Analysis of the accuracy of actuation electronics in the laser interferometer space antenna pathfinder.

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna Pathfinder (LPF) main observable, labeled Δg, is the differential force per unit mass acting on the two test masses under free fall conditions after the contribution of all non-gravitational forces has been compensated. At low frequencies, the differential force is compensated by an applied electrostatic actuation force, which then must be subtracted from the measured acceleration to obtain Δg. Any inaccuracy in the actuation force contaminates the residual acceleration. This study investigates the accuracy of the electrostatic actuation system and its impact on the LPF main observable. It is shown that the inaccuracy is mainly caused by the rounding errors in the waveform processing and also by the random error caused by the analog to digital converter random noise in the control loop. Both errors are one order of magnitude smaller than the resolution of the commanded voltages. We developed a simulator based on the LPF design to compute the close-to-reality actuation voltages and, consequently, the resulting actuation forces. The simulator is applied during post-processing the LPF data.

LISA Pathfinder Performance Confirmed in an Open-Loop Configuration: Results from the Free-Fall Actuation Mode.

We report on the results of the LISA Pathfinder (LPF) free-fall mode experiment, in which the control force needed to compensate the quasistatic differential force acting on two test masses is applied intermittently as a series of "impulse" forces lasting a few seconds and separated by roughly 350 s periods of true free fall. This represents an alternative to the normal LPF mode of operation in which this balancing force is applied continuously, with the advantage that the acceleration noise during free fall is measured in the absence of the actuation force, thus eliminating associated noise and force calibration errors. The differential acceleration noise measurement presented here with the free-fall mode agrees with noise measured with the continuous actuation scheme, representing an important and independent confirmation of the LPF result. An additional measurement with larger actuation forces also shows that the technique can be used to eliminate actuation noise when this is a dominant factor.

Stress-induced hyperglycemia on complications in non-critically elderly hospitalized patients. / Hiperglucemia inducida por estrés en pacientes ancianos hospitalizados no críticos.

AIMS: Hospital complications and hyperglycemia are common in elderly patients during hospitalization. Our aim was to analyze the relationship between hyperglycemia and hospital complications in an ageing population. METHODS: We conducted an observational study to evaluate the association between maximum blood glucose (MBG) levels and hospital complications. Patients were stratified according to the quartiles of MBG levels. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was determined by patient history and/or admission glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level ≥6.5%. Hyperglycemia in patients without DM was defined as stress-induced hyperglycemia (SH). The composite primary end-point included frequent complications and/or all-cause hospital mortality. RESULTS: Among 461 patients, mean age 80±7.5years, 238 (51.6%) patients had DM, 20 had undiagnosed DM, and 162 (35.1%) developed hospital complications. Patients with complications had higher mean daily BG levels (215±84 vs 195±85mg/dl, P<.01). The incidence of complications was directly associated with severity of hyperglycemia according to the quartiles of MBG levels in patients without DM, namely SH (<140 mg/dl, 22.2%; 140-185mg/dl, 40%; 186-250mg/dl, 47%; >250mg/dl, 60%; P=.002), but not in patients with DM (<140mg/dl, 26.3%; 140-185mg/dl, 40.4%; 186-250mg/dl, 35.6%; >250mg/dl, 37.4%; P=.748). In the multivariate analyses, SH was independently associated with complications: OR 2.60 (CI95%: 1.2-5.6), 2.82 (CI95%: 1.2-6.5), 5.50 (CI95%: 1.4-20.8) for the second, third and fourth quartile respectively (P=.01), as compared to the first quartile. We found no association with readmissions and all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: SH in elderly patients is associated with hospital complications, but not with all-cause mortality, compared to patients with diabetes or normoglycemia.

Beyond the Required LISA Free-Fall Performance: New LISA Pathfinder Results down to 20 µHz.

