Corneal confocal microscopy predicts 4-year incident peripheral neuropathy in Type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE This study determined if deficits in corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) assessed using corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) can predict future onset of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS CNFL and a range of other baseline measures were compared between 90 nonneuropathic patients with type 1 diabetes who did or did not develop DPN after 4 years. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the capability of single and combined measures of neuropathy to predict DPN. RESULTS DPN developed in 16 participants (18%) after 4 years. Factors predictive of 4-year incident DPN were lower CNFL (P = 0.041); longer duration of diabetes (P = 0.002); higher triglycerides (P = 0.023); retinopathy (higher on the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study scale) (P = 0.008); nephropathy (higher albumin-to-creatinine ratio) (P = 0.001); higher neuropathy disability score (P = 0.037); lower cold sensation (P = 0.001) and cold pain (P = 0.027) thresholds; higher warm sensation (P = 0.008), warm pain (P = 0.024), and vibration (P = 0.003) thresholds; impaired monofilament response (P = 0.003); and slower peroneal (P = 0.013) and sural (P = 0.002) nerve conduction velocity. CCM could predict the 4-year incident DPN with 63% sensitivity and 74% specificity for a CNFL threshold cutoff of 14.1 mm/mm2 (area under ROC curve = 0.66, P = 0.041). Combining neuropathy measures did not improve predictive capability. CONCLUSIONS DPN can be predicted by various demographic, metabolic, and conventional neuropathy measures. The ability of CCM to predict DPN broadens the already impressive diagnostic capabilities of this novel ophthalmic marker.

Miniversal Deformations Of Dialgebras

We develop the theory of versal deformations of dialgebras and describe a method for constructing a miniversal deformation of a dialgebra.

Small nerve fiber quantification in the diagnosis of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy: Comparing corneal confocal microscopy with intraepidermal nerve fiber density

OBJECTIVE Quantitative assessment of small fiber damage is key to the early diagnosis and assessment of progression or regression of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN). Intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) is the current gold standard, but corneal confocal microscopy (CCM), an in vivo ophthalmic imaging modality, has the potential to be a noninvasive and objective image biomarker for identifying small fiber damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic performance of CCM and IENFD by using the current guidelines as the reference standard. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Eighty-nine subjects (26 control subjects and 63 patients with type 1 diabetes), with and without DSPN, underwent a detailed assessment of neuropathy, including CCM and skin biopsy. RESULTS Manual and automated corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) (P < 0.0001), branch density (CNBD) (P < 0.0001) and length (CNFL) (P < 0.0001), and IENFD (P < 0.001) were significantly reduced in patients with diabetes with DSPN compared with control subjects. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for identifying DSPN was 0.82 for manual CNFD, 0.80 for automated CNFD, and 0.66 for IENFD, which did not differ significantly (P = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS This study shows comparable diagnostic efficiency between CCM and IENFD, providing further support for the clinical utility of CCM as a surrogate end point for DSPN.

The inferior whorl for detecting diabetic peripheral neuropathy using corneal confocal microscopy

PURPOSE: In vivo corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is increasingly used as a surrogate endpoint in studies of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). However, it is not clear whether imaging the central cornea provides optimal diagnostic utility for DPN. Therefore, we compared nerve morphology in the central cornea and the inferior whorl, a more distal and densely innervated area located inferior and nasal to the central cornea. METHODS: A total of 53 subjects with type 1/type 2 diabetes and 15 age-matched control subjects underwent detailed assessment of neuropathic symptoms (NPS), deficits (neuropathy disability score [NDS]), quantitative sensory testing (vibration perception threshold [VPT], cold and warm threshold [CT/WT], and cold- and heat-induced pain [CIP/HIP]), and electrophysiology (sural and peroneal nerve conduction velocity [SSNCV/PMNCV], and sural and peroneal nerve amplitude [SSNA/PMNA]) to diagnose patients with (DPN+) and without (DPN-) neuropathy. Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) and length (CNFL) in the central cornea, and inferior whorl length (IWL) were quantified. RESULTS: Comparing control subjects to DPN- and DPN+ patients, there was a significant increase in NDS (0 vs. 2.6 ± 2.3 vs. 3.3 ± 2.7, P < 0.01), VPT (V; 5.4 ± 3.0 vs. 10.6 ± 10.3 vs. 17.7 ± 11.8, P < 0.01), WT (°C; 37.7 ± 3.5 vs. 39.1 ± 5.1 vs. 41.7 ± 4.7, P < 0.05), and a significant decrease in SSNCV (m/s; 50.2 ± 5.4 vs. 48.4 ± 5.0 vs. 39.5 ± 10.6, P < 0.05), CNFD (fibers/mm2; 37.8 ± 4.9 vs. 29.7 ± 7.7 vs. 27.1 ± 9.9, P < 0.01), CNFL (mm/mm2; 27.5 ± 3.6 vs. 24.4 ± 7.8 vs. 20.7 ± 7.1, P < 0.01), and IWL (mm/mm2; 35.1 ± 6.5 vs. 26.2 ± 10.5 vs. 23.6 ± 11.4, P < 0.05). For the diagnosis of DPN, CNFD, CNFL, and IWL achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.75, 0.74, and 0.70, respectively, and a combination of IWL-CNFD achieved an AUC of 0.76. CONCLUSIONS: The parameters of CNFD, CNFL, and IWL have a comparable ability to diagnose patients with DPN. However, IWL detects an abnormality even in patients without DPN. Combining IWL with CNFD may improve the diagnostic performance of CCM.

