Comments on "Gang EDF Schedulability Analysis"

This short report raises a correctness issue in the schedulability test presented in Kato et al., "Gang EDF Scheduling of Parallel Task Systems", 30th IEEE Real-Time Systems Symposium, 2009, pp. 459-468

Evaluation of Decontamination Efficacy of Cleaning Solutions on Stainless Steel and Glass Surfaces Contaminated by 10 Antineoplastic Agents

Objectives: The handling of antineoplastic agents results in chronic surface contamination that must be minimized and eliminated. This study was designed to assess the potential of several chemical solutions to decontaminate two types of work surfaces that were intentionally contaminated with antineoplastic drugs. Methods: A range of solutions with variable physicochemical properties such as their hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, oxidizing power, desorption, and solubilization were tested: ultrapure water, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, sodium hypochlorite, and surfactants such as dishwashing liquid (DWL), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Tween 40, and Span 80. These solutions were tested on 10 antineoplastic drugs: cytarabine, gemcitabine, methotrexate, etoposide phosphate, irinotecan, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, doxorubicin, epirubicin, and vincristine. To simulate contaminated surfaces, these molecules (200ng) were deliberately spread onto two types of work surfaces: stainless steel and glass. Recovered by wiping with a specific aqueous solvent (acetonitrile/HCOOH; 20/0.1%) and an absorbent wipe (Whatman 903®), the residual contamination was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry. To compare all tested cleaning solutions, a performance value of effectiveness was determined from contamination residues of the 10 drugs. Results: Sodium hypochlorite showed the highest overall effectiveness with 98% contamination removed. Ultrapure water, isopropyl alcohol/water, and acetone were less effective with effectiveness values of 76.8, 80.7, and 40.4%, respectively. Ultrapure water was effective on most hydrophilic molecules (97.1% for cytarabine), while on the other hand, isopropyl alcohol/water (70/30, vol/vol) was effective on the least hydrophilic ones (85.2% for doxorubicin and 87.8% for epirubicin). Acetone had little effect, whatever the type of molecule. Among products containing surfactants, DWL was found effective (91.5%), but its formulation was unknown. Formulations with single surfactant non-ionics (tween 40 and span 80) or anionic (SDS) were also tested. Finally, solutions containing 10-2 M anionic surfactants and 20% isopropyl alcohol had the highest global effectiveness at around 90%. More precisely, their efficacy was the highest (94.8%) for the most hydrophilic compounds such as cytarabine and around 80.0% for anthracyclines. Finally, the addition of isopropyl alcohol to surfactant solutions enhanced their decontamination efficiency on the least hydrophilic molecules. Measured values from the stainless steel surface were similar to those from the glass one. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that all decontamination agents reduce antineoplastic contamination on work surfaces, but none removes it totally. Although very effective, sodium hypochlorite cannot be used routinely on stainless steel surfaces. Solutions containing anionic surfactant such as SDS, with a high efficiency/safety ratio, proved most promising in terms of surface decontaminatio

The rhesus protein RhCG: a new perspective in ammonium transport and distal urinary acidification

Urinary acidification is a complex process requiring the coordinated action of enzymes and transport proteins and resulting in the removal of acid and the regeneration of bicarbonate. Proton secretion is mediated by luminal H(+)-ATPases and requires the parallel movement of NH(3), and its protonation to NH(4)(+), to provide sufficient buffering. It has been long assumed that ammonia secretion is a passive process occurring by means of simple diffusion driven by the urinary trapping of ammonium. However, new data indicate that mammalian cells possess specific membrane proteins from the family of rhesus proteins involved in ammonia/μm permeability. Rhesus proteins were first identified in yeast and later also in plants, algae, and mammals. In rodents, RhBG and RhCG are expressed in the collecting duct, whereas in humans only RhCG was detected. Their expression increases with maturation of the kidney and accelerates after birth in parallel with other acid-base transport proteins. Deletion of RhBG in mice had no effect on renal ammonium excretion, whereas RhCG deficiency reduces renal ammonium secretion strongly, causes metabolic acidosis in acid-challenged mice, and impairs restoration of normal acid-base status. Microperfusion experiments or functional reconstitution in liposomes demonstrates that ammonia is the most likely substrate of RhCG. Similarly, crystal structures of human RhCG and the homologous bacterial AmtB protein suggest that these proteins may form gas channels.Kidney International advance online publication, 6 October 2010; doi:10.1038/ki.2010.386

