Mean CN Research Articles

Correlation between circulating fibrosis biomarkers with left atrial function and left atrial volume index in rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Mitral stenosis is the most common rheumatic heart disease (RHD) disorder worldwide, including in Indonesia. This pathological condition causes left atrial pressure, leading to left atrial fibrosis that affects the structure and function of the left atrial as well as the clinical condition. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between circulating fibrosis biomarkers with net atrioventricular compliance (Cn) as a parameter of left atrial function, and left atrial volume index (LAVI) as a parameter left atrium structure of changes. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Panti Rahayu Hospital and Permata Bunda Hospital, Purwodadi, Central Java, with a total of 40 RHD patients with severe mitral stenosis. The ELISA was used to measure the levels of carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP), matrix metalloproteinase I (MMP-1), tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). The left atrial function was assessed by measuring Cn, and the LAVI parameters were measured to assess left atrium structure/size. The mean levels of circulating fibrosis biomarkers were as follows: PICP 153.96±89.12 ng/mL; MMP-1 1.44±2.12 ng/mL; MMP-1/TIMP-1 ratio 0.38±0.54 and TGF-β1 2.66±1.96 pg/mL. From the echocardiographic evaluation, the mean Cn was 5.24±1.93 mL/mmHg and the mean LAVI was 152.55±79.36 mL/m2. There were significant correlation between MMP-1 and MMP-1/TIMP-1 ratio with Cn (r=0.345 and r=0.333, respectively; both had p<0.05). PICP and TGF-β1 biomarkers did not significantly correlate with Cn (p>0.05). Meanwhile, none of the biomarkers had a significant correlation with LAVI (p>0.05). This study highlights that MMP-1 and MMP-1/TIMP-1 ratio are potentially to be used as markers to determine the Cn in RHD patients with severe mitral stenosis. However, further studies with a higher sample size are needed to confirm this finding.

Curve Number Estimation for Ungauged Watershed in Semi-Arid Region

The Benanain Watershed is located in East Nusa Tenggara with an area of 3,181 km2 and is divided into 29 sub-watersheds. The East Nusa Tenggara itself is an eastern region of Indonesia with a unique climate condition called semi-arid. The high rainfall intensity occurring in short duration results in large surface runoff and erosion. Floods and erosion in semi-arid areas due to sensitive soils to drought and heavy rainfall extremely. This paper presents the application of the Soil Conservation Services-Curve Number (SCS-CN) real-flood flows through a digital map of soil type, land use, topography, and the heterogeneity of physical condition, especially for ungauged watersheds. The method used is an approach empirical to estimate runoff from the relationship between rainfall, land use, and soil hydrology groups. This watershed has a large area that must analyze every sub-watershed. The land-use of the Benanain watershed is secondary dryland forest by 44.26% and the hydrological soil group on the B group classification with medium to high absorption potential by 46.502% from the total area. The curve number value of the Benanain Watershed ranges from 56.54 to 73.90, where the mean CN value of 65.32. The rainfall (mm) for the 29 sub-watersheds in the Benanain Watershed has decreased by about 74.65% when being surface runoff or only 25.35% of water becomes surface runoff. The relationship between rainfall depth and CN is classified as standard response and trend line (flat slope) equilibrium occurs when rainfall depth value of 56.71 mm and CN is close to 66.30. The high variability of intense rainfall between the rainy season and the dry season had a significant influence on the curve number value in a large watershed area. Further analysis will be more accurate if it is supported by long rainfall data and observation runoff data as a control. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091711 Full Text: PDF

Direct comparison of two vaginal self-sampling devices for the detection of human papillomavirus infections

Background and objectivesTwo devices for vaginal self-sampling of dry cell material (Evalyn Brush, Rovers Medical Devices; Qvintip, Aprovix) were compared using the Abbott RealTime High Risk HPV test. Study designBoth self-sampling devices (change of order with every patient) including instructions for use and a questionnaire were handed to 146 patients in a colposcopy clinic prior to scheduled colposcopies with collection of cervical reference specimens by gynaecologists using a broom-like device. Matched self-collected and physician collected specimens were transferred to ThinPrep medium and tested for the presence of hr-HPV. Biopsies were taken if indicated by colposcopy. ResultsEvaluation of 136 patients with complete data (136/146; 93.2%) showed high agreement of overall hr-HPV detection rates between self-collected and clinician-collected specimens (Evalyn: 91.2% [kappa 0.822]; Qvintip: 89.0% [kappa 0.779]). Colposcopy and histological evaluation revealed 55 women without cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), 32 CIN1, 34 CIN2, 14 CIN3 and one adenocarcinoma in situ. Hr-HPV testing detected all CIN3+ cases on the clinician-taken or Evalyn self-samples (14/14) and 93% of them on the Qvintip samples (13/14). There was no significant difference regarding the sensitivity for CIN2+ or CIN3+ and specificity of hr-HPV testing on self- vs. clinician samples and on Evalyn vs. Qvintip. Based on signal intensities of β-globin, the observed DNA concentration with Evalyn samples (mean CN: 22.0; 95%-CI: 21.5–22.6) was found to be significantly higher compared to that of Qvintip samples (mean CN: 23.8; 95%-CI 23.2–24.4), regardless of the order of self-sampling (p<0.0001). Most women considered self-sampling easy and comfortable. Qvintip was considered easier than the Evalyn Brush to understand (p<0.001) and to use (p=0.002). DiscussionThis study confirms that hr-HPV testing with a clinically validated PCR-based HPV assay is as accurate on self-samples as on clinician-samples without significant difference between both self-sampling devices.

