A voltage-tunable three-terminal Gunn device

Newly developed Gunn oscillator is three-terminal device which consists of piece of gallium arsenide with source, drain, and gate contacts. Voltage tunable three-terminal device does not require bulky resonant cavity and allows oscillation frequency to be rapidly tuned with simple circuitry

Elastic and magnetic effects on the infrared phonon spectra of MnF2

We measured the temperature dependent infrared reflectivity spectra of MnF2 between 4 K and room temperature. We show that the phonon spectrum undergoes a strong renormalization at TN. The ab-initio calculation we performed on this compound accurately predict the magnitude and the direction of the phonon parameters changes across the antiferromagnetic transition, showing that they are mainly induced by the magnetic order. In this material, we found that the dielectric constant is mostly from phonon origin. The large change in the lattice parameters with temperature seen by X-ray diffraction as well as the A2u phonon softening below TN indicate that magnetic order induced distortions in MnF2 are compatible with the ferroelectric instabilities observed in TiO2, FeF2 and other rutile-type fluorides. This study also shows the anomalous temperature evolution of the lower energy Eu mode in the paramagnetic phase, which can be compared to that of the B1g one seen by Raman spectroscopy in many isostructural materials. This was interpreted as being a precursor of a phase transition from rutile to CaCl2 structure which was observed under pressure in ZnF2.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, updated version accepted in PR

Genetic variation among Northern and Southern Egyptian buffaloes using polymerase chain reaction-random amplified polymorphic DNA (PCR-RAPD)

The domestic water buffalo is a species of great economic potential, especially in developing countries like Egypt. Egyptian buffalo have been classified according to minor phenotypic differences and their geographical locations. Few studies have taken place to investigate the genetic variations in Egyptian buffalo using  microsatellites analysis. In the present study, 11 random primers were analyzed for the genetic diversity  determination between Northern and Southern Egyptian buffaloes using polymerase chain reaction-random  amplified polymorphic DNA (PCR-RAPD) analysis. 169 bands were amplified for the analyzed 11 random  primers, from which 160 bands (94.67%) for North populations and 168 bands for South population (99.41%).  Out of the 160 amplified bands in North populations, 152 bands were polymorphic with a percentage of 89.94% and only one specific band (0.59%). In South population, all 168 amplified bands were polymorphic, nine bands (5.33%) were specific for this population. The identity index and the genetic distance between North and South populations were measured. The results showed that the two tested populations have the same origin and  belong to one breed without significant genetic difference between their animals.Key words: Buffalo, genetic diversity, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)

Life-threatening envenoming by the Saharan horned viper (Cerastes cerastes) causing micro-angiopathic haemolysis, coagulopathy and acute renal failure: clinical cases and review

Background: The desert horned vipers (Cerastes cerastes and C. gasperettii) are the most familiar snakes of the great deserts of North Africa and the Middle East, including the plains of Iraq. They are responsible for many human snake bites. In Western countries, they are popular among exotic-snake keepers. Aim: To investigate mechanisms of life-threatening envenoming and treatment. Design: Clinical investigation. Methods: Clinical and laboratory studies with measurement of serum venom antigen concentrations by enzyme immunoassay. Results: Two men bitten while handling captive Saharan horned vipers (Cerastes cerastes) in Europe developed extensive local swelling and life-threatening systemic envenoming, characterized by coagulopathy, increased fibrinolysis, thrombocytopenia, micro-angiopathic haemolytic anaemia and acute renal failure. The clinical picture is explicable by the presence in C. cerastes venom of several thrombin-like, Factor-X-activating, platelet-aggregating, haemorrhagic and nephrotoxic components. In one case, prophylactic use of subcutaneous epinephrine may have contributed to intracranial haemorrhage. The roles in treatment of heparin (rejected) and specific antivenom (recommended) are discussed. Discussion: Cerastes cerastes is capable of life-threatening envenoming in humans. Optimal treatment of envenoming is by early administration of specific antivenom, and avoidance of ineffective and potentially-dangerous ancillary method

A 24-month updated analysis of the comparative effectiveness of ZUMA-5 (axi-cel) vs. SCHOLAR-5 external control in relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma; Axicabtagene ciloleucel; Comparative effectivenessLimfoma fol·licular; Axicabtagene ciloleucel; Eficàcia comparativaLinfoma folicular; Axicabtagene ciloleucel; Eficacia comparativaBackground In the ZUMA-5 trial (Clinical trials identification: NCT03105336), axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel; a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy) demonstrated high rates of durable response in relapsed/refractory (r/r) follicular lymphoma (FL) patients and clear superiority relative to the SCHOLAR-5 external control cohort. We update this comparison using the ZUMA-5 24-month data. Research design and methods The SCHOLAR-5 cohort is comprised of r/r FL patients who initiated ≥3rd line of therapy after July 2014 and meeting ZUMA-5 eligibility criteria. Groups were balanced for patient characteristics through propensity scoring on prespecified prognostic factors using standardized mortality ratio (SMR) weighting. The overall response rate was compared using a weighted logistic regression. Time-to-event outcomes were evaluated using a Cox regression. Results For SCHOLAR-5, the sum of weights for the 143 patients was 85 after SMR weighting, versus 86 patients in ZUMA-5. The median follow-up was 29.4 months and 25.4 months for ZUMA-5 and SCHOLAR-5, respectively. The hazard ratios for overall survival and progression-free survival were 0.52 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.28–0.95) and 0.28 (95% CI: 0.17–0.45), favoring axi-cel. Conclusion This updated analysis, using a longer minimum follow-up than a previously published analysis, shows that the improved efficacy of axi-cel, relative to available therapies, in r/r FL is durable.This manuscript was funded by Kite, a Gilead Company

