantly higher effectiveness in inducing apple tree resistance to
T. urticae
, as compared to BTH. This was particularly evident in the reduction in pest numbers that was observed in the greenhouse experiment and was also confirmed by increased LOX gene expression after treatment with JA. BTH induced the expression of the PAL gene more strongly than jasmonic acid; however, this was not reflected in the performance of the two-spotted spider mite in the laboratory and greenhouse experiments. It was also found that the antagonistic effect of BTH on JA might lead to decreased effectiveness of the jasmonic acid used to induce apple tree resistance to the two-spotted spider mite. Although nitrogen fertilization stimulated the development of spider mite populations, the resistance induction mechanism was more effective in N-fertilized plants, which was especially evident at the higher jasmonic acid concentration.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of time, and experience, on the accuracy of maxillary repositioning in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery performed using virtual surgical ...planning (VSP). Patients who had undergone bimaxillary orthognathic surgery were reviewed. Maxillary position on pre- and postoperative computed tomography scans was compared. The patients were divided into groups according to the year in which VSP was performed and surgery completed. Linear distances between upper jaw reference landmarks were measured in all three planes of space to determine accuracy between the preoperative VSP and the surgical outcome at various time points. One hundred subjects met the eligibility criteria for assessment and were allocated to groups: 2013 (n=10), 2014 (n=17), 2015 (n=39), 2016 (n=20), and 2017 (n=14). Overall, the results demonstrated improved precision in maxillary position over the years, with more accurate results in patients who underwent surgery in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Mean linear differences between planned and obtained results demonstrated more accurate results in the horizontal direction, followed by transverse and vertical directions. An overall average difference within 1mm was observed for 51.3% of the measurements included in the sample group. Time, and surgeon experience, can influence the accuracy of maxillary positioning in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery.
Pro-environmental diversification of pasture-based livestock farms in European regions characterized by oceanic/maritime temperate climates is urgently needed to mitigate climate change, protect ...biodiversity, and ensure sustainable food production. To date, little is known about pro-environmental actions implemented by farmers based in these regions, their knowledge and beliefs about the practices they use as well as challenges encountered. The current study uses narrative interviewing approach employed predominantly within the social sciences to elicit and understand life experiences associated with farmers' implementation of pro-environmental diversification. 15 Irish, 7 British, and 7 French farmers engaged in pro-environmental diversification were interviewed using a narrative approach. A qualitative, thematic analysis of the interview data found that, in most cases, farmers' pursuit of pro-environmental diversification was associated with alternative farming systems such as organic agriculture, regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, and permaculture. Primary challengesexperienced by farmers implementing pro-environmental diversification were: a lack of clear regulation; information, and formal training in pro-environmental farming; along with labor requirements. The results of this study help to better understand farmers' motivations in undertaking pro-environmental diversification and their perception of these actions, which can hinder the development of effective strategies and interventions to promote sustainable agriculture practices.
Background
Outcomes for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo‐SCT) have significantly improved in recent years.
Objectives
To assess the ...incremental improvement of transplanted AML patients in the last two decades.
Methods
Patients included in this analysis were adult AML patients who underwent allo‐SCT from an HLA‐matched sibling donor (MSD) or HLA‐matched unrelated donor (MUD) in first remission. Patient outcomes were assessed between three cohorts according to the year of transplant (1993–2002, 2003–2007 and 2008–2012).
Results
The analysis comprised a total of 20 187 patients of whom 4763 were transplanted between 1993 and 2002, 5835 in 2003 and 2007, and 9589 in 2008 and 2012. In multivariate analysis, leukaemia‐free survival (LFS) rates were significantly improved in more recently transplanted patients compared to patients transplanted in 1993–2002 Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.84, confidence interval (CI) 95%, 0.77–0.92; P = 0.003, a benefit which also extended to improved overall survival (OS; HR = 0.8, CI 95%, 0.73–0.89; P < 0.0001), and decreased nonrelapse mortality (NRM) rates (HR = 0.65, CI 95%, 0.56–0.75; P < 0.0001). Subset analysis revealed that in MSD, the rates of LFS, NRM and OS significantly improved in patients in the more recent cohort with similar results also seen in MUD. Finally, the incidence of acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) was significantly reduced leading to improved GVHD‐free/relapse‐free survival (GRFS) rates in more recently transplanted patients.
Conclusion
Outcome of allo‐SCT for AML patients has markedly improved in the last two decades owing to decreased nonrelapse mortality and improved rates of leukaemia‐free survival resulting in significantly longer survival.
The nuclear genome drives differences in immune cell populations and differentiation potentials, in part regulated by changes in metabolism. Despite this connection, the role of mitochondrial DNA ...(mtDNA) polymorphisms (SNP) in this process has not been examined. Using mitochondrial nuclear exchange (MNX) mice, we and others have shown that mtDNA strongly influences varying aspects of cell biology and disease. Based upon an established connection between mitochondria and immune cell polarization, we hypothesized that mtDNA SNP alter immune cell development, trafficking, and/or differentiation. Innate and adaptive immune cell populations were isolated and characterizated from the peritoneum and spleen. While most differences between mouse strains are regulated by nuclear DNA (nDNA), there are selective changes that are mediated by mtDNA differences (e.g., macrophage (CD11c) differentiation), These findings highlight how nuclear-mitochondrial crosstalk may alter pathology and physiology via regulation of specific components of the immune system.
•mtDNA SNP are quantitative trait loci for the immune system.•Major baseline strain differences in immune cell populations appear to be driven by nuclear encoded factors.•mtDNA regulates selective changes in immune cell populations.•Primary mtDNA-mediated effects drive immune cell differentiation/polarization.•CD11c+ expression in large peritoneal macrophages appears to exhibit strong regulation by mtDNA.
Abstract Traditional medial canthopexy techniques require transnasal access, periorbital skin incision, and/or direct canthal suturing, often yielding unpredictable outcomes. The transcaruncular ...canthal barb and miniplate technique is a simplified method of canthopexy that avoids these manoeuvres. 10 transcaruncular medial canthopexies were performed on cadavers with simulated naso-orbito-ethmoid (NOE) injury. Differences in mean pre-injury and post-canthopexy intercanthal distance (ICD) and palpebral aperture width (PAW) measurements were compared using a matched paired t test. Reliability between pre-injury and post-injury intercanthal distance and PAW was compared with intraclass correlation coefficients. Canalicular distortion and final implant position were assessed with post-canthopexy computed tomography (CT). There was no difference in mean palpebral aperture width (32.32 and 32.43 mm) or mean intercanthal distance (29.18 and 29.06 mm) between pre-injury and post-canthopexy groups (both p > 0.05). All intercanthal distance and PAW intraclass correlation coefficients were >0.97 ( p < 0.05). Post-canthopexy, CT scans showed canaliculus distortion in 4/10 of upper and 0/10 of lower canaliculi with all canthal barbs in the correct position relative to the plate. In a cadaver telecanthus model, medial canthopexy using the transcaruncular barb and miniplate technique reliably reduces the medial canthus and did not distort the lower lacrimal canaliculus, but may distort the upper canaliculus.
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