Higher Increment Research Articles

Investigation of the complete blood count parameters as an early diagnostic tool in contrast-induced nephropathy after contrast-enhanced computed tomography

Aim: We investigated complete blood count parameters as inflammatory biomarkers and compared these to serum creatinine values as early diagnostic criteria of ongoing contrast-induced nephropathy. Contrast-induced nephropathy is an important cause of acute kidney injury. Early diagnosis can reduce morbidity and mortality. There is no clear predictor parameter for the early diagnosis of contrast-induced nephropathy.Material and Methods: Patients who underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography examination were included in this retrospective study. Contrast-induced nephropathy was defined as 25%, a higher increment or a 0.5 mg/dL elevation above the baseline serum creatinine levels within 72 hours. Patients were divided into contrast-induced nephropathy and non-contrast-induced nephropathy groups. The complete blood count parameters obtained before and within the first 24 hours after contrast-enhanced computed tomography were compared between groups. Results: The post-contrast-enhanced computed tomography neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio values were significantly higher in the contrast-induced nephropathy group compared to the non-contrast-induced nephropathy group (11.85±1.56 vs 7.29±0.49; p = 0.000). Comparison of the post-contrast-enhanced computed tomography values of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, mean platelet volume-to-platelet count ratio, and lymphocyte to monocyte ratio revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups (p = 0.283, 0.128, and 0.792 respectively).Conclusions: An increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio level after a contrast-enhanced computed tomography procedure is associated with the development of contrast-induced nephropathy. The use of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the emergency department as a predictive parameter can significantly improve the diagnostic process, favorably acting on the prognosis of patients developing contrast-induced nephropathy.

A field study on marching band members' workload assessment.

Marching band activities consist of both physically and cognitively demanding tasks. The demands that this activity has on players has largely been unstudied. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of players' experience level, role, and gender on the workload of marching band players via a field study. Surveys were issued during one game day to the Oregon State University Marching Band (OSUMB) in the fall of 2017. Increments of discomfort ratings and workload ratings were gathered. The three independent variables were experience level (novice or experienced), role (leader or non-leader), and gender. Novice players had a higher discomfort for their left hand and a higher level of cognitive demand as opposed to experienced players. Leaders had a higher increment of discomfort in their neck and upper back, and higher workload ratings in their performance workload and overall weighted workload than the non-leaders. Gender had no effect on increment of discomfort and workload, but some trends were noted. This study indicates that players' role and experience, but not gender, can influence their workloads and discomfort.

Effects of two drop-jump protocols with different volumes on vertical jump performance and its association with the force-velocity profile.

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in countermovement jump (CMJ) height after two drop-jump (DJ) protocols with different volumes, and to explore the possibility of predicting the changes in CMJ height based on the vertical force-velocity (F-v) profile. Thirty-four male athletes (age: 21.9 ± 2.0years) were tested on three occasions. The F-v profile during the CMJ exercise was determined in the first session. Two DJ protocols (low-volume [1 set of 5 DJ trials from a 30cm height] and high-volume [3 sets of 5 DJ trials from a 30cm height]) were randomly performed during the second and third sessions, and the unloaded CMJ height was evaluated before (Pre), 4min (Post4), 8min (Post8), and 12min (Post12) after the DJ protocol. CMJ height was significantly higher at Post4 (2.5cm [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.0-3.0cm]; ES = 0.35), Post8 (2.1cm [95% CI = 1.4-2.8cm]; ES = 0.29) and Post12 (2.2cm [95% CI = 1.4-3.0cm]; ES = 0.30) compared to Pre. The only significant interaction (protocol × time) was caused by a higher increment in CMJ height at Post4 for the low-volume (8.1 ± 3.7%) compared to the high-volume (5.8 ± 3.9%) protocol. The F-v profile did not explain a significant part of the change in CMJ height (variance explained < 10%). These results suggest that low-volume DJ protocols could be more efficient to acutely increase CMJ performance, while the change in CMJ height was not affected by the F-v profile.

