668 research outputs found
Pathophysiology of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia
No full textNeisseria meningitidis is remarkable for the diversity of interactions that the bacterium has with the human host, ranging from asymptomatic nasopharyngeal colonisation affecting virtually all members of the population; through focal infections of the meninges, joints, or eye; to the devastating and often fatal syndrome of meningococcal septic shock and purpura fulminans
Southern Thailand: from conflict to negotiations?
No full textSummary: In this Analysis, University of Leeds professor Duncan McCargo argues that the recent Malaysian-backed Southern Thai peace initiative has now run into some serious problems. He argues that despite its various shortcomings the initiative is still worthy of support, since it has gained far more traction that any previous attempts to address the decade-long insurgency. Thailand needs to maintain focus on the southern conflict despite its current preoccupation with a national-level political crisis that threatens to topple the government of Yingluck Shinawatra.
Key findings
The conflict in Southern Thailand is one of Asia’s most serious insurgencies, with over 6,000 dead over the last 10 years.
The Malaysian government sponsored negotiations represents the best hope for reaching a political settlement and bringing peace to the region.
However, both sides need to show greater commitment to the negotiations, introducing new structures and procedures
From-omics to personalized medicine in nephrology: Integration is the key
No full textLarge-scale gene, protein and metabolite measurements ('omics') have driven the resolution of biology to an unprecedented high definition. Passing from reductionism to a system-oriented perspective, medical research will take advantage of these high-throughput technologies unveiling their full potential. Integration is the key to decoding the underlying principles that govern the complex functions of living systems. Extensive computational support and statistical modelling is needed to manage and connect the-omic data sets but this, in turn, is speeding up the hypothesis generation in biology enormously and yielding a deep insight into the pathophysiology. This systems biology approach will transform diagnostic and therapeutic strategies with the discovery of novel biomarkers that will enable a predictive and preventive medicine leading to personalized medicine. © 2013 The Author
Microbial expression profiles in the rhizosphere of two maize lines differing in N use efficiency
No full textAims: Study of the microbial expression profile in the rhizosphere of two contrasting maize lines, differing in the Nitrogen Use efficiency (NUE). Methods: The Lo5 and T250 inbred maize characterized by high and low NUE, respectively, were grown in rhizoboxes allowing precise sampling of rhizosphere and bulk soils. We conducted metatranscriptomic of rhizosphere and bulk soil by m-RNA sequencing. Results: High activity of bacteria was observed compared to archaea and fungi in both rhizosphere and bulk soils of both maize lines. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were involved in all processes, while significant shifts occurred in the expression of Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Cyanobacteria, archaea and fungi, indicating their possible role in specific processes occurring in rhizosphere of two maize lines. Maize plants with different NUE induced changes in microbial processes, especially in N cycling, with high NUE maize favouring ammonification and nitrification processes and low NUE maize inducing expression of genes encoding for denitrifying process, likely favoured by longer N residence time in the rhizosphere. Conclusions: Overall our results showed that maize lines with different NUE shaped not only microbial communities but also conditioned the microbial functions and the N cycle in their rhizosphere. While the plant NUE is genetically determined and an inherent plant physiological trait, it also stimulates changes in the microbial community composition and gene expression in the rhizosphere, favouring microbial processes that mineralize and oxidize N in the high NUE maize. These results can improve our understanding on plant-microbe interaction in the rhizosphere of crop plants with potential applications for improving the management practices of the agro-ecosystems
Microbial expression profiles in the rhizosphere of two maize lines differing in N use efficiency
No full textStudy of the microbial expression profile in the rhizosphere of two contrasting maize lines, differing in the Nitrogen Use efficiency (NUE). The Lo5 and T250 inbred maize characterized by high and low NUE, respectively, were grown inrhizoboxes allowing precise sampling of rhizosphere and bulk soils. We conducted metatranscriptomic of rhizosphere and bulk soil by m-RNA sequencing. High activity of bacteria was observed com-pared to archaea and fungi in both rhizosphere and bulk soils of both maize lines. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were involved in all processes, while significant shifts occurred in the expression of Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Cyanobacteria , archaea and fungi, indicating their possible role in specific processes occurring in rhizo-sphere of two maize lines. Maize plants with different NUE induced changes in microbial processes, especially in N cycling, with high NUE maize favouring ammo-nification and nitrification processes and low NUE maize inducing expression of genes encoding for denitrifying process, likely favoured by longer N residence time in the rhizosphere. Theseresults can improve our understanding on plant-microbe interaction in the rhizosphere of crop plantswith potential applications for improving the manage-ment practices of the agro-ecosystems
Soft Robots Proprioception Through Stretchable Laser-Induced Graphene Strain Sensors
No full textSoft robotic grippers enable the safe manipulation of delicate objects, guaranteeing their integrity when handled and collected. Integrating sensors into these grippers can enable their proprioception but must avoid compromising flexibility or functionality. This study presents a pneumatic finger-based soft gripper with a novel piezoresistive sensor made of laser-induced graphene (LIG) embedded in dragon skin (DS), an elastomer matrix, offering continuous bending angle measurement. The LIG/DS composite is studied to confirm minimal impact on the gripper's stiffness. Mechanical and electromechanical characterizations are performed for two sensor designs, n1 and n2. Design n1 exhibits superior performance, with a gauge factor (Formula presented.), a linear response of up to 30% strain, and durability exceeding 10 000 cycles. A finite-element method analysis identifies the fingers’ neutral bending plane, guiding optimal sensor placement. Experimental validation confirms theoretical predictions and finds the ideal sensor location, achieving a linear response up to 110° with low hysteresis (8%). The sensor enables real-time monitoring of finger bending during grasping tasks, with a calibration curve linking resistance changes to bending angles. This cost-effective, stretchable, and durable sensor demonstrates high potential for soft robotic applications, offering precise and reliable proprioception without compromising the gripper's soft properties
Expansion of anti-AFP Th1 and Tc1 responses in hepatocellular carcinoma occur in different stages of disease
No full textCopyright @ 2010 Cancer Research UK. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/.Background: α-Fetoprotein (AFP) is a tumour-associated antigen in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is a target for immunotherapy. However, there is little information on the pattern of CD4 (Th1) and CD8 (Tc1) T-cell response to AFP in patients with HCC and their association with the clinical characteristics of patients.
