Descriptive Anatomy and Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of the Skull of the Early Tetrapod Acanthostega gunnari Jarvik, 1952

The early tetrapod Acanthostega gunnari is an iconic fossil taxon exhibiting skeletal morphology reflecting the transition of vertebrates from water onto land. Computed tomography data of two Acanthostega skulls was segmented using visualization software to digitally separate bone from matrix and individual bones of the skull from each other. A revised description of cranial and lower jaw anatomy in this taxon based on CT data includes new details of sutural morphology, the previously undescribed quadrate and articular bones, and the mandibular symphysis. Sutural morphology is used to infer loading regime in the skull during feeding, and suggests Acanthostega used its anterior jaws to initially seize prey while smaller posterior teeth were used to restrain struggling prey during ingestion. Novel methods were used to repair and retrodeform the skull, resulting in a three-dimensional digital reconstruction that features a longer postorbital region and more strongly hooked anterior lower jaw than previous attempts while supporting the presence of a midline gap between the nasals and median rostrals

Non-surgical periodontal therapy with adjunctive chlorhexidine in Down syndrome adults

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Successful emergency endovascular treatment of juxtarenal and infrarental mycotic aortic aneurysms in patients with small diameter aortae using Cook® Zenith ESLE stentgrafts

BACKGROUND: Endovascular repair of mycotic aneurysm is an alternative to open repair if the patho-anatomy is suitable. The aortic size above and below the mycotic aneurysm may be small. METHODS: A retrospective review was made of prospectively collected departmental computerised database. RESULTS: Three oriental patients with juxta- and infra-renal mycotic aortic aneurysms with a small aortic diameter of 17 mm to 18 mm underwent successful emergency endovascular treatment using Cook® Zenith ESLE stentgrafts. These are ancillary devices aimed at iliac extensions usually. CONCLUSION: This is to our knowledge the fi rst case series of Cook® Zenith ESLE iliac component endografts for the treatment of aortic mycotic aneurysms with small aortae, and short- and mid-term results are encouraging.published_or_final_versio

Paradoxical deterioration during anti-tubercular treatment in a dialysis patient on maintenance steroid therapy

We report a 38-year-old Chinese woman with lupus nephritis on peritoneal dialysis and long-term maintenance steroid therapy. This patient developed paradoxical deterioration during anti-tubercular therapy for tuberculous lymphadenitis. The deterioration resolved spontaneously without change to pharmacotherapy. Paradoxical deterioration that may spontaneously resolve is a potential complication of anti-tubercular treatment in patients on long-term renal replacement therapy.published_or_final_versio

Effectiveness of calcium acetate as a phosphate binder in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We compared the effectiveness of calcium acetate as a phosphate binder with that of calcium carbonate by substituting one for the other in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Twenty patients who had been receiving calcium carbonate as a phosphate binder were instead given calcium acetate, initially with two thirds of the previous dose of elemental calcium. The calcium acetate dose was adjusted to achieve adequate calcium-phosphate balance; 65.6% of the previous dose of elemental calcium in calcium carbonate was required. Eighteen of the 20 patients completed the 3-month study. There were no significant differences in the pre-study and study levels of serum phosphate (1.81Ը?0.04 [SEM] versus 1.89Ը?0.06 mmol/L), corrected serum calcium (2.54Ը?0.04 versus 2.57Ը?0.03 mmol/L), calcium phosphate product (4.60Ը?0.15 versus 4.87Ը?0.18), serum alkaline phosphatase (64.75Ը?4.17 versus 69.94Ը?3.77 U/L), and serum parathyroid hormone (122Ը?31 versus 124Ը?27 ng/L). Three patients developed a total of five episodes of hypercalcaemia (corrected calcium level >/=2.85 mmol/L) and four other patients developed gastrointestinal upset. Calcium acetate can thus achieve similar phosphate control to calcium carbonate, using 65.6% of the dose of elemental calcium in calcium carbonate; however, its clinical superiority was not demonstrated in this study.published_or_final_versio

Fabrication of organic photovoltaic devices by the layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte deposition method

Organic photovoltaic cells were fabricated by the layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte deposition process by which the film thickness can be controlled accurately. Ruthenium/rhenium complexes containing poly(p-phenylenevinylene) and sulfonated polyaniline were used in the process. This new method provides flexibility in the fabrication of multilayer polymeric devices with well-defined structure. © 2005 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Fabrication of bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices using sublimable rhenium diimine complexes as photosensitizers

A series of chlorotricarbonyl rhenium (I) bis(phenylimino)acenaphthene (Re-DIAN-X) complexes were used as the photosensitizers for photovoltaic cells. Unlike other transition-metal-based photovoltaic sensitizers that can only be prepared by solution method, these complexes are sublimable. Compared to other rhenium diimine complexes based on bipyridine or 1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene ligands, these complexes have lower band gaps, which can be modified easily by changing the structure of the ligand. It allows the preparation of blend of metal complexes in order to broaden the sensitization region in UV-vis absorption spectrum. One of the complexes also shows bipolar charge transport character with relatively high charge carrier mobilities in the order of 10 -3 cm2V-1s-1. Multilayer heterojunction and bulk heterojunction devices with fullerene as the electron accepting molecule were prepared. For the bulk heterojunction devices, the fill factor and power conversion efficiency under AM 1.5 simulated solar light illumination were 0.51 and 1.29 %, respectively. The effects of changing the Re-DIAN/C60 film thickness, Re-DIAN/C60 ratio and variation of ligand structures in the bulk heterojunction devices were studied. The amount of photosensitizer and electron transport molecules may strongly affect the balance between the photon absorption, exciton formation, dissociation, and charge transport processes. Atomic force microscopic images showed that the complex dispersed evenly with fullerene molecules in solid state.published_or_final_versio

Low-band-gap, sublimable rhenium(I) diimine complex for efficient bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices

The fabrication of efficient bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells using the chlorotricarbonyl rhenium(I) diimine complex as photosensitizer was discussed. The complex has a lower band gap, which can be adjusted easily by changing the structure of the ligand. The electric properties of the complex were studied using time-of-flight analysis. It was observed that the rhenium complex showed bipolar charge transport character with relatively high electron and hole mobilities.published_or_final_versio

Carriage niches and molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus lugdunensis and methicillin-resistant S. lugdunensis among patients undergoing long-term renal replacement therapy

We collected nasal, axilla, and groin swabs from 252 adult patients from 2 nephrology centers in Hong Kong. Staphylococcus lugdunensis carriage was detected in 51.6% patients (groin, 39.3%; axilla, 19.8%; nose, 17.9%). The carriage rates of methicillin-sensitive S. lugdunensis and methicillin-resistant S. lugdunensis (MRSL) were 46.0% and 8.3%, respectively. Independent risk factors for S. lugdunensis carriage included male sex (odds ratio [OR], 4.4), hemodialysis (OR, 2.2), and aged 18–50 years (OR, 2.4). The isolates belonged to 10 pulsotype clusters (n = 129) and 8 singletons (n = 8). All MRSL and most gentamicin- and tetracycline-resistant strains were found in a predominating sequence type 3 clone, designated HKU1, which accounted for 51.8% of all colonizing S. lugdunensis strains. The 21 MRSL isolates had SCCmec type V (n = 18), type IV (n = 2), and type I (n = 1). The finding highlights the potential for dissemination of multidrug resistance through successful S. lugdunensis clones.postprin

Initial results of selective renal parenchymal clamping with an adjustable kidney clamp in nephron-sparing surgery: an easy way to minimise renal ischaemia

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