Variations in water use by a mature mangrove of Avicennia germinans, French Guiana

In the tropical intertidal zones, little is known on water uptake by mangroves. Transpiration rates are generally measured at leaf level, but few studies exist on water use at tree or stand levels. The objective of this study was to measure sap flow in trees of different sizes to appreciate the range of variation in water use that may exist in a site dominated by 80% mature Avicennia germinans. The results showed that from the dry to the wet season the mean water use increased from 3.2 to 5.3 dm3 d−1 in small trees (DBH ∼ 13 cm), from 11.5 to 30.8 dm3 d−1 in medium trees (∼24 cm) and from 40.8 to 64.1 dm3 d−1 in large ones (∼45 cm). Sapwood remained active up to a depth of 8 cm with radial variations within the stem. Weak correlations were obtained with VPD and net radiation. This study confirmed that transpiration was larger under low levels of salinity. Water use at stand level (∼1900 living stems ha−1) was estimated to be in the range of 5.8 to 11.8 m3 ha−1 d−1 according to the season

Quantum entanglement with acousto-optic modulators: 2-photon beatings and Bell experiments with moving beamsplitters

We present an experiment testing quantum correlations with frequency shifted photons. We test Bell inequality with 2-photon interferometry where we replace the beamsplitters by acousto-optic modulators, which are equivalent to moving beamsplitters. We measure the 2-photon beatings induced by the frequency shifts, and we propose a cryptographic scheme in relation. Finally, setting the experiment in a relativistic configuration, we demonstrate that the quantum correlations are not only independent of the distance but also of the time ordering between the two single-photon measurements.Comment: 14 pages, 16 figure

Pregnancy In Women Undergoing Hemodialysis: Case Series In A Southeast Brazilian Reference Center [gestação Em Mulheres Em Tratamento Hemodialítico: Série De Casos Em Um Centro De Referência Do Sudeste Do Brasil]

PURPOSE: To describe maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women undergoing hemodialysis in a referral center in Brazilian Southeast side. METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive study, with chart review of all pregnancies undergoing hemodialysis that were followed-up at an outpatient clinic of high- risk prenatal care in Southeast Brazil. RESULTS: Among the 16 women identified, 2 were excluded due to follow-up loss. In 14 women described, hypertension was the most frequent cause of chronic renal failure (half of cases). The majority (71.4%) had performed hemodialysis treatment for more than one year and all of them underwent 5 to 6 hemodialysis sessions per week. Eleven participants had chronic hypertension, 1 of which was also diabetic, and 6 of them were smokers. Regarding pregnancy complications, 1 of the hypertensive women developed malignant hypertension (with fetal growth restriction and preterm delivery at 29 weeks), 2 had acute pulmonary edema and 2 had abruption placenta. The mode of delivery was cesarean section in 9 women (64.3%). All neonates had Apgar score at five minutes above 7. CONCLUSIONS: To improve perinatal and maternal outcomes of women undergoing hemodialysis, it is important to ensure multidisciplinary approach in referral center, strict control of serum urea, hemoglobin and maternal blood pressure, as well as close monitoring of fetal well-being and maternal morbidities. Another important strategy is suitable guidance for contraception in these women.37159Bramham, K., Lightstone, L., Pre-pregnancy counseling for women with chronic kidney disease (2012) J Nephrol, 25 (4), pp. 450-459Hou, S., Pregnancy in chronic renal insufficiency and end-stage renal disease (1999) Am J Kidney Dis, 33 (2), pp. 235-252Shemin, D., Dialysis in pregnant women with chronic kidney disease (2003) Semin Dial, 16 (5), pp. 379-383Pipili, C., Grapsa, E., Koutsobasili, A., Sorvinou, P., Poirazlar, E., Kiosses, D., Pregnancy in dialysis-dependent women--the importance of frequent dialysis and collaborative care: A case report (2011) Hemodial Int, 15 (3), pp. 306-311Podymow, T., August, P., Akbari, A., Management of renal disease in pregnancy (2010) Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am, 37 (2), pp. 195-210Siviero, P., Machado, C.J., Cherchiglia, M.L., Chronic kidney failure by means of multiple causes of death in Brazil (2014) Cad Saúde Coletiva, 22 (1), pp. 75-85Furaz-Czerpak, K.R., Fernández-Juárez, G., Moreno-De La Higuera, M.A., Corchete-Prats, E., Puente-García, A., Martín-Hernández, R., Pregnancy in women on chronic dialysis: A review (2012) Nefrologia, 32 (3), pp. 287-294Hou, S.H., Pregnancy in women on haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis (1994) Baillieres Clin Obstet Gynaecol, 8 (2), pp. 481-500Chao, A.S., Huang, J.Y., Lien, R., Kung, F.T., Chen, P.J., Hsieh, P.C., Pregnancy in women who undergo long-term hemodialysis (2002) Am J Obstet Gynecol, 187 (1), pp. 152-156Reddy, S.S., Holley, J.L., Management of the pregnant chronic dialysis patient (2007) Adv Chronic Kidney Dis, 14 (2), pp. 146-155Piccoli, G.B., Cabiddu, G., Daidone, G., Guzzo, G., Maxia, S., Ciniglio, I., The children of dialysis: Live-born babies from on-dialysis mothers in Italy--an epidemiological perspective comparing dialysis, kidney transplantation and the overall population (2014) Nephrol Dial Transplant, 29 (8), pp. 1578-1586Shahir, A.K., Briggs, N., Katsoulis, J., Levidiotis, V., An observational outcomes study from 1966-2008, examining pregnancy and neonatal outcomes from dialysed women using data from the ANZDATA Registry (2013) Nephrology (Carlton), 18 (4), pp. 276-284Silva, G.B., Jr., Monteiro, F.A., Mota, R.M., Paiva, J.G., Correia, J.W., Bezerra Filho, J.G., Acute kidney injury requiring dialysis in obstetric patients: A series of 55 cases in Brazil (2009) Arch Gynecol Obstet, 279 (2), pp. 131-137Castellano, G., Losappio, V., Gesualdo, L., Update on pregnancy in chronic kidney disease (2011) Kidney Blood Press Res, 34 (4), pp. 253-260Hladunewich, M., Hercz, A.E., Keunen, J., Chan, C., Pierratos, A., Pregnancy in end stage renal disease (2011) Semin Dial, 24 (6), pp. 634-639Espinoza, F., Romeo, R., Ursu, M., Tapia, A., Vukusich, A., Pregnancy during dialysis: Experience in six patients (2013) Rev Med Chil, 141 (8), pp. 1003-1009Hladunewich, M.A., Hou, S., Odutayo, A., Cornelis, T., Pierratos, A., Goldstein, M., Intensive hemodialysis associates with improved pregnancy outcomes: A Canadian and United States cohort comparison (2014) J am Soc Nephrol, 25 (5), pp. 1103-110

