Search

The antiseizure activity of benzodiazepines (BDZs) 1−5in mice and rats as animal models is described. These BDZs have selective efficacy for α2β3γ2 and α3β3γ2 GABAA-receptors. Significant anticonvulsant activity with little or no motor impairment and therapeutic indexes (TI) of 2.8−44 (mice, ip) were observed for compounds 2−4in the subcutaneous metrazole seizure (scMET) test. In rats, orally (po) the TI was >5 to 105. These compounds represent novel leads in the search for anticonvulsants devoid of sedative, ataxic, and amnestic side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the criticisms made of the modern idea of progress which provoked negative consequences in history while it was equated with instrumental reason. This situation permitted those critics of reason to declare "the end of history". However, this paper aims to review the former considering the ethics of discourse as a conceptual framework, as in Apel and Habermas, who aimed to address and revalue the emancipatory potential of reason and maintain the idea of the sense for history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The closed model category of exterior spaces, that contains the proper category, is a useful tool for the study of non compact spaces and manifolds. The notion of exterior weak ℕ-S-equivalences is given by exterior maps which induce isomorphisms on the k-th ℕ-exterior homotopy groups for k ∈ S, where S is a set of non negative integers. The category of exterior spaces with a base ray localized by exterior weak ℕ-S-equivalences is called the category of exterior ℕ-S-types. The existence of closed model structures in the category of exterior spaces permits to establish equivalences between homotopy categories obtained by dividing by exterior homotopy relations, and categories of fractions (localized categories) given by the inversion of classes of week equivalences. The family of neighbourhoods ‘at infinity’ of an exterior space can be interpreted as a global prospace and under the condition of first countable at infinity we can consider a global tower instead of a prospace. The objective of this paper is to use localized categories to find the connection between S-types of exterior spaces and S-types of global towers of spaces. The main result of this paper establishes an equivalence between the category of S-types of rayed first countable exterior spaces and the category of S-types of global towers of pointed spaces. As a consequence of this result, categories of global towers of algebraic models localized up to weak equivalences can be used to give some algebraic models of S-types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess weight change when once-daily insulin detemir (detemir) or neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin (NPH) are used in already overweight Type 2 diabetes patients requiring intensified insulin therapy. Research design and methods This 26-week randomized, controlled trial included adults with Type 2 diabetes [glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 7.5–11.0%, body mass index (BMI) 25–40 kg/m2] who had received two daily doses of insulin (at least one a premix) for ≥ 3 months. Subjects received either detemir ( n = 125) or NPH ( n = 146) once daily in the evening and insulin aspart at main meals. Concomitant treatment with metformin was allowed. Basal insulin was titrated to a pre-breakfast plasma glucose target of 6.1 mmol/l without unacceptable hypoglycaemia. Insulin aspart was also titrated (target, postprandial glucose ≤ 10.0 mmol/l without unacceptable hypoglycaemia). Results At 26 weeks, weight had increased significantly less with detemir (0.4 kg) than with NPH (1.9 kg; difference 1.5 kg, P < 0.0001). BMI increase was also less with detemir than with NPH (difference 0.6 kg/m2, P < 0.0001). HbA1c decreased from 8.9 to 7.8% (detemir) and from 8.8 to 7.8% (NPH; not significant for between-treatment difference). Incidence of hypoglycaemia was lower with detemir [relative risks 0.62 (all events) and 0.43 (nocturnal); P < 0.0001 for both]. Conclusions PREDICTIVE™ BMI was the first study to examine the effect of once-daily detemir with weight as the primary endpoint in a large population of overweight Type 2 diabetes patients. Use of once-daily detemir for intensification of insulin therapy resulted in less weight gain, less hypoglycaemia and equivalent glycaemic control compared with NPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first enantiospecific total synthesis of the alkaloids 16-epi-vellosimine (1), ()-polyneuridine (2), ()-polyneuridine aldehyde (3), and macusine A (4) is reported. The key oxidation was accomplished with the Corey−Kim reagent to provide the important biogenetic intermediates, 16-epi-vellosimine (1) and polyneuridine aldehyde (3), the latter of which is required for the conversion of the sarpagan