Identification of two novel C-type lectins involved in immune defense against white spot syndrome virus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus from Marsupenaeus japonicus

C-type lectins (CTLs) are vital molecules in crustacean innate immunity with the capacity to recognize and eliminate invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. Here, two novel CTLs were identified from the kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus, and their molecular characteristics and immune function were investigated. Sequence analysis revealed that the two CTLs possessed the typical CTL structure and function features. Tissue distribution analysis showed that the two CTLs were most abundantly expressed in the hepatopancreas and weakly expressed in other examined tissues. The transcription of the two CTLs significantly increased in the hepatopancreas of shrimp challenged with both white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and MjCTL4 was found to be more sensitive to the two pathogens than MjCTL3, being induced at relatively faster and higher increments. GST pull-down assays showed that the two CTLs could directly interact with several WSSV envelope proteins (VP19, VP24, VP26 and VP28). Moreover, the two CTLs displayed obvious binding and antibacterial ability to V. parahaemolyticus, and MjCTL3 exhibited stronger anti-V. parahaemolyticus activity than MjCTL4. These results suggest that the two novel CTLs might function as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and antibacterial molecules in M. japonicus innate immunity, and the two CTLs may be alternative agents for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by WSSV and V. parahaemolyticus.

Experimental investigation into the electropulsing assisted pulsating gas forming of CP-Ti tubes

Abstract A novel electropulsing assisted pulsating gas forming (EAPGF) process of commercial pure titanium (CP-Ti) tubes by using pressurized argon filled into a sealed tube was developed to optimize the process scheme and reduce the cost of die heating. The formability of CP-Ti tubes was tested on the self-designed innovative gas forming platform by applying three different frequencies of electropulsing. Based on the uniaxial tensile tests assisted by the electropulsing, the principle of EAPGF was modeled and interpreted by the generalized Johnson-Cook model. At first, the temperature variation of the experimental tubes assisted by electropulsing of three frequencies was measured and analyzed. High-frequency electropulsing will make the temperature rise steadily. Low-frequency electropulsing will cause a serration-shaped growth of the temperature. Moreover, the influences of the pulse duration and frequency on the forming pressure, the relative load, the expansion ratio, the shape deviation and the thickness distribution in the middle section were investigated. The relative load fluctuates periodically with an oscillation of temperature as well as internal pressure induced by electropulsing. In terms of the three frequencies, the higher bulging limit and more uniform deformation were observed in the condition of low frequency. From the result of microstructure analysis through EBSD, the low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) exhibit a strenuous increase attributed to the deformation assisted by electropulsing, with the higher increment at a lower frequency. Obvious dynamic recrystallization was observed at the electropulsing frequency of 1/20 Hz from the KAM distribution in the specimens. Finally, a modified EAPGF was suggested by adjusting pulsating hydroforming parameters by regulating the parameters of electropulsing. The relative load was adjusted to pulsate around 0.0577, and a typical adjustable CP-Ti tube with 60 % expansion ratio was successfully fabricated.

Prolonged visual reaction time after strenuous endurance exercise: higher increment in male compared to female recreational runners

This project aimed to evaluate the simple visual reaction time (SVRT) changes in runners of both sexes before and after a 21.1 km run. 20 male (age 35.3 ± 17.1 years, BMI 23.5 ± 3.3 kg/m2) and 20 female (age 32.2 ± 14.3 years, BMI 24.8 ± 4.2 kg/m2) amateur runners were evaluated 30 min before and after a half-marathon run under competing conditions. Subjects were asked to push an electronic switch at the lighting of a lamp for 11 trials randomly divided to one another between 1 and 10 s. Effort-perception data were collected through a Borg CR100 scale and SVRT data using an electronic chronometric device. A two-way RM ANOVA assessed the effects of exercise and biological sex on SVRT. Borg effort data were similar (M: 82.4 ± 3.9 vs W: 84.7 ± 4.9 AU, p = 0.68). SVRT was lower in men than women before (M: 234.05 ± 3.33 vs F: 239.47 ± 6.1 ms, p < 0.05) but not after the race (M: 249.9 ± 7.18 vs F: 252.09 ± 16.93 ms, p = 0.7). Exercise lengthened the SVRT (M: + 7%; F: + 5%; p < 0.05). Response accuracy was greater in men both before and after exercise. Previous studies suggested exercise lengthened SVRT due to an exercise intensity-related reduced post-exercise cerebral oxygenation that decreases cognitive processes efficiency. In our results, this reduction seemed higher in men. The sex-related response accuracy might be due to different estrogen effects in brain areas implicated in information processing, motor performance, and attention and to different processing and attention focus strategies between the sexes or anticipatory strategies in females.

