MnO₂-deposited lignin-based carbon fiber (MnO₂-LCF) mats are fabricated for supercapacitor applications. LCF mats are produced from alkali lignin via electrospinning followed by stabilization and carbonization. The carbonization process is carried out at 800, 900, and 1000 °C, and the corresponding mats are denoted as MnO₂-LCF-800, MnO₂-LCF-900, and MnO₂-LCF-1000, respectively. The LCF mats are immersed in a KMnO₄ solution at room temperature for 72 h to obtain MnO₂-LCF mats. The scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis confirm the deposition of MnO₂ on the LCFs. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, X-ray spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy reveal that MnO₂-LCF-800 mat possesses a large number of mesopores and Mn vacancies as compared to MnO₂-LCF-900 mat and MnO₂-LCF-1000 mat. Consequently, MnO₂-LCF-800 mat possesses the best electrochemical properties with a specific capacitance of 131.28 F∙g^-1, an energy density of 14.77 Wh∙kg^-1, and a power density of 135.01 W∙kg^-1 at a specific current of 0.3 A∙g^-1. Hence, MnO₂-LCF-800 mat shows high potential to be used as a high-performance supercapacitor.

Background The transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation (TAViVI) is an evolving treatment strategy for degenerated surgical aortic valve bioprostheses (SAVBs) in patients with high operative risk. Although hemodynamics is excellent, there is some concern regarding coronary obstruction, especially in SAVB with externally mounted leaflet tissue, such as the Trifecta (St. Jude Medical Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota, United States). We investigated coronary flow and hydrodynamics before and after TAViVI in a SAVB with externally mounted leaflet tissue (St. Jude Medical, Trifecta) with an undersized transcatheter aortic valve bioprosthesis (Edwards Sapien XT; Edwards Lifesciences LLC, Irvine, California, United States) in an in vitro study. Materials and Methods An aortic root model was constructed incorporating geometric dimensions known as risk factors for coronary obstruction. Investigating the validity of this model, we primarily performed recommended TAViVI with the Sapien XT (size 26 mm) in a Trifecta (size 25 mm) in a mock circulation. Thereafter, hydrodynamic performance and coronary flow (left/right coronary diastolic flow [lCF/rCF]) after TAViVI with an undersized Sapien XT (size 23 mm) in a Trifecta (size 25 mm) were investigated at two different coronary ostia heights (COHs, 8 and 10 mm). Results Validation of the model led to significant coronary obstruction (p < 0.001). Undersized TAViVI showed no significant reduction with respect to coronary flow (lCF: COH 8 mm, 0.90-0.87 mL/stroke; COH 10 mm, 0.89-0.82 mL/stroke and rCF: COH 8 mm, 0.64-0.60 mL/stroke; COH 10 mm, 0.62-0.58 mL/stroke). Mean transvalvular gradients (4-5 mm Hg, p < 0.001) increased significantly after TAViVI. Conclusions In our in vitro model, undersized TAViVI with the balloon-expandable Sapien XT into a modern generation SAVB (Trifecta) successfully avoided coronary flow obstruction.

Leaf architecture determines plant structural integrity, light harvesting, and economic considerations such as plant density. Ligules, junctions at the leaf sheath and blade in grasses, protect stalks from environmental stresses and, in conjunction with auricles, controls leaf angle. Previous studies in mutants have recessive liguleless mutants (lg1 and lg2) and dominant mutations in knotted1-like homeobox genes (Lg3-O, Lg4, and Kn1) involved in ligule development. Recently, a new semidominant liguleless mutant, Liguleless narrow (Lgn-R), has been characterized in maize that affects ligule and auricle development and results in a narrow leaf phenotype. We show that quantitative genetic variation affects penetrance of Lgn-R. To examine the genetic architecture underlying Lgn-R expressivity, crosses between Lgn-R/+ mutants in a B73 background and intermated B73 x Mo17 recombinant inbred lines were evaluated in multiple years and locations. A single main-effect quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 1 (sympathy for the ligule; sol) was discovered with a Mo17-contributed allele that suppressed Lgn-R mutant phenotypes. This QTL has a genetic-interaction with a locus on chromosome 7 (lucifer; lcf) for which the B73-contributed allele increases the ability of the sol(Mo17) allele to suppress Lgn-R. Neither of the genetic intervals likely to contain sol or lcf overlap with any current liguleless genes nor with previously identified genome-wide association QTL connected to leaf architecture. Analysis of phenotypes across environments further identified a genotype by enviroment interaction determining the strength of the sol x lcf interaction.

