Postoperative Herniation of the Caecum Through the Gastroepiploic Foramen

Herniation through the gastroepiploic foramen into the lesser sac is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. The nonspecific nature of its presentation makes early diagnosis of this condition difficult. Internal herniation should be considered with a high index of suspicion in intestinal obstruction due to the high rate of morbidity and mortality associated with delayed treatment. We report the first case of caecal herniation with strangulation in the gastroepiploic foramen occurring in a postoperative patient. Decompression and reduction of the strangulated caecum was performed, followed by a right hemicolectomy. The clinical and radiological features are presented from a review of the literature on gastroepiploic foramen herniation

Emergent Hybridity, Cyborgs in Architecture

This thesis examines architectural test-beds as an experimental and contemporary mode of creating architecture that realizes the potential of many of the connections and complexities found in living systems. It builds on the lineage of research from the Hylozoic Ground Environments and the notion of the chthonian, embodying the potent, hidden, and essential ingredients of life.1 From the notions of geotextiles and cyborgs, a new conception of architecture is uncovered at the scale of material compositions, wearables, and tensile structures in architecture. After a survey of precedents as well as their concepts, design processes, and cross-disciplinary inputs, the thesis concludes with the design of an interconnected human body that is, an expanded human physiology connecting body, site, and surrounding structure in the form of public space in the alleyways of the North Point Lowlands, Hong Kong. The design departs from the North Point Lowland’s reclaimed and constantly rehabilitating site features to generate a coherent public space. The design proposal utilizes bifurcative qualities found in living matter, solar energy, and physiological processes to inspire a physical structure and its inhabitants. The design proposal is a co-generated physical form arising from a moment of feeling peaceful and emergent while experiencing the hybrid qualities of life in the alleyways of Hong Kong, North Point. 1. Beesley, Philip, Rob Gorbet, Pernilla Ohrstedt, and Hayley Isaacs. “Introduction Liminal Responsive Architecture.” In Hylozoic Ground: Liminal Responsive Architecture, 12-42. Cambridge, Ont. Canada: Riverside Architectural Press, 2010

Secure Data Communication via Lingual Transformation

This paper proposes a new form of data communication that is similar to slang in human language. Using the context of the conversation instead of an encryption key, nodes in a network develop a unique alternative language to disguise the real meaning of the communication between them. Implementation of such a system, and its potential benefits and challenges are discussed

The use of prophylactic fluconazole in immunocompetent high-risk surgical patients: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: High-risk surgical patients are at increased risk of fungal infections and candidaemia. Evidence from observational and small randomised controlled studies suggests that prophylactic fluconazole may be effective in reducing fungal infection and mortality. We evaluated the effects of prophylactic fluconazole on the incidence of candidaemia and hospital mortality in immunocompetent high-risk surgical patients. METHODS: Randomised controlled studies involving the use of fluconazole in immunocompetent high-risk surgical patients from the Cochrane Controlled Trial Register (2005, issue 1) and from the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases (1966–30 April 2005), without any language restriction, were included. Two reviewers reviewed the quality of the studies and performed data extraction independently. RESULTS: Seven randomised controlled studies with a total of 814 immunocompetent high-risk surgical patients were considered. The use of prophylactic fluconazole was associated with a reduction in the proportion of patients with candidaemia (relative risk [RR] = 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.06–0.72, P = 0.01; I(2 )= 0%) and fungal infections other than lower urinary tract infection (RR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.24–0.65, P = 0.0003; I(2 )= 0%), but was associated with only a trend towards a reduction in hospital mortality (RR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.62–1.08, P = 0.15; I(2 )= 7%). The proportion of patients requiring systemic amphotericin B as a rescue therapy for systemic fungal infection was lower after prophylactic use of fluconazole (RR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.17–0.72, P = 0.004; I(2 )= 0%). The proportion of patients colonised with or infected with fluconazole-resistant fungi was not significantly different between the fluconazole group and the placebo group (RR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.22–1.96, P = 0.46; I(2 )= 0%). CONCLUSION: The use of prophylactic fluconazole in immunocompetent high-risk surgical patients is associated with a reduced incidence of candidaemia but with only a trend towards a reduction in hospital mortality

