Facial Reconstruction: Anthropometric Studies Regarding the Morphology of the Nose for Romanian Adult Population I: Nose Width

Craniofacial reconstruction often represents a final step in medico-legal identification and is dependent on facial tissue thickness measurements and feature shape estimation. This study’s aim is to create a reliable and readily reproductible method of predicting the maximum nose width (MNW) based on the maximum nasal aperture width (MAW) for a Romanian adult population. A sample of 55 computer tomography (CT) scans consisting of Romanian adult subjects was selected from the database of a neurosurgery hospital. The craniometrics measured consisted of a first measure of MAW and second one of the MNW using 3D systems Freeform Modelling Plus Software. Correlation analysis indicated a moderate link between the MAW and the MNW. Regression analysis showed that MAW and sex form a statistically significant regression pattern (R2 = 0.340, SEE (Standard Error of Estimate) = 3.801). The preliminary results obtained provide reliable predictions of MNW for facial reconstruction based on MAW measured on the skull

Search for supersymmetry using razor variables in events with b-tagged jets in pp collisions at √s = 8 TeV

An inclusive search for supersymmetry in events with at least one b-tagged jet is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment in 2012 at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The data set size corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 19.3  fb^(−1). The two-dimensional distribution of the razor variables R^2 and M _R is studied in events with and without leptons. The data are found to be consistent with the expected background, which is modeled with an empirical function. Exclusion limits on supersymmetric particle masses at a 95% confidence level are derived in several simplified supersymmetric scenarios for several choices of the branching fractions. By combining the likelihoods of a search in events without leptons and a search that requires a single lepton (electron or muon), an improved bound on the top-squark mass is obtained. Assuming the lightest supersymmetric particle to be stable and weakly interacting, and to have a mass of 100 GeV, the branching-fraction-dependent (-independent) production of gluinos is excluded for gluino masses up to 1310 (1175) GeV. The corresponding limit for top-squark pair production is 730 (645) GeV

Reduction in Visceral Adiposity is Highly Related to Improvement in Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction among Obese Women: An Assessment of Endothelial Function by Radial Artery Pulse Wave Analysis

Because obesity is frequently complicated by other cardiovascular risk factors, the impact of a reduction in visceral adiposity on vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED) in obese patients is difficult to determine. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of a reduction in visceral adiposity on VED in obese women. Thirty-six premenopausal obese women (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) without complications were enrolled in the study. VED was evaluated by determining the augmentation index (AIx) from radial artery pulse waves obtained by applanation tonometry. Changes in AIx in response to nitroglycerin-induced endothelium-independent vasodilatation (ΔAIx-NTG) and in response to salbutamol administration (ΔAIx-Salb) were determined before and after weight reduction. After a 12-week weight reduction program, the average weight loss was 7.96±3.47 kg, with losses of 21.88±20.39 cm2 in visceral fat areas (p < 0.001). Pulse wave analysis combined with provocative pharmacological testing demonstrated preserved endothelium-independent vasodilation in healthy premenopausal obese women (ΔAIx-NTG: 31.36±9.80% before weight reduction vs. 28.25 ± 11.21% after weight reduction, p > 0.1) and an improvement in endothelial-dependent vasodilation following weight reduction (ΔAIx-Salb: 10.03±6.49% before weight reduction vs. 19.33 ± 9.28% after reduction, p < 0.001). A reduction in visceral adipose tissue was found to be most significantly related to an increase in ΔAIx-Salb (β=-0.57, p < 0.001). A reduction in visceral adiposity was significantly related to an improvement in VED. This finding suggests that reduction of visceral adiposity may be as important as the control of other major risk factors in the prevention of atherosclerosis in obese women

Issues in solid-organ transplantation in children: translational research from bench to bedside

In this review, we identify important challenges facing physicians responsible for renal and cardiac transplantation in children based on a review of the contemporary medical literature. Regarding pediatric renal transplantation, we discuss the challenge of antibody-mediated rejection, focusing on both acute and chronic antibody-mediated rejection. We review new diagnostic approaches to antibody-mediated rejection, such as panel-reactive antibodies, donor-specific cross-matching, antibody assays, risk assessment and diagnosis of antibody-mediated rejection, the pathology of antibody-mediated rejection, the issue of ABO incompatibility in renal transplantation, new therapies for antibody-mediated rejection, inhibiting of residual antibodies, the suppression or depletion of B-cells, genetic approaches to treating acute antibody-mediated rejection, and identifying future translational research directions in kidney transplantation in children. Regarding pediatric cardiac transplantation, we discuss the mechanisms of cardiac transplant rejection, including the role of endomyocardial biopsy in detecting graft rejection and the role of biomarkers in detecting cardiac graft rejection, including biomarkers of inflammation, cardiomyocyte injury, or stress. We review cardiac allograft vasculopathy. We also address the role of genetic analyses, including genome-wide association studies, gene expression profiling using entities such as AlloMap®, and adenosine triphosphate release as a measure of immune function using the Cylex® ImmuKnow™ cell function assay. Finally, we identify future translational research directions in heart transplantation in children

Phytoplankton distribution and their relationship to environmental variables in Sanya Bay, South China Sea