Comparative evaluation of three semi-quantitative radiographic grading techniques for knee osteoarthritis in terms of validity and reproducibility in 1759 X-rays: report of the OARSI–OMERACT task force

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work was to compare the measurement properties of three categorical X-ray scoring methods of knee osteoarthritis (OA), both on semiflexed and extended views. METHODS: In data obtained from trials and cohorts, X-rays were graded using Kellgren and Lawrence (KL), the OA Research Society International (OARSI) joint space narrowing score, and measurement of joint space width (JSW). JSW was analyzed as a categorical variable. Construct validity was assessed through logistic regression between X-ray stages and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index. Inter-observer reliability was assessed in 50 subjects for extended views by weighted kappa. Intra-observer reliability and sensitivity to change were assessed separately for extended and semiflexed views in 50 patients who had both views performed, over a 30-month interval, by weighted kappa and standardized response mean (SRM). RESULTS: Extended views were available from three trials and two cohorts (1759 X-rays), including one trial in which both extended and semiflexed views (antero-posterior) were obtained. Correlation with clinical parameters was low for the three scoring methods, except for the single community-based cohort. Inter-rater reliability was higher for categorical JSW in extended views (kappa, 0.86 vs 0.56 and 0.48 for KL and OARSI, respectively). Intra-rater reliability was higher for categorical JSW, both in extended views (0.83 vs 0.61 and 0.71) and in semiflexed views (0.89 vs 0.50 and 0.67). Sensitivity to change was also higher for categorical JSW, particularly in semiflexed views (SRM, 0.49 vs 0.22 and 0.34). CONCLUSION: These results indicate categorical JSW, in particular on semiflexed views, may be the preferred method to evaluate structural severity in knee OA clinical trials

Are There Quantum Effects Coming from Outside Space-time? Nonlocality, free will and "no many-worlds"

Observing the violation of Bell's inequality tells us something about all possible future theories: they must all predict nonlocal correlations. Hence Nature is nonlocal. After an elementary introduction to nonlocality and a brief review of some recent experiments, I argue that Nature's nonlocality together with the existence of free will is incompatible with the many-worlds view of quantum physics.Comment: Talk presented at the meeting "Is Science Compatible with Our Desire for Freedom?" organised by the Social Trends Institute at the IESE Business School in Barcelona, Octobre 201

A replication-casting device for manufacturing open-cell Mg foams

The development of a replication casting device with the capability of manufacturing open-cell pure Mg and Mg alloys foams, with melting points lower than 950 °C is described. The device consists of three basic parts: a cylindrical reaction chamber, a valve system for controlling the vacuum and the gas injection, and a heating system. The purpose of the present design was to improve the existing laboratory-scale devices, making them simpler than those reported in the literature, as well as to optimize the parameters (atmosphere, temperature, injection pressure, etc.) of the replication casting process. The proposed device has shown significant improvement over other devices reported, especially in terms of easiness of operation, adjustability and low cost of maintenance. The design of the device provides the ability to produce large foams free from defects such as large volumetric shrinkage and large concavities. The latter is minimized by the implementation of a perforated nozzle for gas impulsion. Examples of manufactured open-cell pure Mg and Mg–10 wt.% Al alloy foams are also presented. The design is shown in a conceptual format; however it could be modified to produce larger or smaller samples

