An extended computational approach has been utilized to explore the reactions of acids with carbonyl oxide, also known as Criegee intermediate (CI). The reactions were explored inside water cluster containing 50 water molecules. All possibilities of product formation were considered. Among the considered acids, the rate of 1,4-insertion follows the order - HCOO < HCl < HNO3. The most stable products of the reactions between the considered acids and CI have been identified.

We recently demonstrated that HepaRG cells encapsulated into 1.5% alginate beads are capable of self-assembling into spheroids. They adequately differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells, with hepatic features observed at day 14 post-encapsulation required for external bioartificial liver applications. Preliminary investigations performed within a bioreactor under shear stress conditions and using a culture medium mimicking acute liver failure (ALF) highlighted the need to reinforce beads with a polymer coating. We demonstrated in a first step that a Poly-L-Lysine coating improved the mechanical stability, without altering the metabolic activities necessary for bioartificial liver applications (such as ammonia and lactate elimination). In a second step, we tested the optimized biomass in a newly-designed perfused dynamic bioreactor (PDB), in the presence of the medium model for pathological plasma for 6 hours. Performances of the biomass were enhanced as compared to the steady configuration, demonstrating its efficacy in decreasing the typical toxins of ALF. This type of bioreactor is easy to scale up as it relies on the number of micro-encapsulated cells, and could provide an adequate hepatic biomass for liver supply. Its design allows it to be integrated into a hybrid artificial/bioartificial liver setup for further clinical studies regarding its impact on ALF animal models.

We report here the case of a 51-year-old man presented with inflammatory neck pain and fever. Inflammatory biomarkers were increased. The magnetic resonance imaging showed synovitis of atlanto-odontoid joint, anterior epidural collection, and cerebral vein thrombosis affecting sigmoid sinus and internal jugular venous.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) prevalence substantially increased over the past two decades with relatively high impact on large dairy herds, raising the concern of regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders, and threatening animal and public health. Lack of resources, together with the economic and social consequences of whole-herd stamping-out, makes depopulation an impractical disease control alternative in these herds. The increase in bTB-prevalence was associated with demographic and management changes in the dairy industry in Uruguay, reducing the efficacy of the current control program (i.e. status quo) based on intradermal serial testing with caudal fold- and comparative cervical- tuberculin test-and slaughter of reactors (CFT-CCT). Here, we aimed to assess the epidemiological effectiveness of six alternative control scenarios based on test-and-slaughter of positive animals, using mathematical modeling to infer bTB-within-herd dynamics. We simulated six alternative control strategies consisting of testing adult cattle (>1 year) in the herd every three months using one test (in-vivo or in-vitro) or a combination in parallel of two tests (CFT, interferon-gamma release assay –IGRA- or Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Results showed no significant differences overall in the time needed to reach bTB-eradication (median ranging between 61 to 82 months) or official bovine tuberculosis-free status (two consecutive negative herd-tests) between any of the alternative strategies and the status quo (median ranging between 50 and 59 months). However, we demonstrate how alternative strategies can significantly reduce bTB-prevalence when applied for restricted periods (6, 12, or 24 months), and in the case of IGRAc (IGRA using peptide-cocktail antigens), without incurring on higher unnecessary slaughter of animals (false-positives) than the status quo in the first 6 months of the program (P-value <0.05). Enhanced understanding bTB-within-herd dynamics with the application of different control strategies help to identify optimal strategies to ultimately improve bTB-control and -eradication from dairies in Uruguay and similar endemic settings.

In this article, we study the exponential behavior of 3D stochastic primitive equations driven by fractional noise. Since fractional Brownian motion is essentially different from Brownian motion, the standard method via classic stochastic analysis tools is not available. Here, we develop a method which is close to the method from dynamic system to show that the weak solutions to 3D stochastic primitive equations driven by fractional noise converge exponentially to the unique stationary solution of primitive equations. This method may be applied to other stochastic hydrodynamic equations and other noises including Brownian motion and Lévy noise.

In this paper, we consider the Cauchy problem for three-dimensional isentropic compressible radiation hydrodynamic equations with density-dependent viscosity coefficients. When the viscosity coefficients are given as power of density ($\rho^\delta$ with $\delta>1$), we establish the local-in-time existence of classical solutions containing a vacuum for large initial data. Here, we point out that the initial layer compatibility conditions are not necessary.

In this study, our aim is to provide a modification of the so-called Ismail-May operators that preserve exponential functions eAx, A ∈ ℝ. In consonance to this, we begin with estimating the convergence rate of the operators in terms of usual and exponential modulus of continuity. We also provide a global approximation and a quantitative Voronovskaya result. Moreover, to validate the modification, we exhibit some graphical representations using Mathematica software to compare the original operator and its modification. We conclude that the modified operators not only preserve exponential functions but also provide faster rate of convergence when A > 0.

