The temperature induced current transport characteristics in the orthoferrite YbFeO3-δ thin film/p-type Si structure.

The perovskite ytterbium ferrite is a new ferroelectric semiconductor material. We presented the temperature induced current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the Al/YbFeO3-δ/p-Si/Al hetero-junction. The orthoferrite YbFeO3-δ thin films were deposited on a single crystal p-type Si substrate by a radio frequency magnetron sputtering system. The potential barrier height (BH) [Formula: see text] and ideality factor n of the heterojunction were obtained by thermionic emission current method based on the recommendations in the literature. The fact that the calculated slopes of I-V curves become temperature independent implying that the field emission current mechanism takes place across the device, which has been explained by the presence of the spatial inhomogeneity of BHs or potential fluctuations. Moreover, a tunneling transmission coefficient value of 26.67 was obtained for the ferroelectric YbFeO3-δ layer at the Al/p-Si interface.

The effects of packaging materials on the fatty acid composition, organic acid content, and texture profiles of Tulum cheese.

In this research, Erzincan Tulum cheese was packaged in its original packaging material, the skin bag, small intestine, and appendix to observe the changes in its physical, chemical, and textural properties during storage day. Lactic acid% values increased in all Tulum cheeses throughout storage stage. At the end of the storage period, the highest value was determined in the sample filled in the small intestine (20.10%). All fatty acid values were increased, and the highest increase was identified in oleic acid (C 18:1) (skin bag 2.18%), linoleic acid (18:2) (appendix 0.41%), and palmitic acid (C 16:0) (small intestine 0.34%), respectively. All organic acids increased in stored sample. The highest increase among organic acids was determined to be 4.47% in lactic acid. As a result of the Texture Profile Analyses (TPA), the hardness, and adhesiveness of Tulum cheeses increased during storage periods, whereas the springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness values decreased. Gumminess value declined in the sample filled into the appendix (with a value of 36.01), whereas it increased in the other two samples. The highest increase in hardness values was 2,520.27 N at given storage time was in the samples filled into appendix while the highest adhesive values of -49.82 were determined in the sample filled into small intestine. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Tulum cheese is usually produced by filling sheep or goat skin bag. Goat or sheep skin bag are not always available, and the amount of cheese produced in them is excessive. Therefore, cheeses were also filled to small intestine and appendix. At the end of the study, there were no negative effects on cheeses filled with intestine and appendix. The use of small intestine and appendix has helped to develop a product that will be appreciated by the consumers with no adverse effects in the physicochemical and textural properties of cheese.

Frequency and temperature-dependent electric modulus spectroscopy of osmium-doped YbFeO3 structure.

Orthoferrites have occupied important place in the material science and condensed matter physics investigations due to their unique features such as electrical, magnetic and optical. The present investigation illuminates light on the electrical properties of osmium (Os) doped YbFeO3 (YbFO) rare-earth orthoferrite. The undoped YbFO and YbFe1-x Os x O3 (YbFOO) (x = 0.01 and 0.05) powders were synthesized via solid-state. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) has been utilized to examine the crystal structure of the YbFO and YbFOO powders. The cross sectional morphology of the obtained pellets was inspected via scanning electron microscope (SEM). Moreover, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was exploited to determine the oxidation states of the constituted elements. The electrical features for instance electrical modulus, dielectric constant and conductivity of the synthesized pellets were detailed at different frequencies and temperatures by dielectric/impedance spectroscopy studies. The x = 0.01 Os doped sample exhibits higher dielectric constant and conductivity compared to other samples. Moreover, in order to explain conductivity mechanism of the studied samples, multiple conduction models are needed to employ.

Predicting bacterial growth conditions from mRNA and protein abundances.

