Static- and dynamical-phase transition in multidimensional voting models on continua

A voting model (or a generalization of the Glauber model at zero temperature) on a multidimensional lattice is defined as a system composed of a lattice each site of which is either empty or occupied by a single particle. The reactions of the system are such that two adjacent sites, one empty the other occupied, may evolve to a state where both of these sites are either empty or occupied. The continuum version of this model in a Ddimensional region with boundary is studied, and two general behaviors of such systems are investigated. The stationary behavior of the system, and the dominant way of the relaxation of the system toward its stationary state. Based on the first behavior, the static phase transition (discontinuous changes in the stationary profiles of the system) is studied. Based on the second behavior, the dynamical phase transition (discontinuous changes in the relaxation-times of the system) is studied. It is shown that the static phase transition is induced by the bulk reactions only, while the dynamical phase transition is a result of both bulk reactions and boundary conditions.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX2

Synthesis of triazine linked pyrazole heterocyclics by conventional heating and microwave irradiative cyclocondensation and evaluation of antitubercular and antimicrobial potential

1707-1712The synthesis of (4-benzylideneamino-6-methyl-[1,3,5]-triazin-2-yl)-(5-methyl-2-substituted phenyl/H-pyrazol-3-yl)-amines and (4-benzylideneamino-6-methyl-[1,3,5]-triazin-2-yl)-(5-methyl-2-substituted benzoyl/isonicotinoyl/cinnamoyl-pyrazol-3-yl)-amines by conventional heating and microwave irradiative cyclocondensation have been achieved by the cyclisation of N-(4-benzylideneamino-6-methyl-[1,3,5]-triazin-2-yl)-3-oxo butyramide with substituted hydrazines and acid hydrazides. The required butyramide has been synthesized by the reaction of 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-[1,3,5]-triazine with benzaldehyde followed by the condensation with ethyl acetoacetate. Structural elucidation of synthesized compounds has been performed by IR, 1H NMR and mass spectral studies besides chemical transformation and elemental analysis. The title compounds have been evaluated for their antitubercular and antimicrobial potential against some selected microorganisms to establish the structure activity relationship

The influence of pelvicalyceal system anatomy on minimally invasive treatments of patients with renal calculi

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Nephrolithiasis has a multifactorial etiology, wherein, besides metabolic factors, the anatomy of the pelvicalyceal system might play a role. Using 3D-reconstructions of CT-urography (CT-U), we studied the morphometric properties of pelvicalyceal anatomy affecting kidney stone formation and compared those with existing literature on their effect on minimally invasive treatment techniques for renal calculi.METHODS: CT-U's were made between 01-01-2017 and 30-09-2018. Patients were chronologically included in two groups: a nephrolithiasis group when ≥ 1 calculus was present on the CT-U and a control group of patients with both the absence of calculi on the CT-U and no medical history of urolithiasis. Patients with a medical history of diseases leading to higher risks on urolithiasis were excluded. In the nephrolithiasis group affected kidneys were measured. In the control group, left and right kidneys were alternately measured.RESULTS: Twenty kidneys were measured in both groups. Mean calyceopelvic tract width was significantly larger in the lower segments of affected kidneys (3.9 vs. 2.7 mm). No significant differences between the groups were found in number of calyces, infundibular length, infundibular width, calyceopelvic angle, upper-lower angle and diameters of the pelvis. Transversal calyceal orientation in hours was significantly smaller in the upper and lower segments of the nephrolithiasis group (7.69 vs. 8.52 and 8.08 vs. 9.09 h), corresponding with more dorsally located calyces in stone-forming kidneys.CONCLUSION: Pelvicalyceal anatomy differs between stone-forming and non-stone-forming kidneys. Understanding the pelvicalyceal system and etiology of stone formation can improve development of endourological techniques.</p

