Bleeding Stomal Varices in Portal Hypertension

We report a case of a 50-year-old man with a history of liver cirrhosis and colon cancer post end colostomy presenting to the emergency department with stomal bleeding and passage of clots into the colostomy bag. The patient was treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and concomitant embolization of the stomal varices via the TIPS shunt using N-butyl cyanoacrylate mixed with ethiodol. Although stomal variceal bleeding is uncommon, this entity can have up to 40% mortality upon initial presentation, given the challenges in diagnosis and management. Currently, there are no established standard treatments for stomal variceal bleeding. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, there are no cases in the current literature in which treatment of this entity is performed with a combination of TIPS shunt placement and N-butyl cyanoacrylate variceal embolization

Drowsy Cheetah Hunting Antelopes: A Diffusing Predator Seeking Fleeing Prey

We consider a system of three random walkers (a `cheetah' surrounded by two `antelopes') diffusing in one dimension. The cheetah and the antelopes diffuse, but the antelopes experience in addition a deterministic relative drift velocity, away from the cheetah, proportional to their distance from the cheetah, such that they tend to move away from the cheetah with increasing time. Using the backward Fokker-Planck equation we calculate, as a function of their initial separations, the probability that the cheetah has caught neither antelope after infinite time.Comment: 5 page

Vicious Walkers in a Potential

We consider N vicious walkers moving in one dimension in a one-body potential v(x). Using the backward Fokker-Planck equation we derive exact results for the asymptotic form of the survival probability Q(x,t) of vicious walkers initially located at (x_1,...,x_N) = x, when v(x) is an arbitrary attractive potential. Explicit results are given for a square-well potential with absorbing or reflecting boundary conditions at the walls, and for a harmonic potential with an absorbing or reflecting boundary at the origin and the walkers starting on the positive half line. By mapping the problem of N vicious walkers in zero potential onto the harmonic potential problem, we rederive the results of Fisher [J. Stat. Phys. 34, 667 (1984)] and Krattenthaler et al. [J. Phys. A 33}, 8835 (2000)] respectively for vicious walkers on an infinite line and on a semi-infinite line with an absorbing wall at the origin. This mapping also gives a new result for vicious walkers on a semi-infinite line with a reflecting boundary at the origin: Q(x,t) \sim t^{-N(N-1)/2}.Comment: 5 page

Watching young children 'play' with information technology : everyday life information seeking in the home

Research on how young children use information to orient themselves in daily life and to solve problems (known as everyday life information seeking or ELIS) has not been conducted, in-depth, in information science. This exploratory observation study examines how 15 Australian preschool children (aged three to five) used information technologies in their homes to orient themselves in daily life and to solve problems. Children engaged in various ways with the digital technologies available to them and with parents and siblings during play activities. The results explore the value of artistic play, sociodramatic play, and early literacy and numeracy activities in shaping young children's ‘way of life’ and ‘mastery of life’ as outlined in Savolainen's (1995) ELIS model. Observed technology engagement provided an opportunity to explore children's social worlds and the ways that they gathered information during technology play that will inform future learning activities and support child development. By using ELIS theory as an analytic lens, the results demonstrate how children's developmental play with technology tools helps them to internalize social and cultural norms. The data also point to the type of capital available to children and how that capital contributes to children's emerging information practices

First detection of hard X-ray photons in the soft X-ray transient Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy WPVS 007: The X-ray photon distribution observed by Swift

We report on the first detection of hard X-ray photons (E>2.5 keV) in the X-ray transient Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy WPVS 007 which was the AGN with the softest X-ray spectrum during the ROSAT All-Sky Survey. The AGN is clearly detected at a level of about 2 x 10^{-17} W m^{-2} in the observed 0.3-10.0 keV band by Swift in a 50 ks observation in 2007 September. For the first time since the ROSAT All-Sky Survey observation in 1990 it was possible to derive an X-ray photon distribution by adding together all Swift observations that have been performed so far (85.5 ks in total). This photon distribution is consistent with an X-ray spectrum of an AGN with a partial covering absorber with a column density in the order of ~ 1 x 10^{23} cm^{-2} and a covering fraction of about 90%. A comparison with the 2002 Chandra data suggests that WPVS 007 has become brighter by a factor of about 4. The Swift data also suggest that the absorber which is causing the current low-state may have started to disappear. This disappearance is indicated by a significant change in the hardness ratio from a very soft X-ray state during the 2005 October to 2007 January observations to a rather hard X-ray state in the 2007 September observations. In the UV, WPVS 007 seems to become fainter by up to 0.5 mag over the last two years. The optical to X-ray spectral slope derived from the spectral energy distribution is alpha-ox=2.5 which classifies WPVS 007 as an X-ray weak AGN. After correcting for reddening and X-ray absorption, alpha-ox becomes 1.9 and the luminosity in the Big-Blue-Bump is log LBBB=37.7 [W], which translates into an Eddington ratio L/LEdd ~ 1.0.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal, scheduled for December 2008, 8 pages, 3 figures, 3 table