In the months since the publication of the first results, the noise performance of LISA Pathfinder has improved because of reduced Brownian noise due to the continued decrease in pressure around the test masses, from a better correction of noninertial effects, and from a better calibration of the electrostatic force actuation. In addition, the availability of numerous long noise measurement runs, during which no perturbation is purposely applied to the test masses, has allowed the measurement of noise with good statistics down to 20 µHz. The Letter presents the measured differential acceleration noise figure, which is at (1.74±0.05) fm s^{-2}/sqrt[Hz] above 2 mHz and (6±1)×10 fm s^{-2}/sqrt[Hz] at 20 µHz, and discusses the physical sources for the measured noise. This performance provides an experimental benchmark demonstrating the ability to realize the low-frequency science potential of the LISA mission, recently selected by the European Space Agency.

Isolated Propriospinal Myoclonus as a Presentation of Cervical Myelopathy.

Background: Propriospinal myoclonus is an infrequent type of hyperkinetic movement that can be commonly idiopathic but also may occur after spinal cord lesions. Phenomenology Shown: We describe an 8-year-old female showing repetitive flexor and extensor arrhythmic brief jerks of the trunk, compatible with propriospinal myoclonus secondary to cervical myelopathy. Educational Value: Isolated propriospinal myoclonus may be the clinical sign that leads to the diagnosis of incipient myelopathy.

Internal amplification control of PCR for the Glu1-Dx5 allele in wheat.

One of the limiting factors in using dominant markers is the unique amplification of the target fragment. Therefore, failures in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or non-amplifications can be interpreted as an absence of the allele. The possibility of false negatives implies in reduced efficiency in the selection process in genetic breeding programs besides the loss of valuable genetic material. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the viability of a microsatellite marker as an internal amplification control with a dominant marker for the wheat Glu1-Dx5 gene. A population of 77 wheat cultivars/breeding lines was analyzed. Fourteen microsatellite markers were analyzed in silico regarding the formation of dimers and clamps. The biplex reaction conditions were optimized, and the Xbarc117 marker was selected as the internal amplification control with a Glu1-Dx5 marker in wheat. It was concluded that the Xbarc117 microsatellite marker was effective in the simultaneous amplification with a dominant Glu1-Dx5 marker, making biplex PCR viable in wheat for the studied markers.

Influence of freezing temperatures prior to freeze-drying on viability of yeasts and lactic acid bacteria isolated from wine.

AIMS: To determine the effect of three different freezing temperatures on post-freeze-drying survival rates of wine yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). To know if a similar freeze-drying protocol can be used for both micro-organisms. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cells from liquid culture media were recovered and concentrated in appropriate lyoprotectants. Aliquots of each strain were frozen at -20, -80 and -196°C before vacuum drying. Viable cell counts were done before freezing and after freeze-drying. Survival rates were calculated. Freezing temperatures differently affected yeast and bacteria survival. The highest survival rates were obtained at -20 and -80°C for yeasts, but at -196°C for LAB. Major differences in survival rates were recorded among freeze-dried yeasts, but were less drastic for LAB. Yeasts Pichia membranifaciens, Starmerella bacillaris and Metschnikowia pulcherrima, and LAB Lactobacillus paracasei, Pediococcus parvulus and Lactobacillus mali, were the most tolerant species to freeze-drying, regardless of freezing temperature. CONCLUSIONS: Yeast and LAB survival rates differed for each tested freezing temperature. For yeasts, -20°C ensured the highest post-freeze-drying viability and -196°C for LAB. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Freezing temperature to freeze-dry cells is a crucial factor for ensuring good wine yeast and LAB survival. These results are important for appropriately preserving micro-organisms and for improving starter production processes.

Unclassifiable arrhythmic cardiomyopathy associated with Emery-Dreifuss caused by a mutation in FHL1.

