Ca Ac Research Articles

On tensor products with C-normal operators

A bounded linear operator A on H is said to be conjugate normal if CA⁎AC=AA⁎ for some conjugation C on H (in this case, A is said to be C-normal). In this paper, we investigate when the conjugate normality of an operator can be preserved under the operation of tensor product. Given an operator A, we show that the tensor product A⊗B is conjugate normal for any Hilbert space operator B if and only if A2=0. Also we obtain similar results concerning tensor products with skew symmetric operators, g-normal operators and Z-normal operators.

Cancer associated fibroblasts: the major player in pancreatic cancer

Tumor cells are not alone in the tumor mass; in fact they are surrounded by a complex and active microenvironment, composed by fibroblasts and their extracellular matrix (ECM), immune cells, nerves, blood vessels, and secreted factors. It is now well recognized that the microenvironment plays an important role in tumor development and thus it is imperative for the comprehensive understanding of the interplay between cancer and its microenviroment for the development of better preventative and therapeutic strategies. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease with a 5 year survival rate of only 10% after diagnosis[1]. One of the main reasons for this outcome is the poor understanding of the unique microenvironment of PDAC, where up to 90% of the tumor mass can be composed by the stroma, with most of it being the expansion of activated fibroblasts and their ECM[2]. Even though CAFs represent an important component of PDAC (and other types of cancers), they are still incompletely understood. This can be partially explained by the fact that there are no specific markers to discriminate CAFs, and researchers need to rely on negative selections, absence of mutations that characterize the transformed epithelial cells plus the presence of mesenchymal markers, all together with the assessment of fibroblastic function2. There are still controversies about the pro- and anti-tumor effects of CAFs and their origin. Recently, a consensus was published2, where authors suggest that CAFs are mostly originated by the local activation and proliferation of resident fibroblasts, stimulated by tissue injury, reactive oxidative species, growth factors and more. These CAFs are characterized by their plasticity, as they can interchange between functions according to the signals of the environment. Many are the functions attributed to these cells; CAFs produce a very dense ECM, which can lead to the collapse of blood vessels, thus affecting nutrient supply and the delivery of therapies to this environment[3]. Moreover, CAFs can be immunusuppressive, producing a millieu of cytokines and chemokines that can turn off anti-tumor immune cells and recruit pro-tumor ones[4]. Interestingly, CAFs can also contribute to the metabolic signature of the environment, as they produce and modify a large range of metabolites, often supporting cancer cell survival[5]. Recently, our research group uncovered the pro-tumor roles of the synaptic protein Netrin G1 in CAFs[6]. The expression of Netrin G1 in CAFs from PDAC patients inversely correlated with overall survival. Moreover, the loss of Netrin G1 in CAFs led to decreased production of immunosuppressive factors, allowing NK cells to kill PDAC cells in vitro. Netrin G1 expression was also important for the production of metabolites (mainly glutamine and glutamate) by CAFs and for the support of nutrient deprived PDAC cells. It is important to mention that the Netrin G1 related studies were perfomed using 3D co-cultures, and that its expression can only be detected in CAFs growing in their 3D environment, further reinforcing the need for better strategies to study and understand the tumor microenvironment in PDAC. Therefore, CAFs can be seen as the major intermediaries of PDAC microenvironment and to target these cells in an attempt to normalize them rather than eliminate them, might be an effective strategy for PDAC therapy.

Assessment of Efficiency of Removing Ions of Heavy Metals From Aqueous Solutions by Microporous Carbon Aquacarb and Its Mesoporous Analog

The article has studied adsorption of ions of heavy metals of microporous carbon Aquacarb and its mesoporous analog obtained by modification of the surface of the latter by the solution of Ca(Ac)2 followed by activation with water vapor at 800°C. It is shown that when using mesoporous analogs adsorption of Cu2+, Co2+ and Zn2+ dramatically increases.