In this paper, we employ three integration algorithms namely, the well known Kudryashove method, the new Kudryashov method and the unified Riccati equation expansion method to extract optical soliton solutions for the generalized Kudryashov's equation with power nonlinearities. Straddled soliton, bright solitons, dark solitons and singular solitons have been found

Recent researches show that virus-to-cell infection and cell-to-cell transmission are two HIV infection modes. In this paper, we propose a delayed HIV infection model including both virus-to-cell infection and cell-to-cell transmission and CTL immune response. The time delay describes the phenomenon between viral entry and viral production. We show the nonnegativity and boundedness of solution, obtain the equilibrium points and prove local asymptotic stability of the equilibrium points. Then the optimal control problem with antiretroviral therapy and pharmacological delay is posed. We establish and analyze two types of objective functions, one is linear control and the other is quadratic control. Numerical simulations have been performed to verify the stability of equilibrium points and show the optimal control strategies and the effects of control on cells concentration by Matlab and Lingo.

The aim of this work is to investigate the exponential mean-square stability for neutral stochastic differential equations with time-varying delay and Poisson jumps. We give some conditions that all the drift, diffusion and jumps coefficients can be nonlinear, to obtain the stability of the analytic solution. It is revealed that the implicit backward Euler-Maruyama numerical solution can reproduce the corresponding stability of the analytic solution under these nonlinear conditions. This is different from the explicit Euler-Maruyama numerical solution whose stability depends on the linear growth condition. With some requirements related to the delay function and the property of compensated Poisson process, we deal with time-varying delay and Poisson jumps. One highly nonlinear example is provided to confirm the effectiveness of our theory.

Colonoscopy is generally considered a safe procedure, with a low rate of complications. Although rare, the migration of the colonoscope may represents a life-threating events, requiring emergency treatment. We herein describe the case of an elective colonoscopy complicated by an irretrievable colonoscope that migrated, through a previous traumatic diaphragmatic hernia, in the chest cavity. This hernia was likely a chronic complication of a previous abdominal trauma. Several attempts to retrieve the scope were unsuccessful. After further investigations and collegial discussion, a left thoracotomy was performed, with the aim to retrieve the colonoscope and to reduce the hernia.

Objective:Identification of patients who are nonresponders to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with the use of simple and objective parameters may be helpful in tailoring treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate whether E/(Ea×Sa) could be a predictor of CRT nonresponders (E=early diastolic transmitral velocity, Ea=early diastolic mitral annular velocity, Sa=systolic mitral annular velocity). Methods:In total, 53 heart failure patients were evaluated for this study, and 33 patients were included according to the study criteria. Before and six months after CRT-D(CRT with a defibrillator) implantation, E, Ea, and Sa were determined at the medial and lateral mitral annular sites, and the average values were obtained. E/(Ea×Sa) was calculated (medial, lateral, average). The patients were followed for six months to monitor their CRT response. A responder was defined as a patient with a reduction in end-systolic volume of <15% and an increase in six-minute walking distance of 50 meters. Results:At a six-month follow-up, 24(72.7%) of the 33 patients responded to CRT. At the six-month follow-up, in the responder group, the E/Ea ratio, lateral mitral, and average E/(Ea×Sa) indices were significantly reduced (p<0.01 for all). The baseline lateral mitral, medial mitral, and average E/(Ea×Sa) indices were significantly lower in the responder group than in the nonresponder group (p≤0.01 for all). The ROC analysis showed that all the E/(Ea×Sa) indices predict the CRT nonresponder patients. The AUC values were 0.89(lateral E/(Ea×Sa)), 0.85(average E/(Ea×Sa)), and 0.77(medial E/(Ea×Sa))(p≤0.01 for all). Conclusion:We found that the E/(Ea×Sa) index is a novel predictor of CRT nonresponder patients.

We report a case of intravenous drug use-associated tricuspid valve endocarditis in a 28-year-old pregnant female at 26-weeks gestation. Despite appropriate intravenous antibiotics, the patient developed life-threatening complications and underwent planned cesarean delivery at 28 weeks 6 days gestation followed by interval tricuspid valve replacement one week later. Both the patient and her infant were successfully managed through the perioperative period.

Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 is one of the most important pathogens affecting both wild and domestic carnivores. Here, we reported the genetic characterization of canine parvovirus strains from a rescued guiña (Leopardus guigna) and domestic dogs from Chile. Guiña sequence was classified as CPV-2c and phylogenetic analysis of the complete coding genome showed that the guiña CPV-2c strain share a recent common ancestor with Chilean domestic dogs strains. These viruses presented >99% identity and showed three changes in the NS1 protein, CHL-17 V596A, CHL-71 E661K and CHL-guigna L582F. This is the first detection and genetic characterization of CPV-2c infection in guiña worldwide and one of the few comparative studies that undoubtedly determine that the source of infection were domestic dogs. The current findings highlight that guiña is a susceptible species to protoparvovirus infection and that domestic dogs represent an important thread to its conservation. The CPV cross-species transmission between domestic dogs and guiña should be taken into account for protection programs of this endangerous species.

