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Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is increasingly reported in various HIV negative patients with immunosuppression, but the relationship with hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is not well defined. We report a case of IRIS in a patient infected with pulmonary and CNS Nocardiosis following HCT due to primary myelofibrosis.

Objectives Mortality among patients with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infections varies between studies. We examined whether in vivo fitness of CRAB strains is associated with clinical outcomes in patients with CRAB infections. Methods Isolates were collected from patients enrolled in the AIDA trial with hospital-acquired pneumonia, bloodstream infections and/or urinary tract infections caused by CRAB. The primary outcome was 14-day clinical failure, defined as failure to meet all criteria: alive; haemodynamically stable; improved or stable Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score; improved or stable oxygenation; and microbiological cure of bacteraemia. The secondary outcome was 14-day mortality. We tested in vivo growth using a neutropenic murine thigh infection model. Fitness was defined based on the CFU count 24 hours after injection of an inoculum of 105 CFU. We used mixed-effects logistic regression to test the association between fitness and the two outcomes. Results The sample included 266 patients; 215 (80.8%) experienced clinical failure. CRAB fitness ranged from 5.23 to 10.08 log CFU/g. The odds of clinical failure increased by 62% for every 1-log CFU/g increase in fitness (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.04–2.52). After adjusting for age, Charlson score, SOFA score and acquisition in the intensive care unit, fitness remained significant (adjusted OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.03–2.59). CRAB fitness had a similar effect on 14-day mortailty, although the association was not statistically significant (OR 1.56, 95% CI 0.95–2.57). It became significant after adjusting for age, Charlson score, SOFA score and recent surgery (adjusted OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.09–3.25). Conclusions In vivo CRAB fitness was associated with clinical failure in patients with CRAB infection.

Two powerful and versatile code packages (Agros Suite and Ārtap) are presented for design and optimization of technical devices and systems. Agros Suite represents an environment for numerical solution of systems consisting of partial differential equations (PDEs) of the second order by a higher-order finite element method with a lot of further advanced features such as full adaptivity and selected optimization techniques. Ārtap is a robust design optimization toolbox that provides a simple and efficient programming environment for a wide-range of optimization methods, integrated and external PDE solvers and well-established machine learning tools. Both packages are described in a sufficient detail and their power is illustrated with solution of three problems from the domain of technical sciences.

Turmeric ( Curcuma longa L.) was extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO 2 ) and turmerones, compounds with strong biological activity, were concentrated using semi-preparative supercritical chromatography (p-SFC) with sc-CO 2 . The extraction was performed at temperature of 40 °C and pressures of 9–66 MPa. Influence of pressure, type of adsorbent and feed-to-sorbent ratio on the yield and concentration of turmerones in p-SFC fractions was evaluated. Silica gel performed the best efficiency; the concentration of β-sesquiphellandrene in the first fraction increased more than 16 times, compared to the feed, and the concentration of ar-turmerone and curlone in the following fraction was almost doubled.

Chemoimmunotherapy with bendamustine and rituximab is an alternative treatment for elderly patients with CLL. The aim of this observational multicenter study was to prospectively assess efficacy and safety of bendamustine and rituximab in front-line therapy in patients with CLL and significant comorbidities in real hematological practice. Eighty-three consecutive patients with cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS) >6 who received at least one cycle of BR as first-line treatment were included in the study. The median age was 71 years (range, 53–83), the median CIRS was 8 (range, 7–17), and 60.2% of patients had a creatinine clearance ≤70 mL/min. FISH analysis, available for 78 cases, showed a del(17p) in 11.5% and del(11q) in 20.5% of patients. Overall response rate was 88.0% with a complete response rate of 20.5%. With median follow-up time of 22 months, the estimated median progression free survival was 35.9 months. Progression free survival and overall survival rates at 2 years were 69.9% and 96.2%, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia were documented in 40 (48.2%), 14 (16.9%), and 8 (9.6%) patients, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 infections occurred in 14.5% of patients. Chemoimmunotherapy with BR is an effective therapeutic option with manageable toxicity for the initial treatment of CLL patients with significant comorbidities. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02381899.

