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Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is known to be a factor in morbidity and mortality associated with acute viral infections including those caused by filoviruses and coronaviruses. IL-6 has been implicated as a cytokine negatively associated with survival after filovirus and coronavirus infection. However, IL-6 has also been shown to be an important mediator of innate immunity and important for the host response to an acute viral infection. Clinical studies are now being conducted by various researchers to evaluate the possible role of IL-6 blockers to improve outcomes in critically ill patients with CRS. Most of these studies involve the use of anti-IL-6R monoclonal antibodies (α-IL-6R mAbs). We present data showing that direct neutralization of IL-6 with an α-IL-6 mAb in a BALB/c Ebolavirus (EBOV) challenge model produced a statistically significant improvement in outcome compared with controls when administered within the first 24 h of challenge and repeated every 72 h. A similar effect was seen in mice treated with the same dose of α-IL-6R mAb when the treatment was delayed 48 h post-challenge. These data suggest that direct neutralization of IL-6, early during the course of infection, may provide additional clinical benefits to IL-6 receptor blockade alone during treatment of patients with virus-induced CRS.

Introduction: la fistule obstétricale est une communication anormale entre le vagin et la vessie et/ou le rectum par la quelle les urines et/ou les matières fécales coulent constamment. Beaucoup de femmes présentant cette pathologie ont tendance à penser à se cacher et à se suicider. L´objectif de cette étude était d´étudier les besoins en réinsertion psychosociale des patientes opérées de fistule vésico-vaginale. Méthodes: nous avons conduit une étude transversale descriptive dans deux hôpitaux de références en matière de prise en charge de la fistule obstétricale au Cameroun : l´Hôpital Protestant de Ngaoundéré et le Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Yaoundé. L´étude a été faite sur une durée de 9 mois (octobre 2016 à juin 2017). Toutes les femmes présentant une Fistule vésico-vaginale (FVV) étaient incluses. Parmi elles nous avons exclu celles qui n´avaient pas donné leur consentement éclairé. Les proportions ont été calculées à l´aide du logiciel EPI info version 7.1.3.3. Les effectifs et les pourcentages ont été calculés pour les variables qualitatives et les moyennes et les écarts types pour les variables quantitatives. Résultats: l´âge de la population variait de 17 à 48 ans avec une moyenne de 32,13 ± 8,03 ans. Parmi les 50 patientes, 37 (74%) avaient rapporté le décès du nouveau-né à la grossesse causale et 4 sur les 24 (16,66%) qui avaient un travail avant la fistule avaient été contraintes de l´abandonner. Les besoins psychologiques non couverts étaient dominés par la paucité de counseling focalisé en cas du décès 5/37 (13,5%), la paucité du counseling en cas d´abandon par la famille/conjoint, 9/28 (32,1%), la paucité du counseling spécifique en cas d´idée suicidaire 2/16 (12,5%) et l´absence de prise en charge des patientes avec anxiété/dépression. Sur le plan social, les besoins non couverts étaient dominés par la paucité dans l´intégration d´une association, 21/50 (42%). Sur le plan économique, ils étaient dominés par l´absence d´activité génératrice de revenu particulièrement chez toutes les 26 femmes initialement sans emploi et chez les 4 femmes qui ont perdu leur emploi à cause de la fistule. Conclusion: les besoins psycho-sociaux non couverts sont dominés par l´absence de counseling focalisé sur la condition spécifique de chaque femme, la faible proportion d´intégration d´une association et l´absence d´activité génératrice de revenu.

Prior to the advent of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), human immunodeficiency virus-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) was inevitably associated with rapidly progressive renal failure and dialysis dependence. HIV-1 seropositive patients often met with untimely deaths due to complications of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), opportunistic infections, or other HIV-related end-organ failure. Although the association between cART and improved outcomes in HIVAN has been recognized for over 20 years, no randomized trials have specifically examined this effect to date. In terms of reversal of dialysis-dependent renal failure after cART initiation, only a handful of case reports exist. The authors report a case of a 44-year-old Latino male requiring thrice-weekly haemodialysis in the setting of biopsy-proven HIVAN who was able to stop dialysis in 7 months after being initiated on cART.

