We introduce determinantal sieving, a new, remarkably powerful tool in the toolbox of algebraic FPT algorithms. Given a polynomial $P(X)$ on a set of variables $X=\{x_1,\ldots,x_n\}$ and a linear matroid $M=(X,\mathcal{I})$ of rank $k$, both over a field $\mathbb{F}$ of characteristic 2, in $2^k$ evaluations we can sieve for those terms in the monomial expansion of $P$ which are multilinear and whose support is a basis for $M$. Alternatively, using $2^k$ evaluations of $P$ we can sieve for those monomials whose odd support spans $M$. Applying this framework, we improve on a range of algebraic FPT algorithms, such as: 1. Solving $q$-Matroid Intersection in time $O^*(2^{(q-2)k})$ and $q$-Matroid Parity in time $O^*(2^{qk})$, improving on $O^*(4^{qk})$ over general fields (Brand and Pratt, ICALP 2021) 2. Long $(s,t)$-Path in $O^*(1.66^k)$ time, improving on $O^*(2^k)$, and Rank $k$ $(S,T)$-Linkage in so-called frameworks in $O^*(2^k)$ time, improving on $O^*(2^{|S|+O(k^2 \log(k+|\mathbb{F}|))})$ over general fields (Fomin et al., SODA 2023). 3. Many instances of the Diverse X paradigm, finding a collection of $r$ solutions to a problem with a minimum mutual distance of $d$ in time $O^*(2^{r(r-1)d/2})$, improving solutions for $k$-Distinct Branchings from time $2^{O(k \log k)}$ to $O^*(2^k)$ (Bang-Jensen et al., ESA 2021), and for Diverse Perfect Matchings from $O^*(2^{2^{O(rd)}})$ to $O^*(2^{r^2d/2})$ (Fomin et al., STACS 2021). Here, all matroids are assumed to be represented over fields of characteristic 2. Over general fields, we achieve similar results at the cost of using exponential space by working over the exterior algebra. For a class of arithmetic circuits we call strongly monotone, this is even achieved without any loss of running time. However, the odd support sieving result appears to be specific to working over characteristic 2.
Front propagation into unstable states is often determined by the linearization; that is, propagation speeds agree with predictions from the linearized equation at the unstable state. The leading edge behavior is then a Gaussian tail propagating with the linear spreading speed. Fronts following this leading edge are commonly referred to as pulled fronts, alluding to the idea that they are “pulled” by this leading edge Gaussian tail. We describe here a class of examples that exhibits how these leading order effects do not completely describe the dynamics in the wake of the front. In fact, leading edge behavior predicts at most two possible invasion scenarios, associated with positive and negative amplitudes of the Gaussian tail, but our examples exhibit three or more invasion fronts with different states in the wake. The resulting invasion process therefore leaves behind a state that is not solely determined by the leading edge and thus not just pulled by the Gaussian tail.
Veronica Obregon-Perko, Amanda Mannino, Jason T. Ladner
et al.
While simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection is non-pathogenic in naturally infected African nonhuman primate hosts, experimental or accidental infection in rhesus macaques often leads to AIDS. Baboons, widely distributed throughout Africa, do not naturally harbor SIV, and experimental infection of baboons with SIVmac results in transient low-level viral replication. Elucidation of mechanisms of natural immunity in baboons could uncover new targets of antiviral intervention. We tested the hypothesis that an SIVmac adapted to replicate in baboon primary cells will gain the capacity to establish chronic infections in vivo. Here, we generated SIVmac variants in baboon cells through serial passage in PBMC from different donors (SIVbn-PBMC s1), in PBMC from the same donors (SIVbn-PBMC s2), or in isolated CD4 cells from the same donors used for series 2 (SIVbn-CD4). While SIVbn-PBMC s1 and SIVbn-CD4 demonstrated increased replication capacity, SIVbn-PBMC s2 did not. Pharmacological blockade of CCR5 revealed SIVbn-PBMC s1 could more efficiently use available CCR5 than SIVmac, a trait we hypothesize arose to circumvent receptor occupation by chemokines. Sequencing analysis showed that all three viruses accumulated different types of mutations, and that more non-synonymous mutations became fixed in SIVbn-PBMC s1 than SIVbn-PBMC s2 and SIVbn-CD4, supporting the notion of stronger fitness pressure in PBMC from different genetic backgrounds. Testing the individual contribution of several newly fixed SIV mutations suggested that is the additive effect of these mutations in SIVbn-PBMC s1 that contributed to its enhanced fitness, as recombinant single mutant viruses showed no difference in replication capacity over the parental SIVmac239 strain. The replicative capacity of SIVbn-PBMC passage 4 (P4) s1 was tested in vivo by infecting baboons intravenously with SIVbn-PBMC P4 s1 or SIVmac251. While animals infected with SIVmac251 showed the known pattern of transient low-level viremia, animals infected with SIVbn-PBMC P4 s1 had undetectable viremia or viral DNA in lymphoid tissue. These studies suggest that adaptation of SIV to grow in baboon primary cells results in mutations that confer increased replicative capacity in the artificial environment of cell culture but make the virus unable to avoid the restrictive factors generated by a complex multicellular organism.
Chizoba M. Enemchukwu, Christiana Nwabueze, Oluchi J. Osuala
et al.
Background: The adult human vagina hosts a complex biota containing diverse communities of microorganisms. The occurrence of multi-drug-resistant strains of these microorganisms has persistently increased due to poor hygiene and misuse or abuse of antibiotics. The vaginal microflora may exhibit patterns of growth, biochemical expression, or response to the standard drugs which consequently lead to answer the complex questions of antimicrobial resistance.
Aim: The study aimed to quantify the susceptibility profile of microorganisms isolated from vaginal discharge and evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentration of diverse antimicrobial drugs.
Methods: Fifty vaginal swabs were collected from female students of Madonna University, Nigeria while two samples were collected each from a pregnant and a non-pregnant woman at the university’s tertiary care teaching hospital. The isolates were grown in selective media and identified through Gram-staining and biochemical physiology for identification. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used for microbial susceptibility testing, and the agar dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of commonly prescribed antibiotics at the teaching hospital.
Results: Sixty-eight microorganisms comprising 17 Gram-positive (Staphylococcus sp.) and 31 Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and others) bacteria and 20 fungi (Candida sp.) were isolated. The bacteria showed a high resistance (>80%) to amoxicillin, cefuroxime, and cefixime but were relatively susceptible (35–100%) to levofloxacin and ofloxacin. Cefepime showed high activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration range of 25–50 µg/mL against the studied bacteria. The isolated fungi were susceptible to amphotericin B (35–40%) but resistant (>85%) to other antifungal drugs tested.
Conclusion: The study suggests that bacterial vaginosis prevalence at the university could best be treated with ofloxacin (second generation- fluoroquinlone), levofloxacin (third generation- fluoroquinolone), and cefepime (fourth generation- cephalosporin) due to their greater sensitivity, while candidiasis could best be treated with amphotericin B (a pyolene).
Najwan Alsadat, Mohammed Elgarhy, Amal S. Hassan
et al.
In this article, we provide a new three-parameter model derived from the newly reduced Cauchy power-G family and linked to the linear failure rate model. The truncated Cauchy power linear failure rate (TCPLFR) is the name given to this distribution. The TCPLFR distribution also contains the truncated Cauchy power Rayleigh distribution and the truncated Cauchy power exponential distribution as sub-models. The TCPLFR distribution has rising, falling, and U-shaped hazard rate functions. The distribution characteristics of the TCPLFR are presented. To compute the population parameters’ point and estimated confidence intervals, the maximum likelihood approach is employed. We explore the behavior of the maximum likelihood estimates as well as the estimated confidence intervals for the model parameters using Monte Carlo simulation. To demonstrate the significance and flexibility of the TCPLFR distribution, the Akaike information criterion (D1), Bayesian information criterion (D2), consistent Akaike information criterion (D3), Hannan–Quinn information criterion (D4), and Kolmogorov–Smirnov (D5) statistic with its p-value (D6) were employed. According to a real-world data analysis, the truncated Cauchy power linear failure rate distribution outperforms alternative models with two, three, and four parameters.