During childhood, perioral muscle function is closely associated with malocclusion. To clarify the effects of tongue function on maxillofacial morphology in children, tongue pressure and maximum lip-closing force (LCF) were measured and the relationship between perioral muscle function and maxillofacial morphology was evaluated according to the skeletal classification. Maximum tongue pressure (MTP) and swallowing tongue pressure (STP) were measured on the anterior palatine rugae in 100 children (Hellman's dental stages IIIA-IIIC) using a balloon-type tongue pressure measurement device. Lip-closing force was measured using an LCF measurement device. Lateral cephalograms were examined to classify subjects into skeletal (S)-I, S-II and S-III groups. Correlations of skeletal classification with tongue pressure and LCF were examined. Correlations of lateral cephalometric measurements with palatal volume (PV), measured using a three-dimensional optical scanner, were evaluated. Maximum tongue pressure was significantly lower in the S-II group than in other groups. Swallowing tongue pressure was significantly lower in the S-II group than in the S-III group. Lip-closing force was significantly higher in the S-III group than in other groups. Swallowing tongue pressure was positively correlated with MTP and PV. Correlations between tongue pressure and anteroposterior skeletal classification indicated the importance of quantitative tongue function assessment.

The ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) has increased in clinical significance through the development of hip arthroscopy. The histological pathologies and molecular composition of the femoral attachment of the LCF and the degeneration caused by LCF disruption were investigated in the human hip joint. Twenty-four LCFs were retrieved at surgery for femoral neck fracture (age range: 63-87 years). In the "intact" (i.e., intact throughout its length, n = 12) group, the attachment consisted of rich fibrocartilage. Fibrocartilage cells were present in the midsubstance. In contrast, the construction of the attachment in the "disrupted" (i.e., ligament no longer attached to the femoral head, n = 12) group had disappeared. The attachment in the disrupted group was not labeled for type II collagen or aggrecan, while that in the intact group was labeled for types I, II and III collagen, chondroitin 4-sulfate, chondroitin 6-sulfate, aggrecan, and versican. The percentage of single-stranded DNA-positive chondrocytes was significantly higher in the disrupted group than in the intact group. We conclude that the femoral attachment of the LCF has a characteristic fibrocartilaginous structure that is likely to adjust to the mechanical load, and suggest that its degeneration is advanced by disruption and should be regarded as a clinical pathology.

The multidirectional asymmetrical microlens-array light-control film (MAMA-LCF) is developed for enhancing the image brightness and contrast ratio of various reflective liquid-crystal displays. By use of index-matching material, the interface reflection is greatly reduced. Through optimized designs, the surface-scattering effect is also suppressed; thus the contrast ratio is much enhanced. From experimental results, the MAMA-LCF leads to a approximately 1.5 x gain in brightness over the MgO standard white and a 15:1 contrast ratio for the reflective color super-twist nematic liquid-crystal display, 2.8 x MgO and a 23:1 contrast ratio for the polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal, and 2.8 x MgO and a 13:1 contrast ratio for the cholesteric liquid-crystal display. Potential applications of this low-cost plastic thin film for reflective liquid-crystal displays are foreseeable.

Wendelstein 7-X, a superconducting optimized stellarator built in Greifswald/Germany, started its first plasmas with the last closed flux surface (LCFS) defined by 5 uncooled graphite limiters in December 2015. At the end of the 10 weeks long experimental campaign (OP1.1) more than 20 independent diagnostic systems were in operation, allowing detailed studies of many interesting plasma phenomena. For example, fast neutral gas manometers supported by video cameras (including one fast-frame camera with frame rates of tens of kHz) as well as visible cameras with different interference filters, with field of views covering all ten half-modules of the stellarator, discovered a MARFE-like radiation zone on the inboard side of machine module 4. This structure is presumably triggered by an inadvertent plasma-wall interaction in module 4 resulting in a high impurity influx that terminates some discharges by radiation cooling. The main plasma parameters achieved in OP1.1 exceeded predicted values in discharges of a length reaching 6 s. Although OP1.1 is characterized by short pulses, many of the diagnostics are already designed for quasi-steady state operation of 30 min discharges heated at 10 MW of ECRH. An overview of diagnostic performance for OP1.1 is given, including some highlights from the physics campaigns.