Recent atom interferometry (AI) experiments involving Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) have been conducted under extreme conditions of volume and interrogation time. Numerical solution of the rotating-frame Gross–Pitaevskii equation (RFGPE), which is the standard mean-field theory applied to these experiments, is impractical due to the excessive computation time and memory required. We present a variational model that provides approximate solutions of the RFGPE for a power-law potential on a practical time scale. This model is well-suited to the design and analysis of AI experiments involving BECs that are split and later recombined to form an interference pattern. We derive the equations of motion of the variational parameters for this model and illustrate how the model can be applied to the sequence of steps in a recent AI experiment where BECs were used to implement a dual-Sagnac atom interferometer rotation sensor. We use this model to investigate the impact of finite-size and interaction effects on the single-Sagnac-interferometer phase shift.

We investigated the cause of seasonal outbreaks of pediatric acute encephalitis-like syndrome associated with litchi harvests (May–July) in northern Vietnam since 2008. Nineteen cerebrospinal fluid samples were positive for human enterovirus B, and 8 blood samples were positive for hypoglycemic toxins present in litchi fruits. Patients who were positive for hypoglycemic toxins had shorter median times between disease onset and admission, more reports of seizures, more reports of hypoglycemia (glucose level

Biospecimen collection in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study – of hair samples, shed deciduous (baby) teeth, and body fluids – will serve dual functions of screening for study eligibility, and providing measures of biological processes thought to predict or correlate with key study outcomes on brain and cognitive development. Biosamples are being collected annually to screen for recency of drug use prior to the neuroimaging or cognitive testing visit, and to store for the following future studies: (1) on the effects of exposure to illicit and recreational drugs (including alcohol and nicotine); (2) of pubertal hormones on brain and cognitive developmental trajectories; (3) on the contribution of genomics and epigenomics to child and adolescent development and behavioral outcomes; and (4) with pre- and post-natal exposure to environmental neurotoxicants and drugs of abuse measured from novel tooth analyses. The present manuscript describes the rationales for inclusion and selection of the specific biospecimens, methodological considerations for each measure, future plans for assessment of biospecimens during follow-up visits, and preliminary ABCD data to illustrate methodological considerations. Keywords: Biospecimens, ABCD study, Substance use, Gonadal hormones, Genetics, Environmental exposures

Abstract Background Social network analysis (SNA) literature suggests that leaders should be well connected and can be identified through network measurements. Other literature suggests that identifying leaders ideally involves multiple methods. However, it is unclear using SNA alone is sufficient for identifying leaders for higher education change initiatives. We used two sets of data, teaching discussion network data taken at three different times and respondent nominations for leaders, to determine whether these two methods identify the same individuals as leaders. Results Respondent-nominated leaders have more direct and indirect ties on average than non-leaders, which aligns with the SNA literature. However, when looking at individuals as leaders, many respondent-nominated leaders would not be identified using SNA because they are poorly connected. Also, many individuals who were not nominated would have been considered leaders because they are well connected. Further examining these results did not indicate why there is such a difference between the SNA-identified and respondent-nominated leaders. Conclusions While these two methods identify some of the same individuals as leaders, there are many differences between the two methods. Using just one method may not be adequate for ensuring that suitable individuals are selected to lead these projects. We recommend multiple methods when selecting leaders.

