Monitoring and forecasting of intensive convective precipitation with the use of the mobile meteorological radar (MMR50)

This paper is focused on current possibilities of the measurement and predictions of intense convective precipitation through the mobile meteorological radar (MMR50). This meteorological radar equipment is part of the Information, Notification and Warning system of the Zlin Region in the Czech Republic, which consists of information and communication infrastructure for dealing with extraordinary events. The first chapter describes basic principles of radar precipitation measurement, e.g. radar estimate of rainfall intensity and radar products. The second chapter presents a methodology of measuring and predicting of intense convective precipitation using the mobile meteorological radar (MMR50), including other possibilities of precipitation forecast as NWP models, aerological, satellite, station measurements, statistics of historical situations, the risk of flash floods on the degree of soils saturation and the possibility of observation of dangerous accompanying phenomena. The last chapter deals with the verification of the principles of radar measurements and forecasts in a case study on 24th July 2015. Torrential rainfall in a combination with hail and strong wind gusts caused heavy flooding in the central part of Zlin region, which caused considerable material damage. Timely and quality information about the current and future formation and development of intense convective precipitation is essential for flood prevention measures. Acquired findings and conclusions can be used for crisis management in case of a possible occurrence of flash floods.Internal Grant Agency of Tomas Bata University [IGA/ FAI/2016/023

Primary transitional cell carcinoma of bulbar urethra

Primary urethral carcinoma (UC) is a rare entity, and bulbar UCs of transitional cell origin are even rarer. Primary presentation as a scrotal abscess and urethrocutaneous fistula is rarely documented in UC patients. We present a case of a 66-year-old male presenting to emergency department with a scrotal abscess. Following blind incision and drainage, the urethral injury was suspected, and biopsy of suspicious lesion was taken from scrotum which came out to be invasive transitional cell carcinoma. A wide local excision of the tumor was done after workup. Hence, all patients with scrotal abscess and urethrocutaneous fistula should be investigated before performing any blind procedure

Nephrocutaneous fistula due to textiloma with in the pelvicalyceal system

Textiloma or gossypiboma is an embarrassing surgical scenario. Nephrocutaneous fistula is itself a rare complication after renal surgeries, but due to textiloma, it is rarest of the rare. In this case, 30-year-old lady presented with the complaints of chronic seropurulent discharge from a wound on her right lumbar region. On exploration it was found to be a retained surgical sponge in pelvicalyceal system, which was there for last seven years

Adolescent and Adult Hypospadias Repair: A Retrospective Study

Introduction: There is a general consensus that results of hypospadias repair surgery, done on children, seem to have a better outcome when compared to the adults. Hypospadias cases in adults can present as primary or with complications resulting from an attempted repair. Aim: To assess any difference in outcome of surgeries done among the adolescent and adult population and to evaluate the use of a Tunica Vaginalis (TV) second layer barrier flap in preventing complications such as urethrocutaneous fistula. Materials and Methods: This was a single centre retrospective observational assessment of the adolescent and adult hypospadias surgeries conducted at a Tertiary Care Hospital from January 2016 to July 2019. The assessment was based on the presentation, site of hypospadias meatus, previous surgery and development of any complications or recurrence. Routine surgeries as per the hospital protocol were done in these patients. Follow-up was done for the next 12 months. For data analysis tables, columns and pie charts were used. Fisher’sexact test was used to find the association and calculate the p-value with the help of SPSS 21.0 software. Results: Total 28 patients were assessed, of which 17 patients were adolescents (mean age 14.6±1.66 years) and 11 (mean age 22.7±3.51 years) were adult. There was no significant (p-value 0.581) difference in the final outcome of hypospadias repair surgery between the adolescent and adult population. Use of TV interposition barrier flap prevented development of complications. Urethrocutaneous fistula was the most common form of complication noted in both the groups overall rate of complication was 14.2%. Conclusion: When hypospadias repair in adolescents and adults is done in a systematic and meticulous fashion, the outcome was satisfactory and there was no significant difference in outcome among the two age groups. Use of TV flap as a second layer interposition can improve the outcome in such patients

NO2 gas sensing performance of Ag-WO3-x thin films prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering process

We have demonstrated a comparative study of NO2 gas sensing behavior of reactive sputtered growth WO3-x nanocrystalline thin films and its functionalization with Ag nanoparticles (Ag-WO3-x) on Si/SiO2 substrates. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope characterizations demonstrate the formation of polycrystalline monoclinic phase of porous WO3-x thin film. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments reveal that W6+ charge state has higher concentration compared with that of W4+ and W5+. The Ag-WO(3-x )films exhibit a sensitivity of about 70% at 10 ppm, while WO3-x films show 12%, measured at 225(degrees)C with same NO2 gas concentration. The response and recovery time are 2 and 3 min. for Ag-WO3-x films, while these for WO(3-x )films are 3 and 4 min., respectively. This work shows that nano-scale dendritic agglomeration growth of Ag nanoparticles on WO3-x surface can increase active sites for NO2 gas and play an important role in trace-level gas sensing performance