Since most antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have cognitive effects, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of AED therapy on the recovery of consciousness in 103 consecutive patients in a vegetative or minimally conscious state (VS, MCS). The levels of cognitive functioning (LCF) score was retrospectively compared after a three-month period of rehabilitation between patients who were medicated (n=54) and patients who were not medicated (n=49) with AEDs. Mean LCF scores in AED-medicated and nonmedicated patients were 2.2±0.7 and 2.3±0.8 at admission and 3.8±2.2 and 3.7±2.1 after three months, respectively (p values>0.05). These results did not change when we compared patients with the same etiology separately, with the same disorder of consciousness only, or patients treated with only one or more than one AED. In conclusion, AEDs did not affect the recovery of consciousness in a large cohort of patients in a VS or MCS following an acute brain injury.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term clinical outcome following open reduction and internal screw fixation of displaced lateral condyle fractures (LCFs) of the distal humerus and compare the outcome of primary and secondary LCFs.

METHODS

The clinical outcome in 31 children (mean age 5.8±2.4 years) operated for primary or secondary LCFs was retrospectively analyzed by standardized clinical examination and compared using the Mayo score, Morger score, and Patients Satisfaction score.

RESULTS

The scores did not differ significantly between the primary and secondary displacement groups (Mayo score: 99.3±3.3 vs. 100±0, p=0.852; Morger score: 3.8±0.5 vs. 3.9±0.3, p=0.852; Patients Satisfaction score: 3.7±0.6 vs. 3.9±0.3, p=0.546). Deficits in range of motion and joint axis deviation were minor (< 10°) and no elbow instabilities were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical treatment of a secondary displaced LCF with open reduction and internal screw fixation leads to a favorable long-term outcome. The long-term outcome is similar between primary and secondary displaced LCFs.

The proliferation and activation of murine and human T-lymphocytes in a high-protein lymphocyte culture fluid (LCF) is compared to that of cells cultured in 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) proliferate exponentially in the LCF for up to 46 days and generate cell numbers that are nearly 100,000-fold greater than cells cultured in FBS. This rapid growth of T cells in LCF could have an important impact in adoptive immunotherapy and gene therapy since cell growth is a limiting factor in these technologies.

Ankle joint injuries are one of the most frequently diagnosed sports injuries. In our clinic we observed between 1981-92 18% ankle joint injuries in 11.350 patients. The acute injury was generally handled conservatively by functional treatment with a special shoe; only comminute injuries like fractures, luxations or tendon injuries would lead to the decision to perform surgery. The ratio of acutely performed surgery compared to late surgery was decreasing: 1981 1:3, compared to 1992 1:50. Reconstructive surgery of the lateral ligament complex is indicated under the following conditions: patient suffering from recurrent trauma and feeling of instability and/ or in case of comminuted overuse injuries caused by instability like the entrapment of the tibial nerve in the tarsal tunnel, achilodynia caused by instability of the rearfoot or luxation of the peroneal tendons. Reconstruction of the lateral ligaments of the ankle should be done anatomically, operations with effect of tenodesis should be avoided.

METHODS

We modified the technique of Weber to reconstruct the lateral ligaments. An autograft (plantaris tendon) is used for this procedure. The plantaris tendon is removed through a medial sided minimal incision on the injured leg with a special stripper. Through the lateral incision on the lateral malleolus drill wholes are made at the anatomical ligament insertions of the calcaneus, talus and fibula. The graft is passed through the drill wholes this way the Lcf and Ltfa are anatomically reconstructed. The tendon sheat of the peroneal tendons will be closed if needed with residual plantaris tendon. The postoperative treatment is the same as conservative treatment with full-weight-bearing in a special shoe three days after surgery with 30 degrees (10-0-20) range of motion. ROM will be increased to 50 degrees after three weeks. For the first three weeks the leg will be positioned in a 90 degrees splint over night. Two series of patients altogether 584 patients in the time from 1981-1991 were operated. The difference of the two groups lied in the technique of surgery (in group 2 the calcaneofibular ligament was reconstructed as well as the peroneal tendon sheat) as well as the postoperative treatment was altered (group one removable cast for the first three weeks versus functional treatment after surgery in group 2 as described in the postop treatment).