Although methidathion is an organophosphate insecticide, it is different from the other organophosphates in terms of toxicity. Because of its relatively high fat solubility, the apparent volume of methidathion distribution throughout the body is very high, indicating that hemoperfusion is not effective in removing this organophosphate from the body. Redistribution of methidathion from fat to blood can also occur when plasma levels diminish. Additionally, acetylcholinesterase aging, which is the loss of an alkyl side chain that prevents reactivation by oximes, is very rapid so that the effective reactivation by oximes is thwarted. Thus, methidathion’s effect on acetylcholinesterase inhibition is long lasting, particularly with a high dose. In addition to its parasympatholytic effect and ability to induce muscle paralysis, methidathion poisoning is associated with a profound and long-lasting circulatory collapse due to sympathetic ganglion blockade. This report presents the case of a 55-year-old man who accidentally ingested a high dose of methidathion. He later developed enteroinvasive aspergillosis infection-induced multiple bowel perforations on two separate occasions while on mechanical ventilator support, resulting in a fatal outcome. The renin-angiotensin axis activated by sympathetic ganglion blockade may have reduced the patient’s splanchnic blood flow, contributing to translocation of endotoxin. Also, the effect of excessive acetylcholine on non-neuronal acetylcholine receptors may have contributed to the development of fatal enteroinvasive aspergillosis in this patient.

Aiming to better understand the effects of heat treatment parameters on Ferrite-Austenite phase transformation in a 2304 duplex stainless steel different thermal cycles were applied to this steel in a quenching dilatometer. The obtained microstructures were characterized by optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. It was noticed that the austenite formation mechanism is strongly dependent on initial ferritized state. If the initial structure is completely ferritized, the nitrogen supersaturated solid solution leads to chromium nitrides precipitation and the rate of austenite nucleation decreases. For higher cooling rates, the ferrite grain boundaries control the austenite nucleation rate. The higher the ferrite grain size, the lower the final austenite fraction. If the steel is cooled from a partial ferritized state, the ferrite-austenite phase boundaries work as austenite nucleation site and the austenite growth rate is favored due to the high interfacial energy and the austenitic structures becomes coarser.

The paper outlines the capability of X-ray diffraction (XRD) for evaluation of real structure changes and residual stresses (RS) on cross-section of advanced thick welds due to the welding of ferromagnetic plates. The results of neutron diffraction describe a three-dimensional state of RS and also verify previous assumptions of RS redistribution as a result of the surface preparation for determination 2D maps measured by XRD.

Novel approaches to project evaluations are needed to document the outcomes and lessons to be learned from the numerous and diverse investments international donor organizations, national governments, and regional institutions are making in climate services. This paper describes an elaborated logic model to structure the evaluation of a climate services program, which we demonstrate in a case study of the Caribbean Agrometeorological Initiative (CAMI). Moving beyond the “loading dock” model of scientific information application, this logic model helps evaluators to address all elements of the provision of climate services – including the quality of weather and climate forecasts and agronomic advisories, the distribution of that information, the uptake of that information, and actions taken by farmers (See Fig. 1). Our logic model links the provision of information on weather, climate, and agriculture with decision making, and ultimately with improved social and economic outcomes. While such a logic model necessarily simplifies the full context of any climate services program, it also makes project evaluation much more tractable and generalizable across contexts. Furthermore, this simple logic model can serve to deconstruct conventional thinking about climate services by explicitly addressing the social and process dimensions of climate services that are sometimes neglected in project design, implementation, and evaluation. CAMI partner countries are developing climate outlook bulletins to communicate a three-month seasonal forecast. Despite these high quality seasonal forecasts, we note shortcomings regarding the dissemination of that information, its uptake by farmers, or the ability or willingness of farmers to act on that information.