Multiple mechanisms of growth hormone-regulated gene transcription

Diverse physiological actions of growth hormone (GH) are mediated by changes in gene transcription. Transcription can be regulated at several levels, including post-translational modification of transcription factors, and formation of multiprotein complexes involving transcription factors, co-regulators and additional nuclear proteins; these serve as targets for regulation by hormones and signaling pathways. Evidence that GH regulates transcription at multiple levels is exemplified by analysis of the proto-oncogene c-fos. Among the GH-regulated transcription factors on c-fos, C/EBPbeta appears to be key, since depletion of C/EBPbeta by RNA interference blocks the stimulation of c-fos by GH. The phosphorylation state of C/EBPbeta and its ability to activate transcription are regulated by GH through MAPK and PI3K/Akt-mediated signaling cascades. The acetylation of C/EBPbeta also contributes to its ability to activate c-fos transcription. These and other post-translational modifications of C/EBPbeta appear to be integrated for regulation of transcription by GH. The formation of nuclear proteins into complexes associated with DNA-bound transcription factors is also regulated by GH. Both C/EBPbeta and the co-activator p300 are recruited to c-fos in response to GH, altering c-fos promoter activation. In addition, GH rapidly induces spatio-temporal re-localization of C/EBPbeta within the nucleus. Thus, GH-regulated gene transcription mediated by C/EBPbeta reflects the integration of diverse mechanisms including post-translational modifications, modulation of protein complexes associated with DNA and re-localization of gene regulatory proteins. Similar integration involving other transcription factors, including Stats, appears to be a feature of regulation by GH of other gene targets.Fil: Ceseña, Teresa I.. University of Michigan; Estados UnidosFil: Cui, Tracy Xiao. University of Michigan; Estados UnidosFil: Piwien Pilipuk, Graciela. Fundación Instituto Leloir; ArgentinaFil: Kaplani, Julianne. University of Michigan; Estados UnidosFil: Calinescu, Anda Alexandra. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Huo, Jeffrey S.. University of Michigan; Estados UnidosFil: Iñiguez Lluhí, Jorge A.. University of Michigan; Estados UnidosFil: Kwok, Roland. University of Michigan; Estados UnidosFil: Schwartz, Jessica. University of Michigan; Estados Unido

Rupture Along 400 km of the Bering Fracture Zone in the Komandorsky Islands Earthquake (M_W 7.8) of 17 July 2017

The 17 July 2017 Komandorsky Islands M_W 7.8 earthquake involved arc-parallel right-lateral patchy strike-slip faulting along ~400 km of the Bering Fracture Zone (BFZ) in the westernmost Aleutian Islands back arc. The large size of the earthquake indicates that the BFZ serves regionally as the primary plate boundary extending from the Near Islands to Kamchatka, with the fore-arc Komandorsky Sliver translating rapidly parallel to the Aleutian Trench. The slip distribution is determined by analysis of seismic, tsunami, and geodetic observations. Fault displacements of 4 to 8.5 m, mostly in the upper 15 km, but with localized extension to 20 to 30 km depth along a ~100 km long segment of the BFZ, are comparable to the possible slip deficit since the last major earthquakes in this region in 1849 and 1858, given an estimated 5.1 cm/yr rate between the Komandorsky Sliver and the Bering Plate

