Vegetation spatial heterogeneity in a hyper arid Biosphere Reserve area in north Africa

Ninety eight species of angiosperms belonging to 34 families were identified in the Wadi Allaqi Biosphere Reserve (S. E. Egypt): 33.7%annuals and 66.3%perennials. The members of Leguminosae contributed 19.4% of the total flora, considering the most dominant family inWadi Allaqi. Three herbaceous species were recorded for the first time in this region: Iphiona scabra, Chenopodium album and Lotus deserti. Eight vegetation clusters were obtained and categorized into 4 distinct groups according to soil composition and chemical characteristics (concentration of bicarbonates, calcium, magnesium and chlorides), and intensity of inundation by the water of Lake Nasser

Anomalous metamagnetic-like transition in a FeRh/Fe3_3Pt interface occurring at T120 K in the field-cooled-cooling curves for low magnetic fields

We report on the magnetic properties of a special configuration of a FeRh thin film. An anomalous behavior on the magnetisation vs. temperature was observed when low magnetic fields are applied in the plane of a thin layer of FeRh deposited on ordered Fe$_3$Pt. The anomalous effect resembles a metamagnetic transition and occur only in the field-cooled-cooling magnetisation curve at temperatures near 120 K in samples without any heat treatment.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1008.195

Comparative Pharmacodynamics of Ceftobiprole, Daptomycin, Linezolid, Telavancin, Tigecycline, and Vancomycin in the Treatment of Methicillin Resistant \u3cem\u3eStaphylococcus aureus\u3c/em\u3e: A Monte Carlo Simulation Analysis

Background/Objectives: Appropriate initial treatment choices for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are very critical. The aim of this study was to compare the ability of Ceftobiprole, Daptomycin, Linezolid, Telavancin, Tigecycline, and Vancomycin to achieve their requisite pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target against clinical MRSA isolates. Methods: Monte Carlo Simulations were performed to simulate the PK/PD indices of the investigated antimicrobials. Population Pharmacokinetic data and Pharmacodynamic indices were integrated into Monte Carlo Simulation routine with 10,000 iterations. Probability of target attainment (PTA) was estimated at MIC values ranging from 0.03-32 μg/ml to define the PK/PD susceptibility breakpoints. Cumulative fraction of response (CFR) was computed using MIC data from the Canadian National Ward (CAN-Ward) study collected in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Results: Analysis of the simulation results suggested the breakpoints of 8μg/ml for Ceftobiprole, 0.12 μg/ml for Daptomycin and Tigecycline, 0.5 μg/ml for Telavancin and 1 μg/ml for Linezolid and Vancomycin. The estimated CFR were 100, 66.5, 84, 89.1, 98.2, 60, 97.5 % for Ceft obiprole, Daptomycin (4mg/kg/day), Daptomycin (6mg/kg/day), Linezolid, Telavancin, Tigecycline, Vancomycin (2gm/day) and Vancomycin (3gm/day), respectively. Conclusions: Ceftobiprole and Telavancin have the highest probability of achieving favorable outcome against MRSA infections. The susceptibility results suggested a further reduction of the vancomycin breakpoint to 1 μg/ml

Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Correlation with serum osteopontin levels and disease activity

AbstractBackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic inflammatory disease with genetic predisposition. Osteopontin (OPN) is overexpressed in RA and plays a key role in the perpetuation of synovitis. Not all RA patients show the same level of response to methotrexate (MTX) suggesting genetic variations in the drug-metabolizing enzymes.Aim of the workTo detect methylene-tetra-hydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C/T and 1298A/C gene polymorphisms in RA patients treated with MTX and to investigate the relationship with serum OPN levels and disease activity.Patients and methods62 RA patients and 21 healthy controls were included. Serum OPN was measured using ELISA. Genotyping of MTHFR gene was carried out by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) and the modified health assessment questionnaire (MHAQ) were assessed.ResultsThe patients’ age was 42.7±12.7years, F:M (4.6:1) and a disease duration of 5.7±4.6years. Their DAS28 was 4.1±1.6 and the MHAQ (median 1; range 0–2.3). Serum OPN levels in RA patients (median 8.8; range 4–44.5ng/ml) were significantly higher than in control (5.6; 2.1–10.9) (p=0.002). In RA patients, serum OPN significantly correlated with the duration of morning stiffness (p=0.009), ESR (p<0.0001) and DAS28 (p<0.0001). MTHFR (677C>T) polymorphisms significantly correlated with MHAQ (p=0.012) while (1298A>C) polymorphisms significantly correlated with tender joint count (p=0.04). OPN levels were higher among patients with MTHFR (1298A/C) AC genotype (8.9; 4.1–33.9ng/ml), while in those with (677C>T) polymorphisms it was higher among those with CT genotype (8.9; 4.1–44.5).ConclusionSerum OPN level relates with the degree of rheumatoid activity