Summary: Memory is formed by synapse-to-nucleus communication that leads to regulation of gene transcription, but the identity and organizational logic of signaling pathways involved in this communication remain unclear. Here we find that the transcription cofactor CRTC1 is a critical determinant of sustained gene transcription and memory strength in the hippocampus. Following associative learning, synaptically localized CRTC1 is translocated to the nucleus and regulates Fgf1b transcription in an activity-dependent manner. After both weak and strong training, the HDAC3-N-CoR corepressor complex leaves the Fgf1b promoter and a complex involving the translocated CRTC1, phosphorylated CREB, and histone acetyltransferase CBP induces transient transcription. Strong training later substitutes KAT5 for CBP, a process that is dependent on CRTC1, but not on CREB phosphorylation. This in turn leads to long-lasting Fgf1b transcription and memory enhancement. Thus, memory strength relies on activity-dependent changes in chromatin and temporal regulation of gene transcription on specific CREB/CRTC1 gene targets. : Uchida et al. link CRTC1 synapse-to-nucleus shuttling in memory. Weak and strong training induce CRTC1 nuclear transport and transient Fgf1b transcription by a complex including CRTC1, CREB, and histone acetyltransferase CBP, whereas strong training alone maintains Fgf1b transcription through CRTC1-dependent substitution of KAT5 for CBP, leading to memory enhancement. Keywords: memory enhancement, long-term potentiation, hippocampus, nuclear transport, epigenetics, FGF1, CRTC1, KAT5/Tip60, HDAC3, CREB

O método de anisotropia de susceptibilidade magnética (ASM) foi aplicado no plúton Serra da Caiçara, que faz parte do batólito Águas Belas-Canindé, Domínio Pernambuco-Alagoas, Província Borborema, Nordeste do Brasil. O plúton tem altos valores de susceptibilidade magnética (K) (90% dos valores acima de 5 × 10-3 SI), típicas da série magnetita granitos. O grau de anisotropia (P) varia de 1.025 a 1.320. Os maiores valores de P estão associados às bordas do corpo e possuem correlação positiva com K. O plúton apresenta trama mista, levemente mais oblata, com valores de T entre -0,822 e 0,823. Em geral, as atitudes das foliações e lineações magnéticas são bastante uniformes. As foliações magnéticas têm duas direções preferenciais: NW-SE (dominante, geralmente mergulhando para SW) e NNE-SSW, com mergulho mais variado (geralmente associada aos altos valores de P). As lineações majoritariamente apresentam sentido de caimento SE ou SW. A foliação e a lineação da fácies hornblenda quartzo sienito têm mergulho e caimento moderado, sugerindo se tratar de um corpo tabular, intrusivo concordantemente à foliação regional. A fácies hornblenda quartzo álcali-feldspato sienito (centro do corpo) constitui uma intrusão discordante, com fluxo de SW para NE e mudança de trend para NW. Os dados sugerem que o plúton intrude aproveitando a foliação regional, formada durante a fase de convergência da orogênese Brasiliana. Durante a fase final de cristalização, o plúton foi afetado pela fase transcorrente da tectônica Brasiliana, atuando principalmente nas bordas do corpo e condicionando as foliações e lineações NE-SW.

Background In biology, high-throughput experimental technologies, also referred as “omics” technologies, are increasingly used in research laboratories. Several thousands of gene expression measurements can be obtained in a single experiment. Researchers are routinely facing the challenge to annotate, store, explore and mine all the biological information they have at their disposal. We present here the Pixel web application (Pixel Web App), an original content management platform to help people involved in a multi-omics biological project. Methods The Pixel Web App is built with open source technologies and hosted on the collaborative development platform GitHub (https://github.com/Candihub/pixel). It is written in Python using the Django framework and stores all the data in a PostgreSQL database. It is developed in the open and licensed under the BSD 3-clause license. The Pixel Web App is also heavily tested with both unit and functional tests, a strong code coverage and continuous integration provided by CircleCI. To ease the development and the deployment of the Pixel Web App, Docker and Docker Compose are used to bundle the application as well as its dependencies. Results The Pixel Web App offers researchers an intuitive way to annotate, store, explore and mine their multi-omics results. It can be installed on a personal computer or on a server to fit the needs of many users. In addition, anyone can enhance the application to better suit their needs, either by contributing directly on GitHub (encouraged) or by extending Pixel on their own. The Pixel Web App does not provide any computational programs to analyze the data. Still, it helps to rapidly explore and mine existing results and holds a strategic position in the management of research data.