Phytoplankton quantification was conducted in Sanya Bay from January 2005 to February 2006. A submersible in situ spectrofluorometer, which permits the differentiation of four algal groups (green algae, diatoms and dinoflagellates, cryptophytes and cyanobacteria) was used. Seasonal variation of total chlorophyll a concentration showed that high value appeared in summer and low concentration occurred in spring. Diatoms and dinoflagellates group was the predominant phytoplankton all year in the Bay. The stable stratification of phytoplankton vertical distribution came into being in July. During the stratification event, the total chlorophyll a concentration of deep layer was much higher than the surface; cyanobacteria and cryptophyta groups decreased and almost disappeared, however, the concentration of green algae and diatoms and dinoflagellates groups increased. In deep layer, the concentration of diatoms and dinoflagellates group increased sharply, which was about eight times more than that in the surface layer. The vertical profiles character of phytoplankton showed that from inshore stations to outer bay the stratification of phytoplankton vertical distribution gradually strengthened. Dissolved inorganic nutrient especially phosphate and inorganic nitrogen and cold-water upwelling were the main regulating factor for phytoplankton distribution

Environmental risk assessment of GE plants under low-exposure conditions

The requirement for environmental risk assessment (ERA) of genetically engineered (GE) plants prior to large scale or commercial introduction into the environment is well established in national laws and regulations, as well as in international agreements. Since the first introductions of GE plants in commercial agriculture in the 1990s, a nearly universal paradigm has emerged for conducting these assessments based on a few guiding principles. These include the concept of case-by-case assessment, the use of comparative assessments, and a focus of the ERA on characteristics of the plant, the introduced trait, and the receiving environment as well as the intended use. In practice, however, ERAs for GE plants have frequently focused on achieving highly detailed characterizations of potential hazards at the expense of consideration of the relevant levels of exposure. This emphasis on exhaustive hazard characterization can lead to great difficulties when applied to ERA for GE plants under low-exposure conditions. This paper presents some relevant considerations for conducting an ERA for a GE plant in a low-exposure scenario in the context of the generalized ERA paradigm, building on discussions and case studies presented during a session at ISBGMO 12

Consequences of an Intervention to Reduce Restrictive Side Rail Use in Nursing Homes

To examine the effect of an advanced practice nurse (APN) intervention on restrictive side rail usage in four nursing homes and with a sample of 251 residents. A secondary question explored the association between restrictive side rail reduction and bed-related falls. DESIGN : Pre- and posttest design. SETTING : Four urban nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS : All nursing home residents present in the nursing home at three time points (n=710, 719, and 707) and a subset of residents (n=251) with restrictive side rail use at baseline. INTERVENTION : APN consultation with individual residents and facility-wide education and consultation. MEASUREMENTS : Direct observation of side rail status, resident and nurse interview for functional status, mobility, cognition, behavioral symptoms, medical record review for demographics and treatment information, and incident reports for fall data. RESULTS : At the institutional level, one of the four nursing homes significantly reduced restrictive side rail use ( P =.01). At the individual participant level, 51.4% (n=130) reduced restrictive side rail use. For the group that reduced restrictive side rails, there was a significantly ( P <.001) reduced fall rate (−0.053; 95% confidence interval (CI)=−0.083 to −0.024), whereas the group that continued restrictive side rail did not demonstrate a significantly ( P =.17) reduced fall rate (−0.013; 95% CI=−0.056–0.030). CONCLUSION : An APN consultation model can safely reduce side rail use. Restrictive side rail reduction does not lead to an increase in bed-related falls. Although side rails serve many purposes, routine use of these devices to restrict voluntary movement and prevent falls is not supported.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65685/1/j.1532-5415.2007.01082.x.pd

Measurement of the Forward-Backward Asymmetry in the B -> K(*) mu+ mu- Decay and First Observation of the Bs -> phi mu+ mu- Decay

We reconstruct the rare decays $B^+ \to K^+\mu^+\mu^-$, $B^0 \to K^{*}(892)^0\mu^+\mu^-$, and $B^0_s \to \phi(1020)\mu^+\mu^-$ in a data sample corresponding to $4.4 {\rm fb^{-1}}$ collected in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96 {\rm TeV}$ by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. Using $121 \pm 16$ $B^+ \to K^+\mu^+\mu^-$ and $101 \pm 12$ $B^0 \to K^{*0}\mu^+\mu^-$ decays we report the branching ratios. In addition, we report the measurement of the differential branching ratio and the muon forward-backward asymmetry in the $B^+$ and $B^0$ decay modes, and the $K^{*0}$ longitudinal polarization in the $B^0$ decay mode with respect to the squared dimuon mass. These are consistent with the theoretical prediction from the standard model, and most recent determinations from other experiments and of comparable accuracy. We also report the first observation of the $B^0_s \to \phi\mu^+\mu^- decay and measure its branching ratio${\mathcal{B}}(B^0_s \to \phi\mu^+\mu^-) = [1.44 \pm 0.33 \pm 0.46] \times 10^{-6}$using$27 \pm 6$signal events. This is currently the most rare$B^0_s$ decay observed.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, 3 tables. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let