The Rank-Frequency Analysis for the Functional Style Corpora in the Ukrainian Language

We use the rank-frequency analysis for the estimation of Kernel Vocabulary size within specific corpora of Ukrainian. The extrapolation of high-rank behaviour is utilized for estimation of the total vocabulary size.Comment: 8 page

Anticipatory nausea in cyclical vomiting

BACKGROUND: Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) is characterised by discrete, unexplained episodes of intense nausea and vomiting, and mainly affects children and adolescents. Comprehending Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome requires awareness of the severity of nausea experienced by patients. As a subjective symptom, nausea is easily overlooked, yet is the most distressing symptom for patients and causes many behavioural changes during attacks. CASE PRESENTATION: This first-hand account of one patient's experience of Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome shows how severe nausea contributed to the development of anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV), a conditioned response frequently observed in chemotherapy patients. This conditioning apparently worsened the course of the patient's disease. Anticipatory nausea and vomiting has not previously been recognised in Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome, however predictors of its occurrence in oncology patients indicate that it could complicate many cases. CONCLUSION: We suggest a model whereby untreated severe and prolonged nausea provokes anxiety about further cyclical vomiting attacks. This anxiety facilitates conditioning, thus increasing the range of triggers in a self-perpetuating manner. Effective management of the nausea-anxiety feedback loop can reduce the likelihood of anticipatory nausea and vomiting developing in other patients

Polarized secretion of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The direction of cytokine secretion from polarized cells determines the cytokine's cellular targets. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) belongs to the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family of cytokines and signals through LIFR/gp130. Three factors which may regulate the direction of LIF secretion were studied: the site of stimulation, signal peptides, and expression levels. Stimulation with IL-1β is known to promote IL-6 secretion from the stimulated membrane (apical or basolateral) in the human intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2. Since LIF is related to IL-6, LIF secretion was also tested in Caco-2 following IL-1β stimulation. Signal peptides may influence the trafficking of LIF. Two isoforms of murine LIF, LIF-M and LIF-D, encode different signal peptides which have been associated with different locations of the mature protein in fibroblasts. To determine the effect of the signal peptides on LIF secretion, secretion levels were compared in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) clones which expressed murine LIF-M or LIF-D or human LIF under the control of an inducible promoter. Low and high levels of LIF expression were also compared since saturation of the apical or basolateral route would reveal specific transporters for LIF.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When Caco-2 was grown on permeable supports, LIF was secreted constitutively with around 40% secreted into the apical chamber. Stimulation with IL-1β increased LIF production. After treating the apical surface with IL-1β, the percentage secreted apically remained similar to the untreated, whereas, when the cells were stimulated at the basolateral surface only 20% was secreted apically. In MDCK cells, an endogenous LIF-like protein was detected entirely in the apical compartment. The two mLIF isoforms showed no difference in their secretion patterns in MDCK. Interestingly, about 70% of murine and human LIF was secreted apically from MDCK over a 400-fold range of expression levels within clones and a 200,000-fold range across clones.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The site of stimulation affected the polarity of LIF secretion, while, signal peptides and expression levels did not. Exogenous LIF is transported in MDCK without readily saturated steps.</p

Multi-minicore disease and atypical periodic paralysis associated with novel mutations in the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (RYR1) gene

The skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor plays a crucial role in excitation–contraction (EC) coupling and is implicated in various congenital myopathies. The periodic paralyses are a heterogeneous, dominantly inherited group of conditions mainly associated with mutations in the SCN4A and the CACNA1S genes. The interaction between RyR1 and DHPR proteins underlies depolarization-induced Ca2+ release during EC coupling in skeletal muscle. We report a 35-year-old woman presenting with signs and symptoms of a congenital myopathy at birth and repeated episodes of generalized, atypical normokalaemic paralysis in her late teens. Genetic studies of this patient revealed three heterozygous RYR1 substitutions (p.Arg2241X, p.Asp708Asn and p.Arg2939Lys) associated with marked reduction of the RyR1 protein and abnormal DHPR distribution. We conclude that RYR1 mutations may give rise to both myopathies and atypical periodic paralysis, and RYR1 mutations may underlie other unresolved cases of periodic paralysis with unusual features