This paper presents an outline of voice-hearing phenomenology in the context of evolutionary mechanisms for self- and social- monitoring. Special attention is given to evolved systems for monitoring dominant-subordinate social roles and relationships. These provide information relating to the interpersonal motivation of others, such as neutral, friendly or hostile, and thus the interpersonal threat, versus safe, social location. Individuals who perceive themselves as subordinate and dominants as hostile are highly vigilant to down-rank threat and use submissive displays and social spacing as basic defenses. We suggest these defense mechanisms are especially attuned in some individuals with voices, in which this fearful-subordinate – hostile-dominant relationship is played out. Given the evolved motivational system in which voice-hearers can be trapped, one therapeutic solution is to help them switch into different motivational systems, particularly those linked to social caring and support, rather than hostile competition. Compassion focused therapy (CFT) seeks to produce such motivational shifts. Compassion focused therapy aims to help voice-hearers, (i) notice their threat-based (dominant-subordinate) motivational systems when they arise, (ii) understand their function in the context of their lives, and (iii) shift into different motivational patterns that are orientated around safeness and compassion. Voice-hearers are supported to engage with biopsychosocial components of compassionate mind training, which are briefly summarized, and to cultivate an embodied sense of a compassionate self-identity. They are invited to consider, and practice, how they might wish to relate to themselves, their voices, and other people, from the position of their compassionate self. This paper proposes, in line with the broader science of compassion and CFT, that repeated practice of creating internal patterns of safeness and compassion can provide an optimum biopsychosocial environment for affect-regulation, emotional conflict-resolution, and therapeutic change. Examples of specific therapeutic techniques, such as chair-work and talking with voices, are described to illustrate how these might be incorporated in one-to-one sessions of CFT.

BackgroundThe local infectious origin and the putative role of Cutibacterium acnes (CA) of a particular subtype of discopathy (Modic 1) are still debated.PurposeTo establish the association of CA in intervertebral disc (IVD) and Modic 1 discopathy in patients with low back pain.MethodsThe prevalence of bacteria in IVD samples obtained by anterior approach in patient with chronic low back pain harboring Modic type 1, 2 or no Modic changes was compared to that measured in IVD samples obtained by posterior approach for sciatica. From 45 patients included in the study, 77 discs samples were obtained: 58 by anterior approach (32 Modic 1/2 changes, 26 without Modic change) and 19 by posterior approach. Conventional microbial cultures, universal 16S rRNA molecular detection and a CA specific PCR were performed.Results12 /77 (15.6%) disc samples were culture positive. Among the 10 CA positive cultures, 5 out of 58 (8.6%) were identified from specimens obtained by anterior approach and 5/19 (26.3%) from posterior approach (p = 0.046). Moreover, the percentage of CA culture positive sample was statistically no different between the patient with or without Modic changes. The CA prevalence was lower through molecular, culture-free approaches: the universal 16S rRNA PCR was positive for 6 specimens, including one CA positive sample and the CA specific PCR was positive for one specimen obtained by posterior approach.ConclusionsIn spine surgery the prevalence of CA in culture was significantly higher in IVD samples collected through a posterior approach compared to an anterior approach, suggesting a contamination process. This study did not support the CA related local infectious origin of Modic 1 discopathy.

High attrition rates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines are an ongoing problem. Graduate student attrition, in particular, is understudied. Most past studies have focused on students’ attributes, undergraduate preparation, and mentoring relationships. Emerging results from the implementation of the American Physical Society Bridge Program (APSBP) suggest that departmental support structures could lead to increased retention. However, there are no validated instruments to measure students’ experience of the departmental support structures. This paper describes the development and psychometric evaluation of the aspects of student experience scale (ASES). Items were developed based on prior literature and the APSBP recommendations, revised based on APSBP feedback, and subjected to psychometric evaluation. Principal components analysis of data from 397 students at 19 physics graduate programs (2 M.S. and 17 Ph.D.) across the U.S. resulted in four distinct factors: (a) mentoring and research experience, (b) professional development, (c) social and academic integration, and (d) financial support. ASES meets the standard criteria for divergent validity, discriminant validity, and internal consistency. Results of students’ ASES response ratings are discussed, along with comparisons between students enrolled at APSBP and non-APSBP affiliated graduate programs. On average, we find that physics graduate students experience adequate mentoring and financial support; however, they report experiencing limited social and academic integration and a lack of professional development. We also find that students in APSBP affiliated programs report better experiences on all four factors than students in non-APSBP affiliated programs, with higher differences in social and academic integration and financial support. This study is a starting point for the refinement process of this instrument.