Caracterización química de una nueva variedad de Coffea arabica L. cosechado en 2016 en Huatusco, Veracruz-México

The varieties of coffee resistant to pests and diseases as an alternative use to maintain their production, must first adapt to the soil conditions of the cultivated regions, present an adequate production yield (kg/ha) and contain quality chemical markers, which will impact on the aromatic and sensory profile in your drink. The objective of this work was to characterize chemically the hybrid variety of coffee “Millennium” (H10®), introduced in 2015 in Veracruz, Mexico and compare it with the variety “Typica” (VT). The content of lipids, protein, caffeine, sucrose and 5-O-caffeoyl-quinic acid (5-CQA) was studied in green coffee grains, by classical and chromatographic methods (HPLC); and the volatile fraction in green and roasted grains, was studied by the coupling technique of: HS-SPME-GC-MS and by the direct incidence of plasma ray on coffee beans (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The dry matter values of caffeine (0.8g/100g) and sucrose (6.6/100g) in green beans were similar in H10® to those in VT. The content of lipids and 5-CQA, of H10®, showed a significant positive difference of +6.1g and +0.1g per 100g respectively and a significantly lower protein content of -2.5g/100g with respect to the VT. Of a total of 24 volatile organic compounds identified by HS-SPME-GC-SM in roasted samples, only 2-methylpropanal, 3-acetyl-1-methylpyrrole and myrcene, were present in the H10® variety with respect to VT. The study by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, showed in green and roasted beans a total of 87 more intense ions, where in green coffee, the H10® variety was characterized by 19 ions and the VT by an ion. For roasted coffee, 6 bins between 85.97 and 290.87m/z, characterized the volatile fraction of H10®, while 7 bins between 80.02 and 470.21m/z characterized the volatile fraction of the VT.Las variedades de café resistentes a plagas y enfermedades como uso alternativo para mantener su producción, deben adaptarse a las condiciones edafológicas de las regiones cultivadas, presentar un rendimiento de producción adecuado (kg/ha) y contener marcadores químicos de calidad, que impacten en el perfil aromático y sensorial en su bebida. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la composición química de los granos verde y tostado de dos variedades de Coffea arabica (variedad híbrida de café “Milenio” (H10®), introducida en el año 2015 en Veracruz, México y la variedad “Typica”). Se determinó en grano de café verde, el contenido de lípidos, proteína, cafeína, sacarosa y ácido 5-O-cafeoil-quínico (5-CQA). Se comparó cualitativamente la fracción volátil de granos verde y tostado mediante la incidencia directa de rayo de plasma sobre los granos de ambas variedades estudiadas de café. (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Los valores en materia seca de cafeína (0.8g/100g) y sacarosa (6.6/100g) en granos verdes fueron similares en H10® a los de VT. El contenido de lípidos y (5-CQA), de H10®, presentaron diferencia significativa positiva de +6.1g y +0.1g por 100g  respectivamente y un contenido significativamente menor de proteína de -2.5g/100g con respecto a la VT. De un total de 24 compuestos orgánicos volátiles identificados por HS-SPME-GC-SM, sólo el 2-metilpropanal, 3-acetil-1-metilpirrol y mirceno, fueron identificados en granos tostados en la variedad H10® con respecto a la VT. El estudio por UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, mostró en granos verde y tostado un total de 87 iones más intensos, donde en café verde, la variedad H10® se caracterizó por 19 iones y la VT por un ion. Para café tostado, 6 bins entre 85.97 y 290.87 m/z, caracterizaron la fracción volátil de H10®, mientras que 7 bins entre 80.02 y 470.21 m/z caracterizaron la fracción volátil de la VT.

Caracterización química de una nueva variedad de Coffea arabica L. cosechado en 2016 en Huatusco, Veracruz-México

