Meteorological influences on nitrogen dynamics of a coastal onsite wastewater treatment system.

On-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) can contribute nitrogen (N) to coastal waters. In coastal areas with shallow groundwater, OWTS are likely affected by meteorological events. However, the meteorological influences on temporal variability of N exports from OWTS are not well documented. Hydrogeological characterization and seasonal monitoring of wastewater and groundwater quality were conducted at a residence adjacent to the Pamlico River Estuary, North Carolina, during a 2-yr field study (October 2009-2011). Rainfall was elevated during the first study year, relative to the annual mean. In the second year, drought was followed by extreme precipitation from Hurricane Irene. Recent meteorological conditions influenced N speciation and concentrations in groundwater. Groundwater total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) beneath the OWTS drainfield was dominated by nitrate during the drought; during wetter periods, ammonium and organic N were common. Effective precipitation (precipitation [P] minus evapotranspiration [ET]) affected OWTS TDN exports because of its influence on groundwater recharge and discharge. Groundwater nitrate-N concentrations beneath the drainfield were typically higher than 10 mg/L when total biweekly precipitation was less than evapotranspiration (precipitation deficit: P < ET). Overall, groundwater TDN concentrations were elevated above background concentrations at distances >15 m downgradient of the drainfield. Although OWTS nitrate inputs caused elevated groundwater nitrate concentrations between the drainfield and the estuary, the majority of nitrate was attenuated via denitrification between the OWTS and 48 m to the estuary. However, DON originating from the OWTS was mobile and contributed to elevated TDN concentrations along the groundwater flowpath to the estuary.

Onsite wastewater system nitrogen contributions to groundwater in coastal North Carolina.

The objective of the study described in this article was to evaluate the nitrogen contributions from two onsite wastewater systems (sites 1 and 2) to groundwater and adjacent surface waters in coastal Beaufort County, North Carolina. Groundwater levels and water quality parameters including total nitrogen, nitrogen species, temperature, and pH were monitored from October 2009 to May 2010. Nitrogen was also tested in groundwater from deeper irrigation or drinking water wells from the two sites and six additional neighboring residences. Mean total nitrogen concentrations in groundwater beneath onsite wastewater systems 1 and 2 were 34.3 +/- 16.7 mg/L and 12.2 +/- 2.9 mg/L, respectively, and significantly higher than background groundwater concentrations (< 1 mg/L). Groundwater in the deeper wells appeared not to be influenced by the onsite systems. Groundwater nitrogen concentrations typically decreased with distance down-gradient from the systems, but were still elevated relative to background conditions more than 15 m from the systems and near the estuary. This was a pioneering effort to better understand the link of onsite systems, the fate of nitrogen in the environment, and public health.

Human papillomavirus infection and lung adenocarcinoma: special benefit is observed in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Human papilloma virus (HPV) has been associated with the development and modulation of response in a series of neoplasms. In the case of lung adenocarcinoma, its role in etiology and pathogenesis is still controversial. Considering that this infection brings foreign epitopes, it could be of prognostic significance in patients with lung adenocarcinoma treated with immunotherapy. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study we evaluated the presence of HPV genomic material in lung adenocarcinoma primary lesions with the INNO-LiPA platform. Viral replication was also evaluated by detecting the presence of oncoprotein E6/E7 messenger RNA (mRNA) by quantitative RT-PCR. To confirm possible hypotheses regarding viral oncogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1) were evaluated with stromal fibrosis and immunoscore. RESULTS: A total of 133 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 34 tested positive for HPV, reaching an estimated prevalence of 25.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 18.2% to 32.9%]. E6/7 mRNA was identified in 28 out of the 34 previously positive cases (82.3%). In immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-treated patients, the median overall survival reached 22.3 months [95% CI 19.4 months- not reached (NR)] for HPV-negative and was not reached in HPV-positive (HPV+) ones (95% CI 27.7-NR; P = 0.008). With regard to progression-free survival, HPV- patients reached a median of 9.2 months (95% CI 7.9-11.2 months) compared to 14.3 months (95% CI 13.8-16.4 months) when HPV was positive (P = 0.001). The overall response rate for HPV+ patients yielded 82.4% compared to 47.1% in negative ones. No differences regarding programmed death-ligand 1, VEGF, HIF1, stromal fibrosis, or immunoscore were identified. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HPV+ lung adenocarcinoma, a significant benefit in overall response and survival outcomes is observed.