Os Plútons Serra da Caiçara (616 ± 3 milhões de anos — Ma), composto de hornblenda quartzo sienito a hornblenda quartzo álcali feldspato sienito grossos, Santana do Ipanema (621 ± 5 Ma), constituído por monzogranitos a sienogranitos equigranulares, e Maravilha (627 ± 5 Ma), formado por monzogranitos porfiríticos com forte foliação magmática, são algumas das intrusões que compõem o Batólito Águas Belas-Canindé, Domínio Pernambuco-Alagoas, Província Borborema, no nordeste do Brasil. As idades U-Pb em zircão (Sensitive High Resolution Ion Micro Probe — SHRIMP) dos plútons indicam intrusão associada ao período de formação da foliação de baixo ângulo regional, gerada durante a convergência da Orogênese Brasiliana. Os granitos e sienitos são cálcio-alcalinos de alto potássio a shoshoníticos, metaluminosos a levemente peraluminosos, da série magnetita granitos e magnesianos. Os padrões normalizados de elementos terras raras (ETR) para essas rochas indicam fracionamento moderado a alto, apresentando (La/Lu)N entre 14 e 82 e leves anomalias negativas de Eu. Diagramas de elementos incompatíveis normalizados em relação ao condrito mostram anomalias marcantes em Nb- Ta e Ti, típicas de magmas relacionados a zonas de subducção. Anfibólios e biotitas, analisados nos três plútons, têm composições típicas de granitos da série cálcio-alcalina e possuem valores de Fe# semelhantes aos da rocha total. O conjunto de dados geoquímicos sugere que o magma foi gerado em ambiente de arco, derivado da fusão de rochas basálticas de alto K, em condições oxidantes, e evolui por cristalização fracionada.

Background: Peer-led interventions have been applied to prevent various health behavior problems and may be an important complement to individual-level suicide prevention approaches. Sources of Strength trains student “peer leaders” in secondary schools to conduct prevention activities that encourage other students to build healthy social bonds and strengthen help-seeking norms. Prior work examining diffusion of peer-led programs has focused on youths' closeness to peer leaders but minimally on other factors such as connections to adults and suicidal behavior.Methods: We examined implementation and dissemination of Sources of Strength in 20 schools. Over 1 year 533 students were trained as peer leaders and 3,730 9th−12th graders completed baseline surveys assessing friendships and adults at school, and suicidal thoughts/behaviors; and end-of-year surveys reporting intervention exposure: viewed poster/video, attended presentation, direct peer communication, and activity participation. Chi-square tests compared exposure rates by student and network characteristics. Multi-level logistic regression models tested predictors of exposure across individual and school-level characteristics.Results: Exposure to the intervention varied greatly by school and by individual student characteristics and network position. Training more peer leaders increased school-wide exposure for all modalities except presentation (Bs 0.06–0.10, p's < 0.05). In multivariate models, exposure was consistently higher for students closer to peer leaders in the friendship network (ORs 1.13–1.54, p's < 0.05) and students who named more trusted adults (ORs 1.08–1.16, p's < 0.001); and lower for males (ORs 0.56–0.83, p's < 0.05). In multivariate models, training more students as peer leaders predicted exposure to poster-video and direct peer communication in larger schools (OR = 3.34 and 2.87, respectively). Network characteristics influenced exposure similarly for students with suicidal thoughts and behaviors.Discussion: Our findings confirm prior work showing the importance of personal affiliations to peer leaders and natural networks as a medium for diffusion of peer-led prevention efforts. We build on that work by showing independent effects of closeness to adults at school and number of peer leaders trained. There is a need to strategically select peer leaders to maximize closeness to students school-wide, particularly in larger schools. Additional work is required for Sources of Strength to devise messaging strategies to engage males and students isolated from adults at school.

