Bacterial Nanocellulose/MoS Hybrid Aerogels as Bifunctional Adsorbent/Photocatalyst Membranes for Water Decontamination.

To address the problems associated with the use of unsupported nanomaterials, in general, and molybdenum disulfide (MoS), in particular, we report the preparation of self-supported hybrid aerogel membranes that combine the mechanical stability and excellent textural properties of bacterial nanocellulose (BC)-based organic macro/mesoporous scaffolds with the excellent adsorption-cum-photocatalytic properties and high contaminant removal performance of MoS nanostructures. A controlled hydrothermal growth and precise tuning of the synthetic parameters allowed us to obtain BC/MoS-based porous, self-supported, and stable hybrid aerogels with a unique morphology resulting from a molecular precision in the coating of quantum-confined photocatalytic MoS nanostructures (2-4 nm crystallite size) on BC nanofibrils. These BC/MoS samples exhibit high surface area (97-137 m·g) and pore volume (0.

A passive, camera-based head-tracking system for real-time, three-dimensional estimation of head position and orientation in rodents.

Tracking head position and orientation in small mammals is crucial for many applications in the field of behavioral neurophysiology, from the study of spatial navigation to the investigation of active sensing and perceptual representations. Many approaches to head tracking exist, but most of them only estimate the 2D coordinates of the head over the plane where the animal navigates. Full reconstruction of the pose of the head in 3D is much more more challenging and has been achieved only in handful of studies, which employed headsets made of multiple LEDs or inertial units.

Fodis: Software for Protein Unfolding Analysis.

The folding dynamics of proteins at the single-molecule level has been studied with single-molecule force spectroscopy experiments for 20 years, but a common standardized method for the analysis of the collected data and for sharing among the scientific community members is still not available. We have developed a new open-source tool-Fodis-for the analysis of the force-distance curves obtained in single-molecule force spectroscopy experiments, providing almost automatic processing, analysis, and classification of the obtained data. Our method provides also a classification of the possible unfolding pathways and the structural heterogeneity present during the unfolding of proteins.

Actin Waves Do Not Boost Neurite Outgrowth in the Early Stages of Neuron Maturation.

During neurite development, Actin Waves (AWs) emerge at the neurite base and move up to its tip, causing a transient retraction of the Growth Cone (GC). Many studies have shown that AWs are linked to outbursts of neurite growth and, therefore, contribute to the fast elongation of the nascent axon. Using long term live cell-imaging, we show that AWs do not boost neurite outgrowth and that neurites without AWs can elongate for several hundred microns.

Mass and surface fractal in supercritical dried silica aerogels prepared with additions of sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Silica wet gels were prepared from hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with additions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The surfactant was removed after gelation. Wet gels exhibited mass-fractal structure with mass-fractal dimension D (typically around 2.

Repair of distal biceps tendon acute ruptures with two suture anchors and anterior mini-open single incision technique: clinical follow-up and isokinetic evaluation.

Background: All the techniques described in literature for treatment of acute distal biceps tendon ruptures provide good functional outcomes. The purpose of this study is to report the results of a single limited-incision technique for repair of acute distal biceps ruptures using two suture anchors.

Materials And Methods: Fourteen patients, all man, were treated consecutively from one author between January 2009 and December 2011 and evaluated at a mean follow-up of 26 months.

Effect of vitamin C on forearm blood flow and glucose metabolism in essential hypertension.

In 9 patients with essential hypertension, we tested whether a high-dose (12 mg. min(-1)) vitamin C infusion into the brachial artery, by improving endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, would also attenuate the insulin resistance of deep forearm tissues. We measured the effect of vitamin C on acetylcholine (Ach)-induced vasodilatation and on forearm glucose uptake during systemic hyperinsulinemia; in all studies, the contralateral forearm served as the control.

Extensimetric monitoring of healing in the treatment with the Ilizarov apparatus. A multicenter clinical trial.

The results of a multicentric review are reported using the extensimetric instrumentation applied to the Ilizarov device. This clinical trial the follows same theoretical and experimental preliminary studies, outlines the advantages and current limits of the method, and sets the bases for further clinical and experimental research.

