Inexact Picard iterative scheme for steady-state nonlinear diffusion in random heterogeneous media.

In this paper, we present a numerical scheme for the analysis of steady-state nonlinear diffusion in random heterogeneous media. The key idea is to iteratively solve the nonlinear stochastic governing equations via an inexact Picard iteration scheme, wherein the nonlinear constitutive law is linearized using the current guess of the solution. The linearized stochastic governing equations are then spatially discretized and approximately solved using stochastic reduced basis projection schemes.

Laparoscopic Simulators : Are They Useful!

Background: Laparoscopic surgery has changed the face of medical care forever. The benefits of laparoscopic open surgery have been demonstrated in virtually all major abdominal surgical procedures. Laparoscopy has introduced a new skill set that must be mastered and requires dedicated training.

A calcium binding protein from cell wall of Neurospora crassa.

Isolated cell wall preparations of N. crassa bind significant levels of Ca, Mg and other divalent cations. Enzymatic treatment of the cell wall with beta-(1,3)-glucanase, but not with chitinase, resulted in solubilization of only the calcium-binding protein fraction.

Long-term outcome of intensive initial immunosuppression protocol in pediatric deceased donor renal transplantation.

To report the long-term outcome of deceased donor kidney transplantation in children with emphasis on the use of an intensive initial immunosuppression protocol using R-ATG as antibody induction. Between January 1991 and December 1997, 82 deceased donor kidney transplantations were performed in 75 pediatric recipients. Mean recipient age at transplantation was 12.

NMR investigations on residue level unfolding thermodynamics in DLC8 dimer by temperature dependent native state hydrogen exchange.

Understanding protein stability at residue level detail in the native state ensemble of a protein is crucial to understanding its biological function. At the same time, deriving thermodynamic parameters using conventional spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques remains a major challenge for some proteins due to protein aggregation and irreversibility of denaturation at higher temperature values. In this regard, we describe here the NMR investigations on the conformational stabilities and related thermodynamic parameters such as local unfolding enthalpies, heat capacities and transition midpoints in DLC8 dimer, by using temperature dependent native state hydrogen exchange; this protein aggregates at high (>65 degrees C) temperatures.

Impact of hepatitis C virus infection on children and their caregivers: quality of life, cognitive, and emotional outcomes.

Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with decreased quality of life (QOL) and neurocognitive dysfunction in adults, but little is known about its impact on children and their caregivers.

Patients And Methods: We studied the QOL, behavioral, emotional, and cognitive functioning of 114 treatment-naïve children with HCV enrolled in a placebo-controlled, randomized, multisite clinical trial evaluating peginterferon alpha-2a alone or with ribavirin. Baseline assessment included measures of children's QOL, cognitive functioning, behavioral adaptation, and depression.

MediNet: personalizing the self-care process for patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease using mobile telephony.

This paper describes MediNet, a mobile healthcare system that is being developed to personalize the self-care process for patients with both diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These two diseases were chosen based on their interrelationship. Patients with diabetes are at least twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke as compared to persons without diabetes.

Oral lactoferrin for the treatment of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates.

Background: Neonatal sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) cause significant neonatal mortality and morbidity in spite of appropriate antibiotic therapy. Enhancing host defence and modulating inflammation by using lactoferrin as an adjunct to antibiotics in the treatment of sepsis and/or NEC may improve clinical outcomes.

Objectives: The primary objective is to assess safety and efficacy of oral lactoferrin as an adjunct to antibiotics in the treatment of neonates with suspected or confirmed sepsis and/or NEC.

Robotic ultrasound-guided prostate intervention device: system description and results from phantom studies.

Background: We introduce the first robotic ultrasound-guided prostate intervention device and evaluate its safety, accuracy and repeatability.

Methods: The robotic positioning system (RPS) determines a target's x, y and z axes. It is situated with a biplane ultrasound probe on a mobile horizontal platform.

Research priorities to reduce global mortality from newborn infections by 2015.

Background: Newborn infections are responsible for approximately one-third of the estimated 4.0 million neonatal deaths that occur globally every year. Appropriately targeted research is required to guide investment in effective interventions, especially in low resource settings.

2-{2-[3-(1H-Benzimidazol-2-yl)quinolin-2-yl-oxy]eth-oxy}ethanol.

