Assessing the potential of the qualitative trajectory calculus to detect gait pathologies: a case study of children with developmental coordination disorder

The Qualitative Trajectory Calculus (QTC) is a qualitative spatio-temporal calculus for describing interactions between moving point objects. So far, it remained unclear whether QTC is useful for describing subtle differences, such as between the movements of different parts of a human body. We tested the applicability of QTC to detect differences in the gait patterns of children with or without Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). We found that using a combination of three markers (i.e. ankle, toe and trochanter), QTC can achieve a high classification accuracy (i.e. 83.3%) of classifying subjects correctly to either the DCD group or the control group.     

Identification of dermcidin in human gestational tissue and characterization of its proteolytic activity

Dermcidin (DCD) is a gene for an antimicrobial peptide DCD-1 in human sweat glands. It has become evident that the gene products of DCD exhibit a wide range of biological functions. In addition to its antimicrobial function, it is reported to be a neuronal survival factor, a putative oncogene in breast cancer and a proteolysis-inducing factor (PIF) that induces skeletal muscle proteolysis to cause cancer cachexia. Here we identified DCD in human placental tissue and determined its previously uncharacterized proteolytic activity. We also show that recombinant DCD induced an invasive phenotype in a human choriocarcinoma cell line JAR in vitro. This work suggests that DCD might participate in the regulation of placental function by means of modulating the proteolytic cascades on the trophoblastic cell surface, and might be involved in the pathophysiology of pregnancy-related disorders, as well as cancer and neuronal diseases.     

长效碳酸氢铵对土壤硝化-反硝化过程和NO与N2O排放的影响

室内实验(25℃和50%WFPS)比较研究了碳酸氢铵(普碳)和长效碳酸氢铵(长碳)对粘质土壤(粘土)和壤质土壤(壤土)硝化反硝化过程和NO与N₂O排放的影响.长碳中的DCD在粘土中的硝化抑制作用很弱,在壤土中显著,与普碳处理相比,NH₄⁺持续时间分别延长7d和33d.15d内,施普碳(100μgN·g^-1)情况下,粘土和壤土NO排放量分别占施N量的0.60%和1.06%,分别是相应土壤N₂O排放量的30和12倍.施长碳后,粘土和壤土NO排放量分别减少67%和95%,N₂O排放量分别减少64%和55%.有氧培养39d后,外加硝酸盐(200μgKNO₃-N·g^-1),接着淹水厌氧培养7d,壤土长碳处理较普碳处理反硝化总损失减少50%,但N₂O排放量增加113%.     

Expression of fibroblast growth factor 21 in patients with biliary atresia

Fibroblast growth factor 21 is a critical circulating adipokine involving in metabolic disorders and various liver diseases. This study was performed to investigate whether FGF21 is also associated with the pathophysiology of biliary atresia. Serum FGF21 levels were measured in 57 BA patients and 20 age matched healthy controls. We also examined hepatic FGF21 mRNA expression and FGF21 protein levels in liver tissues obtained from 15 BA patients undergoing liver transplantation and 5 cases of pediatric donation after cardiac death donor without liver diseases by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Patients with BA showed significantly higher serum FGF21 levels than those without BA (554.7 pg/mL [83–2300] vs. 124.5 pg/mL [66–270], P < 0.05). Patients with BA also had significantly higher FGF21 mRNA and protein levels in hepatic tissues than control subjects. Serum FGF21 expression increased corresponding to the severity of liver fibrosis. Furthermore, serum FGF21 levels dropped significantly in BA patients within 6 months after liver transplantation and approached baseline in healthy controls (P > 0.05). In vivo, FXR knockout could significantly abrogate cholestasis induced FGF21 expression. FGF21 levels in serum and liver tissue increased significantly in BA patients. In vivo, cholestasis could induce FGF21 expression in FXR dependent manner.     

The effects of nitrate: ammonium ratios and dicyandiamide on the nitrogen response of Zea mays L. in a high rainfall area on an acid soil

Hydroponic studies under controlled environmental conditions indicated that maize plants respond better to combinations of nitrate and ammonium nutrition than to either form supplied separately but that this response depended upon the total N concentration. An attempt was made to maintain different nitrate: ammonium ratios and concentrations in the soil by the addition of a nitrification inhibitor. Five nitrate: ammonium ratios at three N application rates were tested with and without dicyandiamide (H₂NC(NH)NHCN) on a low-pH, sandy soil for two years. Treatments were applied to field-grown maize in two applications, one at planting and the other at 21 to 30 days after planting. Under favourable climatic conditions for crop growth the optimum nitrate: ammonium ratio for grain yield was between 3:1 and 1:1 over all N rates. Under unfavourable climatic conditions, ratios of 3:1 and 1:1 showed in contrast to all other ratios no grain yield depressions at high N rates. Dicyandiamide did not interact with N rates or ratios, but did increase grain yield over all N treatments under favourable conditions. N ratio interactions with N rates and dicyandiamide were also shown for N concentrations of the leaves at anthesis, for the grain at harvest and for mineral N in different soil layers at anthesis. These results imply that nitrate: ammonium ratios between 3:1 and 1:1 should be recommended at the optimum N rate on a low-pH sandy soil in a high rainfall area for maize production.     