Objective: The Kulkarni Technique of one-sided dissection with penile invagination allows for single-stage management of panurethral stricture. In this accompanying video, we demonstrate and discuss the use of this technique in urethral reconstruction. Patient and surgical procedure: The patient is a 60-year-old male with a history of stricture treated in the remote past with posterior auricular graft. His-stricture eventually recurred, and he was self-calibrating weekly for 15 years before presenting to us with obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms and recurrent urinary tract infections. Investigation with urethrography revealed an approximately 10 cm urethral stricture extending from the proximal bulbar urethra to mid-penile urethra. No evidence of lichen sclerosus was evident on physical examination.A perineal incision was made, and one-sided dissection carried out on the patient's left-side, dividing the bulbocavernosus muscle to access the urethra dorsally. This dissection was extended towards midline to rotate the urethra off to one side, leaving the right-side neurovascular attachments intact. Once the penis was invaginated, the dissection was extended proximally and distally beyond the extents of the urethral stricture.The urethra was then opened dorsally through the length of stricture and two oral mucosa grafts were quilted onto the adjacent tunica albuginea. The urethral edges are then sewn to the edges of the graft, de-rotating the urethra back into its orthotopic position. A catheter is inserted prior to completion of this urethral closure. The bulbocavernosus muscle edges are reapproximated and the bulbar incision is closed in multiple layers. Results: This patient had an uneventful recovery and a peri‑catheter urethrogram approximately 3 weeks after surgery demonstrated no extravasation, so the catheter was removed. The patient continues to do well with no evidence of recurrence at 3 years follow-up. Previously reported outcomes suggest this is a safe, reproducible, and durably effective technique. Conclusion: The Kulkarni Technique offers a minimally invasive, single stage approach to pan-urethral stricture. It allows for avoidance of a penile incision and minimization of impact on the neurovascular support structures of the anterior urethra.
Surgery, Diseases of the genitourinary system. Urology
Agnieszka Lisowska, Edyta Czepielewska, Martyna Rydz
et al.
Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is one of the major risk factors of adverse drug events in elderly patients. Pharmacotherapy assessment criteria may help reduce the instances of PIP among geriatric patients. This study aimed to verify the applicability of selected tools designed to assess prescribing appropriateness in elderly and to identify PIP in the study population. Based on pharmacist-led medication reviews that were performed among patients attending senior day-care centers based in Poland, aged 65 years and over, the following tools were applied for assessing the appropriateness of pharmacotherapy: PILA (patient-in-focus listing approach): STOPP/START v.2 and Amsterdam tool, DOLA (drug-oriented listing approach): PRISCUS list, and DOLA+: Beers criteria v.2019 and the EU(7)-PIM list–the criteria oriented on medications requiring indications. Fifty patients participated in the study. The prevalence of prescribing issues in the study population was very high and ranged from 28% to 100%, depending on the criteria applied. The highest number of PIP cases was identified based on the PILA criteria: STOPP/START v.2 (171, a mean of 3.4 PIP cases per patient), and the Amsterdam criteria (124, a mean of 2.5 PIP cases per patient). The lack of protective vaccinations against pneumococci identified using the START criterion was found to be the most common PIP (identified in 96% of the patients). Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) were identified as the most problematic group of medications. The STOPP, EU(7)-PIM and Beers criteria revealed cases of inappropriate prolonged PPI use, whereas the Amsterdam tool identified cases where PPIs should have been prescribed but were not. The highest number of PIP cases in the study population were identified with the PILA tools, and on this basis the most comprehensive assessment of pharmacotherapy appropriateness in geriatric patients was conducted. Further studies should be designed, covering a larger group of patients across different healthcare settings (inpatient and outpatient), with access to comprehensive patient data.