Method of optimizing the distance between individual elements in the antenna array is presented. Based on the verification of the analytical model for one defined rectangular patch antenna and subsequently for the antenna array, the sweep analysis was performed for variant voltage and phase values on each element of the array. The results were used as the input parameters for creating a surrogate model using a neural network for implementation in a micro-controller and use for voltage control in the array. The methodology is illustrated with a typical example.

The Bayes approach is used for solution of benchmark problems 22 and 25. The main purpose of the paper is to evaluate its applicability for solving complex technical problems (up to now, this technique was only very rarely used in the domain of such tasks). The parameters of this approach are compared with characteristics of several other heuristic and deterministic optimization techniques implemented in commercial code COMSOL Multiphysics and own open-source application Agros Suite. The results confirm that the Bayes approach is superior in a number of aspects and for the solution of real-life tasks it represents a powerful and prospective alternative to existing optimization methods

‘Hilltopping’ is a common mate-locating behaviour exhibited by numerous insect taxa; individuals aggregate on summits, ridges and other topographic features, and thereby increase their likelihood of mating. Recently, hilltopping has gained interest as a model system to study nonrandom dispersal. We tested four predictions from the hilltopping literature regarding individual movement behaviour and the resulting spatial distribution of summit aggregations. Through observations and capture–mark–recapture studies using the day-flying tiger moth, Arctia (formerly Platyprepia ) virginalis , we found evidence for all predictions. The highest densities of moths were associated with a few, high-elevation summits and were recaptured over multiple days. No individuals were found to move between summit aggregations and mated females had shorter residency times than males. We discuss our results in the context of the predictions, the behaviour of other hilltopping species, implications for population structure and spatial population dynamics.

A family of ferrocene derivatives of the general formula [Fe(η5-C5H4CH2(p-C6H4)CH2(N-het))2] bearing saturated six- and five-membered N-heterocycles (N-het) was prepared. Reactions of the selected complexes with acids (HCl, acetic acid) afforded either the corresponding hydrochlorides or led to deprotection of the functionalized pendant N-heterocycles. The reaction of [{Ru(η6-p-cymene)Cl2}2] with the corresponding cyclopentadienide derivatives afforded cationic ruthenium complexes [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(η5-C5H4CH2(p-C6H4)CH2(N-het))]Cl while ruthenocenes [Ru(η5-C5H4CH2(p-C6H4)CH2(N-het))2] were formed as minor byproducts. The prepared complexes (20 examples) were characterized by elemental analysis, melting point, NMR and ESI-MS and the molecular structures of selected ferrocene derivatives were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The ferrocene derivatives and the ruthenium complexes were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic properties against three cell lines derived from ovarian cancer (A2780, A2780cis, and SK-OV-3) and against non-tumour embryonic cell line HEK293 (human kidney cells). The most active ferrocene derivatives displayed cytotoxicity in submicromolar and low micromolar concentration against both cisplatin (CisPt) sensitive and resistant cells. The results showed a significant effect of the pendant N-heterocycle on the ferrocene derivative toxicity and selectivity against cancer cells. Ultimately, ferrocene derivatives bearing either piperidine or morpholine groups were proposed to be the most promising substitutes for platinum drugs, as they exhibited comparable or even higher activity (in comparison to CisPt) against cancer cells, whereas these compounds were found to exhibit lower toxicity against embryonic HEK293 cells.