Resealed Erythrocyte: an Approach to Targeted Drug Delivery

Application of erythrocytes, the most abundant cells of the human body with desirable physiologic and morphologic characteristics, in drug delivery has been exploited extensively. Among the various carriers used for targeting drugs to various body tissues, the cellular carriers meet several criteria desirable in clinical applications, among the most important being biocompatibility of carrier and its degradation products. Leucocytes, platelets, erythrocytes, nanoerythrocytes, hepatocytes, and fibroblasts etc. have been proposed as cellular carrier systems. Among these, the erythrocytes have been the most investigated and have found to possess greater potential in drug delivery. Biopharmaceuticals, therapeutically significant peptides and proteins, nucleic acid-based biological, antigens, anticancer drug and vaccines, are among the recently focused pharmaceuticals for being delivered using carrier erythrocytes. Erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, and have been extensively studied for their potential carrier capabilities for the delivery of drugs. The biocompatibility, non-pathogenicity, non-immunogenicity and biodegradability make them unique and useful carriers

Comprehensive study of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) prevalence in bacteria isolated from urine samples

Nowadays, increasing extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria have become a global concern because of inducing resistance toward most of the antimicrobial classes and making the treatment difficult. In order to achieve an appropriate treatment option, identification of the prevalent species which generate ESBL as well as their antibiotic susceptibility pattern is essential worldwide. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria and assess their drug susceptibility in Fardis Town, Iran. A total of 21,604 urine samples collected from patients suspected to have urinary tract infection (UTI) were processed in the current study. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was tested by the disk diffusion method. The ESBL producing bacteria were determined by Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) procedure. Bacterial growth was detected in 1408 (6.52) cases. The most common bacterial strains causing UTI were found E. coli (72.16), followed by K. pneumoniae (10.3) and S. agalactiae (5.7). Overall, 398 (28.26) were ESBL producer. The highest ESBL production was observed in E. coli, followed by Klebsiella species. ESBL producers revealed a higher level of antibiotic resistance compared with non-ESBLs. In conclusion, ESBL production in uropathogens was relatively high. Carbapenems and Aminoglycosides were confirmed as the most effective treatment options for these bacteria. © 2021, The Author(s)

A comparative evaluation of dried activated sludge and mixed dried activated sludge with rice husk silica to remove hydrogen sulfide.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of dried activated sludge (DAS) and mixed dried activated sludge with rice husk silica (DAS & RHS) for removal of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Two laboratory-scale filter columns (packed one litter) were operated. Both systems were operated under different conditions of two parameters, namely different inlet gas concentrations and different inlet flow rates. The DAS & RHS packed filter showed more than 99.96% removal efficiency (RE) with empty bed residence time (EBRT) of 45 to 90 s and 300 mg/L inlet concentration of H2S. However, the RE decreased to 96.87% with the EBRT of 30 s. In the same condition, the DAS packed filter showed 99.37% RE. Nonetheless, the RE was shown to have dropped to 82.09% with the EBRT of 30 s. The maximum elimination capacity (EC) was obtained in the DAS & RHS packed filter up to 52.32 g/m3h, with the RE of 96.87% and H2S mass loading rate of 54 g/m3h. The maximum EC in the DAS packed filter was obtained up to 44.33 g/m3h with the RE of 82.09% and the H2S mass loading rate of 54 g/m3h. After 53 days of operating time and 54 g/m3h of loading rates, the maximum pressure drop reached to 3.0 and 8.0 (mm H2O) for the DAS & RHS packed and DAS packed filters, respectively. Based on the findings of this study, the DAS & RHS could be considered as a more suitable packing material to remove H2S

Simultaneous transurethral resection of the prostate and cystolithotripsy: a urological dilemma examined

Introduction: Controversy exists over whether transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in men with bladder stones prevents recurrence of stone formation and facilitates stone discharge. We sought to evaluate whether TURP in patients who underwent cystolithotripsy led to a lower recurrence of bladder stones for which a re-cystolithotripsy was necessary.Methods: Patients (n=127) who underwent transurethral cystolithotripsy with (n=38) or without simultaneous TURP (n=89) between January 2009 and December 2013 were retrospectively included in five centers in the Netherlands. Median followup was 48 months. The primary endpoint was to compare the relative risk between both groups for re-cystolithotripsy due to recurrent bladder stones. Secondary outcomes were the relative risk of urinary retention, the need for a (re-)TURP and the average time until recurrence.Results: Patients who underwent a cystolithotripsy with a simultaneous TURP had a lower need for re-cystolithotripsy, resulting in a risk reduction of 72%. (relative risk [RR] 0.28 [0.07-1.13], p=0.06, number needed to treat [NNT]=7). The length of in hospital stay (3.4 vs. 1.6 days, p=0.04) and operative time (58 vs. 33 minutes, p<0.01) was longer when a TURP was performed. There was no significant difference in complication rate, occurrence of urinary retention, reTURP, and re-admission. Eighty-one percent of patients who did not undergo a TURP remained free of bladder stone recurrence. Due to the retrospective nature of the study, essential data concerning prostate volume and micturition analysis was lacking.Conclusions: A simultaneous TURP in patients who underwent a cystolithotripsy showed a trend towards a protective effect on the need for re-cystolithotripsy.Neuro-urology: functional disorders in male and female urogenital trac