Methods: We therefore analysed CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses to a panel of AFP-derived peptides in a total of 31 HCC patients and 14 controls, using an intracellular cytokine assay for IFN-γ.
Results: Anti-AFP Tc1 responses were detected in 28.5% of controls, as well as in 25% of HCC patients with Okuda I (early tumour stage) and in 31.6% of HCC patients with stage II or III (late tumour stages). An anti-AFP Th1 response was detected only in HCC patients (58.3% with Okuda stage I tumours and 15.8% with Okuda stage II or III tumours). Anti-AFP Th1 response was mainly detected in HCC patients who had normal or mildly elevated serum AFP concentrations (P=0.00188), whereas there was no significant difference between serum AFP concentrations in these patients and the presence of an anti-AFP Tc1 response. A Th1 response was detected in 44% of HCC patients with a Child–Pugh A score (early stage of cirrhosis), whereas this was detected in only 15% with a B or C score (late-stage cirrhosis). In contrast, a Tc1 response was detected in 17% of HCC patients with a Child–Pugh A score and in 46% with a B or C score.
Conclusion: These results suggest that anti-AFP Th1 responses are more likely to be present in patients who are in an early stage of disease (for both tumour stage and liver cirrhosis), whereas anti-AFP Tc1 responses are more likely to be present in patients with late-stage liver cirrhosis. Therefore, these data provide valuable information for the design of vaccination strategies against HCC.Association for International Cancer Research and Polkemmet Fund, London
Clinic
Enzyme activity and microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of two maize lines differing in N use efficiency
No full textAims: Study of the changes in soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity and the microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of two contrasting maize lines differing in the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE).
Methods: The Lo5 and T250 inbred maize characterized by high and low NUE, respectively, were grown in rhizoboxes allowing precise sampling of rhizosphere and bulk soil and solution. We also determined microbial biomass, enzyme activities involved in the C, N, P and S cycles, and the microbial community structure using a phylogenetic group specific PCR-DGGE approach in the rhizosphere and bulk soil of both Lo5 and T250 maize lines.
Results: High NUE Lo5 maize induced faster inorganic N depletion in the rhizosphere and larger changes in microbial biomass and enzyme activities than the low NUE T250 maize line. The two maize lines induced differences in the studied microbial groups in the rhizosphere, with the larger modifications induced by the high NUE Lo5 maize line.
Conclusions: The Lo5 maize line with higher NUE induced larger changes in soil chemical properties and in the enzyme activity, soil microbial biomass and community structure than the low NUE T250 maize line, probably due to differences in the root exudates of the two maize lines
Rivastigmine in Parkinson's Disease Dementia with Orthostatic Hypotension
No full textObjective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the cognitive benefit of rivastigmine is affected by the presence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in patients with Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis on 1,047 patients with PDD from 2 randomized controlled trials comparing rivastigmine versus placebo at week 24 (n = 501) and rivastigmine patch versus capsule at week 76 (n = 546). A drop ≥ 20 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure (SBP) or ≥ 10 in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) upon standing classified subjects as OH positive (OH+); otherwise, OH negative (OH-). The primary end point was the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) at week 24 and the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS) at week 76, using intention-to-treat with retrieved dropout at week 24 and observed cases at week 76, consistent with the original analyses. Results: Overall safety was comparable between OH+ (n = 288, 27.5%) and OH- (n = 730, 69.7%), except for higher frequency of syncope (9.2%) in the OH+ placebo arm. The placebo-adjusted effect of rivastigmine on ADAS-Cog at week 24 was 5.6 ± 1.2 for OH+ and 1.9 ± 0.9 in OH- (p = 0.0165). Among subjects with OH, the MDRS change from baseline at week 76 was higher for rivastigmine capsules versus patch (10.6 ± 2.9 vs -1.5 ± 3.0, p = 0.031). The overall prevalence of OH was lower for rivastigmine than placebo at week 24 (28.3% vs 44.6%, p = 0.0476). Interpretation: The cognitive benefit from rivastigmine is larger in patients with PDD with OH, possibly mediated by a direct antihypotensive effect. ANN NEUROL 2020
A new class of generalized polynomials associated with Hermite and Bernoulli polynomials
No full textIn this paper, we introduce a new class of generalized polynomials associated with the modified Milne-Thomson's polynomials Φ_{n}^{(α)}(x,ν) of degree n and order α introduced by Derre and Simsek.The concepts of Bernoulli numbers B_n, Bernoulli polynomials B_n(x), generalized Bernoulli numbers B_n(a,b), generalized Bernoulli polynomials B_n(x;a,b,c) of Luo et al, Hermite-Bernoulli polynomials {_HB}_n(x,y) of Dattoli et al and {_HB}_n^{(α)} (x,y) of Pathan are generalized to the one {_HB}_n^{(α)}(x,y,a,b,c) which is called the generalized polynomial depending on three positive real parameters. Numerous properties of these polynomials and some relationships between B_n, B_n(x), B_n(a,b), B_n(x;a,b,c) and {}_HB_n^{(α)}(x,y;a,b,c) are established. Some implicit summation formulae and general symmetry identities are derived by using different analytical means and applying generating functions. These results extend some known summations and identities of generalized Bernoulli numbers and polynomial
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