Heat strengthening of lead-tin bronze alloyed with nickel

Investigate the process of thermal hardening of bronze without heat treatment. Determined phase, which is the cause for age-hardening of the nickel bronze alloy by heat strengthening

A prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study

Background Graft-derived cell-free DNA (GcfDNA), which is released into the blood stream by necrotic and apoptotic cells, is a promising noninvasive organ integrity biomarker. In liver transplantation (LTx), neither conventional liver function tests (LTFs) nor immunosuppressive drug monitoring are very effective for rejection monitoring. We therefore hypothesized that the quantitative measurement of donor-derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA) would have independent value for the assessment of graft integrity, including damage from acute rejection. Methods and findings Traditional LFTs were performed and plasma GcfDNA was monitored in 115 adults post-LTx at three German transplant centers as part of a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort trial. GcfDNA percentage (graft cfDNA/total cfDNA) was measured using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), based on a limited number of predefined single nucleotide polymorphisms, enabling same-day turn-around. The same method was used to quantify blood microchimerism. GcfDNA was increased >50% on day 1 post-LTx, presumably from ischemia/reperfusion damage, but rapidly declined in patients without graft injury within 7 to 10 d to a median <10%, where it remained for the 1-y observation period. Of 115 patients, 107 provided samples that met preestablished criteria. In 31 samples taken from 17 patients during biopsy- proven acute rejection episodes, the percentage of GcfDNA was elevated substantially (median 29.6%, 95% CI 23.6%–41.0%) compared with that in 282 samples from 88 patients during stable periods (median 3.3%, 95% CI 2.9%–3.7%; p < 0.001). Only slightly higher values (median 5.9%, 95% CI 4.4%–10.3%) were found in 68 samples from 17 hepatitis C virus (HCV)–positive, rejection-free patients. LFTs had low overall correlations (r = 0.28–0.62) with GcfDNA and showed greater overlap between patient subgroups, especially between acute rejection and HCV+ patients. Multivariable logistic regression modeling demonstrated that GcfDNA provided additional LFT-independent information on graft integrity. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 90.3% (95% CI 74.2%–98.0%) and 92.9% (95% CI 89.3%–95.6%), respectively, for GcfDNA at a threshold value of 10%. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was higher for GcfDNA (97.1%, 95% CI 93.4%–100%) than for same-day conventional LFTs (AST: 95.7%; ALT: 95.2%; γ-GT: 94.5%; bilirubin: 82.6%). An evaluation of microchimerism revealed that the maximum donor DNA in circulating white blood cells was only 0.068%. GcfDNA percentage can be influenced by major changes in host cfDNA (e.g., due to leukopenia or leukocytosis). One limitation of our study is that exact time-matched GcfDNA and LFT samples were not available for all patient visits. Conclusions In this study, determination of GcfDNA in plasma by ddPCR allowed for earlier and more sensitive discrimination of acute rejection in LTx patients as compared with conventional LFTs. Potential blood microchimerism was quantitatively low and had no significant influence on GcfDNA value. Further research, which should ideally include protocol biopsies, will be needed to establish the practical value of GcfDNA measurements in the management of LTx patients

A Combined Score of Circulating miRNAs Allows Outcome Prediction in Critically Ill Patients

Background and aims: Identification of patients with increased risk of mortality represents an important prerequisite for an adapted adequate and individualized treatment of critically ill patients. Circulating micro-RNA (miRNA) levels have been suggested as potential biomarkers at the intensive care unit (ICU), but none of the investigated miRNAs displayed a sufficient sensitivity or specificity to be routinely employed as a single marker in clinical practice. Methods and results: We recently described alterations in serum levels of 7 miRNAs (miR-122, miR-133a, miR-143, miR-150, miR-155, miR-192, and miR-223) in critically ill patients at a medical ICU. In this study, we re-analyzed these previously published data and performed a combined analysis of these markers to unravel their potential as a prognostic scoring system in the context of critical illness. Based on the Youden’s index method, cut-off values were systematically defined for dysregulated miRNAs, and a “miRNA survival score” was calculated. Patients with high scores displayed a dramatically impaired prognosis compared to patients with low values. Additionally, the predictive power of our score could be further increased when the patient’s age was additionally incorporated into this score. Conclusions: We describe the first miRNA-based biomarker score for prediction of medical patients’ outcome during and after ICU treatment. Adding the patients’ age into this score was associated with a further increase in its predictive power. Further studies are needed to validate the clinical utility of this score in risk-stratifying critically ill patients

