Granular Deposits Research Articles

(Invited) Pressure-Tailored Lithium Deposition and Dissolution in Lithium Metal Batteries

Unregulated lithium (Li) growth is the major cause of low Coulombic efficiency, short cycle life and safety hazards for rechargeable Li metal batteries. Strategies that aim to achieve large granular Li deposits have been extensively explored, and yet it remains a challenge to achieve the ideal Li deposits, which consist of large Li particles that are seamlessly packed on the electrode and can be reversibly deposited and stripped. Here we report a dense Li deposition (99.49% electrode density) with an ideal columnar structure that is achieved by controlling the uniaxial stack pressure during battery operation. Using multiscale characterization and simulation, we elucidate the critical role of stack pressure on Li nucleation, growth and dissolution processes and propose a Li-reservoir-testing protocol to maintain the ideal Li morphology during extended cycling. The precise manipulation of Li deposition and dissolution is a critical step to enable fast charging and a low-temperature operation for Li metal batteries.

Multi-Functional Polyimide Separators for Electrochemical Capacitor and Lithium-Ion Cell Applications

Achieving both higher energy and power densities are significant targets for next-generation energy storage devices. This will involve the development of new materials and chemistries, but also optimisation and improvements of all the cell components, such as separators, electrolytes and current collectors. Optimisation of cell separators to move beyond the present industry standard of polyolefin materials has received wider attention in the past few years. Polyolefin materials have poor wettability with electrolytes, resulting in low ionic conductivity and affecting the cell performance at high current densities. Moreover, polyolefin class of separators present a higher safety risk due to their poor thermal-dimensional stability that cannot effectively terminate the thermal runaway. The present solution to improve safety is achieved via a sandwich structure (polypropylene (PP)/polyethene (PE)/polypropylene (PP)). However, this leads to a decrease in the ionic conductivity, sacrificing cell performance.Herein, the polyimide-based separators with superior characteristics, including high thermo-dimensional stability, excellent electrolyte affinity, and ionic conductivity, are fabricated by electrospinning and applied within electrochemical capacitors. The specific capacitance of the cells with this composite separator is approximately 13 F/g at 50 A/g, which is double the achievable value using commercial cellulose separators (TF4030). Furthermore, a thermal shutdown functionality can be added to the composite film after spin-coating a layer of low-density polyethene on the surface to apply within lithium-ion cells. Due to the superior physical properties of polyimide, the composite film can endure high temperature without any shrinkage. Additionally, the specific capacity of the cells using a composite separator is approximately 20 mAh/g higher than that of a commercial separator (Celgard2325, PP/PE/PP). The highly porous polyimide (PI) with controllable thickness and high electrolyte wettability is also applied to lithium-free cells to decrease the overpotentials for nucleation and growth of lithium (Reduced from 175 mV to 130 mV in Cu//Li cells). As a result, the coulombic efficiency of the cells with PI separators is 20% higher than via using PE in 1.2 M LiPF6 (EC/DMC=1/1) electrolyte without any additives. The SEM images also present granular lithium deposition (15~30 μm in diameter) rather than dendritic lithium when the electrospun PI separator is applied to the cells. Due to the relationship between the morphology of lithium deposition and the overpotential required for lithium nucleation/growth from the literature. Experiments confirm that the low overpotential can facilitate large lithium deposition rather than dendritic lithium and this is achieved via improvements in the separator.

Detection of Vascular Notch3 Deposits in Unfixed Frozen Skin Biopsy Sample in CADASIL

This study aimed to evaluate the utility of immunohistochemical staining of vascular Notch3 deposits in biopsied unfixed frozen skin samples from patients with suspected cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). We analyzed vascular Notch3 deposits in unfixed frozen skin biopsy samples obtained from 43 patients with suspected CADASIL by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against the extracellular domain (ECD) of Notch3. We also sequenced the NOTCH3 gene in all patients, as well as evaluated their symptoms and neuroimages. We found granular Notch3 ECD deposits in the vessel walls of unfixed frozen skin biopsy samples in 10 of the 43 suspected patients with CADASIL. All 10 cases with skin Notch3 ECD deposits also carried reported pathogenic variants in the NOTCH3 gene associated with CADASIL. NOTCH3 variants of unknown significance were found in the other four patients without vascular Notch3 ECD or granular osmiophilic material deposits in biopsied skin samples. The remaining 29 cases without vascular Notch3 ECD deposits did not have variants in the NOTCH3 gene. Immunohistochemical evaluation of vascular Notch3 ECD deposits in unfixed frozen biopsied skin samples may be useful for detecting Notch3 deposits in CADASIL.