Reinforced Olive Pâté as a Source of Antioxidants with Positive Effects on Young Smokers.

Background and objectives: Olive pâté (OP) is an olive-derived product with potentially beneficial effects on human health due to the presence of natural antioxidants. The present dietary supplementation study aimed to evaluate the effects on blood antioxidant levels of an olive pâté reinforced with natural antioxidants (ROP) recovered from olive mill waste. Materials and methods: Ninety-eight healthy volunteers (M = 54, 55%, age 18–25) were divided into two groups: A (n = 49), practicing three or more days of physical activity a week, and B (n = 49), practicing less than two. Each group was split into two subgroups, receiving dietary supplementation with OP or ROP. The status of smoker was also recorded, and a biological antioxidant potential (BAP) test was performed on each subject. Results: The BAP values increased with both OP (n = 30) and ROP (n = 68) but ROP supplementation showed higher increments (736.9 μmol/L) than OP (339.6). The increment was significantly higher for smokers (n = 15), 1122.9 vs. non-smokers (n = 53), 635.7, with values in percent of baseline, respectively, 34.6% and 16.2% (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The ROP nutritional supplementation appears useful to increase antioxidant activity, with better effect in smokers; further studies should confirm the finding and investigate its biological bases.

On the stability of a liquid layer bordering plasma

The surface of a liquid wall (cathode) in contact with plasma is subjected to the electric field and to the bombardment of plasma particles, mostly ions. The stability of electrocapillary waves at the wall surface is considered. In the first part of the paper, the motion of ions inside the sheath and its influence on the electric field distribution are considered in a self-consistent way. The stress exerted on the liquid surface by ions and the electric field is found. This stress is used to describe the liquid motion in the second (hydrodynamic) part of the paper. It allows us to obtain the dispersion relation of the electrocapillary waves and to find the most dangerous wavenumbers and corresponding instability increments. It is shown that disturbances with wavenumbers less than some critical value κ0 = kλ (λ is the Debye length) do not grow. Shorter disturbances grow if E, the electric field, at the wall exceeds a specific Ecrit number. Expressions for κ0 and Ecrit are obtained. The increment of instability for κ &amp;gt; κ0 and E &amp;gt; Ecrit is calculated. It is shown that the instability takes place within an interval of wavenumbers. The higher the electric field, the wider this interval and the higher the increment of the most dangerous instability. Calculations were performed for the liquid wall at floating potential bordering hydrogen and deuterium plasmas. It is shown that the instability takes place in a wider range of wavelengths and has a higher increment in the case of deuterium plasma than in the case of hydrogen plasma.

Effect of tooth tips on the electromagnetic performance of PM fractional‐slot modular machines using grain‐oriented electrical steel

The effect of tooth tips on the performance variations due to using grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) stator laminations in permanent magnet fractional-slot modular machines is studied in this work. It is concluded that the electromagnetic performance is further improved using GOES in machines with tooth tips compared to machines without tooth tips. This is due to a higher increment on the flux density in the airgap. The acoustic behaviour variations due to using GOES are predicted by analysing several mechanical- and acoustic-related parameters. It is predicted that implementing GOES improves the acoustic behaviour in machines without tooth tips. Furthermore, the effects of GOES in machines with tooth tips are slightly improved compared to machines without tooth tips. However, in order to determine the real mechanical and acoustic behaviours, further analysis is needed.

Impact of overweight, obesity, and post-treatment weight changes on occupational reintegration of breast cancer (BC) survivors.

