Investigation of the Strain-Stress Field in Nanoscale Multilayer Systems by the Phase Plane Method.

This paper presents the results of the study of stress relaxation fields, deformation, and temperature of the system of nanostructured multilayer coatings. In the work, a nonlinear relationship between strain and stress was used to take into account nonlinear effects in the mechanism of nanostructure formation. The paper assumes that a friction surface is provided by the self-organization of shear components: both stress and strain on the one hand, and temperature on the other.

Brain vitamin D-auto/paracrine system in relation to structural, neurophysiological, and behavioral disturbances associated with glucocorticoid-induced neurotoxicity.

Introduction: Vitamin D (VD) is a potent para/autocrine regulator and neurosteroid that can strongly influence nerve cell function and counteract the negative effects of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. The aim of the study was to reveal the relationship between VD status and behavioral, structural-functional and molecular changes associated with GC-induced neurotoxicity.

Methods: Female Wistar rats received synthetic GC prednisolone (5 mg/kg b.

[Borderline personality disorder in clinical outpatient practice].

Objective: To investigate Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and associated psychiatric disorders in real clinical practice.

Material And Methods: Fifty patients (72% female; 36; 28% male; 14, aged 22.4±4.

The link between vitamin D status and NF-κB-associated renal dysfunction in experimental diabetes mellitus.

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is accompanied by numerous side effects, including renal dysfunction. Mounting evidence suggests that overactivation of nuclear factor ĸB (NF-κB) is one of the key triggers of diabetes-associated chronic kidney disease. Vitamin D is considered as a strong modulator of a number of transcription factors, including NF-κB.

Impact of malnutrition on survival in adult patients after elective cardiac surgery: Long-term follow up data.

The data article refers to the paper titles "Impact of malnutrition on long-term survival in adult patients after elective cardiac surgery" [1]. The data refer to the analysis of the relationship between baseline malnutrition and long-term mortality after cardiac surgery. Baseline demographic, nutritional, and medical history data were collected for each enrolled patient.

Effect of stochastic processes on structure formation in nanocrystalline materials under severe plastic deformation.

Based on the nonequilibrium evolution thermodynamics, the structure refinement of metals during severe plastic deformation is investigated. To describe the formation of stationary (limiting) submicrocrystalline or nanocrystalline structures, a two-defect approximation, including the grain boundaries and dislocations, is used. Introduction of the additive noise for the main parameters into the governing equations allowed us to describe the self-consistent behavior of structural defects during the stationary structure formation.

Value of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI data analyzed by the lesion segmentation toolbox in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background: MRI fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) studies reported hyperintensity in the corticospinal tract and corpus callosum of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Purpose: To evaluate the lesion segmentation toolbox (LST) for the objective quantification of FLAIR lesions in ALS patients.

Study Type: Retrospective.

Distributed polarization analysis with binary polarization rotators for the accurate measurement of distance-resolved birefringence along a single-mode fiber.

We describe a first distributed polarization analysis (DPA) system using binary polarization rotators in an optical frequency domain reflectormeter (OFDR) capable of measuring the variations of polarization states along a single-mode fiber (SMF). We demonstrate using such a DPA system to accurately measure the distance-resolved birefringence with 12 fiber loops of different radii with different birefringence values along a length of SMF and obtain a bending-induced birefringence coefficient (BBC) of 6.601 × 10 m, agreeing well with the theoretically estimated value of 5.

Combinatory Biomarker Use of Cortical Thickness, MUNIX, and ALSFRS-R at Baseline and in Longitudinal Courses of Individual Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative process affecting upper and lower motor neurons as well as non-motor systems. In this study, precentral and postcentral cortical thinning detected by structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were combined with clinical (ALS-specific functional rating scale revised, ALSFRS-R) and neurophysiological (motor unit number index, MUNIX) biomarkers in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. The unicenter sample included 20 limb-onset classical ALS patients compared to 30 age-related healthy controls.

Atomistic modeling of tribological properties of Pd and Al nanoparticles on a graphene surface.

The frictional properties of nanoparticles have been studied to gain insight into the fundamental origin of sliding friction. Using molecular dynamics we investigate frictional properties of aluminum and palladium nanoparticles deposited on a graphene layer. We study the time evolution of the total momentum of the system, the total and potential energies, the temperature, the velocity and position of the center of mass, the dimensions of the nanoparticle, and the friction and substrate forces acting on the particle.

Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging-Based Assessment of Tract Alterations: An Application to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

: The potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a technical biomarker for cerebral microstructural alterations in neurodegenerative diseases is under investigation. In this study, a framework for the longitudinal analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based mapping was applied to the assessment of predefined white matter tracts in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as an example for a rapid progressive neurodegenerative disease. : DTI was performed every 3 months in six patients with ALS (mean = 7.

Vitamin D protects against prednisolone-induced liver injury associated with the impairment of the hepatic NF-κB/iNOS/NO pathway.

The study was carried out to define whether prednisolone-induced damage to hepatic cells is accompanied by excessive nitric oxide (NO) levels associated with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)/inducible NO synthase (iNOS) activation and evaluate the efficacy of the treatment with vitamin D. Histopathological examination, activities of liver transaminases (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase), and cell death assays consistently showed that prednisolone (5 mg/kg body weight, 30 days) induces chronic liver injury in female Wistar rats. Specifically, increased hepatocellular necrosis and caspase-3-dependent apoptosis were observed.

