Membrane lipid composition affects plant heat sensing and modulates Ca ( 2+) -dependent heat shock response.

Understanding how plants sense and respond to heat stress is central to improve crop tolerance and productivity. Recent findings in Physcomitrella patensdemonstrated that the controlled passage of calcium ions across the plasma membrane regulates the heat shock response (HSR). To investigate the effect of membrane lipid composition on the plant HSR, we acclimated P. patens to a slightly elevated yet physiological growth temperature and analysed the signature of calcium influx under a mild heat shock. Compared to tissues grown at 22°C, tissues grown at 32°C had significantly higher overall membrane lipid saturation level and, when submitted to a short heat shock at 35°C, displayed a noticeably reduced calcium influx and a consequent reduced heat shock gene expression. These results show that temperature differences, rather than the absolute temperature, determine the extent of the plant HSR and indicate that membrane lipid composition regulates the calcium-dependent heat-signaling pathway.

Pneumocystis-carinii-Pneumonie bei Säuglingen mit vertikaler HIV-Infektion in der Schweiz [Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in infants with vertically acquired HIV infection in Switzerland]

OBJECTIVE: Review of incidence, clinical picture, therapy, and outcome of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in infants with vertically-acquired HIV infection in Switzerland. METHODS: Inquiry among members of the Swiss Pediatrics AIDS Group, review of the data base of the Swiss Neonatal HIV Study and retrospective analysis of the charts from infants with PCP. RESULTS: Since 1986 PCP has been diagnosed in 10 out of 107 infants with vertically-acquired HIV infection. PCP occurred in 7 infants at the age of 3-6 months and in 3 at the age of 9-11 months. 4 infants showed symptoms related to HIV infection before developing PCP. Before the development of PCP, infection with HIV had been ascertained in 6 infants. In 2 the diagnosis was still unclear and in the 2 remaining the risk of HIV infection was not known. None of the infants was on primary prophylaxis against PCP. Signs and symptoms of PCP included cough and tachypnea (100%) as well as high fever up to 40 degrees C (90%). Transcutaneous oxygen saturation was 70-95%. Chest X-rays revealed interstitial infiltrates in 6 infants, localized infiltrates in 2 and interstitial as well as localized infiltrates in 2. The CD4+ cell count was, with one exception, < 1500/microliters, i.e. below the normal value for age. Side effects of high dose cotrimoxazole were noted in 6 patients. 5 infants required intubation and mechanical ventilation. 4 infants died due to PCP, including 3 of those who required intubation and mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: PCP in infants with vertically-acquired HIV infection preferentially occurs at the age of 3 to 6 months and is often lethal, especially in patients requiring intubation. Evaluation for HIV infection should be done as early as possible in order to introduce primary PCP prophylaxis in infants at risk for this opportunistic infection.

Melt/peridotite interaction in the Southern Lanzo peridotite: Field, textural and geochemical evidence

This paper presents field, petrographic-structural and geochemical data on spinet and plagioclase peridotites from the southern domain of the Lanzo ophiolitic peridotite massif (Western Alps). Spinet lherzolites, harzburgites and dunites crop out at Mt. Arpone and Mt. Musine. Field evidence indicates that pristine porphyroclastic spinet lherzolites are transformed to coarse granular spinet harzburgites, which are in turn overprinted by plagioclase peridotites, while strongly depleted spinet harzburgite and dunite bands and bodies replace the plagioclase peridotites. On the northern flank of Mt. Arpone, deformed, porphyroclastic (lithospheric) lherzolites, with diffuse pyroxenite banding, represent the oldest spinel-facies rocks. They show microstructures of a composite subsolidus evolution, suggesting provenance from deeper (asthenospheric) mantle levels and accretion to the lithosphere. These protoliths are locally transformed to coarse granular (reactive) spinet harzburgites and dunites, which show textures reminiscent of melt/rock reaction and geochemical characteristics suggesting that they are products of peridotite interaction with reactively percolating melts. Geochemical data and modelling suggest that <1-5% fractional melting of spinel-facies DMM produced the injected melts. Plagioclase peridotites are hybrid rocks resulting from pre-existing spinet peridotites and variable enrichment of plagioclase and micro-gabbroic material by percolating melts. The impregnating melts attained silica-saturation, as testified by widespread orthopyroxene replacement of olivine, during open system migration in the lithosphere. At Mt. Musine, coarse granular spinet harzburgite and dunite bodies replace the plagioclase peridotites. Most of these replacive, refractory peridotites have interstitial magmatic clinopyroxene with trace element compositions in equilibrium with MORB, while some Cpx have REE-depleted patterns suggesting transient geochemical features of the migrating MORB-type melts, acquired by interaction with the ambient plagioclase peridotite. These replacive spinet harzburgite and dunite bodies are interpreted as channels exploited for focused and reactive migration of silica-undersaturated melts with aggregate MORB compositions. Such melts were unrelated to the silica-saturated melts that refertilized the pre-existing plagioclase peridotites. Finally, MORB melt migration occurred along open fractures, now recorded as gabbroic dikes. Our data document the complexity of rock-types and mantle processes in the South Lanzo peridotite massif and describe a composite tectonic and magmatic scenario that is not consistent with the ``asthenospheric scenario'' proposed by previous authors. We envisage a ``transitional scenario'' in which extending subcontinental lithospheric mantle was strongly modified (both depleted and refertilized) by early melts with MORB-affinity formed by decompression partial melting of the upwelling asthenosphere, during pre-oceanic rifting and lithospheric thinning in the Ligurian Tethys realm. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pulse oximetry and transcutaneous oxygen tension for detection of hypoxemia in critically ill infants and children.

