Recording of natural head position using stereophotogrammetry: A new technique and reliability study

The purpose of this study was to develop a technique to record physical references and orient digital mesh models to natural head position (NHP) using stereo-photogrammetry (SP). The first step was to record the digital mesh model of a hanging reference board placed at the capturing position of the SP machine. The board was aligned to the true vertical using a plumb bob. It was also aligned with laser plane parallel to the hanging mirror which was located at the center of the machine. Parameter derived from the digital mesh model of the board was then used to adjust the roll, pitch and yaw of the subsequent captures of subjects. This information was valid until the next machine calibration. The board placement was repeatable with standard deviation of less than 0.1 degrees for both pitch and yaw; 0.15 degrees for roll angles.postprin

Three-dimensional photogrammetry for surgical planning of tissue expansion in hemifacial microsomia

Background: We aim to illustrate the applications of 3-dimensional (3-D) photogrammetry for surgical planning and longitudinal assessment of the volumetric changes in hemifacial microsomia. Methods. A 3-D photogrammetric system was employed for planning soft tissue expansion and transplantation of a vascularized scapular flap for a patient with hemifacial microsomia. The facial deficiency was calculated by superimposing a mirror of the normal side on the preoperative image. Postsurgical volumetric changes were monitored by serial superimposition of 3-D images. Results. A total of 31 cm3 of tissue expansion was achieved within a period of 4 weeks. A scapular free flap measuring 8 cm × 5 cm was transplanted to augment the facial deficiency. Postsurgical shrinkage of the flap was observed mainly in the first 3 months and it was minimal thereafter. Conclusion. 3-D photogrammetry can be used as a noninvasive objective tool for assessing facial deformity, planning, and postoperative follow-up of surgical correction of facial asymmetry. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.postprin

The prospect of biogas among small-holder dairy goat farmers in the Uluguru mountains, Tanzania

Biogas can be a clean cooking alternative where biomass is the dominant source of cooking energy and where feedstock for anaerobic digestion is available. By substituting woody biomass for energy, biogas may reduce local deforestation. Tanzania has more than 15.6 million goats. Dairy goats of different breeds are found in the mid- to high altitudes of the country. Population density has made firewood increasingly scarce and there are few energy alternatives in mountainous areas such as in the Uluguru Mountains. In Mgeta ward, Morogoro region, introduction of Norwegian dairy goats in the 1980s has improved livelihoods in the area. In this study, goat manure was assessed as feedstock for biogas and as fertilizer. Field work among small-holder dairy goat farmers in Mgeta was conducted to measure daily manure production, and to provide a basic model for prediction of the quantity of droppings which may be collected by farmers. Biogas and fertilizer potential from goat manure was compared to cow and pig manure. Buswell’s formula was used to calculate approximate methane yield. The results show that goat manure from Mgeta can yield 167 l∙kg Volatile Solids-1 (VS). Compared with other substrates approximate methane yield can be ranked as pig > guatemala grass > cow > goat. The average goat of 25 kg in Mgeta leaves 61 kg Total Solids (TS) droppings per year. It was estimated that 15 goats∙capita-1 would be required to meet the total cooking energy needs of small-holder households in the study location. N:P:K content in goat manure (TS) is 2:1:1, similar to cow and pig manure. Goat droppings had to be macerated to reduce particle size for anaerobic digestion. Biogas from dairy goats could be combined with the year-round irrigated horticulture production in Mgeta. Vegetable gardens in the slope below the digesters could be fertilized by gravitation with the NH4+-rich bioslurry, to save labour and increase yields.Keywords: Biogas, bioslurry, goat, manure, dairy, fertilizer, Buswell, Morogoro, Tanzani