Cells respond to changing nutrient availability and external stresses by altering the expression of individual genes. Condition-specific gene expression patterns may thus provide a promising and low-cost route to quantifying the presence of various small molecules, toxins, or species-interactions in natural environments. However, whether gene expression signatures alone can predict individual environmental growth conditions remains an open question. Here, we used machine learning to predict 16 closely-related growth conditions using 155 datasets of E. coli transcript and protein abundances. We show that models are able to discriminate between different environmental features with a relatively high degree of accuracy. We observed a small but significant increase in model accuracy by combining transcriptome and proteome-level data, and we show that measurements from stationary phase cells typically provide less useful information for discriminating between conditions as compared to exponentially growing populations. Nevertheless, with sufficient training data, gene expression measurements from a single species are capable of distinguishing between environmental conditions that are separated by a single environmental variable.

Sicegar: R package for sigmoidal and double-sigmoidal curve fitting.

Sigmoidal and double-sigmoidal dynamics are commonly observed in many areas of biology. Here we present sicegar, an R package for the automated fitting and classification of sigmoidal and double-sigmoidal data. The package categorizes data into one of three categories, "no signal," "sigmoidal," or "double-sigmoidal," by rigorously fitting a series of mathematical models to the data. The data is labeled as "ambiguous" if neither the sigmoidal nor double-sigmoidal model fit the data well. In addition to performing the classification, the package also reports a wealth of metrics as well as biologically meaningful parameters describing the sigmoidal or double-sigmoidal curves. In extensive simulations, we find that the package performs well, can recover the original dynamics even under fairly high noise levels, and will typically classify curves as "ambiguous" rather than misclassifying them. The package is available on CRAN and comes with extensive documentation and usage examples.

The electrical modulus and other dielectric properties by the impedance spectroscopy of LaCrO3 and LaCr0.90Ir0.10O3 perovskites.

We have prepared LaCrO3 (LCO) and 10% Ir doped LCO samples by the solid state reaction method and studied the electrical modulus and the other dielectric properties of the samples by means of the impedance spectroscopy in the -100 °C to 100 °C range, with steps of 20 °C. It has been clearly observed that the dielectric properties change due to Ir doping. The absolute dielectric constant value of Ir doped LCO has decreased and this reduction was attributed to decreasing Cr6+ ions which may play a vital role in space charge polarization and charge hopping. A plateau region appeared in the temperature-dependent real electrical modulus M' versus f curves of the pure LCO sample while almost no plateau region is visible in the Ir doped LCO sample. The temperature-dependent imaginary modulus M'' versus f curves has two peaks at each temperature; one of the peaks is at low frequency and the other at the high frequency region, which shifts through higher frequency region with increasing temperature. This originates from free charge accumulation at the interface with the increase of the temperature. Furthermore, it has been seen that the Ir doped LCO sample has higher impedance and resistance values than the undoped LCO sample at the same frequency and temperature. This phenomenon was attributed to doped Ir ions behaving like a donor in LCO because LCO is a p-type compound. Moreover, the activation energy values of 0.224 eV and 0.208 eV for LCO and of 0.161 eV and 0.265 eV for the Ir doped LCO have been obtained from the slopes of the ρ dc vs. (kT)-1 curves, respectively. Also the activation energies were calculated from the slopes of the f max vs. (kT)-1 curves and the obtained results from low frequency region were in good agreement with ρ dc vs. (kT)-1 ones.

Detection of bone metastases in breast cancer patients in the PET/CT era: do we still need the bone scan? / La detección de metástasis óseas en pacientes con cáncer de mama en la era de PET/TAC: ¿necesitamos todavía la gammagrafía ósea?

Aim. To examine the value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for the detection of bone metastasis in breast cancer patients and assess whether whole body bone scan (BS) with 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate provides any additional information. Material and Methods. Study group comprised 150 patients, mean age 52 years (range 27-85) with breast cancer, suspected of having bone metastases. All patients had undergone both FDG-PET/CT and BS with or without single photon emission tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) within a period of 6 weeks. The final diagnosis of bone metastasis was established by histopathological findings, additional imaging, or clinical follow-up longer than 10 months. Cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) and carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) were measured in all patients. Results. Histologically 83%, 7% and 10% had infiltrating ductal, lobular and mixed carcinoma respectively. Confirmed bone metastases were present in 86 patients (57.3%) and absent in 64 (42.7%). Mean CA15-3 and CEA values in patients with bone metastases were 74.6 ng/mL and 60.4 U/mL respectively, compared to 21.3 ng/mL and 3.2 U/mL without metastases (p < 0.001). The sensitivity of FDG-PET/CT for the detection of bone metastases was 97.6% compared to 89.5% with SPECT/CT. In 57 patients, FDG-PET/CT correctly identified additional pulmonary, hepatic, nodal and other soft tissue metastases, not detected by BS. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that FDG-PET/CT is superior to BS with or without SPECT/CT (AU)