Removal of inorganic chemical species and organic matter from slaughterhouse wastewater via calcium acetate synthesized from eggshell

The physicochemical treatment (PT) of slaughterhouse wastewater (SWW) was investigated. In the first stage, calcium acetate (Ca(Ac)2) was synthesized in five different ways: (1) acetic acid (HAc) and chicken eggshell (CaAc1), (2) lime (CaAc2), (3) a 1:1 eggshell and lime mixture (CaAc3), (4) a 1:2 eggshell and lime mixture (CaAc4), and (5) calcium oxide via the calcination of eggshell (CaAc5). The synthesized Ca(Ac)2 samples were characterized by IR, SEM, XRD, and EDS. Subsequently, the samples were used to precipitate oxyanions and organic matter. The experiments were carried out at pH 4 and 12. For the treatment with CaAc1 at pH 4, an acid (HCl, H2SO4, or HAc) was also added. The best results for CaAc1 in acid media were attained with HCl, where removal efficiencies of 82.23% total suspended solids, 76% turbidity, 81.43% color, 53.86% Fe, 69.74% Cu, and 14.64% Na were observed. This treatment also removed ∼99% fecal and total coliforms, 26.49% COD, and 78.39% TOC. The experiments were also performed at pH 12 using CaAc1. These afforded removal efficiencies of 92.7% turbidity, 84.7% color, 40.5% phosphates (PO43–), and 64.7% sulfates (SO42–). In addition, this method removed metals, 35.37% COD and 99% fecal and total coliforms.

Spatial distribution, temporal variation, and transport characteristics of atmospheric water vapor over Central Asia and the arid region of China

Abstract This study evaluated the spatial distribution, seasonal/annual variability, and transport characteristics of water vapor over CA–AC during the period 1979–2012, based on ERA-Interim reanalysis data. (1) Located in a low-moisture area of the mid- to low latitudes, CA–AC has a richer water vapor in the south and west, and the plain area than that in the north and east, and the mountainous regions. A decreasing trend of annual average precipitable water-vapor content (PWC) was detected during 1979–2012, which could be attributed to the decrease of PWC in winter. There is no obvious interannual and interdecadal variation of annual CA–AC PWC but the seasonal mean PWC have interannual variability at different time scales.(2) Water vapor in CA–AC is derived primarily from the Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian seas in spring, autumn, and winter, but from the Atlantic Ocean and high latitudes of the European continent in summer. (3) Most of Central Asia is characterized by water vapor divergence in spring and summer and by water vapor convergence in winter. Water vapor converges throughout the year in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in Central Asia and in northern Xinjiang in the arid region of China. Perennial water vapor divergence, however, occurs in southern Xinjiang and in the Badain Jaran and Tengger deserts. (4) Water vapor transport for the five studied countries of Central Asia is mainly via input along the western and southern boundaries and output along the southern and eastern boundaries. In the arid region of China, water vapor transport is mainly via input along the western and northern boundaries and output along the eastern boundary. (5) Water vapor flux was positive in Central Asia but negative in the arid region of China during 1979–2012. The net water vapor flux of CA–AC was found to decrease in spring, increase in winter, and remain largely constant in autumn and summer. (6) Westerly Wind Index can act as an indicative role for water vapor transport in CA–AC. In years with larger Westerly Wind Index, the zonal circulation will be strong enough to bring more water vapor reaching the middle and east part of CA and the AC. More water vapor will be transported to the western part of CA with smaller Westerly Wind Index, while water vapor influx decreases remarkably over the AC because of the intensified longitudinal water vapor transport.

Dai nippon printing co., ltd, Medi-Ca AC for enumeration of aerobic bacteria. Performance tested method 041302.

A ready-made dry medium method for aerobic count, the MediCa AC method, was compared to the AOAC Official Method 966.23, Microbiological Methods, for seven different heat-processed meat matrixes: cooked roast beef, Chinese barbecued pork (barbecued pork seasoned with honey-based sauce), bacon, cooked ham, frankfurter (made from beef and pork), and boiled and cooked pork sausage. The 95% confidence interval for the mean difference between the two methods at each contamination level for each matrix fell within the range of -0.50 to 0.50, and no statistical difference was observed at all three contamination levels for five matrixes. These results demonstrate that the Medi-Ca AC method is a reasonable alternative to the AOAC 966.23 method for cooked meat products.