Influence of depositional fabric on mechanical properties of naturally deposited sands

Fabric characteristics and shear deformation behaviour were analysed in four intact small-scale samples, including two disturbed and two undisturbed samples of naturally deposited sand from a shoal in the San Francisco Bay. Triaxial compression tests were performed on each sample while incrementally imaging with X-ray micro-computed tomography (XRCT). The grains in each intact sample exhibited a nearly unidirectional orientation with their long axes oriented within a narrow range of horizontal directions, in stark contrast to the randomly oriented grains of a reconstituted sample. The disturbed intact samples exhibited lower peak strengths and lower yet positive rates of dilation as compared with undisturbed samples. Higher rates of dilation corresponded with larger quantifiable decreases in the average number of grain-to-grain contacts and contact areas per grain within the shear band. The XRCT images of the shear bands were quantified by way of large incremental deviatoric strains and large incremental grain rotations. The grain orientations within the fully developed shear band of each sample reached a consistent orientation independent of their initial fabric. These results are a promising step toward a systematic study of granular deposits from different depositional environments needed for the development of more advanced models of their mechanical behaviour.

POS-032 Human PLA2R-antibodies induce membranous nephropathy in minipigs and activate complement

POS-032 Human PLA2R-antibodies induce membranous nephropathy in minipigs and activate complement

A semi-analytical approach for efficient calculation of drained cross-anisotropic elastic moduli in saturated granular soils from undrained attributes

The anisotropic elastic parameters in granular soil deposits possess a fundamental contribution in the analysis of many geotechnical engineering problems. In this study, the feasibility of estimating the drained elastic moduli in saturated granular soils was examined based on the undrained properties. By assuming cross-anisotropic properties in granular soil, a series of theoretical equations coupled with the experimental correlations in literature were obtained representing the relationships between drained and undrained elastic parameters. A new approach was consequently developed to estimate the anisotropic drained Young’s moduli based on two anisotropic components of shear moduli and vertical component of Young’s modulus in the undrained conditions. To inspect the validity of proposed approach, the anisotropic elastic properties resulting from 47 conducted laboratory tests on 7 different granular soil specimens relating to 3 various soil types from distinct locations in the world were collected from literature. The anisotropic drained Young’s moduli in each test were evaluated by the suggested method and then compared with directly measured values, which revealed a reasonable agreement. The findings of this study can be utilized as a reference for reasonable and inexpensive characterization of in-situ anisotropic elastic stiffness parameters of saturated granular soil deposits through the non-destructive seismic techniques.

Influence of ground motion characteristics (velocity pulse and duration) on the pile responses in liquefiable soil deposits

In this paper, three-dimensional finite-element analyses are conducted to study the effects of ground-motion duration and the presence of velocity pulse on the pile responses in liquefiable soils. The soil-pile system consisting of liquefiable granular deposits and rigid piles is modeled in OpenSeesPL. Four suites of ground motions, namely one pulse-like, one non-pulse-like, one long-duration, and one short-duration suite, are appropriately selected from worldwide earthquake events. Dynamic analyses are conducted for the soil-pile system under the excitations of four selected ground-motion suites. It is indicated that the pulse-containing ground motions bring in greater pile-bearing bending moments and shear forces as compared to the non-pulse-like suite, with the increase ratios of the mean peak bending-moments and shear-forces up to 27% and 34%, respectively. Furthermore, as compared to the short-duration suite, using the long-duration ground motions yields similar pile responses (bending moments and shear forces) but a substantial increase of the pile's permanent lateral displacements. The mean lateral displacements at pile head are 0.62 m and 0.17 m under the excitations of the long- and short-duration suites, respectively. In addition, correlation analyses indicate that peak ground velocity and Arias intensity can be regarded as effective intensity measures to evaluate the pile response (e.g., bending moment) and lateral displacement for a pile-reinforced liquefiable ground system. The results could provide useful insights for applying the pile-pinning approach in areas where pulse-like or long-duration ground motions are of the main concern.