RESULTS

443 (76%) out of 584 operated patients were followed at least one year after OP. Working ability: 19% (group 1)/25% (group 2) of the patients after two weeks, 31/42% after 2-4 weeks and 79/88% after 4-6 weeks. Full sports activity to previous sport 8/17% after 4-6 weeks, 26/38% after 6-8 weeks, 65/70% after 8-12 weeks. The group 2 achieved full sports activity and working ability on average two weeks before the patients of group one. Personal evaluation: 88/90% felt their ankle joint to be more stable postoperatively, 10/9% as stable as before and 2/1% described it as less stable. Clinical evaluation: The modified Benedetto score showed in 76/81% very good results, in 9/7% good and 13/8% bad results. In conclusion the described reconstruction of the fibular ligaments without damaging the active stabilizing muscles is a valid technique. The reconstruction of the calcaneofibular ligament improved the long term results of surgery. The functional postoperative rehabilitation (special shoe and night brace) does shorten the time for the patients working ability as well as the return to full sports activity. The long term results on the other hand appeared to be similar for both groups. The advantage of our technique using the plantaris tendon as a graft. The use of autograft material having the same tensile strength as the original ligaments anatomically reconstructed. Surgery with tenodesis effects should be abandoned. The good results occurring while performing late surgery leave the chance for primary conservative treatment of lateral ligament injuries.

The objectives of this study were to estimate the effects of cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) repair on the multidirectional lip-closing forces (LCF) produced during maximum voluntary pursing-like lip-closing movement in children. Thirty Japanese children were divided into the control group and repaired unilateral CLP (RUCL) group, which was subdivided into the unilateral cleft lip and/or alveolus (UCLA) and the unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate (UCLP) groups. The maximum voluntary LCF were recorded in eight directions. No significant differences in any of the directional LCF (DLCF) or total LCF were observed between RUCL and control groups. Symmetrical DLCF were seen in the oblique directions on both sides of the upper lip in the control group, while the oblique DLCF on the non-cleft side was significantly greater than that on the cleft side in RUCL group. Furthermore, symmetrical vertical DLCF were observed in the upper and lower directions in control and UCLA groups, while the vertical DLCF obtained from the lower direction was significantly greater than that obtained from the upper direction in UCLP group. These results indicate that children with repaired CLP display impaired directional specificity, which may cause secondary deformities. These findings aid our understanding of the pathology of secondary deformities in CLP patients after primary surgery for cleft lip or palate. We propose that quantitative assessments of lip-closing function based on the directional specificity of the multidirectional LCF produced during maximum voluntary pursing-like lip-closing movement are useful for assessing the nature of lip-closing dysfunctions.

BACKGROUND

As a distal portion of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral system (LCFS), the role of the distal runoff vessel in anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap surgery has long been overlooked. Recently, however, the distal runoff vessel has been increasingly used in many aspects of ALT flap surgery, and it has exhibited superior properties in solving some difficult problems.

METHODS

Fourteen ALT flaps using the distal runoff vessel of the descending branch of the LCFS for extremity defects were retrospectively reviewed, and recent reports on using the distal runoff vessel were reviewed to determine the role of this vessel in ALT flap surgery.

RESULTS

In our series, the distal runoff vessel was used as a flow-through pattern in 10 cases, as a recombined chimeric flap in 2 cases, and as a backup vessel for flap salvage in 2 cases. All of the ALT flaps completely survived. None of the donor sites presented with additional morbidity as a result of harvesting the distal runoff vessel. In the literature review, the following are 5 other options for using the distal runoff vessel: in interposition artery and vein grafts, as the pedicle of the reverse-flow ALT flap, as the recipient vessel, to avoid twisting, and as a monitoring method.

CONCLUSIONS

The distal runoff vessel of the descending branch of the LCFS could be used for many aspects of the ALT flap surgery, and this vessel plays an irreplaceable role in some difficult reconstruction surgeries.

Lymphocyte inhibitory factor (LyIF) and lymphocyte chemotactic factor (LCF) were produced by sensitized thymic (T) and bursal (B) cells and thymic (T) cells, respectively. The passage of sensitized T and B cells through a Sephadex G-10 column abrogated the ability of T cells to produce LyIF and LCF while B cells remained capable of producing LyIF. The return of macrophages to the adherent cell depleted population reconstituted the T cells' ability to produce LyIF and LCF. These data suggest a greater macrophage dependency of thymic cells than bursal cells in the production of lymphokines.

OBJECTIVE

Vegetative State (VS) implies significant issues. The aim of the MORFEO study is to identify the most relevant complications in VS patients and to supply clinicians and policy-makers with data derived from the analysis of a cohort of patients treated in a dedicated long-term facility setting.