Down-regulation of TIMP2 by HIF-1α/miR-210/HIF-3α regulatory feedback circuit enhances cancer metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Cancer metastasis is a multistep process that involves a series of tumor-stromal interaction, including extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, which requires a concerted action of multiple proteolytic enzymes and their endogenous inhibitors. This study investigated the role of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) 2 in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis. We found that TIMP2 was the most significantly down-regulated member among the TIMP family in human HCCs. Moreover, TIMP2 underexpression was frequent (41.8%; 23 of 55) in human HCCs and was significantly associated with liver invasion and poorer survival outcomes of HCC patients. Furthermore, stable silencing of TIMP2 in HCC cell lines enhanced cell invasive ability and ECM degradation associated with formation of invadopodia-like feature, suggesting that TIMP2 is a negative regulator of HCC metastasis. Using an orthotopic tumor xenograft model, we demonstrated that ectopic expression of TIMP2 open reading frame in the highly metastatic HCC cell line, MHCC-97L, significantly reduced HCC progression as well as pulmonary metastasis. Mechanistically, TIMP2 suppression, in a hypoxic environment, was induced through a regulatory feedback circuit consisting of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) 1 alpha, microRNA-210 (miR-210), and HIF-3alpha. CONCLUSION: TIMP2 is frequently down-regulated in human HCCs and its down-regulation is associated with aggressive tumor behavior and poorer patient outcome. Its suppression is under the regulation of a novel feedback circuit consisting of HIF-1alpha/miR-210/HIF-3alpha. TIMP2 is an important regulator of ECM degradation and HCC metastasis. (Hepatology 2016;64:473-487).published_or_final_versio

The role of SPECT bone scan in unilateral condylar hyperplasia: is it measuring the condyle size?

Oral Presentations: Session 40 - Temporomandibular Joint Pathology and Surgery II: O-4007BACKGROUND: The use of Tc-99m SPECT bone scan has been recommended as the assessment tool for patients with unilateral condylar hyperplasia. A condyle is generally regarded as active if the scintigraphic activity difference is 10% greater than the contralateral side. However, there was little information regarding the association between the bone scan uptake and the histopathological features of the hyperactive condyle. AIM: The aim of this study is to check the association between the SPECT bone scan uptake and the dimension of the mandibular condyle in patients with mandibular asymmetry caused by condylar hyperplasia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 27 patients with mandibular asymmetry caused by condylar hyperplasia were recruited. The clinical records, dental casts, SPECT and cone-beam CT data were used for the analysis. The clinical records and serial dental casts were used to check the activity of asymmetry . The cone-beam CT data were imported for building the virtual mandibular model for the 3-dimensional analysis of the hyperactive and contralateral condyles. 3-D cephalometric analysis was performed to measure the linear dimension of condyle and ramus. Pearson correlation analysis was used to check the association of the percentile difference between the SPECT scan and (i) condylar dimensions including x, y and z-axis, (ii) dimensions of mandibular ramus and body. RESULT: Among the 27 patients, only 2 patients showed active asymmetry from clinical and model analysis plus cone beam CT superimposition. The mean percentile difference between the right and left condyles in the remaining 25 patients showing inactive asymmetry was 12.05%. 12 patients (48%) having percentile differences > 10 %. Correlation analysis revealed linear association in the percentile difference of condyles between the SPECT scan uptake and (i) the linear dimensions of the condyle (R ranged from 0.68-0.83), (ii) surface area of the condyle (R=0.80), (iii) vertical ramus height (R=0.81) and (iv) mandibular body length (R=0.85). CONCLUSIONS: There was strong association between the condyle dimension and the SPECT uptake. Patients with inactive mandibular asymmetry caused by condylar hyperplasia could have the percentile difference greater than 10%.postprin

Integrated Dual-DFB Laser Chip-based PAM-4 Photonic-Wireless Transmission in W-band

We experimentally demonstrate lens-free photonic-wireless transmission in the W-band using a monolithically integrated dual-DFB laser, which is injection-locked by a frequency comb to generate two 90-GHz-spacing phase-stabilized carriers and modulated with a 40-Gbit/s PAM-4 signal

Corpo-oralidades y territorio en la dramaturgia de Felipe Vergara, de la experiencia del conflicto al correlato artístico