Methods for the automatic recording of bird calls and songs in field ornithology

Der gegenwärtige Kenntnisstand über automatisierte Methoden zur akustischen Erfassung von Rufen und Gesängen von Vögeln wird dargelegt. Die Grundlage für eine automatisierte Erfassung bilden Langzeitaufzeichnungen. Es wird der Frage nachgegangen, inwiefern Tonaufzeichnungen für eine qualitative und auch quantitative Analyse von Vogelbeständen geeignet sind. Spezielles Augenmerk wird autonomen Aufzeichnungsmethoden und der Auswertung von Langzeitaufzeichnungen unter Nutzung von Algorithmen der akustischen Mustererkennung gewidmet. Sinnvolle Einsatzszenarien für automatisierte Methoden im Rahmen avifaunistischer Feldforschung sind die Erfassung des nächtlichen Vogelzuges, die Erfassung nachtaktiver Brutvogelarten und die Datenerhebung in Kernzonen von Schutzgebieten.This review presents our current knowledge on automated methods for acoustic recording of calls and songs of birds. Acoustic long-term recordings can serve as a basis for an automated bird census. We stress the question of whether sound recordings are suitable for qualitative and quantitative analysis of bird populations. Special attention is devoted to autonomous recording methods and the evaluation of long-term recordings by use of acoustic pattern recognition algorithms. Realistic scenarios for the use of automated methods in field ornithology we see in the investigation of nocturnal bird migration, the census of nocturnal bird species, and data collection in core areas of nature reserves

Long-Term Renal Function in Liver Transplant Recipients After Conversion From Calcineurin Inhibitors to mTOR Inhibitors

BACKGROUND: Renal dysfunction often occurs in liver transplant (LT) recipients receiving calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppressive regimens, increasing morbidity and mortality rates. Replacement of CNIs by mTOR inhibitor-based immunosuppressive protocols may prevent renal impairment in LT recipients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Outcomes in patients who underwent LT between 1996 and 2010 at our center and who were switched from CNI-based to mTOR inhibitor-based immunosuppression were retrospectively analyzed. Renal course, hyperlipidemia, and graft rejection were assessed in patients maintained on this CNI-free regimen for at least 24 months. RESULTS: Of the 85 patients switched from CNI-based to mTOR inhibitor-based, CNI-free immunosuppression, 78 met the inclusion criteria. Within the first 6 weeks after switching, the covariable adjusted estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) increased 5.6 mL/min [95% confidence interval 2.6–8.7 mL/min, p<0.001], but there were no further statistically noticeable changes in eGFR. Concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides increased statistically, noticeable within the first 12 months after drug conversion. Histologically proven graft rejection was observed in 4 patients (5.1%) after conversion. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion from CNI-based to CNI-free, mTOR inhibitor-based immunosuppression after LT is safe and can result in significant renal recovery. CNI-free, mTOR inhibitor-based immunosuppression is a potential option for patients with contraindications for CNIs and for LT recipients with rapid reduction in kidney function due to CNIs

On a generalization of symmetric edge polytopes to regular matroids

Starting from any finite simple graph, one can build a reflexive polytope known as a symmetric edge polytope. The first goal of this paper is to show that symmetric edge polytopes are intrinsically matroidal objects: more precisely, we prove that two symmetric edge polytopes are unimodularly equivalent precisely when they share the same graphical matroid. The second goal is to show that one can construct a generalized symmetric edge polytope starting from every regular matroid. Just like in the usual case, we are able to find combinatorial ways to describe the facets and an explicit regular unimodular triangulation of any such polytope. Finally, we show that the Ehrhart theory of the polar of a given generalized symmetric edge polytope is tightly linked to the structure of the lattice of flows of the dual regular matroid.Comment: 24 pages, 5 figures. Comments are very welcome

Arbeits(un)fähigkeit herstellen

As most industrialised countries, Switzerland is increasingly attempting to (re)integrate people with health restrictions and disabilities into the job market. The reinforced political demand to reintegrate people with health restrictions challenges both the involved organisations and its employees. While the means and methods to assess (in)capacity for work are more and more refined, the according practices become more and more diverse. On the basis of an ethnography of two Swiss cantonal work integration agencies, this study analyses how the institutions under scrutiny construct and deal with their clients’ (in)capacity for work. It reconstructs how “cases“ of health restrictions are organisationally problematized, negotiated, and dealt with and examines the underlying logic of these practices and strategies