ABSTRACT
This research proposes a framework for quantitatively differentiating carbon sinks versus sources, utilizing synergistic NIR (near-infrared) and visible signatures acquired from UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). UAV NIR and visible imagery acquired at 70-m flying altitude identified the major types of carbon sinks versus sources, such as vegetation and constructed surfaces (e.g., road and buildings) for representative section of the university campus at the level of almost field-survey standpoint. Our findings show that the NIR reflectance for the sink was distributed in the range of 9.46-44.65%, whereas the emission sources had shown NIR response, ranging from 16.74 to 22.67%. The visible green reflectance showed a significantly higher range for emission sources (23.6-52.3%) than the sink (13.50-26.74%). The emission source in visible red showed a wider range of reflectance (17.05-38.49%), while the sink was observed in the narrow range of 9.36-17.75%. It was confirmed that synergistically combining NIR and visible signatures offers a viable method for measuring and comparing campus-wide carbon sinks versus sources due to extremely hyper-spatial resolution. It is anticipated that this research will be used as a valuable reference to investigate hyper-localized carbon sources and sinks in university campuses as cities within cities.
Subject(s)
Carbon Sequestration , Environmental Monitoring , Universities , Altitude , CarbonABSTRACT
A 66-year-old man presented with exertional dyspnea. He was found to have an unruptured aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva causing significant right ventricular outflow obstruction. This aneurysm was diagnosed by transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography, transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, contrast echocardiography and 64-slice multidetector cardiac computed tomography. Because unruptured aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva are rarely symptomatic, they can be difficult to detect. However, the unruptured aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva in this case caused significant right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, resulting in exertional dyspnea.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of present study was to investigate the methylation status of the promoter region in five genes (mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4, fragile histidine triad protein, death-associated protein kinase 1, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), and E-cadherin), which are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and its clinicopathological significance. METHODS: The study subjects were 60 CRC patients, 40 patients with adenomatous colorectal polyp and 60 healthy control individuals. We further enrolled a total of 16 patients (two patients with Crohn's disease, two patients with ulcerative colitis, one patient with serrated adenoma, and 11 patients with colorectal cancer). The methylation states of the five genes were determined in peripheral blood plasma using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: This study showed the most sensitive epigenetic markers, E-cadherin (60 %), followed by APC (57 %), for detecting CRC. E-cadherin and APC had similar specificities and amplified 84 and 86 %, respectively, of CRC patients compared to non-CRC patients. Additionally, APC was the only marker to be significantly increased (OR = 6.67, 95 % CI = 1.19-23.4, P = 0.045) and the most sensitive (57 %) and specific (89 %) marker in stage I CRC. Though we have not examined the paired cancer tissues and plasma, there was relatively high concordant rate (60-80 %) in our limited number of colorectal cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: Five genes, promoter methylation, in plasma were statistically significant risk factors in CRC patients. In this study, E-cad and APC genes may be particularly useful epigenetic biomarkers in plasma for the detection of CRC. Additionally, APC may able to identify early potential CRC.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/genetics , Adenomatous Polyps/genetics , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics , DNA Methylation , Epigenesis, Genetic , Acid Anhydride Hydrolases/genetics , Adenocarcinoma/blood , Adenocarcinoma/diagnosis , Adenomatous Polyps/blood , Adenomatous Polyps/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/genetics , Biomarkers, Tumor/blood , Cadherins/genetics , Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/genetics , Case-Control Studies , Colorectal Neoplasms/blood , Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Death-Associated Protein Kinases , Female , Genes, APC , Genetic Markers , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Proteins/genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sensitivity and Specificity , Smad4 Protein/geneticsABSTRACT
Humans can be incidentally parasitized by third-stage larvae of Anisakis species following the ingestion of raw or undercooked seafood. Acute gastric anisakiasis is one of the most frequently encountered complaints in Korea. However, duodenal anisakiasis with duodenal ulcer had not been reported in Korea, despite the habit of eating raw fish. In this case, a 47-year-old man was hospitalized because of sharp epigastric pain and repeated vomiting after eating raw fish 3 days previously. On admission, esophagogastroduodenoscopic examination revealed an active duodenal bulb ulcer. At 5 mm away from the ulcer margin, a whitish linear worm was found with half of its body penetrating the duodenal mucosa. Herein, we report this case of duodenal anisakiasis accompanied by duodenal ulcer.
