Natural History of Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 2-4

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide problem. The majority of patients in stage 3-5 CKD progress relentlessly to end stage renal disease (ESRD). This study aimed to measure the rate of decline in kidney function among a group of CKD patients and to examine risk factors associated with disease progression. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 300 CKD patients in stages 2-4, that were randomly selected from patients who were on regular follow up in Sheffield kidney institute (SKI), Sheffield, UK, up to June 2007. Patients whose estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) declined by more than 1 ml/min/year according to the MDRD formula during a 5-year follow up period were classified as progressors. Baseline parameters that may be associated with a more rapid decline in GFR were evaluated. Results: Males constituted 57.7% of the study population, one third of patients were older than 65 years of age, 93% were white and 39.7% were diabetic. The study showed that 52.7% of patients had a progressive course of CKD. Gender, old age, ethnicity and diabetic status were not significantly different between progressors and non-progressors. Progressors tended to have higher 24-hour urinary protein excretion (2.6 ± 3.6 versus 1.8 ± 3.5 g/dl) and higher blood pressures measurements at baseline that did not reach statistical significance. The slope of reciprocal serum creatinine (1/S. Cr) was significantly and negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP). It was also significantly and negatively correlated to baseline serum creatinine. Conclusion: Almost half the patients had a rate of decline in estimated GFR that exceeded 1 ml/min/year and were classified as progressors. Key words: CKD progression; ESRD; progressors; non-progressors

Nematode diversity patterns at different spatial scales in bathyal sediments of the Mediterranean Sea

Understanding biodiversity patterns and how they are driven at different spatial scales is a crucial issue in eco- logical studies. This is particularly evident for the deep sea, the largest biome of the biosphere, where information on the scales of spatial variation is very scant. Here, we investigated deep-sea nematodes species richness, turnover and func- tional diversity, and life strategies at different spatial scales (from local to macro-regional) to identify the factors that shape regional (γ) and macro-regional (ε) deep-sea diver- sity. This study was conducted in several deep-sea habitats (canyons, open slopes, deep-water corals, and bathyal plains) over > 2000 km across the whole Mediterranean Basin, at a bathymetric range comprised between ca. 600 and 1300 m. Our results indicate that the patterns of local (α) diversity across the deep Mediterranean follow the gradients of the trophic conditions, which decrease from the western to the eastern basins. For all of the sites and habitats, the α diversity is generally low. Conversely, the turnover diversity changes significantly among habitats (β diversity) and between re- gions (δ diversity), showing values of dissimilarity (based on species presence/absence matrixes) between 59 and 90 % for β diversity and between 81 and 89 % for δ diversity. This suggests that patterns and values of γ and ε diversities in the deep Mediterranean Sea are related to turnover diversity among habitats and between regions (β and δ diversities), rather than to the local biodiversity (α diversity). These re- sults indicate also that the differences in β and δ diversi- ties are even more important than those in α diversity for the comprehension of the drivers of biodiversity in the deep Mediterranean Sea. We conclude that the presence of differ- ent habitats and gradients in environmental conditions, by promoting a high turnover diversity across the Mediterranean Sea, may play a crucial role in the levels of γ diversity of deep-sea nematodes

Porphyrin-containing polyimide films deposited by high vacuum co-evaporation

Abstract Thin films of porphyrin-containing polyimide were produced by high vacuum co-evaporation of 4,4′-hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride (6FDA), 3,3′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) and 5,10,15,20 meso-tetraphenyl porphyrin (TPP). The films were characterized by FT-IR analysis, optical absorption and emission spectroscopy. FT-IR analysis shows that the film matrix is comprised of only unreacted monomers. The conversion of monomers to polyamic acid and the following condensation to polyimide were studied by curing the samples at temperatures up to 240 °C. The amount of polyamic acid increases from room temperature to 120 °C, while at higher temperature it starts to condense to polyimide. Optical analysis shows that TPP is incorporated in the film matrix and its chemical state is determined by the interaction with the monomers, polyamic acid and polyimide. After curing the TPP molecules are finely dispersed in the polyimide matrix and their absorption and fluorescence properties are wholly preserved

