Dynamics of the chiral phase transition from AdS/CFT duality

We use Lorentzian signature AdS/CFT duality to study a first order phase transition in strongly coupled gauge theories which is akin to the chiral phase transition in QCD. We discuss the relation between the latent heat and the energy (suitably defined) of the component of a D-brane which lies behind the horizon at the critical temperature. A numerical simulation of a dynamical phase transition in an expanding, cooling Quark-Gluon plasma produced in a relativistic collision is carried out.Comment: 30 pages, 5 figure

Stimulation of Na⁺/H⁺ Exchanger Isoform 1 Promotes Microglial Migration

Regulation of microglial migration is not well understood. In this study, we proposed that Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) is important in microglial migration. NHE-1 protein was co-localized with cytoskeletal protein ezrin in lamellipodia of microglia and maintained its more alkaline intracellular pH (pHi). Chemoattractant bradykinin (BK) stimulated microglial migration by increasing lamellipodial area and protrusion rate, but reducing lamellipodial persistence time. Interestingly, blocking NHE-1 activity with its potent inhibitor HOE 642 not only acidified microglia, abolished the BK-triggered dynamic changes of lamellipodia, but also reduced microglial motility and microchemotaxis in response to BK. In addition, NHE-1 activation resulted in intracellular Na+ loading as well as intracellular Ca2+ elevation mediated by stimulating reverse mode operation of Na+/Ca2+ exchange (NCXrev). Taken together, our study shows that NHE-1 protein is abundantly expressed in microglial lamellipodia and maintains alkaline pHi in response to BK stimulation. In addition, NHE-1 and NCXrev play a concerted role in BK-induced microglial migration via Na+ and Ca2+ signaling. © 2013 Shi et al

Turkish D-light : accentuating heritage values with daylight

Historic buildings have their own cultural identity, which is often related to their aesthetic qualities such as period characteristics (geometry, size, colour, form and shape), materials and construction. Daylight is one of the primary elements contributing to the distinctiveness of the visual environment of many historic buildings, but is rarely considered as one of the components that shape the character of a building when adaptive preservation schemes of historical buildings are planned. Many historic buildings were originally designed to accommodate activities different to their new use and preserving the quality of daylight that originally contributed to their visual identity is a challenging task. Maintaining the ‘day-lit appearance’ of a building can be particularly problematic if the building is to be used as a museum or a gallery owing to the artefacts’ conservation requirements. This work investigated the opportunities of maintaining the original ambient conditions of renovated historical buildings while meeting the required daylight levels of the proposed new use. The study utilised an annual daylight simulation method and hourly weather data to preserve daylight conditions in renovated historic buildings. The model was piloted in a Turkish bathhouse situated in Bursa, Turkey, that is currently under renovation. The simulation model produces 4483 hourly values of daylight illuminance for a period of a whole year using the computer program Radiance. It is concluded that daylight characteristics should be taken into account when developing a renovation scheme. With increasing pressure on valuing historic buildings in many parts of the world, the work reported here should be beneficial to those concerned with the conservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings. The study findings could also be useful to those interested in predicting potential energy savings by combining daylighting and electric lighting in historic buildings

Tumours of the thymus: a cohort study of prognostic factors from the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons database

OBJECTIVES A retrospective database was developed by the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons, collecting patients submitted to surgery for thymic tumours to analyse clinico-pathological prognostic predictors. METHODS A total of 2151 incident cases from 35 institutions were collected from 1990 to 2010. Clinical-pathological characteristics were analysed, including age, gender, associated myasthenia gravis stage (Masaoka), World Health Organization histology, type of thymic tumour [thymoma, thymic carcinoma (TC), neuroendocrine thymic tumour (NETT)], type of resection (complete/incomplete), tumour size, adjuvant therapy and recurrence. Primary outcome was overall survival (OS); secondary outcomes were the proportion of incomplete resections, disease-free survival and the cumulative incidence of recurrence (CIR). RESULTS A total of 2030 patients were analysed for OS (1798 thymomas, 191 TCs and 41 NETTs). Ten-year OS was 0.73 (95% confidence interval 0.69-0.75). Complete resection (R0) was achieved in 88% of the patients. Ten-year CIR was 0.12 (0.10-0.15). Predictors of shorter OS were increased age (P < 0-001), stage [III vs I HR 2.66, 1.80-3.92; IV vs I hazard ratio (HR) 4.41, 2.67-7.26], TC (HR 2.39, 1.68-3.40) and NETT (HR 2.59, 1.35-4.99) vs thymomas and incomplete resection (HR 1.74, 1.18-2.57). Risk of recurrence increased with tumour size (P = 0.003), stage (III vs I HR 5.67, 2.80-11.45; IV vs I HR 13.08, 5.70-30.03) and NETT (HR 7.18, 3.48-14.82). Analysis using a propensity score indicates that the administration of adjuvant therapy was beneficial in increasing OS (HR 0.69, 0.49-0.97) in R0 resections. CONCLUSIONS Masaoka stages III-IV, incomplete resection and non-thymoma histology showed a significant impact in increasing recurrence and in worsening survival. The administration of adjuvant therapy after complete resection is associated with improved surviva