We tested the performance of transcutaneous oxygen monitoring (TcPO2) and pulse oximetry (tcSaO2) in detecting hypoxia in critically ill neonatal and pediatric patients. In 54 patients (178 data sets) with a mean age of 2.4 years (range 1 to 19 years), arterial saturation (SaO2) ranged from 9.5 to 100%, and arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) from 16.4 to 128 mmHg. Linear correlation analysis of pulse oximetry vs measured SaO2 revealed an r value of 0.95 (p less than 0.001) with an equation of y = 21.1 + 0.749x, while PaO2 vs tcPO2 showed a correlation coefficient of r = 0.95 (p less than 0.001) with an equation of y = -1.04 + 0.876x. The mean difference between measured SaO2 and tcSaO2 was -2.74 +/- 7.69% (range +14 to - 29%) and the mean difference between PaO2 and tcPO2 was +7.43 +/- 8.57 mmHg (range -14 to +49 mmHg). Pulse oximetry was reliable at values above 65%, but was inaccurate and overestimated the arterial SaO2 at lower values. TcPO2 tended to underestimate the arterial value with increasing PaO2. Pulse oximetry had the best sensitivity to specificity ratio for hypoxia between 65 and 90% SaO2; for tcPO2 the best results were obtained between 35 and 55 mmHg PaO2.

Seed priming and sulfur effects on soybean cell membrane stability and yield in saline soil

The objective of this work was to determine the effects of seed priming and sulfur application on cell membrane characteristics, seedling emergence, chlorophyll content and grain yield of soybean (Glycine max) in saline soil. A complete-block design in 4x3 factorial arrangement with three replicates was used to test four types of seed priming (water, auxin, gibberellin and non-priming) and three levels of sulfate availability (0, 70 and 140 kg ha-1 K2SO4). The soil had a silty loam texture with an electrical conductivity of 3.61 ds m-1, a pH of 8.2 and a saturation percentage of about 46%. Seed priming had significant effects on mean emergence rate (MER), emergence percentage, relative water content (RWC) of leaves, relative chlorophyll content, time of maturity, shoot length and grain yield. The highest values for these variables were observed in the priming treatments, except for the time of maturity. Sulfur application had significant effects on MER, shoot length, RWC, membrane injury index and grain yield. Priming treatments provide greater emergence rates and grain yields and interact sinergicaly with sulfur rates.