Elevated aggrecanase activity in a rat model of joint injury is attenuated by an aggrecanase specific inhibitor.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate aggrecanase activity after traumatic knee injury in a rat model by measuring the level of aggrecanase-generated Ala-Arg-Gly-aggrecan (ARG-aggrecan) fragments in synovial fluid, and compare with ARG-aggrecan release into joint fluid following human knee injury. To evaluate the effect of small molecule inhibitors on induced aggrecanase activity in the rat model. METHOD: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to measure ARG-aggrecan levels in animal and human joint fluids. A rat model of meniscal tear (MT)-induced joint instability was used to assess ARG-aggrecan release into joint fluid and the effects of aggrecanase inhibition. Synovial fluids were also obtained from patients with acute joint injury or osteoarthritis and assayed for ARG-aggrecan. RESULTS: Joint fluids from human patients after knee injury showed significantly enhanced levels of ARG-aggrecan compared to uninjured reference subjects. Similarly, synovial fluid ARG-aggrecan levels increased following surgically-induced joint instability in the rat MT model, which was significantly attenuated by orally dosing the animals with AGG-523, an aggrecanase specific inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Aggrecanase-generated aggrecan fragments were rapidly released into human and rat joint fluids after injury to the knee and remained elevated over a prolonged period. Our findings in human and preclinical models strengthen the connection between aggrecanase activity in joints and knee injury and disease. The ability of a small molecule aggrecanase inhibitor to reduce the release of aggrecanase-generated aggrecan fragments into rat joints suggests that pharmacologic inhibition of aggrecanase activity in humans may be an effective treatment for slowing cartilage degradation following joint injury.

A new graph of soil Rn-gas transport: Radon-rose plot.

Soil radon gas movement depends on soil geology, environmental thermodynamic parameters and, micro-seismic telluric activity. Mapping radon time dependent concentration at the relaxation depth in a selected area, provide transport direction in a seismically high-risk region. Nuclear track methodology is employed to determine main gradient vector for radon transport. Applying the gradient definition, a "radon rose" graph is constructed from which prone area can be promptly identified. Results show that short time interval, Rn-transport direction may change unpredictably, however, the length of each "spoke" around the circle provides information on the soil Rn-gas probable shifts towards or from a direction per time interval. The new graph is a novelty and provide improved approach for environmental protection and radon dosimetry.

Spatial Frequency Components of Images Modulate Neuronal Activity in Monkey Amygdala.

Processing the spatial frequency components of an image is a crucial feature for visual perception, especially in recognition of faces. Here, we study the correlation between spatial frequency components of images of faces and neuronal activity in monkey amygdala while performing a visual recognition task. The frequency components of the images were analyzed using a fast Fourier transform for 40 spatial frequency ranges. We recorded 65 neurons showing statistically significant responses to at least one of the images used as a stimulus. A total of 37 of these neurons (n = 37) showed significant responses to at least three images, and in eight of them (8/37, 22%), we found a statistically significant correlation between neuron response and the modulus amplitude of at least one frequency range present in the images. Our results indicate that high spatial frequency and low spatial frequency components of images influence the activity of amygdala neurons.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a population with or at risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: indications for intensive chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: An increased risk of malignancies, including Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is found in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Treatment of such patients may be complicated by their underlying immunodeficiency, especially when aggressive regimens are used. Clinical presentation and treatment outcomes were assessed in 31 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who had or were at risk for infection with HIV-1 at a single community institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Lymphomas presented in advanced stages and involved extranodal sites. Twenty-six patients received therapy (two radiation, one surgery), and a total of 23 patients received chemotherapy. RESULTS: A 52 percent response rate was seen with the use of chemotherapy. A history of opportunistic infections, or Kaposi's sarcoma, or both impacted negatively on the ability to achieve a complete response. Sixty-four percent of the 11 patients who received an intensive chemotherapeutic regimen, MACOP-B (methotrexate, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, bleomycin) had complete remissions. Overall median survival for 23 patients who received chemotherapy was seven months. Patients achieving complete responses had a median survival of 20 months. CONCLUSION: Our results support intensive chemotherapy for patients with lymphoma and HIV-1 infection.

Response latencies to visual stimulation and disparity sensitivity in single cells of the awake Macaca mulatta visual cortex.

The onset response latencies to dynamic random dot figures (solid figures) and dynamic random dot stereograms were measured in single units recorded from areas V1 and V2 of two awake Macaca mulatta monkeys. We studied 56 cells, 39 from V1 and 17 from V2. In 14 disparity sensitive and 13 disparity unsensitive cells from V1 the median latencies to solid figures were 59.8 and 73.6 ms, respectively, which were statistically different. In 26 disparity sensitive cells from V1 and 17 from V2 the median latencies to stereofigures were 85.6 and 97.9 ms, respectively, which were statistically different. These results indicate that V1 disparity sensitive cells may have shorter integration time than disparity unsensitive cells and that there is a transferring delay for disparity information between areas V1 and V2.

[Effect of sildenafil citrate on the cortical visual responses]. / Efecto del citrato de sildenafilo sobre las respuestas visuales corticales.