Association of IGF and IGFBP2 gene polymorphisms with growth and egg traits in Atak-S laying hens

ΔΕΝ ΥΠΑΡΧΕΙ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗAtak-S laying hens are a high-performance hybrid obtained by crossing of the Rhode Island Red (RIR) X the Barred Plymouth Rock (BR) and are being produced in the Ankara Poultry Research Institute since 1997. Phenotypic and genetic improving studies are continuous for this hybrid. In this study three different SNPs, two from IGF1 and one from IGFBP2 genes, were examined in 150 Atak-S chickens. Genetic association of SNPs were compared to body weight and egg number till 32 weeks of age, body weight at sexual maturity, age at sexual maturity and also egg quality traits such as egg shell breaking strength, shell thickness, Haugh unit, albumen index, yolk index and shape index were statistically analyzed. Only IGF1(a) locus was in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, while, the rest of the loci were not. As a result of the comparisons performed to the three SNPs, it was determined that there was a significant association (P&lt;0.05) between the T364C haplotypes of the IGF1(b) locus and body weight at 32 weeks of age, but there was not any association to the other traits

The Impact of Modern Technologies on the Balance of Basketball Players with Ages between 13-14

This preliminary research investigates the effectiveness of Fitlight technology in enhancing the balance and reactive balance skills of male basketball players aged 13-14. Employing a comprehensive research design, the study involved 19 athletes from the "LPS Târgu-Mures" team over an eight-week period. The effectiveness of a specific training programme was evaluated through a series of Y balance tests and Reactive Y balance tests. The results demonstrated significant improvements in the athletes' balance capabilities, as evidenced by increased mean distances and Cohens effect sizes in the Y balance tests and enhanced reaction times in the Reactive Y balance tests

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Meeting abstrac

3D-printed variable stiffness tissue scaffolds for potential meniscus repair

The treatment of meniscus injuries has recently been facing a paradigm shift toward the field of tissue engineering (TE), with the aim of regenerating damaged and diseased menisci. In this work, bovine meniscus was characterized, and the regionally-dependent mechanical properties analysed. It was established that both the collagen structure and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) content play a critical synergetic role in withstanding compressive loads. To produce a scaffold which mimicked this behaviour with anatomically relevant mechanical properties, 3D printing technology was employed and a polycaprolactone (PCL) meniscus scaffold was produced, allowing for the deposition of fibres mimicking the internal architecture of the native meniscus, while achieving regional and variable mechanical stiffness. The PCL scaffold was infiltrated with an extracellular matrix (ECM) like hydrogels comprising of Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and GAGs such as hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulphate (CS), and subsequently freeze dried. Human mesenchymal stem cells were seeded onto the scaffolds and the infiltrated cells were found to produce ECM components of the native meniscus. Collagen and GAG production was successfully established, and the synthesis of new matrix was found to increase the mechanical properties of the hydrogel over time. Additionally, the circumferential PCL fibres within the scaffold guided the newly synthesised matrix, by allowing replication of the structure of native tissue. These results indicate that the ECM infiltrated 3D printed PCL scaffold is a promising solution for meniscus repair.The authors would like to thank the funding provided by the Irish Research Council (Project ID: EPSPG/2015/93) in partnership with Johnson & Johnson and the Government of Ireland (Postdoctoral Fellowship Project ID: GOIPD/2023/1431). I.F.C. thanks the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and acknowledges the FCT distinction attributed to I.F.C. under the Estímulo ao Emprego Científico program (2021.01969. CEECIND) (https://doi.org/10.54499/2021.01969. CEECIND/CP1664/CT0017). This study received financial support from the European Commission-funded Oncoscreen project (Grant agreement ID: 101097036). The authors also thank the FEDER program for funds provided under the JUSTHera project (NORTE-01-0145- FEDER-000055) and the 0624_2IQBIONEURO_6_E project (inter-regional cooperation program VA SpainPortugal POCTEP 2014–2020). The authors thank the financial support provided under the project “HEALTH-UNORTE: Setting-up biobanks and regenerative medicine strategies to boost research in cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurological, oncological, immunological and infectious diseases” (NORTE-01- 0145-FEDER-000039), funded by the NORTE2020 Program, Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N). The authors also thank FCT for funding LA ICVS/3B: (i) “Base” funding (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/50026/2020); (ii) “Programático” funding: (https://doi.org/10.54499/ UIDP/50026/2020); and iii) “Complementar - LA” funding: (https://doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/0050/2020)