Abstract POLRMT (RNA polymerase mitochondrial) is responsible for the transcription of mitochondrial genome encoding key components of oxidative phosphorylation. This process is important for cancer cell growth. The current study tested expression and potential functions of POLRMT in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). TCGA cohorts and the results from the local lung cancer tissues showed that POLRMT is overexpressed in human lung cancer tissues. In both primary human NSCLC cells and A549 cells, POLRMT silencing (by targeted lentiviral shRNAs) or knockout (through CRSIPR/Cas9 gene editing method) potently inhibited cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced apoptosis activation. On the contrast, ectopic overexpression of POLRMT using a lentiviral construct accelerated cell proliferation and migration in NSCLC cells. The mtDNA contents, mRNA levels of mitochondrial transcripts, and subunits of respiratory chain complexes, as well as S6 phosphorylation, were decreased in POLRMT-silenced or -knockout NSCLC cells, but increased after ectopic POLRMT overexpression. In vivo, intratumoral injection of POLRMT shRNA adeno-associated virus (AAV) potently inhibited NSCLC xenograft growth in severe combined immune deficiency mice. The mtDNA contents, mRNA levels of mitochondria respiratory chain complex subunits, and S6 phosphorylation were decreased in POLRMT shRNA AAV-injected NSCLC xenograft tissues. These results show that POLRMT is a novel and important oncogene required for NSCLC cell growth in vitro and in vivo.
Ni nanocatalysts produced through exsolution have shown strong resistance to particle sintering and carbon coking in a beneficial dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction utilizing greenhouse gases such as CH4 and CO2. However, most of the existing oxide supports for exsolution have been limited to perovskite oxide, while studies on fluorite support have been rarely conducted due to the limited solubility despite its excellent redox stability. Here we demonstrate that 3 mol% Ni can be successfully dissolved into the yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) lattice and be further exsolved to the surface in a reducing atmosphere. The YSZ decorated with exsolved Ni nanoparticles shows enhanced catalytic activity for DRM reaction compared to the conventional cermet type of bulk Ni-YSZ. Moreover, the catalytic activity is extremely stable for about 300 h without significant degradation. Overall results suggest that the YSZ-based fluorite structure can be utilized as one of the support oxides for exsolution.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Ludmila Motelica, Denisa Ficai, Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea
et al.
Replacing the petroleum-based materials in the food industry is one of the main objectives of the scientists and decision makers worldwide. Biodegradable packaging will help diminish the environmental impact of human activity. Improving such biodegradable packaging materials by adding antimicrobial activity will not only extend the shelf life of foodstuff, but will also eliminate some health hazards associated with food borne diseases, and by diminishing the food spoilage will decrease the food waste. The objective of this research was to obtain innovative antibacterial films based on a biodegradable polymer, namely alginate. Films were characterized by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and microscopy, complex thermal analysis (TG-DSC-FTIR), UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Water vapor permeability and swelling behavior were also determined. As antimicrobial agents, we used silver spherical nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and lemongrass essential oil (LGO), which were found to act in a synergic way. The obtained films exhibited strong antibacterial activity against tested strains, two Gram-positive (<i>Bacillus cereus</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>) and two Gram-negative (<i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> Typhi). Best results were obtained against <i>Bacillus cereus</i>. The tests indicate that the antimicrobial films can be used as packaging, preserving the color, surface texture, and softness of cheese for 14 days. At the same time, the color of the films changed (darkened) as a function of temperature and light presence, a feature that can be used to monitor the storage conditions for sensitive food.
Jasmijn F M Holla, Lizanne E van den Akker, Tessa Dadema
et al.