PM2.5 mass concentrations and chemical compositions sampled over a 13-month period at a Central European rural background site (Kosetice) are presented in this work. A comprehensive chemical analysis of PM2.5 was performed, which provided elemental composition (Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, and Pb) and the concentration of water-soluble inorganic anions (SO42 −, NO3−. Cl−, NO2−, Br−, and H2PO4−) and cations (Na+, NH4+, K+, Ca2 +, and Mg2 +), elemental and organic carbon (EC and OC), and levoglucosan. Spearman correlation coefficients between individual chemical species and particle number concentrations were calculated for the following six size ranges: 10–25 nm (N10–25), 25–50 nm (N25–50), 50–80 nm (N50–80), 80–150 nm (N80–150), 150–300 nm (N150–300), and 300–800 nm (N300–800). Average concentrations of individual species were comparable with concentrations reported from similar sites across Central Europe. Organic matter (OM) accounted for 45% of the PM2.5 mass (calculated from OC by a factor of 1.6), while the second most common component were secondary aerosols (SO42 −: 19%, NO3−: 14%, NH4+: 10%), which accounted for 43% of the mass. Based on levoglucosan analysis, 31% of OM was attributed to emissions associated with biomass burning (OMBB). EC concentrations, determined using the EUSAAR_2 thermal optical protocol, contributed 4% to PM2.5 mass. A total of 1% of the mass was attributed to a mineral matter source, while the remaining 6% was from an undetermined mass. Seasonal variations showed highest concentrations of NO3− and OMBB in winter, nitrate share in spring, and an increase in percentage of SO42 − and mineral matter in summer. The largest seasonal variation was found for species associated with wood and coal combustion (levoglucosan, K+, Zn, Pb, As), which had clear maxima during winter. Correlation analysis of different size fraction particle number concentrations was used to distinguish the influence of fresh, local aerosol and aged, long-range transport aerosol. The influences of different air masses were also investigated. The lowest concentrations of PM2.5 were recorded under the influence of marine air masses from the NW, which were also marked by increased concentrations of marine aerosol. In contrast, the highest concentrations of PM2.5 and most major chemical components were measured during periods when continental easterly air masses were dominant.

A. Palotie on työryhmän Int IBD Genetics Consortium jäsen. One goal of human genetics is to understand the genetic basis of disease, a challenge for diseases of complex inheritance because risk alleles are few relative to the vast set of benign variants. Risk variants are often sought by association studies in which allele frequencies in case subjects are contrasted with those from population-based samples used as control subjects. In an ideal world we would know population-level allele frequencies, releasing researchers to focus on case subjects. We argue this ideal is possible, at least theoretically, and we outline a path to achieving it in reality. If such a resource were to exist, it would yield ample savings and would facilitate the effective use of data repositories by removing administrative and technical barriers. We call this concept the Universal Control Repository Network (UNICORN), a means to perform association analyses without necessitating direct access to individual-level control data. Our approach to UNICORN uses existing genetic resources and various statistical tools to analyze these data, including hierarchical clustering with spectral analysis of ancestry; and empirical Bayesian analysis along with Gaussian spatial processes to estimate ancestry-specific allele frequencies. We demonstrate our approach using tens of thousands of control subjects from studies of Crohn disease, showing how it controls false positives, provides power similar to that achieved when all control data are directly accessible, and enhances power when control data are limiting or even imperfectly matched ancestrally. These results highlight how UNICORN can enable reliable, powerful, and convenient genetic association analyses without access to the individual-level data.

A series of new highly fluorous compounds with tris(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyl)silyl substituent was synthesized starting from 3-halopropyltris(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyl)silanes. The series can be divided into three subgroups based on the potential use of theses compounds: (i) cyclopentadienyl transition metal complexes and N-ligands, (ii) synthons for azide-alkyne [3+2] cycloaddition, (iii) imidazolium-type ionic liquids. Partition coefficients between fluorous and organic phases in a standard system perfluoro(methylcyclohexane)/toluene were measured using various methods. Both new and several similar previously prepared compounds were included. Gravimetry and 19 F NMR spectroscopy were used for all the compounds whereas gas chromatography and AAS/AES spectroscopy were used where appropriate. Generally, consistent values were obtained by different methods. The partition coefficients of the compounds ranged from 10 to 100 with the exception of cyclopentadienyl complexes, where the partition coefficients were an order of magnitude lower, and ionic liquids, where the partition coefficients were higher than 100. In some cases the limits of detection of ionic liquids in the organic phase were reached, at the same time they were well soluble in the fluorous phase.