MO347: When Aki is Not Due to Rhabdomyolysis: A Rare Case of Nsaid-Related Rhabdomyolysis

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) have well-understood side effects. Rhabdomyolysis, though, is a rare adverse effect of NSAIDs and only a few cases have been reported. Here, we report a case of NSAID-related acute kidney injury (AKI) in an old diabetic woman who was found to have high muscle enzymes. METHOD A 75-year-old diabetic woman was referred to a nephrology clinic due to nausea, vomiting and high serum creatinine. She was a known case of type 2 diabetes that was well controlled by oral hypoglycemic agents (metformin, gliclazide and linagliptin). The patient was not known to have documented hypertension. She had never visited a nephrologist but her baseline creatinine was 1.2 mg/dL. Her family also admitted that she has frequently used different NSAIDs (celecoxib, diclofenac and ibuprofen) due to knee pain in the past few weeks. The patient had developed lower extremity weakness 3 days before referral followed by nausea and vomiting, 2 days later. Physical examination showed mild pitting edema of both feet. Her new data were as followings: Blood urea nitrogen: 85 mg/dL, creatinine: 7.5 mg/dL, uric acid: 4.5 mg/dL, sodium: 135 meq/L, potassium: 4.7 meq/L, hemoglobin 11.3 g/dL, white blood cells 5400 U/micL, platelets 186 000 U/micL, creatinine phosphokinase (CPK): 12730 U/L, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 1344 U/L, alanine transaminase (ALT) 78 U/L and aspartate transaminase (AST) 203 U/L. Urinalysis showed specific gravity 1.020, protein 4+, sugar 1+, blood trace, red blood cells (RBC) 2–4/hpf, white blood cells (WBC) 4–6 per hpf, and also, 2–4 granular casts per hpf were reported. Urine culture result was negative. 24-h urine specimen showed proteinuria of 7300 mg. Renal ultrasound showed normal-sized kidneys with increased corticomedullary differentiation and bilateral simple cortical cysts. Renal cortical thickness was >1 cm bilaterally, and there was no hydronephrosis or other pathologies. Hemodialysis was started for the patient and she underwent a kidney biopsy to define the cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). RESULTS Renal biopsy showed: membranous glomerulonephritis stage 2/4, severe acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, focal global glomerulosclerosis and vascular thickening. Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) were reported to be about 20%. There was no sign of acute tubular necrosis. (pictures). Immunofluorescent (IF) study showed a 1+ granular pattern deposition of IgG along the glomerular basement membrane. CONCLUSION NSAID-related rhabdomyolysis is a rare side effect of this class of analgesics. Although any agent from this class can be causative, most reports involve the most widely used ones: diclofenac and Ibuprofen. AKI in the presented patient could have different etiologies regarding data and medical history. The value of renal biopsy is well depicted in this case. Although rhabdomyolysis seemed to be the principal etiology, at the first sight, NSAID-related interstitial nephritis played the main role in AKI. The patient was put on hemodialysis for 2 weeks. Any forms of NSAIDs were withheld. Acceptable renal recovery was achieved in 3 weeks; the patient was free from dialysis. Two months later, she has creatinine of 1.2 mg/dL and normal CPK and LDH levels. Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) was started as the beginning treatment of membranous nephropathy. Renal biopsy is of great value to differentiate causes of non-typical cases of AKI especially in rare cases where laboratory data may be confusing or misleading.

MO266: Deficiency of Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Exacerbates CBSA-Induced Membranous Nephropathy in Mice

