Magnetic resonance imaging and computerised tomography findings in an intraspinal extradural hydatid cyst mimicking tuberculous spondylitis: a case report

Spinal hydatid cyst with thoracic vertebra involvement is rare but serious condition. We present a 63-year old woman with spinal hydatid disease mimicking tuberculous spondylitis. A case study with Computerised Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging diagnostic findings and surgical treatment is reported in this article. Primary spinal hydatid disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tuberculous spondylitis in endemic area. Familiarity with typical imaging appearances of spinal hydatid disease may be helpful in making a correct diagnosis and treatment

Effect of Drying Methods on Physicochemical Properties of Pretreated Tomato (lycopersicon esculentum mill.) Slices

The effect of drying methods on the physicochemical properties of white vinegar and sodium chloride/white vinegar mixture pre-treated tomato slices was studied at drying temperatures of 45 and 55 oC. The physicochemical parameters investigated included pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, taste index, as well as colour and browning index. Signifi cantly higher moisture was removed in the treated samples than the control one. The dried tomato slices had higher titratable acidity but lower total soluble solids compared to the fresh sample. At 45 oC the titratable acidity for treated samples was signifi cantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the control. However, the pH of the control sample was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the treated ones. With the exception of the sodium chloride/ white vinegar treated samples, the other two samples experienced a reduction in total soluble solids with increasing drying temperature. The brix/acidity index or taste index of the treatments were signifi cantly higher (p<0.05) at 45 oC than at 55 oC. The control recorded a signifi cantly higher taste index value at 45 oC but signifi cantly lower value at 55 oC than the pre-treated samples. The control experienced the least colour quality change but gave the highest browning index value. The sodium chloride/ white vinegar mixture was much effective in reducing browning process compared to the pre-treatment with white vinegar

3D printing: printing precision and application in food sector

Background: Three dimensional (3D) food printing is being widely investigated in food sector recent years due to its multiple advantages such as customized food designs, personalized nutrition, simplifying supply chain, and broadening of the available food material

Analysis of the limitations in the oxygen reduction activity of transition metal oxide surfaces

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the key bottleneck in the performance of fuel cells. So far, the most active and stable electrocatalysts for the reaction are based on Pt group metals. Transition metal oxides (TMOs) constitute an alternative class of materials for achieving operational stability under oxidizing conditions. Unfortunately, TMOs are generally found to be less active than Pt. Here, we identify two reasons why it is difficult to find TMOs with a high ORR activity. The first is that TMO surfaces consistently bind oxygen atoms more weakly than transition metals do. This makes the breaking of the O–O bond rate-determining for the broad range of TMO surfaces investigated here. The second is that electric field effects are stronger at TMO surfaces, which further makes O–O bond breaking difficult. To validate the predictions and ascertain their generalizability for TMOs, we report experimental ORR catalyst screening for 7,798 unique TMO compositions that generally exhibit activity well below that of Pt

Ion–Conducting Ceramic Membrane Reactors for the Conversion of Chemicals

Ion–conducting ceramic membranes, such as mixed oxygen ionic and electronic conducting (MIEC) membranes and mixed proton–electron conducting (MPEC) membranes, have the potential for absolute selectivity for specific gases at high temperatures. By utilizing these membranes in membrane reactors, it is possible to combine reaction and separation processes into one unit, leading to a reduction in by–product formation and enabling the use of thermal effects to achieve efficient and sustainable chemical production. As a result, membrane reactors show great promise in the production of various chemicals and fuels. This paper provides an overview of recent developments in dense ceramic catalytic membrane reactors and their potential for chemical production. This review covers different types of membrane reactors and their principles, advantages, disadvantages, and key issues. The paper also discusses the configuration and design of catalytic membrane reactors. Finally, the paper offers insights into the challenges of scaling up membrane reactors from experimental stages to practical applications

Viral Aetiology in Adults with Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in Jinan, Northern China

Our study investigated the epidemiology of respiratory viruses in adult patients with upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) between August 2009 and September 2010 in Jinan, northern China. Nasal and throat swabs (n=596) were collected from adult patients with URTIs. Nine respiratory-related viruses, including IFV, PIV, HRV, HMPV, HBoV, HCoV, ADV, RSV, and EV, were detected in all samples by conventional and reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions. Positive detection rate for respiratory virus was 38.76% and codetection rate was 4.70% in adults with acute respiratory tract infections. IFV (20.81%) was the dominant agent detected and IFVB had a higher incidence (12.58%) than IFVA (7.72%). Detection rates of 8.22%, 5.03%, 3.69%, and 2.52% were observed for HBoV, HRV, EV, and RSV, respectively. HCoV had the lowest detection rate of 0.50%. HBoV, HRV, EV, and ADV infection rates were higher in the 14–25-year-old group than in the 26–65-year-old group. Codetection rates were higher (7.52%) in the 14–25-year-old group than in the older age group (2.64%). The spectrum of respiratory virus infection in adult patients with URTIs was different in Jinan compared with other cities in China

Epidemiology of Doublet/Multiplet Mutations in Lung Cancers: Evidence that a Subset Arises by Chronocoordinate Events

BACKGROUND: Evidence strongly suggests that spontaneous doublet mutations in normal mouse tissues generally arise from chronocoordinate events. These chronocoordinate mutations sometimes reflect "mutation showers", which are multiple chronocoordinate mutations spanning many kilobases. However, little is known about mutagenesis of doublet and multiplet mutations (domuplets) in human cancer. Lung cancer accounts for about 25% of all cancer deaths. Herein, we analyze the epidemiology of domuplets in the EGFR and TP53 genes in lung cancer. The EGFR gene is an oncogene in which doublets are generally driver plus driver mutations, while the TP53 gene is a tumor suppressor gene with a more typical situation in which doublets derive from a driver and passenger mutation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: EGFR mutations identified by sequencing were collected from 66 published papers and our updated EGFR mutation database (www.egfr.org). TP53 mutations were collected from IARC version 12 (www-p53.iarc.fr). For EGFR and TP53 doublets, no clearly significant differences in race, ethnicity, gender and smoking status were observed. Doublets in the EGFR and TP53 genes in human lung cancer are elevated about eight- and three-fold, respectively, relative to spontaneous doublets in mouse (6% and 2.3% versus 0.7%). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Although no one characteristic is definitive, the aggregate properties of doublet and multiplet mutations in lung cancer are consistent with a subset derived from chronocoordinate events in the EGFR gene: i) the eight frameshift doublets (present in 0.5% of all patients with EGFR mutations) are clustered and produce a net in-frame change; ii) about 32% of doublets are very closely spaced (< or =30 nt); and iii) multiplets contain two or more closely spaced mutations. TP53 mutations in lung cancer are very closely spaced (< or =30 nt) in 33% of doublets, and multiplets generally contain two or more very closely spaced mutations. Work in model systems is necessary to confirm the significance of chronocoordinate events in lung and other cancers