11562 Background: Overweight and obesity are strongly linked to poorer BC-specific outcomes, quality of life and financial burden in cancer care. Weight loss interventions have the potential to improve such outcomes. Fewer data exist on whether excess weight and post-diagnosis weight changes impact the ability of BC survivors to return to work (RTW). Methods: CANTO (NCT01993498) is a multicenter prospective longitudinal study of 12000 patients (pts) with stage I-III BC that characterizes long-term toxicities of BC treatment. Of 5801 pts enrolled from 2012-2014 (last data lock), we identified 1874 pts who were professionally active at BC diagnosis, ≥5 years (yrs) younger than minimum legal retirement age (62 yrs) and with updated work status 2 yrs after diagnosis. Logistic regression models evaluated the impact of body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis and of weight changes over 2 yrs after diagnosis on odds of non-RTW, adjusting for age, education, income, BC treatment and recreational physical activity (PA). Results: 37% pts were overweight or obese at diagnosis (BMI ≥25 kg/m2): 34% of them gained ≥5% and 16% lost ≥5% weight after diagnosis. Rates of non-RTW at 2 yrs were significantly higher in overweight or obese vs under or normal weight pts (27% vs 18%, p≤.001; adjusted odds ratio 1.37, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.04-1.80, p = .017). Overweight and obese pts who did not RTW experienced higher increments in weight (mean [95% CI]: +3.6% [+2.3, +4.9] vs +1.5% [+0.8, +2.2]) and reported more modest changes in PA (mean [95% CI]: +1.0 [-1.4, +3.5] vs +2.1 [+0.8, +3.3] MET-h/week) vs those who did RTW. Weight changes independently impacted odds of non-RTW in overweight and obese pts (p for interaction weight change*BMI ≤.001): a 5% weight gain was associated with 17% increase in adjusted odds of non-RTW (95% CI 2-35%, p = .024), whereas a loss ≥5% with 60% reduced odds of non-RTW vs weight gain (95% CI 18-82%, p = .013). Conclusions: Excess weight and weight changes are significantly associated with occupational reintegration after BC in overweight and obese pts. Randomized studies testing dedicated weight control interventions should also measure outcomes of social rehabilitation in this large subset of survivors. Clinical trial information: NCT01993498.

On exosome functional role in cancer: miR-494 complex regulation in melanoma cells and corresponding exosomes

Cutaneous melanoma represents a major worldwide health issue, nearly accounting for 75% of skin cancer deaths (1). Although in the last decade novel promising therapies have been developed, surgical treatment in melanoma early stages still provides the best opportunity for cure. Indeed, despite important successes obtained with targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors, most patients undergo resistance and responses are not durable (2). In addition, a number of meta-analyses reported significant gender-specific differences in the efficacy of therapeutic approaches, unexpectedly indicating a higher increment of overall survival in men than in women, particularly when treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (3). Taking in mind all these points, the identification of informative biomarkers, useful either to choose first line therapies, or to predict relapses and clinical outcomes, represent a fundamental point providing a rationale for making the best therapeutic choice for each single patient.

Winemaking with vine-shoots. Modulating the composition of wines by using their own resources.

Vine-shoots from two important Vitis vinifera, Airén and Cencibel, have been prepared in two different formats (chip and granule) and added (12 g/L) in their own wines in different winemaking steps. Results have shown significant differences depending in all conditions tested, and wine chemical composition was modulated while in contact with vine-shoots. Compounds such as trans-resveratrol, increased its concentration up to 4 mg/L in Airén white wines. In Cencibel red wines, vanillin was found in a concentration four times above its odor threshold and independently of the vine-shoot variety, format and moment of addition, compounds such as (-)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin increased the concentration with respect to the control wine. When vine-shoots were added after fermentation, β-ionol appeared for first time in all wines. In case of guaiacol, the higher increment was observed for Airén wines. Therefore, it is possible to elaborate distinctive wines using their own resources.