Dissertação apresentada ao Programa de Pós- Graduação em Literatura Comparada da Universidade Federal da Integração Latino- Americana, como requisito parcial à obtenção do título de Mestre em Literatura Comparada. Orientador: Andrea Ciacchi (Pós-Doutor Universidade Estadual de Campinas , Doutor em Iberistica, Università di Bologn , a Mestro em Letras, Universidade Federal da Paraíba , Graduação em Antropologia, Università di Roma)Propongo una lectura de la poética teatral de Felipe Vergara desde el estudio de tres piezas: Kilele, una epopeya artesanal; Arimbato, el camino del árbol; y Coragyps Sapiens, partiendo por considerar el teatro como un encuentro vital entre los artistas y su público, que instala escrituras permeadas por el tiempo, la historia y el contexto de su surgimiento. En ese sentido planteo que la dramaturgia Vergara funciona como un correlato que revive el rastro de la experiencia de guerra de las comunidades del Pacífico colombiano, a la vez que toma una posición autónoma de resistencia artística, social y cultural, y que porta en su discurso las versiones silenciadas históricamente, las versiones subterráneas. Para el análisis abordo: la relación indisoluble de las comunidades con su territorio, manifiesta en las obras; las representaciones de cuerpo y su fragmentación tanto a nivel individual como colectivo; y su reconstrucción a través de los duelos que se encarnan en transmisiones rituales, corporales y orales, en actos de memoria viva. Presento así un recorrido por la propuesta artística de Felipe Vergara y un acercamiento a algunas propuestas teatrales las comunidades del Pacífico colombiano, en las que curiosamente, Vergara trabajó de la mano de Inge Kleutgens, Catalina Medina y otros colaboradores. Retomaremos tres obras de Vergara, así como tres de las creaciones colectivas de las comunidades con las que , rastreando en ellas los procesos y procedimientos para la reconstrucción de una porción de los relatos alternativos de la historia social de las vivencias del conflicto social y armado colombiano, traducidas en las relaciones entre los imaginarios y las representaciones simbólicas de las obras, que asocian las gamas de sentido del texto y de la puesta en escena, con el cauce efectivo que propicia su escritura.Proponho uma leitura da poesia teatral de Felipe Vergara a partir do estudo de três obras: Kilele, una epopeya artesanal; Arimbato, el camino del árbol; y Coragyps Sapiens, começando por considerar o teatro como um encontro vital entre os artistas e seu público, que instala escritos permeados pelo tempo, pela história e pelo contexto de seu surgimento. Nesse sentido, proponho que a dramaturgia de Vergara funcione como um correlato que revive o traço da experiência de guerra das comunidades do Pacífico colombiano, ao mesmo tempo em que assume uma posição autônoma de resistência artística, social e cultural, e que carrega em seu discurso as versões silenciadas historicamente, as versões subterrâneas. Pela análise a bordo: a relação indissolúvel das comunidades com seu território, manifestada nos trabalhos; representações corporais e sua fragmentação individual e coletiva; e sua reconstrução através dos duelos que se encarnam em transmissões rituais, corporais e orais, em atos de memória viva. Apresento um encontro com a proposta artística de Felipe Vergara, propostas teatrais das comunidades do Pacífico colombiano, nas quais curiosamente, Vergara trabalhou com Inge Kleutgens, Catalina Medina e outros colaboradores. Retornaremos a três obras de Vergara, bem como a três das criações coletivas das comunidades com as quais traçamos os processos e procedimentos para a reconstrução de uma parte dos relatos alternativos da história social das experiências do conflito social e armado colombiano , traduzido nas relações entre o imaginário e as representações simbólicas das obras, que associam as faixas de significado do texto e da encenação, ao canal efetivo que propicia sua escrit

Zinc can counteract selection for ciprofloxacin resistance

This is the final version. Available on open access from Oxford University Press via the DOI in this record. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the most pressing threats to public health. AMR evolution occurs in the clinic but also in the environment, where antibiotics and heavy metals can select and co-select for AMR. While the selective potential of both antibiotics and metals is increasingly well-characterized, experimental studies exploring their combined effects on AMR evolution are rare. It has previously been demonstrated that fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin can chelate metal ions. To investigate how ciprofloxacin resistance is affected by the presence of metals, we quantified selection dynamics between a ciprofloxacin-susceptible and a ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli strain across a gradient of ciprofloxacin concentrations in presence and absence of zinc. The presence of zinc reduced growth of both strains, while ciprofloxacin inhibited exclusively the susceptible one. When present in combination zinc retained its inhibitory effect, while ciprofloxacin inhibition of the susceptible strain was reduced. Consequently, the minimal selective concentration for ciprofloxacin resistance increased up to five-fold in the presence of zinc. Environmental pollution usually comprises complex mixtures of antimicrobial agents. In addition to the usual focus on additive or synergistic interactions in complex selective mixtures, our findings highlight the importance of antagonistic selective interactions when considering resistance evolution