Correlation of Net Atrioventricular Compliance with the Outcome of Successful Percutaneous Transvenous Mitral Valve Commissurotomy

Background: In patients with mitral stenosis the prognostic significance of net atrioventricular compliance has already been established. It was found that left atrial compliance significantly improve immediately after successful balloon mitral valvotomy. This study was conducted to evaluate the immediate improvement of atrioventricular compliance following percutaneous Transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) &amp; to see the relation of post PTMC atrioventricular compliance with immediate clinical &amp; other echocardiographic outcomes.Methods: This prospective observational study was undertaken in the Department of Cardiology, National Institute of Cardiovascular diseases, Dhaka. A total of 50 patients who had had successful PTMC were selected. All patients were evaluated clinically and echocardiographically 24 hours before PTMC, immediately after PTMC and 72 hours after PTMC.Results: Atrioventricular compliance improved significantly following PTMC (mean Cn 3.42 ± 1.64ml/mm Hg vs. 6.38 ± 2.81ml/mm Hg, p&lt;0.001). After successful PTMC comparison of clinical &amp; echocardiographic parameters revealed mitral valve area, pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, transmitral peak and mean pressure gradient and NYHA class for dyspnoea had statistically significant difference among patients with atrioventricular compliance &gt;4 ml/mm of Hg and patients with atrioventricular compliance d”4ml/mm of Hg. NYHA class for heart failure, transmitral peak and mean pressure gradient, pulmonary artery systolic pressure were negatively correlated to atrioventricular compliance. Index left atrial anteroposterior diameter had no significant correlation with atrioventricular compliance.Conclusion: Successful PTMC is associated with immediate significant improvement in atrioventricular compliance. Atrioventricular compliance is inversely correlated with NYHA functional status, transmitral pressure gradient &amp; pulmonary artery systolic pressure following successful PTMC. Post PTMC atrioventricular compliance is also positively correlated with pre PTMC atrioventricular compliance.Cardiovasc. j. 2016; 8(2): 99-109

A Diketopyrrolopyrrole‐Based Colorimetric and Fluorescent Probe for Cyanide Detection

Red means CN: A new type of diketopyrrolopyrrole-based chromophore has been synthesized as a colorimetric and fluorescent probe for the detection of cyanide using only two reaction steps. Through the addition of cyanide to the chromophore, the fluorescence emission and color were greatly changed in a highly sensitive and selective manner.

A comparison of IMRT and 3DCRT in the treatment planning of patients with distal esophageal cancer.

143 Background: There is limited data comparing intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and 3D conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) in node-negative patients with cancer of the distal esophagus. Methods: Eight patients with node-negative cancer of the distal esophagus measuring 1-5 cm tumors were selected for this study. Target volumes were generated for all patients based on standard current practice; 3DCRT and IMRT plans optimized to obtain minimum dose to the heart were then created using the using the Eclipse Treatment Planning. Conformality index (CI, the amount of target volume covered by the prescription dose) and conformation number (CN, the amount of normal tissue receiving prescription dose) were calculated. Dose volume histograms also were generated and clinically relevant parameters were extracted and compared for each planning modality using paired T-tests. Each patient served as his or her own control. Results: The difference in CI ranged from 0-0.01, indicating equivalent target coverage for each patient. IMRT produced superior CN (mean CN = 0.74) vs. the 3DCRT plans (mean CN = 0.45). Heart V40 and the maximum dose to spinal cord were lower for IMRT (mean difference in heart V40 = 34.5%, p=0.0006 and mean difference in the maximum dose to the spinal cord = 18.1 Gy, p=0.0005) but lung V5 and V20 were lower for 3DCRT (mean difference in lung V5 = -21.3%, p=0.0026 and mean difference in lung V20 = -5.2%, p=0.0014). Conclusions: When optimized to minimize dose to the heart, IMRT plans were substantially more conformal to the target structures with less dose to the heart as compared to 3DCRT plans; however this occurred at the expense of increased dose delivered to the lung. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Explaining global surface aerosol number concentrations in terms of primary emissions and particle formation

