A nondiagrammatic calculation of the Rho parameter from heavy fermions

A simple nondiagrammatic evaluation of the nondecoupling effect of heavy fermions on the Veltman's Rho parameter is presented in detail. This calculation is based on the path integral approach, the electroweak chiral Lagrangian formalism, and the Schwinger proper time method.Comment: 11 page

A Comparative Study of Segmentation Algorithms in the Classification of Human Skin Burn Depth

A correct first assessment of a skin burn depth is essential as it determines a correct first burn treatment provided to the patients. The objective of this paper is to conduct a comparative study of the different segmentation algorithms for the classification of different burn depths. Eight different hybrid segmentation algorithms were studied on a skin burn dataset comprising skin burn images categorized into three burn classes by medical experts; superficial partial thickness burn (SPTB), deep partial thickness burn (DPTB) and full thickness burn (FTB). Different sequences of the algorithm were experimented as each algorithm was able to segment differently, leading to different segmentation in the final output. The performance of the segmentation algorithms was evaluated by calculating the number of correctly segmented images for each burn depth. The empirical results showed that the segmentation algorithm that was able to segment most of the burn depths had achieved 40.24%, 60.42% and 6.25% of correctly segmented image for SPTB, DPTB and FTB respectively. Most of the segmentation algorithms could not segment well for FTB images because of the different nature of the burn wounds as some of the FTB images contained dark brown and black colors. It can be concluded that a good segmentation algorithm is required to ensure that the representative features of each burn depth can be extracted to contribute to higher accuracy of classification of skin burn depth

Presacral Teratocarcinoma Presenting as Anal Fistula and Rectal Adenocarcinoma: A Unique Case Presentation and Literature Review

Somatic malignancy arising from presacral or retroperitoneal primary teratoma is extremely rare. We report the case of a 37-year-old male patient with adenocarcinoma of respiratory type arising from primary presacral teratoma, but which first presented as anal fistula and rectal adenocarcinoma. The two tumors show the same morphology and immunophenotype (CK7–CK20+CDx2+). Malignant adenocarcinoma transformations from the normal respiratory epithelium are also found. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case of respiratory type adenocarcinoma arising from primary presacral mature cystic teratoma

Spatiotemporal control of root immune responses during microbial colonization.

The entire evolutionary trajectory of plants towards large and complex multi-cellular organisms has been accompanied by incessant interactions with omnipresent unicellular microbes. This led to the evolution of highly complex microbial communities, whose members display the entire spectrum of pathogenic to mutualistic behaviors. Plant roots are dynamic, fractally growing organs and even small Arabidopsis roots harbor millions of individual microbes of diverse taxa. It is evident that microbes at different positions on a root surface could experience fundamentally different environments, which, moreover, rapidly change over time. Differences in spatial scales between microbes and roots compares to humans and the cities they inhabit. Such considerations make it evident that mechanisms of root-microbe interactions can only be understood if analyzed at relevant spatial and temporal scales. This review attempts to provide an overview of the rapid recent progress that has been made in mapping and manipulating plant damage and immune responses at cellular resolution, as well as in visualizing bacterial communities and their transcriptional activities. We further discuss the impact that such approaches will have for a more predictive understanding of root-microbe interactions

Dissecting the genetic components of a quantitative trait locus for blood pressure and renal pathology on rat chromosome 3