METHODS

A cohort of 22 VS patients treated between 2003 and 2007 were enrolled and followed up for 1 year. The information recorded were: Disability Rating Scale (DRS), Levels of Cognitive Functioning (LCF), pressure sores, nutritional status, neurological complications, articular complications (passive range of motion-ROM), deep-vein thrombosis and infections. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to verify the normal distribution of the variables. The indicators of complications were analysed with the Friedman test (continuous variables) and with the Cochran Q test (dichotomous variables).

RESULTS

DRS and LCF values showed no significant variation. The number of pressure sores decreased. The nutritional status remained satisfying. The ROM worsened in lower limb joints; a trend (p = ns) towards an improved range was observed in shoulders and elbows. Fifteen infections were recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

The data that proved significant suggest a minimum set of quality-of-care indicators in VS patients: pressure sores follow-up, nutritional status, ROM and incidence of infections.

BACKGROUND

Classification is an important data mining task in biomedicine. In particular, classification on biomedical data often claims the separation of pathological and healthy samples with highest discriminatory performance for diagnostic issues. Even more important than the overall accuracy is the balance of a classifier, particularly if datasets of unbalanced class size are examined.

RESULTS

We present a novel instance-based classification technique which takes both information of different local density of data objects and local cluster structures into account. Our method, which adopts the basic ideas of density-based outlier detection, determines the local point density in the neighborhood of an object to be classified and of all clusters in the corresponding region. A data object is assigned to that class where it fits best into the local cluster structure. The experimental evaluation on biomedical data demonstrates that our approach outperforms most popular classification methods.

BACKGROUND

The algorithm LCF is available for testing under http://biomed.umit.at/upload/lcfx.zip.

BACKGROUND

The rehabilitation of the persons with Severe Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is an important concern to be approached with a comprehensive program aimed to improve the recovery of patients.The efficacy of an early and intensive rehabilitation program has been shown in large number of studies. Few studies focused on the prevalence of TBI and the data are often extrapolated in indirect ways.

OBJECTIVE

An analysis of the demographic characteristics of the population included in the GISCAR (Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio delle Gravi Cerebrolesioni Acquisite e Riabilitazione- Italian Group for the Study of the severe ABI) database, type and conditions associated to the index event; the treatment administered during hospitalization; and the prognosis according to outcome measures.

METHODS

The study was an observational prospective survey looking at management of ABI (both traumatic and non-traumatic).

METHODS

In hospital rehabilitation.

METHODS

Patients consecutively admitted in each of the 52 GISCAR centres.

METHODS

Every centre included a consecutive cohort and recorded demographic data and index event characteristics.

RESULTS

In the study population were included 2626 subjects suffering of a severe ABI. The difference of length of stay (LOS) was significantly different with 67.5 days for traumatic patients compared to the 80 days of non traumatic ones. In the study population the probability of discharge at home is significantly greater for the traumatic condition (odds ratio 0,4587; CI 0.3671-0.5731). The overall benefit of the rehabilitative treatment was encountered in a net gain in all disability scores taken into account: LCF classes; DRS as well as GOS scores. At discharge the main destination for severe ABI patients was home (67.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

A large number of patients admitted in Italian rehabilitative facilities for a severe ABI suffered from a TBI, more often these subjects were young male victims of road accident. The majority of subjects during the rehabilitative hospitalization demonstrated a significant recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the evidence of an early treatment benefit the delay ofthe rehabilitation program start is far from being satisfactory. The high frequency of the home discharge indicate a good compliance of national family network.