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is a heterogeneous genetic disorder characterized by peripheral muscular weakness often associated with dilated cardiomyopathy. We characterize clinically a large family with a mutation in FHL1 gene (p.Cys255Ser). Penetrance was 44%, 100% for males and 18% for females. The heart was the main organ involved. Affected adult males had mild hypertrophy, systolic dysfunction and restriction with non-dilated ventricles. Carriers had significant QTc prolongation. The proband presented with resuscitated cardiac arrest. There were two transplants. Pathological study of explanted heart showed fibrofatty replacement and scarring consistent with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and prominent left ventricular trabeculations. Myopathic involvement was evident in all males. Females had no significant neuromuscular disease. Mutations in FHL1 cause unclassifiable cardiomyopathy with coexisting EDMD. Prognosis is poor and systolic impairment and arrhythmias are frequent. Thrombopenia and raised creatine phosphokinase should raise suspicion of an FHL-1 disorder in X-linked cardiomyopathy.

Genetic polymorphisms and retinal vein occlusion in an Italian population.

In this study, we assessed the prevalence of polymorphisms in genes involved in hyperhomocysteinemia or hemostasis to shed light on their role, if any, in retinal vein occlusion (RVO). We recruited 37 Italian patients (17 men and 20 women) with a diagnosis of central or branch RVO based on fundus examination and retinal fluorescein angiography, as well as 45 healthy controls. Risk factors and family history of RVO of all subjects were recorded. The distributions of polymorphisms in patients and controls were evaluated using the χ(2) test and OR. We confirmed an increased risk in subjects with dyslipidemia (high density lipoprotein <59 mg/dL: 17.8% of controls, 43.2% of patients, P = 0.0002; low density lipoprotein >130 mg/dL: 26.7% controls, 54.1% patients, P = 0.0002), arterial hypertension (60% controls, 75.7% patients, P = 0.023), and high body mass index (28.9% controls, 70.3% patients, P < 0.0001, and excluded involvement of the selected polymorphisms in RVO. Overall, the tested polymorphisms did not appear to be useful for assessing predisposition or for the diagnosis and prognosis of RVO.

Investigation on the aerosol performance of dry powder inhalation hypromellose capsules with different lubricant levels.

HPMC capsules are made by a dipping process and a surface lubricant for the mould pins is an essential processing aid for removing dried capsules shells. For the purpose of this study, the level was determined by quantifying methyloleate (MO) a component found in the lubricant but not in the hypromellose capsules. Here we investigated the influence of the lubricant, low (10.81 µg/capsule=60 mg/kg MO), medium (15.97 µg/capsule=90 mg/kg MO) and high (23.23 µg/capsule=127 mg/kg MO) content on powder (binary mixture of salbutamol: lactose, 1:50 w/w) aerosolization properties was investigated. Results indicated significantly lower emitted dose from capsules with 60 mg/kg MO. Furthermore, the 90 and 127 mg/kg MO level of lubricant capsules produced almost double the Fine Particle Dose & Fine Particle Fraction compared with the low level of lubricant. The data indicates that lubricant level within capsules has an influence on deposition profiles and amount of drug remaining in capsule and inhaler device after actuation. It is suggested lubricant levels greater than 60 mg/kg MO per capsule are required to minimise powder retention within capsules and maximise deposition profiles. AFM (atomic force microscopy) data suggest that internal surface roughness may be related with this phenomena.

Sobrepoblación aanina y felina: tendencias y nuevas perspectivas / Canine and feliee overpopulation: trends and new perspectives