Providing baseline data for conservation–Heart rate monitoring in captive scimitar-horned oryx

Heart rate biologging has been successfully used to study wildlife responses to natural and human-caused stressors (e.g., hunting, landscape of fear). Although rarely deployed to inform conservation, heart rate biologging may be particularly valuable for assessing success in wildlife reintroductions. We conducted a case study for testing and validating the use of subcutaneous heart rate monitors in eight captive scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), a once-extinct species that is currently being restored to the wild. We evaluated biologger safety and accuracy while collecting long-term baseline data and assessing factors explaining variation in heart rate. None of the biologgers were rejected after implantation, with successful data capture for 16–21 months. Heart rate detection accuracy was high (83%–99%) for six of the individuals with left lateral placement of the biologgers. We excluded data from two individuals with a right lateral placement because accuracies were below 60%. Average heart rate for the six scimitar-horned oryx was 60.3 ± 12.7 bpm, and varied by about 12 bpm between individuals, with a minimum of 31 bpm and a maximum of 188 bpm across individuals. Scimitar-horned oryx displayed distinct circadian rhythms in heart rate and activity. Heart rate and activity were low early in the morning and peaked near dusk. Circadian rhythm in heart rate and activity were relatively unchanged across season, but hourly averages for heart rate and activity were higher in spring and summer, respectively. Variation in hourly heart rate averages was best explained by a combination of activity, hour, astronomical season, ambient temperature, and an interaction term for hour and season. Increases in activity appeared to result in the largest changes in heart rate. We concluded that biologgers are safe and accurate and can be deployed in free-ranging and reintroduced scimitar-horned oryx. In addition to current monitoring practices of reintroduced scimitar-horned oryx, the resulting biologging data could significantly aid in 1) evaluating care and management action prior to release, 2) characterizing different animal personalities and how these might affect reintroduction outcomes for individual animals, and 3) identifying stressors after release to determine their timing, duration, and impact on released animals. Heart rate monitoring in released scimitar-horned oryx may also aid in advancing our knowledge about how desert ungulates adapt to extreme environmental variation in their habitats (e.g., heat, drought)

Wypłukiwanie metali ciężkich (Fe, Zn i Ni) ze skał przywęglowych

The majority of heat and energy delivered to Polish houses derive from coal combustion. The exploitation of underground resources is connected with excavation of huge quantities of metal-rich waste rocks. These metals may be released to the environment and contribute to the pollution of water and soil systems which is dangerous for biota and human health. The mobility and bioavailability of metals depend on their chemical form. In present work, we determined geochemical speciation of Fe, Ni and Zn in samples of waste rocks from five coal mines from both USCB and LCB. The most abundant metal in easily-extractable phases (water-soluble, exchangeable, acid-soluble) was Zn (MFZn = 24.4÷53.4) followed by Ni (MFNi = 5.1÷19.2) and Fe (MFFe = 0.2÷3.6). The mobility of Fe was similar in rocks originating from both coal basins (K-W, p = 0.2253), Ni was higher in LCB whereas Zn in USCB rocks (K-W, p < 0.05). It was also found that during first years of storage and exposure to natural weathering, only a small portion of metals was released to the environment as the total concentrations and fractionation of Fe, Ni and Zn were similar in fresh and weathered coal waste rocks from Wesola and Murcki coal mines, up to 3 and 15 years of weathering, respectively.Większość ciepła i energii dostarczanej do polskich domostw pochodzi ze spalania węgla kamiennego. Podziemna eksploatacja tego surowca związana jest z wydobyciem na powierzchnię dużych ilości bogatych w metale skał przywęglowych. Metale te mogą zostać uwolnione do środowiska, przyczyniając się tym samym do zanieczyszczenia gleby i wody, które jest niebezpieczne dla organizmów żywych i zdrowia ludzi. Mobilność i biodostępność metali zależy od ich chemicznej postaci. W bieżącej pracy przedstawiono wyniki geochemicznej specjacji Fe, Ni oraz Zn w próbkach odpadowych skał przywęglowych z pięciu kopalni GZW i LZW. Wykazano, że w łatwo wypłukiwanej formie (wodno-rozpuszczalnej, wymiennej, kwaso-rozpuszczalnej) największe stężenia osiągał Zn (MFZn = 24,4÷53,4), następnie Ni (MFNi = 5,1÷19,2) i Fe (MFFe = 0,2÷3,6). Mobilność Fe była porównywalna w skałach pochodzących z obu Zagłębi (K-W, p = 0,2253), Ni większa z LCB, natomiast Zn z USCB (K-W, p < 0,05). Przeprowadzone badania wskazują, że przez pierwsze lata składowania jedynie niewielka część metali zostaje uwolniona do środowiska, ponieważ zarówno stężenia całkowite, jak i specjacja Fe, Ni i Zn były podobne w świeżych i zwietrzałych skałach kopalni Wesoła i Murcki (odpowiednio do 3 i 15 lat wietrzenia)