OBJECTIVE: To study the possible effect of oral sildenafil citrate on the response of cortical visual cells to visual stimulation. METHOD: Multiunit activity was recorded from cortical area V2 of one behaving monkey. Spatio-temporal receptive field maps were obtained by using a reverse cross correlation technique and white noise visual stimulation before and after oral administration of sildenafil citrate. RESULTS: The receptive field maps showed a reduction in response latency after administration of sildenafil citrate. CONCLUSIONS: Since sildenafil citrate is an inhibitor of retinal phosphodiesterase-6, an enhancement on light sensitivity in the photoreceptors is proposed as the cause of the observed reduction in response latency (Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol 2002; 77: 241-246).

[Malignant tumors of extrahepatic bile ducts]. / Tumores malignos de los conductos biliares extrahepáticos.

In connection with increased incidence of extrahepatic bile duct cancer, clinicalpathological characteristics, treatment and prognosis of this particular tumor are revised on the basis of data obtained from patients series observed by the authors and from those of the reference.

Amazonia through time: Andean uplift, climate change, landscape evolution, and biodiversity.

The Amazonian rainforest is arguably the most species-rich terrestrial ecosystem in the world, yet the timing of the origin and evolutionary causes of this diversity are a matter of debate. We review the geologic and phylogenetic evidence from Amazonia and compare it with uplift records from the Andes. This uplift and its effect on regional climate fundamentally changed the Amazonian landscape by reconfiguring drainage patterns and creating a vast influx of sediments into the basin. On this "Andean" substrate, a region-wide edaphic mosaic developed that became extremely rich in species, particularly in Western Amazonia. We show that Andean uplift was crucial for the evolution of Amazonian landscapes and ecosystems, and that current biodiversity patterns are rooted deep in the pre-Quaternary.

Receptive field organization of disparity-sensitive cells in Macaque medial superior temporal cortex.

Binocular disparities are crucial for building an accurate three-dimensional representation of the peripersonal environment in a viewer-centred frame of reference. Previous studies have shown that visual cells of the medial superior temporal cortex (MST) have large receptive fields and that they are sensitive to disparities present in large surfaces. By using a reverse cross-correlation technique in this study we tested 175 disparity-sensitive units recorded from MST in the awake Macaca mulatta monkey to determine if these large receptive fields are homogeneous in terms of disparity sensitivity. We found that the receptive fields of 50 cells (50 out of 175, 29%) showed subregions with specific disparity sensitivity. These subregions presented eccentricities from 0.8 to 22.3 degrees and their sizes varied from 1.6 to 15.3 degrees 2. This particular receptive field organization represents a suitable mechanism for encoding the location of small objects within our peripersonal space.

[Multiple myeloma in young adults]. / Mieloma múltiple en el adulto joven.

Two unusual cases of multiple myeloma are studied. The patients were young (27 and 36 year old respectively), and showed a slowly progressing disease and a poor response to therapy. This confirms the criterion that chemotherapy is only useful in symptomatic and progressive cases of multiple myeloma.

[The recording of renal cortical blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry]. / Registro del flujo sanguíneo cortical renal mediante flujometría láser-Doppler.

Several techniques are available for measuring the microcirculation. The results, however, cannot be extrapolated due to the different, intricate microvasculature of each organ system. We measured the renal cortical blood flow using laser Doppler flowmetry. This flowmeter permits blood flow measurements of very small areas of tissue. Precise information from selected areas, such as the renal cortex, can thus be obtained. The results are expressed in perfusion units (PU).

[Antiulcerogenic properties of bran rice oil in rats]. / Estudio de las propiedades antiulcógenas del aceite de salvado de arroz (ASA) en la rata.

A study was made of the effect of rice chaff oil (ASA) on gastroduodenal ulcer (UGD) induced by different techniques: cysteaminium chloride, indomethacin, artificial gastric juices and stress (acidity, histamine, pepsin and volume of gastric juice were evaluated). For each technique the same protocol was followed: four days before the experiment 20 Wistar rats (180-220 g) were divided into a control group (0.2 ml/day of saline solution per os) and a treated group (0.2 ml/day of oral rice chaff oil). After quantitation of the ulcers and statistical analysis of the data, the ulcer index was found to be smaller in the treated group than in controls, both for stress ulcers (p less than 0.01) and for those induced by indomethacin (p less than 0.001) and artificial gastric juice (p less than 0.001). As for the cysteaminium chloride technique, an evaluation was made of the ulcer per se and the inflammatory halo; in both cases there were significant differences (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01 respectively) between the treated group and controls. No significant differences were found on comparing the values off histamine, pepsin and the volume of gastric juices, but there were differences in hydrogen ion concentration (p less than 0.05). An analysis is made of the physiologic aspects studied in each technique, emphasizing the possible implication of prostaglandins (PG) and alpha-tocopherol after treatment with rice chaff oil.