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS In nondiabetic population, primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is the most common cause of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in the world. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is one of the key members of fibrinolysis system, which functions as dissolving blood clots to prevent obstruction of blood vessels. Currently, the roles of uPA in PMN remain undefined. METHOD Six-week-old male mice with Plau wild-type and knockout in BALB/c strain were used to induce MN by cationic bovine serum albumin (cBSA). Biochemistry assays of blood and urine were measured by a Fuji Dri-Chem FDC NX 500 machine. Glomerular polyanions were determined by using Colloidal Iron Stain Kit. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by immunohistochemistry stained by 4-HNE antibody. TUNEL positivity in the kidneys of mice was determined using an ApopTag® Plus Peroxidase In Situ Apoptosis Kit. The deposition of immune complex in glomeruli was examined by a transmission electron microscope. Lymphocyte subsets were determined by flow cytometry. Serum concentrations of IgG1 and IgG2a were measured by ELISA. RESULTS It has been reported that BALB/c mice is an ideal strain for mimicking human PMN. Thus, we generated uPA deficient mice (Plau-/-) in BALB/c strain by backcrossing C.129S2-Plautm1Mlg/J mice with BALB/c wild-type mice to N10. Plau-/- mice exhibited severe urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio significantly when compared with wild-type mice at 2 weeks post-cBSA administration. Consistently, cBSA-induced Plau-/- mice displayed higher serum creatinine, hypoalbuminemia and hypercholesterolemia than wild-type mice. Histologically, Plau-/- mice presented more severed glomerular basement thickening, IgG granular deposition, intensified podocyte effacement, irregular thickening of glomerular basement membrane and subepithelial deposits than wild-type mice. Attenuated colloidal iron stain was observed in Plau-/- mice when compared with wild-type mice. Moreover, elevated ROS and apoptosis in the kidneys of Plau-/- mice were observed. B lymphocyte subsets were enriched significantly in the Plau-/- mice with MN, suggesting that pathological aggravation of MN is associated with dominant B lymphocyte population. The enriched ratio of IgG1 to IgG2a further confirmed predominant Th2 subset in Plau-/- mice. CONCLUSION uPA deficiency enhances Th2 dominant immune response, leading to enhancement of ROS and apoptosis in the kidneys, which subsequently exacerbates the progression of MN. Maintenance of uPA homeostasis may be a promising therapeutic approach for MN management.

Atypical conjunctival hyaline deposition in a case of granular corneal dystrophy type 2

A 43-year-old woman diagnosed with granular corneal dystrophy (GCD) type 2 on the basis of bilateral granular deposition in the corneal stroma (Fig. 1A) and the detection of a heterozygous R124H mutation of the transforming growth factor–β–induced gene (TGFIB) presented with ocular pain and conjunctival hyperemia in her left eye. Slitlamp examination showed swelling and congestion of the left conjunctiva associated with yellowish-white deposits in the bulbar region (Fig. 1B). Two weeks later, similar conjunctival lesions appeared in the lower portion of her right eye.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant-Membranous Nephropathy Is Associated with Protocadherin FAT1.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a common cause of proteinuria in patients receiving a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The target antigen in HSCT-associated MN is unknown. We performed laser microdissection and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of glomeruli from 250 patients with PLA2R-negative MN to detect novel antigens in MN. This was followed by immunohistochemical (IHC)/immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy studies to localize the novel antigen. Western blot analyses using serum and IgG eluted from frozen biopsy specimen to detect binding of IgG to new 'antigen'. MS/MS detected a novel protein, protocadherin FAT1 (FAT1), in nine patients with PLA2R-negative MN. In all nine patients, MN developed after allogeneic HSCT (Mayo Clinic discovery cohort). Next, we performed MS/MS in five patients known to have allogeneic HSCT-associated MN (Cedar Sinai validation cohort). FAT1 was detected in all five patients by MS/MS. The total spectral counts for FAT1 ranged from 8 to 39 (mean±SD, 20.9±10.1). All 14 patients were negative for known antigens of MN, including PLA2R, THSD7A, NELL1, PCDH7, NCAM1, SEMA3B, and HTRA1. Kidney biopsy specimens showed IgG (2 to 3+) with mild C3 (0 to 1+) along the GBM; IgG4 was the dominant IgG subclass. IHC after protease digestion and confocal IF confirmed granular FAT1 deposits along the GBM. Lastly, Western blot analyses detected anti-FAT1 IgG and IgG4 in the eluate obtained from pooled frozen kidney biopsy tissue and in the serum of those with FAT1-asssociated MN, but not from those with PLA2R-associated MN. FAT1-associated MN appears to be a unique type of MN associated with HSCT. FAT1-associated MN represents a majority of MN associated with HSCT.

The natural interaction between Myotis nigricans (Schinz, 1821) and its trematodes: A histopathological analysis.

