Hyperaldosteronism and sudden cardiac death

From a database of 130 implantable cardiac defibrillator recipients, 2 patients (1.5%) with sudden cardiac death as a presenting symptom, leading to diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism, are described. This is a newly described cause of sudden cardiac death, possibly more frequent than suspected, which should be considered in patients with malignant arrhythmias and hypokalemia.     

Uptake of fluoroquinolones in human monocytes isolated from peripheral blood

The aim of this study was to develop a technique for separating monocytic cells in suspension from peripheral blood to measure the intracellular penetration of three fluoroquinolones (ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and sparfloxacin). Mononucleated cells were isolated from the blood on a density gradient with lymphoprep and purified by a specific technique of adhesion and disadhesion on fibronectin. The monocytes were obtained in suspension with 76.8% purity and 97.9% viability. This was a convenient form for measurement of intracellular accumulation by use of the velocity-centrifugation technique. Intra-monocytic penetration of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and sparfloxacin was measured at equilibrium after 30-min incubation in the presence of 16 microg mL(-1) antibiotic. The results revealed low intra-monocytic accumulation of ciprofloxacin (intracellular-extracellular = 1.76) and ofloxacin (intracellular-extracellular = 1.42). The penetration of sparfloxacin was significantly higher (intracellular-extracellular = 2.4). This study confirms the important differences between human immunocompetent cells in terms of their ability to concentrate quinolones. It also underlines the importance of monocyte-macrophage cellular differentiation as a determinant of antibiotic penetration.     

科帕卡格拉纳建筑 奥地利维亚纳

正科帕卡格拉纳位于新多瑙河12.5公里处,毗邻Reichsbrücke大桥。出于同旧有设计保持协调性考虑,力求能让大楼融入当地环境,迎合自身功能性需要,GERNER GERNER PLUS团队充分考虑现有周边环境,对大楼重新规划设计。新的设计突显建筑的特殊性和重要性,面向河流的立面是科帕卡格拉纳大楼最重要的部分,所以设计的重点也放在了这里。现有的城市中轴线是一个参照物,为了视觉上和氛围上形成一体化城市的感     

Patterning of Nanoparticle‐Based Aerogels and Xerogels by Inkjet Printing

Nanoparticle‐based voluminous 3D networks with low densities are a unique class of materials and are commonly known as aerogels. Due to the high surface‐to‐volume ratio, aerogels and xerogels might be suitable materials for applications in different fields, e.g. photocatalysis, catalysis, or sensing. One major difficulty in the handling of nanoparticle‐based aerogels and xerogels is the defined patterning of these structures on different substrates and surfaces. The automated manufacturing of nanoparticle‐based aerogel‐ or xerogel‐coated electrodes can easily be realized via inkjet printing. The main focus of this work is the implementation of the standard nanoparticle‐based gelation process in a commercial inkjet printing system. By simultaneously printing semiconductor nanoparticles and a destabilization agent, a 3D network on a conducting and transparent surface is obtained. First spectro‐electrochemical measurements are recorded to investigate the charge–carrier mobility within these 3D semiconductor‐based xerogel networks.     

A practical study of white‐clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) mitigation during in‐channel construction works,North‐East England

The article provides a unique opportunity to study a large white‐clawed crayfish mitigation exercise on the River Wansbeck, Northumberland in North East England. The translation was necessary to allow the construction of a dam on the river to reduce flood risk to the town of Morpeth. The study provides an assessment of the methodology used for the capture and translocation activities, and provides an insight into the speed of colonisation and population establishment in a 300‐m diversion channel and the structure of translocated populations. Over 3500 + white‐clawed crayfish were caught when the natural channel was dewatered, with 5400 animals removed the following year when the diversion channel was closed. Average density based on the number of white‐clawed crayfish caught was estimated as in excess of 5 per 1 m². The study demonstrates the importance of the River Wansbeck for white‐clawed crayfish.     