Reply to: comparative effectiveness medicines research cannot assess efficacy

We appreciate the insightful comments from Drs. Dal-Ré and Carcas in their letter to the editor regarding our paper “Publication of comparative effectiveness research (CER) has not increased in high-impact medical journals, 2004–2013

Publication of comparative effectiveness research has not increased in high-impact medical journals, 2004-2013

Objective To explore the impact of increasing interest and investment in patient-centered research, this study sought to describe patterns of comparative effectiveness research (CER) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in pharmacologic intervention studies published in widely read medical journals from 2004-2013. Design and Setting We identified 2335 articles published in five widely read medical journals from 2004-2013 with ≥1 intervention meeting the US Food and Drug Administration's definitions for a drug, biologic, or vaccine. Six trained reviewers extracted characteristics from a 20% random sample of articles (468 studies). We calculated the proportion of studies with CER and PROs. Trends were summarized using locally-weighted means and 95% confidence intervals. Results Of the 468 sampled studies, 30% used CER designs and 33% assessed PROs. The proportion of studies using CER designs did not meaningfully increase over the study period. However, we observed an increase in the use of PROs. Conclusions Among pharmacological intervention studies published in widely read medical journals from 2004-2013, we identified no increase in CER. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials continue to be the dominant study design for assessing pharmacologic interventions. Increasing trends in PRO use may indicate greater acceptance of these outcomes as evidence for clinical benefit

The relationship of the atlantic diet with cardiovascular risk factors and markers of arterial stiffness in adults without cardiovascular disease

Background: Studying the adherence of the population to the Atlantic Diet (AD) could be simplified by an easy and quickly applied dietary index. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship of an index measuring compliance with recommendations regarding the Atlantic diet and physical activity with cardiovascular disease risk factors, cardiovascular risk factors, obesity indexes and arterial stiffness markers. Methods: We included 791 individuals from the EVIDENT study (lifestyles and arterial ageing), (52.3 ± 12 years, 61.7% women) without cardiovascular disease. Compliance with recommendations on AD was collected through the responses to a food frequency questionnaire, while physical activity was measured by accelerometer. The number of recommendations being met was estimated using a global scale between 0 and 14 points (a higher score representing greater adherence). Blood pressure, plasma lipid and glucose values and obesity rates were measured. Cardiovascular risk was estimated with the Framingham equation. Results: In the overall sample, 184 individuals (23.3%) scored between 0–3 on the 14-point index we created, 308 (38.9%) between 4 and 5 points, and 299 (37.8%) 6 or more points. The results of multivariate analysis yield a common tendency in which the group with an adherence score of at least 6 points shows lower figures for total cholesterol (p = 0.007) and triglycerides (p = 0.002). Similarly, overall cardiovascular risk in this group is the lowest (p < 0.001), as is pulse wave velocity (p = 0.050) and the mean values of the obesity indexes studied (p < 0.05 in all cases). Conclusion: The rate of compliance with the Atlantic diet and physical activity shows that greater adherence to these recommendations is linked to lower cardiovascular risk, lower total cholesterol and triglycerides, lower rates of obesity and lower pulse wave velocity values

Cocoa extract intake for 4 weeks reduces postprandial systolic blood pressure response of obese subjects, even after following an energy-restricted diet

Abstract Background: Cardiometabolic profile is usually altered in obesity. Interestingly, the consumption of flavanolrich foods might be protective against those metabolic alterations. Objective: To evaluate the postprandial cardiometabolic effects after the acute consumption of cocoa extract before and after 4 weeks of its daily intake. Furthermore, the bioavailability of cocoa extract was investigated. Design: Twenty-four overweight/obese middle-aged subjects participated in a 4-week intervention study. Half of the volunteers consumed a test meal enriched with 1.4 g of cocoa extract (415 mg flavanols), while the rest of the volunteers consumed the same meal without the cocoa extract (control group). Glucose and lipid profile, as well as blood pressure and cocoa metabolites in plasma, were assessed before and at 60, 120, and 180 min post-consumption, at the beginning of the study (Postprandial 1) and after following a 4-week 15% energy-restricted diet including meals containing or not containing the cocoa extract (Postprandial 2). Results: In the Postprandial 1 test, the area under the curve (AUC) of systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly higher in the cocoa group compared with the control group (p 0.007), showing significant differences after 120 min of intake. However, no differences between groups were observed at Postprandial 2. Interestingly, the reduction of postprandial AUC of SBP (AUC_Postprandial 2-AUC_Postprandial 1) was higher in the cocoa group (p 0.016). Furthermore, cocoa-derived metabolites were detected in plasma of the cocoa group, while the absence or significantly lower amounts of metabolites were found in the control group. Conclusions: The daily consumption of cocoa extract within an energy-restricted diet for 4 weeks resulted in a greater reduction of postprandial AUC of SBP compared with the effect of energy-restricted diet alone and independently of body weight loss. These results suggest the role of cocoa flavanols on postprandial blood pressure homeostasis