Montelukast jest skutecznym lekiem w zapobieganiu zespołowi hiperstymulacji jajników: badania eksperymentalne

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of montelukast in comparison with cabergoline in the prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in rats. Material and methods: An experimental OHSS model was formed in 35 female Wistar rats. Rats (22 days old) were randomized into 5 groups, each containing 7 animals. The control group received no therapy; the mild OHSS group was administered pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) 10 IU for 4 days, hCG 10 IU on the 5th day; the severe OHSS group received PMSG 10 IU for 4 days, hCG 30 IU on the 5th day. The montelukast group: received montelukast 10 mg/kg/day and the cabergoline group was administered cabergoline 100μg/kg/day via oral gavage for 6 days (days 22–27), in addition to those of severe OHSS. All groups were sacrificed on 28th day. Body weight, ovarian diameter and weight, vascular permeability, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), semiquantitative VEGF receptor-1, and VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) immunohistochemistry were evaluated. Results: Ovarian diameter and VEGF expression were significantly lower in the montelukast and cabergoline groups than in the severe OHSS group. While montelukast was more effective in limiting vascular permeability in the severe OHSS, cabergoline was superior to montelukast with respect to the limiting effect on increased body weight and VEGFR-2 expression. Conclusions: The VEGF/VEGFR-2 interaction plays an important role in OHSS pathogenesis. Montelukast limits VEGF expression, and cabergoline reduces both VEGF and VEGFR-2 expressions; they are both effective therapies for the prevention of severe OHSS.Cel: Ocena skuteczności montelukastu w porównaniu z kabergoliną w zapobieganiu zespołowi hiperstymulacji jajników (OHSS) u szczurów. Materiał i metoda: Model doświadczalny OHSS stanowiło 35szczurów rasy Wistar, płci żeńskiej. Szczury (22 dniowe) podzielono na 5 grup, każda zawierająca 7 zwierząt. Grupa kontrolna nie otrzymała żadnej terapii. Grupa z łagodnym OHSS otrzymała gonadotropinę z surowicy ciężarnych klaczy (PMSG) w ilości 10IU przez 4 dni, hCG 10IU w 5 dniu, grupa z ciężkim OHSS otrzymała PMSG 10IU przez 4 dni, hCG 30IU w 5 dniu. Grupa z montelukastem otrzymała montelukast w dawce 10mg/kg/dzień a grupa z kabergoliną otrzymała kabergolinę 100μg/kg/dzień przez doustny zgłębnik przez 6 dni (dni 22-27). Wszystkie zwierzęta zabito w 28 dniu. Oceniono masę ciała, wymiar i wagę jajników, przepuszczalność naczyń, czynnik wzrostu śródbłonka naczyń (VEGF) oraz w immunohistochemii półilościowo receptor – 1 VEGF i receptor-2 VEGF. Wyniki: Wymiar jajnika oraz ekspresja VEGF były istotnie niższe w grupach z monelukastem i kabergoliną niż w grupie z ciężkim OHSS. Podczas gdy montelukast był bardziej skuteczny w ograniczaniu przepuszczalności śródbłonków w ciężkim OHSS, to kabergolina okazała się lepsza od montelukastu po uwzględnieniu ograniczającego efektu zwiększonej masy ciała i ekspresji VEGFR-2. Wnioski: Wzajemne oddziaływanie VEGF/VEGFR-2 odgrywa istotną role w patogenezie OHSS. Montelukast ogranicza ekspresję VEGF, a kabergolina zmniejsza zarówno ekspresję VEGF jak i VEGFR-2; obie terapie są skuteczne w zapobieganiu ciężkiemu OHSS