Climate change impacts on socioeconomic damages from weather-related events in China

China is vulnerable to climate change impacts, and this study investigates the potential socioeconomic damages to China from weather-related events under future climate conditions. A two-part model incorporating a hierarchical Bayesian approach is employed to explore the effects of climate on human damage (the share of affected people in a total population) and economic damage (the share of economic losses in gross domestic product). Based on these relationships, the relative changes in socioeconomic damages under representative concentration pathways (RCPs) are presented at the regional and national levels. Our results show that China would experience an increase in socioeconomic damages from rainfall-related events under RCP2.6 and RCP4.5, and the higher increments mainly appear in the central and southwestern areas. Future climate conditions may greatly increase national damages from drought events under RCP8.5. Damages in some northern and southeastern provinces could double by 2081–2090. The national damage to humans from cold-related events is almost unchanged in most climate scenarios; however, the associated economic damage has downtrends.

Abstract TMP116: Higher Lipoprotein(a) is a Risk Factor for Cognitive Impairment in Black but Not White Americans: The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Cohort

Background: Increased lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is a risk factor for heart disease, and levels vary greatly by race, with blacks having 2-4-fold higher levels than whites. Despite the large body of evidence relating Lp(a) to cardiovascular risk, there is less known on its relation to cognitive function. Hypotheses: Lp(a) is a risk factor for cognitive impairment, and the association will be greater for blacks than whites. Methods: REGARDS recruited 30,239 black and white U.S. men and women between 2003-7 and a cognitive battery was administered every 2 years. With 3.4 years mean follow up, baseline Lp(a) was measured in 495 cases of incident cognitive impairment and 587 controls. All were free of prebaseline cognitive impairment and stroke. The association of Lp(a) and cognitive impairment was analyzed with logistic regression. Results: With multivariable adjustment, among black individuals the OR of cognitive impairment per SD higher increment of Lp(a) was 1.39 (95% CI 1.05, 1.84). There was no association in whites (OR 1.03; 95% CI 0.87, 1.21); p interaction race*Lp(a) =0.03. With further stratification by sex, among blacks the association was greater in women (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.02-2.26) than men (OR 0.95; 95% CI 0.51, 1.76); p interaction by sex*Lp(a) =0.33. Compared to those in the lowest quartile of Lp(a), the risk of cognitive impairment in black women with Lp(a) above the median was more than doubled (Table). Conclusions: Lp(a) might explain part of the racial disparity in cognitive dysfunction with aging, especially in women (though confirmation required). To understand this, study is needed of racial differences in apo(a) size, interaction with environmental factors, and/or production or catabolization rates.

Preparation and characterization of a piezoelectric poly (vinylidene fluoride)/nanohydroxyapatite scaffold capable of naproxen delivery

Piezoelectric polymers are of great interest because of their ability to produce temporary surface electric charge, which can have a positive impact on the growth, attachment and proliferation of osteoblastic cells. The aim of this study was to combine potential osteoinductive properties of piezoelectric PVDF with the excellent bioactivity of nHA. In this regard, PVDF/nHA composite scaffolds were fabricated via a solvent casting/particulate leaching (SC/PL) method. The composite scaffold at 5 wt% nHA was annealed for 5 h at 60 °C and 90 °C in order to induce α to β phase transformation. Naproxen (NAP) was chosen as a reference drug and was complexed with beta-cyclodextrin (βCD) to form an inclusion complex (NAP-βCD-IC). Both NAP and NAP-βCD-IC were incorporated into PVDF solution during the fabrication process. The results showed that pore size and porosity both increased with the addition of nHA up to 5 wt%. The compressive modulus and strength of the scaffolds was increased with increasing nHA content in the composite. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed increased β phase content due to annealing, and a higher increment was achieved for samples annealed at 90 °C. Superior cell viability was observed in the sample with a higher amount of piezoelectric β phase compared with the as-prepared sample and the sample annealed at 60 °C. The release profile of NAP from the PVDF/nHA composite scaffold showed that the formation of NAP-βCD inclusion complexes increased the rate and amount of NAP release from the scaffold.