Detailed shoulder MRI findings in manual wheelchair users with shoulder pain.

Shoulder pain and pathology are common in manual wheelchair (MWC) users with paraplegia, and the biomechanical mechanism of injury is largely unknown. Establishing patterns of MRI characteristics in MWC users would help advance understanding of the mechanical etiology of rotator cuff disease, thus improving the logic for prescribed interventions. The purpose of this study was to report detailed shoulder MRI findings in a sample of 10 MWC users with anterolateral shoulder pain. The imaging assessments were performed using our standardized MRI Assessment of the Shoulder (MAS) guide. The tendon most commonly torn was the supraspinatus at the insertion site in the anterior portion in either the intrasubstance or articular region. Additionally, widespread tendinopathy, CA ligament thickening, subacromial bursitis, labral tears, and AC joint degenerative arthrosis and edema were common. Further reporting of detailed shoulder imaging findings is needed to confirm patterns of tears in MWC users regarding probable tendon tear zone, region, and portion. This investigation was a small sample observational study and did not yield data that can define patterns of pathology. However, synthesis of detailed findings from multiple studies could define patterns of pathological MRI findings allowing for associations of imaging findings to risk factors including specific activities.

Correlation between energy positions of deep intrinsic point-defect levels and a limiting fermi level in irradiated III–V semiconductors

The energy levels of neutral anion (VA) and cation (VC) vacancies and antisite defects are calculated for the anion CA and cation AC sublattices of III–V semiconductors. An averaged energy level position for these defects is estimated to be Eav abs = 4.9 eV. The position coincides with the local charge electroneutrality level. It is shown that the case, where the total energies of formation of VA, VC and antisite CA, AC defects in the sublattices of binary semiconductors are similar, corresponds to the point-defect equilibrium condition and stabilization of the Fermi level in the proximity of the local charge electroneutrality level.

Control of Predialytic Hyperphosphatemia by Oral Calcium Acetate and Calcium Carbonate

Since Mai et al. found, with the intestinal lavage technique, that the same dose of elemental calcium given as acetate (Ca Ac) complexed in the gut of uremic patients twice as much phosphate as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) while inducing a rather low calcium absorption, we wanted to see if half the dose of elemental calcium given as Ca Ac could control, on medium term, the predialysis plasma phosphate as well as CaCO3 while inducing less frequent hypercalcemia. This was evaluated in a cross-over study of 3 periods of 10 weeks according to the sequence Ca Ac, CaCO3 and Ca Ac, in 12 compliant patients on chronic dialysis previously treated by CaCO3. Because of poor tolerance of Ca Ac during the first period, 4 patients were excluded and the results were assessed only on the 8 patients who completed the study. For half the doses of elemental calcium (620 +/- 250 mg versus 1,310 +/- 560 mg versus 710 +/- 200 mg/day), Ca Ac allowed the same control of predialytic hyperphosphatemia (1.67 +/- 0.34; 1.74 +/- 0.32; 1.75 +/- 0.38) with paradoxically comparable normal mean plasma calcium concentration (2.61 +/- 0.14; 2.56 +/- 0.13; 2.55 +/- 0.14 mmol/l). Plasma alkaline phosphatases and intact PTH concentrations remained also stable during the 3 periods. The frequency of hypercalcemia greater than 2.75 mmol/l (12; 9; 20%) and of hyperphosphatemia greater than 2 mmol/l (17; 22; 27%) were comparable with the 2 treatments. In conclusion, Ca Ac controls predialytic hyperphosphatemia as efficiently as CaCO3 for half the dose of elemental calcium without, however, decreasing the frequency of hypercalcemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)