Parmi les multiples dispositifs de formation à l’enseignement secondaire qui cohabitent au sein de la Confédération suisse, cet article présente et interroge celui nouvellement mis en place dans le canton de Genève qui donne aux didactiques disciplinaires une place centrale. Les raisons et les hypothèses qui sous-tendent ce « pari » des didactiques sont questionnées à partir de trois approches complémentaires: la première s’intéresse au contexte genevois, tentant de cerner l’effet du contexte local sur l’adaptation de mouvements de réformes d’envergure nationale et internationale. La deuxième analyse la nature des savoirs dispensés durant la formation en se focalisant sur l’articulation des didactiques disciplinaires avec les savoirs scientifiques, avec les savoirs issus des sciences de l’éducation et avec les savoirs issus de la pratique professionnelle. Enfin, la troisième porte sur l’inscription des didactiques dans un dispositif de formation universitaire interfacultaire qui articule recherche scientifique et formation à l’enseignement.

Heparan sulfate 3-O-sulfotransferases (HS3STs) catalyze the final maturation step of heparan sulfates. Although seven HS3ST isozymes have been described in human, 3-O-sulfation is a relatively rare modification, and only a few biological processes have been described to be influenced by 3-O-sulfated motifs. A conflicting literature has recently reported that HS3ST2, 3A, 3B and 4 may exhibit either tumor-promoting or anti-oncogenic properties, depending on the model used and cancer cell phenotype. Hence, we decided to compare the consequences of the overexpression of each of these HS3STs in the same cellular model. We demonstrated that, unlike HS3ST3A, the other three isozymes enhanced the proliferation of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and BT-20 cells. Moreover, the colony forming capacity of MDA-MB-231 cells was markedly increased by the expression of HS3ST2, 3B and 4. No notable difference was observed between the three isozymes, meaning that the modifications catalyzed by each HS3ST had the same functional impact on cell behavior. We then demonstrated that overexpression of HS3ST2, 3B and 4 was accompanied by increased activation of c-Src, Akt and NF-κB and up-regulation of the anti-apoptotic proteins survivin and XIAP. In line with these findings, we showed that HS3ST-transfected cells are more resistant to cell death induction by pro-apoptotic stimuli or NK cells. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that HS3ST2, 3B and 4 share the same pro-tumoral activity and support the idea that these HS3STs could compensate each other for loss of their expression depending on the molecular signature of cancer cells and/or changes in the tumor environment.

In the face of fluctuating petroleum costs and a growing demand for energy, the need for an alternative and sustainable energy source has increased. A viable solution for this problem can be attained by using thermochemical conversion, pyrolysis, of existing biomass sources for the production of liquid fuels. This study focuses on the effect that biomass particle size has on the conversion of biomass into liquid pyrolysis oil. Energy cane and Chinese tallow tree biomass were pyrolyzed at 550 ℃. The particle size ranges studied were < 0.5, 0.5 to 1.4, 1.4 to 2.4 and, 2.4 to 4.4 mm. The results indicate that the range from 0.5-1.4 mm is a better range for optimizing bio-oil production while keeping water content low.

This report describes a case of 88-year-old women who developed central venous catheter-related bilateral hydrothorax, in which left pleural effusion, while right pleural effusion was being drained. The drainage prevented accumulation of fluid in the right pleural space, indicating that there was neither extravasation of infusion fluid nor connection between the two pleural cavities. The only explanation for bilateral hydrothorax in this case is lymphatic connections. Although vascular injuries by central venous catheter can cause catheter-related hydrothorax, it is most likely that the positioning of the tip of central venous catheter within the lymphatic duct opening in the right sub-clavian-jugular confluence or superior vena cava causes the catheter-related hydrothorax. Pericardial effusion can also result from retrograde lymphatic flow through the pulmonary lymphatic chains.