A device for electrostatic separation of triboelectrically charged plastic particles is modeled and optimized. Electric field in the system is solved numerically by a fully adaptive higher-order finite element method. The movement of particles in the device is determined by an adaptive Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg algorithm. The shape optimization of the electrodes is carried out by a technique based on genetic algorithm NSGA-II and also on simulated annealing.

β-Elemene, germacrene A and damascenine were extracted from lady-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena L.) seeds with supercritical carbon dioxide at 10–30 MPa and 40–60 °C. The influence of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) conditions on the yield and concentration of volatiles in the extract and the extraction kinetics were studied. The extraction yields and the apparent solubility of volatile compounds increased with increasing density of CO2. The highest total yield was obtained at 30 MPa and 40 °C but the selectivity for volatiles was low under these conditions. With respect to both yield of volatiles and their concentration in extract, the best results were at 12 MPa and 40 °C, either with one separator or with additional separator maintained at 5 MPa and 25 °C. The yields of β-elemene, germacrene A and damascenine reached 0.72, 3.31 and 3.65 mg g−1 and their concentration in the extract was 2.62, 12.04 and 13.28 wt.%, respectively. Though the yields of germacrene A and damascenine were by about 20% higher using Soxhlet extraction with hexane than using SFE, their concentration in the extract where fatty oil prevailed was only 1.19 and 1.20 wt.%, respectively. Under the conditions of hydrodistillation, partial conversion of germacrene A to β-elemene occurred and its yield was higher than using the other methods but the composition of volatiles in the SFE extracts better corresponds to the original raw material.

Substituted titanocene complexes have been prepared by hydrosilylation of organic substrates containing a terminal double bond by cyclopentadienyl complexes of titanium bearing a Si–H functional group. This new synthetic protocol is demonstrated by synthesis of mono-, bi- and trihomonuclear complexes. The structures of prepared compounds have been characterized by standard methods (NMR, IR, and HRMS).

Supercritical fluid extraction was used to isolate volatile compounds from savory (Satureja hortensis L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L.) and peppermint (Mentha piperita L.). Three types of extracts were prepared using the benefit of variable solvent power of supercritical carbon dioxide under different extraction conditions. The composition and toxicity of CO2 extracts, products of Soxhlet extraction with hexane and ethanol, and essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation were compared. The composition of volatile compounds in the isolates was determined by gas chromatography. The acute toxicity of the isolates was evaluated in Spodoptera littoralis, Musca domestica, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Leptinotarsa decemlineata. The highest acute toxicity was exhibited by essentials oils, followed by CO2 extracts. The lowest LD50 value, 22 μg, was measured for savory essential oil against the larvae of L. decemlineata.

A novel device for control of position working with accuracies on the order of 10^-^5-10^-^3m is proposed. The device has no movable parts. It works with an inductively heated metal cylindrical element of appropriate dimensions, whose longitudinal dilatation of thermoelastic origin is controlled by the harmonic field current in the inductor. The principal aim of the paper is to find such a time evolution of the field current that allows reaching the required dilatation in the shortest time possible.

Induction heating of nonmagnetic cylindrical billets by rotation in uniform magnetic field produced by static permanent magnets is modeled. Numerical analysis of the process providing the distributions of magnetic and temperature fields is carried out in the monolithic formulation, using our own code based on higher-order finite element method. The methodology is illustrated by a typical example and the most important results are validated experimentally.

A study of Ba–W–Ti–O ceramics has shown that the structure and composition of their interface regions differ from those in the grain bulk owing to the diffusion of tungsten atoms to the grain surface during sintering. They are determined by the conditions of compacting of dry nanopowders (compaction pressure and power of ultrasonic action) and vary in a nonmonotonic way. Increasing the pressure during dry static compacting and exposure to ultrasound result in the formation of a complex structure of fragments and boundaries between them, increase the acoustic density and lead to a decrease in the intergranular boundary thickness to the values that are sometimes comparable to the lattice constant of the boundary material.