A través de una revisión sistemática de la literatura, publicada entre 1973 y 2009, se consultaron las siguientes bases de datos, a saber: ScienceDirect, Ebsco, Springerlink y Medline, para la búsqueda de la información. Como palabras clave se utilizaron: perros de libre ambulación, vínculo animal-humano, población de mascotas, sobrepoblación y control de población. Además se consultó el banco de publicaciones de la Sociedad Mundial para la Protección Animal (WSPA) y la Organización Internacional de Epizootias (OIE). El objetivo de esta revisión fue presentar una posición crítica sobre la problemática de la sobrepoblación de mascotas, su percepción cultural y la relación hombre-animal. Asimismo, los fracasos asociados con esta relación, estableciendo posibles soluciones sin desconocer nuestro marco cultural. Se obtuvo un total de dieciséis referencias, a las que se aplicó los criterios de inclusión y exclusión; los artículos que cumplieron estos criterios son los que constituyeron la unidad de análisis de esta revisión. A medida que aumente nuestro conocimiento acerca de la tenencia responsable de las mascotas, mejorarán nuestros vínculos afectivos con estas. Solo a través de la educación sanitaria se puede adquirir el conocimiento necesario para evitar fracasos con respecto a una tenencia adecuada, de allí la responsabilidad y el papel fundamental que ejerce el médico veterinario en la comunidad.

Through a systematic review of literature comprising publications between 1973 and 2009, the following databases were consulted: Science Direct, EBSCO, Springer Link and MEDLINE. Key words used included stray dogs, animal-human bond, pet population, overpopulation and population control. The databases of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Organization of Epizootics (OIE) were also consulted. The objective of the present review was to present a critical position about the pet overpopulation problem, cultural perception and relationships between human and animals, and failures associated with this relationship with the purpose of establishing possible solutions to the problem taking into consideration cultural issues. A total of 16 references were found, which, we applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Articles that met these criteria are those that constitute the unit of analysis of this review. As the knowledge about responsible ownership of pets is increased, the bond with them is enhanced. Only through health education, it is possible to acquire the necessary knowledge needed to avoid failures with respect to proper keeping. In this respect the veterinarian plays a pivotal role with his community.

[Objective functional compensation in NHIL: INAIL prosthesic protocol in Lombardy, 2007-2010]. / La rimediazione funzionale oggettiva nelle tecnoacusie: il protocollo protesico INAIL in Lombardia, 2007-2010.

Even if NHIL gives already right to economic compensation, our Insurance aimed to real functional compensation, to reduce handicap in everyday life. Together with Professor Giordano, Audioprosthesists' Association and Manufacturers' representatives, INAIL Medical Superintendence started in 2003 a study on this problem, involving some of his forensic physician and ENT staff; in 2007-2009 INAIL issued directives innovating and planning the rules in prosthesis provision, not only acoustical ones. In 2010 started an experimental protocol to rule hearing aid provision in all INAIL centers, throughout Italy. Authors present first results of this protocol in Lombardy, related to previous and national ones.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in dogs from Colombia, South America and genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates.

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in 309 unwanted dogs from Bogotá, Colombia, South America was determined. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT) and found in 52 (16.8%) of 309 dogs with titers of 1:20 in 20, 1:40 in six, 1:80 in 17, 1:160 in three, 1:320 in three, 1:1280 or higher in three. Some organs obtained after necropsy of dogs (hearts, tongues and brains, either separately or pooled) were used in bioassays carried out in mice (37 samples, of which 20 were assayed with separate organs and 17 were assayed with pooled organs), cats (pooled organs from six) and pooled organs of two dogs both in mice and cat. Mice receiving dog tissues were examined for T. gondii infection. Feces of cats that received dog tissues were examined for oocyst shedding. In total, T. gondii was isolated from tissues of 20 dogs (16 by bioassays in mice, 3 by bioassay in cats and 1 by bioassay in mice and cat). All infected mice from 7 of 17 isolates bioassayed in this host died of toxoplasmosis during primary infection. Only 10 of the 20 dogs whose tissues were bioassayed separately induced infections in mice. Interestingly, dog organs varied in their capacity to induce T. gondii infection in mice, hearts and tongues producing more positive results than the brain. The 20 T. gondii isolates obtained from seropositive dogs were PCR-RFLP genotyped using polymorphisms at 10 nuclear markers including SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, a new SAG2 and an apicoplast marker Apico. Ten genotypes were revealed. These genotypes are different from the three predominant Types I, II and III lineages that are widely spread in North America and Europe. A new allele denoted u-3 at PK1 locus was identified in three isolates. This result supports previous findings that T. gondii population is highly diverse in Colombia.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats from Colombia, South America and genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates.