In the title compound, C(20)H(19)N(3)O(3), the inter-planar angle between the benzimidazole unit and the quinoline unit is 25.1 (2)°. Two different hydrogen bonds involving the hydr-oxy group and the imidazole unit are present.

3-(1H-Benzimidazol-2-yl)-2-chloro-8-methyl-quinoline.

Two independent mol-ecules of the title compound, C(17)H(12)ClN(3), are present in the structure. The angle between the planes defined by the atoms of the benzimidazole unit and the quinoline unit are 45.2 (3) and 44.

Growth of InAs Quantum Dots on Germanium Substrate Using Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition Technique.

Self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) were grown on germanium substrates by metal organic chemical vapor deposition technique. Effects of growth temperature and InAs coverage on the size, density, and height of quantum dots were investigated. Growth temperature was varied from 400 to 450 °C and InAs coverage was varied between 1.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease and congenital hepatic fibrosis (ARPKD/CHF).

ARPKD/CHF is an inherited disease characterized by non-obstructive fusiform dilatation of the renal collecting ducts leading to enlarged spongiform kidneys and ductal plate malformation of the liver resulting in congenital hepatic fibrosis. ARPKD/CHF has a broad spectrum of clinical presentations involving the kidney and liver. Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and follow-up of ARPKD/CHF.

Management of Hinchey II diverticulitis.

Colonic diverticulosis can either be asymptomatic or present with complications resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. A key presentation of complicated disease is abscess formation (Hinchey type II). The natural course of this is unclear and therefore treatments range from conservative approach with antibiotics and percutaneous guided drainage (PCD) to surgery.

Care-seeking practices in rural Rajasthan: barriers and facilitating factors.

Poor care seeking contributes significantly to high neonatal mortality in developing countries. The study was conducted to identify care-seeking patterns for sick newborns in rural Rajasthan, India, and to understand family perceptions and circumstances that explain these patterns. Of the 290 mothers interviewed when the infant was 1 to 2 months of age, 202 (70%) reported at least one medical condition during the neonatal period that would have required medical care, and 106 (37%) reported a danger sign during the illness.

Hierarchy in guanidine unfolding of DLC8 dimer: regulatory functional implications.

Folding-unfolding caused by environmental changes play crucial regulatory roles in protein functions. To gain an insight into these for DLC8, a cargo adaptor in dynein motor complex, we investigated here the unfolding of homodimeric DLC8 by GdnHCl, a standard unfolding agent. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed a three-state unfolding transition with midpoints at 1.

Marked calpastatin (CAST) depletion in Alzheimer's disease accelerates cytoskeleton disruption and neurodegeneration: neuroprotection by CAST overexpression.

Increased activity of calpains is implicated in synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The molecular mechanisms responsible for increased calpain activity in AD are not known. Here, we demonstrate that disease progression is propelled by a marked depletion of the endogenous calpain inhibitor, calpastatin (CAST), from AD neurons, which is mediated by caspase-1, caspase-3, and calpains.

Horseshoe kidney: retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy.

The ideal approach for nephrectomy in the child with horseshoe kidney is debatable. We present two such children who underwent nephrectomy by a retroperitoneoscopic approach. Recognition of its anatomical variation is essential in the management of horseshoe kidney.

A comparative analysis of metal transportomes from metabolically versatile Pseudomonas.

Background: The availability of complete genome sequences of versatile Pseudomonas occupying remarkably diverse ecological niches enabled to gain insights into their adaptative assets. The objective of this study was to analyze the complete genetic repertoires of metal transporters (metal transportomes) from four representative Pseudomonas species and to identify metal transporters with "Genomic Island" associated features.

Methods: A comparative metal transporter inventory was built for the following four Pseudomonas species: P.

Residue-wise conformational stability of DLC8 dimer from native-state hydrogen exchange.

Dynein light chain (DLC8) is the smallest subunit of the dynein motor complex, which is known to act as a cargo adaptor in intracellular trafficking. The protein exists as a pure dimer at physiological pH and a completely folded monomer below pH 4. Here, we have determined the energy landscape of the dimeric protein using a combination of optical techniques and native-state hydrogen exchange of amide groups, the former giving the global features and the latter yielding the residue level details.