Bats have a wide diversity of digeneans; however, even with the recent increased interest in studies of parasites on these hosts, there are no data on the microscopic alterations of this host-parasite interaction. The present work characterizes and compares the histological aspects of the liver, gallbladder, and intestine of non-parasitized and parasitized Myotis nigricans by digeneans. Ten specimens of Myotis nigricans collected in an urban area of Western Amazonia were analyzed for parasites. The digeneans were removed from the hosts and identified. Tissue samples of the liver, gallbladder, and intestines of parasitized and non-parasitized hosts were collected for histological studies. The gallbladder was observed in repletion and presents mucosa formed by simple epithelium that varies from cubic to cylindrical. The hepatic lobes do not have a classic polyhedral-hexagonal aspect. Variations in basophilia, acidophile, and cytoplasmatic granulations were observed in hepatocytes. The parasitism of the intestinal digeneans was restricted to space delimited by the extensions of villi in high association with the intestinal epithelium, not invading the region of the intestinal glands at the base of the villi. Trematodes maintained attached to the villus by the oral sucker and acetabulum, connected by a “pleat” composed of epithelium and lamina propria layers. We observed no signs of inflammatory processes and cellular defense infiltrates in host tissues. Cytochemistry alterations, size variation, and granular deposits in hepatocytes, enterocytes, and goblet cells were observed. Thus, this report is the first study of the natural parasite-host interaction in the liver, gallbladder, and intestine in M. nigricans in the neotropical region.

Cutaneous lupus: Immunofluorescence and lupus band test

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease with a broad range of clinical findings. There are several methods to conduct a diagnostic approach, among these stands direct immunofluorescence, in which we can find the Lupus Band Test (LBT) consisting of a band of granular deposits of immunoglobulins and complement along the dermo-epidermal junction. It can have a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis in some cases, according to the biopsy site, the constituents of immunorreactants found at the dermoepidermal junction, and the morphology and intensity of the immunofluorescent band. Certain limitations of the test should be considered when interpreting the results. Although useful in diagnosis, the lupus band is not considered a pathognomonic sign of erythematous lupus. About one-third of patients with positive direct immunofluorescence on a skin biopsy do not have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A positive LBT in non-lesional photoprotected skin represents a criterion with high specificity to identify patients with SLE.

Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy Family Members With a Pathogenic NOTCH3 Variant Can Have a Normal Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Skin Biopsy Beyond Age 50 Years.

Background:To determine whether extremely mild small vessel disease (SVD) phenotypes can occur in NOTCH3 variant carriers from Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) pedigrees using clinical, genetic, neuroimaging, and skin biopsy findings.Methods:Individuals from CADASIL pedigrees fulfilling criteria for extremely mild NOTCH3-associated SVD (mSVDNOTCH3) were selected from the cross-sectional Dutch CADASIL cohort (n=200), enrolled between 2017 and 2020. Brain magnetic resonance imaging were quantitatively assessed for SVD imaging markers. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy was used to quantitatively assess and compare NOTCH3 ectodomain (NOTCH3ECD) aggregation and granular osmiophilic material deposits in the skin vasculature of mSVDNOTCH3 cases and symptomatic CADASIL patients.Results:Seven cases were identified that fulfilled the mSVDNOTCH3 criteria, with a mean age of 56.6 years (range, 50–72). All of these individuals harbored a NOTCH3 variant located in one of EGFr domains 7-34 and had a normal brain magnetic resonance imaging, except the oldest individual, aged 72, who had beginning confluence of WMH (Fazekas score 2) and 1 cerebral microbleed. mSVDNOTCH3 cases had very low levels of NOTCH3ECD aggregation in skin vasculature, which was significantly less than in symptomatic EGFr 7-34 CADASIL patients (P=0.01). Six mSVDNOTCH3 cases had absence of granular osmiophilic material deposits.Conclusions:Our findings demonstrate that extremely mild SVD phenotypes can occur in individuals from CADASIL pedigrees harboring NOTCH3 EGFr 7-34 variants with normal brain magnetic resonance imaging up to age 58 years. Our study has important implications for CADASIL diagnosis, disease prediction, and the counseling of individuals from EGFr 7-34 CADASIL pedigrees.