Objetivo. Para examinar el valor de la 18F-fluorodeoxiglucosa Tomografía por Emisión de Positrones y de la Tomografía Axial Computerizada (FDG-PET/TAC) para la detección de metástasis óseas en pacientes con cáncer de mama y evaluar si el rastreo gammagráfico óseo (GO) con 99mTc-difosfonato de metileno proporciona cualquier información adicional. Material y métodos. El grupo de estudio estuvo integrado por 150 pacientes, media de edad 52 años (rango 27-85) con cáncer de mama y sospecha de metástasis óseas. Todas las pacientes tenían FDG-PET/TAC y GO con o sin SPECT/TAC en un plazo de 6 semanas. El diagnóstico final de metástasis óseas fue establecido por los resultados histopatológicos, los estudios adicionales de imagen o el seguimiento clínico superior a 10 meses. En todas las pacientes se determinaron los niveles séricos de CA 15-3 y antígeno carcinoembrionario (CEA). Resultados. Histológicamente, 83%, 7% y 10% tenían carcinoma ductal infiltrante, lobular y mixto respectivamente. Las metástasis óseas confirmadas estuvieron presentes en 86 pacientes (57.3%) y ausentes en 64 (42.7%). Los valores medios de CA15-3 y CEA en pacientes con metástasis óseas fueron 74.6 ng/mL y 60.4 U/mL, respectivamente, en comparación con 21,3 ng/mL y 3,2 U/mL sin metástasis (p <0,001). La sensibilidad de la FDG-PET/TAC para la detección de metástasis óseas fue del 97,6% en comparación con el 89,5%, para la SPECT/TAC. En 57 pacientes, la FDG-PET/TAC identificó correctamente metástasis adicionales pulmonares, hepáticas, ganglios linfáticos y partes blandas, no detectadas por GO. Conclusión. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la FDG-PET/TAC es superior a GO con o sin SPECT/TAC (AU)

Detection of bone metastases in breast cancer patients in the PET/CT era: Do we still need the bone scan?

AIM: To examine the value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for the detection of bone metastasis in breast cancer patients and assess whether whole body bone scan (BS) with (99m)Tc-methylene diphosphonate provides any additional information. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study group comprised 150 patients, mean age 52 years (range 27-85) with breast cancer, suspected of having bone metastases. All patients had undergone both FDG-PET/CT and BS with or without single photon emission tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) within a period of 6 weeks. The final diagnosis of bone metastasis was established by histopathological findings, additional imaging, or clinical follow-up longer than 10 months. Cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) and carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) were measured in all patients. RESULTS: Histologically 83%, 7% and 10% had infiltrating ductal, lobular and mixed carcinoma respectively. Confirmed bone metastases were present in 86 patients (57.3%) and absent in 64 (42.7%). Mean CA15-3 and CEA values in patients with bone metastases were 74.6ng/mL and 60.4U/mL respectively, compared to 21.3ng/mL and 3.2U/mL without metastases (p<0.001). The sensitivity of FDG-PET/CT for the detection of bone metastases was 97.6% compared to 89.5% with SPECT/CT. In 57 patients, FDG-PET/CT correctly identified additional pulmonary, hepatic, nodal and other soft tissue metastases, not detected by BS. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that FDG-PET/CT is superior to BS with or without SPECT/CT.