Objective Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and Crohn's disease are autoinflammatory disorders, associated with genes (MEFV and NOD2/CARD15, respectively) encoding for regulatory proteins, important in innate immunity, apoptosis, cytokine processing, and inflammation. Although mutations in the MEFV gene were shown to modify Crohn's disease, the role of NOD2/CARD15 gene mutations in the FMF disease phenotype was never studied before. Patients and methods The cohort consisted of 103 consecutive children with FMF, followed in a single referral center. NOD2/CARD15 genotypes were analyzed in all patients and 299 ethnically matched unaffected controls. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, and disease course of FMF patients with and without NOD2/CARD15 mutation were compared. Results A single NOD2/CARD15 mutation was detected in 10 (9.7%) FMF patients and 26 (8.7%) controls. No homozygous or compound heterozygous subjects were discovered in the 2 groups. FMF patients carrying a NOD2/CARD15 mutation had a higher rate of erysipelas-like erythema and acute scrotum attacks, a trend for a higher rate of colchicine resistance and a more severe disease as compared with patients without mutations. Conclusions NOD2/CARD15 mutations are not associated with an increased susceptibility to develop FMF. Nevertheless, the presence of these mutations in FMF patients appears to be associated with a trend to a more severe disease.

The products of phenylsilane dehydrocoupling were analyzed by means of advanced NMR techniques including LC–NMR. Attention was paid to the –SiPh– units not containing Si–H bonds. These units were observed in the 29Si NMR spectra reported previously. The 1J and 2J 29Si INADEQUATE experiments were used to reveal the connectivities within oligosilane chains. The presence of the branched oligophenylsilanes was confirmed in the reaction catalyzed by Cp2Ti(OAr)2, Ar = (2,6-(iPr)2C6H3). Furthermore, the formation of silyl-substituted cyclic oligomers and the presence of branched oligophenylsilanes in the catalytic systems studied by other authors were discussed. The LC–NMR and INADEQUATE experiments were optimized using the linear and low oligomeric products which were obtained by other catalysts. Some of these results are also presented.

Plants can release chemicals into the environment that suppress the growth and establishment of other plants in their vicinity: a process known as 'allelopathy'. However, chemicals with allelopathic functions have other ecological roles, such as plant defense, nutrient chelation, and regulation of soil biota in ways that affect decomposition and soil fertility. These ecosystem-scale roles of allelopathic chemicals can augment, attenuate or modify their community-scale functions. In this review we explore allelopathy in the context of ecosystem properties, and through its role in exotic invasions consider how evolution might affect the intensity and importance of allelopathic interactions.

Colloidal silica sol was used as a binder for the preparation of Al–SBA-15 pellets. Only 18 wt.% of silica was sufficient to form pellets that possessed mechanical strength comparable with industrial catalysts. Moreover, these pellets exhibited only minor changes in texture parameters in comparison with parent powder (the decrease of mesopore surface area and mesopore volume was not higher than 25%). However, even such small amount of binder caused a substantial reduction of reaction rate in Friedel–Crafts alkylation of toluene with benzyl alcohol. The time to reach 50% conversion of benzyl alcohol was for the pellets containing 18 wt.% of silica about five times higher in comparison with binder-free pellets. This decrease in the reaction rate was due to a partial decay of acid sites by alkali ions present in the binder solution and increased diffusion hindrances inside catalyst pellets.