Antibody Responses to Transglutaminase 3 in Dermatitis Herpetiformis: Lessons from Celiac Disease.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is the skin manifestation of celiac disease, presenting with a blistering rash typically on the knees, elbows, buttocks and scalp. In both DH and celiac disease, exposure to dietary gluten triggers a cascade of events resulting in the production of autoantibodies against the transglutaminase (TG) enzyme, mainly TG2 but often also TG3. The latter is considered to be the primary autoantigen in DH. The dynamics of the development of the TG2-targeted autoimmune response have been studied in depth in celiac disease, but the immunological process underlying DH pathophysiology is incompletely understood. Part of this process is the occurrence of granular deposits of IgA and TG3 in the perilesional skin. While this serves as the primary diagnostic finding in DH, the role of these immunocomplexes in the pathogenesis is unknown. Intriguingly, even though gluten-intolerance likely develops initially in a similar manner in both DH and celiac disease, after the onset of the disease, its manifestations differ widely.

Impact of the Coarse Indoor Non-radioactive Aerosols on the Background Radon Progenies' Compensation of a Continuous Air Monitor.

This paper addresses the problem of false positive alarm when using a continuous air monitor (CAM) in decommissioning sites of nuclear facilities. CAMs are used to measure airborne activity and play an important role in the radiation protection of workers likely to be exposed to radioactive aerosols. Monitors usually sample aerosols on a membrane filter. Radioactive particles sampled are detected through the alpha and beta decays that they emit. These latter ionizing particles are measured online by spectrometry thanks to a Passivated Implanted Planar Silicon detector (PIPS). Alpha and beta decays, in this context, come mainly from the natural radon progeny (218Po, 214Pb, and so on) and, in the case of radioactive contamination, also from artificial radionuclides such as 239Pu or 137Cs. The aim of the CAM is to alert the workers when the artificial airborne activity occurs, always considering the presence of a variable background due to the natural particulate airborne activity. The CAM-specific algorithm considers this background dynamically and continuously, often by using a constant parameter. However, non-radioactive aerosols are also sampled on the membrane filter. These latter make the discrimination more difficult as they lead to the deterioration of the alpha-energy spectrum. In this paper, the effect of coarse non-radioactive aerosols on the CAM response is highlighted with four aerosol size-distributions. The evolution of the background is characterized as a function of the aerosol mass sampled, with the example of a simple algorithm. Thus, in this paper, results show a positive correlation of the background with the aerosol mass sampled by the CAM. In addition, results highlight at least two different evolutionary trends according to the aerosol size distribution. An explanation of these evolutions is given by considering the penetration profile of the natural radioactive aerosols in the granular deposit above the CAM filter. The main consequence of these results is that the background could not be considered as proportional to radon progeny as it is currently used.

Monoclonal Gammopathy-Related Kidney Diseases.

Monoclonal gammopathies occur secondary to a broad range of clonal B lymphocyte or plasma cell disorders, producing either whole or truncated monoclonal immunoglobulins. The kidneys are often affected by these monoclonal proteins, and, although not mutually exclusive, can involve the glomeruli, tubules, interstitium, and vasculature. The nephrotoxic potential of these monoclonal proteins is dependent on a variety of physicochemical characteristics that are responsible for the diverse clinicopathologic manifestations, including glomerular diseases with organized deposits, glomerular diseases with granular deposits, and other lesions, such as C3 glomerulopathy and thrombotic microangiopathy with unique pathophysiologic features. The diseases that involve primarily the tubulointerstitial and vascular compartments are light chain cast nephropathy, light chain proximal tubulopathy, crystal-storing histiocytosis, and crystalglobulin-induced nephropathy with distinct acute and chronic clinicopathologic features. The diagnosis of a monoclonal gammopathy-related kidney disease is established by identification of an underlying active or more commonly, low-grade hematologic malignancy, serologic evidence of a monoclonal gammopathy when detectable, and most importantly, monoclonal protein-induced pathologic lesions seen in a kidney biopsy, confirming the association with the monoclonal protein. Establishing a diagnosis may be challenging at times, particularly in the absence of an overt hematologic malignancy, with or without monoclonal gammopathy, such as proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits. Overall, the treatment is directed against the underlying hematologic disorder and the potential source of the monoclonal protein.