skeleton into the ajmalan system in the biosynthesis of quebrachidine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an impedance compression network (ICN) design in a wireless power transfer (WPT) system to compensate for distance or alignment variations between coils. In midrange WPT applications, magnetic resonant coupling coils are mainly implemented to achieve high efficiency for charging batteries. However, a distance or horizontal alignment variation between coils changes their coupling coefficient, and it decreases the overall performance of WPT systems because the zero voltage switching in a resonant inverter is lost. In order to reduce coil impedance variation, we propose an ICN that compresses variations in coil impedance. The ICN consists of a resistance compression network and a phase compression network to suppress magnitude and phase variations, respectively, in the coil impedance. Only passive components, such as inductors and capacitors, are used to implement an ICN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently proposed classification of the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) stratifies cardiogenic shock (CS) in 5 stages from least to greatest severity. The aim of this project is to apply the SCAI classification to a cohort of patients in CS and analyze the results among the different stages. Retrospective study of CS patients attended by our multidisciplinary team between September 2014-December 2020. The patients were assigned to one of the 5 stages by two independent cardiologists. SCAI subgroups were interpreted considering the recent consensus statement; based on clinical, laboratory, and hemodynamic parameters. In-hospital mortality was the main outcome analyzed. 163 patients were included. Mean age was 55 years (44-62), 76% were male. 9 patients (6%) were assigned to SCAI class C, 55 (34%) D and 99 (61%) in E. There was an almost perfect concordance between the two independent cardiologists when performing the classification (kappa =0.93, p <0.001).In-hospital mortality was 11%, 31%, and 59% in stages C, D, and E respectively (p <0.001) Figure 1. The SCAI classification had an area under the ROC curve of 0.65 to predict hospital mortality. In the multivariate analysis, SCAI stage E and initial lactate levels were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. The SCAI classification is easy to apply in clinical practice and provides a firm prediction of the prognosis of patients in CS. Each SCAI class was significantly associated with the primary endpoint. Its widespread use would allow the optimization of communication between professionals, as well as serve as the basis for the design of future research projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E. coli survival in biosolids storage may present a risk of non-compliance with guidelines designed to ensure a quality product safe for agricultural use. The storage environment may affect E. coli survival but presently, storage characteristics are not well profiled. Typically biosolids storage environments are not actively controlled or monitored to support increased product quality or improved microbial compliance. This two-phased study aimed to identify the environmental factors that control bacterial concentrations through a long term, controlled monitoring study (phase 1) and a field-scale demonstration trial modifying precursors to bacterial growth (phase 2). Digested and dewatered biosolids were stored in operational-scale stockpiles to elucidate factors controlling E. coli dynamics. E. coli concentrations, stockpile dry solids, temperature, redox and ambient weather data were monitored. Results from ANCOVA analysis showed statistically significant (p < 0.05) E. coli reductions across storage periods with greater die-off in summer months. Stockpile temperature had a statistically significant effect on E. coli survival. A 4.5 Log reduction was measured in summer (maximum temperature 31 °C). In the phase 2 modification trials, covered stockpiles were able to maintain a temperature >25 °C for a 28 day period and achieved a 3.7 Log E. coli reduction. In winter months E. coli suppression was limited with concentrations >6 Log 10 CFU g−1 DS maintained. The ANCOVA analysis has identified the significant role that physical environmental factors, such as stockpile temperature, has on E. coli dynamics and the opportunities for control. Unlabelled Image • This study successfully profiled the biosolids storage environment. • Temperature is a significant factor affecting E. coli die-off in biosolids. • Storage modifications demonstrated control of temperature to suppress E. coli. • >25 °C achieved in covered trial showed an E. coli decline of 3.7 Log over 28 days. • Storage environment modifications can ensure microbial compliance is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]