The varieties of coffee resistant to pests and diseases as an alternative use to maintain their production, must first adapt to the soil conditions of the cultivated regions, present an adequate production yield (kg/ha) and contain quality chemical markers, which will impact on the aromatic and sensory profile in your drink. The objective of this work was to characterize chemically the hybrid variety of coffee “Millennium” (H10®), introduced in 2015 in Veracruz, Mexico and compare it with the variety “Typica” (VT). The content of lipids, protein, caffeine, sucrose and 5-O-caffeoyl-quinic acid (5-CQA) was studied in green coffee grains, by classical and chromatographic methods (HPLC); and the volatile fraction in green and roasted grains, was studied by the coupling technique of: HS-SPME-GC-MS and by the direct incidence of plasma ray on coffee beans (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The dry matter values of caffeine (0.8g/100g) and sucrose (6.6/100g) in green beans were similar in H10® to those in VT. The content of lipids and 5-CQA, of H10®, showed a significant positive difference of +6.1g and +0.1g per 100g respectively and a significantly lower protein content of -2.5g/100g with respect to the VT. Of a total of 24 volatile organic compounds identified by HS-SPME-GC-SM in roasted samples, only 2-methylpropanal, 3-acetyl-1-methylpyrrole and myrcene, were present in the H10® variety with respect to VT. The study by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, showed in green and roasted beans a total of 87 more intense ions, where in green coffee, the H10® variety was characterized by 19 ions and the VT by an ion. For roasted coffee, 6 bins between 85.97 and 290.87m/z, characterized the volatile fraction of H10®, while 7 bins between 80.02 and 470.21m/z characterized the volatile fraction of the VT.Las variedades de café resistentes a plagas y enfermedades como uso alternativo para mantener su producción, deben adaptarse a las condiciones edafológicas de las regiones cultivadas, presentar un rendimiento de producción adecuado (kg/ha) y contener marcadores químicos de calidad, que impacten en el perfil aromático y sensorial en su bebida. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la composición química de los granos verde y tostado de dos variedades de Coffea arabica (variedad híbrida de café “Milenio” (H10®), introducida en el año 2015 en Veracruz, México y la variedad “Typica”). Se determinó en grano de café verde, el contenido de lípidos, proteína, cafeína, sacarosa y ácido 5-O-cafeoil-quínico (5-CQA). Se comparó cualitativamente la fracción volátil de granos verde y tostado mediante la incidencia directa de rayo de plasma sobre los granos de ambas variedades estudiadas de café. (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Los valores en materia seca de cafeína (0.8g/100g) y sacarosa (6.6/100g) en granos verdes fueron similares en H10® a los de VT. El contenido de lípidos y (5-CQA), de H10®, presentaron diferencia significativa positiva de +6.1g y +0.1g por 100g  respectivamente y un contenido significativamente menor de proteína de -2.5g/100g con respecto a la VT. De un total de 24 compuestos orgánicos volátiles identificados por HS-SPME-GC-SM, sólo el 2-metilpropanal, 3-acetil-1-metilpirrol y mirceno, fueron identificados en granos tostados en la variedad H10® con respecto a la VT. El estudio por UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, mostró en granos verde y tostado un total de 87 iones más intensos, donde en café verde, la variedad H10® se caracterizó por 19 iones y la VT por un ion. Para café tostado, 6 bins entre 85.97 y 290.87 m/z, caracterizaron la fracción volátil de H10®, mientras que 7 bins entre 80.02 y 470.21 m/z caracterizaron la fracción volátil de la VT.

Pennsylvania Folklife Vol. 22, No. 2

• The Easton Bible Artist Identified • Christmas Customs in the Lehigh Valley • The Inn Crowd: The American Inn, 1730-1830 • Pennsylvania German Astronomy and Astrology IV: Tombstones • Emigrants of the 18th Century from the Northern Palatinate • Butchering on the Pennsylvania Farm: Folk-Cultural Questionnaire No. 27https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/pafolklifemag/1051/thumbnail.jp

Lovastatin improves impaired synaptic plasticity and phasic alertness in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common genetic disorders causing learning disabilities by mutations in the neurofibromin gene, an important inhibitor of the RAS pathway. In a mouse model of NF1, a loss of function mutation of the neurofibromin gene resulted in increased gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated inhibition which led to decreased synaptic plasticity and deficits in attentional performance. Most importantly, these defictis were normalized by lovastatin. This placebo-controlled, double blind, randomized study aimed to investigate synaptic plasticity and cognition in humans with NF1 and tried to answer the question whether potential deficits may be rescued by lovastatin. Methods: In NF1 patients (n = 11; 19-44 years) and healthy controls (HC; n = 11; 19-31 years) paired pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to study intracortical inhibition (paired pulse) and synaptic plasticity (paired associative stimulation). On behavioural level the Test of Attentional Performance (TAP) was used. To study the effect of 200 mg lovastatin for 4 days on all these parameters, a placebo-controlled, double blind, randomized trial was performed. Results: In patients with NF1, lovastatin revealed significant decrease of intracortical inhibition, significant increase of synaptic plasticity as well as significant increase of phasic alertness. Compared to HC, patients with NF1 exposed increased intracortical inhibition, impaired synaptic plasticity and deficits in phasic alertness. Conclusions: This study demonstrates, for the first time, a link between a pathological RAS pathway activity, intracortical inhibition and impaired synaptic plasticity and its rescue by lovastatin in humans. Our findings revealed mechanisms of attention disorders in humans with NF1 and support the idea of a potential clinical benefit of lovastatin as a therapeutic option