2,392 research outputs found
Holt-Oram syndrome with right lung agenesis caused by a de novo mutation in the TBX5 gene
No full textExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation to rescue profound pulmonary hemorrhage due to idiopathic hemosiderosis in a child.
No full textSeabed foraging by Antarctic krill: Implications for stock assessment, bentho-pelagic coupling, and the vertical transfer of iron
No full textA compilation of more than 30 studies shows that adult Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) may frequent benthic habitats year-round, in shelf as well as oceanic waters and throughout their circumpolar range. Net and acoustic data from the Scotia Sea show that in summer 2-20% of the population reside at depths between 200 and 2000 m, and that large aggregations can form above the seabed. Local differences in the vertical distribution of krill indicate that reduced feeding success in surface waters, either due to predator encounter or food shortage, might initiate such deep migrations and results in benthic feeding. Fatty acid and microscopic analyses of stomach content confirm two different foraging habitats for Antarctic krill: the upper ocean, where fresh phytoplankton is the main food source, and deeper water or the seabed, where detritus and copepods are consumed. Krill caught in upper waters retain signals of benthic feeding, suggesting frequent and dynamic exchange between surface and seabed. Krill contained up to 260 nmol iron per stomach when returning from seabed feeding. About 5% of this iron is labile, i.e., potentially available to phytoplankton. Due to their large biomass, frequent benthic feeding, and acidic digestion of particulate iron, krill might facilitate an input of new iron to Southern Ocean surface waters. Deep migrations and foraging at the seabed are significant parts of krill ecology, and the vertical fluxes involved in this behavior are important for the coupling of benthic and pelagic food webs and their elemental repositories
Holt-Oram syndrome with right lung agenesis caused by a de novo mutation in the TBX5 gene
No full textSC
Prognostic Factors of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
No full textBackground and purpose: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies. We tried to elucidate the possible prognostic factors. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of ATC patients in National Taiwan University Hospital from 1978 to 2003. Their demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, laboratory data and treatment modalities were reviewed. Possible prognostic factors for survival were evaluated. Results: Forty-five patients (114 males and 31 females) of mean age 61.9 +/- 12.6 yr were included in this study. The median survival time was 94 days (range 6 to 776 days). The overall survival rate was 27% at 6 months and 10% at 1 yr. Thirty-two patients receiving intervention regimens had a median survival of 106 days, while 13 patients receiving palliative therapy had a median survival of 39 days. The difference in survival is statistically significant (logrank test, p= 0.017). Adjusted with sex and age, increment in white blood cell count ( per 10(9)/l) and serum albumin (per 1.0 g/l) had a hazard ratio of 1.12 ( Cox regression, p 10(10)/l] or hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin <35 g/l) had significant shorter survival than patients without leukocytosis or hypoalbuminemia (logrank test p=0.008 and p=0.032, respectively). Patients with serum T-4 levels lower than 64. 35 nmol/l had significantly shorter survival than patients without hypothyroxinemia (median survival 24 vs 128 days, logrank test, p=0.004). Conclusions: ATC is an aggressive malignancy. Leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia and hypothyroxinemia indicated poor prognosis. Survival time might be prolonged if intervention treatment is tolerable
Evaluating the contribution of Yr genes to stripe rust resistance breeding through marker-assisted detection in wheat
No full textNumerous stripe rust resistance genes have been identified from wheat, and new virulent races of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici have also emerged in recent years. Deployment of diverse combinations of resistance genes is an efficient way to combat virulent evolution of strip rust pathogen. In this study, publically available molecular markers were used to identify the distribution of 36 Yr genes in 672 wheat accessions. The effectiveness of Yr genes individually and in combinations was also evaluated in field conditions. The result showed effective resistance of some recently applied genes, such as Yr15 and Yr65. It also showed the lost efficacy of some once widely used genes, such as Yr9 and Yr10. Moreover, significant additive effects were observed in some gene combinations, such as Yr9 + Yr18 and Yr30 + Yr46. Proper deploying of Yr genes and utilizing the positive interactions will be helpful for durable resistance breeding in wheat
Decreasing pH trend estimated from 25-yr time series of carbonate parameters in the western North Pacific
