Surfactant Protein A Forms Extensive Lattice-Like Structures on 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/Rough-Lipopolysaccharide- Mixed Monolayers

Due to the inhalation of airborne particles containing bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), these molecules might incorporate into the 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)-rich monolayer and interact with surfactant protein A (SP-A), the major surfactant protein component involved in host defense. In this study, epifluorescence microscopy combined with a surface balance was used to examine the interaction of SP-A with mixed monolayers of DPPC/rough LPS (Re-LPS). Binary monolayers of Re-LPS plus DPPC showed negative deviations from ideal behavior of the mean areas in the films consistent with partial miscibility and attractive interaction between the lipids. This interaction resulted in rearrangement and reduction of the size of DPPC-rich solid domains in DPPC/Re-LPS monolayers. The adsorption of SP-A to these monolayers caused expansion in the lipid molecular areas. SP-A interacted strongly with Re-LPS and promoted the formation of DPPC-rich solid domains. Fluorescently labeled Texas red-SP-A accumulated at the fluid-solid boundary regions and formed networks of interconnected filaments in the fluid phase of DPPC/Re-LPS monolayers in a Ca2+-independent manner. These lattice-like structures were also observed when TR-SP-A interacted with lipid A monolayers. These novel results deepen our understanding of the specific interaction of SP-A with the lipid A moiety of bacterial LPS

Enzyme-assisted extraction of carotenoids from Bulgarian tomato peels

Enzyme-assisted extraction of carotenoids from tomato peels of the Bulgarian cultivar “Stela”, one of the most widely used cultivars by the canning industry, was examined in this study. The carotenoid content in raw tomato peels was established by HPLC analysis. A two-step protocol was followed: the tomato peels were first treated with enzymes and then extracted by the use of acetone as a solvent for 30 min at 20±1 °C and solid/liquid ratio of 1:30. The total carotenoid, lycopene, and β-carotene extraction yields were increased by the use of pectinase, cellulase, endo-xylanase, and proteinase enzymes in comparison with the non-enzyme-treated samples. The increase in the extraction yield was affected by the enzymes used, the enzyme concentration, the pretreatment time and temperature. Maximum total carotenoid (55.15 mg/100 g d.w.), β-carotene (35.85 mg/100 g d.w.), and lycopene (15.44 mg/100 g d.w.) extraction yields were obtained in peels pretreated with mixed cellulase (100 U g−1) and endo-xylanase (400 U g−1) for 4 h at 50 °C. Carotenoid recovery by mixed cellulolytic and hemi-cellulolytic enzyme pretreatment of tomato peels is a good approach, which can be used for waste utilization

Achievement motivation and attitude of medical laboratory assistants to continuing education

