Pesticide Identification Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory Calculations: From Structural Insights to On-Site Detection.

Pesticides play an important role in conventional agriculture. Yet, their harmful effects on the environment are becoming increasingly apparent. The occurrence of pesticides is hence being monitored worldwide.

Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients with COVID-19 Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit: A Two-Year Retrospective Analysis.

Unlabelled: In March 2020, COVID-19 was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Hospitalized patients affected by COVID-19 presented with severe respiratory and motor impairment, especially those who required intensive treatment and invasive mechanical ventilation, with sequelae that extended after the period of hospitalization. Thus, the aim of the current study was to verify the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in 2020 and 2021, according to age group.

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Small T Antigen Initiates Merkel Cell Carcinoma-like Tumor Development in Mice.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) tumor cells express several markers detected in normal Merkel cells, a nonproliferative population of neuroendocrine cells that arise from epidermis. MCCs frequently contain Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) DNA and express viral transforming antigens, sT and tLT, but the role of these putative oncogenes in MCC development, and this tumor's cell of origin, are unknown. Using a panel of preterm transgenic mice, we show that epidermis-targeted coexpression of sT and the cell fate-determinant atonal bHLH transcription factor 1 (ATOH1) leads to development of widespread cellular aggregates, with histology and marker expression mimicking that of human intraepidermal MCC.

Invasive mouse gastric adenocarcinomas arising from Lgr5+ stem cells are dependent on crosstalk between the Hedgehog/GLI2 and mTOR pathways.

Gastric adenocarcinoma is the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Here we report a novel, highly-penetrant mouse model of invasive gastric cancer arising from deregulated Hedgehog/Gli2 signaling targeted to Lgr5-expressing stem cells in adult stomach. Tumor development progressed rapidly: three weeks after inducing the Hh pathway oncogene GLI2A, 65% of mice harbored in situ gastric cancer, and an additional 23% of mice had locally invasive tumors.

Spectroscopic Characteristics of Three Dimensional Split-Ring Resonator Arrays at Terahertz Frequencies.

In this work, three-dimensional, stacked arrays of subwavelength, square, dual, concentric split ring resonators exhibiting characteristics at the Terahertz frequencies have been designed, simulated, and fabricated through a photolithographic lift-off process and electron beam evaporation metal deposition. Characterization of the split-ring resonator arrays was performed by transmission mode Terahertz time domain spectroscopy. The effects of the split-ring resonator unit cell spatial dimensions on resonant absorption frequencies and relative absorption strength are investigated as well as effects from the addition of a dielectric spacing layer and additional split-ring resonator layer.

Merkel cell polyomavirus small T antigen is oncogenic in transgenic mice.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and deadly neuroendocrine skin tumor frequently associated with clonal integration of a polyomavirus, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), and MCC tumor cells express putative polyomavirus oncoprotein small T antigen (sTAg) and truncated large T antigen. Here, we show robust transforming activity of sTAg in vivo in a panel of transgenic mouse models. Epithelia of preterm sTAg-expressing embryos exhibited hyperplasia, impaired differentiation, increased proliferation, and apoptosis, and activation of a DNA damage response.

Observation of hydrofluoric acid burns on osseous tissues by means of terahertz spectroscopic imaging.

Terahertz technologies have gained great amount of attention for biomedical imaging and tissue analysis. In this study, we utilize terahertz imaging to study the effects of hydrofluoric acid on both compact bone tissue and cartilage. We compare the differences observed in the exposure for formalin fixed and raw, dried, tissue as well as those resulting from a change in hydrofluoric (HF) concentration.

Influence of hyperoxia and mechanical ventilation in lung inflammation and diaphragm function in aged versus adult rats.

Although assist ventilation with FIO2 0.21 is the preferable mode of ventilation in the intensive care unit, sometimes controlled ventilation with hyperoxia is needed. But the impact of this setting has not been extensively studied in elderly subjects.

Design and analysis of perfect terahertz metamaterial absorber by a novel dynamic circuit model.

Metamaterial terahertz absorbers composed of a frequency selective layer followed by a spacer and a metallic backplane have recently attracted great attention as a device to detect terahertz radiation. In this work, we present a quasistatic dynamic circuit model that can decently describe operational principle of metamaterial terahertz absorbers based on interference theory of reflected waves. The model comprises two series LC resonance components, one for resonance in frequency selective surface (FSS) and another for resonance inside the spacer.

Transgenic expression of interferon-γ in mouse stomach leads to inflammation, metaplasia, and dysplasia.

Gastric adenocarcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide. It arises through a stepwise process that includes prominent inflammation with expression of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and multiple other pro-inflammatory cytokines. We engineered mice expressing IFN-γ under the control of the stomach-specific H(+)/K(+) ATPase β promoter to test the potential role of this cytokine in gastric tumorigenesis.

High resolution, two-dimensional image mapping of ZnO nanowires by confocal microphotoluminescence and microraman spectroscopy.