Is there any association between mild hypertension and hot flash experience among women?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between ambulatory blood pressure (ABP), heart rate, and hot flash (HF) experience among women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors recruited 110 women aged 22 to 65 years with mild essential hypertension or normotension confirmed by 24-hour ABP monitoring. None of the women had organ damage, inflammatory diseases, on estrogen replacement therapy or any other risk factors. Participants wore an ABP monitor that both records heart rate during 24 hours and noted their awake and sleep times. HF were assessed using an everyday complaint questionnaire that included symptoms associated with menopause. Each participant was asked whether or not she had experienced each symptom during the two weeks before the interview. RESULTS: Fifty-five of the participants (45%) reported having had HF during the two weeks before they completed the questionnaire. The results show that the prevalence of essential hypertension (EH) in the group of women who had HF was significantly higher than the group of women that did not have HF (p = 0.035). The authors also found that hypertensive women had HF more often than normotensive women (p = 0.035), but other parameters including mean awake and sleep systolic BP values, mean awake and sleep diastolic BP values, heart rates, and nocturnal dipping of BP did not differ statistically among the group of women who had HF and the group of women who did not have HF (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the prevalence of EH in the group of women who have HF is significantly higher than the group of women that does not have HF.

Evaluation of cardiovascular complications with 99mTc tetrofosmin gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients with thalassemia major.

OBJECTIVE: Iron overload limits the life expectancy of thalassaemic patients by causing cardiac toxicity. Iron also plays a catalytic role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of (99m)Tc Tetrofosmin gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (GMPS) in the detection of cardiac dysfunction in patients with thalassemia major. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty two patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia were enrolled in the study. Myocardial perfusion and wall motion were analysed in all patients (mean age 17 +/- 5.28) and 34 age-matched controls using GMPS. Clinical data, liver function tests, hemoglobin, ferritin, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol levels, and the total number and frequency of transfusions were collected from patient records. RESULTS: 97.6 % and 78.5 % of patients had normal myocardial perfusion and wall motion respectively. Nine out of 42 thalassaemic patients had abnormal left ventricular wall motion; half of these had septal hypokinesia. No significant correlation was found between the total number of transfusions, serum ferritin levels and left ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.442 and p = 1.00, respectively). Echocardiography revealed systolic dysfunction in 5 out of 9 patients with wall motion abnormality. LDL was normal in 38 out of 42 patients and cholesterol levels were normal in 37 out of 42 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Regional wall motion abnormalities can be seen in patients with thalassemia major. This early damage is frequently located in the septum and can be detected by GMPS. Serum ferritin levels and the number of blood transfusions are inadequate as predictors of myocardial dysfunction.

A patient with hyper-IgD syndrome responding to anti-TNF treatment.

The hyperimmunoglobulinemia D periodic fever syndrome (HIDS) is caused by recessive mutations in the mevalonate kinase gene, which encodes an enzyme involved in cholesterol and nonsterol isoprenoid biosynthesis. The pathogenesis and treatment remains unclear. We describe a 6-year-old Turkish girl with severe disease. Her clinical features were accompanied with very high acute-phase reactants including a very high serum amyloid A level. The patient responded well to anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment. Our findings support the use of this anti-cytokine treatment in HIDS.

Risk factors for excess weight loss and hypernatremia in exclusively breast-fed infants.

Data were prospectively obtained from exclusively breast-fed healthy term neonates at birth and from healthy mothers with no obstetric complication to determine risk factors for excess weight loss and hypernatremia in exclusively breast-fed infants. Thirty-four neonates with a weight loss > or = 10% were diagnosed between April 2001 and January 2005. Six of 18 infants who were eligible for the study had hypernatremia. Breast conditions associated with breast-feeding difficulties (P < 0.05), primiparity (P < 0.005), less than four stools (P < 0.001), pink diaper (P < 0.001), delay at initiation of first breast giving (P < 0.01), birth by cesarean section (P < 0.05), extra heater usage (P < 0.005), extra heater usage among mothers who had appropriate conditions associated with breast-feeding (P < 0.001), mean weight loss in neonates with pink diaper (P < 0.05), mean uric acid concentration in neonates with pink diaper (P < 0.0001), fever in hypernatremic neonates (P < 0.02), and the correlation of weight loss with both serum sodium and uric acid concentrations (P < 0.02) were determined. Excessive weight loss occurs in exclusively breast-fed infants and can be complicated by hypernatremia and other morbidities. Prompt initiation of breast-feeding after delivery and prompt intervention if problems occur with breast-feeding, in particular poor breast attachment, breast engorgement, delayed breast milk "coming in", and nipple problems will help promote successful breast-feeding. Careful follow-up of breast-feeding dyads after discharge from hospital, especially regarding infant weight, is important to help detect inadequate breast-feeding. Environmental factors such as heaters may exacerbate infant dehydration.

