Coronary steal by left atrial myxoma: a case report

This report describes a 41-year-old man who had atypical angina resulting from coronary steal by left atrial myxoma. The tumor was completely excised and the patient was symptoms free after operation

Testing Categorical Moderators in Mixed-Effects Meta-analysis in the Presence of Heteroscedasticity

Mixed-effects models can be used to examine the association between a categorical moderator and the magnitude of the effect size. Two approaches are available to estimate the residual between-studies variance, τ2res—namely, separate estimation within each category of the moderator versus pooled estimation across all categories. We examine, by means of a Monte Carlo simulation study, both approaches for τ2res estimation in combination with two methods, the Wald-type χ2 and F tests, to test the statistical significance of the moderator. Results suggest that the F test using a pooled estimate of τ2res across categories is the best option in most conditions, although the F test using separate estimates of τ2res is preferable if the residual heterogeneity variances are heteroscedastic

Functional characterization of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae DmeRF, a cation diffusion facilitator system involved in nickel and cobalt resistance

In prokaryotes, nickel is an essential element participating in the structure of enzymes involved in multiple cellular processes. Nickel transport is a challenge for microorganisms since, although essential, high levels of this metal inside the cell are toxic. For this reason, bacteria have developed high-affinity nickel transporters as well as nickel-specific detoxification systems. Ultramafic soils, and soils contaminated with heavy metals are excellent sources of nickel resistant bacteria. Molecular analysis of strains isolated in the habitats has revealed novel genetic systems involved in adaptation to such hostile conditions

Identification and functional characterization of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae genetic systems involved in nickel homeostasis.

A collection of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strains isolated from ultramafic and contaminated soils in Italy and Germany, respectively, was analyzed for resistance to nickel and cobalt ions. These assays led to the identification of strain UPM1137, which is able to grow at high concentrations of nickel and cobalt. In order to identify genetic systems involved in the homeostasis to these metals, a random mutagenesis was carried out in UPM1137 by inserting a Tn5-derivative minitransposon. As a result 4313 transconjugants were obtained, being 39 of them (0.90%) unable to grow at 1.5 mM NiCl2. The identification of the transposon insertion site in these mutants showed that the disrupted genes encode proteins belonging to different functional categories, where the secreted and membrane proteins were the most numerous. The analysis of heavy metal resistance and phenotypes in symbiotic and free –living cells will define the contribution of these genes to metal homeostasis

Identification and analysis of a nickel-inducible cation diffusion facilitator-NiCoT combined system in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae

Nickel, like other transition metals, can be toxic to cells even at moderate concentration (low microM range) by displacing essential metals from their native binding sites or by generating reactive oxygen species that cause oxidative DNA damage. For this reason, cells have evolved mechanisms to deal with excess nickel. Efflux systems include members of the Resistance-Nodulation-cell Division (RND) protein family, P-type ATPases, cation diffusion facilitators (CDF) and other resistance factors. Nickel-specific exporters have been characterized in Cupravidus metallidurans, Helicobacter pylori, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Serratia marcenses and Escherichia coli

Autonomous CPSoS for cognitive large manufacturing industries.

The general aim of a cognitive Cyber Physical System of Systems (CPSoS) is to provide managed access to data in a smart fashion such that sensing and actuation capabilities are connected. Whilst there is significant funding and research devoted to this area, focus remains purely on creating bespoke systems. This paper presents a novel approach, based on a set of components to leverage Situational Awareness and Smart Actuation in large manufacturing industries with the focus on enabling predictive maintenance for asset and abnormal situation management. This paper presents a novel generic platform, named AtiCoS, that combines case-based and common-sense reasoning, as the enabling methodologies for enhancing CPSoS with cognitive capabilities

Internal mammary artery dilatation in a patient with aortic coarctation, aortic stenosis, and coronary disease. Case report

The ideal surgical approach is unclear in adult patients with coarctation of the aorta that is associated with other cardiovascular pathologies that require intervention. Standard median sternotomy allows simultaneous, coronary revascularization surgery, valve replacement and repair of aortic coarctation. However the collateral circulation and the anatomy of the mammary arteries must be determined, to avoid possible complications. We report a case of a 69 year-old man with aortic coarctation, aortic stenosis, coronary artery disease and internal mammary artery dilatation who underwent concomitant surgical procedures through a median sternotomy