Post-transplant cholangiopathy: Classification,pathogenesis, and preventive strategies

Biliary complications are the most frequent cause of morbidity, re-transplantation, and even mortality after liver transplantation. In general, biliary leakage and anastomotic and non-anastomotic biliary strictures (NAS) can be recognized. There is no consensus on the exact definition of NAS and different names and criteria have been used in literature. We propose to use the term post-transplant cholangiopathy for the spectrum of abnormalities of large donor bile ducts, that includes NAS, but also intraductal casts and intrahepatic biloma formation, in the presence of a patent hepatic artery. Combinations of these manifestations of cholangiopathy are not infrequently found in the same liver and ischemia-reperfusion injury is generally considered the common underlying mechanism. Other factors that contribute to post-transplant cholangiopathy are biliary injury due to bile salt toxicity and immune-mediated injury. This review provides an overview of the various types of post-transplant cholangiopathy, the presumed pathogenesis, clinical implications, and preventive strategies.     

Wearable-based electronics to objectively support diagnosis of motor impairments in school-aged children

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are neuro-developmental disorders, starting in childhood, which can affect the planning of movements and the coordination.We investigated how and in which measure a system based on wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) can provide an objective support to the diagnosis of motor impairments in school-aged children.The IMUs measured linear and rotational movements of 37 schoolchildren, 7−10yo, 17 patients and 20 control subjects, during the execution of motor exercises, performed under medical and psychiatric supervision, to assess different aspects of the motor coordination.The measured motor parameters showed a high degree of significance in discriminating the ADHD/DCD patients from the healthy subjects, pointing out which motor tasks are worth focusing on. So, medical doctors have a novel key lecture to state a diagnosis, gaining in objectivity with respect to the standard procedures which mainly involve subjective human judgment.Differently to other works, we propose a novel approach in terms of number of used IMUs and of performed motor tasks. Moreover, we demonstrate the meaningful parameters to be considered as more discriminant in supporting the medical diagnosis.     

新型吡唑类化合物DL-1的硝化抑制效应初探

以国内外应用较为广泛的硝化抑制剂双氰胺（DCD）为参比对象,采用室内培养方法,对新型吡唑类化合物DL-1的硝化抑制效应进行初步探讨.结果表明,DL-1对土壤中铵的氧化过程具有显著的抑制效应,前3周的硝化抑制率可达70％以上,且硝化抑制能力在第14天至28天最强.与等量DCD相比,施用量为(NH₄)₂SO₄氮量1.0%的DL-1在14、21和28 d使土壤中的NO₃^--N含量分别下降 26.23%、33.27%和23.31%;与不加抑制剂的对照处理相比,土壤NO₃^--N含量则分别下降了71.12%、69.10%和55.14%.当DL-1用量为(NH₄)₂SO₄氮量的2。0%时,土壤的硝化作用受到了更强烈的抑制,到培养第90天试验结束,土壤中的NO₃^--N含量始终维持在较低水平.     

Ammonia volatilization losses from prilled urea,urea supergranules (USG) and coated USG in rice fields

Summary About 8.4 per cent of applied nitrogen was lost as ammonia during a week after application when prilled urea was broadcast or banded and incorporated in soil 20 days after sowing of rice. Ammonia volatilization was reduced to 3.3 per cent when urea supergranules (USG) were used. Coating of USG with DCD or neem cake showed no advantage. Ammonia volatilization was only 0.7 to 1.6 per cent when fertilizer was applied at panicle initiation stage of rice; highest values were again obtained with prilled urea. The experiments were carried out in closed cages.     

Effect of lime, dicyandiamide and soil water content on ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions following application of liquid hog manure to a marshland soil

The loss of nitrogen (N) from field-applied animal manure through ammonia (NH₃) volatilisation and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission is of major environmental concern. Both lime and dicyandiamide (DCD) have been suggested as amendments that can mitigate N₂O emissions, but simultaneously increase the risk of NH₃ volatilisation. This study evaluated the impact of lime and DCD on NH₃ and N₂O emissions following application of liquid hog manure. Hydrated lime (Ca(OH)₂) was added to an acidic soil to achieve three pH levels (4.7, 6.3 and 7.4). Soil samples (100 g) were then placed in 500 ml screw-top Mason-jars and de-ionised water was added to bring the samples to 50, 70 and 90% water-filled pore space (WFPS). Slurry was applied at a rate equivalent to 116,000 l ha⁻¹, while DCD was applied at 30% of the NH₄-N rate applied. Jars were sealed and incubated at 21°C for 21 d. Ammonia volatilisation was quantified using boric acid traps, while N₂O gas concentration was analysed using gas chromatography. Dicyandiamide had no effect (P>0.05) on either NH₃ or N₂O emissions. Both NH₃ and N₂O emissions increased (P<0.05) as WFPS increased, with emissions ranging from 0.9 to 1.4 kg NH₃-N ha⁻¹ and 123 to 353 g N₂O-N ha⁻¹, respectively. Liming decreased (P<0.01) N₂O emissions from 547 to 46 g N₂O-N ha⁻¹, but increased (p<0.01) NH₃ volatilisation from 0.36 to 1.92 kg NH₃-N ha⁻¹. Results suggest that liming to a pH ≥6.3 can reduce N₂O emissions, however, this reduction will be accompanied by a substantial loss of NH₃. Section Editor: H. Lambers