Potential-distance relationships of clay-water systems considering the Stern theory

This paper deals with the use of Stem theory as applied to a clay-water electrolyte system, which is more realistic to understand the force system at micro level man the Gouy-Chapman theory. The influence of the Stern layer on potential-distance relationship has been presented quantitatively for certain specified clay-water systems and the results are compared with the Gouy-Chapman model. A detailed parametric study concerning the number of adsorption spots on the clay platelet, the thickness of the Stern layer, specific adsorption potential and the value of dielectric constant of the pore fluid in the Stern layer, was carried out. This study investigates that the potential obtained at any distance using the Stern theory is higher than that obtained by the Gouy-Chapman theory. The hydrated size of the ion is found to have a significant influence on the potential-distance relationship for a given clay, pore fluid characteristics and valence of the exchangeable ion.

Comparative Evaluation of Switching and Average Models of a DC-DC Boost Converter for Real-Time Simulation

This paper presents a comparative evaluation of the average and switching models of a dc-dc boost converter from the point of view of real-time simulation. Both the models are used to simulate the converter in real-time on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform. The converter is considered to function over a wide range of operating conditions, and could do transition between continuous conduction mode (CCM) and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). While the average model is known to be computationally efficient from the perspective of off-line simulation, the same is shown here to consume more logical resources than the switching model for real-time simulation of the dc-dc converter. Further, evaluation of the boundary condition between CCM and DCM is found to be the main reason for the increased consumption of resources by the average model.

Combining data sets of satellite-retrieved products for basin-scale water balance study: 2. Evaluation on the Mississippi Basin and closure correction model

In this study, we applied the integration methodology developed in the companion paper by Aires (2014) by using real satellite observations over the Mississippi Basin. The methodology provides basin-scale estimates of the four water budget components (precipitation P, evapotranspiration E, water storage change Delta S, and runoff R) in a two-step process: the Simple Weighting (SW) integration and a Postprocessing Filtering (PF) that imposes the water budget closure. A comparison with in situ observations of P and E demonstrated that PF improved the estimation of both components. A Closure Correction Model (CCM) has been derived from the integrated product (SW+PF) that allows to correct each observation data set independently, unlike the SW+PF method which requires simultaneous estimates of the four components. The CCM allows to standardize the various data sets for each component and highly decrease the budget residual (P - E - Delta S - R). As a direct application, the CCM was combined with the water budget equation to reconstruct missing values in any component. Results of a Monte Carlo experiment with synthetic gaps demonstrated the good performances of the method, except for the runoff data that has a variability of the same order of magnitude as the budget residual. Similarly, we proposed a reconstruction of Delta S between 1990 and 2002 where no Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment data are available. Unlike most of the studies dealing with the water budget closure at the basin scale, only satellite observations and in situ runoff measurements are used. Consequently, the integrated data sets are model independent and can be used for model calibration or validation.

Especies de Colletotrichum asociadas a Coffea arabica L. en Nicaragua

Con el objetivo de verificar la presencia del hongo causante de la enfermedad de las cerezas verdes también conocida como coffea berry disease (CBD), se recolectaron nuestras en siete fincas de Coffea arabica L en la IV y VI Región de Nicaragua, ubicadas a diferentes pisos altitudinales y manejo agronómico. El estudio de las cepas obtenidas se realizó en el laboratorio de Fitopatología de la Escuela de Sanidad Vegetal de la Universidad Nacional Agraria (UNA) durante el período comprendido de Agosto de 1991-Agosto 1992. Se encontraron cuatro grupos asociadas al sistema: Colletotrichum coffeanum Noack y Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes Penz con tres formas conocidas como cca. ccm v Vermeulen. Colletotrichum coffeanum variedad virulans Noack causante del coffee berry disease (CBD) o enfermedad de las cerezas verdes en África no fue reconocido en las zonas de estudio. Cada grupo, presentó diferentes características ecológicas, patogénicas y monoculturales que son cualitativamente similares a los grupos de Kenia (África), referidas por Gibbs (1969), Hindorf (1970; 1972) y Muthappa (1976), pero no idénticos. El hongo fue encontrado parasitando las cerezas verdes y maduras del cafeto, y aunque sus características in vitro no fueron similares a las del hongo causante del CBD, sus cepas desarrollaron patogenicidad en ridículas, y plántulas de café con dos hojas cotiledonales (variedad Catuaí amarillo). Se desconocen los factores que están induciendo a la selectividad del patógeno, y pensamos que deben realizarse más estudios de manera integral, acerca de todos los elementos que influyen en el sistema, como la fertilización del cultivo, la conservación de suelos, el uso de fungicidas, etc. Para evitar a tiempo cualquier explosión epidémica de la antracnosis en que los costos de producción se elevarían, y las pérdidas serían cuantiosas debido a que el área sembrado sería reducido.