Background: We have previously confirmed the importance of rat chromosome 3 (RNO3) genetic loci on blood pressure elevation, pulse pressure (PP) variability and renal pathology during salt challenge in the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SHRSP) rat. The aims of this study were to generate a panel of RNO3 congenic sub-strains to genetically dissect the implicated loci and identify positional candidate genes by microarray expression profiling and analysis of next-generation sequencing data. Method and results: A panel of congenic sub-strains were generated containing Wistar-Kyoto (WKY)-introgressed segments of varying size on the SHRSP genetic background, focused within the first 50 Mbp of RNO3. Haemodynamic profiling during salt challenge demonstrated significantly reduced systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and PP variability in SP.WKYGla3a, SP.WKYGla3c, SP.WKYGla3d and SP.WKYGla3e sub-strains. Only SBP and DBP were significantly reduced during salt challenge in SP.WKYGla3b and SP.WKYGla3f sub-strains, whereas SP.WKYGla3g rats did not differ in haemodynamic response to SHRSP. Those sub-strains demonstrating significantly reduced PP variability during salt challenge also demonstrated significantly reduced renal pathology and proteinuria. Microarray expression profiling prioritized two candidate genes for blood pressure regulation (Dnm1, Tor1b), localized within the common congenic interval shared by SP.WKYGla3d and SP.WKYGla3f strains, and one candidate gene for salt-induced PP variability and renal pathology (Rabgap1), located within the region unique to the SP.WKYGla3d strain. Comparison of next-generation sequencing data identified variants within additional positional genes that are likely to affect protein function. Conclusion: This study has identified distinct intervals on RNO3-containing genes that may be important for blood pressure regulation and renal pathology during salt challenge

Crocin from Crocus sativus possesses significant antiproliferation effects on human colorectal cancer cells

Aim: To investigate the anti-proliferative effects of Crocus sativus extract and its major constituent, crocin, on three colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116, SW-480, and HT-29). The cell growth inhibition effect was compared to that of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. In addition, Crocus sativus’ effect on non-cancer cells was evaluated. Methods: Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the purity of crocin and the content of crocin extract were determined. Anti-proliferative effects of Crocus sativus extract and crocin on test cells was evaluated by MTS assay. Results: The purity of crocin was found to be 95.9% and the content of crocin in the extract was 22.9%. Significant concentration-related inhibition effects of the extract on all three colorectal cancer cell lines were observed (P < 0.01). The proliferation was reduced most significantly in HCT-116 cells, to 45.5% at 1.0 mg/ml and to 6.8 % at 3.0 mg/ml. Crocin at 1.0 mM, significantly reduced HCT-116, SW-480, and HT-29 cell proliferation to 2.8%, 52%, and 16.8%, respectively (P < 0.01). Since 3.0 mg/ml Crocus sativus extract contained approximately 0.6 mM crocin, the observed effects suggest that crocin is a major responsible constituent in the extract. Significant anti-proliferative effects were also observed in non-small cell lung cancer cells. However, Crocus sativus extract did not significantly affect the growth of non-cancer young adult mouse colon cells. Conclusion: Data from this study demonstrated that Crocus sativus extract and its major constituent, crocin, significantly inhibited the growth of colorectal cancer cells while not affecting normal cells. Crocus sativus extract should be investigated further as a viable option in the treatment of colorectal cancer.Цель: исследовать антипролиферативный эффект экстракта Crocus sativus и его главного действующего вещества, кроцина, на три клеточные линии колоректального рака человека (HCT-116, SW-480 и HT-29). Эффект ингибирования роста клеток оценивали по отношению к таковому для клеток немелкоклеточного рака легкого (НМРЛ) и немалигнизированных клеток. Методы: для очистки кроцина и составляющих экстракта C. sativus применяли высокоэффективную жидкостную хроматографию (ВЭЖХ). Антипролиферативный эффект экстракта и кроцина по отношению к клеткам оценивали при помощи MTS-теста. Результаты: степень очистки кроцина составляла 95,9%, а содержание кроцина в экстракте –22,9%. Отмечали существенное дозозависимое угнетение пролиферации клеток трех линий экстрактом C. sativus (P < 0.01). Наиболее выраженное снижение пролиферативной активности оотмечали для клеток HCT-116 (дo 45,5 % при 1,0 мг/мл и до 6,8 % при 3,0 мг/мл). Кроцин в концентрации 1,0 мM, значительно ингибирует пролиферацию клеток HCT-116, SW-480 и HT-29 (до 2,8, 52 и 16,8% соответственно, P < 0,01). Поскольку 3,0 мг/мл экстракта C. sativus содержат приблизительно 0,6 мM кроцина, отмеченное действие первого подтверждает тот факт, что кроцин — главное действующее начало экстракта. Также показано существенное антипролиферативное действие по отношению к клеткам НМРЛ. Однако C. sativus не оказывал выраженного действия на рост немалигнизированных клеток толстого кишечника молодых мышей. Выводы: данные представленного исследования показывают, что экстракт Crocus sativus и его главный действующий компонент кроцин значительно ингибируют рост клеточных линий колоректального рака и в то же время не влияют на рост нормальных клеток. В дальнейшем следует изучить возможность применения Crocus sativus для лечения больных колоректальным раком