High-quality ZnO nanowires were synthesized using both Au catalysts and ZnO seeds by chemical vapor depositionon basal plane sapphire substrates. The nanowires were hexagonal and aligned with their c-axis closely perpendicular to the sapphire substrate surface. The structural characteristics of the nanowiresgrown using the different catalysts/seeds were compared using scanning electron microscopyand X-ray diffraction.

Basal cell carcinomas in mice arise from hair follicle stem cells and multiple epithelial progenitor populations.

Uncontrolled Hedgehog (Hh) signaling leads to the development of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common human cancer, but the cell of origin for BCC is unclear. While Hh pathway dysregulation is common to essentially all BCCs, there exist multiple histological subtypes, including superficial and nodular variants, raising the possibility that morphologically distinct BCCs may arise from different cellular compartments in skin. Here we have shown that induction of a major mediator of Hh signaling, GLI2 activator (GLI2ΔN), selectively in stem cells of resting hair follicles in mice, induced nodular BCC development from a small subset of cells in the lower bulge and secondary hair germ compartments.

Assessment-guided therapy of urinary incontinence after stroke.

Urinary incontinence (UI) frequently occurs after stroke and often remains an extensive problem for these patients and their relatives even after discharge from the hospital. Therapeutic interventions, such as behavioral training, can help manage UI. Recently, a multimodal application of nursing interventions was recommended (Wilbert-Herr, Hürlimann, Imhof & Wilbert, 2006).

Accuracy of paediatric echocardiographic transmission via telemedicine.

We evaluated the accuracy of realtime echocardiography studies conducted via telemedicine (at 384 kbit/s) and prerecorded video studies, by comparing the results with subsequent in-person echocardiography examination performed at follow-up. Between January 2002 and December 2004, there were 769 paediatric echo studies of patients aged one day to 19 years by telemedicine. There were three cases (0.

[Managing urinary incontinence in stroke rehabilitation--a review].

Background: Urinary incontinence following stroke is an extensive problem for the patients and their relatives that influences the well-being and care in the future. There are a lot of therapeutic interventions available, their effectiveness, however, is not known in detail. For rehabilitation practice the ongoing question is how Urinary Incontinence (UI) can best be treated in a way that the patients daily life is not compromised.

Prewetting boundary tensions from Monte Carlo simulation.

We examine the boundary tension of a model system along the prewetting saturation line. Boundary tensions are evaluated through a combination of finite-size scaling and grand canonical Monte Carlo simulation. The model system consists of Lennard-Jones particles interacting with a single structureless surface.

Effects of recombinant adenovirus-mediated expression of IL-2 and IL-12 in human B lymphoma cells on co-cultured PBMC.

BACKGROUND: Modulation of the immune system by genetically modified lymphoma cell vaccines is of potential therapeutic value in the treatment of B cell lymphoma. However, the anti-tumor effect of any single immunogene transfer has so far been limited. Combination treatment of recombinant IL-2 and IL-12 has been reported to be synergistic for inducing anti-tumor responses in solid tumors but the potential of IL-2/IL-12 gene modified B cell lymphoma cells has not been explored yet.

Study on the prevalence and incidence of urolithiasis in Germany comparing the years 1979 vs. 2000.

Objectives: In 1979, we conducted a representative study to determine the prevalence and incidence of urolithiasis in Germany. Significant progress in stone therapy and changes in nutritional and environmental factors since then consequently led to a second study in 2001 under the same conditions as in 1979.

Methods: A representative sample of 7500 persons from all over Germany was questioned on the occurrence of urinary stones during their lifetimes (prevalence) and on acute urolithiasis in 2000 (incidence).

A comparative review of extracorporeal shock wave generation.

Shock waves are specific sound waves produced by shock-wave generators; the generators currently available have different physical properties and represent different technical solutions. The measurement of shock-wave pressure is necessary in laboratory settings to define the physical characteristics of a given shock-wave source. Under clinical conditions other variables, e.

[Lymph node metastases in penis carcinoma. Therapeutic options and outcome].

Carcinoma of the penis is a malignant epithelial tumor of ominous prognosis if not adequately treated. To a large extent the probability of positive lymph nodes is determined by the grade of the primary lesion. In turn the number of positive nodes greatly influences the survival.

[Significance of "clinically insignificant residual fragments" (CIRF) after ESWL].

Almost 75% of all urinary calculi can be treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). In contrast to endoscopic and open-surgical procedures the patients are not immediately free of stones. The residual fragments after ESWL are called clinically insignificant residual fragments (CIRF), if the fragments are less than 5 mm in size and if there is the possibility of a spontaneous passage.

[ESWL centers and determination of urinary calculus etiology. Results of a survey of 150 ESWL centers].

Questionnaires were mailed anonymously to 150 German shock wave centers. Twenty questions addressed the following areas of interest: Facilities of the extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) center (technical, personnel, laboratory, etc.) Cooperation at ESWL center with referring urologists Laboratory facilities versus actual metabolic work-up.