Convective coupled map for simulating spatiotemporal chaos in flows

A coupled map lattices with convective nonlinearity or, for short, Convective Coupled Map (CCM) is proposed in this paper to simulate spatiotemporal chaos in fluid hows. It is found that the parameter region of spatiotemporal chaos can be determined by the maximal Liapunov exponent of its complexity time series. This simple model implies a similar physical mechanism for turbulence such that the route to spatiotemporal chaos in fluid hows can be envisaged.

绿藻CO_2浓缩机制的研究进展

单细胞绿藻是淡水水体中浮游植物的重要组成部分 ,也是淡水生态系统中主要的初级生产者 ,其在适应外界环境CO2 浓度变化的过程中 ,细胞内形成了一种主动转移无机碳的机制———CO2 浓缩机制(CO2 concentratingmechanism ,CCM ) .该机制能使细胞在核酮糖 2 磷酸羧化氧化酶 (rubisco)固碳位点提高CO2 浓度 ,以增加光合作用和减少光呼吸 .本文综述了这种机制中的无机碳转移模型和不同环境因子 (光、温度、CO2 浓度和营养水平 )对它的调控作用 ,以期促进深入开展浮游植

Construction and analysis of a high-CO2-requiring mutant of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp strain PCC7120

A mutant of Anabaena sp. strain PCC7120 requiring high CO2 was generated using Tn5 mutagenesis. This is the first data for a filamentous cyanobacterium. The mutant was capable of growing at 5% CO2, but incapable of growing at air levels of CO2. Southern hybridization analysis indicated that the Anabaena genome was inserted by the transposon at one site. The apparent photosynthetic affinity of the mutant to external dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) was about 300 times lower that of the wild type (WT), and the medium alkalization rate as well as the carboxysomal carbonic anhydrase activity of the mutant was also lower than those of the WT. When the mutant was transferred from the culture medium bubbled with 5% CO2 to higher DIC (8.4% CO2) or 1% CO2, it showed similar responses to the WT. However, aberrant carboxysomes were found in the mutant cells through ultrastructural analysis, indicating it was most probably the wrong organization of the carboxysomes that eventually led to the inefficient operation of carboxysomal carbonic anhydrase and the subsequent defectiveness of the mutant in utilizing DIC.

An inducible CO2 concentrating mechanism in cyanobacterium Anabaena sp strain PCC7120

In order to define its characteristics of the photosynthetic utilization of CO2 and HCO3- when the ambient inorganic carbon changed, HCG (High-CO2-Growing Cells) of cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC7120 were prepared. The growth rate of HCG was higher than that of LCG (low-CO2-growing cells, i.e. air-growing cells). When the HCG cells were transferred from 5% CO2 to air levels of CO2 , a series of changes took place: its carbonic anhydrase activity as well as its photosynthetic affinity to the external inorganic carbon significantly increased; the number of the carboxysomes, which is one of the most important components of CCM in cyanobacteria also increased. These facts indicated that the CCM activity of Anabaena PCC 7120 was induced. When the pH in the medium increased from 6 to 9, the photosynthetic affinity to external inorganic carbon of both HCG and LCG declined, while the apparent photosynthetic affinity to external CO2 increased. In the light of these findings, this inducible CCM in cyanobacteria provided a good model for the study of the photosynthetic Ci utilization in the phototrophic microoganisms.

分组密码工作模式的研究现状

分组密码工作模式是利用分组密码解决实际问题的密码方案．好的工作模式可以弥补分组密码的某些缺憾；相反，不好的工作模式可能带来安全隐患．工作模式的研究始终伴随着分组密码的研究历史，新的分组密码标准的推出，都会伴随着相应工作模式的研究．从针对DES的ECB、CBC、CFB和OFB，到针对AES的CTR、CCM、CMAC、GCM和AESKW，作者以各种模式标准为主线，介绍分组密码工作模式的设计理念、安全模型、二十多年的研究成果以及发展现状．