An unusual interplay among disorder, Kondo-effect and spin-glass behavior in the Kondo lattices, Ce2_2Au1−x_{1-x}Cox_xSi3_3

We report the results of magnetic measurements for the solid solution Ce$_2$Au$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Si$_3$. The results reveal that this solid solution is characterized by a magnetic phase diagram (plot of magnetic transition temperature versus $x$) unusual for Kondo lattices. In particular, the spin-glass freezing induced by disorder is observed only for the compositions at the weak coupling limit; as one approaches the quantum critical point by a gradual replacement of Au by Co, this disorder effect is surprisingly suppressed in favor of long range antiferro-magnetic ordering in contrast to expectations. This unusual interplay between disorder, spin-glass freezing and the Kondo-effect calls for further refinement of theories on competition between magnetism and the Kondo effect.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Analisis Pengaruh Pajak Daerah terhadap Peningkatan Pendapatan Asli Daerah di Kabupaten Minahasa

This study aims to analyze the effect of Local Tax on Local Revenue in Minahasa District Year 2011-2015. This research was conducted from January to March 2017 in Minahasa District, North Minahasa District and Tomohon City with the object of Local Taxes research from 2011 to 2015. This study uses secondary data obtained from Minahasa District Revenue Office, Regional Finance Board and Asset Manager of Minahasa District, North Minahasa District and Tomohon City and Statistics Agency of Minahasa District. Data analysis used Contribution and Growth Matrix Analysis and Time Series Analysis. This study found that the contribution of local taxes to the original income of the period of 2011-2015 is still below 50 percetn and the local revenue is at the 5 percent level of Central Government Fund Transfer Income to the regions. This has resulted in poor welfare and prosperity of the population reflected in the per capita income level that is still lacking and the level of regional independence is still low. Analysis of regional tax trends for the year 2016-2020 has increased but still below 5 (five) billion rupiah each year so it still needs to be improved

Logical Rules and a Preliminary Prototype for Translating Mortality Coding Rules from ICD-10 to ICD-11

Iris is a system for coding multiple causes of death in ICD-10 and for the selection of the underlying cause of death, based on a knowledge base composed by a large number of rules. With the adoption of ICD-11, those rules need translation to ICD-11. A pre-project has been carried out to evaluate feasibility of transition to ICD-11, which included the analysis of the logical meta-rules needed for rule translation and development of a prototype support system for the expert that will translate the coding rules

Harmonization of ICF Body Structures and ICD-11 Anatomic Detail: One foundation for multiple classifications

The Family of International Classifications of the World Health Organization (WHO-FIC) currently includes three reference classifications, namely International Classification of Diseases (ICD), International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), and International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI). Recently, the three classifications have been incorporated into a single WHO-FIC Foundation that serves as the repository of all concepts in the classifications. Each classification serves a specific classification need. However, they share some common concepts that are present, in different forms, in two or all of them. For the WHO-FIC Foundation to be a logically consistent repository without duplicates, these common concepts must be reconciled. One important set of shared concepts is the representation of human anatomy entities, which are not always modeled in the same way and with the same level of detail. To understand the relationships among the three anatomical representations, an effort is needed to compare them, identifying common areas, gaps, and compatible and incompatible modeling. The work presented here contributes to this effort, focusing on the anatomy representations in ICF and ICD-11. For this aim, three experts were asked to identify, for each entity in the ICF Body Structures, one or more entities in the ICD-11 Anatomic Detail that could be considered identical, broader or narrower. To do this, they used a specifically developed web application, which also automatically identified the most obvious equivalences. A total of 631 maps were independently identified by the three mappers for 218 ICF Body Structures, with an interobserver agreement of 93.5%. Together with 113 maps identified by the software, they were then consolidated into 434 relations. The results highlight some differences between the two classifications: in general, ICF is less detailed than ICD-11; ICF favors lumping of structures; in very few cases, the two classifications follow different anatomic models. For these issues, solutions have to be found that are compliant with the WHO approach to classification modeling and maintenance