Cement Stabilization of Embankment Materials, 2015

Embankment subgrade soils in Iowa are generally rated as fair to poor as construction materials. These soils can exhibit low bearing strength, high volumetric instability, and freeze/thaw or wet/dry durability problems. Cement stabilization offers opportunities to improve these soils conditions. The objective of this study was to develop relationships between soil index properties, unconfined compressive strength and cement content. To achieve this objective, a laboratory study was conducted on 28 granular and non-granular materials obtained from 9 active construction sites in Iowa. The materials consisted of glacial till, loess, and alluvium sand. Type I/II portland cement was used for stabilization. Stabilized and unstabilized specimens were prepared using Iowa State University 2 in. by 2 in. compaction apparatus. Specimens were prepared, cured, and tested for unconfined compressive strength (UCS) with and without vacuum saturation. Percent fines content (F200), AASHTO group index (GI), and Atterberg limits were tested before and after stabilization. The results were analyzed using multi-variate statistical analysis to assess influence of the various soil index properties on post-stabilization material properties. Results indicated that F200, liquid limit, plasticity index, and GI of the materials generally decreased with increasing cement content. The UCS of the stabilized specimens increased with increasing cement content, as expected. The average saturated UCS of the unstabilized materials varied between 0 and 57 psi. The average saturated UCS of stabilized materials varied between 44 and 287 psi at 4% cement content, 108 and 528 psi at t 8% cement content, and 162 and 709 psi at 12% cement content. The UCS of the vacuum saturated specimens was on average 1.5 times lower than that of the unsaturated specimens. Multi-variate statistical regression models are provided in this report to predict F200, plasticity index, GI, and UCS after treatment, as a function of cement content and soil index properties.

Levosimendan as rescue therapy after surgery for congenital heart disease

Objectives: Levosimendan, a calcium-sensitizing agent has been reported as useful for the management of patients with low cardiac output state. We report here our experience, safety and efficacy of use of levosimendan as rescue therapy after surgery for congenital heart disease. Methods: Retrospective cohort study on patients necessitating levosimendan therapy for post operative low cardiac output or severe post operative systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Twelve patients with a mean age of 2.1 years (range 7 days - 14 years old) received levosimendan. Type of surgery: 3 arterial switch, 3 correction of complete abnormal pulmonary venous return, 3 closure of VSD and correction of aortic coarctation, 3 Tetralogy of Fallot, one correction of truncus arteriosus and one palliation for single ventricle. The mean time of ECC was 203 +/- 81min. Ten patients received levosimendan for low cardiac output not responding to conventional therapy in these cases (milrinone, dopamine and noradrenaline) in the first 6 hours following entry in the ICU and 3 patients received levosimendan 3-4 days after surgery for severe systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Levosimendan was given as a drip for 24-48 hours at the dose of 0.1-0.2 mcg/ kg/min, without loading dose. Results: Significant changes were noted on mean plasmatic lactate (3.3 +/- 1.7mmole/L vs 1.8 +/-0.6mmole/L, p+0.01), mean central venous saturation (55 +/- 11% vs 68 +/- 10%, p+0.01) and mean arterio-venous difference in CO2 (9.6 +/- 4.9mmHg vs 6.7 +/- 2.1mmHg, p+0.05) for values before and at the end of levosimendan administration. There was no significant changes on heart rate, systolic pressure or central venous pressure. No adverse effect was observed. Conclusion: Levosimendan, used as rescue therapy after surgery for congenital heart disease, is safe and improves cardiac output as demonstrated with improvement of parameters commonly used clinically.

The effect of positive airway pressure during pre-oxygenation and induction of anaesthesia upon duration of non-hypoxic apnoea

Résumé de l'étude. L'application d'une pression positive (PEEP) pendant la phase d'induction d'une anesthésie générale peut prévenir la formation d'atélectasies pulmonaires. Ceci pourrait permettre d'accroître la durée d'apnée non hypoxique par l'augmentation de la capacité pulmonaire résiduelle fonctionnelle (CRF). Nous avons étudié le bénéfice de l'application d'une PEEP durant la phase d'induction d'une anesthésie générale sur la durée d'apnée avant que la saturation périphérique en oxygène atteigne 90%. Quarante patients ASA I-II ont été randomisés en deux groupes distincts. - Dans le groupe PEEP (n=20), les patients ont été pré-oxygénés durant 5 minutes avec une Fi02 à l00% par l'intermédiaire d'un appareil de CPAP (6cmH2O). Après induction de l'anesthésie, les patients furent ventilés mécaniquement (PEEP 6cmH2O) durant 5 minutes supplémentaires. - Dans le groupe ZEEP (n=20), aucune pression positive (ni CPAP, ni PEEP) ne fut utilisée. La durée d'apnée pour atteindre une saturation périphérique de 90% fut mesurée. La durée d'apnée non hypoxique était plus longue dans le groupe PEEP par rapport au groupe ZEEP (599 +/- 135 s vs 470 +/- 150 s, p= 0,007). Nous concluons que l'application d'une pression positive durant la phase d'induction d'une anesthésie générale chez l'adulte prolonge la durée d'apnée non hypoxique de plus de 2 minutes.

Transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure for monitoring patients with severe croup.