Mechanical monitoring of fracture healing using ultrasound imaging.

Ultrasound scanning is based on biologic noninvasive use of high-frequency sonic vibration ultrasounds to obtain images of diagnostic relevance in vivo. Ultrasound scanning was used as an additional parameter in evaluation of healing of long bone fractures in patients treated by external fixation devices. Ultrasound image morphology is directly correlated to consolidation of fracture site and displays characteristic cuspid-like shapes in relationship to callus remodeling in response to axial forces.

Cemented hip prostheses: modular screw system.

The long-term results of 21 patients treated with modular screw cementless hip prostheses are reported. An examination of periprosthetic osteogenesis and function evaluated by gait analysis revealed good incorporation of the prosthesis and good clinical results in all of the cases studied.

External callus development on ultrasound and its mechanical correlation.

The authors compare the variations in the ultrasonographic and radiographic images with the strain gage values in long bone fractures treated by external fixation. The three test parameters were applied during the entire healing process of 239 fractures. There is a direct correlation between ultrasonographic changes and the calcification of the periosteal callus; there is also a correlation between the morphologic development visible on ultrasound and the stage of the callus.

Coronary hemodynamics and myocardial metabolism in patients with syndrome X: response to pacing stress.

Coronary hemodynamics, myocardial metabolism and left ventricular function at rest and after incremental atrial pacing were evaluated in 12 patients with stress-induced angina and ST segment depression, angiographically normal coronary arteries and no evidence of spasm, generally labeled as syndrome X, and in 10 normal subjects. At baseline study, great cardiac vein flow was comparable in patients and control subjects. During pacing, an equivalent rate-pressure product was reached in the two groups, but the slope of the relation between rate-pressure product and great cardiac vein flow was significantly less steep in patients than in normal subjects (0.

Natural course of treated pulmonary embolism. Evaluation by perfusion lung scintigraphy, gas exchange, and chest roentgenogram.

Perfusion lung scintigrams, pulmonary gas exchange data, and chest roentgenograms were obtained in 33 patients during acute embolism and over the following six months in order to assess their clinical usefulness in monitoring the effect of therapy. To this purpose, the measurement of pulmonary gas exchange and the presence of chest x-ray findings were compared with perfusion lung scintigraphic abnormalities both at diagnosis and after 7, 30, and 180 days during treatment. More than 50 percent of the pulmonary arterial tree was obstructed at diagnosis, and a large part of perfusion recovery was complete within the first month.

Ultrasonography in the evaluation of osteogenesis in fractures treated with Hoffmann external fixation.

The possibilities of ultrasonography demonstrating periosteal callus and osteogenesis at the fracture focus are described. Illustrative cases are presented and the advantages of this technique are discussed. It is emphasized that ultrasonography is a noninvasive technique that may be repeated as often as is necessary.

The effect of portocaval shunt on hepatic glycogen stores during fasting.

The effect of a prolonged fast was studied in surgically portocaval shunted (PCS) rats. This shunt excludes the liver from the direct effect of pancreatic and enteric hormones, thus facilitating the study of the biochemical and metabolic effects of these hormones. In portocaval shunted rats, liver glycogen was lower than that of control rats, and remained unaffected during fasting.

"Interpotential" mounting in monolateral Hoffmann fixation.

The authors carried out an experimental study to quantify the stability of monolateral fixation devices of the Hoffmann type. The technical tests indicated that changes were needed in the geometry of the devices; these were achieved by designing a junction piece which enables the transfixion pins and the smooth stabilization rod to remain in the same plane, while leaving the rest of the instrumentation unchanged. The use of this component makes the fixation device more stable and lighter than the classic monolateral devices commonly used.

Effects of dilazep on coronary and systemic hemodynamics in humans.

The cardiovascular effects of dilazep, a new antianginal drug, were investigated in 18 patients, who underwent cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography for the evaluation of chest pain. Dilazep, 0.2 mg/kg, was injected intravenously over 1 to 2 minutes.