OBJECTIVE:This study aims to identify determinants of dietary behaviour in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury or lower limb amputation, from the perspectives of both wheelchair users and rehabilitation professionals. The findings should contribute to the field of health promotion programs for wheelchair users. METHODS:Five focus groups were held with wheelchair users (n = 25), and two with rehabilitation professionals (n = 11). A thematic approach was used for data analysis in which the determinants were categorized using an integrated International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and Attitude, Social influence and self-Efficacy model. RESULTS:Reported personal factors influencing dietary behaviour in wheelchair users were knowledge, boredom, fatigue, stage of life, habits, appetite, self-control, multiple lifestyle problems, intrinsic motivation, goal setting, monitoring, risk perception, positive experiences, suffering, action planning, health condition, function impairments, attitude and self-efficacy. Reported environmental factors influencing dietary behaviour in wheelchair users were unadjusted kitchens, monitoring difficulties, eating out, costs, unfavourable food supply, nutrition education/counselling, access to simple healthy recipes, eating together, cooking for others, and awareness and support of family and friends. CONCLUSIONS:Important modifiable determinants of dietary behaviour in wheelchair users that might be influenced in lifestyle interventions are knowledge, fatigue, habits, self-control, intrinsic motivation, risk perception, attitude and self-efficacy. It is recommended to involve relatives, since they appear to significantly influence dietary behaviour.
Christian Brettschneider, Florian Bleibler, Thomas S. Hiller
et al.
Abstract Background Panic disorder is a mental disorder of high prevalence, which frequently co-occurs with agoraphobia. There is a lack of studies measuring excess costs of panic disorder patients with and without agoraphobia. We compared costs of panic disorder patients with or without agoraphobia with costs of the anxiety-free population in Germany. Methods Primary data from a cluster-randomized trial of adults suffering from panic disorder (n = 419) and from a representative survey of the German general population (N = 5005) were collected between 2012 and 2014. Missing data from the cluster-randomized trial were first imputed by multiple imputation using chained equations and subsequently balanced with the data from the survey by Entropy Balancing. The societal perspective was chosen. Excess costs were calculated by generalized linear models and two-part-models. Results Entropy Balancing led to an exact match between the groups. We found 6-month total excess costs of 3220€ (95% CI 1917€–4522€) for panic disorder patients without agoraphobia and of 3943€ (95% CI 2950€–4936€) for patient with agoraphobia. Panic disorder patients with or without agoraphobia had significantly higher costs for psychotherapy, general practitioners, general hospital stays and informal care Indirect costs accounted for approximately 60% of the total excess costs. Conclusions Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia is associated with significant excess costs. Agoraphobia changes the pattern of resource utilization. Especially indirect costs are relevant. Agoraphobia influences resource utilization in the inpatient sector. Trial registration ISRCTN64669297
Valeria Sorrenti, Cinzia Lucia Randazzo, Cinzia Caggia
et al.
The beneficial effects of pomegranate are due to the ellagitannins and anthocyanins content, which are protective toward a wide variety of diseases including inflammatory diseases. Many investigators have reported that pomegranate waste (peel and seeds) extracts, made from waste product of industrial processing, show free radical scavenger and a potent antioxidant capacity. Pomegranate extracts (PEs) were also reported to possess noteworty antibacterial, antiviral, hypolipidemic, and anti-inflammatory bioactivities thanks to the polyphenolic compounds content, which includes punicalagins, gallic acid, and ellagic acid derivatives. The focus of the present manuscript was to study the prebiotic potentiality of a PE, soluble in water, and characterized through HPLC–PDA–ESI/MSn for its phenolic content. Moreover, since it has been reported that pomegranate extracts decreased the level of lipids in the blood and that a number of probiotic strains have been shown to affect adipogenesis in cell culture, this study was also performed to test the in vitro effects of PE and probiotic L. rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 strain (LGG) on 3T3-L1 cell line. PE and probiotics substantially reduced the triglyceride content and intracellular lipid increase, compared to the control group. However, the combination treatment of PE and LGG filtered spent broth (SB) was the most effective in reducing triglyceride content and intracellular lipid accumulation. The mRNA expression levels of the main transcriptional factors implicated in adipocyte differentiation were substantially lower in 3T3-L1 cells treated with PE and LGG filtered SB. These results evidenced that a synergistic effect of probiotics and polyphenols contained in PE may affect in vitro adipogenesis and may contribute in development of new nutraceutical/probiotic-based remedies to prevent and to treat obesity.