We present a case of a 66-year-old male with dyspnea and bilateral lower-extremity edema. Pericardiotomy and biopsy were performed and reported malignant mesothelioma. Primary pericardial mesothelioma is a highly malignant tumor that has unfavorable prognosis, and is extremely rare, even among heart tumors. In our case, despite the large amount of pericardial effusion of the first echocardiography, the infiltrated like pericardium was still detected. In addition, cytology after pericardiocentesis reported suspicion of malignancy, which followed by pericardiotomy and biopsy, lead to our timely diagnosis.

1. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) has been commonly used to measure gene expression in a number of research contexts, but the measured RNA concentrations do not always represent the concentrations of active proteins which they encode. This can be due to transcriptional regulation or post-translational modifications, or localisation of immune environments, as can occur during infection. However, in studies using free-living non-model species, such as in ecoimmunological research, qPCR may be the only available option to measure a parameter of interest, and so understanding the quantitative link between gene expression and associated effector protein levels is vital. 2. Here we use qPCR to measure concentrations of RNA from mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and spleen tissue, and multiplex ELISA of blood serum to measure circulating cytokine concentrations in a wild population of a model species, Mus musculus domesticus. 3. Few significant correlations were found between gene expression levels and circulating cytokines of the same immune genes or proteins, or related functional groups. Where significant correlations were observed, these were most frequently within the measured tissue (i.e. the expression levels of genes measured from spleen tissue were more likely to correlate with each other rather than with genes measured from MLN tissue, or with cytokine concentrations measured from blood). 4. Potential reasons for discrepancies between measures, including differences in decay rates and transcriptional regulation networks are discussed. We highlight the relative usefulness of different measures under different research questions, and consider what might be inferred from immune assays.

ESP-block produce analgesia. A patient rejects GA for an intervention of capsulated under-apicalular lipoma exeresis. ESP-block is performed. The ESP represents a valid anesthetic alternative for thoracic wall operations whose patients have contraindications to the GA.

Dear Editor,We would like to comment on the systematic review by Li et al.(1)The use of steroid hormones in the first trimester is a serious issue as organogenesis takes place at this time and therefore there is the possibility of harm from not only congenital anomalies, but also long-term, and even inter-generational effects. Anyone investigating the use of steroid hormones in the first trimester should remember the diethylstilbestrol legacy of devastating harm. Oestrogen (C18H24O2) and diethylstilbestrol (C18H20O2) have similar molecular composition, but their effects are poles apart. In this review, the authors have combined progesterone with progestogens; however they are not the same, in the same way that oestrogen and diethylstilbestrol are not the same. Vaginal micronized progesterone, which we used in our large and high-quality trials (the PROMISE (2) and PRISM (3) trials), has identical molecular structure to natural progesterone, but the other drugs included in this review do not (Table 1). We chose to study vaginal micronized progesterone, as it is identical in structure to natural progesterone, and the available evidence and expert opinion suggested that this is least likely to cause harm. It is important to note that there is evidence of potential harm from dydrogesterone, particularly congenital heart disease.(4)The authors make a bold statement in the abstract about the effects of dydrogesterone on live birth rate. However, they don’t fully address the weaknesses in the evidence. Therefore, we wish to highlight the significant deficiencies in the two trials that contributed live birth data that led to the assertion of beneficial effects from dydrogesterone. Both studies were single centre, open-label studies without placebo control. El-Zibdeh et al did not randomise participants, but instead allocated patients to dydrogesterone on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays, and to no treatment on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The trial by Pandian RU was not just a single-centre, but also a single-author study, with insufficient details of the methods to assess its quality. Thus, the effectiveness evidence from these trials cannot be considered reliable.Approximately 80% (4038 of 5056) of the data used in this systematic review come from our PRISM trial.(3) The PRISM trial is a prospectively-registered, randomised, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial conducted to the highest standards in the UK. The trial found a 3% increase in live birth rate, but with borderline statistical significance (RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.07; P=0.08). A pre-specified subgroup analysis in women with the dual risk factors of current pregnancy bleeding and one or more previous miscarriages found a 5% increase in live birth rate (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03-1.15; P=0.003). In those with three or more previous miscarriages, a 15% increase in live birth rate was observed (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.51; P=0.004).(3, 5) No short-term safety concerns were identified. Based on these data, our recommendation is to consider vaginal micronized progesterone for women with early pregnancy bleeding and one or more previous miscarriages. As for the role of dydrogesterone, we need not only high-quality, randomised trial evidence of its effects but also credible evidence of its safety. As dydrogesterone is a synthetic progesterone-like drug, i.e. a progestogen but not progesterone, the burden of proof to demonstrate short- and long-term safety rests on those promoting this drug.