一种用于软件通信体系结构的构件模型

软件通信体系结构(SoftwareCommunicationsArchitecture,简称SCA)已被软件无线电(SoftwareDefinedRadio,简称SDR)论坛采纳为嵌入式系统的标准通信软件结构。SCA提供了一种支持通信软件和硬件可移植、可配置、可扩充和可重用的软件平台,但作为构件框架时仍显不足,主要是缺乏明确的构件模型。在研究CORBA构件模型(CORBAComponentModel,简称CCM)基础上,提出了适用于SCA的轻量级(Lightweight,简称Lw)CORBA构件模型———LwCCM。

光导纤维pH传感器的光化学pH敏感高分子膜及pH响应性能

pH指示剂在高分子载体上的固定化研究是应光导纤维pH传感器的发展要求而发展起来的新的研究领域。pH指示剂在高分子固态载体上的固定直接决定着光导纤维pH传感器的灵敏度、响应时间、寿命等性能。迄今，吸附、包埋和化学键合三利，固定方法已得到广泛应用。吸附法与包埋法简单易行，但因指示剂易于逸出而无法保证试剂相的使用稳定性及寿命；化学键合法目前仅限于对含氨基等高反应活性基团的指示剂固定。另外，这三种固定技术均存在试剂相与分析对象呈现固／液两相分离的问题，它严重制约了传感器响应性能，成为pH指示剂固定技术发展的“瓶颈”。改善、发展与寻找新的指示剂／载体固定配对体系已成为本领域的研究焦点。本论文针对上述问题，开拓与发展了一系列指示剂固定于固态高分子载体上的新体系。（一）首先开拓与发展了酚红／交联聚乙烯醇与邻甲酚红／交联聚乙烯醇固定对的新体系。在酸性条件下，以甲醛做交联剂，通过在玻璃板上倾涂聚乙烯醇甲醛的凝胶溶液制备了高亲水性的交联聚乙烯醇载体膜；然后采用接枝共聚反应将丙烯酞胺单体与通过酸碱反应接枝有酚红或邻甲酚红的丙烯酞胺混合物接枝固定到交联聚乙烯醇薄膜上，首次将不含氨基的酚红、邻甲酚红在高亲水性的聚乙烯醇载体上固定。利用紫外可见光光谱仪测试了其响应性能。结果表明，固定化指示剂的光谱行为与其相应的水溶液的光谱行为不一致，这可能是固定化过程中新的化学键生成以及载体与指示剂之间的相互作用如氢键的作用等引起的。这也导致了其pH响应范围与相应指示剂水溶液的响应范围的差异。固定酚红交联聚乙烯醇pH敏感膜的pH响应范围为pH=6.72～8.49；固定邻甲酚红交联聚乙烯醇pH敏感膜的两个响应范围分别为［H~+］=0.1mol／L～5mol／L和pH7.97～12.26。这种方式制备的这两种pH敏感薄膜均表现出优异的可重复使用性、可逆性、稳定性及易于制备的特点。更突出的优点在于，与以聚丙烯酰胺为基质直接固定酚红的薄膜（PAM-PR）相比，这种固定技术制备的敏感膜，当其与分析剂溶液接触时，其接枝于表面的水溶性高分子溶解，呈现“液态”，在固态基质表面形成一“液膜”层，从而消除了试剂相与分析剂之间的相界面，克服了指示剂固定化技术中的“瓶颈”问题，大幅度地提高了其响应速度与灵敏度，使响应时间从PAM-PR的数十分钟降至30秒以下。（二）开拓了刚果红醋酸纤维素包埋对的pH敏感膜（CCM）及刚果红／环氧氯丙烷交联聚乙烯醇（PECM）和甲醛交联聚乙烯醇（PFCM）的三种pH敏感膜新体系，测试并比较了三种膜的响应性能。结果表明，固定化刚果红的光谱性质和响应范围与刚果红水溶液不一致，而且用不同载体固定的刚果红的光谱特征与响应范围也各不相同。CCM的响应范围为pH＝2.5～4.5，PECM的响应范围在［H~+］=2mol/L～pH＝6.8之间，PFCM响应范围为pH＝2.90～5.48。这也可能是固定化过程中的氢键效应、空间位阻、指示剂与载体间发生的化学反应不同及载体本身结构的差异等引起的。这三种膜也具有良好的重现性、可逆性及响应迅速（平均响应时间低于25秒）的特点。另外发现醋酸纤维素包埋刚果红的敏感膜具有特殊的稳定性。对这种特殊的稳定性原因的分析表明选择合适尺寸分子的指示剂与载体配对将可能克服包埋技术中指示剂逸出的缺点。（三）对制备的pH敏感膜及对应的水溶液的pH线性响应范围给出了相应的线性回归方程（R＞98.2）。结果表明这些敏感膜对响应范围内的pH均具有良好的线性响应关系。这些结果与思想不仅丰富了光导pH传感器的试剂相内容，也为后续工作提供了一些有益的借鉴。