Dagh-Dali Zn-Pb deposit is located 40 km north of Takab city and it consist of Bekhair-Bolaghi and Baldirghani ore zones. Mineralization in Bekhair-Bolaghi is consist of galena, sphalerite, pyrite and chalcopyrite with disseminated texture hosted in the Kahar shales and Jangotaran dolomitized limestone. Sphalerite is mainly associated with galena or surrounded by pyrite. Galena is formed in two forms of disseminated and fine crystalline texture in association with chalcopyrite and massive texture in association with sphalerite. Stibnite is associated with galena and sphalerite, and chalcopyrite is the least frequent sulfide minerals in the deposit. Gold scan study shows a insignificant concentration of gold in pyrite structure. In Baldirghani, As-Sb-Au mineralization occurred in marl, sandstone and tuff of the Qom Formation. Realgar and orpiment with mosaic, stibnite with radial and spheroidal, barite with fibrous and sphalerite with spheroidal textures are hosted in quartz vein. There is trace of gold in realgar and stibnite structure based on gold scan study. Based on geochemical investigation in Bekhair-Bolaghi, Pb-Zn, Pb-Ag, Zn-Sb, Ag-Sb and Pb-Sb pairs and in Baldirghani, Pb-Zn and Pb-Ag pairs have strong positive correlation. Exploration drilling results indicate that mineralization is shallow(<30m). Fluid inclusion analyses indicate that ore bearing fluid salinity is 4.55 to 6.81 wt% NaCl eq. with mean temperature 212.5°C for Bekhair-Bolaghi and 1.65 to 10.48 wt% NaCl eq. with temperatures 170 to 207°C for Baldirghani. Based on geological, mineralogical, geochemical and fluid inclusion studies, it seems that Dagh-Dali Zn-Pb deposit is similar to low sulfidation type deposits.
Recent observations of ridge-like structure in p-p and p-A angular correlations at the RHIC and LHC have been interpreted to imply collective motion in smaller collision systems. It is argued that if correlation structures accepted as manifestations of flow in A-A collisions appear in smaller systems collectivity (flow) must extend to the smaller systems. But the argument could be reversed to conclude that such structures appearing in A-A collisions may not imply hydrodynamic flow. I present spectrum, correlation and fluctuation data from RHIC p-p and Au-Au collisions and p-p, p-Pb and Pb-Pb results from the LHC described accurately by a two-component (soft+dijet) model of hadron production. I also present evidence for a significant p-p nonjet (NJ) quadrupole (v2) component with nch systematics directly related to A-A NJ quadrupole systematics. The combination suggests that soft, dijet and NJ quadrupole com- ponents are distinct phenomena in all cases, inconsistent with hadron production from a common bulk medium exhibiting collective motion (flow).
The measurement of the serum concentration of the acute-phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) provides a useful marker in clinical practice. However, the distribution of CRP is not available for all age and population groups. This study assessed the distribution of high sensitivity-CRP (hs-CRP) by gender and age in 1470 elderly individuals from a Brazilian community that participates in the Bambuí Cohort Study. Blood samples were collected after 12 h of fasting and serum samples were stored at -70°C. Measurements were made with a commercial hs-CRP immunonephelometric instrument. More than 50% of the results were above 3.0 mg/L for both genders. Mean hs-CRP was higher in women (3.62 ± 2.58 mg/L) than in men (3.03 ± 2.50 mg/L). This difference was observed for all ages, except for the over-80 age group. This is the first population-based study to describe hs-CRP values in Latin American elderly subjects. Our results indicate that significant gender differences exist in the distribution of hs-CRP, and suggest that gender-specific cut-off points for hs-CRP would be necessary for the prediction of cardiovascular risks.