Introduction. The problem of improving competence by means of continuing education of health specialists is not sufficiently discussed and studied, especially in terms of medical laboratory assistants. The emphasis of the present study is on the ability to update achievement motivation of laboratory assistants through new opportunities and forms of continuing professional education. Their interest in continuing education indicates an aspiration for improving their professional competence with respect to innovative professional practices including dynamically changing methods, technologies and devices facilitating health examinations that reflect the highly significant results of their work for the health and life of their patients. The aim of the present research is to study the achievement motivation of students and medical laboratory technicians and its influence on the main variables and descriptors of the attitude towards continuous learning. Materials and research methods. The studied persons represent three target groups involved in continuing professional education - in-service medical laboratory assistants, heads of medical laboratories and students enrolled in the programme of Medical Laboratory Assistant at Bulgarian medical colleges. The methodological tools comprise standardised psychological tests, as well as questionnaires developed for the purposes of the specific study. Results and scientific novelty. The main results support the thesis that motivation for achievement is updated in activities and situations where professional success is subjectively important and there are clear criteria of success or failure. The interest in continuing education depends on the motivation for achievement as a tendency in various individuals. The higher achievement motivation determines a stronger need to improve professional competences, aspiration to acquire a graduate degree in their professional field, preferences to specialisations as a form of continuing learning and understanding of continuing education as a manifestation of the desire for new knowledge. The results from the study may enrich the existing research data on the application of achievement motivation theory as an explanatory model of life-long learning behaviour, which may become an effective way to tackle the rapidly ageing and half-life of knowledge in medicine and technology. Practical significance. The applicability of the results is very clearly visible in the formulated thesis of the necessary change in the educational policy in the country through new forms of continuous education of medical laboratory assistants which would update their achievement motivation and would result in increase in the efficiency of their professional functioning.Введение. Проблема повышения компетентности путем непрерывного обучения специалистов здравоохранения, в частности медицинских лаборантов, недостаточно изучена. Основное внимание в настоящем исследовании уделяется возможности актуализировать мотивацию достижений лаборантов посредством новых методов и форм непрерывного профессионального образования. Интерес лаборантов к непрерывному обучению является индикатором стремления к повышению их профессиональной компетентности в условиях инновативности профессии с ее динамически меняющимися методами, технологиями и аппаратурой для медицинских исследований и при высокой значимости результатов их работы для здоровья и жизни людей. Цель работы - исследовать мотивацию достижений у студентов и медицинских лаборантов и ее влияние на основные переменные и дескрипторы отношения к непрерывному обучению. Материалы и методы. Респонденты являются представителями трех целевых групп, имеющих отношение к непрерывному обучению в профессии: практикующие медицинские лаборанты, руководители медицинских лабораторий и студенты специальности «Медицинский лаборант» в болгарских медицинских колледжах. Методический инструментарий включает в себя стандартизированные психологические тесты, а также вопросники, разработанные для целей конкретного исследования. Результаты и научная новизна. Основные результаты работы обосновывают тезис о том, что мотивация достижений становится актуальной в действиях и ситуациях, когда успех в профессии субъективно значим и существуют четкие критерии успеха или неудачи. Готовность к непрерывному обучению зависит от мотивации достижений как личностной тенденции. Более высокая мотивация достижений обуславливает более сильную потребность в повышении профессиональных компетенций, стремление получить ученую степень в своей профессиональной области, предпочтение специализации как формы непрерывного обучения и понимание непрерывного образования как проявление стремления к новым знаниям. Результаты исследования могут обогатить существующие данные по применению теории мотивации достижений в качестве объяснительной модели поведения при непрерывном обучении, что может стать эффективным способом решения проблемы быстрого старения и периода полураспада знаний в медицине и технологиях. Практическая значимость. Применимость результатов выражается особенно четко в сформулированном тезисе о необходимом изменении образовательной политики страны посредством новых форм непрерывного обучения для медицинских лаборантов, которые смогут актуализировать свою мотивацию достижений и в результате повысить эффективность их функционирования в профессии.The article is supported by the Medical College of the Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.Статья выполнена при поддержке Медицинского колледжа Тра-кийского университета - Стара Загора, Болгария

Spectrokinetic characterization of photoactive yellow protein films for integrated optical applications

In this paper, the photocycle of the dried photoactive yellow protein film has been investigated in different humidity environments, in order to characterize its nonlinear optical properties for possible integrated optical applications. The light-induced spectral changes of the protein films were monitored by an optical multichannel analyser set-up, while the accompanying refractive index changes were measured with the optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy method. To determine the number and kinetics of spectral intermediates in the photocycle, the absorption kinetic data were analysed by singular value decomposition and multiexponential fitting methods, whose results were used in a subsequent step of fitting a photocycle model to the data. The absorption signals of the films were found to be in strong correlation with the measured light-induced refractive index changes, whose size and kinetics imply that photoactive yellow protein may be a good alternative for utilization as an active nonlinear optical material in future integrated optical applications. © 2019, The Author(s)

Mechanical properties of materials for 3D printed orthodontic retainers

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanical properties of materials used for orthodontic retainers made by direct 3D printing and thermoforming. Materials and methods: Twenty-one specimens (n=7) from 3 different materials (Formlabs Dental LT Clear V2 - Formlabs Inc., Somerville, Massachusetts, USA; NextDent Ortho Flex - Vertex-Dental B.V., Soesterberg, The Netherlands, and Erkodent Erkodur - ERKODENT, Germany) were manufactured and their mechanical properties were evaluated. Two of the specimen groups were 3D printed and the other one was fabricated using a material for thermoforming. The statistical methods we applied were descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s post-hoc tests. Results: With respect to Young’s modulus (E), the Kruskal-Wallis test (df=2, χ2=17.121, p=0.0002) showed a significant difference between the materials for direct 3D printing of orthodontic retainers (E=2762.4 MPa±115.16 MPa for group 1 and 2393.05 MPa±158.13 MPa for group 2) and thermoforming foils (group 3, E=1939.4 MPa±74.18 MPa). Statistically significant differences were also found between the flexural strength (FS) (Kruskal-Wallis test, df=2, χ2=17.818, p=0.0001) and F(max) (Kruskal-Wallis test, df=2, χ2=17.818, p=0.0001). Conclusions: The materials tested in the current study showed statistically significant differences in their Young’s modulus, flexural strength, and F(max)

The European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry Annual Report 2016 : a summary

