Cerebral microbleeds and cognitive decline in a hemodialysis patient: Case report and review of literature

Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are small hemosiderin deposits indicative of prior cerebral microscopic hemorrhage and previously thought to be clinically silent. Recent population‐based cross‐sectional studies and prospective longitudinal cohort studies have revealed association between CMB and cognitive dysfunction. In the general population, CMBs are associated with age, hypertension, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. In the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population, diminished estimated glomerular filtration rate has been found to be an independent risk factor for CMB, raising the possibility that a uremic milieu may predispose to microbleeds. In the end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) population on hemodialysis, the incidence of microbleeds is significantly higher compared with a control group without history of CKD or stroke. We present an ESRD patient on chronic hemodialysis with a history of gradual cognitive decline and progressive CMBs. Through this case and literature review, we illustrate the need to develop detection and prediction models to treat this frequent development in ESRD patients.     

Evaluating the application of a decision support system in identifying adequate wastewater treatment for small communities. A case study: the Fluvia River Basin.

The identification of adequate wastewater treatment for small communities is a complex problem since it demands a combination of data from different sources, such as aspects of the community and landscape, the receiving environment and the available wastewater treatment technologies. The Catalan Water Agency (Agència Catalana de l'Aigua) considered using an EDSS (Environmental Decision Support System) as a tool to help water managers select the most adequate treatment for the urban wastewater of nearly 3,500 small communities in Catalonia (Spain). From that moment, EDSS was applied to all the river basins in Catalonia. In this paper the authors present the results obtained for the 76 small communities located in one of these river basins: the Fluvia River Basin. The characteristics of the community used in the reasoning process of the EDSS, the list of selected wastewater treatment alternatives, the technical environmental justification for the selected treatments and the reasons for discarding, favouring or disadvantaging them are presented. Finally, some results for the Fluvia River Basin are compared with those obtained in other Catalan river basins with different characteristics in order to evaluate which are the significant features in identifying adequate wastewater treatments.     

Novel hybrid DNN approaches for speaker verification in emotional and stressful talking environments

Neural Computing and Applications - In this work, we conducted an empirical comparative study of the performance of text-independent speaker verification in emotional and stressful environments....     

Inactivation of Staphylococcus hyicus lipase by hexadecylsulfonyl fluoride: evidence for an active site serine

The Staphylococcus hyicus lipase is an acyl hydrolase with broadsubstrate specificity including neutral glycerides and phospholipids.To obtain further insight into the mechanism of action of thisenzyme, we tested several sulfonyl fluorides as active site-directedinhibitors. The enzyme is resistant to the well-known serineprotease/esterase inhibitor phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF),but is rapidly inactivated by hexadecylsulfonyl fluoride. Thekinetics of inactivation were studied in Triton X-100 micelles.Inactivation is fast and the rate of inactivation is constantover the pH range where this lipase is active. Metal ions likeCa²⁺ and Sr²⁺ do not appreciably influence the rate of inactivation,although the enzymatic activity is significantly increased,suggesting a structural role for these ions. The S.hyicus lipasecontains a consensus sequence G-H/Y-S-X-G. Substitution by site-directedmutagenesis of this serine (Ser369) by a cysteine resulted ina mutant with only 0.2% residual activity. The activity of thismutant could not be inhibited with water-soluble sulfhydrylreagents either in the presence or absence of Triton X-100 micelles.In the presence of Triton X-100 micelles, inactivation of themutant occurred with 4-nitrophenylhexadecyl disulfide (t_1/2= 125 min) while the wild-type enzyme does not react at all.We conclude that Ser369 is the active site residue and thatin water this residue is inaccessible. Only after interfacialactivation Ser369 (or Cys369) becomes exposed and reacts withirreversible inhibitors.     

On some properties of quasi-MV algebras and \sqrt{^{\prime}} quasi-MV algebras. Part II

The present paper is a sequel to Paoli F, Ledda A, Giuntini R, Freytes H (On some properties of QMV algebras and QMV algebras, submitted). We provide two representation results for quasi-MV algebras in terms of MV algebras enriched with additional structure; we investigate the lattices of subvarieties and subquasivarieties of quasi-MV algebras; we show that quasi-MV algebras, as well as cartesian and flat quasi-MV algebras, have the amalgamation property.     