Fertilizer deposition as a function of angular velocity and inclination of the helical dosing mechanism

ABSTRACT The establishment of grain crops in Brazil is an important industrial process in the agricultural chain, requiring the correct deposition of granular fertilizer over the sowing furrow and more efficient, precise, and sustainable assessments in the operation, which can be achieved with the statistical process control. This study aimed to assess the effect of the angular velocity on different inclinations of the helical metering mechanism on the granular fertilizer deposition. An automated electronic bench was used to assess the deposition quality of granular fertilizers considering different angular velocities (1.11, 1.94, and 2.77 m s-1) and longitudinal and transverse inclinations (+15, +7.5, 0, −7.5, and −15°), with the helical doser by overflow. Flow data were collected and submitted to descriptive statistics and statistical process control. The metering mechanism showed expected variations, with acceptable performance under process control. The values of the flow rates of the granular fertilizer increased as velocity increased, standing out longitudinal inclinations of +7.5 and +15°, providing higher fertilizer depositions.

Alternate Causes for Pathogenesis of Exfoliation Glaucoma, a Multifactorial Elastotic Disorder: A Literature Review.

Exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) is the most recognizable form of secondary open-angle glaucoma associated with a high risk of blindness. This disease is characterized by white flaky granular deposits in the anterior chamber that leads to the elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) and subsequent glaucomatous optic nerve damage. Conventionally, XFG is known to respond poorly to medical therapy, and surgical intervention is the only management option in most cases. Various genetic and nongenetic factors are known to be linked to the development of XFG. Despite decades of research on the genetic factors in exfoliation syndrome (XFS) by study groups and global consortia involving different ethnic populations, the pathogenesis of XFS and the mechanism of onset of glaucoma still remains an unsolved mystery. The key lies in understanding how the function of a gene (or set of genes) is altered by environmental triggers, along with other molecular events that underlie the key disease attributes, namely, oxidative stress and the disruption of the blood–aqueous barrier (BAB). It remains a challenge to evolve a theory encompassing all factions of molecular events occurring independently or parallelly that determine the disease manifestation (phenotype) or the stage of the disease in the eye (or in any tissue) in exfoliation. Our enhanced understanding of the underlying molecular pathophysiology of XFG, beyond the known genes or polymorphisms involved in the disease, will lead to improved diagnosis and management and the ability to recognize how the environment influences these key events that lead to the disease phenotype or disease progression. This review summarizes the recent observations and discoveries of four key factors that may hold the answers to the non-lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) mechanisms behind XFG pathogenesis, namely, the epigenetic factor miRNA, disordered autophagy along with the potential involvement of mitochondrial mutations, and a compromised aqueous–blood barrier.

Clinical case of fibronectin glomerulopathy

Fibronectin glomerulopathy (FNGP) is an extremely rare glomerulopathy with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Sporadic cases of the disease are also described. Currently, several types of FN1 gene mutations are known that underlie conformational changes in the fibronectin molecule and lead to its deposition in the renal tissue. The clinical manifestations of FNGP may be very heterogeneous, but in most cases are characterized by proteinuria, microscopic hematuria, arterial hypertension, and long-term progressive renal failure. Renal biopsy is the main method for diagnosing the disease. Histologically, GFND is characterized by a lobular glomerular architecture with mesangial expansion and obliteration of capillary loops due to the accumulation of an acellular, periodic acid–Schiff positive, silver Jones-negative material. Immunofluorescence is usually negative. Electron microscopy shows finely granular or fibrillary mesangial and subendothelial electron-dense deposits. At higher magnifications, the fibrils have a diameter of 12-16 nm and are randomly arranged. Standard protocols for the etiopathogenetic therapy of FNGP are not currently developed. Improvement of clinical status and prognosis can be achieved by optimizing blood pressure and proteinuria control by renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system blockers. The recurrence risk of FNGP after renal transplantation remains uncertain due to the rare prevalence of the pathology. In this article, we report a 25-year-old man with nephrotic syndrome, which occurred after a previous upper respiratory tract infection. Histological changes specific to FNGP were found in the kidney biopsy. Genetic analysis was not performed. The absence of a family history of kidney disease suggests that this is a sporadic case of FNGP.