Risk factors for excess weight loss and hypernatremia in exclusively breast-fed infants

Data were prospectively obtained from exclusively breast-fed healthy term neonates at birth and from healthy mothers with no obstetric complication to determine risk factors for excess weight loss and hypernatremia in exclusively breast-fed infants. Thirty-four neonates with a weight loss > or = 10 percent were diagnosed between April 2001 and January 2005. Six of 18 infants who were eligible for the study had hypernatremia. Breast conditions associated with breast-feeding difficulties (P < 0.05), primiparity (P < 0.005), less than four stools (P < 0.001), pink diaper (P < 0.001), delay at initiation of first breast giving (P < 0.01), birth by cesarean section (P < 0.05), extra heater usage (P < 0.005), extra heater usage among mothers who had appropriate conditions associated with breast-feeding (P < 0.001), mean weight loss in neonates with pink diaper (P < 0.05), mean uric acid concentration in neonates with pink diaper (P < 0.0001), fever in hypernatremic neonates (P < 0.02), and the correlation of weight loss with both serum sodium and uric acid concentrations (P < 0.02) were determined. Excessive weight loss occurs in exclusively breast-fed infants and can be complicated by hypernatremia and other morbidities. Prompt initiation of breast-feeding after delivery and prompt intervention if problems occur with breast-feeding, in particular poor breast attachment, breast engorgement, delayed breast milk "coming in", and nipple problems will help promote successful breast-feeding. Careful follow-up of breast-feeding dyads after discharge from hospital, especially regarding infant weight, is important to help detect inadequate breast-feeding. Environmental factors such as heaters may exacerbate infant dehydration.

A unique opportunity for the operative treatment of high anorectal malformations: laparoscopy.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Georgeson et al. have reported a new operative technique for the treatment of high anorectal malformations (ARM) instead of posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP). With this new operative technique, anorectal pull-through is performed without a posterior sagittal incision with laparoscopic assistance. Herein we report our experience with laparoscopy-assisted anorectal pull-through (LAARP). METHODS: The hospital and the digital video records of 4 high ARM male patients who underwent LAARP between January 2002 and June 2004 were evaluated retrospectively. The LAARP procedure was accomplished as described by Georgeson et al. Dilatation of the neoanus was started on the 15th postoperative day and was continued twice daily until the desired anal diameter had been reached. The colostomies were closed thereafter. RESULTS: LAARP was performed in the presence of colostomy in four patients. The first two patients are passing stools two or three times a day. A bowel management program has been initiated for the third patient, who is 4 years old. The last patient still has a colostomy. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopically excellent visualization of the pelvic musculature, especially of the pubococcygeal muscles, provides a great opportunity for accurate placement of the rectum in its anatomically precise place, without dividing the sphincteric muscle complex. Although there is not enough data regarding fecal continence after LAARP, we think that LAARP provides a unique opportunity for the operative treatment of high ARM and should be the first choice procedure for the operative treatment of high ARM.

False aneurysm of the common femoral vein in a footballer.

Traumatic false aneurysm of the femoral vein has never been reported in the English literature. The case is here reported of a footballer with a traumatic false aneurysm of the common femoral vein which was initially misdiagnosed as an arterial pseudoaneurysm. This is a very rare clinical condition, but this diagnosis should be among those considered for post-traumatic unexplained thigh pain after trauma.

Early cirrhosis in a patient with type I citrullinaemia (CTLN1).

A 17-month-old girl with type I classical citrullinaemia (CTLN1) presenting with early cirrhosis and unusual ultrastructural features of the liver is reported. The patient is homozygous for a splicing mutation in intron 15 of the argininosuccinate synthase gene.