Cyclic-di-AMP synthesis by the diadenylate cyclase CdaA is modulated by the peptidoglycan biosynthesis enzyme GlmM in lactococcus lactis

© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The second messenger cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) plays important roles in growth, virulence, cell wall homeostasis, potassium transport and affects resistance to antibiotics, heat and osmotic stress. Most Firmicutes contain only one c-di-AMP synthesizing diadenylate cyclase (CdaA); however, little is known about signals and effectors controlling CdaA activity and c-di-AMP levels. In this study, a genetic screen was employed to identify components which affect the c-di-AMP level in Lactococcus. We characterized suppressor mutations that restored osmoresistance to spontaneous c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase gdpP mutants, which contain high c-di-AMP levels. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutations were identified in the cdaA and gdpP genes, respectively, which led to lower c-di-AMP levels. A mutation was also identified in the phosphoglucosamine mutase gene glmM, which is commonly located within the cdaA operon in bacteria. The glmM I154F mutation resulted in a lowering of the c-di-AMP level and a reduction in the key peptidoglycan precursor UDP-N-acetylglucosamine in L. lactis. C-di-AMP synthesis by CdaA was shown to be inhibited by GlmMI154F more than GlmM and GlmMI154F was found to bind more strongly to CdaA than GlmM. These findings identify GlmM as a c-di-AMP level modulating protein and provide a direct connection between c-di-AMP synthesis and peptidoglycan biosynthesis. c-di-AMP is an essential signalling molecule which affects peptidoglycan homeostasis and resistance against various stressors, however little is known regarding how the c-di-AMP level is regulated in the cell. Here we identify the peptidoglycan biosynthesis enzyme GlmM as a modulator of c-di-AMP synthesis through its regulation of diadenylate cyclase enzyme CdaA activity in Lactococcus lactis

A qualitative study of the views of patients with long-term conditions on family doctors in Hong Kong

<b>Background</b> Primary care based management of long-term conditions (LTCs) is high on the international healthcare agenda, including the Asia-Pacific region. Hong Kong has a 'mixed economy' healthcare system with both public and private sectors with a range of types of primary care doctors. Recent Hong Kong Government policy aims to enhance the management of LTCs in primary care possibly based on a 'family doctor' model. Patients' views on this are not well documented and the aim of the present study was to explore the views of patients with LTCs on family doctors in Hong Kong.<p></p> <b>Methods</b> The views of patients (with a variety of LTCs) on family doctors in Hong Kong were explored. Two groups of participants were interviewed; a) those who considered themselves as having a family doctor, b) those who considered themselves as not having a family doctor (either with a regular primary care doctor but not a family doctor or with no regular primary care doctor). In-depth individual semi-structured interviews were carried out with 28 participants (10 with a family doctor, 10 with a regular doctor, and 8 with no regular doctor) and analysed using the constant comparative method.<p></p> <b>Results</b> Participants who did not have a family doctor were familiar with the concept but regarded it as a 'luxury item' for the rich within the private healthcare system. Those with a regular family doctor (all private) regarded having one as important to their and their family's health. Participants in both groups felt that as well as the more usual family medicine specialist or general practitioner, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners also had the potential to be family doctors. However most participants attended the public healthcare system for management of their LTCs whether they had a family doctor or not. Cost, perceived need, quality, trust, and choice were all barriers to the use of family doctors for the management of their LTCs.<p></p> <b>Conclusions</b> Important barriers to the adoption of a 'family doctor' model of management of LTCs exist in Hong Kong. Effective policy implementation seems unlikely unless these complex barriers are addressed