Temporal dynamics of catchment transit times from stable isotope data

Time variant catchment transit time distributions are fundamental descriptors of catchment function but yet not fully understood, characterized, and modeled. Here we present a new approach for use with standard runoff and tracer data sets that is based on tracking of tracer and age information and time variant catchment mixing. Our new approach is able to deal with nonstationarity of flow paths and catchment mixing, and an irregular shape of the transit time distribution. The approach extracts information on catchment mixing from the stable isotope time series instead of prior assumptions of mixing or the shape of transit time distribution. We first demonstrate proof of concept of the approach with artificial data; the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiencies in tracer and instantaneous transit times were >0.9. The model provides very accurate estimates of time variant transit times when the boundary conditions and fluxes are fully known. We then tested the model with real rainfall-runoff flow and isotope tracer time series from the H.J. Andrews Watershed 10 (WS10) in Oregon. Model efficiencies were 0.37 for the 18O modeling for a 2 year time series; the efficiencies increased to 0.86 for the second year underlying the need of long time tracer time series with a long overlap of tracer input and output. The approach was able to determine time variant transit time of WS10 with field data and showed how it follows the storage dynamics and related changes in flow paths where wet periods with high flows resulted in clearly shorter transit times compared to dry low flow periods. Key Points: Approach for time variant catchment transit time Modeling irregular shape of transit time distributions by time variant mixing Modeling catchment transit time in WS10 of HJA Fores

Amino Acid Composition of o Neutrophil Respiratory Burst Stimulant Evidence for a Protein, Noncollogenous Source

Activation of the neutrophil respiratory burst by the supernatant fraction from an alkali-treated collagen preparation (SAC) was enhanced by longer durations of exposure to alkali (1 N NaOH for 0.5-24 hr). The concentrate obtained from ultrafiltration (>30,000 molecular weight) of SAC (1 N NaOH for 24 hr) retained the stimulatory factor. Fractionation of this ultraconcentrate by high-performance liquid chromatography showed that the stimulatory activity resided in the void volume (highest molecular weight). The amino acid composition of this active fraction revealed that this proteinaceous stimulant was not derived from the collagen molecule. Treatment of the SAC with ultrapure bacterial collagenase increased its stimulatory capacity, confirming its noncollagenous nature. Alkali treatment of whole cornea also released a similar large molecular weight, noncollagenous protein that stimulated the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Enhanced stimulation after prolonged NaOH treatment of the collagen preparation or collagenase treatment of SAC suggests that the stimulant might reside between collagen fibrils and then be released as the matrix is degraded. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 32:2112-2118,199

Stability of peptide-condensed plasmid DNA formulations

Low molecular weight homogeneous peptides were used to form peptide/DNA condensates. A peptide possessing 18 lysines was found to protect plasmid DNA from serum endonuclease and sonicative-induced degradation whereas a shorter peptide possessing 8 lysines dissociated in 0.1 M sodium chloride and failed to protect DNA from enzymatic degradation. Peptide-condensed DNA showed no change in the ratio of supercoiled to circular DNA following 100 W sonication for up to 60 s and was able to transfect HepG2 cells with equivalent efficiency as untreated condensed plasmid DNA. Alternatively, uncondensed plasmid DNA was rapidly fragmented by sonication and serum endonucleases and resulted in negligible gene expression following condensation with peptide. Cationic lipid/DNA complexes were only partially effective at stabilizing DNA in serum compared to the complete stabilization afforded by peptide/DNA condensation. These results indicate that the stabilization afforded by condensation with a peptide protects DNA during formulation and preserves its structure in serum. These functions are important to achieve optimal gene expression from a nonviral gene delivery system.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34493/1/2_ftp.pd

Rupture Along 400 km of the Bering Fracture Zone in the Komandorsky Islands Earthquake (M_W 7.8) of 17 July 2017

The 17 July 2017 Komandorsky Islands M_W 7.8 earthquake involved arc-parallel right-lateral patchy strike-slip faulting along ~400 km of the Bering Fracture Zone (BFZ) in the westernmost Aleutian Islands back arc. The large size of the earthquake indicates that the BFZ serves regionally as the primary plate boundary extending from the Near Islands to Kamchatka, with the fore-arc Komandorsky Sliver translating rapidly parallel to the Aleutian Trench. The slip distribution is determined by analysis of seismic, tsunami, and geodetic observations. Fault displacements of 4 to 8.5 m, mostly in the upper 15 km, but with localized extension to 20 to 30 km depth along a ~100 km long segment of the BFZ, are comparable to the possible slip deficit since the last major earthquakes in this region in 1849 and 1858, given an estimated 5.1 cm/yr rate between the Komandorsky Sliver and the Bering Plate