Configurable DC current leads, with Peltier elements

There is interest in decreasing the thermal load to the cryogenic environment from the current leads. The cryogenic load is challenging both at the design current, as well as at part load operation, when the current is reduced or zero. In this paper we explore the combination of a Peltier elements and a novel concept of configurable current lead. The use of Peltier element reduces the cryogenic load by about 25%. The configurable concept is based on the use of multiple heat exchangers that allows the optimization of current leads when operating at various currents. When used together, Peltier/configurable current lead allows the reduction of the cryogenic load by a factor of 4 in low current/idle conditions. We also explore the transient operation of the current leads, as well as overload capacity.

Polyphenols as potential agents in the management of temporomandibular disorders

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) consist of multifactorial musculoskeletal disorders associated with the muscles of mastication, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and annexed structures. This clinical condition is characterized by temporomandibular pain, restricted mandibular movement, and TMJ synovial inflammation, resulting in reduced quality of life of affected people. Commonly, TMD management aims to reduce pain and inflammation by using pharmacologic therapies that show efficacy in pain relief but their long-term use is frequently associated with adverse effects. For this reason, the use of natural compounds as an effective alternative to conventional drugs appears extremely interesting. Indeed, polyphenols could represent a potential therapeutic strategy, related to their ability to modulate the inflammatory responses involved in TMD. The present work reviews the mechanisms underlying inflammation-related TMD, highlighting the potential role of polyphenols as a promising approach to develop innovative management of temporomandibular diseases

Evidence of the physical interaction between rpl22 and the transposable element doc5, a heterochromatic transposon of drosophila melanogaster

Chromatin is a highly dynamic biological entity that allows for both the control of gene expression and the stabilization of chromosomal domains. Given the high degree of plasticity observed in model and non-model organisms, it is not surprising that new chromatin components are frequently described. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that the remnants of the Doc5 transpos-able element, which retains a heterochromatin insertion pattern in the melanogaster species complex, can be bound by chromatin proteins, and thus be involved in the organization of heterochromatic domains. Using the Yeast One Hybrid approach, we found Rpl22 as a potential interacting protein of Doc5. We further tested in vitro the observed interaction through Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay, uncovering that the N-terminal portion of the protein is sufficient to interact with Doc5. However, in situ localization of the native protein failed to detect Rpl22 association with chromatin. The results obtained are discussed in the light of the current knowledge on the extra-ribosomal role of ribosomal protein in eukaryotes, which suggests a possible role of Rpl22 in the determination of the heterochromatin in Drosophila

Minilaparoscopic Versus Open Pyeloplasty in Children Less Than 1 Year

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare minilaparoscopic (MLS) and open pyeloplasty (OP) in children <1 year in terms of intra- and perioperative outcomes and esthetic results. Materials and Methods: Patients <1 year of age, with prenatal hydronephrosis, who underwent Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty for monolateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) at our center from January 2016 to August 2017 were enrolled in the study. Outcomes evaluated were as follows: operative time, length of hospital stay, and postoperative pain anterior-posterior pelvic diameter (APD) reduction. The Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was utilized to evaluate esthetic results. Mean follow-up was 26.5 months. Results: Eighteen patients (11M, 7F) of mean age 8.1 months (range 4-12) and mean weight 8.5 kg (range 7-10) underwent Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty in the study period. Nine of eighteen underwent OP, and 9/18 underwent MLS. Mean operative time was 167 minutes for MLS versus 153 minutes for OP (P = .14). Mean hospital stay was 3.9 days for MLS versus 5.3 days for OP (P = .11). Mean APD reduction was 13.6 mm for MLS and 16.5 mm for OP procedures (P = .63). Mean VSS score was 1.3 for VLS versus 3.4 for OP (P = .04). Conclusions: MLS pyeloplasty is feasible and safe, and reported equivalent results as open procedure for management of UPJO also in toddlers and infants. We found that the only significant difference between the two approaches in children <1 year was represented by the esthetic outcome in the short follow-up period

Feedback control of particle morphology enables continuous monoclonal antibody capture via precipitation

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