Purpose To examine the clinical predictors of a positive temporal artery biopsy (TAB) among patients suspected of having giant cell arteritis. Patients and Methods We conducted a retrospective study of all consecutive patients who underwent TAB by a single surgeon (K.L.R.) at the Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery from April 30, 2002, to June 29, 2006. The medical records were reviewed for the clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, biopsy results, and final diagnosis. The variables of interest as predictors of positive biopsy findings were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results During the study period, 82 patients underwent TAB. Histologic evidence of arteritis was present in 22 patients (26.8%). Two (2.4%) were diagnosed with giant cell arteritis clinically but had negative TAB findings. The patients presenting with weight loss or jaw claudication were more likely to have a positive TAB finding (odds ratio 4.50, 95% confidence interval 1.45 to 13.93; and odds ratio 3.71, 95% confidence interval 1.28 to 10.76, respectively). No laboratory findings were predictive of a positive TAB finding. Prednisone use before TAB also was not associated with a decreased likelihood of a positive finding. Conclusions Patients suspected of having giant cell arteritis were more likely to have a positive TAB finding if they presented with weight loss or jaw claudication. In the present series, corticosteroid therapy before biopsy did not affect the rate of positive TAB findings.

The Sr 1 – x Y x F 2 + x (x ≤ 0.6) nanocrystalline solid solutions precipitated at an ambient temperature from the aqueous solutions of metal nitrates crystallized in a cubic system with a = 5.800 – 0.230x [A]; their composition range of homogeneity is wider than that for samples prepared at a higher temperature (from 850 °C to melt).

CO2 extracts and essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from feverfew aerial parts were applied to Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) larvae to examine their effects on mortality, antifeedancy and growth inhibition, and their composition of volatile substances was determined using GC. The mortality strongly correlates with the content of terpenoids in the samples, the lowest LD50 being for essential oil (0.05 μl/g) and SFE2 (0.11 μl/g). The extracts obtained with CO2, pure or modified by acetone, at 280 bar and 50 °C were more efficient antifeedants and growth inhibitors than the essential oil alone, showing the combined effect of essential oil and non-volatile bioactive substances.

Continual induction hardening is a modern technological process whose mathematical model is given by two generally nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) describing electromagnetic and temperature fields characterized by time-variable boundary conditions. The authors propose an algorithm of its solution that is used for computation of two illustrative examples.

A nonstandard integrodifferential approach to computation of eddy currents in linear structures with motion is presented. Described is a general continuous 3D model of the problem, together with the possibilities of forming corresponding numerical schemes. The methodology is illustrated by two examples.

Recent evidence suggests that university students are self-reporting experiencing musculoskeletal discomfort with computer use similar to levels reported by adult workers. The objective of this study was to determine how university students use notebook computers and to determine what ergonomic strategies might be effective in reducing self-reported musculoskeletal discomfort in this population. Two hundred and eighty-nine university students randomly assigned to one of three towers by the university's Office of Housing participated in this study. The results of this investigation showed a significant reduction in self-reported notebook computer-related discomfort from pre- and post-survey in participants who received notebook computer accessories and in those who received accessories and participatory ergonomics training. A significant increase in post-survey rest breaks was seen. There was a significant correlation between self-reported computer usage and the amount measured using computer usage software (odometer). More research is needed however to determine the most effective ergonomics intervention for university students.

Method of preparation YAG laser ceramics using nanopowders obtained by calcining of precursors deposited from nitrate solutions with ammonium bicarbonate as a precipitant was developed. Rheological properties of slurries with different deflocculant concentrations were investigated. High-pressure colloidal slip-casting (HPCSC) method was used for nanopowders compactions, and preforms with green density up to 60% were obtained. Application of HPCSC compaction method reduces the requirements to starting nanopowders. Transparent YAG ceramics were obtained by sintering of compacts at 1700–1800 °C in vacuum. Laser action was achieved in plate ceramics samples with longitudinal pumping by semiconductor laser. Possibilities of improvement of laser output parameters are discussed.

The crystal structures of a complete series of configurational isomers of 2,3-epimino and 3,4-epimino derivatives of 1,6-anhydro-β-D-hexopyranoses were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The structures exhibited conformational rigidity within the series regardless of the position and orientation of the aziridine ring. Possible formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds involving the NH group is discussed with respect to the results of IR spectroscopy and to the intermolecular hydrogen bonds found in the crystal packing.