Draft genome sequence of Pontibacter sp. nov. BAB1700, a halotolerant, industrially important bacterium.

Pontibacter sp. nov. BAB1700 is a halotolerant, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, pink-pigmented, menaquinone-7-producing bacterium isolated from sediments of a drilling well. The draft genome sequence of the strain, consisting of one chromosome of 4.5 Mb, revealed vital gene clusters involved in vitamin biosynthesis and resistance against various metals and antibiotics.

Can we reduce excision margins for head and neck melanoma? A 12-year retrospective study.

Although wide local excision is the standard treatment for primary melanoma, the surgical margin remains controversial. Melanomas of the head and neck exhibit higher recurrence rates and worse prognosis than lesions in other body locations, and their close proximity to critical anatomical and functional structures means that wide excision margins are often not feasible. Surgeons must therefore achieve a balance of oncological safety and functional and aesthetic needs. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyse melanoma data over a 12-year period at a large skin surgery unit to identify potential differences in outcomes in patients who had reduced wide local excision margins for primary head and neck melanoma. The study would provide further evidence for the need for large randomised prospective trials to reduce excision margins for head and neck melanoma. Local cancer network data were retrospectively analysed over a period of 12 years (2008-2019). Data included site, initial stage, multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting recommendations for excision margins and the actual wide local excision margin taken, recurrence rate, and disease-specific and absolute survival. A total of 222/305 patients (73%) had the recommended excision margin, while in 27% margins were reduced due to anatomical or functional considerations. Recurrence rates were similar (recommended 11.7% vs narrow 13.3% excision margins) (p = 0.64). The mean follow-up time for all patients was 48.5 months. In aesthetically and functionally sensitive areas of the head and neck, wide local excision margins need to be carefully considered after MDT discussion and discussion with the patient. This study suggests the need for further multicentre trials to address the uniqueness of head and neck melanoma.

Scaling of circulation in buoyancy generated vortices.

The temporal evolution of the fluid circulation generated by a buoyancy force when two-dimensional (2D) arrays of 2D thermals are released into a quiescent incompressible fluid is studied through the results of numerous lattice Boltzmann simulations. It is observed that the circulation magnitude grows to a maximum value in a finite time. When both the maximum circulation and the time at which it occurs are nondimensionalised by appropriately defined characteristic scales, it is shown that two simple Prandtl number (Pr) dependent scaling relations can be devised that fit these data very well over nine decades of Pr spanning the viscous and diffusive regimes and six decades of Rayleigh number (Ra) in the low Ra regime. Also, obtained analytically is the exact result that circulation magnitude continues to grow in time for a 2D laminar or turbulent single buoyant (3D) vortex ring in an infinite unbounded fluid.

Simplification of local energy transfer theory of incompressible, isotropic, nonstationary turbulence.

We show that the simplification or reduction of dimension in the local energy transfer (LET) theory of incompressible, isotropic, nonstationary turbulence can be achieved by using the transitive property of the propagator with respect to intermediate times along with the supplemental equation Q (k;t,t) =H (k;t, t') Q (k;t,t') and not along with the Q (k;t,t') =H (k;t, t') Q (k;t',t') , which has been suggested by Phys. Rev. E 63, 026308 (2001)]. Further, we point out that the analysis presented by Oberlack et al. for the limiting case of viscosity approaching zero is incorrect and does not comply with the numerical solutions of LET theory.

Probability density function model equation for particle charging in a homogeneous dusty plasma.

In this paper, we use the direct interaction approximation (DIA) to obtain an approximate integrodifferential equation for the probability density function (PDF) of charge (q) on dust particles in homogeneous dusty plasma. The DIA is used to solve the closure problem which appears in the PDF equation due to the interactions between the phase space density of plasma particles and the phase space density of dust particles. The equation simplifies to a differential form under the condition when the fluctuations in phase space density for plasma particles change very rapidly in time and is correlated for very short times. The result is a Fokker-Planck type equation with extra terms having third and fourth order differentials in q, which account for the discrete nature of distribution of plasma particles and the interaction between fluctuations. Approximate macroscopic equations for the time evolution of the average charge and the higher order moments of the fluctuations in charge on the dust particles are obtained from the differential PDF equation. These equations are computed, in the case of a Maxwellian plasma, to show the effect of density fluctuations of plasma particles on the statistics of dust charge.

Dispersed phase of particles in rotating turbulent fluid flows.

Certain effects, caused by rotating turbulent fluid flows in the presence of gravitational force, for transport of particles dispersed in fluid are suggested and quantified through kinetic or probability density function approach based macroscopic equations. These results are exact when turbulent fluctuations in fluid velocity along the particle path have Gaussian distribution.

Posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft.

Although the management of the PCL-injured knee remains controversial, there is a group of patients who will develop accelerated traumatic arthritis in whom surgical intervention is warranted. PCL reconstruction with a patellar tendon graft can reliably restore objective stability in over 90% of patients. Strict attention to detail, however, especially with respect to tunnel placement, is necessary to insure success.

Chronic organo axial volvulus of stomach.

A male patient was hospitalised for recurrent epigastric pain, abdominal fullness and vomiting. Peptic ulcer was suspected. Barium studies revealed the presence of chronic organo-axial volvulus of stomach. Anterior gastropexy associated with subdiaphragmatic displacement of transverse colon was done with satisfactory results.

Oxidative stress in prostate cancer: changing research concepts towards a novel paradigm for prevention and therapeutics.

A mounting body of evidence suggests that increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is linked to aging processes and to the etiopathogenesis of aging-related diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis and degenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Excess ROS are deleterious to normal cells, while in cancer cells, they can lead to accelerated tumorigenesis. In prostate cancer (PC), oxidative stress, an innate key event characterized by supraphysiological ROS concentrations, has been identified as one of the hallmarks of the aggressive disease phenotype. Specifically, oxidative stress is associated with PC development, progression and the response to therapy. Nevertheless, a thorough understanding of the relationships between oxidative stress, redox homeostasis and the activation of proliferation and survival pathways in healthy and malignant prostate remains elusive. Moreover, the failure of chemoprevention strategies targeting oxidative stress reduced the level of interest in the field after the recent negative results of the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) trial. Therefore, a revisit of the concept is warranted and several key issues need to be addressed: The consequences of changes in ROS levels with respect to altered redox homeostasis and redox-regulated processes in PC need to be established. Similarly, the key molecular events that cause changes in the generation of ROS in PC and the role for therapeutic strategies aimed at ameliorating oxidative stress need to be identified. Moreover, the issues whether genetic/epigenetic susceptibility for oxidative stress-induced prostatic carcinogenesis is an individual phenomenon and what measurements adequately quantify prostatic oxidative stress are also crucial. Addressing these matters will provide a more rational basis to improve the design of redox-related clinical trials in PC. This review summarizes accepted concepts and principles in redox research, and explores their implications and limitations in PC.

Draft Genome Sequence of Brevibacillus sp. Strain BAB-2500, a Strain That Might Play an Important Role in Agriculture.

A Gram-positive bacterium, Brevibacillus sp. strain BAB-2500, was isolated as a lab contaminant in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. The draft genome (5.3 Mb) of the strain possesses genes for the reduction of arsenate and aluminum. These findings might provide insights into the utilization of this strain for improving crop production.