Full text linkWe estimated long-term trends of ocean acidification in surface waters in latitudinal zones from 3°N to 33°N along the repeat hydrographic line at 137°E in the western North Pacific Ocean. Estimates were based on the observational records of oceanic CO2 partial pressure and related surface properties over the last two decades. The computed pH time series both for 25 years in winter (late January to early February) and for 21 years in summer (June to July) exhibited significant decreasing trends in the extensive subtropical to equatorial zones, with interannual variations that were larger in summer. The calculated rates of pH decrease ranged from 0.0015 to 0.0021 yr^[-1] (average, 0.0018 ± 0.0002 yr^[-1]) in winter and from 0.0008 to 0.0019 yr^[-1] (average, 0.0013 ± 0.0005 yr^[-1]) in summer. The thermodynamic effects of rising sea surface temperature (SST) accounted for up to 44% (average, 15%) of the trend of pH decrease in the subtropical region in winter, whereas a trend of decreasing SST slowed the pH decrease in the northern subtropical region (around 25°N) in summer. We used the results from recent trends to evaluate future possible thermodynamic changes in the upper ocean carbonate system
Delayed monochromatic hue matches indicate characteristics of visual memory
No full textMeasured short-term memory for 16 monochromatic hues after 6 delays by means of an iterative, momentary stimulus-matching technique. Observers were 4 25-43 yr old males including the 1st author
Assessing bone microstructure at the distal radius in children and adolescents using HR-pQCT: A methodological pilot study
No full textWe examined the use of high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT [XtremeCT; Scanco Medical, Switzerland]) to assess bone microstructure at the distal radius in growing children and adolescents. We examined forearm radiographs from 37 children (age 8–14 yr) to locate the position of the ulnar and radial growth plates. We used HR-pQCT to assess bone microstructure in a region of interest (ROI) at the distal radius that excluded the growth plate (as determined from the radiographs) in all children (n = 328; 9–21 yr old). From radiographs, we determined that a ROI in the distal radius at 7% of bone length excluded the radial growth plate in 100% of participants. We present bone microstructure data at the distal radius in children and adolescents. From the HR-pQCT scans, we observed active growth plates in 80 males (aged 9.5–20.7 yr) and 92 females (aged 9.5–20.2 yr). The ulnar plate was visible in 9 male and 17 female participants (aged 11.2 ± 1.9 yr). The HR-pQCT scan required 3 min with a relatively low radiation dose (<3 μSv). Images from the radial ROI were free of artifacts and outlined cortical and trabecular bone microstructure. There is currently no standard method for these measures; therefore, these findings provide insight for investigators using HR-pQCT for studies of growing children.
[ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Peer reviewedFinal article publishedGrowth plateBone imagingBone microstructureHR-pQC
Accretion-erosion conversion in the subaqueous Yangtze Delta in response to fluvial sediment decline
No full textIdentifying the pattern of delta morphological change under decreasing sediment flux due to dam construction is essential for sustainable management in such densely populated coastal areas. In this study, we investigated the morphological processes of the Yangtze mouth bar and prodelta based on bathymetric data on a decadal-interannual scale (1958, 1978, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2015). We found that strong accretion (205.1 Mm3 yr−1) occurred during 1958–1978, when a high sediment load (465 Mt yr−1) was supplied by the Yangtze. Afterwards, the net accumulation rate decreased to 31.9 Mm3 yr−1 in 1978–1997 and 114.6 Mm3 yr−1 in 1997–2002 as a result of riverine sediment loads decreasing to 390 Mt yr−1 and 314 Mt yr−1, respectively. Surprisingly, the net accumulation rate increased to 130.8 Mm3 yr−1 in 2002–2007, though the sediment load sharply decreased to 177 Mt yr−1. This anomaly was attributed to the construction of training walls within the mouth bar area, which induced significant accretion in groyne-sheltered areas and nearby regions. Along with a further decrease in sediment load, the entire study area converted to net erosion of −200.4 Mm3 yr−1 in 2007–2010 and −152.2 Mm3 yr−1 in 2010–2013. Stronger erosion in the former period was partly caused by intensive dredging activities in the mouth bar area. The critical sediment discharge for the Yangtze mouth bar and prodelta to retain net accretion was estimated to be ca. 218 Mt yr−1. If deducting the impacts of estuarine engineering projects on accretion/erosion during 1997–2010, the critical sediment discharge is adjusted to ca. 234 Mt yr−1. In combination with previously reported accretion-erosion conversion elsewhere in the Yangtze Delta, we inferred that most portion of the subaqueous delta has most likely converted from net accretion to net erosion in response to fluvial sediment decline, and the mouth bar area showed the latest conversion among portions of the delta. Integrated assessment and adaptive strategies are urgently required for the Yangtze Delta to survive the coming erosional stage.Accepted author manuscriptCoastal Engineerin
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