Bratislava Statement: consensus recommendations for improving pancreatic cancer care

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal tumours, and it is the fourth cause of cancer death in Europe. Despite its important public health impact, no effective treatments exist, nor are there high-visibility research efforts to improve care. This alarming situation is emblematic of a larger group of cancer diseases, known as neglected cancers. To address the impact of these diseases, the European Commission-supported Innovative Partnership for Action Against Cancer launched a multi-stakeholder initiative to determine key steps that healthcare systems can rapidly implement to improve their response. A working group comprising 20 representatives from European medical societies, patient associations, cancer plan organisations and other relevant European healthcare stakeholders was organised. A consensus process based on the results of different studies, discussion of research outcomes, and development and endorsement of draft statements resulted in 22 consensus recommendations (the Bratislava Statement). The statement argues that substantial improvements can be achieved in patient outcomes by centralising pancreatic cancer care around state-of-the-art reference centres, staffed by expert multidisciplinary teams capable of providing high-quality care. This organisational model requires a specific care framework encompassing primary, palliative and survivorship care, and a policy environment prioritising the use of quality criteria and performance assessments as well as research investments dedicated to prevention, risk prediction, early detection and diagnosis. In order to address the challenges posed by neglected cancers in general and pancreatic cancer in particular, a specific control strategy tailored to this reality is required

M & L Jaargang 10/1

GeneriekEdgard Goedleven 10 jaar M&L, boegbeeld en troetelkind van het Bestuur Monumenten en Landschappen. [10 years of M&L: figure-head and mollycoddle of the Directory for Monuments and Landscapes.]Honderdentien maand en zowat drieduizend tweehonderd bedrukte paginas terug startte een ongebruikelijk maar hoopvol gestemd initiatief van een sindsdien maar nauwelijks gewijzigde M&L redactie.Bij dit eerste jubileumnummer blikt haar voorzitter, Edgard Goedleven, tevreden terug op de voorbije negen jaargangen.Jean-Pierre Esther en Miek Goossens m.m.v. Pascal Stroobant De restauratie van het huis De Groote Mortier in Brugge. [The restoration of the Groote Mortier mansion at Bruges.]Niet alle monumenten dragen even stijlvol de littekens van hun hoge ouderdom. In oorsprong 15de-eeuws en gotisch, en bij herhaalde 19de-eeuwse verbouwingen ondermeer opgesmukt met een origineel neo-renaissance interieur, vormt het Brugse reiehuis hierop een gelukkige uitzondering. De gecombineerde aandacht van Jean-Pierre Esther, Pascal Stroobants en Miek Goossens ging bij de jongste gevelrestauratie dan ook uitdrukkelijk naar een respectvolle bestendiging van een historisch gegroeide situatie.Guido Jan Bral Over het ontstaan en de restauratie-renovatie van het ASLK directiegebouw te Brussel. [On the origins and restoration-renovation of the ASLK headquarters in Brussels.]Aanvankelijk gehuisvest aan de Brusselse Eikstraat, later ruim twee decennia lang gevestigd in een eigen pand aan het De Brouckèreplein, zou de Algemene Spaar- en Lijfrentekas in 1893 voortaan haar intrek nemen in de alombekende hoofdzetel aan de Wolvengracht. Dat deze eerste nieuwe gebouwen van Henri Beyaert en Alban Chambon, ruim een eeuw later, aan enige opfrissing toe waren hoeft nauwelijks betoog.Toch is de herontdekte luister van het Directie-hoekgebouw in ruime mate toe te schrijven aan de geïnspireerde inzet van Guido Jan Bral.Joke Bungeneers, Sander Peters, Rutger Steenmeijer, Jan Van Damme, Linda Van Dijck en Johan Veeckman De restauratie van het monumentale poortgebouw Veemarkt hoek Zwartzustersstraat te Antwerpen. [Restoration of a monumental gate at the corner Veemarkt/Zwartzustersstraat at Antwerp.]Weliswaar nog steeds meer gelyck aan den inganck van een uytspanninge als van een kercke bood de zich opdringende restauratie van dit naar huidig voorkomen 18de-eeuws Antwerps poortgebouw eens te meer de gelegenheid tot een al te zeldzame gecombineerde aanpak. Doorgezet historisch, archeologisch en materieel-technisch onderzoek, gevolgd door een zorgvuldige, gedeeltelijke reiniging en minutieuze opmeting, voorafgaand aan de fase-gewijze herstelling zelf, bewezen bij dit kleine monument hun nut ten overvloede.Hoe onbekend het niet onbeminde portaal op de Veemarkt wel was wordt hierbij kleurrijk in de verf gezet door Rutger Steenmeijer, met medeweten en medewerking van Joke Bungeneers, Sander Peters, Jan Van Damme, Linda Van Dijck en Johan Veeckman.SummaryM&L Binnenkran