Background. This article summarizes the ERA-EDTA Registry's 2016 Annual Report, by describing the epidemiology of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 2016 within 36 countries. Methods. In 2017 and 2018, the ERA-EDTA Registry received data on patients undergoing RRT for ESRD in 2016 from 52 national or regional renal registries. In all, 32 registries provided individual patient data and 20 provided aggregated data. The incidence and prevalence of RRT and the survival probabilities of these patients were determined. Results. In 2016, the incidence of RRT for ESRD was 121 per million population (pmp), ranging from 29 pmp in Ukraine to 251 pmp in Greece. Almost two-thirds of patients were men, over half were aged >= 65 years and almost a quarter had diabetes mellitus as their primary renal diagnosis. Treatment modality at the start of RRT was haemodialysis for 84% of patients. On 31 December 2016, the prevalence of RRT was 823 pmp, ranging from 188 pmp in Ukraine to 1906 pmp in Portugal. In 2016, the transplant rate was 32 pmp, varying from 3 pmp in Ukraine to 94 pmp in the Spanish region of Catalonia. For patients commencing RRT during 2007-11, the 5-year unadjusted patient survival probability on all RRT modalities combined was 50.5%. For 2016, the incidence and prevalence of RRT were higher among men (187 and 1381 pmp) than women (101 and 827 pmp), and men had a higher rate of kidney transplantation (59 pmp) compared with women (33 pmp). For patients starting dialysis and for patients receiving a kidney transplant during 2007-11, the adjusted patient survival probabilities appeared to be higher for women than for men.Peer reviewe

Renal replacement therapy in Europe : A summary of the 2011 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report

BackgroundThis article provides a summary of the 2011 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report (available at www.era-edta-reg.org).MethodsData on renal replacement therapy (RRT) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) from national and regional renal registries in 30 countries in Europe and bordering the Mediterranean Sea were used. From 27 registries, individual patient data were received, whereas 17 registries contributed data in aggregated form. We present the incidence and prevalence of RRT, and renal transplant rates in 2011. In addition, survival probabilities and expected remaining lifetimes were calculated for those registries providing individual patient data.ResultsThe overall unadjusted incidence rate of RRT in 2011 among all registries reporting to the ERA-EDTA Registry was 117 per million population (pmp) (n = 71.631). Incidence rates varied from 24 pmp in Ukraine to 238 pmp in Turkey. The overall unadjusted prevalence of RRT for ESRD on 31 December 2011 was 692 pmp (n = 425 824). The highest prevalence was reported by Portugal (1662 pmp) and the lowest by Ukraine (131 pmp). Among all registries, a total of 22 814 renal transplantations were performed (37 pmp). The highest overall transplant rate was reported from Spain, Cantabria (81 pmp), whereas the highest rate of living donor transplants was reported from Turkey (39 pmp). For patients who started RRT between 2002 and 2006, the unadjusted 5-year patient survival on RRT was 46.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 46.6-47.0], and on dialysis 39.3% (95% CI 39.2-39.4). The unadjusted 5-year patient survival after the first renal transplantation performed between 2002 and 2006 was 86.7% (95% CI 86.2-87.2) for kidneys from deceased donors and 94.3% (95% CI 93.6-95.0) for kidneys from living donors.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Soil Respiration in Relation to Photosynthesis of Quercus mongolica Trees at Elevated CO2

Knowledge of soil respiration and photosynthesis under elevated CO2 is crucial for exactly understanding and predicting the carbon balance in forest ecosystems in a rapid CO2-enriched world. Quercus mongolica Fischer ex Ledebour seedlings were planted in open-top chambers exposed to elevated CO2 (EC = 500 µmol mol−1) and ambient CO2 (AC = 370 µmol mol−1) from 2005 to 2008. Daily, seasonal and inter-annual variations in soil respiration and photosynthetic assimilation were measured during 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. EC significantly stimulated the daytime soil respiration by 24.5% (322.4 at EC vs. 259.0 mg CO2 m−2 hr−1 at AC) in 2007 and 21.0% (281.2 at EC vs. 232.6 mg CO2 m−2 hr−1 at AC) in 2008, and increased the daytime CO2 assimilation by 28.8% (624.1 at EC vs. 484.6 mg CO2 m−2 hr−1 at AC) across the two growing seasons. The temporal variation in soil respiration was positively correlated with the aboveground photosynthesis, soil temperature, and soil water content at both EC and AC. EC did not affect the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration. The increased daytime soil respiration at EC resulted mainly from the increased aboveground photosynthesis. The present study indicates that increases in CO2 fixation of plants in a CO2-rich world will rapidly return to the atmosphere by increased soil respiration