NDE of degradation of thermal barrier coating by means of impedance spectroscopy

Nondestructive evaluation of thermal barrier coating (TBC) degradation during service operation has received a wide attention for service life prediction of advanced gas turbines. In this work, TBC on nickel base superalloy degraded at various degrees by thermal aging is investigated. Particularly, TBC and Metal–Chromium–Aluminum–Yttrium alloy (McrAlY) (M indicates iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni) or these combinations) bond coating interface where a detrimental reaction takes place and forms various reaction products during thermal aging, is studied in detail. Formation kinetics and physical properties of the reaction layer are evaluated by means of Impedance Spectroscopy (IS). Specimens aged at higher temperature and a longer aging time shows larger impedance. The impedance behavior of TBC and bond coating is found to be markedly changed by the formation of the reaction layer. Physical properties and thickness of the reaction layer are evaluated using the change of the impedance. A mechanistic interpretation of the cause of change in the physical properties and IS behavior are described.     

Charge‐Transfer Interactions: An Efficient Tool for Recycling Bis(oxazoline)‐Copper Complexes in Asymmetric Henry Reactions

An anthracenyl‐modified chiral bis(oxazoline) copper complex has been demonstrated to efficiently promote nitroaldol reactions between structurally varying aldehydes and nitromethane or nitroethane. The catalyst was recovered through formation of a charge transfer complex between the chiral ligand and trinitrofluorenone and its subsequent precipitation with pentane. The efficiency of this procedure was proved through several consecutive catalytic cycles that allowed the sturdy formation of the expected product with a high enantioselectivity. The catalyst′s stability was also put to the test in an original multi‐substrate procedure. Following the same recovery concept, a new heterogeneous procedure was tested for which trinitrofluorenone was covalently linked to a silica support. Asymmetric heterogeneous catalysis was performed under these conditions as one of the few examples demonstrating the potential catalyst recycling in nitroaldol reactions through reversible, non‐covalent interactions.     

Short communication: Genomic prediction using imputed whole-genome sequence variants in Brown Swiss Cattle

The accuracy of genomic prediction determines response to selection. It has been hypothesized that accuracy of genomic breeding values can be increased by a higher density of variants. We used imputed whole-genome sequence data and various single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) selection criteria to estimate genomic breeding values in Brown Swiss cattle. The extreme scenarios were 50K SNP chip data and whole-genome sequence data with intermediate scenarios using linkage disequilibrium-pruned whole-genome sequence variants, only variants predicted to be missense, or the top 50K variants from genome-wide association studies. We estimated genomic breeding values for 3 traits (somatic cell score, nonreturn rate in heifers, and stature) and found differences in accuracy levels between traits. However, among different SNP sets, accuracy was very similar. In our analyses, sequence data led to a marginal increase in accuracy for 1 trait and was lower than 50K for the other traits. We concluded that the inclusion of imputed whole-genome sequence data does not lead to increased accuracy of genomic prediction with the methods.     

Comparative uptake of sparfloxacin and ciprofloxacin into human THP 1 monocytic cells

TachoComb is a new, ready-to-use hemostatic agent consisting of a collagen sheet coated on one side with human fibrinogen, bovine thrombin, and bovine aprotinin. The product was used in 125 surgical operations (vascular, hepatic, urological and ENT) in which secondary hemostasis was required. It was placed over the cut surface or over the edges of the wound. The investigating surgeons expressed their opinion on the intra- and postoperative hemostatic efficacy, and routine laboratory tests were done postoperatively. TachoComb had good hemostatic efficacy in 67.2% of cases, and very good in 22.4%. No noteworthy systemic changes were observed. As an adjuvant to obtain complete hemostasis in surgery, TachoComb is effective, practical and quick to use, and is very well tolerated.     

Screening women for gonorrhea: demographic screening criteria for general clinical use

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this analysis was to derive potential gonorrhea screening criteria for women. METHODS: Data corresponding to 44,366 gonorrhea cultures from women 15 through 44 years of age in Columbus, Ohio, were analyzed. RESULTS: Characteristics that were associated with gonococcal infection and were suitable for screening decisions included patient's age and marital status and previous prevalence of gonorrhea at provider site. Probabilities of infection ranged from .001 for married women 25 through 44 years of age at low-prevalence provider sites to .078 for unmarried women 15 through 19 years of age at high-prevalence sites. CONCLUSIONS: Patient's age and marital status and prevalence of gonorrhea at provider site can be used as indicators to ensure testing of high-prevalence groups.