Response of anaerobic mineralization of different depths peat carbon to warming on Zoige plateau

Warming greatly reshapes carbon cycle of peatlands where soil is water saturated with anaerobic condition prevailing all the year round. However, little is known about the response of anaerobic mineralization of peatlands carbon to global warming, especially when considering the difference of soil from above water table (AWT) and below water table (BWT). This study measured variations in soil carbon anaerobic mineralization as a function of warming and depth by sampling 100-cm soil columns in Zoige plateau. Warming enhanced carbon anaerobic mineralization significantly with different increments among the whole depths. The response of CO2-C and CH4-C to warming varied with depth: at surface soil, both CO2-C and CH4-C emission increased with higher increment; at deep soil, CO2-C emission increased with small increment and CH4-C emission decreased. Substrate availability influenced carbon anaerobic mineralization rate and pathway. Substantial resistant carbon at deep soil lowered CO2 increment and varied CH4 production pathway. The temperature sensitivity of peat carbon anaerobic mineralization varied with depth, suggesting the heterogeneous distribution of soil substrate among the whole depths. AWT soil was higher in temperature sensitivity than BWT soil for the substantial simple carbon and higher microbial/enzyme activity at AWT. BWT soil was a major contributor of the amount of carbon emission and the total increased carbon caused by warming. Further, for the management of peatlands, we should conduct advanced research by focusing more towards the soil of whole depth, especially on the temperature sensitivity of AWT soil and the contribution to total carbon emission of BWT soil.

DEBLJINSKI PRIRAST STABALA KAO BIOINDIKATOR NJIHOVE VITALNOSTI: STUDIJA SLUČAJA SA PODRUČJA DESPOTOVCA

Istraživanje procesa devitalizacije i sušenja stabala vršeno je u veštački podignutoj sastojini crnog borana području Despotovca, Srbija. Analiziran je debljinski prirast 30 dominantnih stabala, razvrstanihna osnovu okularne ocene intenziteta devitalizacije u tri kategorije: zdrava (bez vidljivih simptomasušenja), devitalizovana (stabla sa proređenim krošnjama i slabo izraženim simptomima sušenja) i jakodevitalizovana (stabla sa suvim većim delom krošnje). Nakon procesa sinhronizacije debljinskog prirastastabala definisani su indeksi debljinskog prirasta ove tri kategorije stabala. U cilju kvantitativne ocenedevitalizacije i utvrđivanja procenta gubitka prirasta kod devitalizovanih i jako devitalizovanih stabalaračunati su i dvostruki indeksi, nastali stvaljanjem u odnos indeksa debljinskog prirasta jako devitalizovanihi devitalizovanih stabala sa indeksima debljinskog prirasta zdravih stabala.Rezultati su pokazali da kod svih kategorija stabala u periodu od 1960. do 2000. godine postoje slučajnevarijacije indeksa debljinskog prirasta i preklapanje linija njihovih tokova, bez nekih jasnih razlika u‘’šablonu’’ reakcije na prisutne stimulativne i ograničavajuće faktore rasta. Jasna i izražena odstupanjau prirastu zdravih, sa jedne strane i devitalizovanih i jako devitalizovanih stabala, sa druge strane,utvrđena su od 2008. godine. Prirast jako devitalizovanih stabala u 2014. godini iznosio je nešto manjeod 42%, a devitalizovanih 67% ostvarenog prirasta zdravih stabala. Daljom analizom indeksa prirastastabala uočeno je da razlike u prirastu ovih kategorija stabala počinju da se pojavljuju još od 2000. godine.Ova činjenica upućuje na zaključivanje da je proces stvarne devitalizacije stabala počeo pre oko15 godina, kada nije bilo nikakvih vidljivih simptoma.