A multicentre integration of a computer-led follow-up of prostate cancer is valid and safe

Background Prostate cancer (CaP) has a rising number of patients requiring routine follow up. In this study, we aimed to test a computer led follow up service for prostate cancer in two UK hospitals. The testing aimed to validate the computer Expert system in making clinical decisions according to the individual patient’s clinical need. The valid model should accurately identify patients with disease recurrence or treatment failure based on their blood test and clinical picture. Methods A clinical decision support system (CDSS) was developed from European (EAU) and national (NICE) guidelines along with knowledge acquired from Urologists. This model was then applied in two UK hospitals to review patients post CaP treatment. These patients’ data (n= 200) were then reviewed by two independent Urology consultants (blinded from the CDSS and other consultant’s rating) and the agreement was calculated by kappa statistics for validation. The second objective aimed to verify the system by estimating the system reliability. Results The two individual urology consultants identified 12 % & 15% of the patients to have potential disease progression and recommended their referral to the Urology care. The kappa coefficient for the agreement between the CDSS and the 2 consultants was 0.81 (p < 0.001) and 0.84 (p < 0.001). The agreement among both specialist was also high with k = 0.83 (p < 0.001). The system reliability was estimated on all cases and this demonstrated 100% repeatability of the decisions. Conclusion The computer led follow up is a valid model for providing safe follow up for prostate cancer

Optical anisotropy and photoluminescence temperature dependence for self-assembled InAs quantum islands grown on vicinal (001) InP substrates

International audienceIn this paper, we report on a detailed investigation of the effect of misorientated InP(OOl) substrates on the optical properties of InAs quantum islands grown by molecular beam epitaxy in the Stranski-Krastanow regime. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence and polarization of photoluminescence (PPL) are studied. PPL shows a high degree of linear polarization, near 40%, for the sample grown on the substrate with 2°off miscut angle towards [110] direction (2°F) and only 16% for the sample grown on the substrate with 2°off miscut angle towards [010] direction (2°B). This result pointing out the growth ofInAs quantum wires (QWr) on 2°F substrate and of quasi-isotropic InAs quantum dots (QD) on 2°B substrate. The luminescence remains strong at 300 K as much as 36% of that at 8 K, indicating a strong spatial localization of the carriers in the InAs QIs grown on InP(OOl)

Analytical and numerical investigation of viscous fluid-filled spherical slip cavity in a spherical micropolar droplet

This article presents an analytical and numerical investigation on the quasi-steady, slow flow generated by the movement of a micropolar fluid drop sphere of at a concentrical position within another immiscible viscous fluid inside a spherical slip cavity. Additionally, the effect of a cavity with slip friction along with the change in the micropolarity parameter on the movement of the fluid sphere is introduced. When Reynolds numbers are low, the droplet moves along a diameter that connects their centres. The governing and constitutive differential equations are reduced to a computationally convenient form using appropriate transformations. By using the resulting linear partial differential equations for the stream functions and using the method of separation variables, we can obtain their solutions. General solutions for velocity fields are found using spherical coordinate systems, which are based on the concentric point of the cavity; this allows to obtain solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations internal and external to the spherical droplet. The vorticity-microrotation boundary condition is used in regard to the micropolar droplet case in a viscous fluid. The normalised drag forces acted upon the micropolar drop are illustrated via graphs and tables for diverse values of the viscosity ratio and drop-to-wall radius ratio, with the change of the spin parameter that attaches the microrotation to vorticity. The correction wall factor is shown to increase with an increase in the drop-to-wall radius ratio, when moving from the gas bubble case to the solid sphere case, with an increase in the micropolarity parameter, and with an increase in the slip frictional resistance. This study is relevant due to its potential uses in a variety of biological, natural, and industrial processes, including the creation of raindrops, the investigation of blood flow, fluid-fluid extraction, the forecasting of weather conditions, the rheology of emulsions, and sedimentation phenomena