Cats are important in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection because they are the only hosts that can excrete the environmentally-resistant oocysts. In the present study, prevalence of T. gondii was determined in serum, feces, and tissues of 170 unwanted cats from Colombia, South America. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test and found in 77 of 170 (45.2%) cats with titers of <1:5 in 93, 1:5 in eight, 1:10 in 17, 1:20 in 10, 1:40 in seven, 1:80 in four, 1:160 in eight, 1:320 in six, and 1:640 or higher in 17 cats. T. gondii oocysts were not found in feces of any cat as ascertained by bioassay in mice. Tissues (brain, heart, tongue) of 116 cats were bioassayed in mice or cats. T. gondii was isolated from tissues of 15 of the 42 cats with titers of 1:40 or higher and not from any of the 90 cats titers of 1:20 or lower. Of the 29 cats whose tissues were bioassayed individually, T. gondii was isolated from the tongues of nine, hearts of eight, and brains of five. Mice inoculated with tissues of 12 of 15 infected cats died of toxoplasmosis; with nine T. gondii isolates all infected mice died. Overall, 65 of 92 (70%) of T. gondii-infected mice died of toxoplasmosis. Genotyping of these 15 isolates using polymorphisms at the SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, and GRA6 loci revealed that three isolates (TgCtCo1, 2, and 7) had Type I alleles and one isolate (TgCtCo8) had Type II allele at all five loci. Eleven isolates contained the combination of Type I and III alleles and were divided into three genotypes, with TgCtCo3,5,6,9,12,13 and 15 had alleles I, I, III, I and III, TgCtCo4,10,11 had alleles I, III, III, I and I, and TgCtCo14 had alleles I, III, III, III, and III, at loci SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB and GRA6, respectively. All infected mice from each group had identical genotype except one mouse infected with TgCtCo5 had a Type III allele at locus BTUB and a unique allele (u-1) at locus SAG1 indicating mixed infection for TgCtCo5, whereas the rest seven mice had a Type I alleles at both loci.

Colonization of an intralobar pulmonary sequestration by Aspergillus.

Aspergillus is an opportunistic fungus that usually colonizes preexisting lung cavities, especially tuberculous ones. Colonization of a pulmonary sequestration by this germ is exceptional, with just 14 cases reported in the world literature, most of them in Asia. A case is presented of a 48-year-old woman with pleuritic thoracic pain. Simple chest radiology revealed a lower right pulmonary tumor with clear margins and a calcium-type density. CT showed it to correspond to a 6 x 5-cm hypodense mass, which was enhanced at the periphery with intravenous contrast. Aspiration puncture yielded a greenish-yellow pus and the microscopic study strongly suggested Aspergillus, confirmed by culture as Aspergillus fumigatus. Surgery revealed an infected pulmonary sequestration at the lower right lobe, and a lobectomy was performed.

Analysis of oligonucleotides by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Because of the high molecular weights and thermal lability of biomolecules such as nucleic acids and protein, they can be difficult to analyze by mass spectrometry. Such analyses require a "soft" ionization method that is capable of generating intact molecular ions. In addition, most mass analyzers have a limited upper mass range that is not sufficient for studying these large molecules. ESI-MS can be used to analyze molecules with a molecular weight that is larger than the mass-to-charge ratio limit of the analyzer. This unit describes how ESI allows for analysis of high-molecular-weight compounds through the generation of multiply charged ions in the gas phase. It discusses analyzer configurations, solvent selection, and gives protocols for sample preparation. For applications of ESI-MS, the unit discusses molecular weight determination and gives protocols for sequencing and for analyzing oligonucleotide modifications.