Nonlinear analysis of flexodomains in nematic liquid crystals

We investigate flexodomains, which are observed in planar layers of certain nematic liquid crystals, when a dc voltage U above a critical value U-c is applied across the layer. They are characterized by stationary stripelike spatial variations of the director in the layer plane with a wave number p(U). Our experiments for different nematics demonstrate that p(U) varies almost linearly with U for U > U-c. That is confirmed by a numerical analysis of the full nonlinear equations for the director field and the induced electric potential. Beyond this numerical study, we demonstrate that the linearity of p(U) follows even analytically, when considering a special parameter set first used by Terent' ev and Pikin [Soy. Phys. JETP 56, 587 (1982)]. Their theoretical paper serves until now as the standard reference on the nonlinear analysis of flexodomains, since it has arrived at a linear variation of p(U) for large U >> U-c. Unfortunately, the corresponding analysis suffers from mistakes, which in a combination led to that result

Comparative analysis of two communities in the Prosopis flexuosa DC. forest in Northeastern Mendoza, Argentina

Los bosques nativos de algarrobo de la llanura de Lavalle, Mendoza, son considerados bosques protectores del suelo en una zona de alto riesgo de desertificación y han sido explotados con distinta intensidad. Este trabajo aporta conocimientos sobre el estado actual y la posible recuperación de estos bosques. El objetivo fue analizar el bosque abierto Prosopis flexuosa en la llanura suavemente ondulada del NE de Mendoza. Dentro del bosque abierto se distinguieron la comunidad de P.flexuosa con Suaeda divaricata y la de P.flexuosa con Tricomaria usillo. La primera se encuentra en suelos con más de 500 μS/cm de conductividad eléctrica actual y presenta mayor cobertura de especies anuales y de especies indicadoras de remoción de suelos; la segunda, más relacionada con los médanos, se encuentra en suelos con menos de 500 μS/cm. El impacto de la tala y la recuperación del bosque fue semejante en ambas comunidades. No fue posible comprobar si la salinización del perfil de los suelos se debió a un aumento del nivel de la capa freática por efecto de la tala.Native forest of Prosopis flexuosa in the Lavalle plain of Mendoza were logged with different intensity. This plain is a high desertification risk area where forest protects soils, therefore, sustenaible management become indispensable. This paper contributes to the knowledge of the status and reclamation of these forests. The aim was to study the open forest of P. flexuosa in the smooth wavy plain of NE Mendoza. Within the open forest two communities were distinguished: P. flexuosa with Suaeda divaricata and P flexuosa with Tricomaria usillo. The first community was found on soils with more than 500 pS/cm of actual electric conductivity, and presented higher cover of annual plants and of soil erosion indicator species; the second one, more related to dunes, was found on soils with less than 50011S/cm. Impact of logging and forest recovery was similar in both communities. It was impossible to verify if soil salinization was due to an increase in phreatic level owing to clear cutting.Fil: Gonzalez Loyarte, Maria Margarita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Rodeghiero, A. G.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Buk, Enrique Mario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Trione, Sinibaldo Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; Argentin