Early use of PEPA dialyzer for light chains removal and for the recovery from myeloma cast nephropathy: A case report

Chemotherapy and extracorporeal treatment reduce serum free light chains (FLCs) allowing the recovery of acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by myeloma cast nephropathy (MCN). We report the first case of recovery from AKI in a patient with MCN who underwent the removal of FLCs using the PEPA filter, with an undisclosed cut‐off, combined with chemotherapy for multiple myeloma (MM).     

Modeling of coagulation,curd firming,and syneresis of goat milk from 6 breeds

Traditional milk coagulation properties are used to predict the suitability of milk for cheese-making. In bovine and ovine species, the introduction of the concept of curd firming over time, continuously recorded by a lactodynamograph during prolonged tests, provides additional information about milk coagulation, curd-firming, and syneresis processes. The aims of present study were (1) to test the adaptability of a 4-parameter curd-firming model in the assessment of goat milk (also comparing published data of other species); (2) to describe variability of coagulation, curd firming, and syneresis processes among individual goat milk samples; (3) to quantify the effects of farm and animal factors (breed, parity, and stage of lactation); and (4) to compare 6 goat breeds for their model parameters. Milk samples from 1,272 goats reared in 35 farms were collected. Goats were of 6 breeds: Saanen and Camosciata delle Alpi for the Alpine type; and Murciano-Granadina, Maltese, Sarda, and Sarda Primitiva for the Mediterranean type. During a lactodynamographic analysis (60 min), 240 measures of curd firmness (mm) were recorded for each milk sample. The modeling of curd firming allowed us to achieve the rennet coagulation time estimated on the basis of all the data points (min); the curd firming and the curd syneresis instant rate constants; the asymptotical potential value of curd firming; the actual maximum curd firmness; and the time at which the curd firming maximum level is attained. Modeling parameter data were analyzed using a linear mixed model. Comparison with other dairy species showed several differences: goat milk coagulated later than sheep but earlier than bovine, and curd firming and curd syneresis instant rate constants were greater in small ruminants. Modeling parameters of goat milk were mostly affected by the farm effect (37% of the total variance, on average) compared with the results found for bovine and ovine samples, and this was probably attributable to the marked differences among goat farming systems. Small differences were demonstrated between Alpine and Mediterranean breeds, but the time of maximum curd firmness was lower in Murciano-Granadina compared with Maltese, Sarda, and Sarda Primitiva. Sarda and Sarda Primitiva were very similar and exhibited the most favorable coagulation properties of milk. For almost all the model parameters, the direct effect of breed was increased after correction for milk yield and composition. In conclusion, this approach allowed us to fully depict the effects of the different factors on coagulation of goat milk, and clarified the different renneting pattern among goat breeds, and with other species. Results could be used for the valorization of goat dairy products, also when these are linked to particular local breeds, and to stimulate further studies about relationships between coagulation and cheese-making traits.     

Magnetic resonance evaluation of autonomous thyroid nodules treated by percutaneous ethanol injection

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was used to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) of autonomous thyroid nodules (ATNs). Nine patients affected with ATN (3.7–32.2 mL volume) underwent PEI (4–19 mL ethanol, subdivided in 3–6 weekly procedures). MR imaging (1.5 T) was performed before each alcoholization and 1 month after the last PEI procedure with the following parameters:T ₁-(550/12) andT ₂-weighted (2200/160) spin-echo images; 4-mm slices, 10% gap; coronal planes. A further seven patients with normal thyroid function, who had undergone PEI 6–18 months before, underwent an MR examination with the same parameters. The signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of ATN and extranodular gland, as well as ATN volume, were evaluated on theT ₂-weighted images. OnT ₁-weighted images, ATNs appeared mostly hypointense before treatment, with hyperintense areas during treatment, and were lightly hyperintense 6–18 months after treatment. S/N onT ₂-weighted images: extranodular gland 3.5–9.2; ATNs, before treatment 13.2–19.7, before the last procedure 7.7–11.6, 1 month after the last procedure 5.6–10.9; previously treated ATNs, 4.3–8.2. No significant volume reduction was observed with MR 1 month after the last procedure. The MR examination time was about 15 minutes. In conclusion, the effect of PEI on ATNs can be evaluated with an MR examination that is not very time consuming.     