CSF1R+ Macrophages Sustain Pancreatic Tumor Growth through T Cell Suppression and Maintenance of Key Gene Programs that Define the Squamous Subtype.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is resistant to most therapies including single-agent immunotherapy and has a dense desmoplastic stroma, and most patients present with advanced metastatic disease. We reveal that macrophages are the dominant leukocyte population both in human PDAC stroma and autochthonous models, with an important functional contribution to the squamous subtype of human PDAC. We targeted macrophages in a genetic PDAC model using AZD7507, a potent selective inhibitor of CSF1R. AZD7507 caused shrinkage of established tumors and increased mouse survival in this difficult-to-treat model. Malignant cell proliferation diminished, with increased cell death and an enhanced T cell immune response. Loss of macrophages rewired other features of the TME, with global changes in gene expression akin to switching PDAC subtypes. These changes were markedly different to those elicited when neutrophils were targeted via CXCR2. These results suggest targeting the myeloid cell axis may be particularly efficacious in PDAC, especially with CSF1R inhibitors

Steel fibre reinforced concrete for elements failing in bending and in shear

Discrete steel fibres can increase significantly the bending and the shear resistance of concrete structural elements when Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) is designed in such a way that fibre reinforcing mechanisms are optimized. To assess the fibre reinforcement effectiveness in shallow structural elements failing in bending and in shear, experimental and numerical research were performed. Uniaxial compression and bending tests were executed to derive the constitutive laws of the developed SFRC. Using a cross-section layered model and the material constitutive laws, the deformational behaviour of structural elements failing in bending was predicted from the moment-curvature relationship of the representative cross sections. To evaluate the influence of the percentage of fibres on the shear resistance of shallow structures, three point bending tests with shallow beams were performed. The applicability of the formulation proposed by RILEM TC 162-TDF for the prediction of the shear resistance of SFRC elements was evaluated. Inverse analysis was adopted to determine indirectly the values of the fracture mode I parameters of the developed SFRC. With these values, and using a softening diagram for modelling the crack shear softening behaviour, the response of the SFRC beams failing in shear was predicted.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Inhibition of MicroRNA miR-222 with LNA Inhibitor Can Reduce Cell Proliferation in B Chronic Lymphoblastic Leukemia

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory molecules that negatively regulate gene expression by base-pairing with their target mRNAs. miRNAs have contribute significantly to cancer biology and recent studies have demonstrated the oncogenic or tumor-suppressing role in cancer cells. In many tumors up-regulation miRNAs has been reported especially miR-222 has been shown to be up-regulated in B chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). In this study we assessed the effected inhibition of miR-222 in cell viability of B-CLL. We performed inhibition of mir-222 in B-CLL cell line (183-E95) using locked nucleic acid (LNA) antagomir. At different time points after LNA-anti-mir-222 transfection, miR-222 quantitation and cell viability were assessed by qRT-real time polymerase chain reaction and MTT assays. The data were analyzed by independent t test and one way ANOVA. Down-regulation of miR-222 in B-CLL cell line (183-E95) with LNA antagomir decreased cell viability in B-CLL. Cell viability gradually decreased over time as the viability of LNA-anti-mir transfected cells was <47 % of untreated cells at 72 h post-transfection. The difference in cell viability between LNA-anti-miR and control groups was statistically significant (p < 0.042). Based on our findings, the inhibition of miR-222 speculate represent a potential novel therapeutic approach for treatment of B-CLL