A high-level application using belief functions for exchanging and managing uncertain events on the road in vehicular ad hoc networks

This article introduces a high-level system using belief functions for exchanging and managing imperfect information about events on the road in vehicular ad hoc networks. The main purpose of this application is to provide the most reliable information for the driver from multiple messages received informing the driver about events on the roads. This system and some variants are tested using a MATLAB? simulator. An implementation with Android smartphones using a Bluetooth technology to exchange the messages is also introduced.     

Development and Performance of Crystallization with Additives Applied on Different Milk Samples

Crystallization with additives is developed on milk samples from different processing treatments. Performance tests are carried out based on structure analysis of the crystallization patterns. Crystallization with milk as additive is applied following changes in milk after different processing treatments. When an aqueous cupric chloride dihydrate solution crystallizes in the presence of milk as additive, specific patterns emerge, which can be evaluated by image analysis. Milk samples were heated and homogenized in a pilot plant and characterized by various parameters. Furthermore, milk samples from the market were tested. Patterns from milk after heat treatment and homogenization are significantly different from those derived from untreated milk. The experiments could be reproduced for other milk samples, on different days and in another laboratory.     

Sheets of branched poly(lactic acid) obtained by one-step reactive extrusion–calendering process: physical aging and fracture behavior

The architectural modifications of a linear poly(D,L-Lactide) acid (PD,L-LA) commercial grade were induced by a one-step reactive extrusion–calendering process using a styrene-glycidyl acrylate copolymer as reactive agent. The melt degradation was counteracted by chain extension and branching reactions, leading to a stabilization of the melt properties and an increase in the molecular weight. For such modified samples [poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-reactive extrusion (REX)], the rate of physical aging at 30 °C was investigated during 1 week in order to simulate industrial storage conditions. Fracture behavior of “de-aged” and “controlled aged” (1 week) samples was investigated using the essential work of fracture (EWF) methodology and the critical tip opening displacement at the crack propagation onset, respectively. These analyses were complemented by digital image correlation analysis and inspection of the fractured surfaces by scanning electronic microscopy. As a result of the architectural modifications, the entanglement network density was increased. Those accounted for a slight decrease in the physical aging rate. Under uniaxial loading, aged reactive extrusion (REX) samples exhibited multiple crazing, leading to a slight increase in strain at break. Nevertheless, as a result of a similar dynamic environment of the entangled polymer coils, de-aged REX samples disclosed similar mechanical properties as compared to their neat counterparts. Regarding de-aged samples, the EWF analysis revealed no changes in the work required for the onset of crack propagation. However, the energy consumed up to the onset of crack propagation of aged PLA-REX samples decreased due to an apparently decreased network extensibility, promoting a premature craze–crack transition.     

Metabolic Syndrome: Updates on Pathophysiology and Management in 2021

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) forms a cluster of metabolic dysregulations including insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidemia, central obesity, and hypertension. The pathogenesis of MetS encompasses multiple genetic and acquired entities that fall under the umbrella of insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation. If left untreated, MetS is significantly associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Given that CVDs constitute by far the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, it has become essential to investigate the role played by MetS in this context to reduce the heavy burden of the disease. As such, and while MetS relatively constitutes a novel clinical entity, the extent of research about the disease has been exponentially growing in the past few decades. However, many aspects of this clinical entity are still not completely understood, and many questions remain unanswered to date. In this review, we provide a historical background and highlight the epidemiology of MetS. We also discuss the current and latest knowledge about the histopathology and pathophysiology of the disease. Finally, we summarize the most recent updates about the management and the prevention of this clinical syndrome.     

Current distribution and recent development of sessile oak forests in Montseny (1956–2015)

There is a distribution limit of sessile oak (Quercus petraea) in the northern half of the Iberian Peninsula, with its southernmost populations located at the xeric limit for the species. We present here the current distribution of these populations in the Montseny Massif (N.E. Catalonia) and how the surface area they cover has developed over the last 50 years. Using a new high-resolution map (1:5000) we have calculated that Q. petraea currently covers 64.1 ha, and is found between 450 and 1150 m above sea level with a predominantly southern exposure, with the north-facing slopes being dominated by beech forests. With regard to its recent development, 44% of what is now dense forest was, in 1956, much more dispersed while 11% of it consisted of open spaces or shrubs. Such changes clearly show that, in Montseny, Q. petraea is well capable of regenerating its forest canopy as well as colonising adjacent environments.