Selective mode of action of plumbagin through BRCA1 deficient breast cancer stem cells

BACKGROUND: Studies over the past decade and half have identified cancer stem cells (CSCs) to be responsible for tumorigenesis, invasion, sustenance of metastatic disease, radio- and chemo-resistance and tumor relapse. Recent reports have described the plasticity of breast CSCs (BCSCs) to shift between the epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes via Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition (MET) states as the reason for their invasive capabilities. Additionally, BRCA1 has been found to be a mammary stem cell fate determinant. However, it is not clear what would be the best marker that can be used for identifying CSCs in BRCA1 mutated cancers. Also, anticancer agents that can reduce CSC population in a BRCA1 defective condition have not been addressed so far. METHODS: Putative BCSCs were identified based on Hoechst exclusion, CD44(+)/24(–/low) expression and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) positivity using flow cytometry. The ‘stemness’ of the isolated ALDH1+ cells were analysed by immunofluorescence, western blotting for stem cell and EMT markers as well as in vitro mammosphere assays. Induction of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) by Plumbagin (PB) in BCSCs was assayed by Dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) staining. Ovarian cancer xenografts treated with PB were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis to study the ability of PB to target CSCs. RESULTS: We have confirmed that ALDH1 positivity is the best marker for the identification of BCSCs in BRCA1-defective breast cancer cell lines when compared to the CD marker profile and Side Population (SP) analysis. BRCA1 status was observed to be a determinant of the abundance of epithelial-like (ALDH1+) or mesenchymal-like (CD44(+)/24(–/low)) BCSCs, and the reconstitution of a full length, wild type BRCA1 in HCC1937 breast cancer cells possessing a mutated BRCA1, transforms them from ‘stem-like’ to more ‘mesenchymal’. For the first time we have shown that Plumbagin (PB), a naturally occurring naphthoquinone which is predominantly a ROS inducer, could reduce BCSCs specifically in BRCA1-defective, basal-like cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: The best marker for identifying BCSCs in BRCA1 defective condition could be ALDH1 and that BRCA1 mutated BCSCs would be mostly ‘stem like’ than ‘mesenchymal’. Also ROS inducers like PB could reduce BCSCs in BRCA1 defective cancers. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2372-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Inhibition of GSK-3 induces differentiation and impaired glucose metabolism in renal cancer

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), a constitutively active serine/threonine kinase, is a key regulator of numerous cellular processes ranging from glycogen metabolism to cell cycle regulation and proliferation. Consistent with its involvement in many pathways, it has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of various human diseases including Type II diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, bipolar disorder, inflammation and cancer. Consequently it is recognized as an attractive target for the development of new drugs. In the present study, we investigated the effect of both pharmacological and genetic inhibition of GSK-3 in two different renal cancer cell lines. We have shown potent anti-proliferative activity of 9-ING-41, a maleimide-based GSK-3 inhibitor. The anti-proliferative activity is most likely caused by G0-G1 and G2-M phase arrest as evident from cell cycle analysis. We have established that inhibition of GSK-3 imparted a differentiated phenotype in renal cancer cells. We have also shown that GSK-3 inhibition induced autophagy, likely as a result of imbalanced energy homeostasis caused by impaired glucose metabolism. Additionally, we have demonstrated the antitumor activity of 9-ING-41 in two different subcutaneous xenograft RCC tumor models. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing autophagy induction due to GSK-3 inhibition in renal cancer cells

First measurement of the Hubble Constant from a Dark Standard Siren using the Dark Energy Survey Galaxies and the LIGO/Virgo Binary–Black-hole Merger GW170814

International audienceWe present a multi-messenger measurement of the Hubble constant H 0 using the binary–black-hole merger GW170814 as a standard siren, combined with a photometric redshift catalog from the Dark Energy Survey (DES). The luminosity distance is obtained from the gravitational wave signal detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)/Virgo Collaboration (LVC) on 2017 August 14, and the redshift information is provided by the DES Year 3 data. Black hole mergers such as GW170814 are expected to lack bright electromagnetic emission to uniquely identify their host galaxies and build an object-by-object Hubble diagram. However, they are suitable for a statistical measurement, provided that a galaxy catalog of adequate depth and redshift completion is available. Here we present the first Hubble parameter measurement using a black hole merger. Our analysis results in , which is consistent with both SN Ia and cosmic microwave background measurements of the Hubble constant. The quoted 68% credible region comprises 60% of the uniform prior range [20, 140] km s−1 Mpc−1, and it depends on the assumed prior range. If we take a broader prior of [10, 220] km s−1 Mpc−1, we find (57% of the prior range). Although a weak constraint on the Hubble constant from a single event is expected using the dark siren method, a multifold increase in the LVC event rate is anticipated in the coming years and combinations of many sirens will lead to improved constraints on H 0