Miniaturization of the QuEChERS Method in the Fast Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Vegetables

Two reduced-scale quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) procedures, combined with fast gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-QqQ MS), were developed and then validated for the determination of 35 pesticides in different vegetable products (tomatoes, zucchini, red peppers, and lettuce). The proposed reduced-scale methods, involving the use of only 3 g of sample, were compared with an official European Union method, namely EN15662:2008, based on the use of a 10-g sample. Method validation was performed considering the following figures of merit: recovery, linearity, precision, matrix effects, and limits of detection and quantification. Specifically, recovery was in the 67–126% range, regression coefficients were between 0.991 and 0.999, and coefficients of variation were between 1 and 13% (at the 50 μg kg^?1 level), while limits of quantification were always below European legislation residue limits. Additionally, the measurement of matrix effects confirmed the necessity of matrix-matched calibration. The developed QuEChERS GC-QqQ MS method is both simple and rapid (analysis of six samples in 2.5 h) and is sensitive enough for EU regulation purposes. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed reduced-scale method, multi-residue analysis was performed on 20 samples.     

The role of alpine valley fill deposits for groundwater storage (Dolomites,Italy)

Grundwasser - In the Dolomites mountain range, the most productive aquifers are found in porous valley-fill deposits, such as alluvial, glacial and other heterogeneous types of clastic sediments....     

Exploiting the complementary strengths of Orbitless and Planetary drives

Forschung im Ingenieurwesen - An Orbitless drive is a novel fixed-ratio epi-cyclic drive which includes a second carrier in place of a ring gear. This fundamental...     

Measuring offence-specific forgiveness in marriage: The Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS).

Three studies involving 328 married couples were conducted to validate the Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale, a new measure assessing offence-specific forgiveness for marital transgressions. The studies examined the dimensionality; internal consistency; and discriminant, concurrent, and predictive validity of the new measure. The final scale comprised 2 distinct correlated dimensions, 1 positive (Benevolence) and 1 negative (Resentment–Avoidance), both of which had adequate internal consistency. The 2 dimensions discriminated marital forgiveness from affective empathy, rumination, attributions, and marital quality. Convergent validity of the new scale was indicated by significant relationships between its underlying dimensions and a host of predicted sociocognitive, relationship, trait, and well-being correlates of forgiveness. Providing evidence for predictive validity, forgiveness dimensions accounted for variability in relationship variables over a 6-month period. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Unpicking PLAID: a cryptographic analysis of an ISO-standards-track authentication protocol

The Protocol for Lightweight Authentication of Identity (PLAID) aims at secure and private authentication between a smart card and a terminal. Originally developed by a unit of the Australian Department of Human Services for physical and logical access control, PLAID has now been standardized as an Australian standard AS-5185-2010 and is currently in the fast-track standardization process for ISO/IEC 25185-1. We present a cryptographic evaluation of PLAID. As well as reporting a number of undesirable cryptographic features of the protocol, we show that the privacy properties of PLAID are significantly weaker than claimed: using a variety of techniques, we can fingerprint and then later identify cards. These techniques involve a novel application of standard statistical and data analysis techniques in cryptography. We discuss potential countermeasures to our attacks and comment on our experiences with the standardization process of PLAID.     

Effect of composition on coagulation,curd firming,and syneresis of goat milk

The present study investigated the effect of different levels of fat, protein, and casein on (1) traditional milk coagulation properties, and (2) curd firming over time parameters of 1,272 goat milk samples. Relationships between fat, protein, and casein and some indicators of udder health status (lactose, pH, somatic cells, bacterial count, and NaCl) were also investigated. Traditional milk coagulation properties and modeled curd-firming parameters were analyzed using a mixed model that considered the effect of days in milk, parity, farm, breed, the pendulum of the instrument, and different levels of fat, protein, and casein. Fat, protein, and casein were also tested with the same model but one at a time. Information provided by this model demonstrated the effect of one component alone, without contemporarily considering that of the others. The results allowed us to clarify the effect of the major milk nutrients on coagulation, curd firming, and syneresis ability of goat milk. In particular, milk rich in fat was associated with better coagulation properties, whereas milk rich in protein was associated with delayed coagulation. The high correlation of fat with protein and casein contents suggests that the effect of fat on the cheese-making process is also attributable to the effects of protein and casein. When only protein or only casein was included in the statistical model, the pattern of coagulation, curd firming, and syneresis was almost indistinguishable. The contemporary inclusion of protein and casein in the statistical model did not generate computing problems and allowed us to better characterize the role of protein and casein. Consequently, given their strong association, we also tested the effect of casein-to-protein ratio (i.e., casein number). Higher values of casein number led to a general improvement in the coagulation ability of milk, suggesting that casein-to-protein ratio, not just protein or casein, should be considered when milk is destined for cheese making. These results are especially useful for dairy farmers who want to increase their profits by improving the technological quality of the milk produced.