Responses of the hydrological regime to variations in meteorological factors under climate change of the Tibetan plateau

Meteorological factors and the hydrologic cycle of the Tibetan plateau (TP) significantly influence the water resource supply, ecology, and social economy of wide downstream areas in Asia. This study evaluates changes in meteorological factors (e.g., precipitation, air temperature, and snowfall) and corresponding responses in the hydrological regime under future climate change scenarios in both the TP and the downstream areas. The Lancang River basin (LRB), located in the southeast TP and known as the upper Mekong River basin, is selected as the case study area. Future climate change projections are derived from five independent GCMs of CMIP5 and their multi-model ensemble. The variable infiltration capacity (VIC) distributed hydrological model is used to generate streamflow projections in future scenarios. Results show that precipitation and air temperature in both the lower LRB (representing the downstream area of TP) and upper LRB (representing the area in TP) are expected to increase substantially in the future, with higher increments in air temperature found in the upper LRB under high-emission scenarios. Snowfall, snow water equivalent (SWE), and snowmelt are commonly found to decrease with increasing air temperature, and the snow melt time tends to be earlier. Significantly increasing mean and extreme streamflow caused by increasing precipitation are anticipated in the future. The low flow shows much higher relative increments at the upstream of TP, which is mainly caused by changes in snow regulating (decreased snowfall and earlier snowmelt). However, those effects show weak influence on the streamflow in the downstream area, which would be more largely impact by the local precipitation change. In the future, irrigation, hydropower, and navigation in the TP could benefit from increased low flow in the TP, but the consistently increasing extreme high flow may indicate greater flood risk in the TP and downstream areas.

Presepsin as a diagnostic marker of bacterial infections in febrile neutropenic pediatric patients with hematological malignancies

Febrile neutropenia (FN) is often observed in hematological malignancies (HEM). Presepsin is also known as soluble CD14 subtype; it is a glycoprotein fragment derived from monocytes and macrophages. We aimed to evaluate the significance of presepsin and other biomarkers for diagnosis of bacteremia in children with HEM. Sixty pediatric patients with different HEM (acute lymphoblastic leukemia 36, acute myeloid leukemia 12, non-Hodgkin lymphoma 10, and Hodgkin disease 2). Thirty age and sex-matched healthy children serving as control were enrolled in this study. Estimation of presepsin, procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) during episode of FN in addition to absolute neutrophils count (ANC) and blood culture was performed for all the participants. Presepsin levels were higher in the patients than in control with a higher increments in the positive blood cultures than the sterile cases. Presepsin concentration was significantly higher in bacteremia than clinically proved infection and fever of unknown origin. A statistically significant positive correlation between presepsin and CRP plus PCT levels but negative correlation with ANC were observed in the patients subgroups. Presepsin is a useful marker for detection of bacteremia with sensitivity and specificity (100 and 85.7%). This finding supported that presepsin was superior to PCT and CRP in identifying bacterial infection in FN.

Resistance against AC corona discharge of micro-ATH/ nano-Al2O3 co-filled silicone rubber composites

Exposure to corona discharge damages the polymeric structure of alumina trihydrate (ATH) filled silicone rubber composite insulators. In this work, an attempt has been made to enhance the resistance against sustained long term corona exposure of ATH filled silicone rubber by fabricating its co-filled composites through addition of a small amount of nano Al2O3. Fabricated specimens comprise a pristine sample of silicone rubber (SR), one micro {40wt% ATH (MSR)} composite and two co-filled {39wt% ATH+1wt% nano Al2O3 (MSR1%) and 38wt% ATH+2wt% nano Al2O3 (MSR2%)} composites with total particle loading of 40wt%. They are subjected to AC corona exposure produced from a needle electrode tip for seven days. Performance evaluation is achieved through SEM (Scanning electron microscopy), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), hydrophobicity, and surface roughness. Test results show severe material ruptures occurred in SR but damage in the form of pits and voids in MSR and MSR1% in the area directly below the needle tip. Interestingly, MSR2% exhibits subdued damage and a compact lump structure. The hydrophobicity recovery rate is significantly higher below the needle tip than in the vicinity, and in the SR as compared to the other composites. Also noted is higher increment in average and peak surface roughness below needle tip, and strong resistance to roughness increment by MSR2%. FTIR results show higher concentration of hydroxylation and aluminum nitrites in MSR and the absorbance intensities of principal functional groups show fewer deviations in MSR1% and MSR2% relative to their virgin states. Based on experimental results, it is concluded that corona resistance of micro ATH filled silicone rubber can be enhanced through addition of small amount of Al2O3 by fabrication of co-filled composites.