Tropical In-Ground Durability of Structural Sarawak Hardwoods Impregnated to High Retention with CCA-salts, CCA-oxide and FCAP after 20 Years Exposure

Statistical analysis (ANOVA) was conducted on durability (termite and decay combined) rating data collected over 20 years exposure period of over 140 species of Sarawak timbers with altogether 30,000 stake specimens, at the Forest Department’s Sibu “graveyard” stake test sites from 1977. About 20 replicated stakes were pressure-treated to refusal with 10% g/ml concentration of up to 3 CCA-salt formulations and 1 CCAoxide product and FCAP were visually evaluated every 6 months according to the 5-point ASTM D1758 durability rating scale, and the treated durability results reported in this paper are between 5 and 20 years exposure. The analysis was confined to 7 relatively high density hardwood species that are regarded suitable for in-ground structural use (ie, basic density >600 kg/m3), and had achieved a minimum preservative retention of 16 kg/m3 (as required for CCA-salts) but up to 48 kg/m3 retention. The results revealed that the in-ground durability of treated wood decreased usually after 5 years to poor-tomoderately durable levels with CCA-salts, moderate-to-high durability with CCA-oxide, but failed with FCAP after 20 years. CCA-oxide treated hardwoods out-perform the CCA-salt treated counterparts despite their relatively similar retention and “overtreatment factor”. The non-leach-resistant FCAP is clearly unsuitable as an industrial used in-ground wood protectant

Natural Durability Variations of Malaysian Timbers from Sarawak after 26 Years Exposure by Stake Test

An extensive graveyard stake test site was established in 1977 in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia, to evaluate the in-ground durability of 132 Sarawak wood species, mainly hardwoods. Test samples were planted at 100 x 50 cm spacing. Authenticated wood specimens from 3 trees of each of 132 species were processed into 20 replicated outer heartwood (or else undifferentiated heartwood) stakes of 19 x 19 x 457 mm to represent outer heartwood which were planted to a depth of 228 mm and rated at 6 months intervals using a 5-point visual termite or decay rating scale of ASTM D1758 method. The criteria for a wood species natural durability classification was regarded as the moment when the mean visual rating for a sample of replicated outer heartwood stakes was about 7 (moderate degrade) for commercial relevance (rather than zero for total failure as applied by others), after several months (or years) of exposure regarded as the stake service life being subsequently assigned a 4-point natural durability classification among 1 (very durable) to 4 (non-durable) for 132 wood species. The stakes were also continuously rated until destroyed (rating zero) as a technical requirement. Stake service life data collected over 25 years were analyzed with SPSS software. Stakes of many species were destroyed between 5 and 15 years while the outstandingly durable species belian (Eusideroxylon zwageri) was only reduced to a mean rating 7 after 26 years exposure. Among several wood species tested, particularly variations in natural durability between the different species belonging to the red meranti group, yellow and white meranti group, keruing group, selangan batu group, potential plantation species, heavy hardwoods, medium hardwoods, light hardwoods and the softwoods were demonstrated. Judging by the overall population of 2720 outer heartwood stakes (all species), the decay pressure appeared to be considerably higher (ca 74% by 25th year) than termite pressure (<5% by 25th year) at the Sibu test site