Total perfusion-diffusion mismatch detected using resting-state functional MRI

Total perfusion-diffusion mismatch is a well-recognised phenomenon in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. We describe a case of total perfusion-diffusion mismatch detected using an emerging contrast-agent-free perfusion imaging technique in a young patient with acute cerebellar stroke

Features of financing of small business and microenterprises

In this article, we examined the specifics of financing small businesses and microenterprises

Barents-2.5km v2.0: An operational data-assimilative coupled ocean and sea ice ensemble prediction model for the Barents Sea and Svalbard

An operational ocean and sea ice forecast model, Barents-2.5, is implemented at MET Norway for short-term forecasting at the coast off Northern Norway, the Barents Sea, and waters around Svalbard. Primary forecast parameters are the sea ice concentration (SIC), sea surface temperature (SST), and ocean currents. The model is also a substantial input for drift modeling of pollutants, ice berg, and in search-and-rescue pertinent applications in the Arctic domain. Barents-2.5 has recently been upgraded to include an Ensemble Prediction System with 24 daily realizations of the model state. SIC, SST and in-situ hydrography are constrained through the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) data assimilation scheme executed in daily forecast cycles with lead time up to 66 hours. While the ocean circulation is not directly constrained by assimilation of ocean currents, the model ensemble represents the given uncertainty in the short-term current field by retaining the current state for each member throughout forecast cycles. Here we present the model setup and a validation in terms of SIC, SST and in-situ hydrography. The performance of the ensemble to represent the models uncertainty, and the performance of the EnKF to constrain the model state are discussed, in addition to the model&rsquo;s forecast capabilities for SIC and SST.</p

SET-NUP214 fusion in acute myeloid leukemia- and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia-derived cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>SET-NUP214 </it>fusion resulting from a recurrent cryptic deletion, del(9)(q34.11q34.13) has recently been described in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and in one case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The fusion protein appears to promote elevated expression of <it>HOXA </it>cluster genes in T-ALL and may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. We screened a panel of ALL and AML cell lines for <it>SET-NUP214 </it>expression to find model systems that might help to elucidate the cellular function of this fusion gene.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 141 human leukemia/lymphoma cell lines tested, only the T-ALL cell line LOUCY and the AML cell line MEGAL expressed the <it>SET(TAF-</it>Iβ)-<it>NUP214 </it>fusion gene transcript. RT-PCR analysis specifically recognizing the alternative first exons of the two <it>TAF-</it>I isoforms revealed that the cell lines also expressed <it>TAF-</it>Iα-<it>NUP214 </it>mRNA. Results of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and array-based copy number analysis were both consistent with del(9)(q34.11q34.13) as described. Quantitative genomic PCR also confirmed loss of genomic material between <it>SET </it>and <it>NUP214 </it>in both cell lines. Genomic sequencing localized the breakpoints of the <it>SET </it>gene to regions downstream of the stop codon and to <it>NUP214 </it>intron 17/18 in both LOUCY and MEGAL cells. Both cell lines expressed the 140 kDa SET-NUP214 fusion protein.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Cell lines LOUCY and MEGAL express the recently described <it>SET-NUP214 </it>fusion gene. Of special note is that the formation of the <it>SET </it>exon 7/<it>NUP214 </it>exon 18 gene transcript requires alternative splicing as the <it>SET </it>breakpoint is located downstream of the stop codon in exon 8. The cell lines are promising model systems for <it>SET-NUP214 </it>studies and should facilitate investigating cellular functions of the the SET-NUP214 protein.</p

Experimental study of particle trajectories below deep-water surface gravity wave groups

Due to the interplay between the forward Stokes drift and the backward wave-induced Eulerian return flow, Lagrangian particles underneath surface gravity wave groups can follow different trajectories depending on their initial depth below the surface. The motion of particles near the free surface is dominated by the waves and their Stokes drift, whereas particles at large depths follow horseshoe-shaped trajectories dominated by the Eulerian return flow. For unidirectional wave groups, a small net displacement in the direction of travel of the group results near the surface, and is accompanied by a net particle displacement in the opposite direction at depth. For deep-water waves, we study these trajectories experimentally by means of Particle Tracking Velocimetry in a two-dimensional flume. In doing so, we provide visual illustration of Lagrangian trajectories under groups, including the contributions of both the Stokes drift and the Eulerian return flow to both the horizontal and the vertical Lagrangian displacements. We compare our experimental results to leading-order solutions of the irrotational water wave equations, finding good agreement

The Origins of Lactase Persistence in Europe

Lactase persistence (LP) is common among people of European ancestry, but with the exception of some African, Middle Eastern and southern Asian groups, is rare or absent elsewhere in the world. Lactase gene haplotype conservation around a polymorphism strongly associated with LP in Europeans (−13,910 C/T) indicates that the derived allele is recent in origin and has been subject to strong positive selection. Furthermore, ancient DNA work has shown that the −13,910*T (derived) allele was very rare or absent in early Neolithic central Europeans. It is unlikely that LP would provide a selective advantage without a supply of fresh milk, and this has lead to a gene-culture coevolutionary model where lactase persistence is only favoured in cultures practicing dairying, and dairying is more favoured in lactase persistent populations. We have developed a flexible demic computer simulation model to explore the spread of lactase persistence, dairying, other subsistence practices and unlinked genetic markers in Europe and western Asia's geographic space. Using data on −13,910*T allele frequency and farming arrival dates across Europe, and approximate Bayesian computation to estimate parameters of interest, we infer that the −13,910*T allele first underwent selection among dairying farmers around 7,500 years ago in a region between the central Balkans and central Europe, possibly in association with the dissemination of the Neolithic Linearbandkeramik culture over Central Europe. Furthermore, our results suggest that natural selection favouring a lactase persistence allele was not higher in northern latitudes through an increased requirement for dietary vitamin D. Our results provide a coherent and spatially explicit picture of the coevolution of lactase persistence and dairying in Europe