Benefiting from both Brillouin amplitude and phase spectral responses during Brillouin scattering, a support vector machine (SVM) assisted Brillouin optical time domain analyzer (BOTDA) enabling the improvement of sensing accuracy with only a slight sacrifice of processing speed has been proposed and demonstrated. Only one SVM model, i.e. SVM-(g + p), is required to effectively combine the Brillouin gain and phase information in the training and testing phases, which avoids separate Brillouin gain spectrum (BGS) and Brillouin phase spectrum (BPS) fitting, and hence saves the processing time. Both simulation and experiments using different parameters were conducted to evaluate the improved performance of SVM-(g + p). Compared with the case of using BGS only or BPS only, SVM assisted BOTDA using combined BGS and BPS enhances the accuracy of temperature extraction by about 30% over a wide range of simulation and experiment parameters, only at a slight expense of the processing speed. Although the processing of both gain and phase information takes extra time, SVM-(g + p) assisted BOTDA still has a processing speed 80 times faster than that of using a conventional curve fitting method like Lorentzian curve fitting (LCF). The improved accuracy, together with fast processing speed, is crucial for future high-speed and accurate BOTDA sensors based on both Brillouin gain and phase detection.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a malignant and refractory disease with high morbidity and mortality. The TNBC shows no response to hormonal therapy nor targeted therapy due to the lack of known targetable biomarkers. Furthermore, the TNBC also exhibits a high degree of heterogeneity that leads to cancer evolution, drug resistance, metastatic progression, and recurrence, arising from the tumor-initiating properties of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Thus, the development of radical therapeutic regimens with high efficacy and limited side effects is crucial. In this study, we designed an innovative ternary cocktail chemotherapy by using Lovastatin (L)-loaded Janus camptothecin-floxuridine conjugate (CF) nanocapsules (NCs) with ultrahigh drug loading capacity. The obtained LCF NCs were shown to be able to suppress growth of TNBC, including inhibition of growth and metastasis of CSCs, both in vitro and in tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, in animal experiments, the LCF NCs showed sustained and synchronous drug release (half-life>> 300 min), 85.2% reduction in pulmonary metastases, and no cancer recurrence during one-month observation post-treatment. Thus, this innovative LCF NC design provides a simple and synergistic strategy for the development of simultaneous triple chemotherapy and could be an efficacious, safe, and amenable choice with higher therapeutic relevance and fewer toxic complications than conventional multidrug delivery systems for TNBC treatment in the future.

Steady-state temperature distributions induced by commercial radiofrequency localized current field (RF-LCF) and microwave (MW) interstitial heating systems were compared in dog thigh muscle in vivo using repeated 15-min heating experiments in the same implant site. Control experiments consisting of up to nine successive, identical heat trials with either modality verified that induced temperature distributions could be duplicated reliably. For all comparative dosimetry experiments a square array of parallel heat sources and thermometry probes was inserted percutaneously through a 5 mm grid Plexiglas template to a depth of 7.0-8.0 cm. Metal trocar electrodes were left at the corners of square arrays for two or three successive RF-LCF heat trials. After the metal trocars were removed, two or three more heat trials were performed using dipole microwave antennas in Teflon catheters at the same four positions. The three-dimensional temperature distributions within the array boundaries were characterized by mapping up to 11 fibre optic temperature probes in 1 cm increments during the steady-state plateau of each trial. The distributions were analysed quantitatively in terms of the percentage of measured points which achieved at least 50 per cent of the maximum array temperature increase above baseline (delta Tmax). Results showed that the RF-LCF technique heated more uniformly with depth along the bare metal electrodes and more consistently within the array boundaries than the microwave dipole antennas. For all array spacings studied (1.0-3.5 cm), the RF electrodes heated approximately 10-20 per cent more of the array volume to greater than 50 per cent of delta Tmax.

This review aims to collect the proposed surgical techniques for treating full thickness macular hole (FTMH) refractory to pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and to analyse and compare anatomical and functional outcomes in order to evaluate their efficacy. The articles were grouped according to the surgical techniques used. Refractory FTMH closure rate and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) gain were the two analysed parameters. Thirty-six articles were selected. Ten surgical technique subgroups were defined: autologous platelet concentrate (APC); lens capsular flap transplantation (LCFT); autologous free ILM flap transplantation (free ILM flap); enlargement of ILM peeling, macular hole hydrodissection (MHH), autologous retinal graft (ARG), silicon oil (SO), human amniotic membrane (hAM), perifoveal relaxing retinotomy, arcuate temporal retinotomy. Refractory FTMH closure rate was similar among subgroups, not significant heterogeneity emerged (p = 0.176). BCVA gain showed a significant dependence on surgical technique (p < 0.0001), significant heterogeneity among subgroups emerged (p < 0.0001). Three sets of surgical technique subgroups with a homogeneous BCVA gain were defined: high BCVA gain (hAM); intermediate BCVA gain (APC, ARG, LCFT, MHH, SO); low BCVA gain (free ILM flap, enlargement of peeling, arcuate temporal retinotomy). In terms of visual recovery, the most efficient technique for treating refractory FTMH is hAM, lens capsular flap and APC that allow to obtain better functional outcomes than free ILM flap. MHH, ARG, perifoveal relaxing and arcuate temporal retinotomy require complex and unjustified surgical manoeuvres in view of the surgical alternatives with overlapping anatomical and functional results.

