Physiological study of cold acclimation in Rhododendron sp. with emphasis on role of dehydrins

In this study we established the significance of 25 kDa dehydrin accumulation during cold acclimation (CA) in a wide array of Rhododendron species. These species (24 in total) belong to two diverse subgenera, Hymenanthes and Rhododendron, native to diverse latitudes and altitudes. The dehydrin of interest is highly conserved in Rhododendron genus and was present and up-regulated during CA in all the species studied with one exception---R. brookeanum ---a species adapted to tropics. Some other dehydrins were also found to accumulate in response to cold acclimation in several species, but none of these accumulated consistently. Experimental data show that there is no correlation between the absolute amount of 25 kDa dehydrin and the degree of leaf hardiness in cold acclimated plants. Moreover, a higher number of dehydrin species in a particular genotype does not necessarily translate into more hardy Rhododendron. However, our results suggest that the cold-inducibility of a 25 kDa dehydrin is positively correlated with cold acclimation ability in Rhododendron. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

RESEARCH ON THE CHEMICAL CONTROL OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES AILANTHUS ALTISSIMA FROM PASTURES

The present paper presents the results of the chemical control research of the species Ailanthus altissima, an invasive species that damages the lands on which it appears spontaneously, in the form of restricted areas. The total systemic herbicide Roundup, based on glyphosate, 360 g/l was used. Two methods of application were investigated, namely, by brushing on a 30 cm height of the tree trunk and by injection into holes made in the tree trunk. Undiluted herbicide was applied. The first method of application had almost no effect on Ailanthus altissima trees due to the fact that the herbicide cannot be absorbed through the mature bark of the trees. The second method of application gave very good results

Emergency Treatment of Transverse Colon Cancer

This chapter deals with the emergency treatment of transverse colon cancer. The main complications that classify transverse colon cancer in an emergency setting are obstruction, perforation accompanied by localized or generalized peritonitis, and hemorrhage which may be occult or cataclysmic with hemorrhagic shock. We present the technical principles of radical surgical resection using embryological, anatomical, and oncological concepts. In this chapter we also discuss the principles of lymphadenectomy associated with complete excision of the mesocolon with high vascular ligation, in particular with T3 or T4 cancers requiring D2/D3 lymphadenectomy. The use of infrapyloric, gastro-epiploic, and prepancreatic lymphadenectomy is recommended due to the frequent metastases in these regional lymph nodes

Towards an International Consensus on the Prevention, Treatment, and Management of High-Risk Substance Use and Overdose among Youth

Background and Objectives: Now more than ever, there is an obvious need to reduce the overall burden of disease and risk of premature mortality that are associated with mental health and substance use disorders among young people. However, the current state of research and evidence-based clinical care for high-risk substance use among youth is fragmented and scarce. The objective of the study is to establish consensus for the prevention, treatment, and management of high-risk substance use and overdose among youth (10 to 24 years old). Materials and Methods: A modified Delphi technique was used based on the combination of scientific evidence and clinical experience of a group of 31 experts representing 10 countries. A semi-structured questionnaire with five domains (clinical risks, target populations, intervention goals, intervention strategies, and settings/expertise) was shared with the panelists. Based on their responses, statements were developed, which were subsequently revised and finalized through three iterations of feedback. Results: Among the five major domains, 60 statements reached consensus. Importantly, experts agreed that screening in primary care and other clinical settings is recommended for all youth, and that the objectives of treating youth with high-risk substance use are to reduce harm and mortality while promoting resilience and healthy development. For all substance use disorders, evidence-based interventions should be available and should be used according to the needs and preferences of the patient. Involuntary admission was the only topic that did not reach consensus, mainly due to its ethical implications and resulting lack of comparable evidence. Conclusions: High-risk substance use and overdoses among youth have become a major challenge. The system’s response has been insufficient and needs substantial change. Internationally devised consensus statements provide a first step in system improvement and reform

MicroRNA-9 as Potential Biomarker for Breast Cancer Local Recurrence and Tumor Estrogen Receptor Status

MicroRNAs (miRs) are small, non-protein coding transcripts involved in many cellular functions. Many miRs have emerged as important cancer biomarkers. In the present study, we investigated whether miR levels in breast tumors are predictive of breast cancer local recurrence (LR). Sixty-eight women who were diagnosed with breast cancer at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center were included in this study. Breast cancer patients with LR and those without LR were matched on year of surgery, age at diagnosis, and type of surgery. Candidate miRs were identified by screening the expression levels of 754 human miRs using miR arrays in 16 breast tumor samples from 8 cases with LR and 8 cases without LR. Eight candidate miRs that showed significant differences between tumors with and without LR were further verified in 52 tumor samples using real-time PCR. Higher expression of miR-9 was significantly associated with breast cancer LR in all cases as well as the subset of estrogen receptor (ER) positive cases (p = 0.02). The AUCs (Area Under Curve) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of miR-9 for all tumors and ER positive tumors are 0.68 (p = 0.02) and 0.69 (p = 0.02), respectively. In ER positive cases, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with lower miR-9 levels had significantly better 10-year LR-free survival (67.9% vs 30.8%, p = 0.02). Expression levels of miR-9 and another miR candidate, miR-375, were also strongly associated with ER status (p<0.001 for both). The potential of miR-9 as a biomarker for LR warrants further investigation with larger sample size

High Frequency Analysis and Optimization of Planar Spiral Inductors Used in Microelectronic Circuits

This paper deals with high frequency analysis of spiral inductors, used in microelectronics circuits, to optimize their configuration. Software developed, designed, and implemented by the authors for nano and micrometre spiral inductor high frequency analysis, named ABSIF, is presented in this paper. ABSIF determines the inductance, quality factor, and electrical parameters for square, hexagonal, octagonal, and circular spiral inductors and their configuration optimization for energy efficiency. ABSIF is a good tool for spiral inductor design optimization in high frequency applications and takes into account the imposed technological limits and/or the designers' constraints. A set of spiral inductors are considered and analysed for high frequency values using ABSIF, and the results are presented in the paper. The validation of ABSIF was completed by comparing the results with those obtained using a similar commercial software, Sonnet LiteTM, which is dedicated to high frequency electromagnetic analysis