MISpheroID: a knowledgebase and transparency tool for minimum information in spheroid identity

Spheroids are three-dimensional cellular models with widespread basic and translational application across academia and industry. However, methodological transparency and guidelines for spheroid research have not yet been established. The MISpheroID Consortium developed a crowdsourcing knowledgebase that assembles the experimental parameters of 3,058 published spheroid-related experiments. Interrogation of this knowledgebase identified heterogeneity in the methodological setup of spheroids. Empirical evaluation and interlaboratory validation of selected variations in spheroid methodology revealed diverse impacts on spheroid metrics. To facilitate interpretation, stimulate transparency and increase awareness, the Consortium defines the MISpheroID string, a minimum set of experimental parameters required to report spheroid research. Thus, MISpheroID combines a valuable resource and a tool for three-dimensional cellular models to mine experimental parameters and to improve reproducibility. © 2021, The Author(s)

Recombinant human collagen-based microspheres mitigate cardiac conduction slowing induced by adipose tissue-derived stromal cells

Background Stem cell therapy to improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction is hampered by poor cell retention, while it may also increase the risk of arrhythmias by providing an arrhythmogenic substrate. We previously showed that porcine adipose tissue-derived-stromal cells (pASC) induce conduction slowing through paracrine actions, whereas rat ASC (rASC) and human ASC (hASC) induce conduction slowing by direct coupling. We postulate that biomaterial microspheres mitigate the conduction slowing influence of pASC by interacting with paracrine signaling. Aim To investigate the modulation of ASC-loaded recombinant human collagen-based microspheres, on the electrophysiological behavior of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM). Method Unipolar extracellular electrograms, derived from microelectrode arrays (8x8 electrodes) containing NRVM, co-cultured with ASC or ASC loaded microspheres, were used to determine conduction velocity (CV) and conduction heterogeneity. Conditioned medium (Cme) of (co)cultures was used to assess paracrine mechanisms. Results Microspheres did not affect CV in control (NRVM) monolayers. In co-cultures of NRVM and rASC, hASC or pASC, CV was lower than in controls (14.4+/-1.0, 13.0+/-0.6 and 9.0+/-1.0 vs. 19.5+/-0.5 cm/s respectively, p Conclusion The application of recombinant human collagen-based microspheres mitigates indirect paracrine conduction slowing through interference with a secondary autocrine myocardial factor