Donepezil Effects on Mood in Patients with Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

Donepezil, 5 mg/d for 6 wk then 10 mg/d for 6 wk, and placebo daily for 12 wk in a double-blind cross-over paradigm, was added to the therapeutic regimen of 13 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders, clinically stable on atypical antipsychotic medications. Patients had varying degrees of depressive symptoms, ranging from no depression to clinically significant depression. There was no worsening or induction of depression in individual patients or the group as a whole. In addition there was a statistically significant antidepressant effect in the group as a whole during the donepezil condition and a clinically significant antidepressant effect in the patients with clinically significant depressive symptoms, although there were not enough depressed patients in the group to conclude that donepezil may have antidepressant effects. Thus, in this study, donepezil did not induce or worsen depressive symptoms in schizophrenic and schizoaffective disorder patients

Uji Kualitas Briket Bioarang Berbahan Dasar Arang Kotoran Kambing, Arang Kotoran Sapi dan Arang Kotoran Ayam

The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of bioarang briquettes processed using goat manure charcoal, cow manure charcoal and chicken manure charcoal. This research will be carried out in December-February 2019, this research will be conducted in 2 locations, where in the first stage bioarang briquettes are made in the Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture Timor of University, while the second phase is tested on the quality of bioarang briquettes conducted at the Laboratory of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Nutrition and Science Feed Technology IPB. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of three treatments: Goat manure briquette (GMB) : Goat droppings 90% + starch 10%; cow dung briquettes (CDB) : 90% Cow dung + 10% starch and ; chicken manure briquette (CMB): 90% chicken manure + 10% starch and repeated 10 times so that there are 30 units of experimental unit. Anova variance results showed that the parameters of ash content, combustion rate and heating value showed significant differences (P <0.05). It was concluded that the best quality briquettes are briquettes made from basic ingredients of goat manure which produce lower water content (36.12%), ash content (38.62%) and calorific value (3525 cal / g) while the best combustion rate is given by cow dung briquettes (0.29g / sec).Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui kualitas briket bioarang yang diproses menggunakan arang kotoran kambing, arang kotoran sapi dan arang kotoran ayam. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada bulan Desember-Februari 2019, dan dilakukan di 2 lokasi, dimana pada tahap I dilakukan di Laboratorium Fakultas Pertanian Unimor untuk pembuatan briket bioarang, sedangkan pada tahap II dilakukan pengujian kualitas briket bioarang pada Laboratorium Fakultas Peternakan Departemen Ilmu Nutrisi dan Teknologi Pakan IPB. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) yang terdiri dari tiga perlakuan : Briket kotoran kambing (BKK): kotoran Kambing 90 % + tepung kanji 10 %; briket kotoran sapi (BKS): kotoran Sapi 90 % + tepung kanji 10 % dan; briket kotoran ayam (BKA): kotoran Ayam 90 % + tepung kanji 10 % dan diulang sebanyak 10 kali sehingga terdapat 30 satuan unit percobaan. Hasil sidik ragam anova menunjukkan bahwa parameter kadar abu, laju pembakaran dan nilai kalor menunjukkan beda nyata (P<0,05). Disimpulkan bahwa kualitas briket terbaik adalah briket yang dibuat dari bahan dasar kotoran kambing yang menghasilkan kadar air lebih rendah (36,12 %), kadar abu (38,62 %) dan nilai kalor (3525 kal/g) sedangkan laju pembakaran terbaik diberikan oleh briket kotoran sapi (0,29 g/detik)

The turnover of folate coenzymes in murine lymphoma cells

To estimate the turnover of 5-CH3-H4-folate in murine lymphoma cells L1210, L1210R (a methotrexate-resistant subline), and L5178Y, suspensions of whole cells were allowed to concentrate 5-[14C]CH3-[9,3',5'-3H]H4-folate; analysis of cell extracts showed that, for each cell line, 81 to 85% of the total cell [14C]CH3 groups were transferred to nonfolate compounds within 5 min and 82 to 91% at time intervals up to 60 min. The initial transfer of 14C appeared to be into [14C]methionine, but insoluble cell materials were also progressively 14C labeled. Of the total cell 3H, more than 87% remained identified as 5-CH3-[3H3]H4-folate at 60 min, showing that within this period most of the [3H2]H4-folate derived from 5-CH3-[3H3]H4-folate returned to maintain the labeling of the pool of 5-CH3-[3H3]H4-folate. To estimate the flux of folates through the pathway of thymidylate biosynthesis, L1210 and L1210R cells were allowed to concentrate either 5-CH3-[9,3',5'-3H]H4-folate in the presence of methotrexate or 5-HCO-[6-3H]H4-folate. Of total 3H taken up as 5-HCO-[6-3H]H4-folate, 28% appeared to be transferred to thymidylate in 60 min by L1210 cells and 52% by L1210R cells. In methotrexate-treated L1210 cells, 23% of the total 3H taken up as 5-CH3-[3H3]H4-folate was accumulated in 60 min as [3H3]H2-folate, a product of thymidylate biosynthesis. However, in cells of the methotrexate-resistant L1210R line, no [3H3]H2-folate was accumulated by the use of 2 mM methotrexate despite the demonstrated high flux of folates through the pathway of thymidylate biosynthesis. These data show the significance, for methotrexate resistance, of the 11-fold increase of dihydrofolate reductase in L1210R cells