Abstract. We synthesised observations of total particle number (CN) concentration from 36 sites around the world. We found that annual mean CN concentrations are typically 300–2000 cm−3 in the marine boundary layer and free troposphere (FT) and 1000–10 000 cm−3 in the continental boundary layer (BL). Many sites exhibit pronounced seasonality with summer time concentrations a factor of 2–10 greater than wintertime concentrations. We used these CN observations to evaluate primary and secondary sources of particle number in a global aerosol microphysics model. We found that emissions of primary particles can reasonably reproduce the spatial pattern of observed CN concentration (R2=0.46) but fail to explain the observed seasonal cycle (R2=0.1). The modeled CN concentration in the FT was biased low (normalised mean bias, NMB=−88%) unless a secondary source of particles was included, for example from binary homogeneous nucleation of sulfuric acid and water (NMB=−25%). Simulated CN concentrations in the continental BL were also biased low (NMB=−74%) unless the number emission of anthropogenic primary particles was increased or a mechanism that results in particle formation in the BL was included. We ran a number of simulations where we included an empirical BL nucleation mechanism either using the activation-type mechanism (nucleation rate, J, proportional to gas-phase sulfuric acid concentration to the power one) or kinetic-type mechanism (J proportional to sulfuric acid to the power two) with a range of nucleation coefficients. We found that the seasonal CN cycle observed at continental BL sites was better simulated by BL particle formation (R2=0.3) than by increasing the number emission from primary anthropogenic sources (R2=0.18). The nucleation constants that resulted in best overall match between model and observed CN concentrations were consistent with values derived in previous studies from detailed case studies at individual sites. In our model, kinetic and activation-type nucleation parameterizations gave similar agreement with observed monthly mean CN concentrations.

Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Pilot Study of Site-Specific Consensus Atlas Implementation for Rectal Cancer Target Volume Delineation in the Cooperative Group Setting

Variations in target volume delineation represent a significant hurdle in clinical trials involving conformal radiotherapy. We sought to determine the effect of a consensus guideline-based visual atlas on contouring the target volumes. A representative case was contoured (Scan 1) by 14 physician observers and a reference expert with and without target volume delineation instructions derived from a proposed rectal cancer clinical trial involving conformal radiotherapy. The gross tumor volume (GTV), and two clinical target volumes (CTVA, including the internal iliac, presacral, and perirectal nodes, and CTVB, which included the external iliac nodes) were contoured. The observers were randomly assigned to receipt (Group A) or nonreceipt (Group B) of a consensus guideline and atlas for anorectal cancers and then instructed to recontour the same case/images (Scan 2). Observer variation was analyzed volumetrically using the conformation number (CN, where CN = 1 equals total agreement). Of 14 evaluable contour sets (1 expert and 7 Group A and 6 Group B observers), greater agreement was found for the GTV (mean CN, 0.75) than for the CTVs (mean CN, 0.46-0.65). Atlas exposure for Group A led to significantly increased interobserver agreement for CTVA (mean initial CN, 0.68, after atlas use, 0.76; p = .03) and increased agreement with the expert reference (initial mean CN, 0.58; after atlas use, 0.69; p = .02). For the GTV and CTVB, neither the interobserver nor the expert agreement was altered after atlas exposure. Consensus guideline atlas implementation resulted in a detectable difference in interobserver agreement and a greater approximation of expert volumes for the CTVA but not for the GTV or CTVB in the specified case. Visual atlas inclusion should be considered as a feature in future clinical trials incorporating conformal RT.

O7-5 Muscle carnitine deficiency in pathogenesis of myopathy and cardiomyopathy of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)

Objective: To determine tissue Carnitine (Cn) levels in the C57BL/10ScSn-Dmdmdx male mouse, murine model of DMD. Background:Muscle and cardiacmetabolism and function are dependent on the oxidation of fatty acids and glucose for ATP production, for which Cn serves as an essential cofactor. Skeletal muscle contains >90% of total body Cn stores and uptake across the muscle plasma membrane occurs against a 50 to 70 fold concentration gradient, mediated by the plasmalemmal Cn transporter, OCTN2. Muscle Cn deficiency and reduced long-chain fatty acid oxidation (FAO) have been reported in DMD muscle. We speculate that dystrophin deficiency in DMD, which causes disruption of the plasma membrane, likely disrupts OCTN2, leading to significant secondary tissue Cn depletion. Methods:We determined tissue Cn concentrations according to Cederblad and Lindstedt (1972) in the skeletal muscle (gluteus/quadriceps), diaphragm and ventricles of mdx mice (n = 10) compared to normal male controls: C57BL/6 (n=6), C3H (n=12) and C57BL/10 (n=10) mice. Results: Comparison of the mean Cn concentrations (± standard error mean) in mmol/g dry weight of muscle of the controls vs mdx mice is shown in the table.