In a prospective investigation of 17 children with severe croup, we analyzed the effect of epinephrine inhalations and mild sedation with chloral hydrate on transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure (tcPCO2), pulse oximetry measurements, and croup scores. There was a highly significant reduction (p less than 0.001) in the tcPCO2 values and croup scores after inhalation of epinephrine. The changes in the tcPCO2 values correlated with the clinical findings. Mild sedation also significantly improved the croup scores but failed to influence the tcPCO2 values. There was not statistically significant difference in pulse oximetry saturation, fraction of administered oxygen, heart rate, or respiratory rate before and after inhalation of epinephrine or chloral hydrate administration. Monitoring tcPCO2 appears to be a reliable and objective tool for managing patients with upper airway obstruction, whereas croup scores may be misleading.

Brain dysfunctions, psychopathologies, and body image distortions

The major features in eating disorders are a preoccupation with food and its consumption and body dissatisfaction. Diagnostic manuals provide clusters of criteria according to which affected individuals can be categorized into one or other group of eating disorder. Yet, when considering the high proportion of comorbidities and ignoring the content of the symptoms (food, body), the major features seem to yield obsessional-compulsive, addictive, and impulsive qualities. In the present article, we review studies from the neuroscientific literature (mainly lesion studies) on eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, impulse control disorder, and addiction to investigate the possibility of a wider phenotype that can be related to a common brain network. The literature localizes this network to the right frontal lobe and its connectivities. This network, when dysfunctional, might result in a behavior that favors the preoccupation with particular thoughts, behaviors, anxieties, and uncontrollable urges that are accompanied by little scope for ongoing behavioral adjustments (e.g., impulse control). We reason that this network may turn out to be equally involved in understudied mental conditions of dysfunctional body processing such as muscle dysmorphia, body dysmorphic disorder (including esthetic surgery), and xelomelia. We finally consider previous notions of a wider phenotype approach to current diagnostic practice (using DSM), such as the possibility of a model with a reduced number of diagnostic categories and primary and secondary factors, and to etiological models of mental health conditions.

The kinetic parameters and energy cost of the Hsp70 chaperone as a polypeptide unfoldase.

Hsp70-Hsp40-NEF and possibly Hsp100 are the only known molecular chaperones that can use the energy of ATP to convert stably pre-aggregated polypeptides into natively refolded proteins. However, the kinetic parameters and ATP costs have remained elusive because refolding reactions have only been successful with a molar excess of chaperones over their polypeptide substrates. Here we describe a stable, misfolded luciferase species that can be efficiently renatured by substoichiometric amounts of bacterial Hsp70-Hsp40-NEF. The reactivation rates increased with substrate concentration and followed saturation kinetics, thus allowing the determination of apparent V(max)' and K(m)' values for a chaperone-mediated renaturation reaction for the first time. Under the in vitro conditions used, one Hsp70 molecule consumed five ATPs to effectively unfold a single misfolded protein into an intermediate that, upon chaperone dissociation, spontaneously refolded to the native state, a process with an ATP cost a thousand times lower than expected for protein degradation and resynthesis.

Correlation of physical and chemical attributes of soil with sugarcane yield

The objective of this work was to evaluate the correlation between sugarcane yield and some physical and chemical attributes of soil. For this, a 42‑ha test area in Araras, SP, Brazil, was used. Soil properties were determined from samples collected at the beginning of the 2003/2004 harvest season, using a regular 100x100 m grid. Yield assessment was done with a yield monitor (Simprocana). Correlation analyses were performed between sugarcane yield and the following soil properties: pH, pH CaCl2, N, C, cone index, clay content, soil organic matter, P, K, Ca, Mg, H+AL, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation. Correlation coefficients were respectively ‑0.05, ‑0.29, 0.33, 0.41, ‑0.27, 0.22, 0.44, ‑0.24, trace, ‑0.06, 0.01, 0.32, 0.14, and 0.04. Correlations of chemical and physical attributes of soil with sugarcane yield are weak, and, per se, they are not able to explain sugarcane yield variation, which suggests that other variables, besides soil attributes, should be analysed.

Quantitative multi-parameter mapping of R1, PD(*), MT, and R2(*) at 3T: a multi-center validation.