High resolution imaging of impacted CFRP composites with a fiber-optic laser-ultrasound scanner.

Damage induced in polymer composites by various impacts must be evaluated to predict a component's post-impact strength and residual lifetime, especially when impacts occur in structures related to human safety (in aircraft, for example). X-ray tomography is the conventional standard to study an internal structure with high resolution. However, it is of little use when the impacted area cannot be extracted from a structure.

Myopathy in Childhood Muscle-Specific Kinase Myasthenia Gravis.

Background: Adult and pediatric patients suffering from MuSK (muscle-specific kinase) -antibody positive myasthenia gravis exhibit similar features to individuals with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies, but they differ in several characteristics such as a predominant bulbar, respiratory and neck weakness, a generally worse disease severity and a tendency to develop muscle atrophy. Muscle atrophy is a rare phenomenon that is usually restricted to the facial muscles.

Results: We describe a girl with MuSK-antibody positive myasthenia gravis who developed a myopathy with severe generalized muscular weakness, muscle atrophy, and myopathic changes on electromyography.

Prednisolone and vitamin D(3) modulate oxidative metabolism and cell death pathways in blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells.

The study was designed to evaluate reactive oxygen species (ROS)/nitric oxide (NO) formation and apoptotic/necrotic cell death elicited by prednisolone in peripheral blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells and to define the efficacy of vitamin D3 to counter glucocorticoid (GC)-induced changes. It was shown that prednisolone (5 mg per kg of female Wistar rat’s body weight for 30 days) evoked ROS and NO overproduction by blood mononuclear cells (monocytes and lymphocytes) that correlated with increased cell apoptosis and necrosis. In contrast, prednisolone did not affect ROS/NO levels in bone marrow mononuclear cells that corresponded to lower level of cell death than in the control.

[APPLICATION OF MINIINVASIVE INTERVENTIONS UNDER ULTRASONOGRAPHIC CONTROL FOR NONPARASITIC HEPATIC CYSTS].

The results of treatment of 21 patients, suffering nonparasitic hepatic cysts, using laparoscopic draining and puncture under ultrasonographic control, were analyzed. Minimal traumaticity of the intervention, absence of necessity to apply general anesthesia, low rate of postoperative morbidity (7.1%), reduction of duration of the patients stationary treatment down to (3.

Correction: Formal [3+2] cycloaddition of Ugi adducts towards pyrrolines.

Correction for 'Formal [3+2] cycloaddition of Ugi adducts towards pyrrolines' by Abdelbari Ben Abdessalem et al., Chem. Commun.

[The ROS-generating and antioxidant systems in the liver of rats treated with prednisolone and vitamin D3].

The mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced disturbances of liver function is currently not fully clarified. Vitamin D3 was previously shown to play an important role in the regulation of impaired oxidative metabolism and detoxification function of the liver associated with the effects of hepatotoxic compounds. The study was undertaken to define the intensity of oxidative metabolism in the rat liver and survival of hepatocytes after prolonged prednisolone administration and to assess whether vitamin D3 is capable to counter glucocorticoid-induced changes.

Formal [3+2] cycloaddition of Ugi adducts towards pyrrolines.

Ugi adducts derived from aromatic aldehydes may be converted to pyrrolines via addition of Michael acceptors under microwave irradiation. The reaction may proceed via unusual formation of azomethine ylides followed by a [3+2] cycloaddition using Michael acceptors.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Impact of pc-ASPECTS Applied to Perfusion CT in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study.

Background And Purpose: The posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT Score (pc-APECTS) applied to CT angiography source images (CTA-SI) predicts the functional outcome of patients in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study (BASICS). We assessed the diagnostic and prognostic impact of pc-ASPECTS applied to perfusion CT (CTP) in the BASICS registry population.

Methods: We applied pc-ASPECTS to CTA-SI and cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and mean transit time (MTT) parameter maps of BASICS patients with CTA and CTP studies performed.

Safety and feasibility of long term administration of recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neuronal disease resulting in a loss of the upper and lower motor neurons and subsequent death within three to four years after diagnosis. Mouse models and preliminary human exposure data suggest that the treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has neuro-protective effects and may delay ALS progression. As data on long-term administration of G-CSF in patients with normal bone marrow (BM) function are scarce, we initiated a compassionate use program including 6 ALS patients with monthly G-CSF treatment cycles.

Integrated slanted microneedle-LED array for optogenetics.

This paper presents a three-dimensional (3-D) flexible micro light emitting diode (μ-LED) array for selective optical stimulation of cortical neurons. The array integrated individually addressable μ-LED chips with slanted polymer-based microneedle waveguides to allow precise light delivery to multiple cortical layers simultaneously. A droplet backside exposure method was developed to monolithically fabricate slanted microneedles on a single polymer platform.

Optical Kerr phase shift in a nanostructured nickel-doped zinc oxide thin solid film.

The optical Kerr effect exhibited by a nickel doped zinc oxide thin solid film was explored with femto- and pico-second pulses using the z-scan method. The samples were prepared by the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique. Opposite signs for the value of the nonlinear refractive index were observed in the two experiments.

[Cholecalciferol hydroxylation in rat hepatocytes under the influence of prednisolone].

Glucocorticoid therapy is accompanied by development of processes typical of steroid osteoporosis. Indirect effects of glucocorticoids on the bone tissue are due to changes in mineral metabolism, which is regulated by vitamin D3. In this connection, we studied the influence of prednisolone on cholecalciferol metabolism.