Carbon Isotope Abundances in Comets

Rotational lines of 13C14N have been identified in high-resolution (λ/Δλ ~ 60,000) echelle spectra of the CN B2Σ+-X2Σ+ (0-0) band in three comets. The 12C/13C abundance ratios determined using a full fluorescence excitation model for comets Levy (C/1990 K1), Austin (C/1989 X1), and Okazaki-Levy-Rudenko (C/1989 XIX) are 90 ± 10, 85 ± 20, and 93 ± 20, respectively, consistent with the solar system ratio, 90. A lower limit for the nitrogen isotope ratio, 12C14N/12C15N 200, found for comet Levy is consistent with previous comet measurements and the solar system value, 272. The mean CN carbon isotope ratio in the five comets measured to date is 12C14N/12C15N = 90 ± 10, and the mean for the three molecular species C2, HCN, and CN measured in nine comets is 101 ± 15. Consistency of the cometary carbon isotope ratios with the bulk solar system value indicates (1) chemical homogeneity in the outer protosolar nebula, (2) minimal isotopic fractionation in the protosolar precursor molecular cloud, and (3) that comets formed coevally with the solar system. The 14% difference between the solar system (90) and the present solar neighborhood interstellar 12C/13C ratio (77 ± 7) may be indicative of significant Galactic 13C enrichment over the past 4.6 Gyr. However, even though models can match to within a factor of 2 the solar system abundances, including the carbon isotope ratio, other evidence suggests that simple homogeneous Galactic evolution models may not be adequate to explain detailed stellar and interstellar abundances in the Galaxy.

On the shape of a random acyclic digraph

AbstractIf D is an acyclic digraph, define the height h = h(D) to be the length of the longest directed path in D. We prove that the values of h(D) over all labelled acyclic digraphs D on n vertices are asymptotically normally distributed with mean Cn and variance C′n, where C ≈ 0·764334 and C′ ≈ 0·145210. Furthermore, define V0(D) to be the set of sinks (vertices of out-degree 0) and, for r ≥ 1, define Vr(D) to be the set of vertices ν such that the longest directed path from ν to V0(D) has length r. For each k ≥ 1, let nk(D) be the number of sets Vt(D) which have size k. We prove that, for fixed k, the values of nk(D) over all labelled acyclic digraphs D on n vertices are asymptotically normally distributed with mean Ckn and variance C′kn, for positive constants Ck and C′k. Results of Bender and Robinson imply that our claim holds also for unlabelled acyclic digraphs.

The Integrated Spectra of Metal-Rich Galactic Globular Clusters: A Two-Parameter Family

Integrated photographic image-tube spectra have been obtained for the central regions of a number of metal-rich Galactic globular clusters with a wavelength resolution of 2.5 å over the wavelength region λλ3400-4500 å. The spectra have been analyzed using a variety of quantitative spectral indices that compare the strengths of neighboring absorption features. Our main result is that two parameters are needed to describe the integrated spectra of metal-rich globular clusters. The second parameter is manifested in two ways:(1) In a diagnostic diagram sensitive to surface-gravity the metal-rich clusters do not form a well-defined linear sequence. Instead, we find large differences from one cluster to another in the mean surface gravity of the stars contributing to the integrated light at 4000 å. It appears that the relative amounts of light contributed by dwarfs and giants varies considerably from one cluster to another.(2) In a diagram that discriminates CN strength we find large differences from one cluster to another in the mean CN strengths of clusters having similar “spectral type”. It is inferred that the mean CN anomaly varies from one cluster to another and that the anomalous CN strengths are present in main sequence stars as well as in giants.The above two second parameter effects are shown to be strongly correlated in the sense that the “dwarf-dominated” clusters have the largest CN anomalies. Hence, our study indicates that no more than two independent parameters are required to explain the integrated spectra of metal-rich globular clusters.Details of the above findings can be found in Rose and Tripicco (1986, A.J. 92, 1610).

Molecular complexes. Part XIV. Crystal and molecular structure of the π*-electron-acceptor molecule 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene

Crystals of the title compound are monoclinic, unit-cell dimensions a= 6·51, b= 13·79, c= 10·44, γ= 112·0, spacegroup P21/b, Z= 4. The crystal and molecular structure has been determined from visually estimated three-dimensional photographic data by direct methods and refined by full-matrix least squares to R 0·091 for 880 independent reflections. After correction for rigid-body motion the mean CN, C–CN, and C–C(benzene ring) bond lengths are 1·140, 1·446, and 1·401 Å. The internal angles in the benzene ring are significantly different from 120°.