Multi-center studies using magnetic resonance imaging facilitate studying small effect sizes, global population variance and rare diseases. The reliability and sensitivity of these multi-center studies crucially depend on the comparability of the data generated at different sites and time points. The level of inter-site comparability is still controversial for conventional anatomical T1-weighted MRI data. Quantitative multi-parameter mapping (MPM) was designed to provide MR parameter measures that are comparable across sites and time points, i.e., 1 mm high-resolution maps of the longitudinal relaxation rate (R1 = 1/T1), effective proton density (PD(*)), magnetization transfer saturation (MT) and effective transverse relaxation rate (R2(*) = 1/T2(*)). MPM was validated at 3T for use in multi-center studies by scanning five volunteers at three different sites. We determined the inter-site bias, inter-site and intra-site coefficient of variation (CoV) for typical morphometric measures [i.e., gray matter (GM) probability maps used in voxel-based morphometry] and the four quantitative parameters. The inter-site bias and CoV were smaller than 3.1 and 8%, respectively, except for the inter-site CoV of R2(*) (<20%). The GM probability maps based on the MT parameter maps had a 14% higher inter-site reproducibility than maps based on conventional T1-weighted images. The low inter-site bias and variance in the parameters and derived GM probability maps confirm the high comparability of the quantitative maps across sites and time points. The reliability, short acquisition time, high resolution and the detailed insights into the brain microstructure provided by MPM makes it an efficient tool for multi-center imaging studies.

Magnetization reversal mechanisms in colloidal dispersions of magnetite particles

We have studied the structural and magnetic properties of colloids consisting of different concentrations of magnetite particles dispersed in kerosene. Our data for the temperature dependence of the low field magnetization and the saturation coercive force of the samples evidenced the occurrence, in different temperature ranges, of Neel- and Brown-type relaxation processes whose characteristics were largely influenced by strong dipolar interparticle interactions.

Pulmonary hypertension associated to sarcoidosis in Switzerland

Introduction: L'hypertension pulmonaire est une complication rare de la sarcoïdose. Elle se rencontre surtout lors d'atteinte pulmonaire associée, particulièrement lorsque celle-ci est avancée. Objectif: Étudier l'épidémiologie et l'évolution clinique des patients souffrant d'hypertension pulmonaire et de sarcoïdose (SAPH) en Suisse. Méthode: Le registre suisse de l'hypertension pulmonaire a été analysé rétrospectivement pour identifier les cas SAPH de 2000 à 2011. Les paramètres cliniques, tels que le sexe, l'âge, le stade radiographique pulmonaire et l'hémodynamique sont étudiés lors de l'inscription des patients dans le registre. La classe fonctionnelle NYHA, la capacité à l'exercice (TM6M), les traitements introduits (oxygénothérapie, traitements spécifiques pour la sarcoïdose et traitements spécifiques pour l'hypertension pulmonaire), la survie et le nombre de transplantations pulmonaires effectués sont étudiés lors du suivi. Résultats: Parmi plus de 977 patients inscrits, 22 répondent aux critères d'inclusion pour la SAPH. La majorité de patients est de sexe féminin et l'âge moyen est de 59,5 +/-29,7. Le stade pulmonaire le plus souvent rencontré est de degré 4. La mPAP au diagnostic est de 44 ± 12.6 mmHg et la saturation veineuse d'oxygène est de 60%. La plupart des patients présentent une classe NYHA de 3 et le TM6M est de 368.6 ± 124.2 m à l'inclusion dans le registre. La durée moyenne du suivi des patients dans le registre est de 19.4 mois (0-57). La médiane est de 14 mois. La classe fonctionnelle NYHA et les moyennes des mètres parcourus ne montrent pas de changements significatifs lors du suivi. Au début de l'étude, comme à la fin, moins de la moitié des patients sont sous oxygénothérapie ; le traitement le plus utilisé pour l'hypertension pulmonaire est la classe des antagonistes de l'endothéline et pour la sarcoïdose les corticostéroïdes. La survie à un an est de 65 % et de 55 % à 3 ans. Pendant la période d'observation 5 patients nécessitent une transplantation pulmonaire, dont 2 sont décédés. La démarche médicamenteuse varie au cours du temps : la tendance récente est de donner plus de médicaments pour l'hypertension pulmonaire et la sarcoïdose et de favoriser les associations. Conclusion: La SAPH est une maladie rare ou tout au moins rarement diagnostiquée avec un sombre pronostic. Le degré d'hypertension est de modéré à sévère avec une limitation à l'effort importante. En cas de symptômes suggestifs chez un patient souffrant de sarcoïdose, un dépistage échocardiographique systématique devrait être proposé.