难治性全层黄斑裂孔的手术治疗现状: 摘要: 本综述旨在总结玻璃体切除术和内界膜剥离术在处理难治性全层黄斑裂孔(FTMH)中的手术技巧, 分析并比较术后解剖和功能的不同, 以评估其疗效。本文根据已有的手术技术进行分组。以难治性FTMH的闭合率和最佳矫正视力(BCVA)的提高为2个分析指标。本综述共纳入36篇文献。手术技术分为10个亚组: 自体血小板浓缩(APC)、晶状体囊膜瓣移植(LCFT)、自体游离ILM瓣移植(游离ILM瓣)、ILM扩大剥离、黄斑裂孔水分离(MHH)、自体视网膜移植(ARG)、硅油(SO)、人羊膜(hAM)移植、中心凹周围区松解视网膜切开术、弧形颞侧视网膜切开术。各亚组间难治性FTMH闭合率相似, 未出现明显的异质性(p < 0.176)。最佳矫正视力的获益与手术技术有显著的相关性(p < 0.0001), 各亚组间也存在明显的异质性(p < 0.0001)。各种手术技术根据BCVA的获益定义为三个亚组: 高BCVA获益(hAM)、中等BCVA获益(APC、ARG、LCFT、MHH、SO)和低BCVA获益(游离ILM皮瓣、ILM扩大剥离、弧形颞侧视网膜切开术)。就视力恢复而言, 治疗难治性FTMH最有效的技术是hAM。与游离ILM皮瓣相比, LCF和APC可获得更佳的功能性恢复。针对各种手术方案具有重叠交叉的解剖和功能结果, MHH、ARG、中心凹周围区松解和弧形颞侧视网膜切开术需要复杂和未得到验证的手术操作。.

This manuscript describes a protocol to evaluate cancer cell deaths in three dimensional (3D) spheroids of multicellular types of cancer cells using supernatants from Lactobacillus fermentum cell culture, considered as probiotics cultures. The use of 3D cultures to test Lactobacillus cell-free supernatant (LCFS) are a better option than testing in 2D monolayers, especially as L. fermentum can produce anti-cancer effects within the gut. L. fermentum supernatant was identified to possess increased anti-proliferative effects against several colorectal cancer (CRC) cells in 3D culture conditions. Interestingly, these effects were strongly related to the culture model, demonstrating the notable ability of L. fermentum to induce cancer cell death. Stable spheroids were generated from diverse CRCs (colorectal cancer cells) using the protocol presented below. This protocol of generating 3D spheroid is time saving and cost effective. This system was developed to easily investigate the anti-cancer effects of LCFS in multiple types of CRC spheroids. As expected, CRC spheroids treated with LCFS strongly induced cell death during the experiment and expressed specific apoptosis molecular markers as analyzed by qRT-PCR, western blotting, and FACS analysis. Therefore, this method is valuable for exploring cell viability and evaluating the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs.

Intensive manure application is an important source of diffuse phosphorus (P) pollution. Phosphorus availability from animal manure is influenced by its chemical speciation. The major objective of this study was to investigate the P speciation in raw and anaerobically digested dairy manure with an emphasis on the calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) phosphate phases. Influent and effluent from an on-farm digester in Wisconsin were sampled and sieved, and the 25 to 53 microm size fraction was dried for X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and P K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analyses. Struvite (MgNH4PO4.6H2O) was identified in both the raw (influent) and anaerobically digested (effluent) manure using XRD. Qualitative analysis of P K-edge XANES spectra indicated that the Ca orthophosphate phases, except dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA) or monetite (CaHPO4), were not abundant in dairy manure. Linear combination fitting (LCF) of the P standard compounds showed that 57.0 and 43.0% of P was associated with DCPA and struvite, respectively, in the raw manure. In the anaerobically digested sample, 78.2% of P was present as struvite and 21.8% of P was associated with hydroxylapatite (HAp). The P speciation shifted toward Mg orthophosphates and least soluble Ca orthophosphates following anaerobic digestion. Similarity between the aqueous orthophosphate (aq-PO4), newberyite (MgHPO4.3H2O), and struvite spectra can cause inaccurate P speciation determination when dairy manure is analyzed solely using P K-edge XANES spectroscopy; however, XANES can be used in conjunction with XRD to quantify the distribution of inorganic P species in animal manure.